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June
16, 2005
Oh, right - Tuesday was "Flag Day" (as well as the Army's birthday)
- no doubt why the first story today featured prominently in various places.
Unlike many libertarians, I have no problem with showing respect to the
flag as a symbol of the nation - but I do wish that more people would
pay more attention to the things the flag is supposed to represent and
stop making it a _meaningless_ symbol. There are many symbols, good and
bad, which are attributed to the flag - but the greatest of these is the
sentiments expressed in the Declaration of Independence. In an imperfect
world, we should not believe (or even pretend) that the flag represents
the achievement of the goals stated by that Declaration, nor let the flag
(and respect shown to it) blind ourselves to the real faults (or even
the real strengths) of the nation it symbolizes. Symbols are important,
but not as important as what they represent. (My opinion, at least - many
do not agree with me: if you don't please tell me so!)
Vote
on flag desecration may be 'cliffhanger'
from USA Today
"The Senate may be within one or two votes of passing a constitutional
amendment to ban desecration of the U.S. flag, clearing the way for ratification
by the states, a key opponent of the measure said Tuesday. 'It's scary
close,' said Terri Schroeder of the American Civil Liberties Union, which
opposes the amendment. 'People think it's something that's never going
to happen. ... The reality is we're very close to losing this battle.'
Congress regularly has debated the issue since the U.S. Supreme Court
overturned a Texas flag desecration law in 1989 and its own Flag Protection
Act the next year." (06/14/05)
It would,
indeed, be a serious mistake to add such a thing to the Constitution,
and court cases (and stupidity) aside, we have done well without it for
218 years. Fortunately, even if the Senate does pass it, it will be difficult
to get 38 states to ratify it. Symbols are just that: symbols which should
be judged by each person as to their fitness to be honored or rejected.
I may hate the idea of someone desecrating a state or US flag, but I fought
for their right to do so - and continue to fight for their right to do
so, however much I disagree with them. The passage of this amendment by
the Senate (despite the idiot reasons to support or oppose it offered
by the 100 conscript fathers and mothers) would be a symbol as well -
a symbol that this nation has decided that symbol has won out over substance,
and that pride must take priority of place over freedoms.
World-Islam
War
Memo
suggests oil-for-food link to Annan
from Houston Chronicle
"Investigators of the U.N. oil-for-food program said today they
are 'urgently reviewing' new information that suggests U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan may have known more than he revealed about a contract that
was awarded to the company that employed his son. The December 1998 memo
from Michael Wilson, then a vice president of Cotecna Inspections S.A.,
mentions brief discussions with Annan 'and his entourage' at a summit
in Paris in 1998 about Cotecna's bid for a $10 million-a-year contract
under oil-for-food." (06/14/05)
We've seen
more than enough evidence (even if not "proof beyond reasonable doubt")
that Mr. Annan is corrupt - this really makes little difference unless
it persuades other people of that fact. Today, Rep. Ron Paul is trying
to put an amendment on another bill that would terminate US membership
in the UN: his effort will of course fail, but it is still nice that someone
in power is trying. Annan is a symbol of the worthlessness of the United
Nations Organization, and seems to be helping its demise along.
Good
News
US
to delay stricter passport standards
from Indianapolis Star
"The Bush administration is putting off plans that could have
required visitors from friendly nations to show passports with fingerprint
and iris scan information by this fall. Instead, foreigners from 27 counties
currently not required to apply for U.S. visas will only need to carry
passports with tamperproof digitized photos by Oct. 26, administration
and congressional officials said Tuesday. European nations applauded the
decision shelving the stricter passport standards, which will help the
visa-waiver counties comply with laws tightening U.S. borders after the
2001 terrorist attacks. The countries failed to meet an October 2004 deadline
requiring passports with extensive biometric information, and many were
expected to miss it again this year." (06/14/05)
It's only
a delay, but could be a prelude to a rollback - which is good, because
nowhere have I read any explanation of how this prevents illegals from
traveling when they want to, or even how many bogus passports are supposedly
floating around that require this kind of "corrective" action.
It is part of significant efforts to put more people under greater control
by authorities for the sake of power - and for that reason, any delay
at all should be celebrated.
UK:
Top head says 'no' to zero tolerance
from Independent [UK]
"One of the country's most successful head teachers is calling
for the Government to stop talk of a 'zero-tolerance' approach to school
discipline. Lady Marie Stubbs, who came out of retirement to turn around
St. George's School in Westminster -- where the head teacher Philip Lawrence
was murdered -- will argue in a public lecture tonight that the country's
best teachers should be lured to work in its toughest schools with higher
salaries instead. Lady Stubbs told The Independent yesterday that 'zero-tolerance"
was 'a tired old term,' adding: 'I'd rather see it tucked away.' The best
alternative approaches would be better pay in tough schools, better pupil/teacher
ratios and the paying of more respect to the views of children."
(06/14/05)
Now, when
did the UK government (at least in modern times and in the UK itself)
ever abandon a failed government program? I'm sure that Lady Marie realizes
she is going to be ignored.
Conservatives,
liberals align against Patriot Act
from Washington Times
"Conservative groups have found common ground with the liberal
American Civil Liberties Union in their opposition to the USA Patriot
Act and pledge to wage a high-profile fight against it, claiming even
its renewal is shrouded in secrecy. ... But not all conservatives agree
with some of the movement's biggest names. The Heritage Foundation has
given its full-throated support to Mr. Bush's version of the law. 'Bob
Barr is going to cast aspersions that only true conservatives think ill
of the Patriot Act,' said Paul Rosenzweig, a senior legal research fellow
at Heritage. 'I'll put it this way: Ronald Reagan would be for the Patriot
Act. And I know that because his former attorney general, Ed Meese, is
for the Patriot Act.'" (06/14/05)
Et tu,
Brute? I am not deriding the alliance here, but the lack of logic from
Heritage and some of the others. Ed Meese is hardly the person I expected
Heritage to be citing as justification for this odd stance they've taken.
Stupid
Government Tricks - Federal Edition
Efforts
grow to end ban on openly gay soldiers
from MSNBC
"Critics of the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy are
gaining new allies, including a few conservative members of Congress and
a West Point professor, as they press on multiple fronts to overturn the
ban on out-of-the-closet gays and lesbians in the armed forces. As part
of their strategy, opponents of the policy are now highlighting the ongoing
struggles of Army and Marine recruiters. The Servicemembers Legal Defense
Network says in a new report that many highly trained specialists - including
combat engineers and linguists - are being discharged involuntarily while
the Pentagon 'is facing extreme challenges in recruiting and retaining
troops.'" (06/14/05)
The revival
of this issue now, and the reasoning, indicates several negative things:
one is that this makes it obvious that those "conservative"
congrus-critturs are more motivated by pragmatism than by belief. The
second is that even in the middle of a war, the military is viewed less
as a tool than as a place for social engineering and experimentation.
The third is that these people have very little understanding of how people
function in military units; they are more interested in the political
symbolism than in having an effective military force to protect our freedom
and liberties. None of these are hardly sudden revelations - just another
indicator that things haven't changed, and the cause of liberty suffers
as a result.
Senate
GOP: Closing Gitmo not the answer
from Detroit Free Press
"Prominent Senate Republicans said Tuesday that closing the Guantanamo
Bay prison will not fix a U.S. image tarnished by allegations of American
troops mistreating terrorism suspects. 'To cut and run because of image
problems is the wrong, wrong thing to do,' Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist said. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said there's no doubt that the
United States has an image problem because of allegations of abuse and
torture at the prison in Cuba." (06/14/05)
Arggh!
Do I have to agree with these yahoos? Closing Gitmo won't change the image
OR the continued allegations, and probably would make them worse. Well
and truly stuck in the briar patch.
Mama's
Note: Too bad they won't just close all of their foul prisons and leave
everyone alone to live their lives in peace when they can and defend themselves
when they can't. How many of these people are truly our enemies? Unfortunately,
if they were not when they went in, they will be when they come out. That
has to be one of our lasting dishonors.
Rafsanjani:
US must do more
from CNN
"Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani -- now seeking
another term as the Islamic republic's elected leader -- said Tuesday
the United States has been hostile toward his country for more than 30
years. Rafsanjani told CNN the United States has taken 'steps in the right
direction' but must do more to prove to Iranians that it has relinquished
what he called 'a hostile attitude.' Rafsanjani is considered the favorite
to win Friday's presidential election, according to opinion polls."
(06/14/05)
What a
hypocrite. Any US actions to "prove" that the US does not have
a hostile attitude towards this totalitarian regime (besides being hypocritical
in themselves) would be an example of realpolitik and no more. As for
Rafsanjani winning - big deal, after opposition groups have been shut
out, protests broken up, and everything else done to make this election
a farce. Although SOME of the US's reasons for hostility towards Iran
are wrong, there are MANY reasons for he US to be hostile to a ideologic,
repressive, aggressive, and murderous totalitarian system. Talk to an
Iranian immigrant here in the US if you don't believe it: most of them
are refugees from the "Islamic Republic" - far worse in many
ways than the Shah's dictatorship (which was no gem, by any means).
Judiciary
GOP pulls the plug on Conyers "forums"
from The Hill
"If the Financial Services Committee is the best in the House
when it comes to bipartisan comity, then the Judiciary Committee may well
be the worst. In December, ranking Democrat John Conyers (MI) began holding
'forums' -- gatherings with all the trappings of official hearings --
after Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) refused to hold hearings on
topics Conyers requested. The forums have been held in smaller committee
rooms, often with C-SPAN coverage and formal witness lists. In a sign
of how far relationships on the committee have soured, majority staff
recently announced a new policy to deny any request from a committee Democrat
for the use of a committee hearing room." (06/14/05)
Oh, can
anyone say "dysfunctional?" How sad, that the Congrus-critters
are feuding more than usual.
Mama's
Note: Sad? Perhaps, in a way, but any feuding they do may well distract
them from doing more mischief, and that isn't all bad.
DC
judge: Fireman facial hair OK for now
from Washington Times
"A federal judge yesterday ordered the D.C. fire department to allow
three bearded Muslim firefighters to serve on full duty until Aug. 1,
when he expects to decide whether the safety issues outweigh the men's
claims that shaving would violate their religious rights. U.S. District
Judge James Robertson told an attorney for the city and an attorney for
the American Civil Liberties Union that he would decide the case after
a one-day hearing Aug. 1 that will examine whether facial hair puts firefighters
at risk. The case was first filed in 2001. 'This is definitely a victory,
even though it is temporary,' said plaintiff Hassan A. Umrani, a city
firefighter who has worn a full beard since his first day on the job 16
years ago." (06/14/05)
And if
one of these guys dies because his protective gear doesn't fit properly,
who gets to pay for it? Oh, yeah, we ALL do, since this is DC.
Mama's
Note: Pure political grandstanding, if you ask me. These guys should know
better than anyone else the risk they are taking. Let them sign a form
absolving anyone else of responsibility if they want to be so foolish.
But somebody please tell me why in the world they were hired in the first
place?
Deep
South's response to a lynching apology
from Christian Science Monitor
"Near [Goldsboro, NC], at the crook of the Neuse River, they lynched
John Richards in February 1916, after the solidly built black man confessed
to killing a white cotton farmer with a shovel in order to steal $35.
He was caught trying to buy a new pair of overalls at a nearby mental
hospital with a $20 bill. The execution was one of nearly 5,000 mob lynchings
across the country, some for serious crimes, others for merely whistling
at a white woman. To be sure, whites were killed, too, and only four states
have no documented evidence of the existence of hanging trees. But 80
percent of lynchings occurred in the South. As part of a broader reckoning
of past racist crimes, the US Senate this week -- in front of the only
man known to survive a lynching, 91-year-old James Cameron -- formally
apologized for its failure to enact federal anti-lynching legislation
during the heyday of mob law." (06/14/05)
As usual,
the CSM is just clueless. Lynching is a local matter, and no federal law,
or fifty-year-later apology, is going to change that. Nor was the South
the only place where lynching took place. Plenty of examples of mob justice
and outright killings of blacks took place in northern cities, as blacks
moved north in the 1880s and early 1900s. And where are the apologies
to rustlers, squatters, sodbusters, con-artists, gamblers, and sheepmen
lynched in the West? Wouldn't making it a federal crime have prevented
all those miscarriages of justice, too? Of course not, which is the point.
This is a worthless symbolic gesture, UNLESS you are one of the people
trying to get billions (or trillions) in "reparations" for slavery.
.. No, wait a second, I could be missing out on some really sweet deals.
Let's see. The Romans enslaved my English and Welsh ancestors, so, that's
a lawsuit against the Republic of Italy. And the Brits enslaved my Scots
and Welsh ancestors, so where is Tony Blair's (and the Queen's) solicitors'
addresses. And the Mexicans enslaved my Texican ancestors - I wonder if
Santa Ana has any descendants. And the Texans and those blasted Federales
all but enslaved my Chricuahua and Comanche ancestors, AND stole their
land, to boot. Hmmm. My wife's grandfather got gassed by the Huns while
helping to fight to keep France free (what a joke) back in 1918; and all
the French did was give him a little medal. Let's see, wow! That's Shroeder
AND Chirac both! This could be some big, BIG bucks. Anyone interested
in joining some class-action lawsuits?
Mama's
Note: I know you are using satire here, but I suspect that the spirit
of William Wallace would think that a pretty dim idea. He'd urge us rather
to follow his lead and live free in spite of the statists, wherever and
however we can. Resist, always resist! They can't kill all of us.
Stupid
People Tricks
JPMorgan
agrees to $2.2B Enron settlement
from Cincinnati Enquirer
"JPMorgan Chase & Co., the third-largest U.S. bank, agreed
Tuesday to pay $2.2 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit over its
role in helping Enron Corp. engineer an accounting fraud that bilked investors
out of billions of dollars. The agreement represents the largest settlement
deal in lawsuits against banks, advisers, and Enron executives connected
to the energy trader's 2001 bankruptcy. It also comes just four days after
Citigroup Inc., the nation's largest financial services company, agreed
to pay investors $2 billion to settle the lawsuit. JPMorgan is No. 3 in
terms of its market capitalization." (06/14/05)
Assuming
these charges really are true (and who can tell, really), it makes you
wonder if there should be a death penalty for corporations. Maybe then
the public would be protected a bit better - which is the only valid reason
for a death penalty anyway. Sadly, the real investors will not see enough
of this $4.2B - because guess what: the attorneys will rake off the cream.
As always.
Microsoft
under fire for censoring China blogs
from Yahoo News
"Microsoft Corp.'s new MSN China Internet venture is censoring
words such as 'freedom,' 'democracy' and 'human rights' on its free online
journals, Microsoft said on Tuesday, putting itself in the middle of a
major Web controversy. ... The move comes as the Chinese government attempts
to tighten control over the Internet. Last week, a media watchdog group
said China would close unregistered China-based domestic web sites and
blogs. About three-quarters of domestic Web sites had complied with the
registration orders, the group, Reporters without Borders said, citing
Chinese figures." (06/14/05)
One of
the defining characteristics of fascism is the close partnership between
government and businesses in oppression, and China appears to be moving
to a mixed communist-fascist system, strange as that may seem. While Microsoft
may have had the moral courage to admit what they are doing (what, are
they hoping that someone will do something about it), I can see no justification
for their actions in accepting the government demands in the first place,
except for placing profit above any other moral values.
Mama's
Note: Just remember where one finds the most dedicated Christians and
lovers of liberty... is it not where oppression and censorship are the
worst? Don't worry about the Chinese. They don't needs words of liberty
or human rights from Microsoft or anyone else. The heirs of Tiananmen
Square have them written on their hearts.
Scientists
find Earthlike planet
from San Francisco Chronicle
"Bay Area astronomers have found what they call the smallest planet
orbiting another star yet observed. The object is probably about seven
to eight times as massive as Earth and twice as wide, and it orbits its
parent star in two days, they said at a news conference held Monday by
the National Science Foundation in Arlington, VA. Like Earth, the planet
might consist largely of rocky materials, as opposed to being a largely
gaseous or icy giant planet, although its exact composition remains uncertain.
... The planet orbits the star Gliese 876, which is in the direction of
the constellation Aquarius, said the astronomers, led by UC Berkeley astronomy
Professor Geoffrey Marcy. The planet is 2 million miles from its star.
... The star is about 15 light-years from Earth. ... Thus, the astronomers
observed light from the star that left it 15 years ago, about the time
the Berlin Wall fell." (06/14/05)
Talk about
an exaggerated headline! Of course, what can we expect from Bezerkley,
in either "science" or politics? It is this kind of keen observational
skills that allows the Chron and UCB grads in general to look at the FedGov
of 2005 and say it is the same government established by the Constitution
in 1787. "Freelike?"
Mama's
Note: Let's see... gravity seven or eight times ours and a two day year!
Yep, I guess that is "earthlike" compared to the moons of Saturn
or Jupiter, but it doesn't sound like a place we're going to be able to
set up shop any time soon unless we figure out how to reverse the law
of gravity. Why not find something a bit more useful to do with your time
-- and all that money you're wasting.
Our
Right to Defend Ourselves
I'll start with two related items from South Afrika today, and comment
together.
South
Africa: Police monitor mass demonstration in Gauteng
from Independent Online
"A group of gun owners and gun-shop proprietors are demanding
that police grant them firearm licences, according to a memorandum handed
to the office of Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa on Tuesday. 'We have
given them three weeks to respond to our demand. If they don't respond
we will go and collect our guns from the gun-shop owners with or without
licences,' said Abios Khoele, president of the Black Gun Owners' Association.
... The group, which came in four buses and taxis, met at Beyers Naude
Gardens in central Johannesburg before walking to Shilowa's office. Some
placards the crowd waved read: 'Guns don't kill people. Guns protect people,'
'New law sucks -- old law still the best' and 'Nqakula, son of H F Verwoerd,
stop oppressing blacks.' A handful of police officers monitored the situation."
(06/14/05)
South
Africa: Black gun owners to march in Joburg
from iAfrica
"Black gun owners will march to Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa's
office on Tuesday to hand over a document detailing why they should own
firearms, their association said. The document would be handed to Shilowa
at 11am on Tuesday, the Black Gun Owners Association (BGOA) said on Monday.
'Black gun owners need firearms for self-defence and are being refused
all of their licences without compensation,' the BGOA said in a statement.
'Black gun owners demand that the state president intervene in the running
of the Central Firearms Registry to ensure proper service delivery and
that people who are law abiding get their licences quickly so they can
defend themselves.'" (06/14/05)
Sadly,
these people have learned too late to suspect and resist the demands of
government that they give power over who can own guns and who cannot:
that when they surrender and allow the state to dictate whether they can
defend themselves or not, they are only slaves and not citizens. Fortunately,
they are finally coming to their senses, and saying that they will ignore
an unjust law. Isn't it time that we learned from all of these Commonwealth
nations the evils of "gun control"?
LA:
Bossier City looks to ban paintball guns
from KSLA News
"Playing paintball is a shot-in-the-arm for Paintball Warehouse
and Field Owner Pat Cordaro and his son Matt, even if it's one-on-one.
Son hit father first in this match-up. You can hear the thud against the
elder Cordaro's skin as the paintball broke, and we're sure it did not
tickle. Cordaro says, 'these paintballs are weapons, this paintball fires
up to 300 feet per second. You could get your eyes shot out, it could
break the skin, it's very dangerous.' That's part of the reason why Bossier
City Councilman Scott Irwin drafted an ordinance to ban shooting paintball
guns within city limits. The other reason for the ordinance? Irwin says,
'a constituent called me saying someone shot a paintball gun at his house.'"
(06/14/05)
Contrast
this with the next story. Bet those women had wished they had these "dangerous"
paint guns. It appears, based on the number of paint-gun businesses in
the Bossier City-Shreveport areas, that Mr. Cordaro's words might be self-serving:
forcing people to patronize his range rather than use empty lots or woods.
Irwin appears to be a typical small-town wannabe tyrant, afraid people
might have fun. Does he really believe that a law will stop someone from
shooting a paintball at the house of someone they don't like?
LA:
Shreveport Police: Beauty School Robber Beaten With Sticks, Curling Irons
KSLA News
A man who allegedly tried to rob a Shreveport beauty school was confronted
by a group of nearly 30 women and one man, some of whom beat him with
sticks and curling irons. The bloody suspect left the scene by ambulance.
"I put something on him, baby," said instructor Dianne Mitchell.
"He wasn't coming up in here and telling nobody he robbed us and
got away with it."
It appears
the robber was lucky. And he went into the school with a gun. But I bet
the people in the school start packing heat, anyway (if they're smart)
- they might not be able to trip the guy next time.
Raytheon
airport grids would divert missiles
from Boston Globe
"Raytheon Co. is set to disclose at the Paris Air Show today that
it is joining the effort to protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired
missiles with a new technology: a system of infrared sensors and microwave
beams that would shield airports and divert missiles away from planes.
Called the Vigilant Eagle system, it would position a grid of infrared
sensors on cellphone towers and buildings around airports. When it detected
a heat-seeking missile launched at a passenger jet, it would steer an
electromagnetic beam at the missile to divert it. It would also determine
the launch point and quickly notify security officials. 'We've got a good
solid concept at this point,' said Mark P. Slivinski, product strategy
manager for Raytheon's missile systems unit in Tucson, where work on the
system is being done. 'Now we're asking the government to look at it to
see if would be effective.'" (06/14/05)
Sound Star
Wars enough? Next will no doubt be an EMP emitter like Popular Science
recently touted for cops to use in high-speed chases: burn out the vehicle's
brain and kill the engine. One problem I can see is how well the sensors
will differentiate between the exhaust of a missile and the exhaust of
a Pratt-Whitney jet engine: not too cool to fry a couple of jetliner engines
with this Buck Rogers electromagnetic beam. Well, the idea may not pan
out, but Raytheon won't care as long as they get paid for it by Uncle
Sugar.
And this
brings up an issue which I don't think I've ever seen addressed. We KNOW
that we have a right to defend ourselves: that is, our persons, our homes,
and our possessions (such as cars and pickups). It is REASONABLE to assume
that right of self-defense would extend to larger vehicles - especially
since it HAS applied to boats and ships both in-country and on the open
seas for centuries. Does it not apply equally to aircraft? Is not United
or Northwest or Southwestern legally able to decide to put and use defensive
armament on their aircraft? And if we can defend our home with a rifle
or a handgun, is it not reasonable for an airport's owner to use appropriate
weaponry to defend their property and business? Or for a chemical plant
owner to do so - even if the owner is a corporation rather than an individual
or partnership? Something to ponder.
Mama's
Note: Makes a lot of sense to me, but you can bet the government won't
hear of it. Even corporations get to "dial 911 and die."
Mideast
Tarbabies
Suicide
bombers kill 28 in Northern Iraq
from Las Vegas Review-Journal
"A suicide bomber struck outside a bank as elderly men and women
waited to cash their pension checks Tuesday, killing 23 people and wounding
nearly 100 in this oil-rich northern city that has become a flashpoint
for sectarian tension. Elsewhere, five Iraqi soldiers were killed and
two wounded in a suicide car bombing at a checkpoint in Kan'an, 30 miles
north of Baghdad, and the bodies of 24 men - victims of recent insurgent
ambushes in the west of the country - were transported to a hospital in
the capital." (06/14/05)
Well, I'm
certain the patriots of Iraq feel that this is a major blow against the
nasty American and other Coalition imperialist occupiers, and for the
honor of Islam. How proud they must be of this suicide-murderer.
US,
Iraq consider amnesty for insurgents
from USA Today
"U.S. and Iraqi officials are considering difficult-to-swallow
ideas - including amnesties for their enemies - as they look for ways
to end the country's rampant insurgency and isolate extremists wanting
to start a civil war. Negotiations have just begun between U.S. And Iraqi
officials on drafting an amnesty policy, which would reach out to Iraqi
militants fighting U.S. forces, say officials in both the Iraqi and American
governments." (06/14/05)
Well, at
least there is no possibility of an amnesty for the elder-butcher of the
above article. I should point out that amnesty is generally offered AFTER
the victory (as was the case with General Grant in 1865 to General Lee's
men), and Iraq is far from a victory against anything?
Stupid
Government Tricks - Foreign Edition
Zimbabwe:
Police torch township
BBC News
Police in Zimbabwe have fought running battles with residents of one
of the oldest townships of the second city, as they demolished illegal
structures. The BBC's Themba Nkosi says that Makhokhoba in Bulawayo was
the centre of resistance to colonial rule. One woman stripped naked in
protest after police destroyed her shack. A police spokesman said that
more than 20,000 structures had been destroyed and 30,000 arrested in
the three-week nationwide operation.
It is said
this is punishment for supporting Mugabe's opponents in the recent election
- and we thought Nixon was a meanie, closing down California military
bases after northern CA voted for McGovern! Government cannot create,
but it certain can and does destroy. This people are living in these slum
shacks because of the actions of government in the first place, and are
now punished yet again by the thug-gangs called police.
Kazakhs
not ready for democracy, "leader" claims
BBC News
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has warned of the destabilising
effects of importing Western-style democracy too rapidly to central Asia.
Speaking at the opening of a summit on foreign investment in Almaty, he
said democracy should be learned over time. His remarks follow a wave
of popular uprisings in the region, including neighbouring Kyrgyzstan
and Uzbekistan. Regional leaders have accused the US or unnamed foreign
powers of encouraging the protest movements.
Speaking
of paternalism! Is ANY nation "ready" for democracy? (Or as
he means here, a republican form of government where the people have the
right to choose their leaders and the powers of government are severely
limited, in theory.) Yeah, democracy and republicanism are destabilizing:
so what? Nazy will soon find himself in the same boat as his neighboring
fellow autocrats, I think. Yeah, a good many communities and people do
(and will) waste democracy (mobs voting themselves bread and circuses)
and even republics (which seem to quickly slide into democracy), but if
we wait for the state to say that we have to learn how to be democratic
and grow up, it will never happen (just as "true Communism"
somehow never came to the Soviet Union). And the state will return to
the "good old days" of Pharaohnic Egypt with a permanent and
self-perpetuating (and divine) ruling class and "everyone else."
UK:
Watchdog says military overstretched, weakening
BBC News
The intense period of operations for UK armed forces has affected training
and some units' readiness for extra duties, says the public spending watchdog.
The National Audit Office says Navy funds have been diverted to the Army
for duties in Iraq and Afghanistan. It adds that RAF fast-jet pilots are
also spending one hour less in the air a month which could affect skills.
But the Ministry of Defence says the risks are acceptable and forces could
be ready for operations when needed.
It isn't
just here in the US that the true purpose of military forces has been
forgotten. And not just here that active and reserve troops are tired,
frustrated, and need a break. It appears that the Blair government is
no more willing to use common sense than the Bush administration is.
Darwin
Award Nominee/Stupid Quote of the Day:
Commenting about an "accident" in which motorcyclist Max Montoya,
21, was killed attempting to pass another vehicle on a downtown street
in his hometown of Dolores Colorado and was estimated to be doing more
than 100 mph (downtown!) when he imbedded the bike's handle-bars into
a utility pole, State Patrolman G. Wallace was quoted, "I really
encourage everyone to slow down." Duh. (Reported in the Cortez Journal,
14 JUN 05.)
Mama's
Note: Every time I read something like this I just shrug and say to myself,
"one less damned fool underfoot."
Nathan Barton, a libertarian engineer and soldier and writer, is writing
from the Four Corners. See Nathan's own blog,
Liberty's Outpost.
To Read
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