Ok, I admit it. The Surge in Iraq has worked, to some extent. Violence is down and news reports say markets are opening up, Iraqis are trying to rebuild their towns and refugees are starting to consider moving back.
I was always against any prolonged engagement in which the U.S. tried to "democratize" Iraqis. Not only because of the impractical costs in lives and money, but frankly, the whole assertion that the rest of the world needs to be like the U.S. is distancing us from...the rest of the world. You know who else tried to pacify other nations to help their own security? The Romans, and their empire was about twice as long as ours.
Anyhow, stuck with the current situation, the best outcome (and one that I assume is the aim of our government, but I'm not sure) would be that the Islamic and ethnic sects within Iraq reconcile and form a working government. After reading about Sunnis wanting to ask U.S. soldiers to help reconstruction rather than their own Shiite-dominated government, I'm thinking that keeping our troops over there is still not the answer.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki acknowledges the lack of governance, blaming it on Saddam's years of autocratic rule. John Soundbite McCain said there are no Thomas Jeffersons left in Iraq, whereas Bush said all the Nelson Mandelas are dead.
To some extent, they're right. But maybe the Islamic world needs a Martin Luther more than an Uncle Sam with a M-16? The enlightenment, the reformation, and rationality took a long time for the West to develop, and the fruits of these ideological developments haven't entirely blossomed yet. With executive branches not allowing due process, torturing, extraordinary renditioning, and committing treasonous acts, such as outing CIA agents, maybe the West is not the best example?
In Iraq's long-term Interests, the Iraqi government has to reconcile and function. And the Bush Admin. seems to be doing little to promote that. Bush has said, "it's their country." Yes, but it's our troops. Why not offer a stick to go with that carrot of seemingly less violence? Why not set a timetable for withdrawal that says, "Hey, we appologize for invading your country under false pretenses. We can only help out so long. You have to figure out something for the long-term."
Instead, Bush is making photos ops and horribly mispronouncing the names of the leaders of Israel and the West Bank. That deal may not hold much promise either.
And another time-frame continually reverberates in the news. 2008, 2008, 2008. Olmert and Abbas are set to figure out a two-state solution at the end of 2008, Maliki says things will get better in Iraq after he declares a "War on Corruption" 2008, Pakistan is set to have elections in 2008, and after 2008, we'll have another president.
The disruption in Iraq will last much longer than 2008. But in the meantime, can we get a way to stop throwing lives of loved ones over to a conflict that one military cannot solve? It takes a village.
Showing posts with label Foot in my mouth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foot in my mouth. Show all posts
Monday, December 3, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Feel like an a%%hole...
Another beleaguered White House spokesman has to come up and accuse congress of wasting time as the Bush Administration continues to get buried in its own scandals.
Not only are former legal council Harriet Miers and chief of staff John Bolton being cited for contempt of congress due to the refusal to testify on the firing of federal attorneys. But Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is being contradicted by the FBI director Robert Mueller.
The Washington Post reports that contrary to Gonzo's testimony that no division on the NSA wiretaps existed in the Administration, Mueller said they discussed the matter and he himself had reservations on warrantless wiretaps.
Gonzo's underling Susan Goodman wasn't even there to join her boss in collective amnesia.
And this on top of the testimony by former deputy AG Jim Comey that both he and then AG John Ashcroft were against continuing the wiretaps because of lack of legal grounds.
Psychoanalysis and nuance of the blatant disregard for law by Gonzo and friends is superfluous. Something rotten is in the soup.
So I'll just reference a song by Beck off of Mellow Gold that perfectly describes the situation. Warning, don't listen to this in a place where it's not appropriate.
The kids from the early 1990's may enjoy a listen. Just disregard the visuals...
Not only are former legal council Harriet Miers and chief of staff John Bolton being cited for contempt of congress due to the refusal to testify on the firing of federal attorneys. But Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is being contradicted by the FBI director Robert Mueller.
The Washington Post reports that contrary to Gonzo's testimony that no division on the NSA wiretaps existed in the Administration, Mueller said they discussed the matter and he himself had reservations on warrantless wiretaps.
Gonzo's underling Susan Goodman wasn't even there to join her boss in collective amnesia.
And this on top of the testimony by former deputy AG Jim Comey that both he and then AG John Ashcroft were against continuing the wiretaps because of lack of legal grounds.
Psychoanalysis and nuance of the blatant disregard for law by Gonzo and friends is superfluous. Something rotten is in the soup.
So I'll just reference a song by Beck off of Mellow Gold that perfectly describes the situation. Warning, don't listen to this in a place where it's not appropriate.
The kids from the early 1990's may enjoy a listen. Just disregard the visuals...
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
JESUS CAMP, mind control, and the uncanny power of self-loathing
Palestinian camps are putting hand grenades in their kids' hands, so America has to train their kids to be part of the "God's Army." So says Pastor Becky Fischer at her Bible Summer camp, "Kid's on Fire"
"I wanna see young people who are as committed to the cause of Jesus Christ, as the young people are to the cause of Islam," Fischer says in the documentary "Jesus Camp." She explained that Christian kids should be just as ready as young Muslims to "lay down their lives" for their own creed, rationalizing that "we've got the better message."
Last night was the first time that I saw award-winning documentary. At times it wasn't easy to watch, as kids were being manipulated to hate anything un-Christian, but it really is a must see, a provocative look into a dysfunctional world.
I found the formula for manipulation to be somewhat familiar, as I was often fed the message that I was dirty, needed salvation from my own impurities as a K-12 student at Catholic Schools.
Step 1: Fischer welcomed the kids with a smiley face and caring persona to the camp,
Effect: Makes the kids feel at-ease, in a compassionate environment.
Step 2: Fischer alienated the kids, calling them evil. Example: She said that Harry Potter would have been "stoned to death" for being a warlock. She then implied that they brought unclean souls to the camp (swearing, doing bad just like the other kids), and washed their hands with...Nestle bottled water.
Effect: The children may be bored, ashamed, miserable but Fischer instills in them the idea that they are that way because they are "sinners." And eureka, she has a way to help them! And makes the salvation fun!
Step 3: The path is laid as kids are taught to hold their faith above all else, convulse with the spirit of the lord, and are told that half of the world is pure evil.
Effect: Kids can be alienated from the "sinners," everyone else. They conceptualize their duty to "save" everyone.
Step 4: Fischer and friends reaffirm that the kids are important, will be the future leaders, and need to go out and convert others, oppose homosexuality, abortion rights, support President Bush, the war in Iraq, the conversion of Muslims at all costs.
Results: Kids are wearing camouflage face paint while swinging sticks, praising the "Christian flag" and spreading the word to evil doers.
One kid even said that he got saved at age 5, because he was looking for more in life. (Though he probably didn't think his life was so worthless until people like Fischer told him so) And I can't forget the 10-year-old girl who said she only dances for the Lord, "not for the flesh."
See for yourself:
Fischer justified her actions, saying that kids cannot make choices -good or bad- (not much faith in kids...).
Repeatedly through the film, the "teachers" are praising the way that Christianity can influence kids, that their greatest asset is malleability. Not their creativity, innocence, or intelligence.
Fischer describes the enemy/Muslims as radicals who dogmatize their kids in a violent view of the world, and that it's her job to set them straight. And what are you doing to the kids, Fischer? Honoring their freedom of choice and presenting them with multiple viewpoints?
What's more is that even the evangelical heads are not without "sin"...
In many spots in the film, Fischer is seen primping herself, flaunting openly about how lovely she is. She also places a cardboard cutout of Bush for the kids to praise.
...The 7th deadly sin forbids excessive pride, and that first commandment forbidding the praise of idols before God...
And let's not forget our buddy Ted Haggard, who mad a cameo in the film bashing "the gay lifestyle." He was an adviser for Bush, by the way.
After the film and earlier this year, Haggard was caught with his own "sexual improprieties" and moral quandaries. Such as being caught with a male prostitute and using methamphetamines.
"...let he who is without sin cast the first stone..." -Jesus
But the sin is not homosexuality, or even meth use, but hypocrisy.
Good thing for Haggard, he became a heterosexual once again, and was saved from his gay tendencies. Maybe he feels this was all the result of a meth bender?
After observing all this hypocrisy, it occurs to me that the leaders of this radical, violent, politicized brand of Christianity are unable to deal with their own vices.
Like the children they exploit, perhaps they were once told that they were evil, made to feel dirty, and forced to embrace an ideology that seemed unnatural. The failure to work through sexual insecurities, addiction, violent tendencies (due to the disapproval in the social sphere of Church) had forced these currents to manifest themselves as problems later in life?
But self-loathing is nothing compared to how the extreme Christian right loathes their enemies, be they homosexuals, secularists, Muslims, or liberals.
There seems to be never-ending cycle of self-manipulation, that feeds itself with tax-free donations.
God might not have planned it better...
"I wanna see young people who are as committed to the cause of Jesus Christ, as the young people are to the cause of Islam," Fischer says in the documentary "Jesus Camp." She explained that Christian kids should be just as ready as young Muslims to "lay down their lives" for their own creed, rationalizing that "we've got the better message."
Last night was the first time that I saw award-winning documentary. At times it wasn't easy to watch, as kids were being manipulated to hate anything un-Christian, but it really is a must see, a provocative look into a dysfunctional world.
I found the formula for manipulation to be somewhat familiar, as I was often fed the message that I was dirty, needed salvation from my own impurities as a K-12 student at Catholic Schools.
Step 1: Fischer welcomed the kids with a smiley face and caring persona to the camp,
Effect: Makes the kids feel at-ease, in a compassionate environment.
Step 2: Fischer alienated the kids, calling them evil. Example: She said that Harry Potter would have been "stoned to death" for being a warlock. She then implied that they brought unclean souls to the camp (swearing, doing bad just like the other kids), and washed their hands with...Nestle bottled water.
Effect: The children may be bored, ashamed, miserable but Fischer instills in them the idea that they are that way because they are "sinners." And eureka, she has a way to help them! And makes the salvation fun!
Step 3: The path is laid as kids are taught to hold their faith above all else, convulse with the spirit of the lord, and are told that half of the world is pure evil.
Effect: Kids can be alienated from the "sinners," everyone else. They conceptualize their duty to "save" everyone.
Step 4: Fischer and friends reaffirm that the kids are important, will be the future leaders, and need to go out and convert others, oppose homosexuality, abortion rights, support President Bush, the war in Iraq, the conversion of Muslims at all costs.
Results: Kids are wearing camouflage face paint while swinging sticks, praising the "Christian flag" and spreading the word to evil doers.
One kid even said that he got saved at age 5, because he was looking for more in life. (Though he probably didn't think his life was so worthless until people like Fischer told him so) And I can't forget the 10-year-old girl who said she only dances for the Lord, "not for the flesh."
See for yourself:
Fischer justified her actions, saying that kids cannot make choices -good or bad- (not much faith in kids...).
Repeatedly through the film, the "teachers" are praising the way that Christianity can influence kids, that their greatest asset is malleability. Not their creativity, innocence, or intelligence.
Fischer describes the enemy/Muslims as radicals who dogmatize their kids in a violent view of the world, and that it's her job to set them straight. And what are you doing to the kids, Fischer? Honoring their freedom of choice and presenting them with multiple viewpoints?
What's more is that even the evangelical heads are not without "sin"...
In many spots in the film, Fischer is seen primping herself, flaunting openly about how lovely she is. She also places a cardboard cutout of Bush for the kids to praise.
...The 7th deadly sin forbids excessive pride, and that first commandment forbidding the praise of idols before God...
And let's not forget our buddy Ted Haggard, who mad a cameo in the film bashing "the gay lifestyle." He was an adviser for Bush, by the way.
After the film and earlier this year, Haggard was caught with his own "sexual improprieties" and moral quandaries. Such as being caught with a male prostitute and using methamphetamines.
"...let he who is without sin cast the first stone..." -Jesus
But the sin is not homosexuality, or even meth use, but hypocrisy.
Good thing for Haggard, he became a heterosexual once again, and was saved from his gay tendencies. Maybe he feels this was all the result of a meth bender?
After observing all this hypocrisy, it occurs to me that the leaders of this radical, violent, politicized brand of Christianity are unable to deal with their own vices.
Like the children they exploit, perhaps they were once told that they were evil, made to feel dirty, and forced to embrace an ideology that seemed unnatural. The failure to work through sexual insecurities, addiction, violent tendencies (due to the disapproval in the social sphere of Church) had forced these currents to manifest themselves as problems later in life?
But self-loathing is nothing compared to how the extreme Christian right loathes their enemies, be they homosexuals, secularists, Muslims, or liberals.
There seems to be never-ending cycle of self-manipulation, that feeds itself with tax-free donations.
God might not have planned it better...
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Newspaper battle in Thunderdome
It's been fun watching the back and forth between The Capital Times and Isthmus.
Isthmus news editor Bill Lueders has actually been taking a lot of jabs at the Cap Times, just recently Lueders poked at the later's columnist Doug Moe for not using "table scraps" of Lueder's Watchdog column on MG&E.
About two weeks ago, Lueders wrote about some crank who was worried about the availability of information on personal energy use, with anyone on the Internets being able to search for averages of individual households. Just click here to find out the energy use of the person that you stalk.
Lueders questioned why Moe and State Journal's Melanie Conklin didn't use this info to write columns on energy usage by prominent Madisonians.
Though I wonder why Lueders made a big deal out of Moe's non-use of his article. Is there some inter-paper feud that no one knows about? Perhaps the two papers are struggling for any topics on which to write as the slow, hot days of summer drown out any inspiration for actual news? Well, aside from the state budget debate and all the murders and missing persons.
These questions might be interesting fodder for a local media watchdog group or independent blogger...
By the way, Isthmus editor Marc Eisen averages $89 per month in gas use and $115 per month in electricity use. Whereas Dave Zweifel's home address wasn't publicly available.
My energy use is included in my rent. So you can't search me! But I do use fluorescent bulbs, as advocated by former Ald. Austin King
In addition to privacy issues of energy consumption, Cap Times and Isthmus editors have been arguing about the cost/benefits of Monona Terrace.
See Zweifel's view here.
And Lueders's view here.
And a follow up by Cap Times Hawkes intern, Kristin Czubkowski, where revelers extolled the virtues and slight drawbacks of the Terrace at it's ten year anniversary.
Isthmus news editor Bill Lueders has actually been taking a lot of jabs at the Cap Times, just recently Lueders poked at the later's columnist Doug Moe for not using "table scraps" of Lueder's Watchdog column on MG&E.
About two weeks ago, Lueders wrote about some crank who was worried about the availability of information on personal energy use, with anyone on the Internets being able to search for averages of individual households. Just click here to find out the energy use of the person that you stalk.
Lueders questioned why Moe and State Journal's Melanie Conklin didn't use this info to write columns on energy usage by prominent Madisonians.
Though I wonder why Lueders made a big deal out of Moe's non-use of his article. Is there some inter-paper feud that no one knows about? Perhaps the two papers are struggling for any topics on which to write as the slow, hot days of summer drown out any inspiration for actual news? Well, aside from the state budget debate and all the murders and missing persons.
These questions might be interesting fodder for a local media watchdog group or independent blogger...
By the way, Isthmus editor Marc Eisen averages $89 per month in gas use and $115 per month in electricity use. Whereas Dave Zweifel's home address wasn't publicly available.
My energy use is included in my rent. So you can't search me! But I do use fluorescent bulbs, as advocated by former Ald. Austin King
In addition to privacy issues of energy consumption, Cap Times and Isthmus editors have been arguing about the cost/benefits of Monona Terrace.
See Zweifel's view here.
And Lueders's view here.
And a follow up by Cap Times Hawkes intern, Kristin Czubkowski, where revelers extolled the virtues and slight drawbacks of the Terrace at it's ten year anniversary.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Vang Pao Where?
Well, the guy who I somewhat defended got arrested for planning a coup against the communist gov't of Laos. Talk about a foot in my mouth...
Still, there's been worse folks made out to be heroes.
Still, there's been worse folks made out to be heroes.
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