Instahoglets 21st Jan 07

So many stories that demand scornful snark - not enough time - perfect for an Instahoglets roundup.

First to Iraq for the extreme sarcasm department. With the news that Kurdish Iraqi soldiers are deserting to avoid the conflict in Baghdad, a conflict they consider someone else's problem, I'm wondering when Bill Kristol will stand up on his hind legs to tell them, as he told U.S. opponents of escalation in Iraq this morning, that "It’s so irresponsible that they can’t be quiet for six or nine months,” adding, “You really wonder, do they want it to work or not? I really wonder that.”

Update to the above - it's OK Bill, Michael van der Galien at the Moderate Voice did it for you:

although some of their concerns might be understandable, those concerns became irrelevant at the moment they became soldiers of the Iraqi army. If they strictly wanted to defend Kurdistan, they should have signed up for some kind of Kurdish army, for a militia, or they should have ‘normal’ jobs. What they should not have done, is signing up for the Iraqi army and then deserting at the moment they actually have to fight.

Although even MV's resident neocon Michael sees that this could be..ummm...problemmatic for Bush's last stand in Iraq.

The Heretik scornfully notes that Bush and the New York Times seem unable to comprehend what's staring them in the face - that Pakistan is in no way an ally in the War On Some Terror.

But the neocons would rather attack Iran, Pakistan having no oil to speak of. The plans are well advanced and call for another blitzkreig, just like Iraq. The intelligence is just as trumped-up too. This time, some Democrats don't want to be in the position of "fool me once, shame on — shame on you, fool me — you can't get fooled again," and so intend to make sure that Dubya doesn't charge of to war without Congressional authority. Reasonable enough, you might think, if you happened to believe the constitution is a good thing - but it just makes them traitors according to the uber-right (the link is for the first set of items at memeorandum on Friday).

If you published an Iran-bashing call for violent regime change that used, as its main source, discredited neocon Amir Taheri (he of the infamous "Iran will make its Jews wear yellow stars" lie) would you expect to be taken for anything except a neocon shill? Apparently the UK's Sunday Torygraph does.

And talking of blatant neocon shills - isn't it strange that Hillary Clinton chose Sarah Baxter, the neocon-mouthpiece-in-residence at Britain's Times newspaper (a Rupert Murdoch publication) to announce to the world that she wants to be America's Margaret Thatcher? Let's recap - Maggie was the most devisive PM in British history, her policies caused widespread poverty and rioting, the rich got much richer while the poor got shafted, she gave the British government's assts away to private corporations, engineered a war with the sole aim of getting re-elected, made sure her party would be out of power for two decades and Rupert Murdoch loved her. That's a big ambition for Hillary - especially considering the position has already been filled. Dubya is America's Maggie Thatcher. I wonder if he keeps a handbag under that desk?

Further evidence of Bush's status as the true American Maggie comes with the official leak of his plans for healthcare in the SOTUS, which seems to involve forcing you to take private health insurance instead of your employer-paid version, or suffer a tax loss. Because you can't negotiate the discounts a bulk-buyer like a big corporation can, and that means more profit for the insurers. And your employer now has a reason to stop paying your plan so they can make more profits too. Only you lose, what are you whining about? You've been "Handbagged". The Mahablog breaks down the idiocy.

Did you know that Bush had declared today "National Sanctity of Human Life Day"? According to the press release from the White House, it "serves as a reminder that we must value human life in all forms, not just those considered healthy, wanted, or convenient. Together, we can work toward a day when the dignity and humanity of every person is respected." Over to Ron at Middle Earth Journal who stabs deep and true with a snarky "this only applies if you happen to be an unborn mass of protoplasm or brain dead. When I think of the 10s or 100s of thousands of lives this evil administration has taken I am simply amazed at the blatant hypocrisy and hubris of the sick adolescent occupying the White House." Nice one, Ron. If Bush had called it "National Pandering To The Base Day" we would've known where we stood. When the social conservative's start being anti-war and anti-death penalty then I will believe they are truly pro-life under all circumstances. Until then, it's self-serving crap.