Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 15:42 - Category: Unfiled ;
Comments
HaloScan, the commenting system this blog uses, is down. Comments will return when HaloScan is back online. The slowness in getting onto PoliZeros the past few days was due to HaloScan.
Update: Comments are back on now.
Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 15:11 - Category: Unfiled ;
Colin Powell’s UN speech a flop
Colin Powell just did a bellyflop while the whole world watched.
His much hyped speech to the UN about why we must invade Iraq right now was supposed to be a thunderous event which would mobilize the world. Instead it convinced no one. The Security Council is still overwhemingly opposed to an Iraq War, including China, Russia, and France, who can veto any war proposal with their vote (not that they will, I assume they will eventually roll over).
“UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Ten out of 14 members of the U.N. Security Council Wednesday called for the continuation and strengthening of weapons inspections in Iraq despite U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell’s dramatic 75-minute expose of Saddam Hussein’s secret build-up of weapons of mass destruction”
And what of the SOTU address where Bush promised Powell would deliver proof of bin Laden-Saddam ties? Powell barely mentioned this, except to say that some al-Qaeda may be in Northern Iraq - neglecting to mention that Saddam does not control Northern Iraq, Kurds do. He also said Al-Qaeda operatives may be in Baghdad. Ah, they are also in dozens of other countries including this one.
Powell also mentioned the aluminum tubes that Iraq bought as proof of their nefarious intent, - even though it has been shown the tubes can not be used for weaponry. But hey, tell a lie, some will believe you, then you can always attack the questioners for being traitors.
After Powell’s speech, representatives of other countries who spoke. Most inquired as to why, if the U.S. had such evidence, didn’t they give it to the inspectors before rather than wait until now.
Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 10:53 - Category: Unfiled ;
Equality?
From email;
“A heart-warming story of the advances of women in achieving equality throughout the world …
Barbara Walters did a story on gender roles in Kuwait several years before the Gulf War. She noted then that women customarily walked about 10 feet behind their husbands.
She returned to Kuwait recently and observed that the men now walked several yards behind their wives.
Ms. Walters approached one of the women and said, “This is marvellous. Can you tell the free world just what enabled women here to achieve this reversal of roles?”
“Land mines,” said the Kuwaiti woman.
Update: Great story but it’s an urban legend
Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 10:12 - Category: Unfiled ;
North Dakota found harboring nuclear weapons
“BISMARCK, ND—The stage was set for another international showdown Monday, when chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix confirmed that the remote, isolationist state of North Dakota is in possession of a large stockpile of nuclear missiles.”
Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 09:34 - Category: Unfiled ;
Phil Spector murder investigation
Police have released practically no info about the murder. Today the L.A. Times reports, “Sheriff’s officials said he <Spector> was not allowed to reenter his mansion, which is being guarded by Alhambra police as a crime scene.”
Seems odd the mansion would still be a crime scene after so many days. I’m guessing there’s more to this murder than has been released.
The chauffeur dropped them off, then called 911 after hearing gunshots. The body was found in the foyer. What was the time delay between dropping them off and hearing the shots? Was she shot immediately upon entering? If so, why? Apparently they’d just met.
Spector is out on bail, and has apparently been charged with first degree murder. If a murder charge alleges “special circumstances”, then it becomes capital murder for which there is no bail. So far, it is not special circumstances.
Ronnie Spector, lead singer of the Ronettes, was married to Spector and left him in the early 70’s. She was quoted recently saying she left him because she feared for her life, and that her views on that hadn’t changed.
From The Independent;
“The producer was known for his short temper and love of firearms, according to several online biographies.
“Famously, during sessions with John Lennon, Spector fired a gun in the studio and Lennon remarked: ‘Phil, you can shoot me if you want to, but watch my hearing. I need that’,” rock critic Anthony DeCurtis told NBC’s Today show.”
Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 09:30 - Category: Unfiled ;
Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 00:07 - Category: Unfiled ;
Pigs fly, Hell freezes over and …
Irish government plans to ban smoking in pubs.
Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 00:06 - Category: Unfiled ;
Target Oil Day actions
Yesterday, Feb. 4, was Target Oil Day, with protests outside gas stations in over one hundred cities.
In West L.A. it was held at Olympic & Bundy, a large busy intersection with gas stations on two corners and a Cadillac dealership on another. How fitting! There were several hundred of us, noisy, banging drums, and we got lots of honks and peace signs in support from passing cars.
The police, unintentionally I’m sure, helped us out by closing and cordoning off both gas stations. Haven’t a clue why, but hey, if they want show solidarity with the protest by shutting down gas stations, that’s fine with me.
The photo is of a portion of an amazing handpainted mural.
Bob Morris @ Feb 5th 2003 00:02 - Category: Unfiled ;
Attention Tony Blair!
“The Australian Senate has passed a historic no-confidence motion against the prime minister over his handling of the Iraqi crisis.
John Howard and his Conservative-Liberal coalition were censured for deploying troops to the Gulf ahead of a possible war against Iraq.”
Subscribe
