Metrics and the bad guys--

[Skidmore]

DOD Undersecretary Rodman briefing whoever wants to listen to the DOD lies and obfuscation. These guys have a proclivity for boiling major problems down to simplistic black and white categories and reducing solutions to catchy jargon. The "bad guys" don't have metrics and we like our metrics is one of his messages. Our metrics are a solution, not really just a system of measurement. We measure because it is the only thing we have control over there. Our measurements are meaningless because they are not tied to real strategies. And the bad guys just don't understand how to play by our rules and measure up to our metrics. That is bad and not good. They are against us and we will fight the bad guys with the Iraqi's help. We don't know who the bad guys are today but they are clearly not Iraqis. Iraqi security forces are something we measure. How many are there today? 71,000 sounds about right. How do we measure how these troops will be able to actually fight? Our metric is if they can fight on their own--planning, executing, and fighting, even if we are helping them do all three--that's from Lt. Gen. Sharp. He's sharp, you know. We are giving a good report--positive, you know.

I think I need a shot of bourbon in my morning coffee after this crap. It's just way to early for this.

[wli]

1. pure propaganda

The only "insurgents" are those enraged by the occupation, their families being "disappeared" into Abu Ghraib, etc. All they would have had to do for a smooth ride is not committing war crimes and other forms of basic human decency.

[papau]

2. fight on their own without help was about 3000 - did not see that in any

headline, however.