30. juni 2003

Cold war parallel for WMD error Fred Kaplan points out an interesting parallel for the exaggarated claims about Iraqi WMDs, namely the row over the so-called "missile gap", where top US officials for a long time claimed that the Soviet Union was massively superiour to the US in intercontinental nuclear missiles. No doubt, the Pentagon officials were deeply patriotic and surely believed the threat they created, and when US intelligence failed to support the claims, it would have to be because the CIA wasn't eager or clever enough to find out. In reality, the Soviets were massively inferior to the west all along. 10:15:25 PM    comment []

Iraq's top Shia cleric opposes US plans for constitution-making body Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's top Shia cleric, has issued a religious edict, a fatwa, against American plans to directly appoint representatives to draft the country's constitution. The ruling demands that the lawmaking body be democractically elected, and the draft constitution be approved by the people in a referendum. Ali Sistani is a moderate that has generally been helpful to the occupation powers, but this ruling is interpreted as a serious blow to the US plans. I guess everybody should be relieved every time a fatwa is pro-democracy. I wonder how he plans to have a general election without a constition to begin with? An interim constitution? But then, who will make that? 9:11:46 PM    comment []

Iraq explosion kills 'scores' An ammunition dump explodes in Iraq, killing about 30 people. The victims are thought to have been looting the site, which is located in a desert area. 6:54:06 PM    comment []

Arson caused by differing Bible interpretations A San Antonio man may have set a dozen churches on fire because he disagreed with the pastors about Bible interpretation. Jesus Arturo Barraza Jr. visited a number of churches recently to talk to ministers about their beliefs. Police said they think he returned later and set the churches on fire. "Apparently, he was upset over what he perceived to be conflicting interpretations of biblical teachings that he had been receiving from various churches of various denominations throughout the city," said arson investigator Capt. Art Villarreal. "He told investigators that God had told him to commit these crimes, and that during the committing of these crimes, God was protecting him and was watching over him," Villarreal said. Hmm, does George Bush really believe that God talks to him? 5:40:46 AM    comment []

RIP Katherine Hepburn has died, aged 96. A great actress, maybe the greatest. 3:56:30 AM    comment []

Today's unnecessary question "Is Google God?" (New York Times) But wait, there is more: "Says Alan Cohen, a V.P. of Airespace, a new Wi-Fi provider: "If I can operate Google, I can find anything. And with wireless, it means I will be able to find anything, anywhere, anytime. Which is why I say that Google, combined with Wi-Fi, is a little bit like God. God is wireless, God is everywhere and God sees and knows everything. Throughout history, people connected to God without wires. Now, for many questions in the world, you ask Google, and increasingly, you can do it without wires, too."" Apart from the fact that god isn't doing much, and Google is doing a lot, it's a funny thought. 3:49:30 AM    comment []

Fundamenalist Christians oppose roadmap Some evangelical Christians vehemently oppose any plan for Israelis to withdraw from the occupied territories, because they interpret certain Old Testament scriptures to say the entire land was given to Israel. They arrange petitions against George Bush's support for the "road map," and raise serious money for the settlers. 12:11:08 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.07.2003; 00:27:09.