By now everyone knows that the Star Wars anti-missile system has failed yet another in a long series of tests. Some are aware that many reputable scientists have tested the underlying principle of the proposed system and have come to the conclusion that the Newtonian laws of physics makes it impossible for the system under development to ever work in the normal space-time continuum.

So what is really going on? Is this simply another Bush give-away to the defense industry, or is there some darker purpose? Personally, I think the fact that the latest test involved a target missile being launched from Kodiak, Alaska provides a clue.

The hatred of the Bushniki for all things liberal, the time of year, the flight path of the target missile, all of these things point to the real target of this system.

Well, now that we’ve decided that we invaded Iraq to promote democracy in the Middle East we are having a bit of a problem. The only political organization allowed under Saddam was the Ba’ath Party, and it is hardly likely that the US could throw its support behind it.

The other parties are ethnic in outlook or dominated by religious leaders. It looks like a truly fair election will result in a government that looks a lot like Iran with Shi’ia Imams in charge of everything. But there is an outside hope.

Since the downfall of Saddam another secular political party has come out of hiding. It has sponsored street demonstrations, understands campaigning, knows about using the media, and is preparing a slate of candidates. If they win, Iraq will have a secular democratic government ready to take its place on the world stage.

There’s a catch. You knew when you starting reading there was going to be a catch.

Okay, what could be worse than a Shi’ia theocracy, you ask? How about: The Communist Party of Iraq. Just what the neocons deserve: the oil fields nationalized and strong ties to China, Cuba, and North Korea.

The US is experiencing a tragic and expensive lesson in the meaning of blow back and unintended consequences. Unfortunately the recent election proves that too few citizens understand the lesson.

I love British names: the Chief of Air Staff for the Royal Air Force is Air Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup.

So, Billy Bob, you think gunning down Bambi with an AK-47 and watching NASCAR makes you macho: read about a twenty-something English woman, Ellen MacArthur, who makes you look like a wuss. Make note of the fact that her family is not wealthy and she earned what she has gained.

After the oil runs out, your next power plant may use turkey manure. I guess my Grandfather was ahead of his time. Oh, turkey manure is dryer that what chickens put out, so there’s more heat when it’s burned.

The explosives that the French police lost during a training exercise at a Paris airport and were probably sent to the US, haven’t turned up. The French say that they are not dangerous because there was no detonator with the explosives. Oh, the French didn’t bother to find out whom the bag belonged to, just in case there was a problem.

This means that our ace baggage inspection system missed the explosives when they landed and came through US customs. But when the TSA inspectors lost their test bomb during a training exercise at Newark airport, they could say they didn’t use real explosives, although they avoided saying anything about the timer and detonator.

I guess it’s okay, after all how many Americans can read French? The owner of the bag would never figure out what plastic explosif means, right. It’s not like we have construction sites with detonators all over that work with plastic and have large signs warning people what they are and why they shouldn’t touch them, right?