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“Waste Not, Want Not” »

The old Ben Franklin adage, is apparently one with which our government is unfamiliar. Just within the past few days, three major wasteful decisions have come to light. The first is in the State Department. This wasn’t just a wasteful decision, but an unethical, immoral, and I have to hope, illegal one. Within the State [...]

The anger worth $800 Million »

Only a year ago, the Obama administration decided to ramp up military support to the Pakistani army as part of an effort to persuade Islamabad to do more to combat militants. The new military aid, which was contingent on Congressional approval, was expected to amount to more than $2 billion over five years and would [...]

Pakistan’s Urban Sprawl »

It’s surprising to many that the majority of Pakistanis support the Islamists and their apologists as the saviors of their religion. But this didn’t happen overnight. The mindset of the large segment of society didn’t change with a blink of an eye. No serious attempt has been made to analyse this phenomenon even though the [...]

Stories Too Good To Miss – TGIF! *Open Thread* »

I just saw this headline, and had to grab this article: “MI6 attacks al-Qaeda in ‘Operation Cupcake‘; British intelligence has hacked into an al-Qaeda online magazine and replaced bomb-making instructions with a recipe for cupcakes.” Oh, my – that is freaking HILARIOUS! Here is part of the article: The cyber-warfare operation was launched by MI6 [...]

The Reality Of The Egyptian Military Control (I Told You So) **OPEN THREAD** »

This headline caught my eye, and disgusted me, all at the same time, “Egyptian General Admits ‘Virginity Checks’ Performed On Some Protesters.” As one would deduce, the headline means WOMEN protesters. This is disturbing on so many levels, not the least of which how women continue to be treated. At first there were denials that [...]

I Have Some Questions »

On Thursday, Obama signed – via computer – an extension for the Patriot Act, after it was passed by the House and Senate. This allows it to be in effect until June 1, 2015. You remember the Patriot Act – it is the one many of us were furious about when the Bush Administration came [...]

Obama V. West, And What About Hillary? UPDATED **Open Thread** »

Update below the fold. President Obama made quite the speech today on the Middle East, including Israel, our ally, right before Prime Minister Netanyahu visits. And oh, what an, um, interesting speech it was. If you have the time, inclination, and intestinal fortitude to watch Obama deliver it, and I warn you, he does go [...]

Pak-US: Charlie Brown, Lucy and the Football »

One of the most familiar story lines in the beloved comic strip “Peanuts” involved malicious prankster Lucy holding a football and encouraging poor Charlie Brown to kick it. At the last moment, Lucy would pull the football away. Year after year after year, Lucy played Charlie Brown for a sucker. The football remained unkicked. So [...]

Secretary Clinton Meets President Bachelet in Chile »

As we know, another massive earthquake hit in February (the 27th), this time in Chile. Not only was this 8.8 magnitude earthquake one of the most powerful on record, but it also spawned a tsunami that also rocked this country. The death toll there is 795. Many of those lost were in the coastal areas [...]

The Devastation Continues »

In Haiti. I assume that, like me, you have been watching what is unfolding in Haiti. The death toll continues to grow as this impoverished country continues to reel from aftershocks from this powerful earthquake, with bodies lying next to the living. Rescue attempts are underway, but it is difficult work, with rescue workers having [...]

Very Difficult Time In The Asia Pacific »

This week. We have a tsunami in American Samoa and Samoa, with a typhoon hitting the Philippines. Add to that an earthquake, a MAJOR earthquake, in Indonesia. Sadly, many lives have been lost as a result of these natural occurrences. Here is a good recap of what has happened during the past week from the [...]

A Different Take On Secretary Clinton’s Africa Trip »

Faithful NQ reader, CG, mentioned recently that the Washington Post actually did a very nice article on Secretary Clinton’s recent trip to Africa. Well, you coulda knocked me over with a feather. This morning, in my daily “DipBlog” from the State Department, sure enough, there it was, along with a link to an interactive map [...]

Secretary Clinton’s Accomplishments in Africa Blunted by Junk Politics »

Judith Warner penned an excellent article in the NY Times on Friday, “Hillary Fights a Tide of Trivialization.” She speaks of the vital mission that Secretary Clinton was engaged in while touring Africa, to promote the rights of women and children and also build bonds with partners and allies. Warner points out the American media [...]

Inhumanity To Women, Children, And Horses, Too »

Secretary Clinton does it again. Stands up for women, that is. Here is a brief clip of her speaking in the Democratic Republic of Congo as she continues on her trip through Africa: As she has done for so many years, Hillary Clinton speaks out for, and stands with, women and children, calling out those [...]

Hillary Frustrated by White House Vetting “Nightmare” »

Hillary Clinton has been working diligently for months to appoint a new administrator of USAID. Now Jill Dougherty of CNN reports that “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton showed a rare flash of frustration Monday: – calling the vetting process for Obama administration nominees “ridiculous” and “a nightmare.” At a question-and-answer session with staff from the [...]