From an article in the New Yorker by Seymour Hersh. This is a follow up to an earlier post, about the badly forged documents that claimed that Iraq had tried to get uranium to build a nuclear bomb from Niger. These documents were used by George Tenet and Colin Powell to justify to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee why we had to go to war. More importantly, these documents were also referred to by President Bush in his State of the Union Address to justify to the nation why we had to go to war:
"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa... Saddam Hussein has not credibly explained these activities. He clearly has much to hide."
Here are a few choice paragraphs from Hersh's article about how bad the evidence actually was. Keep in mind that our government has not denied that the documents were fakes, they simply claim that it was an innocent mistake.
The I.A.E.A. had first sought the documents last fall, shortly after the British government released its dossier. After months of pleading by the I.A.E.A., the United States turned them over to Jacques Baute, who is the director of the agency's Iraq Nuclear Verification Office.It took Baute's team only a few hours to determine that the documents were fake. The agency had been given about a half-dozen letters and other communications between officials in Niger and Iraq, many of them written on letterheads of the Niger government. The problems were glaring. One letter, dated October 10, 2000, was signed with the name of Allele Habibou, a Niger Minister of Foreign Affairs and Coöperation, who had been out of office since 1989. Another letter, allegedly from Tandja Mamadou, the President of Niger, had a signature that had obviously been faked and a text with inaccuracies so egregious, the senior I.A.E.A. official said, that "they could be spotted by someone using Google on the Internet."
The large quantity of uranium involved should have been another warning sign. Niger's "yellow cake" comes from two uranium mines controlled by a French company, with its entire output presold to nuclear power companies in France, Japan, and Spain. "Five hundred tons can't be siphoned off without anyone noticing," another I.A.E.A. official told me.
I've deleted the comments I originally posted here so as not to generate too much antagonism in the sandbox. Read the article, and decide what you think.
| Niger | Yellowcake | Nuclear Proliferation | Iraq | War on Terror |
Taking a break from war worries? No problem! Ish is here to dish out the memes. Learn why the foam on your pint of black Guinness stout is white! Read wacky internal company memos! Discover the evil secrets behind Disney! Find out how abstract art can be used to torture people! And who says the Internet isn't fun any more?
Sources: Ye Olde Phart, Pop Culture Junk Mail, and urldj.
| Art | Food | Beer | Disney | Weird Science |
Russell Hoban. I've been trying to remember the name of this animated movie I saw when I was 7; thanks to imdb I found it . The movie's out of print, so I read the source -- one of the strangest children's books I've read, sort of a Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH meets Velveteen Rabbit meets The Phantom Tollbooth.
| Children's Books | The Curious Bookshelf |
Mamacita!
Chasm is a fun Flash game that reminds me of The Neverhood. Via Peerless @ URLDJ.
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I'm posting most of this Variety story because you need a subscription to read it. Here's a link, if you're a subscriber.
I'm most intrigued that Mel Gibson's production company is backing this, given Mel's well-established rep as one of Hollywood's quiet but staunch conservatives. Then again, Gibson also loves a good Conspiracy Theory.
| 9/11 |
Buffy rules.
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A damning summary of all the things Bush has said at photo ops, contrasted with the reality of his 2004 budget proposals. A sobering read. But at least he doesn't lie about getting blowjobs. Courtesy of the House Appropriations Committee. See Caught on Film.
| George W. Bush | Lies |
Really, this is the headline of an actual editorial. Not just an article, but something put out as an editorial.
Ahem. That's tirade not tyrant . Saddam is a tyrant. Geez.
[Yes, I'm a pedant, but it's really embarassing. And no, I'm not trying to make any broader points about the war.]
| Headlines | Typos | Language |
Actually deserved the standing ovation. Antonio Banderas can sing! So can Chita Rivera!
| Fellini |
I got an email asking why Ish wasn't covering the war. Well, it's mainly because there are so many other blogs doing it that I don't have much to add at this point. However I will point you to several blogs set up to provide coverage and analysis: Command Post, Warblogs: cc, and Warblogging all provide aggregated news. Back to Iraq is about to head to Kurdistan, and Dear Raed is the blog of an Iraqi. Unfortunately, CNN asked its reporter Kevin Sites to stop blogging and get back to his job. Speaking of which, I need to get back to mine.
| Iraq | Journalism | CNN |
Found on Dissociated Press was this story -- Some States May Skip Presidential Primaries. I'm not sure what makes me more angry about this story. Is it the fact that, at a time when state governments can't even afford to hold elections, we're still talking about cutting taxes? Or that so few people show up to vote in the primaries to begin with that elected officials assume that they're pointless? Or that the basic machinery of democracy can break down here, and no one is paying any attention?
| 2004 Election |
| War |
Had lots of fun last night at our Oscar party -- Chris was kind enough to relocate his annual gig to our place so we could save on babysitting costs. The ususal suspects were there. Debbie and I missed the screening of this year's Oscar-nominated film, Y tu mamá también, but Chris lent us the DVD so we'll catch it later. In the Oscar Pool: Winner of this year's Blockbuster prize, a VHS copy of Minority Report, was Trevor with a stunning 15 out of 21 correct. Andrea and I tied for the Cinéaste Prize (most guessed, minus the top six awards), a copy of Sunshine State. And Matt F-B walked away with the Do You Go To The Movies Award, a copy of Battlefield Earth, for having the least number correct. I think it was six. (A trip to the used-and-for-sale section at Blockbuster's provided this year's prizes. Runners-up for the DYGTTMA included Wisegirls, another movie with Mariah Carey, Crossroads, with Britney Spears, and Holy Man, one of the many films Eddie Murphy would like to forget he's made.)
The Oscars were relatively short -- they actually did wrap up by midnight -- and relatively controversy-free, unless you count an award being given to a fugitive, or Eminem winning, or Michael Moore being booed off-stage. Please, Mr. Moore. "Fictition" is not a word. I'm sure that it was the writers in the audience who were giving you the business for this egregious mangling of the English language. Actually, Adrian Brody (providing one of the evening's few spontaneous moments as he smooched Halle Berry) hit the right tone, peace-message-wise. You'll get much further with the classy approach.
I was most happy, though, that Spirited Away took the prize for best Animated Feature. Not only was it the best movie I saw last year, it also shows that the category isn't solely kid stuff.
Oh, and over on the sidebar, there's a new feature -- Conspicuous Consumption, a roundup of the books I'm reading, the DVDs waiting to be watched, and very short reviews of what I've recently finished. Why? Hey, it's the bloggy thing to do. Although I'm thinking maybe I should go to a three-column layout, much as I've resisted it. So, whaddya think?
| Michael Moore |
Neal Stephenson. Gibson meets Pynchon. Brilliant. I had to keep reminding myself that this was written in 1991.
| Neal Stephenson |
Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell. Like Snow Crash, a great conspiracy tale is always a good read. Footnotes were as interesting as the comic. Alan Moore rules. Thanks for the loaner, Jay!
| Conspiracy Theories | Serial Killers | Comics |
J. R. R. Tolkien. You think I'm going to wait until the next movie to find out what happens?
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McSweeney's does mystery, sci-fi, horror, etc. Really enjoyable, with a few exceptions. Warning: don't read Rick Moody's '"The Albertine Notes" if you suffer from PTSD -- it's about a post-nuclear NYC. Brilliant, but made me unhinged for several days.
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A fine romantic comedy. Jon Favreau is the new Albert Brooks.
A fine thriller from the late John Frankenheimer, who directed The Manchurian Candidate (one of the Best of All Time). De Niro actually underplays here, and Jean Reno is always a plus. Cool car chase too.
I really liked Richard Price's book, which is why Spike Lee's adaptation disappointed me so much. Price's book gets in deep with two characters -- the dealer and the cop -- but Lee just turns this into a Boyz in the Hood, message-about-violence-and-drugs movie. And why move it to Brooklyn?
| Richard Price |
Why did I even bother? Completely predictable. Grrrl flew over the cuckoo's nest.
This one goes to 11. Great extras including commentary from the band.
Phenomenally stupid. You'd think Cronenberg would do something interesting with virtual reality; instead we get something that's obvious and pointless. Go watch Naked Lunch instead.
| Science Fiction | David Cronenberg |
Figured I'd rent to see what all the fuss was about. So mawkish I couldn't watch the whole thing. Not even the sight of Charlize Theron's ass could save this movie.
Who needs drugs when you've got Elftrance?. Flash on LSD. Via East West Magazine.
| Strange |
Why didn't we see Southern terrorist holds US capital hostage for two days ? Why am I calling him a terrorist ? Well, he claimed to have a bomb, a bomb of the same sort as McVeigh used. The targets he threatened to blow up were a highway, a museum, and a national monument. His grievances were political. Sounds like a terrorist to me. As a matter of fact, he should have been called a suicide bomber since he said he was willing to die for his cause.
You might argue that he was nuts rather than a terrorist, but the two aren't mutually exclusive. As long as his particular brand of craziness is political, he's a terrorist. Or you might claim that he wasn't a terrorist b/c he didn't actually kill anyone. But terrorists use threats all the time to achieve their objective. He made a credible threat to attack civilian targets, and did so to achieve political (and personal) gain.
Will he be detained without trial like Jose Padilla ? After all, he did more than Padilla did (Padilla just talked shit). Will we be investigating farmers and veterans groups for ties to this guy ? Will the farmers who expressed sympathy for what Watson did be brought in for extensive questioning ?
"People here respect what [Dwight Watson] has done," said Jim Bradley, owner of a farm supply store in Watson's Nash County hometown of Whitakers. "People here understand that the land is in your blood like the blood is in your veins." [The Sun News]
Will we ask why his church, family, and elected representatives didn't condemn him unequivocally, and keep doing so repeatedly until everyone had heard ? Will we ask whether the Sheriff who asked for farmers to be treated with more respect after this indicident is simply rewarding terrorism ?
No, we wont. You know why ? Because he was white, a farmer, and waving the American flag. Imagine if this guy had been named Omar, spoke with a different accent, was swarthy, and was pissed off about a different US government policy. Do you think they would have let him go 2 days ? I'll bet the snipers would have taken him out right away. And would this have been a minor story, or a major crisis ?
| War on Terror | Race & Ethnicity | Washington DC |
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Thanks to Trip for the story.
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Everyone says it's the preservation of freedom, but these articles are chilling. From Eschaton come many frightening articles about free speech, particularly the right to dissent. First, actual elected officials said this.
Last week, 12 Republican congressmen, including Duncan Hunter, the Californian who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, signed a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, raising pointed questions about his policy of allowing journalists to travel with American troops.Of course, this article by FAIR documents how network newscasts are "dominated by current and former U.S. officials" and "largely exclude Americans who are skeptical of or opposed to an invasion of Iraq." In the meantime, at home, according to the world's worst judge, the judiciary's not going to protect anything.
The congressmen said journalists — specifically Peter Jennings, the ABC News anchor — were asking soldiers "inappropriate" questions, like what anxiety they had about fighting. The congressmen asked Mr. Rumsfeld to explain why he was not imposing "censorship."
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Tuesday night that government has room to scale back individual rights during wartime without violating the Constitution.And remember, this is the guy Bush said was a model for his appointments to the Supreme Court. One night later, Scalia banned the media from an event where he was being given the Cleveland City Club's Citadel of Free Speech Award!
"The Constitution just sets minimums," Scalia said at John Carroll University. "Most of the rights that you enjoy go way beyond what the Constitution requires."
Scalia was responding to a question about the Justice Department's pursuit of terrorism suspects and whether their rights are being violated.
The conservative justice did not discuss what rights he believed are constitutionally protected.
Top it all off with the report that the French and German EU Offices were Bugged (yes, I'm making a connection to this), and you see why Robert Byrd said Today I Weep for My Country
| 9/11 | Terrorism |
M_____ writes:
At least two ways to view France's war opposition: Get piqued and rename menu items, or check out the chess match. France played out a high wire gambit with the aim to thwart U.S. global influence and the potential regional influence of former Soviet satellites seeking E.U. membership. There are, of course, specific economic motives underlying France's gambit, but ultimately the French sought to protect and expand their future global influence.
A perfectly rational example of national best-interests pursuit, and it's loaded with risks. If France could stop the U.S. from going to war, France gains influence. If the U.S. goes to war and gets bogged down, France gains influence. If Saddam unleashes outlawed weapons, France loses influence. If the war goes "well", France stands to lose so much clout it may never recover.
Many already question its seat on the Security Council as representing an antiquated "snapshot of 1945."
Wednesday, with the U.S., two allies and 27 supporting nations on the cusp of war, Foreign Minister de Villepin, in a chapter from the notoriously capricious annals of French diplomacy, said France stood ready to assist U.S.-led forces should Iraq use outlawed weapons.
Facing possible check mate, are the French signaling an imminent endorsement of George W. Bush? Do they merely seek a face-saving middle ground, if such a middle ground exists? Are they positioning themselves for a financial stake in postwar Iraq? Can the French ever again have a day in the sun like the one they've just enjoyed? Will they ever lose those yellow headlights?
No hard feelings in board games. Pass me a croissant and the room temp camembert.
| Guest: M_____ |
Apparently this is a t-shirt, but I can't find it on the web. Gasp ! a grassroots phenomenon that hasn't gone virtual ?
| History | Native Americans | T-shirts |
US Department of Laughs. Gallows humor, to be sure, but, like Get Your War On, a source of much needed laughter.
| Humor |
More levity for all you Ish'ers. This is a collection of Idiot Letters for the internet, in which Brad Christensen writes back to internet email scammers and wastes their time, providing hilarity for all. Via my hometown paper.
| Humor |
Via Capn Design: Just Shut Up, by Neal Pollock: "Nobody gives a shit what anti-war or pro-war writers think. Really. So shut up. That goes double for poets. Shut the hell up, poets. Everybody just shut up."
| Anti-War Movement | Iraq | Poetry |
Who would make a better president: Bush or a box of Tic-Tacs?
| Food |
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A point-by-point dissection of Bush's speech over at WastedIrony.com
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Anger on Iraq Seen as New Qaeda Recruiting Tool. See?
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