Columns
Why the Bush administration has let the terrorists win
BY IMRAN SYED
As I watched the Republican National Convention last week, this year’s theme was easily discernable. It was no surprise; it was the same one Republicans had in 2004. All the tough talk on Iraq, terrorism, foreign policy and oil — coupled with a supposed Sept. 11 “tribute” video — really boiled down to one thing: Today, seven years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Republicans want us to know that we still need to be scared.
The war we lost?
BY ALEX PRASAD
On April 19, 2007, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said what all Democrats were thinking at the time: The war in Iraq was lost.
“This war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq yesterday,” Reid said.
A prudent observer could easily have countered that Reid’s comments, at least regarding the surge, were a bit premature. The troop buildup wasn’t set to peak until July, and offensives using the new troops couldn’t start until then at the earliest.
Natural born killers
- Illustration by Eileen Stahl
BY EILEEN STAHL
I love animals. I keep a tropical lizard in my room that I absolutely dote on. I find naked mole rats delightful, and I routinely rescue drowning worms with my bare hands. My friends know me as an encyclopedia of animal factoids (some sharks give birth to live young).
Given how fond I am of God’s little creatures, it shocks people when they learn I’m equally fond of eating them.
Undercover brother
BY SHAKIRA SMILER
Every woman knows that when she gets involved with a new man there are a few questions she must ask to see if he’s the eligible bachelor she’s looking for. There are the standard questions about career, credit, mental health history, criminal background, family and relationship status — because no woman wants to be out with her new beau, only to have his wife storm in with a smelly brat on her hip screaming about child support payments. After years of trial and error, women have learned how to avoid this situation by asking the right questions in advance.
The Palin problem
BY IMRAN SYED
As I tried to think of how I felt about John McCain naming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin his running mate last week, one name jumped to my mind. No, it wasn’t Sen. Hillary Clinton or former Democratic vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro; it was someone much more ideologically congruent to Palin. But before we name names, let’s reminisce a little.
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