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Wednesday, Oct 24, 2001
Military Checkpoints
October 24, 2001
Israel
The Tel Aviv airport is also a military base. The same runways are used by the Israeli airforce and civilian aircraft. Military hangers and aircraft are visible from the passenger waiting areas.
The security points are manned by uniformed and non-uniformed military personnel. I say non-uniformed, because I saw a man in business attire who was lingering in the taxi drop-off area eyeing people. Some of the personnel are armed with small automatic weapons.
In addition to the metal detector and xray checks common in US airports, arriving and departing passengers are subject to interrogation. Arriving passengers typically are not interrogated, unless they appear to be of Arab, Turkish, etc., extraction. But each departing passenger is interrogated for 15-30 minutes.
The questions I was asked were of a confidential nature. Normally I would not have revealed the nature of my business discussions without a non-disclosure agreement in force. Since I was eager to get home, I spilled all sorts of information about business negotiations -- who, where, why, what.
Argentina
The government of Argentina doesn't have a lot of money. In fact, a couple of provinces have started printing their own money. This is reflected in the vehicles, or lack thereof, in the police force. Rather than patrolling the highways, they set up checkpoints along the road, and let the traffic come to them. These check points are notorious for corruption.
The military also has its own check points. On my way from the town of Libertador General San Martin to the city of Salta, I used a free-lance remis (aka taxi) rather than waiting a few hours for the bus. At a military check point en route, the remis was stopped for inspection. Each passenger and the driver showed ID papers, and submitted to a search of their belongings. In a country with a recent history of military dictatorship, people don't backtalk at these check points.
A middle-aged officer was in charge of a small squad of young men, who looked not much older than 18, and who appeared to be local boys. They went through my knapsack and backpack, opening the smaller packages they found inside: binoculars case, toiletries kit, first aid kit, etc. I had to explain the purpose of some mysterious objects, such as dental floss and a lint brush.
I have a theory, backed by my Lonely Planet guide book, that our remis was singled out for inspection because of the novelty of a Norte Americano travelling in a private car. I provided much more entertainment value than just another Salteņo on the road.
I was polite, friendly and submissive. This seemed an effective strategy to get me through the process without any exchange of funds.
USA
In addition to the crews of underpaid security workers, the federal government has reinforced the checkpoints in our nation's airports with armed military personnel. They carry enormous assault rifles, which seem ill-suited to the task of close quarters fire. Their body language indicated they weren't quite sure of their role, other than as symbols. They certainly didn't have the focused and deliberate demeanor I encountered in Israel.
The Congress is on the verge of passing broad new powers for the government in the war on terrorism. As the government assumes much greater power to search and detain people, I wonder just how much freedom the American public is willing to relinquish.
September 29, 2001
Badger Wrasslin'
I' flying to Buenos Aires via Miami on Monday/Tuesday. Yes, it's a long flight. I'm going to visit a national park near Bahia Blanca to help a prof do some research on the carnivores of the pampas.
Remember those old Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom shows? "While I sit in the safety of the Land Rover, let's watch as my assistant Jim wrestles with an angry badger." I'll be the "assistant Jim."
Actually, they don't have badgers. The study covers five different mammal species, including a weasel-like critter called the grison. It's bi-color coat reminds me of a badger, hence the title of this journal entry.
As a short-hand, I've been referring to the expedition as badger wrasslin'. But I have to check that once I arrive in Bahia Blanca. These guys are scientists, and don't want to hear my badger silliness. In fact, they might be inclined to say "Badgers? We don't need no stinkin' badgers!"
September 28, 2001
More Words
Every story seems to reach the stage at which the story is no longer about the story. The main topic moves away from the actual event to the fluff around the event. The WTC attack seems to be headed in that direction. Tonight on Fox, Bill O'Reilly was harping about how CNN was afraid to use the word "terrorist." The implication wasn't clear. Are they soft on terrorism? Are they un-American? Are they money grubbing bastards who pander to foreigners? Simultaneously CNN aired Greta Van Susteren's show, The Point, with the sub-banner of "Tracking the Terrorists."
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 19:57:49 -0700
To: oreilly@foxnews.com
Subject: "terrorist"
O'Reilly,
Precisely at the moment you were harping about CNN not using the word "terrorist", Greta's show focused on "Tracking the Terrorists." Don't be stupid.
-Mark
You Say You Want a Revolution
The Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz spoke of "ending states". Emphasis added. The standard list of bad guys is Syria, Iraq, the Taliban, and sometimes Libya, Iran and Sudan. That's a lot of regimes.
There has been a battle within the cabinet about this and related topics. This battle often leaks into the media. I'm not sure "leak" is really the right word. "Planted" is more to the point. By gaging reaction of the press and public to various statements of position, the administration better understands the mood of the country.
Today's national mood reading: Ending "states" is too ambitious at the moment, but the singular form of the word "regime" is acceptable to the American public. Taliban is bad. Northern Alliance is good.
My friend Jennifer said to me ...
It is apparent the W likes catchy jingoisms. I assume that he does this to connect to the "people". The "people" do this sort of simplistic word use all of the time. (I have learned this by observing my Republican relatives.) It makes for clean and simple sound bites. I do not think that it really sets or determines policy as much as you think. I think it is just his communication style.
I fear that oversimplification not only defines the communication, it also defines the policies. This is where the French may have something over Americans. The French national spirit embraces irony. How could a people who built the Maginot Line live with themselves without having access to irony?
Americans don't like irony mixed in with serious topics. So we ignore that the "good" Northern Alliance is not much better than the "bad" Taliban. We ignore that we just paid off Pakistan to switch sides in the Afghan civil war. We ignore that we trained and armed Osama and his cohorts. We ignore that part of Osama's beef is that he didn't get to participate on the Saudi side in the ass-whupping we gave to Iraq.
These and other details add too much complexity, when what's needed is a good slogan. It seems that we want to treat every problem like Alexander treated the Gordian knot, cutting through all the complexities with a simple solution.
I hate the smell of quicksand in the morning.
Attention
I keep reflecting on the American attention span.
CNN Headline News: Around the World in 30 Minutes
September 27, 2001
Bill O'Reilly
The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News network is billed as fair and balanced, unbiased, and based on reason. I watch Bill O'Reilly because he makes me think. I used to admire him, as someone who thought differently than me, but who thought well. I'm having trouble with the admiration these days.
On a recent program, Bill asked the probing question, "Is Dissent Treason?" Oh, that's got fair and balanced written all over it.
Bill gave a commentary in which he reasoned that those who seek to "understand" the attackers and their supporters are giving comfort to terrorists. "There's nothing to understand here."
So I wrote Bill a little note. By the way, Bill's slogan is "Powerful Confrontation" and he asks for pithy letters, so I suppose I should cut to the point.
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 18:20:55 -0700
To: oreilly@foxnews.com
Subject: neo-luddite
O'Reilly,
"Understanding" the threat is sympathy for the enemy and is near-treason? I never suspected that you would preach in favor of ignorance. Failure to understand the enemy will lead to failure against the enemy. Don't be stupid.
-Mark
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I watched the tail end of the Factor, and my email didn't make the cut. Too wordy, I guess.