I'm back from my top-secret diplomatic mission... um, ahem, family vacation. Don't blame ME for that Resolution, okay? All I'll say is that you really haven't lived if you haven't gone at least once to the Wisconsin State Fair - and no, "New York State Fair" or "Ohio State Fair" really doesn't count. Anyway, I had been a bit worried about dealing with the airport security lines and delays after all that weekend excitement, so we all showed up really early to the Milwaukee airport. And you know what? It was, without exaggeration, the shortest line (exact number of people in front of us: zero) and the quickest passing through security I've ever had (there were so many extra security personnel to deal with the zero passengers that one of them actually offered to hold the baby while I got the stroller put together). Go figure.
I've started up with the Arabic media links again (though only a minimal effort to go back and fill in the missing week, sorry). Substantive posting will resume shortly - though I've got a lot to do in the next two weeks, I'm afraid. With any luck I'll have something to say about the "photo wars" (short version: what a pathetic showing for the blogosphere... it isn't enough for pictures to be worth a thousand words, now they have to matter more than human lives, too?) and the alleged airliner bombing plot. Or not.
Welcome back, AA. Hope you're refreshed!
Alleged airliner plot? Funny you should say that! Quite so, according to former British diplomat Chris Murray:
What is more, many of those arrested had been under surveillance for over a year - like thousands of other British Muslims. And not just Muslims. Like me. Nothing from that surveillance had indicated the need for early arrests.
Then an interrogation in Pakistan revealed the details of this amazing plot to blow up multiple planes - which, rather extraordinarily, had not turned up in a year of surveillance.
Read more at:
http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2006/08/the_uk_terror_p.html
Posted by: Nur al-Cubicle | August 17, 2006 at 04:23 AM
Look forward to your analysis of the Qana pictures.
Well, lives matter more than pictures, but your many fans look for you to educate us on the influence of pictures/media on the world. Also, say what you will about the blogosphere in general, but this effort can hardly be described as "pathetic." My own modest comments are here.
Posted by: David Kane | August 17, 2006 at 11:20 PM
That Wisconsin State Fair is great; we went a few years ago with the kids.
Those cream puffs are terrific.
Posted by: Rodger | August 18, 2006 at 12:01 AM