What Iraqis see (and think)

The right wing commentators can harp on the supposedly pure motives of our efforts in Iraq, and they may even be successful in convincing Americans, or some of them, of their sincerity.  But nothing good will come out of Iraq if the Iraqis don't buy it.

In the TRUE spirit of Christmas

You know that "war on Christmas" that Shill O'Reilly and religious right is defending to its death?  Turns out (surprise) they may well be defending it to their profit as well.

Former Iraqi army officers now allowed to join new Iraqi army

As long ago as at least late 2003 mainstream media were reporting on the problems being caused by the US's action in disbanding Saddam Hussein's army.

Less attention has been paid to recent actions by the Iraqi government to draw officers of the disbanded army back to the Iraqi military.

A crooked view of separation of church and state

The modern day attacks on separation of church and state flow from many sources, and illustrate a tremendous range of understanding of the doctrine itself and of the role of religion in our nation's "moral underpinnings."

Not to make undue fun of a single person, but take a look at the claims and reasoning in the following letter to a small town newspaper.

Quote of the day:

In fact, the wheels of commerce have nearly rusted shut for working people. They've found it harder and harder to afford a middle-class life, while leaders in Washington, D.C., looked the other way and attended to the needs of big business.
Steve Adams and John Sweeney, in the Denver Post.

All I have to say about Saddam's execution

Right or wrong is debatable given the nature of the man and how you feel about capital punishment.  What I don't think is debatable is:

Helping others by helping yourself in Catholic dioceses

One more example of the personal corruption below the surface of so many outwardly pious moralizers.

Polling around in America

Was it a good year for America?  For you, personally?  What about the coming year?

Poll time again, in the good old United States of Avoidance.  And all that's missing is a good dose of truth serum so that we could have some confidence in these self-reports from anAP-AOL News poll conducted by Ipsos:

Quote of the day:

It is a matter of debate whether Iraqis are now worse off than under Saddam's dictatorship. The chaos in their country, however, has produced one undisputed winner: an unchecked Iran, more menacing today than in Ayatollah Khomeini's time.
Rupert Cornwell, in the U.K.'s The Independent.

Another Texas Genius

You don't have to pass an intelligence test to live in any given state.  And Texas seems to have far more than its share of residents who appear not to have passed any intelligence test lately.