Eye on the Watcher’s Council

As you may know the members of the Watcher’s Council each nominate one of his or her own posts and one non-Council post for consideration by the whole Council. The complete list of this week’s Council nominations is here.

The Glittering Eye, “Don’t Throw the Chinese Baby Out With the Contaminated Bath Water”

In my submission for this week I take note of a rising tide of anti-Chinese sentiment I’ve been seeing around lately, part and parcel of an increase in a general spirit of isolationism.

Done With Mirrors, “A Tragic Case”

Callimachus is looking for information on the bona fides on a woman who’s the presumed author of a letter that’s been making the rounds lately. I have no comment on this other than to point out, as Callimachus does, that there are plenty of legitimate, sad stories coming out of this war.

Soccer Dad, “The Resilience of Olmert and Kadima”

Last year I pronounced Ehud Olmert one of the few winners of last year’s Israel-Hezbollah war. I see no reason to revise that opinion at this point.

The Colossus of Rhodey, “’The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ Review”

I couldn’t get interested in The Fantastic Four back in my comic book reading days which ended very shortly after the introduction of Spider-man. I owned a copy of The Amazing Spider-Man #1, probably trashed long ago although it might be lurking around my mom’s house somewhere. Consequently, I can’t get too interested in a special effects-overwhelmed movie version of what I thought was a fairly lame comic so I haven’t even bothered renting a copy of the first movie. If I thought of Jessica Alba as other than what she looks like to me—a fairly nice kid—it might help. Age. Hube obviously finds the new movie (not to mention Jessica Alba) more interesting than I do.

‘Okie’ On the Lam, “Happy Father’s Day to the ‘Dragon Slayer’”

Okie pays tribute to his dad for Father’s Day re-emphasizing for me the important observation that a dad is more than just a sperm donor.

Bookworm Room, “The New York Times Spins Away”

Bookworm comments on the NYT coverage of an incident from Afghanistan in which a number of children being used by Taliban and al-Qaeda thugs as human shields were killed. Why is it again that we’d be able to prosecute a more vigorous campaign in Afghanistan if we weren’t being distracted by the war in Iraq?

Cheat Seeking Missiles, “Muslim and Christian? In One Body?”

Laer wonders about the Unitarian Episcopal priest who claims to be both a Christian and a Muslim. If she proclaims the Trinity, she’s a Muslim apostate. If she denies the divinity of Jesus, she’s a Christian heretic. I guess she could be both a bad Muslim and a bad Christian. Judging by the quotes she seems to think that’s a good thing although I find it hard to see how anyone other than an Episcopalian, a Unitarian, or an atheist could think so.

Big Lizards, “Yon on Baqouba”

Criticism does not need to mean disparagement—the word is derived from the Greek word for making a judgement. That’s the sense in which Dafydd ab Hugh is criticizing Michael Yon’s reports from Iraq, including both the bad and the good. He’s no strategic or political analyst but he’s the best war correspondent of the Iraq War.

Joshuapundit, “Gaza Becomes Hamastan, Part 2—Clarity and Opportunity”

Freedom Fighter considers the progress of the Palestinians as Hamas consolidates its control over Gaza. I seem to recall that Mahmoud Abbas refused to crack down on the thugs in the Palestinian territories on the grounds that it would lead to a civil war. That’s worked out well, hasn’t it? I have no idea whatever what will happen to those unhappy people but I can speculate over some possibilities. With Hamas controlling Gaza and Fatah having at least termporary control over the West Bank, it’s at least possible that one organization or the other will gain ascendancy in both territories. Hamas would seem to be the strong horse right now. I suppose it’s also possible that each organization will consolidate its power over the area in which its currently in the ascendant. If that happens, I predict that each organization will further splinter and we’ll see intra-factional fighting. FF is pulling for the Israelis to take permanent control of Gaza. I don’t think that will happen.

Rhymes With Right, “Overstating a Problem”

Greg takes a look at a Washington Post story about errors made by the FBI (and by the phone companies) in obtaining phone records under the Patriot Act and finds a lot less there than meets the eye. What’s concerning in the story is the presumption on the part of the Post and, presumably, their target audience that absolutely everything that goes on in the civil bureaucracy is under the specific direction and control of the political leadership. What concerns me about it is the possibility that it reflects projection on their part and is what we might expect if they ran the zoo.

The Education Wonks, “The Wanker of the Day: Principal Crackjob”

EdWonk reports on a story that gives an entirely new meaning to being sent to the principal’s office.

Right Wing Nut House, “A Conversation With My Dead Father”

Rick Moran has a somewhat one-sided conversation with his late father. Rick, if my math is right, you had your dad ten years longers than I had mine. Count your blessings.

Well, I’ve decided which posts I’ll vote for. Which would get your votes?