Opinion Australia

The 3000th US soldier has died in Iraq marking yet another milestone… or maybe millstone?… in the short period of the US assault on the country.

The march to democracy and justice ‘US style’ was given a lurch backwards with the death of Saddam after a mockery of a trial in which the first judge was removed for being ‘too lenient’ with him, and after the new president of the country promised the people Saddam would be dead before the end of the year.

The result has been more US soldiers being killed… and no doubt many more will follow as the US slips inexorably towards either anotehr Vietnam military debacle or international humiliation as it becomes more and more clear that the Bush has been completely unable to understand long term strategic planning and has caused the fragmentation of the country into a religious quagmire set on increasing the Shiite power base of Iran.

Of course it’s possible Bush *wants* to foment even more unrest in the area but I canlt see how this would aid US national interests other than assist lining the pockets of a arms manufacturers and oil magnates.

What Bush has done is become a prime example of how ‘absolute power’ can be misused when in the hands of a second rate intellect.

God help all of us.

No doubt Saddam is dead… and buried. The *full* execution video… including ‘the drop’ and his swinging body with face uncovered… is now online… looks like some fool with a cellphone took images in more than enough detail to satisfy the most morbid or disbelieving of people. For those interested… go to netscape.com.
Dreadful, but I suppose needed to prove he *has* gone and won’t be a focus for legend.

Reports are coming in that the US forces have handed Saddam Hussein over to the Iraqi government who intend to hang him as soon as practicable.

The rights and wrongs of executing him seem to be beyond discussion now. He is about to join the millions of other Iraqis who’ve died on the path to their country’s ruination as the Americans fulfill their desire to dominate the Middle East politically and fragment any opposition.

Was it worth it? Don’t ask me. Ask the dead, the dying, the maimed, the homeless… all those who have no doubt welcomed the ‘liberation’ of the country as the USA imposed ‘freedom’ on them. I suppose some of them might wonder if the mantra “In death lies freedom” is really as apposite as it might be?

Saddam, in the end of course, was just another pawn in the game… and it’s becoming increasongly apparent that rather than fragment resistance as they’d desired… the Americans have substituted a secular political block with a religious political block of far greater strength and appeal. They may yet have created the hell they so desperately feared.

Just in case I don’t get the chance to make another post in the next couple of days, I wish one and all the best year possible. And remember…

… in the end
the love you take,
is equal to
the love
you make.

Our day? I thought you’d never ask! Actually, this is mostly lifted from a letter sent off to friends… I’m just too bone idle to think of new stuff right now.

For starters, as I’ve already written… we had 99% of our rations pre-cooked and set out on Christmas Eve. I figured we may as well make an early start so put the spread out and told everyone to just get stuck in. Good job I did too… there’s *still* loads left… though I’m struggling manfully to work through it as fast as I can. I also decided early on that for the main ‘Xmas’ days I’d say sod it to the diet and get stuck in… with a vengeance and a three month pent up hunger!!

Luvverly jubbley!! (Guess who’s been watching a ‘Fools and Horses’ marathon??)

So… pounds of ham, turkey, prawns and salad later… I’m finding the trousers are a little tighter… and the weight is a little higher… there’s a lot to be said for a cold buffet for Christmas lunch

Actually I didn’t do as badly as I might’ve all things considered. The cake and pudding might only have been made at the last minute… literally Christmas Eve, Eve in fact… but they turned out ok. The pudding was a little on the dry side, but liberal helpings of brandy and cream helped moisten it… though only a quarter is gone so far… 2 litres of pudding seem to go a long, long way

You may wonder what Santa brought me… well I did ok really. I have an owl that hoots when you pass it… which I’ve named Hedwig… what else?? I also got a dozen DVD’s, four books (two on how to work through household chores!!!), and stuff like that. The wife did ok as well for a change scoring a clarinet, a table tennis table and a load of books, games and stuff.

The kids… let’s not go there… well they cleaned us out. Santa brought the eldest daughter a 3G phone that can access the internet properly and could even pick up satellite if I was daft enough to shell out good money for it. The younger got a new bike and a drum kit (Santa will pay… oh yes… he’ll pay… ) and both had buckets of other stuff to keep them ‘quiet’.

The old lady was presented with a bottle of ‘Beautiful’ perfume from Estee Lauder (I wonder if she is related to Nicki?). The old man got a nice Canon camera so simple even *he* can handle it without taking endless pictures of his thumb.

So… for us Xmas has been ok so far. The wife refuses to let me drive. She reckons there are enough loons on the road without me either adding to them, or making myself a target!!

Today has been quiet mostly spent sleeping, walking to the park and swimming in the pool… with lots of eating in between. Just for added measure, the AUssies had humiliated the Poms again on the cricket field… what a sad team they turned out to be.

Anyway… I hope you all had a happy christmas… now let’s look forward to a peaceful new year… are you all with me??