Video: Condolezza Rice vs. Lawrence O'Donnell

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Lawrence O'Donnell was badly out gunned and out matched by Condolezza Rice.  At times it was like watching an old fashion school teacher discipline a wayward child.  It is a shame more Republicans don't know how to argue like Rice does. Then again most Republicans don't have a bachelor's degree at age 19.


The best part of the interview is when Rice mocks the idea that Sadam Hussein could have been toppled by Egyptian style protest.  O'Donnell totally set himself up with that question.


As brilliant as Condolezza Rice is, I do have to question her intelligence for wasting her time doing an interview with MSNBC.  Given MSNBC's tiny audience and O'Donnell's hyper partisanship, what was Rice hoping to accomplish?  Then again, one of the Bush administration's biggest failings was their complete inability to handle the biased media.


Via: The Blaze

Full Video: Obama’s Oval Office Address on Iraq

I normally read all of Obama’s speeches.  As I have stated in the past, reading them tends to be far more informative than listening to him.  However, since I was pressed for time, I watched the video.  If you would like to read the full text, go here.

The most striking thing about this speech is how it fails to inspire. We have ended combat operations in Iraq, so where are the elements that makes Americans feel good about a mission well done or optimistic about the Iraqi people having a successful future? When Obama was a candidate, all of his speeches carried an inspirational tone, since becoming president he seems to have abandoned inspiring the American people. This lack of inspiration is one of the main reasons why Palin and Beck are able to attract hundreds of thousands. Americans need optimism it is that simple.

Obama’s reference to George Bush was so strange in that it totally failed to mention the most important thing, Bush was right about the surge! 

[...]This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security.[...] 

There can be no greater distinction between Bush and Obama on the Iraq war than that they were on the opposite sides of the fence regarding the surge. In the end, Bush was right and because of that surge, Obama is now able to claim victory.  If Obama cannot bring himself to thank Bush at the very least acknowledge that his predecessor picked the right stategy.

Sarah Palin makes a very fine point about this in her latest Facebook post: 

Along with the points that Bill Kristol made yesterday, I too have some suggestions for the president. President Obama, please show grace, humility and some honesty before the American people tonight. Please don’t declare “Mission Accomplished” and then saunter away with an assumption that your opposition to the Iraq strategy was key to our troops’ success. Please end the political posturing. Admit you were wrong about the surge. Recognize what our brave armed forces have achieved. Admit that the strategy long advocated by Republicans, proposed by President Bush, led by Generals Petraeus and Odierno, and executed by thousands of America’s finest – our brave men and women in uniform – brought violence under control and made responsible withdrawals possible. The more honest you are about the past, the more likely it is you will gain the support of the American people for your Iraq policy in the future. We need to be able to trust the White House war strategy, as our children’s future depends on it. Being honest with us tonight is a good starting point in building trust. 

Yes a dose of honest from Obama would serve him and his party well at this point in time. Granted it probably won’t save them from the backlash coming in November, but every little bit helps at this point.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Top of The Ticket

Via: Sarah Palin’s Facebook page

WTF? Biden: Iraq is one of Obama’s great achievements

Gaffe Machine Joe Biden went on Larry King last night and during his discussion of Iraq, Biden took the plane to Fantasy Island with this one:

I am very optimistic about -- about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You're going to see 90,000 American troops come marching home by the end of the summer. You're going to see a stable government in Iraq that is actually moving toward a representative government. 

I spent -- I've been there 17 times now. I go about every two months -- three months. I know every one of the major players in all the segments of that society. It's impressed me. I've been impressed how they have been deciding to use the political process rather than guns to settle their differences.

You must be kidding me? Both Obama and Biden were dead set against everything done to make Iraq winnable. They opposed the surge, they wanted to cut and run and Biden himself offered a dopey partition solution. 

This administration has spent the last year blaming Bush for everything under the sun, including problems of their own making. Now when a success appears that clearly comes from the efforts of the Bush administration, they jump to claim credit.

I understand that spinning the truth is all the rage in Washington, but come on, there just aren’t that many stupid people in the world to believe this BS.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Top of the Ticket 

Iranians seize Iraqi oil well

From Breitbart: 

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iranian troops have crossed into Iraqi territory and seized an oil well that lies in a disputed area along the two countries' southern border, Iraq's deputy foreign Minster said Friday.

The deputy minister, Mohammed Haj Mahmoud, said Iranian troops seized oil well No. 4 Thursday night in the al-Fakkah oil field, located about 200 miles (about 320 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad. The oil field is one of Iraq's largest.

Oil prices rose slightly after news of the incident.

"We are coordinating with the Oil Ministry regarding this issue. This is not the first time that the Iranians have tried to prevent Iraqis from investing in oil fields in border areas. Tomorrow, we might summon the Iranian ambassador to discuss this issue," Mahmoud told The Associated Press.

The al-Fakkah field is considered a shared field between Iran and Iraq, meaning both nations are able to pump oil from it, but the Iraqis consider oil well No. 4 theirs.

In Washington, a U.S. official said that although Iranians have crossed the border before, they had not previously ventured this far.

It appears that Iran and Iraq play a funny little game of tag with the oil fields on the border. This from Associated Press: 

The field is about 500 metres (yards) from an Iranian border fort and about 1 kilometre from an Iraqi border fort, US Colonel Peter Newell said, adding that it falls on the Iraqi side of a border agreed between the two countries.

There are five other similar fields that also fall into disputed territory, he said.

"What happens is, periodically, about every three or four months, the oil ministry guys from Iraq will go ... to fix something or do some maintenance. They'll paint it in Iraqi colours and throw an Iraqi flag up.

"They'll hang out there for a while, until they get tired, and as soon as they go away, the Iranians come down the hill and paint it Iranian colours and raise an Iranian flag. It happened about three months ago and it will probably happen again."

Whether this is just another game of tag or have the Iranians turned serious, remains to be seen. On thing for sure is a stronger hand in dealing with Iran is long over due.  Now that Obama has failed in Copenhagen, perhaps he will turn his attention to real dangers.

Via: Brietbart

Via: Associated Press 

Outrageous! Navy SEALS to be court-martialed for giving terrorist a fat lip!

How is this for outrageous? Three Navy SEALs secretly captured a most wanted terrorist and in the capture the dirt bag terrorist got fat lip and now charges are being brought against the SEALs!

From Fox News:

Navy SEALs have secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq — the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. And three of the SEALs who captured him are now facing criminal charges, sources told FoxNews.com.

The three, all members of the Navy's elite commando unit, have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral's mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial.

Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named "Objective Amber," told investigators he was punched by his captors — and he had the bloody lip to prove it.

Now, instead of being lauded for bringing to justice a high-value target, three of the SEAL commandos, all enlisted, face assault charges and have retained lawyers. MORE

There is indication that the SEALs may not even have punched the creep.

United States Central Command declined to discuss the detainee, but a legal source told FoxNews.com that the detainee was turned over to Iraqi authorities, to whom he made the abuse complaints. He was then returned to American custody. The SEAL leader reported the charge up the chain of command, and an investigation ensued.

Something tells me that Ahmed Hasim got his fat lip from the Iraqis but is pinning it on the SEALs because he knows how squeamish and PC some Americans can be. Quite frankly, I could not care less if the SEALs beat the guy to a bloody pulp.  These Islamic fascists kill without a second thought, yet we are suppose to play by the Marquis of Queensbury rules, give me a break.

I sear to God Political Correctness will be the death of America! This is the same retarded thinking that allowed Nidal Hasan to hide his crazy jihad ass right inside our armed forces.  Could someone please tell the powers that be that war is NOT an academic exercise and the war on terror is not a parlor game! 

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Fox News

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