DISQUS

Quite an elegant statement. Thanks.

That's what I meant. Sorry for the lack of clarity. Jack & I have talked since this post went up and cleared up any confusion.

Great question. I wish I could say for certain that I did. All I can say is that it's notable that on the Twitter #iranelection hashtag, you're not seeing Iranians asking the U.S. or the international community for concrete assistance. Over at NIAC's informative blog, there's a post up -- at the risk of preempting a post of mine -- from an Iranian protester calling for the U.S. not to recognize the results of the election. I'll amend this statement as additional evidence accumulates.

Thanks for the informed observations. I have to say I was mostly taken aback by the idea of broadcasting 24 in Kabul in general, but your point is well taken.

Hmm, could be. I'll check it out. Thanks.

Yeah, but it seems like the tempo of attacks increased over the last two months, just judging by what's in my inbox. If that's not correct, then... never mind.

I think you might be thinking of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

I'm tallying up the totals through FY 2010. This is the last year there'll be a supplemental. OMB gave out the $663 billion total when it gave the total budget number a couple weeks ago. $534 billion is indeed not inclusive of the costs of the wars.

Good point.

"You're spending money that leads only to slavery." Amazing what white overprivilege will do to people.

When there's nothing left to burn, you must set Glenn Beck on fire.

Yes indeed I did. Thanks muchly.

Good comments. If I can clarify, I don't mean that Obama should consider apologizing to the regime, though I take your point that any apology will surely be presented by the regime that way.

But let me take the point that you make in your second paragraph further. Let's say Obama does apologize for historic transgressions against the Iranian people. (I note that Newroz is a pre-Islamic cultural celebration.) Nothing about the regime or the revolution. Doesn't that allow the dissidents and reformers breathing room to contend that the U.S. is interested in a holistic breach of relations, preventing the regime from using the threat of external U.S. aggression as an excuse for intransigence?

I don't disagree with your point about any apology coming in the context of negotiations. Maybe it can be a point in some joint communique in the future.

You know, you're right.

Right you are. As I don't follow NASA, I made an ignorant and lazy assumption based on reports I last saw weeks ago. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention and apologize for the mistake.

You're right, Jason. I'm was too quick to call the system archaic. I regret the use of the adjective.

Ah, actually I just phrased that poorly. I meant to say that you said the PSCs protect the big shots from the dangers of the militias, etc., not that they were providing security to the militiamen.

Crap, sorry Doug. And sorry that I'm just seeing this comment now. I'll update this post imminently.

No. I think you may be thinking of Marwan Barghouti, who is a distant cousin.

Half! It's like an Eddie Murphy routine.

Le sigh. Sorry. DNI = Director of National Intelligence; Blair = Ret. Adm. Dennis Blair. I wrote like 15 posts and wrote them fast. Sorry about that.

Added!

Egads, sorry I missed this. Thanks for pointing this out!

You wrote a good post. And I'll concede up front that all I know about the Abu Omar case is what I've read in the papers. I'm not making an argument about it, or Bob Lady, etc. All I'm saying is that suspending judgment until more facts are known is a prudent course.

Oh YES. We're getting Obama Birthers in comments now!