News Brief, Jesusland Edition

Cross-posted, on a cross, over at The Conjecturer.

Defense & The War

  • Books! A scathing review of Norman Podhoretz’s polemic arguing for eternal war. Le Monde praises Olivier Roy’s latest book, which decries to false and simplistic characterizations of Muslim society men like Podhoretz relentlessly pursue in the presses… kind of like arming Sunni militias to fight Salafi militias (and Shi’a militias) is meant to create parity in Iraq. It is a policy that should register a firm, “WHAT the frack?”
  • Reading the Instapundit, one would think the Surge worked and everyone who expresses doubts is an America-hating libtard. Seeing what actual Iraqis think, however, lends an entirely different picture (interesting that most think Iraq is worse off under the surge, and most think an American withdrawal makes civil war less likely, which surprised me). Maybe the survey was conducted among Iraq’s many brutalized minorities? Anyway, since when do we put any stock into what Maliki says, when even Bush doesn’t consider him a reliable friend? Well, when you need to justify the surge, I guess.
  • I don’t understand the automatic impulse to take everything Petraeus says at face value (those crafty America-hating liberals keep using his own words against him). It should surprise no one that he is saying the surge is working and that we just need more time—he said the same thing in 2004, right before the region he oversaw descended into chaos and madness just after the election. That doesn’t make him dishonest, but it is worth remembering that he has a very real, very personal, stake in keeping the surge on track and not being blamed for Iraq’s failures. Personally I think Karen DeYoung might be onto something with her assertion that Ambassador Crocker’s report will be the more interesting one.
  • Also, I call bullshit on The Don Rumsfeld’s assertion that Afghanistan is a “big success,” and that oh yeah the military, which refused under the Wise and Studied Leadership of The Don and General Pace to plan for the occupation of Iraq, had nothing to do with its many failures and the escalating civilian casualties in either conflict zone. What a disgusting man, though he is apparently living comfortably after wrecking a sizable chunk of he planet.
  • Fran Townsend thinks Osama Bin Laden is “virtually impotent.” I can’t speak to his viability as a Cialis user, but I do know this: in a war of ideas, it doesn’t matter if you’re reduced to video taped messages. In fact, when all you need to do is inspire people on the internet to strap on suicide belts and charge into army bases, that is quite the opposite of impotent—it is the height of impunity, especially ever since George W. Bush just gave up on capturing or killing the man five years ago. And bin Laden has proven highly successful at re-branding al-Qaeda into a mere anti-globalist organization (a post that is very much worth reading, by the way). Dismiss it as propaganda if you want, but he has a large audience, and his message resonates. Does anyone still wonder why we’re losing the information sphere?

Around the World

  • It would appear North Korea has finally begun to move into its final stages of decay, in which anything—any service, from any low-level government official—is available for a price. This is most pronounced on its northern border, where people flee en mass seeking a happier life in China. Of course, not all is chipper, as there are rumors some of the brave underground videographers (who film, then smuggle out, footage of horrors like for viewing “outside influences” or the of concentration camps like Yodok) have been seized, which could present a set back in efforts to remove the Kim family regime. As Bradley Martin recounted in his excellent history of the country, it can swing wildly back and forth, from seeming permanence to seeming chaos and upheaval. So for now, we wait, and most importantly, we push for things to change.
  • Well known friend of transparent government Nawaz Sharif landed in Pakistan and was swiftly booted to Saudi Arabia, the poor thing. Maybe he’ll foment a coup there too, or maybe we’ll start paying attention to the very real fact that al-Qaeda is based in Pakistan, and not Iraq, and maybe we could start doing after causes and not symptoms.
  • Meanwhile, my long-standing belief—that free, fair, and open elections in Pakistan are the best way to resolve the power crisis—got yet another boost in Morocco, where the Islamists proved less than popular when put to a vote. This is something that has been repeated in Turkey, Algeria, and even in Pakistan… in fact, Palestine is the only place I can think of off the top of my head when the crazies win power through open and what we would consider normal elections. And there are far too many other considerations in play there to make it representative. So to the Westerners who think denying Muslims choice is the way to create constructive change: well, I say read more Olivier Roy. And has anyone in the government seriously thought about life after Musharraf?
  • The Kurds appear to have started a low intensity war in western Iran. This is something Michael Totten (whose coverage of the Kurds has been beyond superb) covers in the most recent issue of Reason Magazine, which is unfortunately not online. It is excellent, if harrowing, context. Go grab it off newsstands, and turn to page 44. This is also the kind of thing I meant when I said that partition—the latest bugaboo solution from the pro-war side (most recently discussed by Charles Krauthammer)—is an actual recipe for regional war, as compared to the rather weak insistences one will erupt from a general American withdrawal.
  • For the record, Totten also just posted a long-ish report from his tour through Ramadi in Anbar province. From my perspective, he consistently makes the strongest and most coherent case for patience and remaining in-country, if only because he does it without the droning soldier-worship I find from a lot of other blogger-reporters; I’m not yet convinced, but I do lend his reports the utmost respect and consideration… as should you.
  • Oooh, Russian girls like dancing. Neato.

Back at Home

  • What’s this? Rationally designed traffic management? On the Beltway? For reals? For make benefit yacht owners from Aquia Harbour? Niiiice.
  • Justin Timberlake won an Emmy for his hit single, “Dick in a Box.” To see just how far this awesomely bad song can be taken, here are some unfortunate saps, whom I may or may not know, .
  • Another right winger gets fingered (heh) for molesting children, this time his own, and promptly kills himself. I really like how the GOP is like the party of family values or something.
  • Quote of the Day definitely goes to Wonkette, who dubbed 9/10 (never forget) “The Day Of Expecto Petraeus.”
Sphere: Related Content

Trackback URI | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed

Leave a Reply

Get rewarded at leading casinos.

online casino real money usa