Monthly Archives: December 2003

Theatrical or DVD LOTR

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Nate contemplates the possibility that Peter Jackson is insane.
Really, how could Jackson possibly think the theatrical versions of the LOTR trilogy is better than the extended versions? Well, they are his creations and each had its purpose.
I have had time to watch only the first disk of the extended Two Towers and if this is exemplary of the rest it is a huge improvement on a movie that I already thought was very, very good!
But, of course, this says nothing regarding Jackson’s sanity just that if the studio had allowed it he could have delivered an even greater movie to the theaters.
And, based on how easy it was to sit through RoTK I don’t think length would have bothered most viewers. In fact I was pleasantly surprised at how many folks stayed through the credits (though a few stood to watch them).

Iraq Star Chamber?

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This strikes me as a pretty good reason why the current American puppetInterim Iraqui Governing Council should definitely be interim:

Saddam’s trial is unlikely to be public, according to Iyad Alawi, member of the Interim Governing Council and head of the Iraqi National Accord (mainly ex-Baathist officers who cooperated in 1990s CIA plots against Saddam). Alawi made the remarks in an interview with the London-based al-Hayat newspaper. He said there would probably be no public trial because “it is possible that he will mention names of states or persons to whom he gave money . . .”

Just why would mentioning names be a bad thing?
And Alawi thinks that a bunch of thugs appointed by the US should stay in control of Iraq:

During his present visit to Lebanon, Alawi told Lebanese journalists that he opposes the call by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani for general elections, saying “elections right now are impossible.”

Gosh, just when would elections be possible? When you can guarantee the results?
I can’t imagine the bushies not demanding a public trial. And, for once, I’d agree with them. Star Chamber proceedings have no place in our world…not in the US and not in Iraq.
Via Kevin Drum.

More Libya

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Ah, a key reason why the bush administration is ready to bring Libya back into the fold:

In return for the promise to end its illegal weapons programme, the US will gradually lift its sanctions, freeing up Libya�s oil industry.

Well, freeing up Libya’s oil for US companies who can’t go there now:

At present there are no economic relations between the two countries and Washington has a ban on US passport-holders visiting Libya without official permission. That could now end if sanctions are lifted and, judging by Bush�s enthusiastic welcome of this about-turn, it cannot come soon enough.

And if bush doesn’t open it soon oil companies from other countries may get all the low hanging fruit:

Dr Kantsler said several of the world’s major international oil and gas companies, including Repsol, Agip of Italy, Total of France, Wintershall of Germany, and Petro-Canada, were already active in Libya.

And this would not make certain bush supporters happy:

During the 1980s , US firms were producing one million barrels of Libyan oil per day and, according to a recent report, new technology could see this double. One firm which would benefit from this is the Halliburton Corporation, whose chief executive until recently was the US vice-president, Dick Cheney.

Via Suburban Guerilla.

Is the draft back?

This entry was posted in bush Constitution Democracy Libertarianism US Foreign Policy on by

Not exactly what we might think of as the draft but the US is does not have an all volunteer army:

To many of the soldiers whose retirements and departures are on ice, however, stop-loss is an inconvenience, a hardship and, in some cases, a personal disaster. Some are resigned to fulfilling what they consider their patriotic duty. Others are livid, insisting they have fallen victim to a policy that amounts to an unannounced, unheralded draft.

Congress should immediately repeal their mistake:

Congress approved the authority for what became known as stop-loss orders after the Vietnam War, responding to concerns that the military had been hamstrung by the out-rotations of seasoned combat soldiers in Indochina.

In a country based on freedom, on the concepts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness slavery must not be allowed to exist.
Via Talkleft.
Update (12/29): Craig Cheslog has a good post on this. I disagree, though, with one point he makes: While the government has the right to treat our soldiers this way,… Nope, we should not grant the government any such right. The government is our servant not our master.