New Resource at IISS: “Flashpoint” on Iraq’s Descent into Chaos

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(IISS Director of Studies and former Bush administration US AID official Patrick Cronin) Patrick Cronin, Director of Studies at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, has sent me a new publication from the IISS Armed Conflict Database titled “Flashpoint”.

Glenn Beck Needs Some Counseling on Bigotry

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I certainly missed this earlier in the week. CNN Headline News’ Glenn Beck interviewed the first Muslim Member of Congress, Keith Ellison (D-MT) and said: “Sir, prove to me you are not working with our enemies.” First of all Glenn, Muslims are not our enemies.

New Type of Catastrophe Looms over America’s Iraq Deployments

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I participated in a study group last night — and one of the scenarios discussed was the increasing probabability of a psychology-altering event having enormous impact on the vast majority of Americans. One of the scenarios was the prospect of Iraqi police and troops in a gun conflict with U.S.

Bob Gates Should Meet Up with Spc. Khai Krumbhaar in Kuwait: Thoughtful Letters on Women in Military and Gay Issues

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It’s late. I should be asleep — but I was reading the Stars and Stripes tonight online and ran across a couple of letters to the editor by Spc. Khai Krumbhaar. I don’t know this soldier — but see that he has folks praying for him in St. Andrew’s Parish in Western Mexico.

Maureen Dowd on the Realists vs. Idealists

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(President George and Laura Bush at casket of President Ronald Reagan) Ms. Dowd has a strong, smart piece on the battle between Bush administration insider realists and idealists and juxtaposes Bush’s inflexibility with Reagan’s dramatic turns. Read the whole thing, but here’s the best: Bush junior cast himself as the Reagan heir.

Roster of New Committee Chairs in US Senate

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Issued today by Senator Harry Reid’s office: AGRICULTURE — Tom Harkin APPROPRIATIONS — Robert Byrd ARMED SERVICES — Carl Levin BANKING — Chris Dodd COMMERCE — Daniel Inouye ENERGY — Jeff Bingaman ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS — Barbara Boxer FINANCE — Max Baucus FOREIGN RELATIONS — Joseph Biden HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR & PENSIONS — Edward…