| "This is your captain speaking. If you look out the right side windows, you can see the city of Donetsk, which is currently occupied by trigger-happy armed separatists with surface-to-air missiles. If you look closely, you may be able to see smoke drifting from ongoing artillery bombardments. Those of you on the left side may be able to make out a Ukrainian fighter jet on approach to bomb rebel positions near Horlivka. We expect a smooth ride to Kuala Lumpur, so please sit back and enjoy the flight." |
| Well, it is certainly a different world today than it was the last time Russian arms were used to deliberately shoot down a crowded aircraft. That was on September 1, 1983, when Soviet jets shot down KAL 007 over eastern Siberia when the plane strayed into Soviet airspace. All 269 people aboard died. Then, uniformed Soviet soldiers shot down what they knew was a civilian airliner. Today un-uniformed thugs shot down what they apparently thought was a Ukrainian military transport plane—so the initial reports suggest. But you’ve got to be very poorly trained to mistake a Boeing commercial jet with an Antonov military aircraft. Or you have to have essentially no chain of command or just not care, or both. The point: The human agents who shot down KAL 007 in 1983 were in a chain of professional military command working directly for the political leaders of a strong state, and the human agents who shot down MaH 17 today were in no obvious chain of military command and were working indirectly for the decision-makers of a weak state: today’s Russia. What the Malaysia Air Tragedy Means - The American Interest |
| Leading from her behind: Hillary: Let the Europeans 'Take the Lead' on Downed Plane: “The Europeans have to be the ones that take the lead on this. It was a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over European territory - there should be outrage in European capitals.” Commenter: If the plane was full of islamic, gay, transgendered, trans-testicle, illegal mexicans, then she would want us to take the lead. |
| Morning at #mh17 crash site. Roosters crowing, orange sun glowing. ground littered w human skeletons and plane fragments... #ukraineNoah Sneider (NoahSneider) on Twitter |
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| THE field is filled with bodies. One has on jeans, but no shoes. A second is in a polo shirt and grey socks, one of which is charred. A third wears blue trousers, but your correspondent cannot see the face, smashed as it is under the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Passengers onboard Flight 17 had made themselves comfortable for the long journey from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. One, in black leggings, now rests next to a black duffle bag, which is somehow intact. A green luggage strap lies in the grass like a snake. Someone comments on the smell: acrid, heavy. Only death smells this way. Flight MH17: “This is not a disaster. It is Hell” | The Economist |
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| Whenever a major sporting event comes along, the progressive media always has a desired narrative. So it was with the recent World Cup, where it was widely hoped that a racially mixed team would win, proving once again the all-conquering power of ‘diversity’. Alas, when Brazil crashed to its 1-7 defeat against Germany in the semi-final, the desired narrative took a severe beating and started coughing up blood. Argentina in Whiteface |
| Moral clarity in Gaza: Where are the roads and rail, the industry and infrastructure of the new Palestinian state? Nowhere. Instead, they built mile upon mile of underground tunnels to hide their weapons and, when the going gets tough, their military commanders. They spent millions importing and producing rockets, launchers, mortars, small arms, even drones. They deliberately placed them in schools, hospitals, mosques and private homes to better expose their own civilians. (Just Thursday, the U.N. announced that it found 20 rockets in a Gaza school.) And from which they fire rockets at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. |
| The Turbulent Summer of 2014 What keeps the country afloat this terrible summer? Some American companies produce more gas and oil than ever despite, not because of, the Obama administration. Most Americans still get up every day, work hard and pay more taxes than they receive in subsidies. American soldiers remain the most formidable in the world despite the confusion of their superiors. The law, regardless of the administration, is still followed by most. And most do not duck out on their daily responsibilities to golf, play pool or go on junkets. It is still a hard thing to derail America in a summer -- but then again, we have a long way to go until fall. |
Our political Pied Pipers of Purposeful Poltroonery are leading us all to the cliff precipice; deadly rocks below.
Good! When we get to the edge [2014 & 2016 ejections] kick the Pipers and their associating vipers off the cliff. Then lean over the edge and watch them hit rock while you loll.
"Then lean over the edge and watch them hit rock while you loll."
And make sure not a one stirs . . . ever again.
Posted by: Terry at July 18, 2014 1:11 PMJust make sure you don't go over with them...
Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at July 18, 2014 3:43 PM"Someone comments on the smell: acrid, heavy. Only death smells this way."
And it is distinct and unforgettable. I know this to be true.
Posted by: chasmatic at July 18, 2014 4:14 PMI think I shall go back to calling it "The" Ukraine.
Posted by: AbigailAdams at July 19, 2014 7:41 PMWas this much stuff going on in summer, 1914? Were the politicians this perfidious? Or are they setting new records daily?
"nothing to see here, move along..."
"... the world is safer than ever ..."
"... we have more boots on the ground at the border..."
" ... Social Security is financially sound as far as the eye can see..."
" ... Bush ..."
"... GOP perfidy ..."
May you live in interesting times.
Posted by: tomw at July 20, 2014 10:18 AMIf you miss the old mind games, you can still get to play these
minus the neighbors or any of your friends who cannot be present at the moment.
Here are samples and links to the most popular online drinking games:.
It is for the duration of a transition of themes that the console player exhibits thematic lethargy.
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