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March
27, 2006
Libertarian
Commentary on the News, 19-25 March 2006 - View from the High Hills
No character trait for lovers of liberty this week, except the old standby:
Be vigilant! On to the news.
Tech
and Medical Issues
I'm starting out with this one, today, because of several very interesting
news stories, especially the very first one.
With Spring here and the first of April nearly here, thoughts turn to
Spring and Summer activities, days getting longer, and hopefully healthy
activity - and the new products for outdoor recreation, electronics, and
even weapons training.
UN
to Mandate "Universal Time" starting April 1st
Rapid City (SD) Black Hills Crier
The United Nations Security Council approved the UN General Assembly
Resolution RM-2493 today, banning the use of time zones in all member
states, and establishing Universal Time, based on Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT), for all commercial and governmental purposes. The actual conversion
will begin at 0001 hours on April 1st, starting in the UK and moving west;
each time zone will convert as the old time changes to midnight. For example,
the UN in New York City (5 hours behind GMT) will change its clocks from
midnight EST to 0500 UT, Chicago clocks will change at midnight CST to
0600 UT, an hour later, etc. Explaining the tremendous cost savings and
advantages for travelers and business, as well as the UN itself, several
secretariat officials expressed hope that the money saved by going to
a single, world-wide time would allow for swift passage of the universal
tax intended to finance UN peacekeeping operations. Fines for failure
to change to the new time scheme will be phased in, with all fines to
be paid to the UNESCO World Children's Fund, but fines "will not
be significant" until April 1, 2007. It is claimed that once a single
conversion to the universal time is done, that local communities will
quickly adjust to the new times. For example, in the US Rocky Mountain
West (formerly the Mountain Time Zone, or GMT -7), the sun in March will
now come up at about 1300 hours (formerly 1:00 PM), schools and business
hours would start at about 1500 hours, and would end at about 2300 hours.
Apparently,
this action has been in the planning stages for a long time, and John
Bolton has joined the rest of the Bush Administration in supporting it
- both to serve the American people and the New World Order. I have heard
some claims that it was actually the brainchild of George H W Bush when
still in charge of the CIA, and that he laid the groundwork for this action
when he was president - indeed making it part of the NWO. Others claim
it was an idea he stole from the famous atheist, Madelyn Murray O'Hair,
who saw this as a way to divorce timekeeping from traditional, god-oriented
methods. This action is long overdue, in my opinion, and should if nothing
else make it easier for people to stay in touch with their friends and
family overseas, especially on holidays! Even here in the United States,
it will tie the nation together more firmly and reduce the regrettable
disparity between red and blue states. (For those of us who are cable
junkies or satellite TV fans, it definitely will make life easier!)
Mama's
Note: Sounds very foolish to me.
Private
ventures vie to service space station
MSNBC
"More than 20 companies have submitted proposals to provide NASA
with transportation services to the international space station, marking
the start of a $500 million experiment in space commercialization. The
companies range from well-established aerospace firms to freshly minted
startups. Some of them have laid out in detail what they're proposing
for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, or COTS.
Others are unwilling to confirm publicly that they've made a proposal."
(03/20/06)
Is it possible
for a "free market" to exist when government is involved? Somehow,
I doubt it - these proposals will be judged more on their political correctness
than their technical merits, and tax money will continue to be squandered.
Senators
renew call for .xxx domains
CNet
"On Thursday, two Senate Democrats, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and
Max Baucus of Montana, introduced a bill called the "Cyber Safety
for Kids Act of 2006." The 11-page measure would require the U.S.
Department of Commerce to work with the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN), the nonprofit organization that oversees domain
names, to develop plans for a domain name system that would house material
deemed "harmful to minors." .... "By corralling pornography
in its own domain, our bill provides parents with the ability to create
a 'do not enter zone' for their kids," Pryor said in a statement.
He is also a sponsor of a legislative proposal to levy a 25 percent tax
on Internet pornographers. .... It's unclear whether the measure will
go very far. First of all, it could be struck down as unconstitutional,
said Marv Johnson, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties
Union." (03/17/06)
Another
example of the government interfering in the free market, and likely another
example as how it will (once more) backfire.
Economic
News
Well,
the new Fed chairman hasn't trashed the economy yet! But watch out - he's
just getting started. Meanwhile, a single item.
Oil
prices fall by more than $2 a barrel
Houston Chronicle
"Oil prices fell by more than $2 a barrel today, maintaining downward
momentum from late last week after OPEC lowered its demand forecasts and
U.S. crude oil inventories grew. Even sabotage to an oil pipeline in Nigeria
couldn't rouse the bulls. Light sweet crude for April delivery dropped
$2.35 to settle at $60.42 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange,
leaving prices roughly 7 percent higher than a year ago." (03/20/06)
Of course,
this was on Monday after a bad week. It didn't roll back prices in the
Rocky Mountain States, where gas prices have jumped 15 to 20 cents up
in the past few weeks. For those interested, and for those traveling,
there is a whole cluster of websites worth visiting. Click
here for one of them. There appears to be one for each state, where
people voluntarily report on the latest local gasoline prices, and the
system tracks trends. Both useful and fascinating.
Cartoons
War and other Free Speech Issues
Things
were quite low-key for the last couple of weeks in the Danish Cartoons
War, but this is deceptive, as the forces that should be defending Western
Civilization show that their "defense" is a sham. And a shame.
Anglican
Publication in Wales Bows to Islam
BBC NEWS
The Church in Wales has recalled 500 copies of its magazine featuring
a cartoon caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad. The editor has resigned after
the image was published in the Church's Welsh-language magazine Y Llan.
The Archbishop of Wales has apologised to the Muslim Council of Wales,
which accepted the "unfortunate mistake". The Church in Wales
printed the cartoon to illustrate an article in the February edition of
Y Llan - or Church in English - about the shared ancestry of Christianity,
Islam and Judaism.
A sickening
little incident which shows that the pressure is indeed on to make the
UK the "most Islam-friendly" nation in Europe, as the Blair
government has proclaimed. Although the Welsh Muslim Council has forgiven
the church and those associated with it, that does nothing to ensure that
a radical will not use it as an excuse to torch an embassy or church building.
Swedish
Foreign Minister Quits Over Cartoons
BBC NEWS
Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds has resigned in a row related
to cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. She has been strongly criticised
in the press after the foreign ministry ordered the website of a far-right
party to be shut down. The site had been due to publish the cartoons,
which sparked a furore after their initial publication in Denmark.
And about
time. Her actions were those of a tyrant, and without any justification
except to lick the sandals of radical Islamicists. The fact that it took
so long bodes ill for the future of Sweden.
Imam
threatens to blow up "moderate" Muslim
Reuters (UK)
Danish police will launch an investigation into allegations that an
imam at the centre of the Prophet Mohammad cartoon row issued death threats
against a moderate Muslim politician, a spokesman said on Thursday. A
French TV documentary crew secretly filmed Imam Ahmed Akkari threatening
to have Naser Khader -- a founder of Denmark's Democratic Muslims network,
which opposes violent protests over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad --
bombed.
Which makes
you think that the reason they hate the cartoons so much is because some
of the cartoons are so truthful - violence seems to be the only way that
they will respond.
Afghani
Kangaroo Court to Set Sentence for Blasphemer
CNS News
The trial of an Afghan accused of apostasy for converting to Christianity
is raising questions, not just about Afghanistan's Islam-based constitution,
but also about difficulties in reforming the country's judicial system,
which is dominated by Islamic hardliners. If Abdul Rahman is convicted,
avenues of appeal will include the Supreme Court, one of whose judges
has already been quoted in wire service reports as confirming that Islamic
law (shari'a) provides for capital punishment for a Muslim who converts
to another religion and refuses to revert to Islam.
 |
|
Courtesy
Townhall.com
|
In a separate
story: Yale student Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi, then an official in the
Taliban's foreign ministry, is shown in this 2001 AP photo displaying
evidence against foreign aid workers facing the death penalty for Christian
proselytizing.
Although
this comes from Yale (still sadly a part of the American Union) and Afghanistan,
it is clearly a worldwide problem. And obviously, despite the US-led invasion
and reorganization of the country, the Afghani government is still criminally
stupid, and doesn't understand "freedom" except in the sense,
apparently, of a barbaric tribalism more in keeping with the 21st Century
BC, rather than 21st Century AD.
Government
Run, Tax Funded Schools
Even
while more and more people are opting for private schooling and even homeschooling,
the government nannies are seeking to expand the roles of the state in
forcing indoctrination on children.
Illinois
leads new push for universal preschool
Christian Science Monitor
"By the time they start kindergarten, many children are already
18 months behind. That -- along with studies showing that money invested
when kids are 3 or 4 years old helps them graduate or keeps them out of
jail -- is one reason states are starting to take a much harder look at
funding education before they get to kindergarten. Last month, Illinois
Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) proposed an initiative that would make the state
the first in the US to offer universal preschool to 3-year-olds. In June,
Californians will vote on a ballot initiative to provide prekindergarten
to all children. Legislators and governors are talking about universal
preschool in Virginia, Arizona, New Jersey, and other states. And last
year, at least 26 states increased spending on their preschool programs."
[FND editor's note: And so the movement to indoctrination camps moves
steadily toward the cradle ... - SAT] (03/21/06)
This fad
is also sweeping the nation. South Dakota's governor betrayed his own
conservative "fundamental" beliefs by pushing through a reduction
in the age of mandatory schooling from 7 down to 5, and other states are
pushing as well. Steve has it right.
Mama's
Note: I've talked to a number of people in the last few years who just
can't understand why their children are in such trouble and won't accept
their discipline, etc. For some reason, most of them simply cannot see
the connection between that and the government "school" indoctrination.
Unfortunately, it is all too obvious. The longer children stay in these
concentration camps, the worse it will be. Get them out NOW if you care
about their lives or future.
TN:
Critics call bills "nothing more than vouchers"
Nashville City Paper
"Two education bills recently filed in the state Legislature are
generating a good deal of controversy, as critics say the bills are nothing
more than modified school vouchers. If passed, both bills could spur questions
of church-state issues because the legislation would allow public dollars
to follow students moving from failing public schools to private institutions,
including those with religious affiliations. The bills are a direct attack
on public education, according to Jerry Winters, spokesman for the Tennessee
Education Association. 'They are simply a foot in the door for a broader
voucher bill that we totally oppose,' he said. The first piece of proposed
legislation (HB2687) was crafted by Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville).
His bill grants 'opportunity scholarships' to public school students so
that their parents can move them from failing public schools to participating
private schools." (03/23/06)
If they
are a "direct attack" then the TEA has just admitted that the
public schools are failing in general, not just specific schools. As usual,
the claims made by the educrats are inflated and insupportable. And yet
millions of Americans trust these people to teach their children.
Mama's
Note: Hard as it is for some to understand, any attempt to give tax money
to private schools is very wrong and very dangerous. Power follows money,
and as soon as tax money is involved the government will have full control
of any school that accepts it. This is the way to destroy ANY choice parents
have if they cannot homeschool - and you can bet your boots that homeschooling
would soon be outlawed as well. Funding schools with government theft
is not an answer!
Home
Front
This
week, as usual, an array of issues found in the news.
Last
known lost Katrina child returned to family
BBC News
The last missing child case linked to hurricane Katrina has been resolved.
Four-year-old Cortez Stewart was reunited with her mother last week, nearly
six months after the disaster, officials announced on Tuesday. She was
the last child waiting to be returned to her family out of 5,192 reported
missing or displaced after hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck. Of those
children, all but 12 were found alive following the biggest child recovery
operation in US history. Most of those reported missing were found living
with relatives, family friends or other adults, said Bob O'Brien of the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Clearly,
American children have a far greater risk associated with such things
as going to government-run, tax-funded schools and getting involved in
the "child welfare" system than from natural disasters even
of the magnitude of Katrina and Rita.
Hispanics
march in Milwaukee against immigration bills
CNN
"Thousands of demonstrators marched in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on
Thursday to oppose tough anti-immigration legislation sponsored by their
Republican congressman Jim Sensenbrenner. House Resolution 4437 would
make all undocumented immigrants felons and require all employers to verify
the immigration status of its employees." (03/23/06)
More Americans
are becoming aware that to be in the US "illegally" is only
a civil and not a criminal act, and it is fascinating to hear all the
claims bandied back and forth: are there 10 million, 11, 12, 15, or 20
million "illegals" in the US? For all its many faults, at least
this bill is generating some more discussion of what more and more Americans
view as an intolerable situation.
Lawmakers
at odds on immigration
Boston Globe
"With congressional elections on the horizon, lawmakers on Capitol
Hill are preparing for a major showdown over immigration reform, an issue
that carries an explosive mix of national security concerns, social pressures,
and financial realities -- and that has exposed deep regional splits within
Congress and the Republican Party. Hard-liners in the Republican-controlled
Congress are insisting that the country tighten its borders and deport
all undocumented immigrants with few exceptions. President Bush and business
interests want temporary work permits for people from other countries
who break the law to fill jobs few Americans want. And Democrats are joining
with some Republicans to insist that those immigrants follow paths to
legal US residency. With politics pushing lawmakers in multiple directions
over how to handle the millions of undocumented immigrants in the United
States, politicians and immigration advocates worry that Congress will
deadlock the issue." (03/21/06)
Like the
story above, this points out the obvious - a lot of people are starting
to get seriously ticked about this whole issue.
Mama's
Note: Unfortunately, few of those in government are motivated by justice
or truth. Political correctness and the whims of public opinion pull them
in every direction at once. If they had the balls to remove the welfare
and police state barriers to a truly free market economy, the problem
would quickly solve itself. Those who had no intention of working for
a living would have to leave or change their mind. Those who wanted to
work would be able to do so and we would all benefit. That, of course,
is not among the options they will consider.
War
protesters arrested near Pentagon
Capitol Hill Blue
"Fifty-one Iraq war protesters who said they wanted to deliver
a mock coffin to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld were arrested Monday
after crossing a temporary barrier near the Pentagon. The arrests followed
a generally low key antiwar protest marking the war's third anniversary.
To the beat of a muffled drum and a ceremonial peace bell, about 200 people
marched from the Lincoln Memorial across the Potomac River to the Defense
Department headquarters in Arlington, Va. Demonstrators chanted, 'Peace
now,' as dozens among them crossed the fence and were taken into custody.
Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said the 51 arrested were given misdemeanor
citations that require their appearance at a federal court, and then they
were released." (03/21/06)
One of
the few weekend protests that made sense to report because of their location
and their admittedly camera-friendly actions, although what (besides publicity)
their stunt was expected to do is beyond me. And notice they are being
treated just like illegal immigrants - catch and release.
Chertoff
calls for chemical plant self regulation
CNN
"Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called for government
regulation of chemical plant security on Tuesday but said the industry
should come up with its own protective measures, to be verified by private
auditors. Speaking at a forum hosted by the chemical industry, Chertoff
said Congress needs to quickly give his department regulatory authority
to bolster facilities that are attractive targets for terrorists. But
he said federal regulations must be flexible to prevent harsh burdens
on business." (03/21/06)
This seems
to be neither fish nor fowl - but is certainly better than the usual call
for yet another set of bureaucratic cops to create a whole new set of
bizarre and costly rules.
Protesters
march through Gulf Coast to New Orleans
WLOX-TV {[MS]
"About 200 people marched on Highway 90 in Gulfport - protesting
one war in the hopes of trying to avoid another. A war of what they call
the neglect of the people in America. 'I am shocked that something like
this is happening on American soil and there's still this much destruction
here six months later. I'm shocked that so much of this landscape looks
exactly like what I saw in Iraq,' said Iraq war veteran Michael Blake.
A coalition of people from across the country is participating in 'Operation
New Orleans.' They're walking 137 miles from Mobile, hoping to shine a
spotlight on the continuing needs of the Gulf Coast." (03/20/06)
Typically
Mainstream Media stupidity on display in this article. What wonderful
logic: Obviously, since the places look the same and the government is
to blame for both -the solutions are completely different: get government
OUT of Iraq and INTO Mississippi and Louisiana. Huh?
Mama's
Note: That's because these people don't really accept or understand that
government is the reason for the problems in Iraq. They just want the
same stolen goods spent on their priorities instead of Iraq, not liberty
and justice.
AmeriCorps
on budget chopping-block
Fox News
"After years of attacks from fiscal conservatives and underwhelming
progress reports, the federal AmeriCorps service program has quietly taken
its place on the budget chopping block and stands to lose its full-time
civilian corps, most of which is currently serving in the storm-ravaged
Gulf Coast. The Bush administration has proposed cutting AmeriCorps' National
Civilian Community Corps - a program in which 18-24 year olds live in
group residences for training before going out to perform service projects
- from $27 million to $5 million in fiscal year 2007, with the intent
of shutting it down altogether. The decision has drawn fire from NCCC
alumni as well as AmeriCorps' congressional supporters." (03/20/06)
Another
welfare program - but don't expect it to bite the dust just yet.
FBI
testimony closes Moussaoui prosecution
Indianapolis Star
"Prosecutors wrapped up their case for executing Zacarias Moussaoui
with a former FBI agent's testimony Thursday that the bureau could have
identified 11 of the Sept. 11 hijackers within weeks if the al-Qaida conspirator
had confessed when he was arrested a month before the suicide attacks.
Before court-appointed defense attorneys could begin their case, Moussaoui
announced loudly as he left for a recess that he would testify in his
own behalf." (03/23/06)
What a
clown act - on all sides.
US
hiring Hong Kong company to scan cargo
Cincinnati Enquirer
"In the aftermath of the Dubai ports dispute, the Bush administration
is hiring a Hong Kong conglomerate to help detect nuclear materials inside
cargo passing through the Bahamas to the United States and elsewhere.
The administration acknowledges the no-bid contract with Hutchison Whampoa
Ltd. represents the first time a foreign company will be involved in running
a sophisticated U.S. radiation detector at an overseas port without American
customs agents present." (03/23/06)
So where
is the outrage here? Hong Kong, for those unfamiliar with the place, is
a former British Crown Colony now controlled by Communist China. And this
isn't a series of local contracts, but apparently a federal contract.
So how long do we have to wait for screams of protest?
Our
Imperial Courts
As
usual, the courts demand careful attention from all lovers of liberty,
as they strive to prove how much they really hate and work against freedom
- except for themselves.
High
court debates use of 911 reports
Arizona Republic
"The Supreme Court considered Monday whether statements made by
victims to 911 operators and police officers at crime scenes should be
barred as evidence because they were not made under oath or subjected
to cross-examination by a defendant. In cases from Washington and Indiana,
the justices focused on whether the rights of Adrian Davis and Hershel
Hammon were violated because their accusers did not testify at their trials.
The issue is significant because the high court's ruling could affect
the ability of prosecutors to bring criminal charges, particularly in
domestic violence cases, when victims or key witnesses are not willing
or available to testify. ... Lawyers on all sides of the cases, as well
as the Bush administration, want the justices to clarify a 2004 decision
that barred prosecutors' use of statements from victims or witnesses if
a defendant did not have a chance to question them in court." (03/21/06)
At first,
this seems reasonable, for being able to confront a witness against them
is viewed as a cornerstone of the rights of the accused. But it bothers
me, because "evidence" is now being confused with "testimony"
and in a way that makes it logical for the criminal to kill witnesses
and anyone else that might possibly thereby be prevented from formally
testifying under oath. While I suppose that it is possible for someone
to carefully stage a 911 call or a police response to frame someone, it
certainly would seem to be very difficult to do.
Mama's
Note: I don't see that it would be difficult at all, especially in a "domestic
abuse" case where ALL evidence is so highly prejudiced already. The
key, I think, is to carefully evaluate ALL evidence. I agree that the
difference between "evidence" and testimony has become obscure,
often deliberately so to feed a particular agenda. This court is not likely
to address that problem ever, but a ruling against using 911 tapes as
"evidence" might help keep a few innocent people out of prison.
It's all so screwed up it's hard to tell what is right to do.
High
Court trims police power to search homes
Washington Post
"The Supreme Court narrowed police search powers yesterday, ruling
that officers must have a warrant to look for evidence in a couple's home
unless both partners present agree to let them in. The 5 to 3 decision
sparked a sharp exchange among the justices. The majority portrayed the
decision as striking a blow for privacy rights and gender equality; dissenters
said it could undermine police efforts against domestic violence, the
victims of which are often women. ... The ruling upholds a 2004 decision
of the Georgia Supreme Court but still makes a significant change in the
law nationwide, because most other lower federal and state courts had
previously said that police could search with the consent of one of two
adults living together." (03/23/06)
Compared
to the defeats in recent months, this is a small victory for the integrity
of a "castle" but welcome nonetheless. "Domestic violence"
has become, like the mantra "it's for the children," an open-ended
excuse for loss of liberty.
MA:
Towns allowed to ban smoking in private clubs
Boston Globe
"Extending the government's reach over where smokers can light
up, the Supreme Judicial Court said yesterday that local health departments
can ban smoking in private clubs and meeting halls, leaving only private
homes and a few other indoor places free from antitobacco regulations
in Massachusetts. Dozens of cities and towns have already banned smoking
in such clubs, which include veterans' posts and ethnic heritage clubs.
The high court's decision keeps these bans in place. And although some
of the clubs covered by the ruling, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars and
American Legion posts, hark back to an era of smoke-filled rooms, many
have already voluntarily gone smoke-free, officials said yesterday."
(03/23/06)
One more
piece of evidence that the courts do not really believe in the concept
of private property. Like domestic violence and children's issues, anti-smoking
is an excuse for many sins.
Mama's
Note: All the good people who think this "ban" is such a great
idea need to give some thought to the things they use, or even "abuse"
in their own homes. How long before the government dictates the use of
everything?
Mideast
Tarbabies
News
this week from Israel, Iran, and of course, Iraq.
Israel:
Kadima unveils plan for split Jerusalem
Haaretz
"Kadima revealed some details of its vision of a divided Jerusalem
yesterday, saying a future Palestinian state would include the East Jerusalem
neighborhood of A-Tur, but not the Old City. 'The Old City, Mount Scopus,
the Mount of Olives, the City of David, Sheikh Jarra will remain in our
hands, but Kafr Akeb, A-Ram, Shuafat, Hizma, A-Zaim, A-Tur, Abu Dis are
not part of historic Jerusalem, and in the future, when the Palestinian
state is established, they will become its capital,' said Otniel Schneller,
a former leader of the Yesha Council of settlements who represented Kadima
at a debate on dividing Jerusalem. The debate was held at the Jerusalem
Institute for Israel Studies. The Labor Party and Meretz-Yachad also spoke
in favor of dividing Jerusalem, while the Likud, National Union-National
Religious Party and Shas rejected the notion. Only 10 years have passed
since the Likud said Shimon Peres would divide Jerusalem, but yesterday's
discussion showed that in the political discourse of the 2006 elections,
the division of Jerusalem is no longer taboo." (03/24/06)
For decades,
there has been a regular cottage industry on plans for the future of Jerusalem,
and now the "new" political party has joined this very unselect
group with ideas of how to ensure permanent peace. Don't hold your breath.
Al-Qaeda-Linked
Palestinians Charged With Planning Attack
Jerusalem
(CNSNews.com)
For the first time, two Palestinians members of a West Bank al Qaeda
cell have been charged in an Israeli military court with planning a major
terror attack inside Israel...
Just in
case we thought that things had calmed down on the Al Qaeda or Israel
front either one.
Russia,
China block UN Iran statement
Voice of America
"The five permanent United Nations Security Council members and
Germany have failed to agree on a strategy for pressuring Iran to halt
its controversial nuclear program. Approval of a hoped-for common position
statement has been delayed to allow more time for diplomacy. Russia and
China at least temporary blocked a U.N. Security Council statement that
would urge Iran to stop enriching uranium for possible use in nuclear
weapons. The United States, along European allies Britain, France and
Germany, had hoped the statement would be adopted Tuesday. Iran insists
its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. However, the United States
and several of its European allies think otherwise." (03/20/06)
So far,
pretty much as a lot of us said. Russia and China still harbor more fears
of the West (US, UK, and Europe represented by France) than they do Islamicism
- and have way too much internal Muslim population, to boot.
Iranian
leader approves Iraq talks with US
Detroit Free Press
"Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday that
he approves of proposed talks between U.S. and Iranian officials on Iraq,
but warned that the United States must not try to 'bully' Iran. It was
the first confirmation that Khamenei, who holds final say on all state
matters in Iran, supports the talks. His comments appeared aimed at calming
criticism by hard-liners over a major shift in policy by the regime, which
long shunned high-level contacts with a country Tehran brands 'the Great
Satan.'" (03/21/06)
Hey, maybe
this means that it might be possible to get them to go ahead and just
surrender and join Iraq?
Bush:
Troops to stay in Iraq for years
Cincinnati Enquirer
"President Bush said Tuesday that American forces will remain
in Iraq for years and it will be up to a future president to decide when
to bring them all home. But defying critics and plunging polls, he declared,
'I'm optimistic we'll succeed. If not, I'd pull our troops out.' The president
rejected calls for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld,
chief architect of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 'Listen, every war plan
looks good on paper until you meet the enemy,' Bush said, acknowledging
mistakes as the United States was forced to switch tactics and change
a reconstruction strategy that offered targets for insurgents." (03/21/06)
As I recall,
he has said this before, and anyone with any understanding of history
or military operations has known this since before the invasion three
years ago. But everything you seem to read in the media makes this sound
like he finally 'fessed up to his lies.
Abu
Ghraib dog handler found guilty of abuse
USA Today
"An Army dog handler at Abu Ghraib was convicted Tuesday of tormenting
prisoners with his snarling animal and competing with a comrade to make
the Iraqis soil themselves. Sgt. Michael J. Smith, 24, of Fort Lauderdale,
was found guilty at a court-martial of six of 13 counts. The judge later
dismissed one of those six counts, saying it duplicated another. A sentencing
hearing began in the afternoon, and will conclude Wednesday."
(03/21/06)
Good. Prison
and a BCD are far better than the way he treated helpless prisoners.
Mama's
Note: Too bad the rest of them are not facing the same thing, especially
those in command. I'm sure we're not going to see any trials of the top
brass responsible for this. We all know this wasn't some random act by
a few sickos - as the next story illustrates.
US
troops investigated over Iraqi massacres
Independent [UK]
"The US military is investigating two incidents in which American
soldiers killed at least 26 Iraqi civilians and then claimed that they
were either guerrillas or had died in cross fire. The growing evidence
of retaliatory killings of unarmed Iraqi families, often including children,
by US soldiers seemingly bent on punishing Iraqis after an attack, will
spark comparisons with the massacre of Vietnamese villagers at My Lai
in 1968. US troops have been notorious among Iraqis for their willingness
to shoot any Iraqi they see in the aftermath of an insurgent attack. But
it is only now that convincing and detailed information is becoming available
about the killings." (03/21/06)
Like the
above incident, this needs to be investigated and wrongdoers punished.
This sounds too much like "Red Dawn" (the movie about a Soviet-Latin
invasion of the US which featured such killings) to be acceptable even
to the most rabidly-partisan supporter of the occupation, much less to
professional soldiers.
Iraq:
3,000+ families displaced in "sectarian" violence
Reuters AlertNet
"The Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displacement said on Tuesday
that 3,705 families had been displaced in the country, as a result of
the ongoing sectarian violence. It erupted following the 22 February bombing
of a Shi'ite shrine, Al-Askariya, in Samarra, some 120 km north of Baghdad.
The attack on the Al-Askariya shrine spawned days of reprisal attacks
between the country's two major Muslim sects, the Shi'ites and the Sunnis.
At least 400 people were killed and dozens of mosques were damaged and
destroyed, according to figures released last week by the Interior Ministry.
... The government has allocated about US $350,000 to provide the affected
people with essential supplies, but more funds will be needed as displacement
in some places is still on going, he said. Some of the families have ended
up in their relatives' homes while others less fortunate found shelter
in partially built structures, mosques and in abandoned government buildings."
(03/21/06)
I don't
see any evidence that the help these people need most - the ability to
defend themselves, is being provided. Any "CARE Package" to
Iraqi families should include at least a basic load of ammo. Only when
victims are able to defend themselves will this kind of massive dislocation
and the killing that is going on stop.
Bush
asks US to look past Iraq bloodshed
Indianapolis Star
"Beginning the fourth year of an unpopular war [sic], President
Bush defended his Iraq record on Monday against skeptical questioning.
He said he could 'understand people being disheartened' but appealed to
Americans to look beyond the bloodshed and see signs of progress. Bush
fielded questions for nearly an hour at the City Club, a forum known for
its tough interrogations of world leaders. Not only was he grilled on
Iraq, but he also was asked to justify his warrantless wiretapping program,
U.S. relations with Pakistan and his domestic priorities." (03/20/06)
Even some
neocons are complaining that Bush is "picking at the scab" too
much, but for once he seems to be speaking out.
Iraq:
New attacks, deaths as war [sic] enters 4th year
San Diego Union Tribune
"Suspected insurgents marked the third anniversary of the U.S.-led
invasion of Iraq Monday with roadside bombings that killed at least seven
policemen, and authorities reported finding 10 more bullet-riddled bodies
dumped in the capital, one of them a 13-year-old girl. The violence took
up where it left off Sunday when at least 35 people died. ... At least
2,314 U.S. military personnel have died in the war, which is estimated
to have cost $200 billion to $250 billion so far. Bush says about 30,000
Iraqis have been killed, while others put the toll far higher."
(03/20/06)
The bloodletting
continued unabated, but not at the level of war, thankfully.
Mama's
Note: Somehow I don't think that's much comfort to the families of those
who are being killed, injured and made homeless. War is an act, not a
size...
US:
Iraq on own to rebuild
USA Today
"The head of the U.S.-led program to rebuild Iraq said Thursday
that the Iraqi government can no longer count on U.S. funds and must rely
on its own revenues and other foreign aid, particularly from Gulf nations.
'The Iraqi government needs to build up its capability to do its own capital
budget investment,' Daniel Speckhard, director of the U.S. Iraq Reconstruction
Management Office, told reporters." (03/23/06)
About time,
to many people. But again, I must point out, that we are expecting Iraq
to do what Germany and Japan did after World War Two, but in a small fraction
of the time. And I also need to point out that this is TALK, not action:
lets see if the US Administration really does force this action.
Mama's
Note: A very good first step in this process, of course, would be to quit
destroying things there. It is completely unrealistic to expect anyone
to rebuild if it will probably just be destroyed again by the next wave
of tanks and bombs.
US,
UK forces rescue hostages in Iraq
Detroit Free Press
"Without firing a shot, U.S. And British forces stormed a house
Thursday and freed three Christian peace activists who were bound but
unguarded, ending a four-month hostage ordeal that saw an American in
the group killed and dumped along a railroad track. The U.S. ambassador
and the top American military spokesman held out hope the operation on
the outskirts of Baghdad could lead to a break in the captivity of American
reporter Jill Carroll, a freelance writer for The Christian Science Monitor
who was abducted Jan. 7." (03/23/06)
Very few
of the mainstream media bothered to state what this article does: the
hostages were rescued, NOT just set free by their captors. At the same
time, there seems to be singularly little gratefulness on the part of
the rescued people - no surprise, given that they were in country basically
to oppose (peacefully, mind you) the Coalition forces who ultimately rescued
them. One may admire their devotion to a cause while bemoaning their stupidity.
The
Political Campaigns of 2006
Slowly,
slowly warming up, but the rhetoric is sometimes already at fever pitch.
But we can start with some small snippets of good news.
NJ:
Libertarian defeats city document fee
Home News Tribune
"A $55 iron curtain has been lifted from local government. John
Paff, secretary for the Libertarian Party of Central New Jersey, won a
state appellate court decision that strikes down [Edison] township's $55
charge to put Township Council meeting minutes on a computer disk. ...
His court battle has ironic origins. In 2004, Paff wanted to challenge
the township's nuisance ordinance, which he claims is unconstitutional.
He and his political party had sent letters to the council. The reason
Paff wanted 3 1/2 months of meeting minutes was to find out if his correspondence
had been discussed during council sessions. Paff sent a computer disk
and $2 for postage when he requested the electronic documents. In return
he received a $55 bill. Then he filed suit, claiming the fee acted as
a barrier to accessing public records." (03/24/06)
A tiny
little battle, but one worth fighting, and one which was won!
Mama's
Note: I knew it! I always thought Libertarians were really masochists,
and this proves it. Anyone who wants to listen to 3 1/2 months of government
meetings, just to find out if they read his letter, is certifiably insane
as far as I'm concerned. Just what does he propose to do about it, whether
they read it or not? With "victory" like this, who needs defeat?
IL:
Libertarian Republican polls 46% vs. incumbent
Pioneer Press
"Sidney Mathias had to wait until the morning after the primary
election to find out whether he would continue to be the Republicans'
choice for state representative of the 53rd District. With 91 of 99 precincts
counted, Mathias, a four-term state legislator, had a 555-vote lead over
challenger Scott Bludorn as of Wednesday morning. Mathias had 3,722 votes
to Bludorn's 3,167, a 54 percent majority for Mathias in the Republican
primary for the 53rd District, which includes parts of Arlington Heights,
Buffalo Grove, Wheeling and Prospect Heights. 'It was a nail-biter,' Mathias
said." [FND editor's note: Scott Bludorn is a former Libertarian
Party candidate for the seat; for a previous "third party" candidate
to come that close to an incumbent bodes well for his future political
prospects - TLK] (03/24/06)
While this
is clearly good news, it still matters not the least. Even 49% in a two-way
race still means that the good guy has lost. And I have to be honest and
say that I doubt that even the most libertarian of people can join one
of the old parties without hopelessly compromising away the very core
of their belief in liberty.
Mama's
Note: Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that even being elected as
a Libertarian will result in any real gains for liberty. Very few are
going to maintain the full integrity of a Ron Paul, and even he has not
been able to do much against the vast majority of the congress. Even Ron
Paul couldn't make it as a Libertarian.
Some
DeLay charges may be reinstated
Houston Chronicle
"Prosecutors will try to persuade a Texas appeals court Wednesday
to reinstate some of the criminal charges against Rep. Tom Delay, who
is trying to win reelection to Congress while under indictment. In December,
a judge threw out some of the conspiracy and money laundering charges
against the former House majority leader, saying the conspiracy law Delay
allegedly violated did not exist at the time." (03/21/06)
Don't expect
them to give up until about January 2007 (well, maybe November, if Delay
doesn't get reelected).
At
Schwarzenegger fundfest, fingers point at McCain
San Francisco Chronicle
"A high-priced fundraiser Monday night in Beverly Hills for Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger featured special guest Sen. John McCain of Arizona,
whose appearance Democrats and some government watchdogs say skirted the
federal campaign finance law he helped enact. McCain, the maverick Republican
who once called Democratic Gov. Gray Davis' fundraising conduct 'disgraceful,'
was the star attraction at an event that allowed guests who contributed
or raised $100,000 or $50,000 to take photos with the governor and attend
a private reception, according to the invitations. Some of the money was
expected to go to Schwarzenegger's reelection campaign and some to the
state Republican Party. The event is part of a recent surge in fundraising
for Schwarzenegger, who is gearing up for reelection" (03/21/06)
Hypocritical?
Maybe - but business as usual for politicos.
Former
first lady's donation aids son
Houston Chronicle
"Former first lady Barbara Bush donated an undisclosed amount
of money to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund with specific instructions that
the money be spent with an educational software company owned by her son
Neil. Since then, the Ignite Learning program has been given to eight
area schools that took in substantial numbers of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
... Regarding the fact that Bush's earmarked donation also benefited her
son's company, Becker said, 'Mrs. Bush is obviously an enthusiastic supporter
of her son. She is genuinely supportive of his program,' and has received
many letters from educators who support it. Bush 'honestly felt this would
be a great way to help the (evacuee) students.'" (03/23/06)
Frankly,
I can see nothing wrong with this - many donations from people for things
like this are "earmarked" and it is HER money (however first
acquired, I admit) - she has the right to designate it as she pleases.
Clinton
invokes Jesus
World Net Daily
Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton invoked Jesus to argue against a House
immigration bill that would make illegal presence in the United States
a felony. "It is certainly not in keeping with my understanding of
the Scriptures," Clinton said, according to the Associated Press,
"because this bill would literally criminalize the Good Samaritan
and probably even Jesus himself."
Taking
a page from President Bush's book, I see. It fits her even less well,
I might add. But more to the point, it brings her dangerously close to
agreeing with those "rightwing religious fanatics" that she
and her kind supposedly oppose, as she seeks to make herself more electable.
Is she really a secret theonomist (someone who believes that God's laws
should take priority over men's laws)? Is she admitting tacitly that government
is NOT god?
More
News and Commentary on Page 2
Nathan
Barton is writing from his secret bunker complex on the eastern slopes
of the Paha Sapa, swilling Doctor Pepper (and gallons of water each day,
milady) and plotting to re-elect Gaius Julius Caesar dictator of the Republic
- or was that Senator Palpatine? Granville James Corbin? W? Q?
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to visit my blog, Liberty's
Outpost.
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