Mad Cow Suspect in Washington State

Oh, gads, and I just ate a burger. Do we have to kill all the cows now?

UPDATE: From the Fox News article (emphasis mine):

A form of mad cow disease can be contracted by humans if they eat infected beef or nerve tissue, and possibly through blood transfusions.

And here:

Scientists believe humans can be infected with the brain-wasting disease by eating meat contaminated with diseased brain or spinal column material. BSE is usually not found in meat like steaks and roasts.

In other words, the muscle cuts of meat are not known to transmit the disease, although it still remains if meat such as hamburger is completely free of spinal cord and brain tissue. Perhaps we can eat our burgers in safety. Here's some more info from Fox.

And here, Asia reacts by banning beef imported from the U.S. Testing is reported to be completed within the week.

Here, the UPI reports on the contention that BSE (Mad Cow) has been in U.S. beef herds for a while.

eMail to Andrew Sullivan

Mail shamelessly reprinted here:

While having a beer at a neighborhood bar/restaurant in NYC's West Village last weekend, I was party to a situation that I think you'll find directly on point.

Three mid-50's liberals were going on about the capture of Saddam; how it was a conspiracy, that the president knew where he was at all times and picked a politically opportune moment to capture him, it was all about the oil, etc.

The mid-20's girl sitting next to them broke from her conversation to chime in with the following, 'I wish 60's sensibilities had stayed there. Someone points a gun in your face and you think 'My Fault', when you should be thinking 'You just picked the wrong fight'. Get your heads out of your asses'.

They responded with dismissive claims about Republicans and tourists from the midwest.

She replied with, 'One, I've grew up in Brooklyn. Two, I voted for Gore -- but I'll sure as hell take W. over someone who thinks the French are the height of moral authority and without ulterior motive.'

I asked her out on the spot, and have a date for this Friday. Foxy, Cunning, and Fearless -- wish me luck!

You go, girl!

Holiday Terror Alert Analysis

Winds of Change has an interesting and annotated analysis of the possible terror threat against America. Good reading.

You Want to Swing It?

Yo, check out the Dissident Frogman's recent effort. Push the RED button.

(Flash required)

OK, I Lied II

Here is a great article on three fronts: 1) It discusses the current trend to de-Christmas December, 2) It discusses our power as a consumer to not frequent those businesses that support ideas that we find distastful or even "vicious" and 3) it discusses reverse sexual discrimination. Great stuff, key grafs from Wendy McElroy.

On the yanking of the Reagons mini-series (ed: i.e., hatchet job) after consumers threatened boycott of advertisers:

The left screamed "CENSORSHIP!" but the opposite was true. Censorship is the suppression of words or images through force, usually by law. The threatened "boycott" was nothing more than consumers exercising the freedom of speech to say "no" to a product and to the people peddling it. It was discretionary spending in the free market of ideas.

On t-shirts that sport slogans such as "--Boys are Stupid -- Throw Rocks at Them", "--Boys Lie -- Poke Them in the Eye" and "--Boys are Full of It -- Fling Poop at Them". McElroy sees:

the gender feminist attack on men that causes us to take for granted or even smile at the widespread defamation of males. . .Hate mongering is a lucrative business and the best remedy is to yank away the financial incentive.

Good stuff.

OK, I Lied.

One more post for the road, something way too juicy to pass up. Apparently, the rebuilding of Mordor will be the REAL quagmire, according to the Politburo Diktat:

Notice how movie ended with Fall of Sauron's Tower? Nothing at all about the reconstruction of Mordor. And everybody knows that's the hard part. GW's whole approach completely disregarded cultural norms of the Orcs, and HOOmiliated them frequently. Just going to make Orcs angrier, "Now GW defeated us AGAIN in another war. Is great HOOmiliation." How about all the Orc civilian casualties? Never saw those.

Ho HO! Middle Earth is not safer now that GW (Gandalf the White) has brought down Sauron. No, Middle Earth is MORE dangerous now that the Orcs have been humiliated--they will seek revenge!

Why didn't the Last Coalition between Elves and Men try weapons inspectors and international sanctions?

Merry Christmas

Well, the Carpetbloggers will be off Christmas week for regular updates as there is much last minute shopping and preparations for family to do. We'll be back after the New Year or if there is something really interesting to blog about.

Have Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

(Unless you're on public grounds, in which case we'll say: "You are encouraged to enjoy your faith or secular appropriate seasonal customs in compliance with applicable laws. In accordance with Proposition 65, this website and the computer you are viewing this website with may contain some substances that have been known to cause cancer and/or birth defects, such as and not limited to: lead, arsenic and alcohol residue. Drink responsibly. The views expressed in this seasonal greeting in no way reflect the views, opinions or positions of the public organization on which this greeting appears. Void where prohibited by law. No warranty, expressed or implied, is applicable to this greeting except where mandated by law and in the states of California, Washington and West Virginia where applicable laws take precedence. Cash redemption value one tenth of one percent. This greeting not redeemable for cash. Offer expires 1/2/2004.")

"The real reason for Gaddafi's WMD surrender"

From the Telegraph. Apparently some sort of intelligence op netted something useful:

Libya's promise to surrender its weapons of mass destruction was forced by Britain and America's seizure of physical evidence of Col Muammar Gaddafi's illegal weapons programme, the Telegraph can reveal.

United States officials say that America's hand was strengthened in negotiations with Col Gaddafi after a successful operation, previously undisclosed, to intercept transport suspected of carrying banned weapons.

The operation is said to have been carried out under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), an international, American-led scheme to halt the spread of WMD by seizing them in transit. The PSI was first mooted by President George W Bush in May but was not officially launched until September.

Hmmm. . .sounds like a real spy novel, if you will.

Khadaffi: Money CAN Buy You Happiness

THe Politburo Diktat the variety of responses in the media. The best one is the first one:

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin described the deal as "a success for the entire international community".

Perhaps it was because everybody got paid off back in September:

Britain drafted a Security Council resolution to end U.N. sanctions on Libya when Tripoli agreed last month to pay $2.7 billion to families of Lockerbie victims.

France, a veto-holding Security Council member, threatened to block the move unless Tripoli increased compensation for the 1989 bombing of a French UTA airliner which killed 170 people.

(snip)

Though Libya has never admitted responsibility for the 1989 UTA bombing, it has already paid $34 million to France after a Paris court convicted six Libyans in absentia for the killings.

Don't Call Saddam Dictator

Instead, BBC higher ups are directing reporters to call Saddam a "deposed former President". Are they afraid of hurting his feelings?

Labour MP Kevan Jones, of the Commons Defence Select Committee, said: "This shows the crass naivety of the BBC. Such political correctness will be deeply hurtful to many of our servicemen serving in Iraq. It amply demonstrates elements of the BBC have got a clearly anti-war and anti-Government agenda."

...a BBC insider said: "This is our daftest order ever."

Did He Blink?

Could Saddam's fall from power at the hands of the U.S. have had a beneficial (and unforeseen by this author) benefit? Libya opens the door to disarm and dismantle WMD production technology. If this is true, it is great news and it may also mark improving relations with the state. If nothing else, that particular door is left wide open, if not marked with big neon signs:

If Libya follows through, Bush said, "its good faith can be returned."

The president said the United States and Britain would make sure Libya kept its word, given its "troubled history," but he added, "As we have found with other nations, old hostilities do not need to go on forever."

Has the bully been taught how to behave?

UPDATE: Richard Murphy, Assistant Secretary of State during the Reagan Administration is quoted in the Reuters piece, which reads:

. . .the U.S. invasion of Iraq "might have been a factor" in the Libyan decision to give up its weapons of mass destruction but noted Tripoli had sought better relations for several years.

"I would view this as a further step in the Libyan effort to restore itself as a country interested in normal, good relations .... rather than interpreting it as a move to protect itself from a Bush policy of preemption," Murphy said.

If nothing else, Khadaffi knows when he needs to deal. But the timing of the announcement is quite. . .interesting.

"History Lesson"

From Inside the Ring, the Washington Times quotes House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi from a December 1998 statement during Clinton's bombing of Iraq (emphasis mine):

Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process. The responsibility of the United States in this conflict is to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, to minimize the danger to our troops and to diminish the suffering of the Iraqi people.

sgt hook's Picture of the Day

Something to lighten your day

Daniel Meyer has a hilarious story about riding a motorcycle, a crazy squirrel and the resulting mayhem. Just be warned, you'll laugh out loud and your boss may wonder what is so funny at work.

Explain This

Tell me why it's ok to put up a Menorah and not a nativity scene:

A few years ago, a rabbi in Palm Beach fought the same [Palm Beach, Florida] leadership to put a menorah on public property. But after lawyers got involved, the town relented.

This year, two women wanted a Christ in a manger display next to the menorah but the town refused, saying the Nativity scene could only be placed in a lesser-trafficked park.

I'm all for allowing either BOTH to be displayed or BOTH to not be displayed. Let's be consistent, shall we? Of course, I'd prefer that we allow such religious displays. It's a public park, fercryinoutloud, not the town hall.

Keep Your Tinfoil Hats Tightly Secured

The left is sinking into the realm of conspiracy theories in several attempts to discredit the current administration. Among the loony theories:

President Bush knew about 9/11 before hand

Saddam's capture was timed to maximize embarrassment to the Dems

Osama's whereabouts are known and the administration is waiting

The Bush administration "announced it in January [2003] to the Republican leadership that the war was going to take place and was going to be good politically"

What you should be surprised about is that the believers of such theories come from the established Democratic ranks: Madeline Albright, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Washington), Howard Dean (Dem presidential candidate nominee), Sen. Edward Kennedy, respectively. The Washington Times does a quick rundown of the Dem disintegration into conspiracy theories and "paranoia".

UPDATE: Glenn Reynolds has some more on the tinfoil brigade.

Canada heading towards dis-union?

Ted Byfield in the Edmonton Sun wrote an interesting article about the differences between Canada and the US. The heart of his article however, is about the divide in Canada between social conservatives and social liberals and how parts of Canada in the West may find they have more in common with the US then with the rest of the country.

Now the demise of Canada has been predicted many times over the years, either Quebec or the West leaving, yet Canada seems to hang together. Canada will have an interesting few years ahead of it.

The next two weeks will be very interesting in Sacramento

Governor Schwarzenegger is declaring a state of economic emergency and thus will be able to by-pass the legislator and give money to local governments, thus replacing the money local governments lost when the car tax was cut.

The money to pay for the funds going to local governments will come from state funding cuts. This will make for an interesting situation, local Democrats and Republicans will be happy, they have funding to operate, but those in Sacramento and those whose programs are going to be cut won’t be happy. This is likely to turn into fight between local and state instead of Republican and Democratic.

For the NRA person in your life

If you have to get Christmas presents for someone who likes to shoots, here is the place to get the targets. Hat tip to Dave Barry.

Gimli Speaks on Islam

A very interesting viewpoint from John Rhys-Davies who plays Gimli in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Salla in the Indiana Jones trilogy. His interview reveals that Rhys-Davies is very much pro-Western civilization. His take on Tolkien's perspectives as expressed in the books:

I think that Tolkien says that some generations will be challenged. And if they do not rise to meet that challenge, they will lose their civilization. That does have a real resonance with me.

In 1955, his father said to him:

"Look, boy. There is not going to be a World War between Russia and the United [States]. The next World War will be between Islam and the West."

This is 1955! I said to him, "Dad, you're nuts! The Crusades have been over for hundreds of years!"

And he said, "Well, I know, but militant Islam is on the rise again. And you will see it in your lifetime."

And, finally, he delivers this:

But if Tolkien's got a message, it's that "Sometimes you've got to stand up and fight for what you believe in." He knew what he was fighting for in WW1.

Interesting reading on one man's perspective on the current times that we live in. If I read him rightly, it is that there is a clash of cultures occurring right now and the battleground of this clash of cultures runs hot in the Middle East. More quietly, the field of conflict is in Europe where the Muslim demographic is rising against a declining European birthrate. What is held in balance of such a conflict? The replacement of Western culture with a different one, with different values.

(hat tip to Sullivan for pointing the article out)

UPDATE: Glenn Reynolds has some feedback on the article.

Dem Gets Me Thinkin'

The resignation of Louisiana Dem, Sen. John Breaux deals a blow to the Dems who are attempting to gain a Senate majority. This in itself wouldn't be overly noteworthy except for this (emphasis mine):

But in his usually candid manner, Breaux, who is known as a negotiator willing to cross the aisle, indicated some disillusion with the Senate, saying Democrats are whip-sawed by liberal interest groups who oppose the prescription drug benefit in Medicare that he helped craft with the Bush White House.

"I have concerns about some of the things that are happening in the Congress. I think that we've become too polarized," Breaux told Fox News. "I think both sides spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about how to defeat the other side. I mean, Congress should not be like the Super Bowl, where you always have to have one team that's going to win and one team that necessarily has to lose."

I agree with that for sure. Breaux appears to be a Dem who is more centrist in his outlook, something that I find refreashing; something I wish I would find more of. On the presidential 2004 race, Breaux says:

"I mean if Howard Dean wants to take us back to the left and gets the nomination, I think that would be something that would be a defining moment. I think that that would not be the right way to go"

As conservative as I am, I believe that good governance in non-moral issues is a matter of give and take--compromise. Unfortunately, as a political party takes extreme positions--perhaps to court a particular demographic--it becomes difficult to compromise.

Iraqi Depression

Zeyad is depressed at Saddam's capture and it's not because the dictator is no longer a threat; rather, it has to deal with the humiliation that Saddam experienced in his capture. Key:

The images were shocking. I couldn't make myself believe this was the same Saddam that slaughtered hundreds of thousands and plundered my country's wealth for decades. The humiliation I experienced was not out of nationalistic pride or Islamic notions of superiority or anything like that as some readers suggested. It was out of a feeling of impotence and helplessness. This was just one old disturbed man yet the whole country couldn't dispose of him. We needed a superpower from the other side of the ocean to come here and 'get him' for us.

I can't explain what Zeyad feels, for I haven't been ruled by a dictator for my entire life.

The Roundup Continues, Lil Doggies

So, CNN gives us a report that a "ranking insurgent" was captured. But Allah thinks it may be the redhead. It would be very interesting if true.

It's hard to see Duri's pic and situation and not remember a famous pirate ride in a local theme park: "WE WANTS TH' RED 'EAD! WE WANTS TH' RED 'EAD!"

In any event, it would seem that Saddam's capture, although causing an outbreak of violence around Iraq, is paying off dividends for those committed to a return of the Baath party. It's way too early to tell what effect this will have on those anti-coalition forces in Iraq that are committed by religious fever, e.g. the imported radical Islamic jihadists. I tend to think that such militant extremists would have been present anyways; if not in Iraq, then in other countries.

Dean's Freedom of Speech. . .

. . .doesn't apply to corporations. Cox & Forkum excerpt a portion of a Dean interview that seems to imply that the probable Democratic contender for president in 2004 wants to regulate media content by bringing to bear "industrial policy":

MATTHEWS: No, seriously. As a public policy, would you bring industrial policy to bear and break up these conglomerations of power?

DEAN: I don’t want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not, because, obviously

(CROSSTALK)

MATTHEWS: Well, how about large media enterprises?

DEAN: Let me-yes, let me get...

(LAUGHTER)

DEAN: The answer to that is yes. I would say that there is too much penetration by single corporations in media markets all over this country. We need locally-owned radio stations. There are only two or three radio stations left in the state of Vermont where you can get local news anymore. The rest of it is read and ripped from the AP.

So, the upshot is if a media company does not support the government's policy, then it should then be broken up or restricted from competing? Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? What would Dean say if the current administration were to propose similar actions towards Disney (ABC), GE (CBS), NBC et al?

Moveon.org is soliciting foreign money???

I normally don't read the Drudge Report and would not link to it, but this is a very disturbing story. Non US citizens (and non domestic corporations) are not allowed to contribute to candidates running for office in the US. The reason is simple, we (US citizens) don’t want other countries to have a say over who we elect. Every other country has the same rule. Or at least I don’t know of any country that allows foreigners to donate to domestic elections.

In the past, where the US has been caught trying to give money to a political party in another country, the US has reaped a huge public outcry and anti-Americanism increases. As it should. The US government should not be trying to buy elections in other countries and other countries should not be trying to buy or influence elections here.

It seems Moveon.org is soliciting folks in Canada and Europe to give money to Moveon.org since they can’t give money to Dean or Clark and Moveon.org will use the money to do its part to defeat Bush in next years election.

It will be interesting to see if any other media outlet can confirm and build on this story. Drudge is not always 100% reliable so I take this story with a grain of salt, but if true, I hope some people get to wear bright orange (prison clothes) for a long time.

Counterpoint to the Contracts for Coaltion Countries

A conservative case for allowing companies from non-coalition countries makes its way to the Weekly Standard. To wit, authors William Kristol and Robert Kagan argue that the policy of contracts could either have been dealth with much more quietly or used as a carrot to tempt the Euros to the U.S. interests:

A deviously smart American administration would have quietly distributed contracts for rebuilding Iraq as it saw fit, without any announced policy of discrimination. At the end of the day, it would be clear that opponents of American policy didn't fare too well in the bidding process. Message delivered, but with a certain subtlety.

A more clever American administration would have thrown a contract or two to a couple of those opponents, to a German firm, for instance, as a way of wooing at least the business sectors in a country where many businessmen do want to strengthen ties with the United States.

A truly wise American administration would have opened the bidding to all comers, regardless of their opposition to the war -- as a way of buying those countries into the Iraq effort, building a little goodwill for the future, and demonstrating to the world a little magnanimity.

Interesting points. I'm not sure if I would agree that the expected outcomes for the latter two scenarios would actually come to fruition; however, they do provide fodder for an argument to the other side. I'm not convinced that we should let bygones be bygones in this particular issue as of yet--an issue which is, I am beginning to think, more symbolic than punitive.

Compare and Contrast: Christianity v. The Matrix

Facing the Challenge, an interesting culture site for Christians has an in depth review of the Matrix trilogy as well as an analysis of the Christian themes that some detect in the movies. The verdict:

"Although the Christian themes become very prominent in Revolutions, they are not the only ones there. In essence what is presented is a Gnostic world view, that contains strong Christian elements but ultimately wraps them in a pagan package. "

Good reading, although it takes some time to read.

Dub's Dignity

sevens over at King's Journal left a comment at the Right Wing News that I appreciate. The comment points out a trait about Dub that we might not notice; here's an excerpt:

"Staying true to his colors, President Bush is allowing all those involved with the capture to speak first. Whenever there is something big happening, President Bush never is the first on camera - trying to take the credit - he lets those involved speak first and receive the credit they rightly deserve.

He has done this since the beginning of his administration, when in the first several months China brought down one of our surveillance planes - Pres. Bush allowed the families to meet at the airport rather than showing up himself and grabbing all the rightly deserved praise for adverting a hostile standoff.

It's not good for the polls, but such handling of affairs just speaks volumes about the dignity Dub conducts the office with.

UPDATE: WaPo runs an analysis piece on the reactions by Dub and other political figures entitled, "No Gloating as Bush Lauds 'Hopeful Day'". Excerpt:

Bush aides and surrogates were under instruction to portray the capture as a triumph for the Iraqis and for the military rather than for Bush's policy. "In talking to the president this morning, he made it very clear in his own mind that politics has nothing, nothing, nothing to do with today, nor should it have anything to do with today, that today is a celebration for the Iraqi people," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said on "Fox News Sunday."

Ducks, Wabbits and a Frog

The Dissident Frogman has me rolling in the aisles (between the cubes). DF nominates Saddam for the Most Ridiculous Fall for a Dictator award. An award that I doubt will be presented at the next Academy Awards given all of the vitrol that we hear spouted from left leaning Hollyweird types. I also doubt that Cannes will be looking to award the statuettes either.

Also check out Right Wing News for a great Photoshop hack of Dub and Chriaq (scroll down a bit).

Today, we can afford a little levity for tomorrow the big slog continues for the troops in Iraq and the people who want freedom. Let's keep the situation in our prayers and thoughts.

Set of desert camoflage BDUs plus boots: $70.00
M-16A2 with 240 rounds of 5.56mm ball: $679.60
MH-60G Pave Hawk helo: $10,100,000.56
Checking out the tonsils of the most wanted fugitive in Iraq: Priceless

Saddam: You ARE the Weakest Link

Gonzo.

Just another step closer to victory. Still much work left to do, but this is a good move forward.

The Hatred of the Left

The leftist peace movement in Germany. . .isn't. Davids Medienkritik blog reports on several peacenik groups that are organizing a "10 Euros for the Iraqi Resistance" campaign. A campaign raises money:

The money will be provided to the Iraqi Patriotic Alliance (IPA) a group dedicated to carrying out attacks against US soldiers in Iraq in collaboration with Saddam loyalists.

(cap tip to Indepundit)

All I want for Christmas . . . .

Dave Barry says this is for the man who has everything.

I don't have everything and I'd still like to get this for Christmas. Wonder how I can convince the wife I really need this.

Hat tip to Dave Barry where I saw this

Jihad Watch

There is going to be a conference in TEXAS (of all places) where Muslim clerics who have backed Osama and jihad in previous speeches will speak. Saudi diplomats will also be attending the three day gathering in Houston over Christmas. It is worthy to note that the Saudis routinely grant diplomatic status to persons who staff Islamic affairs offices--an effort to support the spread of Islam. Not that such an effort is illegal in an open society, rather it is the mark of an open society that people of different cultures and backgrounds can interact. However, the issue is over the individuals that are being sponsored. Key:

Keynote speakers at the three-day event in Houston, scheduled to begin Dec. 24, have espoused intolerance for Christians, Jews and Shiite Muslims. One of them, Sheikh Allamah Ibn Jibreen, has publicly urged young Saudis to join al Qaeda and fight U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Saudi Institute.

"Merry Christmas and stuff THIS in your imperialist, running dog American Jew Shitte stocking. . .pig." One wonders just precisely what kind of Christmas gifts they would like to hand out.

On the siliver lining front, it appears that the Sauds will pull the credentials of 16 members of the IIASA--a particularly extremist Islamic organization. Well, 16 that we know of. But as the recent David Horowitz article suggests, such extremism may not be isolated to one organization.

Hmmmm

Maybe the initial reports of really strong holiday sales are a little premature. Sears slashes prices this weekend.

Let's Just Call it "mas" And Be Done With It

As several school's attempt to take God out of a student's experience altogether: Teacher takes 'Christmas' out of Christmas carol, Officials boot 'God' from patriotic song, "God Bless the USA" and Christian Lawyers Fight Secularist 'Grinches' Over Christmas. Bah humbug indeed.

This raises some questions. Why are we removing faith and spiritual practice from our education? I'm not talking just about Christian faith, but faith and religious practice in general? It appears to me that this is misguided as we will simply be raising generations of the spiritually uneducated. I wonder if our youth will miss having the experience of putting their spiritual lives into practice in the context of a multi-faith environment. I wonder if our youth even be prepared to understand spiritual matters that are not from their own culture. Church is good, but it is the redoubt from which the body prepares to meet the world; it is not the place where believers will meet the world on a daily basis. Will seperation of church and state result in a state of affairs where our faiths are not allowed to interact with others?

Tongue in cheek: Will they know it's Christmas won't be a song about Africa anymore, but about the spiritually undernourished future generations.

(cap tip to Gary Petersen's meta at blogs4god.com)

Shocking, Simply Shocking!

Dems Criticize Bush, Omit Facts Sometimes.

(cap tip to Joshua Claybourn)

Iraqi Demonstration Coverage

Glenn Reynolds gives us a run down of the major media coverage so far. Four to ten thousand people demonstrate in the middle of Bhagdad and all the attention that it merits by the NYT is a reference to it it in another story?

This is refreshing and that is sad in some ways

ESPN.com has a story about the driver of the US women's bobsled team who is being called to active duty for service in Iraq and thus will have to give up her dreams of Olympic gold.

What is interesting about this story is how Shauna Rohbock and her father react. While Shauna is disappointed, she knew when she joined the Utah National Guard she could be called up and is willing to go. Her father is concerned for her (what parent wouldn't be concerned about their child being sent to Iraq at this time) but likewise is supporting her.

This is sad because it seems newsworthy, it appears to be more the exception then the rule, at least from the media's point of view.

This is a surprise

The Las Vegas Sun has a story "Former U.S. Officials, Analysts Blast Bush". Boy that's a surprise that people who worked in the Clinton and Carter administration hold a different opinion on what the Bush administration is doing. Especially with how the US is rewarding its friends and not those who oppose it. Actions have consequences and maybe its time people or countries learn or relearn this.

Coalition Companies Only Redux

Apparently the ban on companies from non-coalition countries applies only to the $18.6 billion appropriated BY CONGRESS and given to Iraq. In short, it is U.S. money.

And just in case that the French, Germans and Russians are afraid of missing out, there is still $13 billion raised for Iraq at the recent international aid summit in Madrid that isn't under this restriction. And, to repeat, it doesn't mean that our pan handling allies can't be included as subcontractors.

It's our dime. We can spend it how we like.

A Good Year???

Mark Steyn at The Spectator says its been a good year for Bush, despite what the media elites say.

Hat tip Lucianne.com

Coalition Countries Only

The world is responding to a ruling by the Pentagon that only allows countries that are participating militarily in the post war effort. The quote from White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, in the article:

'These are countries that have been with us from Day One, these are countries that are contributing forces, that have been making sacrifices and that's why this decision was made,' McClellan said. 'If additional countries want to participate with our efforts in Iraq, then circumstances can change.' "

Naturally, the world is outraged:

Germany, a leading opponent of the war, called the decision "unacceptable," and government spokesman Bela Anda said it went against "a spirit of looking to the future together and not to the past."

In Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said the directive "will hardly foster the mobilization of the international community" to rebuild Iraq, "more likely the opposite," according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.

Let's see if I get this straight: Iraq is freed from Saddam at the cost of many lives from the coalition forces and those same troops will then secure the country so that companies of the countries that refused to help can then make a profit. Think that maybe a few folks overseas are living in a fantasy world? Even the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel "sympathized with the U.S. position":

"It is childish to reject the war but to be offended when afterwards no profit is to be made from reconstruction," the newspaper said Thursday.

From the FoxNews version of the story:

Ivo Daalder of the Brookings Institution (ed: a former Clinton adminstration official) said, "At a time when we should want the rest of the international community to come in and help to the maximum extent possible in the rebuilding of Iraq, this gratuitous slap at our major allies seems to be particularly ill-timed and misplaced."

Gratuitous slap? GRATUITOUS SLAP? ALLIES? Mr. Daalder, I doubt we are guilty of slapping our allies. Would allies have opposed you as vehemetly as France did and still does? Would allies have continued to arm a known enemy with ambition? Would allies refuse to aid your forces, no matter how passive the aid, as Turkey did and still does?

If our "allies" had presented a unified front to Saddam, perhaps Saddam would have relented in some way: tougher inspections, humanitarian reforms, change of government. And, yes, I used scare quotes.

But we will never know that.

Instead, getting Saddam out had to be done the hard way. And now, it is even the more difficult because of the lack of our "allies" participation. Really, it's not just the lack of troops, but (more importantly) the lack of support which lends political aid and comfort to the enemy of Iraqi freedom. NOW let's talk about who's getting slapped. Real allies stand with you, what precious few we have: Britain, Australia. (the article fails to mention the Polish commando unit, GROM, because their participation wasn't known at the time). Post war, there are others coming to help and that is appreciated: such as Italy, Japan and Spain.

Ok, now off the soapbox and back to the topic.

Really, the reality of this situation is that although countries such as Russia, Germany and France cannot be prime contractors, they can be subcontractors. In fact, Alcatel--a French company--already has a portion of an Egyptian contract to rebuild the mobile phone network. So what this is working up to be is a tempest in a teapot, perhaps.

Iraqi Anti-Terror Demostrations a Success

Check out the report from Healing Iraq. Including pictures! Good to see people rising up and exercising their freedom to assemble. Will the western media cover this?

UPDATE: The WaPo reports on the march.

A Deal is a Deal

As Gary Sheffield has learned this week. Verbal or written, you shake hands and make an agreement, you stick with it.

Healing Iraq: Iraqis on the March

And it's a good kind of march as they protest against terrorism. Healing Iraq had a digicam that will bring us the news. Check out and bookmark Healing Iraq.

"It's YOU against THEM"

I mourn for the republic because I think that we are fracturing ourselves with greed and fear. It is greed and fear that some (a lot) of politcos exploit to win support for their campaigns. But this greed and fear, however, is a hungry monster, a politician must keep feeding it, otherwise it will turn and he (or she) will himself (or herself) on your keister looking for a job. This leads to an increasing inability of any group to compromise and work with opponents for a solution. It infects city councils, it infects boards of supervisors, it infects the state assembly, it infects the halls of Congress. Today's Email of the Day over at Andrew Sullivan's blog sums up one of the primary reasons why I think we are in danger of disintegrating (emphasis mine):

Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention before, but Al Gore's candidacy in 2000 is really what turned me away (possibly forever) from the Democratic Party. It wasn't just that I found myself disagreeing with him on issues (I did), but it was primarily the rhetoric. It started with his statements on Social Security. He campaigned on fear and appealed to that basest of human instincts - selfishness. The "what's in it for me" instinct. As I listened more carefully, I discovered that on virtually every issue, Al Gore's theme was centered around getting people to think that someone else was profiting and they were losing out. Taxes: the rich are getting richer AT YOUR EXPENSE. Social Security: "YOU will end up in the poorhouse; "THEY" will be taking something away from you." (Never mind that your children will not even have Social Security if we continue on this path - don't look to the future; worry about yourself first.) On and on. Are YOU better off than you were four years ago? (Oh, how I despise that question!) It's all about "THEY" versus "YOU". It's never "WE are facing this issue, and here's what I think is the best solution for US."

The "angry" Democrat wasn't created when Bush was elected. He was already angry because Al Gore told him he should be - because someone else was getting something he wasn't.

Conservatives attacking Conservatives

In Front Page Magazine, Frank Gaffney has a very long article with end notes about the activities of Grover Norquist and his work with Islamic organizations that appear to have ties to terrorism. (Hat tip Hugh Hewitt)

David Horowitz, the editor of Front Page has a long into to Gaffney’s article and why they published it. Norquist, Horowitz and Gaffney have known each other for a long time and it seems they have respected each other as well. Hugh Hewitt has also known Norquist for a long time and is urging him to respond as quickly as possible, preferably in electronic form.

Gaffney has made serious charges against Norquist and has provided his evidence, it will be interesting to see how Norquist responds to the charges. The proofs provided by Gaffney don’t allow (in my humble opinion) the charges to be brushed off, especially given the person making the charge. Read it at lunch.

Iraqi WMD are back in the news

The British Telegraph newspaper published an article on 7 December, 2003 saying a colonel in the Iraqi Air Force was the one who told British Intelligence that Sadam had WMD and they could be used within 45 minutes. He goes on to say the only reason they were not used was because the Iraqi Army decided not to fight for Sadam and the weapons are still in Iraq.

This is a very interesting story and if true will make a lot of people eat crow. Will be interesting to see what develops in the next few days or weeks.

As Much As I Hate to Say It. . .

USC got jobbed.

I'm a UCLA fan and it has been painful to watch USC do very well this year and my beloved Bruins, well. . .suck. At least there's some hope in the basketball program.

One Country two legal systems

Canada is set to start the slippery slope towards two different legal systems based on one’s religion.

“That is, a court where legal disputes are judged by Muslim imams according to the law of the Koran.“ is the first sentence from Ezra Lavent’s article in The Calgary Sun. The proponents say this is like taking the case to binding arbitration, after judgment is reached, the secular court system will have to enforce its decision.

If any other religious body tried to set up their own court system, would the government allow it? And what happens when the proponents of the Sharia court want to expand the reach of the court and make it mandatory for Muslims and not just in civil matters but in divorce, inheritance, or even apostasy? This is a bad idea for Canada and fear there will be attempts to import this into the US as well.

Wimpy Christians

This Houston Chronicle article is a typical baseball offseason piece. It happens to talk about the Astros courtship of free agent Yankee lefty Andy Pettitte, perhaps the premier left-handed pitcher available. But forget all that stuff. Even die hard baseball fans know that this is a fluff piece.

But there was one paragraph near the end of the article which contained the following quote from future Hall of Famer and former Yankee teammate Roger Clemens:

"Andy's earned the right to be paid like a (Curt) Schilling or a (Pedro) Martinez," Clemens said. "You know what you're getting with him, both as a pitcher and a person. He may be a strong Christian, but put him out there on the mound and he's as tough as anybody."

Yes, I am a Christian. But I have to know, where did this stereotype of Christians being weak-willed and wimpy come from? And Clemens is certainly not alone in the sentiment. You hear this all the time. So I wonder, where does this come from?

Could it be that Jesus Christ is perceived as a wimp? I mean, this is a man that taught that people should love their enemies and neighbors and turn the other cheek when struck. But reading over the Bible, it's clear that Jesus wasn't a wimp. Maybe he wasn't the size of our current governor but he was not afraid of physical persecution, being ostracized, or getting angry when justified (as in the temple with the money changers). He never told people to disregard Caesar - he said that we should respect civil authority.

So if it's not Christ, where did it come from? Perhaps (and this is my thinking on the fly here) the belief comes from the behavior and attitude of today's Christians. Christians are viewed as brainwashing, freakish, and even lemming-like individuals that are intolerant and hypocritical. Frankly, I don't doubt the truth of many of those stereotypes. It's up to today's Christians to reflect the life of Christ and act according to what they believe, demonstrate compassion and love above all, and make a difference in society beyond the walls of the church. Then perhaps, tough Christians won't be thought of as an oxymoron.

Ugly People Need Not Apply

Apparently, A&F only wants good looking people working for them. Is it racism? Not sure if there is something here or a couple of ex-managers just raising a fuss.

Dave Barry's Blog

Oh, my cup runth over! Dave Berry's Blog.

Its Friday and its time to laugh at the Gov't

Joel Achenbach at the Washington Post has a funny but sad article called "You Better Watch Out: The Hazards of the Season". Its funny like Dave Barry because he points out the absurdity of taking a regulation to the extreme, but its sad too because the probability of someone in government suggesting the same regulation seems likely these days.

Enjoy and smile over the weekend, the job will still be there on Monday.

Sgt. Hook is Deploying

Here's a blog entry about sgt hook's preparation for an impending deployment in 2004 to Afghanistan.

A Short Sighted Stock Market Leads to Poverty

I have always been bothered by the current U.S. equity markets. The emphasis on quarter to quarter performance does nothing to encourage the long term viability of any company--unless a company wants to be far sighted enough and overlook the need to produce profits now. The fact is the quarterly reporting requirements for U.S. corporations results in "long term" being define as three months hence. With such an imposition of outlook, companies are rewarded for short term hacks and not truly long term solutions that promote the longevity of the company.

As a straw man example: it may be cheaper to the bottom line for the current quarter to fire a number of employees working on R&D because they contribute nothing to profitability, but without R&D, a company may run out of products to sell in two years or so. You make $5 today, but won't make $50 tomorrow.

There was some discussion in the past that Japanese firms, freed from a quarter to quarter accounting because they work on an annual accounting period are more free to take losses for a given period (one year) in order to recieve longer term benefits. A company has to make the decision whether quarter over quarter performance is more important than sustaining performance in the long run.

Unfortunately, there is little value in patience when it comes to wealth building.

What, Then, Is the Answer?

Driving home from work, I saw yet another bumper sticker proclaim, "War is not the answer". Which, of course, got me to thinking.

The statement seems to be meant as an all encompassing statement of fact, according to those who sport the slogan. Does armed conflict solve nothing whatsoever? If I were to attack such a straw man, there would be no justification for the American War of Independence, the campaign against the Barbary Pirates, World War I, World War II, Korean War and Gulf War I. (I leave out Gulf War II even though a compelling case can be made).

If armed conflict is outrightly to be avoided, America would still be a British colony, the seas would be full of pirates, the Kaiser would have dominated Europe, Hitler would have had his way with the Jews, South Korea wouldn't be and Kuwait would still be a province of Iraq. Hitler and the Holocaust alone demonstrate the reality that war may be a necessary means of ending evil--a means that should not be taken lightly.

Excluding an outrightly pacifistic stance, armed conflict might then be justified in some situations. But what are the standards by which armed conflict can be justified? The dialog that leads to such a determination is not trival nor can it be distilled down to five words on a sticky sheet of colorful vinyl. In the end, "War is not the answer", alone, adds little to add to the dialog.

Rather, it would seem to me that such a slogan is looking for a context to apply to. Most likely, the owner of such a sticker means for the statement to apply to the current context. Therefore, the sticker simply means, "I would rather that we resolve the current situation without resorting to arms." Better would be to frame such a position statement with the context: "War is not the answer in Iraq" or "War is not the answer in Afghanistan". But that's not as catchy, is it?

The French Navy Buys British

Oho! It would appear that our Froggie frinds have a bit of a problem with military procurement. Glenn Reynolds excerpts a few choice bits from an article discussing the $4 billion French aircraft carrier, the Charles De Gaulle. In the end, it appears that the French will buy a British made aircraft carrier for $2.5 billion. Some of the problems:

The 40,000 ton ship has cost over four billion dollars so far and is slower than the diesel powered carrier it replaced. Flaws in the "de Gaulle" have led it to using the propellers from it predecessor, the "Foch," because the ones built for "de Gaulle" never worked right. Worse, the nuclear reactor installation was done poorly, exposing the engine crew to five times the allowable annual dose of radiation. There were also problems with the design of the deck, making it impossible to operate the E-2 radar aircraft that are essential to defending the ship and controlling offensive operations. Many other key components of the ship did not work correctly, and the carrier has been under constant repair and modification. The "de Gaulle" took eleven years to build (1988-99) and was not ready for service until late 2000. It's been downhill ever since.

In comparison, a Nimitz class carrier costs the U.S. a little over $4 billion in 1997 dollars. That's just for acquisition, of course as modernization and ongoing costs add to the real cost of the ship.

Mayhaps the 35 hour work week needs to be shortened even more to keep the overworked shipbuilders fresh and improve quality?

Thar's a Weasel in Our Midst!

Check out this picture of Democratic candidate, Howard Dean. Notice anything out of the ordinary in the background?



(compliments to Drudge for pointing this out)

Which war was justified?

Peter Worthington at the Toronto Sun has an interesting take on the war against Iraq and the war in Kosovo. In Kosovo, NATO (the US and Europe) went to war because the Serb’s were suspected of committing genocide against the Albanians. While atrocities were committed by both sides, no mass graves have been found. No systematic genocide has been found in Kosovo. Now our (NATO’s) getting involved may have prevented the genocide from taking place, but that means NATO acted preemptively to prevent a bad thing from happening.

In Iraq, we didn’t act preemptively, 300,000 were already killed. So far 250 mass graves have been found. Putting this into perspective, under Sadam, more Iraqis were killed for political reasons (this does not count the folks who died in the Iran/Iraq war or Gulf War 1 or 2) then the US had lost in Vietnam and World War 2.

Whether Sadam had NBC weapons or not, we know he wanted them so it was prudent to act preemptively like we did in Kosovo. But to also stop the mass murder of the Iraqi people alone justifies the war against Sadam.

Bush's Turkey was a Turkey

It turns out that the photo of George W. carrying a turkey among some soldiers in Iraq was a buffet line decoration. That Drudge led his web page this evening with this story implies that somebody somewhere is going to have some sort of questions about it. Anyways, according to the WaPo:

Officials said they did not know the turkey would be there or that Bush would pick it up. A contractor had roasted and primped the turkey to adorn the buffet line, while the 600 soldiers were served from cafeteria-style steam trays, the officials said. They said the bird was not placed there in anticipation of Bush's stealthy visit, and military sources said a trophy turkey is a standard feature of holiday chow lines.

The scene, which lasted just a few seconds, was not visible to a reporter who was there but was recorded by a pool photographer and described by officials yesterday in response to questions raised in Washington.

(shrug)

Gasp. W. was clowning around with a turkey.

With Allies Like These. . .

Merde in France reprints a French political cartoon that depicts dismembered bodies of either American soldiers or Iraqi guerillas--most likely American soldiers. The cartoonist has drawn this stuff before.

This is just one example of the looney stuff that the French print in their papers. It's really coming across that there is a significant part of the population (or at least the newpapers) that hate everything American.

UCLA Gets a Bowl?

Ugh. 6-6 on the year, losers of four straight to end the season and we get to the Silicon Valley Classic? Makes no sense.

'"We couldn't ask for a better matchup," Fresno State (8-5) coach Pat Hill said during a conference call.'

I'll bet. This could be embarrassing, folks. . .we should have just stayed home and licked our wounds.

"There's a photo of Osama bin Laden there"

That phrase can lose you your job in Britain. A British prison officer is fired for making that statement fter thowing some keys into a metal chute. This was two months after September 11, 2001. The reason Colin Rose--employee of over 20 years--lost his job? Lack of sensitivity towards the Muslim prisoners.

What the heck? Is this prison? Or a resort?

Some commentary here

(hat tip to Allah In the House)

Toys = Islamophobia?

Also on the Canadian Islamic Congress' website is a reprint of an article by Giles Fraser--the vicar of Putney in London--published in of the Guardian that attacks Operation Christmas Child, a charity by Samaritan's Purse. Samaritan's purse is run by Franklin Graham who is the leader of a "particularly toxic versio of Christianity", according to Fraser. (here's the link to the Guardian) Operation Christmas Child is a drive where shoeboxes of toys are boxed and wrapped up, and a tract outlining the gospel is attached or given with the box to needy children.

The practice is deemed an advancement of a "particularly toxic version of Christianity" because the shoeboxes are packaged with literature "promoting Christian fundamentalism". Fraser sees that giving of the shoeboxes is hypocritical in that the parable of the Good Samaritan was about "[overcoming] religious bigotry" but that:

The story of the good Samaritan, in the hands of Franklin Graham, is conscripted as propaganda for the superiority of Christian compassion to the brutal indifference of other religions -- almost the opposite of the purpose of the story.

Whoa.

This is a shoebox of toys, folks. Not only that, but it is also a shoebox of Christmas toys. I cannot see why a gift of toys during Christmas--a holiday that celebrates the birth of Christ--cannot include a tract that outlines the significance and importance of the holiday to the gift giver. Is the Gospel presentation so evil that none should hear it? The gifts may be given with a tract, but a declaration of faith in Christ is not required at all.

During Ramadan, should not Muslims also be able to share the message of their faith during that time?

Perhaps Mr. Fraser and the Canadian Islamic Congress are too sensitive. I suspect that it is somewhat of a kneejerk reaction to their opposition to Franklin Graham. Their opposition is not to the giving of toys, but to an evangelical Christian and the things that particular Christian does.

Islamic Jihad Defined

Perusing the Canadian Islamic Congress' website, I ran across an article that defines their interpretation of jihad. Interesting reading, if you can take the time to work through it.

What the media isn't saying about stem cell research

Wesley J. Smith at the Weekly Standard has an interesting article on the state of adult stem cell research. The major media outlets seem to only want to talk about embryonic stem cell, but it appears from the article, there is some very promising work going on that will hopefully lead to cures of a number of diseases.

A Leftist Muslim Views Islam

A self-proclaimed liberal, lesbian Muslim creates controversy at a lefty peace conference by putting forth the idea that the Islamic faith must undergo a sort of "Islamic Reformation". From what I can understand, it appears that such a reformation would be along the lines of rejecting the prevailing anti-semitism and looking for a more multi-cultural, inclusive approach. On visiting a mosque under cover:

"[I] heard the clergy talk of a "Western, Jewish-led conspiracy against Islam and declare that it is the responsibility of Muslims in the West to support the jihadis, with their money, if not with their sons."

On the religious freedoms in the west:

Manji predicted that the Islamic Reformation that she advocates "may very well begin in the West, where we enjoy the precious freedoms to think, challenge and be challenged without fear of state reprisals."

On her upbringing in an Islamic school:

. . .she was taught that "women are inferior and Jews are treacherous — not to be trusted."

On the Muslim anti-semitism:

"We cannot point to the 'ill-conceived creation of Israel' as the root of our antisemitism. . .It emerged hundreds of years before the Jewish state was a gleam in anyone's eye."

Interesting stuff. Is this representative of the moderate Islam? I'm not so sure because it is controversial to mainstream Islamic organizations. The reaction from the Canadian Islamic Congress:

"Irshad Manji's is only another book added on to the heap of garbage that is being written about Muslims and Islam. The community has made its point of view known that we are not really impressed by it; she doesn't speak for us. It's like someone writing about Torah who doesn't understand it. Those who work toward building bridges and creating understanding and harmony are generally people who don't go around making outrageous statements."

Can they be arrested for being drunk in public?

Beware of the drunk Elk. That’s the warning appearing Nettavisen today. Apparently there are Elk in Sweden who are the newest drunks in town. They are eating the last of the summer berries which have fermented on the vine. This is definitely NOT something one would normally see in Southern California. Hat tip to Dave Barry, who always finds these interesting stories when a break from the news is needed.

Spam Sucks

And now they're going terrorist on us. Some spammer is attacking anti-spam organizations with a distributed DOS attack. Viruses are used to infect computers to become "zombies", infected machines will attack selected servers at a prearranged time or on a signal.

Spam sucks. Spammers suck.

Why problems never seem to be fixed.

Have you ever wondered why bad economic policies, like New York City rent control law, seem to stay on the books forever and cannot be changed? We know that price controls only lead to shortages and price floors lead to surpluses. So why keep rent control when it will lead to housing shortage or limit the number of taxis in a city to a low number so the taxi licenses cost several times more then the car? Well William Tucker at The American Spectator has an interesting idea on why this is.

No Passports Today, Mon Amie

The French foreign ministry goes on strike. According to the unions that represent the diplomats:

"Employees do not understand how the president of the republic and the government can proclaim their grand ambitions for France on the international scene while at the same time the human and financial resources available to the ministry are constantly declining," six unions said in a statement.

French Photograph Guerrillas Attacking Plane

Just another day in Paris, a French magazine intends to profit from an attack on a German DHL cargo plane. The magazine, Paris Match, had a photog and correspondent along for the ride with "Iraqi guerrillas", presumably guerrillas fighting the coalition forces.

And although "[editor-in-chief] Genestar rejected accusations that his magazine could be seen to be sympathising with the Iraqi rebels", they aren't above making a little money from it.

Media in France--just like media in America: bad news sells.

If true, where is the ACLU and why haven't the lawsuits been filed???

Hans Zeiger in the Oregon Magazine has an interesting column. Students in US public schools are given assignments to participate in Ramadan, pray to Allah and basically act like good Muslims for class credit. If a teacher or principal had students participate in Hanukah or Christmas (the religious side) and had the children chant Jewish or Christian prayers, the ACLU and other like minded groups would be launching lawsuits and protests to stop the practice.

Why are they not doing the same here? Why is one religion allowed to be taught in school and not another?

A Proper Definition of Retreat

A little bit of levity today: an Andrew Sullivan reader sent along the definition of the word, retreat, from a 1790 British Dictionary:

"RETREAT, the order or disposition in which a fleet of French men of war decline engagement, or fly from a pursuing enemy.

W in Theater

The President makes a surprise visit to the Bhag. A pretty impressive gesture for the troops on Thanksgiving.

Two and a half hours on the ground, 22 hours in the air. You think that some Saddamites wouldn't have wanted a shot at the ol' man? I smell a Hollywood plot coming on. . .oh wait, I'm thinking about Harrison Ford.

Happy Thanksgiving

What do you have to be thankful for?

Krugman Kover Klash

Paul Krugman, liberal commentator and medal winning economist, is publishing a book with two different covers. The U.K. edition positively screams with canards:

'...bears caricatures of President Bush as Frankenstein-like and Vice President Dick Cheney with a Hitler mustache. A dark scrawl on the vice president's forehead reads, "Got Oil?"'

Krugman can say what he wants; it is interesting that the cover either: a) expresses his true feelings about President Bush and VP Cheney or b) is attempting to exploit an anti-American marketing niche in the U.K.

(cap tip to Klausfiles for the links)

TMQ on NFL

And just when we thought Gregg Easterbrook was going to be relegated to the likes of some backwaters blog, fantasy football fan site or, worse, an unholy combination of the two, we find a resurrection at NFL.com!
Dance and rejoice, TMQ is in the House.

Cartoons are Safe, Right?

Bah. Now we're deconstructing B.C. for its latent anti-Muslim bias. Aren't we just looking a little too hard?

Hollyweird Still Doesn't Get It

The Dixie Chicks are at it again. A CBS news interview records the following remarks:

"The Dixie Chicks also expressed disappointment in President Bush's remarks about Maines' overseas comments. The president said of the group, 'They can say what they want to say. ... they shouldn't have their feelings hurt just because some people don't want to buy their records when they speak out. I mean ... you know, freedom is a two-way street.'

Emily Robison said Mr. Bush 'wasn't standing up for the principles that our country are founded on.'

Martie Maguire said he basically was saying, 'You got what you deserved' and 'This is what's going to happen if you keep speaking out.' "

Is Ms. Robison implying that one of the principles of this country is that I have to support the Dixie Chicks by buying their products, even though I disagree with the Dixie Chicks sentiments? Even if I don't like country western music? What these entertainers (and others) still don't get is that although the right to speak freely is guaranteed, the freedom from the consequences of your speech is not. It is disingenuous to make the implication that it's not American to NOT buy their records, but it's the American way to not shop Coke (an anti-apartheid target in the late 80's/early 90's) or Wal-Mart and to organize such boycotts. Every individual has the right, the RIGHT, to express displeasure with the actions of others, even if the expression of that displeasure is by not purchasing products of those persons or companies that offend the individual.

I find that in the context of the quote made in the CBS interview, President Bush is simply taking the position that individuals may exercise their rights as consumers to not purchase their products. It would seem from the article as well that the group is reading too much into the President's remarks.

Eugene Volokh wrote and excellent blog entry back in April 2003 examining this matter. Volokh makes an interesting point as he finds that although it is within our rights to not frequent businesses or entertainers who we might find offensive, it MAY BE unethical to organize economic boycotts because it may impair "the ability to speak without the fear of losing one's livelihood as a result". He does not quite conclude as such (insofar as that particular blog entry is concerned) for he stops just short with a call to investigate such issues.

(Hat tip to Allah in the House for the article reference and for much sarcasm: "Is this the kind of Jew you want as your leader? One who defends your right to buy what you want? Oh the wind--it blows chilly!")

Reality Check in Iraq

And, just in case we need something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, be thankful that we're not living in a country where mass graves are the norm. Scenes like this will continue for years as Iraq struggles to rouse from a nightmare.

(Again, cap tip to Sullivan)

Put This on Your Holiday List

Now here's a real stocking stuffer: Palestinian gifts for the lil ones during Eid al-Fitr.

(Cap tip to Sullivan)

Finders Keepers?

Pics of a buried MiG. Talk about buried treasure. CHA-CHING--$30 million dollar plane. I wonder how old the plane is, when it was buried and why. Does Saddam think that one day he'll unearth a few to attack whatever is left of a security or peacekeeping force?

I'll make a bet that there are a few other more interesting things out in the desert, too.

(Cap tip to cryptome.org and Andrew Sullivan)

8.2

Whoa. To back up earlier reports of increased economic activity, the GDP skyrockets 8.2 percent. I keep on wondering if the upturn in the economy is for real.

Sing Song Singer

Just caught this, but the Mets fired Bill Singer for "reportedly [asking] Dodgers assistant general manager Kim Ng questions about her background and later spoke in gibberish, making fun of the Chinese language."

Bad show, old chap. I remember having undergone a few similar treatments back in grade school and, subsequently, learning about racial differences between me and my San Fernando Valley peers back in the early 70's. I don't think that society will ever be color blind and, frankly, I don't think there is much value in being so.

This is from the NY Times????

William Safire, the token conservative (who other conservatives think is a moderate at best) at the NY Times has a very interesting Op/Ed piece today (Monday 24 Nov). "Missing Links Found" points to two other articles, one in the Weekly Standard and the other in Slate, points to various intelligence that says Sadam and the old Iraqi government not only had some connection to Bin Laden's organization but actively helped and financed it as well.


If these new allegations are true, will those who oppose the war suddenly support it because we were going after those who planned 9/11?? Or will they say we can never justify our attacks on the Taliban and Sadam and we are at fault for all terrorism in the world (or at least from the Middle East)??

Interesting New Blog

A soldier who is http://www.iraqnow.blogspot.com/

Just in Time for Christmas

Cute little toys just for the little tot-o-terrorist at home. In fact, let's also not forget the "Don't Forget" t-shirts they're hawking over at ground zero. Sickening.

"Anything for a shekel, dinar, or dollar, baby"

Liberal Bias Alert

Again, hat tip to Andrew Sullivan for a link to lying in ponds where that blogger has a fairly detailed analysis of the political bias entering into the writing of New York Times columnist, Paul Krugman:

The sheer difficulty of writing 371 consecutive columns without a single substantive crossover column can hardly be overemphasized -- not a single column devoted to criticism, however mild, of Bill Clinton or Al Gore or Howard Dean or Al Sharpton or any other Democrat -- not a single column devoted to praise, however mild, of Colin Powell or John McCain or any other Republican.

Now, there is nothing surprising about a columnist putting forth opinions, that is quite often a part of their job and an expected part of it. However, the sheer lack of the diversity of material presumes that the author finds no flaw in liberal thinking. . .at all. None whatsoever. Amazing.

I'm not necessarily damning Krugman at this point, as much as using him as an archtype for the modern columnist. A good pundit should be capable of seeing and commenting on the flaws and strengths for both sides of an issue, not just merely beat the drum of war for one idology or another. Should we not prefer a columnist who is capable of thinking critically, without bias that would color judgment? To accept otherwise is intellectual suicide.

al Qaeda and the Two Party System

Andrew Sullivan points us to a quote that summarizes my thoughts about the politics in America as it relates to terrorism and Al Qaeda. The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw says:

"What people have got to remember is that Sept. 11 happened in 2001 and not in 2003. It was planned under the presidency of Bill Clinton."

Sullivan's take:

"The point, of course, is not to blame Clinton for 9/11, but to show that al Qaeda terrorism is not some kind of response to the Bush administration. It predated it, and will probably outlast it."

Simply put, the Islamic militants don't give a rats @$$ about who is in the White House. Democrat or Republican, the militant Islamic fundamentalist sees both parties (and independants for good measure) cut from the same cloth of satanism. Really, all one has to do is witness the bombings in Turkey, a Muslim country and Saudi Arabia, a Muslim country run by a theocracy, to know that even fellow Muslims are not safe.

Historical perspective on Bush’s visit to the UK

At Power Line blog, they have some news stories from when Regan visited the UK 20 years ago. Then, as now, there were large demonstrations against the US President. Hat tip to Hugh Hewitt. This is a good read to help keep things in perspective, a vocal minority can seem like a majority because the majority is too busy working or living to attend demonstrations. The Guardian newspaper (left wing UK paper) published a poll just before Bush’s visit which gives a very different view from the demonstrations going on in the street. Don’t have a link, sorry.

Italian group backs Iraq fighters

Even in the face of 19 Italian military policemen dead in Iraq, the militant left in Italy is funding the Iraqi Patriotic Opposition which has ties to Baathists and also supports military resistance to the coalition in Iraq:

"We support the armed struggle in Iraq. our money is to help them, it doesn't matter to us if they use it buy weapons, Kalashnikovs, or medicines for people."

When asked to confirm if the money raised could be used to buy weapons [antiimperialistas spokesman, Moreno Pasquinelli] admitted: "Yes they could, and why not?"

If they are so concerned for Iraqi freedom, why are they attempting to restore the party that terrorized the Iraqi people to begin with? Why support the group that gasses hundreds of thousands of their own men, women and children? Why give aid to the people that imprisioned children as a means of leverage on their parents?

I can only conclude that such a group is treating the Iraqi people as a pawn to cause hurt and harm to the coalition's aims in order to advance their own militant agenda.

(hat tip to Andrew Sullivan)

Homework

Busy these last two days at work (go figure). But I'd thought I'd point out a pretty entertaining bleat over at Lileks--Michael Moore, Ted Rall, Howard Dean/George Soros, the frogs and Voltaire get the treatment last Friday.

Show Michael Moore a man in jeans holding a rake and a man in a suit with a briefcase, and he will not only automatically side with the guy who has the rake, he will assume that the briefcase contains plans to move the rake factory to Mexico, as well as documents that prove the company knew that its rakes gave people painful splinters at a rate 150% above EU standards.

...

(yeau yeau hommeboix, j’avais le mic! E U Hammeur c’est ici, dans la maison!)

News stories to read

Two interesting articles this morning (hat tip to Lucianne.com) that should be read and printed out and read again later.

The first one is from David Warren at The Ottawa Citizen, it’s a tribute to Fritz Kraemer who recently died at the age of 95. He was a refugee from Germany, fought the reds (Communist) and the browns (Nazi) in the street of Germany before 1933. Once he came to the US, he spent his life fighting for freedom and would not make excuses or compromises with those who were the enemy. Kraemer denounced detente because it compromised the truth of freedom. He saw the war on terrorism in the same light, either you fight for freedom and truth, or you are helping the enemy. Recommend this story.

The second news story is from David Frum at the Telegraph. It’s a look at the demonstration in London due to President Bush’s visit and how the demonstrators are vilifying the two leaders who are working to insure the demonstrators can hold their rallies and not fear the police will send in the tanks to disperse the crowd. Another good article.

American Work Ethic

Joshua Claybourn points us to a commentary on how America is "is still the hardest working country in the industrialized world". This got me to thinking about work and life. The ensuing commentary focused on the difficulty of work and the terrible state of America that requires two income families. Some energy was spent around vacations and retirement.

But I have sort of a problem with that: why is there such a focus on not working? i.e., vacations, retirement, living for the weekend and being independently wealthy? It's not that I don't enjoy the weekends or a good vacation--the Lord does command rest one day out of seven--but there is such a large part of the middle that we tend to miss. I think that when we look at work as a necessary evil rather than a potential good, we miss out. In fact, it's wrong. Work is not evil, but the conditions that we work under that are evil--Adam's job was to work the cursed earth, not cursed to work the earth.

Work, for most of us, is the here and now. I happen to enjoy work, I also happen to enjoy my family even more. But I cannot focus on one to the exclusion of the other--that would be disasterous.

What happened to finding the good in the labor? To know that work is part of a larger whole and finding means of self-expression through work? To see how your work can serve others? To say that you cannot do any of these things devalues and demeans a significant, necessary and important part of life.

There's a Troll in the Blog!

Journeying through the swamp infested blog, our adventurer is "Scaling the Cliffs of Insanity, Battling Rodents of Unusual Size, Facing torture in the Pit of Despair". . .I suppose we shouldn't be surprised.

Mark Byron is a blogger who stepped into it with a very controversial post--he was doing a thought experiment for a supposed "Christian Liberation Front". Then he got hammered by the libs. Byron does some introspection over the weekend over the post and returns, refocused.

Well, the blog entry has Byron being pretty open and honest about things, but some troll gets in there and just bangs on him to "return to the closet where Jesus can explain to you what he meant". I presume that Mr. Troll does know what Jesus meant and, therefore implies that Byron does not Understand.

This is what bugs me about the dark side of electronic discourse: the free interchange of ideas turns into an ugly flame war led by trolls on both sides. I'd like to think that although the people who make up the Carpetbloggers do take and espouse a particular stand on issues, that we are capable of responding and commenting in a thoughtful manner (ed: most of the time). This is also another reason why I am very guarded about posting more personal entries; there are some who delight in taking advantage of such expression. Such people remind me of a couple of guys I knew in high school who weren't known as terribly nice blokes.

Thankfully, the best thing to do is that I can just stop looking at the monitor, look up at the blue sky, take a breath and take stock of life. Ultimately, no blow hard in some online comments section can invade your offline life: family, faith, friends, work. There is only so much you can concern yourself with, concern yourself only with today:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (courtesy of gospelcom.net)

I presume that just as the birds of the air and the lilies of the field didn't worry about the day to day issues of being cared for, so they also probably didn't worry about their blogs. In the end, the opinions of people who leave the electronic equivalent of graffiti (really, blogging is a sort of a glorified poster wall) don't matter that much at all, in comparison to living the non-electronic life. Gee, go figure.

That is, unless the opinionated people are stalking you ;).

UPDATE: Another comment appears in Byron's blog. Keith says, "You better pray you SOB. My kids read that trash.>". Is this indicative of the quality and level of American rhetoric today?

Where can I join this

Non Sequidur comic strip can often say things I can only wish of doing, the Sunday strip is one of them, enjoy, especially on a Monday morning.

A lighter side of things

The weekend is starting and so here is some light sports reading from Mike Penner at the Indian Express newspaper. It seems the US baseball team lost to Mexico so the US will not have a team in the 2004 Olympics. I can’t tell if the writer is laughing or crying over the state of affairs of US teams in international sports (the US isn’t bringing as many metals home as we used to or could). I hope he’s laughing, at least I find it hard to take sports seriously. I hope the blog master will not excommunicate me for saying that. Have a good weekend.

Where Do You Rank on the Generosity Index?

There has been a survey done that ranks states by a "Generosity Index". The index is calculated as the differential between the state's ranking (1-50) of AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) and the state's ranking (1-50) by the percentage of itemized charitable deductions compared to AGI. Interesting:

California is ranked 6th in AGI, but 17th in giving

New York 4th in AGI, but 25th in giving

Mississippi, ranked dead last (50th) in AGI, but 6th highest in giving

The index is also interesting because it measures relative generousity in terms of the ability of the contributer. Thus, those who have more are expected to give more in absolute terms (as implied by the generosity index). This is a proposition that I tend to agree with, for to whom much is given, much is expected. God gives to each man resources that are to be used to provide for oneself and for others. We are not to bury the talents in the ground.

Politically it is interesting as well, take a look at this version that color codes the states by the way they voted for Bush in 2000. Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan for pointing this one out. Sullivan uses this as some fodder to try to show the reality about what he says the left calls "callous, selfish rich Republicans".

The color coded table really is a thought provoker; I'm sure that Dems will pull out some sort of rationale about absolute giving being the standard, economic factors in differing regions, yada yada. I'm unconvinced by the suppositions that Sullivan and (presumably) Glenn Beck make at this time, only because the Generosity Index is such a simplistic formula; I'm still trying to unpack what it means. I know this sure gives us some pause, doesn't it?

What is haunting is that in Scripture, Jesus considered the widow's mite more than the Pharisee's treasure.

Democracy Held Hostage

From the c-span.org site:

A Filibuster is the term used for an extended debate in the Senate which has the effect of preventing a vote. Senate rules contain no motion to force a vote. A vote occurs only once debate ends. The term comes from the early 19th century Spanish and Portuguese pirates, "filibusteros", who held ships hostage for ransom.

A Dem filibuster has halted the nomination of three federal judges: Priscilla Owen (for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans), Carolyn Kuhl (for the D.C. Circuit) and Janice Rogers Brown (for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco).

Yahoo provides some commentary and history back in 2001:

A filibuster is a "shameful" and "under-handed" action employed by a "long-winded" "obstructionist ringleader." At least according to some political critics. It's actually a parliamentary tactic used to stall legislative proceedings or to thwart an opposing bill that would otherwise pass.

A filibuster invoked for any purpose is not right. It is the imposition of a different standard of majority upon a particular vote than originally intended. In today's example, if the judges had been advanced for an up or down vote before the entire senate, a simple majority would have confirmed their appointments; however, a parlimentary loophole has effectively bound a 60-40 majority to judicial appointment. Actually this standard is true for any issue. I suspect that the only thing that holds a filibuster in check is the negative press generated by the filibustering party.

UPDATE: As I sat eating my lunch, I realized that in principle, a filibuster is not democratic, as the delaying tactics stop a particular matter from ever reaching a vote at all. Ending a filibuster requires a 2/3rd vote to end a particular speaker's debate--thus the larger majority required.

MLB to have mandatory steroid testing

Pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed by the players and owners in 2002, there will be mandatory steroid testing if there were greater than 5% positive random tests in 2003.

The results are in. All precincts have reported. The number in 2003 was between five and seven percent. A lot of players that are clean, most notably pitchers and the Chicago White Sox, were willing to intentionally fail the test (by not submitting their sample) in order to trigger this clause in the CBA. Punishment will be moderate: treatment for a first offense, 15 days for the second positive, 25 and 50 days and one year for each subsequent offense.

The embarrassment and stigma attached to a cheating player may be greater than the actual punishment doled out by MLB. Then again, who really remembers and cares that Sammy Sosa used a corked bat last summer? People forgive and forget players they like, such as Sosa. They will lynch players they don't such as Barry Bonds.

Some player who is probably innocent will have an inexplicably horrible year next year. And guess what will be to blame? They don't even need testing. People will judge anyway. Yes, I'm looking at you Rick Reilly.

The pool is open for the first player to be caught with a positive test. I nominate David "Poppy" Ortiz. Or Jason Giambi. Giambi is getting hurt enough now to suggest he may be on the juice. I honestly don't think either Bonds or Sosa is juicing up because they've been relatively durable and healthy, unlike other players rumored or confirmed to have taken steroids such as Ken Caminiti, Jose Canseco and (just a guess) Juan Gonzalez.

An interesting column on race

Shelby Steele at the OpinionJournal.com has an interesting take on why Howard Dean made his comment "guys with Confederate flags in their pick-up trucks," and why that caused such outrage in the country. I don’t know if I agree with everything said here, but it will certainly make for interesting reading and discussion.

Its sad this is news instead of the norm

The Pueblo Chieftain newspaper has a story which is noble, but also represents a sad commentary on our society today because it is unusual enough to be news.

High School senior Nate Haasis, the quarter back for the Springfield Southeast High School football team has requested the final pass of his high school career be nullified and the record it set, more the 5,000 yards of completed passes in his career, be removed from the record books.

Why would a student (or anyone for that matter) ask to have the record stripped from themselves like that? Well his coach made a deal with the opposing coach to not interfere with final pass of the game (his team was losing by a large margin) so Nate could get the record. That a STUDENT did the honorable thing while the two ADULTS who should have known better, did wrong by fixing the game and allowing the record to be broken unfairly.

While Nate doesn’t get his name in the record book, he retains his ethics and honor. That the two coaches have not been fired or disciplined in anyway is another sad comment on the message we adults are sending to the kids of today.