The religion entry

I am embarrassed today for Congressional Democrats in light of the legislation being proposed by Senators Warner and Lugar. Their bill seems to find ground that everyone can agree on. For the most part, it gets U.S. personnel out of the nation-building, but allows for some measure of security. We get off the streets, but remain in the country keeping Syrians and Iranians out; target foreign terrorists, but not Iraqi sects; and offers some protection to U.S. interests. Why was that so hard?
It’s actually in our best interests to let these power struggles play themselves out. In the security vacuum we leave, clandestine Iranian efforts will move in to support the Shias. Meanwhile, the Saudis have said before that they may feel obligated to move in to Iraq to support the Sunnis. Let them. Saudis and Iranians at war, if indirectly, can only help us -- at least in the short term. Both sides will need to finance their efforts with oil money, possibly attempting to under-price one another. As these sides deal with their own messy animosities, we can use the time to furiously develop ways to wean ourselves off petroleum. And by maintaining a presence in Iraq, we’ll be right there in case al-Qaeda turns out to be the winner in a local struggle. If Iranian Shias and al-Qaeda and Saudi Sunnis want to have it out, we shouldn’t stand in their way. That fight has so very, very little to do with Americans.
The only religious struggle that should be on America’s plate today is remorse for the shameful outburst against the Hindi prayer in Congress. The protesters, I understand, call themselves “Christians” and “patriots.” I’ll give them their Christian designation, but to think themselves patriotic by taking aim at one of our greatest strengths -- religious tolerance possibly unequaled anywhere else in the world -- is downright un-American.

Mein Mugabe?

In this quick news story about Zimbabwe's rapidly running downhill President Mugabe, Agence France Presse included what I assume is a recent photo. So is that just a patch of darker skin under his nose, or has this notorious homophobe taking his manscapinig cues from Hitler? If so, his press secretary should let him know that it's somewhat poor p.r. Perhaps it's been there all along, hiding (ahem) right under his nose?

Mission mostly accomplished

OK, except for reading Manji, I fulfilled my July 4 plans. Though I did walk past her book on the shelf several times.... Regardless, the view of the fireworks was lovely. Especially so, in that the National Mall's show was just the centerpiece. In every direction from our roost at P and 8th NW, we could see shows both professional and pedestrian. It seems that when the country is mired in shit, displays like these illustrate that we have a awfully optimistic national psychology. It all just looked so hopeful.

Independence Day, 21st Century Style

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