Bucs sweep through New Orleans, 27-23

Luke McCown turned in an excellent performance filling in for injured Jeff Garcia, leading the Bucs to a 27-23 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.

McCown threw for over 300 yards in leading the Bucs to a regular-season sweep of the Saints. The Bucs remain undefeated against divisional opponents at 4-0.

With the Bucs trailing 23-20 after a safety, Saints coach Sean Payton called a reverse play late in the game that resulted in a fumble, setting up the Buccaneers deep in Saints territory with the opportunity to take the lead.

The Bucs went for a fourth-and-one during the ensuing drive rather than attempt a long field goal, and Jerramy Stevens eventually caught a McCown pass for the game-winning touchdown with only seconds left on the game clock.

Offense
I predicted the Bucs would win this game, but I did so thinking that Garcia would play. When I heard that McCown would start instead I decided to stick with my prediction, while wondering if I was crazy. McCown did not play well in his relief appearance against Seattle.

Well, I feel a whole lot better about the backup quarterback position, now. McCown showed that he has the arm to throw a deep ball to keep the defense honest--exactly the thing that Bruce Gradkowski has struggled with.

Earnest Graham had another good day, gaining over 100 yards, catching a few passes and scoring a touchdown.

Joey Galloway torched the Saints' secondary often in the first half a couple of times in the second--though he did not score a TD.

All in all a solid day for the offense, which gained 466 yards. The offensive line had a few penalties but blocked well.

Defense
The defense actually had a good day, thanks to the Buccaneer offense. The defense faced only 47 plays from the Saints. I think Drew Brees attempted about that many passes the last time the teams played. The defense allowed two touchdowns, both set up on long passes completed into pretty good coverage. The Saints' third touchdown occurred on an interception; two more points came on a safety with under 4 minutes remaining in the game. Jermaine Phillips stood out, making some hits reminiscent of John Lynch and causing a fumble (recovered by New Orleans). Gaines Adams added another sack to his total and registered 4 tackles to tie for fourth on the team in that category.

Special Teams
Less to do than last week, but the special teams performed well. The kickoff coverage team kept the Saints inside the 20 on three occasions.

Officiating
One play would have really bothered me if the Bucs had lost--not because it specifically might have cost the game but because it would have turned into one of those "What would have happened if ...?" games. And I really hate those when the Bucs put up better stats than the other team.

On the interception McCown threw, Earnest Graham put himself in pretty good position to tackle the ballcarrier. He was pulled by his jersey so that he had no opportunity to make the play. Maybe the Saints would have scored six doing it the hard way, maybe not. I'm happy I don't have to worry about it.

As for the interception, it looked like just one of those things. McCown changed the play at the line because New Orleans was preparing to blitz. He and Galloway miscommunicated. Galloway went long and the DB was sitting on the short route. Easy pickin's.

Next
The Bucs have put themselves in the driver's seat for the playoffs, sitting at 8-4 with a 3-game lead over the Saints and Panthers. The Bucs next play at Houston before coming home to play the Falcons.

Houston's starting quarterback, Matt Schaub, reportedly may miss the game due to injury. I don't think Houston is the same team without him. This game is positioned as a letdown game for the Bucs, but the team is playing so consistently right now that I pick TB to pick up their ninth win in Houston.

*****

Reality-based community still having trouble facing reality

The self-described "libhomo" dropped by to voice skepticism about reports that violence in Iraq is diminishing.

The line is that the reports all come through official government channels, either controlled by the United States or by our puppet government in Iraq.

Reporter Michael Ware reeled off plenty of criticism of the surge strategy.

Here's Ware earlier last month:


For those not inclined to watch the video, this is how Ware starts out:

Well, I have to say it truly is a blessing what the Iraq that I have returned to.
(CNN)

It is logical to expect that a real decrease in violence in Iraq results in a person like Ware rendering that type of assessment.

The alternative involves conspiratorial thinking that makes Ware the puppet of the administration despite his near-constant criticisms of the administration.

*****

Blumneconomics II

Fresh from last week's suggestion to double the pay of tomato pickers, that pinata of the St. Petersburg Times is back again with another economic prescription: Unionize to the max.

After reviewing the admitted past success of labor unions in obtaining decent working conditions during the progress of the industrial revolution, Blumner veers into Paul Krugman territory to bemoan the dreaded income gap.

Paul Krugman, a New York Times columnist who teaches economics at Princeton University, argues in his new book The Conscience of a Liberal that it is not the impersonal market forces of globalization and technological change that have stagnated Americans' living standards and caused income inequality to reach levels not seen since the age of the robber barons. It's a direct consequence of conscious decisions of government, driven by conservative Republicans, to cut taxes on wealth and undermine labor organizing.

Krugman points to Western Europe, which is subject to the same pressures from globalization and technology as the United States but has not experienced by any stretch the same rise in income inequality.

(St. Petersburg Times)

Blumner tends to mention Krugman in her columns regularly. Just sayin'.

I wasn't aware that the living standards of American's had stagnated. We drive more cars, own more cell phones, and watch bigger televisions (with more elaborate sound systems) then ever before. A recent economic study suggested that after adjustment for dangerous activities based on personal choice that American's have a better life expectancy than Western Europeans.

It is precisely globalization that permits that higher (not lower) standard of living. Trade benefits both parties. That's fundamental to economics; I can't say where Krugman lost his way. Power to labor unions will mean protectionist policies like Bush's steel tariff policy or the type of labor arrangements currently hamstringing U.S. auto manufacturers in international competition. If GM didn't have the weak dollar to fall back on (making their cars quite a deal in foreign markets at the moment) they'd be in real trouble.

And how Blumner got off on the income gap from decent labor conditions will probably remain a mystery until she starts explaining her reasoning within the context of her editorials (that is to say it may never happen).

*****

Fever Swamp buzz: Perino contradicts Lute

Left-leaning blogs like the Liberal Avenger are all over a story reported by Agence France-Presse, suggesting a contradiction between White House Press Secretary Dana Perino and Lieutenant General Douglas Lute.

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House denied Thursday that the United States seeks permanent military bases in Iraq, days after the US "war czar" said that would be part of talks next year on long-term security ties.

"We do not seek permanent bases in Iraq," spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters after Lieutenant General Douglas Lute said Monday that the flashpoint issue would be part of negotiations to decide the future of US troops in Iraq.

Asked about such installations, Lute told reporters: "That's another dimension of continuing US support to the government of Iraq, and will certainly be a key item for negotiation next year."

(AFP)

Trouble is, AFP is going it alone on this one. No other agency appears to have made a similar report, and the transcripts at whitehouse.gov do not appear to contain the comment attributed to Perrino in comments she supposedly made on Thursday.
Not a the press briefing on Tuesday. Not at the press briefing on Wednesday. Not at the press briefing on Thursday. Not at the press briefing on Friday. Note that AFP said the comments were made on Thursday. I just wanted to make sure that they weren't confused by the time zones or something.

So what's up, AFP? Are you just toying with American liberals or what? Or did the White House doctor the transcript and nobody's caught on yet?

*****

TNR stepped in it

The explosion of commentary in the wake of Franklin Foer's final take on the Scott Thomas Beauchamp saga has begun.

I've only read through the second page of Foer's epic discourse, but I was brought up short by TNR's admission that they let Elspeth Reeve fact-check Scott Beauchamp's third published piece--that's after she was also known (albeit not widely) as Mrs. Scott Beauchamp. As I noted here, there's no way TNR should have ever let that happen.

But there was one avoidable problem with our Beauchamp fact-check. His wife, Reeve, was assigned a large role in checking his third piece. While we believe she acted with good faith and integrity--not just in this instance, but throughout this whole ordeal--there was a clear conflict of interest. At the time, our logic--in hindsight, obviously flawed--was that corresponding with a soldier in Iraq is logistically difficult and Reeve was already routinely speaking with him. It was a mistake--and we've imposed new rules to prevent future fact-checking conflicts of interest.
(TNR)

Foer writes that Reeve performed her fact-checking in good faith and I trust that is true at this point, pending the specific exposure of fact-checking errors. There is a problem with the defense of Reeve, however. She should have known she shouldn't be fact-checking Beauchamp's stories. Off with her head? Of course not. Both Reeve and Beauchamp are redeemable figures.

Simply put, however, Reeve does emerge with a dinged reputation. She published a story using her school chums (Beauchamp was one of them) as sources without revealing their relationship, and fact-checked hubby's published work. While TNR should not have allowed it in the first place, she should have protested regardless.

More when I get time.

*****

Bush's Fault: November 2007

Yes, it's getting more and more difficult to find a serious "Bush's fault" story these days. By far most of them are sarcastic comments from conservatives.

This little story gave me a laugh, even though it's not exactly what the "Bush's Fault" feature was designed to highlight.

James Widgerson published it under the heading "Just what are they teaching in Waukesha's schools?":

For my birthday, my brother bought me Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. My son recognized Lincoln on the cover.

My Son: That's Abraham Lincoln.
My Wife: Very good. Do you know who shot Lincoln?
My Son: George Bush?

(Widgerson Library & Pub)

Give the lad credit for an answer likely to be thought plausible by the majority!

*****

November in Iraq: Another drop in casualties

The casualty counts will probably endure some fits and starts in the coming months as the U.S. turns over more and more of the statistical record-keeping to Iraqi forces, but November showed another drop in casualties among civilians and Iraqi security forces.

Nov-07	560
Oct-07	679
Sep-07	848
Aug-07	1,674
Jul-07	1,690
Jun-07	1,345
May-07	1,980

(icasualties.org)

Bear in mind that casualty figures might receive an upward adjustment if November casualties turn up in December. Usually such adjustments are minor, so it appears that this category of deaths dipped by approximately 100.

U.S. military deaths, by staying about the same as for October, were on track to be at their lowest for a two-month period since Feb-Mar of 2004:

2003	0	0	65	74	37	30	48	35	31	44	82	40
2004	47	20	52	135	80	42	54	66	80	64	137	72
2005	107	58	35	52	80	78	54	85	49	96	84	68
2006	62	55	31	76	69	61	43	65	72	106	70	112
2007	83	81	81	104	126	101	78	84	65	38	37

(icasualties.org)

It's worth noting that Iraq Body Count shows a much higher total for November, and it's somewhat more difficult to see trends in the IBC numbers than for icasualties.org.

NOVEMBER TOTAL: 1,100 CIVILIANS KILLED
(Iraq Body Count)

And in other news ...

A Democrat congressman who once led criticism of the Iraq war now admits President Bush's change of strategy has improved security.
(...)
Fresh from a four-day visit to Iraq and Kuwait, John Murtha said: "I think the 'surge' is working."
(TelegraphUK)

Murtha went on to reiterate his call for a U.S. troop withdrawal.

Democrats in Congress now look beyond pathetic. President Bush's change in strategy worked in spite of the initial charges that it would not. Gen. Petraeus was correct about reductions in violence despite comments such as that of Sen. Clinton that Petraeus' report requires "a willing suspension of disbelief" (Senatese for "Liar, liar, pants on fire!").

And now the Dems are apparently desperate to put their stamp on troop reductions to make sure the anti-war faction on the left gives credit where the Democrats want it.

*****

MRAP Issue Iraq

Here's yet another fresh MRAP video from Iraq. It shows more footage of troops getting practice in Navistar's MaxxPro, and some footage of the BAE cat 2 MRAP going through its paces.

Marines to revise MRAP demand sharply down

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps has decided it needs far fewer Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles than it originally thought it would, Corps officials said.

Known as MRAPs, the vehicles have V-shaped hulls meant to deflect blasts from underneath and have proven to withstand roadside bomb blasts much better than up-armored Humvees.

The Corps initially asked for 3,700 MRAPs, but it now says it only needs 2,300 of the vehicles, Marine spokesman Maj. Jay Delarosa said in an e-mail Friday.
(Stars and Stripes)

Whoops.

This is a big hit for MRAP manufacturers. News is coming out already about Force Protection's shares dropping, and the news isn't really any better for companies like Ceradyne and Navistar that put considerable dollars into designing and preparing for the production of MRAPs.

It looks like the MRAP craze was a blip in history--an expensive blip that will end up providing quite a bit of useful information for the building of future military vehicles, but produced vehicles that may turn obsolete in just a few short years.

Those who argued that MRAPs were ill-suited to the counterinsurgency tactics of the surge will find something to bolster their view, but the willingness of the United States to produce MRAPs probably helped discourage the insurgency even if their widespread use ultimately wasn't needed to ensure victory.

As for David DeCamp's report on MRAPs that I critiqued months ago, it looks like the insurgents have run into a shortage of machine shops or something.

Instead of demonstrating America's war fighting prowess, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle - MRAP in military parlance - illustrates how even a wealthy industrial power can struggle to wage war against a nimble and unconventional enemy.

America relies on a slow defense bureaucracy, politicians to approve spending and commercial industry to build the better MRAP. Insurgents get their hands on an explosive, go to a machine shop for changes, and trigger it with a common cell phone.

(St. Petersburg Times)

Or maybe they can't afford cell phone service?

Reducing EFP usage would thus be more complicated than simply exerting tighter border controls. Factories would have to be located, and killing or capturing enemy combatants who possess the knowledge to make the devices would certainly contribute.

Bottom line: There's no reason to despair that the insurgents can't be beaten, nor to fear that they will keep the upper hand in battlefield tactics.
(sublime bloviations)

As noted, MRAPs will probably have a very limited use in the military as the situation in Iraq continues to cool. The heavier vehicles may get modified for special functions such as mine clearing. The lightest vehicles, the Caiman 4x4s, may have a ghost of a chance of future tactical deployment--they have a reputation for reasonably good off-road performance.

The stage is set for the JLTV program to produce a mobile and protected replacement for the Humvee. Ceradyne's Bull will draw few orders if any; the whole MRAP II solicitation will likely turn into a mere modification of MRAP I, with no long term future for the program.

All is not lost for Force Protection. The Cheetah was intended from the start to replace the Humvee. It just remains to be seen who produces the best vehicle with the best support infrastructure.

*****

MaxxPro with hinges*

I finally stumbled again across the early MaxxPro image that had the hinge-looking things attached to the body of the vehicle. Most pics of the MaxxPro offer no hint at all of the feature.

clipped from www.defense-update.com

*"someone who knows" dropped by to say that the hinge-looking things are not hinges at all but simply the hardware that attaches the body to the chassis rails. Sounds good to me.