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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

News Nuggets 669

A clearly surprised fox caught stealing an egg in a photo trap!  From the Daily Mail of the UK.

Shove It, Karzai! (Leslie Gelb) from the Daily Beast
"The departing U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan had it right. Leslie H. Gelb on why President Karzai’s out-of-control comments should be a wakeup call to American hawks and doves alike."

Time to Quit Afghanistan (Richard Cohen) from the Washington Post
"From the start, America’s huge investment in Afghanistan has been a mistake. It was always necessary, not to mention just plain right, to go after Osama bin Laden and kill every last member of al-Qaeda. That job has mostly been done. But the rest — the routing of the Taliban and the building of a democratic state — is beyond America’s reach. The troops — most of them — should come home."
A clear, concise statement on where things are concerning troop withdrawal and what is and IS NOT at stake!  One of Cohen's better columns in a long time.

Turkey: Assad Has Less than Week to Heed Reforms Call from Reuters via the Jerusalem Post
"Turkish official warns Syrian there will be foreign intervention if Syria does not begin to implement reform; 1000s of civilians have fled Syria to Turkey."
Why "a week"?

A World of Our Making (G. John Ikenberry) from Democracy Journal

"The international order that America created will endure—if we make the transition to a grand strategy based on reciprocity and shared leadership."
A very interesting big-picture look at US foreign policy from one of America's leading Bush foreign policy critics.

All Ahmadinejad's Men (Ali Alfoneh) from the American Enterprise Institute

"...the move constitutes yet another public snub to Khamene'i, who seems unwilling and unable to protect his own protégés, thus opening the door to his further weakening. Is Khamene'i ready for a showdown with Ahmadinejad, or will he continue to watch his prestige crumble amidst his rival's provocations? Regardless of the outcome of the power struggle between the two, a third party could be the ultimate victor:"
This author presents a VERY different picture than most commentators concerning the struggles within the Iranian leadership. 

For contrast, see the following more conventional view presented in this story that appeared today:
Ahmadinejad’s Inner Circle Under Pressure from the Washington Post
"Although Ahmadinejad, who has become increasingly isolated, has relied closely on his tightknit group, the critics are demanding that the president cut all ties with his team."

Stuxnet Virus the World’s First ‘Open Source Weapon’ (VIDEO) from Raw Story
"What is the “Stuxnet” virus and why should you care? Simply put, it is the dawning of a new age of warfare, and a herald of things to come."

The Great Greek Illusion (Roger Cohen) from the New York Times
"Past glory is a wonderful thing — and a lousy guide for present policy. That’s true in the Holy Land, in Kosovo and in Athens. Greece should not have been allowed into the euro."

Farewell to GOP Interventionism? (Joe Scarborough) from Politico
"The fact that a few Republicans are advocating military restraint is a reason to cheer."
This view from one of the most prominent GOP talking heads!

GOP Eyes Tax Breaks, Loopholes from Politico
"Last week’s resounding votes on ethanol subsidies were just the start. Republicans are now starting to eye all sorts of tax breaks and special-interest loopholes once considered sacred cows as they seek ways to increase government revenue without actually raising tax rates."
Good news!! But the GOP will need to think AND PASS the unthinkable.  The sooner they get there the better.

The Rise of Uncompassionate Conservatism (Rich Lowry) from National Review
"The nomination of John McCain — himself no down-the-line conservative — obscured the anti-Bush feeling. Now, it’s in full flower and evident on all fronts, from spending and immigration to foreign policy, as Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns point out in Politico. Running on his message circa 1999, George W. Bush would be hard-pressed to gain traction in the current Republican party."

A related item:
Offensive Obama Impersonator Isn't Face GOP Should Put Forward (Doug Heye) from US News and World Report
"...if you want to know why many minorities have a problem with the GOP—a party that believes in empowerment, and the party of Lincoln—look no further than the hiring of an Obama impersonator telling “black jokes” to a Republican audience. When we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot, we have only ourselves to blame."
In certain respects these two stories are of a piece.  Somewhat thoughtful folks like Lowry still resist what's right in front of them: The extent to which loud, intolerant voices have found a GENUINE home in the GOP.  Until Republican and conservative leaders take an unambiguous stand against these people and their views, the GOP will push African Americans, Latinos and other minorities into the Democratic Party.

Mitt Romney Versus the Many from Politico
"The former Massachusetts governor has built up a solid early lead and looks as strong as ever; now, the burden of closing that gap falls to a group of relatively untested, unknown rivals who have yet to prove themselves on the national stage."
I think with Huntsman's entrance into the race today, this narrative will soon disappear.

12 Things Texans Know About Gov. Rick Perry That You Should, Too (Eileen Smith) from the Atlantic
"As momentum builds behind Perry's potential run at the White House in 2012, the national press is sure to delve deeper into his record. As that process begins, here's a list of things Texans know about Rick Perry that the national political audience should know, too."

The Mouth That Roared "Begins a New ‘Countdown' from the New York Times
"Keith Olbermann returned to cable television on Monday mad as hell and pointedly madder than other self-described liberal anchors on his former channel, MSNBC."

Edwards’ Life in Exile (Michelle Cottle) from the Daily Beast
"In John Edwards’ hometown, residents are disgusted by the fallen former presidential candidate's cheating on Elizabeth Edwards. Michelle Cottle visits Chapel Hill, where people snicker about his nightlife and his visits to his wife and son’s graves as tour buses drive by."
What a pathetic come-down!!

DOG SHELTER VIDEO NUGGET!!
Dying Man Reunited with Dog from KCRG-TV via Americablog


WORLD WAR II PHOTO NUGGET!!
Mysteries of a Nazi Photo Album (PHOTOS) from the New York Times

"There are certainly many photo albums of Nazi leaders and many photo albums of the Nazis’ victims. But it’s hard to imagine many albums depicting both, just a few pages apart."

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