Scary account of a pair of French journalists kidnapped in Iraq. And they learned a bit about America’s chances in the war:

“One of our jailers told us they have four enemies,” he said. “American soldiers and other coalition members, collaborators, which meant businessmen — Italian, American or even French — who are working there, the Iraqi police and spies.” Any new Iraqi government, he said, will be viewed as an enemy, just as the Americans — and even secular Arab leaders — are viewed. The group’s main goals are far from modest. They want to defeat America in Iraq, drive a wedge between Europe and America and “overthrow the Arab leaders in Egypt and Saudi Arabia and return to the caliphate (Islamic rule) from Andalusia (Spain) to China.”

Read the rest here.

We’re gonna be talkin’ real money.

Bush to seek 80 billion more for military

Try not to think of that when you pay your bills, ok? Better yet, do.

New piece posted on Ink 19, “Things I Noticed In 2004″. Read at your own risk.

Also, upcoming to this site only, a newly unearthed early Mann fiction work…

Stan Goff writes it plain here. This guy has been there, and knows his stuff.

Listening today to my main #1 man, the Upsetter, Lee Perry

Great overview of his early singles. Although being at work keeps me from truly experiencing it. (Check out the cover…). All apologies to KM, but this guy rules.

That this loathsome piece of scum shouldn’t be AG, he most likely perjured himself during his confirmation hearings.

Read this Newsweek article on Albert “Torture is ok, really..” Gonzales stint as Bush’s lawyer, and a certain Texas governor avoiding jury duty for fear of having to disclose a DUI conviction.

Note on 1.25: Now he’s getting sued for it. Yeah.

This run up to elections in Iraq, that is.

Ha.

If you’ve never read the blog Baghdad Burning, you owe it to yourself to check it out. It paints an image of Iraq that is squarely at odds with what our SCLM would have you believe. For example, from todays entry:

“It’s amazing how as things get worse, you begin to require less and less. We have a saying for that in Iraq, “Ili yishoof il mawt, yirdha bil iskhooneh.” Which means, “If you see death, you settle for a fever.” We’ve given up on democracy, security and even electricity. Just bring back the water. “

Nice.

Howard Zinn, American historian, makes a compelling argument for bringing our troops home here.

Of course, he made the same points during Vietnam, and it made no difference. The “War on Terra” will continue for as long, and with as much legitmacy and success, as the War on Drugs.

That is to say, none.

Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” is a must see.

You heard it here first. Well, probably not, but see it anyway.

For my legion of adoring fans out there…ok, both of you…I have an interview in Classic Drummer magazine with Uncle John Turner, who played with Johnny Winter back in the day. And hey, it actually paid! Ha!

And a big shout out thanks to Gail Worley, who bestrides the rock world like a…wait that doesn’t sound right. Well, she rocks hard, anyhow.