Beer Run: November 2009

First, the news catch-up from last week.

Afghanistan decision to come within days (CNN, BBC) - So much for President Obama being prepared to lead a war on "day one". His lackluster, half-assed, sluggish handling of Afghanistan thus far has been an absolute joke, and every day that he's delayed has made it more difficult for our troops to win.

Iraq luring 'virtual visitors' to Mesopotamia's treasures (CNN, Times)

Fox: Man Marries Virtual Girlfriend ... With Public Reception - Behold: what our world is coming to.

Fox: Climate Skeptics See 'Smoking Gun' in Researchers' Leaked E-Mails - Uh, gee, ya think? The fanaticism over "climate change" has always been about pre-existing politics, moreso than it has ever been about a fictional looming catastrophe.

Fox: Pirates Attack Oil Tanker Off Africa's West Coast - Pay attention: west coast. Somalia is on the east coast of Africa. This means that the world must now also deal... With West African pirates!

AP: Afghan Provinces Get Millions to Reduce Opium Poppies - Believe it or not, opium eradication efforts are making progress.

AP: 2 IRA Dissidents Charged With Attempting to Kill Officer

AP: Taliban Leader Issues Muslim Holiday Message

Sky News: Man Who Made Predictions on TV Now on Saudi Death Row for 'Witchcraft' - It's tough to build a dialogue with any society that still executes people for witchcraft.

CNN: Zakaria: Did Obama get his message across in China? - Hope, change, we surrender, please stop censoring the Internet. Yeah, I think he got his point across.

CNN: Official: Pakistanis want Taliban defeat - Gee, ya think? The issue is a lack of security, not some latent public support for the Taliban. The locals hate the Taliban more than we hate the Taliban.

CNN: Italy debates public crosses

BBC: Jerusalem Diary: Hummus wars

BBC: Morocco's wine growers sniff success abroad

BBC: Belgian pleads guilty to US-Iran arms sales charge

BBC: Climate 'drives African conflict' - Oh, come on. Seriously? Idiots.

BBC: What is the future for Dutch troops in Afghanistan?

BBC: Gaddafi 'to mediate' football row - Algeria and Egypt are being so nasty to one another over a soccer game that Crazy Uncle Moammar has to be brought in to negotiate. Way to go, folks.

BBC: Climate cash is 'unaccounted for'

Guardian: Caught up in the Middle East's forgotten war [in Yemen]

Guardian: The mystery of Dr Aafia Siddiqui

Guardian: Will Murdoch's Bing gamble pay off? - Apparently Rupert Murdoch is working with Microsoft to try and hamstring Google. Very, very, very interesting.

Guardian: The voices of climate change sceptics

Guardian: Men's groups are fine by me, sister

Guardian: Afghanistan: time to go - "One things is clear: Nato's military mission has failed. We need to focus now on a power-sharing deal to enable an early withdrawal." Early withdrawal? I think that should read "surrender, cut and run, and give up". The Taliban don't share power. There are not moderate elements to the Taliban or al Qaeda. The only options are victory or surrender. Unfortunately, Europe lost the will to defend itself long ago.

Times: Pakistan fears over new Afghanistan strategy

Times: Colonel S is living proof that is possible to tackle Afghan corruption

Times: Chavez defends the 'bad guys' of the world

Times: Feral camels terrorise Outback community

Times: Obama's delay 'is affecting British support' - Gee, ya think?

Times Blog: Alpha Mummy: These Kids Have Too Many Sodding Toys

Wired Danger Room: US Turns to Trash Talk to Fight the Taliban

Wired Danger Room: Russian Prez Channels his Inner Rumsfeld - Why are the slack-jawed idiots at Wired always bagging on Rumsfeld? I'm sure they're far more intelligent than he is, right? And they have a much deeper understanding of military issues and foreign conflicts? Oh, wait, they don't, at all.

AFP: China slams 'prejudiced' US report on espionage

AFP: Few US firms ready for workforce disruption: survey

AFP: Obama to meet war cabinet on Afghanistan - Hasn't he been meeting with his war cabinet for months? President Obama's handling of Afghanistan has been a military and political disgrace thus far.

AFP: French warship in arms deal arrives in Russia

AFP: Chinese raided in Germany for spying on Uighurs: report

SPX: UK MoD Upgrade Bid Promises More Punch For Army Warriors

Defense Systems: Counter-IED task force established

Michael Yon: Afghan ideas from Great Britain

Second, the beer run from Saturday.

Guinness Extra Stout

Harp Lager

Widmer Hefeweizen

Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier

Carlsberg

Blue Moon - Which is made by Coors!? Really?

Check back tomorrow for more, including a recap of my Thanksgiving, which was awesome. Have a great Monday, folks!