ViceZilla’s Views

In a move that was quickly welcomed by al-Maliki’s Iraqi government, al-Sadr said today that he was pulling his militia fighters off the streets of Basra, essentially putting an end to the six day old violence.

This is good news, and would also be considered “positive,” but the cease fire comes with conditions from al-Sadr as pointed out in his nine point statement. News reports of what exactly al-Sadr’s statement contained, but it is reported that the first point was, “taking gunmen off the streets in Basra and elsewhere.”

He also demanded that the Iraqi government stop “haphazard raids” and release security detainees who haven’t been charged, two issues cited by his movement as reasons for fighting the government.

Lets hope that this “cooling off period” will give a chance for cooler heads to prevail to put an end to infighting which threatens the over all stability of a country already on the verge of implosion.

Read More

Technorati Tags: Iraq, War in Iraq, Basra, Al-Sadr

Tags: War in Iraq by vicezilla
No Comments »

In a recent poll of 1,503 adults, conducted by Pew Research Center, Senator Barrack Obama seems to be winning the popularity contest between Democratic Candidates. Twice as many Democrats, 28% feel Hillary Clinton is “phony,” as compared to 14% whole felt the same about Obama.

Over 80% felt Obama was inspiring, down to earth, and honest. Compared to only mid to low 60% for Clinton. However, 86% of respondents feel Clinton is more patriotic than her counterpart.

What does all of this mean? It seems to point to the fact that if you are going to lie about dodging sniper fire, be prepared to take a hit in the credibility department!

Read More

Technorati Tags: Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama, Popularity, Pew Research, Poll

Tags: 2008 Presidential Candidates by vicezilla
No Comments »

Things in Iraq are not going well, not well at all. Five days of fighting between Shiite militiamen and Iraqi Security forces in the area of Basra are quickly erasing security gains made earlier by coalition forces in the past five years of bloody battle. Where do we stand now that Iraq seems to be caught in a downward spiral that threatens to put the goal of peace in Iraq back to square one?

We are told that the campaign in Basra is directed by Iraqi forces, not the Americans, but the news that is coming out of Iraq seems to indicate that the Iraqi forces are failing miserably at the task. At a news briefing in Basra on Saturday, Iraq’s defense minister, Abdul-Kader Jassem al-Obeidi, conceded that the assault had not gone according to expectations. “We were surprised by a very strong resistance that made us change our plans,” he said.

Public opinion is also starting to change in war torn Basra that does not look kindly towards the American military presence. “Unfortunately we were expecting one thing but we saw something else,” said Ali Hussam, 48, a teacher, who said that after Saddam Hussein the people of Basra had hoped for peace. “But unfortunately with the presence of this new government and this democracy that was brought to us by the invader, it made us kill each other. And the war is now between us.”

With the role of the U.S. military forces being reduced to a roll of spectator so far in this conflict, with only “coalition air power” being used for air support, one has to wonder what will be left in the aftermath of this “civil uprising?”

Seeing as we are told this isn’t our fight, what role will the U.S. military have during and after this conflict? How many more lives will need to be lost before leaders on both sides of this civil war say “enough already?” How many more lives will need to be lost before the U.S. military gets dragged into the middle of this conflict, and how many more U.S. military lives will be lost because of it?

From where I’m sitting, and the news I’m reading, this “opportunity” for Iraq is a no-win situation for everybody involved. The fragile peace that existed six days ago is obviously non-existent anymore. I fail to see how this increase in violence of Iraqi killing Iraqi can bring peace to a country already embroiled in turmoil.

Read More

Technorati Tags: Iraq, Basra, ISF, Shiite Militia, U.S. Military Role, Cease Fire, War in Iraq

Tags: War in Iraq by vicezilla
1 Comment »

During a question and answer period after his speech at George Washington University last night, Karl was asked by a student why he is perceived as a “fundamentally bad human being.” Rove’s reply:

“First of all, the tail and the horns are retractable.”

He also claimed he was a ‘myth’, that he’s not often seen but people talk about him.

Technorati Tags: Karl Rove, Myth, George Washington University

Tags: Political Rhetoric by vicezilla
No Comments »

Has the cost of living bankrupted you wallet? Tired of listening to Hillary’s explanation of her Bosnia story? Does the mere mention of ‘Iraq’ cause shooting pains behind your temples? According to two men that have filed a lawsuit in a court in Hawaii, our troubles and worries might soon mean nothing anymore.

According to the lawsuit, a giant particle accelerator outside Geneva will start smashing protons together this summer, and could possibly produce a ‘black hole’ which could swallow up not only the Earth, but the entire universe!

Scientists claim that this would be very unlikely, but just to make sure, they have done some checking just to make sure! Whew, I’m happy to hear that scientists have done some checking on something that may or may not even be possible to be ‘man-made’ let alone something that could swallow the Earth!

The scientists contend that the chances are slim that the collider could produce, among other horrors, a tiny black hole, or even a “strangelet” that would convert our planet to a shrunken dense dead lump of something called “strange matter.”

Black holes, strangelets, strange matter, this is all pretty overwhelming to soak in before my first cup of coffee for the day! Oh well, seeing as the planet seems to be filled with all sorts of “strange matter” already, and there might be a slim chance we could all be sucked into a black hole, I might as well throw caution to the wind and defy my doctor’s orders and cook up the two pounds of bacon I’ve been saving for a special occasion and enjoy it while I can!

Read more here, enjoy your morning coffee, and don’t worry be happy!

Technorati Tags: Balck Hole, Strangelet, Strange Matter, Collider, Large Hadron Collider, CERN

Tags: Musings by vicezilla
No Comments »