"This was the voice of moderation until 13 Sept, 2025"
by Eric Martin An open thread for the weekend, with a couple of links to pieces that I haven't blogged about, but which are worth a read. First, Rory Stewart offers a pretty sound defense of Obama's approach in Afghanistan. I don't agree with it all, but it's well written and thought out. Second, Tom Bissell penned … Read more
by Eric Martin The following passage from David Broder's latest column is receiving all the scorn it deserves. Actually, check that, it deserves much more. It is beyond self-parody in its false-equivalency reductionism – one of the premiere efforts from a columnist whose self-appointed mission seems to be to reduce any and all political distinctions to … Read more
by Eric Martin I admit to indulging in occasionally grandiose swings between the poles of optimism and pessimism regarding the future of the United States. At times, I am convinced that our sclerotic, dysfunctional political system isn't up to the task of addressing major problems like environmental degradation, that our focus and resource allocation is too skewed by narrow … Read more
by Eric Martin Hooman Majd contends that the Green Movement in Iran is less about paradigm shifting revolution, and more about the gradual establishment of civil rights. And that might not be such a bad thing in the end: What is evident is that if we consider Iran's pro-democracy "green movement" not as a revolution but … Read more
By Lindsay Beyerstein Yesterday, two Democratic senators unexpectedly announced that they would not seek reelection in 2010: Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Chris Dodd of Connecticut. As I wrote in the Weekly Pulse this morning, the two announcements probably cancel each other out in terms of Democratic senate seats. Dorgan's seat is probably an … Read more
by Robert Mackey Mark Mazetti's newest article on the suicide bombing that killed CIA agents in Afghanistan, "U.S. Saw a Path to Qaeda Chiefs Before Bombing, " has this interesting tidbit worth considering: "Mr. Balawi proved to be one of the oddest double agents in the history of espionage, choosing to kill his American contacts at … Read more
by Eric Martin Adam Serwer makes an excellent point in response to Jay Nordlinger's high praise for the underpants bomber's father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, who had the strength of character to report his son's activities to U.S. authorities despite the possible legal repercussions for his son. Nordlinger says that Alhaji Umaru Mutallab should be father of the year. I … Read more
by Eric Martin Jarring, headline generating news: Iran is closer to building a nuclear weapon than previously predicted!!! Iran is much closer to producing nuclear weapons than previously thought, and could be less than five years away from having an atomic bomb, several senior American and Israeli officials say. "The date by which Iran will have … Read more
by Eric Martin Pretty big 2009 for yours truly. Got married, welcomed a son to this world (just barely in that order, admittedly) and the Yanks ended what was an interminable World Series drought.* Oh, and Obama was inaugurated, ending the tenure of one whose name is on a short list of the worst presidents in United States history. … Read more