before the death of Benazir Bhutto is used as an argument for keeping troops in Iraq longer?
Yes, there's a PR analysis here, too. Interestingly, no one has taken credit for killing Mrs. Bhutto. Seems to me al-Qaeda would. She was western educated and, well, a woman.
Since the responsibility for this will likely rip this (dangerously unstable, deeply divided, Machiavellian and, of course, nuclear) country apart with retaliation against the murderers and their supporters, whom does this silence implicate? I think the President tells us:
"The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists [NOT terrorists] who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy,"
And when would the President pass up a chance to blame terrorists?
In the US, who does this benefit? Two thoughts: Chaos = Fear Fear = Republicans
But, follow me here, Hillary refused to say she would pull all troops out of Iraq or a timeline for it. That seems prescient right now. After all, we broke it. We bought it. We have to put it back together again.
I write about politics a lot, obviously. But today I have to ask myself, who among the field loves this country, its traditions and its potential enough to put their life on the line in a very real way?
Benazir Bhutto 1953 - 2007 Mother of 3 Oxford and Harvard educated
We have spent over $5 billion to Pakistan since 2001. While the 6th most populace country, this is barely a country at all. 1/4 of it is ungovernable by the federal government. In fact, the name of the country is an acronym for the 5 distinct regions bundled together.
In her own words right after the attempt on her life upon returning to Pakistan in October:
It has now been more than two weeks since the horrific assassination attempt against me and the police have still not filed my complaint. They filed their own report without taking statements from eyewitnesses on the truck targeted for the terrorist attack which resulted in the death of more than 158 of my supporters and security guards.
Soon thereafter, I was asked by authorities not to travel in cars with tinted windows -- which protected me from identification by terrorists -- or travel with privately armed guards.
I began to feel the net was being tightened around me when police security outside my home in Karachi was reduced, even as I was told that other assassination plots were in the offing.
Read the rest of her comments and see if there is any question who was involved in heinous act.
Shocking. Sad. Scary.
Indira Ghandi Shot 31 times by 2 of her Sikh bodyguards.
Anwar Sadat Shot on a reviewing stand. When he saw the shooters come, he stood. His grave reads "He lived for peace. He died for freedom."
I had to take time to write about this film. I didn't want my knee jerk anti-Jack / pro-Rob Reiner feelings color me. Well, first, I saw The Bucket List as a counter to Elah. Something lighter since Reiner said he wanted to really go for the comedy in this and not the sentimentality - and that's tough.
It short, it was a fun 97mins that could have been longer or shorter and better. It was entertaining, but like a really good HBO movie and not Grumpy Old Men like at all. Gorgeous to look at on the digital screens at the new Arclight in Sherman Oaks, but even the vistas were short changed. I found myself wondering how much of where they were was real, because it always was incidental to the conversation.
Morgan Freeman is, of course, the voice of God. Rob Reiner over used his voice overs too much in this. Way too much. Like it becomes confusing to the timeline (is he the narrator or is that the VO of what he is reading).
Light and entertaining, just confused and short changed. Seemed like a movie the studio couldn't say no to with that cast and crew, but didn't know what to do with, so they went safe.
Interesting situation brewing that shows the racism present in the celebrity gossip world. From the AP:
In a story published Saturday in the Daily Record, Smith was quoted saying: "Even Hitler didn't wake up going, 'let me do the most evil thing I can do today.' I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was 'good.'" The quote was preceded by the writer's observation: "Remarkably, Will believes everyone is basically good."
Clearly, the authors interpretation and the stars words are being twisted to create controversy where none exists. Slow news over the holidays, I guess and the celebrity news monster needs to be fed 24/7. Unfortunately, Mr Smith makes the classic mistake by extending the life of the story by feeding into it.
Unless you misspoke, say nothing else. This is a classic self-feeding controversy. There's another whole side to this particular story. I spoke with an insider at one of the major tabloids who confirmed that with very few exceptions, Kanye West was right, celebrity reporting does not care about black people. Its a disgusting fact.
Don't believe me? The B2K controversy is going away pretty quickly. Admit it, you didnt even know there was a controversy.
Wow, did I pick the wrong one for Christmas. But am I glad I did.
Totally amazing cast and direction. If Lions for Lambs was a lecture, this unfolded like an experience, with the taste of a crime drama. Its politics you don't have to fear!
I expected a very different film with lots of preachy Susan Sarandon dialogue. She is hardly in the film. Its as subtle, broad, insightful, focused and important as Crash. Interestingly, Paul Haggis posted the screenplay online at the official movie site - thats it.
Talk about letting your work speak for itself!
Ever wonder why WWII/Korea/Vietnam/IraqI vets were sullen and unemotional, but given to outbursts of rage (like your dad and/or his dad)? Its the defining characteristic of American men from 1945 on and sort of the underlying theme of every family drama of the 1960's on. The average age in WWII of inductees was 27. They had a clear sense of purpose against an aggressor with clear rules of engagement and a nation supporting them 100%.
Now consider that we have 200,000+ 19yos cycling through Iraq (with an equal number of private contractors, some of whom were unfit for the military). Recruitment problems have caused the US armed forces to lower their standards dramatically. When in Iraq, adrenaline flowing 24/7 or you're dead. Rules of engagement are kill everything because anything can be the enemy.
When they come back to base, we drop them into communities ringed by fast food, titty bars and pay day advance.
Forget about the politics of the war. We have 200,000 time bombs for whom we need to do a better job of caring.
Blackwater can only employ so many of them.
And that's just on our side. The Pentagon doesn't even keep statistics for Iraqi dead or wounded. As if the natural rate of beheadings and explosions would color their stats. But unofficial estimate range from 50k to over 600,000 with 2 million refugees. You know how we tell everyone about our problems with Sprint and plot their downfall?
Sprint never indiscriminately killed my entire family over a billing error.
I'll just leave you with this thought. We decry video games when one kid shoots up his school.
(for full effect, go full screen and imagine that this was written 30 years ago about a different war by a man that was gunned down on the street and is remembered in a peace park. then ask yourself, what are you doing for peace?)
about his intent to lie and mislead. From today's NYTimes article about Rudy's doctors clearing up his mystery headaches:
Asked if he would disclose all his health records after Christmas, Mr. Giuliani said, “He’s going to put out everything that’s appropriate to show that I’m in good health.”
Nice. No need for the facts. Facts are partisan, as we all know. Just some nice managed truth.
But did he just say his staff lied?
Speaking to reporters after holding a town-hall-style meeting here, Mr. Giuliani said that he had had a bad headache, and that he did not know why his campaign told reporters that he had “flulike symptoms.”
“You’re going to have to ask them,” he said, when asked about their statement.
Is this what we can expect from a Rudy admin? Don't they speak for you? Haven't we had enough of this type of parsed language? Where does that buck stop again?
Oh, thats right, Rudy took every last buck he could.
David Bowies voice voice is just amazing here. He once wrote to me in an email that he thought that children's songs were not really for the children, but rather a re-imaginging of childhood by the adults.
