U.N.

The U.S. doesn’t trust the U.N. Like a parent who makes rules but doesn’t enforce his own rules, the U.N. is foolish to expect respect. It is difficult to trust a situation in which an authority makes the rules and ignores the violations. The U.S. hesitates to rely on an organization which continues to do this; hesitates to cede authority to one who would not do what is in the best interest of the people of Iraq, and might promote a direction harmful to those people in the future.

We do not know how far the regime was able to influence the U.N. There may have been deep involvement which could include financial support to those willing to peddle the regime’s position. The public does not know, but sooner or later, the public will find out if there is more. We will be able to tell whether or not rumors are true about replacements. We will see by the shuffling and reorganization. We can hope to eventually know the truth.

BUSH and SUPREME COURT?

Was Bush *appointed* by the Supreme Court? No, but it sounds good to the opposition, the democrats. As far as I can determine, there were legal questions and legal complications. The Supreme Court decided they would not interfere within the State of Florida. Therefore, in not deciding the issue, but deciding not to interfere; it was possible for the Republicans to declare Bush the victor in Florida. This declaration enabled the Electoral College to make the election final.

That’s my understanding of the happenings. If you want to accuse me of being biased, I was. . .I didn’t vote for GWB, and was furious at the way the election turned out. This was at least the second time the State of Florida was responsible for screwing up a national election. . .and look who was Gov. of Florida. Jeb Bush, the President’s brother, was the Governor. It doesn’t look good. And, when it doesn’t have the appearance of propriety, it can be criticized.

Nevertheless, GWB is the President of the United States, as duly sworn in Jan. 2001.

WHERE IS RAED?

You found him. We found geeinbaghdad.blogspot.com, now where did he go? What is he doing? How is he? Come out, Gxxxxh. We’d like to hear from you, too.

RIVER DID IT AGAIN!

River writes such powerful blogs. The words seems to describe the thoughts so very well.

Baghdad Burning

DO I BELIEVE IT?

“Saddam Hussein is gone and he’s not coming back.” (GWB 8/26/03)

Unless Iraqis make a terrible mistake; no, he’s not coming back to power. If he’s alive, (I don’t see the proof that he is,) he will try to come back. He will try to regain power. He will try to instill fear, and will try anything he can to perpetuate his will on the Iraqi people. If he’s alive, he still thinks you belong to him.

I will be satisfied when I see the body, and not before. Until I see the body, hear the information, it is nothing more than a bunch of Elvis sightings which stir the emotions of the Iraqis.

River, your blog about your job experiences and the difficulties was spectacular.

G, hope you blog soon. S put up the photos and they were excellent. Well, except the group of ends. That's only because I don't understand why, either. The captions were such a laugh, but it doesn't take away from the pictures. They were beautifully well-done.

THIS IS THE FIRST (EVER) INTERNET WAR

There was the first war using gun powder. We have had the first war with airplane power, and the first war with television coverage. This is the very first war with internet coverage so vast that you can speak to your enemy, you can speak to some of the people who are on the ground, in the area, experiencing the war. You can discuss the events with others throughout the world. It is not comfortable, but war is not comfortable.

Combined with the media coverage of events, enormous numbers of people can fire up their computers and talk about what is happening. This can boggle a person’s brain.

When the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad was blown up, it was a matter of minutes until the news flashed around the world and computer operators were passing the word, and the thoughts, and the speculations throughout the world. It makes the world smaller; it punks us down, on the ground, in Iraq, in the thick of the battle and fearful for the individuals involved. Oh, not the vicious, not the power grabbers, not the killers, but individuals who are in the wrong place. The innocent people of Iraq, and even the soldiers who would rather be at home with their families (both the Iraqi soldiers and the Coalition soldiers) are at risk. You cannot view this without hearing about the little children, and the old, and the mothers, and the good fathers and brothers.

One of the early TV programs was called “You Are There.” We are there—in spirit, in the information, in the sight of the action. We are there. It may be good, it may be bad, but it is real and it is a first.