Condi Can’t Count

11 Comments

1. 

   boran2 on June 21, 2005 at 9:19 am

   It all goes back to the lack of planning and end strategy.  The administration’s desire to get into Iraq was the only consideration, to the exclusion of everything else.

2. 

   Abbott on June 21, 2005 at 9:39 am

   Good thing she’s not the Secretary of State or anything.

3. 

   Sirocco on June 21, 2005 at 9:50 am

   Not sure I like where Cole ended up in that piece. He is proposing that the US bribe off a few third world countries to the dying in its place under UN flags.

   I think there are few third world armies that couldn’t be enticed by a couple of billion dollars– the kind of money they would probably be rewarded with if they really could help Iraq. Progressives are usually people of principle, and they often can’t imagine the cupidity of the world, or how to play on it.

   Either that, or they hold themselves to higher standards.

   • 

     Dean Pajevic on June 21, 2005 at 12:20 pm

     You misquote Cole by leaving out the first two words of the sentence:

     I fear I think there are few third world armies that couldn’t be enticed by a couple of billion dollars– the kind of money they would probably be rewarded with if they really could help Iraq. Progressives are usually people of principle, and they often can’t imagine the cupidity of the world, or how to play on it. …

     • 

       Sirocco on June 21, 2005 at 2:01 pm

       No misquote. He is clearly pushing that proposal.

       I have posted a diary entry about this with the quote in full.

       • 

         Dean Pajevic on June 21, 2005 at 6:41 pm

         You MISQUOTED him above.  I don’t know anything about your diary, but HERE you misquoted him.

         And he is NOT pushing that proposal… he’s put it out for debate.

         But far be it from me to suggest anything to you.

         • 

           Sirocco on June 22, 2005 at 8:12 am

           I am sorry Susan, but your allegation is palpably false.

           I excerpted his remarks in a manner that did in no way distort its meaning – the only criterion, in journalism as in academic writing, of whether a misquotation has occurred.

           As far as said meaning is concerned, the words “I fear” are entirely redundant. Even a cursory inspection of his blogpost is enough to make that clear.

           But even if there were any basis for thinking otherwise, it is now dispelled by Mark’s new diary entry featuring e-mail correspondence with Professor Cole.

           By the way, why the need to SHOUT?

         • 

           Dean Pajevic on June 22, 2005 at 12:37 pm

           I apologize for any inference that may have concerned you.  It wasn’t my intention to upset you but to accurately reflect what, at the time, I pereceived to be Prof. Cole’s intent. In my mind the words “I fear” carrry weight.  

           Again, I’m sorry if I offended you.

         • 

           Sirocco on June 22, 2005 at 12:46 pm

           Apology accepted, Sue. Let’s put all this behind us.

           Warm wishes,
           Sirocco

4. 

   Ed J on June 21, 2005 at 10:06 am

   ‘ Meanwhile, a recent internal poll conducted for the US-led coalition found that nearly 45 percent of the population supported the insurgent attacks, making accurate intelligence difficult to obtain. Only 15 percent of those polled said they strongly supported the US-led coalition. ‘

   The fact that the pollsters represented the people holding the biggest guns probably means these numbers are actually even worse than the results show.
      

5. 

   rom wyo on June 21, 2005 at 11:53 am

   The last time Condi went to Russia she was invited to talk on the radio with Russian listeners.

   As we all know Condi is a Stanford expert on Soviet affaires and speaks Russian fluently.

   Well, that’s what we’ve been told all these years. Frankly she came across as Russian 101 and made a very embarassing show of her skills. The story got a lot of press here in Europe with plenty of amusing comments.

   I checked to see if the story had gone Stateside, but alas have yet to find something. Was there something there in Meatworld, USA, on good old Big Rock Candy Mountain?