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03/27/2003 Archived Entry: "US v. UN"
On the Political Front:
For an excellent military analysis of yesterday's events in Iraq....here. And follow it up with a Ben Sargent cartoon on the Patriot II Act.
This, from monitoring the shortwave radio: Radio Havana Cuba reports (11 pm EST, 26 Mar) that in the last week, the Arab (and alternate) news source Al-Jazeera added 4 million new subscribers in Europe, doubling the number of European subscribers. Despite one report to the contrary, Al-Jazeera seems to have been the victim of a denial of service attack, complicated by the fact that its host "changed data on servers used to direct Web visitors to the site, perhaps in an attempt to protect itself against hacking." Meanwhile...more on YellowTimes which still seems to be down. The news site was yanked off the 'Net after it posted controversial photos of captured American soldiers, stoking accusations that private firms are censoring free speech. (Thanks for the heads-up on these two items to Lee K.)
If you are unable to get through to the English version of Al-Jazeera for "alternate" news, I suggest you try United for Peace and Justice or Stop the War Coalition. I linked to other favorite sites for alternative news in yesterday's blog. These alternative sources are especially important as the US government admits to lying to the "regular" press, which gobbles it up with glee. For example, it now admits to lying about the capture of 8,000 Iraqi soldiers. Even the embed/in-bed journalists themselves are starting to complain about the non-news being provided by coalition officials. About bloody time!
The role of the United Nations in post-war Iraq is still a key dispute between Tony Blair and George W. Bush. Introducing the UN at the first possible opportunity would immensely benefit Blair's popularity at home but it would do nothing for Bush's -- except, perhaps, damage it. The dispute can be broken down into two sets of issues: "in the short term, humanitarian aid; in the longer term, the reconstruction of Iraq and how it should be run until a representative government is installed." Secretary-General Kofi Annan has already told U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice that the US is legally responsible for providing humanitarian aid to Iraqis in areas controlled by coalition forces. The financial cost of occupying Iraq is is likely to dwarf the cost of war and the US may need international assistance -- for the pricetag and to promote stability. Meanwhile, the other world powers are lining up to make sure they get a slice of post-Saddam pie, especially in the form of reconstruction contracts, a la Cheney's crony Halliburton. France isn't even being subtle about it. The world is shuffling the deck of cards in terms of geopolitical influence and borders, which leads Pat Buchanan to ask with some insight What next? -- or, rather, after Iraq, Who Next?
An interesting series of video clips has been posted to OneWorld TV.It shows Iraqi people explaining why there is resistance to US and British forces. The film clips self-describe: "Beyond the frontline in Iraq, Canadian film maker Shelley Saywell has documented the growing resentment of ordinary Iraqis towards an invading US army and what it might bring. In a powerful new film shot on the eve of the US-led invasion, a diverse group of young Iraqis talk of their anger and hardship."
On the Personal Front:
I finally got over being intimidated by my OmniPad scanner and, so, while I write this blog, my other computer is buzzing away, scanning the pages of my '95 book "XXX: A Woman's Right to Pornography." St. Martin's wanted to put the "golden oldie" up on their site as an e-book but they took so long about doing so that the rights reverted to me. If I have achieved any wisdom during the twenty+ years I've been publishing and published, it is this: maintain the rights to your own work as much as possible whenever possible.
Meanwhile, I heard back from Penthouse yesterday and they have scheduled an article I wrote for the upcoming August issue. (My last piece in Penthouse was the Dec. '02 issue.) I like working with the editor there. He is funny, responsive to writers, slightly cynical, and awake at 3:00 in the morning EST when I usually respond to emails. I haven't addressed pornography for quite a while in my "new" writings...frankly, I was getting pretty bored by the topic. But this article piqued my interest because I used a different style of writing -- a more personal and flamboyant style -- than I normally employ. I love playing around with style tho' there are some mainstay guidelines of writing from which I rarely stray. One of them: an insight from F. Scott Fitzgerald -- don't use too many adjectives; let the verbs shoulder the work.
I encourage everyone to check out the individualist feminist site ifeminists.com which I maintain. Donations to that site or this one are much appreciated and easily made through the PayPal/donation buttons on the front pages.
Best to all,
mac