Just a little reminder, you can keep up with reporting from the Big Five East Coast papers every day at IraqSlogger.com. Today's is especially meaty, since there was a lot of enterprise reporting today. Here's a sample:
In probably the least surprising news of the day, President Bush used the Independence Day holiday to defend the Iraq war while the New York Times makes a surprising comparison Iraq and the Revolutionary War."Our first Independence Day celebration took place in a midst of a war -- a bloody and difficult struggle that would not end for six more years before America finally secured her freedom," he said to an audience of Air National Guard members, according to Jim Rutenberg of the Times. "Like those early patriots, you're fighting a new and unprecedented war -- pledging your lives and honor to defend our freedom and way of life." Tim Craig of the Post adds that Bush didn't exactly promise much to look forward to: The Iraq war will "will require more patience, more courage and more sacrifice." This kind of speech is old hat for Bush by now, as the Times notes, and from the reporting it sounds like he rolled out the same old talking points we've heard many times before. Fighting for freedom and way of life? Check. Terrorist following us home if we leave Iraq? Gotcha. Today's armed forces fighting for the same cause as the patriots of yore? Yep. Ok, see you next year!
The Times, however, throws in a little zinger on the artificial tying of Iraq to the holiday with a contributed op-ed by Michael Rose, a retired British Army general who commanded the United Nations forces in the former Yugoslavia from 1994 to 1995. Why, yes, the Iraq war is like the Revolutionary War, he writes, but playing the role of Britain's King George III will be George W. Bush and playing the role of the insurgents will be George Washington's Continental Army. Rose argues that the British made many of the same mistakes then the U.S. is doing now: King George "attempted to fight a conventional war against insurgents, and sent far too few troops across the Atlantic to accomplish the mission." Hm. Sounds familiar. Although the British quickly took Baghdad and Tikrit -- oops, sorry, I meant New York and Philadelphia -- they failed to shift to a counterinsurgency strategy. They never managed to seal the colonies' borders. The upside is that once the British got their butts kicked out of the colonies, it freed them up to concentrate on more important things, like India and the Industrial Revolution. When Rose reveals at the end that the United States should learn the lesson that tactical defeat can be turned to an empire-building win is hardly a surprise, but he fails to note that the U.S. doesn't have a subcontinent to covet nor a commercial revolution on the horizon.
Also, new column on Spot-on about the Lebanese Internet woes, which is a particular bête noire of mine.
lol. good read. all this trickery has been done before. nothing new here - move along. haha
Annalists are already predicting a huge sweep of leftists coming into both houses of congress along with the white house this fall. These leftists openly consider christians the enemies of the state even above the terrorists. These people itch to pass gay marriage and write hate legislation aimed directly against christian patriots. They plan massive overhaul of the judicial system to impose legislation against 1st and 2nd amendment rights.
McCain will make the Iraq war the central issue of this campaign because Obama promises to withdraw our troops regardless if the terrorists declare victory. Christians may have one last chance to grandstand against another Vietnam and the establishment of an anti christian socialistic state in America. But there is now a new hope!
A new biblical discovery has just hit the market bringing a miraculous prophecy about Iraq. There are a large number of related biblical scriptures which have passed silently under the radar until now.
Iraq is to be freed by a great eagle wings in the latter days! This is welcome news coming straight from the Bible just before the election.
If the war in Iraq represents Gods will as predicted in Bible prophecy, this may be our chance to unify christians patriots before this critical election takes place. Obama claims to be a good christian. Could he now be exposed publically for apposing America or “the great eagle” freeing Iraq in Bible prophecy? A Salem christian group published an important press release concerning this true Biblical discovery! This stunning declaration comes from one of the most reputable christian publishers in America… www.eternaltruth.net
One critic asked the author how he could possibly announce he had discovered 9/11 and Iraq in Bible prophecy? “Aren’t you exploiting thousands of American deaths in both this current war and 9/11 just sell a book?”
Author..” “That is my greatest consolation! As we speak many people including veterans are purchasing this book witnessing the very references which prove this books biblical promises. People are now witnessing biblical prophecies unfold before their eyes concerning 9/11 and Iraq freed by a modern eagle. Amazon.com just announced on their web sight that they have sold out this book and must order more!” “There are no unsatisfied customers who complain of not receiving any thing less than was promised from the author.” “There are steady reports of people finding far more than what they ever expected possible. It would be unforgivable for any author to promise people something to exploit a national tragedy for book sales.” Many lives are lost and many families with children grieve having lost their parents. This author is not letting those people down who purchase this book in good faith. We are delivering a true message taken from biblical prophets directed for our time. “I have four children of my own, if my book were to become exposed as a manipulation of biblical text such would forever mark my children’s name as well as my own.” I have been so blessed to have discovered a message placed into the Bible which can unite millions of believers together before this election. I need your help because the media ignores everything about this discovery.
Author of this book, Paul GregersenListen likewise to an educated critics expert opinion regarding this miraclulous book.
“Reading this particular book has made me aware of how christians have come to accept biblical spin and less than honest interpretations when reading books on Bible prophecy.” When I started reading “Bible prophecies of 9 - 11” the whole idea of 9 - 11 and Iraq being in Bible prophecy admittedly was quite appealing to me.
But it seemed very far fetched and I fully expected to discover another fiction story cleverly masked behind a another “new” biblical declaration. I fully expected to see the familiar hand picking of quotes deliberately coming from the authors’ selection of unrelated texts to manipulate the meaning of Bible text. I’ve learned that it is a common trick to cleverly combine unrelated verses from separated biblical context in order to stretch readers’ perception beyond the original focus toward the authors’ conclusions, creating the appearance that authors conclusions are also supported by the Bible.
My first surprise while reading this book was to see this author approach things quite differently by laying a biblical foundation from Adam and Eve with the tree of life story, establishing common threads for his entire biblical claim. As the first chapters began to build solidly on biblical themes I quickly realized this particular author was either seriously attempting to link legitimate patterns of bible prophecy, or he was using an even more clever deception to mislead me. This author surprisingly understood the procedure to outline proper types and shadows and stay within one context while linking proper biblical themes. Since the author was not spinning I suspected that he would postpone taking of his liberties until he would be forced into a corner having to demonstrate 9 - 11 towers falling and eagle’s wings into modern Iraq.
To my surprise the transition was smooth and never broke context or prophetic flow. Not only was 9 - 11 coming straight from the Bible but almost every highly specific detail, including the number of planes that hit each target, was referenced in the Bible with numerous exact details specifically related to 9 - 11. This book does not just stop there, but continued to unwind the scenario of America going to Iraq spelling out the exact manner of Saddam’s capture and execution. This was a highly unusual book! This book was based on what was written in the Bible and relied solely upon that premise. How do I react to this other than try to convince someone to read it and find out? I feel concerned that christians are so used to being tricked by each cry of wolf that when the real thing appears there will be a little comprehension that something amazing has occurred. I have wracked my mind as to how this could have possibly been fixed and there is no possible way other than Gods prophets deliberately sent us this intentional message about Iraq and 9 - 11. Ross David www.eternaltruth.net