6. mars 2004

Failed Palestinian terrorist attack Palestinain terrorist organisations launched a spectacular terrorist attack on an Israeli border post in Gaza that ended in total failure. The operation was a cooperation between Hamas, Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, starting with an apparent suicide operation when a Palestinian car exploded, and the terrorists followed up with two fake Israeli army jeeps rushing to the scene. The militants in the first jeep opened fire, and were immediately killed when IDF troops shot back. The second jeep exploded, though Israelis deny they had shot at it. Six Palestinian terrorists were killed. No losses on the Israeli side. 9:39:07 PM    comment []  trackback []

Too much balance from the NYT? Perhaps the New York Times has become a bit too sensitive to criticism against its liberal bias lately, especially in combination with some bad scandals? When the recent news about the slow jobs growth in the US came out, almost everybody agreed that this was bad news for Bush. Even conservative news sources agree about this. Fox News, the news site I linked, used this headline: Jobs Report Doesn't Do Bush Any Favors Likewise, the Washington Times chimed in: Job slump puts Bush in bad light But here is the NYT's very balanced approach: Job Data Provides Ammunition for Two Sides in Presidential Race Eh. let's get real: No it doesn't. Via Talking Points Memo. 6:50:37 PM    comment []  trackback []

Great, and they have even cloned them "US Raelian Women Will Commemorate Women's Day by Marching With Their Breasts Exposed to Protest Against the Repressive Myth of God" (Rael Press Release) Hat tip to Gullibility isn't in the dictionary 5:06:21 PM    comment []  trackback []

'Wish you were here at Guantanamo Bay' Some former prisoners of the American detention camp at Guantanamo Bay on Cuba are returning to their home countries, including three young Afghan boys. Of course the leftist press is eager to talk to them to get the sordid details about this American-built hellhole that violates human rights by the dozen. One of the boys, Asadullah, who was around 12 years old at the time of his capture, was like the others a total disappointment to the Guardian journalists who travelled all the way to his faraway Afghan village to dig up some dirt on the Americans. "Americans are great people, better than anyone else. Americans are polite and friendly when you speak to them. They are not rude like Afghans. If I could be anywhere, I would be in America. I would like to be a doctor, an engineer - or an American soldier." However, quickly recovering from the shock to their anti-western dogma, the leftist journalists are able to rationalise the statements. Of course Amnesty International and other "human rights" groups have to be right when it argues the prisoners were denied "many of their most basic rights." But, seized in the remotest wilds of violent Afghanistan, the boys knew practically nothing of their rights, and expected less.  Dumb kids. They didn't know better, not having been educated that the Americans are the evil scum of the earth. Who do they think they are, saying Guantanamo Bay is not hell on earth? These kids have only been living there for a few years, after all What do they know?. 4:46:37 PM    comment []  trackback []

No point in being a skinhead if you wear a pointy hat Phoenix New Times has published a fascinating, witty and informative article about the neo-nazi movement in the United States set against the backdrop of a somewhat boring Aryanfest in Arizona, a Renaissance Fair gone over to the dark side, with "Heils" in place of "Huzzahs." Those goons are clearly not as dangerous as they like to think, but they are worse than we'd hope they were. Highly recommended. 11:34:20 AM    comment []  trackback []

That elusive job growth The US Labor Department has issued the work figures, and with only 21,000 jobs added in February, it is clear that the economic upturn has not yet lead to better employment. And, as a sign of the somewhat corrupting influence of election years, the first instinct of practically everyone (the unemployed probably excepted) is to debate how this will affect the presidential election. I am willing to bet that there was great rejoince in Kerry's headquarter at the news, and corresponding gnashing of teeth among Republicans. John Kerry of course blasted away at Bush immediately, blaming the president for the lack of job growth. "At this rate the Bush administration won't create its first job for more than 10 years," he said. In fact, he would be an idiot not to use the opportunity. Bush is likely not able to counter this effectively, as he cannot tell the obvious truth that there is not a hell of a lot a president can do about employment. The economy is already improving. What do people expect Bush to do? Start employing people himself? But Bush's spokespeople will not say that, as it will prevent them from taking the credit if (or when) the jobs start coming. You see, Norway has a center-right governing coaltion very far from Bush politically, not having given a single øre (or cent) in tax reliefs. We have exactly the same problem. We have record growth in the economy, the stockmarket is going through the ceiling, and job growth is still non-existent. The situation is actually very similar all over the western world right now, and most of Europe is far worse off than the US. If any government, leftist, center or rightist, knew how to fix unemployment, I am quite sure some of them would have done it by now. Politicians will want to keep using unemployment as a weapon against their opponents, so they will not admit being pretty powerless about the work market. 11:05:26 AM    comment []  trackback []

© Copyright 2004 Jan Haugland. Last update: 31.03.2004; 03:01:02.