Around the World

–updated–

Starting at home, with one lone Republican thinking casting Speaker Pelosi as “Pussy Galore” is “reprehensible, irresponsible and unpersuasive.”

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) told Politico Saturday:

“I thought it was reprehensible, irresponsible and unpersuasive. If we’re going to regain the credibility of the American people, we’re going to have to stop with silly antics like that. It may get a snide chuckle inside the Beltway, but it offends most people. We have to get away from the politics of personal destruction,” he said of the video.

Of course, some in the conservative chorus would prefer to keep the R(Rush) N(Newt) C(Cheney) Party relegated to minority status. Fine with me, but the fact they are so defensive, while attacking what I wrote yesterday (see Memeorandum today), illustrates how cluelessly tone deaf the Republican base remains, even after getting shellacked in November. What Republicans refuse to admit, even when they are dragged to admit Steele’s ad is not helping them, is that implying that any woman, but especially the first female Speaker of the House in U.S. history, be called “Pussy” is undeniably offensive in the real world. But according to right wing bloggers I’m “hyperventilating.” The most hilarious part of the attacks are their lack of analytic prowess, opining that my problem is of the nudity implied in the “Pussy Galore” imagery. Evidently, not only can’t conservatives understand the offense, but they can’t even get the attack on the messenger (me) correct. If right wing bloggers are attacking you, you’re winning.

From STARS (and Stripes): Troops prepare to counter opium-poppy harvest in Afghanistan.

Tom Ridge opines on Rush:

Pennsylvania Republican Tom Ridge is taking direct aim at Rush Limbaugh, telling CNN’s John King the conservative talk radio host can be “shrill” and uses language in a way “that offend very many.”

Maybe this is part of the “emerging” Republican Party to which Colin Powell spoke about recently. To add, that Gen. Powell has become the latest veteran to run into the conservative buzz saw, which happens with any soldier or veteran who dares to buck the Republican line.

Next to the subject of Israeli settlements. Bush-Cheney may be gone, but they’re still gumming up the works in progress:

The Obama administration is pressing the Israeli government to halt the expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestinian areas, U.S. and Israeli officials said, seeking a visible symbol of progress on peace that might inspire Arab states to consider normalizing relations with Jerusalem. The administration’s effort is being accompanied by greater willingness by U.S. lawmakers to complain publicly about settlements, but it has been complicated by an unwritten agreement on the issue between Israel and the United States reached during the Bush administration. …

LA Times has a story on Al Qaeda: Al Qaeda recruits back in Europe, but why?

Onward to Pakistan, where reporting is that Pakistan has “intensified” their offensive against the Taliban.

BBC has a story on this as well.

The military says the city is surrounded, most of the militants’ ammunition dumps are destroyed and their supply routes cut off.

The BBC’s Shoaib Hassan, in Islamabad, says it is the most important battle yet in the army’s offensive against the Taliban in Swat.

A swift victory would bolster public support for a greater fight against the militants, our correspondent adds.

Long War Journal has more, with an Al Qaeda twist.

And a question, What will Obama do?

.. In the past 10 months, for example, about a half-dozen midlevel financiers and logistics experts working with Al Qaeda have been captured and are being held by intelligence services in four Middle Eastern countries after the United States provided information that led to their arrests by local security services, a former American counterterrorism official said. …

Hope everyone is enjoying the Memorial Day weekend. Fly the flag. Thank a soldier.