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March 16, 2004
Vol. 7 No. 11
In this
issue:
1. The Pain in Spain
2. Feeling a Draft
3. Gassing Up
4. Quick Hits
5. New at Reason Online -
Spanish Flu
6. Reason's print
edition
7. News and
Events
There are two ways to look at the victory of Spain's Socialist Party in the wake of the deadly train bombings in Madrid. One is positive, the other negative, and both spell trouble for President George W. Bush.
First, the quick ouster of the Popular Party was an example of government officials actually being held accountable for their actions -- or inactions -- in a time of national crisis. Spanish voters evidently did not feel the least bit unpatriotic about giving government officials their walking papers. That would seem to be a healthy attitude, though it is one that the Bush administration -- which has yet to fire, reassign, or even mildly rebuke any U.S. official with responsibilities touched by 9/11 -- appears to regard as close to treason.
But it would also be great tragedy if the new Socialist government followed through on its stated plans to recall Spain's small fighting force from Iraq. What might have been a wholly sane and laudable position before the train bombings now looks too much like capitulation to terror. Worse, such a move would logically put the U.S.'s next most senior Coalition partner, Britain, in the terror crosshairs. Give the bombers what they want and they are likely to go on bombing.
What is even more unjust than drafting a cross section of America into the armed forces? Drafting only those people who have been determined to have the special skills that Uncle Sam wants.
The rationale for such a draft is clear. The Pentagon's opposition to an old calling-all-hands draft is founded on its belief that thousands of untrained and unmotivated bodies it not what a modern fighting force needs. It simply would take too long to get such a cohort up to speed.
People with key technical skills in computers and in languages, however, are in desperately short supply. Logistics could also become a need area if Army reservists and National Guardsmen with those skills cycle out of service following their long tours in Iraq.
The Selective Service System already has plans to draft medical personnel in the event of a crisis, but that unlikely scenario requires a precipitating horror, such as a WMD strike on U.S. soil. A creeping demand for Arabic speakers or programmers might eventually convince Congress that a selective draft for skill-sets is the only way to go.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/164693_draft13.html
With warmer weather comes the annual spike in gasoline prices. Clearly, higher crude-oil prices are to blame for much of the run-up, though there are also other factors, including refinery capacity and transportation costs.
Easy to overlook, however, are the cost effect of taxes -- 30 to 35 cents per gallon -- and clear-air regulations. Refinery capacity can get squeezed in some regions where mandated fuels and additives conspire to create artificial shortages.
Both of these factors add more to the cost at the pump than any perceived gouging by either oil companies or intrepid gas-station owners. But, to judge from the headlines, we face a choice between killer flu season and its alternative, sky-high gas-price season.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040315/D81AILK00.html
Quote of the Week
"It's embarrassing. We had a paralegal who did bad research." -- Aliso Viejo City Manager David J. Norman explaining why the California city almost banned dihydrogen monoxide -- H20 -- due to its perceived health risks.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/8185305.htm
Planet X
Sky-watchers think they have found a tenth planet in the Solar System. No word if it is inhabited by large monsters that look suspiciously as if they consist of foam rubber.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20040315/planet.html
Portion Police
As part of stepped up federal war on fat, the Food and Drug Administration wants food labels to have clearer info on calories and more "realistic" portion assumptions. Health advocacy groups are not impressed.
Every Vote Counts
After his re-election with 71 percent of the vote, Vladimir Putin promises more freedom and democracy to Russians. Putin also announces the results of the next election, which he will win with 73.8 percent of the vote.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4533247/
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