RIAA does not give up....
They are now trying to scare users of 2P2 into quitting file sharing by sending them instant messages via chat. Bwahahahaaaaa... Silly bastards! I can see the average file swapper saying "that's it, the RIAA tells me I should not do this, so I'll quit right away!" The latest court case did not go their way (well, they will appeal it of course) so now they are going to try this. They would be much smarter if they followed Apple's lead... I think their ITunes Music Store is a brilliant move! You pay 99c for a song, download it straight away (after you listen to it first), you can burn it on CD as often as you like... Right now it's only available in the USA, for Mac owners (yessssss, Mac is great, when I win the lottery I'll buy me one, for now my old Dell PC will have to do!). The moment it becomes available in Europe, for PC, I'll be one of their first customers. I'm saving for an iPod right now! Over the years, I've bought thousands of CD's for hundreds of good songs. High time the industry was modernised. Of course, if this hits off and I hope it will, new artists will be able to offer their music here too, the days of stifling recording contracts and making obscene profits from (generally) underpaid artists will be over. Perhaps that is the real reason the RIAA has been fighting this development with all they have.
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
RIAA does not give up....
They are now trying to scare users of 2P2 into quitting file sharing by sending them instant messages via chat. Bwahahahaaaaa... Silly bastards! I can see the average file swapper saying "that's it, the RIAA tells me I should not do this, so I'll quit right away!" The latest court case did not go their way (well, they will appeal it of course) so now they are going to try this. They would be much smarter if they followed Apple's lead... I think their ITunes Music Store is a brilliant move! You pay 99c for a song, download it straight away (after you listen to it first), you can burn it on CD as often as you like... Right now it's only available in the USA, for Mac owners (yessssss, Mac is great, when I win the lottery I'll buy me one, for now my old Dell PC will have to do!). The moment it becomes available in Europe, for PC, I'll be one of their first customers. I'm saving for an iPod right now! Over the years, I've bought thousands of CD's for hundreds of good songs. High time the industry was modernised. Of course, if this hits off and I hope it will, new artists will be able to offer their music here too, the days of stifling recording contracts and making obscene profits from (generally) underpaid artists will be over. Perhaps that is the real reason the RIAA has been fighting this development with all they have.
They are now trying to scare users of 2P2 into quitting file sharing by sending them instant messages via chat. Bwahahahaaaaa... Silly bastards! I can see the average file swapper saying "that's it, the RIAA tells me I should not do this, so I'll quit right away!" The latest court case did not go their way (well, they will appeal it of course) so now they are going to try this. They would be much smarter if they followed Apple's lead... I think their ITunes Music Store is a brilliant move! You pay 99c for a song, download it straight away (after you listen to it first), you can burn it on CD as often as you like... Right now it's only available in the USA, for Mac owners (yessssss, Mac is great, when I win the lottery I'll buy me one, for now my old Dell PC will have to do!). The moment it becomes available in Europe, for PC, I'll be one of their first customers. I'm saving for an iPod right now! Over the years, I've bought thousands of CD's for hundreds of good songs. High time the industry was modernised. Of course, if this hits off and I hope it will, new artists will be able to offer their music here too, the days of stifling recording contracts and making obscene profits from (generally) underpaid artists will be over. Perhaps that is the real reason the RIAA has been fighting this development with all they have.
Monday, April 28, 2003
Holy Shit!
I stumbled on this today - oh yeah... they scream that the rest of the world is not allowed nuclear weapons... I feel sick! Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator - have the Americans gone truly insane??? They are actually going to do this! Oh lord, oh please, let the countries of Europe band together to give some counterweight here, being the only superpower in the world today has made them powermad... if this goes on, they will become a danger to the entire planet!
I stumbled on this today - oh yeah... they scream that the rest of the world is not allowed nuclear weapons... I feel sick! Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator - have the Americans gone truly insane??? They are actually going to do this! Oh lord, oh please, let the countries of Europe band together to give some counterweight here, being the only superpower in the world today has made them powermad... if this goes on, they will become a danger to the entire planet!
Holy Shit!
I stumbled on this today - oh yeah... they scream that the rest of the world is not allowed nuclear weapons... I feel sick! Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator - have the Americans gone truly insane??? They are actually going to do this! Oh lord, oh please, let the countries of Europe band together to give some counterweight here, being the only superpower in the world today has made them powermad... if this goes on, they will become a danger to the entire planet!
I stumbled on this today - oh yeah... they scream that the rest of the world is not allowed nuclear weapons... I feel sick! Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator - have the Americans gone truly insane??? They are actually going to do this! Oh lord, oh please, let the countries of Europe band together to give some counterweight here, being the only superpower in the world today has made them powermad... if this goes on, they will become a danger to the entire planet!
Saturday, April 26, 2003
Naked pilots fired for prank
By AP: Saturday, April 26, 2003
DALLAS -- Southwest Airlines has fired two pilots who were reported to have taken off all or part of their clothes in the cockpit while in flight, then summoned a flight attendant to bring them paper towels and soda water.
"We conducted a thorough investigation and terminated the two pilots involved for inappropriate conduct," Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Ginger Hardage said yesterday.
The pilots, who were terminated earlier this month, have appealed, saying they had spilled coffee on their uniforms. The airline did not buy the excuse and sees this as a prank gone awry that cannot be tolerated, the source said.
The names of the male pilots weren't divulged. They were dismissed earlier this month but the incident, first reported yesterday in editions of USA Today, happened months ago.
According to sources at the company, a flight attendant saw the pilots in their almost completely undressed state when summoned into the cockpit on a flight several months ago.
Southwest started out as an airline that asked some of its in-flight crew to show a little skin. When the airline first took to the skies about 30 years ago, its flight attendants dressed in hot pants -- and its pilots wore uniforms.
My Comment: They were dismissed earlier this month, but the incident, first reported in Friday's editions of USA Today, happened months ago.
By AP: Saturday, April 26, 2003
DALLAS -- Southwest Airlines has fired two pilots who were reported to have taken off all or part of their clothes in the cockpit while in flight, then summoned a flight attendant to bring them paper towels and soda water.
"We conducted a thorough investigation and terminated the two pilots involved for inappropriate conduct," Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Ginger Hardage said yesterday.
The pilots, who were terminated earlier this month, have appealed, saying they had spilled coffee on their uniforms. The airline did not buy the excuse and sees this as a prank gone awry that cannot be tolerated, the source said.
The names of the male pilots weren't divulged. They were dismissed earlier this month but the incident, first reported yesterday in editions of USA Today, happened months ago.
According to sources at the company, a flight attendant saw the pilots in their almost completely undressed state when summoned into the cockpit on a flight several months ago.
Southwest started out as an airline that asked some of its in-flight crew to show a little skin. When the airline first took to the skies about 30 years ago, its flight attendants dressed in hot pants -- and its pilots wore uniforms.
My Comment: They were dismissed earlier this month, but the incident, first reported in Friday's editions of USA Today, happened months ago.
Dozens of women want Bronze Age hunter's babies
Dozens of women have asked to be made pregnant by a prehistoric iceman who died 5,000 years ago.
The body of "Otzi the Iceman" was discovered by hikers in 1991 as ice melted in the Schnalstal glacier, high in the Italian Alps.
Alex Susanna, director of the Bozen Museum where his body is exhibited, says requests have been received by many women wanting to have Otzi's babies.
He told Austrian broadcasting company ORF that all of the requests had been turned down, not least because Otzi's penis had decayed away.
Otzi was found half emerged from the ice and his body was first thought to be that of a modern climber. Closer examination showed he was still wearing goatskin leggings and a grass cape.
His copper-headed axe and a quiver full of arrows were found nearby and radio-carbon dating showed the body was more than 5,000 years old.
Story filed: 10:26 Thursday 24th April 2003
Dozens of women have asked to be made pregnant by a prehistoric iceman who died 5,000 years ago.
The body of "Otzi the Iceman" was discovered by hikers in 1991 as ice melted in the Schnalstal glacier, high in the Italian Alps.
Alex Susanna, director of the Bozen Museum where his body is exhibited, says requests have been received by many women wanting to have Otzi's babies.
He told Austrian broadcasting company ORF that all of the requests had been turned down, not least because Otzi's penis had decayed away.
Otzi was found half emerged from the ice and his body was first thought to be that of a modern climber. Closer examination showed he was still wearing goatskin leggings and a grass cape.
His copper-headed axe and a quiver full of arrows were found nearby and radio-carbon dating showed the body was more than 5,000 years old.
Story filed: 10:26 Thursday 24th April 2003
Dosha: a dog with more lives than a cat!
Dosha, a 10 month old mongrel bitch was hit by a car, shot in the head and kept in a freezer for two hours, but survived!
One morning in April (2003), Dosha escaped from her owner's property in Clearlake, California (about 160 km north of San Francisco) and was hit by a car. Police were called , the officer Bob MacDonald thought the dog had been fatally wounded and shot her in the head, below her right eye, to save her from more pain.
The "carcass" was taken away and put in a freezer at the dog pound. Two hours later, someone at the pound checked up on Dosha and found her alive and cold. She was taken to a vet and was treated for hypothermia and a gunshot wound. She had no injuries from the initial car accident.
Dosha, a 10 month old mongrel bitch was hit by a car, shot in the head and kept in a freezer for two hours, but survived!
One morning in April (2003), Dosha escaped from her owner's property in Clearlake, California (about 160 km north of San Francisco) and was hit by a car. Police were called , the officer Bob MacDonald thought the dog had been fatally wounded and shot her in the head, below her right eye, to save her from more pain.
The "carcass" was taken away and put in a freezer at the dog pound. Two hours later, someone at the pound checked up on Dosha and found her alive and cold. She was taken to a vet and was treated for hypothermia and a gunshot wound. She had no injuries from the initial car accident.
Iraq
Still no UN weapons inspectors allowed in Iraq and when asked about this, Fleischer tells us: "We are looking forward, not backward".
I stubbornly look backward... I will never forget. This article gives a clear rundown of events leading up to the war, just in case anyone is suffering from amnesia. The newspapers are pretending nothing happened... so I'll just keep on shouting that the emperor is wearing no clothes.
Still no UN weapons inspectors allowed in Iraq and when asked about this, Fleischer tells us: "We are looking forward, not backward".
I stubbornly look backward... I will never forget. This article gives a clear rundown of events leading up to the war, just in case anyone is suffering from amnesia. The newspapers are pretending nothing happened... so I'll just keep on shouting that the emperor is wearing no clothes.
Iraq
Still no UN weapons inspectors allowed in Iraq and when asked about this, Fleischer tells us: "We are looking forward, not backward".
I stubbornly look backward... I will never forget. This article gives a clear rundown of events leading up to the war, just in case anyone is suffering from amnesia. The newspapers are pretending nothing happened... so I'll just keep on shouting that the emperor is wearing no clothes.
Still no UN weapons inspectors allowed in Iraq and when asked about this, Fleischer tells us: "We are looking forward, not backward".
I stubbornly look backward... I will never forget. This article gives a clear rundown of events leading up to the war, just in case anyone is suffering from amnesia. The newspapers are pretending nothing happened... so I'll just keep on shouting that the emperor is wearing no clothes.
Friday, April 25, 2003
US citizens want to boycott Germany and France
According to a recent survey, about half of the people polled want to boycott France and Germany, especially France.
I say, what with the state of their economy and the direction it is headed in, coupled with the costly war ambitions of the current administration, the Americans should by all means boycott Germany and France... heck, the rest of Europe too (except of course the UK). It would hurt us to begin with but we will quickly find other sources for products we need, other markets for our own products... it will break our dependency on the USA for trade. As for the USA... the way they are going, pretty soon it will be mom dad and the kids who have to work 10 hour jobs just to be able to buy enough food to survive. Having lived in a country which was boycotted by most of the western world, I know it hurts but also makes you stronger and less dependent on those large, influential countries. So, let them go... let them boycott! Anything that will weaken the Americans is good in my book - and no, I dont hate Americans but I do believe this US administration (which means the money men behind this administration) is heading towards dangerous fascist grounds and if it is not checked one way or another, it will seriously erode those famous American liberties and destabilise the entire world... at least this way, there is no bloodshed.
I'm off to eat bratwurst, sauerkraut and will wash it down with a nice French wine. Burp!
According to a recent survey, about half of the people polled want to boycott France and Germany, especially France.
I say, what with the state of their economy and the direction it is headed in, coupled with the costly war ambitions of the current administration, the Americans should by all means boycott Germany and France... heck, the rest of Europe too (except of course the UK). It would hurt us to begin with but we will quickly find other sources for products we need, other markets for our own products... it will break our dependency on the USA for trade. As for the USA... the way they are going, pretty soon it will be mom dad and the kids who have to work 10 hour jobs just to be able to buy enough food to survive. Having lived in a country which was boycotted by most of the western world, I know it hurts but also makes you stronger and less dependent on those large, influential countries. So, let them go... let them boycott! Anything that will weaken the Americans is good in my book - and no, I dont hate Americans but I do believe this US administration (which means the money men behind this administration) is heading towards dangerous fascist grounds and if it is not checked one way or another, it will seriously erode those famous American liberties and destabilise the entire world... at least this way, there is no bloodshed.
I'm off to eat bratwurst, sauerkraut and will wash it down with a nice French wine. Burp!
US citizens want to boycott Germany and France
According to a recent survey, about half of the people polled want to boycott France and Germany, especially France.
I say, what with the state of their economy and the direction it is headed in, coupled with the costly war ambitions of the current administration, the Americans should by all means boycott Germany and France... heck, the rest of Europe too (except of course the UK). It would hurt us to begin with but we will quickly find other sources for products we need, other markets for our own products... it will break our dependency on the USA for trade. As for the USA... the way they are going, pretty soon it will be mom dad and the kids who have to work 10 hour jobs just to be able to buy enough food to survive. Having lived in a country which was boycotted by most of the western world, I know it hurts but also makes you stronger and less dependent on those large, influential countries. So, let them go... let them boycott! Anything that will weaken the Americans is good in my book - and no, I dont hate Americans but I do believe this US administration (which means the money men behind this administration) is heading towards dangerous fascist grounds and if it is not checked one way or another, it will seriously erode those famous American liberties and destabilise the entire world... at least this way, there is no bloodshed.
I'm off to eat bratwurst, sauerkraut and will wash it down with a nice French wine. Burp!
According to a recent survey, about half of the people polled want to boycott France and Germany, especially France.
I say, what with the state of their economy and the direction it is headed in, coupled with the costly war ambitions of the current administration, the Americans should by all means boycott Germany and France... heck, the rest of Europe too (except of course the UK). It would hurt us to begin with but we will quickly find other sources for products we need, other markets for our own products... it will break our dependency on the USA for trade. As for the USA... the way they are going, pretty soon it will be mom dad and the kids who have to work 10 hour jobs just to be able to buy enough food to survive. Having lived in a country which was boycotted by most of the western world, I know it hurts but also makes you stronger and less dependent on those large, influential countries. So, let them go... let them boycott! Anything that will weaken the Americans is good in my book - and no, I dont hate Americans but I do believe this US administration (which means the money men behind this administration) is heading towards dangerous fascist grounds and if it is not checked one way or another, it will seriously erode those famous American liberties and destabilise the entire world... at least this way, there is no bloodshed.
I'm off to eat bratwurst, sauerkraut and will wash it down with a nice French wine. Burp!
OY!!! Mr Bush!!!
Since you are in a liberating frame of mind, how about invading Zimbabwe and helping those poor people there?? They are begging for you to come over there and liberate them from a crazed dictator. If you really want to do something good, go in there and stop this from becoming the next arena of genocide. That would carry my full approval, I might even develop amnesia over those Iraqui weapons of mass destruction (remember those??).
Since you are in a liberating frame of mind, how about invading Zimbabwe and helping those poor people there?? They are begging for you to come over there and liberate them from a crazed dictator. If you really want to do something good, go in there and stop this from becoming the next arena of genocide. That would carry my full approval, I might even develop amnesia over those Iraqui weapons of mass destruction (remember those??).
OY!!! Mr Bush!!!
Since you are in a liberating frame of mind, how about invading Zimbabwe and helping those poor people there?? They are begging for you to come over there and liberate them from a crazed dictator. If you really want to do something good, go in there and stop this from becoming the next arena of genocide. That would carry my full approval, I might even develop amnesia over those Iraqui weapons of mass destruction (remember those??).
Since you are in a liberating frame of mind, how about invading Zimbabwe and helping those poor people there?? They are begging for you to come over there and liberate them from a crazed dictator. If you really want to do something good, go in there and stop this from becoming the next arena of genocide. That would carry my full approval, I might even develop amnesia over those Iraqui weapons of mass destruction (remember those??).
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Oh for crying out loud!!!!
Powell quit the planned three-day discussions with China and North Korea early and made some heated remarks about USA not being blackmailed etc... oh please, please dont go stomping over there with your 'made in the USA' army boots... I know I often look at the dark side of things but really, the leadership in North Korea is two steps removed from complete insanity - their paranoia hangs over the country like a thick black cloud. Just looking at them wrong might provoke them to launch a self-destructive all-out war, which will cause huge casualties on both sides (or more, we may all get sucked into this one).
These last few years have seen a slight relaxation, at least between North and South Korea. The prudent course of action right now would be to pretend North Korea does not exist; do NOT interfere... and wait, wait for the smallest openings to show like the thawing of relations between north and south... and then cheer them on like mad, reward them richly. Not very macho, I suppose, but this will save many lives and wont destabilise the world.
Powell quit the planned three-day discussions with China and North Korea early and made some heated remarks about USA not being blackmailed etc... oh please, please dont go stomping over there with your 'made in the USA' army boots... I know I often look at the dark side of things but really, the leadership in North Korea is two steps removed from complete insanity - their paranoia hangs over the country like a thick black cloud. Just looking at them wrong might provoke them to launch a self-destructive all-out war, which will cause huge casualties on both sides (or more, we may all get sucked into this one).
These last few years have seen a slight relaxation, at least between North and South Korea. The prudent course of action right now would be to pretend North Korea does not exist; do NOT interfere... and wait, wait for the smallest openings to show like the thawing of relations between north and south... and then cheer them on like mad, reward them richly. Not very macho, I suppose, but this will save many lives and wont destabilise the world.
Oh for crying out loud!!!!
Powell quit the planned three-day discussions with China and North Korea early and made some heated remarks about USA not being blackmailed etc... oh please, please dont go stomping over there with your 'made in the USA' army boots... I know I often look at the dark side of things but really, the leadership in North Korea is two steps removed from complete insanity - their paranoia hangs over the country like a thick black cloud. Just looking at them wrong might provoke them to launch a self-destructive all-out war, which will cause huge casualties on both sides (or more, we may all get sucked into this one).
These last few years have seen a slight relaxation, at least between North and South Korea. The prudent course of action right now would be to pretend North Korea does not exist; do NOT interfere... and wait, wait for the smallest openings to show like the thawing of relations between north and south... and then cheer them on like mad, reward them richly. Not very macho, I suppose, but this will save many lives and wont destabilise the world.
Powell quit the planned three-day discussions with China and North Korea early and made some heated remarks about USA not being blackmailed etc... oh please, please dont go stomping over there with your 'made in the USA' army boots... I know I often look at the dark side of things but really, the leadership in North Korea is two steps removed from complete insanity - their paranoia hangs over the country like a thick black cloud. Just looking at them wrong might provoke them to launch a self-destructive all-out war, which will cause huge casualties on both sides (or more, we may all get sucked into this one).
These last few years have seen a slight relaxation, at least between North and South Korea. The prudent course of action right now would be to pretend North Korea does not exist; do NOT interfere... and wait, wait for the smallest openings to show like the thawing of relations between north and south... and then cheer them on like mad, reward them richly. Not very macho, I suppose, but this will save many lives and wont destabilise the world.
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Finding WMD in Iraq:
I am getting so tired of spoonfed reporters, embedded or not. Dont they teach these people to think and analyse any more, or is it a specific requirement of the job at the large networks that you do not have a brain???
The number of times I saw a breathless reporter standing at a newly discovered site, which 'everyone' is convinced is the major find in the search of WMD... only to find a buried report the next day that it was the umpteenth whoops...
Remember those buried containers?? They now seem to be innocent, have nothing to do with WMD. On towards the next report.
The US/UK 'coalition' should let the UN weapons inspectors do their job - but I suspect they will wait until Blix is gone. Woe betide any person who critisizes their 'just' little war....
I am getting so tired of spoonfed reporters, embedded or not. Dont they teach these people to think and analyse any more, or is it a specific requirement of the job at the large networks that you do not have a brain???
The number of times I saw a breathless reporter standing at a newly discovered site, which 'everyone' is convinced is the major find in the search of WMD... only to find a buried report the next day that it was the umpteenth whoops...
Remember those buried containers?? They now seem to be innocent, have nothing to do with WMD. On towards the next report.
The US/UK 'coalition' should let the UN weapons inspectors do their job - but I suspect they will wait until Blix is gone. Woe betide any person who critisizes their 'just' little war....
Finding WMD in Iraq:
I am getting so tired of spoonfed reporters, embedded or not. Dont they teach these people to think and analyse any more, or is it a specific requirement of the job at the large networks that you do not have a brain???
The number of times I saw a breathless reporter standing at a newly discovered site, which 'everyone' is convinced is the major find in the search of WMD... only to find a buried report the next day that it was the umpteenth whoops...
Remember those buried containers?? They now seem to be innocent, have nothing to do with WMD. On towards the next report.
The US/UK 'coalition' should let the UN weapons inspectors do their job - but I suspect they will wait until Blix is gone. Woe betide any person who critisizes their 'just' little war....
I am getting so tired of spoonfed reporters, embedded or not. Dont they teach these people to think and analyse any more, or is it a specific requirement of the job at the large networks that you do not have a brain???
The number of times I saw a breathless reporter standing at a newly discovered site, which 'everyone' is convinced is the major find in the search of WMD... only to find a buried report the next day that it was the umpteenth whoops...
Remember those buried containers?? They now seem to be innocent, have nothing to do with WMD. On towards the next report.
The US/UK 'coalition' should let the UN weapons inspectors do their job - but I suspect they will wait until Blix is gone. Woe betide any person who critisizes their 'just' little war....
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
SARS:
SARS now also arrived in the UK. They might be able to isolate this case but looking at what's happening in China, I suspect the genie is out of the bottle. Still, many people believe this only attacks people with a weakened immune system. I cannot see this, in Hong Kong and China it attacks and kills healthy vital people as well as weakened people. 5% mortality is unacceptable to me. That would mean that if an epidemic broke loose in my country it would result in about 800.000 dead! Unacceptable! Yet, it is so.
5% does not sound much until you translate it to absolute numbers: 800.000 dead.
SARS now also arrived in the UK. They might be able to isolate this case but looking at what's happening in China, I suspect the genie is out of the bottle. Still, many people believe this only attacks people with a weakened immune system. I cannot see this, in Hong Kong and China it attacks and kills healthy vital people as well as weakened people. 5% mortality is unacceptable to me. That would mean that if an epidemic broke loose in my country it would result in about 800.000 dead! Unacceptable! Yet, it is so.
5% does not sound much until you translate it to absolute numbers: 800.000 dead.
SARS:
SARS now also arrived in the UK. They might be able to isolate this case but looking at what's happening in China, I suspect the genie is out of the bottle. Still, many people believe this only attacks people with a weakened immune system. I cannot see this, in Hong Kong and China it attacks and kills healthy vital people as well as weakened people. 5% mortality is unacceptable to me. That would mean that if an epidemic broke loose in my country it would result in about 800.000 dead! Unacceptable! Yet, it is so.
5% does not sound much until you translate it to absolute numbers: 800.000 dead.
SARS now also arrived in the UK. They might be able to isolate this case but looking at what's happening in China, I suspect the genie is out of the bottle. Still, many people believe this only attacks people with a weakened immune system. I cannot see this, in Hong Kong and China it attacks and kills healthy vital people as well as weakened people. 5% mortality is unacceptable to me. That would mean that if an epidemic broke loose in my country it would result in about 800.000 dead! Unacceptable! Yet, it is so.
5% does not sound much until you translate it to absolute numbers: 800.000 dead.
Iraq and WMD:
Well, the US dont want the weapons inspectors to resume their inspections, they say they will do it themselves... to the victor goes the spoils, I suppose. Nothing succeeds like a bully. Why dont they want the weapons inspectors to return? Possibly, it could expose their 'search' for WMD as one big snowjob... or if they 'find' some, they dont want any spectators... or perhaps Blix was too honest - the US made no bones about it, they did not like what he had to say.
No point being against this war, it is over. But my anger with the US has not subsided and I suspect it never really will. I wont forgive or forget...
Well, the US dont want the weapons inspectors to resume their inspections, they say they will do it themselves... to the victor goes the spoils, I suppose. Nothing succeeds like a bully. Why dont they want the weapons inspectors to return? Possibly, it could expose their 'search' for WMD as one big snowjob... or if they 'find' some, they dont want any spectators... or perhaps Blix was too honest - the US made no bones about it, they did not like what he had to say.
No point being against this war, it is over. But my anger with the US has not subsided and I suspect it never really will. I wont forgive or forget...
Iraq and WMD:
Well, the US dont want the weapons inspectors to resume their inspections, they say they will do it themselves... to the victor goes the spoils, I suppose. Nothing succeeds like a bully. Why dont they want the weapons inspectors to return? Possibly, it could expose their 'search' for WMD as one big snowjob... or if they 'find' some, they dont want any spectators... or perhaps Blix was too honest - the US made no bones about it, they did not like what he had to say.
No point being against this war, it is over. But my anger with the US has not subsided and I suspect it never really will. I wont forgive or forget...
Well, the US dont want the weapons inspectors to resume their inspections, they say they will do it themselves... to the victor goes the spoils, I suppose. Nothing succeeds like a bully. Why dont they want the weapons inspectors to return? Possibly, it could expose their 'search' for WMD as one big snowjob... or if they 'find' some, they dont want any spectators... or perhaps Blix was too honest - the US made no bones about it, they did not like what he had to say.
No point being against this war, it is over. But my anger with the US has not subsided and I suspect it never really will. I wont forgive or forget...
Thursday, April 17, 2003
And now Syria:
Robert Fisk thinks there is a very good chance Syria will be invaded by the Americans. I have the greatest respect for his opinion, he has been proven right time and again...
Robert Fisk thinks there is a very good chance Syria will be invaded by the Americans. I have the greatest respect for his opinion, he has been proven right time and again...
And now Syria:
Robert Fisk thinks there is a very good chance Syria will be invaded by the Americans. I have the greatest respect for his opinion, he has been proven right time and again...
Robert Fisk thinks there is a very good chance Syria will be invaded by the Americans. I have the greatest respect for his opinion, he has been proven right time and again...
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Post-war Iraq:
Former CIA Director James Woolsey is a serious candidate for a key position in the reconstruction of a postwar Iraq.
This man believes that the world is currently involved in WW4 and gleefully plans for it to become much more than it already is... He wants people to be nervous at the US plans. Well, I am... many of us in Europe are. But not for the reasons he thinks.
Where do they find all these foaming at the mouth war-hawks??!! They are turning the entire world into an extremely unsafe place.
I think a grassroots economic boycott of the USA may be a good signal - I had my doubts before but I'm entertaining this notion seriously now. I dont believe this will make a dent in corporate profits but the perception of financial losses may give pause to those who in part finance this mad rush to oblivion.
Former CIA Director James Woolsey is a serious candidate for a key position in the reconstruction of a postwar Iraq.
This man believes that the world is currently involved in WW4 and gleefully plans for it to become much more than it already is... He wants people to be nervous at the US plans. Well, I am... many of us in Europe are. But not for the reasons he thinks.
Where do they find all these foaming at the mouth war-hawks??!! They are turning the entire world into an extremely unsafe place.
I think a grassroots economic boycott of the USA may be a good signal - I had my doubts before but I'm entertaining this notion seriously now. I dont believe this will make a dent in corporate profits but the perception of financial losses may give pause to those who in part finance this mad rush to oblivion.
Post-war Iraq:
Former CIA Director James Woolsey is a serious candidate for a key position in the reconstruction of a postwar Iraq.
This man believes that the world is currently involved in WW4 and gleefully plans for it to become much more than it already is... He wants people to be nervous at the US plans. Well, I am... many of us in Europe are. But not for the reasons he thinks.
Where do they find all these foaming at the mouth war-hawks??!! They are turning the entire world into an extremely unsafe place.
I think a grassroots economic boycott of the USA may be a good signal - I had my doubts before but I'm entertaining this notion seriously now. I dont believe this will make a dent in corporate profits but the perception of financial losses may give pause to those who in part finance this mad rush to oblivion.
Former CIA Director James Woolsey is a serious candidate for a key position in the reconstruction of a postwar Iraq.
This man believes that the world is currently involved in WW4 and gleefully plans for it to become much more than it already is... He wants people to be nervous at the US plans. Well, I am... many of us in Europe are. But not for the reasons he thinks.
Where do they find all these foaming at the mouth war-hawks??!! They are turning the entire world into an extremely unsafe place.
I think a grassroots economic boycott of the USA may be a good signal - I had my doubts before but I'm entertaining this notion seriously now. I dont believe this will make a dent in corporate profits but the perception of financial losses may give pause to those who in part finance this mad rush to oblivion.
Sars again:
The three babies in Hong Kong born to SARS moms (of which one has already died and two are very ill) are now ill, they probably have SARS too.
A surge of new cases in China reported.
double shit...
The three babies in Hong Kong born to SARS moms (of which one has already died and two are very ill) are now ill, they probably have SARS too.
A surge of new cases in China reported.
double shit...
Sars again:
The three babies in Hong Kong born to SARS moms (of which one has already died and two are very ill) are now ill, they probably have SARS too.
A surge of new cases in China reported.
double shit...
The three babies in Hong Kong born to SARS moms (of which one has already died and two are very ill) are now ill, they probably have SARS too.
A surge of new cases in China reported.
double shit...
Monday, April 14, 2003
Bush quote: "I think that we believe there are chemical weapons in Syria"
Oh lord, I am so happy the Americans elected a smart man....
Every day now, at least a couple of warnings to Syria, warning them to cooperate, making vague allegations about weapons of mass destruction, about Syria helping Baghdad, harbouring high-level Iraqui fugitives, etc etc. So far, no threats of attack but... this is how the Iraq war also started.
Oh lord, I am so happy the Americans elected a smart man....
Every day now, at least a couple of warnings to Syria, warning them to cooperate, making vague allegations about weapons of mass destruction, about Syria helping Baghdad, harbouring high-level Iraqui fugitives, etc etc. So far, no threats of attack but... this is how the Iraq war also started.
Bush quote: "I think that we believe there are chemical weapons in Syria"
Oh lord, I am so happy the Americans elected a smart man....
Every day now, at least a couple of warnings to Syria, warning them to cooperate, making vague allegations about weapons of mass destruction, about Syria helping Baghdad, harbouring high-level Iraqui fugitives, etc etc. So far, no threats of attack but... this is how the Iraq war also started.
Oh lord, I am so happy the Americans elected a smart man....
Every day now, at least a couple of warnings to Syria, warning them to cooperate, making vague allegations about weapons of mass destruction, about Syria helping Baghdad, harbouring high-level Iraqui fugitives, etc etc. So far, no threats of attack but... this is how the Iraq war also started.
Stripping away the disinformation: This is getting tired... each time you think you know the truth, you uncover another stinking pile of bullshit. One of the main reasons quoted for removing Saddam from power is that he gassed the Kurds... but did he?? Stories surfaced quite a while back but I thought it was just the lunatic fringe, conspiracy freaks, who were pushing the envelope. Turns out there may be truth to it... that the Kurds had probably been caught in the crossfire of chemical exchanges between Iraq and Iran and that the Iran dose of poison was the one that killed them. Neither parties should have used poison gas while battling amongst civilians, or in any circumstances, but that is another matter... fact is, the incident has been misrepresented and the story repeated so many times that it is the gospel truth as far as most are concerned. Just like the "fact" that the weapons inspectors had been kicked out of Iraq the very last time. Not true. They were told to leave Iraq by the US, prior to the US bombing Iraq. Just check out FAIR.org (tired of linking today).
SHIT, I wish there were at least one newspaper that cared enough about chronicling history correctly! Hunting all this info down is so time-consuming but no way will I let these kinds of things that happen in the world pass me by without being properly informed. I'm still looking into this, it is still too much like rumour, I am looking for more substance. If anyone has a good link (please no propaganda, neither for nor against) please post it (Shout out) thanks.
There seems to be a US Army War College study that concluded Iraq had not used poison gas against its Kurdish citizens at Halabja, the most famous accusation.
That study is (cannot find it on the net with Google but undoubtedly the text will be available somewhere):
Pelletiere, S. C., Johnson D. V. I., Rosenberger L. R. (1990) Iraqi power and U.S. security in the Middle East, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania 17013-5050: Strategic Studies Institute U.S. Army War College.
Now, the killings at Halabja was photographed and spread all over the world, it caused a huge outcry. I remember them well, they were sickening. There are also claims of Kurds being killed in great numbers across the North in the Anfal campaign (the numbers allegedly range from 100,000 to 182,000). I'll look into that on another day...
SHIT, I wish there were at least one newspaper that cared enough about chronicling history correctly! Hunting all this info down is so time-consuming but no way will I let these kinds of things that happen in the world pass me by without being properly informed. I'm still looking into this, it is still too much like rumour, I am looking for more substance. If anyone has a good link (please no propaganda, neither for nor against) please post it (Shout out) thanks.
There seems to be a US Army War College study that concluded Iraq had not used poison gas against its Kurdish citizens at Halabja, the most famous accusation.
That study is (cannot find it on the net with Google but undoubtedly the text will be available somewhere):
Pelletiere, S. C., Johnson D. V. I., Rosenberger L. R. (1990) Iraqi power and U.S. security in the Middle East, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania 17013-5050: Strategic Studies Institute U.S. Army War College.
Now, the killings at Halabja was photographed and spread all over the world, it caused a huge outcry. I remember them well, they were sickening. There are also claims of Kurds being killed in great numbers across the North in the Anfal campaign (the numbers allegedly range from 100,000 to 182,000). I'll look into that on another day...
Stripping away the disinformation: This is getting tired... each time you think you know the truth, you uncover another stinking pile of bullshit. One of the main reasons quoted for removing Saddam from power is that he gassed the Kurds... but did he?? Stories surfaced quite a while back but I thought it was just the lunatic fringe, conspiracy freaks, who were pushing the envelope. Turns out there may be truth to it... that the Kurds had probably been caught in the crossfire of chemical exchanges between Iraq and Iran and that the Iran dose of poison was the one that killed them. Neither parties should have used poison gas while battling amongst civilians, or in any circumstances, but that is another matter... fact is, the incident has been misrepresented and the story repeated so many times that it is the gospel truth as far as most are concerned. Just like the "fact" that the weapons inspectors had been kicked out of Iraq the very last time. Not true. They were told to leave Iraq by the US, prior to the US bombing Iraq. Just check out FAIR.org (tired of linking today).
SHIT, I wish there were at least one newspaper that cared enough about chronicling history correctly! Hunting all this info down is so time-consuming but no way will I let these kinds of things that happen in the world pass me by without being properly informed. I'm still looking into this, it is still too much like rumour, I am looking for more substance. If anyone has a good link (please no propaganda, neither for nor against) please post it (Shout out) thanks.
There seems to be a US Army War College study that concluded Iraq had not used poison gas against its Kurdish citizens at Halabja, the most famous accusation.
That study is (cannot find it on the net with Google but undoubtedly the text will be available somewhere):
Pelletiere, S. C., Johnson D. V. I., Rosenberger L. R. (1990) Iraqi power and U.S. security in the Middle East, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania 17013-5050: Strategic Studies Institute U.S. Army War College.
Now, the killings at Halabja was photographed and spread all over the world, it caused a huge outcry. I remember them well, they were sickening. There are also claims of Kurds being killed in great numbers across the North in the Anfal campaign (the numbers allegedly range from 100,000 to 182,000). I'll look into that on another day...
SHIT, I wish there were at least one newspaper that cared enough about chronicling history correctly! Hunting all this info down is so time-consuming but no way will I let these kinds of things that happen in the world pass me by without being properly informed. I'm still looking into this, it is still too much like rumour, I am looking for more substance. If anyone has a good link (please no propaganda, neither for nor against) please post it (Shout out) thanks.
There seems to be a US Army War College study that concluded Iraq had not used poison gas against its Kurdish citizens at Halabja, the most famous accusation.
That study is (cannot find it on the net with Google but undoubtedly the text will be available somewhere):
Pelletiere, S. C., Johnson D. V. I., Rosenberger L. R. (1990) Iraqi power and U.S. security in the Middle East, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania 17013-5050: Strategic Studies Institute U.S. Army War College.
Now, the killings at Halabja was photographed and spread all over the world, it caused a huge outcry. I remember them well, they were sickening. There are also claims of Kurds being killed in great numbers across the North in the Anfal campaign (the numbers allegedly range from 100,000 to 182,000). I'll look into that on another day...
Sunday, April 13, 2003
Iraq again - Bush rewards his backers handsomely - all the contracts go to the folks who backed his ascent to the White House.
Oh, some say shut up already... NO, I never will, not when the corruption is so blatant.
Oh, some say shut up already... NO, I never will, not when the corruption is so blatant.
Iraq again - Bush rewards his backers handsomely - all the contracts go to the folks who backed his ascent to the White House.
Oh, some say shut up already... NO, I never will, not when the corruption is so blatant.
Oh, some say shut up already... NO, I never will, not when the corruption is so blatant.
Taliban making a comeback in Afghanistan - and why not???
"Afghans in Kabul remain sceptical about the promises President Bush is making to Iraqis, the same promises he made to them of democracy, human rights and reconstruction. The international community gave $1 billion in the past year to help rebuild this shattered country. In contrast, the US gives Israel $3bn every year.
Afghans find it difficult to understand where the aid money has gone, except perhaps in Kabul where they can see large numbers of white Land Cruisers, hikes in property prices and new restaurants."
And thus fares freedom brought through the visor of American foreign policy.
I guess that would certainly put an end to all those newly planted poppy fields...
"Afghans in Kabul remain sceptical about the promises President Bush is making to Iraqis, the same promises he made to them of democracy, human rights and reconstruction. The international community gave $1 billion in the past year to help rebuild this shattered country. In contrast, the US gives Israel $3bn every year.
Afghans find it difficult to understand where the aid money has gone, except perhaps in Kabul where they can see large numbers of white Land Cruisers, hikes in property prices and new restaurants."
And thus fares freedom brought through the visor of American foreign policy.
I guess that would certainly put an end to all those newly planted poppy fields...
Taliban making a comeback in Afghanistan - and why not???
"Afghans in Kabul remain sceptical about the promises President Bush is making to Iraqis, the same promises he made to them of democracy, human rights and reconstruction. The international community gave $1 billion in the past year to help rebuild this shattered country. In contrast, the US gives Israel $3bn every year.
Afghans find it difficult to understand where the aid money has gone, except perhaps in Kabul where they can see large numbers of white Land Cruisers, hikes in property prices and new restaurants."
And thus fares freedom brought through the visor of American foreign policy.
I guess that would certainly put an end to all those newly planted poppy fields...
"Afghans in Kabul remain sceptical about the promises President Bush is making to Iraqis, the same promises he made to them of democracy, human rights and reconstruction. The international community gave $1 billion in the past year to help rebuild this shattered country. In contrast, the US gives Israel $3bn every year.
Afghans find it difficult to understand where the aid money has gone, except perhaps in Kabul where they can see large numbers of white Land Cruisers, hikes in property prices and new restaurants."
And thus fares freedom brought through the visor of American foreign policy.
I guess that would certainly put an end to all those newly planted poppy fields...
Iraq: A conversation today got me looking back at the original weapons inspections, and how these were more an exercise in spying and power games than a true attempt at disarming Iraq. No matter what Iraq might have done, it would not have been enough. The entire setup of these inspections was to have Iraq fail to comply. Some people still think those weapons inspections were carried out by a handful of woefully underequipped people who did not know a biological agent from a hole in the ground. This article and this one gives some insight in the games that were played and the motivations of the players. Afterwards, it was acknowledged by the then head of weapons inspections, Scott Ritter, that many of the inspectors were American spies. Some would say this was a smart move but I say this was stupid in the extreme. No country will now willingly have weapons inspectors in their sensitive facilities - after all, the US made it clear that the purpose of the inspectors was not to disarm and inspect but to provide military intelligence so that the US can later effectively target it's bombing when they attack....
The Iraquis had to be dragged along kicking and screaming but in the end the weapons inspections were quite succesful and, had they been used as they should have been, they would have continued with the job until it was finished and this drama would have been resolved many years ago. Saddam would still have been in control of Iraq but no threat to its neighbours or the rest of the world. Removing him from power would and should have been a matter for the Iraqui people, and the rest of the world should have helped them in his removal, if requested to do so - as they should with any dictator.
According to Scott Ritter, who certainly should know: Iraq has been "fundamentally disarmed", with 90-95% of its weapons of mass destruction eliminated. Of nuclear weapons capability, for example, Ritter says: '"When I left Iraq in 1998... the infrastructure and facilities had been 100% eliminated. There's no doubt about that. All of their instruments and facilities had been destroyed. The weapons design facility had been destroyed. The production equipment had been hunted down and destroyed. And we had in place means to monitor - both from vehicles and from the air - the gamma rays that accompany attempts to enrich uranium or plutonium. We never found anything."
The Iraquis had to be dragged along kicking and screaming but in the end the weapons inspections were quite succesful and, had they been used as they should have been, they would have continued with the job until it was finished and this drama would have been resolved many years ago. Saddam would still have been in control of Iraq but no threat to its neighbours or the rest of the world. Removing him from power would and should have been a matter for the Iraqui people, and the rest of the world should have helped them in his removal, if requested to do so - as they should with any dictator.
According to Scott Ritter, who certainly should know: Iraq has been "fundamentally disarmed", with 90-95% of its weapons of mass destruction eliminated. Of nuclear weapons capability, for example, Ritter says: '"When I left Iraq in 1998... the infrastructure and facilities had been 100% eliminated. There's no doubt about that. All of their instruments and facilities had been destroyed. The weapons design facility had been destroyed. The production equipment had been hunted down and destroyed. And we had in place means to monitor - both from vehicles and from the air - the gamma rays that accompany attempts to enrich uranium or plutonium. We never found anything."
Iraq: A conversation today got me looking back at the original weapons inspections, and how these were more an exercise in spying and power games than a true attempt at disarming Iraq. No matter what Iraq might have done, it would not have been enough. The entire setup of these inspections was to have Iraq fail to comply. Some people still think those weapons inspections were carried out by a handful of woefully underequipped people who did not know a biological agent from a hole in the ground. This article and this one gives some insight in the games that were played and the motivations of the players. Afterwards, it was acknowledged by the then head of weapons inspections, Scott Ritter, that many of the inspectors were American spies. Some would say this was a smart move but I say this was stupid in the extreme. No country will now willingly have weapons inspectors in their sensitive facilities - after all, the US made it clear that the purpose of the inspectors was not to disarm and inspect but to provide military intelligence so that the US can later effectively target it's bombing when they attack....
The Iraquis had to be dragged along kicking and screaming but in the end the weapons inspections were quite succesful and, had they been used as they should have been, they would have continued with the job until it was finished and this drama would have been resolved many years ago. Saddam would still have been in control of Iraq but no threat to its neighbours or the rest of the world. Removing him from power would and should have been a matter for the Iraqui people, and the rest of the world should have helped them in his removal, if requested to do so - as they should with any dictator.
According to Scott Ritter, who certainly should know: Iraq has been "fundamentally disarmed", with 90-95% of its weapons of mass destruction eliminated. Of nuclear weapons capability, for example, Ritter says: '"When I left Iraq in 1998... the infrastructure and facilities had been 100% eliminated. There's no doubt about that. All of their instruments and facilities had been destroyed. The weapons design facility had been destroyed. The production equipment had been hunted down and destroyed. And we had in place means to monitor - both from vehicles and from the air - the gamma rays that accompany attempts to enrich uranium or plutonium. We never found anything."
The Iraquis had to be dragged along kicking and screaming but in the end the weapons inspections were quite succesful and, had they been used as they should have been, they would have continued with the job until it was finished and this drama would have been resolved many years ago. Saddam would still have been in control of Iraq but no threat to its neighbours or the rest of the world. Removing him from power would and should have been a matter for the Iraqui people, and the rest of the world should have helped them in his removal, if requested to do so - as they should with any dictator.
According to Scott Ritter, who certainly should know: Iraq has been "fundamentally disarmed", with 90-95% of its weapons of mass destruction eliminated. Of nuclear weapons capability, for example, Ritter says: '"When I left Iraq in 1998... the infrastructure and facilities had been 100% eliminated. There's no doubt about that. All of their instruments and facilities had been destroyed. The weapons design facility had been destroyed. The production equipment had been hunted down and destroyed. And we had in place means to monitor - both from vehicles and from the air - the gamma rays that accompany attempts to enrich uranium or plutonium. We never found anything."
Saturday, April 12, 2003
What caught my eye this morning:
SARS This could end up nasty... None where I live yet but only a matter of time, I guess.
Iraq Well, why am I not surprised at this chaos??? I have to qualify that... I am amazed that the Americans are amazed at what is happening. I mean... I know their president does not like to read but surely some of his advisors once in their lives picked up a history book??? Of course there would be lawlesness and chaos after lopping off the top of an extremely suppressive regime. The British could have told them that too, chaos reigns in their "protectorate" too... I have been reading stories with quotes like "we are not policemen" for quite a while now - the Americans are also not planning on lifting a finger here.
I guess they dont read the news in the Pentagon, it might interfere with the truth!
Or... this is exactly what they want in the Pentagon, a legitimate excuse to set up military US rulership for an undetermined time. The Americans are planning on administering the oil fields for now... until they can hand it over (big surprise). I guess that will be when democracy finally descends there. Ten years from now???
Syria: Speaking of truth... drums are beating harder for Syria. It actually may be true that many top Iraqui officials etc made a run for Syria. So... of course the country needs to be invaded.... logical, isnt it???
Food for oil This resumes now, under a new resolution - in part the funds will be used to repair war damages. I have a hard time with this. I thought, according to international law, an occupying army has to pay for reparations to the country they occupied. It certainly is not fair that the Iraquis themselves have to finance the repairs of damages caused by the American invasion.
Light relief Lawmakers allowed companies to dump whatever junk they wanted in the sea for years and to hell with those namby pamby protectors of the spotted owl!!! ... the fish end up with all that mercury and heaven knows what else in their bodies... fishermen catch them, sell them to restaurants who prepare them for the paying customer... who gets ill from all that mercury. How to fix this??? Well, by letting the lawmakers sue the restaurants, of course!
SARS This could end up nasty... None where I live yet but only a matter of time, I guess.
Iraq Well, why am I not surprised at this chaos??? I have to qualify that... I am amazed that the Americans are amazed at what is happening. I mean... I know their president does not like to read but surely some of his advisors once in their lives picked up a history book??? Of course there would be lawlesness and chaos after lopping off the top of an extremely suppressive regime. The British could have told them that too, chaos reigns in their "protectorate" too... I have been reading stories with quotes like "we are not policemen" for quite a while now - the Americans are also not planning on lifting a finger here.
I guess they dont read the news in the Pentagon, it might interfere with the truth!
Or... this is exactly what they want in the Pentagon, a legitimate excuse to set up military US rulership for an undetermined time. The Americans are planning on administering the oil fields for now... until they can hand it over (big surprise). I guess that will be when democracy finally descends there. Ten years from now???
Syria: Speaking of truth... drums are beating harder for Syria. It actually may be true that many top Iraqui officials etc made a run for Syria. So... of course the country needs to be invaded.... logical, isnt it???
Food for oil This resumes now, under a new resolution - in part the funds will be used to repair war damages. I have a hard time with this. I thought, according to international law, an occupying army has to pay for reparations to the country they occupied. It certainly is not fair that the Iraquis themselves have to finance the repairs of damages caused by the American invasion.
Light relief Lawmakers allowed companies to dump whatever junk they wanted in the sea for years and to hell with those namby pamby protectors of the spotted owl!!! ... the fish end up with all that mercury and heaven knows what else in their bodies... fishermen catch them, sell them to restaurants who prepare them for the paying customer... who gets ill from all that mercury. How to fix this??? Well, by letting the lawmakers sue the restaurants, of course!
What caught my eye this morning:
SARS This could end up nasty... None where I live yet but only a matter of time, I guess.
Iraq Well, why am I not surprised at this chaos??? I have to qualify that... I am amazed that the Americans are amazed at what is happening. I mean... I know their president does not like to read but surely some of his advisors once in their lives picked up a history book??? Of course there would be lawlesness and chaos after lopping off the top of an extremely suppressive regime. The British could have told them that too, chaos reigns in their "protectorate" too... I have been reading stories with quotes like "we are not policemen" for quite a while now - the Americans are also not planning on lifting a finger here.
I guess they dont read the news in the Pentagon, it might interfere with the truth!
Or... this is exactly what they want in the Pentagon, a legitimate excuse to set up military US rulership for an undetermined time. The Americans are planning on administering the oil fields for now... until they can hand it over (big surprise). I guess that will be when democracy finally descends there. Ten years from now???
Syria: Speaking of truth... drums are beating harder for Syria. It actually may be true that many top Iraqui officials etc made a run for Syria. So... of course the country needs to be invaded.... logical, isnt it???
Food for oil This resumes now, under a new resolution - in part the funds will be used to repair war damages. I have a hard time with this. I thought, according to international law, an occupying army has to pay for reparations to the country they occupied. It certainly is not fair that the Iraquis themselves have to finance the repairs of damages caused by the American invasion.
Light relief Lawmakers allowed companies to dump whatever junk they wanted in the sea for years and to hell with those namby pamby protectors of the spotted owl!!! ... the fish end up with all that mercury and heaven knows what else in their bodies... fishermen catch them, sell them to restaurants who prepare them for the paying customer... who gets ill from all that mercury. How to fix this??? Well, by letting the lawmakers sue the restaurants, of course!
SARS This could end up nasty... None where I live yet but only a matter of time, I guess.
Iraq Well, why am I not surprised at this chaos??? I have to qualify that... I am amazed that the Americans are amazed at what is happening. I mean... I know their president does not like to read but surely some of his advisors once in their lives picked up a history book??? Of course there would be lawlesness and chaos after lopping off the top of an extremely suppressive regime. The British could have told them that too, chaos reigns in their "protectorate" too... I have been reading stories with quotes like "we are not policemen" for quite a while now - the Americans are also not planning on lifting a finger here.
I guess they dont read the news in the Pentagon, it might interfere with the truth!
Or... this is exactly what they want in the Pentagon, a legitimate excuse to set up military US rulership for an undetermined time. The Americans are planning on administering the oil fields for now... until they can hand it over (big surprise). I guess that will be when democracy finally descends there. Ten years from now???
Syria: Speaking of truth... drums are beating harder for Syria. It actually may be true that many top Iraqui officials etc made a run for Syria. So... of course the country needs to be invaded.... logical, isnt it???
Food for oil This resumes now, under a new resolution - in part the funds will be used to repair war damages. I have a hard time with this. I thought, according to international law, an occupying army has to pay for reparations to the country they occupied. It certainly is not fair that the Iraquis themselves have to finance the repairs of damages caused by the American invasion.
Light relief Lawmakers allowed companies to dump whatever junk they wanted in the sea for years and to hell with those namby pamby protectors of the spotted owl!!! ... the fish end up with all that mercury and heaven knows what else in their bodies... fishermen catch them, sell them to restaurants who prepare them for the paying customer... who gets ill from all that mercury. How to fix this??? Well, by letting the lawmakers sue the restaurants, of course!
Thursday, April 10, 2003
GRRR It's been glaringly obvious - especially since the current US president took office - that the American government has no respect whatsoever for the rest of the world. I always thought that Colon Powel was fairly diplomatic though, and not as isolationist as the rest of his current government. Then I came across this:
Bush and Blair have promised the United Nations will have a "vital role" in Iraq's reconstruction but apparently limited mostly to distributing humanitarian aid.
Powell dismissed German, Russian and French calls for a "central" U.N. role.
"I'm not quite sure what that means. They just say central and then they go on to their next meeting," Powell said.
Wow, the distain just drips off those words!
The reason the UN has no teeth is because of the USA!!! Each time a resolution comes along that the US does not like, they veto it. Not to mention not paying their dues... I'm starting to believe a country with such utter disregard for the rest of the world should be isolated, contained... not assisted in what seems to be a blind evangelical quest to become the policeman of the globe!
Hmph! I am a fairly calm and measured person normally, a pacifist who believes there is almost always a way of resolving conflict. I am a realist, I understand that sometimes, steps need to be taken. But they should be taken judiciously, calmly, and should be well planned and carried out with full consensus (or as full as possible). How can we ever promote democracy over the world if country that calls itself the flag-bearer of democracy acts like a totalitarian state???
Bush and Blair have promised the United Nations will have a "vital role" in Iraq's reconstruction but apparently limited mostly to distributing humanitarian aid.
Powell dismissed German, Russian and French calls for a "central" U.N. role.
"I'm not quite sure what that means. They just say central and then they go on to their next meeting," Powell said.
Wow, the distain just drips off those words!
The reason the UN has no teeth is because of the USA!!! Each time a resolution comes along that the US does not like, they veto it. Not to mention not paying their dues... I'm starting to believe a country with such utter disregard for the rest of the world should be isolated, contained... not assisted in what seems to be a blind evangelical quest to become the policeman of the globe!
Hmph! I am a fairly calm and measured person normally, a pacifist who believes there is almost always a way of resolving conflict. I am a realist, I understand that sometimes, steps need to be taken. But they should be taken judiciously, calmly, and should be well planned and carried out with full consensus (or as full as possible). How can we ever promote democracy over the world if country that calls itself the flag-bearer of democracy acts like a totalitarian state???
GRRR It's been glaringly obvious - especially since the current US president took office - that the American government has no respect whatsoever for the rest of the world. I always thought that Colon Powel was fairly diplomatic though, and not as isolationist as the rest of his current government. Then I came across this:
Bush and Blair have promised the United Nations will have a "vital role" in Iraq's reconstruction but apparently limited mostly to distributing humanitarian aid.
Powell dismissed German, Russian and French calls for a "central" U.N. role.
"I'm not quite sure what that means. They just say central and then they go on to their next meeting," Powell said.
Wow, the distain just drips off those words!
The reason the UN has no teeth is because of the USA!!! Each time a resolution comes along that the US does not like, they veto it. Not to mention not paying their dues... I'm starting to believe a country with such utter disregard for the rest of the world should be isolated, contained... not assisted in what seems to be a blind evangelical quest to become the policeman of the globe!
Hmph! I am a fairly calm and measured person normally, a pacifist who believes there is almost always a way of resolving conflict. I am a realist, I understand that sometimes, steps need to be taken. But they should be taken judiciously, calmly, and should be well planned and carried out with full consensus (or as full as possible). How can we ever promote democracy over the world if country that calls itself the flag-bearer of democracy acts like a totalitarian state???
Bush and Blair have promised the United Nations will have a "vital role" in Iraq's reconstruction but apparently limited mostly to distributing humanitarian aid.
Powell dismissed German, Russian and French calls for a "central" U.N. role.
"I'm not quite sure what that means. They just say central and then they go on to their next meeting," Powell said.
Wow, the distain just drips off those words!
The reason the UN has no teeth is because of the USA!!! Each time a resolution comes along that the US does not like, they veto it. Not to mention not paying their dues... I'm starting to believe a country with such utter disregard for the rest of the world should be isolated, contained... not assisted in what seems to be a blind evangelical quest to become the policeman of the globe!
Hmph! I am a fairly calm and measured person normally, a pacifist who believes there is almost always a way of resolving conflict. I am a realist, I understand that sometimes, steps need to be taken. But they should be taken judiciously, calmly, and should be well planned and carried out with full consensus (or as full as possible). How can we ever promote democracy over the world if country that calls itself the flag-bearer of democracy acts like a totalitarian state???
Kurds: The Kurds are now in Kirkuk and the Turks are foaming at the mouth. If they stay there, in that powerful city, they would be one step closer to an independent country. The Turks are terrified of this, again oil is the main player here. If the Iraqui Kurds manage to broker their independence a baby could tell you the Turkish, oppressed Kurdish people would want to join them. I figure, if the Kurds are smart, they stay in Kirkuk, visibly and emphatically, while the Americans are still there and in a fighting mode.
Turkey just got a hefty bribe (billion dollars? have to check) from the US to not invade Iraq and rout the Kurds... lets see how long that will last. My guess is, the moment the cheque clears.
Turkey just got a hefty bribe (billion dollars? have to check) from the US to not invade Iraq and rout the Kurds... lets see how long that will last. My guess is, the moment the cheque clears.
Kurds: The Kurds are now in Kirkuk and the Turks are foaming at the mouth. If they stay there, in that powerful city, they would be one step closer to an independent country. The Turks are terrified of this, again oil is the main player here. If the Iraqui Kurds manage to broker their independence a baby could tell you the Turkish, oppressed Kurdish people would want to join them. I figure, if the Kurds are smart, they stay in Kirkuk, visibly and emphatically, while the Americans are still there and in a fighting mode.
Turkey just got a hefty bribe (billion dollars? have to check) from the US to not invade Iraq and rout the Kurds... lets see how long that will last. My guess is, the moment the cheque clears.
Turkey just got a hefty bribe (billion dollars? have to check) from the US to not invade Iraq and rout the Kurds... lets see how long that will last. My guess is, the moment the cheque clears.
Iraq: Anyone who wonders why I'm so rabidly anti this US war to "liberate" the Iraquis should have a look here.
It's not that think Saddam is a great guy... I'm not stupid, of course he is a sadistic dictator and - like all the others all over the world (and there are many of his kin) should wither and disappear as soon as possible. BUT - not via an American invasion. There are other ways, there almost always are.
It's not that think Saddam is a great guy... I'm not stupid, of course he is a sadistic dictator and - like all the others all over the world (and there are many of his kin) should wither and disappear as soon as possible. BUT - not via an American invasion. There are other ways, there almost always are.
Iraq: Anyone who wonders why I'm so rabidly anti this US war to "liberate" the Iraquis should have a look here.
It's not that think Saddam is a great guy... I'm not stupid, of course he is a sadistic dictator and - like all the others all over the world (and there are many of his kin) should wither and disappear as soon as possible. BUT - not via an American invasion. There are other ways, there almost always are.
It's not that think Saddam is a great guy... I'm not stupid, of course he is a sadistic dictator and - like all the others all over the world (and there are many of his kin) should wither and disappear as soon as possible. BUT - not via an American invasion. There are other ways, there almost always are.
Wednesday, April 09, 2003
Iraq: Well, it's all done now bar the shouting. All that remains is to divvy up the spoils. Some folks are going to become seriously rich here. The Iraqui people wont benefit all that much from their liberation because if they truly get their freedom the Kurds would decide to become independent faster than you can say the words... leaving the rest of the country to be split in two. I'm quite sure the US government would not give a flying fart if that happened, but for the oil... the OIL!!! Cannot endanger the oil with civil unrest! So, I'm guessing a strict, reasonably benign dictatorship will be set up with a leadership decidedly pro-American.
Next in line - Syra? The US army is nicely warmed up now, my guess is they will do some policing in Iraq before invading Syria. I suspect it will be Syria they invade next and not Iran - based on the threatening language emanating lately from the US war machine (sort of reminds me of how this Iraq-storm was brewed up in a teacup not so long ago). Today Rumsfeld (probably one of the most scary men of these times) once again threatened Syria that they would face the consequences if they continued to support Iraq... I even heard "weapons of mass destruction" somewhere in the rethoric - Syria was not directly named by Rumsfeld but the implication was unmistakable. The Israeli's are stirring the pot further by now claiming that Iraq may have moved those oh so elusive weapons of mass destruction to Syria.
Of course, the US war machine agenda may be pushed off course if North Korea (which in my eyes is a real danger to world safety and stability and which should be handled with maximum tact and diplomacy) starts a pre-emptive confrontation of their own in their current mood of extreme paranoia.
Patriot bill update Meanwhile, it seems the Republicans are planning to push a anti-terrorism bill through Congress which has attached to it just a little proposal that removes the sunset clause from the Patriot act.
These are historic times, we can all say we were here and witnessed America giving up it's fabled freedom. Now why does that worry me: a nation with a fair number of relatively uneducated religious zealots with - especially these days - an almost childlike unquestioning belief in their government and president... a country with a huuuuge defense (oh my, I can hardly use that word here...) budget, a truly terrifying arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and a twitchy trigger finger.... which is turning into a fascist state right in front of our eyes....
The Baghdad blogger is still silent. I wonder if he will ever speak - that may involve showing himself and if I were him, that would be the last thing on my mind. I hope he made it through the bombing okay...
Next in line - Syra? The US army is nicely warmed up now, my guess is they will do some policing in Iraq before invading Syria. I suspect it will be Syria they invade next and not Iran - based on the threatening language emanating lately from the US war machine (sort of reminds me of how this Iraq-storm was brewed up in a teacup not so long ago). Today Rumsfeld (probably one of the most scary men of these times) once again threatened Syria that they would face the consequences if they continued to support Iraq... I even heard "weapons of mass destruction" somewhere in the rethoric - Syria was not directly named by Rumsfeld but the implication was unmistakable. The Israeli's are stirring the pot further by now claiming that Iraq may have moved those oh so elusive weapons of mass destruction to Syria.
Of course, the US war machine agenda may be pushed off course if North Korea (which in my eyes is a real danger to world safety and stability and which should be handled with maximum tact and diplomacy) starts a pre-emptive confrontation of their own in their current mood of extreme paranoia.
Patriot bill update Meanwhile, it seems the Republicans are planning to push a anti-terrorism bill through Congress which has attached to it just a little proposal that removes the sunset clause from the Patriot act.
These are historic times, we can all say we were here and witnessed America giving up it's fabled freedom. Now why does that worry me: a nation with a fair number of relatively uneducated religious zealots with - especially these days - an almost childlike unquestioning belief in their government and president... a country with a huuuuge defense (oh my, I can hardly use that word here...) budget, a truly terrifying arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and a twitchy trigger finger.... which is turning into a fascist state right in front of our eyes....
The Baghdad blogger is still silent. I wonder if he will ever speak - that may involve showing himself and if I were him, that would be the last thing on my mind. I hope he made it through the bombing okay...
Iraq: Well, it's all done now bar the shouting. All that remains is to divvy up the spoils. Some folks are going to become seriously rich here. The Iraqui people wont benefit all that much from their liberation because if they truly get their freedom the Kurds would decide to become independent faster than you can say the words... leaving the rest of the country to be split in two. I'm quite sure the US government would not give a flying fart if that happened, but for the oil... the OIL!!! Cannot endanger the oil with civil unrest! So, I'm guessing a strict, reasonably benign dictatorship will be set up with a leadership decidedly pro-American.
Next in line - Syra? The US army is nicely warmed up now, my guess is they will do some policing in Iraq before invading Syria. I suspect it will be Syria they invade next and not Iran - based on the threatening language emanating lately from the US war machine (sort of reminds me of how this Iraq-storm was brewed up in a teacup not so long ago). Today Rumsfeld (probably one of the most scary men of these times) once again threatened Syria that they would face the consequences if they continued to support Iraq... I even heard "weapons of mass destruction" somewhere in the rethoric - Syria was not directly named by Rumsfeld but the implication was unmistakable. The Israeli's are stirring the pot further by now claiming that Iraq may have moved those oh so elusive weapons of mass destruction to Syria.
Of course, the US war machine agenda may be pushed off course if North Korea (which in my eyes is a real danger to world safety and stability and which should be handled with maximum tact and diplomacy) starts a pre-emptive confrontation of their own in their current mood of extreme paranoia.
Patriot bill update Meanwhile, it seems the Republicans are planning to push a anti-terrorism bill through Congress which has attached to it just a little proposal that removes the sunset clause from the Patriot act.
These are historic times, we can all say we were here and witnessed America giving up it's fabled freedom. Now why does that worry me: a nation with a fair number of relatively uneducated religious zealots with - especially these days - an almost childlike unquestioning belief in their government and president... a country with a huuuuge defense (oh my, I can hardly use that word here...) budget, a truly terrifying arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and a twitchy trigger finger.... which is turning into a fascist state right in front of our eyes....
The Baghdad blogger is still silent. I wonder if he will ever speak - that may involve showing himself and if I were him, that would be the last thing on my mind. I hope he made it through the bombing okay...
Next in line - Syra? The US army is nicely warmed up now, my guess is they will do some policing in Iraq before invading Syria. I suspect it will be Syria they invade next and not Iran - based on the threatening language emanating lately from the US war machine (sort of reminds me of how this Iraq-storm was brewed up in a teacup not so long ago). Today Rumsfeld (probably one of the most scary men of these times) once again threatened Syria that they would face the consequences if they continued to support Iraq... I even heard "weapons of mass destruction" somewhere in the rethoric - Syria was not directly named by Rumsfeld but the implication was unmistakable. The Israeli's are stirring the pot further by now claiming that Iraq may have moved those oh so elusive weapons of mass destruction to Syria.
Of course, the US war machine agenda may be pushed off course if North Korea (which in my eyes is a real danger to world safety and stability and which should be handled with maximum tact and diplomacy) starts a pre-emptive confrontation of their own in their current mood of extreme paranoia.
Patriot bill update Meanwhile, it seems the Republicans are planning to push a anti-terrorism bill through Congress which has attached to it just a little proposal that removes the sunset clause from the Patriot act.
These are historic times, we can all say we were here and witnessed America giving up it's fabled freedom. Now why does that worry me: a nation with a fair number of relatively uneducated religious zealots with - especially these days - an almost childlike unquestioning belief in their government and president... a country with a huuuuge defense (oh my, I can hardly use that word here...) budget, a truly terrifying arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and a twitchy trigger finger.... which is turning into a fascist state right in front of our eyes....
The Baghdad blogger is still silent. I wonder if he will ever speak - that may involve showing himself and if I were him, that would be the last thing on my mind. I hope he made it through the bombing okay...
Saturday, April 05, 2003
America and the Middle East: Polls show increasing public support of the Iraq war in the US and.... (sigh) also increasing support for military intervention in Iran - if they are using nuclear material to develop atomic weapons. The Iranians vigorously deny this isthe case and say their use of nuclear materials is strictly for energy and that it is closely and freely monitored by international atomic inspectors. The US government says it does not believe this, without qualifying why not... sound familiar??? I believe this is the first small step in a planned media blitz to convince the oh so gullible American public that they should do the 'regime change and liberation' dance in Iran too. I guess they still have not forgotten or forgiven the US embassy debacle all those years ago when they were in the end unceremoniously kicked out of Iran...
In the mean time, still no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. Not that I would be exactly surprised if they found some, really... I never ever thought Saddam and his cronies were nice men who played by the rules. I simply dont believe there was a reason to go to war here and certainly not outside of the international legal framework (which is as wobbly as all hell on a good day but at least it's something...)
The squabbling over lucrative rebuilding contracts are out in the open now. France is being frozen out of the region which of course displeases them incredibly. The British wont be getting much of the pie either; the Australians just about nothing... The Americans are all set to make a killing in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, today in the news, on one of the back pages: McDonalds in Beirut bombed, the latest in a series of attacks against US targets in the area. And so, quietly and anonymously, it starts...
In the mean time, still no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. Not that I would be exactly surprised if they found some, really... I never ever thought Saddam and his cronies were nice men who played by the rules. I simply dont believe there was a reason to go to war here and certainly not outside of the international legal framework (which is as wobbly as all hell on a good day but at least it's something...)
The squabbling over lucrative rebuilding contracts are out in the open now. France is being frozen out of the region which of course displeases them incredibly. The British wont be getting much of the pie either; the Australians just about nothing... The Americans are all set to make a killing in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, today in the news, on one of the back pages: McDonalds in Beirut bombed, the latest in a series of attacks against US targets in the area. And so, quietly and anonymously, it starts...
America and the Middle East: Polls show increasing public support of the Iraq war in the US and.... (sigh) also increasing support for military intervention in Iran - if they are using nuclear material to develop atomic weapons. The Iranians vigorously deny this isthe case and say their use of nuclear materials is strictly for energy and that it is closely and freely monitored by international atomic inspectors. The US government says it does not believe this, without qualifying why not... sound familiar??? I believe this is the first small step in a planned media blitz to convince the oh so gullible American public that they should do the 'regime change and liberation' dance in Iran too. I guess they still have not forgotten or forgiven the US embassy debacle all those years ago when they were in the end unceremoniously kicked out of Iran...
In the mean time, still no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. Not that I would be exactly surprised if they found some, really... I never ever thought Saddam and his cronies were nice men who played by the rules. I simply dont believe there was a reason to go to war here and certainly not outside of the international legal framework (which is as wobbly as all hell on a good day but at least it's something...)
The squabbling over lucrative rebuilding contracts are out in the open now. France is being frozen out of the region which of course displeases them incredibly. The British wont be getting much of the pie either; the Australians just about nothing... The Americans are all set to make a killing in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, today in the news, on one of the back pages: McDonalds in Beirut bombed, the latest in a series of attacks against US targets in the area. And so, quietly and anonymously, it starts...
In the mean time, still no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. Not that I would be exactly surprised if they found some, really... I never ever thought Saddam and his cronies were nice men who played by the rules. I simply dont believe there was a reason to go to war here and certainly not outside of the international legal framework (which is as wobbly as all hell on a good day but at least it's something...)
The squabbling over lucrative rebuilding contracts are out in the open now. France is being frozen out of the region which of course displeases them incredibly. The British wont be getting much of the pie either; the Australians just about nothing... The Americans are all set to make a killing in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, today in the news, on one of the back pages: McDonalds in Beirut bombed, the latest in a series of attacks against US targets in the area. And so, quietly and anonymously, it starts...
Tuesday, April 01, 2003
Rant: Those super-patriotic Americans, those... 'if you dont like the way I drive get the hell off my pavement' Americans... do they realise the world-wide level of anger against their country right now??? Do they realise the utter fury their arrogance awakens??? Do they understand how much international goodwill was squandered for no good reason... do they realise the irreparable damage their leader(s) inflicted on international relations and the concept of international accountability and law... will they understand that when the next terrorist attack on home ground occurs, and it really is a given now, much of the rest of the world will shrug and say 'well, they had it coming' ???
In the end, the ones who will be the most hurt by this all wont be the architects of this mess... it will be Joe or Mary Citizen. Just like 9-11. Although, in these days, ignorance and blind faith in your leaders can be no defense. Mr and Mrs Citizen live in the country that is perpetrating this unlawful war; with the freedom of democracy comes the responsibility of educating yourself on the issues when your government starts a war... and taking action when you realise your government is spinning out of control. I dont see much of that in the USA now... not according to the polls anyhow.
Do they know how furious I am... and with me, many others... and considering I am not Arabic or Muslim, can they even fathom how high the fury runs in those countries???
Do they even care???
Here endeth my rant
In the end, the ones who will be the most hurt by this all wont be the architects of this mess... it will be Joe or Mary Citizen. Just like 9-11. Although, in these days, ignorance and blind faith in your leaders can be no defense. Mr and Mrs Citizen live in the country that is perpetrating this unlawful war; with the freedom of democracy comes the responsibility of educating yourself on the issues when your government starts a war... and taking action when you realise your government is spinning out of control. I dont see much of that in the USA now... not according to the polls anyhow.
Do they know how furious I am... and with me, many others... and considering I am not Arabic or Muslim, can they even fathom how high the fury runs in those countries???
Do they even care???
Here endeth my rant
Rant: Those super-patriotic Americans, those... 'if you dont like the way I drive get the hell off my pavement' Americans... do they realise the world-wide level of anger against their country right now??? Do they realise the utter fury their arrogance awakens??? Do they understand how much international goodwill was squandered for no good reason... do they realise the irreparable damage their leader(s) inflicted on international relations and the concept of international accountability and law... will they understand that when the next terrorist attack on home ground occurs, and it really is a given now, much of the rest of the world will shrug and say 'well, they had it coming' ???
In the end, the ones who will be the most hurt by this all wont be the architects of this mess... it will be Joe or Mary Citizen. Just like 9-11. Although, in these days, ignorance and blind faith in your leaders can be no defense. Mr and Mrs Citizen live in the country that is perpetrating this unlawful war; with the freedom of democracy comes the responsibility of educating yourself on the issues when your government starts a war... and taking action when you realise your government is spinning out of control. I dont see much of that in the USA now... not according to the polls anyhow.
Do they know how furious I am... and with me, many others... and considering I am not Arabic or Muslim, can they even fathom how high the fury runs in those countries???
Do they even care???
Here endeth my rant
In the end, the ones who will be the most hurt by this all wont be the architects of this mess... it will be Joe or Mary Citizen. Just like 9-11. Although, in these days, ignorance and blind faith in your leaders can be no defense. Mr and Mrs Citizen live in the country that is perpetrating this unlawful war; with the freedom of democracy comes the responsibility of educating yourself on the issues when your government starts a war... and taking action when you realise your government is spinning out of control. I dont see much of that in the USA now... not according to the polls anyhow.
Do they know how furious I am... and with me, many others... and considering I am not Arabic or Muslim, can they even fathom how high the fury runs in those countries???
Do they even care???
Here endeth my rant
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