Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Interesting interview of General Petraeus on Soleimani's killing

- I'm fascinated by The Dyatlov Pass Mystery AKA The Dyatlov Incident. Something straight out of an episode of The X-Files but true!

- Strategy Page's annual update on the wars of the world. Probably going to have to update to account for the death of Soleimani but the world is much more peaceful today than perhaps any time in history. Long read but worth it.

- I somehow missed JRR Tolkien's birthday

- VDH on why Trump will win again in 2020

Harry Reid is Grima Wormtoungue

Harry Reid has made news once again for his perfidy. The man has no shame. Making unfounded accusations about Mitt Romney's taxes and even bringing Mitt's father into the slander would be a low water mark for most people but for Reid it seems to be par for the course.

Lost in some of his more recent slanders is the fact that these slanders by Reid have been going on for years. Remember 5-years ago Reid called Generals Pace and Petraeus incompetent? The man will say anything.

Pure craven scum.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

People who can't believe President Obama's birth certificate also can't believe Parkay is not butter... Sad news - Alice Ward, mother of Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund, has died... The Most Interesting Man in the World's catchphrase is "Stay thirsty my friend"? Is that code asking me to actually drink Diet Coke? Because Diet Coke is the only drink I can think of that still leaves you thirsty after drinking it... Victorian Star Trek... Appointing General David Petraeus to the CIA is a good move on many levels. For President Obama it puts a potential severe critic into a position where Petraeus' public comments will be limited. For America it removes a politician with no experience and replaces him with a man who understands firsthand that leaked secrets can get soldiers killed. The bottom line is that it is a good move for America... At some point the Red Sox have to consider Jed Lowrie as an outfield replacement for JD Drew next season. Lowrie's not that good a shortstop but his offensive numbers could be very similar to Drew's... Very interesting story of a neurologist trying to finish his last paper - on the disease that's killing him!... Dustin Pedroia better win the AL Gold Glove at 2nd this year... According to Moe Lane - Barack Obama has a 116 IQ

General David Petraeus

Fascinating look at General David Petraeus.

After reading the opening few paragraphs that recall how he was rudely interrogated by Biden, Obama and Clinton before Congress in 2007 but how Patreaus has proven to the one who knew what he was talking about and about how that trio now rely on his expertise - I pictured Patreaus laying out the truth to that trio Bruce Willis "Welcome to the party pal" style from the first Die Hard movie.

Fascinating look at a singularly driven soldier who doesn't have time to bleed and to whom losing is not an option. America wants Petraeus on that wall. America needs Petraeus on that wall. (OK - enough movie cliches - go read the article.)

A New call for Human Shields

I read this quote over at Instapundit:

"'No one wants to call [Petraeus] a liar on national TV,' noted one Democratic senator, who spoke on the condition on anonymity. 'The expectation is that the outside groups will do this for us.'"

After thinking about it for a few minutes - I had to chuckle.

Before the Iraq War (actually the continuation of Operation Desert Storm to be technically correct) organizations like Code Pink made pleas for people to go to Iraq and act as human shields. In theory this was to prevent attacks by the US military. Now some Democratic senators want organizations like Code Pink to attack the military and in doing so act in essence as human PR shields for the senators.

I know the Machiavellian craven levels on display are not funny but sometimes all you can do is laugh.