"Anti-war = pro-Saddam?"

Yep.

OpinionJournal's Best of the Web points out a section of the interview given to Saddam Hussein by BritLefty Tony Benn:

BENN: There are tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions of people in Britain and America, in Europe and worldwide, who want to see a peaceful outcome to this problem, and they are the real Americans in my opinion, the real British, the real French, the real Germans, because they think of the world in terms of their children.

I have ten grandchildren and in my family there is English, Scottish, American, French, Irish, Jewish and Indian blood, and for me politics is about their future, their survival. And I wonder whether you could say something yourself directly through this interview to the peace movement of the world that might help to advance the cause they have in mind?

SADDAM: First of all we admire the development of the peace movement around the world in the last few years. We pray to God to empower all those working against war and for the cause of peace and security based on just peace for all.

10 More

Ten eastern European countries are planning to support President Bush's stance against the Hussein regime.

For those keeping score at home, there are now 18 European nations that support removing Saddam's thugocracy. And let's not forget Australia (who's sending its special forces), Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey (all three allowing troops to be stationed there). At least 22 countries now "got our back;" kinda puts a dent in the whole "Bush is an unilateralist cowboy" mantra. Of course, that won't keep the Unwashed Left from repeating it.

An Annoyance

Haloscan, the service I use for my comments on this blog, is apparently down for the time being. So if there is anything that you wish to share with me, please feel free to e-mail to me.

Welcome to the 21st Century



Dude!

Letterman's Top Ten List

The MRC highlights the Top Ten List from Letterman's Monday show. Sailors aboard the USS John C. Stennis, a Mississippi Senator, read the list. I especially liked #7.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Christopher Hitchens says in Doublethink, a quarterly conservative magazine, that he would vote for George W. Bush if the election were held today. And he lambasted Senator John "Millionaire Trial Lawyer" Edwards' Champion of the Everyman® routine: "Oh, that's all [bleep]. . . . Spare us the false populism."

But to get fully in my good graces, Hitchens needs to lay off Mother Theresa attacks and the whole anti-Christianity schtick.

From the "Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?" Dept.

Todd Gitlin decries how Fox News is, horror of horrors, excelling. Mr. Gitlin makes the typical liberal arguments;
1.) Fox News is gaudy in graphics and raucous in attitude, unlike the noble newscasters of yore such as that dreamy Walter Cronkite.
2.) CNN and et. al. aren't liberal enough.
3.) There needs to be a "liberal Fox News"
4.) Alan Colmes is Sean Hannity's patsy.
5.) Conservatives can get away with anything, why? (see #2)

New Map Time!

Yugoslavia will now be known has Serbia and Montenegro, with the two constituent parts forming a loose union. In an arrangement enacted by the now defunct Yugoslav parliament, both republics will have the right to vote for independence in 3 years time. Also, in a move to be more inclusive and modern, Montenegro will change its name to Monteafricanamerican.

Okay, I made that last part up.

Must Read

Dean Esmay points out this article from the New Yorker, hardly a bastion of blood-thirsty neoconservative warmongers, that deals with the intellegence community and how it now suspects links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.

In October of 2002, when Bob Graham was the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, [CIA Director George] Tenet wrote to him, explaining the C.I.A.'s understanding of the Iraq-Al Qaeda connection. It is a curious letter, which begins with a statement that "Baghdad for now appears to be drawing a line short of conducting terrorist attacks with conventional or CBW"—chemical and biological weapons—"against the United States." At the same time, Tenet said, Iraq has "provided training to Al Qaeda members in the areas of poisons and gases and making conventional bombs." Tenet added, "Credible information indicates that Iraq and Al Qaeda have discussed safe haven and reciprocal non-aggression," and he suggested that, even without an American attack on Iraq, "Baghdad's links to terrorists will increase."

Yet Another Quiz




What cartoon dog are you?

Brought to you by the good folks at sacwriters.com.

It's down right eerie how accurate these quizzes can be.

Via Mark Byron

New Blogs (To Me, At Least) Alert

I'm adding Michael Borland's blog and Jawsblog to my blogroll. Good stuff, good people.

Jawsblog points out this from CNN. No wonder I prefer my news fair and balanced.

Fun wit' Referral Logs

Google Search: conservative ignorant redneck

Number 1, baby!

Ole Miss Students Protested War




Last Wednesday, a group of students called the University of Mississippi Actvist Coalition, protested in front of the Student Union against going to war with Saddam. As you can see, it's a mighty throng. And what do these noble protestors have to say?

"I think our sanctions have done enough damage to the Iraqi people, and I don't think war is the answer," first-year graduate student and UMAC member Josie Tracy said. "I'd like to see more money go to social programs, domestically and internationally, then go to bombs."

And so what do you propose we do? If we lift the sanctions on Iraq freely selling oil, Saddam is definitely going to invest nearly all of the revenues on a wide assortment of nasty weapons. But if we get rid of Hussein, the people of Iraq will no longer have to live in fear of a brutal despot and there will be one less madman running around threating US security.

Unfortunately, there's gonna to be more to these people Feb 15 at the Oxford Square as "peace" groups from across Mississippi participate in a nationwide protest against the war against Saddam.

[Yes, yes, I know this is a few days old...]

Having Fun At The Expense of Nigerian E-mail Schemers

I received this e-mail over the week-end which I present "as is":

FROM: THE DESK OF ORIRI MICHEALS
DIRECTOR, CREDIT CONTROL,
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA
TEL: 234 802 3088979 BIG, STRONG, RELIABLE
PRIVATE EMAIL: oriri1@netscape.net

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

I KNOW THIS PROPOSAL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE EXPECIALLY WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW THE WRITER,CONDSIDERING THE HUGE SUM OF MONEY INVOLVED WHICH COULD MAKE ANY APPREHENSIVE.

LET ME START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF TO YOU, I AM ORIRI MICHEALS I DIRECTOR CREDIT CONTROL, UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. LAGOS. I SAW YOUR CONTACT DURING MY PRIVATE SEARCH AT THE INFORMATION CENTRE HERE IN NIGERIA CHAMBER OF COMMENCE AND INDUSTRY AND I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE VERY HONEST, COMMITTED AND CAPABLE OF ASSISTING IN THIS BUSINESS VENTURE.

FIRSTLY, LET ME EXPLAIN THE SOURCE OF THIS FUNDS AND WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DO. A FORIGNER LATE ENGINEER THEOPHILUS BAKER, AN OIL MERCHANT/CONTRACTOR WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, UNTIL HIS DEATH, OVER A YEAR AGO, WAS A VICTIM OFA KENYA AIRWAYS: BUS
(A310-300) FLIGHT KQ430 PLANE CRASH. THE DECEASED, ENGNIEER THEOPILIUS BAKER, BANKED WITH US AND HAS A CLOSING BALANCE AS A JULY 2000 WORTH $4.5M (FOUR MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOSAND USD). WHICH MY BANK, NOW EXPECTES A NEXT-OF-KIN TO CLAIM AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE FUNDS, EFFORTS HAS BEEN MADE BY UNION BANK OF NIGERIA TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE BAKER'S FAMILY OR RELATIVE BUT TO NO SUCCESS.

BASED ON THE PERCEIVED POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCATE ENGNIEER THEOPILUS'S NEXT-OF-KIN, THE MANAGEMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OUR CHAIRMAN AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNDS TO BE DECLARED UNCLAIMED AND CHANNELED TO AN UNKNOWN ACCOUNT.IT IS BASED ON THIS THAT WE HAVE CONTACTED YOU TO STAND AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN OF LATE ENGR. THEOPILUS BAKER SO THAT THE FUNDS, WILL BE RELEASED AND PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE BENEFICIARY AND THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE DECEASED.

ALL DOCUMENTS, AND PROOF TO ENABLE YOU GET THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY WORKED OUT AS WE HAVE SECURED FROM THE DIFFERENT OFFICES CONCERNED FOR THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF THE FUND TO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT.IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH 20% OF THE REMITTED FUNDS, WHILE WE KEEP 75% AND 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET EXPENSES BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONAL.

IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE REACH US ONLY BY MAIL OR PHONE, FOR MORE INFORMATION. IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH TO ME, BECAUSE OF POOR TELECOMUNICATION SYSTEM HERE. PLEASE KEEP TRYING YOU WILL DEFINITELY GET THROUGH. YOURS FAITHFULLY,

ORIRI MICHEALS

Considering the time and effort that went into this letter, I decided to respond in kind:

DEAR MR. MICHEALS:

WHY IT'S SO GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU! I MUST SAY THAT'S AN INTERESTING NAME. MOST PEPLES I KNOW SPELL IT "MICHAELS"!

AND AS TOO YOUR LETTER...

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL? I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS. I ASKED MY FRIEND ROBBIE JO MCDUQUE AND HE DIDN’T KNOW AND I ASKED ASKED MY FRIEND BOBBIE JOE MCGILLDICUTTY AND HE DIDN'T KNOW. ACTUALLY I MUST HAVE TALKED TO A BUNCH OF MY FRIENDS AND ASKED THEM WHAT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL MEANS. BUT NOT OF THEM KNEW. OH WELL.

IM GLAD THAT YOU THINK THAT I AM SO HONEST COMMITTED AND CAPABLE OF HELPING YOU IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER OF MONEY! I LOVE MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! IM HAPPY THATYOUARE GIVING ME ALL THAT SWEET, SWEET MONEY! IM SURE GLAD THAT MAN DIED AND HAD NO FAMILY! THAT MEANS THAT I GIT THE MONEY!

I KNOW THAT YOU WANTED ME TO CALL OR SENT A MAIL, BUT I COULDN'T. WHEN I TRY TO DIAL THE PHONE, I PUSH THE BUTTONS TOO FASTLY AND PUSH THE WRONG ONES BECAUSE IM SO EXCITED OVER GETTING ALL THAT MONEY! THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN I TRY A LETTER! I GET A PEACE OF PAPER AND A PENCIL AND I TRY TO WRITE, BUT I END UP SCRIBBLING BECAUSE I RIGHT TOO FAST BECAUSE IM SO EXCITEDLY TO GET THAT MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GET THAT CURRENCY! THAT'S ANOTHER WORD FOR MONEY! I CAN NOW BUILD A LARGE TUB THAT I CAN FILL WITH DOLLARS AND TAKE SWIMS IN MY MONEY! BUT I CAN PUT IN COINS BECAUSE I MIGHT GET HURT WHEN I DIVE IN.

GOODBYE!

Ledeen Takes On Mandela

Micheal Ledeen pens a brief, yet powerful, critique of Nelson Mandela and his moronic remarks towards President Bush:

Most Americans rooted for South Africa under Mandela, and American businessmen poured into the country with offers of help. In the event, Mandela turned out to be a great inspirational speaker but a failed national leader. Instead of taking the opportunity to shut down the vast networks of corruption put in place by the white leaders of the country, he permitted his own cohorts from the Africa National Congress to wallow in the same troughs. Instead of insisting on the creation of a first-class educational system for all South Africans, he simply presided over the installation of a quota program that gave most of the slots in the best schools to the majority black population. Instead of taking the great influx of foreign aid to build adequate housing for the masses of poor people, that program sputtered along without ever taking off.

But foreign policy was his greatest failure. Mandela had a great opportunity to lead a democratic revolution in Africa, but he never even gave voice to cries for freedom for all Africans. Indeed, he lavished grotesque praise on many of the world's dictators, from Castro to Khadaffi, and repeatedly failed to intervene decisively at major potential turning points in countries like Zaire and Zimbabwe. Even now, an elderly retiree, he cannot bring himself to demand the removal of the mad tyrant Robert Mugabe, and he continues to genuflect before the dictators who supported the ANC in the bad old days.

Boxer Contenders

Barbara Boxer, that is, the Democratic senator from California who is up for re-election in 2004. Two popular radio talk show hosts, Dennis Prager and Michael Reagan, are rumored to be considering a challenge against the incumbent. Both of them would have a good shot at unseating Boxer, having honed public speaking skills, well-defined policy positions, and name recognition; though Boxer and her minions could easily dig up a quote from their shows use it out of context.

Idiotarian Watch

Tony Benn, a former British minister and member of the Labour Party, interviewed Saddam Hussein for a TV program yet to be aired. He won't discuss any of the answers provided by the Butcher of Baghdad until the show airs, but he did reveal a few questions he asked.

He told reporters he had asked Saddam whether Iraq possessed any weapons of mass destruction, and whether it had any links to the al-Qaeda network.

Wow, why didn't anybody think of this before! Just ask him if he has any WMD's and connections of al-Qaeda; no need to have the inspectators running around Iraq looking like Keystone Kops. I'm sure Saddam the Sadist (oops, I mean Saddam the Happiest!) will tell us the truth. Mr. Benn, I salute you and your brillance!

"Iraqis Call Shuttle Disaster God's Vengeance"

Wrong answer, y'all, wrong @#$@# answer.

Fun wit' Google!

Google Search: panamanian women wallpaper

I'm #17

A Day of Tragedy

The space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon it's descent to Earth this morning. All seven crew members were lost. Please pray for the families and friends of these brave men and women along with all the NASA personnal who are perhaps one the worst days of there lives. Fox News has short profiles of the crew.

As you may know, this was the first space flight of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli in space and who was a part of the Israeli bombing of Iraq's nuclear reaction in the early 1980s. He had remarked during orbit, "The world looks marvelous from up here, so peaceful, so wonderful and so fragile."