So, what's with this whole UN thing anyways?

The newly found heft given to the UN's opinions has a number of Americans well and truly puzzled, and for good reason, too.

The UN has no army, save what it can rent from the stellar powers like Bangladesh and Argentina.  It has no power, therefore, to actually enforce any of its dictates, save asking pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top.  No revenue collecting authority, except the charity of nation states.  And at this point, transparency at the UN would involve actually codifying a price list and giving better invoicing documentation when vetoes are bought and sold.

How can an organization that has "approved" only two wars - the Korean and Gulf Wars - decide that their imprimatur is the definition of just war?  How can the organization that provided the audience for genocides in the Balkans, decide that the United States lacks the moral authority to give aid to tsunami victims?

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For some men, committment scares them. For others . . . well, I'll just leave it at this (via The Roth Report).

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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(Bethesda, Maryland) A blood disorder is being blamed for causing the death of California Democratic Congressman Robert Matsui. He died last night surrounded by his family at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Matsui was 63. (via Interested-Participant)

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Saddam Hussein has met with his lawyers. DEBKA has learned some of the topics of the dicsussion between Hussein and one of his lawyers. It is interesting to say the least.

He had two main gripes. One was that the Americans will not let him shave his beard despite his repeated requests. He even offered to let a US military barber shave him, but they refused. His theory is that the Americans want to make sure that whenever he appears in public, as he did on June 30, 2004 before an Iraqi investigating judge, he will look confused, unkempt and too low in spirits to bother to shave.

His second complaint was against the Red Cross workers. He wanted their visits stopped because he said they are neither polite nor respectful.

- DEBKA

The nature of the strategic military role of Iraqi forces has been revealed. While the Coallition is facing insurgency coupled with terrorism, it was Saddam who ordered a switch to guerilla tactics.

Two days later, he called together the military commanders serving in the capital and its environs. They informed him they had run out of troops for conducting the war. It was then, Saddam said, “I ordered the transition to guerrilla warfare. I told the commanders: the Americans will stretch out full length across Iraq like a viper. That will be the moment to attack and lop off each section one by one.” The deposed president bragged: “All the insurgency and guerrilla operations in progress are the fruit of my decision and my pre-planning.”

In Fallujah there were hundreds of Saddam loyalists fighting the United States as the U.S. cleared out the city. Many of the terrorists left the city prior to the invasion, but what was left was many of the old Iraqi army.

Saddam has never recognized Israel's right to exist, which is not entirely new in the Middle Eastern world. According to DEBKA's sources however, a deal from the Israelis and some Western sources would have centered upon Saddam recognizing Israel. This type of deal would not have detered the U.S. and allies who believed Saddam had WMDs, however this act would have sent shockwaves throughout the Middle East.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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- Washington Post

BAGHDAD, Jan. 1 -- The number of Iraqis making sure they are properly registered to vote has surged dramatically, officials said Saturday, calling the rise evidence of enthusiasm for the Jan. 30 elections despite continuing security concerns that have blocked the process in two provinces.

After a slow start to the six-week registration process that began Nov. 1, the number of voters making corrections to official voter lists more than doubled in the final week, according to a final tally quoted by election officials Saturday.

Officials said that more than 2.1 million people went to local election offices to assure that eligible members of their households could vote. About 1.2 million forms were submitted to add names to the voter lists, an involved process that requires providing proof of identification and residence.

Signs of Democracy inside of Iraq are slow showing, however they are there. While terrorists and countries surrounding Iraq are actively fighting against the idea of Democracy in the Middle East, they are being aided by many of the media organizations based in the Middle East as well. Al Hura is perhaps the only exception, though they are funded by the U.S. government.

Al Jazeera has yet to run a piece on any of the candidates in Iraq and has only mentioned Democracy in passing. Iraqi newspapers have reported on the elections, however with over 200 daily newspapers in Iraq there are a few papers who are anti-Democracy. Of course a free press is crucial in a Democracy therefore any view is welcomed in a Democratic society.

News of increased interest in the elections as well as increased awareness is crucial in trying to quell the views expressed by both the world-wide media and several world leaders' opinions regarding what percentage of people voting would constitute a legitimate Democracy. While these views may not be accurate considering some of the comments have come from leaders in tyrannies and dictatorial regimes, there are others who need to recognize the election as legitimate in order for Democracy to succeed in Iraq.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

Posted by: Chad at 11:47 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 I hope they have a good turnout. I do believe the attacks on voting places, personnel, etc: will slow down to nothing come voting day. Once the Islamofacists see its going to happen anyway there's not much they can do. If election goes well and Iraqis show some courage it may well be the beginning of the end for terrorism in Iraq. Where will they go next? Perhaps a very rich kingdom next door. One with 98% of the wealth controlled by a few thousand members of an extended family? Seems ripe for the picking.

Posted by: greyrooster at January 02, 2005 07:21 AM (eLjJa)

2 They will continue, probably to a lesser extent. The "Insurgents" are for a good part, Sunnis who wish to remain in power, and will forment civil war until the Iraqi Sunni Minority sucks it up and refuses to allow these people into their neighborhoods. It's a "native" thing, something all the Marines we send can't change! Currently, WE are fighting their Civil War for them. (the Kurds and the Shiites)

Posted by: large at January 02, 2005 11:17 AM (VRK2g)

3 Could be: Just seems to me that once they realize they will not be in power they will not wish to give the Shias a reason to retaliate. I hope they do. Payback.

Posted by: greyrooster at January 03, 2005 08:28 PM (XioYD)

4 I don't think the Shias have the means to retaliate. It's pretty much, as large mentioned, the US that's doing the fighting for them. As was mentioned at the start of the invasion, until Iraq can support its own effective army, coalition troops will have to stay. And, I think, the only way Iraq can get its own army in decent shape will be when the insurgency is gone. Training them now might produce a few good soldiers, but their lack of experience pretty much makes them sitting ducks.

Posted by: Venom at January 05, 2005 03:47 PM (dbxVM)

5 chupence un culo forros

Posted by: facundo at January 09, 2005 12:33 PM (DFOHf)

6 por que no se van un po a la mierda y en vez de matar irakires matan los bolitas de argentina que estan akl pedo...

Posted by: nicolas at January 09, 2005 12:35 PM (DFOHf)

7 groxas mutilasiones eh!!

Posted by: krillin at January 09, 2005 12:38 PM (DFOHf)

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Ok, in a bid to try to retackle the long-ago post on Murder and Warfare, let me, um... tackle it again.  Or something...

"There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men.  We're trying to teach you to be dangerous - to the enemy.  Dangerous even without a knife.  Deadly as long as you still have one hand or one foot and are still alive." -- Starship Troopers

There are three classes of people, as far as warfare is concerned: non-combatants, combatants, and prisoners.

Non-combatants have tacitly agreed to follow the dictates of whoever has the guns and is in control.  Essentially, non-combatants have agreed not to be "dangerous", at least as far as combatants are concerned.

Combatants are the folks with the guns.  They have two roles.  The first role is to impose their will (or more accurately, the political will of their leadership) on the non-combatants in a war zone.  Or, to put it another way, they are they guys with the guns to whom the non-combatants listen.  The second role of a combatant is to resist the guys on the other side with guns and prevent them from imposing their will on the non-combatants.  The primary distinguishing feature of combatants is that they are "dangerous" men.

Prisoners are people who have made the transition from combatant to non-combatant.  The important thing to note about being a prisoner is that it is nothing other than a state of mind.  Prisoners are disarmed, but not all who are disarmed are necessarily prisoners.  To return to the terminology of Starship Troopers, prisoners are those who were formerly "dangerous" into non-dangerous people.

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- News.com.au

IRAQI police found beheaded two bodies in western Baghdad today along with a note that said they were truck drivers killed because they were working with the US military.

It was not yet known whether the two men were Iraqis or foreigners, police said.

"This is the punishment for all those working with the Americans," read the note left with the bodies, which were both inside bags and dumped on the street.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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- Reuters

DUBAI (Reuters) - Militants from a group led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said they had killed five men and warned those who work with the U.S.-backed government they faced the same fate.

Video footage showed five men in civilian clothes lined up and shot repeatedly in the back. It was posted on the Internet Saturday from the Al Qaeda Organization of Holy War in Iraq.

Five men in civilian clothes were found shot dead in Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, Monday. A note said they were policemen killed by guerrilla fighters.

A masked militant on the video Saturday said: "These apostates are ... allies with (Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad) Allawi's apostate government and support the American enemy. They are attacking Muslim homes in Ramadi under the pretext of preventing terrorists from entering Iraq. Anyone who follows them will face the same fate."

"To the families of civil defense forces, the National Guard and the police we tell you to say your final goodbyes to your sons before you send them to us. Our reward to your sons is slaughter," he added.

Three roadside bombs were detonated near Iraqi National Guardsmen killing one and injuring six.

Update:
The video of the execution of five Iraqi National Guardsmen can be downloaded here (courtesy of Ogrish).

Hat tip to Hyscience who found the video link and also has some great commentary.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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