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• Honda Fit: This baby falls in the subcompact category. This one is slightly longer and wider than the 2008 model. It boasts of a "larger front quarter windows, larger, shapelier headlights, and sportier body-kit-like moldings." The interior has won better reviews than the exterior. How about the "abundant blue LEDs at important marks?"
• Cadillac: The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe is chic. Also take a look at the 2010, and 2009 models. The 2008 Cadillac CTS remains the most popular. “The front fender air vents, the knife-edged third brake light, and the LED-encrusted tail lamps are beautifully executed,” said a ForbesAutos.com reviewer, “the charismatic glow radiating from this car will draw looks away from the more conservative blue-blood import sedans and make this Cadillac the center of positive attention wherever the affluent gather.” This is obviously a high end car. It is Cadillac, like Macs are high end among computers. This model breaks the conservative mold.
  
• Hyundai Genesis: The styling is on the conservative end. As in, why take chances? Caution seems to be the word. Car and Driver: “a bit of S-Class in the headlights, a hint of Lexus GS in the hood, some 5-series in the taillights, and a BMW- or Nissan-like kink in the C-pillars.” But there is some gush on the "stylish interior."
  
• Chevy Silverado: The styling is "safe," and designed to please everyone. Some reviewers have complained of the "cheesy mirrors," others have praised the same. This baby scores high on performance. The steers and handles have been worked upon to make this pickup more small street friendly. It is thought to be smoother than the other half ton pickup trucks.
  

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Pakistan Is Where The Fight Is, The Fight Is Not Military

Image by azrainman via Flickr

Pakistan is where the fight is. It is not in Iraq, it is not in Afghanistan. The gradual withdrawal from Iraq seems to be bringing in relative normalcy, the democratic state is gaining strength. Afghanistan is a relatively small country. But Pakistan is huge. It is a nuclear power. It is, officially speaking, a democracy. It has a rabid, Islamist, vocal right wing in the parliament and in the streets, and in the wastelands.

Pakistan is a tough nut to crack. America is already inside Iraq. America is already inside Afghanistan. Should America think of going into Pakistan? That is a very tough nut to crack. My instinct says no, a big no. If you have to go in, you have already failed. You could argue should not everything be done to prevent the Islamists from taking over in Pakistan, up to and including going in? To that my reply is going to be, why did you not exercise all options that would have made it unnecessary to go in? But going into Pakistan is not unimaginable, just like a dirty bomb going off in some city is not unimaginable. You just hope it does not happen, you do everything possible to make sure it does not happen.

Pakistan is a challenge for the democratic ideal. How do you build a state? How do you bring a big, strong army completely under the domain of a popularly elected parliament? How do you bring forth grassroots democracy and genuine reform? Why do the Islamists represent the idea of land reform in the Swat valley? Why not the democrats?

Why was it so easy to kill Benazir? It should not have been. The Al Qaeda managing to kill Benazir is like if the democratic forces had managed to kill Bin Laden. That was a big prize for them. That helped them grow.

Nobody Quite Like Benazir
Benazir, One Whose Looks Have No Parallel
Benazir, Last Month
Benazir, Benazir
Benazir Bhutto: No American Stooge
Benazir Should Address Many Mass Rallies, Hold No Street Events, Keep Tight Security Around Her House, Office
Benazir And Islamofascism

How do you strengthen democracy in Pakistan? How do you strengthen the democratic state? America has singularly poured tens of billions into the Pakistani army. The paranoia can be partly understood. But the solution is primarily political, not military. How many billions has America poured into Pakistan's primary education sector? Can America compete for the hearts and minds of Pakistan's young and vulnerable?

I am not naive. I appreciate that there is a military angle to the fight, but if that is the only angle you see, you are doomed to fail. Even with that military angle, the fights end up being nontraditional and asymmetrical.

The world has to help build Pakistan's political parties, and its democracy, and its reform efforts. The Islamists can't be seen as the vanguard of reform. The democrats have to eat their lunch.

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