Free Your Fries, and the Rest Will Follow

a linked list

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials, April 18, 1946

Tue, Dec 16

video and article of Donald Rumsfeld having a cordial handshake and meeting with Sadam Hussein in 1983:

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/

Wed, December 10

An interesting article about the many ways in which the US and UK are supporting a dictatorship in Uzbekistan in the same way that they supported dictatorships in Iraq and Afghanistan:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1072313,00.html

Monday, December 8

ah, the proverbial pot and kettle:
White House "expresses concern" about fairness of Russian election

Sunday, December 7

The war with Iraq, in a nutshell:

"With a heavy dose of fear and violence, and a lot of money for projects, I think we can convince these people that we are here to help them." -- Colonel Sassaman

from this article in the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/07/international/middleeast/07TACT.html?hp

Another great quote, though this one is a bit older, but new to me:

"...why should we hear about body bags, and deaths, and how many, what day it's gonna happen, and how many this or what do you suppose? Or, I mean, it's, it's not relevant. So, why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?" -- Barbara Bush on ABC/Good Morning America, March 18, 2003

Wed, December 3

This quote has been circulated alot, but I still think its pretty interesting:

"Trying to eliminate Saddam .. would have incurred incalculable human and political costs. Apprehending him was probably impossible ... We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq ...there was no viable "exit strategy" we could see, violating another of our principles. Furthermore, we had been self-consciously trying to set a pattern for handling aggression in the post-Cold War world. Going in and occupying Iraq, thus unilaterally exceeding the United Nations' mandate, would have destroyed the precedent of international response to aggression that we hoped to establish. Had we gone the invasion route, the United States could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land."

-- George H.W. Bush, 1996

Sun, November 16

An interesting article about the many ways the reconstruction in Iraq is being mismanaged, and why "We Are Losing the Peace in Iraq" ... and from an interesting source: military.com.

http://www.military.com/NewContent?file=Defensewatch_111303_Peace

Wed, November 11

Here is a bit of information about Veteran's Day, and a letter from an Iraqi soldier:

truthout.org

Thur, November 6

This absolutely infuriating. Note how on one hand even this article admits that

"Lynch also confirmed reports in the book that Iraqi doctors tried to sneak her to safety in an ambulance but turned back when wary U.S. soldiers opened fire on them."

and

"Lynch described to Bragg how Iraqi doctors were branded "traitors" by Saddam's henchmen for helping her and how they tried to treat her wounds in a shattered hospital where painkillers were scarce. She said one nurse tried to ease her agony by singing to her."

but still goes on describe "her treatment by the Iraqis in a hellish hospital". This report just seems generally confused: the headline contrasting sharply with its admissions in the last couple paragraphs about Lynch deny many of the authors outlandish claims.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/134264p-119598c.html

Mon, November 3

This is old news, but nonetheless repulsive:

"Fuck Saddam, we're taking him out." - George W, March 2002
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/24/timep.saddam.tm/

Wed, October 29

Trent Lott about Iraq: "... just mow the whole place down, see what happens. You’re dealing with insane suicide bombers..."

http://www.thehill.com/news/102903/gopunity.aspx

...[LONG BREAK]...

Friday, September 12

something from the Economist, about perceptions of wealth in America

Wednesday, September 10

(This is not political, but oh well.) After reading about Sofia Copola in last week's New York Times magazine and then watching The Virgin Suicides, I had the idea to write an essay; very similar to this one which, coincidentally enough, is about Roman Copola and his film CQ.

Monday, September 2

a great aricle about the horrible state of health care for prison inmates:
SICK ON THE INSIDE: Correctional HMOs and the coming prison plague

Thursday, Aug 28

Another great blog from Iraq:
"Baghdad Burning"

Fri, Aug 22

great article about copyright laws and common misconceptions
"Copying is Theft - and other legal myths"

Wed, Aug 20

This really makes me sick:
George Bush action figure
"Elite Force Aviator"??? "Due to extremely high demand..."???

Mon, Aug 18

Its's illegal to boycott Israel:
Company fined $6,000 for not reporting customer's question

And the law itself:
see section (d) on page 24

Thur, 14 Aug

An interesting chart of Bush's polling data since Jan 2001.

Tue, 12 Aug

I like MoveOn.org... I wish I had been able to go to this speech:
Al Gore speaks at NYU

Tue, 5 Aug

Reading the wrong thing in public can get you in trouble

... and here is the article to which the above article refers:
Weapons Of Mass Stupidity

Wed, 23 July

An interesting article on the psychological factors leading to conservatism:
http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/07/22_politics.shtml

Mon, 21 July

George W to Science: "Drop dead" (sort of)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0307.thompson.html

and here's a link to how the other half thinks. Prepare yourself for some intrenched ignorance
The Weekly Standard

Wed, 16 July

a funny article with some good links

For example, this: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0314/p02s01-woiq.html

and a story about Jessica Lynch: "the soldiers declined an offer of the hospital's master key so they wouldn't have to break down the doors."
http://www.msnbc.com/local/arkcity/m299507.asp?cp1=1

Thursday, 10 July 2003

Rumsfeld dismisses concerns over intelligence (CNN.com)

Everyone should sign this petition persuading Congress to launch an investigation of the current administration's lies and misuse of intelligence leading up to the war.

And finally, I think perhaps this Michael Savage guy has a secret craving for sausages, if ya know what I mean...

Michael Savage wishes AIDS upon all gays

... at least now he's off the air.

Tuesday, 8 July 2003

George W Bush taunts Iraqi guerillas:

"Bring them on"

Tuesday, 24 June 2003

You'd think that if a president of the US could get impeached for a little philandering with an intern, another would suffer a similar (or worse) fate for leading the nation into a war based on lies... alas, we can dream.

www.votetoimpeach.org

Monday, 23 June 2003

Should we now start calling domestic cabernet's Freedom Wine? I now vow to drink gallons of French wine in protest:

http://money.cnn.com/2003/06/20/news/international/french_wine_slump/index.htm

Also, I came across this website today and found reading it to be equal parts tedious and fascinating:

The Supreme Court of the United State

Of particular interest at the moment are the two documents on the recent Michigan affirmative action case, as listed on the opinions page:

Monday, 9 June 2003

The poor get poorer, and the rich move to Stamford, CT:

http://www.nypost.com/living/696.htm

Read down to the last line for the punchline. who knew?

Thursday, 5 June 2003

Alright, WMD really found, and this time in Iraq (as opposed to in the US):

Is that a missle or the water heater of the poor owner of this now-pulvarized house?

Monday, 2 June 2003

scroll about half-way down the below-linked page to read an article written by former CIA analysts about the misuse of intelligence as propaganda during the push for war:

"Letting The Record Speak" - TomPaine.com

This article was referenced in this NY Times op-ed piece:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/30/opinion/30KRIS.html

Also, here are two great news sites my friend Mae just told me about:

Friday, 30 May 2003

Wolfowitz admits WMD's a farce:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/919535.asp?0sl=-22

Wednesday, 28 May 2003

I really love the Guardian. Here are some great articles:

WMD finally found:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,965319,00.html

I really hate Texas.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,963587,00.html

Texas vs. Science: Abortion causes cancer???
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,961925,00.html

And finally, what's wrong with the US media:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,957135,00.html

Saturday, 24 May 2002

Some interesting readings about democracy and genocide:
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/20TH.HTM

Friday, 23 May 2003

USA PATRIOT act being used to fight more than terrorism .

Thursday, 22 May 2003

US Exports: cigarettes, "free trade", and now AIDS

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/22/business/22BLOO.html

Here's what my dad emailed me in response to me sending him that link:

From: billsolomon 
Subject: Re: drugs

re:the drug rezulin which is mentioned in the article...... a ucla
doctor prescribed that to me a number of years ago saying it was safe
for my liver and would help the diabetes......i got the drug and took
it home and then i heard about possible side effects.....luckily, i
never took it......  it caused liver failure in some people

crazy shit. Maybe its not a good thing that we have someting like 1 drug sales rep for every 3 doctors in this country.

Wednesday, 21 May 2003

ok, this situation has lost some of its fascinating allure to me now that I know this guy is completely crazy.

Jayson Blair, bragging and laughing:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/05/21/blair.ap/index.html

that CNN article just references two articles from the New York Observer linked here:

http://www.observer.com/index_go.html

... and the ignorant backlash. Read this drivel:

"Black by Popular Demand"
http://www.americandaily.com/item/654

Tuesday, 13 May 2003

I was lucky enough to see Arundhati Roy speak at the Riverside Church. Everyone else who missed it, I highly suggest you read this transcript of the event, and/or try to catch it on C-SPAN.

"Instant-Mix Imperial Democracy"
http://www.cesr.org/Roy/royspeech.htm

(this is cool: lost in translation.)

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