Monthly Archives: August 2006

Boots on the deck

Posted on August 22, 2006 | Comments Off on Boots on the deck

"B5: What is the one story that you would want told that is not being told about Iraq?

"How much the people want democracy. I get tired of the MSM articles about how it was better before we came. Maybe it was because all of the life and will of the people had been crushed. Is that any way to live? I think not and I think most Iraqis would agree. There is a lot of healing going on in this country and it is moving forward in baby-steps. It won’t happen over night, but I feel the people here [want to] be allowed to make something of their nation worth being proud of."

The latest poll supposedly shows 61 percent of Americans opposed to the Iraq campaign, but they might feel differently if they read or saw something besides the latest bombing or other tragedy story. They might feel differently if they read all of this Blackfive interview with Marine Corps reservist and Gunnery Sergeant Erik E. Duane.

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Posted in Troops

Debby wins her name

Posted on August 22, 2006 | Comments Off on Debby wins her name

Debby5-day.JPG

But Accuweather’s Joe Bastardi says she may not survive the features in her path.

"With the storm in no hurry to turn into a monster the track will be consistently further south with time. This is the wave that looked like it would be near 20 north and 50 west by Friday to me from last week, though now it is forecasted by TPC north of that. The central atlantic trof, a major player in active hurricane seasons may be there to escort little Debby out when she arrives there this weekend though that is not etched in stone."

UPDATE By Aug. 24, Debby was expected to become a hurricane but not to threaten land at all, instead turning north about mid-Atlantic and dissipating before reaching the Arctic Circle. But  Accuweather said on the 25th that her moisture "may enhance rainfall in northern Europe a week to 10 days down the road."

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Posted in Weather/Climate

The Red Tent

Posted on August 22, 2006 | Comments Off on The Red Tent

It clearly helps to believe in G*d, and to have read the Bible, to suspend disbelief and live in this fully-realized story of Rebecca, Sarah, Rachel, and Leah, from Dinah’s viewpoint. And to have a mental imprint of the terrain of modern and ancient Israel and the rest of the Middle East. The plausible story moves over terrain lately in the news, as it always has been in the news, since before the time of the Bible. Seculars who aren’t feminists or interested in the relationships of men and women in a patriarchal society might find it unconvincing, possibly even "disgusting" as one Amazon reviewer put it, although that seems like an extreme reaction. If anything Diamant is delicate in her descriptions of daily life and love, and love wins out.

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Posted in Library

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Boomers

Posted on August 22, 2006 | Comments Off on Boomers

Just what Israel needs to offer its own MAD in case the mullahs really are as mad as their current Prez.

"In the face of Iran’s race to obtain nuclear power, Israel signed a contract with Germany last month to buy two Dolphin-class submarines that will, according to foreign reports, provide superior second-strike nuclear capabilities, The Jerusalem Post has learned."

UPDATE AP reports Aug. 25: "A deal under which Germany will sell Israel two submarines foresees the vessels being delivered starting in 2010, and they are not being equipped to fire nuclear weapons, an official said Friday." Israel already has three of them.

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Posted in The War

The key to it all

Posted on August 22, 2006 | Comments Off on The key to it all

Instapundit calls it a fatwa to get behind: the death of the caps lock key. No more teenage trolls yelling at the top of their digital lungs. Then, maybe, we can get enough interest in something that’s really useful, such as an em-dash key!

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Posted in Scribbles

Israel: Bush’s sock puppet?

Posted on August 22, 2006 | Comments Off on Israel: Bush’s sock puppet?

Is there anything Bush isn’t blamed for? Now it’s the Israel-Hez fiasco, although the source, Debka, often is said to be inaccurate. Probably best to wait and see if this is seconded by others.

"Olmert talked Rice into asking President George W. Bush to back the air offensive. The US president acceded – only laying down…basic conditions: Israel must confine itself to an air campaign; before embarking on a ground offensive, a further American go-ahead would be required. [This] when relayed by the secretary of state [was] accepted by the prime minister [and] explains why Israel’s ground forces were held ready in bases for three long weeks rather than being sent into battle – up until the last stage. By then, the air force offensive had proved a long way short of fast and cheap; worse, it had been ineffectual."

But as Snoopy the Goon puts it: " Reading Debkafile is a mixed pleasure. You never know where the reality starts and the pure fantasy begins with these people, and that is on top of the team being clearly partisan and peppering what is supposed to be reporting with own political agenda."

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Posted in Israel

Yippee Eye Oh Kye Ay

Posted on August 21, 2006 | Comments Off on Yippee Eye Oh Kye Ay

I’m an old Cowhand,

From the Rio Grande,

And I learned to ride,

‘Fore I learned to stand,

I’m a ridin’ fool who is up to date, 

I know every trail in the Lone Star State,

‘Cause I ride the range in a Ford V-8,

Yippee Eye Oh Kye Ay.

                                —Bing Crosby

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Posted in Scribbles

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