This is a Fustercluck. Barack owns it.
David On Jul 7, 2014, at 1:28 PM, Dr. Ernie Prabhakar <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Billy, > > On Jul 7, 2014, at 6:05 AM, BILROJ via Centroids: The Center of the Radical > Centrist Community <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Maliki ascendant >> By the closing months of 2008, successfully negotiating the terms for >> America's continued commitment to Iraq became a top White House imperative. >> But desperation to seal a deal before Bush left office, along with the >> collapse of the world economy, weakened our hand. >> >> In an ascendant position, Maliki and his aides demanded everything in >> exchange for virtually nothing. They cajoled the United States into a bad >> deal that granted Iraq continued support while giving America little more >> than the privilege of pouring more resources into a bottomless pit. In >> retrospect, I imagine the sight of American officials pleading with him only >> fed Maliki's ego further. After organizing Bush's final trip to Iraq -- >> where he was attacked with a pair of shoes at Maliki's news conference >> celebrating the signing of the bilateral agreements -- I left Baghdad with >> Crocker on Feb. 13, 2009. After more than 2,000 days of service, I was ill, >> depleted physically and mentally, but hopeful that America's enormous >> sacrifices might have produced a positive outcome. >> >> > > Brilliant (if heartbreaking) analysis. > > This is a harsh truth we've learned (but still rarely apply) in software. > You can optimize for quality, features, or schedule. Pick one. America > chose schedule. And we're paying the price. > > But before we judge to harshly, it is worth considering the cost of the > alternative. It would require us (and our leaders to): > > a) Clearly articulate the features we care about > > b) Make open-ended commitments of time and money in order to ensure quality > > and perhaps more importantly. > > c) Build a base of competence, integrity, and transparency so that people > actually trust us to follow through > > It is easy to harp on (a) and (b). But the real tragedy is that pretty much > NOBODY in American politics today seems to be working on (c). Given that, > tragedy seems more or less inevitable. > > And continual. :'-( > > -- Ernie P. > > > -- > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org > > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
