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AndyPost

Listed below are comments made by AndyPost between Tuesday, 24th November 2009 and Monday, 30th November 2009 (2 Hours Ago) .

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Afghan decision time 05:27am on 30 Nov 2009 Mark:

"This is not new. Several books on the region, including Ahmed Rashid's masterful Descent into Chaos, have made very similar allegations."

Yes, this is old news. I knew they screwed up the operation fairly soon after it happened. This was discussed extensively during the 2004 election. Americans know about this.

This was the work of Kerry. The President probably knew he was going to produce the report, but I don't see how it helps the White House. It's all water under the bridge. After all, there's no question that Obama wasn't involved, and President Bush can't run again.

"While there are blogs attacking the suggestion, Rumsfeld has not hit back."

What do you expect him to say? Rumsfeld was trying out a new strategy based on using technology and communication as a force multiplier, taking the concept even so far as to eschew armor plating on vehicles believing that the U.S. forces would destroy enemy forces before the enemy even knew they were there. And actually, if you've ever seen a Javelin missile demonstration, it seems like a reasonable assumption.

But he failed to adequately address the U.S. military's biggest challenge since Vietnam: identifying the enemy. It's difficult to apply technology to that problem, and those lightly armored vehicles drove into a lot of ambushes because of it. It was a strategic military blunder. It's neither the first nor the last time. Americans have been blessed with some top-notch commanders, but we've had our fair share of failures, too.

It's not treason, though. It's just poor military leadership.
A very different Black Friday 8:31pm on 29 Nov 2009 "...good to see the baggers are back on the menu."

Why?
Getting to grips with Thanksgiving Day 9:08pm on 28 Nov 2009 Ref. 102, GH1618:

"I would say the turkey is a native North American bird, but it hardly matters which sense was intended."

Considering it was almost our national bird (instead of the bald eagle), and the fact that it is a food of choice for our national holiday, I would agree that it is at least a candidate for the quintessential American bird.
Getting to grips with Thanksgiving Day 8:59pm on 28 Nov 2009 Ref. 99, interestedinVictoria:

"Lead by the BBC's and UK's confusion with language, there is far too much conflation when intermixing (US of) America and that of America -- as for long before the USA, it denotes the lands in this western hemisphere."

The peoples of the three northern countries of North America refer to themselves as Mexicans, Americans and Canadians (or Canadiens). Similarly there are unique names for all the peoples in Central America. No one else but Americans refer to themselves as American (without qualifier). The meaning of the term "American" is clear and unambiguous.
A very different Black Friday 11:01pm on 27 Nov 2009 Mark:

"By the end of the day, shops in the States will have a good feel for the way the economy is heading, but a new poll by ABC doesn't suggest there'll be great news for America's retailers."

I don't believe the news will be good, either. Americans have recently been made to look hard at their individual financial conditions and many don't like what they see. Combine that with the constant stream of stories on the news about credit card companies behaving abominably, ruining people's credit ratings capriciously (which is making Americans want to erase their credit card debt as soon as possible), and you can see why the country may not be in much of a shopping mood this season.
Getting to grips with Thanksgiving Day 10:46pm on 27 Nov 2009 Mark:

"Not for nothing is it also called Turkey Day, a nod no doubt towards its real origin, Goose Day, the traditional English festival giving thanks for the harvest (and giving a goose to you landlord, which seems sort of the wrong way round)."

I have doubts, sorry. It's irreverent slang, a slang term that may have even started in my lifetime. The holiday has nothing to do with the bird. It's just that a lot of Americans eat it on Thanksgiving.

By the way, happy Thanksgiving (a day late). I hope all had a good holiday.

Did everyone get his share of the traditional NFL blowouts? Do you realize that in the last three Thanksgivings, only one game out of nine has been decided by less than 20 points? Snooze. The Broncos ended their four game slide, and QB Kyle Orton playing on a gimpy ankle went 18-28, for 245 yds, and one of each. He showed some real guts. I bet he has a nasty sprain. The offensive line moved the Giant's D line off the ball and...

There, we talked about football. You can't have a proper Thanksgiving thread without talking football. Football is a part of the modern holiday. Consider this one blessed.

You don't have to thank me. It's my pleasure.
Afghanistan troops: Decision time for Obama 01:29am on 25 Nov 2009 Ref. 35, DigitalJanitor:

"Or were the writers of Braveheart simply Marxists?"

Hmmm... Didn't the character of Robert the Bruce, a nobleman, come to the rescue at the end of the film?
Afghanistan troops: Decision time for Obama 01:01am on 25 Nov 2009 Ref. 23, ghostofsichuan:

"...grab some oil..."

If you have evidence of that, I'd love to see it.
Afghanistan troops: Decision time for Obama 6:41pm on 24 Nov 2009 Ref. 8, Pancha_Chandra:

"He came to power promising to free Afghanistan from the tyranny of terrorism."

When did he promise that? I don't remember him saying that.
Afghanistan troops: Decision time for Obama 6:38pm on 24 Nov 2009 Ref. 17, colonelartist:

"...the appropriate response to a terrorist attack is not to start wars..."

Ok, what is the appropriate response? Have your say.

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