Comments on: Criticizing the ‘’the f—ing stupidest guy on the face of the earth’’ http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/ Illinois, From Misery Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:34:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Buck Turgidson http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8557 Buck Turgidson Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:40:24 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8557 OK, the guy who invokes our "adult-ness" here takes me to task for improper word choice. He actually "wrote" the memo. As such, the fact that he didn't sign it is something of an academic argument, now isn't it? OK, the guy who invokes our “adult-ness” here takes me to task for improper word choice.

He actually “wrote” the memo. As such, the fact that he didn’t sign it is something of an academic argument, now isn’t it?

]]> By: ArchPundit http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8556 ArchPundit Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:55:13 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8556 He defended the memo in the Washington Post for goodness sakes: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46898-2004Aug6.html And Greg, it's a really stupid idea even in the concept of throwing ideas out there. I do talk to folks around DC and this was a running gag in that very community. I appreciate he might be a nice guy, but I have many friends I wouldn't put in charge of my 4 year olds for 10 minutes. And some of them are even brilliant in some sense. He defended the memo in the Washington Post for goodness sakes:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46898-2004Aug6.html

And Greg, it’s a really stupid idea even in the concept of throwing ideas out there. I do talk to folks around DC and this was a running gag in that very community. I appreciate he might be a nice guy, but I have many friends I wouldn’t put in charge of my 4 year olds for 10 minutes. And some of them are even brilliant in some sense.

]]> By: Ruffian http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8555 Ruffian Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:20:03 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8555 Buck -- how could Feith "sign off" on an unsigned memo? Buck — how could Feith “sign off” on an unsigned memo?

]]> By: Greg http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8554 Greg Thu, 15 Feb 2007 03:41:22 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8554 I've been hesitant to weigh in because I worked for Frank and know Doug -- who was always very kind to me, even when he didn't have to be. That says something in DC and in the national security community. Like Frank, the Doug is brilliant. You look at people like Halperin, and Perry as a conservative and say, these guys are idiots. Not for their intellect but for their conclusions. I can understand saying the same thing about Doug. That's the way to approach Doug. I think he is a good strategist but a poor small "p" politician. Other friends who were mentored by Gaffney thought Doug was a poor fit. But the stupidest guy in the Pentagon. please. We should keep that in mind. And oh...personality wise, there is no possible way that Gen. Franks and Doug would get along... As far as reports that Feith signed off on...if you have ever tried to circulate a triple S (staff summary sheet) through the Pentagon you would know that whatever he signed off on was signed off on multiple times by civilian, political and military staff. We sit here in the blogosphere and criticize these principles as if they are sitting there making decisions without the input of sometimes hundreds of people and usually well into the tens. As if things weren't vetted. These things are and staff officers and policymakers learn stuff from all of them. Even the ones that are rejected. And an IG criticizing someone for being "inappropriate" is absurd. I mean, there was a guy being "political." I’ve been hesitant to weigh in because I worked for Frank and know Doug — who was always very kind to me, even when he didn’t have to be. That says something in DC and in the national security community.

Like Frank, the Doug is brilliant. You look at people like Halperin, and Perry as a conservative and say, these guys are idiots. Not for their intellect but for their conclusions. I can understand saying the same thing about Doug. That’s the way to approach Doug. I think he is a good strategist but a poor small “p” politician. Other friends who were mentored by Gaffney thought Doug was a poor fit. But the stupidest guy in the Pentagon. please. We should keep that in mind.

And oh…personality wise, there is no possible way that Gen. Franks and Doug would get along…

As far as reports that Feith signed off on…if you have ever tried to circulate a triple S (staff summary sheet) through the Pentagon you would know that whatever he signed off on was signed off on multiple times by civilian, political and military staff.

We sit here in the blogosphere and criticize these principles as if they are sitting there making decisions without the input of sometimes hundreds of people and usually well into the tens. As if things weren’t vetted. These things are and staff officers and policymakers learn stuff from all of them. Even the ones that are rejected.

And an IG criticizing someone for being “inappropriate” is absurd. I mean, there was a guy being “political.”

]]> By: Buck Turgidson http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8553 Buck Turgidson Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:00:58 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8553 Ruf, I suspect your point is that the ideas were not original to Feith, but rather to Maloof and Wurmser, who conceived of them. But Feith commissioned the two, and he signed off on the report. Therefore, he's responsible for the idea. He owns it. If he disagreed, he might have reasoned, "Thanks fellas, but these are patently absurd ideas. The American People have been attacked by an enemy that is in Afghanistan. And while there aren't a lot of good, high-profile targets to get us nice headlines there, we owe it to the dead and the living to attack those responsible, and not anyone in Paraguay -or in Iraq...Paul, I'm talking to you..." But he didn't. Ruf,

I suspect your point is that the ideas were not original to Feith, but rather to Maloof and Wurmser, who conceived of them.

But Feith commissioned the two, and he signed off on the report. Therefore, he’s responsible for the idea. He owns it. If he disagreed, he might have reasoned, “Thanks fellas, but these are patently absurd ideas. The American People have been attacked by an enemy that is in Afghanistan. And while there aren’t a lot of good, high-profile targets to get us nice headlines there, we owe it to the dead and the living to attack those responsible, and not anyone in Paraguay -or in Iraq…Paul, I’m talking to you…”

But he didn’t.

]]> By: ArchPundit http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8552 ArchPundit Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:54:53 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8552 Three other people have read the whole thing and disagree with you. One can only assume you are a troll if you cannot actually use the English language to explain what we are getting wrong. Three other people have read the whole thing and disagree with you. One can only assume you are a troll if you cannot actually use the English language to explain what we are getting wrong.

]]> By: Ruffian http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8551 Ruffian Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:30:17 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8551 We're all adults here. I feel confident that if you all read the full story and compare it with the pull-quote, you'll quickly find the error. It's not that hard. We’re all adults here. I feel confident that if you all read the full story and compare it with the pull-quote, you’ll quickly find the error. It’s not that hard.

]]> By: ArchPundit http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8550 ArchPundit Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:00:32 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8550 Josh Marshall suggested blowing up one of our own ships or bombing Portugal. Frankly, attacking Iraq made as much sense. Josh Marshall suggested blowing up one of our own ships or bombing Portugal.

Frankly, attacking Iraq made as much sense.

]]> By: So-Called "Austin Mayor" http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8549 So-Called "Austin Mayor" Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:56:53 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8549 If Feith really wanted to surprise the terrorists with unexpected targets I have one word for him: Naperville. If Feith really wanted to surprise the terrorists with unexpected targets I have one word for him: Naperville.

]]> By: Buck Turgidson http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8548 Buck Turgidson Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:18:24 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8548 Ruffian, You're kidding, right? Should I break down the directly quoted paragraph above for you: 1) A senior Pentagon official thinks there are no good targets in Afghanistan. 2) Said official writes a report suggesting attacks on South America or Southeast Asia. 3) Said official is believed to be Doug Feith. Apparently reading comprehension IS that difficult. Ruffian,

You’re kidding, right? Should I break down the directly quoted paragraph above for you:

1) A senior Pentagon official thinks there are no good targets in Afghanistan.
2) Said official writes a report suggesting attacks on South America or Southeast Asia.
3) Said official is believed to be Doug Feith.

Apparently reading comprehension IS that difficult.

]]> By: ArchPundit http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8547 ArchPundit Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:10:27 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8547 What was the mistake? Perhaps you can explain it because nothing I've written in inconsistent with what Feith defended in the Washington Post. What was the mistake? Perhaps you can explain it because nothing I’ve written in inconsistent with what Feith defended in the Washington Post.

]]> By: Ruffian http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-8546 Ruffian Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:00:32 +0000 http://69.89.31.63/~archpund/2007/02/14/criticizing-the-the-f-ing-stupidest-guy-on-the-face-of-the-earth/#comment-8546 How come every time (and granted it's been awhile since I've graced the website) I take the time to read the full article from which your pull-quotes come, I find the pull-quote completely misrepresents the angle of the article. Read the full article here to see where your mistake was made vis-a-vis Feith's "contribution" to the "Attack South America Plan." Sheesh, reading comprehension is not that difficult. How come every time (and granted it’s been awhile since I’ve graced the website) I take the time to read the full article from which your pull-quotes come, I find the pull-quote completely misrepresents the angle of the article.

Read the full article here to see where your mistake was made vis-a-vis Feith’s “contribution” to the “Attack South America Plan.”

Sheesh, reading comprehension is not that difficult.

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