Month: June 2005

The BBC reports that at a demonstration sponsored by the Uzbek government in support of Supreme Leader Islam Karimov, one of the spear-carriers sported a placard emblazoned with this slogan:

“Human rights activists are enemies of the motherland.”

Among all the news about the self-outing of ‘Deep Throat,’ this news has gotten only a brief mention:

In 1981, Ronald Reagan granted a presidential pardon to Mark Felt for illegal actions against antiwar activists, including break-ins. Reagan said that Felt followed procedures he

believed essential to keep the Director of the FBI, the Attorney General, and the President of the United States advised of the activities of hostile foreign powers and their collaborators in this country. They have never denied their actions, but, in fact, came forward to acknowledge them publicly in order to relieve their subordinate agents from criminal actions.

Four years ago, thousands of draft evaders and others who violated the Selective Service laws were unconditionally pardoned by my predecessor. America was generous to those who refused to serve their country in the Vietnam war. We can be no less generous to two men who acted on high principle to bring an end to the terrorism that was threatening our nation.

Those who study history know that the Cointelpro activities supervised by Mark Felt were not limited to surveillance and burglary. During that period, the FBI actively interfered with the internal politics of dissident groups, including starting and inflaming factional struggles. There were many local groups that were under the total control of FBI infiltrators.

Reagan’s comparison of peaceful dissent and the illegal actions of the FBI is outrageous.

FT has come up with some military recruitment numbers that are more specific than ones I’ve seen before:

By the end of April the army had attracted only 35,926 soldiers towards its goal of 80,000 for the year ending in October. Figures for reserves were even worse: 7,283 towards the target of 22,175.
[…]
Since attacking Afghanistan in 2001 the US has suffered more than 1,800 deaths. Another 13,000 have been wounded, including 6,600 so badly that they were unable to return to duty.

All of which makes these idiots look even stupider than they normally do:

Yes, that’s the Prince of Darkness himself addressing a FReaker Rally of about 50 people in DC lusting to bomb Iran into democracy. Fortunately for the rest of the planet, they’ve already wrecked the only invasion force at their disposal and none of them would dream of suiting up themselves.