All posts by Rand Simberg

It’s The Dictator, Stupid!

Instapundit points out this article in the New Republic by Michael Rubin, which makes a couple interesting points about the situation in Iraq. First, that US sanctions aren’t starving Iraqis–Saddam is (as though anyone with half a brain didn’t already know that, but it’s nice to see the evidence laid out compellingly).

But what’s even more interesting to me is that, considering that it was actually written in June, months before the Current Unpleasantness, it also provides ample reason to think that if we were to provide Iraq with the same disinfectant treatment that we’re presently giving Afghanistan, that the populace there would be just as supportive. Just as the people least unhappy about bombing Afghanistan seem to be Afghans, I suspect that when (not if) we start to pound on Saddam, the wails and choruses of woe will come not from the Iraqis, but from outside Iraq. Hopefully, by spring, Saddam and his minions will have good cause to ask, “Why do they hate us?”

It’s The Dictator, Stupid!

Instapundit points out this article in the New Republic by Michael Rubin, which makes a couple interesting points about the situation in Iraq. First, that US sanctions aren’t starving Iraqis–Saddam is (as though anyone with half a brain didn’t already know that, but it’s nice to see the evidence laid out compellingly).

But what’s even more interesting to me is that, considering that it was actually written in June, months before the Current Unpleasantness, it also provides ample reason to think that if we were to provide Iraq with the same disinfectant treatment that we’re presently giving Afghanistan, that the populace there would be just as supportive. Just as the people least unhappy about bombing Afghanistan seem to be Afghans, I suspect that when (not if) we start to pound on Saddam, the wails and choruses of woe will come not from the Iraqis, but from outside Iraq. Hopefully, by spring, Saddam and his minions will have good cause to ask, “Why do they hate us?”

It’s The Dictator, Stupid!

Instapundit points out this article in the New Republic by Michael Rubin, which makes a couple interesting points about the situation in Iraq. First, that US sanctions aren’t starving Iraqis–Saddam is (as though anyone with half a brain didn’t already know that, but it’s nice to see the evidence laid out compellingly).

But what’s even more interesting to me is that, considering that it was actually written in June, months before the Current Unpleasantness, it also provides ample reason to think that if we were to provide Iraq with the same disinfectant treatment that we’re presently giving Afghanistan, that the populace there would be just as supportive. Just as the people least unhappy about bombing Afghanistan seem to be Afghans, I suspect that when (not if) we start to pound on Saddam, the wails and choruses of woe will come not from the Iraqis, but from outside Iraq. Hopefully, by spring, Saddam and his minions will have good cause to ask, “Why do they hate us?”

Camelot Redux

Guess I spoke a little too soon yesterday–the Washington Post did run their obligatory JFK-death anniversary story, with all the usual foofaraw about “lost youth and promise,” with the bonus, this year, of attempting to put it in the context of what happened on September 11. They failed, in my humble opinion.

Still, I think there was a lot less attention paid to the anniversary this year than in any previous year–possibly just because it got crowded out by falling on Thanksgiving, but also, I think, because of the dramatic change in the national mood this year. Not to imply that they necessarily have that much in common, but both peace protests and JFK worship seem passe this fall.

Thanks to Glenn Reynolds who, in picking up on my comment yesterday, brought it to the attention of Best of the Web. My first (and hopefully not last) appearance there. Even though it’s indirect, they spelled the URL right, so it can’t hurt traffic. I’m curious to see just what kind of spike I get.

More Air Rage From Ann

Apparently, Ann Coulter had some jewelry lifted by sticky-fingered airport security personnel. Sounds like a nice little racket, if true. Not to wish ill fortune on anyone, but in the interests of airline-security sanity, I hope it happens to lots of people, especially after the security people become federal employees…

Two Hits of Smack, Please–Hold the Anthrax…

Well, according to this story from Italy, we’ve had the first reports of anthrax-tainted heroin.

I predicted something like this but I expected it to show up in powdered cocaine, which is generally ingested through the nose.

This is kind of a weird story on a couple levels. There’s no percentage in the Taliban adulterating the heroin, because it would damage the market for what is just about the only export commodity that they have to offer. Also, assuming that this is the kind that one shoots up, it’s not clear to me that injecting anthrax would cause an infection, or what kind it would cause.

I’m wondering if this is either a mistake, or a psywar lie, to both reduce drug use and to cut off one of the sources of the Taliban money supply.