You know that humanitarian gesture that the US has been bragging about? Say yes. (the release of some 500 Iraqis who have not been convicted with a crime, and who has not been involved in violence (aside from the 13,000 Iraqis in US custoday, figure of the Chicago Tribune)? Well, apparently, it was a British (not US) idea.

Origins of French secularism. (thanks Tara).

US troops find the word "`uluj" to be culturally "insensitive." (thanks Robert).

The award for the chief US war propagandist of the year, and the competition was tough, goes hands down to John Burns of the New York Times. He cannot contain himself and cannot curb his enthusiasm for the Bush family. In fact, his affection for the Bushes has been noticed. Bush Sr. invited him to Texas to his presidential library (I should have my own presidential library, by the way) to tell the crowd what a foreign policy genius Bush jr. is. This is from his article today (and they do not classify his articles as editorials, mind you, as they should, or at least "Propaganda Pieces") when reporting about the new Iraqi army. He says: "The new batallion made a credible showing with a precision marchpast..." You would think that he is evaluating an army in heavy battle situation. He also liked the uniforms. Then he proceeds to: "Through the parade and the soldiers' exurberant tribal dancing that followed (he is no expert on Arabs, their language or culture, but can identify a dance when he sees one--HOW IMPRESSIVE IS THAT) there was an air of expectancey (he also is an expert on air quality), hesitant but still real (he can tell reality from unreality), that Iraq can overcome the paralyzing (he was an emergency physicion on ER for a season, from which he learned a lot about medicine) insurgency of resent months and construct the Arab Middle East's firrst, or at least fullest, democracy." I was reading this on the plane, and whenever I read his pieces I look for the nearest bathroom sign, as I get a strong urge to vomit. I get the same sensation when I hear intellectuals referring to "civil society." Howard Dean has educated himself further on world affairs: he keeps referring to the civil war within Islam. That talk only proves one thing: he has been reading the dreadful Thomas Friedman. Do you know that Thomas Friedman has political ambitions? I head that he wants to be Secretary of State one day. I was with him on a panel once, and he cannot stop telling you: "I was playing Tennis with James Baker the other day," "I mad that same point in my lunch with George Bush Sr." These are exact quotations, by the way.

I do not understand; advisors to Bush always brag that he is "decisive." They boast that he is certain when he makes decisions of the validity of his decisions. And I am thinking: I wish he is the most hesitant and indecisive person in the world. Decisiveness and ignorance are the worst combination in a person.

I have a ritual when I travel; I started it after Sep. 11. I have never traveled ever since without hurling the most insulting and obscene insults and curses (in Arabic, a language that he can understand) against Bin Laden. In addition to his crimes, Bin Laden has changed the way we travel in the US. Traveling by plane was so easy in this country, and all that has changed because of him. He has inconvenienced the Angry Arab, and Angry Arab hates being inconvenienced. If he ever stands trial, I will make sure that the international court in charge, will make sure that he accounts for this.

I am at U Michigan: will try to update. Will return on Saturday.

America's corporate merchants of death.

Executing a mentally-ill man was part of Bill Clinton's campaign strategy. Now, another mentally-ill man is executed in Arkansas.

Intoxicated with power.

Humanitarian Empire: US will release some 500 Iraqis (who have committed no crimes of violence whatever, by US admission): thousands will still remain in jail.

Having so blatantly lied about Iraq, the US administration now has apparently begun producing lies about North Korea, or so think the Chinese.

Well, US went to war, and people are dying, because there is evidence that Iraqi scientists conducted research.

Following US lead, UK pays cash for relatives of Iraqi civilian victims shot by UK troops while being liberated.

A judge, yes a judge, says that women ask to be "smacked around." Carl Rove is strongly urging that he be made Supreme Court Justice.

...off to U of Michigan. Returning on Saturday. Will try to update from there (assuming that they have computers in the state of Michigan. I know they have cars, but computers?)

This website is still listing the Angry Arab as a traitor. I wonder why.

(pro-US) Iraqi police chief says US troops gunned down a family. Let George W. Bush add that to his resume.

Latest pictures from the Red Planet.

The Green Party of Iraq is quite unimpressive. I just don't like it. I do not have time to elaborate.

Conflicting numbers of US casualties?

Sunni and Shi`ite clerics are trying to keep the peace; US occupation plans and actions may break it.

Counterinsurgency is not likely to succeed in Iraq. (thanks Rhiannon).

I have had it with absolutely dumb propaganda. Every day, you read an item in one US newspaper or another about the ostensible avalanche of information after Saddam's capture. Now I may not be as slow as Anderson Cooper, but I have to say this: if it is true that information is flowing from ordinary Iraqis to the US military following Saddam's capture, why would the US be saying that daily? I see a propaganda news plant. I think that it indicates that information is NOT flowing, and the US occupation authority wants to encourage Iraqis to come forward with information, so they plant stories to the effect that everybody is talking so you better talk. This is the same (il)logic that was behind the early (erroneous) reporting that Saddam is revealing "everything" to the US, only to learn later that he has not said anything of value.

Special Forces: To use or not to use, that is the question.

Campaign contributions by universities, to Bush and Dean.

On money and happiness: There is a clear linear correlation between income and personal satisfaction. The percent saying they are very satisfied with the way things are going in their lives rises from 41% among those earning less than $30,000 to 53% among those in the $30,000 to $49,999 bracket, and reaches 75% among those making more than $75,000.

Palestinian aid groups refuse conditional US money.

Even military aid to Georgia is now privatized. But war is too serious of a business to be privatized. There are limits to privatization after all.

US soldiers sent home merely for beating and mistreating Iraqi prisoners. Give them a few weeks, and they will be declared heroes back home.

My article in As-Safir: Features (and Virtues) of French secularism

Remember: this is from one of the most liberal mainstream newspapers in the US: (from Today's SF Chronicle): Technology Section:
"The San Francisco Chronicle has reached a settlement with Henry Norr, a onetime technology reporter and columnist for the paper, over the paper's dismissal of Norr in April of last year.
Norr's termination occurred as a result of events arising out of his role in anti-war protests against the current war in Iraq.
Commenting on the settlement, Norr said, "Because I didn't violate the ethics policy The Chronicle had in place at the time, it is clear I was fired because of my political views -- my opposition to the war in Iraq and Israel's occupation of Palestine. That is unfair, and it is a clear violation of California and San Francisco law, not to mention basic democratic principles. I think I'm entitled to my job back, and my politics wouldn't prevent me from covering technology effectively in the future, any more than they did in the past. But since The Chronicle has said it may never give me a byline again, I've decided to accept financial compensation and my pension and move on to other things."
The Chronicle's managing editor, Robert J. Rosenthal, denied that the paper had violated any laws or otherwise acted wrongly in the termination of Norr.
"The issue here was never about personal political beliefs, but rather about The Chronicle's commitment to its readers to serve as a trustworthy and objective news source. To that end, the paper requires its journalists to abide by an ethical code that includes the avoidance of the appearance of a conflict in the ability to report events without bias. Any journalist who assumes a prominent public role in any political issue inevitably creates the appearance of that conflict. When a reporter brings about that ethical conflict, as occurred here, the unfortunate but necessary result is a separation. We wish Henry well in his future endeavors," Rosenthal said. "

I hate those stories. So they find a homeless person with a trust fund in order to convince readers that there are homeless people by choice. American media love exceptions story (stories that reinforce the American Dream myth: about a poor guy who came to this country with $2 and now owns 4555 buildings. Stories about poor people who work hard and stay poor are not sexy enoguh for the US media. They refute the American Dream myth after all). (Thanks for the link Jodie).

How the Secret Service protects Bush from Free Speech. It is not good for his health. (thanks Jenny).

Ritter on the unending search for WMDs in Iraq. I bet you that this search will never offically end; there never will be a point at which your esteemed government will say: "We now officially and categorically deny the existence of WMDs in Iraq." I bet you in the year 2499, some American president will be saying: Dont be hasty; don't rush to judgement. We have teams working hard, and we will find the weapons.

57 % of Japanese oppose Bush. But don't be discouraged he is huge (very very popular) in....Micronesia.

Intelligence for propaganda.

Gore Vidal's interview.

Israel faces a South Africa-style boycott. Too little, and 56 years late.

You will not believe who is advising the US occupation in Iraq? Saddam. Saddam is now advising the US occupation in Iraq. We do not know whether he is paid in cash or in bread for his advise. To the tune of $3 BILLION per 3 years, Saddam's intelligence apparatus will be revived. No word yet on whether Saddam will be allowed to have an office next to Paul Bremer's.

I could not believe it. In the Democratic debate in Iowa (which was as interesting as Saddam's dental exam, or as John Kerry reading from children's books to a group of children in Iowa a week ago who looked as entertained as a crowd listening to a public reading from the Phone Book): somebody asked Kucinich whether he as a vegan would be able to take the interests of the meat producers into account. "If you do not believe me, here is the quotation: Given your personal decision not to consume animal products, how can you assure livestock producers you will be an advocate for them as president?" in full. What kind of question is that? I hereby pledge that if I am elected your president, as head of the ticket of the Potato Party, I will carry with me the interests and concerns of chicken McNuggets' farmers (and while I am a vegetarian now, I have consumed enough of them in my previous life). (By the way: I have been embarrassed to ask: Do Chicken McNuggets grow on trees or do they grow on the ground)?

Terry Eagleton is now looking for absolutes. Good thing I say. When I first read his Ideology I was convinced that I have missed something. When I read it the 2nd time, I became convinced that he was missing something.

Agreement (with US troops closeby) on the Afghan constitution: Two apples a day, and Praise for Dear Leader Karzai 4 times a day.

I do not want to upset you, but Christian fundamentalists, and Jewish fundamentalists are not feminists either.

To my surprise, the New York Times reviewed Chomsky's latest book today. Of course, the review was not favourable, but not as damning as you would expect. But at one point in the review, the reviewer says: "his critiques have come to influence and reflect mainstream opinion elsewhere in the world." She says that in passing. How could she just observes, in passing, that his critiques have had impact everwhere in the world outside of the US? Does not that warrant a pause, an explanation, or even a footnote. Or we just have to move on because we are certain that the world is wrong and the US is always right?