Pro Business

I sent a message to the Obama campaign.

I just wanted to comment that I am really glad that Obama is taking a stand about being against the gas tax holiday.

I wanted to make a suggestion, though, for the pr and ads around this issue. In addition to refuting Clinton's assertions, which is being on the defense, I think we all need to talk about promising solutions such as describing the kinds of programs we'd want to fund.

For example, instead of focusing on how Obama will stand up to corporations, I think we should shift the focus on how we need to support the companies that we want. It's not about being against business. Of course we are all pro business. But we need businesses that are pro - America.

Today, my policy professor was talking about how regulation can stimulate innovation, and how we can make opportunities for new companies to displace the dinosaurs. Of course, the dinosaurs won't like this, but it's much more appealing to the average voter.

Obey 11th Hr

I found another Obey Giant campaign.

It's too alarmist. But it still looks cool. There needs to be more depictions of triumph.

No Al Qaeda in China

very interesting article about how China deals with Muslim extremists in Xinjiang, a province in Western China.

Ben Franklin

Is cool, and he invented the Glass Harmonica, otherwise known as the Armonica.

Human rights vs. Security

Goddammit, I am so sick of purists who are like, we should never sacrifice any human rights for economic growth, stability, or political expediency. Let me spell it out for you. No one has ANY rights, human or otherwise, if there is not social stability.

Fog of War

I'm surprised I didn't hear about this story. It is generally accepted that Rumsfeld's resignation on November 8, 2006 was the Bush administration's response to the democrats taking control of Congress the day before. That's certainly how democrats spun the story. For example:

"Secretary Rumsfeld's war plans in Iraq have failed. The country is on a dangerous course, and the administration has finally recognised the need for drastic, immediate change," said Senator John Rockefeller, senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

But perhaps the real reason was due to disagreement between Bush and Rumsfeld over Iraq strategy. A confidential November 6 memo by Rumsfeld suggesting troop withdrawal and a change of approach was leaked and published by the New York Times on December 3, 2006.

Some highlights:

In my view it is time for a major adjustment. Clearly, what U.S. forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough. Following is a range of options:...

Initiate a reverse embeds program, like the Korean Katusas, by putting one or more Iraqi soldiers with every U.S. and possibly Coalition squad, to improve our units’ language capabilities and cultural awareness and to give the Iraqis experience and training with professional U.S. troops...

Conduct an accelerated draw-down of U.S. bases. We have already reduced from 110 to 55 bases. Plan to get down to 10 to 15 bases by April 2007, and to 5 bases by July 2007...

Initiate an approach where U.S. forces provide security only for those provinces or cities that openly request U.S. help and that actively cooperate, with the stipulation being that unless they cooperate fully, U.S. forces would leave their province...

Begin modest withdrawals of U.S. and Coalition forces (start “taking our hand off the bicycle seat”), so Iraqis know they have to pull up their socks, step up and take responsibility for their country...

Here's the timeline I've been able to piece together: Nov 1 Bush announced he would stand by Rumsfeld for the length of his term. Nov 5 he meets with Gates in Texas (according to this article by right-winger Fred Barnes, this private meeting was without Rumsfeld's knowledge). Nov 6 is the above memo and also the date of Rumsfeld's letter of resignation. Nov 7 the election. Nov 8 Rumsfeld's resignation announced to the public.

The resignation takes effect on Dec 18, and a few weeks later the surge is announced.

I hope somebody does a documentary on Rumsfeld in 10 or 20 years time, like Fog of War (recommended if you haven't seen it).

American POW's in China

Internet is Full of Talking People

Noam talks about the role of mass media and democracy.



The most interesting part of this video is when he talks about the NED, National Endowment for Democracy, established under Reagan, which funds programs such as Students for a Free Tibet and other programs which used to be funded and run by the CIA. The US government is often involved in politics in ways we do not expect. It really distorts Americans' view of the world. For example, the NED and other groups get money from Congress, which then fund Chinese democracy activists who are exiled from China. In the West, we are given the impression that these people are hugely influential, but in fact, there are not very many democracy activists, and they are largely dismissed in China by the public as idealist radicals.

Veterans Against the War

I think we should encourage soldiers to go AWOL

Tibet Poster

We're having a talk next Wednesday by Arthur Holcombe to talk about Tibet and the issues there.

Another scholar talks about how claims of cultural genocide are really exaggerated.