Old Fogey's Quotes for Sunday

"In the early days of the insurgency, some U.S. commanders appeared oblivious to the possibility that excessive force might produce a backlash. They counted on the iron fist to create an atmosphere conducive to good behavior. The idea was not to distinguish between 'good' and 'bad' Iraqis, but to induce compliance through intimidation."
Andrew J. Bacevich, in WaPo editorial
What's an Iraqi Life Worth?

"He's followed the Lone Star. I'll follow the North Star."
Amy Klobuchar, Democratic candidate for the Senate in Minnesota, regarding her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mark Kennedy
An Uphill Opportunity For the GOP

"Fine, Sergeant, you do what you have to do; I am going back to bed."
The physician on call at Abu Ghraib in response to a medic, Sgt. Theresa Adams, who reminded him of the Geneva Conventions, when he refused to treat a prisoner who had been abused
Medical Oaths Betrayed

"But the legal victories for religious conservatives could be a political burden: It’s difficult to campaign against activist judges if the activist judges have done what you want."
Dana Milbank in the WaPo concerning the rulings against gay marriage
The Zeitgeist Checklist

"An operation that kills five insurgents is counterproductive if the collateral damage or the creation of blood feuds leads to the recruitment of fifty more."
US Army's new field manual
Fighting Insurgents, By the Book

"If these allegations are true, they may represent a breach of responsibility by the Administration, a violation of law and . . . a direct affront to me and the Members of this committee."
Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) in a letter to Bush, regarding "alleged Intelligence Community activities" not outlined to committee members in classified briefings.
Bush Pressed on Reporting Domestic Surveillance

"Democrats and many independent budget analysts note that overall revenues have barely climbed back to the levels reached in 2000, and that the government has borrowed trillions of dollars against Social Security surpluses just as the first of the nation's baby boomers are nearing retirement."
Edmund L. Andrews in NYT article about increased tax revenues hailed by Republicans to prove supply-side economics works
Surprising Jump in Tax Revenues Is Curbing Deficit

"It makes me worry if the Pentagon can't do its accounting well enough to find money for its electric bills. It just boggles my mind a little bit."
Michael O'Hanlon, a military analyst regarding the diversion of money for the war in Iraq that has helped create a $530 million shortfall for Army posts at home and abroad
Army, Taxed by War Costs, Struggles to Pay Bills at Home