Volume 2 Issue 50

April 11, 2003

Looting Iraq

Why Rumsfeld thinks crime is a good thing, India embarrases the US by modeling our war plan, and Los Expos come to San Juan

Too busy for much today, but during lunch I heard Don Rumsfeld explain away the looting in Iraq by saying that "Freedom is untidy." I therefore look forward to looting his office during the next Presidential transition. He also noted that "freedom means the freedom to commit crimes." So...I'm trying to think of what crimes I should commit because the Secretary of Defense told me I could...onto the news/insanity:

Chaos: The border with Jordan is in Chaos -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/10/international/worldspecial /10CND-BORD.html

There have been attempts to stop the looting in Baghdad -
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-War-Baghdad.html

The Kurds and Turks: An uneasiness remains -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2081404/

The most popular man in Iraq: Still no word on Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, who's last press statement was "I now inform you that you are too far from reality." He even has a new fan site, but it crashed because it was too popular, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to check that out! -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2081387/

Saddam - It's in the Cards: The US has passed out it's "hit list" of 55 Iraqi leaders they want to capture or kill in a unique way to US troops...as a deck of playing cards. I'm working on finding a list. Saddam is the Ace of Spades though -
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/waroniraq/articles/432190 1?source=Reuters
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/Primetime/iraq_main0304 11.html

The Regime: A CNN executive talks about the stories they couldn't report from Iraq -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/opinion/11JORD.htm

The POWs: With the Iraqi government collapsing, what has happened to the American POW's?
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030411_140.html
http://www.nj.com/news/times/burlington/index.ssf?/base/news -1/105005524060970.xml

Rescued POW Jessica Lynch will be transfered to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington this weekend -
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030411_360.html

Redecorating: Marines destroyed the George Bush doormat at the Al-Rashid Hotel -
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=514&amp ;e=20&u=/ap/20030411/ap_on_re_mi_ea/war_liberating_bush_4

And Looters examined Tariq Aziz's DVD collection -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5427-2003Apr10.html

Operation Iraqi Freedom Photo of the Day: Sorry to the John Edwards fans, but this one couldn't go unnoticed -

Um, guys...why don't you steal a new car first, then grab the other stuff?

So what of the anti-war movement? Mike Kinsley says just because we won (or are winning) the war doesn't mean that the anti-war argument was wrong -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2081376/

And a good quote from Democratic Minority Leader Pelosi - "We could have brought that statue down for a lot less." -
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030411-94012.htm

Guerrilla Tactics: Is Guerrilla warfare ever acceptable?
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/Primetime/iraq_asymmetr ic030411.html

The Money: Halliburtion, Dick Cheney's former company, has received a $7 billion contract to help reconstruct Iraq -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/business/11REBU.html

Unintended Consequences: India today said that based on the US pre-emptive war theory that was employed against Iraq, it will launch a pre-emptive war on Pakistan. Whoops. -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5006-2003Apr10.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030 411/wl_sthasia_afp/india_pakistan_030411095309

Look Who's Running for President: Joe Liberman feels "vindicated"...though he offers nothing to back up his assertion that America is safer now than it was before -
http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/20980474. html

Look Who's Running for President 2: Dean had a good speech in New York, and it appears that he is transcending the war argument, and replacing it now with the "I'm the only real Democrat" argument -
http://www.theunionleader.com/prez_show.html?article=20035

Salvaging the Hellhole: So what's going to happen to all the stuff in Philadelphia's hapless Veterans Stadium?
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/5604846.htm

Farewell, Concorde: Tickets for the last Concorde flights are being snatched up, as Richard Branson tries to purchase the Concordes for Virgin Atlantic to use...for £1 -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-642609,00.html

It could be 30 years until a supersonic plane takes to the skies again. Why have we stopped our technological progress?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-642608,00.html

What the Hell? Apple Computer may buy the largest music label in the world in a baffling deal -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6776-2003Apr11.html

Climate Change: Talk about changing locations. The Montreal Expos played in Chicago Tuesday with a gametime temp of 32 degrees. Tonight, they play in San Juan, with a field temp of 136 -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5041-2003Apr10.html

Have a great weekend!!!