Defense Secretary Jim Mattis recently said, “We do look toward a victory in Afghanistan.”
Last week's official report says the opposite.

Cold and wet again, so here's a certain small person enjoying the fire in deepest midwinter.

Time to put on the overcoat and go for a walk.

Keep warm everyone.

That's the title of a fairly philosophical essay at Counterpunch about why rational people are increasingly frustrated by the current forms of "argumentation". Because facts just don't matter any more, as we have seen repeatedly: DNC cheating, Hillary's emails, Syrian gas attacks, Skripal poisoning, Iran agreement withdrawl, accusations of unprovoked Iranian attacks (in the face of 100 self-admitted Israeli attacks on Iranian forces). The facts just don't matter.

If you thought Europe was onboard with Washington's efforts to isolate Russia, think again.

Not surprising, but even so, still disappointing.  All content at BAR is listed as Creative Commons, so I’ll bring all of it.  ‘Barber’s Sermon on Militarism Reveals Philosophical & Political Limitations of the Poor Peoples Campaign’, Bruce A. Dixon, BAR managing editor, 11 May 2018