Superman: Responsible for Obesity

Abraham Lincoln Brigade Memorial Vandalized

A memorial to the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in San Francisco has been vandalized by anarchist activists. The vandals wrote:

“A public art work celebrating the role played by the Abraham Lincoln Battalion, the US dupes of and cannon fodder for the Stalinist counter-revolution in Spain from 1936 to 1939, was dedicated this past May on San Francisco's Embarcadero, behind the fountain on Justin Herman Plaza at the foot of Market Street. Sometime this past week, some person or persons unknown gave this monument to the one of the big lies of 20th century history an appropriate makeover. The Stalinist art work was grafittied with the message, "Viva Durruti Y Orwell," in what appears to be red and black spray paint.”

This is surely going to make for some interesting fights amongst the various leftist communities in the Bay Area. You have those who deem the Brigade a true expression of international solidarity in the face of totalitarianism, and others who see them as an extension of the Soviet Union that would betray the anarchists in Spain.

I don’t support vandalism, and this case is no exception. I do however think that the ALB has been lionized by some on the left without considering exactly what they fought for and why, and it looks like these “activists” may very well get an exchange on that subject. But who am I kidding! We will have a week long shouting match between the two sides, and then return to the state they have been for the last 100 years.

Elsewhere

The Bin Ladens of the Balkans, Part I – Michael Totten

We Are all NeoCons Now – Your Friend in the North

Anbar Tribes to Enter Politics – Iraq the Model

These enemies have faces: A Moderate Look at the Iran/Israel conflict - Trita Parsi and Roi Ben-Yehuda

Leaving the Radical Left: Anti-Zionism, Anti-Semitism, and Jewish Response – The New Centrist

Barack Obama, Isolationist - James Kirchick

Radovan Karadzic has Been Caught

The ultra-nationalist Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has finally been arrested. From CNN:

“Karadzic, 63, was the Serb political leader during the 1992-1995 war that followed Bosnia-Herzegovina's secession from Yugoslavia. He is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the law of war.

No details of his arrest were immediately available. But the chief prosecutor for the U.N. tribunal, Serge Brammertz, called it "an important day for the victims" and congratulated Serbian authorities for taking him into custody.”

Karadzic had been on the run for years, although he was sighted in and around Serbia and Russia on a few occasions. His indictment from the UN can be found here. With his capture, Ratko Mladic is the last leading Serb chief wanted for war crimes.

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others

Is our resident communist nation taking a step further into an Orwell work, or is this the start of a move away form socialism in Cuba? Raul Castro recently proclaimed:

“Socialism means social justice and equality, but equality of rights, of opportunities, not of income. Equality is not egalitarianism.”

Gordon Chang writes for Commentary:

“Cuban society is progressing, and Raul has just been forced to redefine socialism. His theoretical leap, although important to ideologues, is almost irrelevant because Cuba is now developing beyond his control.”

We can only hope that this assessment is the case.

McCain: Don’t Pick Jindal

We will probably know each candidate's running mate within the next month or so, so now seemed like as good a time as ever to ask McCain not to pick Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal. Here are two chief reasons why this man is not worth having on the ticket.

First of all, he is younger and less experienced than Obama. If McCain's ticket is going to be based on experience, and that’s the message he plans to push throughout the campaign, it sure as hell doesn’t help to get a newbie attached to his hip. McCain's age means voters will be considering the fact that he may die in office, and thus his running mate is going to matter in his electoral campaign. He may very well replace him as the president one day, and having an inexperienced leader on the ticket isn't going to help his case against Obama.

More importantly, McCain’s VP pick is going to tell us something about the direction he hopes to take his campaign and his presidency; picking Jindal would single that he is willing to compromise important social issues to appease the social conservative base that has never liked McCain (regardless of his conservative voting credentials).

Jindal is a member of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), a group of right wing Republicans. The groups is in favor of the Marriage Amendment Act which would make gay marriage a constitutionally forbidden act, and believed the government should intervene in the Terri Shivo case. The man is a supporter of “intelligent design theories," and has advocated that they be used as an alternative theory in public science classrooms. I can’t begin to explain how how foolish this really is, and I don’t plan to debate it here. I will say that anyone who believes spiritual beliefs should replace the scientific method in a class that is based on that very procedure is a moron, a shameless politician playing to their base of support, or a deluded individual that has little understanding of what the scientific method really entails. This alone should discredit any individual from taking one of the highest positions in American life, but apparently not.

So just make the right choice John.

Jason Molina - 2007

A fine tune from a great American songwriter, recorded under his Songs: Ohia project for the "Magnolia Electric Co." album back in 2003.

Support Harry’s Place

Harry’s Place is currently being sued for libel in Britain.

“Last Friday, in the wake of a closely argued debate about whether Mohammed Sawalha, the President of the British Muslim Initiative, had used the phrase “Evil Jew” or “Jewish Lobby” in a speech, Harry’s Place received a letter. The letter is from Dean and Dean, a firm of solicitors who are acting for Mr Sawalha. Mr Sawalha has demanded that we take down certain articles from Harry’s Place, and publish an apology “in the attached wording.”

NeoConstant has started a blogburst of those supporting Harry’s Place in their fight against this nonsense.