Open Thread - 27 November, 2012

I have to do some catch-up work today for my consulting business, invoicing, etc.  pl 

Comments

[Al Spafford]

Thomas Ricks and Fox News--way to go Thomas!
http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/11/tom-ricks-to-fox-news-the-network-operates-as-a-wing-150296.html

[JohnH]

For me the interesting question is why the plutocrat-owned media is pushing the Mursi power grab/protest story at all. There are lots of protests in lots of countries. Why is Egypt the story? Has the media been encouraged to put some pressure on Mursi, say, to make sure Gazans continue to starve? And BO can continue to place the role of staunch Musrsi supporter?

On Sunday there was a large demonstration in Rabat, Morocco: 45,000. That's a pretty big number. Last night I checked the New York Times, Google news and Bing news. NOT A SINGLE MENTION 36 hours after the event.

On Google news the leading "Morocco" story had to do with the 70th anniversary of the film Casablanca, which has as much to do with Morocco as Tartar sauce has to do with the Caucasus. Meanwhile the 49th anniversary of JFK's assassination almost disappeared from the coverage.

So why did the Morocco protests get deemed "news NOT fit to print?" Most likely because they were in support of Palestinian claims against Israeli war crimes.

[steve g]

Re: Military awards.

Discussion points here have sometimes alluded
to the downsizing of the services especially
the flag ranks. Politicians of both parties
have oft times given the generals final say
in the strategic course of events instead of
the tactical. At least that's what they say.
When the likes of Pataeus and Allen testify
before various congressional committees the
politicians seem star struck and deferential.
Too much so as our wars have not turned out as
planned. Their uniform festooned with row upon
row of medals, pins and awards adds to the
spectacle of subservience. Most members have
not served.

Not to pick on Allen in particular, but if you
look at his 8th row you see 3 Polish awards and
one from Mongolia. Huh?? I maybe out of line
but this mutual admiration society aspect is
bordering on the ridiculous. My Comm O in VN '69
received the bronze star. At the time I assumed
these were given for those in an environment of
actual close physical combat. A good friend earned
the same medal in Chu Lai while serving with the
Americal Division. Under heavy enemy fire he helped
wounded commrades to a waiting medevac.
No comparison.

[William R. C umming]

Any chance of John Brennan becoming CIA Director?

[Fred]

On a bright note I'm going to order the CW trilogy (hardcover for my personal library). I was wondering if it were possible to obtain an autographed copy?

[eakens]

ZBig on Israel/US/Iran ....

http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/13051

[turcopolier]

fred

Sure. Write me off line at [email protected] and we will arange it. pl

[Clifford Kiracofe]

Yes, the issue is the degraded state of US journalism. Internet so far is a work around for this problem.

Foreign news in the US is heavily managed so as to keep the American people in a type of pro-Israel bubble. "Journalists" working State Dept and the White House are essentially stenographers.

During the Iraq War, for example, news from the UK was heavily censored by the US media. Reading the UK papers on internet you could see the strong opposition to the war in Parliament among both Labor and Conservative parties. US media virtually blacked this out so as not to give any ideas to Congress and so on.

For decades, US coverage of foreign affairs has served the interest of the foreign policy establishment rather than the national interest.

Interesting about Rabat. Lot of Saudi and Gulfie investments in Morocco.

[At The Virginia Capes]

Colonel -

I've been waiting for an open thread to ask about your recovery from the Bell's Palsy. I hope it's gone well and that you've made a full recovery.

Early best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to you, your wife, your family and all the SST contributors and readers.

[turcopolier]

ATVC

People tell me that I am recovered. I would say about 90%. Thanks. The same to you and yours. pl

[John]

One’s ‘chest candy’ must always be taken with a grain of salt. As you so well suggest, one man’s award that he may legitimately wear may not be equal to another’s. Only those who have been-there-done-that at that time and place can truly distinguish or judge.

In my nearly two years in combat in SEA, our commander approved a paucity of medals. His reasoning? That we were only doing the job we signed up for – fighting the enemy. And furthermore we were receiving combat pay too ($65 per month). We didn't, except in extraordinary circumstances deserve any medals. And we rarely received them despite heavy combat.

I had no problem with that. (At least at the time.) But other commanders, especially other services, and today’s services award more and newer medals for far different purposes.

It is sad that few if any of our politician’s today could not differentiate an Expert Pistol Medal from a Silver Star, much less never having earned one.

[YT]

1st. thing I'd do once I get a copy of one of 'em novels of yours, Col. sir.

& pls. forgive my rude manners.

It's a little late but have a Blessed Thanksgiving & X'mas with family as well as friends.

I'm most that glad you've almost recovered from your ailments, somethin' to be grateful for this festive season.

[elkern]

Watched Monday's Daily Show with TWIL last night (she's a big fan; I prefer Colbert). Dismayed by the piece on Gaza ("Gosling Stripped"). Stewart is quite the PEPpy mensch, eh?

They led with the bus bombing in Tel Aviv, then rockets fired from Gaza. There were some amusing clips of the usual pretty Newsers declaring everyone Winners (Israel, Hamas, Bibi, Obama, Morsi) except for Abbas/PLA and Iran.

Stewart rightly pointed out that the other losers were the "hundreds who were killed" - but of course he declined to enumerate how many of those were Israeli vs Palestinian.

The worst Hasbara was the explanation of how it started. It went something like this...

"It started with hundreds of rockets fired at Israeli cities [video of small rocket fire]. Hamas says that was in retaliation for the killing of [whatshisname], Hamas' military leader [video of bombed out car], but maybe that was retaliation for the kidnapping of Israeli [firstname] Shalit for 5 years [video of Shalit], which was perhaps in retailation for [something else], which all leads back to.. [video of ape smashing bones, from 2001 a Space Odyssey]."

The left preferes it's propaganda served lightly stewed, I guess, when compared with the raw red meat served up by Fox.

[DH]

I saw on Fox news last night that the Egyptians are protesting in large numbers Morsi's decrees, and that MB canceled their protest as to not get in the way. Mursi was said to be insisting that the decrees were for transitional(?) purposes only, but the people were insisting he withdraw them immediately.

[DH]

What are the chances that back channel negotiations have been happening all along?

[DH]

PS, the panel of Krauthammer, Liasson, and Hayes all predicted Rice would be confirmed.

[The Twisted Genius]

With half the world going up in flames and the other half going to hell in a hand basket, here's something a little lighter for the committee of correspondence.

http://vimeo.com/35050722

Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.

[turcopolier]

TTG

Ah, to be 60 again. pl

[Charles I]

That's no kayak that's a wind powered trimaran needs a big disco ball at the top of the sail scare off the alligators. . . what a lovely little trip it seemed, tho, really is quite a rig.

[The Twisted Genius]

PL,

You could look into a nifty little steam launch built by the Rappahannock Boat Works. The shop is only ten miles south of Clark Brothers. You'd be the Charlie Allnutt of the Potomac.

http://www.tinypower.com/index.htm

[The Twisted Genius]

It is a pretty wild rig. And they do a great job on their videos. Until I build something a little more elaborate, I'm content with my little 14 foot recreational kayak. I'm designing a one meter sail rig that go close to the wind so I can cruise the Potomac without my arms falling off.

[Al Spafford]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/9711968/Europe-backing-for-Palestinian-UN-bid-surges.html

Ex Israeli Prime Minister Olmert: re UN recognition of Palestine is "... congruent with the basic concept of the 2 state solution ... We in Israel will have to engage in serious process of negotiations ..." Other Israeli official, "We have lost Europe!"

[DH]

I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[DH]

I'm thinking he'd get more mileage out of a large, cabin-style pontoon. He could host NRO-style cruises for his commentariat.

[Fred]

Navy base security 'down under'.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20553243

My first thought is this an inside job by someone already having base access? The second is the the equivelant of what would be a coast guard facility in the US? I suspect the anchor detail on an MTB would only be 1-2 people as they don't have a big crew to begin with.