The ultimate sacrifice

Just in case there was anyone left who didn’t think George W. Bush is a complete asshole:
For the first time, Bush revealed a personal way in which he has tried to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers and their families.
“I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief [...]

This just in: John Ashcroft is a repulsive, abusive, dissembling asshole

Sure, you already knew that. But some things bear repeating, like this exchange between Ashcroft and a Knox College student:
ME: First off, Mr. Ashcroft, I’d like to apologize for the rudeness of some of my fellow students. It was uncalled for–we can disagree civilly, we don’t need that. (round of applause from the audience, [...]

You set back and watch, when the death count gets higher


I wonder what it is we’ve done


Five years. Thousands of lives. Billions of dollars. No good reason.

And no end in sight.

Five years, my brain hurts a lot

In anticipation of tomorrow’s dismal anniversary.

No matter how “clean”, “modern” or “humane”, Guantánamo is wrong

IOZ, responding to this, hits the nail squarely on the head with his usual pith and aplomb:
In many aspects of our empire, we seem to believe that qualitative improvements will obviate categorical wrongs. Thus the prevalence of the idea that the “success” of the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan has some bearing on their rightness [...]

Bush-connected law firm in Iraq oil imbroglio

BigLaw powerhouse Baker Botts (”as in former Secretary of State James Baker”1) made its bones representing Texas oilmen. So it should come as no surprise that the firm has been dipping its toes in the Iraqi oil fields. The firm recently helped client Hunt Oil Company arrange a deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government for [...]

Unhappy Anniversary

It’s been five years since Congress gave George W Bush the green light to invade Iraq.

Even if you never subscribed in the first place

(Thanks to Crooked Timber for the tip.)