Bush to give up the ghost.

[Last Conformist]

What does Fez not have his own definition of?

[DRoseDARs]

I'd say "sanity" but I fear the paradox might tear the fabric of space-time, destroying the universe.

That, or it might at least make God cry.

[DRoseDARs]

Speaking of reality-bending, where's Ned?

[mindseye]

I wonder if Bush & friends will find a way to cover their retreat by somehow blaming it on gays.

Maybe like "the troops are needed back home to defend our nation's traditional values against the threat of homosexual marriage and judicial activism."

Hey at this point, I don't think I can be surprised anymore by this gang.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by mindseye
I wonder if Bush & friends will find a way to cover their retreat by somehow blaming it on gays.

Actually I think this time he's just going to claim progress in the training of the Iraqi military. Sorry, you're just not important enough this time. Though I do think any talk of a reduction in troop lvls should have been put off until after the Dec. elections.

[Drake Tungsten]

Originally posted by mindseye
I wonder if Bush & friends will find a way to cover their retreat by somehow blaming it on gays.

Maybe like "the troops are needed back home to defend our nation's traditional values against the threat of homosexual marriage and judicial activism."

Hey at this point, I don't think I can be surprised anymore by this gang.

mindseye is MrFun's DL? Wow, that's surprising...

[DinoDoc]

He failed to mention Lincoln though. Thus he fails the MrFun's DL test.

[Timexwatch]

Gianni the American Spanish Argentinian ladyboy arguing with an Iraq vet about military terms You should stick to fashion advice and lose the general's hat.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Doesn't "giving up the ghost" mean dying?

No, it means you're giving up on a fairy tail. No longer telling people about the ghost that lives in the attic and admiting it was just a made up story.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk


I suspect it means the unit in question is able to fight effectively against units of professionally trained troops in a full-blown war with another nation.

Is there another definition?

The Pentigon's assessment was that they weren't even ready for independent operations against the insurgency much less other nations. They did say several battalions were up to taking part in operations if the US or UK lead the operation and held their hands but, in the Pentigon's opinion, only one battalion was ready to act independently.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Tattila the Hun
What exactly would happen, if the army were to reach "breaking point"? Revolt, desertion, coup d'etat?

No body knows. I suppose the US & UK would have to step in again though politically that would be extremely difficult and very unpopular. BTW even the Pentigo has said there is a 50-50 chance of civil war once the foreigners leave or even majorly scale back their presence.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Actually I think this time he's just going to claim progress in the training of the Iraqi military. Sorry, you're just not important enough this time. Though I do think any talk of a reduction in troop lvls should have been put off until after the Dec. elections.

Supposedly, that is the plan. What ever the results or facts on the ground to begin a drawdown after the election and to make sure it is mostly complete before the 2006 election in the US. Republican politicians at all levels have been urging the White House to be mostly out by the next election and are practically crapping their pants at the thought of losing due to the war's unpopularity.

[DinoDoc]

I highly doubt that is the case.

[Ninot]

Hypothetically speaking, which is worse for the republicans

For the troops to stay in Iraq, no partial withdrawal whatsoever, by the 2006 elections

or partial to full troop pullout, with even larger problems arising, such as increased bombings or civil war.

[Dinner]

They know they're facing a major up hill battle in the next election if the troops are still there where as they're likely hoping nothing blows up there until after the election.