"Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia" is a common translation for the group's name Tanzim Qaidat Al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn which refers to "the Country of the Two Rivers" rather than Iraq.

#### Maybe so but, since it's not commonly known, perhaps different wording or some explanation was in order in Barack's piece. As it is, it sounds a bit ominous to those of us less know-it-all and more fearful...

Hoog - agree that the "some" and "generally" are indeed patronizing...and weaselly. I'm for "refining" or changing position, but hopefully it should be openly. This looks like leaving the question open for revisiting for re-positioning in case of the perceived need of support from Certain Quarters. Wasn't looking for a messiah, but hoping for a decent, progressive, actually-left president.

but it's up to two million (even leaving out Good Celery's contributions) and beyond readable.

First, on waffling vs refining generally - I hope any candidate leaves room to adjust his stand on things as those things change and as he learns more. (That's not an excuse for a prez to reneg on everything he said during the campaign, of course, as soon as he gets those Secret Briefings he wasn't previously privy to.) People want clear-cut proposals from their candidates, but we live in a fuzzy world. Bush has demonstrated how Staying The Course, even when wrong, even when the picture changes, even when the ground shifts beneath our feet, is not necessarily good.

Re FISA - I don't see the point (or the practical possibility) of going after media retroactively (or, offhand, how they could-have should-have said "no" to the government in the first place). Seems like the Dem and Obama position - to set aside the past and do differently in the future - is sensible. Idealism and absolutism don't work in a messy world where people (and administrations - and court dockets) have finite lives.

On third-trimester abortions - I'm pro-choice, but third trimester is way too late. Mental problems should have become apparent long before that. (I'm not pleased with the way Obama phrased his opposition, tho - had a faint air of pandering and patronizing about it.)

But as to the subject at hand, withdrawing from Iraq - wow, however you look at it. Perhaps the only thing is to do it in one fell swoop, like it was done in Vietnam, with the left-behind trying to grab onto the departing helicopters. Vietnam got itself straightened out (miraculously!) and seems to be a more-or-less functioning state. (Of course oil is a complicating factor in the Middle East).

For those who are in favor of Obama because he's (apparently) keen to get out of Iraq might want to remember that he's not necessarily actually in favor of bringing the troops home. He's said he'd up the numbers in Afghanistan - where (I just heard, to my surprise) the population is far greater, the enemy is more united and has a loooonnnnngggg history, and the enemy has recently heated things up. Afghanistan is a quagmire that other nations have had their soldiers die and be maimed in before giving up. While I'd like to see the Afghan people live good lives (esp. an improvement for women), I am doubtful that the U.S. is gonna make it happen - or even catch Bin Ladin before he dies of old age... (Legalize opium and bring down the price of heroin - that might help...)

(far-out name!) If you are happy with how you are, fine. If someone else isn't, and does the surgery route, why is this any concern of yours?

I just don't understand why people think they should dictate actions and terminology to other people. I wouldn't want it done to me. Would you want it done to you? Someone ELSE's idea of how you should conduct your life and what you call yourself? (Think ghettos and yellow stars, or Jim Crow - aren't we all better off letting *others* be free?)

...of back in the day, when young men started wearing long hair, and then amongst the hippies, bright (shock!!!) clothes, beads, EVEN EARRINGS. Straight (in the non-sexual sense) people were aghast. "How can we tell the boys from the girls?" was the cry. Even then, in my youthfulness, my reaction was, "Why do you care?" I mean, what business is it of yours or mine?

And so it is with this subject. People who proclaim that Beattie *is* a woman and how ridiculous that WE have to pretzelize our minds and speech to accommodate Those People - like, what's it TO you? Shrug and read the sports page. (I know lots of people who watch football and hockey. It's mystifying to me, but, hey, whatever floats their boat - as long as I don't have to do it, I'm cool.)

Yes! And that Colbert comment/question really out-earred the moobie star!

Was that the show where the narrative character says to the camera, as the last line, "Well, I think THAT went well." For a while I adopted it as my all-purpose commentary on life...

P.S. - Yay for Shandling show! Also Larry David show.

Will Smith did the ear thing on Colbert, too, and I didn't get it. However, Colbert has funnier ears (one of them anyway) and did an ear-thing that over-rode Smith. However, on Colbert Smith did address his likeability factor (Colbert also), namely that he's good-looking. (Also apparently boyishly playful and fun, so non-'threatening' as a black actor.) He's just really pleasing to watch and so is a successful movie star. (P.S. I think the movie sounds colossally silly. Guess it's my XX chromosomes.)