Ten Links of Interest™ Time Again!

For something completely different, we offer this entry from Jim Jubaks's Journal. Yes, it's a stock picking column, but much more as well. The ramifications of huge trade and budget deficits are covered in a non-partisan, easy to follow way.

And then there were nine. Yes, that's the number of American helicopters now downed, "as a result of hostile fire since the end of major combat operations in Iraq on May 1." Four of them were brought down by guerrilla fire in the Fallujah area. WTF are we doing over there?

O'Neill..yes, again. Well, the Treasury may be launching an investigation into the "SECRET DOCUMENT" seen on 60 minutes, but O'Neill says: "No dice". No classified info. was used in the book.

The ever charming Donald "Skeletor" Rumsfeld had this to say about his boss, and bestest friend: "I have just enormous respect for his brain, his engagement, his interest, his probing questions, his constructive and positive approach to issues." Well, there you have it. Rummy respects Bush's brain. Enormously. Does anybody believe a fucking word Rumsfeld says? I hope not.

Monkey business. Gary Hart may run this fall in an attempt to reclaim his seat in the U.S. Senate. I like Hart. He's smart and thoughtful. Pure bs likes smart thoughtful people.

"Iraqtion," says Clark. Or rather, Iraq was a distraction from the war on terror. Of course he's been saying this since he declared, but following O'Neill's weekend bombshell it's now okay for the press to write stuff about it.

The usually shrill Will Pitt has some things to say about the publicly declared reason for invading Iraq that are important. He has pulled some quotes that are precious.

I think this is short enough to just dump in as an entry. I hate the L.A. Times registration procedure.

Bush Signs Anti-Corruption Proclamation

By Associated Press

6:58 AM PST, January 13, 2004

MONTERREY, Mexico ? President Bush acted Monday to bar people involved in corruption from the United States, a move that coincides with one of his goals at a summit meeting of 34 Western Hemisphere nations.

Corruption of public institutions hampers U.S. efforts to promote security and strengthen democratic institutions and free-market systems, Bush said in a proclamation the White House released at the two-day summit, which began Monday.

He said the United States is acting to restrict international travel and prevent entry into the country of people who have committed, participated in or benefited from corruption conducted while performing public functions.

The restrictions apply, he said, when corruption has had a "serious adverse" effect on the international activity of U.S. business, U.S. foreign aid goals, the security of the United States against transnational crime and terrorism or the stability of democratic nations and institutions.

"We think that fighting corruption is a good way to strengthen democracy," said Sean McCormack, a national security spokesman at the White House. "It's an important part of our discussion down here."

Nice color combo, eh? No? :(

I wonder what the Bush definition of corruption is? No. I can't go there. :)

Oh, what the heck. I'll link to Yoo-Essay Today. "Spirit" is ready to boogie around a bit on the red planet. I am going to repeat this again. Many small unmanned missions, GOOD. Big, expensive irregular missions, BAD.

I know that this has gotten a lot of ink, but it's important. The CS Monitor has a slightly different take.

"The limits of America's volunteer army are showing, revealing a need to rethink this country's troop levels.

"To keep enough forces in the hot spots of Afghanistan and Iraq, the Army this month blocked the pending reassignment or retirement of 7,000 soldiers from the region. It also offered bonuses of up to $10,000 (tax free) to encourage active-duty personnel deployed in the area or headed to it to re-enlist. This on top of the largest deployment of Reserve and National Guard units since World War II."

You should really give this a read. In the accompanying side panel, are Should US draw down troops in Iraq?, Iraq war's human toll could be felt for decades and finally The other battle: coming home.

Yeah. I have an issue with the name, "Christian Science" as well. But the paper is amongst the very best U.S. papers.

pure bs Breaking:

Official Confirms Claims That Saddam Was Bush’s Focus Before 9/11
The official, who asked not to be identified, was present in the same National Security Council meetings as O'Neill immediately after Bush's inauguration in January and February of 2001.

"The president told his Pentagon officials to explore the military options, including use of ground forces," the official told ABCNEWS. "That went beyond the Clinton administration's halfhearted attempts to overthrow Hussein without force."

Rut-Ro.

Those are today's links..*extra edition* :)