Tuesday, December 18, 2007
UH-OH. . . . .
Looks like Turkey has invaded Kurdish-held Iraq. Its been overnight but they're still there, about 1.5 miles into territory near the Iranian border. This follows aerial bombing of Kurdish PKK bases in Iraq yesterday.
And in other news, Condi Rice made a 'surprise' visit to the disputed Kurdish city of Kirkuk, center of northern Iraq's oil industry. Call me a cynic, but methinks there just might be a connection between that visit and the incursion. No doubt Rice is there as TeamBush's 'Man on the Ground' trying to desperately keep Kurdish Peshmergas (our seemingly best Iraqi allies) from joining the battle against the neighboring Turks (also strong US allies) who have invaded their country, albeit seeking to destroy PKK elements and not take over territory, one hopes.
Even so, it remains very unclear how long Iraqi Kurds will stomach attacks on their territory that are killing their ethnic brethren, and no doubt eventually some Iraqi Kurdish civilians. I'm sure Condi is begging for their restraint and offering many financial and military carrots while in Kirkuk. It might just work if the Turks are efficient and highly restrained. Or it could turn into another Israeli-Lebanon incursion of last summer.
The moderate Siniora government, once praised by TeamBush as the salvation of democracy in the Mideast (correctly so), was forced to sit idle as Israel destroyed what infrastructure Lebanon had managed to build up following years of civil war, and killed scads of Lebanese civilians as well. At the UN, TeamBush strawman John Bolton resisted cease-fire attempts for two weeks, giving Israel the time to 'wipe out' its Shiite Hezbollah targets. But hardly anything went according to plan. The more Israeli troops bombed bridges, airports, refineries, and residential neighborhoods, the more the elected Lebanese government lost respect among its people, as it became clear that being TeamBush's 'Man in Beirut' didn't earn Siniora enough clout to have the US intervene to stop the slaughter. And Hezbollah hung tough, fighting the IDF hard on the ground and launching rocket attacks against civilians deep into Israel.
Final score: Hezbollah became darlings of the Arab world for bloodying the Zionists nose for the first time in decades; Israel and its vaunted IDF looked ineffective and lost some serious face; and the political scene in Lebanon, once a beacon of potential arab democracy, devolved into factional murder choas and is once again teetering on the brink of civil war.
Regardless of Condi's promises don't think the Iraqi Kurds have forgotten these events, even if most Americans have. Keep a close eye on this one, it could get real ugly, real fast.
Looks like Turkey has invaded Kurdish-held Iraq. Its been overnight but they're still there, about 1.5 miles into territory near the Iranian border. This follows aerial bombing of Kurdish PKK bases in Iraq yesterday.
And in other news, Condi Rice made a 'surprise' visit to the disputed Kurdish city of Kirkuk, center of northern Iraq's oil industry. Call me a cynic, but methinks there just might be a connection between that visit and the incursion. No doubt Rice is there as TeamBush's 'Man on the Ground' trying to desperately keep Kurdish Peshmergas (our seemingly best Iraqi allies) from joining the battle against the neighboring Turks (also strong US allies) who have invaded their country, albeit seeking to destroy PKK elements and not take over territory, one hopes.
Even so, it remains very unclear how long Iraqi Kurds will stomach attacks on their territory that are killing their ethnic brethren, and no doubt eventually some Iraqi Kurdish civilians. I'm sure Condi is begging for their restraint and offering many financial and military carrots while in Kirkuk. It might just work if the Turks are efficient and highly restrained. Or it could turn into another Israeli-Lebanon incursion of last summer.
The moderate Siniora government, once praised by TeamBush as the salvation of democracy in the Mideast (correctly so), was forced to sit idle as Israel destroyed what infrastructure Lebanon had managed to build up following years of civil war, and killed scads of Lebanese civilians as well. At the UN, TeamBush strawman John Bolton resisted cease-fire attempts for two weeks, giving Israel the time to 'wipe out' its Shiite Hezbollah targets. But hardly anything went according to plan. The more Israeli troops bombed bridges, airports, refineries, and residential neighborhoods, the more the elected Lebanese government lost respect among its people, as it became clear that being TeamBush's 'Man in Beirut' didn't earn Siniora enough clout to have the US intervene to stop the slaughter. And Hezbollah hung tough, fighting the IDF hard on the ground and launching rocket attacks against civilians deep into Israel.
Final score: Hezbollah became darlings of the Arab world for bloodying the Zionists nose for the first time in decades; Israel and its vaunted IDF looked ineffective and lost some serious face; and the political scene in Lebanon, once a beacon of potential arab democracy, devolved into factional murder choas and is once again teetering on the brink of civil war.
Regardless of Condi's promises don't think the Iraqi Kurds have forgotten these events, even if most Americans have. Keep a close eye on this one, it could get real ugly, real fast.
Labels: Iraq, Kurds, TeamBush, Turkey
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Movie Review: The Golden Compass
Having blogged recently about the screen adaptation of Philip Pullman's first book in his 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, The Golden Compass, and the attendant hysteria surrounding it, I thought I should follow-up with a review of the movie (an AHU first, by the way).
I took my eldest daughter to see it last weekend. It was indeed a ripping fantasy yarn, but being a fan of the book, I left the theater somewhat disappointed by the editorial choices that were made. Then again, I guess that's often the way. Most of these choices seemed an attempt to gloss over the tantalizing ambiguity of some of the main characters, yet in the written series it is this very ambiguity that provides tension and context--not knowing the true motivations of many of the adults that young Lyra encounters; are they protagonists or antagonists? Yet at several key points the director/producer take the easy way out.
In the opening chapter of the book Lyra sees the Headmaster of Oxford's Jordan College (and her stand-in, default father figure) try to poison Lord Asriel, who Lyra knows to be her uncle and her sponsor at the college. It is this very Headmaster who gives Lyra the rare and coveted altheiometer (truth-telling machine) that sets her on her adventures and life calling (along with a stern admonition to not let her new patron Mrs. Coulter know of its existence); thus placing him in a highly ambiguous position in her eyes. Is he good or malicious? Why did he try to kill Lord Asriel? Should she believe in him or the elegant and seemingly benevolent Mrs. Coulter? The film has another, more obviously sinister, character poison the wine, thus ending any confusion or complexity.
In another similar editorial decision, the ending of the film concludes several chapters prior to the book. Although the astute observer may notice the foreshadowing for a potential sequel, it is clear that the film's creator wanted to end on a happy note. Pullman's novel ends with an act of cruelty and betrayal, creating despondent confusion and remorse for Lyra--but that ending has very little truck at the holiday box office.
Other changes seemed more random and less understandable. In the novel her armored bear companion and friend Iorek Byrnisson finds himself exiled from the land of the bears following a duel in which he killed another bear. This exile prevents him from claiming his inheritance as Bear King, a position that is usurped by his scheming cousin Iofur Magnusson. We learn late in the book (via the wondrous altheiometer and some bear boasting) that Iofur rigged the fight by drugging Iorek's opponent. That knowledge is one of the main catalysts that drives the weary Iorek to fight Iofur to claim his throne. In the film, we are told that Iorek lost a fight to Iofur and that this loss precipitated his banishment. Is there really any reason the original storyline couldn't have been used? Its certainly more plausible than the only-marginally dumbed down one in the film and seems entirely graspable by the 13-year old boys that the studio assumed would make up the bulk of the audience.
Oh, them and forty-something fantasy novel dorks, not to mention the anti-Christian contingent. Was it just me, or did other moviegoers witness a pre-film recitation of the 'Pledge of Allegiance' that conspicuously excluded the words 'under God?' OK, that didn't really happen. I tried to get one started but the other folks in the theater were too engrossed by the chanting of the Satanic coven in the back to really participate!
Having blogged recently about the screen adaptation of Philip Pullman's first book in his 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, The Golden Compass, and the attendant hysteria surrounding it, I thought I should follow-up with a review of the movie (an AHU first, by the way).
I took my eldest daughter to see it last weekend. It was indeed a ripping fantasy yarn, but being a fan of the book, I left the theater somewhat disappointed by the editorial choices that were made. Then again, I guess that's often the way. Most of these choices seemed an attempt to gloss over the tantalizing ambiguity of some of the main characters, yet in the written series it is this very ambiguity that provides tension and context--not knowing the true motivations of many of the adults that young Lyra encounters; are they protagonists or antagonists? Yet at several key points the director/producer take the easy way out.
In the opening chapter of the book Lyra sees the Headmaster of Oxford's Jordan College (and her stand-in, default father figure) try to poison Lord Asriel, who Lyra knows to be her uncle and her sponsor at the college. It is this very Headmaster who gives Lyra the rare and coveted altheiometer (truth-telling machine) that sets her on her adventures and life calling (along with a stern admonition to not let her new patron Mrs. Coulter know of its existence); thus placing him in a highly ambiguous position in her eyes. Is he good or malicious? Why did he try to kill Lord Asriel? Should she believe in him or the elegant and seemingly benevolent Mrs. Coulter? The film has another, more obviously sinister, character poison the wine, thus ending any confusion or complexity.
In another similar editorial decision, the ending of the film concludes several chapters prior to the book. Although the astute observer may notice the foreshadowing for a potential sequel, it is clear that the film's creator wanted to end on a happy note. Pullman's novel ends with an act of cruelty and betrayal, creating despondent confusion and remorse for Lyra--but that ending has very little truck at the holiday box office.
Other changes seemed more random and less understandable. In the novel her armored bear companion and friend Iorek Byrnisson finds himself exiled from the land of the bears following a duel in which he killed another bear. This exile prevents him from claiming his inheritance as Bear King, a position that is usurped by his scheming cousin Iofur Magnusson. We learn late in the book (via the wondrous altheiometer and some bear boasting) that Iofur rigged the fight by drugging Iorek's opponent. That knowledge is one of the main catalysts that drives the weary Iorek to fight Iofur to claim his throne. In the film, we are told that Iorek lost a fight to Iofur and that this loss precipitated his banishment. Is there really any reason the original storyline couldn't have been used? Its certainly more plausible than the only-marginally dumbed down one in the film and seems entirely graspable by the 13-year old boys that the studio assumed would make up the bulk of the audience.
Oh, them and forty-something fantasy novel dorks, not to mention the anti-Christian contingent. Was it just me, or did other moviegoers witness a pre-film recitation of the 'Pledge of Allegiance' that conspicuously excluded the words 'under God?' OK, that didn't really happen. I tried to get one started but the other folks in the theater were too engrossed by the chanting of the Satanic coven in the back to really participate!
Monday, December 03, 2007
A Tale of two Nations (and their recent elections)
This weekend voters went to the polls in both Venezuela and Russia. While neither election directly involved the immediate political status of the nations' charismatic leaders Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin, the outcomes spoke of their continued power regionally and in the world.
Chavez is portrayed (somewhat accurately) by TeamBush as a pro-Castro Commie who may threaten American energy supplies, as Venezuela is our third largest supplier of petroleum. Its an open secret that Bush and Company supported, and may have even financed and orchestrated, the short-lived coup against Chavez. And he indeed does consider himself a fellow traveller with Castro. Most of the reforms in this referendum vote would have solidified his power in building his 21st century Socialism project. And while I generally like Chavez and can understand his policies, which have had mixed success but have managed to reduce Venezuelan poverty from 49 to 30% in recent years, I really have problems with leaders who propose legislation making them in effect 'President for Life." That situation always devolves into problems and before you know it "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
But a funny thing happened on the way to that lifetime job appointment--Chavez's reforms were defeated by a razor-thin margin, 49-51%. He's still president until 2013 and has substantial majority support in the legislature, so don't cry for him, Venezuela. But despite hysteria about impending unfairness coming from TeamBush and an election boycott called by some opposition parties, the Chavista measures were defeated in what was by all accounts a pretty fair election.
{Quick sidebar: I just don't get groups who boycott elections. I can be sympathetic to the idea that one doesn't want to participate in an election that appears to be rigged, but it always struck me that one way of supporting the opposition's claims of fraud would be for exit polls monitored by international observers that would attest to the discrepancy between what actually happened and what the ruling party may claim. Maybe its just me, but remember that Hitler actually did win election to the Reichstag initially, in large part because the Social Democrats sat out the election to protest his Nazi party's thuggery--and soon the SDs next address ended up being Dachau. But its a moot point anyway, since in this case the 'strongman' lost.}
Of course Vladimir Putin didn't leave anything to chance in Russia's Duma elections, where his United Russia party's overwhelming victory was seen as a referendum on Putin himself and his ability to remain deeply involved at the top of Russia's political game after his term as President expires early next year. UR won 64% of the seats; the next highest vote total was taken by the Communists who won 11%.
Putin (one time pal, now scorned lover of GW "I call him Vlad'" Bush), has managed during his tenure to crush all but token 'acceptable' opposition by government decree, shutting down free media and NGOs across the nation, and even resorting to jailing (Yukos chief Khodorkovsky) or killing political (Litvenenko) and media (Politkovskaya) enemies.
OK, alleged killings since no charges have ever been brought against Putin or his allies in these convenient deaths, nor many others. And I guess its only alleged voter fraud, too, since OSCE monitors were only allowed a token group to police the whole vast nation, as most of their colleagues had trouble getting visas from the Kremlin (oops!).
Still there has been enough word leaking out regarding the corruption. Most effected was the pro-Western party led by chess champ Garry Kasparov (who was, by the way, jailed for five days on Nov 24). Their small rallies were broken up by police, and their fliers and materials were alternately banned, stolen, or ripped down across Russia. NPR had reports yesterday of patients in hospitals and psych wards being forced to vote UR via absentee ballot or face having their meds withheld. Likewise, doctors, lawyers and other government employees were made to vote absentee at work by handing their ballots in to their supervisors who could then 'monitor' their selections.
Ah, democracy. Turns out the Commie strongman did the right thing and the plain ol' former KGB strongman made a complete mockery of the process. But then again that's not too surprising. Putin plays political hardball like an MLB team stocked with batting champions and Cy Young award winners. By comparison even the most Machiavellian power mongers of TeamBush (the likes of Cheney, Perle, and Rumsfeld) seem like a sandlot, pick-up T-Ball league using a bent, dusty hubcap for second base.
This weekend voters went to the polls in both Venezuela and Russia. While neither election directly involved the immediate political status of the nations' charismatic leaders Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin, the outcomes spoke of their continued power regionally and in the world.
Chavez is portrayed (somewhat accurately) by TeamBush as a pro-Castro Commie who may threaten American energy supplies, as Venezuela is our third largest supplier of petroleum. Its an open secret that Bush and Company supported, and may have even financed and orchestrated, the short-lived coup against Chavez. And he indeed does consider himself a fellow traveller with Castro. Most of the reforms in this referendum vote would have solidified his power in building his 21st century Socialism project. And while I generally like Chavez and can understand his policies, which have had mixed success but have managed to reduce Venezuelan poverty from 49 to 30% in recent years, I really have problems with leaders who propose legislation making them in effect 'President for Life." That situation always devolves into problems and before you know it "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
But a funny thing happened on the way to that lifetime job appointment--Chavez's reforms were defeated by a razor-thin margin, 49-51%. He's still president until 2013 and has substantial majority support in the legislature, so don't cry for him, Venezuela. But despite hysteria about impending unfairness coming from TeamBush and an election boycott called by some opposition parties, the Chavista measures were defeated in what was by all accounts a pretty fair election.
{Quick sidebar: I just don't get groups who boycott elections. I can be sympathetic to the idea that one doesn't want to participate in an election that appears to be rigged, but it always struck me that one way of supporting the opposition's claims of fraud would be for exit polls monitored by international observers that would attest to the discrepancy between what actually happened and what the ruling party may claim. Maybe its just me, but remember that Hitler actually did win election to the Reichstag initially, in large part because the Social Democrats sat out the election to protest his Nazi party's thuggery--and soon the SDs next address ended up being Dachau. But its a moot point anyway, since in this case the 'strongman' lost.}
Of course Vladimir Putin didn't leave anything to chance in Russia's Duma elections, where his United Russia party's overwhelming victory was seen as a referendum on Putin himself and his ability to remain deeply involved at the top of Russia's political game after his term as President expires early next year. UR won 64% of the seats; the next highest vote total was taken by the Communists who won 11%.
Putin (one time pal, now scorned lover of GW "I call him Vlad'" Bush), has managed during his tenure to crush all but token 'acceptable' opposition by government decree, shutting down free media and NGOs across the nation, and even resorting to jailing (Yukos chief Khodorkovsky) or killing political (Litvenenko) and media (Politkovskaya) enemies.
OK, alleged killings since no charges have ever been brought against Putin or his allies in these convenient deaths, nor many others. And I guess its only alleged voter fraud, too, since OSCE monitors were only allowed a token group to police the whole vast nation, as most of their colleagues had trouble getting visas from the Kremlin (oops!).
Still there has been enough word leaking out regarding the corruption. Most effected was the pro-Western party led by chess champ Garry Kasparov (who was, by the way, jailed for five days on Nov 24). Their small rallies were broken up by police, and their fliers and materials were alternately banned, stolen, or ripped down across Russia. NPR had reports yesterday of patients in hospitals and psych wards being forced to vote UR via absentee ballot or face having their meds withheld. Likewise, doctors, lawyers and other government employees were made to vote absentee at work by handing their ballots in to their supervisors who could then 'monitor' their selections.
Ah, democracy. Turns out the Commie strongman did the right thing and the plain ol' former KGB strongman made a complete mockery of the process. But then again that's not too surprising. Putin plays political hardball like an MLB team stocked with batting champions and Cy Young award winners. By comparison even the most Machiavellian power mongers of TeamBush (the likes of Cheney, Perle, and Rumsfeld) seem like a sandlot, pick-up T-Ball league using a bent, dusty hubcap for second base.
Labels: Chavez, Elections, Putin
