Downing Street Memo

Here's a link to the infamous "Downing Street Memo" for all those interested who have not been able to find it. I don't understand what all the fuss over it is all about; there has been a plethora of evidence out there for years now that the current administration had as one of its goals from the outset the military overthrow of the Iraqi regime, and W still got 60M folks to vote for him last November. I don't know what crowing about the DSM now is going to accomplish.

Armed to the Teeth

A Swedish think tank (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI) recently came out with a study on global military spending trends. Among the findings:

• Global military spending rose 11% in 2003 to nearly $1 trillion (about $154 per person on the planet)
  
• The US accounts for nearly 50% of that amount (or about $1,600 per citizen of the US)
  
• Japan is next at 5%, followed by Britain, France, and China with 4% each
• The large increase is due in large part to the "war on terror" (they include Iraq)
• The current ramp up of spending is probably not economically or politically sustainable
• While the US willingness to launch preemptive attacks may give some aggressive nations pause, it may prompt others to increase military capabilities to prevent forced regime change
• Instability in Iraq could lead to civil war in neighboring states

So, while the US makes up just 4.6% of the world population, it makes up 48% of military expenditures. China, which makes up 20% of the world's population, has a military budget one-twelfth that of the US.

More........

The Ultimate Watergate Irony

As usual, the Head Chutzpah prize goes to a Rightie. Gordon Liddy, convicted felon for his role in planning the Watergate burglary and subsequent coverup, had the following to say about the revelation that Mark Felt was the era's infamous "Deep Throat":

"[Felt] violated the ethics of the law enforcement profession" by going to the newspaper rather than the grand jury at the time.

I'm happy we have such a stalwart of ethical behaviour to guide us.

What a pompous ass......

Witticisms Part II

Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, when describing Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania (who is battling cancer): "He's a moderate Republican, which is the same thing as a regular Republican only he's sick, or knows someone who is".

Unknown author: "For Righties, life begins at conception and ends at birth".

Previously.....

The New Watergate Conspiracy

Now the liberal medias would have us believe that this nobody, this "W. Mark Felt" is the real Deep Throat of Watergate fame, rather than Haig, Holbrook, or Kissinger. Sorry, we're not buying.........