The Observers headline today makes for interesting reading. According to the report the US has been carrying out surveillance on the middle-six Security Council members. If true, and I would not be surprised if it is, then the US is engaged in an illegal activity – and is destined to war.
Month: February 2003
Lack of updates
I haven’t been writing as much as I normally do – been busy with other matters. I went to see a production of Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone in the Cork Opera House on Saturday night.
It was a riveting production, I have now read the play as translated on MIT’s classics archive. It is a great story. Too tired now to write a review! But it was well worth the 25 euros – and like Shakespeares tragedies, most people are dead at the end.
Bush's War
As usual, neo-Darwinist writer Richard Dawkins does some straight talking. He cuts out all the bullshit – and says exactly what he thinks.
The timing alone indicates that the real reason for war is neither of the two offered by Tony Blair. If it had been, all this would have blown up long ago. It would not have waited until George Bush failed to catch Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and needed a new foreign adventure to divert his electorate.
And on Bush he has even more stinging remarks
This is George Bush’s war. His motives and his timing have an internal American rationale. Bush is so unswerving in his thirst for war that Saddam has even less incentive to disarm than Blair’s paradox would suggest. Cowboy Bush is saying, in effect, “Stick your hands up, drop your weapons, and I’ll shoot you anyway.
Brilliant.
Why now? – The threat is real: Julian Lindley-French
Julian Lindley-French, a member of the faculty at the Geneva Center for Security Policy, argues that Europeans should stop their “security vacation“. He also argues that it is the job of European leaders to their people back to “strategic reality”.
I think Julian is mistaken – I think it is the job of European leaders to nip US unilateralism in the bud – and to secure Europe and the world with food – not arms.
History is always important
Tristram Hunt, who teaches history at the University of London, expresses his concern at the decline of history as a subject in British schools. Of late, the Prince of Wales, has also expressed his concern, calling for a more coherent curriculum. Worth the read.
Why the Left is wrong
David Aaronovitch expresses the view that an attack on Iraq is justified.
War will have worse affect than 1973 oil crisis
The world will suffer a bigger oil crisis than that during the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1973 if the US declares war on Iraq, according to leading US investment Goldman Sachs.
This could send the price of a barrell of crude (Brent) up to $50. God.
Cannabis a boon to economy
Cannabis smokers just want to stay on the sofa and snack, spending hours engrossed in home entertainment. Red Bull and smoothies, ‘Munchie’ snacks such as Mars bars and Haribo jellies. Pizza chains. Video stores. Games consoles. Multichannel TV. And what scares them… Shiny, noisy places with too many choices such as Starbucks and McDonald’s High-alcohol drinks and strong lagers such as Stella Artois Pubs with bouncers on the door: Businesses alerted to huge profits as study shows dope users have money to burn.
It is estimated that Britain’s ‘cannabis economy’ is worth £5 billion a year in sales alone. I never had thought about cannabis in this way – or as this 24 year old male put it:
‘I’ve started taking much more interest in the Discovery Channel. Cannabis really gets you thinking deeply about things.’
But you don’t need it to think deeply – apparently it just helps. 🙂 See here for Bill Hicks‘ take on why cannabis is illegal at all.
Joan Didion: War is Bush's fixed idea
An excellent piece, clearcut in its view, and accurate in the chronology of events last year that have led to where we are now – inevitable war. I absolutely agree with her – the reasons to go to war are few and far between and it was noted:
James R Schlesinger, who is now a member of Richard Perle’s Defence Policy Board, told The Washington Post in July, “our credibility would be badly damaged if that regime change did not take place”.
Quite.
Iraq war plans
British and American forces planning war against Iraq have revealed details of their plans to topple Saddam Hussein, which will start with a devastating bombing campaign ahead of a massive ground attack by thousands of troops from Kuwait.
Defence and intelligence officials have told The Observer that they have drawn up a list of targets, including Saddam’s home town of Tikrit, as well as key Ministries and properties owned by members of Saddam’s family and senior Iraqi officials.