March 19, 2003
Warsday, March 19, 2003
Warsday, March 19, 2003
Sitting here with the CNN coverage, which is rippling with a sordid anticipation of the first shots, and listening to Chuck Barris reading his Confessions of a Dangerous Mind on Audible (which got a great review from Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal today). Both are absurd, but only Barris is aware that it is all a sick joke.
Yee-haw! Let's get those cameras rolling.
Meanwhile, in the coalition of the unwilling (that would be the countries we want to do trade with and think our leaders dangerous):
On Arabnews.com, says Saudi King Fahd: "The Kingdom will under no circumstances take part in the war against Iraq, and its armed forces will not enter an inch of Iraqi territory."
China is cosying up to Japan, trying to deepen trade ties.
The New Straits Time says Asian markets are thinking it will be a short war. "Most expect share prices to retreat once the US-led strikes begin, as there is still a measure of uncertainty as to whether there could be backlash to the attacks."
The Jakarta Post reports: "We regret the U.S. statement as it will spark acts of violence in the region," Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday after an emergency meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri. "We still believe a peaceful solution must be achieved as war will only create chaos around the globe," he held.
The Moscow Times: "It is important not to cross the line in which the war against terrorism might escalate into a confrontation of entire peoples, religions and civilizations," [Foreign Minister Igor] Ivanov told a security conference in Moscow.
And, on the media front:
At Asahi.com, there is a report that U.S. journalists are being told that "press coverage may be regulated for operational reasons," something that is not being reported here. Instead, the dimwits on CNN are joking that the Department of Defense may "have some surprises up its sleeves." Yesterday, CNN reported it will be able to broadcast live, even if a private standing next to the reporter is shot on camera. This conflicts with the Asahi.com report.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the German government is claiming it has the legal authority to tap journalists' phones to solve "serious criminal offenses." “Sources are going to think twice about talking to journalists if they fear that their telephone information is being recorded by investigating authorities,“ said Hendrik Zörner, spokesman for the association of journalists.
What good times. Woo-hoo.
Posted by Mitch Ratcliffe at March 19, 2003 11:13 AM | TrackBack