At the moment, we’re trying to keep the Taliban (and other assorted terrorists) out of the Pakistan nuclear cookie jar.

Throwing good money after bad?

REID: I’m saying that the United States Senate, Democrats and Republicans, do not want terrorists to be released in the United States. That’s very clear.

QUESTION: No one’s talking about releasing them. We’re talking about putting them in prison somewhere in the United States.

REID: Can’t put them in prison unless you release them.

QUESTION: Sir, are you going to clarify that a little bit? I mean (OFF-MIKE).

REID: I can’t — I can’t — I can’t make it any more clear than the statement I have given to you. We will never allow terrorists to be released in the United States. I think the majority — I speak for the majority of the Senate.

QUESTION: But you don’t want to (OFF-MIKE).

REID: Only until we get the plan.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) of your position (OFF-MIKE)

REID: We’ll wait until we get the plan.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) mean that Guantanamo will remain open indefinitely (OFF-MIKE)

REID: I repeat: I agree with McCain, Bush (?!?&*) and Obama: Guantanamo should be closed because it makes us less safe and it will be closed. We’re waiting for a plan from the president and (OFF- MIKE).

Harry reid, please define terrorist again. Again? Please? How’s that new medication going?
When I turn on C-Span and see reid looking like a whipped dog mumbling into the podium and talking about things going good for republicans and democrats, (and er therefore the country???) And then MMcconnell follows up praising reid like a schoolmaster, it looks like a weird S&M game.

Can someone ’splain what the hell we’re doing in Afghanistan?

The land that is now Afghanistan has a long history of domination by foreign conquerors and strife among internally warring factions. At the gateway between Asia and Europe, this land was conquered by Darius I of Babylonia circa 500 B.C., and Alexander the Great of Macedonia in 329 B.C., among others. Mahmud of Ghazni, an 11th century conqueror who created an empire from Iran to India, is considered the greatest of Afghanistan’s conquerors.

Genghis Khan took over the territory in the 13th century, but it wasn’t until the 1700s that the area was united as a single country. By 1870, after the area had been invaded by various Arab conquerors, Islam had taken root. During the 19th century, Britain, looking to protect its Indian empire from Russia, attempted to annex Afghanistan, resulting in a series of British-Afghan Wars (1838-42, 1878-80, 1919-21).

1921
The British, beleaguered in the wake of World War I, are defeated in the Third British-Afghan War (1919-21), and Afghanistan becomes an independent nation. Concerned that Afghanistan has fallen behind the rest of the world, Amir Amanullah Khan begins a rigorous campaign of socioeconomic reform.
1926
Amanullah declares Afghanistan a monarchy, rather than an emirate, and proclaims himself king. He launches a series of modernization plans and attempts to limit the power of the Loya Jirga, the National Council. Critics, frustrated by Amanullah’s policies, take up arms in 1928 and by 1929, the king abdicates and leaves the country.
1933
Zahir Shah becomes king. The new king brings a semblance of stability to the country and he rules for the next 40 years.
1934
The United States formally recognizes Afghanistan.
1947
Britain withdraws from India, creating the predominantly Hindu but secular state of India and the Islamic state of Pakistan. The nation of Pakistan includes a long, largely uncontrollable, border with Afghanistan.
1953
The pro-Soviet Gen. Mohammed Daoud Khan, cousin of the king, becomes prime minister and looks to the communist nation for economic and military assistance. He also introduces a number of social reforms including allowing women a more public presence.
1956
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agrees to help Afghanistan, and the two countries become close allies.

and so on…

I have a very dumb question.

Harry Reid says that he does not want “terrorists” to be released in the United States.

This is the question: If the decision is made to ‘release’ these human beings, then it must have been determined that they were not really terrorists after all, and, quite possibly are not ‘guilty’ of anything but being ‘fingered’ by somebody who might have just wanted the ‘bounty’ money we so generously were passing out, back in the day. Or else these supposed, one-time “terrorists” have been determined to no longer pose a ‘threat’?

But, I guess, in the estimation of dear old Harry, once a “terrorist”, always a “terrorist”.

Perhaps a more ‘neutral’ observer would point out that there is terrorism and then there is TERRORISM (on a ‘grand’ scale) and that, again, quite possibly, it is America which pursued the capital ‘plan’ and Harry’s ‘perspective’ is merely a continuation of that special sensibility of being above recognizing one’s own inhumanity. Certain Americans seem especially adept at that, some are even, apparently, proud of it.

Perhaps I am missing something?

DW

i’m off too….

listening to the continuation of amy goodman with mayer and sands is fun, as they’re letting their hair down a little bit. and good for mayer and sands for helping to raise money for pacifica station wpfw and community supported media!

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.

Namaste