Libertarian Commentary on the News, 20 - 26 April, 2008

World wars:
Commentary: Terrorism
News Journal
Defining terrorism is contentious only for those who want to hide from the implications of definition, which to me is simple: Violent acts directed primarily at civilian targets, or that produce primarily civilian casualties, are terrorism. So are violent acts directed at any imprisoned individual, soldiers or guerrillas included - especially those held illegally…

Once in a while, I feature a commentary in THIS commentary. This article is worth reading and pondering, for it reminds us how language can trip us up and destroy us. In the Bible, it is called the “language of Ashdod,” – adopting the words (indeed, the definitions) of the evil states and societies around us and leading us to forget our true allegiance. Thanks to Scott for this one.

World wars:
War on Terror Driven by Overreaction, Expert Says
CNSNews.com
America’s war on terror is driven by an irrational fear of terrorism, according to one homeland security expert who believes that the money spent and the security steps taken after 9/11 do not match the reality posed by the threat. Other experts, however, insist that the terror threat is real and credible...

How many of us have been saying this for how long? There is (and has been) a threat of murderous thugs killing people to force political or economic change but that is NOT what billions of dollars have been spent on.

World wars:
France: Paris mounts diplomatic charm offensive to mollify China
International Herald Tribune
“After a wave of anti-French protests in China, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France is sending three top officials there this week in a hastily assembled diplomatic charm offensive to limit the political and economic fallout from the controversy surrounding the preparations for the Olympic Games. Thousands of protesters massed in front of Chinese outlets of the French supermarket chain Carrefour over the weekend, demonstrating against what they saw as France’s support for pro-Tibet agitators and calling for a boycott of French goods. France has become the main focus of a string of fiercely nationalistic protests in China, notably after footage of a 27-year-old Chinese athlete in a wheelchair protecting the Olympic torch from protesters as it passed through Paris this month turned her into a national hero and talk show star.” (04/21/08)

French show white flag again? How often does this have to happen? And they didn’t even invade France, just threatened some French equivalents of Wal-Mart.

World wars:
Army, Marines give waivers to more felons
CNN
“The Army and Marine Corps are allowing convicted felons to serve in increasing numbers, newly released Department of Defense statistics show. Recruits were allowed to enlist after having been convicted of crimes including assault, burglary, drug possession and making terrorist threats. The statistics were released by Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.” (04/21/08)

I am of mixed feelings on this. One of the poor decisions of the fedgov in past years, in my opinion, had been the decision to not allow people with ANY criminal record to serve: the old tradition of troublemakers making good soldiers had served us (the Republic) well. And far too many of these felonies are, frankly, bogus. At the same time, we need honest, decent people in the service, not scumbags. Of course, keeping convicts out of the service doesn’t keep the bad people out, so it may be a wash.

Mama's Note: And then there is the hypocrisy of all the "laws" that prohibit these same people from even TOUCHING a gun, much less owning and carrying one - yet the military (and cops) are supposedly the only ones qualified to handle guns and other armament the average citizen would do life in prison for having... makes so much sense.

World wars:
Petraeus to head US Middle East forces
Agence France-Presse
“General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, was tapped Wednesday to lead US forces in the Middle East in a major shift in the military command at a time of growing tensions with Iran. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Petraeus would be replaced in Iraq by his former number two, General Raymond Odierno, who commanded day-to-day operations during a ’surge’ of US troops that sharply reduced violence there. … The position opened last month when Admiral William Fallon abruptly stepped down saying reports of differences with the White House on how to deal with Iran had become ‘a distraction.’ The nomination, which must be approved by the Senate, puts Petraeus in charge of the US military’s biggest challenges — Iraq, an expanding military effort in Afghanistan, an Al-Qaeda revival in Pakistan, and challenges from Iran on various fronts.” (04/23/08)

Despite the many, many attacks on this man, most military personnel are satisfied with the work he did, as is the Administration. I expect him to do a similar job in CentCom. To those who want to attack him, feel free, but keep in mind you are blaming the messenger for his message: it is ultimately Congress that is to blame for the mess in the Middle East, no matter what they claim during election campaigns. They could have prevented it, stopped it, or reversed it with a few votes anytime from 2001 on.

Afghan front:
Afghanistan: Poland takes charge of province’s occupation
Thaindian News [Thailand]
“Polish Defence Minister Bogdan Klich confirmed Friday that his country will take over security responsibility for the southern Afghan province of Ghazni, the PAP news agency reported. The Polish contingent, composed of 1,600 troops armed with eight helicopters, is now concentrated in three different provinces in Afghanistan’s south. According to Klich, Poland is taking up a more visible presence in Afghanistan, thus helping to secure Poland’s interests in NATO and to reach the Polish goals on the world stage.” (04/18/08)

This is definitely a first for Poland: I don’t think that they ever had a colony (and Milwaukee doesn’t count).

Canaanite front:
Hamas rebuts Carter’s claim of concession
Washington Times
“Hamas said yesterday it was prepared to accept a Palestinian state within 1967 borders, but contradicted a statement by former President Jimmy Carter that it would accept Israel’s right to exist if that was the will of the Palestinian people. … Mr. Carter — who infuriated Israeli leaders by meeting in Damascus, Syria, with Hamas’ political leader, Khalid Mashaal — announced what appeared to be a significant concession in an address yesterday to the Israeli Council on Foreign Relations. … However, at a later press conference in Damascus, Mr. Mashaal backed away from the concession announced by Mr. Carter.” (04/22/08)

More lies. Of course, Carter believes what he, and Hamas, want him to believe, which is usually anything but the truth. This entire little trip of his MAY have finally triggered enough of a public outrage to get the insane presidential retirement system at least reformed, although there is no hope (short of revolution) of eliminating this particularly nasty form of welfare.

Mama's Note: At least there are only two or three of them alive at any given time...

Canaanite front:
US says North Korea "linked to Syrian reactor"
BBC News [UK]
"North Korea was helping Syria build a nuclear reactor, US officials are to tell lawmakers in a closed session. Unnamed officials told a number of US newspapers that the US had video footage of the Syrian facility with North Koreans inside. Syria has repeated denials that it has any nuclear weapons programme, or any such agreement with North Korea. It follows an unexplained air strike by Israel last September on a target inside Syria. According to the Washington Post, the alleged nuclear facility was the target of the bombing." (04/24/08)

I do suspect we have not heard the full, or indeed, a true and accurate story of this incident. But I have no reason to doubt that Syria is NOT trying to get nuclear weapons. And no reasons to suspect that North Korea is not doing its normal two-faced dealings with the West.

Canaanite front:
Israelis claim secret agreement with US
Washington Post
"A letter that President Bush personally delivered to then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon four years ago has emerged as a significant obstacle to the president's efforts to forge a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians during his last year in office. Ehud Olmert, the current Israeli prime minister, said this week that Bush's letter gave the Jewish state permission to expand the West Bank settlements that it hopes to retain in a final peace deal, even though Bush's peace plan officially calls for a freeze of Israeli settlements across Palestinian territories on the West Bank. In an interview this week, Sharon's chief of staff, Dov Weissglas, said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reaffirmed this understanding in a secret agreement reached between Israel and the United States in the spring of 2005, just before Israel withdrew from Gaza. U.S. officials say no such agreement exists ..." (04/24/08)

Does this letter even exist? It very well may not: it is hard to understand why either Bush or Rice would do such a thing in writing.

Mama's Note: Quite aside from whether or not the "letter" exists, or ever did, is the question of how a US president can give anybody "permission" for such things. Just how is any of this the business of the US at all?

Mesopotamian front:
Iraq: Maliki appeals for Arab help as militia threats grow
Associated Press
“Iraq’s prime minister appealed Monday for support from his Arab neighbors, urging them to open embassies and forgive Iraqi debts as his government tries to crack down on Shiite militias in a crucial power struggle. The appeal came as leaders of the biggest militia — the Mahdi Army of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr — warned more violence could await, even as they criticized the government for allegedly showing little interest in negotiating with them. … No major fighting was reported in Sadr City on Monday. But U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Steve Stover said an unmanned U.S. aircraft fired a Hellfire missile at a group of gunmen late Sunday, killing all three. In Basra, a roadside bomb exploded near a U.S. convoy in the central part of the city, setting a Humvee ablaze and causing casualties …. Two American soldiers were killed and two others were wounded in a bombing in Salahuddin province, which also claimed the lives of two anti-al-Qaida fighters and a civilian interpreter …. In Baqouba, northeast of Baghdad, a teenage girl detonated an explosive vest at the headquarters of group of U.S.-allied Sunni fighters, killing three people and wounding three others …” (04/21/08)

Of course, it is in large part their “Arab neighbors” that are supporting al-Sadr and the other factions, when those aren’t being supported by Iran. So this appeal is for the ears of the West and not those to whom it is ostensibly addressed.

Mesoptamian front:
Islamist Claims 44,000 US Dead in Iraq
CNSNews.com
Ibrahim Al-Shammari, spokesman for the Islamic Army of Iraq, told Al Jazeera that the discrepancy between the 4,000 casualties reported by Western news agencies and the 44,000 claimed by his group was caused by the U.S. not counting the deaths of soldiers "who have Green Cards."

When we think about how much the Fedgov lies, we sometimes forget that every government or wannabe government lies, and that often the whoppers told by the enemies of the US are much more incredible than anything we normally hear from the US.

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