Yesterday I made up for lost sleep the day before. I’m current with replies. I’m running a little late, because I’m doing laundry at the same time. I still hate laundry. Today I plan a haircut and running errands.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today it took me 3:36 (average 4:50). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From FDL: At least so far, the attempts from inside the military to warn against an early withdrawal in Afghanistan are not working. In fact, the US appeared to move in the other direction today, aligning themselves more with France than with the military moles.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that NATO would shift from a combat to a training mission in Afghanistan sometime in the second half of next year, rather than by 2014 as previously indicated.
This is a good decision. Given the complex logistics of withdrawal, due to tension with Pakistan, safe withdrawal would take over a year anyway. This demonstrates that Obama has abandoned the failed Republican COIN strategy in favor of a much more effective counter-terrorism strategy. Republicans are livid, because they want to continue COIN.
From AP/Google: Israel’s defense minister says there is growing international awareness that military action against Iran’s nuclear program will have to be considered.
Ehud Barak told a security conference on Thursday that he senses a change in international thinking. He says world leaders are increasingly realizing that if sanctions don’t stop Iran’s nuclear program, "there will be a need to consider action."
Israel, like the West, believes Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Israel has been a leading voice in calls to curb the Iranian program. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.
Israel has repeatedly hinted it is ready to attack Iran.
Israel’s warmongering only makes the situation worse. The Obama administration has announced that the US will not support an Israeli attack against Iran.
From PR Watch: Today, hundreds of state legislators from across the nation will head out to an "island" resort on the coast of Florida to a unique "education academy" sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). There will be no students or teachers. Instead, legislators, representatives from right-wing think tanks and for-profit education corporations will meet behind closed doors to channel their inner Milton Friedman and promote the radical transformation of the American education system into a private, for-profit enterprise.
The 1% hate public education, because they want YOUR tax money to help fund their kids’ education in posh private schools, safe from contamination by YOUR kids. Of course, the Republican Party supports anything that takes away from the poor and middle classes, so the rich can have more. If you have not done so, check out ALEC Exposed.
Cartoon:
16 Responses to “Open Thread–2/3/2012”
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Afghanistan — Changing from a combat role to a training and support role in Afghanistan is the right thing to do. Of course the Republican/Teabaggers want to continue with the COIN startegy as that props up Mr Karzai, their buddy in Kabul. The Taliban is no longer the threat that it was originally and the Afghanis must start looking after themselves. A switch to counter-terrorism is a better way to go.
Israel/Iran — Both Israel and Iran are playing political chicken with dire consequences for the region and the world. Iran is trying to provoke Israel, and Israel seems more than willing to accommodate. But Israel also wants to enjoin the US into the action but for what reason — because they have a larger battle force? . . . because they think that the US has the moral strength to withstand international condemnation? Attacking Iran would only inflame the entire region, and maybe beyond. From the Toronto Globe and Mail ( http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/gerald-caplan/harper-and-the-us-are-wrong-on-the-iran-threat/article2317799/)
To me, the greatest threat to peace and security in the world are the right-wing, the hawks — Steven Harper’s Conservatives and the Republican/Teabaggers in the US. I am ashamed of Canada’s government in supporting Israel in this way. And the American Republican/Teabagger presidential candidates would gladly jump in, especially since it would provide profits to the military industrial complex.
ALEC — To my way of thinking, ALEC is a domestic terrorist group as it assists naive, or not so naive, legislators to draft and pass legislation that disenfranchises great numbers of peoples, that dictates educational policies that serve to hold back the next generation unless of couse they’re part of the 1%, that supports corporations at the peril of the citizenry. The gene pool amongst the 1% is already somewhat limited and will only become more so as time moves forward. And then what will the 1% do because they can no longer maintain their perogative? ALEC’s influence and work must be stopped. This poisonous viper must be defanged and made impotent. Part of that process is in the citizens of the US rising up at the ballot box and saying no to every Republican/Teabagger candidate, and then remaining vigilant.
Cartoon — Love the cartoon TC. If the US insists in using voting machines, there has to be consistency in the machines used and safeguards against election fraud.
COIN is more than just combat.
The Globe and Mail has it right.
ALEC is an attempt to form a backdoor government.
Thanks and amen!
I just wonder, knowing how eager the neocons have been to have us attack Iran, if we are not involved behind-the-scenes trying to use Israel in a proxy war against Iran…
I don’t think we are, Jack. Obama opposes it.
3:56
I’m so glad Panetta announced an earlier withdrawal. I think it should be this year though.
Israel really wants to go to war against Iran. We would be stupid to play their games.
Heaven forbid their elitist children should have to mix with the rabble of the lower classes. They can fully afford to send their priveledged kiddies to whatever school they choose. Will they ever leave the public education system alone? Our children all deserve a top-rate education. This country is falling far behind because of GWB’s policies.
I agree with your cartoon.
Close, but Jerry got us both.
That is not logistically possible. The huge task of moving that many men and that much equipment will take over a year.
Agree.
Amen!
Thanks!
I agree totally with Lynn on all fronts, except I may be a little more unkind to Israel – I’m sick of us being the Israeli maid service! Let them find someone else! Love Lynn’s description of ALEC being the “domestic terrorist” group! I wouldn’t be disappointed if there happened to be a devastating weather “event” that hit that island as they convene – they’ve already done a good job at trying to eradicate education from the American public school system – is there actually more they can do?
Wait till you see me on tomorrow’s open thread.
I fear the actions of right-wing Israelis are going to get a lot of innocent people killed.
As do I.
‘ not surprised of less than an earily withdrawl from Afghanistan. Pakistan is always a Powder Keg and why does Obama take heed from the Republicans anyway. They can keep their COIN, livid or not.
Iran will say anything to throw Israeli off. I believe that Israeli, always on their toes, could take Pakistan alone.
Cartoon: I have no trust in voting machines anymore. Too east to rig. Like the Lotttery machines.
Well said.
You lost me. Israel is not threatening Pakistan, and if they were, that could be catastrophic. Both Israel and Pakistan have nukes.
Exactly!
3:27 🙂
I’m easy to beat tomorrow. 🙁
Is the Mossad involved ? However, it reminds me of the cold war…. A lot of Arabic countries don’t like Iran (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other prince – states), so why would they put their attention esp. and only towards the US…..? It’s all about perception.
I don;r think so, Monka. I’m sure Israel has Mossad agents in place there, but in an overt atack would be more conventional. The other states in the region are Sunni. Iran is Shiite. There’s a lot of bad blood there.