tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post563658072496416677..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Dogs, Not BarkingJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-88834922425641016822012-10-10T07:35:27.661-05:002012-10-10T07:35:27.661-05:00There are a couple of competing theories behind th...There are a couple of competing theories behind the so-called "green on blue" attacks. One is that the surge was working, so the Taliban changed their tactics to avoid direct confrontations and to undermine the US strategy of turning responsibility over from the US army to the Afghan army by infiltrating the Afghan army and starting fights between the two. The other, more recent theory is that the more modern, anti-Taliban Afghans are feeling abandoned because the Americans are leaving them in the lurch and they're taking their frustrations out on individual soldiers. That second argument appeared recently at ForeignPolicy.com. I don't know how much evidence there is for either of them.Scott Monjenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-26570698504437880362012-10-09T23:45:59.198-05:002012-10-09T23:45:59.198-05:00I'd love to know how press coverage per death,...I'd love to know how press coverage per death, to put it bluntly, has changed over the years. Of course, there's an argument that there's more news value in the recent insider attacks, but I do wonder if people know deaths are down.<br /><br />(And yup, it certainly could be a consequence of having fewer targets over there, although I get the sense that it's more than that.)Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-17323016227639233542012-10-09T17:41:30.372-05:002012-10-09T17:41:30.372-05:00I have actually heard several news stories lately ...I have actually heard several news stories lately about coalition deaths in Afghanistan--mainly noting how many of them were caused by Afghanis who were working on our side. It's not the same story, but it still addresses the issue of coalition deaths.Abbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-5948719164369427032012-10-09T15:45:29.502-05:002012-10-09T15:45:29.502-05:00The reduction in coalition deaths in Afghanistan c...The reduction in coalition deaths in Afghanistan could be a consequence of the reduction in coalition troops in Afghanistan.Scott Monjenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-37417821708677956242012-10-09T15:16:32.080-05:002012-10-09T15:16:32.080-05:00I have to say, I miss the Fairness Doctrine. As a ...I have to say, I miss the Fairness Doctrine. As a child, I was always sort of amazed by the pomp and ceremony of two opinions being presented in nightly-news segments. Two arguments, opposing, trying to persuade me. <br /><br />zicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-74499604321930714662012-10-09T15:09:14.845-05:002012-10-09T15:09:14.845-05:00Palin is approaching dogs not barking status, hoor...Palin is approaching dogs not barking status, hooray!longwalkdownlyndalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13173899547449318257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-91033362007633927802012-10-09T13:35:52.978-05:002012-10-09T13:35:52.978-05:00On #3:
-In Mass, not enough data to say much, but ...On #3:<br />-In Mass, not enough data to say much, but the latest data point is Brown +3, whereas before that it seemed more like Warren +3.<br />-In Ohio, it looked like Brown by around 8 before; now Brown +1 in latest polls.<br /><br />That said, looking at all the other close ones, I'm having trouble picking up anything like those. Could easily be sampling problems (as in: anything can happen in one sample) going on, and MA and OH are molehills or everything else is a mountain. <br /><br />But, I can't see consistent evidence either against or for Rep Senate candidates benefitting.Matt Jarvisnoreply@blogger.com