Free kibbles

Dubai claims world's tallest building. The US doesn't even bother to compete anymore in a sign of western decline.


Company implants employees with RFID chips.

Turkey invites Iraq and US to discuss PKK terrorist problem.

Military has Taliban hostage takers surrounded.

Israeli troops kill 2 Hamas gunmen. It must be Tuesday.

Chavez consolidates power, merging political parties into 1.

Refinery problems drive up gasoline prices.

Mark Steyn discusses the American hostages in Iran. More on the American hostages and Iran's abuses against its citizens.

Charles Krauthammer explains that Gen. Petraeus is finally carrying out an American vision in Iraq, and it's about time. We should never have put our eggs in Maliki's basket. Now we're pacifying the country without him. Either the government will use the ensuing security to form a unity government with Sunnis, or it not. That's up to them.

Democrats are more out of touch with religious voters than ever.

Article claims it's in Pakistan's interest against India to keep Afghanistan unstable. Pakistan's first priority is in countering India, not defeating terrorism. In a similar vein, author asks 2 great questions regarding Pakistan:

There are two big questions worth pondering gravely: 1. Are we witnessing a repetition of the events in Iran, in 1979, in which all the relatively "liberal" elements in Persian society fell to squabbling among themselves, while the totalitarian Islamists under Ayatollah Khomeini deposed the Shah? 2. Whether or not this could happen, will it come to appear so likely, that India will resolve to prevent it by main force?

Keith Olbermann is losing it.

Author wonders if anybody is listening to Gen. Petraeus. Everybody should be.

Linux desktop based on Firefox.

Editorial claims that a majority of Senators from both parties want a new mission in Iraq - fewer troops focused on al Qaeda, training Iraqis, and force protection. This isn't a new mission. This is the same old mission that failed for 4 years. Bush changed course and leadership in Iraq as the public demanded. We finally have a man in charge, Gen. Petreaus, who can get the job done, and we have enough troops to pacify the Baghdad region and possibly the whole country. For the first time in 4 years, Al Qaeda in Iraq is being destroyed. Why would anybody want to go back to the failed policy of the last 4 years?

The New York Times has an extensive piece on Ron Paul.

Author astutely recognizes that Republicans are preparing to pull the plug on Iraq after Gen. Petreaus' report in Sept. Gen Petreaus' honest assessment of the surge and of the consequences of potential changes in strategy is unlikely to win over any Democrats or fence sitting Republicans. Even in the surge is magnificently succeeding, Gen. Petreaus would never say that because he isn't given to that kind of excess. Nice title.

Diplomat describes his past discussions with Iran concerning invading Afghanistan in 2001.