5 comments about Whatever It Takes: Illegal Immigration, Border Security and the War on Terror.

1. I have read Pat Buchanan's book on the subject and it lays out a better understanding of the immigration and terrorist threat
   than this one. This seems to be "same old" and scare tactics.



2. Warning: the below stated was written by a Neal Boortz fan. So, do not believe a word of it unless it is conducive with your own independent research or what you know to be true.
   
   In March 2008, Jamie Shaw, Jr was a promising 17 year old football player in Los Angeles who was gunned by a 19 year old thug/gang member by the name of Pedro Espinoza. Pedro's an illegal alien. Oh, and for you liberals who love to point out the bias of conservative white men in this debate, Jamie was black.
   
   The above stated is not an isolated incident either, as we awake to notice more drunk driving deaths, robberies, rapes and murders commited by illegals.
   
   Don't take my word for it, but do your own research. Then, couple that with the suicidal and diseased hysteria of liberals like those who give the one star reviews for this book. You'll note that anyone who wants to do anything regarding illegal immigration is a racist. The average liberal just loves to marry legal and illegal immigration as if they're one and the same.
   
   A question for you good liberals: if were such zealots for wanting to protect our southern border and our common culture, then what does that make the Mexicans who guard their southern border with Guatemala?
   
   What languages do the Mexicans print their ballots during elections?
   
   Could a gringo like myself apply for government assistance in Mexico?
   
   You love to bring up the Mexican War and the Gadsden Purchase, so tell me, are you willing to sacrifice your life and your childrens' lives to the criminal activity or contagious diseases spread by illegals as a way to apologize for past wrongs, be they real or supposed? Are you really willing to stand still while some latter day Poncho Villa murders your kids just so you can feel good about apologizing for historical wrongs in which you your self never took part?
   
   Do you really think you speak for those hispanics who were born here (or went through legitimate means to gain citizenship), who speak English, pay taxes, send their kids to school, are too proud accept handouts, and who'd smack their kids if they even thought of joining a gang or desicrate the American flag (as they did at Montebello High School)?
   
   To the pro illegal activists: the Western United States is no longer a part of Mexico! If it were, then there would be no jobs there! Before the Treaty of Gudalupe Hildago, the west was a barren, wasteland full of banditos and Indian tribes warring against one another. It flowered with industry and agriculture undreamed of by any civilization after its incorporation into the United States. By the way, the $15 Million that Mexico got for it was a rather princely sum back then.
   
   Quite honestly, I really can't blame the general masses who come to America to escape economic deprivation. The problem is, as good and as harmless as their overall intentions may be, they're bringing in a lot of dangerous baggage. We just breached the 300 million mark of our population, we give large sums in foreign aid and charity, and we need to start thinking about our own self interests, because no one else will. If America gets really serious about stemming the flow, then we'll give the Mexican nation an impetus to do away with the corrupt drug lords who rule the country as well as for them to develop a viable middle class (THEY HAVE OIL AFTER ALL!).
   
   By the way, we don't need illegals to do the menial chores. If we do away with welfare, you'll see a lot more native born Americans to take over for them when they're gone.



3. Recommended reading - Our elected officials are not doing enough to protect the Tax paying citizens of this country - Illegal immigrates have more rights than citizens of this country - An eye opener -



4. Let's allow thousands of uneducated and unskilled illegal aliens flood across our borders daily for years until they become a major commercial and political force and begin run our country and turn it into the wonderful place that Mexico is. Sounds like a really good idea to me or a friggin' nightmare. Actually it is reality and our government and businesses have failed us in the interest of money and power. Our country is going to change forever as a result. If you are in a lesser affected state beware it is coming your way. It is simple math. Millions here already plus thousands more daily times four or five children per family equals the destruction of the United States as you know it.



5. JD is a good example of a young man who learned well in Scouting, the ideals of the American Way and attained the highest honor in Scouting, that of an Eagle Scout.
   He is unashamed of his patriotic, family values, conservative life and purpose driven philosophy.
   He is a dynamic radio talk show host and is impacting thousands daily with his message of doing the "right" thing.
   Excellent program for saving our country from the rtadical left.

5 comments about Endgame: The Blueprint for Victory in the War on Terror.

1. This is a must read for anyone concerned about the war on terror. If you want an honest understanding of what is going on in Iraq. Both of these guys are retired generals. They were at the forefront before they retired and have kept abreast of the worldwide situation since. They have a clear understanding of what has happened in the middle east and what needs to happen.



2. The book was fairly thin and I got through it pretty quick (that may have also been do to the Iced Cafe Americano I was drinking).
   
   The book makes no mention of, nor does it acknowledge anything like 4GW. All of the commentary on US Forces is 3GW related. I didn't really find that part of the book interesting or useful. The suggestion that the Army Reserves and National Guard should be heavy forces (and not what I think: Military police, engineers, civil affairs, intel/counterintel, and logistics) is just one example.
   
   It did find several of the non-armed forces ideas interesting:
   
   * A new Five Freedoms as a global statement of values
   * reform of US Diplomatic efforts
   * Allow rapid appointment of vacant house seat in case of national emergency
   * Method for emergency succession of federal judges to Supreme Court vacancies in case of national emergency
   * Disperse Federal Agencies geographically across the US
   * Lay out specifically the rules and powers for Executive Branch to avoid confusion (and Lawfare opportunities, I think)
   * Special Terrorism Courts
   
   I like the idea of Global Values/Aspiration statement like FDR's 4 Freedoms (of speech, from fear, from wants, of religion). The authors suggest the following Five Freedoms:
   
   1. Freedom of Education
   2. Freedom of Economy
   3. Freedom of Information
   4. Freedom of Person
   5. Freedom of Governance
   
   This was the strongest idea in the book. I have been mulling over the need of the west and it allies and potential allies to have shared core values that they can rally around. FDR's Four Freedom just didn't seem to be quite right and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights is too lengthy to memorize. The author's Five Freedoms are short, get to the point, don't exclude allies and potential allies and work well as a meme.
   
   The other part of the book I liked was a the short section on Special Terrorist Courts (an idea I have blogged on before). Here are the highlights:
   
   * create special federal terrorist courts
   * Three judge panel that presides over the trial and acts as the jury
   * Special rules of procedure to protect witnesses and intelligence
   * provides security for judges and prosecutors
   * Another panel of judges picks the defense attorney(s) from a vetted pool (I am thinking a sort of Special Terrorism Courts Bar)
   
   Lastly, the book had a section on dealing with Iran. Here is the stated plan:
   
   1. Get a US Nuclear deterrence and shield in place - Regional Nuclear Umbrella
   2. Train a Free Iran Guerrilla Force
   3. Unleash US Air-power
   4. Coastal Navel/Marine Raids
   5. Raids from Iraq along the boarder
   6. Call on Iranian Citizens to rise up in rebellion
   
   It sounded like a Persian Bay of Pigs plan to me.
   
   It thought is was strange that the military specific parts of a book written by military guys were the weakest.



3. Speaking as an American: Our daily world is full of a tremendous variety of stimulation factors. We have the unparalleled luxury of selecting what we want to experience and what we prefer to believe, no matter how much influence of authority and/or domination we endure in our personal lives. Want to find out how that may end in a veritable flash?
   
   When you read this book, your sense of awareness of our "status" as American citizens/targets becomes quite acute, especially if you already acknowledge that our security -- our precious cocoon -- is quite different from what we thought prior to the wake up provided by 9/11 events and aftershocks. A very special thank you to the authors for providing this type of insight. Are the decision makers listening?



4. These dual authors had a real story to tell but seemed to have some difficulty saying it clearly enough



5. I really enjoyed this book. It is a well written, quick read, that makes you proud of our military efforts overseas.

5 comments about Watching the World Change: The Stories Behind the Images of 9/11.

1. Watching the World Change: The Stories Behind the Images of 9/11 tells stories behind the now-familiar shots taken by bystanders and professionals of 9/11 events, taking the reader back through the years to dialy events experienced by families and the nation. From how some of the most harrowing photos were taken of events to their lasting effects on photographer and viewers alike, WATCHING THE WORLD CHANGE questions how modern history comes to life with images, reveals the lasting traumas of events of 9/11, and draws important connections between observer, reporter, and daily life. Public libraries and college collections strong in the social sciences will find this a hard-hitting survey.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. This book had incredible stories, I have read this book several times and continue to pick it up and read it again. The only thing that bothered me was the lack of photographs. Not enough photographs, especially ones more closely related to the stories. I have many books on this subject and felt there easliy could have been more photographs. It just frustrated me to find so few. Barring that, the stories were solidly told and that day will never be forgotten.



3. A very well written book in an "intimate" style, it shares many heretofore unavailable "takes" of that day. While I was surprised at the small number of photographs the book actually contained when I received it, the true value of the book is in "filling in the blanks" about the images it does discuss. This becomes apparent as the book is read. It also becomes obvious that only a limited number of images could be "explained" as thoroughly as Mr. Friend does without the book becoming exceedingly bulky.
   
   Some of the images in "Watching..." border on the farcical - such as a pregnant German woman. Hands on her stomach in an apparent takeoff of the modeling magazines, she languidly poses for the camera as the Twin Towers smoulder in the background. Must be a German thing, this ennui regarding mass murder.
   
   Others, such as an image of one of the "jumpers," is accutely haunting, searing itself into one's consciousness like a branding iron. Reading Mr. Friend's explanation of the image, in which the probable identity and work location of that poor soul become apparent, the horror becomes even more immediate, as we feel we "kind of know him."
   
   For those of us who love New York but (thank God!) weren't there to witness the perdition in the flesh, Mr. Friend's book probably gives the reader the closest possible approximation of what it feels like to have lost a loved one that day. He manages to "put a face" on many of the victims. They come to seem like friends.
   
   I love and hate this book. It's a "magic telescope" which "brings it all back" so effectively that it almost seems to stretch time backwards to that horrid day. It is masterfully done. Americans must never forget what was done to Americans that day. Mr. Friend's book should make the "Day of Infamy" comprehensible, almost immediate, to future Americans. Well Done!



4. David Friend has collected some outstanding pictures and informative interviews in Watching the World Change. And he is certainly right in his argument that the 9/11 terrorism made every citizen a potential photojournalist and went a long way to cementing digital photography's triumph over film. He is also exactly right in capturing both the global nature of the event and how quickly people became witnesses to it. In other words, his book validates the reality of nearly instantaneous global information. The book is annoying, however, because while Friend tiptoes up to, he does not really address the issue of how much of that instantaneously available information, especially graphic photographs, the public really needs to know, how such photos should be handled by both photographer and the media. He dodges any judgement and consistently refuses to criticize any photographer's behavior, no matter how boorish or sensational it might be. In short, Friend provides little help in the question of "where are the boundaries?". If this question matters, and I think it does, Friend's book -- while an excellent chronicle of who shot what with what kind of camera when -- is less than it could have been.



5. Some very interesting photos which I have not seen previously. Powerful and commanding. Much of what is available is very watered down and does not truly capture the horror of the events as do the images in this book. I would have liked more photos of this nature and a little better editing. I liked the perspective.

1 comments about The Media and the War on Terrorism.

1. This is a superb collection of essays, first-person observations, and recollections of so-called embedded reporters and photographic journalists, edited jointly by Marvin Kalb, a former CBS reporter turned Harvard resident scholar, and Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the prestigious Brookings Institution. Written in the first person, each of the collected essays takes the reader up-close and personal and shows how difficult it is to know the degree to which such observations are typical or representative of what is going on the overall conflict in which they are embedded. And therein lies the rub, for to some extent it is apparent that even embedded reporter can be manipulated and co-opted by the military, and in several cases that is apparently the case for the individual reporters recounting their war tales.

   The pieces are both candid and raw; in the sense they somehow manage to catch the very essence of the intricate dance between accurate reporting and the tension with the host army to whom they owe their sustenance and their safety. This tension between the ostensibly objective reporters, on the one hand, and the very partisan military representatives overseeing them, on the other, is what drives the considerable insight the correspondents manage to extricate from the madness of the ongoing battle they cover. This is especially true for electronic media journalists, whose products are almost immediately available to the general public, and who still find themselves both physically and existentially with the troops.

   The latest tendency to meaningfully embed reporters with elements of the shock troops racing across Iraq, seen in context, is just another of many such attempts by the military to deftly manage the reporting from the front, and indeed, to prejudice the reporters by forcing them to live alongside the often valiant and sometimes suffering soldiers, whose personalities and sacrifices do indeed win the reporters over to see the war through their eyes. The experience in Iraq, upon reflection, will likely show that reporters and journalists were kept "on the reservation" by sequestering them into small groups seeing only limited actions, and seldom allowing them to see aspects of the conflict not consistent with military goals and objectives. Once again, the omnipresent tension between the needs for security on the one hand, and the rights of the citizens of a free society to know what is being done in their names, on the other, is all too apparent here. Enjoy!

5 comments about Dreaming War: Blood for Oil and the Cheney-Bush Junta.

1. Gore Vidal wrote DREAMING WAR:BLOOD FOR OIL and the CHENEY-BUSH JUNTA shortly after he wrote PERPETUAL WAR FOR PERPETUAL PEACE. The second book is just as good and as well written as the first. Vidal states obvious truths which anger some because they are so obvious and true.
   
   Vidal's collection of essays deal with the American Empire which is a term that the Establishment does not like because the word empire is an accurate term in describing U.S. Government meddling. Such a term might give Americans an uncomfortable view of the reality of U.S. diplomacy.
   
   Some of these essays confront the unconfortable truths regarding the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Vidal gives a brief but clear account of the FDR lads goading the Japanese to attack this naval base in response to U.S. pressure that would have reduced the Japanese to famine had they adhered to U.S. policy. One should note that U.S. foreign policy against Japanese presence in China was due to some vague nonsense about the Open Door Policy in China. One should note when the Chinese Communists came to power in 1949, the Open Door was slammed shut in everyone's face. By eliminating the Japanese as a power in China, the road was wide open for Mao tse-Tung and the Chinese Communists to take power after a prolonged civil war that lasted from 1927 to 1949.
   
   Vidal is also very clear that the use of nuclear weapons against the Japanese in 1945 was unnecessary. Vidal cites a letter dated July 18, 1945 written by the Japanese Emperor begging to surrender and ending the war. This is a matter of public record now, and few if any "mainstream" historians have mentioned this. Vidal makes effective use of Alperovitz's book THE DECISION TO USE THE ATOMIC BOMB: THE ARCHITECTURE OF A MYTH. Vidal notes that many well known military men including Admiral Nimetz, the General Eisenhower, etc., were very much opposed to the use atomic bomb. Or course, none of this is very well publisized as it undermines the political myths upon which the American Empire is built.
   
   Vidal also deals with more recent events such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, U.S. destructiveness in Latin America,etc. These interventions fit the classcial definition of empire which is largely unknown to Americans. Vidal destroys the myths that have been presented as truth regarding these events, and he undermines the official truths of these events.
   
   Vidal has some interesting remarks re "Official Truth." He well knows that Lord Acton's dictum that, "Official truth is never actual truth" is an accurate statement. When Vidal made a production for The History Channel, some Establishment hacks formed a panal to smear Vidal. Vidal notes that he was not invited to defend himself, and Vidal further conclusively refutes the hacks on this panal. One should note his remarks re this attempt to smear him.
   
   Vidal has some interesting remarks about U.S. domestic policies. He mentions that government authorities have made a war on alleged domestic policies to divert attention from foreign interventions. Americans have had a war on illteracy, a war on poverty, and a war on drugs. If anyone is interested, illiteracy, poverty, and drugs have won.
   
   Vidal has some interesting suggestions for solving or reducing problems. He suggests, to use the expression, "Smaller is better." Vidal cites Thomas Jefferson's remarks re making Washington, D.C. about the centralization of power in that city and the destructive consequences of such a concentration of power. Vidal suggests that Americans should live in confederated sections which, while not eliminating corrpution and economic ruin, would significantly reduce such problems and give Americans more direct control.
   
   Vidal has some interesting comments on American "education." Vidal comments on the ignorance of Americans re their own history or any history. Vidal also condemns the ignorance of geography whereby Americans do not even know where interventions take place. One should note that the "experts" in Congress do not where these areas are either. They have shown their ignorance when some un-American has asked them to locate any of these places on globe, and these "experts" did not know the difference between South American and Antarctic or anywhere else for that matter.
   
   Vidal has been accused of hating America. Vidal does not hate America. Alleged proof is that Vidal lives part of the year in Italy. So do many other Americans. Vidal does not hate America. He hates what the corporate CEOs and government authorities have done to America and Americans. He is very clear about this. Vidal has been accused of being a Bush Basher and opposed to Republicans. These remarks betray these critics who obviously have been watching too much TV and have not read Vidal's books. Vidal is an ardent supporter of limited government, the Bill of Rights, etc. If supporting lawful restraints on federal power and support of the United States Constitution is un-American, we are in bad shape.
   
   Vidal uses public sources and comments to support his views. He does not refer to arcane nonsense, and readers can read Vidal's books and decide for themselves. Again, readers should note that Vidal displays knowledge, reason, and an exceptional ability to write.



2. ...with free enterprise for the poor and socialism for the rich.
   
   
   The label "conspiracy theorist" holds a powerful stigma. For the most part, the conspiracy theorists themselves are to blame for that. For the most part the people I've run across who propagate and perpetuate these wild schemes are not the most critical thinkers out there. The evidence of this is the way conspiracies run in packs. Once they're talking about secret societies, secret connections and plots, more and more unfold, running off in tangents. It might start with the Kennedy assassination but soon area 51 and Roswell are evoked, the moon landing is a hoax, the Loch Ness monster and the inner Earth people. Not to mention the Catholics, the Masons, and the Jewish-communists.
   
   But that shouldn't dissuade us from investigating anything. The fact that conspiracy theorists are nuts doesn't mean conspiracies never happen. People who believe everything that's slightly exciting to believe are no less critical thinkers than those who dismiss outright anything that threatens the veneer of civility and order.
   
   In reality, a conspiracy doesn't have to be an intricate web of deception, some brilliant design everyone but you is in on. A conspiracy can be lots of powerful people acting in a similar way, through sneaky means and propaganda, for the sake of strengthening and securing their own power. Hillary Clinton was lambasted for speaking of a vast right-wing conspiracy, but as the story unfolds, we see a small handful of very powerful, rich people using their influence to try and drag down a President and his administration by any means necessary. She was right.
   
   This book is a collection of essays unified by the assertion Gore Vidal is making that American is an empire, and that American military action and behavior, since before world war 2, has been an imperial attempt to control as much of the world as possible. If one looks at the whole of human history, none of this should come as a surprise. But in the modern debate, where Neo-con imperialism is compared to Nazism, Mr. Vidal is telling us that a better analogy would be the ancient Roman Empire, and that this has been going on a whole lot longer than since the neo-cons have been in power. The primary difference today is near-transparency of the current administrations goals, and the deplorable depths of depravity to which they'll sink to accomplish it. The unprovoked, unilateral invasion of Iraq was just one of hundreds of unprovoked, unilateral military actions the American empire has engaged in post-WW2. But in the past, America had the self-awareness, pride and patience to do things in a deceptive manner, exercising domination economically (the Marshall plan), or through low-key military presences (like NATO in Western Europe) and by meddling around the world with an alphabet soup of secret police (CIA, FBI, DEA, DIA...). So, there's nothing new going on in the Bush-Cheney Junta. It is a matter of degrees, but previous presidents and previous administrations don't get off the hook unscathed.
   
   And the media, owned by powerful, rich, well-connected corporations, don't get off unscathed. Vidal discusses the role of the media, paid off to keep two major characteristics of the America off the radar off the people, the first being the existence- not to mention the pervasiveness- of a class system, and the second being the nature of the U.S. Empire. Outside of the United States, these are not secrets. When the twin towers fell, Americans turned to each other and asked in genuine bewilderment how anyone could hate us. When the answer was supplied for us, "they hate us because they hate freedom," enough people could actually get themselves to believe this to accomplish the re-election of the worst, most venal bunch of ganefs in American history. American people could accept the premise that people around the world want to attack us with suicidal acts simply because they envy our goodness. That's not just us being stupid, that's us being uneducated and misinformed. (And distracted! Was that really a partial breast seen during a football half-time show? Heaven forfend! Let's have congressional hearings about it.)
   
   Drawbacks? Because this is a collection of essays written for different sources at different times, you get a lot of redundancy if you read this book cover to cover. Also, while I'm not a knee-jerk pro-Israel kind of guy (I have plenty of criticism for the way Israel has acted and I see a lot more complexity in the situation than people on either side ever acknowledge), I do cringe a little bit when Mr. Vidal gets on the subject of Israel's role in today's geopolitical scene. He hints at Israel's mistakes, but then, in his wonderfully droll, mischievous style, declares that one can't criticize Israel without being accused of anti-Semitism, complete with a sarcastic tone that says `gosh, what could be worse than being an anti-Semite?' I know he's making an important point but, as someone who grew up being taught that they will eventually get around to blaming everything on the Jews again, I can't help but feel a touch queasy.
   
   All that being said, this is an important book, it offers an alternate take on the modern situation that needs to be heard. And Gore Vidal, as opposed to someone like Noam Chomsky, reports in his inimitable sassy style, which turns a painful topic into pleasurable reading. That takes some talent. Thumbs up.



3. I thought this latest collection of Mr. Vidal's work was timely and well worth the read. I applaud his bluntness and 'tell it like it is' attitude concerning the U.S. and it's push for world domination. This book will be interesting to anyone who is searching for an alternative view as to what is going on in our crazy, sordid post 9/11 world. Highly recommended.



4. Boilerplate rhetoric about how the US is the global policeman and no longer a republic but an empire. We've heard it all before...yawn...
   
   And I even agree!



5. Mr. Vidal, well known and much despised by many on the right, makes the case of "conspiracy" within the present Bush administration. He points out the major oil connections of all the main players - Rice, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush Sr., Bush Jr. and others. He explains the Bush connection to Osama ben Laden and Al Quida. He links a possible 911 conspiracy to the historical conspiracy traditions - Pearl Harbor and FDR and Wilson and World War I. He connects oil to Afghanistan (Unocal pipe line) and to a "possible" invasion of Iraq. He tells of the training of the Taliban and Al Quida by the Reagan administration and the American Special Forces and the CIA. He goes on and on and on - and from what I can see many of his claims with regards to the present Bush and his administration have now been exposed as fact by even the main stream media.
   I wouldn't have said everything exactly the same way but on the whole Mr. Vidal has it pretty much as I see it also. He hit the Military Industrial Complex right on the head and even mentions the fact that we do live in a socialist state - it is just that it is only for corporate America and the super rich and needlessly wealthy. This is good "liberal" political science. Conservatives won't be reading this book no matter what it has to say, I'm sure. this is an easy book to read. Mr. Vidal doesn't mince any words. He says it as he see it. Sometimes he see it a little exaggerated for me but yet his conclusions are right in line, I would say.

4 comments about Forever After: New York City Teachers on 9/11.

1. What would you do if you had been a teacher or administrator in a New York City school on September 11th, 2001?
   
   None of us can be sure how we would have responded to such a challenge. But the 17 teachers who wrote this book, do. Their very personal memoirs have inspired me as a teacher, and as a grandparent of young children who have already asked: "Can something like that happen again?"
   
   Reading these teachers' well-earned words is like sitting around a kitchen table with a group of smart, dedicated, and exerienced teachers, and hearing them share t heir struggles with the greatest educational challenge of our time: sustaining the hopes of the next generation.
   
   Patricia Lent, a 2nd-3rd grade teacher, reports one of her students saying: "I'll never forget that on that day you held my hand and you didn't let go."
   
   "I couldn't let what had happened destroy what was left that was good," writes Debbie Almontaser.
   
   Voices from the classroom are all too rare in the literature of education and pedagogy. This book is exhilarting to read and an authentic source of hope and help for parents, teachers, and students.
   
   Ronald Gross
   
   
   
   
   
   
   



2. This book eloquently recounts the stories of the 9/11 tragedy and its aftermath from the perspective of the New York City teachers who were on the job that fateful day. It is powerfully written, a testament to their hope and strength and shared humanity. The writing was so compelling that I wanted to read it all at once, but emotionally I needed to go slowly, to let each chapter sink in. It is one of the most powerful pieces of writing that I have ever read.



3. IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PRIVILEDGE TO WALK THROUGH THE HORROR OF 9/11 WITH THESE COURAGEOUS TEACHERS. IN TELLING THEIR VERY PERSONAL STORIES WITH HUMILITY AND HUMANITY, THEY GAVE OF THEMSELVES, OPENLY AND GENEROUSLY, AND, LET US INTO THEIR LIVES ON THAT UNIMAGINABLE DAY.
   
   WE ALL THOUGHT ABOUT THE NYC SCHOOL CHILDREN THAT DAY. WE ALL WONDERED ABOUT THE TEACHERS WHO WERE IN CHARGE. WE WANTED TO KNOW WHEN AND HOW THEY FOUND OUT, WHAT EACH TEACHER SAID , HOW THEY FELT, WHO THEY CALLED, HOW THEY KEPT THEIR COOL WITH THE CHILDREN.... HOW THEY SHOWED UP AS LEADERS IN THE FACE OF THE GRAVEST TRAGEDY. AND, IN THE AFTERMATH, HOW THEY CAME TO AN INNER PLACE OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE; HOPE THAT CONTINUES TODAY.
   
   THE STORIES ARE STIRRING. THE VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD. THE READINGS WILL TOUCH YOUR HEART, WILL MOVE YOU TO TEARS, AND WILL LEAVE YOU WITH PROFOUND RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR OUR TEACHERS... AND A DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR EVERY DAY.



4. I bought this for my best friend, who is a teacher...she absolutely loved it and said it was wonderful book.

1 comments about Drugs in Afghanistan: Opium, Outlaws and Scorpion Tales.

1. I ordered "Scorpion Tales" after seeing an advertisement for it in an academic catalogue. The book has a catchy title and I thought it might help me with my own research on drug issues. I received a complimentary copy and put in on the shelf. It was the middle of the semester and I had little free time and stacks of other books and articles to read.
   
   One weekend, out of curiosity, I decided to browse the book. I was instantly hooked. I read it in two days. The author, David Macdonald, is an experienced sociologist and a fine story teller. General readers and academic specialists will find much of value in the book, especially in terms of drug issues and the history and culture of Afghanistan. Few other non-fiction books have provided such an earthy, fine-grained account of the human drama of drug use and abuse. I also learned much about the conflictive environment and history within which Afghans struggle to cope with poverty and suffering by cultivating, trading or consuming a wide variety of intoxicating substances.
   
   Among the book's many virtues, I thought the "scorpion tales" motif/metaphor was very well-chosen. (I won't give away the punch line of the story, but suffice it to say that Afghanistan drug folklore is itself mind-bending). I also appreciated the way the author discusses many different drugs (not just opium and heroin) without reifying distinctions between legal, illegal, semi-legal, etc. The treatment of new emerging drug trends, involving some remarkable substances, is another contribution. Additionally, the book provides an even-handed discussion of policy dilemmas and problems (including U.S. responsibility for many of Afghanistan's troubles).
   
   Scorpion Tales deserves a wide audience.
   
   Howard Campbell, Ph.D.
   El Paso, Texas (USA)

1 comments about Un)Civil War of Words: Media and Politics in the Arab World.

1. A scholarly work that drills down to the core on why the predominantly Arab news organizations cover what they do and how they can portray the same incident in such different lights. Full of the intrigue and forces behind what is called news in the Arab world. Provides many thoughts on how we should engage with the Arab media (and as it points out, that means the media's political sponsors) to correct the misperceptions and downright falsehoods portrayed there.

No comments about The McGraw-Hill Homeland Security Handbook.

No comments about Negotiating Under Fire: Preserving Peace Talks in the Face of Terror Attacks.