War is Over

The end of the (US) war in Iraq makes it all the way to page 3 of the New York Times. Welcome home to all the brave men and women.

Are we going to actually learn something from this completely unnecessary, unjustified, and criminal war?


Now we can turn our attention to more important issues, i.e., was it appropriate to call Newt Gingrich "zany"?

By the way, the answer is yes, but only because the real words can't be printed.

A Conversation we need to have, but won't

Check out the above link, to Thomas Ricks' blog. It's a lengthy, well-thought-out piece by a combat veteran who was a very good student of mine a long time ago. He makes a compelling case for mandatory military service. (I have half-seriously promoted this idea, too, usually when somebody complains about being "yelled at" - sometimes by me, sometimes by others. I think everyone should have the experience of really being yelled at, preferably by a Marine Corps gunnery sergeant and preferably for no good reason.)

This posting, however, gives a dead-serious, angry, articulate and persuasive case.

Who Are the Libyan Rebels?

It's the question of the day/week/month - especially if, as seems possible, the United States decides to arm them. One thing they ain't, evidently, is a military power. But check out Robert Worth's NY Times magazine article at the above link; some amazing stories out of Benghazi. Jon Lee Anderson also tackles that question in The New Yorker.

World War III Places at Once

Credit: Anja Niedringhaus, Associated Press, at URL above

I have to admit, I'm shocked, stunned, perplexed by the attacks on Libyan forces. Granted, Gadhafi is murderous scum - but whose interests are we serving here? Who are the "rebels" and what do they want? Do we have any reason to think they care about democracy or women's rights? Is there any reason to think that air strikes alone are going to force Gadhafi out? And if he is forced out, what then? Is there evidence I'm missing of massacres of civilians? The news coverage makes me strongly suspect that we're making a false distinction between "civilian" and "rebel," i.e., if Gadhafi kills someone, he's a civilian; if that someone shoots at Gadhafi forces, he's a rebel.

Our US forces and their allies will undoubtedly do a superb job - but are we going to be on the hook to reconstruct a third nation? We've done such a swell job in Iraq and Afghanistan --

Libya

On to Tripoli, I meant to say.

Who could have predicted that the gods love Gadhafi and hate the Japanese?

Gone Baby Gone

What an amazing development - (so much for my scenario that Mubarak could hang on, even in the face of these massive protests). Congratulations to the brave people of Egypt, and let's hope for a democratic, peaceful future.

On to Riyadh!

Photo from:

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/10/live-blog-feb-11-egypt-protests#

Egypt is Shut Off

Approximately 16 hours ago Egypt's government has completely shut down the Internet and cell phone coverage.

http://www.arabist.net/blog/2011/1/28/urgent-egypt-has-shut-off-the-internet.html

Police are struggling to control protests by using tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons. I have heard rumors of a few police officers shooting and killing people while it was all video taped. Whether or not it is true, I am unsure. I've only read blogs from activists posting via satellite internet.

You can follow the updates on the protests in Cairo through the NY Times:

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/latest-updates-on-protests-in-egypt/?hp