Bush insults a soldier

[Grant]

I supported the UK/US decision to invade Iraq.

The function of the armed forces of all countries is to protect their (and their allies’) interests, which are usually economic. A country can invade another to take possession of that country’s assets (aggression). The ethics and morals are not the concern of the armed forces, nor is it their place to question the government (but at least provide them with the equipment to do the job. Land Rovers vs RPG? WTF).

Who do you respect the most – the guy who makes millions from trading or the one who’s served in Northern Ireland, Iraq or any other theatre? I worked with an ex-paratrooper. I asked how he got the scar on his arm: Saving a child during a sniper’s attack when a bullet ricocheted. Certainly puts thing in perspective.

However, I agree with CO’s remark: “his combat record...don't mean shit in regard to his current position. I don't get a free pass because I served, neither does he.” Respect where due. Doesn’t he understand tact and diplomacy? I presume Bush was making polite small-talk (I doubt he request a cosy get-together with some Democrats).

I’ve always said, let the military manage the military, and the politicians the country. And never the twain shall meet.

I don’t believe ex-soldiers automatically make good politicians anymore than I believe politicians make good soldiers (Churchill included). But for some reason, a candidates war record seems to be pre-eminent in US elections.

When one speaks of “just wars” I would like one example (WW2, possibly). There is no shortage of potential, for example Eritrea? Maybe it will be a repeat of Bosnia, Serbia, the slaughter in Rwanda of the Hutus by the Tutsis. When it’s all over, and the UN will have has once more fulfilled its mandate as passive observers; there will be hysterical and emotive cries of “genocide”, “ethnic cleansing”, “crimes against humanity” . “You are a horribly, horribly, beastly person and must go to prison”. “We demand an apology”. Then there will be another Good Friday Agreement, and they’ll be out. For fuck's sake.

Now, if someone will potentially die serving their country, why aren’t they paid a decent wage?

Grant.

 

[kut2k2]

Quote from CaptainObvious:

Obviously, you've never been in the military.

Obviously, you don't know shit about me.

Quote from CaptainObvious:

Subordinates show respect for the senior commander regardless of personal opinion.

Obviously, you don't know shit about the US government, either. Since when is a US Senator subordinate to the President? Entirely different branches of government. I'm thinking you khan-servatives are so anti-freedom that you can't even fake acknowledging checks-and-balances in your arguments, or maybe you just slept thru your civics class. Webb isn't in Bush's chain of command, either as an officer or a civilian.

Those who show respect, get respect from people they can't boss around. Bush showed disrespect and got what he deserved from a guy who clearly doesn't take shit from posers nor suffer fools gladly. Very high time, and I hope to see more of it.

 

[james_bond_3rd]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15990689/site/newsweek/

A quirky individualist who wants no part of the phony collegiality of Washington, Webb was rightly insulted when Bush pressed him in that bullying way—“That’s not what I asked you”—trying to force the conversation back to Webb’s son. Webb could have asked how the Bush girls are doing, partying their way across Argentina. He could have told Bush he was worried about his son; the vehicle next to him was blown up recently, killing three Marines. Given the contrast between their respective offspring, Webb showed restraint.

But that’s not how much of official Washington reacted. Columnist George F. Will was the most offended, declaring civility dead and Webb a boor and a “pompous poseur.” Were the etiquette police as exercised when Vice President Dick Cheney told Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy to perform an anatomically impossible act on the Senate floor? Or is that amusing by Washington’s odd standards?

Webb told The Washington Post that his intention was not to offend Bush or the institution of the presidency but that “leaders do some symbolic things to try to convey who they are and what the message is.” By standing up to Bush, Webb became a hero to a lot of people who voted against this president and this war, and whose views have been sidelined for six years. Symbols matter. Bush certainly understands their importance, or he wouldn’t have jetted onto that carrier in a flight suit and stood in front of a banner that proclaimed MISSION ACCOMPLISHED more than a thousand days and thousands more deaths ago. A president snubbed by a junior senator-elect and then, more tellingly by the puppet prime minister in Iraq, should be wondering where he went wrong, not the other way around.

It’s justice long overdue for a president who has so abused the symbols of war to get his comeuppance from a battlefield hero who personifies real toughness as opposed to fake toughness. Bush struts around with this bullying frat-boy attitude, and he gets away with it because nobody stands up to him. Bush could have left Webb’s initial response stand, but no, he had to jab back—“That’s not what I asked you.” Webb is not one to be bullied. He knows what real toughness is, and it’s not lording it over people who are weaker than you, and if you’re president, everybody by definition is weaker.

 

[bsmeter2]

Quote from james_bond_3rd:


Webb could have asked how the Bush girls are doing, partying their way across Argentina. He could have told Bush he was worried about his son; the vehicle next to him was blown up recently, killing three Marines. Given the contrast between their respective offspring, Webb showed restraint.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15990689/site/newsweek/

While young adults are dying for Bush and Co. LIES, Bush daughters are busy getting drunk and high on drugs. Just like dad, just like pappy. Looks like pappys business is coming home to roost.


<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5849/jennawildlp5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>


And who can forget the other drug addicts in the family!

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8605/noellebushbookedcn6.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>


A thoroughly Un-christian pure evil incarnate family supported and voted into power by equally evil incarnate Southern Satanist cults who pass themselves off as "Christians". Just reading their posts here on ET is enough to make a sane person throw up in disgust.

 

[Grant]

Nonprophet,

I started to give an explanation of how I transpose formulae into Excel. I pressed Back page and lost the text. So I'll forget it.

The original calc is found at the foot of the page of

http://www.risklatte.com/exotics/hotNotes/hotNotes017.php

I can't reproduce the original notation but this is close:

forward vol = sqrt vol2^2*time2-vol1^2*time1/times2-time1

For me this is ambiguous - I don't know which terms are together or separate, so to speak. Hence, my error.

Thanks for your help. I need to be more careful in future.

Grant.