Centerfield

In today's Washington Post, Sebastian Mallaby starts out: "In the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, there was a new recognition that poor countries could harm rich ones". Now Mallaby's column goes on to make several valid points. But let's think about this opening sentence for a second.

Where did the September 11 hijackers come from again? Mostly, they were natives of a country which doesn't really rank as "poor" -- certainly not compared to an enormous number of others in the world which have not generated such attacks. Then there is the detail that these were not young men out of poverty, even compared to the general population of Saudi Arabia. Rather, they were out of the upper and upper-middle class.

Mallaby, I must say, is hardly the only commentator (or politician) to make the poverty/terrorism connection. But I keep wondering why more of them aren't called on it more often.

Good point and I don't think this help comes from poor countries either.

I noticed this story too. It is incorrect thinking the threats we are facing are directed and managed by the "poor". In the wake of North African terror, I wonder if Europe is feeling sufficent pressure to wake up.

On a good note, liberals (Farrow and Spielberg) seem to have gotten China to put more pressure on Sudan.

And while Imus is making the news, here's something most US media missed.

Why would anyone want to see a gender-bending guitarist?

Today we're tossing a dead neighbors' cat on the cart. She ran out of lives after less than a year and a half, and died after almost certainly being hit by a car. The Profesora found her body and delivered the news.

She had gone through several of our window screens getting our cats' attention, eventually getting inside three times. She also showed up on an upstairs roof way too often.

Every time we took care of her after she was old enough, we ended up being scared she would vanish or run out of those lives on our watch. Once, when we were caring for her, she managed to get stuck in another neighbors' house, just as that neighbor was moving out.

Easterners watch out, more global warming heading your way.

Last night we had really big blobs of really wet snow falling here all night. We ended up with two inches of wet, which was about four inches of snow and an inch of rain. My backyard is now a wetland, complete to ducks. Love those ugly blizzards with lightning and thunder--not.

The "poverty breeds terrorism" meme is BS. Radical ideologies breed terrorism.

Yep, the big chill is on its way. Thanks for the link to Prometheus.

Seems poverty is suddenly sweeping North Africa.
I didn't know such poverty existed in Canada.

If you want a late night laugh check the comment thread on the Snoop Dog (arrested 85 times) link I posted below. Funny how some rappers and SNL tonight are taking shots at the Al and Jesse Show. And its interesting that the most outrageous posters below seem to think Obama is their man, while Hillary switches the topic to American Idol.

thanks ABC

Vacation or protest?

Snow with thunder and lightning is quite a rare occurence round here, and it's really a thrill as long as you're in a position where you can afford to enjoy the weather, especially if it's a nighttime storm and the lightning illuminates the flakes.

We had lots of rain and wind round here. Trees down, plenty of flooding, and so on. And the runners in yesterday's 111th Boston marathon didn't seem to be enjoying it. But I'd be lying if I said I felt very sorry for them. Running 26 miles has always struck me as a pretty undesirable thing to do, so if you do it voluntarily, I think you sorta get what you deserve.

Lots of rain here too, but little wind in the city. I noticed an extra smell of chlorine in the water, so I'm sure water treatment had some problems.

I'm ready for spring. During the rain I posted several comments at Huffington. I noticed something. Even though my posts were respectful and on point, many were not posted. Instead, rather abusive and obscene remarks were posted by Lefties that were off-topic and incoherent. I guess that is how Huffington filters their blog. They feature articles like blaming Bush for the deaths at Virginia Tech. Rabid posters called me nasty names when I asked anyone to post published research papers that proved the mechanism for the inverted lag time between human forced CO2 and temperature. They said evidence wasn’t necessary because the world knows the truth about global warming. They called me a Nazi for refuting the absurd claim that Mossad kidnapped a BBC journalist and killed him. I am embarrassed that a liberal blog hasn't a clue about civil discourse. I didn’t like Huffington when she was an extreme conservative denouncing illgals etc. Now I dislike her even more.

Note on the Booker T blog. It is a bit disturbing reading a few there say they do not want to see the uninsured getting treatment at hospitals. No money, no hand out. Wow….C3 mentioned their reflection on Imus, but having read some threads, I question their logic as any guide to the black community.

One of my coworkers ran in the marathon. Needless to say, he isn't in work today. I can't wait to hear his story. And I'm with you, bk. Running 26 miles sounds like masochism, let alone running one of those super marathons. I can run between 3.5 to 4 miles in a half and hour, which isn't so bad. But I always stop after a half an hour, having gotten what I see as the best bang for the buck in cardiovascular benefit. Why go any further?

My doctor too, questioned the "benefit" of sucking in 26 miles of NYC air.

A true story: About twelve years ago I was jogging down West Street near Tribeca in NYC when I approached a person I could swear was Robert DiNero. It was a blistering hot summer days with a traffic jam miles long to our right. He looked at me as I slowly passed him and said, "Are we just killin ourselves?" I said, "I think so". And we both laughed. The next day I tried running in a respirator, but that didn't work, so I confined my runs to the tree sheltered Central Park.

If you voluntarily run 26 miles for any reason other than someone chasing you, please do not look to me for sympathy.

I never gave up running for exercise, but my knees and hips did. I stopped before I needed a walker or a wheelchair....

Speaking of running, that is, "running away", this is quite the opposite. I am sure Bobby would say a 26 mile run is easy compared to what the Marines have been doing.

In light of the growing "consensus" of Iraq, let's be real about the Democrat's achievments in their latest rounds of signals and trips (not that good cop/bad cop is pointless).

with alittle help from their friends in Syria
Syria's post-visit gesture to Pelosi Of course, they still refuse the UN investigation on murder in Lebanon.

some views on Pelosi trip

Hoyer's trip to the Brotherhood

In fact the UN is quite concerned about what the Syrians are up to and are sending investigators to Lebanon (aren't the French supposed to be watching?) to evaluate weapon shipments.

So far, I haven't heard a peep from Obama, Hillary or Edwards. And their tough talk about Iran?

Iran agrees with the Huffington Post Yes, Bush is responsible.....

Free speech in Iran

The truth it seems is 1. The Middle East will not improve by our withdrawal. 2. Gestures and "talks" are not likely to sway Syria or Iran which are doing their thing while we are divided. 3. Democratic candidates have not offered a new take on this old game and appear to simply running on NOT BUSH while giving lip service to AIPAC, our allies and real fears from significant numbers of Americans.

Now that is a run we should all avoid....

Just a follow up for those a little too busy to notice some items floating around:

1. Hizb'Allah takes its orders from Iran

2. interesting debate on nuke probabilites

3. more likely first step of WMD There are some indications that Syria, Iran and other regimes with WMD programs have and will continue to distribute weapons regardless of sectarian affiliation. Yes there is a leap from explosives to CW, but it seems like an untracable first step. There is a proliferation underway of missiles with AQ in Iraq claiming they are about to use recently acquired missiles.

4. Bill Clinton makes some comments on the Middle East

Gates tells us today that diplomacy is working on Iran. Meanwhile, Turkey is experiancing increasing terrorism directed today at a Bible makers. Turkish Military Chief of General Staff says this. I am confused about the Clinton position which seems to take Syria and Iran more lightly than Turkey as well as Gates.

Last but not least Al-Qaddafi What the hell water is everyone drinking? With events quite nasty in Iraq and at home, is everyone missing the moves in North Africa and the Middle East?