Is NATO relevant? We don't have to pay any attention to them, do we?
Anyway, the new chief's name is Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. I'm going to like that. I hope we get some news out of NATO (but I'm not going to hold my breath), and if we do, I'm just simply going to call him Jaap de Hoop.
Read more here.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Expect Bush to take credit
For this:
Afghanis have reached an agreement on a new constitution, and expect to hold elections in June.
And this:
The prime ministers of nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have held their first one-on-one meeting since their countries went close to war in 2002...
Afghanis have reached an agreement on a new constitution, and expect to hold elections in June.
And this:
The prime ministers of nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have held their first one-on-one meeting since their countries went close to war in 2002...
Safe to fly?
Maybe we ought to be checking some site besides the OHS to decide when, where and what airline to fly.
The Egyptian charter airline whose Boeing 737 crashed into the Red Sea, killing 148 people, has been banned from flying over Swiss airspace since October 2002 due to safety concerns.
"During an inspection we discovered that the airline was a danger to aviation security," said Celestine Perissinotto, a spokeswoman for the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation.
"If a company is forbidden (to fly over national airspace)... that means the problems are serious."
She declined to give further details.
...Perissinotto said less than 10 airlines were currently banned from Switzerland or earmarked for inspection. article
Less than ten?!
At least you can check this link for major airliner safety ratings, calculated on the ratio of number of flights to number of fatal accidents.
Okay, there's my public service action for the month.
Back to political ranting.
The Egyptian charter airline whose Boeing 737 crashed into the Red Sea, killing 148 people, has been banned from flying over Swiss airspace since October 2002 due to safety concerns.
"During an inspection we discovered that the airline was a danger to aviation security," said Celestine Perissinotto, a spokeswoman for the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation.
"If a company is forbidden (to fly over national airspace)... that means the problems are serious."
She declined to give further details.
...Perissinotto said less than 10 airlines were currently banned from Switzerland or earmarked for inspection. article
Less than ten?!
At least you can check this link for major airliner safety ratings, calculated on the ratio of number of flights to number of fatal accidents.
Okay, there's my public service action for the month.
Back to political ranting.
Goofball
Washington apparently finally okayed the timing for Blair to make his own secret trip to Iraq.
Doesn't he feel embarrassed at being such an obvious lapdog? Stay. Go. Fetch. Sit. Here's a bone.
And WTF? Why'd he need to go in secret? He had to do it in a cargo plane, though. Not quite like Air Force One. Know thy place, Tony.
Ha!
What a dufus.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Doesn't he feel embarrassed at being such an obvious lapdog? Stay. Go. Fetch. Sit. Here's a bone.
And WTF? Why'd he need to go in secret? He had to do it in a cargo plane, though. Not quite like Air Force One. Know thy place, Tony.
Ha!
What a dufus.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
New embassy in Baghdad
Khilafah has titled the Reuters report on U.S. plans for the largest diplomatic body in the world - a 3000 member embassy - to be set up in Baghdad: "1 Ambassador and 2999 CIA agents".
Al Giordano talks about investigative blogging
This is new territory, and Al seems convinced that it is where blogging is headed. There are some questions about funding and libel laws. Having been through those hoops with his online newspaper Narco News, Al has some good advice and some cautionary statements, but generally looks forward to the future of investigative blogging.
You can bet that once "investigative blogging" takes off... and it will take off, of this I am certain... there will be a counter-wave of scrutiny that bloggers, so far, are unaccostumed to receiving. It's going to happen. History is sweeping us all in that direction.
I hope for the sake of all of us who live and die by the sword of First Amendment protections for Internet journalism that the first blogger to be tested in this way will dot his and her i's and cross his and her t's regarding libel law, and provide full disclosure as to any Big Money involved in funding the investigation, or a hard rain could fall upon us all.
For any bloggers who are thinking they might some day be doing just that, I'd advise reading Al's post on the issue, and reading his blog and online news regularly. It looks like he will also be offering the opportunity to take classes in "authentic journalism" in the future.
Keep up with Al. His blog is permanently linked in the sidebar: Big, Left, Outside. Narco News is there in the website section.
....hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
You can bet that once "investigative blogging" takes off... and it will take off, of this I am certain... there will be a counter-wave of scrutiny that bloggers, so far, are unaccostumed to receiving. It's going to happen. History is sweeping us all in that direction.
I hope for the sake of all of us who live and die by the sword of First Amendment protections for Internet journalism that the first blogger to be tested in this way will dot his and her i's and cross his and her t's regarding libel law, and provide full disclosure as to any Big Money involved in funding the investigation, or a hard rain could fall upon us all.
For any bloggers who are thinking they might some day be doing just that, I'd advise reading Al's post on the issue, and reading his blog and online news regularly. It looks like he will also be offering the opportunity to take classes in "authentic journalism" in the future.
Keep up with Al. His blog is permanently linked in the sidebar: Big, Left, Outside. Narco News is there in the website section.
....hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Classic Bush
From Josh Marshall, quoting this morning's New York Times:
They said the president's proposed budget for the 2005 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, would control the rising cost of housing vouchers for the poor, require some veterans to pay more for health care, slow the growth in spending on biomedical research and merge or eliminate some job training and employment programs. The moves are intended to trim the programs without damaging any essential services, the administration said.See? Just lay it out there. Straight up. Who in this country cares that BushCo is a huge sucking pirate operation? How many people are going to be right there at the polls punching their BushChad in November? Waaaaaaaay too many. And amongst them will be veterans and other politically non-influential constituencies.
Josh's summary translation:
How do we push the budget discipline issue without pressuring any of our interest groups (for whom we've been looting the fisc for the last couple years) and do it in a way that the consequences won't be clear until we're well into the second term?
Sort of the definition of forward-looking leadership.
Yeah. Self-serving and unafraid to admit it. With absolutely no reason to be afraid. God bless America.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Facing a record budget deficit, Bush administration officials say they have drafted an election-year budget that will rein in the growth of domestic spending without alienating politically influential constituencies.(emphasis mine)
They said the president's proposed budget for the 2005 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, would control the rising cost of housing vouchers for the poor, require some veterans to pay more for health care, slow the growth in spending on biomedical research and merge or eliminate some job training and employment programs. The moves are intended to trim the programs without damaging any essential services, the administration said.See? Just lay it out there. Straight up. Who in this country cares that BushCo is a huge sucking pirate operation? How many people are going to be right there at the polls punching their BushChad in November? Waaaaaaaay too many. And amongst them will be veterans and other politically non-influential constituencies.
Josh's summary translation:
How do we push the budget discipline issue without pressuring any of our interest groups (for whom we've been looting the fisc for the last couple years) and do it in a way that the consequences won't be clear until we're well into the second term?
Sort of the definition of forward-looking leadership.
Yeah. Self-serving and unafraid to admit it. With absolutely no reason to be afraid. God bless America.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Georgians vote today
The "other" Georgians.
Reputed favorite to win presidential status: Mikhail Saakashvili, a 36-year-old American-educated lawyer.
Mr. Saakashvili said he wants to visit Moscow soon in a bid to improve relations that have been strained over the issue of separatism.
Georgia has long accused Russia of supporting the two regions that are not taking part in Sunday's vote, as well as a third region that also came close to boycotting the election.
In a surprise move, Mr. Saakashvili made a quick visit to one of the breakaway regions, South Ossetia, which he said he wants to bring back into Georgia by peaceful means. South Ossetia is normally off limits for politicians from Tbilisi.
But most of all, the likely new leader will need to tackle rampant corruption and the dramatic fall in living standards during Mr. Shevardanadze's rule.
Over half of Georgia's five million people live below the poverty line in a country that enjoyed the highest standard of living of all republics in the Soviet Union.
Mr. Saakashvili will likely look to the West for help, especially given the strategic interest foreign countries have in the region.
That's a bit of a sticky wicket considering the fact that "the West" wants to make sure it has oil pipeline control through Georgia, and the fact that the former president, Shevardnadze, was chin deep in "help" from the West.
I hope Mr. Saakashvili has a better plan than looking to the West for help. I hope he can play the West against Russia to his people's advantage, because they are both certain to be playing him.
Some background on the "revolution" that led to this point in Georgia's political history is in earlier posts. Here are a few:
Terrorists in Southern Russia - implications for Georgia - 12/5/03
Georgia on Bob's mind.... - 12/02/03 (probably the most thorough post)
Georgia, post-revolution - 12/01/03
Revolution in the air - Redux - 12/01/03
Revolution is in the air - 11/23/03
Reputed favorite to win presidential status: Mikhail Saakashvili, a 36-year-old American-educated lawyer.
Mr. Saakashvili said he wants to visit Moscow soon in a bid to improve relations that have been strained over the issue of separatism.
Georgia has long accused Russia of supporting the two regions that are not taking part in Sunday's vote, as well as a third region that also came close to boycotting the election.
In a surprise move, Mr. Saakashvili made a quick visit to one of the breakaway regions, South Ossetia, which he said he wants to bring back into Georgia by peaceful means. South Ossetia is normally off limits for politicians from Tbilisi.
But most of all, the likely new leader will need to tackle rampant corruption and the dramatic fall in living standards during Mr. Shevardanadze's rule.
Over half of Georgia's five million people live below the poverty line in a country that enjoyed the highest standard of living of all republics in the Soviet Union.
Mr. Saakashvili will likely look to the West for help, especially given the strategic interest foreign countries have in the region.
That's a bit of a sticky wicket considering the fact that "the West" wants to make sure it has oil pipeline control through Georgia, and the fact that the former president, Shevardnadze, was chin deep in "help" from the West.
I hope Mr. Saakashvili has a better plan than looking to the West for help. I hope he can play the West against Russia to his people's advantage, because they are both certain to be playing him.
Some background on the "revolution" that led to this point in Georgia's political history is in earlier posts. Here are a few:
Terrorists in Southern Russia - implications for Georgia - 12/5/03
Georgia on Bob's mind.... - 12/02/03 (probably the most thorough post)
Georgia, post-revolution - 12/01/03
Revolution in the air - Redux - 12/01/03
Revolution is in the air - 11/23/03
Mad cow - Who does the USDA protect?
You or the cattle industry?
Spokeswoman for the Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman is Alisa Harrison. Before she got that job, what do you think she was doing? Directing public relations for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the beef industry's largest trade group.
Oh yes she was.
How about the Ag Sec's chief of staff, Dale Moore? What was he doing before he got that job? Chief lobbyist for the cattlemen's association.
Oh yes he was.
In a national economy, is the producer's interest your interest as well? In a global economy, just how do you balance the interests of trade with the interests of the people? I was just reading recently a report from some indigenous island fishermen whose livelihood was ruined when their country sold fishing rights to large European companies, because the island government desperately needed the money. It's a tricky question. I don't have the answer.
But I have a wee problem with having industry lobbyists given jobs in the regulating organizations they lobbied. Gee. Once upon a college course I researched a paper on the EPA and found that the overwhelming majority of the people charged with regulating environmental standards simultaneously sat on boards of corporations that were being environmentally regulated. I haven't checked lately, but I have a sneaking suspicion that is still the case. Like it would matter anyway. Does the EPA do anything any more? Is there still an EPA?
At the very least, it seems there may something of an interest problem in having the USDA be responsible for promoting American agricultural products and protecting the food supply at the same time.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Spokeswoman for the Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman is Alisa Harrison. Before she got that job, what do you think she was doing? Directing public relations for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the beef industry's largest trade group.
Oh yes she was.
How about the Ag Sec's chief of staff, Dale Moore? What was he doing before he got that job? Chief lobbyist for the cattlemen's association.
Oh yes he was.
In a national economy, is the producer's interest your interest as well? In a global economy, just how do you balance the interests of trade with the interests of the people? I was just reading recently a report from some indigenous island fishermen whose livelihood was ruined when their country sold fishing rights to large European companies, because the island government desperately needed the money. It's a tricky question. I don't have the answer.
But I have a wee problem with having industry lobbyists given jobs in the regulating organizations they lobbied. Gee. Once upon a college course I researched a paper on the EPA and found that the overwhelming majority of the people charged with regulating environmental standards simultaneously sat on boards of corporations that were being environmentally regulated. I haven't checked lately, but I have a sneaking suspicion that is still the case. Like it would matter anyway. Does the EPA do anything any more? Is there still an EPA?
At the very least, it seems there may something of an interest problem in having the USDA be responsible for promoting American agricultural products and protecting the food supply at the same time.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Saturday, January 03, 2004
Isn't this illegal?
Yeah, I know. Immoral, too.
Soldiers in Samarra also blew up the house of Talab Saleh, who is accused of orchestrating attacks against U.S. troops, witnesses said. They said the troops arrested Saleh's wife and brother and said they would not be released until Saleh surrenders. article
We're pretty good at snatching people's innocent family members and holding them (not to mention destroying their property).
This article is one very long litany of action that has taken place in the last couple of days.
The progress!
And what about al-Douri? (I promised to keep you informed.)
U.S. soldiers also arrested tribal leader Sheik Kahtan Yehia of the Albu Rahman tribe in Thursday night raids in Samarra, northwest of Baghdad, witnesses said. They said soldiers accused the sheik of sheltering the most-wanted man in Iraq since Saddam's capture, former Vice President Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri.
Another good reason to keep mum about it if he's already surrendered - accusatory value.
Soldiers in Samarra also blew up the house of Talab Saleh, who is accused of orchestrating attacks against U.S. troops, witnesses said. They said the troops arrested Saleh's wife and brother and said they would not be released until Saleh surrenders. article
We're pretty good at snatching people's innocent family members and holding them (not to mention destroying their property).
This article is one very long litany of action that has taken place in the last couple of days.
The progress!
And what about al-Douri? (I promised to keep you informed.)
U.S. soldiers also arrested tribal leader Sheik Kahtan Yehia of the Albu Rahman tribe in Thursday night raids in Samarra, northwest of Baghdad, witnesses said. They said soldiers accused the sheik of sheltering the most-wanted man in Iraq since Saddam's capture, former Vice President Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri.
Another good reason to keep mum about it if he's already surrendered - accusatory value.
Well, Sis, sorry I didn't see this before you left.
See you when you get back.
Still think the Patriot Act and similar legislation won't be used against you? Then we hope you didn't go to Vegas for New Year's. The FBI ordered Las Vegas casinos and airlines to give them information on guests and travelers...
Spokesmen for the casino companies said they agreed unanimously a week ago to comply with the FBI demands except for one company which insisted on receiving "national security letters" before surrendering guest records. article
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Still think the Patriot Act and similar legislation won't be used against you? Then we hope you didn't go to Vegas for New Year's. The FBI ordered Las Vegas casinos and airlines to give them information on guests and travelers...
Hotel operators who asked not to be identified said the information being provided to federal officials includes guest and passenger names, addresses and personal identification information, but not casino records or guest gambling information. ....the FBI in Las Vegas is receiving 100 percent cooperation from the gaming companies and airline operators.Compliance is mandated by the legislation Bush signed into law Dec. 13--that had been passed by both houses of Congress.
Spokesmen for the casino companies said they agreed unanimously a week ago to comply with the FBI demands except for one company which insisted on receiving "national security letters" before surrendering guest records. article
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Recruiting Iraqi police
Any candidate who was not underage, did not have a fake ID and would sign a form disavowing any ties to the Baath Party passed the test. article
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