Politics and Culture

Baghdad, December 14: Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani says that 13 people arrested over connection to deadly bombings in Baghdad last August are to face justice and be put to death.

“We have completed 80 percent of the investigation over the bombings against the ministries of finance and foreign affairs,” Bolani told lawmakers during a grilling session in parliament on Sunday in the aftermath of the multiple coordinated bombings on December 8, which killed 127 people and injured over 450 others.

“The court was convinced by the evidence the Ministry of the Interior brought, and the 13 terrorists implicated will be executed,” Bolani stated.

More than 100 civilians lost their lives on August 19 when a wave of explosions ripped through Baghdad's civilian and diplomatic areas close to government buildings including the finance and foreign ministries.

Here.

1. Sarah Palin is an individual who's popular because of her story (mother, pro-life decisions, family) and sex appeal. That doesn't mean that she hasn't been a good governor or isn't smart. I'm just saying that that's why she's popular.

2. What endears her to 40% of the population, however, provokes the opposite reaction in a group at least as large. It may be a good or bad thing, but it's gotten to the point in the United States that a woman who's primarily associated with good motherly values has less of a chance than a pure business woman like Meg Whitman of gaining office. There just aren't enough old-fashioned mothers and men who appreciate them.

3. Someone might bring up the contradiction as well that such a traditional-minded person may actually prefer not to vote for such a woman as they might feel that politics isn't her role (I guess that "someone" is me). I don't believe it- I'd vote for Sarah Palin- and it may not be true, but I just wanted to throw it out there.

4. Sarah Palin may agree with that proposition as it applies to herself, however, if she resigned because she wanted to live a simple life with her family, which I think is the best explanation. People who can't fathom such a possibility do so because they're projecting their own love of politics and/or power onto her.

5. North Korea has launched several missiles this week.

6. Barack Obama still wants to cut missile defense.

7. In fact, Barack Obama has a habit of analyzing a problem and then doing the opposite of what's required to fix it. Cap and Trade during a recession, for example. A hyper Glen Beck below:

8. As Glenn Beck mentioned, some scientists say that the earth will cool until 2030. Logic: If carbon emissions cause the world to warm and the world is perfect at it's current temperature and the world is cooling, wouldn't that mean that we need more carbon emissions?

9. For more evidence that the left feels that conservative blacks, women, and Hispanics must be destroyed at all costs, read lefty blogs this week on Sarah Palin. No link necessary; any one will do.

10. Sarah Palin is 800 times more worthy of holding office than Joe Biden:

"We did it in Saddam's palace and I can think of nothing better. That S.O.B. is rolling over in his grave right now," Biden said of the former Iraqi dictator, who was toppled by a U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and executed by the Iraqi government in 2006.

Remember, Biden voted for the war, then opposed it. Then, he wanted to split Iraq up into three countries. Now, what does he want? Who cares?

If things go poorly in Iraq, we shouldn't blame Obama. His indifference may make a resurgence more likely, but at some point, Iraqi internal problems are Iraqis'. We have reached that point. An orderly withdrawal of American forces should more than counter-balanced by an increase in Iraqi resolve.

here

Under a quota system, women are guaranteed representation, an imposition I disagree with, but OK.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Voting ended Saturday evening for Iraqi provincial elections and the mood was festive in some places, unlike the violence, intimidation and apathy that marked the balloting in 2005.
Iraqi election officials pour out ballots for counting at a polling center in Baghdad's Sadr City district.

"Politics has broken out in Iraq. ... It's truly a proud moment," Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh told CNN. "The distance that we have come is truly inspiring."

Preliminary results were expected within a week, members of the Electoral Commission said at a news conference Saturday night.

Only two instances of violence were reported.

CNN's Arwa Damon, who toured polling stations with U.N. observers, said she noticed an increased sense of awareness and optimism among voters, who felt their participation would have an impact on their lives and country. Video Watch Iraqis head to polls »

Political analysts said this election could correct some of the political imbalances that resulted from the 2005 election. Saturday's voting also was seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

The first Arab democracy. A great accomplishment, by any historical standard. Hopefully, it will be the next Korea, a difficult, unpopular world that nobody regrets having sacrificed for.

I wonder if he ever threw a shoe at Saddam Hussein? Maybe he was one of the reporters who gave information to Baghdad Bob.

I can almost hear the people at the Daily Kos cheering the guy on.

"I'm not sure. It's a tough question. On the one hand, Iraq is much more peaceful, al Qaeda's defeated, and we have an ally in the region. On the other hand, MoveOn and my buddy Bill Ayers are very disappointed in the continuation of American hegemony. My world view would have been vindicated with a loss. Dissonance is painful. Have you ever had dissonance? It hurts."

This is a fundamentally different question than "Would you have invaded Iraq?" because one can argue that the Iraq invasion has and will have good effects beyond neutralizing a near threat from WMD.

The surge is nothing less than the strategy for victory. The only negative effect is that it made liberals look like fools.

This reminds me of when Obama said that he would raise capital gains taxes even if they brought in less revenue. "Facts be darned! This is about principle."

The surge is working, confounding Arianna's sage prediction.