"Our Exit Strategy in Iraq is Victory"
Great position paper from U.S. Senator John McCain. [read it]
With all the trouble we will continue to see in Iraq over the following months, it's good to know there are some people in positions of power who don't have their heads stuck in the sand.
With all the trouble we will continue to see in Iraq over the following months, it's good to know there are some people in positions of power who don't have their heads stuck in the sand.
"CIA gadgets: robot fish, pigeon camera, jungle microphones"
The CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology is celebrating its 40th anniversary by revealing a few dozen of its secrets for a new museum inside its headquarters near Washington. ...
In 2000, the CIA built a catfish it calls 'Charlie,' a remarkably realistic swimming robot. The spy agency still won't disclose much about its mission, but experts speculated it collects water samples near suspected chemical or nuclear plants.
Unfortunately, the museum is not open to the general public:
Keith Melton, a leading historian of intelligence, calls it "the finest spy musuem you'll never see." It is accessible only to CIA employees and guests admitted to those closed quarters.
In 2000, the CIA built a catfish it calls 'Charlie,' a remarkably realistic swimming robot. The spy agency still won't disclose much about its mission, but experts speculated it collects water samples near suspected chemical or nuclear plants.
Unfortunately, the museum is not open to the general public:
Keith Melton, a leading historian of intelligence, calls it "the finest spy musuem you'll never see." It is accessible only to CIA employees and guests admitted to those closed quarters.
"States try new anti-icing methods"
Some cool technology. Apparently will save lives and dollars.
No talk of influence on the environment, though.
No talk of influence on the environment, though.
"Battery And Assault"
Summary
Article on the proclivity of the Apple iPod to battery failure and on the efforts of one owner to raise awareness of this issue. Also, some good commentary towards the end on the increasingly disposable nature of many modern consumer goods.
Reaction
Over 300,000 iPods are expected to sell this Christmas; Apple has already sold 1.4 million. Yet it doesn't seem Apple fully understands what it needs to do to ensure long-term success.
These are devices that cost a minimum of $300. I may prove wrong, but I believe few will be willing to spend this kind of money every other year. At least I know when it happens to mine, if there isn't a reasonable replacement plan, I'll be pissed.
It will be very interesting to see how Apple's response evolves as more and more iPod batteries begin to weaken and die...
Article on the proclivity of the Apple iPod to battery failure and on the efforts of one owner to raise awareness of this issue. Also, some good commentary towards the end on the increasingly disposable nature of many modern consumer goods.
Reaction
Over 300,000 iPods are expected to sell this Christmas; Apple has already sold 1.4 million. Yet it doesn't seem Apple fully understands what it needs to do to ensure long-term success.
These are devices that cost a minimum of $300. I may prove wrong, but I believe few will be willing to spend this kind of money every other year. At least I know when it happens to mine, if there isn't a reasonable replacement plan, I'll be pissed.
It will be very interesting to see how Apple's response evolves as more and more iPod batteries begin to weaken and die...
"Fusion project decision delayed"
The goal:
Iter will be the first fusion device to produce thermal energy at the level of an electricity-producing power station.
Advocates of fusion power point out that if they succeed, there is an almost limitless supply of power available because the deuterium atoms on which it would be based can be derived from seawater.
What was supposed to happen:
Iter is the boldest nuclear initiative since the Manhattan Project... the world's largest international co-operative research and development project after the International Space Station.
The experts were supposed to reach a consensus based on objective criteria.
Unfortunately, the decision-making process appears to have become highly politicized:
The US has been against [construction in France] because of France's opposition to the invasion of Iraq.
Iter will be the first fusion device to produce thermal energy at the level of an electricity-producing power station.
Advocates of fusion power point out that if they succeed, there is an almost limitless supply of power available because the deuterium atoms on which it would be based can be derived from seawater.
What was supposed to happen:
Iter is the boldest nuclear initiative since the Manhattan Project... the world's largest international co-operative research and development project after the International Space Station.
The experts were supposed to reach a consensus based on objective criteria.
Unfortunately, the decision-making process appears to have become highly politicized:
The US has been against [construction in France] because of France's opposition to the invasion of Iraq.
"Iraqis Exact Revenge on Baathists"
While I shed few tears over the loss of former Baath Party officials, revenge killings are not what Iraq now needs most:
The killings of Baath security officials have revealed fissures in Iraqi society, not only between supporters and opponents of the Hussein government but also between some Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Most of the security chiefs were Sunnis like Hussein; the suspected killers are Shiites.
Sunnis increasingly view the bloodletting in sectarian terms. ... "For each one they kill," said a mourner, "we'll kill four."
The killings of Baath security officials have revealed fissures in Iraqi society, not only between supporters and opponents of the Hussein government but also between some Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Most of the security chiefs were Sunnis like Hussein; the suspected killers are Shiites.
Sunnis increasingly view the bloodletting in sectarian terms. ... "For each one they kill," said a mourner, "we'll kill four."
"Give Iraqis more power"
Well-reasoned and well-written -- a proposal to maintain our necessary temporary military presence in Iraq while at the same time empowering the very people who should be running the country.
Excerpt:
Nassir Al-Salam, 43, had been a lieutenant colonel in Saddam's army. When the war started, he told me, he heard an American radio broadcast telling Iraqi soldiers to surrender if they wanted to help free their country. He looked for the Americans and surrendered. He wanted to join the fight against Saddam, but U.S. forces had other plans. This was America's war, he found out, not his. ...
People like Al-Salam welcomed Saddam's fall. They long to have a free country. Now they should be allowed to defend their nation against those who again would take away their freedom. Inspiration and reassurance about a better future also should have an Iraqi accent, from local leaders who long have dreamed of freedom but now often feel that their views are unwanted or barely considered.
Excerpt:
Nassir Al-Salam, 43, had been a lieutenant colonel in Saddam's army. When the war started, he told me, he heard an American radio broadcast telling Iraqi soldiers to surrender if they wanted to help free their country. He looked for the Americans and surrendered. He wanted to join the fight against Saddam, but U.S. forces had other plans. This was America's war, he found out, not his. ...
People like Al-Salam welcomed Saddam's fall. They long to have a free country. Now they should be allowed to defend their nation against those who again would take away their freedom. Inspiration and reassurance about a better future also should have an Iraqi accent, from local leaders who long have dreamed of freedom but now often feel that their views are unwanted or barely considered.
"Coming Soon to Arab TV’s"
Read the New York Times article, "Hearts and Minds: Coming Soon to Arab TV’s: U.S."
Very, very interesting.
Excerpt:
But the most important distinguishing feature, Mr. Harb said, will be its journalistic approach.
"In all Arabic newspapers, the op-ed section is on Page 1," he said. "It's created a culture where you can't tell the difference between news and opinion."
Very, very interesting.
Excerpt:
But the most important distinguishing feature, Mr. Harb said, will be its journalistic approach.
"In all Arabic newspapers, the op-ed section is on Page 1," he said. "It's created a culture where you can't tell the difference between news and opinion."
"The Benefits Certainly Seem to Outweigh the Risks"
The caption is from an article on the ABC News website, "Is Sex Necessary?". Reminds me of Neil Postman's complaint that a lot of modern science just tells us what we already know.
The specific factors involved certainly aren't obvious though, especially when it comes to concerns for males having "too much sex."
It's a good read.
The specific factors involved certainly aren't obvious though, especially when it comes to concerns for males having "too much sex."
It's a good read.
"New Iraqi Leaders Confront Their Former Dictator"
Quite intriguiging.
Excerpt:
"The most important fact: Had the roles been reversed, he would have torn us apart and cut us into small pieces after torture," Dr. Chalabi said. "This contrast was paramount in my mind — how we treated him and how he would have treated us."
Excerpt:
"The most important fact: Had the roles been reversed, he would have torn us apart and cut us into small pieces after torture," Dr. Chalabi said. "This contrast was paramount in my mind — how we treated him and how he would have treated us."
Human Rights Watch report on Iraq war
The good [U.S.]:
The organization gives good marks to the U.S. military which made an effort to minimize damage to civilians and non-military buildings across Iraq.
The bad [U.S.]:
Thousands of civilian deaths during the war in Iraq could have been avoided if the U.S. military did not use cluster bombs, and if it used better intelligence methods to target senior Iraqi leaders in "decapitation" strikes.
The ugly [Iraq]:
Human Rights Watch documented instances of abuse of the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems; violations of the prohibitions on the use of civilian shields, use of antipersonnel landmines, and location of military objects in protected places, such as hospitals, mosques and cultural property sites. ... Witnesses also reported large numbers of Iraqi soldiers wearing civilian clothes.
The organization gives good marks to the U.S. military which made an effort to minimize damage to civilians and non-military buildings across Iraq.
The bad [U.S.]:
Thousands of civilian deaths during the war in Iraq could have been avoided if the U.S. military did not use cluster bombs, and if it used better intelligence methods to target senior Iraqi leaders in "decapitation" strikes.
The ugly [Iraq]:
Human Rights Watch documented instances of abuse of the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems; violations of the prohibitions on the use of civilian shields, use of antipersonnel landmines, and location of military objects in protected places, such as hospitals, mosques and cultural property sites. ... Witnesses also reported large numbers of Iraqi soldiers wearing civilian clothes.
"A Deliberate Debacle"
Great op-ed piece from Paul Krugman.
I've always found claims that profiteering was the motive for the Iraq war — as opposed to a fringe benefit — as implausible as claims that the war was about fighting terrorism. There are deeper motives here. Read more...
I've always found claims that profiteering was the motive for the Iraq war — as opposed to a fringe benefit — as implausible as claims that the war was about fighting terrorism. There are deeper motives here. Read more...
"Iraqi colonel: I am WMD claim source"
Wow. If credible, this is a big deal:
An Iraqi colonel said yesterday that he was the source of the Government's "dodgy dossier" claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes. ...
"They arrived in boxes marked 'Made in Iraq' and looked like something you fired with a rocket-propelled grenade," Col al-Dabbagh told The Sunday Telegraph. ...
"They were either chemical or biological weapons; I don't know which, because only the Fedayeen and the Special Republican Guard were allowed to use them. All I know is we were told that when we used these weapons we had to wear gas masks." ...
Col al-Dabbagh said he had no idea what became of the weapons he was describing. He believed the weapons would not be found until Saddam was caught or killed, as people would then feel freer to speak about them.
Even if al-Dabbagh's claims do prove true though, it seems the U.S. and British administrations remain guilty of exaggeration:
However, Col al-Dabbagh doubted Saddam developed missiles that could carry WMD and hit targets such as Israel or Britain's Cyprus military bases.
An Iraqi colonel said yesterday that he was the source of the Government's "dodgy dossier" claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes. ...
"They arrived in boxes marked 'Made in Iraq' and looked like something you fired with a rocket-propelled grenade," Col al-Dabbagh told The Sunday Telegraph. ...
"They were either chemical or biological weapons; I don't know which, because only the Fedayeen and the Special Republican Guard were allowed to use them. All I know is we were told that when we used these weapons we had to wear gas masks." ...
Col al-Dabbagh said he had no idea what became of the weapons he was describing. He believed the weapons would not be found until Saddam was caught or killed, as people would then feel freer to speak about them.
Even if al-Dabbagh's claims do prove true though, it seems the U.S. and British administrations remain guilty of exaggeration:
However, Col al-Dabbagh doubted Saddam developed missiles that could carry WMD and hit targets such as Israel or Britain's Cyprus military bases.
"There They Go Again"
Good piece from Nicholas Kristof -- why nominating Dean would be a very bad idea. Nicely related to his own childhood support for McGovern.
Excerpt:
My guess is that the Democratic faithful are being not so much high-minded as muddle-headed. Many Democrats so despise President Bush that they don't appreciate what a strong candidate he will be in November, and they don't grasp how poorly Mr. Dean is likely to fare in battleground states. ... The last two presidents who were fervently hated, Richard Nixon and Mr. Clinton, both won two terms.
Excerpt:
My guess is that the Democratic faithful are being not so much high-minded as muddle-headed. Many Democrats so despise President Bush that they don't appreciate what a strong candidate he will be in November, and they don't grasp how poorly Mr. Dean is likely to fare in battleground states. ... The last two presidents who were fervently hated, Richard Nixon and Mr. Clinton, both won two terms.
Will the new U.S. strategy in Iraq backfire?
From the New York Times article "Tough New Tactics by U.S. Tighten Grip on Iraq Towns":
So far, the new approach appears to be succeeding in diminishing the threat to American soldiers. But it appears to be coming at the cost of alienating many of the people the Americans are trying to win over. Abu Hishma is quiet now, but it is angry, too. ...
Mostly, it is a loss of dignity that the villagers talk about. For each identification card, every Iraqi man is assigned a number, which he must hold up when he poses for his mug shot. The card identifies his age and type of car. It is all in English.
Further, I find the racialistic attitude taken by at least one of the commanders quite disconcerting. This seems no way to run an occupation:
"You have to understand the Arab mind," Capt. Todd Brown, a company commander with the Fourth Infantry Division, said as he stood outside the gates of Abu Hishma. "The only thing they understand is force — force, pride and saving face."
So far, the new approach appears to be succeeding in diminishing the threat to American soldiers. But it appears to be coming at the cost of alienating many of the people the Americans are trying to win over. Abu Hishma is quiet now, but it is angry, too. ...
Mostly, it is a loss of dignity that the villagers talk about. For each identification card, every Iraqi man is assigned a number, which he must hold up when he poses for his mug shot. The card identifies his age and type of car. It is all in English.
Further, I find the racialistic attitude taken by at least one of the commanders quite disconcerting. This seems no way to run an occupation:
"You have to understand the Arab mind," Capt. Todd Brown, a company commander with the Fourth Infantry Division, said as he stood outside the gates of Abu Hishma. "The only thing they understand is force — force, pride and saving face."
Great Kerry Quote
From the Rolling Stone magazine article "John Kerry's Desperate Hours":
Rolling Stone: "Did you feel you were blindsided by Dean's success?"
Kerry: "Well, not blindsided. I mean, when I voted for the war, I voted for what I thought was best for the country. Did I expect Howard Dean to go off to the left and say, 'I'm against everything'? Sure. Did I expect George Bush to fuck it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did."
Well... I would say we all expected him to fuck it up somewhat :)
Rolling Stone: "Did you feel you were blindsided by Dean's success?"
Kerry: "Well, not blindsided. I mean, when I voted for the war, I voted for what I thought was best for the country. Did I expect Howard Dean to go off to the left and say, 'I'm against everything'? Sure. Did I expect George Bush to fuck it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did."
Well... I would say we all expected him to fuck it up somewhat :)
"A Tale of War: Iraqi Describes Battling G.I.’s"
The interviewee here claims to be a member of the "resistance" in Iraq. Assuming the story is credible, this is a new angle on the insurgency.
Excerpts:
"People with more military experience than me set the targets and make the plans," he said. ... "It is like, `I have a friend, who has another friend,'" he said. "We have contacts between the cells but there is no real organization."
He said they bought some weapons with their own money and looted others from unguarded ammunition dumps left over from before the war.
Excerpts:
"People with more military experience than me set the targets and make the plans," he said. ... "It is like, `I have a friend, who has another friend,'" he said. "We have contacts between the cells but there is no real organization."
He said they bought some weapons with their own money and looted others from unguarded ammunition dumps left over from before the war.
