Globalization

Interesting review of Stiglitz's new book. Globalization is complicated.

Wow

It doesn't get much more ridiculous than this:

To arm the Afghan forces that it hopes will lead this fight, the American military has relied since early last year on a fledgling company led by a 22-year-old man whose vice president was a licensed masseur.

Fallujah

Great WaPo article on Fallujah. But the last two lines are far too important to bury at the end of the article:

What Zobaie wants is for the U.S. military to hand over full control of Fallujah. He believes Iraq's current leaders are not strong enough. Asked whether democracy could ever bloom here, he replied: "No democracy in Iraq. Ever."

"When the Americans leave the city," he said, "I'll be tougher with the people."

Big news for Obama

Gov. Richardson to endorse Obama.

The nation’s only Hispanic governor is endorsing Barack Obama for president, according to the Associated Press.

Richardson: “I believe he is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America’s moral leadership in the world”

The NM Gov is scheduled to make appearance with the candidate on Friday in Portland, Oregon, AP reports.

Obama and race

It's worth watching Sen. Obama's entire speech on race. If you have 40 minutes to kill, you can watch it all right HERE.

And what's the controversy about? Well, . http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Here are two excellent op-ed columns about the speech. One is from the right, and the other from the left. Both make strong points and, taken together, point towards the complexity that is wrapped around this issue of race.
A conservative view: Charles Krauthammer.
A liberal view: E. J. Dionne.

John Adams HBO mini-series starts tonight!

03-16-2008
Looks fantastic and reviews have been strong.
HBO site.

Gov Kaine: Big national exposure, little success in Commonwealth

Virginians (particularly Republicans) do not think as highly about Gov Kaine as do others outside the Commonwealth. Washington Post.

Supreme Court

Jeffrey Rosen on the mixing of business and SCOTUS.

NYTimes Supreme Court coverage.

Of immediate importance is the case the Court will be hearing about handgun possession in DC. A decision may have major implications for the rest of the country. Washington Post.

Five years in Iraq. How many more?

John Burns from the NYTimes: Here.
The most truest blurb:

In time, those who launched the war will answer in history, as much as they will claim the credit if America ultimately finds a way home with honor, and without destroying all it went to Iraq to achieve. But reporters, too, may wish to make an accounting. If we accurately depicted the horrors of Saddam’s Iraq in the run-up to the war, with its charnel houses and mass graves, we have to acknowledge that we were less effective, then, in probing beneath the carapace of terror to uncover other facets of Iraq’s culture and history that would have a determining impact on the American project to build a Western-style democracy, or at least the basics of a civil society.

WaPo book reviews.
Kaplan book review. Great summary of mistakes.
Even if the US got everything right, was it possible to win?
WWWD: What would Washington do? What DID he do?

The Pope weighs in? Washington Times.

Weekly Standard thoughts.

The US Military perspective: Here.

COIN reading list: Here.

McClatchy, with a REALLY handy chart.

Virginia budget battle

I guess Virginia ISN'T really for lovers.

Backgrounds on the many candidates, some no longer with us

I mean no longer with us, as in not running anymore for president. I think they're all still with us in the grander sense. Anyway, here's a whole bunch of interesting background articles from the NYTimes.

His mom's name is Stanley?

So says the NYTimes. Obama's dad, Lucy, confirms it.

Hillary and John

From the New Yorker.

McCain's likely foreign policy: HERE.

Obama stuff

Obama's career in the US Senate (why would it take more than a page to describe?): click HERE.

If elected, his likely foreign policy HERE.

Free Fallon

Interesting - and controversial - article on CentCom Commander, William Fallon.