Monday, March 24, 2003

Movies I am tired, but figured part of it out. We are watching a movie. The (perceived} plot is simple: good vs. bad; each side desperate to win. And although we may hope for one or the other, we know there will be drama along the way. But the movie goes on and on and has instant replays. Those who know fighters on either side cannot turn the movie off. Those who don't, don't want to be the last to know... and perhaps, by watching and reading, they (me) feel as if we are doing something... Rather sad all around in many ways. An acquaintance wrote about his new 300 million channel TV upgrade. He's found the music channels... and finds solace and reprieve in Mozart and Bach - and George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass". comment []  permalink  9:05:54 PM

No More Tonight In case you haven't figured it out (via the archive page, lol) I am new to blogging. I learn fast though. But I'm taking a break during CNN reruns and have found some very intelligent people posting very intelligent things on blogs across the world... And I'm going to go read. And tomorrow, here will be more informed and smarter place... but I also have to teach... so it will be minimal (perhaps). comment []  permalink  7:41:19 PM

A Note to Several Critics: This Is Not an Anti-American Site Rather, it is one that is skewed from an individual's perspective, biased by that perspective, but what is reported as news is always corroborated (by more than simply what is linked to) and my opinion, of which there is much, is distinctly separate from that. It is an attempt to provide a multicultural, multi-worldly view of that which we see and read in our own living rooms. comment []  permalink  6:38:30 PM

Miscellaneous Notes Aid may take weeks to get to Iraq, including desperately needed water. Bahrain blast was a propane tank brought by protester according to CNN TV. Three young teenagers, trying to hang peace symbol signs on an underpass of I-195, (under the same bridge where hundreds of American flags have been placed since 9/11), were approached by police from two police cars. The signs didn't get hung. Viva la freedom of expression. [eyewitness account] And life goes on (for some). At least 200 special ops have been inserted into northern Iraq, according to CNN TV. comment []  permalink  5:05:48 PM

Death (and Hatred) in Other Forms and a Warning to Media Suspected militants lined up 24 Hindu men, women and children and gunned them down in Indian Kashmir yesterday. Today, up to 160 people died in a shipwreck in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Today, there are now 386 cases of SARS - the "severe acute respiratory syndrome." Yesterday, the Riverton, WY, Chamber of Commerce declared the city a '''hate-free zone'' in response to a white supremacist organization that moved there - three months ago. "What endangers the world is not war, it is the hatred of the two sides,'' says Phra Paisal Visalo, a Buddhist monk. There's seem to be lots of sides hating today. The Pentagon briefing just warned independent media to be careful and said that some Iraqis had dressed as civilinas and posed as journalists. An attempt to be concerned over people's welfare or to further cut press reports? comment []  permalink  3:44:38 PM

More Good Teaching Tools The U.S.-German clash over war in Iraq has made its way down to a high school in Tennessee, that has canceled "precisely the kind of student exchange that is supposed to promote mutual understanding." "For many New Mexicans, three bumper stickers sum up the political and emotional dilemma about the days ahead: 'Support Our Troops,' 'No War in Iraq' and 'I Love My Country But Fear My Government.' That last bumper sticker has a particularly painful meaning for two Rio Grande High School teachers who have been suspended for opposing the war and supporting a debate on the war in Iraq in their classes." Better be quiet all. Young dissenters in Bahrain better listen, too. comment []  permalink  2:41:59 PM

Battle of Pictures An email reads: "Besides in France we have some independent media showing pictures and documentaries ... [of] US-UK troops [who] do not stop showing the Iraqi prisoners and their humiliations, but when the US prisoners are concerned, president Bush claims the strict respect of those conventions." Seems Islam Online News agrees, which isn't much of a surprise. Anyway, didn't Ari Fleischer just say this wasn't so? (See four posts down.) British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon tries to explain the difference. comment []  permalink  2:22:12 PM

Money and War Thirty-two Apache helicopters have been affected by bullets and grenades; two downed, 30 returned to base. Dow is down 310 points. People are dying. Price for a barrel of oil is up $1.00. So much for the easy war. People are dying. Good news is that Pentagon officials said they are pleased with the way the American media have portrayed the war. Bad news is people are dying and economists see war as a main threat to US economy. comment []  permalink  1:57:20 PM

Japan and Baghdad Two projectiles were fired late Wednesday at a U.S. military base in Tokyo, but no damage or injuries were reported. Salam is back online after a few days of no Internet access in Baghdad. "Today's (and last night's) shock attacks didn't come from airplanes but rather from the airwaves. The images Al-jazeera is broadcasting are beyond any description. First was the attack on (Ansar el Islam) camp in the north of Iraq. Then the images of civilian casualties in Basra city. What was most disturbing are the images from the hospitals. They are simply not prepared to deal with these things. People were lying on the floor with bandages and blood all over. If this is what "urban warefare" is going to look like we're in for disaster. " comment []  permalink  1:40:58 PM

Battle of Red Zone Underway 5th CORPS ASSAULT COMMAND POST, near NAJAF, Iraq American forces have begun the battle for the Red Zone, the area around Baghdad that is defended by Iraq's Republican Guard. comment []  permalink  1:20:31 PM

More Sticky Messes From Ari Fleischer's press briefing: A bill will be sent to Congress to pay for war costs (70 - 90 billion dollars). .. "Very concerned of reports of ongoing support of Iraq by the Soviets." (I guess we can probably then add the Soviets to the pissed off list created earlier.) Bush made three phone calls: Blair, Aznar, and Putin. "Soviet actions are disturbing." (The Dow Jobes is down 284 points with all the good news running around.) "President knows we area making good progress in the war against Saddam Hussein." (Hussein, meanwhile, urges Iraqis to fight the 'evil' US.) Helen Thompson asked if we were following the Geneva Convention in Guantanemo and Iraq... Fleischer hesitated.. said they were different situations and that of course we followed it in Iraq... "we treat them humanely" in Guantanemo Bay. Hmmm... and we're chastizing Iraq for ignoring the Geneva Convention? (See four posts down.) I'm confused. comment []  permalink  1:10:27 PM

Thirst, Death, and On the Move U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for urgent measures to help the people of Basra obtain adequate water supplies while US commanders say progress is "dramatic" despite stiff resistance. Meanwhile the Army's 3rd Infantry division is only 50 miles from Baghdad, probably hoping they don't add to the 20 Americans dead or missing thus far. comment []  permalink  12:54:20 PM

It's Begun Again Bombs started a while ago on televised Baghdad again - and there are still no air raid warning sirens heard. Apparently, the 'coalition' forces wrecked them, although that would seem to fly in the face of trying to minimize 'collateral damage'. What a nice anniversary reminder for four years ago. comment []  permalink  12:06:25 PM

Who Else Can We Annoy? We seem to be adding to the list of those who aren't too pleased: Syria condemns the killing of five of its nationals fleeing fighting in Iraq as "terrible aggression". The university in Baghdad has been hit. "Those who live far away cannot have the same sensitivities [as Turkey]. For us this is a fire that has broken out in our neighborhood," the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said when explaining why Turkey must enter Iraq. "Tehran said a missile that landed in northwestern Iran was probably Iraqi, but another that struck the southern city of Abadan was fired by coalition forces." Tensions grow in US ally Jordan when four Jordanian students were killed in bombing Sunday in northern Iraq. The atmosphere in Saudi Arabia is boiling, says Mohsen al-Awajy, an Islamic scholar. Meanwhile, President Bush tries to lower our expectations of the war. comment []    10:48:31 AM   Well, after spending the last three hours messing this up, I'm ready to begin again. Iraq Violates Treaties Donald Rumsfeld said, "Iraq has a practice of violating international law and ignoring international conventions and treaties," which is rather ironic given US practices. In fact, one criticism of current policies is that "the United States is criticized for riding roughshod over world opinion and acting without the sanction of the United Nations [and] its apparent willingness to wreck such institutions as NATO, to reject treaties covering global concerns" creates havoc. And one only need ask the indigenous population of the U.S. to recognize that it/we have abrogated numerous treaties along our historical path. comment []    8:56:44 AM   Archive - March 23 and March 22 comment []    8:45:17 AM   comment []  permalink  12:02:34 PM

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