Touch me. Touch me like you didn't touch me last night.

Blackwater "Security" Company finally kicked-out of Iraq, by Iraq.
Compare articles, it's very interesting.

A few years and a few killings too late, don't you think?

Still, better now than never.

Also, shut up, Condoleeza. Just shut up. If you were serious about investigating them, you'd have done so years ago. You're probably just upset that the Iraqi government seems to have briefly grown a tiny pair of balls. Let's hope that after these fall off, the next ones will be bigger.

Seeing No End In Sight tomorrow.

Yeah, we'll be watching it on September 11th. There's no planned significance, it was just the best day for us to see it with our friend Rob.

And this is all you're going to hear from me about 9/11, because...well, because I honest-to-shit don't have anything to say about it. Not a biscuit. I mean, what the shit am I supposed to say? How's this: how long until I get tired of hearing/seeing NEVAR FORGET! tomorrow and seeing t-shirts about it and fucking news coverage with tiny transparent flag animations in the corner all day, and sad polticians, and fuck all that.

Yes, it was horrific, but it's not the only horrific thing that's happened in the world in the last six years. We just don't see the others, because they don't involve us.

The sooner we just let it be a day again, the sooner we can get motherfucking poltiicians and jackass conservatives to stop invoking it like it's a goddamned magic spell that's supposed to shut our mouths and force compliance

And if you say Al Qaeda or Iraq to me tomorrow, I'll probably slap you.

"Today is the anniversary of the death of Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez. He was the first combat casualty in Iraq. Jose Gutierrez was a young man of 26. Father to his younger siblings. Loved the United States and dreamt of the things he would do in this country after serving in the Corps. A true patriot through and through.

Oh yeah, I forgot. He came here from Guatemala *ILLEGALLY*

I dedicate this to Charlie Daniels, Tom Tancredo, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Minutemen who, as their type claim, won their right to their opinions from the spilled blood of the men and women in uniform like Jose Gutierrez."

-- donchep

My opposition to the war nothwithstanding, I'm proud as hell of my Cousin:

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

This is to certify that

The Secretary of the Navy has awarded the

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL

TO

Corporal AARON A. HENEHAN

FOR

Meritorious achievement while serving as squad leader, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force Forward, from 4 March to 10 June 2006 in support of operation Iraqi Freedom. Corporal Henehan successfully led his squad on more than 80 combat missions in Husaybah , IRAQ . Through meticulous preparation and detailed mission planning, squad located and subsequently detained 18 insurgents wanted by coalition forces, significantly disrupting insurgent operations. His vast knowledge of the city and its inhabitants, his personal initiative in maintaining current information on tribal and family boundaries, and his intense preparation for every combat patrol were instrumental in the success of the platoon and company. Corporal Henehan’s initiative, perseverance, and total dedication to duty reflected credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Apparently the Navy/Marine version is handed out far less often than the Army, Air Force, and Joint Forces ones.

b

Most recent estimates say that between 38,000 and 42,000 Iraqi civilians have died in combat or combat-related events since the war began.

Most recent estimates say that nearly 2500 American soldiers have died in Iraq since the war began.

Neither of these statistics include the grievously wounded, maimed, or otherwise injured.

Does anybody see why I'm done arguing with people about Bush / Cheney / the war / the state of our nation / et cetera?

Because you can't change my mind and you can't change facts. I'm tired of explaining my views, and I'm tired of fighting with people. I'm just going to consider myself right and write off everybody else.

Feel like debating? Get a hobby.

"I tried to write a tragic and telling poem about the war, but I couldn't find a way to rhyme Haditha with Mai Lai."

b
Thanks, narnathinks, for winding me up again. I'd been wound down for too long