In light of the latest National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, which says that we got it wrong about Iran’s nuclear weapons program, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman imagined an Iranian intelligence estimate about us that also had to backtrack. Here’s an excerpt:
“As you’ll recall, in the wake of 9/11, we were extremely concerned that the U.S. would develop a covert program to end its addiction to oil, which would be the greatest threat to Iranian national security. In fact, after Bush’s 2006 State of the Union, in which he decried America’s oil addiction, we had ‘high confidence’ that a comprehensive U.S. clean energy policy would emerge. We were wrong.
“Our fears that the U.S. was engaged in a covert ‘Manhattan Project’ to achieve energy independence have been ‘assuaged.’ America’s Manhattan Project turns out to be largely confined to the production of corn ethanol in Iowa, which, our analysts have confirmed from cell phone intercepts between lobbyists and congressmen, is nothing more than a multibillion-dollar payoff to big Iowa farmers and agro-businesses.â€
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Westar Energy has threatened to shelve plans for a new 300-megawatt wind power project if the Kansas Corporation Commission doesn’t approve all of a 1 percent profit premium it wants.
The extra revenue for wind power appears to be allowable under a 1978 Kansas law passed to encourage development of alternative energy. But as consumer advocates noted in rate hearings last week, investing in alternative energy was much riskier in 1978, when wind power was a fledgling industry. Westar faces little to no risk in investing in wind today, especially with rate guarantees from the KCC.
Westar deserves some extra incentive for moving into wind, but utility officials might not deserve the full rate increase they’re demanding.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Before he dropped out of the GOP presidential race in October for lack of funds, Sam Brownback had sought an Iowa-based bounce like the one Mike Huckabee is enjoying. “He’s played the game plan that I hoped to play — much better,†Brownback told the New York Sun. But the Kansas senator remains happy with his endorsement of John McCain. And if Brownback is jealous of the “Huckaboom,†he’s not saying. “I am glad that Mike Huckabee is doing well,†Brownback said.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Cheers to the Wichita Downtown Development Corp. for its effective 30-second TV commercials portraying the city’s core as the lively, stylish place it now is. Backed by catchy original music by local performers Ken White, Fran Curtis and Shane Marler, the fast-moving spots snag attention and have viewers trying to name this or that shop or night spot. “We wanted to convey the energy and for people to kind of remember or maybe even discover new things they didn’t even realize were downtown,†Ann Keefer, vice president of marketing for the WDDC, told The Eagle editorial board.
Four spots in all will run through the holidays, and perhaps through 2008. People can watch them online, too.
Attempts to market Wichita as a happening place can seem forced. These ads don’t. “We kind of feel like a big city when we see them,†Keefer said.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
