The NYT has some details on the president's planned "surge" in Iraq. Here's the overview: President Bush’s new Iraq strategy calls for a rapid influx... [More]
January 7, 2007
January 9, 2007
About That Surge...
There are many, many, MANY things that could be said about the proposed "surge" into Baghdad, but of everything I've come across in the past... [More]
Bringing Together Iraq?
Andrew Sullivan highlights an interesting exchange on al Jazeera (click through for the transcript). His conclusion? We are supposed to bring these people together with... [More]
Opposition From The Right
Although I realize that Ted Kennedy remarks today at the National Press Club, along with his new legislation aimed at preserving the role of Congress... [More]
Media Bias: It's Not What You Think
Matt's post isn't directly about media bias, but it captures the point so perfectly that it needs to be repeated: the media's bias isn't about... [More]
January 10, 2007
Comparing Post-War Iraq and Japan?
Andrew Sullivan today approvingly posts an email from a reader comparing the post WWII occupation of Japan with Iraq. I suppose I understand the point... [More]
I Almost Feel Sorry For John McCain.
Almost. Like Carpetbagger, I've been wondering how he would spin his previous "this war will be an easy war" comments. But never, not in my... [More]
Dare To Be Different
When historians write the story of this administration decades from now, I suspect material like this is going to come in very handy. Although the... [More]
The Speech: My Favorite Part
No extended commentary on "the speech." Instead, here's my favorite part: On September the 11th, 2001, we saw what a refuge for extremists on the... [More]
January 11, 2007
The Speech: The Day After
In no particular order, some things worth noting 24 hours after Bush's big speech: We are, apparently, declaring war on al-Sadr: Iraq's prime minister has... [More]
Syria and Iran: Not Next But Now?
Oh dear god. no. Please, no. From Steve Clemmons: Washington intelligence, military and foreign policy circles are abuzz today with speculation that the President, yesterday... [More]
Standing In Opposition
Earlier today, I wrote that while I thought today's hearings on Iraq were a good start, it would nice to see something more than words.... [More]
Sen. Hagel: Escalation "the Most Dangerous Foreign Policy Blunder... Since Vietnam"
From today's hearings with Sec. Rice: When you were engaging Chairman Biden on this issue on the specific question of, Will our troops go into... [More]
Obama On Today: "A Wrong-Headed Policy"
Take a look. For those interested in his presidential plans, watch all the way tot he end. It's certainly not yet official, but...... [More]
Pentagon Abandons Active-Duty Time Limit
Still don't believe that this war is breaking our military? Take a look: WASHINGTON (AP) - For the first time since President Bush mobilized the... [More]
Thomas Ricks: "Intensified Combat on Streets Likely"
WaPo: President Bush's plan to send tens of thousands of U.S. and Iraqi reinforcements to Baghdad to jointly confront Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias is... [More]
What's Wrong With Rice, In One Sentence Or Less
"It's bad policy to speculate on what you'll do if a plan fails when you're trying to make a plan work." -- Condoleezza Rice That... [More]
January 14, 2007
Compare And Contrast: Stability vs. Instability
President Bush, speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, September 19, 2006: To Understand The Struggle Unfolding In The Middle East, We Need To Look... [More]
Al-Maliki's First Move
Here's some wonderful news. Iraqi PM al-Maliki's first move after Bush's big escalation speech is, well... read for yourself: BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri... [More]
Rod Dreher: "Hadn't The Hippies Tried To Tell My Generation This?"
With apologies in advance, I'm borrowing both the title of this post and the excerpted material in full from Glenn Greenwald. You don't get much... [More]
"Silence Is Betrayal"
It looks like John Edwards is set to give one hell of a speech today. Via TPM Cafe, an excerpt: EXCERPTS OF REMARKS AS PREPARED... [More]
January 16, 2007
"I hope you can forgive us, but I understand if you cannot."
Andrew Sullivan has some of the best readers around.... [More]
January 18, 2007
Equipping and Arming???
If they want their civil war, I say let them have it: BAGHDAD, Jan. 17 -- The Iraqi government's need for American troops would "dramatically... [More]
Ending Support For Hezbollah and Hamas Would Be A Good Thing, Right?
Wrong: An Iranian offer to help the United States stabilize Iraq and end its military support for Hezbollah and Hamas was turned down by U.S.... [More]
Listen To The Man
Lt. Gen. William Odom: "Several critics of the administration show an appreciation of the requirement to regain our allies' and others' support, but they do... [More]
January 19, 2007
Charles Krauthammer, America Hater
A few months back, just prior to the fall election, we heard endless claims from those on the right, all the way up to the... [More]
January 20, 2007
Civilian Control... Ever Heard Of It?
Fred Kagan, the architect of the president's "surge," and Bill Kristol, the man who did more than just about anyone else outside of the White... [More]
68% Oppose The Surge
New poll from Newsweek: 68% oppose the surge. And nearly half want our troops brought home "as soon as possible." An excerpt: Bush’s Iraq plan... [More]
Lieberman Says He Will Filibuster With Republicans
Hey Connecticut... Is this what you wanted? MS. BLOCK: Can you imagine a scenario where you would join in with a Republican filibuster to stop... [More]
January 22, 2007
I Knew Bill Kristol Was Clueless, But Wow...
Via Publius, Anonymous Liberal has a great reminder of just how little Bill Kristol knows: April 4, 2003: "There's been a certain amount of pop... [More]
A "Centrist" Proposal?
Greg Sargent weighs in on Republican Senator John Warner's anti-escalation proposal: Look, the more "bipartisan" resolutions, the better. And, sure, it's good news that some... [More]
Timing Is Everything?
Salon's War Room: Friday, Jan. 19, 2007: Previewing Tuesday night's State of the Union address, George W. Bush tells USA Today: "My point is going... [More]
January 23, 2007
Putting The Fitz In Fitzmas
Opening arguments in the Scooter Libby trial began today, and wow... Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald most definitely is not playing around. Here's how ThinkProgress summarizes... [More]
"Scant evidence found of Iran-Iraq arms link"
When the president gets up tonight and claims Iran is providing substantial support to Iraqi insurgents, keep this article from today's LA Times in mind:... [More]
January 24, 2007
Why We Fight?
Last night the President gave us an update on the state of our democracy. Today. the NYT brings us an update on the state of... [More]
House GOP Leader John Boehner Sets A Timetable For The Surge
Although he called it the "last, best, good chance" for us to succeed, last night on CNN Rep. Boehner gave the surge a fairly short... [More]
McCain Falls Asleep At The State Of The Union
Via ThinkProgress, who have the video. It's worth noting that he fell asleep during a portion of the speech devoted to the war in Iraq.... [More]
McCain Falls Asleep At The State Of The Union
Via ThinkProgress, who have the video. It's worth noting that he fell asleep during a portion of the speech devoted to the war in Iraq.... [More]
I Knew Sen. Hagel Had Had Enough, But Wow...
Two items from Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb) today.... First, via ThinkProgress, there's this from an interview in GQ. Hagel is discussing the 2002 Authorization for... [More]
Why Democrats Can Stop The War
Historian Rick Perlstein has a fascinating piece today over at Salon about what the congress can do to reign in the president's plan for more... [More]
Hagel's Speech (UPDATED)
Following up on my previous post about Sen. Hagel, here is video of his statement today: That is what politics at its best looks like.... [More]
Cheney Vs. Blitzer (Updated)
For the record, I hate Wolf Blitzer. In fact, the man annoys me as much, if not more, than either George Bush or Dick Cheney.... [More]
January 25, 2007
The Battle For Baghdad
While the nation debates "the surge," the military is already carrying it out. Its only just begun, of course, but here's how it is going... [More]
Losing the Evangelicals
David Kuo, "special assistant to the president in George W. Bush's White House, policy director for Sen. John Ashcroft, and speechwriter for a gaggle of... [More]
"Because I told them it had to."
God help us. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday that President George W. Bush did not consult her before announcing his new strategy for the... [More]
Scooter Libby Is Toast
Libby's defense is toast. And I do mean toast. First Vice President Cheney's former public affairs director shreds Libby's supposed timeline. Then, the CIA official... [More]
January 26, 2007
Here We Go Again
"I'm the decision-maker." We are, as Atrios so often says, ruled by a child.... [More]
Begala Tears Cheney A New One
Oh. My. God. PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Really, it's stunning. It's a great interview, and — because we saw the real Dick Cheney, you... [More]
January 27, 2007
Goldilocks Covers the Libby Trial
Slate's coverage of politics has always been good, but their work on the Scooter Libby Trial is downright exceptional. For me, the daily summaries provided... [More]
January 28, 2007
It's The Policy, Stupid.
Via TPM... Sen. Biden (for once) gets it exactly right: Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE): "It's not the American people or the U.S. Congress who are... [More]
Hey Joe... Where You Goin...?
The man never ceases to amaze. First, despite the fact that he ran on the Democratic ticket just 6 years ago, he now says he... [More]
January 29, 2007
What Churchill Would Say About Freedom of Speech During War
Glenn Greenwald does history. And while we're doing history, here's what a great Republican president once said: "The President is merely the most important among... [More]
New VoteVets Ad
These guys consistently create ads that make you stop and think. Here's their latest:... [More]
January 30, 2007
Obama: Withdraw All Troops By March 2008 (UPDATED)
Big news from Sen. Obama today. Via Election Central, his plan for Iraq: WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today introduced binding and comprehensive... [More]
Webb To Rice: "This is, basically, a 'yes' or 'no' question"
Looks like the SOTU rebuttal was just a warm-up. Via TPM... January 29, 2007 The Honorable Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State Department of State 2201... [More]
Military Equipment: Missing in Action
One more time, please. Explain to me precisely how stories like this are evidence that this administration "supports the troops." Via TPM and from Business... [More]
January 31, 2007
WaPo: Senators Unite On Challenge to Bush's Troop Plan
Big news: Democratic and Republican opponents of President Bush's troop-buildup plan joined forces last night behind the nonbinding resolution with the broadest bipartisan backing: a... [More]
Feingold on Iraq
I'm borrowing both items from Kos, but its just too important not to pass along. First, consider this fact: Newsweek. 1/24-25. Adults nationwide. MoE 3%.... [More]
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