Thuggery Begats Thuggery

The muderous tyrant Saddam Hussein is dead. Good ridence to this thug of biblical proportions. Look at the picture for why this is a bad idea. Annonymous goons stringing up the former potentate in a dungeon of undisclosed place. Giving the state this kind of authority only encourages them. Down with the death penalty.

Dirty War Witness Gone Missing

A second witness has "disappeared" in Argentina during a trial dealing with military officers involved in the "dirty war" that sent thousands to brutal deaths in the late 70's and early 80's. The Argentine military was particularly cruel in their suppression of trade union, liberation theologists, student radicals and other assorted leftoids of the 70's. With US support in earnest.

A Gift Fom Smooth B

Just somthin for the ladies a this time of holiday merriment.

Burleigh: The Roughest Street in Milwaukee

They have to grow up fast in my hood!

UAE Bans PJ's at Work

As of the first of the year Civil Servants will be banned from wearing pyjamas to work. Here at the plant PJ's have also been deemed socially acceptable atire. The levelling impulse run amok?

Virgin Birth

Komodo dragons don't need to do it to pro-create.

And the Answer Is

The pundits were unanimous. Honesty about the real world was forthcoming. Mistakes were made, lessons learned. The loyal opposition loud and clear. The President canned the architect of the war plan. A panel was convened to consult on a plan of action to save face in defeat. A new path and chief at defense who would right the wrongs. The electorate spoke clearly. So what does Rove/Cheney/Bush answer with? Full speed ahead with war, no actually an increase in the size of the military so that the war can continue at an increased pace.

One has to admire the gumption with this crowd. Offense, offense, offend is certainly their motto. They see an issue is going against them and they tack in the opposite direction. They know this can polarize but they see it as bold and so do their minions. The last Democrat to have such skills was James Polk!

Jimmy Carters Comments and the Charge of Anti-Semitism

The limits of debate in our free society and charges of anti-semitism.

Howard Zinn on the Uses of History

The war on terror and the arguments made by the war party.

Where's the Outrage?

Here it is. And from Sean Penn. Odd that from all the politicking out there of late the best political rhetoric out there comes from an actor!

The War to End All Wars

A Miracle in No-Man's Land. Powerful play about Brits during WWI on BBC radio.

Jeb

Jeb Bush will be President of the United States one day.

The Communist Manifesto

In cartoons. Dull reader but great editing.

The Crimes of Pino

1973 and on.

Wahabi Death Ritual

Interesting story on the burial rights of the Wahabi sect of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia. Even the King is buried in an unmarked grave and public mourning is kept to a minimum.

The Plot Thickens

The Saudis make noise about supporting the Sunni in Iraq if the US leaves. The Neo-Con blunder looks more blunderous by the day as events spiral in directions that were predicted by half the under-graduate class of Bergen Community College. The wider conflict is now unfolding with Washington now, as they did in Afghanistan in the 80's, and in Iran in the 70's acting as catalyst for the most retrograde forces in the region. And they wonder why there is a Holocaust denier con-fab in Tehran.

The Socialism of Fools

Anti-semites of the world unite in Tehran to try and pedal the most outrageous lie of the the last 60 years. This is a despicable conference that should be denounced in no uncertain terms.

Sure there is a Holocaust industry and Zionists and their supporters use it for unsavory ends but this is no excuse to hobnob with known NAZI's, Klansman and crackpots. This is a scary group of mass murderer wanabees.

We're Number One!

US has most prisoners in the world.

Some L(Y)ocal Fun

Head Scarf Debate

How it plays in Turkey.

And across Europe.

APPO Leader Arrested

One of the leaders of the recent movement in Oaxaca that called for the overthrow of the states Governor has been arrested on trumped up charges. The struggle emerged out of a teachers' strike and quickly mushroomed into an anti-corruption campaign in one of Mexico's poorest states. Death squads and other nasties were used in the suppression of the movement. Dirty War tactics are nothing new as a Truth Commission is today working to unearth and document the crimes of the last few decades.

The Rush to Stay

The media concensus says stay in Iraq. Normon Solomon as usual gets it right.

The Good Die Young

Fascist globetrotter Pino lingers on into his 91st year. Could this be the end or does he have some Dorian Gray in him?

Global Inequality

The staggering stats. The richest 2% control half of the worlds wealth and the richest 10% own 85%. The poorest 50% own 1%. This is what Uncle Milty was working for with smashing success. In the past although people were poor they controled land and thus some access to sustinance. The last 200 years has help eliminate this problem. Not that I advocating going back but expropriation.

Mengele

Story of an artist who painted portraits for Joseph Mengele. She is now trying to retrieve her work which is housed at the Auschwitz museum.

To Put It Mildly

Milton Friedman's legacy. Or as we call him at the Red and th Black, MF.