Great! Just what i needed this morning - to awaken to CNN cheerfully describing bush's visit to mongolia - and his spending time enjoying the local food the local drink of "fermented milk"!
Now i don't know about you, but this raised serious red flags for me! So, off i went to google "mongolia, fermented milk and alcohol" - not to be surprised to find that the drink contains anywhere from 3% content to 18% content (when further distilled).
Guess this answers the questions for us: is dubya drinking again? Brings to mind the old adage "how far do i have to go to get a drink aroud here!" now we have the answer: mongolia!
Beneath the fold, find out exactly what he was drinking!
Airag - fermented drink made from mare's milk is described
here as
...fermented horse's milk with an alcoholic content of about 3%. Many Mongolians distill it further to produce shimiin arkhi, which boosts the alcohol content to around 12%.
and, in the online magazine, Mongolia Today
Drinking too much airag, one may easily become drunken, especially given the fact that usually airag is served in huge bowls. Medical features of airag were proven long time ago. It clears any poison, especially the consequences of much fat consumed during long winter, strengthens the body. It contains many types of vitamins, organic and mineral elements. Airag is widely used for treatment of many diseases.
I'm guessing, however, that alcoholism isn't one of them!
Throughout this entire junket to asia, i've been struck by the drawn look of shrub and the bags under his eyes, the slowed speech - and was curious to know if he has returned to drink - especially since most state functions involve serving alcohol - how would shrub avoid engaging in the social drinking.
Well, i guess, now we know: he didn't.
We are in a whole heap of trouble, here, folks! Especially when looking at this site: with this being the most chilling synopsis:
Alcohol problems are now called Alcohol Use Disorders, and include both abuse and dependence. The problems associated with alcohol use are well known. Alcohol is associated with auto accidents, increased violence, loss of jobs, and loss of lives.
2,000+ american and tens of thousands iraqis so far...
also, consider this parallel listed in the guide:
What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse?
Alcohol abuse is a pattern otherwise known as "problem drinking." The behavioral warning signs of alcohol abuse are:
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol frequently (The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has established two drinks per day for men and one drink a day for women as the limits to safe drinking)
Drinking when it is dangerous (such as driving)
Frequent excessive drinking (known as binge drinking)
Interpersonal difficulties with family, friends, or co-workers
Legal problems related to drinking.
i am brought to mind the following:
driving [a nation to war], mental lapses and tantrums?, and the total legal disarray surrounding this wh with libby, possibly rove and more in the plame case, international violations of law regarding torture, etc.
the helpguide goes on to describe the problem:
Denial is an alcoholic's strongest defense mechanism. But even if the alcoholic is quite aware of these serious implications of heavy drinking, the craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems.
People who do not drink or who are alcohol abusers but not alcoholics sometimes do not understand why an alcoholic can't just "exercise a little willpower" to stop drinking. However, alcoholism is an addiction that little to do with willpower. Any addiction has both physical and psychological components that make it extremely difficult to break. Almost all alcoholics need the aid of external treatment to help them succeed in overcoming their addiction.
And the steps that can be taken to mitigate it
If a friend is diagnosed as being an alcoholic but is unwilling to get help, you can't force him or her to do so. However, many alcoholism treatment specialists suggest the following steps to help convince an alcoholic to get treatment:
Stop all cover ups and other "enabling" behaviors (don't try to protect the alcoholic from the results of his or her drinking)
Time your intervention (the best time to talk to the drinker is shortly after an alcohol-related incident has occurred)
Be specific (use examples like the most recent incident to show how his or her drinking has caused problems)
Explain to the drinker what you will do if he or she doesn't seek help (do not make any threats you are not prepared to carry out)
Gather information about local treatment options (if the alcoholic is willing to get help, call immediately for an appointment with a treatment counselor)
but this is the disheartening part, since no one seems willing to "intervene":
Relapse
More than 700,000 people receive treatment for alcohol dependence each day. Cutting out alcohol is absolutely necessary for a successful recovery. However, even individuals who are determined to stay sober may suffer one or more slips before achieving long-term sobriety. Research indicates that up to 90% of recovering alcoholics will have a relapse at least one time in the four years following sobriety. While this is a setback, it does not mean that a person cannot recover from alcoholism. That person may well have to restart treatment to enable him or her to again get on the road to long-term and secure sobriety.
I don't think this nation can affordsurvive another three years unless someone in authority faces and acts on bush's problem. Laughing about it in news coverage is NOT the solution. Someone needs to break the taboo of coverup and report to the world what is going on! o.k., future pulitzer winners: who wants to be first?
in the meantime, could somebody pass the airag? i need a drink!