In “The Killing of Atwar Bahjat”, Greyhawk points us to a graphic [warning: not for the week of stomach] Times UK account of the murder of Iraqi journalist Atwar Bahjat. What one is left with, after reading the piece, is twofold, I think:  first, the unquestionable brutality and arrogant ideological certainty of our enemies, whose mindset is borne in some cases of odious fundamentalist religious “convictions”, but in other cases

The other day I linked one of the critics of my academic work.  Today, he sent me the following email—perhaps the most ironically stupid thing I have ever read.  And when I say that, remember that I spent years grading student papers. I’m reprinting it in full, because it simply must be seen to be believed.  In fact, I relish the goddamn thing.  Behold! Just read through your college notes

Cat blogger: “…sure, litter boxes are fine and all.  But I’m convinced that Mr Pretty Paws is not only intelligent enough, but he’s also driven enough, to master the crapper… “Which, that reminds me.  I need to put on a pot of coffee…”

You can’t make this stuff up, people:  From “Crazed Lefty vs. Rumsfeld” Many of you have pointed out that Ray McGovern, the man who challenged Rumsfeld in public, holds some wacko views, and has made some anti-Semitic statements. It seems my description of him as not being a “crazed lefty” was wrong on at least one count. But then this administration has turned many previously sane, moderate people into those

Responding to yesterday’s post on Rumsfeld’s tangle with Ray McGovern, fracus_futile writes: Jeff, you say Moran also argues that early troop levels in Iraq are another mistake Rumsfeld should admit to—but on that account we disagree:  the purpose for keeping troop levels low, you’ll recall, was to avoid a large US footprint and make the inevitable suggestions by the war’s opponents that the US was engaging in an imperial occupation

As many on the left wait for news on Hookergate (“Pics Surface of Karl Rove, Ron Silver in Torrid Cocktail Party Embrace”), CBS breaks the story that Goss was forced out as CIA director (which jibes with earlier outlier reports from FOXNews and Macsmind): The sources tell Axelrod that the White House was unhappy with the lingering tensions between Goss and National Intelligence Director John Negroponte. Goss was miffed at

—Hold it right there.  What am I, a freakin’ pimp?  Jesus!  What is wrong with you people?  Anyway, no dancing on holidays.  Union rules.  Besides, the little fella and I are off to Taco Bell with a $20 spot each, and we plan to spend the rest of the night going hog wild on that incredible value menu of theirs.  Takeout, though.  We like to sit in the car with

Breitbart: CIA Director Porter Goss has resigned, President Bush said Friday. Bush called Goss’ tenure one of transition. “He has led ably,” Bush said from the Oval Office. Goss, a former member of Congress, has “helped make this country a safer place,” Bush said. “We’ve got to win the war on terror.” Said Goss: “I would like to report to you that the agency (CIA) is back on a very

Capitol Police Officer:  “Would you blow into this tube, please, sir?” Me: “Do I have a choice?” Capitol Police Officer: “Heh.  No.” Capitol Police Officer::  “Good one, though!”**

From ABC News /AP: Anti-war protesters repeatedly interrupted Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld during a speech Thursday and one man, a former CIA analyst, accused him in a question-and-answer session of lying about Iraq prewar intelligence. “Why did you lie to get us into a war that caused these kind of casualties and was not necessary?” asked Ray McGovern, the former analyst. This ground has been quite thoroughly covered, but