Headless chickens...

are my metaphor for the current financial markets.
They gyrate, but no longer squawk.

How Obamaesque

McClatchy is reporting that Obama will announce on Dec. 1 that he is sending 34,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.

Why Obamaeque? (if you need to be told)
Leaked to the media - check
Almost, but not quite the full number requested - check
Drawn out discussions, not for substance, but for show -check
Ignore any voices but those advocating escallation - check
Deafening silence among the 'progressive' bloggers - check

It only remains to be seen whether he will call this a 'surge', or if he'll leave it up to his media goons to do so. I expect the latter. Disappointment is so old-school, but let's face it, if this is true, it truly sucks.

Outrageous!

Iranian stormtroopers bludgeon protesters!

Oh wait, that's at UCLA where a DFH is getting his just electrical desserts.

Corruptomania

TomDispatch has an excellent post on one of our politicians favorite subjects, corruption in Afghanistan. A succinct way to sum it up would be this, if their was no corruption in Afghanistan, there would be no state at all. All the actors, Karzai, the warlords, the Taliban, the US, NATO, Pakistan, India use 'corruption' (channeling money out of approved pathways) to move ahead. There just is no other way.

So, read the article, and the next time one of our clown politicians (Obama, Clinton, Biden, etc. etc. etc.) repeats the mantra about Karzai needing to clean thing up, you'll know just how much bullshit is involved and how they are unwilling and unable to say anything that will not just shovel more of the stinky stuff.

Poor Peter

Well, it's taken a while (just over a month), but the NYT has finally deigned to report on the Peter Galbraith saga. This may end his 'diplomatic' career, but he may be able to console himself with the $100mn payoff.

UPDATE: It's heartening to know that other former US officials are now benefiting from their service in Iraq, including Khalilzad and Garner. Ain't freedom great?

Religion is great!

THE LLOYD's Prayer
Our Chairman,
Who Art At Goldman,
Blankfein Be Thy Name.
The Rally's Come. God's Work Be Done
On Earth As There's No Fear Of Correction.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Gains,
And Bankrupt Our Competitors
As You Taught Lehman and Bear Their Lessons.
And Bring Us Not Under Indictment.
For Thine Is The Treasury,
The House And The Senate
Forever and Ever.
Goldman.

-Tom Gregory
(h/t zerohedge)

And the winner is...

Obama called Karzai and congratulated him on his election victory. That's after the US did everything possible to delegitimize the so-called mayor of Kabul during the last six months, and the press campaign to delegitimize the Afghan elections.

Karzai is obviously a wily guy, and far more attuned to the power structures in his country. He also cannot afford to wear the blinders that the government and press wear in the US. And at least for now the US is going to have to live with him.

With the election settled, all we have left to wait for is Obama's troop decision. Since he seems unable or unwilling to set out on a new path, a middle of the road escalation seems the best bet, but with McChrystal throwing figures around like 65 or even 85 thousand, middle of the road could be 40,000.