"With the Libyan rebels now largely in control of Tripoli, and two of Muammar al-Qaddafi's sons in custody after a stunning final assault of the capital, the answer seems clear: absolutely. Many have criticized U.S. President Barack Obama's strategy of 'leading from behind' in Libya, but that strategy now seems utterly vindicated. It was Libyans themselves, with significant help from NATO, Qatar, and the UAE, who liberated their country from Qaddafi's grip -- a fact about which they are fiercely and justly proud. It required little from American taxpayers: As of Thursday, NATO operations had cost the United States around $1.1 billion, according to CFR's Micah Zenko -- a rounding error. Of course, there will be problems. Not only is Tripoli not yet fully secure, but two regime strongholds -- Sirte and Sabha -- appear to remain in regime hands. Libyan state TV is still, incredibly, on the air. The "brother leader" remains at large, as do his sons Muatassim and Khamis Qaddafi, as well as his intelligence chief and brother-in-law Abdullah al-Senussi. They may try, Saddam-style, to mount an insurgency (though the speed of Qaddafi's collapse in Tripoli suggest they will find few takers) ... But these problems seem manageable over time, and it is in any case hard to imagine any Libyan government worse than Qaddafi, whose rule was not only deeply repressive and arbitrary at home but also destabilizing abroad. I disagree strongly with those, like CFR's Richard Haass, who would like to see some kind of foreign stabilization force -- not only is it not going to happen, but it's best if Libyans handle their own affairs as much as possible. They will make mistakes, but these will be their own mistakes. It's now their country once again." (ForeignPolicy)
"The widely bandied word on Perry before he got in was that he was a man who could uncork a speech, an assessment certainly borne out by his announcement oration. What was less understood by those outside of Texas was just how terrific a flesh-pressing, glad-handing retail politician he is—and just how much better he performs on that level than any of his rivals. For all of Romney’s increased comfort in debates and on the stump, the former Massachusetts governor remains an awkward figure in dealing with actual human beings; Bachmann is being tagged (accurately) for swathing herself in what Politico calls a 'brittle, presidential-style cocoon ... a routine of late entries, unexplained absences, quick exits, sharp-elbowed handlers ... and preselected questioners.' Suffice to say, in places such as Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, this contrast will serve Perry well. But a more problematic side of Perry’s persona also came through last week: a hotness that if left unchecked can easily turn self-scalding. No doubt in certain quarters of the Republican nominating electorate, suggesting that Barack Obama may not love his country and vaguely threatening Ben Bernanke are a cause for attaboys. Among GOP Establishmentarians, by contrast, they are seen not merely as the sort of typical mistakes made by rookie presidential aspirants but as potential indications of deeper and less remediable flaws." (John Heilmann)
"Vanity Fair’s James Wolcott recalls when Bob Dylan unexpectedly showed up to meet upstart punk Patti Smith in 1975 in an upcoming memoir. 'I was present when one of [Smith’s] cryptic idols paid a call,' Wolcott writes in 'Lucking Out: My Life Getting Down and Semi-Dirty in Seventies New York.' “And I wrote it up for [the Village Voice] as if witness to a superpower summit.' Wolcott says Dylan’s presence was 'unknown to many' in the audience. When Dylan went backstage to offer 'encouragement' to Smith, 'There was a sexual excitation in the room,' according to Wolcott. 'Dylan, the verdict was unanimous, is an intensely sexual provocateur.' The book also charts the rise of CBGB and habitues like Joey Ramone, Debbie Harry, Tom Verlaine and David Byrne. An acolyte of The New Yorker’s Pauline Kael, Wolcott also writes that more than opinions were routinely passed around by Kael’s inner circle of movie mavens at the time. 'Some reviewers traded off girlfriends,' he writes." (PageSix)
We Hellenes are among the oldest civilizations, having invented or perfected such bagatelles as philosophy, science, medicine, astronomy, tragedy, epic poetry and literature, the arts, and classical architecture. We also invented the greatest system of government—selective democracy—based on good citizenship, knowledge, and responsibility ... Greek intellectuals and historians have generally blamed the 400-year Turkish occupation for the nation’s ills. It is a fact that, where humiliation persists through several generations, the oppressed begin—in defense of their own dignity—to imitate their oppressors. The cruelty, vindictiveness, and harshness shown by warring political factions testify to this theory. But this is not a sufficient explanation. The volatility of the Greek character, probably the only remaining link with our glorious past of antiquity, is another. The highly individualistic Greek is too self-seeking to submit easily to others’ dictates. His unruliness has helped him survive through the centuries of oppression, as well as to rise above adversity. But it has also made him unaware of the advantages of a communal spirit and true democratic attitudes. This has created a climate where cheating is a way of life, where the highest and lowest of citizens do not hesitate to use dishonesty, especially in politics." (Taki Theodoracopulos)
2 comments:
To my mind every person ought to browse on it.
game review blog | beauty tips for wedding | player for android
The guy is absolutely fair, and there is no suspicion.
Post a Comment