Those wacky guys...

From Atrios

"Bush told his senior aides Tuesday that he 'didn't want to see any stories' quoting unnamed administration officials in the media anymore, and that if he did, there would be consequences, said a senior administration official who asked that his name not be used.
"

Army Probes Soldier Suicides

Army probes soldier suicides
By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY
Alarmed by the number of suicides among soldiers in Iraq, the Army has asked a team of doctors to determine whether the stress of combat and long deployments is contributing to the deaths.

"The number of suicides has caused the Army to be concerned," said Lt. Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, a psychiatrist at the Army's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. Ritchie is helping to investigate the suicides in Iraq. "Is there something different going on in Iraq that we really need to pay attention to?"

In the past seven months, at least 11 soldiers and three Marines have committed suicide in Iraq, military officials say. That is an annual rate of 17 per 100,000. The Navy also is investigating one possible suicide. And about a dozen other Army deaths are under investigation and could include suicides.

The numbers suggest the rate in Iraq is above normal. Last year, the military services reported 8 to 9 suicides per 100,000 people. The Army rate is usually higher, 10 to 13 per 100,000. That mirrors the rate for the same age group in the general population.

Morehere.

On Arnold

From the Onion:

"'Who would have thought that a bad Austrian artist who's obsessed with the human physical ideal could assemble such a rabid political following?'"

What We're Fighting For

From Eschaton:: "On a day when two U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq, President Bush used a Columbus Day speech Monday to pay tribute to soldiers who have died in that war and others.
'That's what's happening today: People are willing to sacrifice for the country they love,' Bush said at the White House. 'They remember the lessons of September 11th, 2001, and so do I.'
Bush then proceeded to play golf.
"

From Hessiod via xoverboard:

"According to the Bush administration, we should just ignore all of the bombings, sabotage and killings going on in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.

We are building schools, restoring infrastructure, cleaning up the streets, etc.

What if, on Septemebr 11, 2001...someone had told us:

'Hey...things are not so bad in the United States. You have the world's largest economy. The most powerful military in the world. A thriving Democrcy, clean water, a good health system. Stop focusing on one TINY part of the United States [The New York/Washington D.C./Pennsylvania triangle], where a measly 3000 people were killed...and tens of billions of dollars in destruction was caused... by terrorist attacks using hijacked commercial aircraft.'
What would have been the reaction of the Bush administration? What would have been YOUR reaction?

The next time some dimwit argues that things are great in Iraq, and we focus too much on the negative...remind them of 9/11. Ask them if THEY are too focused on the 'negative' when they wax poetical and get maundlin about that event.

Then tell them to shut the hell up."