Interesting spin on some positive changes in Somalia:

A few months ago, Mogadishu’s chaotic roads were ruled by red-eyed, open-shirted militia, speeding along in their technicals – the open vehicles with anti-aircraft guns mounted on the back – weaving from one side to the other to avoid the potholes.

Today, one of the world’s most dangerous cities has been tamed: law-abiding men and women motor along without a gun at their side, keeping steadily to the speed limit, and not daring to swerve for craters.

Why can’t we use our brains to solve the political stalemate instead of fighting?
Female student

This transformation is down to the rule of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which took control of Mogadishu in June and much of southern Somalia since then.

Moving from militant anarchy to stable theocracy clearly has its up-side, but history shows that even stable theocracies are far from a panacea for people’s needs, let alone free from violence or above corruption and prejudice. The UIC is being reported as moderate and perhaps even embracing women’s rights to be educated and join the workforce but, as the saying goes, the proof will be in the pudding.

Another case of pot calling the kettle black? I just found this odd quote in the news:

“The material errors and material misrepresentations are so egregious that HBO should pull the documentary,” Diebold Election System president David Byrd wrote. “Failing that, a pre-airing rebuttal and disclaimer are not only appropriate but also in the best interests of HBO and its subscribers.”

The harm of the HBO documentary is not clear. Critical thinking by the public about democracy and electronic voting systems? If Diebold systems were truly safe to use and secure, they would have nothing to worry about, right? On the other hand, the harm from material errors and material misrepresentations by an electronic voting systems manufacturer would lead to botched elections and undermining the cornerstone of democracy. Should voting systems be “pulled” as soon as egregious errors and misrepresentations about security are found?

Perhaps if Diebold would like to take such a strong position on what constitutes an “egregious” error and misrepresentation by HBO, they could at least see the film?

While Diebold spokesman David Bear said company officials had yet to see the film, he said the firm was never contacted by the filmmakers when they were making the documentary.

[…]

HBO contends that Diebold has confused [Hacking Democracy with VoterGate].

“It appears the film Diebold is responding to is not the film HBO is airing,” [HBO spokesman] Cusson said.

And then perhaps Diebold could also explain why they are still selling electronic voting systems without a paper-trail? Talk about willfully exposing the public to egregious errors…

I believe Ed Felton has made Diebold’s totally flawed logic painfully clear already, so while I welcome their new position on protecting the public, I just wish they held themselves to the same standard.

Maybe it’s because of Halloween, but there are some surprisingly good developments in international news stories today:

Bush thanks Chinese

Hizbullah confirms (indirect) talks with Israel

Let’s hope that tomorrow, when the costumes come off and the partying is over, people continue working together to solve complex security issues and the news remains positive. Ok, ok, so Halloween isn’t global, but you know what I mean; we often act more like ourselves when we can find solace in another persona.

Then again, maybe it is global:

Two sharp-eyed Germans saw what they thought were masked bank robbers in a car with tinted windows in front of a bank and called police, but the occupants turned out not to be thieves but children in Halloween masks.

A sampling of the slope and notes to self:

• Congressman Jim McDermott (D, Washington), “Martial Law Concerns” (Speech before the House of Representatives, 11 Mar 03)
• Peter Dale Scott, “Homeland Security Contracts for Vast New Detention Camps” (Pacifica News Service, 6 Feb 06)
• Peter Dale Scott, “10-Year U.S. Strategic Plan For Detention Camps Revives Proposals From Oliver North” (Pacific News, 28 Feb 06) also here
• Maureen Farrell, “Detention Camp Jitters” (Buzzflash.com, 13 Feb 06)
• Paul Joseph Watson and Alex Jones, “Gulags For American Citizens In Final Planning Stages” (PrisonPlanet.com, 1 Mar 06)
• Paul Rosenzweig and James J. Carafano, “Preventive Detention and Actionable Intelligence” (Heritage Foundation, 16 Sep 06)
• Thomas F. Powers, “When to Hold ‘Em: The U.S. should detain suspected terrorists; even if it can’t make a case against them in court” (Legal Affairs, Sept/Oct 04)
• Paul H. Robinson, “Punishing Dangerousness: Cloaking Preventive Detention as Criminal Justice” (Harvard Law Review, Vol. 114, pp. 1429-1455, 2001; abstract at Social Science Research Network)

And lastly, for those who trust that Bush would never use martial law without reason, what about the next person in office? What about someone as ignorant and hateful as…Ann Coulter?

Brendan Nyhan, “Screed: With Treason, Ann Coulter once again defines a new low in America’s political debate”, June 30, 2003:

No longer content to merely smear liberals and the media with sweeping generalizations and fraudulent evidence, she has now upped the ante, accusing the entire Democratic Party as well as liberals and leftists nationwide of treason, a crime of disloyalty against the United States.