Drones and Davis

The Drone War that George Bush declared and Barack Obama escalated on Western Pakistan is at a temporary standstill.  Is it over?  By no means--in fact, the hard numbers prove quite the contrary.  Each successive year, the number killed has increased as noted in prior updates.

2004: 5
2005: 7
2006: 23
2007: 77
2008: 313
2009: 724
2010: 993
2011: 47 (to date)

Total: 2189
Bush Era: 413
Obama Era: 1776

The latest attack took place on Jan 23 2011.  Three drone strikes allegedly killed 13 in North Waziristan towns of Doga Mada Khel and Mando Khel. Although, Pakistani intelligence officials claimed the dead were militants, it is quite obvious the locals on the ground felt otherwise.  Up to 2000 protesters decried that the attacks killed civilians, including women and children.  Of course, the international media coverage of this was lacking, as the event was not as glamorous as the ouster of a Tunisian dictator.  With missile strikes raining down upon their villages, the protesting crowd was not endorsing America.  Not exactly an effective method to win the "hearts and minds" of those perceived to be against us.


Unless you have been living under a rock, educate yourself by watching Jersey Shore or are just  geopolitically-challenged, you have heard of Raymond Davis.  Davis is a former US Special Forces agent, who also owns Hyperion Protective Consultants LLC--a company that provides "loss and risk management professionals." (Dave Lindroff asserts that this is a phantom business and offers a very interesting summary and perspective of events)

To summarize, on Jan 27 2011, Davis shot and killed two Pakistani men in Lahore. The ensuing chaos resulted in the death of another person by a vehicle that accompanied him.  Davis was apprehended by Pakistani authorities and upon arrest he proclaimed diplomatic immunity.  This was backed up by statements that followed of the United States.  There has been much debate over the authenticity of his diplomatic status leading to a quasi-standoff between America and its ally, Pakistan.  Some neutral observers believe this "standoff" is being orchestrated for the consumption of the Pakistani public. Recently, Pakistan has stated it will make a decision on Davis's status within three weeks.  The exact nature of business of Davis is under considerable debate:  private security contractor/mercenary or CIA operative.  The fact that he was armed and allegedly had sensitive information regarding the tribal areas in northwest Pakistan, where drone attacks occur, further complicate matters (the Times of India has speculated that he runs the drone program).

Davis and the US claim the men he shot were thieves in the process of attacking him--something that is clearly not believed by the Pakistani public, given Davis's credentials.  Recently, Pakistani officials leaked to ABC News that the two men killed were ISI (Pakistani special intelligence) agents.  If so, were they tracking Davis?  Was it espionage deal gone awry?  Few know the answer to this.  Official reports have Davis currently in a full security prison in Lahore. Conflicting, leaked reports have him living in luxury with access to television, mobile phone and alcohol--a banned substance in Pakistan.  Like many aspects of this case, it is unclear if this is true, but it has further infuriated the average Pakistani.

As Pakistan is assessing Davis's state of immunity, the US has been applying both public and private pressure to have him released.  John Kerry has visited Pakistan and assures that Davis will be prosecuted in America.  There have been quiet threats of suspending the $2 billion in military aid to Pakistan and the cancellation of a would-be meeting between Hillary Clinton and the Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.  Pakistan holds some leverage (the possession of Davis) but clearly the upper hand resides with the US. This is true considering that the Pakistan governmental hierarchy is strongly aligned, even co-opted by America.  There have been some cries amongst the Pakistani public to exchange Davis for Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national convicted of terrorism by American court serving an 86 year sentence in a Texas prison.  Most Pakistanis believe she was innocent of the crimes--but such a swap borders on the impossible given that the Pakistani government also considers her a criminal and has expressed no desire for her return or freedom.

Given the strong cooperation between the US and Pakistan regimes, the prediction is that Davis will be released in due time to American custody.  Such a release, without any concessions by the US, will inevitably create a firestorm on a Pakistani street that is quite invested in this case. There are strong feelings that these were unjustified illicit killings, even assassinations, of their fellow countrymen. Relatives of one of the deceased has publicly called for Davis to be hanged. Furthermore, a spouse of one of those killed, has committed suicide--in despair, over a perceived lack of justice. What exactly the concession will be (assuming Davis is released), if there is one, is unknown. The Pakistani public is far more demanding than its government--it is within the realm of  possibility that Davis may have already been transferred to US authorities, if not for the backlash.  Journalist Jeremy Scahill echoed Pakistani sentiment on Twitter: "Serious question:  What would the US do if a Pakistani 'diplomat' shot two FBI agents on US soil?"

The one item of note--is the complete absence of drone attacks since the beginning of this ordeal.  As mentioned, the most recent drone attack occurred on Jan 23.  The Davis incident took place on Jan 27.  It has been 25 days since the last bombing and given their frequency, it is likely more than a coincidence.  Is this the concession the US is willing to make?  Highly doubtful--but it seems to be at least a negotiating tactic as this drama plays out.  Of course, this could be a moot point if Obama authorizes a drone sortie tomorrow.

Rewriting History

Hosni Mubarak.

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Two of North Africa's most feared tyrants sacked in a span of weeks--a thought that would be considered unthinkable as little as a month ago.  In one of the most remarkable moments in modern history, nonviolent movements in both Egypt and Tunisia resulted in the toppling of two regimes that held power for a combined 54 years.  Young and old, educated and poor, religious and secular, Muslim and Christian--people came out in droves to demand basic human rights:  freedom, equality, justice.  A perfect storm of unity and the restoration of humanity.  It is not a leap to state that these events are of the greatest political consequence since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Will Egypt transition to a representative government?
Will the future leader of Tunisia be co-opted by Western powers?
Will the fledgling democracies anticipated be wrought with corruption and abuse?
Will there be an uptick in the economic welfare of the average citizen?
Is this the dawn of a new era or false hope?

Predicting the answers to these questions is impossible.  What is not impossible to predict, is how the United States will rewrite history and portray its role in the downfall of these despicable autocrats.

Since 1979, America has written checks to the dictators in Egypt amounting over $64 billion or the GDP of Serbia and Panama combined.  Like Mubarak, Tunisia's Ben Ali was also supported by US military aid and assistance totaling up to $631 million.  These official numbers are in addition to any underhanded gifts and bribes that undoubtedly changed hands.  The Jasmine Revolution (Tunisia) and particularly, the 25 January Revolution (Egypt) exposed the bipartisan American support for some of the most evil regimes in the world--regimes that engaged in torture, rendition, the stifling of freedoms--of speech, the press, and to gather.  It should be understood in no uncertain terms, that Mubarak and Ben Ali were "America's guys" from Reagan to Obama with every Bush and Clinton in between.

As a swelling mass of daily protesters challenged Hosni Mubarak in the now legendary Tahrir Square in central Cairo, the Obama administration kept sending mixed messages in support of Mubarak.  Hillary Clinton hit the Sunday morning talk show circuit and showed her gratitude to the appointment of a vice president (an unoccupied position in Egyptian government).  That vice president, Omar Suleiman, was better known as America's torture coordinator.  A henchman who oversaw rendition, personally engaged in torture and negotiated the closure of the Rafah border in southern Gaza with Israel (a highly unpopular move amongst the Egyptian populace).  The CIA once requested a DNA sample from an Egyptian to determine if he was related to a wanted person.  Suleiman offered to cut off an entire arm from that person to provide that sample.  This was the guy that Obama praised as a suitable successor--and this was also the same guy wholly rejected by the Egyptian populace as a candidate for their leader.

As it became increasing clear to the public that the despots allied with the United States were anything but benevolent, it became difficult for the American government to overtly support them.  However, it was more than obvious that they made their attempts to maintain the status quo and its benefits:  use of the Suez Canal, access to natural resources and Israeli security.  These items far outweighed the freedom and well-being of Egyptian citizenry.  Controlling a "strongman" is certainly easier than manipulating a government reflective of the voice of the people.  Thus, the following statements emerged during the #Jan25 Revolution:

Tony Blair, former British PM:  [Mubarak is] "immensely courageous and a force for good"


Frank Wisner, Obama Special Envoy to Egypt: "The President (Hosni Mubarak) must stay in office to steer those changes through. I therefore believe that President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical"


Joe Biden, US Vice President: "Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things. And he's been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interest in the region, the Middle East peace efforts; the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing relationship with -- with Israel. ... I would not refer to him as a dictator."


Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State: "...I think it's important to follow the transition process announced by the Egyptian government, actually headed by vice-president Omar Suleiman."

Robert Fisk of the Independent characterized the situation:  "One of the blights of history will now involve a U.S. president who held out his hand to the Islamic world and then clenched his fist when it fought a dictatorship and demanded democracy."  It should be noted, and not just inferred, that America held incredible leverage over the likes of Mubarak and Ben Ali as they bankrolled their dominions.  At a time when the desires of the Egyptian people coincided with basic liberties purported by the United States Constitution, Obama and the West clearly turned their back on them.


Unfortunately, as the historic lessons of the past foretell, the actual facts will likely be muddied for personal gain and to avoid historic blemish.  The lack of support by American leadership for amazing, near bloodless revolutions led by armies of young people, via Twitter and Facebook, will be forgotten.  False stories will be told.  Lies will be perpetuated by politicians: "We stood by them, hand in hand to see through democracy." 


The Tunisian populace will not buy into them. The people of Egypt will not buy into them.  It is of much greater importance for the world never to.  

Modern Day Hero

"Dear Western Governments, You've been silent for 30 years supporting the regime that was oppressing us. Please don't get involved now."

--Wael Ghonim, Egyptian Revolution leader on Twitter Feb 11 2011

Freedom is Never Given

Reggie or Ray?

Ali-Frazier, Brady-Manning, Gretzky-Lemiuex.  Some greats will always be remembered in pairs.  Add to that list, Reggie Miller and Ray Allen.  Although their careers intersected for only 9 years, they will always be compared.  They are the two best shooters in NBA history.  Miller turned shooting into an art form.  Ray Allen perfected it.  Who's better?

Reggie Miller entered the NBA in its heyday when Magic was still battling Bird, and Michael Jordan was emerging as the dominant force.  Miller was the backbone of the Indiana Pacers over his 18 year career and "the Man" there for near the entirety.  His elite skill was the three point shot and he knocked down 2560 of them at a 39.5% clip.  He obliterated the existing record of Dale Ellis (1719), one of the best pure shooters of all-time.  His best year behind the arc was in 1996-97 when the 3-point line was shortened and he knocked down 229 at a 42.7% rate.  He was able to take advantage of all 3 years the line was short--with 2 of his most prolific made 3's in that time span.  He shot over 40% 3 pointers for a combined 10 years.  Miller's highest scoring year was his third, 24.6ppg.  He averaged over twenty 5 other years and had a career average of 18.2ppg.  The most assists he ever had was only 4.0 in 1990-91 and the most rebounds, only 3.9 (twice).

On paper, Ray Allen obliterates Miller.  Allen averaged over 20ppg for 9 consecutive years, maxing out at 26.4 ppg in 2006-07 with Seattle.  After that peak year, he was traded to Boston, a team with two other big stars, dropping to an average of 17.4ppg.  Conceivably, and quite likely he would still be averaging over 20ppg (for a total streak of 12 years running) if he didn't have to sacrifice his stats on a better team.  His career average is 20.5ppg despite having lesser scoring opportunities over the previous 3 years.  This is an adjustment Miller never had to make as he was on Indiana his whole career, in the same system and pecking order.  Despite the arrival of very talented players like Jermaine O'Neal, there were no superstars that forced him to limit his scoring potential.  Again Allen, was mainly a scorer but in 2002-03 averaged 5.6rpg and 5.9apg far surpassing the best of Miller's years.  Allen also holds the higher career averages in rebounding, assists and steals.  As for the 3 ball, Allen is one short of Miller's career record, sitting at 2559.  He's on pace to break this Thursday night versus the Lakers at the Garden.  His 3 point shooting percentage at 39.8 is a hair above Miller's 39.5.  Allen played only his rookie year with the shortened 3 line and made 117 of them.  He happened to make more 3's than that 13 other times (with the reinstituted longer 3 point line) in his career with a peak in 2005-06 at 269.  He needs to only make 5 more this year to surpass that 117 again and the season has over 30 games left.  So whereas Miller's feasted on 3 pointers with a ridiculously shortened line, Allen never really had the opportunity to cherry pick and inflate his stats when the 3 point line was high schoolesque.

Both guys have been amazing at the free throw line.  Allen has a career 89.3% FT to-date, and Miller finished at 88.8%. Allen remained a ridiculously consistent 89.6% during the playoffs and in typical Reggie style, he upped the ante to 89.3% (okay, so you're not that impressed by a 0.5% increase).  Allen averaged 19.5ppg in the second season and Miller increased his scoring to 20.6ppg.  So, yes Miller improved his scoring in the playoffs and Allen dipped but it should be noted that almost half of Allen's playoff years and a significant majority of his playoff games came as a Celtic, where he was the second or third scoring option.



Without a doubt, Reggie Miller is known for being absolutely clutch in the playoffs.  He is immortalized in the Association for his 8 points in 11 seconds vs the Knicks in 1995 as well as the 25 point 4th quarter explosion in 1994 vs the Knicks, again, in the playoffs.  The Knicks actually came back and won that series but that has been largely forgotten when recounting Reggie lore.  Ray's playoff heroics are less memorable but his championship-clinching Game 6 performance in 2008 vs the Lakers can never be forgotten:  26 points, 7-9 from three point land.  Unfortunately, his choke job in 2010 (0-13 Game 3) largely erased the memories of 2008 and completely erased that of his record 8 3-pointers (Game 2, 2010).  Reggie's legacy is thus far more memorable--unfairly or not.

Despite being amazingly clutch and the two best shooters of all-time, neither has been good enough to be "the Man" on a team and take it to a title.  Miller was never surrounded by elite talent unless you consider the Flying Dutchman aka Rik Smits to be All-Pro material.  The Davis Brothers, Chuck Person, Jalen Rose, Jermaine O'Neal and Mark Jackson were all excellent players--but Reggie at his peak was better than all of them.  It is one of the reasons he never won a championship.  Had he been a second fiddle to somebody better from his era like Shaq or Barkley, he may have had a few rings.  The closest he came to achieving that was in 2000, when he had a phenomenal run with a playoff 24ppg, only to become the sacrificial lamb to the Shaq-Kobe Chainsaw Massacre, Part 1.

Allen was not blessed with superstar teammates either (until the Celtics of course)--Big Dog Glen Robinson was a solid scorer and helped Allen to propel the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000-01 and losing to the Sixers (which was all for the better, because they would undoubtedly be the goat to be sacrificed for the Shaq-Kobe Chainsaw Massacre, Part 2).  He had a decent Rashard Lewis in Seattle, but again, Allen was better than him and the remaining spare parts were like that of a Kia.  Ultimately, Ray Allen was traded to Boston where he teamed with superstars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and obtained the ring that eluded him.  It's not a knock on Allen or Miller that they were unable to be the lead guys on a championship team--only the most elite of players are in that category:  Jordan, Magic, Bird, Shaq, Kobe, Hakeem, Duncan, etc.  The 2004 Detroit Pistons are the exception--but that was largely due to the Lakers implosion as opposed to the Piston's success.



It should be noted that Miller played his entire career with the Pacers and is the best player in team history.  He's a legend and teams had to primarily and specifically game plan against him.  Everybody knew he was going to get the ball at the end of the game and he reviled in it.  He went toe-to-toe with Jordan at a time when few dared, and challenged him head-on when most collapsed in fear.  He helped build the Bulls-Pacers rivalry, and took over the Knicks-Pacers feud.  He pulverized Patrick Ewing and made Spike Lee look plain silly.  Reggie Miller was the Pacers.

Ray Allen* was traded two times--and never will go down as the best player in the history of the Bucks (Kareem), Supersonics (Gary Payton) or Celtics (Russell/Bird).  Reggie Miller could never have been traded--although like Allen, perhaps it would have been ultimately better for his career.  He may have won a championship as a Laker or Spur sharpshooter but at the cost of iconic status in Indianapolis.  Aside from shooting, Allen's game is arguably better with his ability to get to the rim and finish.  However, Miller's ability to get to the free throw line was only matched by the truly elite superstars in the game.  Both relied on a series of frenzied picks to create their best shots.  Reggie's shot was one of the most unorthodox in history, further adding to his legendary status.  Ray's shot is pure artistry--exactly textbook, an obvious result of endless practice and a maniacal 4 hour pregame, warm-up regimen.

Reggie's last few years were watered down with diminished output but he remained a late-game assassin.  Ray Allen is still going strong much later in his career--some of this is due to new advanced conditioning techniques, but much of it unquestionably due to his largely undiminished skill set.  And as pointed out earlier, much of his current statistical "decline" is a function of his secondary/tertiary status on the Celtics.  At age 35, he is averaging 17.5ppg, 50.7% FG (career-high), 46.2% 3 point (career-high).  Arguably one of the best years of his career in his 15th season.

Reggie Miller has meant more to the league--largely due to playoff heroics, his flair/persona and iconic status.  But when you really break it down, Ray Allen has had a better career and he can end the debate altogether if he keeps on going like this just a little bit longer.  Adding 3 pointers #2560 and #2561 will go a long way in pouring some cement to his argument.  And quite possibly Reggie Miller will be calling that game on TNT, Thursday night.

Who would I rather pay to watch?

Reggie Miller.  Hands down.

If somebody had a gun to my head, and the guy I picked needed to make the shot or I would die?

Ray Allen**  By a hair.


* Important to note that Ray Allen played Jesus Shuttleworth in He Got Game. Allen has a Hollywood status that Miller will never match--this somewhat negates that he was traded. Twice.  Perhaps Spike Lee knew that Miller-Allen was going to be a future debate and tabbed Allen, to get back at Reggie?  Miller roasted Lee's beloved Knicks in 1994 and 1995.  He Got Game debuted in 1998.  You need to consider this.

**Of course if it was 2010 NBA Finals, I would be six underground.

Addendum:  3000 3Point Field Goals Made is in play for Allen as is a possible Finals MVP.  Allen also has 10 All-Star appearances to Miller's 5.  Allen never took his team to the Finals as his team's alpha dog.  Miller did this once (as mentioned above).

Rashid Khalidi on Egyptian Situation

Really?

"The people gave me the responsibility of building the future of this nation. And I did it with honor."


--Hosni Mubarak

Our Son of a Bitch

Short video that explains America's relationships with a select few autocrats:

Face of Egypt

Chomsky Musings on Egypt

Fisk: Obama Administration Gutless

"One of the blights of history will now involve a U.S. president who held out his hand to the Islamic world and then clenched his fist when it fought a dictatorship and demanded democracy."


-- Robert Fisk

Colonialism Never Dies

"Oil is much too important a commodity to be left in the hands of the Arabs."


--Henry Kissinger

Return of the Thugs

The brutal pro-regime thugs of Mubarak are back.  This time, they came armed with knives, clubs, rocks and whips creating a medieval battle scene. Some even attacked innocent protesters on horse and camelback.  The United States' policy of propping and arming repressive autocrats in the Middle East is being quickly exposed.  Egypt is home to some of the worst acts of torture in modern history, and a stalwart on the Rendition Circuit.  Thus far, the statements and actions by the Obama Administration have been self-serving, appalling and reek of utter hypocrisy.

The Revolution is Televised

Egyptian protestors attempting to cross the Kasr al-Nil Bridge meet a water cannon in Cairo.

Gobble Gobble

This is one of the reasons why Terry Bradshaw can't spell "cat" even if you spotted him the first two letters:

Blake Griffin Drops 47

Best of Class

The following are my picks for the best players from each individual post-merger NBA Draft [(pick #) and selecting team]:

1977: Bernard King (7) New York Nets
1978: Larry Bird (6) Boston Celtics
1979: Magic Johnson (1) Los Angeles Lakers
1980: Kevin McHale (3) Boston Celtics
1981: Isiah Thomas (2) Detroit Pistons
1982: Dominique Wilkins (3) Utah Jazz
1983: Clyde Drexler (14) Portland Trail Blazers
1984: Michael Jordan (3) Chicago Bulls
1985: Karl Malone (14) Utah Jazz
1986: Dennis Rodman (27) Detroit Pistons
1987: Scottie Pippen (5) Seattle SuperSonics
1988: Mitch Richmond (5) Golden State Warriors
1989: Shawn Kemp (17) Seattle SuperSonics
1990: Gary Payton (2) Seattle SuperSonics
1991: Dikembe Mutombo (4) Denver Nuggets
1992: Shaquille O'Neal (1) Orlando Magic
1993: Chris Webber (1) Orlando Magic
1994: Jason Kidd (2) Dallas Mavericks
1995: Kevin Garnett (5) Minnesota Timberwolves
1996: Kobe Bryant (13) Charlotte Hornets
1997: Tim Duncan (1) San Antonio Spurs
1998: Dirk Nowitzki (9) Dallas Mavericks
1999: Manu Ginobili (57) San Antonio Spurs
2000: Michael Redd (43) Milwaukee Bucks
2001: Pau Gasol (3) Atlanta Hawks
2002: Amar'e Stoudemire (9) Phoenix Suns
2003: LeBron James (1) Cleveland Cavaliers
2004: Dwight Howard (1) Orlando Magic
2005: Chris Paul (4) New Orleans Hornets
2006: Brandon Roy (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
2007: Kevin Durant (2) Seattle SuperSonics
2008: Derrick Rose (1) Chicago Bulls
2009: Blake Griffin (1) Los Angeles Clippers
2010: John Wall (1) Washington Wizards

**Selections from 1999 onwards are subject to change due to injury and/or future performance

Black Rage

"I was 17 years old, being cheered on the basketball court but being called a 'nigger' by those same people on the street," he says. That summer riots erupted in Harlem. "I stepped off the subway right into the middle of it. It was chaos, wild, insane, and I just stood there trembling. Cops were swinging nightsticks at everybody, bullets were flying, windows were being smashed, people were stealing and looting. All I could think of was that I wanted to stay alive, so I took off running and I didn't stop till I was at 137th and Broadway, several blocks away. And then I sat huffing and puffing and pondering about what I'd seen, and I knew what it was: rage, black rage. The poor people of Harlem felt that it was better to get hit with a nightstick than to keep on taking the white man's insults forever. Right then and there I knew who I was and who I had to be. I was going to be black rage personified, black power in the flesh."

--Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The Jordan Before Jordan

David Thompson took the league to newer heights in the late 70s.  With a vertical leap of 44 inches, the Association was no longer horizontal.  A career sidetracked by nose candy and injury, David Thompson is often relegated to the footnotes of history.  But make no mistake--he set the stage and the standard, for the high flyers that followed.

You Got Served

Average ticket price to a Knicks game: $204,

Buying an authentic Lebron James Jersey: $300,

Sitting next to Jack at Staples for a Game 7: $80000,

Having seen the Reign Man in person:  Priceless

Shawn Kemp pulverizing and posterizing the Knicks at MSG in 1995 remains one of the most enduring sports memories of my youth. If you've ever wondered what the definition of a man-child is, watch the video above.