It's interesting to see the backlash against celebrities speaking out on the war:

--VISA has pulled its commercials featuring Martin Sheen. And apparently, ratings for "The West Wing" have not been so great...although, this season has been a clunker overall anyway.

--Don Cherry, host of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, went into a 7-minute pro-US tirade 2 weeks ago during his "Coach's Corner" segment. CBC has apparently pulled that audio file off its site, and he has received both praise and criticism for his remarks. In his defense, he was basically goaded by co-host Ron MacLean to speak out about the war.

--Many country stations are refusing to play songs by the Dixie Chicks, after singer Natalie Maines said she was embarrassed that the president is from her home state of Texas, to an audience in London last month.

--A sign was hung on a statue of Wayne Gretzky outside Skyreach Centre in Edmonton that read "U$ Lackey." Gretzky is a vocal supporter of Dubya and the war in Iraq.

I understand that celebrities are under a microscope, and they should know that what they say could be subject to scrutiny. But in the end...who really cares what a celebrity thinks about the war? They're not fighting it, they're not involved in it, they're really no different than you or me in the end.

Fortunately, I have not yet received a backlash for my anti-war stance...and for that, I thank you.

Not that anyone really cares what I say either. :)

I found this article from Al-Jazeera's English site amusing: France worried over rise in anti-Americanism

From Al-Jazeera: Some interesting quotes culled under the heading "Reasons for War Examined."

Pistol Pete apparently isn't having a hard time finding new jobs.

NBC's David Bloom, embedded with the 3rd Infantry Division near Baghdad, died of an apparent pulmonary embolism at age 39.

Of all the embedded reporters, I was particularly impressed with his field reports...they gave me the impression that he really knew his stuff. I suspect that sitting and laying down for long periods of time in the field may have contributed to his death.

A real shame.

Whooboy! Where do we start?

Rummy was sporting his war woody today...as he spoke, you could almost hear the orgasm. Relish that folks...that's the happiest you'll ever see him.

I'm happy for the Iraqi people, given it's the first time they've been this free in at least 23 years. It's all uphill from here...

Two issues concern me at the moment, now that the stupor is wearing off...

--Looting: Becoming a serious problem in Basra and Baghdad. Judging from what I heard and read today, the military doesn't seem very concerned about it...or at least, not as much as I think they should be. As I see it, those Iraqis were carrying off their future, not to mention causing economic harm to their fellow Iraqis. And I don't want to see us putting any more money into this than we need to. And in the end, the US military or some authority is going to have to start playing policemen.

--Arab reaction: Other than Iraq, Kuwait, and the US, the rest of the Arab world seemed to be in utter disbelief. Some spoke of feeling humiliated, the lowest point in Arab history, etc. On NPR today, they discussed how people in Egypt were signing up to go to Iraq to fight COW forces...until the Egyptian government put some pressure on them. Not the first time I've heard this...before that, it was going on in Jordan. These are the folks that we need to keep an eye on. Maybe our handling of post-war Iraq will change minds...but I suspect not.

In my initial thread, I discussed how some view this as a war on Islam. And judging by what I heard today, that sentiment is still pretty fresh. It's sad really...as much as I hate this war, it would seem that the US is doing a pretty good job in the overall handling of things thus far.

But it's all uphill from here...

No offense, but I think this is just about the dumbest thing you've said since I've known you.

I've an idea. We're going to put you in charge of curbing shoplifting at the local Wal*Mart, and then I'm going to hide around and shoot at you.

The military isn't concerned about looting because Ba'ath part coffee tables are less important than American lives. They're still fighting over there, so pardon them if a couple chairs get stolen. They'll get to it when they get to it.

As I see it, if the COW forces have an area under control, then keeping order in the area should be the next objective, besides rooting out any remaining resistance. The people should be taken care of physically (food, water, the sick and injured treated, etc.), and they need to be protected.

And that involves property as well. I mean, we're not just talking tables here. I would hate to see something along the lines of the 1968 riots here in the States, where people virtually destroyed their own areas, and rebuilding is either nonexistant or just taking shape (e.g. DC's U Street corridor). Or Los Angeles 1992.

I don't know what it's like not to have freedom...so I can't even begin to imagine how most of Iraq is feeling. And I'd want to celebrate and go apeshit probably...but there simply has to be some order. Hopefully COW forces will know when to say when before things get too out of control.

I don't think what I said was dumb at all.

Relax, we're not going to saddle them with Marion Barry!

Seriously, the looting will be a problem and will have to be stopped before rebuilding will begin, but compared to the years of Saddam's rule and the bombings and shellings the looting damage will be fairly small in the scheme of things.

Or, as Scrappleface puts it,

I hope so Matt, on all counts.

Thanks Griff, for this post.

There is a group that wants to do weapons inspections...in the US.

Stop laughing.

The Phrase
 

You've heard it...you know it...and it could become the new catch phrase...if I have it my way.

The phrase is, of course, "at a time of our choosing."

This could sweep the nation! Observe...

Rho: "Terry, could you take out the trash?"

Syc: "Sure thing...at a time of my choosing."

Syc's boss: "Terry, I need you to run those last couple months of microfiche."

Syc: "I will...at a time of my choosing."

Not only is it funny, but it could cause our society to completely shut down. Which really isn't funny...but in a way, it is.

And with that, I will return...at a time of my choosing.

Actually, I find it somewhat chilling.

(They are welcome to inspect my weapons. Barrel first.*)

*please note that I appear to have awakened a little early this morning, have not finished my minimum RDA of caffiene, and am just generally grumpy from lack of sleep. Or mebbe it's something in the air up here in Slangsylvania.

As a FURTHER aside ... Haven't they ever heard of cat's eyes up in the wilds of Grifftopia?? Drove through at night, in fog, couldn't find the damn road. I suppose you all think it's either "quaint" or "rustic" or something ... or is this part of your (sensible, IMHO) plan to discourage tourism ... or is it just to see to it that travellers get lured to the roadside motel where they make sausages out of people? (Note to self. Don't listen to "Twin Peaks Soundtrack" during this drive ever again.)