When the going gets tough, the tough get weird.

Looks like the wacky machine has come home.

So Al-Qaeda appears to want Spain back. Back? Just because your digs in the mountains of Pakistan suck doesn't mean you have to go build a beach house in Andalusia.

So G.W. is send more troops to Iraq. You can almost hear the collective tears of the upcoming Republican defeat this far out from the election. Not that he's wrong to try to prop up and finish what he's started but at this point... well, what is this point of it anyways?

Oh yes, it may not be WWIII (or IV or some other numeral) but it certainly is getting even more bloody with even more participants. The latest is Iraq's poster boy Sadr. It appears he is ready to send 1,500 of his 'elite fighters' to fight along side of Hezbollah. At least that's 1,500 less bomb makers for the US to fight in Iraq.

How would Sadr get to Lebanon anyways? Oh, that's right, through the porous and complicit Syrian border. The same way the missles get there. While everyone else seems to be rushing to Lebanon it appears the guy who started it all, Nasrallah, is holding up not with the dying Lebanese but in the comfy world of Syria. He appears to be conducting talks with Iran and Syria on how to best keep his troops supplied with weapons and missles. So much for that Democratic Iraq buffer zone.

All this and Landis tested positive for steroids. Sacre Bleu!

Coffee in a War Zone

There is something hauntingly romatic about a war zone to me. Yes, I realize I am able to hold this belief by not actually hanging around in one in my life. Still, there is a modicum romance of eeking a living in the cracks of a city that has fallen to ruin.

This may be bizzare and wholly unique to me but I don't believe so. I believe I have found some kindred spirits right here! (I would like to point out that the first letter is from someone in Bogota, Columbia. Which I find ironic, as an American, that someone from Columbia would have a hard time relating to someone else in a warzone. I digress.)

I think there would be something inherently re-enforcing to enact common or daily rituals within a war zone. Like a BBQ in Beirut in 1983 (or today as time repeats)...



Taking part in these activities, while the most horrible things surround you, must be cathartic to the point of religous. While unable to breath through your own sadness you might occasionally find peace or joy in something as mundane as coffee. Just a warm cup of coffee on a morning in war.

-v.

Made for the future

My son had his birthday today. Happy Birthday Son. 3 years on and he's still a good idea.

-v.

2 Arab-Israeli Children Update

It appears that Nasrallah has apologized for the killing of the 2 Arab-Israeli children. I would consider this a step forward in the conflict or even perhaps an example for Israel to follow but Nasrallah just can help but add, "Some events like that happen. At any event, those who were killed in Nazareth, we consider them martyrs for Palestine and martyrs for the nation. I pay my condolences to them." Allow me to translate:

"Shit happens. Their ninja's of the afterlife. Sorry about that unelective promotion."

-v.

You there, Cut it out!

Oh, look. Kofi Annan has called for an "immediate end to fighting". As I would paraphrase Chapelle, "You and what army?". Yes. Exactly.

Meanwhile, the selling out of Lebanon continues. With Condoleeza Rice saying the conflict will conclude "when conditions are conducive to do so." We'll come back to this quote in about 3 years but for now it's merely silly.

Deadwood Mogadishu

So to hold true of our current theme I have noticed that Ethiopia has rattled its swords at the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). Apparently the upstart militia has continued to excert it's power and influence across southern-Somalia which has got a bit too close for Ethiopia's comfort.

While Somalia is a war-torn, mob rule nation-state one has to wonder if at some point one of these militias will finally be able to bring the rule of law and order to the cities of this nation. In the meantime, however, it has been described as 'the wild west of Africa'. Perhaps it is true, I have never been there, but one has to think a large chunk of land without any central authority or law would begin to resemble the American Wild West.

However, since when was the American Wild West nearly as violent and ominously oppressive? The American imagination, and the World's, has envisioned a wild west as a world redeemed by well-groomed cowboys, handsome anti-heroes and even proper enough to create theme parks around. If Somalia gets ordered will it, in about 50 years, start depicting their own violent history as some sort of fairy dusted past? Will images of naked American Soldiers being drug down the street, UN troops observing rape and murder impotently on the sidelines and warlord kingpins take on similiar roles that the cowboy, native american and disinterested colonial powers currently play?

Once again we are looking at the white washing of time and history in favour of entertainment with HBO shows like 'Deadwood' which attempt to convince us that the American West was part Shakespeare, part greed and all secretly well intentioned. Perhaps Somalia also has prostitutes with a heart of gold, crime syndicates who secretly want to help orphans and thugs who cry privately for days after a brawl? Perhaps they too will have a Swearengen rise from their ranks? Or have we once again duplicated a sugar coated past.

Hard Realities

May have noticed from my first several posts on this blog that there is a decided theme currently. A theme which I hope won't occupy my time, or the world's, for too much longer. That is the current Israeli-Hezbollah War. I won't digress into the actual name of this war. It is indeed a war even if CNN would prefer to colour it as as 'BOMBS AND TEARS' or apply some other wit(less) headline generated by their marketing machine. Which once again goes to show that the American Media has once again been outpaced and outperformed by crowdsource.

Some of the best sourcing can be found within blogs from the region directly effected. Israel, Lebanon and to some extent Syria and Iran. However, the greatest can be found within that great new web 2.0 invention called YouTube. While I have continually poisoned my psyche with mindless drivel of kids beating each other up there are now Lebanon and Israeli war montages. One of the most notable aspects of the footage and discussions are how reflective of how things really are on the ground level. Unlike CNN, they do not show the same blast or explosions 15 times in a row without audio nor do they refrain from ground level photographies. They simply show reality for maximum impact.

In a modern world where traditional media has failed in it's duty in informing the public accurately and fully it is up to each of us to seek out even the darkest images and realities that war can bring. Only by bringing the harshest of truths to light will we actually make it past all this.

-v.

On a pathetic but positive note.

A fellow folk at one of my favorite forums, The Sick City, is a movie star. Well a guy on TV at least. His latest role on the TV show Eureka. It plays on the Sci-Fi channel at 9pm Tuesdays EST.

He plays assistant (named Fargo) to Greg Germann(the lame guy from Ally McBeal.

That's it. My shameless plug. My opinion of the show? Remember, I actually like this guy.

2 Arab-Israeli Children Killed

It appears that Hezbollah has killed Arab-Israeli Children in the town of Nazareth. They were killed while playing together on the street. They were brothers.

While the death of children is absolutely saddening. I understand folks would be upset about early warning systems and general information during wartime but I’m not sure I understand why they would be ‘playing outside’. Almost like noticing a boiling pot and still touching the water.

I think it’s even more remarkable at that these rockets, while launched without specific details of the ultimate impact, are being launched at what seems to be a predominately arab-israeli town. Towns being targets they know they can hit. Not that I put all too much past Hezbollah but there must be a calculation on their part to hit this town. My only theory is that they want to cause strife within Israel for internal revolts or rebellions. I think the miscalculation, beyond their repulsive ‘means to an end’ stance, is that an arab person would reject the more liberal life style of Israel wholesale. I suppose it appears that they would according to the news (see: http://www.cnn.com).

If Hezbollah were a true force for change they would be able to sacrfice appropriately to create the effect they desire. In so far as to recognize their arsenel is unable to pinpoint IDF forces it would bring the fight closer. If they truly were attempting martyrdom then they would be willing to fight and sacrifice their own lives, not random innocent Arab-Israelis, to acheive their goal. Whatever that is at this point.

-v.

Sandmonkey Discussion

Not really an initial post but a thought. I mostly keep myself occupied with forums. However, I would like to start consolidating my positions in a single thought. So no better place to cut and paste my other rantings and ravings than a ... shudder... blog.

Here it is:


This is such a sticky mess. Every day reveals not only another layer but adds another as well.

In terms of folks rising up within Lebanon to put down the Hezabollah...

That's really really hard. Especially when the standing militia has superior weapons. In modern warfare, the lesser force will take such dramatic damage in the initial foray that true success for the lesser force can't really come about without tacit support from an external, well armed, force. Even then, there usually is enough loose ends left afterwards by PREMATURE conclusion to conflict (by way of the UN and the 'international' community) that a low grade war will be forever fought. Unfortunately, with low grade wars over generations it leads to radicalism, despotism and extreme proverty. So even if the folks in Lebanon rose up against Hezbollah the conclusion they are seeking - a stable and healthy nation - would never come about.

Unfortunately battles like this continue to radicalize all those who observe it, experience it and are part of it. I am *almost* of the mind to say that Lebanon as a nation doesn't exist and they should redraw the lines to better reflect the factions and population. If even a government with the ability to monitor it's borders is offensive to a large bulk of the population then it might be high time to say this won't ever work. Then again - that's the observations of this eternal conflict manipulating my emotions to lend itself to cynical thoguht.

Whatever the outcome, let's hope it's fully realized.

-v.