Politics

“It is not going to be a political speech,” said a senior foreign policy adviser, who spoke to reporters on background. “When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally. ”But he is not president of the United States,“ a reporter reminded … Read more

Beneath the radar, well-funded activist groups plan to take control in key battleground states. Liberals aren’t just on the march on the presidential level. This year, liberal activists are spending parts of the fortunes of their wealthy donors to transform politics at the state and local level. read more | digg story

Yesterday, I pointed out that Mr. Obama’s strategy for Iraq, at least as it is being presented, really has very little to do with Iraq. I take a certain amount of satisfaction in the fact that the Washington Post today makes the same point in their Op-Ed piece (read more | digg story). Also interesting … Read more

OK, this is funny. The supposedly web-savy candidate pulls a rather suspicious stunt. And the candidate that openly admits he’s still learning how to use the web, uses some pretty advanced web tools to point out the suspicious stunt. Say what you will about the deeper meanings and ramifications, on the face of it, this … Read more

Seriously, I love this article (digg story) “I called for a comprehensive new strategy — a surge of troops and counterinsurgency to win the war. Senator Obama disagreed,” Mr. McCain said. “He opposed the surge, predicted it would increase sectarian violence, and called for our troops to retreat as quickly as possible. Today we know … Read more

So, about this plan, Mr. Obama. I have a few questions and a couple of comments. Political leaders in Iraq have only just begun to look like leaders albeit, shaky ones. Most observers attribute this budding leadership to the security that the surge in US Forces has brought. In your plan you at once point … Read more

“I’m surprised at how finely calibrated every single word was measured. I wasn’t saying anything I hadn’t said before, that I didn’t say a year ago or when I was a United States senator,” said Obama, who is still a senator from Illinois. (source) I keep coming back to that first sentence. “I’m surprised at … Read more

Obama, who based his drive to capture the Democratic nomination on his early and ardent opposition to the war, said earlier this week he might alter his plan to bring combat troops home within 16 months of taking office if conditions on the ground changed. The comment drew heavy coverage and sharp criticism from some … Read more

Iraq will not accept any security agreement with the United States unless it includes dates for the withdrawal of foreign forces. The differing stances underscore the intense debate in Baghdad over a deal with Washington that will provide a legal basis for U.S. troops to operate when a U.N. mandate expires at the end of … Read more

One of the reasons I don’t post often is that I try to offer my own insight and opinion on things. That takes time to first construct in my mind and then write down in some cognitive form. However, some times things appear that are complete in their own right. Such is the case with … Read more