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| compos mentis. Concision. Media. Clarity. Memes. Context. Melange. Confluence. Mishmash. Conflation. Mellifluous. Conviviality. Miscellany. Confelicity. Milieu. Cogent. Minty. Concoction. |
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Pakistan Turns Up the Heat |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
1:34 pm EST, Feb 21, 2004 |
Pakistan has dramatically stepped up its assistance to the US-led campaign to capture Osama bin Laden, deploying thousands of soldiers into its lawless northwestern frontier, pressuring tribal elders, and allowing American soldiers from neighboring Afghanistan to make forays across the border, senior Pentagon and Pakistani officials say. The increased US and Pakistani activity [are] the first signs of the "spring offensive" planned against Al-Qaida leaders, which has fueled greater optimism in Washington that Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and Mullah Mohammad Omar will be captured or killed in the coming months. It begins. Despite the rising temperature, somehow I doubt that Nelly is playing on bin Laden's stereo. Pakistan Turns Up the Heat |
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| Topic: Technology |
1:18 pm EST, Feb 21, 2004 |
"Only the Polytron reduces an entire mouse to a soup-like homogenate in 30 seconds." the Polytron |
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| Topic: TV |
1:17 pm EST, Feb 21, 2004 |
There sure has been a lot of sex on "Sex and the City," and men have played a part. But "Sex and the City" is really about the women. After six years on the air, the show concludes Sunday night on HBO. So what happens now? Well, the final episode may not be so final. The end of 'Sex' |
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Most Siemens Software Jobs Moving East |
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| Topic: Tech Industry |
8:52 am EST, Feb 17, 2004 |
Siemens will move most of the 15,000 software programming jobs from its offices in the United States and Western Europe to India, China and Eastern Europe. Always look on the bright side of life; at least Americans and Germans (business executives, though not the populace) are once again in full agreement on a major issue of social, economic, and political significance. Most Siemens Software Jobs Moving East |
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Pakistan Braces for the American Storm | Stratfor Weekly |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
12:51 pm EST, Feb 16, 2004 |
Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has begun warning his country that if it does not root out al Qaeda, the United States will. The US strategy, then, is geared toward maintaining the fiction of a "united" Afghanistan, without providing any troops to enforce central rule. The strategy is not exactly brilliant, but -- considering Afghanistan's history and geography -- it is probably one of the few that could work. Pakistan is the subject of the latest (February 13) sample article from Stratfor. Read it now, as it will be replaced soon. Pakistan Braces for the American Storm | Stratfor Weekly |
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| Topic: International Relations |
12:46 pm EST, Feb 16, 2004 |
Many observers have characterized Pakistan as a failed state, or even a "rogue" state. While Pakistan certainly confronts many dangerous obstacles in the near future, it is too early to write Pakistan's epitaph. Rather, it is important to take a nuanced view of the issues surrounding the idea of "state failure," particularly before that term is applied to Pakistan. Stephen Cohen's new book goes on sale in May. The Idea of Pakistan |
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| Topic: International Relations |
12:39 pm EST, Feb 16, 2004 |
Dr. Khan's confession suits both Pakistan and America, since rounding up Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders (many may be hiding in Pakistan) trumps other concerns. But it is widely believed in Pakistan and elsewhere that the government knew of Dr. Khan's activities. This would make President Musharraf, as well as army and intelligence services, complicit in the nuclear crime of the century. As improbable as it may seem, though, President Musharraf may, for once, be telling the truth. But the fact that this rogue operation could have been mostly unknown to the Islamabad government and its army should trouble the world even more -- and propel Washington into rethinking its policies toward Pakistan. So far, Washington has stood by General Musharraf, who is considered a crucial ally in the campaign against terrorism. In doing so, it has placed its bets on a man who is, at best, well intentioned, but who may be in over his head. So far, we've been asking the wrong question. It's not whether President Musharraf and his army knew of Dr. Khan's activities -- but why they didn't. Stephen Cohen of the Brookings Institution offers this Stratfor-esque analysis of Pakistan. Out of the Nuclear Loop |
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The Coming Generational Storm |
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| Topic: Economics |
11:54 am EST, Feb 16, 2004 |
In 2030, as 77 million baby boomers hobble into old age, walkers will outnumber strollers; there will be twice as many retirees as there are today but only 18 percent more workers. How will America handle this demographic overload? How will Social Security and Medicare function with fewer working taxpayers to support these programs? ... we'll see skyrocketing tax rates, drastically lower retirement and health benefits, high inflation, a rapidly depreciating dollar, unemployment, and political instability. But don't panic. If the American workers don't have jobs, what will be taxed? Perhaps we can tax the Indians to pay for the boomers' prescriptions. The Coming Generational Storm |
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An Insolent Puppet Roils Canadian Politics |
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| Topic: Politics and Law |
11:37 am EST, Feb 16, 2004 |
Conan O'Brien came to Toronto last week, and he nearly started a civil war. Just kidding, sort of. The puppet, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog: "I can tell you're French, you know. You have that proud expression, that superior look." Of a rather plump man, he asked: "Are you a separatist? Maybe you should try separating yourself from doughnuts first." Canada is in the midst of the biggest political scandal in more than a generation, but the foul-mouthed puppet was still front-page news and heavily covered on national television. An Insolent Puppet Roils Canadian Politics |
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| Topic: Technology |
3:11 am EST, Feb 16, 2004 |
Dude, Check This Out! is an entirely new application for finding, storing, and retrieving all the great stuff that you find on the Web. The Dude is the easiest way to share that stuff with your friends and other contacts, and it's also a great way to meet people who think like you. Well, that's pretty good, but it would be even better if I could meet people who think exactly like me. That would be sweet. South Korea, anyone? The Dude advisory board includes Cory Doctorow, author of Eastern Standard Tribe, and Mike Glass, a Senior Director at Microsoft. Dude, Check This Out! |
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