I just finished watching a documentary called No End In Sight, which won some important awards. But awards aren’t the reason to watch this movie. This is a thoughful and highly detailed account of incomprehensible errors in the Iraq War planning. If you have any interest in understanding the situation in Iraq you should watch this film as soon as possible.
I thought the FEMA mismanagement was pretty bad, and I had a sense
that the Iraq war was not properly managed. After seeing this movie it
strikes me that FEMA’s handling of the Katrina aftermath was vastly
superior to the Iraq post-war plan. Here’s a New York Times review
of the film. Seriously, even if you are skeptical that the film might
be unfair to the Bush administration, watch this movie. This movie is
not flattering to the Bush administration, but it’s not unfairly
critical.
They say you reap what you sow. When you sow reckless arrogance
you reap violent insurgency. Apparently, this is a surprise to some of
our government leaders. I hope the next crop of government leaders
includes folks who are willing to consider thoughtful opposition before
they take bold actions like invading a foreign country and occupying it
without any well-thought out exit strategy.
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Ernie,
Great seeing you over the holidays! I ended up getting sick and spending the majority of the holiday in bed, but I am glad to see you are posting regularly again. No End In Sight is a fantastic movie. We saw it in the theater here in Austin and it was really a good portrayal of our sad reality.
I think you should start a pool on what the gas prices will be before the election. My guess is they will do like they did before the last big election and dip $1 per gallon. Who says the oil companies aren’t in bed with government?
Billy
Ernie,You are erudite and out-a-sight, when we’ve spoken you were usually right.
“…probably not too many people read this blog…”
Don’t kid yourself … you once again made the ABA Journal Blawg 100, so apparently someone is paying attention to this site!
https://www.abajournal.com/magazine/aba_journal_blawg_100
Happy Holidays.
-Jeff
Point taken. I often write notes/blogs on my Facebook page. Many have been saved & deleted. Just curious though. If “Not too many people read the comments, and probably not too many people read this blog,” then how did you make the ABA Journal top 100 law blogs list, under “Generally Speaking”?
I sometimes write so much when critiquing something, to avoid situations like Steve’s comment (of which, I made clear to him about not carefully reading what I wrote/say). From elementary through undergrad at ORU, I’ve been taught/trained that it’s better to write more & be concise than to write little & be vague. Now it doesn’t always work that way, but it’s a good safeguard, for the most part.
Much love bro! 🙂
William
Will, I appreciate you taking the time to offer a point by point criticism of my posts, but it’s really not necessary to go into such detail in the comments section. Not too many people read the comments, and probably not too many people read this blog. Perhaps you should consider starting a blog of your own. Then you can address any number of topics and go into them in as much detail as you want. I don’t know if this would appeal to you, but since you like to write lengthy comments, I thought it might be a better way to get your points across to a wider audience.
Best wishes
Ernie
Perhaps you may find the following, interesting.–>https://www.nypost.com/seven/07272007/entertainment/movies/end_cant_justify_scenes_movies_kyle_smith.htm
If what Kyle Smith says is true, in his critique of the documentary, then you might want to consider revising your words. I disagree w/ many things you say here. I have a sneaky suspicion that you went into this film w/ predetermined ideas & once the film was over, you passed judgment, ad hominem. Are you also a Michael Moore fan (a documentarian that has shown he is incapable of expressing any objectivity in his films, as of late)?
“If you have any interest in understanding the situation in Iraq you should watch this film as soon as possible.” So how do you know this w/ absolute certainty? How do you know that Charles Ferguson & those he interviewed & what not, were being impartial in this film? So after watching this film, we’ll come to an (complete?) “understanding” as you suggest, of the situation going on in Iraq? Excuse me for the Haterade I’m about to express, but that sounds really weak to me. & also, so does the following.–>”After seeing this movie it strikes me that FEMA’s handling of the Katrina aftermath was vastly superior to the Iraq post-war plan.” I have a sneaky suspicion that you may be guilty of selective viewing/reading. In other words, you went into this film wanting to confirm your personal bias, of which, the sentence before in all likelihood, confirms my sneaky suspicion. As well as your final sentence, in the final paragraph.–>”I hope the next crop of government leaders includes folks who are willing to consider thoughtful opposition before they take bold actions like invading a foreign country and occupying it without any well-thought out exit strategy.” Again, how do you know this w/ absolute certainty? Perhaps you might want to do some further research, beyond this documentary, before making bold statements/judgments/assumptions/conclusions, like you just did here. Besides, if I want to know about the Iraq situation, I turn to SNL & their comical spin on it (not really, but sometimes they do offer some comic relief about it…as of late though, I really don’t find the show that funny), as well as Family Guy (hilarious show…sometimes offensive, but offensively funny, for the most part). You’re an attorney, right? I thought you would know to not take something at face-value? If you haven’t done so, then feel free to express your denial or defense, but I’m just goin’ off of what I just read, through your rhetoric of choice. If I were critiquing this blog on a scale of 0-5 stars, I’d currently give it a 1 1/2. Reason being is b/c of what I’ve already expressed, as well as you informed me of the movie & I will watch it when I get a chance to do so, w/ an unbiased mind (or a clean slate). I will take notes & when I do so, I will holla atcha! 🙂 But until then, I feel this is libel/slander on your part &/or a justifiable and unjustifiable (depending how you look at it) jab at the Bush administration. If I’m wrong, then you’re free to express why so.
In other news, I enjoyed your blog on the Saints. I found it hilarious, but true! As a former Ohio football player (I started RG & DT in high school), I agree. They’re too much finesse football & not enough basic football execution. Many teams have physically & mentally, punched them in the mouth (figuratively speaking here), & they seem to have no answer. It has pained me at times, to watch them play. I experience more pain, when I watch my Detroit Lions play. I grew up watching Barry Sanders play, but even then, the organization didn’t seem committed to winning Super Bowls.