One of the best articles on the Iraq war that I've read thusfar...

To begin with...an apology...I totally misread Peter's UniteAgainstTerror petition signature...and definitely agree with the arguments Peter makes around his admirable if short-sighted effort, in my view, to attempt a citizen's arrest of Robert Mugabe...

All in all, though...I think Peter's making courageous efforts to deal with both homophobia, internationally, which is clearly one of Peter's highest priorities...as well as the highly problematic issue of holding dictators -- particularly thugs like Saddam Hussein and Robert Mugabe -- accountable for their ugly crimes against humanity...

Two nights ago...I happened upon one of the best articles I've ever read about the war in Iraq...Tatchell anticipates the problems we are seeing today in Iraq by two years...and his suggestions for an alternative constructive policy are the best and most detailed I've ever read...

Peter Tatchell...Iraq: The Third Way...

...and the President on March 19, 2003...

President Bush's address to the nation announcing the invasion of Iraq...

I would add the backing of the American, British, European, and other significant militaries to provide overwhelming force to quickly humiliate Saddam's army and support an Iraqi led military confrontation...though Peter may be right that a home-grown overthrow might be more successful than even an multilateral military backed war...

That's what a more intelligent discussion and debate about this war might have produced...suggestions far better than the similarly short-sighted efforts of President Bush...

Peter is clearly a courageous crusader for against homophobia and for gay rights...gay rights is a terribly important issue to me...and perhaps if I was gay, I would take it as seriously as Peter as well...though I do think that some issues take priority...this war and Peter's concern with a dictator like Robert Mugabe being two of them...

petertatchell.net

And while I take some umbrage with the tone of Peter's sentiment, here, in calling the terribly confused opinions of leftists rationalizing the reign of Saddam Hussein "betrayal"...I understand the sentiment that nothing should rationalize the ugly legacy of Saddam Hussein...

UniteAgainstTerror...Peter Tatchell...

Peter's efforts to make citizen's arrest of Robert Mugabe are both technically legal and definitely just, it seems to me...but definitely something he would need to coordinate with British and/or international diplomatic and/or legal and law enforcement channels to be successful...

New resistance movement challenges Mugabe...telgraph.co.uk...

Though it is reassuring to find out that a resistance movement has taken hold against the brutal dictatorship of Robert Mugabe...

And this certainly looks promising...

The Forgiveness Project...Peter Tatchell...

Peter's article is still one of the best detailed arguments for the need for internal leadership in a war against a reigning dictator...and in a war against Saddam Hussein...that I've ever seen...

I do think the country would be better off with a public apology from the President that he didn't think this one through, more...but given just how absolutely insane I see now that American and international politics can be...I would definitely have that beer, now, with the President...and with Peter Tatchell...

And tell them both thank you for doing their best...

Love,
Ben

Monopoly:):):)...

Jesse and Melissa (my neighbors), and I, played Monopoly tonight:):):)...

I figured out...as I took a strong lead...lost it completely...and then went on to kick the shit out of my two friends and neighbors:):):)...

That even in the money world...and maybe especially:):):)...

That if you want to win big:):):)...

At some point:):):)...

You got to lose big:):):)...

And it actually is kind of blessing in disguise, for me, right now, I think:):):)...all this debt I have:):):)...

It weeds out all the gold-diggers:):):)...

Which is far more important to me than having a summer cabin...now or ever, really:):):)...

People are so foolish sometimes, I realize now:):):)...

And I actually have one hell of life, right now, I realize:):):)...

Here's to weeding out the gold-diggers:):):)...

And to finding one true girl in this God-foresaken world:):):)...

I'm sure she's out there, somewhere:):):):)...

Until then:):):)...

I got Van Morrison:):):)...and great neighbors and friends:):):)...

And a really fuckin' fantastic life:):):)...

Now...and in the total of my foreseeable future:):):)...

I just can't wait for the future to make it my way:):):)...

Have a great day, everyone:):):)...

Love,
Ben