Is this news about Musharraf stepping down in a few days rather than face impeachment the 3 a.m. phone call? Bush didn't handle Georgia well at all. How will he deal with who controls Pakistan? This is a thread to discuss our national security interests as related to Pakistan and how Obama or McCain might handle the fallout to come. Pakistan is nuclear. It's always been the place Wes has worried about the most, not Iraq, Iran or Syria.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/world/asia/15pstan.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

I have been a part of the Clark Community since it started in 2003, precisely, because I have observed what a national treasure Wes Clark is. Yesterday, Wes Clark walked point for Barack Obama in taking on the experience question on Face The Nation. When Wes walked point in Vietnam, he was shot 4 times. He didn't say anything on Face The Nation that demeaned John McCain's military service. On the contrary, he called him a hero. Wes Clark knows something about heroism first hand having taken those bullets and still seeing to the safety of the troops under his command that day.

It's pretty clear from reading this article that the prices we once knew as reasonable just aren't going to return. The price of oil and corn are going to remain higher due to global demand. Those two commodities impact the price of other foods we eat and products we use. It's time for all of us to put on our thinking caps to determine how we move forward from here to try and manage to have a reasonable life.

I was very heartened to read the comments in this photo album of Hillary's. I'm certain she was touched by the support from all of us who dug into our pockets to get her that $10 million. Many pledge to keep giving her more. I was touched by the comments from the fathers who have daughters and understand how really important this election is for them.

Pictures say more than words, so go have a look!

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/book/?sc=1596&utm_source=1596&utm_medium=e

Don't spill anything on the sofa. Have some popcorn and talk about whatever relating to the debate on MTV.

I watched that debate on TV, when the young woman asked that canned question of Hillary Clinton about which she preferred, diamonds or pearls? Everybody thought it was a powder puff question not unlike the boxers or briefs question Bill got when he was a candidate. Hillary told the audience that she wants both (diamonds and pearls.) In the background Joe Biden could be heard to ask they give all the candidates that question and then I could hear him saying, "diamonds." Who cares you might ask?

This is a heartbreaking story of a young married Iraqi couple trying to see their relatives in Jordan for their anniversary. They weren't let into Jordan. The airport workers treated them inhumanely. Is Jordan a signatory to the Geneva Conventions?

http://last-of-iraqis.blogspot.com/

Please read it. I don't know what else to say.

Please take a moment to read this very very well written op-ed by a young Iraqi dentist on what life is like in Baghdad. I've been reading his blog for some time now and trying to help him figure out a way to get a life through e-mail. He had wanted to get dental equipment for his clinic in Baghdad, but with no electricity, what use is that now? Also, they have no water in Baghdad on latest reports.

It is mysterious to me why all these different groups and people are pointing fingers at each other over the bombing of the minarets at the shrine in Samarra in Iraq. Why didn't we just have major turbulence at that refugee camp in Lebanon recently and the blowup in Gaza with Hamas as victor this week? Seems like there are forces afoot to stir the old sectarian violence civil war pot. Sure seems like somebody wants it stirred.

Reading this article shows the following pattern:

So the crystal ball is coming clearer. The AEI, McCain, Lieberman and the whole crowd wanted the stupid stupid surge. All the military people said the surge thing was a bad idea, before they changed the team to say it was a good idea and what's one of the first things to happen with the advent of the surge?