Remember that a major part of Bush's (new) plan, is that the Iraqi army has to be able to take over, ASAP? Kurds disagree. In short: they seem to be deserting en masse since the Iraqi government announced that it plans on sending Kurdish army brigades to Baghdad. The main problem is that (deserted) Kurds don't consider the sectarian violence to be their battle. There is also … [Read more...] about Kurds Deserting Army En Masse
America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present
Theodore Roosevelt and a companion ride camels in Sudan, c. 1909 (Bettmann / Corbis) Robert Kagan wrote a review for The Washington Post of Michael B. Oren's new book America in the Middle East, 1776 to Present. The review is very positive. Kagan has convinced me that this is a book everyone interested in this subject / American foreign policy / the Mideast, should read. … [Read more...] about America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present
Suspect Arrested in Hrant Dink Murder Case
This young man, identified as Ogun Samast, was photographed running from the scene. A 16 or 17 year old Turk, originally from the Black Sea area, but now living in Istanbul, has been arrested by Turkish police, after his father reported him. Turkish TV showed a picture of Ogun Samast running away after shooting Hrant Dink. His father saw it and called the police. Besides … [Read more...] about Suspect Arrested in Hrant Dink Murder Case
Words and their meanings
Cross-posted to Random Fate. --- God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ... … [Read more...] about Words and their meanings
Literary Quote of the Day: Anzia Yezierska
Today's literary quote of the day is from Anzia Yezierska's The Lost "Beautifulness". I'll wake up America from its sleep. I'll go myself to the President with my Aby's soldier picture and ask him was all this war to let loose a bunch of blood-suckers to suck the marrow out from the people? As always, feel free to share your thoughts on today's literary quote of the day in … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: Anzia Yezierska
Okay, So She’s Running . . .
Ed Morrissey at Captain's Quarters on the anticlimactic political announcement of the young year: "Of course, it wouldn't be Hillary without getting Sillary. She tries for an Oprah-like chatty tone to her announcement, and winds up offering this laughable little nugget: 'I'm not just starting a campaign, though, I'm beginning a conversation with you, with America,' she … [Read more...] about Okay, So She’s Running . . .
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. The Gun Toting Liberal congratulates "the democrats for (almost) keeping their promise to the American people." He adds, though that he is far from willing to endorse the Democratic party because it has committed "too much collective treason in this country". If the Democrats think that they can now relax... they are mistaken. Dick … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Power vs Finesse – The Real Test of Congressional Leadership
It impresses me that the House Democrats achieved their "6 for 06" goals with so much GOP cross over. It is relatively less impressive to achieve something like this with only sheer force. But now that the initial agenda is achieved, the ability to legislate moves to a higher standard, that of withstanding debate, conference committees and vetos. The political talent and … [Read more...] about Power vs Finesse – The Real Test of Congressional Leadership
Clash Coming Up?
Nancy Pelosi has publicly warned U.S. President George W. Bush: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) contended Friday that President Bush is rushing new troops to Iraq and betting that Congress won't cut off funds once they're in battle. The White House called her assertion "poisonous." In an exchange of harsh rhetoric that underscored the intensity of the … [Read more...] about Clash Coming Up?
I Got Them Old Deployment Blues Again, Mama
About the time you're reading this -- if you're reading this on Saturday -- the first several thousand of the troops being sent to Iraq as part of President Bush's "surge" strategy will be deploying from Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. They include about 5,000 Army paratroopers in 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division at Bragg and about 200 … [Read more...] about I Got Them Old Deployment Blues Again, Mama
State of the Union Coming Up
Peggy Noonan wrote an interesting column for the Wall Street Journal: 'My Fellow Americans . . .': Thoughts in advance of the State of the Union. State of the Union speeches run long--they announce an administration's plans and proposals for the coming year, and that takes time--and by nature they have a lot of boring parts. It's not a straight arrow of a speech with a theme … [Read more...] about State of the Union Coming Up
Is There More To Rising Middle East Sectarianism Than Meets The Eye?
Could it be that Sunni Arab leaders are intentionally trying to exploit sectarian differences to set up future action against Iran? Read Foreign Policy Watch. … [Read more...] about Is There More To Rising Middle East Sectarianism Than Meets The Eye?
More On Bill O’Reilly’s Latest Controversy
Keith Olbermann had a lot to say about Bill O'Reilly's latest publicity-sparking controversy (do you notice he is involved in a lot of these?) that has outraged people in both parties -- not to mention some psychiatrists and other experts. … [Read more...] about More On Bill O’Reilly’s Latest Controversy
This Just In!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Rosie-Trump Feud Moves Doomsday Clock Closer to Midnight Battling Duo Could Hasten Armageddon, Scientists Fear The ongoing feud between Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump could have deadly consequences for the world if either obtained nuclear weapons, a group of leading nuclear scientists announced today. The … [Read more...] about This Just In!!
Hugo Chavez Gobbles Up Power
As Cuba's Fidel Castro lies dying and journalists -- and diplomats -- wonder what will come next, one thing is becoming clear: As the 1950s-1960s self-styled "revolutionary" passes from the scene, it seems likely that in journalistic, political and some diplomatic circles he will perceived to have been replaced by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who has used his whopping election … [Read more...] about Hugo Chavez Gobbles Up Power
What a day for a daydream…..
Remember this song? What a day for a daydream What a day for a daydreamin' boy And I'm lost in a daydream Dreamin' 'bout my bundle of joy Well, according to a new study reported by Reuters at CNN.com, "Daydreaming is brain's default setting" … [Read more...] about What a day for a daydream…..
My Evening With Randall
Harvard Law Professor and Race Relations expert Randall Kennedy comes to Carleton College. Things...didn't go well. … [Read more...] about My Evening With Randall
Big Business to the Rescue
A Coalition for Firm Limit on Emissions This NYTimes article describes how big business is getting behind the global warming band wagon. Assessing their risks, the Big Companies realize that the consequences of global warming can be threatening to their business while getting ahead of the curve and providing solutions can be a substantial business opportunity. I only wish … [Read more...] about Big Business to the Rescue
Cheney Vetoed Negotiations with Iran?
Link ...An Iranian offer to help the United States stabilize Iraq and end its military support for Hezbollah and Hamas was rejected by Vice President Dick Cheney in 2003, a former top State Department official told the British Broadcasting Corp. The U.S. State Department was open to the offer, which came in an unsigned letter sent shortly after the American invasion of … [Read more...] about Cheney Vetoed Negotiations with Iran?
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. Donald Sensing at Winds of Change: House votes to increase foreign oil dependency, punish American poor. An interesting issue / post to debate? My friend Libby Spencer at The Impolitic links to an interesting article at the Huffington Post in which Bob Burnett describes U.S. President Bush's kind of conservatism: materialistic … [Read more...] about Center of Attention