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Saturday, December 28, 2002
posted by gbarto at 2:14 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "Fatal bombing at Grozny." See further down for details and the Fox report (for Anglophones).
Le Figaro: "Call for 'sang-froid' at Buffalo Grill." Yes, the Buffalo Grill (or should we say, Le Buffalo Grill) is a French restaurant chain. And it's in trouble. And looking for new leadership. Amidst the crisis, an oversight board called for firm and unsparing discipline in setting things aright. The problem: Two patrons died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob, better known as mad-cow disease.
Libé: "Eve born of Raël," Eve being the supposed clone-baby produced by the Raelian cult and the Clonaid corporation.
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posted by gbarto at 1:58 AM:
All that jazz!The movie musical Chicago opened in limited release today (nationwide release January 3rd), and... wow! Renee Zellwegger turns in (as always) a top-notch performance - but singing and dancing too! Catherine Zeta-Jones, whom I had sort of thought of as Michael Douglas' wife played her part magnificently. But what totally astonished me was Richard Gere, singing and tap dancing his way through a press conference and courtroom drama. Other notables in the show included Queen Latifah and Christine Baranski (of Cybill fame). The film flashes between the on-stage song and dance numbers and off-stage "real life" with the stage side being most impressive. But the whole thing is awash in sound and color and with performers who bring real talent to the table. The plot line may not be the strongest, but hey, the music's the thing. And the dancing. And all that jazz. Four stars.
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posted by gbarto at 1:20 AM:
Scientist Claims First Human CloneCult chemist says baby named Eve
Said cult is the Raelians. They believe that life on earth began with alien genetic experiments, information they got when aliens visited their leader in the 1970s.
Comes the question: Can people this goofy actually get it together to run a cloning experiment? Though I suppose brilliant lunatics are not unheard of.
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posted by gbarto at 1:10 AM:
Pentagon Puts Troops on Alert
Several military units, including the battle group attached to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, pictured left, have been told to get ready for deployment to the Persian Gulf
This is the story of the moment and will, I expect, continue to be. Notes the report:
If the order to sail is given, that Atlantic carrier group would be joined in the Persian Gulf by either the USS Abraham Lincoln or the USS Kitty Hawk battle group, would be sent from the Pacific fleets. The Abraham Lincoln is in Perth, Australia, having just left the Persian Gulf. The Kitty Hawk is in port in Japan.If the Kitty Hawk stays in Japan, would that be a warning to North Korea that we have some force to spare in their back yard? (And if it is sent, does that take the pressure off Pyongyang a little or are the 37,000 - I think that's what I read in the paper today - in South Korea and the DMZ enough to keep the Mad Dictator and his minions on alert?)
As for Iraq and its response to all this:
Meanwhile, the Iraqi army said Thursday that militias organized by the ruling Baath party have been holding exercises in central Iraq aimed at countering a U.S. attack, another sign that Saddam Hussein's government may believe war is inevitable.But the Iraqis do plan, so they say, on giving the UN a list of scientists with info on their weapons programs.
Elsewhere on the peace-beat, here's an Iraqi official responding to news a U.S. robot spy plane was shot down:
Asked whether Iraq was worried about complications arising from Iraq's recent downing of a U.S. drone spy aircraft, Amin said: "They (Americans) should be worried about future complications because maybe one of their planes, this time with a real pilot, would be shot down."Which is all well and good except that they've been shooting at US planes enforcing the UN's no-fly zone, an attack on not just the US but also the United Nations and the peace agreement they signed better than ten years ago.
Bottom line: Iraq seems to be looking for war. It looks like it will find it.
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posted by gbarto at 12:34 AM:
North Korea Boots Nuclear InspectorsPyongyang also will reopen lab that could process plutonium
I keep seeing editorials about diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy asserting that the US needs to be more open to dialogue. Doesn't look like the North Koreans are doing any better than the Iraqis at playing the sympathetic figures the anti-Americans have been looking for.
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posted by gbarto at 12:25 AM:
Dozens Dead in Chechen BlastGovernment headquarters in Grozny blown up; at least 46 reported killed
That's the headquarters of the pro-Moscow republic. So, is it terrorism or a valiant people's attempt to throw of the yoke of Russian oppression?
Maybe both.
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posted by gbarto at 12:20 AM:
Town Sold on eBay for $1.8 MillionBridgeville, Calif. is first town to be sold on Web site; almost 250 bids placed
Hope they made sure fixtures, towel rods, etc. were included.
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Friday, December 27, 2002
posted by gbarto at 2:34 AM:
Here's Dr. Weevil on cebus, zebus and the moral alphabet.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:18 AM:
Here's Fox on North Korea, though the TurkeyBlog doesn't understand why this is suddenly all over the headlines. The TurkeyBlog seems to recall covering this basic story days ago.Update: Here's the TurkeyBlog's first mention, way back on Monday. Though he's wondering how much of this is related to South Korea's new president, who is a stronger advocate of reconciliation of the two Koreas than his predecessor. If he'd been thinking along these lines, he would have offered more than this cursory mention back on December 19.
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posted by gbarto at 2:15 AM:
Our thanks to Virginia Postrel for a mention the other day.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:12 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "Kenya: End of the Moi Era." Kenya elects a new president Friday, the first since 1978.
Le Figaro: "The Nuclear Threats of North Korea." We've all heard about this one.
Libé: "North Korea plays with Nuclear Fire." Notes Libé, the IAEA has judged the situation "very worrying." The TurkeyBlog, for its part thinks it "very worrying" that his latest server stats show 99 hits originating out of the IAEA domain. Why is the IAEA visiting my pages? Hopefully, I haven't said anything too incendiary about, say, Iraq or North Korea.
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Thursday, December 26, 2002
posted by gbarto at 12:16 AM:
Hlatky has a special Christmas story.* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:13 AM:
Oh Holy Night news:Grenade Attack in Pakistan Church
At least three killed, ten injured
Another victory for the religion of peace, we presume.
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posted by gbarto at 12:07 AM:
Very sharp column on the "inactivist" of the year, Tiger Woods from Radley Balko. Says Balko, Tiger's successful avoidance of the usual celebrity causes marks him as a libertarian and a fine sportsman who doesn't need activism to earn recognition.* * *
Wednesday, December 25, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:59 PM:
Letterman Visits AfghanistanTV host greets troops in Kandahar
Good for him. It's not the nicest place in the world to be and he's to be commended for trying to make it a little better for our troops.
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posted by gbarto at 11:53 PM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "How the Vatican feels about world affairs." The pope has restated his opposition to any "preventative war" against Iraq. Said the pope, "There are lessons about forgiving and forgetting, best exemplified by the gallant efforts of Cardinal Law, and I think the world should build on that."
Maybe we just made that last part up.
Le Figaro: "American justice clips Microsoft's horns."
Libé: "Hide the Poor and Outsiders." Says Libé, France wants "solidarity" with the poor but "at a respectable distance." Apparently, France is no longer the great, compassionate nation it was; it's even falling prey to the NIMBY syndrome, and that's Libé's phrasing.
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posted by gbarto at 11:44 PM:
TurkeyBlog to lead Draft Gore for '04 Movement!
Said the TurkeyBlog, I feel very passionate about this and have for a long time. To get an idea, just look at the post below.
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posted by gbarto at 11:43 PM:
Hope all have had a Merry Christmas. The TurkeyBlog woke up with quite a head cold and is still a bit wiped out but wanted to post a few things. But just to warn, if anything unusual shows up, it's just the sinus medication talking.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:30 AM:
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:05 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "Pyongyang and Washington: War of Nerves." North Korea seems bent on plutonium production; Washington says it can (and presumably will) fight two wars if necessary.
Le Figaro: "Iraq: An American spy plane destroyed." Iraq triumphant, but UN inspections continue.
Libé: "Maternity wards overflowing." To the extent that those in charge are threatening to resign if the government doesn't do something to alleviate overcrowding.
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posted by gbarto at 1:52 AM:
Powell Lobbies N. Korea's NeighborsTensions rise as Pyongyang warns of 'uncontrollable catastrophe'
Looks pretty ugly. And it looks like the Bush team knew what it was doing when it put bumbling, out of the way North Korea in the axis of evil.
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Tuesday, December 24, 2002
posted by gbarto at 1:41 AM:
Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower a terrorist target? Cicero has a thirdhand source saying maybe.The Eiffel Tower would speak to the anti-modern freaks of the WTC who can't bear to see history marching past the little tyranny that would make the spiritual kings on earth. But Notre Dame would be like the Bamayan Buddhas - a vulgar attempt to destroy the proud past of a competing religion. Either would be proof enough, however, of a movement that is still-born. This brand of Islam need not worry about Houris in Paradise: It is not so manly nor virile; it is the impotent lover, eager to slaughter those who would cuckold him but unable to give any life to anything.
Al-Qaeda, the Taliban the Wahabbists and the whole lot may have been able to destroy the ancient Buddhas and the modern Trade Towers. And more they may destroy. But their faith is too weak, too ugly, too useless to create anything so magnificent. Were it to become strong enough, mature enough, to do so, it would no longer be a faith that could do anything but shudder in revulsion at the misdeeds of its early acolytes.
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posted by gbarto at 1:37 AM:
Iraq shoots down U.S. drone-CNNThe move does not represent an escalation of hostilities, Myers said. Two other Predators have been shot down over southern Iraq, he said. "They attempt to shoot down all our aircraft."Being naive and all, I don't see how regularly shooting at people enforcing UN mandates is, well, an acceptable thing to do. The closest analogue I can come up with is shooting at your parole officer every time you're to meet. I guess it's not an escalation, but it is a hostility. Somebody ought tell the UN, in particular, that it should wonder how much value it really brings if those enforcing its mandates can be fired upon with impunity even as their own people are denied even the rights granted in the standards of engagement, namely that one can at least fire if fired upon.
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posted by gbarto at 12:51 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "Ivory Coast: France Put On Guard." The French army has been, of course, ferrying out foreigners and assisting the current regime. Now, three splinter rebel groups have joined forces and announced, among other things, that a French attack on any of their number would constitute a casus belli with the French army and presumably with France.
Le Figaro: "North Korea: An Affront to the UN." As we've noted elsewhere on this blog, North Korea started disabling cameras and other monitoring equipment at a supposedly civilian nuclear reactor, indicating they may try to refine weapons grade uranium at the plant. The UN is clearly unhappy. What it plans to do about it is somewhat murkier.
Libé: "Clash without a future." The group's lead singer is dead, at 50, in London.
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posted by gbarto at 12:35 AM:
President Issues First PardonsBush absolves seven, including postal worker who stole $10.90, moonshiner
Bush made some interesting choices. Most interesting is that the pardons Bush granted were all for people who had, in fact, committed the crime, but whom he felt had paid their debt to society and subsequently earned the right to live free of a criminal record. Those whose pardons were turned down are doubtless unhappy, but there is something neat about the way the President has used his pardon power as a vehicle of redemption. Very interesting.
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posted by gbarto at 12:29 AM:
The Doctor is InGOP chooses Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist to replace Trent Lott
Congratulations to Frist. May he do well, and may the round of trash thrown at him earlier and deflected be indicative of the fact we have a leader of a very different nature than Senator Lott.
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posted by gbarto at 12:25 AM:
North Korea Pushes Treaty on U.S.Country says that 'nuclear issue' could be settled if Washington signs a nonaggression treaty with it; U.S. wants to take steps to abandon nuclear development before talks can occur
Um... I think when you're part of the axis of evil, a more conciliatory attitude may be in order. The way North Korea is framing this, it is as though the US were acting aggressively toward it. Perhaps we should be, but we haven't been.
The Israelis have a lesson for us as far as North Korea goes, and it relates to our other foe of the moment: When Iraq was building a nuke plant that could have refined uranium, Israel made it disappear a few weeks before it was to go into operation. The North Koreans need to have it suggested to them that if they don't cooperate in demonstrating that they are not making nukes, we will remove the roof of the building and whatever underneath our bombs take with it until we can get a clearer view.
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Monday, December 23, 2002
posted by gbarto at 2:21 AM:
Democrat Bob Byrd: Confederate GeneralRead about it at Common Sense and Wonder
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posted by gbarto at 2:19 AM:
Tell us, Natalie, your tale of woe!* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:17 AM:
Europe's expansion: sign of the Apocalypse? Bjørn wonders.* * *
posted by gbarto at 2:12 AM:
French news round-up (What the leading French dailies think is big news):Le Monde's lead story is "North Korea relaunches it's nuclear program." They've taken UN cameras out of sites under investigation and are apparently trying to get ready to start up reactors, notwithstanding world condemnation.
Le Figaro fronts Gerhard Schroder's problems: "Storm Warnings for Schroder." Even though he was just reelected, 53% of Germans think new elections need to be held next year to settle the crises. What crises? An economy in the tank, a closely divided government and a - oh yes - a Chancellor who won reelection promising to stay out of Iraq, out of the war on terrorism, and is now realizing that if he wishes to remain on speaking terms with his European neighbors and the US he'll have to honor the military committments that come with being part of NATO, the UN and other military alliances. Seems his least enthusiastic supporters had reasoned, "better unemployed with Schroder than at war with Stoiber." Now that they're going to war anyway, enthusiasm has fallen even further.
Libé wins for most intriguing headline: "The secret history of the deaths of the Tibherine monks." Briefly, in 1996, seven French Trappist monks were abducted and killed in Algeria. Now a former member of a government security agency has disclosed his role in the killings and indicated that people further up in the organization ordered and supervised them.
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Sunday, December 22, 2002
posted by gbarto at 3:30 AM:
Oxblog and others are mixed up in the fray over whether the neocons, technocons or whatevercons drove Lott from his leadership post. Let me declare all those in this little war fools. The story, plain in simple, is not about which conservatives were fastest on the draw. It's about the fact that conservatives, presented with a leader who had comported himself terribly, started the process of easing him out long before their liberal opponents even realized what was afoot. The Republicans have stood by their principles regarding racism and civil rights.Consider the contrast with liberals and sexual harrassment a few years ago.
Sullivan, Kristol and Krauthammer can all shut up, as far as I'm concerned. They're all trying to snatch defeat from the victory of moral principle on the right.
Update: Sullivan's top post of the moment, while not stating this, does try to smoothe over the rift.
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posted by gbarto at 3:08 AM:
Notes A Dog's Life, it's a bit much for Hillary Clinton to suddenly discover in Lott a politician whose offenses are too grave for us to "just move on."My fiancée was asking the other day if Hillary was still around, given how little we've heard from her of late. We suspect that though she has popped up her head for the moment, once the snide barrage of "oh, we're not forgiving and forgetting anymore?" hits, she'll retreat back underground.
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posted by gbarto at 2:57 AM:
French news round-up:Says Le Monde: "Iraq: The Arab World Resigned to War." Their summary:
The capitals of the Arab world haven't really reacted to the account given, Thursday, by the head of UN disarmament inspectors, which judged that Iraq had "missed an opportunity." Nor have there been commentaries regarding Colin Powell's speaking of "patent violation" of UN Resolution 1441. To all evidence, the Arab world seems to be resigned to an American intervention.The inside lead-in:
Impotent and bitter, the principle capitals of the [Arab] region consider an American military intervention practically inevitable. In Egypt, the Mubarak regime is trying to find a middle way between pressure from Washington and the aspirations of the people.Says Le Monde, Egypt's big problem is that there's a strong pro-Iraq lobby, mostly of businessmen. To which the TurkeyBlog says, "Pah." Every decent screenwriter knows that businessmen are just evil louses who starve innocent children for profit and savage the common good to line their purses. We see no reason why the concerns of Egyptian businessmen are such a big story when Le Monde has never before found a businessperson whose concerns over environmental law, labor law, tax law could possibly compare to the common good pushed by the international community. Why we're supposed to be moved by their support for a man who, according to the FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) is guilty of "a continuous and stealthy [policy] of ethnic cleansing" (story here, in French, also in today's Le Monde).
Why the sudden interest?
Could it be because they're in opposition to America?
Can anyone say, "Duh?"
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posted by gbarto at 2:43 AM:
Venezuelan Gov't Seizes TankerCountry's oil supplies dwindling as strike against Chavez continues
Ah, good old Mr. Chavez. So fortunate the word is that he survived his coup attempt.
Those who were laughing when Chavez regained power after Bush and the US had indicated they cared not what happened to him are no longer so smug.
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posted by gbarto at 2:41 AM:
N. Korea Dismantles Nuke CamerasAs warned, U.N. atomic agency's surveillance equipment disabled
What would happen (to us) if an American stealth bomber took off in the wee hours and in the morning the plant were gone?
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posted by gbarto at 2:40 AM:
Al-Qaeda and more Al-Qaeda:Explosion on Pakistan Bus Kills Two
Eighteen injured in Hyderabad, 60 miles north of Karachi
The big revelation in this story is that four other militants have been arrested. One of them claims to have been involved in the bombing that killed 11 French people last year; says he, he is sorry for the French as he had meant to kill Americans.
More Al Qaeda Links to Bali Blasts
Police say leader of sympathetic Islamic group helped plan bombing
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