If you can't enforce the law don't make one. Odd-even parking is a joke --- no tickets issued or cars towed.
This Stardust Foundation is a scam on the same level as this global warming nonsense.
Nozzolio has done a lot more than just show up. He supports the correction officers -- I was one, have been retired for 13 years -- and he does a lot more, too much to mention.
When does odd-even parking start in Auburn? Don't tell me it has already started because there are cars on both sides on every street including the streets with odd-even signs.
How come you're not having the Two Cents written out in The Citizen. Us old people don't have computers.
Obama is not totally black, he has some whites in his background, and that was not too long ago. If you are interested, look it up.
Two Cents will be updated online as new submissions are called or e-mailed. To contribute new Two Cents items, please call 253-5311 ext. 292 or e-mail twocents@lee.net.
The Citizens' Say
There are 88 comment(s)
brew1234 wrote on Jul 25, 2008 11:50 PM:
excnyer wrote on Jul 25, 2008 10:53 PM:
AJ wrote on Jul 25, 2008 9:13 PM:
" Execution will not bring back a loved one, but it will prevent that one murderer from ever killing any other person's loved one.
I do think it is critically important to have a very thorough trial and determine as certainly as possible the person is guilty. But once it has been determined a person is well and truly guilty, the executions should be prompt and not dragged out and expensive.
Every effort should be made to insure that innocent people are not executed -- the trade off of the risk is the absolute assurance that the guilty will never kill again, neither in prison nor out, nor run criminal activities from their jail cells, etc. "
As long as there are problems with our judicial system and lying witnesses, a death penalty is simply unwise and immoral. The numerous cases that were once considered rock-solid which later get overturned is simple proof of that.
And to look at it another way, prison is not exactly paradise, and I am sure is a worse punishment than death itself. But at least the innocent have a chance at life again. "
AJ wrote on Jul 25, 2008 9:04 PM:
http://c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS "
AJ wrote on Jul 25, 2008 9:02 PM:
" Spare me the talk about if someone close to me was murdered, how would I feel. How would you feel if one of your loved ones was the murderer? You would get the best attorney to get him free. Your personal feeling don't weigh over the morality of state sponsored murder. They should be imprisoned without any privileges. Just be in storage until death. Just mom, dad and children allowed to visit once a month. "
What I would LOVE to see is one of these people have someone in their family, or themselves even, be wrongly convicted. I wonder how they would feel about it then. "
quiveringthigh wrote on Jul 25, 2008 8:45 PM:
nature lover wrote on Jul 25, 2008 8:32 PM:
***OMG!!!***
Horrowing experience which has me drinking tequila tonight!!
Its vacation time - ALL BE CAREFUL -
Its a jungle...
Ok I will vote Obama - McCain tells some really unfunny/tasteless jokes...sup w/that? "
movedsouth wrote on Jul 25, 2008 7:59 PM:
simplyput wrote on Jul 25, 2008 7:14 PM:
should NOT be positively encouraged (by a customer service representative) to continue their verbal abuse. If you only spent that much energy being a positive person, imagine what you could accomplish. If you verbally attack a customer service representatives, you are probably doing the same to your friends and family. Imagine what they think of you. Stop and think next time before you go ballistic. Was it really worth it? "
Unknown... wrote on Jul 25, 2008 7:08 PM:
karl wrote on Jul 25, 2008 6:42 PM:
Obama's qualifications for President:
1. He's NOT McCain.
2.He's NOT a Republican.
3. He's NOT a Conservative.
4. He's not older than dirt.
Literally, that's all you need to know.
I could get into real, substantive issues to debate, but for all practical purposes, that's what will get my vote. And if you care about America, you will vote for him too.
John McCain's qualifications?
He got captured and tortured in Viet Nam, almost committed suicide, has PST still today, and a hair trigger temper that is vindictive in nature--you call THAT qualified? Big deal.
He doesn't even know how to use a computer, he doesn't know the borders of Pakistan or Iraq, didn't know the proper tribes and names of Allies/Adversaries in Iraq, didn't know that Czechoslovakia hasn't exist for over 15 years, and I'm SURE he will amuse us all with more gaffs and faux pas'.
Look folks,; seriously, I don't consider Obama the "Perfect Candidate" you all might think I do, but for crissake, after 8 years of sheer disaster in both foreign and domestic policies by the Conservatives and Republican scum, you people have got to be seriously off your rockers to even THINK of voting for an unprincipled nutcase-flipflopper like McCain who has gone to great lengths to re-invent himself as King George the Second.
He has BLATANTLY flipped on almost EVERY issue that had made him a "maverick": Drilling in ANWAR, Bush's economic tax cuts, Illegal Wire Taps, TORTURE, relations with Russia and Cuba--the list is HUGE! Sure, Barack has flipped on some stuff too--but the list for McCAin DWARFS Obama's!
Bottom line--McCain couldn't win as "himself" so he has blatantly betrayed his OWN principles to suck up for votes! I mean, THE MAN HIMSELF WAS TORTURED--AND NOW HE ENDORSES THAT AS A TACTIC??? NP PRINCIPLES!!!! SICKENING!!
Every time I think I'm wrong, I just keep reminding myself that all you McCainiacs are just recycled Bushies (Just like McCain!)--you're the same fools who I was warning 4 years ago about how bad another Bush term would be for America!
Hate to say it, but I'm right now too. But go ahead--vote your children's futures away, down the drain, for the sake of your collective Pride, for the sake of besting the damned "Liberals"--after all, that's REALLY much more important than the future of our country, right?
Right. (Huge sigh and shaking of head in genuine sadness and exasperation).... "
kingstd wrote on Jul 25, 2008 6:38 PM:
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 5:34 PM:
I dont care what officials say--whatever it is--its in the water or land itself..
Cancer is flowing/growing in Auburn and its surrounding areas. "
chris van note wrote on Jul 25, 2008 4:47 PM:
For those of you familiar with the Saturday Night Live Sketch where friends in a bar focus on their admiration of Brasky's superhuman accomplishments (kind of like the Chuck Norris's tears can cure cancer thing). The way the media is treating Obama, I'm surpised that the networks don't use some of these examples:
"I once saw him scissor-kick Angela Lansbury."
"Obama's family crest is a picture of a barracuda eating Neil Armstrong."
"We once had a bachelor party for Obama. He ate the entire cake before we could tell him there was a stripper in it." "
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 4:37 PM:
Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, has died. He was 47.
http://news.aol.com/article/man-behind-last-lecture-sensation-dies/100948?icid=200100397x1206275051x1200330719 "
The Bone wrote on Jul 25, 2008 4:36 PM:
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 4:22 PM:
COOL, hope to vote YES, inject, inject! "
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 4:18 PM:
loved that post, lol "
chris van note wrote on Jul 25, 2008 3:47 PM:
He won't give any examples of why he is qualified but we mere mortals should take Karl's word for it because Karl is an expert in politics, religion, engineering, mating rituals of penguins, pretty much everything...just ask him and he'll be sure to tell you how smart he is and anyone that doesn't think his way is a backward, racist redneck GOPer.
He always reminds me of a favorite Ronald Reagan quote:
Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so. "
theking wrote on Jul 25, 2008 3:18 PM:
movedsouth wrote on Jul 25, 2008 1:55 PM:
chris van note wrote on Jul 25, 2008 1:37 PM:
From MSNBC:
From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube
A U.S. military official tells NBC News they were making preparations for Sen. Barack Obama to visit wounded troops at the Landstuhl Medical Center at Ramstein, Germany on Friday, but "for some reason the visit was called off."
One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama's representatives were told, "he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers." In addition,
"Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama's visit."
The official said "We didn't know why" the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. "He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him." "
movedsouth wrote on Jul 25, 2008 1:35 PM:
chris van note wrote on Jul 25, 2008 1:23 PM:
The area north of the Arctic Circle has an estimated 90 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil, 1,670 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable natural gas, and 44 billion barrels of technically recoverable natural gas liquids in 25 geologically defined areas thought to have potential for petroleum. The U.S. Geological Survey assessment released today is the first publicly available petroleum resource estimate of the entire area north of the Arctic Circle.
And the Democrats say NO! The only place they want to drill is in your wallet. "
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:34 PM:
Explain Obamas Qualifications???!!! "
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:31 PM:
I just might write in:
NONE OF THE ABOVE! "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:29 PM:
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:28 PM:
I wish he was running for PRES!! "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:27 PM:
movedsouth wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:13 PM:
1234567890p wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:12 PM:
karl wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:03 PM:
McCain is both uneducated and going senile.
Remember this when you cast your vote--we already had one sub-moron running the country for the last eight years. How could you be so callow and irresponsible as to urge people to vote in another?
Just remember how you'll be dooming your little grandchildren's futures when you vote for McCain. "
karl wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:00 PM:
" Blacks should stop crying racism. They actually have an advantage over white people."
OH my God. What an absolutely moronic statement. What's'amatta--some brother take your burger-flippin job?
Sheesh. "
quiveringthigh wrote on Jul 25, 2008 11:41 AM:
" BREW: the only jail without any privileges in this country is in Maricopa County, TEXAS !!
A place ALL counties officials should visit and implement in their areas across the USA!
Pink jumpsuits, live/sleep in tents, and food only if you pay for it!
VOTE Sheriff Joe Arpaio for President!!! "
Well said! "
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 11:02 AM:
http://www.eyeblast.tv/Public/Video.aspx?rsrcID=2036
If you are still thinking of flopping for Obama then flip threw his books:
From Dreams of My Father: 'I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.'
From Dreams of My Father : 'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race.'
From Dreams of My Father: 'There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white.'
From Dreams of My Father: 'It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.'
AND:
From Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'
Memorize these words when you cast your vote! "
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 10:54 AM:
A place ALL counties officials should visit and implement in their areas across the USA!
Pink jumpsuits, live/sleep in tents, and food only if you pay for it!
VOTE Sheriff Joe Arpaio for President!!! "
cm wrote on Jul 25, 2008 10:44 AM:
When my kids received their permits for driving I made it VERY CLEAR should they drink & drive and go to jail--DO NOT CALL MOM, for she WILL NOT COME!
(said the same to hubby when married)
You see I watched my dad for years and years BAIL 2 of my sisters out of jail no matter the reason, numerous times..They learned nothing other than dad will come get them and hire the best lawyer for them to get a slap on the hands!
I believe: one has choices, good & bad
---IF BAD and you intentionally harm someone else, you need to Suffer your fate, take your punishment!
I am also not saying my children were perfect angels, the middle child gave me some gray hairs for 6 months (no jail stuff, just usual teen woes/bad girlfriend), BUT I did tough-love it, something he thought Mom would never do, he learned the hard way that I meant and stood by what I said.
I am NOT a parent that says "awe my baby is innocent" knowing full well they are not! "
quiveringthigh wrote on Jul 24, 2008 11:20 PM:
brew1234 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 11:16 PM:
nature lover wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:58 PM:
Perhaps after WW2 ended there were people that were 'tired' of hearing of the Jewish oppression like in todays terms how some view the whole black struggle as yesterdays news seeing that approximately 32% of black families are middle class now. Latinos will be the new class to be vulgarly and violently discrimated against by whites as well as blacks. I guess man just has to have a scapegoat for his lack of intelligence. "
movedsouth wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:09 PM:
karl wrote on Jul 24, 2008 5:48 PM:
The whole raison d'etre od Liberalism is to attempt--not that it can ever be "cured"--but to ATTEMPT to elevate humankind to a more perfect state of being where the Strong and Popular do not victimize and prey upon the Weak and the Disenfranchised.
Liberalism grew out of the ideals of the French Revolution, which broke the power of the Church and the Aristocrats--those "Privileged Classes" who were in fact more corrupt and evil than the peasantry.
But to deny that Blacks are more discriminated against than Whites or even Caucasian is completely fanciful--just as it would be fanciful and disingenuous to suggest that Gays and Women both are NOT treated differently and looked down upon in certain circles.
I'm just truly surprised that here are people who would actually argue it, honestly! It's so patently obvious!
Recognizing it is NOT THE SAME as conferring upon any oppressed class a reason or excuse to simply milk the system; it does however behoove on individual to recognize why there necessarily have been and still are laws and amendments that legislate Parity and Equality to those classes. The laws exist because Human Beings such as ______ exist.
Were there no discrimination or prejudice--in such measure as to imperil and oppress that subgroup of Humanity--the laws would not be necessary. "
Andy b wrote on Jul 24, 2008 4:18 PM:
mark wrote on Jul 24, 2008 4:17 PM:
nature lover wrote on Jul 24, 2008 4:04 PM:
Compare blacks hung from trees to gays dragged from cars. Or if u want to review history look at Jews murdered by the millions, mass graves of other religious groups, etc.
Discrimination is just that - and I really dont c why one race should be singled out as more oppressed than another. To point that out is a racist gesture right there. How about WOMEN, the most discriminated people on earth. "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jul 24, 2008 3:44 PM:
I do think it is critically important to have a very thorough trial and determine as certainly as possible the person is guilty. But once it has been determined a person is well and truly guilty, the executions should be prompt and not dragged out and expensive.
Every effort should be made to insure that innocent people are not executed -- the trade off of the risk is the absolute assurance that the guilty will never kill again, neither in prison nor out, nor run criminal activities from their jail cells, etc. "
chris van note wrote on Jul 24, 2008 3:09 PM:
What happened in the past is terrible, everyone knows about Jim Crow Laws, etc...why don't you ask Sen. Byrd (D-WV), since he was in the KKK and terrorized black people.
I'm not ignoring history, on the contrary. We need to recognized what happened and move on with things which the vast majority of us have. We have plenty of laws on the books with regard to discrimination based on color, sex, religion...
Anyone can become anything they want in this country with inginuity, hard work and sometimes a bit of luck. Its all there for the taking. Blaming your troubles on what color your skin is disingenuous.
The color of someone's skin does not determine their intelligence or thier character.
But I digress, the only people allowed to speak frankly on race are white liberals and black people...just ask Karl! "
Andy b wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:58 PM:
karl wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:24 PM:
I mean, I don't want to be too "Liberal" about it, ya know, but what exactly WERE those people, if NOT victims?
Please enlighten me, oh Wise One?!? "
karl wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:20 PM:
The Chris-Van-Coulter way is to blithely ignore the history of Bigotry, Slavery, Jim Crow laws, Discrimination, Segregation, and other bias's against "The Negro Race" in order to fool himself into believing that, by preferring to ignore these things (and the residual prejudices which infect White America today), he is somehow conferring a noble notion of "Equality" upon people of color.
Then again, in his eyes, we're winning the war too, and why shouldn't we be, with this "great economy"!? ("There's no place like home; there's NO place like home!"
Note to Chris: Ignoring and wishing away the bias, bigotries and prejudice against people of color does NOT make you "noble" or some sort of wise imparter of sage advice and know-how.
It just makes you sound comfortably bigoted and, really, rather stupid and willfully ignorant.
I won't even define it as "Conservative"--it's just a "Chris-thang". "
movedsouth wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:15 PM:
The Bone wrote on Jul 24, 2008 1:17 PM:
" Do you think someone in the city administration is putting recycling money in their pocket? If you can do better with your trash, go for it. If income is made with recycling then the city saves money on the trash removal program as a whole. You negative people would find fault with a free lunch. Take a deep breath and relax, you will live longer. "
Are you also against abortions,mercy killings and I was suprise that God was brought into it. "
chris van note wrote on Jul 24, 2008 1:08 PM:
The liberal way is to treat a group of people as perpetual victims, take any responsibilty for their own actions away from them due to their race/religion/ethnicity and make them reliant on the government for their well being (welfare).
Its too bad the Dems have strayed so far from what Kennedy said..."Ask not what your country and do for you but what you can do for your country". "
1234567890p wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:26 PM:
Unknown... wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:15 PM:
cm wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:29 AM:
again may I remind you I have 3
1/2 black 'n white nephews and niece!
And My family is always accusing me of having one of the boys as my FAV!!! "
cm wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:21 AM:
NOPE
(brew) Will you no longer suffer with grief because the killer is dead?
NOPE
(brew)There is no closure just because of an execution.
WARM FUZZY FEELINGS KNOWING THE PERP IS NOT BREATHING EITHER! "
cm wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:14 AM:
First you prove to me the cost of incarceration for life is cheaper than the cost of injection!!
Agree with "jafra " if it was close to home-your family or YOU, you'd be the first to yell justice--and eye for an eye!
Doing God's work? if God parted the Red Sea to save his people, then I can Yell Hurray to the death penalty! God did not say to NOT punish the evils in the world, by locking them up for years while giving them free medical, college educations, and weekend love nest visits to produce more kids.
We need a whole new court just to handle death-rows, so it will be swifter!
their appeals should take no longer than a year! "
brew1234 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:04 AM:
brew1234 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:01 AM:
cm wrote on Jul 24, 2008 9:55 AM:
Working at the Plant, waitressing, owning a business, failings, job promotions, dealing with kids, dinner on a budget,gay,divorce/marriage, happy times/sad times..
She was a dirt poor, trailer girl in real life and made something of herself.
EVERYONE has doors that will open for them, they just need to leave their house and find them!! Stop blaming SOMEONE. "
cm wrote on Jul 24, 2008 9:43 AM:
Karl: Black oppressors???? In most areas there is nothing stopping blacks or anyone else from bettering themselves.
how did shows like: Cosby, Good Times, the Jeffersons, evolve?
Just who held back Oprah, pro-players, and stars like Will Smith?
yes, there still remain a small few (KKK) that wont change--EVER.
But if you compare the number of KKK to the general public =the public wins by millions and millions of people!!
If blacks choose to follow the likes of Jackson, Sharpton, and Wright,
which 2 of the 3 hypocritically carry a title of Reverend,
'tis not the fault of us white folks!
Now if you want to talk about POOR--well there are ALL COLORS of poor, white included! In case you didnt see Idol Gives Back, the section where The Cyrus's visited Poor whites in Tenn, then look it up. When you see homeless how many are white??
Volunteer for a few hours and SEE it as it REALLY IS! "
nature lover wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:31 AM:
Cm I watched part of that CNN farce and I can tell u there is no need for a show "white in america". What the show should have done is included white, purple and orange people showing POOR in America. As in this country, poverty knows no race or gender. Both myself and spouse grew up dirt poor - I started and have been working since I was 11 yo for 50 cents an hour. We still have inbred habits we just cant shake because we had to be SO frugle. I found the show racist. "
horseradish wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:24 AM:
karl wrote on Jul 24, 2008 1:29 AM:
"Leave it to Beaver"
"The Waltons"
"Roseanne"
Oh yes. By all means, watch and see the discrimination, racism, and disadvantage that we Whites have to endure at the hands of our Black oppressors! "
jafra wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:49 AM:
brew1234 wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:09 PM:
brew1234 wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:58 PM:
chris van note wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:27 PM:
Sorry Karl, missed the whole "Black in America" thing. If I want to watch some people play the race card as an excuse for their lot in life, I'll watch reruns of "Lockup" on Nat. Geographic. "
AJ wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:23 PM:
OBL is a fraud, and not someone I lose any sleep over. I worry much more about the next staged terror attack they may use to cement their fascist policies. "
AJ wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:18 PM:
" AJ: my thoughts on the death penalty are barbaric??
what about the elbridge man that just killed and dismembered his parents????
I suppose he deserves to sit in jail until he dies--or walk out in a few years and get some probation!!
Please!!! lets not waste tax paying dollars --get the needle out now! "
If I am not mistaken, you indicated that, in so many words, "so what" if there were people killed mistakenly. I find this to be truly remarkable. Two wrongs don't make a right to start with, and you are saying you don't even care if some innocent people become statistics of this barbaric policy. I find that the death penalty is barbaric enough, let alone condoning innocent people getting caught in the trap. You do not make any sense and lack any compassion. Pity. "
cm wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:57 PM:
fairness is if they will do a follow up part one for 2hrs and part two for two hours of "being white in america" "
cm wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:44 PM:
NL: I think the boat idea is a great one--skaneatlas has the dinner cruise-I havent been on it but friends have and said it was great!! "
cm wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:39 PM:
what about the elbridge man that just killed and dismembered his parents????
I suppose he deserves to sit in jail until he dies--or walk out in a few years and get some probation!!
Please!!! lets not waste tax paying dollars --get the needle out now! "
anonymous wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:25 PM:
karl wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:30 PM:
9:00 tonight, CNN--"What it Means to be Black in America Today".
You are to watch it and report by tomorrow.
It constitutes 100% of your grade. "
movedsouth wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:24 PM:
movedsouth wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:19 PM:
Unknown... wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:44 PM:
cm wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:52 PM:
no we dont have botle return fees, it takes about 10 large kitchen trash bags of cans turned in to get about 7.00, we do, do that and put it in our daughters savings account--we call it her college fund! lol.
thats why I had a good laugh at my sis--wasting my water!!
just last week homes recieved letters-they plan to take more recycle things-plastics in the bins on the curb. Again Up to us.
before it was glass, newpapers and yard waste.
I hardly ever buy things in glass, and I already take the papers to the school bin.
Actually earlier I was wrong we have 3 trucks come 2ce a week (I had forgotten about yard)
I wonder if we will now get 4 trucks per week since they added plastics???? "
karl wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:46 PM:
It does no good to criticize him, or to imagine imperfections.
I would and will vote for him NO MATTER WHAT.
It is simply impossible--as well as treasonous and traitorous to our country--to vote for a Republican at this point.
John McCain says impossibly silly things like "When I'm President, our troops will come home and never have to go there again, cuz we will have won"--as if we can "win" Iraq at all, or in a manner such as WWII!
He also sounded like he was trying to convince himself with this laughable slip--"I know how to win wars; i KNOW how to win wars!"--as the trained seals in the audience drolly clapped on cue.
All I can see is Dorothy repeating over and over again "There's no place like home! There's NO place like HOME!"
LOL.
OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA! A savior and Deliverer from Evil that we should all vote for!!!
HAIL OBAMA!!!!!! "
nature lover wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:37 PM:
nature lover wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:36 PM:
chris van note wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:33 PM:
Washington Post Rips Obama on Iraq Deceptions
Some excerpts from the editorial:
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has a history of tailoring his public statements for political purposes, made headlines by saying he would support a withdrawal of American forces by 2010. But an Iraqi government statement made clear that Mr. Maliki's timetable would extend at least seven months beyond Mr. Obama's. More significant, it would be "a timetable which Iraqis set" -- not the Washington-imposed schedule that Mr. Obama has in mind. It would also be conditioned on the readiness of Iraqi forces, the same linkage that Gen. Petraeus seeks. As Mr. Obama put it, Mr. Maliki "wants some flexibility in terms of how that's carried out." ad_icon
Other Iraqi leaders were more directly critical. As Mr. Obama acknowledged, Sunni leaders in Anbar province told him that American troops are essential to maintaining the peace among Iraq's rival sects and said they were worried about a rapid drawdown.
And:
Yet Mr. Obama's account of his strategic vision remains eccentric. He insists that Afghanistan is "the central front" for the United States, along with the border areas of Pakistan. But there are no known al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan, and any additional U.S. forces sent there would not be able to operate in the Pakistani territories where Osama bin Laden is headquartered. While the United States has an interest in preventing the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban, the country's strategic importance pales beside that of Iraq, which lies at the geopolitical center of the Middle East and contains some of the world's largest oil reserves. If Mr. Obama's antiwar stance has blinded him to those realities, that could prove far more debilitating to him as president than any particular timetable. "
AJ wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:10 PM:
AJ wrote on Jul 23, 2008 1:56 PM:
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:42 PM:
More reasons to bring back Two Cents in the print version.... "
yetanotherpinhead wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:13 PM:
LOL I guess his mom does qualify as "background" and "not too long ago".
Kufs Non Cents is in rare form today! "