A gentleman's apology
Hall of Fame apologizes for snubbing Robbins
Sunday, April 20, 2003 at 07:00 JST
LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame president apologized Saturday after he was caught in a media firestorm for publicly snubbing stars Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon over their opposition to the war in Iraq.
Dale Petroskey issued a letter in which he admitted making a public relations blunder when he summarily cancelled a screening of the stars' baseball film "Bull Durham" at the prestigious Hall of Fame later this month.
"There was a chance of politics being injected into The Hall during these sensitive times, and I made a decision to not take that chance," he said in the letter posted on the Hall's web site.
"But I inadvertently did exactly what I was trying to avoid. With the advantage of hindsight, it is clear I should have handled the matter differently," he said.
Petroskey however did not directly apologize to Hollywood pair Robbins and Sarandon, who reacted furiously to the Hall of Fame's very public slap in the face, delivered in a letter which was sent to the media.
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#120
Friday, April 18
A future Secretary of State? Fact, fiction or fantasy?
Although he doesn't discount it totally, Fareed Zakaria, is being touted by two ladies on the net as a future Secretary of State and the first Muslim to hold the job. Who is this Omar Sharif lookalike who speaks like Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady, to quote the impressible Tina Brown (she put the cleavage back in Cosmo) and Marion Maneker writing in NewYorkMetro.com. This is what Newsweek - his principal employer - has to say about him:
Fareed Zakaria was named editor of Newsweek International in October 2000. The magazine reaches an audience of 3.5 million worldwide. He also writes a regular column for Newsweek, which also appears in Newsweek International and often The Washington Post. He is a regular member of the roundtable of ABC News’ "This Week with George Stephanapoulos" as well as an analyst for ABC News.
Zakaria came to the magazine from Foreign Affairs, the widely circulated journal of international politics and economics, where he was managing editor. Prior to joining Foreign Affairs, Zakaria ran a major research project on American foreign policy at Harvard University, where he taught international relations and political philosophy. He has written for such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New Republic, and the webzine Slate. He is the author of "From Wealth to Power: The Unusual Origins of America’s World Role" (Princeton University Press), which has been translated into several languages, and co-editor of "The American Encounter: The United States and the Making of the Modern World" (Basic Books). His new book, The Future of Freedom, will be published in the spring of 2003 by W.W. Norton.
Zakaria has shared two Overseas Press Club Awards with Newsweek reporting teams and has been nominated for two National Magazine Awards. He won the Deadline Club award for his columns and several honors for his October 2001 Newsweek cover story, "Why They Hate Us." He has received the South Asian Journalists’ Association’s highest honor, the Leadership Award. In 1999, he was named "one of the 21 most important people of the 21st Century" by Esquire Magazine. He has appeared on most major television news programs and has addressed audiences ranging from the World Economic Forum at Davos, to the State Department, to universities in America and abroad.
He received a B.A. from Yale and a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard. He lives in New York City with his wife, son and daughter.
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#119
Although he doesn't discount it totally, Fareed Zakaria, is being touted by two ladies on the net as a future Secretary of State and the first Muslim to hold the job. Who is this Omar Sharif lookalike who speaks like Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady, to quote the impressible Tina Brown (she put the cleavage back in Cosmo) and Marion Maneker writing in NewYorkMetro.com. This is what Newsweek - his principal employer - has to say about him:
Fareed Zakaria was named editor of Newsweek International in October 2000. The magazine reaches an audience of 3.5 million worldwide. He also writes a regular column for Newsweek, which also appears in Newsweek International and often The Washington Post. He is a regular member of the roundtable of ABC News’ "This Week with George Stephanapoulos" as well as an analyst for ABC News.
Zakaria came to the magazine from Foreign Affairs, the widely circulated journal of international politics and economics, where he was managing editor. Prior to joining Foreign Affairs, Zakaria ran a major research project on American foreign policy at Harvard University, where he taught international relations and political philosophy. He has written for such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New Republic, and the webzine Slate. He is the author of "From Wealth to Power: The Unusual Origins of America’s World Role" (Princeton University Press), which has been translated into several languages, and co-editor of "The American Encounter: The United States and the Making of the Modern World" (Basic Books). His new book, The Future of Freedom, will be published in the spring of 2003 by W.W. Norton.
Zakaria has shared two Overseas Press Club Awards with Newsweek reporting teams and has been nominated for two National Magazine Awards. He won the Deadline Club award for his columns and several honors for his October 2001 Newsweek cover story, "Why They Hate Us." He has received the South Asian Journalists’ Association’s highest honor, the Leadership Award. In 1999, he was named "one of the 21 most important people of the 21st Century" by Esquire Magazine. He has appeared on most major television news programs and has addressed audiences ranging from the World Economic Forum at Davos, to the State Department, to universities in America and abroad.
He received a B.A. from Yale and a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard. He lives in New York City with his wife, son and daughter.
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#119
Wednesday, April 16
Finding the WMD
"There is a famous Soviet joke about the impossibility of being right: Workers who arrived early at the workplace were accused of espionage, those who arrived late were guilty of sabotage, and those who got there on time were despised for petty bourgeois conformism.
" As the war in Iraq winds down, something similar is happening in the debate over weapons of mass destruction. An early discovery by coalition forces would have proven that operational intelligence was not provided to international inspectors, late findings would show that evidence had been planted by the CIA, while no discovery of proscribed weapons would ruin the main justification of the war." (Therese Delpech, French commissioner of the U.N. Disarmament commission on Iraq, arguing in an Op-Ed piece that the search must go on for WMD. Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2003, pg. A18.)
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#118
"There is a famous Soviet joke about the impossibility of being right: Workers who arrived early at the workplace were accused of espionage, those who arrived late were guilty of sabotage, and those who got there on time were despised for petty bourgeois conformism.
" As the war in Iraq winds down, something similar is happening in the debate over weapons of mass destruction. An early discovery by coalition forces would have proven that operational intelligence was not provided to international inspectors, late findings would show that evidence had been planted by the CIA, while no discovery of proscribed weapons would ruin the main justification of the war." (Therese Delpech, French commissioner of the U.N. Disarmament commission on Iraq, arguing in an Op-Ed piece that the search must go on for WMD. Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2003, pg. A18.)
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#118
Congratulations to CIA!
ABCNEWS has learned that the CIA assisted in the rescue of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch in Nasiriyah last week by covertly videotaping the former POW as she lay in an Iraqi hospital bed days before her dramatic rescue.
U.S. intelligence sources told ABCNEWS that the CIA, acting on a tip, gave a concealable camera to a paid informant who videotaped the inside of a hospital where Lynch was being held.
The following day, a U.S. special forces team went in knowing exactly where to go and rescued Lynch, said U.S. intelligence sources.
The former POW is recovering from her injuries at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
NOTE: JUNE 7, 2003 -This story appears to be suspect in many regards as new information is coming to light. It may all very well be a piece of propoganda put out by the Pentagon. In any event, it should be treated accordingly.
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#117
ABCNEWS has learned that the CIA assisted in the rescue of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch in Nasiriyah last week by covertly videotaping the former POW as she lay in an Iraqi hospital bed days before her dramatic rescue.
U.S. intelligence sources told ABCNEWS that the CIA, acting on a tip, gave a concealable camera to a paid informant who videotaped the inside of a hospital where Lynch was being held.
The following day, a U.S. special forces team went in knowing exactly where to go and rescued Lynch, said U.S. intelligence sources.
The former POW is recovering from her injuries at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
NOTE: JUNE 7, 2003 -This story appears to be suspect in many regards as new information is coming to light. It may all very well be a piece of propoganda put out by the Pentagon. In any event, it should be treated accordingly.
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#117
Tuesday, April 15
Al Sharpton
Several years ago when South Carolina put James Brown behind bars, Jesse Jackson was allowed to visit him in prison. Al Sharpton of New York tried to crash the party but Jesse didn't want him around and it fell to me (as Public Affairs Director) to tell Mr. Sharpton that he could not come in. Apparently all this was before Mr. Sharpton announced, "All my skinfolk ain't my kinfolk."
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#116
Several years ago when South Carolina put James Brown behind bars, Jesse Jackson was allowed to visit him in prison. Al Sharpton of New York tried to crash the party but Jesse didn't want him around and it fell to me (as Public Affairs Director) to tell Mr. Sharpton that he could not come in. Apparently all this was before Mr. Sharpton announced, "All my skinfolk ain't my kinfolk."
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#116
Sunday, April 13
The Pianist
Friday night (April 11, 2003) we saw The Pianist. Thought it a very good film and highly worth seeing. It is unfortunate that the director Roman Polanski couldn't keep his dick out of a 13 year old girl or he could be in this country enjoying the fruits of his work.
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#115
Friday night (April 11, 2003) we saw The Pianist. Thought it a very good film and highly worth seeing. It is unfortunate that the director Roman Polanski couldn't keep his dick out of a 13 year old girl or he could be in this country enjoying the fruits of his work.
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#115
Thursday, April 10
Foreign Affairs - Some views
China:
The Chinese government's penchant for secrecy and outright stonewalling on the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) will cause repercussions in the form of foreign investor hesitancy and business and personal travel to China. The recent death of an American who taught English there may be the consequences of a country obsessed with not losing face. (As one who formerly taught English in China, I find the Chinese conduct so typical and foolish, but also so unnecessary.) Wal-Mart has banned employee travel to China and other Asian cities. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning against travel to China.
South Korea:
The U.S. plans to move its military headquarters and some 6,000 troops out of Seoul and further South away from the border with North Korea. This comes at a time when South Korea is worried about (1) "military adventurism" on the part of North Korea and (2) suspicions that the U.S. may move next against North Korea (part of the axis of evil) having dispatched Iraq. South Koreans around Seoul, many of whom demonstrate periodically about something or other American servicemen do or don't do, but who also profit from the presence of these troops may also be thinking of their pocketbooks. The U.S. would like to get its troops out of range of North Korean artillery.
Cuba:
It is difficult not to believe that Cuba moved against almost 80 dissidents while the world was focused so intently on the war in Iraq. Hammering his opponents, Fidel Castro has shown again his own feelings of insecurity. Courts in Cuba sentenced people to jail for 20 years or more for writing, operating independent libraries and associating with foreign (principally American) officials. The U.S. Congress, regardless of complaints from farm states, tourists, Mafia gamblers, and others hoping to score by dealing with Cuba, should shut off all aid and travel to that country unless Castro exercises "executive clemency" and frees political prisoners. Cuba has been a pain in the ass for over 40 years. President Kennedy's promise not to invade Cuba in return for the removal of Soviet Missiles was a good deal at the time, but current American leaders have other cards to play. The relaxing of tensions and turning a deaf ear to trade and travel there have been thrown with contempt in our face.
Responding comments and views solicited.
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#114
China:
The Chinese government's penchant for secrecy and outright stonewalling on the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) will cause repercussions in the form of foreign investor hesitancy and business and personal travel to China. The recent death of an American who taught English there may be the consequences of a country obsessed with not losing face. (As one who formerly taught English in China, I find the Chinese conduct so typical and foolish, but also so unnecessary.) Wal-Mart has banned employee travel to China and other Asian cities. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning against travel to China.
South Korea:
The U.S. plans to move its military headquarters and some 6,000 troops out of Seoul and further South away from the border with North Korea. This comes at a time when South Korea is worried about (1) "military adventurism" on the part of North Korea and (2) suspicions that the U.S. may move next against North Korea (part of the axis of evil) having dispatched Iraq. South Koreans around Seoul, many of whom demonstrate periodically about something or other American servicemen do or don't do, but who also profit from the presence of these troops may also be thinking of their pocketbooks. The U.S. would like to get its troops out of range of North Korean artillery.
Cuba:
It is difficult not to believe that Cuba moved against almost 80 dissidents while the world was focused so intently on the war in Iraq. Hammering his opponents, Fidel Castro has shown again his own feelings of insecurity. Courts in Cuba sentenced people to jail for 20 years or more for writing, operating independent libraries and associating with foreign (principally American) officials. The U.S. Congress, regardless of complaints from farm states, tourists, Mafia gamblers, and others hoping to score by dealing with Cuba, should shut off all aid and travel to that country unless Castro exercises "executive clemency" and frees political prisoners. Cuba has been a pain in the ass for over 40 years. President Kennedy's promise not to invade Cuba in return for the removal of Soviet Missiles was a good deal at the time, but current American leaders have other cards to play. The relaxing of tensions and turning a deaf ear to trade and travel there have been thrown with contempt in our face.
Responding comments and views solicited.
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#114
Sunday, April 6
Are we being manipulated?
The following was a (unpublished) letter to the editor, The Post & Courier, Charleston, SC, submitted March 27, 2003.
Getting into the mind of people everywhere, soldiers on the battlefield and the families at home awaiting their return, is one of the goals of psychological warfare. Getting into people’s minds goes a long way to winning battles – and the war – without the use of bullets. This is not new age psychology; it has gone on as long as there have been wars. America is proficient at this tactic, but so are other nations. Let’s consider the current events in Iraq.
President Bush says Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including chemical and biological weapons and the means to deliver them. And so for this (and other reasons beyond this scope of this letter) we have gone to war in Iraq. Preceding the war a massive buildup and positioning of men and equipment – primarily American – took place as the world watched. This out-in-the-open action was no half-hearted measure, and it was designed to send a message: Iraq’s armed forces ought to surrender forthwith and spare themselves. The President and his chief officers put out this message loud and clear. This was psychological warfare at its best.
Our leaders talked about the WMD and considered how they might be used on the battlefield. They talked of measures to be taken to meet and overcome chemical and biological weapons. Equipment was issued to the troops, and training in its use was intensive. Medical staff training was updated and intensified to recognize and treat problems which might arise. This was psychological warfare to reassure soldiers and their families.
A week into the battle, however, such weapons have not been used by the forces of Saddam Hussein, and none have yet by found by our forces. In a hospital in central Iraq, U.S. Marines found 3,000 chemical warfare suits and the discovery was instantly communicated to the American leadership. Following standard military procedures, we must conclude, the find was reported downward and all units and individual soldiers ordered to be on the alert and ready. The people at home got the message over the TV, radio and in their newspapers. This find would re-enforce the original message of our president that Iraq had WMD.
But let’s look at the strange place where the find occurred: in a hospital. Saddam Hussein knows Americans would not knowingly bomb, shell or destroy a hospital. The hospital would be taken, the suits discovered, and fear and anxiety introduced everywhere. What better way to get inside the mind of soldiers on the battlefield and anxious families at home? If Iraq didn’t have WMD, why would they have the suits? Will the weapons be used in the battle tomorrow or the next day? Will they be fired on Israel, or on the Iraqi people? Or, is Iraq showing its proficiency at psychological warfare?
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#113
The following was a (unpublished) letter to the editor, The Post & Courier, Charleston, SC, submitted March 27, 2003.
Getting into the mind of people everywhere, soldiers on the battlefield and the families at home awaiting their return, is one of the goals of psychological warfare. Getting into people’s minds goes a long way to winning battles – and the war – without the use of bullets. This is not new age psychology; it has gone on as long as there have been wars. America is proficient at this tactic, but so are other nations. Let’s consider the current events in Iraq.
President Bush says Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including chemical and biological weapons and the means to deliver them. And so for this (and other reasons beyond this scope of this letter) we have gone to war in Iraq. Preceding the war a massive buildup and positioning of men and equipment – primarily American – took place as the world watched. This out-in-the-open action was no half-hearted measure, and it was designed to send a message: Iraq’s armed forces ought to surrender forthwith and spare themselves. The President and his chief officers put out this message loud and clear. This was psychological warfare at its best.
Our leaders talked about the WMD and considered how they might be used on the battlefield. They talked of measures to be taken to meet and overcome chemical and biological weapons. Equipment was issued to the troops, and training in its use was intensive. Medical staff training was updated and intensified to recognize and treat problems which might arise. This was psychological warfare to reassure soldiers and their families.
A week into the battle, however, such weapons have not been used by the forces of Saddam Hussein, and none have yet by found by our forces. In a hospital in central Iraq, U.S. Marines found 3,000 chemical warfare suits and the discovery was instantly communicated to the American leadership. Following standard military procedures, we must conclude, the find was reported downward and all units and individual soldiers ordered to be on the alert and ready. The people at home got the message over the TV, radio and in their newspapers. This find would re-enforce the original message of our president that Iraq had WMD.
But let’s look at the strange place where the find occurred: in a hospital. Saddam Hussein knows Americans would not knowingly bomb, shell or destroy a hospital. The hospital would be taken, the suits discovered, and fear and anxiety introduced everywhere. What better way to get inside the mind of soldiers on the battlefield and anxious families at home? If Iraq didn’t have WMD, why would they have the suits? Will the weapons be used in the battle tomorrow or the next day? Will they be fired on Israel, or on the Iraqi people? Or, is Iraq showing its proficiency at psychological warfare?
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#113
Tuesday, April 1
Dollars on the fly
Around one o’clock this morning one of the several private security trucks leased by South Carolina banks that carry cash to replenish ATM machines around the state was on its way to Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Georgetown when it had a tire blow and the speeding truck rolled three times, the light frame collapsed and the truck ended up on its side. The driver and the technician with the codes to the ATMs were badly bruised and are hospitalized at this time. The authorities will not release the amount of money the truck was carrying. There are, however, 1,347 bank, savings and loan and credit union ATM machines in the three cities (Each pay a proportional share of the costs of servicing their machines.) According to Chamber of Commerce data released last year, each ATM machine holds up to $20,000 when re-filled. Anyway, the point is that the low temperatures in the area at the time were accompanied by high winds and when the truck crashed the money went everywhere. (The money in the truck was stacked and held together only with narrow paper wrappers denoting the denominations and the ATM machine it was intended for.) People have been reported picking up money as far as eighteen miles from the site of the mishap. Continuing high winds are expected and the windologist–trainee on duty at the Charleston weather station said (before being muzzled by her angry supervisors) that the money could be carried on the winds as far south as Beaufort and up to the outer banks in North Carolina. Bank and police officials stress that people must turn the money in (ha, ha), and are subject to federal prosecution under the Bank Robbery statutes enforced by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney if they find it and keep it. A toothpick chewing deputy sheriff, coming off donut break in the area, who spoke on the condition of absolute anonymity, said, “It’s impossible to cover the whole area and the money will never be recovered.” He added, with a chuckle, “Of course, if I find some, I’ll turn it in.”
Just thought you would like to know this. Feel free to pass it on, especially to retired seniors who may have time to cruise about. A good cover story would be, “I was picking up trash along the highway.”
Archie
4/1/2003
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#112
Around one o’clock this morning one of the several private security trucks leased by South Carolina banks that carry cash to replenish ATM machines around the state was on its way to Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Georgetown when it had a tire blow and the speeding truck rolled three times, the light frame collapsed and the truck ended up on its side. The driver and the technician with the codes to the ATMs were badly bruised and are hospitalized at this time. The authorities will not release the amount of money the truck was carrying. There are, however, 1,347 bank, savings and loan and credit union ATM machines in the three cities (Each pay a proportional share of the costs of servicing their machines.) According to Chamber of Commerce data released last year, each ATM machine holds up to $20,000 when re-filled. Anyway, the point is that the low temperatures in the area at the time were accompanied by high winds and when the truck crashed the money went everywhere. (The money in the truck was stacked and held together only with narrow paper wrappers denoting the denominations and the ATM machine it was intended for.) People have been reported picking up money as far as eighteen miles from the site of the mishap. Continuing high winds are expected and the windologist–trainee on duty at the Charleston weather station said (before being muzzled by her angry supervisors) that the money could be carried on the winds as far south as Beaufort and up to the outer banks in North Carolina. Bank and police officials stress that people must turn the money in (ha, ha), and are subject to federal prosecution under the Bank Robbery statutes enforced by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney if they find it and keep it. A toothpick chewing deputy sheriff, coming off donut break in the area, who spoke on the condition of absolute anonymity, said, “It’s impossible to cover the whole area and the money will never be recovered.” He added, with a chuckle, “Of course, if I find some, I’ll turn it in.”
Just thought you would like to know this. Feel free to pass it on, especially to retired seniors who may have time to cruise about. A good cover story would be, “I was picking up trash along the highway.”
Archie
4/1/2003
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#112
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