What game are Advanced Publications playing ?
"Hussein" painted as a Muslim and Michelle as a terrorist, congratulating each other by a fireplace where the US flag is burning under the portrait of Osama bin Laden... I'm sure this brilliant piece of NYC humor will make people laugh in Colorado Springs, CO, but is this caricature really supposed to help the Obamas take over the White House ?*
I'm not sure The New Yorker are supporting Obama as frankly as they did for Kerry 4 years ago. Kerry as a IRA fighter or worse, a "cheese eating surrender monkey" (the Simpsons / FOX cute name for Frenchman back in 2003) ? Oh my, that would have raised some eyebrows at the Club.
This would be satire if there were some distance to it. Like O'Reilly holding this cover and saying "while we're at it why not add a suicide belt for Michelle ?"
The editor's answers don't hold a second :
"Satire is part of what we do, and it is meant to bring things out into the open, to hold up a mirror to prejudice, the hateful, and the absurd. And that's the spirit of this cover." The editor noted that the magazine includes two "very serious" articles about Obama -- a commentary and a 15,000-word reporting piece on the candidate's political education and rise in Chicago. (see AFP)
Seriously, everybody knows the power of image. The impact of one caricature relayed everywhere is ten billion times stronger than 15,000 words only a few will go through.
And regarding the people holding this "mirror" : I'm not a constant New Yorker reader but if I were I don't know how I'd take it.
Letters to the editor are probably going to outscore 15,000 words...
* not to mention help American Muslims be at last treated like other US citizens (as Juan Cole pointed out, "virtually no one is talking about how demeaning it is of American Muslims" - 20080715 in "Obama Caricature Offensive to Muslims").
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
20080717
20080714
The Silence of the Lambs (War in Iraq and US networks)
The surge is working. Iraq is not an issue for November elections. Everything is fine, go back to sleep and don't forget to cast a Republican ballot later this year.
Now more about the coming war between Iran and Israel*, brought to you by the dream team that delivered "Shock and Awe" to your doorsteps (by the way... ' want some more yellow ribbons to decorate your front yard ? hurry up and enjoy our special pre-foreclosure rebates).
USA's top 3 networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) each devoted an average 60 weekday minutes of Iraq war coverage over the first half of 2008. That's 20 seconds per day, compared to 1 mn in 2007**.
And what 20 seconds ! The propaganda can be summed up with : "Mission Almost Accomplished", democracy is catching, thugs are losing the battle, and if you read through these few lines you can almost believe our boys will get the heck outta there sooner than expected.
Before the 100 years mentioned by John McCain anyway - this guy has lost his bearings and is confusing with the age of his great-grandson. But it doesn't matter for the GOP : Iraq remains a key electoral issue but Mac is tied with Obama (43% each according to Gallup**). If news reports were more accurate, I guess he would be lagging behind by 20 points or more.
If you are in the US and under the spell of those Weapons of Mass Disinformation, please read such articles as "Reporters Say Networks Put Wars on Back Burner" from the NYT***. Or if you want to watch actual news, tune in to Global Pulse's video on LinkTV (including the refreshing no bull...t interview of CBS News' Lara Logan by Jon Stewart)**** :
* see see "Iran : who wants war and why" (20070925)
** Gallup "Obama Has Edge on Key Election Issues" (20080624)
** "Reporters Say Networks Put Wars on Back Burner" (NYT 20080623)
*** "War isn't news anymore ?" (Global Pulse 20080626 on LinkTV), relayed by the CMD (20080706)
Now more about the coming war between Iran and Israel*, brought to you by the dream team that delivered "Shock and Awe" to your doorsteps (by the way... ' want some more yellow ribbons to decorate your front yard ? hurry up and enjoy our special pre-foreclosure rebates).
USA's top 3 networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) each devoted an average 60 weekday minutes of Iraq war coverage over the first half of 2008. That's 20 seconds per day, compared to 1 mn in 2007**.
And what 20 seconds ! The propaganda can be summed up with : "Mission Almost Accomplished", democracy is catching, thugs are losing the battle, and if you read through these few lines you can almost believe our boys will get the heck outta there sooner than expected.
Before the 100 years mentioned by John McCain anyway - this guy has lost his bearings and is confusing with the age of his great-grandson. But it doesn't matter for the GOP : Iraq remains a key electoral issue but Mac is tied with Obama (43% each according to Gallup**). If news reports were more accurate, I guess he would be lagging behind by 20 points or more.
If you are in the US and under the spell of those Weapons of Mass Disinformation, please read such articles as "Reporters Say Networks Put Wars on Back Burner" from the NYT***. Or if you want to watch actual news, tune in to Global Pulse's video on LinkTV (including the refreshing no bull...t interview of CBS News' Lara Logan by Jon Stewart)**** :
* see see "Iran : who wants war and why" (20070925)
** Gallup "Obama Has Edge on Key Election Issues" (20080624)
** "Reporters Say Networks Put Wars on Back Burner" (NYT 20080623)
*** "War isn't news anymore ?" (Global Pulse 20080626 on LinkTV), relayed by the CMD (20080706)
20071117
Between reforms and indulgences - Blair and Sarkozy
I'd like to point out two key moves made by Tony Blair during his life. Two decisive acts of allegiance that may well explain a third one ; the most famous - allegiance to Bush and his suicidal crusade in Iraq. These two events didn't happen during his PM mandates but set a perfect frame around them :
- the first act of allegiance ? before taking power, and actually in order to take it : Blair made a pact with a curious devil named Ruppert Murdoch
- the second act of allegiance ? not long after leaving power : Blair clinched a deal with the most controversial Pope since WWII, to embrace the ultraconservative Roman Catholicism Benedict XVI dreams of restoring fundamentalism
As far as economy is concerned, Blair and Murdoch symbolise reforms and conservatism, but what strikes me most about Blair is the gap between his very pragmatic sense of reform and his very utopic mysticism... and Murdoch is not only obsessed by money but by the success of candidates with a messianic touch. This Citizen Kane didn't succeed with Pat Robertson in the late 80s, but earned his reputation of serial kingmaker with Tony and Dubya.
You want to keep an eye on Nicolas Sarkozy, a great admirer of Tony Blair the Reformer and Murdoch the Entrepreneur, a great friend of George W. Bush the Leader, a great echo to Ratzinger's theories about genetic determination or Europe's Christian heritage...
- the first act of allegiance ? before taking power, and actually in order to take it : Blair made a pact with a curious devil named Ruppert Murdoch
- the second act of allegiance ? not long after leaving power : Blair clinched a deal with the most controversial Pope since WWII, to embrace the ultraconservative Roman Catholicism Benedict XVI dreams of restoring fundamentalism
As far as economy is concerned, Blair and Murdoch symbolise reforms and conservatism, but what strikes me most about Blair is the gap between his very pragmatic sense of reform and his very utopic mysticism... and Murdoch is not only obsessed by money but by the success of candidates with a messianic touch. This Citizen Kane didn't succeed with Pat Robertson in the late 80s, but earned his reputation of serial kingmaker with Tony and Dubya.
You want to keep an eye on Nicolas Sarkozy, a great admirer of Tony Blair the Reformer and Murdoch the Entrepreneur, a great friend of George W. Bush the Leader, a great echo to Ratzinger's theories about genetic determination or Europe's Christian heritage...
20071005
David Attenborough attacked by Fundamentalist apes
EO broadcasted Sir David's "Life of Mammals" series in the Netherlands, respecting the 5 mn of edition allowed by the BBC.
But Evangelische Omroep / the Evangelical Broadcasting Organisation is a Christian fundamentalist channel, the parts edited were key to explain evolution (ie "our closest relatives" becoming "the apes"), and one whole episode was censored. Flemmish radicals tend to upset me these days : when they don't fuel hatred and racism, they promote ID and creationism. Both sides of what's left of the Belgian border.
David Attenborough is not dead yet*, he is quite angry, and so should we all. This battle is worth fighting for the great white Dave.
* see "David Attenborough, one life on Earth" (20070716)
** see "Red blogule to Luc van den Brande" (20070627)
But Evangelische Omroep / the Evangelical Broadcasting Organisation is a Christian fundamentalist channel, the parts edited were key to explain evolution (ie "our closest relatives" becoming "the apes"), and one whole episode was censored. Flemmish radicals tend to upset me these days : when they don't fuel hatred and racism, they promote ID and creationism. Both sides of what's left of the Belgian border.
David Attenborough is not dead yet*, he is quite angry, and so should we all. This battle is worth fighting for the great white Dave.
* see "David Attenborough, one life on Earth" (20070716)
** see "Red blogule to Luc van den Brande" (20070627)
20070716
David Attenborough, one life on Earth
I would never tire of watching TV series from Sir David Frederick Attenborough. Each time I end up thinking why wait for this strange animal to disappear from the surface of Earth before paying hommage to such an utterly exotic and brilliant naturalist from the BBC ?
Because the David Attenborough is an endangered specie ; a dodo exhibiting improbable feathers, carrying a surprisingly melodious breathless tune, and with a unique way of shaking all over while delivering incredibly valuable messages in an otherwise vanished language. Maybe the missing link between Darwin and Monty Python... actually, a discreet hello was sent by none other than the unforgettable agent of the Ministry of Silly Walks during John Cleese's cult documentary in Madagascar.
But Sir David would never dare compare the tarsier with a microwaved cat. His sense of humor is full of love for life in all sorts and shapes, life starring in breathtaking and voluminous tales matching the greatest of XIXth Century novels. This naturalist probably produced the most ambitious works to date on the ephemeral story of life on our ephemeral piece of cosmos, and "The Living Planet" may perfectly sum up both his achievements and those of life on Earth. Actually, "life" / "living" and "planet" appear in all titles, like trademarks. Non for profit trademarks : just marks of respect traded every day for any kind of emotion on any kind of place and under any kind of weather.
The younger brother of director Richard Attenborough (whose rather classical "Ghandi" shall be better remembered than a rather classical role of scientist in Spielberg's Jurassic Park), this Londoner works essentially for the Beeb, in audiovisual formats, and never balking at the most surprising images. Yet, I do believe his main talent lies in his writing : everything seems so simple and natural, like water running down the mountain... but imagine what it takes to start a sentence in Antarctica and complete it six months EARLIER in Kalimantan ! Even under the charm of his tale, one cannot but admire the clarity, the relevance, and the synthetic mind of this splendid achievement of evolution.
Naturally (indeed), years tend to go by, hills to draw more sighs, and winds to agitate a whiter shade of hair, but even at 81, Sir David remains this curious kid dreaming his naïve environmental dreams, and radiating eternal love for life.
Some sad day, England will cry for the loss of this beautiful life on Earth. That day, let us not keep his brain in formalin on some dusty shelf of a museum, but disseminate his ashes and works around to keep our planet and minds fertile.
Because the David Attenborough is an endangered specie ; a dodo exhibiting improbable feathers, carrying a surprisingly melodious breathless tune, and with a unique way of shaking all over while delivering incredibly valuable messages in an otherwise vanished language. Maybe the missing link between Darwin and Monty Python... actually, a discreet hello was sent by none other than the unforgettable agent of the Ministry of Silly Walks during John Cleese's cult documentary in Madagascar.
But Sir David would never dare compare the tarsier with a microwaved cat. His sense of humor is full of love for life in all sorts and shapes, life starring in breathtaking and voluminous tales matching the greatest of XIXth Century novels. This naturalist probably produced the most ambitious works to date on the ephemeral story of life on our ephemeral piece of cosmos, and "The Living Planet" may perfectly sum up both his achievements and those of life on Earth. Actually, "life" / "living" and "planet" appear in all titles, like trademarks. Non for profit trademarks : just marks of respect traded every day for any kind of emotion on any kind of place and under any kind of weather.
The younger brother of director Richard Attenborough (whose rather classical "Ghandi" shall be better remembered than a rather classical role of scientist in Spielberg's Jurassic Park), this Londoner works essentially for the Beeb, in audiovisual formats, and never balking at the most surprising images. Yet, I do believe his main talent lies in his writing : everything seems so simple and natural, like water running down the mountain... but imagine what it takes to start a sentence in Antarctica and complete it six months EARLIER in Kalimantan ! Even under the charm of his tale, one cannot but admire the clarity, the relevance, and the synthetic mind of this splendid achievement of evolution.
Naturally (indeed), years tend to go by, hills to draw more sighs, and winds to agitate a whiter shade of hair, but even at 81, Sir David remains this curious kid dreaming his naïve environmental dreams, and radiating eternal love for life.
Some sad day, England will cry for the loss of this beautiful life on Earth. That day, let us not keep his brain in formalin on some dusty shelf of a museum, but disseminate his ashes and works around to keep our planet and minds fertile.
20061220
Rewriting history (reloaded) - IHT Letters To The Editor
Praise the International Herald Tribune. First for publishing another blogule of mine (even if slightly edited* to fit a wider audience than this utterly incorrect blog), second for giving it a title I've been mantrazing for a few years.
Actually, I mentioned "Rewriting History" in one of the few blogules published by "Le Figaro" before Sarkozy became Editor in Chief. Back then, I noticed the irony in the way Dubya compared himself to Roosevelt and Churchill ("Reecriture de l'Histoire - GW Bush le nouveau FDR ?" - 20040607).
I guess "rewriting history" could be considered today's international pastime on steroids.
Anyway... For those who missed my latest ranting on Abe** and/or reached their newstands to late, here is the letter as published in today's IHT*** :
* let's say I elaborated a bit on "declared his nationalist views"
** see "Red blogule to Shinzo Abe - another revisionist leader" (20060926), or the unedited blog spill in French preceding my letter to the IHT : "Blogule rouge a Shinzo Abe - l'Empire contre attaque" (20061216)
*** see iht.com/articles/2006/12/19/news/edlet.php (20061220)
Actually, I mentioned "Rewriting History" in one of the few blogules published by "Le Figaro" before Sarkozy became Editor in Chief. Back then, I noticed the irony in the way Dubya compared himself to Roosevelt and Churchill ("Reecriture de l'Histoire - GW Bush le nouveau FDR ?" - 20040607).
I guess "rewriting history" could be considered today's international pastime on steroids.
Anyway... For those who missed my latest ranting on Abe** and/or reached their newstands to late, here is the letter as published in today's IHT*** :
Rewriting History
Your Dec. 16 edition delivered two rather disheartening insights on the way history is being taught.
In "Confronting Holocaust denial" (Views), Ayaan Ali Hirsi reveals how the Holocaust is not only absent from textbooks in many Muslim countries but also still considered a great idea by many young people.
In the news report "Japan passes measure for patriotic education," an education reform is not only meant to keep the Japanese people in the dark regarding the terrible war crimes committed during Hirohito's reign, but also to revive ultranationalism.
Perhaps worst of all: None of this comes as a surprise. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran is on a permanent revisionist road show, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan has already declared his nationalist views.
I wonder what tomorrow's textbooks will tell the next generations about our time? In this sick medieval revival, even the president of the United States and the pope want to replace science and reason by an ultraconservative caricature of religion.
* let's say I elaborated a bit on "declared his nationalist views"
** see "Red blogule to Shinzo Abe - another revisionist leader" (20060926), or the unedited blog spill in French preceding my letter to the IHT : "Blogule rouge a Shinzo Abe - l'Empire contre attaque" (20061216)
*** see iht.com/articles/2006/12/19/news/edlet.php (20061220)
20061013
White blogule to you - 100,000th visitor
My humble personal portal recently registered its 100,000th visitor and 153rd country of origin of visitors (Uzbekistan).
Among the URLs of origin (NB: addendum - for complete updates, see Citizen Came) :
- They are paranoid : US Department of Defense, US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of State, US Centcom, Project and Contracting Office for Iraq, UK Ministry Of Defence, The RAND Corporation, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NED), and many US military bases in the US, in Europe, Iraq, Asia...
- They have energy to share : Agip SpA (ITA), Air Liquide SA (FRA), APC Power Conversion SAS (FRA), Aral AG (DEU), Electrosvy AZ Volgograd (ROS), BP Plc (UK), Centrica Plc (UK), Comite Interministeriel aux Crises Nucleaires et Radiologiques (FRA), Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (FRA), Deutsche BP AG (DEU), US Defense Energy Support Center (USA, VA), Devon Energy Corp (USA, OK), EDF (FRA), EIFER - European Institute For Energy Research (DEU), Electrabel (BEL), ENI (ITA), FMC Technologies Inc (USA, TX), Gruyere Energie SA (CH), Hocol SA (COL), Hydro Quebec (CAN), Institut Français du Petrole (FRA), Innogy Plc (UK), LukOil (ROS), LURE - Laboratoire de rayonnement synchrotron (FRA), Lyse Energy AS (NOR), MW Kellogg Limited (UK), National Institute for Nuclear Physics and High Energy Physics (NED), Nigeria Lng Expansion Project (UK), Nigeria LNG Limited (NGA), Nuclear Energy Institute (USA, WA), RTE France (FRA), RWE (DEU), SAMIR - Societe Anonyme Marocaine de l'Industrie du Raffinage (MAR), Schlumberger (USA, NY), Shell (NED), Shell US (USA, TX), Suez (FRA), Synchrotron Soleil (FRA), Technip USA Corporation (USA, CA), TNK-BP (ROS), Total Fina Elf (FRA), Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc (USA, TX), Transocean Sedco Forex (UK), Tricat Group (USA, MD), Union Fenosa SA (ESP), Air Liquide America (USA, TX), United States Enrichment Corporation (USA, MD), Westar Energy (USA, KS), The Williams Company (USA, OK)...
- They observe : American Civil Liberties Union (USA, WA), Chr. Michelsen Institute (NOR), Commission Nationale des Comptes de Campagne et des Financements Politiques (FRA), Lowy Institute for International Policy (AUS), Observatoire Francais des Conjonctures Economiques - Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques (FRA)...
- They govern : Prime Minister, Ministries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Finance, Education, Research, Culture... (FRA), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (UAE), Autorites Federales de la Confederation Helvetique (CH), Bundesregierung (DEU), Ministries of Health and Finance (BRA), US Department of Defense, US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of State, US Department of Transportation, US Environment Protection Agency, US Senate, US House of Representatives, NASA... (USA), Etat du Grand Duche du Luxembourg (LUX), Government of Malaysia (MLY), South African Government (RSA), UK Government (UK), Ministerio de Defensa de Espana (ESP), Ministere des Finances et des Investissements Exterieurs (MAR), Ministere de l’Interieur (BEL), Ministerie van defensie (NED), Ministerul Economiei si Comertului (ROM), Ministry of Communications (KUW), Ministry Of Defense (UK), Ministry Of Education (TWN), Ministry Of Education (SIN), Ministere de la Sante et des Services Sociaux (CAN), Senado (CHL), Secretariat General des Armees (FRA), States of Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississipi, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin... (USA), Armee de Terre (FRA), Ministerio da Saude (POR), Government of Brunei (BRU)...
- They're transnational : European Community (LUX), Union Europeenne (BEL), EUROCONTROL - European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (BEL), UNESCO (FRA), UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education (NED), INTAS (BEL), Institut d’Etudes de Securite de l’Union europeenne (FRA), NATO (BEL), The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NED), OECD (FRA), UNEP – United Nations Environment Program (KEN), UNEP – Energy Branch (FRA), UNMIK Kosova - United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (KOS), WHO (CH), The World Bank Group (USA, DC), The United Nations Volunteers (DEU), The United Nations Organization (USA, NY)...
- They research : CEMAGREF, CIRAD, CNET, CNRS Paris, CNRS Villejuif, France Telecom R&D, Geopsy / Sesarray Project, INRIA, INRS, INSERM, Institut Pasteur de Lille, IPSN - Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire, IRC - Institut de Recherche sur la Catalyse, IRCAM, ISIMA, LAAS - Laboratoire d'Automatique et d'Analyse des Systemes, LaBRI - Laboratoire Bordelais de Recherche en Informatique, LIFL - Laboratoire d'Informatique Fondamentale de Lille, LURE - Laboratoire de rayonnement synchrotron, Synchrotron Soleil, Thomson Multimedia R&D (FRA), ETRI - Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, KIST - Korea Institute of Science and Technology, KISTI - Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, KREOnet - Korea Research Environment Open NETwork (ROK), BIB3R R&D project - Berlin Beyond 3G Project, Deutsches Forschungsnetz eV, DFN-CERT, EIFER, Fraunhofer-Institut fur Integrierte Schaltungen, Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology, PEROSH - The Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and Health, ZUMA Mannheim - Zentrum fuer Umfragen, Methoden und Analysen (DEU), Bell Northern Research, IREQ (CAN), CERIST (ALG), CERN, IURST, SWITCH (CH), CIMAT (MEX), CNRST (MAR), DoCoMo Labs, Griffith Laboratories, ITW Technology Center, Laboratory for Nuclear Science at MIT, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, MIT, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Philips Laboratories, SAIC - Science Applications International Corporation, Sharp Labs (USA), Mimos Berhad (MLY), NIKHEF - National Institute for Nuclear Physics and High Energy Physics, Philips Research, TNO - Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijkin (NED), NTA (NOR), Forschungszentrum Telekommunikation Wien (OST), GARR Consortium, Telecom Italia Lab (ITA), Internet Research Institute, JAMSTEC - Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, NITE - National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (JAP), GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development Limited (UK), Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (IRE), IBMC - Insituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, IRICUP - (POR), III - Institute for Information Industry, NHRI - National Health Research Institutes (TWN)
- They report from France : AFP, Bayard Presse, Canal Plus, Editions Philippe Amaury SA, Editions Atlas, Editis, L’Est Républicain, Eurosport, France 2, France Citevision, France Televisions, Groupe Contact, Groupe Express Expansion, Groupe Les Echos, Groupe Tests, Hachette Livre, Hachette Filipacchi Presse, Mediamétrie, Milan Presse, Le Monde, Pearson Education France, Prisma Presse, Le Progrès, La Provence, Radio Campus, Radio France, Le Republicain Lorrain, La République du Centre, RTL France, Societe du Journal de l’Union, Sports Media et Stratégie, TF1, TPS, TV Rennes, La Voix du Lyon ...
- They report from the US : American Media Inc (FL), CBS Broadcasting (NY), CMP Media (TX), Deseret News (UT), Discovery (MD), Disney (CA), Elsevier Science Inc (NY), Educational and Professional Publishing Group of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc (IA), Forum Communications Company (ND), Fox Inc (NY), Fox Sports Interactive Media Inc (NE), MediaNews Group (CO), MSNtv (WA), The New York Times (NY), Nauticom Sports Network (PA), New Press Gazette Corp (MO), Perseus Books LLC (CO), The Providence Journal (RI), Sony Pictures Entertainment (CA), Time Inc (NY), Tower Productions Inc (IL), Turner Broadcasting System (GA), Viacom (NY), Warner Brothers Entertainment (CA), The Washington Times Corp (DC), WDAY TV (ND)...
- They report from South Africa (South African Broadcasting Corporation...), Germany (RTL Plus Deutschland Fernsehen, Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln...), Bangladesh (Prothom Alo...), Brunei (Radio Television Brunei...), South Korea (Chosun Ilbo, dong A , Hanvit Broadcasting, SBS, Sudokwon Ilbo…), Canada (The Columbian...), Denmark (Aktieselskabet Dagbladet Politiken, Danmarks Radio...), Spain (Retevision...), Finland (Helsinki Television Oy…), Hungary (Sanoma Budapest Publishing Ltd...), Italy (Infostrada Sports, RAI...), Japan (Asahi Shimbun, Nippon Television Network Company, Sankei Shimbun...), Lithuania (UAB Balticum TV...), Malta (Medialink Communications…), Norway (Bohusläningens AB, Shibsted...), The Netherlands (Prosper Business Media BV, Security Press BV...), The United Kingdom (BBC, Discovery Europe, Elsevier Science Ltd, The PA Group, Independent News Media UK, LexisNexis, Pearson Plc, The Unique Broadcasting Company...), Russia (Channel One Russia…), Switzerland (Edipresse, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Television Suisse Romande...), Ukraine (Express Radio Network...)
- ...
Among the URLs of origin (NB: addendum - for complete updates, see Citizen Came) :
- They are paranoid : US Department of Defense, US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of State, US Centcom, Project and Contracting Office for Iraq, UK Ministry Of Defence, The RAND Corporation, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NED), and many US military bases in the US, in Europe, Iraq, Asia...
- They have energy to share : Agip SpA (ITA), Air Liquide SA (FRA), APC Power Conversion SAS (FRA), Aral AG (DEU), Electrosvy AZ Volgograd (ROS), BP Plc (UK), Centrica Plc (UK), Comite Interministeriel aux Crises Nucleaires et Radiologiques (FRA), Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (FRA), Deutsche BP AG (DEU), US Defense Energy Support Center (USA, VA), Devon Energy Corp (USA, OK), EDF (FRA), EIFER - European Institute For Energy Research (DEU), Electrabel (BEL), ENI (ITA), FMC Technologies Inc (USA, TX), Gruyere Energie SA (CH), Hocol SA (COL), Hydro Quebec (CAN), Institut Français du Petrole (FRA), Innogy Plc (UK), LukOil (ROS), LURE - Laboratoire de rayonnement synchrotron (FRA), Lyse Energy AS (NOR), MW Kellogg Limited (UK), National Institute for Nuclear Physics and High Energy Physics (NED), Nigeria Lng Expansion Project (UK), Nigeria LNG Limited (NGA), Nuclear Energy Institute (USA, WA), RTE France (FRA), RWE (DEU), SAMIR - Societe Anonyme Marocaine de l'Industrie du Raffinage (MAR), Schlumberger (USA, NY), Shell (NED), Shell US (USA, TX), Suez (FRA), Synchrotron Soleil (FRA), Technip USA Corporation (USA, CA), TNK-BP (ROS), Total Fina Elf (FRA), Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc (USA, TX), Transocean Sedco Forex (UK), Tricat Group (USA, MD), Union Fenosa SA (ESP), Air Liquide America (USA, TX), United States Enrichment Corporation (USA, MD), Westar Energy (USA, KS), The Williams Company (USA, OK)...
- They observe : American Civil Liberties Union (USA, WA), Chr. Michelsen Institute (NOR), Commission Nationale des Comptes de Campagne et des Financements Politiques (FRA), Lowy Institute for International Policy (AUS), Observatoire Francais des Conjonctures Economiques - Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques (FRA)...
- They govern : Prime Minister, Ministries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Finance, Education, Research, Culture... (FRA), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (UAE), Autorites Federales de la Confederation Helvetique (CH), Bundesregierung (DEU), Ministries of Health and Finance (BRA), US Department of Defense, US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of State, US Department of Transportation, US Environment Protection Agency, US Senate, US House of Representatives, NASA... (USA), Etat du Grand Duche du Luxembourg (LUX), Government of Malaysia (MLY), South African Government (RSA), UK Government (UK), Ministerio de Defensa de Espana (ESP), Ministere des Finances et des Investissements Exterieurs (MAR), Ministere de l’Interieur (BEL), Ministerie van defensie (NED), Ministerul Economiei si Comertului (ROM), Ministry of Communications (KUW), Ministry Of Defense (UK), Ministry Of Education (TWN), Ministry Of Education (SIN), Ministere de la Sante et des Services Sociaux (CAN), Senado (CHL), Secretariat General des Armees (FRA), States of Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississipi, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin... (USA), Armee de Terre (FRA), Ministerio da Saude (POR), Government of Brunei (BRU)...
- They're transnational : European Community (LUX), Union Europeenne (BEL), EUROCONTROL - European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (BEL), UNESCO (FRA), UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education (NED), INTAS (BEL), Institut d’Etudes de Securite de l’Union europeenne (FRA), NATO (BEL), The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NED), OECD (FRA), UNEP – United Nations Environment Program (KEN), UNEP – Energy Branch (FRA), UNMIK Kosova - United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (KOS), WHO (CH), The World Bank Group (USA, DC), The United Nations Volunteers (DEU), The United Nations Organization (USA, NY)...
- They research : CEMAGREF, CIRAD, CNET, CNRS Paris, CNRS Villejuif, France Telecom R&D, Geopsy / Sesarray Project, INRIA, INRS, INSERM, Institut Pasteur de Lille, IPSN - Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire, IRC - Institut de Recherche sur la Catalyse, IRCAM, ISIMA, LAAS - Laboratoire d'Automatique et d'Analyse des Systemes, LaBRI - Laboratoire Bordelais de Recherche en Informatique, LIFL - Laboratoire d'Informatique Fondamentale de Lille, LURE - Laboratoire de rayonnement synchrotron, Synchrotron Soleil, Thomson Multimedia R&D (FRA), ETRI - Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, KIST - Korea Institute of Science and Technology, KISTI - Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, KREOnet - Korea Research Environment Open NETwork (ROK), BIB3R R&D project - Berlin Beyond 3G Project, Deutsches Forschungsnetz eV, DFN-CERT, EIFER, Fraunhofer-Institut fur Integrierte Schaltungen, Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology, PEROSH - The Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and Health, ZUMA Mannheim - Zentrum fuer Umfragen, Methoden und Analysen (DEU), Bell Northern Research, IREQ (CAN), CERIST (ALG), CERN, IURST, SWITCH (CH), CIMAT (MEX), CNRST (MAR), DoCoMo Labs, Griffith Laboratories, ITW Technology Center, Laboratory for Nuclear Science at MIT, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, MIT, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Philips Laboratories, SAIC - Science Applications International Corporation, Sharp Labs (USA), Mimos Berhad (MLY), NIKHEF - National Institute for Nuclear Physics and High Energy Physics, Philips Research, TNO - Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijkin (NED), NTA (NOR), Forschungszentrum Telekommunikation Wien (OST), GARR Consortium, Telecom Italia Lab (ITA), Internet Research Institute, JAMSTEC - Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, NITE - National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (JAP), GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development Limited (UK), Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (IRE), IBMC - Insituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, IRICUP - (POR), III - Institute for Information Industry, NHRI - National Health Research Institutes (TWN)
- They report from France : AFP, Bayard Presse, Canal Plus, Editions Philippe Amaury SA, Editions Atlas, Editis, L’Est Républicain, Eurosport, France 2, France Citevision, France Televisions, Groupe Contact, Groupe Express Expansion, Groupe Les Echos, Groupe Tests, Hachette Livre, Hachette Filipacchi Presse, Mediamétrie, Milan Presse, Le Monde, Pearson Education France, Prisma Presse, Le Progrès, La Provence, Radio Campus, Radio France, Le Republicain Lorrain, La République du Centre, RTL France, Societe du Journal de l’Union, Sports Media et Stratégie, TF1, TPS, TV Rennes, La Voix du Lyon ...
- They report from the US : American Media Inc (FL), CBS Broadcasting (NY), CMP Media (TX), Deseret News (UT), Discovery (MD), Disney (CA), Elsevier Science Inc (NY), Educational and Professional Publishing Group of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc (IA), Forum Communications Company (ND), Fox Inc (NY), Fox Sports Interactive Media Inc (NE), MediaNews Group (CO), MSNtv (WA), The New York Times (NY), Nauticom Sports Network (PA), New Press Gazette Corp (MO), Perseus Books LLC (CO), The Providence Journal (RI), Sony Pictures Entertainment (CA), Time Inc (NY), Tower Productions Inc (IL), Turner Broadcasting System (GA), Viacom (NY), Warner Brothers Entertainment (CA), The Washington Times Corp (DC), WDAY TV (ND)...
- They report from South Africa (South African Broadcasting Corporation...), Germany (RTL Plus Deutschland Fernsehen, Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln...), Bangladesh (Prothom Alo...), Brunei (Radio Television Brunei...), South Korea (Chosun Ilbo, dong A , Hanvit Broadcasting, SBS, Sudokwon Ilbo…), Canada (The Columbian...), Denmark (Aktieselskabet Dagbladet Politiken, Danmarks Radio...), Spain (Retevision...), Finland (Helsinki Television Oy…), Hungary (Sanoma Budapest Publishing Ltd...), Italy (Infostrada Sports, RAI...), Japan (Asahi Shimbun, Nippon Television Network Company, Sankei Shimbun...), Lithuania (UAB Balticum TV...), Malta (Medialink Communications…), Norway (Bohusläningens AB, Shibsted...), The Netherlands (Prosper Business Media BV, Security Press BV...), The United Kingdom (BBC, Discovery Europe, Elsevier Science Ltd, The PA Group, Independent News Media UK, LexisNexis, Pearson Plc, The Unique Broadcasting Company...), Russia (Channel One Russia…), Switzerland (Edipresse, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Television Suisse Romande...), Ukraine (Express Radio Network...)
- ...
20061006
Red blogule to 45 mn of war-hole fame - hopping without hope
If you want a good thrill you can either pay Richard Branson about $200,000 for a 5 mn wild ride in space or have the US Government pay you a $???M 45 mn trip to Iraq.
So Condolezza Rice enjoyed her 45 minutes of war-hole fame. The time to kiss Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad on a deserted Baghdad airport, expose a cute armored plate not much bigger than a Madeleine K. Albright pin, and be shot a couple of times. By embedded photographers and cameramen.
All smiles.
Like Kim Jong-il waving at an absent audience in a prefab North Korean program.
So Condolezza Rice enjoyed her 45 minutes of war-hole fame. The time to kiss Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad on a deserted Baghdad airport, expose a cute armored plate not much bigger than a Madeleine K. Albright pin, and be shot a couple of times. By embedded photographers and cameramen.
All smiles.
Like Kim Jong-il waving at an absent audience in a prefab North Korean program.
20060927
White blogule to confusion creators - exposing propaganda
I suggest a Karl Rove Propaganda Award for President Bush following his comment about medias revealing parts of the intel report on terror and Iraq. According to King Dubya, the said medias did "create confusion in the minds of the American people", which could be translated into "did their jobs" or "exposed our propaganda machine".
The POTUS released his own edited version of the intel outside report, insisting on the links between terror and Iraq but without confusing the reader with the fact that he was the one who created the links in the first place.
PS : interesting papers from Newsweek (20061002 issue) about :
- Hizbullah's propaganda machine : "Winning Hearts and Minds"
- The Architect's new proteges (Todd Olsen, Terry Nelson...) : "In Rove's Footsteps"
The POTUS released his own edited version of the intel outside report, insisting on the links between terror and Iraq but without confusing the reader with the fact that he was the one who created the links in the first place.
PS : interesting papers from Newsweek (20061002 issue) about :
- Hizbullah's propaganda machine : "Winning Hearts and Minds"
- The Architect's new proteges (Todd Olsen, Terry Nelson...) : "In Rove's Footsteps"
20060915
White blogule to The Best War Ever - Lies, damned lies, and the mess in Iraq
Spread the news folks. The actual news, not the Weapons of Mass Disinformation you've been carpetbombed with for years. If you really believe Lobby Dick when he tells you the US "War on terror" is making the world a safer place and insurgency in Iraq is reaching its "last throes", it's high time for you to activate your brain.
The truth is Iraq is about to collapse and US troops' main mission these days is to prevent this from happening before the mid-term elections. If they manage not to collapse themselves, that is (read the interesting Newsweek paper on the morale of the troops in Baghdad - "Straight to the Heart" - 20060918).
The truth is this war has always been about lies from the Bush Administration, and if you want to understand the propaganda campaign that led to it, you definitely have to read "The Best War Ever"*, by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton who already brought us "Weapons of Mass Deception" or "Banana Republicans".
And remember : if you really want to wake up to the sound of soundness and rediscover a propaganda-free world, the closest thing to a safe haven you can find on the web remains PR Watch / The Center for Media and Democracy, where Sheldon, John and friends are working hard to make this world a truly better place.
America's worst historical mistakes in the past 20 years were this war on Iraq and the 2004 (re)election of George W. Bush. Both happened because the people of America was deliberately kept in the dark by a bunch of liars. You cannot let them go away with it this time again. Read, talk, donate to the CMD and don't forget to activate your brain before voting.
* also available in France through Amazon : "The Best War Ever".
The truth is Iraq is about to collapse and US troops' main mission these days is to prevent this from happening before the mid-term elections. If they manage not to collapse themselves, that is (read the interesting Newsweek paper on the morale of the troops in Baghdad - "Straight to the Heart" - 20060918).
The truth is this war has always been about lies from the Bush Administration, and if you want to understand the propaganda campaign that led to it, you definitely have to read "The Best War Ever"*, by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton who already brought us "Weapons of Mass Deception" or "Banana Republicans".
And remember : if you really want to wake up to the sound of soundness and rediscover a propaganda-free world, the closest thing to a safe haven you can find on the web remains PR Watch / The Center for Media and Democracy, where Sheldon, John and friends are working hard to make this world a truly better place.
America's worst historical mistakes in the past 20 years were this war on Iraq and the 2004 (re)election of George W. Bush. Both happened because the people of America was deliberately kept in the dark by a bunch of liars. You cannot let them go away with it this time again. Read, talk, donate to the CMD and don't forget to activate your brain before voting.
---
* also available in France through Amazon : "The Best War Ever".
20060912
Red blogule to Stephen Sackur - HARDtalk but softBRAIN
Yesterday's HARDtalk featured a stimulating cast with interesting things to say (Tariq Ramadan, Joseph E. Stiglitz and a brilliant professor from Harvard I never heard of before but would be pleased to hear more often).
Unfortunately, Stephen Sackur kept interrupting each one of them each time they reached the climax of their sentences, as if to deny them the right to oppose the official propaganda. Instead of a journalist, I saw an ambitious man with the pretention of being smarter than his hosts but only reciting the irrelevant and worn out brief from the Bush Administration.
And yes, even if there was no link watsoever between Saddam Hussein and 9/11 in the first place, you cannot dissociate the mess in Iraq from the aftermath of 9/1.
I wish these 3 people had been interviewed by the genuine BBC journalist who had, just a few minutes later, a chat with a scaringly diminished Dan Rather.
Unfortunately, Stephen Sackur kept interrupting each one of them each time they reached the climax of their sentences, as if to deny them the right to oppose the official propaganda. Instead of a journalist, I saw an ambitious man with the pretention of being smarter than his hosts but only reciting the irrelevant and worn out brief from the Bush Administration.
And yes, even if there was no link watsoever between Saddam Hussein and 9/11 in the first place, you cannot dissociate the mess in Iraq from the aftermath of 9/1.
I wish these 3 people had been interviewed by the genuine BBC journalist who had, just a few minutes later, a chat with a scaringly diminished Dan Rather.
20060905
Red blogule to the murder of George W Bush
Unlike J.F.K. and J.R.E., G.W.B. won't catch his bullet(s) in Texas. Well, that's according to the British TV series to be aired soon ("Death Of A President" on More4, a Channel4 unit).
I don't quite like the idea of this plot, which not only tarnishes the image of Chicago (a city I love) but makes a martyr out of Dubya (a President I hate).
If something deserves to die, it isn't the Head of State but the State of Headache the Bush Administration instills into the country. The man who misused the sword and misused democracy must be removed not by the sword but by democracy itself. And if he were to die, let it be a natural way (which for him may involve such weapons of mass destruction as pretzels).
PS (to the NSA monitoring this blog) : this is NOT an invitation for Cubans to send exploding pretzels to the POTUS. I remain a peaceful citizen and each time I fly to the states I will tick YES for the question "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been A Frenchman ?"
I don't quite like the idea of this plot, which not only tarnishes the image of Chicago (a city I love) but makes a martyr out of Dubya (a President I hate).
If something deserves to die, it isn't the Head of State but the State of Headache the Bush Administration instills into the country. The man who misused the sword and misused democracy must be removed not by the sword but by democracy itself. And if he were to die, let it be a natural way (which for him may involve such weapons of mass destruction as pretzels).
PS (to the NSA monitoring this blog) : this is NOT an invitation for Cubans to send exploding pretzels to the POTUS. I remain a peaceful citizen and each time I fly to the states I will tick YES for the question "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been A Frenchman ?"
20060815
Red blogule to Amerika's "Freedom Agenda"
I listened to Dubya's I have a dream press conference yesterday. It's good to hear again about the need for an independant and free Palestine, but it's getting harder and harder to stand this voice and that surrealistic propaganda rap of empty keywords repeated on and on (blah blah terror blah blah freedom blah blah Iran nuke blah blah liberty blah blah freedom of worship blah blah strategy of freedom blah blah universal desire for liberty blah blah democracy blah blah tyranny blah blah unstoppable power of freedom blah blah amen). While munching their pizzaz, mesmerized Joe Sixpacks musta understood Hezbollah helped Saddam and Bin Laden destroy the Twin Towers back on 9/11. With such efficient History Bis 101 lessons, no wonder 50% of US adults now think Iraq had WMDs when the US invaded that country, up from 36% back in February 2005 (Harris polls mentioned by the CMD).
Freedom will prevail, yeah... Hezbollah, a state sponsored terrorist group, will be replaced by Qaeda wannabes, a cloudy mist of irresponsible people far more dangerous for the region, but that's OK because Israeli hardliners need a bigger threat at their doors. Olmert will be replaced by a madhatter even worse than Benjamin Netanyahu but that's OK because that's what Amerika needs too. The utterly successful Iraki model will be replicated in Lebanon but that's OK because that was the aim of the game... Sorry Beirut but Bush's speech is yet another bring'em-on-invitation to terrorists from all over the world to visit your country.
But the most surrealistic speech of the day was pronounced by Ehud Olmert himself : admitting his own failure, he dared say next time - because there will be a next time - , he'll handle war better. Talking about flattened Lebanon as a learning curve...
Last throes of sanity, anyone ?
More than ever, it's time for a regime change in both the US and Israel... but for the better, please.
Freedom will prevail, yeah... Hezbollah, a state sponsored terrorist group, will be replaced by Qaeda wannabes, a cloudy mist of irresponsible people far more dangerous for the region, but that's OK because Israeli hardliners need a bigger threat at their doors. Olmert will be replaced by a madhatter even worse than Benjamin Netanyahu but that's OK because that's what Amerika needs too. The utterly successful Iraki model will be replicated in Lebanon but that's OK because that was the aim of the game... Sorry Beirut but Bush's speech is yet another bring'em-on-invitation to terrorists from all over the world to visit your country.
But the most surrealistic speech of the day was pronounced by Ehud Olmert himself : admitting his own failure, he dared say next time - because there will be a next time - , he'll handle war better. Talking about flattened Lebanon as a learning curve...
Last throes of sanity, anyone ?
More than ever, it's time for a regime change in both the US and Israel... but for the better, please.
20060614
Red blogule to the US CENTCOM - paint it black
Sick and tired of listening to CENTCOM briefings with daily claims of a dozen so-called Qaeda members (half of which under 7 year-old "terrorists"), the US audience cheered the death of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, a genuine thug with a fake al Qaeda label.
Now the propaganda experts feel strange : the non-event of this death exposes a disgraceful vacuum. The top bad guy (Osama Broadcasting Laden) remains at large and the US army in Iraq lacks a marketable target... Unless the Pentagon decides to go after al Sadr and thus officialize the civil war.
They'd better sponsor some other suicidal wannabe, give some other thug his Warhol's 15 mn of fame. Prime time, live or dead.
Now the propaganda experts feel strange : the non-event of this death exposes a disgraceful vacuum. The top bad guy (Osama Broadcasting Laden) remains at large and the US army in Iraq lacks a marketable target... Unless the Pentagon decides to go after al Sadr and thus officialize the civil war.
They'd better sponsor some other suicidal wannabe, give some other thug his Warhol's 15 mn of fame. Prime time, live or dead.
20060510
Pink blogule to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Persian Letters to George W. Bush
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's words are softer on paper than at an anti-zionist tribune. I definitely cannot award a white blogule to this man, but one has to admit he gave quite a lesson to Our Dear Compassionate Leader Lord Dubya : History 101, Religion 101, Politics 101, Economics 101, Communication 101, Social Sciences 101... a one way casual conversation from a radical fundamentalist to a radical and autistic fundamentalist. Too bad L. Ron Hubbard couldn't join : his noxious insights about Battlefield Earth would perfectly complete the picture.
"Is there no better way to interact with the rest of the world ?" Indeed.
We're not evil, see ? Neither you nor me. We've got so much in common. Let's talk and read some verses together.
"Those in power have specific time in office, and do not rule indefinitely, but their names will be recorded in history and will be constantly judged in the immediate and distant futures. The people will scrutinize our presidencies." How true.
I'm scrutinizing all right. And I guess it's time for both peoples to get rid of these fundamentalists.
=> The letter (Le Monde website) : http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-727571,36-769886@51-677013,0.html.
"Is there no better way to interact with the rest of the world ?" Indeed.
We're not evil, see ? Neither you nor me. We've got so much in common. Let's talk and read some verses together.
"Those in power have specific time in office, and do not rule indefinitely, but their names will be recorded in history and will be constantly judged in the immediate and distant futures. The people will scrutinize our presidencies." How true.
I'm scrutinizing all right. And I guess it's time for both peoples to get rid of these fundamentalists.
=> The letter (Le Monde website) : http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-727571,36-769886@51-677013,0.html.
20060419
Red blogule to "America Supports You"
Every now and then (when in Seoul), I tune to AFN Korea. Fifteen years ago, it was still called AFKN (Air Force Korea Network) and the proportion of news and personals related to the US bases in Korea would be much higher. BBQ at Camp Casey and that kind of stuff, any Korean resident could learn about the boys' lifestyle beyond what they could see from their own eyes (GIs leaving their Yongsan lairs only to cruise Itaewon's red light district). Back then, I would have my own pass to the Army base, a vast island of quietness in the heart of the city of traffic lights.
Now da boyz are about to leave the area and Korea to recover this precious land. A public park was already created back in 1993, and from the new and ugly (but for its contents) National Museum you can see what's left of the base. The Dragon Hill lodge is still there but there's not much greenery left, nor much space for breathing. I hope Korean developpers will make something nice out of this... (I think I may need a dream break Condi, is this possible ?)
Anyway... AFN Korea is now AFN Asia Pacific flavored with a few local insights. Instead of commercials, troops are still carpet bombed with Weapons of Mass Distraction (all major sports, series, games...), pearls of wisdom (don't pick your nose, brush your teeth and keep ready for war), morale lifting injections (you serve a great country, learn more about things that shaped Amerika in your public library), and Pentagon Propaganda.
"America Supports You" belongs to the last two categories. People from the street tell their love of what you guys are doin' and like in Sesame Street, they come in all shapes and colors because they are the American melting pot. Here, it's very easy being green, especially a green beret or a Vietnam vet, provided you support Rummy's doctrine with a smile on your face.
I don't know how the said troops react to these shorties. To me they sound like a compulsory long distance feelgood call, a sad farewell - thank you for taking the bullets overthere, we sure do appreciate what you do even if we don't quite get why you do it, but we're much better safe at home, thank you. I'll put a flag on my lawn right away to keep the bad luck outta my place - praise God my son is not among you.
The program is supposed to bring America closer to its military but it exposes how Dubya's Amerika is far away from its own troops. I tell you what Don : America doesn't support you.
Now da boyz are about to leave the area and Korea to recover this precious land. A public park was already created back in 1993, and from the new and ugly (but for its contents) National Museum you can see what's left of the base. The Dragon Hill lodge is still there but there's not much greenery left, nor much space for breathing. I hope Korean developpers will make something nice out of this... (I think I may need a dream break Condi, is this possible ?)
Anyway... AFN Korea is now AFN Asia Pacific flavored with a few local insights. Instead of commercials, troops are still carpet bombed with Weapons of Mass Distraction (all major sports, series, games...), pearls of wisdom (don't pick your nose, brush your teeth and keep ready for war), morale lifting injections (you serve a great country, learn more about things that shaped Amerika in your public library), and Pentagon Propaganda.
"America Supports You" belongs to the last two categories. People from the street tell their love of what you guys are doin' and like in Sesame Street, they come in all shapes and colors because they are the American melting pot. Here, it's very easy being green, especially a green beret or a Vietnam vet, provided you support Rummy's doctrine with a smile on your face.
I don't know how the said troops react to these shorties. To me they sound like a compulsory long distance feelgood call, a sad farewell - thank you for taking the bullets overthere, we sure do appreciate what you do even if we don't quite get why you do it, but we're much better safe at home, thank you. I'll put a flag on my lawn right away to keep the bad luck outta my place - praise God my son is not among you.
The program is supposed to bring America closer to its military but it exposes how Dubya's Amerika is far away from its own troops. I tell you what Don : America doesn't support you.
20060407
White blogule to Scooter Webring Crasher Libby
So I. Lewis Libby Jr. was given by Dick Cheney the presidential green light for leaking the Valerie Plame Wilson - CIA link. Green light confirmed by his now successor David Addington right before meeting journalists.
Unless Amerika reached the point of no return towards Bushdom, Dubya's closest ring must implode : either the President's caught stealing bases or Lobby Dick makes a sacrifice fly to help him reach yet another base.
At the end of the game, home plate won't look like a Cooperstown's plate : George W Bush is bound to end in History's Hall Of Shame.
Condi Rice could enter the 2008 race as a Veep... Unless "her husband" is forced to resign beforehand : I've been waiting for a double play impeachment for over two years now.
Unless Amerika reached the point of no return towards Bushdom, Dubya's closest ring must implode : either the President's caught stealing bases or Lobby Dick makes a sacrifice fly to help him reach yet another base.
At the end of the game, home plate won't look like a Cooperstown's plate : George W Bush is bound to end in History's Hall Of Shame.
Condi Rice could enter the 2008 race as a Veep... Unless "her husband" is forced to resign beforehand : I've been waiting for a double play impeachment for over two years now.
20060331
Red blogule to Bud Selig's National Pushtime
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig named George J. Mitchell to lead an investigation on steroids in baseball.
Even if former Senate Leader Mitchell did a nice job as the chairman of another investigation team (the Salt Lake City 2002 case for the IOC), many wonder how far he will go considering his position in the Bossox board and yet another chairmanship, that of The Walt Disney Company, owner of ESPN, owner of the MLB broadcasting rights*.
Mitchell should be under the fire of journalists, but let's not forget Selig himself.
He did a not so lousy job as a Commissioner, bringing the National Pastime back on the sports map. But at which cost ? MLB became hot again when Jose Canseco turned 40-40 seasons into a commodity, when Mark McGwire suddenly made ballparks look smaller, when Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds joined the ride, when good guys became big guys... when steroids became hot.
It took Selig too many years to start this controversial investigation. Meanwhile, the younger generations learnt what to do in order to make it into major league superstardom. Those who couldn't accept the idea of steroids turned to other competitive sports : athletics and Human Growth Hormone, business and cocain...
* ESPN will air "Bonds on Bonds" as scheduled - these 10 part series are not about Disney's value at the NYSE but about the rise and rise of Barry Bonds.
Even if former Senate Leader Mitchell did a nice job as the chairman of another investigation team (the Salt Lake City 2002 case for the IOC), many wonder how far he will go considering his position in the Bossox board and yet another chairmanship, that of The Walt Disney Company, owner of ESPN, owner of the MLB broadcasting rights*.
Mitchell should be under the fire of journalists, but let's not forget Selig himself.
He did a not so lousy job as a Commissioner, bringing the National Pastime back on the sports map. But at which cost ? MLB became hot again when Jose Canseco turned 40-40 seasons into a commodity, when Mark McGwire suddenly made ballparks look smaller, when Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds joined the ride, when good guys became big guys... when steroids became hot.
It took Selig too many years to start this controversial investigation. Meanwhile, the younger generations learnt what to do in order to make it into major league superstardom. Those who couldn't accept the idea of steroids turned to other competitive sports : athletics and Human Growth Hormone, business and cocain...
* ESPN will air "Bonds on Bonds" as scheduled - these 10 part series are not about Disney's value at the NYSE but about the rise and rise of Barry Bonds.
20060319
White blogule to David Gregory - Welcome to the House of Fun
NBC News' chief White House correspondent denounced Operation Swarmer in Iraq as a political show made up as a military action. 40 so-called Qaeda members were caught but released a few hours later, and witnesses doubt seriously about the violence of the offensive. I must confess I was a little bit surprised by the target (an area without any previous history of intense rebellion), the images of the Iraqi soldiers preparing for the battle (all smiles), the publicity made around the Operation and its timing. To me, this looks like vintage War Propaganda, Fallujah style*. Look how swiftly did the Red Army react, carpet bombing poor David "Stretch" Gregory with all their Weapons of Mass Disinformation and lobbying for his firing. For them, the mother of all battles since march 2003 isn't "Operation Swarmer" but "Saving Private Bush".
Just like Michael Moore, David Gregory can be a clown and his caricatural attacks can be used by the defense to turn around the proof of credibility gap. But I don't like the idea of the palace's buffoon being sacrificed as a scapegoat. The joke should remain on the Bush Administration.
* remember that old 2004 blogule "Red blogule to the bombing of Fallujah - Bombing, for image's sake - Bush is only targeting the US audience" (20040429) ?
Just like Michael Moore, David Gregory can be a clown and his caricatural attacks can be used by the defense to turn around the proof of credibility gap. But I don't like the idea of the palace's buffoon being sacrificed as a scapegoat. The joke should remain on the Bush Administration.
* remember that old 2004 blogule "Red blogule to the bombing of Fallujah - Bombing, for image's sake - Bush is only targeting the US audience" (20040429) ?
20060311
White blogule to Dr. Wafa Sultan - moderate Muslims, at last
She comes from Syria but lives in LA.
She spoke out loud but quietly on Al Jazeera.
The kind of words I've been expecting for 5 years (and calling from this excuse of a blog for 3 years) : the key war is waged by radical muslims against moderate muslims, Middle Age vs XXIst Century. Time for moderate muslims to wake up and make themselves heard.
She's been threatened but it may be too late : media must make this kind of positions mainstream. Radicals cannot keep overflowing airtime with their hatred while they just represent a minority.
Since she dared a parallel between Jews and Muslims, she's been invited in Israel. Good point, but beware of traps, be careful not to weaken your stature within the Muslim community.
She spoke out loud but quietly on Al Jazeera.
The kind of words I've been expecting for 5 years (and calling from this excuse of a blog for 3 years) : the key war is waged by radical muslims against moderate muslims, Middle Age vs XXIst Century. Time for moderate muslims to wake up and make themselves heard.
She's been threatened but it may be too late : media must make this kind of positions mainstream. Radicals cannot keep overflowing airtime with their hatred while they just represent a minority.
Since she dared a parallel between Jews and Muslims, she's been invited in Israel. Good point, but beware of traps, be careful not to weaken your stature within the Muslim community.
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