The step was described by some military officials as a sign that the administration might have lowered its sights and no longer expected to uncover the caches of chemical and biological weapons that the White House cited as a principal reason for going to war last March.

Somewhere in Germany, Hans Blix is sitting at home laughing his ass off.

US Withdraws Weapons Hunters From Iraq

Whatever happened, it is widely agreed here that the security breach was alarming.

Pakistan Bombing Aimed at Military Ruler Highlights His Role

] So what was the point of the whole thing? Announcement:
] Be scared to death. Next Announcement: Don’t mind us. Next
] announcement: For heaven’s sake, go right ahead to Portland,
] Oregon, or wherever; that’s your duty as a true-blue,
] red-blooded Amurrican.

Sometimes I wonder if the government really realizes how stupid they sound sometimes.

The Orange Alert Follies

] More than a month after he accepted an offer of asylum in
] Nigeria, former Liberian President Charles Taylor has
] been warned to stay out of Liberian politics, Nigeria's
] president told CNN Saturday.
]
] The Nigerian government warned Taylor that he is
] violating the terms of his asylum, President Olusegun
] Obasanjo said.

And this is the other problem you face when you give corrupt rulers assylum. Taylor himself said that he hoped to return to Liberia and become involved in politics again.. not something that gives much hope for Liberia's future peace. Even in the Congo, Mobutu's son is attempting to reform his father's political movement and has made noises about running for president in the next election.

So what _do_ you do with these people?

CNN.com - Stay out of politics, Taylor told - Sep. 28, 2003

] OTA, Nigeria (AP) -- Nigeria's influential president set
] tough terms Tuesday for two African pariahs, pledging to
] "persuade" indicted war criminal Charles Taylor to
] surrender for trial if Liberia asks and to bar Zimbabwe's
] president from an international summit.

I was going to recommend a different but similar article until I saw this was datelined 'Ota, Nigeria', which is where I lived.. :-)

This is an interesting situation. On the one hand, corrupt former rulers should be brought to face justice. On the other hand, they're not likely to step aside and allow someone else to take over (and possibly bring peace to their country) if they know they're going to face the music. The question is whether it's worth granting these guys immunity for the sake of their people..

CNN.com - Nigeria sets tough terms for Africa's pariahs - Nov. 25, 2003

] Meetup with others to discuss current news and events. No
] particular viewpoint is required, just an interest in
] what's going on in the world. Bring an open mind.

I suggested the current events meetup this summer but as far as I can tell there have never been enough people signed up to make this happen (at least here in Atlanta). If you're interested, sign up!

International Current Events Meetup Day -- Join other Current Event Followers near Atlanta, GA

It's the most viewed video at www.c-span.org. Skip 28 minutes into the video for the appropriate part. A reporter asks Ari what the US is prepared to do for Mexico in return for its vote in the security council. Ari gets indignant and replies that the US doesn't buy votes from other countries. Hilarity ensues.

Ari Fleischer gets laughed out of press briefing

"Why is Bush endangering the U.S. homeland to go after a petty third world thug in a faraway land that has been effectively contained for more than a decade?"

National Security Policy Turned on Its Head

The 6th largest 'unauthorized' nuclear power in the world is in violation of UN resolutions for 30 years, threatens to use their nuclear weapons on neighboring countries, refuses to allow weapons inspectors, arrests those who provide information on their nuclear capabilities while sending spies to the US to keep an eye on us. Iraq? Israel.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Israel's arms inspector

"So what's Iraq about? In the end, it's not about that nasty man or the nasty things he's collecting. It's about what the policy wonks call "destabilization." It's about taking the next step into a regional and a global chaos that could wreck this planet."

A conservative makes his arguements against war with Iraq