Bunch o Links

Iran not having trouble finding friends abroad. A lot of cash will do that for you, but they will not be friends with a lot of clout.

The Marines cleaning up Afghanistan.

Oil shock.

Bad news, the largest Iraqi Sunni bloc did not get what it wanted, and has put on hold rejoining the government.

Nukes come to South Carolina.

Think you have it bad? Check out those prices the Europeans are paying for gasoline! And now they are protesting, I do not blame them. But maybe algae gas will save the day?

Nice article on Insurgencies. From.

The new Majlis speaker, also the former nuclear negotiator who was fired for wanting to compromise, maybe not compromise but at least be less defiant and talk more.

I find it harder and harder to accept anything the Administration says anymore, especially about terrorism. So things are going better now? I know they are in Iraq and they have been in Saudi Arabia for a while. And the recent Zawahiri Q&A's do point to somewhat of a reduction in support for the group. But 'big gains'? We were just hearing about how AQ has rebuilt their strongholds in Pakistan? Where's the magic?

You see this a lot, a disaster strikes and a government cannot respond. What fills the gap? The main rival to the government. Although in Burma the Junta has all the guns and elections are a farce, but the 'good will' will be much harder to get back.