:: Event Horizon ::

:: Friday, February 21, 2003 ::

Blix to Demand Iraqi Missiles Destroyed
Well, this should be an interesting test of the viability of the inspections process. Will Iraq comply voluntarily as they have pledged to do? A voluntary inspections regime can only go so far, after all, it's not like the inspectors are backed up by an army. Well, not unless the Security Council calls on members to force the issue. I understand that there is an army on the border of Iraq waiting to do just that. Well, we will have to wait and see what happens. Perhaps Iraq will voluntarily destroy their missiles and the rest of their WMD and the inspectors and the army can all go home. A happy ending all around. What are the chances?

:: Joel 1:25 PM [+] ::
...

Roll Call:Who's for war, who's against it, and why.
I'd like to recommend this article from Slate in which prominent people in politics, the arts, entertainment, business, and other fields to answer the following question: Do you favor a U.S. invasion of Iraq? I really like this sort of pro and con analysis of an issue, and you can tell that most of the respondents gave serious thought to the question.

:: Joel 1:14 PM [+] ::
...

Chirac Decries E. Europe's Stance on U.S.
France has always followed a different path, what scholars like to call "French exceptionalism." The astonishing thing about the new old Europe is that France seems to feel that they are an opinion leader. Chirac's attitude toward countries he obviously feels would be better off seen and not heard is patronizing and not worthy of a statesman. Glenn Reynolds notes a Romanian editorial that is a rather curt reply to le tantrum: Communism wrung our neck while the honourable democracies issued communiques. And now they are surprised that all the countries in the former communist bloc do not give a damn about obsolete stratagems of France and Germany. Nice to see that they don't plan to be nice little kiddies and fall in line behind their French père.

:: Joel 1:07 PM [+] ::
...

Google Buys Pyra: Blogging Goes Big-Time
This seems to be the topic of the day all over the blogosphere, and I can only say, Yippee!!! Maybe now I'll be able to post without seeing the dreaded "Error 503: unable to load template file" error message. I look forward to all the cool Googly new innovations that are sure to come.

:: Joel 5:29 PM [+] ::
...

Inspector Says No Banned Arms Found, but Missile Exceeds Limits
So, the big day has come and gone. The official report of the weapons inspectors is now on the table and being read by everyone(according to the bestseller lists, movie deals are pending). I'm not sure I understand how it came to pass that we (as in the victorious allied coalition that imposed terms upon Iraq at the "conclusion" of the Gulf War in 1991) have come to accept that the inspection process is a game of hide and seek. The inspectors, we have been told, are there to look for weapons of mass destruction. France and Germany want to send more inspectors there so they can have even more searches. But, is this actually what they are there for? The inspectors role is to inspect the weapons sites, to observe the destruction of weapons, and to certify compliance with the agreed upon terms. They are not there to act as detectives, to run around searching for hidden weapons. If Iraq really wanted to comply, as they say they do, it would simply be a matter of Iraq saying "here are the weapons, watch as we dispose of them" and then the inspectors certify such to the Security Council. The burden to present their weapons for inspection and to destroy them in a public manner rests entirely with Iraq. This is what compliance means. It's not a game. There is a precedent for voluntary compliance with an inspection regime. The former Soviet republics of Eastern Europe disposed of their nuclear arsenals in a similar inspections process. They presented their weapons and publicly dismantled, destroyed and disposed of their nuclear materials. This process was observed and certified by the inspectors. End of inspections. It is really a simple process. That Iraq has not done this in 12 years is proof of their attempt to deceive the international community and renege on their pledge to comply with the terms of the Gulf War cease-fire agreement. It is time to admit that the inspections are a sham.

:: Joel 1:40 PM [+] ::
...