The View from Your Room: Beach After Baghdad

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This pic was sent to me by a soldier who has just returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m surprised he wanted to see more sand, but given this pic from his hotel room, I understand. I occasionally run interesting pics sent in by readers. Andrew Sullivan gave me permission to copy his practice. More soon….

The Price Tag of Afghanistan Dwarfs Country’s GDP

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The cost of America’s military effort in Afghanistan is $65 billion per year — and the price tag will probably go up when a new strategy is announced by President Obama. There have been many hundreds killed and thousands wounded there.

Why Didn’t White House Put Out Obama Gay Rights Speech?

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Last evening at the Washington Convention Center, President Barack Obama spoke before a crowd of 3,000 at the 13th Annual Human Rights Campaign dinner. The event was covered live not only on C-Span but ran live on CNN and was covered in full by MSNBC.

Guest Post by Oliver Lough: Asia’s Britain, Asia’s Canada…Asia’s Brussels?

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“The Japanese,” writes Masaru Tamamoto, “are a people who endlessly and fruitly ask who they are.” If this is the case, then the dramatic re-shaping of their political landscape has provided the Japanese (and everybody else) a rich new opportunity to indulge in their national pastime. The country’s new prime minister Yokio Hatoyama (a.k.a.

Flynt Leverett and Dan Drezner “Debate” Whether A Grand Bargain With Iran Is Possible

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Last week, Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett penned a New York Times op-ed advocating for a robust effort to achieve a “grand bargain” with the Iranians, rather than continuing down the Bush-Obama path of “containment.