Some Type of Success

Key Republican questions Iraq strategy - 11 Sep 2007 at 11:16am - WASHINGTON -- A prominent Republican on Tuesday said he remains deeply skeptical of the U.S. war strategy in Iraq, comparing the long and bloody military campaign to a farmer risking his savings to plant on a flood plain.... "In my judgment, some type of success in Iraq is possible, but as policymakers, we should acknowledge that we are facing extraordinarily narrow margins for achieving our goals," said Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the committee.

Have we not already seen whatever success we're going to see? Saddam is no longer in power -- if that was not the success set out for, what possibly can have been? And the fallout from that "success" -- the sectarian strife -- was all in the bargain; no further amount of bloodshed can repair that.

AP Poll: Most see Iraq war as failure - 11 Sep 2007 at 12:27pm - WASHINGTON -- The public sees the Iraq war as a failure and thinks the U.S. troop buildup there has not worked, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll suggesting the tough sell President Bush faces in asking Congress and voters for more time.

Ore. lawyer in court over Patriot Act - 11 Sep 2007 at 8:36am - PORTLAND, Ore. -- A lawyer who was wrongly arrested in connection with the 2004 Madrid train bombings because of a misidentified fingerprint was back in court, this time asking a judge to strike down provisions of the USA Patriot Act.

Iraqi govt welcomes Petraeus report - 11 Sep 2007 at 8:48am - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's government on Tuesday welcomed long-awaited testimony to Congress by the U.S. commander in Iraq and said it would have less need for foreign forces to carry out combat operations in the "near future".

Senate panel embraces military pay hike - 11 Sep 2007 at 11:41am - WASHINGTON -- A Senate panel Tuesday endorsed a larger pay raise for military personnel than President Bush had recommended and made cuts in the president's request for several weapons programs.

Thought for the day:
I bought some batteries, but they weren't included. -Steven Wright (1955 - )