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Thursday, July 31, 2003

Surprise Party!   CIA weapons adviser says solid progress made in search for Iraqi weapons (07-31) 10:46 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- An adviser to the CIA hinted Thursday that U.S. and coalition personnel were close to a breakthrough in the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. David Kay, the agency's special adviser for the weapons search, said "solid progress" was being made and that Iraqi scientists involved in the weapons programs are "collaborating and cooperating." He also said searchers were using documents from Saddam Hussein's regime in the search. "The American people should not be surprised by surprises," Kay said, echoing a remark made moments earlier by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.                          The American people also should not be shocked by shocks, flattered by flatteries, tickled by tickles, concerned by concerns, worried by worries, or troubled by troubles. In other words, avoid all behavior that resembles an a priori response to any stimulus. It's easy. Figure out what you’re expected to do and then don’t do it. Just do anything else until Linguistic Code Orange is lifted. 5:35:16 PM    comment []

Before there were steroids, corked bat incidents, and attacks on running sausages, baseball was a simpler game for everyone to enjoy. Though the exact origin of “keep your eye on the ball” doesn’t show up in Google or in Bartlett’s, there is a form of it in the Baseball Almanac. Ironically, it is not from a player but from an umpire – Bill Klem – but there is a truth that applies to umpires, players, and fans alike. Only the statisticians and scorekeepers can safely ignore it: "Fix your eye on the ball from the moment the pitcher holds it in his glove. Follow it as he throws to the plate and stay with it until the play is completed. Action takes place only where the ball goes." 3:29:45 AM    comment []

Riding That Train         There were happier days in the US-Saudi relationship, much happier, like back in April 2002:   (CBS) President Bush and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah tried to breathe new life into Abdullah's Mideast peace initiative, a point of agreement in a relationship tarnished by disputes over terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis itself. No concrete progress resulted from the five-hour session on Mr. Bush's ranch Thursday, but both camps said that by building a personal relationship, the two leaders had made progress in improving U.S.-Saudi relations and perhaps the Mideast peace process.   …With Abdullah remaining in the United States, White House officials said they would continue to tend to the relationship. On Friday, Abdullah was taking a train with Mr. Bush's father, the first President Bush, from Houston to College Station, Texas, for lunch.   Wow, a prized visit to “the ranch”, a privilege reserved only the truly elite of the President’s international supporters – and then a train ride with Daddy. They really put on the dog for Prince Abdullah.   Now comes the 9/11 report with those “untidy” details about Saudi involvement: 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi and there’s evidence they were given financial support from the Saudi royal family. I bet President Bush feels incredibly betrayed. Not only that, but it appears a lot of the intelligence he truly believed in the casus belli leading to war in Iraq, such as al-Qaeda connections were false about Iraq and true about his Saudi friends. I imagine he feels incredibly embarrassed too, with the realization that he ordered an invasion of the wrong country. Betrayed and embarrassed, I reckon his soul is in incredible turmoil right now. I feel really bad for him. I wonder what he’ll do. 2:49:17 AM    comment []