Nuclear War

Cuban former leader Fidel Castro addressed his country's parliament recently and stated his belief that the US and Israel "will launch a nuclear attack on Iran and that Washington could also target North Korea". This would lead to "Armageddon like devastation". Lets hope that is his anti Americanism talking and that he doesn't know something we don't.

(Source: "Fidel Castro warns of nuclear war". The Record on 8/8/10)

Elena Kagan

The Senate confirmed Kagan to replace John Paul Stevens on the US Supreme Court yesterday. All but 5 republicans voted against her. Their opposition is based on the charge that she will be an "activist" judge and make decisions based on her own opinion rather than the law. These same republicans didn't complain when the court ruled in favor of George W. Bush in Bush v. Gore interjecting themselves into what was clearly a state matter. Nor did they say anything about "activist" judges when the court ruled that corporations are "people" under the Citizens United v FTC ruling. On a related note, why are we not arresting BP oil company officials (Tony Hayward for one), for the crimes they committed in the Gulf oil spill? If my negligence led to the death of 11 workers you know where I'd be right now.

General Comments

The Joint Chiefs of Staff-Admiral Mike Mullen-says an attack on Iran would be a bad idea; but an attack is part of a US military plan. He also says that allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons is "unacceptable" (He speak with forked tongue; he should be a politician).

The Dutch are pulling their troops out of Afghanistan. They are the first NATO country to do so. The force was only 1900 but the move might be politically significant.

The House passed a spending bill for the Afghanistan operation of $ 33 billion. The vote was 308 to 114. The legislators were "unmoved by the leaking of classified documents that portray a military effort struggling between 2004 and 2009 against a strenghening insurgency" (The Record on 7/28/10). The total spending for the bill was $ 59 billion (does the word pork ring a bell?). The "no" votes came mostly from democrats with the exception of 12.