Category Archives: Popular Culture

Political Commentary, Popular Culture, War Commentary

The President Is No Churchill

1 Comment

Compare and contrast:

In 1940, Churchill appeared before the House of Commons and described Britain’s goal in World War II: “I can answer in one word: victory; victory at all costs, victory despite all terror; victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”

This hyperbolic rube was too unsophisticated to appreciate that the goal doesn’t apply to overseas contingency operations or kinetic military actions.

As I wrote last night, the president and the Democrats are like the French in The Simpsons, for whom “victory” isn’t in their vocabulary, unless it applies to their domestic enemies.

Michael Walsh wasn’t impressed, either.

[Update a couple minutes later]

Nor was John Tabin:

President Obama isn’t terribly concerned with winning wars.

In his speech last night, Obama talked about “our effort to wind down this war,” “responsibly end[ing] these wars,” and “tak[ing] comfort in knowing that the tide of war is receding.” He did not use the words “win” or “winning”; the word “victory” appeared only in a reference to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

To these people, wars are for “ending,” not “winning.” It was something that I and others noticed in the debates in 2008, but not enough others noticed. The funny thing is, I suspect that they even realize that we notice, but they just can’t bring themselves to use the word.

[Update a few minutes later]

Could the president’s political decision backfire on him?

It bears repeating that the deadline imposed by the president has nothing to do with military or strategic calculation. It has everything to do with an electoral calculation. President Obama wants those troops out two months before Americans go to the voting booth.

This may prove a disastrous political calculation, too, however. If the war is going badly in the summer and fall of 2012, it will be because of the decision the president made this week. Everyone will know he did it against the advice of his commanders. Everyone will know he did it for political reasons. So if the war is going badly a year from now, whom do you think the American people will blame? There will still be 70,000 American troops in Afghanistan, but as part of a losing effort. Will Americans reward Obama at the polls under those circumstances?

It’s not like he’s been politically brilliant so far. The tragic thing is that he’s doing something militarily stupid to serve his political needs.

[Early afternoon update]

You don’t say. Afghan women fear Obama’s peace talks with the Taliban. I’m sure NOW is fine with it, though, because he supports abortion.

Humor, Media Criticism, Popular Culture, Space

Space Alien Invasions And Hollywood

29 Comments

Ruminations from Lileks:

if you’re going to cross vast distances to conquer humanity for the usual reasons, I doubt they would use guns and bombs. An EMP for starters, then gas. But it’s never gas. No, they walk around with guns and shoot, and in the case of “Fallen Skies,” they have stormtrooper aim half the time. In last night’s episode the aliens set a trap in a food warehouse, where they suspected the humans might go. Let’s imagine that conversation in the war room:

“Corporal Xxrtg, send a Mechabot 3bV to the trap, and wait for the humans to come for food.”

“Okay, but -”

“But what?”

“If they’re coming for food, they’re probably attached to a larger group. Why not just call in their appearance, and have the huntercraft look for their heat signature and vaporize them all at once?”

“Don’t ask me. Ask Commander Plrgb. It’s his call.”

“As long as we’re at it, why not just send in hush-snakes with the gas? They’d -”

“Again with the gas! It’s always the gas with you.”

“It’s just easier, that’s all I’m saying. Have you seen the reports? We have a 37% kill ratio because someone upstairs says we have to shoot them one at a time. And forget about the wide-radius heat ray, apparently.”

“I don’t make the rules of engagement. Now get on it.”

“Sure. And tell whoever assigned us the Mechabot 3bV that the men call it Old Stompy. It can’t take two steps without giving away its position.”

“Get moving.”

“Yes sir.”

There are two ways the series can end: humans win, or humans lose. “Win” is nice, rah us, but I have a hard time believing that the time-honored Ragtag Band of Scrappy Fighters can defeat a culture capable of space travel. It even makes “War of the Worlds” seem silly, because you have to imagine this conversation at HQ: did you remind the contractors to refit the ships with biofilters?”

(Panicked expression) “I thought that was your job.”

“Hell no. I TOLD you.”

“No you didn’t.”

Remind me to hire him for my next SF flick (which will also be my first).

[Update a while later]

This seems related, somehow: s3x with creatures from the future can be bad for your offspring’s health.

Popular Culture, Technology and Society

Hope For Michael Moore

10 Comments

A breakthrough: converting skin cells directly to brain cells, without a transition through stem cells.

Faster, please.

[Update a couple minutes later]

Now this is really cool — living lasers made from human cells:

Optical imaging labels can report on the molecular workings of tissues and cells in the body. Fluorescent protein tags that emit visible or infrared light are now common tools for studying cell biology in test tubes. But getting such light in and out of the body is difficult because light diffuses as it passes through biological tissues. Living lasers, if they’re made into practical systems, have the potential to change that. One can imagine having a hybrid living-nonliving medical implant under the skin that would beam out a stream of information about biomarkers in the blood, for example.

Not only that, but if it works with shark cells, it would be the solution to Dr. Evil’s long-time frustration.