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10/8/2005 More good analysis and commentary from the scholars at the Heritage Foundation. Read and learn. Dr. J-J
by Ariel Cohen, and John Tkacik
9/29/2005 Vote for Doctor John-Juan, the King of Babylon, so that there will be one enlightened, intellectual conserva-lib in the bunch!
Who are the world’s leading public intellectuals? FP and Britain’s Prospect magazine are seeking to put the public back into “public intellectual.” We’ve selected our top 100—which includes the likes of Umberto Eco, Paul Krugman, and Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani—but we want you to vote for your top five. If you don’t see a name that you think deserves top honors, include him or her as a write-in candidate. Voting closes October 10.
In the debate over Iraq, few figures argue with more passion than pro-war writer Christopher Hitchens and the anti-war British Member of Parliament George Galloway. In this heated exchange, the two polemicists lock horns on the morality and wisdom of the mission in Iraq.
Photographs by Kadir van Lohuizen
It takes only weeks for a diamond, once uncovered in an African mine, to travel to India to be cut and polished and land in the showrooms of Paris or New York. FP’s inaugural photo essay reveals some of globalization’s greatest fault lines—inequality, child labor, and outsourcing—and the people who too often fall through the cracks.
Panama offered bananas. Tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka pledged $25,000. Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates each pledged $100 million. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, these are just a few examples of the overwhelming—and sometimes surprising—generosity of more than 90 countries around the world. Herewith, FP’s full list of who is giving what.
Slate
Timothy Noah looks at the data used in Richard Posner’s Public Intellectuals: A Study in Decline.
The Nation
An exchange adapted from a gathering of intellectuals, including Steven Carter, Jean Bethke Elshtain, and Steven Johnson.
Hey, wait a minute! They forgot to invite me! 9/26/2005 Why don't we just turn the UN over to France so they can simply dictate to the world great ideas like this one!
Tax Collectors for the Global Welfare State
United Nations – "Creating new financing mechanisms is the ambition we have," said French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who, in the absence of President Jacques Chirac, is twisting the arms of world leaders at the United Nations this week and urging them to implement a global airline tax to fund the UN's poverty program. 9/7/2005 Saddam confesses ‘crimes,’ Iraq president says - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com
Saddam Hussein, what a blight on the history of humanity. Hmm, humanity is something he knows nothing about since he's not human. I wouldn't even place him in the category of vicious animals. They maim, maul, and kill out of instinct and necessity. Saddam took pleasure in it. He can't be executed soon enough for me, preceded by a taste of his own medicine, like the ole dip him in a vat of acid routine he enjoyed so much. Yep, even non-violent, humanitarin, peace-loving Dr. J-J gets a little vicious at times when duly provoked. And what that slug and his equally non-human offspring did to innocent men, women, and children provoked me. Their atrocities, crimes against humanity, alone warrant outside intervention if but to save the life of one child. 8/23/2005 Democrats split over position on Iraq war - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com
Of course they are split. They can't agree on much of anything because they have to platform, goals, agenda, ideas, ideals. They operate from personal promotion of self agrandizement, not what's best for their party much less what's best for the USA. According the the article the younger, activist Democrats in Congress want to pressure Bush for a timetable for pulling out of Iraq. That's like giving the police a timetable for when they will put an end to crime.
8/20/2005
"The problems of the United Nations are myriad, but few would be resolved by expanding the Security Council," write Nile Gardiner and Brett Schaefer. Expansion would not address the UN's management failures, corruption, and lack of transparency and accountability.
But expanding the Security Council would impede effectiveness and "make the Council even more unwieldy, contribute to gridlock, dilute U.S. influence, and result in a Council less supportive of the U.S. on many key issues."
Gardiner and Schaefer tally the voting records of leading Security Council contenders and find that most would "likely vote against the U.S. on most key issues."
"However imperfect, the current composition of the Council," conclude Gardiner and Schaefer, "is infinitely preferable to ill-considered expansion that will surely weaken its standing and ability to meet its mandate."
Read U.N. Security Council Expansion Is Not in the U.S. Interest by Nile Gardiner, Ph.D., and Brett D. Schaefer |
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The decision last week by Iran to resume processing of uranium at its nuclear facility in Isfahan after a nine-month hiatus is obviously an act of defiance. Greeted with great consternation here in France, it is widely perceived to be an act of affront against European efforts at engagement with Iran. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy called the development a "grave crisis" and said that it was "particularly alarming" that a change had taken place in the spirit in which the two sides had been negotiating. |
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Dr. John-Juan highly recommends The Heritage Foundation for accurate information, in-depth analysis by highly-educated writers qualified to make comments worth reading. Visit their site. Sign up for their email newsletter. 8/9/2005
Al Qaeda uses Web as a weapon - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com
Yep, they use the internet and the media as their weapons of mass destruction in their war on humanity and civilized society. Civilized society adheres to the freedoms of speech and the press but sometimes those freedoms are abused. The terrorists' use of any media for conducting their propaganda campaign of hate and violence needs to be stopped!! Dr. J-J 8/6/2005 Stay informed about world events right here at "Blog On! John" with a couple of articles for today. One is on Iraq and the other is about Europe doing the right thing by getting rid of those who preach violence and support terrorism. Dr. J-J
Hooray for Colombia, mi patria chica! Colombia has a lot of serious issues to confront but at least they got this one right. Now if they could just get terrorism, narco-trafficking, and the crime rate under control it would be the fantastic nation it once was. It was great to live there and visit in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's. Beautiful country; fascinating history; interesting culture; cultured and friendly people. The latter is the majority of the population; the bad element is a minority that ruins the country. What a shame! Dr. J-J 8/3/2005 George W. Bush, Jacques Chirac, and Kofi Annan at least agree on this: Too many countries are struggling to govern themselves. Around 2 billion people live in countries in danger of collapse, and world leaders once concerned about who was amassing power are now anxious about its absence. How do you know a failed state when you see one? And what causes state failure anyway? FP takes a look at countries at risk.
By FOREIGN POLICY & the Fund for Peace
It can be hard to tell how close a country is to the edge. In some countries, an authoritarian government might appear to be in control, but beneath the surface all the ingredients for an eruption are brewing. That’s where the first annual Failed States Index comes in. FP and the Fund for Peace have ranked 60 countries in danger and examined the international community’s response.
7/26/2005 A couple of interesting articles from a good magazine:
By Laura M. Kelley and Nicholas Eberstadt Few things harm a nation’s viability more than an ill and depleted work force. Yet elites in Muslim countries have looked the other way as HIV has crept into their societies, which are situated in some of the most volatile parts of the world. Muslim leaders must address the threat now—or risk a future crisis.
By Carolyn O’Hara For years, Western countries have tried using development aid and debt relief to lift failing African countries out of poverty and disease. But while rich-country leaders look to heal Africa with generosity, China and India may help pull Africa out of poverty with trade and investment driven by good, old-fashioned greed.
Regarding the second article--like the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime." I would say that comes from the Bible but then I would be disregarded as a Bible thumping religious fanatic and censored by the ACLU. So I'll play it safe and call it a "saying." Sure, the motivation may be greed but the end result is positive. China and India may be looking for cheap goods and a cheap labor force (don't they have a lot of their own??) but developing agriculture, industry, and business is better than giving hand outs. In the process some Africans will be used, abused, and underpaid but it's better than the barely surviving existence they lead now. But that's just Dr. J-J talking. 7/22/2005 U.S.: Sudan apologizes to Rice over rough-up - Africa - MSNBC.com
Yeah, no doubt the apology was "sincere." Not!! Just token, empty words so that they can continue to get millions from the USA. If that's the way their government officials treat our government officials, can you imagine how they must treat visiting tourists, business people, aid workers, etc.?? And we give these countries billions!?!? It's my money; I want it back! Instead of harping about the USA getting out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanomo, etc., why don't the liberals scream about getting out of countries such as this and stop squandering tax payer dollars. Oh, I forgot, it's way cool and very liberal to show solidarity with the nations that hate, use, abuse, and criticize the USA. Dr. J-J is grunting, hmph!! 7/20/2005 Ugandan MP offers free college for virgins - Peculiar Postings - MSNBC.com
They call this a "Peculiar Posting"? I don't think it's that strange. And I'm about this close to being serious about this. It would be a good idea for the USA to consider, but add more desirable outcomes and criteria. Students who are willing to submit to sporadic record checks and medical exams and remain tobacco, alcohol, drug, misdemeanor, and felony free can go to college free. Darn, never mind! Come to think of it, in the USA kids with a D average, criminal record, a number of unclaimed babies, drug addictions--the list goes on--pretty much get a free ride through college anyway. Oh, well. Dr. John-Juan. 7/13/2005
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The London bombings surprised most people. Not Sir Ian Blair, London’s most senior police commander. Only five months ago, he declared that an attack on London was inevitable.
Unfortunately, such a warning made sense. London historically has been a hotbed of support for al Qaeda. British authorities have uncovered and prevented at least six major al-Qaeda operations, including at least one planned attack on London’s mass-transit facilities. |
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Sixteen provisions in the Patriot Act that support domestic counterterrorism operations are set to expire at the end of 2005. The House Judiciary Committee plans to mark up a bill renewing these authorities this week. The committee’s timing could not be better. The recent bombings in London remind us that there is little room for complacency in the war on terrorism.
The researchers and writers at The Heritage Foundation are well-qualified to provide accurate assessments. These and other articles at Heritage are highly recommended by Dr. John-Juan
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http://www.heritage.org Good Question: To Judge, or Not to JudgeChrist commanded us not to judge others, but aren't there times when common sense or prudence requires it? Asked by Stephen Hunt, St. Paul, Minnesota.Answered by Roger E. OlsonEven people who know very little about the Bible are usually familiar with Jesus' saying "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matthew 7:1, KJV). This command is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount; it is Jesus' most popular saying because our culture values tolerance so highly.
But it is usually ripped out of context and misinterpreted.
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The above reading is recommended by Dr. John-Juan
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Homeland Security gets a makeover - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com
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We, as in we the people of the USA and we the people of the world, need all the homeland security we can get. Homeland Security needs to be expanded, strengthened, and fully funded. We need tighter, near isolationist, border security. We need aggressive intelligence, police, security, military, diplomatic, and all other avenues of action to put an end to barbaric acts of terrorism. And we need the liberal, whiny a***d liberal Democraps to get with the program, stop their political wrangling, end obstructionism, halt the Bush bashing, knock off foolishness like filibustering and do the job they were elected by us to do--uphold the Constitution of the United States of America; preserve and protect our laws, institutions, and traditions; defend the rights of citizens, including the right to safety and security. Man, I could just Babylon about this but that's enough for now! Dr. John-Juan
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Car bomb kills 27, including children and GI - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com
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As American military personnel were going about the positive, helping-hand aspect of a conflict--passing out candy to children--the barbaric terrorists struck. About a dozen children were killed. An American soldier, dozens of innocent Iraqui civilians, and about 12 innocent children were brutally murdered. Where is the outrage of the touchy-feely, compassionate liberals? Those opposed to the War on Terrorism need to re-think their position. I'm opposed to war in principle, war as a means of conflict resolution, in the modern era of civilized nations. Conflicts between/among civilized nations should certainly be settled peacefully with diplomacy and negotiation and the intervention of the UN (unfortunately a pretty useless organization for this purpose). But the enemy in this war does not believe in diplomacy and negotiation and does not follow the "conventions of war" and the "rules of engagement." This enemy is reminiscent of the marauding bands of uncivilized barbarians indiscriminately attacking innocent civilians, raping and pillaging, brutally murdering men, women, and children. Even those of us opposed to war in principle as a means of conflict resoution cannot be opposed to defending the innocent. Even non-violent, pacificist, anti-war persons would/should defend their families, their children against a brutal attack by a murderer, a child predator, a violent criminal. Faced with such a situation in their neighborhood, they would surely defend their neighbor's or friend's child rather than complacently stand by and witness an atrocity that they could avert. The terrorist barbarians are committing such attacks on innocent civilians, not waging war. If you would defend your child or your neighbor's child, then do not oppose the efforts of the civilized nations to defend the children of Iraq or the defenseless, innocent civilians anywhere in the world terrorist murderers attack. Supporting the effort to protect those in need of it does not conflict with any pacificist, non-violent, anti-war position or beliefs; it is a logical, compassionate, and necessary stance to take if you are opposed to the violence taking place in Iraq and elsewhere. Sensible non-violent pacifists and anti-war liberals should support local police forces for law enforcement in their neighborhoods. No one would deny that a police force is necessary to protect, to serve, to stop criminals even if violence is sometimes necessary to perform their duties. Law enforcement on a global scale such as the world-wide War on Terrorism requires a military force. Military force is the only viable option to stop the violence. Yes, using military force is violent, but it does not perpetuate violence. The violence of the terrorists is intentional, indiscriminate, barbaric; the violence inherent in a military action is a necessary component of defending the innocent and is directed at the perpetrators, the guilty, the enemy and not at innocent cilivilian men, women, and children. Would it help if the word "war" were not used? Perhaps we should change the name of the War on Terrorism to Campaign to Achieve World Civilization and Peace. Regards, Dr. John-Juan 7/10/2005
Italy arrests 142 in anti-terrorism sweep - Attacks on London - MSNBC.com
Way to go, Italy! That's the way all countries should respond to terrorist attacks, not the cowardly way Spain reacted. I lamented Spain's surrender to the terrorists in a previous comment. At this time I'll add that the bombings in London are a direct result of Spain's reactions to the Madrid bombings--surrender, retreat, back down, change to a cowardly government, withdraw from Iraq. Spain sent the terrorists a horrible message. Blow up something and kill innocent civilians and the victimized nation will throw up its hands in defeat and bow to terrorist demands. Since their murderous, barbaric tactics worked in Spain, the terrorists are now confident that they will work elsewhere. In a sense Spain became somewhat of an ally or supporter of the terrorists and the Spanish government's weak-kneed response to terrorist violence is responsible for the attacks in London. Thank God the UK and Italy reacted with strength and resolve and refuse to be intimidated or ruled by barbaric terrorists. Dr. John-Juan
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