crazed monkey

This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow: It should be apparent to any reasonably bright seven year old that we are being lied to. Most recently, there was the UK’s plagiarised out-of-date dossier, the forged uranium purchase documents, and the aluminium tubes which were found unusable for uranium enrichment. All three of these findings denounce some crucial arguments in Colin Powell’s speech to the UN and in President Bush’s State of the Union address. Do not forget that the link between Iraq and Al Qaeda, another cornerstone supporting the call for an Iraq war, is a claim on which both the FBI and the CIA disagree. Given that these supporting claims are false, what other key arguments are waiting to be uncovered as distortions?

Anyone who has been keeping tabs on this impending war on Iraq has probably noticed how much its focus has changed. First it was disarmament, then regime change with a smattering of “freeing the Iraqi people” on the side. As Tom Tomorrow points out, a similar thing happened during the Gulf War. As many will remember, that war was first a response to aggression, then a tool for the liberation of the people of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein. After the war was over, it became clear that it was all about the oil.

The liberation of the Iraqi people was a large part of the Gulf War. Back then, President George Bush urged the Iraqi people to rise up and defeat Saddam Hussein. The repressed Iraqi citizenry did what anyone in their situation would have done if egged on by a formidable power: they revolted with the belief that the Americans would come to their aid. That never happened. Instead, both sides in the Gulf War signed a cease-fire, the uprising was quickly crushed and tens of thousands of people were slaughtered. Who is to say that the US would support the Iraqis this time around, either during a war or after a military victory?

Posted on March 14th, 2003 in politics - No Comments »

As those who wish a war in Iraq are unrelenting in their push for violence, so must those who are against that war be unrelenting in their cries for peace. With that in mind, there is another global day of protest against a war in Iraq this Saturday, March 15th. The Toronto rally is at noon in front of the US consulate. Canadians elsewhere can attend rallies taking place across the country. Of note for those in the United States is the emergency convergence on the White House in Washington D.C. along with parallel protests in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

I will be among those in Toronto even though it seems somewhat futile at this point. If you are against a war, please attend a rally near you. If you are not quite sure what your stance is, I urge you to immerse yourself in meaningful arguments from both sides of the debate and draw your own conclusions. I view a political rally of this nature as a vote with my physical presence. Like all votes, I feel that it is not a decision one should take lightly. If you are against a war but are feeling powerless against the notion of war, remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”

Posted on March 11th, 2003 in politics - No Comments »

Given recent news in Canada-US relations, here is a timely piece making the email rounds. Courtesy of Rick Mercer Colin Mochrie in character as Anthony St. George from This Hour Has 22 Minutes on CBC Television, here is a public apology to the United States on behalf of all Canadians:

On behalf of Canadians everywhere I’d like to offer an apology to the United States of America. We haven’t been getting along very well recently and for that, I am truly sorry.

I’m sorry we called George Bush a moron. He is a moron but it wasn’t nice of us to point it out. If it’s any consolation, the fact that he’s a moron shouldn’t reflect poorly on the people of America. After all it’s not like you actually elected him.

I’m sorry about our softwood lumber. Just because we have more trees than you doesn’t give us the right to sell you lumber that’s cheaper and better than your own.

I’m sorry we beat you in Olympic hockey. In our defence I guess our excuse would be that our team was much, much, much, much better than yours.

I’m sorry we burnt down your white house during the war of 1812. I notice you’ve rebuilt it! It’s Very Nice.

I’m sorry about your beer. I know we had nothing to do with your beer but we Feel your Pain.

I’m sorry about our waffling on Iraq. I mean, when you’re going up against a crazed dictator, you wanna have your friends by your side. I realize it took more than two years before you guys pitched in against Hitler, but that was different. Everyone knew he had weapons.

And finally on behalf of all Canadians, I’m sorry that we’re constantly apologizing for things in a passive-aggressive way, which is really a thinly veiled criticism. I sincerely hope that you’re not upset over this.

We’ve seen what you do to countries you get upset with.

Thank you.

Rick Mercer

For 22 Minutes, I’m Anthony St. George, and I’m sorry.

Update: I have since corrected the above, which was in reality delivered by Colin Mochrie. I have not added in the missing pieces of the apology, but you can view them on Snopes.com (via Boost Ventilator). Alternatively, you can view the RealVideo video.

Posted on March 3rd, 2003 in politics - No Comments »