Ah, so intervention works. Haiti. Liberia. Ivory Coast. Afghanistan. Iraq. Bosnia. The list goes on and on. Going to be awfully hard for the next president to justify not intervening next time there's a terrible humanitarian crisis triggered by an odious thug-dictator.
PORT-AU-PRINCE -- For a country that has been in political and economic turmoil for several years, I've found a fragile but unmistakable sense of optimism here.
The turning point may have been last weekend's massive hip-hop concert by Haitian-born Wyclef Jean -- the closest thing to a national hero in Haiti -- and Senegalese-born megastar Akon. Virtually everyone I talked to said the show would have been unthinkable just a year ago for fear of armed gangs and kidnappings.
Few are willing to declare victory over the wave of abductions that almost paralyzed this country in recent years, but a sharp decline in kidnappings coupled with a budding sense of political stability have brought back a measure of hope -- at least in business and political circles.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/21/2007 00:00 ||
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Political theatre doesn't get any more absurd than the 23 December presidential election in Uzbekistan, where the front-runner incumbent, Islam Karimov, is supported by opposing candidates even though he is neither in office now nor allowed to run for another term. There have been a few good online articles about it over the last couple days, though of course, the country's information black hole will prevent Uzbeks from reading them. But never mind: they already know how ridiculous it all is.
Some major international news organisations such as the Associated Press will not be covering the election from the ground, because the regime denied them accreditation. The complete lack of free media inside the country doesn't help much either. Still, there have been a few worthwhile pieces published if you dig around.
Reporting from Tashkent, Tony Halpin has an article in the Times with a title that says it all: "Torture, an iron fist and twisted logic set stage for Islam Karimov's landslide victory".
Continued on Page 49
#1
Some major international news organisations such as the Associated Press will not be covering the election from the ground, because the regime denied them accreditation.
Smart, now there's a chance for an honest election, untainted by Exit Polls, Opinion Pieces, and Slanted News Reporting.
Can we dis-accrecredit them too?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/21/2007 19:48 Comments ||
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Well, the most disgusting, craven, shameless political ad of the election season has just come out in time for Christmas and, no, its not from Mike Huckabee. Its from Hillary Clinton. . . . Gussied up a bit like Martha Stewart, a chipper Hillary sits on her couch, arranging all of her Christmas presents to put under the tree. Carol of the Bells is playing on a harpsichord in the background. Shes trying to find the right cards to put on the right packages. One is labeled Universal Health Care, another is Alternative Energy, another is Middle Class Tax Breaks. And then the supposedly hilarious kicker. Wringing her hands and furrowing her brow with maternal angst, she exclaims, Where did I put universal pre-K?
And then, scanning the giant pile of presents all for you, the voter, of course a warm smile comes over her face and she says, Ah, there it is! She tucks the card under the ribbon, the music fades away, and the screen turns oddly black with a ghostly and gothic Happy Holidays message. (In fact, theres something about the harpsichord music that gives the whole thing a Vincent Price spookiness.)
Of course, pandering is nothing new in American politics. If there had been any formidable body of cannibals in the country, H.L. Mencken complained of Harry Trumans 1948 presidential campaign, he would have promised to provide them with free missionaries fattened at the taxpayers expense.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Mike ||
12/21/2007 09:33 ||
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#1
Come to think of it, believing in the Democrats agenda is like still believing in Santa Claus.
#2
It reminds me of what P. J. O'Rourke said in Parliament of Whores: Santa is a Democrat, God is a Republican. Santa knows what you're doing, is fat and jolly, gives and only asks that you behave well in return. God is a stern fellow who, in asking you to forego certain pleasures, follow certain rules, and to rein in your own appetites and desires in return for eternal life and salvation, practices tough love. Santa is preferable in just about every way, except that he doesn't exist.
Posted by: The Doctor ||
12/21/2007 10:26 Comments ||
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#3
"Dictatorial, unscrupulous, calculating, and crafty... Moreover, being intensely superstitious, she surrounded herself with astrologers... Indeed her methods were so essentially egotistical as to border on cynicism... In a word she was a woman of the Renaissance, a disciple of Machiavelli..."
-- Catherine de Medici, From the Catholic Encyclopedia
Posted by: ryuge ||
12/21/2007 08:01 ||
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Link ||
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Top|| File under: Global Jihad
#1
Instead of a 1-1-1 record, it should have been 2-0-1. But, thanks to the Asshats in the CIA, we lost. And the world will have its first nuclear exchange in the ME as all the other countries nuke up. Good job guys.
#2
The administration had to immediately release and accept the NIE's sensational conclusions because the report would have been leaked and the administration then accused of covering up good news to justify going to war, the assumption being that George Bush and Dick Cheney have a Patton-like lust for the smell of battle.
This is where the administration - and the otherwise sensible Krauthammer - are mistaken. Anyone who believes President Bush lusts for war will continue to believe it despite the capitulation to the CIA. If anything, they will believe the NIE confirms everything they already believe about Bush as a warmonger.
More important, Iran with nascent nuclear weapons capability is a threat to civilization. A few nay-sayers in the press, the universities, the media and an apparently seditious intelligence apparatus should not deter the President from doing the sworn duty of his office, his duty as an American and his duty as a man. It looks as though a few cringing whiners now determine his policy. This is his shame and we are all going to pay the price for it.
#3
Let's stop for a second and behold the state of things in DC. What was formerly a closely-held secret (NIE) now is publicized because "it will happen anyway". Following on the cost-free revelation of several productive and very black surveillance operations. In time of war. Against the most barbaric enemies we've ever faced.
Excalibur's touched on a key point. Bush has failed critically by allowing the felonious mass insubordination of the Beltway mediocrities to proceed without any apparent response. As with the failure to adequately explain the logic of pre-emption, and the role of unavoidably flawed intelligence, Bush has taken Truman-like decisions for action, while bequeathing Carter-like chaos and muddle within the government to his successor.
#4
Compare wid ASIA TIMES > HOW'S AL QAEDA DOING? - YOU DECIDE! IMO, ATimes article makes clear that Dubya = USA is overwhelmingly ahead of the game or successful vv OSAMA, ZAWI and AQ.
#5
GUAMPDN OP-ED > retired UOG Prof - MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS LIVING IN PEACE? Among other holiday comparative Muslim-Christian humanist givings, commentary gives subtle warning IFF MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS CAN NOT = ARE NOT LIVING IN MUTUAL PEACE, THEN THE WORLD CAN NEVER BE AT PEACE.
Read - ONLY CHOICE FOR EITHER + WORLD WILL BE MUTUAL WAR AND INEVITABLE ANNIHILATION/
DESTRUCTION.
On the editorial page of today's WaPo, just above Krauthammer's editorial about the Axis of Evil. In the WaPo! Merry Christmas!
BAGHDAD -- Gen. David Petraeus has an enviable problem as he ponders his next report to Congress about the U.S. mission in Iraq. His military surge has been so successful in reducing violence that some officials -- at the Pentagon and the State Department, not to mention in the Democratic Congress -- are wondering whether Petraeus can accelerate his timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops. The Dems'd love that! Would they take credit?
Posted by: Bobby ||
12/21/2007 15:12 ||
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#1
Whoops! I thought I changed that to "Opinion" so it'd be close to the Krauthammer editorial it bordered in the WaPo. A little help, please?
Posted by: Bobby ||
12/21/2007 15:27 Comments ||
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#2
I wonder how many seconds it will take the Iraqis to realize that a Status of Forces agreement with the US can be hugely profitable to them. Not only will it ensure that their military has the highest possible readiness and muscle tone; but also that Iraq could very well be a de facto part of NATO, insofar as economic and trade benefits.
Iraq might even be persuaded to send some of its better units on international missions, such as peacekeeping operations in Muslim regions. For example, one brigade of Iraq soldiers sent to Lebanon would cool the place mightily. The Syrians and Hezbollah wouldn't dare mess with them, and they would probably get along fine with the Israelis, as well.
There is a good chance that Iraq is going to dominate the region economically and militarily.
#3
There is a good chance that Iraq is going to dominate the region economically and militarily.
I thought that was the whole idea all along, did I miss something here?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/21/2007 19:53 Comments ||
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#4
Sorry to inject a little pessimism into all of this.
I really support whats going on with our troop build-up / change of tactics in Iraq. However, the next step is the 'diplomatic surge'. I'm skeptical about diplomacy accomplishing any good.
This is the State Department we're talking about, right? The same stripped-pants brigade that whined like little babies when Rice suggested they be cycled into Iraq as part of their normal duties. I doubt their hearts (if they have any) are in the venture of success in Iraq. I may be wrong - I hope I am.
Its the opportunity of a lifetime for an ink-stained wretch like me. No. 2 has consented to an interview. No, not that No. 2. Ayman al-Zawahri, deputy to the real-life Imam Evil himself. . . . I should point out that as a rabidly and openly anti-terrorist, Bush-supporting Western scribbler a rare beast, let me assure you Im pretty much what youre looking for, Ayman. Maybe a little short on star power and name recognition, but youll have to agree Im no sap for those incompetents in Congress who have such trouble following your instructions. Plus, I have the added benefits of having gone with the Crusaders when they began their campaign of war crimes in Iraq, of being widely denounced as a war criminal and international art thief, myself, and of having been unabashed in my support of the Christian dogs ever since. It could work. Think about it.
One thing, though. I really dont care to do business with Islamic terrorists or your Web lackeys, and prefer not to shake even electronically your filthy, bloodstained hands any more than you care to touch mine. So heres a compromise. I will post my questions on this shamelessly pro-Crusader forum, where your donkey wallah messengers might see them and convey them to you. You answer via your satellite flunkies at al-Jazeera. Deal?
To the questions. . . .
Go read the rest.
Posted by: Mike ||
12/21/2007 11:52 ||
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Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda
#1
iS it true that you joined Al Queda to compensate for small penis size?
#3
When you bow to Mecca, are you using a "Great Circle" straight line, or only guessing with a compass? (No corrections?)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/21/2007 19:58 Comments ||
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#4
Do you realise that unless you're very close to Meccah, you should be pointing your prayers down into the ground at a sharp angle (Shortest line)
And if you're across the globe you MUST stand on your head?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/21/2007 20:01 Comments ||
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#5
RJ - these clowns don't even know the world is round.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
12/21/2007 21:44 Comments ||
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#6
See also LUCIANNE > AYMAN ZAWIHIRI'S E-TOWN MEETINGS.
OTOH, DIGG > THE TERROR TRAIN BEARING DOWN. Author - Jane Harmon's Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 = George Orwell's 1984 + BIG BROTHER ARRIVETH???
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
BAGHDAD -- Gen. David Petraeus has an enviable problem as he ponders his next report to Congress about the U.S. mission in Iraq. His military surge has been so successful in reducing violence that some officials -- at the Pentagon and the State Department, not to mention in the Democratic Congress -- are wondering whether Petraeus can accelerate his timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops.
