Becuase Everything Else Sucks

The Daily Connect: 05/29/07

By Manila Ryce
Published Tuesday, May 29th, 2007, 4:15 pm
Filed under: The Daily Connect

  • In Venezuela, RCTV has complied with government orders and stopped broadcasting. RCTV played an instrumental role in the 2002 coup that briefly removed Chavez from power. FAIR gives us the truth behind this story with, “Coup Co-Conspirators as Free-Speech Martyrs”. As usual, the US media is framing the matter as one of censorship. One reporter on CNN even falsely claimed that RCTV is being shut down simply because President Chávez is “not a big fan of it.” Our media has completely overlooked the fact that some journalists at RCTV were on the payroll of the US State Department, or that the station falsified reports to demonize Chavez and his ministers. RCTV also failed repeatedly to declare its taxes, and would have been denied its broadcasting license long ago in other democratic nations.
  • Switzerland, the country known for its neutrality, cheese, windmills, army knives, and instant hot chocolate packets, may also be known for its bigotry (already popularized by the Mohammed cartoons). Though Switzerland has no official religion, a nationwide initiative is being proposed to ban minarets, the spires on a mosque from which the call to prayer is made. This ban goes against the Swiss constitution, which guarantees religious freedom. No such architectural restrictions are placed on Christian churches or Jewish temples. Perhaps Swiss Muslims can get around this by having an automated bird sing the call to prayer, like in a cuckoo clock. Yes, I’m a problem solver.
  • Russia has announced the successful launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying multiple warheads, and that the ICBM could break through any defense system. Russia has stated that they will respond heavily if the US goes ahead with plans to set up a missile defense system in Europe. First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said to local press: “As of today, Russia has new [missiles] that are capable of overcoming any existing or future missile defense systems.” If the weapon fails at beating any future system, the Russians have installed a sign over Lenin’s coffin saying, “break glass in case of emergency.”
  • BBC journalist Alan Johnston was kidnapped on March 12th. Israel immediately blamed the kidnapping on the “Army of Islam,” saying it was the same group who abducted Gilad Shalit. The Army of Islam denied those accusations. Both Hamas and Fatah have continuously denounced the kidnapping and asked Johnston be released. Now a tape supposedly from the Army of Islam claims responsibility for the kidnapping, and demands the release of Abu Qatada in exchange for Johnston. There has not been enough evidence to bring Qatada to trial, who’s been held since the 2005 London bombings, but that hasn’t stopped the British government from calling him a “significant international terrorist”. Usually, a group like the Army of Islam would immediately claim responsibility and state their demands for everyone to know. Why is this only happening now? It’s also worth mentioning that the authenticity of the tape could not be verified. Does anyone else find it odd that a pro-Palestinian reporter would be silenced by a Palestinian group?
  • The Japanese are incredibly mean. They’ve mastered the art of torture.

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