In today's Washington Post, liberal columnist David Ignatius hails Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice as a "rising star" and a ...   more »

To see why Israel is in trouble read this article http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/652162.html in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz about the massive Hezbollah ...   more »

The IRIS blog reports again here http://www.iris.org.il/#blog on an Israel bombardment of empty Gaza fields.  Debka.com also noted it.  Everybody seems to agree that the IDF expended 40 shells in the "retaliation" for a Kassam missile attack on Southern Israel.  It is good to know that he IDF is so flush with money now that it can dump 40 155mm artillery shells into big piles of Gaza dirt.

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon examines Sagger missiles seized from the Iranian arms ship, Karine A.  Hezbollah already uses these; they ...   more »

Usually I review movies in one of two ways—either I review it without ever having seen the film, and with ...   more »

Is he really a fantasy? 

I’m a pretty even tempered guy, and it usually takes a serious provocation to ...   more »

Marines clear a building.

Two recent--possible--developments in Iraq merit comment.  First, the Washington Post reports that in an interview with ...   more »

Larry David

Some old Rabbi

Shiksa

This interesting article in the Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1132475630883&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull  questions whether comedian Larry David ...   more »

If you didn't read my History of Belgium you should.  It's all true!  So is this comment on the history of Belgium which comes from Steve, via my cousin Danny. 

In Belgium, if you ask a French-speaking person what is he, he will say that he is a Walloon.  If you ask a Dutch-speaking person what is he, he will say that he is Flemish.

If  you come across a person in Brussels and he tells you that he is a Belgium citizen, then he is Jewish.   This is true!  Only the Jews in Belgium recognize a country by that name.  

Bob Mould is one of the most important and influential figures in "modern" or "progressive" rock, rising to prominence as ...   more »

Stanley "Tookie" Williams was convicted of killing four people in 1979 and sentenced to death in California.  He has since ...   more »

A letter to the Washington Post today from Keith Wall, some guy in Missouri, bemoans the use of the term ...   more »

Many readers have inquired about my piece on the Belgian anti-terror police, asking whether it is a joke, and if ...   more »

Israeli troops load the body of a dead Hezbollah terrorist on a Red Cross van for transfer to Lebanon.

As ...   more »

Belgian anti-terror operations are named for vegetables:  Asparagus, Eggplant and Haricot Vert (green beans).

According to the Washington Post, the ...   more »

Israeli Defense Minister with captured Hezbollah equipment.  Lebanon wants captured corpes returned.

Lebanon, every Western diplomat's favorite failed country, a ...   more »

America's controversial new UN Ambassador, John Bolton, pushed the Security Council to, for the first time, condemn Hezbollah for its ...   more »

In a sense all great art is unconscious in the sense that Freud discerned, that of another personality existing within the self ...   more »

For thousand of years there was no concept of race among humans.  People recognized differences between differing groups, mostly tribal, ...   more »

Ignore the chart, look at the picture.  Is that Armani BauNoe is wearing?

Evidently Brad Pitt, actor/trade ...   more »

My post Sunday entitled "A Thoughful Article on an Immediate Withdrawal from Iraq" pointed to an article in the Atlantic ...   more »

AP photo of Hezbollah attack.  Hezbollah's own video is more dramatic.  See it on link below.

This video at ...   more »

This picture from Hezbollah TV (yes they have their own television station) shows Israeli positions under Hezbollah attack.

Again, this ...   more »

Don't blame responsible beer lovers for rowdiness.

On Sunday a wrote an ill tempered article "Screaming and Yelling Down to Defeat" about the Redskins ignominious defeat Sunday at the hand of the woeful Oakland Raiders.  This occurred after the Washington Post ran a piece on how FED EX Field was becoming a difficult and hostile venue for visiting teams.  Previously, I'd written a piece complaining about the WWF-like attempts to whip up the crowd "I'll Cheer if I Want To".   In any event, certainly the crowd noise didn't help Sunday. 

As if tracking with my posts, the W. Post ran a different article Monday, critically examining the rowdy and sometimes violent behavior of fans at recent games, and predictably, blamed beer.  Now there is no doubt that a lot of beer is sold at FED EX, even at $6 or $7 dollars a pop.  FED EX officials say the concession company is responsible for the beer sale policy enforcement (limits on numbers sold at once, no selling to obvious drunks, etc.)  But other than a brief comment in the article mentioning the WWF like atmosphere, without noting the stadiums massive role encouraging the whole thing, the reporter placed the blame on drinking.

Here's my take.  I like drinking beer at football games.  Excessive drinking is bad.  But when stadium officials from beginning to end of the game attempt to whip up the crowd in the blatant WWF way that they do, people will drink in response.  Why?  Because it's a lot easier to act like a complete jerk when you are drunk--and that is what the Redskins are now encouraging--boorishness and its helpmate, drunkenness.  So let's not blame poor old beer.  It is just a bubbly fluid with a modest percentage of alcohol.  Blame the stadium and the folks who can't control themselves. 

Solution--stop with the freakish attempts to whip up the crowds.  Don't sell to obvious drunks.  Kick out the jerks and don't let them back.

Hezbollah guerilla with heavy mortar.

We heartily, and justifiably, congratulated ourselves a few years ago for taking down Afghanistan, a failed state that had ...   more »

Continuing today’s hit parade of celebrity idiocy (see previous post on Kurt Vonnegut) we now turn to a man of ...   more »

Aged and wacky author Kurt Vonnegut in more youthful times.

This article from an Australian newspaper http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17293730%255E601,00.html comes via he IRIS.org ...   more »

In "Cutting and Running" here http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200512/iraq-withdrawal Atlantic author Nir Rosen speculates on the results of immediately withdrawing from Iraq.  Rosen is ...   more »

Air Force Sergeant Jamie Dana and Rex

The military, in general, is a cold uncaring bureaucracy, which is how it ...   more »

Two weeks ago after attending the Redskin's Sunday night game against the Eagles I curmudgeonly complained about the blatant attempts ...   more »

The United States agreed to accept a Russian framework in an attempt to defuse the ongoing crisis concerning Iran's nuclear ...   more »

The good old days--Congressman Brooks canes Senator Sumner

Congress has a rich tradition of fisticuffs, including the famous  beating South Carolina Congressman Preston Brooks' gave to Senator Charles Sumner before the Civil War.  To be honest, Brooks v. Sumner wasn't really fisticuffs, and wasn't really very fair.  Brooks surprised Sumner in the Senate chamber and whacked him several times a walking stick.  Sumner was unarmed, but why quibble?   Brooks won. 

Yesterday, Congressman Harold Ford (D-Tenn.) charged across the House chamber and tried to beat up Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio), for calling him a poo-poo-head.  Not really, he was charging her because she called Congressman John Murtha a poo-poo-head.  Okay, that's not exactly correct; Ford evidently believed that Schmidt called Murtha, who apparently is a retired Marine and Vietnam vet, a coward.  Of course, Murtha presumably could have beaten up Schmidt himself if he wanted to, or tried, but Ford figured it was too easy a fight to pass up and so tried to get a lick in first. 

Now I'm not saying that either Ford or Murtha necessarily would have beaten Schmidt, just because she's a woman.  I've seen some really horrific girl v. girl brawls in my time, and I wouldn't presume that Schmidt couldn't take either one of her potential Democrat opponents.  Unfortunately, we just didn't get to see.

The underlying problem, which is much less interesting than who can whip who in the Congress (and especially if the guy Congressmen can beat up the girl Congresswomen) is whether Schmidt's comments were incorrect.  What she actually said, apparently in response to Murtha's call for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq was: 

"I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp," an Ohio legislator and former Marine.  "He asked me to send Congress a message:  Stay the course.  He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message:  that cowards cut and run, Marines never do."

Read reasonably, it's clear that Schmidt didn't call Murtha a coward; if anybody did it was Murtha's fellow Marine, Danny Bubp.  But Bubp didn't say Murtha was a coward either.  He said, Marine to Marine, let's stick with this thing, and not act like lesser men.  Which makes Congressman Ford look like an ass. 

But there is a larger point here, that crops up again and again in American politics and the media--and that is the significance or lack thereof, of a politicians military experience.  Murtha, it's implied, deserves some added credibility in his comments on the war because of his martial past.  Not so.  There is an old comment that makes its way around the internet occasionally, comparing three different historical leaders.  One is a decorated war veteran, teetotaler, vegetarian and celibate.  The second has only brief and undistinguished military experience, is a functional alcoholic and manic depressive.  The third has no military experience, is also a heavy drinker, and is a philanderer to boot.  The three, in order, in case you didn't figure it already are Hitler, Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.

The supposition that military experience translates into sound political leadership is complete hogwash.  It has nothing more to do with political and policy acumen than being a lawyer or accountant does.  Even with regard to leadership ability, military experience means little; most military men rise in rank not because they are effective leaders of the men below them, but because they are active and energetic admirers of the men above them. 

History is replete with examples of men with little or no military experience proving to be great leaders in war and peace, while former soldiers fail.  Our greatest president, Lincoln, is a prime example.  His ablest general, U.S. Grant, proved to be a thoroughly mediocre president.

Today, deferring on policy decisions on basis on the military experience of proponents or doubters, is both common and foolhardy.  Senator John McCain's legislation on treatment the treatment of captured terrorists is bad policy, but was largely pushed through because few fellow politicians wanted to oppose McCain, ho supposedly held the moral high ground based on his own experiences as a POW during the Vietnam War.  Bill Clinton, who had plenty of flaws, was unfairly criticized for his lack of military experience.  Subsequently this led to the ridiculous spectacle of Democrats lauding John Kerry as an effective leader based on old and questionable military experiences, and Republicans, somewhat hypocritically, suddenly crying foul.

Let's stop focusing so much on who got a "whiff of grapeshot" and who didn't, and just judge our already lackluster leaders on whether what they say is right or wrong.  

I've never read a Harry Potter book, although I've bought a bunch for my stepdaughter, who has never read one ...   more »

Jordanians protest bombings no doubt prompting Al Queda claim of mistake.

Al Queda announced that the recent terror bombing at ...   more »

The Washington Post reports that the Army announced it was suspending call-ups of IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) soldiers.  The IRR is ...   more »

This report in Haaretz notes a Palestinian claim that Nobel Prize winning terrorist Yassir Arafat died from an injection of ...   more »

The Supreme Court's decision, discussed here http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/17/politics/politicsspecial1/17parents.html?ex=1132894800&en=ee7d70eb33fecb2a&ei=5059&partner=AOL  to place the burden of proof on parents challenging special education programs crafted ...   more »

A white phosphorus round explodes.

On March 27, 1945, a small American task force fifty miles behind ...   more »

The latest idiotic controversy to arise in the Iraq campaign, and the Battle of Fallujah specifically, are the hysterical accusations ...   more »

Much ink has been spilled over director Ridley Scott's Crusader epic, "Kingdom of Heaven".  I know a ...   more »

The suicide bombers who detonated themselves in Jordan were supposedly in search of Americans and Israelis staying at the U.S. ...   more »

Israeli Captain, back to camera, appearing in court.

This short article from Debka.com copied below in its entirety is good news ...   more »

This report is not funny, it's terrible. It's here http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20051115083209990001&_mpc=news%2e10%2e3&cid=936.  Apparently a woman went to a hospital in Calcutta India ...   more »

I was just listening to Jimi Hendrix cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" and wondered, as I have often times, if it is the greatest cover ever.  According to this website (courtesy of a quick Google search) it is, hard to argue with the other choices here http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_coversongs.html

In this photo Rabbi Martin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center delivers remarks to ...   more »

France circa 2005 has finally caught up to America--at least where we were 30 years ago according to that great ...   more »

IED detonates near U.S. convoy.

This article http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=27485 from Imra.org, which is a translation of ...   more »

Cheer up girlfriend, everybody makes a mistake now and then.

Diplomats have an obligation to speak carefully.  That is way ...   more »

It only took me nine months, but I've finally figured out how to use the catagory function on the blog.  ...   more »

Since I began this blog nine months ago, I've had a small but erudite readership (I think).  And while I certainly wish for more (including those folks who may have come here from the link on Slate, or some other sites) I am content writing for whoever finds this place informative or entertaining, whether 10 or 10,000.

Unfortunately, that readership, as of yesterday was reduced by one, with the tragic death of Carmen White.  Carmen was a bright and beautiful young woman.  Until very recently she was a nurse practitioner at Washington Adventist Hospital, from where she had just resigned to take a new job.  On Friday night she was killed in while a passenger in a car, after celebrating her new course in life.  My sister Laura, who worked with Carmen, was badly injured in the same accident, but will be alright. 

I did not know Carmen very well, but she was the kind of person who made people happy to be around.  She liked reading this blog, and got my often screwy and ironic sense of humor.  Having said that, I think that Carmen was a person of faith, which I am not.  If so, I hope that she was correct in her beliefs and is in a better place. 

I know that after the crash that killed her, paramedics, helicopter pilots, policemen, doctors and nurses, did their best to help her.  I know that these folks saved my sister (also a nurse practitioner).  The paramedics by using practiced emergency techniques to stabilize her at the scene; brave and skilled helicopter pilots, who through mastery of a complex machine that takes advantage of the laws of aerodynamics, manage to speed injured people through the air at night, landing on narrow roadways, and atop tall buildings.  Doctors and nurses, who with sutures, pins, packing and plastic, and knowledge of anatomy, chemistry and physiology, put broken people back together. 

If a God exists, He presumably has welcomed Carmen.  But having created this world, through His infinite power and design, He has dumbfoundingly left us, who still inhabit this place, bereft and poorer this day.

This story in Haaretz "Report: Jordnian Spy Agency Replaces Mossad as Key CIA Ally" here http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/644451.html is a great example of ...   more »

One has to be careful about viewing the bombings in Jordan as an act of desperation by Al Queda, or ...   more »

Today, not only will I review four movies that I have not seen, and in all likelihood will never see, ...   more »

Pundits are going off the rails attempting to explain the turmoil in France.  The latest to offer up ...   more »

President Mugabe challenges American ambassador to guess what he is holding in his hand.

And finally, concluding today's thematic presentation ...   more »

Continuing on today's theme, the Washington Post reports that French police have just discovered that much of the rioting throughout the country ...   more »

Richard Cohen made a historic trip to a desert and drove a car.

Almost pope-like in his self-regard is Washington ...   more »

Pope and project.

We'll begin with the new pope, who is supposed to be infallible on matters of faith, and so has be ...   more »

Jack's feeling under the weather today.

Today's theme, in honor of France, is the faux pas.  Not necessarily a literal socially unacceptable mistatement but a combination of that, and conceit, mindlessness and occassional ineptitute--at least as I see it, since it's my blog.  A brief scan of the morning paper provides several examples which I will address as the day progresses, and I have time to post; but in sum we expect to hear from, not necessarily in any particular order:  the pope, egomanical newspaper columnists, African dictators, French police...and we'll see.

This photo is copied from the Debka.com website, where they report Israel officials confirmed that Palestinian terrorists in Gaza have ...   more »

Kansas has adopted new educational standards which challenge Darwinian evolution, elevating the bogus idea of "intelligent design".  All I know is ...   more »

Typically the lines are drawn in the commentariat regarding the unrest in France.  Behind one line are those who see ...   more »

As a fundamental cynic, I look askance at almost all advertising, but HBO's claims to produce the finest work on television ...   more »