Wedding

I'm off to a wedding tonight. Taking the overnight train.

I have been asked to be the best man so I guess I have to behave
myself. Blogging will be light for a couple of days.

Yes, as you can see I have always felt very strongly about this.

In the 80's there was a studio executive who famously kept two memos about any particular project in his desk. One was an enthusiastic endorsement and the other expressed grave concerns. He would be able to pull the most useful one out when needed.

The politicians and pundits who supported the war but have now backtracked are doing the same thing except they made the unfortunate mistake of actually speaking out loud in public.

Norman Podhoretz via Instapundit provides a rundown just in case anybody has forgotten.

Today I won't engage in the dramatic technique of throwing out a quote then BANG! revealing it to have been uttered by somebody who now holds an opposite view. Instead, the game for today is to guess which current war critic said what.

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If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons-of-mass-destruction program.

Iraq is a long way from [the USA], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risk that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face.

He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.

Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons-of-mass-destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.

There is no doubt that . . . Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical, and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf war status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies.

Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations, and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.

In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical- and biological-weapons stock, his missile-delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al-Qaeda members.

There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years. . . . We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.

We know that [Saddam] has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.

Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter, and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.

I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force—if necessary—to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.

We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.

The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical- and biological-warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons.2

hard to negotiate with a tyrant who has no intention of honoring his commitments and who sees nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons as his country’s salvation.

[o]f all the booby traps left behind by the Clinton administration, none is more dangerous—or more urgent—than the situation in Iraq. Over the last year, Mr. Clinton and his team quietly avoided dealing with, or calling attention to, the almost complete unraveling of a decade’s efforts to isolate the regime of Saddam Hussein and prevent it from rebuilding its weapons of mass destruction. That leaves President Bush to confront a dismaying panorama in the Persian Gulf [where] intelligence photos . . . show the reconstruction of factories long suspected of producing chemical and biological weapons.
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The studio executive I mentioned before was also famous for seriously damaging and almost destroying what was one of the greatest studios in history through his hubris and complete dedication to the glorification of himself. As a film lover, I despised him for that. But at least it wasn't a country.

For answers to who said what, you just need to follow the link above.

The End of the World is...

Great article at Varifrank about predictors of doom both today and in the past.

I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and as a teen was convinced by my elders that the world was in the last days of the end times. The evidence was all there. Luckily for me a couple of flaws in the timeline drove me to break away before I had the compound plans drawn up.

Friends and family, who depended on Revelations for the weather forcast had a difficult decade in the 80s as the disintegration of the USSR threw a wrench in all the elaborately laid out interpretations. As Gorbachev began dismantling the Soviet Union, my mother was convinced that it was all a ruse to lull the US into a false sense of security and then SPRING THE TRAP with the anti-christ and all that jazz.

Ahh, those were the days.

What, did they run out of cars?

"Shortly before the decree came into effect, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, on a visit to Toulouse, said police were reporting a "fairly significant fall" in violence."

Evidently there is a slowing of what Tim Blair calls the car-b-que.

I'd like to answer that question but first, let me avoid it.

Tim Russert with Ted Kennedy on Meet the Press:

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MR. RUSSERT:  You talked about Iraq.  There's a big debate now about whether or not the data, the intelligence data, was misleading and manipulated in order to encourage public opinion support for the war.  Let me give you a statement that was talked about during the war.  "We know [Iraq is] developing unmanned vehicles capable of delivering chemical and biological warfare agents...all U.S. intelligence experts agree they are seek nuclear weapons. There's little question that Saddam Hussein wants to develop them. ... In the wake of September 11th, who among us can say with any certainty to anybody that those weapons might not be used against our troops, against allies in the region?  Who can say that this master of miscalculation will not develop a weapon of mass destruction even greater--a nuclear weapon. ..."

Are those the statements that you're concerned about?

SEN. KENNEDY:  Well, I am concerned about it, and that's why I believe that the actions that were taken by Harry Reid in the Senate last week...blah, blah, blah.

Blah, blah, blah blah...and that is what the Democrats stood for on the floor of the United States Senate last week.  That was a bold stroke, one that has the overwhelming support of the American people.  It's about time they get the facts on it.  They haven't got the facts to date.  They deserve them, and they'll get them.

MR. RUSSERT:  But, Senator, what the Democrats stood for on the floor of the Senate in 2002--let me show you who said what I just read:  John Kerry, your candidate for president.  He was talking about a nuclear threat from Saddam Hussein.  Hillary Clinton voted for the war.  John Edwards, Joe Lieberman, John Kerry.  Democrats said the same things about Saddam Hussein.  You, yourself, said, "Saddam is dangerous.  He's got dangerous weapons."  It wasn't just the Bush White House.

SEN. KENNEDY:  The fact is--and I voted against the war, because every military--I'm in the Armed Services Committee, and every military leader highly decorated, military leader, said that it was foolish to have a military intervention at that.  General Hoar, with the Marines--General Hoar, who has more Silver Stars than you could possibly count said if  we go into Baghdad, it'll look like the last five minutes of "Private Ryan," so we know we had enough information to vote against it, I believe.
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I don't know this General Hoar but he evidently saw the G rated "Private Ryan" where the Germans got their asses pounded into the ground and ran away like girly men. Does he have a bazillion Silver Stars?!?!?!?!? I'm pretty sure I can count that high if you give me enough time.

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SEN. KENNEDY: It is time now to--we are going--the end of this year, Tim, we find that our mandate has expired in the United Nations.  The president has to go back to the United Nations for a new mandate....blah, blah, blah.
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Oops, see my earlier post, the mandate was unanimously passed. Can you count to Unanimous Senator Kennedy?

UPDATE: I misread Kennedy on the "Private Ryan" reference. I was thinking he said the first 5 minutes but he said the last. Wasn't that when the old dude was visiting the cemetary?

UN Mandate

Great, all the people who insisted that the UN sign an approval slip on Iraq can relax, it's unanimous!

"UNITED NATIONS, New York The Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a one-year renewal of the United Nations mandate for the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq.
 
The resolution, sponsored by Britain, Denmark, Japan, Romania and the United States, extends the mandate until Dec. 31, 2006, but calls for a review of the decision by June 15, 2006, and allows for the termination of the mandate at any point if Iraq requests it.
 
The review clause was added as a compromise with the demands of France and Russia, which initially asked that the term be extended only six months, rather than a year.
 
The drawing-up of the measure was remarkably free of disputes on an issue that two years ago deeply divided the Security Council and threw relations between the United Nations and United States into turmoil.
 
Commenting outside the Council chamber after the vote, John Bolton, the United States ambassador, said, "We thought the manner in which the resolution was adopted in a constructive, cooperative, and very rapid fashion was a good sign." Samir Shakir Sumaidaie, the Iraqi ambassador, said, "We note with satisfaction the manner in which this resolution was passed in an environment of harmony and agreement."
 
Bolton said the 15-0 vote "expressed the clear desire of the international community to support the evolving democratic process in Iraq."

The Leakiest Leaking Leakers Just Keep on Leaking

Did the CIA decide that all those rules and stuff are too much of a hassle? I'm just glad the Democrats and Republicansare working closely together to resolve this issue for the good of the country.

"'It's illegal to leak classified information and classified information was leaked to the Washington Post,' the official said."

Maybe they could post that up on the super secret double naught spy breakroom bulletin board.

Never Get out of the Pixar boat!

Never Bet Against Pixar

I thought the bad reviews for Chicken Little meant Pixar was about to bend Disney over in their current negotiations. Of course the movie would pull in something like $40 million its opening weekend making me look like a fool.

BUT WAIT! There's more!

The real test will be the final BO. I have a feeling that 7 year olds aren't distinguishing between a Disney or Disney/Pixar movies at this stage in their movie seeing development. Actually I bet a lot of parents aren't either. Blockbuster status depends on repeat business so time will tell.

In any case, those folks that dumped their Pixar stock must feel like dopes about now.

Good Republican

Being out of the country means I'm out of touch with American TV but then I never watched West Wing Anyway. I figured the president on that show would eventually be hammering on missile silos to save the world around the point that Martin Sheen acquired a producer's credit.

But this story about a West Wing ratings driven live debate that recently aired is interesting.

BushitleroviensteinmcChimp, or whatever

If your standard talking points for vilifying George Bush are growing stale, not quite packing the punch of last year, this site should provide plenty of fresh material. In fact, why not try the home page Hard Truth for a whole new understanding of the world.

If the worms don't eat your brain first.

Uh, France, You Know There's a Riot Going On? You might want to, uh, put that out.

The French get serious about doing something, maybe, perhaps, we're not sure right now.

"PARIS (AP) - The French government declared a state of emergency Tuesday after nearly two weeks of rioting, and the prime minister said the nation faced a ``moment of truth.''

Um, wouldn't that moment have been somewhere between cars 500 and 600? Not that I could put a definitive timeline on it or anything.

Doing Nothing, Means Something

I was wrong about Darfur in my earlier post I guess. Since the MSM never really carries any news of substance about that area anymore, I assumed that all was well. I mean, the UN was going to work on it at least 18 months ago. I remember a lot of tough talk. Surely they followed that up right?

Christopher Hitchens brings us up to date on the great job the UN is doing in Darfur

A taste:

"In other words, a Rwanda in slow motion, and in front of the cameras and the diplomats. What was all that garbage about "never again"?"

And most importantly for those whose main goal in life is to keep their hands clean:

"Nonintervention does not mean that nothing happens. It means that something else happens."

Mickey's dark Days

Via Cruel.com, a look at and edgier, more suicidal Mickey Mouse of the 30s.

An MSM Takedown

Stephen Green again proves that he is one of the most thoughtful and articulate writers in the blogosphere with this piece on the MSM and the Iraq war.

Here is the part that gets your blood pumping:

"It's fair to ask if the Iraq Campaign was a necessary component to the Terror War. It isn't fair to compare Iraq to Vietnam, when the two wars have nothing, zero, nada in common. It's fair to ask if our soldier are dying in vain, or because of stupid policy, or because of inferior equipment. It's not fair to run headlines like 'Battle Deaths Continue to Mount.' No shit, Sherlock? A real story would be, 'Battle Deaths Decline as Fallen Soldiers Miraculously Resurrected.' It's fair to question Bush's policies. It's not fair to act as a conduit for enemy propaganda. It's fair to ask if Iraq is draining resources from our efforts in Afghanistan. It's not fair to complain that Afghanistan isn't perfect yet. It's fair to complain about indecencies at Abu Ghraib. It's not fair to virtually ignore atrocities committed by the other side everywhere else in Iraq."

From there it gets better.

Getting Things Done in Ukraine, Not

Why is Ukraine stuck in idle when it should be on its way to being an economic dynamo (IMHO)? I won't try to answer that but here is an example of the way things work.

I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Oblast (similar to
a US state) government and its pursuit for economic development. In
that time, there has been one wildly heralded local election (with live
satellite coverage [a first in Ukraine!], street fairs and a huge
concert featuring one of the most popular singers in the country), one
wildly heralded 3 day student conference (free beer and bbq for
students and a concert by one of the most popular singers in the
country) and yet another street concert by yet some of the more popular
musical acts in the country. The concerts I describe use full sized
and equipped stages with all the smoke and lights that any respectable
eastern European rock star would demand.

These are great. Great opportunity to show the people that the
government cares about them. Great opportunity to pass out free balloons and informative
materials concerning a wide range of issues. Great opportunity to
bring together students from across Ukraine and teach them that they
are all, in their hearts, the same.

Great. I'm all for that.

The Oblast government has made exports and foreign investments its top
priority.

Great. The Oblast desperately needs such development.

Since I work with the government, I have contacts with people
immediately connected with the Governor. In the flurry of activity and
excitement of a new beginning, I went to the Oblast website to see how
potential investors or import/exporters would get information. The
site is in Ukrainian with no English translation. Since most foreign investors/businesses will more likely speak English than Ukrainian, I thought it important to create a mirror site in English. My offer to help
create an English version of the site was politely declined by the
webmaster. Too much to do.

OK, well I'm resourceful, unlike a typical exporter in the
US, I know people who know people in the Oblast. I ask around and find
the personal email address for the person in charge of developing
foreign investments and I write an email requesting information about
exporting Oblast products to the US. The very opportunity that the
Oblast is desperately searching for (by the way, I didn't fabricate
anything, I actually know somebody who is very interested in this).

I never received an answer.

I mentioned this to some workers within the Oblast. I never heard
anything more.

This was 4 months ago.

This kind of thing is repeated constantly.

The very structure of how things are done is broken in Ukraine. It is
a remnant of 70 years of Soviet rule. It is not necessarily based on
politics anymore but is more cultural. Why this is and how to fix it
is a much longer post but the point is that there is a societal
overhaul that is long overdue.

I'm no political genius but it seems there should be more effort in business development and less concerts and balloons. Or am I being too dramatic?

Hot Sex Sports Story

I have a feeling posters of these girls are being contemplated in a much more intense and frenzied manner by teenaged boys (ok, men) across Carolina.

A Kinder Form of Fighting

A Kinder Form of Fighting

Why don't the French cops get a couple dozen of these?

This is how it's done Mate

Has Australia actually done what so many European countries have failed to do, get ahead of the Jihadists?

I wonder how this will go over with the locals?
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The highest-profile suspect captured is Abdul Nacker Ben Brika, also known as Abu Bakr, a radical Muslim cleric.

In media interviews, Abu Bakr has said he is against the killing of innocents, but added he could not discourage students from training in jihad camps. He has also praised al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Abu Bakr appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning charged with being members of a terror group.

"Each of the members of the group are committed to the cause of violent jihad,'' said prosecutor Richard Maidment, adding that Bakr was the ringleader.

Rob Stary, a Melbourne lawyer who represents eight of the suspects including Bakr, said his clients have only been charged with being members of a terror group.

"They are not charged with being involved in the planning or preparation (of a terrorist act)," he said.
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Lawyers always see the glass half full!

Cheney Fights for Detainee Policy

Via Hit and Run, which is all a twitter over these things an interesting article about the effort to impose tighter restraints on the treatment of prisoners. Dick Cheney wants to provide exemptions for certain categories.

I have no burning desire to start sharpening bamboo shoots but it seems that it is a mistake to create laws that so strictly bind the hands of people who are supposed to get info from bad guys. Especially in an age in which we hear complaints of pop music being a form of inhumane treatment.

One thing you have to give al Qaeda credit for is they do know how to work the system and they do teach their people all the ropes. We shouldn't be making it easier for them.

Beautiful Women

When I was assigned to Ukraine and waiting for my departure, I was informed by people who know these things that the women of Ukraine are the most beautiful in the world. They told me about the thriving marriage industry that brings westerners (mainly from US) to meet and marry Ukrainian women. That is a whole other post.

Well, Ukrainian women are beautiful. I don't know if they are the most beautiful, my time in Italy convinced me that Italian women were the most beautiful and then a recent trip to Germany convinced me that German women are the most beautiful.

And living in LA can spoil a man. It seems that the most beautiful women from every small town in the world make their way to LA to become movie stars. So LA probably has the most beautiful waitresses in the world.

I could create a long list of the many states that have the most beautiful women (Texas has the most beautiful Cowgirls) but I have a bandwidth limit here.

I did end up dating a Ukrainian girl here for a while. Yes, she was beautiful. But I discovered something about myself. I really enjoy communicating with women, especially one that I am having a relationship with. I enjoy finding that place where we understand each other's unique voice and can talk about all those things that you don't talk about in polite company.

Communicating with women has its own difficulties for me. I'm not a mumbling fool or anything but in a relationship there is always an opportunity to say something the wrong way and be misunderstood or vice versa. I blame it all on me.

So when you are dating somebody who's English is OK but not fluent (my Russian is very bad, ochen ploho) then those little subtleties are magnified and provide even more moments of explaining yourself. I enjoyed my time in that relationship but after it ended, decided that I would stick with fluent English speakers for now. The only ones I've met here so far are American.

Last week we found out that we are getting a couple of new PCVs in our city next month. I am in a city with another guy and both of us are ready to start dating again and both are not eager to date the locals. We have been closely following the events and just found out that we are getting a girl who fits into both of our age range.

We'll be meeting her soon.

This could be war.