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.

Politicizing, Purging, and De-Professionalizing

First of all, I would like to give a shout out to Dan Froomkin and his currently titled "White House Watch" for his stellar reporting on Washingtonpost.com; his extensive fact-checking sets the standard for research and piecing together the minuscule amount of information coming out of the Bush White House into something of an insider's look. Lauding him with the highest of praise may seem out of character, but I'm always excited when someone mentions the dreaded 'I' word in relation to a high-placed Bush Administration official.

Secondly, it is a pretty sure sign of things going horribly wrong when your former front man, in this case Scott McClellan, starts talking to the public about how you should come clean about some random (one of many, I'm sure) skeletons in ones closet. But of course, one's enemies already know that. Hopefully.

Tertiarily, it would appear that Bush's taste of a traditional Uruguayan asado has come with a few, I would to so far as to say morally, challenging questions in foreign policy. For those of a "left-leaning" persuasion whom Bush is seeking to reach out to, there is the difficult question of whether to deal with someone who would seem to embody the Christian mythology embodiment of evil. Or, whether such a high-profile visit is worth the collateral political damage. But, things such as this and this would tend to lead such considerations. If you can't speak Spanish, the pictures are pretty telling in their content. It would seem that the biggest question that arose from this whole affair for Bush was how good was the lamb in Uruguay?

On the subject of lancing boils, and to provide a little context to the discussion that makes up the most of Dan Froomkin's column, let this humble blogger kindly direct the curious read to this, or for a lighter bit of reading. It may seem strange to put Bush in such laudable company as Stalin, Hitler, or Mao, but so rarely in the course of American history has a president gone so far as boldly launch wars of global proportions.

Funny Note

Just now, while the House Chaplain was doing the morning prayer for opening the business day, he said, "[God], please have your way with us." The funniest events in the world are always true, as no one could make things like this up.

Josh hypothesized that he was obligated by virtue of having lost a bet.

Efficacy of International Law

As one could almost expect, here is another bit of evidence that the theoretical foundation of International Law is being serious eroded, like a limestone sculpture, built fifty years ago, but now after being left outside exposed to the elements, the statue is hardly recognizable. Instead of being a finely crafted work of legal art, the corpus of international law is abstract, in that it requires people to take a logical leap over the chasm of Westphalian sovereignty, like a leap of faith to land in the perfect world where nation-states will actually impede their own political objectives for the sake of doing the right thing. The United Nations has already compromised to the sovereign interests of nation-states for the sake of allowing the Trade Ban to retain a semblance of revelance.

As I see it, there is something serious morally culpable about this whole affair. Elephants are not citizens, and therefore not entitled to protection. However, in the interconnected nature of reality, the loss of these elephants and their continued decimation in countries, such as Zambia, for the sake of ivory consumers in China and Japan, will have drastic effects on the environment, economy, and society of those countries who continue to ignore the 1989 Ivory Trade Ban.

There is more to follow, as the rage moves me.

Behold the Power of Our Great Sith Lord, Darth Mechanicus

Yesterday, during his "light persuasion" tour of the Eastern Periphery, impudent rebel scum attempted to stage an attack on Darth Mechanicus. Characteristically undaunted, Darth Mechanicus was quoted as saying that he remained unfazed by the assault, but that the rebels would soon feel the fear that they attempted to inflict upon him. After the incident was resolved, the imperially sanctioned news sources reported that several citizens were killed by the bombing, including the deluded wretch who served as the delivery device. Later in the day, disinformation sources reported that as many as fifteen sub-national units of labor were also lost in the attack.

Reports that Darth Mechanicus intercepted the suicide bomber at the gate and killed him using his mastery of the Force could not be confirmed at press time, but are in keeping with previously published reports of his awesome powers.

Snapshots from February 22nd

Iran and the Persian Gulf

So, just as the UN issues a report about the status of Iran's compliance with IAEA regulations and certain Security Council Resolutions, the John C. Stennis arrives in the Persian Gulf, adding a second aircraft carrier to already pre-positioned military forces. Coincidence? The truth is written in the winds...

The DRC

If this is what peace looks like, it is small wonder that the DRC is the virtuous and stable nation-state that it is today.

Hatchetmen Watch

Like beggars from an 'old money' family, Treasury Secretary Paulson will go to the Middle Kingdom （中国）to ask the great comptrollers to cut off the tap, as though it were in their long-term interest to do so. For all of you keeping score at home, the shift towards foreign ownership of U.S. Treasury bonds should come as no surprise. *cough*15.7%*cough*

By virtue of this being the third such trip alone, this trip illustrates the importance of altering the current economic relationship between the U.S. and China.

Ear to the Ground

A rare glimpse of hope, but nonetheless 是镜花水月的.