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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

SARS update The world is still underestimating the danger here, distracted by the US/UK efforts to 'liberate' Iraq. Hong Kong quarantined more than 200 people in a single apartment block by sealing the building on Monday after 92 new cases were reported there. The disease seems to be traveling vertically.... The quarantine is a bit late though, many of the families living there had already fled by the time officials showed up with tape.

Total number of infections in in Hong Kong is now more than 620.