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I'm not saying they are completely responsible, but I do fault them for doing a shitty job at fixing the problem (if that is even what they are trying to do).

The plain result that these terror statistics tell us is that this administration has absolutely no compunction about telling outrageous lies to support their agenda. Anything they put out at this point is probably regarded throughout the world with as much respect as should be given to Klenke's completely made-up glaucoma statistic.

Saddam had greater ability to control terrorists within Iraq than we have now. I think it's obvious that Saddam enjoyed his power, and he must have known that we would invade and dethrone him the minute any terrorist attack on the USA was linked to him. From what I've read I think Saddam was much more interested in keeping his position than he was in facilitating a jihad on the US for religious or other reasons. But you're right Klenke, we'll never know with certainty. Just like we'll never know whether or not Sadam would have just peacably given himself up once he turned 80 and promoted a wonderful utopian democracy.

Ooops sorry, thought we were talking about Iraq. Guess I better read the thread title . My belief is that we can obviously blame Bush for the Iraq war, and if that ends poorly (produces weak state that can't even control the people within its own borders), then Iraq will be a new sanctuary for international terrorists a la Afghanistan. Unless we get Iraq quite a bit more tidy than it seems to want to be, we could be blaming Bush for increasing the terrorist threat for a long time to come. There's also the deal about whether our agressive takeout of Iraq will prove a deterent to other nations harboring terrorists. At the present, with our hands quite full of twin quagmires, I don't think too many nation states are cowering in their boots over what we might do to them if they get uppity. I'm sure the Wolfowitz plan was to get everybody scared of the big mean USA who invades whomever they want, but right now we've got Iran seizing a British ship, N Korea talking tough, Pakistan too scared of their own populace to let us openly use our forces within their borders, and OPEC getting uppity. Not to mention Spain, France, (S Korea, G Britain soon?), and half our own populace pissed off at anything the lying liars choose to bungle into. I don't know if we're losing the war on terror, but I do believe almost anyone could be doing a better job winning it than the BushCo has done and is currently doing. Face it, this Iraq war is really tieing us down in terms of being able to effectively fight international terrorism. The war is Bush's fault. They lied like hell to get us into it. Maybe they really thought it was for our own good, that it was going to help us versus terrorism, but the plan just don't seem to be working. At present we've got a giant burden on our back and a government front with a huge credibility problem (i.e. NO negotiating base). I guess if you think that state-sponsored torture without any transparent due process will help tkeep us safe against terrorism; then, well you might say the Bush administration scores some points there. Except for the fact that it sort of blew up in their faces? They've now shot our wad in that respect because they weren't even smart enough to keep it more controlled. If they would have kept the torture shenanigans limited to the covert special ops guys versus real high value detainees (as in Afghanistan), we the public, and most of the damn world would still be unawares, and the forces of good could still be using every resource to obtain important information. But anyway, thanks to mismanagement, looks like our hands are now tied on there too. I think Bushco just keeps squandering our ammunition. Time to reload with a new administration.

I think we can squarely give blame/credit for the Iraq War on Bush, no matter how long it lasts.

Truly a 5 star report Nice pic too!

If you are at that dangerous level of recently graduated newbie (i.e. 2-5 years climbing experience), then be extra careful. Climbers at this stage can tend to get a little cocky and cut corners, but often they don't yet know what they don't know.

I could watch that all day!

Climb: Mt. Stuart-West Ridge Date of Climb: 6/21/2004 Trip Report: Climbed the West Ridge yesterday. I know trip reports without any pictures (especially solo trips lacking the colorful character interplay) are usually , so I will try to fill this with any helpful beta and conditions info that I can. Driving up the Teanaway River Road near dawn I spotted (i.e. almost ran down) one elk and several deer. Drive safe! Snow coverage is almost complete once over Ingalls Pass to past Ingalls Lake. They have some new BIG ORANGE signs up at the pass specifically excluding snowmobiles. One of the signs was attached to a nice size tree laying on top of the snow in headlight basin that had been recently sawed down. (Angry snowmobilers ?!) I traversed the lake on the West side (which I know is preferable to the other side) then stayed on top of the ridge all the way to Stuart Pass which was way better than dropping down. It is not difficult, does not require much elevation gain, and is very scenic. From the pass, follow trail up the spine to the base of the West Ridge (at one point it traverses low on the right, do this). You can climb directly up the ridge from the spine. No need to traverse down and into one of the couloirs, unless you like snow better than rock. You can/will traverse over into the couloirs up higher (follow the path least licheny). There's still snow in various places (couloirs) that is mostly unavoidable, but it was very soft yesterday. I had an axe. Some spots I broke it out other places I didn't. I was happy I brought it. Instead of heading to the notch above Long John Tower I headed up the spine of the ridge. This seems preferable. That LJ Tower way looks a little difficult, and appeared to deal with much more snow to boot. There's a sketchy little ledge that lets you traverse to the right under the S Face of the West Horn, then it's a bit of downramp to the West Ridge Couloir then up to the notch. Traversing on little ledges above the main one saved me a good deal of elevation loss. The rest of the way is pretty straightforward and well-documented. There's still snowpatches on the North side of the ridge that makes the parts where you go over there a little sketchy (snow-covered ledges with major exposure). Descended the Ulrich's Couloir. Quite steep but the snow was quite soft. A couple of scary holes to stay well clear of. Near the bottom I cut onto cliffy scrub to the West then down through flowery meadows. Wildlife: One (1) Elk. Many deer. Cows. Lots of tweety birds (one that appeared to be eating bugs off the snow up by the summit). Lots of ladybugs (summit), many chipmunks...errr..snaffles, and three marmots. Oh, and lot's of purty flowers. And one more thing, the bugs are starting to come out . Gear Notes: lightweight ice-axe, approach-type boots (NIKE CINDER CONES!)

Alright!!! Nice job. Checked out the photos in the gallery too. They don't seem to be linking up in this TR for me though.

The hike that fits your bill is the Dutch Miller Gap trail. Drive your car up to the very end of the MF road and keep walking (up the road if your car doesn't make it all the way, and further). Beautiful giant valley, and soon you will underneath Bears Breast Mountain, Summit Chief group, Mt. Hinman (Mt. Hinman is a hike-up peak that your friends would probably be loving you for once they made it up there). One good place to camp is Williams Lake. Great area. Last year to be able to walk in there without 7 extra road miles tacked to your journey. (All this great advice is optimized by camping up near the gap, but you could have a good day hike up there. I've bagged Little Big Chief car to car in a non-marathon day.)

The RED line looks like it matches up more with Scott's photo. Did you mix your left and right's up Off? Why not just use the colors in your description, so much less likely to get mixed up.

No. Officially you have to pay to park in the lot. I have noticed a lot of people park out in the nearby neighborhoods and hoof it over there, because they don't want to have to worry about getting a ticket. Today they won't have to.

I love how this headline battle is going on. Headlines: "9/11 commission says no ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda". Of course, Bushco can't let that go so responds next day with absolutely no justification (besides arguing semantics), "Bushco says "Yes there was!!" ". It'll do it's job for the large percentage of people who get no further than the headline.

Is Crackbolter's on Stuart? And I'm guessing Gnibmilc's is Burgundy Spire, but my recollection of that spot would have the photo reversed also.

Just a heads-up that parking enforcement are taking classes or some such today, so campus-wide no enforcement, AKA free parking. Might be a good day to take your lunch break at The Rock!

Grand Wall could be 10c A0

Y'know, I was just thinking this very same thing today. I was walking out to the bus this morning, and I come across this big fresh pile of dogshit. And that's sort of unusual nowadays with all those hapless dogowners walking around with the little plastic bag flags flying from their pockets to announce that their dog is not gonna leave it's shit in your neighborhood. Well anyway, I'm looking at this big pile of fresh stinky shit, and I think, "Spray blows!"

This thread is the best You should just tape up for all your bolted crack sport climbs.

Lightning Crack?

Yep! and Yep! I got my grades from the white guide (9), the next one (10a), and Eric Hirst's Leavenworth Mini-Guide! (9++ weird). So what's Urban Nomads in the new book? 10d?

Sheesh, doesn't anybody here besides PMS climb? Here's one that's close by. A favorite of AlpineK.

Nope. In the Icicle.

Nope. Only 5.9+ Oops, possibly misleading clue. 9 in one version, 10a in another, not sure about the rest