Weapons of Mass Enlightenment

Only in California

I really wanted to post this sooner but I got carried away with the image search for this lady.  Actress Mary Carey,  specializing in a genre which needs no mentioning, is running for governor of California again.  She would have my vote if one of her campaign promises was to wear this outfit to press conferences.

She recently joined Democratic gubernatorial challenger Phil Angelides in demanding equal time on Jay Leno after the talk show host had his friend on for a chat recently....more

State of Denial 2

In one excerpt from the book, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., Prince Bandar, gave George Bush early warning of America's future problems in the Middle East in the summer iof 2001.  His point was that America's unequal support of Israel was turning popular opinion against America, strengthening fundamentalists, and making it hard for moderate governments to work with the United States. 

It was an urgent plea from one of the most connected men to Washington, and gave an indication where the war on terrorism should have been centered - on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

"Mr. President, this is the most difficult message I have had to convey to you....The Crown Prince has tried to find many excuses for this administration and we couldn't." The president had allowed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to "determine everything in the Middle East." The Israeli policy of occupation and killing was like Britain with the American colonies in the 18th century, France with Algeria, America with Vietnam, and the Soviets in Afghanistan.  All failures.

"What pained the Crown Prince more is the continuance of American ignorance of Israel upholding policies as if a drop of Jewish blood is equal to thousands of Palestinian lives."

Then came the action line: "Therefore the Crown Prince will not communicate in any form, type or shape with you, and Saudi Arabia will take all its political, economic and security decisions based on how it sees its own interest in the region witout taking into account American interests anymore because it is obvious that the U.S. has taken a strategic decision adopting Sharon's policy."

Bush seemed shocked. "I want to assure you that the U.S. did not take any strategic decision," he said.  Powell cornered Bandar later.  "What the fuck are you doing?" he demanded. "You're putting the fear of God in everybody here.  You scared the shit out of everybody."

"I don't give a damn what you feel," Bandar shot back.  "We are scared ourselves."

...Two days later Bush sent the Crown Prince a two page letter: "Let me make one thing clear up front: nothing should ever break the relationship between us.  There was been no change in the strategic equation.  I firmly believe the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination and to live securely in their own state, in their homeland..."

Bush agreed to come out publicly for a Palestitian state.  A big rollout was planned for the week of September 10, 2001.

Of course something else was also planned for that week.  Bush everntually did make his desire for a two state solution public with the unveiling of the "Road Map to Peace".  That plan has since been derailed and two wars have kept the administration's mind off the root problem of "terrorism", and the place where the solution to the problem of Middle East stability is found - Palestine.

State of Denial

Picked up a copy of Woodward's book and as I started reading it and watching the media frenzy about it, I realized Woodward is no dummy. 

People wondered how this journalist, close to the Republican administration which he often wrote flattering things about, could all of a sudden trash them in this third installment about the Bush government.  Well it just so happens that when his first two books were published, Woodward's contacts would remain important to him.  The administration was still going strong and would be around for a while.  Now, with no chance to get re-elected and poll numbers in the gutter, the same people Woodward has been interviewing and enjoying a colse relationship with will no longer be around come time for his next book.  So, nothing is lost by showing those guys the door..and Woodward does, with a shot in the gut and a hard kick on their way out.

The first 300 pages is largely about administration mismanagement and the personality and managing style of Rumsfled.  The denial part is just beginning.

Its juicy and amazingly detailed with lots of quotes. I'll keep posting about it.

Poll: Iraqis support attacks on US troops

I'm not staying very current with posting, but that was never my intention.  It is just too much to post thought out commentaries every day.  So pardon me for talking about old news but this cannot be forgotten quickly:

About six in 10 Iraqis say they approve of attacks on U.S.-led forces, and slightly more than that want their government to ask U.S. troops to leave within a year, a poll finds...more

Here is when you know you lost a war - when 60 % of the people you are fighting FOR want to kill you.  There is no doubt in my mind that the Bush administration has DECREASED America's security by fighting a counterproductive "warr on terror".  The war is counterproductive because it has INCREASED Americas enemies by making Al Qaida and organizations like it attractive options for new recruits.  Angry, poor young people are attracted to terror because they believe, rightly or not, that America is

1. killing innocent people by indiscriminate bombing.

2. waging a war on Islam

3. taking an unfairly one sided approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

4. trying to repress Middle Eastern people and their religion by introducing Western values, ideologies, and stealing the region's oil resources, and setting up military bases in the area.

Muslim's perception of these four points must change before Iraqi's can accept American presence.  Then  America can start making the world safer.  What Bush has done up until this point is take bombs to the terrorists and everyone around them.  This insensitive and blanket military approach to the problem is driving American antagonism.  The appropriate course of action is to take the bombs to the people that deserve it - the big names in terrorism and at the same time deal with the larger community of muslims differently.

What should the non-military war on terror look like?  I am not an expert, but it must deal with the fanatic Muslim schools that teach hate to youths.  There must be a concurrent "war on the indocrination of young people with hate".  There must be a diplomatic "war on the injustices in the Israeli - Palestinian conflict".  There must be a war "on Ann Coulter, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and other politically active fanatics within America".

The war on terror must be 10% bombs and 90% brains.  Until now it seems just like the opposite.