Volume 2 Issue 51

April 14, 2003

On To Damascus?

Is Bush prepping us for another war, more politicans being bad, and getting some pastry from the governor

So it looks now like the Bushies are getting the Americans ready for another war, this time with Syria. Many have asserted that the neo-cons in the Administration were planning Iraq to be the first in a series of wars, but no one could imagine that Syria would play right into their hands. Suddenly they have chemical weapons, and worse, are hiding Osama Bin Laden...wait, I mean Saddam Hussein. I get mixed up with which bad guy we haven't captured yet. The US is complaining that Syria did not seal their borders, yet Pakistan didn't seal their's either, and Osama got out. Or are we going to attack Pakistan too? Or are we going to let India do that?

Syria isn't a happy place, and the government there isn't our best ally as well. But Bush sold the Iraq war as something that was unique, that no other country fit that criteria. Was Bush lying to the nation to make the Iraqi war more acceptable? One can only hope that what Bush and his cabinet are doing is blustering the Syrians into cooperating, in the hope that they'll be scared shitless of us after we decimated Iraq in 25 days. And it might work too. But what if Syria calls our bluff?

Another Arabian Adventure? Ooh..alliteration is fun. Anyway, looks like Syria is getting closer and closer to being the US's next target...

Bush has accused the Syrians of having Chemical weapons now -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2946625.stm

Colin Powell says the US is considering putting sanctions on Syria. Yes. Because they worked so well in Iraq -
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iraq-usa-britain-syria.html

A captured Iraqi General says that the regime is indeed headed for Syria -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-646245,00.html

The perspective on the Syrian crisis from Britain -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2946625.stm

The British Foreign Minister urged the Syrians to cooperate -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-646245,00.html

A Cultural Disaster...that betrays our true motives?: The Iraqi National Museum of Antiquities was looted, and billions of dollars in artifacts dating from the dawn of civilization, as requests for US troops to guard it were denied. Of course, there are tons of troops guarding the oil ministry -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15136-2003Apr12.html

The POWs: The 7 rescued POW's tell their story -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19192-2003Apr13.html

Another Crusade? Should Bush let Christian evangelists into Iraq so soon?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2081432/

Is the empire starting?
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/14/international/worldspecial /14EURO.html

Where's Saddam? The US supposedly has some of Hussein's DNA to ID his body with...if we ever find him that is -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19582-2003Apr13.html

Where are the Jokers? The Defense department has released 52 of the "most-wanted" cards. But I remember there being 55...were some eliminated? Captured? Or was this just a false report? The plot thickens -
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2003/pipc10042003.html

The Most Popular Man in Iraq: The website for the Iraqi Information Minister is up!
http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com

But he's not on the "most wanted" playing cards! Yay! He can work for Bush or something!
http://www.msnbc.com/news/899067.asp?0cv=CB10

Fortunate Son: Inside the world of Uday Hussein -
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030421-443114,00.html

Like Father, Like Son? Can Bush escape the 41 curse?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19689-2003Apr13.html

The Taxman Cometh: A new poll says 61% of Americans say that a new tax cut is a bad idea. But then again, W never did govern on polls -
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/73363.htm

Speaking of taxes, cheating is up and enforcement is down -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/14/business/14TAX.html

Changing Colors: Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter (R) has always been a moderate...until a conservative began to challenge him for his party's nomination next year -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/5627351.htm

And yet another 1994 Republican is going back on their term limits pledge -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/5627351.htm

Closing out the Congresspeople being bad, there's more flak on a GOP Congresswoman stating that all Blacks are drug addicts -
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030421-443114,00.html

Homeland Insecurity: So there's talk in a DC neighborhood about those communications lines from the Homeland Security HQ to the White House -
http://www.theeagleonline.com/section.cfm/115/3/5215

Outbreak: The SARS virus appears to be spreading again in China -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/14/international/asia/14CND-SARS.html

Look Who's Running for President: Howard Dean says that the war will continue to divide the Democratic Ballclub -
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/101/nation/Candidate_says_wa r_will_remain:.shtml

Dean went to Graham country this weekend to try and quietly establish a presence -
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/04/13/State/A_rival_quietly_make s.shtml

Oh, and I loved this Dean quote about Bush's foreign policy:
"Do what I say or I'll see you afterward in the parking lot"

Look Who's Running for President 2: Another weekend of bad press for presumed front runner John Kerry. The latest attack is for his "non litmus-test litmus-test" comment -
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/103/oped/Kerry_s_abortion_ litmus_test+.shtml

And the Manchester Union Leader called him an ass -
http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_show.html?article=200 96

Losing the exploring spirit? A telling excerpt from an interview by James Marino of the Guardian (UK) with Tony Benn, the industry secretary who helped save the Concorde project from being canceled in the 1960's under Harold Wilson's Labour Government -
"JM: Do you think the British have lost the pioneering urge?
TB: The sums have to add up. When I was industry secretary, I killed another project - a hypersonic plane that would go to Australia in 20 minutes. It was impractical. Some projects, like the London Eye, are successful. But most of the technology goes into weapons now.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/interviews/story/0,11660,9346 92,00.html

Smoking 'em out? I'm not sure where I come down on the smoking ban in bars thing, like has been the case in California for a while and most recently took effect in New York City. I usually think that bars are places to expect smoking, yet after the fact I realized that while in California, I spent a few hours in a bar, and it was pleasantly smoke-free. I don't know, but here's an argument for it -
http://nj.com/columns/ledger/mulshine/index.ssf?/base/column s-0/1050214427157930.xml

Career Changes? Former Arizona Governor Fife Symington (R), forced from office in disgrace and then indicted (but pardoned by Bill Clinton...) has found a new career. As a pastry chef -
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/5615736.htm