You should have invested in HAL

[Rodeo]

The news today that US casualties in Iraq reached a two year high last month got me thinking. Our soldiers are paying a high price for being sent into that sectarian shooting gallery, ill-prepared, and ill-equipped for what is probably an impossible job even with the best planning.

Our men and women are paying the highest price, but America as a whole is worse off, with our massive war debt and the sorry state of our military readiness.

So has anyone benefited from this war? Not the 100,000 dead Iraqis, that's for sure.

Well, an investment in Dick Cheney's old company would have bee one savvy investment move back in 01:



Looks eerily similar to this graph:

[speeder]

But Fintstone says that the war is going "really well".

[Rodeo]

For HAL stockholders, it is.

[widebody911]

I'm sorry dave, I can't do that...

[Mr_Wizard]

Ummm, I did

[fastpat]

Open the pod bay door, HAL, and shove you know who through it.

"Gladly, Dave."

[fintstone]

Originally posted by speeder
But Fintstone says that the war is going "really well".

What makes you think it is not? Because a known liar with no military knowledge or current intelligence said so?

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by fintstone
What makes you think it is not? Because a known liar with no military knowledge or current intelligence said so?

No. Because my bosses son who goes to work everyday in Mosul with an M4 in his hand says its going like *****. Because the military contractors I train are now sitting at home in Olympia, WA, refusing offers for $150,000 to go setup computers because its such a pit.

They're liars? Or are you?

[dd74]

I'll slide over a few bucks when HAL goes to junk. President (Hillary) Clinton will make sure that happens.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by HardDrive
No. Because my bosses son who goes to work everyday in Mosul with an M4 in his hand says its going like *****. Because the military contractors I train are now sitting at home in Olympia, WA, refusing offers for $150,000 to go setup computers because its such a pit.

They're liars? Or are you?

Please point out the lie I supposedly made...of course, you cannot. So what exactly does that make you and your insinuation?

Now, I don't know if you are lying about what your boss's son in Mosul told you, or even why you were even in Mosul, but none of the guys I work with are whining about their duty there. On the other hand, I also cannot imagine that anyone carrying an M4 through the streets of Mosul would consider their work anything but difficult and unpleasant. I also find it hard to imagine that contractors would be eager to risk their lives for a few bucks or work in a place that is "a pit"...but when you talk about "the war"...one can only assume you are talking about the "big picture" which would not be what you would get from either group you mentioned. I am sure if you asked the common ground soldier in any war...that he would have felt it was "going like *****" just as the son of your boss reportedly does.

[Rodeo]

Notice how fintstone pulls out the "classified information" card every time someone states the obvious -- that Iraq has gone to hell in a hand basket. Right from the admin playbook of lies and deception.

He knows some super secret information that would land you in jail if you disclosed it, but which shows that our war plan is working brilliantly.

Who you gonna believe, Sen. Warner, the Republican Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, or fintstone?

He's gotta be a HAL investor. No one lies like that for no reason.

[Rodeo]

More wonderful news out of Iraq today.

Another 60 Bodies Found in Baghdad
The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 10, 2006; 6:34 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Authorities found the mutilated bodies of 60 men in Baghdad in the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning, likely the latest victims of the sectarian death squads that roam the capital.

The bullet-riddled bodies all had their hands and feet bound and showed signs of torture -- hallmarks of death-squad killings, police 1st Lt. Mohamed Khayon said.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Rodeo
More wonderful news out of Iraq today.

That might be part of your problem....expecting "wonderful news" from a war zone.

[Rodeo]

I just looked at a history of WWII, and indeed, daddy, there was no "wonderful news" 5 years into that war either.

That's because the war was over.

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/truman.htm

But I guess that's an unfair comparison, right? I mean, no one expected us to make any progress in Iraq in only 5 short years.

Oops ...

Donald Rumsfeld, 2/7/03: “It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.”

Dick Cheney, 3/16/03: “I think it will go relatively quickly, . . . (in) weeks rather than months“

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Rodeo
I just looked at a history of WWII, and indeed, daddy, there was no "wonderful news" 5 years into that war either.

That's because the war was over.

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/truman.htm

But I guess that's an unfair comparison, right? I mean, no one expected us to make any progress in Iraq in only 5 short years.

Oops ...

Donald Rumsfeld, 2/7/03: “It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.”

Dick Cheney, 3/16/03: “I think it will go relatively quickly, . . . (in) weeks rather than months“

Were they talking in reference to the invasion or occupation? Do you care? Why can't you just honestly discuss anything? You always pitch in these twists and half truths. Your case must be weak to lean on such crutches.

[Rodeo]

They were talking in reference to the Iraq War ... you know, that little thing going on in the Middle East right now?

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Rodeo
They were talking in reference to the Iraq War ... you know, that little thing going on in the Middle East right now?

Right, Rumsfeld figured we might have been able to wash our hands and bring our boys home in six days, I'm sure that's what he meant.......

[Rodeo]

That's what he said.

[jyl]

Even Republican stalwarts like James A. Baker and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R) are publicly saying that the war in Iraq is "going sideways" and that we need new alternatives. Which is a very polite, politically delicate way of saying that the war is going badly.

Recall that Baker, former Sec'y of State, is the super-connected Bush family "fixer" who is brought in when things are desperate for the Bushes. E.g. for the Florida recount in 2000. Now Baker has been brought in to chair a bipartisan panel that is assessing the war's progress and suggesting some new alternatives.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100900708.html

Indeed, it is quite clear that, even while he tells us that the war is going well and we only need to stay the course, Bush is looking for a way out. Baker would not have agreed to chair the panel without Bush's request. Perhaps Baker's panel is going to used as Bush's political cover for to open peace talks with whoever he can find who's willing to talk.

So, it is obvious to anyone with their eyes open that the war is not going "really well". And it would be obvious to fintstone as well, if he had any ability to objectively assess the situation. Which he does not - he's been saying the war is going great for years and he's painted himself firmly in a corner. 20 years from now, fintstone will be telling everyone who will listen that the US had the Iraq war 99% won back in 2006.

[Superman]

Don't let up, rodeo.

Let's see.....from $5 per share to $40 per share. I think that's somewhere near an EIGHT HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE. Double your money three times.

From that perspective, this has been a very successful venture.