Jackass US Ambassador to Germany rolls up in style

I don't think this is how Obama's overtures to Europe were suppose to be implemented... "New US Ambassador to Germany Lands In Style."

Funny thing... our new abassador is a Goldman alum to boot!

Dexter Filkins is on the Afghan Election like white on rice

Another great article from Filkins on the astounding level of fraud committed in the recent Afghan "election:" "Fake Afghan Poll Sites Favored Karzai, Officials Assert."
I'd say that the political legitimacy of our proxy in A-stan is about shot...

Hunting bin Laden in Pakistan

This piece is based on comments from a former CIA "bin Laden hunter": "Former CIA agent's hunt for bin Laden in Pakistani badlands." A couple of things jump out besides the novelty of getting some news reporting on this (which seems to me to be exceptionally rare...). According to this guy the CIA's hunt for al Queda in Pakistan has been chronically short staffed b/c of Iraq & the Pakistani gov't signs off on "99%" of the drone strikes in Pakistan.

Matt Taibbi on Goldman's newest dastardly plot

The title of Matt Taibbi's most recent post/screed says it all: "Wall Street Gambles on Old People Dying." Almost unbelievable how little has changed since last fall...

I Love How Weird Japan Is

Check out this short post about the new Japanese PM's batty wife who has apparently visited Venus...? "Japan's New First Lady Not From Venus, Was Only Visiting" (Hat tip to Sarah)

That "hijacked" Russian Ship

Remember that story about Russia sending submarines to find a random hijacked ship that had "timber" on it? Well, that story never made sense to me... I always figured there were arms onboard, or why would the gov't care? Well, there were arms on board according to the Israeli Mossad (?!)- air defense missiles bound for Iran: "Arctic Sea ghost ship 'was carrying arms to Iran'."
No matter what gets said about this incident from now on, I'd be willing to bet that this unconfirmed rumor is closest to the truth we're going to get.

Another Schachtman from A-stan

I'm just going to keep posting these because I think they're amazing: "Fighting for Real Estate in Helmand Province- Or Losing Focus?" I think this is his best war reporting yet.

Whither the internets???

I hope they manage to keep this thing going... otherwise I'll have to find some other way to spend too much time reading news. The Economist on the past and future of the web: "The internet at 40."

"Inglorious Basterds" in Germany

This is an interesting article about the reception that "Inglorious Basterds" has gotten in Germany (very positive) and why that might be: "Germans' surprising reaction to 'Inglorious Basterds'." Maybe reads a little too much into it, but certainly thought provoking.

Chuck Hagel on Afghanistan & Vietnam

This is a really interesting and obviously heartfelt post by Chuck Hagel about his understanding of both our post-9/11 wars through the prism of Vietnam: "Afghanistan, Vietnam & and the Limits of Force."
(You can find the transcript of the conversation between LBJ and Sen. Russell that Hagel references here)

The administration's response on A-stan

Here's Sec. Gates and Chairman of the JCS Adm. Mullen discussing the new "strategy" in Afghanistan. The Secretary seems to share some of the common misgivings about this war...

The Economist's take on the Japanese election

Here's The Economist's article on the landslide election in Japan last week: "Banzai!" [best title ever] This is one to watch closely.

More on the Afghan election...

This is a good comment piece on how democracy fits into the future of Afghanistan and our war there, coupled with an assesment of the recent election: "Fraud endangers Afghan democracy."
Bottom line: the only way to manage the tribalism (read decentralization power) in Afghanistan is through a functioning democratic process.

Curbing the Power of Finance

This comment piece is the best argument I've read yet on how to shrink Finance back to a socially productive size (and keep it from holdling governments hostage): "Forget the Tobin tax: there is a better way to curb finance."

Strange happenings in Washington...

Check out this post from David Exum (counter-insurgency advocate) about a recent experience with Gwen Ifill: "The Obama Administration: MIA on Afghanistan?"
Money (and scary) quote: "As I walked out of the studio last night, though, Gwen Ifill turned to me and said, "Look, I understand you're not some fire-breathing hawk, but you're about the only person we can find in Washington to defend this war at the moment." [!!!]

Those Tricksy North Koreans...

The plot thickens (slightly) surround the arrest of two American journalists in (?) North Korea: "Journalists say N Koreans arrested them in China."

Checking in with the Global Economy

I am extremely wary of arguments one way or another about where the trend is pointing for the global economy, but its good to check in with the prognosticators once in a while: "Global rebound gathers momentum."
I think the most interesting thing to watch is how China's economy has reacted to the crisis, but the world's economy is such a complex system that I find it hard to believe that one, or a set, of statistics can capture what's going on (that's leaving aside how it affects people, because growth should be instrumental, right?).

Renewable Energy by the Numbers

I like this article on renewable energy: "Illuminating the Future of Energy." The down and dirty numbers of the industrial policy of constructing renewable energy don't get enough focus, and this article gives you a good idea (in a short 2 pg.s) of what it will take to move beyond petroleum.

Cameron on the Lockerbie Bomber Release

Here's a comment by Tory leader David Cameron (likely the UK's next prime minister) about the political firestorm created by the release of the only convicted Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds: "A catelogue of errors that shames the UK."
This has turned into a big deal in the UK, and an embarassment for it abroad. It's also an interesting look at a man who will probably be a major player on the world stage very shortly.

Nail in the Coffin for A-stan Debate?

As you might have guessed from my blog, I'm a keen observer of the discussion about the war in Afghanistan, and particluarly our strategic logic for being there. This (short) post pretty much seems like the nail in the coffin on that debate, and I suspect is a reasonable prediction on our future in the region: "The Afghanistan War in Theory and Practice."

UPDATE: George Will has an op-ed piece in today's WashPost entitled "Time for the US to get out of Afghanistan." I have no doubt that this is the thin end of the wedge...