Most of Obama’s key foreign policy appointments seem more committed to military dominance than international law.

Obama Gathering a Flock of Hawks to Oversee U.S. Foreign Policy

By Stephen Zunes, AlterNet.

In disc golf, there’s a shot known as “an Obama” — it’s a drive that you expect to veer to the left but keeps hooking right.

In no other area has this metaphor been truer than Barack Obama’s foreign policy and national security appointments. For a man who was elected in part on the promise to not just end the war in Iraq but to “end the mindset that got us into war in the first place,” it’s profoundly disappointing that a majority of his key appointments — Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates, Dennis Blair, Janet Napolitano, Richard Holbrooke and Jim Jones, among others — have been among those who represent that very mindset.

As president, Obama is ultimately the one in charge, so judgment should not be based upon his appointments alone. Indeed, some of his early decisions regarding foreign policy and national security – such as ordering the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, initiating the necessary steps for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, and ending the “global gag rule” on funding for international family-planning programs – have been quite positive.

But it’s still significant that the majority of people appointed to key foreign policy positions, like those in comparable positions in the Bush administration, appear to be more committed to U.S. hegemony than the right of self-determination, human rights and international law.

Supporters of Wars of Conquest

Though far from the only issue of concern, it is the fact that the majority of Obama’s appointees to these key positions were supporters of the invasion of Iraq that is perhaps the most alarming.

Obama’s defenders claim that what is most important in these appointments is not their positions on a particular issue, but their overall competence. Unfortunately, this argument ignores the reality that anybody who actually believed that invading Iraq was a good idea amply demonstrated that they’re unqualified to hold any post dealing with foreign and military policy.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Football Players Suffering Brain Damage

Doctors have found a type of brain damage usually associated with boxers in six NFL players who died at age 50 or younger. What do you think?

Chad Flaherty,
Flooring Sales Representative
“I’ve always said that players shouldn’t be allowed onto the football field unless they’ve been doing rigorous exercises to toughen the brain.”

Matt Pergament,
Public Relations
“If I’d known professional football was so dangerous, I never would have let my son join the Atlanta Falcons.”

Francis Judson,
IT Specialist
“Perhaps they should sign a waiver indicating they are willing to take the risk in exchange for, say, tens of millions of dollars.”

Today’s photo of the day shows Rod Blagojevich, who was finally impeached yesterday. Now I’m wondering who’ll he’ll snitch on to avoid jail time. I won’t say a name, but it rhymes with Tom Plebanuel…

Today’s video of the day is a Barbershop Classic…. Thoughts?