The “dying” Al-Megrahi’s doctor might be this “dead” lady:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0826/breaking15.html

According to some observers, Canada, Denmark, and Norway have a reason for this participation that’s far removed from the hot sands of Libya.

In the near future, advancing technology and thinning Polar ice will make available huge deposits of mineral wealth in the Arctic where all three countries have extensive territories. However, some of Russia’s claims conflict with some of theirs and the bear is stirring from its two decades of slumber. Having already locked up many of the natural resources of Africa and South America, China may want to cut out a big slice of the Arctic pie as well. To keep their holdings in the Far North, Canada, Denmark, and Norway will need American help, either indirectly through NATO or directly.

But those countries’ governments are undoubtedly aware of the inward turn of American public opinion, which apparently includes much of its future military leadership and, quite possibly, future American Presidents as well. The high costs of being a first tier member of NATO today may be essential in securing American help in the Arctic tomorrow.

and maybe Canadian Lancs likewise

Canadian production of both the Lincoln and the York was planned, but cancelled after one of each due to the end of the war.

Admiral King was a well-recognised Anglophobe.

But he loved his Saville Row grey uniform so much that he imposed it on the rest of the USN (although Nimitz banned it in his theater).

From a recent opinion piece in The New York Times:

…..most of America’s next generation of military leaders has lost confidence in NATO. At a recent talk I gave at an elite U.S. military institution, just five participants out of an audience of some 60 raised their hands when asked how many believed NATO ought to continue in business.

That’s among the milder statements I’ve read since Gates’ speech. The complete article is at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/opinion/23iht-edkashmeri23.html?_r=1

His car was a 1959 Peugeot 403 convertible (some accounts say a 1960). Although over a million 403s of all types were built, only about 2000 were convertibles and about a quarter of those were ’59 models. Columbo’s car was often mistaken for a Nash Rambler, understandable since both were styled by Pininfarina.

The raincoat came from Falk’s own closet. He bought around 1967 for a fishing trip and wore it until it essentially fell apart.

A blunt warning from another outgoing U.S. official, this time about Afghanistan:

http://cnsnews.cloud.clearpathhosting.com/news/article/us-ambassador-rebukes-karzai-hurtful-ina

Multiple recent opinion polls show waning public support in the US for the war in Afghanistan.

What if NATO doesn’t “win” in Libya?

Put CENTO 1979 in your favorite search engine and hit return…..

I was going to write about my favorite Get Smart scene, but I kept remembering more and more of them!

Stern was also the co-inventor of this ever popular word game:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Libs