Monday, August 09, 2004
Our friends the Egyptians: Sudan - It's all about the Oil!
"The goals of the American oil companies are two-fold: First, removing the South-East Asian oil cartels from Sudan, since the Sudanese oil production will reach half a million barrels per day at the beginning of next year. This, following the signing last week of an agreement between the Sudanese Office of Energy and Mines and Petrodar, the company which heads another oil cartel that includes 15 companies, most of them Chinese, Malaysian and European.
"Second, the American oil companies plan, after stability in Iraq is obtained, to extend the oil pipeline from the Arabian Gulf through the Saudi port of Yanbu' to the port city of 'Arous in Sudan, and [from there] through Darfur to Chad where it [will link to] the existing pipeline that begins in Daba oil fields in Chad and goes to the Atlantic Ocean, therefore securing an oil flow for American needs.
"The needs of the American industrial sector are not limited to [securing] a safe passage for the oil through Africa, but aims also at limiting the French presence in Africa. This, following America's success in removing France from the area of Al-Buheirat Al-'Uzma [the Great Lakes], it is now hoping to eliminate the French presence in Chad and Sudan, since France did not act as politically expected of her in the Darfur problem..."...
The DNC's Imam
Last week, Robert Spencer had an item detailing some question marks in the background of the Imam who gave benediction at the conclusion of one of the sessions of the Democratic National Convention. Today, the Imam thoughtfully responds to Spencer. The gentleman is, as far as can be seen, well-meaning, but I'm going to highlight a portion of his response that I think is illustrative of the questions regarding the "small minority of extremists," and the uphill battle any administration has to face regarding the winning of hearts and minds in the Islamic and Arab worlds.
Dhimmi Watch: Imam Yahya Hendi tells his side of the story
My life was threatened many times because of my views and I was called names like "traitor to Islam" and a "sellout" to Americans because I spoke in attack of those who dare to attack America. I still can not travel to some of those countries out of fear for my life...
Emphasis mine.
'U.N. Blames Sudan for Civilian Atrocities'
At least the UN is actually issuing honest reports. Seriously, I guess that's something. Of course, the Arab League is helping to delay, delay, delay while the killing continues.
Yahoo! News - U.N. Blames Sudan for Civilian Atrocities:
"It is beyond doubt that the Government of the Sudan is responsible for extrajudicial and summary executions of large numbers of people over the last several months in the Darfur region, as well as in the Shilook Kingdom in Upper Nile State," said Asma Jahangir, the U.N. investigator on executions, in a report based on a 13-day visit to the region in June.
"The current humanitarian disaster unfolding in Darfur, for which the government is largely responsible, has put millions of civilians at risk, and it is very likely that many will die in the months to come as a result of starvation and disease," said Jahangir, a Pakistani lawyer.
Jahangir said there was "overwhelming evidence" that the killing was carried out "in a coordinated manner by the armed forces of the government and government-backed militias. They appear to be carried out in a systematic manner."
The scale of violations means they "could constitute crimes against humanity for which the government of the Sudan must bear responsibility," she said in the 26-page report to the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
A leading U.S. lawmaker toured camps in eastern Chad holding hundreds of thousands of refugees and said he would investigate the relationship between the Sudan government and the militias. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist also said the threat of U.N. sanctions against Sudan was not enough to end the violence.
The Tennessee Republican said he planned to talk with other U.S. lawmakers about remedying that, but he did not elaborate...
Code Pink - Threat or Menace?
My adrenaline gets flowing just reading this. Check out Citizen Smash's Protest Warrior adventures against the Code Pink Menace. You won't read anything like this in your morning paper. (via Dean's World)
Sunday, August 08, 2004
The Fall
This certainly is a strange story. How the mighty have fallen. Why would a guy like Chalabi, who until fairly recently was on Uncle Sam's teat, and certainly must have enough connections not to need to want for money - why would he stoop to counterfeiting dinars? Stranger things have happened, I suppose.
CNN.com - Judge: Warrants issued for Chalabi and nephew
The warrant was a new sign of the fall of Ahmed Chalabi from the centers of power. Chalabi, a longtime exile opposition leader, had been a favorite of many in the Pentagon but fell out with the Americans earlier this year.
His nephew, Salem Chalabi, heads the tribunal that is due to try Saddam on war crimes charges.
"They should be arrested and then questioned and then we will evaluate the evidence, and then if there is enough evidence, they will be sent to trial," said Judge Zuhair al-Maliky.
The warrants, issued Saturday, accused Ahmed Chalabi of counterfeiting old Iraqi dinars -- which had been removed from circulation following the fall of Saddam's regime last year, he said.
Ahmed Chalabi appeared to have been hiding the counterfeit money amid other old money and changing it into new dinars in the street, he said.
Police found the counterfeit money along with old dinars in Ahmed Chalabi's house during a May raid, he said.
Salem Chalabi was named as a suspect in the June killing of the Haithem Fadhil, director general of the finance ministry.
Both men were reportedly out of the country Sunday...
"Swifties Strike Back"
A lengthy legal document released by the Swift Boat Vets backing up everything they've put in their advertisements at Captain's Quarters Blog. Captain's Quarters: The Swifties Fire Back
Does America need a President this pusillanimous? At least now we understand the reason Kerry selected John Edwards as his vice-president. I suppose that we can expect trial attorneys to attack anyone who dares criticize John Kerry during a Kerry administration, only those trial attorneys will work for the legal offices of the FBI and US Attorneys General.
At any rate, the Swifties intend to stand their ground, showing a bit more character than anyone at the Kerry/Edwards campaign. I've been forwarded a copy of their legal team's response to Kerry's extortionate threats that they have sent to media outlets in which they've made their ad buys. I'm posting the letter below, placing most of it in the extended entry. I think it aptly demonstrates the specificity of the recollections of more than 200 men who have nothing to gain and everything to lose by coming forward -- except for setting the record straight.
They've made a convert out of me...
The all-purpose excuse
We coudln't possibly stop committing genocide - y'know...cause...the Jews!
Sudan: Israel supporting Darfur rebels
Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told reporters in Cairo his government had "information that confirms media reports of Israeli support."
Ismail, who is taking part in an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss the Darfur crisis, said he was "sure the next few days will reveal a lot of Israeli contacts with the rebels."
He pointed out that the Israeli ambassador to the U.N. had "started his talk about the Israeli barrier (at the U.N.) by speaking on Darfur and what the Arabs are doing there, as well as moving the Jewish communities to spread what is being said about Darfur."
The Sudanese minister insisted Israel had "recently become active in entering the Darfur issue from different sides, whether through its active presence in (neighboring) Eritrea, or through its active diplomatic missions."
A U.N. Security Council resolution gave the Sudanese government until Aug. 30 to restore peace in Darfur or face sanctions.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Blogger Bash
Just got back a short time ago from the New Hampshire digs of the Weekend Pundit crew where was hosted the (first annual?) New England blogger bash. Cookout and beer by the lake - good company and even a boat ride! Can't beat that.
Met folks from: On the Third Hand, Accidental Verbosity, New England Republican, Alphecca, Dog Snot Diaries, Bogieblog, Insomnomaniac...I'm going to update this as soon as I remember who I forgot. I know Jeff from Alphecca was taking photos and writing down names.
I have to make a few blogroll additions!
Thanks again to our fine hosts!
Friday, August 06, 2004
Michelle Malkin Responds to Her Critics...
...at length.
You can learn a lot just reading her responses.
Excellent Soldier Blog
MY WAR - Fear And Loathing In Iraq
Probably old news to some of you, but I just discovered it. Very interesting. The guy is writing some really interesting stuff through the eyes of an Army guy in Iraq.
You woulda done nothing and liked it.
Rudy's zinger:
(Via LGF) New York Post: Rudy - John is Moore's Stooge
In a statement issued by the Bush campaign, Giuliani charged, "John Kerry must be frustrated in his campaign if he is armchair-quarterbacking based on cues from Michael Moore."
Giuliani pounced after Kerry hammered Bush's first reaction to the news of the Twin Towers attack, which came while the president was reading to schoolkids in Florida.
Kerry yesterday said that if he were president on Sept. 11, 2001, he wouldn't have continued reading for seven minutes as Bush did after learning of the attacks — which is highlighted in Moore's "Fahrenheit 911."
"Had I been reading to children and had my top aide whispered in my ear, 'America is under attack,' I would have told those kids very politely and nicely that the president of the United States had something that he needed to attend to . . . and I would have attended to it," Kerry said.
Giuliani commented, "John Kerry is an indecisive candidate [with] an inconsistent position on the War on Terror, who voted against funding for our troops and who cannot give a clear answer on his position concerning the decision to remove Saddam Hussein."
Why does Kerry do that? He's been doing this petty, silly-sounding "I woulda done it THIS way..." crap since early in the campaign. Does it sound good to anyone? I've never thought people bragging about how they woulda done it better ever sound good. It's so damn childish. Here's the truth: You have NO IDEA what you would have done, Senator. None at all. That's the truth. The truth is also that this man just can't put up a consistent face and policy, so everything he does is a sort of petty reaction to the man in charge. He can't or won't tell us what he'd do right now. He can't convince us to trust what he says about what he'll do in the future - even if he were to actually offer us something - he's been so inconsistent, how could we take it seriously? All he can do is cast himself in somebody else's past - just as he cast himself in those Vietnam stories all those years ago. At least in the case of Vietnam, he was actually there. All he can do in the case of the Presidency is visualize himself in someone else's shoes and try to convince us all that he'd do better than the original. Sorry. I'm not buying.
He retracts...oh wait, no he doesn't
(This is reposted from my comment below.)
Mike (and sites all over the web) are talking about this Boston Globe story reporting that one of the gentlemen in the Swift Boat Veterans has recanted his criticism of Kerry, and then, just as quickly was released this statement from the Vets saying that, well, no he didn't recant.
The Boston Globe is desperate to get Kerry elected. They're carrying the guy's water. Kranish (author of the Globe piece) is paid by the Kerry campaign - not that that seems to bother the Globe.
I don't care about anyone's Vietnam history (within broad reason), but Kerry has made his military background a central part of his campaign. HE POLITICIZED IT. He just can't shut up about it, and I'm not sure that was such a great idea considering his history, but he's done it. Well now all those guys who are pissed about what he did when he got back and are pissed about the low standard he achieved to receive his medals and his trip home when plenty of other guys did much, much more and never got medals, and maybe never made it back - now those guys are speaking out. I don't blame them.
They've earned the right. They were there. They have a right to speak out, too. What can I tell ya? *I* wouldn't have said what they're saying, and questioned Kerry as they are, even if I felt pretty damn sure Kerry and his history were a load of crap - hardly anyone can...except these guys. And the fact that there are so many of them is very, very compelling.
Maybe this won't work out well for Bush. Maybe he should take the lead and denounce these guys, or at least what they're doing. He could probably do a pretty good job of indicating how silly and irrelevant arguments over Vietnam are when we have a real terrorist threat going on today. It could make him look good. But that's just a tactic. I'll leave that to Bush and his advisers. I say these Vets have a right to speak out against Kerry should they feel it necessary - and they obviously do.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Bought the Car
Conclusion (for the moment) of the car saga.
Well, we did settle on the Honda, although I was disappointed with the amount they offered us for the trade: $1500. I said I had to think about it. Went over to a used car place just to chat with the guy for some advice. He looked at the car and thought it was the type of thing I could probably get around $2500 for from some kid who might be looking for in that price range. He offered to take my name and number to send someone my way should they come along - for a little consideration. For what he'd have to put into it, he wasn't interested in purchasing it.
I went back to my office, talked to my wife..in the end we just decided to go for it. We just don't want to deal with selling the car on our own and agonizing over the last dollar.
So, long story short, we called the dealership and said we'd be going for it. And yes, we signed up for a few extras like the extended warranty and LoJack. So they made a few bucks off us. We're anxious to get the car, but it'll take until Saturday morning for them to have the thing prepared.
Looking forward to then...
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
"I know John Kerry is lying about his first Purple Heart, because I treated him for that injury."
So says one of the lineup of swift boat veterans in this nuclear advertisement at Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Wow. Very, very effective. These are the only guys who have the clout to take these shots at Kerry, and their shots are effective. The site is being hammered at the moment (just saw a snip of the ad on Hannity & Colmes), so be patient. It's worth it.
"John Kerry lied to get his Bronze Star. I know. I was there. I saw what happened."
Update: And don't miss this 12 minute assembly of all of John Kerry's flip-flop waffling on his Iraq War position(s). They should do this with a lot of people's records.
Car Shopping
Beth is looking for a car. Coincidentally, the wife and I also spent today car-shopping. This will primarily be my wife's car so the choice was her's. Considerations were cargo space, safety, handling in bad weather, reliability and PRICE. Based on these considerations and what she's seen people driving she had the choices narrowed to the Subaru Forester and the Honda CR-V. Either will be the 2004 versions so as to get the best deal possible, and we're shooting for a minimum of goo-gaws other than an auto-transmission - again, trying to keep costs down.
We'll also be trading in a '94 Jetta with only 40K miles on it (never have liked that car - lotta problems).
I got a quote from the local Honda dealer through cars.com for $21420 and we went down and saw him and took a test drive. We liked the car. Peppy with a light feel on the wheel (very different from the ponderous feeling of the Jetta). Good turning radius. Small-size SUV, but still higher off the ground than a regular car - I felt like my ass was dragging on the ground when I got back into my Saturn. Good cargo space, and the feel of the space inside was good. The suspension is tight, so you do feel every rut in the road, which is a slight minus. I liked the straightforward manner of the salesman, that is his "here's the price" manner which was in contrast to the Subaru dealer which I'll get to. I dread negotiating situations, and in fact I drive a Saturn now because I liked their "no negotiating" policy. I knew I didn't need to worry about any of that crap and the cars are good (103,000 miles and counting). The sales guy wasn't all that great at explaining some things - like how the AWD works, and he couldn't really respond to what the Subaru guy had said (we briefly talked with a Subaru dealer a few days previous) about the safety issues including roll-over risk with the CR-V.
On the whole, our hearts like this car. I'll be taking the Jetta by tomorrow morning to see what they'll give us on trade.
After Honda we went over to the Subaru dealer. This guy hadn't given me a straightforward quote - maybe because I screwed up my phone number when filling out the form - but that's OK. We went over to take a drive.
We also liked the car quite a bit. It's a little lower than the CR-V - more of a tall station wagon than an SUV. Cargo and cab space isn't quite as good as the CR-V, although it has a lot of interesting touches (even an umbrella pocket!). It feels heavier than the Honda, has a heavier wheel, seems to handle better around turns, smooths out the bumps better - overall it has a far more solid feeling. Not as peppy as the Honda. The salesman was more knowledgeable, but he has a good product, focusing on the safety features like how it handles a crash and the low risk of roll-over due to the height and especially the unusual engine piston design the Subarus have (rather than being on top of the engine, the cylinders face each other at the sides of the engine).
While out hearts were with the Honda, the feeling we had was that the Subaru was the winner for safety and bad-weather handling. At least that's my perception given what I felt and how I understand the drive-systems to function. It may even win for overall quality as well.
Still, our hearts were with the Honda. It just seems a more fun car, but my head is telling me, "Subaru."
Gas mileage us about equal, BTW.
The trouble with the Subaru is that when we got back in, the salesman found out that the only 2004 base model they had in silver (the only color my wife will accept - and I agree, the others are ugly) was sold. They have a silver, but it's got some more optional doo-dads like heated seats, side windows, wipers (!) and a better sound system. Nice options, but they add to the cost and we don't need them.
Here's where the annoying part comes in. These guys just wouldn't give us a straight quote on the thing. "What is the price?" always got some nonsense answer like, "Oh, it's almost the same!" How much more are the 2005's? Oh, they're almost the same - just mumble3000moremumble. They were the types that wanted to know what we were looking for as a payment and then they were going to base everything off that. BS. We're putting down $15K, so the payment isn't going to be much anyway. That doesn't mean I'm going to flush $2000 dollars down the shitter, either. When we asked him to run the numbers on the fancier model the sales guy had to bring the finance guy over. They said something about "pretty much" giving us the fancier car at the base model price, and he was even willing to start throwing numbers at me for the trade sight-unseen. They did not want to let us get out the door, but we thanked them, said we had to think about it and off we went.
Bottom line is that they want to move those 2004's. It's a nice car. The price will be similar to the Honda, but I'm afraid to go back there to find out for sure what the final deal is by showing them the Jetta because I'll never get out of there. I get it, anyway. Money isn't going to be the final deciding factor at this level. It'll come down to the car we really want to drive.
In the afternoon we took the Jetta to the self-serve car wash and gave it the business inside and out. Whoo. Filthy, but it cleaned up pretty good. I'm thinking we should get at least $2500 for it with the low mileage, but I'm not gonna be too picky. I don't want to deal with selling it on our own. (Anyone looking?)
So that was today's saga. We'll be making the choice soon. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if I grabbed something tomorrow. Either way I know we'll be wondering if we shoulda got the other one. OTOH, eventually we'll be getting something else as I'll need to trade my Saturn for something more practical for work, so there will be another new car experience before long no matter what.
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Chrenkoff: "I am for Islam. But I am against an Islamic state"
A couple of encouraging pointers from Arthur Chrenkoff - a report of remarks by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and a Haaretz interview with Abdurrahman Wahid, the former President of Indonesia.
Read the entry if you feel the need for some signs that things may not be uniformly bleak:
Chrenkoff: "I am for Islam. But I am against an Islamic state"
When you're more concerned about who's helping...
...than actually doing the helping - helping to stop murder, rape, starvation and dispossession on a mass scale - then your priorities need to be seriously UNSCREWED. It's funny, some say the West is racist, but for the most part, I see exactly the opposite. I see an Arab and Muslim world rife with paranoia, hatred and xenophobia, ready to cut its own throat rather than imagine anything but the worst from The Other.
SudanTribune: Arab fears of another western intervention in Sudan
Hassan Abu Taleb, deputy director at the Al-Ahram centre for political and strategic studies in Cairo, said US failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq had fuelled doubts about the west's credibility and broader motives in the Middle East. "The tendency is to see anything that comes from the US as a big lie. Some even doubt the [veracity of] catastrophic images of Darfur because they come from the western media," he said...
...Hossan Zaki, the league's spokesman, last week criticised the tough approach of the US and the European Union to the crisis, and threats of military deployment by Britain and Australia, saying they were "antagonising" Khartoum while "achieving little on the ground".
The league has been upstaged by Friday's UN Security Council resolution threatening the Sudan government with diplomatic and economic "measures" amounting to sanctions if they fail to disarm the militias, known as Janjaweed.
On his return from a visit to Darfur, Aboul Gheit, Egypt's foreign minister, appeared on Sunday to refute the UN's evidence of widespread atrocities. "To talk about grave violations of human rights or massacres or other such accusations, I don't think it is that way," he said...
...But if there was mounting concern within the Arab world about events on the ground in Darfur, where Muslims have fought, killed and raped fellow Muslims, it now appears subsumed by even greater popular alarm that the west might intervene.
Michelle's New Book
Michelle Malkin has a new book coming out, re-examining the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War, In Defense of Internment: The Case for Racial Profiling in World War II and the War on Terror. It sounds like a fascinating subject. I'm always interested in well-researched historical revision (in the good sense of the word). I hope the book receives good reviews from reviewers who address its research and conclusions in substance. I certainly won't be qualified to examine all the sources or know the history well enough to understand for sure whether the conclusions and narrative are solid. Few things are so dangerous and damaging as bad history. Bad history on controversial subjects not only damages our view of history and of ourselves, but it damages our ability to understand today's choices and could tar the causes of those who write it. If Malkin's book winds up being a bad one, it will make her, as well as a number of the causes she is seen to 'represent' - rational immigration policy and other 'conservative' causes - look bad. Real bad. I just hope the book's research is rock-solid. Having read Michelle's writing for some time now, I'm confident it will be. She seems like a serious person with a reputation to defend. I plan on reading the book.
Falling influence? Mais BooHoo.
Like an old tree who's growth is stagnant and immune systems flagging, fungus and lichen (otherwise known as McDonald's and Starbuck's) are taking hold and rotting out the old corpse along the Champs Elysees.
On the front page of today's Boston Globe, the French are facing the signs of their decline. Worry not, France, you may have little to offer the world of today, but opposing America will substitute for a purpose until you're swallowed by the rot.
Boston.com: France gives critical look at its falling influence
Nicolas Baverez, a Paris lawyer, was a largely unknown classical historian until last year when his first book, a treatise titled "The Decline of France," surprised the publishing industry by becoming a bestseller.
A year later, it is still selling strong in paperback, as are several other books with similar titles like "France in Free Fall" or "French Arrogance."
Baverez says France is struggling with "its sense of itself."
"There is a huge gap between the elite and aging political class and the society it represents, a huge gap between the rhetorical exertion of power and the real means of military and economic power," he said in an interview in his office.
But for Baverez, this sensation of falling is most strongly felt in the economy.
"The French economy is static relative to those around it, especially Spain and Ireland and the UK," he said. "The GDP in these countries is growing, unemployment is steadily diminishing. But France is stuck at the same levels."
Danielle Brunon, who lives in Paris, is an observer of French culture. Half American and half French, she founded a firm that helps French businesses interpret and gain access to American markets.
"The French are stuck, and there is a collective discussion about this on a lot of levels," she said. "The French are aware that they need to find a new energy. They take satisfaction in believing that the American model is wrong, or at least flawed, and that their new energy may be to define themselves against America."
If that new energy is in play, it was not evident in the basement of a building along the Champs Elysees, with its grand fin de sicle architecture, where a McDonald's franchise packs them in every day at lunchtime...
Monday, August 02, 2004
The Winston Review
Check out the round-up at Ghost of a Flea.
Operation Give still screwed over
Sad. The most excellent charity, Operation Give, is still being screwed by their shipping company to the tune of $30,000. Read all about it here: Chief Wiggles: Operation Give DESPERATELY needs your help!
Kerry woulda done better?
(Updated with 2nd pic)
Listened to John Kerry's response to President Bush's announcement concerning intelligence reforms. As usual, Kerry's substance was non-existent. You could easily ask for specifics after every sentence he uttered. He offered none. Kerry's utterances always amount to the most childish "I woulda done better" carping one can imagine - like a Trivial Pursuit player who says, "I knew that" after every other player's question. Kerry claimed over and over that he would have moved faster - based on what, I'd like to know. The 9/11 Commission just issued their report. And that voice...uggg...that imperious, affected tone. Difficult to listen to. And he disingenuously brought up Rumsfeld's leaked memo from last October claiming it bolstered his argument that the Administration doesn't know what it's doing, when in fact that memo shows exactly the opposite - that the Administration, or at least parts of it, is staying on the balls of its feet with regard to this new War - not that Kerry really believes we're at war right now anyway.
The more I see Kerry, the more sure I am that the electorate is sure to see him for the empty suit he is, but then again, I thought Al Gore destroyed George Bush in all the debates, and we know how that turned out.
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Great news from Afghanistan
Looks like the Afghan people themselves have more faith in their futures than certain international aid organizations. Wow.
Yahoo! News - 90 Percent of Afghans Registered to Vote (via LGF):
Women and ethnic minorities are strongly represented among those registered for the first-ever direct vote for president. But parts of the south risk being left behind because of stepped-up attacks on election workers and Afghan and U.S. security forces.
First tallies since the eight-month registration drive began winding down on Saturday show that 8.7 million of an estimated 9.8 million eligible voters have collected ID cards for the Oct. 9 election. Forty-one percent of those registered were women.
"The participation is amazing," U.N. spokesman David Singh said. "There was a lot of skepticism about this process at the beginning, but the targets have been fulfilled."...
Davids Medienkritik: STERN Online: "Kerry Too Smart for America?"
David Kaspar writes about the simplistic manner in which the German media portrays the American Presidential race, focussing on a STERN profile of Kerry, but it may as well be subtitled, "How media bias cheats us all."
Davids Medienkritik: STERN Online: "Kerry Too Smart for America?"
The entire article implies that Kerry is too detached and sophisticated (much like the Europeans themselves) to be loved by simple-minded, small-talk spewing, hot-dog eating, cola-guzzling Americans. By asking “Is Kerry too smart for America?” and making the points that it makes, the article is also clearly inviting readers to ask: “Is America too stupid for Kerry?...
This article could be about a thousand other news outlets in dozens of countries on both the left and the right, including here in the US. I was watching TV Japan with my wife this morning and they were doing a sort of "news for kids" in which they were explaining in rather simple terms (obviously) who John Kerry is - life story and all. Very heroic! Trouble is, the rest of the "big people" news isn't a whole lot better. Kerry good. Bush scary.
And some people wonder why some of us are somewhat less than concerned about what some in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere think of us? Because in today's age, we can not only find out what they think of us, but of how they came to hold those opinions. We can read German media, British media...al Jazeera - you name it. Sure, it still matters what they think, but in so far as we can see that much of it is based on some of the most biased portrayals 'they' like to kid themselves that the diverse American media is characterized by, how seriously should we take it. Why guide ourselves by people who have their own created reality based on half truths, when we know the whole - or at least a better percentage of it. And we're the one's with a stake in the results. And on the way, it's the bias peddler's consumers who get ripped off when they wonder how it is that the American economy and achievements keep clicking along, we haven't become a police state and George Bush is elected for a second term.
Kerry Envisions No More U.S. Troops for Iraq
He has no plan he's willing to share. The only "plan" he's willing to share is some sort of business of ingratiating ourselves with our "allies." Translation: Screw Iraq. There is no other explanation. It's a favorite sport for countries who can't or won't hack it. Toss the average Arab to the lions, then run home and pronounce what humanitarians you are. Give the most vicious elements exactly what they want and then pretend you're doing the right thing by allying with some sort of somnambulant international order blind to the horrific realities it allows to happen all around it without lifting a finger. What possible good such a move could do at this point in history is a mystery. There must be some sort of liberal pathology born of a disrespected and damaged generation that subconsciously seeks to screw our generation as well.
Yahoo! News - Kerry Envisions No More U.S. Troops for Iraq
Promising a fresh start with U.S. allies "burned" by President Bush, Kerry said, "I would consider it an unsuccessful policy if I hadn't brought significant numbers of troops back within the first term. And I will do that."...
How about telling us that you're focussed on accomplishing the mission, Mr. Kerry? Instead of defining "mission accomplished" by how many troops you can withdraw, why don't you tell us what conditions on the ground you'd hope to see created to feel your policy was successful, and that would allow you to draw down troops. Defining success by retreat is a LOSER's policy. I truly hope the American people will not elect a loser.
Outgoing Consul Pinkas: I've learned nothing from FM Shalom
Sorry about the pic, I just couldn't resist. Someday I'll probably need to do that. Anyway, it's simultaneously comforting and disturbing to see that it's not just American diplomats that seem to lose a screw (or maybe some of their scruples?) while doing foreign service. At least the Israeli variety doesn't go on the Saudi payroll when they retire, of course. I've seen Pinkas any number of times on American TV, several times facing off against Palestinian spokesman al-Rahman (I believe that was his name). While I know it's an incredibly difficult job, unlike Peres who calls him the "best and most talented public relations man in the world," I would actually say he could have used a few lessons in getting a concise and effective TV message out - especially in view of the fact that he was facing off against the same predictable Palestinian responses time and again. You'd think you'd have your rap pretty tight, but Pinkas never quite did. 
"During my tenure as consul general in New York there have been four foreign ministers: Shimon Peres, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Benjamin Netanyahu and Silvan Shalom," Pinkas wrote. "The typist naturally wants to continue writing 'my teachers,' but who among you would believe such hypocrisy? What have I learned from the current foreign minister?
"Since the beginning of 2003, you and I have had the privilege of serving a shining Churchillian diplomat and a perfect gentleman. His list of accomplishments (Israel's inclusion in the European Union, relations with all the Arab states, diplomatic operations at the United Nations, negotiations with UEFA over the holding of soccer games in Israel, rehabilitation of relations with France) I will enumerate and detail on a later occasion. Give him respect. Why, he appreciates you and all your work," Pinkas wrote to ministry employees.
The Foreign Ministry said in response Pinkas was a political appointee and added it is "interesting that he had not brought up any such concerns prior to his announcement that he was leaving his post."...
Dahlan: 'Arafat sitting on Palestinian corpses'
Talk continues tough as pressure continues between Arafat and his supporters. First, a group of "gunmen" burst into a meeting of Palestinian legislators and Fatah officials, firing into the air, apparently believing that the meeting was part of an anti-Arafat conspiracy. "Reform" must be tough under these conditions, but then it's not surprising considering all the time Arafat and his sycophants have squandered preaching hate and death rather than working to create a functioning civil society.
The bizarre part? After the shooting is done, the legislators go ask the gunmen, "Can we have our meeting now?"
About 20 armed men broke into the conference on the first day of the weeklong event, firing their weapons into the air and above the stage where speakers were seated.
No one was wounded in the gunfire, but the meeting broke up. Several delegates met with the gunmen to discuss whether the conference could continue.
The gunmen identified themselves as members of the Al Awda Brigades, a small militant group. One of them told the Associated Press they believed the meeting was part of a conspiracy directed against Arafat.
And the other interesting part of this article is that Dahlan is actually showing a little fire. This criticism of Arafat is remarkable. The old lion is getting weak and the pack is closing in. This is what happens when your rule is based on corruption and violence. A pirate captain who can't bring his men the riches they're used to (and the EU has finally been talking about accountability) had best have his grog tasted by the cabin boy before imbibing.
"Arafat is sitting on the corpses and destruction of the Palestinians at a time when they're desperately in need of a new mentality," Dahlan was quoted as saying during the interview, which was held in Jordan.
If Arafat does not carry out real reforms within the PA by August 10, 30,000 Palestinians will demonstrate in the streets of Gaza, Dahlan said.
"What has happened in Gaza is an expression of our demands for reform," he said, in an apparent reference to three weeks of protests in the Strip against decisions made by Arafat.
All of the funds that foreign nations have donated to the Palestinian Authority, a total of $5 billion, "have gone down the drain, and we don't know to where."
Arafat's policies have brought the Palestinians damage, and have brought about a situation in which Palestinians' lives are in "ruin," he was further quoted as saying...
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Doctors Without Borders leaves Afghanistan
This is basically a re-post of some of my comments on this subject in the post at The Argus, written after reading Glenn and Arthur's posts.
Both the Chrenkoff and the Hippercritical pieces fisk The Independent's article which "gleefully" focuses on MSF's criticism's of the US. But reading this New York Times piece, one finds more nuanced reasoning. And indeed, reading the statement at the MSF site, one gets a fuller impression of the reasons for the pullout. It's not great, still implying responsibility for the US, but on the whole it provides much more balance than indicated by The Independent's headline. The Independent basically took the one paragraph they found convenient and wrote their story around it. No surprise. I'll get back that a little later.
MSF [Medicins sans Frontieres] says that "a Taliban spokesperson claimed responsibility for the murders and stated later that organizations like MSF work for American interests," and calls this, in its concluding paragraph a "false allegation." But it's not a false allegation. Any group that endeavors to make the living standard of average Afghans better without the Taliban is, in fact, working for American interests - whether they intend to or not.
Besides, the bad guys have been targeting all sorts of aid workers for a long time there. Nothing new, and nothing having to do with anyone mistaking MSF people for combatants. Remember? These are the worst of the worst bad-guys. They don't care. In fact, aid workers are tempting soft targets for them. They're killing people who are helping to set up the vote.
As many commenters have mentioned, it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation for the US. Always has been. Stay to the military mission and you're blamed for that (failing to bring Afghanistan out of the Middle Ages fast enough), risk your lives on humanitarian work as well and they still find a way to damn you - rather than the real murderers. And since when are army medics and aid workers any more legitimate targets than non-military? That's why they wear Red Crosses right? "Don't shoot me, I'm a medic." Nathan at the Argus is right to relate this to the Iraq/UN situation - the first thing I thought of. The UN refuses security and then blames the US when some fellows who didn't have the respect for the mission they thought they were due blew them to hell. Someone needs to remind these guys that the rules they think they operate under aren't as universal and respected as they seem to fantasize they are. That's a problem with the "Internationalist" mind-set. The rules only last as long as everyone agrees to them. As soon as they don't, then the only way to enforce them is with the gun.
Would groups like MSF complain less if the US were pacifying Afghanistan more forcefully? I doubt it. Somehow I feel that those on the Left who criticize the Administration's actions in Afghanistan aren't doing it because the Administration hasn't been forceful enough. I don't recall that Afghanistan was much of a haven for international aid organizations under the Taliban - and they were only suffered in so far as they were acceptable to THEM. Can we say that MSF was serving Taliban interests at that time? The US is doing what it can, also under difficult circumstances.
Oh, and may I point out that among all the carping in papers, especially Euro-Left papers like The Independent, about US actions in Afghanistan, that this was supposed to be the invasion that *didn't* squander all that so-called international good will we had after 9/11. You'll forgive me if I'm less than impressed with complaints about the Administration and their mishandling of all that pity.
There's a funny thing about pity. The strong and the proud aren't generally deemed worthy of it.
Where would you rather live? A nation which is capable and willing to separate out friend from foe, bringing destruction to the latter and a hand-up to the former, that is, somewhere strong and proud...or somewhere incapable or unwilling to respond to an attack - somewhere pitiful?
"International Good-Will." patooie
The Argus: Suspects Nabbed - 'Uzbek officials have arrested suspects after identifying one of the three suicide bombers.' (Link) | (0)
Get a blog
Boston Globe Op-ed / The Stepford convention by Dan Payne
Wondering: Am I only one who questions why Globe runs Democratic consultant's notes as column? Why not get blog? No interesting writers in Boston who can write real sentences? What is purpose here? Many good conservative columnists could provide intellectual diversity. Jeff Jacoby lonely. Not Globe's type of diversity - prefers racial face-counts. Employs Democratic Yoda instead.
Friday, July 30, 2004
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Hippercritical: Médecins sans Politics
Add another international aid organization to the list of those risking their mandate by peddling their politics. Glenn has the story in his entry, Médecins sans Politics. Just a disgrace.
New England Republican: Kerry's "Positive" Campaign
Our local republican blogger is calling BS on the idea that the Democrats have any monopoly on taking the high road this campaign season. Face it, friend. People with convictions will always be accused of being divisive. If anything, it only shows that there are real differences between the parties at some level. What the Dems really mean by accusing the Republicans taking the low road is that they refuse to agree with them.
New England Republican: Kerry's "Positive" Campaign
“You the American people — you can reject the tired, old hateful, negative politics of the past.” Republican leaders, said Edwards, are “doing all they can to take this campaign for the highest office in the land down the lowest possible road.”
These guys must have some large cajones if they think they can get away with this. I just have a few questions for Mr. Edwards...
