The Levin-Warner reaction to their Iraq visit is certainly smarter than some others I’ve seen. They essentially confirm what I reported in June–that there’s good news in that the Sunni tribes have turned against the Salafists and really bad news about the utter inability of the Iraqis to govern themselves. I do think they were [...]

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, whose advocacy of limiting the U.S. mission has represented the center of the Senate’s thinking on Iraq, says the surge is showing “positive results.” Levin and ranking Republican John Warner say they are most impressed–and surprised–to hear U.S. commanders praise the progress that Iraqi forces are making in [...]

…is a topic that has been obsessing Glenn Greenwald and others lately, but it hardly seems the case–especially the intimations of half-crazed hawkishness–given this survey conducted by Foreign Policy. The Priesthood seems deeply anti-surge and anti-Bush. Yes, there were liberals who favored the war way back in 2002–and a few lonely Democratic hawks, Pollack and [...]

Back in the day, there were quadrennial Sam Nunn for Vice President, or maybe President, columns. I never saw it. Nunn is estimable–his work on nuclear proliferation especially–but so taciturn as to be easily mistaken for a bale of hay. In any case, now he’s opened the door to an independent run for President and [...]

She may have generated more than 3 million internet hits, but it turns out there’s at least once place where “Obama Girl” doesn’t have many fans: Barack Obama’s house.

Via Andrew Sullivan. I think the Aussies are right: we’re about to see some not-so-subtle Brit bashing by unnamed sources in the Bush Administration as Basra descends into Shi’ite (Hakim) upon Shi’ite (Sadr) upon Shi’ite (Fadhila) civil war. In fact, the entire Shi’ite south seems on the brink: For the second time in 10 days, [...]