Friday, March 07, 2003

Ich bin ein Wollongonger A city in Australia wants to "defect" to France in protest over their own government's stand on war with Iraq. Union, public officials, and citizens of Wollongong in New South Wales are going to make a trip to the French consul and request that their city be allowed to join with France. It is perhaps safe to say that they would not be "up" for some freedom fries. -Consider Arms, Wollongonger in spirit 4:02:14 PM    comment []

The people have spoken, and the people say "duh" OK, admittedly this is an online poll, which has the credibility of an oil lobbyist explaining why higher gas prices are a good thing, but it's still funny that 53 percent of respondents thought that renaming french fries "freedom fries" was a good idea. I personally think it's a GREAT idea. Speaking of morons . . . this web site urges its readers to email McDonald's and demand that the gargantuan chain take the "freedom fries" challenge. There was even supposed to be a pro-war "Protest Against France" in New York and Los Angeles today! There are also helpful lists of French products not to buy and Hollywood movies not to see - and they encourage you to smash your RCA home entertainment equipment! Anyone who has pictures of this please email to this web site. Man, the French can't cut a break Now the Animal Rights League is calling for a boycott of French products, albeit for dumb, animal rights reasons (frog legs are cruel). Still, this article includes all kinds of funny stuff about anti-French sentiment in this country. Take that, Germany! Another day, another story of yokels taking French wine off the menu and renaming the french fries. How come nobody is bitching about vodka or Chinese food? I quote: "We helped them in World War II, and they should help us," LaPorte said. His restaurant's kitchen has carried the beverage boycott a step further, giving a code-name to french fries. "We don't even have french fries anymore," LaPorte said. "They're freedom fries. "We saw it in the news somewhere and picked up on it." Yeah, you saw it on the news somewhere, dummy. This whole thing is going to make me a wino just to cheese off morons like this guy. Freedom Fries Insanity Here's a column from the Dallas Morning News by Ruben Navarette. For your benefit, I quote: "You have heard the stories of outraged American restaurateurs canceling orders for French wine to show their patriotism. The owner of a diner made headlines by tinkering with the menu and changing french fries to "freedom fries." Even French dressing and French onion soup are under fire. That's a good start. Even if largely symbolic, this boycott of all things French sends a message." Indeed, Ruben this sends a message. The message is: "We are retarded." Still, inspired by Ruben's prose, I am starting my own symbolic boycott of all things Texan. From here on out, I am saying "no" to big hats, chewy steaks, and racism. Take that, Lone Star State! -Monsieur Consider Le Arms 3:48:25 PM    comment []

Some questions for the country on the eve of war: 1.  Remember that, shortly after 9/11, Bush promised us proof that Al Qaeda was behind the attacks? Not that I doubt they were, but where’s the proof? 2.  What happened to those 8,000 pages from Iraq’s disclosure to the U.N. per Resolution 1441? 3.  Bush claims that he considers war the last option and hopes it can be avoided, yet at the same time he opposes the U.N.’s insistence upon more time and more inspections. Supposing the U.N. gave in to him, what actions would he take before an invasion? He said last night that we are in the last stages of diplomacy, but what diplomacy is he referring to? When is the last time he had a conversation with Saddam Hussein? 4.   Why doesn’t Bush answer questions at news conferences? Not that I would expect him to answer questions honestly (note: I wouldn’t expect Democratic presidents to, either), but I think the expectation at a news conference should be that his "answers" at least respond to the question, even if it is done so deceitfully. 5.  Was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed killed previously or not? And if he wasn’t, why the sudden promotion from #22 to #1 and "mastermind" of the attacks? Is Osama angry that he lost the top spot? 6.  About the liberation of the Iraqi people: (a) why should the public believe that the U.S. is interested in liberating the people of the countries we invade when there is no budgeted aid for Afghanistan presently* and (b) exactly how does the "shock and awe" tactic that is sure to send the number of civilian** casualties through the roof fit into the liberation picture? * From Ted Rall’s "To Afghanistan and Back": he didn’t see even one of the purported food packages the U.S. dropped while he was there during the October, 2001 campaign against the Taliban. Also, he indicated that U.S. bombs routinely fell on towns and cities previously "liberated" and occupied by the Northern Alliance, suggesting that the Pentagon’s statistics about bombing accuracy are somewhat padded (even if the occasional report of the decimation of an Afghan wedding happens to slip through). ** While military personnel are rightfully considered legitimate targets in any conflict, are Iraqi military deaths objectively less important than U.S. military deaths? Even if all civilian casualties could possibly be avoided, how humane is it to bomb the fuck out of all military personnel before they’re even given an opportunity to surrender? - Marcus-Marcus 12:50:21 PM    comment []

Three is the magic number CNN reports that a post-invasion Iraq will be divided in to three sections under US administration. Two questions; will Ann Coulter be tapped to head the Ministry of Religious Affairs (so she can "covert them to Christianity") and will the US establish a "Ministry of Love"? Fresh from the wires!! CNN's John King reports: "White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer Friday labeled President Bush 'the ultimate multilateralist' for pushing the United Nations to stand by its demand that Iraq disarm or face military action. Fleischer said Bush is 'the ultimate backer on the U.N.'" Really? I thought the UN was "irrelevant." "It's a really ugly report for the economy" What's the greatest weapon of mass destruction facing the US right now? Probably the unemployment rate, which just hit 5.8 percent. Hey George! Why not use the sale of giant Chee-to's on Ebay to boost the economy? Duct tape is the new black - M.C. No Shame 12:31:18 PM    comment []

We've Got a Bigger Problem Now North Korea says they have plans to torch New York, Chicago, and Washington in the event of war. What's it going to take for the president to wake up to North Korea? Warheads found in Crawford, Texas? Alan Dershowitz is Way Psyched The military now admits that they beat two detainees in Afghanistan to death during interrogation. Gen. Daniel McNeill has this to say about our torture tactics in Afghanistan: "They are in accordance with what is generally accepted as interrogation techniques, and if incidental to the due course of this investigation, we find things that need to be changed, we will certainly change them." "Generally accepted interrogation techniques"? Is that like those "generally accepted accounting practices" Arthur Andersen tried to tell us about? Oderint dum metuant The mighty Paul Krugman on the Bush gang's alienation of Mexico and France, among others. Bush's threat of "discipline" for Mexico went largely unreported here but have upset the Mexicans mightily. Bush also noted "an interesting phenomena taking place here in America about the French . . . a backlash against the French, not stirred up by anybody except the people." Nice, but if you've been reading web logs like this one you'll see it's been stirred up by politicians (including Dennis Hastert), right-wing radio stations, and the Murdoch gang. What a dick! Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Takes Names, Photos, of Anti-war Demonstrators There's a "Tennessee Bureau of Investigation"? Clowns for Progress The office of the Vice President actually sent this satirical web site a letter telling them to take down an article making fun of Lynne Cheney, the wife of Vice-President Destro Cheney. Even aside from that, this site is pretty funny. - Consider Arms 12:05:47 PM    comment []

THE CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT PRESIDENT BUSH'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON WAR WITH IRAQ!: "With indications that war might be declared by even next week, the market is facing downside pressures." - Norihito Fujito, Japanese stock analyst "Bush will pay dearly for his madness" - Sheik Maher Hammoud, Lebanese cleric "We are now headed for a clash, and it's going to be the worst possible war, which is a war outside the UN by one, two, or three powers, with the rest of the democracies being divided." - Pierre Lellouche, member of the French parliament "Europe cannot always be a follower. France has saved the honor of Europe by opposing immediate military action." - Louis Michel, Belgian foreign minister "We reject that. Indonesia's position is that we are against war in Iraq." - Hasan Wirayuda, Indonesian foreign minister "A war would create a great likelihood of terrorist retaliation." - Kobsak Chutikul, deputy parliamentary leader in Thailand "By discounting the real concerns of our allies, we are squandering the good will we received after September 11 and shattering the coalition against terrorism." - Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. "But my most intense reaction to this story isn't anger over the administration's stupidity and irresponsibility, or even dismay over the casual destruction of hard-won friendships. . . what I feel, above all, is shame." - Paul Krugman, economist and New York Times columnist "Obviously the case has not been made. It has not been made to the American people. It has not been made to the world community. It has not been made to the Security Council." - Nancy Pelosi, House of Representatives minority leader "There were times when it seemed every sentence Bush spoke was of the same duration and delivered in the same dour monotone, giving his comments a numbing, soporific aura. Watching him was like counting sheep." -Tom Shales, Washington Post "[Bush] was excellent! I think he really did an impressive job!" - Sean Hannity, Fox News - Consider Arms 11:27:16 AM    comment []

After last night's Bush performance, I can really see why they don't let him do more press conferences. He was terrible. Incidentally, this was the first press conference he's held since November 2002. On that, and other subjects of burning import, here is copy hot from the wire (http://www.ap.org) The Big News: Despite Bush's promise to bring food and medicine to the Iraqi people, the UN's aid agencies say that they are more than $80 million short of the money they were promised to set up in Iraq after the war. The UN refugee group, UNHCR, is short about $40 million, and they're already spending tons of money on preparing for waves of Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries. Well, at least they don't have to worry about war with North Korea. The Roundup: Israel seized a chunk of the Gaza Strip in what commanders there call an "open-ended" occupation. . . the UN reports that US Marines are cutting holes in the security fence between Kuwait and Iraq. . . Another plane crash in the Middle East, this time in Algeria, killed 102. . . the Nikkei Stock Average in Tokyo closed at its lowest level since 1983. . . Fidel Castro was "elected" to his sixth term in office, beating absolutely no one. Well, it's good to know that in this crazy world there are still a few things we can count on. -Consider Arms 10:16:09 AM    comment []

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