Friday, February 25, 2005

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel 'plans W Bank homes boom'

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel 'plans W Bank homes boom': " West Bank settlements is one of the most contentious issues "

Let's not kid ourselves on the prospect of Middle East peace. As long as the US continues to take a hard line on Palestine and ignores the actions of Isreal, Palestinians will strap bombs to themselves and blow up resteraunts and buses. Looking tough and standing tall has to give way to full compromise once in a while, and no one seems to be putting Isreal to the task. No one seems to have trouble beating down the Palestinians. though. Xians should stay out of it - they have their own agenda, and it's just as fucked up as the other two parties.

Thursday, February 24, 2005

BBC NEWS | Europe | Bush pushes Putin on democracy

BBC NEWS | Europe | Bush pushes Putin on democracy

Well . . . Here we go again, with the pot calling the kettle 'black.'

Maybe the Russian administration's blackout on the coffins coming back from Iraq - oh wait; that's us.

Maybe the Russian admin telling people to 'watch what they do, watch what they say' - oops! Us again.

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Troops destroyed Afghanistan abuse photos - World - www.smh.com.au

Troops destroyed Afghanistan abuse photos - World - www.smh.com.au

"In the newly disclosed case, the images are said to show US soldiers 'hazing' fellow troops by dressing them up as detainees with their hands cuffed and sandbags over their heads, then dousing them with water and rolling them through the mud. The soldiers said this was done to celebrate birthdays and promotions."

It's a shame that we learn about this from an online newspaper in Australia and NPR. As of this, nothing on CNN. Of course, nothing on Fox.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Shia parties triumph in Iraq poll

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Shia parties triumph in Iraq poll: "marks the birth of a new Iraq and a free people,' Mr Ayar "

The American paperweight administration is out (supposedly) and the Shias are to take the reigns.
I was a little concerned that Bush had another episode with a 'pretzel' and slept in during the Iraqi election. The only reaction I have been able to find of Bush's reaction so far is in an article I fount in a Chinese news service. There is an article in the associated press where Bush declares the election a 'resounding success' as I write this, but notes that the US is there until the Iraqi security forces are stable enough to secure the state. And of course, if you study the history of militant Islam in the region, you can imagine the bad taste in the mouth of anyone who dares question American imperialism. Just think - get a couple of sadists graduates from the School of the Americas to show 'm how to effectively beat down the masses, then wonder why they would even consider targeting the police forces. What they need down there, according to - well, everybody roaming the halls of the White House - is a bit of Violent Pascification. "FORCE YOU to be nice to each other, KILL YOU BEFORE YOU KILL EACH OTHER!!!!!"

The scariest part of all of this is - it may not be about oil; not directly, anyway.It's about the uber-rich white xian power base in the United States looking to ensure the manifest destiny of America as the true promised land. And when God is on your side, hell, you gan do what the f**k you want!

Saturday, February 12, 2005

NPR : Dean, Nader Debate Role of Third Parties

NPR : Dean, Nader Debate Role of Third Parties
This is a really interesting debate, and, though it does make like like Howard Dean a little more, doesn't persuade me to vote for him or any other Democrat in the next presidential election. He sounds good, but he either cowtows to the Democrats or makes excuses for Kerry with a 'beat Bush' mantra. The one thing I never hear any Democrat talk about is lowering Rx costs in a real manner by setting price caps the same way Canada has. But I imagine its best not to bite the hand that feeds you.
Dean did a real polititrick in answering Margot Adler's last question.
She had noted that presidential candiates floated in both parties were white male xians without exception, and if he saw this as a true negative force to diversity. Dean's answer swirled around the question, leaving him on some anecdote about some woman selling her bicycle for $100 and sending it to his campaign to 'beat Bush'. Adler deftly noted that Dean did not even address the question in the way it was asked by not mentioning women or minority candidates at all.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Can Dean save the Democrats?

BBC NEWS | Americas | Can Dean save the Democrats?

For about 10 seconds, I felt a twinge of hope. I thought to myself, "Finally! Dean will be a contender!"
Then I remembered, he's a Democrat. More often than not, he's going to tow the party line than say what needs to be said - that's the rub with McCain.

In 2000, the third party made its voice heard in a way not seen sice the birth of the reform party. Independents had a voice, and the Democrats knew it. They did every thing they could to supress it and lost the election anyway. Come 2004, third party candidates were the devil Satan.

-- ahh! I lost my train of thought.

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

BBC NEWS | Americas | Fines for 'droopy drawers' backed

BBC NEWS | Americas | Fines for 'droopy drawers' backed

Here we go! The xians are starting in on morales (with the added bonus of getting some cash from the fashion concious poor). The next four years will certianly be anything but boring. I'm surprised that 'threats from terrorism' didn't make it into this discussion.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Fines for 'droopy drawers' backed

BBC NEWS | Americas | Fines for 'droopy drawers' backed

Here we go! The xians are starting in on morales (with the added bonus of getting some cash from the fashion concious poor). The next four years will certianly be anything but boring. I'm surprised that 'threats from terrorism' didn't make it into this discussion.

Monday, February 07, 2005

BBC NEWS | Business | Bush budget seeks deep cutbacks

BBC NEWS | Business | Bush budget seeks deep cutbacks

The $2.58 trillion (£1.38 trillion) budget includes reduction in subsidies to farmers, and lower spending on the environment, education, and health.

Looks like the bible belt rallied for another kick in the teeth. But the farmers shouldn't complain; with the repeal of the 'death tax', they should make a killing when ole grampa dies, right?

No one my age really believes that the Ponzi scheme we call a Social Security system will be around for us, anyway. Guess we had all better sell our souls to get rich while we can still afford the rent on our cardboard box behind the Wal-Mart.

Friday, February 04, 2005

BBC NEWS | Americas | 'Arrest threat' to Rumsfeld trip

BBC NEWS | Americas | 'Arrest threat' to Rumsfeld trip

"It's certainly an issue. It's something that we have to take into consideration . . . Whether I'll end up there, we'll soon know. It'll be a week and we'll find out."

Donald 'Duck-DodgeWeave' Rumsfeld

Throw his evil lying sadistic ass into the pokey! See what he thinks of frontier justice!

BBC NEWS | Americas | US teens 'reject' key freedoms

BBC NEWS | Americas | US teens 'reject' key freedoms

If this doesn't give you a bit of a fright, then maybe you should be voting Republican. Let's all thank god that there's such a thing as an underground culture.

Quote: The president of the John S and James L Knight Foundation, which conducted the research, said: "Ignorance about the basics of this free society is a danger to this nation's future."