Mark Jaquith on November 28, 2007 at 5:15 PM

If you think our military presence overseas amounts to an empire, you really really really really really need to a) study up on what our military actually does overseas and b) read up on what empires actually did in history. Seriously.

Bryan on November 28, 2007 at 5:37 PM

It’s no accident that neither the Left nor the Ronulans could survive without massive ignorance. Both common sense and basic diplomacy would tend to encourage states to work out agreements over how they can and can’t do business together. But apparently it’s much easier to scream “Empire!” (shrilly) than to actually educate oneself.

You know it’d be nice at the end of the year for the White House to make the Press corps run a gauntlet of Army and Marines armed with pugil sticks. Those who make it the furthest get to sit the closest next year.

Iblis on November 28, 2007 at 5:31 PM

Heh. I always loved pugil sticks. Also the Bayonet Assault Course.

“No Idiot Left Behind”

“No Reporter Left Behind”?

They also need to have their temperature taken to make sure they are an active life form somewhat superior to a potted plant.

The nation’s press conferences should not be proving grounds for the MSM’s “No Idiot Left Behind” program!!!

Mark Jaquith on November 28, 2007 at 5:15 PM

If you think our military presence overseas amounts to an empire, you really really really really really need to a) study up on what our military actually does overseas and b) read up on what empires actually did in history. Seriously.

Video of that nitwit should be on Fox News tonight.

Yummmi.

$50 says theyre under 35 and very likely a J-school superstar with social and possibly familial ties to
Beltway-NYC Demos.

There are about a hundred countries around the world with which we have bilateral defense or security cooperation agreements.

I don’t care how you feel about America’s military empire… that’s just a staggering fact.

It wasn’t so long ago, maybe 2004 or 5 when Korea had become a hot topic, particularly because we were planning both a move there and a reduction that the update 5-Year White Paper SOFA was rather big in the news. I think Japan’s was, or some important aspect of it, too, a little later, but I didn’t look at that much at the time. (I think it had to do with Japan taking on becoming/integrating as our main logistics/supply/transport partner.)

This moron didn’t do much prep for the gaggle and it’s likely he never does.

I thought that the Washington Press was supposed to be the “A” team… the ones who dissect what politicians say, and knowledgably report it to us.

That they don’t know somthing as easy as this… basic history… is a real indictment of the dumbing down of the MSM.

For these idiots, history began with the Bush Administration, so they have no clue about historical context.

For them, the mantra is “In the beginning, George Bush destroyed the heavens and the earth…”

CP on November 28, 2007 at 4:30 PM

Sadly this is the truth…….

For them, the mantra is “In the beginning, George Bush destroyed the heavens and the earth…”

press gaggle

What a fitting name for it.

I think that I will contact a divorce lawyer.

rivlax on November 28, 2007 at 4:17 PM

Not a brat, but I was in the AF stationed in Japan during much of the 1990s.

Which suits said reporters just fine….

By the way, the SOFA we had with Germany was truly ridiculous. It even governed who could be hired in the PXs and BXs all over the country. The crazy thing was, only Germans were allowed to work there. No college students home from the summer. No G.I.s needing a second job. And all this while they were bugging us about the balance of payments and urging us to send our money back home rather than spend it in Germany.

Crazy.