Base10Blog
Friday, March 31, 2006
 
Another Week in the Can

Well, it looks like Base10 made it through another week. There were some political events that may be worth comment tomorrow, but for now Base10 is tired. He has to keep his nose in the books this weekend--forgoing a George Mason Final Four game no doubt--to prepare for Micro. I can't even watch the Mets opener on Monday! At least I know that I will have failed my test by 8PM on Monday so I can watch the NCAA Championship game.


 
Photo Projects

Base10 bought some HC-110 develper yesterday. It looks interesting, and I can't wait to try it--although it will probably have to wait until after midterms. Anyway, Base10 has been thinking about his photography and is trying to come up with a new idea to spur some creativity. I think I'm going to try a "random photo" project after this week. On Mondays, I will go to one of the random word generators on the web and get a word. This word will form the theme for the week (and I will post it here). What I will try to do then is try to create a small 5-10 image portfolio around this theme, which I will post at the end of the period. I think this is a good idea (although I'm not sure if I can do it in the one-week time frame) and will serve to focus my attention. I will try to use one specific camera/film/digital media/developer/maybe lens to really try to get to be one with my equiptment for a change.


Thursday, March 30, 2006
 
Internet: "I Don't Like Harrison Ford Much Either."
"FORD: 'I HATE THE INTERNET'" - Contactmusic.com.
 
Law Lords Get Their Groove On
Apple is being sued by--well, Apple--in a British court. Actually, Apple Records is suing Apple Computer for violating the terms of a trademark infringement agreement it entered into settling a 1989 case. In that case, Apple agreed not to use its logo in the distribution of music. Then came i-Tunes. Oops!

Normally, when a big corporate entity sues another big corporate entity, Base10 begins to nod off. But here, the case is just too entertaining. To demonstrate how i-Tunes works, the plaintiffs did a live download of the classic disco song, "Le Freak." One can picture the coifed law lords shaking their booties to the classic melody. What's next, Rick James?
 
They're Risking a Firm Warning
"Iran rejects UN ultimatum" - Aljazeera.

Or a strongly worded letter. Or maybe they want the Iraq treatment. Get sanctions, but steal billions of dollars while bribing politicians throughout the world.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
 
Photo Gear

Base10 acquired a bit of new gear the other day. First, Base10 bought a small frame to actually display some of his photographs. Second, he bought extra ink cartridges for his new Epson R2400 printer (ouch!). Third, he bought a Cosina/Voigtlander 28mm lens which is very nice indeed. Finally, he bought a new film developer.

Today's developer selection was Diafine. Diafine is a strange developer. It uses two baths. You immerse the film in the first bath with very little agitation for three to five minutes. You then drain the first solution back into your storage container and pour in the second solution. Once again you agitate very lightly for three to five minutes. You then rinse and fix the film normally. The thing is, there is no effect on the process by changes in time or temperature. I've read that this is because the first bath just soaks developer into the emulsion then the second bath activates the process.

Aside from the wide temperature and time latitudes of the film, it has other good qualities. It seemingly lasts forever with simply replenishment of stock solution. You apparently only lose what get absorbed by the film. Second, most flms get a pretty significant push without a commensurate increase in grain or contrast. Tri-X, for example, is rated at 1600 ASA while Ilford HP-5 is rated at 800. This could of course be a drawback if you can't pull you film. Also on the minus side, negatives are quite flat. This is nice for contrasty daylight or nighttime photographs to avoid blown highlights, but is not so great for images with a narrower tonal range. If Base10 actually got his nose out of the books this weekend, and souped a few rolls to see the results.

The lens looks pretty solid, too. It has a very nice finish and has a very sturdy feel. Now that Base10 has a 28mm prime, he just needs a 35mm to complete his kit. I don't need one right away, because I have a fairly fast 40mm, but I decided early on that I would like to get one really good lens. While I will not part with the money required for an expensive Leica lens, I might spring for the new Zeiss lens or the Voigtlander Nocton or Ultron 35.


 
Midterm Results - Part I

Let's just say that Base10 is not particularly pleased with his exam perfoirmance so far this semester. Well, at least Macro is over with. Now on to Micro!


 
Why Does This Make Me Think of Reavers?
The Pax?
Sunday, March 26, 2006
 
Midterms
Base10 is going through midterm exams right now and is a bit busy with his studies. He has Macro on Tuesday and Micro the following Monday (drat, that's the Mets home opener--what Base10 won't do for scholarshi)! In any event, Base10 hasn't been posting too much since Friday and will likely not be posting much until later in the week. Apologies to his frequent readers.

One thing to add, though. First, Base10 got a new developer. It's called Diafine and has the amazing properties that it pushes film, is fine grain and is not dependant on variations in time and temperature. What's also interesting is that it seems to last forever. Base10 souped some film with it already and is very impressed.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
 
When Did The AP Become the Daily Worker?
If there's any doubt in your mind about media bias, read this puff piece published in the AP as "news" about Venezuelan dictator president Hugo Chavez. For example:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has become so firmly enshrined in the national psyche, so adored by followers who see him as their savior, that his personality has become the predominant issue of his re-election campaign. Love him or hate him, Venezuelans agree that his crusading, magnetic persona is at the heart of what Chavez calls his socialist revolution.

"He gives the impression that he truly cares for the poor, that he would do anything to help us," says Anita Lopez, 32, a single mother who carries a photograph of "El Comandante" in her wallet.

Such loyalty among Venezuela's poor frustrates Chavez opponents, who have yet to come up with any force capable of countering him.

Or this later in the article:
The idolization of Chavez carries echoes of like-minded figures, from Cuba's Castro to Argentina's Juan Peron and his famous first lady, Eva. Just as "Peronistas" decades ago displayed framed portraits of "Evita" in their homes, today's Chavistas often put up posters of him on their walls.

This heartfelt glorification contrasts sharply with the fearful attention once commanded by right-wing dictators like Gen. Rafael Trujillo of the Dominican Republic or Gen. Augusto Pinochet of Chile.

Chavez's government bears no resemblance to the right-wing dictatorships in Chile and Argentina in the 1970s, with their mass killings and disappearances of dissidents. Chavez is an elected leader whose opponents generally feel free to call him a menace to democracy who props up his government with heavy spending on propaganda.

Perhaps the reporter neglected to consult with the normally fellow-traveling Human Rights Watch. As their executive director has written in the past:
Human Rights Watch [has] deep concerns about credible reports we have received that National Guard and police officers beat and tortured people who were detained during the recent protests in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities. Such cases were not unusual or exceptional. The abuses allegedly committed were widespread and appeared to enjoy official approval at some level of command in the forces responsible for them.

 
Off To Work

Base10 is finally reporting to work after several days off. (You know, work is really starting to interfere with my academic/blogging/social life). It is a beautiful morning here in Metropolis: a sunny spring day that still has a winter's bite in the air.

Base10 may spring for the Zeiss lens this morning...


 
Sports Shorts

There are lots of happenings in the sports world. First, last night could have been a great night of baseball. The Mets played the Dodgers and the Yankees played Boston. And both teams won! But alas, it's the exhibition season and it means nothing.

Second, the Jets have finally worked out a deal for John Abraham. In a convoluted three-way trade, the Jets picked up Denver's first round pick from Atlanta in exchange for Abraham. It seems like an okay deal for the Jets, who now have two first-rounders. Potentially, they could even deal to move up, although the O-lineman they aught to take anyway will likely be available at four.

In other NFL news, there are huge happenings. Wide receiver/anti-social cry baby Terrell Owens has signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Now he can work along side wide receiver/cry baby Keyshawn Johnson and coach/cry baby Bill Parcells. If nothing else, the floor show this trade creates will insure a strong television audience for Dallas games.

Next, Aaron Brooks, erstwhile QB for the Saints, has signed with the Raiders. Base10 doesn't know what the deal was, but bear in mind, Brooks only really had one good season. Potentially, this is a good move for the Raiders, a strong-armed QB working with Randy Moss and supported by a running game. But I think Brooks is still a work-in-progress.

In other shocking moves, the Colts released Mike Vanderjagt and signed Adam Vinateri away from the Pats.

Finally, for those of you that are counting, the NFL draft is only five weeks away.


Wednesday, March 22, 2006
 
Christopher Hitchens Strikes Back!
Hitchens has some choice words for the shrill anti-war crowd in Slate:
So, now I come at last to my ideal war. Let us start with President Bush's speech to the United Nations on Sept. 12, 2002, which I recommend that you read. Contrary to innumerable sneers, he did not speak only about WMD and terrorism, important though those considerations were. He presented an argument for regime change and democracy in Iraq and said, in effect, that the international community had tolerated Saddam's deadly system for far too long. Who could disagree with that? Here's what should have happened. The other member states of the United Nations should have said: Mr. President, in principle you are correct. The list of flouted U.N. resolutions is disgracefully long. Law has been broken, genocide has been committed, other member-states have been invaded, and our own weapons inspectors insulted and coerced and cheated. Let us all collectively decide how to move long-suffering Iraq into the post-Saddam era. We shall need to consider how much to set aside to rebuild the Iraqi economy, how to sponsor free elections, how to recuperate the devastated areas of the marshes and Kurdistan, how to try the war criminals, and how many multinational forces to ready for this task. In the meantime—this is of special importance—all governments will make it unmistakably plain to Saddam Hussein that he can count on nobody to save him. All Iraqi diplomats outside the country, and all officers and officials within it, will receive the single message that it is time for them to switch sides or face the consequences. Then, when we are ready, we shall issue a unanimous ultimatum backed by the threat of overwhelming force. We call on all democratic forces in all countries to prepare to lend a hand to the Iraqi people and assist them in recovering from more than three decades of fascism and war.

Not a huge amount to ask, when you think about it. But what did the president get instead? The threat of unilateral veto from Paris, Moscow, and Beijing. Private assurances to Saddam Hussein from members of the U.N. Security Council. Pharisaic fatuities from the United Nations' secretary-general, who had never had a single problem wheeling and dealing with Baghdad. The refusal to reappoint Rolf Ekeus—the only serious man in the U.N. inspectorate—to the job of invigilation. A tirade of opprobrium, accusing Bush of everything from an oil grab to a vendetta on behalf of his father to a secret subordination to a Jewish cabal. Platforms set up in major cities so that crowds could be harangued by hardened supporters of Milosevic and Saddam, some of them paid out of the oil-for-food bordello.

Well, if everyone else is allowed to rewind the tape and replay it, so can I. We could have been living in a different world, and so could the people of Iraq, and I shall go on keeping score about this until the last phony pacifist has been strangled with the entrails of the last suicide-murderer.


Ouch!
 
What They Need is a Big Anvil
"Wily Coyote Eludes Police in Central Park" - 1010Wins.

You know, to have eluded authorities this long, this animal must be a super genius!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
 
Leadership in the NFL
Condi Rice has indicated she is not interested in the NFL commissioner's job. She claims that she still has some things to do as Secretary of State. Where are your priorities, Ms. Rice? What could be more important for your country than football?
 
Iraq IV
Jack Kelly has some interesting comments over at RCP about media reporting on the war in Iraq. He writes on media coverage of "Operation Swarmer,"
"Operation Swarmer, a joint U.S.-Iraqi offensive around the northern Iraqi city of Samarra went into its fourth day Sunday with very little to verify why it has been described as the largest assault operation since the American-led invasion of Iraq three years ago," wrote UPI correspondent Sana Abdallah.

"Contrary to what many television networks erroneously reported, the operation was by no means the largest use of air power since the start of the war," said Time magazine.

A journalist friend of former paratrooper W. Thomas Smith wanted to know: "Why are we launching a massive bombing campaign in Iraq?"

The dimwits have confused an air assault (where infantry is moved by helicopter into contested territory to conduct an operation) with an air strike (where fighter-bombers blow up something) or a ground assault.

That Operation Swarmer has so far been bloodless by no means indicates it is a failure or "overblown," Smith said. Dozens of suspected terrorists -- including one thought to be a ringleader of the bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra last month -- have been captured, and several large caches of weapons have been seized.

It's also significant that Operation Swarmer was conceived by, and largely planned and executed by, the Iraqi army. An air assault is the second most difficult tactical maneuver for ground forces (only crossing a river under fire is more difficult), one which requires meticulous planning. That this one was pulled off essentially without a hitch indicates how far the Iraqi army (which, for all practical purposes, didn't exist a little more than a year ago) has come in a very short time.

 
Iraq III
Francis Fukuyama--once the intellectual wonderkind of the neoconservative movement--writes about international involvement in Iraq in the Guardian. Refering to the Democrats pandering over the ports deal and the Danish cartoon incident, Fukuyama writes:
We have, then, the makings of a perfect storm. Bush's red-state conservative base tends towards a pugnacious nationalism that opposed humanitarian intervention during the Clinton years. These voters were mobilised by September 11 to support two wars in short order; while they remain loyal to the president, perceived failure in Iraq will turn them in a more openly isolationist direction. Democratic voters, meanwhile, have been moving in an economically nationalist direction and are gearing up for a big fight with America's leading trading partners in Asia. Voters in both parties have become more sympathetic to calls for closing America's borders and reducing immigration. Many in Europe are eagerly awaiting the end of the Bush years, but it is not clear that a Democratic administration will be more broadmindedly internationalist.

By invading Iraq, the Bush administration allowed what should have been characterised as a fight with a narrow extremist ideology to escalate into something the Islamists could claim was a clash of civilisations. But that clash will play itself out in large measure in Europe, the breeding ground for Mohammed Atta, Mohammed Bouyeri and the July 7 bombers. The controversy over the cartoons underlines the fact that the US and Europe have more in common in the struggle with radical Islamism than either side would like to admit. Cooperation to prevent this escalating into a broader civilisational struggle, and to maintain a generally open, integrated international order, will require solidarity. Neither European indulgence in feelgood anti-Americanism nor a bipartisan rise in US nationalism and populism brought about by perceived failure in Iraq will help.

Fukuyama, who once possessed a moral certitutde that democratic capitalism was the final act of human civilization--has now given that up for what appears to be wishful thinking or a Stalinist sense of mainfest destiny.
 
Iraq II
Christpher Hitchens points out in the Wall Street Journal the shallow nature of media coverage in Iraq:
In February 2004, our Kurdish comrades in northern Iraq intercepted a courier who was bearing a long message from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to his religious guru Osama bin Laden. The letter contained a deranged analysis of the motives of the coalition intervention ("to create the State of Greater Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates" and "accelerate the emergence of the Messiah"), but also a lethally ingenious scheme to combat it. After a lengthy and hate-filled diatribe against what he considers the vile heresy of Shiism, Zarqawi wrote of Iraq's largest confessional group that: "These in our opinion are the key to change. I mean that targeting and hitting them in their religious, political and military depth will provoke them to show the Sunnis their rabies . . . and bare the teeth of the hidden rancor working in their breasts. If we succeed in dragging them into the arena of sectarian war, it will become possible to awaken the inattentive Sunnis as they feel imminent danger."

Some of us wrote about this at the time, to warn of the sheer evil that was about to be unleashed. Knowing that their own position was a tenuous one (a fact fully admitted by Zarqawi in his report) the cadres of "al Qaeda in Mesopotamia" understood that their main chance was the deliberate stoking of a civil war. And, now that this threat has become more imminent and menacing, it is somehow blamed on the Bush administration. "Civil war" has replaced "the insurgency" as the proof that the war is "unwinnable." But in plain truth, the "civil war" is and always was the chief tactic of the "insurgency."

Hitchens suggests that the US threaten withdrawal to pressure the Iraqis to form a unity government (on this I don't agree) and that the multinational community come to their senses and start helping (I agree here).
 
Iraq I
The President is having a press conference right now. Helen Thomas--often refered to by James Taranto as the crazy old lady of American journalism--asked the President, "What was the real reason for going to war? Israel?" Ms. Thomas basically gave the President an opening to give a stirring speach about 9/11 and the terrorist threat. Ha Ha.
Monday, March 20, 2006
 
So Long, Bill
Veteran ABC anchor Bill Beutel passed away on Saturday. Base10 remembers him as a kid on ABC News. All TV anchors should be this even handed.
 
Could This Be The Next Orange Revolution?
Elections in Belarus have been condemned by the US and EU as being rigged. It is possible a popular coup is brewing. Base10 hopes that freedom spreads and the ruling parties come to their senses.
 
Neo-Nazis, Hibernians and the City Council
Before the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Ancient Order of Hibernian parade organizer John Dunleavy was quoted by the Irish Times as saying,
If an Israeli group wants to march in New York, do you allow neo-Nazis into their parade? If African-Americans are marching in Harlem, do they have to let the Ku Klux Klan into their parade?

The statements stem from the seemingly endless dispute on allowing gay Irish organizations to march in the Parade--an issue that came to the fore with the election of Christine Quinn as Speaker of the City Council. Quinn is a class act. She didn't even mention this stuff in the remarks she gave at Gracie Mansion and proved herself to be a big cut above Dunleavy.

First, a bit of a recap. Gays can march in the parade, but not as organized groups. Second, the Hibernians have every right to exclude gay groups if they so chose. This is a fundamental right of free speech and association guaranteed by the constitution and upheld several years ago by the federal courts. Ms. Quinn--an openly gay member of the City Council for years and now speaker--was invited to march but declined. She has in years past been involved in protests over this issue.

The Hibernians--steeped in Irish Catholic tradition--claim that this is fundamentally related to their speech rights. This being said, just because someone has the right to do something, does not mean that it is right to do. It is time to end the ban once and for all. Frequent readers know Base10 as a conservative, but he is prompted to say this not because of political views but rather because of his Catholic faith. Catholics believe it is right to condemn the sin but love the sinner. It is the tradition of Catholic tolerance in the twentieth century that prompts this view.
 
Big NFL News
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has announced that he will retire in July after sixteen years as Commish. Wow. Base10 hasn't agreed with all of Tagliabue's decisions over the years, but his stewardship of the league has certainly been successful. Now the big question is, will Condi Rice be the next Commissioner?

In Jets news, Gang Green has reportedly made a deal with Washington for Patrick Ramsey. The Jets part with a sixth rounder. Also, the Jets are also close to a deal with Seattle for John Abraham in exchange for a first round pick. Abraham supposedly want to go to Atlanta instead.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
 
Photo Printing

Base10 has been in the market for a photo printer of late. What use is it, after all, to take photographs and not be able to display them with some permanence? Anyway, I purchased the Epson R2400. This printer is not for the average consumer. It is big, expensive and sports no advanced connection features like Picture-Bridge. What it does is print photographs from high-end graphics programs. And the output is stunning. The machine uses reformulated inks that include three shades of black. This makes the output particularly impressive when printing B&W which is Base10's favorite activity. Even the color is very good. They say these inks will last over one hundred years if printed to archival papers. Base10 also bought some Ilford glossy paper and again, the results were outstanding. Experimenting with more types of Ilford paper is definitely on the to-do list.

The drawback? Prepare to just eat through ink cartridges. Even Base10's limited printing depleted his inks by a third, at least. While ink is not cheap, the trade-off for a product that beats the heck out of any optical print may be worth it. Base10 suspects that even with practice, anything he could produce with an enlarger wouldn't come close to this quality. Needless to say, we won't be printing everything as 8x10 either.


 
Too Little, Too Late
The NY Times has admitted that its story about Ali Shalal Qaissi, an Iraqi who claimed to have been one of the men in the Abu Ghraib photographs, was false. It turns out he was not and the Times could have found this out simply be reading the Army's investigative report on the matter. Good job reporting!
 
He's Not a Deficit-and-Spend Conservative?
Orrin Judd has an interesting take on federal spending under Bush. He is not the spendthrift he is painted as when you compare spending as a fraction of GDP between him and Ronald Reagan.

Via Instapundit.
 
This Seems a Little Harsh for Downloading Music
"Navy Exchanges Fire With Suspected Pirates" - AP.
 
St. Patrick's Day Recap
Base10 had a pretty good time yesterday, although it was an early one. Mr. and Mrs. Base10 made out way into the Mayor's morning party at 7AM (yikes!) and enjoyed some Irish coffee along with a shake-and-take with the Mayor himself. Afterward we (meaning me and Mrs. Base10 not me and the Mayor) hit the City Council--crashed might be a better word--and enjoyed the revelry there for a bit. Finally, we watched the parade across from St. Patrick's. All in all, a very nice way to spend the day. Base10 has a few more photos that he will try to post tomorrow. More about Neo-Nazis, Christine Quinn and ILGO tomorrow as well.
Friday, March 17, 2006
 
Men With Funny Hats and Skirts

Men With Funny Hats, originally uploaded by base10blog.

Isn't This What St. Patrick's Day is All About?


 
The Simple Ideas Are Best

Base10 was in macro class last night when he realized that truly brilliant ideas are obvious, but only after someone thinks of them. It came up with a tweak to the Solow growth model. You say to yourself afterwards, "I could have done that. It was obvious."

Indeed, it is. But onlly after some brilliant guy thought of it first. This kind of thing struck me once before when I was taking econometrics. The topic that time was kernel estimation. Basically, this technique allows you to empirically estimate a probability distribution based on a sample of data. It's also often used for smoothing data. Without going into the specifics of the technique, it is--again--quite simple.

What is it about ideas like this? Why are they obvious to everyone after they are uttered, but it takes a brilliant person to see them in the beginning? Base10 doesn't know, but he would like to be one of the people that thinks of ideas like this first.


 
What's Drunk and Stays Out All Night?


Paddy O'Furniture.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Thursday, March 16, 2006
 
For This We Need Reporters?
"March Madness is as much about money as it is basketball" - AP.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
 
Compare and Contrast
"We Were Right to Invade Iraq" - The Guardian.

"US Dead Wrong About Iraq" - The Australian.
 
Jets News
Free agency has started in the NFL and the carousel has begun! There have been a few major moves around the league. First, John Abraham is reportedly visiting Washington and Denver. Atlanta and Seattle are also possibilities. Second, the Jets are looking for QB help and reportedly are interested in Jon Kitna or Patrick Ramsey. Finally, recently release jets center Kevin Mawae is being wooed by New England according to this report. Other reports indicate Miami or Philly may be interested.

In other news, Edgerrin James has reportedly signed with the Arizona Cardinals. While this brings immediate credibility to the Cards (who already have a talented receiver pool and Kurt Warner at QB--a guy that certainly knows a thing or two about the forward pass) by giving them a credible running threat. Down in Miami, the Fish are interested in Drew Brees. Draft day is only six weeks away!
 
Five Things I Hate About President Bush
Don't let the title throw you. I'm not about to go into a Chimpy Bushitler Krugmanesque diatribe against the president. Indeed, I think the president has done many wonderful things. First, the Bush tax cuts invigorated the economy. Second, his response to 9/11 was decisive. Third, he at least brought the idea of social security reform to the table.

There are also many results stemming from administration policies that are too early to know. We do not, for example, really know what the result of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Pundits have said it will be both hugely expensive and that it's too complicated for the average person to use. We'll find out which is true, but it won't be for a few years.

There are also some things that Bush has been wrongfully blamed for, chiefly hurricane Katrina. A natural disaster is simply not the chief executive's fault. Sure, we can find fault with the response, but when has that not happened. In spite of all these caveats, there are plenty of things to hate about the President.

First, President Bush is extremely loyal to his inner circle of advisers. This would normally be a good quality, but Bush has occasionally allowed this loyalty to get in the way of the best interest of the country. The prime examples of this are the nominations of Bernard Kerik to DHS and Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. As I've written here before, Kerik is a boob and he should have never gotten the nod. Harriet Miers, while certainly not a boob (and who is reportedly a wonderful lady and talented lawyer) was in no way shape or form ready for the Supreme Court. Similarly, Bush has shown an unhealthy loyalty to Donald Rumsfeld.

Second, the President is a spendthrift. Republicans are supposed to exhibit fiscal restraint. While I do not believe that the federal deficit is an unmanageable problem, there can be no free ride. While deficit spending was justified in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the economy is booming now. There is no fiscal policy justification for deficit spending now. What this country needs is some expenditure cuts. This is not entirely the President's fault. Republicans have unfortunately become just like Democrats--distributing pork to insure their own reelection efforts. But the President has never seen a spending bill he didn't like. That has got to change.

Third, the administration has not been educating the American people about Iraq. Yesterday's speech aside, the administration has not been forthright about the situation there. I support the war. It was and still is the the right thing to do. Indeed, the democratization of Iraq is the probably the only real hope for long-term peace in the Middle East. What we have gotten from the President is platitudes optimism, but little else. Mr. President, the American people are willing to sacrifice for a greater good, but it must be explained to them. Do not underestimate them. You have not done enough to convince them this cause is worth it.

Forth, more broadly, the administration has not educated the American people about the global war on terror. There is a spillover effect from Iraq that effects the global war on terror. The administration has never explained to the American people the long-term sacrifices and strategy in the GWOT. It is not like other wars. It is rather an multigenerational struggle for the future of humanity. Will liberal democracy flourish or will it be replaced by tyrannical theocrats? This is not an idle question. The strategies in this war have to concern what the world will be like thirty years from now, not what it will be like next week.

Fifth, the administration has not been responsive to attacks on these doctrines. While the previous four faults have been about the president's policies and personality, this final fault is with their tactics. The administration has failed to get ahead of the curve on major issues. They do a great job when they get the ball rolling, but they have not shown the flexibility to fire back at every broadside in an individual news cycle. Examples abound: the Katrina aftermath, the Cheney hunting accident, the NSA leak case. None of these things hurt the White House in the long term, but getting out in front of the story early on would have made a world of difference in American's belief in the credibility of the White House.

Congressional Republicans should note that any or all of these things could change going forward. I think the president needs to bring in some new blood to the White House.
 
Iraq: Reports of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exagerated
In the great story of the Iraqi-Civil-War-that-Wasn't, every day that passes is more proof of media bias in reporting on the war. Ralph Peters remarks that the media protrayal of Iraq has little to do with the actual situation on the ground:
Plenty of serious problems remain in Iraq, from bloodthirsty terrorism to the unreliability of the police. Iran and Syria indulge in deadly mischief. The infrastructure lags generations behind the country's needs. Corruption is widespread. Tribal culture is pernicious. Women’s rights are threatened. And there's no shortage of trouble-making demagogues.

Nonetheless, the real story of the civil-war-that-wasn't is one of the dog that didn't bark. Iraqis resisted the summons to retributive violence. Mundane life prevailed. After a day and a half of squabbling, the political factions returned to the negotiating table. Iraqis increasingly take responsibility for their own security, easing the burden on U.S. forces. And the people of Iraq want peace, not a reign of terror.

But the foreign media have become a destructive factor, extrapolating daily crises from minor incidents. Part of this is ignorance. Some of it is willful. None of it is helpful.

The dangerous nature of journalism in Iraq has created a new phenomenon, the all-powerful local stringer. Unwilling to stray too far from secure facilities and their bodyguards, reporters rely heavily on Iraqi assistance in gathering news. And Iraqi stringers, some of whom have their own political agendas, long ago figured out that Americans prefer bad news to good news. The Iraqi leg-men earn blood money for unbalanced, often-hysterical claims, while the Journalism 101 rule of seeking confirmation from a second source has been discarded in the pathetic race for headlines.

Some bloggers have made two other major points:

1. Since the "civil war" started, US casualties have dropped considerably.

2. Civilian casualty figures reported in the mainstream media may have been greatly exagerated.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Iraq is at a crossroads. Another major terror attack could have unpredictable effects. But judging by these headline, the press was reporting the story it wished for, not the story that happened.
Monday, March 13, 2006
 
UN Can't Convict a War Criminal
The United Nations has once again proved itself to be the most incompetent organization on the face of the earth. The much-touted International War Crimes Tribunal had Slobodan Milosevic--the most genocidal European since Hitler--on trial for more than four years. He just died in custody. No verdict. No comfort to the families of his victims. No resolution after years of ridiculous trial proceedings. The UN should be ashamed.

Of course, some of the more liberal media outlets still support the UN and its War Crimes Tribunal. The International Herald Tribune warns about dimissing the Tribunal. Well if the IHT is for it, it must be worthless.
 
Shouldn't They Be Called "Special" Instead?
A [Yale] University official calls Taliban critics "retarded." - WSJ.
 
Saddam Trial
One of Saddam's henchmen testified at his trial today. Awad al-Bander, a judge under the old regime testified that the 148 men executed by Saddam's thugs all got fair trials and confessed. In the Times Online:
A former judge from Saddam Hussein’s regime acknowledged sentencing 148 Shia Muslims to death in the 1980s, but insisted they were given a proper trial and had confessed to trying to assassinate the former Iraqi leader.

Unfortunately, a good number of them died during the "interrogation" they received before the "trial."
Jaafar al-Moussawi, the prosecutor, also presented documents shown previously to the court from the Mukhabarat intelligence agency at the time stating that some of the 148 sentenced to death had actually died during interrogation before they could be executed.

Al-Moussawi repeatedly asked al-Bandar how all the defendants could have appeared before the Revolutionary Court if some had already died. Al-Bandar insisted that all 148 were there, but finally threw up his hands, saying, "It is so strange and surprising that someone might die in interrogation?"

"Is it strange and surprising? Is that what you’re saying?" said [Judge] Abdel-Rahman in disbelief.


Here's how the Times Online describes the massacre:
Hundreds of people were arrested - including entire families, with women and young children - and detained for years. They have produced documents showing 10 juveniles - including ones as young as 11 and 13 years old - were among those sentenced to death. Dujail residents have testified before the court, saying they were tortured in prison, including women who said they were stripped naked and given electrical shocks.


Yes, you see Bush lied to get us into an unjust and immoral war so that we could bring monsters like this to justice.
 
Baseball and Politics
Base10 firmly believes that politics and sports are two separate realms which must be kept, well, separate. Unless of course it involves the Cuban national team, in which case politics and sports collide. Base10 is referring, of course, to Friday's stunner in the World Baseball Classic where Puerto Rico pummelled Cuba 12-2 and caused the "mercy rule" to be invoked ending the game in the 7th inning. Aside from the fact that Puerto Rico has its own national team that is not part of team USA (I guess commonwealths get their own teams), this was still a case of Americans beating the pants off of Cubans in baseball. Eat your heart out, Papi Fidel!

What made the win especially delicious was that it followed on the heels of an incident where a fan displayed a sign reading "Down With Fidel" during the Cuba Netherlands game last Thursday. The fan was confronted by an angry Cuban official who was escorted away by Puerto Rican police. The police officers reportedly had a nice talk with him explaining what the First Amendment was all about. What really got Papi Fidel riled was the fact that the game was broadcast to Cuba, thus allowing Cubans to see that not everyone is happy with Castro's rule. Heaven forbid that a regime should allow its media to portray its leaders in a bad light! USA Today had this to say about the incident:
The brouhaha gathered steam when Cuba's Communist Party newspaper, Granma, called the sign-waving "a cowardly incident." Cuba's Revolutionary Sports Movement exhorted Cubans to demonstrate in Havana, saying U.S. and Puerto Rican authorities were involved in "the cynical counterrevolutionary provocations."

One of the protesters who showed up in front of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana bore a sign that said: "Down with Bush." Star Cuban athletes were among hundreds of protesters. An official Cuban communique urged the Cuban team to "respond to the provocations with hits, home runs, strikes, outs."

While perhaps Cuban national team wanted to take this advice, the Puerto Rican team was the one getting all the hits, home runs, strikes and outs on Friday.
 
Trial Advocacy 101
I find today's story about the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui to be stunning. During the penalty phase of Moussaoui's trial, the prosecutor is seeking testimony from an FAA witness that was coached by an FAA lawyer using prior testimony. I find it stunning that this could happen, especially in a capital case involving a 9/11 terrorist. The judge has reportedly adjourned the case to see if the death penalty is lost as a matter of law. This is a fundamental error and I'm shocked that the government would have done it.
Friday, March 10, 2006
 
Friday VDH Blogging
The good Doctor Hansen has a message for conservative commentators that are ready to give up on Iraq: Don't.
From the very outset, rightist critics such as those in The American Conservative have told us that it was a hopeless waste of America resources to offer pre-modern people of the Middle East democratic government. Those of The Nation assured us that Iraq was yet another amoral attempt at postmodern imperialism. Fine, you get what you hear and read with both sides — and both, through good and bad news, have remained consistent and principled in their vehement opposition to all that we have done.

But the latest criticism is more troubling, since it often comes from the “my perfect war, your lousy peace” school that, for some reason, never critiques the three-week removal of Saddam Hussein. Instead, it defends its evolving opposition to the war by advancing particular pet theories of reconstruction that were never followed. Rarely do we hear that most postbellum efforts are long, messy, and necessary, much less that the essence of war is lapse and tragedy, with victory going only to those who in the end err the least and endure. Anyone back in the United States can post facto write up a list of what ought to have been done in Iraq amid the heat and fire; but they at least need to factor in the conditions at the time that led the supposedly less bright on the ground not to anticipate their own inspired wisdom from afar.

Especially troubling are those who even before 9/11 demanded that President Clinton or Bush remove Saddam Hussein, but now consider such a move an abject blunder of the first order. Their advocacy helped us get in when there were dubious reasons to go, and their vehement criticism may well get us out when there are now better reasons to stay until Iraq is secure.

So here we are — close to victory abroad, closer to concession at home.

As usual, VDH is too good to convey with one quote. Read the whole thing.
 
Wither Dubai?
The Dubai Ports deal seems to be dead. The company has announced it will transfer control of the ports to a US entity. This came after the Congress presented the President with a veto-proof majority that would have nixed the deal--and possibly done a whole bunch more damage. The President quite naturally thinks this is precisely the wrong message to send to an Arab country that has strongly allied itself with US fortunes. Base10 agrees. Some have suggested that Dubai may cancel a large contract with Boeing for 777 aircraft in an effort to retaliate against House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

The question also becomes whethr this really isn't just political pandering. Will this deal simply repeat itself after the Congressional elections? What will our Congressional cowards do then when they are safely in office and dare not refuse PAC contributions to stay there?

Neil Cavuto from Fox News has some interesting comments on how this will effect the world's opinion of the business climate in America.

There are particularly biting criticisms of Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton over the matter here and here.
 
Hockey
After going on an seven game win streak, the Rangers have now lost three straight and are begining to concern their fans. The OT loss to Atlanta on Wednesday was particularly demoralizing.

What gives? On Wednesday they blew a lead and lost in OT. On Monday, they fought a hard third period, but couldn't tie up the game. It's anybody's guess which team will show up tomorrow when the Rangers play Montreal.

Well, that's enough sports ranting for one day. On to politics!
 
Basketball: The College Kind
Base10 is starting to research his brackets for the annual NCAAB pool and has been watching some games. Today's action pits Duke--the evil overlord of college basketball and a team that has lost it's last two games--against Miami in an ACC quarterfinal.

In other NCAA hoops news, Syracuse stunned UCONN by beating them 86-84 in overtime in the Big East tournament.

Finally, Base10's alma mater Fordham beat La Salle to advance in the A-10 tournament. Go Rams!
 
Baseball
Well, Base10 might as well cover all his sports. The so-called Wrold Baseball Classic is underway and the US advanced largely due to Mexico's 9-1 destruction of Canada. Base10 had high hopes for the WBC, but must admit that it is, after all, a little lame.

The Mets seem to be doing okay in spring training. Records shouldn't really have much stock put in them, but the boys from Queens did manage to string together some slugging victories--always a good sign. Base10 expects some level of high-performance from the Mets this year, so if any of you guys are reading this, let's go out and try a little harder.
 
This is Promising
The NFL owners looked the Players Association in the eye--and blinked. The owners agreed to a labor deal into 2011 and will give players a bit less than 60% of an expanded pool of revenues. High-revenue teams originally balked, but eventually fell in line. I think they realize that if they do not continue a strong sharing arrangement, football will become like the NBA or MLB. Don Banks from SI has some interesting comments.

In other NFL news, Daunte Cullpepper wants out of Minnesota and Willie McGinest was unceremoniously cut by the Pats to make cap room.
 
Under the Weather
Where did that expression come from? "Under the weather?" Aren't we all under the weather? Anyway, Base10 sure has been for the last couple of days. Nothing terrible, just a sore throat and some congestion I can't shake. In any event, Base10 is back.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
 
Econ Update

Base10 is happy to report that he finally seems to understand--albeit poorly--the neoclassical growth model. We started the Ramsey growth model last night as well.

It used to be that real business cycle theory was the cornerstone of a macro class. While it still is at the undergradyuate level, RBC's seem to be somewhat of an afterthought these days. Keynes would be horrified!


 
Class Tonight

Base10 has to teach tonight so blogging will be sparse. Base10 does hope to hit the Housing Works Used Book Café on Thursday. What's that you say? Books and beer? What a wonderful combination!


 
Murder in New York

Base10 wasn't going to participate in the media feeding frenzy going on in the Imette St. Guillen murder case going on here in Gotham. The victim did, after all, go to the school where Base10 teaches. This case is a good example of the media showing its true colors. Nothing shows the so-called news business to be about bottom-line money-grubbing headlines more than a salacious murder case. Base10 has a couple of observations.

First, as much as I hate to say this, is St. Guillen were not as pretty as she was, this case would not be getting anywhere near the media attention it's getting now. Newspapers don't care so much when ugly people get killed.

Second, why was there an initial obsession with the possibility of a serial killer? When did newspapers become so concerned with public safety. Is the media trying to instill a "Summer of Fear" mentality in the public consciousness merely to sell papers?

Third, in the great scheme of things, this story does not warrant the saturation coverage it's getting. Base10 was watching the morning news before he left for work and the amoiunt of time spent on this murder bordered on the obsessive. Terrorists are running Palestine, Iraq is on the verge of a breakthrough (or breakdown, depending on your perspective) and Iran is about to get a nuclear weapon. Keep this story in perspective.

Right now the police are focussed on the bouncer at the last place where St. Guillen went the night she was killed. Here's the latest from NY1.


Tuesday, March 07, 2006
 
Notes From University

Base10 attended Micro Theory last night. He is a little behind, but is happy that the professor has started consumer theory--a subject he was always much better at that the theory of the firm.

Anyway, Base10 keeps saying this, but he must review his mathematics--especially differential equations and linear programming. The macro theory midterm should be two weeks from today, so Base10 needs to bone up on that, too.

Does economics rest on shaky foundations? In a way it does, and economists readily admit it. Economics assumes a rational actor model where both consumers and producers act in their rational self interest. This does not imply that people cannot be kind or altruistic, it merely reduces altruism to another variable that the consumer can maximize. But consumer theory doesn't take into account what others do. Behavioral economists look at whether the consumption of others, say your neighbors, effect your own consumption. The answer seems to be yes, and if that's the case, consumer theory falls apart.

The other caveat about consumer theory is that for all the mathematics and formulae, there is really only one result: income adjusted demand curves slope downward. In other word, people consume less of something when its price is high and more of something when its price is low. While the proof of this simple concept took generations, Base10 wonders if microeconomists mightn't just close up shop.

When Base10 discovers a new economic law, he'll let his readers know.


 
Politics Today

Not so much. Base10 has some macro to do today (oh, and work too) so blogging will be light. Base10 will try to post some stuff later in the day if at all possible.


 
Rangers Go Down!

The New York Rangers--so far the only bright spot in New York sports this winter--lost their second game in a row last night to Carolina. This makes two consecutive losses for the Rangers, but hey you can't get greedy. They won their last seven prior games and are safely atop their division. Base10 caught the last period after class. The Rangers did play hard, scoring to make it 2-1 when they needed to and generating pressure to try to generate a tie. In spite of good efforts though, Carolina showed why they are the best team in hockey right now. While Base10 is not a die-hard when it comes to hockey, this is shaping up to be one great season.


Monday, March 06, 2006
 
Photo of the Day

wall, originally uploaded by base10blog.

Base10 was fooling around on Friday and took some digital photos. This is one of them. Taken with the Canon 20d.


 
Harvard Probably Didn't Offer Enough Financial Aid
"Former Taliban Ambassador, a Yale Student, Provokes 'Consternation'" - NY Sun.

Nothing could possibly illustrate the hubris of acadamia alluded to in the last post more than this story.
 
OMG! I Agree With Camille Paglia
Camille Paglia has a very interesting article in the NY Times on soon-to-be-former Harvard president Larry Summers. While she thinks his ouster was wrong, she thinks this presents an opportunity for academics to show that they can reform themselves. A quote:
Hence more is at stake in the Harvard affair than merely one overpriced campus with an exaggerated reputation. Support for Larry Summers was strong among Harvard undergraduates and outside the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which constitutes only one of Harvard's many colleges and professional schools. The Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz protested that Mr. Summers had been removed by "a coup d'état." But by his failure to provide a systematic rationale for his words and actions, Mr. Summers gave the impression of governing by whim and impulse. The leader of so huge and complex an institution cannot be a whirling dervish.

IT now remains to be seen whether Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences is capable of self-critique. Will its members acknowledge their own insularity and excesses, or will they continue down the path of smug self-congratulation and vanity? Harvard's reputation for disinterested scholarship has been severely gored by the shadowy manipulations of the self-serving cabal who forced Mr. Summers's premature resignation. That so few of the ostensibly aggrieved faculty members deigned to speak on the record to The Crimson, the student newspaper, illustrates the cagey hypocrisy that permeates fashionable campus leftism, which worships diversity in all things except diversity of thought.

If Harvard cannot correct itself in this crisis, it will signal that academe cannot be trusted to reform itself from within. There is a rising tide of off-campus discontent with the monolithic orthodoxies of humanities departments. David Horowitz, a 1960's radical turned conservative, has researched the lopsided party registration of humanities professors (who tend to be Democrats like me) and proposed an "academic bill of rights" to guarantee fairness and political balance in the classroom. The conservative radio host Sean Hannity regularly broadcasts students' justifiable complaints about biased teachers and urges students to take recording devices to class to gather evidence.

Base10 actually holds Ms. Paglia in very high regard, in spite of the title of this blog entry.
 
Chad is Back

Reports this morning are that Chad Pennington has agreed to terms with the Jets. While details were not disclosed, Pennington agreed to a more cap-friendly deal in the neighborhood of 3 million.

Base10 hopes Pennington can come back. He was always thrilling to watch (when he wasn't writhing around on the ground in pain of course) and he should be given every opportunity to reclaim the starter's job. I think it's clear, however, that the Jets have to look to the future and should start looking at long-term prospects at QB. In the best of worlds, a rejuvenated Pennington could help break in a rookie QB. And said rookie would push Pennington to perform.

Unfortunately, the Jets did lose Kevin Mawae. Without Mawae, Pennington may be on his back even more this season.

John Abraham still remains a large question mark. Rumor has it the Jets are looking to shop Abraham and possibly move up in the first round to grab Cutler. This would surely be a bold move, but Base10 thinks they need O-line help right now before they need a new QB. You have to give coach Mangini a chance to shape his own team.



UPDATE: Here's a link to the story.
 
Class Tonight

Base10 did get some spring cleaning in over the weekend along with some studying. He is unfortunately stunned at the vastness of his own ignorance.

Base10 definitely has to bone up on his higher math skills. Anyway, between class tonight and a late start this morning, blogging will be pretty light.


 
Oscar Night

Base10 couldn't stay up till the end, but understands that the filn "Crash" garnered the award for Best Picture over gay-cowboy flick "Brokeback Mountain." "Brokeback" director Ang Lee did get the Best Director nod, though. Don't feel too bad, Ang. It's fabulous just to be nominated.



UPDATE: Here's a link to a roundup of all the Oscars.

UPDATE: Jon Stewart had this to say about the film Capote:
"Capote broke taboos because it showed America that not all gay people are virile cowboys. Some are actually effete New York intellectuals."

Sunday, March 05, 2006
 
India Nuke Deal
Base10 still has to digest the details of the US-India nuclear deal. From what Base10 understands, India will get access to peaceful nulear technology from the US (this is important since India expects 25% of its power to be from nuclear reactors in the next few years and this is a big hedge against Arab petrodollars). In exchange, most of its present and all of its future reactors will be subject to international inspections. It seems like a good deal, but it goes against historic US policy toward India which was essentially a nuclear shunning until it joined the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
 
The Football Clock is Ticking
The NFL and the NFLPA are to meet for talks this morning but are said to be no closer to a deal. After extending the free agent deadline to tomorrow morning, as it stands now, if no agreement is reached, teams will have to be under the cap by 6PM tonight and the cap will be the same as last year causing a slew of free agents to be released. If no agreement is reached, the cap will disappear after next year.

Chad Pennington, quarterback for Base10's beloved Jets, has still not signed with the team. Teh New Jersey Star-Ledger reports that he and the team have come to an agreement and it will be announced this afternoon.
 
When Did Tim Russert Become a Little Girl?
Base10 is watching the shoutfest this morning and wonders when Tim Russert became a screeching little girl? He is interviewing Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The general presents a well balanced view of the situation in Iraq while Russert screams "There's a civil war!" The general says, "No such thing"

The funniest thing is that Russert is quoting as gospel two articles written by George Will and William F. Buckley claiming we have lost Iraq. When did Russert start viewing Will and Buckley as gospel? I'd like to hear Russert confront Howard Dean with the economic views of these two authors. The transcript should be up here shortly.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
 
Fun With Headlines III
This time, Victor Davis Hanson speaks out. The good doctor takes on the media in the Opinion Journal:
Last week the golden dome of the Askariya shrine in Samarra was blown apart. Sectarian riots followed, and reprisals and deaths ensued. Thugs and criminals came out of the woodwork to foment further violence. But instead of the apocalypse of an ensuing civil war, a curfew was enforced. Iraqi security forces stepped in with some success. Shaken Sunni and Shiite leaders appeared on television to urge restraint, and there appeared at least the semblance of reconciliation that may soon presage a viable coalition government.

But here at home you would have thought that our own capitol dome had exploded. Indeed, Americans more than the Iraqis needed such advice for calm to quiet our own frenzy. Almost before the golden shards of the mosque hit the pavement, pundits wrote off the war as lost--as we heard the tired metaphors of "final straw" and "camel's back" mindlessly repeated. The long-anticipated civil strife among Shiites and Sunnis, we were assured, was not merely imminent, but already well upon us. Then the great civil war sort of fizzled out; our own frenzy subsided; and now exhausted we await next week's new prescription of doom--apparently the hyped-up story of Arabs at our ports. That the Iraqi security forces are becoming bigger and better, that we have witnessed three successful elections, and that hundreds of brave American soldiers have died to get us to the brink of seeing an Iraqi government emerge was forgotten in a 24-hour news cycle.

Indeed.
 
Fun With Headlines II
"Bush nears record low as approval rating falls to 34 percent" - Contra Costa Times.

Bush's approval rating is apparently the lowest in the history of presidential approval ratings. Or there abouts. Here's a quote from the article:
Bush's approval rating is far below those registered by three of the past four two-term presidents in February of their sixth year: Dwight Eisenhower (64 percent), Ronald Reagan (63.5 percent) and Bill Clinton (57 percent). Only Nixon, at 27.5 percent in February 1974 -- six months before he resigned -- was less popular than Bush is now.

February of their sixth year, huh? First of all, let's straighten a few things out. The RCP moving averages for approval polls indicate that Bush's approval rating is really 40.4%. Not that this is great, but it is not all that bad for a president's second term. Now why would this particular reporter focus on February? Because Nixon resigned a couple of months later and it represents the lowest point of his approval ratings? Bush's approval rating is similar to the ratings of several second-term presidents. Don't believe me? Check out this website--something the reporter who filed this story didn't bother to do.
 
Fun With Headlines I
"Video Shows Bush Warned Before Katrina Hit" - AP.

The AP uncovered video footage of a briefing that showed Bush knew that Hurricane Katrina was going to cause a disaster. Except it doesn't. To quote from the article:
"My gut tells me ... this is a bad one and a big one," then-federal disaster chief Michael Brown told the final government-wide briefing the day before Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29.

The president didn't ask a single question during the briefing but assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: "We are fully prepared."

The footage — along with seven days of transcripts of briefings obtained by AP — show in excruciating detail that while federal officials anticipated the tragedy that unfolded in New Orleans and elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, they were fatally slow to realize they had not mustered enough resources to deal with the unprecedented disaster.

A top hurricane expert voiced "grave concerns" about the levees and Brown, then the Federal Emergency Management Agency chief, told the president and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that he feared there weren't enough disaster teams to help evacuees at the Superdome.

"I'm concerned about ... their ability to respond to a catastrophe within a catastrophe," Brown told his bosses the afternoon before Katrina made landfall.


This is a non-story for so many reasons. First, the President doesn't personally manage desaster response. Regardless of what he was told by administration officials, I don't see how this would have changed the President's response to the incident. He would have basically told FEMA and DHS to, you know, "Get ready for the storm!" This footage doesn't change anything.

Second, this is hardly a warning. People were concerned about the Hurricane hitting New Orleans and whether the levees would survive the attack. (Duh!) There was much uncertainty at the time. (Base10 recalls reading the headline "New Orleans Saved!" imediately after the storm when it was discovered that the storm had missed the city but before the storm surge had caused the levees to breach. So Bush didn't wring his hands?

This is yet another example of the dissemination of blatant misinformation by the mainstream media.
 
Not Important Enough
John Pace, an obscure human rights official who has recently retired from the UN, has condemned the US occupation as being worse than life under Saddam. He made the wild allegation that at least 1000 people a month were tortured to death. He said this to an equally obscure Maltese newspaper:
In a frank interview with The Times, Dr Pace says photos and forensic records have proved that torture was rife inside detention centres. Though the process of release has been speeded up, there are an estimated 23,000 people in detention, of whom 80 to 90 per cent are innocent.

He says the Baghdad morgue received 1,100 bodies in July alone, about 900 of whom bore evidence of torture or summary execution. That continued throughout the year and last December there were 780 bodies, including 400 having gunshot wounds or wounds as those caused by electric drills.

Quoted by the AP:
"Under Saddam, if you agreed to forgo your basic right to freedom of expression and thought, you were physically more or less OK," Pace said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But now, no. Here, you have a primitive, chaotic situation where anybody can do anything they want to anyone."

Which all begs the question--what were you doing about this when you actually worked for the UN? Apparently nothing. Since the UN takes human rights so seriously that they appoint nations like Cuba, Sudan and Libya to the Human Rights Commission, it is hard to take Mr. Pace's statements seriously either.

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