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the slow squeeze on ahminastraightjacketorshouldbe
“Iran’s boast has been that there is nothing the West can do to hurt it.
Western commentary has by and large concurred, but the calculus is
shifting. Iran has proved itself such an energetic troublemaker, not only
in Iraq but in Lebanon, that the arguments for kid-glove diplomacy look
weak. In addition, it is evident that the regime is even more dependent on
oil revenues than the world is on Iranian oil - and Iran’s oil industry,
starved of foreign technology, is in trouble. Exports are declining by
around 10 per cent a year.
“Oil money buys off dissent, but President Ahmedinejad’s popularity is
shrinking even faster than oil revenues. In recent municipal elections,
his supporters were trounced by moderate conservatives and reformers.
Voters were promised a war on corruption and a campaign for economic
revival. They got, instead, an escalation of confrontation with the West,
and they do not like it. Technically, financially and politically, the
regime is thus more vulnerable than it pretends. Bombastic nationalism may
have seen Mr Ahmedinejad through 2006 but, at home if not abroad, it has
run its course. The world’s strongest weapon in 2007 may be the hunger for
change within Iran itself.”
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#mad_iran_301206
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on iraq and the end of saddam
Countries would be far more advanced if their dictators moved as
rapidly as possible towards free democracies. Madsam worked at every point to stop that process.
The present chaos in Iraq comes from the necessity to remove the mad socialist
dictator and the vacuum that thence ensued, with a population kept for decades in ignorance and without
experience of freely running their own lives.
There were similar outcomes in socialist ‘Yugoslavia’ and the socialist
Russian empire, but they at least educated their population in basics such as literacy. Socialist collectivism is the great evil of the modern world.
It is interesting to see how far lefties have to go to find a pretend
analogy. Pinochet was an absolute piker in the murder and torture stakes
compared with socialist Madsam.
Pinochet probably ended up saving vastly more lives than he cost,
a thing that can never be said of socialist Madsam, or even socialist Castro. The Chilean courts have said plenty on the subject of Pinochet. That is their
legitimate part.
Leftist ‘comparisons’ run between distasteful and surreal. It is a
quite disgusting experience to watch the cotton-wool kids in their neece safe societies, well protected by
their betters, ranting pompously and ignorantly about conditions in backward countries far worse than anything
they have ever experienced.
In Iraq, there is a responsible supervising power. In my view, the more power that
is shifted to the legitimate Iraqi government, and the faster it is done, the better. Interfering in
due process over the madman would be rank foolishness. The Iraqis will not learn if every small
decision being taken out of their hands - and learn they must and fast.
It seems to me that Iraq is moving forward rather well under the wise
administration of the responsible power. Naturally, lefties hate that and will move heaven
and earth to undermine the new government.
If you don’t want a mess, don’t act in such a manner as to generate
a mess. This is a lesson the present UK socialist government, with their egregious nanny ‘culture’,
should learn before it is too late.
You take responsibility from individuals, you destroy culture, you
destroy responsibility, you destroy wealth and you destroy lives.
The real answer to this sort of situation is .... not to get into the mess
in the first instance. Once in the mess, then first order must be established, and then let the
reins out as fast as is feasible/works.
That is the process now underway in Iraq under the controlling alliance.
To expect it to be painless or instantaneous is the world of infants.
On a purely personal note, if I lived in a fully sane and responsible
world, it is clear that Madsam should be in Broadmoor maximum security psychiatric hospital, but I don’t
live in a fully sane world. As far as I’m concerned, he is as mad as a hatter.
So we must do the best we can and not howl for the moon.
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#saddam_291206
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hanson on hypocrisy
“Third, Annanism reflects petty hypocrisy. There is a reason why Annan,
like the thousands of hangers-on in the U.N., enjoys New York; there is a
reason why he and his equally critical spouse prefer Western culture in
places like Manhattan. He knows that the unique social, economic, and
cultural life of the United States can subsidize lavish salaries at the
U.N., and that with life in an affluent and safe West comes pricey luxury
cars and tony apartments.
“Annan also knows that one way to keep enjoying them is to keep reminding
his hosts of their sins, in the fashion of the medieval court jester sans
the loud stripes, cap, and bells. So there is something very creepy about
the moral poseur remonstrating from Manhattan about the lapses of the
United States in general, and in particular the neglect of the world’s
poor. Both can be addressed more effectively and more honestly from a
Rwanda, Kosovo, Kabul, or Ghana.”
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#hanson_hypocrisy_241206
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wowee - the uk home office finally worked it out!
maybe they can let dullard bliar and the clown know
“A report on gun crime commissioned by the Home Office warns: "Dealing in
illegal drugs appears to significantly underpin the criminal economy in
many locations and seems to be instrumental in legitimising crime as a
career option for some individuals."
“"There are many indications that drug-dealing and other criminality are
‘out-competing’ the legitimate labour market.
“
"For individuals whose employment prospects are limited by a lack of
qualifications, and an existing criminal record, a criminal lifestyle can
be seen as an attractive proposition."
“The study found that social pressure to own fashionable clothes and other
material goods is driving young people in poor areas to crime,
particularly drug-dealing.” [Quoted from timesonline.co.uk]
The Clown’s ‘welfare’ state:
“If people are paid to do nothing, that's exactly what they'll do.”
“Labour's "hard-talk, soft-walk" policy towards welfare has failed
miserably. Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that there
are now 37,000 more unemployed young people, aged 16-24, than in May 1997,
Tony Blair's first election victory.”
—
“I'm talking about "the Wisconsin Miracle". American commentators refer to
it as such, because, in just 12 years, a conservative administration, led
by Governor Tommy Thompson, was able to cut the state's welfare roll from
98,000 to just 7,000. In the 1980s, Wisconsin was an archetypal
blue-collar region, which had fared badly after the decline of its
smoke-stack industries. As unemployment rose, so did welfare payments and
all the state taxes needed to foot the bills.” [Quoted from telegraph.co.uk]
related material
drugs, smoking and addiction
citizen’s wage, with commentary on the misconstruing of property, ownership and subsidy
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#uk_laws_231206
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bliar’s police
Class item by Boris - read it.
“The drunken thug then started heaving computer magazines into the street.
You or I might not bother to buy a computer magazine, but this attack now
amounted to damage to Mr Bhatt's property, and a serious nuisance. Having
flipped a final copy of Computer Weekly to the pavement, the drunk started
shaking the door of the kiosk, and then battering it as if he wanted to
come inside. At this point Mr Bhatt finally came out of his kiosk, with
the baseball bat. He says he warned the yob to go away.
“The man persisted in shaking the kiosk and was plainly about to attack the
plucky newsagent himself - and so what was he supposed to do? Let him get
on with it? Turn the other cheek? Mr Bhatt says he applied the baseball
bat once, hitting the thug on the shoulder and then - POW! - the police
miraculously appeared.
“Making up for all the times in which they had been Macavity-like in their
absence, they now flooded the scene of the crime. They pounced. They leapt
on Mr Bhatt, wrestled the implement away from him and carted him off to
the cells, where he remained until his release at 1am. He now must wait
until January 23 to hear whether he is to be charged with possession of an
offensive weapon and common assault.”
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#bliars_police_231206
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the difference between reporters and fiction writers, the situation in iraq - the auroran sunset
The reality is that, despite a distinct lack of perfection, things are
improving in Iraq. As independent voices increasingly provide real world
data, rather than ‘opinion’ and perverse wishful thinking, it is
becoming even more difficult to take the fossil media and the moonbat
left seriously.
“I observed that three articles on conditions in Ramadi and al Anbar
Province had appeared within a week of each other giving entirely
different points of view. Mine and one in the Times of London said we're
winning the war in Ramadi; a Washington Post A1 story co-authored by
"Fiasco" author Thomas Ricks claimed exactly the opposite. The
difference, I said, could be explained simply. I and the Times writer
reported from Ramadi. Ricks and his co-author have not only never been
to Ramadi, they wrote their piece from Washington. Well now the WashPost
has printed another article on the city, this time an upbeat one. What
gives? You guessed it.The second one was reported from Ramadi.” [Quoted from fumento.com]
Fumento has much on his blog (link just above) from his two trips as an embed in Ramadi,
capital of Al-Anbar province.
Meanwhile Bill Roggio is currently embedded in Fallujah and writing much
of interest. Here is an excerpt from a recent item:
“In nearly every conversation, the soldiers, Marines and contractors
expressed they were upset with the coverage of the war in Iraq in
general, and the public perception of the daily situation on the ground.
They felt the media was there to sensationalize the news, and several
stated some reporters were only interested in "blood and guts". They
freely admitted the obstacles in front of them in Iraq. Most recognized
that while we are winning the war on the battlefield, albeit with
difficulties in some areas, we are losing the information war. They felt
the media had abandoned them.
“During each conversation, I was left in the awkward situation of having
to explain that while, yes, I am wearing a press badge, I'm not 'one of
them'. I used descriptions like 'independent journalist' or 'blogger' in
an attempt to separate myself from the pack.
“What a terrible situation to be in, having to defend yourself because
of your profession. I've always said that the hardest thing about
embedding (besides leaving my family) is wearing the badge that says
'PRESS'. That hasn't changed. I hide the badge whenever I can get away
with it.” [Quoted from billroggio.com]
Roggio writes interestingly and honestly about military aspects of the
global fight against fundamentalism. He does not gloss over the bad, nor
does he make any bones about which side he is on. His blog is highly
recommended regular reading - particularly now while he is reporting
regularly on what he sees while embedded with the Marines, Iraqi Army
and Iraqi Police of Fallujah. [Bill Roggio’s blog  ]
Meanwhile the Iraqi people are getting access to ‘wealth’ undreamed of
under Saddam:
“Consider Iraqna, the leading mobile-phone company. For sure, its
quarterly reports seldom make for dull reading. Despite employees
kidnapped, cell-phone towers bombed, storefronts shot up and a huge
security budget - up to four guards for each employee - the company
posted revenues of $333 million in 2005. This year, it's on track to
take in $520 million. The U.S. State Department reports that there are
now 7.1 million mobile-phone subscribers in Iraq, up from just 1.4
million two years ago.”
—
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports 34,000 registered companies in
Iraq, up from 8,000 three years ago.”
—
“Salaries have gone up more than 100 percent since the fall of Saddam,
and income-tax cuts (from 45 percent to just 15 percent) have put more
cash in Iraqi pockets.”
—
“There's even a positive spin to be put on corruption. Money stolen from
government coffers or siphoned from U.S. aid projects does not just
disappear. Again, says Farid Abolfathi, a Global Insight analyst, it's
the "trickledown" effect. Such "underground activity" is the most
dynamic part of Iraq's economy, he says. "It might not be viewed as
respectable. But in reality, that's what puts money in the hands of the
little people."”
—
“Iraqna isn't the only success story. There is also Nipal, a
money-transfer service that is the backbone of Iraq's cash economy, as
well as a slew of successful construction firms in Kurdistan. Such
companies are not waiting for Iraq's political crisis to resolve itself.
Yet imagine how they would prosper if it did, and how quickly they would
be joined by others.” [Quoted from msnbc.msn.com page 2]
The vast majority of the violence is in shrinking areas of Baghdad and
Ramadi. The violence is largely between small outside-sponsored gangs
who feel no qualms about murdering a few civilians; meanwhile the
legitimate Iraqi authorities gradually impose order.
Most of Iraq is peaceful. The Iraqi Army is becoming increasingly
competent, such that the Americans are taking on a back-seat advisory role. The Iraqi Police still need a lot of work, work
which is slowly being done.
A large part of the messiness in Iraq comes from the Americans letting
the Iraqis learn to police their country for themselves, rather than
simply using their firepower and space-age weapons to crush the gangs
out of hand - as the Americans could do easily and quickly if they so
decided.
The Coalition of the Willing and the legitimate elected government of
Iraq are not losing, or anything like it. Suggestions to the contrary
are mere fantasy and wishful thinking.
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#reporters_writers_221206
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a caricature of civil war
“ "It´s because we always lose to Israel. It gnaws at the people in the Middle
East that such a small country as Israel, with only about 7 million inhabitants, can defeat the
Arab nation with its 350 million. That hurts our collective ego. The Palestinian problem is in the
genes of every Arab." Ahmed Sheikh, Editor-in Chief, Al-Jazeera ” [Quoted from worldpoliticswatch.com]
Fatah and Hamas are allegedly telling Al Quaeda to butt out. Maybe they want to run their own ‘civil war’:
“The rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah agreed to stop fighting
and withdraw their armed men from the streets of Gaza on Tuesday after a
day of gun battles and kidnappings that left six people dead and at least
18 wounded, several of them children.
“The truce, reached after intense mediation by Egyptian officials, was
agreed to by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is the leader of
Fatah, and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, officials said.” [Quoted from chicagotribune.com]
Note that this cease-fire only lasted a few days. They are no better at keeping their word
with each other than they are with Israelis.
Now it looks like the loons are growing increasingly desperate:
“The deputy leader of al-Qaida, Ayman al-Zawahri, told the United States
it is negotiating with the wrong people in Iraq, suggesting in a video
released Wednesday that his terror group was the real power broker in the
country.” [Quoted from wkrn.com]
Here is a fun parody of his speech.
Meanwhile, Iraq slowly moves into the modern world.
“Civil war or not, Iraq has an economy, and—mother of all surprises—it's
doing remarkably well. Real estate is booming. Construction, retail and
wholesale trade sectors are healthy, too, according to a report by Global
Insight in London. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports 34,000 registered
companies in Iraq, up from 8,000 three years ago. Sales of secondhand
cars, televisions and mobile phones have all risen sharply. Estimates
vary, but one from Global Insight puts GDP growth at 17 percent last year
and projects 13 percent for 2006. The World Bank has it lower: at 4
percent this year. But, given all the attention paid to deteriorating
security, the startling fact is that Iraq is growing at all.
“How? Iraq is a crippled nation growing on the financial equivalent of
steroids, with money pouring in from abroad. National oil revenues and
foreign grants look set to total $41 billion this year, according to the
IMF. With security improving in one key spot-the southern oilfields-that
figure could go up.” [Quoted from msnbc.msn.com]
Here is a nice map showing Iraqi control and otherwise, plus a little text giving background.
Image credit: defenselink.mil
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#civil_war_211206
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just another day in the sleazy record of dereliction of duty by uk socialist labour
Hoon absents himself from accountability.
“Had he been wearing the 167 enhanced combat body armor (ECBA) he would
have survived, the inquest heard.
“To send soldiers into a combat zone without the appropriate basic
equipment is, in my view, unforgivable and inexcusable and represents a
breach of trust that the soldiers have in those who govern them,"
Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker said Monday.
“Roberts's widow Samantha said the army has since changed its policy on
providing enhanced combat body armor, "but we must ensure that these
failures are not repeated with other basic" equipment.
“The inquest in Oxford heard that then-Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon was
told in September 2002 - six months before the start of the conflict -
that 37,000 extra sets of desert-camouflaged body armor were needed.
“But David Williams, a Defense Ministry official, told the inquest that
companies could not be asked to bid to supply the equipment in advance
because this would have revealed preparations were under way for an
invasion of Iraq.
“The Defense Ministry said Monday it recognized that supply failures had
contributed to Roberts's death and said it was reviewing procedures.
“ "We have already acknowledged that if Sgt. Roberts had been wearing
properly fitted and enhanced combat body armor at the time of the incident
he would be alive today," it said.” [Quoted from iht.com]
And the corruption for titles steadily creeps towards our pretty shifty PM.
See this from the UK extreme-left fossil media:
“So let's start with what ought to be obvious. The House of Lords, for
better or worse, is part of our legislature. There, laws are made or
amended that affect us all. For someone to be able to buy the right to
join law-makers is outrageous, demeaning to our democracy, and outright
corruption. Parliament understood that back in 1925 when it passed the
Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act. Most members of the public polled
understand it immediately.
“For a serving prime minister to be interviewed by the police was a moment
of humiliation for British parliamentary democracy. The suggestion that
his top aide, Jonathan Powell, might be interviewed under caution is just
as bad. If charges follow, it would be worse than anything that happened
in the Tory years. It cannot be evaded, explained away or put in
perspective. The argument that other parties were finding similar ways
round the laws of the land does not hold up. If evidence is found that
honours were offered by Lord Levy, with Blair's or Powell's knowledge, in
return for loans to the party, that is real corruption [...]
“The ominous thing for Blair is the suggestion that Lord Levy and others
may refuse to be fall guys and that the inner circle is cracking. During
the Hutton inquiry the No 10 version of events held because everybody in
the circle joined hands and stood firm. This time, with prosecutions and
destroyed reputations in the air, it may be very different.” [Quoted from guardian.co.uk]
“ [...] Detectives suspect that senior Number 10 aides and Labour party
officials may have withheld evidence.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has advised police to look into alleged
attempts to hamper the nine-month probe. Some individuals are suspected of
colluding over evidence.
“A CPS source told the Times: "What these people should remember is that
they are not dealing with a parliamentary inquiry ... anyone failing to
co-operate is participating in a criminal offence." ” [Quoted from thisislondon.co.uk]
Meanwhile, our seedy PM interferes with legal investigation of alleged
bribes in the Saudi arms deal.
“The decision to discontinue an investigation and abort a possible
prosecution with an international element because of "the UK's security
and foreign policy interests" is highly unusual. Experts could think of no
precedent last night. ”
[politics.guardian.co.uk]
Business as usual for a pretty seedy sort of government.
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#uk_gvnt_corruption_191206
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at least parris has the courage to publish the truth - more of bliar’s seedy britain
Well written and accurate, recommended reading.
“Legislators who bray about the "messages" their prohibitions "send out"
should accept authorship of more than good intentions, but of the misery -
the collateral damage - that is the natural and predictable consequence of
misfiring statute. Those corpses in the Suffolk scrub, and those tens of
thousands of women still living who, as you read this newspaper, are
preparing to return fearfully to their wretched kerbside pitches across
Britain tonight, are not just tragic accidents, or accidents waiting to
happen. They are in some measure the inevitable result of the laws we make
and the way we enforce them.”
[second page of article]
related material
on the circus surrounding the ipswich slimeball
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#parrish_suffolk_161206
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cuba and chile
Recommended scan.
“It's hard not to notice, however, that the evil dictator leaves behind
the most successful country in Latin America. In the past 15 years,
Chile's economy has grown at twice the regional average, and its poverty
rate has been halved. It's leaving behind the developing world, where all
of its neighbors remain mired [...] ”
—
“The contrast between Cuba and Chile more than 30 years after Mr.
Pinochet's coup is a reminder of a famous essay written by Jeane J.
Kirkpatrick, the provocative and energetic scholar and U.S. ambassador to
the United Nations who died Thursday. In "Dictatorships and Double
Standards," a work that caught the eye of President Ronald Reagan, Ms.
Kirkpatrick argued that right-wing dictators such as Mr. Pinochet were
ultimately less malign than communist rulers, in part because their
regimes were more likely to pave the way for liberal democracies. She,
too, was vilified by the left. Yet by now it should be obvious: She was
right.”
| GDP PPP per capita |
| Chile |
$11,900 |
| Cuba |
$3,500 |
| PPP : purchasing power parity |
The world’s greatest killer is ... poverty.
The limen for a reasonably happy life is estimated at approximately $13,000.
related material
on pinochet’s death
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#cuba_chile_161206
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who says the us democrats are against the iraq action?
Victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphan.
[approximately Ciano, 1942]
And did the United States decide to attack the Ba’ath socialist regime in Iraq “because of WMDs” or “because of the oil”?
“President Clinton claimed Iraq had WMDs in order to get unanimous
support for his Iraq Liberation Act in 98.
“HR.4655 Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Enrolled Bill (Sent to President))
“Oct 7, 98: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
“The Democrat Madeline Albright claimed Iraq had WMDs in '98
The Democrat Sandy Berger claimed Iraq had WMDs in '98
The Democrat Sen Boxer claimed Iraq had WMDs in '98
The Democrat Sen Levin claimed Iraq had WMDs in '98
The Democrat Sen Daschle claimed Iraq had WMDs in '98
The Democrat Sen Kerry claimed Iraq had WMDs in '98
The Democrat Congresslady Pelosi claimed Iraq had WMDs in '98
Democrats Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara A. Milulski, Tom Daschle, &
Democrat Senator John Kerry among others claimed Iraq had WMDs in 1998
The Democrat Madeline Albright again claimed Iraq had WMDs in '99
Democrats Bob Graham, Joe Lieberman, Harold Ford, & Tom Lantos among others
claimed Iraq had WMDs in 2001
The Democrat Sen Levin again claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
The Democrat former Presidential candidate Gore claimed Iraq had WMDs
in '02
The Democrat Sen Kennedy claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
The Democrat Sen Byrd claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
The Democrat Sen Kerry again claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
The Democrat Sen Rockefeller claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
The Democrat Sen Hillary Clinton claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
The Democrat Sen Feinstein claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
The Democrat Sen Graham claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02 and in '03
Democrats Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter claimed Iraq had WMDs in '02
The Democrat Sen Kerry claimed Iraq had WMDs in '03
The Democrat former Secretary of State Madeline Albright claimed Iraq
had WMDs and was surprised that no WMDs were found in Iraq in '03
“In October 2002, with the "Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of
United States Armed Forces Against Iraq" (Adopted 296-133, 3 present abstained, by the House
of Representatives and 77-23 by the Senate), the United States Congress
granted President Bush the authority to wage war against Iraq.
“From October 2002 until the invasion of March 2003, Saddam was provided
with a warning for ample time to get his WMDs out of the country.
“In over 3 years into the war in Iraq, not a single US Senator has voted
against funding for the war.”
data source
1
data source 2
And here is what Congress voted for:
“[DOCID: f:publ243.107]
[[Page 1497]]
AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ RESOLUTION OF 2002
[[Page 116 STAT. 1498]]
Public Law 107-243
107th Congress
Joint Resolution
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against
Iraq. [NOTE: Oct. 16, 2002 - [H.J. Res. 114]]
Whereas in 1990 in response to Iraq's war of aggression against and
illegal occupation of Kuwait, the United States forged a coalition
of nations to liberate Kuwait and its people in order to defend the
national security of the United States and enforce United Nations
Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq;
Whereas after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Iraq entered into a
United Nations sponsored cease-fire agreement pursuant to which Iraq
unequivocally agreed, among other things, to eliminate its nuclear,
biological, and chemical weapons programs and the means to deliver
and develop them, and to end its support for international
terrorism;
Whereas the efforts of international weapons inspectors, United States
intelligence agencies, and Iraqi defectors led to the discovery that
Iraq had large stockpiles of chemical weapons and a large scale
biological weapons program, and that Iraq had an advanced nuclear
weapons development program that was much closer to producing a
nuclear weapon than intelligence reporting had previously indicated;
Whereas Iraq, in direct and flagrant violation of the cease-fire,
attempted to thwart the efforts of weapons inspectors to identify
and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction stockpiles and
development capabilities, which finally resulted in the withdrawal
of inspectors from Iraq on October 31, 1998;
Whereas in Public Law 105-235 (August 14, 1998), Congress concluded that
Iraq's continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threatened
vital United States interests and international peace and security,
declared Iraq to be in "material and unacceptable breach of its
international obligations" and urged the President "to take
appropriate action, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant
laws of the United States, to bring Iraq into compliance with its
international obligations";
Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of
the United States and international peace and security in the
Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach
of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing
to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons
capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and
supporting and harboring terrorist organizations;
Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolution of the United Nations
Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its
civilian population thereby threatening international peace
[[Page 116 STAT. 1499]]
and security in the region, by refusing to release, repatriate, or
account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq,
including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property
wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait;
Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its capability and
willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations
and its own people;
Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its continuing
hostility toward, and willingness to attack, the United States,
including by attempting in 1993 to assassinate former President Bush
and by firing on many thousands of occasions on United States and
Coalition Armed Forces engaged in enforcing the resolutions of the
United Nations Security Council;
Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for
attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including
the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in
Iraq;
Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist
organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and
safety of United States citizens;
Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001,
underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of
weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist
organizations;
Whereas Iraq's demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of
mass destruction, the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either
employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United
States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international
terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that
would result to the United States and its citizens from such an
attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend
itself;
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) authorizes
the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security
Council Resolution 660 (1990) and subsequent relevant resolutions
and to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten
international peace and security, including the development of
weapons of mass destruction and refusal or obstruction of United
Nations weapons inspections in violation of United Nations Security
Council Resolution 687 (1991), repression of its civilian population
in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688
(1991), and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations
in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution
949 (1994);
Whereas in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq
Resolution (Public Law 102-1), Congress has authorized the President
"to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations
Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve
implementation of Security Council Resolution 660, 661, 662, 664,
665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677";
Whereas in December 1991, Congress expressed its sense that it
"supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of
United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 as being consistent
with the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against
[[Page 116 STAT. 1500]]
Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1)," that Iraq's repression of its
civilian population violates United Nations Security Council
Resolution 688 and "constitutes a continuing threat to the peace,
security, and stability of the Persian Gulf region," and that
Congress, "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the
goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688";
Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338) expressed
the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United
States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi
regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to
replace that regime;
Whereas on September 12, 2002, President Bush committed the United
States to ``work with the United Nations Security Council to meet
our common challenge'' posed by Iraq and to ``work for the necessary
resolutions,'' while also making clear that ``the Security Council
resolutions will be enforced, and the just demands of peace and
security will be met, or action will be unavoidable'';
Whereas the United States is determined to prosecute the war on
terrorism and Iraq's ongoing support for international terrorist
groups combined with its development of weapons of mass destruction
in direct violation of its obligations under the 1991 cease-fire and
other United Nations Security Council resolutions make clear that it
is in the national security interests of the United States and in
furtherance of the war on terrorism that all relevant United Nations
Security Council resolutions be enforced, including through the use
of force if necessary;
Whereas Congress has taken steps to pursue vigorously the war on
terrorism through the provision of authorities and funding requested
by the President to take the necessary actions against international
terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations,
organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or
aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or
harbored such persons or organizations;
Whereas the President and Congress are determined to continue to take
all appropriate actions against international terrorists and
terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or
persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist
attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such
persons or organizations;
Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take
action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism
against the United States, as Congress recognized in the joint
resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law
107-40); and
Whereas it is in the national security interests of the United States to
restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress
[NOTE: Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. 50 USC 1541 ] assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002''.
[[Page 116 STAT. 1501]]
SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.
The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--
(1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security
Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq
and encourages him in those efforts; and
(2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security
Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay,
evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies
with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
(a) Authorization.--The President is authorized to use the Armed
Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and
appropriate in order to--
(1) defend the national security of the United States
against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and
(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council
resolutions regarding Iraq.
(b) Presidential Determination.--In connection with the exercise of
the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President
shall, prior to such exercise or as soon thereafter as may be feasible,
but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make
available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that--
(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or
other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately
protect the national security of the United States against the
continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to
enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council
resolutions regarding Iraq; and
(2) acting pursuant to this joint resolution is consistent
with the United States and other countries continuing to take
the necessary actions against international terrorist and
terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations,
or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the
terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.
(c) War Powers Resolution Requirements.--
(1) Specific statutory authorization.--Consistent with
section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress
declares that this section is intended to constitute specific
statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of
the War Powers Resolution.
(2) Applicability of other requirements.--Nothing in this
joint resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers
Resolution.
SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) <NOTE: President.> Reports.--The President shall, at least
once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant
to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the
exercise of authority granted in section 3 and the status of planning
for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are
completed, including those actions described in section 7 of the Iraq
Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338).
[[Page 116 STAT. 1502]]
(b) Single Consolidated Report.--To the extent that the submission
of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission
of any other report on matters relevant to this joint resolution
otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting
requirements of the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), all such
reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the
Congress.
(c) Rule of Construction.--To the extent that the information
required by section 3 of the Authorization for Use of Military Force
Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) is included in the report
required by this section, such report shall be considered as meeting the
requirements of section 3 of such resolution.
Approved October 16, 2002.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.J. Res. 114 (S.J. Res. 45) (S.J. Res. 46):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 107-721 (Comm. on International Relations).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 148 (2002):
Oct. 8, 9, considered in House.
Oct. 10, considered and passed House and Senate.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 38 (2002):
Oct. 16, Presidential remarks and statement.”
[Quoted from frwebgate.access.gpo.gov]
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#democrats_iraq_111206
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on pinochet’s death
Invariably,
socialists kill
more and impoverish people. Poverty is also the world’s number 1 killer.
It is very difficult to be so harsh on a leader who saves
his country from socialism.
and also improved the economy, thus reducing poverty.
Hypocritical posturing and raw hatred by socialists is to be expected
when they fail in their religious attempts to bring hell on earth.
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#pinochet_101206
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what’s in the uk fossil press - the clown who wants to be pm, and the wizard of oz!
Brown treats the Services shabbily
“Gordon Brown must bear responsibility for the Treasury's attitude, since
he was personally involved in reducing the number of the Army's infantry
battalions at a time when infantry was desperately needed to prosecute the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr Brown reacts aggressively if accused of
not understanding defence, but reducing the Army's fighting strength at a
time of conflict is unprecedented and does indeed suggest that he lacks
serious understanding of how soldiers operate and what their needs are.”
Brown the clown ignores environment - Stern of the Stern Report quits
“The author of the Government’s report on climate change is to quit the
Treasury after friends said that he was frozen out of Gordon Brown’s inner
circle.
“With embarrassing timing, Sir Nicholas Stern’s departure was announced a
day after the Chancellor confounded expectations of a big shift towards a
new environmental agenda in his Pre-Budget Report. ”
Yet another shallow piece from the Groaniad. How can a media source
that hopes to be taken seriously not detail that the play is riddled with alleged links to
politics and economics?
“Much has been made of the question of Baum's intentions. To what extent
was his children's story some sort of parable about the fiduciary policy
of the time? Debate was raging in the United States over whether to switch
from a gold standard to a silver standard as the basis for the greenback.
Was Baum slyly hinting at an opinion, devising the Yellow Brick Road and
the Silver Shoes to suggest alternate metaphors of travelling toward the
prosperity of the Emerald City? The reader quickly decides not to care
about this. If a character in Alice or Oz or even the Mother Goose rhymes
once had an analogy to a historical figure, the figure can rest in peace:
the invention outlives the inspiration.”
The very name of ‘Oz’ refers to the gold standard, as does the Yellow Brick
Road. The Emerald City refers to the greenback and probably Washington - the wizard refering to the president
and so on. The Wicked Witch of the East is big business and Wall Street. The Scarecrow is the farm worker,
the Tin Man the factory worker and so on.
This book has been used for educating in finance and business. Others say it was not written with such an idea in mind. I never realised that Baum had written 40 books on the Oz fantasy.
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The Historian's "Wizard of Oz": Reading L.Frank Baum's Classic as a Political and Monetary Allegory
by L. Frank Baum
Praeger Paperback, 2002, 0275974197
$26.95
[amazon.com] {advert}
Greenwood Press, 2002, 0275974197
£14.99
[amazon.co.uk] {advert}
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the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#clown_wizard_091206
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breaking the cycle of the feckless
“ [...] the worst and neediest mothers avoid the state wherever possible,
because they’re often on some sort of scam or fear the powers of social
workers.
—
“ It is one thing to identify such children; it is quite another to decide
what to do. Most children at risk are fostered, but we know - thanks not
least to Harriet Sergeant’s disturbing Centre for Policy Studies pamphlet
on children in care - that the state makes a lousy foster parent, almost
as bad as the feckless birth parents. Swift compulsory adoption is the
answer. And adoption very early, of babies; the cognitive and emotional
damage to such children is done in their first months. Yet fostering is
still preferred to adoption and adoption takes far too long.
“ Now there’s a challenge to politicians: stop talking about the cycle of
deprivation and break it by taking away the babies and giving them to
loving adoptive parents. A modest proposal, and a difficult one, but the
only realistic one.”
This would be a fine notion if you could trust the ability of social workers and the ethics of governments.
And pigs might fly.
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#feckless_081206
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is bush still engaged in the real war?
The essential question the fossil media is missing:
Is Bush returning to the errors of Clinton?
“ WHAT IS "VICTORY"?
“So, no, says the president. We are staying in Iraq until we win. Great.
But what is winning? What is the "victory" we are seeking?"
—
“ "That is what’s going on in the greater war on terror while we talk about
"winning" in Iraq. We are elsewhere either losing or not very engaged.
“Iraq is a single front in a much larger war. If we don’t suppress Iran,
Syria, the Taliban, al Qaeda, and the Sunni terror funding stream in Saudi
Arabia, we can’t win in Iraq, no matter how victory is defined. You can’t
win if you don’t take on the forces determined to see you lose.
“ "You’re nuts," I’m told. "You want to go to war with everyone?"
“I’ve heard it all before. Some people point to Iran and say, "1938 all
over again." It’s a good comparison, but from my standpoint it is, at the
very least, 1993 to 2001 all over again. We’re making the same mistake we made
before 9/11.”
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#bush_war_071206
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popularity of front runners for 2008
“Giuliani, a Republican weighing a presidential bid in 2008, scored the
highest at 64.2. Obama and McCain, who are also considering a 2008
campaign, finished next at 58.8 and 57.7.
“President Bush was 15th out of 20 while his secretary of State,
Condoleezza Rice, was fourth and former President Clinton fifth.
“New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton scored ninth of the 20 leaders with a
score of 49. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic nominee
who was roundly criticized before the election for suggesting that
students who don't study could end up stuck in Iraq, came in last at
39.6.”
the web address for the article above is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0612.php#presidential_candidates_021206
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