Volume 2 Issue 43

April 2, 2003

The Final Push?

The Battle for Baghdad begins, more on the death of freedom in America, and a 100-year old Supermarket Clerk spills his mind (but not the soup)

Sorry no column today, out enjoying the beautiful weather a bit! Enjoy the news!

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Ben Franklin

The Death of Freedom: More on the closing of Independence Hall, confirming that the government now cares more about security than freedom -
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/5536100.htm
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/5536146.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5772-2003Apr1.html

Not this again: OK folks, the "Is Saddam Alive" bit is getting really old. It's not fooling any of the Iraqi's, and it's just getting people's hopes up here. He obviously isn't going to show up in public, because we would kill him. The man may be a homicidal maniac, but he's not stupid -
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/04/02/MN290937.DTL

The Battle For Baghdad: The big fight is apparently underway, with two Iraqi divisions taking heavy losses as US troops advance on the capital -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/02/international/worldspecial /02CND-IRAQ.html

An analysis of the revised battle plan -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,343-632171,00.html

The Siege of Basra: Iraqi civilians coming out of Basra say that days of British bombardment have done little, and that Iraqi forces are still in control of the city -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6008-2003Apr1.html

Onto Damascus? Quiet whispers are now beginning to say that while the US is over in the Middle East, we may decide to take out Syria as well. I'm sure Wolfowitz would approve...but Britain does not -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-632065,00.html

The Rescue: An American POW was rescued from an Iraqi hospital last night, in one of the largest rescue raids to date. She was likely recovered simply because she was in a hospital, and not in a prison or POW camp -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9128-2003Apr2.html

After: Can we trust the same folks who planned the war to plan the peace?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080976/

Thomas Freidman says we may still win over the Arab world if we do the peace right -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/02/opinion/02FRIE.html

The President: Is apparently getting antsy -
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-04-01-bush-cover_x.htm

Rumsfeld: Gregg Easterbrook details why the Army hates Rumsfeld -
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=iraq&s=easterbrook040103. 1

Semantics: Are the Iraqi suicide bombers really terrorists?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2081001/

The Hearts and Minds: Apparently the Iraqi family who got ambushed by US forces thought they were following directions. This is yet another example of how those "psychops" have come back to haunt us -
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030402_399.html

They don't love us in Paris: One in three Frenchmen say they hope Iraq wins the war -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5944-631671,00.html

The Outbreak: The World Health Organization, for the first time ever, has said people should avoid Hong Kong and China until further notice -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/02/health/02CND-HONG.html

Look Who's Running for President: The money results are starting to trickle in! More details will come in the next few days, as the candidates prepare their FEC reports for April 15. But John Edwards has gone first, and you can see why. Anyone who thought he would not be a serious candidate will be forced to reconsider now... -
John Edwards - $7.4 million
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5491-2003Apr1.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/02/politics/campaigns/02MONE. html

Look Who's Running for Camden County Freeholder: It's offical...Kelly Ripa's dad is in the race! Maybe Regis will start showing up at county meetings now!
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/new_jer sey/5537574.htm

The Unfriendly Skies: Does the Bush administration actually have a transportation policy? Or do they just pretend they do?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6026-2003Apr1.html

Funding issues: While Congress gets ready to bail out the airlines again with billions of dollars, public transit agencies across the nation are being forced to raise fares and cut services, mainly in response to state budget crises. The latest state is Pennsylvania, where over 50% of the services in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh may be cut -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/5536099.htm

But a great idea comes from Maryland, where authorities are looking for a corporate sponsor to pay tolls over the Bay Bridge on summer weekends, hoping to avoid the legendary 12 mile backups that sometimes occur on the span. Of course, widening the road on the other side might help too... -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6394-2003Apr1.html

Good Advice: 100 year-old Herb Hamrol, a supermarket clerk in San Francisco, has some good advice to live a long time...stay away from the wild women. -
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/04/02/BA245579.DTL