tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post8298323041984276659..comments2024-03-20T12:34:55.100-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: WormtongueJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-3908933907704679832019-05-27T10:07:41.390-05:002019-05-27T10:07:41.390-05:00Someone needs to impress upon Trump that informati...Someone needs to impress upon Trump that information comes from outside his head. He really seems to believe, given his behavior and statements, that knowledge is something generated inside his brainstem; it consists of a lizard brain gut feeling slathered over by a bunch of imaginary "facts", statements purportedly about the real world everyone actually lives in (but almost always in fact false statements), which he erroneously believes to be arguments backing up or supporting his lizard-brain reaction. Feelings and lies he makes up to make his feelings sound like they're reality-based-- that's the functional definition of Trump "knowledge" on the basis of difference from he calls actual information, produced by entire agencies of experts working through institutions designed carefully to get it right... "wrong"MrsChaos Manorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09133347357749122010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-7263104339160952432019-02-06T13:31:04.520-06:002019-02-06T13:31:04.520-06:00Since the Shah fell almost 40 years ago, the US (a...Since the Shah fell almost 40 years ago, the US (and others - Saudi Arabia and Israel being two examples) have been demonizing and threatening Iran with war. (I am not denying that Iran has made blustering threats also). As a sovereign nation, who wouldn't seek to arm themselves to the teeth with anything they could get their hands on to make sure a war against them wasn't started? And they have some serious weaponry, particularly Soviet Moskit (Sunburn) cruise missiles designed to take out naval fleets, especially aircraft carriers. We (the American public) associate Iran's capabilities with the laughable Korean War vintage Scud missiles of Saddam Hussein, basically point and light glorified bottle rockets and have no idea how a battle against a well equipped military would transpire. How will we respond to our Persian Gulf carrier group sunk within a half hour of the first strike? Yes, they have anti-missile protection, tested and marketed by Raytheon under heavily scripted scenarios - never in real conditions. Here's an old essay that says it better than I can, I'm sure our defenses have been upgraded as much as their offenses since it was written: <a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7147.htm%20target=" rel="nofollow">A Bridge Too Far</a> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16573782094383709811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-3753536914783641722019-02-06T08:49:32.317-06:002019-02-06T08:49:32.317-06:00Trump should cast himself in the starring role of ...Trump should cast himself in the starring role of a remake of "The Brainwashing of My Dad."Banewoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10505522715810989827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-62130770779069801532019-02-05T08:45:44.233-06:002019-02-05T08:45:44.233-06:00Thanks Jim,
I'm a retired high school history...Thanks Jim,<br /><br />I'm a retired high school history teacher. I taught this stuff for 22 years and when covering these topics with 15-17 year olds I would get a blank stare. I have little confidence that my lessons sunk in to those minds that were only thinking about the "hot" boy or girl sitting next to them. Unfortunately, for many this is the only time they get any historical context for events that affect us today. Now, when I talk to adults and try to explain the historical context of my views on Iraq and Iran, they still don't want to hear it. My experience over the the last 30 years is that most people feel that geopolitical topics are something that anyone can master. "Its just common sense" is often what I hear. Or, "Both sides are equally at fault." The American electorate is woefully unprepared, intellectually, to deal with the complexities of world politics even-though, they have google at their finger tips. All they want is something that is short and sweet and explains all the worlds problems in one tweet. And, to that, I give you Trump.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13419405440769715237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-53466816532932429272019-02-04T13:33:15.178-06:002019-02-04T13:33:15.178-06:00Well well well, can't you also please point ou...Well well well, can't you also please point out the parallels with what is going on right now with Venezuela? They have oil right? Aaron Johnsonhttps://www.facebook.com/aaron.johnson.986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-40523735447644650402019-02-04T08:11:21.002-06:002019-02-04T08:11:21.002-06:00I like how he cites intelligence failures from the...I like how he cites intelligence failures from the Iraq war as justification for ignoring intelligence reports.<br /><br />He has written a history of the time in which intelligence agencies got everything wrong and Bush/Cheney were tragically led astray for believing them.<br /><br />In reality of course Bush/Cheney started with a preferred conclusion, promoted any intel that supported it, ignored any that opposed it, and flat out made shit up to seal the deal.<br /><br />Exactly what Trump is now doing. Linus Bernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861330216312206879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-89641839742245549692019-02-03T18:19:00.541-06:002019-02-03T18:19:00.541-06:00Jared, Stephen, Hannity,Bannon and Bolton come to ...Jared, Stephen, Hannity,Bannon and Bolton come to mind as the wormtongues nearest the idiot supreme. That there are no leaders speaking out against this lunatic and his daily lunatic ramblings says so much more about where this country is and is going than anything else. Why don't we have real leadership? Where are the experts? The USA is in deep trouble here with no real light at the end of the tunnel.Kat Russellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-81290292658050127902019-02-03T17:45:39.409-06:002019-02-03T17:45:39.409-06:00As the late but exceedingly smart Bob Townsend onc...As the late but exceedingly smart Bob Townsend once said "First rate people hire first rate people. Second rate people hire third rate people".<br /><br />One hesitates to speculate where on the continuum Trump falls but his hires do not inspire confidence any more than he does..South Jersey Docnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-51239067161384859022019-02-03T07:42:59.126-06:002019-02-03T07:42:59.126-06:00No - he listens to fox because they flatter him.No - he listens to fox because they flatter him.reasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09488435543492412991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-87153395728810787042019-02-02T12:37:20.846-06:002019-02-02T12:37:20.846-06:00What a read. Actually jaw dropping to learn the in...What a read. Actually jaw dropping to learn the intricacies of our intelligence committees. You literally wrote Bill Maher's intro in regards to this on last nights episode.Jean Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01509108985822729569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-47985055106440655022019-02-02T12:21:38.096-06:002019-02-02T12:21:38.096-06:00Bolton in the White House and his hate for Iran do...Bolton in the White House and his hate for Iran do not help matters.pah1027https://www.blogger.com/profile/03634419011147721648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-33118873025468284482019-02-02T12:19:09.984-06:002019-02-02T12:19:09.984-06:00Ah, Thucydides - Now there's a guy who knows a...Ah, Thucydides - Now there's a guy who knows a thing or to about war with Iran .... errr ... I mean, Persia.Toon Moenehttp://moene.org/~toonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-85741397324551560092019-02-02T09:41:17.449-06:002019-02-02T09:41:17.449-06:00You had me from "Wormtonuge." Great job!...You had me from "Wormtonuge." Great job!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065824975037774917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-42590306390768540372019-02-02T09:16:11.922-06:002019-02-02T09:16:11.922-06:00I was thinking the same thing before the big revea...I was thinking the same thing before the big reveal about Fox News. When Jim asked how Trump knew that the intelligence Community was wrong, my immediate thoughts went right to Putin. Russia is playing Trump like a goddamn puppet in my opinion.Everyone and Their Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12226555758811435275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72390273575048558552019-02-02T04:46:17.973-06:002019-02-02T04:46:17.973-06:00Thank you once again, Jim. Your insights clarify t...Thank you once again, Jim. Your insights clarify the amorphous dread that clouds my thoughts lately. I often take these as talking points. Slight correction for "if the press would ask a questions." should be "question". Stay strong, sir, I appreciate your sustained excellence.sailorhalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05441455783678794609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-10057626796383062742019-02-01T22:06:18.018-06:002019-02-01T22:06:18.018-06:00trump only reads what has him as the main subject....trump only reads what has him as the main subject. We are so screwedraddoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13637927566035730323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-43224743242245921812019-02-01T21:57:05.415-06:002019-02-01T21:57:05.415-06:00Rockets? Never heard of em. What do they play? Are...Rockets? Never heard of em. What do they play? Are they like The Runaways?Rocky the hathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10563605572808303845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-48605273618926606342019-02-01T20:47:20.854-06:002019-02-01T20:47:20.854-06:00I'd be inclined to believe the president's...I'd be inclined to believe the president's intelligence briefings are in two copies, one a factual and deep dive into global surveillance and threat analysis that is under lock and key and accessible when due for emergency use, the other with a lot of [this page intentionally left blank] that goes to a president that be all accounts never opens them.<br /><br />Off topic, I'd like to offer you kudos, Jim for stating and/or quoting more incisive and thought provoking insights in one blog post than arose in a presidential twitter term.Paul Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06113001657882414961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-82754673930954350692019-02-01T19:51:44.163-06:002019-02-01T19:51:44.163-06:00I keep waiting for someone in power, anyone, to st...I keep waiting for someone in power, anyone, to stand up to the occupant of the White House in public, on live TV, and demand explanations for all the garbage that comes out of his mouth. I know. It will never happen, but a girl can dream.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07688080490445963217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-56630794987911505132019-02-01T19:33:04.821-06:002019-02-01T19:33:04.821-06:00Such an edifying essay. Thank you.Such an edifying essay. Thank you.Todd Austin Hunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13799612593453904561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-35276128443497252882019-02-01T18:59:37.036-06:002019-02-01T18:59:37.036-06:00EXCELLENT article, Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EXCELLENT article, Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00048461439805668043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-42897954785964577872019-02-01T18:30:18.205-06:002019-02-01T18:30:18.205-06:00Thank you. Very well written. Always enjoy your ...Thank you. Very well written. Always enjoy your observations. Just wish it was better news!Karonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10805688126208557215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-70744442712477005932019-02-01T18:29:55.626-06:002019-02-01T18:29:55.626-06:00I suspect we already know the answer to that one, ...I suspect we already know the answer to that one, too: Because the Republican Party values its power over the well being of the nation and its people, and they figure they ain't skatin' QUITE on the brink of utter disaster.<br /><br />Yet.Tom O'Bedlamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11821487402927475042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-58618051808521017942019-02-01T18:29:45.977-06:002019-02-01T18:29:45.977-06:00I'll admit I'm actually surprised - pleas...I'll admit I'm actually surprised - pleasantly so - that the USA <i>(& Australia because when you go to war my country does too - along with others like the UK)</i> hasn't gone to war with Iran yet. Under Trump & Bolton especially. Its one of the things I dread but half expect to hear everyday & have been expecting most of my life. <br /><br />So, Jim Wright, please, is this thought rational and reasonable or not? How likely and imminent in your view, with your expertise, is a war with Iran and the USA plus its allies? <br /><br />Is it all just bluster and bombast by a POTUS who will happily shriek imprecations on twitter and off the cuff tough guy posturing at dictators one day then pompously cosy up to them and slobber happily over them like a fanboy the next? <i>(Cough, Kim Jong-un, cough)</i> Or is it seriously likely that Trump driven by Bolton and the (other) psychopaths and chickenhawk fantasists of Fox news will launch a war on Iran (or another nation) as a distraction and / or seeking ultimate "glory" and legacy will start a war? <br /><br />Do you think he would and how would you bet on this %~age wise please, Jim Wright?StevoRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506855815096149912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-37631997718037803552019-02-01T18:12:34.119-06:002019-02-01T18:12:34.119-06:00Some dude name Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr was ...Some dude name Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr was involved in that coup. Michael Van Pelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196986222704911429noreply@blogger.com