Saturday, June 28, 2003

Pre-emptive Assisinations

Recent musings on assination:

In [the context of war], targeting dictators is not murder or assassination. Once the shift has been made to “war,” army against army, killing becomes legitimate. But once war breaks out, even direct targeting of the political leadership is bound to involve many civilian deaths. Surely, in these kinds of situations, it would be far better to target an individual political leader from the beginning of a crisis, not with the force of arms but the force of law. Identify him as a criminal and seek his arrest by any means possible. If all else fails, authorize the use of force, but against an individual, not a nation. (Mercy Killings, Foriegn Policy May/June 2003, p. 72-73.)

The problem is with the word assassination. It brings the image of Lee Harvey Oswald or John Wilkes Booth. . . . You may decry it instinctively. But wouldn’t the world be better off had we been able simply to kill Saddam Hussein, his two sons, and a dozen of his top henchmen? Wouldn’t it be better to kill 13 to 15 people than to have a massive war that no matter how cleanly executed will still cause human casualties, dislocation, and suffering? (Reason 6.03, What's Next for U.S. Foriegn Policy, p22-30.)

But Heather Wokusch asks, If the United States can openly murder foreign POWs, how soon before American POWs are systematically murdered abroad? If the US can justify invading another country because of unproven "imminent threat," how soon before US cities are similarly attacked? And if pre-emptive assassination deems the murder of civilians/bystanders abroad acceptable collateral damage, then how about on US soil?

posted by Walter Reade at 9:05 PM

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Everything Spam

If you haven't seen it already, John Walkenbach's The 3rd Annual Nigerian EMail Conference is a stroke of parody brilliance. ("Like most Nigerians, you're probably finding that it's increasingly difficult to earn a decent living from email. That's why you need to attend the 3rd Annual Nigerian EMail Conference.")

The George W. Bush's Nigerian Spam Letter spoof (maybe not?) comes in at a clever second. ("I AM WRITING YOU IN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE PRIMARILY TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN ACQUIRING OIL FUNDS THAT ARE PRESENTLY TRAPPED IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ.")

If you'd like to get into the business yourself, the "Business Proposal Generator" will get you started quick. This link reports that the average individual loss for those who fall for the scam is $91,000. You can read more interesting information and background here.

I battle spam with Mailshell, a service that lets you create unlimited disposable addresses which you can use when you register on-line or post on a web site. If you start getting undesirable mail from the address, you can simply delete it, quickly solving the problem.

For the serious anti-spammer, you should check out the O'Reilly book, Stopping Spam.

posted by Walter Reade at 8:15 PM

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Bumper Sticker

REMEMBER: It's funny until someone gets hurt. Then it's hilarious!

posted by Walter Reade at 2:58 PM

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Friday, June 27, 2003

Mormon Crickets

posted by Walter Reade at 8:34 AM

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Thursday, June 26, 2003

Break In

I heard him trying to break in. I ran to the cabinet, grabbed my automatic, slammed the clip in and put one in the chamber.

I was scared as I snuck down the hall to the back door. I also grabbed a flashlight. I opened the door as quietly and as slowly as I could.

I tip toed to the side of the house where I heard him still working on the screen.

I turned the corner and put the flashlight and gun in his face, I yelled hands up!!

As he turned to face me . . . . . . . [Click Here]

posted by Walter Reade at 8:59 AM

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Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Enemy Combatant

In response to Ali Saleh Kahlah Al Marri being designated at an enemy combatant, Patriot Act Watch asks:

Can someone please explain the ad hoc nature of our system regarding post 9-11 detainees? Why is it we decide to designate Al-Marri an enemy combatant and not Iyman Farris or John Walker Lindh. Why is it we hold someone for almost 2 years and then decide to designate them an "enemy combatant". Are we trying to put the squeeze on Al-Marri? (Apparently Al-Marri made calls to an affiliate of Moussaoui in the United Arab Emirates.) Is this a pre-cursor to designating Moussaoui an enemy combatant or putting him before a military tribunal? We aren't radicals or apologists for the terrorists. We aren't making claims to the innocence of the accused or designated, however, we are asking why the administration no longer trusts our system of civilian criminal justice. It worked with the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Unabomber, and Timothy McVeigh. We should still believe in it.

posted by Walter Reade at 5:57 AM

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Sunday, June 22, 2003

More Weapons of Mass Hysteria

A 13-year-old middle school student has been suspended for 10 days because his gadget-laden calculator includes a knife, violating the school district's zero-tolerance policy on weapons. . . .

The calculator also includes a screwdriver and a magnifying glass. Curtis was not brandishing the knife or threatening a classmate, but when he brought the calculator to Burns Middle School on Friday, he dropped it in class, exposing the blade. . . .

District officials say their policy is clear: Whether butter knife or machete, policy dictates an automatic 10-day suspension.

[article] (via Reason Magazine)

posted by Walter Reade at 8:22 PM

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Let's get rid of the Patriot Act

Check out the Bill of Rights Defense Commitee.

We support repeal of parts of the USA PATRIOT Act, Homeland Security Act, and Executive Orders that infringe on Constitutional rights. This web site documents and supports local efforts to restore civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution, which have been threatened by the Act and Orders.

posted by Walter Reade at 8:17 PM

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Is this really funny?

This found its way into my in-box this morning. It's a patch with Elmer Fud saying, "Be vewy vewy quiet, we're hunting I-Wackis."

What, exactly, do people find funny in this? The fact that we have killed thousands of civilians? The fact that our soldiers have fired into crowds? That our use of cluster bombs continues to kill and maim children? Maybe it is the use of our troops to "root out" Saddam "loyalists." (Note, Iraqis who oppose U.S. occupation are automatically branded "Saddam loyalists.")

But, hey, we're teaching the world a lesson: If you are an evil dictator who abuses your people, we will occupy your country and abuse your people. Don't mess with the US! We've got morality on our side!

posted by Walter Reade at 8:09 PM

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