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March 9, 2005
The Week So Far
It is said that there are two types of Palestinians; those who deny that the Holocaust occurred, and those who think it was a good thing. Mahmoud Abbas (original name Abu-Mazen) is a Holocaust denyer, which I suppose puts him on the "good" side. Or least bad, take you pick. Abbas is now president of the Palestinian Authority. In 1983 he wrote a book called "The Other Side: The Secret Relations Between Nazism and the Leadership of the Zionist Movement", in which he asserted that "only" one million jews were killed by the Nazis. It tells us much about the state of the Palestinians that he is actually a breath of fresh air compared to the excreable Arafat.
John Bolton has been apointed Ambassador to the UN, and as it seems to have upset the liberals in congress (Republican and Democrat), which means that he will do well if confirmed. We need someone along the lines of Jeanne Kirkpatrick, who, as Reagan's ambassador to the UN, put that organization on notice that there was a new sheriff in town. We need someone who will not put up with business as usual, and if that doesn't please Biden, Chafee, Boxer, or Dodd, so be it.
The Washington Post reports today that there has been a steady drop in military enlistments by black Americans, "reflecting a lack of support among African Americans for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as an economy that is providing more enticing options at home." Does this make them less patriotic? Washington DC radio talk show host Michael Graham thinks so. I'm not so sure, although it is surely disappointing that the one group that has benefited the most from government (read "taxpayer") largess) doesn't think our current war is worth fighting. (Note: I hate "group" talk, and realize there are exceptions, but sometimes it is useful in understanding matters).
Dan Rather will make his last broadcast as anchor of the CBS Evening News tonight. Good riddance. He still doesn't get it though: First of all, from where I sit, I am leaving on a high note," Rather says, "and a higher note than I deserve and certainly a higher note than I ever thought possible when I walked into this job. Unbelieveable.
It's bad enough that Nicola Calipari, the Italian intelligence officer who was accidentally killed by US forces, but does the Italian government have to fuel the fires of conspiracy-mongering? The Washington Times reports today that "Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini rejected U.S. assertions that the vehicle carrying a freed hostage and two Italian secret service agents had been speeding and did not heed warnings for it to stop." Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is under pressure now to reduce their troop numbers in Iraq. The journalist they rescued, one Guiliani Sgrena, was apparently let go for a ransom. Sgrena, writes for an Italian anti-war communist newspaper and of course claims that the United States deliberatly targeted her for assassination. No doubt many will believe her. What it really points up if the utter incompetence of the Italian Secret Service, as Glenn Reynolds believes. And what message has Italy sent by paying a ransom? "Kidnapping pays" This puts all civilian workers in Iraq in danger. As far as I'm concerned, Italy owes the United States an apology.
The situation in Lebanon gets more complicated. Yesterday Hezbollah supporters held a huge pro-Syrian rally in Beruit. What this points to is the success Syria has had in corrupting much of that country in the thirty years they have been occupiers. The good news is that President Bush is sticking to his guns and demanding that Syria leave. He's not one to blink in the face of pressure, and we can all be thankful for that.
Posted by Tom at March 9, 2005 11:45 AM
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