Funeral in Qana

The town where Jesus performed his first miracle (Cana, Qana, Kana... ) was the sight of horrors this weekend. 54 people, more than half children, were killed in the basement of the apartment where they were hiding from the Israeli bombing.

I cannot believe we are following (using a proxy this time) another faulty tactic of "rooting out terrorists". When will we realize this only adds to the ranks of the dispossesed, uprooted, and angry to whom the message of radicalisation and fundamentalism becomes so welcoming?

What will it take?

3D Security

So the very small (2 people) organization that I work for made news this weekend.... My boss, Lisa actually got on Fox New's Heartland program to be a commentator...(all booing and hissing aside).. and she actually didn't sound like the normal "counterpoint" people they get....

If I can see this coming, why can't people in power?

I hate being right so often....

More on Lebanon/Israel etc.

Ok, so I said there should be a UN force in southern Lebanon with full Chpt. 7 authority.... and apparently there may soon be although sources disagree as to the order in which forces will be deployed (pre/post ceasefire and disarming of Hezbollah).

Hopefully this is not too late... it obviously is for some 400+ Lebanese civilians and 20 or so Israelis. It also appears that Israel has been using phosphorous incendiary devices and cluster bombs, both of which verge on being illegal (and in fact are illegal according to the Geneva Conventions when used in civilian areas).

Jeremy Clarkson is quite funny

On driving at over 200mph:
"Happily, stopping distances become irrelevant because you won’t see the
obstacle in the first place. By the time you know it was there, you’ll
have gone through the windscreen, through the Pearly Gates and be half way
across God’s breakfast table."

And exhaust noise:

"Hit 3000rpm in an Aston Martin Vanquish for instance and a little valve diverts all the waste gases away from the catalytic converters and silencers and into what sounds like the room where God practises shouting."

Interesting Study

Let's get this straight first off.... I do not smoke pot. I do think it may have some medical benefit, however.

There are an interesting set of studies that just came out suggesting that pot is not a gateway drug leading to harder drugs (specifically heroin - despite the experience of one of my early college roomates), furthermore the studies suggest that the amount of pot you have to smoke to raise your risk of cancer is somewhere in the region of 10 joints a day - and that is only an estimate, since cannibinoids tend to be cancer blockers, or inhibitors according to the study.

Oddly enough the studies were by a well know anti drug researcher.... I bet the government won't provide publicity for this one.

It makes you wonder about the FDA's restriction of cannibis for injested (non-smoked) cancer treatment.

The problem with U.S. classification of "terrorist" groups

From the Washington Post:
Reporters are wondering exactly who Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to meet during her upcoming trip to the Middle East.

"Since she cannot speak to Hezbollah, she cannot speak to Hamas, she cannot speak to the Syrians, she cannot speak to the Iranians, that leaves only Israel and, what, Lebanon?" Agence France-Presse reporter Sylvie Lanteaume asked Assistant Secretary of State Sean McCormack . "She cannot go to Lebanon if there is no cease-fire, and you don't call [for] a
cease-fire. So what is she going to do there?"

Other suggestions on the mid-east

The Tikkun Community, primarily Michael Lerner, Here and Fred Kaplan's ideas Here

A Way Out

If there is a way out of the current war in Lebanon/Israel short of walling off the entire region there are a few very basic alliances that have to be made, and a very succinct and cogent message that will have to be spread.

Currently there are probably few within the "Arab world" who would criticize the actions of Hezbollah (or certainly Hamas), even within Lebanon. Any ground-swell of opinion that Hezbollah should be disarmed evaporated during the first Israeli bombing campaign. Now there is, as NPR stated this morning, a divide being emphasized between the Islamists and the autocrats of Jordan and Egypt who deal with Israel. The bombing by Israel of countries harboring Islamist groups (and I will for the expediency of blogging classify Hezbollah as such, though I think a more refined distinction is necessary) who are only loosely connected to states does nothing but increase public support for these rebels. Nobody likes the hegemon fighting against the local boys and girls.

The first action that has to be taken is a complete cease fire - on the basis not of negotiations, but of establishing political normalcy between 3rd parties involved (Lebanese Gov. and perhaps the US or UK acting as proxy for Israel). Secondly the U.S. needs to open talks with Iran and Syria regarding Hezbollah. A disarmerment campaign in both states can be promoted with several carrots, such as development assistance, normalization of political relations (in Syria's case with both the U.S. and Lebanon), and development of nuclear power capability in Iran (- a message that enriched Uranium does not equal weaponization - there are major steps between the two - needs to be undertaken within the U.S.).

Of course isolating Hezbollah's support to the Shia population in Lebanon, and abroad potentially broadens the sectarian divide and further threatens Lebanese democracy. In order to forestall these occurrences it would be important to encourage and support moderate Iranian (and other) Shia clerics, provide vast amounts of economic and developmental assistance to southern Lebanon (UN or other multilateral org.), and there is also a need to integrate Hezbollah into a more normalized political process (ala Sinn Fein). This is not necessarily easy considering Lebanon's sectarian governmental structure, which of course also need to be addressed - or more likely needs to be put on a schedule to be addressed.

Now what to be done with a country like Israel? To equate Israel with other known aggressors (like Syria, Iraq under Saddam, etc.) is quite easy, and perhaps justified but does not suggest a diplomatic solution. Israel's policies are those of fear, despite and perhaps because of, having the most well equipped (the bomb?!) and trained Army in the region their only local response is one of unparalleled aggression. Like their one steadfast ally, the U.S., they have no qualms about acting unilaterally - and as such easily fail to promote actual positive changes through broader political action.

For starters, an arms embargo accompanied by a U.N. (and probably Congressional) resolution to step in, in the event that this encourages hostile powers to act against Israel. Secondly a U.N. force under Chapter 7 of the UN charter should be stationed on the Northern Israeli/Southern Lebanese boarder. Actions taken against the UN force by either side will be considered an policeable action, and will be responded to as such. An exchange of current political prisoners would probably be necessary, as would a new round of trials at the ICC for certain actors. Bombing of civilian targets is a crime under the 4th Geneva Convention, and should be treated as such for the military leaders on both sides. It is unlikely this will be enforced on either side, but equal arrest warrants should be issued, for parity sake.

There is a lack of real security on both sides of this issue, and until these needs are addressed internationally through diplomacy and development, and even perhaps through international defense forces there will be no resolution.

Lebanon

So I have many friends in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon right now and the idea that they are in the middle of this utter mess is very upsetting. Another friend who is a priest has been quite active in petitioning the Vatican to come out very strongly against the actions against civilians on all sides, but especially against Israel who is responding as a sovereign state, not as a militant wing of a particular political party - and as such bears more responsibility to be just.

This was the statement put out by the Vatican:

HOLY SEE CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST
VATICAN CITY, JUL 14, 2006 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano today made the following declaration on Vatican Radio:
"The news we are receiving from the Middle East is certainly worrying."
The Holy Father Benedict XVI and all his collaborators are following with great attention the latest dramatic episodes, which risk degenerating into a conflict with international repercussions.
"As in the past, the Holy See also condemns both the terrorist attacks on the one side and the military reprisals on the other. Indeed, a State's right to self-defense does not exempt it from respecting the norms of international law, especially as regards the protection of civilian populations.
"In particular, the Holy See deplores the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation, and gives assurances of its closeness to those people who have suffered so much in the defense of their own independence.
"Once again, it appears obvious that the only path worthy of our civilization is that of sincere dialogue between the contending parties."


If you want to get involved you can click

White HouseEmail:
comments@whitehouse.gov
Comment line: 202-456-1111
Main #/Switchboard: 202-456-1414

U.S. State Department
Go to the ‘Contact Us’ section on the website: Then click on the E-mail a question/comment Tab, then for ‘Topic’ and select Secretary of State

Public Information line/ Comment line (Choose option #1): 202-647-6575Main #/switchboard: 202-647-4000


Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Senator Lugar:
Email: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov
Phone (202) 224-4814


Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Minority Member Senator Biden:
Email via contact form at -- http://biden.senate.gov/contact/emailjoe.cfm
Phone: 202-224-5042


House International Relations Committee


Intl. Relations Committee Chairman Represenative Hyde
Phone: (202) 225-4561
Does not accept emails from non-Illinois residents




Pointers adapted from Cherese:
A few points as a starter as you develop your own communication ... I am not an expert however, so again please forgive me, for these are not the most well-worded or politically correct points:

> In a positive manner acknowledge the U.S. government (i.e. Secretary Rice and President Bush) for suggesting that Israel have restraint in its response to Hezbollah. Then ask the U.S. government to communicate this with greater strength, and influence Israel, because the people of Lebanon are suffering deeply in this crisis.

> Encourage and ask the U.S. Government specifically your member of Congress to do whatever it/they can to provide strong support towards de-escalating this crisis, for people on all sides are suffering.

> Ask that we not turn our backs on the people of Lebanon, a people who took democracy from vision to reality during their own Cedar Revolution just over a year ago.

> Express to see my tax dollars support the security of the Lebanese people, and the people of Gaza and the West Bank, and Iraq, and people all over the world who are longing for security. We should do this through increased diplomacy, capacity building and supportive economic initiatives. Improving their security situation improves the stability of their regions, and thus in turn improves our own security.

> Include a story or email from a Lebanese colleague or friend if you can,to humanize the situation.

Where am I going? And what am I doing in a handbasket?

Boy things are falling apart all over.... let's review....

1. Israel is actively bombing neighborhoods in Beirut, Tripoli, and Gaza. Hamas and Hezbollah are firing largely unguided missiles, and interesting little exploding drones back.... and this just in the UK Royal Navy is now off to Lebanon to do something....
2. Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan forces are in the process of utterly dismantling a peace process.
3. Pakistan is barely holding off Sunni/Shia strife, after a car bomb killed a Shia cleric. The violence is escalating as several people were killed in Monsoon rains.
4. Afghanistan is going downhill, and fast.
5. East Timor's indedpendence is again at stake as rebel forces threaten the government just as the ministers are being sworn in.
6. Chechnya remains a violent and oppressed region (despite the lack of headline news from there).
7. North Korea is lobbing missiles at, or near Japan - it's closest U.S. Proxy - and the UN just voted to impose sanctions.... those worked so well in Iraq. But at least the UN is showing some action in what has become a frighteningly bad era of PR with the American public (sponsored by Mr. Bolton's vile behavior - of course, so it all goes back to our brainless wonder of a President).
8. Cote d'Ivoire is on the verge of, what for the region would be disasterous, civil war.
9. Zimbabwe and Ethiopia are roiling under internal strife.
10. The prison/gang violence in Sao Paulo Brazil still continues - months after the initial rioting.
11. And let's not forget that horrific blast in Mombai (Bombay). Of course there are good stories from the rubble as well.
12. ... and let's not forget Darfur.... genocide people, GENOCIDE


... oh and 41 people in Indonesia are dead from Bird Flu...

And on a positive note
1. Uganda and representatives of the LRA and other groups are finally having talks....
2. And their neighbors the DRC are trading guns for bikes...
3. Indonesia has agreed to some form of independence for Aceh.

Bush at his illiterate best

"I've reminded the prime minister -- the American people, Mr. Prime Minister, over the past months that it was not always a given that the United States and America would have a close relationship."-- George W. Bush

Friends in Lebanon

From Muzna:

Lebanon news – Saturday July 15It is not me they should be worrying about, my friends from countries around the world who have been calling since Wednesday; after all I live in one of the safest areas of this country, next to embassies, and prime ministers. I have water and electricity, and above all internet. If they are to worry, they are to think of the tens of people I am calling everyday. People in the south of Lebanon who are under the shelling, and isolated from the rest of the country. If I am to share a diary I will not share mine, but that of my friend Mohammed and his family.There are forty people in Mohammed’s two bedroom house since Thursday. Along with his wife and his twin boys, are his brothers and sisters, their children and their 70 year old mother. Their village has been attacked and is relatively unsafe. Unfortunately the place they are staying at now is not any safer. They are in Al-Hosh, a suburb of the city of Tyre. Yesterday night a gas station hundreds of meters away was bombed, and they have been hearing the shelling all day today. They have no electricity. The generators, already present in most regions, of the country are running out of fuel as the roads to the south are all destroyed now. Water which should reach the houses through electric pumps is now scarce due to the electricity pumps.The family feels isolated, the road back to their village was already destroyed so are the roads to other regions of the country. “It is like we are living on the margins of life, things might happen here and nobody would know.” We talk about Naim, a kid we both knew from a Zibqine a lovely village south of Tyre. He died on Thursday along with 11 other members of his family when their family home was bombed. Some of the bodies might still be under the rubble. “Basseeta”, he says, literally meaning “it is simple” or “not a problem”, and I ask how can he say something like this, while his family is under siege and threat. He says it to continue, expecting that if anything happens to him and his family, the world, as with Naim, might also see it as too minimal of an incidence.“We know the story too well, we lived it so many times” he says, “but this time I feel it differently”. “Yesterday, watching my children in their sleep, I was overwhelmed by the feeling of helplessness. How can I protect them? They are three and a half years old and I thought they were saved from the life we lived. I am scared of the possibility of running out of supplies, of gas, water and food for them. They are agitated, now trapped in the house with 38 other people for three days. What scares me too is that they are acquiring too early knowledge I wanted to shield them from. Yesterday, on the phone with their uncle in Germany, they asked for a tank, like the one the Israelis have, as a present on his next trip to Lebanon. It chokes me up. When I was kid I asked for plastic guns as a gift. We played “war” in the living room with cushions as our sandbags; this was a game they never played and I was hoping they would never learn. Yet, unfortunately, it seems I am not their only tutor.”

Zena al-Kalil
For the last half hour or so, I have been watching the skyline outside mybalcony. It is on fire. It's 4:14am.
At 3:28am this morning, I woke up to the sound of Israeli jets flying lowover our skies in Beirut. I was just beginning to finally fall asleep, had racing thoughts in my mind all night, cramps in my stomach, fear... Just asI thought I was going to fall asleep, I heard the sound of jets, followed by one explosion after another.It has calmed down now. I hear morning prayers in the distance.I am at home with some friends who have taken refugee with us. A lot of them foreigners. We are trying to explain... Who, what, why.. But, we're also trying to be normal. Because being normal is what got Lebanese through 20 some years of war. We are joking about how the airport is on fire because of all the alcohol in the duty free. We are trying to be normal.Up until now, Israel has done the following:
-blown up our international airport, run ways, gas reserves for planes (noone can leave or enter the country.)
-blown up small military domestic airports (both in the north and south)
-blown up all bridges and roads linking beirut to the south
-blown up areas/villages of the south, everything from the deep south tosaida
-blown up ... As I type this now, another jet is flying by, it is so loud-... Continue...
Blown up the suburbs (Dahiye).. Three missiles-blown up the beirut-damascus road at several points-we are surrounded at sea as well, there are military ships launchingattacks... Not watching tv anymore, but I know there is so much more going on.Thousands evacuated their homes from the south today. They had to walk for miles because their cars could not cross the highway.Another jet and another explosion. This is all going into Dahiyeh. I can see the red anti aircraft "bullets" being shot in retaliation. Pointless. Theweapons Hizbullah have are so old and out dated (World War II left oversfrom Russia).. No match for Israeli technology.Newest update, it's 4:26am, Israelis are attacking the city, "Saida" fromsea. They are targeting the bridge that connects to Saida.Another really loud bomb. My heart is racing. I can only pretend to bebrave.Everything that is happening now is because Israel is trying to wipe out anytrace of Hizuballah in Lebanon. In the process of doing all this, they havewiped out our infrastructures. Our roads, bridges, etc. civilian homes,innocent lives.It's 4:32am and I have a knot in my stomach. I am praying they don't hit the electricity. I want my internet. I think it's the only thing that will help me stay normal.
Latest update; 9 missile raids into Dahiyeh in the last hour. There are now several parts of Beirut without electricity.I am praying for the people in Dahiyeh ..
Another really really loud bomb. I guess that makes it 10 now.
I am angry now. the things that cross your mind... I just set up a new installation last week, now, no one will get to see it. I was just about ready to launch an international residency program here.. Not going to happen now. was just planning to start a family, who wants to get pregnant now?Ladies and gentlemen, I did not want to burden you with the troubles of war,but I think it is really important that the world knows what is going on. We are under attack by israel. It is unjust and unfair. I wonder what the media coverage is like out there. All this must end. Israel must be stopped. This is so unjust and unfair. Everything we've worked on for the past 10 years is gone now. so, so so, unjust and unfair. We had so many cultural events planned for the summer... Exhibits... Concerts... Plays.. Etc. all gone.We have found a website that is giving up to the second news in Arabic if anyone is interested in following up: www.tayyar.org
Dear friends, pray for us. For this madness to end. Pray for the Lebanese people to stick through this together and not lose their cool.

Climate Change Research

For those of you with a computer that runs all the time and isn't being used to it's full capacity (and is online) click here and donate some processing time to something useful.

In other news of the odd

a witness against Enron was found dead in a park in Britain, of an unknown cause....

the Army cancels the Halliburton no-compete contract....

Our sinking economy....

Yesterday, the Office of Management Budget projected a $296 billion federal deficit for fiscal year 2006. President Bush held a press conference arguing that this announcement is a vindication of his economic policies: "The projected budget deficit over -- of over $420 billion is now assumed to be $296 billion. See, what happens is when you grow the economy by cutting taxes, more tax revenues come into the Treasury, and that's what we're seeing here." But in reality, the projected 2006 deficit would be the fourth largest in American history. In fact, the top four largest deficits have all been under Bush's tenure; the highest was $413 billion in 2004. When Bush came into office, he inherited a surplus of $284 billion. At that time, the administration predicted a $516 billion surplus for 2006. The fact that Bush now considers a $296 billion deficit an occasion to celebrate shows how far we've fallen.

Demon Duck of Doom

Funny story of the day #1

"Palaeontologists digging in northern Australia have found fossil evidence of several new species - including a "killer kangaroo".
The flesh-eating marsupial would have lived between 10 and 20 million years ago, scientists say.
The research team has also unearthed evidence of a large carnivorous bird dubbed the "demon duck of doom". "

Zindane probably has a headache... I sure do

OK, so Italy won....
... on penalty kicks, which is the worst way to finish a game of soccer ever determined. It's like winning the Indy 500 by having a tire changing race. Nonetheless, Italy won - despite playing the second half like my high-school team.

Zindane did something dumb, for whatever reason - although what was said must have been pretty durn offensive, and possibly cost France the game - although that's something that is impossible to prove. I'm somewhat dubious as to whether the sideline ref saw the event happen, or just watched it on the 10 ft. high tv screen.

The refereeing was only mediocre (missed and questionable penalties, false offsides calls) which was a general improvement for this world cup, but disappointing regardless.

I will say that the header Italy scored was beautiful, not as nice as Beckhams set piece, the Italy shot at the end of the Germany game that curved around the goalie and in, or the Argentine shot off the chest trap that curved in from past the 18 - but nice, nonetheless.

Happy now Boberella?

Fall Races and other news

The link above sends you to a fairly cool interactive map of where there are important races going on this November. There are very few places that aren't in contention for either governor, house or senate, so get informed.

Now, on to what happened in Lebanon today...... the ongoing atrocities committed by both Hezbollah and Israel are appalling. The problem this really represents to U.S. foreign policy is strikingly complex as Hezbollah represents a militant arm of Iran (to some) and therefore complicates the nearly stagnant US negotiations with Iran. In this case Israel and Hezbollah are almost acting as pawns for reactionary elements within Iran who may want a conflict with the US (not that this should be considered the popular opinion in Iran by any means). US support for an overly aggressive Israel helps to polarize formerly progressive elements within the Iranian government into positions that support a hard line stance.

all in all, bad news

oh canada.... our home and native land...

And finally: A "bored-looking" President Bush "sprang to life whenever the subject turned to his birthday" during yesterday's press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Afterwards, Bush invited anyone in the room with a July 6 birthday on stage; Harper "stood off to the side, rubbing his nose, as his photo op [with Bush] disintegrated."

Romero

I found this inspiring....

Prophets of a Future Not Our Own
—Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador (1917-1980)

It helps now and then to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a small fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about:
We plant the seeds that will one day grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it well.
It may be incomplete but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.

The Unflushable WC

Well, here goes - it's time to alienate Tara's entire family....


I think France will win.


There it is, I said it - bring on the vituperative comments....


Oh, and Uncle Boberelli - I charge $100 to take any test, my rates to do well are much higher... I'd ask for your first-born, but apparently you already sold him to China.