Monthly Archives: June 2007

You are browsing the site archives by month.

Walid Eido Assassination: Lebanese Media Roundup

June 13, 2007 7:01 pm / Leave a Comment / John Little

Ya Libnan
We were in a cafe next to Luna Park enjoying the late afternoon next to the sea after an intense day. Children were playing on the equipment under the setting sun. Mothers were holding their babies. Old men were smoking argile. BOOM!!! Everyone hit the floor, except the group of European tourists who just looked surprised. Waiters dived under the tables. Mother grabbed their crying babies. Human flesh landed in the children’s play area.

The Daily Star
Wednesday’s attack was part of a campaign being carried out by Damascus to change the balance of power in the Lebanese Parliament, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh said. “It is the same serial killer who wants to liquidate the parliamentary majority; it is a physical liquidation by the Syrian regime,” he said. Another member of the anti-Syrian camp, former President Amin Gemayel, described Eido’s assassination as having been “part of the criminal attacks that have targeted leaders and personalities of the ‘Cedar Revolution’” that ended Syrian domination in Lebanon. “This crime will not deter us … and what happens today highlights the importance of the international tribunal,” said Gemayel, father of the industry minister slain in November.

Naharnet
The March 14 alliance has blamed the Gemayel assassination on Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime. Syria has denied the charge. The alliance says Syrian intelligence agents are out to assassinate majority MPs to prevent the bloc from electing an anti-Syrian president succeeding Lahoud. Lahoud’s term was extended for three years in Sept. 2004 by a Syrian-orchestrated constitutional amendment. The majority blames Syria for a series of assassinations targeting Lebanese politicians, beginning with the powerful blast that killed ex-Premier Rafik Hariri on Feb. 14, 2005. Also killed were MP Gebran Tueni, MP Bassel Fleihan, Journalist Samir Qassir and former Communist Party leader George Hawi.

Now Lebanon
“Mothers started grabbing their children, and gathering in groups to decide what to do,” added his companion, Kristen. “It was such a beautiful day … I heard they found body parts in our café.”

Posted in: Blogroll, Lebanon, Media, Politics, Syria

Rightosphere Survey

June 13, 2007 10:07 am / Leave a Comment / John Little

The results of another John Hawkins survey of conservative bloggers are up on Right Wing News. The numbers don’t look good:

6) How would you rate the relationship of the Republican Party with its conservative base right now?

Excellent or good? — %0
Fair? 8 — 17%
Terrible or poor? 40 — 83%

I’d actually expected worse. I expect we’ll be heading in that direction regardless.

(Updates are a little slow this week. I’m transitioning into a new role at work. Starting Monday I’ll be a Program Manager focusing on systems that deliver services to our referring physicians. I have a lot on my plate at the moment but blogging shouldn’t be impacted for long.)

Posted in: Politics

Why Gen. Peter Pace is Out

June 11, 2007 9:29 am / 1 Comment / John Little

W. Thomas Smith Jr. takes a look at the political decisions that led to Pace being replaced:

Pace’s not being renominated has nothing to do with his performance as chairman of the JCS. It has everything to do with what he symbolizes (American leadership while fighting a difficult war in Iraq) to the usual salivating suspects on Capitol Hill. And it was clear to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and surely to President Bush, that Pace’s reconfirmation hearings would have been turned into a congressional circus: With poll-driven politicians focusing less on Pace’s performance and plans for the present and future prosecution of the war, and more on what has gone wrong in Iraq for the purposes of “show” and heaping blame, regardless of whether or not it is deserved, on any symbol of the Bush White House.

Pace is such a symbol. So he’s out. In his place, Gates has tapped Admiral Mike Mullen, also a Naval Academy grad (Class of ’68) and a Navy surface-warfare commander currently serving as Chief of Naval Operations.

Mullen too is a good man, and brave indeed to accept the nomination knowing the scrutiny he’ll have to undergo.

Elaine Donnelly sees a liberal agenda, in the form of Hillary Clinton, at work:

I have no inside information, but I see the fingerprints of SASC member Sen. Hillary Clinton all over this. To win in 2008, the New York Democrat and feminist must convince voters that she supports the troops and can be trusted as Commander in Chief. A vote on the re-nomination of Chairman Pace would have put her on the spot between her gay activist constituency and millions of voters who admire Peter Pace.

Sen. Clinton has a way of getting senior men of both parties to do her work for her. Pre-emptive removal of Gen. Pace excuses candidate Clinton of the responsibility to vote for or against re-confirmation. As a bonus, Hillary and other feminist senators get to vote for a liberal admiral, CNO Mike Mullen, an ardent advocate of “diversity” quotas and other controversial goals for the military.

Elaine’s take seems a bit harsh. I guess time will tell. At least previous comments by Admiral Mullen on the nature of this war are encouraging:

In his opening remarks, Mullen, a Vietnam War veteran, told Pearl Harbor sailors: “I honestly believe this is the most dangerous time in my life.

“The enemy now is basically evil and fundamentally hates everything we are — the democratic principles for which we stand … This war is going to go on for a long time. It’s a generational war.”