What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - A string of departures by the U.S. military's allies in Iraq is turning into an exodus as violence subsides and the end of a U.N. mandate permitting their deployment to the country approaches. I didn't know that there was anyone else left in Iraq, I mean besides us. Today an Azerbaijani contingent said goodbye at Camp Ripper in once volatile but now relatively tranquil Anbar province. Tomorrow, Tongan marines will celebrate their departure at Camp Victory in Baghdad. Okay, I know this is a bit off the mark here, but doesn't it sound odd to refer to a "Tongan marine"? I didn't know that the island nation of Tonga even had a military. Troops from Bosnia-Herzegovina, South Korea, Poland, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Latvia and Macedonia have already bade their farewells in the past two months and Japan will end its air force mission flying supplies into Iraq this year. At its peak, the force that outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush called a "coalition of the willing" in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq included troops from 38 nations. But the overwhelming bulk consisted of U.S. soldiers. There are 146,000 U.S. and 4,100 British troops in Iraq now. Other nations have no more than 1,000. Based on these latest developments, I'm not sure the situation has changed very much. I find it hard to believe that withdrawals of Azerbaijan and Tonga are going to create much of a power vaccuum.

Auto Industry - The chief executives of the major U.S. auto companies prepared for make-or-break congressional hearings on their request for $34 billion in government bailout loans, while lawmakers considered options including one or more of the Detroit Three going bankrupt. The CEOs drove to Washington from Detroit after being criticized for flying in corporate jets to Washington last month to ask for billions of dollars in government loans. With boneheaded decisions like this, is it any wonder that these companies are on the brink of bankruptcy> GM, Ford and Chrysler each submitted separate plans that require individual responses. Ford wants a $9 billion line of credit that would only be tapped if the recession worsened and auto sales declined further. GM and Chrysler said they face possible failure if they do not receive government loans. GM wants $4 billion and Chrysler $7 billion by year's end. GM is also wants another $8 billion in early 2009 and a $6 billion line of credit if its cash position deteriorates further. Oh I see. It's okay for GM and Chrysler to make stupid business decisions and to expect the government to bail them out--or rather taxpayers. But, when some poor family cannot make its mortgage because of a job loss or because of an unscrupulous loan that was sold it if, we'll that's just a crying shame. And don't even get me started on the hand outs that the financial sector got. I've seen highway robberies at gunpoint that were less blatantly offensive than what Wall Street got away with.

Senate - Senate Democrats will be able to do plenty over the next two years -- despite falling just short of their goal of winning a majority big enough to end Republican procedural roadblocks. Republican Saxby Chambliss won re-election in a run-off contest in Georgia on Tuesday, preserving his party's ability to block legislation in the 100-member Senate with procedural roadblocks known as filibusters. Sixty votes are needed to override the roadblocks, which Republicans routinely invoked over the past two years to stop or at least slow down legislation they opposed. With one Senate race yet to be decided from the November 4 election -- votes in Minnesota are being recounted -- Democrats have gained seven seats, meaning they will have at least 58 when the new 111th Congress convenes. Senate Democrats will have the muscle, with the help of a few moderate Republicans, to pass a crush of bills, including ones to stimulate the economy, ensure equal pay for women, ease global warming, lower prescription drug prices for the elderly and change course in the Iraq war. I hate to sound like a skeptic...again, but this is the Senate that we're talking out. Popular mandate sounds all well and good, and heck, I'm glad the Democrats did well, but my point is that talk is cheap. We've heard this song and dance before, from both parties. If the Democratic-controlled Senate wants to impress me, they need to do something to fix the ills that our country faces. The good news for them (sadly) is that they have plenty to choose from.

India - If you thought things were messed up in Mumbai last week, you all haven't seen nothing yet. Oh sure, the terrorists have been either killed or captured, but the carnage is just beginning. I bring you act two of the drama--the blame game. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressed Pakistan to cooperate fully in the probe into the Mumbai attacks but she also warned India against any action that could stoke regional conflict. In a delicate balancing act aimed at curbing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, Rice said she had gone to India to show the Bush administration's solidarity and empathy with the Indian people after the attacks on Mumbai that killed nearly 200 people, including six Americans. Let me break that down for you. See we like India better than Pakistan--those dudes should have helped us capture Osama bin Laden--so we're going to put the squeeze of Pakistan. Why? Because we can, darn it. Plus, India is a much more lucrative ally than Pakistan will ever be. Pakistan has promised to act but insists it needs tangible proof, and has also indicated it will not accept an Indian demand to hand over 20 of its most wanted men that New Delhi says are living in Pakistan. What's all this? Tangible proof and not accepting India's demands? It almost seems like Pakistan feels like it has a say in this matter--the buffoons.

Hockey - Here's a rare gem from a sport that most Americans know much about...and surely care even less about. My beloved San Jose Sharks have opened the 2008-2009 NHL season by tying the all time record for most points through the first 25 games of the season. My boys are 21-3-1 (that's 21 wins, 3 losses, and 1 OT loss) with a league leading 43 points (that's 2 points per 21 wins, plus 1 point for the OT loss). In other words, to paraphrase my Boston brethren--how happen to know a fair bit about the game--my San Jose Sharks are wicked good this year. Of course, if they flame out in the second round of the playoffs, like they've done the past two seasons, then all this will matter for naught. Anyone remember 16-0 New England Patriots from last year? Me neither.