Secretary of State calls for Special Prosecutor to investigate Special Prosecutor

I don't normally talk Indiana politics, but I couldn't resist the headline.  Advance Indiana has the details:

The special prosecutor who brought criminal charges against Secretary of State Charlie White alleging he committed voter fraud by casting a vote in a precinct in which he allegedly did not reside is facing a criminal complaint against him for the very same charges he has brought against White. The person leveling the charges against Special Prosecutor Dan Sigler is Secretary of State Charlie White. If the allegations White alleges against his accuser are true, it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Advance Indiana shows the text of White's complaint.  I can't say I find White's complaint impressive.  The consistent theme of White's defense can be seen threaded through this document.  For instance:
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Is the Arab world capable of democracy?

This has been the $64,000 (plus applicable sales taxes) Question since at least the start of the war in Iraq in 2003.  Perhaps the real question should be how the Arab world defines "democracy," as Salim Mansur explains:

In the long run, everything can likely work out and Arabs hopefully may learn to distinguish between mobocracy, as a tyranny of the majority, and democracy, as a rule of law, in which minorities are protected as equal members of society.
But in the long run, as Lord John Maynard Keynes — the revered economic guru of the liberal-left — pointed out the obvious: “In the long run we are all dead.” What matters is whether in the short or medium term Arab politics can break out of its closed circle of traditional consensus that frowns upon innovation as heresy.
The problem is culture. Arab culture, despite tremendous changes that have occurred elsewhere in the world, remains resilient in adhering to traditional values of patriarchy and the tribal order of father (leader) knows what is best for his tribe or nation.

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Setting up for action in Syria?

Los Angeles Times' blogger Andrew Malcolm notes some interesting parallels between the Obama administration's rhetoric on Libya and its recent statements about Syria:

When President Obama launched missiles and warplanes against Libya's longtime dictator Col. Kadafi in March, it came after a series of public warnings from both the president himself and his press secretary, Jay Carney, in support of pro-democracy demonstrators and against the regime's violent reactions.
The ongoing attacks against Libya, which Obama said would last days not weeks, began as the president launched several days of travel around South America.
Obama later justified the aggressive U.S. and NATO action against Libya as necessary to snuff the "threat" of a humanitarian crisis in Benghazi where the ruler had vowed to kill protesting civilians.
At that time critics pointed to Syria, Yemen and elsewhere as places where violent repressions were already occurring and wondered about possible U.S. actions there, as well as an over-commitment of U.S. forces, now involved three military conflicts.
[...]
Carney flatout calls the deadly crackdown by Syrian security forces an existing "humanitarian crisis." Rights organizations estimate more than 1,000 civlians have died there in recent weeks at the hands of security forces of President Bashir al Assad.

On Syria, the administration seems to be moving at the speed of glacial ice.  It's well past time for us to take action of some sort against Assad.  Even rhetorical action.

Inside Istanbul/Constantinopolis

Michael J. Totten has a very interesting interview with the lovely and talented Claire Berlinski, a journalist based in Istanbul, about what is going on with the Turkish government.

The biggest item I take from Berlinski is that the Turkish government lives in a fantasyland with respect to Iran, not understanding that Iran has changed since the days of the Ottoman Empire and that the interests and objectives of the Iranian government are not aligned with those of Turkey in the slightest.  The AKP is maybe not as Islamist as most people, including myself, fear, but is instead stoking Islamism for domestic political gain.  A dangerous game, to be sure.

I also noted a hint that the Turkish government is turning against Syria.  Relations had been warming in recent years, in spite of the chronic Alexandretta/Hatay issue.

Read the whole thing.

Background on the Falkland Islands

from Fausta Wertz.

As he makes clear, Argentina has no legitimate claim, geographic or historic, to the Falklands.  None.

And the Obama administration has no legitimate reason to support Argentina's claim.  None.

What is a bit disconcerting for me is the thought that if Argentina does invade the Falklands like they did in 1982, does Great Britain even have the capability to take them back?  Remember that Britain has just made draconian cuts in the Royal Navy.

If Argentina does go to war with Britain again, over the Falklands, I'm guessing that the British will have to withdraw their support for American military actions across the globe to come up with enough troops to handle a Falklands situation.  That would hurt US efforts around ther world.

Again, what possible benefit to the US does Obama think this policy could have?

Inexcusable

Barack Obama sides with Argentina in their dispute with Great Britain over the Falkland Islands.  Even though Britain is our closest and most important ally.  Even though the residents of the Falklands consider themselves part of Britain and want no part of Argentina.  Even though Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982 and Britain had to fight a war to get them back.

Fausta calls it "Another slap in the face for Britain."

I cannot think of any possible justification for this change in US policy.  None.
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Don't get your hopes up

This Los Angeles Times article titled "Syrian reports suggest divisions in security forces" sounds more than a little overblown:

Gunmen in "military uniform and government cars" were responsible for the recent killings of as many as 120 Syrian security forces in the northwestern city of Jisr Shughur, the official Syrian Arab News Agency said Wednesday.

The news agency's statement could signal a dramatic division within Syria's security forces and lend credence to opposition claims of clashes between forces loyal to President Bashar Assad and those refusing to take part in a violent crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrators.

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