Quote of the Day:

"[T]he United States is quite obviously much weaker today, politically, diplomatically, even militarily, than when George W. Bush was inaugurated. Who has done more damage to America, those who point this out, or those who brought it about?" — Geoffrey Wheatcroft (English journalist and author, whose books include "The Controversy of Zion" (which won a National Jewish Book Award) and the forthcoming "Yo, Blair!"), writing in this week's "Discussion" section of The New York Times "Book" section.


Gender Bias in Income Levels—Another Bush Legacy:

Starting in the 1970s and continuing through the 1990s, the gap between the income earned by males and females in the U. S. was narrowing, more rapidly at some periods and less so at others. But since the election of the current administration, this gap has stagnated, and there appears to be no change in sight. David Leonhardt addresses the issue in today's New York Times under "Gender Pay Gap, Once Narrowing, Is Stuck in Place."


More Troops for Iraq, but Where Do We Find Them:

The Bush administration, having tossed Rummy aside, is now consider a larger troop build up in Iraq. But recruitment is off, especially as the war has lost its popular support, so where do military recruiters find the man power?

Maybe the following story from today's New York Times will provide some suggestions:

A 39-year-old woman who once worked as a chemical specialist in the Army found herself down and out and living in a women’s shelter, Sergeant White said. The Army came calling one more time, and she re-enlisted. Now, the woman is back in uniform at her previous job, serving in South Korea.

“It was amazing,” Sergeant White (an Army recruiter who has spent the past six years safely in the U. S. with his family and receiving extra pay for doing so while convincing others to join the military and go to war) said, “to see how much change we could bring to just this one woman’s life.”

* * *

Senior Army officials underscore the challenges they face, regardless of the goals that might be set. But like Sergeant White, they also express confidence that the Army’s recruiters — armed with incentives, high-tech marketing and inspiring stories from soldiers — can continue a steady, substantial annual increase in troop numbers.

Pressumably, the recruiters will explain how joining the military will provide recruits with the opportunity to lead successful lives once they leave the military, like the homeless lady mentioned above.

And while we're on the subject: "Expanding the nation’s ground forces is expensive; every 10,000 new soldiers add about $1.2 billion in personnel costs to the Pentagon’s annual budget. On top of that, equipment for 10,000 new troops would cost an additional $2 billion, according to Army statistics."

The Death Penalty:

Governor-elect Martin O'Malley of Maryland is against the death penalty, and the issue is likely to come to a head there once he takes office. The Washington Post reports on the situation in today's edition. The country, or at least a slight majority, is still in love with the tough guy image it has of itself as that notion plays out by favoring the death penalty.