Author: R J Adams

With the possible exception of the whole Iraq war, there can scarcely be a better example of the inability of this American administration to think things through before making decisions, than the case for bio-fuel from corn. Not only was the idea not adequately considered, but it indicates the extent to which this government is controlled by so-called “big business”.

The idea, as publicized by George Bush, was to produce ethanol from corn to supplement imported oil. Ethanol burns more cleanly than gasoline, making it – theoretically – more environmentally friendly.

In practice, that is not necessarily the case. As George Monbiot points out the use of biofuels may have a disastrous effect on the planet, accelerating global warming rather than mitigating it.

Using corn to produce automobile fuel has even more immediate effects than catalyzing global warming. We are experiencing them right now, and it’s going to get much worse. The US normally has a healthy corn surplus each year, driving prices down and keeping animal feeds at a realistic level, but analysts back in May 2006 were suggesting the surplus will vanish in 2007/8 and predicting a deficit of around one billion bushels.

The effect on prices is obvious, as not only animal feed costs will rise. Almost everything Americans eat and drink contains corn in one form or another.

As though determined to add insult to injury, this administration’s fiasco in the Middle East has ensured oil prices will remain artificially high for the foreseeable future. The effect of high oil prices is to raise the cost of everything else. So, not only is our government intent on forcing more money from the pockets of its citizens by raising corn prices, but it’s also delivering a “quick one-two” to the nation’s solar plexus by artificially inflating crude oil costs.

Still, it can be argued one or two mistakes hardly constitute a disaster. The catastrophe results from cock-up number three.

Last year, the American president trumpeted the advantages of ethanol over petroleum, but also suggested hydrogen, a truly clean motor fuel, could very well replace ethanol in the not-to-distant future. That now seems unlikely to happen. According to InfoFastLane.com:

“Ethanol is only one clean energy solution that has been discussed recently. Oil is out, and all ideas are welcome. But in the light of cold, hard reality, the dreams of hydrogen are fading fast. There are very few distribution systems for hydrogen, making mass production almost impossible, and it’s hard to market a product as expensive as hydrogen. Right now, it’s just not a viable solution……….”

As George Bush throws all his eggs into the single basket of ethanol production from corn, he neglects to note the hazard of climate change on America’s ability to produce adequate amounts for the purpose. Already, we have noted, the grain surplus in this country has been eroded to nothing by the thirst for ethanol. Over the next few years the U.S. will become dryer, crop production stunted. Corn prices will skyrocket.

Farmers are already experiencing the effects of climate change in the west of the nation. It’s just a matter of time before the rich cornfields of the Mid-West fall prey to the consequences of global warming, and the irresponsibility of this country’s government.

Meanwhile, Americans are already in the grip of spiraling food and fuel prices. Traditionally, the result will be many more falling beneath the poverty threshold.

The wealthy will, of course, get richer as they cream off the profits from oil and corn. Even they may eventually suffer if, as seems more and more likely, the planet eventually warms to levels that create unbearable living conditions, but for the relative few, immense wealth will enable them to live far more tolerably than most of the population. Short-term greed, the refusal to look beyond their profit margins, and a total indifference to the fate of their fellows, may prove the undoing of all us.

Meanwhile, the vast bulk of this country’s people are going to find life harder and harder, the family budget stretched way beyond breaking point.

Some may continue to believe their government really cares.

Filed under: Chaos

I finally found time tonight to watch Bill Moyer’s presentation on PBS, “Buying the War”. It’s hard these days to find a spare ninety minutes for the TV, but I knew this one would be worth it, and I wasn’t disappointed. While there was little new, or earth-shattering, to anyone who took an interest in determining facts over spin, the program pulled no punches when criticizing the mainstream media for its inability, or unwillingness, to separate factual evidence from government fiction in the months leading up to the Iraq War.

Indeed, not a lot has changed since then. The situation still continues to this day. However, while the media must shoulder much of the blame for failing to present its readers with the truth about Saddam Hussein’s Iraq – and the administration’s deliberate and often clumsy attempts to distort those truths – in the main it was pandering to what most Americans wanted to hear.

One aspect Moyer’s documentary failed to confront, vital to the administration’s ability to wage its war in Iraq, was the attitude of a majority of ordinary Americans in the twelve months following 9/11.

Those of us old enough, will remember the vintage, black and white, Hollywood westerns depicting a one-hoss town, a local celeb shot down in cold blood, and the poor unfortunate, innocent stranger hounded by the townsfolk until eventually lynched from the tallest suitable tree. Of course, in those films a fair-minded US Marshall unearths the real culprit, the townsfolk are filled with remorse, blame each other for the consequences, and to appease their own guilt erect a monument to the slaughtered stranger before going about their business.

After 9/11, America became that one-hoss town. The twin towers played the local celeb gunned down; Iraq, the innocent stranger lynched by a rabid mob determined to secure vengeance.

Yes, America – you were that mob. The media just fed your blood-lust.

When I arrived on American soil in September 2002, exactly one year and one week after 9/11, what I saw all around me was disturbing. It was more than disturbing, it was frightening. I beheld a nation in emotional turmoil. Patriotic bunting adorned every building; flags fluttered atop most cars. TV programs cited patriotism and American pride as the ultimate goals of every citizen. It was almost physically possible to smell the blood lust on the air. America was screaming for vengeance. The USA was being rent apart at the seams.

It was that national shriek for retribution – for blood – that allowed this administration and those who controlled it, to implement their long held ideals and invade Iraq as part of a much greater scheme for Middle East domination.

Recent polls show Americans still supporting the war number around 35%. In 2003, when it all started, 83% expressed confidence in the war, and 65% (almost two-thirds of the population!) were PROUD of the war.

Today, America has carried out its lynching, satiated its blood-lust. Now, however, it is becoming apparent the innocent have been slaughtered. It’s the wrong blood. Like the townsfolk of the old, black and white westerns, Americans are turning on each other, pointing fingers in a desperate attempt to divert the blame – and the shame.

Most of the bunting has now gone from the buildings; the US flag is rarely seen flying from motor vehicles. Even the bumper stickers have dwindled. But this nation is still in turmoil. America remains a disturbed country, just as frightening as when I first arrived in September 2002.

The raw power that is America runs amok, unrestrained by good and competent leadership. The battle for the Middle East has declined into a bloody, unremitting slog, likely to continue indefinitely; at least, until someone with vision and true authority ascends to the President’s Office and, like the US Marshall of old, brings order out of chaos, and harmony to a one-hoss town where the population has trouble coming to terms with its guilt and remorse.

Filed under: Shameful acts

Do we ever mature beyond the nursery years? Is there really a period of “adulthood” or is it simply a continuation of adolescence? Media portrayal of the news leaves one thinking, if we are not all immature, then certainly our leaders lack the strength of character necessary for those supposedly in such exalted positions.

Are world governments nothing more than play-centers for the mentally retarded?

Take the news today as an example:

The BBC leads with a story about Estonia and Russia – coming to blows over a statue. Russia has recalled its ambassador; Estonia says the statue is a symbol of Russian occupation, and must go.

At the end of it all – one person is already dead – it’s just a lump of stone.

Meanwhile, in India Richard Gere is facing arrest for daring to kiss an Indian film star in public. Never mind the huge amount of work Gere has undertaken in India on behalf of AIDS victims, an infantile judiciary has issued a warrant for his arrest.

Yesterday, Britain’s baby-boy prime minister lied through his milk teeth by suggesting he would “be delighted” if his son wanted to fight in Iraq. Having spent much time and effort ensuring son Euan was out the country for the duration of the Iraq war, first as an intern working for Washington politicians, and later tucked away at Yale University where he’d just happened to win a $100,000 scholarship (nothing to do with Daddy, of course) Tony Blair could happily wish his son in the midst of Iraqi insurgent bombing, knowing full well it was never going to happen.

In America, the toddlers charged with running things at the White House decided today would be a good time to announce the capture of Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi.

Who?

Dare you ask? This guy is, according to the kiddies in the State department, “……one of Osama Bin Laden’s “top global deputies”, personally chosen by the al-Qaeda leader to monitor operations in Iraq.”

Perhaps that’s why his name is Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi?

As an aside, it was also mentioned – in passing – that Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi was actually captured late last year. How late? November? December? At best, five months ago! No mention at the time, of course, that such an extremely high-ranking al-Qaeda operative had been caught. He’s been held until now in one of those secret CIA prison places that don’t exist, and only yesterday was suddenly moved, with much associated publicity, to the “George W Bush Guest House for Middle Eastern Gentlemen”, known colloquially as Guantanamo Bay Detention Center.

Of course, its not the least bit childish that our Middle Eastern friend was suddenly hauled into the limelight just a day after the much publicized furore between the American president and Congress over troop funding and their envisaged withdrawal from Iraq.

To even suggest a connection would surely be childish and immature –

– wouldn’t it?

Filed under: Baby talk