Tuesday, July 25, 2006

[1902 - Eric Hoffer, longshoreman, political, social philosopher, author, born in New York City]

[1948 - President Harry Truman issues Executive Order No. 9981, establishing Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Forces]

[1956 - Andrea Doria and Stockholm collide off Nantucket Island in Atlantic fog killing 51]

Middle Least Piece

Secretary of State Condi Rice was inserted yesterday by Marine helicopter into Beirut, Lebanon. She was unable to use the airport because the Israeli Air Force had bombed that. While there, she disappointed her Lebanese hosts by saying that the United States would not press Israel for a quick cease-fire. This position is entirely in keeping with the long-standing Bush Administration policy of freely shedding human blood, as long as it is not theirs or that of friends and family.

During her stop in Israel on her way back to comparative safety in Europe, Secretary Rice told Prime Minister Olmert that "It is time for a new Middle East," as if he didn't know that already. As a result of the disastrous foreign policy of the United States and its insane conduct in the region, a new Middle East will certainly be required. We have so destabilized the region by our invasion and occupation of Iraq, that all the king's horses and all the king's men may not be able to put it together again. Ms. Rice undoubtedly deserves a large share of the credit for this debacle.

When you think about it in terms of what is good for business and benefits corporate America, as does the Bush Administration, it all makes sense. As the Israelis rain death on Gaza and Lebanon they are using up lots of weapons that were made in the USA. The replacement of these munitions, and the ones being expended by our own troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, should virtually guarantee full employment for the US defense industry for many years to come. At the same time the demolishing of civilian infrastructure in those two countries, and in Lebanon, will create new overseas business opportunities for Halliburton, in addition to the billions of dollars it now reaps providing support for US occupation forces. Meanwhile, the millions of innocent civilians who are displaced by the violence throughout the region will require a massive outpouring of US humanitarian aid. This should be a boon to the agricultural, medical supply, and temporary housing industries. It's all good, boys.

If reason governed men and had the influence over the heads of nations that it deserves, we would never see them inconsiderately surrender themselves to the fury of war; they would not show that ferocity that characterizes wild beasts . . .

Denis Diderot
Encyclopedia, 1772

William's Whimsical Words:

Al Capp had it right; "What's good for General Bullmoose is good for the country."

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