SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

SALUTE – From Reuters:  "Australia became the first country to detail troop numbers and aircraft for a U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq, as Washington drums up support for global action to counter the terrorist threat.  Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Sunday a 600-strong force comprising some 400 airforce personnel and 200 special forces soldiers would be deployed to a U.S. military base in the United Arab Emirates."  It's really time that the United States thanked Australia publicly for being such a remarkable ally over the decades.  The Aussies are always there for us.  But this administration would rather thank Turkey, which knifes us in the back whenever possible.

HILLARY IN IOWA – She pretty much made clear her current intentions.  From The New York Times:  In a speech that was her most overtly political since she left the State Department last year, Mrs. Clinton repeatedly hinted at her intentions. She laced her remarks with all manner of pregnant references to the state that kicks off the presidential nominating process and veiled asides about her plans.  “Hello, Iowa, I’m back!” she exclaimed upon taking the microphone, stretching out the “a” in “back” as she smiled in front of hay bales, an American flag and a John Deere tractor."  Wait a second.  Wasn't "I'm baaack" a line from a horror movie?  Yeah, it was.  And this is the sequel.

THIS IS NEWS? – From The Hill:  "President Obama recently vowed to retaliate against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if Syrian forces shoot at U.S. military planes, according to The New York Times."  When it's news that an American president will retaliate for the targeting of American planes, we're really in trouble.  Or, considering who's president, maybe we should be thankful for small blessings.

September 14,  2014