Global

Journalists often refer to the Bush administration’s foreign policy as “unilateral” and “preemptive.” Liberal pundits like to complain that a “go-it-alone” approach has isolated the United States from former allies. But the standard American media lexicon has steered clear of a word that would be an apt description of the Bush world view.

Paranoid.

Early symptoms met with tremendous media applause in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Skepticism from reporters and dissent from pundits were sparse while President Bush quickly declared that governments were either on the side of the USA or “the terrorists.” Since then, the paranoiac scope of the administration’s articulated outlook has broadened while media acceptance has normalized it -- to the point that a remarkable new document from the Pentagon is raising few media eyebrows.

Since the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, 1,524 US soldiers have died (as of March 22, 2005), and 11,220 US soldiers have been wounded in action (as of February 26, 2005).1 Iraqi casualties are even larger. A study published in The Lancet last November estimated at least "100000 excess deaths" in Iraq since March 20, 2003.2

Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell finally testified – something he had refused to do in the Moss v. Bush Ohio election challenge before the State Supreme Court and refused to do in Washington, D.C. His testimony proved so contentious that at one point Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, D-OH, told him to “haul butt” if he was unwilling to answer questions about irregularities in the 2004 election.

Blackwell vigorously defended his role in last fall’s presidential election at a congressional hearing on Monday, March 21, at the Ohio Statehouse, claiming critics have smeared his state as if it were a “third world country” rather than the national model of election administration that Blackwell said it was. In December, Republican state senators blocked a similar Democrat-sponsored forum from using the Statehouse, forcing testimony to be taken at the Democrat-controlled Columbus City Council chambers. Meanwhile, hundreds of disenfranchised voters testified under oath in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Warren concerning their voting day hardships.

Nice points ... too bad Jesus ain't comin' back! He learned the first time, for many of the reasons you point out, that it just ain't gonna be woith it! Especially with the lunatic Cecil B. De Mel Gibson giving everyone an extended training film on what is supposed to happen when Jesus returns, inuring them with images of blood and gore and suffering and the like ... even though they -- the Xtian faithful -- seem to want to decry and empathise with the "Saviour," the ONLY way they can regurgitate their ardour and amour through their belief systems is to have the poor fellow suffering and trudging under the weight of a couple big hunks of wood. This is something that has been ingrained in their minds for millennia, the image of their "Christ" having his hands and feet impaled on the the Cross, just hanging their in eternal suffering and pain. Again, the only way they can be inspired to mercy and love and all of that is by having their subject of devotion in the most distressing of situations.

Let's start with realism, stark and vicious. George Kennan departed this life at the age of 101, amid respectful eulogies in the press. In his advanced years his prime rostrum was the New York Review, where he advocated policies of genteel internationalism and detente markedly different from his ferocious Cold-War postures of earlier years, so crucial in setting the terms of the Cold War in the years following World War II.

As we enter another Easter Season, it's become all too obvious that if Christ returns, those who hate in his name will slime him, then kill him.

Christ was a long-haired peace activist who would have been sickened to his soul by the war in Iraq.  "Blessed are the peacemakers"  Jesus said in his defining Sermon on the Mount.  "Turn the other cheek...Love thy neighbor."

Such hippie-radical ideals are the "Christian" right wing's worst nightmare.  The GOP would never tolerate an upstart like Jesus gathering a following in the face of their corporate-fundamentalist crusade.  These are self-proclaimed Christians who love power but would despise the actual Christ, just as they love a Zionist Israel but believe  actual Jews are doomed to Hell. 

Dear Free Press,

I just got through reading Harvey Wassermans article, "If Jesus returns, Karl Rove will kill Him." It's brilliant!! It's the truth through in and through out. There must be some way to get this out in the mainstream!!! Harvey hit the nail on the head...and hard!

Sincerely,
James Butler
Lebanon, Me.

Dear Sir (s),

I am portuguese and living in Portugal. Few people knows my country. Nevertheless, what is happening in USA concernes me as well as the rest of the world.

The amount of progress or destruction America can produce is considerable. It is a shame that the biggest pollutor is not even interested in that matter.

It is a shame that probably the most powerfull nation has been promoting so many wars instead of promoting peace.

It is a shame that America is living in an autistic bubble, still.  

Excuse for these rude opinions, but this is the general feeling all over Europe, Africa, Asia even in South America. I travel a lot and I am aware of it.

A friend send me the article by Harvey Wasserman  :" Senator Byrd is correct to equate Bush with Hitler".

I really hope you will be able to help making Americans conscious about the horror of this kind of possibility that it seams to be among them already.

I visited a concentration camp, it is not an Hollywood movie I can assure you.

Keep the good work,
Wanda Videira

I’ve only been at Kent for a short time, but I get excited everyday I arrive. I encourage students to learn and work hard academically. Currently, there are over 200 students attending Kent Elementary School. They have a daily routine, which gives them a sense of security and belonging. It’s been a difficult adjustment for them, since the proposed closure of Kent Elementary School to them. Many of them are saddened and angry about the decision to make them leave their school, so other students can attend Kent. They don’t understand why they should be treated unfairly. I don’t have answers that they can understand, because I don’t understand it myself. Don’t get me wrong, I know about the missing 20.8 Million Dollars that no one is being prosecuted for. I know about Governor Taft’s plan to cut education funding and how the Ohio House and Senate Bills affect the funding for local school districts. The parents and students also know that Governor Taft and his wife adopted Kent Elementary. They want to know where are they now? Governor Taft, your adopted school needs your support.

AUSTIN, Texas -- I write about the Terri Schiavo case both as one who has personally confronted the "pull the plug" question on several levels in recent years and as a staggered observer of this festival of political hypocrisy, opportunism and the trashing of constitutional law, common sense and common decency.

Look, the fundamental question in such cases is, "Who decides?" Preferably, the dying themselves, with a living will. In this case, evidence that Terri Schiavo did not want her life continued in its current pitiable state has been offered and accepted in several courts of law. Next, the next-of-kin, though in many cases someone else may be closer to the dying person, such as a longtime lover, and should be legally designated to make the decision through power of attorney.