Volume 2 Issue 22
March 4, 2003
It's Mardi Gras!
John Ashcroft doesn't remember learning the Bill of Rights in law school, American travelers find trouble in Europe, and Tim Noah discovers how the US is going to screw the Kurds...again
Yes, it's Mardi Gras, and if you're reading this today...well, then like me your stuck in a still winter-like climate, far away from the revelry in New Orleans. But thanks to the technology of the Internet, you can watch it live! Check out http://www.nola.com/mardigras , which has a "Parade Cam" so you can watch the grand Rex parade, the scene on Bourbon Street, and 3 or 4 other views.
Once again, find all your Iditarod 31 action in a special section at the bottom of today's e-mail. And...if you can't see the photos, you're e-mail client must not accept HTML...check the Swamp out at http://www.fromtheswamp.com . Remember, if you're only reading the Swamp in your e-mail, you're only getting half the Swamp!
So, as the war in Iraq approaches, Turkey is once again supposedly considering allowing US troops into the country to start a Northern front. God knows what else Turkey wants, since we've already given them billions in small unmarked bills, basically promised to redevelop the whole country, and sold out the Kurds to them. Ah yes, the Kurds. Say what you want about the Iraq war, but I think everyone agrees that if we're going to do this, we need to do it right. But to do it, we're giving Turkey one hell of bribe in selling out the Kurds. Tim Noah does a good job with this today http://slate.msn.com/id/2079592/, but the point can't be stressed enough. Bush's newest thing about the war is that we're doing it so we can establish a democracy in the Middle East, with the idea that it will then suddenly spread. But, in the meantime, the Kurds have set up not 1, but 2 autonomous democratic enclaves in Northern Iraq. These governments provide services, collect taxes, educate children, issue currency, and do all the other things a government would normally do. They are protected by the no-fly zone in the northern area, and Saddam has enough trouble elsewhere that he pretty much leaves them alone. In addition, they will be a already-in-place fighting force for us once the war starts, a la the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.
But then what happens after the war? The Turks have a legitimate concern, in that they don't want the Kurds in Northern Iraq to form their own nation, lest the Kurdish minority in Turkey try to peel off a few provinces to join them. Iran has the same issue. To resolve this, the US has gotten assurances from the Kurdish government that they will not seek independence, as long as they are allowed to remain at least somewhat autonomous in whatever new government is set up there. OK, like that's going to happen. An article in Newsweek that I read made a good point, that when totalitarian nations like Iraq break up, they end up turning on themselves, not rebuilding a new structure, even if they had one before. Just look at what happened to Yugoslavia and the former Soviet Union, I mean it seemed we were getting a new country every week back then. Iraq could easily be split up into Kurdish, Sunni Muslim and Shiite Muslim nations, and that would not go well for whatever puppet government the US may set up at war's end.
The most recent deal I saw with the Turks would be to allow at least 50,000 Turkish troops to enter Kurdish territory as a "preventive" measure. Yes, just like Saddam gassing the Kurds in the 80's was a "preventive" measure. The Kurds are the key to any post-Saddam Iraq surviving, and to basically sell them out so a few divisions can enter from Turkey is wrong. These are the people we're supposedly going to "liberate", yet we're going to give them the shaft. To "establish democracy" in the Middle East, we're going to destroy the only one that's there. Great. In reality, coming from a diverse nation such as the US, it's hard to see why different ethnic groups can't live with each other in places like Iraq and Yugoslavia. But, those nations were held together not by a national identity or a civil society, but rather by fear. And when the fear is removed, especially in a nation where the groups live in different parts of the country, it's going to be very difficult to sort things out. Whatever may happen, if the Kurds end up getting left out yet again, our Iraq policy will have become a failure, no matter what the other outcomes are. A truly great nation would respect all the people, and not sell them out just to get another ally on board in a war no one other than George Bush seems to want.
Going to Europe anytime soon? Be prepared for a bad reception. All over Europe, Americans are being harassed, spit on, and refused service as European anger against the war grows. Having traveled there, and talking to many who have been there in the last year or so, your best bet is to wear an anti-war button on your bag or coat, oh, and say you're a Canadian when you're in "non-official" spots. Plus, is the treatment of an American in France these days any worse than how some folks here would treat a Frenchman? I think not...-
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-03-03-anti-american-usat_x.htm
Who's the bigger threat to civil liberties? Newsweek has a book excerpt from a new book by Steven Brill that contains some scary stuff. Like the fact that John Ashcroft wanted to permanently get rid of habeas corpus, and that his staff thinks he doesn't know the law very well. This guy may be more dangerous than I thought -
http://www.msnbc.com/news/878523.asp?0cv=KB10
Is war imminent? ABC says that war with Iraq could begin as soon as next week -
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/US/warsoon030304_US.htm l
E.J. Dionne says that Bush is losing the support of the hawks -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37559-2003Mar3.html
That Other Country: North Korea yesterday buzzed a spy plane, in an incident similar to that of the one with China in early 2001. Except this time, one of the fighters "weapon locked" on to the US plane. But there's nothing to fear there. Sorry folks, no real problem here, those aren't nukes and missiles on that boat. That Saddam, he's the bad one. The US will "lodge a protest." Yes. Um...if we can lodge a protest here, can't we do that in Iraq? I mean, I'm sure Saddam would just say "oh, why didn't you say so!?" Idiots. -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37245-2003Mar3.html
On top of all the other fun, looks like the North Koreans have a good old fashioned Stalinist fight between the sons for sucession...and the younger won may be winning. But maybe the loser will get to goto Disneyland -
http://www.msnbc.com/news/879414.asp
Look Who's Running for President: The New York Times does it's profile on Bob Graham. And it mentions the notebooks! -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/04/politics/campaigns/04GRAH. html?8hpib
Look Who's Running for President 2: Former General Wesley Clark quit his job at an investment banking firm this week -
http://www.adn.com/24hour/politics/story/790339p-5651347c.html
Look Who's Voting for President: In a close election with 9 candidates like this race, every constituency counts. Which is why the candidates are campaigning for the gay vote...even Al Sharpton!
http://www.washingtonblade.com/national/030228presidents.php 3
Ducks in a row? The Democrats on Capitol Hill are deeply divided on the war, and it is effecting their ability to put forward an united front on other issues, especially on the House side -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37206-2003Mar3.html
Maybe he'll start a new singing career too: Montgomery County, MD Police Chief Charles Moose met yesterday with the County Ethics commission over his proposal to write a book on the sniper case for 7 figures. Um...is it me, or is anyone else disturbed that an ethics panel meeting is held behind closed doors?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38193-2003Mar4.html
And you're cold? Today, the crew at the South Pole station moves into their new home. And the temperatures will be above freezing! I would actually like to visit Antarctica, it's one of the few truly untouched places left -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/04/science/earth/04POLE.html? 8isc
When is it no longer a game? A growing debate in high school sports, especially women's basketball, is whether a victory can be too lopsided, and what should be done about it -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/04/sports/othersports/04ROUT. html
Russian Lesbians Hit the Grey Lady: The Times profiles tatu today -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/04/international/europe/04MOS C.html?8hpib
This man is nuts: Michael Jackson apparently had a curse put on Steven Speilberg. Worked real well too. He apparently also hates blacks. -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/04/leisure.jackson. reut/index.html
Iditarod 31 Updates:
So, as of this writing, the race is off and going, but a small pack of the field of 64 has established an early lead, experienced mushers all. The latest update before the Swamp deadline was at 9:40 Alaska time, and it looks like the field may have narrowed already to 63, with one musher still having not left the first checkpoint at Nenana. In the lead by 30 minutes is Robert Sorlie, a Norwegian Firefighter, who is in his 2nd race. Sorlie was the "rookie of the year" last year, finishing 9th in about 9 1/2 days. Sorlie is now on the leg to Tanana (3rd Checkpoint), which is 60 miles. Looks like he did ditch a dog at the Manley (2nd) checkpoint though, he's down to 15. Mushers start with 16 dogs, and must finish with at least 5. Now before all the animal people get going, the dogs don't bite it usually, but if they are injured or something, they are left with Vets at each checkpoint. In fact, the biggest problem with the dogs so far? Heat exhaustion.
Here is the link for the current standings -
http://www.iditarod.com/2003standings/data/include/details.h tml
Stories are below, as well as a trail map and mileage chart. Also, you can check out the official site at http://www.iditarod.com
They're off! The race restarted in Fairbanks yesterday, even though it was 40 degrees -
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/2714439p-2762325c.html
And the mushers are visiting checkpoints that never have seen the race before, since it's on a new route with more snow. The temps today are back below freezing, and some parts of the trail should get fresh snow -
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/2714438p-2762322c.html
If you're keeping track, here is a map of the course -
http://www.iditarod.com/03-map.html
And a mileage chart -
http://www.iditarod.com/fairbanks-miles.html
And finally, your Iditarod Photos of the Day:
OK, this is a photo of a river in Nenana, the first checkpoint on this year's trail. Since it's such a strange course, Nenana hasn't had the race go through there before. It's usual claim to fame is that tripod in the river. You see, Nenana, AK sponsors the "Nenana Ice Classic", where people from around the world bet when the river will unfreeze. You think I'm joking? Here, the front page is outdated, but inside you can get all the skinny on this year's competition, and where to buy tickets...last year's jackpot was $304,000! -
http://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com/
Damn it! The dogs ate one of my children! Where is he? One, two...where is the third? Damn it, this happens every year!
And finally...
*Sigh*...I can't even begin on this one...make up your own I guess.
Enjoy your Mardi Gras!
