25
July
2007
So now we know. Congress can huff and puff all it wants. Public support for a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq can shrink to nothing. But none of it matters. It doesn’t even matter that Al Qaeda is actively regrouping in North Waziristan, where we do not send troops. Reality doesn’t matter. General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have already made their plans to keep us in Iraq through 2009.
Can anyone wonder why so many young people–and so many older people as well–begin to doubt whether that word “democracy” means anything at all?
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Posted: Director's Cut, Happening in the World
9
July
2007
Perhaps I am insanely paranoid, but I find the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-20) profoundly disturbing. Stated simply, it can be read as saying that, if an event occurs that the president declares to be a “catastrophic emergency,” in the name of preserving continuity of government functions at all levels, the president, through Homeland Security and National Security can do whatever he pleases. He will coordinate the activities of the legislative and judicial branches of government.
It is unlikely that this directive was issued without forethought as to its use. Although the directive mentions natural disasters, the focus is on an attack by our enemies. I doubt that Bush would have issued this directive for the sake in order to empower a possibly Democratic successor. I suspect that he anticipates at least a real chance that he will have the opportunity to put it into effect himself. But does he really think that our enemies will be in position during the next year or so to pull off a major attack against us, one that he could declare to be a catastrophic emergency? That seems implausible.
What then may be the reasoning? It is most likely to be related to Iran. Concern about Iran is not limited to those who have made no secret of their desire that the United States wage war against it, such as the leaders of Israel and Dick Cheney. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: Founders, Happening in the World
4
July
2007
On June 21 it was my privilege to take part in a post-screening discussion of the amazing new Michael Winterbotham film, “A Mighty Heart.” The film was shown at Paramount Studios in Hollywood as part of an event organized by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and co-sponored by PCU. By now everyone knows that the film stars Angelina Jolie and that it deals with the kidnapping and murder in Pakistan of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. What no one who hasn’t actually seen the film can know is how movingly Jolie portrays Mariane Pearl, Daniel Pearl’s wife and then widow.
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Posted: Director's Cut, Happening in the World
