tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40916502011-08-16T19:59:42.140-07:00Independent News And Political CommentarySeannoreply@blogger.comBlogger9201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-52510155290607275272010-06-16T16:10:00.000-07:002010-10-18T19:11:45.551-07:00

British "Apologize" For Bloody SundayThe BBC reports on the findings of the inquiry into Bloody Sunday and the British Prime Minister David Cameron apologizes; the full text is here."Some members of our armed forces acted wrongly. The government is ultimately responsible for the conduct of the armed forces and for that, on behalf of the government, indeed, on behalf of our country, I am deeply

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-84652060739620144372010-03-29T12:19:00.000-07:002010-03-29T12:39:45.478-07:00

Moscow Subway BombingsLubyanka station and Park Kultury station were hit by female suicide bombers during rush hour on Monday morning around 8am. Up to 35 people were killed at Lubyanka and perhaps 12 at Park Kultury. The Lubyanka station is the second busiest in the world, with around 7 million passengers a day, it sits directly beneath the FSB (former KGB) headquarters. Both stations had

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-43700123433816304432010-03-21T13:05:00.000-07:002010-03-21T13:33:49.940-07:00

FearlessCNN Camerawoman Margaret Moth has died. I did not know this woman. But now that I know of her, I am sorry to have missed her. Most camera people in journalism are invisible, they are behind the camera. They are like the mom who always holds the camcorder, they care more about you than themselves. Margaret cared for all of us.I identify some with Patti Sabga, Christiane Amanpour, and

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-84039394048434391972010-03-10T15:08:00.000-08:002010-03-10T17:56:02.767-08:00

Our Glowing Energy Future: Part One ConsumptionIn the sixties and seventies most Western nations rejected nuclear power outright. Notably the United Kingdom was the scene of protest marches and people chaining themselves to fences. Apparently the protests of past years were tied more to a rejection of nuclear weapons and the energy source that was tainted by association, not a true

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-45835498002951171372010-02-08T01:32:00.000-08:002010-02-08T02:49:48.984-08:00

Afghanistan’s Imperial LessonsOn January 7th the Middle East Policy Council held a panel discussion on Afghanistan in Washington. Former CIA Near East Division Chief Frank Anderson, Brookings Institute Middle East expert Bruce Reidel, German terrorism author Marc Sageman, and New America Foundation terrorism expert Peter Bergen gave presentations and took audience questions.Inevitably, the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-20342893938569205522010-01-14T13:26:00.000-08:002010-01-17T21:35:04.765-08:00

Bad VoodooHaiti was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake on Tuesday. The capitol of Port Au Prince was largely leveled and tens of thousands are presumed dead. The remainder of the city's 2.1 million residents are now sleeping outside or in crowded shelters. Today the BBC asked its patrons if the earthquake was "divine retribution" for the practice of Voodoo (as Pat Robertson tells us) and how the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-74071827341554825312010-01-05T22:56:00.000-08:002010-01-05T23:40:36.872-08:00

Hanging With the HitchUnbelievably lucky today... I was able to share a table with Christopher Hitchens and to attend his lecture at Portland's Arts and Letters Series. In case you have been living under a rock on top of a mountain in Baluchistan... Hitchens is the Oxford educated literary critic, political columnist, and travel writer who keeps Vanity Fair from becoming desolate, skewers the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-52918501827612264592009-10-10T16:02:00.000-07:002010-01-17T21:47:41.800-08:00

Turkey and Armenia Sign AccordsThe AP is reporting, via Yahoo, that Turkey and Armenia just signed historic accords agreeing to establish formal diplomatic relations and to create a "scientific committee" to "examine" the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians during WWI. The AP neglects to say when this accord was signed, although describing the events of the day in detail, but we can assume it was

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-52251921009322791222009-08-08T18:20:00.000-07:002009-08-08T18:24:55.991-07:00

Founding FathersThis story details the tragic fate of the family of an Iraqi police officer. It is horrible and if you are a parent it may make you cry to read (but it ends sorta OK). This man had his son kidnapped by Al Queda and they demanded that he release terrorist prisoners, but he refused. He is the bulwark that holds back the flood of disintegration and barbarism in Iraq and if his son

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-3713807519295186922009-03-07T12:11:00.000-08:002009-05-07T12:15:54.115-07:00

New WebsiteMy new photography and architecture website is up and running at seanlafreniere.com, please visit as you wish.This site will contain writing that are travel and architecture specific. There is also directory of travel and architecture photos from several countries that I have visited over the last few years.

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-52358826491874775102009-01-22T09:17:00.000-08:002009-01-22T09:30:18.978-08:00

Dying For An EducationOnce again several young Afghan girls have been scarred for life by Islamic thugs intent on keeping women underfoot in their society.CNN has a story about Shamsia and her her sister who were attacked on their way to school one morning in November."He grabbed my arm and asked, 'Will you be going to school anymore?' He then threw acid on my sister and threw acid on me,"

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-61479927955520481362008-09-09T01:37:00.000-07:002008-09-27T09:35:51.331-07:00

Russian Bears When I visited Russia a few years ago as an architecture student I was shocked to see so many layers of armed police and soldiers roaming the streets and subways.I arrived with my traveling companions from the Danish Royal Academy at the St. Petersburg airport and handed over my 3-page visa and passport to a severe-looking immigration clerk. After a long scrutiny and the pounding

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-16037699141955961962008-08-24T10:40:00.000-07:002008-09-06T21:50:45.491-07:00

Russia's Georgian BrideThis week former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev released an opinion piece to the NY Times in which he widely blames the US and Georgia for Russia's invasion and occupation of Georgia.Gorbachev explains that Russian TV showed "horrifying scenes of the nighttime rocket attack on a peaceful town, the razing of entire blocks... the barbaric destruction of ancient monuments..

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-77040139125456872112008-08-20T23:27:00.000-07:002008-08-21T22:20:29.564-07:00

Re-AlignmentRussia has just invaded its southern neighbor of Georgia, seizing the contested regions of South Ossetia and Abkahzia. Their soldiers wave to reporters while carting off the washing machines and the family cars of ordinary Georgian civilians. Their smiles and thumbs up from passing trucks and tanks reveal their happy sense of an easy victory.Meanwhile Poland agreed to house US

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-85346753146717542012008-04-23T01:26:00.000-07:002008-04-23T03:53:25.133-07:00

On April 10th the Seattle architect James Cutler, AIA came to Portland to speak at the new University of Oregon building, where he brought in a full house of local architects, students, and educators to come listen to him talk about his design philosophy and see photos of his recent projects. Mr. Cutler has won many awards and there are several books collecting his work. Photos of his projects

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-39161221081823535422008-03-05T23:31:00.000-08:002008-03-09T18:14:57.530-07:00

Burning Cars, And Other Civil UnrestLast month Denmark was once again burning. In Copenhagen there were eight days of burning cars in the streets and burning schools in suburban neighborhoods in both the industrial town, Arhus, and the capitol, Copenhagen. More than 30 people were arrested and at least three will be summarily deported.The most common explanation of this unrest is that Muslim

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-45844983621259583762008-02-25T11:46:00.000-08:002008-02-25T11:57:34.290-08:00

Denmark Is BurningWhen I was living in Copenhagen a few years ago we had a brief moment of tense times that surprised, even shocked my neighbors. Riot police in RoboCop gear hit the streets, cars were burned, and nasty graffiti went up along my bus route. Now my old neighborhood is once again on fire and in unrest.I will post more later. But you can read about the situation from a current

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-60169445131561581472008-01-18T19:32:00.000-08:002008-03-09T18:24:10.597-07:00

Global Climate Change Part XXVSo at a "Welcome Back From Iraq" party for blogger/journalist Michael J. Totten the topic of global climate change and nuclear energy came up, again.Voices around the room claimed that a) dissent within the scientific community was being censored in the press, b) that the scientific community was still "undecided" on the issue of "global warming" or "global climate

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-47595002555568044312007-12-28T11:18:00.000-08:002007-12-28T11:50:06.505-08:00

Book ReleaseMy father's big book is now available now at Amazon.com and local retailers..."Professor Gilbert LaFreniere has released The Decline of Nature from Academica Press... This book is the culmination of 26 years of teaching environmental history and geology at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and 15 years working for government agencies as a scientist in southern California (My dad

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-9956632074878813512007-12-12T20:46:00.000-08:002007-12-15T20:18:04.990-08:00

Oregon Food Bank Needs HelpFor many years the USDA has rated Oregon and Washington as the worst states in the nation for hunger. Despite recent improvements, this month's floods in western Washington and Oregon threaten to put our states back on that list.Statewide demand for emergency food boxes has leveled off to about 750,000 annually in the past couple of years, after doubling between 1996

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-49898757696709013482007-11-28T19:12:00.000-08:002007-12-10T23:52:57.327-08:00

The Decline of the DollarDec 2 2004 PBS- News Hour - Ray Suarez interviewed Kenneth Rogoff, a professor of economics at Harvard University, and former chief economist and director of research at the International Monetary Fund, and Irwin Stelzer, director of economic policy studies at the Hudson Institute.They discussed the fall of US currency relative to the Euro, and other "floating"

Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-3156277732641858762007-11-07T19:14:00.000-08:002007-11-16T15:20:40.372-08:00

Land WarsHere in Oregon, the home of the Bottle Bill and the Urban Growth Boundary*, or UGB, voters have just restored order, by passing Measure 49, after a temporary victory by the development powers in Measure 37.More than 30 years ago Oregon voters moved to protect their farms and forests from the voracious appetites of a parasite known commonly as "Californians". All Oregon cities over a few

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-38200697928406323852007-10-26T15:02:00.000-07:002007-10-26T16:58:53.284-07:00

The Black Sheep of EuropeRecent election success by the far right in Switzerland has a lot of people talking. The story is that the Swiss are turning racist in response to rising immigration and crime. Many have picked up this story with alarm and have focuses on the images from the party's ads. Others have defended the Swiss and claimed that their critics are politically correct

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-62593312397408294852007-10-12T12:18:00.000-07:002007-10-14T08:57:42.952-07:00

Disintegrating StatesMany Americans remember the 1999 Kosovo War as one of the "good wars". Unlike with Bosnia, we did not sit back idly and watch a people be "cleansed" from their homes and countryside. Nor did we invade for oil (although some undoubtedly made that claim).We gathered our NATO allies and stepped in, with out UN sanction, and bombed the Serbian capitol of Belgrade (we even took

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-57882588380741385892007-09-18T19:09:00.000-07:002007-09-18T19:24:57.858-07:00

Killing Pubic Education: Local EditionAs a member of my local neighborhood association board I participated in the "back to school picnic" at our "new" local ellementary school. This was a particularly important event seeing as my son will start school next year and this year our local ellementary school was closed and the students shoved into the existing middle school. Saturday was my first

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-46879181385829300732007-09-06T10:21:00.000-07:002007-09-06T22:46:29.024-07:00

Election PrognosisIt is about time to begin thinking about beginning to think about the 2008 election. As of yesterday I still like NY Mayor Rudy Guiliani. I also think that the upcoming battle will be against Hillary Clinton. That makes the race a choice between "a man in a dress or a woman in pants"... by which I actually mean no discredit to either. And frankly I could probably stomach

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-38607885245242205822007-07-24T20:26:00.000-07:002007-12-25T08:53:50.954-08:00

The Peace Of DefeatCyprus is filled with ruins from the many civilizations that have called the island home. There are Roman baths, Norman castles, and Ottoman hostels in almost every city. Walking through empty fields one can literally trip over old foundation stones.In the 12th century the English King Richard I, Lion Heart, stopped at Cyprus for supplies before sailing for Jerusalem in the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-47758567814598267192007-07-20T18:41:00.001-07:002007-07-20T21:04:56.026-07:00

Turkish InterventionOn July 20th 1974 Turkish soldiers landed on the north coast of Cyprus near the town of Kyrenia. Eventually nearly 30,000 soldiers would hold about 30% of the country from the walled capitol city of Nicosia along the Pentadactyl Mountains from Paphos to the Karpas Peninsula. Today the capitol and the island are still divided along this line and Turkish troops remain. Turkey's

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-73986980562593767562007-07-17T12:32:00.000-07:002007-07-17T15:17:34.038-07:00

European Christian RevivalMy father first visited Europe in the early 50's as a recent college graduate with a Master's in geology and money from investigating a gold mine. He was amazed by the richness of European architecture and culture as compared even to NY City and to New England. He was so impressed that he returned to graduate school and earned a second Masters and eventually a PHD in

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-43055250760452505112007-07-14T12:23:00.000-07:002007-07-17T10:59:29.519-07:00

Report Cards and Childish PoliticsListening to President Bush give a press conference is excruciating. The man should not be allowed to talk unscripted by his staff. I know that he has improved, and that's frightening, but he is simply not a good enough public speaker. His facial expressions, body language, and diction are far too informal and make it hard to believe that he has more than a

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-8587528176454487232007-07-10T16:40:00.000-07:002007-07-12T12:24:14.881-07:00

Citizen SoldiersLefties, and even some on the right, who oppose the US invasion of Iraq often deflect the Vietnam era criticism of their patriotism by claiming to support the soldiers by calling for their withdrawal. They site family members such as Cindy Sheehan who claim that their sons or daughters only joined for college money or only joined the Guard and so did not expect to actually be

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-54439642439731626862007-06-22T08:46:00.001-07:002007-07-11T14:59:29.141-07:00

Amanpour, Christiane AmanpourBuckingham Palace has announced the annual list of knighthood awards. We already know about Salman Rushdie, but other notable figures are on the list as well. I appreciate this knighthood business as it is an honor for everyday people (not just Nobel Laureates) that we can all enjoy whilst they are still alive.Soccer player (er, excuse me "footballer"), Ian Botham,

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-63450916648985251682007-06-21T15:47:00.000-07:002007-06-22T10:21:29.617-07:00

Satanic KnighthoodSalmon Rushdie has been nominated for a knighthood in England. This has caused even the "moderate" nations of the Muslim world to erupt in protest. And some British citizens are calling for the offer to be revoked.Rushdie was born in Bombay in 1947 to a Cambridge educated lawyer and British citizen. He later also studied History at Cambridge and, after a brief stint as a

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-73048096714721083662007-06-14T10:33:00.000-07:002007-06-14T20:03:24.309-07:00

Hamas Stings GazaThere is a new civil war in the Palestinian Territories. CNN reports that Hamas has taken over all the Fattah offices in the Gaza Strip, meanwhile the BBC reports that Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has dismissed the Hammas led government and is ruling by decree in the West Bank.Do you remember the story of the scorpion and the frog? The scorpion asks the frog to take it across the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-63861124157138696852007-06-08T12:26:00.000-07:002007-06-14T11:42:31.336-07:00

Putin Raises AnteThis week US President George Bush met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany. Bush has famously claimed to have gazed into Putin's eyes and seen a good soul. But lately he has been complaining that Putin appears to be tightening the reins on Russian democracy (jailing businessmen and killing reporters). Meanwhile, Putin, a former KGB

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-86030157263276526942007-06-07T02:29:00.000-07:002007-06-07T03:36:12.838-07:00

Turkish Delight?Turkey may or may not be invading northern Iraq a little lately. Ok, that doesn't sound like news really, or even information. But it is the latest rumour.AJ has posted this photo of tanks on the streets of Cizre, still inside Turkey, but along the border. Turkey released this photo of these same tanks and said they were just involved in exercises.Michael and I were in Cizre

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-45979287293347237062007-05-19T13:23:00.000-07:002007-05-19T17:40:11.887-07:00

Honor KillingsThis disturbing story out of Iraq, has counterparts in Turkey and most other Muslim areas that are experiencing a painful encounter with modernity.One troubling thing about this current story is that it involved Kurds. Kurds are the few "good guys" in Iraq. Northern Iraq under the Kurds is the only part of the country that "works".The Kurds that I met in Iraq last year were polite

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-48918937881890019982007-04-14T03:54:00.000-07:002007-04-14T03:27:15.568-07:00

Smoking GunsSo I read this story in Harper's about a journalist detained indefinitely after prize-winning, critical reporting in Iraq. After reading this story I was upset enough to post my own criticism here. But first I did a little digging. It turns out the there is quite a bit more to the story.Bilal Hussein was a cell phone vendor in Iraq when he landed a job as a "fixer", a man who helps

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-59715401359736079722007-04-13T21:04:00.000-07:002007-05-09T21:52:41.800-07:00

Brave New WorldThe founding of new Charter Schools is a movement that has swept through the American public education system. They are embraced by exasperated educators and parents alike as a "fix" to the big, bloated, and blighted public high school run by the model that has been traditional since WWII. Are they the future, the best future, that we could hope for?In some of these schools

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-70782407782054331902007-03-26T18:48:00.000-07:002007-03-26T18:58:33.782-07:00

InsurgencyThe "insurgency" killed more than 1500 people in 2005, more than 2000 in 2006, and as many as 500 by only March of 2007. Dozens die every day and the numbers are rising out of control this year. But even with thousands of Americans on the ground here, most remain unaware of the extent of the bloodshed.Victims include prominent reporters, newspaper editors, police, the family of army

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-17088661954494380392007-03-19T14:20:00.001-07:002007-03-19T22:43:16.352-07:00

What War Is Good ForIn 1969 Motown asked America what war was good for. Edwin Starr's version of "War" made it to no. 1 on the Billboard chart in 1970 in protest of Vietnam. Bruce Springsteen remade the song in 1986 in protest of Reagan's involvement in Latin America. The song has been remade again today in protest of the Iraq war. The question is simple and seems to have only one answer "

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-47994263419675572152007-03-09T08:53:00.000-08:002007-03-09T13:06:23.593-08:00

With Your Shield Or On ItThe long awaited (by me, at least) film adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel "300" is in theatres today. I saw it last night at midnight with a full theatre of eager fans. And (of course) I loved it!Unfortunately (for them), almost half the critics have panned the film as homoerotic, violent, and unrealistic. And those on the left decry it as "Nazi war propaganda".

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-33004047256633212062007-03-06T00:22:00.000-08:002007-03-06T01:24:08.159-08:00

Walter Reed DisgracedI am not completely up on the scandal surrounding Walter Reed, the US Army hospital located between Washington DC and Bethesda, MD. I understand that some soldiers housed off base in a rented building have complained to the press about rats, mold, and leaks.There are some mundane possible explanations... I was just living in Denmark recently, one of the richest countries in

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-66384784782869651572007-02-27T03:34:00.000-08:002007-03-02T16:45:01.906-08:00

Election Vindication?After the last midterm election the newly ascendant Democrats announced that the election vindicated their call for "a new direction" in Iraq [Nancy Pelosi celebrates]. Even the Republican President George Bush conceded during a press conference that the election had been "a thumping" and that the Democrats had enjoyed "a good night".But was this a sweeping victory? In each

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-43503988834373355202007-02-26T09:39:00.000-08:002007-02-26T10:45:51.246-08:00

Interesting Movies - below are feature films that are comming this year to an overpriced stadium seating theatre near you... First Snow - trailer - Guy Pierece gets his palm read by J. K Simmons who tells him that he has no future after the first snowfall of the year. Guy then spends the rest of the movie figuring out how he dies and trying to stop it. This may be yet another variation of the "

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-2784944290082986012007-02-19T23:45:00.000-08:002007-02-20T10:47:00.589-08:00

Free KurdistanMy friend Michael Totten and I drove through Turkey to Iraq last year. Michael has spent a lot of time in the area and I was intrigued by his stories of their peaceful reconstruction. Now the MSM has finally picked up these stories as well with an article on 60 Minutes that gives a pretty good picture of this region. I agree with most of their observations, although I would

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1170924152711222692007-02-07T00:27:00.000-08:002007-02-08T08:56:52.096-08:00

Non-bindingAll the drivel in the news about non-binding Iraq resolutions ought to annoy and outrage serious Americans. While the two parties play football with opposing words geared towards the 2008 elections they ignore the damage they cause.And although I understand why John Stewart laughs at Bush's warning that dissent "emboldens the enemy", I also understand that he is right. Any

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1169886883080816732007-01-26T00:06:00.000-08:002007-02-14T21:01:34.723-08:00

Military intelligenceThis month the President chose Lt. General David Patraeus to take over command of US forces in Iraq. This week the new commander was grilled by members of Congress from both political parties and then confirmed with a unanimous vote and loud acclaim.Politicians from all sides have noted Patraeus' long and distinguished military career as well as his academic work at

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1169526032689803382007-01-22T20:17:00.000-08:002007-02-20T10:45:43.397-08:00

New Orleans is Ground ZeroThe War on Terror has a lot of critics. The advocates suggest that if you can make Arab countries "work" then their young people will not fly airplanes into skyscrapers in NY City. The critics complain two-fold, maybe three, they suggest that these countries are not fixable and that we should be fixing things at home instead. New Orleans is that home front.In 2005 an

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1169143181121335852007-01-18T09:55:00.000-08:002007-01-18T10:03:49.776-08:00

Hang On A Sec!This storry out of Morrocco clearly illustrates a major difference in cultures. Children are dying whilst reenacting Saddam's execution! In the West children play cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, axis and allies, etc. In most cases the kids all want to be the good guys... in a few examples from the inner city we might finds kids wanting to be da ganstas, but then those are

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1168130194542205832007-01-06T16:35:00.000-08:002007-01-06T18:05:37.226-08:00

Children Of MenI just saw the latest "Mexican-invasion" of cinema... a remake of a P.D. James novel called "Children of Men". It is directed by Alfonzo Cuaron, the same guy who made "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien", and stars Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Michael Caine. The movie opens with Clive's character "Theo" getting coffee in London. Then we follow him

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1167875725413297712007-01-03T17:51:00.000-08:002007-01-03T18:40:39.220-08:00

Saddam Hussein Is Still DeadSaddam Hussein was executed just three days ago, at the start of the the Muslim holiday of Eid, and at the end of the festival he is still dead. This means that the regime will never return and closes a thirty year chapter in the history of Iraq.America was deeply involved in the fall of Saddam. We helped create pockets of resistance to his rule in the north and the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1166592236164531122006-12-19T21:04:00.000-08:002006-12-19T22:13:39.653-08:00

ApocalyptoI finally decided that the Mel's movie about the demise of the Mayan civilization needed to be seen despite his recent anti-Semitic and sexist ravings. Maybe art should stand apart from its creator to be judged alone... at least this kind of art, one that is the product of many other people. I will still hold Mel personally accountable for his drunken comments when I next meet

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1165432728468474952006-12-06T11:14:00.000-08:002006-12-06T14:39:48.023-08:00

Electric SheepPortland's free wifi system is begining its rollout. Downtown's Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Llyod District, Buckman and Kearns neighborhoods are all live. The system will soon blanket the entire city with free internet access. The provider, MetroFi, has similar, but smaller, systems in six California cities: Concord, Cupertino, Foster City, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1165120741221381732006-12-02T20:38:00.000-08:002006-12-06T09:05:45.020-08:00

American Empire... NotWesthawk seems to argue that success in Iraq is impossible. I would agreee, because the US is not Britain or France. Back in the early days of the war, when people knowingly said that we were there for the oil and that we were starting up an empire, some people actually thought that we were in Iraq to stay.We had a chance of success with our "nation building" efforts then

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1164905409838181702006-11-30T08:49:00.000-08:002006-11-30T09:06:12.483-08:00

UK Divorce Or Remarriage?The Sun reports on a new poll that shows Scots want to seperate from England by 52% and the English want a divorce even more so with 59%. Nearly 70% of English at least want their own parliament. With the trouble the UK has had as a part of the EU perhaps with national devolution a new union might present itself. This one could reunite in a loose supra-federation the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1164223959204909072006-11-22T11:27:00.000-08:002006-11-22T11:58:50.450-08:00

The People Of LebanonIn a recent conversation with Hezbollah over at Michael's comment thread their representative referred to his group as "the people". He implied that Hezbollah represented everyone in Lebanon. But then he acknowledged that the Sunni hate them, oh and the Christians don't like them, but are staying out of it. This has probably all changed this week with the killing of the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1163763959054326412006-11-17T03:40:00.000-08:002006-11-17T03:46:53.270-08:00

Casino RoyaleThe new Bond film is out. This one is from a parallel universe. In it Bond is a new 007 agent who earns his license post-9/11. He is buff and badass, and cold as ice. He does get some nice cars and gadgets, he gets to lay some one liners, and a few chicks. But mostly he kills people. Like the government assassin he was meant to be. Ian Flemming... is this your Bond?

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1163476073390025192006-11-14T19:47:00.000-08:002006-11-14T03:44:01.696-08:00

The Democrats' Poisoned PillA recent Newsweek poll, discussed on The News Hour last night, shows that the general public is very worried that the Democrats will indeed "cut and run" in Iraq (Iraqis are worried too).Yes, the war hasn't been going perfectly. Yes, we still don't have a smoking gun to prove the WMD case. Yes, we appear bogged down in a police action that shows no end.But most

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1163464741174825392006-11-13T16:36:00.000-08:002006-11-13T17:21:58.380-08:00

The Once And Future LeaderFox is announcing that former NY City mayor Rudy Giuliani has formed an "exploratory committee" to begin raising funds to run for President in 2008.Rudolph Giuliani III was born in 1944 in Brooklyn, NY to Italian immigrant parents. He attended Manhattan College and graduated magnum cum laude from New York University School of Law in 1968.In 1970 Giuliani worked for the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1163117277967350942006-11-09T16:07:00.000-08:002006-11-10T23:08:36.313-08:00

The People Have Spoken, The BastardsBallot initiatives have infected our democracy. This sickness allows outside influences to trick voters into passing bills that do themselves harm. We need to wake up to this danger and cure what ails us.Referendum or "direct democracy" was introduced to America from Switzerland in the 19th century. Initiatives might work fine for small, homogeneous

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1162970005813197272006-11-07T22:24:00.000-08:002006-11-08T00:17:10.936-08:00

Governator VictoriousCalifornia has re-elected the Governator. The governor's race has been decided, according to multiple news sources, former bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger has trounced his opponent by receiving 63% of the vote. While growing up in the 80's Arnold was an icon. He was certainly much revered in the gym. And who couldn't respect a guy who left

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1162794731593748882006-11-05T22:31:00.000-08:002006-11-05T23:53:01.960-08:00

300: The MovieA new movie version of the Battle Of Thermopylae is coming out soon. As you may recall this is a famous story of 300 Spartans who held off a Persian army of half a million for several days on a mountain pass leading from lower to upper Greece. Although the Spartans lost, they gave Greece enough time to form a defense. Ok, the 300 were not alone, there were thousands of other

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1162407297099805002006-11-01T10:40:00.000-08:002006-11-02T13:45:38.623-08:00

Air America Is Old NewsI caught just a whiff of Air America this morning. The talking heads were consumed by the Kerry college speech blunder... the one where Sen. John Kerry warned students to study hard in college or they would end up stuck in Iraq. The commentary reminded me of what is wrong with American politics today... it's stale.The folks at Air America were upset that people on the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1162267583208088672006-10-30T20:04:00.000-08:002006-11-01T11:53:26.196-08:00

Public Education In AmericaEvery election the state of the public education system is a major player. In some years in some states it is a property tax cap. In my state this year it is a local levy to prop up the schools after a property tax cap gutted funding. We seem to have lost sight of the proper role of both the state and public education. Before we argue about how to fund our schools

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1162015036281341452006-10-28T22:55:00.000-07:002006-10-27T23:01:53.836-07:00

Cafe Griensteidl in ViennaRitual Roasters in San FranciscoPlease permit me to make this obvious observation... the internet and the laptop are now to the cafe what the newspapers and broadsheets once were. The same people from the same ilks do the same things with them in the same places today. Viva la revolution, plus la change, etc.

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1162012186278313162006-10-27T22:07:00.000-07:002006-10-27T22:10:46.383-07:00

Like Fire And WaterScientists have managed to turn water into a metalic alloy, and make it into a bomb in the process. Michael and I were just discussing how if anyone ever turns underwear, or water, into a bomb airplane travel will truly become a nightmare. Sigh.

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1162062112382683492006-10-26T11:57:00.000-07:002006-10-28T12:08:57.983-07:00

Macaca?Youtube is awesome. Miss something on TV a while back? Is it important? Log on to Youtube and watch it!Everytime I have heard a reference to George Allen's "macaca" quote I have just shook my head. How can any politician, any person, be so stupid? Even if he didn't mean it racially, just saying a word like that when you are stumping for office is idiotic.But then I actually watched

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1161398294783883432006-10-20T19:36:00.000-07:002006-10-21T10:38:06.086-07:00

Taking Back Government... With A WhimperThis may be one of the saddest "take-overs" of Congress ever. Yes, the Democrats look poised to win a bare majority in each house in this mid-term election. Yes, the Republicans are running scared. But the Democrats will have little to brag about on their day of victory Nov. 3rd.As discussed briefly on NPR this morning and on CNN yesterday, it does look

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1161198506373168322006-10-18T12:07:00.000-07:002006-10-19T09:14:58.650-07:00

In Defense Of StyleFrom Webster's... Style: 1) a distinctive manner of expression (style of writing) 2) a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed (a style of riding) 3) a distinctive quality, form, or type of something (style of architecture) 4) the state of being popular (stylish clothes).In architecture schools across American young people train to be

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1160586576005769272006-10-11T09:53:00.000-07:002006-10-11T10:38:06.803-07:00

Wilderness NowThe Wilderness Act of 1964 defines "wilderness" as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled and where man himself is a visitor who does not remain".The dictionary tells us that a "wilderness" is a "tract of land, or a region, uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings, whether a forest or a wide, barren plain; a wild; a waste; a desert; a pathless waste

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1160434686111785402006-10-09T15:51:00.000-07:002006-10-09T15:58:07.613-07:00

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless MindAfter years of coddling the enemy, a policy called "sunshine", South Korea and its allies now face a noo-cue-lar armed Kim Jong Il.The nuclear genie is now fully out of its bottle, if it ever was contained. The US, Britain, France, and Russia all have nukes. Then China. Then India and Pakistan. Now North Korea has tested its own bomb. And soon we will

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1159290962583507392006-09-26T10:15:00.000-07:002006-09-26T10:56:09.053-07:00

The Controversial NiallMy father was quite pleased to see Spangler's big book "The Decline of the West" mentioned in a recent article in Vanity Fair. However, the author's perspective on history is more of my generation than my fathers and might confuse or even upset many readers... which is why I like him.Niall Ferguson is a Harvard history professor who specializes in economics. Nial was

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1158786528689536312006-09-20T14:08:00.000-07:002006-09-21T09:32:36.100-07:00

Terror And The InquisitionI was concerned when Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI. Ratzinger was formerly the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the formal name for the Holy Inquisition. This body was made infamous as the violent arm of the Catholic Church and the Spanish crown as it hunted down Jews, Protestants, and Muslims during the 15th century.As would

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1158254614895034312006-09-14T10:20:00.000-07:002006-09-15T14:58:52.916-07:00

Global Warming Debunked?A good friend of mine points out that there are still people arguing about global warming. However, I find that most scientists agree that global climate is warming and humans contribute to this change. Regardless, we should be concerned about our environmental impact even with out consensus about the consequences.In 1999 NCPA, an Exxon backed Dallas think tank,

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1158169220025011842006-09-13T10:34:00.000-07:002006-09-13T17:04:58.783-07:00

Inside The Mind Of Al QuedaLawrence Wright and Wretchard give us a peak into the mind of the world's most famous terror group.They think that Al Queda's plan is to drive countries like Egypt and Iraq into anarchy, chaos, and barbarism. The people would then willingly turn to a tough Islamic regime to restore order.This theory dovetails with the dark forebodings of Big Pharaoh and Michael Totten

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1158012457950712352006-09-12T15:07:00.000-07:002006-09-13T10:40:58.473-07:00

The Myth Of The ShaleEvery few months links appear on Fark and other news list-serves to articles touting the vast oil sands of Colorado as a solution to US dependence on foreign oil. Will the oil sands, shale oil, or organic marblerock -as it is alternately called- save our SUV driving hides?Shale oil is actually an organic material called kerogen trapped in sedimentary rocks. Burnable carbon

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1158174844821799592006-09-11T12:13:00.000-07:002006-09-13T17:07:42.796-07:00

Remembering 9/11: the Arab VersionThis year I did nothing special on the anniversary of the terror attacks in NY and Washington. I have no new comments about it, just these old thoughts...It sucked. Terrorists are jerks. What they did was wrong. It did not make me scared or want the US to pull out of the Middle East. It made me angry - this should always be the response to terrorism. And I

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1157928841737597282006-09-10T15:52:00.000-07:002006-09-11T09:08:12.530-07:00

Mt. RainierI wrapped up summer term this last week and jumped directly into the old convertible with Michael Totten and blasted up into the mountains to unwind. Patrick Laswell brought along his dog Bruce in his big green Jeep. Rivers and state borders have a great deal of psychological power. In Portland many people never think to cross the Willamette for dinner and many hikers think of

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1157526008453026382006-09-05T23:58:00.000-07:002006-09-06T00:00:28.596-07:00

Thrust VectoringNo, not a politician in the Whitehouse, a Mig-29 doing the most amazing things to defy all laws of aerodynamics. Wow. (thanks fark).

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1156892739631350542006-08-29T16:05:00.000-07:002006-08-29T18:24:45.286-07:00

The Mexican-American War Part TwoEveryone scoffs when I point out that some Mexicans living in Southern California seriously consider the land their own. However, Maywood, CA has apparently already surrendered. In August a group of border guards and their civilian supporters were roughed up by Mexicans and their supporters in front of hands-off police. Later the Mexicans tore down the US flag

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1155884683548303602006-08-17T23:54:00.000-07:002006-09-11T09:09:15.130-07:00

FrankfurterFrequent flying means frequent layovers. This summer I ended up in the German city of Frankfurt-am-Main. So, I spent a day getting a feel for European flyover country.When you fly into the city you pass over an even patchwork of little square houses with red pitched roofs. Everything has boundaries, including the farms, the forests, and the cities. A middle-eastern immigrant that

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1155532721725557342006-08-14T22:09:00.000-07:002006-08-15T03:23:19.130-07:00

Cease Fire FictionAs of now the date and time of the UN enforced suggested ceasefire has arrived. On the northern border of Israel CNN reporters breathlessly watch silent IDF artillery for any signs of life. On the southern border of Lebanon other CNN reporters note that a few rockets have been fired towards Israel and the Hezbollah commander vows to continue fighting "until every Israeli

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1155334238442039682006-08-11T15:07:00.000-07:002006-08-11T15:53:37.343-07:00

Israelis In UniformAs I have noted before, the Media, especially in the West, is very hard on Israel. The IDF are portrayed as brutes who kill children just for throwing rocks (not just rocks). Very little sympathy is offered to them and they are put side-by-side with terrorists as part of the moral equivalency syndrome.We have lots of sympathetic photos and news coverage for the innocent

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1155225360416878512006-08-09T08:55:00.000-07:002006-08-10T23:08:52.890-07:00

All The News That's BiasedWhile in the the Middle East over the last few weeks I followed the events in Israel and Lebanon from the local papers and media. And as far as I could tell, coverage in the Arab press, the local press rather than Al Jazeera, was fairly even.As I got closer to Europe and the US the news began to change. The BBC was ferocious in its bias against Israel. Every news

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1155094324919729732006-08-08T20:28:00.000-07:002006-08-08T21:22:20.280-07:00

Hearts and MindsThe Pundits have been wagging their jaws on the "News Shows". The arguments sound familiar. We are told that the Israelis have "miscalculated" and have committed "atrocities". The rough actions of the IDF in Lebanon have lost them the good will of the world and of the all important "Arab Street". After 9/11 French president (for life?) Jacques Chirac said "We are all

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1154564483090980042006-08-01T17:20:00.000-07:002006-08-03T09:03:04.250-07:00

On Ethnic Cleansing And The Right Of ReturnBELLAPAIS, Cyprus- Sadly many places in the world have seen ethnic violence and remain fractured and angry today. The latest struggle in Lebanon follows similar actions in Africa and the Balkans and is itself a return of the region's own past. One of the central issues in these conflicts is the status of land once occupied in a mixture, before the

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1154362499560695462006-07-31T08:59:00.000-07:002006-07-31T17:03:28.550-07:00

Ripples From LebanonISTANBUL, Turkey- Wandering the always crowded Grand Bazaar in Istanbul's old city it is easy to believe that Turkey's tourism trade is booming.However, sitting on a rooftop terrace near the Blue Mosque and St. Sofia you can look onto other rooftop terrace restaurants and see empty tables.The war in Lebanon has done Turkey no favors. Their efforts to assist in the evacuation

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1153898443019184562006-07-26T23:47:00.000-07:002006-07-31T17:03:51.683-07:00

Talking TurkeyISTANBUL, Turkey- Evacuees from Beirut arrive daily in Turkey's southern port city of Mersin. A large passenger ferry, with a military escort, brought thousands of Australians yesterday. This brings to nearly 5,000 the number of Westerners who have escaped Lebanon with Turkey's assistance.Turkey also offered to mediate a deal between Israel and Hezbollah and to contribute forces to

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1153848471153655642006-07-25T10:12:00.000-07:002007-07-20T13:35:53.059-07:00

Beirut UpdateTUNIS, Tunisia- I met a young Lebanese woman who works for a German company and was evacuated to Tunis on Monday. She gave me some details on conditions in the city and we talked about the general politics behind the current conflict.Asra lives in the city with her family. She says they still have electricity and phones and are surviving. Her company moved her in order to continue

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1153778594059216752006-07-24T15:02:00.000-07:002006-07-31T17:04:55.346-07:00

The Cyprus AngleNICOSIA/LEFKOSA, Cyprus- I was in the Greek Cyprus port city of Limossol on Friday and I tried to find news from Lebanon. The island is in high season for English tourists. However, the current news that Cyprus is sinking under refugees was not in evidence. I did see many ships waiting off the coastline and I could easily imagine the passengers baking in the record heat. It

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1153777756160818562006-07-23T14:45:00.000-07:002006-07-25T10:28:28.713-07:00

Beirut BluesI was supposed to be in Lebanon this week. However, circumstances have prevented this. Instead I spent some time in Cyprus, Turkey, and Tunis. I was able to talk with refugees from the Israeli anti-terror campaign. And I did some investigation of the "Cyprus Question". The clash of civilizations can be felt through out the region and I will give a report in a few days. Here is

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1152811373577941832006-07-14T10:02:00.000-07:002006-07-25T12:34:29.896-07:00

The Levantine WarIn response to the kidnapping of several IDF soldiers by Hamas and also by Hezbollah, Israel has re-entered the Gaza Strip in the south and the Lebanon security buffer to its north. In each case the Israelis had recently pulled out of these areas, allowing the Palestinian Authority and the government of Lebanon to assume sovereignty. It wasn't really a "land for peace"

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1152729658476666442006-07-12T11:32:00.000-07:002006-07-12T12:35:13.766-07:00

Bombay Train BombingsYesterday seven explosions detonated on Bombay's train system. At least 185 people are dead. The victims range throughout India's many ethnicities, religions, and class levels.No group has claimed responsibility yet, but most people inside India are fairly certain that this was the work of Pakistani Muslim militants. Ostensibly they struck mainly India as a blow for

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1152291391045171882006-07-07T09:48:00.000-07:002006-07-07T11:16:49.270-07:00

Anniversary of TerrorOne year ago today four suicide bombers killed 52 people in London. In rememberance two minutes of silence was observed at noon through out the UK. Prime Minister Tony Blair observed the silence with emergency service workers in London. Queen Elisabeth II and family were at St. Giles Cathederal in Edinburgh. And yet the city, and country, continues to use the subway,

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1151946093423437982006-07-03T10:01:00.000-07:002006-08-10T23:29:21.193-07:00

Counting CorpsesThe LA Times reported last month that the death toll for Iraqis has topped 50k, with more than 2500 American deaths as well.These deaths were calculated by adding the number of bodies in the Baghdad morgue to those found in the provinces by NGO's. It is a very rough number and probably hides many errors (it is probably an undercount).Most of the bodies are said to have signs of

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1151686706947849582006-06-30T09:52:00.000-07:002006-06-30T10:02:49.043-07:00

Israel Bombs GazaAs the new war between Israel and Hamas led Palestine heats up, bombs have struck the Interior Ministry building in Gaza City. This is what we should expect when a terrorist organization wins election to government... war. Hezbollah Wants InIn a bid not to be left out of any war with Israel, Hezbollah has offered to lob mortars and missiles over the border.Since Hezbollah

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1151557945759420592006-06-28T22:02:00.000-07:002006-06-28T22:17:15.840-07:00

The Palestinians Have WMD'sAl-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades claims to have fired one of 20 biological warhead tipped rockets from the Gaza Strip into an Israeli town today.The Israelis have not detected either a rocket launch or impact inside Israel, but these rockets are smallish and it might still have happened.More interesting, however, is that the Brigade is the armed wing of Fatah, not Hamas.

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1151452721583655582006-06-27T16:49:00.000-07:002006-06-30T10:03:53.593-07:00

Israel's New War On Terror HamasIsrael was left with defacto responsibility for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank after Egypt and Jordan retreated after the Six Days War.Israel has long waited for an Arab state to take responsibility for these lands and negotiate a final settlement.In the meantime the territories themselves have flirted with outright war and booming economic cooperation with

Seannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091650.post-1151044619791879032006-06-22T23:34:00.000-07:002006-06-22T23:38:03.103-07:00

StupidSometimes politics and naivete can truly trump sound thinking. In this case the US invited China to "observe" its largest Pacific training exercise since Nam. Back in the day this was called "spying" and we tried to keep people from doing it, we didn't issue invitations and cater the event!

Seannoreply@blogger.com0