When
in doubt, call them terrorists
In the past, it was common to use "Hitler"
or "Communists" instead of "terrorists." But
things have changed, and politicians are leading the trend. Now, in an attempt
to forestall an end to the Cuban embargo, policy makers are searching for ways
to make the island nation appear to be a hothouse for terrorists.
Fortunately, the lack of proof and evidence is getting in the way.
Centralizing
freedom
It is unfortunate that governments can't function "properly"
if they are impeded by rules and procedures – but that is
the point! The impending conflict with the Middle East will demonstrate just
how much farther the Executive
branch can go and how many more rubber-stamps will be passed out to congressional
members.
Wanted: War Goals
"...Washington still has not decided exactly what an
invasion of Iraq is meant to achieve," and it's doubtful they ever will, writes
Hugh White. Hmm, wars without causes or goals...Vietnam, Grenada, Panama,
Korea, Kosovo, Somalia....
Predicting chaos
Andrew
Greeley warns the hawks at the Pentagon and White House: "War blinds even
the good guys to the evil they may be doing." What it especially blinds is the
rationale needed to justify war, something for which the current administration
is digging
deeper and deeper.
Sovereignty undressed
What sends images
of freedom and individualism like the illegal seizure of property? In a surprising
turn of the events, who
else but the American military has decided it may have to do just that in
order to invade Iraq.
...Why does the Middle East hate us again???
The problems with picking sides
The Australian
government's rhetoric is hurting the local farmers. They
are complaining that the hard stance the government is taking in its support
of US intervention in Iraq is making Saddam punish grain importers. Although evidence
is lacking on Saddam's arsenal of WMDs, he does appear to have some economic weapons
which undoubtedly will spread to his most valuable asset.