It's Time to Get Out of Afghanistan

I have spent the month of April thinking about this. When we invaded in 2001, it was a war of necessity, in my opinion. The ruling Taliban had given safe haven to Osama bin Laden and his followers, who used their Afghan base to plan the 9-11 attacks on the U.S.

Unfortunately, the administration's ambitions to forcibly spread democracy through the Middle East led it to fight the Afghan war on the cheap and to severely underfund post-war security and nation-building, just as we did in the 1980s after the CIA helped Afghanistan expel the Soviets. Rather than repeating the Marshall Plan, we repeated Charlie Wilson's War.

During the 2008 campaign, Barack Obama argued for the need to wind down the Iraq occupation and instead devote more boots on the ground in Afghanistan and, if necessary, Pakistan. He has followed that policy. However, it seems like the window of opportunity to achieve our goals in Afghanistan closed in 2002.

Two events in April have underscored the futility of our continued occupation. At the beginning of the month, a UN compound in Mazar-i-Sharif was stormed by a group of ordinary Afghans without Taliban ties, and eight people were killed. The crowd was outraged by the burning of a Koran by a pile of human feces who claims to be a clergyman in Florida. It is notable that the Koran-burning did not provoke attacks on Westerners in more modern Islamic nations like Turkey and Indonesia, nor even in Saudi Arabia, the heartland of extreme fundamentalist Islam. The Koran-burning was a trigger and an excuse, but I believe the real reason for the attack in Mazar-i-Sharif was a deep hatred of western occupiers.

A few days ago, a member of the Afghan military, following a dispute of some kind with his U.S. allies, opened fire, killing eight U.S. troops and an American contractor before he was shot dead himself. He had no known ties to the Taliban nor Al Quaeda.

If the very people who are being served by UN workers in a relatively secure city hate them enough to riot and kill them, and the Afghan military whom we are supposedly training to take over the nation's security hates our troops enough to turn on them with little provocation, what can our continued occupation possibly accomplish? We are not just fighting the Taliban and Al Quaeda over there. We are fighting ordinary people who are frustrated by the corrupt kleptocracy we put in place there. Hamid Karzai rigged the last election, yet we supported him. How is that encouraging democracy? In Libya, we are dropping bombs to keep Quaddafi from killing the civilians who rose up against him, yet in Afghanistan, we are protecting Karzai from a similar uprising.

We need to bring our troops home from Afghanistan. Now.

An Entertaining Economics Lesson

Too few Americans have studied Economics. It's taught less in high school than in past decades (along with other social studies classes), and it's a dry subject that does not invite self-study.

The folks at EconStories have produced this entertaining rap video that provides a lively lesson in the debate between the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes and F. A. Hayek. Take ten minutes and watch it.

One Love

In honor of Holy Week, I am featuring the very small collection of religious-themed rock songs that don't suck.

Since not sucking is a subjective judgment, your mileage may vary. Feel free to comment, either on the religious themes of the songs, or the degree of suckage (or lack thereof). I'm still recovering from a family vacation, however, so I may not see your comment right away.

This is probably the most joyous religious rock song that doesn't suck of all time.

Starman

In honor of Holy Week, I am featuring the very small collection of religious-themed rock songs that don't suck.

Since not sucking is a subjective judgment, your mileage may vary. Feel free to comment, either on the religious themes of the songs, or the degree of suckage (or lack thereof). I'm still recovering from a family vacation, however, so I may not see your comment right away.

I've always thought this song sounds like an account of the second coming, in modern times.

My Sweet Lord

In honor of Holy Week, I am featuring the very small collection of religious-themed rock songs that don't suck.

Since not sucking is a subjective judgment, your mileage may vary. Feel free to comment, either on the religious themes of the songs, or the degree of suckage (or lack thereof). I'm still recovering from a family vacation, however, so I may not see your comment right away.

For Good Friday, here is a performance by George Harrison (with a little help from his friends) at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.

Hallelujah

In honor of Holy Week, I am featuring the very small collection of religious-themed rock songs that don't suck.

Since not sucking is a subjective judgment, your mileage may vary. Feel free to comment, either on the religious themes of the songs, or the degree of suckage (or lack thereof). I'm still recovering from a family vacation, however, so I may not see your comment right away.

By the incomparable Leonard Cohen. Enough said.

Turn, Turn, Turn.

In honor of Holy Week, I am featuring the very small collection of religious-themed rock songs that don't suck.

Since not sucking is a subjective judgment, your mileage may vary. Feel free to comment, either on the religious themes of the songs, or the degree of suckage (or lack thereof). I'm still recovering from a family vacation, however, so I may not see your comment right away.

This may be the only rock song with lyrics entirely (more or less, within the margin of translation) lifted from the Bible (I don't count Don McLean's folksy acoustic "Babylon" as rock, although it doesn't suck, and it's lifted directly from Psalms).

Spirit in the Sky

In honor of Holy Week, I am featuring the very small collection of religious-themed rock songs that don't suck.

Since not sucking is a subjective judgment, your mileage may vary. Feel free to comment, either on the religious themes of the songs, or the degree of suckage (or lack thereof). I'm still recovering from a family vacation, however, so I may not see your comment right away.

Here is the incomparable Norman Greenbaum with his biggest hit:


In case you were wondering, yes, Mr. Greenbaum is Jewish (but then again, so was Jesus).

Jesus is Just Alright

In honor of Holy Week, I am featuring the very small collection of religious-themed rock songs that don't suck.

Since not sucking is a subjective judgment, your mileage may vary. Feel free to comment, either on the religious themes of the songs, or the degree of suckage (or lack thereof). I'm still recovering from a family vacation, however, so I may not see your comment right away.

The Doobie Brothers made a triumphant entry into "Rockin Down the Highway: the Wildlife Concert" with this classic song of praise.

Bread and Circuses

In the days of the Roman Empire, the (citizen) masses were pacified with basic food aid (the bread dole) and regular entertainment in the form of chariot races and, on special occasions, gladiatorial combat. This helped to maintain the status quo and kept people from getting worked up over income inequality and ruinously expensive foreign wars (which enriched the generals but burdened the economy with the cost of veterans' benefits).

In the U.S., we provide our poorest citizens with basic food aid, but that is being cut at the same time that unemployment is up and food is becoming more expensive. With an NFL lockout threatening the 2011 season and talk of an NBA lockout in the same year, we are also seeing a reduction in our circuses. The wealthy elite may want to rethink whether this is a good time for that. I can't help but wonder whether so many people would have showed up to protest at the Capitol if Scott Walker had introduced his budget-repair bill in January, during the NFL playoffs.

Paranoia Will Destroy You

The allegations of "left-wing violence" have been greatly exaggerated, and the Faux-News-inspired hysteria has led Republican politicians to live in fear. State Senator Dan Kapanke canceled public appearances based in part on an erroneous belief that someone had deliberately smashed the windshield of his car. It turns out that the damage was done by a stray rock thrown up by another vehicle -- a normal road mishap that many of us have experienced.

The email death threats were absolutely wrong, and the woman who made them is rightly facing felony charges. It turns out, though, that her motive may have been to frame another woman (whose identity she spoofed to make the emails) with whom she had a personal conflict.

Like the allegations of wide-spread voter fraud and the existence of palm trees in Madison, the left-wing-violence meme has taken root in the mythology of the tribe who take Sarah Palin seriously.  It seems to me, though, that encouraging your leaders to live in fear is not a winning strategy.

Turnout Matters

I'm feeling much less elite today. And I'm very happy about that.

Once again, the Government Accountability Board was asleep at the wheel, forecasting a 20% turn-out statewide, the average for a Spring election, despite the increased interest in this particular election.

Manitowoc County saw 31.4% of registered voters at the polls.

Over a third of registered voters in Marathon County showed up at the polls. Walworth County turn-out was nearly as high.

Rock County hit 42%.

Almost 43% turned out in Jefferson County, as well as Wood County.

Dane County turn-out numbers are not yet available, but they are expected to be over 50%.

While Justice David Prosser might possibly retain his seat if a recount nets him more votes, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce can never again take for granted that they can buy a seat on the Supreme Court whenever they want to. Left-wing groups have just as much money to throw at campaigns. And while the Citizens United decision will allow more corporate money to fund political campaigns, companies will have to weigh the perceived benefits of donations against a potential PR backlash and boycotts.

Governor Walker says the Supreme Court race was not a referendum on him.  However, today he rescinded the patronage promotion of Brian Deschane.  He's also launching a YouTube channel to stay in touch with voters.  I can't wait for the parody version.

In the end, Scott Walker's most enduring legacy might be making young Wisconsinites think that voting is a cool and fun thing to do.  For that, we should all thank him.

Remember what day it is.

Don't forget -- it's Election Day!


Now you'll remember to hit the polls after work -- because this schlocky song by the "avant garde" successor to Duran Duran (formed after two of the Taylors left to form Power Station with Robert Palmer) will still be stuck in your head all day.

The Recess Supervisor Leaves Wonkette in the Dust

I thought this Wonkette post about the embarrassing hiring of Brian Deschane was some pretty funny snark.

However, this Playground Politics post gave me a much bigger laugh.  I guess it helps to be so intimately familiar with the making of Wisconsin sausage. I'm not sure which was funnier -- the quality snark about the patronage hires, or the suggestion that Glenn Grothman is the voice of reason on an issue. Kudos.

Remember to Vote Tomorrow

As Jesse Jackson said: "April 5 -- Come Alive!"

You can find your polling place here. 

Both Union Cab and Badger Cab are offering free transportation to and from the polls.  If you need to arrange a ride, please call Badger Cab (256-5566) or Union Cab (242-2000) today (before Election Day) and schedule a cab. (h/t, Brenda Konkel).

And remember that not voting has consequences.

Demonstrations as Street Festival Continue

Yesterday's demonstrations at the Capitol were more grass-roots (no stage or speakers) and tongue-in-cheek. A large group of people wore zombie make-up and carried signs making jokes about Scott Walker's brain (or lack thereof). It was a beautiful early spring day (sunny and in the low 50s). People came out and brought their kids (some of the "zombies" had "zombie" children in tow). There were many signs in support of JoAnne Kloppenburg's candidacy for Supreme Court.

This gentleman was the only one I saw with a pro-Prosser sign. As you can see, the anti-Walker demonstrators are pretty much ignoring him. There were no confrontations. I'm glad he felt comfortable visibly expressing his views.

There was an appearance by the ghost of Ronald Reagan (or maybe it was Zombie Reagan). It seems that even he opposes Scott Walker these days.

It wouldn't be a street festival without Art Paul Schlosser. He was a one-man band, with a kazoo as well as a guitar to accompany his original composition. Maybe this would be a good year to re-release his Vote for Me/It's a Joke CD.

Here's One of Those Leftist Dane County Cocktail Parties

The Kissers played the Malt House (a beer joint on Madison's east side) a few weeks ago.  Merriment was had.