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Author: John RennieJohn Rennie Date: Jul 17, 2007 02:46
Op-Ed Columnist
Heroes and History
By DAVID BROOKS
New York Times Select
I spent the first four days of last week interviewing senators about Iraq.
The mood ranged from despondency to despair. Then on Friday I went to the
Roosevelt Room in the White House to hear President Bush answer questions on
the same subject. It was like entering a different universe.
Far from being beleaguered, Bush was assertive and good-humored. While some
in his administration may be looking for exit strategies, he is unshakably
committed to stabilizing Iraq. If Gen. David Petraeus comes back and says he
needs more troops and more time, Bush will scrounge up the troops. If
GeneralPetraeus says he can get by with fewer, Bush will support that, too.
Bush said he will get General Petraeus's views unfiltered by the Pentagon
establishment. He feels no need to compromise to head off opposition from
Capitol Hill and is confident that he can rebuild popular support. "I have
the tools," he said.
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Author: Donna EvlethDonna Evleth Date: Jul 17, 2007 10:05
> From: "John Rennie" talktalk.net>
> Newsgroups: alt.activism.death-penalty
> Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:46:53 +0100
> Subject: Tolstoy IS right
>
> If Bush's theory of history is correct, the right security plan can lead to
> safety, the right political compromises to stability. But if Tolstoy is
> right, then the future of Iraq is beyond the reach of global summits,
> political benchmarks and the understanding of any chief executive.
I tend to go with Tolstoy.
Donna Evleth
>
>
>
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Author: Earl EvlethEarl Evleth Date: Jul 17, 2007 10:39
On 17/07/07 19:05, in article C2C2C370.55BBA%%devleth@wanadoo.fr, "Donna
Evleth" wrote:
> But if Tolstoy is
>> right, then the future of Iraq is beyond the reach of global summits,
>> political benchmarks and the understanding of any chief executive.
>
> I tend to go with Tolstoy.
>
Lincoln once said
"I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have
controlled me."
Clearly what occurs in Iraq is beyond Bush's control or anybody
else. Event control evaporated years ago, and now Bush
must react to events. He did not stay the course, he
had to go the ways the winds of history are blowing.
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Author: John RennieJohn Rennie Date: Jul 20, 2007 16:28
"Donna Evleth" wrote in message
news:C2C2C370.55BBA%%devleth@wanadoo.fr...
>
>
>> From: "John Rennie" talktalk.net>
>> Newsgroups: alt.activism.death-penalty
>> Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:46:53 +0100
>> Subject: Tolstoy IS right
>>
>> If Bush's theory of history is correct, the right security plan can lead
>> to
>> safety, the right political compromises to stability. But if Tolstoy is
>> right, then the future of Iraq is beyond the reach of global summits,
>> political benchmarks and the understanding of any chief executive.>
> I tend to go with Tolstoy.
Here's an appropriate response to Brooks:
July 20, 2007
Op-Ed Columnist
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Author: Mr Q. Z. DiabloMr Q. Z. Diablo Date: Jul 20, 2007 16:33
In article giganews.com>,
"John Rennie" talktalk.net> wrote:
> Remember, Mr. Bush was confident six years ago when he promised to bring in
> Osama, dead or alive. He was confident four years ago, when he told the
> insurgents to bring it on. He was confident two years ago, when he told
> Brownie that he was doing a heckuva job.
...
> Sorry, but that's not reassuring; it's terrifying. It doesn't demonstrate
> Mr. Bush's strength of character; it shows that he has lost touch with
> reality.
The man is completely fucking delusional. That someone can believe that
they are successful after 6 1/2 years of abject failure is absolutely
beyond me.
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Author: John RennieJohn Rennie Date: Jul 20, 2007 16:37
"Mr Q. Z. Diablo" BOOTOTHISdodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:satan-B8BCC9.09331621072007@localhost...> In article giganews.com>,
> "John Rennie" talktalk.net> wrote:
>>> Remember, Mr. Bush was confident six years ago when he promised to bring
>> in
>> Osama, dead or alive. He was confident four years ago, when he told the
>> insurgents to bring it on. He was confident two years ago, when he told
>> Brownie that he was doing a heckuva job.
>
> ...
>
>> Sorry, but that's not reassuring; it's terrifying. It doesn't demonstrate
>> Mr. Bush's strength of character; it shows that he has lost touch with
>> reality.
>
> The man is completely fucking delusional. That someone can believe that
> they are successful after 6 1/2 years of abject failure is absolutely
> beyond me. ...
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Author: Donna EvlethDonna Evleth Date: Jul 21, 2007 03:44
> From: "John Rennie" talktalk.net>
> Newsgroups: alt.activism.death-penalty
> Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 00:28:33 +0100
> Subject: Re: Tolstoy IS right
>
> Now Iraq is a bloody quagmire, Afghanistan is deteriorating and the Bush
> administration's own National Intelligence Estimate admits, in effect, that
> thanks to Mr. Bush's poor leadership America is losing the struggle with Al
> Qaeda. Yet Mr. Bush remains confident.
>
> Sorry, but that's not reassuring; it's terrifying. It doesn't demonstrate
> Mr. Bush's strength of character; it shows that he has lost touch with
> reality.
>
> Actually, it's not clear that he ever was in touch with reality.
I read this article just this morning in the International Herald Tribune.
I find the last sentence in the part I exerpted to be the whole painful
truth of the matter.
Donna Evleth
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Author: John RennieJohn Rennie Date: Jul 21, 2007 05:08
"Donna Evleth" wrote in message
news:C2C7B02E.56106%%devleth@wanadoo.fr...
>
>
>> From: "John Rennie" talktalk.net>
>> Newsgroups: alt.activism.death-penalty
>> Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 00:28:33 +0100
>> Subject: Re: Tolstoy IS right
>>
>> Now Iraq is a bloody quagmire, Afghanistan is deteriorating and the Bush
>> administration's own National Intelligence Estimate admits, in effect,
>> that
>> thanks to Mr. Bush's poor leadership America is losing the struggle with
>> Al
>> Qaeda. Yet Mr. Bush remains confident.
>>
>> Sorry, but that's not reassuring; it's terrifying. It doesn't demonstrate
>> Mr. Bush's strength of character; it shows that he has lost touch with
>> reality.
>> ...
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Author: YitzhakYitzhak Date: Jul 21, 2007 13:01
John Rennie talktalk.net> wrote:> "Donna Evleth" wrote in message
> news:C2C7B02E.56106%%devleth@wanadoo.fr...
>>> From: "John Rennie" talktalk.net>>>> Now Iraq is a bloody quagmire, Afghanistan is deteriorating and the
>>> Bush administration's own National Intelligence Estimate admits, in
>>> effect, that thanks to Mr. Bush's poor leadership America is losing the
>>> struggle with Al Qaeda. Yet Mr. Bush remains confident.
>>>
>>> Sorry, but that's not reassuring; it's terrifying. It doesn't
>>> demonstrate Mr. Bush's strength of character; it shows that he has lost
>>> touch with reality.
>>> Actually, it's not clear that he ever was in touch with reality.
>> I read this article just this morning in the International Herald
>> Tribune. I find the last sentence in the part I exerpted to be the
>> whole painful truth of the matter.
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Author: TRUTHTRUTH Date: Jul 22, 2007 20:54
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