tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50522412011-04-21T21:57:18.779-05:00PoliBlogThinking, linking, and commentary from a political science professor.
<blockquote><i>Knowledge of the good would seem to be the concern of the most authoritative science, the highest master science. And this is obviously the science of politics . . .</i><br>
[Ethics, Bk. I: 2, 1094a]</blockquote>
Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comBlogger5341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-1147277575256923092006-05-10T11:06:00.000-05:002006-05-10T11:13:54.196-05:00A QuestionWelcome those seeking "PoliBlogger" via search enginesOver the last two days a lot of folks have come here via search engines (usually engines other than Yahoo or Google, often Dogpile or others).At any rate: could someone tell me what has sparked a ton of searches for "Poliblogger"? Was the site mentioned somewhere? Is there just some generic interest in the term?If you have an Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-929616352003-04-20T22:23:00.000-05:002003-04-20T22:23:38.590-05:00Reminder: I am now at www.poliblogger.com.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-928178972003-04-17T22:55:00.000-05:002003-04-17T22:55:20.810-05:00FINALLY!!PoliBlog now has a new home--it is under construction, but it finally habitable. Come see at: www.poliblogger.com.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-927724802003-04-17T06:52:00.000-05:002003-04-17T06:53:44.000-05:00MT Help Does anyone who uses Movable Type know how to get the default template to wrap the text to the screen?Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-927489402003-04-16T20:12:00.000-05:002003-04-16T20:12:14.200-05:00Yes, I'm Still Alive Haven't had much free time the last day or so, and have spent what little I have had trying to get the move to MT going. Am having some minor difficulties, but hopefully will get it squared away tonight.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-926835702003-04-15T19:40:00.000-05:002003-04-15T19:40:02.606-05:00Intriguing: Achille Lauro Mastermind Abu Abbas Captured in IraqSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-926724122003-04-15T15:53:00.000-05:002003-04-15T15:53:39.340-05:00Status: Sorry about the dearth of posts the last several days--not only has life been especially busy, but I have been working on making the transition to my own domain and to Movable Type. Like James at OTB, I have tired of fooling with BlogSpot and other issues that the current blog requires me to fool with. Look for an announcement soon on the move. This blog will remain active, however, Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-926689612003-04-15T14:51:00.000-05:002003-04-15T14:51:00.296-05:00Killing the Goose that Lays the Golden Paycheck? I have never fully understood this kind of behavior:American Airlines Inc.'s flight attendants voted to turn down their financial concession agreements with the Fort Worth-based company, following the approval announced by pilots and transport workers earlier in the day, according a report by Dow Jones Newswires.The rejection by the Association ofSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-926467762003-04-15T08:01:00.000-05:002003-04-15T08:01:10.560-05:00Money for Moose? While I have mixed feelings on this, I have to admit, there is a point to be made here:"Even criminals have a right to publish books about their crimes," said Washington College of Law Professor Jamin Raskin, a member of Moose's legal team. "If hitmen for the mob and mass murderers have a First Amendment right to write and publish books about crime, why don't police chiefs?" Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-926420592003-04-15T05:45:00.000-05:002003-04-15T05:45:42.356-05:00On to Phase Two. Let the rebuilding begin:Pentagon Asserts the Main Fighting Is Finished in Iraq. " The Pentagon declared today that major combat operations in Iraq were over after United States forces took control of Tikrit, the last bastion of the old government."
Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-926171692003-04-14T19:43:00.000-05:002003-04-14T19:43:08.233-05:00High Crimes and Misdemeanors? Don't get me wrong, I see no cause to simply head over to Syria and start breaking heads. They may well deserve it, but such a course of action hardly seems prudent, to put it mildly. So what in the world is former Secretary of State Eagleburger ranting about here?Mr Eagleburger, who accused Syria of having an outrageous record on terror, said an extension of the Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925808062003-04-14T08:26:00.000-05:002003-04-14T08:26:45.233-05:00One Big Happy Family I suspect he knows things of use: Saddam's Half Brother Caught Near Mosul. And family gatherings had to be a hoot:Hassan had fallen out of favor with Saddam in 1995 and was dismissed as Iraq's interior minister, head of the regime's secret police and other domestic security agencies.Saddam viewed Hassan as a threat and kept a close watch on him, the official said. Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925806732003-04-14T08:23:00.000-05:002003-04-14T08:28:42.000-05:00Weapons, What Weapons?: Iraqis Point to Possible Weapons Sites "U.S. forces have a list of 2,000 to 3,000 sites in Iraq that need to be checked, and weapons teams are checking up to 20 sites a day, said the war's commander, Gen. Tommy Franks. Iraqis ranging from common citizens to high-ranking officials have suggested other possible hiding places to be searched, Franks and other military Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925803602003-04-14T08:16:00.000-05:002003-04-14T08:18:40.000-05:00And the Alternative Would Be? Hundreds protest global lending:Hundreds of activists peacefully demonstrated yesterday against alleged abuses by large American corporations and international lending agencies, saying their policies are harmful to poor people in Latin America and elsewhere.[...] ''For the last 50 years we've been attacked by the International Monetary Fund'' because its lending Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925376772003-04-13T14:20:00.000-05:002003-04-13T14:21:17.000-05:00More Evidence: This piece bolsters part of the argument I make in my column: A War Waged With a Sword At His Throat:Settling nervously into a car, he recounted his story as a soldier in Saddam's Fedayeen."I was sure I was going to die," he said.Struggling against hopelessness and fear, he prepared for battle under the scrutiny of the militia's swordsmen, appointed to decapitate any deserters.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925288952003-04-13T10:52:00.000-05:002003-04-13T10:52:58.920-05:00WONDERFUL NEWS: Seven U.S. troops freed in Iraq - Apr. 13, 2003Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925148312003-04-12T23:16:00.000-05:002003-04-12T23:16:24.793-05:00Blogrolled: Thanks to The American Mind for blogrolling PoliBlog.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925145782003-04-12T23:10:00.000-05:002003-04-12T23:10:35.856-05:00Syndication Deal? Not quite, but I do have a new column in the Birmingham News. It is available hereSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925063762003-04-12T19:21:00.000-05:002003-04-12T19:25:06.000-05:00Iranian Overtures? Hmm, and I thought the war was guaranteed to distablize the region and result in the US having worse relations in the region. However, Reuters via Yahoo reports:Iran's influential former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has suggested a referendum could be held on resuming ties with the United States, Iran's arch-foe, the official IRNA news agency said on Saturday.
[...]Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-925009232003-04-12T16:36:00.000-05:002003-04-12T16:36:02.936-05:00Funny: CBBC Newsround | TV FILM | Tony Blair to star in Simpsons Tony Blair to star in SimpsonsSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924802302003-04-12T06:35:00.000-05:002003-04-12T06:35:49.610-05:00May it be so: "Republican Guard and other Iraqi troops regrouping in Saddam Hussein's hometown, Tikrit, have been battered by U.S. airstrikes and don't present an effective fighting force, U.S. Central Command said Friday."Source: FOXNews.comSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924801962003-04-12T06:34:00.000-05:002003-04-12T06:34:24.950-05:00More Education, Saddam Style: " Scores of black leather vests stuffed with explosives and ball-bearings were found by U.S. Marines at a Baghdad school, along with empty hangers hinting that suicide attackers might be wearing them in the chaotic city."Source: FOXNews.comSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924801542003-04-12T06:32:00.000-05:002003-04-12T06:32:46.530-05:00Putin Speaks: "The goal of war -- to disarm Iraq -- has not been achieved. ... We must never mix notions. No one liked the Iraqi regime apart from Saddam Hussein, but this is not the point."I dunno--they looked pretty disarmed to me. However, in all seriousness, it is bit early for anyone to say that the WMD issues has been settled, one way or the other.Source:CNNSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924643902003-04-11T21:49:00.000-05:002003-04-11T21:49:08.873-05:00Oh, Brother: People can find fault with almost anything. And quite frankly, Saletan's bit of decoding of the President's use of adjectives is a strech, to say the least: The Soft Bigotry of Loose Adulation By William SaletanSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924299902003-04-11T09:50:00.000-05:002003-04-11T09:50:12.670-05:00The Baath Party and Iraqi Politics: UPI has an interesting news analysis of the Baath party that is worth a read (it isn't very long). Some highlights:Dictatorship came into full expression in Iraq with the Baathist coup led by Gen. Hassan el-Bakr and Saddam in 1968. During 10 transitional years the modern Iraqi state was steadily transformed from a constitutional monarchy with parliament, Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924297742003-04-11T09:46:00.000-05:002003-04-11T09:46:16.263-05:00Hylarious: "Tourism officials in Hong Kong are regretting running an ad campaign that features the slogan, Hong Kong: It will take your breath away."Source:
SARS makes Hong Kong regret campaign slogan (Hat Tip: NPR's Morning Edition) Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924246582003-04-11T08:09:00.000-05:002003-04-11T08:09:55.326-05:00By the Way… Is it just me, or is there something galling about the fact that one has to mail one’s taxes to the IRS “Service Center”? (Yes, I put my taxes in the mail this morning...)Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924212562003-04-11T06:36:00.000-05:002003-04-11T06:36:52.000-05:00A City a Day: Not bad for a flawed battle plan, eh? Imagine what we could have done if the armchair generals had been allowed to use the good plan.The northern Iraqi oil city of Mosul fell today without a fight as the last of Saddam Hussein's loyalists vanished during the night. Source: Capture of Northern City Leaves Tikrit as Last Target for U.S.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924211452003-04-11T06:32:00.000-05:002003-04-11T06:32:33.450-05:00Hope and Questions: The following column, My First Day of Freedom, by Iraqi ex-patriot Hussain Abdul-Hussain is worth a read. The first two paragraphs are telling regarding the terror that the regime had instilled: The downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime, metaphorically incarnate in the toppling of his statue in Firdos Square in Baghdad, filled me with hope.If the regime were still in power, Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-924037202003-04-10T22:26:00.000-05:002003-04-10T22:26:37.466-05:00Surreal: The Baghdad zoo welcomes visitors Inside the compound was a small, private zoo, where lions, cheetahs, a bear and German shepherds were starving. The soldiers opened their MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and pushed pound cake through the bars for the bear. They tossed chicken meals to young lions and two lion cubs.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923886772003-04-10T17:37:00.000-05:002003-04-10T17:37:44.716-05:00Dean Campaign: RIP. Dean's main issue, being the anti-war candidate means he is already in a precarious position politically. And if he keeps saying things like this, he might as well just quit now:"We've gotten rid of him — I suppose that's a good thing," Howard Dean, whose campaign has been lifted on his image as the antiwar candidate, said of Mr. Hussein. "But there's going to be a long Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923769962003-04-10T14:06:00.000-05:002003-04-10T14:06:10.733-05:00Fineman on Bush: (With apologies to John Lemon, known anti-Howard Finemanite). Fineman starts his current piece on the President as follows:The guy doesn’t play small ball; he goes for the Big Inning—and doesn’t waver. Bush is what I’d call a disciplined radical, pursuing sweeping aims with an almost blinkered determination. At least for now—since September 11, 2001—it’s working. A month ago ISteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923745332003-04-10T13:18:00.000-05:002003-04-10T13:18:08.013-05:00Hmm, Rings a Bit Hollow, Doesn't it? French President Jacques Chirac says his country is "rejoicing" in the apparent collapse of the Iraqi dictatorship. [...]His foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, added: "With the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime, a dark page has been turned." Source:CNNSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923671312003-04-10T11:07:00.000-05:002003-04-10T11:12:11.000-05:00We Have Humanity in Common: James at OTB pointed out this piece in the Independent by Robert Fisk which mocks the liberation of Iraq. In his rant against the people dancing in the streets in Baghdad, he notes the following:Forgetting, too, that the "liberators" were a new and alien and all-powerful occupying force with neither culture nor language nor race nor religion to unite them with Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923632762003-04-10T10:02:00.000-05:002003-04-10T10:02:38.810-05:00The Success Continues: Thousands Cheer Kirkuk Fall as Iraqi Soldiers Flee Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923276842003-04-09T20:16:00.000-05:002003-04-09T20:16:39.340-05:00We Can But Hope: "We discovered that all what the [Iraqi] information minister was saying was all lies," said Ali Hassan, a government employee in Cairo, Egypt. "Now no one believes Al-Jazeera anymore." Source: FOXNews.com(Hat Tip: K-Lo at The Corner)Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923268662003-04-09T20:02:00.000-05:002003-04-09T20:02:01.153-05:00Utterly Remarkable: Iran endorses U.S. claim on Iraqi shrinesIran has made a rare conciliatory gesture towards the United States by endorsing the U.S. statement that coalition forces had not damaged the Shiite religion's two holiest shrines in Iraq.Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency carried a telephone interview on Tuesday with a prominent Shiite cleric who said the shrines were "Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923263242003-04-09T19:50:00.000-05:002003-04-09T19:51:10.000-05:00More Rumscraft: From today's briefing, in discussing the humanitarian situation (I have noted some key passages with italics):Q: Mr. Secretary, you mentioned the momentous pictures and what's going on in Baghdad and parts of Iraq now. You also mentioned the need to set up an interim authority. It seems as the shooting wanes in coming days, that the humanitarian need will grow drastically. When Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923259172003-04-09T19:43:00.000-05:002003-04-09T19:43:04.373-05:00Gee, What Have They Got to Hide? Iraqi Embassy in Brazil Burns Documents (Hat Tip: Drudge)Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923253832003-04-09T19:31:00.000-05:002003-04-09T19:33:15.000-05:00Game Really Over A rather remarkable statement from UN envoy Mohammed Aldouri was made today after he noted that the game was "over":"I have no relationship with Saddam so I can't tell you. I have no communication with Iraq. I am here so I know nothing about what is going on there," Aldouri said.I find this statement especially remarkable for two reasons: 1) he is clearly no longer afraid of Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923081592003-04-09T14:12:00.000-05:002003-04-09T14:12:08.140-05:00Oh, Please: Fred Kaplan's response in Slate to the toppling of the Saddam statue is both counter to most I have read, and overly angst-ridden. (Not to mention, I think, wrong). The Final paragraph:Is this scene a sad symbol of the Iraqi people's helplessness, after 30 years of brutal dictatorship, to master their own fate? Is this an equally sad symbol of America's inability to liberate Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923078732003-04-09T14:07:00.000-05:002003-04-09T14:10:40.000-05:00Indeed: The US administration on Wednesday warned other countries intent on developing weapons of mass destruction - such as Iran, Syria, and North Korea - to "draw the appropriate lesson from Iraq".Source: Financial Times Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923068592003-04-09T13:49:00.000-05:002003-04-09T13:51:32.000-05:00Some People Amaze Me: And Ted Rall tops the list for the moment. Check out the following excerpt from his April 1st column (and no, it isn't an April Fools' joke, although that might be his out...):Regardless of their political affiliations, patriotic Iraqis prefer to bear the yoke of Saddam's brutal and corrupt dictatorship than to suffer the humiliation of living in a conquered nation, Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923036762003-04-09T12:51:00.000-05:002003-04-09T12:51:02.513-05:00I Thought "Litmus Tests" for Nominees Were Bad Kerry vows court picks to be abortion-rights supporters (Hat Tip: Drudge)Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923036092003-04-09T12:50:00.000-05:002003-04-09T12:52:51.000-05:00Expect a Lot of This in Days to Come: Iraqis tour half-demolished jail 'of evil' " Iraqis showed journalists a white stone jail where they claim Saddam Hussein's secret police for decades tortured inmates with beatings, mutilations, electric shocks and chemical baths."(Hat Tip: Drudge)Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923032262003-04-09T12:43:00.000-05:002003-04-09T12:43:00.343-05:00CP to LOC: Michelle reports that the Command Post will be part of the Library of Congress' project to archive web coverage of the war.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923026852003-04-09T12:33:00.000-05:002003-04-09T12:33:43.670-05:00Andrew Sullivan Gets it Right Read this entry at his blog regarding the victory in Baghdad. He is on target.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-923023602003-04-09T12:27:00.000-05:002003-04-09T12:55:44.000-05:00Great Pic at OTB: Outside The Beltway: ANOTHER PICSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922980472003-04-09T11:13:00.000-05:002003-04-09T12:54:39.000-05:00Ok, It Didn't Take Three Days... But three weeks is pretty darn impressive.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922979792003-04-09T11:12:00.000-05:002003-04-09T11:12:14.296-05:00Where's Waldo? I find it rather amusing that (mis)Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf did not make an appearance today, and that the media handlers from the now ex-regime did not show up to mind the foreign press today.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922898312003-04-09T08:58:00.000-05:002003-04-09T08:58:25.733-05:00But I Though the Plan Was All Wrong? Regime collapses: Jubilant Iraqis fill Baghdad streets as Saddam reign endsSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922844842003-04-09T06:55:00.000-05:002003-04-09T06:55:58.246-05:00OK, Cute Title, But... While I find the title (Dances With Wolfowitz) of Dowd's column amusing, the argument within the text really misses the boat, as least on two counts:First, like many critics of the war/the administration, she engages in static analysis, which looks only at the death and destruction since March 19th, without taking into consideration the death and destruction that will now Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922841272003-04-09T06:46:00.000-05:002003-04-09T06:46:10.000-05:00May it Be So: Signs of Iraqi Leadership Vanish in Baghdad Residents swarmed out onto the streets today, suddenly sensing that the regime of Saddam Hussein was crumbling, and celebrating the arrival of United States forces.Throngs of men milled about, looting, blaring horns, dancing and tearing up pictures of Saddam Hussein. Baath party offices were trashed.Occasional sniper fire continued, but Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922839892003-04-09T06:41:00.000-05:002003-04-09T06:41:14.513-05:00He's Right: Friedman, in his latest column makes the following observations:It's hard to smile when there's no water. It's hard to applaud when you're frightened. It's hard to say, "Thank you for liberating me," when liberation has meant that looters have ransacked everything from the grain silos to the local school, where they even took away the blackboard.[...]America broke Iraq; now America Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922378382003-04-08T14:03:00.000-05:002003-04-08T14:03:47.246-05:00Interesting: It would seem that the public-opinion rift with our allies may not be as bad as some have indicated: 72% believe Canada should have backed war:A large majority of Canadians -- 72% -- believe Canada should have supported the U.S. at the start of the war against Iraq, according to an exclusive National Post/Global News poll.The COMPAS survey shows 41% of people believe Canada should Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922353072003-04-08T13:16:00.000-05:002003-04-08T13:18:54.000-05:00Amazing: Children were freed from prison today by the U.S. Marines. From the UPI:The crescendo of welcome increased as an Iraqi woman led the Marines to a children's prison where than more than 160 youngsters were freed."It was really something, the children just streamed out of the gates and their parents just started to embrace us," said Lt. Col. Fred Padilla, commander of the 1st Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922186112003-04-08T08:11:00.000-05:002003-04-08T08:11:30.420-05:00Inside the Numbers: Michel Martin (of ABC News, and part of the This Week roundtable) needs a lesson in analyzing data. On Sunday she lamented the high-percentage of friendly fire casualties in the current war, and noted similar numbers from the first Gulf War. The number cited was something like 25% deaths from friendly fire. I do not know if that number is accurate, although it sounds aboutSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922178472003-04-08T07:53:00.000-05:002003-04-08T07:53:35.623-05:00Apple Fritters: Jack Shafer at Slate excoriates the war "analysis" of NYT's R. W. "Johnny" Apple, Jr. Read it here.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922163682003-04-08T07:16:00.000-05:002003-04-08T07:16:31.106-05:00CNN: Behind the Curve: Did anyone else notice that last night when the news was breaking on Fox and MSNBC concerning the new bombing of Saddam and friends, that CNN was airing a series of commercials and seemed utterly out of synch? The best they could do at first was show pictures of Saddam, Uday and Qusay (while the other two networks had some video (some of which turned out to be the wrong Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-922134682003-04-08T05:46:00.000-05:002003-04-08T05:46:55.670-05:00It's Called Leadership Blair's approval rating on rise. His numbers are now about where they were last summer, pre-Iraq. It goes to show that sometimes one has to lead and let public opinion follow.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921877972003-04-07T20:18:00.000-05:002003-04-07T20:18:23.670-05:00What? Is He Supposed to Leave His Gun at Home? Pistol-Packing Gen. Franks Visits Troops in IraqSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921684262003-04-07T14:40:00.000-05:002003-04-07T14:40:41.593-05:00Understatement of the Day: "we do know [Saddam] no longer runs much of Iraq" (SecDef Rumsfeld).Source: AP/Yahoo!Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921682072003-04-07T14:37:00.000-05:002003-04-07T14:37:22.733-05:00Amusing: Is war a joke to late-night comedians? "But you know there's some confusion now whether Saddam Hussein is actually alive or dead," David Letterman joked on CBS' "The Late Show." "They had videotape on Iraqi television earlier today, and it's so confusing. It's Saddam Hussein ... and he's speaking at his own funeral." [...]"Today the U.S. Army kicked Geraldo Rivera out of Iraq," Craig Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921649312003-04-07T13:42:00.000-05:002003-04-07T13:42:20.513-05:00I Love It! ABC News Radio is reporting that some of our troops camped out in one of Saddam's palaces last night.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921615672003-04-07T12:42:00.000-05:002003-04-07T12:42:08.153-05:00I Know I Shouldn't Find This Funny... And in real terms, I don;t really, but still... Convoy of Russians Attacked in BaghdadSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921581762003-04-07T11:43:00.000-05:002003-04-07T11:43:39.903-05:00Change on the Ground: U.S. Airlifts Iraqi Exile Force For Duties Near Nasiriyah "In a surprise move, the United States has begun airlifting hundreds of members of an Iraqi exile group into southern Iraq, vanguard elements of what a high-ranking Pentagon officer said would form the basis of a new Iraqi army."Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921579892003-04-07T11:40:00.000-05:002003-04-07T11:40:37.576-05:00Hmm, More Delusional Statements? Annan: U.N. to Play Major Role in Rebuilding Iraq"I do expect the U.N. to play an important role, and the U.N. has had good experience in this area," Annan told reporters ahead of a meeting of the U.N. Security Council that he had called to discuss the issue.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921569562003-04-07T11:22:00.000-05:002003-04-07T11:22:56.513-05:00Whaddaya Know, Part II: U.S. Finds Drums That May Contain Chemical ArmsAmerican soldiers in Iraq's Karbala area, raiding an empty training camp for Palestinians and others seeking to join Iraqis in the war, have discovered several large oil drums that may contain chemical weapons, officers said today.Col. Tim Madere, the V Corps chemical officer, said that a preliminary test by a military Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921565132003-04-07T11:15:00.000-05:002003-04-07T11:15:38.310-05:00Well, whaddya know: Report: U.S. Finds Missiles with Chemical WeaponsSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921563502003-04-07T11:13:00.000-05:002003-04-07T11:14:58.000-05:00Delusional Statements of the Day: Information Minister Mohammad Saeed al-Sahhaf insisted that there was "no presence of the American villains in the city of Baghdad at all. They tried to come in from Dora on a small number of tanks and personnel carriers, but we treated this problem by capturing most of them and killing the rest."[...]Al-Sahhaf told reporters in Baghdad that the U.S. forces "Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921561392003-04-07T11:09:00.000-05:002003-04-07T11:09:32.560-05:00Thanks to Dain Brammage of My Brain Hurts! for blogrolling PoliBlog!Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-921425032003-04-07T06:31:00.000-05:002003-04-07T06:33:37.000-05:00May it be so: Hoon says strong indications "Chemical Ali" dead Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920866182003-04-06T07:45:00.000-05:002003-04-06T07:45:51.653-05:00Multi-Layer Irony: Does anyone else find this as amusing as I do? Iraqi Government Announces Travel Ban in Baghdad: "Iraqi television says authorities will impose a travel ban at the Baghdad city limits starting Sunday night."Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920863102003-04-06T07:30:00.000-05:002003-04-06T07:36:15.000-05:00Not Good: 'Friendly fire' hits Kurdish convoy. We are almost more dangerous to ourselves at times than are the Iraqis.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920859982003-04-06T07:16:00.000-05:002003-04-06T07:16:22.873-05:00It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy: "On Saturday, U.S.-led coalition aircraft destroyed the home of Gen. Ali Hassan al-Majeed, known as "Chemical Ali," one of Saddam's cousins." Source: CNN.com - British battle groups push toward central BasraSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920731732003-04-05T22:54:00.000-06:002003-04-05T22:54:10.513-06:00Plain Silly: Not to mention helping to further stereotypes of the south: Lincoln Statue Heightens Old Pains"Hitler/Paris 1940. Lincoln/Richmond 1865. Any questions?" one sign read. Another, held by a young boy, read: "Lincoln wasn't worth a cent -- then or now." And a wanted poster with Lincoln's face read: "WANTED: For War Crimes."Several hours before the afternoon dedication, about 100 Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920435122003-04-05T09:53:00.000-06:002003-04-05T09:53:20.343-06:00Truer than he knows: Iraqi Information Minister Sahaf reads Saddam message: "The criminals will be humiliated ... "Source: ReutersSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920429452003-04-05T09:39:00.000-06:002003-04-05T09:42:35.000-06:00All the News that's Fit to Correct: From the "Correction" Section of the NYT'sCorrections: A front-page news analysis article on Sunday about the political perils faced by President Bush over the war with Iraq misattributed a comment about Saddam Hussein's government being "a house of cards." While some American officials had used the phrase to predict a shorter conflict and a quick collapse Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920398562003-04-05T08:12:00.000-06:002003-04-05T08:13:23.000-06:00Evil. The evidence continues to mount that this regime was exactly what the Bush administration described it as: evil. The moral element of this war is clear to me, and those who attempt any form of moral equivalency between the coalition forces and the Iraqis is wearing willful blinders.Hundreds of bundles of bone in strips of military uniform have been found by British soldiers at an Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920396852003-04-05T08:06:00.000-06:002003-04-05T08:07:29.000-06:00The Iraqi Version of "No Child Left Behind" U.S. Marines were digging up a suspected chemical weapons hiding place in the courtyard of an Iraqi school southeast of Baghdad on Saturday.The Marines said that a man who described himself as a former member of the Iraqi special forces told them that groups of Iraqi men had knocked down a wall of the girls' school two months ago, hidden something in Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920395892003-04-05T08:03:00.000-06:002003-04-05T08:03:42.576-06:00More on Saddam: Watching that footage of "Saddam" in the streets yesterday reminds me of going to theme parks or events for kids where Mickey Mouse (or Sir Topham Hat--I took my two eldest boys to Thomas the Tank Engine yesterday) comes out for an appearance and everyone mobs him, takes pictures, shakes his hand, etc. The scene yesterday was like some perverse, Dante-esque theme park, and the Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920393812003-04-05T07:57:00.000-06:002003-04-05T07:57:08.640-06:00Surprising/Intriguing: I didn't expect this move, but, I guess, neither did the Iraqis. I wonder if Saddam and his doppelganger buddies are smiling now?An armored force of 50 American tanks and other vehicles wheeled suddenly into the center of Baghdad today, taking the city’s defenders by surprise and triggering a rolling firefight along boulevards lined with some people waving and others Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920390902003-04-05T07:45:00.000-06:002003-04-05T07:47:06.000-06:00Delusional? If the happy, laughing man on TV yesterday was Saddam--he is either honestly believing his own disinformation, not being told the truth, or is utterly delusional. I still think something is odd about the whole thing. Why would he risk going into public like that? And what was the deal with the rather small crowd?Source: Iraqi TV Presents a Relaxed HusseinSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-920388222003-04-05T07:36:00.000-06:002003-04-05T07:41:52.000-06:00Getting All the Plum Jobs Now: First the Daily Mirror, then Greek TV, now: Peter Arnett now reporting for Arab channel Al-Arabiya. I am sure he will redeem himself with so many opportunities to demonstrate his journalistic skills.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919960552003-04-04T12:28:00.000-06:002003-04-04T12:28:52.780-06:00As John Lemon Predicted: In feedback yesterday, JL called it: Hollywood eyes Jessica LynchSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919908162003-04-04T10:51:00.000-06:002003-04-04T10:51:31.466-06:00More Progress: Elite Iraqi Guard Division Defeated -US Marines "U.S. Marines said Friday that the Nida division of the Iraqi Republican Guard had been defeated by U.S.-led forces pushing toward Baghdad from the southeast."Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919547352003-04-03T20:55:00.000-06:002003-04-03T20:55:06.356-06:00More Warm Welcomes. Despite some of the doom and gloom, it does appear that there are a good number of common Iraqis who are glad we are there. I still think that once the country is secured, and Saddam and his Baathist buddies are gone, the overwhelming majority of the country will be thankful for their liberation.In the giddy spirit of the day, nothing could quite top the wish list bellowed Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919539882003-04-03T20:40:00.000-06:002003-04-03T20:44:02.000-06:00Insde the NYT's Editorial Page:Lawrence Eagleburger, secretary of state during the first Bush administration, gave some fascinating insight into the process Wednesday night on the Fox News show Hannity & Colmes. Responding to a Hannity query, Eagleburger said: "About ten days ago, I was approached from the New York Times to write an op-ed piece. To make it very short, when I talked to them about Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919404052003-04-03T16:12:00.000-06:002003-04-03T16:12:43.060-06:00I Should Hope Not: Rumsfeld: 'Not a Chance' of Any Deal to Free Saddam Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919304962003-04-03T13:13:00.000-06:002003-04-03T13:13:25.983-06:00Progress! ABC radio is reporting that the US military has taken the Saddam International Airport, and that resistance was light. Further, there have been reports of Iraqi civilians cheering on the US troops. This comports with the mass surrenders and bus caravans that I reported earlier today.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919303642003-04-03T13:11:00.000-06:002003-04-03T13:11:00.810-06:00OTB Move: James has moved Outside the Beltway off of BlogSpot onto its own domain. Give the new site a look.Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919235452003-04-03T11:04:00.000-06:002003-04-03T11:06:32.000-06:00More Encouraging News: U.S. - Najaf Cleric Urges Iraqis Not to Hinder Troops Thursday, Apr 03, 2003; 8:06 AMAS SAYLIYA CAMP, Qatar - A U.S. commander in the Gulf said on Thursday that a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric in the holy city of Najaf had issued an edict urging Iraqis to remain calm and not to hinder U.S. invading forces. "A prominent cleric, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, who had been placedSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919216472003-04-03T10:31:00.000-06:002003-04-03T10:31:56.326-06:00The Money Primary: According to WaPo John Edwards is the early leader, by about $400k over John Kerry (who isn't helping himself calling for "regime change" in DC and playing the UN card--that might all fly in Paris, but not so much 'round here these days). The article correctly notes that "frontrunner" status (which Kerry covets) is going to be determined at this point largely by money.Of Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919213412003-04-03T10:26:00.000-06:002003-04-03T10:26:36.716-06:00Eye-Witness to the Surrenders: ABCNEWS.com : ABCNEWS Journalists Report From Gulf: Mike Cerre, with the 1st Marine Division north of the Tigris river 11:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. IraqAt dawn, buses filled with military-age men coming from Baghdad started approaching our lines asking to surrender. It's been going on for the past two hours now. It started with a bus and a van. There's now Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919210082003-04-03T10:20:00.000-06:002003-04-03T10:20:52.030-06:00But, I Thought They All Hated Us: Report: Buses of Iraqis Fleeing Baghdad Iraqi deserters and civilians are flooding out of Baghdad by the busload on Thursday and surrendering to U.S. forces advancing on the Iraqi capital, said a U.S. television reporter traveling with Marines.Hat Tip to: Blogs of WarSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919147982003-04-03T08:29:00.000-06:002003-04-03T08:29:08.140-06:00The Iraqi Regime: Lovers of Truth: Why al-Jazeera's man in Baghdad was kicked outAl-Jazeera reporter Tayseer Allouni may have been ordered out of Baghdad by the Iraqi government because he tried to interview people without an official minder present, according to a senior executive at the Arabic TV news channel.[...][T]he chief of al-Jazeera's Washington bureau, Hafez al-Mirazi, told CNN AllouniSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919145732003-04-03T08:25:00.000-06:002003-04-03T08:25:12.903-06:00Just Imagine What Special Forces Can Do Private First Class Lynch (a nineteen year-old female supply clerk) put up a fight before she was captured:Rescued U.S. soldier Jessica Lynch shot several Iraqi soldiers prior to her capture, firing her weapon until she ran out of ammunition, The Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing U.S. officials.
The 19-year-old private first class continued Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919137462003-04-03T08:10:00.000-06:002003-04-03T08:10:10.060-06:00Weighing Bad News: I was struck last night, while listening to the news, of the substantial difference between bad news for the Iraqi military and bad news for coalition forces. Yesterday, bad news for the Iraqis was that two divisions of the Republican Guard were degraded to the point that had lost most, if not all, of their military significance. Bad news for the US forces around Baghdad wasSteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919101542003-04-03T06:48:00.000-06:002003-04-03T06:57:09.000-06:00Too Much Real Estate: You know you have too many palaces when describing one as "the one by the airport" isn't specific enough:
Lead units of the multi-pronged U.S. assault force were about four miles from the edge of Baghdad, and some soldiers made a brief foray into a presidential palace near Saddam International Airport.Navy Capt. Frank Thorp, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, did not specifySteven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052241.post-919100632003-04-03T06:46:00.000-06:002003-04-03T06:46:37.763-06:00Progress: U.S. Forces Enter Presidential Palace. And may it be so: "A U.S. spokesman said Iraqi forces appeared on the verge of collapse."
Steven Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119069315712368744noreply@blogger.com