Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things

I’m not being cynical at all when I question whose side conservatives are on. How does this Bush details plans to curb Iranian influence fit with this, Senator targets surplus sales to Iran

WASHINGTON – A Democratic senator wants to cut off all
Pentagon sales of surplus F-14 parts, saying the military’s marketing of the spares “defies common sense” in light of their importance to
Iran.

Sen. Ron Wyden (news, bio, voting record)’s bill came in response to an investigation by The Associated Press that found weaknesses in surplus-sale security that allowed buyers for countries including Iran and China to surreptitiously obtain sensitive U.S. military equipment including Tomcat parts.

The Oregon Democrat’s legislation would ban the Defense Department from selling surplus F-14 parts and prohibit buyers who have already acquired surplus Tomcat parts from exporting them. Wyden’s bill, the Stop Arming Iran Act, is co-sponsored by the Senate’s No. 2 lawmaker, Democratic Whip Richard Durbin of Illinois.

The surplus sales are one of the first national security issues to be addressed by the new Democratic-controlled Congress.

Incompetence is the word that immediately comes to mind, but its more then that. There is some kind of two handed two faced malevolence at work. From putting all the pieces together after three years of this kind of crap it is easy to see why there is such a large segment of the public that believes Bush and his dead ender supporters are just enjoying the occupation of Iraq and the prospect that they can keep it going for years. You’d think that would be enough of Bush and by proxy his supporters to accomplish in their continuing efforts to wear as many masks and engage in as much double-talk as they can fit into any 24 hours, but no, Iraqi Forces Showing Initiative, Bush Says ( this is called the loser seal of approval, President Misssion Accomplished thinks they do’n real good) and yet Equipment For Added Troops Is Lacking

Boosting U.S. troop levels in Iraq by 21,500 would create major logistical hurdles for the Army and Marine Corps, which are short thousands of vehicles, armor kits and other equipment needed to supply the extra forces, U.S. officials said.

The increase would also further degrade the readiness of U.S.-based ground forces, hampering their ability to respond quickly, fully trained and well equipped in the case of other military contingencies around the world and increasing the risk of U.S. casualties, according to Army and Marine Corps leaders.

Years ago, and I’m sure some still do, Republicans used to talk about running government like business. I’ve never known a business to allow someone to screw up so badly and so often and not fire them. But wait that smirking loser’s last name is Bush and he’s a Republican so we have to support him no matter how many unnecessary deaths he causes, Sunday Yak About Iraq

3) Criticism of the policy emboldens the enemy.

The enemy is about as emboldened as it can get. “Shock and Awe” tactics from the mightiest nation in human history didn’t defeat them, and there’s no indication that it ever will.

As Jim Webb said on Face the Nation, “Who is the enemy?” The conflict in Iraq had more sides than the Pentagon, if not more. To say that open debate on policy and strategy in a supposedly free society will “embolden” a nameless, faceless enemy is to concede that that enemy–who or whatever it is–has already won.

4) Any anti-escalation resolution passed by Congress will send a negative signal to our troops.

This argument is the latest variation of the “support the troops” canard. Hopefully, you’ve notice that with the exception of John McCain, opponents of the escalation strategy actually served in the military and or have experienced war up close and personally, and proponents of it had “other priorities” when it was their time to serve in a bad American war.

More importantly, though, regardless of who does or doesn’t support the escalation, we don’t decide policy and strategy based on what the troops like or don’t like.

There’s more from Commander Huber at the link.

Contractor deaths in Iraq nearing 800

Statistics kept by the Labor Department indicate fatalities among civilian contractors working for American firms escalated rapidly late last year, with at least 301 dying in Iraq in 2006 — including 124 in the final three months.

U.S. military deaths totaled 818 during the year, the Defense Department has reported.

Despite the danger, job seekers continue to flood contractors’ offices with résumés.

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” – Peter F. Drucker

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