What is he saying?
Unbelievably, during his "suprise" trip to Iraq on Christmas Eve, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld CONTRADICTED the official 9/11 story about the plane that went down in Pennsylvania: WorldNetDaily: Rumsfeld says 9-11 plane 'shot down' in Pennsylvania
Read the story. Then ask yourself, what the heck is going on? How many "versions" of this story exist? The "official" version is apparently different from the "Rumsfeld '04" version. Which one is the truth, or is that ANOTHER version?
More later...
Paul
Monday, December 27, 2004
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
US bankruptcy law has worldwide jurisdiction
I didn't know that; did you? Actually the full quote, taken from this amazing story (BBC NEWS | Business | Q&A: The battle for Yukos) is this: "US bankruptcy law has worldwide jurisdiction in terms of safeguarding the assets of companies in financial difficulties. "
Oh, by the way, Yukos is merely the largest oil-producing company in Russia. And it was auctioned off today and purchased by a mysterious company no one knows much about. And the Bush Administration is upset about this turn of events and has registered their unhappiness with the Russian government.
"We had hoped for a solution that would allow for the legitimate enforcement of tax laws but avoid harming investors, especially American investors," White House spokesperson Scott McClellan said today.
I'm just curious as to who those American investors might be.
More later...
Paul
I didn't know that; did you? Actually the full quote, taken from this amazing story (BBC NEWS | Business | Q&A: The battle for Yukos) is this: "US bankruptcy law has worldwide jurisdiction in terms of safeguarding the assets of companies in financial difficulties. "
Oh, by the way, Yukos is merely the largest oil-producing company in Russia. And it was auctioned off today and purchased by a mysterious company no one knows much about. And the Bush Administration is upset about this turn of events and has registered their unhappiness with the Russian government.
"We had hoped for a solution that would allow for the legitimate enforcement of tax laws but avoid harming investors, especially American investors," White House spokesperson Scott McClellan said today.
I'm just curious as to who those American investors might be.
More later...
Paul
Monday, December 20, 2004
This Isn't News
Once again, the mainstream media take common knowledge and tout it as "news": Poll: Most Americans Think Iraq War Not Worth Fighting (washingtonpost.com)
This is old, OLD news. It may not be the result of an old poll, but most Americans were against going to war in Iraq BEFORE the damn thing started...and then the President and his boys lied about the WMD's and imminent danger and all of that claptrap.
So here we are. American people dying for nothing. When will we bring them home?
More later...
Paul
Once again, the mainstream media take common knowledge and tout it as "news": Poll: Most Americans Think Iraq War Not Worth Fighting (washingtonpost.com)
This is old, OLD news. It may not be the result of an old poll, but most Americans were against going to war in Iraq BEFORE the damn thing started...and then the President and his boys lied about the WMD's and imminent danger and all of that claptrap.
So here we are. American people dying for nothing. When will we bring them home?
More later...
Paul
They Still Let Him Speak In Public?
Fresh off his election win, with his "mandate" tucked securely in his breast pocket, it's still unfortunate that President Bush has the public speaking skills of a fourth grader: Yahoo! News - Bush won't "negotiate with himself"
What the heck is he talking about? Did he mean to say "negate" himself? Or is he just using amusing language to cover up the fact that he HAS no facts to state?
That lil' electric earpiece thingy isn't working...
More later...
Paul
Fresh off his election win, with his "mandate" tucked securely in his breast pocket, it's still unfortunate that President Bush has the public speaking skills of a fourth grader: Yahoo! News - Bush won't "negotiate with himself"
What the heck is he talking about? Did he mean to say "negate" himself? Or is he just using amusing language to cover up the fact that he HAS no facts to state?
That lil' electric earpiece thingy isn't working...
More later...
Paul
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Oh Yeah, I Feel Safer Now
I spent a good part of 2004 in airport "security" screening lines...you know, the ones where they make you take off your shoes "just in case". I have also opened my luggage to find inside a letter stating that my bags were searched after they were checked in by airline personnel. Well, according to this story, these screening people aren't doing such a good job: Yahoo! News - N.J. Airport Security Spot & Lose Fake Bomb
So they planted a fake bomb on a flight to Amsterdam, and the "security" personnel couldn't find it. The fake bomb made it all the way to Amsterdam, where I suppose airport officials were notified that the bomb was fake. This was a test...and the Transporation Security Administration (TSA) failed miserably. The spokeswoman says the result of the test "really underscores the importance of TSA's ongoing training". Well, duh. Great spin.
In the meantime, millions of passengers are standing in line as I write this, many of them barefoot, waiting to be "screened" and allowed to proceed to their flights. And while they wait, someone could be secreting a not-so-fake bomb into the luggage compartment.
Look, if the system is not working, FIX IT. Or get someone who CAN fix it.
More later...
Paul
I spent a good part of 2004 in airport "security" screening lines...you know, the ones where they make you take off your shoes "just in case". I have also opened my luggage to find inside a letter stating that my bags were searched after they were checked in by airline personnel. Well, according to this story, these screening people aren't doing such a good job: Yahoo! News - N.J. Airport Security Spot & Lose Fake Bomb
So they planted a fake bomb on a flight to Amsterdam, and the "security" personnel couldn't find it. The fake bomb made it all the way to Amsterdam, where I suppose airport officials were notified that the bomb was fake. This was a test...and the Transporation Security Administration (TSA) failed miserably. The spokeswoman says the result of the test "really underscores the importance of TSA's ongoing training". Well, duh. Great spin.
In the meantime, millions of passengers are standing in line as I write this, many of them barefoot, waiting to be "screened" and allowed to proceed to their flights. And while they wait, someone could be secreting a not-so-fake bomb into the luggage compartment.
Look, if the system is not working, FIX IT. Or get someone who CAN fix it.
More later...
Paul
"Serious Setback"
Hey, these were THEIR words, not mine: Yahoo! News - U.S. Missile Defense Test Fails
Read the story. In this $85 million test (!), the interceptor missile failed to fly. It didn't even take off. My concerns about the viability of this program didn't include basic rocketry problems. I'm still unconvinced that, in the case of a multiple missile attack, we would not be able to successfully intercept enough missiles to avoid lasting damage to our country.
There are those that insist that intercepting "some" nuclear warheads is better than "none", but Wednesday's test puts even THAT theory to question.
More later...
Paul
Hey, these were THEIR words, not mine: Yahoo! News - U.S. Missile Defense Test Fails
Read the story. In this $85 million test (!), the interceptor missile failed to fly. It didn't even take off. My concerns about the viability of this program didn't include basic rocketry problems. I'm still unconvinced that, in the case of a multiple missile attack, we would not be able to successfully intercept enough missiles to avoid lasting damage to our country.
There are those that insist that intercepting "some" nuclear warheads is better than "none", but Wednesday's test puts even THAT theory to question.
More later...
Paul
Monday, December 13, 2004
What Does This Mean To You?
Another big merger deal in the business world, this time in the technology sector: Yahoo! News - Oracle Buys PeopleSoft for $10.3 Billion
Now, how will this affect you? Most people are dimly aware of the Oracle databases that make their electronic world turn smoothly. And many have no idea exactly what type of software PeopleSoft produces. No matter. By teaming the two up, the owners have created either a juggernaut or a monster; time will tell. It's hard to bet against Oracle head honco Larry Ellison, though.
More later...
Paul
Another big merger deal in the business world, this time in the technology sector: Yahoo! News - Oracle Buys PeopleSoft for $10.3 Billion
Now, how will this affect you? Most people are dimly aware of the Oracle databases that make their electronic world turn smoothly. And many have no idea exactly what type of software PeopleSoft produces. No matter. By teaming the two up, the owners have created either a juggernaut or a monster; time will tell. It's hard to bet against Oracle head honco Larry Ellison, though.
More later...
Paul
Friday, December 10, 2004
More about Rumsfeld
Jon Stewart is officially my hero, at least in my personal Pantheon of media dragon-slayers. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the media jumped all over the "news" that a specialist in the Army dared to ask Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld some tough questions at an all-too-rare gripe session in Iraq. Well, Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" nailed that story to the wall in this must-see clip.
Enjoy. I wish more television were like this.
More later...
Paul
Jon Stewart is officially my hero, at least in my personal Pantheon of media dragon-slayers. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the media jumped all over the "news" that a specialist in the Army dared to ask Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld some tough questions at an all-too-rare gripe session in Iraq. Well, Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" nailed that story to the wall in this must-see clip.
Enjoy. I wish more television were like this.
More later...
Paul
Thursday, December 09, 2004
15 Minutes of Unwanted Fame
So the day after the Secretary of Defense holds a tense question-and-answer session with the U.S. troops in Iraq, the story spins out of control: Yahoo! News - Bush, Rumsfeld Try to Soothe Angry U.S. Troops
What's most interesting about this story is how the press has focused on one particular exchange, in which a lowly enlisted man dared to complain to Rumsfeld that they the soldiers have been reduced to digging in scrap heaps to find armor for their vehicles. Rumsfeld's initial response? "Can you repeat the question?"
Well, that was enough for the press. They have identified the soldier as Specialist Thomas Wilson, and ABC's "Good Morning America" show went so far as to look up the poor man's wife, Regina, and put her on the show this morning, only to grill her about the nerve of her husband. Or something like that, I didn't really watch the show...
Which really begs the question: which part of all this hoopla is NEWS? We already knew the troops were underprotected...that story came out months ago. We pretty much knew Rumsfeld would hem and haw about the reason the Pentagon sends unprepared troops to do battle ("You go to war with the Army you have"), so that's not news.
I guess the newsworthy element was watching a private question a superior officer...the Secretary of Defense! I wonder if he'll face a court martial for insubordination? Check out Rummy's quote about how he was going to handle the soldier's temerity: "I don't know what the facts are but somebody's certainly going to sit down with him and find out what he knows that they may not know, and make sure he knows what they know that he may not know, and that's a good thing."
Good for who?
More later...
Paul
So the day after the Secretary of Defense holds a tense question-and-answer session with the U.S. troops in Iraq, the story spins out of control: Yahoo! News - Bush, Rumsfeld Try to Soothe Angry U.S. Troops
What's most interesting about this story is how the press has focused on one particular exchange, in which a lowly enlisted man dared to complain to Rumsfeld that they the soldiers have been reduced to digging in scrap heaps to find armor for their vehicles. Rumsfeld's initial response? "Can you repeat the question?"
Well, that was enough for the press. They have identified the soldier as Specialist Thomas Wilson, and ABC's "Good Morning America" show went so far as to look up the poor man's wife, Regina, and put her on the show this morning, only to grill her about the nerve of her husband. Or something like that, I didn't really watch the show...
Which really begs the question: which part of all this hoopla is NEWS? We already knew the troops were underprotected...that story came out months ago. We pretty much knew Rumsfeld would hem and haw about the reason the Pentagon sends unprepared troops to do battle ("You go to war with the Army you have"), so that's not news.
I guess the newsworthy element was watching a private question a superior officer...the Secretary of Defense! I wonder if he'll face a court martial for insubordination? Check out Rummy's quote about how he was going to handle the soldier's temerity: "I don't know what the facts are but somebody's certainly going to sit down with him and find out what he knows that they may not know, and make sure he knows what they know that he may not know, and that's a good thing."
Good for who?
More later...
Paul
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
I think the Senators are Speed Readers
Well, now the U.S. Senate has tossed it's collective hat in the ring, voting 89-2 to pass the so-called "Intelligence Overhaul" bill: Yahoo! News - Congress Passes Historic Spy Agencies Bill
Already I'm hearing nightmare stories about this boondoggle. One story says this bill clears the way for a national identity card. Now, why the hell do we need something like that? I KNOW who I am. I don't need no steenkin' card to identify ME...oh! The authorities want it so THEY can identify me...what, my California driver's license is no good? What about my overused VISA card?
Seriously, what could possibly go wrong with a national identity card program? Well, I'm willing to bet it includes a fingerprint component as well, just in case some of those blue-state liberals decides to turn felon all of a sudden. Oh sure, we can joke about it NOW, but just wait...this bill has got more surprises than, uh, [insert metaphor here].
Sorry about that. Ran out of brainpower...must be something going around, because the same ailment apparently affected 89 U.S. Senators today, too.
More later...
Paul
Well, now the U.S. Senate has tossed it's collective hat in the ring, voting 89-2 to pass the so-called "Intelligence Overhaul" bill: Yahoo! News - Congress Passes Historic Spy Agencies Bill
Already I'm hearing nightmare stories about this boondoggle. One story says this bill clears the way for a national identity card. Now, why the hell do we need something like that? I KNOW who I am. I don't need no steenkin' card to identify ME...oh! The authorities want it so THEY can identify me...what, my California driver's license is no good? What about my overused VISA card?
Seriously, what could possibly go wrong with a national identity card program? Well, I'm willing to bet it includes a fingerprint component as well, just in case some of those blue-state liberals decides to turn felon all of a sudden. Oh sure, we can joke about it NOW, but just wait...this bill has got more surprises than, uh, [insert metaphor here].
Sorry about that. Ran out of brainpower...must be something going around, because the same ailment apparently affected 89 U.S. Senators today, too.
More later...
Paul
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Did They Read The Damn Thing This Time?
Here we go again. Yahoo! News - House Approves U.S. Intelligence Overhaul
Our wonderful elected Congress is giving the okay to this so-called "Intelligence Overhaul" bill. I took a look at parts of it yesterday and, of course, it was so complex and confusing that I would need a week to get a handle on it. I just hope our elected representatives did their jobs and READ the thing BEFORE they approved it...especially those wishy-washy Democrats (yes, that means YOU, Senator Kerry).
75 Congressmen voted no. Check out this comment: "I believe creating a national intelligence director is a huge mistake," said Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill). "It's another bureaucracy, it's another layer of government. It would not have prevented 9/11 and it will not prevent another 9/11." Spoken like a true Republican, not a neo-conservative imperialist.
More later...
Paul
Here we go again. Yahoo! News - House Approves U.S. Intelligence Overhaul
Our wonderful elected Congress is giving the okay to this so-called "Intelligence Overhaul" bill. I took a look at parts of it yesterday and, of course, it was so complex and confusing that I would need a week to get a handle on it. I just hope our elected representatives did their jobs and READ the thing BEFORE they approved it...especially those wishy-washy Democrats (yes, that means YOU, Senator Kerry).
75 Congressmen voted no. Check out this comment: "I believe creating a national intelligence director is a huge mistake," said Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill). "It's another bureaucracy, it's another layer of government. It would not have prevented 9/11 and it will not prevent another 9/11." Spoken like a true Republican, not a neo-conservative imperialist.
More later...
Paul
Welcome to the New Cold War
It makes sense that the first deployment of our missile defense system be on the West Coast. After all, big bad China has had nuclear-tipped Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles for a while now. In fact, the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that China's current nuclear stockpile includes about 450 nuclear weapons (info from the Nuclear Threat Initiative website: www.nti.org). Not all of these are missiles...some are merely bombs...but you get the point. But are we worried about China lobbing nukes during this era of unprecedented business partnership with the West? Or is it some other Pacific Rim country? North Korea, perhaps?
Do you have any idea of N. Korea's nuclear capability? Well, NTI does. They say that N. Korea has been developing ballistic missiles and "it could deliver a small payload to the western part of the continental United States, although with low confidence in its accuracy."
Exactly how accurate does a nuclear missile have to be? And what do they mean by "small" payload? On this vital detail, the NTI is suspiciously silent.
One would like to hope that the bally-hooed "Intelligence Reform" bill will result in more answers to questions like these. Yeah, right.
More later...
Paul
It makes sense that the first deployment of our missile defense system be on the West Coast. After all, big bad China has had nuclear-tipped Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles for a while now. In fact, the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that China's current nuclear stockpile includes about 450 nuclear weapons (info from the Nuclear Threat Initiative website: www.nti.org). Not all of these are missiles...some are merely bombs...but you get the point. But are we worried about China lobbing nukes during this era of unprecedented business partnership with the West? Or is it some other Pacific Rim country? North Korea, perhaps?
Do you have any idea of N. Korea's nuclear capability? Well, NTI does. They say that N. Korea has been developing ballistic missiles and "it could deliver a small payload to the western part of the continental United States, although with low confidence in its accuracy."
Exactly how accurate does a nuclear missile have to be? And what do they mean by "small" payload? On this vital detail, the NTI is suspiciously silent.
One would like to hope that the bally-hooed "Intelligence Reform" bill will result in more answers to questions like these. Yeah, right.
More later...
Paul
Monday, December 06, 2004
What? No 'Orgy of Self-Congratulation'?
Quietly, with very little fanfare, the first installment of the so-called "Star Wars" missile defense system (formerly known as SDI - Strategice Defense Initiative) will be unveiled at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc Valley, California: The First missile interceptor to be installed at VAFB
The "interceptor" missiles will become operational at a "later date", according to the Missile Defense Agency.
My question about this questionable program has always been a simple one: what are the ramifications of filling the heavens with exploded bits of nuclear warheads? Hopefully, we'll never find out.
More later...
Paul
Quietly, with very little fanfare, the first installment of the so-called "Star Wars" missile defense system (formerly known as SDI - Strategice Defense Initiative) will be unveiled at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc Valley, California: The First missile interceptor to be installed at VAFB
The "interceptor" missiles will become operational at a "later date", according to the Missile Defense Agency.
My question about this questionable program has always been a simple one: what are the ramifications of filling the heavens with exploded bits of nuclear warheads? Hopefully, we'll never find out.
More later...
Paul
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