politics

The last few weeks have been embarrassing for the Hawks. This will help them. BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Chemical warheads seized in Iraq

Fox (owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation) has always struck me as having the most obviously right wing slant of all the TV networks, so quite strange to see this in another of Murdoch’s properties. Le Carre in the London Times: Times Online “A recent poll tells us that one in two Americans now believe Saddam was responsible for the attack on the World Trade Centre.” Mmm, anyone know what poll that would be?

Blix: Iraq violated sanctions CNN Blix: no ‘smoking guns’ in Iraq Guardian UK Same person, same day, same place, same story, somewhat different take.

David Galbraith’s weblog: Kissinger resigns as head of 9/11 commission due to a conflict of interests. More like: ‘An interest in conflicts’. Baroom Ching.

“due to conflict of interest” There’s a joke there somewhere.

Salon suggests that Elliot Abrams’ appointment top policy advisor on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could prove disastrous. Salon.com News | Bush’s frightening Middle East appointment

Carter warns of “‘catastrophic consequences‘ of a pre-emptive US war on Iraq” in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, whilst former Conservative UK Prime Minister Thatcher praised opposition party Prime Minister Blair “for backing the United States in its war against terror” as she received an award in Washington for her pursuit of political freedom.

[update: from the URL, I thought that the, admittedly rather shocking, cartoon above was from an Italian cartoonist, it seems that the Italians really don’t like Kissenger from the variety of alternatives that were available. In actual fact it is by David Levine of ‘the New Yorker’ fame] I actually thought that the appointment of Kissinger (who’s application for imprisonment for war crimes was heard by a UK court earlier this year) to chair the inquiry into 9/11 intelligence shortcomings, was a sick joke, perhaps not. The Latest Kissinger Outrage – Why is a proven liar and wanted man in charge of the 9/11 investigation? By Christopher

Nick Denton satirizes investment bankers for Management Today. Surely the affects of a recession on bankers were more obvious during the 80’s (as my friend Kamal points out Milken awarded himself a bonus of over $600M in the 80’s and that kind off excess has note been a feature this time round)? However, the patters of this recession, which looks more like Japan’s zero inflation slump than the inflationary 80’s will be felt differently as the ripples hit people who earn less. David Galbraith says: the article i would like to see you write – i would try, but am not qualified to – is what is going to be the story this time round as the downturn really hits the population at large – deflation – house prices – anti-war etc. Nick Denton says: I doubt it will have any impact on the war David Galbraith says: i was…

As the Economist points out, the time to act against a potential aggressor is before they acquire nuclear weapons, in the this respect the Economist votes in favor of war with Iraq. In terms of the implications of a war with Iraq, the two most important countries that the US must focus on today, for very different reasons, are Israel to the east and Pakistan to the west. Both have nuclear weapons and both are looking politically fragile. Israel…. In Israel, a coalition government has collapsed, and Sharon has endured three no confidence votes, continuing Israeli/Palestinian violence is playing to the right. The CIA cautions against involvement against Iraq while there is violence in Israel. Remember the Patriot missile system in the gulf war – well they actually brought down none of the Iraqi Scuds – their success was propaganda. A cornered Saddam could launch a bio or chemical warhead…

Glenn Reynolds posts that Michael Moore is Panned in Canada: “His journalism, in short, on the subject of Canada and Canadians, is nothing short of shoddy, manipulative and untrue. The same can be said for his journalism on his own country, and indeed on the terrible and complicated issue he purports to adjudicate.” More accurately this should read Michael Moore gets panned by one newspaper in Canada, the National Post. – big deal. Reading other Canadian newspapers the story is somewhat different: Toronto Star “A great documentary challenges social norms and demands reaction, and on that score Moore hits us right between the eyes.” Edmonton Journal “Michael Moore remains a welcome voice in the North American conversation, especially considering how stacked the deck has become. Even when he stumbles, he’s worth watching — and he’s standing pretty tall here.” The Globe and Mail “Moore’s documentary about gun control in the…

A new blog that should provide balance to War Blogging at first glance – seems to have a slight Libertarian bias. – However, seems that the most excellent Max Sawicky is involved, so it must be OK! No War Blog