But now it turns out that The CIA had extensive links with Qaddahfi's regime.  So why the NATO strikes against Qaddafhi?  Perhaps a belief that in no way he could hang on, and an effort to come out on the good guy's side.

OK, well in my opinion the odds that the new guys are going to be good guys is slim.  Still the same kind of people.  They have no experience with Democracy as practiced in Peoria. 

And so far, statements about oil sales are showing no inclination at favoring the West.  Of course, one does not know what is going on ...

Several people on this blog posted comments on my Independence Day post, and here is mine.  In reply to some of the posts, I wrote that the idea and concept of America is Exceptional, however the actual America is fair to Middling.  

OK, what exactly am I talking about?  Again I will link ...

I rarely use the word hero.  But this time I think it qualifies.  These people had no idea what they were getting into, except that it was very very bad.  Yet they did not hesitate.  I was in Tokyo at the time, but non the less I feel a deep appreciation for their effort.

And to insult them like this?  Are people in Homeland security or the FBI mad?

And another thing.  I am a former intelligence person with the United States Naval Intelligence back at the end of Vietnam.  I was taught not to waste .. ...

[Dramatic before and after images here.] ["One week of sorrow" photo essay by Doug Parker]

March 31, Are domestic Japanese politics showing up in the nuclear contamination issue?

I just got another juicy tidbit from my wife.  The uniforms in the photo above are work uniforms.  Japanese factory workers always have a uniform.  Of course so do nuclear plant workers.  Including management.  The rumor on the net is that these uniforms were custom ordered so that the government could look good for the cameras.  Hmmmmm. See last comment for fuller discussion.

March 30,