Swamp Gas: Aug. 6, 2007

Maybe those 190,000 lost rifles fell into the same black hole as those pallets loaded with $8 billion dollars worth of unmarked $100 bills.

Let's see, that about $42,000 dollars worth of ammunition for each rifle.

So, Cheneybush is indiscriminately providing cash and weapons to our enemies. Isn't there a word for that?

What are the Democrats thinking here with the FISA bill? I am totally disappointed!

The President is stonewalling oversight at every turn these days.

The Democrats FINALLY get something that they can use for leverage with this bill so they can get some control and what do they do? Give us Alberto with the truth on off of these secret programs or we won't authorize this bill. That's simple.

So instead they give the President everything he wants, and then say that they'll pass an amendment later. Yeah, like he won't veto that amendment.

So, the truth is out, the NRA is actually running the war in Iraq. Just give everybody lots of guns, that'll take care of the problem. What I fail to understand is how they can be so in favor of everybody having a gun, to defend themselves, and so against every country having a nuclear arsenal to defend themselves with. I guess, when it comes to guns, size matters.

The headline Arsenal Lost came as something of a shock. It will not be a surprise to read those words many times over the comming months but as our football (soccer to you) season has not started yet it would be a consodrerable achievement even by the standars of the Arsenal team to lose without actually playing.
NOTE: Arsenal, now one of Britain's top teams, began life as an amateur side made up from staff at the Royal Navy's munitions factory, Woolwich Arsenal.
The web is a global medium, great innit?

DEBATABLE
Mitty you are a pompous ass and a typical republican. "Holier than though" because they have been pro-life longer than you?!?!?! How bout holier than though because you are the devil incarnate.

If I were republican, I would be voting in the Dems favor right about now. Between Brownback and Romney, I am not sure which one I despise more.

What exactly are you people on the right going to do when a Democrat takes the Presidency in the election? You're making whichever one it is the most powerful President of all time, you know.

Wow! General Patraeus did such a great job of losing 190,000 weapons, enough body armor for 3,000 troops and $8 billion in cash while he was heading up logistics that he was promoted to head all of the efforts in Iraq. That's over $42,000 in ammunition for each rifle lost. Way to go Bush!!! Isn't there some way Alberto Gonzales and Michael Brown can go help us out over there? I'm sure they'd also be doing a heck-of-a-job.

Now Congress is letting the cheneybush regime listen in to phone calls that start / stop outside the USA if they are - by some mysterious magic - routed through the USA? Congress once again proves its own stupidity!

How can ANYONE believe a single claim put forth by cheneybush anymore? They have lowered the USA's standing lower than a snake's belly in slime - - which is still higher than cheneybush's moral standards.

Let's waterboard the cheneybush twins and other spawn for 3 or 4 days and then see if cheneybush thinks it's a good idea.

And, while we're at it, let's just say that every school child in America is an honor student and, according to cheneybush, that will make it true! See how simple it all is?

ARESENAL LOST-
"weapons distribution was haphazard and rushed and failed to follow established procedures, particularly from 2004 to 2005, when security training was led by Gen. David Petraeus, who now commands all U.S. forces in Iraq."

Well well well...and this is just 190,000 AK-47's. Wait until the rest of the equipment list comes out! If you can't successfully keep track of this small arsenal of weaponry, how the hell are you to successfully command all the US forces in Iraq? Unbelievable...

GW Your Iraq war just keeps getting better and better everyday! Go ahead, keep convincing us this is all for the interest of national security.

I'd feel safer swimming with starved great white then I would fighting your losing, costly battle in Iraq.

Well, 190,000 weapons unaccounted for in Iraq. That is significant, and a appalling oversight by the criminals in Washington.
However, how many unaccounted weapons are there in the greater metropolitan area of Chicago, not to mention the country? Mayor Daley sponsors a gun turn in, and they get hordes of weapons. The next day, there is no mention of the imminent danger posed by the hundres of thousands, if not more illiegal weapons that were not turned in.
I grew up in Dolton in the 60's, and my father and brother were regulars at Chuck's Gun Shop. Imagine my astonishment when I heard that of all the illegal guns taken in the 1990's, Chuck's Gun Shop was responsible for the highest percentage of these weapons. Jesse, Al, et.al. are justified in holding rally's outside Chuck's (and I am not a hugh fan of their protests, as they are designed to do nothing more than get them headlines). Their rallies however, are far too late.
A record, or near record number of Chicago Public School students were killed last year. There is an article everyday about a shooting. But there has been more hype about these Iraqi weapons than I have heard about the crisis right here in our laps all year. The NRA has done a great job of turning enough Americans into "Stepford People" so convinced that the right to bear arms bears no responsiblity. If you own a gun, lose it or not keep it secured enough prevent theft, then you should be held responsible for what that weapon does.
I think the authorities should throughouly search Chucak's records on each and every gun they trace back to Chuck's. I would bet if this was done without corruption, there would be enough found to close Chuck's immediately, and for good. However, Dolon has a member of the Shaw family for Villiage Pesident. Just give Dolton a 606.. zip code and put it down as another Chicago neighborhood destroyed by greed and corruption.

Oh, also to snlag, I did not have a chance to finish our bit last week. Yes, I believe in freedom of expression, editorial sarcasm et. al. I just feel that using childish name calling goes too far. Bush is an idiot, and I am a registered Republican. Use "adult" sarcasm. Use the terms that these criminals so richly deserve. I have had no problem with your opinions. It is just that there is enough childishness (is that a word?) in the media, it is refreshing to hear people use real words, like idiot, incompetent etc.
Blog on!

Cheryl,

I suppose they'll rest content that a Democrat will simply do away with all of those powers because corruption and abuse of power is only a Republican problem. Democrats are the only people in the nation that truly respect and value the Constitution, so the people should have nothing to worry about. Plus, assuming Obama wins, we'll kill bin Laden and make peace with Iran, Syria and North Korea within the first year of his administration. So there will be no need for heightened national security.

My understanding of this was that before looking further into the matter the excuse was that they did not keep paper records of what was happening with the arms in comparison to the money spent for that time frame. I think that ruled on the ground in Iraq; a trial and error as far as winning over localities and arming them. Once it became clear the insurgents had to be dealt with separately instead of being acknowledged synonymously as "terrorists" (due to their increasing size and violence )different units were trying different counter insurgency methods on their own (no thanks to the lack of a cohesive plan post-Iraq invasion); creating their own security forces on their own only to lose them when they moved on. After that the criticism came about being unable to clear and hold areas from insurgence of which much later came the idea of a surge and more conformity and cohesion as the army got better acquainted with the localities ( able to rely on the neighborhood to help the discern between bad guys) in the plans to clear and hold the areas by really creating loyal security forces. I could be wrong but I think in a scenario like Iraq. No post-plan, no plan for insurgency, hostile relations with the "occupiees" before gaining some rapport, zealot run neighborhoods, etc such a project is bound to have a problem with unaccountability or counter productivity and down right waste. Look at the "projects" ; billions spent on lacking maintenance and no one to take them over. Definitely, a shame that we should be affording such waste.

On the issue of the executive assertion of a right to no over sight (and special powers) I think that this administration is breaking and making history. Our Congress has become a tool.

No warrant necessary and no oversight screams for abuse. Richard Nixon would not have had to resign if he had the means to listen to the DNC from the office. You can be certain that people that oppose this administration in any way will be listened to. There is no doubt that all those traitors that oppose the Iraq way will have their communications intercepted.

Even though most of the media did not focus on it, the international surveillance program signed by the President was passed by the DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED CONGRESS. Just shows that the Pelosi-Reid combine can get something done when they set their minds to it. And to think they and their colleagues and the leftist media spent all that time bashing the same program they ended up approving. Washington, indeed, is made up of strange cooperatives.

I am happy to see the President get the help in needs in the FISA area. Jimma Carter invented this FISA thing in the 70's it fits with ACLU card carrying lawyers and trial lawyers like John Edwards.Eat your hearts out Dems as you cry and whine about your rights but, you have been giving American civil rights to Islamic jihadists. They'll just have to get used to Club Gitmo. Jerry White, Springfield, IL