Saturday, February 8, 2003

British "intelligence" about Iraq plagiarized from the Interweb Colin Powell, in his presentation to the UN Security Council, drew attention to "the fine paper that the United Kingdom distributed... which describes in exquisite detail Iraqi deception activities". Ten pages of that 19 pages report happen to be lifted from sources not referenced. Four pages are, to a large extent verbatim (including typographic errors), taken from a postgraduate student's publication in an internet-journal last September. Another six pages rely heavily on material published in Jane's Intelligence Review in 1997 and last November. Sources: Channel 4 The Guardian [Kuro5hin.org] 9:11:51 PM

The people have spoken. Whoa. This today on Salon: At the end of the first week of January, the Princeton Survey Research Associates polled more than 1,200 Americans on behalf of the Knight Ridder newspaper chain. They asked a very simple question: "To the best of your knowledge, how many of the September 11 hijackers were Iraqi citizens?" Of those surveyed, only 17 percent knew the correct answer: that none of the hijackers were Iraqi. Forty-four percent of Americans believe that most or some of the hijackers were Iraqi; another 6 percent believe that one of the hijackers was a citizen of that most notorious node in the axis of evil. That leaves 33 percent who did not know enough to offer an answer. Well, I guess the plan to roll out the new war product in the fall worked out pretty well -- they're certainly getting good brand recognition. Maybe they can pin Pearl Harbor on the Iraqis if they keep at it. This story should be on the cover of every national newsweekly, with the headline: "People! Can we please just try to pay the slightest bit of attention?" [via stevenberlinjohnson.com] 9:09:55 PM

Fun with Budget Statistics An entry on Radio Free Blogistan earlier this week: Like father, like son This Reuters graphic published in Yahoo! News - Politics yesterday speaks volumes: [pseudorandom] Frank goes on to explain that the chart doesn't adjust for a number of factors, most importantly inflation, and offers his own chart. As he points out, even the revised chart makes the point: Dumbya is running a big deficit. 9:04:44 PM

N.C. Congressman OK With Internment Camps A congressman who heads a homeland security subcommittee said on a radio call-in program that he agreed with the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., made the remark Tuesday on WKZL-FM when a caller suggested Arabs in the United States should be confined. [Daypop Top 40] 4:14:29 PM

I'm losing patience with my neighbours, Mr Bush I'm really excited by George Bush's latest reason for bombing Iraq: he's running out of patience. And so am I! For some time now I've been really pissed off with Mr Johnson, who lives a couple of doors down the street. [Daypop Top 40] 4:12:49 PM

PATRIOT II Legislation Leaked The Center for Public Integrity reports that it has obtained a copy of PATRIOT II -- a huge law enforcement power grab that is intended to build on the USA PATRIOT Act. It's called the 'Domestic Security Enhancement Act.' CPI says it would increase domestic intelligence gathering and surveillance while reducing judicial review and public access to information. [Slashdot] 3:41:22 PM

Computer ballot outfit perverts Senate race And the winner is....our CEO! [The Register] 3:35:18 PM

© Copyright 2003 Michael Alderete.