:: Event Horizon ::

:: Saturday, March 22, 2003 ::

American Anti-War Demonstrators - Now Say Saddam is Another Hitler
I can't help but wonder who they thought Saddam was? Just who did they think they were defending? Did they think he stayed in power so long because his people loved him? Did they think the Republican Guard was another political party and that Saddam was elected from a field of candidates? It must have been shocking for them to actually talk with people in Iraq and discover the truth. I wonder if this will have any impact at all on the rest of the anti-war movement?

:: Joel 8:53 PM [+] ::
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Iraqis Appear to Fire Banned Missiles
This AP report is from Thursday, but I didn't want to neglect to call attention to it, since it underscores Saddam's duplicity.

:: Joel 8:50 PM [+] ::
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Is Salam Pax for Real?
More info on the authenticity of the Baghdad blogger, Diane believes him. I'd like to think that he is for real, but who knows?

:: Joel 11:08 AM [+] ::
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U.S. Begins Massive Air Assault on Iraq
I’m reminded of the fundamental decency of America, not only to we give notice of attack in months (or years, depending on how you look at it), we revise the battle plan in order to save lives on all sides. The delay in the “shock and awe” phase of the war is attributed to a period of assessment to see if the decapitation strike was successful and if the remaining leadership would perhaps surrender and save the people of Iraq further bloodshed. Even now, according to this report, the full aerial assault is being delayed pending further surrender talks.

:: Joel 10:57 AM [+] ::
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Where is Raed?
Just checked in on Meg to see what she is thinking. Aside from finding out that she is ashamed to be an American (sorry to hear that), she notes a blog that purports to be from a young man in Baghdad who posts under the name Salam Pax. The blog is an interesting read, a sort of firsthand account of the war. She also links tech writer Paul Boutin’s comments on the authenticity of the Baghdad blog. He thinks it may be the real deal.

:: Joel 2:15 PM [+] ::
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Thousands Around World Protest Iraq War
I had an interesting discussion yesterday about the war protestors, a friend had asked if it had been this way in the past. I said that, yes, I think it was similar. For example, in the period leading up to U.S. involvement in WWII there was a huge anti-war movement called America First, basically a bunch of isolationists who did not want to get involved in a war. Charles Lindbergh was the posterboy for the movement, he used his celebrity status (famous for flying across the Atlantic) to drum up support for the anti-war crowd in speeches and public appearances. President Franklin Roosevelt wanted to help Great Britain without actually sending U.S. troops, so he sent supplies instead, under the Lend-Lease Program, which was still an extremely controversial move. The anti-war crowd thought maybe it might offend the Nazis and endanger U.S. neutrality. Imagine. Things didn't really change until Pearl Harbor. While I am dismayed at the modern anti-war movement, at least there are some leaders who have learned the lesson of Munich.

:: Joel 1:44 PM [+] ::
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Iraq Oil Wells May Have Been Set Ablaze
This is what I've been afraid of. Even if there are massive defections of Iraqi troops, there is still so much damage that Saddam could do on his own and with just a few loyal lieutenants. If you look only that the military capabilities of both sides, you can make a good argument for a quick coalition victory, but there are so many wild cards, so many thing that can still go wrong even if the Iraqi military is quickly defeated on the battlefield.

:: Joel 1:11 PM [+] ::
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Defections Come as U.S. and British Troops Prepare for War
The New York Times is reporting that some Iraqi soldiers have already surrendered as allied forces advance toward the border. If this is true, and not a psyop on our part or on Iraq's part, then I'd have to say this is off to a good start.

So, this is it, a new D-Day for a new generation. Saddam spent 12 years evading his side of the Gulf War cease-fire agreement, the U.S. tried and failed to rally the U.N. to take seriously the terms it imposed those many years ago, and now the U.S., Great Britain, and Australia (and backed by the support of some 30 other countries) will seek a final and decisive end to the Gulf War.

:: Joel 12:35 PM [+] ::
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Martin Sheen Defends Hollywood Activists
This AP news report notes that Martin Sheen, who pays the President on TV, is defending the rights of celebrities to use their star power to speak out on the issues of the day. Mr. Sheen writes that, "Whether celebrity or diplomat, cabdriver or student, all deserve a turn at the podium." I disagree. This may take my three loyal readers by surprise. Didn't I just quote Voltaire a few entries ago, expressing the sentiment that "I may not agree with what you have to say, but will defend to the death your right to say it?" Let me explain. I do agree, quite naturally, that as citizens, we all have an equal right to express our opinions on the issues of the day and this is indeed a right worth defending and renewing in every generation. These are uncertain times and we all have our opinions. But, if we have an equal right to express our opinions, are some opinions more informed than others? For example, there are some people who have literally spent years studying international affairs and may hold advanced degrees in the field. Do we place their opinion on the same level playing field as that of a celebrity who feels entitled to speak out because he happens to be on TV? I think not. Free speech is a right, access to a podium is not. Mr. Sheen says we all deserve a turn at the podium, I suggest that is a privilege that has to be earned. Mr. "I'm not the President but I play him on TV" Sheen may have much to say about the craft of acting that is more informed than anything I could possibly say, and if he takes to a podium to talk about acting, I'll be happy to give him my full attention. But when he then uses that podium to speak out about other issues it is an abuse of privilege, not an exercise of right.

:: Joel 11:40 AM [+] ::
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