:: Event Horizon ::

:: Friday, September 13, 2002 ::

A New Approach: Coercive Inspections
Jessica Mathews of the Carnegie foundation makes a great case for a new inspection regime in Iraq. However, as much as I agree with her idea, she sort of lost me right at the start of her essay when she suggests that "No link has yet been found between Baghdad's assertively secular regime and radical Islamist terrorists." Right, no link really, except that Saddam pays a $25,000 allowance to families of Palestinian suicide bombers to compensate them for the murderous efforts of their children. I would say that is a pretty strong link.

:: Joel 2:07 PM [+] ::
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Reno May Challenge Fla. Results
Ok, let me see if I understand this correctly. Another election in Florida and still they can't get it right. Apparently the new pressure sensitive touch screens voting machines are not touchy enough. I can allow some leeway for new technology, there are always bugs to be worked out. What really bothers me in the above report is the revelation that poll workers intentionally ignored the Governor and insulted voters. According to the AP report, "Gov. Jeb Bush ordered polls statewide to stay open an additional two hours to handle unhappy voters but some refused and closed at 7 p.m. as scheduled. At one precinct, residents said poll workers refused to reopen the doors and shouted profanities at would-be voters." I think these poll workers should be identified and exposed to public ridicule and legal sanction. I can't image how people one would assume to be full of patriotic good will and fellow feeling could be so callous and willfully insulting to the spirit of democracy, to not only ignore the order to keep the polls open, but to actually shout profanities at voters. It's...well, profane.

:: Joel 5:05 PM [+] ::
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Though we are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield

Alfred, Lord Tennyson - Ulysses

9-11, In Memoriam

:: Joel 12:20 PM [+] ::
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The War on Civil Liberties
This is a well written opinion piece from the New York Times on the subject of war and civil liberties. I especially like the concluding line, "The world has changed since Sept. 11, but the values this country was founded on have not."

:: Joel 3:46 PM [+] ::
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