The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks. ~ Sir James Mackintosh

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) Israel Rejects UN-Led Force In Lebanon — “Israel’s outspoken ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman, explicitly rejected the deployment of another United Nations-led force in southern Lebanon as part of any cease-fire initiative. Gillerman said that any force deployed to replace the Israelis would have to have more professional leadership than that offered by Turtle Bay:”

Wizbang (Jay Tea) No honest broker — “Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Dan Gillerman, reminds me a little of our own ambassador, John Bolton. Both have what traditionally been a crippling trait in diplomats: a tendency to speak forthrightly, without obfuscation and nuance.”

The Strata-Sphere (AJ Strata) The War On Terror’s Last Phase — “If people thought we were going to disrupt a few cells and take out a few enabling governments and be able to win the war on terror, they were sadly too optimistic. I had held out hope this would be possible. But the nature of our enemy never let me get too comfortable with that hope. I understand that people who are willing to die in a blaze of glory so they can obtain heaven and leave this world are not going to be easily deterred. They want to die. All we are negotiating is the terms of their death and how many of us they will be taking with us.”

Iowa Voice (Brian) GOP To Vote In Minimum Wage Increase? — “The government has no business telling employers what they will pay and what benefits they’ll offer. Government cannot dictate winners and losers in a capitalist system. It just doesn’t work that way. It’s socialism, is what it is. Look around the world and through history and see the record of socialism. It’s horrible! And the Democrats want to repeat that mess right here in the United States. No thanks!”