Kieran Healy writes a good post on the Iraqi elections, and loosely compares it to the foundation of the Irish State. [Via Dan]
Month: January 2005
Hoax VW advert
Wizbang has been showing a fake VW advert for some time now, and it is doing the rounds by email. To be honest I think the advert is absolutely hilarious. Quicktime is needed.
Interview: The not so quiet Irishman
New Scientist has an interview with Barry McSweeney, Ireland’s first Chief Science Adviser. Some interesting stuff, go have a look.
NASA readies possible space rescue
Here is hoping this will never have to be done, but it’s good to see NASA has some new contingency plans in place should an accident happen.
Preparing for war with Iran
Steve Clemons mentions a piece about the probing of Iran’s missile defences.
The flights, which have been going on for weeks, are being launched from sites in Afghanistan and Iraq and are part of Bush administration attempts collect badly needed intelligence on Iran’s possible nuclear weapons development sites, these sources said, speaking on condition of strict anonymity.
“These Iranian air defense positions are not just being observed, they’re being ‘templated,'” an administration official said, explaining that the flights are part of a U.S. effort to develop “an electronic order of battle for Iran” in case of actual conflict.
In the event of an actual clash, Iran’s air defense radars would be targeted for destruction by air-fired U.S. anti-radiation or ARM missiles, he said.
It seems pretty likely that this would be happening on an ongoing basis. Satellite technology will only go so far in tracking down SA-7 or SA-9 missile systems, especically mobile or well hidden ones. But once one is turned active it will immediately be known.
In fact missiles like the HARM missile mentioned depend on the radar being active in order to find their target. And other missiles have been developed that are even better. European weapons companies developed a missile that would fire at an active radar system, and the enemy, realising that a missile may be on its way, would turn off their radar systems. The missile would react by climbing up to a high altitude, deploying a parachute, and wait for the radar system to come back on – then it would eject the parachute and kill the target.
Promoting the National Interest: Condoleezza Rice
In case anyone missed it, back in 2000 Condi Rice wrote this piece for Foreign Affairs. It’s a good insight into the mind of the new Secretary of State.
Foreign policy in a Republican administration will most certainly be internationalist; the leading contenders in the party’s presidential race have strong credentials in that regard. But it will also proceed from the firm ground of the national interest, not from the interests of an illusory international community. America can exercise power without arrogance and pursue its interests without hectoring and bluster. When it does so in concert with those who share its core values, the world becomes more prosperous, democratic, and peaceful. That has been America’s special role in the past, and it should be again as we enter the next century.
Iraq election declared 'success'
Let’s hope that Sunnis will also be happy with the new assembly. Importantly:
Electoral officials estimated that up to eight million Iraqis voted – more than 60% of those registered.
Some other sources are giving figures as high as 72%
How we may tame the climate tiger
One of the most highly charged topics preoccupying the governments of the world is to be thrashed out at a UK conference starting on 1 February.
But Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, a three-day meeting at the Met Office in Exeter, is mainly about the science.
The participants, more than 200 in all, will try to agree how to define what is a danger level, and what it should be.
This, they hope, will lead to a better understanding of methods the world can employ to avoid catastrophic warming.
Blogs from Iraq
Just some random links to blogs from Americans in Iraq. Go take a look.
I have pointed to Armor Geddon before, but go back, great first hand accounts from an M1A1 Abrams tank commander.
I Should Have Stayed Home…is by two contractors working in Iraq.
Cigars in the Sand is an advisor on border security, interesting that the route between the Airport in Baghdad and the Green Zone is calledRoute Irish. Great photos too.
Matt Sherman has some great photos as well.
The Mudville Gazette has links to more Milbloggers.
Photos
Just posted some more photos to flickr, if anyone is interested!