BigSqwert

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 10:56 AM) Except its pretty clear that the Afghanistan strategy is part of a larger strategy with Pakistan. I'm sure this is being a bit simplistic, but quick question - are you saying that because this is a non-state actor who can catch a plane we should just leave them alone? It just seems foolish. Not every situation will require this kind of military action. In fact many of them will be more police like in nature. And that's ok. But in this circumstance, there's not a lot of other options out there that make sense. I don't think sending tens of thousands of our young men and women to foreign lands to kill/capture/contain a few hundred virtually unidentifiable extremists is a good use of our time, resources, money, and lives. Add to that the tens of thousands of foreign civilians being killed in the crossfire and the increased negative perception from the Islamic world and it seems like a poor cost/benefit proposition. Increased domestic and global security measures would be something I'd rather invest in. Just look at America just before 9/11 and now. We are exponentially weakened with all these global conflicts we're trying to maintain. These extremists have nothing to lose by waiting this out as we occupy their lands and sink additional trillions of dollars into this mess. Foreign invasion and occupation will not eliminate terrorism.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 10:48 AM) Trained in Afghanistan, controlled by the Taliban - which, by the way, has basically become an arm of Al-Qaeda since 2002. And we get rid of them in Afghanistan they'll move to Pakistan, Yemen, etc. It's whack-a-mole and we're losing lives of our own in the process.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 10:42 AM) Seriously? They harbored and protected al Qaeda and odds are that relationship was not going to end. Almost all of the 9/11 attackers were Saudis.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 10:20 AM) It seems pretty obvious to me, further squeeze the Taliban into disorganization, Why are we at war with them? They never attacked us. QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 10:20 AM) further squeeze Al-Qaeda out of the region, All 5 of them? QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 10:20 AM) help Pakistan get the breathing room it needs to build its stability, By working with it's corrupt government and tribal warlords? QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 10:20 AM) and to provide Afghanis with tools necessary to build their own country from the ground up. See previous response.

Matthews is an idiot.

via Digby's blog

The only gifts for a wife should come from www.victoriassecret.com

I demanded Ted Lange.

Now all we need is Milton Bradley to cancel him out.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 02:27 PM) I'm looking at a 2009 or maybe 2010 Ford Escape *awaits response from NorthsideSox72*

Complete blood transfusion should do the trick.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 01:42 PM) I think it's an elevated version of that. I mean, the staff the way it is now gives us one side of the ball where we can be championship level....and then the offense, which is an x-factor. The moves we're making now are: "a few guys pan out and we can win a playoff series or more, otherwise wait til '11" They couldve not gotten Rios and went for it this offseason. But then what if you miss out on Holliday? You overpay for Bay? It's a weak FA crop. I disagree. Based on current economics and what's available out there KW is building a championship caliber team for 2010. It's not every year where you have a rotation like this. Would be a shame to put it to waste.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 01:34 PM) But with Peavy in place I think they're seeing '10 as a maybe-we'll-contend year...with '11 as an aim-at-contention year. I kept being told that all the moves we made last year were for 2010 and if we happened to win the division in 2009 that was supposed to be gravy. Now we're pushing it another year?

I like this post in today's Sullivan blog regarding the politics of climate change.

It's obviously clear that there was absolutely no fact checking done on her book prior to publishing.

Watched Precious and Ballast over the last couple days. Both very good films.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Nov 26, 2009 -> 01:35 PM) I like this signing, I think this is a great low-risk/high reward situation. I understand why this is low risk but why does everyone consider it high reward? He hasn't been a good player in years.

Watched it last night. Highly recommended.

Just got it in the mail from netflix.

I just hate giving Ozzie another opportunity to play a guy way more than he deserves to be out there. Think Mackowiak, Pods, and Wise in CF.

BDK you need to source your copy and paste job.

Yeah, "Mac Bangs Dennis' Mom" is probably my favorite.

"We did not have a terrorist attack on our country during President Bush's term" - Dana Perino

What is the obsession with bacon over the last year or so? From what I remember it's been around forever. Must be some hipster thing like PBR.

Fox has an interesting take on how pie charts work.