WOW...

A poetic rebuke to historical manicheanism...

that's really good...

Israel's terrorism is the worst kind. It has been given a false legitimacy, a blind eye turned toward its actions by the US, along with protection via the US's security council veto. Israel's terrorism is as bad, if not worse, than the state terrorism the US backed and funded in Chile under Pinochet, Cuba under Batista, Pakistan under Al Haq, Indonesia under Suharto, Nicaragua under Somoza, South Africa under Apartheid, among dozens of others.

The worst part about Israeli terrorism is their employing of tactics and methods that jews were once victims of. The blockade of food, water and medical supplies is as abominable as the blockade of the Lodz Ghetto, and Israel's deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure (both now and in Lebanon during 2006) was declared a war crime, a crime against humanity, during the Nuremburg Trials. People have been convicted and some executed (Germany, Bosnia, Liberia, et al) for the very same actions Israel is guilty of performing now.

But just like George Putz and the neo-convicts, there is a strong possibility that the guilty will go unpunished because those who defend the terrorists want the crimes to happen.

“If you were alive, they would give you a loan. Actually, I think if you were dead, they would still give you a loan.”

Two comments:
First, I've always felt sorriest for WAMU's employees. As any long-time customer there knows, the strength of WAMU is its tellers and local branch workers. They work long hours, often thanklessly, and for low wages in their own communities. This is common among banks, but WAMU employees--at least where I have lived--offer a level of personal attention to me that other banks have not (except, possibly, Bank of Albuquerque in New Mexico, possibly the best customer service-based bank I've *ever* stepped into at any time). I know my tellers personally, and I was dismayed when WAMU had mismanaged itself to the point that being sold off to the behemoth of the East was the only way to save it. Now thousands of these customer service-oriented people will be lost to save J.P. Morgan a few bucks. Typical American use-em-up-and-spit-em-out short-sightedness. This will cost J.P. Morgan in the long term. But no one is thinking long-term, of course.

Second, regarding the above quote, WAMU lenders refused me a home loan in 2001--I was told I hadn't lived in the area long enough and didn't have enough evidence of a steady income to receive a loan--at *any* rate. As I was testing the market and not truly buying at the time, I was impressed that--at this branch, at least--no one was asleep at the switch. They were right. I didn't have the money to do what I was proposing to do. I'm glad they wouldn't do it. I couldn't have afforded it.

Actually, the Wild West analogy, though alluring, is a false analogy. The actual "Wild West" was possible only in the absence of effective civic authority and the inability/unwillingness of federal and territorial officials to restrain and punish the avarice of those who intruded on the landscape. What happened in the financial world over the past fifteen years was more akin to the collapse of civilization following a zombie infestation or the oft-dreaded -- on this blog at least -- communion of monkeys and robots.

I still am working on Barney Fife Frank's description of CDSs as life insurance for vampires, (it is just after 32:00 in).

Zombie infestation may work even better. Be sure to check out the "This American Life" piece on the awards for CDO of the year. Zombies in their finest hour.

Israel bombards innocent women and children, and the response from WARshington?

CRAWFORD, Texas - The Bush administration called Monday for an end to the new flare up in Mideast violence, saying Hamas has "once again shown its true colors as a terrorist organization" with attacks on Israel.

Blame the Palestinians for the deaths incurred by Israel using US military equipment. Ah yes, the good old political view. It isn't the rapist's fault, it was that woman!