Michael Steele, out of perspective, a punk commenting on the Nobel prize

The Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele made remarks today that are difficult to comprehend. As one of the leaders of the two major parties in the United States of America, he characterized the Nobel Prize decision as wrong, unjustified, and ignoble. Why not, as an American, have some pride and look ahead and speak about the possibilities of dealing with the huge problems and challenges that we face globally, and the desire to work cooperatively to achieve necessary goals. Being above the parochial fray seems to be impossible for many members of both parties.

With this award the most important issue now is to find an exit from Afghanistan. The place is hopelessly corrupt and ungovernable. The U.S. prescence there exacerbates problems in the region. We now protect 90% of the world's heroin production, how about that, and if Karzai and his cronies aren't stoned to death before they can leave they will be living with immense wealth in Switzerland or some other morally blind U.S. protectorate.

A commentary in "The Nation" this week, "An Open Letter to President Obama" by William R. Polk, is a straightforward and historically informative analysis of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's worth reading, and I say this as someone who has trouble with "The Nation" at times, especially their cryto-Stalinist columnist Alexander Cockburn.