Throwing Shoes at Bush

Muntadar al-Zaidi is a hero who speaks for millions of us in the United States, as well as millions in Iraq.

The 28-year-old journalist has previously been held for questioning twice by US forces, and was kidnapped and questioned by unknown persons who beat him unconscious. He knew what he was risking by throwing shoes at Bush.

Since being taken into custody this time he has apparently suffered a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding.

Unconfirmed stories have Adnan Hamad, former coach of the Iraqi soccer team, offering $100,000 for the shoes, and a Saudi citizen offering $10 million.

Zaidi is a hero. Reward him.

WMD and Oil, part 2

... and when Bush has to deal with a squeaky door hinge or whatever, he reaches for the WMD40.

WMD and Oil

Bush never lied, or meant to deceive anyone about Iraq - it's just we don't all speak quite the same language as the Commander-in-*hief. When he uses the phrase "Weapons of mass destruction", just remember that he means Oil.

He never really wanted to go into Afghanistan - they don't have Weapons of mass destruction. He wanted to attack Iraq instead, to get control of their Weapons of mass destruction. The US has Weapons of mass destruction, of course, but not enough; 'enough' would, ideally, be a complete monopoly. So he had to kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, to prevent threats and to hold the fractious country together. Like Saddam Hussein!

Now he's telling everyone that Iran has Weapons of mass destruction. Of course! Saddam realized that too!

The biggest irony will be when he realizes that Kuwait has Weapons of mass destruction, and the US has to go in and bring them under Iraq's control.

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(With a tip of the hat to Eliza D. Squirrel for identifying this language issue.)

Success and Failure in Iraq

So Bush has succeeded. He has achieved an American land-grab comparable to Jackson's 'Indian Removal Act' and the eviction of the Cherokee from the Appalachians, or Polk's war, America's first 'war of choice', that stripped Mexico of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and parts of three other states.

The major differences are:

1. Iraq is not an extension of the existing United States into which land-hungry settlers can pour.
2. He can't wipe out or swamp the natives. The billion-dollar embassy will be surrounded by active enemies forever.
3. This time it's all about oil, global power, and the personal enrichment of Bush, his family, his inner circle, and his power base - even if it impoverishes the average American.

Bush's preferred activity at Yale (apart from drink, drugs and sex) was playing Risk. I'm sure he was very good at it, and I'm sure he cheated whenever he could get away with it. Unfortunately, it presents a very simplistic view of warfare and global dominance. All countries are the same, they're just worth 1 point each; they don't have cultures or histories or religions; they don't even have populations to worry about, with insurgents and ethnic divisions and civil wars. All you have to do, if there's a setback, is raise more troops and roll more dice.

Mr. Bush, globally ignorant, builds his billion-dollar Fort Embassy in the middle of the country with all the oil. What he fails to take into account is that, if the country break into three, the US will be sitting in the only bit without oil.

But so what? That will be the next Administration's problem.

Bush has had his fun, accomplished his mission, benefited his friends, and set himself up financially for life.

By the way, that's proof that Jesus loves him.