As always, my mailbag is bulging with urgent questions. Here’s 3 of the best:

As I die-hard liberal, you’ll defend anything that non-Americans do. What say you about the Somali pirates, 3 of whom were killed last week?

First, I do not defend the acts of the four men who were overtaken by Navy SEALS last week. That said, let’s not allow our indignation to obscure some key facts here. For decades, the Somalian people have seen their economic resources systematically exploited by North American and Europe. Somalian coastal waters have been used as illegal dumping grounds for the world’s toxic waster. Also, seafood, Somalia’s biggest resource, has been shamelessly stolen by large shipping vessels for nearly two decades. Since the war-torn country has no navy or coast guard, citizens must take matters into their own hands in order to protect their interests and recoup their losses. While this doesn’t defend the type of selfish and lawless piracy that took place last week, it does explain how our policies often force the hand of other nations.

There’s been a lot of talk about “enhanced interrogation techniques”. Should we use them to fight terrorism?

If by “enhanced interrogation techniques,” you are referring to intense procedures, with no long term effects, that are used to secure vital information from terrorists, I’m all for it. After all, you can’t get Al-Qaeda to spill the beans by tickling them. If, however, you’re referring to the inhumane forms of abuse that were authorized under the Bush Administration in violation of the Geneva Convention and the Convention against torture then the answer is no. In addition to being unethical, there is no compelling evidence that torture produces the outcomes proponents  promise. Also, by engaging in acts that we’ve previously criminalize –for example, Japanese soldiers were criminally charged by the US for the same waterboarding tactics that we endorse today– we compromise moral authority, respect, and security around the globe

Since you think you know everything else, why don’t give an NBA prediction?

Glad you asked! With Kevin Garnett out for the year, the Celtics simply don’t have the interior defense or front court presence to make it out of the East. The Magic, while talented, do not have the experience, consistent scoring, or rebounding necessary to win it all. Expect Lebron’s Cavaliers to slide into the Finals without much struggle. In the West, Kobe’s Lakers seem to have a similarly easy road, due to Tim Duncan’s gimpy legs and Portland’s immaturity. Expect the Lakers to squeak by the Cavs after seven of the most exciting (and profitable) championship series in recent memory.

Of Pirates & Piracy
By Mumia Abu-Jamal
[col. writ. 4/13/09]  (c) ‘09
In the news of late is the piracy drama off Africa’s horn — the eastern coast of Somalia.

All of a sudden, piracy is a problem, one needing military, if not global solutions.

Every petty politician is bum-rushing the mike, to spout off on how pirates are “thugs”, “criminals”, or the latest Western curse, ” terrorists”.

Such pronouncements almost always leave me cold, or, at best, ambivalent, for behind these events lie a history that cries out for clarity and perspective.

If piracy is a crime when individuals do it, what is it when states do it?

Who can deny that America was stolen and swindled from the Indians? Or that millions of people were stolen from Africa to work for them for centuries?

Is that piracy– or just plain policy?

Piracy did occur in the 17th and 18th centuries, and this was either cases of conflict between colonial powers (where British ‘privateers’, for example, would target and steal from Spanish ships), or simply in pursuit of profits.

The Somali state has been absent for a generation, and as such, what is today’s piracy but  making a living, albeit a dangerous one?

When Ethiopia was armed and egged on to invade Somalia several years ago by the Bush administration, was that state piracy?

When the U.S. invaded and occupied Iraq in 2003, removed it’s government, imposed its puppets, bombed its people, and ran a third of its population into exile, based on lies–was this piracy of one nation against another–or ‘national security?’

Pirates are retail; nations are wholesale.

Who are the ‘thugs’, the ‘criminals’, the real pirates?

To my knowledge, no band of pirates has ever stolen a nation.

Guess who has?

–(c) ‘09 maj

Please make sure that you answer this week’s poll question. It speaks to a pressing issue in our community that must be addressed ASAP.

Our Father, the Almighty God, popped His all-powerful head into First Presbyterian Church Sunday.

FAYETTEVILLE, NC—Parishioners at the First Presbyterian Church were left stunned and in awe of His glory Sunday, when the Lord God Almighty dropped by their 11 a.m. service unannounced.

“I AM the God of Abraham, the LORD MOST HIGH, who brought you forth from the bondage of Egypt,” God said unto church members, many of whom cowered in reverent fear of Him. “Thought I’d just pop in and see how things were going. Please, pretend like I’m not even here.”

The Supreme Being then thanked the choir for its “lovely introduction” and took a seat to the right of the altar.

According to wholly repentant witnesses, who were scarcely able to look upon the Alpha and Omega, much less conceive of the enormity of His Might, God did not speak again for the entirety of the service, but was seen nodding approvingly during the Nicene Creed.

Attendees reportedly did not ask the One Who Made Them Flesh why He had chosen to visit their small parish, though some suspected the church’s new electric organ might have had something to do with it.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Today’s photo of the day shows Condoleeza Rice, According to reports released by the Senate Intelligence Committee, Rice verbally approved the CIA’s request to use waterboarding against Al Qaeda leader Abu Zubaydah. I fear that Rice is quickly becoming the public scapegoat for a sophisticated torture regime that took place under the Bush Administration.Two questions: 1) Should Condi be taking the blame for this; and 2) Do you believe that torture should be used against terror suspects?