Today, we fed Parker something other than formula or expressed milk: rice cereal. I was trying to convince Kari to let me add some hot sauce or something (I am sure it was pretty bland), but she wouldn't let me.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Kari Goes to Decorate at Her Mom's House
Each year, it is a tradition for Kari and Rebecca to decorate a tree at their parent's home. I decided to go with Kari this year and bring Parker. Above are a couple of new pics from this "night out."
This is also the first time we have allowed Parker to lay on his back/stomach for any considerable period of time other than sleeping. For the first time, I witnessed him roll from his stomach to his back (although Kari mentioned she had seen him do it twice before). It is hard to allow this at our house, as we have uncomfortable wood floors, whereas Kari's parents have a wonderful thick carpeting.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
"Knowing the Enemy"
A website I periodically visit is called the Foreign Policy Research Institute, or FPRI. A couple of weeks ago, a professor from Johns Hopkins University (Mary Habek) posted an article on the phenomenon of jihadism (http://www.fpri.org/enotes/20061117.habeck.knowingtheenemy.html). She has also written a book with the same title, "Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror" (http://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Enemy-Jihadist-Ideology-Terror/dp/0300113064/sr=8-1/qid=1165763356/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7758843-9839115?ie=UTF8&s=books). I suggest that anyone who is interested in the implications of the US War on Terror should start by reading her article.
This article describes the main ideology we are facing, why it is dangerous, and what it means. It is a great piece which weeds out many of the fallacious arguments made in the public sphere today (the Jihadi apologists versus those who believe Muslims are our enemy).
I will be reading her book and will give you a more detailed review upon completion.
This article describes the main ideology we are facing, why it is dangerous, and what it means. It is a great piece which weeds out many of the fallacious arguments made in the public sphere today (the Jihadi apologists versus those who believe Muslims are our enemy).
I will be reading her book and will give you a more detailed review upon completion.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Christmas Photos
Today, we have new photos of Parker in an outfit my Father got him in preparation for his first Christmas. One of these will be our Christmas greeting.
Enjoy!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Parker's New Hat
In the pictures above, you can see the Christmas tree hat, including ornaments, that Kari just made for the little guy. Enjoy!
Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military
"Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military" (http://www.amazon.com/Pakistan-Between-Military-Husain-Haqqani/dp/0870032143/sr=8-1/qid=1165201521/ref=sr_1_1/102-9600135-6574545?ie=UTF8&s=books) is an interesting look at a relatively young nation whose importance in the world cannot be overstated. As a frontline country in the war on terrorism and an erstwhile ally of the United States, not to mention a nuclear power and the second largest Muslim nation in the world today, Pakistan has always been strategically important. And they have become strategically important to the United States, because of America's fight against communism or terror, depending on the decade.
But make no mistake, Pakistan, which has been controlled by the military more or less since its inception, works ruggedly in its own domestic interests: first, to maintain its sovereignty versus it's pre-partition parent, India; second, Pakistan will maintain its nuclear program at all costs; and third, Pakistan wants a client government in Afghanistan which will serve to work with Pakistan rather than its antagonist, India.
Over the years, as this book details, Pakistan has courted the United States in order to receive economic, and more importantly, military aid, to build up against India. Meanwhile, in order to maintain their position of government, the military (more often than not) has worked with Islamist interests within the country to provide a counterweight so that the international community will not struggle to mandate democratic reforms within the country (in other words, Pakistan pumps up the threat of the Islamists as a way to warn the international community of what the alternative to military rule would be).
The bottom line, as the author implies is that Pakistan cannot militarily defeat India. Nor does India have any aspirations to reintegrate Pakistan into its nation. All the militarization does is destablize the nation by diverting much needed resources which could be used to build up Pakistan's educational, commercial and health care infrastructure, and instead, the funds are used to build up an army versus a largely benign neigbor.
As a liberal and member in two of the civilian Pakistani governments, perhaps the author, Husein Haqqani understates the threat from India, or perhaps he portrays it accurately. However, the one weakness of the book in my opinion was not delving into the perceived need for Pakistan's military build-up. All in all, however, the book was excellent.
But make no mistake, Pakistan, which has been controlled by the military more or less since its inception, works ruggedly in its own domestic interests: first, to maintain its sovereignty versus it's pre-partition parent, India; second, Pakistan will maintain its nuclear program at all costs; and third, Pakistan wants a client government in Afghanistan which will serve to work with Pakistan rather than its antagonist, India.
Over the years, as this book details, Pakistan has courted the United States in order to receive economic, and more importantly, military aid, to build up against India. Meanwhile, in order to maintain their position of government, the military (more often than not) has worked with Islamist interests within the country to provide a counterweight so that the international community will not struggle to mandate democratic reforms within the country (in other words, Pakistan pumps up the threat of the Islamists as a way to warn the international community of what the alternative to military rule would be).
The bottom line, as the author implies is that Pakistan cannot militarily defeat India. Nor does India have any aspirations to reintegrate Pakistan into its nation. All the militarization does is destablize the nation by diverting much needed resources which could be used to build up Pakistan's educational, commercial and health care infrastructure, and instead, the funds are used to build up an army versus a largely benign neigbor.
As a liberal and member in two of the civilian Pakistani governments, perhaps the author, Husein Haqqani understates the threat from India, or perhaps he portrays it accurately. However, the one weakness of the book in my opinion was not delving into the perceived need for Pakistan's military build-up. All in all, however, the book was excellent.
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