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Saturday, March 22, 2003

An Observation

Maybe I'm a little late to the party here, but I've noticed that a lot of conservative isolationists (e.g., Pat Bucanan) who oppose this war with Iraq are sounding the same mantra that a lot of anti-war (America/Bush) leftists are emphasizing: Iraq has done nothing to us to provoke this action. Given what we know Iraq is capable of in terms of their weaponry, and their ties to terrorist organizations, I'm curious to know whether these people would only support military action after being given proof that Iraq is responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent American lives. In other words, these opponents seem to outright reject the concept of preemptive military action, and will only accept war on the strict condition that American lives have been lost, a la Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Kind of irresponsible thinking, if you ask me.
Some Anti-War Peaceniks Get Wake Up Call: There Was No Peace Prior to This War

Story link via Drudge.

A group of American anti-war demonstrators who came to Iraq with Japanese human shield volunteers made it across the border today with 14 hours of uncensored video, all shot without Iraqi government minders present. Kenneth Joseph, a young American pastor with the Assyrian Church of the East, told UPI the trip "had shocked me back to reality." Some of the Iraqis he interviewed on camera "told me they would commit suicide if American bombing didn't start. They were willing to see their homes demolished to gain their freedom from Saddam's bloody tyranny. They convinced me that Saddam was a monster the likes of which the world had not seen since Stalin and Hitler. He and his sons are sick sadists. Their tales of slow torture and killing made me ill, such as people put in a huge shredder for plastic products, feet first so they could hear their screams as bodies got chewed up from foot to head."

Friday, March 21, 2003

I'm Guessing He Didn't Major in Logic at Santa Clara U.

"I'm not embarrassed by America," [NBA player Steve] Nash said. "I'm embarrassed by humanity. More than embarrassed, I think it's really unfortunate in the year 2003 that we're still using violence as a means of conflict resolution. That's what I'm speaking out against."

Once again kids, what is the underlying presumption here? That Saddam Hussein is (was) a reasonable and peaceful man, and that George W. is a warmonger. Odds are, Steve Nash probably couldn't even tell you how he would have handled the situation, much less tell you where Iraq is located on a world map. Bounce ball, Steve. Bounce ball.
Whose Factual Analysis Should Trump?

According to Paul Wolfson, the Senate's recent passage of a bill that bans partial-birth abortions may be unconstitutional because it directly challenges the Supreme Court's factual findings on a PBA procedure known as D&X (dilation and extraction). In Stenberg v. Carhart the Court found that because D&X procedures tend to be the least risky on a woman's "health", banning it imposed an "undue burden" upon a woman's right to obtain a "safe" abortion. For Wolfson, Congress is unconstitutionally contradicting the Supreme Court's authority by justifying a ban on D&X procedures upon the factual premise that such procedures are never necessary to preserve the health of a woman.

Maybe I missed it, but I don't know where the Court ever addressed the issue of whether D&X procedures were ever necessary. (Clarification: It seems to me they presumed it without factual basis). Moreover, I don't see where Congress is saying that D&X isn't the least risky PBA procedure on a woman's "health". It may very well be. However, most credible medical evidence supports the notion that D&X is unnecessary. As such, Wolfson's article seems to be nothing more than a veiled rationalization for upholding the legalized butchering of innocent human lives.
A Whole New Meaning to "Where's the Beef?!"

Dave Thomas probably would not have approved Wendy's decision to sponsor same-sex kissing on TV.
Idiots

Anti-America/Bush "peace" protestors at UC Berkeley.

UC Berkeley Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies Michael Nagler, who was on campus during the Vietnam War protests in the 1960s, said he spoke earlier in the day with a Norwegian reporter to whom he said: "Fifty years ago we came and saved you from fascism. It's time for you to return the favor."Nagler, who teaches about nonviolence and meditation, urged the students to boycott the mass media in favor of reports from independent journalists who he says the Pentagon has targeted and plotted to kill.
Not Too Bad

I am 4-2 on my picks so far for the first round of the NCAA basketball tournamnet. Too bad Dayton and Creighton, who were seeded higher than their respective opponents, turned out to be dogs. Today, Xavier, St. Joe's and Manhattan are in action.
Fighting to Stay Relevant...

...chief surrender monkey Jacko Chirac vows not to go along with a UN resolution that would "authorize" the U.S. and Britain to administer postwar Iraq.

Thursday, March 20, 2003

Zags Win First Round Game

My NCAA tournament adopted school, Gonzaga won its first round game today 74-69. Unfortunately, they get #1 seeded Arizona next. As far as some of the rest of my first round Catholic school predictions are concerned, as of this writing, Creighton is behind but catching up, and the Notre Dame, Dayton and Duke games have yet to start.

Update: I just discovered I had Duke and Creighton playing the wrong schools. Anyhow, I stand by my predictions on their being victorious.
More Human Shield Candidates

San Fran. protestors stage "vomit-in".
Seriously Now...

...are there that many people who think French's Mustard is originally from France?
Aw, C'mon!

American troops are barred from openly wearing crosses and Stars of David so as to avoid offending Muslims.
San Francisco Bay Area: Idiot Central of the World

Check out these comments from Congressman Pete Stark just before yesterday's air strikes:

"I think unleashing 3,000 smart bombs against the city of Baghdad in the first several days of the war ... to me, if those were unleashed against the San Francisco Bay Area, I would call that an act of extreme terrorism," Democrat Pete Stark told the San Francisco Chronicle...

"You can't send in 3,000 bombs without some of them going awry, in spite of the military's claims about accuracy," Stark told the Chronicle. "If they get two-thirds accuracy, that means that 1,000 bombs will explode (off target) inside a city of 6 million people. To me, that's a terrorist act."
First Baghdad, Then San Francisco

Moron protestors hit the streets after U.S. launches "target of opportunity" strike. Someone needs to buy this particular idiot a one way ticket to Baghdad to become a human shield.

"We don't want to alienate people. I hope people realize that political murder merits action that inconveniences them," said Quinn Miller, 32, who took the day off from his job for a banking company and said he expected to be arrested for the first time in his life.

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Scalia Bans Media From Event Honoring Him for Upholding Free Speech

The media, of course, sees a contradition in this. I personally don't see what's so hard to understand. There's a difference between license and right. While the media has a right to pontificate and "unintentionally" mischaracterize Scalia, it doesn't have a right follow him everywhere with cameras. Scalia, as an individual, is within his rights to license such access.
Friends Don't Let Friends Watch Porn and Drive

This bill by the Tennessee state senate makes sense in a lot of practical ways. In addition to not exposing kids to porn, think of all the accidents that will now be avoided from drivers not suddenly going blind.
It Had to Be Done

The previous template I had for this 'blog was causing access problems, so I went ahead and changed it. Hope this works better.

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Predictions

Under the presumption that the NCAA Tournament goes on as scheduled, here are my Catholic school predictions for the first round: Dayton over Tulsa; Marquette (isn't that a French name?) over Holy Cross; Gonzaga over Cincinatti; Notre Dame (French?) over Wisc.-Mil.; Creighton over Western Kentucky; Auburn over St. Joe's (not really an upset pick, because the Atlantic 10 is lame); Xavier over Troy State; Stanford over San Diego; Manhattan over Syracuse (upset pick); Duke (honorary Catholic team because of Coach K)over Central Michigan.
Hollywood Hypocrisy Knows No Bounds

Actor Martin Sheen, who is Catholic, says that Hollywood anti-war (i.e, anti-America and Bush) activists deserve respect, because as people whose statements normally get publicized by the media, they have have a responsibility "to give voice to the voiceless and a presence to the marginalized." Too bad Martin is hypocritically pro-abortion; otherwise, I'd actually give some legitimacy to his uninformed rantings.