So I Started Reading the Feith Book...

[Umar Al-Mokhtār]

that might be true now.

But before Team America showed up, it was a happy place. They had flowery meadows and rainbow skies, and rivers made of chocolate, where the children danced and laughed and played with gumdrop smiles.

[SteveMetz]

I've finally figured out that what Feith does is use an old lawyer's trick: even if your case is weak, if you repeat nonsense enough times and with enough ardor, is may magically become credible. I can't even count the number of times now he's asserted that it would have made a huge difference if the "Free Iraqi Forces" had been "trained and integrated into CENTCOM's thinking."

[Ken White]

In addition to the Unicorns, there's perhaps a touch of what the Koreans call Happy Smoke involved here...

[SteveMetz]

P. 403: "In developing the IIA (Iraqi Interim Authority) concept, of course, we had in mind our recent experience in in Afghanistan, where the United States immediately recognized an interim government of Afghans and never became an occupying power. Despite the obvious differences, the Afghanistan case offered some lessons worth heeding."

Strange that word never got to Mr. Feith that everyone in Afghanistan didn't live happily ever after following the application of that approach.

Bottom line: what Feith (and other administration officials) missed is that NOTHING can wholly avoid conflict during the healing of a badly wounded society. He contends that if we'd just done "B" instead of "A," it would have all worked out. I don't buy that. Violence was inevitable once we elected to knock down the rickity system holding it together. And it would have been inevitable even had we not done so.

[marct]

Iraq--Its Magically Delicious? (or, perhaps, "They're Always After me Lucky WMD!")

I think this just says it all...

[selil]

Just a suggestion, DO NOT go to youtube and search for "Unicorn Planet", DO NOT in anyway suggest that Feith's book is similar to "Unicorn Planet". Remember I said DO NOT do this......

[Tom Odom]

I've finally figured out that what Feith does is use an old lawyer's trick: even if your case is weak, if you repeat nonsense enough times and with enough ardor, is may magically become credible. I can't even count the number of times now he's asserted that it would have made a huge difference if the "Free Iraqi Forces" had been "trained and integrated into CENTCOM's thinking."

Yup and those frogs had wings they wouldn't have sore butts...

There would have been a lot of mid-airs on take off, given frogs' inabilities to wait in line for clearance

butt that is beside the point. I mean, what's a few crashed frogs versus sore butts

here goes with Feith-based logic

Chalabi was the answer

Chalabi was the answer

Chalabi was the answer

Got it

Chalabi can fly

Chalabi can fly

Chalbi can fly

Ergo Chalabi is a frog

Or at least looks like one

[wm]

Here's an interesting piece from the English language Turkish Daily News. Interesting excerpt follows:

On the AKP role in the incident he said, "The Turkish government was, for the first time ever, in the hands of a recently elected Islamist political party. That party, in power for only four months, did not share the pro-American tradition of Turkey's other leading parties – and key Turkish officials were novices who lacked experience in working in the Turkish legislative assembly."

But qualifying the AKP as "not pro-American," Feith failed to mention that two previous governments led by left-wing former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit were totally against a war in Iraq.

[SteveMetz]

I will say this: Mr. Feith has written an absolutely landmark classic in the burgeoning field of logical contortionism.





I like this one as he concocts an alibi for the looting of Baghdad: "Whatever Saddam's own doubts that the United States would actually invade, his regime may have planned the scorched-earth campaign as part of a postoverthrow insurgency strategy" (p. 414).

So, Hussein was convinced that the United States would never invade in the first place. Hence his unwillingness to fully cooperate with UN weapons inspectors or to undertake serious military preparations for the defense of Iraq. But at the same time, he made plans to loot all of Iraq's government ministries and his own palaces.

And, of course, he follows this demonstration of logical contortionism with slam #34,446 at the *real* culprits: "If so, the CIA's failure to discover those plans in advance was a serious problem."

I'll bet the CIA never was able to find those unicorns and leprechauns which populate the Magical Land of Feith either. That organization is simply worthless.

[Rex Brynen]

I'll bet the CIA never was able to find those unicorns and leprechauns which populate the Magical Land of Feith either. That organization is simply worthless.

I couldn't tell you--I failed my lifetstyle poly for TS/SCI MAGICALBEASTS.

[SteveMetz]

I couldn't tell you--I failed my lifetstyle poly for TS/SCI MAGICALBEASTS.

Geez, you're just supposed to rely on them for strategic advice, not date them!

[marct]

Geez, you're just supposed to rely on them for strategic advice, not date them!

Just in from an anonymous informant....

Unicorns United denies ties to Feith
April 23, 2008

In a statement that has surprised a number of analysts, Unicorns United spokesman Galadriel has categorically denied giving Douglas Feith any strategic advice or direction.

"Are these analysts crazy?" Asked Galadriel to a packed press conference. "I mean,get serious! [Douglas] Feith doesn't meet even the minimal requirements for conversation with any unicorns!" [see here]

[Ken White]

"Whatever Saddam's own doubts that the United States would actually invade, his regime may have planned the scorched-earth campaign as part of a postoverthrow insurgency strategy" (p. 414)."

Given the fact that Saddam did announce that's what he was going to do (and we all ignored it); did release all the prisoners from the jails (probably on the advice of Achalov (LINK), an ex-spetnaz urban warfare specialist); did plant weapons caches all over the country; did fire up Saddam's mujahadeen and a few other things.

We pretty much got the word that's what was going to happen -- and proceeded to blithely ignore it. I'd like to say I twigged on to it but I didn't; couldn't figure out why he gave the two Russians medals -- until about July of 03. Then it dawned on me; Saddam telegraphed the whole thing and most of us just missed it.

Not that the tolerance of looting is thereby excused.

[Umar Al-Mokhtār]

The Purple Oyster, also known as the "Purple Oyster (of Doom)", or "PO(oD)", is said to have once been one of the minions of the Invisible Pink Unicorn, but was cast out of her Pastures for the Great Evil of attempting to convince believers of the heretical notion that pepperoni and mushroom pizza is more pleasing to her than pineapple and ham.

[J Wolfsberger]

Just in from an anonymous informant....


"Are these analysts crazy?" Asked Galadriel to a packed press conference. "I mean,get serious! [Douglas] Feith doesn't meet even the minimal requirements for conversation with any unicorns!"

I don't think any members of the SWC meet that particular requirement. (Or would admit they did.)

[marct]

I don't think any members of the SWC meet that particular requirement. (Or would admit they did.)

But I doubt if any of us claim to get our strategic insights from them either . Then again, maybe he used an intermediary....



Personally, I suspect this is who he used

[wm]

But I doubt if any of us claim to get our strategic insights from them either . Then again, maybe he used an intermediary....

Marc,

Come on,the real sources are the aliens/EBE(extraterrestrial biological entities) (probably mostly Grays) that everyone like Stanton Friedman knows are still hiding out in the underground facilities at Area 51 and Dulce, NM.

[marct]

Hi Wayne,

Come on,the real sources are the aliens/EBE(extraterrestrial biological entities) (probably mostly Grays) that everyone like Stanton Friedman knows are still hiding out in the underground facilities at Area 51 and Dulce, NM.

Last I heard, the grey's had been underbid by a consortium from China and Pakistan. Then again, given wo their negotiator was, this may not be surprising .


Rumour has it that the current decline in the American economy, besides being the direct fault of State and the CIA, is from the grey's selling off their current stock holdings in US companies after loosing their advising contract .

[wm]

Hi Wayne,



Last I heard, the grey's had been underbid by a consortium from China and Pakistan. . . .

Rumour has it that the current decline in the American economy, besides being the direct fault of State and the CIA, is from the grey's selling off their current stock holdings in US companies after loosing their advising contract .

I suspect the Pakistan/China connection may just be Reptilians and perhaps Blonds or the ubiquitous MIB. BTW, on your latter point, everyone knows that State and CIA are rife with MIBs; so, I suspect some disinformation activities passing blame for their own missteps onto the poor Greys.

[Tacitus]

Apologies if this is already posted somewhere in this thread, but a story in The Washington Post that Georgetown University has not asked Mr. Feith to return to his pedagogical duties next year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...042202465.html

Says he hasn't decided what to do next, but is occupied with "book stuff." No word if that includes joining the Small Wars Council. Or not.