Monday, January 01, 2007
ANNUS HORRIBILIS
January 1, 2007
ANNUS HORRIBILIS
2006 is drawing to a close, a truly annus horribilis for many.
Some of you may recall the description “annus horribillis” from HM QE II’s annual mumbling – a sort of State of the Union Jack speech she chirps out around Christmas: "1992 is not a year I shall look back on with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'annus horribilis'". Koficupcake Annan also used those words to describe 2004 without confessing whether the greasy look came from corruption in the oil for food scandal.
Yes, 2006 was an annus horribilis for George Bush who got his knickers in a knot over Saddam Hussein. And it was an annus horribilis for Saddam Hussein who got his neck in a knot as a result. Some days, you get up thinking it’ll be Sunni but you end up feeling like Shiite.
It has been reported that Saddam’s farewell letter to the Iraqi people, included (according to the translation in The Washington Post) the touching sentimental words: "I say goodbye to you, but I will be with the merciful God who helps those who take refuge in Him and God won't disappoint any honest believer."
Ah, but what of Dubya who believes that God put him here to fight this war at this time in this place? Does an honest believer have to surge once more to prove his belief?
Or is God just laughing her head off, having disappointed Saddam notwithstanding his claim to be an “honest believer?” Is God also laughing her head off at Dubya, having put Nancy Pelosi ahead of Condoleezza Rice in the Presidential succession line up?
Wouldn’t it be a gas if Nancy Pelosi, through some quirk of fate were to become the first woman President? That’d sure get Hillary’s knickers in a knot who has had her own Annus Horribilis with Barack Obama’s having sprung a charisma leak.
On the international stage, Tony Blair is hearing the blare of truth as his unintelligent twisting of intelligence makes him look like a Union Jackass. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is holding the whole world at bay as if they think he is radioactive. Come to think of it … hmmm.
So many people of note passed – some of advancing age, but altogether too many killed by violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and elsewhere.
2006 is not a year we will miss. I remain optimistic. Things can’t get worse, can they?
Well, in wishing you (and myself) well in 2007, I just pause to reflect that the country is being run by an anus horribilis.
Happy New Year!
Cheerz … Bwana.
ANNUS HORRIBILIS
2006 is drawing to a close, a truly annus horribilis for many.
Some of you may recall the description “annus horribillis” from HM QE II’s annual mumbling – a sort of State of the Union Jack speech she chirps out around Christmas: "1992 is not a year I shall look back on with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'annus horribilis'". Koficupcake Annan also used those words to describe 2004 without confessing whether the greasy look came from corruption in the oil for food scandal.
Yes, 2006 was an annus horribilis for George Bush who got his knickers in a knot over Saddam Hussein. And it was an annus horribilis for Saddam Hussein who got his neck in a knot as a result. Some days, you get up thinking it’ll be Sunni but you end up feeling like Shiite.
It has been reported that Saddam’s farewell letter to the Iraqi people, included (according to the translation in The Washington Post) the touching sentimental words: "I say goodbye to you, but I will be with the merciful God who helps those who take refuge in Him and God won't disappoint any honest believer."
Ah, but what of Dubya who believes that God put him here to fight this war at this time in this place? Does an honest believer have to surge once more to prove his belief?
Or is God just laughing her head off, having disappointed Saddam notwithstanding his claim to be an “honest believer?” Is God also laughing her head off at Dubya, having put Nancy Pelosi ahead of Condoleezza Rice in the Presidential succession line up?
Wouldn’t it be a gas if Nancy Pelosi, through some quirk of fate were to become the first woman President? That’d sure get Hillary’s knickers in a knot who has had her own Annus Horribilis with Barack Obama’s having sprung a charisma leak.
On the international stage, Tony Blair is hearing the blare of truth as his unintelligent twisting of intelligence makes him look like a Union Jackass. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is holding the whole world at bay as if they think he is radioactive. Come to think of it … hmmm.
So many people of note passed – some of advancing age, but altogether too many killed by violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and elsewhere.
2006 is not a year we will miss. I remain optimistic. Things can’t get worse, can they?
Well, in wishing you (and myself) well in 2007, I just pause to reflect that the country is being run by an anus horribilis.
Happy New Year!
Cheerz … Bwana.
