sheer potentiality

I just had an interesting IM conversation regarding Guantanamo Bay, which on this date in 1903, was leased to the United States:

Mike Klein: On this date in 1903, Guantanamo Bay was “perpertually leased” to the US.
Mike Klein: Isn’t that just like buying?
Philip Welch: haha
Philip Welch: not quite
Philip Welch: Cuba retained ownership, but the US has everything else
Mike Klein: What does “ownership” mean, then?
Mike Klein: do we pay cuba?
Philip Welch: we might
Philip Welch: hey, you’re the lawyer here!
Philip Welch: I do have another question about that, though.
Mike Klein: go on…
Philip Welch: The terms of the agreement state that Guantanamo Bay can only be ceded back to Cuba by mutual agreement or by American abandonment
Philip Welch: Doesn’t that mean that Guantanamo Bay can only be ceded back to Cuba when the US says so?
Mike Klein: Yes, of course.
Philip Welch: I mean, it doesn’t matter what Cuba thinks.
Mike Klein: No, it doesn’t.
Mike Klein: Ingenious!
Philip Welch: The “mutual agreement” bit is pretty much redundant.
Philip Welch: with the Guantanamo Bay treaty
Mike Klein: what the US says goes
Philip Welch: the clause that it goes back to Cuba by mutual agrreement between Cuba and the US
Philip Welch: is redundant
Mike Klein: really, cuba doesn’t own it anymore.
Mike Klein: if the US pays rent, would failure to pay rent be “abandonment”?
Mike Klein: i don’t think so
Mike Klein: so if we pay rent, we shouldn’t be
Philip Welch: we pay 2,000 gold coins per year
Philip Welch: which is slightly more than $4,000
Mike Klein: but why?
Philip Welch: Fidel Castro refuses to cash the rent checks
Mike Klein: are you being serious?
Philip Welch: he views the base as illegitimate
Philip Welch: the US has “complete jurisdiction and control” while Cuba has “ultimate soveriegnty”
Mike Klein: What does “ultimate sovereignty” mean?
Philip Welch: is it just me, or does this sound like a pair of six year olds making up names for magic powers that are supposed to be more powerful than each other?
Philip Welch: “Yeah, well *I* have complete jurisdiction and control?”
Philip Welch: “Oh yeah? Well *I* have ULTIMATE SOVEREIGNTY!”
Mike Klein: No, it sounds like the US making some Cuban schmuck think he’s not giving away the farm
Philip Welch: haha
Philip Welch: actually, Guantanamo Bay has one unique advantage, since it isn’t US soil, hypothetically, the government could set up a concentration camp there and not be subject to US law
Philip Welch: oh, wait
Philip Welch: shit

I hereby announce my candidacy for the as-yet nonexistent office of World Global Dictator. I would like to ask all existing governments and nations to have referendums and pass laws recognizing me as their Dictator. I also ask for your support and your vote when and if the time comes to install me.

I am campaigning on a platform of fiscal conservatism, a sensible health care policy, and an unyielding will to crush all who would oppose me. Please, vote Phil Welch for World Global Dictator.

I felt like making a political statement today:

Spread it around if you want, but link/credit me, please.

There was a rather beautiful sunset last night that I felt like sharing. If you think this is turning into a photoblog, you’re right.