A LESSON FOR AFGHANISTAN? In this review of Jim Michaels’ story of the Surge in Iraq, A Chance In Hell, there’s this passage:

When al Qaeda in Iraq challenged this intrusion, the Americans fought back with overwhelming firepower. Unlike other American commanders at the time, who sought to minimize their losses, Col. MacFarland did not relent when American casualties mounted. “My measure of effectiveness would not be low friendly casualties,” he told Mr. Michaels. “My measure of success would be defeating the enemy.”

Mr. Michaels explains that Col. MacFarland’s military operations helped to convince Sattar that the Americans—then at a low point in their effort to reshape Iraq—would persist and prevail in Anbar Province. So did Col. MacFarland’s personal diplomacy. “Instead of telling [the Iraqis] that we would leave soon and they must assume responsibility for their own security,” Col. MacFarland recalled, “we told them that we would stay as long as necessary to defeat the terrorists.”

I don’t think this is our approach in Afghanistan.

JOHN HINDERAKER: Supply And Demand Hits The Law Business. More on that higher ed bubble.

THOUGHTS ON TEACHING EVALUATIONS: I read mine carefully — however the numerical, fill-in-the-bubbles forms that the University uses are largely useless. I find the fill-in-the-blanks handwritten ones (which only I see) quite helpful, as they often contain specific suggestions from students. The most amusing thing about the numerical forms was that the one question with a single clear, objective answer — the number of classes cancelled during the semester — always produced a spread of responses, with a significant number of students choosing each possible choice. (They’ve since removed that one). Still, it was a thirteenth-chime-of-the-clock sort of thing: Not only wrong in itself, but calling into question everything else from the same source.

JON VOIGHT: Dear Mr. President.

THE ARGUMENT OVER AGING: Can a drug extend good health and postpone the effects of aging?

COOL PIC: ISS Crew Captures Beautiful Image of Green Aurora Over the Indian Ocean.

JIM TREACHER EMAILS:

Question 1: Which is longer, that Rolling Stone piece or the Arizona immigration law?

Question 2: Which one has Obama actually read?

Heh. Related: Did Obama Reap What He Sowed With McChrystal?

UPDATE: McCain: Fire The Ambassador To Afghanistan. “We need to have a look at the functioning of the whole team.”

THE JOYS OF CAST-IRON COOKWARE.

OOPS: Skadden Needs Interviewees to be More Prepared Than Its Hiring Partner.

WHY U.S. MEN’S SOCCER will now decline.

LOOKING AT the downsides of the drilling moratorium: “Offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is an industry that, like fishing, provides the livelihood for many people along the coast. The six-month moratorium on exploratory drilling will cost workers as much as $330 million a month in lost wages, according to the industry. Even with the costs of the oil spill pushing past $2 billion already, will the moratorium ultimately outweigh the benefits?”

WHITE HOUSE ART.

THE DANGER OF ARMCHAIR LAWYERING. “BP is, in all likelihood, chiefly responsible for this disaster. At the same time, the Obama administration’s habit of dragging CEOs before Congress can certainly be seen as a pattern of highly calculated government shakedowns. Just ask Mr. Toyoda. Or the CEO of Humana, who was investigated by the administration, because his company warned customers about the pitfalls of ObamaCare. Or the former CEO of GM who has forced to resign by the administration. A pattern is clearly emerging.”

TALKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH MCCHRYSTAL, over at The Hill. Plus, a reader emails: “Is it just me, or is Michael Yon on the cusp of total, absolute vindication regarding his harsh criticism of McChrystal?” Well, this suggests his concerns had some basis, doesn’t it?

UPDATE: Flashback: Media Promoted Military Criticism Of President Bush. Well, sure. Under a Republican President, it’s listen to the generals. Under a Democratic President, it’s all about civilian control of the military.

COLD, DARK, and teeming with life. No, not my office refrigerator. “In 1984, scientists found that the heat was not necessary. In exploring the depths of the Gulf of Mexico, they discovered sunless habitats powered by a new form of nourishment. The microbes that founded the food chain lived not on hot minerals but on cold petrochemicals seeping up from the icy seabed.”

OBAMA DRILLING MORATORIUM struck down by federal court.

J.D. JOHANNES is back in Afghanistan.

THE REAL VICTIM IN THAT MCCHRYSTAL/OBAMA FIGHT — Lady GaGa! “She posed for the cover in a big machine-gun bra and a nearly naked ass and purports to ‘tell all,’ yet everyone’s talking about McChrystal, whose name isn’t even on the cover!”

BAH: Avoiding Bad Reactions by Foreign Nations as a Justification for Speech Restrictions?

THE AUDACITY of Golf. Suddenly timely again!

ROAD TRIP: Three Months in a 1989 Mustang.

TEST-DRIVING the Nissan Leaf.

IN THE MAIL: From Bill White, Platinum Moon.

PJTV: Frank Gaffney: What Has the Oil Spill Taught Us About Obama’s Leadership & Competence?

CONGRESS AND SPENDING: “Emergency” is a term of convenience.