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"[O]ne of my daily reads (it should be one of yours too)...."
--Erick Erickson "Bush campaign should hire The American Mind for the oppo research team." --Punchthebag Sean Hackbarth's The American Mind is a good weblog." --Glenn Reynolds "It’s good enough that I can forgive Sean’s Packers fandom. Almost." --Steve Silver About Me
Headquartered in SE Wisconsin, here you'll find comments on politics, economics, culture, books, and music. Not necessarily in that order.
E-Mail: sean at theamericanmind dot com URL: http://www.theamericanmind.com My Bloginality is INTP!!! Search
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U.S. News' Paul Bedard reports
The NY Times covers the I haven't bother following the UK engineers worry that needed Patrick wants some data to Does anyone know Eminem's beef Back to the strike that John Gray was once a The baseball season has been If you ever saw Tora, To: President Bush, Tom Ridge, From the "You Learn Something Leon Wieseltier on the remembrance Unlike the vast majority of Posting will be sparse for
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August 31, 2002U.S. News' Paul Bedard reportsU.S. News' Paul Bedard reports that CNN offered the White House a preview of their al-Qaeda video tapes. The White House declined because CNN wanted exclusive, instant reaction from President Bush and Condoleeza Rice. There's no mention of the CNN offering the White House copies of the tapes for analysis. A few weeks ago, I wondered aloud why CNN didn't hand over copies of the tapes to the government to help in the Islamist War. I wrote:
There's still no evidence that CNN gave the government copies, nor is there evidence that they didn't. In trying to get an answer to my question here's what I submitted to Ask CNN:
I eagerly await their reply. "White House Rejected CNN’s Offer to View al Qaeda Training Tape" [via Drudge]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 07:53 PM
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The NY Times covers theThe NY Times covers the argument over September 11th lesson plans. There are the infamous National Education Association plans, and now there is the response produced by Lynne Cheney, Bill Bennett and others. "Lesson Plans for Sept. 11 Offer a Study in Discord"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 06:02 PM
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I haven't bother following theI haven't bother following the U.S.-bashing--I mean United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development. The talk is the same: evil multinational corporations are exploiting the Third World to line the pockets of the already super rich. The solutions are the same as at any other summit of this type: more foreign aid; a Tobin tax; drastic environmental regulations; barring genetic research. Protesters insult President Bush's intelligence, demand freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the end to free trade. This summit is like any other Lefty confab where the U.S. and capitalism is blamed for the world's troubles, while their solutions are risky, pie-in-the-sky, utopia schemes. But as Bjorn Lomborg notes, the world isn't in that bad a shape:
People, like most editorial boards of U.S. newspapers, who are too consumed by white liberal guilt ignore the facts and support Leftist solutions. It doesn't matter whether the solutions actually do what they're designed to do or help people. As long as we (i.e. the U.S.) "do something" their guilt is assuaged. "The Environmentalists Are Wrong"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 03:36 PM
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UK engineers worry that neededUK engineers worry that needed natural gas will have to be imported. This isn't so bad from an economic standpoint. Who really cares whether the natural gas needed to heat homes or power electric generators comes from the British part of the North Sea or the Norweigan part? On a stategic level, however, energy dependence is more critical. If war or some trade dispute broke out between Britain and it's energy importers, they could hold the island nation hostage. So, it makes sense to have indigenous energy sources. Over the last two decades, what's been happening in Britain is increased natural gas dependence. Energy Minister Brian Wilson told the BBC, "It calls into question whether it was all that clever to go so heavily for gas over the last 20 years when our indigenous resource is so finite." This increased dependence may have been the result of low natural gas prices (implying that there might not be the potential shortage UK engineers fear), but I suspect the hand of government played an important role. What's needed to allow more energy diversity is not subsidized renewable resources that Wilson admits won't play much of a role in the next 8 years. Instead, regulations and government interference must be reduced to allow entrepreneurs to experiment with new energy projects. Those could be wind farms, hydro power, and biomass. It could also include nuclear power, the cleanest, most economically sound energy source available. "UK 'Running out of Gas'"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 02:59 PM
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Patrick wants some data toPatrick wants some data to number crunch with. He writes, "Crunching crosstabs is like crack to me." He needs a job with the census. But seriously, fill out his survey. It's quick, painless, and another worthless thing to do on the Web.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 02:02 AM
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August 30, 2002Does anyone know Eminem's beefDoes anyone know Eminem's beef with Moby? At the MTV VMAs, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog did a bit with Moby about it and tried to include Eminem. The white trash rapper snubbed the pooch. Then Eminem accepts an award and threatens to hit Moby. The Christian, vegan, placid techno-rocker has no idea what Eminem's problem is. On his website, Moby wrote, "i'm kind of stunned at the anger that he has for me seeing as i'd never met him up until last night." How about this: Eminem is just a filthy jerk so high on himself that he thinks it's alright to verbally assault others simply because he's Eminem. He's just a bully. A really popular bully, but a bully nevertheless. "VMAs: Guns, Roses, Feuds, Poses" [via jimlog]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:02 PM
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Back to the strike thatBack to the strike that almost was: For what the owners wanted, they didn't cave like I expected them to. There will be more revenue sharing and the payroll tax will apply to payrolls above $117 million next year. In return, baseball won't contract until at least 2006 and the minimum salary will rise 33%. The AP story says mid-market teams are the big winners while big-spending teams like the Yankees are the biggest losers. As for my Brewers, this will marginally help. No one outside the team knows how bad the team's financials are. The two-year-old Miller Park was suppose to allow the team to afford better players, but their payroll has been almost flat. Then there's the question of team leadership. Brewers president Wendy Selig-Prieb accepts poor performance. If she didn't they why does she stick with general manager Dean Taylor? The best chance for future Brewers success is a deep-pocketed owner who sees the team as a long-term investment or hobby rather than a cash-flow generator. "Last-Minute Deal in Baseball Talks Prevents a Strike" "Baseball Strike Averted"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 10:06 PM
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John Gray was once aJohn Gray was once a shining light in intellectual conservative circles. He backed Margaret Thatcher and wrote approvingly of F.A. Hayek. Now, Gray hopes for mass death "and by the year 2150 the biosphere should be safely back to its pre-plague population of Homo Sapiens - somewhere between 0.5 and 1 billion." Daniel Klein critiques Gray's method of attacking classical liberalism in "The Ways of John Gray." "Of Lice and Men"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 09:35 PM
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The baseball season has beenThe baseball season has been saved. Now, I can look forward to watching the Milwaukee Brewers lose 100+ games. No time right now to see if the owner's caved. More later. "No strike: Players, MLB agree on deal through 2006"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 12:44 PM
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August 29, 2002If you ever saw Tora,If you ever saw Tora, Tora, Tora or watched any of documentaries last year on the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, then you know the story about a U.S. ship sinking a Japanese sub. Well, the sub has been found. "Japanese Sub Found at Pearl Harbor"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:50 PM
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To: President Bush, Tom Ridge,To: President Bush, Tom Ridge, and every member of Congress Charles Mann's article is outstanding. So far our security response to September 11th have been whiz-bang techno fixes. Legendary cryptographer and computer security expert Bruce Schneier sees that kind of approach as brittle and prone to bad failures. His security solutions entail flexible, multi-layered levels with human judgement as the most important feature. "Homeland Insecurity" [via ETWOF]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:35 PM
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From the "You Learn SomethingFrom the "You Learn Something New Everyday" Department: U.S. ships have their own zip codes. [via ETWOF]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 06:23 PM
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Leon Wieseltier on the remembranceLeon Wieseltier on the remembrance of September 11:
Remembering heroism is important, but September 11 marks the one-year anniversary of the Islamist War, and no one knows when it will end. Afghanistan has been liberated, but it needs to be supported. Iraq is in the crosshairs. With its eventual liberation, the entire Middle East could be positively shaken up. Few know if Osama bin Laden is dead or alive. Either way, his spirit lives on in his violent followers who would like nothing more than to kill thousands more Americans. So, this September 11, we should all take a moment to honor the civilians, firemen, policemen, and soldiers. More importantly, we must look at the video of the planes slamming into the towers. We must look at the smoking ruins that made Ground Zero and the Pentagon eery places. We must look at the photos of people leaping off the twin towers rather than dying by fire. We must remember that there are people in the world who want radioactive craters scattered across the U.S. To truly honor those who perished on September 11th, we must win the war. "A Year Later"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 06:16 PM
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Unlike the vast majority ofUnlike the vast majority of webloggers (yours truly included), John Hawkins is actually doing some original reporting. He recently interviewed Middle East expert, Daniel Pipes--buy his new book. Here's Pipes on moderate Islam:
Then there's Pipes' pessimistic view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:
An Interview With Daniel Pipes
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 05:39 PM
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August 28, 2002Posting will be sparse forPosting will be sparse for a few days. I'm finally working some day shifts, so no late night/early morning weblogging binges. We'll see if I'm in the mood in the evening.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:06 PM
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Amazon's stock hasn't been doingAmazon's stock hasn't been doing to well since they announced free shipping on orders above $49 dollars. Now, Bezos and the gang have dropped the limit to $25. They must be feeling the hit from Buy.com. A free shipping war isn't what's needed for a company trying to be profitable. "Opinion: Amazon's Slow, Painful Dip in the Free Shipping Pool"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 09:36 PM
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August 27, 2002Rudy Giuliani on what shouldRudy Giuliani on what should be done with Ground Zero:
He wants a library and museum on the site. "Giuliani Reveals Thoughts on WTC Site"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 03:31 AM
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There's a report floating aroundThere's a report floating around the Pentagon listing the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) Iraq has. Sources say Iraq has battle-ready chemical weapons. That's not a surprise, since Saddam has a history of using them in battle against Iran and on Kurdish Iraqis. Sources won't say how far Iraq is from building a nuke. The report isn't enough to confince Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) that invading Iraq is necessary. Cochran told the Washington Times,
"Pentagon Brief Details Iraq's Arms Capability"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 03:27 AM
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Ronald Bailey reports on theRonald Bailey reports on the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. As Bailey puts it "many of the measures favored by negotiators and activists would increase poverty, not alleviate it." "A Summit Misconceived"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 03:12 AM
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Courtesy of ScrappleFace (what's withCourtesy of ScrappleFace (what's with that name?): Top 10 Reasons to Criminalize Homeschooling. My favorite is
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 02:52 AM
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August 26, 2002Time to have some funTime to have some fun with Gar Smith, editor of The Edge. In an interview with CNSNews.com, Smith showed off his wacko, radical environmentalist beliefs. On poverty, Smith said,
Smith doesn't mention the life expectancy in the poorest parts of Africa: Sierra Leona, 25.9 years; Niger, 29.1 years; Rwanda, 32.8 years; Zimbabwe, 32.9 years. Electricity could do wonders for the poor. Hospitals and clinics could provide medical care. Factories could produce farm equipment that would increase food production and decrease malnutrition. Needed medicine, pesticides, and chemicals could give doctors and scientists a chance to reduce the AIDS epidemic plaguing the poor in Africa. A big complaint for Smith is that electricity "the fuel that powers a lot of multi-national imagery." Forget the life-extending benefits of zapping electrons, the world's poor must be protected from McDonald's golden arches, Nike's swoosh, or Coke's contoured bottle. As radical as Smith's views on electricity, his plan to save the planet is even wackier. He wants economic meltdown.
Electricity and a robust economy are goods and only bads in the eyes of a well-off radical Green. In the words of Greenpeace founder, Patrick Moore, "It's that kind of arrogance that is coming from a movement that is basically white upper-middle class and is saying that it's neat to have Africans with no electricity." "Environmentalist Laments Introduction of Electricity"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 02:02 PM
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The White House thinks itThe White House thinks it doesn't need Congressional approval to attack Iraq. Fine, but things would go smoother politically if Bush asked for a resolution (or a declaration of war for us old fashion types). On a related note, Vice President Cheney made the case for war with Iraq. "We will not simply look away, hope for the best and leave the matter for some future administration to resolve," Cheney told a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention. "Bush Aides Say Iraq War Needs No Hill Vote" "Cheney Presses Case for Iraq Action" [UPDATE: The text of Cheney's speech is now posted on the White House web site. (Link courtesy of Right Wing News.)]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 01:26 PM
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August 25, 2002John Hawkins catches law professorJohn Hawkins catches law professor Jonathan Turley in a rather large exaggeration. John even got Turley to help him out. "Does John Ashcroft's 'Camp Plan' Actually Exist?"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 01:55 AM
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Yuval Levin reviewed Capitalism andYuval Levin reviewed Capitalism and Commerce (not yet published). Levin calls it "a full-throated defense of the capitalist worldview," but mentions that capitalism does not create the values that allow free markets to flourish. "The Moral Case for Capitalism"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 01:00 AM
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August 24, 2002We're at the point whereWe're at the point where using the word "Africa" to sell something is consider "insensitive." No one is saying it's wrong; it's just insensitive. The McAfrika hamburger is a marketing failure not because of the complaints from the P.C. crowd. It doesn't work because it's a stupid name. When I think of a hamburger, Africa doesn't pop into my head, even if the burger is served in a pita instead of a bun. "New from McDonald's: the McAfrika Burger (Don't Tell the 12m Starving)" [via Drudge] [UPDATE: The McAfrika is probably the talk the blogosphere now since Glenn Reynolds posted on it. He accuses Norweigan whiners of stereotyping Africans. He also found a picture of the burger. That thing would fall apart onto my lap after the first bite.]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 05:21 PM
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The great Bernard Lewis delvesThe great Bernard Lewis delves into why Osama bin Laden is still popular in the Arab world. His popularity comes from deep in Arab folklore.
If Osama is dead, but no body is found people will still follow him. It would be like the Shi'ite myth of the Tweleth (Hidden) Imam. Orrin Judd doesn't like Lewis' Robin Hood reference. "Deconstructing Osama"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 04:24 PM
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Weird story of the day:Weird story of the day:
I may have found my calling. "Briton Wins World Air Guitar Crown"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 03:35 PM
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A group at Baylor UniversityA group at Baylor University say adult stem cells (ASC) may not be a flexible at transforming into other cells as once believed. Research as shown that embryonic stem cells (ESC) also have their problems, but it gives ammunition to backers of (ESC). This is just one groups of scientists and their anecdotal evidence doesn't prove that ASC won't be as useful as ESC. But if it is discovered that ASC aren't as medically helpful as ESC, I won't be jumping on the bandwagon of embryo harvesting. My argument against harvesting embryoes is not utilitarian, it's moral. Since it's a Western value not to use other individuals as means to other's ends; and since I consider human life to begin at conception, then this new information surrounding ASC doesn't change my opinion. Just as we don't harvest organs for needy patients from prisoners (unless we're China), human embryoes should not become the biggest cash crop of the 21th Century. "Adult-Stem-Cell Research Shows Some Limits"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 03:27 PM
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August 22, 2002Donald Sensing of One HandDonald Sensing of One Hand Clapping is correcting webloggers he felt took far too much from the controversy surrounding Millennium Challenge 2002. He writes that the exercise was rigged, and that's not a problem.
Paul Van Riper found a way to sink the U.S. fleet in the Persain Gulf. Two things could have happened afterwards: 1. continue the game with the lost fleet, possibly denying troops needed training; or 2. you could "refloat" the the fleet and continue on with the game, noting in the final analysis the sinking. Going with the second option just makes more sense. Then Sensing points out that the Army Times story doesn't appear accurate given that Marine Lt. Gen Peter Pace, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs told reporters that Van Riper didn't resign from the exercise. Chuck Watson also has some insightful thoughts. For the record, my concern was technological hubris. Van Riper found a way around U.S. military gizmos with a low-tech approach--sending messages with motorcycles and minarets. Such ingenious tactics must be respected by the military.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:23 PM
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Brothers Judd, thanks for theBrothers Judd, thanks for the generous link to my post on Tom DeLay's great speech.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:10 PM
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The New Republic adds ontoThe New Republic adds onto Tom DeLay's speech for reasons to attack Iraq.
Not that hard to comprehend is it?
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 10:56 PM
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Courtesy of IMproPRieTies, here's aCourtesy of IMproPRieTies, here's a link to the Army Times' article on Paul Van Riper and Millennium Challenge 2002. It's much more detailed about what the military thought was the purpose of the exercise and how Van Riper thinks military strategy should be developed. "War Games Rigged?"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 10:43 PM
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So far, the only mentionsSo far, the only mentions in Big Media I've found of Tom DeLay's important speech is a little blurb in Howard Kurtz's latest column and one paragraph in the NY Times. The press is still talking about Brent Scowcroft's opposition to war, yet the best argument so far for war gets little attention. "Bush Promises Patience on Iraq"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 05:54 PM
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A Saudi banker blames JewsA Saudi banker blames Jews for the $1 trillion lawsuit filed by September 11 family victims.
"Saudi Bankers Deny Funding Terror" [via The Corner]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 05:40 PM
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August 21, 2002Europe must just love TomEurope must just love Tom DeLay's speech on war with Iraq. [Go to this page and select "08/21/2002: The Imperative for Action" under Speeches.] I'm sure writers for the Guardian and Independent along with pols in Germany, France, and Belgium must have especially liked it when DeLay said,
Those Europeans also won't like this passage:
I'd love to say DeLay read yesterday's TAM post. He probably didn't, but this part of the speech certainly restates my argument for toppling Saddam:
DeLay even offers another reason to attack Saddam:
The evil tyrant has yet to pay a price for that crime. Then here's a passage that sounds like DeLay took it from any number of webloggers:
These thoughts are so parallel to those by Glenn Reynolds, Stephen Den Beste, and others, that I'd love to know how influential warbloggers are with DeLay and his staff. DeLay has made the case for toppling Iraq as well as any public figure. It's better than anything the President has said. even though the speech echoes the totality of the President's thoughts on Iraq. This speech should rally the pro-war crowd after a few weeks of anti-war hollering.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:42 PM
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John Podhoretz calls Blue CrushJohn Podhoretz calls Blue Crush the Flashdance of the 00s. "Flashdanceing on Water"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:35 PM
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Alright, the Milwaukee MEETUP didn'tAlright, the Milwaukee MEETUP didn't work. Maybe it was the weather. Nasty storms with wild lightning passed through tonight. I don't know if anyone showed up. A few people were in the cafe, but no one really looked like they were waiting for anyone. If you were there, sorry I didn't notice you. I was the dude in glasses with the white and green t-shirt. I'll try this MEETUP thing one more time next month. Heck, I'll even be the defacto host. Pick a place and we'll have a little confab.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 09:58 PM
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This is a great startThis is a great start to James Lileks' latest:
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 05:20 PM
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I'll be at the MilwaukeeI'll be at the Milwaukee Blog MEETUP at the Bella Caffe. Camera will be at hand, so I'll try to post some pics later tonight. No promises.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 04:51 PM
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Yeah, crazy Cynthia McKinney lost.Yeah, crazy Cynthia McKinney lost. Bob Barr lost too. Not so happy about that. "Barr, McKinney Lose in Georgia Primary" [via Oliver Willis]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 04:36 AM
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Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on preemptiveSecretary Donald Rumsfeld on preemptive strikes (reporter's question included for context):
Rumsfeld was worried that the question would be about Iraq so he used the moon instead. So, despite the Secretary's objections, let's apply his construct to Iraq. Would the U.S. avoid more innocent deaths (both American and Iraqi) by acting than by not acting? That's the crux of the issue. If Saddam wasn't developing weapons of mass destruction and didn't have a history of using them on enemies and his own people and wasn't allowing al-Qaeda members to currently stay in Iraq (Rumsfeld calls this "a fact") then destroying his government and liberating Iraq wouldn't be the right course of action. If Saddam weren't doing the nasty things he's doing, then he wouldn't be a threat to the U.S. and wouldn't deserve a nastier version of Desert Storm. But we know Saddam's history with chemical weapons. He used them in the Iraq-Iran war and he used them on Kurds. We know he's developing a nuclear weapon. We know Saddam is supporting Palestinian homicide bombers; and if al-Qaeda is in Iraq, then they're there with permission of Saddam. Rumsfeld said, "Well, in a vicious, repressive dictatorship that has -- exercises near-total control over its population, it's very hard to imagine that the government is not aware of what's taking place in the country." So, Saddam has access to WMD, the desire to build even greater weapons, the will the use them; and he is allowing members of a vicious terrorist group safe-haven in his country. If no U.S. military action occurred, what could be the result? A continued Saddam-led Iraq would, in time, build a nuclear bomb. There's no question. With a nuke at hand, what would Saddam do with it? He could wave it around and threaten countries in the Arab world to do his bidding. He could even become the leader of the Arab world with the strength and guts to challenge the West. It could turn into a real Clash of Civilizations. Or he could allow al-Qaeda or some other terrorist group to take the weapon or its technology and let them attack the West. There's even the possibility that Saddam could try his best to guard the secret to his newfound political power, yet fail to protect the knowledge and materials from terrorist groups. In the end, there's a good chance that anti-West terrorist groups would end up with a nuclear weapon or the ability to build their own. With such knowledge in terrorists' hands, any city on the planet would be in danger of being vaporized. Suppose Seattle was the unfortunate target, and it was learned that the nuclear technology came from Iraq. The President would ask Congress for a declaration of war, and it would be quickly given. There would be war in Iraq with an American public so angry they wouldn't care how many Iraqi civilians died. Many would call for Iraq to be turned into a sea of radioactive glass. There would be no mercy and Iraq would be destroyed. Imagining this scenario of inaction, let's count the bodies. Millions dead in Seattle. Millions dead in Iraq. U.S. and Iraqi soldiers killed. All because Saddam was allowed to continue building WMD. Now, if the U.S. attacks Saddam it could be quick and decisive. The biggest numbers I've seen have a potential U.S. force of 200,000 attacking Iraq. It could be less if an Afghanistan-style operation took place. It certainly would be less than the 500,000 troops of Desert Storm and significantly smaller than battles in World War II and Korea. With smart weapons and our highly trained military, Iraqi civilians would get killed--that's a tragedy of war--but they would be kept to a minimum. Troops on both sides would die. With Saddam defeated, Iraq would start on its path to freedom. It wouldn't be guaranteed, and it certainly would be rocky (see Afghanistan). The U.N. sanctions would be lifted and Iraqis could start trading with the rest of the world. Examining a scenario of action, we see that troops on both side were killed along with Iraqi civilian casualties. What we wouldn't see is the millions of corpses from a destroyed American city along with the millions of Iraqis who died in the U.S. ruthless counterstrike. Would attacking Iraq be as clean cut as my thought experiment? No, the drama of real life always tosses in an unknown factor that could alter perceptions and assumptions. Nevertheless, these scenarios of inaction and action provide a reasonable place for continued discussion. DoD News Briefing - Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Pace
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 04:19 AM
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August 20, 2002It's great that CNN isIt's great that CNN is showing the al-Qaeda tapes. The public must know the extent our enemies will go to to destroy us. What I wonder is did CNN give copies of the tapes to the U.S. government to boster their intelligence? Last night, Aaron Brown said government officials were allowed to watch the tapes, but he didn't say if the officials got copies of their own. If CNN didn't offer copies, then their so-called neutrality helps anti-Western Islamists who would do anything to destroy the freedoms that allow CNN to do its job. "CNN Shows al-Qaida Poison Gas Tapes"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 04:12 AM
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What generals, military analysts, politicians,What generals, military analysts, politicians, reporters, and interested citizens should take from Millennium Challenge 2002, a three-week American war game, is that technological arrogance by a superpower can lead to defeat. In the simulation, an enemy Arab force, named Red, abandoned sending orders electronically and used motorcycle messengers and code words from minarets. The result was severe damage of an aircraft carrier group and amphibious invasion force. An AP story says "Much of the Blue force's ships ended up at the bottom of the ocean." Now, those setbacks didn't stop American forces from victory, but it serves as a sign that a clever, quick-striking enemy could inflict heavy casualties. The effects militarily and politically could lead to American defeat. All this from some technique that bypasses American technological advantage. What's disturbing are the comments from Red military commander and ex-Marine general, Paul Van Riper. He devised the motorcycle messenger tactic. He worries that Millennium Challenge was "an exercise that was almost entirely scripted to ensure a Blue (friendly forces) `win.'" Van Riper felt constrained in the tactics and weapons he was allowed to use. The fleet Van Riper practically destroyed magically reappeared in order for the simulation to continue. That makes sense in order to fully evaluate all the people and operations that went into the war game. However, it gives all us war backers an understanding that American military power is not infallible. "U.S. Explores a New World of Warfare" [via Drudge] "Ex-General Says Wargames Were Rigged" [via Drudge]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 02:17 AM
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August 19, 2002The NEA suggests to teachersThe NEA suggests to teachers that they shouldn't assign blame on the September 11th attacks to any group because
Yet when it comes to teaching tolerance, the NEA points to a PBS lesson plan that blames the U.S. for internment of Japanese Americans and abuse of German Americans during World War II. Charles at Little Green Footballs call this "indulging in a virtual orgy of American self-loathing." No mention is made that the U.S. fought to free Japan and Germany from ruthless dictators. Also, no mention is made that the U.S. established free nations in both countries in the wake of World War II. For the NEA and PBS, America can do no right. We're wrong in assigning blame to Islamist Arabs even though 15 of the 19 were Saudi Arabian nationals. We're wrong to assign blame to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda because no legal authorities have proved they're guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. They ignore the fact that bin Laden practically took credit for the attacks, gloating tht he didn't expect the twin towers to fall. Also, we're wrong to come to the conclusion that there's a whole lot of anger toward the U.S. and the West in the Arab world. The dancing Palestinians in the streets on September 11th along with the endless stream of anti-West essays and the glorification of homicide bombers demonstrate the Culture of Death prevalent in the Arab world. Heaven forbid that little things like facts get in the way of Leftist notions of tolerance. "NEA Delivers History Lesson"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 08:11 PM
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Those who don't understand theThose who don't understand the vile nature of the Islamist threat must watch the how-to chemical weapons video. The video shows that al-Qaeda will use any weapon available to kill as many Americans (and her allies) as possible. Chemical weapons analyst, John Gilbert comes to this conclusion:
In the video, a dog is killed by some unknown gas. It might have been nerve gas, or it could have been cyanide. These evil people wanted to see how it would affect a living creature. First a dog, next an American? How will those critics of a war on Iraq respond to this video? After seeing the video, you know damn well the Islamists have no compunction to using weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Their goal isn't just war on Western terms. Their goal is to kill as many people as possible. After looking at the video, you know the Islamists won't stop with chemical weapons. If available, al-Qaeda would with no hesitation attack the U.S. with a nuclear weapon. What country has a beef with the U.S. and would be more than happy if al-Qaeda "accidentally" got a hold of a nuke? I'll give you a hint: the answer has four letters and it begins with an "I" and ends with a "Q." This tape reinforces the reason to liberate Iraq. A regime change would not only free Iraqis from Saddam's heel, but reduce Islamist terrorists' access to WMD. "Disturbing Scenes of Death Show Capability with Chemical Gas"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 06:57 PM
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The latest count has 2,819The latest count has 2,819 deaths in the World Trade Center attacks with over 6,700 total casualties. "WTC Victim Toll Lowered by Four"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 06:27 PM
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I'm cleaning out my stashI'm cleaning out my stash of bookmarked pages and found this essay by Hans-Hermann Hoppe summarizing the ideas of his most recent book Democracy: The God That Failed. In the essay, Hoppe likes Monarchy over Democracy for time-preference reasons.
Like Christian Michel, Hoppe goes the anarchist route advocating what he calls "natural order." (Hoppe is a pal of Anarchy Lew Rockwell.)
This feels too utopian. All problems seem to vanish in Hoppe's "natural order." It's too pat and doesn't take into account the future messiness Man always seems to get himself into. Nevertheless, it's provocative and throws plenty of stones at the "Democracy is the Goal" crowd. "Democracy: The God That Failed"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 12:25 AM
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August 18, 2002Som is an electronic musicianSom is an electronic musician who creates lush, soothing tunes. Some carry the highly sincopated breakbeat of drum and bass, while other songs go with a mid-tempo 4-4 beat. What Som offers is melodic, chillout trance that is relaxing, enveloping, and satisfying. "Sweet" and "Whill" be tossed into any downtempo mix for tasty change of pace.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:30 PM
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Fareed Zakaria cuts through theFareed Zakaria cuts through the mythology of the greatness of Democracy. We now live in an age where Democracy is the rule for more than 50% of the population, yet "half of the 'democratizing' countries in the world today are illiberal democracies." In these countries, the rule of law isn't dominant and many civil rights are abridged. Zakaria sees limited government--constitutionalism--as more important for freedom than democratic process.
He goes on to write,
"The Rise of Illiberal Democracy" [via Harrumph! Yeah, right...] [UPDATE: I'll add a link to Christian Michel's anarchist critque of Democracy. Although I see the need for a monopoly of force under jurisdiction of a democratic state, Michel notes that Democracy itself is no protection from tyranny:
Michel gave the speech at an ISIL conference I attended in France last year. I didn't get to see it live because I had to be in Paris the next day to catch my flight home. "Why I Am Not A Democrat (I Prefer Freedom)"]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 08:46 PM
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From Virginia Postrel's latest NYFrom Virginia Postrel's latest NY Times column, Professor Sala-i-Martin gets to an important point about economic development and income inequality:
According to Professor Sala-i-Martin, as long as all strata are getting richer, who really cares if the rich are becoming more better off? This point is vital to any discussion about the supposed need for government to tax the well off just so it can redistribute it to those not so well off. Economic growth isn't a zero sum game. There isn't one big apple pie and if the rich take a big slice, then that's so much less left for the poor. No, economic growth is when people better meet the wants and needs of others. Intel will come up with a new microprocessor that doubles the speed of their current chips. They will sell the chip at the same price as they initially sold the slower chip. If I buy that chip for my computer (assuming all things being equal), I'm better off because I have a faster machine to post interesting thoughts and download porn--I mean pictures of GOP babes. Intel's better off because they got the money from my chip purchase. We both benefited and are better off. Now, someone with little understanding of exchange could see the transaction as only benefiting Intel, because the Silicon Valley behemoth ended up with a few hundred dollars that was once sitting in my pocket. What that person misses is the little piece of silicon I got in return for the money I gave Intel. I think I'm better off with the chip than without, and Intel thinks they're better off with my money than without. We're both subjectively better off than before, or we wouldn't have entered into the exchange. Next, this must be applied to globalization. Noam Chomsky and just about anyone who's written for IndyMedia think poor nations are being exploited by multi-national corporations. Workers in Third World nations toil in sweatshops while Americans get cheap khakis at The Gap or cheap trinkets in gas stations. But here's the dirty little secret: those workers want to work for them. For them, $2 a day is a lot better than the 25-cents they were earning plodding around in a rice paddy or digging a ditch. Sewing together a pair of wrinkle-resistant Dockers sure beats unemployment. Are these the greatest jobs in the world? Nope, not by a long shot. The hours are long, and the work is hard and sometimes dangerous. But what it is is a start to further economic development. No matter how much foreign aid is pumped into a place like Nigeria, an Intel microchip fabrication plan will not spout up and offer high five-figure engineering salaries. The most valuable resource developing countries have is cheap labor. In time, that labor pool will benefit from the knowledge and business practices of their multi-national benefactors, and they will move on to making more valuable goods and services. An example of this is Taiwan. For years, they were used as sources of cheap labor. Many of my toys were stamped with "Made in Taiwan." As the Taiwanese economy has developed, they've moved into more technical areas. Many of the world's memory chips are produced there as well as durable goods (Dell notebook computers and HP printers) made by contractors. It's now at the point where business are moving their operations from developed countries like Taiwan to countries like Vietnam and Thailand where the labor's cheaper. Sure, people are displaced, but countries like Taiwan are better off from the international investment. The multi-national corporations are better off, but developing countries are too. The rich win; the poor win. It's a win-win and a good thing. "The Rich Get Rich and Poor Get Poorer. Or Do They?" [via Right Wing News]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 07:09 PM
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The premise of The WashingtonThe premise of The Washington Post's David Von Drehle and Juliet Eilperin on the GOP's anti-business rhetoric is flawed. Their first paragraph states,
They then give some quotes from Republican lawmakers crying out for executives to go to jail. This is a far cry from T.R.'s calls for expansive new laws and agencies to regulate business. Roosevelt got the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act passed into law. T.R. also ordered antitrust suits. The recent corporate fraud law passed is no where near the level of regulation T.R. advocated, and no one in the GOP is calling for anything like T.R.-style measures. Far from the GOP turning on Big Business as the story's headlines states, Big Business is shrinking from politics this year. Von Drehle and Eilperin write,
GOP pollster, Glen Bolger is spinning a bit when he says, "As long as Republicans have a level of aggressive response and talk about how corporate wrongdoing should be punished, people are siding with the Republican message." However, the jist of what he says is correct. If the GOP offers a response to corporate corruption that doesn't look like they're giving crooks a pass, they should be fine. A more important message that must be honed is how to get the sputtering economy moving again. Unless bombs start falling on Iraq and tanks roll into Bagdad by Election Day, the economy will be voters' primary issue. The reporters must be given credit for pointing out the most important races: the three Senate races in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Missouri. Whichever party wins the majority of those races will probably control the Senate (advantage: GOP). "As Voters Seethe, GOP Turns on Big Business"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 01:36 AM
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Judge Jeffrey L. Simmons inJudge Jeffrey L. Simmons in Vinton County, OH told prosecutors they couldn't seek the death penalty for Gregory McKnight because the county couldn't afford the defense attorney fees. This is odd on a couple of levels. First, Judge Simmons is allowing questionalble financial considerations to trump justice. If the judge thought Vinton County could afford McKnight's lawyer fees, then it would be alright to go ahead. For Judge Simmons, the pursuit of justice isn't the most important factor here. Instead it's legal costs. Second, the judge performed a disservice to the victim's family. Too bad for Cynthia Murray, mother of Emily Murray, that her killer was found in a poor county. I'm sure that makes her feel better. Now, I'm oppsed to State-sanctioned killing beyond defense. The death penalty is morally flawed while other means of punishment are available. But what Judge Simmons has done is determine county budget priorities instead of leaving that to officials who were elected just for that purpose. "Citing Cost, Judge Rejects Death Penalty"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 01:12 AM
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A former Palestinian Authority treasurerA former Palestinian Authority treasurer calls Arafat corrupt. "I found out how he took aid money and contributions that were earmarked for the Palestinian people to his own account," Jaweed al-Ghussein told Ha'aretz. He's now in a British hospital after being relased from house arrest in Gaza. I'd love it if al-Gussein would tell the world how Arafat banked enough cash to make himself a billionaire. Enquiring minds want to know. "Arafat Foe Calls Him Corrupt"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 12:54 AM
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Yikes! The suit against allYikes! The suit against all those associated with al-Qaeda is $116 trillion(!). That's the mother of all lawsuits. "$116 Trillion Lawsuit Filed by 9/11 Families" [via Right Wing News]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 12:25 AM
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August 17, 2002A Cuban rap festival whereA Cuban rap festival where performers are bashing the Communist government may seem like a threat to Fidel Castro, but reading farther into the story, you come across this quote from a member of Obsesion:
This isn't pop culture being used to topple the status quo. An American who performed at the festival reinforced that. "The black youth are trying to create space for their own identity. They are critical, but they are not bashing the revolution." How did the Cuban government prevent rap from becoming a weapon?
"Cuban Rap Festival Starts with Social Protest"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 10:49 PM
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Baseball players say they'll strikeBaseball players say they'll strike August 30 if a deal can't be reached with baseball owners. The snag in negotiations is the payroll tax. Players want it at $130 million, while owners want it at $102 million. The players are right when they say it will prevent salaries from rising as much as they would without the tax. The owners don't have the guts to ask for a real salary cap. Salary caps are in place in football and basketball and those players are continuing to see pay increases without constant labor conflicts. A strike would be devastating. Football is in its pre-season, and that's already driving interest away from baseball. Many cynical baseball fans will shrug their shoulders and give up on the sport they grew up with. "Baseball Is Two Weeks from a Strike"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 03:37 AM
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August 16, 2002Here's a great bit fromHere's a great bit from Mark Steyn:
The same can be said of most universities. "How About a Little Diversity of Thought?"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 02:15 AM
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Donald Rumsfeld on the re-openingDonald Rumsfeld on the re-opening of the Pentagon's E-Ring:
DoD News Briefing - Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Franks [UPDATE: Robert DeNiro was at Rumsfeld's briefing. Why, I don't know.]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 01:56 AM
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August 15, 2002America's most ferocious weapon hasAmerica's most ferocious weapon has entered the Islamist War. Families of the September 11 attacks are releasing the legal hounds. They're suing banks, charities, and three members of the Saudi royal family. Hell hath no fury than a lawyer seeking a big payday. This is one instance where I hope the trial lawyers sock the defendants for everything they're worth. "9-11 Families Sue Alleged Terror Financiers"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 11:30 PM
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August 14, 2002With the coming one-year anniversaryWith the coming one-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks, America seems to be "back to normal" as President Bush wanted us to be. While there's plenty of talk in the air of if and when to attack Iraq, most public discussion revolves around the stock market and corporate corruption. Democrats are focusing completely on the economy as their path to Congressional victory in the fall. Bar patrons wonder if pro baseball players will strike and if they really care. It may be collective denial or naive hubris, but it doesn't feel like we're at war. Rod Dreher worries about America's mental state:
Dreher wants the networks to start showing the awful video of the planes crashing to the WTC. He also wants video of victims jumping from the towers to escape the fire and smoke. A visual jolt to the system is what Dreher is calling for. How's this for a visual jolt. At The Bunker in the Town of Rochester, WI a special ceremony is planned.
I think Dreher would approve. "America, Be Angry" "Burning Bin Laden"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 10:55 PM
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Mount Pleasant, WI's Plan CommissionMount Pleasant, WI's Plan Commission ordered an owner of a Dairy Queen to repaint the resturant and pay a $50,000 fine. The crime committed was it was painted red, white, and blue without town permission. On Monday, the town board voted to nix the Plan Commission's punishment and put the issue behind everyone. "I introduced this motion because I want this issue to go away," said Supervisor Mark Gleason. Why it's the town's business when a business can paint their building and in what colors, I don't know. I'm sure it has something to do with "quality of life" or some other kind of schpeel that tramples on property rights. Maybe the dark sky people should jump on this. In a way, a building's color scheme could be considered light pollution. "Town Attorney to Rule on Dairy Queen Colors"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 10:34 PM
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James Bowman sees the strangenessJames Bowman sees the strangeness in the clash over UNC's required reading of Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations:
In the end, UNC isn't making students read the book to better understand Islam. It's all about political correctness and an inflated sense of piety. Bowman writes, "the UNC teach-in is all for the sake of making the teachers feel better, and more virtuous, for showing off their own tolerance in public." At least there's one UNC Christian making sense on the Islam dispute. Fred Eckel doesn't have a problem with the required reading.
"Teaching Islam" "A Kinder, Gentler Koran"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 09:24 PM
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Alicia Colon went into aAlicia Colon went into a den of pro-abortion GOP women and came away unnerved.
"No Such Thing as Moderate GOP Women"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 06:07 PM
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A Washington, D.C. EMT believedA Washington, D.C. EMT believed that she would be fired if it was discovered she was pregnant. So what does she do? She gets an abortion. What kind of mindset does it require to choose a job over a baby? The rationale is simple: the baby really isn't a baby; it's just a clump of cells. Even if it was a baby, a job is much more important. Does the sanctity of human life even exist for the unborn any more? Through dehumanization and convience millions of children are legally killed. Does human progress exist? Abortion and its blood brother, the Culture of Death, sometimes makes me wonder. "Action Sought in Abortion Advice" [via Instapundit]
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 04:22 AM
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John makes a simple yetJohn makes a simple yet reasonable case for attacking Iraq and finishing the Gulf War. [Page down to the paragraph that starts "Why Is Iraq Our Top Priority."] However, he gets a little carried away about the repercussions of Iraq's liberation and a democratic revolution in Iran:
This seems way too simplistic. Syria and Lebanon will roll over? I've heard no one make a case to remove the dictators of Syria and free its puppet Lebanon. And even if Washington officials have thought about it, would the American public support attacking Syria? Critics of another Iraq war have said that there's no direct link between Iraq and the September 11th. attacks. Therefore, there's no justification to invade. They're wrong, but imagine what more reasonable arguments they could make for not invading Syria. There's no link between Syria and September 11th., and no one thinks they're building nukes. Why would Syria roll over if it didn't think the U.S. would attack? And what does John mean when he writes that Saudi Arabia will "have to comply once we have full access to Iraqi oil?" After Iraq has been liberated, will the House of Saud see the err of their ways and allow their citizens some semblance of freedom? It's not that simple. The Saudi royal family has no history of supporting human rights and has no intention of giving up power just because there's a democracy to their north. John seems to think that an Iraqi war will solve many of the problems in the Middle East and end the Islamist terrorism threat. No, the Islamist threat has been brewing for years and years. It's the response to an Islamic world that has been economically, politically, and culturally defeated by the West (see Bernard Lewis' What Went Wrong). The rage of the Arab street will not be placated by a liberated Iraq or the fall of the House of Saud. Cultural change within the Islamic world is needed. That means Muslims must find a way to treat women fairly, to understand the need to reasonably separate religion and government, and to respect and appreciate the power of human freedom. This will take time, decades, probably longer. Looking at it this way, war with Iraq becomes only a baby step.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 03:44 AM
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Since much of the economicSince much of the economic slowdown is because of a dramatic drop in capital spending (consumer has propped up the economy, although that's starting to falter), IBM laying off 15,000 workers because of "the recent decline in corporate spending on technology services" isn't encouraging for recovery. "IBM Cutting More Than 15,000 Jobs"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 02:52 AM
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My Blogcritics review is up,My Blogcritics review is up, but you've already read it, haven't you?
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 02:41 AM
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August 13, 2002An e-mail posted at TheAn e-mail posted at The Corner describes the Milwaukee Brewers' lame attempt at entertainment:
As a distraught Brewers fan, the rabbit makes me cringe. I'm pretty sure if they found this guy in costume banging away on his pail on a street corner in downtown Milwaukee, he would be arrested and given plenty of psychological treatment.
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 01:39 PM
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President Bush takes a standPresident Bush takes a stand against excessive federal spending by not releasing $5.1 billion in an anti-terrorism bill. Vetoing the huge farm bill would have been more fiscally responsible, but it's more symbolic than Bush's economic forum. What we need to see is Bush calling for pushing up last year's tax cuts. That might inspire more business investment while helping immediately with cash flow. "Bush Assures Summit Participants Economy Under Control"
Posted by Sean Hackbarth in at 01:21 PM
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