What It Takes to Succeed

Bush wants $46 billion more for wars - 22 Oct 2007 at 12:51pm - WASHINGTON -- President Bush asked Congress on Monday for another $46 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and finance other national security needs. "We must provide our troops with the help and support they need to get the job done," Bush said.... "I know some in Congress are against the war and are seeking ways to demonstrate that opposition," Bush said. "I recognize their position and they should make their views heard. But they ought to make sure our troops have what it takes to succeed. Our men and women on the front lines should not be caught the middle of partisan disagreements in Washington, D.C."

But "succeed" at what? Has he ever defined what the job is?

Kurdish rebels offer Turkey conditional ceasefire - 22 Oct 2007 at 1:01pm - SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq (AFP) - Kurdish rebels offered Ankara a ceasefire on Monday, on condition that the Turkish military abandons plans for a incursion into Iraq and ends attacks against the separatist group.

Gates ups pressure on NATO over Afghan commitment - 22 Oct 2007 at 1:06pm - KIEV (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates criticized NATO allies on Monday for failing to send enough troops and equipment to Afghanistan, setting the stage for tense discussions in the alliance later this week.

Violence in Iraq drops sharply: Ministry - 22 Oct 2007 at 1:01pm - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Violence in Iraq has dropped by 70 percent since the end of June, when U.S. forces completed their build-up of 30,000 extra troops to stabilize the war-torn country, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Waxman: Blackwater violated tax laws - 22 Oct 2007 at 1:32pm - WASHINGTON -- The Democratic chairman of a House watchdog committee said Monday that Blackwater USA violated tax laws and may have defrauded the government of millions of dollars, a charge the embattled security firm said is groundless.

NSA cooperation: OK for e-mail, IM companies? - October 22, 2007 12:27:00 PM - White House wanted immunity for phone companies over possible cooperation with NSA, but new bill also would shield e-mail, IM providers. A new Senate bill would protect not only telephone companies from lawsuits claiming illegal cooperation with the National Security Agency. It would retroactively immunize e-mail providers, search engines, Internet service providers and instant-messaging services too.

Thought for the day:
The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate me away from those who are still undecided. -Casey Stengel (1890 - 1975)