America's broken infrastructure - Los Angeles Times

My question is why don't we have major public works projects to create jobs and stimulate the economy -- rather than tax cuts? The former were effective in the Great Depression -- at least we ended up with valuable infrastructure, art and programs that we continue to benefit from. Yes, we ended up with too many dams and reckless flood control projects but in principle such government spending may still be good.

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Therapy for terrorists? It's just crazy enough to work.

There’s a good side and a bad side to having therapists take part in interrogations. On the good side, if an interrogation gets out of hand, at least the torture can’t go on past 50 minutes. On the bad side, even if the subject is about to reveal a juicy piece of actionable intelligence, he'll have to wait until the next session to do it.

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Maybe Therapy for Terrorists Does Work

Enhanced interrogation: It's the newest breakthrough in psychotherapy.

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50 Minutes of Sheer Torture

There’s a good side and a bad side to therapists as interrogators. On the good side, if an interrogation gets out of hand, at least the torture can’t go on past 50 minutes. On the bad side, if the subject is just about to yield up some juicy actionable intelligence and time runs out, he'll have to wait until the next session to reveal it.

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The Baghdad Water Wars

Imagine a city of 7 million people, with a population density 20 times that of Las Vegas, in the heart of Death Valley, and you have Baghdad. Take away the infrastructure of water, sewers and power... and you still have Baghdad. Peace and politics depend on getting water to people and taking sewage away. Will the Baghdad water fountains ever dance?

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What is your mother doing about illegal aliens?

I wish I were making it up: Mothers Against Illegal Aliens. There's nothing wrong with mothers being against illegal aliens, democracywise. In a land of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech there's no telling what strange things your mom will get caught up in. But Mothers Against Illegal Aliens? It sounds like a stupid joke.

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Iraqi Children Free at Last to Swim

I wish I could say the photo illustrates how now that the United States occupies Iraq, the hot, sad Iraqi children finally can enjoy what American children take for granted: the freedom to go swimming on a hot day, something which Saddam Hussein would never let them do.

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The Powers of War and Peace: Yoo's Gloves-Off President

Why would a reputable academic institution -- the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (alias Berkeley Law, alias Boalt Hall) -- give tenure to a guy whom some would like to see tried for war crimes. Yoo seems so much more a Stanford man.

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Baghdad Weather Forecast (see Death Valley)

Baghdad is hotter than the hottest place in the world. How should you dress? Kevlar and 40 pounds of accessories. You don't know what it's like to be shot at but you know what it's like to be hot -- only not THIS hot, day after day, with no end in sight.

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Notes on "Against All Enemies" by Richard A. Clarke

If you didn't read the book or you're researching terrorism or the war in Iraq, you may find these notes and excerpts valuable.

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Baghdad Heat Wave Bodes Ill

The Middle East and Sudan continue to suffer day after day of blazing heat. Baghdad, though, is unbearable. What a horrible place for wearing Kevlar! The news is bound to be bad when the heat is insufferable.

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General Lends Weight to War Crimes Charges Against Bush

War crimes charges leveled by a two-star general are not something the Bush administration can ignore. Moreover, a militaristic president whose personal military service is a doubtful shadow that no amount of patriotic posturing can ever banish completely, can’t indefinitely get away with dismissing reproaches of high-ranking officers.

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George W. Bush: Hardwood Hard Case

They always say you can tell how a man will run a nation by the way he plays basketball. Here's the chilling proof.

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Just How Hot Are the World's Hot Spots?

Genocide hot spot Darfur is EXTREMELY hot. Baghdad, Tehran and Karachi are VERY hot. Pyongyang is PRETTY hot, while Jerusalem and Kabul are HOT. Judge for yourself and consider the implications.

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Bush Adopts Nixon's Madman Theory

Dead some 14 years, master statesman Richard M. Nixon had good advice for President George W. Bush. Now Bush is putting it to the test.

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Bush Still Refuses to Rule Out a Military Strike on Iran

This is incredible news. No, not that America is about to attack Iran. The earth-shaker is that Bush "publicly acknowledged a mistake." To the best of my knowledge this is the first time.

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In America, Homegrown Terrorists Go Unchallenged

The war on terror is here -- RIGHT here -- and the terrorists are winning.

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Guts & Brains in America -- Part 2

George W. Bush is a gut man and he’s proud of it. He trusts his gut. It leads and the rest of him follows, his mind bringing up the rear, so to speak. Confronting a dilemma, the President flips a coin, which always comes up… guts.

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Blackwater Air Force for Hire

Is it normal for private companies to buy fighter aircraft? Blackwater just bought one from Brazil's Embraer. Blackwater says it will be used for training but what does "training" mean to a company whose soldiers of fortune gunned down Iraqi civilians?

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Condoleezza Rice Is the Biggest Liar of All Time

True liars stick to their story no matter how incredible. Rice beats every other liar in two fiercely competitive categories.

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Ex-Press Sec Rats on Prez, Saves Own Ass

Scott McClellan's book tells What Happened in the Bush White House -- but we all already know. I only want to read the book for the bitter satisfaction of seeing the gang of crooks turn their meanness and spite on one another instead of on anyone who crosses them.

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Your Commander-in-Chief Wishes You an Awesome Memorial Day

Just because it's a formal occasion doesn't mean your remarks can't be casual. Arlington National Cemetery is where the cheerleading experience pays off big time.

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