Daily Archives: Sept. 15, 2007

Open thread 9/15

Sept. 15, 20071:05 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (267)

Powell: What we have to fear is fear itself

Sept. 15, 20071:04 a.m.

All eyes have been on Gen. David Petraeus this week. But there’s another general whose advice America needs to heed on Iraq and the war on terror, as I noted in my Friday column.
In an interesting interview in GQ magazine, Colin Powell says some provocative things about the terror threat, Guantanamo and our own fear. Some excerpts:
“What is the greatest threat facing us now? People will say it’s terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves.” He goes on to call for closing down Guantanamo, saying, “We are paying a price when the rest of the world sees an America that seems to be afraid and is not the America they remember.”
Posted by Randy Scholfield

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Iraq | Comments (149)

Iraqis do and do not want U.S. troops to leave

Sept. 15, 20071:02 a.m.

Iraqi citizens want U.S. troops to leave Iraq, but they are afraid of what may happen if we go — so they’ve reluctantly decided that we need to stay, the New York Times reported after interviewing more than 20 Iraqis of different sects and ethnicities from across the country. Even Sunnis who blame America for Iraq’s problems concede that they depend on U.S. troops. “We are a minority and we do not have a force to face the militias,” one Sunni from Diyala province told the Times. “If the Americans leave, it will mean a total elimination of the Sunnis in Iraq.” How long do these Iraqis think we’ll need to stay? A minimum of three more years and possibly at least five more.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Iraq | Comments (16)

Good thing Wednesday was a quiet day in Kansas

Sept. 15, 20071:01 a.m.

Kansas was nearly leaderless on Wednesday, noted the Kansas City Star’s Prime Buzz blog. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was in Washington, D.C., touting renewable energy. Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson was in Japan promoting trade. Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh began the day at a Montana convention. Kansas Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, and Major Gen. Tod Bunting were in Puerto Rico, where Morris received a National Guard Association award. At least House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, and Attorney General Paul Morrison were both in western Kansas that day.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Kansas government | Comments (3)

Community thread

Sept. 15, 20071:00 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (32)