Friday, February 25, 2005

Rice Pronounced Sexy and Powerful, Not Evil Monster



Editorial comments are in bold and italicized.

Those who were watching would have seen, in the past several years, conditioning by the propaganda networks to make the alien, evil looking Condoleezza Rice acceptable to the eyes. It began several years ago in women's fashion magazines, controlled by the Corporate Media, in the way that emaciated but otherwise physically attractive runway models were wearing their make-up. Check it out and you'll see what I mean. The official style is to have very dark shadows around the eyes, to make them look beady and greedy, and simulate a low brow and angry demeanor, similar to Rice's natural look. In other words, these images are projected as sexy and powerful by the media barons to condition the public to accept the kind of ugly-to-the-bone, hell-bent, greedy, war-mongering, totalitarian, facist, rabid, lying, murdering face that expresses Rice's inner persona so vividly, as something contrary to the public's natural instinctive first impression of horror, as produced by millions of years of fine tuning. So the result is public confusion and ambivalence.

Put a baby in her arms and it would be kicking, screaming bloody murder and terrified, scared shitless, and emotionally damaged for the rest of its life. Ask the powers that control the Washington Post and public opinion, and they say it's sexy and powerful.

The following article really appeared in the Washington Post today, unfortunately without my comments:

Condoleezza Rice's Commanding Clothes
By Robin GivhanWashington Post Staff WriterFriday, February 25, 2005; Page C01
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield on Wednesday dressed all in black. She was wearing a black skirt that hit just above the knee, and it was topped with a black coat that fell to mid-calf. The coat, with its seven gold buttons running down the front and its band collar, called to mind a Marine's dress uniform or the "save humanity" ensemble worn by Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix." (More like the aliens in "Mars Attacks" if you ask me. I reject the "Matrix" comparison because those actors were very flexible and had powerful, muscular curves to their bodies. Rice, if she tried to bend or flex, would snap like a dead twig, which incidentally, her physical shape resembles as well)
As Rice walked out to greet the troops, the coat blew open in a rather swashbuckling way to reveal the top of a pair of knee-high boots. (imagine Darth Vader inspecting the storm troopers on the Death Star) The boots had a high, slender heel that is not particularly practical. But it is a popular silhouette because it tends to elongate and flatter the leg. In short, the boots are sexy.

Rice's black high-heel boots: As a fashion statement, absolutely powerful. (Michael Probst -- AP)
(This was a link to another story in the AP, demonstrating a coordinated media blitz)

Rice boldly eschewed the typical fare chosen by powerful American women on the world stage. She was not wearing a bland suit with a loose-fitting skirt and short boxy jacket with a pair of sensible pumps. She did not cloak her power in photogenic hues, (no photographer or PhotoShop editor could ever make her look anything close to photogenic) a feminine brooch and a non-threatening aesthetic. Rice looked as though she was prepared to talk tough, knock heads and do a freeze-frame "Matrix" jump kick if necessary. (or more likely, pull out a ray gun and start blasting white doves and then everything else in sight. Ack ack ack!!!!!!!) Who wouldn't give her ensemble a double take (the brain saying to the nervous system in the most primordial terms, "DANGER! LIFE THREATENING! KILL IT OR FLEE IMMEDIATELY!!") -- all the while hoping not to rub her the wrong way?
Rice's coat and boots speak of sex and power -- such a volatile combination, and one that in political circles rarely leads to anything but scandal. (nothing new here, just not the kind of scandal they're alluding to. We're talking FINANCIAL SCANDAL, baby - now where did those $9 billion dollars in cash sent to Iraq get off to?) When looking at the image of Rice in Wiesbaden, the mind searches for ways to put it all into context. (Supernatural, defies explanation) It turns to fiction, to caricature. (It's a goddamn evil alien, for Christ's sake!) To shadowy daydreams. Dominatrix! It is as though sex and power can only co-exist in a fantasy. When a woman combines them in the real world, stubborn stereotypes have her power devolving into a form that is purely sexual. (to whom? A frog or snake? Gila monster?)
Rice challenges expectations and assumptions. (She wants the entire globe's resources NOW, or she'll blow you to fucking miserable hell, and she doesn't give a FUCK what anyone thinks. She's had the part of her brain removed that used to contain the conscience, that's why her head looks that way) There is undeniable authority in her long black jacket with its severe details and menacing silhouette. (Darth Vader!) The darkness lends an air of mystery and foreboding. Black is the color of intellectualism, of abstinence, of penitence. (and of Death) If there is any symbolism to be gleaned from Rice's stark garments, it is that she is tough and focused enough for whatever task is at hand. (God help us, if she hasn't killed Him already)
Countless essays and books have been written about the erotic nature of high heels. There is no need to reiterate in detail the reasons why so many women swear by uncomfortable three-inch heels and why so many men are happy that they do. Heels change the way a woman walks, forcing her hips to sway. They alter her posture in myriad enticing ways, all of which are politically incorrect to discuss. (Conditioning, conditioning, conditioning. See, it works!)
But the sexual frisson in Rice's look also comes from the tension of a woman dressed in vaguely masculine attire -- that is, the long, military-inspired (Darth Vader cape) jacket. When the designer Yves Saint Laurent first encouraged women to wear trousers more than 30 years ago, his reasons were not simply because pants are comfortable or practical. He knew that the sight of a woman draped in the accouterments of a man is sexually provocative. A woman was embracing something forbidden.
Rice's appearance at Wiesbaden -- a military base with all of its attendant images of machismo, strength and (fascism) power -- was striking because she walked out draped in a banner of authority, power and toughness. She was not hiding behind matronliness, androgyny or the stereotype of the steel magnolia. (at least she's not trying to hide it, that would be impossible and she and her handlers know it) Rice brought her full self to the world stage -- and that included her (lack of) sexuality. (that needed massive media involvement to correct) It was not overt or inappropriate. If it was distracting, it is only because it is so rare. (Reminds me of the expression, "That face could stop a clock!")

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Massive Iraqi Biometric Collection Disguised as Elections, And Press Bites

Here's what appears to be going on. US needs to get out of responsibility for Iraq disaster because it makes bad press, but also need to maintain it's grip on petroleum assets. It becomes evident that the war is lost and that Iran's Shiites are the likely successors after a long drawn-out battle. US offers Iran a shortcut that lets the US keep control of the oil, and lets the Shiite clerics take remaining non-petroleum assets and control the population by promising everlasting life in heaven to their followers, and assassination to opposition.

This is from CNN, an avid extreme right-wing cheerleader for the war on Iraq. My comments are in italics:

Iraq: Transition of Power (Note: US Not Responsible For Violent Results of its Aggression Anymore)

President: (US Installed Dictator:) Thousands turned away (Thousands, I tell ya)

U.S. military says camp riot started during routine search (They also said Charles Graner, a low level non-officer, was solely responsible for widespread, systematic torture of Iraqi prisoners as directed and encouraged by his superiors)

Wednesday, February 2, 2005 Posted: 9:58 AM EST (1458 GMT)

What does the vote mean for the future of Iraq? (Iran wins?)

CNN's Christiane Amanpour reports on voter enthusiasm. (They loved voting! They believed everything we said and didn't even question collection of finger prints and personal information)

Sporadic violence doesn't deter voters. (Just another day of violence to Iraqis)

RELATED
Iraquis go to the polls (more security in their part of town for propeganda event makes it safe to go outside)
Arraf: Iraqis dreamed of this day (Just like they dreamed of US missiles and bulldozers leveling their houses)
Arab reaction to Iraq elections (Well, we're not going to say anything or we might be next and our hush money will disappear)
World leaders praise voters (Very brave to be outside with the US led armageddom transpiring all around, world leaders also urged to cancel Iraqi debt because it was incurred under the last US supported dictator, not this one. Totally different, you see)
Iraq's mark of freedom (Nation destroyed, no money to help fix anything but oil installations. Janis Joplin - "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose")

SPECIAL REPORT

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- As ballots began arriving in Iraq's capital Tuesday, interim President Ghazi al-Yawar praised the bravery of Iraqi voters, noting that many had to be turned away from voting stations Sunday.
"Tens of thousands (Tens of thousands now) were not able to cast their votes because of the lack of ballots in Basra, Baghdad [and] Najaf," al-Yawar said.
He said ballots also ran out in the northern city of Mosul, but election workers were able to supply the province with more.
Despite the problems, "these elections in general were successful," (in helping the US obtain biometrics) al-Yawar said.
"Any elections which include half of the eligible voters should be considered a successful (distraction) process," he said.
Al-Yawar said he expects the number of foreign troops in Iraq will decrease by the year's end.
In a separate news conference, Iraq's (US selected) interim Defense Minister Hazem Sha'alan warned against an immediate pullout of U.S. forces.
"The departure of the American forces is a big mistake. They cannot now leave Iraq," Sha'alan said. "They will leave Iraq when (our) security is provided, when there are security forces to protect (petroleum installations and rich) citizens.
"We don't want foreign troops in our country, but they should stay until we are able to control (pipelines and) borders (so no one gets out alive to tell about what's happening here) and establish new and modern (mercenary) army and have efficient (torture) intelligence. (to assassinate political opposition)
"At that time we will tell them Iraqi army is now capable and we will ask them to leave."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that U.S. troops would remain in Iraq until the country's forces are capable of carrying out their own security functions. (Full story) (Protection of oil installations while liberation of oil takes place)
In Baquba, election workers Tuesday continued to count and sort (fingerprints, names and addresses) ballots before they are taken to the Iraqi capital for a final, overall (decision) tally.
The election results are not expected until the middle of next week. (Sounds like a sham)
Election officials estimate 300,000 out of 700,000 eligible voters in Baquba -- some 40 percent -- cast their ballots in the predominantly Sunni city, where many Sunni Muslims received a special exemption from a boycott on the election.
The name of the leading Sunni candidate, the governor of Diyala province, (and all other pro Iraq, anti-US/Iran candidates) was left off the ballot. That added to concerns that Arab Sunnis, who make up about 20 percent of the country's population, will be under-represented in the 275-member transitional national assembly. (Timeline) (Those included on the ballot, as corporations are treated legally as individuals, were: Halliburton, SAIC, ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, a yet un-named Iranian joint-venture, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed, Taser, and numerous other arms manufacturers and mercinary recruiting services. Hans Blix and Scott Ridder were intentionally left off the ballot)
The assembly will draft a new constitution (liberty for all natural resources) and pick the country's next (dictator) president and two vice presidents. (who all support US interests) The president will select a prime minister. (Structure) (who is equally extremist)
Shiite Muslims, who make up the majority of the population and were oppressed under Saddam Hussein's regime, held mass celebrations Monday.
Voters also elected members of 18 provincial councils, and Kurds in the semi-autonomous (very ambiguous. Leave it to the Shiites and Turkey to settle later, once the press is gone) Kurdish region chose a Kurdish parliament.
Iraq's election officials will not release any election results until (they're told what to say) the final tally has been assessed and confirmed with local (pro-US) officials, said Hamdia Hussaini of the (US appointed) Independent Election Commission of Iraq.
"It (intelligence collection) is a long and thorough process," Hussaini said.
Riot put down
A deadly riot in one of the compounds at a prison camp in southern Iraq apparently erupted from a routine search for contraband, a U.S. military spokesman said Tuesday. (Full (half-baked) story)
U.S. troops opened fire Monday to put down the riot at Camp Bucca, military officials said. Four inmates died and six were wounded in the (executions) melee, officials said.
Lt. Col. Barry Johnson said the (killing) search was "standard procedure."
"What raised the tensions (torture) is still undetermined," he said, adding that while the camp was at full capacity, it wasn't clear if that had anything to do with the riot.
"There is a full scale (blue ribbon) investigation under way (it already happened. It was called the Taguba report and highlighted an illegal system of kidnapping and torture) by the chain of command and the criminal investigative unit," Johnson said. "We cannot determine how long it will take for the investigation to be complete."(so don't ask me any more questions about it, please. Thank you very much.)
Johnson said "the compound leadership" -- (informers) detainees appointed by military officials with some input from other (informers) detainees -- "seem to have calmed down and are engaged in (interrogation) conversation [with] the investigative teams."
In a statement released Monday, the military said the dead and wounded were the result both of gunfire and "violence by other detainees (sounds like an informer was knocked off) within the camp."
Camp Bucca, south of Basra near the Kuwait border, houses about 5,300 prisoners. More than 2,900 of those were housed in the compounds affected by the rioting, the military said.
Other developments
A bomb exploded Tuesday in the northern Iraqi town of Erbil near the home of a top Kurdish political official, killing two guards who noticed the bomb and went to remove it, a representative from Patriotic Union of Kurdistan said. The blast occurred around 9 a.m. (1 a.m. ET) outside the residence of the PUK's Adnan Mofti. He was injured just over a year ago in nearly simultaneous suicide attacks on PUK and Kurdistan Democratic Party.
A photograph posted on an Islamist Web site appears to be that of an action figure and not a U.S. soldier being held hostage. Liam Cusack, the marketing coordinator for Dragon Models USA, said the figure pictured on the Web site is believed to be "Special Ops Cody," a military action figure the company manufactured in late 2003. (Full story) (check this out! They fooled the pentagon and the press! Interestingly, soldiers have become so dehumanized that they are now indistinguishable from childrens' propaganda toys)