Yet Another War Crime

Saddam Hussein has been hanged. I don't need to provide a link for this, as it is front page global news. I am vehemently opposed to the death penalty for anyone, for a lot of reasons that I hope are self-evident. But if anyone deserves such a fate, then the likes of Saddam, Timothy McVeigh, Nikolai Ceaucescu and Ted Bundy certainly qualify.

But that's not what I'm going to talk about. I think we can all agree that Saddam was a beastly man and that few people of depth are going to shed tears over his grave. And I will leave aside the question of whether capital punishment is moral in a supposedly moral worldview.

My problem is manifold. I have questions regarding why the execution was done so suddenly, on the eve of Sunni Eid, just 48 hours before Shiite Eid. Why were partisan Shiite phrases being uttered in the death chamber, as CNN reported? Whom does this manner of execution, its scheduling in particular, serve? The entire rushed affair is fishy to me, seemingly pushed ahead by forces seeking to exacerbate a Sunni-Shiite conflict and to put another checkmark on the list of things accomplished in 2006. We can agree that Saddam was a monster of man, but that doesn't excuse the shuffling of a human life for what are clearly political purposes.

Let me be even more controversial. Saddam's rule over Iraq was ended by the illegal invasion and occupation by a foreign power, the USA. This occupying power wrote the new constitution of Iraq and essentially installed its new government, which, if we are to be honest with ourselves, still takes its marching orders from the US "embassy". This occupying power manages Iraq's real power, its police and military forces, and captured and maintained custody of the prisoner Saddam. I would argue that all of this made Saddam a prisoner of war and not of the people.

Moreover, let's not forget that the new Iraq courts were trained by US "consultants", with Saddam's own defence lawyers being American-led. As hands-off as BushCo wished to be seen, the fact remains that the Americans were deeply involved in the capture, custody and trial of Saddam.

What does all this mean? A prisoner of war --no less a deposed ruler-- has been captured, tried and executed by an invading, occupying force. Does this make no one else uncomfortable?

What then would have been a better outcome? No trial. Imprisonment as a prisoner of war until the end of US occupation. Upon complete withdrawal, hand him over the new, truly independent Iraqi authorities or, better yet, the world court in The Hague. To have had this trial and the execution while both the occupation and war still rage on is, to cite a cliche, simply a travesty of justice.

Yes, we can all be happy for the families of Saddam's victims; they dance about happily with justifiable smiles on their faces. But history will not remember this event as a triumph of justice, but as yet another war crime.

Pics Pics Pics

Cousin Ajay sends us the following image, courtesy of this blog. Losers.



Mischa has alerted me to the failure of my Iron Sheik link. Here's a direct embed of the footage. Now we need to get Nikolai Volkov to post a response!

Merry Xmas. Where Be Da Hos?

Who would have thought that Gerald Ford and James Brown would die on pretty much the same day? I wonder which one would be more discomfited by that fact.

So Merry Xmas and all that. From Richard E. comes this. Enjoy.

While we're at it, from Samatha L. comes this game; it allows you to drop kick the singer of an indie punk band.

Meanwhile, Brad Parker's latest blog post provides us with some home made Xmas music, tabla-style.

EK Hornbeck sends us the latest video screed from the Iron Sheik, this time on the topic of "Kraemer"'s racist slip-up.

And Andrew sends us a link to the online version of one of our favourite 90s PC games.

OK. That's enough for today. Back to overeating and watching TV...

Charley, You Have Forsaken Me

You know, I'm usually a fan of the writings of Charley Reese. He's an old-school paleoconservative who isn't trying to impress anyone, so what he writes he usually believes. Like me, he respects the US constitution as written, admires the parting speech of George Washington (i.e., alliances with no one, trade with everyone) and believes Eisenhower to be the best US president of the 20th century. Sometimes, though, the man's irrational curmudgeonly side comes out. Take his most recent column, for example.

In it, Reese sings the praises of Augusto Pinochet and condemns the American "left" for attacking Pinochet, while --in Reese's view-- ignoring the crimes of Pol Pot, Stalin and Mao. Huh? Who's ignored the crimes of Pol Pot, Stalin and Mao? This is news to me. He then goes on to, predictably, compare the records of Fidel Castro and Pinochet, making the further predictable conclusion that the American (and thus Canadian) "left" is conveniently ignoring the greater crimes of Castro to focus unfairly on the anti-Marxist Pinochet.

I for one am quite tired of this argument. Leave aside for the moment that no one of note in North America has, in the last fifty years, said a positive word about Pol Pot, Mao or Stalin. Leave aside, as well, that the only things that Castro and Pinochet have in common is that they were both Cold War Latin American dictators. What matters here, and what Reese and those of the "right" always seem to gloss over, is that Pinochet's rule was a direct and intentional product of the West. Stalin's was not. Mao's was not. Pol Pot's was (for the most part) not. Castro.... well, that's more complicated.

See where I'm going with this? What offends thinking people of North America is not just the atrocities committed by dictators, but atrocities committed by dictators who have been maintained in power by our tax money. If the powers of Mao, Stalin and Pol Pot had been sustained by CIA operations and their democratic foes silences by Western-backed ops, you'd better believe the so-called "left" would be in an uproar over it. No good citizen of a Western democracy wants to see his tax money used to kill and oppress, especially not via the direct funding of arms and assassins.

Pinochet, on the other hand, was given great assistance, both in acquiring power and keeping it, by the Kissinger-Nixon regime of 1973. If you require more evidence of Reese's nuttiness on this matter, just grok this line from his article:

"[Pinochet's] worst enemies put the death toll during his 17-year reign at about 3,000. That's less than the number of people killed in one year in this country by ordinary thugs and fruitcakes."

So apparently 3000 murders isn't sufficient to make one a criminal. Hmmmm, that might be the loophole Saddam's been looking for....

Back To The Protein Shakes

After almost a month of flu, and thus inactivity, I returned to the gym this morning. I was shocked to discover I had lost both strength and muscle mass. Check out the before and after pics. Man, I have a long road of pumping iron ahead of me.

Once again, I'm pressed for time today. So I will leave you with a link to my first post on the MiscroSoft Canada website. Access it here.

Cougars Are Scary

Here's a pic of me and Dapper D. from the CRG Xmas party of last week. Note my flashy "Raywat" belt buckle, revealed for the first time at that event.

Well, my cold/flu is finally gone. So here I am up again at 5:30AM. Only a matter of days before I catch another cold. Knowing this, I took the opportunity to go out dancing Saturday night; my first time in years. (As a 30-something heterosexual male, dancing is not typically something I do, unless I'm trying to meet girls.) This is what I've learned from my return to the nightclub environment, after an absence of many years:

1. Cougars are scary
2. Big 80s hair is back
3. Everyone has ADD these days, as songs don't last longer than 26 seconds
4. The job of bathroom attendant has seemingly not improved. (Not surprising, since bathroom activities and products have not changed.)
5. Only idiots line up

That's all I got.... for now!

Hey You Kids, Get Out Of The Jello Tree!

Damn this flu. The problem with the flu shot is that you can't get it when you already have the flu. And it's only made available at the beginning of flu season. Problem, na?

At the break of dawn, I'm heading out to Alexandria, Ontario, to speak to the kids of Glengarry District High School on career possibilities in Epidemiology. Hmmm. Maybe I should dissuade them, just to minimize my competition?

I leave you with this:

Mmmm...Hot Chile...

What's that noise? Oh, it's Augusto Pinochet --the cause of history's first infamous 9/11-- arriving in Hell. What's he doing? Oh, he's just signaling to Henry Kissinger that he'll wait for him in the lobby.

He may as well be waiting for the members of BushCo. Certainly, Kofi Annan has figured this out, and is making it clear in his various exit speeches. No one talks about it much anymore, but let's not forget that the bastards are torturing murderers who belong in the same category as Pinochet. One day --hopefully not too long in the future-- W's funeral will cause the same introspection among Americans as Pinochet's has among Chileans, and for much the same reasons: the apologists for his crimes will weep, while we who protested will be saddened that the world was too cowardly and morally bankrupt to ever try him and his cronies for their crimes.

That such men enjoy the immunity that their society provides is the true cause of modern religiosity: we all need to believe that there exists an ultimate, omnipotent authority who will mete out punishment at the end of it all.

For now, let's assume that it's true. Makes me warm all over.

Beware The Hair

I was going through my salvaged computer files from my recent laptop meltdown, and I found some odd pics from the last 3 years. Man, have I aged. And check out the wacky hair styles!

Maybe Buckleys Will Send Me A Cheque

Yes, I'm still sick... and blogging from Toronto, though I'm about to pop some pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and do the 5 hour drive back to Ottawa. So, once again, y'all get a brief post.

Just wanted to thank D-Mack for organizing the CRG Xmas party of last Friday, where I was the emcee stoned on cough medication. Check out the fake drunken pic, complete with requisite bottle of Buckley's Cough Syrup:



The evening was a singing contest, with the extraordinary Alexander Korablin taking top prize for his spirited renditions of "Hello Dolly" and "La Bamba". All photos stolen from the CRG Idol website.

Some Things I Don't Need To See

By the grace of almighty Zod, Deonandia visitor SM, currently stationed with the Canadian military in Afghanistan, has returned from her first sojourn "outside the wire". A few explosions and a few days later, she is safe again.

First sign that the new Battlestar Galactica might have jumped the shark: Cylon threesome.

The Love Doctor

Ah, 'tis the season for nog, office parties and contest rip-off evenings. In that vein, I will be emceeing the Xmas party of the Chalmer's Research Group later tonight. The website for the event is here, courtesy of a regular Deonandia visitor who shall remain unidentified.

Meanwhile, despite my valiant efforts to end this feature, the perv links keep coming.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Stephane Dion, as you've never seen him before.

So the report of the Iraq Study Group is out. I'll call it what everyone else is calling it: political cover for the eventual withdrawal of US forces. Ding dong, the neocon witch is dead.

Swiftboating Dion

Day #2 of Stephane Dion's leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada gives us a taste of both the man and the tactics that the Conservatives will use to discredit him in the run-up to the next election. Right on schedule comes the "revelation" that Dion is a dual citizen of both Canada and France. Shamelessly, Conservative lapdog Ezra Levant has been trumpeting this "discovery" in a number of venues, and on cue the right wing echo chamber has been jumping on this non-issue, inflating it into something resembling importance. CanWest Global, known for its Conservative connections, has been "exploring" the story all day, using words like "we've uncovered evidence that Dion is a citizen of France", even though this fact has been public knowledge since the day he entered the public eye years ago.

It is, of course, shameful that the Cons would use this issue to discredit a man. In doing so, they insult the estimated 3-5 million Canadians with dual citizenship, me among them. It's an isolationist, racist appeal that seeks to exclude anyone with international origins or aspirations, which typically describes the bulk of urban Canada. And, as we all know, urban Canada is not the Conservative support base. The hypocrisy is also evident, as prominent Conservative Albertan Ted Morton, heir apparent to the Premier's office, is also a dual citizen, having been born in the USA. But, I guess, in the eyes of the Harperians (and maybe Michael Ignatieff, too), Canada and the USA should be the same country, anyway.

Instead of hyping the fake controversy, a responsible media would point out that among the millions of dual citizens in Canada are tens of thousands of professionals and public figures, and likely thousands of captains of industry, diplomats, and other community leaders and people chosen to represent Canada. To question the "loyalty" of these people is not only ludicrous, but also the first step on the slippery slope toward demanding renewed loyalty oaths from certain immigrants, a scenario often talked about among the more rabid of the right wing set. The scent of fascism is prevalent.

A similar kafuffle was made when the new Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, was revealed to be a dual citizen of Canada and Haiti, and was compelled to give up the latter association before ascending to the vice-regal throne. Perhaps someone should have pointed out that the Queen herself, who supposedly owns the throne, is not even a citizen of Canada. Heck, at least Dion is a citizen of one of this country's founding nations, France. Believe me, if he had British ties, the Cons might just be silent on this issue. This is as much an anti-French phenomenon as it is an anti-immigrant and anti-internationalist one.

We should be encouraging dual citizenships, not punishing them. The future, if there is one, is internationalist, not culturally isolationist. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see the nation state itself dissolve in the next 250 years, as borders and national loyalties become increasingly irrelevant. (Actually I would be surprised to see it, since I intend to be long dead by then.) Citizenship itself is fast becoming an outmoded concept.

Dion's response was an interesting one. When asked if he'd give up his French citizenship, he quipped, "Give me a reason why." Now, I cringe at the poor grammar of that response, but I applaud its content and tone. The man has backbone and principle....

...However, this is but a taste of what is to come. The Cons will try to "swiftboat" Dion, and he will be too detached to respond in kind, or to defend himself adequately. In the words of EK Hornbeck, Dion might be Canada's Michael Dukakis, without the weeniness and the speed-walking.

We shouldn't forget that Canada is a nation of immigrants, whose titular head of state is herself a foreigner. Dion should have responded, "I'll give up my French citizenship when the so-called 'Queen of Canada' gives up her British citizenship."

Daring Thrill-Seeker? More Like Glaring Porn Keeper

EK Hornbeck sends us the CIA Personality Quiz! I got "Daring Thrill-Seeker." Hey, I'm as surprised as you.

Due to popular demand, I give you--for one night only!-- the return of the Daily Perv Link.

Cousin Ajay sends us this: I Can't Believe It's Pot Butter.

Here is a very important article. It's about a radio talk show host in middle America suggesting that all Muslims in America should be forced to wear a crescent armband to identify them. Apparently he got a flood of agreeing phone calls.... then he let his listeners know that he was actually running an experiment and was horrified by how readily common Americans were willing to treat an ethnic group the same way that the Nazis treated the Jews. Think the lesson hit home? I really doubt it.

And while you're all riled up and mad, go ahead and read this, courtesy of Mr. Hornbeck.

We end today with a prayer to Almighty Zod to keep safe regular Deonandia visitor SM, who, as part of the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan, officially went "outside the wire" today, for the first time exposing herself to enemy aggression. Let's all hope that nobody shoots anybody.

Dionandia?

Damn, I'm sick again and I've got sh!t to do. But at least my reconstructed computer purrs like a kitten.... for now.

Quick post-mortem of the Liberal leadership convention: What were they thinking? Yes, Ignatieff is neocon lite. Yes, Bob Rae has serious political baggage. But Dion? Dion?! This to me appears to be clear backroom politics, with the only candidate with connections to both the Chretien and Martin camps mysteriously coming out on top, despite having no charisma or, seemingly, electability.

This may also have something to do with the John Duffy position paper I've discussed before, the one suggesting that the Liberal party should adopt as the foundation of its policies the battling of climate change. Dion is, without a doubt, the most environmentally aware of the candidates. But he's also the least electable! The Conservatives will soon begin to pile character slurs on top of him, and he will be too detached to defend himself. He is toast. Conservatives in Ottawa are now shopping for lengthy term mortgages, since it seems assured that they will be in power for a long time to come.

Ignatieff would have brought Trudeau-style gravitas to the eventual showdown with Stephen Harper. But it would have been Bob Rae who would have eaten the Conservatives alive in debates, in scrums and in every other type of political combat. Despite his baggage, Rae was set to be the mighty Goliath of the reborn Liberal army. I guarantee that the smart Conservative strategists were terrified of Bob Rae.

But those foolish delegates voted with their bitter hearts instead of their strategic brains. Stephane Dion, I believe, is a smart man of high principles, mature attitudes and long thought. But Dion will not galvanize the Quebec federalists against the Bloc. Dion cannot speak to the common Canadian without adopting a distancing, professorial tone. Dion has zero traction west of Ontario. The selection of yet another old school law professor from Quebec is a sign that the Liberals have learned little from their recent trouncing.

I hope I'm wrong. The last thing I want is a "Conservative dynasty." But I fear that that is what we get with Dion as top Liberal.

Conventioning

I'm watching the Liberal convention live right now. Currently, we're waiting for the results of the third ballot. Gerard Kennedy has thrown his support behind Dion, theoretically making the latter the nominal front-runner. This was not entirely unpredicted; I mentioned yesterday that if they vote progresses to 3 or 4 ballots, then Kennedy or Dion have an outside chance.

I also mentioned that if Dion wins, then the Liberals would be set back 20 years. This is not a comment on Dion as a person. Rather, he seems a noble and trustworthy fellow. Unfortunately, Dion is not enough of a high profile leader to take on the Conservatives, and for some reason he has the semblance of the Liberal old guard, which is not a good thing. The advantage of Rae and Ignatieff is that neither of these men has any history with the party.

Because I only get one channel, I'm forced to watch the convention on CanWest Global, whose right wing bias is slowly becoming more evident. They have as a constant commentator John Baird, Conservative bigwig and bulldog, who takes every opportunity to sing the praises of Steven Harper. That is his job, yes, but I wonder why Global feels the need to defer to him every 2 minutes.

I find it interesting that here we are in 2006 watching the selection of a man who might be Canada's next Prime Minister. And who are our options? Well, if you grew up in the 70s, like me, it's all rather surreal. Our choices include a man who I used to see in my parents' working class living room while he beat the pavement for the little guy (Bob Rae), a man whose books of false depth I used to read in the toilet (Michael Ignatieff) and the greatest goaltender the NHL has ever seen (Ken Dryden). Weird weird weird.

Makes me wonder if in 20 years we'll see a leadership race between Celine Dion, Michael Ondaatje and George Strombolopoulos.

The Next Prime Minister...

I took this photo a few months ago and have neglected to upload it until now. "Hummer for Him: $19.99." Now that's a deal!

Speaking of photos, I've uploaded some more. Here are the publicly relevant ones:

1. Random photos from my life
2. This past year in Ottawa



Brother Bhash sends us this creepy footage of a military walking robot.

Cousin Ajay sends us this classic song from our youths... except it's the Muppets version and not the original Sesame Street version!

The clock ticks down to the selection of a new leader for the Liberal Party, and thus a likely next Prime Minister of Canada. As safely predicted here months and months ago, Michael Ignatieff is the best pick for winner. But Bob Rae might just pull it off. Mind you, if neither one pulls it off in the first ballot, I wouldn't be surprised to see Kennedy or Dion snatch victory from the ether, possibly in a 3rd or 4th ballot. And if it does end up being Dion, then that sounds the death knell for the Liberals for the next 20 years.

But even though I'm still calling for a very slim Ignatieff victory, I would prefer Bob Rae to take the reins. And as the minutes tick by, it seems that Rae is pulling ever further to Iggy's shoulder. It's a horse race people.

Meanwhile, don't forget my age-old Al Gore in 2008 prediction. It's finding resonance here and here.

Pickety Pick Pick Pick

Hmmm, two all-nighters in a row and I'm still up and working. How is this possible?

No great insights today. Instead, you get some photos!

1. Pics from my trip to Uganda back in 2005 (from which the sign to the left originates)

2. Pics from my trip to India earlier this year

Enjoy!