~
here sits an intellectual man
who rests alone in thought
not bothering with other souls
and looking quite distraught
he deftly tames another task
perpetual observer
he dreams a better mousetrap and
electric coffee server
the world’s fornever grateful for
his fealty to the cause
of stretching human boundaries
through scientific laws
he never tires, never fades
he surely never quits
here sits the intellectual man
and sits and sits and sits
~
– 1983
Monthly Archives: November 2009
the reclusive intellect
In 10 Words, or Less… Russell’s Paradox:
proves a rule is proved by its most fundamental exception
Filed under 10 Words or Less, Reason
Chavez: Prepare for War Against U.S?
(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has told his military to prepare for war against the United States.
Citing American use of Colombian military bases for anti-drug interdictions, Chavez asserts that Colombia has now become part of the United States and that American troops may attempt to invade Venezuela.
(Bloomberg) […] “The empire hopes to send them to fight against their Venezuelan and Ecuadorean brothers and other Bolivarian and Alba peoples to crush the Venezuelan revolution, just as they tried to do with the Cuban revolution in April 1961,” Castro wrote in a “reflection” published on the Cubadebate.cu Web site. The Alba bloc is a nine-member group of Latin American countries led by Chavez.
The presence of U.S. troops in Colombia is a “shameless foreign intervention in their internal affairs,” Castro said. The agreement amounts to the U.S.’s “annexation” of the South American country, he said.
A military attack on Venezuela would spread to other countries in the region because Venezuela has “friends” from Mexico to Argentina, Chavez said during the program.
“If the Yankee empire tries to use Colombia to attack Venezuela, the war of 100 years would begin,” he said. “The war would extend to other countries in the continent, from Mexico to Argentina. No one believes that a war against Venezuela would only be in Venezuela.” […]
Another interesting aspect of Venezuelan politics under Chavez…
Saudis Roll into Yemen
Saudi forces have crossed the border into northern Yemen in response to Houthi rebel incursions into the kingdom. Debkafile is reporting that a Saudi tank column rolled into Yemeni territory in support of the government in Sanaa, accompanied by Saudi armoured infantry with F-15s providing air support. This move is intended to counter growing IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) influence on the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula and forestall a possible northward move by Yemeni rebels.
~
Map: BBC News
The Shi’a Houthi (also referred to as Zaidi or Yazdi) rebels in northern Yemen have been armed and supported by Iran and are thought to be part of a broader, more ambitious Iranian government plan to displace the House of Saud, guardians of the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
VizReport published a chilling strategic analysis of Iran’s broader regional aspirations in 2005. Though our current timeframe is somewhat later than originally suggested in the report, the methods and conclusions suggested therein remain as relevant today as they were then. (Editor’s note: While we are presently unable to bring you the complete presentation, we did secure permission to post a much-condensed, low-resolution version of the report that was distributed in early 2006.)
Exclusive: Iran’s ChokePoint Strategy
QuickTime Player required. Right-click to download.
Filed under Conflict
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