I use the words, "stands witness," because they have a very singular significance. George W. Bush did meet privately with selected families of fallen Americans, but he did not put himself there on the tarmac in the dead of night to witness, directly and in person, the graphic human consequences of his war policies. Whether the war in Afghanistan, or any war, is justified and … [Read more...] about Pres. Obama Stands Witness at Dover Air Force Base
I guess they failed Ninja school
Every time I think there are limits to stupidity, I discover there apparently are not. From CNN.com: Police received a call Friday night that two men with hooded sweatshirts and painted faces had tried to break into a man's home in Carroll, Iowa. When police stopped a vehicle matching the caller's description blocks away, they were stunned by the men's disguises. There were no … [Read more...] about I guess they failed Ninja school
Blood feuds among warlords could scuttle Obama
Incredibly, President Barack Obama’s in-depth Afghanistan review is underplaying the evident peril that arming unruly warlords empowers them to use American war techniques to scuttle his agenda and settle mutual scores with more lethal force instead . It is fast-forwarding two great dangers. First, it is ensuring that Afghanistan can have no central government in Kabul … [Read more...] about Blood feuds among warlords could scuttle Obama
“The Pain! The Fire! It Hurts! Ohhhhhhhhhh!”
It all has to do with abortion... somehow: … [Read more...] about “The Pain! The Fire! It Hurts! Ohhhhhhhhhh!”
Watertown Daily Times Endorses Scozzafava
The Watertown Daily Times has endorsed Republican Dede Scozzafava for the race to represent the 23rd Congressional District in New York. Below is their endorsement. The national attention focused on the special election for New York's 23rd Congressional District has proved exhilarating, frustrating and slightly irrelevant. Political analysts have cast the three-way … [Read more...] about Watertown Daily Times Endorses Scozzafava
Hillary’s ‘Unfortunate’ PR Stunt Falls Flat: The Nation, Pakistan
Message to America: A bewildered man emerges Wednesday from a restaurant in Peshawar, Pakistan, to a scene of utter devastation. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed at least 107. If this editorial from Pakistan's The Nation is anything to go by, Hillary Clinton's "hearts and minds" visit to Pakistan is, as the headline says, "falling flat" - … [Read more...] about Hillary’s ‘Unfortunate’ PR Stunt Falls Flat: The Nation, Pakistan
Get off your lazy duffs!!
Now that most economists, our government, the Federal Reserve, Wall Street Barons, and our ignorant and shallow 24/7 info-entertainment Media pundits have pronounced that the recession is over, there are no more excuses. For all those people still lounging around on unemployment benefits, given up looking, or working at temporary and part-time jobs, get off your lazy … [Read more...] about Get off your lazy duffs!!
This Is Pretty Cool
From the local CBS affiliate in Boston: … [Read more...] about This Is Pretty Cool
Why Are We Still in Afghanistan?
Yes, yes, to fight the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. But eight years later, American blood and treasure are still being poured into a country of dirt-poor, illiterate people who support themselves by growing poppy for opium and heroin under one of the most corrupt governments in the world. As Barack Obama makes a midnight visit to honor the incoming dead and console … [Read more...] about Why Are We Still in Afghanistan?
Tom Friedman’s logic
The vote is in. Tom Friedman says no more troops for Afghanistan. Why? When I think back on all the moments of progress in that part of the world — all the times when a key player in the Middle East actually did something that put a smile on my face — all of them have one thing in common: America had nothing to do with it. America helped build out what they started, but … [Read more...] about Tom Friedman’s logic
The Unbalanced Balance
You'll be seeing many variants of this headline today: "Economy growing, but not jobs." Like so much of recent economic reporting, it's deceptive. It suggests a kind of balance between two things of equal weight and importance, one good (economic growth) and one bad (unemployment). Such a deception implies that except for a difficult jobs situation, other key elements of the … [Read more...] about The Unbalanced Balance
No Statute of Limitations for Valor
Two questions that come up when I write on the subject of our nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, are why it sometimes takes so long for the Medal to be awarded and whether an award can be “upgraded” to the Medal of Honor. (I use that term reluctantly because I don’t want to make awards and decorations for our brave troops sound like a product that can be … [Read more...] about No Statute of Limitations for Valor
The GDP Number Is A Good Start, But…
When last quarter's GDP showed a small decrease, I ripped it to shreds, pointing out that by nearly every measure, things were worse than anticipated. Sure the headline number was alright, but only because of a massive 11% increase in government spending, and a massive reduction in imports (imports subtract from GDP) which I viewed as bad since it signaled economic activity was … [Read more...] about The GDP Number Is A Good Start, But…
Apparent Hate Crime at Los Angeles Synagogue
LA Times: Synagogue shooting in North Hollywood leaves 2 wounded By Times staff writers | 7:56 a.m. Two men, shot in the lower torso as they were about to enter the temple, are taken to a nearby hospital. Police are treating the shooting as a hate crime. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/shooting-at-la-synagogue-investigated-as-hate-crime-man-arrested.html … [Read more...] about Apparent Hate Crime at Los Angeles Synagogue
Breaking: House Health Reform Bill Unveiled
From a Politico email alert: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a health reform bill Thursday that would cost $894 billion over 10 years and includes a public option. It meets President Obama’s goal of not adding to the federal deficit, cutting the deficit by about $30 billion in the first 10 years. And now it gets interesting. Full story here. … [Read more...] about Breaking: House Health Reform Bill Unveiled
Tom Friedman’s amnesia
Tom Friedman says don't send more troops to Afghanistan, because there are no positive trends to build on, like the Anbar Awakening before the surge in Iraq. Yet back in 2007, Friedman condemned the surge precisely because there was no progress to build on: January 3, 2007 Now President Bush wants a “surge” of more U.S. troops to Baghdad, in one last attempt to bring … [Read more...] about Tom Friedman’s amnesia
Obama Goes to Dover
Speaking as one who has been critical of most of President Obama's domestic initiatives this year, I find myself in the curious position of having to praise him three times in one week. First, he moved to finally provide long overdue improvements to the nation's power grid. Then he worked with Congressional leadership to shut down foreign tax dodge schemes. (Sadly, with Charlie … [Read more...] about Obama Goes to Dover
Evidence that we don’t need more troops
David Adams commanded a US advisory team in the Afghan province of Khost. Ann Marlowe reported from Afghanistan. They write, From the beginning of 2007 to March 2008, the 82nd Airborne Division's strategy in Khost proved that 250 paratroopers could secure a province of a million people in the Pashtun belt. The key to success in Khost—which shares a 184 kilometer-long … [Read more...] about Evidence that we don’t need more troops
Superb article on Afghanistan
There's plenty of material out there, but Steve Biddle's article in TNR [subscription only] stands head and shouders above the rest. Even if you're against more troops, you should test your logic against Biddle. For example, NYT columnist Nick Kristof wrote:The United States was born of our ancestors’ nationalistic resentment of a foreign power whose troops we saw as … [Read more...] about Superb article on Afghanistan
New Tax Cheat Bill from… Charlie Rangel?
When I read this item at Politico over coffee this morning, I had to double check and see if I hadn't inadvertently followed a link to The Onion. A new bill is being introduced which would make it far more difficult for people to hide their assets in foreign banks to avoid paying taxes on the money. Good idea! But it's being introduced, in part, by Charlie Rangel. (I'll give … [Read more...] about New Tax Cheat Bill from… Charlie Rangel?