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Sunday, August 11, 2002
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Clues of 9/11 Plans Found in Spain [AP World News]
The more we find out about what was known before 9/11, the more you have to ask why we were unable to put the pieces together and prevent the single most devastating attack ever on US soil.
Actually, the Clinton administration had connected many of the dots. They turned over a fully operational, ready to go plan to destroy al Qaeda’s infrastructure to the Bush White House in January of 2001. Unfortunately, it took the Bushies eight months to approve the plan. By that time it was too late.
I guess they were too busy making sure they could steal the election in Florida to worry about pesky little things like national security.
It’s also interesting to note that Bush publicly chided Clinton for launching 72 cruise missiles at al Qaeda targets. I wonder if he still feels the same way?
12:54:38 AM 
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An Online Revolution That Isn't Happening. What is (and isn't) available on the Web for classical music listeners. By Allan Kozinn. [New York Times: Technology]
These guys are looking in the wrong places for classical music online. I’ve seen many high quality rips of fine performances, including many historic performances not easily available elsewhere, on Usenet; specifically alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.classical, but you didn’t hear it from me.
12:45:46 AM
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The Hip-Hop Generation Grabs a Guitar. A growing number of young black musicians are turning to rock 'n' roll because it allows for a greater range of subjects and emotions than hip-hop. By TourÉ. [New York Times: Arts]
We’ve seen many musical genres emerge primarily as dance music, especially over the last century. Those that stick around for any length of time have to grow beyond the dance floor.
Being a white, male baby boomer, I’ve never been a big hip-hop fan, with a few exceptions. But I’m heartened to see musicality working its way into hip-hop, just as did blues, giving us jazz and rock and roll, both of which then branched into other endless directions, including hip-hop.
12:39:55 AM
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Thumbs Up or Down: In the Audition Arena. Some compassionate survival tips for anyone fearless (or masochistic) enough to audition for a part in a musical. By Stuart Ostrow. [New York Times: Arts]
Here’s an audition tip of my own. When you see a few songs suggested in the New York Times arts section as really good audition pieces, scratch them from your repertoire. Otherwise, odds are the auditioners will have heard your choice a dozen times already. You could slay it and they’ll still tune out after 4 bars.
12:34:19 AM
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The Odds of That. In paranoid times like these, people see connections where there aren't any. Why the complex science of coincidence is a conspiracy theorist's worst nightmare. By Lisa Belkin. [New York Times: National]
This is a great story about probability and our perception of the universe. It seems many people think the world revolves around them and use coincidence as proof.
They’re wrong, of course. Everyone knows the world revolves around me.
12:30:05 AM
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Chairman of Democrats Faults Bush as a Leader. The chairman of the Democratic National Committee accused President Bush of squandering "an extraordinary opportunity" to take the nation through difficult times. By Adam Nagourney. [New York Times: National]
It’s about time the Democrats took the gloves off. With a few notable exceptions, the Bush presidency has so far been a disaster for the average American while his corporate masters are rolling in the green. Obviously the Dems have finally come to the conclusion that the Boy Blunder is vulnerable.
Accusing Bush of violating the massive public trust invested in him – approval ratings after 9/11 topped 90%, but have declined significantly since – may prove to strike a chord with voters battered by the Bush economy and disillusioned with the combination of hubris and stupidity that have been the hallmark of the Bush White House.
Soon he will also be vulnerable on his handling of the war on terror. Where is Osama bin Laden? For that matter, where are *any* of the top al Qaeda or Taliban leaders? Wasn’t that the main stated goal of action in Afghanistan?
And now we’re beginning to see the same kind of hit and run guerilla tactics that eventually drove Russia out. From Viet Nam we already know the American public has little stomach for ongoing wars of attrition that cost US lives.
Perhaps this is karma in action. Many of the Taliban and al Qaeda leaders are the same “freedom fighters” we supported as the Mujahadin in their decade long war against the Soviets. We were more than happy to allow millions to die fighting our battles then. But the minute the Soviets withdrew, Reagan withdrew all support.
“Hey, thanks for spending millions of lives fighting our battles. Don’t call us, we’ll call you.” And we wonder why the view us as the Great Satan?
12:22:33 AM
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For Each Audience, Another Secret Plan to Attack Iraq. The Bush administration is clearing the ground for battle by addressing the American public, the international community and the Iraqi regime. By Christopher Marquis. [New York Times: Politics]
Fog of war or just foggy thinking? It’s hard to tell with Bush. Sure, the Boy Blunder is no genius, but there are a few not dumb people around him, including the very not dumb Colin Powell, all but left out of the administration’s Iraq policy, at least publicly.
It’s unrealistic to expect Bush to be able to articulate why we should invade a foreign nation because they might pose a threat in the future. It’s unrealistic to expect him to articulate much of anything.
Of course, their biggest problem is they don’t agree amongst themselves, much less are they capable of taking their case to the American people. This continual leaking and disinformation serves no purpose.
Sadam didn’t believe we were going to attack until Congress approved action last time and there’s no reason to think it will be any different now.
Of course the truly scary thing is for some in the administration, including Shrub, himself, view this as a holy war. Marvin Olasky, a Baptist minister, professor of Journalism at the University of Texas, top level KKKristian star and the author of the doctrine of “Compassionate Conservatism” has convinced Bush that Sadam is the Anti-Christ. I shit you not.
That means Bush truly believes he is playing out the End Times, the ultimate conclusion of which is Armageddon. The truly scary thing is Bush actually wants to bring about the end of the world. He’s out to fulfill prophecy. Never mind that 80% of the world’s population believes differently. GW plans to have a prime spot among the few on the hill.
12:06:28 AM
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© Copyright 2002 Dusty Rhodes.
Last update: 8/31/2002; 4:42:31 PM.
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