This is just kind of disturbing. (Via Ben Sheriff.)
Breaking News
Renowned asshole Osama bin Laden did an interview with an Al-Jazeera reporter in late October. Al-Jazeera sat on the tape, stating “[it] did not meet its standards and was not newsworthy”. Apparently, the tape has been circulating in intelligence circles for a while (Tony Blair quoted it quite a while back), but CNN got its paws on it recently and decided to air it. Al-Jazeera is now pissed and is severing its ties with CNN (file under “whatever” category).
Accused terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden said “the battle has moved to inside America” in the only television interview he’s granted since then — now airing for the first time.
The interview was conducted by the Arabic-language Al-Jazeera network in late October. Al-Jazeera decided not to televise it. CNN has obtained the videotape and began airing it Thursday night.
“We will work to continue this battle, God permitting, until victory or until we meet God,” bin Laden — the world’s most-wanted fugitive, whose current whereabouts are a mystery — told the Kabul reporter for the Qatar-based network.
“I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are doomed,” bin Laden said as the U.S. war on terrorism raged in Afghanistan. “The U.S. government will lead the American people in — and the West in general — into an unbearable hell and a choking life.”
“Bin Laden’s sole post-September 11 TV interview aired“, CNN, 2002.01.31
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Charming third-world stories
This could have been easily prevented if the US simply admitted guilt for all the evils in the world and paid the appropriate amount of reparations to … well, pretty well anyone who claims it.
More than 1,100 people were still missing yesterday after deadly blasts at a Lagos armoury, but many children among them are likely alive and may have fallen victim to slave traffickers, the Nigerian Red Cross said. [...] A Red Cross spokesman said yesterday many of the missing children are believed to be alive but have not been returned to their families. Social workers say they are concerned because trafficking in children is rife in Nigeria and throughout West Africa. [...] Mr. Bawa said witnesses had seen more than 1,000 children at the Oduduwa police station in Ikeja on Sunday night, but when Red Cross workers arrived the next morning, they were told the children had gone.
“Children who survived Lagos blast may have fallen prey to slave traffickers“, John Chiahemen, National Post (Reuters), 2002.01.31
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Let them eat shit
Liberal patronage opportunity seeking (and general incompetence) keeps our decrepit Sea King helicopters in the air (occasionally).
National Defence officials have spent $13-million developing plans to buy new helicopters to replace the ageing Sea Kings, yet after eight years the military is still months away from even formally requesting bids for the new aircraft.
The mounting delays and soaring costs are the result of the Liberal government’s decision to split the $2.9-billion helicopter purchase into two contracts and the snap election call in November, 2000, according to newly disclosed government documents.
In a secret memorandum last year, a senior public servant warned Alfonso Gagliano, then public works minister, that the delays mean the first of the 28 new helicopters will not be delivered to the Canadian Forces until December, 2006, at the earliest.
“Sea King plan cost $13M; no end in sight“, Andrew McIntosh, National Post, 2002.01.31
Links:
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The Ode to Newfoundland
The Ode to Newfoundland was first performed in public one hundred years ago, on January 21st, 1902. The lyrics were by Sir Cavendish Boyle, Governor of Newfoundland at the time, and music was written by Sir C. Hubert Parry. At my brother’s wedding his wife requested that the guests, a significant number of whom were Newfoundlanders, sing the Anthem. After a rousing rendition, one mainlander asked “are you guys in some sort of cult or what?” I doubt many know their province or state’s anthem quite so well (though I’m a first verse kinda guy).
When sun rays crown thy pine clad hills,
And summer spreads her hand,
When silvern voices tune thy rills,
We love thee smiling land,
We love thee, we love thee
We love thee smiling land.
When spreads thy cloak of shimm’ring white,
At Winter’s stern command,
Thro’ shortened day and starlit night,
We love thee, frozen land,
We love thee, we love thee,
We love thee, frozen land.
When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore,
And wild waves lash thy strand,
Thro’ sprindrift swirl and tempest roar,
We love thee, wind-swept land,
We love thee, we love thee,
We love thee, wind-swept land.
As loved our fathers, so we love,
Where once they stood we stand,
Their prayer we raise to heav’n above,
God guard thee, Newfoundland,
God guard thee, God guard thee,
God guard thee, Newfoundland.
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Another blatant attempt to lure traffic
Trinity-Anne, a traditionalist, decides that 3rd Edition is not for her.
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I weep for my country
Next thing you know, Canada will be accused of having a two deer health system.
An American surgeon is to give a Canadian man a hernia operation in exchange for a free hunting trip. Willard Ylioja has been waiting more than two years for his operation. He struck up the deal with Dr Michael Murray of Nevada after being examined by him during a hunting trip. [...] Mr. Ylioja acknowledged he told the health district he wouldn’t be available for his hernia surgery during the hunting season in 2000 and 2001.
“Surgeon trades hernia operation for hunting trip“, Ananova, 2002.01.31
Thanks to MommaBear for the tip.
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Axis of Evil
Ho, hum, another snowy day at the office.
Bitter after being snubbed for membership in the “Axis of Evil,” Libya, China, and Syria today announced they had formed the “Axis of Just as Evil,” which they said would be way eviler than that stupid Iran-Iraq-North Korea axis President Bush warned of his State of the Union address. [...] Diplomats from Syria denied they were jealous over being excluded, although they conceded they did ask if they could join the Axis of Evil [...] Israel, meanwhile, insisted it didn’t want to join any Axis, but privately, world leaders said that’s only because no one asked them.
“ANGERED BY SNUBBING, LIBYA, CHINA SYRIA FORM AXIS OF JUST AS EVIL“, SatireWire, 2002.01.31
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Libertarian Samizdata on Star Trek
Roddenbery’s ‘utopian’ United Federation of Planets is a vision of the future in which society is starkly homogenised, with para-military governance and a total state allocated command economy the likes of which have thankfully never yet come to pass [...] The only dissidents shown, the Maquis, were forced into armed conflict with the Federation when it betrays them to the fascist Cardassians. The only attempts at political change shown were a couple failed attempts at a coup d’état by elements of the Federation’s own military, neither of which had liberty as their objectives. The Star Trek Federation is a dystopian nightmare: smiley face totalitarianism with a California “liberal” vibe, complete with attractive telepathic political officers (‘councellors’).
“United Socialist Federation of Planets“, Perry de Havilland, ibertarian Samizdata, 2002.01.31
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Wild Speculation
Lawrence Garvin and Charles Tupper Jr. have been speculating that Chrétien has been leaving Eggleton twisting in the wind to insulate himself from blame over the JTF2 prisoner issue.
Here’s another theory (categorize as “fun speculation”). Maybe the military didn’t tell the government until a couple of days ago that prisoners were taken in Afghanistan. After all, this is something that happened on the ground, and I doubt the Americans are letting Ottawa remote control micromanage troop actions. Eggleton only found out when someone pointed out that the prisoner escort photo had Canadian troops in it, or when the news filtered up through the military bureaucracy. Eggleton’s first mistake was honest — he didn’t tell Chrétien until after the weekend, leaving the PM livid for being publicly out of the loop. When it turns out that the prisoner capture happened a full week ago, Chrétien told Eggs it’s time to be a team player and take a bullet for the old coach. That is, if you want a job tomorrow.
Minister of National Defence Art Eggleton has contradicted himself about when he was informed Canadian soldiers had captured al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan. Facing more questions from opposition MPs in Parliament, Eggleton found himself changing his story.
…
On Tuesday Eggelton said he “knew about it last Friday.” That was four days after the soldiers took their prisoners. Now Eggleton says he was briefed the day the incident happened. “I was first informed about the detention of prisoners in a mission within 24 hours of when it occured,” he told the House.
“Eggleton now has different explanation about Canadian troops taking prisoners“, CBC News, 2002.01.30
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2002/01/30
We’re in what now?
The Commonwealth came dangerously close today to having a reason for existence. Fortunately, saner heads prevailed and it’s back to being a deductible junket racket. If “express[ing] concern” doesn’t work, perhaps they could ratchet up the pressure by sending a registered letter or something.
A British call to have Zimbabwe thrown out of the Commonwealth was rejected on Wednesday.
The 54-member organization has expressed concern about Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s crackdown on critics.
“Commonwealth stops short of suspending Zimbabwe“, CBC News, 2002.01.30
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Flit on Glover on Steyn on Herold
Flit takes a kick at Stephen Glover‘s criticism of Mark Steyn (over the Marc Herold study). It’s worth a read.
My two cents. Here’s a quote from Glover’s article: “Mark cannot deny that there have been dozens of reported incidents of Afghan civilian deaths, and that in many cases those making the reports have worked for reputable media organizations. How can he know that 4,000 people have not died?“. I dunno, how can we know anything? Why not 8,000, or half a million? How do we know that? After all, we’ve got dozens of reports of civilian deaths! Steyn isn’t claiming no civilians died. If Herold states 4,000 died, and even the most superficial examination of his claims (by an anti-war “researcher”) shows massive inconsistencies with reality, it’s hard to really lend any particular credence to that particular “study”.
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FORCES Canada, National Post Update
The National Post has finally caught up to the FORCES Canada issue. I’m not sure if the “wild allegations in e-mail chat rooms” refers to us (the blogging world) or not because:
- I don’t remember anyone making “wild allegations”; in fact, the NP’s story seems to be pretty well cribbed from the groundwork done among the blogs
- I have no idea what “e-mail chat room” is. A newsgroup? A forum somewhere?
The federal government ordered a smokers’ rights Web site to remove their image of the Canadian flag, claiming the trademarked logo misleads Internet surfers into thinking the site has government approval.
The directive sparked wild allegations in e-mail chat rooms that the government was unfairly targeting the libertarian lobby group Forces Canada, which is devoted to preventing the “hysteria and extremism of the U.S.-led anti-smoking movement from infecting and corrupting Canadian society.”
“Take Canadian flag off Web site, government tells smokers’ group“, Joseph Brean, National Post, 2002.01.30
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The Globe and Mail
Recent articles I’m reading relating to our pals, the Sauds:
- Saudi Arabia imprisoned and tortured six westerners, including one Canadian, to deflect blame for terrorist acts from Bin Laden supporters.
- Saudi Prince asks the US to hand over 100 of the 168 terrorists held in Guantanamo Bay, as they are Saudi nationals.
- And where’s George W. Bush’s head? Apparently up his ass, singling out North Korea, Iran and Iraq as threats for seeking weapons of mass destruction.
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New Onion Today
Classic article Lesbian Identity Ends Abruptly Mid-Junior Year: “Man, I remember once telling her I thought her friend Liz was kind of cute,” said fellow junior Mike Nygard, 20. “She got unbelievably offended and lectured me for two hours on Lookism and the society-wide evils of the Male Gaze. At the time, I felt awful and apologized profusely for my insensitivity. I remember thinking how lucky I was to have someone like Amanda to point out how sexist I didn’t even know I was being. Now, though, I’m thinking maybe she was just being a sanctimonious, self-righteous bitch. Of course, it would be sexist of me to think that, but I sort of do.”
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2002/01/29
About time
It looks like Microsoft’s tech support has finally snapped and said what they really mean. HOWTO: Read the Fucking Manual.
I know it’s a joke, and I know how it works, don’t mail me.
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Third World Status Watch
This issue is getting worked over a little in the Canadian political blogs. The hearings (referred to below) are merely a sham facade to rubber stamp whatever course of action the Provincial Government has already decided. Following Robert Mugabe‘s crib notes for governing, Minister of Fisheries Gerry Reid denied FPI “official status” at the hearings, and at some point during the Marystown meeting, turned off FPI board member John Crosbie’s microphone.
Needless to say, hearings will only be held in places where this type of reception is guaranteed. There’s an amusing parallel to a series of Counterspin programs earlier this year on Globalization: they held a meeting about the effect on the auto industry in Windsor, on farming somewhere in the Prairies, etc., etc.. I thought the program would have been a lot more amusing if they held (heavily-Ontario and Quebec based) auto industry show in the Prairies, a show on Atlantic Canada unemployment in Windsor, and the show on farming subsidies in Windsor, etc.. That would may have been an interesting debate!
Note to Sam Synard, Mayor of Marystown: the fish, if they’re owned by anyone, are owned by the Government of Canada. Your parents sold out any rights you would have had for a Baby Bonus cheque.
John Crosbie, once one of the most popular figures in Newfoundland, was booed and jeered by a crowd of nearly 1,000 angry fishery workers last night as he attempted to speak out at public hearings into the future of Fishery Products International. The former federal fisheries minister – now an FPI director — was greeted by a deafening chorus of boos, stamping feet and clapping when he walked into the room at the start of the hearings. “Hide your face,” shouted one fishery worker. “Goddamned liar,” shouted another.
…
Gerry Reid, the provincial Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, who was chairing the meeting, turned down Mr. Crosbie’s request to give FPI official status at the hearings so it could respond to allegations, and turned off the 70-year-old former politician’s microphone. He stormed up to Mr. Reid and the other provincial politicians sitting on the committee yelling, “This is a disgrace. You want to find us guilty. We’re a scapegoat. We have a right to defend ourselves.”
…
But feelings were running extremely high from the start. “The fundamental question is: Who owns the fish?” Sam Synard, the Mayor of Marystown, said to loud whistles and applause. “I say it’s the people of Newfoundland. “Don’t be bullied by … Mr. Crosbie” or anyone in FPI management.”
“Angry crowd shouts down FPI’s Crosbie“, Sandra Rubin, National Post, 2002.01.29
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National Post Brain Dump
Comments on stuff I’ve read in the National Post today.
- Enron lived ‘on-edge — sex, money, all of it’
- Teacher admits she may have had sex with UK boy
Story of my life — always in the wrong place at the wrong time. - MPs rally around scolded colleague
This looks like a pretty thin story, quoting only one brave soul, identified as “one backbencher”. Doesn’t sound like a ground swell of revolt here. If there’s no-one in the cabinet with the guts to give Chrétien a push out the door, it’s doubtful they’ll find anyone in the backbenchers. - ScotiaBank scuttles cheap employee loans
Here’s the quote: Move to help staff to ‘understand the customer experience’. Why not have one greeter at the door to distract the customer, and another to nail them in the nuts: that’s the Canadian bank experience! Needless to say, there is no word on the upper echelons of the managerial crew being denied any sort of benefits, as the rarified air above the 50th floor on Bay Street requires no understanding of customers whatsoever. - Shape up or we’ll be like Alliance: PM
I’ll have to admit that’s a pretty awful fate; but I suspect the JC is looking more to his own image than to his party’s fate.
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Johnny Walker, Red Label
For all your teenage angst needs. (I’ve had this hanging around and decided it’s time to clear the buffer).
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More rabble rubble
This just in: our culture has a breast taboo and we cannot (as a culture) talk about them or even look at them! Okee dokie. Isn’t there any real oppression going on to talk about these days?
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Make up your own news
Police said Tuesday they evacuated all but one person after a man armed with a hunting rifle entered a busy Quebec government office.
“There were about 40 employees inside,” said Quebec provincial police spokesman Claude Ross.
“We managed to evacuate all the employees except for one. There’s only one employee left and he’s not in danger.
“Standoff in Quebec“, Canoe, 2002.01.29
The article continues … “actually, we think he’s an asshole, and we’re just letting things take their natural course”.
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The law is an ass (Afghanistan edition)
And here’s your proof:
He [Ayrat Vahitov] was still in the Kandahar jail early last month when the jail got a new inmate: a donkey, arrested by the Islamic hard-liners for violating their strict laws. … Apparently, being an ass was no excuse for committing a crime. Mr. Vahitov said the donkey was convicted of being an “accessory to theft,” guilty of being a thief’s getaway vehicle. The animal was sentenced to two weeks behind bars, along with its owner.
…
For a week, the donkey served hard time with Mr. Vahitov and the rest of the 250 prisoners. Then, halfway through the donkey’s sentence, the U.S. bombing of the city intensified in the drive to oust the Taliban. … Even more shaken was the donkey. Amid the chaos — the Taliban guards flailing at prisoners while explosions nearby shook the building’s foundations — the animal began to buck and bray. The prisoners, followed by their normally serious captors, began to laugh at the sight. … “It was so stupid,” Mr. Vahitov recalled, shaking his head. The next day, the donkey’s sentence was commuted to time served and it was released (the fate of its owner is unknown).
“Donkey case underlines Taliban fervour“, Mark Mackinnon, The Globe and Mail, 2002.01.29
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****member
Guess who else attended frickin’ evil medical school: MGM and Danjaq, the British company that controls the Bond film license, have obtained a cease-and-desist order against New Line Cinema that prohibits New Line from calling the latest installment of Mike Myers’ shagadelic spy series Austin Powers in Goldmember.
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Don’t laugh
According to Tim Blair, Aboriginal activists have lodged a writ with Australia’s High Court seeking to remove the kangaroo and emu from the national coat of arms. Canadians, don’t laugh — Shiela Copp has the same thing in mind for us (and in government speech, “proposal” pretty well means “done deal”).
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