With Atrios on this one!
We could learn something from the past about the stupidity of war, particularly given the pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now being fought so that we might be free to cower in our beds at the thought of fifth-rate religious fanatics…
Gorilla says: “Surely you jest! That’s more or less like expecting us to learn something from the past about the horrors of oil drilling!”
More magical thinking from Euroland, the Home Of Really Stupid Central Bankers:
Bank of Italy Governor Draghi: “Purchases will have to be discontinued as quickly as possible, as soon as the markets spontaneously resume trading of the securities of the countries involved.”
Gorilla translates: “Austerity…growth!”
The Israelis, who clearly aren’t serious about peace but are serious about their blockade of Gaza, or the pro-Palestinian “aid flotilla”, who got themselves shot up as a reward for staging a cheap media stunt?
With a dozen or so dead, and several dozen wounded, it’s hard to figure out what the point of this nonsense is.
Israel’s Prime Minister seems determined to bury his head and his country as deep into the sand as possible. He has few friends internationally, and his most loyal ally is desperately trying to get him to a bargaining table he has never supported in his entire political career.
The Palestinians get lots of international sympathy, but they are bitterly divided. A referendum to make up their minds once and for all would be useful, but of course Hamas might win.
Gorilla says: “Sounds like a case for Kurt Wallender, but that’s not real life!”
He said that for an export-orientated country like Germany, it was sometimes necessary to deploy troops “to protect our interests… for example free trade routes”.
Of course, he’s right. Without the free trade routes that enable Afghanistan to supply 90% of the world’s opiates, where would the Taliban be?
Gorilla explains: “You can’t become a monopolist without capturing a few counterinsurgency strategies!”
The Pentagon, like the Administration, needs to consult some focus groups before deciding that equal protection under the law may not be such a bad thing!
It’s all a bunch of homophobic nonsense, devised by idiotic, hidebound generals who can’t remember what the hell they’re fighting for.
Would the Pentagon have asked Harry Truman to wait a bit before desegregating the Army? You bet, if Admiral Mike Mullen is to be believed!
Gorilla says: “Sexual assaults against women soldiers still don’t seem to be a problem, but too many men in showers threatens those in power!”
Slimy spills of yesterday resume once more
To reconnoiter, with lessons learned again
As hard as pelicans, who in dying bore
DC consumers, across the nation spin
To loiter, while a sweeps month keeps a score
Of catching the anger, why wouldn’t that win?
In stimy thrill, a brown specked tumor might say
Deploy your plumes of damage, and shrink away.
Greeks are finding out what it means to be bust…
No more easily injectable insulin for Greek diabetics, Danish Big Pharma won’t accept price cuts until the old bills are paid!
Gorilla says: “Austerity comes upon Athens like a sugar rush!”
It’s been quite clear since the announcement of a tripling in “save the bayous” workers that “top kill” wasn’t working.
And there’s nothing much that can be done, all the scientific and oil industry brains put together don’t amount to much.
So, we should end offshore drilling for good, do the best we can to clean up the mess, and nationalize BP’s American assets to pay for as much as they can.
But that’s not what will happen, Louisiana’s a very poor state that is wholly dependent on the oil industry, government doesn’t seem to have the technical resources or manpower to do more than hit and hope, and Washington’s elites don’t want to bite the grimy hands that feed them.
Gorilla says: “From New Orleans to Kabul, we never learn anything from being condemned to repeat history!”
Plenty of money available for those who work at failing Afghan surges!
But no willingness to extend unemployment benefits for millions of Americans beyond next weekend.
The House has passed an extension through November, but the Senate’s going to wait until the last minute, so the stupidity goes on…
Gorilla says: “Maybe the jobless could plant poppies here at home, then accept money from the US military to plow them under?”
Going nowhere, and it’s not a surprise: the non-proliferation treaty talks!
Same old problem: Arab states want a final statement that “names and shames” Israel, US won’t allow it.
Same old solution: A fudgcicle, trading a 2012 conference to talk about talks on a WMD-free Middle East for Israel’s commitment to attend such a conference.
Same old double standard: The US will not push Israel in any way to change its views, either on peace talks or non-proliferation talks, hence even talks about talks are a waste of time.
Gorilla says: “Diplomacy only works when national interests coincide at the intersection of Realism and Hypocrisy!”
Update (Friday 4pm): A deal has been reached which urges the Israels to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty and put their nuclear facilities under IAEA inspection. Whether Syria or Iran will accept this remains to be seen, but the US at least is moving slightly forward.
