On The Third Hand

Warblog Archives

Saturday, 26 Jan 2002

Short and Sometimes Recursive stuff

• The Afghan war isn't over yet. [via Cal Ulmann]
• Marjan the lion dies in Kabul. R.I.P. [via Momma Bear]
• It's always about sex... Now we know why Johnny Wanker became a Talib. It wasn't liberal upbringing or shock at his father. He was just a randy teenager who decided joining the Taliban was the only way he'd ever fulfill his fantasy of multiple women.
• Is it just my ISP going weird, or has Lake Effect disappeared?
• An excellent argument by Charles Krauthammer (who else) for why we should not declare the Al Qaida detainees in Gitmo prisoners of war. I may use this quote from him as my blog motto: "Our paramount national duty today is to prevent another Sept. 11, not to glory in the moral high ground -- the moral vanity -- of the victimhood we suffered last Sept. 11". Bravo!
• I think this sort of thing is why the European 'elites' hate our guts. Personally, I think pursuit of happiness includes the right to be totally tacky.
• Dawson's blog is fun, BUT IF HE DOESN'T STOP SHOUTING I'M GOING TO GET UPSET! dawson... if you can't handle a shift key, we'd rather you type in all small letters, ok? a post in all capitals is very hard to read. Thank you, dear.
• I sometimes wish I could live on the west coast of the US rather than the west coast of Florida. I'm looking forward to the pictures, Ken.
• The Muslim Pundit has a very informative post about Elia Hobeika, a Lebanese. minister who was assassinated a few days ago. Recommended reading for anyone keeping an eye on the Israeli/Palestine conflict.
  19:14 EST Start or join a forum discussion!

Friday, 25 Jan 2002

Short Stuff

• Speaking of Australia (below)... I know we here in the Northern Hemisphere tend to ignore our mates 'Down Under', but I do think this would be just too drastic a solution to the problem. Though I'll admit it would be nice to be able to visit friends in Brissy and Sydney... by speedboat. [Link via Tim Blair]
• I've added Kesher Talk by Howard Fienberg to my blog list. This is another one I had forgotten to link earlier. Mea Culpa.
• After reading this article in NRO about the priest on trial for pedophilia, it occurs to me to ask why the Bishops involved in abetting his behavior are not also being charged. I know that priests and ministers have privileges under our laws for confession and suchlike, but this person's superiors were actively putting him into positions dealing with children after they knew he was a pedophile. Surely that is not covered. The only way we will stop religious institutions from abetting (and covering up) things of this nature is to punish those who actively help the abusers continue to abuse.

Australia Day

I'd like to wish any readers from Oz a good Australia Day. Yeah... I know it is the 25th by my dating, but at the time I'm posting this, it is the 26th over there!

Clarification on Mark Steyn

Regarding Mark Steyn's article that I referenced yesterday: I did agree with his take on the UK punditry and their cluelessness about Guantanamo Bay. I did manage to ignore something in the article which a reader (rightly) protested as follows :"While I agree with his opinions on anti American 'wine bar' journalists, he's got down to the same level in regards to the role of the RAF in Afghanistan. They did a lot and still do."

He is right, and that brings me to comment on various bloggers and American pundits who are continually attempting to negate the very real, and very much needed, support from our British allies. Without the support of the RAF -- especially their air tankers -- we would have found it impossible to mount the air strikes necessary. Yes, we probably could have done it without their help. Eventually...Maybe... It was our absolute superiority in the air and all those bombing strikes that demoralized the Taliban so totally. Without the support of the RAF, the Taliban might well have lasted months longer. In any war, logistics are one of the most important (and most underrated) reasons for winning or losing.

In addition to the RAF, the SAS people on the ground were, and still are, doing valuable (if necessarily underreported) work with our Special Forces and with the Afghans. Their military stands by ours, and I, for one, am damned grateful that they do.

Sure we could go it alone, if we absolutely had to, but we'd have a damned difficult time of it. And if we continue to ignore and marginalize those who stand by us (and not just the British), we richly deserve the title of "arrogant Americans".

Thursday, 24 Jan 2002

More Stuff

• Mark Steyn has a lovely little rant in the Spectator about the British pundit take on the prisoners at Gitmo. I especially loved his little story about Germans in a POW camp in New Hampshire. If you don't read anything else, read that (right at the start of his article). Served them right!
• I got the link above at the NRO's new blog. The same one that Jonah Goldberg insists is not a blog. I sent them an e-mail with the subject "A rose by any other name..." and welcomed them to the Blogosphere. I hope it lasts, it looks like they are having a good time with it.
• Just what was in that man's mind? I was out painting house trim while listening to the news about the bus driver who ran off with a busload of kids -- then turned himself in. I can understand him turning himself in -- you try taking 13 kids on a 160 mile road trip and you'll understand what I mean. What I don't understand is why he did it in the first place? I assume he went crazy or something, but I'll be watching this one with interest.
• President Bush made an interesting speech today. Looks like they are finally going to get moving on homeland security. He did make a couple of comments that indicates he might have begun to realize that we 'the people' can help. Let's hope that message will trickle down to our local governments. I'll be waiting to hear the "State of the Union" address before commenting more. But I really don't think that supporting or volunteering for charities (though it is something that needs doing too...) is what I mean by involving us in homeland security. We'll see.
• Natalija on Samizdata has taken vengeance on Perry by posting a picture of him. You go, girl! And he's even wearing very skimpy clothing (or is that his lawyer in the tank-top?)!
• Samizdata also does a number on Pat Buchanan's latest nonsense spew. I saw that article of his this morning and just stared in speechless (and typeless) disbelief. Buchanan obviously has no earthly idea what Libertarians stand for.
• You know something? Johnny Walker has been all over the TV news today, and I cannot bring myself to care (either way) what happens to him. Sorry.
• Matt Welch has a friend with some interesting thoughts about past aid to Afghanistan.

Short Stuff

• So that's what they are called... I've got these vines that keep popping up in my backyard... seems they are called "air potatoes". Fair enough, since the 'seeds' look exactly like little potatoes. It's not just the Aussies who indulge in obvious names for things.
• So shut up, we explain. No, those are not prisoners of war that we are detaining in Guantanamo.
• Jonah Goldberg makes a good point about the screams from western Muslims about prisoners' being shaved for delousing purposes: "Muslim leaders, especially in the West, must choose. Is the extremism of Osama bin Laden a legitimate form of Islam or not? If it isn't, they should shut up. If it is, they should stop peddling this Islam means peace stuff."
• Michelle Malkin has some choice comments about Ramsey Clark. Sample: "Clark's agenda is neither peace nor justice. It is terrorist ambulance-chasing. He is far less concerned with freeing the innocent than with allying himself with America's enemies at every turn -- the gorier, the better."
• A majority of Americans think another terrorist attack is still very likely. I suppose that means the media should underplay attacks that have just happened (see previous post) a bit more. The American people aren't buying the "you are safe now, go shopping" slant.
• My thanks to the British military for their much-neededsupport.

Wednesday, 23 Jan 2002

Recursions

• The Wednesday Pundit Watch has been posted.
• Will at Quasipundit suggests I have the Brigade of Bellicose women send an "email deluge of support" to Command Master Chief Ellen Mustain (AW/SW) of Gauntanamo Bay. Since one of her duties is to "maintain a close rapport with the troops", I must admit that I also hope she is going to the cell areas quite often to communicate with the guards. I hope she brings some female soldiers with her too. I'd rather not deluge the military with e-mail, they've got better things to do. Perhaps instead we could all chip in and send a strip-o-gram to the prisoners at Gitmo, with the stripper (female of course) singing "Osama Yo Mama" (in English and Arabic)?
• Suman Palit thinks (as do I) the terrorist attack in Calcutta is important. It is very important. Ladies and gentleman, a number of Indians died or were wounded protecting an American center that was being attacked by terrorists. The US media have basically ignored the attack, as well as the bomb outside the American Embassy in Kabul. We have, in the past several days, been the focus of two attacks. The fact that these attacks were not on American soil does not negate the fact that they were attacks. PAY ATTENTION! And if any Americans live in a city where there is an Indian Embassy, it would be nice if you would march over to their Embassy with an armful of flowers for those who died defending our interests there. It's the least we can do.

Short Stuff

• Bellicose Women They seem to think it's about the burqas. The treatment of the Afghan women didn't hurt our support -- and a few of us would have been quite happy to see the US kick Taliban butt a couple of years ago -- but it's not about that. It's about the fact that they killed thousands of civilians. There is not a one of us who cannot look at our children, (even adult children) and imagine them being killed. We want the monsters who would do such things stopped. Now. By Any Means Necessary. As long as the government is perceived to be doing that, they will have our support.
• Anyone know some really rich venture capitalists who would like to fund a truly 'fair and balanced' news service? Admitted that no one can be truly 'non partisan'... but would it not be refreshing to have a station that states each newsreader's/reporter's bias? "Conservative News Hour", "Liberal News Hour", maybe even "Libertarian News Hour" or "America-haters News Hour" (we could have Ted Rall reporting).
• Liar liar... Seems the guy who called from Afghanistan to say he'd been kidnapped was actually in Pakistan when he called. I think he was just jealous of the publicity Heather and Dayna got.
• The latest issue of The Onion is out.
• Victims fund demands spur backlash. There is no possible "fair compensation" for loss of a loved one. No matter how that fund is set up, people would be unhappy. The government should not be in the business of compensating victims of attacks anyway. Did they compensate the victims of the bomb in Oklahoma City?

Tuesday, 22 Jan 2002

If I were a Muslim

I would take very careful note of the fact that someone seems to be protecting this guy. The Kolkata Libertarian commented: "Does Hamid Karzai have the nine lives of a cat? If so, he's already used up most of them." I hope, considering the problems he may have, that he has the lives of nine times nine cats.

Victims

Think you've been victimized? Want to whine? Try reading this. The western victimization cult needs to quit bitching about how terribly oppressed they are and go do something about those who are truly oppressed.Would someone please buy me a ticket to Pakistan, and a few hundred rounds of ammo for a .357? Thanks...

Short stuff

• Andrew Hofer has an excellent discussion on the subject of US aid. He makes the point that those who criticise the US government for having a low percent of aid are missing the fact that individuals and corporations in the US also contribute a large amount.
• My favourite cartoonist just sent me an interesting comment: "... BBC radio poll gave 92% in favour of US treatment of prisoners! So our reporters don't necessarily represent us!!" (Charles at LGF and his readers have some interesting comments on this subject too)
• Yes, the links on the left in bold type are for blogs who link to me. One does have to offer some incentive for these little courtesies.
• Perhaps I could put up pictures of myself in a low-cut dress... I think that is called "whoring for hits"?
• Jonah Goldberg has it right except for his second to last sentence. "On this Martin Luther King Day, with the Left in complete denial over their abandonment of King's Dream, mainstream conservatives are the only ones left willing to argue resolutely for universal standards." Not so, sir. Mainstream moderates and those libertarians you so dislike also argue for universal standards, as do many liberals.

Secretive Administration

William Quick writes:

The ultimate balance in our system of checks and balances is the people themselves. This apparent desire on Bush's part to mask the workings of government from the people that our government represents is not simply an opportunistic political calculus. It is more dangerous than that, because it strikes at the foundations of the republic itself, just as much as the gross dishonesty of the previous administration. Somebody needs to tell him so. It might as well be you.

I have to agree. There is need for secrecy current in deployment of troops and in current spook operations, as well as a few past operations that might tend to reveal ongoing tactics and strategy. However, this administration has been showing a love for secrecy unseen since the Nixon administration. That is something which should make us all sit up and pay attention.

New Blogs Added

I've added some more blogs to my list on the left, moved the news links to my links page and moved my archives over to the right, under the tip jars. I've also put the whole blogosphere list in alpabetical order. Hope that doesn't confuse anyone too much!I'll probably be adding even more of these soon.

• WarLog: World War III by Jeff Jarvis. I don't have any idea why I kept forgetting to link this one.
• Ye Olde Blogge by Andrea Harris. Incisive commentary by another one of the Bellicose Women ™.
• Sgt. Stryker "Sgt. Stryker's Daily Briefing". News and info from an insightful member of the US military.
• Random Jottings by John Weidner. Another one I should have linked long since. This is the guy who came up with the excellent advice to "throw things".
• Dreaded Purple Master by Daniel Taylor. "A view from the center. Really.I think, therefore I...think some more."
• Next Right "Rants from libertarian and conservative african-americans." Presently run by Sean McCray who says, "My original intention was to build a site modeled on Samizdata, by having multiple bloggers." If you think you might be interested, drop by and drop him a line.
• Vodka Pundit by Stephen Green. "The news with a twist -- of lime." How could I resist linking this one? Good commentary, sometimes with tongue firmly in cheek -- or martini glass.
• Sneaking Suspicions by Fritz Schranck. "Commentary from a practical perspective" Yep.
• Lake Effect by Dan Hartung. This guy has been around the Internet as long as I have, and blogging much longer. It's a web log but seems to be more war blog lately.
• The Mountain's Crest by George Spencer. Mostly a web log, but he's very interesting when he gets into politics and war commentary.

Another terrorist attack

Gunmen attack US centre in Calcutta. They killed five Indian policemen and security guards. They injured sixteen others, and escaped. No Americans were hurt in the attack.

I found something very interesting here. The story is the top headline on BBC news, The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Times. In the main American news sites: CNN has it in "Other Top News" -- not headlined, MSNBC has it in its top box -- but it is not a main headline, Fox has it in ""Latest Headlines" -- again not main story, ABC news has it in "Headlines" -- not main, and CBS has it in "World".

So, there is a terrorist attack, and not one of the major American news sources is reporting it as the top headline. All four UK sources do have it as the top headline. I'm beginning to wonder if the media here are following some sort of 'downplay it' order. Or do they just find Enron, Johnny Wanker and Gauntanamo more interesting than the fact that people are still trying to kill us?

Monday, 21 Jan 2002

Tired of hearing it

Note to the rest of the Anglosphere, who seem to be worried about whether we care about your opinion of our treatment of prisoners. Yes, we care -- possibly more than you know. The thought of terrorist attacks on any of you (as well as attacks on us) worries us greatly. That is why we are doing what we are doing. Got that? Ok, now calm down. You are just going to have to live with the fact that we care more about your lives than your opinions. And another thing... those so-called "cages" are temporary cells. They will be building a real prison in Gauntanamo. Now, shall we take up the condition of American prisoners in the prisons in countries accusing us of human rights violations? No? I thought not.

Short Stuff

• It's ever so nice when these little countries change their minds about helping us find terrorists.
• The quasi-pundits of Quasi Pundit are going to (finally) meet in non-virtual reality. The denizens of The Refuge are expecting a full report, in triplicate. After they recover from their respective hangovers...

By George, at least somebody's got it!

Seems there's a group in South Florida that is teaching people how to deal with terrorist attacks. Good show, but why is no one in the US encouraging and publicizing such things? This is exactly the sort of stuff we all need to know... and do!
[Thanks to the inimitable MommaBear for the link]

Feeling blue

Teal blue, that is. I've been out painting trim on my house (this is the way I celebrate holidays...). I do look good in teal, but not in large teal patches. So, do you all think I should go bathe in paint-remover or just paint the whole body blue? Will my next door neighbors' property values go right down because the family next door is blue?

Much Ado About Nothing

It seems that the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay are being well treated. The British officials report that the British Al Qaida suspects have "no complaints". It seems that the pictures that were sending the press ballistic were taken shortly after the prisoners arrived, and that the goggles and earmuffs were used on the flight. You might; however, note that the BBC is still calling the prison cells "cages", which shows that their bias remains undimmed by facts.

Sunday, 20 Jan 2002

Perceived racism

Reading the news about Mr. West and the 'Fireman Statue' disagreements has made me think a lot about racism. I was out shopping the other day, and had an instinctive reaction, and it made me think some more... about "perceived racism". I happen to be small and female... and I've spent a bit of time in places where "purse snatching" is a hobby. If anyone over the age of three gets near me, I go into 'grab the purse' mode. I don't care if the 'anyone' is black, white, hispanic, asian, male or female... I grab that purse. I freely admit to being bigoted according to species, I don't grab the purse if a dog or cat comes near. I'm not; however, racist. I am simply paranoid.

I had never really thought about the fact that certain people would perceive my reaction as racist... because it is not. But I have now been 'enlightened'. And I wonder how much 'racism' isn't?

A long time ago, a Great Man made a Great Speech. I agreed with it, and my parents rejoiced at his (later) death. It was those two things that made me reject what I was taught and decide for myself what I did and did not believe. His day (celebrated in the US) is tomorrow. He said: "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." I hope I may live to see that day (in all the world, not just America), but I doubt I will as long as so many of his "brothers" and "sisters" insist that we judge them only on the color of their skin.

My dream: I have a dream that someday everyone will be judged only by the content of their character. I'd like to see a society in which a bitchy potential mother-in-law says "He hasn't kept any job for more than a month!" rather than "He's a damned honky." (hah... you expected something else... didn't you... caught ya...). Get the point?

Poor mistreated prisoners

Damian Penny has a nice commentary on some unintended irony in the British protest of American 'inhumanity' in Gauntanamo Bay. I like catching people when they are being a bit hypocritical!

Nonetheless, there are some serious questions being raised about prisoners not too far south of where I live. Many of them are just plain clueless... disingenuous at best, but many are quite justified.

Fact: freezing winds are very unlikely in Cuba at any time. At this time of year, rain is also very rare. Cuba is tropical. It has a 'rainy season' and a 'dry season'. This is the dry season -- if it rains at this time of year, the rain is normally short and not violent. The prisoners should be easily able to stay dry... or if they do get wet, they will be dry again very shortly. I have lived in tropical climates (similar to Cuba's) and I assure you that an open-air cell is far more humane than a closed cell without air-conditioning. Many of the US military stationed there are sleeping on the same style of mats... and in tents, from what I have read... I'd rather have the prison shelters than a closed tent there.

A great BIG however. Goggles and earmuffs are a bit much during out-of-cell times. I can understand masks, since the detainees will bite. I can also understand goggles make it difficult for them to see who to attack, but that is still way over the top. Likewise earmuffs. Yes, they will try to rebel. Yes, they will try to kill any guard they can get to. The solution is not to deprive them of sight and hearing. The solution is to have heavily armed people around them, and to inform them that they will be shot if they attack (Not the unarmed guards in with the prisoners... they could have their weapons grabbed, but the outside guards can also see the prisoners--and shoot them.)

A note about the POW discussion: I have read the entire text of the Geneva Convention, and the US is correct that the Al Qaida do not qualify as POW. The Taliban are more "iffy", whether or not they signed the GC. As far as I can gather from umpteen different 'op eds', no one has any proof that any of those held at Guantanomo are Taliban. Still, if the US is a civilised country, the US should treat their prisoners in a civilised manner... no matter who the prisoners are. The fact that the US is allowing the Red Cross in is a hopeful sign, but I will wait and see... I don't suppose anyone would be willing to donate me the cost of a trip to Cuba and back? It's not very expensive from here...

Short stuff

• Apologies for my lack of blogginess lately, I've been distracted by the need to do some offline work.
• Megan McArdle's put up a very interesting, albeit very long, post on why we should not have a corporate income tax. She has a lot of good points. I am curious as to whether she thinks we should have a different type of tax to make up shortages (despite all those accountants, many firms do end up paying tax) or whether we should reduce government? I agree with most of what she says, but I don't approve of any income taxes, corporate or individual. I consider taxing productivity a Very Bad Idea. (Please pardon those capitals, I was reading Cosmopolitan in the checkout line at the store today... their style is contagious.)
• Carter killed the Soviet Union? I always thought he was too darned nice to be the US President. Perhaps I was wrong.
• 100,000 trapped by Congo volcano disaster I only hope that we can somehow help these people. I'm by no means sure of the 100,000 figure (which seems to be used only in the headline), but there is a real need for aid there. At least 300,000 have fled to Rwanda, who cannot really afford this sort of crisis.
• Too busy looking for smoking gun, media missing real Enron stories Yep.
• More Enron "Take it easy... don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy" (Eagles).
• SECRET PAKISTANI AIRLIFT AIDED TALIBAN, AL QAEDA FIGHTERS Somehow, I think this was blogged to death a while back, with some pretty correct analysis that whatever was going on was permitted by the US. Seems the lift may have had some unintended consequences, according to this article (but do consider the source). I suspect that Hersch's figures are inflated, and that most 'bad guys' that were airlifted out were probably those who were 'cooperating' or who were Pakistani nationals in high places. I just hope Mushy can get them in line some other way.
• Anti-Christ of the green religion. Good headline, the radical environmentalists are reacting as violently as any religious radical does at criticism of their faith. Faith cannot (by definition) be proved or disproved, so the only way they can react is by emotional denunciation. PS What global warming? (Read the last two paragraphs.)
• A Terror Network Unraveled in Singapore. More good argument for not profiling simply by race. We need to be far more sophisticated than that. Those who still insist on targeting only Arabs, after the Kabul Kangaroo, Johnny Wanker, the various Brits and French, and this, are in great need of having their heads shrunk.
• There are a lot of pro-American Muslims. Let us encourage them.