Everybody Must Get Elevated
So I had it wrong with the elevated/high issue. The government is stalwart in its opinion that we remain elevated and not get high. Still, with al Qaeda striking around the world, it seems odd that we're no more concerned about our own homeland, but hey, what do I know. I put my faith in the WOPR. Is it 4:20 WOPR?
- posted by levinson @ 10/14/2002 01:31:00 PM

 
Elevated about being High
Let me get this straight. The WOPR puts us on elevated alert (color: chartreuse) in the run-up to the 9/11 anniversary. We then are let back down to high alert (color: fuscia) after nothing happens. Now we have al-Zawahiri and bin Laden BOTH apparently making threats along with the killing of a marine in Kuwait and the WOPR doesn't stir. I realize that my terrorist reading equipment (CNN) isn't as sophisticated as the WOPR's but Holy Hosannah, this certainly seems a lot more concrete than "chatter" in the system. I also know that I can change my alert level to "elevated" without the WOPR, but it would be nice to have some guidance here. Am I to be elevated or just high? Don't answer that. Since I'm feeling cynical today, hands up if you think the administration isn't touching actual terrorism in order that it not distract from the Ba'ath drum beat they've set. After all, it's more important that we focus on the easy democratization of Iraq. What's the scheme again?
- posted by levinson @ 10/10/2002 09:13:00 AM

 
Mooooooon Riverrr
While I still think invading Iraq is a needless drain on our resources in the war against terror, I do think that we should cajole the UN into action. As we are doing. Unfortunately, it seems we've dropped the ball a bit as the first compromise with Iraq for inspectors to return has laid an egg. The US and UK are right to oppose any agreement that places any inch of the country off limits to inspectors. Moreover, I agree with TNR that when the inspectors go back in, they should be armed. If they can't talk their way in, they should be able to blast their way in. Continued defiance of resolutions should carry the penalty of UN action again Iraq. One might ask why it is necessary to guarantee that all of the country be open to inspection. The Brits' dossier on Iraq outlines this nicely by superimposing the area of Buckingham Palace over the area of one of Saddam's "palaces." (see p. 38)
- posted by levinson @ 10/02/2002 01:58:00 PM