Ace:

Captain's Quarters posted on this yesterday here:

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004000.php#trackbacks

Captain Ed posted, and has some interesting comments on the topic.

Anyway, here are my thoughts on this subject:

This kind of reminds me of a theory I have when encountering new people who tell you something that seems very intimate considering you've just met them.

When you stumble upon someone you've never met, and in casual conversation they mention "I am a faithful spouse, and never sleep around," my radar goes up, and the first question I ask myself is, "Why are you telling me this?" Then, I think to myself, "You migh be unfaithful, otherwise, you wouldn't have brought it up in the first place."

"I'm not Saddam Hussein" translates to "I'm just like Saddam Huessein."

I know this is a self-sealing argument, yet I'm not arguing, just speculating; but, this very simple strategy actually works to some degree.

Think about a typical work enviornment. If you have someone in your office that is constantly saying something about themselves, over and over again, like "I'm very smart, I'm a member of MENSA," some people start to think that person is really smart.

A tangental strategy to this is when someone criticizes someone else to deflect attention away from their own problems. People do this quite often, and it also works to good effect.

Another trick is the magician that says "Never let me hold this ring of yours," while they're holding that ring of yours. People will swear that the magician never held their ring.

Assad and Gaddafi are holding onto threads, and the media are turning those threads into ropes. They are empowering the dictators. If they are going to report the news with a spin, wouldn't it be nice to see a sentence preceding the quote from Assad like:

In words that seem to reflect his tenuous hold on power, Assad said "Please send this message: I am not Saddam Hussein. I want to cooperate."

Just a thought or four.

Best regards

Absolutely! It's like when somebody says "you know, it's not about the money" - Watch Out - It's about the money!

As for the "jaw dropper" Ace notes from the Independent - it just shows how independent from reality they really are - absolutely frickin' astounding!

Every single time I see a picture of this guy (post Iraq vote) he looks like he just swallowed a live toad. He strikes me as being between Iraq and some hard liners in his own government. Considering that the usual Baathist power transfer is accomplished with machine guns over the fallen bodies of the previous administration - I'd say he's got quit a bit to worry about. Having the 101st airborne more or less on his doorstep probably doesn't help him sleep much either.

The way I see it he's got two options; 1) cave to the US, and his own people kill him or 2) Defy the US and start playing musical hotels (Like Sadaam did before and during the war to try and stay one step ahead of our smart bombs.)

Basically - it would suck to be him right now.

C'mon, Ace. You could at least post a link to the "chicks with nice racks" for those who haven't been following Insty's coverage of the Lebanese babe protestor phenomenon. But no, the only pic you posted was of the square-headed, lopsidedly-mustached Bashar Assad.

Somewhere, Kim Richards is sobbing her eyes out about the marginalization of her hot, brave Arab sisters. Shame on you for not linking to these hot, brave, busty women.

Shame. On. You.

This is the loony left's latest re-writing of history: *Bush was right--that Uday would depose Saddam--that Al-Sistani would stage elections--that Kofi would run the elections so well that 8 million would show up just for him--that France would bring peace to Lebanon, Syria, and the entire Middle East.*
Yep, Bush was right--that the UN and Clinton would save everyone from the Tsunami--b/c cowboy GWB has his hands full targeting Italian Communists, Venezuelan dictators, and Congressional democrats.

I mean, seriously, how could you not post a link about how these two brave women are taking a stand for Lebanese hotness and democracy?

Note to Bashar:

Either grow that thing or shave it. You look like an idiot.

Not coincidentally, "Bashar al-Assad," when translated into the dialect of the Bedouin Rwala Tribe of Western Syria/Eastern Jordan, means "Ridin' the Cotton Pony." Big Fat Pussy, indeed!

Come on now, the guy was raised to be an optician. He came to power through his tyrant father, not by his own means.
And just look at that weak little chin.

I believe him when he says he's not Saddam. I wouldn't be surprised if more of Saddam's old friends get turned over.
And there are tantalizing rumors of items buried in the Bakaa valley that would make the liberal Crow Eating Festival last for years and years.

Damn man, Sign me up for some protest marches these chicks are smoke 'n HOT.

It will be a shift, nothing converts a spineless weasel to a cause like some chick throwing the ............

Berkely is in for some trobule.

Dang! That guy looks like the stick up his @$$ has a stick up its @$$....

...only dogs can hear it....

yikes!