The End of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"STRATFOR has received word that effective Sept. 1, when U.S. forces, under orders from U.S. President Barack Obama, are expected to cease all combat operations in Iraq and transfer full authority to Iraqi forces, Operation Iraqi Freedom will officially conclude. The new name of the U.S. mission in Iraq will be Operation New Dawn, symbolizing a new phase in U.S. military engagement in the Middle East." (via Stratfor)

Davis-Bacon Act

The insanity of "prevailing wage" regulations is perfectly encapsulated in this news story from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (via Mickey Kaus)

Wolf on the Fiscal Tightrope.

Excellent and well-argued column from Martin Wolf in today's Financial Times.

Good News and Bad News, Boys.

The good news for PGA Tour professionals is that Tiger Woods is on his way back to the Tour, which means that people will once again have an active interest in watching things like the Bay Hill Invitational and The Player's Championship. The bad news is that he's really, really pissed and he'll probably take it out on his fellow professionals.

The Biggest Bubble.

Walter Mead has a smart post today on the biggest bubble of them all: the upper-middle class professional bubble.

Krugman on the Crisis

Interesting, accessible talk at MIT by economist/columnist Paul Krugman. Worth listening to in its entirety. (via Paul Kedrosky)