MOsanthrope

The administration’s Middle East policies have been a great success:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oil prices surged to a record above $78 a barrel Thursday in a market agitated by escalating violence in the Middle East and the threat of supply disruptions there and beyond.
* * *
The latest fear being priced into the market is that the […]

Filed under: Politics, Business, U.S., World, Economy

I can think of nothing to add to this.
The news will not come as a shock to the terrorist sympathizers (you remember that, right?) in the reality-based community.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

Civil war:

civil war, n.
A war between factions or regions of the same country.

Not a civil war:

Two bomb blasts in a Shi’ite neighborhood killed 12 [people] and wounded dozens [of people], while gunmen ambushed a commuter bus in a Sunni district and shot dead seven people. Militiamen, believed to be Shi’ite, fought gunbattles in a southern […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Language, World

Some people really do believe that you can market anything. Remember: independent studies have shown that Crapesse™ brand shampoo’s unique blend of natural botanicals and mineral-rich fruit bat guano makes hair up to five times stronger, and you shouldn’t blow people up:

June 20, 2006 - Remember the egg, the frying pan and the […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World, Media

Did you know that fifty years ago this week, the U.S., after fabricating reasons for doing so, invaded Hungary and attempted to install a western-style Democracy at gunpoint?
Either did I.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Earth is the hottest it has been in at least 400 years, probably even longer.
The National Academy of Sciences, reaching that conclusion in a broad review of scientific work requested by Congress, reported Thursday that the “recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Environment, World

The next time you catch me whining about that appointed case some judge ordered me to prosecute, you might remind me of this:

Gunmen kidnapped and killed the number-two lawyer on Saddam Hussein’s defense team, making him the third attorney for Iraq’s former president to be murdered during the crimes against humanity trial.

In retrospect, handling that […]

Filed under: Employment, Law, World

How do you sleep at night, Mr. President?
(Via Eschaton).

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

This is interesting.

Filed under: Family, Biology, Medicine, World

I’d like to see Cairo before I die.
It’s about time to renew my expired passport, I think.

Filed under: Literature, Travel, World

During his press conference with Tony Blair just moments ago, President Bush was asked what he personally regrets most about the manner in which he has handled the Iraq war. I anticipated his typical evasive and defensive response.
Instead, he struck a remarkably candid and sincere tone and admitted that he regrets his reckless “bring […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

The Iran hawks have dusted off their Iraq war playbook.
Here’s an except from chapter one:

In order to gain popular support for your pet war, it’s necessary that you lie about the country you’d like to attack. When the lie is discovered, keep lying. Remember: If you lie long and loud enough, […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World, Media

Updated on May 22, 2006 at 10:54 am (I), 11:03 am (II) and 12:47 pm (III).
The blogosphere is abuzz with rumors of an impending Bush/Blair press conference to announce plans to begin Operation Cut and Run.
The Raw Story is a good place to lurk as these types of stories swirl up.UPDATE: Attaturk sticks his […]

Filed under: Politics, Blogs, U.S., World

No excerpt could do this New York Times piece on U.S. planning for an effective Iraqi police force justice without violating copyright law.
Just read it.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

I think that subsidizing a scarce and environmentally hazardous commodity only postpones real solutions to the problem (the U.S. does some of that, too), but it’s interesting to learn how other nations’ leaders address issues:

While US consumers struggle with soaring energy prices, Venezuela’s gas is now the world’s cheapest at 12 cents a gallon (3.7 […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

Humans: still not all dead:

Even as it crops up in the far corners of Europe and Africa, the virulent bird flu that raised fears of a human pandemic has been largely snuffed out in the parts of Southeast Asia where it claimed its first and most numerous victims.

I won’t hold my breath while […]

Filed under: Health, Medicine, World

A few weeks ago, The Constant Gardner made its way to the top of our Netflix queue. My wife enjoyed it more than I did; however, I thought it was remarkably good as documentaries go:

The report concludes that Pfizer never obtained authorization from the Nigerian government to give the unproven drug to nearly […]

Filed under: Business, Ethics, Health, Medicine, World

An excerpt won’t do this point-by-point disassembly of everything the Administration tells us about the wisdom of invading and remaining in Iraq proper justice. Just go read it.
Oh, by the way, the pinko peacenik who penned the critique is Lt. Gen. William E. Odom (Ret.), who served as director of the National Security Agency […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Russia under President Vladimir Putin has recently “unfairly and improperly restricted the rights of the people,” Vice President Dick Cheney told a conference of Eastern European leaders Thursday.

Putin was said to reply, “Are you effing kidding me? No, seriously, that was a joke, right? Overheard any good […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

Updated on May 3, 2006 at 8:36 pm.
And rightly so.
You ought to read it.UPDATE: Andrew Sullivan offers his take and a defense of his pal, Hitchens, here.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World, Media

Justin has posted some good photos he took at a Washington, D.C. rally organized to increase awareness of the crisis in Darfur.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

I’d imagine that the folks over at the Pentagon are taking a fresh look at Chad:

N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Thousands rallied Saturday in Chad’s capital in support of the president following a defeated rebel attack, while the oil minister threatened to shut down the country’s oil pipeline unless the government is compensated for frozen oil […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

Although I’m a relatively new immigrant to Saint Louis – I’ve lived in the city for about fifteen years – I’ve come to share in the sense of pride felt by many lifelong Saint Louisans in work done by the folks at Saint Louis’ 50,000-watt AM blow torch, KMOX radio. My neighborhood’s community radio […]

Filed under: St. Louis, Politics, U.S., World, Media

I haven’t linked to billmon in quite some time. Although his writing is consistently thought-provoking and eloquent, his posting inexplicably slowed to a trickle a few months ago.
He’s back and better than ever. Don’t follow the link until you have a clear head and plenty of free time.
While you’re there, check out […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

It’s nice to see the liberal media finally report some of the positive things positively taking place, in a positive way, in Iraq. Why, they’re even having beauty pageants in Baghdad!
Paging Drew Lachey!

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 10, 2006 — Iraq’s newly crowned beauty queen, Tamar Goregian, has decided to step down — just […]

Filed under: Politics, Culture, World

Updated on April 8, 2006 at 6:59pm (I), 8:17 pm (II), 8:58 pm (III) and 11:43 pm (IV), and on April 10, 2006 at 10:29 am (V).
The military strategy glitterati who gave us “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq are planning a “sustained bombing campaign” against Iran which may include the use of tactical nucular [sic] weapons, […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

This no longer qualifies as “breaking news”:

Subject: CNN Breaking News
Date: Today 8:05:33 am
From: CNN Breaking News
– Three suicide bombers attack Shiite mosque in Baghdad, killing at least 40 people and injuring 130, police say.

Thank you.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World, Media

While listening to a discussion of corporate America and climate change on Friday morning’s Diane Rehm Show, I was struck by the remarks of panelist Jim Schultz, the vice president of the American Iron and Steel Institute. Schultz seemed well-spoken and level-headed. The gist of his commentary was that while almost everyone now […]

Filed under: Politics, Business, U.S., Environment, World

Even French police departments have given up on Peugeot and Renault:

PARIS (Reuters) - The next time a criminal in a getaway car in France looks in the rear window the chances are that the vehicle in pursuit will be a blue French police Subaru.
* * *
The Subaru Impreza WRX cars will replace Peugeot’s 306 S16 […]

Filed under: Business, Humor, World

Afghani Christian convert, Abdul Rahman, has arrived in Italy and requested asylum:

Italy agreed to grant asylum for Rahman days after Pope Benedict XVI personally appealed to Afghan President Hamid Karzai to show clemency. In the letter, the Roman Catholic leader said if Karzai released Rahman, it would foster mutual understanding and respect among the world’s […]

Filed under: Politics, Religion, U.S., World