Rob from SayAnything interviews Bayan Rahman:

Rob: What is your opinion of the invasion of Iraq? Do you think it was justified?

Bayan: Yes, absolutely it was justified. I think you have to remember what life was like under Saddam Hussein. He was a brutal dictator. He controlled Iraq through cruelty and violence. He had children spying on their parents, reporting if their parents ever said anything negative about the government, reporting on their neighbors. He had a campaign of death against the Kurdish people. About 200,000 people disappeared in that campaign and now weÂ’re finding the mass graves so we know where those people ended up. He used chemical weapons against people of Kurdistan. In one attack 5,000 Kurds were killed in the town of ---- so this was Iraq under Saddam Hussein so of course it was a liberation. It is a liberation and thatÂ’s actually why IÂ’m here in the United States. IÂ’m here to thank the people of America for liberating Iraq and for giving us our first real opportunity to have democracy in our country.

I'm not sure if "merely" removing a vicious thug from power, and incidentally giving the Kurds their own semi-autonomous homeland, is enough to justify the cost in lives of the Iraqi invasion.

It certainly weighs in the balance, though.

PS: I still quit. What's with Michael thanking me?

Posted by: Ace at 08:10 AM | Comments (14)
Post contains 244 words, total size 2 kb.

. . . for the opportunity to play with your blog. I still haven't found your stash of lesbian porn that must be here somewhere, but still, it was fun. Don't forget to change your password tomorrow.

Thanks also to my fellow guest posters, who made this a memorable weekend.

Now, by "guest posters" I am of course referring to those who were invited to post. Because, you are not really a "guest" if you crash the party.

*Michael gives the stink-eye to Dave @ GR, Wuzzadem and Slublog*

Well, OK, thanks to them also. I guess we're trying to be all "civil" and shit now thanks to Noted Blog Personality Jack Michaels.

Innocent Bystanders is accepting nominations for the Lamest Guest Post that exemplifies the highest standards of blogospheric suckitude here.

I'll see you down in the threads.

P.S. Ace, we beat your average Sunday traffic numbers too. Hah!

Posted by: Ace at 09:00 PM | Comments (39)
Post contains 166 words, total size 1 kb.

Take a look at the wire photos coming out of Qana, Lebanon. EU Referendum has a few and you ain't gonna like what they've found.

via Little Green Footballs.

Posted by: Ace at 07:09 PM | Comments (114)
Post contains 41 words, total size 1 kb.

You morons. For the love of the Deity whomever it/he/she might be.

Many of you love reading my quotations, and it is to your education and betterment as human beings and Americans that you do. I thought I'd take advantage of the moment and share some of my personal best.

On government.

The best form of government that has ever been devised for protecting the rights of the people has been found to be the republican form. While not perfect, it nevertheless gives a voice to the people and allows them to correct the course of government when they find it completely sucking ass.

The only orthodox object of the institution of government is to secure the greatest degree of happiness possible to the general mass of those associated under it. The grumpy asses will just have to deal.

The freedom and happiness of man... [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government. Ride, Sally ride.

On justice.

Law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual. Never draw to an inside straight... that's just crazy.

An equal application of law to every condition of man is fundamental. An equal application of Gold Bond powder to a rashy rash will cure a man's rash behavior and that right quick.

On war.

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it. But the temper and folly of our enemies may not leave this in our choice. If that comes to be, f*&@ them over and be quick about it.

'Retribution for the past, and piling on for the future,' is our motto.

War. Huh!, good God y'all, what is it good for? Absolutely nuthin, say it again!

I've enjoyed sharing these thoughts with you, and wish you all peace and prosperity, my fellow Americans.

UPDATE: Yes, this is a good one. Commenter "The Drizzle" apparently has the latest revision of Stuff I Said.

I really did say this too.

"You know, my worst fear is not that the Republic we have birthed will fail: My worst fear is that douchebags will constantly say that I said stupid shit I never fucking said".

From: "A letter to Ben Franklin by Thomas Jefferson"

Posted by The Drizzle at July 30, 2006 10:58 PM

Posted by: Ace at 06:18 PM | Comments (15)
Post contains 399 words, total size 2 kb.

Maybe not.

Updated: 6:07 p.m. ET July 30, 2006
KINSHASA, Congo - Millions of Congolese voted enthusiastically in their first free elections in over 40 years on Sunday, hoping to end years of war, corruption and chaos that have brought the mineral-rich African giant to its knees.

U.N. officials and foreign observers said turnout was high and voting was mostly orderly and peaceful at the landmark polls, aimed at turning the page on a 1998-2003 war that sucked in six neighboring states and killed 4 million people.

Seems like a miracle that people are peacefully voting in such a wretched part of the world. But here they are, headed for the ballot box:

Reuters - Congo votes in first free election in forty years

Posted by: Ace at 06:02 PM | Comments (9)
Post contains 134 words, total size 1 kb.

Diet Coke and Mentos

Posted by: Ace at 05:29 PM | Comments (9)
Post contains 20 words, total size 1 kb.

Mentos and Diet Coke:

Posted by: Ace at 05:04 PM | Comments (10)
Post contains 18 words, total size 1 kb.

Haiku Flame War!

ace's sock puppet
has to do double duty
pass the lotion, please

Posted by: Ace at 03:10 PM | Comments (91)
Post contains 27 words, total size 1 kb.

PREEMPTIVE UPDATE: For background on this post, click here.

First of all, though I didn't appreciate Ace's post about my recent indiscretions, I forgive him because he and I have been friends for many years. Sometimes close pals say things you aren't really interested in hearing. Even families fight, but at the end of the day they're still family.

Second of all, I'm here today to tell you all to get off his tits. more...

Posted by: LauraW. at 12:02 PM | Comments (59)
Post contains 213 words, total size 2 kb.

and I think I need a Lear jet.

The Eclipse 500. This little jet received its FAA certification recently. You can have one for a mere 1.5 million bucks. There is a waiting list.

I know. Most of you don't think about the cost of a private jet. They cost more. A lot more.

This little jet is going to turn the private air transportation industry on its head for two reasons... one, it's cheap. two, it can handle shorter runways. i.e. it's easier to go places that aren't congested.

I'm ready. Hey, it ain't a flyin car, but it's a step in the right direction.

Posted by: Ace at 10:05 AM | Comments (29)
Post contains 124 words, total size 1 kb.