Month: October 2002

Through stupidity, forgetfulness, poor geography and bad luck as much as anything, I found myself caught up in the ‘great’ anti-war march in London last week. Can’t say the crowd was anywhere near as congenial as the pro-Palestine lot earlier in the year, nor was the totty anything up to the level of the vast … Continue reading “Weary Lonesome Blues”

Last week, during a hearing in the House International Relations committee, I attempted to force the committee to follow the Constitution and vote to declare war with Iraq. The language of Article I, section 8, is quite clear: only Congress has the authority to declare war. Yet Congress in general, and the committee in particular, … Continue reading “Congress Must Say Yes or No to War”

This is being written before President Bush’s address to the nation Monday night, but news reports say he doesn’t expect to deliver any startling new evidence beyond what has already been widely reported. He seems to think that what is already known about Saddam Hussein – that he is a thoroughly nasty dictator who has … Continue reading “War For Frivolous Reasons”

What is there left to say about this onrushing war? It isn’t in our interests; it has nothing to do with getting the terrorists responsible for 9/11; it’s a war for Israel’s sake, not ours; it’s the first step on the road to Empire; it’ll wreck our economy, embolden Bin Laden, and alienate whatever friends … Continue reading “CALL CONGRESS!”

The last time Congress declared war was on December 11, 1941, against Germany in response to its formal declaration of war against the United States. This was accomplished with wording that took less than one-third of a page, without any nitpicking arguments over precise language, yet it was a clear declaration of who the enemy … Continue reading “Is Congress Relevant with Regards to War?”

p>Senator Byrd delivered the following remarks as the Senate opened debate on Senate Joint Resolution 46, a resolution authorizing the President to use whatever force he deems necessary in Iraq or elsewhere. Listen to portions of these remarks in .mp3 format. The great Roman historian, Titus Livius, said, "All things will be clear and distinct … Continue reading “Rush to War Ignores U.S. Constitution”

Israel had foreknowledge of 9/11 – that was Carl Cameron’s explosive contention, made last year in a blockbuster series of reports on Fox News exposing an Israeli spy ring in the U.S. New evidence confirms his story – and points to a rather ominous conclusion…. Reporting the round-up and deportation of scores of Israeli agents … Continue reading “9/11: WHAT DID ISRAEL KNOW?”

President Bush is justifying his proposed pre-emptive war against Iraq on the grounds that Saddam has weapons of mass destruction, and that this dangerous dictator has ties to the international terrorists, Al Qaeda. Some say that this U.S. justification for pre-emptive war is unprecedented in U.S. history. But whether or not that is true, such … Continue reading “Will the Real Hitler Please Stand Up?”

Throughout China there exist dirty alleys and streets lined with decrepit old one-story houses harboring strange and amazing odors. A smorgasbord of goods are hawked in these streets underneath the shadows of new apartment buildings and towering Bank of China complexes: full goats, rice and spices, candy and bicycles, condoms and magazines, phone cards – … Continue reading “Lamenting Funk Street”

Results of the Serbian presidential vote this past weekend were entirely predictable, and Vojislav Kostunica is likely to win come the October 13 runoff. And while any outcome of the vote will make little difference in the grand scheme of things – for the future of Serbia is not decided at the ballot box, but … Continue reading “The Unbearable Futility of Voting”