December 17, 2004

Whoops! I got so carried away with the celebration of Bill of Rights Day yesterday that I failed to make the proper disclaimer at the beginning of the commentary, so please read the following twice, and signify your understanding by speaking CLEARLY and LOUDLY into your monitor: “I understand.” This commentary’s views and opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ANYONE else, including TPoL, RRND, FND, or the FBI or DHS, and anyone claiming otherwise is itching for a fight! Now, on with the subversion!

States and Cities Must Hunt Terror Plots, Mass. Governor Says
Private Correspondence
To protect America against terrorists, state and local agencies, as well as private businesses, need to gather intelligence themselves and not just rely on intelligence gathered by the federal government, Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the leader of a national working group on safeguarding the nation, told homeland security officials on Tuesday.

I could not find another source for this other than an e-mail copy sent by a friend with connections, so I posted it on my blog. Under the federal system of government, apparently it is not enough to have A single police state, we must have at least three levels, each spying and oppressing and seeking for anything, rather than letting us protect ourselves. Romney complains that there are “too many targets” to protect -schools, hospitals, food centers, etc. But IF each of the people operating those sites, working at those sites, AND obtaining services or goods from those sites were prepared (including proper arms) to defend those sites, we wouldn’t need to turn the entire nation into a permanent episode of “I Spy.”

Top court finds for "UK's Guantanamo" suspects
ABC News
"Britain's top court delivered a severe jolt to Prime Minister Tony Blair's post-Sept. 11 security policies on Thursday by ruling against the detention of foreign terrorism suspects without trial. The Law Lords ruled 8-1 in favor of nine Muslim men whose imprisonment under draconian anti-terror legislation -- some for as long as three years -- has become a cause celebre for rights activists who call their predicament 'Britain's Guantanamo Bay.' ... The ruling is a setback for Blair's government, which believes severe measures are necessary for the wider interest of the 'war on terror.' It came the day after Home Secretary David Blunkett, architect of Britain's anti-terrorism policies, resigned amid a scandal over allegations he abused his office to help a lover." (12/16/04)

Very good news here, for Brits at least. Now let us hope and pray that similar rulings come down from US courts. The idea that freedom is only applicable to people based on their citizenship is a throwback 150 years or more - to when your race determined whether you were “human” or not.

New Mexico: Court denies parties' plea for vote count
Reuters
"Two minor-party candidates seeking a recount of the New Mexico presidential election tally suffered a defeat on Wednesday when a judge ordered them to pay $1.4 million for a new tabulation. The ruling by District Judge Carol Vigil, which called for the Green Party and Libertarian Party representatives to deposit the money by Thursday morning, was a blow to the parties' campaign for a hand count." (12/15/04)

Technically, of course, this wasn’t a denial - but the chances of raising 1.4 M for New Mexico are virtually nonexistent. So NM will not be a test of the electronic voting systems. Hopefully other states will provide enough data.

Alleged bin Laden tape criticizes Saudis
Guardian [UK]
"A man identified as Osama bin Laden bitterly criticized the Saudi regime in an audiotape posted on an Islamic Web site on Thursday. The voice sounded like the al-Qaida terror chief's, and the lengthy tape was posted on a site known as a clearinghouse for militant Islamic comment. The identity of the speaker, however, could not be independently confirmed. The speaker said that while Saudi leaders blame 'holy warriors' for trouble in the kingdom, 'the truth is that the whole responsibility falls on the shoulders of the regime.' The tape appeared the same day another dissident had called for anti-monarchy protests in the kingdom." (12/16/04)

If indeed it is bin Laden, it simply confirms he is still kicking - not where he is or what he is doing. Meanwhile, it doesn’t take a taped speech by Osama to know that the Saudi “royal” thug regime is growing more and more unstable - and may be the next place massive numbers of American and NATO troops get “involved.”

Airport screeners lose fake bomb during training
CNN
"Baggage screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport spotted -- and then lost -- a fake bomb planted in luggage by a supervisor during a training exercise. Despite an hours-long search Tuesday night, the bag, containing a fake bomb complete with wires, a detonator and a clock, made it onto an Amsterdam-bound flight. It was recovered by airport security officials in Amsterdam when the flight landed several hours later." (12/15/04)

Do you feel safer now? I know I do - especially after the French planted a similar “dud” and then also promptly lost it a few weeks ago. Isn’t it time for a M*A*S*H or “Dad’s Army” (a Brit comedy about WW2) type TV series to debut? Such a wealth of story lines are being laid!

San Francisco: Board proposes sweeping victim disarmament rule
San Francisco Chronicle
"San Francisco supervisors want voters to approve a sweeping handgun ban that would prohibit almost everyone except law enforcement officers, security guards and military members from possessing firearms in the city. The measure, which will appear on the municipal ballot next year, would bar residents from keeping guns in their homes or businesses, Bill Barnes, an aide to Supervisor Chris Daly, said Wednesday. It would also prohibit the sale, manufacturing and distribution of handguns and ammunition in San Francisco, as well as the transfer of gun licenses." (12/15/04)

Actually, this proposal by the City’s Politburo is probably going to be a good opportunity to actually improve gun rights. Dozens of pro-gun organizations can concentrate on the city, and work very hard to defeat this and give a defeat, therefore, to similar efforts elsewhere. Imagine what things would have been like if there had been strong pro-gun groups active at the time NYC’s infamous Sullivan Act were proposed!

Mama's Note: It seems to me that these groups need to address the irrational fear that so many people have of guns. This fear has been successfully fed and nurtured by the "public schools" for decades and it will take a lot of work to overcome. It does little good to talk to people about rights in the face of this unreasoning fear.

Greece: Bus hijackers surrender
The State
"The government asked its citizens not to retaliate against immigrants Thursday, a day after two Albanian gunmen hijacked a bus. The 18-hour standoff near Athens ended peacefully early Thursday after police successfully negotiated the release of 23 hostages. The gunmen, Gaz Resuli and Leonard Murati, 24-year-old Albanian immigrants who surrendered shortly after midnight, had demanded $1.33 million in ransom and safe passage out of the country." (12/16/04)

So, all the anti-terrorism laws and procedures didn’t prevent this, and it didn’t take a Russian-style “kill’em all and let G-d sort ‘em out” type raid to end it. But as I said yesterday, expect new bus regs to appear shortly in the US and elsewhere. Also, expect Greek citizens to ignore government appeals, and more than a few immigrants to end up floating face down in the Aegean.

Mama's Note: Might be a real good time to give all of these "immigrants" at least half of what the two hijackers demanded: a free ride out of the country. That would solve both problems - for Greece anyway.

Russia's Yukos files for bankruptcy in US
Monterey Herald
"Yukos, Russia's largest oil company, filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court in Houston on Wednesday in an attempt to prevent the Russian government from auctioning off its core assets this weekend. Yukos hopes the filing might force the Kremlin into arbitration over what many analysts charge is a politically motivated campaign to bring down the company and its founder, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The company also asked for a temporary restraining order to block Sunday's auction of its main oil-pumping division, Yuganskneftegaz. Yukos said the sale would wreck the parent company, which accounts for 20 percent of Russia's total oil output." (12/16/04)

An interesting twist in this continuing saga - Russian law apparently does not allow the protection (either de jure or de facto) that American law does, so like millions of other Russians, Yukos flees to the US, joining Volga Germans, Jews, and others fleeing Czarism, Communism, and Rodinaism.

Mama's Note: How in the world can a US court have anything to say about what happens in Russia? There seems to be more to this than meets the eye. I'd love to hear from anyone who has more information on this.

Iceland approves Bobby Fischer residency
MSNBC
"Iceland has approved a residency permit for former chess champion Bobby Fischer, who is being detained by Japanese immigration authorities, an Iceland embassy official said Thursday. Fischer, wanted in the United States on charges of violating international sanctions against Yugoslavia, has been detained by Japanese authorities since July 13. ... Fischer is accused of violating the sanctions when he played a rematch in Yugoslavia in 1992 against longtime rival Boris Spassky." (12/16/04)

Fisher reminds me of the various people punished decades later for things that either (1) weren’t crimes when they did them, or (2) were silly “crimes” defined only by weird laws. To compare his crime to what a Chilean dictator or even what German concentration camp guards did is silly, but this is the US’s position. It now looks like Mr. Fisher can retire in obscurity and avoid prison time in his homeland.

US lifts censorship on Cuba, Sudan, Iran
Houston Chronicle
"American publishers are free to engage in publishing activities with people in Cuba, Iran and Sudan without fear of violating U.S. economic penalties against those countries, the Bush administration said Wednesday. The Treasury Department's office that enforces embargoes against those countries issued a rule that lists the permissible activities related to the publishing and marketing of manuscripts, books, journals and newspapers in paper or electronic form. U.S. publishers do not need U.S. government permission to go ahead with such ventures, the department said." (12/16/04)

This is certainly a good thing, but I can’t see calling it “censorship” - just because the economic activity involves writing or publishing. As with the many Soviet writers published in the 80s, this should speed the collapse of these regimes.

FCC approves wireless Internet access on commercial jets
USA Today
"Airlines can provide their passengers access to high-speed wireless Internet while they fly, under a vote by federal regulators Wednesday. 'If there is a theme for this meeting, it is that we want (new technologies) on the land, in the air, and on the sea' Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell said Wednesday as the commission considered new rules for airlines. 'We are pushing the frontiers in order to bring the information age to all corners of the world,' he said." (12/15/04)

Of course, it takes more than ONE government agency to give its approval - and the FAA is still saying “no” - no doubt fearing someone might download bomb-making instructions while in the air, or instructions on how to make a gun from components found in those pockets on the back of airline seats. After that, no doubt, the National Labor Relations Board and the Import-Export Bank will also have to give their approvals, because someone might download material which would be considered harassment of flight attendants, and information might be exported via a foreign flyer looking over your shoulder.

US shrugs off Cuba's warning on holiday decorations
Houston Chronicle
"U.S. diplomats today ignored a warning from the Cuban government to immediately take down Christmas decorations outside its offices or face unspecified consequences. The trimmings of Santa Claus, candy canes and white lights wrapped in palm trees still stood on the mission's seaside lawn a day after the warning. The element that irked the Cuban authorities most was a sign among the decorations that reads '75' -- a reference to 75 Cuban dissidents jailed last year, according to U.S. Interest Section Chief James Cason." (12/15/04)

Actually, I understand the diplomats were, well, rather diplomatic. They agreed to take down the number and other decorations, at the end of the Christmas season! It is too bad (and yes, I know we outnumber Cuba by about 100 to one) that we may have exceeded Cuba’s record for jailing “dissidents” - especially if you count students arrested for toy guns, laser pointers, and kissing their classmates.

Mama's Note: I don't understand how or why we have any "diplomats" in Cuba at all. Did we normalize relations with Castro at some point and the news got lost in the shuffle with all those ghost votes? Last I knew, it is still illegal to have Cuban cigars, for crying out loud. I know the DC bandits don't make any sense at the best of times, but this is really confusing.

Bayh: More US troops are needed in Iraq
Indianapolis Star
"Sen. Evan Bayh, who returned from a visit to Baghdad this week, said today that more American troops were needed in Iraq to protect security as elections near. Bayh's trip -- his first to Iraq -- was interrupted by the sounds of distant car bombs exploding and warnings to move away from windows for fear of them shattering. Bayh flew to Iraq with Sens. John Warner, R-Va., Carl Levin, D-Mich., and John Cornyn, R-Texas. The four senators met with Iraqi and American leaders and U.S. troops in Baghdad, but a visit to Fallujah was canceled after increased violence there." (12/15/04)

Funny, I didn’t know that Bayh was a military specialist - especially not on Rear Area Security Operations. But surely he wouldn’t be pandering to the press, would he? There isn’t another election for 22-1/2 months, after all.

Mama's Note: Talk about not making any sense! These people who pontificate about "needing" more troops, etc. make me sick. Do they think soldiers come from a Chinese plastics factory, a dozen to a box, just needing to be inflated and turned loose whenever they need more? People "you know where" need ice water too - and have about as good a chance of getting some unless these morons do something REALLY stupid like reinstate the draft. Let's see... with about half the young men in the country now in various jails and prisons, more already in the military and various government jobs (which would probably be exempt), just who in hell do they think will continue to do the productive work required to pay for all this? (Not to mention a few trillion in past due bills they hold now.) Oh yeah, they can just "borrow" it. Right... but not for much longer. Somebody in DC needs to get a clue.

Army says it's spending $4 billion on armor
MSNBC
"The Army says it is spending more than $4 billion to make sure vehicles used in Iraq have the armor to protect troops against insurgents' [sic] bombs. Officials rejected criticism that shortages reflect poor war planning and said they've been working as fast as possible to give troops what they need. 'This is not Wal-Mart,' said Brig. Gen. Jeffery Sorenson, asserting that it takes time to study, develop and produce equipment needed against what commanders say is a sophisticated and ever-adapting enemy." (12/15/04)

This has been in the works LONG before the reporter got a soldier to ask the SecDef a question last week - Army Times has been reporting on plans (and progress) for months. And as many soldiers have reported, the situation is not nearly as dire as being painted in the press or by others. Of course, for those who think that soldiers are being ignored by their command, let me suggest a page from the history of the Vietnam era, where one fairly popular slogan went something like “Wouldn’t it be great if we had to have rummage and bake sales to raise money for the military, instead of to raise money for schools?”

Mama's Note: Sure would be. I suspect we'd have a lot fewer wars, and no deficits either. People would have no trouble doing whatever was necessary if there was a true need to defend their country, but as long as politicians can use the lives and property of others to play their statist games, there will be no end to the disastrous invasions and insanity going on now until the whole thing collapses of its own dead weight.

Interceptor missile fails to launch in test
Dodge City Daily Globe
"An experimental interceptor missile failed to get off the ground in a test of the U.S. national missile defense system early Wednesday, raising new doubts about prospects for the imminent activation of the system. In the test, a target missile, a simulated ICBM with a mock warhead, was launched without problem from Kodiak, Alaska, at 12:45 a.m. EST, a statement from the Defense Department's Missile Defense Agency said. However, 16 minutes later, an 'unknown anomaly' led to an automatic shutdown of the interceptor missile shortly before it was to launch from the Ronald Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean. The target missile crashed into the ocean." (12/15/04)

This is very much unfortunate, because the need to have a good missile defense (despite the agonized protests of various anti-nuke groups) is almost as important as it has ever been. At the same time, errors like this are typical of government programs (and even of privately-financed projects).

Mama's Note: Isn't that what a "test" is for? Now they need to find and fix the bug, or decide that the whole idea is no good. With the usual government inefficiency and nonsense, it will just take longer and cost more. Truly private enterprise can't afford to indulge in that nonsense.

9/11 conspiracy theorist offers $100,000 prize
Reuters
"Jimmy Walter has spent more than $3 million promoting a conspiracy theory the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States were 'an inside job' and he is offering more cash to anyone who proves him wrong. The millionaire activist is so convinced of a government cover-up he is offering a $100,000 reward to any engineering student who can prove the World Trade Center buildings crashed the way the government says. 'Of course, we expect no winners,' Walter, 57, heir to an $11 million fortune from his father's home building business, said in a telephone interview from California on Wednesday. He said a panel of expert engineers would judge submissions from the students. Next month, he also launches a nationwide contest seeking alternative theories from college and high school students about why New York's World Trade Center collapsed." (12/15/04)

Well, at least he is willing to put HIS money and not someone else’s money up to do this - it will be interesting to see who tries for it.

Santas run riot in Wales
Fox News
"Imagine 4,000 Santa Clauses running down a street, many of them drunk. Then imagine about 30 of them getting sucked into a massive brawl as police break up the donnybrook with nightsticks and tear gas. That's exactly what happened Dec. 5 in the small city of Newtown in central Wales, according to the BBC. 'A very successful Santa Run day ... was spoilt by the drunken behavior of a number of local individuals who managed to consume too much alcohol and became involved in a serious public order incident,' said a police spokesman. The Santa Run has been held for charity since 2001, when about 500 faux Clauses took part. But in fine British fashion, lager and rowdiness were quick to follow the crowds." (12/14/04)

This is another indicator of the sad state of the ex-British Empire, no doubt. Or of the absolute hopelessness and denigration of the working class in England and Wales. Even charity events get destroyed.

Welfare checks for DC stadium challenged
Washington Times
"The D.C. Council last night gave final approval to financing for a ballpark near the Anacostia River waterfront in Southeast by a tight 7-6 vote, but only after council Chairman Linda Cropp ushered through a major amendment that mandates the inclusion of private funds to help fund the stadium construction. The unexpected Cropp amendment, arriving near the end of more than 13 hours of often-contentious debate, mandates that at least half of hard stadium costs be paid with private funds, shocking attendees of a marathon legislative review of the stadium bill. If private funds are not found, the entire authorization of the new stadium for the Washington Nationals would be rendered null and void, once again putting the District's future with baseball in serious doubt." (12/15/04)

Well, who would have thought that Cropp, of all people, would push an idea like that? At least half the costs - surely a few senators and congrus-critturs could have yard-sales or give a few speeches and raise that small sum!

Mexico may set up voting booths in U.S.
Arizona Republic
"For the first time, Mexicans would be able to vote in the United States for the president of Mexico under a bill nearing approval in that country's House of Representatives. If the measure becomes law, it will likely set off a fierce battle for millions of potential voters in Arizona and other states and will allow Mexican presidential candidates to campaign in the United States. Mexicans would be able to register to vote in the United States and cast their ballots at polling stations, probably set up in consulates around the country. ... But the logistics and details of the proposal are uncertain even with considerable funding and political backing." (12/15/04)

People are likely to disagree with me, but I find this to be a tad on the obnoxious side, to say the least. Mexico is treating the US as an occupied country, or worse - we always have allowed soldiers to vote when engaged in occupation duties, whether Germany or Japan or Iraq (or Britain) but we never had the gall to set up polling booths, or have the candidates travel there on campaign trips. This law may “allow” it, but I think the various States might take exception to it.

PTC targets racy programming
Fox News
"One person's edgy entertainment is another person's sleazy programming. The television show, 'Desperate Housewives,' which airs on Sunday evenings during ABC's primetime hours, is an example. The show is considered a ratings hit, but other programs like it are under the microscope for in-your-face sexuality and overall content. The Parents Television Council is worried about children watching the show and imitating what they see. The group, which claims to be a nonpartisan advocacy organization, puts pressure on the television networks and even the Federal Communications Commission to enforce what they consider standards of decency." (12/15/04)

Based on its advertising, I think “sleazy” is a fair description of this sitcom or prime-time soap opera, and this PTC should certainly have every right to put pressure on the networks to get rid of it - if they can get enough viewers to go along with it. Otherwise, if they are concerned about what children might see, I suggest the parents click over to NBC (The World of Disney still runs on Sunday nights as I recall), or even better, click the “OFF” button.

For conservatives, "Merry Christmas" becomes a cause
Boston Globe
"Emboldened by their Election Day successes, some Christian conservatives around the country are trying to put more Christ into Christmas this season. In Terrebonne Parish, LA, an organization is petitioning to add 'Merry Christmas' to the red-lighted 'Seasons Greetings' sign on the main government building, and is selling yard signs that read, 'We believe in God. Merry Christmas.' In Raleigh, NC, a church recently paid $7,600 for a full-page newspaper ad urging Christians to spend money only with merchants who include the greeting 'Merry Christmas' in ads and displays. 'There is a revival taking place in our nation that is causing Christian and right-minded people to say, 'Wait a minute. We've gone too far!'' says the Rev. Patrick Wooden, Sr., pastor of the Raleigh church. 'We're not going to allow the country to continue this downward spiral to the left.'" (12/15/04)

Methinks that the mainstream media still doesn’t get it - this surge of protest has very little to do with the “Election Day successes” and much more to do with the continuing degeneration of religion and traditional culture in the nation. It is, simply, backlash and/or payback. For decades, more and more religious features of life have been hidden, squashed, or vilified, and people have finally reached their breaking point. Certainly I can find no fault with buying preferences, or even petitions (although I think those are generally a waste of time, and the idea is to keep government OUT of our business, not getting them involved). But increasingly in the last four or five years, I’ve heard more and more resentment and anger, and the volume of the culture wars is much louder this year. The election may have encouraged things a bit, but not significantly.

Nathan Barton is a libertarian, writing from the Black Hills and on the road in the West. And although he is NOT a believer in Christmas - he does wish all the readers a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy Hanukah” - and for anyone else who doesn’t wish to celebrate those days, a “Happy Holidays!” See Nathan's own blog, Liberty's Outpost.

To Read previous Commentaries, go to the archives page and click onto the day link. The commentaries are linked from the daily front pages.

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