3. The U.S. military has more generals and admirals than...

[Scuba]

a. Al-Qaeda members in Yemen.

b. Al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan.

c. Al-Qaeda members in Pakistan.

d. Al-Qaeda members in all three countries.

Correct answer: a, b, c, and d. According to CIA Director Leon Panetta, there are 50 to 100 al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan, possibly less. Best estimates suggest that there are perhaps “several hundred” al-Qaeda members in poverty-stricken, desertifying, strife-torn Yemen.

There are also an estimated “several hundred” members and leaders of the original al-Qaeda in the Pakistani borderlands. The high-end total for al-Qaeda members in the three countries, then, would be 800, though the actual figure could be significantly smaller.

According to Ginger Thompson and Thom Shanker of the New York Times, the U.S. military has 963 generals and admirals, approximately 100 more than on September 11, 2001.

(The average salary for a general, by the way, is $180,000, which means that the cost of these “stars,” not including pensions, health-care plans, and perks, is approximately $170 million a year.) The U.S. military has 40 four-star generals and admirals at the moment, which may represent more star-power than there are al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has suggested that, as a belt-tightening measure, he might cut the top-heavy U.S. military by 50 positions -- that is, by half the increase since 9/11.

Take this great quiz. http://www.alternet.org/story/148179/?page=6

[liberal N proud]

1. The generals and admirals don't fight the wars

They send others to do the fighting.

[Scuba]

2. Based on my experience as a former NCO, I agree. n/t

[Obamanaut]

5. But, many have done some of the 'fighting' during their younger years, whereas

many - if not most - of the politicians in DC who authorize funding for that fighting have never done any of it themselves.

And their children won't.

That list of 'have never done it' goes all the way to the top, where the buck stops.

But the generals and admirals have.

[xchrom]

3. that almost sounds like maybe i shouldn't be as afraid of al queda as i've been told. nt

[snot]

4. Wow. K&R'd.