Mighty quiet on the blog lately
hope everyone is doing well and
please have a safe and happy weekend.
Semper Fi
hope everyone is doing well and
please have a safe and happy weekend.
Semper Fi
20030329
20030326
Saddam got key to Detroit two decades ago after donating thousands to church
Saddam got key to Detroit two decades ago after donating thousands to church
I guess things change,we just have to deal with it the best we can
side note: I've been sarcastic and a fan of satire my whole life,
or did some of you forget?
I guess things change,we just have to deal with it the best we can
side note: I've been sarcastic and a fan of satire my whole life,
or did some of you forget?
20030325
George,
I just moved recently and cannot locate your phone #.
Please send it to me.
Also, my new particulars are
841 E. Van Koevering
Rialto, Ca. 92376
#909-874-4625.....
Semper Fi
PS I do hope you are taking care of yourself and not getting STRESSED OUT!
I just moved recently and cannot locate your phone #.
Please send it to me.
Also, my new particulars are
841 E. Van Koevering
Rialto, Ca. 92376
#909-874-4625.....
Semper Fi
PS I do hope you are taking care of yourself and not getting STRESSED OUT!
20030324
20030323
20030322
20030321
Steven T., you still haven't said anything about the UN Charter, international law, and power politics.
In view of what's going on today, I'm reminded of former Republican Senator and Defense Secretary
William S. Cohen's words in a keynote address at the University of Georgia on 28 April 1997:
“Today, I think everyone . . . would agree that we have the world’s most powerful military. And our
strategy is to keep our forces without any peer. We don’t want to engage in a fair fight, a
contemporary war of attrition. We want to dominate across the full spectrum of conflict so that if
we ever do have to fight, we win on out terms.”
You note that the US President understands "with every fiber of his being" the interest of the US. I
can only tell you that the view across the Atlantic is a very different one. Although the US enjoyed a
heart swell of sympathy after the 11th of September 2001, the US under Bush's "leadership" has all
but squandering that support. As far as I'm informed, disillusionment with the US is even greater in
Asia. The US is making a lot of enemies around the world because of the arrogant, high-handed,
overbearing policies of a US government. Your President has seriously weakened US influence
and damaged US interests across the globe.
Blair and Howard: Who's tugging these puppets' arms? The British and Australians are overwhelmingly
against participation in the US invasion of Iraq, which violates the Charter of the United Nations and
international law.
The US stood up to the massive conventional and nuclear arsenals of the Soviet Union for over 40
years. The Cold War is finally out. The US is the sole remaining super power. US defense spending,
though, is greater than the total defense budgets of the next 15 countries combined—13 of which are
declared allies of the US—and you expect me to believe that Iraq, defeated in war and ravished
through economic sanctions is a threat to US security?
We're coming up to the second anniversary to the downing of a US Navy EP-3 Aries II Reconnaissance
aircraft by a Chinese fighter over the South China Sea. The crew of 24 was held for 11 days and
released only after your President said he was "very sorry" for the loss of a Chinese pilot in the collision.
Furthermore, the disabled $80 million aircraft was exhaustively searched while on the tarmac.
Funny, but we don't hear anything about China out of the US these days. Now excuse me Steve, but if
Bush was really that tough old trooper he pretends to be, he would take on someone his own size.
Besides, nobody likes a bully.
"We don’t want to engage in a fair fight" though.
In view of what's going on today, I'm reminded of former Republican Senator and Defense Secretary
William S. Cohen's words in a keynote address at the University of Georgia on 28 April 1997:
“Today, I think everyone . . . would agree that we have the world’s most powerful military. And our
strategy is to keep our forces without any peer. We don’t want to engage in a fair fight, a
contemporary war of attrition. We want to dominate across the full spectrum of conflict so that if
we ever do have to fight, we win on out terms.”
You note that the US President understands "with every fiber of his being" the interest of the US. I
can only tell you that the view across the Atlantic is a very different one. Although the US enjoyed a
heart swell of sympathy after the 11th of September 2001, the US under Bush's "leadership" has all
but squandering that support. As far as I'm informed, disillusionment with the US is even greater in
Asia. The US is making a lot of enemies around the world because of the arrogant, high-handed,
overbearing policies of a US government. Your President has seriously weakened US influence
and damaged US interests across the globe.
Blair and Howard: Who's tugging these puppets' arms? The British and Australians are overwhelmingly
against participation in the US invasion of Iraq, which violates the Charter of the United Nations and
international law.
The US stood up to the massive conventional and nuclear arsenals of the Soviet Union for over 40
years. The Cold War is finally out. The US is the sole remaining super power. US defense spending,
though, is greater than the total defense budgets of the next 15 countries combined—13 of which are
declared allies of the US—and you expect me to believe that Iraq, defeated in war and ravished
through economic sanctions is a threat to US security?
We're coming up to the second anniversary to the downing of a US Navy EP-3 Aries II Reconnaissance
aircraft by a Chinese fighter over the South China Sea. The crew of 24 was held for 11 days and
released only after your President said he was "very sorry" for the loss of a Chinese pilot in the collision.
Furthermore, the disabled $80 million aircraft was exhaustively searched while on the tarmac.
Funny, but we don't hear anything about China out of the US these days. Now excuse me Steve, but if
Bush was really that tough old trooper he pretends to be, he would take on someone his own size.
Besides, nobody likes a bully.
"We don’t want to engage in a fair fight" though.
Wow! You leave this Blog alone for just a few days and it it amazing to come on and read the commentary,
comments and opinions that everyone shares.
Pete, it is interesting reading a 'different' opinion than the typical one that we see from almost everyone else that
posts on this Blog, but interesting is the best that I'll give your post. When you speak about the UN Charter and
international law, though they have a place in world politics, you must keep in mind that our first responsibility as
Americans is to look out for the United States and our own soveriegn national needs. What has Saddam Hussien
been doing for the last twenty years, or should we get more specific and say the last ten, when he refused to abide
by the UN resolutions that he agreed to and signed. Was that 'trampling underfoot internatinal law' or was that justified
because he was being unduly coerced by 'A large and powerful nation has launched an act of aggression against a sovereign
state.' As George put it, "How many times do you have to get kicked in the gonads before you make the other guy stop?"
The time for inspections and 'free unfettered access for further inspections' has come and gone and there are times when
righteous aggression is needed to stop further acts of immoral aggression by persons such as Saddam. Check out the
Old Testament, since you are using it as reference material, and you will find many instances where God told his people,
that would be the ancestors of present day Israel, to kill'em all when they were fighting against immoral aggressors. I'm not
trying to say that principle applies to present day Iraq, but just trying to make the point that righteous aggression is sometimes a
necessary thing. I use the term righteous aggression not to make the point that the U.S. is always right, but in a rather
general way to differentiate from rogue aggressions by the Saddams of the world.
I believe the relevant time of the UN has come and gone, and the best interest of the U.S. would be served if we removed ourselves
from the charter. (Just as the best interests of the early founders of this great country, were served when they removed themselves
from the control of their mother country.) Will that happen? I hardly think so but fantasy isn't always a bad thing.
Steve B. and family, I pray that God comforts you during your time of grief and brings you together to strengthen and support
one another. We hurt with you and all sympathize with your pain.
Semper Fi and see you in July. Have any of you called and made your reservations yet? Only 125 days and a wake up.
comments and opinions that everyone shares.
Pete, it is interesting reading a 'different' opinion than the typical one that we see from almost everyone else that
posts on this Blog, but interesting is the best that I'll give your post. When you speak about the UN Charter and
international law, though they have a place in world politics, you must keep in mind that our first responsibility as
Americans is to look out for the United States and our own soveriegn national needs. What has Saddam Hussien
been doing for the last twenty years, or should we get more specific and say the last ten, when he refused to abide
by the UN resolutions that he agreed to and signed. Was that 'trampling underfoot internatinal law' or was that justified
because he was being unduly coerced by 'A large and powerful nation has launched an act of aggression against a sovereign
state.' As George put it, "How many times do you have to get kicked in the gonads before you make the other guy stop?"
The time for inspections and 'free unfettered access for further inspections' has come and gone and there are times when
righteous aggression is needed to stop further acts of immoral aggression by persons such as Saddam. Check out the
Old Testament, since you are using it as reference material, and you will find many instances where God told his people,
that would be the ancestors of present day Israel, to kill'em all when they were fighting against immoral aggressors. I'm not
trying to say that principle applies to present day Iraq, but just trying to make the point that righteous aggression is sometimes a
necessary thing. I use the term righteous aggression not to make the point that the U.S. is always right, but in a rather
general way to differentiate from rogue aggressions by the Saddams of the world.
I believe the relevant time of the UN has come and gone, and the best interest of the U.S. would be served if we removed ourselves
from the charter. (Just as the best interests of the early founders of this great country, were served when they removed themselves
from the control of their mother country.) Will that happen? I hardly think so but fantasy isn't always a bad thing.
Steve B. and family, I pray that God comforts you during your time of grief and brings you together to strengthen and support
one another. We hurt with you and all sympathize with your pain.
Semper Fi and see you in July. Have any of you called and made your reservations yet? Only 125 days and a wake up.
Pete, awesome photo! I've been to 8th and I street when my dad was stationed at the Pentagon in '63-65. I have fond
memories of the whole family (8 of us) packing into the station wagon from our house in Arlington on balmy summer
evenings and going to hear The President's Own perform on the steps of the capitol with our neighbors...he was a Navy
Admiral and also had a large catholic family. When we got home us kids would go out back and catch fireflies while
the grown-ups would sit on the porch and dad would bust out the Marine Corps Band albums and crank the hi-fi up and
trade bragging rights with the Admiral! The air was thick with the scent of Cherry blossoms but void of any and all
cares.
The helmets and webgear you wore in that photo were just for display purposes but 9/11/01 has changed forever the task
of defense of our country from all enemies both foreign and domestic. Fortunately for me we had elected a man who
understands what this means with every fibre of his being and who from that day forward has helped change forever what it
means to be an American. We can't possibly expect you or any other expatriot to fully understand. Your actions while
in the Marine Corps may have brought you honor but the harsh criticism of our commander-in-chief and his administration
on this blog from an expatriot do not. We would much rather hear about how the piano restoration is progressing.
Andy, stay safe!
memories of the whole family (8 of us) packing into the station wagon from our house in Arlington on balmy summer
evenings and going to hear The President's Own perform on the steps of the capitol with our neighbors...he was a Navy
Admiral and also had a large catholic family. When we got home us kids would go out back and catch fireflies while
the grown-ups would sit on the porch and dad would bust out the Marine Corps Band albums and crank the hi-fi up and
trade bragging rights with the Admiral! The air was thick with the scent of Cherry blossoms but void of any and all
cares.
The helmets and webgear you wore in that photo were just for display purposes but 9/11/01 has changed forever the task
of defense of our country from all enemies both foreign and domestic. Fortunately for me we had elected a man who
understands what this means with every fibre of his being and who from that day forward has helped change forever what it
means to be an American. We can't possibly expect you or any other expatriot to fully understand. Your actions while
in the Marine Corps may have brought you honor but the harsh criticism of our commander-in-chief and his administration
on this blog from an expatriot do not. We would much rather hear about how the piano restoration is progressing.
Andy, stay safe!
Andy, I haven't changed: I still believe in Justice and the Rule of Law. Since the early 1990s, though,
an arrogance of power has undermined US governments' judgment with regard to foreign policy.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely—even Americans.
Unfortunately, the situation has only gotten worse during the Cheney/Halliburton Presidency, in which
the US has showed undisguised disdain towards a number of international agreements that it, over
the course of time, had solemnly entered upon. As a result, the US has moved the world closer to the
"Law of the Jungle," the term George Bush, Sr., used in connection with Saddam Hussein in 1990/
1991. I don't know what it's called in the US today, but elsewhere in the world it's known as hypocrisy.
I'm proud to have served in the Marine Corps. Although it was clear that I didn't want to make a
career of it—I felt that I could serve my fellow man better outside of the Corps—I always strove to
proficiency and excellence in order to do the Corps—and thereby myself—honor.
Photo: Being decorated by the Commandant at Marine Corps Headquarters, 8th & I Streets,
Washington, D.C., Spring 1982.
Andy, that you're sorry that I ever was in the Corps is really irrelevant.
an arrogance of power has undermined US governments' judgment with regard to foreign policy.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely—even Americans.
Unfortunately, the situation has only gotten worse during the Cheney/Halliburton Presidency, in which
the US has showed undisguised disdain towards a number of international agreements that it, over
the course of time, had solemnly entered upon. As a result, the US has moved the world closer to the
"Law of the Jungle," the term George Bush, Sr., used in connection with Saddam Hussein in 1990/
1991. I don't know what it's called in the US today, but elsewhere in the world it's known as hypocrisy.
I'm proud to have served in the Marine Corps. Although it was clear that I didn't want to make a
career of it—I felt that I could serve my fellow man better outside of the Corps—I always strove to
proficiency and excellence in order to do the Corps—and thereby myself—honor.
Photo: Being decorated by the Commandant at Marine Corps Headquarters, 8th & I Streets,
Washington, D.C., Spring 1982.
Andy, that you're sorry that I ever was in the Corps is really irrelevant.
20030320
Glad to see everyone is in such a good mood.
By the way, one of our Brothers is in need of
our spiritual support. Steven B.'s grandson has
apparently passed to the next level and I'm sure
we can all take a moment and send up a prayer.
God Bless and Keep you and yours Brother Brown.
My heart and prayers go out to you.
By the way, one of our Brothers is in need of
our spiritual support. Steven B.'s grandson has
apparently passed to the next level and I'm sure
we can all take a moment and send up a prayer.
God Bless and Keep you and yours Brother Brown.
My heart and prayers go out to you.
The UN has only approved 2 conflicts - Korea and the last Iraq war. There have been over 40 conflicts since then with no UN
approval. The UN is weak, anti-US, and would not approve force even if the Germans decided to persecute
the Jews again. We do not need the UN approval. Iraq signed a cease fire treaty and that treaty stopped the
US from going to Baghdad to remove Saddam. Since then, Iraq has violated the treaty numerous times and continues to
do so today. We did not need 1441 in order to do what we are doing today.
France and Germany are examples of why the UN is irrelevant. Two countries that want to be considered a world power
but have no hope of ever becoming one. So, what do they do? They go out of their way to whip up anti-American throughout the world.
This is war a just cause, and the people of Iraq will be better off. It is no surprise that Germany could care less
about the brutal harm the Butcher of Baghdad inflicts on his own people - The Germans only have to look in the mirror to see the same.
Pete, I'm sorry you changed. I'm sorry you were ever in the USMC. I'm glad you gave up your rights as a American and chose to
live where you do. I wish you good luck, and wish you no harm.
approval. The UN is weak, anti-US, and would not approve force even if the Germans decided to persecute
the Jews again. We do not need the UN approval. Iraq signed a cease fire treaty and that treaty stopped the
US from going to Baghdad to remove Saddam. Since then, Iraq has violated the treaty numerous times and continues to
do so today. We did not need 1441 in order to do what we are doing today.
France and Germany are examples of why the UN is irrelevant. Two countries that want to be considered a world power
but have no hope of ever becoming one. So, what do they do? They go out of their way to whip up anti-American throughout the world.
This is war a just cause, and the people of Iraq will be better off. It is no surprise that Germany could care less
about the brutal harm the Butcher of Baghdad inflicts on his own people - The Germans only have to look in the mirror to see the same.
Pete, I'm sorry you changed. I'm sorry you were ever in the USMC. I'm glad you gave up your rights as a American and chose to
live where you do. I wish you good luck, and wish you no harm.
Steven T., you took issue with isogetic—and by implication, exegetic—interpretations of the bible, you've
settled accounts with the humanity of Shakespeare, but I missed—not surprisingly—any reference to the
UN Charter, international law, and power politics. I don't want to awaken too much cognitive dissonance,
but is international law to be respected to the letter by the US's adversaries, but trampled underfoot when
deemed convenient to do so by a government in Washington, D.C.?
settled accounts with the humanity of Shakespeare, but I missed—not surprisingly—any reference to the
UN Charter, international law, and power politics. I don't want to awaken too much cognitive dissonance,
but is international law to be respected to the letter by the US's adversaries, but trampled underfoot when
deemed convenient to do so by a government in Washington, D.C.?
Pete, I just tuned into CNN and they didn't say anything about the US attacking Germany or France so I'm not
sure to which sovereign state you may be referring :)
Was your paraphrase out of Habakkuk meant as our daily bible reading or as a chastisement of the US government ?
You may want to spend some time studying scholarly commentary on the context from which the book was written.
You may also want to study the many scriptural references to the dangers and pitfalls of false teaching which I believe
we are all guilty of when we isogetically pull inspired words out of context.
As for the quote from the writings of a 17th century drunken bard...well I hope you place as much stock in those
as do most of us.
sure to which sovereign state you may be referring :)
Was your paraphrase out of Habakkuk meant as our daily bible reading or as a chastisement of the US government ?
You may want to spend some time studying scholarly commentary on the context from which the book was written.
You may also want to study the many scriptural references to the dangers and pitfalls of false teaching which I believe
we are all guilty of when we isogetically pull inspired words out of context.
As for the quote from the writings of a 17th century drunken bard...well I hope you place as much stock in those
as do most of us.
A large and powerful nation has launched an act of aggression against a sovereign state that has a
diminished capacity to defend itself--in disregard of the UN Charter and international law. The fate
of smaller nations appears to be at the mercy of those who possess military power. Indeed, it
appears that might is now right.
Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
[T]he violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because
of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Habakkuk, II, 10, 12, 17
[T]hat we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague th' inventor: this even-handed Justice
Commenmds the' ingredience of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips.
Shakespeare, MacBeth (1623)
diminished capacity to defend itself--in disregard of the UN Charter and international law. The fate
of smaller nations appears to be at the mercy of those who possess military power. Indeed, it
appears that might is now right.
Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
[T]he violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because
of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Habakkuk, II, 10, 12, 17
[T]hat we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague th' inventor: this even-handed Justice
Commenmds the' ingredience of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips.
Shakespeare, MacBeth (1623)
20030319
Canadian Minister: Bush Failed to Act as Statesman
Wednesday, 19 March 2003, 14:58 ET
By Randall Palmer
"OTTAWA (Reuters) - In the latest barb from a member of Canada's ruling Liberal Party against President Bush
as he gears up for war with Iraq, a minister said on Wednesday that Bush had failed to act as a statesman.
"'The world expects someone who is the president of a superpower to be a statesman,' Natural Resources
Minister Herb Dhaliwal told reporters, insisting that war against Iraq is premature.
"'I think he has let not only Americans but the world down by not being a statesman as people expect of someone
who is president of a superpower.'
"Dhaliwal's comments may boost tensions with a U.S. administration that is already disappointed with Canada's
refusal to commit troops to an attack on Iraq.
"Prime Minister Jean Chretien's top spokeswoman resigned in November after calling Bush a moron in what she
thought was a private conversation.
"The State Department voiced its disappointment on Wednesday 'that some of our closest allies including
Canada do not agree on the urgent need for action' in Iraq.
"Bush is scheduled to pay a state visit to Ottawa on May 5."
I hope he gets the welcome he deserves.
20030314
20030313
The Miami Herald | 03/13/2003 | 'Vice' or price? TV star Don Johnson car-shopping with $8 billion to spend
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20030310
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Steve, Diane, & Family
We are all praying for you and for little James. My heart aches when I think of the
little guy and the anguish you must be dealing with. Please keep us informed of any
changes in his condition.
We are all praying for you and for little James. My heart aches when I think of the
little guy and the anguish you must be dealing with. Please keep us informed of any
changes in his condition.
Hot from Reuters: »Turkey Rejects U.S.«
»The motion . . . would have enabled the United States to station troops in Turkey to
establish a "northern front" which experts say would shorten any war.«
Sorry Andy!
»The motion . . . would have enabled the United States to station troops in Turkey to
establish a "northern front" which experts say would shorten any war.«
Sorry Andy!
Steven Brown, God be with you, James, your daughter and Diane. I sympathize with the pain
you feel. I know that it's easier said than done, but do all you can from falling headlong into
the guilt trap.
Andy, this one is just for you!
Bush's Warsaw War Pact
By MAUREEN DOWD
The New York Times
WASHINGTON. The diplomatic motorcade pulled up to the White House yesterday with great
fanfare. The two Marine guards at the door of the colonnaded West Wing saluted smartly. TV
cameras pressed close to get pictures of the vital American ally alighting from the black sedan
for his one-on-one with President Bush.
It was a summit of the two great strategic partners, America and Bulgaria.
Bulgaria?
As the world's only remaining superpower was conferring honor upon one of its only remaining
friends, America smashed through the global looking glass.
To get Saddam, the Bush administration has dizzily turned the world upside down and inside out.
Our new best friends are the very people we used to protect our old best friends from. During the
cold war, we safeguarded Old Europe from the Evil Empire. Now we have embraced the former
Soviet Bloc satellites to protect us from the Security Council machinations of our former
paramours France and Germany. NATO was created to protect Western Europe from the
Communist hordes — namely the Bulgarians, who tried to outdo the bizarro Albanians as the
most Stalinist regime in Eastern Europe and were renowned for the "thick necks" who did wet
work for the K.G.B.
Now Secretary Don Evans flies off to Bulgaria to discuss trade, and Rummy hints we may move
U.S. troops from Germany to Bulgaria.
In diplomatic circles, our new allies from Eastern Europe are dryly referred to as "Bush's Warsaw
Pact." As one Soviet expert put it, "Bulgaria used to be Russia's lapdog. Now it's America's
lapdog."
The Bulgarians were such sycophants to Russia that in the 60's they proposed becoming the
16th republic of the Soviet Union.
Mr. Bush will not be the only one having trouble with the Bulgarian prime minister's name. We all
will. In press reports it's spelled Simeon Saxcoburggotski.
Is this a good trade, the French for the Bulgarians?
Sketchy facts about Bulgaria rattle around: It has a town called Plovdiv; it wants to become big in
the skiing industry; its secret service stabbed an exiled dissident writer in London with a poison-
tipped umbrella; it sent agents to kill the pope. During the cold war Bulgaria was valued by
Moscow for the canned tomatoes it sent in winter.
Three famous Bulgarians: Carl Djerassi, who invented birth control pills; Christo, the original
wrap artist; Boris Christof, the opera singer. In "Casablanca" there was the Bulgarian girl who
offered herself to Claude Rains to get plane tickets.
Avis Bohlen, a former second-in-command at the American Embassy in France and an
ambassador to Sofia in the late 1990's, calls Bulgaria "a very gutsy little country" that has worked
hard to improve.
Ms. Bohlen is dubious about the Bush administration's volatile snits at old allies. "You can't build
a foreign policy on pique," she says.
© 2003 The New York Times Company
you feel. I know that it's easier said than done, but do all you can from falling headlong into
the guilt trap.
Andy, this one is just for you!
Bush's Warsaw War Pact
By MAUREEN DOWD
The New York Times
WASHINGTON. The diplomatic motorcade pulled up to the White House yesterday with great
fanfare. The two Marine guards at the door of the colonnaded West Wing saluted smartly. TV
cameras pressed close to get pictures of the vital American ally alighting from the black sedan
for his one-on-one with President Bush.
It was a summit of the two great strategic partners, America and Bulgaria.
Bulgaria?
As the world's only remaining superpower was conferring honor upon one of its only remaining
friends, America smashed through the global looking glass.
To get Saddam, the Bush administration has dizzily turned the world upside down and inside out.
Our new best friends are the very people we used to protect our old best friends from. During the
cold war, we safeguarded Old Europe from the Evil Empire. Now we have embraced the former
Soviet Bloc satellites to protect us from the Security Council machinations of our former
paramours France and Germany. NATO was created to protect Western Europe from the
Communist hordes — namely the Bulgarians, who tried to outdo the bizarro Albanians as the
most Stalinist regime in Eastern Europe and were renowned for the "thick necks" who did wet
work for the K.G.B.
Now Secretary Don Evans flies off to Bulgaria to discuss trade, and Rummy hints we may move
U.S. troops from Germany to Bulgaria.
In diplomatic circles, our new allies from Eastern Europe are dryly referred to as "Bush's Warsaw
Pact." As one Soviet expert put it, "Bulgaria used to be Russia's lapdog. Now it's America's
lapdog."
The Bulgarians were such sycophants to Russia that in the 60's they proposed becoming the
16th republic of the Soviet Union.
Mr. Bush will not be the only one having trouble with the Bulgarian prime minister's name. We all
will. In press reports it's spelled Simeon Saxcoburggotski.
Is this a good trade, the French for the Bulgarians?
Sketchy facts about Bulgaria rattle around: It has a town called Plovdiv; it wants to become big in
the skiing industry; its secret service stabbed an exiled dissident writer in London with a poison-
tipped umbrella; it sent agents to kill the pope. During the cold war Bulgaria was valued by
Moscow for the canned tomatoes it sent in winter.
Three famous Bulgarians: Carl Djerassi, who invented birth control pills; Christo, the original
wrap artist; Boris Christof, the opera singer. In "Casablanca" there was the Bulgarian girl who
offered herself to Claude Rains to get plane tickets.
Avis Bohlen, a former second-in-command at the American Embassy in France and an
ambassador to Sofia in the late 1990's, calls Bulgaria "a very gutsy little country" that has worked
hard to improve.
Ms. Bohlen is dubious about the Bush administration's volatile snits at old allies. "You can't build
a foreign policy on pique," she says.
© 2003 The New York Times Company
