Monday, April 26, 2004
Monday Beats & Pieces on Iraq and the War on Terror | Kerry's really wack poll numbers | Can a brother get a cab?
Image courtesy: Newsweek
Richard Clarke says we're having "The Wrong Debate on Terrorism" in his New York Times Op-ed yesterday.
Maureen Dowd on living in Bushworld. (New York Times)
Thomas Friedman on what's wrong with the US post-war strategy in Iraq and how to fix it:
That's what we're now up against. It is the wrath of a local population that has begun to view its liberators as worse than occupiers — because they can't even provide what tyranny does, i.e. control and security, which are the necessary foundations for economic or political development. That people would stone their would-be rescuers is also a reminder of how broken, traumatized and messed up Iraqi society is by decades of Saddam's rule, and of how it is caught up in some of the same anti-Western conspiracy theories that you can find on any Arab street today.From "Rue John Kennedy" (New York Times)
We are now in the middle of a low-grade civil war in Iraq for who will control the place after we leave. That's the bad news. Here's the good news: I doubt we will be in Iraq a year from now — certainly not in large numbers. One of three things is likely to happen. First, the security and economic situations could continue to spiral downward, creating a Mogadishu-like situation in which we will have to fight our way out.
Second, we might manage, with the help of the U.N., to organize a reasonably legitimate Iraqi caretaker government to which we can hand `'limited" sovereignty on June 30. But that won't stop our opponents. They will go on attacking U.S. forces to provoke a U.S. retaliation that will embarrass the caretaker government, make its leaders look like our stooges and pressure it to throw the U.S. out.
Third, the least-bad scenario is that we will be able to stick it out and, with the U.N., conduct a decent election by the end of the year that brings a legitimate Shiite-led Iraqi government to power. I doubt that such a government is going to want to have U.S. troops protecting it for very long, and it will either invite us to leave gradually or insist that we put our forces under a U.N. umbrella.
And how are we doing on that War on Terror anyway?
Militants in Europe Openly Call for Jihad and the Rule of Islam. (New York Times)
Related:
- Although, on the other hand, we should all be glad for this: Jordan says major al Qaeda plot disrupted. (CNN.com)
Jose Padilla's moms on her son's 21-month imprisonment as an "enemy combatant":
"Why are they doing this to an American?" she asked. "If we go to all these other countries to promote democracy — hello? — why can't we practice it at home? I'm like, `Give me proof.' If my son did something, charge him. Give him his day in court."From "Terror Suspect's Path From Streets to Brig." Good question. Mr. Ashcroft, care to take that one? (New York Times)
Since the media is dropping the ball on really looking into this potential $700 million misappropriation story, I'm gonna give it some shine here courtesy of the good work by the Center for American Progress: the real deal. (The Progress Report)
Related:
- Bush's Legal Obligation to Tell Congress About $700M for Iraq. (The Progress Report)
And also while we're at it:
Bush's Saudi connect. (The Progress Report)
And Cheney talking out of both sides of his mouth about Kerry's supposedly weak record on defense considering his own record. (The Progress Report)
Recent Stuff in the news that somehow is all related in some twisted way? The NFL Draft this past weekend ---> A former top NFL draft pick forgoes millions after 9/11 to becomes an Army Ranger instead ---> A propsed new military Draft?
BTW, could you believe even one word coming out the mouth of Saudi ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan on Meet the Press yesterday? Duke embodies slimey liar-ness, it was oozing out of his pores.
But, even with all this, the recent Poll numbers are not a good look for Kerry. He really needs to step his campaign game up. I don't know why the Dems keep getting sidetracked by bogus "controversies" like this one. Somebody please help these idiots before it's too late. (USA Today | CNN.com)
Related:
- "So inept a spinner that even his stellar military record is tying him up in knots. P.S. What's your message again?" (Newsweek)
- More bad poll numbers for Kerry. (CNN.com)
And more FCC double-standards: While the FCC cracks down on Howard Stern, Hispanic shock jocks are as raunchy as ever. So far. (from "Under-the-Radar Radio" Newsweek/MSNBC)
The disabled cab access protest in New York last week. As far as I know all the cabs on the road in NYC right now are fully-outfitted for fully-abled black person access yet I still can't get one to stop for me. Maybe I need to organize another protest on my own behalf? (via NY1)
