Category Archives: Emergency

coolest movie trailer ever: 300

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Stumbled across this on Daily Kos, a site that I go to maybe once a year; at least I picked the right day to go. Check out this incredible trailer from the new film based on the Frank Miller graphic novel. Rimjob, the blogger who did this writeup, knows his military history as well as his Star Trek; the Spartan/Klingon parallels were in Gene Roddenberry‘s mind when he was writing the original, and have only grown stronger since then.

No points for guessing who the Romulans were based on.

I must say, there’s just something amusing about writing “That Rimjob really knows his Spartans.” And vice versa, no doubt. By all means, go read the whole entry.

I’ve always been fascinated by historic last stands against insurmountable odds. The defense of Wake Island in World War II is an amazing history to read about. I’ve always seen events like this as living proof that a small band of people can, by force of will & a little luck, stand up to anyone or anything.

The trailer for the film version of Frank Miller‘s “300” has just been released. The movie & graphic novel deal with the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, where a few thousand greeks (led by King Leonidas & his 300 Spartans) fought an army of invading Persians that numbered in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. The trailer looks good, although they have the Spartan King Leonidas talking about “a new age of freedom”. Spartan society is probably the closest Humans have come to being like Klingons…

Well, he’s put his finger on it there. Persians are what they were called before they were called Iranians, and there’s no question the marketing people will be peeing themselves in spasmodic glee at how well the current international situation reflects the slant in this film.

Perhaps you’ll recall Michael Medved‘s attempt to claim that the Lord of the Rings films were about the terrorist threat against America, and perhaps you will recall as well the new asshole that Viggo Mortensen (cum laude B.A. in Government, St.Lawrence University) ripped him for that. Tolkien himself nearly rose from the grave at that apostasy.

In any case, it will be interesting to see how the Iranians/Persians are demonized, how the Spartans are Americanized (dare I cross my fingers for NOT?), and how the images are used as cheap emotional triggers by all the many squirming sides to this debate.

Until the users start using, we can simply enjoy the trailer itself. One last thing. I note with admiration that it contains the single most definitive ingredient to an awesome YouTube: a soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails.

Rock on.

Major James Loden’s emails: The RAF have been utterly, utterly useless

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Brits in AfghanistanFrom Sky News, with additional reporting from The Guardian here, for background. Not much here that hadn’t been vaguely feared before, but it’s about time we heard from the fighters on the front lines exactly what is going on. To that end, I’ll paste in the entire emails (or everything Sky posted, anyway) to avoid editorializing; my thoughts are not the story this time.

Helmand River, not your prime vacation destination

British troops in Helmand province

The Leaked Emails
Saturday September 23, 2006

A series of leaked emails has revealed more of the concerns within the armed forces about the continuing fighting against Taliban guerrillas in Afghanistan.

The middle-ranking officer with 3 Para who wrote them is serving in the dangerous southern Helmand province.

His three emails – excerts of which are printed below – give a vivid description of the fierce fighting UK troops are involved in, the bravery of those involved – and his concerns about numbers of personnel and equipment.

KEY POINTS:

:: We are lacking manpower
:: Desperately in need of more helicopters
:: Shooting by some Harrier pilots supporting ground troops is inaccurate
:: Some soldiers look very frightened and slow to react
:: All arms and services must be fit and capable of basic weapon skills and fieldcraft.

This is what the officer wrote:

THE EMAILS:

First email:British Troops in Afghanistan

I have a Coy Gp here although we are lacking manpower. Desperately in need of more helicopters.

Attacks consist of regular rocket, mortar, RPG and small arms on the fire base, plus fairly heavy fire fights out on the ground.

The Toms are getting to grips with their core business of mouse hole charges, barmines and grenades for buildings, and all direct fire weapons for the assault.

The RAF have been utterly utterly useless. In contrast USAF have been fantastic.

I have a couple of soldiers who I have concerns about after some heavy contact … Even now with our own artillery firing they look very frightened and slow to react.

There is a fine line between giving them time to accept what has happened and adjust, and gripping them hard and forcing them to focus.

Second email:

(In this email, the officer praises the bravery of Corporal Bryan Budd, who was killed in action on August 20 and describes the battle in which he died.)

Budd saw the enemy 25 metres in front behind a bush line, and using hand signals organised his section to attack.

As he went forward the landrover on the left was ambushed, despite this he led his section forward with heavy fire personally accounting for at least 2 enemy.

Sadly he and 3 of his section were hit although one was only in the body armour. As the section pulled back in the face of heavy fire, no-one saw Budd was down.
Taliban fighters increasing their resistance The other 2 casualties were pulled back, and shortly afterwards Budd was declared MIA. The pl comd and 3rd section had made their way forward, and tried to advance forward to find Budd but they were driven back under heavy fire.

The platoon radio op took a round in the chest but was saved by the body armour. The platoon commander received some shrapnel in his backside but continued.

The CSM made another trip out and back on the Quad bike to collect the third casualty, this time coming under fire himself but continuing nonetheless.

By now they could see the Taliban were rushing weapons out of a mosque hidden in depth. We began to engage them with mortars.

At about the same time the enemy engaged us with mortars, and were clearly getting the base plate bedded in as their rounds began to creep closer.

It was around an hour since he (Cpl Budd) had been hit, and initially had no pulse. He was given CPR and moved as quickly as possible.

The CSM raced out on the Quad bike and retrieved him, but the doctor was unable to save him.

The 2 platoons were trickling towards us now clearly exhausted, and if there ever needed to be a justification for the 2 miler this was it.

Those of us on the fire support tower were shouting at them to keep running and spread out because of the enemy mortar fire. They were all exhausted and scared, but I think the physicality of it was a real eye opener.

The contact on 20 Aug proves once again the old lesson, that all arms and services must be fit and capable of basic weapon skills and fieldcraft.

There were many people on that day who will go unrecognised, but simply volunteered immediately to go out as part of the reinforcements regardless of rank or experience.

Third email:

Ref emotion there has been plenty of tears which as you know is all rather humbling.

I have followed the same line as far as keeping them together, and injecting humour where possible.

As for facts I have been in the field since July 27th and have only had 3 days with no contact so fairly constant.

(Referring to attack helicopters) The bottom line is Helmand Gorge, Afghanistanthat there are not enough of them.

(Then, referring to air support during a fight with the Taliban) Harrier couldn’t identify and fired rockets that just missed Coy HQ compound.

Pl Comd decided to continue to move, but as the enemy closed up he put in a snap ambush and slowed them up with a heavy rate of fire.

Thankfully no casualties, lots of ammo expended!

PSA: email Musharraf for women’s rights

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Pakistani woman 

From Eteraz:

This is a call for action, read on for details.

I am sitting in a half empty taxi stand where the owner has let me use the computer for free because I have some urgent breaking news on the Women’s Protection Bill. Popes and Mullahs keep fighting.

So the “compromised” bill (which I called a Minimalist victory), did not get sent to the Parliament. It got sent BACK to the select committee (for MORE review). Mostly this is because Musharraf’s backers complained about the Mullahs to the General. (There is some good in having a General on your side). Now, sources tell me, nothing will happen on the bill until Big Brother comes back on October 1.

This means that the FULL REFORMIST VERSION OF THE BILL STILL HAS HOPE.

So the current plan is to get as many liberal people (in Pakistan and outside) to sign off on a simple petition, which will read:

We believe that you should support the passage of the Women’s Protection Act in the form proposed by the Select Committee of Parliament. The passage of that bill would be a significant step forwards in the protection of women’s rights in Pakistan and an achievement for which you would always be remembered.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, sources tell me, that the BATTLE IS NOT IN PARLIAMENT ANYMORE – IT IS IN MUSHARRAF’S LIVING ROOM.

The reformists are going to get as many names and MORE IMPORTANTLY WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS to sign off on this petition and run a full page ad with the above language when Musharraf returns home.They will be going door to door in Pakistan. They are risking their lives.

What WE ON THE OUTSIDE CAN DO IS THE FOLLOWING: We must write to the President and SAY THAT HE SHOULD SUPPORT THE SELECT COMMITEE BILL. You can cut and paste the above quoted language, even that much would be enough, but you can always add more.

Use Musharraf’s website to write to him. Make sure you use your name and location.

Remember, he needs to hear from articulate people saying that they support this. He is going to be on THE DAILY SHOW with John Stewart ON SEPTEMBER 26TH PEDDLING HIS ‘ENLIGHTENED’ BOOK. Clearly this is a man who is looking for modernist supporters (let’s for this issue put aside the non-democratic nature of his leadership). WRITE TO HIM.

Below is a news item from Daily Times that reveals why the Select Committee Bill is so good. The bill addresses, not just rape, but domestic violence, and a host of other problems like forced marriages.

In my opinion, no voice is more important, at this point, than that of Western Muslim women, and Women’s Group of any all stripe. I encourage Feministing and Feministe (with their huge readerships) to make this their cause celebre. If someone wants to make a Kos Diary out of this, feel free. I especially encourage people of Pakistani descent and connection to write. Like I said, you can simply use the above quoted language.

Please write!

Goodbye.

Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation HQ

Govt to table amended draft of Women’s Protection Bill: Shujaat

By Mohammad Imran

ISLAMABAD: President of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Friday said the government had decided to table an amended draft of the Protection of Women Bill in the select committee while introducing some new proposals in it.

These proposals include an end to cruel customs like vani, swara, karo kari, marriages to the Quran, violence against women, the sale and purchase of women, etc. “The government will formally request Chaudhry Amir Hussain, the speaker of the National Assembly, to refer the amended draft of the bill to the select committee,” said Shujaat while speaking at a press conference here at the PML house.

PML Secretary-General Mushahid Hussein Syed, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani and Minister of State for Information Senator Tariq Azim were also present on the occasion.

Shujaat said the select committee would also discuss six new proposals along with the amended version of the bill. The PML president said the government would have the bill passed during the ongoing National Assembly session.

Elaborating the PML proposals, Shujaat said these included legislation against domestic violence, particularly violence against women by their fathers, brothers or husbands; justice to the victim within 90 days; legislation to protect women’s right to inheritance; laws to stop forced marriages and their inclusion in Tazir; laws banning marriages with the Quran; declaration of watta-satta a crime; and stopping the sale and purchase of women. He said these proposals would also be incorporated in the amended draft of the Protection of Women Bill.

He said the debate on the bill had continued for the last few weeks and the basic purpose of the bill was to protect women’s rights, but that it had been politicised and some people had tried to dub it un-Islamic. Shujaat said he and National Assembly opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman had decided to consult prominent religious scholars so that no part of the bill would go against provisions of the Quran and Sunnah.

He said various proposals had come from NGOs and civil society organisations, which would also be incorporated in the bill. He said the bill would be made comprehensive and that instead of focussing only on Zina bil Jabr (rape) or Zina bil Raza (adultery), other women’s rights should also be protected. He also regretted the Pope’s recent statement and termed the remarks against jihad and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) harmful to world peace and harmony. He said that the Islamic world should engage in dialogue with the West so that the two could understand each other better.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said the basic problems facing Pakistani women were un-Islamic traditions like vani, swara, karo kari etc.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed has also indicated his party’s commitment to talks with the government if it presents the women’s protection bill in its new form. Talking to newsmen in the Parliament cafeteria, Hafiz Hussain Ahmad said, “We rejected the bill as the draft of the bill which was given to us on Thursday was different from the bill which was agreed to by the MMA and Ulema Committee.”

keep walking, Lebanon

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Maybe you’ve heard of the rather edgy marketing that Johnny Walker is doing in Beirut; mind you, marketing whiskey in Beirut is always an edgy business, and I speak as the progeny of a woman who lived with a guy who made a moderate fortune importing Johnny Walker Black into Saudi Arabia. And taking blackmail photos of the Saudis in his casino for the CIA, but that’s neither here nor there.

Although it’s not as edgy as marketing it in Salt Lake City, come to think of it.

Their actual sign:

keep walking

And the suggested new, rather more specific design, from Animal New York, via Gawker:

Seriously, seriously. Walk faster.

TWAT 9/11 roundup of Bush administration lies

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A 9/11 reminder 

Thanks to Desert Beacon, whom I found because s/he linked to me in this very post.

Does that make me a self-abusing wanker?

Not as much as Bush is.

Bush: A totally political 9/11 mission creep address to the nation

I’ve lost count of the number of reasons the Bush Administration’s set forth for why it is we’re bogged down in Iraq. Whatever the number, tonight’s address emphasized another one: “The safety of America depends on the outcome of the battle in the streets of Baghdad,” Mr. Bush said. [NYT] So, now we have yet another reason to be bogged down in Iraq? What happened to the previous ones?

There was no connection between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda in 2001. [Reuters]
Hussein considered AQ followers in Iraq to be outlaws. [WT]
There were no weapons of mass destruction. [BBC]
There was no viable nuclear weapons program. [ST]
There was no “45 minute” attack possible. [GPF]
There was no connection between Baghdad and yellowcake from Nigeria. [WFE]
There was no Atta/Iraqi meeting in Prague. [T-UK]

“If we do not defeat these enemies now,” Mr. Bush said, “we will leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons.” [NYT] Nothing like a little fear-mongering reminiscent of Condoleezza Rice’s comment about seeing Mushroom Shaped Clouds? Same old Bush White House election year song — “Vote Republican or Die?” Support my occupation of Iraq or bin Laden’s boyz will strike you in suburbia? For someone who said he wanted to take “politics” out of 9/11 he certainly did a good job of inserting it front and center.

Who, Mr. President, are these “enemies?” First, wasn’t this chaos just what advisers from the GHW Bush Administration said would happen if we foolishly decided to invade Iraq in 1991? [RCstr]

Secondly, if we were going to defeat “these enemies,” wouldn’t it have been a good thing to have put enough troops on the ground in the first place? [WaPo] To have developed a solid plan for the occupation? [KCS] To have clearly understood the complex dynamic between the Kurds, the Sunnis, and the Shi’a? [Dossier UK]

So, now Mr. President, you are telling me it’s my patriotic duty to buckle down and bail your administration out of this global blunder lest our children have to bear the brunt of your imperious foolishness? In our family, when we got into trouble of our own creation, and then had the temerity to ask for someone to clean up the mess, the adult answer was simplicity itself: “You got yourself into it, so now you can get yourself out of it.”

And much more, equally richly sourced.