Hugo Chavez and the Limits of Democracy
Venezuela is a powerful reminder that elections are necessary but not sufficient for democracy, and that even longstanding democracies can unravel overnight. A government's legitimacy flows not only from the ballot box but also from the way it conducts itself.
(MOISES NAIM Op-Ed for NYT)
Wednesday, March 05, 2003
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
US dirty tricks to win vote on Iraq war
Secret document details American plan to bug phones and emails of key Security Council members. Click Here To Read The Memo.
(Observer, posted in Samizdat)
Secret document details American plan to bug phones and emails of key Security Council members. Click Here To Read The Memo.
(Observer, posted in Samizdat)
US DIPLOMAT'S LETTER OF RESIGNATION
John Brady Kiesling to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell"
quite possibly the most eloquent statement of dissent thus far put forth regarding the issue of Iraq" appeared in the New York Times
(from Truthout and kc pat's Forty Two at Autre Blog, Suggested by Donna Soto)
John Brady Kiesling to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell"
quite possibly the most eloquent statement of dissent thus far put forth regarding the issue of Iraq" appeared in the New York Times
(from Truthout and kc pat's Forty Two at Autre Blog, Suggested by Donna Soto)
Monday, March 03, 2003
Thai Drug War takes Huge Casualties
Thai PM admits drug war 'mistakes'
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has admitted that police might have made some "mistakes" in waging a bloody month-long war on drugs which has left more than 1,100 people dead.
(BBC, posted in Unlearned Hand and suggested by Paul Whitehurst)
Thai PM admits drug war 'mistakes'
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has admitted that police might have made some "mistakes" in waging a bloody month-long war on drugs which has left more than 1,100 people dead.
(BBC, posted in Unlearned Hand and suggested by Paul Whitehurst)
Saturday, March 01, 2003
HOT HOT HAVANA CANCELLED
The revue scheduled for the Saenger and part of the city's "Cuba Week" has been cancelled. It seems that the Cuban performers have not been allowed visas (click here for afrocubaweb's report on that) by the U.S. That's a real shame. Aside from the whole issue of our government's silly policies, it really serves to deprive Mobile of a truly spectacular cultural event. If you are ever fortunate enough to see the Tropicana in Havana you will never forget it. I didn't see the show until my fifth trip there, being resistent to paying $80 for a show in a country where that is a not insignificant amount of money. But I gave in the last time and it it was just splendid. Talk about full employment. Here is an open-air cabaret with hundreds of performers all set in the sultry atmospshere that is Cuban sensuality.
The revue scheduled for the Saenger and part of the city's "Cuba Week" has been cancelled. It seems that the Cuban performers have not been allowed visas (click here for afrocubaweb's report on that) by the U.S. That's a real shame. Aside from the whole issue of our government's silly policies, it really serves to deprive Mobile of a truly spectacular cultural event. If you are ever fortunate enough to see the Tropicana in Havana you will never forget it. I didn't see the show until my fifth trip there, being resistent to paying $80 for a show in a country where that is a not insignificant amount of money. But I gave in the last time and it it was just splendid. Talk about full employment. Here is an open-air cabaret with hundreds of performers all set in the sultry atmospshere that is Cuban sensuality.
Thursday, February 27, 2003
Ad Spoofing White House Drug Ads to Run
A 30 second tv ad will begin airing Thursday spoofing the Nick and Norm ads of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that push the theme that marijuana funds terrorists. Visit this link to look at the ad, better yet, give them a few bucks. Hmmm, maybe some progressives here could run the ads locally.
(TalkLeft from Washington Post, Suggested by Paul Whitehurst)
A 30 second tv ad will begin airing Thursday spoofing the Nick and Norm ads of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that push the theme that marijuana funds terrorists. Visit this link to look at the ad, better yet, give them a few bucks. Hmmm, maybe some progressives here could run the ads locally.
(TalkLeft from Washington Post, Suggested by Paul Whitehurst)
Racketeering Conviction of Anti-Abortion Groups Voided(NYT)
The New York Times reports today that a federal racketeering judgment against a coalition of anti-abortion groups that conducted a widespread campaign of disrupting and blockading abortion clinics during the 1980's had been overturned, saying that the protesters' actions, although in some instances criminal, did not fit the federal definition of extortion. Good. While I completely support a woman's right to abortion, the seemingly endless extension of federal laws to meet all sorts of boutique prosecutions has got to stop.
The New York Times reports today that a federal racketeering judgment against a coalition of anti-abortion groups that conducted a widespread campaign of disrupting and blockading abortion clinics during the 1980's had been overturned, saying that the protesters' actions, although in some instances criminal, did not fit the federal definition of extortion. Good. While I completely support a woman's right to abortion, the seemingly endless extension of federal laws to meet all sorts of boutique prosecutions has got to stop.
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
CUBAN CARDINAL ASKS LEADERS TO EASE UP (NYT)
Cardinal Jaime Ortega called on the government to soften what it considers to be the heavy hand of the leaders and be more compassionate with its citizens.
"The hour has come to pass from being a legalistic state that demands sacrifices and settles accounts to a merciful state willing to offer a compassionate hand before imposing controls and punishing infractions."
Cardinal Jaime Ortega called on the government to soften what it considers to be the heavy hand of the leaders and be more compassionate with its citizens.
"The hour has come to pass from being a legalistic state that demands sacrifices and settles accounts to a merciful state willing to offer a compassionate hand before imposing controls and punishing infractions."
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
SOUTH ALABAMA POLL: GIVE INSPECTORS MORE TIME
President Bush easily carried Alabama in the 2000 presidential election. He's having a harder time convincing Alabamians of an urgent need to attack Iraq, the results of a new Mobile Register-University of South Alabama survey suggest.
President Bush easily carried Alabama in the 2000 presidential election. He's having a harder time convincing Alabamians of an urgent need to attack Iraq, the results of a new Mobile Register-University of South Alabama survey suggest.
NORML RESPONDS TO DC REEFER MADNESS
"It is time for the Justice Department to reassess its priorities and stop wasting federal law enforcement resources on such trivial endeavors. [Operation Pipedreams, see below.] Federal efforts would undoubtedly be better served keeping a bomb out of the hands of Al Queda than keeping a bong out of the hands of a marijuana smoker."
(Suggested by Steve Glassroth)
"It is time for the Justice Department to reassess its priorities and stop wasting federal law enforcement resources on such trivial endeavors. [Operation Pipedreams, see below.] Federal efforts would undoubtedly be better served keeping a bomb out of the hands of Al Queda than keeping a bong out of the hands of a marijuana smoker."
(Suggested by Steve Glassroth)
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