Unlikely heroes of late

With the bad name Dubya's been giving himself, he's somehow still managed to christen others with idyllic qualities and institute them as political martyrs. A few weeks ago the renowned draft-dodger, at times anti-american, Sunni-Muslim bowed to accept a chunk of metal called the Medal of Freedom. Attempting some form of otherwise absent humor, Bush stated, "The real mystery, I guess, is how he stayed so pretty. It probably had to do with his beautiful soul. He was a fierce fighter and he's a man of peace..." Meanwhile defense secretary Rumsfeld held the phone, delaying orders to Central Command for General Abizaid's go-ahead to blow up Mecca. Ali has become the administration's latest ploy to pretend this war isn't about skin color or religion. "Look, we love blacks and Muslims!" In a quick honorary display at the White House, Muhammad Ali publicly wasted his politics and years of effort and generosity, similar to Bono's show of quasi-patriotism at the Super Bowl half-time show in 2002.

In the same week President Bush attempted a blatant grab for hemispherical power by strong-arming countries opposed to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA): Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela. The original notion of creating a continent-wide free trade area was first put forth by Dubya's father in 1994. A free trade market would consolidate power to the US, as well as provide another extension of capitalist globalization. "Free trade" will allow freedom to big business, tax sheltering, subjugation of people in poor nations, gross nonrestricted injustices, and corporate hegemony.
Mexican President Vicente Fox stood with President Bush (as 10,000 protesters gathered outside) and told reporters and other nations in opposition to the U.S. led negotiations, that they would be left behind in the wake of prosperity. Bush later praised the Latino-imposter (actually a sunburned white businessman) who has consistently pressed the Bush administration to open borders with the "guest-worker" program.