Iraq

Speaking at the West Point commencement Vice President Cheney said today:

"We're fighting a war on terror because the enemy attacked us first, and hit us hard."

See this link for the full text of his speach:

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/05/cheney_war_do…

The "Dollar Auction" has been popularized by Poundstone. It illustrates the futility of war, and some other forms of competition as well. See Wikipedia for a discussion and links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollar_auction

The basic idea is simple enough. Here's how the auction works: the auctioneer offers a prize, in this case a one dollar bill ($1), to the highest bidder. Bidding starts at one cent. The only catch: the SECOND highest bidder must also pay up, even though they get nothing in return.

It is a great party trick. You may need to prompt people to start the bidding, because most people smell a trick but can't put their finger on it. Someone bids a penny. Someone else bids 2 cents. Pretty soon the bid reaches 99 cents, when the second person realizes he is out 98 cents. So, nervously, he raises the bid to $1. If he wins, at least he is even.

In a year end news conference President Bush announced he has not yet decided what to do in Iraq. Selected quotes:

• - "I will tell you we're looking at all options. And one of those options, of course, is increasing more troops."
• - "would require difficult choices and additional sacrifices because the enemy is merciless and violent."
• - "And I encourage you all to go shopping more."

The one thing he knows for sure is that shopping

Today's NY Times reprints a previously secret memo by Rumsfeld titled: "SUBJECT: Iraq — Illustrative New Courses of Action", and also an article about the memo: "Rumsfeld Memo on Iraq Proposed ‘Major’ Change".

Read this remarkable, well written memo yourself. It is a brief, matter of fact and to the point summary of the options presently available in Iraq. The shorthand summary is entirely consistent with previous summaries attributed to the Pentagon: 1) Cut and Run, 2) Stay the Course or 3) Go Long (more troops). Rummy places 'Stay the Course' and 'Go Long' squarely in the 'less attractive' category, while variants on 'Cut and Run' are all in the 'could and, in a number of cases, should be done' category.

[img_assist|nid=32|title=Satanic Symbol of Peace?|desc=Source|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]
Homeowners complained that a Peace sign/wreath might be an anti-Iraq war symbol or possibly even Satanic. When the rules committee determined the wreath was within the rules, the homeowners association president fired the committee.

My view is that the wreath is a Satanic symbol of peace. Who would oppose the Iraq war except Satan? The mind boggles.

Full story from the AP

"A study published by the Lancet says the risk of death by violence for civilians in Iraq is now 58 times higher than before the US-led invasion."

- From the BBC

In his column today ("Why Iraq Is Crumbling") Charles Krauthammer says the trouble with Iraq is the Iraqis' themselves. It seems they aren't ready for Democracy. Or a Republic, even.

Very convenient, methinks. Heads we win, tails Iraq looses. Had things gone well there (which was never very likely, and many - including the Bush 41 administration - have said so from the get go), Krauthammer would no doubt give America the credit. But now that the inevitable chaos is clear for all to see, it is the Iraqis' themselves who have failed to build a stable state.

Chilling article in the Washington Post about a US soldier accused of rape and murder of a 14 year old Iraqi girl. The conditions he dealt with daily in Iraq were stressful to the extreme but when the soldiers themselves don't understand why they are there, the good become callous and the callous become brutal.

Telling quotes from the accused:

"I came over here because I wanted to kill people."

"I shot a guy who wouldn't stop when we were out at a traffic checkpoint and it was like nothing"