End of Summer MISCELLANY!

• It's very easy to see last week's demonstrations against the US over an anti-Muslim video as a case of professional outrage generation for partisan gain, since there's every indication that this is exactly what the Muslim Brotherhood was doing in Egypt. That said, does the Muslim world have a point about the video, that the West has no leg to stand on in defending it as "free speech" while cracking down on forbidden speech at home? For example, Leah-Lynn Plante and Matt Duran were arrested in an FBI raid on their Portland, Oregon home on suspicion of preparing for an anarchist protest. There's no indication that their activities were anything but peaceful and within the borders of the 1st Amendment. They have been called to testify before a private grand jury, twice, and have refused, twice. There's a good chance they're going to end up in jail for refusing to testify. So why are they under investigation? Whose sacred cow were they about to slaughter?


• This is precisely why Congress zeroed out the budget to close Gitmo, and will continue to do so indefinitely. We're stuck with the gulag for another generation and a half IMO.


• Tim Pawlenty is leaving his post as chair of the Romney campaign for a really sweet gig as a lobbyist. But, people, gut check time: would he do this if he thought he'd serve in Romney's cabinet next year?


• Back in 2004 I and my wife tried to raise money for a friend's sister to buy her own body armor. That effort was nixed by the chain of command, and the proceeds went instead to buy iPods for her unit. It turns out that was money better spent - the armor wouldn't have fit said sister's body properly. Which is why I'm glad that the Army is currently working on armor to better fit female soldiers. If we're going to send our sisters and daughters to war, may as well give them proper tools.
  
  The downside? Once this is perfected, it clears the way to allowing women in more combat roles, such as infantry and artillery. Which means more women will be assigned to combat roles. Which means, more capacity for wars of choice. Which means, more wars of choice. We live in the Empire, kids. May as well get used to it.


• Why, of course the Justice Department report on Fast and Furious would exonerate the head of the Justice Department. No conflict of interest here. Nope.


• After November 6th, count on gun sales to surge. Not without good reason, by the way, since another attempt at an assault weapons ban is almost certain in the next four years.

End of Summer MISCELLANY!

• It's very easy to see last week's demonstrations against the US over an anti-Muslim video as a case of professional outrage generation for partisan gain, since there's every indication that this is exactly what the Muslim Brotherhood was doing in Egypt. That said, does the Muslim world have a point about the video, that the West has no leg to stand on in defending it as "free speech" while cracking down on forbidden speech at home? For example, Leah-Lynn Plante and Matt Duran were arrested in an FBI raid on their Portland, Oregon home on suspicion of preparing for an anarchist protest. There's no indication that their activities were anything but peaceful and within the borders of the 1st Amendment. They have been called to testify before a private grand jury, twice, and have refused, twice. There's a good chance they're going to end up in jail for refusing to testify. So why are they under investigation? Whose sacred cow were they about to slaughter?


• This is precisely why Congress zeroed out the budget to close Gitmo, and will continue to do so indefinitely. We're stuck with the gulag for another generation and a half IMO.


• Tim Pawlenty is leaving his post as chair of the Romney campaign for a really sweet gig as a lobbyist. But, people, gut check time: would he do this if he thought he'd serve in Romney's cabinet next year?


• Back in 2004 I and my wife tried to raise money for a friend's sister to buy her own body armor. That effort was nixed by the chain of command, and the proceeds went instead to buy iPods for her unit. It turns out that was money better spent - the armor wouldn't have fit said sister's body properly. Which is why I'm glad that the Army is currently working on armor to better fit female soldiers. If we're going to send our sisters and daughters to war, may as well give them proper tools.
  
  The downside? Once this is perfected, it clears the way to allowing women in more combat roles, such as infantry and artillery. Which means more women will be assigned to combat roles. Which means, more capacity for wars of choice. Which means, more wars of choice. We live in the Empire, kids. May as well get used to it.


• Why, of course the Justice Department report on Fast and Furious would exonerate the head of the Justice Department. No conflict of interest here. Nope.


• After November 6th, count on gun sales to surge. Not without good reason, by the way, since another attempt at an assault weapons ban is almost certain in the next four years.