Remember that bit of ridiculousness in March 2003, when a couple of Republican Congressmen, angry that France wasn’t supporting the U.S. efforts in Iraq, decided to "protest" by having the Congressional cafeteria serve "freedom fries" instead of "French fries"? It was a bold culinary symbolic statement which raised congressional silliness to new heights. Three years later, those two Congressmen (Bob … Read More
The Best Defense
A lot of lawyers will tell you that sometimes, the best strategy when you are being accused, is to sue your accuser in order to intimidate him. (In fact, people often do this in daily life — in order to avoid guilt, they lay accusations at others). That’s exactly what is going on here: A Marine Corps staff sergeant who … Read More
Did The Pentagon Lie About 9/11?
Could be: Some staff members and commissioners of the Sept. 11 panel concluded that the Pentagon’s initial story of how it reacted to the 2001 terrorist attacks may have been part of a deliberate effort to mislead the commission and the public rather than a reflection of the fog of events on that day, according to sources involved in the … Read More
Rebuilding In Iraq
You would almost think FEMA is in charge: NASIRIYAH, Iraq, Aug. 1 — A flailing Iraq reconstruction effort that has been dominated for more than three years by U.S. dollars and companies is being transferred to Iraqis, leaving them the challenge of completing a long list of projects left unfinished by the Americans. While the handover is occurring gradually, it … Read More
Then Again
The "Castro is dying/dead" rumors that I mentioned (and dismissed) here on July 11 might have a grain of truth to them: News that Fidel Castro had ceded presidential powers to his brother Raul after undergoing surgery to stop internal bleeding ushered in a period of uncertainty at home and celebrations by his enemies abroad, while fueling speculation on the … Read More
Tabor Logic
Mind-boggling stupid Nathan Tabor is at it again: Google the phrase “Muslim violence,” and more than 29 million entries pop up. Granted, some of these citations represent violence committed against Muslims, but, unfortunately, quite a few represent violence committed in the name of Islam. This makes me wonder: What does Islam really stand for? Only a fool or an idiot … Read More
Israel’s 48 Hour Ceasefire Lasts 12 Hours
So much for the peace process.
Update On The Army/Community Theater Question
Background here. TPM Muckraker’s Justin Rood follows up: I posted yesterday about a decorated Army Arabic linguist who was kicked out for being gay. Among other questions posed to him by an Army investigator attempting to confirm his gayness, Sgt. Bleu Copas of the 82nd Airborne Division says he was asked if he was involved in community theater. I called … Read More
What Fred Says
FroM the Slacktivist: It’s been awhile so it seems again it’s time for a helpful reminder that noncombatant immunity isn’t just a good idea, it’s the law. In other words: You’re not allowed to kill civilians. Killing civilians is against the law. Killing civilians makes you a criminal. Yes, but … No buts about it. You’re not allowed to kill … Read More
U.S. Army: “If You’re Involved In Community Theater, You Must Be Gay”
From TPM Muckraker: Here’s a tidbit from an AP article …The story concerns a decorated Army Arabic specialist who was dismissed for being gay: On Dec. 2, investigators formally interviewed Copas and asked if he understood the military’s policy on homosexuals, if he had any close acquaintances who were gay, and if he was involved in community theater. Seriously? Yeah, … Read More
Key Neocon Acknowledges Iraq Debacle
David Frum was a former Bush speechwriter, best known for coming up with the "axis of evil" term. Both in and out of the White House, he has been an ardent supporter of Bush’s foreign policy and the invasion of Iraq. But today, he’s being candid, writing that Iraq is essentially a lost cause no matter what we do: Hands … Read More
A Unique Solution To The Middle East Problem
Why didn’t somebody think of this before? Reuven Zelinkovsky was a colonel in the Israeli army, but now he has renounced military might to join a squadron of yogic flyers at the Sea of Galilee to throw a "shield of invincibility" around the Jewish state. As Hezbollah rockets fired from nearby Lebanon boomed in the background, he explained that the … Read More
Weighing In On The Israel-Lebanon Thing
Look, I know it’s complicated. And I don’t feel compelled to pick a side. This much I will say. There’s no question that Hezbollah is, or certainly acts like, a terrorist organization, and Israel is justified in defending itself from those attacks. But to my mind, Israel’s response is disproportionate, over-the-top, and reckless. Two example in the past 24 hours: … Read More
Citizen Diplomacy
On September 12, 2001, the French newspaper La Monde headlined "We Are All Americans Today", or something like that. That was certainly the global sentiment. Everybody was united with us, and we Americans were united. Incredible how five years of Bush policies have not only divided the country, but turned our longstanding friends and allies into rampant America-haters. It’s really … Read More