Who's arming & training the "Taliban" ? Apparently we are. (In part) http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175116/ann_jones_us_or_them_in_afghanistan_

What sanctions and other "consequences" would be an appropriate response?

One positive from a nuclear Iran would be that the PNAC-o-cons would have to scratch Iran off their list. (of 30 countries to invade). Probably would actually reduce the possibility of war with Iran to ~0%. ( At least, most would view that as positive.) So.... what exactly is the "nightmare" of a nuclear Iran? Similar to a nuclear Israel? Pakistan? India? Or even the U.S.?

@ thedeanpeople

Welcome to this little eddy in this torrent of rhetoric!

If you look at the treaties dealing with enemy combatants, you will see that enemy combatants need to be wearing uniforms, etc. before they qualify for Geneva (or Hague) convention treatment.

-- Tommy777

Some things don't apply, (to encourage signing on) but the ban on torture is absolute. Period. No exceptions.For any reason. Simple,eh ?

A.I., one more thing to add to your list : it's come to light, this year, that the Lusitania was carrying military supplies, so a legitimate target. We were lied into WW I.

$1000 = Welfare

$1M, or even better, $1B, = An Incentive

Cutting the former is righteous, and the goal of any thinking 'Murrican. Cutting the latter* is government interfering in business. (again)

* I actually heard R. Limbaugh say that when Al Gore suggested reducing the sugar subsidy fom 18c/lb to 17c/lb, with the $ going to Everglades restoration. A few years later, when the Republican Congress passed the bill, GW Bush ( The Environmental Pres.) signed the bill, to the applause of Jeb Bush (& the rest of the FLA GOP contingent) , it was no longer a problem. ;)

We don't want to "criminalize" political policy differences here in the US, like happens in so much of the world. ........[snip]

And nice job comparing apples and oranges, implying the political elites here enjoy the same level of immunity as in the other countries mentioned. Try to even criticise high officials there (and actually in most of the world outside the Western democracies) and you'll likely end up in jail or dead, not just having a lawsuit. thrown out.

Uh....Fladad....., the al-Kidd and CACI cases involve civil lawsuits . No "criminalization" of policy decisions involved. The Schlozman case is about perjury, not about the policies. Oh, btw, what was done in all three is ILLEGAL! &/or UNCONSTITUTIONAL!, but we wouldn't want to pollute the political waters with icky investigations , and court cases, and such.

(So nice I had to quote it twice) "Try to even criticise high officials there (and actually in most of the world outside the Western democracies) and you'll likely end up in jail or dead, not just having a lawsuit thrown out.

So... they even get away with murder, torture, and imprisoning people indefinitely, with no real due process? Horrible! That'd never happen here. I guess you're right!

(OK, - three times)"Try to even criticise high officials there (and actually in most of the world outside the Western democracies) and you'll likely end up in jail or dead, not just having a lawsuit thrown out."

Is it just me , or is that the ol' You-couldn't-say-that-in-(Russia/China/Cuba,etc)(So STFU DFHs!) schtick? It was stupid then(re Vietnam); it's stupid now.

I ran aqcross Schaller's piece a couple days ago. A quick mental count had me wondering about his criteria .For example, Kirsten (Rutnik) Gillibrand, while not as encrusted upon the national body politic as others, is still from a political family, at the state level.Schaller didn't seem to be counting those. Haven't had time to cherck into it.

Re Dean & I Have a Scream : He was wearing a noise-canceling microphone, but didn't seem to realize it. (forgot?) I heard a recording of the same thing with a "normal" microphone. Dean could barely be heard over the crowd noise, thus his shouting. How did I happen to hear this? Andrea Mitchell brought it up, much later (months?, years?) ,in response to someone else's Dean jokes (D. Imus?). If she knew this , why wasn't she front & center explaining it, at the time , instead of talking about the effect of (the coverage of) it on Dean's run , much the same way Chuck Todd spoke about it (media coverage) in general? They'reall just leaves in the wind, helpless to do anything.

The "what" and "why" of your critique is what I was asking.

".... compromise a little on things like journalistic email priviledges.."

Anything else?

Pedinska , must be that good (xxxx)* dirt & plenty of NYS-style sunshine (hint: it's wet). :)

Seemed to have traded summers with Cocktailhag.A real slugfest out there. Only the stuff that likes it cool and wet is doing anything. Anybody need some cucumbers ? ;)

*Used to get a lot of good stuff grown in it , from Jim Z. &Co. @ LCN, in Perry.

Another 2c (more like $5?) on the Klein/Greewald thing , from driftglass. (@sig) Klein-on-a-Skewer, well-done. :)

Mr. Anderson, what exactly is your point? Yeah, I know, Glenn gets less mass exposure than most of the Klein-ish Villagers. And.....? Glenn should change? How? Why? What would be the value of that, besides nothing ? (to the audience)

"... Mullets of Moderation..."

:))))))))))))))

(Is that the piscene or Barry Melrose type? ;)

and will continue to speak to a very small audience.

-- bernbart

It's a Quality-Over-Quantity thing .( & I suspect there's a much larger quantity than you suppose) A way of life. Only way to go , IMHO. Give it a try . (Pleeeease !?)

Mona, re the i-concubine thing, if you're looking for a half-day gig, hit me up. I have it covered 'til ~ 2pm. After that... you can.... huh? What was I ......???

Oh, yeah - unlimited nail-doin'. Just got me some new sharpenin' tools. (Been prunin' & hoein' up a storm) Have 'em done in no time . Every day, if you want. :)