Winter in Oregon and other things

Well, since we've been here, we have had one of the wettest winters ever, more snow and colder temps than is normal and a windstorm that knocked out power across town... All that said, it still is easier to get to work than it was in North Dakota!

Alot has happened and I've avoided posting for a bit to let the dust settle. The surge and the death of Saddam both deserve some comment.

For Saddam, I can only say that I'm not sure I believe it or that it matters. I am a bit surprised HW Bush didn't go over to pull the lever (or did he... ;) People act upset that some footage made it out - frankly, only enough was shown here to make me wonder - how easy it would be to make things look a certain way...

I don't think making a martyr was a particularly good idea...long term...

As for the surge, more troops are not the way to a long term peace - especially if they are on a timetable. Not only do we not gain tactically, but everyone can already see our will is underminded. More importantly, you can't beat them into submission and proper behavior even with 10 million troops. If you put a cop on every corner in New York, would you stop crime?

I happen to also agree that you just can't pull everyone out however, with no clue about the people, the history, the culture, the language and the faiths, we are trying to impose conditions that simply will never work. Perhaps they need to work some of this out for themselves. Now might be the time to take a step back and get some help from outside our ranks rather than secure our position in this quagmire...

Of course, GW is a bit too proud to do that...