It's Been Awhile

since Thew or I posted. We can't let August go by without something, can we? I have been absent because of vacations and a job related thing which I will recount at some point. And 'Tilam' blog is not popular enough to entice guest bloggers.

No links, just some passing thoughts.

So around the horn:

Able Danger: Is it me or is anyone else getting sick of "independent" inquiries and commissions that are suppose to get to the bottom of the matter, but only serve to whitewash the problem. CBS, Oil-for-Food, Idol (tee, hee) and now the 9/11 commission. It is not clear to me how important Able Danger is to the fighting the GWOT in the future, but I am concerned that a bi-partisan commission that was supposed to take a hard look at the intelligence failures prior to 9/11 has seemed to ignore important information rather than embarrass a commission member.

Can't we get this independent commission thing right?

UPDATE: Steve Sturm has articulated my feelings nicely.

Iraqi Constitution: I pray to God for its success. I am less concerned about what it looks like today: I believe that if the process is successful, as time goes on and participation in the political process becomes more wide spread a "true" constitution will emerge. (Remember it took the US a couple of tries to get it right.) So getting right, in the long run, means creating a system of government that allows the people to make choices as to the role or religion, women and federalist principles. While I think chartering a "less then equal" role for women would be a mistake, I also remember that women's suffrage was not a notion high on the Founders' mind in the late-18th century.

Give the Iraqis time, they will get it right.

Cindy Sheehan: Terri Schaivo, Elian Gonzales. All tragic personal stories that become pawns in partisan politics. Willing or unwillingly.

AL East: This might end up being a race. But the Indians and A's will have something to say about who gets the chance to face the White Sox in the ALCS and then the Cardinals in the WS.

Lefty: Good on you. He's got a few more in him. How about Tiger: two majors and loses the other two by a combined 4 strokes. That is still dominant in my books.