Sorry for the disappearing act, folks. I'm trying to post every day, but I had some problems with an FTP client this weekend, which caused my directories to crash. Hugs and kisses to Josh for helping us to get back online.

Take This Occupation and Shove It

Colin Powell made a surprise visit to Baghdad over the weekend, but as he and Paul Bremer were starting in on how great everything is, swarms of Arab journalists stood, read a statement, and walked out of the conference to protest US involvement in the death of two journalists from Al Arabiya television.

Did Powell express shame for US troops' mistake (or war crime, depending on your perspective)? He started in the grand American tradition of starting with a pat on our own back:

The journalists just left to express their feelings, something that could never happen in earlier times in the history of Iraq, certainly not during the last 30 years. . . . I also regret the loss of life of the two journalists. . . .

However . . .

Let's be clear who is responsible for this: the terrorists, those individuals left over from the old regime who do not want to see Iraqi people live in peace. They do not want to see democracy take root.

Journalists killed by US forces? It's the terrorists' fault. Stock market down? It's the terrorists' fault. Space shuttle blew up? Terrorists!

I don't want to downplay the significance of terror, or ridicule the very real horror and tension that our troops must be experiencing in Iraq, where every car speeding toward you might be a suicide bomber. But for our diplomats and envoys to refuse any responsibility for this sort of atrocity is simply unacceptable.

Speaking of Extra-Judicial Killing...

Today Israel assassinated Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas. As expected, Palestinian militants instantly realized the folly of violent resistance and laid down their arms. Muslims and Jews were seen dancing joyously across the Holy Land, and all Palestinian claims to self-determination have been abandoned.

Certain bleeding hearts like Kofi Annan (noted hater of freedom) and the entire European Union strongly condemned the assassination. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw put it quite well: "I don't believe Israel will benefit from the fact that this morning an 80-year-old in a wheelchair" was assassinated.

Condoleeza Rice denied charges that Sharon (who oversaw the assassination personally) phoned Washington to inform them of the strike (which is without question not allowed by international law, for anyone who may be wondering). However, she stopped short of actually condemning the attack. "Let's remember," she said on NBC's Today show, "that Hamas is a terrorist organization and that Sheikh Yassin himself has been heavily involved in terrorism." Katie Couric failed to ask Rice how she defined terrorism, and whether the assassination of George W. Bush for his illegal invasion of Iraq would be similarly acceptable.

Already in response, a guy with a knife stabbed three people on a bus in Tel Aviv; and then a different man attacked Israelis with an axe outside an army base. The IDF is sure to answer any Palestinian violence with more violence and house destructions and collective punishments.

Pass the ipecac!

Random

What's up there, enormous strawberry-shaped buttercake? Mmmm . . . 24,000 pounds of cake.

Thanks to Garrett (I guess) for linking us to Dee Snyder's homepage. He's never looked better! Twisted Sister 4-Ever!

Hey, just because the Bush administration has banned the import of goods from Burma (in response to that nation's oppressive dictatorship) doesn't mean he can't use clothes from Burma in his bid for re-election! How is he supposed to keep those war coffers full if he has to pay a living wage to the people who make his gear? You liberals!

If you like Hello Kitty (and HP Lovecraft), you'll love Hello Cthulu! (via MeFi or MoFi, I don't remember which.)

TimeWaster™

Does your computer frustrate you at times? Then smash it! Virtually, natch. Impressive level of detail in the kinds of destruction you can dish out here. I hope v.2 includes weapons! (A hammer would be so cool. How about a chainsaw?)

Today I'm listening to: Coldcut! (You gotta see their Japanese ad.)