Osama's Dyed (his beard)

Osama bin Laden released his first video message in 4 years. Maybe he dyed his beard gradually and it passed unnoticed, or at least unremarked, within his inner circle. But it is pretty obvious to us outside the cave, who are accustomed to daylight. What is he thinking? Is he merely vain or is he afraid of being usurped by younger terrorists? Even the terrorists fear ageism.

Bush called the message "a reminder about the dangerous world in which we live". In fact, it's a reminder of his abject failure to bring bin Laden to justice.

Bush also "found it interesting that on the tape Iraq was mentioned, which is a reminder that Iraq is a part of this war against extremists. ... If al-Qaeda bothers to mention Iraq, it is because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out and to develop a safe haven." Thus, by Bush's own measure, al-Qaeda had nothing to do with Iraq before the US attacked and in invaded in 2002.

It's a toss-up who is more dangerous and delusional – Bush or bin Laden.

War Corps

PBS is airing a program “Inside America's Empire” in the "America at a Crossroads" series. This program promotes a role for the US military in providing humanitarian aid in third-world countries. The absurdity of this approach is demonstrated within the program itself but overlooked by the enthusiastic host. For example, an American soldier in Mali claims that handing out cheap eyeglasses or other trinkets will produce long-term gains in America's reputation. More likely, the gratitude and transient “respect” will transfer to next person who provides slightly dearer trinkets. In the succinct words of the philosophers, “can't buy me love” and “what have you done for me, lately?”. Near the end of that piece, an American soldier says with obvious uncertainty that "someone" would provide the clean water the people need. Surely this would have been a better use of the thousands of dollars it cost the American taxpayer to deliver the cheap eyeglasses through the military channels.

Only one comment in the program addressed alternatives, for example aid delivered by civilians such as the Peace Corps. Peaceful alternatives were dismissed by the claim that these places needed "security" first. In fact, one would have to conclude from the show's examples that any place hoping for aid needed “insecurity” first. The best advice to a poor region would be to foster an anti-western, preferably islamic, insurgency. That would be the most certain way to attract America's attention and help.

My Beautiful Ninjette

Waking in midsummer,
it purrs... let's go, see!
Awareness is rewarded.

Wall Street Rag

Rupert Murdock is going to buy the Wall Street Journal. Murdock made his money the old fashioned way: pandering to the lowest instincts of greed & lust. His tabloids feature pictures of bare-breasted women – or so I'm told by bold promises on the front page. The greed part should fit perfectly into the WSJ's single-minded focus on the next quarter's results (damn the company once I've made mine). The lust part? Well, maybe we'll see the girls, just portrayed in the WSJ's favored dotted drawing art.

The Pull of Horses

Over a dozen teams competed in the horse pull contest held at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. Each 'team' consists of a big guy and 2 huge horses that pull a sled loaded with over 5 tons of concrete blocks – plus or minus a few hundred pounds. Some horses step, others lunge; some drivers hook and go, others seem more nuanced; some smaller teams out pull bigger teams. It rained a bit, which helped the sled slide but hurt the horses' hoofing (footing?). Early pulls went over 20 feet but then it stopped raining and the mud turned sticky but the footing remained treacherous. The last pulls were just over 3 feet, 2 feet and 1 foot for 1st 2nd and 3rd places. It is a rare treat to see the teamwork of the driver and two beautiful animals at the limit of their ability. Excitement with 'just' 2 horsepower!

Remember the Main!... criminal

Nothing is more damaging to the prestige of the US than the simple fact that Osama bin Laden remains at large and still dangerous, nearly 6 years after masterminding the deaths of thousands of Americans. Never in history has such a blow remained unpunished without exposing an effete and corrupt victim-state. Rome destroyed Spartacus and his rebel army; even the new American republic brought the Barbary pirates to heel from half a world away. Yet this tragically misguided administration spends its minuscule credibility and tiresome rhetoric claiming that leaving Iraq without “finishing the job” will weaken America. Iraq was a blunder, but Hussein is deposed and it is (and was) free of WMD. We're done there. Let's get back to job #1.

Render Scooter Extraordinary

Scooter Libby's prison sentence for perjury was commuted by President Bush. Problem is, we still don't know the truth in the case. Did Cheney order the identification of the covert CIA agent? If the commutation keeps Libby from telling what he knows, it effectively obstructs justice.

This White House Gang is enamored of "enhanced interrogation" (torture) as a means of encouraging disclosure and discovering the truth. They initiated a policy of "extraordinary rendition", where prisoners are shuttled to friendly regimes with unfriendly thugs on their payroll. It's a sad and bizarre twist that Homeland Defense could be procurers for sadists. But Cheney fervently defends the value of these "methods" in obtaining the truth.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?