Great Moments in Journalism - Take 4

The New York Times has just broken another Michael R. Gordon Middle East expose.

Hezbollah Trains Iraqis in Iran, Officials Say

• - New York Times

Yesterday -A U.S. official said the account of Hezbollah’s role was provided by militia members who were captured in Iraq.

» Full Story on New York Times

As anyone familiar with Mr. Gordon's work can see, the title covers the meat of the story pretty effectively. Mr. Gordon, with the able assistance of his editors and the NY Times, smears and ties together Iraqi insurgents, Hezbollah, and Iran in one simple story. A hat trick, us hockey crazed Canucks might say. And, as usual, all on the inside information provided by...wait for it... unnamed US government officials!

Before war is declared on Iran, a few questions might be in order;

Who are the sources? Are they the same guys who passed on the previous false information for Mr. Gordon and Ms. Miller? Why can't you name them?
Who are the editors? The same enablers who have blindly approved the previous stories?

And finally, don't you ever learn?

I must admit to being surprised that the 'sources' did not try to sneak in a few more of the bad guys du jour like al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Syria. Perhaps the Times and the sources thought that might be a little over the top for the increasingly cynical audience they are trying to influence? Or sadly, they may be in the follow up to this travesty.

Who are the Taliban?

Finally, a mainstream media company practices some real journalism. On a topic of critical importance to Canadian citizens. I have read and watched the first two installments, link to the image above, and strongly encourage everyone else to.

Perhaps if we understand these people a little more we can bring ourselves to understand why we are in Afghanistan, and how this mission might be ended.

Talkin' Bout Afghanistan

As part of my ongoing personal campaign to get Canada out of Afghanistan, I have spoken to numerous [over two dozen] people in various settings over the last few weeks. Not once have I had a person defend or promote the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. In fact, most people seem to be more against it than I am. At least a third claim they were against it from the outset.

These people range in age from early twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, and seventies. This is by no means a representative sample as they are all from Southern Ontario and probably skew a little high when it comes to income and education.

A common thread of their unhappiness is that we were snookered/strong armed into this mission by the US. Primarily, to cover their withdrawal to attack Iraq.

There is also a resignation that with the Conservatives or Liberals [or a combination of them] in the drivers seat, that we will never leave unless the Afghans chase us out.

The discussions I have had have been surprisingly emotional [for Canadians] and have actually lifted my spirits regarding a change in policy. I will continue to raise the issue as often as possible and hope that other Canadians are doing the same.

NOTE: With that in mind I have linked to a couple of Canadian Anti-Mission Blogs in my Links
List. Check them out.

End The Occupation of Afghanistan

'END THE OCCUPATION OF AFGHANISTAN.'

Thats how I end every comment or letter that I send to the Globe and Mail regarding Canada's involvement in the slowly developing fiasco that is Afghanistan. Unfortunately, that is not likely to happen. This is really a two party war with the then majority Liberals [definitely not small l] getting us in it [Thank you Paul Martin], and the now minority Conservatives [sort of small c] vowing to keep us there. The recent commission led by former Deputy Prime Minister Manley of the Liberals supplied the two 'governing' parties with enough cover to allow them to con the press and the people that we should stay. For any American readers, think of your VP Dick Cheney as chairman of a committee that investigates the invasion of Iraq. Can you say 'snow job'?

I doubt that the often promised election will change anything. The parties that are adamant about ending the mission [NDP, Bloc, Green] are too small and marginalized to be able to get the popular support to elect the MPs necessary. And lets face it, the issue is just not important enough to Canadians that a majority will vote against a candidate just for his position on Afghanistan. Even though in poll after poll over 50% of Canadians want the mission ended.

Personally, I plan to continue to push through letters and emails that we must end our occupation in February 2009. I will also continue to bring up the issue in conversation with anyone, and if there is an election soon, ask the question publicly how the candidates stand on our occupation of Afghanistan.

Hopefully, I can embarrass enough voters to make this a key voting decision. I'll even use the lame reasoning about the cost in dollars to us poor downtrodden taxpayers. Forget the loss of soldiers lives, forget the loss of Afghan lives, forget the sheer immorality of forcing our 'way of life' on an independent people and occupying their land for years to ensure the survival of a corrupt, non-representative government.

So...once again...END THE OCCUPATION OF AFGHANISTAN.

Harnessing Bloggers for the Greater Good

Today I read an opinion piece in the NY Times by Mr. R. Klain [Speaking Truth Without Power - Campaign Stops - 2008 Elections - Opinion - New York Times Blog] which deals with the lack of impact by progressive blogs on the Democratic primary. Well, sort of.
I'll skip the bulk of his article and get to his last line where he bemoans the fact that
"the leading Democratic candidates still have a long way to go before they harness these strong voices for their campaigns."
I think Mr. Klain [I hope its not a nom de plume for Joe Klein] misses the point of blogs in general. Bloggers highly value their independence from particular candidates and organizations. They arose primarily because of the frustration that previous candidates and organizations were acting contrary to what they had campaigned for, and had been supported for, which actions were in general anti-progressive. Finding absolutely no outlet in the mainstream media to be heard, thanks largely to the submission of the press to the powers that be, the internet was used to protest and then galvanize opposition to the anti-progressives.
Based on that history and the general mind set of progressive bloggers, there will be great resistance to be 'harnessed' for a candidate or the Democratic party. I think you have seen how that worked out for conservatives vis a vis George W. Bush and the Republican party in general.
But Mr. Klain and the MSM and the other hierarchies cannot comprehend that. I think Captain America sums it up best below from the classic Marvel Comic Daredevil #233 by Frank Miller:

[Click to expand. Unless you have great eyesight.]

Hummer, Why I hate thee.

While driving in and around Ottawa this weekend, I drove past a couple of Hummers. I could feel my blood pressure rise and my teeth grind. There is just something about those vehicles that puts me over the edge. "Why is that?", I asked aloud, receiving looks of resignation from my wife and youngest daughter as my pathological dislike of Hummers is widely known. To their relief I went over the arguments in my mind, with only the odd snort or snarl to acknowledge that my thought process was continuing.

The Hummer. It is a big, grotesque, ugly, overweight gas guzzler. It is the anti-hybrid. A vehicle born from the womb of the military industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned about in 1960. It is everything that is wrong with the North American car industry, and by extension the United States of America. You know, 'Whats good for GM is good for ....'.

Countries can be defined by the vehicle they produce or hold up as an icon:

England- the Mini or the Jaguar. Overpriced, yet classy and prestigious.
Japan- Honda Civic. High quality, mid priced, and dependable in the long term.
Germany- Mercedes Benz. Expensive, well made and a status symbol.
Sweden- Volvo. Safe, expensive, reliable, and did I say safe?
South Korea- Hyundai. Compact, inexpensive, yet reasonable as far as operating reliability goes,
Russia- Lada. Cheap, low tech, proletarian.
East Europe- Yugo. See above.
Brazil- Volkswagon Bugs. Not sure if they still make them here. Cheap, reliable, accessible, and fun.
Canada- we will take credit for the minivan. We make a lot of them here and we sure drive enough of them. Roomy, good for camping, mid priced, family friendly.

Now the U.S.- The Hummer. A Jeep on steroids. Hugely over priced. Ridiculous operating costs. Butt ugly. Gargantuan. In fact it doesn't appear to be that roomy. Even though it takes up a lane and a half of a city street, not to mention two parking spots. Can't see over it. Can't see around it.
It is the ultimate 'Look at me and what a big raging ass I am and I don't give a damn what you think because I got mine buddy.' kind of vehicle. Its the kind of vehicle that people with more money than brains lust after.

The Hummer is like US foreign policy; intrusive, domineering, wasteful, over tech, and in the end a failure. It is no surprise that this vehicle was originally built for the army. It may work on the battlefield, but why apply it to a civilian environment?

I believe that if all Hummers [with or without their owners] disappeared into a black hole tomorrow, the world would be a better place.

Thanks, I needed to get that off my chest.

Mr. William Kristol's Reward

I just learned of Mr. Kristol's promotion to the the Op Ed pages of the 'Greatest Newspaper in the World' TM.

Why not? I believe balance is necessary to a great mainstream media outlet like the Times. Accuracy and sanity? Not so much. I could fill the rest of this page [and a few more] with the peerless prognostications [Ed. note - I looked for a font that was called sarcastic/ironic but settled for italics] of Mr. Kristol but that has been done better by better bloggers than I.

Since the NY Times seems determined to add voices of Mr. Kristol's calibre , I offered the resume of my nephew Ben as a columnist specializing on sports, particularly the NFL. Some of his highlights; he finished last in his NFL Fantasy league, he regularly touts the Detroit Lions as Super Bowl contenders, and has annually predicted the return of Barry Sanders [to various teams] to the NFL since his retirement in 1999.

But no, it is in the name of balance that Mr. Kristol has been added. As if the redoubtable group of Brooks, Cohen, Dowd, Freidman, Michael Gordon, Judith Miller [oops-my mistake], and their various enablers on the Editorial staff are not enough to offset the partisan, left wing ravings of Mr. Krugman and uhhh, Mr. Kristof [wherever he is].

Surely, in the name of balance and incompetence, the flagship of the fourth estate could fit in a few more contrary voices to add to their list of right wing leaning pundits, reporters, and editors?

Martin Luther King: Wish You Were Here

It seems to me that today the necessity of peaceful protest and civil disobedience as practiced and taught by Rev. King is clearer and more compelling than ever. Today, thanks to some great posts at some outstanding blogs [Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, Firedoglake] I was able to read and actually hear Martin Luther King Jr.'s great speeches on frighteningly relevant topics. These inspiring words link the past and present. The impact of the Vietnam war then, is eerily identical to the impact of the war in Iraq now.

Reverend King's words call out across the decades to us now, reminding us of the price that will be paid if we continue to rely on violence and force to settle our disputes, or worse, attempt to impose our will on others.

Now, I love the internet and I am grateful for the information and contacts that it allows me without having to leave my comfortable chair....but, I see it as a potential hindrance [a cop out if you will] to meaningful action of large groups of people to effect change in the world. I wasn't even ten when he was assassinated, but even then I believe we could all feel that something special in the world had been lost. How would Rev. King have used the internet to mobilize the diverse group of people who shared his dream to make the world a better place?

This is the challenge that those of us who are sick of the direction that our leaders are taking the world in must face up to and act on, to live up to the legacy that Rev. King has left us.

Dedicated to George Will

This is my first post as a blogger. I was inspired to do this by none other than George Will. One of his latest rants regarding the great unwashed masses and our infiltration of the political comment arena via the internet finally pushed me over the edge to satisfy my narcissistic, egotistical urges to share my thoughts with the world at large.

It made me wonder what are the qualifications for a political pundit and why did the invasion of amateurs into Mr. Will's private domain cause him such anger?

Qualifications? Lets see; Dictionary, Thesaurus, Book of Quotations [I received all of these in a handy set courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica about twenty years ago for enduring a ninety minute hard sell. I also got a migraine for my trouble.] , I read a lot [science, history, politics, mysteries, Literature, Comic.. I mean Graphic Novels], I watch the news and listen to it on the radio [CBC, NPR, BBC], surf the internet, and talk to people regarding the events of our times. What else could a guy need? Oh, yeah, writing skills. I have been told by more than a few people that I write fairly well [for an Engineer] and I am happy to agree with their opinion. So, I seem to be eminently qualified to be a political commentator.

Now, part two of my question. Why does Mr. Will go off the deep end over the effrontery of bloggers and their comments on the events of our times? Could it be that he and his cohorts [Carville, Kristol, O'Reilly, ad nauseum] are embarrassed by how wrong they have been and how correct the amateurs have been? I doubt it. They still believe that things should be as they forsee and that they sometime [or somewhere] will be that way.

Are they afraid of the competition for their highly paid gigs? I doubt it. They have the connections that they will always be employed for ridiculous fees for providing the propaganda that the rich and powerful want us to hear/read.

No, I think he just hates the idea that real democracy is actually invading his little world. Mr. Will seems much more comfortable with the elites and their continued control of the world as he knows it.

So thanks for hearing me out, and tune in for other diatribes/rants/sermons on an irregular basis.

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