Watcher's Council Nominations, 10/24/06

Every week, the Watcher's Council nominate two posts each, one from the Council members and one from outside for consideration by the whole Council. The complete list of this week's Council nominations can be found at our fearless leader's site Watcher of Weasels


Some great stuff this week - and given the usual high level of quality, that's saying something!

1. J O S H U A P U N D I T: Chairman of House Armed Services committee wants CNN imbedded reporters kicked out of Iraq This week, I chose to focus on CNN pimping a terorrist snuff film as propaganda a couple of week before the election. The Chairman of the House Armed Services committee wants their embedded reporters kicked out and asks, frankly `Does CNN want us to win this thing?' The answers obvious: `Treason doth never prosper, what's the reason?For if it prosper, none dare call it Treason.'

2. Gates of Vienna: When Will the First IED Explode in Paris? Dymphna's fine essay examines round II of what French Authorities are now calling ` a permanent intifada'. Given that the junior jihadis are now setting up their own roadblocks, executing planned ambushes of police and torching an average of 112 cars a day in honor of Ramadan, I don't think we have too long to wait.

3.Done With Mirrors: A case of race Callimachus brings up an interesting question: just how do you classify something like race? He uses as a focal point the case of Lt.Stephen Swails, or as AP referred to him, "one of the first black commissioned officers in the U.S. Army." Swails was in fact half white and half black, just as Tiger Woods is half Thai and half black..but is always referred to as a pioneer `black' golfer. Given that there are very, very few `pure' blacks or `pure' whites or pure anything else after a few generations, especially in America, maybe, JUST maybe it's time we explored getting rid of this fallacy. I can hear race pimps like Jesse Jackson screaming from here...`stay away from my mealticket!'

4. Soccer Dad: Sharkey's flying machine Soccer Dad explores a mishap in midair.

5. AbbaGav : To Deter or Not, Time to Choose This is a serious subject, but I laughed out loud at AbbaGav's deadpan demeanor. Here's a sample: `Charles Krauthammer recently wrote an article on nuclear proliferation and deterrence. Of course, he wrote the article two weeks ago, but I was busy that day. Since the problem has not been solved in the intervening weeks, I've decided to comment anyway.' Gav talks about the various options we have to deter rogue states from getting nukes. I have a post next week which may or may not provide interested parties with a glimpse of the only possible soluton, IMO. A great piece of writing by AbbaGav.

6. Right Wing Nut House: A LIBERAL MANIFESTO AND OTHER HALLOWEEN FRIGHTS Rick Moran writes a fine essay examining what all Good Liberals should belive, according to the American Prospect..or else. Great fun!

7. The Sundries Shack: Wake up, please? Jimmie Bise is such a treasure..here with the simplicity of a Venn diagram, he lays out exactly what's facing us in the current war, in simple factual terms...and wonders how long we can keep ignoring the obvious.


8. Rhymes With Right: I Must Be A Threat To Someone... Greg deals with some hysterical moron who took exception to some of his language. I say, keep it coming bro..

9. ShrinkWrapped: Talkin' 'bout My Generation ShrinkWrapped examines the psychology of the Baby Boomers (to my mind, one of the most narcissistic and self-involved generations in history), the milestone of the 300,000,000th American and their relationship to the War on Jihad (OK, Shrinks doesn't call it that). An excellent and thought provoking bit of writing.

10. The Glittering Eye: Hostis humani generis Dave pulls a neat one out of the hat - he compares the campaign in the 1800's against piracy and draws some conclusions that are very relevant to the War on Jihad (OK, Dave doesn't call it that either). The Latin, BTW, translates as `an enemy of humanity.'

11. The Education Wonks: The Mexican Eagle Flies Over A Texas High School
EdWonk examines this incident - I gues it was only a matter of time. Flags from other countries are common in the US, in parades and even in schools....but there isn't any other nation like Mexico that is apparently trying to enforce a claim to another sovereign nation's territory by cultural imperialism.

12. AMERICAN FUTURE : Japan, North Korea and Nuclear Weapons Marc takes an in depth look at the strategic facts in East Asia now that Kim Jong Il has upped the ante. A worthy read.

That's this week's lineup..enjoy!