Friday, January 25, 2008

Bartleby al-Scrivener

WASHINGTON — With its international mandate in Iraq set to expire in 11 months, the Bush administration will insist that the government in Baghdad give the United States broad authority to conduct combat operations and guarantee civilian contractors specific legal protections from Iraqi law, according to administration and military officials.

This emerging American negotiating position faces a potential buzz saw of opposition from Iraq, with its fragmented Parliament, weak central government and deep sensitivities about being seen as a dependent state, according to these officials.

-The Times
I'm not exactly a master carpenter, but I've done some remodeling and fabricated some big set pieces in my time, and I know my way around a circular saw. So you will please pardon my inability to understand how a "fragmented parliament [and] weak central government" constitute a "buzz saw of opposition" . . . or, check: a potential buzz saw of opposition.

If Iraq is a weak, divided, un-self-governing state, which it is, then its hard to see how the Iraqi government represents an impediment to our continued occupation. Dear New York Times: It's a fait accompli. The Iraqis can say whatever they want. They can order us to leave. Thank you, but we'd rather not.

6 comments:

Prof. George Edward Challenger said...

See the buzzsaw,

Be the buzzsaw.

There in lies your potential.

Glad I could help.

Prof.

mistah charley, ph.d. said...

A lot of people have never used a buzzsaw (my grandpap had one in his cellar, but that was way back in the 20th century), and so the literal attributes which contribute to conveying the metaphorical meaning could be fuzzy to them.

As for me, I never say "buzzsaw" - I prefer

chain saw
train wreck
steamroller
long-playing record

Leonard said...

Dude, "opposition" and "impediment" are two very different things. Like, you know, how I "oppose" the state? Fat load of good that does.

mikee said...

I'm still amazed that the story arc of the Iraq adventure continues as it does.
Can't someone please tell Times, CNN, Fox, etal, that the raison d'etre of all this was because OBL told us to get out of Saudi. Saudi said, ya better go. Bush, Cheney, Rummy looked next door and saw lots of disgruntled citizenry, a wobbly dictator, vast open space, and black gold.

A veritable 51st state WITH oil and none of them damn polar bears, seabirds or moose like in ANWR.

We ain't going anywhere. We want a beachhead, we spent lives and treasure to get it, fait accompli indeed (tant pis, libs.)

Should I tell MoveOn/Kos/Digby or do you think they already know??

SteveB said...

The Iraqis can say whatever they want. They can order us to leave. Thank you, but we'd rather not.

Suppose the Iraqis continue to "speak" to us through the medium of improvised explosive devices? Would that be persuasive?

The US won't be be able to keep its "beachhead" in Iraq. The opposition is too great, and weapons too available for that.

mikee said...

Umm SteveB, have you seen this
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070124&articleId=4579

Can you tell I don't know how to hypertext that?
Anyway, 5,500 employees, almost a billion bucks, size of vatican city. We ain't going no where.
That's just he embassy, since I can't hypertext, I won't also post info on the new bases (that plural.)
For F's sake, we have a base in CUBA! Our sworn enemy, WTF! If we can keep that up, we sure as hell can put up with a little sand and IEDs.