Here and here Scott Horton suggests that Ledeen may be involved with the forged Niger yellowcake documents.
Here are some thoughts on the subject by Steve Sailer from earlier this year.
Of course, there is quite a bit of disagreement as to how much these particular documents contributed to the claim that Saddam was seeking uranium from Africa, so it is not entirely clear to me that these documents played a major role in getting us into war. Nonetheless, they were obviously intended to help to get us into war in Iraq, so whatever role they played, the forger was trying to distort our foreign policy with false evidence. So whoever forged them should be prosecuted under applicable statutes.
That is all.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak in Toronto Nursing Home
The outbreak is not terribly interesting news, but the diagnosis story is interesting.
Colby Cosh has the story, and a not-so-subtle hint as to what TV show it makes him think of plastered on the left-hand side.
That is all.
Colby Cosh has the story, and a not-so-subtle hint as to what TV show it makes him think of plastered on the left-hand side.
That is all.
Insurgents Black Out Baghdad
This is rather bad.
As to what it portends, I refer you to my previous non-commital statement.
That is all.
As to what it portends, I refer you to my previous non-commital statement.
That is all.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Hallelujah!
Why Mac switching to Intel chips could be good news.
And it is likely that the good side effect (Macs able to run Windows and Mac OS) will indeed happen.
I know that this is old news, but I felt compelled to blog about it today.
Of course, it would make sense for Apple to let its computers run Windows, and it makes equally as much sense to make certain that other computers can't run the Mac OS. That's because unlike Microsoft, Apple is a hardware and software company, and they (I assume) make most of their money on their hardware. So anyhting that makes their hardware expendable would hyrt the bottom line, but allowing people to run Windows on their Macs would probably expand their market (e.g. to people who would like to be able to run Mac OS but who need to run Windows for some programs and don't want two computers) and would, at worst, reduce their software sales (and probably not even that, as most people who buy a dual-OS computer presumably wantto run Mac software too).
That is all.
And it is likely that the good side effect (Macs able to run Windows and Mac OS) will indeed happen.
I know that this is old news, but I felt compelled to blog about it today.
Of course, it would make sense for Apple to let its computers run Windows, and it makes equally as much sense to make certain that other computers can't run the Mac OS. That's because unlike Microsoft, Apple is a hardware and software company, and they (I assume) make most of their money on their hardware. So anyhting that makes their hardware expendable would hyrt the bottom line, but allowing people to run Windows on their Macs would probably expand their market (e.g. to people who would like to be able to run Mac OS but who need to run Windows for some programs and don't want two computers) and would, at worst, reduce their software sales (and probably not even that, as most people who buy a dual-OS computer presumably wantto run Mac software too).
That is all.
Attaqs in Iraq
The Baghdad offices of the largest Sunni Arab political party (the Iraqi Islamic Party) were attacked by insurgents today (as were the homes of some of its supporters), in retaliation for the party's acceptance of the proposed Iraqi constitution.
I suppose one could look at this as evidence of the power that those who dislike the proposed constitution still have in the Sunni Arab community (i.e. the Iraqi Islamic Party does not command enough loyalty among the Sunni Arabs as a whole to put a stop to the insurgency by supporting the constitution), or as evidence of how evil and anti-democracy the insurgents are (and hopefully, how that will translate into the insurgents losing some of their popular support within the Sunni community), depending on what in Iraq you wish to emphasize. So the question becomes whether this portends "good Sunnis" standing up to (and shutting down) the insurgency, or that the insurgency is too strong for the constitution to stem it. While I tend to doubt that the insurgency will go away any time soon, I confess that I am have no idea in which direction the Iraqi Islamic Party's endorsement of the constitution, or the subsequent attacks on its members and offices will push things; to the better, or to the worse. So I think I will refrain on offering comments or speculation on the subject until I know more, particularly how the actual vote on the constitution goes.
That is all.
I suppose one could look at this as evidence of the power that those who dislike the proposed constitution still have in the Sunni Arab community (i.e. the Iraqi Islamic Party does not command enough loyalty among the Sunni Arabs as a whole to put a stop to the insurgency by supporting the constitution), or as evidence of how evil and anti-democracy the insurgents are (and hopefully, how that will translate into the insurgents losing some of their popular support within the Sunni community), depending on what in Iraq you wish to emphasize. So the question becomes whether this portends "good Sunnis" standing up to (and shutting down) the insurgency, or that the insurgency is too strong for the constitution to stem it. While I tend to doubt that the insurgency will go away any time soon, I confess that I am have no idea in which direction the Iraqi Islamic Party's endorsement of the constitution, or the subsequent attacks on its members and offices will push things; to the better, or to the worse. So I think I will refrain on offering comments or speculation on the subject until I know more, particularly how the actual vote on the constitution goes.
That is all.
Not Good News
The U.S. has decided not to continue upgrading its missile defense systems.
As someone who greatly prefers missile defense to preventive offense, this does not please me.
On a bright note, it is possible that they are giving up on upgrading so that they can build a new system from scratch, so they may not be abandoning the idea of progress on the missile defense front itself.
That is all.
As someone who greatly prefers missile defense to preventive offense, this does not please me.
On a bright note, it is possible that they are giving up on upgrading so that they can build a new system from scratch, so they may not be abandoning the idea of progress on the missile defense front itself.
That is all.
More on Krugman and Race
The folks over at the Division of Labor blog think that immigration restrictionism may correlate with generous welfare states.
This was a comment on Paul Krugman's column about how the U.S. doesn't have a generous social safety net because white America is too racist to help out poor black people (I posted on it here).
The essential argument is that the bigger the welfare state, the more attractive the country would be to layabouts who seek to abuse the system. Thereofre, the bigger the welfare state, the more restrictive the immigration policy must be to ensure that you get productive immigrants rather than thos who would burden the system.
Interesting hypothesis, but I think that the causation probably runs both ways, and also in oblique directions.
That is all.
This was a comment on Paul Krugman's column about how the U.S. doesn't have a generous social safety net because white America is too racist to help out poor black people (I posted on it here).
The essential argument is that the bigger the welfare state, the more attractive the country would be to layabouts who seek to abuse the system. Thereofre, the bigger the welfare state, the more restrictive the immigration policy must be to ensure that you get productive immigrants rather than thos who would burden the system.
Interesting hypothesis, but I think that the causation probably runs both ways, and also in oblique directions.
That is all.
It's the Pattern, Stupid
Bush's recent staged question-and-answer session is not a big deal in and of itself. Probably a lot of presidents have done scripted events like it, and it really doesn't matter much in the scheme of htings anyway.
But it will get a lot of play and people will be upset about it, because it fits a pattern that more and more people are beginning to see in Bush.
No, it's not that the mainstream media is unfairly piling on the guy. The problem is that Bush has a reputation of surrounding himself with yes-men, of ignoring any dissent, and generally of being deceptive by skewing all of the information in one direction.
So what Bush did, while unimportant in itself, seems to reflect a problem in his character that is very important. And that's why it bugs people. Also, I think that people are bugged less by the fact that Bush does scripted question-and-answer sessions like this than by the fact that he rarely if ever is in a situation where he answers questions from John and Jane Q. Public that are not scripted.
That is all.
But it will get a lot of play and people will be upset about it, because it fits a pattern that more and more people are beginning to see in Bush.
No, it's not that the mainstream media is unfairly piling on the guy. The problem is that Bush has a reputation of surrounding himself with yes-men, of ignoring any dissent, and generally of being deceptive by skewing all of the information in one direction.
So what Bush did, while unimportant in itself, seems to reflect a problem in his character that is very important. And that's why it bugs people. Also, I think that people are bugged less by the fact that Bush does scripted question-and-answer sessions like this than by the fact that he rarely if ever is in a situation where he answers questions from John and Jane Q. Public that are not scripted.
That is all.
Jack Michaels' Thoughts on Miers
A good post by Jack Michaels on Letters from Desolation Row. He eviscerates many of the arguments used by the pro-Miers crowd. I feel pretty much the same way about the situation as he does.
That is all.
That is all.
Making Fun of Hugh Hewitt
Here is a funny parody of Hugh Hewitt's reaction to conservative criticisms of Harriet Miers over at Hubris.
In the comments, I add my own little spiel about Bush butt-kisser Richard Poe.
Thanx and a tip o' the hat to Ol' Sully.
That is all.
In the comments, I add my own little spiel about Bush butt-kisser Richard Poe.
Thanx and a tip o' the hat to Ol' Sully.
That is all.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
James Robbins Says Things are Going Well in Iraq
Two thoughts on this James Robbins article on NRO:
(1) I am unconvinced that passing a constitution will be the death knell of the insurgency. After all, we were told that the "transfer of sovereignty" would be the death knell, then that the elections in January would signla the insurgents' defeat, and each time the insurgency has continued to plug along. Even if the Sunnis vote in massive numbers in the election, it doesn't mean that insurgency-minded Sunnis will accept any results that don't go their way. Moreover, even if a sizeable chunk can be broughtto vote for the constitution, I don't think that that will pacify those who are determined to have something different.
(2) I question the authenticity of the Al Qaeda letters we keep receiving, as well as questioning how accurate their predictions are. We are to believe that Al Qaeda thinks it is in a race against time to stop the democracy in Iraq that will occur if the U.S. stays the course and doesn't bug out. But didn't Zarqawi supposedly complain he was being suffocated back in January 2004 (use "find" function for the phrase "this is suffocation")? Pardon me if I doubt claims that Zarqawi has almost been defeated. Even if all the memos are authentic, he appears to be a bit of a hypochondriac.
That is all.
(1) I am unconvinced that passing a constitution will be the death knell of the insurgency. After all, we were told that the "transfer of sovereignty" would be the death knell, then that the elections in January would signla the insurgents' defeat, and each time the insurgency has continued to plug along. Even if the Sunnis vote in massive numbers in the election, it doesn't mean that insurgency-minded Sunnis will accept any results that don't go their way. Moreover, even if a sizeable chunk can be broughtto vote for the constitution, I don't think that that will pacify those who are determined to have something different.
(2) I question the authenticity of the Al Qaeda letters we keep receiving, as well as questioning how accurate their predictions are. We are to believe that Al Qaeda thinks it is in a race against time to stop the democracy in Iraq that will occur if the U.S. stays the course and doesn't bug out. But didn't Zarqawi supposedly complain he was being suffocated back in January 2004 (use "find" function for the phrase "this is suffocation")? Pardon me if I doubt claims that Zarqawi has almost been defeated. Even if all the memos are authentic, he appears to be a bit of a hypochondriac.
That is all.
Civil War Postponed
Ed Morissey of Captain's Quarters, who temporarily became irritated at Harriet Miers, (I blogged about it here) goes wobbly.
Thanx and a tip o' the hat to Lawrence Auster.
That is all.
Thanx and a tip o' the hat to Lawrence Auster.
That is all.
New Link
Untethered, a relatively new blog by Dennis Dale, which I mentioned earlier, has now been added to the links on my sidebar.
That is all.
That is all.
VDARE Gets Results
Well, information, anyway.
Yes, the 14 rapists in the Immokalee case were here illegally. And VDARE readers are the ones who got that information released.
Bryanna Bevins has the scoop.
Ånd if you have the money, please donate to them. (I would, but I'm near broke currently).
That is all.
Yes, the 14 rapists in the Immokalee case were here illegally. And VDARE readers are the ones who got that information released.
Bryanna Bevins has the scoop.
Ånd if you have the money, please donate to them. (I would, but I'm near broke currently).
That is all.
Another Casus Belli?
The U.S. appears to be talking tough with Syria. Not good, I think, as it risks expanding the war into Syria, which we don't have the troops to do (unless we decide to just resort to mass slaughter of some sort).
On the other hand, I do feel obligated to point out that Lebanon has not been much in the news lately, suggesting that the civil unrest I feared would occur after the Syrian pull-out has not come to pass - at least not yet. (I am fairly certian that I blogged on these concerns at the time of the pull-out, but I can't find the post(s) just now). So it is possible that, despite my misgivings, Lebanon may be able to chug away nicely on its own without outside interference, which is, of course, a good thing.
That is all.
On the other hand, I do feel obligated to point out that Lebanon has not been much in the news lately, suggesting that the civil unrest I feared would occur after the Syrian pull-out has not come to pass - at least not yet. (I am fairly certian that I blogged on these concerns at the time of the pull-out, but I can't find the post(s) just now). So it is possible that, despite my misgivings, Lebanon may be able to chug away nicely on its own without outside interference, which is, of course, a good thing.
That is all.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Subway Threat a Hoax
This from Breitbart:
According to newspaper and television reports, the unidentified officials said the informant -- believed to be from Pakistan -- had admitted leading investigators astray about a plot to bomb the New York subway system.
Thanx and a tip o' the hat to Lunaville.
My disinformation theory (#3) is beginning to look better...
With that in mind, so what now if this was a "disinformation" attack? What if the informant was working for the enemy and deliberately tryng to get us to waste resources searching for a false threat (or worse, using it to distract from the real threat?) Considering the possible "disinformation attack" that resulted in the deaths of 965 Shiites in Iraq at the end of August, this is an unpleasant thought.
But what do we do?
That is not all. This is just the beginning.
According to newspaper and television reports, the unidentified officials said the informant -- believed to be from Pakistan -- had admitted leading investigators astray about a plot to bomb the New York subway system.
Thanx and a tip o' the hat to Lunaville.
My disinformation theory (#3) is beginning to look better...
With that in mind, so what now if this was a "disinformation" attack? What if the informant was working for the enemy and deliberately tryng to get us to waste resources searching for a false threat (or worse, using it to distract from the real threat?) Considering the possible "disinformation attack" that resulted in the deaths of 965 Shiites in Iraq at the end of August, this is an unpleasant thought.
But what do we do?
That is not all. This is just the beginning.
Truth is Irrelevant
The actions of not only the Bush administration, but of the neocon commentariat, in firing or otherwise humiliating and knee-capping (in the case of the administration) or of villifying and ridiculing (for the talking heads) those who predicted accurately beforehand the Iraq situation, and promoting or praising those who were dead wrong, are wonderfully made clear by this post by Orrin Judd.
Who gives a damn about truth if it prevents us from doing what we want to do? In a case like this, true patriots lie their butts off.
Which of course explains Judd's loyalty to Ahmed the Thief, which they actually admit.
Once you realize that truth means nothing to these people, things become a lot more clear.
That is all.
Who gives a damn about truth if it prevents us from doing what we want to do? In a case like this, true patriots lie their butts off.
Which of course explains Judd's loyalty to Ahmed the Thief, which they actually admit.
Once you realize that truth means nothing to these people, things become a lot more clear.
That is all.
More on Dutch "Polygamy"
Tacitus suggests that the distinctions between samenlevingscontracts, civil unions, and marriages, do not alter the fundamental arguments over whether or not Holland is allowing de facto polygamy. Others have argued that the distinction makes those who are arguing that Holland is allowing polygamy liars.
Previously I blogged on this here and here.
That is all.
Previously I blogged on this here and here.
That is all.
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