Thomas Friedman

One of my favorite journalists is Thomas Friedman. To me he has a refreshingly practical common-sense approach to his writing that fits well with his insightful and not-always-obvious observations that strike at the core of issues.

Here his most recent op-ed "Real Men Tax Gas" discusses how we are still unwilling to take steps to reduce our dependence on oil - the one thing that would weaken our enemies the most. The essential crux of his argument: Why are we so willing to send thousands of more young Americans to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan, but so unwilling to seek energy alternatives to oil? And what does that say about us?

There are arguments on both sides of this, and there are certainly valid arguments that it's not all about oil... but Friedman as usual hits on a key point that has gone largely un-addressed.

Sympathy for Mark Sanford

I'm not really sure what compelled me to look into the news about Mark Sanford. I guess it started when my wife, a romance author, thought she might be interviewed for a news story regarding the released love letters between South Carolina governor Mark Sanford and his Argentine mistress and longtime friend, Maria. Apparently some were finding the letters poetic.

So as my wife ran to McDonalds to get us supper (a nutritious Double Cheeseburger, fries, and a pie) I looked up what the fuss was about. I cared little about predictable political posturing and punditry all around and was happy to find just the link to the email communications that were released to the press.

... and surprisingly I found sympathy for the governor. Yes he'll be vilified, and yes there are lots of people he's hurt. But underneath this story is something tragic but also fundamental and "real." I encourage those who are interested to read the letters first to form your own impression, but here's my take:

I could be reading too much into the small amount of information in the letters, but I see a man who's burnt-out to the core - a guy on the edge who's worked very hard all his life to find at the end all his efforts left him disillusioned and empty. Taking a break on his farm, he speaks of how it's nice to run his tractor with "No phones ringing and tangible evidence of a day’s labors." I could see how a long career in politics could make you feel like you've become a cog in a vast machine that slowly overtakes you. My impression from a small amount of reading is that his spirit was broken, and he'd moved into that place of just going through the motions. I think many of us may find ourselves every once in a while - sometimes it's worse than others. And sometimes it seems harder to find a way out than others - and his life is far more complicated than most.

Here are some key passages:

I think there are indications in the letters that his first impulse was to end things as soon as they started - see an early email from Maria:

Maria: "although I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to meet again this has been the best that has happened to me in a long time"

I think this quote later on gives additional insight of where the governor was at and how life had just beaten him down:

Sanford: "I have been specializing in staying focused on decisions and actions of the head for a long time now — and you have my heart. .(snip text) ... while I did not need love fifteen years ago — as the battle scars of life and aging and politics have worn on this has become a real need of mine."

Sanford: "we are in a hopelessly — or as you put it impossible — or how about combine and simply say hopelessly impossible situation of love. How in the world this lightening [sic] strike snuck up on us I am still not quite sure.... I have crossed lines I would have never imagined. I wish I could wish it away, but this soul-mate feel I alluded too is real"

In all, I just feel sorry for the guy and all parties involved. He was living an unsustainable life, couldn't find a way out, and something had to give. Unfortunately Sanford's breaking point was reached on a national and international stage with far more stone throwing than most of us (thankfully) will ever experience. Some will dismiss this as a cop-out but I think Maria's comment sums it up well: "Sometimes you don’t choose things, they just happen"

Interrogator op-ed on torture

I just read this op-ed by one of Abu Zubaydah's interrogators. The release of documents has apparently allowed him to speak on the issue and think this is clearly worth reading. Instead of getting "spun" by those who think they know what went on, go straight to a primary source.

I've posted at least once previously regarding torture, or as seems to be the phrase of the day "enhanced interrogation techniques." To me this issue cuts to the heart of what this country stands for, and it's disappointing how easily we will drop our core values.

To start with, the debate about whether these "enhanced" techniques were torture or not are strained - a play on words. Its not as if actions that are wrong become acceptable if we legally manipulate the definition of torture. The simple truth is this: If these "enhanced interrogation techniques" were used by another nation on Americans there's no doubt in my mind we'd be outraged. So sadly the issue isn't necessarily whether torture is wrong - but somehow it's mutated into something closer to "when it's OK to torture?" It bothers me that much of the debate around torture seems to get stuck on the question of whether it was effective or not.

The acceptability of torture is not and should not be dependent upon its effectiveness. It's a simple issue of right and wrong, and we too easily complicate it. We should want no part of torture to be associated with our nation. I think these practices are in fact going to be a sad part of our national legacy that will take generations to live down - we just haven't had time to see the aftershocks yet. We've undermined in large part our national voice on the subject of human rights around the world by confusing the issue. We've lost credibility through hypocrisy.

Additionally I'm discouraged by pro-torture arguments that it's OK because "it protects us from further attacks." I can't accept that. If anything, I think probability that it creates more bad will and creates more enemies outweighs any benefits. That's what I meant by the "aftershocks" mentioned above. Yes, the world is a dangerous place and there are people that wish to do us harm. I accept that. But we must also accept that we can never have 100% security, and that our actions regarding torture have likely created a more dangerous world an new generation of threats down the road. Ultimately it's a battle of mindshare, and we don't win that battle by adopting practices that are in direct conflict with our core values.

Is W still president?

If so, where is he or the administration on anything that is going on in the country right now? Not that I expect ideas from him or his administration at this point, but do you get the impression they've washed their hands of this mess and are not wanting to try to do anything so they can blame the incoming administration for everything?

I like to stay away from politics, but I can't help but feel things are completely rudderless at the moment.