Dateline: VIenna

So the conference was a success, and all seem happy with the results. Of course, it's nowhere close to being over for me, as I have to do a final accounting, a final report, and edit a book of all the collected papers.

Also, my somewhat less-than-conservative friends in Vienna looked at me a bit askew when I told them that I was working on a NATO conference. As though NATO were the enemy. Seems to me that NATO doesn't really have any foes right now, although that "you attack one of us, you attack all of us" thing could get sticky a little bit later down the line.

The final night in Kyiv was nice, as I finally got to see the city. Beautiful statues and sculptures, and the most amazing gilding I've ever seen. And finally, no vodka.

Now I'm in Vienna until Wednesday, when I leave for Lisbon. So, for those of you following the world cup, I'll be in Wien when Germany plays Italy (yes, I know that Vienna is not in Germany, but hey), and in Lisbon when France plays Portugal. Who'd have bet that Portugal would be in the semi finals? Probably the same people that thought Brasil would not be. FWIW, I'll be in Lisbon for the day of the final, which would be insane if Portugal makes it to the final.

I have made quite clear to the people here that I consider myself not an American, but a New Orleanian. They appreciate that, and they express shock in the evident abandonment of America's greatest city by its adminstration. One of the questions I've been asked frequently is "what is happening to all that oil in Iraq"? The only response I have is for them to ask Dick Cheney.

What really struck me as rather odd was that my Viennese friends, one of whom is an expat New Orleanian (OK, he lived in Kenner), have targeted their animosity toward Cheney and Rumsfeld...even Wolfowitz. Not really toward W, as they consider him to be simply a dim puppet. That's harsh, harsher than my feelings, but kind of telling of the world's view of the US administration.

Also, fortunately, most of the Europeans I have spoken with are quick to separate the works and deeds of the US administration from the US citizenry. They haven't been blaming me personally for any of this crap, which is nice.

All of our lives, the adminstration has told us who our enemies are. We've all seen how Goebbels taught the Nazis to use fear and "lack of patriotism" as tools of propaganda. Thing is, the Soviets were never really the bad guys. The whole cold war was primarily an excuse to get the likes of Lockheed, Halliburton, and their ilk rich. Now, they tell us the enemy is "terror". Huh? Why can't the enemy be inadequate housing, inadequate flood protection, inadequate public transportation, inadequate wages, and hurricanes?

Also, everybody is wondering, "Why don't you just contract the Dutch to build the levees? They're the best in the world at doing that" Well, we don't do that, because the concept that somebody other than an American is the best in the world at something is a completely alien concept. We're the greatest country on earth is beaten into our brains from second grade, usually by people who have never been to another country, except maybe to Juarez for a tequila junket. What is inherently wrong, or weak in suggesting that those with more experience and success may be better at doing something. I don't get it.

The Europeans also seemed very concerned about the rebuilding and future of New Orleans. One thing I'm going to miss (well, let's just say I'll be absent for it) is the Neville Brothers in Vienna on July 7. I told my Kennerian friend to ask Cyril "how's Austin". The Kennerian also shared a story of how the Olympia brass band (he thinks it was Olympia) was performing in Vienna, and he was dressed as a typical Austrian in his suit, and walked by the bandleader as they were marching and said in his best Kennerian accent "Hey bra, way y'at?" The guy's jaw fell, and he whistled back at my friend, who waved and moved on.

You can't get away from New Orleans culture. At this point in time, it is the best export New Orleans has, and is the best export the USA has. Maybe the politicians and multinationals that control all the bucks should realize that we're worth preserving.

Comments

[BLT]

Lord, what fools these mortals be!

CIA disbands Bin laden unit

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Tuesday July 4, 2006
The Guardian

Nearly five years after George Bush vowed to bring Osama bin Laden to justice "dead or alive", it's the end of the line for the CIA's Alec Station, the unit dedicated to the hunt for the al-Qaida leader.

The unit, named after the son of a counter-terror official, was disbanded last year, it emerged this week, and its agents reassigned in what intelligence officials described as a recognition of the changing nature of al-Qaida.

"The reorganisation just reflects the understanding that the Islamic jihadist movement continues to diversify," an intelligence official said.

Alec Station was founded in 1996, taking its name from the son of Michael Scheuer, the unit's former director. Its two dozen members worked in rented premises outside the CIA headquarters.

Since 9/11, the original al-Qaida has spawned dozens of regional affiliates from Indonesia to Iraq. Terrorism experts believe that Bin Laden and his Egyptian lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri, no longer exercise centralised control over international jihad, although they continue to offer inspiration with audio tape messages and other more secret communications.

"Al-Qaida used to be a large hierarchical organisation, and five years out from 9/11 you have an organisation where many senior leaders, facilitators, and planners have been captured and killed, but you have a growing number of groups and individuals who have been inspired by al-Qaida and act independently of al-Qaida," the intelligence official said.

CIA officials insisted today that the hunt for al-Qaida's founder continued. "Tracking and gathering intelligence about Bin Laden, Zawahiri ... remains a high priority for the CIA and the intelligence community," one official said.