...more recent posts
Where can I watch oil and gold prices? Any links?
If you've got the war info monkey on your back, and debka just isn't doing it for you (where are the updates? Come on! It's not like we expect it to be true...) you can take a stab at this - at first glance - even less credible source from Russia: aeronautics.ru. That front page doesn't really get you into it. Start here for the 03/23/03 update - especially if you're reading this in anything like war time real time.
Most of their reports seem to rely on "intercepted U.S. military comunications". This seems unlikely to me given the theoretical ease of use of high quality encryption. I'm sure the military is using such non trivial encryption. Still, this page would seem to be some sort of explanation about how these military intercepts are possible - and thus, by inference, how they might have information not available otherwise.
Yeah, OK, I'll take what I can get.
I can't really analyze this information. It doesn't seem obviously wrong like so much encryption industry marketing. But I can't really tell. This part, for instance, "sounds" potentially correct to me, in the sense that this is usually how codes actually are cracked:
However, security afforded by frequency-hopping methods is very dependant on the strict adherence to protocols for operating such radios. The US troops and other operators of frequency-hopping radio sets frequently disregard these protocols. An example would be an artillery unit passing digital traffic in the frequency-hopping mode, which would enable an unauthorized listener to determine the frequency-hopping algorithm and eavesdrop on the transmission.Anyway, like I say, more junk for the junkie.
So far the US was unable to destroy the air defense networks in central Iraq. As before, the Iraqis continue to covertly use their radars and SAM launchers on a limited bases while employing a huge number of decoys designed to imitate radars.This plays into the top unconfirmed story I've been following. Are there Russian technicians on the ground in Baghdad (sorry for the possibly non-direct wapo link) training the Iraqi's in the use of GPS jamming equipment? And maybe more?
Pure speculation. But what else do we have?
I've mentioned AKMA, the highest profile theologian blogger, a few times before. Here's an interesting email exchange between him and Stewart Butterfield. Stewart is part of Ludicorp which is creating The Game Neverending, a massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG.) He is looking for AKMA's advise on how religion should work in their virtual world.
Anti-war march thread. I'll post in the comments here if I can get a signal on my mobile. Others should feel free to do the same.
These are some complex and distracting times. The television assault is mind numbing. The repitition of certain phrases and images wears you down. But it's important to keep trying to think critically. Having to write about it helps.
If you've been following along here you know I got some, uh, negative feedback. I'm surprised this hadn't happened before. Probably the best response is no response ("don't feed the trolls") but of course I appreciate the supportive comments even while hoping they don't egg on our new friend. I'd perfer him to be one of those friends you don't ever have to spend any time with.
As I said before, I'm sure my position is infuriating to many. But my feeling is that I am not actually in opposition to these people. I mean, even though they think I am. For instance, I believe Sadam is a bad guy. I believe the world will be a better place with him removed from power. I would myself, under certain conditions, participate in a military action.
So what's the beef? I think the problem is that the excitement of war narrows people's focus. The barrage of television coverage allows some to forget that this situation is embedded inside a larger global situation, and the consequences of our actions in Iraq will travel far beyond that country. Do we want Sadam gone? Of course. Will we do anything to get that result? I, for one, don't think so.
Consider (and I don't mean to make light of the situation): If an asteroid struck the earth killing all life, that would remove Sadam from power. But obviously people don't want that to happen. I make this extreme case on purpose, just to establish that we wouldn't do just anything to accomplish our goals. Some courses of action are too costly. While the present situation is much more complex then my extreme example, I think that this present campaign is also too costly. My point with the asteroid is just to show that calculating costs like this is necessary. The gung ho "whatever it takes" attitude is obviously wrong in some cases, and so the debate should be going on as to whether this is one of those cases.
The cost is the destruction of the global framework of cooperation among countries that has been represented by the UN. In other words, the cost is the destruction of fraternity among the people of the world. The cost is the isolation of the U.S. from the concerns of all mankind.
I consider myself a patriot. But maybe there should be a new term? I don't know. I know I differ from many who call themselves patriots, and I think I know the difference. Some so called patriots would place the interests of the United States above the interest of all foreign individuals and nations. This made sense at a certain point in the past. But today, with the U.S.'s overwhelming military and economic power, we have a new responsibility. Perhaps a responsibility that no other nation has ever had to shoulder. The responsibility to look out for the interests, not just of ourselves, but of the whole world.
This will take great sacrifice. And great complexity of thought. But we are strong enough to do it. Unfortunately, our present government doesn't seem to have much interest in this. Isolationists to begin with, I think they were so scared (either personally or politically) by 9/11 that they vowed to protect this country "at all costs." But again, some people need to continue to think critically, and point out that some costs are indeed too high. Especially when your country is the undisputed leader of the world, and as such cannot morally think only of ourselves.
I think we should immediately stop this war. Our leaders should step down or be impeached. (I don't really care if they are prosecuted for war crimes, but probably they could be.) And then a new government should be elected, and we should begin the long difficult process of rebuilding our global alliances. Rebuilding the work in progress that is/was international law.
And then we should return - as a unified world - to the question of dangerous rouge regimes everywhere. We should attack these problems diplomatically, and where that doesn't work, with a global force sanctioned through international law. Is this road more difficult then "going it alone"? Yes. Much. But that is no argument against doing it.
Let's be strong.
I'm off to the protest. Maybe I'll see you there.
If you want to know what the big media news guys (CNN, MSNBC, etc...) are reporting without actually watching them, you can tune into The Agonist.
Hopefully his wife won't kill him.
[update: Here's the Monday 3.24 link - I'll keep this at the top of the left hand column from now on.]
[update: Here's the Sunday 3/23 link]
[update: Here's the Saturday 3/22 link]
Quick low bandwidth Iraq headlines at a glance from the BBC. No links. No analysis. No fluff.
[Update: the BBC is changing the link every day. Here it is for Friday 3/21/03.]
[double update - updated link fixed - thanks Tom!]
I posted this some time ago, but I'll mention it again: a blog from baghdad.
Debka is breaking news that nobody else has. This makes it hard to confirm, but in my opinion they have a very good track record. That doesn't mean that I trust them.
Apparently the invasion has started. Not with a massive bombing campaign, but with a lightning blitz of heavy armor rolling north from Kuwait towards the southern oil fields (which they claim have been surrounded for a month by U.S. special forces.)
And supposedly deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz has defected and is in U.S. hands. And Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan has not been seen in Baghdad for three days, and is suspected of having defected as well.
"[B]ut if I were a betting man, I'd wager that kottke.org and I will be around for a 50th anniversary post. Stay tuned!"