Category: Everything Else

On this Memorial Day, Musing’s Musings says it better than I could.

Yes, I think the War on Terra was a big fuckin’ mistake, and that the people who started it are criminals who should be in the dock in the Hague. My bet is that quite a few of the guys and gals fighting in the war feel the same way I do. But because the people running the country into the ground are misguided Republican asshole extremists doesn’t mean I don’t think that our fighting men and women aren’t worthy of support.

Our troops should get 100% of everything they need to do the jobs we give them to do. We shouldn’t be sending them into harm’s way unless there’s absolutely nothing else for it, but when we do, no matter what the pretext or the evidence, they should absolutely go into combat with all the guns and ammunition and armor (body and otherwise) they need to do what they have to do with a minimum of casualties. Nobody who signs on the dotted line to put his or her body between us on the home front and the people who are trying their best to destroy us should not have to be worrying about whether his/her family back home is going to be able to make ends meet. No military family should ever have to take food stamps or go on welfare because one or more members is in the service. And when the war’s over, no serviceman or -woman should have to wonder if there will be health care available to take care of his/her needs, support for easing back into a normal routine or into civilian life. For those that don’t come home in one piece, or, God forbid, don’t come back at all, there should be no question that their needs will be met and their loved ones cared for–justly and fairly.

Indeed.

A 2.5 quake doesn’t harm much, but when the epicenter is only about 3 miles awy from you, you sit up from the couch you’ve collpased onto and take notice.

Gimi was parked next to me on the couch and it disturbed him. I think this may have been his first ‘real’ earthquake.

And an earthquake of another sort from Europe: As expected, France votes “No“.

“Nameless soldier” over at dKos is getting shipped out to Iraq this weekend. Godspeed and keep your head down, dude. I’ve added your blog to my blogroll.

Some big things are afoot in Europe. It seems likely that France will vote this week to reject the EU constitution. If they do vote to reject, the constitution will not be able to be implemented, causing a serious issue for the 25-member European Union. Bloomberg’s been covering this because of the potential effect on the Euro exchange rate, but other than that I haven’t found much US coverage.

Predictions that a ‘no’ vote from France will “kill” the EU may be premature, but it’s a real possibility. It all depends on whether there’s a willingness to do further work on the EU constitution. Getting 25 different countries to agree on anything is really, really, hard, so going back to the drawing table could mean years of additional negotiations and voting. Not an appealing prospect.

From what I’ve been able to glean in the English-language press, the anti-constitution opposition feels that

the charter enshrines an “ultra-liberal” economic model, putting market interests ahead of social concerns and does not protect workers enough.

Amazing. They’ll vote the EU constitution down because it doesn’t protect workers enough. I’m not sure if I’m impressed or annoyed, or both, by this. I’m impressed that the people of France feel so strongly about the issue that they’re willing to bring the whole EU-nification process to a halt over it. Annoyed because I think the EU is generally a good idea and that the French acting to derail the process is short-sighted of them.

And a minor side-note, note the use of the word ‘liberal’ as being pro-business, not pro-worker, in the Reuters UK piece. No matter what side of the Pond you live on, ‘liberal’ seems to be a bad word.

Per Reuters:

Syria has severed military and intelligence cooperation with the United States, its ambassador to Washington told The New York Times in an interview published on its Web site on Monday.

The ambassador, Imad Moustapha, told the newspaper in an interview given last Friday at the Syrian Embassy in Washington, that his country had, in the last 10 days, “severed all links” with the U.S. military and Central Intelligence Agency

Not that I am any kind of a fan of Syria, but that’s not good news.

The AP reports:

Last month, animal rights extremists followed the wife of a pharmaceutical company executive to her job, rifled through her car and stole a credit card. They used it buy $20,000 in travelers checks, which they then donated to four charities.

It should be pretty obvious from my blog that the welfare of animals is important to me. But I have no idea in what twisted mindset it’s OK to commit felonies against people in order to “protect” animals. The ALF likes to say that they have no intention of hurting people, but I wonder how long it will be before some sick freak decides to start killing Forest Pharmecutical executives.

Think that’s too extreme? Tell that to the families of the doctors who have been murdered for providing abortions.