OK, so like, this is the most obvious thing in the world. It almost frightens me that our Congress, seemly unable to figure it out on their own, is just now being told about it.
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March 2003 Archives
This is beyond cool.
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OK, so Soren is this guy I work with. Probably the geekiest person I know. I discovered today that he created a geek test some years back. I had fun taking the test. Score a 42 which is pretty good considering that I'm not really much of a geek. Give it a go. See what you can do.
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I am glad to see the United States still making an effort to get UN backing before using force to disarm Iraq. I believe that if the United States abandons the effort and goes to war leading a "coalition of the willing" significant damage will be done to the reputation and prestige of the United States and the effectiveness of the United Nations.
While I agree with the current administration that Saddam Hussein's time has run out and he needs to yield to the authority of the UN or be removed from power I think that it is in the best interests of the United States to press on for United Nations backing before initiating military action. That poses a difficult problem at this point however. With some 200+ thousand troops in place and awaiting orders, procrastination is costly. One might be tempted to say that the United State positioned those troops of its own accord and should be willing to bear the cost which is true. However, Iraqi compliance to date is due in large part to the present of those forces as acknowledged in Hans Blix's report to the UN, however veiled that acknowledgement maybe.
The United Nations, in my opinion, has the more significant problem. In 1991 the UN passed resolutions that dictated a number of terms that Iraq was to adhere to as a condition of a cease fire. Subsequent resolutions have been passed primarily as a reaction to Iraq's failure to abide by those terms. The sum affects of the UN's actions on Iraq to date have been to make it difficult but not impossible for Mr. Hussein to gather and build new weapons and to drastically deteriorate the quality of life for the average Iraqi. Mind you, the average Iraqi didn't have it all that good to start with. A number of groups throughout the world have expressed deep concern over the number children who die each month as a result of UN sanctions that prevent medical supplies from entrying Iraq. Many groups have expressed deep concern over the steady rise in illness and death as a result of the deterioration of Iraq's infrastructure. Water supply systems, waste removal and treatment systems, etc. require chemicals that are not allowed into Iraq because they can be used to make chemical and/or biological weapons. Yet there is no evidence that these sanctions have had any significant affect on Saddam Hussein or his power base. Saddam Hussein would have us believe that the Iraq people support him 100%. In short, UN efforts and actions have been completely ineffective in achieving their stated objective.
The United Nations has, or at the very least is developing, a crediblity problem. The UN's resolutions have had little affect on Saddam Hussein and his power base to date. Save American military might, Saddam Hussein has, at this point, little reason to pay much attention to the UN at all. If the United States acts on its own and without the backing of the United Nations the precedent will be set to ignore the United Nations and pay attention to the United States. For the United Nations has only its resolutions while the United States brings to the party its resolve and one hell of a big stick.
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The UN & its Security Counsel
So, we have Security Council members France and Russia saying they will veto any resolution that contains either an ultimatum or a use of force trigger. There are very few who would argue against the notion that Saddam Hussein's current efforts to comply with UN resolution 1441 are due to the armed forces of the United States et al amassed at his borders. An interesting dichotomy seems to have developed here. The very progress that France et al are pointing to as proof that military action is not (yet some would insert) required is the result of the United States et al loudly threatening the use of military might to disarm Iraq and the positioning of the necessary personnel and materiel to execute on that threat.
I have to wonder if France, Russia, China and all others who would prefer to see Iraq disarmed peacefully wouldn't better serve their cause by being a lot less vocal with their message. Saddam Hussein needs only to read the press to know that use of military force will be delayed and have rather fractured support at the present. Saddam Hussein doles out cooperation and information at a tickle as is needed to keep France and others believing that the peaceful path is working. Iraq waited until the last possible minute before it began to comply with Mr. Blix demand that the al-Samoud 2 missiles be destroyed.
If France and Russia were to be a bit more quiet about their desire to see the diplomatic process be given more time, Saddam Hussein might be under the impression that there was unanimous support for military action should he fail to comply and be a bit more forthcoming with cooperation and information. While this is only a guess at this point one thing is quite sure. What Saddam Hussein is currently working hardest at is exploiting the deep riff in the UN and its Security Counsel.
Dear Mr. Blix
Mr. Blix's presentation to the U.N. seems an atttempt to put the best face on. Mr. Blix gingerly and without much conviction addresses the question of Iraq's immediate, unconditional and active cooperation with his Inspections. Only a month ago Mr. Blix was saying that Iraq, "appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance, not even today, of the disarmament that was demanded of it." There seems little in Mr. Blix's latest presentation to offer as evidence that Iraq's cooperation is now immediate, unconditional or active. Could it be that Mr. Blix likes his current position and is loath to see it cease to exist?
To What End
And after all is said and done the fundamental problem seems to me that the current course provides no real resolution. Mr Hussein is clearly not going to have a change of heart and become a model citizen in the global community. As Mr. Blix's report states, Iraq will require a watch team for as long as Mr. Hussein and/or his party is in power. What is the point? Why should the UN put themselves in the place of having to babysit Mr. Hussein?
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Maturing Web Offers Focal Point for War Coverage
For the fighting men and women on the ground this poses some rather frightening prospects. Note that the last paragraph of the article mentions that CNN plans to dedicate a section to "breaking news like troop movements." It used to be that enemy intelligence gathers had to work pretty hard to get that information. Now all they have to do is watch CNN.
Some of the ramifications of modern technology aren't so cool.
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Apple Powerbook Computers are being used by the media folks in the gulf. [dead link]
Some witty comment about the fact that they aren't using PCs might seem appropriate here. I don't have one. I just think modern technology is cool
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Beezer's [dead link], this really great, old school ice cream shop in old Kapa`a town on the island of Kaua`i is for sale! This is like the place to go for ice cream on Kaua`i. But you gotta go in the evening when the old guy is working. He makes absolutely to die for sundaes. Great place. I hope the new owner realises what a good thing is, gives the old guy who works there a solid raise and leave the rest alone. This is one of those things where attempting to improve it will only detract from its excellence.
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I am completely baffled by this one. Woman Offers Bush Crucifixion-For-Peace Deal.
All American troops go home, President Bush drives the nails into Mary Grierson's wrists and ankles, hangs her on a cross and then Saddam Hussein will no longer have weapons of mass destruction. How'sat work???
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Powell Says Saddam Trying to Divide U.N.
"Iraq's too-little too-late gestures are meant not just to deceive and delay action by the international community, he has as one of his major goals to divide the international community, to split us into arguing factions. That effort must fail," Powell said.
Yes Mr. Powell, I agree that it should fail. However, all apperances at the present are that the UN Security Council is so divided as to have been rendered ineffective and, at least in this present case, irrelavent.
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