It's Occupation, Not War - by Charley Reese

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ended some years ago. In Iraq, the war ended with the fall of Saddam Hussein's government; in Afghanistan, with the fall of the Taliban government. What's been happening since is occupation and resistance to occupation.

It's always helpful to call things by the right name. One of the ways using the wrong word can trip us is illustrated by John McCain's campaign theme. We have to win the war in Iraq, he keeps saying. Ending a war implies either winning or losing. No such baggage is attached to an occupation. You can end an occupation without either winning or losing. You just withdraw your troops.

The fact that what is going on in Iraq is an occupation is proven by the nature of the conflicts. They are between factions of Iraqis. Our guys are caught in the crossfire or killed by Iraqis who oppose our presence. There are no large-scale attacks directed against us.

Those who want to continue the occupation paint a horrific picture of what they claim will happen if we withdraw ­ a massive civil war, genocide or a regional war. There is no hard evidence to support any of those suppositions. But even if they happen, they need not concern us. Lots of factions in different parts of the world decide to kill each other from time to time, and we don't interfere. As long as there are no Americans to get caught in the crossfire, let the Iraqis have their civil war if that's what they want.

On the other hand, there's never been civil war in Iraq. There were rebellions against the Baathist government and, before that, against the British-sponsored governments, but before our occupation, Sunnis and Shia intermarried and lived side by side. There were always Christians in Iraq and, until the state of Israel was created, Jews. That was, in fact, true throughout the Middle East.

As for al-Qaeda, it has been virtually wiped out in Iraq ­ not by us, but by Sunni tribesmen who turned against it because of its murderous fanaticism. McCain keeps confusing al-Qaeda with Shia and trying to link it to Iran, but al-Qaeda is a fundamentalist Sunni group way outside the mainstream of Islam. Most of its members are Saudis or Egyptians. It was never in Iraq until our war and occupation gave it an excuse to come in. It's never been in Iran. For American politicians to suppose that without us it would thrive and grow in Iraq is just proof of their ignorance.

Our presence in Iraq is the only thing that made al-Qaeda viable. Our occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are the principal selling points in al-Qaeda propaganda. We have no interests, strategic or otherwise, in either country. The last thing al-Qaeda wants is for us to withdraw, which is why it should be the first thing we do.

Whatever someone imagines we gain by staying in Iraq and Afghanistan is far outweighed by what we are losing. We are losing lives in dribs and drabs, and we are losing treasure at an alarming rate. We have severe internal problems that our military presence in the Middle East aggravates. Our military is on the verge of being broken. Some Nobel laureates estimate the war will end up costing us $3 trillion. Well, plain and simple, we can't afford it.

We should never go to war unless there are tangible, identifiable benefits for the American people for doing so. Try to think of a benefit we have gained from Iraq or Afghanistan. There are none. We deposed two governments that were not attacking us or threatening to attack us, and we let get away the private terrorist group that had attacked us. It does not matter that they were bad governments. There are lots of bad governments in this world. The only bad government we have an obligation to change is the one in Washington, D.C.

If we don't change direction in this country, we're going to end up impoverished and bankrupt, and you know what? Iraq and Afghanistan will still be the messes they are today.

Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years, reporting on everything from sports to politics. From 1969-71, he worked as a campaign staffer for gubernatorial, senatorial and congressional races in several states. He was an editor, assistant to the publisher, and columnist for the Orlando Sentinel from 1971 to 2001. He now writes a syndicated column three times a week for King Features, which is carried on Antiwar.com. Reese served two years active duty in the U.S. Army as a tank gunner.

Cliff Richard - Please don't tease

EP de edição portuguesa de 1960. Conteúdo:

• Please don't tease
• Thinking of our love
• Nine times out of ten
• Where is my heart

Valtencir e Ana Paula

Estivemos presentes ontem, sábado 12 de Abril, em Itú, na festa de casamento do Valtencir com a Ana Paula. Reiteramos os nossos parabéns ao feliz casal e suas famílias e desejamos-lhes as maiores venturas e felicidades do mundo. Nós, que já temos quase 43 anos de maravilhosa convivência matrimonial, somos o testemunho vivo de que o amor não está fora de moda, o casamento não tem que ser uma prisão, e a constituição de família continua a ser a célula basilar e fundamental da sociedade humana. E mais: o romantismo faz bem à saúde!

Heather e Zeca

The Beat Brothers

Na época eles chamavam-se "The Beat Brothers" e acompanhavam Tony Sheridan em todas as músicas do álbum, excepto na 1ª, cantada por John Lennon. Programa:

1. Ain't she sweet
2. Cry for a shadow
3. Let's dance
4. My Bonnie
5. Take out some insurance on my baby
6. What I'd say
7. Sweet Georgia Brown
8. The Saints
9. Ruby baby
10. Why (can't you love me again)
11. Nobody's child
12. Ya ya

Do fundo do baú

No tempo em que os animais falavam...

Quando passei no exame da 3ª classe, a prenda que a minha avó materna me deu foi o cartão de sócio do Benfica. Ela era uma "doente" pelo clube e achou ser essa a melhor prenda do mundo, "porque o Benfica é o melhor do mundo" — dizia.

E a bem da tradição familiar, permaneci sócio até me retirar para o Brasil. Nunca fui de clubismos e os jogos que de alguma maneira me agradam são os internacionais, Mas enfim, lembro-me dos tempos em que o velho estádio da Luz ainda nem existia, mas o terreno já tinha sido comprado e lá se fizeram diversos piqueniques no olival, com a presença de jogadores do clube, onde se angariavam fundos para a construção do estádio. Águas, Rogério, Moreira, etc, eram nossos companheiros porque nesse tempo o Benfica era uma família e os jogadores eram pessoas normais que confraternizavam com a massa associativa e não profissionais.

Muito mais tarde, na época em que eu andava nas cantorias, tive como amigos o Simões, o Torres e o Eusébio.

O Simões entrou para o C.O.M. comigo mas no final foi "resgatado" enquanto a maioria dos demais faziam as malas para seguir rumo às Áfricas. O Benfica pagou uma boa maquia a um alferes já regressado da guerra para que este embarcasse no lugar do Simões, que assim passou à disponibilidade ileso.

O Torres fez parte do meu grupo na praia da Nazaré durante as férias grandes de 2 ou 3 anos consecutivos.

O Eusébio era simplemente mulherengo e frequentou os mesmos ambientes nocturnos que eu, e assim nos tornámos amigos.


In illo tempore...

The Principle of Mentalism

"THE ALL IS MIND; The Universe is Mental."–The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that "All is Mind." It explains that THE ALL (which is the Substantial Reality underlying all the outward manifestations and appearances which we know under the terms of "The Material Universe"; the "Phenomena of Life"; "Matter"; "Energy"; and, in short, all that is apparent to our material senses) is SPIRIT which in itself is UNKNOWABLE and UNDEFINABLE, but which may be considered and thought of as AN UNIVERSAL, INFINITE, LIVING MIND. It also explains that all the phenomenal world or universe is simply a Mental Creation of THE ALL, subject to the Laws of Created Things, and that the universe, as a whole, and in its parts or units, has its existence in the Mind of THE ALL, in which Mind we "live and move and have our being." This Principle, by establishing the Mental Nature of the Universe, easily explains all of the varied mental and psychic phenomena that occupy such a large portion of the public attention, and which, without such explanation, are non-understandable and defy scientific treatment. An understanding of this great Hermetic Principle of Mentalism enables the individual to readily grasp the laws of the Mental Universe, and to apply the same to his well-being and advancement. The Hermetic Student is enabled to apply intelligently the great Mental Laws, instead of using them in a haphazard manner. With the Master-Key in his possession, the student may unlock the many doors of the mental and psychic temple of knowledge, and enter the same freely and intelligently. This Principle explains the true nature of "Energy," "Power," and "Matter," and why and how all these are subordinate to the Mastery of Mind. One of the old Hermetic Masters wrote, long ages ago: "He who grasps the truth of the Mental Nature of the Universe is well advanced on The Path to Mastery." And these words are as true today as at the time they were first written. Without this Master-Key, Mastery is impossible, and the student knocks in vain at the many doors of The Temple.

The Lord Buddha has said ...

... that we must not believe in a thing said merely because it is said; nor traditions because they have been handed down from antiquity; nor rumors, as such; nor writings by sages, because sages wrote them: nor fancies that we may suspect to have been inspired in us by a Deva (that is, in presumed spiritual inspiration); nor from inferences drawn from some haphazard assumption we may have made; nor because of what seems an analogical necessity; nor on the mere authority of our teachers or masters. But we are to believe when the writing, doctrine, or saying is corroborated by our own reason and consciousness. "For this," says he in concluding, "I taught you not to believe merely because you have heard, but when you believed of your consciousness, then to act accordingly and abundantly."

(Secret Doctrine, Vol. III, page 401.)

Tommy Steele - Young love

Edição original inglesa de 1957. Conteúdo descrito na capa.

Winchester Cathedral

Edição original inglesa de 1966. Lado B: Wait for me baby.

Johnny Hallyday - Let's twist again

Edição francesa original de 1961. Conteúdo:

• Viens danser le twist
• Let's twist again
• Avec une poignée de terre (A hundred pounds of clay)
• Toi qui regrettes
  

Ricky Nelson - True Love

Edição Imperial original norte-americana (1957).

Cliff Richard - Fall in Love with you

Edição portuguesa de 1963. Capa encamisada em plástico. Títulos originais do conteúdo:

• Fall in love with you
• Willie and the hand jive
• I love you
• D in love

98.6 - Keith

Edição portuguesa de 1966. As duas músicas principais, 98.6 e Tell it to my face, são excelentes.

Mind over matter

Acabamos de receber dos States um livro com um marcador dentro, que ostenta uma citação bem engraçada de Mark Twain:

AGE is

mind over matter.

If you don't mind,

it doesn't matter.

Assino em baixo!

Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison

No lado B tem "Yo te amo Maria"

Edição inglesa de 1964 - original.

Colecção de cromos Bandeiras do Universo

Publicado em 1957.

Guiné 1966: Um amor e uma tabanca

Eu com 22 anos e a Heather com 18 acabados de fazer e sem falar uma palavra de português, enfrentámos durante cerca de 2 anos um clima implacável (quente e húmido), uma guerra estúpida e tremendamente sangrenta, doenças tropicais medonhas e uma disciplina militar intolerável, ministrada por oficiais e sargentos corruptos, incompetentes e desonestos (dos que, mais tarde vieram a fazer o 25 de Abril). Eu fui um simples alferes miliciano, um civil fardado contra a sua vontade e violentado nas suas convicções.

Sobrevivemos inteiros e saímos reforçados no nosso relacionamento. Mas, infelizmente, perdemos a inocência. Ninguém pode atravessar o inferno sem se queimar.

Colecção de Cromos História Natural – 1º e 2º Álbuns

Editados em 1958.

Colecção de Cromos Raças Humanas – 1ª e 2ª Séries

Ano da 1ª edição: 1956 (Março).

Origem- Espanha (Catalunha), editorial Bruguera, 1955.

Cromos- 128 guaches de E. Vicente Rodriguez.

Notas: Os 6 primeiros cromos da edição portuguesa são diferentes dos da espanhola, que ilustram tipos portugueses. Houve pelo menos três edições diferentes dos cromos e duas dos albuns das quais a última, em meados dos anos 60, estava marcada "5ª Edição" e tinha uma contracapa (publicidade "Milo") diferente das anteriores (publicidade a cromos).

Os meus álbuns são ambos primeiras edições e estão completos.