How the Marines Respond to Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan
The New York Times reports:
MARJA, Afghanistan — Twelve bodies — five children, five women and two men — were wrapped head to toe in woolen blankets, lying in a neat row on the floor of the only room remaining in a house that had been blasted to mud-brick rubble by at least one and possibly [...]
Lady al Qaeda protests
The trial of al Qaeda terrorists in federal court will undoubtedly give us many moments like those afforded by the trial of “Lady al Qaeda” (Aafia Siddiqui). From the opening of Siddiqui’s trial came the New York Daily News report “Lady al Qaeda cries foul: Accused terrorist Aafia Siddiqui says toss Jews [...]
The year the locusts ate
In his famous speech of November 1936, Winston Churchill referred to the preceding years during which Britian and France failed to respond to German rearmament as the years the locusts ate. Churchill was seizing on the Biblical locution first applied to the period by Minister for Co-ordination of Defence Sir Thomas Inskip. In [...]
Obamunism: See No Wisdom, Hear No Wisdom, Speak No Wisdom
And in the meanwhile, the New York Times reports that Barack H. Obama (or one of his minions) has muzzled Gen. David Petraeus, who remains Commander of CENTCOM but appears unappetizing to the powers that be in the D. of C.:
General Petraeus’s aides now privately call him “Dave the Dull,” and say he has largely [...]
What To Do in Afghanistan
The New York Times reports on the internal divisions in the Obama White House on Afghanistan:
While Mr. Obama is hearing from more hawkish voices, including those of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Richard C. Holbrooke, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, some outside advisers relied on by Mr. Obama have voiced doubts.
Former [...]
Reading Tea Leaves on Afghanistan
The New York Times reports on the conflicting advice President Obama is getting on Afghanistan, as he considers whether to go along with commanding general Stanley McChrystal’s request for more troops. The Times story is interesting, since it is based on either 1) a dozen or more separate leaks from pretty much every member [...]
