August 23, 2005

In Theory
By Lady Liberty

It's only been a few weeks since the terrorist bombings on the London subway system, but there's already no shortage of conspiracy theories addressing both the bombers and the motives behind the attacks. Early on, some suggested that the bombings could have been engineered by the British government to bolster fading support for a national ID card in Great Britain or to encourage the US Congress to renew the PATRIOT Act intact. (As it happens, the London attacks were cited by those who favored PATRIOT Act renewal, and the legislation was passed in relatively short order; the Bush administration also enjoyed a bit of a poll "bounce" in the immediate aftermath of the bombings). But now some who are purported to be witnesses to the London bombings are making allegations that, if true, would preclude at least one of the bombings from having happened the way we're told that it did. (Read the rest here)

Biased VAWA Pushes Gender Supremacy
By Lisa Scott

The federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is up for reauthorization in 2005. VAWA funds billions of taxpayer dollars to combat violence against women, principally domestic violence (DV). The definition of DV touted by victim advocates runs the gamut from jokes and insults to murder, with "power and control" being the overriding characteristic of the man's behavior towards the woman. Real violence is rarely at issue.

When women commit violence against men, VAWA and the DV industry go AWOL. Despite the federal government's own statistics showing nearly 40 per cent of domestic violence victims are men, VAWA persists in its monolithic response. (Read the rest here)

Going, Going, Gone - The Saga of Financial Responsibility
By Ed Henry

Instead of changing its ways, what was once the richest most industrious nation in the world stays the course of economic suicide with a balance of trade deficit of more than $700 billion, a federal budget that exceeds income by more than a half trillion once everything is counted, and borrowing that is running the national debt “to the moon, Alice.”

We are rapidly approaching the day when mothers in India will be telling their children to eat all the food on their plates because there are starving children in America. (Read the rest here)

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Libertarian Commentary on The News
By Nathan A. Barton © 2005

From Iraq to our local filling station, the news today is not really good. Even the self-defense news isn't that great: too many people are missing perfectly easy shots! At least, that is my opinion, if not that of the police or court system.

Mideast Tarbabies

Army planning for four more years in Iraq
Yahoo! News
"The Army is planning for the possibility of keeping the current number of soldiers in Iraq -- well over 100,000 -- for four more years, the Army's top general said Saturday. In an Associated Press interview, Gen. Peter Schoomaker said the Army is prepared for the 'worst case' in terms of the required level of troops in Iraq. He said the number could be adjusted lower if called for by slowing the force rotation or by shortening tours for soldiers. Schoomaker said commanders in Iraq and others who are in the chain of command will decide how many troops will be needed next year and beyond. His responsibility is to provide them, trained and equipped. About 138,000 U.S. troops, including about 25,000 Marines, are now in Iraq. ... Schoomaker's comments come amid indications from Bush administration officials and commanders in Iraq that the size of the U.S. force may be scaled back next year if certain conditions are achieved. Among those conditions: an Iraqi constitution must be drafted in coming days; it must be approved in a national referendum; and elections must be held for a new government under that charter." (08/20/05)

Worst case is indeed the proper way to plan, but it is NOT the Army that will decide; rather, it is our politicians - and their track record isn't good. US troops occupied the conquered Confederacy for ONLY 11 years; the Philippines for only 47 years; Imperial Germany for only five years; West Germany officially for only 10 years, but actually 45 years; Korea so far for 52 years. Democrat or Republican, expect US soldiers to be there a long time. (Read the rest here)

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