For a long time, the trump card of conservatives was National Security. “Do you really care about the minimum wage, abortion, or gay rights?” they’d say, sneering at the very idea. “Are those namby-pamby Democrats going to protect you from Communi- I mean, terrorism?” One could argue that the Democrats had done a pretty good job in years past, and that terrorist attacks were sharply rising under the Bush administration, but that’d just make them mad. “Trust us, things would be a lot worse with Al Gore in the White House!” they’d yell, spewing crumbs everywhere. “IF IT WEREN’T FOR US, YOU’D ALL BE BLOWN TO PIECES! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?!?! WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA!?!?!?”
Of course, that’s not what we wanted, and we did not hate America, and since it was fairly impossible to prove them wrong about a hypothetical situation, we usually shut up at this point and found someone more interesting to talk to.
But, even the threat of violent attacks pales in comparison with the total destruction of the human race as we know it. No, I'm not talking about nuclear weapons - though that should be dealt with sooner rather than later. I'm talking about something that, unlike its Republican equivalent, is a real, measurable phenomenon that is happening right in front of us.
It’s that old standby Global Warming.
Canada’s ice caps are melting away.
The original government release:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2005/Canada_Ice.html
For popular consumption:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050309142557.htm
What’s the response to this? Republicans certainly aren’t going to do anything about it; the unfettered free market isn’t concerned with such things. After all, it only seeks to maximize profit, not minimize losses.
How important is The Greatness of America if said Greatness is submerged under the Atlantic?
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Monday, March 14, 2005
The Fallacy of Sanctions
A common 'moderate' way to deal with a rogue nation is to end trade. That way, there's no fighting, just a stern and unmistakable message telling the country we disapprove of them, and offering the possibility of restored trade if they change their ways.
Yet from Iraq to Palestine to Cuba, they’ve been an exercise in futility. They’ve produced plenty of poverty, disease, and resentment, but they’ve never managed to actually bring down a government unless followed by a large-scale invasion.
Sometimes it can be necessary to restrict the importation or exportation of certain things (such as, say, nuclear bombs), but to forbid food, medicine or workers to enter a country is worse than useless.
Whenever a nation is threatened by an external force, the people look to their leaders for protection and support. An embargo is the same as a bomb, and sometimes worse.
But wouldn’t those who suffer under an embargo blame the actions of their leaders which caused the sanctions in the first place?
No; not in the entirety of recorded human history has that ever happened. People simply do not think that way. They say to themselves “It wasn’t our corrupt, dictatorial leaders who imposed the sanctions, it was those foreign powers. It is cruel to make us suffer for something our leaders – who definitely are none the worse for wear because of these restrictions – have done.” This is assuming, of course, that the people of the isolated nation don’t support their rulers in the first place, while oftentimes they do. The notion that an entire country will embark on a collective guilt trip and beg forgiveness is ridiculous.
Some poeple never learn.
Yet from Iraq to Palestine to Cuba, they’ve been an exercise in futility. They’ve produced plenty of poverty, disease, and resentment, but they’ve never managed to actually bring down a government unless followed by a large-scale invasion.
Sometimes it can be necessary to restrict the importation or exportation of certain things (such as, say, nuclear bombs), but to forbid food, medicine or workers to enter a country is worse than useless.
Whenever a nation is threatened by an external force, the people look to their leaders for protection and support. An embargo is the same as a bomb, and sometimes worse.
But wouldn’t those who suffer under an embargo blame the actions of their leaders which caused the sanctions in the first place?
No; not in the entirety of recorded human history has that ever happened. People simply do not think that way. They say to themselves “It wasn’t our corrupt, dictatorial leaders who imposed the sanctions, it was those foreign powers. It is cruel to make us suffer for something our leaders – who definitely are none the worse for wear because of these restrictions – have done.” This is assuming, of course, that the people of the isolated nation don’t support their rulers in the first place, while oftentimes they do. The notion that an entire country will embark on a collective guilt trip and beg forgiveness is ridiculous.
Some poeple never learn.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
A Brief Look at the Right-Wing Media
I could spend today talking about the massive pro-Syria rally in Lebanon or Bush's failing efforts to sell his privitization scam, but that's too easy. Instead, let's look at some of the people who feed the conservative movement:
William F. Buckley Jr. - Reacted to being called a ‘crypto-Nazi’ by becoming violent and homophobic. Actually is a crypto-Nazi, if his hatred of gays, Jews, and his love of despotism are any clue.
Jonah Goldberg – Barely fifth rate; he’s not even interesting. Has absolutely nothing to say yet continues to milk his connection to the whole sordid Lewinsky affair. Wrote articles from a Jewish perspective for years before admitting he had never considered himself Jewish in any way. Pathetic.
George Will – Pretentious idiot. Thinks he can prove he’s smarter than you by cramming quotations into his lousy articles. Once wrote a piece pining for the days when people with HIV would wither and die in only a few years; bemoaned the fact that these newer, more effective AIDS drugs would “lead to a lack of understanding about the danger” of HIV. More out of touch than Louis XVI.
Ann Coulter –Too many things to mention; Coulter is essentially Hitler with boobs and a blond wig. Before you accuse me of playing the Hitler card indecently, I might remind you that Coulter has called non-white people ‘savages’ and talked at length about ‘the benefits of fascism’. So maybe I’m not so off-base.
Laura Ingrahm – The poor man’s Ann Coulter, by which I mean they’re both whores (no disrespect to whores, of course). Claimed that being ‘elite’ had nothing to do with wealth or power, making a pro-choice homeless man more elite than President Bush. Also said that art is useless unless it enforces the status quo.
Michael Savage – Actually mentally ill. Claims to hate gays, but writes homoerotic prose and lives in San Francisco. Calls people ‘sheeple’, Ruth Bader Ginsburg ‘Ruth Badgirl Ginsburg’, Madeline Albright ‘Secretary of Hate Halfbright’ and third-world countries ‘turd world countries’. Hilarious.
Jeff Gannon – A sad shell of a man. Used a fake name and phony credentials to pretend to be a journalist so he could ask Bush ridiculously slanted questions. Now, he operates a blog (under his fake name) and essentially reprints White House press releases. Maybe he should go back to being a prostitute; I hear he’s got 8 inches.
Rush Limbaugh – A sad puffball of a man. Spreads right-wing lies on the radio hours and hours every day, and what does he get for it? Drug addiction, three divorces, a recurring weight problem, and his arch nemesis is gaining on him in the ratings. To top it off, Mr. Snerdley doesn’t even exist.
Sean Hannity – Indistinct party hack. Writes crappy books, has a crappy radio show, and does whatever the GOP tells him. Treats squirrel-man Alan Colmes like his pet poodle, which I suppose is right.
Thomas Friedman – Graduated Brandeis, alas. I count him as right-wing. Why? He blithely shrugs off the monetary and human cost of our involvement in the Middle East; then says we invaded Iraq ‘because we can’ without choking on his own shame. Reacts to tough questions by running off the stage.
David Horowitz – I didn’t like him when he was a Stalinist and I don’t think he’s changed. Spreads ridiculous lies about my professors and my school. Thinks that drawing a line in Javascript between people proves that they’re part of a conspiracy.
Bill O’Reilly – His idea of ‘debate’ is to scream at you for ten minutes and then cut your mic off when you try to respond. Claims to have won Peabody awards, been a college football star and served in combat when he did none of those things. Contradicts his own mother about his childhood and expects no one to notice. Told the son of a man who died on 9/11 to “get out of here before I tear you to fucking pieces.” Wrote the world’s worst sex scene. Also, ‘falafel’.
William F. Buckley Jr. - Reacted to being called a ‘crypto-Nazi’ by becoming violent and homophobic. Actually is a crypto-Nazi, if his hatred of gays, Jews, and his love of despotism are any clue.
Jonah Goldberg – Barely fifth rate; he’s not even interesting. Has absolutely nothing to say yet continues to milk his connection to the whole sordid Lewinsky affair. Wrote articles from a Jewish perspective for years before admitting he had never considered himself Jewish in any way. Pathetic.
George Will – Pretentious idiot. Thinks he can prove he’s smarter than you by cramming quotations into his lousy articles. Once wrote a piece pining for the days when people with HIV would wither and die in only a few years; bemoaned the fact that these newer, more effective AIDS drugs would “lead to a lack of understanding about the danger” of HIV. More out of touch than Louis XVI.
Ann Coulter –Too many things to mention; Coulter is essentially Hitler with boobs and a blond wig. Before you accuse me of playing the Hitler card indecently, I might remind you that Coulter has called non-white people ‘savages’ and talked at length about ‘the benefits of fascism’. So maybe I’m not so off-base.
Laura Ingrahm – The poor man’s Ann Coulter, by which I mean they’re both whores (no disrespect to whores, of course). Claimed that being ‘elite’ had nothing to do with wealth or power, making a pro-choice homeless man more elite than President Bush. Also said that art is useless unless it enforces the status quo.
Michael Savage – Actually mentally ill. Claims to hate gays, but writes homoerotic prose and lives in San Francisco. Calls people ‘sheeple’, Ruth Bader Ginsburg ‘Ruth Badgirl Ginsburg’, Madeline Albright ‘Secretary of Hate Halfbright’ and third-world countries ‘turd world countries’. Hilarious.
Jeff Gannon – A sad shell of a man. Used a fake name and phony credentials to pretend to be a journalist so he could ask Bush ridiculously slanted questions. Now, he operates a blog (under his fake name) and essentially reprints White House press releases. Maybe he should go back to being a prostitute; I hear he’s got 8 inches.
Rush Limbaugh – A sad puffball of a man. Spreads right-wing lies on the radio hours and hours every day, and what does he get for it? Drug addiction, three divorces, a recurring weight problem, and his arch nemesis is gaining on him in the ratings. To top it off, Mr. Snerdley doesn’t even exist.
Sean Hannity – Indistinct party hack. Writes crappy books, has a crappy radio show, and does whatever the GOP tells him. Treats squirrel-man Alan Colmes like his pet poodle, which I suppose is right.
Thomas Friedman – Graduated Brandeis, alas. I count him as right-wing. Why? He blithely shrugs off the monetary and human cost of our involvement in the Middle East; then says we invaded Iraq ‘because we can’ without choking on his own shame. Reacts to tough questions by running off the stage.
David Horowitz – I didn’t like him when he was a Stalinist and I don’t think he’s changed. Spreads ridiculous lies about my professors and my school. Thinks that drawing a line in Javascript between people proves that they’re part of a conspiracy.
Bill O’Reilly – His idea of ‘debate’ is to scream at you for ten minutes and then cut your mic off when you try to respond. Claims to have won Peabody awards, been a college football star and served in combat when he did none of those things. Contradicts his own mother about his childhood and expects no one to notice. Told the son of a man who died on 9/11 to “get out of here before I tear you to fucking pieces.” Wrote the world’s worst sex scene. Also, ‘falafel’.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Oh Saddam, where are you hidin'?
Saddam's spider hole capture was staged by the US military?
An alleged ex-Marine who claims to have participated in the capturing of Saddam Hussein says the public version of his capture was fabricated, United Press International is reporting.The Pentagon denies it, of course. This could be a complete hoax, or it could be something big. Stay tuned for further details.
Former Sgt. Nadim Abou Rabeh was quoted in a Saudi newspaper as saying the ousted Iraqi president was actually captured Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, and not the day after, as announced by the U.S. Army, according to UPI.
"I was among the 20-man unit, including eight of Arab descent, who searched for Saddam for three days in the area of Dour near Tikrit, and we found him in a modest home in a small village and not in a hole as announced," the UPI report quoted Abou Rabeh as saying.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Their Heart’s Blood Dyed to Every Fold
An Italian journalist named Giuliana Sgrena was taken hostage by Iraqi insurgents, but her ransom was paid by the Italian government, and she was on her way out of the country when her convoy was attacked by US forces.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-03-05-iraq_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA
So, did Snegra’s car go too fast and ignore warnings from American troops?
I don’t know. But it seems fairly unbelievable to me that US troops would be unaware who was in that car and why they were speeding. Snegra claims that she may have been targeted because the US disagrees with Italy’s policy of negotiating with terrorists. Yet is also seems amazing that the military would resort to something so crude and obvious. Maybe they assumed no one would believe a Communist.
Either way, it’s going to be a big headache for the pro-war government of Silvio Berlusconi. The slain Italian officer had a huge funeral in Rome yesterday, and anti-American sentiment is quite high.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-03-05-iraq_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA
Giuliana Sgrena, who writes for the communist newspaper Il Manifesto, described how she was wounded and Italian intelligence officer Nicola Calipari was killed as she was celebrating her freedom on the way to the airport. The shooting Friday has fueled anti-American sentiment in a country where people are deeply opposed to U.S. policy in Iraq.
"I remember only fire," she said in her article. "At that point a rain of fire and bullets came at us, forever silencing the happy voices from a few minutes earlier."
Sgrena said the driver began shouting that they were Italian, then "Nicola Calipari dove on top of me to protect me and immediately, and I mean immediately, I felt his last breath as he died on me."
Suddenly, she said, she remembered her captors' warning her "to be careful because the Americans don't want you to return."
The U.S. military said the Americans used hand and arm signals, flashing white lights and fired warning shots to get the car to stop. But in an interview Saturday with Italian La 7 TV, Sgrena said "there was no bright light, no signal." She said the car was traveling at "regular speed."
Italian military officials said two other agents were wounded, but U.S. officials said it was only one. The agent who was killed, Calipari, had led negotiations for the journalist's release.
So, did Snegra’s car go too fast and ignore warnings from American troops?
I don’t know. But it seems fairly unbelievable to me that US troops would be unaware who was in that car and why they were speeding. Snegra claims that she may have been targeted because the US disagrees with Italy’s policy of negotiating with terrorists. Yet is also seems amazing that the military would resort to something so crude and obvious. Maybe they assumed no one would believe a Communist.
Either way, it’s going to be a big headache for the pro-war government of Silvio Berlusconi. The slain Italian officer had a huge funeral in Rome yesterday, and anti-American sentiment is quite high.
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