Category: War

Afghanistan at risk of becoming a failed, narco state

Afghanistan produces 75% of the world opium now. With heroin finally becoming cheaper than crack, I don’t know a single person who’s life hasn’t been touched in some way by this drug.

If this is any indication of what the Bush administration has in store Iraq’s only export, I’m sure that our addiction to fossil fuels will become even more acute in the next few years. Only problem is that we’ll all wish it were as cheap as Afghani opium.

Oh and by the way, I don’t know a single person, so far… killed by terrorism. But, I know at least 10 killed by heroin and the number grows each year. I’m not aware of actual statistics but, I’m confident that the amount of deaths by terrorism doesn’t even come close to the number of deaths caused by heroin. Now tell me, we have a “moral obligation” to do what again?

Oh yeah, I forgot. terrorism is “evil” and heroin addicting is Darwinism in action. Rather I fear that terrorism hyperbole is heroin to politicians.

“In May 2003, New York Times correspondent Chris Hedges gave the Commencement Address at Rockford College in Rockford, Illinois. During the speech students in the audience climbed the stage to disrupt him, and he was escorted out by the police before the ceremony concluded. Subsequently the president of the college apologized to students for having invited Hedges, and the New York Times sent Hedges a letter of reprimand. This is what Hedges said in Rockford:“

So, I heard on BBC radio, where I get almost 90% of my news, that a bunch of folks on the leadership council in Iraq just up and picked a new flag but, didn’t ask anyone what they thought… they just sort of did it. The people don’t like it but, the council seems pretty happy with themselves.

What a mess but, see for yourself.

First off, the crescent is the same blue as the Israeli flag, not a good idea. The two blue lines reflect the Tigris and Euphrates… why? Finally the yellow line in the middle represents the Kurds. Great but, they aren’t the only group of people there.

Why alienate and anger and further divide an already alienated, angry and divided people? Dangerous stuff but, not at all suprising.

U.S. Shutters Iraqi Newspaper

“This is not the first time. We’ve given them a chance to retract and clean themselves up,” the official said. “But if they continue to spew vitriol, well…”

Hey, that sounds like paxtonland.

So much for the promise of freedom of speech in Iraq. Hooray for the USA! If they cared half as much about public relations there as they do here… Well, guess they are too busy fighting for all that cheap labor and the rights to distribute Coke to be concerned with civil liberties. Then, at the same time, they wonder why bombings and misc. attacks persist?

The “Screw Em” PNAC foreign policy ethos contines to march onward.

Saddam was held by Kurdish forces, drugged and left for US troops

Saddam came into the hands of the Kurdish Patriotic Front after being betrayed to the group by a member of the al-Jabour tribe, whose daughter had been raped by Saddam’s son Uday, leading to a blood feud, reported the Sunday Express, which quoted an unnamed senior British military intelligence officer.

Bush to World: Drop Dead!

What kind of country is this that I know the names of all of the professional football players who were injured this week but, not the soldiers that were killed this week?

U.S. soldier shoots tiger at Baghdad Zoo. Two drunken G.I.’s were feeding a tiger. The tiger began to chew on one with his arm in the cage, the oher shot the animal in the head three times. Most ironic:

It was impossible to reach the U.S. military spokesman’s office because the telephones have not worked for three days.

So, when the phone starts working, we’ll know which one the tiger was on the “most wanted” card deck.

Scare Tactics – Why are Liberian soldiers wearing fright wigs? By Mark Scheffler

Few things exemplify the chaos of Liberia more than the sight of doped-up, AK-47-wielding 15-year-olds roaming the streets decked out in fright wigs and tattered wedding gowns.

Check out this piece on Slate on National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) army, Charles Taylor’s militia. They describe the war garb of a group of Liberian fighters as nothing short of bizarre… it goes on to mention Milton “General Butt Naked” Blahyi while being known for his ferocity was also known not to wear clothing.

Also, here’s an excellent backgrounder on Liberia.

The internet is shit

2 protesters set themselves on fire outside French Embassy in London to demonstrate for the Iranian opposition group, Mujahedeen Khalq. At least 20 Iranian Canadians are on hunger strike in Ottawa, Canada. Many, including the Bush Administration, believe that the Mujahedeen are the best case scenario for democracy in Iran. They are protesting because the French police cracked down on the group and arrested about 160 of them and shut down their exhile headquarters in Paris. They confiscated 8-10 million in cash, computer equipment and files. The French fear they are planning terrorist activities in France and other parts of the world. Pic here (warning, graphic in nature).

The Pentagon has no plans to determine how many Iraqi civilians may have been killed, injured or suffered property damage as a result of US military operations in Iraq.

Quite simply put, they don’t deem this as a necessary expenditure. Despite the intelligence that can be gathered to prevent further deaths. Additionally, I suspect, that there is absolutely no plans to investigate any civilian casualties and the actions that led to their deaths.

But, since no one is willing what led up to this situation, I don’t think that anyone will be more willing to deal with the aftermath.

How their big lie came to be.

Far from winning hearts and minds, the US operation has angered and hurt doctors who risked their lives treating both Private Lynch and Iraqi victims of the war. “What the Americans say is like the story of Sinbad the Sailor it’s a myth, said Harith al-Houssona, who saved Private Lynch’s life after she was brought to the hospital by Iraqi military intelligence.

• Yesterday, as many of you know by now, Peter Arnett was fired, twice. Along with umm… what was his name again? Hidealgo Rimerez? Whatever… I’d rather have Jerry Springer in there than him anyway, he’d exercise better judgment.
• Prisoners of war in Iraq and at Guant?namo (via Agonist)
• U.S. forces kill Seven Iraqi women and children. Don’t give me that “war is hell” bullshit, I’m sick of hearing it (read the topic headline).
• One hell of a fracas has erupted over a US A-10 pilot who opened up on a convoy of British armored vehicles. Flying where he wasn’t supposed to fly, shooting where he wasn’t supposed to shoot, and killing people he wasn’t supposed to kill.
• Meanwhile, when the heat gets hot, can our soldiers stand to be in the kitchen? I have my doubts. More on that later.
• Our weapons of mass destruction are performing superbly, given the seal of approval by God himself. Bush’s holy war rages onward.
• In fact, everyone is asking everyone to pray. With prayer and a few bullets…
• “If there is one (Osama) bin Laden now, there will be 100 bin Ladens afterward,” – Hosni Mubarak

I only have one news brief today: Saddam once received key to Detroit. How nice… yes, I know it was 20+ years ago but, still.

• al-Jezeera streaming video
• “I fell down and found my blood everywhere” – personal accounts from the war.
• Bomb blasts 13th Century Iraq university – an obvious center of terrorism.
• Sgt. held in Kuwait grenade attack feared persecution
• U.S. Chopper Crash Kills 6 in Afghanistan – yeah, forgot about Afghanistan, didn’t you?
• Michael Moore accepts Oscar, criticizes president for war in Iraq – gets booed off stage, here’s his speech
• ‘Iraq will become a quagmire for the Americans. Our troops will not surrender’