Brian and Juan, thank you for this post. I linked and quoted brief excerpts, because the overview of the history of the development of ISIL is important and will remain so as the campaign moves along.
Have to agree with Grumpy Old Man. Persecution of Christians has been and is now happening in the Middle East. Some of the oldest communities in the history of Christianity are being destroyed.
So does Fry mean that we should accept your for you're and their or there for they're? I confess I remain somewhat of a Grammar Nazi, and I have not repented after watching the video.
Also, if an incident takes place somewhere besides the Beltway and the East Coast, or at least, the West Coast, it mostly doesn't happen for the rest of the country - unless, of course, it is labeled a terrorist attack. I don't quite understand why, since a person is just as dead or injured by shooting, as by a bomb. Way down in the bayou country, which is near to falling off the continent, we are barely viewed as part of the USA.
The NO police have been cracking down on gang members, and I wondered, like Paul Koopman, if the shooting was in retaliation against someone who fingered gang members to the police. A number of witnesses to crimes, who were scheduled to testify in court, have been killed - enough to cause fear about cooperating with law enforcement authorities.
Down in New Orleens, my home town. I was just reflecting that there are those who have already widened their circle of ethnic groups who must be feared to include Chechens. Alas...
I burst out laughing at your comments about Lindsey Graham and his suggestion that we may have to go to war against Pakistan. Then I caught myself and realized that it's not funny at all that people like Graham and others in the Senate, who must always have a war going, operate in the highest halls of power.
My question is the same as the previous commenter. In what way do we have the Middle East to lose it?
"He maintains that the air war against Gaza, which might attrite Hamas’s stock of rockets, is unobjectionable to the West assuming it does not kill many civilians and does not go on very long."
I think that is not true for many of us in the West. We want the killing to stop right now.
'Archbishop Tutu has long been a critic of Mr Blair's stance on Iraq – even before the invasion.
In 2003 the archbishop said Mr Blair's support for the Bush administration was "mind-boggling". "I have a great deal of time for your Prime Minister, but I'm shocked to see a powerful country use its power frequently, unilaterally," he said.'
I couldn't find Wright's source for the quote from Tutu in 2003.
Omar, the wine-bibber, is wonderfully entertaining. I wonder if he wrote these lines intending a laugh-out-loud response. Or perhaps he didn't care at all about responses.
I note that the State of Washington and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have the lowest infant mortality rates at No.1 and No.2 respectively. I wonder if Romneycare has anything to do with Massachusetts' low rate.
Oh, do I like this. What would God do with godself without sinners in need of forgiveness? Khayyam is such a rogue, but a thinking rogue, and he often makes me smile.
Juan, I laughed my way through your post, but the level of ignorance in the US is not funny. It's tragic. I'm much in favor of your new regulation on war.
Lovely memoir of your parents, especially of your mother, Irma, the Caricaturist. I remember well the Red Slelton drawing.
Brian and Juan, thank you for this post. I linked and quoted brief excerpts, because the overview of the history of the development of ISIL is important and will remain so as the campaign moves along.
Rep. Doggett is quite right. Why the caution at YouTube about sharing?
This video is unlisted. Be considerate and think twice before sharing.
I don't fault Kerry for trying. He did what he had to do, and I expect he knew his attempts would not meet with success.
The Kurds can't save Iraq any more than the US can. Kerry's visits to Maliki and Barzani were both fool's errands.
Others have said it. Why would Carter think mail that goes through the USPS is not surveilled?
x.
Have to agree with Grumpy Old Man. Persecution of Christians has been and is now happening in the Middle East. Some of the oldest communities in the history of Christianity are being destroyed.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2013/dec/22/persecution-christians-middle-east-prince-charles
Ethnic cleansing and persecution of any group is intolerable.
Excellent. Bacevich covers all the important points. Donahue wisely keeps a low profile and lets him do the talking.
So does Fry mean that we should accept your for you're and their or there for they're? I confess I remain somewhat of a Grammar Nazi, and I have not repented after watching the video.
Wrong, very wrong, all wrong that John Kiriakou is still in prison. For shame, Mr President.
June Butler
Also, if an incident takes place somewhere besides the Beltway and the East Coast, or at least, the West Coast, it mostly doesn't happen for the rest of the country - unless, of course, it is labeled a terrorist attack. I don't quite understand why, since a person is just as dead or injured by shooting, as by a bomb. Way down in the bayou country, which is near to falling off the continent, we are barely viewed as part of the USA.
The NO police have been cracking down on gang members, and I wondered, like Paul Koopman, if the shooting was in retaliation against someone who fingered gang members to the police. A number of witnesses to crimes, who were scheduled to testify in court, have been killed - enough to cause fear about cooperating with law enforcement authorities.
June Butler
Down in New Orleens, my home town. I was just reflecting that there are those who have already widened their circle of ethnic groups who must be feared to include Chechens. Alas...
I burst out laughing at your comments about Lindsey Graham and his suggestion that we may have to go to war against Pakistan. Then I caught myself and realized that it's not funny at all that people like Graham and others in the Senate, who must always have a war going, operate in the highest halls of power.
My question is the same as the previous commenter. In what way do we have the Middle East to lose it?
"He maintains that the air war against Gaza, which might attrite Hamas’s stock of rockets, is unobjectionable to the West assuming it does not kill many civilians and does not go on very long."
I think that is not true for many of us in the West. We want the killing to stop right now.
Juan, you say, "If so, Tutu would have done us a favor by saying so."
From Oliver Wright in the Independent:
'Archbishop Tutu has long been a critic of Mr Blair's stance on Iraq – even before the invasion.
In 2003 the archbishop said Mr Blair's support for the Bush administration was "mind-boggling". "I have a great deal of time for your Prime Minister, but I'm shocked to see a powerful country use its power frequently, unilaterally," he said.'
I couldn't find Wright's source for the quote from Tutu in 2003.
Juan, good for you for saying what needed to be said.
Omar, the wine-bibber, is wonderfully entertaining. I wonder if he wrote these lines intending a laugh-out-loud response. Or perhaps he didn't care at all about responses.
June Butler
I note that the State of Washington and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have the lowest infant mortality rates at No.1 and No.2 respectively. I wonder if Romneycare has anything to do with Massachusetts' low rate.
Ha, ha. Made me laugh. Good old Omar. Thanks, Juan.
Yes! Juan, I am so enjoying your translations. Thanks for posting.
I will, I will...pick up the wine glass. Thank you, Juan.
"Like". May steal.
To the very end, have some wine. That works for me.
Juan, I've enjoyed these Khayyam translations so very much.
Oh, do I like this. What would God do with godself without sinners in need of forgiveness? Khayyam is such a rogue, but a thinking rogue, and he often makes me smile.
Works for me, too.
Wonderful, indeed, when the prude is far away. This one made me smile...laugh really.
Thank you, Juan. I'm learning more than I ever knew I wanted to know about Omar Khayyam and thoroughly enjoying it.
June Butler
Very fine paralleling.
Priceless. Says it all.
Ah yes. Sometimes it is exactly so.
Khayyam is surely right about treasured possessions, but we'd have to talk about whether all the things I've seen and heard are nothing.
Thanks, Juan. I'm enjoying your translations of Omar Khayyam immensely.
Alas...with true religion, there is no certainty, only great hope.
Like (in Facebook language).
The laugh is on me. I just tested myself with a blank map of the Middle East and North Africa, and I am ashamed. My confession of the day...
Juan, I laughed my way through your post, but the level of ignorance in the US is not funny. It's tragic. I'm much in favor of your new regulation on war.
How wonderful. I think I'd a sendoff like that, too.
Juan, may I copy your graphs to post on my blog, with due attribution and a link?
Iowa: a microcosm of the US - not!