Are You Threatening Me?

“I had a number of misconceptions about Iraq before the war as well, but some things remained constant:

I didn't see evidence of a danger from Iraq, and didn't see a payoff equal to the cost of invasion. Those two key points have not changed.”

“Oh, I see. In that case I cede the point, Phaedrus. It did seem unlikely to me that it was the best choice to make at the time. Again, I've said that numerous times.

But if that's all you've got to back up your original assertion, then please don't bother me with any future criticisms of the like. You're grasping.

Violin - we did lose a fair number of aircraft. I thought you read the news.”

“ didn't see evidence of a danger from Iraq, and didn't see a payoff equal to the cost of invasion. Those two key points have not changed

No one seemed to know whether Iraq was a threat before the war. Several notable intelligence agencies came to the same conclusions that the U.S. arrived at.

As for your second point, you haven't waited long enough. Nor do you give credit where credit is due. Your handwaving away of relevant facts is legendary.”

“No, Mutt, you're the one grasping.

The original point was that you have no better or more educated insight into international politics than any of the rest of the poli-regulars here (except, maybe, Nigal and possibly Tilt). Your self-asserted aura of precognition in matters of state affairs is a ruse.

In other words, you're a self-aggrandizing blowhard.

Not that I dislike you or anything :)”

“The original point was that you have no better or more educated insight

I thought you said my predictive powers were off. Now you're moving the goalposts. Get your criticism straight!”

“No one seemed to know?!

Uhh, Mutt, who's handwaving? Weapons inspectors, intel presented to the UN, etc?”

“The original point was that you have no better or more educated insight

I thought you said my predictive powers were off. Now you're moving the goalposts. Get your criticism straight!"
Mutt
10:48:16 AM
09/09/04

You've missed as often as anyone here! Surely, you aren't trying to play coy with semantics by purposely misunderstanding the point?”

“In other words, you're a self-aggrandizing blowhard

Yep, it's fun to be me.

*yawn* to your latest post.”

“*yawn* to your latest post."
Mutt
10:50:24 AM
09/09/04

Handwaver.”

“Okay, now you've switched back to your original criticism. Whew - you flip-flop like John Kerry!

Still waiting for an example of a prediction I made which turned out to be false.....”

“Anyone not purposely attempting to misunderstand sees the point.

Your ego gets in the way.”

“Seems like a simple request, Phaedrus. If you have an example and aren't just talking out your ass, then people will see it's true, even if I don't.

But, I will, so there you go.”

“"I also think the international community can and will refuse to foot part of the Iraqi rebuilding as some countries are threatening to do right now.

I disagree. I think they'll be there eager to help out in order to gain any spoils of war they think they can get.

Moreover, most of the European opposition to the war really seems to be about Europe's internal politics rather than Iraq or anti-Americanism. I don't think anti Americanism is so strong as to keep them out of the international interventions after the war.

But you're right about the literacy point. I should clarify: I was speaking of urban Baghdadites."
Mutt
03:17:27 PM
03/13/03

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread.php?id=20494&q=nav&age=-1”

“Finally! Why not just post that and save yourself the previous humiliation???”

“Like I said, anyone who looks from a more objective point of view will see two examples of the same thing here.”

“Now, the real issue is, is this a trend like you first implied? That's going to require more examples, Phaedrus.

Tsk, tsk. I really shouldn't have to deign to tell you how to build an argument, Phaedrus.”

“I'm done.

Mutt is the black hole of rational thought. It goes in, never to be seen again.”

“"objective point of view" won't hide your flip-flopping, phaedrus. Weak.”

“"LOL! on another note, I heard Bush made another guffaw regarding ob/gyn and loving thier patients. Anyone seen it?"
- bearmagnet
06:59:47 PM
09/08/04


"We got an issue in America. Too many good docs are gettin' out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their -- their love with women all across this country."

Listen: http://mp3.dubyaspeak.com/obgyn.mp3”

“I'm done.

Thank you Captain Obvious. You tried to criticize me and couldn't back your argument up very well. You are done, that's fer sher.”

“Too funny, Viola!”

“The proverbial ton of bricks is not enough to weigh down the Ego.

It's enough of a pattern that it falls into the realm of the obvious observable trait, rather than a theory that nees be proven.

Selfish European countries like France and Germany will be right there with their hands out

Yep, but what's really infuriating is what Turkey is doing. Denying the U.S. a strong northern front has increased the risks to American troops significantly. But Turkey isn't going to stay out of the war. Oh no. They've been building up their forces along the Iraq border for awhile now. As soon as the Americans attack, the Turks are going to sweep in from the north and capture Kurdish areas and that oil rich area that I can't remember the name of right now. Of course, publicly they'll be "helping" the U.S win the war. But, they'll end up having complete control over the Kurds, and tons of money from the oil resources. Guess who's going to get the oil contracts in Turkish-controlled areas? Not the U.S.!"
Mutt
12:12:26 PM
03/11/03”

“Seems to me that W's daddy did a lot of embracing of the UN.

Come on Niggle....W's the one who ran from a fight (Vietnam).

Hey Niggle...buy a NY Times today and look at all the faces of those that W sent off to die in Iraq to defend freedom and democracy.

You are so damn lame I want to puke when I read your posts.”

“Well if it was so obvious, why did you strive to make yourself look like a fool! LOL!

I cede the point, though: I've been wrong on my predictions about minor things. Hey, at least I have a unique perspective...”

“Here's another "minor thing" you're guessing about:

The danger in Kerry is his long-term influence. From appeasing terrorists, to cowtowing to the U.N., to pulling out of Iraq, to a reactive foreign policy, Kerry's presidency would be disasterous in the long run."
Mutt
09:50:49 AM
09/09/04


Carry on.”

“Phaedrus, you're wasting your breath. If Mutt stepped in dog $hit, he'd tell you he planned to do it.”

“Obviously working with mean cowtowing.”

“Phaedrus Mutt”

“That's very nice of you to conceed like that Mutt.”

“That's very nice of you to conceed like that Mutt

[Elvis voice] Thank you. Thank you very much. [/Elvis voice]”

“Now I'll post a quote from Mutt that seems to be as dead-on as anything I've ever read.

I don't know how you can say you're more fearful of Bush then you are of Saddam

Paul Krugman of the NYTimes has an answer to this:

...the Bush administration has made it clear, over and over again, that it doesn't play by the rules. Remember: this administration told Europe to take a hike on global warming, told Russia to take a hike on missile defense, told developing countries to take a hike on trade in lifesaving pharmaceuticals, told Mexico to take a hike on immigration, mortally insulted the Turks and pulled out of the International Criminal Court — all in just two years.

I'd add that Bush has opened the pandora's box of legitimizing pre-emptive war and pre-emptive nuclear strikes as well. Saddam may be an evil man, but Bush has much more capability than Saddam has ever had to inflict pain and suffering on the innocent. And now Bush has fewer restraints on his use of power than any other past president. Let's hope that power does not totally corrupt him."
Mutt
11:53:39 AM
03/18/03
”

“I like wars. DC gets an influx of immigrants from all the Global hot spots. I've met Vietnamese, Laotions, El-Salvadorans, Nicaraguans, Ethiopian, Nigerian, Eritrean, Oromian, Iranian.

I'm looking forward to meeting some Iraqi hotties.”

“This is really good: Shrub's reaction to being asked to comment on Cheney's remarks (from AP report on Bush addressing congressional leaders)

"Bush refused to answer questions from reporters. He simply stared at a reporter who asked if he agreed with Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites)'s assertion that if Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) is elected, 'the danger is that we'll get hit again' by terrorists."”

“Geo.......deer in headlights?”

“The reciever in his ear must have died.”

“Yeah, he gets that look from time to time, doesn't he?”

“Hellooooooo, Dick?”

“Well, he needs about seven minutes to make up his mind.”

“Poor Mutt. I think his poor widdle feelings are hurt.”

“Wolfowitz wanted to overthrow Saddam since 1998. They (the neocons) were just waiting for a catastrophe, so they could justify it. (it takes a lot to justify billions of tax dollars for an unnecessary war) It's only because the American Public is so stupid that they still believe that 9-11 had anything to do with Iraq or Saddam. Or why there is no news of Osama bin Laden in the news. Mission Not Accomplished. And the heroin profits in Afghanistan still flows to Al-Queda

Karl Rove is the man behind the curtain- his slash and burn media tactics of tearing down Kerry is so typical of the Republican rightousness and feelings of superiority. you know the type- just call someone a label- like girly man- and automatically you feel sooooo good-

He won the primary for Shrub over McCain in south carolina by saying John fathered a black daughter- all he did was adopt a Bangladesh kid. He attacked his Vietnam war record. Even Calling McCain a homo. Accusing Cindy McCain of using cocaine. No wonder McCain doesn't like Shrub attacking John Kerry's war record.”

“It's only because the American Public is so stupid that they still believe that 9-11 had anything to do with Iraq or Saddam

”