What Caught My Eye Today

Torture - What do you get when you have the same political party in charge of both the legislative and the executive branch of the federal government? Those of you who say "a big flipping mess" may pat yourselves on the back. Brushing aside the president's suggestions, congressional Democrats pushed ahead firmly on toward investigations into the Bush administration's harsh interrogation of terror suspects including hundreds of instances of waterboarding and other abusive practices. President Barack Obama said a day earlier that if there was to be an investigation, the independent commission that looked into the September 11 attacks would be a better model than a congressional probe that might break down along party lines. But Democrats were moving in their own directions, and Republicans were united in their opposition to a commission that they see as an effort to vilify George W. Bush now that he is out of office. Only in Washington can taking the higher ground come back and bite you in the behind. I truly believe that Obama is trying to do right by both sides of the Congressional aisle, yet Democrats and Republicans alike, seem hellbent on thumbing their noses at the prez; choosing instead to play the same partisan politics that they always have. Very sad indeed.

Still things could be worse. For your consideration I give you Cuba.

Cuba - Raul Castro seems ready to discuss improving relations with Washington. Brother Fidel is clearly uncomfortable with the idea. Bickering brothers. How lovely.. Fidel clearly sought to diminish expectations of a thaw in Cuba-U.S. relations with his latest column, which asserted that President Barack Obama "misinterpreted" Raul's seemingly conciliatory statements last week. At issue was Raul's declaration that his government is ready to discuss "everything, everything, everything" with U.S. negotiators, including human rights and freedom of the press in Cuba and the 205 dissidents its government is accused of jailing. Obama responded warmly at the Summit of the Americas, saying perhaps the U.S. is ready for a new beginning with Cuba. But he also said that as a sign of good will, Cuban authorities should release political prisoners and reduce a 10 percent tax on the U.S. dollars that Cuban-Americans send to support relatives on the island. That angered Fidel, who called Obama's analysis of Cuban policy "superficial" and said the U.S. leader had no right to suggest even small concessions. Lighten up, you old bag. Last time I checked, Senor Fidel, you were supposed to be retired and your little hermano, Raul, was in charge. So let the guy be in charge. You had a good run, let it go.

Pakistan - Taliban militants have extended their grip in northwestern Pakistan, pushing out from a valley where the government has agreed to impose Islamic law and patrolling villages as close as 60 miles from the capital. Police and officials appear to have fled as armed militants also broadcast radio sermons and spread fear just 60 miles from Islamabad. That can't be good. Seriously, I thought the Taliban was on the downturn; what with the U.S. putting the screws to them in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, I'm sort of thinking, they just relocated to safer turf. Pakistan's president signed off on the peace pact last week in hopes of calming Swat, where some two years of clashes between the Taliban and security forces have killed hundreds and displaced up to a third of the one-time tourist haven's 1.5 million residents. For you history buffs out there, doesn't this sound eerily similar to Neville Chamberlain's attempt to appease Germany by giving most of Czechoslovakia to Hitler? We all know how well that turned out. Critics, have warned that the valley could become an officially sanctioned base for allies of al-Qaida — and that it may be just the first domino in nuclear-armed Pakistan to fall to the Taliban. Oh that's right. Pakistan has the bomb too.

Afghanistan - On those rare occasions when there is good news to report in Afghanistan, I feel compelled recognize them. A cascading collection of deep-blue high-mountain lakes became Afghanistan's first provisional national park, as the violence-plagued nation took a big first step toward protecting one of its finest natural treasures. Officials signed a decree to create Band-e-Amir National Park, encompassing six mountain-fed lakes held back by natural calcified dams. The mountain lakes sit at some 9,500 feet (2,900 meters), and the park will comprise some 230 square miles. Good for them.