Tuesday, October 28, 2008
7
Not much ,,, just waiting for election day basically. Hope we can celebrate taking back our country from the yahoos destroying it now ... "conservative" my ass.!!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
6
Just resuming after forgetting how to add a new posting ... can I tell how new I am to this? My half-brother Sean was married last week to his partner Daryl ... a 1st in our family and a welcome happening to find 2 people who love each other enough to make the commitment.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
5
Getting ready to visit Reno on Biz ... will meet up with Bean & Kathy for dinner Wed nite then back home on Thurs.
Beach Boogie went well ... one plane out of fuel ... one missing gas cap (found) ... lots of food and beverage consumed by all (60 or so). Beautiful weather.
Beach Boogie went well ... one plane out of fuel ... one missing gas cap (found) ... lots of food and beverage consumed by all (60 or so). Beautiful weather.
Friday, September 19, 2008
4
Looking forward to a long weekend in Pacific City ... our friends Sunni & Rick are hosting a "Boogie" which is where a group of skydivers get together for a couple of days of almost non-stop jumping.
Politics and economy will NOT be topics of conversation for once!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
day 2
Just notes on Iraq military handover; Betrayus to Odierno:
But the goals for Odierno's term remain tempered by reality. While some Americans talk about victory in Iraq, American commanders steer clear of that value-laden term and generally come back to earth in terms that are more about salvaging an acceptable end to a war that has taken more lives and years than they expected when it started. There was little talk of democracy in Iraq, let alone throughout the Middle East, and a lot of talk about lost comrades. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullin stretched things the most, claiming that Iraqi reconciliation had "begun to blossom," something most Iraqis would dispute bitterly. But Petraeus' bottom line was measured. He repeated his promise last year that the war in Iraq was "hard but not hopeless" and said U.S. troops have turned it now into "hard but hopeful."
Odierno was even more cautious. In his speech he said he would work toward "complete success." But in comments to reporters later he outlined what that meant. "[Iraq is] in a fragile state now. What I want to do is build it into a more stable state." He added, "What we have to do is maintain the stability so the [Iraqi] government can grow." Asked to describe the best possible scenario, Odierno said that would mean continued security and improvement in the government's ability to bring things like electricity and water to Iraqis.
He talked about Iraq as an "evolutionary" process and noted ongoing threats. An agreement with Iraqi officials about the future of U.S. troops here is still "extremely important," he said. American diplomats had said a deal would be wrapped up about July 31, but talks continue. He noted that local elections, already delayed and now hoped for by the end of year, will be critical. He cited rival Kurdish and Arab claims to disputed territories as another volatile issue still unsettled. He did not need to mention that bombers have struck several times in recent days but there were repeated warnings from speakers that Al Qaeda in Iraq is not dead.
Odierno and the other speakers showered Petraeus with praise, the real occasion at hand. The mood was practically jubilant compared to last time, when Casey told reporters that "history" would judge whether he erred by rushing to put Iraqi troops in charge – a policy Petraeus basically reversed. But much of the joy was relative, with frequent references to the horror that gripped the country last year. A helmet-less ride down the airport road today is good news. But it does not equal victory in Iraq.
Odierno was even more cautious. In his speech he said he would work toward "complete success." But in comments to reporters later he outlined what that meant. "[Iraq is] in a fragile state now. What I want to do is build it into a more stable state." He added, "What we have to do is maintain the stability so the [Iraqi] government can grow." Asked to describe the best possible scenario, Odierno said that would mean continued security and improvement in the government's ability to bring things like electricity and water to Iraqis.
He talked about Iraq as an "evolutionary" process and noted ongoing threats. An agreement with Iraqi officials about the future of U.S. troops here is still "extremely important," he said. American diplomats had said a deal would be wrapped up about July 31, but talks continue. He noted that local elections, already delayed and now hoped for by the end of year, will be critical. He cited rival Kurdish and Arab claims to disputed territories as another volatile issue still unsettled. He did not need to mention that bombers have struck several times in recent days but there were repeated warnings from speakers that Al Qaeda in Iraq is not dead.
Odierno and the other speakers showered Petraeus with praise, the real occasion at hand. The mood was practically jubilant compared to last time, when Casey told reporters that "history" would judge whether he erred by rushing to put Iraqi troops in charge – a policy Petraeus basically reversed. But much of the joy was relative, with frequent references to the horror that gripped the country last year. A helmet-less ride down the airport road today is good news. But it does not equal victory in Iraq.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
new to this
Mainly ... what the heck are those 50% who voted for Bush last time around thinking??? (I know, they don't think!!) If they work for wages then there is no reason on earth to vote Republican. I know all polticians are suspect on many levels but give us a break ... please ...
I came of age in the late 60s & early 70s and can only wonder "... where have all the flowers gone?" ... so much promise, so much selling out!!!
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