Gibberish, a "tiny" Cow Pie, and the Religious Right

(1) Gibberish

UK troops in Afghanistan 'for five years'
but only to "provide training and support for Afghan troops."

Gee, isn't that what they've been doing since day one? That and helping girls go to school?

How many times have we heard that the Taliban are "on the run". Just like not long after the initial shock and awe in Iraq we were told the "enemy" was on the run. I'm no war expert, but I knew they were just regrouping.

From Xinhuanet: the shocking attack on Friday in the center of Kabul on broad day light indicates Taliban penetration into fortified capital city and speaks of radical outfit's ability to target anyone at any time.

That doesn't sound like a weakened Taliban. Although I suppose, considering the serious "security" lapses, this could be a special ops illusion to keep the war going - because, guess what, it makes money for corporations who provide security "training".

No matter how it's sliced, it's a big joke on the tax payers whose hard-earned dollars are going straight into the pockets of mega corporations.

The very term "the enemy" is a misnomer. We're the enemy, for pete's sake. We're the invaders. And especially in Iraq, since the pretext was an outright lie and everybody knows it. What are they fed in the mess hall that causes even the commanders, who are supposed to be able to think straight, to regurgitate such unmitigated gibberish?

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(2) More Gibberish

How our health-care system got so unhealthy

You don't need to read it. I'm here to tell you that the health care system is simply overworked because users have been brainwashed to think they have to run to the doctor for every little symptom. And doctors schedule unnecessary return visits because it makes them money.

People always over-indulge in anything that's "free", except health care isn't free. Anybody who has any kind of job at all is paying for it at ever-increasing rates in their taxes.

Instead of having faith in the body's inbuilt power to heal itself, and learning the medicinal properties of ordinary household staples, getting a bit of exercise and practising moderation in all things, particularly food and booze, we look to pills and vaccines because that's what we've been trained to do - so that doctors and Pharmers can be wealthy. The doctors are clueless too, because the Pharmers make far more off their compliance than they themselves can even dream of accumulating.

And some doctors are really, really stupid, or maybe this one was just determined to make a fortune lopping off breasts: Mastectomies done in error.

An MD told me years ago that one has to be an obsessive-compulsive in order to get into medical school and stay there. This can lead to some strange behaviours. I looked around to see if I could verify that, and came across this blog item by a middle-aged medical student who admits right off the bat s/he's "a little obsessive compulsive". See? Stick with me. I know stuff.

Another MD, a resident surgeon who was sort of coming on to me as I lay in my hospital bed circa 1967 (I was cute back then) bragged that he chose to become a surgeon because that's where the big money is. And we put our lives in the hands of these children.

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Something that's been on my mind ever since the Obama theatre production that was billed as a debate about the proposed US health care plan ...

John McCain said that both he and Obama promised change in their campaign speeches, and there doesn't seem to be any. Obama's steely cold retort was that "the election is over". Anybody who doesn't catch the drift of that is willfully blind.

Good to know I'm not the only one aware of what Obama was admitting to.

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(3) The Cow Pie that is Israel

The Wash Post says European countries feel it's politically inadvisable to investigate the Dubai assassination of a Hamas leader. Which means that everybody knows it's Israel what dunnit - but our "leaders" are stepping carefully around that flapjack.

From Ha'aretz: [Australia's] Rudd said his government had to "proceed very carefully" in the investigation because of its complex security nature.

Yes, he personally does not want to step in anything. Would it be the end of his career? I mean, how did this twit get where he is in the first place? (And then there's his thing against drinking despite his having convenient amnesia about his behaviour the night he spent blind drunk in a strip club.)

This is not the first time Australian identities have been stolen. In fact, there are Internet businesses advertising fake Australian passports. Two are mentioned in this article, and here's a third. (They're offering free fake ID's for bloggers willing to sport their advertising banner.)

UK reps are off to Israel over this mess, but not to confront Mossad or the government, but only to talk down the upset dual citizens whose identities were used.

The sickest thing is that ordinary Israelis don't seem to realize that their country's reputation has suffered from yet another Mossad bungle blow:

Israelis rush to join Mossad after Mahmoud al-Mabhouh killing

Israelis are discussing the killing with a wink, a nod, and pride in the agency ... Opticians have reported a rise in sales of the horn-rimmed glasses in the style worn by 14 of the 26 suspects, T-shirts with Mossad logos are selling out at stores and the agency has experienced a flood of applicants ... a new statement on the Mossad website reads ... "... If you possess intelligence and sophistication, you can make a difference and fulfil a national mission. If you can engage, charm and influence people — you may have the qualities we are looking for.”

Well, everybody likes to think they are intelligent and sopisticated, but clearly what they are looking for is psychopathic personalities.

Has Israel become a nation of serial killers? No trial necessary, no evidence required, judge, jury and executioner. Made in the image of the maniac OT God hisself.

Not like this God, for whom I have a bit more respect (click on the image to enlarge it):


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An amusing aside from Ha'aretz: Israel's leaders have been in disguise this year

Avigdor Lieberman, disguised himself as President Shimon Peres when he asked for the foreign minister's portfolio ... But Lieberman's costume didn't fit him and it tore, when it turned out he is seen as a racist and a bully abroad. He threw away the mask, took off the makeup and went back to cursing and threatening as before.

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(4) Our Christian PM loves women - in their place

Bahija Reghai has a new article on social programs that have disappeared since PM Harper took office, based on his purported religious beliefs and the support of the religious right:

In spite of a surplus of $13.2 billion and a debt at its lowest level in 30 years, the new Conservative government was quick to axe a number of programs and initiatives, turning back the clock on women's advancements at the behest of Harper's religious social conservative base, mainly the old Reform-Alliance stock.

But hey, it costs a lot to pretend to be helping Afghan girls go to school.

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Image borrowed from here.