COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Friday, December 18, 2009

Cheers for Collateral Damage, especially in Pakistan?




Cynical, perhaps, but if a little collateral damage gives pause to those contemplating hosting your enemies, maybe that is an unintended benefit.

_________________________


'Drone raid' kills many in Pakistan

Suspected US drone attacks have sparked public anger for inflicting civilian casualties [AFP]
Suspected US missile strikes have killed at least 17 people in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.

Pakistani intelligence officials said missiles from the suspected US drone struck twice on Thursday in two nearby areas of the country's north west.

In the deadliest incident, ten missiles hit two compounds in the Ambarshaga area of the North Waziristan tribal region, killing 15 people, The Associated Press news agency reporting, citing officials.

Officials said at least seven of the dead were "foreign" fighters, a term Pakistani officials use to refer to al-Qaeda recruits operating in the tribal regions.

'Militant base'

Earlier, two people were killed in a missile strike on two houses close to the main district town of Miranshah.

"The American drone fired two missiles, killing two militants and badly damaging a house and an attached guest portion. A car was completely destroyed," the AFP news agency quoted a security official based in Miranshah as saying.

"The militants rented out this house and were using it as a base."
Unmanned drones are often the weapon of choice for the United States as it targets the Taliban and al-Qaeda in remote, rugged areas along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. But the US military has rarely confirmed the attacks.

The use of so-called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which allow the military to operate in highly dangerous areas, is expected to grow in the coming years with the US defence department expected to buy 700 next year alone.

But the long-distance, remote-controlled warfare has sparked public anger for inflicting heavy civilian casualties.

The US government has called on Islamabad to step up its efforts against Taliban- and al-Qaeda-linked fighters who cross over into Afghanistan.

The Pakistani army recently completed an offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan, which borders North Waziristan.

But Pakistani authorities say the military may soon pursue similar operations in other parts of the lawless tribal belt along the Afghan border.




112 comments:

  1. Civilian - One whose weapon is at the Gunsmiths.

    ReplyDelete
  2. But the long-distance, remote-controlled warfare has sparked public anger for inflicting heavy civilian casualties.

    The use of hijacked airplanes sparked my public anger for inflicting heavy civilian casualties too. Waaa frakkin' waaa.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Pakistani intelligence officials said missiles from the suspected US drone struck twice on Thursday in two nearby areas of the country's north west."

    Name those "Pakistani intelligence officials."

    Ever wonder why "Pakistani intelligence officials" picked up confirmation responsibility about a year and a half ago?

    The only thing they haven't done is claimed their part in the hits outright.

    Is it better that the Pakistanis continue to believe the attacks are our work alone? Maybe. Maybe not.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Probably not, but who knows?

    Pakistan is going to blow up. When it does it's going to be one HELL of a mess.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ten inches of snow for DC this weekend.

    Lovely to look at, I know, but colder than I wanna be. Or look forward to being in the near future.

    We're leaving town and heading for the palm trees. The dog can swim in the pool and we can polish off what's left of our official booze supply, sloppily reminiscing with friends over the sometimes heartening, sometimes suckass tour of the Lost Continent.




    "Pakistan's going to blow up." Well aren't you fortunate then that you're at a safe distance.

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  6. I just witnessed one of the funnies things I've ever seen not too long ago on the news tonight.

    Barack Obama stepping off Air Force 1 in Copenhagen for global warming talks in the middle of a raging snow storm.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Trish, I really look forward to your thoughts on S. America, and Colombia, in particular, as time goes on.

    You probably need a little time to garner perspective, but your insights will be valuable. We can look up "Colombia" in Wikipedia, but it can't give us knowledge about the people. How they feel, what they value, etc.

    In the future there will be times when, after listening to some, supposedly brilliant, thinker, or politico wax eloquent on this or that about our relationship to the area you will think, "Horseshit, that'll never work," or "What fucking country is he talking about?"

    I'm looking forward to your elucidations.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Top Ten Country Western Songs:

    10. I Hate Every Bone In Her Body But Mine

    9. I Ain't Never Gone To Bed With an Ugly Woman But I've Woke Up With a Few

    8. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me

    7. I've Missed You, But My Aim's Improvin'

    6. Wouldn't Take Her To A Dogfight 'Cause I'm Scared She'd Win

    5. I'm So Miserable Without You It's Like You're Still Here

    4. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend And I Miss Him

    3. She Took My Ring and Gave Me the Finger

    2. She Gets Better Lookin' with Every Beer

    1. It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chewed My Ass All Day

    ReplyDelete
  9. "Pakistan's going to blow up." Well aren't you fortunate then that you're at a safe distance.


    I'm not sure there IS a "safe" distance.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You'd think the planners would have done a better job and had it hosted in, say, the Canaries.

    Avoid the comically incongruous photos and enjoy far finer weather to boot.

    I mean, who wants to go to Copenhagen in December anyway? Copenhagen in May/June, sure. But December?

    ReplyDelete
  11. It was tongue-in-cheek, rufus.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Indian-US ties soured by suspicion Chicago terror operative was US double agent
    DEBKAfile Special Report
    December 18, 2009, 1:10 PM (GMT+02:00)
    Courts documents in the criminal case against the David Headley, who was arrested in Chicago in October for suspected involvement in the Mumbai terrorist siege, suggest the Chicagoan US citizen may have been a double agent for the al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Lashkar e-Taibe and US intelligence. This suspicion, also the subject of leaked media reports from US, Indian and Pakistani intelligence sources, is severely straining relations between New Delhi and Washington.
    DEBKAfile's counter-terror sources report that New Delhi suspects the CIA knew in advance about the Mumbai attack, in which 177 people died and 500 were injured, and were aware of Headley's links with its LeT perpetrators, al Qaeda's operational arm in Pakistan, but omitted to forewarn Indian authorities for fear of touching off a military showdown between India and Pakistan.
    Israel was not tipped off either although the Chabad Center of Mumbai, where six people were killed, was a special target
    Rancor against Washington was registered in New Delhi where an official at the Indian Ministry of the Interior confirmed Wednesday, Dec. 16, said that his government "is looking into whether Headley worked as a double agent." A former counter-terrorism officer in the Indian foreign intelligence service said: "The feeling in India is that the US has not been transparent."
    The atmosphere between the two countries is not helped by the FBI's refusal to let Indian anti-terror officers question Headley, who is believed to have led a Chicago-based cell which set up Islamist terrorist operations world-wide.
    DEBKAfile's sources add: The court records show that the Chicago-based Headley was pressed into service by the US Drug Enforcement Agency in 1977 after he was caught smuggling heroin from Pakistan to America. They also show that he became an FBI informant after al Qaeda's 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington. After that outrage, the FBI and CIA were directed to coordinate their counter-terror work. The Indians assume that the CIA must have been aware of the Chicagoan's existence, and certainly picked up on his frequent trips to India with side trips to Pakistan to meet his Lashkar e-Taibe associates.
    Whether he worked directly for the CIA will probably never be proven.
    Indian security authorities are also asking who paid for Headley's frequent trips to Europe and India on missions to locate targets for terrorist attack, gather intelligence and chart Lashkar e-Taibe routes to target. He would then carry the information and guidelines to the Pakistani LeT operations headquarters.
    The Chicagoan was clearly a staff member of the group and participated in its planning conferences. Some Western intelligence sources believe he may have been pulling the strings from Pakistan during the three-day terrorist siege of Mumbai in November 2008.
    Indian counter-terror sources believe that data which Headley may have leaked from his Pakistan conferences to his American controllers may have prompted a US warning to New Delhi in July 2008 that a large-scale terrorist operation was in store for Mumbai. When two months went by and nothing happened, the Indians relaxed and lowered their security alert level.
    Headley stands accused of making five reconnaissance trips to India to set up the Mumbai attack in September 2006, February and September 2007, and April and July 2008.
    On one or more of those trips he traveled disguised as a religious Jew, scouting the Chabad Center and other Jewish locations. Israel was never informed that Lashkar e-Taibe had set its sights on Jewish and Israel centers in India.

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  13. I'm looking forward to your elucidations.

    Fri Dec 18, 07:08:00 AM EST

    That's very kind, rufus.

    And you're quite right, there will inevitably be those "Horseshit" moments. There already have been plenty of them, usually when listening to certain Congresspersons of a certain political persuasion, beholden to certain organizations with ulterior motives.

    ReplyDelete
  14. There is definitely no reason for US to brief the Zionists about any US operatives doings, especially in India or Pakistan.

    Now, that we did not brief the Indians, another matter entirely.

    But then India is on the list of non-cooperative countries, ruled by religious extremists that do not conform to the modern norms of behavior with regards nuclear weapons.

    So fuck them, too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. T,

    You forgot one of my favorites.

    'L'ace

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think we did brief them:

    Indian counter-terror sources believe that data which Headley may have leaked from his Pakistan conferences to his American controllers may have prompted a US warning to New Delhi in July 2008 that a large-scale terrorist operation was in store for Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete
  17. No doubt Trish,

    They should've held that shit in Death Valley.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Here's an old broad that knows how to play the game. (and, she always has.)

    The Queen takes the Train

    I wonder what she thought of "our" Dumbo Jackass?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Probably, about the same as she thinks of her "Dumbo Jackass" son.

    ReplyDelete
  20. desert rat said...
    There is definitely no reason for US to brief the Zionists about any US operatives doings, especially in India or Pakistan.



    So rat believes it's ok for the US to NOT warn fellow Americans that an American agent is about to murder and torture them?

    The brutal torture, rape, body part cutting off directed by an American agent plans against American citizens living in Mumbai is OK?

    ReplyDelete
  21. They should've held that shit in Death Valley.

    Fri Dec 18, 07:52:00 AM EST

    LOL

    (I've got some brown mystery booze in my coffee. I'm inclined to laugh at - or laugh off - just about anything. Which doesn't mean it wasn't funny. It was.)





    Look at it this way, What Is: Israel and the US get to divide popular credit for being the most heinous country on the planet.

    It's Friday. Let's the two of us enjoy the distinction.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Where to Find the Real Jihad: Online

    Think of it as a virus that spreads from one hateful mind to another, doing far more damage than anything the Taliban can inflict. In fact, you could eliminate the Taliban tomorrow and the Jihad would continue unabated.

    A confluence of two pieces of information.

    The first is an op-ed from The New York Times, linked below. The author calls the phenomenon www.jihad.com - good name. I’ll bet someone has it set up and running by now.

    As I was reading the essay, Fjordman was sending us an email about the specifics of the www.jihadists.

    Let’s look at what Mr. Friedman says, and then what Fjordman found. Mr. Friedman first:

    "Let’s not fool ourselves. Whatever threat the real Afghanistan poses to U.S. national security, the “Virtual Afghanistan” now poses just as big a threat. The Virtual Afghanistan is the network of hundreds of jihadist Web sites that inspire, train, educate and recruit young Muslims to engage in jihad against America and the West. Whatever surge we do in the real Afghanistan has no chance of being a self-sustaining success, unless there is a parallel surge - by Arab and Muslim political and religious leaders - against those who promote violent jihadism on the ground in Muslim lands and online in the Virtual Afghanistan."

    ---
    Where was the outrage last week when, on the very day that Iraq’s Parliament agreed on a formula to hold free and fair multiparty elections — unprecedented in Iraq’s modern history — five explosions set off by suicide bombers hit ministries, a university and Baghdad’s Institute of Fine Arts, killing at least 127 people and wounding more than 400, many of them kids?

    Not only was there no meaningful condemnation emerging from the Muslim world — which was primarily focused on resisting Switzerland’s ban on new mosque minarets — there was barely a peep coming out of Washington. President Obama expressed no public outrage. It is time he did.

    Friedman

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is for Rat, about his Peeps in Gaza, those courageous people...

    http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/12/unusually-high-number-of-pseudohermaphrodites-in-gaza-blamed-on-in-breeding/


    CNN reported:

    There are an unusually high number of male pseudohermaphrodite births in the Gaza neighborhood of Jabalya, where Nadir and Ahmed live.

    Dr. Jehad Abudaia, a Canadian-Palestinian pediatrician and urologist practicing in Gaza, says he has diagnosed nearly 80 cases like Nadir’s and Ahmed’s in the last seven years.

    “It is astonishing that we have [so] many cases with this defect, which is very rare all over the world,” Abudaia says. He attributes the high frequency of this birth defect to “consanguinity,” or in-breeding.

    “If you want to go to the root of the problem, this problem runs in families in the genes.” Abudaia says. “They want to get married to cousins… they don’t go to another family. This is a problem.”




    Yep, Inbreeding...

    lol

    ReplyDelete
  24. The Zionist, in Isreal, are not Americans.

    The Zionists in India, are of no legitimate concern to the Isrealis, they not being Isreali.

    I have a lot more concern about that UAV technology that found its way to Iran, from Isreal, through Russia.

    That is cause for strategic concern. The border raids, from Pakistan into India, of little real consequence and of no military significance.

    A little civilian collateral damage, that is needed for the propaganda wars, here at home.

    It is very important to be able to demonize the opposition.

    Killing civilians does make that possible.

    But then that does flow both ways.

    ReplyDelete
  25. For Chavez's sake, at the very least, let us fully embrace our roles as the Big Devil and the Little Devil.

    ReplyDelete
  26. rat:

    I have a lot more concern about that UAV technology that found its way to Iran, from Isreal, through Russia.

    Yep Israel INVENTED drone technology... Funny, maybe if America had BOUGHT Israeli drones with advanced comm capacity America would not have this issue...

    Hamas cannot use skygrabber to watch the IDF line feeds, maybe if America had not stolen Israeli drome technology on the cheap and actually paid for it they would never have been using 3rd world quality drone technology...

    russia's purchase of Israeli drones is most recent and hardly impacted the iranian usage of off the shelf idiot software used to download tv shows to CRACK the USAF drones...

    But blame the Israelis for INVENTING drones back in 1983.... It's ok....

    Maybe the USA should pay fair market price to Israel for technology rather than knocking it off on the cheap....

    ReplyDelete
  27. I already have a mobile phone, Doug.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I can't think of sweeter appellations from a bigger psychopathic paranoid dickwad.

    ReplyDelete
  29. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  30. In copenhagen Chavez got standing ovations...

    mostly for bashing the uSA....

    I'll try to find the link

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sam,
    Damn link goes to two different pages.
    Have not figured out how/why.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yeah Trish,

    But you gotta admit, it's great rock 'n' roll.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I saw it at Drudge, What Is.

    Chavez is the champion of idiots and stooges everywhere. Or sometimes of those just seeking to exploit "local" politics without being able to influence same. (I'm talking to you, Moscow.)

    Like I said, embrace your "dark side."

    ReplyDelete
  34. I was referring to Chavez, sam. Not Black Sabbath.

    War Pigs?

    I can live with that.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Bang bang,
    Maxwell's silver hammer
    Came down on her head...

    Calif. girl admits killing mother with hammer
    A 16-year-old girl has admitted killing her mother by repeatedly beating her head with a claw hammer in San Diego.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hey, pretty funny Trish.

    'psychopathic paranoid dickwad' could actually be easily applied to Ozzy, also.

    ReplyDelete
  37. WiO: In copenhagen Chavez got standing ovations...

    mostly for bashing the uSA....


    I'm shocked, WiO, I thought the US was one of the good guys now that we've elected a Eurosocialist President.

    ReplyDelete
  38. DR: The Zionists in India, are of no legitimate concern to the Isrealis, they not being Isreali.

    DR, your ignorance is showing again. Zionism is the belief that Jews should establish a state in Eretz Yisrael, so Zionists in India are indeed a concern of Israelis. You are equating Zionism with Judaism. One glance at Obama-voting Jews in America will tell you that is not so.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Obama: "The Time For Talk Is Over"

    In other words, give me the remote, let me shut off your microphone, what do you think this is, a democracy?

    ReplyDelete
  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  41. : )

    Awesome guitar, sam. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hong Kong Trader, a news and publicity organ of the former colony's Trade Development Council, quotes Morgan Stanley Asia's chairman Stephen Roach as estimating that the stimulus accounts for 95% of China's economic growth through the first nine months of 2009.

    ...Shanghai has a nearly 50% commercial space vacancy rate, yet skyscrapers continue to go up there to provide employment and income for consumer spending...


    But Rufus insists that is real consumer demand propping up oil prices and consumption. All those stories of Chinese autos sitting in lots unsold are peak-denialist propaganda.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I guess the world is sick of the one we have been waiting for.

    lol

    I guess the one we've been waiting for's outstretched hand has been met with a fist...

    irony.

    Obama has trashed israel, england, america et al...

    only to be rejected by the very cods he wanted to be cozy with...

    Obama has trashed bush, moderate dems & tea party folks...

    only to be trashed by dean, oberman, progessives, radical gays, rev sharpton, rev wright & maxine waters...

    ironic...

    too funny for words

    ReplyDelete
  44. Chinese Premier to Obama: Fuck You.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I see wio is back to using a small a for America, and the USA (but, he Never fails to capitalize Israel.)

    But, he's an "American," you know.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Well, okay, T; you win.

    China's getting ready to crash, and oil's going to $30.00.

    Hell, you have as much chance of being right as anybody, I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  47. C'mon, rufus. He doesn't capitalize a damn thing.

    I have to shower and then go.

    Don't carry this on through the weekend, mkay? It's stoopid.






    Maybe MeLoDy will show up with her assles chaps.

    ReplyDelete
  48. "Assles." Missing an s there.


    Drunk showering. Drunk packing.






    Anyway, be good.

    ReplyDelete
  49. rufus,

    "I see wio is back to using a small a for America, and the USA (but, he Never fails to capitalize Israel.)"

    You really are a peace of work...laughable really...whit was right, you are a "bigot". Additionally, you remain a coward and a bloward.

    america...america...america...america

    Go cry to Uncle Whit; if you suck your thumb, he might feel sorry for you and chastise me.

    ReplyDelete
  50. rufus...

    good morning and fuck you

    i wrote


    Obama has trashed israel, england, america et al...


    all not cap'd

    cant a lazy typist get a break...

    your statement: I see wio is back to using a small a for America, and the USA (but, he Never fails to capitalize Israel.)

    I FAILED to cap israel and america....

    see....

    want to make that an issue?

    go fuck yourself

    and YES I am an american...

    see no fucking caps...

    cause i am a lazy american...

    and rat dont spell world or israel correct...

    fuck you....

    have a nice day

    ReplyDelete
  51. I nominate rufus as "cap & spell" captain....

    All spelling of Israel and America and usages of caps shall be from this moment forth be done perfectly at all times...

    Start with the rodent...

    ReplyDelete
  52. I've never misspelled Israel, or refused to Capitalize it.


    And, if I'm the "spelling" Captain, we'll start with P-I-E-C-E as in "piece of work," and B-L-O-W-H-A-R-D, as in "blowhard."

    ReplyDelete
  53. ...and furthermore,

    afghanistan
    bolivia
    israel
    russia
    alfred e. newman

    ReplyDelete
  54. Obama has trashed israel, england, america et al...

    jeez, Ruf, it was right in the same sentence there.

    ReplyDelete
  55. piece
    piece
    piece
    piece
    piece
    blowhard
    blowhard
    blowhard
    blowhard

    na! na! nana! na! (insert raspberry)

    ReplyDelete
  56. T, the problem with the "China go bust" theory is that huge pile of "Cash" that they're sitting on top of.

    While it's true that the overbuilding in real estate is an inefficient allocation of cash, the simple fact is: They Have the Cash.

    And, their currency is, if anything, "undervalued," not overvalued. It seems to me like about the only thing that could really hurt them would be if WE went into a Deep recession, or a Depression.

    Otherwise, I expect them to transition over to producing more farm machinery, power plants, auto factories, railroads, etc. Any Country can "blow it;" but they look, to me, like they're liable to pull it through.

    ReplyDelete
  57. News Alert
    10:08 AM EDT Friday, December 18, 2009

    Iraqi official: Iranians seized Iraqi oil well

    Iraq's deputy foreign minister says Iranian troops have seized an oil well in southern Iraq along their disputed border. Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Haj Aziz said Friday that Iranian troops seized oil well No. 4 Thursday night.

    For more information, visit washingtonpost.com - http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/AADB45/Y3Y06/6A8OA3/351J8Q/BDBNG/E4/t

    ReplyDelete
  58. Bob, I don't give a damn how anyone spells any country as long as they respect OUR Country.

    I don't spell Israel with a small "a," and I expect the same courtesy.

    ReplyDelete
  59. :)

    I, also, don't spell it with a small "i."

    ReplyDelete
  60. Ok, Ruf, tell that to rat, too.

    In our political news here--

    Senator Heinrich Endorses Ward
    Heinrich: “Vaughn’s leadership and conservative convictions are a breath of fresh air”


    Senator Lee Heinrich (R-Cascade) endorsed Republican 1st Congressional candidate Vaughn Ward.

    “Originally, I had not planned to endorse in this race, but as the challenges facing Idaho and our nation grow more severe, times demand someone willing to make the hard choices. We need leaders with solid conservative beliefs and the courage to do the right thing. Vaughn’s leadership and conservative convictions are a breath of fresh air in a party looking for new leaders to advance the principles of limited government, lower taxes and economic liberty,” Heinrich said.

    Heinrich continued, “Vaughn shares our Idaho values, and is the only candidate who will go to Washington and fight against giving illegal immigrants taxpayer funded benefits. We need bold new leadership in our next Congressman and Vaughn Ward is the future. Vaughn is pro-life and is a strong defender of our second amendment rights. He has the leadership and ideas we need to rebuild our party, reform our government, and renew our nation.”

    “I’m honored to have Senator Heinrich’s support,” said Ward. “He has proven that Republicans are the party of ideas and common sense solutions, while working tirelessly on behalf of Idaho’s taxpayers,” concluded Ward.

    Senator Heinrich has served in the Idaho State Senate since 2006 and is a former Valley County Clerk. He is currently the Vice Chairman of the Local Government and Taxation Committee. During 2008, Senator Heinrich received a 100% conservative score by the Idaho Conservative.


    This Ward fellow is going to take out Walt Minnick, Pelosi lover.

    During 2008, Senator Heinrich received a 100% conservative score by the Idaho Conservative.

    It's really tough to get any more conservative than that.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. Can Obumble enter into a climate agreement at Copenhagen without the Congress (Senate) approval?

    Maybe

    Scary.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Bob, he can "sign" all the executive agreements he wants to; but he can't "Spend" a nickel without passing it through Congress, and sixty Senators.

    ReplyDelete
  63. The agreement itself ought to go through the Senate. IMHO

    In my district, I'm convinced, this early too, Walt Minnick is toast.

    We got (are going to have) a good viable candidate. That's all we need.

    ReplyDelete
  64. In America we teach dental dams for oral sex and proper fisting of one lover's anus... America the beautiful, G-d gave us ky for the 14 year old under the progressives...

    Let's be respectful to our nation's name and use a cap with respect...

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/17/AR2009121703673.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

    Faith, folly and Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill

    By Michael Gerson
    Friday, December 18, 2009
    It is sad when someone you care about threatens to do a foolish and destructive thing.
    Ugandan parliament is considering legislation, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009, that would impose new and harsher penalties on homosexuality, including life imprisonment and capital punishment. It also would force pastors and others to report homosexuals to the authorities. Ugandan Christian leaders are key supporters of the bill. They misunderstand an important commitment of their own faith.

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  65. US taxpayer dollars at work

    The United States remains committed to rebuilding northern Uganda by providing humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter, water, sanitation, and relief, to vulnerable people. USAID has established a regional office in the Gulu district to monitor the conditions of our activities and to ensure greater donor and government coordination. In 2008, USAID support for northern Uganda totaled an estimated $138 million.

    ReplyDelete
  66. More American Aid

    Since 1994, Palestinians have received more than $2.9 billion in U.S. economic assistance via USAID projects - more than from any other donor country.


    there are LOTS of open jobs for you to get there too!

    Vacancies Archive

    Position Title
    GEO-MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSISTANT
    COMPUTER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT
    HEALTH REFORM / AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPEICALIST PROGRAM SUPPORT ASSISTANT (Visas, Customs & Permits)
    CHIEF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
    CHAUFFEUR
    AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST (DG TEAM SUPERVISOR) August 14, 2009
    AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST (Education)
    AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST (DG TEAM SUPERVISOR)
    CHAUFFEUR
    HUMAN RESOURCES ASSISTANT
    AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE ASSISTANT (CMM)
    AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE ASSISTANT
    AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST (PEO)
    AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST (CMM)
    PROGRAM SUPPORT SPECIALIST, GS-13‎
    AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST (RULE OF LAW)
    SECRETARY
    HUMAN RESOURCES ASSISTANT
    PROGRAM SUPPORT ASSISTANT (VISAS, CUSTOMS & PERMITS)‎
    ‎‎AID DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST (RULE OF LAW)‎
    DEMOCRACY SPECIALIST
    AID DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SPECIALIST
    SECRETARY/TRAVEL ASSISTANT
    FINANCIAL ANALYST


    Maybe we can send some recently funded ACORN workers there...

    ReplyDelete
  67. Thanks, Doug

    I have been whistling "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and now I can't seem to stop....

    ReplyDelete
  68. That first one, GEO-MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSISTANT, looks tempting, but with my skill set, I might make a better CHAUFFEUR drive around Gaza day after day. Might fulfill my dream of driving an armored car.

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  69. The title, "Cheers for Collateral Damage et al" is an invitation to hearing before a war crimes tribunal.

    When bad people attack your people, you must use every precaution, including endangerment of your own people, to minimize "collateral damage". Otherwise, our resident war crimes and "Law of Nations" expert will be howling.

    Odd, that.......He has not howled about collateral damage, with one exception. But that's how the Devo Band plays.

    I'm still waiting for some show of support for Ms. T by the band of brothers that allowed one of their own to post unsolicited, unrelated, inflammatory comments (10 in 1hr, 48min) on a previous thread.

    I called them on this breach of gentlemanly etiquette on three occasions. They have chosen silent solidarity with their comrade rather than fair play and consistency.

    While it was my impression that they were merely hyprocrites, it is possible the silence reflects similar beliefs. Imagine that.

    ReplyDelete
  70. from bob's walkout link

    "He showed no awareness of the inequality and injustice of climate change."

    "Inequality" and "injustice" say everything that needs be said about this boondoggle. It's the usual fascist/socialist rant. Nothing in this is about climatechange, save as pretext.

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  71. Allen: I'm still waiting for some show of support for Ms. T by the band of brothers that allowed one of their own to post unsolicited, unrelated, inflammatory comments (10 in 1hr, 48min) on a previous thread.

    Allen, long ago I penetrated to the true nature of the Elephant Bar. Only 5% of posts are on topic, and that's fine. This isn't the frakkin Belmont Club, you know.

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  72. Don't blame me, I've called for deleting or banning the rat, or voting him out!

    There are hundreds of thousands of other blogs....

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  73. As far as drone attacks, have at it.

    There, on topic, that's my opinion.

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  74. I was thinking the Pissing Boy was in Copenhagen, but he's in Brussels.

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  75. Allen,

    I vote that we mock, ridicule and humiliate the rodent when he makes stupid remarks...

    It is the freedom we have at the bar to respond to his stupidity.

    Long ago I realized that rodents cannot rationally argue points of logic, history or science and that the only response to them is the lenny bruce form of argument...

    don't look to the bar (typically) to point out hypocrisy, they are at the bar for their own issues.

    their silence is not automatically a support for said rodents, just most of them's weariness to deal with rodent fecal droppings..

    So keep the posting going, stay strong and grind the rodent's nose in his droppings on an hourly basis...

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  76. Hugh Fitzgerald over at JihadWatch had this to say about the reported Iranian incursion into Iraq (this story seems to have some confusions)--

    Hugh | December 18, 2009 7:54 AM | Reply
    All power to the Arabs of southeastern Iran -- or, rather, all power to the people of Khuzistan, the Khuzistanian People. (For a good example of how invent, and then get others to deeply believe in, a politically-prompted "people" look at the "Palestinian people" since their invention in late 1967, and how they grew).

    Let the Khuzistanian people free Ahwaz from the Persian imperialists of the Islamic Republic of Iran. And liberate all of its oil-wells too.

    And isn't it now time for Abu Dhabi, flexing its financial muscles (and in bailing out Dubai, Abu Dhabi should be creative about making sure, to the best of its ability, that it does not bail out as well all those Iranian investors, including mad mullahs, who poured tens of billions into Dubai), to use a few of its hard-earned billions to pay for propaganda that will end in the U.N. demanding that Iranian forces stop claiming "occupied" Musa and the Tunbs as Iranian. The Tunbs, Lesser and Greater, and Musa, and all the potentially oil-rich territorial waters claimed around them, belong to Abu Dhabi, to the Arabs, not to the Persians.

    Oh, and one last thing. While we are at it, let's make sure the world's history books and atlases never again use that toponym "sinus Persicus" or "Persian Gulf." It's the Arab Gulf, sinus Arabicus, the Arab Gulf now and forever. After all, aren't parts of Judea and Samaria -- the toponyms used for at least the last 2000 years, and certainly those used by, inter alios, Jesus himself, now known to all right-thinking unthinking people as "the West Bank"? So it can be done. The Arabs have done it before, and they can do it again.

    Keep it up.

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  77. Keep up the great work - I love your blog!!
    Common Cents
    http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com

    ps. Link Exchange??

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  78. I vote for peace, love and tranquility.

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  79. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  80. See, they now admit to their Alinsky tactics, here at the EB, while "Brownshirt Bob" wants to ban folks, when he dislikes their thinking.

    No debate, just banishment.
    That is not the American Way, boobie.

    That the US government failed to protect US citizens, abroad, is par for the course. The authorities seldom, if ever, disclose their classified information to civilians.
    Just isn't done.

    But there was no need or reason to inform the Isrealis that we had classified data sets indicating that Americans could be threatened with harm, in India.

    That the US will not allow the Indians to interview this fellow, just may indicate he was more of a provocateur, than just an observer of others.

    This was often the case with FBI informants, back in Nixon/Hoover days, they acting as the stimulant to illegal activities, to satisfy the needs of their FBI handlers.

    Could the US now be a sponsor of terror, just as the Isreali may be?

    The unintended consequences of action and/or avarice often bite folks on the ass.

    Not only would I not vote for my banishment, boobie, but I doubt that rufus would either.

    You lose, either way.

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  81. 35. toad:

    # 31. Matt Beck:

    Sorry but whenever I hear the word athletic supporters a scene from my past flashes into my mind.

    The young woman has over lunged with her foil and it has gone through the lower side and behind her male opponents fencing jacket and it sticking about a foot out the other side.
    The cry goes up, “Nobody Move!”

    The unveiling proceeds carefully and embarrassingly.

    A gasp arises when it is seen that the foil has gone through and out the holes on the ventilated cup in the jock strap.

    Fortunately the “package” has been missed.

    The moral is to tape or glue coins over the holes in a ventilated cup or mail order a solid one if the local store doesn’t stock them.

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  82. The interesting thing, of course, is that here we are deploring collateral damage in India, and especially here in the US, while we will cheer when it occurs, "over there".

    Not quite meeting the "Goose and Gander Standard", are we.

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  83. MeLoDy said...

    "I vote for peace, love and tranquility."

    Peace, Love, and
    Smash the State,
    I always say.

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  84. "their silence is not automatically a support for said rodents, just most of them's weariness to deal with rodent fecal droppings.."
    ---

    Physical Harm can come from close assosciation with rodent fecal droppings.

    Please don't confuse prudence with pusillanimity.

    Thank you.

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  85. I think collateral damage is how wars have always been fought. The term is disingenuous.

    Aiding and abetting damage is probably more accurate. If a civilian group decides to provide shelter to a combatant, then at a minimum they become less innocent. Hide a fugitive from justice and you become a felon.

    President George Bush declared that you were either with us or against us. That being the case, then those giving passive assistance to AQ are by definition guilty by association.

    Weren't the Germans universally condemned for silence after WWII? What were they silent about? The opposite of silence is to speak out and expose evil. Does fear of reprisal exonerate one from the principled argument?

    "Collateral damage" , is a rhetorical hammer to diminish a practice of killing fewer people in the pursuit of those that deserve killing. The accusation shifts the moral burden from conspirators and abettors who ultimately make terrorism possible by providing support and means of escape for the terrorists.

    The knowledge that communicating with terrorists can have mortal consequences is not in all a bad thing.

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  86. Let's make it real for moment.

    Does anyone seriously propose that I, Whit or T become hall monitors?

    Are we to waste our time reading into the intent of comments and have a committee meeting to decide which should be taken down?

    You cannot ban anyone from posting without banning all from posting. That is collateral damage in large caps.

    Try speed reading and visual editing, and don't comment on those that annoy you.

    Nothing posted at the EB goes unpunished. You run a bar, you can't become thin-skinned about what they write over the urinal.

    The Belmont Club burns up diodes by the trillions on debating the merits of off topic posts.

    Wretchard was shocked to realize that most people read his blog, not to hear him, but to read his commenters. It is no different here.

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  87. I look at it this way. We have a 24/7 operation where the hosts post above and commenters below the fold. It makes the ongoing topic more up to date and more relevant, sometimes by days than some of the big-hitting sites.

    Not one of the hosts or commenters makes a dime. It is a matter of passion and interest. We are fortunate that most people lurk. Too many posters and the comments get lost and it is almost impossible for follow-up. Try posying something on Hugh Hewitt or the NYT blogs. Good luck.

    There is not one person here that I would ban, and trust me, I do not agree with a lot that is written. I rarely do not read every post.

    Relax baby. pura vida and here's to assless chaps, some who argue on this blog.

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  88. Urgency Grows as U.S. and China Try to End Stalemate

    In a day of brinkmanship and seesawing expectations, President Obama met with China’s prime minister, but it was unclear if progress has been made on the issues holding back a climate deal.

    The later draft also included a few hard figures about joint emissions cuts of 50 percent by 2050. Developed nations committed to reducing their emissions “individually or jointly by at least 80 percent by 2050.”

    All the drafts included a dozen or so enumerated points asserting general commitment to the idea that “climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time” and asserted that “deep cuts” in global emissions are required. The amounts for short-term emissions targets by 2020 remained represented by X’s and Y’s — place holders for later. The drafts also sought to lay out some framework for verification of emissions commitments by developing countries and establish a “high-level panel” to assess financial contributions by rich nations to help poor countries adapt to climate change and limit their emissions.
    ---
    I vote for changing that 80% to X’s and Y’s.

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  89. You were the guy that tried the Alinsky tactics on me Dinky, if you recall. Personally, if I knew I'd only get one vote, maybe two, I'd leave voluntarily.

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  90. Hot Air had China and India walking out, a little earlier, doug. I think they may be gone.

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  91. Nice, but not near enough for me.

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  92. Bob are you talking to me? What would you like me to do knock on your door?

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  93. Knock, and it shall be opened unto thee.
    ----


    I think there's more to that Uriah/David story than first meets the eye.

    Samuel ii:6-9

    And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

    And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

    And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the King's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the King.

    But Uriah slept at the door of the King's house with all his servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.


    Why did Uriah do this? Perhaps if he had slept with his wife, the whole thing would have blown over, the affair covered up?

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  94. With your buns in my brain, Melody, I head out for the Friday 2pm T-shirt casino drawing.

    ReplyDelete
  95. Dont ever ban the rodent...

    Just point and giggle....

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  96. Are you ever going to win a tee shirt?

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  97. Man, I'm bummed out. Another one of my primary business/economic sources, Bloomberg podcasts, are going to subscription format.

    I refuse to pay the annual rates all these jokers are charging.

    Oh well, ignorance is bliss.

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  98. I vote for Bob's Hot Air link and this one to be used for the next EB Post:

    Copenhagen climate summit: 'most important paper in the world' is a glorified UN press release

    This week has been truly historic. It has marked the beginning of the landslide that is collapsing the whole AGW imposture. The pseudo-science of global warming is a global laughing stock and Copenhagen is a farce. In the warmist camp the Main Man is a railway engineer with huge investments in the carbon industry. That says it all. The world’s boiler being heroically damped down by the Fat Controller. Al Gore, occupant of the only private house that can be seen from space, so huge is its energy consumption, wanted to charge punters $1,200 to be photographed with him at Copenhagen. There is a man who is really worried about the planet’s future.

    If there were not $45trillion of Western citizens’ money at stake, this would be the funniest moment in world history. What a bunch of buffoons. Not since Neville Chamberlain tugged a Claridge’s luncheon bill from his pocket and flourished it on the steps of the aircraft that brought him back from Munich has a worthless scrap of paper been so audaciously hyped. There was one good moment at Copenhagen, though: some seriously professional truncheon work by Danish Plod on the smellies. Otherwise, this event is strictly for Hans Christian Andersen.

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  99. I'm with you whit. Why would I pay to listen to Hugh Hewitt when I can listen to Mark Levin for free?

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  100. you can still hear hewitt live for free, right?

    I record a bunch of stuff live so i can forward thru the ads and such

    13 yr old program I paid 29 bucks for!

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  101. I got two Going Rogue T-shirts for free from Sarah Palin, Melody, best I've done lately.

    No luck at 2pm.

    I get Levin out of Boise. He's been hitting hard, lately.

    I'd never pay for a subscription to anything. Particularily financial stuff, being of the opinion you can do as well throwing darts at the stock list, not that I have any stocks.

    Tiger's wife took off to the lawyers, and is rumored to be possibly returning to Sweden.

    ReplyDelete