Most of Eric’s articles are like a breath of fresh air and this one is especially . All the spin, deceit, lies, mnnipulations and arm-twisting are being shown for what they are by the facts on the ground in Iraq. Facts Junior denies because his ego prevents him from:
- admitting a mistake
- understanding he was used by those exploiting his ignorance.
On the other hand, if this former coke and booze addict (who never went through the 12 Steps that instil insight and humility so he is a ‘dry’ addict) is smarter than he looks, sounds, or acts, then he knowingly went into this misadventure for one or all of these odious reasons:
- dominate Muslims to show the Christian-Jewish alliance to be superior and the Axis of Good
- enrich himself and his friends through accepting lobbiest bribes, issuing non-competitive contracts likely with kickbacks
- other?
I didn’t know about the senior Pentagon official, Stephen Cambon, who helped the story line of WMD to get America into this war. He needs to go to jail! Along with many others in that Administration.
Thanks for such a revealing article Eric. You point out the King has no clothes are are helping wake up the masses from the terrible illusion foisted on them by self-serving dogmatists. The resultant horror imposed on the poor Iraqi people is beyond redemption.
Posted by shazam at December 4, 2006 01:15 PM
The US occupation’s extensive use of Shia death squads to fight the Sunni resistance has played a key role in igniting Iraq’s current sectarian bloodbath. This little-known story is a major scandal.
This sounds about right, but an entire column describing it would be fitting, especially given how little this idea is expressed in other news sources.
Posted by ParkerStevens at December 4, 2006 01:41 PM
Someone correct me if I got any of this wrong…
1) US starts a war against Iraq claiming “preemption” against Weapons of Mass Destruction and Iraq’s affiliation with al-Qaida.
2) The whole world says it’s wrong. The US decides they’ll “go it alone” if need be.
3) US attacks Iraq in an unprovoked, unjustified war. No weapons of Mass Destruction were found. Links to al-Qaida proved false.
4) Everything the US said about Iraq is a lie.
5) After killing hundreds of thousands of people the US now says it’s going to leave the incredible mess they created.
This has got to be the perfect recipe to ensure that as many people as possible have the greatest contempt and hatred possible for the US. Which, of course, allows the US to do it all over again. Next up, Iran.
The above would be insanity, unless of course, you sell weapons.
DCanuck
Posted by D. Canuck at December 4, 2006 04:06 PM
I have to concure with ParkerStevens. I admit I have been confused over this entire sectarian violence issue. Who is killing who? Why? Is it just for revenge or the old ‘Ethnic cleansing’, or is there a desire to destabalize the region.
Anyone?
Posted by Poseidon_dude at December 4, 2006 05:48 PM
P_Dude:
A good resource to let you sort out this sordid mess in Iraq is at this link;
There are daily reports and good analysis at this site reported by Professor Juan Cole.
Iraq is a can of worms or Pandora’s box(take your pick) opened up by the world’s great democratizers, the Americans and their wily sidekick the British so that they may enlighten a very ancient culture to modern day social graces as practiced in North America and Europe.
Needless to say as EM puts it in his article they seem to be having a lot of trouble in their endeavour to civilize the heathens. The situation is making their head spin and they literally don’t know what to do anymore.
Sorry I haven’t given you anything concrete, its late, more later.
Posted by oldfan at December 5, 2006 12:13 AM
Ole’ Turkey Buzzard
Ole’ Turkey Buzzaarddd…
flaa-yin’, flyin’ hii—ghh
He’s just-a watin’
ole buzzard’s just-a wa-atinnn’
Watin’ for someone down below to die
Ole’ buzzard knows that he can wait
for every mother’s sons’s got a date
with him…
gold gold gold
people are dyin’ for
gold gold gold
people are fighting (killing) and dying for gold
Posted by Rampart at December 5, 2006 06:41 AM
Make that lyric Black Gold.
DCanuck - In my best amateurish psychologist mode, one interacts with the world from where one lives spiritually, psychologically, materially. Fritz Perls said we project (i.e. bring about) our world so if you have self-contempt you display contempt for others. If you love yourself you love others. You can’t give what you don’t have and give what you do have. So Junior is creating a world that reflects his own self-loathing and self-destructive tendancies. And since he can, and its his gestalt, he ends up destroying others. That is easire than dealing with one’s own demons. Simple I know, but I stand by it.
Today’s news - Israel captures 16 “militants” in the West Bank. Should have said ‘kidnaps’. But when Palestinians take a couple of soldiers, who should also be referred to as militants, the State launchs an attack that destroys peoples lives, livelihoods, and homes as retaliation. Talk about a double standard.
Posted by shazam at December 5, 2006 09:27 AM
The following is a continuation of the discussion I started with Chatman at the end of the last article. I continue it here, as it is appropriate for this week’s topic.
Chatman:
In the face of the slaughter of tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians by bullets, bombs and missiles, the deaths by starvation and disease of hundreds of thousands more through the deliberate destruction of infrastructure (hospitals, water works, electricity), and hundreds of thousands more deaths through the collapse of social order as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, how can any terrorist act committed by an Iraqi on U.S. soil prompt you or anyone else with your apparent level of understanding of the situation to support your government? I would think that any moral person in the U.S. would instantly be on your government’s case to remove U.S. troop presence from Iraq. They are obviously not wanted by the majority of Iraqis.
Another issue that I have wondered about in your posts is why you use the term “insurgents”, when it appears that you are referring to Iraqis in general. For example, in your last post on the previous article you wrote:
“On the other hand, if I was suffering to the same extent that the insurgents were, I would just want the damn war to be over.”
I’m not sure what you mean by the term “insurgent” but I assume it refers to those Iraqis, and probably some non-Iraqis, who are actually taking up arms. However, the vast majority of people suffering in Iraq are not “insurgents”, they are non-combattant children, women and men who have died and are dying through the effects of the U.S.-led invasion. I am sure that they want the war over too, but I also doubt if they want to be oppressed by a foreign occupier.
If U.S. stratgey in Iraq is to inflict so much damage to the people that they give up in despair, that is a reflection of the immorality of U.S. political masters, the soldiers carrying out the orders, and the people of the U.S. who continue to support the occupation. As I indicated above, I don’t see how any terrorist attack by Iraqis on U.S. soil could change the opinion of someone who recognizes the Iraqi occupation for what it is.
Posted by Weary at December 5, 2006 09:29 AM
DCanuck - to close the loop, if you have self-contempt you have contempt for others and HENCE ATTRACT CONTEMPT TO YOURSELF. C’est la situation avec Junior.
I am not sure what an insurgent is but I am sure that Iraq is as close to anarchy as I have witnessed or could imagine. I don’t know who is doing what but there are some diabolical forces at work. I surmise the Kurds most of all want the country to break up so they can achieve their own state in the oil rich north.
The USA has opened a Pandora’s box that they cannot close. The Zionists engineered this drama from within the Administration, Pentagon, and Israeli lobbies - they must be rubbing their hands in glee to see years of investing Iraq’s oil wealth in infrastructure and civil society totally wasted by the stupid enforcer whose mid-east policy they shape. Yep, keep the Arabs on their heels to buy time for Israel’s settlers to have their way in Palestine. I know I sound like a broken record but the fact is, or at least I am convinced, that without strategic domestic and foreign zionist interventions, this scenario, starting with the rage expressed via 9-11, would not have come to pass. When will the US wake up?!
Gweneth Paltrow is getting heck in America for saying the people in the UK are more educated and smarter than Americans. Shucks, the truth can hurt. The US education system needs a serious revamping.
Posted by shazam at December 5, 2006 12:33 PM
Rampart:
Mckenna’s Gold
Posted by oldfan at December 5, 2006 01:38 PM
Well done!
I was wondering if anyone would get it… One of my favorite old movies.
Posted by Rampart at December 5, 2006 02:29 PM
Shazam sez:
——Gweneth Paltrow is getting heck in America for saying the people in the UK are more educated and smarter than Americans. Shucks, the truth can hurt.———
An Amreekan will not care if a truck runs over him as long as it happens quick.
British person will simply look both ways before crossing the street.
Of course, Pakistani will be the truck driver.
So, yes there are major differences in attitude, common sense and aptitude.
Posted by Rampart at December 5, 2006 02:42 PM
See Gwynne Dyer’s site for his latest commentaries on the middle east. The November 12, 16 and 20 articles deal with Iraq and Palestine.
http://www.gwynnedyer.net/articles2006.htm
Posted by Weary at December 5, 2006 04:13 PM
In politics all questions relating to injustice and double standards can be answered with the following:
The Powerful Make The Rules
Posted by hedagem at December 5, 2006 05:27 PM
Guess this one!
This day and age we’re living in
Gives cause for apprehension
With speed and new invention
And things like fourth dimension.
Yet we get a trifle weary
With Mr. Einstein’s theory.
So we must get down to earth at times
Relax relieve the tension
And no matter what the progress
Or what may yet be proved
The simple facts of life are such
They cannot be removed.
You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.
And when two lovers woo
They still say, “I love you.”
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date.
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny.
It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.
Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.
Posted by Peace at December 5, 2006 06:32 PM
Great article Mr.Margolis,
I have a question for you. Why are Iran and Syria so closely aligned? Syria is a secular dictatorship with a majority Sunni population while Iran is a Shite theocracy. If Iran becomes the dominant power in the region wouldn’t Syria’s secular government be threatened? I think the West should reach out to the Syrian leader. Please give me some insight into this realtionship.
Posted by James Wallace at December 5, 2006 08:17 PM
Bush does not want true democracy in the Middle East. What he really wants are puppet regimes that will sell out their own people to American interests. What do you think will happen when the “free”, “independent” and “democratic” government of EYE-Raq asks the U.S. to leave? You know the answer: instant regime change.
-Hedagem (master of the obvious)
Posted by hedagem at December 6, 2006 10:31 AM
Yo it’s real academic and i’ll bust it out real simple fo’ ya’ dudes. Bush’s plan all along wuz t’disrupt da damn Middle East. o’ reshape it if ya’ will. Dat said, it should be obvious dat he wantsa prolong de invasion as long as possible t’wreak even mo’e disrupshun and chaos.
You’s sucka’s likes t’analyze stuff dat ain’t even dere. You’s real dink Bush dun didn’t know civil war would bust out? Get out uh here! Dis be about divide and conquer. Once da damn powa’ players in de middle east is out uh de way. dat’s right i’m rapin about ya’ Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria. den dey gots’ta control upside de region.
Caspian sea, oil fields, timbucktwo, ya’ dojigger it dey wants’ it. It’s about wo’ld dominashun.
Posted by reggie007 at December 6, 2006 10:36 AM
You tryin to talk down to me, sucka? First of all you ain’t nothing but an unemployed fool who sits at home all day and watches wrestling. You think you are a prognastigator but you ain’t know nothing.
Whatchu think government is, blood? It’s essentially a legal gang. And the U.S. gang is the most powerful in the world. Gangs seek out territory and they get it with diamonds and guns. What for? For drugs, money, power and ho’s.
U.S. government does it for drugs (in afghan), oil, money, power and ho’s. I respect Margolis he knows some stuff but the peeps who post here don’t know shizzle.
Posted by reggie007 at December 6, 2006 03:06 PM
Reggie, you are hilarious!
But he brings up an interesting point: Bush and gang KNEW that they would cause a civil war. Divide and conquer.
Meet the New Boss, same as the Old Boss:
Nancy Pulosi is also bought.
Posted by Tovy at December 6, 2006 03:35 PM
I find reggie’s posts intelligent – his points are all valid. So what if he talks different, so does Yoda and he’s no fool.
Rampart,
You’re the last person to be commenting on the apparent intelligence of others based on their posts.
DCanuck
Posted by D. Canuck at December 6, 2006 04:29 PM
I agree with Reggie’s gang take on the US Administration. I picked up a deck of Bush Admin playing cards while in Vermont - they are a take off on the deck of Saddam regime characters that the US gave to soldiers to help them hunt down Saddam stalwarts. I have always viewed Bush as a street thug looking out for his gang and protecting his corner. He really is a low-life hoodlum who exceeded expectations not on his own merit but because he rode daddy’s coat tails and had his way to the top oiled by US-based multinational companies.
These cards (likely a collectors item) describe the characters in his Admin and they are, by and large, facist-leaning neo-cons who play fast and loose with the Constitution and law in general at the expense of waaay too many people. I dare say the word “criminal” fits most of them better than OJ’s missing gloves.
Weary, thank you so much for the Gwynne Dyer link. This is a most informative Eric-like site.
Posted by shazam at December 7, 2006 12:12 AM
DCanuck, tell me you didn’t laugh at Rampart’s reference to the education system.
To reshape Fritz Perl’s contribution as I simplistically outlined it earlier, all is in the eye of the beholder. Now, let’s have a group hug.
Posted by shazam at December 7, 2006 12:16 AM
Ok dudes, peace? ah’ DID try t’clean down mah’ text in de last message ah’ posted but it’s easia’ fo’ me t’type dis way.
One doodad ah’ wanna clear down be dat ah’ dink most guv’ments opuh’te likes gangs not just George Bush. To me ya’ sucka’s seem too optimistic and possibly naive. Youse smart but ya’ duzn’t seem t’learn fum histo’y and da damn basic traits uh human bein’s.
Droughout histo’y humans gots battled andwasted each oda’ ova’ land. De higha’ up ya’ go, de mo’e brutality ya”ll find. You’s dink China o’ Russia is any better? How about Iran? Dey’re jus as baaaad if not wo’se.
De most peaceful countries such as Sweden and Norway may be betta’ but dey’ll neva’ be mo’e powerful unless dey begin t’act mo’e aggressively.
Peeps, it’s some mad wo’ld. Dis be why de most evil and mad leaders is de most successful.
Posted by reggie007 at December 7, 2006 11:11 AM
007 - Norway, Sweden and I would add Canada don’t seek power. Dude, its not just about the power but about quality of life, about social inclusion and equal opportunity. You come from what you know, from where you live and so let me tell you not everyone aspires to American materialism.
I would rather live in a peace-loving country than one seeking to dominate others. The latter has way too much ego and is sowing bad karma in its quest to stay top dog. Sadly Canada has a Republican wanna be as our Prime Minister but he will soon be shown the door.
While I find your accent unique, I imagine as you admit it is difficult to type that way. Its all cool and colorful and may serve you locally but I hope for your sake you can turn it off at will because if not you will be marginalized and be ever the outsider looking in. Which is not cool as you seem to have a lot going for you.
Posted by shazam at December 7, 2006 01:38 PM
Believe me, if Canada, Norway or Sweden started to lose their position in the global game, they would start to seek power. America is doing what it’s doing because there’s no particular top of the pyramid in sight. They are building the real tower of babel, and ultimately, everyone thinks that it’ll collapse. The moment the Powers that Be decide to stop using their scientific dictatorship (see 1984) the whole system will collapse.
As for Canada, I’m glad it’s Dion and not Ignatieff or Bob Rae that will be challenging Harper’s authority. I would have rather had Gerard Kennedy, however.
The powers that be are currently attacking Dion for not getting rid of his French citizenship. I don’t think that’ll really make him look bad in the eyes of Canadians.
One thing that Harper can do to secure himself a majority would be to get rid of Rona Ambrose and to implement an actual, if not slightly more idealistic, environmental plan.
Tovy
Posted by Tovy at December 7, 2006 02:26 PM
Sorry to bug in with a snippet about last week’s story about Litvinenko.
Not that it matters one way or another, but apparently he did convert to Islam on his deathbed and will be buried in a Muslim cemetery according to his father.
Read the entire article linked below;
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C2-2489024%2C00.html
My point in bringing this up is that when I first brought this up through a news release by the Chechen press it was laughed at and taken with skepticism and rightly so.
It goes to show that not all fringe media is always motivated by self-interest, so reserving judgment for a short time span may be the prudent thing to do. This is crazy world we live in currently anything is possible.
Regarding Reggie007, I think he is a rebel amongst rebels, he can turn his lingo “on” or “off” at will.
While there is a whole lot of generic truth in his statements, just saying matters are so and so doesn’t make everything as such, substantiation and analysis along with discussion is necessary.
Not all the readers including myself have life experiences and are knowledgeable about all that goes on in the world to make sense of it all.
For instance, just this week two new posters have asked for further clarification on the civil war ongoing in Iraq between Shia’s and Sunni’s and an inquiry as to why Syria and Iran are so closely allied despite their different forms of governance. Unfortunately while I have some thoughts on both issues, have not been able to post my response, which I hope to do soon, so hold on Poseidon_dude and James Wallace, I’ll put in my two cents worth.
Posted by oldfan at December 7, 2006 03:15 PM
I don’t think Rampart you were the only one, I was also skeptical but thought the story needed exposure nonetheless, also there were others, no need to mention names.
The BBC, the “bullshit” network in their radio broadcast describe Litvinenko’s burial ceremony but failed to mention that it was in a Muslim cemetery or even that he had converted.
Such is their reportage of omissions, half-truths, slants and bias.
Posted by oldfan at December 7, 2006 03:43 PM
Oldfan:
Thanks again for clearing up that little detail about Litvinenko becoming a Muslim. I wasn’t going to look for anything further to do with this story. Anything about Russia makes me go to sleep. I said, hey, one Russian thug (Putin) kills another Russian… big deal.
But.
This detail about Litvinenko does matter. To me anyway.
Posted by Rampart at December 7, 2006 03:46 PM
My pleasure, but you have to stop this wit of your’s, the English part really cracked me up. LOL
Posted by oldfan at December 7, 2006 03:55 PM
In keeping with EM’s topic about “igniting fires in the Middle East”, here’s an article about the fire ignited by the West in 1948 that has burned unabated and eventually may engulf the entire globe.
http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/271/81/
Posted by oldfan at December 7, 2006 04:08 PM
Interesting article oldfan. I wondered why the UK and US sponsored the UN motion to create Israel out of Palestine. The author suggests a Jewish state in Palestine was presented by the Zionists as a way to deal with the Jewish immigrant issue and further ‘cleanse’ racist Europe of its Jews. The appeal worked and the West signed on as a promoter of Israel. Cynical and brilliant.
I recall the propaganda slogan “A people without a land and a land without a people”. It conveniently ignored the presence of Arabs in Palestine. Now Israeli imperialism has created a true people without a home, the stateless Palestinians who are being ground down and humiliated daily. Watch out because they are now past desperate. As pointed out in the Gwynne Dyer article cited by Weary, they no longer care so will do increasingly bold and dangerous acts. Israel will reap what it sows and not soon enough.
Posted by shazam at December 7, 2006 04:52 PM
Shazam:
For a further understanding of the mindset of Theodor Herzl and the machinations of the zionist entity, see this video which is made itself by israeli’s.
It outlines the hatred and contempt that Herzl himself had for the Jewish faith and his cohorts who were directly instrumental in the genocide of Jews in Europe and used it to further their goals.
You’ll see how even the common israelis are unaware of the history of their heroes and the state that they live in.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1459280916999356707&q=zionism+and+herzl
An additional reading that clarifies Herzl’s misreading of the meaning of the Dreyfus incident.
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/Sept_Oct_2006/0609062.html
Here’s a look at America’s investments in israel through the newly elected US congress and its members who are in the back pockets of the zionists.
http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/389/81/
http://www.uruknet.de/?p=m28769&hd=&size=1&l=e
Posted by oldfan at December 7, 2006 06:01 PM
Hi Eric
I was watching TVO last night, it was good to see you back on TV.
Cheers!
Posted by jotaroh at December 7, 2006 08:19 PM
Oldfan, dem fightin wo’ds? ah’ duzn’t mosey on down here t’profess t’be da damn wo’ld’s most wisest person amongst men. But t’say dat ah’ only stated some few generic truds stin’s.
Maybe youse smarta’ dan me but one thing ah’ know be human nature and how de wo’ld wo’ks…ok so’s maybe dat’s two things. Booya? See, George W. Bush be a product uh a family wid no mo’als o’ compassion. He duzn’t care how many sucka’s kick d’ cud o’ suffa’ as some result uh his acshuns. Most uh ya’ kin see dis but ya’ kin not see dat he be easily replaceble.
shazam, uh course ya’ is right. Ideally, dere be much mo’e t’life dan powa’ but peeps likes George Bush duzn’t agree and dey gots de power, we duzn’t.
One thing dat none uh ya’ gots rapped about be how evolushun gots’ta continue t’divide us. Science shows dat populashuns carry dominant genes dat allow dem t’adapt t’deir environment.
So’s while industrialized 1st world nashuns continue t’have deir own distinct advanced environments and social behaviour deir populashun’s offsprin’ gots’ta become even stronger, smarta’ versions uh deir descendents.
But poor 3rd world nashuns…battlin’ diseases and not havin’ access t’even basic utilities…whut gots’ta de impact be? Whut dominant survival genes gots’ta dey carry and gots’ta dey be able t’survive 200-300 years fum now?
If ya’ wanna rap about ednic cleansin’ ya’ gots’ta rap t’a scientist if ya’ wanna real wipe out huge amounts uh populashuns. Dis be class warfare at it’s most evil.
Dose who ain’t familiar wid evolushun should read up on it cuz’ aldough Geo’ge Bush duzn’t appear t’recon’ in it, he be usin’ it againt da damn have nots. Not only fo’ today’s battles but fo’ battles hundreds and dousands uh years fum now.
Posted by reggie007 at December 7, 2006 10:51 PM
http://www.dawn.com/2006/12/08/top13.htm
Posted by _RealityBites_ at December 8, 2006 06:23 AM
Reggie - One thing about communicating in a different patois intentionally is that you reveal the following to us:
“Joking, back door way to approval, love me, love me.”
I think that you are very creative, but we are all here to share ideas, and not to seek approval and pats on the back for superficial things.
Welcome, though.
Posted by Tovy at December 8, 2006 11:39 AM
Reggie007:
Be cool man, Peace, no fighting words towards you. Just because you say something doesn’t mean that I can understand all of it.
First my life experiences are not the same as yours and therefore my understanding and perception may be quite different.
My using of the word “generic” has no disrespect incorporated for what you say; I meant it to be common or universal truths.
“U.S. government does it for drugs (in afghan), oil, money, power and ho’s. I respect Margolis he knows some stuff but the peeps who post here don’t know shizzle.”
But,how long have you been reading this board Reggie that you can make the above statement about all us “peeps” and what we all know? How well do you know the personalities that post here to show disrespect?
I assume the word “shizzle” means nothing.
Posted by oldfan at December 8, 2006 12:21 PM
Reggie, you have to be kidding. You’re trying to convince us that typing like Ali G is actually easier than the alternative? Unless you have a shortcut key that makes typing the ‘apostrophe’ a lot easier, let’s just say I have a hard time buying the reasoning.
That said, your comments about evolution merge well with how Ali-G himself might talk about evolution; it’s completely backwards, and makes no sense. Populations in the third world are subject to different selection factors than populations in the industrialized world; it’s not that first world population have a higher frequency of ‘dominant survival genes’ or whatever it is you are trying to convey; if you want to talk about non-expressed genes that contribute to survival, you are talking about recessive genes (or recessive alleles). It is true that, where populations are not subject to massive die-offs, either through wars, famines, disease epidemics, or other situations, there will a wider genetic diversity among both dominant and recessive alleles, while more challenged populations will tend to carry only those genes which confer survival advantages for a particular environment. That said, the genes that prompt survival in one environment may be fatal in others (think about sickle-cell trait, or theories attributing high blood pressure in modern African Americans to selection pressures favoring water-retaining slaves on the long overseas slave transit).
Astonishingly, I’ll stand with Rampart on this one; the English language is subject to enough assault from around the world that it need not suffer further harm from someone who purposely acts in absurd character, and makes it even less comprehensible. If you want people to take you seriously, don’t speak like you’re part of Sasha Baron Cohen’s comedy act.
Posted by chatman at December 8, 2006 02:04 PM
Canuck, you asked about my trip to Baykal, and Weary, you were hoping I would respond to some arguments. I will get around to both, but I have another exam coming up on Monday that I must prepare for.
Posted by chatman at December 8, 2006 02:05 PM
chatman,
Cool.
Rampart,
Not cool.
Oldfan,
to help you out…
“peeps” means “to have a look”
“shizzle” means “to barbeque”
DCanuck
“With It” Old Timer
Posted by D. Canuck at December 8, 2006 02:43 PM
Don’t be so quick to condemn ‘American culture’ for Reggie’s incomprehensibility. I suspect that his ‘style’ of discourse, if you can call it that, is inspired by none other than Sasha Baron Cohen, a British comedian (and scholar) who deliberately assumes that urban Afro-Anglo tone as a way of furthering a comedy routine. I’m sure you’ve heard of him, and Reggie’s discourse is a dead ringer for it. That said, Sasha Baron Cohen’s ‘Ali G’ character is quite amusing for all of his lovable (but calculated) stupidity and wannabe ‘gansta-ness.’ The genius of the comedy is that no one realizes that Anglo-Jewish bumpkin trying to be black is actually an educated and cultured individual; Cohen uses that to his advantage. Reggie is simply assuming the tonal dialectic as inspired by that character (or perhaps others.. I can’t imagine anyone would write the way this guy talks).
A dead ringer for an undereducated American is a subconscious inability to spel anything rite. They think they know how to spel, but in the end, they scru it up without nowing it, or using the spel chek. Sometimes, there r gramer problems to.
Reggie is another creature entirely, and I assure you not one created as a result of mainstream American culture. Da Ali G show is got its start in the UK, and got big in the US only in recent years.
That’s not to say that we don’t have our own cultural emptiness, but I would venture to say that such emptiness exists in any society. I know what kinds of movies you South Asians like to watch… :)
Posted by chatman at December 8, 2006 05:29 PM
Here are my 2 cents as promised.
James Wallace’s post:
“Great article Mr.Margolis,
I have a question for you. Why are Iran and Syria so closely aligned? Syria is a secular dictatorship with a majority Sunni population while Iran is a Shite theocracy. If Iran becomes the dominant power in the region wouldn’t Syria’s secular government be threatened? I think the West should reach out to the Syrian leader. Please give me some insight into this realtionship.”
—-Why are Iran and Syria so closely aligned?
Both countries are predominantly Muslim but do have other religious denominations.
Iran is ethnically a Persian nation belonging to a Shia Islamic persuasion in their government as well as majority population.
Syria is ethnically an Arab country in nature but has a government that is dominated by a minority known as the Alawis, who are a sub-sect of the Shia, but as well are also Arabs.
Although the majority population of Syria belongs to the other main branch within Islam, namely the Sunnis, there are also Christians and Druze (another sect, also considered Muslims) in the country.
Please do your own further research on the branches of Islam if you’re interested.
Both countries are in the cross hairs of the current American administration; hence have signed a security pact to safeguard the other.
Both have common regional concerns but also have their own interests to safeguard.
——Syria is a secular dictatorship with a majority Sunni population while Iran is a Shite theocracy. If Iran becomes the dominant power in the region wouldn’t Syria’s secular government be threatened?
The alliance between them is based more on mutual interest; Iran in my estimation is not in the business of regime change as the Americans are, but rather wants respect as a regional power and a favourable relationship with its neighbours.
Iran knows its place in the region; while on its way to becoming a powerhouse has not had imperial tendencies since it became Islamic in nature as opposed to the Old Persian empire of antiquity.
Syria has less to fear from Iran and more to fear from the West and particularly the Americans who would like to throw out the Baathist government of Bashaar Asad.
——I think the West should reach out to the Syrian leader.
Dear friend, I presume from the statement your belief that Iran is an evil nation hell bent on domination and the West is some sort of a benevolent force for the good throughout the globe. Please note what is happening in Iraq since the West reached out with its friendly embrace.
Your perception is perhaps misplaced, while the West has many good nations and peoples, historically it has been the West that has wrecked havoc in most of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Central and Latin America.
The troubles so apparent now in most parts of the world are as a direct result of the meddling of the Western colonial powers and the policies they enacted for their own self-interest. They have supported dictatorships and despots in many a country to the detriment of the populations and development of democratic institutions just because it is easier to manipulate and do business with corrupt leadership than democratic governments.
Along with all the retrograde policies imposed in the Middle East the single most cause of irritation in the region has been the illegal establishment of the state of israel in 1948 in Palestine.
The unqualified support extended to this illegal entity by the West is perhaps the main driving factor causing discontent and increasing hatred for the West in the people of the region today.
EM’s outlining of all the fires in the Mideast are somehow directly or indirectly related to israel and its support currently and traditionally by the Americans and the West.
The empowerment of Iran in the region is not viewed as a threat by the large majority of the common people but is viewed with anxiety by the largely corrupt and dictatorial governments and primarily by israel in the Mideast.
I hope that some questions have been answered. Finally a suggestion, for a more balanced view research more about what regional voices are saying rather than just reading what is available in the MSM in the West.
Posiedon_dude said:
“I have to concure with ParkerStevens. I admit I have been confused over this entire sectarian violence issue. Who is killing who? Why? Is it just for revenge or the old ‘Ethnic cleansing’, or is there a desire to destabalize the region.
Anyone?”
—— I admit I have been confused over this entire sectarian violence issue. Who is killing who?
Needless to say this is a complete mess a myriad of forces have been unleashed.
Let’s see if I can begin by naming the main factions involved.
Within Iraq:
Iraqi Baathist (Sunnis, some Christians)
Supported by most of the oil countries like Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab states, Egypt and Jordan.
Al-Qaeida (Sunnis)
Jihadi groups, freelancers funded and supported
through private and covert groups.
Secular Iraqis (Sunnis, Shias, Christians)
Personalities like Iyad Allwi owing allegiance to America.
Sadaarites (Shia)
Groups allied to Muqtada Sadr, indigenous to Iraq,
oppose American presence, but is lending support to the Maliki US installed government. Supported
by Iran but independent, also supported by Syria.
SCIRI (Shia)
Leadership in exile in Iran during Saddam’s
time. Armed wing is Badr brigades trained by Iranian revolutionary guards in Iran. Holds great deal of sway in the current government of Maliki.
Kurds (Sunni) Non Arabs.
Maliki Government (Shia and Sunni groups)
The main rivalries are between the Baathist group who lost power as a result of the American invasion and both the Shia groups.
Main insurgency is by the Sunni groups as they are losing power.
Al-Qaeida in conjunction with the Baathists against both the main Shia groups.
Baathist and Al-Qaeida Jihadis against the semi-autonomous Kurdish region and its proponents.
All groups to varying degrees are against the American invaders, but mainly the Sunni groups, the Shias in the south and in Baghdad have also clashed against the Americans and the British.
Saddam and his Baathist government marginalized the Shias traditionally the majority in Iraq. Nevertheless the Sunni and Shia inhabitants in the main centers co-existed in relative harmony and even intermarried.
Discernible fractures came about between the two communities with Iraq’s invasion of Iran in the late 1970s. State of affairs have gone downhill ever since.
In the current situation there is a free for all, not only are there killings between Shias and Sunnis but there are turf wars among each group.
Heterogeneous communities have become distrustful of the members of the other sect and hence driving each other out to become more and more homogeneous.
Then there are the freelancers, criminal elements that work for their own interests carrying out kidnappings as well as paid killings. To further compound the situation there are approximately 20-30,000 mercenaries hired by the Americans to do their bidding and they have run amuck throughout the country.
As well agent provocateurs that have there since the inception of the invasion to incite the Shias and Sunnis into conflict with each other and in large part have achieved their objectives and you see that in Iraq now.
This neo-con policy designed by and in favour of the zionist state is working liking a charm; several American heavy weights like Joe Biden et.al advocate partitioning of Iraq into three smaller entities. Divide and conquer and forever weak and exploitable.
The ordinary fun loving American is so busy in his/her leisure provided and engineered by the zionist mass movers and shakers in the entertainment, fashion, sports, gambling and other industries that they don’t know or realize their country is being flushed down the toilet in order to preserve israel.
Unfortunately, also the Muslims of the region have not been able to get over their own insecurities and petty squabbles and have succumbed to this ignominy.
Posted by oldfan at December 8, 2006 09:09 PM
Yo chatman ya’ gots some nerve callin’ me some creature. ah’ guess some uh ya’ sucka’s is a racist. ah’ can’t recon’ I’m bein’ compared t’some movie star even dough I’m de only one who sees de big picture.
If ya’ duzn’t dig it how dey is usin’ evolushun t’wage class warfare ya’ need t’read mah’ post again. Dominant o’ survival genes in dird wo’ld nashuns won’t comprise uh analytical capabilities which fust wo’ld citizens gots developed.
Advanced societies is not helpin’ poor societies and dis be whut peeps likes Bush wants’. So’s instead uh bein’ racist and callin’ me names why duzn’t ya’ sucka’s use yo’ brain fo’ a change?
I neva’ come across such some large group uh igno’ant racists on a site which discusses intelligent topics. You’s peeps betta’ recognize whut’s whut and fast.
Posted by reggie007 at December 8, 2006 09:46 PM
Oldfan, I for one certainly didn’t laugh at your information about Litvinenko’s conversion to Islam. And note that he and Akhmed Zakayev, a Chechen terrorist leader, are said to be “close friends”, even living next door to each other? So, Rampart, you see how London and the British government, as I stated, have provided a safe haven for Chechen terrorists? I fear that Litvinenko, supported/paid by Berezovsky, was trying to gather materials to supply the Chechen terrorists with a dirty bomb to use against Russia. This is the story Eric should be reporting. But it sure isn’t being reported in the mainstream North American media. I have yet to hear/see Litvinenko’s conversion to Islam, his link to Chechen terrorists, or his involvement in the smuggling of radioactive materials (also “reported” by oldfan), mentioned on TV, radio, or in newspapers. Just the constant repetition of allegations (without evidence) blaming the Kremlin.
Reggie007 (or should that be Reggae007?): you rock. Don’t listen to Rampart. His “cultural learnings” are nothing to brag about.
Posted by hyperbolus at December 8, 2006 10:04 PM
“I neva’ come across such some large group uh igno’ant racists on a site which discusses intelligent topics. You’s peeps betta’ recognize whut’s whut and fast.”
“… ah’ can’t recon’ I’m bein’ compared t’some movie star even dough I’m de only one who sees de big picture.”
LOL!! Racist? Please.. don’t you mean ‘racialist?’ Your Ali-G impression is weak dude. Get over it. Either convey yourself clearly, or don’t bother conveying yourself at all, especially if that’s your idea of ‘de big picture.’ (don’t you mean ‘da big picture?).
This has nothing to do with “racializm;” It’s about the inefficiency of your communication. It’s hard for others to read, and harder for you to type; for example, I can express the personal pronoun ‘I’ in two keystrokes, while it takes you 3 (a-h-‘).
Entreating someone to communicate with clarity, appropriate spelling, and grammar, is hardly “racializm.” But if you insist upon justifying your inane ‘style’ under the guise of ‘racial identity,’ be my guest. Just about anyone can see right through you.
If ya’ duzn’t dig it how dey is usin’ evolushun t’wage class warfare ya’ need t’read mah’ post again. Dominant o’ survival genes in dird wo’ld nashuns won’t comprise uh analytical capabilities which fust wo’ld citizens gots developed.
Are you seriously proposing that the Western lifestyle contributes the development of analytical capabilities? Look at the way you write and analyze! You are a walking, typing counterpoint to your own evolutionary theory. Western societies are so busy offloading real skill based analysis to China and India that all that’s left over here are creative communicators like yourself and vapid celebrity entertainment. The West is experiencing brain drain like never before, because there is no selection pressure for the kind of analytical skills you profess our societies cultivate. In fact, I would argue that the third world creates substantially greater selection pressure for analytical and creative minds, since the inability to think on your feet is more likely to get you killed before you reproduce. Further, unless you’re smart, it’s fairly unlikely you will pass your genes on in a constructive way if you reside in the third world.
“Advanced societies is not helpin’ poor societies and dis be whut peeps likes Bush wants’. So’s instead uh bein’ racist and callin’ me names why duzn’t ya’ sucka’s use yo’ brain fo’ a change?”
So that’s the essence of your analysis? That “Advanced societies is not helpin’ poor societies?” Wow… if only I could say that your ‘unique’ language skills added more value to the discussion than your sweeping conclusions….
Posted by chatman at December 8, 2006 11:30 PM
Peace - I am not sure about that being 007’s reason for writing in code. If the spies think this site is worth worrying about, then they likely have other ways of tracing the inputs besides looking for speech patterns of known operatives, whatever.
I also don’t think 007 is the genuine hip hop article as this site does not attract their consciousness. Although there are exceptions to any rule. Moreover, 007’s content does not provide much in the way of value added. Aside, that is, from testing us with possible lyrics to a rap song. I think his underlying anger is real and is tagged to international-level injustice, which I can get behind.
007 has succeeded in spicing the site up but he has our attention not for what he says but for how he says it. For my part I will read and enjoy and hope for his sake he can turn it off to avoid the isolation forced upon so many blacks as a result of an education system biased in favour of the haves.
Posted by shazam at December 9, 2006 11:34 AM
chatman, ya’ is nodin’ mo’e dan some rude boy who uses fancy wo’ds t’try t’make himself appear t’be smart. ah’ won’t dignify yo’ crass insults wid some response.
If youse dumb enough t’recon’ dat da so called brain drain gots nuthin t’do wid de big picture uh analytical disparity ya’ gots absolutely no knowledge uh exactly how evolushun wo’ks. And jus to be clear, ah’ fully realize dat it gots’ta snatch hundreds o’ dousands o’ possibly tens uh dousands uh years fo’ dese effects t’become notable.
It amazes me dat no one in de main stream media eva’ touches on de great divide dat gots’ta snatch place as some direct result uh continuous class warfare. Politically, Margolis be top notch but dis geopolitical fight be just a small part uh whut’s goin’ on.
On anotha note, ah’ find it disgustin’ dat some uh ya’ look down on de hip hop community and claim dat we’s not interested in politics.
Posted by reggie007 at December 10, 2006 11:52 AM
007 - Are you typical example of hip hop interests? If so I stand happily corrected and ask you to excuse my big generalization. I don’t hear a lot about world affairs or the environment in hip hop lyrics, but then again I don’t hear much such poetry-music these days. Maybe it too has evolved?
Posted by shazam at December 10, 2006 02:55 PM
Hip hop music has plenty of social activism blended into it. Check out The Roots, or Cunninglynguists some time, if you want to get a sense of where pioneers or interesting artists in the movement are going. If you do listen, note the power of their language and dialectic. I don’t profess to be an expert by any means.. I listen to all kinds of music including rap and hip-hop, but I wouldn’t rely too much on the assertions of pretenders to the throne like Reggie, who think they represent more about hip-hop than Dr Dre, and more about evolution than Dr. Gould.
Quite honestly, I’ve never read a poorer or more cursory analysis of the impact of evolution on societies and populations than the drivel this guy offers up… and I’ve read quite a few analyses that are on point considering I was a biologist in my former life (and an anti-Intelligent Design activist).
Like I say, I might find a reason to decipher his linguistic ‘uniqueness’ if I perceived it as either (1) genuine, or (2) pregnant with interesting ideas. Unfortunately, it is neither.
Posted by chatman at December 10, 2006 03:08 PM
“If youse dumb enough t’recon’ dat da so called brain drain gots nuthin t’do wid de big picture uh analytical disparity ya’ gots absolutely no knowledge uh exactly how evolushun wo’ks. And jus to be clear, ah’ fully realize dat it gots’ta snatch hundreds o’ dousands o’ possibly tens uh dousands uh years fo’ dese effects t’become notable.”
Reggie, you continue to profess your ignorance of how any of this works. It doesn’t take thousands or even tens of thousands of years for gene frequencies to change in the way you are discussing, when populations are not isolated. Modern societies are not at all isolated, and they can pass beneficial genes among each other as fast as they individuals can travel between populations. Gene frequency can change in a generation or two (less than a century) if the extent of the migration is substantial enough, or the selection pressures are great enough. Wars, slavery, and genocide constitute such selection pressures, and both air and sea travel provide the rapid migratory potential for genes to shift across populations.
For example, African Americans suffer from a higher rate of hypertension in the U.S, though native Africans do not suffer from the same problems. The evolutionary hypothesis is that this selection process, and the subsequent shift in gene frequency, occurred in less two generations, because a prominent selective advantage to slaves being brought to the U.S on slave ships was the ability to retain water; quite often, slaves were not given adequate food or water while in transit, and those who could not retain water died in transit, without passing on their genes. The survivors arrived in the U.S and established African American populations who carry genes allowing them to retain water; however, with the selection pressures of slaving ships far in the past, this enhanced water retention is a detriment, since it contributes to hypertension more commonly suffered within the African American community. Of course, today, there might be other selection pressures that uniquely contribute to this phenomenon, but if the evolutionary hypothesis has any validity, the change in gene frequency took less than a hundred years to complete because of migratory and social pressures.
Jared Diamond wrote briefly about competing selection pressures between hunter-gatherer societies and the ease with which urbanized western conquerors were able to overcome them, due to the variance in selection pressures; in essence, since urbanized societies acquire greater disease immunity. I would argue that the selection pressures facing many in the third world favor the development of the very analytical and technical skills that you think are retarded by the West’s oppression of the third world. In the third world, the pressures are stark, and those who can’t think on their feet end up dead. So I think you have your analysis backwards. If anything, there are few selection pressures in the west that promote the continuance of genetic lines favoring analysis and technical competence, since it is easier for people to survive and marry, and even prosper, without these skills.
Posted by chatman at December 10, 2006 03:28 PM
Chatman,
Perhaps what Reggie is trying to get at is the third world population might have a predilection for analysis and technical competence as you suggest BUT the first world denies them the opportunity to use them for anything but survival. Your evolutionary insights are well written and might clear up his mind somewhat.
Posted by guesswho at December 11, 2006 02:40 AM
There is too much time between Eric’s articles. I guess he is busy researching and writing another book. My guess on the topic of the next article is: Rumsfeld and the Bkaer report on getting out.
Think I’ll visit Gwynne Dyer. He has an interesting article about there being 40 million more Chinese boys than girls as a result of the populace chauvanistic response to the 1-child policy. His solution is interesting - import females from other asian countries. Loks like guys will have to pony up the dowery!
Posted by shazam at December 11, 2006 08:14 PM
America hears th etruth???!!!
Stephen Colbert coined the term Truthiness and the term was just named word of the year for 2005 by the American Dialect Society and for 2006 by Merriam-Webster.
“Truthiness” is a satirical term popularized by him in reference to the quality by which a person claims to know something intuitively, instinctively, or “from the gut” without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or actual facts (similar to the meaning of “bellyfeel”, a Newspeak term from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four). Colbert created this definition of the word during the inaugural episode (October 17, 2005) of his satirical television program The Colbert Report, as the subject of a segment called “The WØRD”.
Posted by shazam at December 11, 2006 09:44 PM
So there you have both truth and humour.
Posted by shazam at December 11, 2006 09:44 PM
Since reggie007 joined the blog, my Bino radar has been buzzing.
Posted by Weary at December 12, 2006 10:28 AM
Eric,
I would like to know whether any pullout from Iraq (and the subsequent removal of $2 billion a week from the US economy) will lead to an economic recession in the US.
Presumably the 2 billion is being added to the US economy (being spent on military hardware and soldier’s salaries) and not on Iraqis, otherwise we would not be in this mess.
Posted by Hasman at December 12, 2006 11:00 AM
Weary:
I am unsure which is more embarrassingly pathetic: That you pretend for the sake of a really lame joke to have a “Bino radar” or that it clearly doesn’t work. As much as I enjoy Ali G, I can’t stomach reading that assclown’s posts. I read the first couple - a struggle at best - and no more. Reggie is obviously trying hard to type in Ebonics it became unfunny by his third post.
Just aggressively unfunny - much like your lame “Bino radar” quip.
Posted by Bino at December 12, 2006 11:06 AM
Bino, that’s the first sensible post you’ve contributed. The reason, I surmise, Weary said it is that Reggie is sapping a lot of consciousness for no apparent gain, something you were pathetically good at. Hence the similarity. Have you looked at the links Oldfan posted Dec. 7? I haven’t yet but will over the holidays.
Hasman, I am not Eric but I can contribute some info on your query. From the Dec 2 issue of The Economist magazine (p. 13):
The US dollar just fell to a 20-month low against the Euro. The decline was triggered y nasty news about the American economy. New figures indicate that the housing markets troubles are having a wider impact on the economy. Consumer confidence and durable goods orders both fell more sharply than expected. In contrast, German business confidence has risen to a 15-year high. Whereas productivity is slowing in America, it is accelerating in the euro zone. There are also mounting concerns that central banks in China and elsewhere, which have been piling up dollars for years, may start selling. The Fed believes that the dollar will hold up because foreign investors will remain eager to buy dollar assets and so finance the country’s vast current account deficit. But if the economy slows more sharply than predicted, their enthusiasm will shrink. And if house prices continue to fall the risk of a recession will grow.
Since 2000 America’s structural deficit has widened sharply, while American’s household saving rate has plunged, causing the current account deficit to swell. America’s growth has thus been driven by household spending but is clearly unsustainable. As the economic and fiscal imbalances unwind, the country will face a prolonged period of slow growth. A tumbling dollar would also add to inflationary pressures and so make it harder for the Fed to cut interest rates to cushion the slowdown.
Posted by shazam at December 12, 2006 12:39 PM