Intrade: 70.5% chance Obama will win third debate

[regexcellent]

No. Hand to hand combat happens quite a bit. Most of our engagements in Afghanistan are at very long range but some are within very close range. I have to get to class so I don't have time to pull up examples for you but you can probably do that yourself.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/06/us/afghanistan-horse-soldiers-memorial/index.html

[MikeH]

Obama's point was that it's military capability that's important. It's not just the number of something you've got that determines your military effectiveness. And merely suggesting that there are fewer ships therefore your capability is less is missing the point.

It's like you guys deliberately misunderstand because you don't like him.

[Wezil]

"The U.S. special operations teams that led the American invasion in Afghanistan a decade ago did something that no American military had done since the last century: ride horses into combat."

Not at all rare.

[kentonio]

Number of deaths from lightning strike in the US last year = 26. Were there more than 26 people killed by US forces bayoneting last year?

As for your link, it's a shame you didn't read it first. My favourite bits have to be..

"It was like out of the Old Testament," says Lt. Col. Max Bowers, retired Green Beret, who commanded the three horseback teams.

The U.S. special operations teams that led the American invasion in Afghanistan a decade ago did something that no American military had done since the last century: ride horses into combat.

"It was unbelievable in 2001," Master Sgt. Bart Decker says to Blumberg.

Yep, nothing obsolete there.

[Tuberski]

Honestly, if I were to vote for President, which I won't (being a useless vote in Texas), I would tend to listen to people from other countries with no direct interest in the Presidency.

ACK!

[MikeH]

Vote anyway.

[kentonio]

Honestly, if I were to vote for President, which I won't [SIZE=1](being a useless vote in Texas), [SIZE=2]I would tend to listen to people from other countries with no direct interest in the Presidency.

People from outside America don't have the same constant propoganda stream coming at them through TV and radio every day, and often get a clearer picture. As for no direct interest, the US president has an affect on EVERY western nation, or have you forgotten the two wars the last one started?

[Tuberski]

Vote anyway.

I can vote and not vote for President or for Ross Perot... again.

ACK!

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

"The U.S. special operations teams that led the American invasion in Afghanistan a decade ago did something that no American military had done since the last century: ride horses into combat."

Not at all rare.

So in essence when they were used circa 2001-2002 they hadn't been used since the last century (3 years?)

[MikeH]

Yeah, do that. Better than not voting at all.

[MRT144]

There aren't fewer bayonets. They hand out bayonets in our field exercises in ROTC, for christ's sake. It's an inspectable item so you do push-ups until your arms fall off if you don't have it.

How far are you gping to take this? Romney got zinged get over it

[DinoDoc]

How far are you going to take this? Romney got zinged get over it

Indeed.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Obama's point was that it's military capability that's important. It's not just the number of something you've got that determines your military effectiveness. And merely suggesting that there are fewer ships therefore your capability is less is missing the point.

It's like you guys deliberately misunderstand because you don't like him.

It was a point not worth making. He attempted in ridiculous terms to indicate that technology gives a superior advantage and thus can allow increased productivity in this venue, and then bemoans the fact that ATM's have supplanted bank tellers in previous venues.

Of course technology means productivity improvements. But the larger and more fundamental point that he was unwilling to address is what level of response is the US to be capable of. Should we continue the course of world policeman or not? Personally I don't think we can until such time as the fiscal house is in order. (Yey, we go the way of Britannia)

[The Mad Monk]

Obama's point was that it's military capability that's important. It's not just the number of something you've got that determines your military effectiveness. And merely suggesting that there are fewer ships therefore your capability is less is missing the point.

It's like you guys deliberately misunderstand because you don't like him.

I understood the snark quite well.

[MikeH]

I don't disagree. But once again, Romney might well have had a genuine point to pursue but was totally unable to do so coherently or effectively.

He really is a weak candidate from that point of view.