Odds and Ends

A couple of things real quick here, then it looks like I'll be a little busy this morning. First, my sitemeter shows a small spike in traffic--and, wouldn't you know it, almost everyone is looking for the Nick Berg execution video. At the risk of losing y'all, sorry, but I won't post a link. For the record, I found the video--hint: one of the sites I read has a link in a comments section. For the record again: yes, it's gruesome. I don't want to see it again. My heart goes out to the family of Nick Berg. My heart goes out to the families in Afghanistan and Iraq who've had loved ones killed as well. Given that THEIR grief has been perpetrated with our tax dollars, as opposed to a vicious, insane creep like Zarqawi, maybe we should focus on those victims, given that we supposedly have some control over the expenditure of our money. Therefore, I WILL link to a site, Robert-Fisk.com, which has both photographs documenting the destruction, and superb writing that places the carnage in context.

Last night's Nightline was somewhat interesting, if only in the sense that torture is now actually being discussed as an option for interrogation. Alan Dershowitz, professional creep, has managed to contort himself into a justification for techniques of the type pointed out here, while Ariel Dorfman opted for a contrary position, one that is a little more indicative of possessing brain matter above his eyebrows. There was a third person on the panel, an individual whose name slips me, although he apparently was an intelligence specialist of some kind. He reiterated a position also put forth in the Times article above--namely, that torture is mostly INEFFECTIVE in producing anything of value. Those being tortured will talk, sure, but can you really trust what they say? All the "ticking time bombs" (Israeli shorthand for "time to call in the sadists") can't get someone to tell the truth.

Aside: I can't believe anyone who's followed the 9/11 investigation believes torture is of ANY value. It is clear that the problem pre-attack was one of lacking focus and resources.

Another aside: Rumsfeld testified yesterday before the Senate Appropriations Committee. C-Span should have a Real Media feed for those who want to watch the clown show.

Finally, here's a critical view of the situation in Iraq from William S. Lind. Lind thinks. Bush, judging from another C-Span rerun I viewed last night, clearly doesn't. As I watched Dubya make a statement prior to boarding Marine 1, it struck me that he's so far out of the loop (again, see above: he doesn't even want to know where "high value" Al Qaeda detainees are being held) that I can't imagine anyone thinking he's even nominally in control. Hell, they don't even let Bush out to do ribbon cutting duties. He's merely the campaigner in chief.

Sorry for the eclecticism in this morning's post. If I'm not as busy as I think I'll be, look for more in a bit.