Israel's obsession with Iran, especially with Iran's nuclear program, is somewhat of a puzzlement. Yes, some in Iran have used words that sound dangerous. But how much of it is real and how much is bluster? Yes, Iran is supporting terrorists that are giving Israel a hard time. But no local terrorists are an existential threat for Israel. Yes, President Obama's policy will tend to strengthen Iran. Which should be worrisome to several Arab countries. President Bush strengthened Iran by removing the only regime that could keep Iran in check. Several American presidents strengthened Iran when they propped up the Shaw. Now Iran is ruled by people who have little in common with Western values. But these people have Iran fairly well under control. And they are not stupid. Muslim extremists may have no qualms of sending young men to their death with the promise of bliss in heaven. But the rulers of Iran are too smart to go the same way. And they know that Israel would not hesitate to obliterate Iran with nuclear bombs.

If Israel has to obsess about somebody it ought to be Pakistan. The country has nuclear weapons and may be on the verge of falling to extremists. No that is something to worry about.

Sorry, something stinks, I dropped a letter.

It should read "Now there is something to worry about."

If Bybee had a particle of decency, he would not rendered such an opinion in the first place. So don't hold your breath.

But doesn't he need a license to practive law? Whatever state board gave him such a license could disbar him, couldn't they? The same applies to that other Yahoo, the law professor in California.

Athletes, like everybody else, can and should take medication to improve their health and bodies. Many substances accomplish these goals and there is nothing wrong with it. We have elected to use the term "drug" for performance enhancing substances that damage the athlete's body or psyche, often only in the long run. Any substance in that category needs to be banned. This includes any substance that allows an athlete to perform despite an injury, if doing so causes damage to his body. Many promising careers have been cut short because a shot in the right place allowed the athlete to place demands on his body while injured.

Now, one could argue that a professional athlete should be allowed to do with his body as he wishes, regardless of the consequences. In that case, he should also be responsible for any long-term health problems and not burden society with it in any way. More importantly, in our culture athletes serve as role models for youngsters. What is good for A-Rod cannot be bad for me, a 13-year old jock. And so, aspiring stars will use the same substances the stars of today use. Too much of this is already happening. It is high time to stop it.

All too many people in recent years voted for the GOP on single issues like abortion of same-sex marriage. Palin was selected as running mate for McCain because she appealed to them and McCain was suspect. The Republican Party seems to have been captured by religious extremists who deny evolution (the flat-earth society beckons!) and those who want an American Empire to rule the world.

If the GOP finds back to its roots the party would again get my vote.

Aside from the fact that the term "The best and brightest" is now being misused by people who probably don't have a clue that Halberstam used it in jest, the thought that intelligent people won't work for the government because of threats of prosecution if they break the law is absurd. And an insult to the many men and women of integrity who either left public service to avoid being involved in illegal and unethical acts or who were punished for refusal to follow orders. The Nuremberg trials settled once and for all that following orders is not an excuse.

Concerning bankers, where can they go? Nowhere else in the world, except until now Great Britain, can they earn the absurd salaries as in the USA. It's our gain if these geniuses who brought the world's economy to the brink of disaster go somewhere else or, better yet, do some honest work.

"Teens should not have sex". I'll vomit if I hear this mantra another time. Don't these people realize that it is deep in our genes, especially in the genes of nubile young women, to reproduce? Until recently, most young women were married (mated) soon after puberty. To suppress these instincts is to produce emotionally troubled adults. There has to be an outlet. In some cultures, in order to prevent too early pregnancies, the two sexes are kept apart. In our oversexed culture young people are stimulated without end and then we attempt to slam the door. Nature found a good way of preventing too early pregnancies by causing children during puberty to be attracted to members of the own gender. Sometimes this includes sexual play but cannot be classified as homosexuality. Perhaps it is a case of arrested development if this attraction continues into adult life.

It's about time that somebody reigns in the locusts. Because that's exactly what hedge funds are. They descend on a company like locusts, devour every thing edible, and depart again leaving a wasteland. These gangsters have destroyed many a prosperous corporation all over the world, all for a quick profit.

I would add that the Priesthood may attract men who have trouble with their sexuality. This could be an explanation why there seem to be so many pedophile and homosexual priests. Are Priests even forbidden to masturbate? Most probably do in the privacy of their rooms and feel guilty over it. Others have a mistress and feel just as guilty. There is a nasty old German quip: "Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt und der Pfarrer seine Köchin." (God loved the world and the Priest his cook)