More good stuff from the Objective Standard, this time on the recent "negotiations" (cough, appeasements, cough) between the US and Iran. Obviously, the post supposes that Iran is the winner, and of course that's true.
They say it better than I could, so go read it already.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Chicago Overrun by Loony Left
The "Yearly Kos Convention," currently being hosted in Chicago, is probably the only reason I can think of in recent memory of why I'm happy I moved from there to Los Angeles. Of course, they'll probably host in LA next year, in which case I suppose I'll have to go on a vacation or something.
Russia Sells Some Serious Stuff to Iran
Recent significant Russian arms sales (including 250 advanced Su-30 fighters) to Iran does put a bit of a different spin on our arms sales to Saudi Arabia. At least, it does so in a purely contemporary pragmatic sense.
Really, what it says is that we should hurry up and build our ground and air bases in Iraq and Afghanistan and start stocking them up. And the $20 billion should have gone straigh to Israel. Thinking that we can trust Saudi Arabia (or any other Arab state, for that matter), with protecting our interests in the Middle East is the kind of thinking that go us where we are today.
We need to stop with the subtle geopolitical wrangling and start acting like the superpower we are. If that means being really, really nice to our allies and really, really mean to our enemies, than so be it. First, of course, we have to identify which is which, and so far, we've done a poor job of it.
Iran's going to be our problem. Saudi Arabia won't do anything for us. And unfortunately, the Russians and Iranians both know this better than do we.
Really, what it says is that we should hurry up and build our ground and air bases in Iraq and Afghanistan and start stocking them up. And the $20 billion should have gone straigh to Israel. Thinking that we can trust Saudi Arabia (or any other Arab state, for that matter), with protecting our interests in the Middle East is the kind of thinking that go us where we are today.
We need to stop with the subtle geopolitical wrangling and start acting like the superpower we are. If that means being really, really nice to our allies and really, really mean to our enemies, than so be it. First, of course, we have to identify which is which, and so far, we've done a poor job of it.
Iran's going to be our problem. Saudi Arabia won't do anything for us. And unfortunately, the Russians and Iranians both know this better than do we.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at a hefty 7802 Diggs, is a screenshot of Digg from the '90's. Looking at the Dugg titles listed, the only thing that's changed is Digg's gotten a whole lot prettier and more complex.
As they say, the more things change...
As they say, the more things change...
Russia Plants Flag at North Pole
Well, they've gone and done it. Russia has planted a flag on the sea floor at the North Pole. It has no legal standing, of course, any more than the American flag planted on the Moon means that we own it. But to Russia, it's more than just symbolism.
The only economic strength that Russia has is its energy resources. It will do anything it can to exploit them, and to grow them. And so I expect some serious wrangling over this territory, and I don't expect it to be pretty.
The only economic strength that Russia has is its energy resources. It will do anything it can to exploit them, and to grow them. And so I expect some serious wrangling over this territory, and I don't expect it to be pretty.
A Little Bit about Preemption
Here's an interesting post at The Sophistry blog about the issue of preemption. It raises some interesting points, not all of which I agree with, and is in general an interesting read. Of course, I'm all for preemptive strikes against our enemies, and agree with elements of the linked discussion that the concept of "preemption" has a pretty broad timeline.
I won't toss in more examples, because the linked post provides a few. Give it a read.
I won't toss in more examples, because the linked post provides a few. Give it a read.
Newsflash: Young Russians Agree with Putin
Apparently, according to the Washington Post, young Russians consider America their number one threat, just as does Putin. Surprise, surprise.
This quote is interesting:
And while Putin's rhetoric is driving this development, human rights violations associated with U.S. counterterrorism policies have played a role.
Now, this seems a little redundant to me, since Putin controls the media with a pretty tight fist and thus "Putin's rhetoric" and "human rights violations associated with U.S. counterterrorism policies" are really one and the same. Certainly, these same youngsters wouldn't be familiar with Russian counterterrorism policies, and would thus have nothing to compare against.
At times, I think this is all just political posturing, by a nation (Russia) that has long held a collective sense of inferiority. Then again, at other times, I think that things are going to come to a head sometime in the future, and where the Cold War stayed cold (or I wouldn't be writing this), the next one might not be so cool.
This quote is interesting:
And while Putin's rhetoric is driving this development, human rights violations associated with U.S. counterterrorism policies have played a role.
Now, this seems a little redundant to me, since Putin controls the media with a pretty tight fist and thus "Putin's rhetoric" and "human rights violations associated with U.S. counterterrorism policies" are really one and the same. Certainly, these same youngsters wouldn't be familiar with Russian counterterrorism policies, and would thus have nothing to compare against.
At times, I think this is all just political posturing, by a nation (Russia) that has long held a collective sense of inferiority. Then again, at other times, I think that things are going to come to a head sometime in the future, and where the Cold War stayed cold (or I wouldn't be writing this), the next one might not be so cool.
al Qaeda Planning "Big Surprise"?
Some stuff about a potential al Qaeda attack in the next 90 days. I don't normally publish such scaremongering, but for some reason this post caught my eye. And I do put more stock in Israeli intelligence than, well, I suppose, in our own. Even ex-Israeli intelligence. And then there's the bit about August 22nd being an auspicious date in the Muslim calendar.
I could say, we've heard this all before, but then again, we'd heard it all before 9/11, as well. We just weren't listening. So maybe it's a good idea to keep at least one ear open.
Just in case.
I could say, we've heard this all before, but then again, we'd heard it all before 9/11, as well. We just weren't listening. So maybe it's a good idea to keep at least one ear open.
Just in case.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Obama: We'll Never Use Nukes
Via Little Green Footballs: Obama puts his foot in his mouth about the potential use of nuclear weapons. It does tend to raise the question of how viable our nuclear deterrent would be should he be elected President.
Celebrity Report: Chavez and Sean Penn New Best Buds
Celebrity Report: Sean Penn and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are buds, it would seem. They share, at the very least, a common lack of support for the war in Iraq and, I would guess, a common hatred for America, as well.
The gist:
Chavez said Penn traveled to Venezuela this week wanting to learn more about the situation in the country and walked around some of Caracas' poor barrios on his own.
"Welcome to Venezuela, Mr. Penn. What drives him is consciousness, the search for new paths," Chavez said Wednesday in a televised speech. "He's one of the greatest opponents of the Iraq invasion."
The gist:
Chavez said Penn traveled to Venezuela this week wanting to learn more about the situation in the country and walked around some of Caracas' poor barrios on his own.
"Welcome to Venezuela, Mr. Penn. What drives him is consciousness, the search for new paths," Chavez said Wednesday in a televised speech. "He's one of the greatest opponents of the Iraq invasion."
Boing Boing Fails to Recognize Value of Symbolism
Boing Boing fails utterly to understand the importance of symbolism in maintaining public awareness and support of the war on Islamic totalitarianism. The State of Oklahoma obviously understands its value, and is issuing a license plate reminding everyone that, yes, 9/11 really did happen and, yes, there's still some paying back to be done.
And, by the way, Boing Boing, Osama bin Ladin is really pretty irrelevant in the whole scheme of things. Yes, it would be nice to find him and hang him by the neck, but other than a symbol, he's pretty meaningless. It's Iran, Syria, and Saudia Arabia that are the real problems.
And, by the way, Boing Boing, Osama bin Ladin is really pretty irrelevant in the whole scheme of things. Yes, it would be nice to find him and hang him by the neck, but other than a symbol, he's pretty meaningless. It's Iran, Syria, and Saudia Arabia that are the real problems.
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 3799 Diggs, is a link to a story about the tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
My condolences to everyone who was injured or has lost a loved one in this horrific accident.
My condolences to everyone who was injured or has lost a loved one in this horrific accident.
Poll: Almost 60% Of Iranians Would Welcome Foreign Military Action Against Ahmadinejad
I don't know much about the organization Center For the Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights, but they've just released a fascinating poll taken of the Iranian population. Some excerpts:
A new survey reveals that 92 percent of the subjects of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's totalitarian government do not believe their nation's role is positive, and two-thirds would support a "Velvet Revolution" to remove him from power.
That's interesting enough. Now check this out:
The survey...found that almost six out of 10 Iranians would support a foreign military action for the purpose of taking Ahmadinejad out of the role as dictator.
I don't remember: did we have such a poll before we invaded Iraq?
There's a lot more there. Definitely worth a read, but like all polls, should be taken with a huge grain of salt.
A new survey reveals that 92 percent of the subjects of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's totalitarian government do not believe their nation's role is positive, and two-thirds would support a "Velvet Revolution" to remove him from power.
That's interesting enough. Now check this out:
The survey...found that almost six out of 10 Iranians would support a foreign military action for the purpose of taking Ahmadinejad out of the role as dictator.
I don't remember: did we have such a poll before we invaded Iraq?
There's a lot more there. Definitely worth a read, but like all polls, should be taken with a huge grain of salt.
Putin Youth - An Inside View?
More on the Putin Youth. I'm not terribly sure of this source, and so I'm not putting too much stock in it. But it certainly fits in with everything else we've been hearing.
Litvinenko's Killer - Next Russian President?
Here's an interesting essay that suggests the possibility of Andrei Lugovoi, alleged assassin of Alexander Litvinenko, succeeding Putin as Russian President. It's a bit tongue-in-cheek, I think, but it raises some very interesting points about how Russians perceive themselves and the world.
Quite honestly, something like this wouldn't suprise me.
Quite honestly, something like this wouldn't suprise me.
Software Can Tell if Digital Photo or Video was Altered
This is good news. Neal Krawetz, computer security consultant and researcher, has developed software that can tell if and how a digital photo or video was altered. Given the many, many propaganda pieces that have been foisted on the world by al Qaeda's internal media production team (which apparently they actually have, to no real surprise), this is very useful software indeed.
It's also interesting for many other uses as well. Mainstream media, you better pay attention.
It's also interesting for many other uses as well. Mainstream media, you better pay attention.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 4354 Diggs, is a sort of public service announcement regarding a certain site and Google's search engine.
Quite a few Diggs for not a lot.
Quite a few Diggs for not a lot.
More on Ahmadinejad
A nice piece on Iranian President Imajihadi (or whatever his name is). The guy's on a tear: executions, interference with neighboring countries, exporting terrorism, forging relationships with every dictator he can. I only wish I had the same sort of energy.
It's a quick read, and worth it.
It's a quick read, and worth it.
Russian's Claim on the North Pole to Cause Serious Problems
I'm linking to this post only because of the bizarre headline: "Future War: Russia vs Canada vs Denmark." It's comical, put that way.
Of course, the dispute over energy resources in the North Pole won't be so comical in the future, I'm afraid. Obviously, Canada and Denmark would never go against the Russians on their own. Should things come to a shooting war, the US would be hip deep in it.
Of course, the dispute over energy resources in the North Pole won't be so comical in the future, I'm afraid. Obviously, Canada and Denmark would never go against the Russians on their own. Should things come to a shooting war, the US would be hip deep in it.
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