The continuing outrage over Obama’s Afghanistan speech is both justified and predictable. Nevertheless it reveals a few interesting things about his public image, and the different levels of acceptable narrative. Everyone knew he was going to make that speech; the plan to escalate the war in Afghanistan was never in doubt. Perversely, this fact is sometimes used to defend Obama from criticism, the idea apparently being that since the decision was unsurprising it’s hypocritical to attack it. Underlying such a claim is the pernicious view of the president as ‘commander-in-chief,’ a kind of elected king whose every action has the a priori approval of the general will.

And yet.

There is something to be said for the idea that Obama’s astonishingly successful marketing campaign expanded the sense of public authorship over his presidency beyond the rote mechanism of voting. The sense, not of course the reality. Provided we set aside the bizarre conspiracy theories about Obama’s early Afghanistan rhetoric being merely a clever ruse, Afghanistan was always the issue that no one wanted to talk about. As others have noted, Tom Hayden’s trajectory from starry-eyed supporter to angry critic is exemplary here. A common feature of both Obama’s marketing and his progressive/left-liberal support was that his election would somehow galvanize social movements capable of pushing him leftward into being. Clearly that didn’t happen. I think it’s a mistake to try to look back and claim that, at some point, if not for some failure of resolve, it was possible for an authentic left movement to be generated from the Obama campaign. That was never possible. For a movement of the size Obama summoned to get himself into office to have an independent existence, it would have had to be stolen from him, a fact admittedly more obvious in hindsight.

If the idea of the recent escalation order as betrayal does not exactly hold up in court, it perhaps suggests a different framework for understanding what Obama is for the left: an investment with a variable time limit. An investment of labor (the ‘movement’), fantasy (Hope and Change), and a degree of critical restraint (‘wait and see’). The limit was always Afghanistan, which there was a tacit agreement not to mention until it happened, in order to sustain the fantasy. Within this designated honeymoon period, disappointment after disappointment prepared Obama’s audience for something else: apathy. Now that time is up, the internal battle for the progressives who haven’t been paid for is between anger and apathy.

One battlefield revolves around motive. There is rampant speculation as to why Obama would agree to invade Afghanistan. Just like with Bush, there’s a complete unwillingness to consider the existence of any sort of long-term plan for the region. Obama is motivated by typical Beltway ’short-sightedness,’ the ideology of preemptive war, he is fooled by inflated reports about the danger presented by Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the need to ‘appear strong’ in the face of ‘our enemies.’ His actions are, in short, the products of a series of accidents and stereotypical worldviews. The publicly stated views of his closest foreign policy advisors are ignored, such as this by his National Security Advisor James Jones:

Jones is a fierce advocate of NATO expansion. As commander of the alliance from 2003 to 2006, he pushed for it to take greater responsibility for securing oil supplies in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. “Our activities are definitely moving to the East and to the South,” he declared, speaking to the National Press Club in 2006. He pushed NATO hard–encountering stiff resistance from European allies–to strengthen its commitment to Afghanistan, and he got NATO involved with training missions in Iraq too. No longer, he says, can NATO confine itself to the defense of Europe; it must increasingly engage in out-of-area operations. “The term ‘out of area’ doesn’t really apply anymore, because that geographical restriction has faded into history,” he told the Council on Foreign Relations in 2006. “NATO’s also getting ready to certify a NATO response force, which is also a new operational concept that will give the alliance much more flexible capability to do things rapidly at very long distances.”

In 2007 Jones became president of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy, meanwhile joining the boards of directors of Chevron and Boeing. Among the eighty-eight recommendations of the institute–including, naturally, Drill, baby, drill!–is this: “The U.S. government should engage the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on energy security challenges and encourage member countries to support the expansion of its mandate to address energy security.”

Certainly the aforementioned ideologies and bad attitudes exist — further down the page Jones himself voices them: “I personally don’t believe that the United States can afford to be perceived as having not been successful in either Iraq or Afghanistan, and I think the consequences for such a perception or such a reality will be with us for years to come in terms of our ability to be a nation of great influence in the twenty-first century.” But these views are not detachable, standalone, autonomous ‘memes.’ They continue to exist, despite obvious ridiculousness, because they are mutually supportive pieces in an ideological structure that includes a set of rational strategies for ensuring American and ‘Western’ hegemony.

When George W. Bush was president, there was not the same level of curiosity about his individual motives for invading Iraq. He is, after all, a dummy. Obama is not a dummy — he gives inspiring speeches! With liberal values! While Bush and Obama’s bad decisions are commonly accepted as products of external forces rather than their personal villainy, Bush’s decisions were attributed to a conspiracy (Cheney and Rumsfeld snarling at the helm), while Obama is fooled by arguments, the same specious arguments we all read in the papers and online. Or by a completely understandable (however craven) desire to appease opposing interests by giving an incoherent speech. He is then, like his target audience, a figure of contradictions, internal hesitation, self-doubt, and strenuous intellectual turmoil; his failures are shared by ‘us.’ This is the subtle difference in reception between a president we — America’s liberal majority — despise and one we identify with.

Click on the link below to watch Jim Locher’s interview with Vago Muradian on “This Week in Defense News”. This episode originially aired on November 29, 2009.

\"This Week in Defense News\" interview with Jim Locher

Each week, we dive into the stat sheets to see which weekly performers fantasy owners should applaud and which fantasy owners should write off as frauds. You can read past applaud or a fraud analyses in the category listing. And you can also check out our fantasy football thoughts during the week via our Twitter feed here on the blog or here.

Quarterbacks

Kyle Boller, Rams - As you look for fantasy fill-ins, Boller is a name that tends to get overlooked. But after throwing for 282 yards and a score against the Seahawks, you should at least notice. Boller is going to have the Rams’ job for at least a couple more weeks, so if you’re desperate, Boller is worth a claim to be a backup. He’s not going to produce as much as Vince Young, but he will surpass guys like Dennis Dixon and Matt Leinart. Verdict: Applaud

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills - This is a bit of a strange call, but Fitzpatrick has provided a spark for the Bills since interim head coach Perry Fewell inserted him in the lineup two weeks ago. Fitzpatrick threw for a touchdown a ran for another this week, and he seems to be good for at least a score a week. That makes him definitely worth a claim and perhaps even worth a start in multi-QB leagues. Verdict: Applaud

Chris Redman, Falcons- Redman was pressed into action when Matt Ryan was hurt in the first quarter of Atlanta’s win over Tampa Bay. He responded with 243 passing yards and two touchdowns. If Ryan is out, Redman has enough weapons to be a top-18 fantasy quarterback on a weekly basis. He’s the fill-in you want, not Matt Leinart or Dennis Dixon. Verdict: Applaud

Vince Young, Titans- Young had a huge day with 387 passing yards, including a last-minute game-winning drive. But he only threw for one touchdown, which continues the pattern he’s established since he returned to the lineup. That lack of TD passes keeps Young from being a fantasy starter. He’s good depth, and if you’re missing a starter like Kurt Warner, Matt Ryan, or Ben Roethlisberger, Young can be an emergency option. But he’s not a guy you should be looking to start. Verdict: A fraud

Running Backs

Fred Jackson, Bills – With Marshawn Lynch out, Jackson blew up with 73 rushing yards, 43 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. But Lynch should return soon, and that means that Jackson simply won’t get the opportunities to remain a significant or consistent fantasy producer. Verdict: A fraud

Brandon Jacobs, Giants – In a week where Ahmad Bradshaw was out, against a Denver defense that had been gashed on the ground in recent weeks, Jacobs put up just 27 yards on 11 carries. He’s not a reliable fantasy starter at this point. We figure he’s outside the top 20 fantasy backs, which is a disappointment for a guy who was a first- or second-round pick in most leagues. But it’s time to deal with reality and be willing to put Jacobs on the bench when the matchup dictates. Verdict: A fraud

Larry Johnson, Bengals – Johnson rewarded the Bengals for his second chance by running for 107 yards on 22 carries against Cleveland. But even during the performance, Move the Sticks (a Twitter-based scout) was commenting on how slow Johnson looked. That means that Johnson isn’t worth a run against a better defense. That scouting report, plus the imminent return of Cedric Benson, means that Johnson isn’t a top-40 back going forward. Verdict: A fraud

Felix Jones, Cowboys – Jones broke a 46-yard touchdown this week against Oakland and finished with 68 rushing yards. That performance was a window into Jones for fantasy owners. While Jones is capable of busting a big play, he doesn’t do it often, and unless he does his fantasy value is extremely limited. He’s outside the top 35 at running back from a fantasy perspective and isn’t worth a roster spot in leagues of 10 teams or less. Verdict: A fraud

LaDanian Tomlinson, Chargers – If you were watching the ticker, you might have seen that Tomlinson scored twice against the Chiefs. But don’t miss the fact that he also averaged just 3.0 yards per carry on 13 totes. He also had just one five-yard catch. While LDT is starting to find the end zone more often, he’s far from the force he used to be. You should still beware. Verdict: A fraud

Wide Receivers

Miles Austin, Cowboys – Austin had yet another huge game on Thanksgiving, posting seven catches for 145 yards and a score. Consider that star turn a reminder that Austin is now a top-10 fantasy receiver. Verdict: Applaud

Kenny Britt, Titans - Britt caught the game-winning touchdown for Tennessee against Arizona, and he also had his best game of his rookie season with seven catches for 128 yards. Britt has now scored two straight weeks, and he seems to have a pretty good rapport with Vince Young. Don’t get carried away, but if Britt is on your league’s waiver wire he’s now worth a claim. He seems to be emerging late in the season. Verdict: Applaud

Donald Driver, Packers – Driver is almost 35 years old, but he continues to post monster numbers year after year. His 142-yard performance against Detroit, which included a touchdown, goes to show that he’s still a top-15 fantasy wideout after all these years. He should be in your starting lineup in ink. Verdict: Applaud

Percy Harvin, Vikings – The star rookie had his first 100-yard game of the season against the Bears, notching 101 yards and a score on six catches. As Harvin becomes more a part of the offense, he becomes a starting-quality fantasy receiver. He’s moved within the top 30 of fantasy receivers, and his uphill climb might still have heights to attain. Verdict: Applaud

Calvin Johnson, Lions – Considering that most leagues saw Johnson drafted as a top-10 receiver (if not higher), it seems crazy to consider benching him. But with Matthew Stafford banged up and Johnson not at full strength either, right  now it’s foolish to consider Johnson as a legit top-10 fantasy wideout. His two-catch, 10-yard day against Green Bay was redeemed a bit by a touchdown grab, but it’s still a sign of trouble. Megatron is still in the top 20 of fantasy wideouts, but you have to at least look at your other options before starting him. So we can’t rate Johnson as a top-10 guy anymore. Verdict: A fraud

James Jones, Packers – Jones had four catches for 35 yards and a touchdown on Thanksgiving Day. It was his fourth touchdown of the year, all of which have come after Green Bay’s Week 5 bye. In large leagues (16 teams or more), Jones is not a bad fifth receiver, but he still doesn’t have much relevance for fantasy owners other than that. Verdict: A fraud

Terrell Owens, Bills – Don’t look now, but T.O. is on a roll in Buffalo. He has scored in two straight weeks and has at least 78 yards from scrimmage in his last four games. He’s finally back to being an every-week starter in just about every fantasy league. If you kept him, your patience is being rewarded, and if you claimed him or traded for him, your gamble is paying off. Verdict: Applaud

Tight Ends

Fred Davis, Redskins – With Chris Cooley’s significant injury now looking to be a season-ender, Davis is worth a second look. He had four catches and a touchdown against the Eagles, and he’s had at least four catches in three of the past five games. If you’re scrambling for a tight end, Davis is a decent option at this point in the season. Verdict: Applaud

Zach Miller, Raiders – The only redeemable thing about the Raiders’ offense from a fantasy perspective right now is Miller, who had five catches for 73 yards against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Miller has had at least 50 yards receiving in five of his last seven games, which makes him a startable option in leagues of 12 teams or more. He doesn’t score enough to be an elite fantasy tight end, but he’s raised himself up to option status. Verdict: Applaud

Jason Witten, Cowboys – Witten has seen his production lag this year, but he busted out with a 107-yard game against Oakland on Thanksgiving despite being a game-time decision to play. That’s a positive sign for owners who were wavering about whether to keep starting the former fantasy stalwart. The answer is that yes, you should leave Witten in your weekly lineup. Verdict: Applaud

Happy Pilgrims Ate a Whole Bunch of Food Hundreds of Years Ago Day!  The Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions mixed collard greens today in the first of three Thanksgiving NFL games.  Joe Buck and Troy Aikman provided commentary for this Fox telecast.   The Packers began on offense–for one play as kickoff-returner wide receiver Jordy Nelson fumbled the ball as he was tackled and the Lions recovered it.  After three attempts to score, wide receiver Calvin Johnson made a touchdown catch in the end zone.  Detroit 7 and Green Bay 0.  In the bottom of the first quarter Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was intercepted by Packers safety Nick Collins.  The final play of the quarter was a beautiful sixty-eight yard pass from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver Donald Driver.

Packers tight end Donald Lee leaped into the end zone for a TD at the start of the second quarter.  Detroit 7 and Green Bay 7.  The Packers took the lead with a field goal halfway through the quarter.  Green Bay 10 and Detroit 7.  Two or three plays into the Lions’ go on offense, Matthew Stafford threw another interception, this time to Packers cornerback Tramon Williams.  The Packers increased their lead with another field goal in the remaining minute of the second quarter.  Green Bay 13 and Detroit 7.

The third quarter opened with Matthew Stafford throwing an interception to Packers cornerback Charles Woodson.  The Lions challenged the call but didn’t win.  Luckily for them, Aaron Rodgers lost the ball a few plays later and the Lions got back the ball.  How would they capitalize?  Would they capitalize?  Nope.  Donald Driver made a TD catch for his team in the second half of the third quarter.  Green Bay 20 and Detroit 7.  The Lions had a chance to shrink their score deficit but a field goal was no good in the bottom of the third.  Wide receiver James Jones’s catch and crossing of the goal line increased the Packers’ lead.  Green Bay 27 and Detroit 7.

The Lions regained some of their opening offense momentum in the fourth quarter…except they couldn’t get the ball in the end zone.  Whoa, what just happened on the second play after the Packers took to offense?  One of the Lions knocked a Packer down.  Either the Lions got a safety or they got a TD.  The Packers coach challenged the TD call and won.  It was a safety.  Green Bay 27 and Detroit 9.  Another trip to the red zone yielded no TDs; a field goal was good.  Green Bay 27 and Detroit 12.  Charles Woodson intercepted Stafford again with four minutes left in the game and ran it into the end zone.  Green Bay 34 and Detroit 12.  Final score.

The CBS signal only emits through the TV in the living room; I prefer to watch TV in the dining room.  Thus, I shan’t be watching the Cowboys-Raiders game.  The Giants-Broncos game is on NFL Network tonight.

Observations & Miscellania:

1.  The National Anthem was sung by Melanie Fiona.  Qui?  Wow.  It’s Jennifer Lopez and Pocahontas in one!  She wore a red wine colored knee-length dress and a huge diamond bracelet on her left wrist.  Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson both got medium shots during the performance.  Wow, Matt Stafford’s jaw is so big.

2.  United Way and E2k sports sponsored a halftime performance paying tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Motown.  The first song, sung byVita Chambers, was “Heat Wave.”   Mon dieu, her singing was not very impressive.  The second song, sung by Kem, was “Higher Ground.”  The third song was “I’ll Be There,” performed by Melanie Fiona.  Yes, dancers surrounded each act.  The fourth song was Hal Linton doing “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”  Shontelle and Hal Linton sang the fifth song, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”   Forever the Sickest Kids did the sixth song, “Dancing In the Street.”  Who are these people?!

3.  The Fox camera operators (all men) got their five to seven seconds on broadcast in the top of the fourth quarter.

4.  In the fourth quarter, Troy Aikman remarked that Calvin Johnson is incredibly talented and is reminiscent of a young Randy Moss.

5.  $583,000 was approximately the amount that a Canadian developer paid to purchase the Pontiac Silverdome.

Get game summary, stats, and play-by-play here.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-3) vs. DETROIT LIONS (2-8)

1ST QUARTER :
- Lions (QB)Matthew Stafford passes to (WR)Calvin Johnson for TD (Lions 7 – Packers 0)

2ND QUARTER :
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (TE)Donald Lee for TD (Packers 7 – Lions 7)
- Packers (K)Mason Crosby kicks 20 Yd. FG (Packers 10 – Lions 7)
- Packers (K)Mason Crosby kicks 25 Yd. FG (Packers 13 – Lions 7)

3RD QUARTER :
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)Donald Driver for TD (Packers 20 – Lions 7)
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)James Jones for TD (Packers 27 – Lions 7)

4TH QUARTER :
- Lions(D/ST) Lions (S)Louis Delmas tackles (RB)Ryan Grant in end zone for Safety (Packers 27 – Lions 9)
- Lions (K)Jason Hanson kicks 22 Yd. FG (Packers 27 – Lions 12)
- Packers(D/ST) Packers (CB)Charles Woodson 38 Yd. INT Return for TD (Packers 34 – Lions 12)

FINAL SCORE : PACKERS 34 – LIONS 12

The past two nights have brought two fresh events to the Connecticut sports scene.  On one end of the spectrum, professional football visited Hartford in the form of the United Football League (UFL).  At the opposite end, six college basketball teams kicked off a showcase of Division I teams not named UConn.

Inspired by the fifty-five year old “Philadelphia Big 5″, the similarly named Connecticut 6 is designed to shine a light upon the State’s mid-majors.  But that’s not the sole objective of the Connecticut 6.  A few weeks ago, when asked about the event, Yale coach James Jones spoke of the bond between the Philadelphia schools and their respective coaches.  “They’re thick as thieves” said Jones.  One could imply that the Connecticut 6 schools hope that, over time, a similar bond can develop.

But tonight, the focus was on the present.  The focus was on Yale vs. Sacred Heart; Fairfield vs. Central Connecticut; and Quinnipiac vs. Hartford.  The focus was whether the Connecticut 6 could drum up interest in the state’s mid-majors.  Was it successful?

Much like Thursday’s UFL game, it is far too early to judge.  Attendance appeared between 25-40 percent capacity of the 10,000-seat Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, thinning out before the final game of the triple-header.  The games were competitive and spirited; Sacred Heart outlasted Yale, 92 to 86; Fairfield beat Central Connecticut 67 to 58; and Quinnipiac pulled way from Hartford for a 85-74 victory. 

Also similar to the UFL, there is some room for improvement.  Marketing efforts were sparse.  It seemed that there was little mention of the Connecticut 6 from its announcement in May, to the recent launch of the Connecticut 6 website.  Some fans mentioned being unable to locate the official website, and had trouble finding the actual start times for the games.

Scheduling conflicts also posed problems.  As the Courant’s Jeff Jacobs noted before the event:

The Huskies open tonight against William & Mary and even if the Tribe only bring along Mary, there’s little doubt the primary attention will be on Gampel Pavilion. Forget UConn or anything on TV. There’s also No. 3 Cornell at No. 12 Yale in hockey, Harvard at No. 20 Quinnipiac in hockey and all sorts of high school football for competition at the gate. Affecting the Fairfield student crowd, there’s a 4 p.m. Stags MAAC semifinal soccer game, too. (Click here to read Jacobs’ entire article on the Connecticut 6).

Although not perfect, the Connecticut 6 has potential.  The event moves to Mohegan Sun for the next two years, which should attract additional interest.  With a year’s head start, hopefully the Connecticut 6 schools put forth a greater marketing effort for next year.  Nevertheless, the Connecticut 6 is a welcome addition to the Connecticut sports scene.  If the event can recreate a fraction of the success of the Philadelphia Big 5, the schools of the Connecticut 6 will have achieved something.

A few links before the weekend:

• The Wall Street Journal interviews Cormac McCarthy about film adaptations of McCarthy’s books, the end of the world, and various other things you’d expect McCarthy to talk about.
• The Daily Beast interviews Matthew Weiner about the end of Mad Men’s third season and where the show goes from here.
• Oxford University has digitized a collection of Siegfried Sassoon’s papers compiled from various archives.  Fittingly, the material went live on Armistice Day.  (For anyone interested in Sassoon and the war poets, it is worth checking out the other collections in Oxford’s First World War Poetry Digital Archive.)
• In a not too surprising revelation, the daughter of author James Jones writes that Scribner’s requested Jones to edit From Here to Eternity for both profanity and depictions of gay sex among soldiers at Pearl Harbor.
• Christopher Borelli lists “10 underrated depictions of the apocalypse,” if that’s your thing.
• And, because I can’t let this Spanish Civil War stuff drop, Michael Portillo’s recent article on why Spain should not exhume bodies from its civil war is thoughtful and well-reasoned, although I disagree with a lot of what he says.

Well, that was a terrible game to watch as a Green Bay Packers fan.

I mean come on, how bad do you have to be to lose to an 0-7 team starting a rookie quarterback for the first time? COME ON!! The Packers were a 10-point favorite to win that game. This should illustrate just how far they’ve fallen. I do not like this Sam I am, I do not like Green Bay’s dumb plan.

That made me physically ill. I guess I’ll have to eat a dreamsicle now in honor of those throwback Buccaneer uniforms. I think that maybe the reason the Packers lost was because they were too distracted by how ridiculous those uniforms made the other team look. Or because their coach is a dumb-ass. Or because Ted Thompson is an idiot who refuses to spend a dime in free agency. Pick your reason actually, it doesn’t really matter because this team isn’t about to turn it around without some help on the offensive line. Too bad we will have to wait until next year to see it.

Now that it is the official halfway point of the season, I am giving my mid-season grades to the Packers:

QB: B+

Aaron Rodgers’ consistent high level of play with absolutely no protection is something I can get excited about. He has been one of the few bright spots on an otherwise terrible offensive unit. I would like to see him throw it away a little bit more, instead of taking a sack every time he gets in trouble, though. His three interceptions last game dropped his grade from an A.

Offensive Line: F

Let’s see – I think we are trying to set the record for the most penalties and sacks given up in one season. So far, so good.

RB’S: D+

Even the signing of Ahman Green couldn’t raise this grade. They just cannot run the ball, period. How much of that is the o-line’s fault is up for debate I guess.

WR’S: B

This grade was raised by Donald Driver’s consistently high level of play at age 35. I would still like to see a little bit more out of Greg Jennings and James Jones this season. Jordy Nelson is a talented young man, and that is why we have nicknamed him White Lightning.

TE’S: B-

Jermicheal Finley is a freak of nature and could be the next Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez. Too bad he has been out lately with an injury. Donald Lee is pretty good as a number two option, but he drops way too many passes to be a consistent first team player.

Defensive Line: C-

Jonny Jolly and Cullen Jenkins are probably the two best players here. We haven’t seen too much greatness from first-round pick B.J. Raji yet this season, which is too bad. This grade would be higher if the Packers could ever get to another teams QB, which they can’t seem to do.

Linebackers: B

Clay Matthews is a beast. A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett are solid every year. Aaron Kampman is a talented player, but his talent is being wasted as an OLB and he can’t cover anyone. They might be better off trying to put him back on the D-line and using Chillar or Poppinga as the fourth linebacker. It can’t hurt.

Secondary: C

They aren’t terrible, but they’ve given up way too many big plays this season. Just think back to either of the Vikings games. Charles Woodson is the best player they have back there. Collins is pretty good, but he needs Bigby back there to help him shine. Al Harris has just been awful. He is a much better bump and run corner than a zone player in a 3-4 defense. I think that is showing this year. We could use better play from our third CB as well.

Special Teams: F

Giving up huge chunks of yardage on kick and punt returns? Check. Horrible and/or blocked punts? Check. Missed field goals galore? Check. Bad, bad, bad. That’s all I have to say about Coach Shawn Slocum’s special teams unit this year. But in the words of Mike McCarthy, I’m sure they’ll get that cleaned up.

Overall Team Grade: C

Current record: 4-4
At the midway point of the NFL season this is all we can give the Packers, an average grade for a mediocre team that probably won’t make the playoffs. I just wish they could turn it around this year instead of waiting until next year to make any changes. Oh well, keep your chin up out their cheesehead nation. There are still eight games left to play. Who knows, all 31 other teams could get the swine flu.
Love these grades? Hate these grades? I want to hear from you! Leave a comment.

Next week the Packers play the Cowboys at home. Go Pack!

Each week, we dive into the stat sheets to see which weekly performers fantasy owners should applaud and which fantasy owners should write off as frauds. You can read past applaud or a fraud analyses in the category listing. And if we’re changing a past recommendation, we’ll include it here as well.

Quarterbacks

Matt Cassel, Chiefs - Cassel threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns as the Chiefs valiantly but ultimately unsuccessfully tried to rally against the Jaguars. This is the kind of game that makes Cassel a decent fantasy backup, and his instant rapport with Chris Chambers is encouraging. But Cassel still is no better than the 15th best fantasy quarterback. If a quarterback between 15 and 20 on the chart helps you, Cassel’s your guy. But we can’t recommend him as more than that. Verdict: A fraud

Josh Freeman, Buccaneers - In his first career start, the rookie Freeman led the Buccaneers back to a 38-28 victory over the Packers. And while he completed just 14-of-31 passes, he ended up with three touchdown passes plus a two-point conversion. That’s more than fantasy owners can expect from Freeman on a weekly basis, but the fact that he showed he can do it makes him worth a pickup in leagues where any starting quarterback has value. If you’re in a 16-team league or a league in which you can start two quarterbacks, Freeman is worth a waiver claim. But your league has to be that big for a pickup to be worth it. That’s why we’re not clapping at this point. Verdict: A fraud

Matthew Stafford, Lions – Stafford threw two first-quarter touchdowns against Seattle, but he ended up with a rather pedestrian game with 203 passing yards and those two scores. Plus, he had five interceptions, which really hurts in many fantasy leagues. The best news is that Stafford is showing he is healthy. But as of now, it’s still hard to see Stafford contributing for fantasy owners unless they’re in a league in which starting two quarterbacks is a good option. Verdict: A fraud

Pat White, Dolphins – You might have noticed that White had 45 rushing yards against the Patriots out of the wildcat formation. But he had just one pass attempt, which was incomplete. My guess it that White got so much use because he was drafted to take the Wildcat to the next level specifically against the Patriots, which is why he got so much work in this particular game. But that view means that White has little to no value for fantasy owners going forward, even in leagues that feature multiple quarterback starters. Verdict: A fraud

Running backs

Ladell Betts, Redskins -After Redskins starter Clinton Portis suffered a concussion in the first quarter, Betts stepped in and had 15 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta. If Portis is sidelined, Betts is a borderline top 20 fantasy back, which makes him a starter in most leagues. That means that Betts is unquestionably worth a pickup if he’s available in your league. Verdict: Applaud

Jamaal Charles, Chiefs - With Larry Johnson suspended, Charles was supposed to be the Chiefs’ answer at running back. But while he averaged six yards per carry, he had just six carries and 36 rushing yards. That was half of the carries that Chiefs running backs got, in large part because the Chiefs fell so far behind so early. Charles is still the Chiefs’ best answer at running back, but that doesn’t mean he’s a legitimate answer for your fantasy team. He’s not a top-30 back. Verdict: A fraud

Ahman Green, Packers – Green had 45 rushing yards in Green Bay’s shocking loss at Tampa Bay, and he did it on just six carries. That’s enough to tell us that he’s now the primary backup to Ryan Grant. But Green isn’t worth a pick up unless you have Grant on your roster and want some insurance. Green is just too old to be a major fantasy factor at this point unless Grant gets hurt and the Packers run out of options. Verdict: A fraud

Laurence Maroney, Patriots - Maroney had another good game with 82 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and he did it in a close game. He’s now had a touchdown in three straight games and appears to be emerging as the Patriots’ No. 1 running back once again. That’s enough to make him a flex type of play in 10- or 12-team leagues. Maybe, just maybe, Maroney will once again live up to the fantasy hype he had two or three years ago. Verdict: Applaud

Ryan Moats, Texans – After his huge game in Week 8, Moats won a starting role in Houston. But Moats didn’t deliver on his shot, rushing for just 38 yards on 16 carries and fumbling once at the goal line. He did have a short receiving touchdown, and Moats got more work than Steve Slaton, but he looks more like a flex option than a surefire starter. Verdict: A fraud

Derrick Ward, Buccaneers - Ward has been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments at running back this season, and although he had a receiving touchdown against Green Bay, he still had just five rushing yards on four carries. So don’t let his 54 receiving yards fool you. Ward’s still not a guy that fantasy owners can count on. Verdict: A fraud

Beanie Wells, Cardinals - Wells got some extended work in Arizona’s blowout win over Chicago, and he paid off with 72 rushing yards on 13 carries. But Wells is still behind Tim Hightower in the Cardinals’ pecking order, and that means that Wells remains outside the top 30 at running back. So for now, Beanie has to remain on the bench in your fantasy league. Verdict: A fraud

Wide receivers

Earl Bennett, Bears – As the Bears flung the ball around in an ultimately unsuccessful comeback attempt, Bennett piled up 93 receiving yards on seven catches. Bennett is having a decent year, but he’s still outside of the top 50 fantasy receivers when you look at the rest of the year. Unless you’re in a mega-sized league of 16 teams or more, it’s not worth owning Bennett despite this solid game. Verdict: A fraud

Greg Camarillo, Dolphins – Camarillo is the Dolphins’ version of Wes Welker lite, and against the real Welker he had a decent game with five catches for 71 yards. Camarillo isn’t a guy with much fantasy upside, but if you need a fill-in to get you 50 yards or so he’s a decent bet. That’s not worth a waiver claim in most leagues, but if you’re desperate Camarillo is a name to know. Verdict: A fraud

Chris Chambers, Chiefs - Chambers, who was cut by San Diego earlier this week and then claimed on waivers by the Chiefs, broke out in his first game with K.C. He caught two second-half touchdowns and finished with three catches for 70 yards and those two scores. I don’t know if you can count on Chambers to be a consistent fantasy threat going forward, but he’s worth a claim this week so that you’re in position to see if he does. Claim him on a flier because there’s just enough of a chance that he might actually produce in his new home. Verdict: Applaud

Jason Hill, 49ers – Jason who? Hill, who had no catches this season and only two catches in his three-year career entering Sunday’s game against the Titans, had four catches for 50 yards with two touchdowns in that game. That looks like the epitome of a fluke. Hill should still be behind Michael Crabtree, Isaac Bruce, and Josh Morgan in the Niners’ WR pecking order, and San Fran doesn’t throw enough to support a fourth receiver as a fantasy option. Verdict: A fraud

Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter, Texans – Both Jones and Walter finished the game with 67 receiving yards, Jones on four catches and Walter on five. It’s so hard to separate which of these two if Houston’s No. 2 receiving target now that Owen Daniels is out that you can’t start either guy with confidence. For now, Jones and Walter need to stay on your bench until we figure out which one is going to be the more dependable fantasy producer. Verdict: A fraud

James Jones, Packers – Jones is generally the Packers’ No. 4 receiver, but he moved up a slot with Jordy Nelson out. That enhanced role showed, as Jones had four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Packers. Jones probably won’t deliver anything close to this on a regular basis, but he is capable of producing numbers every once in a while. Jones is a decent Hail Mary-type of player if you’re stuck, but with bye weeks all but done you likely won’t be in that much of a pickle. That means that Jones is worth leaving on the waiver wire. Verdict: A fraud

Lance Long, Chiefs – Chambers wasn’t the only Chiefs wideout to break out with a big game. Lance Long, who was with head coach Todd Haley in Arizona, had eight catches for 74 yards. Long isn’t a top-40 receiver, but in large leagues he’s worth a claim because he may be a guy the Chiefs want to take an extended look at the rest of the season. That could add to his fantasy value quite a bit. Verdict: Applaud

Robert Meachem, Saints – Meachem had a big game against Carolina, catching five passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. With Lance Moore continuing to battle injury problems, Meachem is developing into the Saints’ No. 2 wide receiver behind Marques Colston. Meachem had been a bust in his first two seasons, but he’s starting to contribute, and he’s moved into the top 40 among fantasy wideouts. Even better for fantasy owners, Meachem has a chance to continue moving forward. He’s got upside, and that makes him worth a claim if he’s still on your league’s waiver wire. Verdict: Applaud

Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars - Sims-Walker has emerged as Jacksonville’s top receiver, and he is delivering big fantasy numbers as a result. His huge day Sunday against the Chiefs – six catches, 147 yards and a touchdown – is just a reminder that you should be starting Sims-Walker if you have him. Here’s the rule – if a Jaguar has a hyphenated last name, he should be in your lineup. Verdict: Applaud

Tight ends

Greg Olsen, Bears – In one league Sunday, I had to put Olsen in my lineup as a wide receiver/tight end at the last minute because Donald Brown and Anquan Boldin were both inactive after being questionable. That worked out, as Olsen exploded with three touchdowns among his five catches for 71 yards. Part of that was because the Bears were being blown out and therefore in throw-it-around mode, but it goes to show Olsen’s ability as a receiver. Maybe this will spark Olsen the rest of the season. At the very least, it rewards Olsen owners who have been patient. Mark Olsen down as a top-15 tight end right now and hope that this positive trend continues. He’s back to being a guy you should think hard about starting on a weekly basis. Verdict: Applaud

Brandon Pettigrew, Lions – Pettigrew caught a touchdown in the first quarter against Seattle and finished with a supersolid seven-catch, 70-yard game. He’s moving into the top 16 to 20 tight ends, which is putting him in starting range in large leagues. There still may be better options on your league’s waiver wire, but owners no longer need to be afraid of Pettigrew’s rookie status. He can contribute to your team. Verdict: Applaud

FIRST QUARTER
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)James Jones for TD
- Falcons (QB)Matt Ryan passes to (TE)Tony Gonzalez for TD
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (WR)Larry Fitzgerald for TD
- Bengals (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (WR)Andre Caldwell for TD
- Buccaneers (QB)Josh Freeman passes to (RB)Derrick Ward for TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (TE)Greg Olsen for TD
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (RB)Joseph Addai for TD
- Jaguars (RB)Rashad Jennings rushes for TD
- Patriots (RB)Laurence Maroney rushes for TD
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (TE)Ben Patrick for TD
- Buccaneers (QB)Josh Freeman passes to (WR)Sammie Stroughter for a TD
- Falcons(D/ST) Falcons (CB)Tye Hill 62 Yard Interception Return for TD
- Packers (RB)Ryan Grant rushes for TD
- Bengals (RB)Cedric Benson rushes for TD

SECOND QUARTER
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (WR)Larry Fitzgerald for TD
- Buccaneers(D/ST) Buccaneers (CB)Ronde Barber 31 Yard Blocked Punt Return for TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)Donald Driver for TD
- Falcons (RB)Michael Turner rushes for TD
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (TE)Anthony Becht for TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ricky Williams rushes for a TD
- Jaguars (QB)David Garrard passes to (WR)Mike Sims-Walker for TD

THIRD QUARTER
- Redskins (RB)Ladell Betts rushes for TD
- Texans (QB)Matt Schaub passes to (RB)Ryan Moats for TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ronnie Brown passes to (TE)Joey Haynos for TD
- Patriots (QB)Tom Brady passes to (WR)Randy Moss for TD
- Patriots (QB)Tom Brady passes to (WR)Randy Moss for 2 Point Conversion

FOURTH QUARTER
- Redskins (QB)Jason Campbell passes to (TE)Todd Yoder for TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (TE)Greg Olsen for TD
- Texans (RB)Steve Slaton rushes for TD
- Falcons (RB)Michael Turner rushes for TD
- Ravens (RB)Ray Rice rushes for TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (TE)Greg Olsen for TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers rushes for a TD
- Jaguars (RB)Maurice Jones-Drew rushes for TD
- Buccaneers (QB)Josh Freeman passes to (TE)Kellen Winslow for TD
- Colts (RB)Joseph Addai rushes for TD
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (WR)Steve Breaston for TD
- Chiefs (QB)Matt Cassel passes to (WR)Chris Chambers for a TD
- Chiefs (QB)Matt Cassel passes to (WR)Chris Chambers for a TD
- Buccaneers(D/ST) Buccaneers (S)Tanard Jackson 35 Yard Interception Return for TD

Against the assessment of his national security adviser, the president will reportedly increase the U.S. military footprint in Afghanistan by 34,000 in 2010.

President Barack Obama could announce he will send another 34,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan after completing a week-long trip to Asia and a Nov. 23 meeting with NATO allies, Jonathan Landay reports at McClatchy.

Officials within the military and the Obama Administration confirm the plan will add:

• One Marine and three Army brigades, totaling up to 23,000 combat and support troops;
• 7,000 troops to “man and support a new division headquarters for the international force’s Regional Command (RC) South in Kandahar”; and
• Up to 4,000 additional trainers

Though the plan falls well short of the request following the assessment of General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), who said the situation was risking “mission failure” without a full-scale counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy. The “low risk option”, he reportedly said, would be an increase of 80,000 troops. , Mr. Landay reported October 16 with Nancy Youssef.

Officials told them “his medium risk option” was an increase of 40- to 45,000 troops with around 20,000 being a “high risk option”. They added that the U.S. can only send an additional 30,000 troops “without putting excessive strains on the Army and Marine Corps” and report that Gen. McChrystal says that such a plan would not suffice.

Saturday’s report adds, with Nancy Youssef and John Walcott contributing:

Coalition forces now include 67,000 U.S. and 42,000 troops from other countries. The Army’s counterinsurgency manual estimates that an all-out counterinsurgency campaign in a country with Afghanistan’s population would require about 600,000 troops.

Although the administration privately is holding out little hope of persuading Canada or the Netherlands to abandon their plans to withdraw combat troops, much less getting additional allied troops, it wants to avoid creating the impression—at home and abroad—that the U.S. “is going it alone” in Afghanistan, said one military official.

In an interview with The New York Times, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, “complained that the American administration is leaving its NATO allies in the dark about its new strategy”, McClatchy adds.

The Administration also wants “time to launch a public relations offensive to convince an increasingly skeptical public and a wary Democratic Congress—which must agree to fund the administration’s plan—that the war, now in its ninth year and inflicting rising casualties, is one of ‘necessity’, as Obama said earlier this year”.

General James Jones, national security adviser to the Administration, told Der Spiegel, this weekend: “Generals always ask for more troops…. You can keep on putting troops in, and you could have 200,000 troops there and Afghanistan will swallow them up as it has done in the past.”

Instead of a nation-building mission, Gen. Jones said the focus should be “a better plan with the allies to gradually turn over responsibility for the country to Afghan institutions and organizations in as short a time as possible”, adding: “And we will put much more emphasis on battling corruption and putting competent and honest people in positions of authority. We will be working with our friends and allies to do that.”

“Other military officers, particularly in the Army, warn that committing more troops to Afghanistan could risk ‘breaking’ the force by reducing the time soldiers can spend at home between deployments, overtaxing equipment and destroying families,” McClatchy reports. “Those problems could worsen if Iraq’s January elections are delayed or disrupted, and with them the administration’s timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces from that country.”

The Administration made it clear that withdrawing was not an option on the table. The only alternative to a COIN strategy—focused on aiding the Afghan government in establishing its monopoly on power and “winning the hearts and minds” of the local population—was a counterterrorism (CT) strategy, proposed by Vice President Joe Biden, to focus on targeted assassinations stretching into Pakistan.

The assassinations would target leaders of the Taliban and al-Qa’ida, according to intelligence and committed by unmanned aircrafts (drones). The Administration has committed more airstrikes in 2009 than the Bush Administration did in the three years prior—greatly increasing the civilian casualties, aiding militant recruiting and further dividing the population away from sympathizing with ISAF.

Early on, it seemed this proposal was not taken seriously. The rhetoric just wasn’t as blunt as the president saying a “drastic reduction in troops” was “not an option”. Officials and experts have all predicted the president would add at least 10- to 15,000 more troops, but nowhere near 80,000 to find what’s been called a “middle ground”.

The mainstream poli-intellectual class is generally only criticizing policy, not ethics. They don’t form opinions as the ‘op’ in ‘op-ed’ would suggest. They identify two, maybe three, common threads that seem to be regurgitated most and pick a bandwagon. The so-called ‘realists’ usually deviate by immediately brushing off the most extremely hawkish ‘option’ as devoid of reality and the most ethical as… devoid of reality. Only their opinion, the most controversial of the three, said in a calm tone, in true reality [sic].

David Ignatius at The Washington Post (WaPo), reporting from Afghanistan, strongly supports a heavy increase in troops: “I think he should add enough troops to continue the mission he endorsed in March to ‘reverse the Taliban’s gains‘ and improve security in Afghanistan’s population centers. I don’t know whether the right number is the roughly 40,000 that Gen. Stanley McChrystal has recommended, but it should be the minimum number necessary.”

Thomas Friedman at the NYT was, surprisingly, more realistic that usual: “We need to be thinking about how to reduce our footprint and our goals there in a responsible way, not dig in deeper. We simply do not have the Afghan partners, the NATO allies, the domestic support, the financial resources or the national interests to justify an enlarged and prolonged nation-building effort in Afghanistan.”

Fareed Zakaria, international editor of Newsweek, is predictably following the lead of Thomas Ricks, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Mr. Ricks and his cronies are pushing a COIN-CT hybrid—population control in the urban areas and targeted assassinations in the rural areas and Pakistan.

“I think Gen. McChrystal’s plan, which calls for a major troop increase in order to carry out a counterinsurgency campaign, is better than any alternative I can see (especially a return to whack-a-mole counterterrorism, supposedly advocated by VP Biden),” Mr. Ricks wrote at The Daily Beast.

“In other words, let the Taliban try to set up bases in these remote areas with prickly locals. NATO forces can then periodically disrupt the Taliban rather than the other way around,” Mr. Zakaria follows-up in his Newsweek column, after Mr. Ricks gave his take on Mr. Zakaria’s CNN Sunday program, the week before. “In fact, the crucial judgments that have to be made involve what the troops will do and how much of Afghanistan to cover. Ricks said to me, ‘Why not do the Petraeus plan [counterinsurgency] for the major population centers and the Biden plan [counterterrorism] for the rest of the country?’ That sounds like a middle course that is smart and practical, which might need some more forces or perhaps can make do with the almost 100,000 already there.”

And there you have it. ‘Realpolitik‘ in action. CNAS is the new PNAC.

There’s an opinion missing from the intellectual circle jerk, though…. The people who actually own the land ISAF is occupying: the Afghan people.

“If the foreign forces are not seen so by Afghans already, they are on the cusp of being regarded as occupiers, with little to show people for their extended presence, fueling wild conspiracies about why they remain here,” Alissa Rubin reports at the NYT (on Saturday, when no one reads it).

Sean Smith of the London Guardian spent a month with U.S. troops and saw the Afghans make it very clear they want the troops to leave (7:09):

C.I.A. and military officials have confirmed that Ahmed Wali Karzai, provincial council chairman of Kandahar and brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, “gets regular payments from the [Agency], and has for much of the past eight years”.

“He helps the C.I.A. operate a paramilitary group, the Kandahar Strike Force, that is used for raids against suspected insurgents and terrorists,” the report added.

A top former Afghan Interior Ministry official familiar with Afghan counternarcotics operations said that “a major source of Mr. Karzai’s influence over the drug trade” is “his control over key bridges”, making him “able to charge huge fees to drug traffickers to allow their drug-laden trucks to cross the bridges”.

One has to ask about the ones who have been assassinated by U.S. forces from leads out of the C.I.A. The poppy fields selected to be incinerated. The traveling factions hunted down.

The targets chosen by Mr. Karzai to ’supply information’ to the C.I.A. are obviously the people not paying the taxman. The U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime reported the Taliban is also collecting taxes. Of course, the Karzais want a surge of foreign forces. They want to knock out the tax-collecting competition like any mafia called a “government”. And as the Karzais receive more beef, the resistance polarizes: it significantly fights back which begs for more C.I.A.; or goes away and the Karzais get their opium monopoly.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security adviser to the Carter Administration and architect of the mujahideen insurgency to defeat the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, is largely critical of the U.S. self-defeating strategy.

He notes to al Jazeera that the 2001 U.S. invasion started with the Air Force, a small number of Special Forces troops in the hundreds that sustained a larger partnership with homegrown resistance—mostly, cynical druglords whose interests were plundered by the ruling Taliban—and there was little resistance from the locals after the small Taliban ruling faction was overthrown. But now, the U.S. troop levels are over 60,000 and the “military commanders are telling us we’re not winning. What’s that tell you? Where’s the resistance? Obviously, it’s from the Taliban.”

But it’s not “The Taliban”, as in those overthrown in 2001. He continues: “It’s Afghans. Afghans who increasingly identify themselves with something they were pleased to be seen overthrown eight years ago. That’s a bad trend.”

Asked if the U.S. is following a trend similar to that of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan—which led to the U.S.S.R. demise—in the 80’s, he replies, “I’ve been saying that for three years.” Last month, he said it was due to the “Afghan perception that [U.S. troops] are foreign invaders“.

The U.S. and U.K. presence in Central Asia is largely due to its natural gas resources and Afghanistan is necessary for a pipeline, former U.K. ambassador Craig Murray says.

“Enron acquired Uzbekistan’s natural gas rights. Turkmenistan, next door to Uzbekistan, has even more natural gas, incredible amounts of natural gas,” he says. “The natural gas reserves of Turkmenistan are equal in worth to the oil reserves of Iraq, if not greater. But you can’t get it out. There’s no way out of Central Asia for this oil and gas, except through Russia, and the Russians won’t let it go to the West, or through Iran, which the Americans aren’t keen on. The only way to get it out would be to have a pipeline going over Afghanistan.”

He added: “There are so many lies about Afghanistan. It’s about money, it’s about oil, it’s about drugs, it’s about the abuse of human rights, it’s about degradation, and it’s about all of us paying, through our taxes, for wars which benefit a tiny clique.”

Over the next several weeks, we’re going to look at several different positions (I can’t yet promise all) to identify the best players wearing each jersey number at each position. If this goes as planned, we’ll then compile a list of the best player wearing each jersey number in the league.

If you have quibbles, or want to add someone I forgot, leave a comment and we’ll update this post. And please have patience – this is a big job.

We’ll start in this post with the best wide receivers at each jersey number. In general, wideouts are allowed to wear numbers between 10 and 19 as well as between 80 and 89.

10 – Santonio Holmes, Steelers – We’ll go with Holmes, the defending Super Bowl MVP, in this category, but it’s a close decision over DeSean Jackson of the Eagles. Both are significant starters for their teams and emerging stars in the league. Other notable 10: Jabar Gaffney, Broncos

11 – Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals – Fitzgerald is one of the very best receivers in the league, and so he gets the nod as the premier wideout wearing No. 11. He became a superstar in last year’s playoffs, doing what he had done in relative obscurity earlier in his career in Arizona. Fitzgerald is the real deal. Other notable 11s: Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars; Mohammed Massaquoi, Browns; Roy Williams, Cowboys; Laveranues Coles, Bengals; Julian Edelman, Patriots; Legedu Naanee, Chargers; Roscoe Parrish, Bills; Stefan Logan, Steelers

12 – Marques Colston, Saints – Colston is the premier receiver on the league’s most potent offense, and now that he’s healthy he’s showing incredible skills for his size. That gives him the nod over Steve Smith of the Giants as the best No. 12 wideout in the league. Both Colston and Smith may have to move over for Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin at some point in the future. Other notable 12s: Michael Jenkins, Falcons; Justin Gage, Titans; Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders; Quan Cosby, Bengals

13 – Johnny Knox, Bears – Knox is the only notable receiver wearing No. 13 this year. The rookie out of Abilene Christian has had a nice freshman season in the NFL with three receiving TDs and a return for a score. Maybe he’ll make 13 a trendier, if not luckier, number for wideouts.

14 – Brandon Stokley, Broncos – Like 13, 14 isn’t a popular number for receivers. Stokley, who had good seasons with the Colts and the most memorable touchdown of the season off a tip in the opener against the Bengals, is the best of the bunch over St. Louis prospect Keenan Burton. Other notable 14: Eric Weems, Falcons

15 – Brandon Marshall, Broncos – Marshall’s numbers aren’t quite as good this season as fellow 15 Steve Breaston of Arizona, but Marshall is the more dynamic and more important player than Arizona’s talented third receiver. Marshall has the talent to be one of the league’s top-5 overall receivers. Other notable 15s: Kelley Washington, Ravens; Chris Henry, Bengals; Davone Bess, Dolphins; Michael Crabtree, 49ers; Courtney Roby, Saints

16 – Josh Cribbs, Browns - Lance Moore of the Saints is the only notable pure wide receiver wearing No. 16 right now, but Cribbs, Cleveland’s do-everything guy, plays enough receiver and has a receiver number, so he counts here. Cribbs catches the ball, returns kicks, and plays under center in the wildcat. He may be the league’s best return man, and he’s growing as an offensive force. Moore had a strong season as New Orleans’ slot receiver last year, but injuries have hampered his production this year. Other notable 16: Danny Amendola, Rams

17 – Braylon Edwards, Jets – Edwards had fallen out of favor in Cleveland last year and this season, and his numbers reflected that diminished importance, but he’s now in New York and gaining steam. So we’ll list him as the top 17 over rookies Mike Wallace of Pittsburgh and Austin Collie of Indianapolis. Other notable 17s: Donnie Avery, Rams; Robert Meachem, Saints

18 – Sidney Rice, Vikings – Rice is emerging as the Vikings’ most reliable receiver, and he has become one of Brett Favre’s favorite targets. His good size and exceptional ball skills and leaping ability are finally starting to shine through now that he’s in his third season. He beats a crop of rookies to earn the honor as the best receiver wearing 18. Other notable 18s: Kenny Britt, Titans; Jeremy Maclin, Eagles; Louis Murphy, Raiders; Sammie Stroughter, Buccaneers

19 - Miles Austin, Cowboys – Austin has come out of nowhere over the past three games to establish himself as an explosive threat and the Cowboys’ best receiver. Even with the return heroics of Miami’s Ted Ginn Jr. and Denver’s Eddie Royal this year, Austin is the best 19. Other notable 19: Devery Henderson, Saints

23 – Devin Hester, Bears – Because Hester came into the NFL as a defensive back, he’s been allowed to keep his old DB number of 23 even though he’s now a wide receiver. The fact that he’s Chicago’s No. 1 outside target makes this a legitimate listing for a bit of a funky number for a receiver.

80 – Andre Johnson, Texans – If you made me pick one receiver as the best in the league, this is the guy. He has freakish size, incredible speed, and great production throughout his career. The only pockmark on his resume is the fact that he’s been dinged up from time to time. So he gets an easy decision here over Donald Driver of Green Bay as the best receiver wearing 80. Other notable 80s: Earl Bennett, Bears; Malcom Floyd, Chargers; Bryant Johnson, Lions; Bobby Wade, Chiefs; Marty Booker, Falcons; Mike Thomas, Jaguars

81 – Randy Moss, Patriots – Moss is already an all-time great, and he’s still performing at a premium level for the Pats. This is an easy call, even though  current great Anquan Boldin of Arizona, past greats Torry Holt of the Jaguars and Terrell Owens of the Bills, and future great Calvin Johnson of Detroit also wear 81. This number has great depth of talent. Other notable 81: Nate Burleson, Seahawks

82 – Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs – As deep as 81 is in talent, 82 is thin. We’ll give the nod to Bowe over the Giants’ Mario Manningham because Bowe has had more good seasons, even though Manningham has been more impactful this year. Other notable 82s: Antwaan Randle El, Redskins; Brian Hartline, Dolphins

83 – Wes Welker, Patriots – Welker, who piles up gobs of catches as the jitterbug/security blanket of the Patriots offense, narrowly gets this nod over Vincent Jackson of San Diego, who has joined the list of the league’s 10 best receivers. Lee Evans of Buffalo doesn’t have equivalent numbers because his quarterbacks have stunk for years, but he’s no slouch either. Other notable 83s: Kevin Walter, Texans; Deion Branch, Seahawks; Sinorice Moss, Giants

84 – Roddy White, Falcons – White has emerged as one of the top receivers in the league over the past three years, and he looks like he’ll team with Matt Ryan for a long time as Atlanta’s dynamic duo. We’ll take the ascending White over the descending T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who has had a great career in Cincinnati but is starting to show signs of slippage in his first season in Seattle. Other notable 84s: Patrick Crayton, Cowboys; Josh Morgan, 49ers; Bobby Engram, Chiefs; Javon Walker, Raiders

85 – Chad Ochocinco, Bengals – We have to give this jersey-number to Ochocinco, since he changed his name to be his jersey number in Spanish (kind of). But Ochocinco deserves it given the renaissance year he is having with the Bengals. Derrick Mason of the Ravens contended for the honor based on his long career, while Greg Jennings of the Packers could claim this honor in the future. Other notable 85s: Pierre Garcon, Colts; Jerheme Urban, Cardinals

86 - Hines Ward, Steelers – There aren’t a lot of great receivers wearing 86, but there is one – Ward. The former Super Bowl MVP isn’t just great at catching the ball; he’s a vicious blocker downfield as well. He’s a borderline Hall of Famer who is still building his resume. Other notable 86s: Dennis Northcutt, Lions; Brian Finneran, Falcons

87 – Reggie Wayne, Colts – Wayne has seamlessly taken over for Marvin Harrison as Peyton Manning’s premier target in Indy, and now Wayne is building his own case for the Hall of Fame. There aren’t five receivers in the league who are better or more explosive than Wayne. Other notable 87s: Bernard Berrian, Vikings; Andre Caldwell, Bengals; Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers; Mike Furrey, Browns; David Clowney, Jets; Jordy Nelson, Packers; Domenik Hixon, Giants

88 – Isaac Bruce, 49ers – Bruce is no longer the dynamic force he was for years in St. Louis, but he’s good enough to claim this number as his lifetime achievement award. Rookie Hakeem Nicks of the Giants is the only other significant 88 as a receiver, but he looks as though he will be a good one. Other notable 88: Chansi Stuckey, Browns

89 – Steve Smith, Panthers – Smith hasn’t had the season this year that he’s had in the past, and he’s even felt at times that he wasn’t an asset to his team, but those problems have more to do with the struggles of Carolina QB Jake Delhomme than with Smith’s own shortcomings. Smith is just 5-foot-9, but he’s lightning quick, built like a brick house, tough to bring down, and shockingly good on jump balls. He’s still an elite receiver. Other notable 89s: Santana Moss, Redskins; Jerricho Cotchery, Jets; Mark Clayton, Ravens; Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers; James Jones, Packers

Nel suo ultimo Rapporto Anti-Impero l’analista politico William Blum scrive: “La prossima volta che sentirete che l’Africa non può produrre buoni dirigenti, persone impegnate per il benessere della maggioranza dei loro popoli, pensate a Nkrumah ed al suo destino. E ricordatevi di Patrice Lumumba, rovesciato nel Congo del 1960-1 con l’aiuto degli Stati Uniti; e dell’angolano Agostinho Neto, contro il quale Washington fece guerra negli anni settanta, rendendogli impossibile l’introduzione di cambiamenti in senso progressista; del mozambicano Samora Machel contro cui la CIA sostenne una contro-rivoluzione negli anni settanta-ottanta; e del sudafricano Nelson Mandela (adesso sposato con la vedova di Machel), che ha trascorso 28 anni in prigione grazie alla CIA”.
Blum si riferisce ad una serie di guerre per procura sostenute dagli Stati Uniti e dai suoi alleati della NATO (e per certi versi anche dal Sud Africa dell’apartheid e dal regime di Mobutu in Zaire) a partire dalla metà degli anni settanta e per tutti gli anni ottanta, armando ed addestrando il Fronte Nazionale per la Liberazione dell’Angola (FNLA) e l’Unione Nazionale per l’Indipendenza Totale dell’Angola (UNITA), la Resistenza Nazionale Mozambicana (RENAMO), i separatisti eritrei in Etiopia così come l’invasione somala del deserto etiope dell’Ogaden nel 1977.
Ma in tutto il periodo successivo alla seconda guerra mondiale, in Africa c’era stato soltanto un intervento militare americano di tipo diretto, il bombardamento aereo della Libia nell’aprile 1986, la cosiddetta Operazione El Dorado Canyon.
Mentre nella seconda metà del secolo scorso conduceva guerre, bombardamenti, interventi militari di varia natura ed invasioni vere e proprie in America Latina e nei Caraibi, nel Vicino e Medio Oriente, e recentemente nell’Europa sudorientale, il Pentagono ha lasciato il continente africano relativamente indenne. Tutto ciò è destinato a cambiare dopo l’istituzione del Comando statunitense per l’Africa (AFRICOM) l’1 ottobre 2007 e la sua attivazione nell’anno successivo.
Gli Stati Uniti avevano intensificato il loro impegno militare in Africa nei precedenti sette anni con progetti quali l’Iniziativa Pan Sahel, nell’ambito della quale sono stati dispiegate le Forze Speciali dell’esercito in Mali, Mauritania ed altri luoghi. Ancora oggi, personale militare statunitense è impegnato nelle attività di controguerriglia contro i ribelli Tuareg in Mali ed in Niger.
Alla fine del 2004, l’Iniziativa Pan Sahel è stata sostituita dall’Iniziativa Trans-Sahariana contro il Terrorismo che prevede l’assegnazione di personale militare USA in undici Paesi africani: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libia, Marocco, Tunisia, Ciad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria e Senegal.
Tre anni fa, un sito del Pentagono riferiva che “i funzionari del Comando statunitense per l’Europa (EUCOM) spendevano tra il 65 ed il 70% del loro tempo ad occuparsi dell’Africa”. L’allora comandante EUCOM, James Jones, affermò che “l’istituzione di un gruppo di esperti militari in Africa occidentale poteva anche servire a convincere le aziende statunitensi che investire in molte zone dell’Africa fosse una buona idea”.
Durante gli ultimi mesi del suo doppio incarico di comando presso EUCOM e la NATO, Jones ha trasferito l’Africa dal controllo di EUCOM a quello di AFRICOM, al contempo aumentando le responsabilità della NATO nel continente.
Nel giugno 2006, l’alleanza ha lanciato la sua Forza di Reazione Rapida (NATO Response Force – NRF) con una esercitazione militare in grande stile al largo delle coste di Capo Verde, nell’Oceano Atlantico ad ovest del Senegal.
La prima operazione della NATO in Africa è stata, nel maggio 2005, il trasporto delle truppe dell’Unione Africana in Darfur per la relativa operazione di mantenimento della pace. Da allora, l’alleanza ha dispiegato unità navali nel Corno d’Africa e nel Golfo di Aden, l’anno scorso nell’ambito dell’operazione Allied Protector, ora in quella denominata Ocean Shield. Queste operazioni non consistono unicamente in attività di sorveglianza e scorta del traffico commerciale ma includono anche regolari abbordaggi a mano armata, l’impiego di cecchini ed altri usi della forza armata, spesso in modo letale. Ad esempio, lo scorso 22 agosto un elicottero olandese del contingente navale appartenente all’operazione gemella Atalanta, condotta dall’Unione Europea, ha attaccato un’imbarcazione di cui hanno poi preso il controllo soldati sbarcati da un’unità navale norvegese.
Del resto, tre anni or sono, sempre l’attuale Consigliere per la Sicurezza Nazionale James Jones – relativamente a quale fosse al tempo la sua maggiore preoccupazione in tema di “sicurezza nazionale” – aveva ipotizzato lo scenario in cui la NATO assumesse un ruolo nel combattere la pirateria al largo del Corno d’Africa e del Golfo di Guinea, specialmente quando questa mettesse in pericolo le rotte di rifornimento energetico verso i Paesi occidentali.
In aggiunta alle nazioni già prese di mire come la Somalia, il Sudan e lo Zimbabwe, anche un devoto alleato militare statunitense come la Nigeria potrebbe trovarsi oggetto dell’ostilità del Pentagono. Essa è la maggior potenza appartenente alla Comunità Economica degli Stati Africani Occidentali, che negli scorsi nove anni ha dispiegato le proprie trupppe in Sierra Leone, Liberia e Costa d’Avorio. Altri delegati militari per conto USA nel continente sono l’Etiopia e Gibuti nell’Africa nordorientale, il Ruanda in quella centrale ed il Kenia in entrambe, e prospettive analoghe esistono per Sud Africa, Senegal e Liberia.
Sin dalla sua istituzione, AFRICOM ha impiegato poco tempo a mettere il proprio marchio sul continente. Ancor prima della sua effettiva attivazione, il Pentagono ha condotto un’esercitazione militare denominata Africa Endeavour 2008 che ha coinvolto una ventina di Paesi africani e… la Svezia.

Se fino al mese di ottobre del 2008 l’Africa era l’unico continente insieme all’Oceania a non avere un Comando militare statunitense dedicato, il fatto che esso sia stato istituito indica che l’Africa rappresenta una rilevante posta strategica per il Pentagono ed i suoi alleati.
Un’analisi delle cause di questa crescente rilevanza strategica è stata elaborata da Paul Adujie in un commento sul New Liberian dello scorso 21 agosto: “AFRICOM, in termini concettuali e nella sua attuale realizzazione, non è inteso a servire i migliori interessi dell’Africa. E’ soltanto successo che è aumentata l’importanza geopolitica e geoeconomica dell’Africa per gli Stati Uniti ed i suoi alleati. L’Africa è sempre stata allineata. C’erano, ad esempio, rapporti di come l’esercito americano, agendo teoricamente in collaborazione o cooperazione con quello nigeriano, avesse letteralmente preso possesso del quartier generale della Difesa nigeriana. (…) AFRICOM è lo strumento mediante il quale i governi occidentali perseguono la loro ostentata influenza globale economica, politica ed egemonica a spese degli Africani così come una porta di servizio attraverso la quale gli occidentali possono avvantaggiarsi con i rivali della Cina e forse anche della Russia”.

FIRST QUARTER
- Patriots(D/ST) Patriots (S)Brandon Meriweather **39 Yard Interception Return for a TD**
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (WR)Reggie Wayne for a TD
- Chargers (QB)Philip Rivers passes to (WR)Malcom Floyd for a TD
- Texans (RB)Steve Slaton rushes for a TD
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (TE)Dallas Clark for a TD
- Patriots (QB)Tom Brady passes to (WR)Wes Welker for a TD
- Chargers (QB)Philip Rivers passes to (WR)Vincent Jackson for a TD

SECOND QUARTER
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (LB)Spencer Havner for a TD
- Texans (QB)Matt Schaub passes to (RB)Steve Slaton for a TD
- Patriots (QB)Tom Brady passes to (WR)Sam Aiken for a TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)Donald Driver for a TD
- Vikings (RB)Adrian Peterson rushes for a TD
- Texans (QB)Matt Schaub passes to (TE)Owen Daniels for a TD
- Colts (RB)Joseph Addai rushes for a TD
- Packers (RB)Ryan Grant rushes for a TD
- Buccaneers (QB)Josh Johnson passes to (WR)Antonio Bryant for a TD
- Steelers (QB)Ben Roethlisberger passes to (WR)Mike Wallace for a TD

THIRD QUARTER
- Patriots (QB)Tom Brady passes to (TE)Ben Watson for a TD
- 49ers (QB)Alex Smith passes to (TE)Vernon Davis for a TD
- Chiefs (QB)Matt Cassel passes to (WR)Dwayne Bowe for a TD
- Chargers (QB)Philip Rivers passes to (RB)Darren Sproles for a TD
- Colts(D/ST) Colts (CB)Jacob Lacey **35 Yard Interception Return for a TD**

FOURTH QUARTER
- 49ers (QB)Alex Smith passes to (TE)Vernon Davis for a TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)James Jones for a TD
- Patriots (RB)Laurence Maroney rushes for a TD
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (WR)Austin Collie for a TD
- Steelers(D/ST) Steelers (LB)LaMarr Woodley **77 Yard Fumble Recovery for a TD**
- Chargers(D/ST) Chargers (FB)Jacob Hester **Recovered Fumble in End Zone**
- Vikings(D/ST) Vikings (WR/KR)Percy Harvin **88 Yard Kickoff Return for TD**
- 49ers (QB)Alex Smith passes to (TE)Vernon Davis for a TD
- Colts (RB)Chad Simpson rushes for a TD
- Steelers(D/ST) Steelers (LB)Keyaron Fox **82 Yard Interception Return for a TD**

- Vikings (QB)Brett Favre passes to (TE)Visanthe Shiancoe for a TD
- Buccaneers (RB)Carnell Williams rushes for a TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)James Jones for a TD
- Rams (QB)Marc Bulger passes to (WR)Donnie Avery for a TD
- Saints (RB)Mike Bell rushes for a TD
- Jaguars (RB)Maurice Jones-Drew rushes for a TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (FB)John Kuhn for a TD
- Vikings (QB)Brett Favre passes to (WR)Bernard Berrian for a TD
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees passes to (TE)Jeremy Shockey for a TD