U.S. Air Strikes

Iraq bombWho knows how many air strikes are conducted each day in Iraq? (70 armed sorties in the last two days according to the DoD website)! We’ll never know because it is NEVER reported!

Even NPR has stooped to the subservient level of topping the day’s news with BIRD FLU – despite the fact that the CDC itself assures us that it is NOT a REAL THREAT. What, does Rumsfeld need a paycheck? And if that’s not enough… there’s this so-called report on the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

Meanwhile, 26 Iraqi civilians (not “insurgents”) were killed in airstrikes yesterday in Iraq. Granted, news outlets are allowed a day off from LeakGate… but what of Scalito?

How about the fact that half a million are still without power in South Florida and schools have been closed for over a week.

Its November 1, not April Fools… if I hear one more thing about Tonkin or Bird Flu today, I might have to drop out of j-school.

UPDATE: Dems call for Senate meeting. Frist; accusing the Dems of hijacking the Senate: “They have no convictions, they have no principles, they have no ideas….”

Looks like we’re really gonna get somewhere now.

take a number

Apparently to scare the shit out of everybody, but with little supporting evidence, other than that this information was obtained in a “secret poll” conducted for the British Ministry of Defense, the Sunday Telegraph released this data:

The survey was conducted by an Iraqi university research team that, for security reasons, was not told the data it compiled would be used by coalition forces. It reveals:

  • Forty-five per cent of Iraqis believe attacks against British and American troops are justified – rising to 65 per cent in the British-controlled Maysan province;
  • 82 per cent are “strongly opposed” to the presence of coalition troops;
  • less than one per cent of the population believes coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security;
  • 67 per cent of Iraqis feel less secure because of the occupation;
  • 43 per cent of Iraqis believe conditions for peace and stability have worsened;
  • 72 per cent do not have confidence in the multi-national forces.

A note on numbers

Among the things that are especially pissing me off in regards to general media laziness and subordinance these days (not that I’m doing squat to counteract it) is the obsession with numbers. The number of casualties as a result of Katrina were irrelevant to the media in relation to the principle that the government wasn’t prepared and didn’t do enough to reduce that number – which the government admits (sorta).

But, the gov’t does not admit that it does not serve the greater good for thousands to die in Iraq, in fact, Torture Veep Cheney said again that the best way to honor them is to keep at it. What’s wrong with this principle?

Numbers do not represent right and/or wrong. Therefore – there are multiple sides in which any statistic can be framed.

As difficult as it may be to find a reason for certain facts, it is at the very least worth a try. Limbaugh et al may as well continue labelling everybody else the “liberal media” until people slap themselves and realize that its pointless to tell both sides of a story. Report the truth, and expect to criticize and hold the government to task NO MATTER WHO is in charge… or is it really true what DoD press releases say?

So, 2,000 dead in Iraq. The government and right wing pundits can easily point out that its a small price to pay for “democracy” in the Middle East and that its far less than in Vietnam.

Well, how many soldiers are severely if not permanently injured from this war? The ratio of injured to dead compared to Vietnam is astounding. How about the families that are being broken – children, parents lost… divorces painful and inexplicable extended stays in Iraq?

U.S. military casualties aside, if the gov’t gets a pass on that, how can the number of Iraqi civilian casualties be plainly ignored? Besides, the Iraqi referendum only “passed,” – and barely at that – because 2/3 of each Sunni province didn’t REJECT it. In other words, democracy is apparently defined by a thumbs up from only 1/3 of voters.

A final note, I am sick and tired of hearing about intelligent design. And, if the numbers don’t lie – regardless of whether or not they are WRONG – here they are from CBS News.

VIEWS ON EVOLUTION/CREATIONISM

Oct. 23, 2005
God created humans in present form
51%
Humans evolved, God guided the process
30%
Humans evolved, God did not guide process
15%

Journey Lives, 50 dies tryin’

Here’s to throwing them under the bus!

Steve PerryYes, “Don’t Stop Believin” has become the team anthem. And I always thought it was meant for the Cubbies, but I guess I’ll be waiting ’til next year.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, is up in arms in protest of 50 Cent’s poster advertising his movie. Apparently, people think that the image of a black man cradling a baby with a gun tucked in his pants is not promoting a healthy lifestlyle.

It all comes back to the White Sox, who began the year with the bizarre marketing slogan “Win… or Die Tryin‘”
win or die tryin