Rumsfeld: "The New Fascism"

This is from an article in the LATimes online posted August 30, 2006.
By Julian E. Barnes - Los Angeles Times

SALT LAKE CITY — Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld compared critics of the Bush administration to those who sought to appease the Nazis before World War II, warning Tuesday that the United States is confronting "a new type of fascism."
Rumsfeld, speaking before the American Legion convention, delivered some of his most explicit and extended attacks yet on the administration's critics, provoking criticism from furious Democrats who accused him of "campaigning on fear."
By comparing U.S. foreign policy with World War II and the Cold War, Rumsfeld sought to portray skeptics of Bush's foreign policy as being on the wrong side of history. Rumsfeld again ridiculed U.S. officials who, before World War II, wished to negotiate with Adolf Hitler.
"I recount that history because, once again, we face similar challenges in efforts to confront the rising threat of a new type of fascism," Rumsfeld said. "But some seem not to have learned history's lessons."
He continued: "Can we truly afford to believe that, somehow or some way, vicious extremists could be appeased?"
His use of the word "appease" was particularly notable, clearly tying administration critics to the failed efforts of the pre-Churchill British government to mollify Hitler.
Rumsfeld has become one of the Bush administration's most divisive figures, and demands for his resignation have become a litmus test in congressional races around the country.
Nevertheless, Rumsfeld aggressively defended the war and his leadership of it in speeches to the American Legion on Tuesday, the Veterans of Foreign Wars a day earlier and in other meetings with service members this week.
In each speech, Rumsfeld has acknowledged the reality of debate in a free society. But he has attacked the news media, charging that reports have been manipulated by Iraqi insurgents or al-Qaida terrorists. He has suggested that negative news stories and criticism of the war sap the nation's will to fight in Iraq.
"The struggle we are in is too important — the consequences too severe — to have the luxury of returning to the 'blame America first' mentality," Rumsfeld told the American Legion. "Can we truly afford to return to the destructive view that America — not the enemy — is the real source of the world's troubles?"

An American arrives at London's Heathrow airport. As he fills out a form, the customs officer asks him: "Occupation?"

The American promptly replies: "No, just visiting!"

Long Weekend

The last 4 days have been "summer vacation", so I've done alot of strolling and picture-taking. I considered going to Seoul, but there was rain in much of the forecast. So, instead I decided to do a couple touristy things in Jeonju. One of those things being a visit to Gaeksa. It's the birthplace of Yi Seong-gye, founder of the Joseon Dynasty, (1390-1910), the last dynasty to rule before Japanese domination.






Directly next to Gaeksa is the "Street for Strolling". That's really the name. A bit like a strip mall, no cars allowed (supposedly, but there was some repairs being done). Regardless, a quiet place for strolling and people watching.

The other tourist trap was shopping, luckily it was of the "window" variety. The only thing I bought was a "Goldcrest Wilma" Cypress, a miniature Cypress tree, for about 3 bucks. I read it doesn't usually get much bigger than a large bush and can be used for bonsai. But I think i'll let it grow naturally, that is, if i can get it to grow at all.

To Hell With The Tripod...

Light The Way, O' Lord

Hehn greets me at the Incheon airport on April 1st at around 6pm. We take a bus that departs around 7. Five stops and four hours later we arrive in the outskirts of Jeonju. As we come down the last steep hill, into the valley of the city, I see bright red neon lights dotting the landscape. Most lights in a city are either orange or blue, but red is rather unusual. Closer observation reveals the red dots to be crosses. Almost every Christian church has one. The walk from the bus terminal to Hehn's one-room gives more clues.
There are churches everywhere. They're more obvious than America. The number of churches here is probably less than in the states, relative to the population, but their presence is more blatent. Remarks Hehn, " It's like walkin' around in a Marilyn Manson video." Eerie at first but then comforting.
I enjoy late night walks through the incredibly safe backstreets and my first weeks were spent wandering aimlessly. It's easy to do because nearly every road is winding and poorly lit. Think the exact opposite of Manhattan. NYC; no alleys only huge streets lit like a Monday night football game. Jeonju; primarily small, unlit alleys, lined with cars, barely wide enough for one car to pass. (Driving a F-150 or even a Chevy Blazer in this town would be absolutely nerve-shattering)
While on these walks I would frequently, though temporarily, lose my bearings. But, the red crosses atop these houses of worship are like the North star. Look for the pattern of red lights that's familiar and walk toward it. There are five churches within 2 or 3 blocks of my place. This is one of them.

61st Korean Liberation Day (August 15)

The sun sets on JeollaBuk-Do Provincial Complex











The sun sets on this man's recycling business.
(There's a dude in there, can you find him?)

As Promised: Some Student Pictures

This is Roy...he's deadly. (L-R): Roy, Mike TV and Albert.











There's Roy again. First attacking Mary. Then, behind Patrick










Here's Frank...genius. Then there's Chris. He didn't do his homework









Suspects: (L-R) Tom, Jordan/Matt, Michelle, Sue, Kevin, Chris, Joon.

Welcome to Jeonju City.

Jeonju City Hall and it's magnificently manicured lawn.
Taken with my new Pentax digital camera. ($200/6Mp)

Nation States

http://www.nationstates.net/counterterrorism
Let me guess, i remind you of Nazi Germany...no no no, Stalin's Russia...wait a minute...are you referring to our great homeland, that beacon of hope, that bastion of freedom and passive, mindless citizens that wouldnt know a police-state if it hit them over the head with a brick of Korean plutonium---The United States of 'Merica??? Sounds like we got a terrorist in our midst. Should we shoot him on the spot?...no, i got it, lets call him an "unlawful enemy combatant" detain him indefinately, take away his right to a trial, make him smell his own crap while he has electrodes attached to his testicles, and then have him confess to a plot involving a bunch of other guys who are in the exact same situation as he is...yeah...thats it. oh, and by the way...you hate our freedom, dont you? wake up people...we love freedom! cant you tell by the way we steal it from every other country in the world?
sincerely,
Richard Perle

PS. if you haven't played nationstates, i highly recommend it. fun for the whole brainwashed family. Nationstates

Books: Learning Tool or Deadly Weapon?

The "biggest test yet" for the Transportation Security Administration, according to Michael Chertoff, was to ban all liquids except baby formula and medicines on all flights. Attorney General Gonzales said yesterday, there was no specific intelligence suggesting a plot in the US, and yet the terror threatometer was raised to its highest level for the first time ever. Other reports say MI5 and Pakistani sources have known about the plot since last summer. Currently no explosives or detonation equipment has been found. All this within 24 hours of anti-war candidate Ned Lamont's victory in the CT democratic primary. Is this "foiled plot" yet another example of political counterterrorism? Thus far the corporate media has once again taken the bait. How long will this remain home-page news? I have a feeling this will be similar to the "Sears Tower Plot"...remember that one just two months ago? A bunch of young, dissenting friends, fantasizing on the internet brings the worlds largest airports to a standstill.

Thought Crime

I keep a regular chronicle of my dreams. I keep a mini-cassette next to the bed and soon after I wake up, record my fading memories of the past night's dreams. This morning I detailed to the speak-write, my dream in which I was involved in the attempted assassination of the president. This begs the Orwellian questions; have I just engaged in thought crime? Is it illegal to write this? Will the level of thought control ever extend to include my dreams? Am I retarded for publishing this in a public blog? If I become a nonperson, will anyone notice? Will I confess?

Of course, everyone confesses.

Are You Afraid Of Lightning?

You should be; it killed more people last year than all acts of terrorism combined. Lightning is unpredictable just like terror. But, that doesnt mean you can't increase your odds of surviving one of these rare events. First, don't go tree-climbing during a storm. Second, don't go war-starting during an Intifada. Third, have a thick rubber helmet with you at all times. Finally, have a copy of Sun Tzu's The Art of War with you at all times (and actually read the damn thing.)

Section 2 - Waging War
* When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be damped.
* If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength.
* Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain.
* Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.
*There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

Sun Tzu - 600 B.C.

Outro for Hehn

Hehn has departed. His journey will take him to China, Mongol, Land of Thai, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Beyond. I insisted on playing some tunes he didn't have on his (1GB) iRiver.
Fugazi - Arpeggiator
Peaches - Shake Yer Dix
Scott Walker - 30th Century Man
Jeffery Lewis - Seattle
Peasant Land Seizure - iii
Pelican - Mammoth
Team America - America, Fuck Yeah

Good Riddance Erich,
Stay Alive
Winters

Rooftop

Taken from the rooftop of my school.
The first looking north, the second looking west.

The Kim's Building

My building, 3rd Floor.
I have bars on my 1-foot square window;
These are to protect me from little spider-people.
The blue business on the first floor is now a hair salon.

Need For Bleed

From an article in the Financial Times:
"An oil slick affecting more than 80km of the Lebanese coastline has reached Syria and could threaten Cyprus, Turkey and Greece if left unchecked. The spill was caused by the bombing of the Jiyyeh power station, located about 30km south of Beirut, on July 13 and 15. The oil has been spreading widely because it has so far been impossible to begin cleaning it up, while the Israeli attack on the country continues."
Full FT Article

Israel has now affected an environmental atrocity as well as uncountable human atrocities. When is this garbage going to cease? Hizbollah, an elected entity in the Lebanese Parliament is the only real military Lebanon has. Also, the kidnapping of soldiers is barely a crime, while killing hundreds of civilians is not only a high crime, but a war crime punishable by death. It seems the reasons for Israel's occupation of Lebanon can be traced to their distain for Hizbollah's alliance with Hamas in Palestine. The kidnapping was the pretext for more U.S. sponsored terror.

Dukjin Lotus Patch (April/July)