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Friday, April 1, 2011

Quick Hits on a Difficult April Fool's Day

Lots of stuff happening, and I spent way too much time today thinking about Iraq.  So, just some thoughts on the events of the day:
  • Eight UN staffers were killed in Mazar-e-Sharif in Northern Afghanistan in a riot that was spawned by the burning of Korans by American nutcases in Florida.  This is notable for many reasons and I am sure there will be much coverage of this.  I would just note that Mazar-e-Sharif is one of the eight spots that is supposed to be transitioned to Afghan authority.  So far, the transition is not looking too good.
  • Lots of speculation about where Petraeus will go now that his time in Afghanistan is coming to an end: head of US intelligence, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, SACEUR?  He is still recovering from prostate surgery so perhaps we can let him rest a bit first?  The strange thing is that it looks like the US will be changing its entire command team in Afghanistan at the same time--Rodriguez is going to US Army Command.  Would it not make sense to move only a few pieces on the board, so that the new person can learn from the old staff?  It is probably not that problematic given that the folks who are being mentioned all have lots of experience in the area.  Still, I wish that (a) we would replace these guys more gradually; and (b) not do it during the summer fighting season.
  • Interesting item in Guatemala--avoiding the nepotism laws by getting a divorce?  Check it out.
  • Heaps of twitter reports that the Libyan National Army--the rebels--are starting to become organized, setting rules for who can come to the front (journalists better not sleep in).
I wish the first story was an April Fool's joke, but it is not.   Maybe the last one is.

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