Author: R J Adams

It’s not often George W Bush is regaled with applause on these pages. More frequently, he is reviled for the uncaring, unfeeling, spoiled and obnoxious brat that he undoubtedly is. On this occasion, however, he has achieved a modicum of success rightly deserving the respect of the American people, if not the world.

The triumph of diplomacy achieved by the US in its negotiations with North Korea can only leave us breathless with admiration. Six years ago, when George W Bush initially came to power, he threw out the “Agreed Framework” negotiated between the Clinton administration and Pyongyang, naming that state a member of his “Axis of Evil”. At that time, it is unlikely North Korea was in possession of any nuclear weapons. Six years later, they undoubtedly have five or six stashed away.

Nevertheless, the agreement hammered out between Washington and Pyongyang today is a success. It basically resurrects the “Agreed Framework” that George W Bush cast to the winds six years ago. Only now, North Korea is a nation with nuclear weapons.

Well done, Mister President! Or, more exactly – well done, Condoleeza Rice!

For, according to sources close to the White House, Ms Rice approached George W Bush recently and said, “We need a foreign policy success.”

As a result, Christopher Hill, America’s chief envoy, was told to get one – whatever the cost.

After all, anything that draws American focus away from Iraq……….

Once again – well done, Mister President!

Yeh, right!

Filed under: Distractions

““A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness” ~ John Keats.

Some days are diamonds, some days are stone. Today definitely qualified as the latter. Driving blizzards across central Illinois all day have done nothing to transform the constantly bleak landscape into anything resembling “scenery”.

Four years of life in this barren place have caused me to ponder frequently on what produces the plethora of obesity, obsession with “shopping”, and a mindset that regards “cook-outs”, “cook-ins” or “cook-anything” as the be-all and end-all of social entertainment.

The answer is, of course, obvious. There’s bugger-all else to do in this place.

Boredom is what drives the mindset of the “Heartlands”. Boredom leads to over-eating and over-spending, which in turn manufactures obesity and credit card debt.

There is one outlet. The local churches in the “Heartlands” have no trouble filling their pews. It’s another form of entertainment; a way to placate the boredom for a few hours and give the mouth a rest between Big Macs. Although, passing my local Methodist the other day, I noted a sign outside advertising: “Cook-In Chili Supper 7.30 Wednesday”.

Perhaps the churches need a little help after all.

I have yet to determine whether it’s a nationwide problem, or peculiar to the “Heartlands”, but replacing boredom with overeating, over-spending – and undoubtedly, over-worshipping – cannot be a healthy answer for Americans, whether in Illinois or elsewhere.

Life in the “Heartlands” is possibly the most boring in the civilized world. Anything remotely interesting has to be manufactured. The place itself lacks any form of natural beauty. Quite possibly, at one time, nature’s loveliness may have lifted the soul and warmed the heart, but if so the Archer Daniel Midland corporation and its multi-thousand acres of corn long ago obliterated anything resembling what in Europe is colloquially known as a “beauty spot”.

It would be ludicrous to suggest that the North American continent is devoid of natural beauty. The problem, for most Americans, is that anywhere worthy of a visit requires an expensive airplane flight, or a week of slogging behind the wheel. Unless, of course, you’re one of the stinking rich who have bought up all the real estate within two hundred miles of such places, in which case you have the right to enjoy them at your leisure.

For the people of the “Heartlands”, a picnic at a natural beauty spot means barbecuing a slab of beef from Wal-Mart on their back porch, enjoying the purulent scent of ADM’s local ethanol plant, and with a view – if they’re lucky – of five-foot high, genetically-modified corn stalks stretching to the far horizon.

Now, it’s remotely possible that the reader may begin to form an opinion suggestive of the writer being somewhat dissatisfied with the virtues of life in the American “Heartlands”. Nothing could be further from the truth. The writer is ready to partake and enjoy to the full all the virtues life in the “Heartlands” has to offer.

It’s just that, after nearly five years in this flat, boring, God-forsaken place, he has yet to find any.

Filed under: Disgruntled thoughts

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a close personal friend of George W Bush, has never been known for suave charm and delicately-tongued rhetoric. Not to put too fine a point on it, he’s a loud-mouthed bum who shows about as much finesse as the Aussie Red-Back Spider that may likely bite his ample butt while he sits on his toilet seat (we can hope!).

Consequently, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise to read that Howard has stuck his fat nose into US affairs by condemning Barack Obama for his promise to pull American troops out of Iraq, if voted into presidential office in 2008. Howard is quoted by the BBC thus:

[Obama’s stance on Iraq] “……will just encourage those who want to completely destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory. If I were running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats.”

It makes one wonder how many telephone calls have been flying across the Pacific in the last few days, between the White House and Canberra. Obviously something has prodded Howard’s sudden verbal diarrhea. Is it, perhaps, because George W Bush has lost so much support at home he is forced to turn overseas for a politician prepared to speak out for him?

Howard went on to say that withdrawal of US forces would mean defeat for Washington and end hope for peace in the Palestinian territories! Perhaps he should open his eyes and see there is no hope for peace in the Palestinian territories, whether the US remains in Iraq or not.

Peace in the Palestinian territories, like peace in the Middle East generally, requires not only an American withdrawal of troops, but a completely new set of American foreign policies – towards that region in particular, and the rest of the world in general.

John Howard’s criticisms are not just of Barack Obama, but of the American people, who by a large majority have shown their contempt for the policies of the present US administration and its overseas supporters like John Howard and Tony Blair. He is also disparaging his own people, who have made it very clear they do not support the Iraq war, or Australia’s part in it.

In fact, John Howard may well find himself on the opposition benches later this year, as his popularity in the polls is way down and Australian elections are due in 2007.

If he is ousted from power by the Labour Party it will be cause for celebration, not just among Australians, but by all who view freedom and democracy in a somewhat different light than the Bushes, Howards, and Blairs of this world.

BBC report HERE.

Filed under: Ignorant peasants