The LuLac Edition #621, Oct. 30th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: TWO OF MY HEROES FROM THE 1964 PHILLIES AT THE 20TH YEAR REUNION AT THE VET, THE BLOG EDITOR WITH THE LATE CHRIS SHORT AND THE BLOG EDITOR WITH ART MAHAFFEY.

YEAH PHILLIES!!!

Congrats to the Phillies fans out there. I was once a die hard Phillie fan. 10 years old, a kid loving baseball, my team was the 1964 Phillies. They had a few games to win the 1964 pennant but lost 10 in a row. After that, I stuck with my Indians knowing they’d rarely disappoint. (It’s comforting to know where you stand on Memorial Day of any given baseball season. After ’64, I became a Phillies observer. Rooting but holding my breath. 1980 was great, ’83 was good but not a ring. ’93 was wonderful except for that last pitch by Mitch Williams. It was good to be just an observer. When the Red Barons populated Lackawanna county Stadium, it was cool to see the Phils stars of tomorrow. The Francona and Bowa yars gave way to the old Indians manager Charlie Manuel. Dissed by the media and front office alike (they hired a bunch of managers in waiting while firing his coaching staff) Manuel held a steady rein on the stars we saw in Scranton. When the rains came n Monday, I thought, “uh oh, Phillies luck”. But they prevailed last night and won their second World Series in club history. I was happy for the rue Phillie fan who bleeds Phillie red. And wish I wasn’t just “an observer”.

ELECTION TOP 40

IRAQ #2

McCAIN

John McCain believes it is strategically and morally essential for the United States to support the Government of Iraq to become capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people. He strongly disagrees with those who advocate withdrawing American troops before that has occurred.It would be a grave mistake to leave before Al Qaeda in Iraq is defeated and before a competent, trained, and capable Iraqi security force is in place and operating effectively. We must help the Government of Iraq battle those who provoke sectarian tensions and promote a civil war that could destabilize the Middle East. Iraq must not become a failed state, a haven for terrorists, or a pawn of Iran. These likely consequences of America's failure in Iraq almost certainly would either require us to return or draw us into a wider and far costlier war.The best way to secure long-term peace and security is to establish a stable, prosperous, and democratic state in Iraq that poses no threat to its neighbors and contributes to the defeat of terrorists. When Iraqi forces can safeguard their own country, American troops can return home.

OBAMA

Inadequate Security and Political Progress in Iraq: Since the surge began, more than 1,000 American troops have died, and despite the improved security situation, the Iraqi government has not stepped forward to lead the Iraqi people and to reach the genuine political accommodation that was the stated purpose of the surge. Our troops have heroically helped reduce civilian casualties in Iraq to early 2006 levels. This is a testament to our military’s hard work, improved counterinsurgency tactics, and enormous sacrifice by our troops and military families. It is also a consequence of the decision of many Sunnis to turn against al Qaeda in Iraq, and a lull in Shia militia activity. But the absence of genuine political accommodation in Iraq is a direct result of President Bush’s failure to hold the Iraqi government accountable.
Strains on the Military: More than 1.75 million servicemen and women have served in Iraq or Afghanistan; more than 620,000 troops have completed multiple deployments. Military members have endured multiple deployments taxing both them and their families. Additionally, military equipment is wearing out at nine times the normal rate after years of constant use in Iraq’s harsh environment. As Army Chief of Staff General George Casey said in March, “Today’s Army is out of balance. The current demand for our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan exceeds the sustainable supply and limits our ability to provide ready forces for other contingencies.”
Resurgent Al Qaeda in Afghanistan: The decision to invade Iraq diverted resources from the war in Afghanistan, making it harder for us to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden and others involved in the 9/11 attacks. Nearly seven years later, the Taliban has reemerged in southern Afghanistan while Al Qaeda has used the space provided by the Iraq war to regroup, train and plan for another attack on the United States. 2007 was the most violent year in Afghanistan since the invasion in 2001. The scale of our deployments in Iraq continues to set back our ability to finish the fight in Afghanistan, producing unacceptable strategic risks.
A New Strategy Needed: The Iraq war has lasted longer than World War I, World War II, and the Civil War. More than 4,000 Americans have died. More than 60,000 have been injured and wounded. The United States may spend $2.7 trillion on this war and its aftermath, yet we are less safe around the globe and more divided at home. With determined ingenuity and at great personal cost, American troops have found the right tactics to contain the violence in Iraq, but we still have the wrong strategy to press Iraqis to take responsibility at home, and restore America’s security and standing in the world.