micah holmquist's irregular thoughts and links |
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Welcome to the musings and notes of a Cadillac, Michigan based writer named Micah Holmquist, who is bothered by his own sarcasm. Please send him email at micahth@chartermi.net. Holmquist's full archives are listed here.
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Sites Holmquist trys, and often fails, to go no more than a couple of days without visiting (some of which Holmquist regularly swipes links from without attribution) Aljazeera.Net English Blogs that for one reason or another Holmquist would like to read on at least something of a regular basis (always in development) Thivai Abhor |
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
I love the "war on terror" The "war on terror" is a multi-faceted struggle against evil sanctioned by God that take many forms including setting up a secret police unit for Iraq (I hear those Iraqis won't have to spend much time adjusting), beating prisoners, limiting civilian casualties in certain situations and just generally abusing human rights. Hot Damn! Is this a fun time to be alive or what? The only problem is figuring out what the glorious "war on terror" is supposed to be about. Remember those weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that meant the United States had to invade Iraq in order to prevent the death of every man, woman, child and household pet within Uncle Sam's borders? Perhaps it is best that you don't. The AP writes in a December 30 article: The teams have closed their chemical and nuclear files and David Kay, the man currently leading the search, is considering stepping down, those involved in the hunt told AP on condition of anonymity.Ah but that is an old reason for the invasion. A more recent reason is to create utopia in Iraq, although perhaps that is a bit much. In a peice published by The Age yesterday, Robin Wright and Rajiv Chandrasekaran write: After eight months of debate and delay, the United States will formally launch the handover of power to Iraq this week with the final plan still not fully in place.And I thought we only wanted sufficient ground to bury our dead. Of course, as Edward Wong illustrated in Sunday's New York Times, there is a chance the whole thing could fall apart: As the countdown to the handover of power in Iraq enters its final six months, American officials are focusing on how to create a working democracy. They are trying to walk a fine line between giving ethnic and religious groups the territory, resources and autonomy they demand, and ensuring that such power does not give rise to dangerous nationalisms.Typical problems for when you are trying to control a country without looking like you are controlling it. By the way, don't think every group is going to be treated equally. And don't believe freedom freedom is the focus of this "war." James Bovard writes in Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle: When President Bush travels around the United States, the Secret Service visits the location ahead of time and orders local police to set up "free speech zones" or "protest zones," where people opposed to Bush policies (and sometimes sign-carrying supporters) are quarantined. These zones routinely succeed in keeping protesters out of presidential sight and outside the view of media covering the event.*** Since the threat from those commonly considered to be amongst "the terrorists" doesn't appear as great as America's Lord and Savior George W. Bush and His apostles tell us it is, perhaps it is time to find new enemies. In an AP article published yesterday, George Gedda writes: The Bush administration is becoming increasingly concerned about what it sees as a joint effort by Cuba and Venezuela to nurture anti-American sentiment in Latin America with money, political indoctrination and training.How dare these Che Guevara wannabes interfere in the affairs of another country without the permission of their uncle. Everyone knows you don't do that. |