Oh, how I wish you’d been wrong on that one…
“Bush Scolds Spain for Iraq Troop Pullout”
beg pardon - link isn’t working.
3 examples. Snort. I seriously doubt that ‘generally’ ‘The agressors’ lose, historically speaking. We’ll see how THIS time plays out in the years to come. Personally I still think it could go either way at this point…the ‘war’ is by no means lost (yet).
And when this doesn’t happen (such as in Vietnam, where the North was the aggressor, or in say Eastern Europe by the Soviets, or myriad other times throughout history where ‘The Aggressor’ won) the world generally just has its thumb up its ass and is happy anyway. The world I think is a pretty fickle thing…
It means nothing for the coalition…as has been stated the Spanish were already going to be doing this. It was no great shock. Bush’s next move? God knows…it seems we’ve really stuck the old crank into a hornets next in Iraq and we are walking on a knife blade atm…it could go either way. I doubt it will have much effect on the Iraqis either way to be honest. Now, appearently it IS having some effect on AQ…they are seeing this in the light of a major coup for them. THAT is disturbing, if they decide to play games when it comes to our own election time.
-XT
It’s nice that you have such high regards for Simmons but if that’s an attempt at an appeal to authority, I’m not overtly impressed. I judge each post by its own merit, and as far as I’m concerned no one has earned the right to anything. And when I see a post that contain things like “Out[sic] Flight Suit In Chief” and little else of content, I’m not going to grovel in awe because the poster, which is undoubtedly true for Simmons, has made some stellar contributions elsewhere.
Eva, the American government has expressed displeasure with Spain pulling out but not specifically with them “not fulfilling the promise to stay until June 30”.
A lot of that rhetoric is for internal American consumption because the withdrawal is being done in an orderly and safe manner. The order is to leave as soon as circumstances permit to do it safely and in order. It is not like they are leaving tomorrow morning without warning. Not at all.
You will not see any note of protest from the US government complaining the Spanish had promised to stay until June 30. Or do you really think the US government wants this to be in the news for the next couple of months? They prefer this to be over and forgotten as soon as possible.
I would not expect anyone to grovel in awe. On the other hand, I do believe Mr. Simmons deserves quite a bit of common friggin’ respect.
And with that, I plead guilty to threadjacking and will leave.
No, I don’t think they’d want to keep this in the news, but I also think you’ll agree that some of the current administration’s Iraq policy has had some unintended consequences. 
Mr. Simmons was an army aviator during WWII. He’s earned the right to razz the Pres for his flight suit stunt.
Is that so? Well in that case I retract my statement unreservedly.
What does seem likely is not that we will get our ass kicked, but that we will not be able to preside over the orderly transition to democracy. And that’s simply because I don’t think it’s going to happen. Nor can there be reconstruction until the insurgents stop bombing their own country. Which means the economy will continue to tank, investors will continue to be scared off, and this could go on for decades. Sure, the rest of the world can watch from the sidelines, and rejoice when we finally do give it up and leave. But, when one of these religious fascist nuts then takes over, the rest of the world, and I think Europe in particular, can expect a tidal wave of refugees who do not like living under religious fascism.
That’s because he screwed it up. Here’s an article with the title he tried to link to:
Radical Muslim cleric welcomes Spain’s troop withdrawal from Iraq
Gum also seems incapable of distinguishing Sadr from bin Laden.
This problem is entirely the making of the USA and whether Spanish forces stay or leave it will make no difference to the end result. The USA made the problem. There were plenty of warnings that this would be what would happen but GW went ahead anyway. Let him fix it, don’t blame Spain now. He said he could handle it singlehandedly. Okay, let’s see him do it.
In my opinion anyone has the right to razz GW for his flight suit stunt.
I believe that Bush’s emotional development stopped at about age 19. That he is given to juvenile stunts like the flight suit, cowboy boots and John Waynesque manure like “Bring it on.”
As other have said inthis thread he often seems uninvolved. He appears to think that once he has delegated something he has no need to follow up. I cited a News Hour bit on Condoleeza Rice’s 9/11 Commission hearing in which he claimed not to have the slightest idea what she was going to say.
I make no apology whatever for thinking that GW is at most fit to be a city councilman in a small town.
I’ve been accused of not respecting the Office of President on this board and in person. I have lots of respect for the Office. I just wish those who put GW in it had a little more.
Bravo!
I sooooooooo love your posts Mr Simmons. 
Bravo, I say!
And I would think the same even if I had been a draft dodger who hid out the war in the basement.
IMHO, Americans have an obligation to razz our politicians for these kinds of stunts.
Your experiences lend a special credence to your judgements about matters related to the military and aviation.
I agree with you that the silliness of GWB exists independently of your life and your actions.
With all the flap about other countries’ troops pulling out of Iraq, it occurred to me to wonder if there was a similar trend among the international militaries fighting in Afghanistan. I noticed that in fact, the incoming Spanish government had arranged to double its forces in Afghanistan (which brings their total deployment up to only 250, but it’s still a symbol of commitment):
Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound snippish. I appreciate the defense but it wasn’t really necessary. I’ve lived too long and seen too many real “sticks and stone” to pay any mind to words about me that come from some disembodied spirit out of cyberspace.
There’s been a disturbing and odd trend, (from my PoV), toward trusting politicians. I can’t imagine why more of my fellow GOPers aren’t embarassed by some of the silliness comiong out of the WH.
What happened to a healthy dose of cynicism toward pols and their rhetoric?
It seems as if, for some, 9-11 suddenly made (GOP) pols honest. To me this is scary in that it undermines the checks and balances that come from the electorates healthy, well-developed skepticism toward politicians and government in general.
While you and you opinions certainly neeeded no defense, esp not from me, your status gives your opinions the ability to cut through some of the morass of rhetoric and misguided trust and belief.
There’s a meme floating around that who makes a statement can influence the statement’s validity. You’re blessed to’ve earned the capacity to be above simple-minded, ad hom, dismissals. Your words aren’t as easily ignored through this fallacy.
Once again, you’re a part of who we Americans need. This time we need your guidance and opinions, right and wrong, as distinguished greybeards.
Thanks.
So, I wasn’t doing it to defend you so much as I was citing your credentials as an “qualified expert.”