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Hostage Douglas Wood rescued
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 2: WoT Background
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Arabia
Why al Qaeda Survives in Saudi Arabia
June 15, 2005: In Saudi Arabia, the government, for the first time, issued a warning of terrorist attacks against American housing compounds. In the past, Western governments had issued their own warnings, saying that they were relying on their own intelligence resources. But Saudi Arabia was reluctant to admit that Westerners living in the country were at risk. That has changed. Saudi Arabia has also, recently, been calling for world wide cooperation, and sharing, of intelligence on terrorism. Saudi Arabia now sees al Qaeda as a long term, and world wide, threat.

Saudi Arabia has cracked down hard on Islamic terrorism within its borders. But at the same time, millions of Saudis still support such terrorism, although nearly all Saudis are opposed to such terrorism within Saudi Arabia. Most Islamic radicals in Saudi Arabia are willing to abide by this unofficial rule. Thus several hundred Saudi men have gone to Iraq to fight. Some 42 percent of the suicide bombers in Iraq have been identified as Saudi.

But some of these Islamic terrorists continue to plot attacks within Saudi Arabia. Such terrorists have a hard time of it, as there are always enough Saudis willing to turn them in. But a few active terrorist cells continue to survive. For example, last month, two gunmen, disguised as women, tried to shoot their way into a mosque in the holy city of Mecca. The two were killed, as were two of the policemen who confronted them when the guns came out from beneath the women's clothing. Senior clerics in Mecca then denounced such terrorism. Yet many of these same clerics still support the things like destroying Israel, expelling all non-Moslems from Saudi Arabia and forcibly converting Shia Moslems to the mainline Sunni form. The government tolerates some of this talk, and only comes down hard on those who advocate terror attacks on civilians anywhere, especially Western countries that buy Saudi oil, and sell it weapons.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve || 06/15/2005 10:25 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  For the same reason India attracts Buddists, Churches attract Christians, San Fransisco attracts gays, etc.

Make an enviroment that encourages that mindset, the minders will come.
Posted by: mmurray821 || 06/15/2005 11:08 Comments || Top||

#2  Just read Dore Gold's "Kingdom of Hatred" and it'll explain everything.

I suggest the book on CD version, the first 4-5 CD's are good for insomniacs out there. Good stuff though.
Posted by: 98zulu || 06/15/2005 14:15 Comments || Top||

#3  It's like sucking chest wounds and blowflies. Perhaps it's just another coincidence.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 20:00 Comments || Top||


No Dispute With Yemen: Saud
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal yesterday denied suggestions that Egypt was mediating a dispute between Saudi Arabia and its southern neighbor Yemen. "There is no dispute between Saudi Arabia and Yemen and we have not requested any mediation in this matter," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the minister as telling reporters in Cairo. Prince Saud was in the Egyptian capital to hand a message from Crown Prince Abdullah to President Hosni Mubarak. "The message was within the framework of mutual consultation between the two countries on major developments in the Arab region," the prince said, adding that he was carrying a reply from Mubarak to the crown prince.
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Kingdom Free of Banned Nuke Activities
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Saudi Arabia does not possess any nuclear facilities or fissionable material and does not engage in any prohibited nuclear activities. "We don't have any information proving Saudi Arabia has any prohibited nuclear fissionable material," Okaz daily yesterday quoted IAEA spokesman Mark Gwozedecky as saying.
That's what Pakistan is for, the Saudi's outsourced the program.

He also said that Saudi Arabia was a leading IAEA member who supported the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Meanwhile, Saudi ambassador to Vienna and its permanent representative to IAEA, Omar Kurdi, said the Kingdom was ready to sign the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP) of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Gwozedecky said the Saudi government's decision to sign SQP and the safeguards agreement during the current meeting of IAEA governors in Vienna was a significant move. "This again confirms the Kingdom's commitment to international charters and the peaceful use of nuclear energy," he told the Arabic daily.
"Cuz there ain't nothing more peaceful than a bunch of dead infidels"
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hey, Fred - how about a "Mr. Magoo" graphic for all IAEA-related stories?

Posted by: PBMcL || 06/15/2005 0:11 Comments || Top||

#2  Parfait. 'Tis done.
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 9:17 Comments || Top||

#3  Thx! :)
Posted by: PBMcL || 06/15/2005 21:28 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Basayev planned suicide plane attack long before 9/11
Chechen rebels planned to fly an airplane into the Kremlin 10 years ago, a top prosecutor said this week as Russia marked the 10th anniversary of the Shamil Basayev-led raid on Budyonnovsk where hundreds of civilians were taken hostage in June 1995.

"The Prosecutor General's Office has reported that it has established the identity of 195 members of the Shamil Basayev gang, which committed the terrorist act in Budyonnovsk," the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily reported Wednesday.

"Investigators have acquired data on 195 members of the gang. 30 were eliminated, another 20 convicted," Deputy Prosecutor General Nikolai Shepel said.

An accomplice of the terrorists, Roza Dundayeva, testified that the gang originally intended to raid Mineralnye Vody in southern Russia but then the militants were forced to revise their plans, Shepel said.

"The former head of the Federal Counterintelligence Service, Sergei Stepashin, announced that according to his information, the terrorists intended to reach Mineralnye Vody, to hijack a plane and then fly into the Kremlin."
Posted by: Dan Darling || 06/15/2005 17:17 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


China-Japan-Koreas
Todays NKork Farm Report
Pyongyang, June 14 (KCNA) -- Charge d'Affaires a.i. Klaus Wendelberger and staff members of the German embassy here helped the Ryang Se Sik-led farm in the farm work on June 13. German guests were briefed on the monument to the field guidance given by leader Kim Jong Il before helping farmers in weeding paddy fields.
Looks like all the embassy folk are spending time out in the fields
During break they conversed with officials of the farm, deepening the friendship. Referring to the fact that the DPRK is focusing all its efforts on the farming this year, Klaus wished the farm greater success in its agricultural production.
"Good luck. You'll need it"

Pyongyang, June 14 (KCNA) -- The agricultural working people and helpers of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have wound up rice transplantation successfully on the main across the country by giving full play to collectivism. Lots of laudable collectivist deeds have been done in the socialist co-op fields under the slogan of "One for all and all for one!"
"Every man for himself!"
The slogan was set forth by President Kim Il Sung after the socialist system was established in the DPRK with the successful completion of the socialist transformation of the old production relations.
On June 1, farmers of the Migok Co-op Farm in Sariwon City, North Hwanghae Province, who had finished rice-transplantation, helped those of a neighbouring farm in their work without any rest. This collectivist spirit displayed in the Songun era has been spreading throughout co-op farms of the country including the Oguk Co-op Farm in Anak County, South Hwanghae Province, arousing agricultural working people in the efforts for a new upswing in production. It has been responded by all the people of the country.
Kim Hyok Jin, vice-minister of Agriculture, told KCNA that the beautiful deeds done by agricultural working people demonstrated once again the true feature of the Korean society in which the the leader, Party and masses are united in one mind. It is certain to win a victory in the agricultural sector when the advantage of the socialist collective economy is given to full play, he stressed.
The chief secretary of the Sinchon County, South Hwanghae Province, Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, said that the secret of the successful conclusion of the rice-transplantation in the most proper time is a demonstration of the advantage of the collective economy.
The members of the Migok Co-op Farm are resolved to counter the intensified moves of the U.S. imperialists to isolate and stifle the DPRK with the collectivist spirit and thus to adorn this significant year with a shining victory. The trait of collectivism has been brought into fuller play in the Songun era under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.
"And now, today's Farm Weather report. Take it away, Kim!"

Pyongyang, June 14, (KCNA) -- It hailed untimely in South Hamgyong Province in the northeastern part of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Between around 20:30 and around 21:00 on the 10th of June and between around 18:30 and around 19:30 on the next day heavy showers with hailstones fell once or twice in the overall inner highland of the province under the influence of the low atmospheric pressure traveling from the northeastern area of China.
According to the observation made by relevant weather stations the hailstones fell in Sinhung and Hongwon areas were as big as 25-30mm in diameter and those in Jangjin, Pujon, Hamhung and Jongphyong 5~10mm in diameter.
Posted by: Steve || 06/15/2005 11:02 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Yes, yes. Just some harmless intelligence gathering rice planting. Glad to help out.
Posted by: Klaus Wendelberger || 06/15/2005 12:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Where's my German farm worker
Posted by: Zimbabwan War Veteran || 06/15/2005 12:26 Comments || Top||

#3  the secret of the successful conclusion of the rice-transplantation in the most proper time is a demonstration of the advantage of the slavery-based collective economy
Way to do lots of laudable collectivist deeds, dood
Posted by: Spot || 06/15/2005 13:48 Comments || Top||

#4  Lots of laudable collectivist deeds have been done in the socialist co-op fields under the slogan of "One for all and all for one!"
"Every man for himself!"


ROFLMAO! Sometimes I thinker I could be like green man, but it's lines like the above that make me realize Ima still in the instructional league.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 15:43 Comments || Top||

#5  but it's lines like the above that make me realize Ima still in the instructional league.
Old fashioned education, bad movies, tv and sci-fi novels and years of heavy drinking made me the man I am today.
Posted by: Steve || 06/15/2005 16:17 Comments || Top||

#6  Steve, that's what we respect about you, lol.
Posted by: Spot || 06/15/2005 17:07 Comments || Top||

#7  What heinous misdeed do you have to commit to end up as charge d'affaires for your country's embassy in North Korea?
Posted by: SteveS || 06/15/2005 21:28 Comments || Top||


Down Under
Australia signs three deals with Pakistan
Pakistan and Australia have signed three agreements on security, agriculture and investment, said Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Howard met with Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, who is on a three-day tour of Australia. "We discussed the opportunities for further education links, particularly the provision of some scholarships by Australia to Pakistani students and also the expansion of trade and investment links," Mr Howard told reporters. "We also witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding - one on counter-terrorism, one on agriculture and one on fostering ties between the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and its counterpart body in Pakistan, designed to provide greater protection for investors."
Posted by: Spavirt Pheng6042 || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "We discussed the opportunities for further education links, particularly the provision of some scholarships by Australia to Pakistani students."

Words fail.

Posted by: gromgoru || 06/15/2005 0:17 Comments || Top||

#2  Amen, gromgoru - this is PC-idiocy doing the amok thingy.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 4:18 Comments || Top||


Europe
More on the Spanish arrests
Spanish police arrested 16 suspected Islamist militants on Wednesday, including 11 followers of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and men preparing to become suicide bombers, Spain's Interior Ministry said in a faxed statement, according to published reports.

It was the second European sweep in the last two days against suspected supporters of the Iraqi insurgency, following Germany's arrest of three Iraqis on Tuesday.

11 of the terror suspects were reportedly part of a support group for a Syrian-based recruitment network for attacks on U.S. and allied forces, and some of them had said they themselves wanted to become "martyrs for Islam" and were awaiting orders to do so, the Interior Ministry said.

Most of the 11 are reported to be Moroccan and nearly all of them sold drugs and committed robberies to finance the network, according to published reports.

Some of the remaining suspects could be implicated in the March 11, 2004, Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people and injured more than 1,500, according to the statement today.

Investigations in Spain, Italy, Germany and Sweden suggest Ansar al-Islam -- a group with which the United States linked Zarqawi before the Iraq invasion -- has emerged as the most prominent militant group engaged in recruitment.

Spanish police broadened their anti-terrorist investigations after suspects who helped plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S. were discovered in Spain, and following evidence found after the Madrid attacks led to Moroccan and other Islamic involvement.

More than 500 security officers took part in the Spanish crackdown in Madrid, eastern Spain, the Andalucia region in the south of the country and in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Morocco, the ministry said.
Posted by: Dan Darling || 06/15/2005 15:07 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


1st ID Battalion cases colors for stateside transfer
KATTERBACH, Germany — The 1st Infantry Division began its long farewell to Europe as its AH-64A Apache attack helicopter battalion cased its colors Monday for the last time on German soil. More than 100 soldiers stood at attention for the sheathing of the flag of the Big Red One's 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, then relaxed for a low- key farewell dinner of sandwiches, chips and cake.
Just five months after returning from a yearlong tour of Iraq, the unit is dissolving. Later this summer it will re-form at Fort Hood, Texas, with new soldiers for a long-planned year of training on the advanced AH-64D Longbow Apache. After that, 1-1 Aviation will fly its Longbows to a new home that hasn't been officially disclosed. Members of the unit presume it will be Fort Riley, Kan., identified by the Pentagon as the future headquarters of the 1st ID, which currently is based in WÃŒrzburg. It will be the first European piece of the Big Red One to move back to U.S. soil. "We close this chapter of 1-1 Aviation history," said Col. Walter Golden, commander of the division's aviation brigade, "but much more lies ahead."
According to its unit history, the battalion was activated at Fort Riley on Feb. 15, 1957, as a fixed-wing, light-transport unit. It got its first helicopters in October 1965, just in time for deployment to Vietnam. Inactivated five years later, it re-formed in 1981 and fielded Apaches in April 1990. During the Persian Gulf War, 1-1 Aviation spearheaded the VII Corps assault into Iraq. It moved from Fort Riley to Katterbach in 1996, deploying to the Balkans for peacekeeping missions in 1996-97 and 1999-2000.
Lt. Col. David Moore took command June 3, 2002, for an extraordinary three-year tour that saw the unit deploy to Hungary and Kosovo before heading to Iraq early last year for a yearlong tour. In Iraq, the unit flew 1,500 missions and 14,000 combat hours while earning a Valorous Unit Award and suffering no casualties. Moore said it is the last active-duty Army unit still flying the old model Apaches. He said about two-thirds of the 1-1 Aviation's personnel already have moved to other units since the division's stop-loss/stop-movement order was lifted last month. Those left behind will help pack the battalion's gear and ship it to Fort Hood.
To the soldiers still here, it is strange to see their wartime unit go away. "It's kind of sad — the colonel was crying, too," said Spc. Ian Maharaj, 22, of Hyattsville, Md. "It's definitely weird, unique," added Pfc. Denise Monroe, 20, of Crown Point, Ind. "I'll probably never go through this again." Spc. Alix Cassagnol has been in the Army only three years, but this is the second time his unit has dissolved right after a wartime deployment. "This time it's harder, because I knew what was going to happen," Cassagnol said. "It's like losing a part of the family."
Posted by: Steve || 06/15/2005 12:13 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  More withdrawals from Europe, faster. The Euros can afford to defend themselves and we need the units elsewhere. And God only knows how much we could save by shutting down the European bases.
Posted by: Jonathan || 06/15/2005 13:21 Comments || Top||

#2  Heh, calling Rummy God...
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 15:44 Comments || Top||

#3  It is not nearly as bad now as it was during the long 90's force reduction. If you think it hurts to see your wartime units go away, how about watching your airplanes chopped into pieces as part of the START II agreement. The unit names may stay, but the new mission could be radically different. The 97th Bomb Wing is now the 97th Air Mobility Wing flying C-5s instead of B-17s, B-29s. and B-52s. Not many air mobility wings have a patch with a flaming spear.
Posted by: RWV || 06/15/2005 15:57 Comments || Top||

#4  That said, welcome home soldiers and thanks for a job well done.
Posted by: RWV || 06/15/2005 15:57 Comments || Top||

#5  Message for TGA: Be on time so as to catch the last flight out. ;)
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 06/15/2005 17:33 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Vote on flag desecration may be 'cliffhanger'
The Senate may be within one or two votes of passing a constitutional amendment to ban desecration of the U.S. flag, clearing the way for ratification by the states, a key opponent of the measure said Tuesday.

"It's scary close," said Terri Schroeder of the American Civil Liberties Union, which opposes the amendment. "People think it's something that's never going to happen. ... The reality is we're very close to losing this battle." and after that they may even go after our Sacred Giant Puppets!
Congress regularly has debated the issue since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a Texas flag desecration law in 1989 and its own Flag Protection Act the next year. But until now, it has failed to muster the two-thirds vote needed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before states try to ratify the measure.

Next week, the House will vote on the amendment for a seventh time. If history is a guide, it will pass for a seventh time. That's when the spotlight switches to the Senate, where the amendment has always died.

But this time may be different. Amendment supporters say last year's election expanding the Senate Republican majority to 55 has buoyed their hopes for passage. Five freshmen senators - Richard Burr of North Carolina, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, John Thune of South Dakota and David Vitter of Louisiana - voted for the amendment as House members and plan to do so again.

They will be joined by at least five Democrats who have co-sponsored the resolution, including Dianne Feinstein of California and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Both are up for re-election next year.

Not all senators have publicly declared their support or opposition.

In 2000, when the Senate last took up the matter, 63 voted for the amendment, four short of a two-thirds majority.

"We're going to have deeper support for this, and the intensity is growing," Thune said Tuesday, which was Flag Day. "There's momentum."

Norm Ornstein, a political analyst at the business-oriented American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, says he expects "a cliffhanger." He says Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is eager to bring up the issue, and some Democrats may be too nervous to oppose it.

Scenes of foreigners burning American flags may be common on TV, but such desecration is rare in this country. The Citizens Flag Alliance, an advocacy group that supports a constitutional amendment, reports a decline in flag desecration incidents, with only one this year.

Still, "it's important that we venerate the national symbol of our country," said Sen. Orrin Hatch (news, bio, voting record), R-Utah, the amendment's chief sponsor. "Burning, urinating, defecating on the flag - this is not speech. This is offensive conduct."

The Senate Judiciary Committee may not hold a hearing until around the July Fourth holiday, and a floor vote hasn't been scheduled.

University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato is skeptical about the amendment's prospects. "They may come close," he says, "but I would put good money on the likelihood that, once again, it won't be sent to the states."

If it is, though, "it is almost a foregone conclusion that the states would ratify" the amendment, says John Vile, a constitutional law expert at Middle Tennessee State University and editor of Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties in America.

Every state legislature has passed resolutions urging Congress to send them a constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration. Still, such resolutions aren't binding, and "that doesn't necessarily mean it would pass in the states," says Heather Morton, of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

A poll released last week by the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center in Nashville found 63% oppose a flag amendment, up from 53% last year.

"Clearly, more Americans are having second thoughts about using a constitutional amendment to" instill respect for the flag, said Gene Policinski, the center's executive director. "Many Americans consider it the ultimate test of a free society to permit the insult or even desecration of one of the great symbols of the nation." sure it is. right after protecting the giant puppets.
Posted by: too true || 06/15/2005 12:42 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In Australia it is illegal to 'blaspheme' or to insult a religion. It is illegal for me to rip up a koran and crap on it in public. Gotta do it in private.

Yet the flag is not protected....

If you pass this law, it may open the door to other legislation that you will not like. You will fill prisons with people who desecrated a piece of cloth.

As much as I love America and loathe those who desecrate the flag, I hate Australian laws that deny me freedom of speech and expression. DOn't become more like us!!!

No, it should be legal to burn the US flag, but also to burn a Koran. Thus you can have your right of reply! After all they are both just symbols.
Posted by: anon1 || 06/15/2005 13:07 Comments || Top||

#2  I'd just as soon not see this pass. Instead, allow severe beatings without criminal repercussions for the burners.
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 13:59 Comments || Top||

#3  It's a matter of balance Anon,
We have to sit here in the states and listen to a bunch of liberal sissy-boys cry about koran abuse when we are in a fight for our lives. Yet, we also have to watch news clip on the communist news network (CNN) of arab assholes ripping up a flag in the middle of N.Y. city. Something is askew here, do you really feel at a disadvantage in Australia because you cannot publically blaspheme a religion? I think we need to be a little more like Australia, I think having a little bit more orderly of a society wouldn't hurt us a bit. I'm just one guy talking here, but not being able to commit wildly outrageous acts in public wouldn't make me feel like I was living in communist china.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 06/15/2005 14:23 Comments || Top||

#4  Nope. I don't care for this law, and certainly not as a Constitutional amendment. In my view of the Constitution, the amendments are to clarify what the Government may or may not do ("Congress shall make no law..."), and details about how it is to operate (voting age, income tax, presidential succession). IIRC, the sole Amendment that attempted to regulate what the People may or may not do was #18, Prohibition. That was a dismal failure and had to be repealed.

A friend of mine says that if the amendment banning the burning of the US flag (red/white/blue, 50 stars, 13 stripes) goes into effect, we will be able to read by the light of the burning 49-star, 17 stripe, pink/green/yellow flags.

I tend to agree. I also note that in the Yahoo news version of the story, they show a burka clad woman in Sadr City holding a burning flag. (It's the year anniversary of Tater and the Tots laying down arms, heh.) How is that supposed to be 'cured' by this stupid amendment?
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 14:44 Comments || Top||

#5  I disagree with the idea of criminalizing flag burning, period. It puts the flag -- a symbol -- into the same category as a Koran -- a magic talisman, maybe an idol, certainly a symbol of superstitious belief.

On the other hand, we Americans do love our flag because it's the symbol of all that's great and good about our country, along with Mom and Apple Pie and Baseball. Its desecration should certainly provide mitigating circumstances to anyone who happened to thump knobs on the head of its desecrators.

I can live with "desecrate the flag at your own risk" a lot better than I can live with "treat the flag like Mooselimbs treat the Koran."
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 14:46 Comments || Top||

#6  Even if this does pass(which I hope it doesn't), it's not the end of the world. Prosecuters aren't going to send people to jail over "cloth", maybe a fine at the very worst. My guess is that most of the times this is reported to police nothing will be done. There are FAR more important matters than arresting a flag-burner.
Posted by: Charles || 06/15/2005 14:58 Comments || Top||

#7  I see room for compromise here. Allow them to burn the flag but decriminalize the offense of beating the shit out of the flag burners. Also should one light him or herself up while burning the flag like our famous Pakistani friend, make it illegal to put him out.
Posted by: tu3031 || 06/15/2005 15:22 Comments || Top||

#8  Let me get this straight, we're already handing out punishments in various forms for 'hate' speech, but we're getting our nits in a bind over the actual process of the 'will of the people' to make flag burning a criminal offense. The ACLU "It's scary close," doesn't ask the fundamental question why it is so close? You push the edge of the envelope too many times, you're going to pop it. And they - the ACLU - doesn't grasp that because they believe that the people should be ruled through an independent branch of government that is not accountable to the people. Rule through litigation, not consent.
Good, Bad, or Indifferent. If the people want it, the people get it. And the process is so involved and requires so much more than simple majorities, that you might as well throw any justification to rationalize true demoncratic self rule if you can not recognize it in action.
My two cents, it just a manifestation of our way to the American Civil War Part II. Lines are being drawn. People have stop talking to each other and are talking past each other. One side a long time ago decided not to compromise. The otherside is now taking the same posture, recognizing that further gesture of rational discourse are fruitless.
Posted by: Craigum Thineter6031 || 06/15/2005 15:46 Comments || Top||

#9  It's already illegal to burn a dollar bill. No one seems to have any trouble with that.
Posted by: Iblis || 06/15/2005 16:05 Comments || Top||

#10  Unconstitutional, on it's face.

Even congresscritters ought to have more sense.
Posted by: mojo || 06/15/2005 16:58 Comments || Top||

#11  Yep, Mojo gotter it. I'll piss on the flag if my bladder is full. It's cloth. I'll light my bong with bible leaves, it's a book. Get a grip folks. To damn much stylin and symolizin and not enough hard core believe.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 17:56 Comments || Top||

#12  If it is passed and ratified as an Amendment to the Constitution, it is *not* unConstitutional.

The folks flogging this bill *know* that the only way for it to become law is as an Amendment.

And I still don't like it.
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 18:00 Comments || Top||

#13  If I raked the leaves in the yard into the shape of a flag, would it be OK to burn them then?
Posted by: Jackal || 06/15/2005 19:28 Comments || Top||

#14  Lol. Bait. *wiggle* *wiggle*

;-)
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 19:30 Comments || Top||

#15  Jackal's on a tear.
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 19:42 Comments || Top||

#16  Sea, don't worry. The Supreme Court is in business to work out exactly this kind of conflict in the constitution. The SC will also have no problem nullifying it as the California SC does each Amendment or referendum it doesn't like.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 06/15/2005 20:41 Comments || Top||

#17  SC can not stop it if it becomes an admendment to the Constitution. Getting 2/3 of the states to ratify it will be hard.This is a bad law we can put are energy into to someelse like executing gitmo prisoners :)
Posted by: djohn66 || 06/15/2005 21:35 Comments || Top||

#18  I don't know about that, DJ66.

The USSC has ignored darned nearevery amendment.
1. Campaign Finance "reform"
2. Too many to list
3. Never challenged.
4. No-knock drug raids, the IRS, checkpoints...
5. Taking-through-regulation, the LAPD cops tried twice for Rodney King.
6. Sexual harassment and certain other crimes you can be convicted by "witness" you may not see or cross-examine.
7. Can you get a jury trial from the IRS when the amount is over $20? Heck, Parking Tickets are over $20. Can you get a jury for them? Or a minor (not DUI) traffic ticket?
8. Um, well, OK, I don't think this one has been grossly violated. In fact, probably they read too much into it.
9. Who knows?
10. Long gone. Growing your own wheat or pot is Interstate Commerce.
11. I don't know. I wouldn't doubt it.
12. OK. This one still stands.
13. A lot of people will disagree with Me here, but I think the Draft qualifies.
14. Section 2 was a dead letter. Congress had to pass the Voting Rights act because the courts ignored this. I'd like to see Section 3 apply to J. Forbes Kerry and a few others.
15. My copy doesn't say "Unless they're white males, of course," but the Court's does.
16. [sigh] If you could pick one amendment the Court should ignore...
17. Hmm. OK, I think.
18. Moot.
19. I don't think it's ever been challenged. I suspect the sex being abridged might make a difference should a case come up.
20. Never challenged.
21. I have to admit they've done OK on this one.
22. Never challenged.
23. I wish they would violate this one.
24. OK.
25. Never challenged.
26. Never challenged.
27. Hasn't been around long enough to violate.



Posted by: Jackal || 06/15/2005 22:53 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
The Family Business
Posted by: ed || 06/15/2005 14:54 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  America is divided between the vast majority who do not serve and the tiny minority who do.

BULLSHIT!

I just checked 2000 census report - 26 MILLION Americans are veterans of the armed services. That's 11.5% of the total US population. To my mind... 1 out of 10 of the population is not "a tiny minority". Typical MSM bullcrap.

Who do they think believes their crap anymore? Just typical.
Posted by: Leigh || 06/15/2005 15:04 Comments || Top||

#2  It's probably something 0.01% of the media employees.
Posted by: Jackal || 06/15/2005 22:53 Comments || Top||


WTC conspiracy nuts not restricted to Europe anymore.
A former Bush team member during his first administration is now voicing serious doubts about the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9-11.So, you want to run for public office, get a rational platform. Former chief economist for the Department of Labor during President George W. Bush's first term Morgan Reynolds comments that the official story about the collapse of the WTC is "bogus" and that it is more likely that a controlled demolition destroyed the Twin Towers and adjacent Building No. 7.Uh, yeah. What about all the camera crews that filmed live coverage of the jets slamming into the towers? Reynolds, who also served as director of the Criminal Justice Center at the National Center for Policy Analysis Policy Analysis, now we have our axe to be ground in Dallas and is now professor emeritus at Texas A&M University said, "If demolition destroyed three steel skyscrapers at the World Trade Center on 9/11, then the case for an 'inside job' and a government attack on America would be compelling."A case for you being dangerously insane would also be compelling Morgan Reynolds commented from his Texas A&M office, "It is hard to exaggerate the importance of a scientific debate debate? I'm debating wether you are retarded or just purposely trying to make a mockery of our nations worst tradjedy of my lifetime. over the cause of the collapse of the twin towers and building 7. If the official wisdom on the collapses is wrong, as I believe it is, then policy based on such erroneous engineering analysis is not likely to be correct either. The government's collapse theory is highly vulnerable on its own terms. Only professional demolition appears to account for the full range of facts associated with the collapse of the three buildings."
Except for the fact that: all this took place live, in front of an audience of millions, OBL admitted to planning it, there were no explosions after the planes hit, and the reasons given for the collapse seem perfectly plausible to anyone with a brainstem
But you're probably right dickweed, it's a big cover up. Why don't you move to Germany or better yet Iran .
Oh, and since I'm bitchin, look where the story came from.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 06/15/2005 07:29 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  He's a moron. The fire that resulted from all that jet fuel being dumped into the towers was hot enough to soften the floor deck which then pulled away from side wall. After that the upper stories pancacked onto the lower floors crushing them down. I've seen several engineering documentaries on the collapse and they all agree on that point. Biggest argument among engineers seems to be if the fire retardent applied to the WTC strucural members was not enough or if it had been blown off during the impact.
Posted by: Steve || 06/15/2005 8:35 Comments || Top||

#2  Under what rock do they find stupid assholes like this?
Controlled demolition? You'd think they'd finish getting firemen and cops out before they dropped the buildings. Idiot.
This retard is most likely a bitter douchebag with some axe to grind.
Posted by: JerseyMike || 06/15/2005 8:43 Comments || Top||

#3  Poor Osama, I bet he's rolling over in his grave that his big moment of fame has been stolen from him. Oh and binny boy, rather than being a big bad jihadist, you are just a GW stoolie.

The most distressing part of the article is that he was this little note: now professor emeritus at Texas A&M University
Posted by: 2b || 06/15/2005 8:49 Comments || Top||

#4  BigJim, are you complaining that this is from the UPI feed, or that you found it at the Washington Times? I used to think highly of UPI, they seemed to have some good analysis, but after 9/11 they went into serious BDS mode. A reputable journalist organization would never have written this story straight-faced, but rather for Queerities & Oddities section.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/15/2005 8:59 Comments || Top||

#5  Did a little searching and he's a 9-11 nut. Consider this: Bush and the Republican party invoke 9/11 for personal profit, playing the fear card daily, but the downside for these fools is that it fans the thirst for real information about what happened on 9/11. True, the war party has the silent cooperation of a self-censored mainstream media, but that won’t be near enough to carry the day in the information age. Excellent investigations are headed our way and will stir the pot to boiling. To name two, David Ray Griffin, the author of The New Pearl Harbor, soon will publish a new book, The 9/11 Commission’s Omissions and Distortions: A Critique of the Zelikow Report, and journalist/activist Michael C. Ruppert will publish his shocking Crossing the Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil.

The 9/11 Commission can’t quell skepticism about what happened three years ago for three major reasons: First, the event was just too big, too important, to accept a slipshod account and then forget about it. Too many big consequences flow from 9/11 daily, not least of which is the bogus "war on terror." Second, the Bush government has boosted suspicion by getting so darned much benefit out of the whole deal. Where would this bunch be without the horrors of that day? Cui bono?, after all, is the linchpin of criminal investigation. Third, the Commission left way too many unanswered questions and avoided too much evidence.


Oh, and "professor emeritus at Texas A&M University" means he's mostly retired and shows up every once and a while.
Posted by: Steve || 06/15/2005 9:14 Comments || Top||

#6  Oh, and "professor emeritus at Texas A&M University" means he's mostly retired and shows up every once and a while.

Hopefully not very often
Posted by: Cheaderhead || 06/15/2005 9:22 Comments || Top||

#7  So this is what the work product of the "Criminal Justice Center at the National Center for Policy Analysis" looks like? Hell, I can come up with better incendiary BS at 6am any given day even before four cups of coffee. Hopefully he wasn't a full nutter ejit when he was in the government. When this chief economist ventures out of his vole hole he begins to look and sound pretty pathetic under the light of day. Somebody should pop a .22 round off his skull (must be really thick so it wouldn't be harmful, let alone lethal, but rather more akin to hitting reset on a machine) to get him back on the tracks. Time for A&M to review the man's short term disability insurance coverage for mental disorders.
Posted by: Tkat || 06/15/2005 9:23 Comments || Top||

#8  I get this same BS from my sister and her husband all the time - they will not be moved off it.

BTW, UPI and the Washington Times are owned by the same corporate parent.
Posted by: VAMark || 06/15/2005 9:27 Comments || Top||

#9  I could be wrong but the footage I've seen suggests that a building destroyed by planned demolitions has it's knees cut out from beneath it and the top of the building comes crashing down on it (mostly intact until it hits the bottom). The twin towers pancacked floor by floor on their way down.

In other words someone planted the demolitions on or around the exact floors the planes hit. The planning required would be staggering even with evil Haliburton remote controlled jets.

A Zimmerman Telegraph scenerio implicating past and future attacks to Iraq combined with some statements from operative Bin Laden himself would have ensured enough lee-way to take out the Taliban and Iraq without mass murder and economic havoc.

The wacky left live in a dark world if they believe this crap.
Posted by: RJSchwarz || 06/15/2005 9:41 Comments || Top||

#10  Steve - correct, except the fire protection sprayed onto the steel is intended to withstand the heat from normal combustibles in buildings, not the tearing impact and all that jet fuel, which overwhelmed any sprinkler systems. The fact he's an economist, as is Paul Krugman, says it all
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 9:53 Comments || Top||

#11  The building did it's job, quite well, actually, holding up forover an hour. Fire ratings are usually two-hour or three-hour, designed to give the occupants time to get out and the firemen time to get in. But all that jet fuel was never considered in the design.

And reynolds is not a "moron" - he doesn;t have enough to be a "more-on" - he's barely a less-on©!
Posted by: Bobby || 06/15/2005 12:23 Comments || Top||

#12  This ridiculous "theory" keeps surfacing. I had a long-running email battle with a nutter from sydney who refused to budge from this same position.

In some warped brains it is more plausible that the US govmint plus Jooos planted explosives all over the WTC and the pentagon and set them off.

They have all sorts of phoney "science" (misquoted or wrong 'facts', twisted half-truths and out of context assertion and plain old lies) to back up their theory.

Of course it ignores the bleeding freakin' obvious: it happened live in real time, we all saw it, OBL confessed etc.

Yah and the world is still flat ......

But guaranteed it will keep popping up as the human mind likes to look for the harder, hidden 'truth' when the facts are just too simple. It's the X-files effect.

He needs to meet Occam's Razor.
Posted by: anon1 || 06/15/2005 12:57 Comments || Top||

#13  Lots of Aggies are military officers. Might be one reason for this:

The following is a statement from Texas A&M University regarding recent news reports about the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9-11.

Dr. Morgan Reynolds is retired from Texas A&M University, but holds the title of Professor Emeritus-an honorary title bestowed upon select tenured faculty, who have retired with ten or more years of service. Additionally, contrary to some written reports, while some faculty emeriti are allocated office space at Texas A&M, Dr. Reynolds does not have an office on the Texas A&M campus. Any statements made by Dr. Reynolds are in his capacity as a private citizen and do not represent the views of Texas A&M University. Below is a statement released yesterday by Dr. Robert M. Gates, President of Texas A&M University:

"The American people know what they saw with their own eyes on September 11, 2001. To suggest any kind of government conspiracy in the events of that day goes beyond the pale.”
Posted by: rkb || 06/15/2005 12:59 Comments || Top||

#14  Forgot to mention: it is WIDELY believed in the Arab world.

They think JoooOooos did it to incite a US war against muslims.

Arabs are paranoid islamist supremecists
Posted by: anon1 || 06/15/2005 12:59 Comments || Top||

#15  I knew it - The Jews did it, operating out of Roswell and aided by BigFoot and Elvis. Oh and I bet the Romulens (part of that vast right wing Republican/ omulan conspiricy) were in on it too!
Posted by: FeralCat || 06/15/2005 13:05 Comments || Top||

#16  Their are 2000 members of the Corps of Cadets on campus, many of whom will commission into the military. I don't imagine Reynolds is their favorite prof. Time for the university to give Reynolds a very low key retirement.
Posted by: ed || 06/15/2005 13:24 Comments || Top||

#17  To hear the Radio Free Conspiracy people over the last couple days, you'd think this guy was both completely objective and a civil engineer or other authority.

He's an economist?

I suspect there's a lot of money to be made (courtesy of the same people who really funded 9/11) for pedalling this load of ___p.
Posted by: Phil Fraering || 06/15/2005 14:03 Comments || Top||

#18  The fact he's an economist, as is Paul Krugman, says it all

Okay AH, I have lotsa naked bridge pictures.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 18:00 Comments || Top||

#19  Damn you Elvis! Damn you to HELL!!!
Posted by: Scott R || 06/15/2005 18:11 Comments || Top||

#20  hee hee - bring it on!
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 19:12 Comments || Top||

#21  Their are 2000 members of the Corps of Cadets on campus, many of whom will commission into the military.

It's the alums the Aggie administration might want to be careful with .... they start withholding $$ for the football team and things could get ugly quick.
Posted by: too true || 06/15/2005 19:59 Comments || Top||

#22  ____ like this is probably going to be the end of tenure on may college campuses.

Or at least I hope so.
Posted by: Phil Fraering || 06/15/2005 20:08 Comments || Top||

#23  "Assuming the consequent" plays a major role in conspiracism, asking "if this is true what else must be true?"
It figures on both sides. For conspiracists, it is really the origin of many of the really whacked out theories. The credulous media slave asks itself, "Well, if the gummint can fake a Moon landing and blow up the WTC, why can't the world be secretly controlled by lizards from the fourth dimension?" Acceptance of one major alternate reality makes others credible since the case for a new belief, a new conspiracy, is as good as that for others that are already believed.

It also works for the skeptic, however. "If the government can blow up the WTC and essentially get away with it, then what else would have to be true?"
In this case, the Democratic Party itself would have to be under Bush control. The leading Dems have the same evidence Dr. Reynolds does (and indeed that we all do) and the same qualifications (none) yet, with the exception of a couple of two-bit hangers-on, none of them have reached the same conclusions. The same may be said for the law enforcement community, all of it, academia and the major media. The control has to be positive and compelling, too, since an "atmosphere of intimidation" would not silence everyone. If the Bushites have that kind of control, why did we hear about Abu Ghraib or any number of other stories that the Bush administration would prefer had not happened?

There is only one answer, True Believers. We Rantburgers and LGF lizardoids really are alien reptiles from the fourth dimension. Ever consider that, Moonbats? Why not?
Sleep tight.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/15/2005 20:14 Comments || Top||

#24  I agree, Phil. Whether it's judges for life or untouchable academics, the privilege has been thoroughly and dangerously abused. That such an honor, and that's what it should be, should be abolished because of the acts of these Moonbats, cretins,and fuckwits is a true shame, but there's no doubt that they've made such a move an eventuality.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 20:16 Comments || Top||

#25  Lol, AC - that rocks!

*slither*
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 20:18 Comments || Top||

#26  pfffttttthhhhhh~
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 20:40 Comments || Top||

#27  Does this guy also help the Aggie pep squad build its bon fires before the Big Game?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 06/15/2005 20:42 Comments || Top||

#28  Many thanks, .com.
I even have photographic evidence, in the form of this warning sign posted near the Denver Airport:



Incidentally, the "assumption of the consequent" is the basis for a classification system of conspiracy theories. A first order theory, like the Moon Hoax, is one that any sufficiently credulous person, with or without existing conspiracist beliefs, might be persuaded to believe.
A second order theory, such as secret alien invasion, requires an existing belief in one or more first order theories.
A third order theory requires a belief in a whole complex of first and second order theories. An example would be the notion that alien abductions are actually the result of a deal between the aliens and the US Government. This allows the aliens to kidnap people for food, and in return the government receives alien goodies, such as advanced technology and immortality.
Such luminaries as Louis Farrakhan have claimed to believe in this, Farrakhan adding the detail that the victims are kept in "holding pens" under the Denver Airport until they are whisked off to alien steakhouses and the like.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/15/2005 20:55 Comments || Top||

#29  I am not encouraged by the level of debate here, but I'm not really surprised either. This shouldn't be a left-right thing. I do not think it horrible for some people to question some aspects of the about what happened on 9/11 any more than I think it's horrible for Jayna Davis to question some aspects of the Oklahoma City bombing, or Laurie Mylrioe to question some aspects of the first WTC attack, or Peter Lance to question TWA 800. In fact, I strongly suspect they're all threads in the same tapestry.

The US gov't's response to any terrorist attack, if possible, is to deny it. It was an accident. Eight simultaneous explosions at an oil refinery? Oh, it was an accident. Railroad car full of hazmat catches fire? Accident. Security guard at the same BASF plant shot point blank a year later? Local cops say a bearded perp did it. FBI says it was self-inflicted.

Plane blows up in a fireball over Long Island sound? Center wing tank explosion. Plane's tail falls off into Jamaica Bay? Top Gun jet wash. The Russians squirmed for a couple of days trying to come up with a really good reason why two of their aircraft crashed within an hour of each other. But in the end, they had to admit it.

Bomb blows up Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma? Two angry white guys. Nothing more. OK, the Fortiers, too. Terry Nichols visited Cebu city at the exact same time Ramzi Yousef was there? Nothing. Oh, and we just found some explosives in Nichols old basement - so maybe the bomb was more sophisticated than we allowed at first - despite our extensive forensic investigation, which consisted of bulldozing the site and paving it over. Our source for the cache location - just some crank felon named Gregory Scarpa Jr. Did you know he tried to tell us that Ramzi Yousef gave the order for the TWA 800 explosion, while he was on trial for the Bojinka plot? Sure, Scarpa was in the adjoining cell, but how much of his BS are you gonna believe?

Heaven forbid that anyone suggest that Al Qaeda is as incompetent as it appears. Heaven forbid that anyone suggest that AQ is incapable of mounting the sophisticated disinformation and technical operations that were required to pull off 9/11. Heaven forbid that anyone suggest that Osama bin Laden couldn't take a piss without a professional intelligence agency to hold his dick for him -- agencies like the IRGC or Unit 999 or the ISI or all three together. Heaven forbid that we get a narrative that the Towers were mined - for that would suggest extreme sophistication. Much more sophistication than the dunderheads living in mud huts and caves in Waziristan could offer up.

Once we start getting into questions of state sponsorship, things start to look really sticky. Where did that anthrax come from? Who sent it and why? How much more of it is there? Avigdor Haselkorn wrote the only competent assessment of the 1991 Gulf War. He saw the reason the conflict ended, and he saw the future. "The Crisis of Deterrence" he called it.

Why can't Bush be honest about 9/11 -- it is not because of ooiiiilll or haliburton or the Jeeeewwws. Bush can't be honest about 9/11 for the same reason he can't sit in front of a camera in the oval office and say: "Look, you anti-war chumps..." and read, verbatim, Stephen Hayes' The Connection or Jayna Davis' The Third Terrorist.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 06/15/2005 21:09 Comments || Top||

#30  ROFLMAO!!!

Under the Denver Airport? Um, WTF did Denver do to become so popular? Air rage due to oxygen deprivation / thinner atmosphere? Lol!

The explanation of the classification of conspiracy believers is spot-on. And instructive. Perhaps, in future posts, we can use short-hand and refer to the depth of moonbattedness in the 1-3 range. Farrakhan - yes, now there's a luminary in the field of lucidity and critical thinking. Sigh.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 21:09 Comments || Top||

#31  So, Rory, is that the forward of your upcoming book? Are you asserting or offering a view of possibilities?

There's no way to respond, as it is. Looks like a mass of wiggling worms. You invite cherry-picking.

Determining whether or not there's substance to an assertion is one hell of a lot more time-consuming and difficult than throwing spaghetti at the frdge door to see what sticks making an assertion.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 21:33 Comments || Top||

#32  Rory, when your meds wear off do you post under the name Joseph Mendiola perchance?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 06/15/2005 22:01 Comments || Top||

#33  Dot Com. Sorry, point taken. I tried to cram an awful lot into a small space in a short amount of time. After breathing into a brown paper bag for a few minutes ;) I'll try to get my point across.

Governments aren't always entirely honest. This is particularly the case in wartime. Governments often have good reason to keep secrets.

Shortly after 9/11 Cheney (I think it was on Meet The Press) described al Qaeda as a "chat room" for terrorists. This struck me as an odd description. But thinking on it now, I can see what he meant, though I probably would have used the words "out sourcing company" or something like that.

I beleive that the major terrorist attacks of our time have been, in fact, state sponsored. I don't think al Qaeda has the capability to do the things it has been blamed for/takes credit for. This is a convenient fiction for all sides.

The state sponsor send sly signals about the real authorship.

Bin Laden and his merrie men get to look the the international badasses they so desperately want to be.

The US, and our allies, get freedom of action (or inaction) in dealing with the state sponsors.

In the commission of these state-sponsored terrorist acts, though, the states leave some fingerprints, both deliberate (those sly signals) or inadvertant. Sometimes we may infer the state sponsorship.

Some people see these elements of sophistication shining through, and automatically assume that, since the government is keeping secrets about the attack, then the government is responsible for the attack.

When the Murrah Federal Building was bombed in 1995, the Clinton administration was not honest about many things. One of those many things recently came to light when the FBI suddenly found those explosives in Nichols' former residence. (If they forget to search a place for evidence, they don't have to find the evidence, don't have to enter it into evidence, don't have to reveal it to the defence during discovery, etc. etc.)

Some people on the right automatically assumed that the Clinton administration were the real perps. Well, no, they had reasons for what they did. Maybe not all *good* reasons, but they had reasons.

Same with 9/11. Bush & Co. have reasons for sitting on lots of information. Including - MAYBE - that the buildings had explosives pre-positioned inside. But the people most likely to be skeptical, most likely to trumpet their skepticism, are on the other side of the political spectrum. They've detected the foul stench of deceit, but they don't see the reasons behind it. They view everything through their ideological lenses.

Of course, the knee-jerk response of any right winger will be "Of course Bush hasn't lied about 9/11. How grotesque!" Just as any left-winger will say the same about Clinton's handling of several terrorist incidents.

Mining the WTC towers (and I think that even the most hard-boiled anti-skeptic must admit that WTC building number 7 represents a real mystery) would indicate serious state support. Not from within - from hostiles abroad. And it might help explain the stories floating around NYC shortly after the attacks, e.g. the cab drivers that wouldn't go below Canal Street on that morning, the Muslim kid in elementary school that said "those towers won't be there tomorrow." If there was a ground team to supplement the air team, there would be locals who knew about it.

The first reaction of a government is to deny a terrorist incident. This destroys the main purpose behind the act. And I believe that Bush administration was on this path - hence Bush staying planted in that classroom - until the second plane hit. Then the position became untenable. But in his remarks soon afterword, he still referred to it as a "tradgedy" not an attack. Hadn't had time to update the speech.

So, now you're stuck with an undeniable terrorist act. You still want to supress knowledge of state sponsorship. Keep the options open, always. In 1914-1917 there were numerous, mysterious explosions in the US at munitions factories. The most notorious was the Black Tom plant in New Jersey. The obvious culprit was Germany, as US production was going solely to Britain and France. But the US govermnent repeatedly denied that Germans were involved - in public. In private Wilson was getting angrier and angrier.

During to cold war, the Soviets sponsored myriad terrorist groups - Japan's Red Army Faction, Baader-Meinhof, Italy's Red Bridgades, 11 November, etc. But the polite fiction persisted that these groups were independent of Moscow's control. The US & NATO didn't make as big a deal as they might have out of it. Keep the options open.

Keeping options open was especially important in the Cold War scenario. Becase Weapons of Mass Destruction were involved, ultimately. WMDs are intimately involved in 9/11 and its aftermath, too. Anthrax. The sophisticated anthrax was, in the words of one anonymous official, prima fascie evidence of state support.

I have considerably more thoughts on the matter, especially the details on Ihsan Barbouti, Ramzi Yousef, KSM, Susan Lindauer, Dr. David Kelly et al but that's enough for one day! Yes, I will admit to being a bit more consipracy-minded than most. (I do believe, for example that Silas Deane was poisoned.) Atomic Conspiracy's tale about Lois F. and the Three degrees of conspiracy serve as a warning.

But I do think that my argument has validity.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 06/15/2005 22:17 Comments || Top||

#34  hee heee Rory! I feel SO much better as an "intelligent" human being knowing you aren't.
Good luck on that North Korean PR campaign...
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 22:22 Comments || Top||

#35  No, Mrs. Davis, I don't post under the name of Joseph Mendiola.

I will admit that I've read Rantburg for a long time, from back in the dark ages when only Fred posted articles. I used to post comments (and only a few articles) under my real name, but I've since decided cowardly anonymity is better. If Fred wanted to check the IP numbers he could find it out.

And I was in fact recently hospitalized for depression, and I've been on medication for a couple months now. I really needed it. But I had these ideas before the medication started! :)
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 06/15/2005 22:24 Comments || Top||

#36  Well, sorry you feel that way Frank. I'm not claiming to be absolutely correct here. But I think there is room for some new thinking on the matter.

While these WTC conspiracy nuts may be absolutely wrong in their CONCLUSIONS, some of their OBSERVATIONS may be valid. I think Iraq was the prime mover behind 9/11 with an assist from the Iranians. AQ mostly provided cheap muscle.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 06/15/2005 22:28 Comments || Top||

#37  Lordy, lordy - that's a LOT to digest in one sitting - you should've started this at 12:01 AM, lol!

I hate to do it, but I have to cherry-pick the WTC event. There is no way I'll buy that the WTC towers had "pre-positioned explosives" to take them down. Just doesn't fit what I saw and know of structures. I saw it in real-time, though I was on the other side of the planet. CNN (via Orbis Satellite Network in Saudi Arabia) was the view I had. Though not the best, at least they kept cameras on the towers from about 6 minutes after the first bldg was struck. Perfect view of the second plane hitting.

The number of things that make me doubt the notion of the explosives are beyond recitation in the time available to me (about 10 minutes, in fact), but even intuitively - no way. The second bldg struck fell first - because of the angled entry and taking out a corner support on a lower floor - greater weight / stress / loss of structural integrity on the point of impact.

It just does not wash intuitively. You would have to present some amazing evidence to make the case.

Bush knew in advance as he sat there with the kiddies?

Now I believe you need adult supervision. No fucking way. If you'd like to start this over, say on tomorrow's Opinion page, then you could have some fun with us - and get a ton of replies - especially from our engineers. I'm just a lowly software guy, though I've used Ansys, PostTen, etc. in support of construction clients.

That would be my suggestion to get a fair hearing for your ideas.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 22:34 Comments || Top||

#38  Rory, you should change your name to "long-winded." You have generalized our criticism of this particular claim into a broad opposition to the questioning of authority. This, of course, is a strawman.
You have also conflated this claim with various others, suggesting for no good reason that rejection of one would necessarily entail rejection of others.
You pretend that our opposition to this is based on an authoritarian acceptance of the government's word, another strawman and a trademark of the conspiracy industry and its victim/dupes.

In fact, you, as a representative of the conspiracist mindset, are the authority that is being challenged. Your post is one authoritarian pronouncement after another, one unsupported claim heaped upon another, one strawman after another. We have not denounced Reynolds for questioning; that is, examining; the
government's claims, but for reaching conclusions that are provably dishonest and destructive.

"Questioning" is not under attack, the conclusion is. Do you understand the distinction? It is closed-minded to refuse to consider a claim, it is not closed minded to reject it once that is done, nor is it closed-minded to infer likely motives once a pattern of willful dishonesty is established.

Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/15/2005 22:48 Comments || Top||

#39  Rory -
I can rip your reality in less than 100 words (with citations) - but there's no upside in "refuting smoke and mirrors" for free. Why don't you try a factual refute with cites, and I'll respond? That way, you actually have to work to back your shit up?
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 22:52 Comments || Top||

#40  Assumption of the consequent:

What else has to be true if the Bush administration and most of the Democrat opposition are concealing the placement of explosives in the twin towers?

It means, for example, that state and local investigators, and the owners of the building, are under absolutely rigid federal control and that the federal bureacracy is uniformly loyal and utterly reliable in enforcing this evil purpose.

It means that the government has some incentive for this cover-up, a very powerful one. If they did it, the incentive is obvious. If foreign intel agencies did it, things are a lot murkier.
Why is Bush covering for them?
If Saddam was involved, as Rory suggests, why would this not have been brought up during the lead-up to Iraqi Freedom? For that matter, why wasn't the Murrah building brought up if there was evidence of Iraqi involvement? Since the latter revelation would automatically imply heinous complicity by the Clinton Administration, the Bush gang would have double incentive to reveal it.

It would mean that everything we know about controlled demolition and the procedures necessary to implement it is either false, or the owners and managers of the building were complicit. Some of the latter died on 9-11.

I really don't have a lot of time for this, but, as CS Lewis famously observed, this is on a par with a man claiming to be poached egg.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/15/2005 23:04 Comments || Top||

#41  ...a poached egg.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/15/2005 23:11 Comments || Top||

#42  Rory, a word of warning.

Anyone wielding Occam's razor will tear your tissue of tales to shreds.

I've been inside. And I've been around a lot of this stuff pre-9/11 and post.

You're simply dead wrong about damn near everythign you post. Provide valid citations. Especially the "Osama cant take a piss woithout some western agency holding his dick". That in itself proves you are a moron. Have you studied the money the BinLaden family and the wahabbists and salafists place at his disposal? You see the tunnels in the Stans? You ever study the tribal relationsships that provide not only strong linkages, but damn near opaque comminications and secrecy?

I could go on and on. But if you are smart you'll discard the convulted twists and pretzle logic you contort yourself with, in order to support implausible and impossible conspiracy theories.

The "convienent fiction" here is all the completely unsupported (upon critical examination) crap you are flinging about. You use a lot of unsupported assertions, wild assumptions and propaganda techniques instead of fact gathering, logic and reason.

Bottom line: This country can't even keep a presidential blow job secret during relatively calm times with not nearly the rancor in the political arena as today. What makes you beleive that a conspiracy this large, this deep and this widespread could be concealed in the least with so much political ahy to be made and so many outlets for it? Hmm?
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/15/2005 23:13 Comments || Top||

#43  Gentlemen,

As dot com pointed out I should have started this at 12:01 am, so I could get more responses/feedback/you'reanidiot and maybe I will post something in the opinion section at midnight thirty tomorrow. It would also let me take some time to insert some links, as Frank G. helpfully suggests. I normally try to include links to back up my assertions, but I haven't tonight because I'm pressed for time.

Atomic Conspiracy - I'm sorry, but I don't feel that I can flesh out some of my arguments and be brief. And this is, after all, Fred's nickel, not mine. And if he wants to nix this thing, then I'd understand.

>>You have generalized our criticism of this particular claim into a broad opposition to the questioning of authority. This, of course, is a strawman.<<

This is true enough, and I apologize. I'll just say that it's not my intention. I'm not a particularly skilled writer, and I was trying to write some of my ideas in a very compressed amount of time.

>>You have also conflated this claim with various others, suggesting for no good reason that rejection of one would necessarily entail rejection of others.<<

I see it all as fitting into the same pattern. I might be mistaken in particular cases or in the whole thing.

>>"Questioning" is not under attack, the conclusion is. Do you understand the distinction?<<

Yes. I do understand, and you are absolutely correct here. I was being overly defensive of WTC theories in general. I was trying to convince people that some of these observations might have some merit in them - if not the conclusions. I will try to be more careful.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 06/15/2005 23:16 Comments || Top||

#44  Paranoid conspiracy theorists incite the global jihad and rationalize its Moonbat fifth column.

The conspireacy industry is a criminal enterprise and should be treated accordingly.

What do swine like the Moon Hoaxer Bart Sibrel really do other than enrich themselves? They justify fear and loathing of the United States and its collective intentions. Someone who believes in the Moon Hoax, as many Eurabians do, could easily believe that the US government secretly controls all media and that American perceptions are therefore worthless. They could easily believe that the US intends to bulldoze the Grand Mosque and convert it into a Wal-Mart. They could easily believe that Americans are simpletons and barbarians, and that the real purpose of 9-11 was to simplify the acquisition of a pipeline route.
These people are monsters, parasites on the First Amendment, and they should be eradicated like the vermin they are.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/15/2005 23:23 Comments || Top||

#45  Thank you, Rory. I have to take back some of my harsher comments then. I am used to dealing with completely implacable and dishonest opponents and it sometimes leads me to get ahead of myself when that is not the case.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/15/2005 23:25 Comments || Top||

#46  >>Anyone wielding Occam's razor will tear your tissue of tales to shreds.<<

Sometimes the simplest explanation is: there is a connection.

>>Especially the "Osama cant take a piss woithout some western agency holding his dick". That in itself proves you are a moron. Have you studied the money the BinLaden family and the wahabbists and salafists place at his disposal? You see the tunnels in the Stans? You ever study the tribal relationsships that provide not only strong linkages, but damn near opaque comminications and secrecy?<<

I was exagerrating about the taking a leak thing. Yes, I have studied, though I'm sure less than you, about the golden chain, etc. But at every step of the way, Al Qaeda has been significantly aided by state intelligence arms. Starting with Hezbollah IRGC trainers in the Sudan. I believe Dan Darling put Al Qaeda's budget at about 120 million per year.

My idea is that fighting in the 055 Brigade in Afghanistan, or fighting in Chechnya, or fighting in Kashmir, or Dafur, doesn't really prepare one for comitting acts of terrorism in American cities. The truly worrisome terrorist attacks have the hand of a state behind them, especially Iraq (or its remnants) or Iran.

I'm addressing some points at random here, just to get it in under the midnight rollover:

The buildings - if an engineer could set me straight on the tower collapses I can be persuaded. But wouldn't it at least make sense to have something else in there? They tried a truck bomb in 1993. Didn't the government post a BOLO for ambulances full of explosives the very night of 9/11? Suppose you fly an airplane into the building for some structural damage, but basically a diversion. The nasty stuff is disguised as a rescue vehicle that you drive right in.

>>Bush knew in advance as he sat there with the kiddies?<<

I think there was an extensive disinformation campaign run against the US govermnent in the weeks leading up to 9/11. The Iraqis allowed an Israeli intelligence asset to learn some details of the plot but not others. They might have done the same thing before OKC with the whole Elohim City crew. The Bush administration tried to stop it through finesse rather than force, and they got beat. They knew they were beat for sure as soon as the second plane hit.

>>If Saddam was involved, as Rory suggests, why would this not have been brought up during the lead-up to Iraqi Freedom?<<

The anthrax is the key. The stuff that got mailed to Daschle and Leahy wasn't junk by any standard. A 10 kilograms could wipe out a city, for sure.

Saddam and his cronies were convinced they survived the Iran-Iraq war only through their use and perfection of chemical agents. They were conviced (And Avigdor Haselkorn concurrs) that they survived the 1991 conflict only through their brinksmanship with SCUDs. And shortly after 9/11 they unveiled their newest strategic deterrent. As they found out, though, WMDs don't offer much flexibility. Once you use them, MAD sets in. The Soviets lost the cold war, but there are still lines that we won't cross with the Russians due to their deterrent. So it is with Saddam. I doubt he'll ever be executed.

>>What makes you beleive that a conspiracy this large, this deep and this widespread could be concealed in the least with so much political ahy to be made and so many outlets for it?<<

Journalists can understand basic stuff like the blowjuob you cited. But how many really skilled military/geopolitical analysts are there on the staff of the New York Times? WaPo? Time? Newsweek?

Managing the press can be done, if you just leak out the right bits to the right folks. Plus, things like this, if properly done, have an onion-like quality to them. Peel off one layer, and you find another story underneath, and then another. You're never quite sure if you've penetrated the final veil.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 06/15/2005 23:43 Comments || Top||

#47  Gee, I work most of the day, and I come back at 11:00 and find out this thread has been going on ad infinitum...

OldSpook: I'm not sure, but based on what I've speed-skimmed thus far I'm not sure Rory is a moonbat, but may just be using some of the same sources.

Rory: The discussion started out limited to the collapse of the towers themselves, and the possibilities that this was because of "demo charges" already set. Given the amount of time and labor involved in demolishing other structures of similar size (the Kingdome, et alia) I find this to be doubtful. ALso, the jihadis themselves tried that once before, and failed miserably, despite having a large truckload of explosives. Finally, I am convinced that the fire from the planes' impact was sufficient to cause the collapse of the towers, and I've heard a lot of bull**** attempting to make the contrary case.

Additionally, I do read and listen to a lot of the conspiratorially minded material, and know that they're leaving out a lot of material of interest. For instance, you brought up anthrax. You might be suprised to find that I agree with you that the anthrax (for more info why, see John Ringo's comments on the subject here) attacks are an important mystery that remain unexplained, that they may have been state-sponsored, and may have explained some subsequent events, such as the invasion of Iraq). If you can, I suggest getting a streamlink membership with Coast to Coast AM and checking out the interview they did with Peter Lance. Somewhere along the way they got a caller in who, like you, was curious about the anthrax attack and how it fit in with everything else.

They dropped him and changed the subject like someone had wheeled radioactive waste into the studio.

"Oh, never mind, that was domestic, we're pretty sure, NEXT CALLER!"

(Oh, I almost forgot: this was the show where the interview in question happened. He's been on there a couple other times.)

It was an amazing example of how much some of these people are editing away the evidence they don't agree with. I suggest you listen to it, it'll only cost you six dollars or so, and it will give you insight into how they operate when they get the chance.
Posted by: Phil Fraering || 06/16/2005 0:03 Comments || Top||


Cheney defends Guantanamo detention
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  From TFA: Democrats have said Guantanamo Bay was contributing to a US image problem in the Muslim world.

And democrats all want to look good for their bosses, right?

"The stain of Guantanamo has become the primary recruiting tool for our enemies," Vermont Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said.

Actually, Pat, I suspect the left is the primary recruiting tool for the nation's enemies.

Cheney said it was his feeling that "the track record there is on the whole pretty good, and that this is an essential part of our strategy of prevailing and winning in the ongoing war on terror".

"Now, does this hurt us from the standpoint of international opinion? I, frankly, don't think so. And my own personal view of it is that those who are most urgently advocating that we shut down Guantanamo probably don't agree with our policies anyway," Cheney said.


Any questions why I voted for this guy? Just outstanding.
Posted by: badanov || 06/15/2005 1:33 Comments || Top||

#2  defends Guantanamo. Sigh. Defends. I'm just surprised they left the quote marks off the word detention.

Score one for the democrats. Looks like they've won this battle.
Posted by: 2b || 06/15/2005 3:49 Comments || Top||

#3  And Attica is still in operation how many years after? Certainly the Dem's have controlled the state house and governorship since then to close such a terrible facility.
Posted by: Craigum Thineter6031 || 06/15/2005 15:32 Comments || Top||


U.S Nuclear Plants Vulnerable To Big Attacks
The US government may have set its security standards for nuclear power plants too low, and guards say they may not be ready to stop a terrorist attack of September 11 magnitude, a US magazine reported Sunday. A Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) document "raises serious questions about whether the government has set security requirements for nuclear plants too low and allowed nuclear plant operators to provide security on the cheap," Time reported. Even plant guards worry they would be unable to thwart a big terrorist operation, saying they lack the necessary training and weapons, the magazine said. The plants could also be vulnerable to an attack on foot, it said. "Our training has increased, but I don't think it's increased enough to deal with that," a veteran guard, who was not named, told Time. Another guard said: "We don't have the weapons or training to stop an attack of that magnitude. ... Everyone feels that way. It's a consensus of opinion."

"I don't think they could handle a 9/11-size attack," David Orrik, a senior NRC official who retired in February after a 20-year career probing power-plant vulnerabilities, was quoted as saying. Since the September 11, 2001, attacks, the government has spent one billion dollars to boost nuclear power plant security, compared to 20 billion for aviation security, Time reported. "The NRC and the nuclear power industry are today where the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] and airlines were on Sept. 10, 2001," a senior US anti-terrorism official was quoted as saying by the magazine.

NRC-commissioned studies say a plant's concrete and steel infrastructure could withstand a suicide airplane attack, making the risks of a major release of radioactivity low. But other experts, including a recent National Academy of Sciences panel, say the particular design and vulnerabilities of each plant make such blanket assurances meaningless, Time said.
Posted by: Spavirt Pheng6042 || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  But other experts, including a recent National Academy of Sciences panel, say the particular design and vulnerabilities of each plant make such blanket assurances meaningless, Time said It really pisses me off when journalists write this weasly crap. 90% of the people reading this will conclude that some 'experts' say nuclear plants are vulnerable to a 9/11 type airliner attack, whereas in fact it says nuclear plants have unspecified vulnerabilities to unspecified types of attack, i.e. security aint perfect.
Posted by: phil_b || 06/15/2005 0:51 Comments || Top||

#2  An anonymous source was quoted as saying, "we need rockets, yeah, big ones."
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 06/15/2005 7:58 Comments || Top||

#3  Since I worked on building 4 nukes in my time as an engineer, construction manager and project manager, I would like some one in the press to show me exactly where the vulnerabilities are and how you would attack them or cause them to become dangerous. It is easy to say "nuclear" and "threat" and "vulnerable" but to actually take advantage of it is another thing. Internal security is such that even getting into the spent fuel area would be near impossible without complete knowledge of the security process which includes HP (health physics)and documentation up the ying-yang. Also, attacking the containment structure would have to be absolutely precise. My work in the PSR and FSR for PWR containment structures included missile vulnerability. At that time the largest missile we used was a 727 fully fueled. It survived and all safety systems performed as required. Albeit this is a desktop simulation and model but it shows that careful calculation and safety engineering has been utilized.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 06/15/2005 9:57 Comments || Top||

#4  There you go again, muddling a good story with facts...
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 10:23 Comments || Top||

#5  the largest missile we used was a 727 fully fueled

That's what the new jumbo Airbus is for...


[/chicken little]
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 10:29 Comments || Top||

#6  ahhhhh that's why nobody's trained to actually land that beast
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 10:33 Comments || Top||

#7  The plants are not allowed to have belt-fed weapons because of state and local regulations. That is just nuts. David Orrick is a smart guy. There are weaknesses, but they can and will be addressed.
Posted by: remoteman || 06/15/2005 12:22 Comments || Top||

#8  What Jack said. If we really want to get some measure of energy independence, we're gonna hafta get over the hysteria of nuclear power. Chernobyl had serious safety problems, our nukes have safety up the ying-yang, and had pretty good security before 9-11.

They probably are not designed to ward off meteors, either. Wait 'till the Times finds out about that!
Posted by: Bobby || 06/15/2005 12:33 Comments || Top||

#9  Jack-is-Back!
Most of the plant is built with reinforced concrete and lead lining right? Also, nothing really goes boom, right? We only really need to worry about radioactive steam being released if the shielding is cracked, right?

I don't know the details of nuke plants, but I'm pretty sure about the above details. Let me know if I am wacked on one of 'em.
Posted by: mmurray821 || 06/15/2005 15:37 Comments || Top||

#10  If you think about it, the headline is one of those Master of the Obvious gigs that journalists love so dearly.

Everything is vulnerable at some point. Let's say we man every nuclear power plant with a battalion's worth of guards. Guess what? The plant is vulnerable if the bad guys somehow manage to attack with a division's worth of terrorists. And so on and so on.

The real question that adults must ask: what is the most likely size of unit that jihadis (or anyone for that matter) can muster without drawing attention to themselves? (Given the PC-blinders law enforcement is working with, I'd say about corps level) From that level of threat, what is needed to properly defend said target?

Having worked as a reactor engineer, I must agree with a previous poster, the plants themselves are pretty hard targets. The containment building is highly reinforced. The reactor vessel is designed to handle over 2000 psig of pressure.
Posted by: Dreadnought || 06/15/2005 15:44 Comments || Top||

#11  Ah ha! The 727 wasn't equipped with a shaped charge! Thus QED LSMFT leave the exercise for the students.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 18:04 Comments || Top||

#12  The plants are not allowed to have belt-fed weapons because of state and local regulations. That is just nuts. David Orrick is a smart guy. There are weaknesses, but they can and will be addressed.

Holy moley, missed that the first time thru.... you know RB only got enough room for one of us.... :)
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 20:04 Comments || Top||

#13  LSMFT? ya think nobody else remembers that? What about IOTTMCO? Huh?

At the end of a geometry proof, sophomore geometry -
Intuitively Obvious To The Most Casual Observer.

Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco
Posted by: Bobby || 06/15/2005 21:01 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
Global energy use has hit 20-year high, says BP
Global energy consumption has jumped to its highest level for 20 years on the back of raging demand from fast-growing economies like China and India, according to BP, the world's second-biggest oil and gas company.

However, the company said there was no need to panic that the world is running out of hydrocarbons, forecasting that there is at least 40 years worth of oil left and enough gas to last until 2071. "The world does not face a shortage of hydrocarbon resources or reserves," it said.

Peter Davies, BP's chief economist and author of BP's Statistical Review of World Energy 2005 which was published yesterday, said world energy consumption grew by 4.3pc last year, above the 10-year average in every region in the world. He said: "In volume terms, this is the largest-ever annual increase in global primary energy consumption and is the highest percentage growth since 1984. It is exceptional that this demand growth was so geographically widespread."

While China's economy grew 9.5pc in 2004, this was outstripped by a 15.1pc jump in energy demand. Chinese energy consumption has now increased by 65pc since 2001 and accounts for 13.6pc of the world's demand. Outside China, world energy demand jumped by 2.8pc.

Oil production grew at its fastest rate since 1978, increasing by 3.4pc to 2.5m barrels a day, with Iraqi production trebling to 2m barrels per day. The biggest fall was in the UK and US where production fell by 230,000bpd and 160,000bpd respectively.

The soaring demand has come amid high oil prices, which averaged $38.30 a barrel over the year and have risen above $50 in recent months. However, Mr Davies said: "At no time has any indication been given that high energy prices could be caused by a lack of resources. Prices have been driven by demand growth but scarce production does not necessarily imply a scarcity of resources."

There was plenty of oil, gas and coal left in the world, he said: "Proved reserves of oil and gas continue to increase. In other words, at a global level, every barrel of oil and cubic metre of gas that is produced is replaced by at least one new barrel or cubic metre of newly proved energy.

"Proved reserves of oil, gas and coal remain more than adequate to meet the world's growing needs in aggregate for the foreseeable future.

"Oil still has a reserves-to-production ratio of over 40 years, gas of 67 years and coal of 164 years. Investment and new technologies will ensure that there will be further additions to these reserves in future."

BP's forecasts came as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries considers lifting production quotas by 500,000 barrels a day, or 2pc, to 28m bpd, at a meeting later today. However, Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah of Kuwait, the oil cartel's president, said it had little choice but to act with prices so stubbornly high and countries worried that high oil prices could impede world economic growth.

He said: "Whenever it's over $50, we have to react. The market is well-supplied, but we have to do everything we can to make more reasonable prices."

Some traders say Opec looks powerless to prevent prices challenging April's record of more than $58 a barrel as the global economy, led by China and the US, soaks up more oil in the second half of the year.
Posted by: too true || 06/15/2005 12:17 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  world energy consumption grew by 4.3pc last year, above the 10-year average in every region in the world Nice to see Kyoto's working!
Posted by: phil_b || 06/15/2005 16:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Don't say no!
It's the end of the world!
It ended when you said $55.00.


/please no, really, it was nothing.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 18:07 Comments || Top||


Annan drawn into the Oil for Food scandal
Two previously undisclosed memos have emerged which seem to implicate the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the UN's scandal-ridden oil-for-food programme. The memos appear to challenge Mr Annan's assertion that he knew nothing of the award of a lucrative UN contract to a company that employed his son.

Last night, the Independent Inquiry Committee appointed by the UN to investigate corruption in the oil-food-programme said it was launching a fresh investigation into the documents. Until now, the committee has cleared Mr Annan of any conflict of interest in the award of UN contracts. The memos are the first evidence from the time to suggest that Cotecna Inspection Services, a Swiss company that employed Mr Annan's son, Kojo, may have had contact with the Secretary-General before making a successful bid for a UN contract issued under the oil-for-food programme. The memos describe a meeting between Cotecna and "the SG and his entourage" in Paris in 1998 and say that Cotecna expected "to count on their support." The company was awarded a multi-million dollar contract a few weeks later.
[more at link]
If the moonbats want to see a building brought down by internal explosions, look no further than the UN...
Posted by: Spot || 06/15/2005 10:30 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What do they mean, "drawn in"?
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 06/15/2005 10:56 Comments || Top||

#2  No kidding Bomba. More like, in-up-to-his-eyeballs-and-wallowing-in-filth-and-corruption.

Death to the UN!!!!
Posted by: mmurray821 || 06/15/2005 11:05 Comments || Top||

#3  Time to go, Kofi!

Bet this won't make my paper. We will run a story on some stupid poll in the USA where 'most americans don't think the war in Iraq made them safer' instead.

Ah, news selection.

Thank God for Rantburg.
Posted by: anon1 || 06/15/2005 11:05 Comments || Top||

#4  It's tough to be 'drawn in' to something when you're the freakin' epicenter...
Posted by: Raj || 06/15/2005 11:48 Comments || Top||

#5  Drawn in is what happens before you're painted with a broad brush.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 18:18 Comments || Top||


Weekly Piracy Report - 7 to 13 June 2005
Somalian waters: Serious attacks have resumed off the eastern coast of Somalia. Since [March 31 2005], five incidents were reported where pirates armed with guns and grenades have attacked ships and fired upon them. In three incidents crew were held hostage and ransom demanded. Some of these attacks took place far away from Somali coast. Eastern and northeastern coasts of Somalia continue to be high-risk areas for hijackings. Ships not making scheduled calls to ports in these areas should stay at least 50 miles or as far away as practical from the eastern coast of Somalia.

Anambas/Natuna islands,Indonesia: Six incidents have been reported since [April 03 2005] in the vicinity of Anambas/Natuna islands. Groups of pirates armed with guns and long knives have boarded ships underway and robbed ships' cash and personal belongings.

Bonny River, Nigeria: Four incidents have been reported since [May 24 2005] around Fairway Buoy.

Suspicious Crafts

[June 10 2005] at 1130 LT in position 19:48N - 069:19E, 95nm off Gujarat coast, Arabian Sea. Six dark coloured boats, about 20m length were spotted by a container ship underway. Boats with 4/5 persons in each boat and without fishing nets followed the ship. Master raised alarm, took evasive manoeuvres and crew mustered. Boats moved away.

[June 10 2005] at 0820LT at position 03:55.1N — 07:08E, 20 miles SW of fairway buoy, Bonny River, Onne, Nigeria. Five persons wearing yellow raincoats in a 20 ft blue coloured fibreglass craft followed a supply ship underway. Supply boat took evasive manoeuvres and craft moved away. Craft had similar appearance as craft involved in two incidents on [May 24 2005].

Recently reported incidents

[June 13 2005] at 2100 UTC off Langkawi Island, Malacca Straits. Ten pirates armed with weapons in a speedboat hijacked a tanker underway. One crew managed to escape in the boat used by pirates. He landed ashore and contacted marine police at Langkawi island. Police despatched a patrol boat and located the hijacked tanker off Pulau Lebar. Subsequently, pirates surrendered and they were taken to Langkawi for investigations.

[June 12 2005] at 0145 UTC at Takoradi Anchorage, Ghana. Three armed robbers boarded a general cargo ship at forecastle. They stole ship's stores and escaped in a boat. Master informed port control who sent officials to investigate.

[June 07 2005] at 2350 LT at Kota Baru Anchorage, Indonesia. Five robbers armed with long knives board a bulk carrier at anchor. They tied up duty A/B. Other crew raised alarm. Robbers stole one life raft and escaped.

[June 07 2005] at 2130 UTC at Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia. Six robbers armed with long knives boarded a general cargo ship. Alert crew raised alarm and mustered. Robbers escaped in their speedboat.

[June 07 2005] at 0120 LT in position 04:12.3N - 006:57.3E, Bonny River Anchorage, Nigeria. Five robbers armed with machine guns attempted to board a reefer using hooks attached to ropes. Alert A/B raised alarm and crew mustered. Robbers fired several shots and escaped. Bullets hit bulwark but no injuries to crew.

[May 24 2005] at 2359 LT, Vicinity of Bonny River fairway buoy, Onne, Nigeria. Robbers armed with guns boarded a container ship at anchor. They beat up crewmembers and fired gunshots. Robbers stole ship's cash and stores and crew personal belongings. They escaped in a blue coloured 20ft high speed motorboat.

[May 24 2005] at 2110 LT in position 04:12.6N - 006:55.6E, off Bonny River fairway buoy, Onne, Nigeria. Armed and aggressive robbers boarded a container ship at anchor. They injured several crewmembers and wounded one crewmember with gunshot. Robbers escaped in high powered speed boat with ship's cash, bonded stores and crew personal belongings.

Guess the 'Nigerian letter' scam isn't as profitable as it used to be...
Posted by: Pappy || 06/15/2005 01:11 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Southeast Asia
Indonesian police freeze Haj accounts over suspected graft
JAKARTA - Indonesian police said on Wednesday they had frozen bank accounts belonging to the ministry of religious affairs on suspicion of corruption in the management of Haj funds.
Corruption? Of holy funds? I'm shocked!
The accounts, worth 684 billion rupiah (71.2 million dollars), were frozen after state auditors suspected irregularities in the management of the funds, left over from money collected since 2003 from Muslims wishing to travel to Makkah for the annual pilgrimage.
$71.2 million in "left-over" funds in just 3 years? That's one hell of a racket
"Police and prosecutors are investigating whether corruption is involved," said police spokesman Sunarko Danu Ardanto. Police have questioned 31 ministry officials, including the director general for Haj affairs, and are expected to name suspects on Thursday.
Lining their own pockets, funding terror orgs or both?
Posted by: Steve || 06/15/2005 13:38 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Yes.
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 14:14 Comments || Top||

#2  I was wondering how come the "holy men" all seem to be fat slobs. Well, not really. I kinda knew...
Posted by: tu3031 || 06/15/2005 14:22 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Second UN team prepares to verify full Syrian pullout
Fixin' to get ready to hold a meeting to discuss plans to form a committee to discuss verifying the Syrian pullout...
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Gentlemen. I have your intelligence briefing right here. Make sure these locations are totally checked out for possible Syrian infiltration.

http://www.travel-to-lebanon.com/english/nightlife/restaurants/
Posted by: tu3031 || 06/15/2005 8:34 Comments || Top||


Aoun sets sights on North Lebanon seats
The final make up of Lebanon's Parliament will be determined this weekend, when the last 28 parliamentary seats up for grabs in North Lebanon will be decided. Fresh from his election victory in last week's round of elections, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, who was exiled from Lebanon after his "War of Liberation" against Syria in 1990, has joined forces with pro-Syrian politician Suleiman Franjieh in the North where they are fielding two complete lists.

Aoun will again do battle with Lebanon's anti-Syrian opposition following his failure to reach an agreement to run on their lists last month. The opposition is spearheaded by the Future Movement, led by Saad Hariri, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the Christian Qornet Shehwan group. Qornet Shehwan member Samir Franjieh, running for a seat in the North, said: "The electoral battle in North Lebanon is decisive because it will determine the state's agenda for the future." Franjieh also expressed fears that an opposition defeat on Sunday would reinforce the role of Syria in Lebanese politics.
Franjieh seems to have switched sides rather neatly...
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  so it is now the " War of Liberation " is it? *scoff*
Posted by: 2b || 06/15/2005 3:39 Comments || Top||

#2  hmmm...my quote marks didn't bold in an obvious manner, but if the press feels the need to go after him with quote marks, then I'm guessing he's expected to do better than they want to admit.
Posted by: 2b || 06/15/2005 3:43 Comments || Top||

#3  Quote marks at twenty paces...my kinda duel!
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 11:07 Comments || Top||


Iran fears US, Israeli nuclear plant attack
The chief of Iran's nuclear program says the Islamic republic fears Israel or the United States may carry out threats to bomb his country's atomic facilities. The Bush Administration has accused Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. In an interview with the ABC, director of Iran's Atomic Energy organisation, Gholam-Reza Aghazadeh, said his country was only interested in using nuclear technology to generate electricity. Mr Aghazadeh denies US and Israeli accusations that Tehran is secretly trying to build an atomic bomb. Iran's nuclear chief says he does fear that Israel or the US may try to bomb the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities. Iran has agreed to suspend its enrichment of uranium until it holds fresh talks with Britain, France, and Germany.
Posted by: Spavirt Pheng6042 || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I would say his antenna is working fine.
Posted by: Captain America || 06/15/2005 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  That's a reasonable fear. Just because you're crazy doesn't mean you're stupid.
Posted by: JerseyMike || 06/15/2005 7:14 Comments || Top||

#3  Sure, many countries have secret underground nuclear facilities for generating electricity.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 06/15/2005 7:55 Comments || Top||

#4  Iran fears US, Israeli nuclear plant attack

Is this supposed to be NEW information?
Posted by: BigEd || 06/15/2005 13:22 Comments || Top||

#5  Just a reminder...
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 16:17 Comments || Top||

#6  I'd like to see a UAV crash into the Iranian Parliament building during sesssion....


nothing says you're serious like practice
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 16:52 Comments || Top||


Baradei asks Iran if he can return to Parchin, please
IAEA head Mohamed El-Baradei urged Iran to allow a team of experts to return to a military site called Parchin, which they inspected once but have since been barred from visiting. "I would... ask Iran to support the agency's efforts to pursue further its investigation of the Lavizan-Shian and Parchin sites," El-Baradei said, adding that his inspectors wanted to visit "areas of interest" at Parchin. Parchin, the leading center of Iran's munitions industry, and Lavizan are among the sites where the United States suspects Iranian scientists have conducted research related to the development of nuclear weapons. Iran says it has no interest in such arms, only in civilian nuclear technology to generate electricity.
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Every time I see that picture one thought, well maybe 2 heh, immediately strikes me:

Henry Waxman - separated at birth.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 4:29 Comments || Top||


Bashar Appoints New Intelligence Chief
Syrian President Bashar Assad named a new intelligence chief and deputy premier yesterday, less a week after the ruling Baath Party recommended economic and political reforms. Bashar appointed Abdullah Al-Dardari, head of Syria's state planning commission, as deputy premier for economic affairs, the official SANA news agency reported. The post had been vacant since Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Al-Otari formed his Cabinet in September 2003.

Meanwhile, a Syrian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bashar had issued a decision appointing Lt. Gen. Ali Mamlouk as head of Syria's General Intelligence Department, succeeding Lt. Gen. Hisham Al-Ikhtyar, who has become a member of the Baath Party's Regional Command. Mamlouk had served as the deputy general director of the Air Forces Intelligence Department. The General Intelligence Department is distinct from Syrian military intelligence, which faces international accusations of interference in neighboring Lebanon. The new appointments are in line with economic and political reforms recommended by the ruling Baath Party at its congress last week.

The choice of Mamlouk, in his mid-fifties and born in Damascus, was part of efforts to streamline the "mukhabarat" security service, focus it on domestic state security and downsize its pervasive role in society, other analysts said. The new head of intelligence was expected to curb the agency's overt political role and heavy-handed tactics against political dissidents, a semi-official source said. "The move is in line with efforts to push ahead with wider political reforms," said the source, who requested anonymity.
The mukhabarat is a secret police organization, not an intelligence organization, and I feel offended when people lump the two together. The Syrians, like most dictatorships, don't make a distinction between intelligence — collection, analysis, and reporting in support of decision-making — and the state security aparatus. Until recently, such equivalents as we have — FBI, DEA and such — were intel consumers, rather than producers. Despite the post 9-11 recommendations, I think I was more comfortable when that was the case. But maybe that's just me...
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  One potential problem I see with the post-9/11 reorg is cultural: there's a big difference between law enforcement, on the one hand, and intel generation and analysis on the other hand. The former deals with evidentiary rules and the certainty needed for successsful prosecution. The latter deals with probabilities, possibilities and a lot of uncertainty. Trying to do both in one org / culture will be very hard. And since we can write up clear rules for the former, I fear it will dominate over the latter.
Posted by: rkb || 06/15/2005 10:43 Comments || Top||


Rafsanjani Wins Key Backing in Tight Presidential Election
The frontrunner in the turbulent race for Iran's presidency, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, won high profile support yesterday from the oil and nuclear sectors but the election still appeared set to go into a second round. The run-up to Friday's vote, which will herald an end to the difficult reformist presidency of Mohammad Khatami, also saw more bomb attacks — with new blasts reported to have shaken the southeastern city of Zahedan.

As candidates intensified their campaigns, Khatami advised voters to be skeptical of promises of more freedoms — a clear snipe at the campaigns of religious hardliners busy reinventing themselves as slick moderates. "Today all the candidates are talking about freedom, democracy, fighting censorship, the rights of the youth and women's rights," said Khatami, who is himself barred by the constitution from standing, having served two consecutive four-year terms. "The important thing is to consider their records to see how committed they have been, and what practical plans they have to follow through with their promises." Informal opinion polls in the Iranian press are signaling that none of the eight candidates will be able to secure the more than 50 percent of the vote needed to win on June 17. In that case, the top two would face a run-off, which would be held on July 1.

Seen as trailing Rafsanjani in the No. 2 position is either former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a uniformed hard-liner-turned smiling casual technocrat, and leftist-reformist Mostafa Moin. The other in the race are hard-liners Mohsen Rezai, Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmedi Nejad and former state television boss Ali Larijani, and reformists Mohsen Mehr-Alizadeh and Mehdi Karoubi.
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oooh, how exciting! Who will be the next Pointless President of Iran? A cliffhanger!

Rafsanjani has raped, looted, and pillaged more than his share, but it seems the old fart just can't let go or STFU. I hope he's a close second behind Khomeini to be hung from a lamppost.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 4:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Oh, puh-leeeese.
Posted by: mojo || 06/15/2005 17:00 Comments || Top||


Iraq-Jordan
StrategyPage: The Sunni Arabs Have a Plan That May Work
The Iraqi Sunni Arabs are driving a hard bargain. In effect, they are still running an extortion racket on the Kurds and Shia Arabs who comprise 80 percent of the population. The terrorist violence in Iraq is almost entirely the creation of Sunni Arabs. Their proposals is that, in return for stopping the violence, they want a major say in the writing of the new constitution, and some major amnesty for past sins. The Sunni Arabs have a lot to account for in the pain and atrocity department, both currently and in the past.

In the past, the Sunni Arab extortion racket was simpler. As the Sunni Arabs controlled the police, army and everything else, it was easy to tell the Kurds and Shia Arabs to do something, or else. There was a lot of "or else," and Saddam Hussein's coming trial will contain abundant gory details. Since the Sunni Arabs were tossed out of power in April of 2003, they have been scheming to get it back. They have a plan, they believe it will work, and they may be right.

The Iraqi Sunni Arabs are not alone, and their list of allies is large. Locally, all Middle Eastern nations run by Sunni Arabs, and that's nearly all of them, back the idea of Sunni Arabs running Iraq. It's easy for outsiders to underestimate how much of a threat Sunni Arabs feel that Shia Iran is. For the last quarter century, Iran has been run by radical Shia clerics. But the Iranian tradition that terrifies Sunni Arabs the most is the fact that for over three thousand years, Iran has dominated the region. Currently, Iran is developing nuclear weapons, the better to continue that tradition of domination. Shia Arabs are 60 percent of the Iraqi population. In a democracy, those Shia Arabs should be running the country. The Sunni Arab nightmare is that a Shia run Iraq would ally with Shia Iran to take over the Middle East. It's an Arabian nightmare that is based on thousands of years of reality. Sunni Arabs in the Middle East may not support Sunni Arab terrorism in Iraq, but they do support Sunni Arab control of Iraq.

Iraqi Sunni Arabs also have the support of the majority of the world's media. The American overthrow of Sunni Arab control of Iraq was condemned by most of the world's media. This was largely the result of European "pragmatism", and willingness to tolerate Sunni Arab atrocities in return for lucrative business deals. Saddam's Republic of Fear was largely equipped with weapons and gear supplied by European nations (mainly Russia, France and Germany.) It had also become fashionable in Europe to condemn Israel for oppressing the Sunni Arab Palestinians. This made Europeans more popular in the Sunni Arab world. So it was something of a knee-jerk reaction for the European press to join with the Sunni Arab press to condemn the United States for removing Sunni Arabs from control of Iraq. This media coalition continues to portray Sunni Arab terrorism in Iraq as "insurgents" and "freedom fighters."

Sunni Arab leaders are demanding a new constitution that will make it easier for Sunni Arabs to regain control of the government, and amnesty for Sunni Arabs involved in the last two years of terrorism, and the previous decades of government sponsored atrocities. The Sunni Arabs are willing to blame it all on al Qaeda, which is mainly radical Sunni Arabs that are considered expendable. The Kurds and Shia Arabs are gagging on this. But they have a stark choice. If they don't give in, they may only be able to stop the Sunni Arab terrorism by, in effect, making war on the Sunni Arab population. This would get pretty ugly. Look at Lebanon, the poster child for Arab civil wars. That one lasted for fifteen years (1975-90) and killed over five percent of the population. Of course, that's what Saddam did to Iraq in three decades of misrule. But a major effort to suppress current Sunni Arab violence in Iraq could leave over 100,000 Sunni Arabs dead, and several million in exile. This is a nightmare for the United States, whose troops would be a witness to this, and accused of not doing anything to stop it.

It's a game of chicken, but the Sunni Arabs are confident that the other guys will blink first. They may be right.
Posted by: ed || 06/15/2005 17:44 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If that happens ... would federalism look like a good idea (with an emphasis on bypassing a Sunni-ruled government to help the Shias and Kurds more directly) or should we just start advocating Kurdistan?
Posted by: Edward Yee || 06/15/2005 18:09 Comments || Top||

#2  This is one of the better bits of analysis that I've ever seen.

All along, the real question in Iraq has been, 'Do the Shia really want to be their own people? Or are they willing to be mastered again by the Sunni?' I strongly suspect that a major contributing factor to many of the current problems in Iraq has been the painfully slow process of the Shia 'getting their act together'. However, I think the evidence is now in -- the Shia want to be free.

At best, the Sunni strategy of 'driving a hard bargain' with suicide bombers might actually work for a while. So the Sunni could establish a special status for themselves in Iraq in which the worst of them don't have to pay for previous (and current) crimes. But that's probably just a temporary fix. Ultimately, the Sunni are riding the tiger. Their strategy is heavily dependent upon the forebearance of the Kurds and the Shia, and that forebearance is probably very tenous.
Posted by: Patrick Phillips || 06/15/2005 18:19 Comments || Top||

#3  I could come up with a completely different analysis, that has the Sunni 'insurgency' simmering for years and the Kurds and Shiias using this as an opportunity to progessively rollback Sunni control of large areas of Iraq. Already largely unoticed by the MSM the Kurds have defaco control of a large area south of their 3 provinces stretching from the Iranian border to the Syrian border. As the Shiias get organized I expect them to do the same from the south.
Posted by: phil_b || 06/15/2005 18:49 Comments || Top||

#4  It's a plan that'll work as long as America's army is free to babysit Iraq and we don't get involved in any wars with anyone else in the Middle East, or aren't attacked elsewhere or at home.

Posted by: Phil Fraering || 06/15/2005 20:06 Comments || Top||

#5  Iraq needs to make sure the Second Amendment is its first.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 06/15/2005 20:44 Comments || Top||

#6  The two real factors at work here are both discreet: the invisible hand of US diplomacy (remember Condi Rice?); and the almost ritualized haggling of the casbah. Unless you are familiar with the Middle East haggle, then much of what is transpiring is missed. However, the hand of Uncle Sam is far more omnipotent. It seeks power and balance, transparency and honesty, and the evolution of the utter dominance of democratic institutions. First the haggle will iron out some kind of agreement satisfactory to the parties, then adjustments will be made to further level the playing field. There are hundreds of tools that can be used to strengthen one side or diminish the other, subtly. All the players within and outside of Iraq will be taken into account, and years of timetables will be developed to chart all sorts of baselines for national development. Even with the departure of most of the US forces, the game continues, far beyond when stability and strength have reached their maximum. Prosperity should bring with it the end of old institutions, and the transcendance of old animosities.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 06/15/2005 21:41 Comments || Top||

#7  But a major effort to suppress current Sunni Arab violence in Iraq could leave over 100,000 Sunni Arabs dead, and several million in exile.
I can see it already. Boatloads of them turning up, stating that their human rights to cause mayhem and terror sre being denied them and claiming protection of the Refugee Convention and welfare.
Posted by: tipper || 06/15/2005 22:20 Comments || Top||

#8  Yep - and the ones that ignored the previous batch of boat people will turn out in droves to support 'em.
Posted by: Pappy || 06/15/2005 22:47 Comments || Top||

#9  But a major effort to suppress current Sunni Arab violence in Iraq could leave over 100,000 Sunni Arabs dead, and several million in exile.

Pardon me if I seem hard-pressed to work up a little sympathy...
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 06/15/2005 23:01 Comments || Top||

#10  Whats needed is to topple the moneybags behind the SUnni: the Wahhabists in Saudi. The Shia along the coastal are awhere the oil is could be encouraged to break away, armed and the protected by the US. THe Suadis without the oil money are nothing but a bunch of dirt poor, stinkin Bedu who dont matter crap in the world picture.
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/15/2005 23:21 Comments || Top||


Africa: North
Iraqi al-Qaeda congradulate GSPC
In a statement issued to the Internet today, June 15, 2005, al-Qaeda in Iraq through its official spokesman, Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, congratulates the mujahideen "who are fighting the converters in Mauritania."

The message seems to be referring to the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), a jihadist organization in Algeria, which claimed responsibility for an attack upon Mauritanian soldiers on June 3 to avenge "brothers who were recently captured by the converted Mauritanian regime, and to stand up for the weakened Muslims there." The claim was posted on the GSPC's official website and translated by the SITE Institute .
Posted by: Dan Darling || 06/15/2005 17:20 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Mahmoud!"
"Yes, effendi?"
"I am preparing our statement. I wish for you to issue it to the internet."
"At once, effendi."
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 17:42 Comments || Top||

#2  In a non-flippant tone, I notice that this message was NOT issued by Zarqawi. Make of that what we will.
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 17:49 Comments || Top||

#3  "He is too healthy to issue radio or internet messages, and TV/video? No way! Too much time in makeup/prep when it could be spent beheading infidels. Busy busy busy. But healthy! Stock of the veritable Lions of the Desert™. Did I say healthy?"
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 19:04 Comments || Top||


Iraq-Jordan
StrategyPage: Breaking Down Iraq Casualty Numbers
From May 1, 2003, through June 5th, 2005, 1,674 American troops were killed in Iraq. However, 23 percent of those deaths were from non-combat causes (about 40 percent of being automotive accidents). Hostile gunfire accounted for 25 percent of the deaths, with PRGs caused another four percent. Roadside bombs also caused 25 percent of deaths, with car bombs contributing another four percent.

Over half the deaths occurred in a few locations. Twenty percent of the deaths took place in Baghdad, while 11 percent occurred in Anbar province (west of Baghdad.) Six percent of the deaths were in Mosul, eight percent in Fallujah and six percent in Ramadi.

Two percent of those killed have been women, while 31 percent were age 22 or younger. Only 11 percent of the dead were 35 or older. Active duty troops account for 78 percent of the deaths (but only comprise about 60 percent of the troops in Iraq). The army accounts for 69 percent of the dead, the marines 28 percent. Lower ranking troops (grades E1-E4) were 59 percent of the dead. Whites were 74 percent of the dead, blacks ten percent, Hispanic 11 percent. It's a suburbanites war, with 40.5 percent of the dead coming from the suburbs, and a third from rural areas.

Some 1,300 Iraqi police and soldiers have been killed in the same period, with that number increasing as more well trained and led police and troops become available. From April 2003 to the end of 2004, about 65 Iraqi police and soldiers died each month, on average. But in the last three months, that average has been over 200 a month.

In the last two years, terrorists have also killed 721 men who were applying to join the security forces. In addition, over a hundred Iraq interpreters have been killed as well. Also, 232 foreign civilian contractors have died in the last two years.

Crime is also high, and is worst in Baghdad, where the murder rate is about twice that of Washington, DC (where it is currently 43 per 100,000 population per year.)
Posted by: ed || 06/15/2005 17:20 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  DC has murders? In Dallas in the early 1990's - we almost hit 1,000 murders in a year, with a metropolitan population af about one million. You do the math. (O.K., it's almost 2-1/2 times the DC rate).
Posted by: Bobby || 06/15/2005 21:06 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
The Model School, Islamic Style
As they learn about the American Dream, these kids wonder if it's theirs to pursue


The second order of business is creating what Universal calls an "Islamic environment." The Koran and the sayings of Muhammad are taught two days a week, Arabic three days a week. Grades 2 to 12 break for prayer once a day. Beyond Scripture, a Muslim approach influences the traditional curriculum as well. When teacher Fuzia Jarad's English class read Romeo and Juliet, the girls wanted to know, "Is it love at first sight?" "Yes," the teacher answered. "As Muslims, we don't do that. The difference is lust versus love; appearance versus knowing. Islam protects you from mistakes." For assistant principal Abdallah, who is in charge of discipline, love is a big issue. "I've had students come to me and say, ᅵSo and so are in love. Everyone is gossiping about the girl. Her reputation is ruined.'I tell them, ᅵIf you care, show respect and stop the discussions.' Sometimes a girl or boy will tell me about a love letter they've received. It's always a letter. They can't socialize. They don't want the letter. They don't want to get in trouble. The feelings for each other are natural. Islam gives us a way to approach those feelings. Choose your spouse, but don't give your body or soul to someone until you're married."

Though the school and the parents want their kids to be successful in America, the ambivalence of many Islamic parents sends mixed signals. The pull of their home country is a constant distraction from fitting into this one. "They are obsessed with foreign politics," says Steve Landek, who has been mayor of Bridgeview since 1999. "I come to talk to them about better sidewalks. They want to know how to run for Congress so they can change America's Israeli policy." Clearly respectful, however, of the economic and cultural contributions of Muslims to the community, he regrets to say 9/11 has set them back. "I still hear comments. I'm not going to repeat them. I'm not going to perpetuate the negative."
Posted by: 98zulu || 06/15/2005 15:33 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Heh, 98zulu - I feel like you set me up, lol! ;-)

[rant]
"pursue an uneasy assimilation into secular, suburban life"

Assimilation? Really? Funny, but I'd say that it goes as far out of its way to be utterly separate and unassimilating as the laws regarding mandatory schooling allow. The story, written from the most sympathetic POV imaginable, nevertheless includes numerous examples of non-assimilating aspects and practices. I can't help but wonder if Marguerite had to keep pushing that pesky hijab back so she could see the keyboard.

The Universal School makes clear its independence from the controversial institution right next door, the copper-domed Bridgeview mosque. Built a decade before the school, the mosque was started by moderates but then saw a power struggle in which hard-liners came out on top. Among its leaders, said the Chicago Tribune in an investigative report, "are men who have condemned Western culture ... and encouraged members to view society in stark terms: Muslims against the world." Last year a member of the mosque was indicted for allegedly funneling money, before 9/11, to Hamas, the militant Palestinian group.

Right. Next door. Bad guys took over. Check. No relation, no connection. Check. Only sweetness and light flow outward from here. Ever hear of taqqiya, Marguerite Michaels? Sucker.

This is a sob piece. Feel soooo sorry for the little kiddies who are made to feel different by society. They are different. They do maintain their differences. They go out of their way and virtually demand they be treated differently in every manner possible. Education? Really? It seems they are not corrected when they spout classic Arab / Paleo / mythology / dogma - they prolly get an "A" for buying into the myths and lies, in fact. Consider the following:

"Assigned by his English teacher to write an essay about his own American Dream, a 15-year-old wrote that the occupied territories should be returned to the Palestinians and 'the Jews should be left to suffer.' More often, however, Universal's students feel resentment about being stereotyped, both in the media and on the streets. To senior Ali Fadhli, the Fox TV show 24, which had a plot this season about a Muslim terrorist cell, is "obnoxious," he says. 'America has moved on to a new enemy. We're treated now like the Russians were during the Cold War.' Being teenagers though, perhaps the worst slight of all is being regarded as outsiders. 'The students are aware,' says Dalila Benameur, head of the social studies department, 'that they are perceived as different.' Says freshman Gulrana Syed: 'It's kind of impossible to blend in wearing a head scarf.' Student Ryan Ahmad, whose dad is his toughest music critic, admits, 'Americans seem to have more fun. Muslims try to be American, but we don't know how. The cultures are so different.' A sense that U.S. life has its own contradictions provides some perspective. Senior Muna Zughayer, noting the use of women as sex objects, says, 'I think it's funny people look at us and say we're oppressed!'

Aw. Breaks my heart. Yewbetcha. Oh, and trot out the sex object meme, Gloria Steinem isn't dead yet, damnit, treat it as universal fact. Um, Marguerite, baby, do you still have your clit? Let's compare the uber-perverse misogyny of Islam to that of the terrible Great Satan, shall we? Asstard.

"fear and anger have grown among many students, teachers and parents as the Iraq war and the mistreatment of Muslim prisoners have provided further reminders of the conflict between cultures"

Ah, Time just renewed its MSM credentials... Haven't they had enough derision and ridicule, yet for their lower than low "journalism" standards? Apparently not, the editors let pass / inserted this inanity. Is that a pair of panties on your head -- or a hijab, Ahmed, er, Gulrana?

Sigh.

Yo, immigrant. One might think it's YOUR obligation to assimilate into OUR society, not the other way round. This constant whine that somehow we should be apologizing to you cuz you're fucked up has to end. Aw... But if you're Muzzies, heh, well everyone must adjust to you, of course, my bad. One might ask, if one was terminally UnPC: If you don't fucking like it, then go the fuck back to your shithole in Islam. Why did you come here and create this outpost of the 6th Century? Are you such morons that you didn't realize that, by being 1400 year throwbacks, you might just stick out like a diseased thumb? Are you really that stupid and self-absorbed? Heh. Fuckin Duh. Time for a thumbectomy, methinks.

Let's clarify something here. You're not Americans. You're not even Muzzy-Americans. You're Muzzies First™, last, and always. Unlike almost every other immigrant population, you bring more grief, burden, and bullshit than benefit by your presence. On a scale of 1-10, you're -10. Wank the wank off you wanking wankers. And take Marguerite Sympclit with you.

This is not reporting, it's symp suckup. It's rife with half-assed insinuations and contradictions. It's a puff piece with a heavy dose of blame game BS cuz they feel so bad for being different... It's a Muzzy wankfest - for The Children™, no less. Bite me.

This is not assimilation. It's cancer. America does not need the viral baggage of a barbarous sick twisted ideology installed in "boxes" across our land.

Fort Detrick is where we keep shit like this - on ice in Level 5 Containment.
[/rant]

HAND, Time.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 16:46 Comments || Top||

#2  interesting what you brought forward, dot com. based on what was in the original post, I would have said that virtually everything except the 9/11 reference (and substitute "maintaining America's Israel policy" for "changing America's Israel policy") would fit a Jewish day school. Judaics 5 days a week, split between scripture/religion and language. Daily prayer. A jewish environment. An attempt (not always successful) to impart a sexual ethic different from the mainstream culture. Obsession with foreign policy, esp the mideast.

But you add further information that sets things in a different light. esp. the first paragraph you quoted. This particular school was founded on bad principles.

I wonder if it was founded with Saudi money? Many muslim schools in the US are, IIUC. This imposes Wahabism on immigrants from countries where Wahabism was NOT the common form of Islam.

One advantage Jews have is that our communities have financed our OWN schools, and have not received money from abroad.
Posted by: liberalhawk || 06/15/2005 16:58 Comments || Top||

#3  Lh - you left out something: you don't whine about everything, Jewish Mother jokes notwithstanding, lol!

I once taught a class of Israelis - all Israelis, unlike other classes which included military personnel from abroad, and they were about the best class I ever had.

That said - and apologies for being pedantic - not assimilating is, obviously, both "asking for it" and the last thing this (or any country accepting immigrants) needs or wants. Where people do assimilate, and that doesn't mean they must adopt the morals or habits of the lowest common denominator (most people are not wild sex-crazed animals - they're regular sex-crazed humans, lol!), they are quickly rewarded by our society - as I'm sure you would agree. Where they do not, and I'm referring to intentionally so, they abrogate the reason our borders and policies are open - and nullify their welcome. Just my take.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 17:26 Comments || Top||

#4  "Where people do assimilate, and that doesn't mean they must adopt the morals or habits of the lowest common denominator (most people are not wild sex-crazed animals - they're regular sex-crazed humans, lol!), they are quickly rewarded by our society - as I'm sure you would agree"

Yes - Jews have been well rewarded for adopting the best (usually) of Americas values, both those who assimilated completely and those who retained more of our religion and culture.

Of course AFAICT thats happening for muslims as well. I saw some study lately that muslims in the US have HIGHER than average incomes and education. Thinking of second generation Pakistanis and others I occasionally meet, I think theyre doing reasonably well.

Of course most dont go to schools like this - most attend public school (as do most Jewish children, BTW) And i think youve hit the button on the head about the "whining". Its not the cultural distinctiveness per se - again, this school seems to devote as much time to an English language general studies curriculum as most Jewish day schools (and of course there are some schools in the Ultra Orthodox community that spend almost NO time on "secular" sunjects)
However even those schools have a generally positive view of the United States as a political entity. Which this school does not.

Again I think the problem is Saudi/Wahabi financing. And thats no small problem

Posted by: liberalhawk || 06/15/2005 17:42 Comments || Top||

#5  Lol, Lh, you always provide me with a tempting target, lol...

Point One. I don't know about the study you're referring to. I do know that there are plenty of foreigners in the US, in whatever phase of their naturalization process, claiming advanced degrees that are purest 100% USDA crap. Although the US education system is in a headlong slide into PCism oblivion, many of the universities abroad started at oblivion and remain there. Consider the Paki troll Cadet who visited RB just a few weeks ago - or a host of the people I worked with at Aramco, both those with degrees from Saudi "universities" and those from other definitively non-Western "universities"... Many were "engineers"... and I'd say in name only. That they are hired here using those inflated degrees equals a mighty-fine salary. Do they stay on for a long career (read: qualified and productive) - or are they "mobile", meaning they couldn't cut it but their former employer wants to avoid lawsuits and so will only acknowledge, "Yes, he/she worked here from..."?

I've seen a LOT of this in the oil patch - especially since I mainly worked for R&D in the patch. Ph D's who weren't worth warm spit, technically, and were shuffled out, if the company had the balls, or sidelined if HR was full of cowards. So I'll take your "study" with a grain of salt, heh. Been there and done that - for over 30 years. Wanna talk about the Myth of the Indian Programmer? Lol!

Point Two. I agree utterly regards Wahhabi funding, and I have little doubt they were behind the suborning of the moskkk. There's this skinny little strip of land, maxing out at about 40KM wide, running along the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia...
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 18:10 Comments || Top||

#6  I think deportation is the best way to deal with these people. Even Helen Keller can see that these people will NEVER integrate with our society or any other society.

What opened my eyes was when Holland got out of control. Those people are the most liberal in the world, yet they at least see their mistake. Only with the muslims do the countries of the west have this problem of non-integration. I saw a report on German TV that there are 3rd and 4th generation muslims (mostly of Morrocan descent) that still don't speak Dutch.

What's scary is that nobody wants to see what's right in front of their faces. In the story they want to be accepted, yet reject everything about our society. Huh? Then they turn around and say "Those bad Americans won't let us fit it." These asshats just don't get it.

They're aren't dumb though. They migrate into our countries, have large families, and it's just a matter of say 100 years before they are able to vote in their politicians and institute Sharia Law in the US. Outrageous? Not really if you look at the numbers of immigrants and birth rates. Bin Laden didn't have to fire a shot and they would've taken over America like this anyways. I thought it was a misprint when I read that they are over 300,000 arabs in Dearborn, Michigan. I'm white and have lived in cities with up to 120,000 people and they weren't all white. That blew my fricking mind. I still can't process a visual image of that. In just 1 city?

Still think I'm a crack pot? The historian Bernard Lewis predicts that within 100 years Europe will be Eurabia (all muslim). I know for a fact that the vast majority of Germans are 40+. It's predicted that in 50 years half of the German population will have died and their aren't enough German births to replace them. The Germans have experienced a negative birth rate since 1999. Who fills in the jobs then? Immigrants. And just what area of the world do they come from in droves to Germany?
Even if you do still think I'm a crack pot, look at this fact. Not once did I ever say we should kill them or harm them. I merely said that if they truly want to be part of a society that they can fully integrate into, send them back to their historical lands.
I believe that something must be done now to nip this problem in the bud or it will only end up in civil or religious strife later on. I don't want to see my son and daughter (or any other non-muslim American's) have to fight or die later because some dumb ass politican was too worried about hurting their feelings.
They are simply incompatible with modern civilization. Switch to Ethanol (Did you see the FoxNews article on this in the energy bill today?) Biodesiel, Hybrid cars, and Hydrogen cars and let them wallow in their own oil.

Lastly, I just love the way that TIME magazine dresses up the story like the school was somehow a good thing. Hell, you would've thought they would've photo shop'd a few picturess of cute puppies into the classroom or something.
Posted by: 98zulu || 06/15/2005 20:05 Comments || Top||

#7  Lol, 98zulu - I sure as hell don't think you're a crackpot - you're dead solid perfect on-target!
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 20:11 Comments || Top||

#8  The Statue of Liberty has usually attracted downtrodden people who desire the opportunity to materially improve theirown lot and that of their children. Freedom of expression and religion are also attracters.
Wouldn't Saudi Arabia be more attractive to observant Moslems that are not interested in assimilating (other than running for Congress?)
Posted by: Super Hose || 06/15/2005 21:31 Comments || Top||

#9  Heh, SH...

"(other than running for Congress?)"

or fundraising...
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 21:46 Comments || Top||

#10  Have a look at this article from MEMRI, if you want to know what muslim brainwashing "education" is about.
Quotes:
A Barrier Separates the Muslim's Mind from the Real World, Making Him Lose the Capacity to Distinguish Good from Evil"

"The Muslim Is Fenced In to the Point Where His Mind Is Paralyzed"

Qaradhawi and His Followers Have Appointed Themselves the Deputies of Allah

We Let Terrorism Grow When We Allowed Islamist Thought to Infiltrate] Our Media and Schools

The Arab Media Has Given the Islamists Legitimacy to Kill Innocent People
Posted by: tipper || 06/15/2005 23:05 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Taliban claims Binny and Omar are alive
Osama bin Laden is in good health, a Taliban commander said, dismissing speculation the fugitive al Qaeda leader was sick. The commander, Mullah Akhtar Usmani, also said Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar was well and in direct command of Taliban forces in Afghanistan. "All praise to Allah, he is all right," Usmani told Pakistan's GEO, a private television station, when asked about bin Laden in an interview broadcast Wednesday. Asked about reports bin Laden was sick, he said: "No, no, he is all right. There is no problem."

The private television station did not say where or when the interview was conducted. Usmani, who is on a 10-member Taliban leadership council and has been identified by the government as a top rebel commander, has in the past met reporters. In the interview, his face was partly concealed by a black turban. An assault rifle was propped up at his side.

There has been speculation about the health of bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, who has been reported to be suffering from a kidney ailment. Usmani declined to comment when asked about bin Laden's whereabouts. He said Taliban leader Omar was also well. "He is still our commander and we are still getting instructions from him," he said of Omar. "Rumours of his illness have been spread by our enemies."

Asked if he could be sure the instructions were from Omar, Usmani said: "I can listen to his voice ... I am sure he is alive." He did not elaborate.

The Taliban were getting increasing support from the Afghan people because of U.S. "brutality against Muslims and their bias against Muslim countries," he said. "The Taliban are everywhere. In some places they are very dominant and in others they are not. They are dominant in the eastern, southern and southwestern provinces," he said.

A Taliban spokesman said Usmani's comments on bin Laden were his personal views. "We don't know anything about Osama," the spokesman, Abdul Latif Hakimi, said by telephone.
This article starring:
ABDUL LATIF HAKIMITaliban
MULLAH AKHTAR USMANITaliban
Posted by: Dan Darling || 06/15/2005 15:01 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Yeah, yeah, blah, blah. I'm sure they're living high on the ho-- oh wait. What would devout Moose Limbs live high on?

Bring 'em out! Let's see 'em! They're a couple of chicken $hit cowards with no testicles between 'em.
Posted by: eLarson || 06/15/2005 17:40 Comments || Top||

#2  He's not dead. He's merely pining for the sand dunes.
Posted by: Jackal || 06/15/2005 19:25 Comments || Top||

#3  Jackal - don't know exactly why, but that really tickled me LOL
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 19:39 Comments || Top||

#4  The parrot is deceased.
Posted by: Super Hose || 06/15/2005 21:38 Comments || Top||


Taliban Chief: Bin Laden Alive and Well
Osama bin Laden is alive and in good health, as is fugitive Taliban chief Mullah Mohammed Omar, a purported senior commander of the ousted militia said Wednesday in a television interview. Pakistan's Geo television broadcast the interview with a man it identified as Taliban military commander Mullah Akhtar Usmani, a former aviation minister who said he still receives instructions from Omar. Asked whether bin Laden is hiding in areas of Afghanistan that are under Taliban control, the man said he would not specify where the terrorist mastermind was hiding. "Thanks be to God, he is absolutely fine," he said.

The man wore a black turban to shield his face, making it impossible to recognize him or verify his identity. He wore a gray jacket, and an AK-47 rifle was propped up next to him as he spoke in front of a red-patterned, Afghan-style rug. Geo said the interview was recorded last week, but declined to say where. A senior journalist at the independent station said on condition of anonymity that the interview was done near the Afghan town of Spinboldak, which is close to the Pakistani border.

The interview was conducted in broken Urdu, Pakistan's main language and the language in which Geo broadcasts most of its programs. Most senior Taliban speak Pashtu. The man said the Taliban are still organized, and that senior Taliban leaders hold regular consultations. "Our discipline is strong. We have regular meetings. We make programs," the man said. He said Omar does not attend the meetings but "decisions come from his side." He did not say where those meeting take place.
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 11:56 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine
Paleos Take Over Qorei's Vacation Home
Dozens of Palestinian militants raided the vacation home of Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia on Wednesday, shooting in the air and demanding they be given jobs in the security forces, security officials said. Qureia was not in the home in the West Bank town of Jericho at the time, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions. Although the militants shot in the air, forced their way past two guards and pushed open the door, no injuries or damage was reported. The gunmen refused to leave. They stayed for about an hour, until security officers persuaded them to leave. "This act is a violation of the law and we will resolve the situation," Qureia said in reaction while touring the West Bank town of Nablus.
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 11:21 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Let's give those lovely people a sovreign state of their own.
Posted by: anon1 || 06/15/2005 11:38 Comments || Top||

#2  I guess they wanted to prove they'd be responsible and effective security forces by shooting weapons in the air, committing assault, vandalizing property and trespassing.

"This act is a violation of the law and we will resolve the situation," Qureia said . . .

Paleo logic. gotta love it.
Posted by: PlanetDan || 06/15/2005 16:20 Comments || Top||

#3  They stayed for about an hour, until security officers persuaded them to leave. "This act is a violation of the law and we will resolve the situation," Qureia said in reaction while touring the West Bank town of Nablus.

And what do they do to lawbreakers? They persuade them to leave, instead of charging them with an offense and subjecting them to judicial proceedings.

It's anarchy, I tell ya.....
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 06/15/2005 17:39 Comments || Top||

#4  they consider this a job interview
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 18:28 Comments || Top||


Truth Now! About the Al Dura blood libel
This is the english version of the french site "La vérité maintenant", Truth now, about the Netzarim shooting, and the infamous manipulation carried out by the palestinian authority with the complicity of French public broadcasting television, France 2.

The site itself isn't as complete as the french version (http://www.laveritemaintenant.org/), even if it has some good material, so you can also refer to the Transatlantic Intelligencer blog for a good summary of this modern-day blood libel : http://www.trans-int.blogspot.com/ (see the multiple links in the sidebar).

This is old news, agreed, but this deserves more coverage, as the french mediasphere is bunkerized in its denial.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 06/15/2005 09:16 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ...the french mediasphere is bunkerized in its denial.

Kinda like the US liberal media too.
Posted by: mmurray821 || 06/15/2005 10:23 Comments || Top||


Are Bush Policies Eroding U.S. - Israel Ties?
Posted by: Thotch Glesing2372 || 06/15/2005 00:34 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The article is whining that the Bush administration is preventing sales of Israeli technology to China.
Posted by: mhw || 06/15/2005 8:21 Comments || Top||

#2  Notice how when jews stop dying, Israel/'palestine' slips off the MSM radar.
Posted by: phil_b || 06/15/2005 8:45 Comments || Top||

#3  Israel needs to understand that the China sales aren't worth the cost to ties to us. Damage would be the Liberty incident extended forever and thrown in their face at every opportunity by their only friend on the world stage
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 9:45 Comments || Top||

#4  INN is a far right wing Israeli website. Most Israelis are much more sensitive to US relations.
Posted by: liberalhawk || 06/15/2005 9:49 Comments || Top||

#5  When Israel supplies a big chunk of Uncle Sam's defense budget and most of Uncle Sam's weaponry, and provides a nuclear umbrella for Uncle Sam, then Israel can decide what weaponry Uncle Sam can sell to its Arab neighbors. This blindness towards the danger (to US-Israeli ties) from Israeli sales to China is bipartisan - various Labor governments pushed through the sales of advanced equipment to China under Clinton's accomodative policies (towards China). At bottom, the Israelis are trying to defray the cost of R&D. They need to understand, however, that their R&D is going to get a lot more expensive when Uncle Sam stops supplying advanced weapons to them.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 06/15/2005 10:04 Comments || Top||

#6  When the Israelis were developing their F-16 related Lavi fighter, we transferred a huge amount of technology to them. They nevertheless stole (or at least tried to steal) more ... I remember the brouhaha over attempts by them to crack our composite materials manufacturing in particular. Congress pressured them to shut down the Lavi program when it became clear they would not agree not to resell the plane despite the requirements of the ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) provisions in the export licenses granted to them for the technologies we made available.

Two years ago they sold Lavi technology and IIRC some airframes to China.
Posted by: rkb || 06/15/2005 10:17 Comments || Top||

#7  And as I pointed out to you later, Robin, they used the Lavi technology (among other stuff) to make targetting pods for export. And they can and probably will export said pods to the nations we sold planes to but left out the air-to-ground capability so it wouldn't be a threat to Israel...
Posted by: Phil Not At Normal Computer || 06/15/2005 10:47 Comments || Top||

#8  Nuttin' wrong with maintaining ties; just scale back technology transfers. They'll get the message sooner or later.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 06/15/2005 11:03 Comments || Top||

#9  True, BaR. and, the transfers have gone both ways.

The problem is that they don't have a sustainable way to fund their own defense efforts. I understand their problem -- I just object to their solution when it comes to countries like China.
Posted by: rkb || 06/15/2005 12:14 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
K.P.S. Gill's post mortem of the Khalistan movement
The transformation of an indigenous uprising in Punjab during the 80's into a proxy war was very much the model repeated in Kashmir in the 90's. However the training and deployment of Jihadis for Kashmir had far greater consequences than training a bunch of angry Sikhs.
With the arrest of Jagtar Singh Hawara, the Babbar Khalsa International's (BKI) 'operations chief' in India, on June 8, 2005, the curtain has rolled down on another chapter of the long saga of Pakistan's failed attempts to revive Khalistani terrorism in Punjab. Hawara fell quickly into the net as the leader of the circle of conspirators who engineered the Delhi Cinema Hall Blasts on May 22, 2005. The rapidity with which this 'terrorist module' unravelled is an important index of the state of the Khalistani movement and of what was once the most feared terrorist organisation in the Punjab. The disruption of a single cell would ordinarily not be expected to lead to the arrest of the 'operations chief' of a group such as the BKI - one of the first groups to take to terrorism in the Punjab in the end-Nineteen Seventies, and regarded as the most ideologically driven and violent organisation among the proliferation of gangs that overran Punjab through the Eighties and early Nineties. The operational leadership is normally insulated by significant layers and 'circuit breakers', so that the arrest of one of the 'foot soldiers' cannot lead beyond the immediate cell. Hawara, who had evaded arrest since his sensational escape from the Burail Jail in Chandigarh on January 21, 2004, clearly lacked the organisational depth that could isolate him from the bottom rung of what are evidently mercenary and most unreliable operatives. It is significant that none of the other conspirators in the present case fit the profile of the traditional and deeply conservative BKI activist. Two are Hindus, and the others have an evident taste for the 'good life' and a hankering to go abroad - legally or otherwise. That Hawara was in direct contact with, and exposed to, the likes of these indicates the degree to which the ideologically motivated Khalistani recruitment base has simply vanished from Punjab.

This is despite frenetic efforts by Pakistan to keep the 'defeated rump of Khalistani terrorist organisations', (as I have described them elsewhere) alive; and despite significant flows of funding, support and propaganda from minuscule and increasingly isolated groups among Non Resident Indian (NRI) Sikhs. While Hawara and Jaspal Singh 'masterminded' the operation in India, they were functioning under the direct control of Wadhawa Singh, the BKI 'chief', who continues to enjoy Pakistani hospitality ever since he fled the fighting in Punjab in the late 1980s. The group was coordinated through Satnam Singh Satta Mallian, Wadhawa Singh's son-in-law, propped up by his Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) handlers, who is currently taking advantage of the laxity of German law in Stuttgart, to manage the movement and operations of BKI cadres, who have a presence in several European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom. BKI is also active in Canada and USA. It is on the list of terrorist organisations in both the US and UK.

Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Paul Moloney || 06/15/2005 00:54 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
Maniac Fred Phelps and Devil-Spawn to Desecrate Soldier's Funeral
His church was bombed, and now he protests funerals of the war dead
Kansas preacher says he's coming to Idaho

By CHUCK OXLEY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOISE, Idaho -- A Kansas preacher and gay rights foe whose congregation is protesting military funerals around the country said he's coming to Idaho tomorrow to picket the memorial for an Idaho National Guard soldier killed in Iraq.

Fred's website reposes under the charming name of www.Godhatesfags.com. The companion site is GodhatesAmerica.com, where Fred presents his theory that 9-11 was divine punishment for tolerating homosexuality. Among other things, it features a cartoon in which an American soldier is shown raping a little Iraqi boy.

A flier on the Web site of Pastor Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church claims God killed Cpl. Carrie French with an improvised explosive device in retaliation against the United States for a bombing at Phelps' church six years ago.
Gee, why would anybody do such a thing to Fred's church, as opposed to his ass?

"We're coming," Phelps said yesterday.
as the weekly Westboro orgy moved to a climax....

Westboro Baptist either has protested or is planning protests of other public funerals of soldiers from Michigan, Alabama, Minnesota, Virginia and Colorado. A protest is planned for July 11 at Dover Air Force Base, the military base where war dead are transported before being sent on to their home states.

Fred and his gang went to Baghdad while Saddam was still in power to protest American foreign policy. The Saddamites were delighted to have them by all accounts.

Phelps gained national notoriety in 1998 when he picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepard, the gay college student beaten to death in Wyoming.

Fred's website features a daily count of how many days Matt has been in Hell.

Since then, Phelps said his church has been the target of hateful words and actions, including a bomb attack six years ago.
tsk, tsk, such intolerance.

Phelps' church has picketed the funerals of AIDS victims for more than a decade.
These include signs saying such clever things as "Fag funeral" and "Fags burn in Hell" The gang also picketed Ronald Reagan's funeral on the grounds that Reagan had tolerated homosexuality.

French, 19, was a Caldwell High School graduate and varsity cheerleader. She was killed June 5 in the northern city of Kirkuk. French served as an ammunition specialist with the 116th Brigade Combat Team's 145th Support Battalion.

May God cradle you in his loving arms, dear one.

Phelps said the fact that French led an all-American life gives him all the more reason to picket her final public tribute.

"An all-American girl from a society of all-American heretics," he said.
I am all-American heathen, Fred. Now bite my ass till your dentures break.

"Our attitude toward what's happening with the war is the Lord is punishing this evil nation for abandoning all moral imperatives that are worth a dime," Phelps said.

Well, yes, our moral imperatives are those of the Enlightenment and they are beyond all reckoning of price.

Caldwell Police Chief Bob Sobba said he cannot bar Phelps from going to the public funeral, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Albertson College of Idaho in that city.
The ACLU would probably defend Phelps if Sobba threw him out of town. Almost everyone else in the civilized world would defend Sobba. Incidentally, Fred's congregation is made up almost entirely of his immediate family. IIRC, he has 13 children, 9 of whom are lawyers, and close to 70 grandchildren. They all live on the same tract in a Topeka neighborhood, which they have closed off and turned into a kind of fortified compound. Several of the devil-spawn lawyers work for the Kansas Department of Corrections.

"While we respect Mr. Phelps' right to protest, we would hope that he would respect the family and friends of this young person by not disrupting the memorial," Sobba said.
I respect his right to remain silent, forever.

Idaho Air National Guard Lt. Tony Vincelli, acting as spokesman for French's family, said there were no plans to change the funeral arrangements.
"In other words, fuck the old bastard and his devil-spawn congregation."

The Rev. Brian Fischer, pastor of Boise's Community Church of the Valley, and himself a past target of protest by the Westboro Baptist Church, decried Phelps' plan.

"What Phelps is doing is a reprehensible thing, to take a funeral and turn it into a photo op for his hate cause," Fischer said.

"We hope everyone will ignore Phelps' group."
Wimp. We hope everyone kicks their asses.

In 2003, Phelps demanded that he be allowed to erect an anti-gay monument in a Boise public park. To avoid a lawsuit from his group, city officials voted in 2004 that a Ten Commandments monument be moved out of the park.

Cowardice or a sly assertion of equivalence?

I have been wondering how Fred gets the money for all this. The congregation numbers fewer than 100 people, almost all related. His mob is on the road almost all the time, often sending different groups to different cities on the same day. As I mentioned, they even travel outside the country when they find someone, like Saddam, who will have them. He says nothing about finance, merely asserting that God provides.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I'm fairly certain that Fred's daddy made him bite the pillow as a young'un. Methinks he protests way too much.
Posted by: BH || 06/15/2005 0:26 Comments || Top||

#2  This muthaf*cker seems to be morphing into a Kansas mullah.

I have a customer, as devout a Christian as can be but a man who also understands that humans are of the flesh and are deemed worthy of salvation by grace and forgiveness alone. Hse asks me how things are going, and I tell him nothing a hooker and a bottle of nice wine wouldn't cure. He laughs, and he tells me that that not all things can harm except which you allow to harm yourself. Says so right in the NT, so he says.

It's not an excuse not to have a spiritual life if you understand Christian doctrine is of Love first, and by allowing God to guide your life. That customer is a real and positive way demonstrates that to me, keeps me hoping someday I may actually act Christian in my personal life.

That said, this f*cker needs his head removed by a speeding fist. I'd love to volunteer. I would expect I would get, in Oklahoma, a few days and a wrist slap from local judges, but ya never know.

I suspect this cult, to call it what it appears to be, will find a relatively bad ending. Not all social groups, even families, are so congruous that a sense of injustice won't break it apart.

Our Jewish friends: please forgive me if I have offended you with this little bit of semnonizing. I am about as far from a perfect human being as I can be, but I also felt I needed to show the readers here was a wothless pussy this Phelps is. I won't do it much, I promise.
Posted by: badanov || 06/15/2005 1:26 Comments || Top||

#3  AC, amazing commentary.

badanov, speaking for myself, no insult taken. Your customer sounds like a good advertisement for Christianity as it ought to be, as opposed to this Phelps character, and as good a guide as one could hope for. Only I think you won't achieve that turning the other cheek bit right away. ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/15/2005 3:59 Comments || Top||

#4  Sometimes tolerance isn't called for. This moron must be skating close to the edge regards hate speech. And I believe he's due for a date with a 300 lb horney lifer.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 4:43 Comments || Top||

#5  This idiot has plauged Colorado Springs twice now. If he comes back, he is gonna get a major ass kicking now. Don't piss off the soldiers and then come back where there are 5 active military bases.

Posted by: mmurray821 || 06/15/2005 9:35 Comments || Top||

#6  Of course the MSM will point to this guy as a "Leader" in the Christian community. Fred sounds like he needs to be medicated.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge || 06/15/2005 10:23 Comments || Top||

#7  He ain't no pastor, that's for sure. The World Council of Churches (Nobody Goes To Anymore) ought to hold a "Not In Our Name" ceremony...
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 10:26 Comments || Top||

#8  This man is horrifying and is certainly not a Christian. Unfortunately, anyone is free to call themselves anything they like.


Here's a review of this character by Phil Johnson, who assists a very large Christianity ministry (Grace to You) in Los Angeles:

Here's a Topeka, Kansas, "Baptist" church that has managed to mangle the gospel so completely that hate, rather than love, is at the heart of the message they proclaim. They picket funerals of AIDS victims, carrying signs saying "No Tears for Queers." This "church" is actually a small cult comprised mostly of "Pastor" Fred Phelps's own offspring and their children. An eye-opening expose of the Phelps clan ("Addicted to Hate," by investigative reporter Jon Michael Bell) is on line, Exhibit A in some court documents in a lawsuit involving a Topeka newspaper.
As a Calvinistic Baptist, I'm embarrassed by the Web presence of this "church." What you'll find here is a radically different gospel from the good news proclaimed in Scripture, so this is an apt candidate for the "really, really bad" category.


Posted by: Chalcas || 06/15/2005 12:29 Comments || Top||

#9  Well, he sure isn't getting money from his legal practice.

Anyone who commemorates his suspension from practicing law by giving his wife a crew-cut is just waaaaaay too bizarre for me.

Methinks he has serious repressed tendencies.
Posted by: Desert Blondie || 06/15/2005 13:24 Comments || Top||

#10  I'd call out the pink tanks, stupidity is the only thing that can stop this monster.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 19:56 Comments || Top||

#11  Let FagFred show up in Alabama and just TRY to disrupt a veterans funeral. The people will be on him like ugly on a monkey.

Posted by: OldSpook || 06/15/2005 22:31 Comments || Top||

#12  Unfortunately the way the left has perverted the concept of citizens rights.... You have to convince this bozo to sign himself into a mental institution.
Posted by: 3dc || 06/15/2005 22:53 Comments || Top||


Africa: Horn
Darfur peace talks stall
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Chnese fire drill at the best. Love the bit about throwing Chad out - what is this Florida?
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 06/15/2005 9:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Looks like its time for the UN to come to the rescue again. I hear there are 5-star Hotels in Tahiti where the food is exceedingly fine. Then theres a few resturants the delegates haven't visted in Thailand....
Posted by: CrazyFool || 06/15/2005 12:39 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine
Qorei: Palestinians 'well prepared' for Rice meeting
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Beers all around
Posted by: Captain America || 06/15/2005 0:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Oh goody. They'll all have fun then. I look forward to reading the reports. Do you think she'll wear her boots and black raincoat?
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/15/2005 3:43 Comments || Top||

#3  seems the Star's quote mark editor is in overdrive today.
Posted by: 2b || 06/15/2005 3:46 Comments || Top||

#4  Hope Rice borrows a pair of Dubya's boots with the spurs attached. She might need to get those spurs dirty.
Posted by: Charles || 06/15/2005 6:19 Comments || Top||

#5  Qorei's preparation checklist:

1. hide smuggled arms - done.
2. cover tunnels - done.
3. placate hamas, islamic jihad, al aqsa, for now - done.
4. write list of reasons why Israel is to blame for the lack of progress - done.
5. new suit and a haircut - done.
6. kill jooos - in progress.

all set!
Posted by: PlanetDan || 06/15/2005 9:23 Comments || Top||

#6  He also said that "any final status agreement must to be reached between the two parties, and changes to the 1949 Armistice lines must be mutually agreed to."


'49, huh? How about 1849? When no f*&king Palestine existed?
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 10:07 Comments || Top||

#7 
Everything I know about Baal I picked up from the Bible.




The land of Canaan was devoted to the worship of Baal...
"One may question that those ancient enemies of Israel were as evil as the Bible
claims that they were, but even a superficial glance at Canaanite
religion alone ably demonstrates their iniquity. Base sex worship was
prevalent, and religious prostitution even commanded; human sacrifice
was common; and it was a frequent practice--in an effort to placate their
gods--to kill young children and bury them in the foundations of a house
or public building at the time of construction: Joshua 6:26 "In his days
did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in
Abiram his firstborn..."

Howard E. Vos,
"An Introduction To Bible Archaeology" Revised ed.
(Chicago: Moody Press, 1953) pp. 17-19.


The modern followers of Baal continue to carry on human sacrifice
and the murder of their children.
Posted by: Jackal || 06/15/2005 16:24 Comments || Top||


Palestinian militants step up threat to call off cease-fire
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  There is an old (extremely un PC) Russian saying, which translates (roughly) as "The only way to straighten a hunchback, it to put him in a casket."
Posted by: gromgoru || 06/15/2005 0:20 Comments || Top||

#2  What you mean there was a cease fire?

in name only...

so that leaves me quaking in my boots oh please don't call off the fake cease fire!
Posted by: anon1 || 06/15/2005 10:23 Comments || Top||

#3  What I dont understand is the terrorist attacks had already been stopped before the cease fire. The wall was doing its job the only difference between then and now is that the Isrealis are restrained from taking out the leadership and making the major counter strikes. The terrrist would be stupid to call of the cease fire they will not be able to make the attacks in Isreal proper Gaza will soon not be a target that the now isolated surrounded settlements are the major West bank settlements are now on the Isreali proper side of the wall and short the motor fire and rockets that never did stop the only thing the terrrorist will get from ending the cease fire is some thier leader of the month being splatted in the street by a maverick and the great blood lust "car swarm" that always follows. LGF http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/lgf-car-swarms.php?PHPSESSID=88b66af83e8f1b0ec4d942bcb5a70fcd

Posted by: C-Low || 06/15/2005 11:54 Comments || Top||


Qorei Threatens to Go on Strike
Faced with increasing lawlessness in the occupied territories, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei yesterday said his Cabinet would go on strike if security forces failed to rein in armed groups.
Ahmed, I don't think you've quite got this down: the gummint doesn't go on strike...
"If this security chaos does not end, we will suspend our duties," he told reporters in the Palestinian Authority headquarter in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
"Yeah! We'll quit! What're you gonna do then? Riddle me that! Hah? Hah?"
"We are telling the heads of security services that there should be severe deterrence for all those who are tampering with security."
"Just... Just... Just shoot 'em or something!"
Qorei said some members of the security services were responsible for some of the disturbances which they were meant to prevent. "The people are no longer prepared to tolerate these attacks, hundreds of which have been carried out by members of the security services," he said. "Any commander (of the security services) who is reluctant to hold them to account should leave the service along with the people themselves."
"That's if it's okay, of course.... Put those down! You don't have to go for your guns!"
Qorei's remarks followed a surge of violence in Ramallah, previously less affected by strife that has plagued other towns in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the most recent of three shooting incidents in Ramallah in the past week, several members of the Palestinian security services took part in a gunfight between rival families in which two people were wounded. They ultimately fired on police who intervened to stop the fight.
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oh NO!

If the gummint goes on strike, the people will be without the benefit of the rule of law! Chaos will reign!

..er..
Posted by: Darth VAda || 06/15/2005 6:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe the implied threat is that the security forces don't get paid. ??
Posted by: too true || 06/15/2005 10:28 Comments || Top||

#3  “If this security chaos does not end, we will suspend our duties,” he told reporters in the Palestinian Authority headquarter in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Well, at least the anarchy will be official....
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 06/15/2005 11:06 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Fred Phelps Can Go To Hell
A Kansas preacher and gay rights foe whose congregation is protesting military funerals around the country said he's coming to Idaho on Wednesday to picket the memorial for an Idaho National Guard soldier killed in Iraq. A flier on the Web site of Pastor Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church claims God killed Cpl. Carrie French with an improvised explosive device in retaliation against the United States for a bombing at Phelps' church six years ago.
Sounds like Preacher Phelps is suffering from delusions of significance...
"We're coming," Phelps said Monday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Westboro Baptist either has protested or is planning protests of other public funerals of soldiers from Michigan, Alabama, Minnesota, Virginia and Colorado. A protest is planned for July 11 at Dover Air Force Base, the military base where war dead are transported before being sent on to their home states. Phelps gained national notoriety in 1998 when he picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepard, the gay college student beaten to death in Wyoming.
What's that have to do with the military?
Since then, Phelps said his church has been the target of hateful words and actions, including a bomb attack six years ago. Phelps' church has picketed the funerals of AIDS victims for more than a decade.
He and his parishioners sound like a bunch of ignorant sods...
French, 19, was a Caldwell High School graduate and varsity cheerleader. She was killed June 5 in the northern city of Kirkuk. French served as an ammunition specialist with the 116th Brigade Combat Team's 145th Support Battalion. Phelps said the fact that French led an all-American life gives him all the more reason to picket her final public tribute.
That makes sense. Not a lot of sense, but sense. Of a sort... I guess.
"An all-American girl from a society of all-American heretics," he said.
Heretics? He into autos-da-fe?
"Our attitude toward what's happening with the war is the Lord is punishing this evil nation for abandoning all moral imperatives that are worth a dime," Phelps said.
I'm not too enthused about some of the extremes various freedumbs are being taken to, either, but calling people heretics and disrespecting our war dead would seem to be a pretty roundabout way of fixing the problem.
Caldwell Police Chief Bob Sobba said he cannot bar Phelps from going to the public funeral, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Albertson College of Idaho in that city. "While we respect Mr. Phelps' right to protest, we would hope that he drops dead on the spot and rots in hell for all eternity would respect the family and friends of this young person by not disrupting the memorial," Sobba said. Idaho Air National Guard Lt. Tony Vincelli, acting as spokesman for French's family, said there were no plans to change the funeral arrangements.
They'd probably just follow wherever it went. They're obviously lacking in taste, tact, and patriotism of any sort...
The Rev. Brian Fischer, pastor of Boise's Community Church of the Valley, and himself a past target of protest by the Westboro Baptist Church, decried Phelps' plan. "What Phelps is doing is a reprehensible thing, to take a funeral and turn it into a photo op for his hate cause," Fischer said. "We hope everyone will ignore Phelps' group."
Since he has a right to make an ass of himself, I guess that's the best available course. If the country was the fascist state that the lefties keep harping it is, a swarm of brownshirts would descend upon him and kick his ass all the way back to where he came from. But it's not, so they won't. And despite my dislike of brownshirts, I'll add: darn it.
In 2003, Phelps demanded that he be allowed to erect an anti-gay monument in a Boise public park. To avoid a lawsuit from his group, city officials voted in 2004 that a Ten Commandments monument be moved out of the park to a private setting.
I pray that veterans assemble in force at that funeral, each carrying an axe handle with a black ribbon around it, and when Phelps and his swine herd show up, to beat them until each and every one has to spend six months in the hospital.

That would be the brownshirt alternative I was just mentioning. I'd rather see some intelligent setup work by duly sworn officers of the law and the legal system. Since they're coming from Kansas to Idaho, they're not walking. That's an excellent opportunity for enterprising patrolmen to make their states a lot of money with tickets for speeding, seatbelt violations, unsafe vehicles, aggressive driving, failure to signal when changing lanes, emissions violations, failure to make a full stop, tire tread too thin, all sorts of horrible things. And then there's disturbing the peace, assembly without a license, noise pollution, littering, jay-walking, damage to public property... I like abuse of police power only slightly less than I like swarms of brownshirts, but there are exceptions to every rule, aren't there?
Posted by: Anonymoose || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hmmm...Idaho. Lotsa lumberjacks. And long-haul truckdrivers. And bikers. Lots of whom are vets...
Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) || 06/15/2005 0:44 Comments || Top||

#2  how cum thisn duzent surprize me. thinken peples shuld picket evry sunday servise they hold
Posted by: muck4doo || 06/15/2005 1:09 Comments || Top||

#3  As a not-very-devout Christian, I gotta ask:

Can we trade this guy to the salafists? Maybe get a decent shortstop out of the deal?
Posted by: Phil Fraering || 06/15/2005 3:09 Comments || Top||

#4  Idaho's a bit rougher of a crowd than he's used to in Kansas. Let's hope that popcorn is in order here.
Posted by: 2b || 06/15/2005 3:55 Comments || Top||

#5  A pluperfect asshole. Here's hoping he and his minions break some laws - and he gets to meet Bubba in stir.
Posted by: .com || 06/15/2005 4:23 Comments || Top||

#6  Am I to understand that these intend to disrupt military funerals in those sections of America where there as many guns, or more, than people. THe Lefties and Deaniacs are losing more than ever because, among other things, when post-Clinton Lefties argue/proclaim that Leftism-Socialism results in successful and superior RIGHTISM, and while ranting that Rightists or Conservatives per se deserve to be vilified and imprisoned, etc. it helps to say or argue that you are a RIGHTIST, NOT TO MILITANTLY OR OBSCENELY RANT THAT YOU ARE STILL A LEFTIST OR SOCIALIST. NOT TO BE LINKED OR CONFUSED WITH THE OTHER RIGHTISTS. Goes to show Stupid is as Stupid does, and a Loon/Lunatic is as a Loon/Lunatic does, and a Traitor is as a Traitor does, etc.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/15/2005 4:58 Comments || Top||

#7  Point of order: Fred Phelps doesn't have a "congregation." His church is entirely composed, I believe, of his extended family.
I've seen a couple of his "protests" in person at graduations in Kansas. "God hates Fags" signs and the like. His congregation is a pretty meek bunch -- I bet they're visible, but they'll stay away from the gravesite. This is purely a tactic to get him in the newspapers.
Posted by: Javiter Thiter7940 || 06/15/2005 6:39 Comments || Top||

#8  >> "An all-American girl from a society of all-American heretics," he said.

> Heretics? He into autos-da-fe?

Autos-da-fe? Somebody say autos-da-fe?


Posted by: Javiter Thiter7940 || 06/15/2005 6:47 Comments || Top||

#9  Expect a problem. Our church was targeted by this guy over abortion. His MO is to create an incident that allows him to bring suit against an individual or organization and shake down the insurance company for a settlement, sort of a small time, fundamentalist Jesse Jackson.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 06/15/2005 7:02 Comments || Top||

#10  Who let Mendiola off his meds? He's spewing incoherently all over the place.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 06/15/2005 7:35 Comments || Top||

#11  Regarding Phelps as a preacher, there is a saying from the Bible "My Sheep Know My Voice", that voice being the voice of Christ. (The Shepherd metaphor.)

Well, let's just say I don't recognize the voice of Phelps in any way.
Posted by: eLarson || 06/15/2005 7:43 Comments || Top||

#12  Next time somebody tries to blow up his church...do it right and make sure he's in it.
Posted by: tu3031 || 06/15/2005 8:27 Comments || Top||

#13  "Good morning, Mr. Phelps. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be a total bugwit moonbat so as to show the depravity to which crazy people can aspire." Looks like he accepted the mission.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 06/15/2005 8:59 Comments || Top||

#14  I agree with Phil. He should be traded for a hostage in Iraq. That way they could behead him and it would be win-win-win: US gets rid of fundy moonbat, jihadis satisfy bloodlust, Phelps get press.
Posted by: Spot || 06/15/2005 9:30 Comments || Top||

#15  My wife was a law student at KU back in the day. She said that the text for the Ethics in Law class (taught by a gay judge) was pretty much exclusively dedicated to the Phelps Klan. I'm not sure that there's one left that hasn't been disbarred.
Posted by: BH || 06/15/2005 9:55 Comments || Top||

#16  Can we trade this guy to the salafists? Maybe get a decent shortstop out of the deal?

Nah. The Yanks already have 2 really good shortstops. We could use some more depth in the outfield and DEFINITELY more pitching talent, tho.
Posted by: Joe Torre || 06/15/2005 9:57 Comments || Top||

#17  He was pulling this shit at Ronald Reagan's funeral too ...
Posted by: Edward Yee || 06/15/2005 10:02 Comments || Top||

#18  Ima thinkr the cops should take about ten minutes' break and let what happens, happen. Cracked skulls on these asshats might make an improvement....
Posted by: Frank G || 06/15/2005 10:10 Comments || Top||


Iraq-Jordan
Video of Sammy's testimony released
In Baghdad, the Iraqi court set up to try Saddam Hussein released a video that showed the deposed dictator answering questions. Judge Raed Al-Juhi, a member of the Iraqi Special Tribunal, questioned a bearded, seemingly weary Saddam about the 1982 killing of 143 residents of Dujail, a Shiite village northeast of Baghdad. Saddam, who has been in US custody since his capture in December 2003, is accused of ordering revenge murders after villagers allegedly tried to assassinate him. He is accused of a litany of other crimes against humanity and could face the death penalty if convicted. Four Saddam lieutenants, including his cousin Muzahim Al-Tikriti, faced questions from an investigating judge about the "Anfal" (spoils) offensive against Kurds, including an attack on the village of Halabja, and the 1991 repression of Shiites in southern Iraq, according to separate footage obtained by AFP.
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Afghanistan/South Asia
Afghan Ulema Council Seeks US Apologies
The main body of Afghan Muslim clerics called on the United States yesterday to apologize and punish those responsible for desecrating the Qur'an at its Guantanamo Bay prison, an issue that sparked bloody riots in Afghanistan. The US military released details this month about five cases in which the holy book was kicked, stepped on, soaked in water, and in one instance, splashed with a guard's urine falling through an air vent at the military prison in Cuba.

America's top general, Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said the military is unlikely to hold court-martial proceedings in the two or three cases of deliberate mishandling of the Qur'an at Guantanamo Bay. Afghan Chief Justice Fazl Hadi Shinwari, head of the influential national clerics' body, the Ulema Council, said it had passed a two-point resolution on the issue yesterday. "The Ulema Council resolved that the United States and those who have done this should apologize to the whole Muslim community, and the ones who have done this should be punished so that others don't do this again," he told Reuters.
Posted by: Fred || 06/15/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I'm sorry that you're a bunch a devil-worshipping savages.
Posted by: Jackal || 06/15/2005 8:48 Comments || Top||

#2  Me too. And I've got the compassionate head tilt to prove it.
Posted by: Seafarious || 06/15/2005 10:59 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm sorry I don't have a Koran to desecrate...
Posted by: tu3031 || 06/15/2005 11:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Well, I speak from the "Jesus Land" portion of the US and this is our statement.

Ah-hem.....

Fuck you
Posted by: mmurray821 || 06/15/2005 11:44 Comments || Top||

#5  How about the mishandling of the Buddhas?
Posted by: JFM || 06/15/2005 14:04 Comments || Top||

#6  Im still working on my head tilt. My friend(s) sez Ima have a pretty good sneer tho.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/15/2005 15:36 Comments || Top||

#7  I'm writing my letter with piss on pages ripped from the koran. What's the mailing address?
Posted by: ed || 06/15/2005 16:07 Comments || Top||



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Wed 2005-06-15
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Tue 2005-06-14
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Mon 2005-06-13
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Sun 2005-06-12
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Thu 2005-06-09
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