main page
"To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
|
click here for a bigger sunset
One small voice in the proud tradition of FreeBlogging*
Saturday, June 08, 2002
posted by gbarto at 10:45 PM:
French news:Le Monde: The vote of a doubtful France. There's concern that with the left and right unifying behind single candidates, the Front national will get to be in a lot of 3-way second round races and even some 2 way races. All of a sudden, the supposed virtues of France's stabs at proportional representation and giving voice to 3rd parties is coming back to haunt it. Meanwhile, Le Monde also notes that The Parties Have Done Little to Promote Blacks and Beurs. Didn't we read that in Liberation last night? (Yes, we did.)
Meanwhile, there's Renewed Violence in the West Bank with three Palestinian attacks into Israel leaving three Israelis dead and five wounded. Meanwhile, 4 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza strip in two attacks at checkpoints, one armed Palestinian was killed as he stormed a beach (another Palestinian with him is presumed drowned but no body has been located) and three Palestinians were killed when the bomb they were carrying detonated prematurely. The TurkeyBlog notes that this comes a) as Bush was discussing peace with Mubarak and b) as Sharon was preparing for a trip to the US to discuss restarting peace talks. Want violence? Suggest peace. What Arafat wants is hard to say at this point, but we know where the extremist Palestinian groups stand and either he has to rein them in or he has to let others do so.
Also in the news, French Islamist in for questioning and he apparently had been talking to Moussaoui.
We'll wrap up Le Monde with a look at their lead editorial, in which they worry that mainstream French politicians have blown it, their power is fading fast and they're headed for a repeat of the presidential election in which FN again plays on weaknesses in France's voting system to grab the spotlight, not to say actual seats.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 10:19 PM:
Just saw the end of the Wings-Canes game. I know that hockey is brutal but I can't believe the way the Canes have been playing; it seemed at times as though if the choice were between getting the puck and knocking over one of the Wings better players, they'd go for the player every time. But in the end, the Wings did pull it out in the 3rd (!) overtime.* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:42 PM:
The Den Beste debate goes transatlantic! Here's Fredrik Norman's take.* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:40 PM:
Political intelligence in Sweden? Who'd have thought it possible? Bjørn Stærk has the scoop.* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:32 PM:
Discord on Mideast TimetableAt Camp David, Bush and Mubarak disagree on setting calendar for Palestinian state.
Mubarak: Bush Needs to Act
Of course the fact that Mubarak's predecessor was summarily offed by fanatics by acting like Israel was something other than an abomination unto the earth has no effects on his statements. For this reason, the TurkeyBlog treats any statement on Israel from Mubarak as words spoken by a hostage with a gun to his head.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:28 PM:
Mass. Democrats Challenge Whether Romney Meets Residency RequirementYeah, the dirty carpetbagger was in Utah to run the Olympics and he still filed tax forms in Massachussetts. Is the party of Hillary Clinton really prepared to keep a straight face while arguing that this guy's presence in Utah for the Olympics is substantially different from Teddy Kennedy's residence in Washington but HRC's never having lived in New York isn't an issue? Of course they are, because if the teleprompter says that Republicans were personally stealing little kids' lunch money they'll read it with a smile. But the Massachussetts courts should know better, and if they don't the people of Massachussetts should repay the Democratic nominee for his/her party's little games. And if they don't demand better of their state's Democratic party, then they deserve all the problems that party has visited on their state.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:19 PM:
Renewed Shelling in Kashmir3 killed along India, Pakistan border
Armitage Upbeat About Crisis
Actually the Palestinians only attacked because they were jealous about the India-Pakistan dispute getting all the coverage.
And, incidentally, has anyone explained to Armitage what crisis means? (perhaps FNC could better phrase their headline)
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:17 PM:
Troops Intensify Offensive Against Muslim Extremists After Hostage DeathPresident Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pledged that troops would now unleash their full arsenal on the rebels because Philippine forces will not have to worry about harming hostages.Is it a good thing or a really bad sign that they're thinking the way I am?
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:15 PM:
Palestinian Gunmen Attack Israeli SettlementsFox lists this as being a related story for the Bush-Mubarak meeting. Is it related because they both involve the Middle East, though? Or is it directly related because yet again Western moves toward peace are being met with violence?
Incidentally, I haven't done a chart or graph, but it seems like a lot of these things happen on weekends. Are the Palestinians collecting that one last paycheck before going off to battle? Or does it take a wild Friday night to gear up for a martyrdom operation?
Or was that disrespectful?
* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:14 PM:
What an awful question. Dianne Dimond just asked the aunt of Elizabeth Smart (the young girl who was kidnapped) if there was anything we don't know about her that she'd like to share. You could see the poor woman trying to keep straight the difference between this question and the intended one: Is there something about her that you could share that might help people find her?I'm glad I haven't faced such a question because I'd probably still be stammering out the first words when Dimond announced it was time to wrap the interview.
I know the question was just poorly phrased, but Jeebus, these people make good money and they should be more careful.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:07 PM:
There is an old joke presented as a relaxation exercise:Sit back... breathe slowly... you are in a garden... by a pond... a waterfall flows near by... listen to the water falling and burbling... smell the lush flowers around you... feel yourself becoming calm... tranquil... serene... and as all the stress goes out of you... peer placidly... calmly... into the beautiful clear pond... at the face of your boss who you've been holding under the water.
What would Eric Olsen say about this? It's an unreal fantasy, one that probably isn't a very good idea. But most people laugh, because they see in it the extreme of how they feel sometimes. Steve Den Beste recently presented what (may or may not have) passed through his mind during a vacation in Vegas and Eric Olsen is horrified. To read him, you would get the impression that we never have an unconsidered thought, or that if we do we must pounce on it and quash it lest anyone else find out that not all our thoughts are wise, thoughtful and indicative of earnest concern for others. In fact, thoughts that depart from this earnest model tell us a lot. Not about whether or not we're good people, but about whether humanity has an effect on humans and what effect that might be.
I read just about everything Den Beste writes and enjoy just about every word, even when I disagree (not often). I don't read Olsen as often, so maybe he commented and I missed it. But I would ask the blogosphere, if not Olsen: Why the fuss when Steve Den Beste looks at pretty young girls, but no fuss when he says that he can't help the visceral feeling that he would love to see Yassir Arafat dead? I agree with Den Beste about Arafat but wonder what it says that lechery stirs debate but wishing death upon another person (even Arafat) doesn't.
btw, here's Den Beste's response to Olsen.
And in case you didn't read the other follow-ups, Kevin Whited's is very good.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:20 AM:
In the news:Serena Beats Older Sis Venus
French Open is their second sibling Grand Slam final in nine months
Search for Elizabeth Intensifies
Utah police, volunteer pilots conduct air search for 14-year-old girl
This is not looking good. Heartbreaking as it is to concede, when this amount of time goes by without any calls, ransom demands, etc, the outcome is only very rarely a good one. And I fear that the same intense search that can sometimes lead to a happy ending in the first few hours can also make a kidnapper - rarely bright or stable to begin with - think that the best way to avoid a kidnapping charge is to risk a murder charge so that the victim won't be there to testify against him. Sick fuckers. But then, most criminals plot their crimes without considering the possibility of getting caught. And then do stupid things to avoid getting caught. Our prayers go out to this little girl and her family and our wishes for a happy ending are boundless. But our expectations are at this point low.
Troops Chase Abu Sayyaf Rebels
Offensive intensifies after death of American hostage in Philippines
I was greatly relieved to hear that the family blames Abu Sayyaf for kidnapping, not the Filipinos for a less than successful rescue attempt. The last thing the War on Islamists needs is for distraught family members to start suing governments for not playing nice enough with these thugs while the thugs get a pass. The only thing I would add at this point is that when the lives of hostages are no longer a consideration, the Filipinos ought move with all due haste to neutralize the other inhabitants of identified camps.
Redistribution of Wheels
Riders accuse Ft. Lauderdale of playing 'Robin Hood' with their bikes
I think I'm going to start asking people to show receipts for their laptops. After all, people might just pick up and walk off with a laptop seen in a cafe or wherever. You can't be too careful... Read the story and you'll see what I'm talking about.
* * *
Friday, June 07, 2002
posted by gbarto at 10:17 PM:
By the way, the below inspired by a post and subsequent comments on Little Green Footballs. You probably already saw the link at Instapundit but if you haven't, go have a look.* * *
posted by gbarto at 10:09 PM:
Sent to CNN:It is true that we're in a war on terror, but the terror is coming overwhelmingly from Islamists, Islamofascists or whatever term one chooses to use to describe "militants" of Arab extraction who want to exterminate Western culture and impose their extreme version of sharia across Asia and North Africa. While we oppose Irish terrorists, Basque terrorists, Red Brigade terrorists, our war isn't being fought in Europe against Catholics, ancient ethnic groups or communist factions; it isn't even being fought against Arab countries or Muslim countries; it's being fought against those who would make radical Islam the order of the day. Other terrorists will be dealt with later, but for the moment we are in a war against the movement that killed 3000 of our own on September 11, the Islamists. And Dobbs should be given his due for speaking to the truth of the matter.Send yours to moneyline@cnn.com
Geoffrey Barto
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:52 PM:
In the news in France:Le Monde leads with election ho-hum. Between the World Cup and the French Open, there's little on the television or in the newspapers to indicate that round 1 of the legislative elections takes place Sunday. Still, the latest poll sees the right getting 40%, the left 36%, the rest going to the extremes. Based on the breakdown, those from Chirac's Union for a Presidential Majority and the Rally for the Republic will get 380 of 570 seats, a comfortable governing majority.
Liberation leads with Britain's Defeat of Argentina. No, it's not the Falklands; it's just the latest World Cup match.
Liberation also has this:
Un scrutin ni black ni beur / A ballot neither black nor beur [of North African extraction]First note the French word for "une personne noire". We'll leave it to others to solve the sociological riddle of why France would go to English to describe blacks - even as our commentators refer to African-American Nigerians and the like to avoid the now questionable term. More troublesome for a France that likes to see itself as openminded and tolerant: When the voting is done, the likelihood is next to nil that a black will be elected to the Assemblee nationale - the only black nominees are from third and fourth-tier parties.
Tonight, we wrap up French news with Le Figaro's print headlines: Legislative Elections: the Key to the First Round; Tensions High with the Blues; Security: Bush wants to change everything
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:15 PM:
Go read Den Beste. Great stuff on war strategy, hostage stragegy, bad brokers and more.* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:09 PM:
Kf also hears that ... still more defections from the leaking American Prospect are in the works. Editor Robert Kuttner may not know about them yet. But kausfiles do! ...And here I'd always assumed that Kausfiles was singular. Who knew?
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:02 PM:
Did you hear the one about the Ostrogoth... ? Dr. Weevil did and has some delightful observations.* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:59 PM:
A Dog's Life beat me to the punch on the pork expo. He also has sharp thinking on celebrity deaths.* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:38 PM:
Bush Pushes Killing of 'Death Tax' at Iowa's World Pork ExpoThe real shocker is that this is an actual meeting, not just a fond nickname for the Iowa Ethanol Producers' Meet the Candidates forum.
As for killing the death tax, it's an idea whose time has come. It's funny how when the tax is questioned, its supporters declare its effects on the people negligeable but its contribution to our revenue stream all-important. If they'd admit that their goal is to have an extremely profound effect on wealthy heirs - diluting the hell out of their inheiritance and blasting apart concentrations of capital - I'd respect estate tax proponents for advancing a noble (if in my view wrongheaded) policy idea held by the likes of Thomas Jefferson. But when they pretend the paltry sums generated by the estate tax are enough to justify not only the costs but also the bureacratic hassles and reams of paperwork incurred by those who come within its grasp, they show that they're either mean-spirited hypocrites or just plain naive.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:26 PM:
Rowley Blasts FBI BureaucracyDirector Mueller also testified, focusing on what a pain in the ass it is to rearrange government bureaucracies and computer systems. Congress was largely sympathetic to his concerns, but concentrated on an area they adjudged to be far more important:
At the same time, he faced sharp questioning about the FBI's failure to alert the committee earlier this year about the so-called Phoenix memorandum, a document sent to agency headquarters last summer noting that several Arabs were suspiciously training at a U.S. aviation school in Arizona.It's so reassuring to know that even the horror of 3000 dead can't shake our Congress from its efforts. 3000 dead and they're pissed the FBI didn't give 'em the memo sooner. I'd warrant the relatives of the 3000 dead are pretty upset about the memo going missing too, but you know that won't enter into their calculations unless the teevee news plays it up because when you've got drama, danger and death, what counts for Congress is whether they're in the loop.
To summarize: The FBI's street cred ain't lookin' so hot. Big surprise. And disgust with Congress is high - and richly deserved.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:12 PM:
The Long Road to a New Cabinet SeatLots of fun ahead for Mr. Ridge - if he's kept on. I know that some have suggested he be ditched, but two years ago he was being touted as an excellent choice for Republican VP (other than his pro-choice views) and he gave up the Pennsylvania governorship, as good a launching pad for advancement as any. This, he did in order to take over a haphazardly thrown together agency with longshot odds on great glory balanced by overwhelming odds in favor of embarrassment and ignominy. Longshot odds because - like the CIA - its victories would have to be kept quiet while its failures would dominate the news. Since then, Mr. Ridge used the box of markers and few sheets of whiteboard that comprised the new agency's only real tools to create a very pretty color-coding system, and while it may not look like much he got it on the air before any of the other half dozen agencies in related areas could either steal it as their own or smother it in the turf wars. For this, much credit is due. Now Bush is finally stepping up to the plate and offering his friend's agency a degree of power commensurate with the ridicule to which the agency has been subjected - unwarranted ridicule since it's hardly the agency's fault Bush and Congress couldn't agree on what it would be or what powers it would have. The team in place now deserves the chance to try out the real thing, having put up with playing pretend security directors while the Executive and Legislative branches went about their collective muddling. The failure of imagination vis-a-vis this office thus far lies with a White House that didn't think things through and a Congress that will put its own prestige ahead of our safety any day of the week. All Ridge failed to do was call his boss unfocused and condemn the people who sign his paychecks and fund his agency as numskulls - neither of these career advancing moves. Now that they've come to the realization that the Homeland Security Office might need power to do more than hold press conferences and rearrange government furniture, Congress and the White House should give Ridge and his team the chance to prove themselves. And boot them if they don't. But they haven't had that chance yet.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 5:43 PM:
J. Lo Goes SoloJennifer Lopez and her dancer-husband, Cris Judd, have separated
Now's your chance, Puffy! er, P ? Whatever...
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:23 AM:
Juan Gato has nice summary of the "who knew" game. (found at Layne)* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:11 AM:
Josh Marshall has some worthwhile comments on the Bush proposal and its implementation.* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:06 AM:
This doesn't look good:Va. Speaker Settles Sex Complaint
Wilkins Paid Woman at Least $100,000, Denies Accusations
By R.H. Melton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 7, 2002; Page A01
AMHERST, Va. -- Virginia House of Delegates Speaker S. Vance Wilkins Jr. (R) paid at least $100,000 last year to settle a sexual harassment complaint by a woman who said he repeatedly made unwelcome advances on her in the warehouse complex where his legislative office was located, according to sources familiar with the settlement.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:03 AM:
Bush Plan Gets Support From Legislators... after a Friday morning meeting.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:01 AM:
Mubarak Appealing to BushWants Palestinian state timeline
And Sharon wants a timeline for when the bombings will stop. But Mubarak cannot furnish this. If Mubarak really wants a timeline for Palestinian statehood, he will ask Iran, Iraq, Syria and - let's not forget this one - Saudi Arabia when they intend to stop funding terror. For I suspect that if the Israelis feel safe in so doing, they will leap at the chance to let the Palestinians look after themselves so they don't have to anymore.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 8:56 AM:
U.S. Hostage Dies in Rescue TryMartin Burnham killed in Philippines raid; wife Gracia wounded but safe
Is this a victory or a defeat? A little of both, but it is important that in lieu of working with terrorists we took them on. Martin Burnham's death is a tragedy; so where the 3000 from 9/11. But the western world has to stand against these people to shut them down or we will all be held hostage.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 8:40 AM:
Skakel found guilty of murder
It's not a trial we've followed here, but it's in the news, so there you go.
Listening to the commentators, it sounds like we've heard a story of arrogance in which Skakel and others went about their breezy ways without considering the gravity of the matter or the possibility their statements could show up in a courtroom.
Of course we should remember who got the ball rolling on this. On a mission to vindicate himself after the OJ trial, Mark Furhman wrote a little book called "Murder in Greenwich", about which I found the following (thanks Google):
Among Fuhrman's controversial opinions is his conclusion that the killer is Moxley's neighbor Michael Skakel, a nephew of Ethel Kennedy and at the time the same age as Martha Moxley. Some townspeople have long suspected Michael's older brother Thomas of performing the deed, but Fuhrman argues that only Michael had both the opportunity and the temperament to commit such a crime.
(found here)
* * *
Thursday, June 06, 2002
posted by gbarto at 9:52 PM:
Fredrik Norman pushing the sensible position on immigration.* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:41 PM:
Lots of good stuff on grade weighting and AP classes at Joanne Jacobs.* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:32 PM:
Lou Dobbs, truth teller. via Instapundit* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:26 PM:
New Chandra Bone, Wire FoundD.C. police chief angry evidence found close to site of Levy's remains
WASHINGTON — Investigators working for Chandra Levy's parents discovered a human leg bone and twisted wire Thursday near the site where her remains were found in a Washington park.Hmm, a year to find the body's ok, but miss one little bone and they get all huffy. Incidentally, while the bone doesn't tell them anything, doesn't the twisted wire?
Dr. Jonathan Arden, Washington's medical examiner, has determined it is probably Levy's left shin bone, people familiar with the investigation said. But the bone yielded no clues about how Levy died, they said.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:20 PM:
More French news:Le Figaro: Blues at the Point of Death (they were only able to tie at 0-0 in their latest match); Ramallah: New Incursion by Israeli Tanks; and hey, did you know there's a French Open on? Neither do the French, who are all watching soccer, but there up to the Semis at Roland-Garros.
Liberation: Blues Still Alive (note the contrast with the Figaro headline)
* * *
posted by gbarto at 8:48 PM:
French news:Le Monde leads with the Bush speech. Also (and this, in my view, is bigger news), the European Court of Justice has just thrown out an EU veto of a merger. The EU had vetoed the merger of Airtours and First Choice - two travel companies. The court said they overreached.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:29 PM:
Den Beste solves the Middle East. Or says there's no good solution, anyway.* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:18 PM:
Instapundit says consumers are speaking up in the content wars.* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:01 PM:
Other headlines:Dee Dee Ramone Found Dead
Founding member of punk band possibly died of drug overdose
Winona Ryder Told to Stand Trial
Actress charged with shoplifting $6,000 from Saks, drug possession
Amish Lose Triangle Battle
Judge fines religious sect members for not using reflectors on buggies
* * *
posted by gbarto at 5:59 PM:
FNC's write-up on the Bush speech.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:42 PM:
Whistle-Blower Urges ReformFBI lawyer Coleen Rowley testifies at congressional hearing and calls for streamlining agency
Streamlining is, indeed, needed. So, however, is greater autonomy for field offices. The shock is not that the FBI Washington office didn't let Rowley seeks a warrant to look at Moussaoi's computer; it's too typical of Washington bureaucracy all 'round. The shock is that Washington had to pass on the request. The FBI can't just issue warrants; it has to get them from a judge in a different branch of the government. If such a warrant were not justified, a judge could have made that determination - there were enough safeguards in place to protect the Constitution, which suggests the policy is about protecting something else. We'll let the reader decide what might have been being protected.
As for Mueller, Ridge and all the rest, they should be wary of too much centralization. Washington should not be wasting resources vetting search warrant applications because the top dogs in the FBI in Washington should either have confidence in their field agents or deal directly with their personnel problems. If they can't get past personal issues about control, they shouldn't be in the biz. Because if our safety depends on Bob Mueller, Louis Freeh or anyone else getting the one relevant needle out of the haystack of info these agencies generate, we're all f-ed. Our only hope is to let competent people do their jobs at all levels because they were trained to do them, have the knowledge to do them and are in an organization devoted to maximizing their ability to do them. The FBI, like so much of Washington, is a mess thanks to insecure politicians and bureaucrats who are more devoted to their own personal profiles than to creating conditions where their employees - our employees - can succeed at their organizational objectives. Get Congress the hell out of the way and then let the FBI's top people know that their job isn't running the FBI - it's facilitating and coordinating the work of their agents. Then we'll have an honest chance.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:19 PM:
... If I have a book which understands for me, a pastor who has a conscience for me, a physician who decides my diet, and so forth, I need not trouble myself. I need not think, if I can only pay - others will readily undertake the irksome work for me.
That the step to competence is held to be very dangerous by the far greater portion of mankind (and by the entire fair sex) - quite apart from its being arduous - is seen to by those guardians who have so kindly assumed superintendence over them. After the guardians have first made their domestic cattle dumb and have made sure that these placid creatures will not dare take a single step without the harness of the cart to which they are confined, the guardians then show them the danger which threatens if they try to go alone. Actually, however, this danger is not so great, for by falling a few times they would finally learn to walk alone. But an example of this failure makes them timid and ordinarily frightens them away from all further trials.
- Immanuel Kant in "What is Enlightenment", 1784
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:29 AM:
Stærk explains well the relatively muted coverage in the blogosphere of the latest Middle East violence.* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:25 AM:
Marvelous commentary by Richard Tofel on today's WSJ op-ed page. Tofel says the Dems should be flanking Bush on the right, pushing harder for an Iraq invasion (Gephardt and Daschle got that memo), pointing out Saudi perfidy and letting the world know just what a bad idea it is to be in the "against us" column. In short, Tofel says Bush has the right agenda but needs to actually implement it. He's dead on in his assessment. However, he's also wise in his doubts about the Dems actually waking up to the merits of this stand. Unfortunately, with the state of the American media and the spinelessness of Congressional Republicans, our two parties can be characterized as "useless, due to timidity in the face of the media" and "useless, due to being in thrall to to special interests". Far left and far right readers can decide which category their camp belongs in.* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:41 AM:
Spare Us Your TearsSenator tired of celebrities appearing before Congress
Amen. I remember way back in the '80s when Sissy Spacek was able to earnestly tell Congress how hard it was being a farmer because she'd experienced it first hand - playing her part in a movie! Shall we next have Harrison Ford testify about how to hang off a jet when avoiding terrorists? George Clooney explain how to capture a stolen warhead? And am I the only one who remembers that last dud?
When Henley and Morissette testified about musicians' concerns about issues surrounding the DMCA, that was fine - it was their turf. But when Congress invites an actor instead of a real person to dramatize the issue du jour, it just highlights the old truism that Washington politics is show biz for ugly people.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:33 AM:
I agree with a lot of what this guy has to say. He asks if capital punishment is an overreach on the part of big government. I'm inclined to think so. Forget about protection from cruel and unusual punishment; the real concern is that an organization that lets Mohammed Atta into the country then tries to exile those he's made into widows really shouldn't be trusted with so much power.* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:28 AM:
Dems Developing Iraq PolicyDaschle: Support for ousting Saddam exists within caucus
Maybe this is why Bush is hesitating. All I know is when Gephardt and Daschle start patting you on the back, you'd best keep your eye out for the knife in the other hand.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:26 AM:
Bush to Announce New Anti-Terror AgencyPresident to unveil new homeland security program in speech to the nation tonight
Hopefully, this one will go better than the Office of Homeland Security. The idea (or the vague inklings of it that have been released so far) seems legitimate enough, but I thought the ill-fated Homeland Security office was going to be covering the same ground.
Update: Apparently, this is about giving Ridge a real job, though there are questions about who will head the anti-terrorism unit.
* * *
Wednesday, June 05, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:54 PM:
Never mind the Den Beste post below; go to his blog directly so you can see it and the four below.* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:49 PM:
He's right, alas. To be clear, it's not the prospect of Arafat's departure from the scene that brings the sigh; it's the unlikeliness of the event.* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:32 PM:
French news:Le Monde leads with "Environment Day"; secondary headlines: Bombing in Meggido, Reprisals in Jenin, Chirac calls for a "true majority" (in his first televised address since he was reelected)
Le Figaro has an exclusive interview with French PM Raffarin; he says, "I will reform because I am free to do so" (lit. because I'm a free man); 64% think he was a good choice. Print headlines: the Raffarin quote; Islamic Jihad bombing again; The Blues playing to make up for Senegal loss
Liberation: Far-Right hopes for Replay of April 21; Don't Lose - the only truth for the Blues; the Jenin drama in pictures
* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:19 PM:
Israeli Troops Break Into Arafat HQForces enter West Bank town of Ramallah, tanks shell Palestinian leader's compound after deadly bomb attack on Israeli bus
Comes the question, what is Israel supposed to do? The only effective answer is to make it clear to the Palestinians that the attacks will do absolutely nothing for the Palestinian cause. Looking at the mentality, I'm not sure even potential consequences for the family would have an effect on some of the bombers. Perhaps. In any case, things are ugly and Mr. Arafat is supposedly supposed to make sure they don't so become. And like the India-Pakistan mess, if the Palestinians can't or don't take control, Israel has every right to.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:22 PM:
Taken From Her HomeUtah police search for 14-year-old girl who was abducted at gunpoint while her parents were sleeping
Afraid the abductor was waiting and would kill her too, the girl's nine-year-old sister waited a few hours before telling her parents. Police say with a two-hour lead, the abductor could be anywhere; if you happen to see her, call them. But with the way things go these days, I fear it'll be like the Van Dam case. Damn.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:14 PM:
Heard on the radio: That the Israelis say there was a plan to release cyanide gas as part of the Passover Massacre, but the plan didn't come off. If I find a link, I'll post it. In the meantime, I have to wonder, if using chemical weapons isn't sufficiently evil for us to give Israel the greenest of green lights in dealing with Palestinian "militants", what is? Would it take a nuke? Or are anti-Semitism and the Arab lobbies strong enough that even that would be put down to a cry of rage from the oppressed?* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:09 PM:
Pakistan Rejects India PlanJoint patrols to curb flow of Islamic militants into Kashmir brushed aside.
India's bad:
The statement reiterated Pakistan's longstanding willingness to accept "neutral" third-party monitoring of the Line of Control. Indian officials reject that idea, contending that any steps toward "internationalizing" the conflict would encourage separatists in other parts of their country.Pakistan's bad:
In a statement released in Islamabad, the Foreign Ministry brushed off the Indian proposal for joint patrols as unworkable and unnecessary. "The proposal is not new," the statement said. "Given the state of Pakistan-India relations, mechanisms for joint patrolling are unlikely to work."Of course the TurkeyBlog admits having the same concern as is voiced at the end of the quote. Nonetheless, we see the logic in the closing paragraph of the WaPo write-up:
"This can be an important confidence building measure between India and Pakistan," said P.R. Chari, director of Institute of Peace and Conflict here. "Pakistan says there is no infiltration; India insists infiltration continues. The only way to put the matter to rest is joint patrolling."And being, ahem, just a little vain, we must confess that Pakistan fell in our estimation and India rose when the Indians made a proposal very similar to ours of a few days ago. At any rate, the burden is now on Musharraf. The Indians have made a substantive (if potentially unworkable) proposal for laying this to rest and the Pakistanis have acted as though two nations exchanging threats involving nuclear weapons is no big deal. To go for Kausfiles simplisme: Advantage, India.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:55 PM:
hmm, not sure if it's related, but it seems like ever since the updated blogger pro came out, all my foreign language characters have been coming out as "?". Ditto for typographical marks like the m-dash.* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:22 AM:
Victor Morton at NRO has a review of a French film for those who hate France.I haven't seen the movie, but did want to point to this:
The Lady and the Duke is a French film - made by a Frenchman, and using the top resources of the French film industry - that is highly and openly critical of the French Revolution - the founding myth of modern France. If there's another film that fits that description, I can't think of it.This is a tricky subject in France, because that founding myth has had a powerful effect - imagine repudiating the American Revolution here; even those who have invoked slavery to call it into question haven't fared well. Nonetheless, the glorification of the French Revolution has long been on the wane. Frankly, even Danton (the Depardieu movie), in showing the direction the Revolution took, at least inadvertently raised questions about it. As did Hugo's '93. Part of the reason that glorification of the Revolution held on so long was that Communists (starting with Karl Marx) tried to make it a stopping point on the march to the end of history, and the connection did not have a salutary effect on France's sociopolitical health. All the same, those who revile the French and particularly revile their revolution go a little overboard: from Cuba to Russia and pretty much everywhere else, revolution has a pretty lousy track record, and largely for the same reason. Revolution is waged by human beings, and when they get their hands on a tyrant's infrastructure, the impulse to impose a perfect revolution is difficult to resist. While I'm convinced that those who led the American Revolution had a certain spark and a certain genius that moved them, it didn't hurt that we were starting from scratch, with no royal palaces for the leaders to move into and no royal army to enforce their decrees once it realized someone new was giving orders. The French Revolution wasn't exceptionally bad; it was bad in an unexceptional manner. It is therefore good to see it being looked upon as something less than the Marxist equivalent of a sacred moment. Myths that are destructive need to be abandoned. But the mess of the French Revolution was not an indictment of French character, but of the character of revolutions not quite worked out. We should therefore look at films and commentaries on that Revolution not so much for the sake of France-bashing, but to make sure we remember what a tyranny of "the people" looks like so we don't go down that road.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:47 AM:
Surprise américaine au Mondial de footballAmerican surprise at World Cup
Yep, the American team won a match.
Report from Agence France Presse, though I'm sure the WaPo has or will have coverage.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:43 AM:
LGF hits the nail on the head.* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:28 AM:
Yow!'Afghan Fight Not Over'
New commander talks tough after rocket attack against U.S. base
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:05 AM:
Bomb Kills 16 Israeli Bus PassengersIslamic militant blows himself up in car packed with explosives; dozens wounded in homicide attack marking 35th anniversary of 1967 Mideast War
So we're up to 16 - as Tenet meets with Arafat; wonder what they're discussing now.
* * *
Tuesday, June 04, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:22 PM:
Hmm. It sounds like Den Beste isn't ready to take Pascal's wager.* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:07 PM:
Liberation:17% of left-leaning voters hope the right wins the legislative elections
Those who lack the heart to vote
They're a problem for the left. They're called Georges, Hugo, Marlene or Johnny, are a dentist, or retired, or a student... Many are uneasy, feel rejected by the pluralist majority. Some of them are among the 17% of left-leaning voters who would not look unkindly upon a victory for the right in the legislative elections. Because they want to give it a chance, oppose another cohabitation, want to see new leaders or believe it is necessary to give this left that has disappointed them a little time to regroup.Now imagine one Democrat in five saying it wouldn't be so bad if the Republicans retook the Senate, giving Bush his chance and letting their party take a breather to figure out what it stands for. Things could get very interesting in France before we're done here.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 10:52 PM:
Can't find it on the web, but Fox News says there was a suicide bombing, 7 dead, about an hour ago.Update: here's the Washington Post
Update: FNC on-signal now says 10-14 dead. Btw, it was a car bomb next to a bus.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 10:49 PM:
French news:Le Monde: Terrorism: Secret Meeting of WHO (World Health Org) (to discuss what to do in the event of a chemical attack), India and Pakistan ready to take a step forward (or so believes Putin, pleased with how meetings with the two parties have gone)
Le Figaro: Iceland not rushed to join the EU. Print headlines: Markets fall, Gold rises; New means for Justice; Italy reinforces its immigration law
* * *
posted by gbarto at 8:28 PM:
Here's Emmanuelle (in French) on the fate of discussion forums in France.* * *
posted by gbarto at 8:26 PM:
Pour les lecteurs français, Emmanuelle a quelques mots sur les listes de délinquants sexuels. Anglophones can use the google translator or whatever they use for the Emmanuelle link if they want the word on sex offender lists in California.* * *
posted by gbarto at 8:05 PM:
Absolutely delightful Bleat from Lileks today. Good writer. Good.* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:33 PM:
Den Beste and the Dreaded Purple Master took this quiz. I wasn't part of the 98%.* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:19 PM:
From the Detroit Free Press:Michigan's sex offender registry ruled unlawfulThe list has been taken down, and wisely. The statute that led to the list's creation was a mess, providing grounds for suspicion but little information. For example, a teenager whose girlfriend was underage had the same place on the list as a middle-aged man who raped a two-year old - they're both registered sex offenders. Consequently, the list was somewhere between pernicious and useless. The legislature was already considering modifications to the list, a variation on Meghan's law, because of the problems it posed. But frankly, whether one poses an ongoing threat to the community is a question best left to psychiatrists and the jury doing the sentencing. The legislature implemented this so it could claim it was doing something; true enough, but it did it poorly and the court was wise to recognize that slapping the danger-to-the-community label was a different sort of sentence unconstitutionally meted out.
Judge says list prevents people from showing they're not a risk
A federal judge declared Michigan's sex offender registry unconstitutional on Monday, saying it denies people whose names are listed on the Internet site an opportunity to challenge whether they are a danger to society.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:03 PM:
Curious how what's ok with Clinton is an abomination under Ashcroft. So says Reynolds about the fact attorney-client conferences were being monitored under the Clinton-Reno regime too.Frankly, it's questionable regardless of who's in charge, because the attorney-client privilege is supposed to mean something. For that reason, I don't think info gathered that way should be permitted to be used for conviction of the current crime in question. But if it's used to prevent a future crime by surprising the bad guys in the act or messing up their plans - particularly when lives are endangered - i.e. as a means of protecting citizens, not compromising their rights against self-incrimination - I suppose it's ok.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:52 PM:
Turks Arrive in Kabul to Take Over SecurityWill take command of international force guarding capital
But curiously, no other cities; the UN has refused to extend the mandate for the ISAF beyond Kabul. The Turks take over from the Brits, incidentally. It's good to see at least some of our allies making real commitments to what is properly an international mission.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:37 PM:
It's progress:Palestinian Cabinet Overturns Order to Free MilitantBut of course there's a downside:
However, while overturning the Supreme Court decision might save Tenet the embarrassment of dealing with a U.S.-brokered deal that was coming unraveled with the release of a key prisoner, the Cabinet decision was another case of the executive branch overruling the judicial.
Arafat has the final say in decisions like this, and the Cabinet statement keeping Saadat in prison was in the name of his leadership.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:59 PM:
Layne also has his doubts about Larry Miller's column on the Israeli Embassy in Paris burning down.Update: Here's Dr. Weevil's take.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:20 PM:
Here's your WaPo reference for what's at issue in the link below:Intelligence Under Review
Closed panel may undo restraints on CIA and FBI.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:19 PM:
Mike Rogers, R from around Lansing, MI, makes the point on FNC that the same Congresspeople calling the CIA and FBI on the carpet put restrictions on how those agencies operate at all levels, as well as putting in place strange guidelines for how those agencies communicate. As I've said, when bureacracies are competing and you give them places where they can't communicate, they aren't going to memorize the rules for where they can just so they can share victories through teamwork. Instead, thanks to human nature and the shortsightedness of slow-moving bureaucracies, they wind up sharing in defeat.* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:12 PM:
Musharraf: Nukes Meant for UsePakistani president reserves right to launch first against India
Uh oh. The noises from that quarter were much more soothing yesterday. But maybe Musharraf is tiring of the Indian PM's grandstanding about not meeting him while moving toward a conflict that India would be just about guaranteed to win unless it went nuclear. The WSJ editorial page today noted the disturbing movements of the Indian PM throughout this crisis. Democratic leaders, too, can go off their head thinking to rally the people in unwise causes. That's what it looks like here. I said it yesterday, the Journal said it today: if India is serious about ending terrorism in Kashmir, it won't back Musharraf into a corner; it will work with him to put down militants that threaten both their hegemons and Musharraf will have to comply to show that his actions are in good faith. This would be the best tight spot to put Musharraf in, because if he's legit, it will be welcome - albeit uncomfortable - and if he's not, he'll be exposed. India is instead setting up a situation where war is inevitable which suggests the PM either wants war or is an idiot. Neither scenario is pleasing. And both militate for international backing for, alas, a Pakistani dictatorship as the good guy, and the world's largest democracy as a threat to peace and order.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:00 PM:
No link, but about an hour ago Limbaugh played Bush reacting to questions about his plans for global warming, given an EPA report yesterday that said it was real and more needed to be done. Bush said that he was aware of the report put out by "the bureaucracy," then noted that his government had initiatives to improve the environment, but that he wouldn't even reconsider Kyoto.Rush saw - and I see - some measure of significance in that reference to "the bureaucracy": There couldn't be a much clearer denunciation in Bush speak. Now, some conservatives have complained that in focusing on the war on terror, Bush has forgotten the rest of his agenda. It seems plausible that the EPA thought with benign language but an underlying theme subtly advanced, it could change policy as the President wouldn't care or wouldn't notice. It looks like Bush here has awakened from his domestic slumbers; I'm glad I'm not the one who issued the report.
Also, today, Bush explained why he only wants one 9/11 investigation: he wants his people on the job, not going from hearing to hearing. As to the blame assigning, he said he understood mid-level officials were trying to cover their own backsides but that was "typical Washington D.C.", and that we needed to fight the war on terror, not a rearguard bureacratic turf war.
Both comments were pretty plainspoken. And if Bush wants to run as a Texas cowboy trying to get things done and clean up a Washington mired in bureaucracy to the point where it ignored the needs of the American people, both comments were shrewdly placed for projecting that image.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:27 AM:
CIA Provided the FBI With Warning on HijackerThe disclosure - on the eve of today's congressional hearings on Sept. 11 - contradicts repeated FBI denials.
Oops. Another disillusionment in the former Land of the Freeh.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:25 AM:
Gephardt Backs Force Against IraqI guess the Bushies can proceed safely now; this guy reads his polls pretty carefully in matters like this.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:23 AM:
Union Presidents Make Six Figure SalariesI thought it was in their contract that this wouldn't be discussed. It used to be that if a worker wanted to be exploited, he had to pick his boss well. Now he has a union to help make sure his final take-home pay doesn't get too high. Of course the union leaders are paragons of, er, well... We'll content ourselves with noting that a few years ago, one of the big unions (I think it was the UAW) had to scramble after its secretaries went on strike to get some of the same protections the union insisted were essential for union members. Of course that's not a surprise; the secretaries were mostly women and the unions have a traditional view that their place is in low-level jobs or in the home, that way there's a smaller pool of union men available for hiring, thus pushing up salaries. In fact it was the unions who pushed through most of the worker safety provisions that limit which jobs women can even take.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:18 AM:
Board Games EndureDespite a digital deluge, Americans prefer good old cardboard and plastic
Of course. Have you ever tried to gather six people around a computer screen? Or tried taking turns looking away as each person's hand is displayed in a computerized card game?
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:16 AM:
In Fire-'em-all-and-hire-Rent-a-Cop news:CIA: FBI Knew Too
More finger-pointing as Congress begins Sept. 11 hearings
Seriously, we don't have time to play these games right now and I care not who "failed" to stop 9/11; what counts is figuring out what happened and working to correct it. I'm beginning to think the President should just issue a pardon for anybody whose dereliction of duty may have contributed and an assurance that the rawer the detail, the fewer personal details to be given about those implicated in any lapses. Maybe then we could find out why the FBI isn't reading mail from its local divisions, why the CIA and FBI don't talk (hint, they're competing for budget funds and each want to score the win; instead they shared a pretty big loss with the rest of us) and what we might do about it.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:09 AM:
Fabius: "The danger is not cohabitation, but regression in social protections."Are the French Socialists finally finding a voice? And will they be able to agree on what the "progress" they want to deliver would then constitute? Finally, will they figure out that they have to make lack of safety and petty crime aspects of what they would address, not topics to be dismissed? If not, we could be looking at another rout as the leftist elite moaps about the refusal of the people to rally to them in spite of the fact they think they have a monopoly on concern for the people.
* * *
Monday, June 03, 2002
posted by gbarto at 9:57 PM:
French news:Le Monde: American Intelligence Services in the Hot Seat, Freeing of PFLP Leader Criticized
Le Figaro print headlines: How to Deal with Islam in France; Mathieu Makes Agassi Tremble (Agassi won in a squeaker); The Possible and the Probable (looks like it's India but the story's not online yet)
Libé: Socialists push minimum wage, Interior Minister and Police Unions have First Meeting (a big deal for a regime promising security)
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:15 PM:
Talking about the prospect of nuclear war on the Indian subcontinent and its effects on the US. I've got one: Sooner or later, Tom Daschle and Richard Gephardt will imply that Bush could've, should've, was negligent for failing to stop it. And then they'll beat a hasty retreat.* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:12 PM:
Big Firms Pose as Mom-and-PopsLarge corporations recast themselves to appear friendlier
Next they're going to claim Ronald McDonald's just an actor in a suit!
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:10 PM:
Visa Stamps Stolen in INS TheftInvestigators don't think break-in was designed to steal equipment
Which leaves us with only one question: Is the INS that incompetent? Or is the worst case of bad Karma we've ever seen? (Should've known this would happen when we started sending Haitian refugees back.)
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:08 PM:
On the Record with Greta van Susteren looking at scuba diver ops. What next? Terrorists practicing scrabble so they can send a suicide bomber to the National Scrabble Championships? I know, there are a few potential threats one could manage underwater. Though the only one I've thought of so far that's even remotely plausible is sinking a riverboat casino.* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:21 PM:
Excellent questions about the direction the Palestinian cause is taking from Bjørn Stærk.* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:15 PM:
Yikes!Memphis Medical Examiner Found Tied Up With Bomb Strapped to BodyPolice are sorting through people he'd testified against, particularly a guy on death row.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:10 PM:
Analyst on FNC says there may be an attack in India with Rumsfeld there because the Muslims blow up something every time someone comes to ease the situation. And he says that may be the trigger for India. Which brings me back to what I was saying yesterday, namely that it's scary as hell to see India's Prime Minister acting as though he's already locked into an aggressive posture instead of finding a way to back down or rephrase his ultimatum to Musharraf so that the General has a chance of complying when his own intelligence service isn't necessarily on his side.Incidentally, we also got a Sum of All Fears reference, so you can add a few more bucks to Clancy's pockets for the publicity.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 8:13 AM:
Instapundit says Larry Miller wants to know why nobody covered the burning down of the Israeli embassy in Paris and points out his own coverage. Miller says that NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, nobody covered it. Curiously, Le Monde was slow to cover it, too. But Le Figaro and Libération had the story on their websites early on.As for American media, with the possibility of arson dismissed, the other news sources may have blown off the story, but the network America trusts, FoxNews - fair and balanced - let its viewers decide by providing updates every half hour throughout the evening and on through till at least mid-afternoon the next day. Here's their link.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 8:01 AM:
FBI Search Policy ChangedDirector will personally review all terrorism-related search warrants.
That is, all warrants that lower level people would send to the circular file; I'm not sure how efficient it is, but if this is the only way the bureaucracy can be got around... it speaks ill of the bureaucracy... but may have to do.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:54 AM:
U.S. Trying to Avert War, Prevent AttacksWASHINGTON — U.S. officials seeking to simultaneously prevent terror attacks at home and avert war in South Asia face a difficult question: should we pressure Pakistan to crack down on anti-America Muslim extremists, or pressure Pakistan to crack down on anti-India Muslim extremists?Considering what a regional war would do to our efforts in Afghanistan, anti-India Muslim extremists might as well be anti-American; they're a direct threat to our interests. The only question is whether their actions are specifically intended to affect our efforts in Afghanistan or just take advantage of the diversion of Pakistani resources. But that's academic: they are terrorists, they're sympathetic to terrorists, and they are advancing the goals of terrorists, which means they should be on our list of bad guys.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:47 AM:
Pakistan: We Want to TalkLeader wants to discuss Kashmir; India says nuclear war won't happen
Somehow, I don't think this means we can stop being nervous about what's going on over there just yet.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:45 AM:
CIA Director Arrives in West BankRAMALLAH, West Bank — CIA Director George Tenet arrived Monday to press the Palestinians to revamp their security services with the aim of stopping attacks against Israel. Meanwhile, the militant Islamic group Hamas rejected an offer to join a new Palestinian Cabinet likely to be announced in coming days.Now why would the Israelis be so suspicious or skeptical about a man who so nobly reaches out that he even has a place for Hamas in his government?
The Israelis planned to tell Tenet they were deeply skeptical about proposed Palestinian reforms. Tenet was to meet with Palestinians on Tuesday.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has offered Cabinet posts to four militant groups that have been involved in attacks against Israel, including suicide bombings. Three rejected the offer previously, and Hamas joined them Monday.
Incidentally, it's very nice that Mr. Tenet thinks the Palestinians should revamp their security forces to shut down terrorists. Bibi Netanyahu thought the same thing a few years back, and even took the leap of faith of giving them better weapons. The record shows that Hamas was not the principal target of those weapons; the target was that same Israeli society that tried to give Arafat the tools to build a better, safer world for his people. But that was not Arafat's interest then. Is it now?
* * *
posted by gbarto at 7:39 AM:
Al Qaeda: U.S., Jews Should Get ReadySo, what shall our Justice Department do in response to this?
And are American Muslims going to gather round synagogues to send a message about mutual tolerance and shared humanity?
* * *
Sunday, June 02, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:42 PM:
Terrible pun at Dr. Weevil.* * *
posted by gbarto at 10:09 PM:
French news:Le Monde: Do other nations have an obligation to intervene when nation-states go awry? The UN Security Council is considering the question. Also, Swiss end penalties for abortion in first twelve weeks. It's been outlawed for 60 years (though discreetly practiced in most cantons, all the same).
Le Figaro: Social: Raffarin [the PM] gets a baptism by fire; India-Pakistan: the world watches worried; Arafat reforms his government [actually, plans to reform his government radically in a month]
Libé: England-Sweden: 1-1; undocumented aliens take refuge in church to dramatize their plight
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:18 PM:
CIA Failed to Share Intelligence on HijackerTerrorist's visa renewal could have been prevented, senior official says.
Nonetheless, there are increasing signs that leaks emanating from the CIA, FBI and other government agencies and Congress raise questions about how much the government knew before the Sept. 11 attacks killed more than 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.All this is very nice, but as has been pointed out before, including by former CIA Director Woolsey, there are a lot of regulatory barriers to information sharing between agencies, such that even when doing so is legal (even encouraged), there is not a culture in place that is disposed to doing so. Many of the barriers were introduced (from what I understand) after Watergate to prevent the executive from having too much control over the machinations of government; Congress and the White House should both give thought to the possibility of another Nixon (or Clinton) before centralizing power such that the President and his team have access to more information than a free society should give them.
This week, congressional hearings will try to determine what failures or shortcomings took place before Sept. 11 and what reforms may be needed to prevent another tragedy.
Rep. Porter J. Goss (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, yesterday warned that such leaks could lead investigators and public opinion "down the wrong path." Goss, a former CIA intelligence officer, said, "This is serious business, and we want to go on the basis of fact, not on opinion or spin."
* * *
posted by gbarto at 9:02 PM:
Hmm. Last week, the rumor was the Bushies wanted this suppressed. Now:Sum of All Fears Is No. 1I haven't seen the movie, but the book was excellent and gives us a look at some things we may have to think about pretty soon. Of course, the same could have been said of Debt of Honor, and we blew that call.
Ben Affleck's nuclear showdown debuts on top with $31.2 million
It's strange how Clancy's series, knocked off course by the end of the Cold War, hit its stride going in new directions; it's downright frightening how while the players are different, the events keep happening, as though history is now racing to deal with what he writes instead of vice-versa. Most authors - from Heinlein to Asimov to Anthony - who have attempted future histories have either been embarrassingly wrong or history still hasn't caught up with them (though Heinlein and others have got some of the technology developments right). Clancy seems to have a crystal ball of sorts.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:46 PM:
Bush: U.S. Will Strike First at EnemiesIn West Point Speech, President Lays Out Broader U.S. Policy
Maybe he does still get it.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:43 PM:
Not Much Talking at SummitIndia and Pakistan's leaders will only deal with third parties
Musharraf has said for months he wants dialogue with Vajpayee, but Vajpayee tied direct talks with his opposite number to the end of cross-border attacks against India by Islamic militants based in Pakistan.I really don't like the looks of this, because it looks like Vajpayee is backing himself into a corner in an effort to project a tough image. And when Musharaff can't meet his demands, he'll be left to tell his people he was just blustering - or to take extreme measures. Vajpayee should challenge Musharaff's good faith by demanding that Pakistan share intelligence on these people and either let India pursue them across Pakistan's border or provide troops to catch and neutralize them when India drives them across the border. A military alliance between these two nations would be touchy as hell, scary as hell and fraught with peril. But if the common soldiers on the two sides managed one or two common victories against forces destabilizing both their countries, some progress might be made not only in tackling militants whose main goal seems to be to mess up our efforts in the region - with nuclear war, if necessary - but in building a bond between these two nations. If Musharaff wouldn't agree to such an arrangement - letting the Indians do what he says he can't - then all bets are off.
"There is no plan for talks," Vajpayee said as he left New Delhi for the three-day summit. "If we see the result on the ground of Gen. Musharraf's statement, we shall certainly give it a serious consideration."
* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:01 AM:
We Couldn't Have KnownFeds don't think 9/11 was detectable
Ashcroft on Fox News Sunday
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)That was a snippet of video shown during the Ashcroft interview, and I have to say Sensenbrenner is right. While we have wasted too many resources at the federal level on things other than protecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, there are limits to what can be done, particularly since the government's powers can only go far in protecting life without infringing liberty. We don't want to drift back to the days when the FBI's efforts to preserve order came at the expense of civil liberties or a healthy respect for what was and what wasn't the government's business.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R-WI): I get very, very queasy when federal law enforcement is effectively saying -- going back to the bad, old days when the FBI was spying on people like Martin Luther King.
We want to make sure that the FBI, that hasn't had a good track record lately, doesn't go on the other side of the line.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:23 AM:
This is the Larry Miller article referred to on Dennis Miller Live. For other articles by the same guy, go here and do the search for "Larry Miller".And for the people still looking for the marvelous commentator, Becky Quick, go to CNBC.com and look at the bio; we don't have any insider info here.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:56 AM:
Den Beste on what's up with Kyoto.* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:35 AM:
French news:Le Monde: The France of the Forgotten - a look at how the center-left and center-right took power for granted and ignored the concerns of the people, from petty crime to job insecurity and on. Those that the politicians forgot exacted their revenge, staying home, splintering the leftist vote and elevating Le Pen. Has the great Middle finally remembered that it serves the people? Or will it continue to serve itself - even at the risk of being voted out of existence?
Le Figaro: New Challenges for Expatriates - first the bombing at Karachi, then the evacuation of India; what's next? North Africa? Latin America? Also, Marine Le Pen is following in her father's footsteps.
Libé: Germany clobbers the Saudis (in the World Cup)
* * *
French Elections, 1st round
Second round special page
Second Round Results Map
The TurkeyBlog main page contains only the 20 most recent entries.
To go further back, check the archive in the right hand bar.
