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Saturday, September 14, 2002
posted by gbarto at 4:59 PM:
Bush: Statehood Will End SufferingPalestinian official: President says freedom necessary to stop misery
Probably true, but are the Palestinians willing to do what it takes to merit statehood? Such as encouraging the populace more firmly not to devote their lives to killing the citizens of a neighboring democracy?
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posted by gbarto at 12:11 PM:
Bush to U.N.: 'Show Some Backbone'Sharp. Very sharp. Bush is to be saluted for his clever maneuvering and for dragging fair-weather friends (France, Russia) and others (notably China) kicking and screaming into support for US action on behalf of a UN that isn't so sure it wants it. Yet everyone has to play along or admit that the UN has become the League of Nations, Part II.
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posted by gbarto at 12:01 PM:
Okay. It's from yesterday. But I still enjoyed this Jonah Goldberg column and the Godzilla/George W. Bush analogy.* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:57 AM:
She's not out of the running yet?Reno Ballots Still in Question
Fla. has three days to find votes that could erase McBride's lead
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posted by gbarto at 11:56 AM:
Now we're getting somewhere!U.S. Nabs Terror Suspects
FBI arrests five in possible 'homegrown' cell; likely Sept. 11 plotter taken into custody in Pakistan
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posted by gbarto at 12:56 AM:
Reno's Recount Request RejectedFormer AG sought recount after officials found uncounted votes
Boy, ya work with Bill and you just can't get anything to work election-wise! Gore, Cuomo and now this!
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posted by gbarto at 12:54 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "Iraq: Consultations intensify at the UN." After all these years, Russia, the EU and leading Arab nations are stepping up the pressure on Iraq to work with the UN. But not to worry, W is still just a know-nothing cowboy with no understanding of foreign policy.
Le Figaro tells us about "France Telecom: The Silence of Bercy Feeds the Confusion." In other words, the government (Bercy is where the Finance Ministry is located) has no idea what it's going to do about this public private corporation. For those interested in such things, we also learn that "Matignon" has given itself three weeks to find a successor. Matignon is the Prime Minister's residence.
Libé is on the same trail as Le Figaro, telling us "France Telecom drags MobilCom along in its fall." MobilCom is a German enterprise that had a close partnership with FT. Neither one did well in the markets today.
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Friday, September 13, 2002
posted by gbarto at 12:48 PM:
Spanking still legal in Scotland!Natalie Solent has the round-up.
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posted by gbarto at 12:42 PM:
Stating the obvious:Bush: Iraq Confrontation Likely
President: It's 'highly doubtful' that Saddam will comply with demands
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posted by gbarto at 12:41 PM:
1,800 New Votes Found in Fla.Janet Reno refuses to concede Democratic gubernatorial primary
No comment needed.
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posted by gbarto at 12:37 PM:
Bill Saletan had a nice piece in Slate yesterday called "Appease This." The thrust of his argument is that while the UN sees GWBush as a threat to peace, stability and all that is good, he is in fact the UN's last best hope for being a credible force in the world today:[In] a larger context—the conflict between Saddam and the U.N.—Bush's belligerence becomes logical and salutary... Saddam has betrayed pledge after pledge, circumvented sanction after sanction, and defied warning after warning from the U.N. Security Council. No one (...) other than the United States and Britain has lifted a military finger to punish him. Always there is a new round of talks with Saddam's latest designated liar, exploring under what conditions Saddam might agree to honor the conditions he agreed to in the last round of talks. By now nearly everyone has forgotten that the alternative Saddam avoided by making his initial promises in 1991 was military destruction. By any logical standard, that's the alternative to which U.N. must now turn.
You don't have to be a hawk to reach this conclusion. You just have to recognize that if the U.N. won't enforce war-ending agreements about nuclear proliferation, it will never be able to stop any war or enforce any agreement. Sheer power will rule everywhere...
If you think that an American invasion of Iraq is unwise and that the world would be better off with unfettered U.N. weapons inspections backed by the serious threat of force, you're probably right. But if you get what you want, thank Bush.
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posted by gbarto at 1:31 AM:
All hail the Danes!* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:28 AM:
Calm, Greg. There's no point getting worked up over anything in Salon.* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:26 AM:
Powell Heads Back to U.N.The secretary of state will begin working today with the Security Council's four other permanent members, besides the U.S., on an Iraq resolution
May it be well and wisely drafted. And if it isn't, may it be dumped lest another attempt at multilateral action turns into insufficient action.
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posted by gbarto at 1:24 AM:
Beauty Queen Stripped of TitleWoman who gave up crown over topless photos won't represent N.C.
Interesting phrasing.
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posted by gbarto at 1:23 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "Iraq: The Summation of George W. Bush at the UN." The other big news is regards France Telecom whose "CEO Michel Bon has resigned" as the public/private company tries to find its way in a struggling sector.
Le Figaro, a little more business-oriented, leads with "France Telecom: records losses, Michel Bon resigns." Bush's speech to the UN is in second position with the headline, "Bush summons the UN to action."
As is often the case, Libération wins for best headline of the day: "Michel Bon hangs up."
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posted by gbarto at 1:04 AM:
Whew! Just when I was afraid I was a nobody in the online world, I got this:From:Senator Waziri IbrahimYes! I too am worthy of solicitation for fraudulent transactions ostensibly linked to Nigeria!
Email:wazibrahim@usa.com
Attention:Managing Director,
We write to solicit your assistance in an urgent business
transaction, which we are prosecuting under condition of strict
confidentiality. We got your contact through the Nigeria. Chamber of
Commerce and Industries (NCC), subsequently we ran a check on your
firm through Merrill Lynch international...
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Thursday, September 12, 2002
posted by gbarto at 12:33 PM:
'Grave and Gathering Danger'Bush argues for action against Iraq before skeptical U.N.; Kofi Annan says Mideast issue must come first
Good old Kofi, always ready to keep a killer in power. Bush is right; we've waited long enough on Saddam and he's shown little inclination to reforming his ways or becoming a force for anything good. He should go and if the UN won't get on board, it should be sidelined.
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posted by gbarto at 2:52 AM:
Lotsa thoughts from Layne.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:46 AM:
You've seen the American coverage. Now find out how Norway marked the anniversary of 9/11 at Bjørn Stærk's site.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:34 AM:
My fiancee and I went to a memorial service in Saratoga tonight. The service was well done and included not only pastors from other churches but a rabbi. If only every church service went as far in reminding us of our place together on earth as God's children. The service stuck mainly to anthems joining God and country and I was especially struck by this, the second verse of "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies":O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,This past year has seen way too many heroes. May humdrum times come soon. But not yet, for there is still work to be done so that we can hang onto liberty and law, and the ideals of this nation that are rooted in them.
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.
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posted by gbarto at 2:19 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "After mourning, a war speech," noting that Mr. Bush "positioned himself as a defender of the world against terrorists and tyrants" with the next tyrant in the cross hairs being one Saddam Hussein.
Le Figaro, meanwhile, has "Defense: France wants to make up for lost time" (lit. "patch up its lateness") up top. There's a new defense bill in France providing for, among other things, a new aircraft carrier by 2015. Says the Defense Minister of the bill, "It brings our armies back to what they should be, but also permits us to maintain our standing and assure our image." This American editorialist will pass on snarky comments for the time being.
Libération leads with "The U.S. around their dead," giving the brief, "While the rest of the world seemed indifferent, the whole day [in the US] was marked by the gathering at New York." We wonder why the indifferent world mentioned our - to them - unimportant little event on the front pages of two of France's leading newspapers. Could it relate to this Corriere della Sera headline, "Iraq: Bush straight to the ultimatum" indicating that the world's most powerful nation is preparing to again act in response to those events and while the rest of the world will bicker and nitpick it can't do much else?
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Wednesday, September 11, 2002
posted by gbarto at 1:09 PM:
The President has an NYT column today. We especially like this:A peaceful world of growing freedom serves American long-term interests, reflects enduring American ideals and unites America's allies. We defend this peace by opposing and preventing violence by terrorists and outlaw regimes. We preserve this peace by building good relations among the world's great powers and we extend this peace by encouraging free and open societies on every continent.May freedom ever reign. (found at the Brothers Judd)
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posted by gbarto at 12:53 PM:
Says Le Monde:Over the jump:
Iraq calls on "the Arab masses" to strike its eventual "aggressors"
While Washington intensifies its diplomatic maneuvers, President Saddam Hussein pursues a policy of all or nothing. Judged to have been deprived of all weapons of mass destruction, he thinks the UN should lift sanctions on Iraq.
Iraq adopted an openly bellicose tone September 10 and pushed for attacks against American and British interests and personnel if the US and Great Britain make war on him. "We are for a mobilization of Iraqi resources against aggression and the aggressors, but we also call on the Arab masses to (...) target the material and human interests of the aggressors wherever they are located," declared Vice-President Taha Yassine Ramadan during a press conference at Amman, after a meeting with King Abdallah II of Jordan. "Religion confers on Iraq the right to defend itself and, if it's the case, all Arab citizens, wherever they are, have the right to fight by any means at their disposition against the aggressor in targeting its representatives on their territory," he added. "It's legitimate."The first part of this is understandable. Of course nations that don't think they're in the wrong will seek to defend themselves. However, it sounds as though Iraq is saying that any American or Brit in an Arab land is fair game if Iraq finds itself under seige. Which is to say that we're seeing exactly what I worried about last night: Whether Saddam is a believer or not (and I don't think he is, at least not a devout one), he is prepared to turn every fanatical nutcase in the world against us if he thinks he can get away with it. Picking the eve of the worst terrorist act against the US in history to announce a Holy War against all who would affront Iraq shows that Saddam views our day of mourning as - to the contrary - a day for rallying the forces which undertook this attack. Sponsor of 9/11 or no, Saddam is of the mindset that views it as a good and useful starting point for launching a Pan-Arab movement to harm the West. He must go.
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posted by gbarto at 12:30 PM:
F-16s Escort American Airlines Flight to HoustonDisturbance reported on plane that was headed to Dallas
Northwest Flight Diverted After Report of Suspicious Passengers
Three people lock themselves in bathroom of plane from Memphis
State Office Tower Evacuated in Ohio Capital
Man in custody after dog detects scent of explosives in van at loading dock
U.S. Embassies, Consulates Receive Letters With Suspicous Powder
Substance delivered to European sites being analyzed
Lots of fun stuff going on. The Dallas/Houston incident is thus far a mystery. On the Memphis plane, three men were apparently shaving themselves in the bathroom - troubling because all three were of Middle-Eastern descent and Atta and pals had shaved themselves clean the night before 9/11. In Ohio, the guy whose van upset explosives-sniffing dogs is in custody. As for the Embassy letters, they came in all over Europe but there's no word on what was actually in them.
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posted by gbarto at 12:21 PM:
Arafat's Cabinet Forced Out; Date Set for ElectionAmid 'crisis of confidence,' Palestinian vote announced for Jan. 20
Apparently a whole lot of shuffling back and forth to prevent this failed; Arafat therefore announced early elections so there wouldn't be time for a credible opposition to emerge. The question: If someone of any reputation does run against Arafat, how many days can they expect to make it without a bullet to the head or worse? Hamas or Hezbollah might launch a challenge. But could any serious peace advocate hope to survive long enough to participate in the general election?
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posted by gbarto at 2:58 AM:
One more horror from the other civilization, remarked on Natalie Solent's site. An Iranian man has beheaded his 7-year old daughter to purge her of the wrong of possibly having been raped by her uncle. I'll let you draw your own conclusions. I'm going to bed.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:37 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "11 September: a time for commemoration." Libération has the more to the point: "The Nightmare: Year 1." Both also mentions the war drums beating for Iraq and the efforts of President Bush to maybe even get the UN on board.
Le Figaro continues to have the floods up top; this time the headline is "The South-East submerged, an overwhelming toll." That toll is 20 dead, 12 missing and hundreds of millions of Euros in damages.
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posted by gbarto at 2:27 AM:
Happy stuff (well, kinda happy at least): Movie reviews!Mad Love, the new Spanish film about Princess Joan's ordeals with an unfaithful husband who tries to commit her to steal the Spanish throne (though he dies from the plague first) is far from uplifting. But it is extremely well done. The cast looks like it stepped off the cover of a supermarket romance, which is fitting, but bodice rippers have their virtues and this film is full of the shocks, the lusts and the passions that animate such works. There's even a Satanic seductress! If you're up for a sharp, well-done romance of the tragic sort, this one's well worth a trip to the local cinema.
The Chateau is not going to win awards for production values, or indeed, anything else. But it is a film that plays delightfully with ignorant Americans and nasty French people and how they get on together. The mixing of French and English will be better appreciated by those who speak both, but the subtitles for the French parts do a pretty good job of mimicking all but the bad accents. If you're looking for high art, you might better see Mad Love (or even better, Possession) but if you're looking for a light comedy about culture clashes this isn't half bad and the ending is a delightful surprise.
Finally, we will once again plug Mostly Martha and Possession; if you haven't seen these, head out while they're still in theaters.
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posted by gbarto at 2:03 AM:
We must remember 11 SeptemberAnd all of the souls that were lost.
The evil that killed
Must forever be stilled
No matter how great be the cost.
Remember, remember 11 September
Suicide demons' dark plot
We see no reasons
Why suicide demons'
Evil should ever be forgot
Remember, remember 11 September
Murderous monsters in flight
Reject their dark game
And let Liberty's flame
Burn prouder and ever more bright
Remember, remember 11 September
When madness and malice took wing
Face darkness and fear
With this memory clear
And everywhere let Freedom ring!
Heading into Guy Fawkes day last year, I wrote the above when Bjørn Stærk was looking for something like the English rhyme, "We should remember the 5th of November...." As you can see, I've put up a new verse at the top of the page for 9/11/02 (after 9/11, it will be brought down to this entry). Now that we're a year beyond the fateful day that inspired these words, however poorly composed they may be, a few thoughts are in order.
On 9/11, we were all a bit in shock. I remember watching the television coverage of the first plane to hit the WTC when all of a sudden a second plane appeared and suddenly a horrible tragedy turned into an attack whose bounds were not known. In those frantic days we saw the heroism of the New York firefighters and police, the confusion about where the President was and when he would be back in Washington, symbolically at his command post. In those days, there was a lot we didn't know. A lot remains a mystery. But there are a few things we have figured out, the most important being that life does indeed go on (as evidenced by the film reviews that will be above): Politicians bicker and maneuver; even as we speak, the California governor's race is quickly turning into a contest to see who is the least corrupt. Elsewhere, corporate executives are as confused as ever as to where their piggybanks end and shareholders' interests begin. In the world of sports, we were blessed with a judging scandal in the figure skating championships that left no doubt that some nations continued on as ever. And now a year has gone by.
One year out from 9/11, we're starting to figure out what we're going to do about everything that happened. The Taliban, mercifully, are history. Had we only seen their evil sooner, the Bamiyan Buddhas might have been spared, but the liberation of women in Afghanistan was a first start toward combatting fundamentalism without reason; may the Saudi Arabian Committee for the Protection of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice follow in the Taliban's footsteps sooner rather than later.
Osama is effectively gone. But today the world faces a threat based not so much on mad notions of Islam but the careful exploitation of such feelings. I speak of a secular tyrant, a man who gives little evidence of being devout but who carefully manipulates those who are. Osama Bin Laden, horrible as he was (is? doubtful but theoretically possible) had the saving grace of being nuts, which means that though he orchestrated a great deal of mayhem, he could not think through how to turn one crushing blow into the first domino in the felling of the West. He may indeed have assumed Allah would step in when the moment presented itself.
The man of the hour, Saddam Hussein, is not possessed of such illusions. Which means that among other things, we are not going to find evidence definitively linking him to 9/11. Nonetheless, he is a smart man with imperial ambitions. And he saw, as clearly as did we all, the cheering in certain quarters, notably the Palestinian refugee camps, in the wake of 9/11. Would Saddam nuke Jerusalem for the greater glory of Allah? Hell no. To try to provoke an uprising of the fanatically faithful throughout the Islamic world supporting him as emperor of an Arab empire? If he thought it would work. While he's not stupid, he has misjudged things in the past. We don't want to allow him to make any more misjudgments.
Hence our little poem. While Osama and his friends are much weakened, anti-Semitism remains a strong force in capitals not only Arab but also European. As does anti-Americanism. As do anti-Westernism and anti-democratic and anti-capitalistic notions. While these won't go away, they're a little too widespread, which means the world is under siege both by true-believers - a threat for the havoc they can wreak - and those who would cynically exploit them in the chess game international politics sometimes becomes. So today, on the anniversary of 9/11, we remind that though New York is rebuilding and the US is acting, the hatred which provoked the destruction of the Twin Towers and the attack on the Pentagon persists, ripe for exploitation. Both the hatred and its means of expression must be contained, eradicated if possible, country by country, heart by heart. Afghanistan is cleansed. The Tigris river valley is a great place for the next phase of the cleanup.
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Tuesday, September 10, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:36 AM:
Lileks has some great thoughts on the blog world at the bottom of the Bleat.His observations on the mixing of the personal and mundane with everything else are particularly relevant. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed that the polished proper columns just lack the zing, the pizzazz of even the most tossed-off, ready-for-bed Bleat.
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posted by gbarto at 11:21 AM:
In case you missed it, Virginia Postrel has more on Southern liberals and the source of their identity. Coming from a small-town - but up north - I certainly recognize the small-town intellectual of whom she speaks. I've known a few - hell, I might have been one at one time. However, those who get outside the South, small towns, big cities or wherever are bound to discover - if their eyes are open and the stuff behind 'em works - that there are jerks and good people everywhere and that ultimately the feelings of alienation from a whole culture are less the mark of the great than of those who haven't yet emerged from teen angst. The wise will recall their foolishness in anecdotes for the grandkids and otherwise let it drop.* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:12 AM:
Democrats Supported War on Iraq in 1998WASHINGTON — Democrats are expressing reluctance and sometimes outright opposition to President Bush's plans for action against Iraq, even though they were on board with former President Clinton's plans to attack the rogue nation four years ago.
The piece by Carl Cameron explains the about face:
What has changed by most accounts is that after four years of continued weapons development, Saddam is even more dangerous than he was when Daschle was advocating military action.What hasn't changed is a tendency for Democrats to think of foreign policy as unimportant other than as a way of advancing their interests - at the expense of America's interests if necessary.
What also has changed is the resident of the White House, a Republican president, who maintains very high popularity ratings.
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posted by gbarto at 11:08 AM:
Down to 80:Deadly Train Derailment in India
At least 80 feared dead; authorities haven't ruled out sabotage
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posted by gbarto at 11:07 AM:
U.S. Put on 'High' Terror AlertGovernment elevates terrorist threat level to orange, country at 'high risk ... as a result of new information'
Just thought you'd like to know.
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posted by gbarto at 3:13 AM:
The anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the country wonders if war is soon to come, but not to worry, Congress is on the case!News Conference on Martha TodayEr, never mind... But at least it should be out of the way.
Lawmakers set to discuss the findings of their ImClone probe
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posted by gbarto at 3:11 AM:
Here's Fox on the Le Monde lead below:Bin Laden IDs 4 Hijackers
Al-Jazeera says the terrorist leader is heard praising four Sept. 11 terrorists on a new videotape
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posted by gbarto at 3:08 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "September 11: Al-Jazeera's new video," which video indicates Osama would lay claim to the attacks as his handiwork as he praises those who carried it out.
Le Monde indicates terrorism is not solely the province of Muslims, however; in India we find "Sabotage and derailment of a train." Maoist guerillas are purportedly responsible for the sabotage which left more than 100 dead.
Le Figaro leads with the floods in Southeast France: "Six months of rain in twenty-four hours." Sixteen are dead, eighteen missing in the regions of the Gard, the Hérault and the Vaucluse.
Libé seems to be a step ahead of Le Figaro; they also lead with the floods ("Floods: the official toll worsens") but say there are 17 dead.
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posted by gbarto at 2:53 AM:
Trying out the new blogads thing (click on the box partway down on the right to find out more). If you'd like to advertise, we'd love to hear from you. And the banner at the top is also for sale. Reasonable prices! End of sales pitch and back to commentary.* * *
Monday, September 09, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:16 AM:
Says Bjørn, there are real divisions between the US and Europe; it's not just elites who oppose certain aspects of American policy. While I haven't lived in France recently, that was my experience when I lived there. But there are fairly solid bonds too. The question as the Iraq issue unfolds is how strong those bonds will prove.* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:11 AM:
Here you go:Chirac Lays Out Iraq Military Scenario
PARIS, France — French President Jacques Chirac has laid out a scenario for a three-week deadline that could open the way to using force against Iraq, joining a growing list of leaders who say they could envisage military action against Baghdad -- with conditions attached.So suddenly the invasion everyone opposes is getting support ranging from tepid (France) to enthusiastic (England). Which is to say that when the US leads and the president is both sincere and forceful in his convictions, the democratic nations will likely sooner or later follow.
Spain and the Netherlands on Monday joined other anxious allies who, while not signing on to President Bush's conviction that military action is necessary, are not closing the door.
Britain squarely backs Bush's view that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein must be ousted by force, and Italy has also shown support. Germany has categorically rejected any military action, and Russia has said it opposes the use of force.
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posted by gbarto at 11:06 AM:
Arafat Tries to Please EveryoneCondemns terror, promises vote, but resignation offer may be joke
As is the idea of Yasser Arafat, peacemaker. However good his intentions now, he's painted himself into a corner. He can't tell all those parents that their children's lives did wonders to enhance his negotiating position, on to peace with a people he's portrayed as the vampire Jews. Which means his lifetime endeavor will be to keep all the balls in the air.
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posted by gbarto at 1:09 AM:
Coming soon: anti-gravity devices? Common Sense and Wonder is investigating.* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:04 AM:
More interesting commentary in the ongoing abortion debate at Natalie Solent's site. Be sure to have a look.* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:00 AM:
Happy Birthday to A Dog's Life, who sadly seems to have spent a certain portion of his big day thinking about a certain former president.* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:52 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with Europe's worst nightmare of the moment: "Iraq: The US is prepared to act alone." And sure enough, underneath we get the headline, "Jacques Chirac: a military solution in Iraq is not 'impossible,'" indicating that as with so much else, Europe will do its best to set a course and drag the US along it, but if the US picks its own direction Europe has little choice but to follow, lest people recognize its impuissance in the greater scheme of things.
Le Figaro leads with "What Immigration for France?" Today there were more demonstrations in Paris by illegal immigrants while elsewhere Interior Minister Sarkozy was yet again clarifying the government's position of immigration and assuring that there were limits to what would be tolerated.
Le Figaro also notes the "Flood rains in the Southeast," which have so far killed two.
Libé leads with, "The Undocumented: Sarkozy intervenes." The story, of course, is the same as in Figaro.
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posted by gbarto at 12:37 AM:
Pope's Likely Successor RetiresMilan Cardinal Martini celebrates his last mass before stepping down
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posted by gbarto at 12:36 AM:
Report: Pardon Probe Finds FocusSecret airport meeting between Clinton, Rich backers gets attention
So what do we do with this info? Like everything else, it might help with rules for the future but cannot undue the damage done by the Clinton years.
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posted by gbarto at 12:34 AM:
Overpass Collapse Kills Toddler19-month-old Texas boy dead after tractor-trailer strikes support column
Horrible turn of events. The driver of the truck is being treated, after being pinned between an I-beam and a support pillar for hours. It's his son who was killed.
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posted by gbarto at 12:31 AM:
Didn't get to see the match but:Pete Sampras Takes U.S. OpenFrankly, that these two were playing in the finals after all these years is amazing. Congratulations to both.
Wins 14th major title by defeating rival Andre Agassi in four sets
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Sunday, September 08, 2002
posted by gbarto at 12:29 PM:
McDonald's Considers Ways to Spur Lackluster SalesHow about dropping made-to-order service? No one goes to McDonald's for quality; they go for food fast and cheap. With the new system, you get Wendy's length waits for minimal improvement in quality.
McDonald's has been making the same mistake that killed K-mart. It forgot what it sells and who it sells it to. Oakbrook execs who eat in Chicago's best restaurants need to visit their own franchises - other than for official visits - to see just how long it can take to get a hamburger at noon and ask themselves if the final product is worth the wait. It generally isn't.
When K-mart tried to go upscale with Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, it priced itself beyond the bottom end of its market without really adding much to the top - do people with $100 for a dress shop at K-mart? Wal-Mart wasn't too good to sell to K-mart's old demographic and the down-home chain ate K-mart's lunch. The question now is, will McDonald's remember who it is in time or will someone emerge ready to take the bottom of the fast food market (while Wendy's, BK and Subway hold the top) leaving them squeezed in the middle? It's hard to say, but if I were investing in fast food, I'd be going for YUM with it's Taco Bell property or looking for an in into emerging low-end regional burger chains.
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posted by gbarto at 12:07 PM:
Agassi Faces SamprasToday's U.S. Open championship match to be clash of tennis styles
Can it be? This isn't just someone accidentally putting up a headline from ten years ago? Nope. Two of tennis' greats back in the US Open Files. Incredible.
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posted by gbarto at 12:05 PM:
Blair Seeking Allies' Support on IraqBritish prime minister says those opposed to military action will change stance when they see evidence
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posted by gbarto at 1:49 AM:
Am I really typing this? Thank God for Tony Blair:Bush, Blair Push for Action Against Iraq
British PM, president meet at Camp David to discuss ouster of Saddam
While Blair leaves a lot to be desired in a lot of ways, when it comes to the stuff that counts he has stood by his Anglophone cousins across the pond. Long live the Anglosphere!
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posted by gbarto at 1:45 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "Powell: Why America is right," an interview with Powell about Iraq. Given all the noise floating around about Powell opposing action in Iraq, division in the administration, etc, the Turkeyblog finds it interesting that this would pop up in France's most influential newspaper. A few highlights, starting with the inside headline:
Colin Powell: We should all be scandalized by Iraq.
Were you surprised by the emotion and solidarity in Europe on September 11 and in the following days?
The support that our friends all gave us pleased and reassured me. And no friend showed a stronger friendship nor expressed greater solidarity than France. The famous editorial in your paper, "We are all Americans," is known to us all...
President Bush indicated quickly and clearly - and President Chirac agreed - that [the coalition against terrorism] could not only fight Al-Qaeda or the Taliban but must combat terrorism in general...
One year later, many Europeans think the US acts unilaterally, even arrogantly...
Accusations of unilateralism or "non-multilateralism" are clichés that do not reflect the nature of our relationship. We have differences of opinion from time to time. What we must not lose sight of is that, even in disagreement, we are still talking to one another; we exchange our points of view. We should always seek consensus, but, when we cannot arrive at it - because we believe a given decision is the right one, because it's a question of principle which reflects the views of the American people and government - we must take the position based on principle...
Free and democratic nations are responsible to their peoples. They have disagreements sometimes. What I notice, daily, is that agreements weigh more heavily that disagreements...
Powell also weighs in against the International Criminal Court. And with reference to Saddam, he says:
Recall the words of the President: He thinks that Saddam Hussein and this regime pose a problem which must be addressed. This is not a battle America is bringing to Saddam Hussein, it's a battle that Saddam Hussein is bringing to the entire international community.So whatever the New York Times or Washington Post has to say, overseas Powell is on board.
Inasmuch as it is Saturday night, neither Le Figaro nor Libé has done any serious updating since last night.
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