Texas Tax Turnover, Wanted by Interpol, Niger Love Call

Joe Klein
Steve Coll
Tariq Alhomayed

"Which brings us back to Cheney. He and his hard-line allies are rooting for Obama to fail. The leaders of Hamas — and other potential interlocutors, like the Syrians — need to understand that this may be their last best chance for progress. After Obama, the deluge." - Joe Klein

"Therefore this war, should it take place, is Iran's war, and it is up to Iran – which has not attempted any wise acts – to defuse this." - Tariq Alhomayed

start the revolution without me...

So much has happened that wan't in my morning newspaper, I feel like events are passing me by at an alarming rate. It had to happen in Texas, where a disgruntled man flew his single engine airplane into the Federal Tax Building. He left a note on a website that was taken down at the request of the FBI, here is a link to the text of the note. At the same time the plane crashed into the building, a home belonging to the registered owner of the plane also caught on fire. Unfortunately, this seems to be a single act, and the rest of the Texas tea party patriots haven't taken to the streets, engaging in armed resistance with Governor Rick Perry leading the way.

I love how the Austin Statesman says that the plane crash and the note suggests that Joseph Stack was disgruntled with the IRS. Do you think? Here's the title of his note:

"Well Mr. Big Brother IRS man…. Take my pound of flesh and sleep well”

He spent at least 10 years in trouble with the IRS for tax evasion, with regular audits. The last few years were spent drifting from LA to Austin and San Marcos, Texas, which the good-old boy capitol of the world. Everything is racist and corrupt in San Marcos, so I'm sure his dissatisfaction got a boost, fueled by 100+ heat this last summer, eating fiery barbecue in the local restaurant run by a family of racists, and hassled by drunken, corrupt cops: “So I moved, only to find out that this is a place with a highly inflated sense of self-importance and where damn little real engineering work is done,” the note says. “I’ve never experienced such a hard time finding work." But, the beer is good and cold...

This morning at 6:42 am he saved his website for the last time, set the timer that would set fire to his house, and drove to the airport and got into his plane: "... nothing changes unless there is a body count... I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at ‘big brother”’ while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.” So, is he a sad excuse for a criminal or a martyr to the cause? Will Sarah Palin do his eulogy? Or will the candidates for the Republican primary for Governor fight over the dubious honor? Well, Texas, the eyes of the nation are upon you...


wanted by interpol...

Here are the pictures of the 11 people wanted by Interpol and the police in Dubai. Recognize anyone? The British Foreign Minister had the Israeli Ambassador in to explain the abuse of British passports and identity theft of Britons who had emigrated to Israel. The next step may be to kick him out of the country if he cannot make up a good explanation.

The Dubai police are having fun with all of this, first releasing the passport photos, then some of the surveillance videos, all watched over by machines of loving grace. They are also teasing the press, saying that they have more information but they will only release it bit by bit over the next few days. Even with a lot of pressure by citizens of Israel, who also are pissed that innocent people have been used and had their identities stolen in this worst case scenario, the Mossad is keeping quiet.

And the biggest question still hasn't been answered: what in the world was Mr Mabhouh doing in that expensive hotel room? Hamas is keeping quiet on that one, having previously said that he was on a mission. No mention of what that mission was, guesses center around buying missiles from Iran to be smuggled into Gaza. That would make him out to be a bad dude, an international man of mystery, but it has also been said that Mabhouh was sent there to film another interview with al Jazeera news organization. Al Jazeera has been silent, and nobody has located where he was all day long until he returned alone to his hotel room shortly after 6 pm. And Hamas has not told why they withdrew their bodyguards that had greeted Mr Mabhouh at the airport, maybe the Dubai police will enlighten us on Friday or Saturday... I'm afraid that many of the questions will be glossed over until the book comes out...

to sir, with love...

Last item, be careful what you wish for in Africa. The current dictator of Niger, a land of mostly desert and uranium production, had dissolved his country's parliament last June, saying that he doesn't serve at the will of the legislators, he serves at the will of the Niger people. Evidently, the people of Niger no longer have any goodwill towards their tinhorn dictator, who has served since 1998. This morning the military captured Mamadou Tandja in a coup, suspended the constitution, and dissolved all state institutions. Mr Tandja has been taken and is being kept somewhere the sun doesn't shine until he resigns of his own free will, however long it takes...