tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post997448344353608212..comments2024-03-17T08:27:53.658-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Benghazi: Reductio Ad AbsurdumJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-23592715095200653772014-08-05T13:55:12.998-05:002014-08-05T13:55:12.998-05:00At which point a former union president, now US Pr...At which point a former union president, now US President fires them all: the opening shot on unions and the middle class in general. And it has continued ever since.<br /><br />whitelillyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-1632723517061094632013-08-18T03:18:53.100-05:002013-08-18T03:18:53.100-05:00through the Patriot act and NDAA , Obama could fir...through the Patriot act and NDAA , Obama could fire them all... one way ticket to Gitmo, enhanced interrogations, video confessions summary execution and bill the next of kin for the bullet. <br /><br />He hasn't done so because unlike Republicans, Obama has ethics.Paul Shenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886655256069352770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-67206336592130975292013-05-29T08:43:52.811-05:002013-05-29T08:43:52.811-05:00Jim ~ Love your reply to Lynelle & all the oth...Jim ~ Love your reply to Lynelle & all the other nimwads (dimsters?) who post silly comments all over the Internet just because they can. Opinions in comment sections are like dandelions gone to seed on the wind. However much I might like a better-educated population, I don't like holding my breath waiting to exhale.<br /><br />PS: My only military connection was a hubby serving as fleet surgeon on a carrier as Vietnam was closing down. I didn't even live on or near the base so didn't get an "education" about military operations. Even so, I do have a basic understanding that any citizen should have acquired by adulthood: military-diplomatic-intel operations are multi-faceted & incredibly complex, beyond what is reported in news.Moms Hugshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15393436124226928177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-53223628842258227842013-05-25T10:00:37.431-05:002013-05-25T10:00:37.431-05:00Jim as usual a funny, erudite and very informative...Jim as usual a funny, erudite and very informative post. As a non citizen of your country, your insights into the military and social mindset are always very enlightening. I look forward to everyone of your posts and spent far too much time reading your archived posts!<br /> Long Ben Averyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12382408372788942193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-87210323840647953242013-05-25T09:10:45.654-05:002013-05-25T09:10:45.654-05:00Well said Jim.
Well said Jim.<br />Long Ben Averyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12382408372788942193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-47132407635080364962013-05-24T23:59:55.046-05:002013-05-24T23:59:55.046-05:00Love, love, love Ted Cruz. PLEASE, Republicans, sp...Love, love, love Ted Cruz. PLEASE, Republicans, spend your considerable billions on his presidential race. If a billion bucks has to be wasted, let it be on another lame R. Don in Waconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-81170498500802786802013-05-18T22:24:42.874-05:002013-05-18T22:24:42.874-05:00Dammit Jim!! The Facts!! They hurt my head!!
Nice...Dammit Jim!! The Facts!! They hurt my head!! <br />Nice job bucko, keep those facts coming.<br />I agree with one of the other guys, after a day of reading teeth gritting nonsensical opinion (I know, I know, just stop reading that crap Duffy!) a read of your column and perspective makes it right as rain and makes me hopeful for mankind. Thanks Jim,<br />Duff in NoFlaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36069589500628793162013-05-17T13:19:31.592-05:002013-05-17T13:19:31.592-05:00Establish a website where you can divert all of th...<i>Establish a website where you can divert all of the troll posts.</i><br /><br />Interestingly, I was thinking almost exactly this as I read your Troll Update up top there. I was thinking more along the lines of a separate folder in the site file tree, accessible via a button. maybe labeled The Bullshitatorium, or some such.<br /><br />Or "The Freakshow! 10¢ paypal per view". hey, you might actually make money off these clowns...Meanie-meanie, tickle a personhttp://www.fakeassurl.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-68987102935948193432013-05-17T12:21:23.992-05:002013-05-17T12:21:23.992-05:00If Scott truly believes that Washington stay out o...If Scott truly believes that Washington stay out of "peoples' affairs" - then I would like my uterus back. <br /> I don't think it is Washington that is so interested in people's private lives as it is the Republican Party. Just look at the laws passed by GOP controlled states during the height of the recession. Few if any were related to job growth, unless you think mandatory drug tests for people receiving unemployment will jump start the laboratory testing companies. But plenty of laws were passed to take control of my body, limit regulation of the food, water and air along with day care, etc. It was unbelievable watching the Georgia legislature act. The first act passed prohibited brain implants by the federal government (kid you not). Then they went on to slash every safety net for the poor and under-privileged, school and public safety.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18117837896972479819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-50054067407804863862013-05-17T11:26:58.762-05:002013-05-17T11:26:58.762-05:00Damn...how come you aren't a commentator on MS...<i>Damn...how come you aren't a commentator on MSNBC or Current?! </i><br /><br />We've been wondering the same thing about Digby for years now...Meanie-meanie, tickle a personhttp://www.fakeassurl.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11610913155188145662013-05-17T08:55:41.112-05:002013-05-17T08:55:41.112-05:00Well Jim, you've proved yet again what a bizar...Well Jim, you've proved yet again what a bizarro world we live in. Where reasonable and sane ppl like you are only heard on the Internet, while petty and poisonous ppl like hannity and oreilly are broadcast nightly, seen by millions of ppl across the nation. Modern America is a bizarre place.Maxfactorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13998598714888068833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-41252848520311921922013-05-17T08:36:18.715-05:002013-05-17T08:36:18.715-05:00I always enjoy your concise, intelligent and thoug...I always enjoy your concise, intelligent and thoughtfully sarcastic, refreshingly direct viewpoints. I must confess, however, that my favorite part is the troll slaying. Lurv it. I know it's a pain in your ass, I'm sure it bugs you....but I do like watching it. In my line of work, and relations, I have to put up with far too many woefully prejudiced, willfully ignorant persons who should keep their mouths shut in public except to order Happy Meals. It does my bitter heart good to see someone take a stand and tell them all to STFU. Bless you. bitterlilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-65444407094933798552013-05-17T08:00:23.755-05:002013-05-17T08:00:23.755-05:00Thanks for returning, Scott, with what I agree is ...Thanks for returning, Scott, with what I agree is a dignified apology and clarification.<br /><br />I don't want to get into a pissing contest with you (or anybody for that matter) but your view of the country's past seems a little rosy. You state that you "find it strange that after the wonderful start of this country and its amazing growth and prosperity, the tables are starting to turn." I took the question mark out because it pretty much looks like an opinion not a question so bear with me. The government has been thoroughly involved with the economic development of the country that we have become every step of the way. But let's say government stayed completely out of our lives. Then there would have been no public commitment to railroads, ports, sewers, rural electrification, dams, locks, the interstate highway system, public hospitals, airlines, space program, not to mention public art and architecture. We could jettison the EPA and the Cuyahoga River could burn every year. We could get rid of food safety and meat packers could still be emptying garbage into the sausage machines. We could get rid of the last shreds of financial regulation and wouldn't that be fun, speaking of the "mess" we're in. As a financial manager running a portfolio of derivatives way back when the market was still regulated, nothing was more delicious than watching Christopher Cox admit that the Bush administration's system of voluntary self-regulation for big banks didn't work. Except maybe Alan Greenspan testifying that he just couldn't believe that bankers would behave as they did.<br /><br />The "let's go back to a simpler time" movement seems to me to be built on a myth. The founding fathers gave us a structure on which each generation builds. Some of it works and some of it doesn't. The idea that we go back to a simple society with no other aspirations than to be left alone is not worthy of a great nation, in my opinion. That is the cost of what you propose.<br /><br />I agree with your assessment of our foreign policy. In the words of Andrew J. Bacevich, "America doesn't need a bigger army, it needs a smaller-- that is, more modest--foreign policy." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-51165516567975293962013-05-17T03:52:27.588-05:002013-05-17T03:52:27.588-05:00Jim, think Ambassador Pickering is not too pleased...Jim, think Ambassador Pickering is not too pleased with Congress either...or the Issa version of same...<br /><br />http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182938646/benghazi-investigator-reacts-to-criticism-of-his-report<br /><br />Marilyn CiucciAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-1518548242581716512013-05-17T01:38:41.335-05:002013-05-17T01:38:41.335-05:00Thank you Jim! To be honest I agreed a lot with ma...Thank you Jim! To be honest I agreed a lot with many of your comments, I have been a conservative republican most most of my life until recently, I have lost hope in the two-party system and feel that both sides have wondered so far from our founding principles in the constitution that neither party can agree on their separate agendas...your article is a perfect example of this...constant, endless, pointless bickering or even worse stalemate. We are wasting time in my eyes. <br />America has been such a great country, in many ways and I believe we can attribute that to the rights and protections in the constitution. In the early 20th century things really started to change especially during and after WWII. We now have a huge government that not only oversees Taxes, IRS, Medicare, Social Security, and to stretch it even farther, all of the oversees wars and occupations. I respect that freedom isn't free, but why did Europe have to beg us into WWII when recently any sign of war or contention and we are there as the watch dogs? <br />Bottom line: wouldn't a lot of this be avoided if we just stayed out? Spend our time and efforts maintaining the best preventative military in the world? Instead of democrats trying to spread wealth from the bottom up and the republicans trying to spread wealth from the top down, shouldn't government just stay out of that too? Isn't that the right to freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?...without government involvement? <br />I also find it strange that after the wonderful start of this country and its amazing growth and prosperity, the tables are starting to turn?...ever since we allowed government to dabble in our affairs for protection have things really gotten better? We are now a completely divided nation, with ongoing bickering about how to administer to the people of this country which is something that will never be agreed upon. Political correctness will always have two rival sides. Only strict obedience to stay out of the peoples affairs completely eliminates the bipartisan BS in Washington. Maintaining law, sovereignty, and protection should be our only focus. I, along with many Americans feel that if we followed these principles we wouldn't even be in the mess you have commented on above. Instead of more of the same why not go back to our roots? Get the government out of our lives and the lives of others? Yes we have been given much by the hand of the government but will it be worth it? Will we pay the price but not count the cost? Is the situation in Washington right now worth it? Will our near future be worth it? I have no idea how to get back to where we once were and where our constitution directs us, but I do feel like if it doesn't happen soon, things will escalate as they have over the past many decades. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-67942631762003758742013-05-17T00:54:58.255-05:002013-05-17T00:54:58.255-05:00Well, that's a first.
You're welcome to ...Well, that's a first. <br /><br />You're welcome to comment. You're welcome to disagree. Just don't be a dick about it. <br /><br />Thanks for the apology, that took some class. Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-75379783729181586912013-05-17T00:29:34.883-05:002013-05-17T00:29:34.883-05:00Jim, this is anonymous from Idaho again. I am real...Jim, this is anonymous from Idaho again. I am really sorry for being a jerk in my comment, I checked back in to delete my post or edit it without being rude but couldn't see how to delete it. Then I read the rules and felt worse. I usually don't post comments and when I do I try to be cordial in hopes of having a decent conversation but lately I have had a string of bad comments and this one put me over the top...once again you have my sincere apologies, next time I will express my opinion nicely and constructively. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72879236040861717952013-05-16T23:55:11.600-05:002013-05-16T23:55:11.600-05:00The answer can be found in the interview in the c...The answer can be found in the interview in the current issue of Rolling Stone. Read it and say you're not impressed. Just sayin'Daniel Gausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01862194783976404674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-45534059200057516412013-05-16T23:11:21.016-05:002013-05-16T23:11:21.016-05:00I'm not writing anybody off, Dakota, and you&#...I'm not writing <i>anybody</i> off, Dakota, and you're not the only one who got shot at.<br /><br />You used all the right words, obviously you're experienced, so I don't have to speak baby talk to you: ask yourself something, <i>why?</i> <br /><br />Why <i>didn't</i> they drop ordnance? Why didn't they send the F-16's (leaving aside the fact that it would have been an act of war on a sovereign nation). Why didn't they send the Marines?<br /><br />What was the nature of the mission? I.e. why was it manned by the people it was manned by, who did they work for? What was their job? If you're who I think you are, you should be able to figure that out.<br /><br />What was the Ambassador <i>doing</i> there in the first place? In that particular place, at that particular time, without a heavy security detail? Note two things, Chris Stevens was a personal friend of the president and his normal duty station was in Tripoli, inside the embassy. Benghazi was damned dangerous and Steven knew it, so why was he there? There's every reason that the president would come to his aid and damned few reasons why he wouldn't. So why?<br /><br />I'm not writing anybody off, Dakota. But I'm saying there was a reason. One that can't be discussed in the open. One that's worth keeping this peep show going. Very likely one that can't be discussed openly with most members of congress, for what should be damned obvious reasons that involve getting even more of our people killed because those pompous bastards can't help but run their fat fucking mouths. Note who <i>hasn't</i> said anything, congress wise. Note who's calling for, well, his version of calm reason, guess who got read in and who didn't. <br /><br />Then put the pieces together, you used all the right words, you would appear to have the correct experience to do so. <br /><br />If the president, if the JCS, if the Theater Commander didn't come to the rescue, then why? We <i>don't</i> leave our people to die. So why did we? And the answer isn't because Obama hates the military and wants them to die and Nazis bleet bleet ook ook.<br /><br />Shit, rescuing the Ambassador would have been a fucking <i>triumph!</i> And public relations coup even if they crashed and burned! Hell, any campaign wonk could have sold that heroic story. <br /><br />So why didn't we?<br /><br />This isn't the first time we've left four of our own to die, you know, though you don't see republicans holding endless hearings to find out why four SEALs died on a lonely mountaintop outside of Asadabad on Bush's watch, do you?Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-83354149268985063632013-05-16T22:46:33.889-05:002013-05-16T22:46:33.889-05:00Dakota, from what I understand the actual attack o...Dakota, from what I understand the actual attack on the Ambassador was over in *far* less than four hours. As in, once his vehicle was isolated, it was all over within minutes. Jet aircraft four hours away aren't exactly useful in that situation, neither are Marines 400 miles away. Far more useful were the local militia (in CIA pay) and several dozen covert ops spooks who were mostly ex-Seals and such, all of which were in the local area and all of which stayed well away. Makes me wonder if this was a hit on Ambassador Stevens by the CIA (why *was* he visiting a CIA installation?), but we'll never know, of course...<br />BadTuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01345749557330760251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-43731143784765964552013-05-16T22:42:21.445-05:002013-05-16T22:42:21.445-05:00Yeppers, Weedoni, I had that same suspicion -- why...Yeppers, Weedoni, I had that same suspicion -- why was the Ambassador there visiting a CIA installation? Something wrong was going on that the Ambassador had to troubleshoot, and then the CIA, which had about fifty personnel of their own in the station, somehow managed to send the Ambassador out with only four escorts? This was a CIA FUBAR big-time, they thought they were going to sneak a f'ing U.S. Ambassador out of that compound without being seen if they refrained from sending a sufficiently large force coordinated with the local militia (which leaks like a sieve but hey, they were still in CIA pay)? Dude. Stooooo-pid. Just sayin'.<br />BadTuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01345749557330760251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-61140605983679666542013-05-16T22:40:36.933-05:002013-05-16T22:40:36.933-05:00Interesting Take Warrant, you make all scenarios e...Interesting Take Warrant, you make all scenarios equivalent. I give the President credit for making the call to go in on a 50-50 ID for the Compound. I give his CIA Director (Panetta) less credit for having a pre-staged letter blaming the SOF Commander for misreading the threat should anything go wrong and the mission prove disastrous(that leak came out of Langley two days after). <br />On pre-planned missions the President seems OK, no better or worse than any other President who has to give the go ahead.<br /><br />Where I have an issue with him, is his response to crisis. Perhaps you don't care two hoots about our people in Benghazi, but there are plenty of questions regarding the status forces in the region, the availability of armed drones, the availability of tankers and F-16s, and AFRICOM troops. If we had resources as simple as a hellfire missile to be hung on one of the two drones that was in fact in service, why did we not use them, and quickly to silence the mortar?<br />Those questions that involve clandestine resources are the ones I have seen no answer for. Aviano is a 1000 miles away, but a division of F-16s flying one way into SIG, hot-pitted could have been overhead within four-hours. There are a lot of scenarios that could have been played out, ways to support unconventionally that we military do creatively all the time.<br />You are ready to say the ex-seals knew it was dangerous, but does this justify the lack of support, and the reticence to allow support? <br />Most military I know are angry that nothing more immediate was done, and the President was not more engaged rather than prepping for fundraisers. <br />If it was no big deal why did he obfuscate the true nature of the attack. He did for several weeks, regardless of whatever turn of phrase he used in the Rose Garden.<br />And why was Carter Ham relieved that day, on the spot? Perhaps there are some questions that need answering, but you seem ready to accept it was fubar and that it's ok, as long as it isn't your arse out there on the pointy end. <br />I am retired, but I recall getting shot at, and remember guys who went into the Valley of Death like the 600, and got shot down. It's a good thing there were folks ready to go into harms way to recover them rather than writing them off and being comforted by the fact that they knew war was dangerous...<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026972536694604623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-81306815165740466872013-05-16T22:30:15.895-05:002013-05-16T22:30:15.895-05:00huh...I just signed on here, but I always thought ...huh...I just signed on here, but I always thought the whole benghazi incident smelled a lot like the Pueblo incident of yore, a cia deal gone wrong, where because it was what it was, nobody in the local tactical area would respond, because it was a "black-hole" that none of them could admit was there, so precious time was spent while they denied that they knew of it's existence.. when the poeblo got taken none of the command in and around japan would admit it was there, so we, sitting on a fighter-bomber base in Thailand were the only ones that could frag something for a response..which never launched, because the boat had been already taken.. and, oh, who's bright idea was it to spend the anniversary of 911 there anyway?the great weedonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16501747938736851556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-51264034132985386952013-05-16T17:01:51.922-05:002013-05-16T17:01:51.922-05:00Great rant as usual, Mr Wright! Loved the line &q...Great rant as usual, Mr Wright! Loved the line "Does it really matter if the president called Benghazi terrorism or if he called it a ham sandwich?"<br /><br />As for where the POTUS was that night? Obviously he was Hiking The Appalachian Trail...<br /><br />Annie FittAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-60007880256244821732013-05-16T14:40:31.845-05:002013-05-16T14:40:31.845-05:00Jim, thank you for keeping the discourse out of th...Jim, thank you for keeping the discourse out of the insanity zone.Two Old Broads and No Estrogenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11778051210687620081noreply@blogger.com