What in the Hell is a 'Catostrophic Success'

Where does it say "catastrophic success"?

 

I heard that on 740 this morning and did a double take. I'm glad someone else heard it, I thought I was going crazy.

 

"being so successful so fast that an enemy that should have surrendered or been done in escaped and lived to fight another day."

 

Sort of like a compassionate conservative.

 

Our battle over Najaf.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0830/p04s01-woiq.html


Standoff bolstered Sadr's support

Interviews with Iraqi Shiite clerics reveal that moderates are increasingly supporting Sadr's anti-US campaign.

By Scott Baldauf | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

BAGHDAD – Six months ago, Sheikh Jawad al-Khalasi was what most would consider an Iraqi Shiite moderate. Critical of the militant ideas of fellow Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Mr. Khalasi preached a more cooperative approach toward the Americans and the interim Iraqi government.
Then, last Thursday, when Iraqi snipers opened fire on him and thousands of demonstrators converging on Najaf, hoping to end the siege there and protect the shrine, Khalasi changed his mind. Now he's a radical, a troubling sign that Mr. Sadr has grown stronger from a three-week-long standoff that the Iraqi government once hoped might reduce Sadr to irrelevance.

Sadr and his forces agreed on Friday to put down their weapons and withdraw from the Shrine of Imam Ali, one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites. But interviews in Baghdad suggest that Sadr is walking away from the standoff with a widening base and supporters who are more militant than before.

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Catostrophic success:

 

George Orwell is rolling in his grave because he could not fit "Catastrophic Success" somewhere into Animal Farm.

Other catastrophic successes:

No Child Left Behind
Government Restrictions on Stem Cell Research
The Economy
The War On Terror
Benefits For Veterans Upon Returning Home From Deployment

 

Jon Stewart had a guy on the other night that has written a whole book about the way the Bush Administration has used language and the power of words to control the perception of his policies.

It would be funny if it weren't so effective.

http://www.spinsanity.org/book/

 

I was just about to ask you if it was the book by the Spinsanity guys. They do a good job letting every public figure, regardless of political denomination, have it.

 

Its ironic but I'm much more impressed by GW Bush when he's talking about "catastrophic success", "that the war on terror can't be won", and "that they miscalculated in planning the invasion of Iraq" than before. It shows that he is more thoughtful and understands the problems with his policies. Whether he or the rest of his Admin learn anything from this is yet to be seen but seeing him frantically try to spin himself back into his jingoistic self isn't very heartening. So even while he's gradually understanding the nature of the problems he's creating the need to get re-elected as a War President means he can't express or act on that understanding.