Reuters drops the big secret this morning. If France wants to send some French soldiers adventuring in Mali, it calls Uncle Sam.
"PARIS (Reuters) - The United States has started transporting French soldiers and equipment to Mali as part of its logistical aid to French forces fighting Islamist militants in the north of the country, a U.S. official said on Tuesday."
Two points:
This can send a fellow's mind skittering across the past 99 years of American history. He's thinking of all the wars, beginning with Black Jack Pershing's anti-Kaiser campaign and continuing through our "lend-lease" to Churchill, to Vietnam, and the various bloody Sand Box errors. You try to think of U.S. overseas wars which did not begin with benign "logistical aid." Not many. "It's only money folks. We ain't agonna put even one American boy in harm's way." *
And because our client this time is la Belle France, the same fellow is likely to recall a certain arrogance of late 20th Century Paris. "F--k no you can't fly your evil, imperialistic planes through our air space."
---
*There a difference this time. In most of the other crusades we owned the money we gave away. Here in 2013, we'll need to secure an increase in our MasterCard limit. Call Peking.
Jan 22, 2013
Jan 21, 2013
Lifting hair at the gun shows
A mega-gun show happened in Phoenix this weekend, and my friend John of the GMA attended, noting prices with a glazed amazement.
John can reduce complexity to its essentials -- make six words worth 10,000 pictures.
"Somebody needs to get a grip."
.
John can reduce complexity to its essentials -- make six words worth 10,000 pictures.
"Somebody needs to get a grip."
.
...and the Travis McGee Reader covers the inauguration
At the the top of the news on this historic morning...
--Valerie Jarrett. No one seems to know exactly what she does for a living. All seems to hinge on one achievement. When Val was a Chicago lawyer, she hired the pre-Obama Michelle. Since then she's been a celebrity and an "advisor" to His Ineptness. So I suppose it's best to think of her as America's First Nanny.
That's good enough for MSNBC. Joe and Mika pointed the camera at her this morning and wondered about the Second Inept Term. She recited the litany, immigration gun debt fair middle class balanced approach all in this together. But: "He can't do it alone."
To which one seasoned observer replied: "And for that we may thank our God and all the angels."
--In a related development, the electrical teevee says President Obama is the first two-termer to take his oath of office four times. Last time around the judge bungled the wording, so they had a do-over, just to make sure. This time he had to do it once on Sunday, the Constitutionally mandated official day. He'll do it again today as a extra photo-op.
Leading one cockeyed optimist to speculate: "Look, dammit. This guy has sworn to defend the Constitution four times. Four times, count 'em. Four, dammit! Maybe that's enough so he gets the general idea."
Usually reliable sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the TMR, "You're outta your damned gourd."
More news as developments warrant. Keep it right here.
--Valerie Jarrett. No one seems to know exactly what she does for a living. All seems to hinge on one achievement. When Val was a Chicago lawyer, she hired the pre-Obama Michelle. Since then she's been a celebrity and an "advisor" to His Ineptness. So I suppose it's best to think of her as America's First Nanny.
That's good enough for MSNBC. Joe and Mika pointed the camera at her this morning and wondered about the Second Inept Term. She recited the litany, immigration gun debt fair middle class balanced approach all in this together. But: "He can't do it alone."
To which one seasoned observer replied: "And for that we may thank our God and all the angels."
--In a related development, the electrical teevee says President Obama is the first two-termer to take his oath of office four times. Last time around the judge bungled the wording, so they had a do-over, just to make sure. This time he had to do it once on Sunday, the Constitutionally mandated official day. He'll do it again today as a extra photo-op.
Leading one cockeyed optimist to speculate: "Look, dammit. This guy has sworn to defend the Constitution four times. Four times, count 'em. Four, dammit! Maybe that's enough so he gets the general idea."
Usually reliable sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the TMR, "You're outta your damned gourd."
More news as developments warrant. Keep it right here.
Travis McGee at the Inauguration
Nothing short of new dance routine by Chookie McCall could have lured Trav to The Dubliner on any day of any year -- particularly this morning when his gnarled elbows would have brushed a gaggle of self-styled journalists. MSNBC chose to, ahem, "cover" the inauguration from the place.
Wouldn't they just.
How they love high-polish hip and the beautiful people who make it glitter, especially in a contrived ethnic atmosphere, in this case Irish. My ass. It's as Irish as lutefisk.
I grant The Dubliner one point. It's five o'clock girl flock tends toward sleek young loveliness whose chatter sounds -- from a distance -- enchanting. Closer, you learn that it concerns shopping. Let it pass. Step away, sigh at the waste, and recall your Bierce; ...all too human to impute unlikely virtues to the cute.
The men, so to speak, put you in mind of a 10-year fraternity reunion attended by Countess Mara neckties attached to those alumni whose MasterCard's would still bear the expense.
---
Did you ever notice that Travis didn't often use vulgar words?
Thrust into that crowd, I think he would have made an exception. Four letters, maybe 11. Then he'd have backed out the door, turned, and walked no more than 15 strides to the next-door Irish Times.
Hugh's place is a little seedy, but its political ops and hustlers tend to have honest Irish surnames and, often enough, fresh brogues. Among the still sober, conversation is generally a witty and bipartisan exploration of why things are still so FUBAR. The unsober (due to fairly priced Guinness and Jamison) tend to say hardly anything, at most a cynical grunt. That's a rhetorical approach a guy can quickly learn to love.
Besides, The Irish Times often features semi-talented (at worst) live Irish performers. They do rebel music with a loud flourish suggesting that disdain for the goddam English usurpers is alive and well. So tell me Sean O'Farrell where the gatherin is to be .. with me PIKE upon me shoulder at the RISIN' of the MOON.
The other place gives you something like a tape of Mel Torme singing Danny Boy. I'll bet Mika swoons.
Wouldn't they just.
How they love high-polish hip and the beautiful people who make it glitter, especially in a contrived ethnic atmosphere, in this case Irish. My ass. It's as Irish as lutefisk.
I grant The Dubliner one point. It's five o'clock girl flock tends toward sleek young loveliness whose chatter sounds -- from a distance -- enchanting. Closer, you learn that it concerns shopping. Let it pass. Step away, sigh at the waste, and recall your Bierce; ...all too human to impute unlikely virtues to the cute.
The men, so to speak, put you in mind of a 10-year fraternity reunion attended by Countess Mara neckties attached to those alumni whose MasterCard's would still bear the expense.
---
Did you ever notice that Travis didn't often use vulgar words?
Thrust into that crowd, I think he would have made an exception. Four letters, maybe 11. Then he'd have backed out the door, turned, and walked no more than 15 strides to the next-door Irish Times.
Hugh's place is a little seedy, but its political ops and hustlers tend to have honest Irish surnames and, often enough, fresh brogues. Among the still sober, conversation is generally a witty and bipartisan exploration of why things are still so FUBAR. The unsober (due to fairly priced Guinness and Jamison) tend to say hardly anything, at most a cynical grunt. That's a rhetorical approach a guy can quickly learn to love.
Besides, The Irish Times often features semi-talented (at worst) live Irish performers. They do rebel music with a loud flourish suggesting that disdain for the goddam English usurpers is alive and well. So tell me Sean O'Farrell where the gatherin is to be .. with me PIKE upon me shoulder at the RISIN' of the MOON.
The other place gives you something like a tape of Mel Torme singing Danny Boy. I'll bet Mika swoons.
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