The Duck of Minerva

Apparently, three protestors dressed like clowns (no, literally, circus clowns) broke into a nuclear launch facility in North Dakota and, I am not kidding about this, used a sledgehammer to disable the lock on the personnel entry hatch of a Minuteman III missile that provides access to the warhead and then hammered on the silo lid that covers the 300 kiloton nuclear warhead.The three staged the event in part "to call for national repentance for the Hiroshima and Nagaski A-bombings in 1945."The three have been charged with criminal tresspassing. Duh. They are lucky they are still...

I don't like to discuss domestic political races on the site, but this is such blatant misinformation I really couldn't resist, especially given its relation to US foreign policy debates. I guess this is what you get when your poll numbers look like this:Santorum (R) 34 (36)Casey (D) 52 (49)Filed as: Santorum, Misinformation

Much has been made of the activation of the nascent US-based missile defense system seemingly in response to North Korea's imminent test of what we believe (but do not know) to be a long-range ballistic missile. The DPRK is obviously looking for attention given that the focus of the West has shifted drastically towards Iran recently. US officials are denying that they are considering shooting down a North Korean missile should it be launched. However, this scenario raises an interesting question; should the US have turned on the system at all in response to the North Koreans? This question...

[Updated] If I have to hear someone else, whether it is an administration official like Tony Snow (scroll down) or a member of the wingnutty club (pick one, any one), tell me that Iraq is 'getting better' and 'we are making progress' my head might explode, alla Scanners (not for the feint of heart).It's not ok, it hasn't been for a while and it isn't likely to be so for a very long time. This isn't 'liberal rage' or 'lefty pessimism' or some kind of joy derived from seeing things go poorly in Iraq (which is what you are essentially labeled these days)--its based on the facts that stare you...

By now we are all familiar with the current status of the civil war in Somalia. Last week, Islamic militias in Somalia seized the capital of Mogadishu, defeating the US-backed coalition of warlords. The Christian Science Monitor had an interesting article discussing the next step for the US in its bid to avoid the creation of neo-Afghanistan on the Horn of Africa. The answer--diplomatic engagement with the Islamic Courts Union. The US, it would appear, is starting to realize that the world of international politics is not so black and white.According to the CSM:"...the US is sending out...

To say this event is dominating discussion in the MSM and blogosphere would be an understatement. So I'll do my part to pass along some things worth reading:David Ignatius on the potential breathing room afforded by Zarqawi's demise.Defense Tech on the weapons systems and techniques that took Zarqawi out and what it indicates about the mini-evolution of airpower.King Daddy in many ways echoes the senitments here at the Duck.Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou offers some brief perspective on who Zarqawi was and the nature of his relationship with al-Qaeda. Filed as: Zarqawi

[Updated] Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi has been killed in Iraq by an air strike. Reaction about the impact this will have on the insurgency is noticeably more muted than comments following the capture of Saddam.And the fact that reactions have been measured is comforting since this administration has been anything but when it comes to purported "turning" and "tipping" points in Iraq. [Perhaps I spoke too soon.]My gut feeling is that it probably won't matter much. We are not dealing with a coherent mass where a decapitation strike would actually mean all that much on the ground. The insurgency has...

Twenty-five years ago today Israeli F-15s and F-16s carried out a preventive air-strike on Iraq's fledgling Osirak nuclear reactor. By all accounts the operation was itself a success, with 14 of 16 bombs striking their target and no Israeli losses. The mission has since been touted as a) an solid example of a preventive strike against a threat that has yet to materialize b) a possible template for US action against Iran's nascent nuclear program given the lack of ground options available at this time.While the current situation with Iran seems to have entered a diplomatic state we should not...

...Indeed. (for more on the flypaper theory, see here, here, and here.)It appears that Somali Islamic Militias have seized the capital, defeating the US-backed coalition of warlords. Curzon at Coming Anarchy has more.Yet another glowing victory in the war on terror and fundamentalism. I thought this President's comparative advantage was his ability to lead us to victory in this global war. I don't know if you are keeping score at home, but at this point I am not seeing a whole lot on the positive side of the ledger.Iraq: potentially falling into sectarian civil war, leading to a failed state...

All hail fake news--the last bastion of true journalism.Bill Kristol, a prominent member of the Project for a New American Century, stopped by the Colbert Report last night and, well, let's just say he wasn't coddled.A little taste:Colbert: Speaking of thinking alike, you were a member, or are a member of the New Project for the American Century, correct?Kristol: I am.Colbert: Were or am, am?Kristol: Were and am.Colbert: How's that project coming?Kristol: well. it's..(stammering)Colbert: How's the New American Century, looks good to me?Kristol: Ahh--I think...hehe yea--I'm...