Sign of Modernity killed

Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto was killed this morning, being shot in the chest before a suicide bombing. Already, international leaders are sounding renewed support against "the terrorists," calling for maintenance of democracy, and "holding those responsible for justice."

US presidential candidates have put out their press releases, relaying their firm stance against terrorist bombings and support for democracy...I like democracy too.

And right-wing nutjob blowhards are already placing bets on the culpability of various Islamist groups/leftist conspirators.

No doubt, this will shake things up before January elections. So-called moderate candidates were already leery about running.

"Experts" name the most likely culprit to be Islamic militants, which wouldn't be surprising given Bhutto's rhetoric supporting the War on Terror and modernity before elections. With riots starting around the country and renewed calls by opposition to boycott the elections, who else would benefit as much?

President Bush restated his support for the Pakistani democratic process, blaming extremists. But could insensitivity of US policy be partly to blame?

Installment of a western-friendly puppet like Musharraf was a way to jab at already angry militant factions. And what about U.S. Pentagon arming of tribal groups against Al Qaeda? Maybe arming an angry group so that they'll serve US interests, even though they have no reason to want to do so besides economics, wasn't the best idea?

All in all, violent forms of Islam and western encroachment makes such travesties less shocking.

English Escape

For the past week, I've been visiting Friend's in the UK, at the London Chinatown, a Leamington Spa wedding, and with a Slovakian and German in Nottingham. Aside from the slight jet lag and realization that I am back in the real world, things went splendidly.

Among some things that I appreciate in UK was their attitude toward transportation and vacation.

After being accustomed to a shaky, ill-maintained CTA, the silent, smooth London Tube was a treat. On the other hand, quibbles about a three dollar fare to ride the CTA strike me funny when a one-way ticket on the tube from zone 1 to 4, (similar to a ride from O'Hare to Clark/Lake downtown) costs 4 pounds, that's ~$8.25 here in the US.

Our friends there gawked when we told them the U.S. average yearly vacation, if your lucky, is two weeks. New Doctors in the UK get about six weeks; the average is four.

And Scotch is much cheaper...

Among the interesting sights:

In the lounge area of London's Paddington Rail Station, tourists are greeted with YO Sushi, a live-action, sushi-preparing spectacle.

I was rather skeptical about the quality, as I've not yet experienced raw, dead fish rolling around me on a conveyor belt. But it was surprisingly fresh and pleasantly spiced.



Magical Brewery Tour - Not wanting to waste valuable money on stuffy museums where I can be quiet and look at things the British stole from their conquests, I decided instead to see a rare cask brewery (Cask=not adding CO2) and drink complimentary beer whilst eating chips (freedom fries for those of us in the US).

My lovely girlfriend and I

English Fireworks - wanted to try this setting on my camera, worked out nice.

I need sleep...

Iraqification

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.

Newspaper located in Chicago losing subscribers, due to poorly written articles allege some readers, said sources at America loves news, a nonproft.

Some idiots drove around the U of C last week and ended up shooting a Doctoral recipient who had planned on returning to help his native Senegal.

Prosecutors charged the second suspect in the homicide case. Today's lead in the Tribune read:

The second teenager charged in a string of violent robberies around the University of Chicago campus last week admitted in a videotaped confession to police to taking part in the crime spree, prosecutors alleged in court records made public Thursday.

Yuk...to the story and to the horribly-written lead... Is this even English? The lead of the story is supposed to draw the reader in, to make the reader want to read the rest of the story, not contradict everything that used to be beautiful about the English language.

How about this instead?

A second teenager confessed his involvement in a series of violent robberies on the University of Chicago campus last week, said prosecutors in publicly-released court records.

There. You get the gist of the story in a streamlined format with all the legally required info left in. Get to the mundane details later.

Another big thing in the Chicagoland news is a former Bolingbrooke police sergeant who is a suspect in the disappearance of his wife. Media coverage has included a personal view by People magazine and a heart-to-heart with Matt Lauer.

President Chuck Norris

I have to say, Mike Huckabee's new ad is brilliant. That the red-state everyman Chuck Norris names Huckabee to be the best at protecting conservative values, the border, and 2nd amendment rights is savvy, given Huckabee's propensity to portray himself as the man's man, working class, ordinary guy. Plus, even liberals can appreciate the "Chuck Norris Tackled Rabid Wolves for Excercise" jokes.



Of course, I don't agree with much of Huckabee's platform. The talk of Islamofacism, Straight Marriage Amendment, and "consumer-based" health care is oversimplified. Increasing military budgets and army deployments, US v Them mentality, is not going to change hearts and minds in disagreements with the Islamic world. Regaining diplomatic credo abroad means closing Guantanamo Bay and stopping torture. Creationism is not a solid theory for our existence. And government oughta stay out of the bedroom where those involved can legally consent.

The next ad should feature Chuck Norris fighting hand-to-hand with the evolutionary monkey, both flinging poo at each other.

Pentagon Meddling in Native Politics OR Here we go Again.

U.S. pentagon officials are considering beefing up funding and recruitment for "tribal" paramilitary forces in Pakistan to fight against Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, reports the New York Times.

If adopted, the proposal would join elements of a shift in strategy that would also be likely to expand the presence of American military trainers in Pakistan, directly finance a separate tribal paramilitary force that until now has proved largely ineffective and pay militias that agree to fight Al Qaeda and foreign extremists, officials said. The United States now has only about 50 troops in Pakistan, a Pentagon spokesman said, a force that could grow by dozens under the new approach.

The new proposal is modeled in part on a similar effort by American forces in Anbar Province in Iraq that has been hailed as a great success in fighting foreign insurgents there. But it raises the question of whether such partnerships can be forged without a significant American military presence on the ground in Pakistan. And it is unclear whether enough support can be found among the tribes.

Isn't this how Al Qaeda came to prominence in the first place?

Some nuts at the Pentagon thought they could fund Afghan groups to fight the USSR in 1979, and didn't consider the lasting effects of meddling in a culture that they didn't understand. And a pro-west puppet leader fell from control as a more angry elements came to power.

Deja vu?

Charitable Cops Care about Chicago

Chicago police officers clashed with former pro-basketball players on the court this morning, getting slain in the process. Well, sort of...

The nine officers and group of pros were playing at Fosco Park for "Give Something Back," a food drive to feed needy families this Thanksgiving. About 100 people showed up, each bringing three non-perishable foodstuffs for admission. Proceeds were donated to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

"This is our fifth time hosting this benefit," said Chicago police officer Eddie Chapman, who organized the event. "It's about helping out the community."

Former NBA players, and Chicago natives, Rickey Green Mitchel J.J. Anderson, Mickey Johnson, and Tim Hardaway were some of those featured on the pro-team. Also on the team was Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, who played pro-basketball in Australia.

The show was entertaining, with many of the pros having a blast slamming the backboards, and confusing the cops with behind-the-back passes and fake-outs. Around half-time, the scored was around 50-23, pros. But toward the end, I think the cops got a break. The pros let them have a few free passes to down some lay-ups.

It ended not being too brutal for the cops, but a table full of food was the real goal. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Here's some shots:

The Chicago Police Department All-Stars

The Former Professionals chanting "1, 2, 3, Charity!"

Officer Eddie Chapman puts up a free-throw.

The results...