The WSJ says that Gates has fresh doubts about the prospects of a major counterinsurgency campaign. But his spokesman, Geoff Morell, says he's also dubious about Joe Biden-backed the counterterrorism approach. Gates "does not think that is a path to success in Afghanistan," Morell tells the Journal. It's not clear what to make of this, as I'd be surprised if Gates endorsed a halfway muddle-through strategy.
The New Republic is now accepting candidates for our Multimedia Fellowship. The fellow will be responsible for all video content on TNR.com, which receives millions of unique viewers each month. Opportunities include:
What is Robert "Bud" McFarlane doing meddling in Sudan? Twenty-three years ago, as Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor, he embarked on a secret mission to Tehran--which he and his future successor, John Poindexter, had promoted in the White House--bearing a chocolate cake topped with a brass key (meant to symbolize a "new opening"), a crate of missile parts, and a Bible signed by the president. The ultimate result was the arms-for-hostages deal that almost destroyed Reagan's presidency and earned McFarlane multiple charges of withholding information from Congress.
Politico is spotlighting a long piece about the pathos of Andrew Young, the former John Edwards staffer who made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved boss: publicly claiming to be the baby daddy of Rielle Hunter's child, only to be later kicked to the curb by his idol.
Sunday's Washington Post featured a story about FreedomWorks, the Dick Armey-run anti-redistributionist lobby. Unsurprisingly, FreedomWorks turns out to have a large poster of Ayn Rand in its reception area.
Fans of the Second and Twenty-first Amendments, rejoice! As of today, Arizonans can legally bring concealed firearms into bars. As J.P. Nelson, director of the NRA's western region, explains, "Bad things happen in bars and restaurants. People want to carry a gun and if the facility owner doesn't have a problem with it, there shouldn't be a problem. If a person starts drinking and gets in a shootout and kills someone, of course they're subject to criminal prosecution."
Great news for all you anxious parents looking for an excuse to buy an iPhone! Now there's an app for tracking sex offenders.
This should make the next PTA meeting lots of fun.
