The Daily Show Goes Hunting

The Daily Show on Comedy Central had a hilarious skit about quail hunting last night. You can see it here. Just click on the "Bye Bye Birdie" video to watch it.

Posted in Humor | 2 Comments

Iraq policy in crosshairs of conservative website

A friend of mine pointed me to the article "Why Did We Destroy Iraq?" by Paul Craig Roberts. The article is, as the title suggests, an angry diatribe against our current Iraq policy. As criticism of the Iraq policy, it is nothing new nor is it particularly well reasoned. However, what is striking is that the article is published on the NewsMax website. NewsMax is a conservative website founded by Christopher Ruddy, who is best known for his work on the Arkansas Project.

Although Roberts has been against the Iraq war from the start, it is revealing to see the gap that is widening between the President and the so called paleo-cons on the one side, and the divide between the President and the neo-cons on the other. Iraq has certainly come between President Bush and the legacy of Ronald Reagan.

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General Odom on Iraq

General William Odom, former Director of the National Security Agency, compares Iraq to Vietnam in Nieman Watchdog. It is a very interesting read. I think both these experiences illustrate the fallacy of viewing circumstances on the ground through the prism of ideology rather than how they really are. The Iraqi people’s politics are probably much more driven by internal dynamics between the various ethnic groups and communities, than by some monolithic drive toward liberty or democracy. It is a fairly trivial observation that we are destined to fail in our goal of establishing a democracy while trying to sort through the complexities of Iraqi politics, the undercurrents of which we barely understand.  All this, it seems to me, was a fairly predictable outcome. The question then really is: what was our exit strategy when we planned this intervention?

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A good place to start

I cant think of a more appropriate way to get this blog started than citing some timely words:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

 I am an American, an immigrant and a muslim. To me, The Bill of Rights represents the promise of America. It is these protections that people in a large part of the world lack, and yearn for. The argument America has to win with the world in general, and the muslim world in particular, is one about the rights of people to live freely. It is an argument that America can and should win easily if it simply showcases The Bill of Rights.

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Hello world!

This blog is alive!

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