MSNBC/Muslim State National Broadcasting Company

AFP via Drudge

As I've said many times before, I'm no military strategist. So exactly when/how/if Israel will strike Iran escapes me. Though I have zero doubt that the nanosecond the nuclear threat materializes, Nena's 1983/84 hit will resonate:


Panic bells, it's red alert.
There's something here from somewhere else.
The war machine springs to life.
Opens up one eager eye.
Focusing it on the sky.
Where 99 red balloons go by.

99 Decision Street.
99 ministers meet.
To worry, worry, super-scurry.
Call the troops out in a hurry.
This is what we've waited for.
This is it boys, this is war.
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by.

99 Knights of the air
Ride super-high-tech jet fighters
Everyone's a superhero.
Everyone's a Captain Kirk.
With orders to identify.
To clarify and classify.
Scramble in the summer sky.
As 99 red balloons go by.


And I have zero doubt that if conventional munitions cannot end Iran's nuke party. Israel will swing The Big Stick ..... as many times as finality dictates. But the mechanics of what is currently taking place with Iran and Hezbollah, Syria and Hamas, in Lebanon/Israel/Gaza, I will leave to the mil stratergery bloggers. The larger tipping point hasn't yet passed (we'll know it when it does). Though certainly we are close.

[ World War III Began Yesterday, October 26, 2005. But the World Did Little Note. (Only time will prove me right or wrong)]

Israel may decide not to wait (certainly there are sound reasons for waiting). The complexity astounding (factoring in Iraq). Which does not bring us to today's topic, but we are here none the less.


The State of the Media

My latest case of rising blood temperature, was brought about by the hobbyist magazine Popular Photography & Imaging, the July 2006 issue. Which I was reading last week, when I stumbled across an exposed pile of shite, between the magazine's covers. Not available online.

The War on Photographers, by Neal Matthews

I read a hobbyist magazine ..... for the hobby. Not to be subjected to the politics of its writers or editors, and the amateurish tripe they present. Unfortunately this churlishness is catching and spreading (my blood temp further rising watching MSNBC, yesterday afternoon). The Popular Photography hit piece an uncontrolled tintinabulous Alarm de Orwell:

"A security car pulls up and parks behind him."
"A Torrance prowl car zooms up the street."
'Four cops walk up in a SWAT-type formation.'
"A cop grabs his thumb with one hand and searches him with another."
"amateur and professional photographers all over the country are being stopped and harassed ... "
"sworn police officers and rent-a-cops alike are routinely hounding people .... in supposedly sensitive areas"
"the police made him sit cross legged on the cold concrete ... "
"After the 20-minute shakedown (and driving away) one cop chillingly said over the loudspeaker: 'Thanks Jim'."

(And yes, the article did manage to mention President Bush).


Then yesterday, during dinner, watching the tube. MSNBC going nosntop on Lebanon. Showing a direct live continuous feed from Al-Jazeera (or Pallee-TV?). The first few minutes incorporating the embedded Arabic language watermark, which then disappeared for the duration. It only got better after that. The studio talking head then got on and rode around on "The Cycle of Violence." By this time my circuits were short circuiting from my blood going vaporous.

MSNBC repeating the juvenilia about the crude Katushas. Anyone seen pictures of the business end of one? I have. The design sophistication shown, the smooth highly skilled manufactured shape/metallurgy of the nozzle, puts to rest that nonsense. Whatever the rocket's outward chassis may appearance be.

And yet they fail to mention the level of design and manufacture of the guided Iranian missiles targetting the city of Haifa. The frass swirling around inside the studio continued. Then MSNBC provided direct translation of Palestinian TV, not just images.

But dear blog reader ... it gets worse. They gave a platform to the Lebanese Foreign Minister, Fuad Seniora: "Hizbollah didn't consult with him/them, it isn't Lebanon's fault. Israel are the terrorists." That broadcast was followed by Chris Matthew's, with a Brylcreem type reporting from Lebanon: "Israel is responsibile for the growth of Militant Radical Islam by their actions." (A loose paraphrase. He speaking straight faced. Ostensibly presenting hearsay in support of a two sided presentation? But more likely unable to control spewing a bolster of his own learned opinion).

On and on they go ..... is the Israeli response appropriate/proportional? (I'm not sure what response they deem acceptable to an open military attack across an international border. Or intentional attacks using guided missiles, on the population centers of a sovereign nation? If Hezbollah doesn't want war, methinks they shouldn't start one. And If Lebanon doesn't wan't Israel to respond, they should toss Hezbollah out. Or if they don't support them, perhaps they shouldn't argue their politics. Or is that too complex?)

My TV viewing ended with Anderson Cooper, CNN 360 degrees. "There is a real sense of war here," regards Israel's response. And yet last week and the week before when the Islamists were killing Jews, the media's mindset was ...... that it was merely a negotiating tool for a prisoner swap. Nothing more.


Which brings us to yet even more delightful thinking from (feel free to add your own quotation marks) professional journalism. From our ole pals at the Los Angeles Times.

Breaking News by William Powers.

Shrinking circulation! Fact-checking goofs! Partisan reporting! Despite the scare headlines, journalism's sob story may still have a happy ending.

Wherein Mister Powers touches all the bases, and yet still seems to cry a few tears for old journalism/ists. And how possibly modern times may be to blame (you know the net .... the blogosphere, yada yada). Historied televison news, gloried old newspapers are now being disrespected (by ideologues). Hey Mister Powers, it ain't the technology or the times. It's the smell.



The Mudville Gazette has a short, sharp look at the military goings on in Lebanon. Highly recommended.

And Dr. Sanity has the musings from the mouth of the babe Nasrallah (via the Corner). [And is also recommended (but then just about everything she writes/blogs is)]. THE EVOLULTIONARY DEAD-END OF ISLAM


7:35 p.m.

I Love Andrea Mitchell

Was watching ABC Evening News during dinner (and no I can't tell you who succeeded that commie b*tch Jennings). But I gotta tell you, I busted a gut laughing when Andrea put forth the notion that Israeli military policy is dictated by Washington. Suggesting that Israel is Dub's lapdog/puppet, acting only in U.S. policy interest regarding Syria/Iran.

Sh*t (snicker), we all know I love, respect and admire Dubya. But Andrea ..... you might seriously consider quitting your day job. Comedy is your one true calling.

XXOOXX Andrea, Your Boy Elroy



Tuesday, July 18, 2006.

7:40 a.m. - See Andy. See Andy blog. See Andy blame Boosh for everything. See Andy make his ole pals the neocons, grateful for the unbridled glee that he now gives them. See Andy's readers pat him on the back. See Andy's new digs in Private Idaho. See if Elmo's trackback goes through? See Andy.