Plan Z for Zimbabwe

Thirty years ago, Robert Mugabe was the rebel hero fighting a civil war against the white minority power in Rhodesia. In 1980, he became Prime Minister of the renamed Zimbabwe in a relatively peaceful final transition to majority rule. Today, President Mugabe is a tyrant, using any means necessary to maintain his rule. His thugs and henchmen forced the withdrawal of Tsvangirai, who likely would've won the run-off Presidential election. What's the world to do?

Zimbabwe is a desperately poor country: 20 million people, average yearly income under $200, beset by HIV/AIDS and inequities in land distribution. No natural resources or strategic advantage will stimulate the 'humanitarian' interests of wealthy, well-armed countries. Like Darfur, where horrors have outlived the righteous chorus of “never again”, the 'plan' for Zimbabwe is to stand back and let it bleed. Call it 'plan zzz'.

Netflix fix

“You've got to live your life” passes for wisdom. Do you? Face it, your life is constrained and largely predictable. Modern technology, in the form of a cornucopia of movies, offers the viable alternative of living vicariously. Why not live many others' lives?

Imagination is a wonderful thing, so use it! By merely changing DVDs, you can be a lover in Restoration England, then a leader on a trek to the stars, and so on through the genres, characters, places, and times. Embrace 'la vie du disque': vivid colors, animated co-stars, vigorous passion, vivacious drama, and lively dialog.

Real life has no remote control. No pause, no mute, no fast forward for the boring bits, and no rewind for the really great parts.

More for me, fewer for the next guy

General Petraeus, the point (sales) man on the Bush administration troop “surge” in Iraq, is now predicting that he will call for a reduction in troops in the fall. How this plan differs from providing a “timetable for surrender”, as this administration has characterized other calls for reductions, is not clear.

The timing is especially odd, since the General is also predicting that an upsurge in violence will force a delay in the Iraqi elections. But the timing is simply perfect for the US elections!

The General didn't get to be a General without knowing how careers and reputations are made. Petraeus is scheduled to turn over his honcho-chief title to a new guy in several months. If things fall apart when the troops come home, then the next guy blew it. If things work out, then the General fixed the mess. He cannot lose! If only the war planning were as solid as the career planning.

But let's not look a gift camel in the mouth. Let's take the reduction and keep 'em coming home.

Black, White, and 'Red'

Barack Obama was inducted today into the Crow native American nation and given a name that means "one who helps all people of this land". Apparently “all the people of this land” includes its original owners. "Barack Black Eagle" should be patriotic enough for any johnny-come-latelies. "Now that I'm a member of the family I won't break my commitment to my brothers and sisters", said Obama. This man really can bring us together, yes, he can.

Protracted Wars, Prolonged Deceptions

"The first casualty of War is Truth" - author disputed, truth indisputable

Bush used the occasion of Israel’s 60th birthday to accuse unnamed ‘others’, widely assumed to be Obama, of appeasing terrorists. In Bush’s confused, twisted mind, feeling trumps thinking, posturing beats leading, contrary facts cannot challenge beliefs, and discussion is surrender.

McCain promptly added his own layer of deception. In McCain’s confused, twisted history, Iran released the American hostages on Reagan’s inaugural day because Reagan was strong and Carter was an appeaser. The illogic of this assertion is only apparent if you think (bad) instead of simply believing (good).

In fact, Iran was obviously currying favor with the Reagan administration. That favor was returned when Reagan administration broke American law to sell arms, secretly, to Iran in order to buy arms, secretly, for the Nicaraguan contras. A little further back, Henry Kissinger used 'back channel' (i.e., secret) communications with the South Vietnamese leaders to stymie the Vietnam peace negotiations, where even a hint of progress would’ve probably led to a Humphrey victory over Nixon. These Republicans went way beyond appeasement. I dare call it treason.

Hillary, Pillory, Shrillary

Hillary Clinton is fully engaged in the politics of personal destruction. She cannot win the popular vote or the delegate count unless she destroys Obama. So, with no sign of compunction, she targets Obama with the vigor and zeal of a fully committed Republican partisan.

Democrats should remember that John Kerry came as close as any challenger ever to unseat an incumbent president at war. His fatal flaw was his vote to authorize the war. Hillary has the same flaw. She has two choices: either repudiate her vote and echo Kerry's infamous 'voted for it before I voted against it', or try the too-subtle dance of saying it was right to start the war but the management was wrong. Being a Clinton, she will choose a third way, triangulating between truth and lies, deceit and honesty, trying to confuse just enough people for just long enough.

Nietzsche, Democrats, and Spring Football

How hard should you practice? Nietsche wrote “Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger” (Twilight of the Idols). College football coaches, the premier modern philosophers, know better. They protect their star in practice for fear of a career-ending misstep and injury.

Some of Hillary Clinton's supports defend her relentless attacks because they say the attacks will toughen Obama for the general election. There may be some truth in this, because most voters will find these petty issues 'old news' (Reverend Wright, former Weather Underground neighbor, lapel pin etc. etc.), depriving the Republican attack ads of some traction. More likely, it will drive a brilliant but over-tired Obama to state the truth poorly ('bitter'), providing ammunition to those pitiful, craven few who want status quo.