Neo-cons pushing us into another war nobody wants

"These let’s-bomb-Iran crowd consists of the same politicians and pundits that not so long ago were warning that Saddam Hussein’s Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and that the world-as-we-know-it would come to an end unless the U.S. invaded Iraq." [American Conservative]

America will be permanently at war. So get used to it.

"In previous decades, the military and the American public viewed war as an aberration and peace as the norm."  But not any more. (Greg Jaffe @Washington Post)

What imperialism, globalization, and neo-con leadership (from both parties) leads to. Endless war, endless casualties, billions of dollars wasted.

Are "20 and out" military pensions on the way out?

The powers that be at the Pentagon are looking at making some changes to military retirement. I have always thought that it was unfair that a clerk typist at some Navy base in California or Hawaii who  polishes a chair with their ass for two decades gets the same retirement payout as an Army or Marine grunt who sweats and bleeds on the front line for tour after tour. I would hope that those serving in the combat arms (infantry, artillery, armor, Marines, combat aviation & etc.) would get more consideration as well as money and benefits than a Air Force or Coast Guard food service supervisor stationed in Florida. But we'll see.

It may well be due time to stop those kinda pensions for cops and firefighters too. Paying someone to "retire" at age 42 at 80 percent of their salary & benefits (and inflation adjusted too) is just a formula for bankruptcy at the city, county and township level as well. But soldiers (unlike cops and firemen) don't have unions so it may be a good place to start.

Weblog

My back yard, a rose in a vase, and Molly

Garry Lillie dies at 70 (Ann Arbor.com)
Lillie was an Ann Arbor-based realtor, Vietnam veteran and life-long veteran's affairs advocate who was well liked. I met him a few times and he seemed like a good guy.

Things are bad out there: "You know the economy is in bad shape when customers can’t afford to shop at dollar stores anymore." (Slate)

The end of "right-wing progressivism" (Jack Hunter AKA The Southern Avenger @ American Conservative)
America can't afford to "make the world safe for democracy" or anything else. We're broke, exhausted, and have problems of our own we need to deal with.

Mobile credit card reader app makes a great simple money launderer (Popular Science)
"A simple tool that can turn any iPhone into a credit card machine can also be a simple way for crooks to steal cash, hackers demonstrated this week. Square can eliminate the hassle of money laundering."