Corruption, Betrayal, and Campaign Donations

I couldn't make the story more interesting if I tried. Just read it.

I used to think I was cool for playing paintball, but...

     Look, I know it sounds wrong, but I wish I lived in Iraq so that I could play with guns like these kids.
     This is crazy, we have only seen the beginning of what these militant groups are capable of. A new generation of pissed off Iraqi kids are here now that have seen the evils of our country's occupation firsthand. It'll be easy to aim their hate at whatever is deemed the enemy, whether or not it's entirely justified. Forced, violent occupation of a country can never end well, I'd say, and they're breeding these youngsters to feel nothing but hate and readily accept death in the name of the cause.

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     More from the middle east, Iran just test launched a missile that is capable of reaching low earth orbit, bringing new skepticism to their nuclear goals. Of course our boy Mahmoud says, "We need to have an active and influential presence in space," but I'd say they're getting ready to move in the direction of surveillance satellites and later, ICBMs capable of taking nukes much farther than they currently can with the Shahab-3 missile.
     Strangely, Russian authorities have been the first to draw attention to the launch, despite their heavy involvement in Iranian military and other affairs. In 2005, Russia launched Iran's first satellite containing "photographic and telecommunications equipment" into space, and negotiated a deal to sell them (and has now presumably delivered) at least 29 Tor M-1 anti-missile systems, among other things. Moscow is also helping Iran to build its nuclear "power station" at Bushehr, which was supposed to have been completed during last year.
     Is Russia playing on both sides? Why not? If there's money to be made (war is a great thing to promote if you're into producing arms, etc.) history has proven that organizations and governments are generally not overly scrupulous about perpetuating atrocity. How do you end war? STOP FUCKING SUPPORTING IT ALL OVER THE WORLD!

non-profit study into pre-Iraq War

Two non profit groups did a study counting the lies told by administration officials leading up to the invasion of Iraq... the total count is (appropriate drumroll if you will) 935 lies. So the age-old question of how many lies does it take to invade a country is answered with ninehundred thirty-five. There is so much to say on this, but nothing that everyone isn't already thinkings, so feel free to post if you'd like, but I doubt I have any unique analysis.