Huh?

Stark but effective reminder that war is hell.

Particularly interesting is the fact that the number of politicians who have served their country in the military has dropped from about 80% in the 70s to 30% these days. And of course if you did serve and happen to be a Democrat, the Republicans will find some way to disparage your service. To be fair, those Republicans who didn’t serve were just being good Samaritans and leaving spots for the disadvantaged.

Mother Jones also has some interesting discussion on this topic.

There are some disturbing discussions of how it burns the flesh to the bone and photos of burned bodies. So be prepared for that.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but right at this moment it seems like every soldier’s battle over there is keeping alive, keeping all their body parts…these just seem like slightly higher priorities.

Is he describing the same person who did this:

As acting ambassador to Iraq in the run-up to the first Gulf War, he was the last US diplomat to meet with Saddam Hussein, in 1991.

He very publicly defied the Iraqi strongman by giving refuge to more than 100 US citizens at the embassy and in the homes of US diplomats – at a time when Saddam Hussein was threatening to execute anyone who harboured foreigners.

He then addressed journalists wearing a hangman’s noose instead of a necktie.

He later told the Washington Post newspaper that the message to Saddam Hussein was: “If you want to execute me, I’ll bring my own fucking rope.”

You have to go to the world press to see the actual factual history of Wilson vs. the spin-of-the-moment, although there are other sources that make it clear the Wilson-bashing is merely desperation. Wilson devoted his life to the foreign service – and challenged Saddam Hussein with patriotic bravado. I certainly doubt the weasels who ignore these facts would have been so bold. I imagine them quivering in a corner, crying to those Americans stuck in Iraq and looking for safe haven, “No, I can’t protect you! Saddam said he’d kill me! I have to save my own ass!”

On Monday, with support from Senator Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who is the minority leader, Hackett decided to seek a higher office: the Senate seat now held by Mike DeWine, a two-term Republican. Boston Globe

We need passion, integrity, and un-cronyism now more than ever. Aren’t you tired of political hacks who grease their own pan to cook your bacon? Does that make sense? Did I just make up a silly phrase? Did I mix my metaphors?

But I digress…

Here is one:

Patrick Murphy, PA

This site lists some others.
Wouldn’t you rather have folks in office who know what it really means to serve your country rather than those who claim they gave up their spots to disadvantaged youth?

Kurds generally seem to agree with the constitution, particularly optimistic about how it ensures the (quasi)independence of Kurdistan.

And then the Daily Star’s more comprehensive analysis of what the Kurds get, what the Sunni’s don’t get…within an historical perspective of sorts.

This one from Cuba seems a bit odd – they say it is at risk if the “majority” Sunni population votes it down. Huh? Majority?

Maybe they meant the majority of Sunni’s in specific provinces in which they dominate?

North Korea needs spell check. I just put this because it is kind of surreal to read their coverage. I don’t know why – it just is.

I always like to see what different countries tend to focus on when they cover a story. You begin to realize how fluid the news can be when you filter it through your personal lens of perception.

And stories like this are always painful to read – really makes you cringe.

Maybe they will find some compelling letters among his things that will further support Bush’s policies.