Thatcher & George II

Kevin Carey

Indeed, the transatlantic history of the 20th Century might most conveniently be described as the successful campaign by the United States State Department to relegate Britain to a medium-sized power with no empire and no autonomy of action.

Inter War naval treaties left the Pacific in American control and rendered Singapore undefendable by the British. The terms on which Churchill stood alone effectively bankrupted the country, made loss of empire inevitable and threw it into the pot with a shattered post-war Europe.

In fact, from 1945 until the Smithsonian Agreement of 1971, the United States was markedly less generous to the old ally than it was to Germany.

If there has been a "Special relationship" between the two countries it has been based on language and culture, on Britain's great potential as a bridge between continental Europe and Washington. But the political aspect is a folie de grandeur. In terms of realpolitik, after American hauteur over the Falklands, the British --- particularly as a major oil producer--- had no business charging into the Gulf.

And now that the American public, post the Gulf and Kosovo, has been persuaded of the effectiveness of the casualty-free war, it is questionable why anyone should want an alliance with the United States except if they are in dire need of a few high level bombing raids.... More

MEMOIRS OF THE INFORMATION AGE:

Prometheus

Douglas McDaniel

Techno-savvy prognostication is standard practice for the highly sought out members of think tanks and leading edge members of the digerati fringe.

As one attains greater tools and more power and believes something other than simply being human is happening to him, as he deigns himself to have a greater awareness and insight into things; it's nonetheless an act of folly. Still, we try.

It's no accident that the spirit of Prometheus, that Greek deity who gave fire and the alphabet to human beings, who then went on to speak and build things, much to the consternation of Zeus, is now recognized among many techno-wizards and members of the digerati to be a technology god who is sometimes referred to as "one who sees far."...More



VOX POPULI:

From Dan O., (No City or Country Provided):

SUBJECT: Brendan Hughes Interview

I well remember reading the messages smuggled out of the Kesh by BIC. As a result, it doesn't take a psychic to appreciate his anger, disappointment or what other adjective one may wish to use. It's quite obvious that one member of the Armani suit brigade is Adams. I always thought most highly of Martin and find it difficult to see him wearing an Armani suit, hell, hard to see Martin wearing any suit atall.

As for the GFA [Good Friday Agreement], I've never believed it to be anything other than a brit scam, the purpose of which was to stop the IRA military effort with no cost to the brits or orangies. I've posted these beliefs on the Irish Politics Board many times. The brit and orange hatred of our people make it impossible for me to believe that these scum will ever accede to the terms of the so called GFA. The Sinn Fein leadership have painted themselves into a corner they'll not easily get out of. I see the PIRA declining into a different branch of the IRA, one more like the IRA of the 70's and 80's and the GFA a forgotten dream. Our enemies have no thought to living in peace with us; what they want is the control of us they've had since, at least, the Planter invasion. In Armagh nothing has changed for the better. There are just as many squaddies as there have ever been; just as many spy towers, as well. I ask you, does this appear to be a government that is preparing for peace in the sectarian six?

Part of the problem, as I see it, is the Sinn Fein people are desperate for peace or crumbs from the scum to ensure their credibility with the working class. How much longer are Irish Catholic people going to put up with being physically abused, terrorized out of their homes when they're not being bombed out. Times are great for the orangies. They're not suffering from IRA or RUC. They've got Blair and that faggot Mandelason kissing their collective arses while acceding to everything they, the orangies, demand. It's disgusting and I, for one, am damned angry with the whole mess. What's worse is that so many Irish Americans are blinded to what's going on and believe that peace will arrive immanently. The fools; I don't expect to see a democratic presence in the sick six in my lifetime, or in anyone else's, for that matter.

Dan O....More


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MY GLASS HOUSE:

..Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Dmitri tells me that the snows have come to Connecticut this week. It is grey here, and cold. But no snows yet, thank Providence. I am waiting for the silence that comes with others immersing themselves in holiday activities, while I have strange dreams populated by Chinese women.

One of the Chinese women in my dreams tells me that she loves my poetry and finds it beautiful. I am embarassed by this, in my dream, because I have all but neglected writing any poetry for the last few years. I try to explain to her that I am an editor and a journalist now. She says that she will forget what she had planned to do today and stay with me if I will write a poem... More

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Freelon's sixth album, "Soulcall" (Concord Records) marks the first time she has been the producer as well as leader. The results are solid, showing once again that Freelon has a spectacular ability and sings with power, grace, and solid emotion. The 13 tracks wander over a huge amount of territory, from jazz to soul to religious music. By demonstrating her versatility, Freelon shows she's brave enough to include two familiar hymns on her program. One, "Amazing Grace," is done twice in different arraignments. The other, "You're Nearer/Nearer My God To Thee," is a quiet stunner. ... BOB POWERS "Six Dans Bang Heads" More

RECOMMENDED DAILY REQUIREMENT: Over the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States, I was lectured by a friend of mine about our having a responsibility to revel in the American Dream of consumption. According to Friend, we owe it to our ancestors, indentured servants, slaves, massacred indigenous people and immigrants, to consume the blessings of their labor and aspirations. It is our duty, quothe he, to

• throw shrimp and steaks on the backyard barbie;
• drive fast, gas-guzzling cars;
• spend more on sports stadiums than the gross domestic products of some small southern hemispheric nations;
• spend mass quantities at Nordstrom's or Walgreen --- depending on our rung of the food chain.

According to Friend, I myself am too much of a bleeding-heart nattering nabob of negavitism. An effete intellectual Do-gooder who spends too much time bemoaning the sins of the world am I, says he.... ROD AMIS REPRINT: "Sleepless in Seattle" More

RDR 12.07.00: Our publisher gets agro about the Presidential election. "Slavery Time"

RDR 12.13.00: REPRINT: Find out why PHIL MARTIN reserved a seat in Hell for Senator Trent Lott when we re-visit a QUEER PLANET entry from July, 1998. "I'll See YOU in Hell"

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RADIOACTIVE: I can feel it coming. I am like your dolphin in deep waters. I moonwalk on my dorsals like Michael Jackson acrosss the surface of the waves. I punctuate the meeting of water and air with my laughter and with songs of love. I bounce between air and water in plunging loops between one and the other. And that's why I can tell you about the juggernauts of death. No playing there, no intercourse of elements. They move as single-mindedly as guided missiles, cumbersome and without remorse. They cut through the deep or knife just below the surface, as relentless as Time, ravenous. Until they take the scent of desperation or blood. Then, mesmerized, they push waves of malignance through the depths before them, intent on the kill. Can you feel it?... RADIO RAHEEM "The Dragon"More

THE SEX COLUMN: CHARLIE THE TUNA, San Francisco, CA: This week, as much as I want to have my column to myself -- like everyone else on this site -- I am again called to mortal verbal combat with another of those "established" writers here who think they need to give me my come-uppance. So be it. Mr. Ed is back talking his a horse-is-a-horse diatribal crap. I hope he came stronger this time than he did in his last pathetic foray.

My understanding is that Mr. Ed specifically requested a blind Steel Cage Death Match with the Tuna this time. He thinks if I don't read his whining first I'll treat him gentler.

I'm starting to think our publisher should rename this column "Beatdown Palace."

ED CANTARELLA, Bloomfield, MI: Unbeknownst to our resident "Legend in His Own Mind," Mr. Charlie the Tuna, the "Sex Column" has the potential to provide MORE than just a regurgitation of smarmy, clichéd takes on

• how men have to struggle to get sex,
  
  
• how women are only out for the money, and
  
  
• that married people are sexless suckers.