The unimportant news thread

[AnotherSpin]

AOC urges US to apologize for meddling in Latin America.


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/02/aoc-us-apology-latin-america-coup-chile?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I'm waiting for some American politician to suggest that the United States apologise for meddling in France in 1944. Or, apologise to Putin for supplying Ukraine with arms.

[SimonNZ]

I'm waiting for some American politician to suggest that the United States apologise for meddling in France in 1944. Or, apologise to Putin for supplying Ukraine with arms.

There's no equivalence.

[AnotherSpin]

The Taliban have burned musical instruments in Afghanistan, claiming music "causes moral corruption".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66357611

[LKB]

I'm waiting for some American politician to suggest that the United States apologise for meddling in France in 1944. Or, apologise to Putin for supplying Ukraine with arms.

I don't believe the former would ever happen, but the likely GOP Presidential candidate for 2024 would certainly consider the latter. 

[LKB]

The Taliban have burned musical instruments in Afghanistan, claiming music "causes moral corruption".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66357611

Nothing unpredictable there. They'll be back to executing people in stadiums, if they're not already.

[LKB]

Well...the gist of the article seems to be more "AOC calls for documents around US involvement in coups etc to be declassified for greater historical understanding and honesty - particularly wrt current migrant crises etc being a direct and ongoing consequence of those catastrophic destabilizations."

Its not "Saying sorry makes everything okay again".

Brilliant thinking... reveal tools, tactics and disciplines employed in the past, so that they'll be unavailable to the United States if they're needed in the future.

[SimonNZ]

Brilliant thinking... reveal tools, tactics and disciplines employed in the past, so that they'll be unavailable to the United States if they're needed in the future.

Needed in the future to subvert the will of the people and install puppet despots?

[LKB]

Needed in the future to subvert the will of the people and install puppet despots?

You are referring to intent.

I am speaking of the various personnel, tools and resources which are currently available to be used for either beneficial or nefarious purposes, just as a specific cellphone might be used by one owner to summon an ambulance for a victim, or by another owner to summon a weapon to be used against the same target.

The United States faces a variety of threats on a daily basis, and needs a number of classes of covert tools and resources to meet these threats. Defending against foreign cyberattacks, for example, requires specialized expertise, resources and defended networks in order to minimize the varies threats. Some of these capabilities could conceivably be used offensively against an innocent government, or indeed a domestic population, but shutting down such such capabilities because of what might happen would be a surpassingly dangerous course of action.

Put another way, rather simplistically: If a hammer is used to assassinate the leader of a third-world country, we don't then attempt to abolish hammers. 

[Karl Henning]

This Alaskan glacier holds back billions of gallons of water. Until it doesn't.
This summer's flood on the Mendenhall Glacier destroyed houses and displaced residents in Juneau. It won't be the last.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The Gen Zers leading a new pro-labor union push.


https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230831-the-gen-zers-leading-a-new-pro-union-push

[Karl Henning]

Seen elsewhere: "Can we all agree that Burning Man is an ecological nightmare attended by complete effing idiots?

Not only did 80,000 attendees drive their gas-guzzling RVs across the country—generating a shit-ton of carbon—they also left tons of trash and debris behind...

And now these lazy assholes are ruining small business car washes with their shitty, clay-covered vehicles."

There certainly was not much of the "thinking things through" thing. Let alone Consideration.

[Karl Henning]

Trump's Request to Delay $250 Million NY AG Trial Denied as Frivolous

Judge Arthur Engoron quickly rejected Trump's delay attempt in a one sentence slam.

[T. D.]

Seen elsewhere: "Can we all agree that Burning Man is an ecological nightmare attended by complete effing idiots?

Not only did 80,000 attendees drive their gas-guzzling RVs across the country—generating a shit-ton of carbon—they also left tons of trash and debris behind...

And now these lazy assholes are ruining small business car washes with their shitty, clay-covered vehicles."

There certainly was not much of the "thinking things through" thing. Let alone Consideration.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-09-06/burning-man-festival-2023-is-a-climate-crisis-parable

[T. D.]

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66720789

he Rolling Stones have unveiled their first album of original material since 2005, and the first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts.

Hackney Diamonds will feature 12 tracks and be released on 20 October, preceded by lead single Angry.

[T. D.]

Haven't heard from this sector in a while.  Makes for fun reading.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66741976

Long before news reports exposed the serial lies of embattled US congressman George Santos, research by his own campaign raised several red flags about him.

It questioned the New York Republican's claims about his personal life, CV and campaign finance discrepancies.

Portions of the secret research were published on Wednesday for the first time by the BBC's US partner CBS News.

[Karl Henning]

Haven't heard from this sector in a while.  Makes for fun reading.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66741976

Long before news reports exposed the serial lies of embattled US congressman George Santos, research by his own campaign raised several red flags about him.

It questioned the New York Republican's claims about his personal life, CV and campaign finance discrepancies.

Portions of the secret research were published on Wednesday for the first time by the BBC's US partner CBS News.

I love the "I lied about it before and got away with it, so that makes lying about it fine," wheeze.

[LKB]

I love the "I lied about it before and got away with it, so that makes lying about it fine," wheeze.

Rationalization 101, required for politicians ( and Russian diplomats ) around the world.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

This Alaskan glacier holds back billions of gallons of water. Until it doesn't.
This summer's flood on the Mendenhall Glacier destroyed houses and displaced residents in Juneau. It won't be the last.

That was chilling to read/watch.   

PD

[Todd]

From Oxfam: G20 countries failing by big margins to cut greenhouse gas emissions to below 'catastrophic' levels

In an unrelated story: Italy Signs $8 Billion Gas Deal With Libya As It Seeks To Cut Russian Dependence

[Todd]

From Human Rights Watch: "They Fired on Us Like Rain" Saudi Arabian Mass Killings of Ethiopian Migrants at the Yemen-Saudi Border

I like oil.