Terry Brooks, The Sword of Shannara

At Amazon, Terry Brooks, The Sword of Shannara.

Jennifer Delacruz's Monday Forecast

More sunny, windy, and dry weather, which is not too bad, actually.

Here's the lovely Ms. Jennifer, for ABC News 10 San Diego:

In Afghanistan, American Airstrikes Escalate — Again

Well, I'm not too upset about it, actually. If the security situation requires more airstrikes, the strike away. I'll be upset if Trump starts getting a the kind of flak over this from the media that Obama never got.

At LAT, "U.S. airstrikes rise sharply in Afghanistan — and so do civilian deaths":

U.S. airstrikes rise sharply in Afghanistan — and so do civilian deaths https://t.co/NXnAQsCfLP pic.twitter.com/Qpg2OgzVcv

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 4, 2017

As U.S. warplanes flew above a cluster of villages where Islamic State militants were holed up in eastern Afghanistan, 11 people piled into a truck and drove off along an empty dirt track to escape what they feared was imminent bombing.

They did not get far.

An explosion blasted the white Suzuki truck off the road, opening a large crater in the earth and flipping the vehicle on its side in a ditch. A teenage girl survived. The 10 dead included three children, one an infant in his mother’s arms.

The lone survivor of the Aug. 10 blast in Nangarhar province, and Afghan officials who visited the site, said the truck was hit by an American airstrike shortly before 5 p.m. Relatives expressed horror that U.S. ground forces and surveillance aircraft could have mistaken the passengers, who included women and children riding in the open truck bed — in daylight with no buildings or other vehicles around — for Islamic State fighters.

“How could they not see there were women and children in the truck?” said Zafar Khan, 23, who lost six family members, including his mother and three siblings, in the blast.

In a statement after the incident, the U.S. military acknowledged carrying out a strike but said it killed militants who “were observed loading weapons into a vehicle” and “there was zero chance of civilian casualties.”

Pockets of Nangarhar remain inaccessible to outsiders because of fighting, making it impossible to independently determine the cause of the fatal explosion. What is not in question is that in the 17th year of U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan, American airstrikes are escalating again, along with civilian casualties.

Operating under looser restrictions on air power that commanders hope will break a stalemate in the war, U.S. fighter planes this year dropped 3,554 explosives in Afghanistan through Oct. 31, the most since 2012.

American officials say the firepower has curtailed the growth of Islamic State’s South Asia affiliate — known as ISIS-Khorasan, which they believe numbers about 900 fighters, most of them in Nangarhar — and enabled struggling government forces to regain ground against Taliban insurgents in other provinces, such as Helmand, where a Marine-led task force has helped coordinate a months-long offensive.

But innocent Afghans are asking: At what cost?

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan documented 205 civilian deaths and 261 injuries from airstrikes in the first nine months this year, a 52% increase in casualties compared with the same period in 2016. Although both U.S. and Afghan forces conduct aerial attacks, preliminary data indicate that American strikes have been more lethal for civilians.

In the first six months of 2017, the U.N. said, 54 civilians died in international air operations, compared with 29 in Afghan strikes. Twelve additional deaths could not be attributed to either force, the U.N. found.

In the case of the blast in Nangarhar province in August, U.S. officials have continued to assert that the American airstrike that day struck only militants. But they have since offered an alternative explanation for the civilian deaths. Responding to questions from The Times, coalition officials said that a passenger vehicle — presumably the Suzuki truck — hit a roadside bomb planted by Islamic State militants slightly more than a mile from where the airstrike killed the militants. It was the roadside bomb that resulted “in multiple enemy-caused civilian casualties,” said Navy Capt. Tom Gresback, a spokesman for coalition forces in Kabul.

Afghans vigorously dispute that account. The district police chief, Hamidullah Sadaqat, said there was only one deadly explosion in the area that afternoon. Rozina, the 17-year-old survivor, said her memory was clear...

Kendall Jenner Gym Workout (VIDEO)

From Love Advent:

Steve Erickson, Shadowbahn

At Amazon, Steve Erickson, Shadowbahn: A Novel.

Could California Be Seeing the Onset of a Recession?

Probably. We lead the country in just about everything else, so why not the next economic crash? We've certainly got the stupid leadership for it, Democrat leadership.

At Instapundit, "HIGH-SPEED TRAIN TO NOWHERE."

Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings

At Amazon, Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive).

Also, mass-market paperback version here.

Sunday Shopping

At Amazon, Today's Deals.

See especially, Schwinn Bicycles and Cycling Gear.

Also, RockDove Two-Tone Memory Foam Warm House Slippers for Men w/Indoor Outdoor Sole.

And, Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Set, Blue - 3 Ball Amazon Exclusive, and Spalding NBA Slam Jam Over-The-Door Mini Basketball Hoop.

More, Sweet Dreams Luxury Satin Pillowcase with Zipper, Standard Size, White (Silky Satin Pillow Case for Hair) by Shop Bedding.

Still more, G.H. Bass & Co. Men's Larson Penny Loafer.

Plus, Samsung Electronics UN65MU7000 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model).

BONUS: Natan Sharansky, The Case For Democracy.

Michelle Malkin Slams Kate Steinle Verdict: We're a 'Sanctuary Nation' (VIDEO)

She's fired up.

On Hannity's:

When will the politicians who support open borders be held accountable for their policies? Kate Steinle would still be alive today if it wasn't for San Francisco's sanctuary city policy. h/t @michellemalkin @seanhannity pic.twitter.com/nJFKnTfJtw

— Nick Short 🇺🇸 (@PoliticalShort) December 1, 2017

The Gift of Goats

They're so tame. I guess they'd make a nice gift to some Sudanese children?



More at World Vision, "Donate Goats":

Goats can change everything.

Their milk provides great protein to help children grow. The family can also sell any extra to earn money for medicines and other necessities.

A healthy dairy goat can give up to 16 cups of milk a day. Goat’s milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk and is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that growing children need. Goats are practical animals — flourishing in harsh climates while producing valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens...

Emily Ratajkowski Covered in Pasta (VIDEO)

Love Advent's going with the weird angle. Ms. Emily's been keep up her figure, though, so that's nice.

Watch:

Jennifer Delacruz's Sunny, Windy, and Dry Forecast

Hmm, the rainy season's getting a slow start this year, it turns out. Nice weather otherwise.

Here's the lovely Ms. Jennifer, for ABC News 10 San Diego:

Delivery Driver 'Drops Off' Amazon Package (VIDEO)

I got a book delivered last week to the leasing office, although I wasn't notified. My Amazon packages are always found in the mailbox or dropped off at the front door. Never to the office.

I won't mind as long as I get a notification. I thought mine got lost in the mail somewhere.

I shouldn't be too bummed, though, compared to this guy, who had the delivery guy just chuck his box out the window. Sheesh.

The dude's got a good video system set up, though. Smart.

At CBS News 2 Los Angeles:

Selena Gomez 'Woman of the Year' at Billboard Women in Music 2017

She's great!

At Drunken Stepfather, "SELENA GOMEZ IN A HALTER TOP AND TIGHT PANTS OF THE DAY."

Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven

At Amazon, Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven: A Novel.

Kate Steinle Case, the Acquittal of Garcia Zarate, Makes Mockery of Rule of Law

As usual, Heather Mac Donald offers the best commentary on the Kate Steinle case, and the decline and fall of both law and order, and the once-Golden State of California.

At City Journal, "San Francisco's Shame."

Today's Shopping

At Amazon, Today's Deals.

And, Save on Etekcity Products.

Plus, Save on Digital Cameras.

Also, REGAL 50" x 70" Sherpa Luxury Throw Blanket - The Woods' Natural Camo.

More, Murray's Superior Hair Dressing Pomade, 3 Ounce (Pack of 4).

Here, AmazonBasics DSLR and Laptop Backpack - Orange Interior.

Still more, AmazonBasics AA Performance Alkaline Batteries (48 Count) - Packaging May Vary.

And, AmazonBasics Lightning to USB A Cable - Apple MFi Certified - Black - 6 Feet /1.8 Meters.

BONUS: Thomas Fleming, The Strategy of Victory: How General George Washington Won the American Revolution.

More Lily Aldridge

Following-up, "Lily Aldridge Takes You Away to Her Turks and Caicos Paradise (VIDEO)."

Here's more Lily, via Vogue:

Lily Aldridge Takes You Away to Her Turks and Caicos Paradise (VIDEO)

She's always been one of my faves, but has been out of the limelight of late.

No matter. Enjoy her while she's hot.

William Jacobson at Vassar College

This is from last month, but there was quite the controversy, naturally.

Here's William, at USA Today, "My pro-free speech views made me the target of a smear campaign at Vassar College."

My lecture against squeezing out free speech from colleges got me smeared. The students who smeared me got a safe space complete with coloring books and markers.

(More at Legal Insurrection.)