A Kitten, Now A Giant

Too Much Cute to Fit in the Frame

oh crackberry

I have come to find that continuous access to the Log Cabin is an absolute must in this day and age. Just imagine what would happen if I couldn't be enraged at the touch of a button.

The Unseen Threat

Despite my education in global security matters, I have been completely blind-sided by a threat that, for some of us, was right under our noses. I can only say that the Culture Blog of the San Francisco's SFGate.com should be renamed the War Room.

According to my preliminary research into this threat, the threat has been proliferated throughout the internet, in every variant from geriatric to pediatric. In the real world the threat is even more severe. Although I've only rarely encountered any enterprise dedicated to the proliferation and distribution of imagery and adornments for the threat, Google Earth tells me that there are quite a few, even in my geographical region.

Imagine, if you will, that this selfsame phenomena is appearing over the entire surface of the earth, that for some reason, perhaps related to the drive for sex and death, people are somehow drawn to the threat.

By my thinking, we need to completely re-evaluate our security posture. Our enemy in the immediate term is obviously Islamo-facist terrorism, because that's what the President has decided. However, we're going to need to be more worried about angels appearing in all of our populated areas, brandishing the holy wrath of God. If anything, this requires even more controls on our behaviors and activities. Suicide bombers are insidious enough, but having to deal with a supernatural entity that ignore the conventional laws of space to smite whoever is most befitting would be next to impossible without immediately implementation of draconian measures.

Stephen Colbert: The Greatest Living American?

In the midst of the engrossing culture wars brought to you every day by the selfless and professional 24-hour news media, there is one question that I would like to bring up, that I feel has been left to the wayside. Is Stephen Colbert a Great Living American or the Greatest Living American? I am, of course, referring to the man who coined what was chosen by the most prestigious American English organization, the American Dialect Society, as the most important new word of the year in 2005, 'truthiness.' Moreover, who, other than the Decider, has enough authority to call out an entire branch of the U.S. Government, as Stephen did, openly wondering whether or not Congress is a bunch of "wussies".

I'm sure that this is a question that is going to spread through the internet like Mao's prairie fire, so I'll leave it at that for now until later, but for now, let me just say that Stephen Colbert is obviously the Greatest Living American.

May You Have an Interesting Day

Rocket hits near news conference by U.N. chief in Baghdad's Green Zone

The first article, I would like to draw your attention to clearly points out that there has been significant progress in recent months in Baghdad's security operation. The fact that the insurgents have much such leaps and bounds in their progress is certainly evident of their courage and dedication to a "free", "democratic", West-leaning government. They should be praised for their glorious acts on behalf of their nation-state... Oh, wait...

Mogadishu Street Battle Rages for Second Day

Speaking of wonderful security situations that have seen tremendous progress in the last ten or so years, Mogadishu stands out as another great example of the West's interference in the Developing World in general, and in Africa in particular. At least this time they're dragging their fellow Somalis through the streets. That could be considered progress along the road to a flourishing democracy with robust civil society involvement, right?

Six Party Talks to Recess
North Korea Nuclear Talks End With No Progress

First of all, the difference in headlines between these two news publications, China Daily and Reuters, is telling in its slant. The China Daily article contains a lot more dry facts about the delegations' depuartures. I think it's interesting to see that the Russian delegation left even before the North Koreans, but that may be reading too much into it.

My favorite quote from the Reuters article:

"U.S. envoy Christopher Hill said he had not anticipated the delay in transferring the funds to a North Korean account at the Bank of China, adding that he hoped it could be resolved quickly.

"Every time I think there is a solution to the banking issue something else crops up," he told reporters. "We do hope that they can do this in the next few days.""

Wow... that would be amazing... Imagine the US State Department actually reading up on banking regulations in China or having a consular official meet with officials at the Bank of China who, apparently, received any request for any such transaction. This pretty much speaks for itself.

Virtually Alone and Frightened

Here's an article from Harare, Zimbabwe about the changing tide in Zimbabwe's relations, in particular the ZANU-PF's relations, with the rest of the world. The first point that should be more widely considered is the shortage of foodstuffs in Zimbabwe and the surrounding countries. With an almost complete lack of foreign currency to draw on, the Zimbabwean people will find themselves in dire straits. Unless, of course, the Chinese intervene again to save Mugabe from a premature exit from office.
It's interesting that the author chooses to cite quotes from the Presidents of Ghana and Zambia, but also the UN Secretary-General, to establish the credability of the opposition in Africa. These developments, barring more decisive language from the SADC and Nigerian President Osegun Obasanjo, are only a slight movement in the tide. Without these regional powers in Africa, especially Southern Africa, exhibiting the political will to intervene in the situation for the better of the people of Zimbabwe, the situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the implores of the author have fallen on the deaf ears in the rest of the world, despite the obvious moral imperative.

Musharraf at the Exit

As self-serving as the author is in publishing this particular op-ed piece, it does draw the reader's attention to the support that President Musharraf once enjoyed but is now slipping away from him like so much quicksand. Obivously, he didn't anticipate the response from Pakistan's legal community to his heavy-handed intereference in the duties of Pakistan's Supreme Court. Regardless, the author also commits the fatal error in assuming that the elections that Pakistan will have will come close to establishing a functioning, representative democracy that is responsive and accountable to the people. As if any such country ever existed, the idea is absurd.

What's left to resort to if the law itself and the rule of law is turning against your power?

A Subtly Different Question

Dan Froomkin, in his column today mentions a question from Bill Plante of CBS News, made today after Bush's brief statement about the fourth anniversary of the War in Iraq. "After his emotionless statement, Bush turned and walked quickly out the room, ignoring a question by CBS News' Bill Plante about how much longer he was willing to wait for the Iraqis to take control."

Perhaps the question shouldn't be how long we should wait for the Iraqi government to take control, but take Bush to task about when his Administration will be willing to relinquish control of Iraq. 150,000 troops on the ground, after all, tend to enforce their own kind of political edict.