Xark!: Dan's Friday links, etc.

(ed note: Seems like today is just a war day for me. Sorry. dc)

Operation Truth: OK, I have to admit, I hated the radio ad (30 seconds of explosions and self-righteous macho swagger from Jesse Ventura), but it made me look. And I'm glad.

Operation Truth is an Iraqi veterans site with a blog, and it's generally anti-war (although I think it would be better described as pro-soldier, but not in the usual totalitarian kitsch way). Outside of the blog, my favorite part is the soldier of the week feature.

As stated here previously, being a veteran doesn't automatically make you an expert on foreign policy or grant a person priviledged insights into unrelated topics (i.e., whether Casey Sheehan would have wanted his mother to do what she's doing), but it should earn a person respect and credibility. I restate this caveat because, as in the Sheehan story, the other side will be sure to counter anti-war veterans with their own pro-war veterans and demand media equivalence. We can't make blanket claims of infallibility for the vets whose views we like and then withhold that deference from those with views we oppose, not without being dubious assholes.

But with that said, OpTruth is a valuable, important and necessary step in the retaking of our country. What's more powerful than the mother of a dead soldier protesting the war? A live soldier who has served with honor and integrity who returns at the end of the mission and says that enough is enough.

So thanks to the people at OpTruth. You have served your country twice.

Zeitgeist checkup: What's on people's minds right now? Over at Technorati, "Cindy Sheehan" is the No. 1 search term of the hour. Just plain "Sheehan" is No. 6. The search engine now registers 17,256 posts in English on that topic.

Danny Schechter (The News Dissector): From Dissector reader Ed Menken, via Danny, a series of absolutely priceless quotes from the current pro-war crowd in response to President Clinton's decision to send troops to Bosnia.

"Well, I just think it's a bad idea. What's going to happen is they're going to be over there for 10, 15, maybe 20 years."
--Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

"Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in body bags why their son or daughter have to give up their life?"
--Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99

"[The] President... is once again releasing American military might on a foreign country with an ill-defined objective and no exit strategy. He has yet to tell the Congress how much this operation will cost. And he has not informed our nation's armed forces about how long they will be away from home. These strikes do not make for a sound foreign policy."
--Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)

"American foreign policy is now one huge big mystery. Simply put, the administration is trying to lead the world with a feel-good foreign policy."
--Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy."
--Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W. Bush

"I had doubts about the bombing campaign from the beginning... I didn't think we had done enough in the diplomatic area."
--Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)

"I cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that it is often easier to make war than peace. This administration is just learning that lesson right now. The President began this mission with very vague objectives and lots of unanswered questions. A month later, these questions are still unanswered. There are no clarified rules of engagement. There is no timetable. There is no legitimate definition of victory. There is no contingency plan for mission creep. There is no clear funding program. There is no agenda to bolster our over-extended military. There is no explanation defining what vital national interests are at stake. There was no strategic plan for war when the President started this thing, and there still is no plan today."
--Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
--Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)

Weldon Berger (BTC News): This should get you caught up on the whole Able Danger story.

Ruy Teixeira (Emerging Democratic Majority): Nervous times for the GOP.

Terror Alert rises: This was submitted by everyone's favorite Egyptologist, Peter Piccione, who says it came to him from his daughter's London blog, after being sent along by her "thoroughly British colleague" ...

Be aware that the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from RUN to HIDE.

The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralysing their military capability.

It's not only the French that are on a heightened level of alert, The Italians have increased their alert level from "shout loudly and excitedly" to "elaborate military posturing." Two more levels remain, "ineffective combat operations" and "change sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "disdainful arrogance" to "dress in uniform and sing marching songs." They have two higher levels, "invade a neighbour" and "lose."

Seeing this reaction in continental Europe the Americans have gone from "isolationism" to "find somewhere else in the middle east ripe for regime change." Their remaining higher alert states are "take on the world" and "ask the British for help."

Finally here in Great Britain we've gone from "pretend nothing's happening" to "make another cup of tea." Our higher levels are "remain resolutely cheerful" and "win!"