A Breeding Ground Uncovered

Bury the story of announcing "no WMDs will ever be found in Iraq" all you want (today's NYTimes had it on the alley AND at the bottom of page A18, FOR CHRISSAKES!!!). But the stinker the WashingtonPost serves up for the Friday freaky-mix before the inaugural is a whopper. Read it yourself because I can't do justice to Dana Priest's professional assessment in summation. Still, in a nutshell, Iraq is exactly what the Bushies said it was...but only after they invaded and threw $250B+ down the toilet. Translation: our biggest concern in the so-called "War On Terrorism" as a future problem. We've found the training ground for future terrorists. Hell, we told 'em where to go to get the training. Check your emergency kits, folks, 'cause we don't have the slightest idea where the next Bin Laden originally hails from. But we know where he or she cut her chops. Crazy, crazy analysis, prepared by your very own CIA. Read it and hate the fact that you may well be tragically weeping in the years to come when reflecting on the folly that was/is this mess.

Sarah & I just saw "Million Dollar Baby." To cut through all the crap - the accollades are entirely worth it. Clint Eastwood is brilliant. Hillary Swank shows more range than any actor my (or, for that matter, any current sentient) age. Morgan Freeman should be carved onto Mount Rushmore. Sadly, the kid who plays "Danger" should be kicked to the curb. I didn't care for him in "Almost Famous" but I really hated him herein. I won't fixate on that, though. It's a masterstroke in a career of stunning surprises from Mr. Eastwood. We had the dumbest people in California sharing our matinee (inside joke for the benefit of my gorgeous, WAY-pregnant wife - check for pics over the weekend). But you'll probably do better wherever it is that you may live. See this movie or expect that you will be told to do so repeatedly in the many months ahead. And cry. That's what all the cool kids are doing these days.