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Congratulations
.....to all the Bush-backers who have finally been able to find some free time. I know they have been coincidently very busy ever since November 2, 2004. But word on the streets is that their schedules have finally opened up, and now they can, once again, talk about the direction of this country and the world. We have missed you.
For example, HERE are some of the debates my friends and I had, where you can see they have always really cared about the state of the nation. Sadly, they have just been too busy to say anything since 11/2. I just hope they don’t get too busy again so they can discuss: the urgency to seize the moment in Iraq, the future of social security, and how we can fix our failing health care system.
I know everyone is busy. I’m am studying 10-12 hours a day, but I’ll continue to try to find some time to discuss these important issues. I hope others can make the same effort. If not, I am sure your schedules will open up again someday……maybe the day we find Osama.
De ja vu all over again?
Ah April 10th, 2003...what a day it was: the landmark statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad's Firdos Square was brought down by Iraqis and U.S. Marines.
All my conservative friends called me (like they do after Ohio State loses to Michigan) to pre-maturely bask in the raving success of the war...to let us libs know that we were just being pansies all along.
Now, one-thousand four-hundred and fifty three U.S. casualties later, it's happening again!
I don't mean to belittle the Iraqi election. It was a clear success and I am happy for the Iraqi people. But before we drink too much Champaign, let's not forget that it is only one hurdle. And being that it is the first hurdle that hasn't been completely tripped on and stumbled over, everyone is cheering like mad. As far as I'm concerned, this week the situation moved from the brink of hopeless to the edge of feasible.
Remember that the Iraqi people didn't select a leader...they selected a 275-member Transitional National Assembly. That was step one.
STEP 2: These guys will elect a state presidency council made up of a president and two deputies.
STEP 3: Those guys will choose a prime minister.
STEP 4: He will select ministers.
STEP 5a: The assembly will vote on the make-up of the government and draft a constitution by 15 August.
STEP 5b: If not enough progress is made on the constitution by 1 August there will be a delay of six months.
STEP 6: The constitution will be submitted to referendum by 15 October.
STEP 7a: If the constitution is approved in October, an election will be held by 15 December and a fully constitutional government will take power by 31 December.
STEP 7b: If the constitution is rejected, there will be a new assembly election by 15 December, and a further year is then allowed for the whole process.
And the hardest part is yet to come..the devil is in the details and my bet is that the Sunnis will not hand over the reins quietly nor will the foreign terrorists retreat any time soon.
So in short, best case senario: the Iraqis will take control of their country in 2006.
If the constitution doesn't pass referendum the first time: then it's 2007.
So today is a day to celebrate, we have temporarily averted complete and utter failure and are well on the way to putting a government in place which will probably be violently opposed by one in five Iraqis...................but please, keep the red-white-and-blue confetti in your pockets kids.
Who? What? Wear?
Who: Vice President Cheney
What: Leaders from 30 countries gather to remember the victims of the Holocaust at the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in Oswiecim, Poland
Wear: Green parka embroidered with his name and featuring a fur-trimmed hood, the laced brown boots and a knit ski cap reading "Staff 2001."
Sunni turnout negligible
"In war-ravaged Falluja, nearly all residents stayed at home despite the presence of five polling stations. Only one man was reported to have voted." - Al Jazzera
Iraq Election May Worsen Sectarian, Ethnic Tension
"Sunnis may feel more excluded than ever by a poll that is going ahead without them. 'The people who have been sidelined until now will be even more resentful — Sunni Arabs who have been made refugees from their own cities like Fallujah, or have been threatened by insurgents, or are just fed up and scared,” said Rime Allaf of London’s Royal Institute of International Affairs." - Alistair Lyon, Reuters
The Voting Process
"More than 14 million Iraqis are registered to vote at nearly 6,000 voting centers." - State Department
The reports I am seeing say that we won't have any real numbers on turnout for at least a week. That is understandable since it is their first election and the counting of millions of ballots with over 140 candidates has to be a difficult process. It appears the elections overall went pretty well. The concerns I have heard are over Sunni turnout, which was expected to be low. Our staff at The Chief Source will be tracking the results closely.
Also, scratch Evan Bayh off the list of candidates for President in 2008.
"Amazing Success" -- NY Times
Turnout has been remarkable, over 70%. Seemingly low violence. So great to see so many women voting. A great day for Iraqi's, and the US. We'll learn more as time goes on, but today appears to be the best day in the 2 year quagmire in Iraq.
Oh, and that headline is true. That's the "liberal" NY Times. Sorry, maybe if Bush had more successful days like today, people would see that the Times just actually does reporting, and calls it like it is.
and they're off
Elections have begun. So far its not too bad after a few hours. Hopefully things can go well. The Iraqi's deserve their country back and deserve better then the horrors of the last 2 years. The war is always going to be unjust, but I still wish war justification #32 ("democracy") can come to fruition. If Iraqi's are lucky, maybe in 50 years when Iraqis go to vote, instead of worrying about getting killed, they just have to worry about the country's right-wing party stealing the election. Now that's something to aim for.
More reports will continue to trickle out about the prison abuse that went on in Iraq. Here is the latest and perhaps the most perverse:
"Female interrogators tried to break male Muslim detainees at the United States prison camp in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, by sexually touching them, by wearing miniskirts and thong underwear, and, in one case, by smearing a Saudi man's face with red ink, which he was led to believe was menstrual blood, according to part of a draft manuscript written by a former Army sergeant...."
"When asked how she could break the prisoner, a Muslim linguist told the woman to tell him she was menstruating, then to touch him and to turn off the water in his cell so he could not wash. 'The concept was to make the detainee feel that, after talking to her, he was unclean and was unable to go before his God in prayer and gain strength,' the manuscript says." - excerpt from the AP
This is the reason why the United States of America is so hated in the Arab world. The use of this kind of torture may have gotten the information out of this one prisoner, but we created at least 1,000 more men willing to fight and die to avenge his mistreatment.
"You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about why I do things." — Bush (6/4/2003)
Competition for Fox "News"
Fox "News" is developing some competition in the race to provide conservative bias packaged as fair and balanced news coverage. If you Google Talon News you may think they are a fair place for information but then their website says who they really are. They may not look like much on the web, but look who their White House Bureau Chief get to talk to yesterday... Quicktime or Windows Media. - links courtesy of Media Matters
36 Dead, 1 Sickened
UPDATE TO COMMENTS: This post was a reflection on the basis for the war. Not about the upcoming elections. My point is that there was no basis for the war. Bringing democracy was never claimed until we were already there. Check back later in the week for Iraq election analysis and coverage.
Last night before I fell asleep, as usual, I watched the Daily Show. Jon Stewart and his guest were talking about a possible attack on Iran. A lot of the discussion was on how we got into Iraq, and how we could do the same in Iran. So anyways, I spent the next 5-10 minutes reflecting on Iraq. I mean, I always talk about it being a load of crap, but I never really think back to my thoughts from 2002 or 2003. So I did. And I got really disgusted when I thought about. There was no reason. No nukes. No WMD. No ties to terrorism. We attacked innocent people for the wrong reasons. Then I went to bed.
So there must have been a reason for my strange moment of reflection. I woke up this morning to see TODAY WAS THE DEADLIEST DAY FOR AMERICAN TROOPS IN IRAQ. 36 US marines died today. The worst day of the war comes almost 2 years later? This is horrible. We got to get out of there. And we need to admit this was a mistake.
1279 honorable US troops have died since "Mission Accomplished"
As of today there are: 1416 dead US troops, about 15,000 wounded US troops, and about 17,000 innocent Iraqi's have been killed. Also, its estimated that 100,000 more Iraqi civilians have died. There is no way any reasonable person can support war this war anymore.
Anyone that still does is sick. And I really mean it.
Snoop Dogs
It looks like dogs will be making your drug trafficking days more difficult. In a ruling by the Supreme Court yesterday (6-2), police departments across the country were given the right to use a drug sniffing dog during a traffic stop with out probable cause that you may be have drugs. Justice John Paul Stevens said, "A dog sniff conducted during a concededly lawful traffic stop that reveals no information other than the location of a substance that no individual has any right to possess does not violate the 4th Amendment."
Dissenting Justices Souter and Ginsburg argued that this ruling clears the way for searching garages, parked cars, and cars stopped at traffic lights. This link to an EXCELLENT story on NPR gives arguments about both sides of this decision. It points out that 80% of paper money in the United States has traces of drugs on it. So weed smokers and dealers who read The Chief Source, the Supreme Court has just given you another reason to really wig.
Unrelated... funny long interview with Stephen Colbert of the Daily Show on NPR
War just got way cooler!
"Robot soldiers bound for Iraq."
You heard me right ladies and gentlemen. According to the BBC:
"The US military is planning to deploy robots armed with machine-guns to wage war against insurgents in Iraq. Eighteen of the 1m-high robots, equipped with cameras and operated by remote control, are going to Iraq this spring, the Associated Press reports."
The article goes on to say that, "...there are plans to replace the computer screen, joysticks and keypad in the remote-control unit with a Gameboy-style controller and virtual-reality goggles." This is not a joke people. This is not a test of the emergency broadcast system. Go to bbc.com and see for yourself. We are building a robot army! ...Can anyone out there hear me?! If you can hear me, stay out of the cities!...get up into the mountains with whatever supplies you can muster. Leave your firearms behind...they won't help you against the sharpshooting robot army. It's futile to resist. Save yourse....[static].........................
O.k. now that I've calmed down a bit. Does anyone else see a problem with this? Am I out of my god d*mn mind? Please post a comment soon...I'm not heading up into the mountains until nightfall. God speed.
PS. They are only $200,000 per unit.
Sorry Prince Bandar, it's time to pack your bags
The Bush people loves the Saudis. Bush even had Saudi royal family members sleeping at the White House right after 9/11. Seems a bit strange, especially since 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were from Saudia Arabia. (learn more here and here about Bush being in bed with the Saudis). Okay, so everyone gets it, these guys are close to the Saudis.
So I am conflicted. After the inauguration we learned of the new Bush agenda: combat all forms of oppression with liberty and freedom.....sounds like a nobel cause. But what does Bush do about the Saudis? I mean, they just ordered a public flogging of 15 citizens, some women, as punishment for protesting. That's bad, but not as bad as the public beheadings conducted by the Saudi government. Public floggings for exercising speech? Pubic beheadings for cheating on your husband? Lets go get the bastards......some how I doubt it.
Lowering Expectations
I watched the usual Sunday talk shows. The vote in Iraq was front and center. Meet the Press featured U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte:
MR. RUSSERT: "Senator Joe Biden, Delaware Democrat, said this week in Washington that there are only 4,000 fully trained and capable Iraqi soldiers in the Iraqi armed forces. Is that accurate?"
AMB. NEGROPONTE: "Well, I think that really understates the accomplishments of the Iraqi army and police forces."
Democrats are falling for the same old tricks of the administration when it comes to the expectations game.
1. Democrats: "George Bush can't debate, Al Gore will destroy him."
Media: "Bush speaks complete sentences, holds his own with Gore"
2. Democrats: "John Kerry is to Vietnam what Jesus is to Christianity"
Media: "Some Veterans are Republicans, month of August will be devoted to their hate of Kerry"
3. Democrats: "There are only 4,000 troops, Iraq elections will be a sham"
Potential: "10,000 Iraqi troops able to secure roughly half of Iraq for semi-election, the glass of democracy is half full in Iraq despite chaos, corruption, and potential civil war."
Democrats should say: "We look forward to full and peaceful elections in Iraq as promised by the administration. We hope they can at least find voters to go to polling stations since Weapons of Mass Destruction were no where to be found. Did you hear about the President's plans for social security?"
Bus Tires Update
Here is the latest from an article West Side Leader by Diane Fencl on the bus tire incident discussed in an earlier post on our website which proved to be a ratings blockbuster:
"All of the tires on 39 buses, out of an active fleet of just more than 40 buses, were slashed sometime between Jan. 5 and Jan. 6. The cost of the 156 slashed tires, which needed to be repaired or replaced, equaled roughly $7,000 for labor and $28,000 for materials, Forrest reported."
Aparently the next step is to create a reward fund for clues to solve the crime. We will continue to keep you updated on the latest developments.
Wes, a dear friend, is moving to California tomorrow. We wish him the best and hope he makes it back to the rubber city soon.
"Playoff Football is a Religion in Our Family." -- John Kerry
UPDATE: My worst week of the playoffs. 1-0 against the o/u, 0-2 against the spread. Either way, Tom Brady seems to be using a Rozuk-family special shampoo, Pert Long.
Well, I somehow doubt that, but this week does pit Kerry's team (Patriots) versus Teresa's team (Steelers).
Falcons at Eagles. Sunday 1:00pm (MST)
Vick is so great. Philly could have lost last week if the Vikings played a bit better and Moss didn't botch that fake FG. There was no doubt about the Falcons last week. I look for the Falcons (+5) to, at worst hang around, and possibly dominate. I don't like the over/under, because the weather might be really bad.
Patriots at Steelers. Sunday 4:30pm (MST)
Playing in the stadium with Teresa's name on it will be the difference for the Steelers (+3). Also, the over looks good (38). I just think, much like people slept on the Patriots this week for the flavor of the week Colts, that people are underestimating the Steelers. So don't forget that the Steelers easily handled the Patriots early this year. This won't be that easy, but I'll take Heinz Field and the Steelers. I don't think Kerry will care too much.
Check back in 2 weeks for Super Bowl predictions. Also, there is hope that now we might get to see a boob at halftime this year, because Michael Powell is leaving the FCC.
The Axis of Evil: Supersized
Well if you haven`t heard...Condoleezza has just identified six nations of the world as 'Outposts of Tyranny.' They are: Iran / North Korea / Cuba / Belarus / Zimbabwe / Burma.
So now we`re gonna call the bad countries: OUTPOSTS of TYRANNY. Ok. Good to know. I would have loved to see that memo. You know, the list that was circling around the back halls of the White House, as they settled on a title for this group of rogue nations. I bet it looked something like this:
IDEAS:
Axis of Evil II________________Outhouses of Tyranny_________Lighthouses of Terror
Wombs of Oppression________Watering-holes of Evil_________Nooks of No-good
Fortresses of the Forsaken_____Outposts of Tyranny__________Craters of Chaos
Gateways of Darkness________Potholes of Peace______________Tyrants of Outposty
Harvesters of BOOM! ________Mufflers of Liberty Bells_______Burros of Badness
Pockets of Terror_____________Sacks of Snakes_______________Puddles of Evil
Loins of Destruction__________Cradles of Terror______________Hounds of Hell
Cribs of Tyranny_____________Hip-Sacks of Hate_____________Trenches of Terror
Cages of Free-Thought________Ditches of Damnation__________Tree-Houses of Tyranny
(Drop me a comment and let me know what your favorite is.)
On a side note, I do have some personal advice for President Alexander Lukashenko of BELARUS, President Robert Mugabe of ZIMBABWE, and Than Shwe of BURMA.............Chill out. Don`t panic. Iran is next...once World War III starts everyone is gonna forget about you guys. So lay low.
Well...there is a bright-side to all this, i guess. The American Peoples' knowledge of World Geography just keeps gettin better. Here's to FOUR MORE educational YEARS. 
P.S. I never did trust those Belarusians!!
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Robert,
