Friday, October 06, 2006

Thomas Friedman's Bad Ideas & Blurry Boundaries







Friday came way too soon. I knew Mrs. K would be banging at the door shortly after I returned from class and I spent most of the week dreading Friday.

To try to figure out what I'd be dealing with, I made a point to read Thomas Friedman's "Big Ideas and No Boundaries." It was like a communique from the sixties -- only from the radical right, not the radical left. My husband Thomas Friedman even declared himself a radical in it. Part manifesto, part bill of service, it might as well have opened with "Death to the middle and lower classes that prey upon the wealthy!" and closed with "From now on I'm Trish Rothschild Friedman!"

After I finished laughing as his declaration that he was a "radica free trader," I got to work with my highlighter searching for clues. I paid attention to the section where he wrote: " I was in Nebraska where I met Doug Palmer. He and his partner, Pat Boeshart, make . . ."

I'd cracked the code and was wondering whether getting Mrs. K off my back was worth confronting Thomas Friedman or not?

It had been so peaceful, so fun, with him on the lam.

But there was the KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK at the door, followed by POUND-POUND-POUND-POUND as I approached it and I knew before I opened it that Mrs. K would be red eyed, runny nosed and, in a word, pathetic. Just like last week.

Seeing my predictions confirmed, I grabbed my purse, told her to follow me, hailed a cab and we were off.

"Where?" she asked.

I explained the clues. Pat Boeshare and Nebraska were a reference to the Tyco Plastec East trade show from 2005. 655 West 34th Street, which could mean only one thing, they were holed up at the Chelsea Star Hotel.

"I don't believe I know that hotel," Mrs. K replied.

I started to explain how Thomas Friedman and I had visited it when bringing chicken soup to an ailing Willie Safire but didn't have the heart or, at least, courage.

We pulled up a block from it and walked toward its.

"It certainly is colorful," Mrs. K said, sounding, to me, a lot like like Miss Dorothy in "Thorougly Modern Millie."

I was tempted to reply, "Sister, you don't know the half of it."

Instead, I just nodded.

I was talking to the clerk at the front desk when Mrs. K wondered off. Since she wasn't wearing a hazmat suit, I immediately grew worried. I finally found her in the "communal baths."

"Well, I guess it conserves water," she muttered as I led her away.

"They're not checked in under their own names," I explained.

"Oh, Betinna, oh, Betinna!" she fretted. "How will we find them?"

"They're here, trust me," I counseld and explained we needed to visit a little known lounge where I was sure we'd find an interesting act.

"Oh, Betinna, I haven't the time to soak up cabaret."

I guided her to it anyway.

And what greeted us? There, in a faux leather jacket that extended to the calf, wearing a brassy red wig with hair to the shoulders, was Thomas Friedman in mid-song as he sashayed around the room singing:

Just leave everything to me.
If you want your ego bolstered, muscles toned, or chair
upholstered:
Just leave everything to me.
Charming social introductions, expert mandolin instructions:
Just leave everything to me.
If you want your culture rounded, French improved, or torso
pounded:
With a ten year guarantee.
If you want a birth recorded, collies bred, or kittens
ported:
I'll proceed to plan the whole procedure
Just leave everything to me.

He was working up to a dramatic climax when he spotted us.

Throwing his hand mike to floor, he cursed and then headed for the bar.

"Over there," I said, pointing to the piano, "is Nicky."

Nicky K was dolled up in bad Nolan Miller and his eyes were so wide he looked like Ivana after a face lift.

Blinded by love, Mrs. K rushed to him in tears while I mosied up to Thomas Friedman who was attempting to score a drink from a closeted looking Wall St. type.

"Come on, Day Trader, buy a radical free trader a drink," Thomas Friedman barked in a voice that sounded 'top dwawer.'

"Well Patty Hearst, as I live in breathe," I said.

He didn't even bother to turn and look at me.

"Trish," he corrected. "I'm Trish now."

Attempting to make small talk, I began, "Well, you certainly look . . ."

But my voice trailed off.

"Damn good!" barked Thomas/Trish Friedman cutting his eyes towards me. "I've lost forty pounds!"

"You have? Well look down, over your shoulder, and I think you'll find them."

Hopping off the bar stool, Thomas/Trish Friedman attempted to stare me down.

"I'm not coming back, Betinna. I have been given a choice of, returning, or joining the forces of the Billionaires for Tax Justice and I have chosen to stay and fight. I want to tell the people the truth. Tell them how if they have no money, no one gives a damn about them. I want to make them aware that this country belongs to the rich and only to the rich. I'm tired of you and your kind with your common ways. The corporate state must be willing to relocate, by which I mean eliminate, all of society's droppings. How long will it take before even the George Soroses of this country understand that whatever happens to Dennis Kozlowski sooner or later happens to them? How long will it be before we all understand that we must fight to endenture the rest of you?"

Pretty big words for someone who sorely needed to run a comb through their wig.

I thought of explaining to Thomas Friedman that I had no interest in taking him back, explaining how I'd finally grasped that we didn't sleep in a tiny single bed once his fat ass was out of it, explaining how wonderful each day began without hearing his irritating whine or the joy in reaching for a pair of pantyhose and finding that they hadn't been stretched out by his wide hips.

But why bother? I doubted he would understand.

Instead, I walked over to the piano where Mrs. K was attempting to help a dazed looking Nicky K off the stool.

"Where am I? What is happening?" he asked.

I nodded to Mrs. K and and we each grabbed an arm and began dragging him towards the entrance.

"What day is it?"

"Oh, Nicky," Mrs. K cried. "Everything will be fine."

"Is the war over?" he wondered as we got him to the street and into a cab.

No, the war wasn't over, but who had the heart to tell him?

We rode in silence to their home and then I headed back to my apartment wondering what he would remember, if anything, of the weeks after Thomas Friedman tossed him over a shoulder and whisked him away?

And then I started to wonder why he had kept repeating my name when he had been in his fugue state?




"Iraq snapshot" (The Common Ills):
Friday, October 6, 2006. Chaos and violence continue in Iraq, war resister Darrell Anderson is headed home (he returned to the United States, turned himself in at Fort Knox on Tuesday, now he's headed home), World Can't Wait staged protests across the United States on Thursday, the Danish military suffers a fatality in Iraq, the US military notes a death toll on Iraqi police officers but continues to look the other way with regards to violence toward Iraqi women, and Bob Watada, father of war resisterer Ehren Watada, continues his second speaking tour to raise awareness on his son.

Starting with war resister Darrell Anderson. In April of 2004, Anderson was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq and awarded a Purple Heart. Returning to the US and learning he would be redeployed to Iraq, Anderson elected to self-check out of the military in January 2005 and move to Canada. Anderson spoke out publicly against the war while in Canada, attempted to win refugee status (something the Canadian government has refused all war resisters), met Gail Greer, married her in February 2006 but decided to return to the United States. On Saturday, he crossed the Peace Bridge back into the US and, on Tuesday, he turned himself in at Fort Knox. Jim Warren (Lexington Herald-Leader) reports that Jim Fennerty, Anderson's attorney, states Darrell Anderson "was released from Fort Knox this morning and is on his way home". AP reports that Anderson "is expected to be discharged without a court-martial".

While some resist war, US Secretary of State Condi Rice incites it. Rice was in Baghdad on Thursday where -- as Robin Wright (Washington Post), Philp Shenon (New York Times) and CBS and AP reported -- her plane had to circle the airport for approximately forty minutes due to mortar and rocket attacks. Not aimed at her, mind you, such is the state of Baghdad that Rice's unnannounced visit didn't effect what's become life as usual. From there, on Friday, Condi headed to the Kurdish region, which is oil rich, and, as AFP reports, made noises about sharing the wealth with Massud Barzani (regional president). She was so busy that the meeting in London among "world powers" had to be delayed two hours, Thomas Wagner (AP) reports which left "leaders little time to reach a consensus and making it unlikely." If the decision on sanctions has been delayed, a detour's been created in Bully Boy's march to war on Iran meaning, possibly, citizens around the world should pray that Condi has many more unexpected layovers. (Update on this by Sophie Walker of Reuters.)

As Wright (Washington Post) noted, Rice's visit began as the Kurdish parliamentarian Mohammed Ridah Sinkawi was assassinated. As Shenon (New York Times) noted, the visit with Iraqi president Jalal Talabani took place "in the dark" after "the lights went out . . . It was a reminder of the city's erratic -- and sometimes nonexistant -- electrical service." Along with electrical problems, Rice visit occurred as Xinhua reported that: "Toxic water in the Tigris river killed thousands of fish and birds in Iraq's Salahudin province . . . The provincial water directorate, which produces drinking water for people in this area, ordered all its projects to suspend working and wait for the tests' results". Three years after the illegal war began and they can't even keep the lights on the fortified Green Zone of Baghdad, nor can they address the issue of the Tigris which provides "drinking water supplies for millions of Iraqis."



Today, CNN reports Joseph Paterson ("commander in charge of police training in Iraq") announced that "Since September 2004 . . . about 4,000 [police] officers have been killed and 8,000 injured". And of course, as AFP reported earlier, between 800 and 1,200 police officers are being retrained after they were thought to be complicit in the mass kindappings from earlier this week. What the US military refuses to talk about is women in Iraq. Nabeel Ziriqi (Al Jazeera) reported earlier this week: "A recent spike in attacks on women has forced many in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul to retreat into their homes or resort to armed escort by relatives and tribal guards. In recent weeks, Mosul residents have witnessed an unprecedented rise in the number of female corpses found throughout the city. Alaa al-Badrani said her friend, a school principal, was kidnapped from her home in the Bakr district of the city by an armed gang."



Bombings?

Bahrain News Agency reports that a roadside bomb targeted "a US military patrol . . . passing by in Husaiba to the est of the Iraqi city of Ramadhi." No word on any casualities or fatalities. AFP reports mortar rounds wounded seven in Baghdad. Sameer N. Yacoub (AP) reports a "double bombing" that first "set the generator ablaze, then when firefighters and others rushed in, the second went off" resulting in one death and four injured.

Shootings?

KUNA reports that Denmark's 500 troops serving in Iraq are now 499 as a soldier, injured in an "armed confrontation" in southern Iraq, died as he was being transported to a hospital.


Corpses?

Sameer N. Yacoub (AP) reports seven corpses discovered "floating in the area of Suwayrah". AFP reports that Baghdad police discovered 35 corpses in the capital in the last 24 hours.

This comes as the puppet of the occupation, Nouri al-Malki's little examined 4-part 'peace' plan continues to be hailed by an unquestioning press. One not hailing it is Firas Al-Atraqchi (Al-Ahram Weekly) who notes of the first plank -- 'security committees': "The committees would monitor whether police and the Iraqi army effectively pursue militia fighters after an attack. But the plan falls far short of any significant effort to curb violence because it does not address the disarming of militias, which Maliki had promised in late May, and focuses entirely on Baghdad. The rest of the country, it seems, can go to hell."

Meanwhile IRIN reports a slight improvement for the life of prisoners in Iraqi prisons just as AP reports that: "Guards at Guantanamo Bay bragged about beating detainees and described it as common practice, a U.S. Marine sergeant said in a sworn statement". (If you're confused as to the connection between Guantanamo and Iraq, on today's KPFA's Living Room, Kris Welch presented some recorded footage of Janis Karpinski explaining the efforts to "Gitmo-ize" Abu Ghraib.)

In legal news, AP reports that the trial of Pendleton Eight, accused of shooting an unarmed Iraqi dead after dragging from his Hamdaniya home, included testimony today from one of the eight, Melson J. Bacos, who testified "he saw two Marines fire at least 10 rounds into 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad". AP reports that Bacos, a medic, "pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy charges" in the death of Awad.
Reuters reports that Bacos tetified Lawrence Hutchins III had devised a plan for another Iraqi (one who had been in and out of Abu Ghraib) but, when unable to locate that man, they went after Hashim Ibrahim Awad who happened to live next door to the Iraqi Hutchins had intended they kidnap and kill.

Meanwhile, in London, AFP reports that an inquest into the death of ITN reporter Terry Lloyd heard testimony from Nicholas Walshe who stated Lloyd "was shot in the head by US troops as he was driven away from a gunfight". As the BBC noted, March 23, 2003, Terry Lloyd "has not been seen since he and three colleagues came under fire as [they] were on the road to the city of Basra." The Guardian of London reports that, in addition, a British solider testified "he saw a US tank open fire on the ITN team's vehicles" and that this was "the first public acknowledgement that British forces witnessed the events of March 22, 2003, in which Mr. Lloyd and his interpreter Huseein Osman died and his French cameraman Fred Nerac went missing near Basra in southern Iraq."

Frederic Nerac remains missing and Reporters Without Borders notes that "British defence ministry opened an investigation in June 2003 into their [Nerac and Hussein Osman] disappearance at the insistence of Nerac's wife Fabienne and press freedom organisations including Reporters Without Borders."

Will Dunham (Reuters) reports that "signs of wear and tear on the U.S. military" has resulted from Iraq and Afghanistan and that "Many troops are facing second and third long combat tours and less time between overseas deployments." Or none at all. A point Laurie Loving makes very clear on page 2 of The Nation's October 16, 2006 issue. Loving, a member of Military Families Speak Out, opens her letter with the following: "My son is in the 172nd Stryker Brigade (Army). It recently had its one-year deployment to Iraq extended while in the midst of deploying back to the United States. He is one of the 400 soldiers who had made it back to Fairbanks, Alaska. A few days later he was informed that he was going to be sent back to Iraq. His brigade has been sent to Baghdad to save the occupation."

In US congressional news, John Nolen (CBS) covers Republican Senator John Warner's reaction to this week's visit to Iraq: "In two or three months, if this thing hasn't come to fruition and if this level of violence is not under control . . . I think it's the responsibility of our government, internally to determine: Is there a change in course that we should take? And I wouldn't take off the table any option at this time." This as AFP reports on Republican Senator Chuck Hagel's trip to Vietnam which found him drawing some comparisons to Iraq and Vietnam and declaring "War should always be a last resort." Reporting on the other side of the aisle, Gregg K. Kakesako (Honolulu Star-Bulletin) notes that Democratic "U.S. House Reps. Neil Abercrombie and John Murtha say President Bush will have to mobilize all members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve -- including 3,000 Hawaii citizen soldiers -- for an indefinite period. There are not enough active-duty military to handle the current level of violence in Iraq, the two Democrats said yesterday. That would affect Army National Guard units like Hawaii's 29th Brigade Combat Team, which currently is not supposed to be mobilized for six years since returning from Iraq this year."

In peace news, across the United States people participated in demonstrations, rallies and marches as part of the World Can't Wait actions. Whethere the turnout was ten people or in the hundreds, all demonstrations made a difference, had an impact and was made up of people willing to stand up. We're going to note some of the events, not all. Over 200 locations took part and what follows is a sample of some events reported by the press.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that an estimated 40 people turned out in Reno, carrying signs that read "Vote for change," "I believe in our Constitution, why doesn't Bush?," "Where is the plan?" and U.S. Out of Iraq." Adam Leech (Portsmouth Herald) reports that at least fifty turned out in Portsmouth, Maine and he quotes Vietnam vet Brian Vawter saying, "I think we're all pretty fed up with what's going on iwth the decline of our rights and the direction this country is going. People have a need to express themselves directly because their view isn't being expressed by either partly in Washington right now." Sam Shawver (Marietta Times) reports that ten people turned out in Marietta, Ohio and quotes two: James Gawthrop stating, "I just learned about worldcantwait.net a few days ago, but my hands were shaking over the 'torture bill' Congress passed last Thursday. Now the Bush administration can detain anybody suspected of being a terrorist indefinitely. They can use secret evidence to hold you. They can even use torture"; and Janie Poe who wore a CODEPINK t-shirt to the demonstration stating, "I've been talking with many young people, and I'm impressed. Listen to young people. They're very concerned about their future, and they're very informed." [Poe urged people to support Amnesty USA and speak out against torture.] In the previous, that's a hundred people who stood up (more if press estimates are off).

In Florida, John Simpson (Bradenton Herald) reports that 150 people turned out in Sarasota to demonstrate and quotes Naomi Nye: "People are fed up. The tide is definitely turning." Simpson also notes 82-year-old Sara Dick who stated, "We're in even more danger (now). In some areas, there are more rights, but we're always slipping and sliding backwards." Christian Hill (The Olympian) reports that an estimated 300 people gathered in Olympia, Washington and quotes college student Brandon Franz stating, "The people of America are supposed to have the voice in what's done, not the ruling elite" and Kirsten Anderson who states, "I'm doing this for my grandchildren. I'm a little old to have it be for me, and it's the ones comping up that I care about. It's their country, too, especially now." Summer Banks (Yale Daily News) reports that an estimated 60 people participated near campus and notes one was "[l]ocal resident and self-proclaimed Republican housewife Monica McGovern" who stated, "I am calling for Bush to step down or for Congress to impeach him. I would like to see him indicted for war crimes." Beth Freed (Dallas Morning News) reports that an estimated forty people participated in Lewisville, Texas resulting in "slowed southbound traffic on Interstate 35E . . . . Many commuters honked in support of the peace demonstrators outside the office of U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, while others slowed to express their disagreement" and quotes Nikki Henderson stating, "We as Americans should not tolerate decisions like last week's legislation. It allows Bush to interpret the Geneva Conventions on his own."

Big or small turnouts, people stood up. They stopped their normal day to speak out.
Louis Medina (The Bakersfield California) reports an estimated seventy-five activists were particiapting by the end of the events and quotes college student Araceli Aguilar stating, "I came here to protest the Bush administration. I don't agree with what they're doing. I don't agree with the war, which they said is over, yet we still have our troops there and they're dying." Melissa Nix (The Free Lance Star) reports that, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, an estimated two dozen students of the University of Mary Washington participated and quotes college student Jason Walsh who held 268 pages listing the names of American troops who had died in Iraq, "That's a small book. It's a waste, because no one's going to read it. No one cares about these soldiers except their families." OregonLive reports that a little less than 400 people participated in Portland's march. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, Lubna Takruri (AP) reports that "dozens" turned out and the mayor, David Coss, spoke to the group.

A mayor, students, retired people, those who work in the home, those who work outside it (and those working outside frequently also work inside), a wide range of people took part. Patrick Flanigan (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) reports that an estimated "150 people gathered in downtown Rochester [New York] on Thursday to protest President Bush's handling of the war on terror and the mounting death toll in Iraq" and quotes Donna Mummery: "Our country is about to embark on a very dangerous course. By taking to the streets on a work day, you are saying enough is enough." Also in New York, Alice Hunt (Poughkeepsie Journal) reports that activists gathered in New Paltz and quotes Josh Schulman stating, "Our first step is to initiate that dialogue and permeat the mass media with the message Bush does not speak for many Americans." While in NYC, Chelsea Cooley (Washington Square News) reports: "Hundreds of protesters packed the streets yesterday, marching 33 blocks from the United Nations building at First Avenue and 47th Street to Union Square, chanting their message: 'Drive out the Bush regime!'"

In one of the largest reported turnouts, Emma Graves Fitzsimmons, Brendan McCarthy and Rudy Bush (Chicago Tribune) report that an estimated 1,500 people turned out in Chicago and quotes college student Rebecca Miller on skipping class to attend, "It's just one class. I can always make up the homework. This is more important." and Thyandrea Adams who shut down her business to be present, "I told them not to come into work today. This is a day that's important. It was worth it to show support from our community." In Seattle, Mike Barber (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) reports "several hundreds" turned out and Barber quotes Patricia Thompson who brought "her 82-year-old father" because, "He is horrified at the mess they made of Iraq. Weapons of mass destruction was a snow job. We never finished in Afghanistan. It's an absolute shambles of incompetency and profiteering."

In San Francisco, Dennis Bernstein and Nora Barrows Friedman covered the event for
KPFA's Flashpoints on Thursday (broadcast archived -- if you can listen online, you can hear it for free), Charles Slay (San Francisco Indybay Media) has created a photo essay, and John Koopman, Patrick Hoge and Marisa Lagos (San Francisco Chronicle) report on the "hundres" (it was well over a thousand) and notes 17-year-old Jessica Cussins, among the many who left campuses to attend, stating, "I felt that this was more useful. I wanted to be part of it. I think what we're doing (in Iraq) is wrong." Alice Walker is quoted stating: "I just want the children to know that some of the elders are with them, and that we're very happy they are speaking out and saving their own lives by resisting the Bush regime." [You can also check out Mike's "Blue Angels buzzing rally and power cut (San Francisco)" which relays Jess reporting via cellphone.]

Ehren Watada was not in Salem, Oregon yesterday but he was remembered. Tim King (Salem-News) reports that among those participating in their local World Can't Wait demonstrations ("between 75 and 100") was Reed Elder who urged that everyone check out Ehren Watada's website and that other "soldiers who also don't agree withe the direction of the nation" should be speaking out.

Bob Watada, Ehren's father, is now on his second speaking tour to raise awareness of his son who is the first US officer to publicly refuse to serve in the illegal war. Some of the upcoming events include:


Sat 10/7 2:00-4:00 pm Welcome Reception for Bob Watada
JACCC Garden Room, 244 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles
Contact: NCRR 213-680-3484, email: ncrrla@yahoo.com.

Sun 10/8 2:00-5:00 pm Forum with Bob Watada
Nat'l Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles.
Contact Ellen Endo 213-629-2231 or Mo 323-371-4502

Sun 10/8 6:00-8:00 pm An Evening of Discussion and Learning hosted by Rev. Phyllis Tyler
11326 CherryLee Dr., El Monte (Rev. Tyler is Senior Pastor of Sage Granada Park United Methodist Church in Alhambra) Co-sponsored by NCRR and the National Japanese American United Methodist Church Caucus
Contact: NCRR 213-680-3484 email: ncrrla@yahoo.com

Mon 10/9 7:00pm Veterans for Peace (Chapter 112) and Citizens for Peaceful Resolution
E.P. Foster Library, Topping Rm. 651, E. Main St., Ventura
Contact: Michael Cervantes 805-486-2884 email: mcervant@mindspring.com

Wed 10/100 7:00-9:45 pm CSULB Asian American and Chicano & Latino Studies Classes
Dr. John Tsuchida and Dr. Juan Benitez
1250 Bellflower Bl, Long Beach

Thurs 10/12 6:00 pm Whittier Area Coalition for Peace & Justice, Mark Twain Club Potluck
($3 donations) Bob speaks at 7:00 pm. First Friends Church of Whittier, 12305 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier
Contact: Robin McLaren 562-943-4051 email: mclaren@charter.net


A full schedule, in PDF form, can be found here. More information on Ehren Watada can be found at ThankYouLt.org. and information on all known war resisters can be found at Courage to Resist.



The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.













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Friday, September 29, 2006

Islam and the Dope (Thomas Friedman)









Oh, how wonderful the days are now. I show up to sign for Thomas Friedman's check, cash it and that's pretty much the only time I have to think about him.

Except for Fridays.

Fridays, Mrs. K comes over breathless and full of ideas about how we can find our husbands.

During the week, I can usually put her off. She'll call and want to brainstorm and I'll lie and say I have another call, or tell the bathtub's overflowing, or say I have something on the stove, or, one time, in a pinch, when she was insistent upon coming over on Tuesday, I told her, "Great! Gail Collins is here and we're going to work on her eyebrows while I give her a binkini wax! I can use two extra hands!"

So I offer an excuse and Mrs. K falls for it and that's that.

Except Fridays.

I don't know what it is about Fridays.

Maybe that was "their night"?

Nicky K always looked the once-a-week type.

Or maybe it's just that Friday denotes the end of the week and she panics.

I know people like that. They're out of work. They lie around all week, sometimes looking at the wants ads but mainly watching talk shows on TV, then on Fridays, usually at 3:30 pm, they panic, hop in the shower, get dressed and, in those last minutes before five o'clock, make a mad dash to apply for something, anything.

Whatever it is, Fridays are the day Mrs. K won't be sent away.

I'd just gotten home from classes ten minutes prior. Just kicked off my shoes. I was trying to decide if I'd take a long, relaxing bath tonight or maybe go to a movie?

Elaine's been talking about her Iraq discussion group and with so much going on, I thought I'd order a pizza, take a shorter bath, get dressed and catch that. War resister Darrell Anderson returns to the United States Saturday and there's so much more going on.

But that was dependent upon Mrs. K not dropping by. I was really thinking this might be the week that she grasps the benefits to having Nicky K's check but not having to put up with having Nicky K.

But I was wrong.

She was banging on the door. Waving around the week's "New York Times." Talking about Nicky's colum or columns, I was still trying to figure out if I wanted pineapples with the Canadian bacon or not and not listening too closely, and talking about my husband Thomas Friedman's columns.

She was going on about the two of them being gone "weeks" and I was about to respond, with relief "Yeah, isn't it great?" when I remembered she didn't think so.

So I tried to look concerned. I tried to look worried. I only succeeded in making her think I has "a sour stomach."

After I assured her that I hadn't eaten any fresh spinach, I went to the kitchen to brew some coffee.

She's an attractive woman, you'd think she'd be making the most of it. When your husband walks out, it's not really cheating, right?

I know I'd been eyeing the guy in my class on The Morality of War and Nonviolence or, as everyone on campus has redubbed it, "How To Keep Your Mouth Shut" in honor of New School president Bob Kerrey and his late-life recall of the events from February 25, 1969.

I figured if it's still cheating when your husband walks out on you after a few weeks, surely, after a month, it can't be considered cheating.

That's when Mrs. K walked in.

I told her, "We're getting the checks, their columns are going into print -- obviously they're still both alive."

But as usual, she wasn't letting me off that easy. She sat down at the table and started reading the columns to me and I felt as though my kitchen had been invaded by a Jehovah's Witness. You know they mean well, you know they're trying to help, but you just don't want to hear that kind of talk from a stranger.

She gets to Thomas Friedman's Friday column, "Islam and the Pope," and my first though is, "Oh, he found a new way to attack Muslims."

Guess that whole expulsion during the Inquistion didn't matter so much if it meant he got to get a in a few slams at Muslims. For the record, that 'enlightened' quote that Thomas Friedman saw as just a way to kick-start a rap session, it predates the Inquistion by almost a hundred years. Maybe if Pope Benedict XVI quotes Ferrant Martinez next, Thomas Friedman will decide that's something to be outraged about? Or maybe he's just angling for the post of astronmer to the court?

Listening to his foaming over "elites" caused me to chuckle. He's a columnist for the "New York Times," it's not like he's a contributor to "Anarchist Digest".

If he'd been in the kitchen, I'd have asked him exactly when he thought we'd had a "meaningful dialogue" about "Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo or Palestine" in this country. How ironic that his column runs the day after both houses of Congress decide to trash habeas corpus.

But Mrs. K was working herself into a frenzy so I told her to drop back to that lie about "As someone who has . . . enjoyed the friendship of many Muslims there and seen . . ."

"He's had falafels," I explained. "He's talking about the guy in the park he buys the falafels from. That's the only Muslim Thomas Friedman engages with and, then, only because he can brag about 'ordering' a Muslim around. 'Falafel, pronto! And don't be stingy on the toppings!'"

"You really --"

"It's the falafel guy," I snapped thinking it would get rid of her.

Instead, she drags me to Central Park and we went off in search of the vendor. He confirmed that Thomas Friedman and Nicky K had been coming by.

"Usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays and your husband," he said pointing at me, "wears a black beret and leather waist coat."

Mrs. K looked to me for an explanation.

"He's obviously in Patty Hearst mode," I explained. "He thinks he's gone underground."

To myself, I thought, "Once a drag queen, always a drag queen."

Mrs. K wanted us to stake out the area and I had to explain to her, in not so delicate terms, that I had no intention of staying in Central Park until Tuesday.

She was more than a little sad but she'll get over it.

"Iraq snapshot" (The Common Ills):
Friday, September 29, 2006. Chaos and violence continue in Iraq, the British military officers say out-of-Iraq, Medea Benjamin asks are you willing to "Give Peace a Vote"?,
is the US military writing off Al-Anbar Province, and tomorrow war resister Darrell Anderson is set to return to the United States.

Canada's CBC reports that, after eighteen months in Canada, war resister Darrell Anderson is readying for his journey home with his wife, Gail Greer, stating, "He needs to be home. This is not his home." [Note: CBC continues to list his wife as "Gail Green." US news outlets, other Candian outlets and her film credits list her as "Gail Greer." If Gail Greer is not the correct name, we'll note that in a future snapshot.] Darrell Anderson was wounded by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq. Facing a second deployment to Iraq, Anderson elected to self-check out of the US military and, as Jeremy Hinzman, Brandon Hughey, Patrick Hart, Kyle Snyder and others during this illegal war, head to Canada. Once there, he applied for legal status but, as with other war resisters, the government did not grant asylum. (This in marked contrast to Canada's actions during the Vietnam era.) Anita Anderson, his mother, tells CBC "there is no front line" in Iraq and that soldiers "are not supposed to be fighting this fight of war." If not arrested Saturday when he returns, Darrell Anderson intends to drive to Fort Knox where he will turn himself in. Information on Darrell Anderson and other war resisters can be found at Courage to Resist.

Meanwhile, in England, Richard Norton-Taylor (Guardian of London) reports: "Senior military officers have been pressing the government to withdraw British troops from Iraq and concentrate on what they now regard as a more worthwhile and winnable battleground in Afghanistan. They believe there is a limit to wath British soldiers can achieve in southern Iraq and that it is time the Iraqis took responsiblity for their own security, defence sources say." The report comes as Bonnie Malkin (Guardian of London) notes that "former foreign secretary Jack Straw has described the situation in Iraq as 'dire,' blaming mistakes made by the US for the escalating crisis." Straw has words of praise for former US Secreatry of State Colin Powell which is only a surprise to those who never noticed their mutual admiration society until today. The report that military officials want British troops out of Iraq (and into Afghanistan) has already led to a denial from Defence Secretary Des Browne who, AFP reports, denied the report on BBC radio.

While the truth battles spin, Mark Malloch Brown, deputy secretary general of the United Nations makes a call of his own. Paul Vallely (Independent of London) reports
Malloch Brown has stated that it was Tony Blair's Iraq policy that "fatally undermined his position as Prime Minister and forced him to step down" and Vallely also quotes an unnamed "UN source" who declares of Blair, "But Iraq has finished him. Mr. Blair seems not to appreciate just how disliked and distrusted he is in other nations."

In the United States, Reuters reports: "The U.S. Congress on Friday moved to block the Bush adminstration from building permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq or controlling the country's oil sector, as it approved $70 billion for funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." As Amit R. Paley (Washington Post) noted Wednesday when reporting on recent polling of Iraqis, ". . . the Program on Itnerantional Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, found . . . 77 percent of those polled saying the United States intends to keep permanent military bases in the country." Noting the polling, Arianna Huffington (The Huffington Post) notes: "The writing is on the wall -- and on page after page of report after report. All leading to the same inescapable conclusion. Iraq has made us less safe; it's time to bring our troops home." What will it take for that? Not buying into the fear mania, which is a topic Huffington addressed with Andrea Lewis today on KPFA, The Morning Show[and is also the topic of On Becoming Fearless, Huffington's new book]. [Remember that KPFA broadcasts are archived and you can listen to them, free of charge, 24/7.]

The US Congress' decision comes as Robert Burns (AP) reports Army Col. Sean B. Macfarland ("commander of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division" in Iraq) stated that the resistance in Al-Anbar Province will not be defeated by American forces and will "probably" continue "until after U.S. troops leave the country". Most recent actions in Al-Anbar have revolved around Ramadi which is being carved up into a series of Green Zones (to little effect). [Currently at Alive in Baghdad, there is a video report on a man who was "Falsely Arrested and Abused In Ramadi.]


In the most noted violence in Iraq today, Kadhim Abdel has been shot dead. CNN reports that "the brother-in-law of Judge Mohammad Orabi Majeed Al-Khalefa, was driving in Ghazaliya on Friday with his son aged 10 and another 10-year-old boy when their car was attacked. Both boys were wounded." The Australian combines AP and Reuters to note: "It was not immediately clear whether they were targeted because they were related to judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, who took over the Saddam trial last week, or if it was another of the sectarian attacks that have been plaguing Baghdad." (That statement is actually all AP.)


Bombings?

AP reports that a police officer died ("and two civilians injured") from a bombing in downtown Baghdad; while two Iraqi soldiers lost their lives in Anah from a roadside bomb (with two more wounded).

Shootings?

AFP reports that two police officers were shot dead in Dura. CNN reports that four people were shot dead in Balad.

Corpses?

AP reports that eight corpses were discovered in Iraq, three were discovered in Baquba and that two corpses "were pulled from the Tigris River in Suwayrah". AFP reports that two corpses were discovered in Kut. (The Times of London ups the Baghdad corpse count to ten.)

In peace news, BuzzFlash declares the Dixie Chicks this weeks Wings of Justice winners for using their voices to speak truth to power. In 2003, the Chicks were savaged by some (and Diane Sawyer attempted a public shaming). They didn't back down and, to quote a song off their new, best selling CD, they're "not ready to make nice." [Click here for Kat's review of the CD.] The Dixie Chicks stood strong and a lot of people stood with them. There's a lesson in that.


CODEPINK is celebrating it's fourth anniversary on Sunday and Andrea Lewis spoke with Medea Benjamin about that today on KPFA's The Morning Show today. Addressing the organization's latest action -- Give Peace a Vote! -- Benjamin noted that: "We have November elections coming up and then we have presidential elections coming up and unfortunately If we don't translate the silent majority voice that's against this war into a voter bloc, we're going to be faced with another opportunity to vote for two major parties giving us war candidates. So Give Peace a Vote!is a way to say, 'I will not vote for anybody that does not call for an end to this war and no more wars of aggression.'"


Speaking with Kris Welch today on KPFA's Living Room, Daniel Ellsberg noted the upcoming World Can't Wait protest (October 5th -- day of mass resistance), his being named as the recipient of the Right Livelihood Award and the importance of speaking out.


As noted by James Glanz (New York Times) and Gritte Witte (Washington Post) this morning, American contractor Parsons has a 1/14 success rate for their construction projects in Iraq --- actually less than 1 in 14 because, as Witte notes, ""The one project reviewed by auditors that was being constructed correctly, a prison, was taken away from Parsons before its completion because of escalating costs." With that in mind, pay attention to Janis Karpinski (writing for The Huffington Post): "Our silence will beget more of the same and worse. We must find courage. We must stand up. One of the ways to do this is by screening and sharing a new documentary I appeared in called Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers -- which calls for a stop to the shameful war profiteering this administration has allowed to occur. We must speak up. We must because we are Americans and we know better than this. We can move beyond the shame only when we stop this from getting worse and participate in making it better."

Finally, next week, Bob Watada, father of Ehren Watada, hits the road again to raise awareness on his son -- the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. After an Article 32 hearing in August, Ehren Watada awaits word on what the chain of command will do with the findings (court-martial, discharge him, ignore the findings . . .). Here are Bob Watada's speaking engagements for Monday through Friday of next week:

Mon. 10/2 8:30 am KPFK Sonali Kolhatkur
3729 Cahuenga Bl. West, No. Hollywood
Contact: KPFK 818-985-2711 email: uprising@kpfk.org
Tues 10/3 7:00pm ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)
1800 Argyle Ave. #400, Los Angeles
Contact: Carlos Alvarez, 323-464-1636, email: answerla@answerla.org
Wed. 10/4 12:00-2:30 pm Angela Oh's Korean American Experience Class
Life Sciences Bldg., RM 4127, UCLA Westwood Campus
Contact: aeola@earthlink.net
Wed. 10/4 Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research
6120 S. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles
Contact: So Cal Library 323-759-6063
Thurs 10/5 5:00 pm World Can't Wait March & Rally
(March starts at noon at pershing S1/
Bob speaks in front of Federal Bldg 300 N. Los Angeles St. at 5:00 pm.
Contact: Nicole Lee 323-462-4771 email: la@worldcantwait.org
Fri. 10/6 7:00 am Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP)
Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Bl., Los Angeles
Contact: Thalia 626-683-9004 email: incuip@pacbell.net
Fri 10/6 12:30 San Fernando Valley Japanese Community Center
SFV Japanese American Community Center, 12953 Branford St., Pacoima 91331
Contact: Phil Shigkuni 818-893-1851, cell: 818-357-7488, email pshig2000@yahoo.com.



On a non-Iraq note, Lynda pointed out that a link was wrong this morning (and yesterday) so I'll note it here (it's corrected on the main site, but not on the mirror site)from Ms.: "Before the new Ms. comes out on October 10, we're doing a last push to get signatures on our "We Had Abortions" petition. With our right to choose in danger, we at Ms. think it's important for us to take a stand now for abortion rights. We'd love to have your help!"























Posted by at

Friday, September 15, 2006

The Colleague Heist











I took a taxi to the K's, wondering the whole way what was going on?

Mrs. K opened the door and just from her face, I could tell she was going through a hard spell. As someone who's done my tour of duty on the Dawn Patrol, I know the signs.

She led me quickly to Nicky K who was in need of a shave and should probably think about changing the yellowy-white t-shirt and the y-fronts with Spiderman on them. He was firmly planted in a bean bag chair, muttering to himself.

Mrs. K was explaining about the summer she was a nurse on a Grateful Dead tour and how she'd assumed that Nicky had been dared into dropping acid by Helene Cooper.

"I know she's on something, the way that head's always bouncing. And that jewelry is pure Haight-Ashbury. There's no telling what she slipped him. You know the rumor is she drives an 'art car'?"

As Mrs. K continued her nervous chatter, I looked at Nicky K. It was as though he was looking right through me.

He was mumbling and as I drew closer, he got louder.

"George Clooney's a Pretty-Boy-Come-Lately! I did all the work. I did it all. Me. Me! ME!"

I stared at him expecting his head to launch into Linda Blair spins.

Mrs. K moved next to me, "All he does is rage about George Clooney. But every now and then, he'll mention your name."

"ER! ER! ER! Facts of Life. Facts of Life. Roseanne. Rosanne. He's no man. He's no man. Cloo-ney. CLOO-nee. CLOOOOO-NEEEE."

"He's been like this for hours," Mrs. K whispered.

I patted her on the shoulder.

I understood just what was she was going through.

"Buh-teen-uh. Buh-teen-uh."

I gasped as Mrs. K nodded.

"But-teen-uh. Buh-teen-uh. MAAAAA. WAAAAA."

"Do you have any idea what it means?" Mrs. K asked.

I shook my head "no" and waited to see if he'd say anything else.

"Nicky," Mrs. K said, "Betinna's here."

Nicky K looked me up and down and slowly.

"It wasn't my idea," he whispered. "He made me do it. He made me. He said I was morally confused. He said I was scared to act. I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to."

"Do what?" I asked.

Nicky looked over my shoulder gasped.

I looked over, saw it was Thomas Friedman and asked Nicky again, "Do what?"

But he couldn't answer because Mrs. K shrieked.

"What is it!" she screamed in horror staring at my bewigged husband.

"It's only Thomas Friedman," I explained trying to calm her.

He was wearing his form fitting white dress, his blonde wig, had applied his mole and several layers of lipstick. Honestly, it looked like he'd smeared cake frosting underneath that mustache.
I could understand why Mrs. K would be shocked.

Then I saw it.

In his right hand.

One of my tampons.

"Well, how cozy," Thomas Friedman hissed, gesturing wildly and puffing away on my tampon as though it were a cigarette. "So this is where the rats go when they abandon ship?"

"Thomas Friedman, cut the crap," I instructed. "Nicky K is very upset."

"Sh! Not a word from you, you little cheese eater."

"Why are you dressed like that?" Mrs. K asked still in a state of disbelief.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Thomas Friedman shot back in a mocking tone and gesturing wildly.

"He thinks he's Marilyn Monroe," I explained to Mrs. K.

"Enough chatter amongst the bit players," Thomas Friedman hissed. "What is going on here?"

"Look at him," I said gesturing to Nicky K. "He's freaked out. He's muttering on about George Clooney and about me and about MaMa or Wawa or something."

Thomas Friedman dropped his tampax.

He ran across the room -- he's grown quite agile in heels -- scooped up Nicky K, tossed him over his shoulder and ran out of the room.

"Where is he going?" Mrs. K asked me as we both ran after.

"I have no idea!"

We chased after him as he fled the house and up the street. Mrs. K was breathing hard.

"Hang in, there, he can't get too far in six inch heels."

Boy, was I wrong.

Six-inch heels or not, when that fat boy wants to get away, he can really run.

"Where are they going?" Mrs. K asked when we finally stopped to catch our breaths.

I had no idea.

I still have no idea.

I've tried calling Gail Collins and she plays dumb. She's ticked off because she finally realized that David Brooks thinks she's into beastiality.

"I think you tricked me, Betinna, or as the kids say, you 'punked' me. I'm no one's punk."

With that she hung up on the phone.

Mrs. K's worried to death about Nicky K. When she's not calling me, she comes over.

She paces a lot and mainly says, "Where could they be?"

She got all excited today when she saw Thomas Friedman's latest column.

I answered the door and she was waving the paper.

"Sao Paulo, Brazil! That's where they are!"

"The Energy Harvest" was the title.

"They aren't in Brazil," I explained. "He makes all that stuff up."

Mrs. K nodded and tried to smile but looked like she was about to cry.

Sighing, I looked through the column and said, "Sometimes there are clues in here."

Mrs. K cheered up and we headed to the kitchen for a pot of coffee. It was going to be a long morning.

"Iraq snapshot" (The Common Ills):
Friday, September 15, 2006. Chaos and violence continue in Iraq and among the dead are US troops; the count of discovered corpses in Baghdad continue to rise, meanwhile the latest US 'answer' is "Castle!"; war resister Darrell Anderson prepares to return to the United States; and Camp Democracy continues in Washington, DC.


Starting with the violence (stick around for the 'answer'), CBS and AP report that five US troops died on Thursday ("making it a particularly bloody day for U.S. forces" -- well not to the New York Times) and that a marine has died today in al Anbar province. al Anbar? For those who missed it, Thomas E. Ricks (Washington Post) reported Monday that that Marine Col Pete Devlin's assesment "that the prospects for securing that country's western Anbar province are dim and that there is almost nothing the U.S. military can do to improve the political and social situation there, said several military officers and intelligence officials familiar with its contents." Today Will Dunham (Reuters) reports: "U.S. commanders in Iraq have demoted their long effort to subdue insurgents in Anbar province . . . 'Baghdad is our main effort right now,' Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the top U.S. operational commander in Iraq, told Pentagon reporters in a briefing from Iraq."

Staying with the violence.

Corpses?

A senior Interior Ministry official remarks to Reuters, on the continued discovery of corpses, "Forty bodies, 60 bodies -- it's become a daily routine." Friday started with Rebecca Santana (AP) noting the discovery of 30 corpses in Baghdad. AFP gives the announced figures for the last three days as 64 (Wednesday), 20 (Thursday) and 51 (last 24 hours). In addition to those corpses which were discovered in Baghdad, Reuters reports that in Mussayab a corpse "with a missing head" was discovered.


Shootings?

Reuters reports one person was shot dead and five others wounded in Baghdad. AP reports the incident: "In central Baghdad, a gunman opened fire from the top of an abandoned building in a Sunni Arab neighborhood, killing an Iraqi civilian and wounding five others, said police Lt. Ahmed Mohammed Ali."

Bombings?

Reuters reports a car bomb in Mosul that left nine wounded, while, in Mussayab, a roadside bomb "late on Thursday" left three police officers wounded.

In addition, Al Jazeera reports that a US soldier is missing after Thursday's car bombing in Baghdad that left two troops dead on Thursday and 25 others wounded. AP raises the wounded from that bombing to 30 and notes the missing soldier "has been reported as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown".

AFP reminds: "The United Nations has also warned that Iraq could slide into civil war as the daily bloodshed shows no signs of abating despire political efforts for national reconciliation." CBS and AP report that John Bolton told the UN Security Council yesterday "that Iraq's sectarian killings and kidnappings had increased in the last three months, along with a rise in the numbef of displaced people."

So where does it stand? Even John Bolton's sounding alarms, US troops are pulling out of al Anabar, Reuters reports that the 147,000 American troops in Iraq are "the most since January," and the violence and chaos continue.

But don't fret 'a new plan' finally emerges as the 'answer.'

It's being called trenches which is really implying something it's not. When people think of trenches, they tend to think of trench warfare. What's being described is more along the lines of a mote -- AFP reports that Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf described it this way, "We will surround the city with trenches. The entry to the captial will be permitted through 28 roads, as against 21 at the moment, but at the same time we will seal off dozens of other minor roads with access to Baghdad."

Quote: "We will surround the city with trenches." That's the 'new plan.' Baghdad goes from capital to castle. But not overnight. Al Jazeera notes "an operation of this scale would take months to complete."

In the real world, Cal Perry (CNN) takes a look at the wounded US troops ("more than 20,000" have been "wounded in Iraq") at the 10th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad.


In peace news, Courage to Resist has reported that war resister Darrell Anderson will return to the United States (from Canada): "Support is mounting for Darrell and his courageous stand. Two events are planned in conjunction with his return to the U.S. In Fort Erie on Saturday, Septemeber 30 at Noon there will be a rally in Lions Sugar Bowl and then supporters, including Iraq war veterans and military family members, will accompany Darrell as he crosses the border back into the U.S. over Peace Bridge."

Other peace actions are going on and will be going on including a three-day event in NYC that begins this evening at 7:00 pm, continues Saturday at 7:00 pm and concludes on Sunday at 3:00 pm. What is it? The People Speak directed by Will Pomerantz and Rob Urbinati. This is a workshop adaptation of Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove's Voices of a People's History of the United States. The workshop will take place at The Culture Project's Bleecker Street Theater on 45 Bleecker Street. Tickets are ten dollars and can be ordered online here or here or purchased in person at the box office (box office does not take ticket orders). For those in NYC, or who will be during those dates, click here for a map. The presentation is part of the Impact Festival.

In Washington, DC, Camp Democracy continues, free and open to the public. Today's events have focused on Electoral Reform and include an 8:00 pm (EST) showing of the film Stealing America, Vote by Vote." Among those speaking today were Bob Firtakis. Saturday is peace day and will include Kevin Zeese, Nadine Bloch, Allison Hantschel. CODEPINK's Gael Muphy will report on the visit to Jordan at the start of last month to meet with Iraqis as well as the trip to Lebanon. And war resister Ricky Clousing will discuss the court-martial he's facing. (This may be the first major discussion he's given publicly on the topic since August 11th.)

And on Sunday, Camp Democracy will host a number of events and the theme will be Impeachment Day. Among those participating: Elizabeth Holtzman, Michael Avery, Ray McGovern, David Green, John Nichols, Marcus Raskin, Elizabeth De La Vega, Dave Lindorff, David Swanson, Jennifer Van Bergen, Geoff King, David Waldman, Dan DeWalt, Steve Cobble, Anthony St. Martin, Cindy Bogard, Mubarak Awad, Susan Crane, Frank Anderson. The camp has daily activities and admission is free. A complete schedule can be found here. Free and open to the public with daily activites.


Finally, in Australia, ABC reports that Brendan Nelson (Defence Minister) will be expanding their role in Iraq when "Italian forces withdraw at the end of next month." Reuters notes this will be 20 troops added to "the extra 38 troops announced on Sept. 4". The 58 need to be weighed next to the intent, as Dan Box (The Australian) reported earlier this week, the Australian government wants to up the army from 2,600 to 30,000 ("its biggest intake since the Vietnam war")















Posted by at

Friday, September 08, 2006

The Central Proof







I married an idiot. If that wasn't obvious before yesterday, it was this morning.

Yesterday started, as do most days with Thomas Friedman, in high drama. He had on his new wig, the good one we bought in California, and was applying his fake mole while I was attempting to shower and get ready for classes.

"Betinna," he whined, "the steam from your hot shower is making my hair go limp."

I pretended not to hear. He whined louder.

That was pretty much the morning except for the fact that he was excited due to the fact that he and Robert Novak were going to "storm" the "Times" today and demand that Gail Collins return his "ratty old wig -- not because I'm going to wear it but I don't want my own good looks besmirched by Gail Collins dressing up as me."

As him? Or as Marilyn Monroe? Or as him dressed up as Marilyn Monroe?

I almost asked but I just wanted to get out.

Classes were fun. Life is always fun away from Thomas Friedman. I think I could get stung by a bee in Central Park and I'd say "ouch" before realizing that even a day in the park with a bee sting was more fun than five minutes with Thomas Friedman.

I was heading towards our building when I saw Robert Novak.

Blood was dripping from his mouth. His blonde wig was askew. He was wearing a blue evening dress, strapless, that hugged him too tightly around the chest and seemed to ride up into his arm pits which probably explained the stains.

He saw me and put both hands in front of him as if to wave me away.

"I'm not Marilyn."

I didn't think he was.

"Your husband," he said with his trademark snarl, "accused me of trying to steal his thunder! I am not trying to be Marilyn!"

"You look nothing like her," I said because it was true and because I wanted to get away from his bad breath.

"Plame!"

"Pardon?" I asked.

"Valerie Plame! I dressed up as Valerie Plame. She's sexy, she's got a hot husband. I just wanted to be her for one day and maybe have the world show me a little sympathy and compassion! But your husband attacked me! He accused me of trying to be a quote 'Young Marilyn.'"

Novak pointed to his mouth. Holding my nose, I looked towards it.

"Three teeth! Your husband knocked out three of my teeth!"

Three bottom teeth. Was I supposed to be sympathetic? I remembered how crooked and yellow they were.

Fortunately, the maintenance man, Pedro, came out and interrupted, warning me that I'd better go check on my husband.

"I was unclogging a toilet in the apartment next door when I heard the commotion and rushed in," he said.

Nodding, I hurried past, advising Novak that his slip was showing and he needed to fix his wig.

The door to our apartment was wide open. I could hear sobbing from inside. Loud, chest heaving sobs. I checked my watch. Noon. And already on Dawn Patrol with the Judy Garland of the "New York Times."

Swallowing, I walked in to find Thomas Friedman on the couch sobbing.

"Betinna! Betinna! Thank God, you're home! You'll never believe what that awful, awful Robert Novak did to me!"

His mascara had run, forming spiderwebs down his cheeks. Other than that, he didn't look any worse for the wear. Well, Novak was a very, very old man.

Thomas Friedman was in mid-sob when he saw the look on my face. He seemed to grasp that I wasn't going to provide the sympathy he so wanted. In a flash, he was off the couch and rummaging around the room.

"Where's the bourbon?"

Oh, we were playing Sugar Kane? I headed into the kitchen and put a kettle of water on the front burner.

A few minutes later, Thomas Friedman sailed in.

"It was awful," he said plopping in a chair.

"You were awful," I corrected.

"Me!" he hollered waving his hand in the air. "Look what he did to me with his ferret teeth!"

It was a tiny cut.

The kettle started to boil. I grabbed two cups and some tea cups.

Settling in at the table, I sipped my tea and stared at Thomas Friedman who was being petulant.

"Well it wasn't my fault!" he snapped leaping to his feet. "I'm just, I'm just all mixed up."

The understatement of the decade.

I waited for his drama spell to dry out.

He eyed me for a moment then tried a new tack.

"Well, it's not my fault!" he huffed. "I'm bloated, I'm all over the place emotionally. I think I'm getting my visitor."

"Your visitor?"

"Yes, my visitor."

"Your period?"

Thomas Friedman rolled his eyes, "My visitor, Betinna. My monthly visitor."

"Thomas Friedman, you don't have a monthly visitor."

"Well," he said clutching his fake breasts, "then why are these so sore?"

"Thomas Friedman, your breasts, they are not real bosoms."

That did it. He stormed out of the kitchen. I tried to remember if I was out of Kotex?

He didn't speak to me all night. He was "working" on his column.

"The Central Truth."

The central truth is that it's the so-sure-they-are-the-center idiots that have prolonged this illegal war. But I got to a passage and my mouth dropped open. I read it to him aloud: "Early in the Iraq war a prominent Sunni Arab leader said to me privately, 'Thomas, these Shiites, they are not real Muslims.'"

He averted his eyes.

I threw the paper at him.

"You made me a Sunni?"

"Well, you are . . . dark skinned."

"It's called Black!" I shot back. "Not only did you make me a Sunni, you made me a Sunni bigot."

Thomas Friedman grabbed his compact and lipstick and began applying another thick coat. I stared at him and the clumps that formed above his upper lip where the mustache met the bright, coral red. Snapping the compact shut, he stared at me.

He threw his hands up in a gesture that meant -- well I have no idea what it meant.

"Betinna, you're so negative. You only see the bad things. Yes, I made you a Sunni. Yes, I made you a bigot. But you are a prominent Sunni bigot. Prominent."

I was about to respond but the phone began to ring. I looked at Thomas Friedman who shot his eyebrows up and looked back at me.

Sighing, I stood and walked over to the phone.

"Hello?"

It was Mrs. K.

"Betinna, have you seen your husband's column this morning?"

I was in no mood to discuss it.

"The reason I'm calling is because it's upset Nicky. I-I don't know what's going on. He's been pacing and muttering to himself all day."

God love Mrs. K, but if she thought that was a problem, she should try living with Thomas Friedman.

I'd give anything for just muttering and pacing, I thought as I stared at my husband in full drag at the breakfast table painting his toenails, and some of that pacing might walk off his fat ass.

"I know this sounds strange," she said, "but it seems to have something to do with you."

"With me?"

"He keeps saying your name, Betinna. And it's as though, well it's as though he's having an argument with Thomas Friedman. He keeps screaming, 'No, Thomas, you are morally confused. We can't do this to this girl.' Then he starts saying your name and something like 'Run! Run for your life!' He's got me very worried."

I told her I'd be right over.

Hanging up, I turned to Thomas Friedman and asked, "What did you do now?"

"If that was Robert Novak, you call him back and tell him I can hire a lawyer too! I can! I can hire Robert Luskin! Ha! I can hire --"

"It was about Nicky K. He's become unhinged."

Thomas Friedman snorted, "You only just noticed!"

Still bitter and still bitchy over Nicky K's Pulitzer win.

I grabbed my purse and headed out with Thomas Friedman whining after.

"Betinna! You promised me we would go shopping for girdles!"

I ignored him. "Moraly confused." Yes, I'd just read the phrase in Thomas Friedman's column this morning, but something about it seemed strangely familiar.


"Iraq snapshot" (The Common Ills):
Friday, September 8, 2006. Chaos and violence continue in Iraq, bits of the long over due US Senate reporton the lies that led to war (they're calling it a look into the intell) are scattered like crumbs, US soldier Mark Wilkerson reflects on how he reached the decision not to take part in the illegal war, US soldier Darrell Anderson is reportedly headed back to the United States after attempts to be granted asylum in Canada,
and Australia's Bully Boy says Brendan Nelson is doing a "fantastic job."

In the United States, AP was first out of the gate with: "A senate intelligence committee report says there's no evidence Saddam Hussein had a relationship with terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or his al-Qaida associates before the Iraq war." CBS and AP quote US Senator John D. Rockefeller stating of the report: "Ultimately, I think you will find that administration officials made repeated prewar statements that were not supported by underlying intelligence" and that it shows "the administration pursued a deceptive strategy abusing intelligence reporting that the intelligence community had already warned was uncorroborated, unreliable and in some critical circumstances fabricated."

Reuters notes that US Senator Carl Levin has pointed to the Bully Boy's statement on August 21st and attempted (yet again) to make an unfounded link. Levin: "The president's statement, made just two weeks ago, is flat-out false."

Though the press wants to play Levin's statement as an allegation, public record shows Bully Boy stated: "I square it because imagine a world in which you had Saddam Hussein, who had the capacity to make a weapon of mass destruction, who was paying suiciders to kill innocent life, who had relations with Zarqawi." As Levin pointed out, that "is flat-out false."

The lies that led into illegal war. Yesterday, AP notes, the Senate passed a spending measure to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with another $63 billion dollars.

As the cost in blood and currency continues to add up, more and more people turn against the illegal war. In the United States, Byron Pitts (CBS) reported on the mood in Jacksonville, North Carolina and spoke with retired Marine Colonel Jim Van Riper who admits to vote for Bully Boy twice but intends to vote Democratic for the first time. Van Riper tells Pitts: "I've turn him [Bully Boy] off. I've tuned him out." The cost in blood? AFP notes the Baghdad morgue body count for August stands at 1,584. It also includes 2666 US troops who have died in Iraq since the start of the war, 118 British troops (that includes the one who died Thursday) and 115 "other" for a total of 2899.

Of the US fatality count, Emil Guillermo (Asian Week) notes, "Ironically, of the Iraq war deaths, over 2,500 came after" Bully Boy's "declared on May 1, 2003, 'Mission Accomplished'."

Bombings?

CNN reports that, in Baghdad, a roadside bomb left six injured and killed three ("including a mother and child" among the dead) and that a US soldier died "south of Baghdad" from a roadside bomb. Reuters reports a car bomb in Baghdad that killed a police officer "and a bystander". Sami al-Jumaili (Reuters) reports the death of eight in Kerbala from mortars.

Shootings?

CNN reports that three people were shot dead in Baquba and a sunni tribal chief was shot dead in Hawija. Reuters identifies the man as Ibrahim al-Khalaf and notes that an Iraqi soldier was shot dead near Samarra (with two others wounded).

Corpses?

AFP reports six corpses were found in Baghdad ("tortured . . . shot to death"). Reuters reports the corpse of Haider Hamza was discovered "shot dead in front of his house" and that he had been "an interpreter working for Danish troops in Iraq".

AFP reports that Brigadier Muzher Kamel Mohammad ("head of the police force protecting Iraqi courts") was kidnapped in Baghdad. This as Reuters reports the US is clashing with people in Falluja and "U.S. troops used loudspeakers to demand people turn in 'insurgents' or face a 'large military operation'." Falluja. Again. As if November 2004 wasn't destructive enough. Hearts and minds, as Mark Wilkerson has noted, are not being won.

And the much touted non-handover? As Jim Sciutto (ABC) notes: "Watching the headlines in the American media today, you might think the U.S. military handed over military control in Iraq to Iraqis. There was certainly a ceremony yesterday -- a handshake at a military base where Iraqi commanders took control of an Iraqi army division from coailtion commanders -- but the real story is the arithmetic. Yesterday's handover affects the tiny Iraqi navy and air force, with a few hundred folks in each, and a single Iraqi army division, the 8th Army with 5500 to 7000 troops. This means only about five percent the 115,000 regulars in the Iraqi army now take their cues from the Iraqi prime minister. The rest remain firmly under foreign control -- and so do the most dangerous areas of the country, such as Baghdad and the volatile Anbar province in the west. The 8th Army operates in the relatively small -- and relatively quiet -- Diwaniyeh province in southern Iraq."


In peace news, Diana Welch (Austin Chronicle News) reviews the case of war resister Mark Wilkerson noting his disillusionment ("When we went, our general mission was to win the hearts and minds of the people. But when I got there, and I saw the people and how we were treating them, I thought, 'We're doing exactly the opposite'."), his awakening (finding out who was profitting -- "certain individuals were making on this war, how much money the corporations like Halliburton were making"), having his conscientious objector application rejected as he was called up for another tour of duty, and then deciding to check himself out. Alan Gionet (CBS4) reports that Rebecca Barker, Matt Wilkerson's mother, stated, "I think the public is looking at anyone who goes AWOL as cowards and it goes much deeper than that." Welch notes that Wilkerson could face a special court-martial (if found guilty, one year sentence is the maximum) or a general one (which would led to seven years if found guilty). Gionet reports: "Wilkerson is confined to base while his unit faces what could be its third deployment."

Meanwhile, Phinjo Gombu (Toronto Star) reports that war resister Darrell Anderson will be leaving Canada and returning to the US, according to his mother Anita Anderson. This should take place during the last weekend of September and he will be met at the border by peace activists and Vietnam veterans as well as by Jim Fennerty, his attorney. "If he is not arrested immediately, Anderson plans to travel to Fort Knox in Kentucky to turn himself in. It is one of the two army bases where deserters are kept while the army decides whether to court-martial or discharge a soldier."

In Washington, DC Camp Democracy continues through September 21st. It is free and open to the public. Today's events focused on labor issues. Saturday, September 9th, many events will be taking place and among those speaking will be Antonia Juhasz (The BU$H Agenda), Ray McGovern and Bill Moyers. The events will kick off at 9:00 a.m. in preparation of the 9:30 a.m. march around the Capitol Building "To remember the fallen and remind Congress and the public of the human cost of the War on and Occupation of Iraq." Sunday, September 10th will feature Juhasz, Ann Wright, Raed Jarrar and others. A complete schedule can be found here.

And beginning September 21st (International Peace Day), via United for Peace & Justice:

It's time to answer fear with courage, to step out of our personal comfort zones and take bold action to end the Iraq War.Join us in a week of nonviolent action, including civil disobedience, from September 21-28, and in pressuring pro-war politicians all this fall through the Voters for Peace pledge.
In Australia, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson continues to be a subject of discussion over his role as self-designated media spokesperson for the April 21st Baghdad death of Jake Kovco. First into the fray was prime minister John Howard who has "full confience" in Brendan Nelson. Of course he also claims to have "full confidence" in Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston whose testimony directly contradicts Nelson. And it's also true that Howard is the Bully Boy down under. So no one really cares what he says as he speaks from both sides of his mouth except possibly for this statement which has strong echoes of "Heck of a job, Brownie" -- from ABC's The World Today, Howard: "Dr Nelson is doing a fantastic job." Fantastic of a job, Brendie!

For those who missed it, yesterday Houston told the hearing that he had repeatedly warned Nelson not to speak to the press because the events of Jake Kovco's death were not clear. Or as WA Business News sums it up: "Defence force chief Angus Houston has directly contradicted the Defence Minister's statement to police about private Jake Kovco's death, saying Brendan Nelson ignored repeated warnings not to speculate about the shooting."

Samantha Hawley summarizes (on ABC's PM) thusly: In a witten submission to the Military Board of Inquiry, Dr Nelson says it was Air Chief Marshal Houston who told him that Jake Kovco had been handling his loaded weapon in some way when it discharged. But Angus Houston directly contradicts that claim. In his own submission, the Defence Force Chief indicates he repeatedly urged the minister against speculating about the cause of death, saying it appeared to have been a tragic accident but this would need to be confirmed by the Board of Inquiry."

We turn to this statement from April 27, 2006: "Of course we are, and I'm personally, very angry about it. I'm very disappointed. The inquiry and the investigation will get to the bottom of it. But I just ask Australians, it's very easy to criticise Defence. It's a large organization. It does wonderful things for Australians and for people in times of trouble, but don't just, I just say to Australians, don't just take a free kick here."

A free kick? Hasn't Brendan Nelson earned it? The statement above was when he went to the press to announce that Jake Kovco's coffin had returned home but not his body. It's been one mix up after another. Put yourself in the Kovco family's place, think of all the mix ups/screw ups Nelson's overseen and been responsible for and wonder if Brendan Nelson is the poor-put-upon he'd like to paint himself or someone performing their job very poorly.
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