Miscellanea: Special Birthday Edition

I'll be on the road in a couple of hours, and won't be able to post again until this evening; in the meantime, here's some special iron-fortified goodness for you to chew over:

The invaluable Victor Davis Hanson on the failed Mideast policies that preceded the Bush Doctrine; excellent, as always...

Now that an American (and a fellow Texan, to boot!) has been indicted in Oil-For-Food, it's a real scandal!...

Sadly, though, Oil-For-Food has involved some very familiar faces. I recommend you send your children out of the room before clicking this link...

Here's a blog that started about the same time as mine from a new commenter and a self-described 'reformed liberal', so check it out, won't you?...

Michael Young, in Lebanon's Daily Star, on the Syrian legacy:

After 29 years, the Syrian regime, which we must reportedly thank for having robbed Lebanon blind, assassinated its leaders, bombed it cities and killed many thousands of its civilians, leaves a legacy no one cares to resurrect.

Ouch! (hat tip to RealClearPolitics)...

Meanwhile, Syria shows its kindler, gentler face - forgive me if I'm cynical...

From Little Green Footballs: Kofi tries to deflect blame, Britain none-too-happy...

Carpe Bonum, meanwhile, is mired knee-deep in a scandal involving blogs, carnivals, vanity, and SUV babes. No word yet on an auction for the movie rights...

Punditish is suffering from withdrawal symptoms, so show your sympathy by paying him a visit...

And if those links aren't enough to satiate your voracious appetite, here's more from the good Dr. Shackleford...