Confirm Judge Mukasey

AP reports that Senator Edward Kennedy (LoonParty-Mass) has said that he will oppose the confirmation of President Bush's nominee for Attorney-General, Michael Mukasey. Meanwhile, Senators John McCain (R-Ariz), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have announced their support for Judge Mukasey.

Senator Kennedy, the AP piece says, objects to Judge Mukasey because of his "unwillingness to answer definitively on the legality" of "waterboarding" -- an interrogation technique used on terrorist prisoners that simulates drowning. Senator Kennedy claims that use of waterboarding increases chances that it might be used against US troops.

Oh no, we mustn't waterboard the terrorists. Lets not forget that these precious scumbags are the same people whose friends attack flight attendants with box-cutters; who ram fully-fueled airplanes with babies in them into buildings full of office workers; and, who -- wearing no uniforms and in no army -- plant bombs on the side of the road to kill soldiers, civilians and the merely unlucky while the bombers cower in ditches someplace too petrified to fight real soldiers. These people deserve a whole world of hurt worse than Guantanamo or waterboarding.

We're not talking about people who follow any rulebooks here -- except Hama Rules -- that is, no rules. Senator Kennedy says that he doesn't want waterboarding used on US troops. Well, that's a no-brainer, but does anybody really think that American use of waterboarding -- or the rack, roasting over coals, pulling out thumbnails or any other grisly, horrible, barbaric torture you could think of -- would make any difference whatever to anything that Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Hezbollah or any of our other present terrorist enemies would do to American military personnel if they caught them ?

Of course not, and everybody this side of raving idiocy knows the "protecting the troops" dodge is utter tripe. Besides, we've seen plenty of examples of how our enemies treat their prisoners. Of course, there are real raving idiots in Washington and elsewhere -- who would let the terrorists burn down the whole world as long as we kept the "moral high ground" and were okay with the lawyers. But the real reason the Loon Party has to kill the Mukasey nomination is because they can't deliver on what's really important to their far-left wacko supporters: defeating America in Iraq.

Yeah, the lefty Senators want to knock down Judge Mukasey or anybody this side of Mother Teresa that President Bush nominates to anything whatever, including dog-catcher. Then they can go proudly to their $1,000-a-plate dinners and rave about the "illegal" war in Iraq, the "constitutional rights" of the poor murdering bastards we have in detention, and boast loudly about sticking it to Bush. "Well, I'm sorry we couldn't stop that illegal, unconstitutional war. But we got Judge Mukasey."

So, Senator Kennedy is against Judge Mukasey. I don't know that much about the Judge, but Senator Kennedy's position is definitely reason enough to vote for his confirmation -- Judge Mukasey has the right enemies. Go ahead Senator -- vote him down. Appease all the wacko loons in there kicking against the war, and keep voting that way. May your party choke on those votes.

Happy Halloween

Yes, El Jefe is still here, in his palace, brooding. El Jefe's thoughts are constantly roving, encompassing the whole panorama of the struggles of peoples and nations; not to mention what he had for lunch, the beauty of Jenny McCarthy, his un-comfy shoes, and thinking on how the top of his desk very much needs a liberal application of some kerosene and a match.

No, I'm not ADD, much. Guards ! Guards ! The dungeon for whoever suggested that !

Seriously, I'm busy at work, and just not in the mood to blog so far this week. Clearly I need to retire to my massively vast estates in the country for a day or fifteen. Meanwhile, there's always Halloween. Hope you're having a good one, wherever you are; all the while making sure to drive carefully, and to keep your cats safe indoors.

Cole Bomber Under House Arrest

USS Cole (DDG-67) at sea off Puerto Rico, 9 August 2002

(US Navy Photo)

Reuters reports that the government of Yemen has allowed Jamal Badowi, one of the planners of the attack on destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) to be detained in his home, in the port city of Aden.

Yeah, prison overcrowding is a real bummer, isn't it ? No doubt that's why Mr. Badowi broke out of the pen. Hey, maybe the Yemenis think that chances for rehabilitation are markedly increased by forgetting about the prison break and allowing this bandit to stay home under house arrest. Besides, it could be that Mr. Badowi's neighborhood is in need of some demolition work anyway. Sort of urban renewal. Maybe they'll call the new development there "Crater Estates."

Say, what was that address, by the way ?

Stats for Thought

As you head out into your weekend, here's some food for thought:

While we are worrying about a third-rate power (that happens to sit on the oil), arming itself with nuclear weapons; China, according to Elisabeth Rosenthal, writing in this morning's New York Times (at page C1), produces and uses 45 percent of the world's output of cement.

Going further into the business section, (page C4), according to Chinese statistics the Chinese Economy expanded at 11.5 percent in the third quarter, which was a "slight slowing from the second quarter." The inflation rate in China in September was, according to the same article by Keith Bradsher, 6.2 percent. The annual growth rate of Chinese industrial production, according to the same article, is 18.9 percent.

Now Chinese statistics, like that of all authoritarian states, have to be taken with a liberal amount of Morton's Salt. However, China wants more access to world markets, so this rule of thumb is not as true as it used to be. In any case, China is clearly growing in economic and industrial power at a stunning rate. This is going to change our world, in all probability, far more profoundly than Osama and his tapes, or Mad Jad with his nukes. Over at Real Clear Politics, there is a piece by Francis Fukuyama (he of the End of History) opining that the "the fundamental problem remains the lopsided distribution of power in the international system." Lopsided in favor of America, that is.

Dr. Fukuyama needn't worry: the international system is about to be dramatically rebalanced, no doubt producing plenty more history. During the Cold War, America had a tremendous advantage in that its great power enemies, besides being tyrannies, embraced a completely stupid economic and philosophical system that caused them to, dramatically, underperform industrially. Now, we are witnessing the return of authoritarian great powers: states with locked-down political systems philospically opposed to ours that employ unbridled capitalist economics. For the historically minded, think of the rise of Wilhelmine Germany into the more or less unipolar world run by Great Britain. Perhaps our wishful thinkers' prayers will be answered, and China's rise to power accomplished peacefully. Then again, perhaps not.

Meanwhile, we are led in part by loons who seem to think that our power (economic and military) requires no maintenance, and can go on forever. We have been very fortunate not to run into, say, a Bin Laden backed by a great power. I wonder if Dr. Fukuyama will miss the "lopsided distribution of power in the international system" when that happens ?

Have a nice weekend.

Killer Hair

Once more I was able to convince myself how criminal the capitalistic octopuses are. On a picture of our old and bewailed comrade Stalin, I swore not to rest before these capitalistic octopuses are destroyed.

Ernesto Guevara to his aunt Beatriz (1953); as quoted in Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life (1997) by Jon Lee Anderson (found at Wikiquote, here).

An auction gallery is selling a 3-inch lock of hair from the head of the murdering rebel bandit Ernesto “Che” Guevara. "Che," the cult-hero of well-off idiots and wanna-be revolutionaries frequenting dope-dens, university libraries and coffee-lounges, was killed by the Bolivian Army 40 years ago this month. More on his squalid life and his weird cult following may be found here, here, and here.

Guevara often handled executions of informers and spies in Castro's rebel movement personally. Here's the former physician's diary entry, on the murder of the first such person:

I ended the problem giving him a shot with a .32 pistol in the right side of the brain, with exit orifice in the right temporal. He gasped for a little while and was dead. Upon proceeding to remove his belongings I couldn't get off the watch tied by a chain to his belt, and then he [another rebel] told me in a steady voice farther away than fear: "Yank it off, boy, what does it matter." I did so and his possessions were now mine.

Diary entry from Guevara's period in the Sierra Maestra on the shooting of fellow rebel Eutimio Guerra, whom Guevara suspected of passing-on information to government forces (1957). (from Wikiquote, above and see here, here, here and here).

Bidding on the hair is to start at $100,000. Materials for cleansing this grisly artifact of the blood of thousands of Cuban political prisoners not included. As to the sale, the Miami Herald thinks that Hugo Chavez, tin-pot tyrant of Venezuela, may want to buy. How appropriate.

A sorrowful pity somebody didn’t send Guevara to Hell a bit sooner.

Are Dems Too Confident About 2008 ?

No, I really don't think so, despite recent signs of life for Republicans, and articles like this. I think the Democrats could nominate a mummy and elect him (or her) President at this point. Come to think of it, a mummy would be better than any of their declared candidates so far.

But what if they are too confident ? No, I don't believe it either, but wouldn't it be such fun to watch the resulting tizzy ? Apoplexy of the Great and Good: a whole continent of liberals going "waaaaaahhhh !"

And no Bush to blame it all on. . .

Rumblings on the Turkish Border

Turkish aircraft and helicopter gunships have attacled Kurdish rebel positions on the Turkey/"Iraq" (de facto Kurdistan) border, and Turkish artillery has engaged in some cross-border shelling. The White House has (of course) urged restraint.

I find this all somewhat underwhelming. Shelling, and attacks by aircraft and helicopters seem like the minimum the Turkish politicians and generals can do, given the (to a degree cultivated) anger of the Turkish population towards the Kurds. This appears to be a political signal for the Americans, Iraqis and Kurds to Do Something, but, without more, I question whether it is intended to be more than that.

The terrain is extremely rough: and the Kurds have survived Saddam, the Iranians, and now enjoy a degree of protection from Washington. Orbat.com says that the recent Kurdish ambush near the village of Daglica that killed 17 and captured 8 Turkish soldiers was made by a rebel band of about 200. Other reports have slightly different totals of Turkish casualties. The Turkish General Staff reportedly claims that some 32 rebels have been killed in southeastern Turkey -- it is not clear if this occured in this action, or elsewhere. If Orbat is correct: the fact that a band this big can maneuver and get the drop on a Turkish unit doesn't say much good about the state of things on the Turkish side of the border. An excellent topographic map of the border region is here.

The Turks have a big army, which has historically been a good one, but I wonder if they're prepared for what they might find in Kurdistan; or if the government really wishes the political consequences of finishing-off the American alliance ? Quite aside from the difficult terrain and the unfriendly local population, the likely political and diplomatic constraints appear to make a big Turkish incursion a no-win situation for everyone but the most radical Kurdish rebels and the Iranians.

Larijani Resigns: Hard-Liners Ascendant

Mr. Ali Larijani, the principal Iranian nuclear negotiator, in his capacity as "Supreme National Security Council (SNSC)" secretary, has resigned his post. Tehran Times says that Mr. Larijani has offered his resignation many times before, "but only this time the president [that is, Mad Jad Ahmadinejad] accepted it." (As an aside, it's interesting that an Iranian publication directed at an English-speaking audience would give that kind of hint about cross-purposes at the top of the Iranian pyramid).

Probably, this means nothing good. Given President Bush's warning about the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran producing World War III, a re-think of Iran's nuclear aspirations would seem to be in order. Mr. Larijani's resignation seems like a good opportunity to change course, but unfortunately this doesn't seem to be in the offing: government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham told the Tehran Times that the resignation will not affect Iran's "principled" nuclear policy.

Scott Peterson, writing in the Christian Science Monitor thinks that Mr. Larijani's departure means the ascendancy of Mad Jad's political faction, and a harder line towards the US and Europe. Mr. Larijani's successor is one Saeed Jalili, a Deputy Foreign Minister, described in the Christian Science Monitor article as an ally of Ahmadinejad's; a "hard line dogmatist" who "specializes in monologue" in debate. With commendable understatement, Mr. Peterson tells us that Mr. Jalili's selection is "not likely to produce a breakthrough" in the nuclear negotiations.

Well, no wonder the Iranians are taking a hard line. Why the hell shouldn't they ? Mr. Putin's just gotten back from bucking them up: encouraging Mad Jad and the lunatic fringe with all the growling at the various stans around the Caspian, in what Russia calls the near-abroad -- not to help the Americans against Iran. Meanwhile, here at home we have Cloud-Cuckoo-Land: Ms. Pelosi and crew knocking the props from under the US position in Iraq by antagonizing the Turks over events in 1915, and sniping at the intelligence agencies. To our enemies, the children have taken over.

The problem with the Iranian math is, as I have said before, George Bush. This president is one real bad piece of luck for the Iranians, which gets worse for them as a Democratic president looks more likely in 2008. I don't think that he is going to leave Iran for the next administration to deal with. The Iranians seem to think that Bush is too isolated domestically and internationally to stop them, and that they have at least rhetorical support from powerful allies. The problem is, isolation has a history of not fazing President Bush. The Iranians are hard-lining themselves, and the rest of us, straight to disaster.

No Silence, Just Cash

The big E-bay auction is ended. Because it embarrasses the Left, the media doesn't want you to hear about it, but Rush Limbaugh raised over $2 million dollars for The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation via an E-bay auction of a letter, on Senate stationery, signed by Senate majority leader Harry Reid, and most of the Democratic caucus in the Senate, (including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama).

The letter, addressed to the CEO of Clear Channel Communications – Rush’s broadcaster, was a blatant attempt to use the power of the Senate to silence a private citizen by intimidating his regulated broadcaster. “Here, Clear Channel, we’re big-shot senators: you’d better shut that right-wing loudmouth up,” they thought to say. Here's to Rush for throwing it back in their faces. The drafters and signers of this letter, a document belonging on the letterhead of the Supreme Soviet of Joseph Stalin, not the United States Senate -- ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Mayhem in Pakistan

All hell has broken loose in Pakistan. There has been a terrorist attempt on the life of Pakistan's once and probably future Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. Thankfully, Ms. Bhutto appears to have escaped but at least 115 persons have been killed and there are many wounded. Wretchard at Belmont Club notes that the Taliban had threatened Ms. Bhutto, who had said: "I don’t believe that a true Muslim will attack me. . .I believe Islam forbids suicide bombings." A Reuters report cited by Wretchard says that the attacker in yesterday's incident was a suspected suicide bomber, so possibly Ms. Bhutto will want to re-examine her premises somewhat. Perhaps she has: AP reports that this morning she is blaming the attack on Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Also, according to the Pakistan Daily Times (cited by Wretchard), Ms. Bhutto's husband, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari is fingering "some elements within the government [i.e. the Musharraf regime], including some ministers" as the perpetrators. How Mr. Zardari -- himself an interesting specimen, who did eight years in jail on assorted never-proven corruption charges -- knows this to be so is not apparent. In any case, this statement was before Ms. Bhutto's accusations today. Meanwhile, Ms. Bhutto (perhaps understandably) wants the head of the Pakistani Intelligence Bureau, (the domestic intelligence in the Ministry of Interior, not to be confused with Inter-Services Intelligence) -- retired General Ijaz Shah -- sacked.

Truth in blogging, I've never been much of an admirer of Ms. Bhutto, who has always struck me, perhaps unfairly, as somebody who tells her western admirers too much of whatever she thinks they want to hear. Moreover, some of her western friends are just unbearably stupid. It was during Ms. Bhutto's period in power that the Taliban became powerful in Afghanistan, and her government materially assisted this process, although, to be fair, this policy was mostly pursued by the military and intelligence bureaucracies, over which it is questionable that she ever had much control. Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Peters, in his excellent piece yesterday in the New York Post skewers her as a "feudal landlord posing as a democrat."

In any case, I question Ms. Bhutto's wisdom in returning to Pakistan at present: which is an unmanagable mess if ever there was one. In the best-case scenario, which is really no good at all, Ms. Bhutto's reported deal with General Musharraf works out for her, and she regains some measure of power. But to what end ? Nine chances out of ten are that Ms. Bhutto's next stint in government is simply a hiatus between the present military government and the next one.

Happy talk about democracy, and government by political bosses who have little to recommend them other than their status as civilians and the fact that they are Former Office Holders, or the daughters of former big-wigs doesn't give Pakistan what it needs -- which is to build some national institution outside of the Army that happens to work. All things being equal, Ms. Bhutto would probably be safer, and about as useful to her country if she had the income of her estates shipped to London or New York, and spent her days writing articles and appearing on the talking-heads shows lamenting the policies of whoever is dictator of Pakistan at the moment.

Harry Reid Letter. . .on E-Bay

The Harry Reid/Democratic Senator letter to Clear Channel Communications attacking Rush Limbaugh is on E-Bay. According to the description:

This historic document may well represent the first time in the history of America that this large a group of U.S. senators attempted to demonize a private citizen by lying about his views. As such, it is a priceless memento of the folly of Harry Reid and his 40 senatorial co-signers.

The entire proceeds of this auction.. the entire high bid... will be donated to The Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation, a registered charity which provides financial assistance to the children of fallen Marines and federal law enforcement officers. Rush Limbaugh serves on the Board of this organization and has been active on its behalf. All costs of this auction will be paid by the seller... every dollar of your winning bid will go to this charity, which has to date distributed over $29 million.

Better use for toilet paper could not be found anywhere. The current bid is $851,000. What a great cause, more power to the sellers.

UPDATE (19 Oct, a.m.) It's up to $2 million this morning. Go, Rush, Go !

No To A Federal "Shield Law"

On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives approved and sent to the Senate legislation to create a so-called Federal "shield law" for journalists. This bill widely expected to be vetoed by President Bush, would create a "reporter's privilege," somewhat akin to the attorney-client or priest-penitent legal privileges, which would exempt "journalists" from having to reveal their sources to Federal grand juries or in other federal court proceedings.

To begin with, the proposed legislation is pernicious on ideological grounds because it recognizes journalists as a different, higher life-form than the rest of us ordinary citizens. Determining who is a journalist under the vague definition of “covered persons” in Section 4 of the House's bill will provide hours of fun for lawyers, commentators and courts. The House bill helpfully clarifies that “foreign powers” or agents thereof, and terrorists aren’t “covered persons.” Gee, thanks for small miracles, and bully for us. Clearly, the first thing Chinese intelligence or Hezbollah needs to do is buy a newspaper or a network and hire some journalists.

The proposed legislation has serious national security implications. If, for example, CIA Employee X, who lost the policy argument, and who doesn't like the policies of the Bush administration, violates both his oath and the law by leaking the existence of a secret wiretapping program that spies on Al Qaeda bigwigs to the New York Times, which then prints the expose in a Page 1 story -- destroying the effectiveness of the program, the reporter, under current law, can – and should -- be compelled to tell a court who his source is -- and CIA Employee X may, or may not, go to jail.

The bills do have some carve-outs, but they are essentially meaningless: the Senate version would remove the shield if a court found by a "preponderance of the the evidence" that "protected information" would "assist in preventing a specific case" of terrorism against hte United States or "significant harm to national security" that would "outweigh the public interest in newsgathering." The House version is even stricter. How would a court analyze "significant harm" or the ability to "assist in preventing a specific act of terrorism" without even more disclosure ? Maybe we can ask Al Qaeda to provide us some expert witnesses.

The First Amendment, which guards the liberty of the press, protects the right of a reporter to publish his story, and, properly, immunizes him from prosecution for so doing -- but it does not in any way mean he cannot be compelled to give up his source, when his source has no legal right to give him information. The journalist is not a journalist only, but a citizen too, and the liberty of the press gives the journalist no right to protect the identities of persons in the face of the right of the authorities to find evidence.

The unauthorized disclosure of materials in government files is often a crime. 18 U.S.C. § 641 bars the theft of public money, property and records; and 18 U.S.C. § 798 provides for punishment of whoever “knowingly and willfully communicates, .furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized person. . .any classified information…” which among other things includes information concerning the communications intelligence activities of the United States; or information obtained by such activities. Moreover, the Espionage Act (18 U.S.C. § 793 et seq) prohibits the disclosure of national defense information which could be used to the injury of the United States.

Persons with security clearances are under oath to keep classified information confidential. The shield legislation pending in Congress would mean that the journalists (such as those writing the article in the New York Times that exposed the Treasury Department’s funds tracking programs; or the authors of articles describing classified details of the NSA’s surveillance programs) could not be compelled to give up evidence – that is the names of government employees who have violated the law and their service oaths by leaking to the press. The fact that the government has not (yet) gone after the leakers is shameful and a national scandal, and this legislation makes the problem worse: in practical terms, abetting an open season on leaking by making it virtually risk-free.

It is, as Seth Leibshon and Andrew C. McCarthy, argue this morning in National Review Online, absolutely “mind-boggling that Congress would take what is very likely criminal behavior and turn it into immunized behavior”(emphasis in original).

Contact your Senators! I hope and believe this legislation will be rejected in the Senate; and in the event, it passes, I believe the President will veto it. But the Senators need to be reminded that citizens have rights also -- the right to have our security secrets kept confidential when necessary; the right to have political decisions made by the elected officials constitutionally charged with making them, and not by disgruntled bureaucrats using the press to carry on turf-wars; and, the right to expect that our fellow citizens will give evidence when they are called on to do so. This bill needs to be stopped.

ALGORE Wins the Nobel !

Wahoo ! Our own Robot Vice-President, ALGORE, has gotten the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on Global Boring ! He's right up there with Arafat, Le Duc Tho, Jimmy Carter and Britney Spears.

Oh wait, Britney's hasn't happened yet, but it's coming.

So, is the Prize for the Boreacle about peace, or about tweaking the Bush administration ?

Finally, I wonder when ALGORE is entering the Presidential race ? Being a mere President is likely to be a comedown for ALGORE and his worshipers, but still, Hillary had better call her office.

Constitutional Tinkering

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, (who also runs a great political tracking and commentary website -- Sabato’s Crystal Ball), said in the Los Angeles Times yesterday that the Constitution of 1787 is outmoded, the cause of deep underlying “systemic” and “structural problems.” We need, Professor Sabato opines, a new Constitution, so that we may “make progress and achieve greater fairness as a society.”

In case you don’t get it yet, Mr. Sabato is the author of a new book: A More Perfect Constitution: 23 Proposals to Revitalize Our Constitution and Make America A Fairer Country. Now I haven't read this book yet, but in general, I have found that when professors or politicos start talking about “fairness as a society,” or “making America a fairer country” or fixing “systemic” and “structural problems,” watch your wallets and get ready to be shaken-down or nagged by Those Who Know Better.

Professor Sabato tells us that the “. . .Constitution remains brilliant in its overall design and sound with respect to the Bill of Rights and the separation of powers.” The problem is, though, that there are “numerous archaic provisions that inhibit constructive change and adaptation.” Well, thank God for small miracles ! The Federal government, indeed all government in this country – is powerful enough to suit me just fine, thank you very much. Inhibiting change that our chattering class betters no doubt think we need is Jim Dandy to yours truly.

I agree with Professor Sabato that the Constitution has some problems. I just don’t agree that Professor Sabato’s list of deficiencies (at least as set out in the Times piece) are really problems; and I agree even less with his proposed solutions.

First, Professor Sabato wants to “restore the war powers balance.” Dr. Sabato rightly says that the Founders probably would not approve of the ability of the President to use his powers as commander-in-chief to effectively wage war on his own. To fix things, Dr. Sabato proposes a “Mother, May I ?” system of allowing the President to commit soldiers to action for up to six months – and then every six months thereafter, to seek Congressional permission to keep them there (albeit without permitting filibusters).

No thanks. In spite of some recent history, I trust Presidential instincts about war, peace, the military and national security far more than those of congressional camera-hogs and would-be candidates for President. Besides, as Professor Sabato says, we live in a “hair-trigger” world, where our welfare and security can be immediately and directly affected by what happens on the other side of the planet; and when the kaka hits the proverbial fan, there is, as Han Solo once put it, "no time to discuss this in committee." Yes, the Presidential war powers may be very emperor-like, but overall, I’d rather keep them that way than institute a system even more subject to daily media and political manipulation than current arrangements.

Next, Dr. Sabato thinks we need a “more representative Senate” He doesn’t like it that Wyoming can elect as many Senators as California. He wants to build a “fairer Senate” by granting the ten States with the greatest population two extra Senators, and the next 15 one extra, each. This is of a piece with his criticisms of the Presidential election system, giving more populous States additional electors to preclude the split between popular votes and electoral votes that occurred last in the 2000 election.

No sale again. The upshot of Professor Sabato’s proposed “reforms” would be to give more power to larger States and to big cities. If you want elections and public policies decided by New York, Chicago and LA; the bi-coastal Great and Good in media and academia to have even more influence; and the priorities of those of us in Flyover country ignored more than even currently – than Professor Sabato’s plans will suit your needs perfectly. The arrangements established by the Founders ensure that Presidential candidates have to campaign and attract support in every region of the country; and the current set-up also promotes legislation with support all across the country, and not just in major urban areas.

Finally, Professor Sabato wants to “end. . .second-class citizenship” by altering Article II Section 1 of the Constitution, and allowing immigrants or persons not born as US citizens, to be elected President. Sabato thinks this is outmoded, and notes that “[t]he founders were concerned about foreign intrigue in the early days of an unsettled republic” and that we now have 14.4 million Americans who were not born on US soil, and we need to give people who are citizens for at least 20 years the “right to aspire to the White House.”

Nope, don’t like that one either. In a world where the whole concept of national sovereignty is under philosophical attack, where populations are increasingly mobile, and where we have an educational system failing us so badly that we have substantial numbers of people who cannot tell us what the War Between the States was – no offense, but I’m not buying it. I see no compelling interest in blurring national distinctions even more by altering present arrangements, even if it means that Arnold Schwarzenegger can never be President.

A little reform can indeed be a dangerous thing. Professor Sabato can keep his proposed new Constitution. As for what I’d change, more on that another time. . .

Flat Tire

So there I am, El Jefe Maximo, cruising down one of the main drags of Cuidad El Jefe at rush hour, listening to Robert Earl Keen; dodging idiots who can't drive (everybody but me naturally); and probably idly thinking about why Obama pulled his flag pin; whether I'm for Fred or John McCain; where Osama might be; who Mad Jad's tailor is; the Duke of Wellington; the Queen Elizabeth class battleships or something equally irrelevant. Hey, I wasn't talking on my cellaphone, okay ? In any case, my usual mother-of-all-run-on-thoughts was (were ?) abruptly interrupted by a loud roaring noise from the region of the front right wheel.

I pulled the royal coach off the road, and yes, of course, I had a flat. Spiffy. Maybe the flat had something to do with why the car had demonstrated a desire over the last couple of days to pull to the right ? Something to take under advisement.

I suppose I should be thankful the flat didn't appear while I was barrelling down the El Jefe Maximo Memorial Freeway or it wasn't a blowout, or whatever. But when, instead of rushing home to eat before getting the Heir to Boy Scouts -- you're in the parking lot of Bed, Bath and Beyond rummaging for the tire tools -- you're not usually in such a thankful mood. On the good side. . .there was a bookstore nearby. . .but I'm digressing, and SWMBO didn't read that.

The El Jefe royal coach is very German, and like all good Germans, she comes with a very complete tool kit. I felt mildly ludicrous hustling tire-tools and spare into position dressed in khaki trousers and loafers, but I felt even more absurd when I could not budge the lug nuts, even with my non-standard equipment T-wrench. So I called the auto club, hung my "I'm a Dummy Who Can't Change A Tire, Mug Me Please" sign around my neck, and waited. Fortunately, I had my book.

Auto club guy shows up -- and, after appropriate greetings, and removal of my "Mug Me Now" sign, introduces me to my next random item to throw in my trunk -- just a plain old garden-variety pipe to put on the end of my lug wrench. The pipe makes a nice lever, with which you can move machine-tightened lug nuts. (Insert appropriate intellectual-sounding comment about Archimedes and levers here). This got me back on the road, on to the tire place, so I could spend a nice evening in the waiting room comparing cell-phone ringers and watching re-runs of Oprah at the Opera, or some such thing.

Moral of this epistle: carry a pipe in your trunk; check your air pressure now and then; and take a book.

Gorgeous Afternoon, Drowsy Jefe

It's such a splendid day in Cuidad El Jefe, where the weather today is as good as can be seen around here. Late September and early October are my favorite months in this city --if it was like this for very long, they'd call it California.

Unfortunately, I'm viewing this gorgeous afternoon through a window: cause there's lots to get done, even though I'm not in much of a mood to do it. Hope you're having a good day, wherever you are.

America is Bigger Than an Idea: It's a Nation

Jonah Goldberg, writing yesterday in the Los Angeles Times, neatly defines the chasm separating the modern Left and Right; dividing Red State from Blue:

I've come around to the view that the culture war can best be understood as a conflict between two different kinds of patriotism. On the one hand, there are people who believe being an American is all about dissent and change, that the American idea is inseparable from "progress." America is certainly an idea, but it is not merely an idea. It is also a nation with a culture as real as France's or Mexico's. That's where the other patriots come in; they think patriotism is about preserving Americanness.

If you've been paying attention here at all, I imagine you can guess which of these views I would subscribe to. The different views of patriotism Goldberg describes impinge on virtually every significant political and policy disagreement we have.

I especially love that "[b]eing an American is all about dissent and change." Now isn't that laughable ? The only "dissent" the Lefties put up with is that which hews to the party line. I'm thinking of all the little goateed darlings infesting the universities, eating their granola; smoking their imported smelly cigarettes; drinking their fair-trade organically grown coffee; seeking their daily guidance from the Lefty internet; partying on Daddy's money; each with his own "Question Authority" bumper sticker. Such valiant dissenters ! They respect the right to disagree only when they share the disagreement, and question any authority that isn't theirs. Try dissenting against them, and find yourself branded the functional equivalent of a heretic; or watch the brave dissenters shout-down the next right wing speaker who appears on their campus. These are the future HR managers, lawyers, judges and other abominable no-men who will soon be telling you how to live your life because They Know Better.

I would argue that we have something more complicated than a clash between two different views of "patriotism." The fundamental political and cultural conflict in our society today is between two different world views: on the one hand, what John Fonte was pleased to dub "transnational progressivism" -- the ideology of the cultural overclass of lawyers, celebrities, media personalities and international business (to say nothing of international bureaucracies) -- and their acolytes in training in the universities; and on the other, traditional nationalism and patriotism.

Something as parochial and gauche as patriotism has no place in the worldview of the new cosmopolitans, Fonte's transnational progressives. For the international overclass, environmentalism and multiculturalism are the household gods, and, as Mr. Goldberg says, the only "we" that matters, is not the national "we" but the multicultural and global "we" as in "we are the world":

For such globalists, it just seems obvious that the U.S. Supreme Court should consult polls of Africans or the laws of France to glean the real meaning of the American Constitution. And, of course, John Kerry was right to say that there's a "global test" for what America can do in the name of its national interest.

The transnational progressive view is fundamentally anti-individual -- it has to be because it emphasizes group rights: based on race, class, gender, sexual preference, membership in a "historically underrepresented" or putatively "victimized" class. It is at once anti-democratic and paternalist, in that the emphasis on group rights -- rights that cross national frontiers -- creates a need for an overclass of lawyers, mediators, judges, human relations experts and facilitators to mediate between different groups.

Ideologically, an American member of this overclass: with his (or her) degree from an Ivy League or other right-thinking Blue State university is as home in London or Paris as in New York. Money is freely fungible and transferable, and the increasingly coordinated European and American regulatory bodies make sure that business can be conducted on the same terms in those places; and, not incidentally, ensures that bothersome local preferences of ignorant, no-class boobs in Flyover country -- expressed by state legislators and other elected local poobahs -- can be gotten around. In this world, borders and national sovereignty are a nuisance -- interfering with the free movement of capital and empowering the local unwashed.

Of course, to the Overclass, there is politically correct culture, and bad culture. "Good" is immigrants keeping the cultures of where they came from -- even having school lessons in the curriculum of the countries they came from. "Bad" is wanting the melting pot to apply -- for immigrants to adopt American culture and values. I sometimes envy the rest of the world: Frenchmen, Mexicans, Germans and everybody else can have nations. They can have their own cultures, their own laws, their own distinctiveness, they can be themselves. But the great and good say that America's an idea -- and they render the idea meaningless because at bottom they think it's no big deal: that American rights are either the same or less than human rights, and that anybody and anything from anywhere can be an American.

Maybe One World is the way to go, but as for me, I want nothing of it. To me, America is not just an idea -- a set of vague principles that anybody, anyplace can subscribe to or join. America's bigger -- it's a nation -- entitled to its own culture and development, which should look to the welfare of its own citizens first. Unfortunately though, the forces making for McWorld are in the ascendant. For their own reasons, our own elites seem to want to join their foreign confreres in tying the American Gulliver down. We shouldn't let them.

The Shape of the Future

All sorts of good news. The political situation is moving from mildly alarming to moderately desparate. Ford's US sales fell 21 percent in September, and Christian conservative movers and shakers are talking about bolting the Republican Party to form a third party if the Republican candidate is "pro-abortion" -- i.e., if the GOP candidate is Rudolph Giuliani.

While the economy sinks, and the Christian wing of the Republican Party flirts with political suicide, Hillary Clinton looks more and more like the Evil Party's nominee: big business has evidently decided the Stupid Party is finished, and wants crumbs from Hillary's table, and the Government to relieve them of their health care and pension obligations.

With the nomination looking more and more wrapped up, Mrs. Clinton no longer has to worry so much about appealing rhetorically to the Democratic Party's loony Left. Far better, now, to start sounding moderate, and leave the shrillness to an increasingly desperate Obama and Edwards. The Leftism will keep for later. . .

So, President Rodham can decide on Oval Office furniture, and china patterns, and which of the Central Asian stans Vice-President Obama will visit first; and First Laddie Bill can began interviewing interns. The more interesting political question is no longer the White House, but the issue of whether the Republicans can hang on to 40 seats in the Senate.

Given the increasingly Done Deal nature of the next election, are the Democrats to be envied, or pitied ? Are we really going to see the radical policy departures that the liberals want ? Whatever moderate pablum Hillary pushes between now and election day -- you can be sure that the Lefty within will come out on 21 January 2009. But how much will it matter ? Will the Democrats be able to at last indulge themselves ? Brace for taxes on the rich (as long as they're Republican); more money for the global warming religion; for snail-darter mating research; and for sweeping legislation to protect the rights of whichever disadvantaged minority is then in vogue.

Will the Democrats get these wish-dreams, or will reality in the form of debt and powerful and more-or-less hostile foreign powers get them locked-in to much the same the same fiscal, defense and foreign policy positions that the Bush administration now takes ? Some of the world's other movers and shakers have their own ideas what the world should look like -- ideas that even Hillary might not like much.

I wonder what the gold market is looking like ? Seems like that might be worth some research.

Lefty Frauds

A group of shifty Lefties, looking to weaken a Right-wing icon, are presently attacking Rush Limbaugh for supposedly denigrating the troops.

That's preposterous nonsense. Rush Limbaugh's commentary has always supported America and its military, and promoted American success in war. The Lefty canard du jour is to talk-up "support" of the troops; while doing everything possible to prevent the soldiers from winning. It is not possible to support the troops, without supporting American victory.

The calibre of a man can sometimes be determined by the enemies he has made. Mr. Limbaugh has the right enemies. Here's to Rush Limbaugh, and hoping he spits it right back at 'em, with interest.

I Hope She Cares

Some real news after all this talk about wackos at Columbia, volcanoes off Yemen, and protests in Burma: Britney Spears has lost custody of her children to her former hubby, Fed Ex.

I suppose the real question is: will she care ?

I'm Back

Back in Cuidad El Jefe after a rapid visit to the northeast. Blogging will resume as soon as the Great One has finished interrogating the secret police chief, the bureaucrats, the postal officials, the journalists from the very free and carefully censored press, and the representatives of the State church concerning goings-on in his absence.

Larry Craig Again

Idaho Senator Larry Craig is attempting to withdraw his plea of guilty to misdemenanor "disorderly conduct" following his arrest in a sex sting in the Minneapolis airport restroom. The Senator has said he will give up his seat on the 30th: whether that actually happens remains to be seen.

I don't understand this way of thinking. What can it possibly matter whether Senator Craig successfully withdraws his plea of guilty ? What does it matter if, after doing so, he is found, legally speaking, "innocent ?" The damage, which is the same, has been done. The Senator is clearly clueless, but has the man no dignity whatever ?

You were caught, sir, and for whatever reason, you pled guilty. Maybe you were innocent and entrapped: I don't know, but you became entangled in a situation, and that bell cannot be un-rung. Go home, accept your time in purgatory; and, if you are so inclined, run for office again at some future time, and may the people of Idaho judge you fairly. But quit demeaning yourself, and your office, and embarrassing the rest of us by quibbling.

She Was For It Before She Was Against It

Hillary Clinton has now condemned the MoveOn.org ad that she refused, five days ago, to vote to condemn in the Senate.

So she was for it before she was against it ? Senator Kerry, call your office.

The Wolf at the Sheep Convention

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad assured the people at Columbia that Iran was a free country. Yeah, like Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia. According to Reuters today:

Iran’s judiciary has sealed off the offices of a popular news Web site critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s policies after journalists continued to update it despite official filtering, the Web site said.

Rights groups and diplomats say there is a broad crackdown on dissenting voices in the Islamic state, which is under growing Western pressure over its disputed nuclear programme. The authorities deny such moves, saying they allow free speech.

Hat tip: Belmont Club.

The Mullahcracy that runs Iran obviously thinks that their enemies, including us, are all fools. I suppose if we let them build their bomb, they'll turn out to be right.

The more I think about it, the angrier I get about Mad Jad speaking at Columbia. What planet do these people live on ? Welcoming Ahmedinajad is like welcoming the wolf to the sheep convention. We are presented with the spectacle of an American university providing, gratis, a forum for a deadly enemy of America, of freedom -- of the whole concept of a University -- to grandstand for credulous fools and to make propaganda useful for his government's evil purposes.

It's a win-win for the Mullahs: Ahmedinajad can coffee-house with the eggheads who can go to the student union and talk about what a democrat Mad Jad is for even appearing, even as Mad Jad goes back to his hotel and calls home to tell the police to close a newspaper or three. What a joke ! "See" the Mullahs can say to their Iranian foes "the Americans welcome our leader at their universities. Small chance they will care that you are arrested, beaten and jailed."

Ahmedinajad won't be the first dictator to successfully play both ends against the middle. The aforementioned credulous fools -- the pro-wolf sheep, are who really drive me up the wall. These people, acting as what the Marxists called useful idiots, will be able to shout from the rooftops that the presence of the dictator means the Iranians want peace, and that we should forbear from pressing them on their nuclear program.

"Sheep" is possibly the wrong word for these people: we have this problem that so much of our intellectual and political leadership class has no conception that they could ever be less than top dogs. Like the leaders of 20's and 30's Britain, our own Great and Good cannot imagine a world in which they are not part of the anointed; not part of the class that runs the commerce, dictates the culture and gives the law to the whole world.

Unfortunately for all of us, the swells are about to get a rude awakening. The dollar's falling like a stone; the unipolar world of the 90's is vanishing as rich foreign competitors began arming to the teeth; and we're in debt up to our eyes. While our intellectual, economic and political leaders pretend 9/11 never happened, spout their pablum about peace, imbibe their global warming religion, enjoy their drinks, imported cars and their weird artwork, they should think on who might be throwing the parties in the future. The dishes served won't be to their liking.

Disco Jad Storms Manhattan !

As everyone no doubt knows, Mahmoud "Mad Jad" Ahmadinejad -- everyone's favorite Stop and Go clerk (and that's an insult to honest clerks everyplace, for which I beg pardon) -- visited Columbia University yesterday. Mad Jad, dressed up as a game-show host or as a man set to head to the disco, told us, among other things:

• 9/11 was an inside job;
• there are no gays in Iran;
• the Holocaust never happened and "we" (meaning the loons that run Iran) are "friends with the Jewish people";
• Iran is a "peaceful, loving nation";
• Iran is a free country.

Oh yeah, and he invited his audience to visit Iran.

Naturally, if you believe Disco Mad Jad on all this, you'll certainly believe his assurances that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful.

If you bought all that, surely you'll have no problem taking Mad Jad's invite seriously and visiting Free Iran. While there, (if you aren't taken hostage or thrown in prison or disappeared), try standing on the streets of Tehran and screaming at the top of your lungs "Down with the Islamic Republic !" Hopefully the wonderful people at Columbia University who set up this propaganda stunt will take the invite, and being educated, they can shout it in Farsi. This would solve all kinds of problems for everybody.

So Who Can Stop Hillary ?

President Bush says that Hillary Clinton is going to be the Democratic nominee for President in 2008.

Maybe. The Senator certainly has a sizable financial advantage, and she appears to have a good organization. But her negatives are high, and there's a long way to go yet. Also, she's been very lucky in terms of opponents: Obama's an amateur; and, as for Edwards, it's unclear whether he, or his wife, would be the better candidate.

Actually, there's one person out there who could stop Hillary stone-cold dead, win the nomination, and probably be elected President, if he could put an organization together fast enough. . .

God forbid, but . . .Earth to Planet Al Gore. . . Come in, ALGORE. . .

Crackdown in Pakistan

Maybe President Musharraf of Pakistan is made of sterner stuff than I supposed this past Friday. A crackdown on his political opposition has apparently been underway this past weekend. The Guardian reports that the police are detaining "hundreds of activists." The Prime Minister admits to forty or so detentions, calling these people a "threat to law and order."

It seems unlikely that this is in response to Mr. BinLaden's recent call for jihad. Probably, this has been in the works for awhile.

Some demonstrators tried to hold a rally in front of the Pakistani Supreme Court, complete with stone-throwing, and slogan shouting: (e.g. "the US government hired a dog in uniform."). Naturally, the police arrested some of them.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Supreme Court, which, if it can't follow the election returns, can certainly follow the movements of the police -- has dismissed three legal challenges to the re-election bid of President Musharraf, because they were "filed too late." The Court is still weighing other challenges, including a challenge to the President's dual role as army chief and President. I wonder if the President is going to assist the Court in this process ?

The US embassy in Pakistan is shocked, absolutely shocked at all these developments, mind you: calling the crackdown "extremely disturbing" and saying that the detainees "should be released as soon as possible." Perhaps this release will be possible before the Presidential elections there, than again, perhaps not.

So how is the fix in ? Certainly there is one, the question is, which way does it break ? Have the President's fellow generals signed-off on a new term for President Musharraf ? The Army has pretty much run Pakistan for most of its existence, (and its senior leaders do quite well out of that, thank you) and it seems unlikely that the President could retain his seat without at least the acquiescence of the generals. Probably they could not settle on a successor among themselves anyway. In the short run, this is probably the least-bad outcome: but this stores-up serious problems for the future.

Less likely: President Musharraf has made a deal with some of his civilian opponents ? That's pure speculation, but one would think that this will be necessary at some point. The problem for Pakistan's military leaders is that the civilian politicans and bosses -- crowded out of all the good political jobs by the need to find positions and perks for army bigwigs -- in general have no use for the generals.

Snooze-o-rama

Out at the hacienda, and was planning to be productive this afternoon, and do a post. However, I took a nap instead. Sorry.

Pakistan Calls Bin Laden Ridiculous

The Pakistani government has derided as "ridiculous" Mr. Osama Bin Laden's call (in his latest video message), for the people of Pakistan to rise up and wage jihad against President Pervez Musharraf.

Well, I certainly hope it's ridiculous, but as I've said before, the President-General's seat looks none too stable at present. Power is never ridiculous: and the Question before the House in Islamabad is who really has it ? The President-General's claim to his office originates in a military coup, which means that his title is always a little dubious. . . .leading to other questions. Are the food-tasters, secretaries and door-watchers loyal ? Are the intelligence officers telling the truth ? Will the troops shoot ?

I wonder, Mr. President, if you're ruthless enough to ride this horse ? Do the right people fear you ? Anyway, keep that pistol under your pillow, and good luck to you, sir.

Post to Link a Picture

I sort of know who Kim Kardashian is, I think. I don't really have a reason at all for this post, other than to link to this picture. . .

Friday Quiz Time

We haven't done Friday Quizzes in awhile. In honor of the Heir, who has too many quizzes these days, here are a couple: First, we have the Evil Twin words quiz. Then we've got a movie quote quiz. I'm miffed at the latter one: I'm usually good on those, only 10/13 correct this time. Finally, there's the easy, easy WW II quiz.

Condemning the MoveOn Crowd

Good for Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), who stood up for his disgusted and angry constiuents when he introduced a "sense of the Senate" resolution (part of an amendment to next year's National Defense Authorization Act), with the purpose of allowing the Senate to state:

that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.

This is clearly pointed at the unseemly,contemptable, digsusting and disgraceful newspaper ad by MoveOn.org in the New York Times, calling General Petraeus (commander of US forces in Iraq) "General Betray-Us."

The astonishing thing is that the resolution did not pass unanimously, but by a vote of 72-25. Everyone should know how their Senator voted and in particular who the 25 are -- those who voted NO to condemning ". . .personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces." Here's a list:

Akaka (D-HI)

Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Clinton (D-NY) (yes, the would-be Commander-in-Chief)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA) (oh, surprise, surprise)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Levin (D-MI)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

These people should be remembered.

Senator Barak Obama was not present to vote; nor Maria Cantwell (D-WA); and neither was Joe Biden (D-DE), although as Beldar, at Beldar Blog points out, Senator Biden did condemn the Move-On ad.

Darth Dick

Wow, Dick Cheney is Luke's father ? Or is he the President's ? Cool !

I'm having visions of Darth Dick, heavy-breathing during his next conference call with the White House, Secretary Gates and the generals, saying "Use the Force, W."

So, when do they take off to wax Mad Jad and the Iranian Death Star ? They may need the help of Obama-wan Kenobi.

Who gets to be Princess Leia ? It sure isn't Hillary. Maybe we'd better ask Bill who he's got on his casting couch for that role.

Mad Jad's Trap

So Mahmoud "Mad Jad" Ahmadinejad wants to lay a wreath at the site of the World Trade Center does he ? Mad Jad is coming to the US next week to address the General Assembly of the United Dictators (er, United Nations).

Although we have no diplomatic relations with Iran we have to let Mad Jad in anyway, because we stupidly agreed to host the UN, the worst idea Franklin Roosevelt or any other American President ever had, save possibly Woodrow Wilson's mad scheme for its predecessor, the League of Nations.

Take back what I said in my last post. War with Iran must practically be a certainty, and Iran hell-bent on getting a nuclear weapon -- and Mad Jad, whose every other utterance contains hatred of the US; hatred of the West; hatred of Europe -- is telling us as much. Mad Jad's declaration that he wants to lay a wreath at the site of the World Trade Center is an effort to put the US in the wrong, in the propaganda sense. This is about being able to say: when we demand that they give up their nuclear program,"or else" -- "we laid a wreath for your 9/11 dead, and you want to bomb us for our nuclear program ?" This is a set-up: to tie our diplomatic and military hands, and the Government was wise to deny permission.

Busy, War Talk

Very busy at work and still putting the new palace in order, which explains the relative paucity in posting. All kinds of interesting things going on though.

Lots of talk about war with Iran. This is possible I suppose, but I'm not in general inclined to believe that we will walk into it with our eyes open: primarily because it is unclear where it would end; and because I see no signs that the government is preparing the public for the possibility. Moreover, we are unprepared economically, politically and militarily for a wider war. However, war by blunder -- some clash in Iraq that escalates; some problem at sea; or Mad Jad or others putting their feet into it -- seems all too possible to me. Perhaps I will post on all of this later, but not yet.

Meanwhile, the Israeli strike into Syria back on 6 September is interesting ? North Korean "cement ?" Or did we find Saddam's bomb program ? Interesting doings in Lebanon too. Another anti-Syrian politician has been murdered.

All interesting, but back to work for the moment.

If He Did It, Part 2

So O.J. was running a "sting" to get his property back ? Maybe it was a pair of ugly-ass Bruno Maglis, or some gloves that fit . . .

Spy Coach

The New England Patriots have lost a first-round draft choice, and their coach Bill Belichick has been fined for (gasp) spying. Yes, naughty Coach Belichick has been using a video camera to spy on other teams. Simply shocking.

Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I thought this kind of spying was normal ? Maybe President Bush needs to offer Coach Belichick a new job . . .say, Director of Central Intelligence ? The CIA could use somebody who actually knows how to spy, as opposed to playing leak games with the politicians.

Bin Laden's Caravan of Murderers

. . .When the devil’s riddle is mastered

And the galley-bench creaks with a Pope,

We shall see Buonaparte the bastard

Kick heels with his throat in a rope.

. . .

Algernon Charles Swinburne "A Song in Time of Order. 1852"

On this sixth anniversary of the murder of 3,000 unarmed American civilians by Bin Laden's bandits -- the thug-in-chief invites the gullible, murderous and stupid; and the enemies of religion generally, to join his "caravan of 'martyrs.'"

No doubt Bin Laden the Arabian seeks to evoke specific historic and cultural imagery in the minds of his fellow nihilists with the phrase "caravan of martyrs." Hmmm, I have some in mind too. The appropriate response to Mr. Bin Laden's "caravan of 'martyrs'" would be an armored column of American martyr-makers with heavy machine guns, helicopters and tanks.

Aren't you still angry today ? If not, what's the matter with you ?

The Entertainment Elite

No, I didn't watch the MTV Video Music Awards ("VMA") last night, but friend T, (who joined us for dinner with her family), sent me a link to the YouTube video of Britney Spears performance: which was apparently Da Bomb, and not in a good way.

Curiousity piqued, I read-up on the VMA awards this morning. I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks that what passes for popular culture in this company is intellectually and artistically exhausted and living on its capital. Am I wrong to perceive music, film and popular culture as currently dominated by a group of overpaid, underdressed no-account louts, who long since stopped giving value for money ?

At El Jefe's Hacienda

El Jefe is at the Hacienda, in the country, away from Ciudad El Jefe. Personally, you can keep Ciudad El Jefe -- I get out here as often as I can.

Busy on various sorts of work around the property: mostly involving dirt, grass, brush and equipment, with all their associated smells. Have been looking for my Cottonmouth friends, and their cousins -- they like to come out and play on warm days like this, after so much rain, but it's been somebody's good luck (probably mine), they haven't put in an appearance so far.

Syrian Dust-Up

The Syrians claim that they have fired on some Israeli aircraft near the Syrian/Turkish frontier. The Jerusalem Post reports that Syrian radio says that some Israeli aircraft dropped attachable fuel tanks on Syrian territory and broke the sound barrier. Continuing the multiple hearsay-fest: J-Post says Israel Radio quotes unnamed "western diplomats" as saying the aircraft were "most likely" sneaking around taking photographs, and they scrammed when the Syrians ID'd them.

Official Israeli sources are not saying much of anything.

Haaretz quotes the Syrian Information Minister, Mr. Mohsen Bilal, as saying to Al Jazerra, (along with the usual pro forma vaporings about Israeli aggression and treachery), that "[t]he Syrian leadership is seriously considering its response." That is certainly wise, and no doubt fortunate for Minister Bilal and his master, because if Syria does anything intemperate, it will be the end of the Assad dynasty and Minister Bilal in short order.

Naval Maneuvers: Exercises Malabar, Bold Step, et al

US Navy photo of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in formation with the British Royal Navy's Invincible-class aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (R 06) in the Atlantic Ocean (Photo by Mass Comm. Spl. 2nd Class Jay C. Pugh)

A giant international naval exercise is under way in the Bay of Bengal, involving the armed forces of the USA and its most important allies, Japan and Australia; along with Singapore – an important friend, with which along with India, we badly need closer military relations, including a formal alliance.

Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, in late July, US aircraft carriers Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and their strike groups of accompanying cruisers and destroyers completed Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 07-2, “Operation Bold Step”-- together with British carrier HMS Illustrious and her strike group. Interestingly, the British carrier, for the entire exercise, embarked two US Marine Air Groups. Illustrious was also grouped with US Navy destroyers and frigates.

The Bay of Bengal exercises (Malabar 07-02) are very interesting. This is probably the largest concentration of naval power in this region since Admiral Nagumo, of Pearl Harbor fame, raided the area with his Japanese carrier force in early 1942. At least 26 vessels are involved in Malabar, including US carriers Nimitz (CVN 68) and Kitty Hawk (CV 63), and their escorting strike groups; plus submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721); along with Indian carrier Viraat and her escorts, plus the aforementioned contingents from Japan, Singapore and Australia. This is a formidable assemblage of naval power: thousands of sailors, with larger support casts assisting ashore and aloft.

And as if all that weren't enough -- there is another exercise on off the coast of South Africa, involving that country's navy, a NATO contingent with ships from Portugal, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, and yet more US vessels. (Hat tip: Eagle Speak).

The operational tempo of the US Navy seems to be very high at present. Multi-carrier exercises across the breadth of the whole planet ? The fuel costs alone are staggering, to say nothing of upkeep and maintenance obligations and expenses; and assorted personnel issues. The command and control problems are not inconsiderable either: multiple sets of exercises with a veritable menagerie of foreign navies.

I wonder if something is brewing ? No end of things to speculate about. Supposedly the Indian Ocean exercises are a giant anti-piracy/anti-terrorism drill, but that seems a bit dubious: swatting flies with sledgehammers.

Meanwhile, among other interested parties, the Chinese won't like being reminded that others can deploy powerful naval forces across their oil lifeline anytime they like; and they (and the Russians) cannot be happy about closer cooperation among the powers participating in Malabar. Also, Pakistan’s government is looking rather wobbly – another reason for the Americans to cozy up to India, as if one was needed. Then, of course, there’s Iran.

Interesting times. Hopefully not too much more interesting.

What Happened to Those Nukes ?

The US Air Force apparently had a blooper last week, mistakenly flying a B-52 loaded out with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles over the United States. Oops. A career ending boo-boo for a bunch of somebodies.

There was never any danger of a problem, but I wonder how long it will take the Bushhitler set to foam at the mouth and find a deep, dark conspiracy here ? Yep, no doubt about it: prima facie evidence that the Bush crowd is gearing up to steal the election, tap Mad Jad's phone and invade Mars. They may even (gasp) have been deliberately trying to cause global warming. The Bush fascists were going to signal that B-52 with the new, secret tinfoil hat radars, hidden in the dimpled chads. . .

Please Go Already

Judging by statements from his lawyers and spokesmen, Idaho's Senator Larry Craig seems to want to renege on his announced plans to resign from the Senate on 30 September. Second-thoughts appear to be in Senator Craig's DNA -- first he pleads guilty, then he regrets it; he announces he will resign, then he says he doesn't want to. Does he behave like this with Senate business ? How long do the rules give you to switch votes ?

I don't understand this sort of thinking. Guilty or not guilty; fair or unfair: Senator Craig has become political damaged goods. Senator Craig is presently a burden to his already suffering party, and an embarassment to the Senate. Maybe someplace down the road, he gets another chance: American politics is full of good second acts, but more is at stake than Senator Craig's fight for political and personal survival. I'd think a whole lot more of an innocent man in his position who drew the appropriate conclusions, and left quietly, without all this fuss. Better oblivion than being the staple of jokes on late night television, YouTube and blogs. Just go, please.

Fall of Thrones

Victor and Vanquished: Emperor Napoléon III talks with Count Bismarck after the Emperor's surrender at Sedan, September, 1870.

This date in history has been a poisonous one for monarchs and thrones. Today, in 476, the Germanic barbarian chief Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustus (age 13), last Emperor of Rome in the west.

Jumping forward to 1870, on this date the Paris mob deposed Emperor Napoléon III, France’s last monarch. Actually, the poor Emperor wasn’t at home to be deposed – he was a prisoner of state in Prussian captivity, (his army had been trapped and forced to surrender at the French town of Sedan on the 2nd). The Emperor: an inept commander-in-chief, had to swallow the humiliation of giving up his sword to the Germans after trying and failing to get himself killed.

Alas for Napoléon III, his cup of bitterness was not yet full: his country invaded; his army beaten; his health breaking; his 14 year old son in flight without his parents; his wife alone at Paris. The captive Emperor heard of his own no-doubt anticipated dethronement second-hand. In Paris, the Emperor’s wife, Empress Eugénie, (regent in her husband’s absence), was assisted in escaping the mob by her American dentist.

It all seems long ago now: and of little importance to us. No doubt the trials, wars and problems of our own time will be equally boring and inconsequential to our own heirs and successors – hundreds of years hence. Nothing is left to us of these men but dusty books and a few paintings. But to the two Emperors, and to those who loved, followed and supported them; or the opposite – all this was once real. RIP, Your Majesties.

President Visits Iraq

President Bush stopped off in Iraq, en route to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Australia. This time the President did not stop in Baghdad, but at Al Asad Air Base, (second largest airfield in Iraq) about 112 miles west of Baghdad.

This is fine, but if it were me, I would have stopped off in Australia for the summit and then spent a much longer time in Iraq, visiting as many posts as possible. The security people would have kittens about such an extended visit, but risks go with the Presidential chair. The President needs to see the troops -- if only as an antidote to the negative spin and doom-mongering produced by the media, but also because a first-hand look is always more useful than reports, statistics and second hand accounts. More importantly, the troops have a right to see their leaders, and they need to know that the leadership has not forgotten them.

Lieut. Col. Ralph Peters' New York Post column today usefully summarizes what is possible, and not possible, in Iraq, and reminds of the stakes:

Whether or not it was worth it in 2003 (and I still believe it was), it's certainly worth the fight now. By our enemies' choice, Iraq became the central battleground between civilization and terror, between good and evil - despite the left's denial that the latter exists.

Colonel Peters -- in Baghdad for his own first hand look -- is absolutely correct, as is his warning against buying into the "constant negativity in the media." Read the whole thing.