We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:56:27 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification At least that's one way to spin this. In a sense, it reads like a document that might have emanated from the Fuerhrer-Bunker in Berlin in April of 1945 (I can only wish in our timeline with AQI we were at the April 45 time tick...) But first... Yesterday, I linked to Cassandra's crie-de-coeur over at Villainous Company, regarding her view of a rising willingness of the Usual Suspects to express their contempt of those of us who donned the uniform or support those who wear it. Oddly enough, they aren't as contemptuous when the Powers That Be send us... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:04:20 -0600 I am vaguely recalling that among desert tribal people one of the Big No-nos is poisoning wells (which the water supply could be considered). Is that still current? Yup. Dirtbags have "justified" breaking all the other taboos, so why would they shy away from Chem-Bio Warfare?]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72179 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72179 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:33:46 -0600 If Cassie wasn't so focused on waving the flag, maybe she'd see that the real villains are those people in authority who don't give the military the resources needed to win the war and to finish the mission. If you perceive the left aiming their anger at military spokespersons such as Petraeus, maybe that's because the real villains don't have the guts to come out and face the music. Or maybe people say something about the military because they are an easy target, an object, in people's minds, the great military industrial complex not made of men, but machines. You can say whatever you want about machines. Much harder to say it about your fellow citizens that you hope one day will defend your ideas too. Nope. I'm sure people target the military for the same reason they always have: they can't say anything. Now their wives can, don't you know, and they don't mind doing that. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72172 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72172 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:38:34 -0600 Personally, I hope that the al Qaeda drones take that advice about nitric acid and "bacteria" and putting it into the water. It will be a great way to flush out (no pun intended) the bad guys, since the nitric acid will hydrolize and be diluted by the water (unless they're bringing it in by tankers) and the bacteria will be killed in the treatment process. Re: Cassie's diatribe, it always amazes me how people can cherry-pick idiot comments (on the left and right) to justify the villians that they imagine are out there. I don't suppose it would ever occur to you all that the intense anger in the middle and left of center (since Bush's rating is 67% in the red side) is focused at the Powers That Be and not the guys and gals wearing the uniforms who are just trying to do their jobs. If Cassie wasn't so focused on waving the flag, maybe she'd see that the real villians are those people in authority who don't give the military the resources needed to win the war and to finish the mission. If you perceive the left aiming their anger at military spokespersons such as Petraeus, maybe that's because the real villians don't have the guts to come out and face the music. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72166 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72166 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:07:59 -0600 Very nice John. Very nice. I read Cassandra's piece. It was a bit wordy and lacked some of the usual bite, which lead me to think it was alot closer to the things that hurt most than some of what I've read of hers, but even so, I understood and agreed. As for the detractors, well, "these people aren't serious. They're just anti-anything not their idea." hits the nail square on the head. Except that I do think they are serious, or at least they beleive they are, the just don't have the education or experience to understand that they are just seriously wrong. ha. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72155 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72155 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:26:11 -0600 It does sound a lot more like 'Security Theatre' than anything else, but it does show a shift in attitude. No holds barred. They're willing to start fighting with poisoned arrows. I am reading Ry's link to Abu Muqawamba and so i would suggest it is a multitude of things. First, yes, theater, because theater is the bread and butter of terrorism. Secondly, yes, terrorism, because they have allegedly ruled out poison gas attacks as "beyond" the necessary or desired since it could back fire in their whole scheme of "theater for the masses". But, I am trying to be careful reading too much into this or into Abu Muqawamba's piece because some of it smacks of propaganda. Especially as the Abu piece notes that Haidar claims the mujihadeen are leaving Iraq because there are enough Iraqi fighters there now to keep on the effort. What BS is that? Right after he says that the tribes turning on them made it difficult to manouver. Their major efforts and top numbers were in 2005-6. Careful not to swallow too much propaganda.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72120 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72120 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:43:38 -0600 " ... they're crashing thru the floor of phase one into a whole new realm of idiocy ..." Or, one can hope ..... total desperation. And if they are THAT desperate, our efforts in Iraq have not been a "major strategic blunder". For within the span of 5 years in Iraq, and 6 1/2 years in Afghanistan, we have created the conditions that forced them to drop their masks, which allowed the Iraqis and other Muslims to see them for the barbaric monsters they truly are, and thus turned the world's opinion against them.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72117 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72117 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:28:58 -0600 I am vaguely recalling that among desert tribal people one of the Big No-nos is poisoning wells (which the water supply could be considered). Is that still current? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72116 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72116 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:23:07 -0600 Um, drinking nitric ain't that good for y'all(0.00001M can still make you very sick, bleeding ulcers from prolonged ingestion are not cool). Injecting it into pipes shortens the lifespan of the infrastructure. The smell alone will scare most people. Playing with nitric acid at low concentrations makes your skin turn yellow(and then peel off ina very random way) but at high concentrations it is no freakin' joke. I don't think it's 'weaponizable' but nitric iteslf is no joke. It does sound a lot more like 'Security Theatre' than anything else, but it does show a shift in attitude. No holds barred. They're willing to start fighting with poisoned arrows. This could a be disasterous shift for them since it will cut them off from the people upon which they depend on for resources, hiding places, and intelligence. If you're using your Mao this puts them well down on the scale, they're crashing thru the floor of phase one into a whole new realm of idiocy. This is why I agreed with Barnett in that time was on our side, not theirs. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72113 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72113 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:59:30 -0600 yes Nitric acid. Perhaps he wants the greener gardens after sucking dust too long. Osmosis has brought it into his cranial cavity it seems. Which, frankly, is a good thing. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72109 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72109 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:03 -0600 Dude...and they dance scary. ;) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72108 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72108 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:22:02 -0600 "Attack the gas and oil fields, wells and pipelines...in Basra, Kirkuk, and Baghdad." The Iraqi response to *that* hereabouts translates as, "Wanna dance?"]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72107 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72107 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:18:45 -0600 kat, You've identified the main problem here with regard to Mr. Schwag and his ilk: They don't believe that the Iraq war is necessary or that we're even currently being confronted with a major national security threat that is more important than the price of oil or whatever other pet domestic programs they'd rather spend Federal money on. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72106 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72106 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:58:08 -0600 He wants to know about paying for the war? How about we cut out all the earmarks first, like those for Berkley's "nutritional lunch" program that includes lemon grass salads and vinagraitte somethng or other? I could name a few other earmarks that would net us at least another three months of war costs off the top of my head. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72105 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72105 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:45:36 -0600 Most times, I just think idiots like Mr. Schwag aren't worth the time and effort to debate or converse with. But at other times, I recognize the danger inherent in allowing them to control the dialog without offering substantive rebuttals to counter their inane propaganda. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72104 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72104 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:35:58 -0600 this Abu Safiyan dude seems to have a nitric acid fetish... what's he going to do, dye us yellow? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72103 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/al_qaeda_in_ira.html#comment-72103 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:30:01 -0600