Volume 2 Issue 29
March 13, 2003
Mushing on Home
Finally some good news, Adnan Khashoggi strikes again, and Norwegian wins the Iditarod
Sorry no column today, some work obligations. I promise one for tommorow, even if I have to write it tonight! As usual, plenty of insanity though...
Iraq: Still there: Looks like the British "6 point plan" is dead -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/13/international/middleeast/1 3CND-NATION.html
Bill Safire points out that we're going to find Iraq was pretty much supplied with weapons by everyone. Maybe that's why they don't want us to go in -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/13/opinion/13SAFI.html
Could the US circumvent a Security Council Veto by going to the UN General Assembly? There is precedent for it, and it sounds like a good idea, and could give Bush some credibilty...but could he even get a majority in the General Assembly?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080036/
And Bill Clinton, who had previously demurred on the subject or supported Bush, has come out against the war as well -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17886-2003Mar12.html
The Turkish Factor: Turkey banned another Kurdish party today, raising the possibility of a Turkish-Kurd war erupting out of the ruins of Iraq -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2846513.stm
And the Turks say their Parliament needs to approve the US use of their airspace during the war as well. Or, the government knows now that the US can do this without troops based there, so they're trying to get the US to pay a huge bribe to use the airspace -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17651-2003Mar12.html
That Other Country: North Korea will have nuclear weapons within months. Glad we're paying attention -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/03/13/nkorea.nuke s/index.html
Where's Khashoggi? Tim Noah has a great column he does every now and then that supposedly proves that Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi has been involved in every major scandal since 1960. The latest? His involvement with Richard Perle, a prominent neo-con hawk and adviser to George W. Bush. Perle has been accused of trying to steer policy in a direction that would benefit him financially, and Kashoggi is just the guy to help -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080044/
Of course, my favorite Adnan Khashoggi scandal is that related to American University, where the sports center for years was known as the Khashoggi Center, that is until it vanished about 2 years ago from the building. Why? Not because he's an arms dealer or international corrupt financier or anything...he just missed his payments -
http://slate.msn.com/id/1007950/
Who's dumber...us or the French? Even pro-war folks think the "freedom" fries thing is a bit dumb. After all it makes us look like boorish, self-important idiots. Whoops. -
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m031303p.h tm
Assassination in Belgrade: Over 40 people have been arrested in the killing of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, who may have been targeted by the mob -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2846151.stm
Wow, some good news: It's unusual in these times that there's a good news story to report on, but today there is one in the amazing recovery of Elizabeth Smart, the Utah girl who was kidnapped last summer. But of course, there are lots of implications in this one too, and this is just entering a difficult phase, especially for the poor kid, who will now have to relive it at a trial. But today at least, there's finally some good news out there to report.
First, the good news -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/13/national/13UTAH.html
Many additional documented appearances of her in the Salt Lake area are now coming to light, with people not noticing who she was -
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03132003/utah/37891.asp
Was she brainwashed?
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/2020/elizabeth_smart030313 .html
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03132003/utah/37847.asp
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20251-2003Mar13.html
Who is this strange homeless guy?
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03132003/utah/37830.asp
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/13/national/13SUSP.html
I must say the Smart family has been very media savvy. Yesterday, while obviously happy, Ed Smart (the father) had like a 10 minute diatribe on MSNBC that I saw against the Republican leadership in the House for failing to approve the national Amber Alert system. He later repeated this on the morning talk shows. And then, there was this quote today from a press conference: "The blood of those children is on the heads of those who don't pass this legislation." I mean, the man was really pissed. It's probably the furthest thing from his mind...but don't be surprised if you see him in Congress in 5 years -
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA030 313Elizabeth_smart_amber_alert.html
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/mar/03132003/utah/smart.asp
Jim Sensenbrenner, the chair of the House Judiciary committee attempted to defend himself, but apparently he has wrapped the Amber Alert legislation up in a controversial bill, which is why it did not pass last Congress -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/13/amber.alert/index. html
Look Who's Running for President: Gary Hart says he still has time to decide -
http://www.adn.com/24hour/politics/story/802640p-5719015c.html
Look Who's Running for President 2: What will happen to the campaigns when the war starts?
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/US/Edwards_030313.ht ml
Look Who's Running for President 3: Slate features a guide to the Dem Candidates war views, with a handy chart too! -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080039/
Look Who's Running for President 4: John Kerry is raising a lot of money very quickly. This would cement his status as the front runner. Last night alone he raised $2 million. -
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/072/nation/Kerry_is_settin g_a_fast_pace_in_fund_raising_sweep+.shtml
Are the Spammers French? Spam now makes up over 40% of all e-mail, and could soon so overload the system as to make the Internet worthless. In 1991, Congress passed a law banning junk faxes...it's time to do the same with e-mail. -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17754-2003Mar12.html
The Old Dame fades: Former UPI and now Hearst Reporter Helen Thomas, while still the dean of the White House Press Corps, ain't what she used to be -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080034/
Space Shuttle Columbia: Apparently multiple engineers asked the shuttle program director to examine possible damage with military satellites, but were rebuffed. In addition, the damage may not have been caused from material off the external tank, but rather the Solid Rocket Boosters -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/13/national/nationalspecial/1 3SHUT.html
No more going to Canada: The FDA may put a stop to the practice of people going to Canada to buy cheaper prescriptions, something that has gained in popularity, especially among the elderly. -
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/Living/fda_canada030313.h tml
March Madness: Sally Jenkins rightly lays blame for the recent basketball scandals where it belongs...at the feet of college presidents. And I love this line: "So pardon me if, at this moment in NCAA history, I don't see Myles Brand as a beacon of integrity, seeing as how he is a, you know, university president. I don't trust anyone who holds that title anymore, not since most of them became glad-handing fundraisers and for-profit phonies, who preach academics with one hand and grab at the shrimp with the other." Sadly, that is often true -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17607-2003Mar12.html
A bit outside... Baseball funnyman Bob Uecker will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for his broadcasting career. Uecker is best known also for the acting roles that spanned from his broadcast career, namely the movie "Major League" and the TV Show "Mr. Belvedere." -
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-BBO-Hall-of-Fame-Uecker.html
We Have a Winner! Norwegian Musher Robert Sorlie won the Iditarod this morning in Nome, Alaska, with a time of 9 days, 15 hours, 47 minutes, and 36 seconds. He is the first foreigner to ever win the race, winning it in only his 2nd Iditarod. Longtime runner Ramy Brooks finished 2nd in 9d, 17h, 37m, 10s, and three-time champion Jeff King finished third in 9d, 23h, 17m, 0s. Sorlie's victory will net him $68,571 and a new Dodge Truck. With three across the line, 46 mushers are still on the race to Nome, so the great race is by no means yet finished! At least a dozen more mushers will likely finish today, and the lead rookie should finish sometime tomorrow. The first 30 mushers over the finish line win money from the $650,000 purse. Chance of a repeat next year? Nope...his wife won't let him.
The front page of today's Anchorage Daily News - http://www.adn.com/widgets/13-idit-xtra.pdf
Sorlie wins!
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/2761635p-2810758c.html
He is the first foreigner ever to win -
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/2761638p-2810765c.html
Your Iditarod Photos of the day -
This the American champagne...we gave the French one to the dogs
Oh crap, did I leave the iron on?
Don't worry...only a few more months and the lake will thaw out, then we'll head home.
Have a great day!
