politics

The Hutton inquiry in the UK is proving to be as much a test of journalism as it is of government. Perhaps the weblog model has something to offer here? Polly Toynbee, in the Guardian, points out the hypocrisy of the outcry over inaccurate journalism: “which of us would escape a walloping if asked to open our notebook scribbles to the searchlight of prosecution interrogation, every word examined for absolute clarity and veracity?” Now that an army of bloggers – writers of journals, so de facto – journalists, have no sub editor, editor or proprietor to answer to (let alone check that they are keeping short-hand notes in spiral bound notepads), are we going to drown in a sea of spurious allegations and downright lies? I would argue that we are less likely to than when respectable news came from those nice gentlemen at The Times. There are two ways…

So that you don’t have to read through the UK broadsheets, here’s a summary of what I’ve learned about the political scandal over Iraq that is dominating the UK press: In September 2002 the UK Government issues Iraq dossier which contains material know known to be false (if a statement which says that Iraq could be ready for a Chemical attack in 45 minutes was known to be false prior to publication and was inserted into document on the instruction of the Prime Minister, the consensus in the UK press is that Tony Blair may have to resign). UK Government Iraq dossier issued in February is found to be plagiarized student material and generally full of crap. No WMD’s found in Iraq to date, UK press starts to question original government evidence. Government concedes an inquiry. Government spin doctors decide to feign outrage at press allegations over original dossier –…

Great article by Matt Welsh on the disenfranchisement of felons. “the democratic world’s largest pool of adult citizens living under a system of taxation without representation”. I can never manage to label Matt Welsh’s politics, which means he must have integrity.

A few days ago Tony Blair had possibly reached his zenith. basking in 17 standing ovations before congress. How quickly things change. Today the BBC reports on the scandal surrounding the suicide of the WMD report whistle blower: “Governments have fallen and prime ministerial careers have collapsed over less.” Even members of Blair’s own party are calling for his resignation. The most likely outcome is that Blair’s spin doctor and/or defence secretary will resign, but if the UK governement falls because of a scandal surrounding false evidence over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, then Bush may have a problem. BBC NEWS | Politics | Kelly death ‘changes everything’

MSNBC have finally had to sack Michael Savage for suggesting that a caller who he believed was gay should “get AIDS and die”. During the Iraq war Savage was used as a pundit as part of a crude attempt by MSNBC to imitate Fox’s gung ho stance and cash in on their ratings success. Firing savage is right, but wasn’t hiring someone with openly held fascist and racist ideas for a mainstream slot, on a channel that blanches at the idea of a shot of a nipple, clearly wrong in the first place. That Savage should go is obvious – but those responsible for hiring him at MSNBC should also go. Savage did not act out of character, and those who chose him knew what they had bought into. Savage, like many people who are motivated by hatred, has a chip on his shoulder as a failed academic rejected by…

Ross Mayfield points out some disturbing facts about the boy scouts movement: “Meanwhile, the Boy Scouts ban atheists and gays. With the supreme court granting the right to private civil society organizaitons to be exclusive, extreme interests are balkanizing. Again, this is a market with few sellers.” I guess this is no surprise from the organization that has historically shared some of the styling and aspirations of the Hitler Youth. On my honor, I will do my best | csmonitor.com

Jeff Jarvis is sensibly skeptical of conspiracy theories: “I never buy a conspiracy theory, for I argue that the world — and especially government and especially big business and very especially big media — are simply not well-organized enough to conspire. That’s why synergy doesn’t sell. No, I don’t believe in conspiracies.” Given that: a. conspiracies, as a subset of mysteries, are seductive and intriguing; b. people who think alike will independently behave alike, without having to go to the significant bother of conspiring. One can assume that the universe of claimed conspiracies is much, much larger than the number which are real. But I still think that Michael Jackson’s behaviour plausibly points to him having been abducted by aliens.

… the Netherlands according to this: “The CGD/FP Commitment to Development Index ranks 21 of the world’s richest countries according to how much their policies help or hinder the economic and social development of poor nations.” Foreign Policy

Did he really mean this: “Richard Perle, said he believes Iraqis will opt for freedom and pluralism after living through “a quarter of a century of brutal oppression.” But if they choose to create an Islamic theocracy, the United States will have to live with that choice.” If Iraq went the way of Iran, i.e. a religious govenment in reaction to a corrupt secular administration, would this be a victory? More likely is that Perle is laying the groundwork so that he cannot be accused of supporting a non democratic puppet while at the same time warning of the dangers of a theocracy. Washington Post

Two key dates here

Andrew Sullivan, in an OpEd for the Washington Times (the paper that is owned by the Moonies): “On the day Kabul fell to Northern Alliance and American troops, the lefty journalist Nicholas von Hoffman predicted disaster and quagmire for the United States in Afghanistan. In von Hoffman’s honor, I instituted the von Hoffman awards for terrible predictions in wartime.” With news that the Taliban is operating again in Afghanistan, IPS reports: IRAQ-U.S.: Meanwhile, Back in Afghanistan “WASHINGTON, Apr 7 (IPS) – As senior U.S. officials promise to rebuild and democratise Iraq, citizens of that country might wish to consider the fate of nearby Afghanistan.” With every twist and turn in this 24 hours a day real-time reported war comes a knee jerk ‘I told you so’. Armchair anarchists and suburban warriors would be well advised to wait a little before jumping to conclusions. There are enough eggs to smear the…

Nick Denton writes: “The problem with the anti-war movement is that most of its participants were more interested in protesting against authority figures in their own lives, and indifferent to the plight of the Iraqi people. They have no conception of what it’s like to live under a capricious totalitarian regime.” You could also say: The problem with the pro-war movement is that most of its participants are unquestioning of authority figures in their own lives, and ultimately indifferent to the plight of the Iraqi people. They have no conception of what it’s like for Arabs in the Middle East. But it is a statement that is both empty and destructive, a viral meme. It would be a sweeping generalization that would contribute to further unnecessary polarization amongst the reasonable majority. It would be manufactured dissent. nickdenton.org: Conversation with a sceptic