a
One has to pause and reflect on Oceania and wonder .... how long
I realize that is a defeatist attitude but when you look around sooner or later you come to the stark realization of what you are observing.
And it is more than just discomforting.
Gel, Thank you for sharing that article on our loss of liberties, and how our citizens have not reponded with outrage. c.i.
"... wading through the treacle of Mailer's testosterone..."
Now that's interesting, Blatham. My take was quite different (read the first and second halves of the article a day apart, could well need to reread). I thought Mailer was ironically blasting (white, male) testosterone.
AT least 19 American soldiers were wounded in an attack on a US base in Iraq yesterday, and another US soldier was killed in an assault on his convoy in Baghdad.
News of the twin attacks brought a sombre start to American Independence Day activities for the 150,000 US troops stationed in Iraq.
The blows came as the US offered multi-million-dollar rewards for Saddam Hussein and his sons, and aides to George W. Bush countered claims the President had encouraged attacks on allied troops by his taunt to Hussein loyalists: "Bring 'em on".
Tartarin
Well, I think you are right, in one sense - that Mailer is wise enough (he's a smart guy, but also, because he's been set upon rather often for the sweaty pugilism of his self-presentation) to understand his own context - america. But I'll do a re-read too.
I hope I'm right, because it would mean that in old age one gets to have the last laugh about oneself!
Also highly recommend the article/review of James Wood's novel. There are a few paragraphs about how fiction "killed" god that are just wonderful.
Try this one. c.i.
***************
Go to
www.google.com,
type in "
weapons of mass destruction" (quotation marks not necessary)
and hit the "Weapons of Mass Destruction Not Found."
Read error message carefully.
Good for a giggle.
"If you are George Bush and typed the country's name in the address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly. (IRAQ)."
Person specific error message - hehehehehehehehehehehehehe
Googling around this morning, I came across the following Fox News goodie -- from their "Weapons of Mass Destruction Handbook" -- all you want to know (and nothing you "patriots" don't want to know!) about the proliferation of WMD's.
"Who Has It:
Russia is known to have stockpiles of various biological weapons. The United States studies some substances, such as anthrax, in laboratories."
Aren't we a good and responsible nation? We just study them. From a distance. Using surgical gloves and salad tongs. Singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" as we work. We don't use chembios! Never have!! And we never would, right?
That bridge is up for sale again...
Tartar, As for that bridge, it depends on location, location, location. c.i.
Tartarin/c.i., I heard a report recently of Americans aging bio/chem warhead stockpiles that are leaking in place. In a spot in Alabama they are going to incinerate them in the open without the science to prove if it is healthy or not. geeeeeeees!
Here is a segment from NPR's "Weekend Edition - Sunday" about a book that is self explantory. Unfortunately, an audio portion was not available at this time but may be in the future. This report distances the traditional Republicans from the NeoCons which the write identifies as neither Republican or Conservative. It is interesting:
Quote:ยป
Rogue Nation
The Bush administration's shift toward a more unilateralist approach to foreign affairs has resulted in strained relations with allies and increased isolation of adversaries, according to Clyde Prestowitz, a trade negotiator in Ronald Reagan's administration. Guest host John Ydstie speaks with Prestowitz about his new book Rogue Nation: American Unilateralism and the Failure of Good Intentions (Basic Books; ISBN: 0465062792).
Somewhere on NPR yesterday, Bill (probably Weekend ATC yesterday), I heard a discussion about unilateralism giving way to modest multilateralism. Dunno whether sticking anudder base in North Africa counts as multilateralism, nor do I know whether Bush has learned to pronounce the names of countries and their leaders. Until he kisses Chirac on both cheeks and apologizes for previous rudeness, I'm not convinced!!
"Rogue Nation" is now available to listen to, and I would say is a must! Do not forget, this is a true Republican from a traditional Republican family.
The report is about half way down -
http://discover.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.jhtml?prgId=10&prgDate=July/6/2003
I guess it's official now -- and it will be interesting to see how this statement is handled. Bush did lie.
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/06/sprj.irq.uranium/
Tartar, Soime of us already came to the conclusion long ago that GWBush lied about the uranium purchase from Niger/Africa. This administration is looking for biological, chemical and Saddam, but they won't find any of them, because Iraq is too big - as they've been trying to tell us. c.i.
But point is, CI, a member of his administration has come clean.
While I suppose most of us have long realized the "lack of accuracy" in Bush's remarks, the question i have is where the hell is Powell in all this? was Harry Belafonte right all along?
