Death Valley in California. From National Geographic.
Operation Sabotage from the New Republic
"There is one more possibility for forestalling an Iranian nuke—something that is almost never talked about publicly but that has in fact been central to our Iran policy for years. One Jewish organization leader who has frequent contact with the administration describes the line from the White House and State Department as follows: “You know we don’t have all our eggs in one basket. There are all sorts of means at our disposal that we cannot talk about.” “The clear inference,” this person explains, “is that they are talking about black ops stuff to screw up the Iranian program.”"
An Attack on Iran: Back on the Table (Joe Klein) from Time Magazine
"So the military option is very much back on the table. What has changed? "I started to rethink this last November," a recently retired U.S. official with extensive knowledge of the issue told me. "We offered the Iranians a really generous deal, which their negotiators accepted," he went on, referring to the offer to exchange Iran's 1.2 tons of low-enriched uranium (3.5% pure) for higher-enriched (20%) uranium for medical research and use. "When the leadership shot that down, I began to think, Well, we made the good-faith effort to engage. What do we do now?""
God knows, Obama has given the Iranian leadership every chance to come to the table -- to his detriment on the domestic political front. But this is bad news. I only hope it is simply a new form of pressure being put on Iran. To be credible though, it has to look like the WH is for real on such plans.
Iranian Unrest Grows Over Economic Woes (Barbara Slavin) from the Asia Times [of Hong Kong in English]
"Last year's Iranian political demonstrations have given way to economic protests that could prove more worrisome for the Tehran government. The unrest includes the first prolonged strike in the Tehran bazaar and protests by industrial workers who have gone unpaid for months. While these incidents are not directly related to the latest round of United Nations, United States and European penalties against Iran - and do not appear to have been coordinated with the opposition Green movement - the new sanctions contribute to a climate of uncertainty that is undermining the Iranian economy and rattling Iran's leaders."
The Kremlin is Finally Listening to Obama (Editorial) from the Moscow Times
"If Russia desired closer relations with the United States, it would get them. If, however, it wanted a new Cold War, it would get that instead. Everything, Obama said, depends on Russia. That is why it was so difficult for the Russian elite to formulate a reaction to Obama’s speech. They are not accustomed to assuming so much responsibility. Russian policy toward the United States has always been purely reactive. The United States sets the course, and Russia responds to it. Now Washington has offered Moscow a full menu of options, along with full responsibility for its choice."
A related story, "Russia Optimistic" is HERE from the National Interest.
Afghans to Form Local Forces to Fight Taliban from the New York Times
"Desperate to push back the Taliban in Afghanistan, NATO military commanders agreed on Wednesday to support the establishment of local defense forces which would be used in remote areas to stop attacks. The decision points to anger over the slow pace at which a more permanent security force is taking shape."
GOP Judge Drops Gay Ban (Joshua Green) from the Boston Globe
"Nearly as significant as the decision itself is the political affiliation of the judge who made it: 79-year-old Joseph Tauro, the longest-serving appointee of Richard Nixon. Why is this significant? Because while the recent confirmation hearings for Elena Kagan dwelt on whether “activist’’ liberal judges appointed by Democrats would trample legal precedent, the judges who have begun the constitutional protection of same-sex marriage have mostly been Republican appointees like Tauro."
Why Obama Loses by Winning (Harris & VandeHei) from Politico
"The problem is that he and his West Wing turn out to be not especially good at politics, or communications — in other words, largely ineffective at the very things on which their campaign reputation was built. And the promises he made in two years of campaigning turn out to be much less appealing as actual policies. "
Lots of truth in their assessments here concerning Obama and political messaging.
The Clinton Administration, Brought to You by Barack Obama (Dana Milbank) from the Washington Post
"This week alone, President Obama has taken several steps to implement Bill Clinton's third term. On Tuesday, Obama named Jack Lew, Clinton's budget director, to be his own budget director -- joining an administration led by Rahm Emanuel, Larry Summers and dozens of other former Clinton aides."
The sad part of this new approach is that it may be Obama warming up for next year with the Dems no longer in control of the House.
The GOP's Phony Religious Diversity (Peter Beinart) from the Daily Beast
"In today’s Republican Party, racial barriers may be falling, but religious barriers are alive and well. Just ask Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley. Peter Beinart on the GOP’s phony diversity."
Democrats, Not Independents or Republicans, Will Decide Who Wins in 2010 and Beyond (Michael Hais) from NDN
"Actually, however, it is not what independent-or even Republican-voters do that will determine what happens in this November's elections. It is what Democrats do, or perhaps not do, that will be decisive. This is true for two reasons. First, a significantly greater number of voters now identify with or lean to the Democratic Party than to the GOP. Second, only a relatively small number of politically uninvolved and disinterested voters are independents that are completely unattached to either of the parties."
Senior Republicans Aren't Banking on Senate Takeover from The Hill
"Senior Senate Republicans are not optimistic about their chances of capturing the upper chamber in the midterms and have not put together a legislative strategy in case it happens. "
Comparing Obama to Hitler: A Tea Party Divided from The Week
"An Iowa Tea Party group has been blasted by fellow Tea Partiers for putting up a billboard comparing Obama to Hitler. What does the incident reveal about the movement?"
Obama Family Vacations: First Family Off to Maine, Martha's Vineyard? from Huffington Post
"So where will the First Family kick back and relax? This weekend they're all heading to Mount Desert Island, Maine to check out Acadia National Park."
God, they must need it!
COLD WAR NUGGET!!
The Spy Who Came in by Amtrak from Foreign Policy Magazine
"Why is Russia spying on Khrushchev's great-granddaughter?"
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