Strange and interesting post-election tale from Nashville....black newpaper uses tactics last used by the Klan.

The Outing of Black Non-Voters

Hat tip: Eurowatch

NRO The Corner....VDH

A Lot at Stake in Iraq [Victor Davis Hanson]

Much of the debate over Iraq is framed over "perceptions" of power. That is, if we fail, others will immediately capitalize on the newfound sense that the United States is weakened and a window of opportunity has opened up. Lose in Iraq, the conventional wisdom goes, then Iran will accelerate its nuclear acquisition, Syria and Iran will be even more emboldened, Latin America will go even harder left, China will carve out a wider swath, and so on.

But, in fact, I fear it could be worse than that the perception of impotence that galvanizes enemies. If we lost in Iraq and fled, it would not be the perception at all, but the reality of power that would be gone, in the sense the United States would never in our lifetime intervene successfully again on the ground abroad-convinced it would inevitably lose.

I think we are also close to seeing the permanent end of any Anglo-American military collaboration. And there would be legitimate questions raised also whether the U.S. military could win any future war—given the knowledge that, barring some instantaneous victory, the American public would not allow it the time or the latitude to destroy its enemies.

Instead, the blueprint for any further American involvement is the current investigations of Marines in Haditha, the hysteria over an Abu Ghraib, flushed Korans, Bible-quoting generals, and all the other media headline stories that drowned out what we were doing in Iraq. Al Jazeera might prove to be more powerful than the 101st Airborne not just through its shaping of public opinion in the Middle East-but far more here at home in scaring Americans with its power to shape public opinion in the Middle East.

When Mr. Bush contemplates what to do about Iran, he knows—and he knows Iran knows—that we are on the verge right now of a tired American public that winces at the very thought of the media storm, political fury, and wild partisan charges that would accompany any more military reactions. But the next step would be the complete loss of public confidence, in the fashion of the French, that we even could win a war if we had to. And then watch out. Great powers, like the largest animals, have a small central nervous system that directs their enormous limbs and sinews. And when it goes—call it public confidence in one's civilization—then armies tremor, enervate, and, Europe-like, wither away.

Posted at 2:33 PM

Great point by Bill Kristol on Fox Hume panel tonight:

"When Clarence Thomas got through there were 57 Democratic Senators. Are the Democrats going to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee for a year and a half....especially if it is a woman?"

I visited Mongolia in 2003.  It is a beautiful, unspoiled wilderness populated by friendly folks who will gladly invite you into their homes.

Although John Kerry used Ghengis's name in a negative reference, he was wrong to do this.  (What do you expect from a C minus student?)

Genghis is a hero to Mongolians (Khan is just a title, like King, Regent, Tsar, etc.)  There is a portrait of the great king (oftentimes a wall rug or woven tapestry) in many Mongolian homes and schools.  Contrary to popular belief Genghis was not a barbarian.  He brought many advanced and civilizing concepts to the world, and is responsible for many positive features in Western civilization. The Mongol Empire was the largest in history in total land mass.

A great book on Genghis, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.

I recommend it highly if are you interested in civilization and history in general, not just the Mongolians.  One of the best history books I have read in the last year.

Why would I go to Mongolia?  To catch the largest fresh water salmon in the world. The taimen.   They grow up to 200 pounds.  You catch them on a 9 weight fly rod with a top water bug. 

Here's one of mine:

Sandra Day O'Conner and her husband had fished out of the same camp the year before I was there.  When I was fortunate enough to meet her at the Southern Center for International Studies 40th anniversary dinner, SCIS we talked fishing for a bit.  She was quite surprised to have that conversation.  

Me and Sandra Day talking taimen fishin':

Here's more from National Geographic on taimen and my buddy who's saving them by getting Westerners to visit and catch them.  We fished both the Eg and the Ur.

Dan Vermillion saving the taimen

Dan Vermillion still thrills to the memory of his first encounter with a fish of every angler's dreams.

He had reached the banks of the Eg River, amid the vast steppe of northern Mongolia, to check out travelers' tales of an enormous freshwater salmon. To his surprise, his Mongolian guide produced a freshly shot prairie dog, which he attached to a fishing line and threw in the river.

Moments later the water erupted to a massive strike mid-current. The fish got away—with a big chunk of prairie dog—but Vermillion was hooked for good.

Two decades later Vermillion, from Livingston, Montana, is behind an unusual ecotourism venture that aims to safeguard the taimen (Hucho taimen) by encouraging Westerners to catch it.

He and his two brothers also have camps in Montana, the Amazon, the South Pacific and the Pacific Northwest.  Great guys that are excellent, patient, knowledgeable guides who also are great conversationalists.  Dan's a bit on the Left, but is one of those guys with whom it is a pleasure to talk politics with, not a battle.