15. april 2003

'George? Eh, It's Jacques...' You know the relationship isn't too good when it's major news that the leaders of France and the United States have had a brief telephone conversation. In fact, Chirac and Bush have not spoken since February 7, and it was (of course) Chirac that took the initiative for the call. After the call, the French spokeswoman Catherine Colonna called the talk "positive."Ari Fleischer, on the other hand, chose the term "businesslike" to describe the conversation. Bush is known to be a man who holds grudges, and for a long time. 10:42:04 PM    comment []

Vibrators and sexism I wasn't the only one who blogged about the amusing product that turned a mobile into a vibrator. On the Volokh Conspiracy, the story lead into a debate about why (outside the most puritan circles) a woman using a vibrator is perfectly socially acceptable, but a man would be considered pathetic for using a personal sex toy. I think he's on to something. A woman who wants more sex but can't get it is probably just picky (etc) while a man in the same situation is pathetic. Thus, if using a sex toy is a signal of too little sex, it reflects differently (in fact, opposite) on men and women. A woman would become more desireable for it, a man less so, because in either case it's his fault. The reason? Essentially supply and demand. 10:33:47 PM    comment []

Anti-war trio splitting up The foremost anti-war countries Germany, Russia and France seems to be heading in different directions as the war draws to an end. The French wants to optimistically get parts of the spoils of war, and to this effect they need the control of post-war reconstruction to be taken from the coalition and given to the UN. The Germans reportedly feel uncomfortable as a permanent opposition to the US, an important trade partner, and Russia seems to be returning to catious support of the US by considering to revise Iraq's debt to the country. 9:21:33 PM    comment []

Iranian newspaper claims al Sahaf commited suicide Iranian news sources claim that the (in)famous Iraqi information minister, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, committed suicide just hours before Baghdad was captured. The sources they give for this claim, however, leaves something to be desired. The US government, on the other hand, believes senior Iraqi officials, including al-Sahaf, have escaped to Syria. 7:24:24 PM    comment []

What does the NRA say about this? There is some irony in US forces going into Tikrit and taking away people's weapons. They permit people to keep handguns and pistols for personal protection, but not automatic weapons or heavier equipment. I thought the common claim from Americans was that personal weapons served to prevent crime and violence? 6:07:51 PM    comment []

White House stops planning for Syria war US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has in the past weeks ordered the contingency plans for a war against Syria reviewed, but according to the Guardian, the White House has put an end to the planning. While some conservative hawks seens a war against Syria as a logical next step in the war on terror, and in particular shaping the Middle East after Israeli priorities, Bush reportedly realised that a reelection campaign during yet another war would not be a wise move. As an intelligence source told the paper, "the White House shut down the discussion." 5:57:07 PM    comment []

Difficult road ahead in Iraq The US is taking the first steps towards establishing a new government in Iraq by bringing together exiled Iraqi opposition groups and local tribal and religious leaders, but have already been snubbed by one major group, the Iran-based Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). In places like Nasiriya and Baghdad, many Shias are demonstrating against the talks, demanding the US to withdraw immediately. 5:06:37 PM    comment []

UK cautious on Syria When asked about Syria, British foreign secretary Jack Straw does not back the hardline chosen by his American collegue. He clearly drew a distinction between Iraq and Syria by saying that Syria's rulership were "intelligent people who have the future interest and welfare of their country at heart." He also said that Syria's president Bashar al-Assad was "untested" as a leader and rejected using the term "rogue nation." Straw seemed optimistic that Syria would cooperate: "Syria has an opportunity to prove that it's not in that category." Another US ally, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, was also clear in distancing himself from what looks like a road towards aggression: Syria has been and will be a friend of Spain. It will not be the target of any war actions At the same time, the US is being warned by Russia, the EU and Arab countries over the escalation of tension with Syria. 1:21:39 PM    comment []

Saddam liked fantasy art Shocking revelation from CNN: in what is called Saddam's "love shack" in central Baghdad soldiers find typical fantasy art: airbrushs of topless women with monsters. You probably know the type. It definately looks like Saddam Hussein will miss out on Conan III, though, which is a shame considering he seems to like the genre. 3:08:21 AM    comment []

Headline of the day "Will blog for flavored milk" (Slate frontpage headline leading to this article) The topic is, of course, Dr Pepper/7Up's blog-based advertising campaign for Raging Cow, essentially milk with flavours. 2:31:19 AM    comment []

First bombs, then fast food Anti-war groups are struggling to find arguments to sustain their protest marches as the war is rapidly drawing to an end. Here's a new one: Iraqis will now become victims of the American fast food industry. Quoting Dustin Langley, a spokesman for International A.N.S.W.E.R. in Washington DC, What we will see is they will enter this homogenized McDonalds culture and of course we will see a loss of local traditions and a local way of life. I'm glad you have a sense of proportions, Dustin. Let's rather keep the Iraqis properly starved and exotic to satisfy your taste. 12:53:39 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.05.2003; 02:59:15.