Posted on 10/25/2003 6:51:39 AM PDT by BigWaveBetty
... And so do we.
Germany, France won't pledge funds at Iraqi conference
Iraqi leader warns of possible backlash
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- The level of Germany and France's participation in an international conference aimed at raising more funds to rebuild Iraq prompted reaction Thursday from a top Iraqi official, who warned of a possible backlash.
Ayad Allawi, the current head of Iraq's U.S.-appointed governing council, said he hoped German and French officials would reconsider their decision not to boost their contributions beyond funds already pledged through the European Union.
"As far as Germany and France are concerned, really, this was a regrettable position they had," Allawi said. "I don't think the Iraqis are going to forget easily that in the hour of need, those countries wanted to neglect Iraq."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
And Victor Davis Hanson takes on the pundit class on Iraq:
Yet here we stand, a little more than six months later, with a country that was the worst in the Middle East evolving into the best. We are witnessing nothing less than the revolutionary and great moral event of the age, and when it comes to pass, a reborn democratic Iraq will overturn almost all the conventional wisdom, here and abroad, about the Middle East, the nature and purpose of war in our age, the moral differences between Europe and America — and the place in history of George W. Bush.The elites think Americans have forgotten 9/11 and reverted to Clinton-mania. This next election will tell us just how shallow our citizenry has become....I think the pundits are in for a shock.No wonder the current hysteria looks likely to increase in the months ahead.
LOL!
The waving flag came from a Quicktime movie I made of the flag with my digital camera on the day my son graduated from Airborne School at Ft. Benning, GA. It was a great day for the flag and for me.
Above from Lynn's homepage here, beneath from God:
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
If you haven't seen his comedy special on HBO (not his regular show) watch it. He skewers lots of liberal and progressive policies.
I think the pundits are in for a shock.
I think you're right! :-)
Some of Best of the Web from Friday that I liked:
'A Very Long Year'
The New York Sun has a report on the Democratic presidential campaign that can't be encouraging to those who hope for a new president next year:
"It's been a very long year of special-interest hopping," said Bruce Reed, president of the Democratic Leadership Council, a coalition of moderate Democrats.
Mr. Reed said he began to worry about the process in January when six of the candidates appeared together at a dinner sponsored by the National Abortion Rights Action League. Mr. Reed said the Rev.Al Sharpton "boasted" about being arrested at an abortion rights protest and Howard Dean, a physician and the former governor of Vermont, regaled the crowd with stories about counseling he had given to his patients, including a 12-year-old girl who he said was probably the victim of incest.
"I knew we were in trouble," said Mr. Reed, who was domestic policy adviser to President Clinton. "Those two completely stole the show," he said."If you hadn't been arrested or you hadn't performed an abortion, you might not be able to compete." [Cozying up to abortion, how comforting.]
The Campaign Heats Up
New Hampshire Public Radio has a hilarious vignette from Joe Lieberman's primary campaign:
In the middle of a cold, windy day--with the first snow of the year falling all around them--a team of young Lieberman supporters were promoting the fact that their man fights global warming. Apparently oblivous to the large white flakes around them, an observer noted, "It's snowing!" Unabashed, one young supporter replied, "That's because of global warming!"
Why didn't Lieberman's supporters just take credit for the snow, offering it as evidence of their man's success in combating global warming? [I'll take a stab... They're not smart enough?]
Will John Kerry Join?
Rep. Amo Houghton, a liberal Republican from upstate New York, has formed the Congressional French Caucus, the Washington Times reports. Houghton made the announcement over a lunch of "salmon, beef and fancy sorbet" at the French ambassador's residence.
'I Hate Moderates'
Cheers to blogger "Frank J." for this delightful bon mot (ellipsis in original):
There is now a Centrist Coalition blog. I hate moderates . . . much more than even liberals. I bet Satan is a moderate; the best way to get evil accepted is to package it with some good. That's what moderates do; they're always like, "Oh! I'm so special because I don't take a firm stance on issues, and I see value in everyone's viewpoints." I bet right now a moderate is reading this and partially agreeing with it. Damn you! :-)
he wouldn't straddle! grrrrrr
Just four weeks from the start of production on "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," Disney has canceled the comedy about a bachelor visited during his brother's wedding by specters of his former flames.
Betty Thomas, of "I Spy" fame, had been hired in August to direct the movie, and the studio was just about to announce some big names as Affleck's co-stars.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that "in addition to the movie's high cost, another contributing factor was Affleck's tarnished image. The star has taken a beating in the tabloids and at the box office with the failure of his most recent film, 'Gigli.' "
Disney will have to pay Affleck's salary in any case - unless another studio picks up the movie - because he has a "pay-or-play" contract.
Meanwhile, Paramount is said to be considering dropping Affleck from its next Jack Ryan movie, though he played the CIA agent in "The Sum of All Fears."
Affleck will be seen in December in John Woo's "Paycheck," and next year in what is widely rumored to be another Affleck/Lopez bomb, "Jersey Girl," directed by Kevin Smith.
The relationship of Affleck with Jennifer Lopez has launched a thousand magazine covers. The latest supermarket tabloid story has them eloping any minute. But the publicity isn't helping put any fannies in seats for their movies.
"Daredevil" failed to capture the audience that "Spider Man," "X-Men" and "The Hulk" pulled in. And "Gigli" - after being savaged by the critics - was one of the biggest flops of all time.
Beside the speculation over the wedding and its last-minute postponement, readers have been deluged with stories about Affleck's partying with strippers, his gambling and his impulsive shopping for cars and jewelry.
There is a growing suspicion that all the publicity is backfiring, that the public is getting bored with "Bennifer."
It might be time for Affleck and Lopez to take a long vacation, as Demi Moore did, so we'll be eager to see their faces again. PageSix
What a shame.
Just four weeks from the start of production on "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," Disney has canceled the comedy about a bachelor visited during his brother's wedding by specters of his former flames.
Betty Thomas, of "I Spy" fame, had been hired in August to direct the movie, and the studio was just about to announce some big names as Affleck's co-stars.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that "in addition to the movie's high cost, another contributing factor was Affleck's tarnished image. The star has taken a beating in the tabloids and at the box office with the failure of his most recent film, 'Gigli.' "
Disney will have to pay Affleck's salary in any case - unless another studio picks up the movie - because he has a "pay-or-play" contract.
Meanwhile, Paramount is said to be considering dropping Affleck from its next Jack Ryan movie, though he played the CIA agent in "The Sum of All Fears."
Affleck will be seen in December in John Woo's "Paycheck," and next year in what is widely rumored to be another Affleck/Lopez bomb, "Jersey Girl," directed by Kevin Smith.
The relationship of Affleck with Jennifer Lopez has launched a thousand magazine covers. The latest supermarket tabloid story has them eloping any minute. But the publicity isn't helping put any fannies in seats for their movies.
"Daredevil" failed to capture the audience that "Spider Man," "X-Men" and "The Hulk" pulled in. And "Gigli" - after being savaged by the critics - was one of the biggest flops of all time.
Beside the speculation over the wedding and its last-minute postponement, readers have been deluged with stories about Affleck's partying with strippers, his gambling and his impulsive shopping for cars and jewelry.
There is a growing suspicion that all the publicity is backfiring, that the public is getting bored with "Bennifer."
It might be time for Affleck and Lopez to take a long vacation, as Demi Moore did, so we'll be eager to see their faces again. PageSix
What a shame.
MILLER: Yes. I think Condoleezza Rice would make a great President. I hope she runs against Hillary. That would be my dream ticket in 2008: Hillary Clinton versus Condi Rice; an imagined track record versus a real track record.
Speaking of Hillary, seems she and the Dems have been focusing on the homosexual "community" in NYC lately:
Jonathan Sheffer, founder of the Eos Orchestra, celebrated his 50th birthday at the Ace Gallery on Hudson Street with his boyfriend Dr. Christopher Barley, plus Sen. Hillary Clinton, City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, Democratic National Committeeman Robert Zimmerman and John Tartaglia of "Avenue Q." (PageSix)
Avenue Q is a Broadway musical which features songs such as ''Everyone's a Little Bit Racist,'' ''Schadenfreude,'' ''The Internet Is for Porn'' and ''You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You're Makin' Love).''
In other news, Spain is emerging as the significant European country, while France and Germany, busily shooting themselves in the feet over Iraq, are old news - or "Old Europe," as Rummy said. Interesting article in the Int'l Herald Tribune, here.
Former US president Bill Clinton has canceled a scheduled trip to Taiwan for the second time since he left office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Clinton was originally slated to visit Taipei Nov. 15 and Nov 16 at the invitation of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, an organization founded by senior government officials to promote democracy.
Victor Chin, director general of the ministry's Department of North American Affairs, said Clinton called off the trip because "one day was too short for him to carry out the activities he wanted." Clinton had told Taiwanese officials in the US that having visited the country four times during his time as governor of Arkansas, he wished to meet up with many good friends he had here.
"Clinton said Taiwan deeply impressed him and that he wanted to see Taiwan's dynamic democracy. But the brief overnight stay, which would last less than 24 hours, cannot really allow him to do anything besides giving a speech and meet with President Chen Shui-bian," Chin said.
Clinton had wanted to visit early next month but delayed his arrival date so that he could meet with Chen, who will be out of the country from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 on a state visit to Panama, Chin said.
Clinton's office tried to squeeze the Taipei leg into the tight schedule of his Asian trip, between a visit to South Korea and one to Japan, but Clinton eventually decided to drop the Taipei leg. "Now Clinton has postponed his visit until next spring," Chin said, without giving a date.
"Of course we hoped Clinton could visit Taiwan as early as possible. But we respect his decision," Chin said.
The foundation has not paid Clinton for the canceled visit yet. However, Chin said, the delay would not affect the ministry's donation to Clinton's memorial library, which is under construction in Arkansas.
Clinton might meet with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong if he visits in the spring. A Chinese-language newspaper had invited Clinton to visit Taiwan for four days in September 2001, but the trip was canceled because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Taipei Times
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No time to visit friends? I thought all his Chinese friends lived in the "other" China, that is, the ones who bulked up his bank account.
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