| |
Main
Date: 11 Dec 2006 13:19:37
From: MnMikew
Subject: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the
Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al
Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence
community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one
or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes
answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably
Shiite."
That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
organization and views Shiites as heretics.
Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite
group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern
Lebanon.
Stein's column about Reyes' answers was published on CQ's Web site Friday
evening.
In an interview with CNN, Stein said he was "amazed" by Reyes' lack of what
he considers basic information about two of the major terrorists
organizations.
"If you're the baseball commissioner and you don't know the difference
between the Yankees and the Red Sox, you don't know baseball," Stein said.
"You're not going to have the respect of the people you work with."
While Stein said Reyes is "not a stupid guy," his lack of knowledge said it
could hamper Reyes' ability to provide effective oversight of the
intelligence community, Stein believes.
"If you don't have the basics, how do you effectively question the
administration?" he asked. "You don't know who is on first."
Stein said Reyes is not the only member of the House Intelligence Committee
that he has interviewed that lacked what he considered basic knowledge about
terrorist organizations.
"It kind of disgusts you, because these guys are supposed to be tending your
knitting," Stein said. "Most people are rightfully appalled."
Pelosi picked Reyes over fellow Californian Rep. Jane Harman, who had been
the Intelligence Committee's ranking member, and Rep. Alcee Hastings of
Florida, who had been impeached as a federal judge after being accused of
taking a bribe.
Calls from CNN to Reyes' office asking for reaction to Stein's column have
not been returned.
|
|
| |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 16:48:32
From: John B.
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Chris Bellomy wrote:
> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> : "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message
> : news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
> :> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> :> : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
> :> : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when
> :> the
> :> : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about
> :> al
> :> : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
> :> intelligence
> :> : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
> :> :
> :> : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is
> :> one
> :> : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
> :> Reyes
> :> : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
> :> probably
> :> : Shiite."
> :> :
> :> : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
> :> : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
> :>
> :> Mike,
> :>
> :> I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
> :> down immediately.
> :>
> :> (See how easy that is?)
> :>
> :> (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
> :> on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
> :> you being selective with your outrage?)
> :>
> : I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as you
> : leftys believe.
>
> I've never said any such thing. Who, exactly did? Or are you
> just setting up a strawman here?
>
> BTW, I'm serious. Reyes needs to resign his chairmanship NOW.
> It's not about partisanship, it's about competence.
Committee chairmanships are awarded on the basis of seniority, not
expertise. If it were the other way around, nobody would be competent
to chair a committee.
>
> --
> Chris Bellomy
> C-List Charter Member
> http://clist.org/
|
| | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 20:44:39
From: Jack Hollis
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 11 Dec 2006 16:48:32 -0800, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com > wrote:
>Committee chairmanships are awarded on the basis of seniority, not
>expertise. If it were the other way around, nobody would be competent
>to chair a committee.
Actually, Reyes was third in line. The ranking Democrat Alcee
Hastings was one of only six federal judges in US history to be
impeached. He was also convicted by the Senate of bribery and perjury
in 1989. Nevertheless, he won election to the House. The second
ranking Democrat on the committee is Jane Harman from California, but
she's considered a moderate and Pelosi doesn't want to create another
high profile female from her home state. This might come back to
haunt her because Harman could vote with the Republicans.
|
| | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 00:12:35
From: sfb
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Isn't Harmon technically ineligible? Aren't there term limits on
Intelligence Committee membership?
"Jack Hollis" <xsleeper@aol.com > wrote in message
news:sq0sn2l2chrq10lunsoh4fnj7m7s7qagan@4ax.com...
> On 11 Dec 2006 16:48:32 -0800, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Committee chairmanships are awarded on the basis of seniority, not
>>expertise. If it were the other way around, nobody would be competent
>>to chair a committee.
>
> Actually, Reyes was third in line. The ranking Democrat Alcee
> Hastings was one of only six federal judges in US history to be
> impeached. He was also convicted by the Senate of bribery and perjury
> in 1989. Nevertheless, he won election to the House. The second
> ranking Democrat on the committee is Jane Harman from California, but
> she's considered a moderate and Pelosi doesn't want to create another
> high profile female from her home state. This might come back to
> haunt her because Harman could vote with the Republicans.
|
| | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 07:21:58
From: Bert Robbins
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the committee.
Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle which
pisses off Pelosi.
sfb wrote:
> Isn't Harmon technically ineligible? Aren't there term limits on
> Intelligence Committee membership?
>
> "Jack Hollis" <xsleeper@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:sq0sn2l2chrq10lunsoh4fnj7m7s7qagan@4ax.com...
>> On 11 Dec 2006 16:48:32 -0800, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Committee chairmanships are awarded on the basis of seniority, not
>>> expertise. If it were the other way around, nobody would be competent
>>> to chair a committee.
>> Actually, Reyes was third in line. The ranking Democrat Alcee
>> Hastings was one of only six federal judges in US history to be
>> impeached. He was also convicted by the Senate of bribery and perjury
>> in 1989. Nevertheless, he won election to the House. The second
>> ranking Democrat on the committee is Jane Harman from California, but
>> she's considered a moderate and Pelosi doesn't want to create another
>> high profile female from her home state. This might come back to
>> haunt her because Harman could vote with the Republicans.
>
>
|
| | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 20:50:14
From: Bert Robbins
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Jack Hollis wrote:
> On 11 Dec 2006 16:48:32 -0800, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Committee chairmanships are awarded on the basis of seniority, not
>> expertise. If it were the other way around, nobody would be competent
>> to chair a committee.
>
> Actually, Reyes was third in line. The ranking Democrat Alcee
> Hastings was one of only six federal judges in US history to be
> impeached. He was also convicted by the Senate of bribery and perjury
> in 1989. Nevertheless, he won election to the House. The second
> ranking Democrat on the committee is Jane Harman from California, but
> she's considered a moderate and Pelosi doesn't want to create another
> high profile female from her home state. This might come back to
> haunt her because Harman could vote with the Republicans.
Harman was the ranking Democrat and Hastings, the impeached federal
judge, was second. Harmam is a Democrat but she is a stateswoman rather
than a partisan like Pelosi.
|
| | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 01:02:52
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
John B. <johnb505@gmail.com > wrote:
:
: Chris Bellomy wrote:
: > MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
: > : "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message
: > : news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
: > :> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
: > :> : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
: > :> : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when
: > :> the
: > :> : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about
: > :> al
: > :> : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
: > :> intelligence
: > :> : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
: > :> :
: > :> : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is
: > :> one
: > :> : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
: > :> Reyes
: > :> : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
: > :> probably
: > :> : Shiite."
: > :> :
: > :> : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
: > :> : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
: > :>
: > :> Mike,
: > :>
: > :> I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
: > :> down immediately.
: > :>
: > :> (See how easy that is?)
: > :>
: > :> (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
: > :> on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
: > :> you being selective with your outrage?)
: > :>
: > : I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as you
: > : leftys believe.
: >
: > I've never said any such thing. Who, exactly did? Or are you
: > just setting up a strawman here?
: >
: > BTW, I'm serious. Reyes needs to resign his chairmanship NOW.
: > It's not about partisanship, it's about competence.
:
: Committee chairmanships are awarded on the basis of seniority, not
: expertise.
Committee chairmanships are awarded at the pleasure of the Speaker.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 03:14:30
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 11-Dec-2006, Chris Bellomy <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
> : Committee chairmanships are awarded on the basis of seniority, not
> : expertise.
>
> Committee chairmanships are awarded at the pleasure of the Speaker.
Chris is right, if seniority was the ticket Jane Harmon, who is reportedly
the most qualified as well, would be chair.
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 14:17:34
From: John B.
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
sfb wrote:
> Please explain why somebody who is pro-abstinence is not qualified to head
> Family Planning.
>
I guess you could say he's qualified in the way James Watt was
qualified to be Interior Secretary. Watt was extremely hostile to the
very mission of his own department. So is this guy Keroack (sp?). The
family planning ofc. at HHS is not a forum for promoting sexual
abstinence and rejecting all other forms of birth control. Bush didn't
nominate him because he's the right guy for the job. He nominated him
to say fuck you to the Democrats after the elections.
> "multi" <multi@asm.org> wrote in message
> news:6rern2hq90ro0g35u811eupk5vb59i95rb@4ax.com...
> > On 11 Dec 2006 11:59:42 -0800, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>This is certainly disturbing, but it should be noted for the record
> >>that Stein played the same trivia game a couple of months ago with
> >>several senior admin. officials directly involved in Middle East policy
> >>and they all did as badly as Reyes did.
> >
> > I guess the difference is that Dems are appointed in spite of their
> > lack of knowledge, while Reps are appointed because of it. I'm
> > thinking of Bush's recent appointment of a guy who is
> > anti-contraception (i.e. any type of birth control except abstinence)
> > as his head of Family Planning, as well as a bunch of political hacks
> > to rewrite scientific reports from NASA, the EPA, etc.
|
| | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 20:21:48
From: Bert Robbins
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
John B. wrote:
> sfb wrote:
>> Please explain why somebody who is pro-abstinence is not qualified to head
>> Family Planning.
>>
>
> I guess you could say he's qualified in the way James Watt was
> qualified to be Interior Secretary. Watt was extremely hostile to the
> very mission of his own department. So is this guy Keroack (sp?). The
> family planning ofc. at HHS is not a forum for promoting sexual
> abstinence and rejecting all other forms of birth control. Bush didn't
> nominate him because he's the right guy for the job. He nominated him
> to say fuck you to the Democrats after the elections.
What method is more effective at preventing un-wanted pregnancies,
abstinence or condoms?
What method is more effective at preventing sexually transmitted
diseases, abstinence or condoms?
|
| | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 01:45:55
From: S McFarlane
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"Bert Robbins" <screw@you.com > wrote in message
news:De-dnYQu0bOzmePYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@comcast.com...
> What method is more effective at preventing un-wanted pregnancies,
> abstinence or condoms?
>
> What method is more effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases,
> abstinence or condoms?
Condoms, you silly. That assumes that they are used. Unfortunately,
abstinence very rarely is.
Scott
|
| | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 03:16:58
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 11-Dec-2006, "S McFarlane" <spam@nothanks.com > wrote:
> "Bert Robbins" <screw@you.com> wrote in message
> news:De-dnYQu0bOzmePYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
> > What method is more effective at preventing un-wanted pregnancies,
> > abstinence or condoms?
> >
> > What method is more effective at preventing sexually transmitted
> > diseases,
> > abstinence or condoms?
>
> Condoms, you silly. That assumes that they are used. Unfortunately,
> abstinence very rarely is.
By definition abstinence is NEVER used.
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | | | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 23:06:27
From: Head Shot
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
bill-o wrote:
> By definition abstinence is NEVER used.
A guy should be able to abstain from sex with a hottie about 23 hours and 51
minutes a day. *
* if it takes you more than 5 minutes you aren't doing it right!
|
| | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 01:55:34
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
S McFarlane <spam@nothanks.com > wrote:
:
: "Bert Robbins" <screw@you.com > wrote in message
: news:De-dnYQu0bOzmePYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@comcast.com...
:
: > What method is more effective at preventing un-wanted pregnancies,
: > abstinence or condoms?
: >
: > What method is more effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases,
: > abstinence or condoms?
:
: Condoms, you silly. That assumes that they are used. Unfortunately,
: abstinence very rarely is.
What method is more effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies,
condoms or preventative death-by-bludgeoning?
(Just to prove that I can play this game, too.)
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 20:07:06
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
: WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
: Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the
: Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al
: Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence
: community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
:
: When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one
: or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes
: answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably
: Shiite."
:
: That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
: organization and views Shiites as heretics.
Mike,
I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
down immediately.
(See how easy that is?)
(Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
you being selective with your outrage?)
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 14:54:30
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
> : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when
> the
> : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about
> al
> : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
> intelligence
> : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
> :
> : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is
> one
> : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
> Reyes
> : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
> probably
> : Shiite."
> :
> : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
> : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
>
> Mike,
>
> I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
> down immediately.
>
> (See how easy that is?)
>
> (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
> on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
> you being selective with your outrage?)
>
I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as you
leftys believe.
|
| | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 23:42:06
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
: "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
: news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
: > MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
: > : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
: > : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when
: > the
: > : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about
: > al
: > : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
: > intelligence
: > : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
: > :
: > : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is
: > one
: > : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
: > Reyes
: > : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
: > probably
: > : Shiite."
: > :
: > : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
: > : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
: >
: > Mike,
: >
: > I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
: > down immediately.
: >
: > (See how easy that is?)
: >
: > (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
: > on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
: > you being selective with your outrage?)
: >
: I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as you
: leftys believe.
I've never said any such thing. Who, exactly did? Or are you
just setting up a strawman here?
BTW, I'm serious. Reyes needs to resign his chairmanship NOW.
It's not about partisanship, it's about competence.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 18:35:39
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
news:0T3mnf7cI4ntN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> : "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message
> : news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
> :> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> :> : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
> :> : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee
> when
> :> the
> :> : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions
> about
> :> al
> :> : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
> :> intelligence
> :> : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
> :> :
> :> : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda
> is
> :> one
> :> : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
> :> Reyes
> :> : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
> :> probably
> :> : Shiite."
> :> :
> :> : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
> :> : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
> :>
> :> Mike,
> :>
> :> I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
> :> down immediately.
> :>
> :> (See how easy that is?)
> :>
> :> (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
> :> on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
> :> you being selective with your outrage?)
> :>
> : I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as
> you
> : leftys believe.
>
> I've never said any such thing. Who, exactly did? Or are you
> just setting up a strawman here?
>
> BTW, I'm serious. Reyes needs to resign his chairmanship NOW.
> It's not about partisanship, it's about competence.
>
Unfortunately for Pelosi it's all about partisanship.
|
| | | | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 23:04:21
From: A Brick in the Wall
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote in message
news:4u6bqrF15f8udU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message
> news:0T3mnf7cI4ntN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
>> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>> : "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message
>> : news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
>> :> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>> :> : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming
>> House
>> :> : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee
>> when
>> :> the
>> :> : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions
>> about
>> :> al
>> :> : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
>> :> intelligence
>> :> : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
>> :> :
>> :> : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al
>> Qaeda is
>> :> one
>> :> : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or
>> Shiite --
>> :> Reyes
>> :> : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
>> :> probably
>> :> : Shiite."
>> :> :
>> :> : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
>> :> : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
>> :>
>> :> Mike,
>> :>
>> :> I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
>> :> down immediately.
>> :>
>> :> (See how easy that is?)
>> :>
>> :> (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
>> :> on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
>> :> you being selective with your outrage?)
>> :>
>> : I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as
>> you
>> : leftys believe.
>>
>> I've never said any such thing. Who, exactly did? Or are you
>> just setting up a strawman here?
>>
>> BTW, I'm serious. Reyes needs to resign his chairmanship NOW.
>> It's not about partisanship, it's about competence.
>>
> Unfortunately for Pelosi it's all about partisanship.
>
and she has a monopoly on this?
|
| | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 01:13:50
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
:
: "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
: news:0T3mnf7cI4ntN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
: > MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
: > : "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message
: > : news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
: > :> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
: > :> : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
: > :> : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee
: > when
: > :> the
: > :> : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions
: > about
: > :> al
: > :> : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
: > :> intelligence
: > :> : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
: > :> :
: > :> : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda
: > is
: > :> one
: > :> : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
: > :> Reyes
: > :> : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
: > :> probably
: > :> : Shiite."
: > :> :
: > :> : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
: > :> : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
: > :>
: > :> Mike,
: > :>
: > :> I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
: > :> down immediately.
: > :>
: > :> (See how easy that is?)
: > :>
: > :> (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
: > :> on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
: > :> you being selective with your outrage?)
: > :>
: > : I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as
: > you
: > : leftys believe.
: >
: > I've never said any such thing. Who, exactly did? Or are you
: > just setting up a strawman here?
: >
: > BTW, I'm serious. Reyes needs to resign his chairmanship NOW.
: > It's not about partisanship, it's about competence.
: >
: Unfortunately for Pelosi it's all about partisanship.
And how exactly would you rate the Hastert/DeLay regime in that
regard? About Pelosi you know that she appointed someone who
was then proved to be embarrassingly ignorant, and so far that's
about it. So how, exactly, is it all about partisanship at this
point?
This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
than to bitch about the other party.
I'm serious about this, Mike. I have no interest in seeing
incompetent or corrupt Dems propped up or defended. Reyes
should step down. Bill Jefferson should resign (and I look
forward to his being indicted, convicted and removed from
office). There are literally dozens of Dem Congresscritters
I would love to see driven from office due to their malignant
ties to big money. If you want to talk about good government,
irrespective of party, I am right there with you. But it's
very hard for me to imagine that's actually a serious concern
of yours. Maybe you can convince me otherwise.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 09:55:20
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message >
> This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
> the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
> it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
> you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
> which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
> you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
> than to bitch about the other party.
>
Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
Government is an oxymoron.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi plans to sideline colleagues who are hawkish on national
security in the Democratic leadership in the House.
Democratic Party sources said as House Speaker, Ms. Pelosi plans to block
moves that would place hawks into important chairmanships. The sources said
a key casualty would be Rep. Jane Harman, a six-term member of Congress who
has cooperated with Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee.
"Nancy Pelosi wants total party discipline," a source in the Democratic
Party leadership said. "If you played ball with the Republicans during this
session, then you're not going to be given an important chair in the next
session."
As the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Ms. Harman was
expected to become chairman of the powerful committee. But Ms. Pelosi is
expected to pass over Ms. Harman for either Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida
or Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, the second- and third-ranking Democrats on
the intelligence panel.
The 42-member Congressional Black Caucus has been pushing for Mr. Hastings,
an impeached federal judge, to become chairman. Earlier this year, the
caucus was upset by Ms. Pelosi's decision to expel Rep. William Jefferson
from the committee after he was accused of accepting bribes.
"There is no seniority on the Intelligence Committee," Ms. Pelosi said. "The
leader or the speaker can appoint a whole new set of people."
The sources said the 61-year-old Ms. Harman, regarded as the best informed
House Democrat on intelligence and technology issues, angered the liberal
Ms. Pelosi by supporting the Bush administration's policies on defense
issues, particularly the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act. They said Ms.
Pelosi has rebuffed lobbyists in the pro-Israel community and defense
industry that sought a chairmanship for Ms. Harman.
"If Nancy Pelosi's apparent determination to deny Jane Harman the
chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee to appease the Black Caucus
is any indication, Democratic control is not going to be good news for those
who believe in competent oversight of the national-security apparatus," said
Loren Thompson, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute.
Ms. Harman, who helped the Democrats draft a national security agenda for
the campaign, said she hoped to remain a leading voice on defense issues.
She said her California constituents want her to be on the House
Intelligence Committee.
"House Intelligence Committee activities are directly relevant to the major
concerns of my constituents," Ms. Harman said.
http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/Pelosi.htm
|
| | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 18:27:18
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
:
: "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message >
: > This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
: > the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
: > it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
: > you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
: > which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
: > you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
: > than to bitch about the other party.
: >
: Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
: Government is an oxymoron.
So, you're an anarchist?
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 13:10:51
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
news:1T3mph76Inc4N34@redshark.goodshow.net...
> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> :
> : "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message >
> :> This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
> :> the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
> :> it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
> :> you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
> :> which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
> :> you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
> :> than to bitch about the other party.
> :>
> : Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
> : Government is an oxymoron.
>
> So, you're an anarchist?
>
Realist.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 20:15:50
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
:
: "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
: news:1T3mph76Inc4N34@redshark.goodshow.net...
: > MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
: > :
: > : "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message >
: > :> This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
: > :> the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
: > :> it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
: > :> you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
: > :> which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
: > :> you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
: > :> than to bitch about the other party.
: > :>
: > : Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
: > : Government is an oxymoron.
: >
: > So, you're an anarchist?
: >
: Realist.
That's a dodge.
If you don't believe that good government is possible, why are
you complaining? Why bother caring about politics in the first
place?
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 11:12:15
From: William A. T. Clark
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
In article <4u81n9F16pvi3U1@mid.individual.net >,
"MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
> "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message >
> > This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
> > the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
> > it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
> > you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
> > which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
> > you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
> > than to bitch about the other party.
> >
> Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
> Government is an oxymoron.
Partisanship trumps competency in ANY era for you. This has nothing to
do with "competence", but everything to do with anti-Democrat
demagoguery. If you ever once called a spade a spade, and called out a
incompetent/dishonest/perverted Republican, your message here might
carry some weight.
But you never have - so it is worthless.
William Clark
|
| | | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 10:32:37
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"William A. T. Clark" <clark.31@osu.edu > wrote in message
news:clark.31-1F79E7.11121512122006@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu...
> In article <4u81n9F16pvi3U1@mid.individual.net>,
> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message >
>> > This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
>> > the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
>> > it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
>> > you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
>> > which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
>> > you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
>> > than to bitch about the other party.
>> >
>> Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
>> Government is an oxymoron.
>
> Partisanship trumps competency in ANY era for you. This has nothing to
> do with "competence", but everything to do with anti-Democrat
> demagoguery. If you ever once called a spade a spade, and called out a
> incompetent/dishonest/perverted Republican, your message here might
> carry some weight.
>
> But you never have - so it is worthless.
>
> Your're wrong as usuall. There are plenty of
> incompetent/dishonest/perverted people in both parties to go around. After
> the elections the cry across the land was "FREE AT LAST...FREE AT LAST"!
> But in reality it's just more of the same.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 11:08:44
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote in message
news:4u83t6F16c44pU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "William A. T. Clark" <clark.31@osu.edu> wrote in message
> news:clark.31-1F79E7.11121512122006@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu...
>> In article <4u81n9F16pvi3U1@mid.individual.net>,
>> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>> "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message >
>>> > This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
>>> > the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
>>> > it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
>>> > you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
>>> > which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
>>> > you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
>>> > than to bitch about the other party.
>>> >
>>> Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
>>> Government is an oxymoron.
>>
>> Partisanship trumps competency in ANY era for you. This has nothing to
>> do with "competence", but everything to do with anti-Democrat
>> demagoguery. If you ever once called a spade a spade, and called out a
>> incompetent/dishonest/perverted Republican, your message here might
>> carry some weight.
>>
>> But you never have - so it is worthless.
>>
>> Your're wrong as usuall. There are plenty of
>> incompetent/dishonest/perverted people in both parties to go around.
>> After the elections the cry across the land was "FREE AT LAST...FREE AT
>> LAST"! But in reality it's just more of the same.
>
>Let me correct "usual" before WTC jumps all over me. :-)
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 16:22:27
From: William A. T. Clark
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
In article <4u860tF172da5U1@mid.individual.net >,
"MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:4u83t6F16c44pU1@mid.individual.net...
> >
> > "William A. T. Clark" <clark.31@osu.edu> wrote in message
> > news:clark.31-1F79E7.11121512122006@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu...
> >> In article <4u81n9F16pvi3U1@mid.individual.net>,
> >> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message >
> >>> > This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
> >>> > the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
> >>> > it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
> >>> > you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
> >>> > which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
> >>> > you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
> >>> > than to bitch about the other party.
> >>> >
> >>> Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
> >>> Government is an oxymoron.
> >>
> >> Partisanship trumps competency in ANY era for you. This has nothing to
> >> do with "competence", but everything to do with anti-Democrat
> >> demagoguery. If you ever once called a spade a spade, and called out a
> >> incompetent/dishonest/perverted Republican, your message here might
> >> carry some weight.
> >>
> >> But you never have - so it is worthless.
> >>
> >> Your're wrong as usuall. There are plenty of
> >> incompetent/dishonest/perverted people in both parties to go around.
> >> After the elections the cry across the land was "FREE AT LAST...FREE AT
> >> LAST"! But in reality it's just more of the same.
> >
> >Let me correct "usual" before WTC jumps all over me. :-)
Accepted, but you might have corrected "Your're" as well while you were
at it ;-).
William Clark
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 15:55:47
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"William A. T. Clark" <clark.31@osu.edu > wrote in message
news:clark.31-B1A3EB.16222712122006@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu...
> In article <4u860tF172da5U1@mid.individual.net>,
> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote in message
>> news:4u83t6F16c44pU1@mid.individual.net...
>> >
>> > "William A. T. Clark" <clark.31@osu.edu> wrote in message
>> > news:clark.31-1F79E7.11121512122006@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu...
>> >> In article <4u81n9F16pvi3U1@mid.individual.net>,
>> >> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message >
>> >>> > This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
>> >>> > the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
>> >>> > it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
>> >>> > you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
>> >>> > which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
>> >>> > you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
>> >>> > than to bitch about the other party.
>> >>> >
>> >>> Partisanship trumps competency in the Pelosi era. By the way, good
>> >>> Government is an oxymoron.
>> >>
>> >> Partisanship trumps competency in ANY era for you. This has nothing to
>> >> do with "competence", but everything to do with anti-Democrat
>> >> demagoguery. If you ever once called a spade a spade, and called out a
>> >> incompetent/dishonest/perverted Republican, your message here might
>> >> carry some weight.
>> >>
>> >> But you never have - so it is worthless.
>> >>
>> >> Your're wrong as usuall. There are plenty of
>> >> incompetent/dishonest/perverted people in both parties to go around.
>> >> After the elections the cry across the land was "FREE AT LAST...FREE
>> >> AT
>> >> LAST"! But in reality it's just more of the same.
>> >
>> >Let me correct "usual" before WTC jumps all over me. :-)
>
> Accepted, but you might have corrected "Your're" as well while you were
> at it ;-).
>
The way I type I could never get them all.
|
| | | | | | | | |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 12:56:15
From: Howard Brazee
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:12:15 -0500, "William A. T. Clark"
<clark.31@osu.edu > wrote:
>Partisanship trumps competency in ANY era for you. This has nothing to
>do with "competence", but everything to do with anti-Democrat
>demagoguery. If you ever once called a spade a spade, and called out a
>incompetent/dishonest/perverted Republican, your message here might
>carry some weight.
Of course - those people who believe the other party's line are
*obviously* incompetent to do the job right.
|
| | | | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 10:07:08
From: Bobby Knight
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 09:55:20 -0600, "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com >
wrote:
>"Nancy Pelosi wants total party discipline," a source in the Democratic
>Party leadership said. "If you played ball with the Republicans during this
>session, then you're not going to be given an important chair in the next
>session."
>
My, my. Republicans certainly didn't expect party discipline in the
last six years, did they? How about a list of important chairs that
they offered Democrats.
___,
\o
|
| | | | | | | |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 04:07:48
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 12-Dec-2006, "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
> "Nancy Pelosi wants total party discipline," a source in the Democratic
> Party leadership said.
Will Rodgers on line 1!
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 18:34:03
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
news:0T3mnf7cI4ntN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> : "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message
> : news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
> :> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
> :> : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
> :> : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee
> when
> :> the
> :> : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions
> about
> :> al
> :> : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
> :> intelligence
> :> : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
> :> :
> :> : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda
> is
> :> one
> :> : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
> :> Reyes
> :> : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
> :> probably
> :> : Shiite."
> :> :
> :> : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
> :> : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
> :>
> :> Mike,
> :>
> :> I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
> :> down immediately.
> :>
> :> (See how easy that is?)
> :>
> :> (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
> :> on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
> :> you being selective with your outrage?)
> :>
> : I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as
> you
> : leftys believe.
>
> I've never said any such thing. Who, exactly did? Or are you
> just setting up a strawman here?
>
> BTW, I'm serious. Reyes needs to resign his chairmanship NOW.
> It's not about partisanship, it's about competence.
>
> --
> Chris Bellomy
> C-List Charter Member
> http://clist.org/
|
| | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 15:07:08
From: Bobby Knight
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:54:30 -0600, "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com >
wrote:
>
>"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid> wrote in message
>news:1T3mn2igIisN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
>> MnMikew <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>> : WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
>> : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when
>> the
>> : Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about
>> al
>> : Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
>> intelligence
>> : community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
>> :
>> : When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is
>> one
>> : or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
>> Reyes
>> : answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
>> probably
>> : Shiite."
>> :
>> : That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
>> : organization and views Shiites as heretics.
>>
>> Mike,
>>
>> I agree with you. This guy is an embarrassment. He needs to step
>> down immediately.
>>
>> (See how easy that is?)
>>
>> (Footnote: I didn't see where you mentioned Bush's own ignorance
>> on this very topic when the war started. Did I miss it, or were
>> you being selective with your outrage?)
>>
>I was simply showing that the right dosent have a lock on ignorance as you
>leftys believe.
>
Only the rabid ultras Mike, and you don't fit in that group. Well,
close :-)
bk
___,
\o
|
| | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 12:53:37
From: The_Professor
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
John B. wrote:
> Why doesn't anybody question this statement? It's at least as
> preposterous as what Pelosi said. Al Qaeda is responsible for the
> sectarian violance in Iraq? People are "seeking reprisal" against AQ?
> Gimme a fucking break. That bears absolutely no resemblance to what's
> going on in Iraq.
The validity of Bush's assertion is not the issue. The fact that Pelosi
erroneously claimed that the 9/11 Commission made any comment at all on
the causes of sectarian violence is the issue at hand. Imagine what we
would hear if Bush had made such an error!
|
| |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 11:59:42
From: John B.
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
MnMikew wrote:
> WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
> Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the
> Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al
> Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence
> community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
>
> When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one
> or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes
> answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably
> Shiite."
>
> That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
> organization and views Shiites as heretics.
>
> Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite
> group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern
> Lebanon.
>
> Stein's column about Reyes' answers was published on CQ's Web site Friday
> evening.
>
> In an interview with CNN, Stein said he was "amazed" by Reyes' lack of what
> he considers basic information about two of the major terrorists
> organizations.
>
> "If you're the baseball commissioner and you don't know the difference
> between the Yankees and the Red Sox, you don't know baseball," Stein said.
> "You're not going to have the respect of the people you work with."
>
> While Stein said Reyes is "not a stupid guy," his lack of knowledge said it
> could hamper Reyes' ability to provide effective oversight of the
> intelligence community, Stein believes.
>
> "If you don't have the basics, how do you effectively question the
> administration?" he asked. "You don't know who is on first."
>
> Stein said Reyes is not the only member of the House Intelligence Committee
> that he has interviewed that lacked what he considered basic knowledge about
> terrorist organizations.
>
> "It kind of disgusts you, because these guys are supposed to be tending your
> knitting," Stein said. "Most people are rightfully appalled."
>
> Pelosi picked Reyes over fellow Californian Rep. Jane Harman, who had been
> the Intelligence Committee's ranking member, and Rep. Alcee Hastings of
> Florida, who had been impeached as a federal judge after being accused of
> taking a bribe.
>
> Calls from CNN to Reyes' office asking for reaction to Stein's column have
> not been returned.
This is certainly disturbing, but it should be noted for the record
that Stein played the same trivia game a couple of months ago with
several senior admin. officials directly involved in Middle East policy
and they all did as badly as Reyes did.
|
| | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 18:45:12
From: Michael Anselmo
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"John B." <johnb505@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1165867182.806111.22810@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> MnMikew wrote:
>> WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House
>> Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when
>> the
>> Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al
>> Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the
>> intelligence
>> community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
>>
>> When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is
>> one
>> or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite --
>> Reyes
>> answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly --
>> probably
>> Shiite."
>>
>> That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni
>> organization and views Shiites as heretics.
>>
>> Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a
>> Shiite
>> group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in
>> Southern
>> Lebanon.
>>
>> Stein's column about Reyes' answers was published on CQ's Web site Friday
>> evening.
>>
>> In an interview with CNN, Stein said he was "amazed" by Reyes' lack of
>> what
>> he considers basic information about two of the major terrorists
>> organizations.
>>
>> "If you're the baseball commissioner and you don't know the difference
>> between the Yankees and the Red Sox, you don't know baseball," Stein
>> said.
>> "You're not going to have the respect of the people you work with."
>>
>> While Stein said Reyes is "not a stupid guy," his lack of knowledge said
>> it
>> could hamper Reyes' ability to provide effective oversight of the
>> intelligence community, Stein believes.
>>
>> "If you don't have the basics, how do you effectively question the
>> administration?" he asked. "You don't know who is on first."
>>
>> Stein said Reyes is not the only member of the House Intelligence
>> Committee
>> that he has interviewed that lacked what he considered basic knowledge
>> about
>> terrorist organizations.
>>
>> "It kind of disgusts you, because these guys are supposed to be tending
>> your
>> knitting," Stein said. "Most people are rightfully appalled."
>>
>> Pelosi picked Reyes over fellow Californian Rep. Jane Harman, who had
>> been
>> the Intelligence Committee's ranking member, and Rep. Alcee Hastings of
>> Florida, who had been impeached as a federal judge after being accused of
>> taking a bribe.
>>
>> Calls from CNN to Reyes' office asking for reaction to Stein's column
>> have
>> not been returned.
>
>
> This is certainly disturbing, but it should be noted for the record
> that Stein played the same trivia game a couple of months ago with
> several senior admin. officials directly involved in Middle East policy
> and they all did as badly as Reyes did.
>
It is comforting to know that incompetence is not a barrier to a good paying
job in government.
Why should congress be any different than the Post Office or the DMV?
Mike
|
| | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 16:56:02
From: Jack Hollis
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 11 Dec 2006 11:59:42 -0800, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com > wrote:
>> Calls from CNN to Reyes' office asking for reaction to Stein's column have
>> not been returned.
>
>
>This is certainly disturbing,
It's not really surprising. Reyes was the third ranking Democrat on
the Committee. During hearings, his staff provides him with some
relevant questions so he appears to know something about the topic at
hand. Then he votes the way he's told to vote by the leadership. I
would imagine that most of the time during a hearing, he's daydreaming
if he's there at all.
|
| | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 12:15:46
From: multi
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 11 Dec 2006 11:59:42 -0800, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com > wrote:
>This is certainly disturbing, but it should be noted for the record
>that Stein played the same trivia game a couple of months ago with
>several senior admin. officials directly involved in Middle East policy
>and they all did as badly as Reyes did.
I guess the difference is that Dems are appointed in spite of their
lack of knowledge, while Reps are appointed because of it. I'm
thinking of Bush's recent appointment of a guy who is
anti-contraception (i.e. any type of birth control except abstinence)
as his head of Family Planning, as well as a bunch of political hacks
to rewrite scientific reports from NASA, the EPA, etc.
|
| | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 15:54:27
From: sfb
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Please explain why somebody who is pro-abstinence is not qualified to head
Family Planning.
"multi" <multi@asm.org > wrote in message
news:6rern2hq90ro0g35u811eupk5vb59i95rb@4ax.com...
> On 11 Dec 2006 11:59:42 -0800, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
>>This is certainly disturbing, but it should be noted for the record
>>that Stein played the same trivia game a couple of months ago with
>>several senior admin. officials directly involved in Middle East policy
>>and they all did as badly as Reyes did.
>
> I guess the difference is that Dems are appointed in spite of their
> lack of knowledge, while Reps are appointed because of it. I'm
> thinking of Bush's recent appointment of a guy who is
> anti-contraception (i.e. any type of birth control except abstinence)
> as his head of Family Planning, as well as a bunch of political hacks
> to rewrite scientific reports from NASA, the EPA, etc.
|
| | | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 13:17:01
From: multi
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:54:27 -0500, "sfb" <sfb@spam.net > wrote:
>Please explain why somebody who is pro-abstinence is not qualified to head
>Family Planning.
Right now I'm busy on another line, explaining why someone who favors
the "evil spirits" theory of illness should not be the Surgeon
General, but I'll get to you as soon as I can.
|
| | | | | |
Date: 11 Dec 2006 16:23:04
From: sfb
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Until then, we just assume anybody who disagrees with you is unquaifed.
"multi" <multi@asm.org > wrote in message
news:pjirn2t6gn0l58d0eolv8i1g69huo78srd@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:54:27 -0500, "sfb" <sfb@spam.net> wrote:
>>Please explain why somebody who is pro-abstinence is not qualified to head
>>Family Planning.
>
> Right now I'm busy on another line, explaining why someone who favors
> the "evil spirits" theory of illness should not be the Surgeon
> General, but I'll get to you as soon as I can.
>
>
|
| |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 09:55:54
From: John B.
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
The_Professor wrote:
> Bert Robbins wrote:
> > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the committee.
> > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle which
> > pisses off Pelosi.
>
>
> I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that Al
> Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily be
> argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission had
> discounted that possibility!
If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
|
| | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 13:05:47
From: The World Wide Wade
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
In article
<1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com >,
"John B." <johnb505@gmail.com > wrote:
> The_Professor wrote:
> > Bert Robbins wrote:
> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the committee.
> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle which
> > > pisses off Pelosi.
> >
> >
> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that Al
> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily be
> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission had
> > discounted that possibility!
>
> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
of the commission).
|
| | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 15:35:15
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net > wrote in message
news:waderameyxiii-EF48E5.13054712122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> In article
> <1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
> "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> The_Professor wrote:
>> > Bert Robbins wrote:
>> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the
>> > > committee.
>> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle
>> > > which
>> > > pisses off Pelosi.
>> >
>> >
>> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
>> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that Al
>> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily be
>> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission had
>> > discounted that possibility!
>>
>> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
>> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
>> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
>> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
>
> The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
> difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
> is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
> of the commission).
He may have meant the Iraq Commission Report.
|
| | | | |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 04:05:49
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 12-Dec-2006, "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
> "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in
> message
> news:waderameyxiii-EF48E5.13054712122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> > In article
> > <1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
> > "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> The_Professor wrote:
> >> > Bert Robbins wrote:
> >> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the
> >> > > committee.
> >> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle
> >> > > which
> >> > > pisses off Pelosi.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> >> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that
> >> > Al
> >> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily
> >> > be
> >> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission
> >> > had
> >> > discounted that possibility!
> >>
> >> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
> >> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
> >> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
> >> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
> >
> > The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
> > difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
> > is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
> > of the commission).
>
> He may have meant the Iraq Commission Report.
FWIW, Al Queada released one of their audio tapes to Al Jehzira about a
month ago stating that they had "over 12,000 operatives in Iraq." Pelosi was
apparently in City Park meeting with constituents at the time!
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 21:56:45
From: The World Wide Wade
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
In article <457f7c17$0$23637$882e0bbb@news.ThunderNews.com >,
"bill-o" <assimilate@borg.org > wrote:
> On 12-Dec-2006, "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in
> > message
> > news:waderameyxiii-EF48E5.13054712122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> > > In article
> > > <1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
> > > "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> The_Professor wrote:
> > >> > Bert Robbins wrote:
> > >> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the
> > >> > > committee.
> > >> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle
> > >> > > which
> > >> > > pisses off Pelosi.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> > >> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that
> > >> > Al
> > >> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily
> > >> > be
> > >> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission
> > >> > had
> > >> > discounted that possibility!
> > >>
> > >> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
> > >> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
> > >> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
> > >> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
> > >
> > > The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
> > > difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
> > > is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
> > > of the commission).
> >
> > He may have meant the Iraq Commission Report.
>
> FWIW, Al Queada released one of their audio tapes to Al Jehzira about a
> month ago stating that they had "over 12,000 operatives in Iraq." Pelosi was
> apparently in City Park meeting with constituents at the time!
Again, the Iraq Study Group states that "Al Qaeda is responsible
for a small portion of the violence in Iraq", so what exactly is
your point?
|
| | | | | | |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 17:22:02
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 13-Dec-2006, The World Wide Wade <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net >
wrote:
> > FWIW, Al Queada released one of their audio tapes to Al Jehzira about a
> > month ago stating that they had "over 12,000 operatives in Iraq." Pelosi
> > was apparently in City Park meeting with constituents at the time!
>
> Again, the Iraq Study Group states that "Al Qaeda is responsible
> for a small portion of the violence in Iraq", so what exactly is
> your point?
My point, o illiterate one, was that Al Queada publicly announced its
involement, no doubt overstated, and one month later Pelosi claims that
they aren't there because some do nothing commision said so.
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | | | | | | |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 20:27:17
From: The World Wide Wade
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
In article <458036b3$0$23637$882e0bbb@news.ThunderNews.com >,
"bill-o" <assimilate@borg.org > wrote:
> On 13-Dec-2006, The World Wide Wade <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net>
> wrote:
>
> > > FWIW, Al Queada released one of their audio tapes to Al Jehzira about a
> > > month ago stating that they had "over 12,000 operatives in Iraq." Pelosi
> > > was apparently in City Park meeting with constituents at the time!
> >
> > Again, the Iraq Study Group states that "Al Qaeda is responsible
> > for a small portion of the violence in Iraq", so what exactly is
> > your point?
>
> My point, o illiterate one, was that Al Queada publicly announced its
> involement, no doubt overstated, and one month later Pelosi claims that
> they aren't there because some do nothing commision said so.
Pelosi said no such thing, o idiotic one. She claimed Bush's
absurd statement - that the sectarian violence in Iraq was being
fomented by al Qaeda - was wrong. Her grave error was in citing
the wrong report.
You can smear the Iraq Study Group as "do-nothing", but I think
even the slow-witted are learning to translate from Karl Rovese
into ordinary English: What you really mean is that conclusions
of this bipartisan commission, most of which are obvious to any
sentient observer, contradict the bizarro world view of you and
the incompetent denial artists who have led us into this disaster.
Now of course you can prove me wrong: Just supply a reference for
your assertion that Pelosi claimed al Qaeda is not in Iraq.
|
| | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 11:38:47
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net > wrote in message
news:waderameyxiii- >
> You can smear the Iraq Study Group as "do-nothing", but I think
> even the slow-witted are learning to translate from Karl Rovese
> into ordinary English:
Have you ever read any of the recommendations? Pipe dreams and fantasy.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Date: 16 Dec 2006 07:50:57
From: A Brick in the Wall
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote in message
news:4udgh8F17kcihU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in
> message news:waderameyxiii->
>> You can smear the Iraq Study Group as "do-nothing", but I think
>> even the slow-witted are learning to translate from Karl Rovese
>> into ordinary English:
>
> Have you ever read any of the recommendations? Pipe dreams and fantasy.
>
You want pipe dreams & fantasy?
We found WMD, were greeted with flowers & have a flourishing prosperous
democratic friend in the Iraqi people now.
/sarcasm
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 18 Dec 2006 09:04:11
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"A Brick in the Wall" <NoSpam@NoThanks.com > wrote in message
news:4583b8e0$1_2@newsfeed.slurp.net...
>
> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:4udgh8F17kcihU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in
>> message news:waderameyxiii->
>>> You can smear the Iraq Study Group as "do-nothing", but I think
>>> even the slow-witted are learning to translate from Karl Rovese
>>> into ordinary English:
>>
>> Have you ever read any of the recommendations? Pipe dreams and fantasy.
>>
>
>
> You want pipe dreams & fantasy?
>
>
> We found WMD, were greeted with flowers & have a flourishing prosperous
> democratic friend in the Iraqi people now.
>
> /sarcasm
>
I take that as a no.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 18 Dec 2006 19:19:49
From: A Brick in the Wall
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote in message
news:4unovcF194rc2U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "A Brick in the Wall" <NoSpam@NoThanks.com> wrote in message
> news:4583b8e0$1_2@newsfeed.slurp.net...
>>
>> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote in message
>> news:4udgh8F17kcihU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>> "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in
>>> message news:waderameyxiii->
>>>> You can smear the Iraq Study Group as "do-nothing", but I think
>>>> even the slow-witted are learning to translate from Karl Rovese
>>>> into ordinary English:
>>>
>>> Have you ever read any of the recommendations? Pipe dreams and fantasy.
>>>
>>
>>
>> You want pipe dreams & fantasy?
>>
>>
>> We found WMD, were greeted with flowers & have a flourishing prosperous
>> democratic friend in the Iraqi people now.
>>
>> /sarcasm
>>
> I take that as a no.
>
Another no content post --- Same Old Same Old from you ---
|
| | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 16:06:47
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 13-Dec-2006, The World Wide Wade <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net >
wrote:
> Now of course you can prove me wrong: Just supply a reference for
> your assertion that Pelosi claimed al Qaeda is not in Iraq.
The relevant portion of the story from David Gregory, who filed from Riga,
Latvia, on the November 28 NBC Nightly News:
David Gregory: “Iraq's worsening civil war will dominate the President's
meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Concluding his visit to
Estonia earlier today, Mr. Bush blamed the violence not on civil war but
on Sunni terrorists.”
President Bush at a press conference in Estonia: “There's a lot of
sectarian violence taking place, fomented in my opinion because of these
attacks by al Qaeda, causing people to seek reprisal. And we will work
with the Maliki government to defeat these elements.”
Gregory: “Back in Washington, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
disagreed, warning that such rhetoric about al Qaeda will make it harder
for Democrats to work with the White House.”
:-P
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 18:31:41
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
bill-o <assimilate@borg.org > wrote:
:
: On 13-Dec-2006, The World Wide Wade <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net >
: wrote:
:
: > Now of course you can prove me wrong: Just supply a reference for
: > your assertion that Pelosi claimed al Qaeda is not in Iraq.
:
:
: The relevant portion of the story from David Gregory, who filed from Riga,
: Latvia, on the November 28 NBC Nightly News:
:
: David Gregory: ?Iraq's worsening civil war will dominate the President's
: meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Concluding his visit to
: Estonia earlier today, Mr. Bush blamed the violence not on civil war but
: on Sunni terrorists.?
:
: President Bush at a press conference in Estonia: ?There's a lot of
: sectarian violence taking place, fomented in my opinion because of these
: attacks by al Qaeda, causing people to seek reprisal. And we will work
: with the Maliki government to defeat these elements.?
:
: Gregory: ?Back in Washington, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
: disagreed, warning that such rhetoric about al Qaeda will make it harder
: for Democrats to work with the White House.?
Well, that's basically right. Al Qaeda is essentially a non-
player in Iraq, and Bush continues to make it sound as though
they're the primary problem there.
Here's a free hint: the Sunni insurgency in Iraq is Baathist.
The Baathists *hate* Al Qaeda, and Al Qaeda *hates* the Baathists.
Al Qaeda has some operations in the Kurdish north, well away from
where the action is, but that's about it.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 20:27:46
From: Jack Hollis
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:31:41 GMT, Chris Bellomy
<puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
>Well, that's basically right. Al Qaeda is essentially a non-
>player in Iraq, and Bush continues to make it sound as though
>they're the primary problem there.
I'm afraid that you know as much about Al Qaeda in Iraq as you do
about NK's nuclear weapons program.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 01:45:40
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 14-Dec-2006, Jack Hollis <xsleeper@aol.com > wrote:
> >Well, that's basically right. Al Qaeda is essentially a non-
> >player in Iraq, and Bush continues to make it sound as though
> >they're the primary problem there.
>
> I'm afraid that you know as much about Al Qaeda in Iraq as you do
> about NK's nuclear weapons program.
My thoughts as well
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 01:36:18
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Jack Hollis <xsleeper@aol.com > wrote:
: On Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:31:41 GMT, Chris Bellomy
: <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
:
: >Well, that's basically right. Al Qaeda is essentially a non-
: >player in Iraq, and Bush continues to make it sound as though
: >they're the primary problem there.
:
: I'm afraid that you know as much about Al Qaeda in Iraq as you do
: about NK's nuclear weapons program.
...as I do about the Social Security trust fund, right?
Right.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 21:23:04
From: Jack Hollis
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 01:36:18 GMT, Chris Bellomy
<puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
>: I'm afraid that you know as much about Al Qaeda in Iraq as you do
>: about NK's nuclear weapons program.
>
>...as I do about the Social Security trust fund, right?
>
>Right.
You got it.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 03:35:42
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Jack Hollis <xsleeper@aol.com > wrote:
: On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 01:36:18 GMT, Chris Bellomy
: <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
:
: >: I'm afraid that you know as much about Al Qaeda in Iraq as you do
: >: about NK's nuclear weapons program.
: >
: >...as I do about the Social Security trust fund, right?
: >
: >Right.
:
: You got it.
Then I'll take that as a compliment and a concession!
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 23:15:32
From: Jack Hollis
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 03:35:42 GMT, Chris Bellomy
<puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
>Then I'll take that as a compliment and a concession!
You can take it anyway you want but you don't know very much about Al
Qaeda in Iraq, KN nukes or SSTR and I'm tired of proving you wrong.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 05:10:04
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Jack Hollis <xsleeper@aol.com > wrote:
: On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 03:35:42 GMT, Chris Bellomy
: <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
:
: >Then I'll take that as a compliment and a concession!
:
: You can take it anyway you want but you don't know very much about Al
: Qaeda in Iraq, KN nukes or SSTR and I'm tired of proving you wrong.
I can imagine that it gets very tiring, continually arguing
from a position of ignorance as you tend to do.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 14:42:00
From: Robert Hamilton
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
The World Wide Wade wrote:
> In article <458036b3$0$23637$882e0bbb@news.ThunderNews.com>,
> "bill-o" <assimilate@borg.org> wrote:
>
> > On 13-Dec-2006, The World Wide Wade <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > > FWIW, Al Queada released one of their audio tapes to Al Jehzira about a
> > > > month ago stating that they had "over 12,000 operatives in Iraq." Pelosi
> > > > was apparently in City Park meeting with constituents at the time!
> > >
> > > Again, the Iraq Study Group states that "Al Qaeda is responsible
> > > for a small portion of the violence in Iraq", so what exactly is
> > > your point?
> >
> > My point, o illiterate one, was that Al Queada publicly announced its
> > involement, no doubt overstated, and one month later Pelosi claims that
> > they aren't there because some do nothing commision said so.
>
> Pelosi said no such thing, o idiotic one. She claimed Bush's
> absurd statement - that the sectarian violence in Iraq was being
> fomented by al Qaeda - was wrong. Her grave error was in citing
> the wrong report.
The Iraq Study Group report was *NOT* out at the time.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 16:08:53
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 14-Dec-2006, Robert Hamilton <DBID@att.net > wrote:
> > Pelosi said no such thing, o idiotic one. She claimed Bush's
> > absurd statement - that the sectarian violence in Iraq was being
> > fomented by al Qaeda - was wrong. Her grave error was in citing
> > the wrong report.
>
> The Iraq Study Group report was *NOT* out at the time.
No but since commissions are appointed to not address problems so the
President can also not address them, all commissions are do nothings.
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 09:47:28
From: larry
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:08:53 GMT, "bill-o" <assimilate@borg.org >
wrote:
>
>On 14-Dec-2006, Robert Hamilton <DBID@att.net> wrote:
>
>> > Pelosi said no such thing, o idiotic one. She claimed Bush's
>> > absurd statement - that the sectarian violence in Iraq was being
>> > fomented by al Qaeda - was wrong. Her grave error was in citing
>> > the wrong report.
>>
>> The Iraq Study Group report was *NOT* out at the time.
>
>No but since commissions are appointed to not address problems so the
>President can also not address them, all commissions are do nothings.
Remember the definition of a camel, "a horse redesigned by a
committee" (commission). And as Margaret Thatcher said, "consensus"
is simply the absence of leadership.
GW Bush will lead. He will not allow his government to run like
Clinton would-- by abdicating to a committee.
Larry
|
| | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 13:29:14
From: S McFarlane
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net > wrote in message
news:waderameyxiii- >> >
>> Again, the Iraq Study Group states that "Al Qaeda is responsible
>> > for a small portion of the violence in Iraq", so what exactly is
>> > your point?
>>
>> My point, o illiterate one, was that Al Queada publicly announced its
>> involement, no doubt overstated, and one month later Pelosi claims that
>> they aren't there because some do nothing commision said so.
>
> Pelosi said no such thing, o idiotic one. She claimed Bush's
> absurd statement - that the sectarian violence in Iraq was being
> fomented by al Qaeda - was wrong. Her grave error was in citing
> the wrong report.
Here's the quote she was responding to, which was in turn a response to al
Qaeda's claims about it's forces in Iraq :
"There's a lot of sectarian violence taking place, fomented in my opinion
because of these attacks by al Qaeda, causing people to seek reprisal. And
we will work with the Maliki government to defeat these elements."
Note that what Bush said was attacks by al Qaeda are fomenting sectarian
violence, not that they are _the_ cause of it. Here's Pelosi's response:
"But the 9/11 Commission dismissed that notion a long time ago and I feel
sad that the President is resorting to it again."
It is a grave error for the Speaker to chime in on such a vital topic and
have her facts all mangled. It makes one wonder. It appears, given what
she is responding to, that she thinks there is no connection between al
Qaeda attacks and sectarian violence. That is the absurd statement. I'm no
fan of Bush doctrine and I'm a rabid critic of his ridiculous plans in
reforming Iraq, but it is silly to suppose that al Qaeda has no presence in
Iraq, that it doesn't use violence on a regular basis, and that
destabilization of the political situation When Pelosi makes public
statements like that, she isn't doing opposition to the war any favors.
Here's what the Multinational Force thinks :
"On al Qaeda, since October of 2004, we have now killed or captured over
7,000 al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists. More than 30 senior- level al Qaeda in
Iraq terrorists have been captured or killed since July alone. Among these
terrorists are many who are closely connected to the senior leadership of al
Qaeda in Iraq."
What are al Qaeda goals in Iraq? According to the MNF, based on debriefings
of captured al Qaeda in Iraq members:
"This first goal, as they have stated to us in the debriefings, is
controlling the Sunni population. Al Qaeda in Iraq is looking to dominate
Baghdad. They hope to convince the Sunni people that resistance to unity is
a realistic goal and that al Qaeda in Iraq is the best avenue for
sectarian-based resistance. Part of this strategy, they told us, is that
murder and intimidation of Sunnis who are brave and foresighted enough to
work towards reconciliation takes place.
As they stated, again, their second goal is to weaken the Iraqi
government....
And the third goal they stated in these debriefings is to attack Shi'a
civilians. Al Qaeda seeks to divide. They do this by targeting Shi'a, by
seeking to create distrust and fear in order to incite retribution. We know
that al Qaeda in Iraq has issued orders to attack the Shi'a population. The
attacks in Sadr City last week were a vivid reminder of al Qaeda in Iraq's
strategy of executing high- visibility, high-casualty-producing attacks
against civilian targets in order to sow division among Iraqis along
sectarian lines."
Some of that may be exaggerated, but I don't see the statements of al
Qaeda's goals in Iraq as being off base. Why do you suppose al Qaeda
operates in Iraq, or do you believe it is a myth that they do so?
Scott
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 18:25:19
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
S McFarlane <spam@nothanks.com > wrote:
: It is a grave error for the Speaker to chime in on such a vital topic and
: have her facts all mangled. It makes one wonder. It appears, given what
: she is responding to, that she thinks there is no connection between al
: Qaeda attacks and sectarian violence. That is the absurd statement. I'm no
: fan of Bush doctrine and I'm a rabid critic of his ridiculous plans in
: reforming Iraq, but it is silly to suppose that al Qaeda has no presence in
: Iraq, that it doesn't use violence on a regular basis, and that
: destabilization of the political situation.
But Al Qaeda *is* virtually nonexistent in non-Kurdish Iraq. I don't
get your point here.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 03:04:51
From: S McFarlane
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
news:0T3mupqlId3dN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
>S McFarlane <spam@nothanks.com> wrote:
>
> : It is a grave error for the Speaker to chime in on such a vital topic
> and
> : have her facts all mangled. It makes one wonder. It appears, given
> what
> : she is responding to, that she thinks there is no connection between al
> : Qaeda attacks and sectarian violence. That is the absurd statement.
> I'm no
> : fan of Bush doctrine and I'm a rabid critic of his ridiculous plans in
> : reforming Iraq, but it is silly to suppose that al Qaeda has no presence
> in
> : Iraq, that it doesn't use violence on a regular basis, and that
> : destabilization of the political situation.
>
> But Al Qaeda *is* virtually nonexistent in non-Kurdish Iraq. I don't
> get your point here.
>
I don't know where you get your info. The foreign fighters comprise from
3 - 10% of the total insurgency. This is a small fraction, but nowhere near
'nonexistent'. Nothing I can find anywhere suggests that foreign fighters
are restricted to Kurdish territories. It appears that the Kurds have had a
lot more success against al Qaedaish groups than anywhere else in Iraq.
A possible source of misunderstanding between us may be what comprises al
Qaeda. I don't percieve al Qaeda as a well-defined organisation such that
any given radical is either clearly in it or clearly out of it. My loose
definition would include any foreign fighters entering the country for the
purpose of waging jihad, and especially those foreign fighters who support
the goal of establishing an Islamic state in Iraq and condone the use of
terror in pursuit of this agenda.
So far as I can tell, they remain a serious problem in al Anbar region, and
in fact western Iraq appears to still be where they are concentrated despite
setbacks for them there earlier this year. It appears that they are
recovering in terms of Sunni support in western Iraq, and as far as I can
tell there is very little evidence that they are nonexistent in al Anbar at
least.
It's very difficult to find solid info on the insurgency in Iraq. What
appears to be the consensus in Western news outlets doesn't always jibe with
reality, particularly on this subject, and often it is just second-hand from
the US military. If you have any references I could follow, I'm very
interested to see them.
Scott
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 03:34:54
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
S McFarlane <spam@nothanks.com > wrote:
:
: "Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
: news:0T3mupqlId3dN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
: >S McFarlane <spam@nothanks.com> wrote:
: >
: > : It is a grave error for the Speaker to chime in on such a vital topic
: > and
: > : have her facts all mangled. It makes one wonder. It appears, given
: > what
: > : she is responding to, that she thinks there is no connection between al
: > : Qaeda attacks and sectarian violence. That is the absurd statement.
: > I'm no
: > : fan of Bush doctrine and I'm a rabid critic of his ridiculous plans in
: > : reforming Iraq, but it is silly to suppose that al Qaeda has no presence
: > in
: > : Iraq, that it doesn't use violence on a regular basis, and that
: > : destabilization of the political situation.
: >
: > But Al Qaeda *is* virtually nonexistent in non-Kurdish Iraq. I don't
: > get your point here.
: >
:
: I don't know where you get your info. The foreign fighters comprise from
: 3 - 10% of the total insurgency. This is a small fraction, but nowhere near
: 'nonexistent'. Nothing I can find anywhere suggests that foreign fighters
: are restricted to Kurdish territories. It appears that the Kurds have had a
: lot more success against al Qaedaish groups than anywhere else in Iraq.
A lot of foreign fighters are imported Shias from Iran and Lebanon
(Hezbollah) -- the very last people who would have anything to do
with the Wahabbi Al Qaeda. As noted elsewhere, the Sunni insurrection
in Iraq is mostly Baathist, therefore secular, therefore again
unfriendly with the Wahabbi extremists in Al Qaeda.
Seriously, Al Qaeda in Iraq is like the Libertarian Party in
the United States. They exist, but their effect on the big
picture is negligible.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 10:19:56
From: S McFarlane
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote in message
news:0T3mvpd7IrbfN34@redshark.goodshow.net...
> A lot of foreign fighters are imported Shias from Iran and Lebanon
> (Hezbollah) -- the very last people who would have anything to do
> with the Wahabbi Al Qaeda. As noted elsewhere, the Sunni insurrection
> in Iraq is mostly Baathist, therefore secular, therefore again
> unfriendly with the Wahabbi extremists in Al Qaeda.
>
> Seriously, Al Qaeda in Iraq is like the Libertarian Party in
> the United States. They exist, but their effect on the big
> picture is negligible.
>
Ahh, but that's different than nonexistent, even if it is an accurate
picture of the scope. It still appears that the consensus is that they
_are_ a very significant portion of the problem in al Anbar, to the extent
that portions of the Sunni insurgency have been fighting them due to their
targeting of Sunni tribal leaders. Given the situation, it is hard to
imagine the tribal leaders working in concert with the US military in order
to address a faction whose impact is negligible. Remember also, a small
number of 'fighters' can have a huge impact on the ground if they are
ruthless and resourceful. For example, suicide bombings of Shia mosques.
Again, what appears to be the consensus is that they are a significant
factor in non-Kurdish Iraq, but being the consensus doesn't imply being
correct. All I have otherwise is assertions, but in the face of a good deal
of information contradicting the assertions, it's difficult to accept them
on face value. If you don't want to take the time to provide references,
that's fine. I really am interested to know whether the mainstream position
is just PR for reasons that have nothing to do with Nancy Pelosi, so I'd be
grateful for any you care to provide. I haven't been lazy, I just haven't
been able to find any source that supports what you say.
Scott
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 01:45:00
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 14-Dec-2006, Chris Bellomy <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
> But Al Qaeda *is* virtually nonexistent in non-Kurdish Iraq. I don't
> get your point here.
You mean in Kurdish Iraq?
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Date: 15 Dec 2006 02:13:35
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
bill-o <assimilate@borg.org > wrote:
:
: On 14-Dec-2006, Chris Bellomy <puevf@tbbqfubj.arg.invalid > wrote:
:
: > But Al Qaeda *is* virtually nonexistent in non-Kurdish Iraq. I don't
: > get your point here.
:
: You mean in Kurdish Iraq?
No, what they have in Iraq is in the north.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
|
| | | | | |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 13:28:27
From: Jack Hollis
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 04:05:49 GMT, "bill-o" <assimilate@borg.org >
wrote:
>FWIW, Al Queada released one of their audio tapes to Al Jehzira about a
>month ago stating that they had "over 12,000 operatives in Iraq." Pelosi was
>apparently in City Park meeting with constituents at the time!
Intelligence reports have it that Al Qaeda in Iraq has become more and
more Iraqi, as the number of foreign recruits has dried up. So if Al
Qaeda wants to include the Iraqi Sunni insurgents, who they give
assistance to, as part of their organization, then 12K could be an
accurate number.
In any case, Al Qaeda has formed a coalition with the Sunni insurgents
and it's their expertise that's making the insurgency as deadly as it
is.
Obviously, the Democrats do not want to admit that Al Qaeda is
focusing its efforts in Iraq (which it is) because that would add to
the rational that the war in Iraq has caused Al Qaeda to have less
resources to conduct attack within the US.
|
| | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 14:22:35
From: The World Wide Wade
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
In article <4u8lkkF15ub87U1@mid.individual.net >,
"MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com > wrote:
> "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in message
> news:waderameyxiii-EF48E5.13054712122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> > In article
> > <1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
> > "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> The_Professor wrote:
> >> > Bert Robbins wrote:
> >> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the
> >> > > committee.
> >> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle
> >> > > which
> >> > > pisses off Pelosi.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> >> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that Al
> >> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily be
> >> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission had
> >> > discounted that possibility!
> >>
> >> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
> >> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
> >> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
> >> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
> >
> > The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
> > difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
> > is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
> > of the commission).
>
> He may have meant the Iraq Commission Report.
There is no Iraq Commission Report. There is an Iraq Study Group
report. Pelosi's error was in referencing the 9/11 Commission
Report when asked about Bush's recent assertion that al Qaeda is
fomenting the violence in Iraq now. "There's a lot of sectarian
violence taking place, fomented, in my opinion, because of these
attacks by al Qaeda." That's what Bush said. Pelosi probably
meant the ISG report, which states "Al Qaeda is responsible for a
small portion of the violence in Iraq" - which has been known for
some time.
|
| | | | | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 16:32:06
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net > wrote in message
news:waderameyxiii-91C407.14223412122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> In article <4u8lkkF15ub87U1@mid.individual.net>,
> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in
>> message
>> news:waderameyxiii-EF48E5.13054712122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
>> > In article
>> > <1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
>> > "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> The_Professor wrote:
>> >> > Bert Robbins wrote:
>> >> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the
>> >> > > committee.
>> >> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle
>> >> > > which
>> >> > > pisses off Pelosi.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
>> >> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that
>> >> > Al
>> >> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily
>> >> > be
>> >> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission
>> >> > had
>> >> > discounted that possibility!
>> >>
>> >> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
>> >> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
>> >> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
>> >> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
>> >
>> > The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
>> > difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
>> > is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
>> > of the commission).
>>
>> He may have meant the Iraq Commission Report.
>
> There is no Iraq Commission Report. There is an Iraq Study Group
> report.
That's what I meant.
|
| |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 09:38:32
From: The_Professor
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Bert Robbins wrote:
> Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the committee.
> Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle which
> pisses off Pelosi.
I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that Al
Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily be
argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission had
discounted that possibility!
|
| |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 17:55:40
From: The_Professor
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
The World Wide Wade wrote:
> In article <4u8lkkF15ub87U1@mid.individual.net>,
> "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in message
> > news:waderameyxiii-EF48E5.13054712122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> > > In article
> > > <1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
> > > "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> The_Professor wrote:
> > >> > Bert Robbins wrote:
> > >> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the
> > >> > > committee.
> > >> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle
> > >> > > which
> > >> > > pisses off Pelosi.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> > >> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that Al
> > >> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily be
> > >> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission had
> > >> > discounted that possibility!
> > >>
> > >> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
> > >> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
> > >> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
> > >> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
> > >
> > > The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
> > > difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
> > > is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
> > > of the commission).
> >
> > He may have meant the Iraq Commission Report.
>
> There is no Iraq Commission Report. There is an Iraq Study Group
> report. Pelosi's error was in referencing the 9/11 Commission
> Report when asked about Bush's recent assertion that al Qaeda is
> fomenting the violence in Iraq now. "There's a lot of sectarian
> violence taking place, fomented, in my opinion, because of these
> attacks by al Qaeda." That's what Bush said. Pelosi probably
> meant the ISG report, which states "Al Qaeda is responsible for a
> small portion of the violence in Iraq" - which has been known for
> some time.
In any event, Pelosi is not well versed enough in the issue to respond
accurately to a simple question.
|
| |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 14:31:42
From: annika1980
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
Chris Bellomy wrote:
> This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
> the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
> it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
> you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
> which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
> you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
> than to bitch about the other party.
Gee what tipped you that he was a dittohead?
Besides every other post the guy has made, of course.
|
| | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 17:41:07
From: MnMikew
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"annika1980" <annika1980@aol.com > wrote in message
news:1165962702.247357.71920@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
>
> Chris Bellomy wrote:
>> This is where you hurt yourself. If you confined your ire for
>> the idiocy of Reyes and called on Pelosi to do something about
>> it, you'd look interested in competent governance. But instead
>> you already are running off whining about Pelosi's partisanship,
>> which, as she hasn't even taken the gavel as Speaker yet, makes
>> you look like a rabid partisan with no higher purpose of your own
>> than to bitch about the other party.
>
> Gee what tipped you that he was a dittohead?
> Besides every other post the guy has made, of course.
>
I can't stand Limbaugh. He's almost as pompous as you are.
|
| |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 11:17:55
From: The_Professor
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
John B. wrote:
> The_Professor wrote:
> > Bert Robbins wrote:
> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the committee.
> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle which
> > > pisses off Pelosi.
> >
> >
> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that Al
> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily be
> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission had
> > discounted that possibility!
>
> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
What?!? The 9/11 Commission didn't even address the issue.
|
| | |
Date: 12 Dec 2006 15:49:02
From: Jack Hollis
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 12 Dec 2006 11:17:55 -0800, "The_Professor" <dbid@att.net > wrote:
>> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
>> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
>> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
>> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
>
>What?!? The 9/11 Commission didn't even address the issue.
Al Qaeda has been in Iraq for a long time and they're still there.
Until his death, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was the head of operations.
After his death an unknown called Abu Hamza al-Muhajir was appointed
leader.
Here's an article on the new head of Al Qaeda in Iraq and some info on
the organization itself from the Council on Foreign Relations.
Who is Abu Hamza al-Muhajir?
No one seems to know for certain. The website announcing al-Muhajir's
new post said he is "a good brother, has a history in jihad, and is
knowledgeable." On July 13, the Times of London cited "insurgent
sources" who described their new leader as an Egyptian national with
experience fighting in Afghanistan and against U.S. forces in Fallujah
in 2004. Farhana Ali, a terrorism expert at the RAND corporation, says
Abu Hamza al-Muhajir may be an alias of Abu Ayub al-Masri, an Egyptian
trained in Afghanistan who was identified by the U.S. military as a
likely successor to al-Zarqawi.
The nom de guerre al-Muhajir has chosen also offers some clues. As
with many terrorists in Iraq, his name begins with Abu, meaning
"father of," and is followed by a name that is either his son's or a
pseudonym. The second part of the name usually is a clue to the
person's place of origin, says Rick Francona, a defense intelligence
expert. Al-Zarqawi, for instance, named himself for his hometown of
Zarqa in Jordan. Al-Muhajir means "the emigrant," which has led most
experts to speculate that he is not Iraqi. While this may well be the
case, "You cannot deduce from the term 'muhajir' that he is not
Iraqi," says Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East expert at Sarah Lawrence
College. He says the term was originally used to describe the
companions of Mohammed who left Mecca for Medina, and it could well be
a reference to time spent traveling or training in a place such as
Afghanistan.
What is the symbolic importance of the post?
"People in the jihad pledge loyalty to the emir," explains Gerges,
"It's close to a sacred position. It's very unlikely for a jihadist
organization to appoint an emir without that person being highly
regarded, highly seasoned." For this reason, the experience and
knowledge cited on the al-Qaeda in Iraq website is a vital credential.
Why would someone so unknown be appointed?
Most experts agree the announcement of al-Muhajir's ascension was
intentionally vague. "It's unusual," Gerges says, "It could be
tactical deception on the part of al-Qaeda." Ali agrees, suggesting
it's "probably to protect him from capture."
Another source of confusion involves Abu Abdelrahman al-Iraqi,
Zarqawi's former deputy, who declared himself the new leader of
al-Qaeda in Iraq last week on his own website. Ali says that while
there are rumors of a power struggle between al-Iraqi and al-Muhajir,
such a conflict is unlikely.
Despite these vague and contradictory messages, Ali maintains al-Qaeda
in Iraq has done a good job of fighting the information war
post-Zarqawi. "If anything," she says, "Zarqawi's death has provided a
new impetus for attack."
How might a new leader change the al-Qaeda in Iraq organization?
Al-Qaeda in Iraq was already in the midst of a steady transformation
at the time of Zarqawi's death. The group was initially composed
primarily of foreign fighters, but over the last several months it has
begun to incorporate many more native fighters in hopes of creating an
indigenous home base. "We can no longer talk about a foreign-born
al-Qaeda in Iraq," Gerges says. Part of the reason for this shift was
many of Zarqawi's foreign-born lieutenants had been killed off and his
ability to gain new recruits was diminishing. If speculation that
al-Muhajir is a foreigner is correct, it runs somewhat against this
trend. As Gerges explains, "Even if you have a foreign-born leader,
the rank and file of al-Qaeda in Iraq is becoming more Iraqi."
http://www.cfr.org/publication/10894/abu_hamza_almuhajir_zarqawis_mysterious_successor.html
|
| |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 06:37:45
From: John B.
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
bill-o wrote:
> On 12-Dec-2006, "MnMikew" <mnmiikkew@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in
> > message
> > news:waderameyxiii-EF48E5.13054712122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> > > In article
> > > <1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
> > > "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> The_Professor wrote:
> > >> > Bert Robbins wrote:
> > >> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the
> > >> > > committee.
> > >> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle
> > >> > > which
> > >> > > pisses off Pelosi.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> > >> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that
> > >> > Al
> > >> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily
> > >> > be
> > >> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission
> > >> > had
> > >> > discounted that possibility!
> > >>
> > >> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
> > >> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
> > >> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
> > >> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
> > >
> > > The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
> > > difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
> > > is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
> > > of the commission).
> >
> > He may have meant the Iraq Commission Report.
>
> FWIW, Al Queada released one of their audio tapes to Al Jehzira about a
> month ago stating that they had "over 12,000 operatives in Iraq." Pelosi was
> apparently in City Park meeting with constituents at the time!
And you believe that? I don't think al Qaeda has 12K operatives in the
entire world.
>
> --
> bill-o
>
> A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
> two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 17:23:19
From: bill-o
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
On 13-Dec-2006, "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com > wrote:
> And you believe that? I don't think al Qaeda has 12K operatives in the
> entire world.
All I did was report the report, your induction port is working overtime.
--
bill-o
A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
| | |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 00:50:33
From: S McFarlane
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
"John B." <johnb505@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1166020665.776378.56100@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
>> FWIW, Al Queada released one of their audio tapes to Al Jehzira about a
>> month ago stating that they had "over 12,000 operatives in Iraq." Pelosi
>> was
>> apparently in City Park meeting with constituents at the time!
>
>
> And you believe that? I don't think al Qaeda has 12K operatives in the
> entire world.
>>
Depends on what constitutes an al Qaeda operative. My understanding is that
al Qaeda is not a well-defined organisation to begin with. I don't think
many people in the West have a very good handle on what al Qaeda is, much
less the extent of it (myself included). Depending on how you define
things, the number of al Qaeda 'operatives' could be less than 12K, or very
much greater than that.
Scott
|
| |
Date: 13 Dec 2006 06:33:18
From: John B.
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
MnMikew wrote:
> "The World Wide Wade" <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net> wrote in message
> news:waderameyxiii-EF48E5.13054712122006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> > In article
> > <1165946154.807477.79810@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
> > "John B." <johnb505@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> The_Professor wrote:
> >> > Bert Robbins wrote:
> >> > > Harmon is eligible and well qualified to be the chair of the
> >> > > committee.
> >> > > Harmon's problem is that she talks to the right side of the aisle
> >> > > which
> >> > > pisses off Pelosi.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > I think the pick fits Pelosi very well intellectually. Pelosi was
> >> > recently asked what she thought of Bush's very recent assertion that Al
> >> > Queda was fueling the insurgency in Iraq, a question that can easily be
> >> > argued both ways, and Pelosi's answer was that the 9/11 Commission had
> >> > discounted that possibility!
> >>
> >> If by "fueling" you mean funding, then the commission was right and so
> >> was she. The various groups wreaking havoc in Iraq get vert generous
> >> funding from sympethetic sources all over the Middle East. Al Qaeda,
> >> which doesn't really have any money now, isn't one of them.
> >
> > The 9/11 commission report was released in July 2004, so it
> > difficult for it to discount a possibility raised by Bush on what
> > is happening now, in 2006 (on a topic, btw, outside the purview
> > of the commission).
>
> He may have meant the Iraq Commission Report.
I did, yes. Sorry.
|
| |
Date: 14 Dec 2006 11:27:13
From: John B.
Subject: Re: (OT) Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
|
bill-o wrote:
> On 13-Dec-2006, The World Wide Wade <waderameyxiii@comcast.remove13.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Now of course you can prove me wrong: Just supply a reference for
> > your assertion that Pelosi claimed al Qaeda is not in Iraq.
>
>
> The relevant portion of the story from David Gregory, who filed from Riga,
> Latvia, on the November 28 NBC Nightly News:
>
> David Gregory: "Iraq's worsening civil war will dominate the President's
> meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Concluding his visit to
> Estonia earlier today, Mr. Bush blamed the violence not on civil war but
> on Sunni terrorists."
>
> President Bush at a press conference in Estonia: "There's a lot of
> sectarian violence taking place, fomented in my opinion because of these
> attacks by al Qaeda, causing people to seek reprisal. And we will work
> with the Maliki government to defeat these elements."
Why doesn't anybody question this statement? It's at least as
preposterous as what Pelosi said. Al Qaeda is responsible for the
sectarian violance in Iraq? People are "seeking reprisal" against AQ?
Gimme a fucking break. That bears absolutely no resemblance to what's
going on in Iraq.
>
> Gregory: "Back in Washington, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
> disagreed, warning that such rhetoric about al Qaeda will make it harder
> for Democrats to work with the White House."
>
>
> :-P
> --
> bill-o
>
> A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between
> two golfers neither of whom can putt very well.
|
|
