LOLPolicy

Created: May 15th, 2008 | Written By: matttbastard

President Bush feted Israel on Thursday in honor of the 60th anniversary of its founding and predicted that its 120th birthday would find it alongside a Palestinian state and in an all-democratic neighborhood free of today’s oppression, restrictions on freedom and extremist Muslim movements.

[...]

Bush made no acknowledgment of the hardship Palestinians suffered when hundreds of thousands were displaced or otherwise left following the creation of the Jewish state in 1948, a counterpoint to Israel’s two weeks of jubilant celebrations. Though Bush has set a goal of reaching an Israeli-Palestinian deal before the end of his term in January, he did not mention the ongoing negotiations or how to resolve the thorniest disputes.

The president also offered no detail on how the broader Mideast would move from today’s realities to his vision.

“From Cairo and Riyadh to Baghdad and Beirut, people will live in free and independent societies, where a desire for peace is reinforced by ties of diplomacy, tourism and trade,” he said. “Iran and Syria will be peaceful nations, where today’s oppression is a distant memory and people are free to speak their minds and develop their talents. And al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Hamas will be defeated, as Muslims across the region recognize the emptiness of the terrorists’ vision and the injustice of their cause.”

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Bush made such a brief mention of the Palestinians because his purpose was to sketch “broad themes and not the specifics of the process.”

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From The Israel/Palestine department.

An Unparalleled Legacy

Created: April 6th, 2008 | Written By: matttbastard

Hey, Defeatocrats: it’s your war now.

President George W. Bush will signal next week that he will pull no more troops out of Iraq while he is president, once his troop surge ends in the summer.

His senior Iraq commander General David Petraeus will use his testimony to congress on Tuesday and Wednesday to argue for continuing political support for the tactics of the surge strategy even after a planned drawdown of troops.

US military chiefs have already committed to reduce the American combat presence in Iraq from 20 to 15 brigades by September. But in what administration officials say is a bid to bind the hands of his successor, Mr Bush will make clear that he will go no further to placate his critics.

“It looks like it will be that far and no further,” said a Pentagon official.

“Any further reductions will have to be made by the next president.”

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From The Foreign Policy department.

Pakistan Update: “This Grotesque Feudal Charade”

Created: January 2nd, 2008 | Written By: matttbastard

The Election Commission has postponed general elections, originally scheduled for January the 8th. Elections are now scheduled to be held on February the 18th, much to the chagrin of opposition leaders:
Read more

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From The Uncategorized department.

Slacker Friday: NIE Miscellania

Created: December 7th, 2007 | Written By: matttbastard

It’s back and lazier than ever! Alas, this (long belated) edition will have to be the slackest motherfucker ever, since yours truly just got called into work early. Mea culpa–sometimes meatworld obligations have to trump blogging.

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From The Uncategorized department.

To Former Poodle (And Current Lap Dog) Tony Blair, On Behalf Of Myself And 86%* Of The Nation

Created: October 28th, 2007 | Written By: matttbastard

Here’s an extension for you.

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From The Uncategorized department.

On The Ledge

Created: October 24th, 2007 | Written By: matttbastard

4 days after the Iraq-based Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) attacked a Turkish battalion stationed near the Northern Iraq border (with least 12 Turkish soldiers killed, 16 injured, and 8 reportedly captured by PKK forces) the mood in Ankara, Irbil, and Washington remains tense. Despite a reported ceasefire offer from the PKK on Tuesday and promises from Iraqi government officials that Baghdad will step up efforts to reign in rebel forces based in Northern Iraq, Turkey has continued to escalate its hawkish rhetoric–and tactics.

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From The Uncategorized department.

Tuesday Night Tidbits: 101.5 Degrees of Separation

Created: October 17th, 2007 | Written By: matttbastard

Am weak, feverish and not at all in any condition (nor state of mind) to write (not coherently, at least). Instead, I’m happy to present some recent choice selections from other (far more) capable and coherent scribes (all of whom actually get paid to report/opine. Sigh.)

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From The Uncategorized department.