Defending the 12th century since the 14th; blogging since the 21st.

Catholicism, Conservatism, the Middle Ages, Opera, and Historical and Literary Objets d'Art blogged by a suburban dad who teaches law and writes stuff.


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Who was Cacciaguida? See Dante's PARADISO, Cantos XV, XVI, & XVII.


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Prez makes surprise visit to Iraq. Good move, if long overdue. His remarks at Al-Asad Air Base, the principal air base in Anbar, are in the linked article. Some commentating:

Anbar is a huge province. It was once written off as lost.

Yes, and my son Jonathan Lee Morris was there at the time. I think he found it.

It is now one of the safest places in Iraq.

Could we set a higher standard than that? Like, safer than New York City? That's what JL says it was back in the "written off as lost" days, and while I think he exaggerates so as not to borrow glory, I'd say he's got the better point of comparison.

Earlier today I met with some of the tribal sheiks here in Anbar. It was a really interesting meeting.

Whas'matter, you never had goat yoghurt?

The very people that you helped the Iraqis defeat in Anbar swore allegiance to the man that ordered the attack on the United States of America. What happens here in Anbar matters to the security of the United States.

I believe that is accurate. Now: draw-down of forces?

...will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground -- not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media....If we let our enemies back us out of Iraq, we will more likely face them in America. If we don't want to hear their footsteps back home, we have to keep them on their heels over here.

Good line.
posted by Cacciaguida at 5:03 PM