Change what people said by changing the writing of quotes afterwards? Dan is right to call it Stalinist.
Category: US Politics
The Pentagon's New Map
This site is also making the rounds in the world of Blogs. It tries to explain why the US is going to war, and why the US will keep going to war. It is written by Thomas Barnett from the US Naval War College. Im going to have a decent read from it later, and write a reaction. I have been looking at a related subject, the psychology of war
Fisk on Bush
Robert Fisk again, this time discussing parallels between Bush’s speech on a new Iraq and defending the US from Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, and Sharon’s speeches on defending Israel from Palestinian terrorists. An interesting read.
Leave the cave-dwelling to Osama: Tom Friedman
Tom Friedman writes a somewhat humorous pieceon living in the US. He manages to get things in perspective while not being too dismissive about any threat. I love his taking the piss out of a survival kit:
The only survival purchases I’ve made since Code Orange is a new set of Ben Hogan Apex golf irons, and why my all-America survival kit would include: a movie guide, a concert schedule, Rollerblades, a bicycle – plus a reminder to attend local parent-teacher meetings, Little League baseball games, neighbourhood block parties and your book club and to get plenty of tickets for your favourite sports team.
Leave the cave-dwelling to Osama bin Laden.
Some Bushisms
This is absolutely hilarious. A list of Bushisms from the last couple of years. George W. Bush beggars belief! :
“We need an energy bill that encourages consumption.” Trenton, N.J., Sept. 23, 2002″
“I need to be able to move the right people to the right place at the right time to protect you, and I’m not going to accept a lousy bill out of the United Nations Senate.” South Bend, Ind., Oct. 31, 2002″
“The law I sign today directs new funds and new focus to the task of collecting vital intelligence on terrorist threats and on weapons of mass production.” Washington, D.C., Nov. 27, 2002″
Condoleezza Rice and the subtext
This is very interesting indeed. Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday that war with Iraq would become unavoidable unless UN Security Council members united soon behind a tough, common approach to Baghdad.
What? This is typical of the Bush administration. Reading the subtext its more like a veiled threat. “The UN better toe the line and agree to war, or else, we go to war. ” Amazing rhetoric too.
Its simple, the decision is made, war will happen.
Bombers put on alert for N.Korea
Don Rumsfeld has put long range bombers on alert in the pacific – in order to deter any Korean oppurtunism while the administration is engaged with Iraq. Recently there have been movements of fissile material in Korea – being watched closely by the Americans.
Religion and Foreign Policy
William Pfaff writes a very intriguing piece today. He talks about the relation between religion and the Bush administration – Calvinism and Protestantism dogma in relation to Foreign Policy. Well worth the read.
Anti-European is not nice
Todd Gitlin, professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia University, writes something of a polemic against his own country. He derides Bush and his cronies for their dismissal of ‘Old Europe’.It is a very interesting piece, I have not read anything like that in a while.
End of US imperialism?
A well-thought through, well constructed, reasonable and logical argument from Madelaine Bunting. This is one of the best pieces on US imperialism that I have read in some time. Its worth reading it twice – an excellent piece of writing.