I was originally going to be reaching way back to the beginnings of this blog for "encore" postings, but yesterday's assassination of Benazir Bhutto prompted me to pull up this one from November 7th. Her assassination will likely have two affects: Musharef will stay in power, even if they hold elections as scheduled, and Al-Queda will gain more power. It's fucked up, but don't worry, the United States is giving our ally Pakistan lots of money because they are our friends and would never turn on us. At least, not until after we give them tons of money and military equipment.
(If you'd like to check out some fresh bloggery, go to Do You Speak English?. It's a fun site that features music and video oddities, mostly from the 60's.)
HISTORY ON AUTO-REPEAT
In 2005, at his second inaugural address as an un-elected president, Governor Bush said this...
All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.
Democratic reformers facing repression, prison or exile can know: America sees you for who you are -- the future leaders of your free country.
The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it."
The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side.
Of course, this is a pack of hypocrisy and lies. Something this administration sells and re-sells (refurbished, but packaged as new). If it were true, we wouldn't be giving Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf such a pass. Just to say "we're disappointed" isn't enough.
When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, some of the reasons given were that Hussein was a tyrant oppressing his people and he was a threat to the safety of America because he was trying to develop a biological and nuclear weapons program. All the while Bush and Cheney were banging the drum to take Iraq, North Korea was standing near the punch bowl desperately trying to get Uncle Sam's attention and get him to dance. North Korea is an oppressed country run by a tyrant with nuclear capabilities that has often blatantly threatened the safety of the United States. North Korea has - and had at that time - long-range missiles that can strike the United States.
But Bush and his pals had set their sights on oil-laden Iraq and would not be deterred by an actual threat.
Today, as Bush's tin war drum beats to invade Iran because of the top three criteria; tyrant in power, nuclear capability, threat to America, the administration is ignoring Pakistan, a country that has a tyrant in power, nuclear capabilities and, if not directly threatening the United States, certainly has ties to Al-Queda, which Iraq did not. Pakistan even has someone able to take over power that has the will of their people, is a rational leader, and a bit of a babe, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. I'm not saying we should go to war with Pakistan. But if we are going to throw some military weight around, throw it where it makes sense.
If Bush really meant what he said with All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you. Then we would be crawling all over Pakistan AND Darfur.
THE BS NEWS QUIZ OF THE DAY
Yesterday, I asked...
"According to the sheriff's office in Collier County, Florida, kids are getting high on a new drug whose active ingredient is what?"
30% said "Magic Markers"
- Mmmm, magic markers smell good. Why is my nose bleeding purple?
30% tried "Fermented Twinkies"
- No wonder Twinkie the Kidd always seemed so spastic.
No one thought anyone was getting high on "Life"
- Unless its Mikey.
40 % squeezed out the right answer with "Human Poop"
According to The Smoking Gun, there's a purported "new drug" favored by the kids. It's a homemade inhalant called "Jenkem," and causes hallucinations and a "euphoric high." Jenkem's active ingredients are urine and fecal matter. Guess smoking crack wasn't enough. Now we're going for the whole ass.
