Wishing a speedy and complete recovery to Rodney Dangerfield, who is undergoing major surgery. I spoke with Rodney on the phone once regarding a potential business deal. The deal didn't materialize, but he was very friendly and gracious.
Buyer Beware: Marketplace Radio reported that the intelligence which may have betrayed Saddam's location was obtained by monitoring a "secure" radio system -- which the British sold Iraq several years ago, and which the coalition forces somehow had the ability to decrypt.
Tax Me More: Pennsylvania state lawmakers propose a plan to encourage voluntary donations to state government from those who want to pay more taxes. Sounds like the ideal solution to me. The government could even run pledge drives, like public television stations!
Ze'ev Schiff on The Syrian-Iraqi arms deal that angered America
The large arms deal Syria recently made on behalf of the regime in Baghdad (thus provoking rage in Washington) involved the acquisition from Russia of 500 laser-guided anti-tank missiles and their transfer to the Iraqis. ...Go figure.
At first, the Americans sufficed to deal with the problem quietly and diplomatically, but their anger has increased in view of the Syrians' ongoing activities. Washington was also angered by the opening of the Syrian border to volunteers from the Arab states (primarily Syria) who wanted to joint the fight against the coalition forces.American pressure, it seems, is beginning to work: The Syrian-Iraqi border crossings have indeed been closed to passage.
But Michael Ledeen still says that Syria and Iran must get their turn. He closes with "Faster Please".
Yesterday in my neighborhood coffee house I saw one of the regulars, a friendly but ferociously idiotarian "peace" activist (his favorite article of clothing is a "Bush Sucks" T-shirt). Call him "Pete". "Hi Pete," I greeted him in my hail-fellow-well-met sort of way. "How's the war going?". Pete said nothing and gave me a dirty look. He was in a terrible mood, what with having to start over and find another whole cause to protest.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 08, 2003 04:21 PMDidn't MA try the voluntary tax thing? Didn't it flop?
Posted by: Dean on April 8, 2003 01:17 PMMA appears to be doing it. In completing my state taxes last weekend I was asked by Turbo tax if I wanted to be taxed at a voluntary higher rate. I declined.
Posted by: Erica on April 8, 2003 06:32 PM