Steve McAlexander on Mon, 3 Dec 2001 06:55:02 +0100 (CET)


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Recent posts:

31 October 2001
Fighting a moral war
Is America doing the right thing in Afghanistan?

12 September 2001
On standing behind the president
We shouldn't suspend criticism of the president simply because of a crisis.

30 August 2001
Why everyone in San Francisco's getting fired
Protecting workers from disasters like the dot-com crash should be a priority.

29 June 2001
Looking ahead to 2002
Outlining the strategy Democrats need for success in the next election.

21 May 2001
Bush's energy ploy
Bush's energy policy is little more than a fraud--and so is the crisis it's supposed to fix.

30 April 2001
The dirt on Florida
A review of Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency and interview with author Jake Tapper.

Complete archives

The George W. Bush Scorecard of Evil


Bite-Sized News

30 November 2001
Remember when we cared about the people of Afghanistan? It was way back in the beginning of the War on Terrorism. You know, weeks ago. We dropped food packages that would feed about 4 percent of the starving population every day, and these humanitarian rations only vaguely resembled unexploded cluster bombs. Preventing mass starvation among the long-suffering people of Afghanistan was supposed to be an important consideration in our actions, since it was only the Taliban regime and Al Qaeda terrorist network we were interested in destroying.
     But once our military successes began dominating the news, the humanitarian efforts dropped off the national radar. Given the lack of attention to the plight of Afghanis, the Bush administration now feels little political pressure to enable a genuine humanitarian effort in the country. Thousands of foreign troops stand poised around the world to help deliver aid this winter, but Bush has asked them to stand down, lest they interfere with our military operations. Given the success of anti-Taliban forces in capturing most of the country, it seems unlikely that a humanitarian effort, concentrated in the areas no longer under dispute, would interfere with our jets bombing Taliban forces. The people of Afghanistan are in for a long, cold winter. If Bush truly meant what he said about not being at war with the Afghan people, then he ought to let foreign forces into the country to deliver humanitarian aid.
Read the Washington Post story

28 November 2001
There will come a time, maybe 25, 50, or 100 years down the road, when the people who currently fight the gay civil rights movement will be universally regarded as thugs. Just as those who turned fire hoses on black crowds in the 1960s are now considered criminals, so too will we view with disdain the people who currently insist that gays and lesbians shouldn't have "special" rights, like the right to be free from discrimination in employment and housing.
     And if recent trends are any indication, that day may come sooner rather than later. Five out of six anti-gay-rights referendums across the country failed on election day 2001. And anti-gay activists in Maryland just failed to get a new measure that would overturn a civil rights law onto the ballot for next year's election. The activists had tried to pass off hundreds of improperly acquired petition signatures as valid, a rather delicious irony given that these people surely paint their struggle as a moral one. Their inability to muster support just to get a measure on the ballot is perhaps one of the greatest victories for gays and lesbians in years. Clearly the tide has turned, and America's last bastion of acceptable discrimination is rapidly diminishing.
Read the Data Lounge story

26 November 2001
All of a sudden, it's obvious that we're going to war with Iraq. For weeks, the subject of Iraq was nothing more than a diversion in discussions about War on Terrorism. Did the anthrax come from Iraq? Did the September 11 hijackers have ties to Baghdad? Who is the more evil evildoer: Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden? But now, you can expect those discussions to move to the forefront. In the next month or so, attacking Iraq will become a subject of intense scrutiny and debate, moving from "are they involved" to "should we attack" to the inevitable "of course we should attack--how hard should we hit them?"
     It's clear that Iraq is the next target because today President Bush began to lay the groundwork for the PR offensive that will precede the military one. He announced today that we're suddenly interested once again in having inspectors inside Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction. United Nations inspectors in the country would be a good idea. But is Bush really the slightest bit interested in real inspections or is he just following the game plan for war perfected by his father? First he'll announce a goal, then he'll issue an ultimatum, and then--when the ultimatum fails--he'll invade. The whole exercise has very little to do with fighting terrorism or even battling evil. U.S. troops will be inside Iraq within three months, guaranteed. Bush's popularity numbers will have probably dipped by them. Watch them shoot through the roof.
Read the CNN story

22 November 2001
In a stunning display of reason and respect for the law, police in Portland, Oregon have refused to comply with requests from the FBI to round up a group of immigrants wanted for questioning about the terrorist acts. Portland Police Chief Andrew Kirkland explained the decision, saying, "The law does not allow us to go out and arbitrarily interview people whose only offense is immigration or citizenship."
     Reading that is like a breath of fresh air. Since the September 11 attacks, it's been virtually impossible to find anyone who doesn't express full support for any police actions, no matter how unconstitutional. For a police chief to refuse the FBI's request to detain someone they want to question about the attacks because those people aren't suspected of crimes would have been unimaginable just days ago. The Portland police department's decision in the face of what is sure to be a wave of criticism is one of the most patriotic acts seen since the attacks.
Read the Associated Press story

Bite-sized news archives

Current Post

21 November 2001
The beginning of the end for the Constitution?

President Bush has begun a fascinating new strategy in the war on terrorism. He has wisely pointed out that we were attacked on September 11 because the terrorists "hate freedom." Can there be any questioning this insight? Surely Osama bin Laden is sitting in a cave somewhere, fuming over the freedoms Americans enjoy. It's not about our troops in Saudi Arabia. He doesn't really care about our support of Israel. As long as we're free, Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda organization won't stop their attacks.

So in a brilliant tactical move, President Bush has started to take away our freedoms.

Think about it. With all our freedoms gone, the terrorists will have no reason to hate us any more. They'll pack up their Kalashnikovs and flight-training manuals, move out of their caves, and become productive members of society again. This strategy of the Bush administration is a masterstroke, one that will ensure the safety of Americans for years to come. Once again we'll be able to fly free from fear (except to worry about the occasional tail fin falling off).

Read the full essay...

Complete archives

 

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The Wage Slave Journal is a collection of political commentary by Jesse Berney.

A complete table of contents is available on the archives page.

All contents of the Wage Slave Journal are copyright Jesse Berney except for comments posted by readers and where otherwise noted.