Reuters headline today:
“Bombs kill 19 in Iraq after lull in violence”
What lull? And why are the following paragraphs not a headline story in its own right?
The violence reminded Iraqi politicians of the security crisis they will face after forming a new government, a process that has yet to kick off more than two months after elections that Washington had hoped would ease sectarian strife.
In unusually strong language, U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad warned Iraqi leaders that Washington would not tolerate sectarianism or militias in the new government and its security forces.
“The ministers of interior, defence, national intelligence, the national security adviser have to be people who are non- sectarian, broadly acceptable, non-militia-related that will work for all Iraqis,” he told a news conference.
“The United States is investing billions of dollars into these forces, military and police forces of Iraq. American taxpayers expect their money to be spent properly. We are not going to invest the resources of the American people into forces run by people who are sectarian…”
Why is there not a story headlined:
“American viceroy in Iraq fails to realise that America no longer calls the shots”
or perhaps the headline should be:
“Ambassador of defeated invading nation thinks he can still bluff Iraqis”
Why is their not such a story with such a headline? Because its not news of course. Silly me, I forgot …
No tag for this post.
Mark, Thank you for the bird flu story. I hadn’t heard it and the fact that there is an immunization for fowl suggests that we are not too far from an immunization for humans. As you know, the problem with H5N1 is something called a “cytokine storm.” This is an overreaction of the immune system and leads to Adult Respiratory Distress syndrome, ARDS, which is basically fatal. The better your health the more susceptible you are to this but, of course, if you are debilitated, the flu itself can take you off. Its a tossup. The chicken farmers in America are pretty powerful and I sit right in the middle of chicken land (Maryland). Oh, my. They resist wholesale slaughter of chickens though that would probably be the best.
As for your post today, it is hard for non Americans to comprehend the guilt that some of us feel for this awful War and its aftermath. Too bad the architects don’t feel the same way.
Doc,
You’re very welcome the moment I read that story you popped into my mind.
It’s encouraging for the reasons you’ve given. doubly so because, a country as desperately poor (and corrupt) as Vietnam managed it.
As to the second part of your comment the architects to reverse an old phrase “nothing fails like failure” they’re beginning to fail on the domestic front too. My hope (and increasingly often my belief too) is that they’re so discrediting themselves and their reaction to the coming crash is so inept that Americans will see their wedge issues for what they are.
Keep an eye on the fundy side of the southern baptists - the vipers are begining to fang one another. The US when all is said and done is a country built on human decency. Americans hate being lied to and they hate being taken for a ride. They’re starting to realise that.
Mark, not sure if you’ll see this as it’s the 23rd now, but where are you reading about the Southern Baptists? do you have a link?
(how ridiculous is it that I’m asking an Irishman in Denmark about Baptists in the south of the USA and I’m in Massachusetts myself? But you seem to know all, so there it is…)
I see everything muhaha! :-)
I set things up to get notified of all comments Zennurse
Here’s some good places to track their activities:
http://www.religiousrightwatch.com/
http://www.theocracywatch.org/new_links.htm#Articles
There’ve been a few small stories in the news lately about dissent amongst the various groups. Mainstream baptists complaining that a small group has seized control etc.
Also the other big boys are saying nasty things about Pat Robertson - especially since he criticised Israel and his remarks about Sharon.
PS: I’ve left the links in plain text for easy copying and pasting