LEADS
Examining America's War in Iraq After 20 Years
https://reason.com/2023/02/05/examining-americas-war-in-iraq-after-20-years/
Print the Truth, Legend, or Nothing? Failing to Examine and Learn from America’s War in Afghanistan
https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/print-truth-legend-or-nothing-failing-examine-and-learn-americas-war-afghanistan
Trump's last defense secretary says no one held 'accountable' for Afghanistan and Iraq wars
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/trump-last-defense-secretary-no-one-held-accountable-afghanistan-iraq-wars
Trump’s ‘24 game plan: Be the dove among the hawks
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/06/trumps-2024-game-plan-dove-hawks-00081180
Why the liberal hawks rule the roost
https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/february-2023/why-the-liberal-hawks-rule-the-roost/
Americans far less hawkish on North Korea and China than policy elites: poll
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/02/06/americans-far-less-hawkish-on-north-korea-and-china-than-policy-elites-poll/
Biden, the balloon, and the age of anti-China one-upmanship
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/05/biden-the-balloon-and-the-age-of-anti-china-one-upmanship-00081238
Feehery: It Didn’t Take 99 Red Balloons, Just One To Prove Biden’s Weak Leadership
https://thehill.com/opinion/3846448-feehery-it-didnt-take-99-red-balloons-just-one-to-prove-bidens-weak-leadership/
Eek, a balloon! How China easily got Republicans to beclown themselves
https://www.salon.com/2023/02/07/eek-a-balloon-how-china-easily-got-to-beclown-themselves/
‘Republican’ Ana Navarro claims GOP was played by China’s balloon stunt in spin overdrive
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/02/07/republican-ana-navarro-claims-gop-was-played-after-running-interference-for-china-in-wild-balloon-spin-1330852/
Is This Why President Trump Didn’t Shoot Down The Balloons During His Presidency?
https://welovetrump.com/2023/02/06/is-this-why-president-trump-didnt-shoot-down-the-balloons-during-his-presidency/
General Mattis Committed Treason Against Trump?
https://wrestling-edge.com/general-mattis-committed-treason-against-trump/
Fox News host bizarrely blames 'treasonous' farmers after Chinese balloon incident
https://www.rawstory.com/fox-news-treasonous-farmers/
Experts sound alarm over China buying US land near military bases: 'Chilling'
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/experts-sound-alarm-over-china-buying-us-land-near-military-bases-chilling
How U.S.-China Tensions Could Affect Who Buys the House Next Door
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/07/us/texas-china-ownership-real-estate-ban.html
Before spy balloon dropped, trade with China soared
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/07/trade-china-relations-economies-00081301
By Shooting Down Balloon, the Expensive, Useless F-22 Fighter Finally Won a Dogfight
https://reason.com/2023/02/06/by-shooting-down-balloon-the-expensive-useless-f-22-fighter-finally-won-a-dogfight/
The F-22s that downed China’s spy balloon had call signs named for this WWI fighter ace
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/frank-luke-jr-balloon-buster-china/
The horrors of World War II air war, in one stark map
https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/air-war-germany-map/
‘Warrior’s spirit’: Army marks 72 years since its last major bayonet charge in Korean War
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-02-05/army-last-bayonet-charge-osan-korea-9051313.html
God of Race War: The Utilisation of Viking-Themed Video Games in Far-Right Propaganda
https://gnet-research.org/2023/02/06/god-of-race-war-the-utilisation-of-viking-themed-video-games-in-far-right-propaganda/
Pair charged with plotting racially-fueled attack on Baltimore power grid
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/06/racially-fueled-attack-baltimore-power-grid-00081320
Suspected white supremacists arrested in plot to attack power stations, destroy Baltimore: Prosecutors
https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspects-arrested-plot-attack-power-stations-destroy-baltimore/story?id=96923380
The Animal Sacrificing White Supremacists
https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/the-animal-sacrificing-white-supremacists/6322f9ac40f3d920a354deda
Tucker Carlson says it’s “immoral” to criticize white supremacists
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/02/tucker-carlson-says-its-immoral-to-criticize-white-supremacists/
Tucker blasts Biden’s ‘illegal’ race-based judicial appointments – 5 white men of 97
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/02/07/tucker-blasts-bidens-illegal-race-based-judicial-appointments-5-white-men-of-97-1330805/
Disney+ cartoon features ‘Slaves Built This Country’ song
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/02/disney_cartoon_features_slaves_built_this_country_song.html
'Evil behavior': Hallmark's 'family' time-travel show goes super woke
https://www.wnd.com/2023/02/hallmarks-time-travel-family-drama-promotes-female-couple-parents/
Here are some scary pictures to distract the religious right from Sam Smith and Kim Petras
https://www.thefader.com/2023/02/06/sam-smith-kim-petras-unholy-evil-ted-cruz-very-spooky
The Christian Right Is Having a Meltdown Over the ‘Satanic’ Grammys
https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7v9gy/republicans-satanic-grammy-sam-smith-kim-petras
Fans of Satan Worshiper Sam Smith Melt Down Because Reporter Calls Him 'He' Instead of 'They'
https://www.westernjournal.com/fans-satan-worshiper-sam-smith-melt-reporter-calls-instead/
Sam Smith's "full-on Satan worship" Grammys number puts conservatives in an anti-vax Satanic panic
https://www.salon.com/2023/02/06/sam-smith-grammys-satan-phizer-unholy/
What the devil were the Grammys doing letting Sam ‘Satan’ Smith troll most of America?
https://nypost.com/2023/02/06/why-did-the-grammys-let-sam-satan-smith-troll-america/
Woke Grammys show 'culture wars are over and the left won' Joy Reid claims as she revels in 'total defeat'
https://www.foxnews.com/media/woke-grammys-show-culture-wars-left-won-joy-reid-claims-revels-total-defeat
Chris Hedges: Woke Imperialism
https://scheerpost.com/2023/02/05/chris-hedges-woke-imperialism/
POLITICS and FLEAS
It’s the institutional design, stupid! With a parliamentary system, America could avoid gridlock and instability
https://thefulcrum.us/parliamentary-system-could-help-avoid-gridlock
Democracy Vouchers: Putting Free Campaign Cash in the Hands of Voters
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2023/02/07/democracy-vouchers-putting-free-campaign-cash-in-the-hands-of-voters
Citizens’ assemblies: are they the future of democracy?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/01/citizens-assemblies-are-they-the-future-of-democracy
FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS
Turkey-Syria earthquake: Volunteers digging with their bare hands as shouts heard amid the rubble
https://news.sky.com/story/turkey-syria-earthquake-volunteers-digging-with-their-bare-hands-as-shouts-heard-amid-the-rubble-12805041
Turkish leader declares state of emergency as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 5,100
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-quake-rescue-teams-comb-through-wreckage-iskenderun-hospital-2023-02-06/
Sweden’s aid to Turkey, Israel’s to Syria: Countries set aside diplomatic differences to offer earthquake aid
https://www.semafor.com/article/02/07/2023/swedens-aid-to-turkey-israels-to-syria-countries-set-aside-diplomatic-differences-to-offer-earthquake-aid
Earthquake: Iran, Iraq, Hezbollah support aid for victims in Syria - analysis
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-730827
For Syria, the earthquake is the latest in a series of tragedies
https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-02-07/for-syria-the-earthquake-is-the-latest-in-a-series-of-tragedies.html
Miracles of the Syria & Turkey earthquake
https://nypost.com/2023/02/06/miracles-of-the-syria-turkey-earthquake/
PANDORA'S BOXCUTTER
Newest Flock of Wild California Condors Faces an Old Threat: Lead Poisoning
https://therevelator.org/newest-california-condors-lead/
Michigan bald eagles are dying of lead poisoning. The reason may surprise you
https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/02/michigan-bald-eagles-are-dying-of-lead-poisoning-the-reason-may-surprise-you.html
After eagle dies from lead poisoning, central Pa. wildlife rehabilitator urges use of non-lead ammo
https://www.wesa.fm/environment-energy/2023-02-06/after-eagle-dies-from-lead-poisoning-central-pa-wildlife-rehabilitator-urges-use-of-non-lead-ammo
Animal rights groups march in protests to urge more protection for hunting dogs
https://www.foxnews.com/world/animal-rights-groups-march-protests-urge-more-protection-hunting-dogs
N.J. bear hunt could be allowed for 4 more years despite outcry from animal rights groups
https://www.nj.com/news/2023/02/bear-hunt-could-be-allowed-for-5-more-years-in-nj-despite-outcry-from-animal-rights-groups.html
Sen. Daines responds after Twitter suspends his account for hunting photo: 'My wife is a great shot'
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-daines-responds-twitter-suspends-account-hunting-photo-my-wife-great-shot
Survivor Australia ‘hero’ hits back after her Instagram account shows brutal hunting photos
https://www.ladbible.com/news/survivor-australia-hero-hits-back-after-hunting-exposed-042820-20230207
Emotions run high in Sweden's biggest wolf hunt
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230206-emotions-run-high-in-sweden-s-biggest-wolf-hunt
Hunters shoot dead 54 wolves in Sweden’s largest ever cull
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/07/swedish-hunters-shoot-dead-54-wolves-in-largest-cull-ever-in-country
Zoo Director Killed 4 Rare 'Pygmy' Goats and Served Them at a Party
https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxnmmn/mexico-zoo-eats-pigmy-goat
Criminals now targeting zoo animals
https://scrippsnews.com/stories/criminals-now-targeting-zoo-animals/
THE MEDIA SCRUM
Russia & the US Press: The Article the CJR Didn’t Publish
https://bylinetimes.com/2023/02/04/russia-and-the-us-press-the-article-the-cjr-didnt-publish/
Columbia Journalism Review Russiagate Post-Mortem Is a Good Start
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2023/02/06/columbia_journalism_review_russiagate_post-mortem_is_a_good_start_148821.html
A Pair of Colossal Media Failures
https://californiaglobe.com/articles/a-pair-of-colossal-media-failures/
ODDS, ENDS
Salman Rushdie Makes a Triumphant Return to the Page
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a42731912/salman-rushdie-victory-city-novel-review/
Salman Rushdie reflects on nightmares and recovery after ‘colossal’ stabbing attack
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/salman-rushdie-stabbing-attack-fatwa-b2276614.html
Lauren Boebert Appears To Pray For Joe Biden's Death In Texas Sermon
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lauren-boebert-joe-biden-death_n_63e1cc75e4b0c2b49ae51934
Former combat pilot who implied Netanyahu deserves death apologizes to protesters
https://www.timesofisrael.com/prominent-activist-who-implied-netanyahu-deserves-death-apologizes-to-protesters/
Kyle Busch apologizes for violating Mexican firearm law
https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2023/02/06/kyle-busch-apologizes-for-violating-mexican-law/
Jim Boeheim Apologizes for Saying ACC Opponents ‘Bought’ Players
https://www.si.com/college/2023/02/06/syracuse-jim-boeheim-apologizes-saying-acc-opponents-bought-players
Colorado State apologizes for ‘Russia’ chant at Utah State’s Ukrainian player during basketball game
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/05/sport/colorado-state-apology-russia-chant-utah-state/index.html
NY school apologizes after kicking off Black History Month with fried chicken, watermelon
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3846215-ny-school-apologizes-after-kicking-off-black-history-month-with-fried-chicken-watermelon/
BBC News apologizes for ‘mistake’ using Viola Davis image instead of Beyoncé
https://nypost.com/2023/02/07/bbc-news-apologizes-for-mistake-using-viola-davis-image-instead-of-beyonce/
Chris Brown Apologizes to Robert Glasper After Throwing Tantrum Online Due to 2023 Grammys Loss
https://people.com/music/chris-brown-apologizes-robert-glasper-after-tantrum-over-2023-grammys-loss/
Pink Floyd Feud Between Roger Waters and David Gilmour Just Got Deeply Personal
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-pink-floyd-feud-between-roger-waters-and-david-gilmour-just-got-deeply-personal