Billmon is once again on fire. A snippet: This is what realism is all about -- seeking the least evil course in a world absolutely brimming with evil but perpetually... [More]
August 8, 2006
August 10, 2006
Sanity
I was planning on providing some comment on Richard Holbrooke's piece in today's WaPo, but Greg Djerejian beat me to it. So instead, here's a clip from last night's Daily... [More]
The Intention was Clear
If you're not currently reading Pat Lang's take on the Middle East conflict, you should be. It's depressing to read, but the man knows his stuff.... [More]
August 12, 2006
Go Ahead, Matt, Say It!
Yglesias is up late tonight: Israel had every reason to desire the permament dismemberment of Hezbollah, by force if necessary, but no reason to think that there was any actual... [More]
Condi Covers For Israel. Surprise!
Great timeline from Billmon. Yes, I realize that this is all part of diplomacy, but nevertheless.... You think we'd at least try and appear neutral, wouldn't we?... [More]
"We Must Be Patient..."
Anonymous Liberal lays out one of the best answers I've yet seen to the charge that the Dems don't yet have a "master plan" for fighting terrorism. What if what's... [More]
August 13, 2006
Forbearace?
Interesting piece in today's Boston Globe from Laura Rozen.... The title? Islamic radical groups are not all alike. Here's the part that caught my attention: While there's been ample discussion... [More]
August 15, 2006
Blame America First? (Updated)
A few weeks back, I noticed that Bush had made the odd admission (for a Republican at least) that resentment over US foreign policy had in large part caused 9/11.... [More]
Shorter George Will: John Kerry Was Right
Read for yourself: The London plot against civil aviation confirmed a theme of an illuminating new book, Lawrence Wright's "The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11." The theme... [More]
War Profiteering
When it comes to Middle East politics, its always a safe bet to expect the unexpected. But even with that said, this is still truly bizarre.... [More]
August 16, 2006
This Is Why We Fight?
Meanwhile, in our other war.... KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Opium cultivation in Afghanistan has hit record levels - up by more than 40 percent from 2005 - despite hundreds of... [More]
August 19, 2006
Stability vs. Instability
Billmon once again proves that he is master of the dueling quotes. This really is one of the most incoherent administrations in US history, isn't it?... [More]
August 20, 2006
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan....
This is what happens when you don't finish the wars you start. "If we die, we are martyrs - if we live, we are victors," say the Taliban in the... [More]
August 23, 2006
Law and Order
These comments from Michael Scheuer, former chief of the CIA's bin Laden unit at the Counterterrorist Center from 1996 to 1999, got me thinking. First, the relevant quote: The President... [More]
August 25, 2006
Bad Intelligence
Justin Logan over at Cato Institute takes on the issue of bad intelligence and makes a very important observation The history of our intelligence on the Iranian nuclear weapons progamr... [More]
August 26, 2006
A Digital Pearl Harbor?
From Foreign Affairs: The United States is gradually losing the online war against terrorists. Rather than aggressively pursuing its enemies, the U.S. government has adopted a largely defensive strategy, the... [More]
Speaking of Leadership...
This is what leadership looks like. "By him being tested, our numbers of people being tested could double," said Joseph Thuku, a regional director for the CDC here. "I feel... [More]
August 27, 2006
Nasrallah Makes An Interesting Admission
Interesting interview today with Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Lebanese TV. Here's the quote everyone will be talking about: In an interview granted to Lebanese news network New TV, Nasrallah... [More]
Skeptical Realists
Great post today from Greg Djerejian. After taking apart several straw men offered up by Michael Gerson, a former Bush speechwriter, he offers an excellent explanation of what he has... [More]
August 28, 2006
Politics is Not a Zero Sum Game
Matthew Yglesias makes a great point: just because one side lost, it does not necessarily mean the other side won. That's true in all forms of politics, but it is... [More]
August 29, 2006
Interesting News From the Middle East
Andrew Sullivan may be on vacation, but his guest hosts are more than holding their own in his absence. Check out, for example, these two interesting updates on the complex... [More]
August 30, 2006
Please... Stop the Nonsense (UPDATED)
Blogging 101: When you think of it, write it. Otherwise someone else will write it for you. While I was out at work today, Matthew Yglesias was apparently reading my... [More]
August 31, 2006
Greenwald Gives a History Lesson
More on the Chamberlin / appeasement trope, this time from Glenn Greenwald This same mindset -- even, in some cases, the very same individuals -- now launching the "Chamberlain/appeasement" insult... [More]
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