Scanning the Sunday Los Angeles Times
: "Why do they hate us so much?" We wonder that all the time about the Middle East, especially these days. An interesting, well-balanced story in today's Times gets to the heart of it. And it's a little more complex than W's assertion that they simply hate freedom. Note Times writers Tyler Marshall and David Lamb, in 1991 the Persian Gulf War was an easy sell: the U.S. was liberating Kuwait. (You can debate to death whether that was the real motive, but it was at least one that could easily be sold). This time around, the Bush administration botched its message. Just about every day, the U.S. gives a different reason why war is necessary. That hasn't garnered much confidence overseas.
: We're still waiting for downtown to finally be revitalized. For every instance of hope--such as the huge number of lofts currently being built in old office buildings--there's a heartbreaking story like this one from Times columnist Steve Lopez. A row of trees getting chopped down sounds like your typical urban story, as developers try to make room for more parking. But it's emblematic of a larger malaise that has kept downtown from finally getting some life back in it.
:Few people probably even realize that we have an Air Force base right here in Los Angeles. And indeed, Los Angeles Air Force Base isn't your typical installation. For starters, there's no runway. There are no hangars. No barracks. But a new landswap proposal with private developers may help save the base from the chopping block and help give it some renewed luster in the process.
No comments:
Post a Comment