On The Third Hand

Warblog Archives

Saturday, 24 Nov 2001

I've had a few e-mail questions on the cartoons I have been showing.

Yes, I'm acquainted with the cartoonist. His brother is a graphic artist (that is his site that I've linked to). He and I met online, and we help each other out, we both design websites, but he's an artist, and I'm a web-weenie. I met Gerald (the cartoonist), through his brother, and he's been kind enough to let me use his cartoons on my site, for free, and I've linked back, for free. I do believe in free trade!

That "more cartoons" link is just more of his cartoons...free. Enjoy them; I most certainly have!

I found a piece in CNN today titled "U.S. issues travel warning for Afghanistan". Yes, the State Dept. did issue a travel warning yesterday. It was an update of a previous travel warning. The way CNN's article reads, I'd think the US had just got around to issuing a warning after all this time -- if I didn't know better. All they had to do was change "issues" to "updates". I honestly don't know if that is deliberate slant or careless reporting, but I don't like it.

An interesting, if extremely skewed, commentary from Al-Ahram in Egypt. You read it and form your own opinion.

Thanks to Bjorn Staerk for the link.

I just caught, in my cable surfing, a live report on Fox News from the infamous "Geraldo". He did a pretty damned good job. Never thought I'd ever admit to enjoying something from that man; I thought he'd be even worse as a reporter. We all make mistakes. He is a far better reporter than a "talk show host". That is where he started, and that is where he obviously belongs. Kudos to him for realizing that, and to Fox for hiring him.

Friday, 23 Nov 2001

Glenn Reynold's short comment on the Telegraph headline "U.S. FEARS MASSACRE OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS" pretty much hit the nail right on the head as far as US sentiment is concerned.

Even if they do allow themselves to be captured, how are we -- or anyone -- going to try that many people? They don't even want to surrender; they want is to be allowed to walk out. Sorry... there is no way we can allow that.

Thursday, 22 Nov 2001

Taking up Glenn Reynold's "make your own list" comment. I have a few things that the September 11th attacks and their aftermath have added to my "thanks to/for" list (otherwise too long to post).

• Our neighbors in Canda and Mexico who let our planes land--at danger to them.
• All those in all those countries who lit candles and showed compassion.
• Being a citizen of a country whose founders fought for the right to have "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness".
• Living in a place where I can overeat...even if I rarely do.
• Living in a country which required me to be educated, even if I didn't want it when I was very young.
• Having two parents still living--together.
• Music
• Movies
• Secular government that persists despite attempts to make it religious.
• A government that guarantees freedom of speech--even to those I consider nutcases.
• A place where I can choose what I wear... mostly... do I really want to walk out in public wearing nothing? Don't ask...I live in Florida.
• Fellow citizens who will put their lives on the line to save others (you know who they are... and were).
• The ability to travel where I wish, when I wish... even against my government's wishes (they issue advisories... but don't issue penalties).
• The fact that I can write freely here, or have my opinions printed in a newspaper... and not be arrested.
• For a sense of humour that has kept me sane.
• Last, but not least... that I live.

Wednesday, 21 Nov 2001

Just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. My family is celebrating early, so I'll be taking today off. I'll be back tomorrow. My best to all of you, and if any non-US readers would like to have a feast tomorrow (or anytime) just for fun, you have my permission (as if you need it...).

I've been following an online discussion at BBC. They are asking if the war is vindicated by the fall of the Taleban. They don't seem to understand that the Taleban are not the reason for this war. We are not after the Taleban, only after the terrorists they have been sheltering, and the terrorist training camps they have been hosting. Got that?

Our objectives are to get the terrorists, and also to keep them too busy to mount any more attacks on the US. Considering the suspected sarin gas found in one -- now deserted -- terrorist camp and papers found that were left behind by fleeing Taleban and El Qaida, I would say that our military response has succeeded admirably. Is it vindicated? Hell yes!

From Ananova, thanks to MommaBear for the link: "Taliban puts $50 million price on Bush's head". My only question is: does anyone really believe they could pay it?

Tuesday, 20 Nov 2001

Here are the seven steps to destroying a country, with examples of countries who are doing a fine job of following each. I've yet to find anything at Disenchanted.com that isn't worth the read.

This article by Wendy McElroy in Fox News suggests we arm the women in Afghanistan. I like this idea!

I've read several weblog comments on the Daily Rotten story about some papers the Taliban left behind when fleeing Kabul. It seems that one of the papers was a "reprint of a scientific parody called "How to Build an Atom Bomb" from a humor newsletter called The Annals of Improbable Research (AIR)." This gave me a couple of interesting ideas. Why don't we get a lot of people to make fake terrorist websites, with this sort of disinformation -- in Arabic, just to make it easy for them. Might be fun!

Alternately, we could start rumors that all the information of that sort on the Internet is fake.

I've had a few people suggest I put up links to "tip jars". I had been ignoring the idea, mainly because I can't believe I'd make any money. Then I read about Glenn Reynold's brand new laptop. I figure if he can make enough to buy a laptop, I might be able to buy myself a meal at McDonalds--someday!

Monday, 19 Nov 2001

The media asks "will we catch him?" and "where is he" and "what do we do if we catch him alive?". Who cares? I doubt we will catch him alive, and that is the only possible (public relations) problem. This war, ladies and gents, is not a war on one megalomaniac; it is a war on all he stands for. Please keep that in mind.

I would call myself multiculturalist (if there is such a word), but most of the people who consider themselves such would disagree. When I am dealing with a culture foreign to my own, I do my best to look at the world through their eyes. I do not consider all cultures to be equal, or even good--that is where I have a philisophical parting of the ways with the rest of the multicultural crowd. I do believe in judging cultures. I disagree with most of the American right as well, since I don't think we should always insist that other cultures must learn to deal with our ways, or that our ways are always the best way to do everything.

Two and a half years ago, I returned to the US, after living and working in Thailand, the other 'land of the free' (Thai means free). They have a way of looking at the world that is very different from the west. It took me a while to even begin to be able to look at the world through their eyes, and I'm quite sure I never succeeded in doing so completely. What, you may ask, does all this have to do with "the war". Nothing really, but it has everything to do with the peace. Read on... [Continue reading]

Sunday, 18 Nov 2001

Al-Qaeda's trail of terror " is well worth reading.

Don't mess with the women!