A United Nations sponsored panel of scientists now say that human-caused global warming is "Unequivocal". While there are still skeptics out there, it is getting harder to make the case against global warming, or the human factor that is behind it. Of course, political leaders here and across the globe are unwilling to admit the truth about their options, which are basically all pretty tough. If we really want to limit greenhouse gas emissions, we would have to so retard economic growth as to lead to a world-wide depression. This they will not do. I advocate investing a far greater amount of time and money in improving technology to allow for the cleaner burning of fossil fuels and the more efficient use of energy, and making an effort to prepare our societies for the changes that will happen due to global warming during the course of this century.

The new National Intelligence Estimate about the situation in Iraq can only be described as "bleak". Unfortunately, even if the troop surge helps to stabilize the situation in Baghdad and Al Anbar province, it will merely serve to keep the lid on temporarily. Eventually, the new administration in January 2009 will begin the process of withdrawing our troops. When they leave, Iraq will devolve into savage, tribal, sectarian violence. I believe it is inevitable.

David Warren describes the kind of tribalism I am talking about.

Meanwhile, Iran begins the installation of more centrifuges to process nuclear fuel. Unless the current leadership in Iran is set aside by the people, or by more moderate elements within the governing classes, I fear a confrontation between Israel and Iran is also inevitable. At the moment, I do not believe that President Bush has the political support necessary to launch an attack to degrade the Iranian nuclear program, which is why I believe the Israelis will take matters into their own hands.

Finally, the Left here in America is getting impatient with the Democrats in Washington concerning the war. They thought they voted for an end to the war in November when they voted for the Democrats. Instead, they are getting an escalation which the Democrats do not seem to have the will or ability to stop. So, at least one Leftist is calling for widespread public impeachment hearings by ordinary Americans against George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. The hope is that such a series of public events would garner enough media attention to put pressure on the Democrats in Congress to convene real impeachment proceedings in the House. While I doubt that the effort would succeed, there is a certain logic behind the effort, and I applaud any American who peacefully expresses his or her political will, especially when the people they elect to represent their will fail to do so.