Month: April 2003 (Page 6 of 7)

The terrorists have already won, Part Deux

Many analysts after 9/11 believed the motive of Osama Bin Laden (remember him?) in the attacks was to draw the United States into a wide-ranging conflict with the Arab world.

I’d say he’s done a pretty good job of it so far.

“I hate everything about this war, except that we’re winning it.”

-Andy Rooney

Well apparently Hell has officially frozen over, because Andy Rooney actually used his platform on 60 Minutes this week to say something interesting and relevant.

Wait, did I just say that?

He basically said to the administration, please don’t treat us like children. Don’t slap a coat of paint on what you’re doing, calling it “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” He also talked about a PR tactic I hadn’t thought a lot about: administration officials and the press constantly referring to “coalition forces.” It’s the Americans and the British, folks. I’m sure we’re all pleased Eritrea and Iceland are giving us the thumbs-up, but calling it a “coalition” is stretching the rubber band almost to the breaking point.

“The President, Rumsfeld and the generals ought to stop treating us like children. Tell us the truth. We can take it even when it’s bad.”

It’s bad, Andy. It’s bad.

I also liked how “60 Minutes” took some reasonable stances questioning treatment of Muslims detained after 9/11, possible post-Saddam Iraq scenarios, and detailing how the conflict is playing out in countries like Jordan, a historical ally in the Middle East who now questions the motives of the US.

On the same program, Bill Clinton followed the lead of other unwilling-to-stand-up-for-their-principles Democrats in agreeing with his nominal debate partner Bob Dole that dissent and questioning the Iraq war has no place while the fighting is going on. He also used his time to make a shot about how he was criticized for Kosovo. Yes, Bill, the war *is* all about you.

Way to go, Bill. You just helped create a “60 Minutes” broadcast that made me like you less and like Andy Rooney more. We live in strange times.

Heard this one before?

“If I don’t keep [living my life/shopping/flying commercial/refinancing my mortgage], the terrorists have already won.”

I propose a new mantra:

“If I don’t keep speaking out, questioning authority, voting, and working for peace, the administration has already won.”

We’ve been asleep. It’s time to wake up.

The Cat so Tough they Buried him Twice

Got an e-mail from a friend I used to work with at The Chronicle in Muskegon, Michigan. I haven’t seen her for years. She said she looked over this site, and said that it “exudes contentment.”

Hmmmm.

Just to nip the latest “we told you so!” Iraq story in the bud, the infamous white powder (not to be confused with the infamous aluminum tubes or the infamous giant chemical weapons factory) isn’t anthrax. It’s explosives. Which make stories like this incredibly irresponsible: what do they think people are going to conclude when they hear “vials of white powder”?

Of course, William Randolph Hearst knew this kind of tactic well. He used to run headlines like “BIG BATTLE” in giant letters, with a tiny “Is Expected” below it. Same idea.

Now refresh my memory: did Saddam plan 9/11? I’m just not sure any more.

If only the Presidential Prayer Team site were a joke. But I fear it’s not. This week, kids’ prayers are directed to Colin Powell and Andrew Card. This week’s virtue: Faithfulness. Under “faithful animals,” the caption on a picture of a German Shepherd reads, “This dog is learning to follow every command given by his handler.”

You. cannot. make. this. stuff. up.

I’m sure no one cares about this but me.

I was talking by e-mail to my former co-worker Wayne about the lack of design and creative work available these days, something he and I have a serious stake in. And today I read that UPS spent $20 million on a new logo, which “futurizes” the classic design by the great Paul Rand. Rand’s most famous work is arguably the classic IBM logo, designed in 1956 and still in use today.

The new logo abandons Rand’s simple tied package and manages to replace it with two scourges of contemporary design: the swoosh and the 3D. For a cool $20 mil.

Who says no one spends money on design anymore?

At the theater with Nik to see “View from the Top,” stumbled upon the movie poster for the American Idol movie, “From Justin to Kelly.” Is it just me, or does that title make it sound like some sort of sex-change drama? It’s all well and good to try to cash in – it’s the American way, after all. But can’t anyone come up with a title that makes sense, much less is entertaining and catchy? Anyway, it’s been seven months. Does anyone even remember these kids’ names?

My suggestion? How about “Justin and Kelly: Remember Us?” or “American Idol: The Old Class.”

Yesterday, I did something I haven’t done in a long time: added a new folder to my Favorites menu in IE. The folder’s name? “Iraq.” There are currently 13 sites in the folder. (The latest? Iraq-o-Meter.) What sites do you visit to get war news and comment?