Arab leaders in Hevron have contacted the cityâs Jewish leaders for help in getting rid of self-proclaimed anarchist volunteers who, they complain, are destroying their traditional way of life.
The anarchists, many of whom are members of the International Solidarity Movement, flock to flashpoints throughout Judea and Samaria, ostensibly to help PA Arabs contend with IDF closures and protect them from harassment. In actuality, many of the volunteers seek confrontations with IDF soldiers and local Jewish residents, taking advantage of their Western passports to cause havoc â knowing that, at worst, they will be deported, not jailed.
The local Arabs in the Hevron region whom the activists claim to be helping are now complaining that the American and European students behave in a provocative and offensive manner in Hevronâs public areas. The Arabs say the activists disrespect the moral norms and standards of the local population. Several local Arab residents told the Kol HaâIr newspaper that the activists have been exposing the local youths to drug use and sexual promiscuity. One interviewee told Kol HaâIr that the volunteers show a disregard for the religious norms of the local villages and teach the local youth to reject and disrespect the traditions of their forefathers. "These anarchists come here and undermine the education we give our children. At first we took them in with hospitality - after all, they claimed they wanted to help us, so why kick them out? But very quickly they infuriated me with their lewd behavior."
So they're actually complaining that the kidz are sniffin' 'round their wimminfolk...
In a bid to rid the region of the anarchists, local Arab leaders approached representatives of the Jewish community in Hevron â a rare, but not unheard of occurrence â in order to find a solution. The two sides agreed to have Arabic-speaking Jewish observers along Hevronâs main thoroughfares to replace the anarchists in ensuring calm between the cityâs Jewish and Arab populations. The left-wings activists would then be informed by the local Arab population that they appreciate their offer to help, but that they are no longer needed.
Hevron spokesman Noam Arnon confirmed the arrangement to Arutz-7, saying that the new replacement observers will be acceptable to local Arabs. He added that the international anarchists came to Hevron come from Western cultures steeped in sexual lewdness and depravity, permissiveness, and drug use. "Their presence in Hebron serves to inflame violence because they are seeking to create provocations and encourage violence," Arnon said.
He added that the observers end up causing more trouble for the local Arab population, by antagonizing soldiers and brazenly leading local Arabs in between Jewish homes.
Arnon recalled a specific incident in which an Arab woman tried to stab an IDF soldier with a knife. The soldiers grabbed her, but were attacked by a group of anarchist volunteers who tried to free the woman and take the knife out of her hand and hide it.
In recent months, Jewish organizations have also come to Hevron to stand up to the anarchist activists. The Jewish activists investigate the anarchists regarding their entry to Israel and strengthen the morale of the soldiers in withstanding attacks by leftist extremists.
#1
I wonder why they aren't jailed, assuming they have broken the law. A few weeks in stir with their Paleo "brothers" might do wonders for their outlook. I'd favor the large "pit" setting - not individual cells. Let 'em taste some "solidarity" and all that.
What does Israel have to lose by giving them short mandatory sentences? I mean, it's not like it will lose them "International support" or anything.
#4
the volunteers show a disregard for the religious norms of the local villages and teach the local youth to reject and disrespect the traditions of their forefathers.
That's a reference to the hot hippie sex out in the open, right? Er, maybe it's the braless wimmin ISM volunteers. Or the open drug use.
Oh I'm so confused! Oh Mahmoud hold me!
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 16:57 Comments ||
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Careful, Doc - he will. I used to, emphasis on past tense, to use the phrase, "Well fuck me." to express extreme disgust. I very quickly stopped using it in SA. You don't use such, um, subtle expressions around literalists who have unnatural inclinations, lol.
Up to 20 foreigners were in custody in Britain awaiting deportation to countries that have a record of torturing or abusing detainees, the prime minister said yesterday, but Blair defended his efforts to counter extremism.
Fergawdsake, just dump 'em and quit yapping about it!
Civil rights activists have condemned Tony Blairâs efforts to deport people to several North African and Middle Eastern countries with questionable human rights records.
Civil rights activists would condemn efforts to feed the hungry, comfort the sick, and be kind to cute little puppies if it was Blair or Bush doing it.
But Blair insisted his government had a duty to protect Britainâs security, and needed new powers to counter the threat of international terrorism.
If the government isn't there to protect the citizenry from krazed killers, what the hell is it there for?
To provide George Galloway with a bully pulpit and a guaranteed pension, naturally.
âWe have got to be able to make sure we return people if they are a threat to the security of this country,â Blair told a House of Commons committee.
Thank you for today's statement of the obvious.
The government is trying to sign agreements with several nations guaranteeing that foreign nationals returned there will not be mistreated. So-called memoranda of understanding have already been signed with Jordan and Libya and the government is seeking similar deals with eight other countries, including Algeria, Lebanon and Tunisia. Civil rights activists and the UN special envoy on torture have warned, however, that such assurances have no weight in international law and would not sufficiently protect the deportees.
Too bad. Blair's priority should be protecting Brits, not protecting the deportees.
Britain cannot deport people to countries where they may face torture or mistreatment because it is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights. âI donât intend on returning anyone, incidentally, unless we can get assurances from that other government,â the prime ministeradded. âAnd by and large we believe ... that governments who give us such an assurance will abide by that.â
"If they don't it's no skin of my fore."
Blair told the committee that the threat of international terrorism would be âwith us for some time.â He said extremism found its roots in a âperversion of Islamâ that was difficult to tackle. âIt is going to take a long time to eradicate in this country and elsewhere,â he added.
It didn't take very long to arise, and it'll probably take about the same amount of time to eradicate it, if you're not lily-handed. If you put off the unpleasant inevitable, it'll take longer, and more people will be killed on both sides.
The prime minister, whose proposed anti-terror legislation has been watered down by lawmakers in the House of Commons, insisted new powers were needed to tackle âmass casualty terrorism.â
The Departures lounge at Heathrow is still bloody empty, Tony. Stop defending and start deporting. It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.
Posted by: fred ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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Still dithering - over the 20 worst offenders. I gave Blair waay too much credit and praise for this much-ballyhooed promise to get tough. I thought he was willing to go to the wall to protect his citizens - shaming the opposition in the process. Nope. Business as usual with the PC segment winning out over rational security steps yet again.
Can't get rid of 20 asshats who preach jihad against them. I fear for the cousins who have their priorities straight - the rest will get what they deserve.
Since we know from experience that the alQ types love to hit the weak first and hardest, this bodes not well for the UK in the immediate future.
#3
Blair is getting almost as bad as pooty-poot. The 7/7 bombings in London should have been a wake-up call. Now it is heading on half a year after the incidents and they're arguing about 20 people to deport. It is this dithering and being lost in the mega-minutae that will have us all lose the WoT.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/23/2005 22:00 Comments ||
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Guatemala needs to fight the growing power of drug gangs or it could become a "mini Colombia", the US Drugs Enforcement Administration has warned. The DEA representative in Guatemala, Michael O'Brien, said that the agency was worried about the situation. He added that drug gangs were attempting to influence the public and the Guatemalan government.
Last week, the country's top anti-drugs official, Adan Castillo, was arrested in the US on drug trafficking charges. Experts say that 75% of the cocaine smuggled to the US passes through Guatemala. The government there has said that investigators need more powers to deal with the problem. "If they don't change things, they could have a mini-Colombia here," Michael O'Brien told reporters in Guatemala City.
After the arrest of Mr Castillo last week, Interior Minister Carlos Vielman acknowledged that drug-traffickers have infiltrated the state.
He said the anti-drugs force will be completely overhauled and possibly replaced altogether. Mr Castillo, who is accused of conspiring to import and distribute cocaine in the United States, was detained after arriving in the state of Virginia. Two other top officials were also held.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 09:21 ||
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The United States and its partners on Tuesday dealt the death blow to a project to build two light-water atomic reactors for North Korea to entice it into dismantling its nuclear weapons program, officials said.
The decade-old light-water reactor project had been mothballed for the last two years, kept barely alive in case North Korea showed signs of resuming International Atomic Energy Agency inspections and liquidating its ambitious self-proclaimed nuclear weapons program.
The New York-based Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, also known as KEDO, did not issue any formal statement at the end of a two-day session of executive board meetings Tuesday. But the U.S. delegate, Ambassador Joseph DiTrani, said after the meeting that the board members - the United States, South Korea, Japan and European Union - had agreed on the ``termination'' of the light-water reactor project, KEDO spokesman Brian Kremer confirmed.
Charles Kartman, the American who was executive director of KEDO from 2001 until this August, said North Korea must have anticipated KEDO's demise. ``There's no surprise here for North Korea. They've been setting up their obstacles'' for weeks and in September had revived their demand for the reactors, Kartman said.
At the end of the fourth round of six-way talks in September, North Korea pledged in principle to disarm but maintained that it would need light-water reactors to provide electricity beforehand. Fulfilling that demand would postpone effective disarmament for several years. At a summit of Asian and Pacific leaders last week, President Bush said no reactors would be considered before the North gives up its nuclear weapons program.
Under the agreement that formed the KEDO project, North Korea was to abandon nuclear weapons development and allow access by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, in exchange for 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil annually from the United States to meet its energy shortage until it got the two light-water atomic power plants, built and paid for primarily by South Korea and Japan, with some EU funding. The program was frozen in 2002 after the United States claimed North Korea had embarked on a second, secret weapons-development program.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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#3
Thorium reactors are possible. (Some research ones have existed. Bombs might be possible.)
href="http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/science/031027isomer.html?view=Standard">Isomer
wars Tapping
the power of isomers Induced
Gamma Emission, IGE
href="http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/currentaffairs/region/internationalorganisations/iso031024.html">New
nukes in the making
The FAS guide is here:
href="http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/">Nuclear Weapon Archive
#6
We should not give the Norks anything in aid until the present regime falls and some kind of government that is concerned for its citizens replaces it. The sooner Kimmie and Co is gone, the faster the North Korean people can be aided and saved.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/23/2005 22:02 Comments ||
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Japan's ruling party unveiled plans to revise its constitutional commitment to pacifism and allow the country to establish armed forces "for self defence". The proposals would end Japan's renunciation of the right to maintain an army, as enshrined in the constitution imposed by America after the Second World War.
The Liberal Democratic Party has spent years drafting a revision of the post-war constitution to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the party's founding. The party has dominated the country since it was set up, ruling Japan for the past century save for a period of a few months.
The new draft keeps the commitment to peace but recognises the military as crucial to maintaining it. In the 240,000-strong Self Defence Forces, Japan already has a military in all but name. But constitutional revision would regularise its status, sweep away restrictions and enable it to play a bigger role. The defence minister would also be upgraded to a member of the cabinet. A clear legal basis would be created for non-combat missions overseas, such as reconstruction in Iraq and logistical support for the American-led war in Afghanistan.
Any move away from pacifism is likely to be viewed with suspicion in Asian countries that suffered from Japanese aggression in the Second World War. But a majority of Japanese feels that such fears are overblown and that Japan has the right to become a "normal country" with normal military forces.
Constitutional revision will be resisted by Japan's small communist and socialist parties. But it is expected to pass through parliament with the necessary two thirds majority because of backing from the main opposition party, the Democrats, and the LDP. It must then be approved in a referendum.
#10
Actually, the Japanese could probably buy the Kitty Hawk, now that it is being retired. The only reason we kept an oil-fired carrier was because of Japanese sensitivities about nuke boats.
#11
No. The Kitty is old and would suck up too much of the JMSDF's resources. Likely it'll be something along the lines of the Osumi class amphibious assault ships.
#18
Essentially great good news. This is the exact slap-in-the-face that China needs regarding their own fostering of the North Korean threat. Next step is Japan arming itself with nuclear weapons. China can suck hind tit.
#19
Hey, these days; we've got to trust somebody! I say, quietly sell 'em a couple of LHD Class Gators for starters. Let them decide which deck-load works best ($). Luv those good ol' untested LHA/LHD posibilities! Hope every one is enjoying a sober, pre-Thanksgiving evening...
#20
Well, if they do not like nuke carriers, maybe the Japanese can use a couple of diesels that run large container ships, like THIS . There may be performance issues, as carrier missions are different than hauling containers, mere details to be worked out.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/23/2005 22:09 Comments ||
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#21
Or the Japanese could buy some of the Marine Iwo Jima Class ships --- although the name could be an issue :)
PARIS (AFX) - President Jacques Chirac and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed their shared commitment to a strong Franco-German partnership as a driving force within Europe. Chirac said that the two countries were united in their wish for 'a political and social Europe' and that 'a truly strong Franco-German axis' was necessary for the European Union.
Cuz the last Axis worked so well
Merkel, the conservative leader of a left-right coalition, made France her first foreign destination as German chancellor, in a move seen as a fresh affirmation of the strength of the Franco-German relationship.
'This is not about ritual, it is about a deep conviction that a strong relationship between Germany and France is both necessary and beneficial to Europe,' Merkel told reporters. Merkel said that she wished to keep up the 'rhythm' of Franco-German meetings, and invited Chirac to visit Berlin in early December.
Now, tell me again why we were so happy she got elected?
The president said he saw as 'a sign of friendship' the fact that Merkel chose France as the first destination on her maiden foreign trip as leader of Germany's biggest economy.
Travelling with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, she is due later to travel to Brussels for talks with EU and NATO chiefs, and fly tomorrow to London to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 11:11 ||
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Using the words "axis" and "Germany" in the same sentence . . . who's the PR/marketing genius who came up with that one?
Posted by: Mike ||
11/23/2005 11:57 Comments ||
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Europe needs an new axis like the earth needs a 5 mile wide asteroid to smash into it.
As we suspected, Chris Matthews says the Canadian Press distorted his comments at a Toronto appearance, which we noted yesterday. In an e-mail to RedState.org, the "Hardball" host writes:
I told the students that my way to deal with terrorists was to do what Golda Meir did after the killing of Israeli athletes at the Olympics: track them down and kill them one by one and be rough about it.
I don't know why the reporter chose to ignore my clear statement was the appropriate response to terorism [sic], why he chose to skip to my strong belief that we need to get behind this massive hatred we're facing in the Muslim world.
Check with the University for confirmation. I was invited by the political science students. I'm pretty sure they taped it because that had an audi-visual [sic] person there putting on my microphone.
Anyway there were many witnesses who can recall what I said if somebody asks.
There's plenty of other things to criticize Chris Matthews about, but if you're gonna slag him when he's wrong, you've got to be willing to give him props when he's right. He gets this part right. Shame on the reported for distorting his comments like that.
Posted by: Mike ||
11/23/2005 15:35 ||
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Except that he's said the same thing -- about needing to understand terrorsts -- in the past.
I don't buy his denial. He's too much of a jerk for me to buy it without a transcript or (preferably) tape.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/23/2005 15:48 Comments ||
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and a wise man you are, RC. Poor Mikey ... always on the short end of the truth.
Update On Matthews: He Meant What We Thought He Did, That Terrorists "Just Have A Different Perspective"... He's Said As Much Before
More Than Loans remembered this post I did way back last November. It pretty much settles the question of what Chris Matthews meant in his latest outburst.
I was pretty much the only guy, as far as I know, to catch Chris Matthews making this statement a year ago; I transcribed his words directly from his show. It's a perfect translation; I remember going back and forth on the DVR to catch every word.
MATTHEWS: Well let me ask you about this. If this were on the other side, and we were watching an enemy soldier-- a rival, I mean, they're not bad guys especially, they're just people who disagree with you; they are in fact the insurgents fighting us in their country -- if we saw one of them do what we saw our guy did to that guy [i.e., shooting the playing-dead terrorist], would that be worthy of a war-crime charge?
#3
Sorry - I'm not gonna feel sorry for a member of the MSM when he or she crys that "I was misquoted" or "they put words in my mouth" That's what the MSM does every day.
Shoe on the other foot, tarred with the same brush, and all that...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/23/2005 16:25 Comments ||
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I knew what the intent was anyhow. This attempt a image managemnt just fortifies it.
EFL: CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - More than a dozen war protesters returned to a roadside near President Bush's ranch before dawn Wednesday, defying two new local bans on roadside camping and parking. About an hour after the group pitched tents and huddled in sleeping bags and blankets, a McLennan County sheriff's deputy arrived and warned the group to leave or face arrest.
Protester and former U.S. diplomat Mary Ann Wright told the deputy that most of the group would stay because they believed the bans restrict their free-speech rights. The deputy said the group would have two more warnings before he started making arrests.
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan wasn't among the protesters Wednesday because of a family emergency in California, but she planned to arrive at the camp later in the week. The protest was set to coincide with Bush's Thanksgiving ranch visit. "We are proud to be here," Dede Miller, Sheehan's sister, said Wednesday as she huddled in a blanket at the campsite. "This is just so important. What we did in August really moved us forward, and this is just a continuation of it."
Secretary of State Colin Powell
US Department of State
Washington, DC 20521
Dear Secretary Powell:
When I last saw you in Kabul in January, 2002 you arrived to officially open the US Embassy that I had helped reestablish in December, 2001 as the first political officer. At that time I could not have imagined that I would be writing a year later to resign from the Foreign Service because of US policies. All my adult life I have been in service to the United States. I have been a diplomat for fifteen years and the Deputy Chief of Mission in our Embassies in Sierra Leone, Micronesia, Afghanistan (briefly) and Mongolia. I have also had assignments in Somalia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Grenada and Nicaragua. I received the State Department's Award for Heroism as Charge d'Affaires during the evacuation of Sierra Leone in 1997. I was 26 years in the US Army/Army Reserves and participated in civil reconstruction projects after military operations in Grenada, Panama and Somalia. I attained the rank of Colonel during my military service.
This is the only time in my many years serving America that I have felt I cannot represent the policies of an Administration of the United States. I disagree with the Administration's policies on Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, North Korea and curtailment of civil liberties in the U.S. itself. I believe the Administration's policies are making the world a more dangerous, not a safer, place. I feel obligated morally and professionally to set out my very deep and firm concerns on these policies and to resign from government service as I cannot defend or implement them.
I hope you will bear with my explanation of why I must resign. After thirty years of service to my country, my decision to resign is a huge step and I want to be clear in my reasons why I must do so.
The rest of her resignation, full of Democrat talking points, at the link. A full-blown State Department liberal who knows what's good for us. She was one of the protestors arrested with Cindy in front of the White House, in August, she was the "main coordinator" of Camp Casey where she told the People's Weekly World; "[There has been] extraordinary looting in Iraq ... But who were the looters? The big corporate cronies of Bush and Cheney along with every Republican suck toad in the Bush administration.â
,
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 12:08 ||
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Three guesses as to why she was posted to Mongolia.
Posted by: Jonathan ||
11/23/2005 13:02 Comments ||
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Protester and former U.S. diplomat Mary Ann Wright told the deputy that most of the group would stay because they believed the bans restrict their free-speech rights.
I think it's time for some late-season bush-hogging in the ditches along that road.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/23/2005 13:15 Comments ||
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#3
... they believed the bans restrict their free-speech rights...
Photo opportunities are not protected free speech. Back in 2000, the Secret Service moved demonstrators to VP Gore's visit to Albuquerque to four blocks away to a remote vacant lot. No ACLU, no rights organization bitched or moaned when that happened. Free speech isn't when and where you demand it. The state can regulate time and location and require the filing of permits.
#4
Back in 2000, the Secret Service moved demonstrators to VP Gore's visit to Albuquerque to four blocks away to a remote vacant lot. No ACLU, no rights organization bitched or moaned when that happened.
But now they claim that's oppression. Because of the (R) after the president, of course.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/23/2005 15:09 Comments ||
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#5
I have this mental picture of a fully loaded manure spreader rolling down a lonely back road in Texas...
#6
I'd be willing to bet that McLennan county is willing to be a little more hard-nosed about invasions by swarming moonbats than the DC police were. Cuff 'em and can 'em, Danno.
#8
Heh, the family emergency must have to do with some court order against her related to the divorce. No lawn furniture in the settlement for you, Cindy.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/23/2005 22:18 Comments ||
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The principal at a Madison elementary school where teachers assigned third-graders to write a dozen letters urging an end to the war in Iraq sent a letter of apology to parents and ordered teachers to rescind the assignment Tuesday. A letter sent home Friday with third-graders at Frank Allis Elementary School explaining the assignment to parents said students would be assigned 12 letters to write to third-graders at other Wisconsin and out-of-state schools, federal lawmakers, the media and President Bush.
If the war hadn't ended by the 12th day of letter writing, students would have had to start the process all over again. The letter gave parents an opt-out option and said the assignment was intended to teach civic responsibility, composition and handwriting skills.
Yeah, right.
The assignment irked U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Wis.), who sent a letter to the school's principal. "It's a profound misjudgment to use third-grade students as political pawns regardless of the issue," said Green. "If I received letters from third-grade students saying, 'Dear Congressman Green, please vote for the war,' I would be equally as disturbed."
School Principal Chris Hodge said the third-grade teachers came to her with the proposal last week. She believed it violated district policy but wanted to check with administration officials first. Hodge said the teachers misinterpreted her comments and sent a letter about the campaign to parents anyway. She immediately canceled the project after finding out.
Or after the parents, the press and the congressman found out
The campaign violated two district policies: one that bans teachers from promoting their personal political beliefs to students; and another that requires teachers to address opposing views when presenting controversial topics, said district spokesman Joe Quick. "It was a mistake on the teachers' part," Quick said. "They were very enthusiastic about what they were trying to do and didn't realize it violated School Board policy."
Or didn't think it applied to them, being lefties and all
Most of the calls made to the district about the assignment were from media outlets, not angry parents, Quick said. "This was kind of a moot point by 10 o'clock this morning," Quick said.
The teachers won't face any disciplinary measures, Hodge said, but she planned to remind staff at their December meeting of district policies.
Several of the teachers who signed the letter did not return calls to their home or office phone numbers; another teacher reached at home declined to comment.
Sharon Johnson, Frank Allis Elementary PTA president, said she was disappointed to see that the envelopes and stamps she sent to school with her daughter, as requested in the assignment, were returned Tuesday. "I got the letter, and I had no objection," Johnson said. "Her world is pretty much made up of the Cartoon Network. I thought it was a good idea to get kids to open up their eyes." Johnson, a Democrat, had no problem with the assignment but admitted that it if the campaign had promoted the war she would have.
Gee, this surprise meter must still be broken, it didn't twitch
Green sent another letter to Hodge after she canceled the assignment suggesting students write letters to troops thanking them for their service, which he described as a non-political cause that everyone could get behind.
Don't count on it
Hodge had not responded to that letter late Tuesday.
Stuff like this makes me glad we only have cats, not kids in public school.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 10:49 ||
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#1
I am so home schooling my kids. Public schools nowdays are nothing more than indoctrination camps for the left.
#4
"It was a mistake on the teachers' part," Quick said. "They were very enthusiastic about what they were trying to do and didn't realize it violated School Board policy."
Yeah, sure. A mistake.
Johnson, a Democrat, had no problem with the assignment but admitted that it if the campaign had promoted the war she would have.
And had that been the case, would've no doubt raised one hell of a big stink about it, too.
#5
The teachers won't face any disciplinary measures
They openly state they violated school policy, then openly state there won't be any penalty for it. If the political slant had been the opposite, those teachers would have been blackballed by the union and out of the school so fast they'd leave a trail of fire.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/23/2005 12:01 Comments ||
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#6
Just to balance this Madison story, I was shopping at the Michael's craft store in Montgomery County (MD) recently. MoCo is a very blue county in an increasingly red state. Some parent had dropped her third grader's school supply list (the one the teacher handed out in class). One of the class projects was letters to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was quite pleased to see that.
#7
When ever things like this happen the citizens of the state have a responsibility to make sure the law is followed. If the teachers broke policys or regulations then the legal action required must be carried out. Letting them slide or sweep it under the rug doesn't cut it.
There is no excuse for the public not being involved in public education.
#8
"Her world is pretty much made up of the Cartoon Network. I thought it was a good idea to get kids to open up their eyes."
Well, of course we can't expect the MOTHER to get this kid off their ass and away from the boob-tube, can we? God knows we're powerless when it comes to teaching our kids about the world...
WASHINGTON (AP) - New Jersey Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is among eight Republican congressmen targeted by a liberal advocacy group for criticizing a call for American troops to immediately withdraw from Iraq. Television ads featuring the congressmen were to begin airing nationally on Thanksgiving Day, and then will run in each of the lawmakers' home districts a few days later.
Frelinghuysen and the other congressmen are out of step with the American people, who want a change of course in Iraq, Tom Matzzie, the Washington, D.C., director of MoveOn.org Political Action, said Tuesday. "Frelinghuysen basically said Murtha was helping the terrorists," Matzzie said. "The debate that day was about repudiating John Murtha."
But Frelinghuysen said his comments were not about Murtha, whom he described as a friend and an ally. The two, both Vietnam War veterans, serve on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee. "My comments had everything to do with how we look after our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan," Frelinghuysen said. "I did not invoke his name in any way, and nothing was aimed at him. My feeling is we need to reach some sort of common ground on how we support our troops and get them home after we accomplish this good work."
In his remarks last Friday on the House floor, Frelinghuysen called the immediate withdrawal of troops "a recipe for disaster, a dangerous defense policy, the wrong message for our soldiers and Marines who are truly doing the work of freedom."
"Frankly, I am concerned that such talk will only embolden the terrorists and demoralize our war fighters," he added. "Our only exit strategy from Iraq should be victory," Frelinghuysen said. "Anything less than that virtually guarantees the next battleground may be closer to home!"
Bravo! Keep it up!
The MoveOn.Org ads are scheduled to air nationally from Nov. 24 through Nov. 30. They will air 16 times on local cable networks in Frelinghuysen's district starting Nov. 28, Matzzie said. Frelinghuysen represents all of Morris County and parts of Somerset, Essex, Sussex and Passaic counties. The other Republican congressmen targeted in the ad are: Duncan Hunter of California; Phil Gingrey and Jack Kingston of Georgia; J.D. Hayworth of Arizona; Jean Schmidt of Ohio; Geoff Davis of Kentucky; and Steve King of Iowa.
Might be a good time to get them a call, if you live in their district, and tell them that you stand with them against the MoveOn idiots.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
Is there a down side to this? This reminds me of Al Guardian supporting Kerry in Ohio.
Posted by: Karl Rove ||
11/23/2005 4:43 Comments ||
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#3
Since when does the Congressperson I helped elect from my State have to be "in step" with the will of the rest of the American people? I didn't vote for him/her to test what the will of the American people is, but to represent my and my like-minded fellow voters want. Sod off, Swampy.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
11/23/2005 7:36 Comments ||
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#4
"My feeling is we need to reach some sort of common ground on how we support our troops and get them home after we accomplish this good work."
I shudder whenever I hear this kind of mealy-mouthed bullshit from Republicans who want to find "common ground" with Democrats.
No, Rodney, we CANNOT all just get along. Please, for America's sake, stop trying.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
11/23/2005 8:37 Comments ||
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#5
Frelinghuysen and the other congressmen are out of step with the American people, who want a change of course in Iraq
At a time when international diplomacy is greatly needed from the New York-based United Nations, the organization has become mired down in a complex power struggle. All this is very bad timing. Earlier this week, the Iranian Parliament approved an outline of a bill that states it would bar United Nations inspectors from entering its nuclear sites if the UNâs Security Council considers punitive measures when it meets this Thursday in New York. âThis is a time for diplomacy, and we donât have the diplomatic capacity to do it,â William Luers, current president of the United Nations Association of the US, told reporters.
Instead of dealing a potential international nuclear crisis with Iran, the UN is struggling to redefine its own tenants of power. âThis is a basic clash over whoâs in charge: is it the General Assembly or is it the Secretary General?â Edward Luck, a professor of international affairs at Columbia University and former president of the UN Association of the US told reporters. The fight is over the management of reform proposals which some say would broaden the power of the Secretary Generalâs office. The diplomat pushing this showdown is John Bolton, the US ambassador at the UN. Bolton, with his well-known history of contempt for the international organization, is warning that the US may look elsewhere to settle international problems if the it doesnât shape up.
The US is also causing a ruckus at the UN regarding elections for the next UN Secretary General, a year away. According to an unwritten agreement, the UNâs top job is rotated to a different region after the end of the current Secretary Generalâs term. Three Asian candidates are already vying for the upcoming position. The Bush Administrations has made known it no longer intends to follow that tradition. Bolton dismissed Asiaâs exclusive right to the job last week, saying Washington would continue to look for experienced, qualified candidates regardless of their nationality. âWeâve never accepted the idea that there is geographical rotations,â Bolton told Washington Times last week. âEastern and Central Europe have never had a secretary-general, so thatâs worth looking at.â He then said it was Kofi Annan, not the US, who broke that tradition, as Annan followed Egyptian Boutros Boutros Ghali. Bolton declined to say who the Bush Administration is backing. US officials have long acknowledged that their endorsement can bring the âkiss of deathâ to a candidate.
Posted by: fred ||
11/23/2005 00:14 ||
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#4
Every time I read about this bunch of criminal scumbags I wonder why we even allow them to exist on our shores. If they were Americans we'd prosecute the lot of them (except Bolton) under RICO. We need out of the UN yesterday and the sooner we extricate ourselves, the sooner this lot of klepto Third World bastards will slink away into well-deserved oblivion.
Posted by: mac ||
11/23/2005 5:45 Comments ||
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#5
It took me a while to see the moustache, but I had a goog laugh!
#9
I'd like the General Assembly do a 1880 style Convention and choose someone with televised voting. The enertainment value would be incredible. I figure our man in Libya would have a shot in these circumstances.
#13
Cheney will be available. We've never had a SG from Wyoming, have we?
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/23/2005 18:05 Comments ||
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#14
What about that guy that founded solidarity in Poland? The name escapes me but I think he would be a good choice. I am assuming that we are all looking for someone way outside the un diplomatic circles. Haval would be good too just think that that guy deserves some considerations.
#16
Hmmm ... I'm not sure I agree Lech Walesa would be a good choice, Pappy. He was a good grassroots leader among his own labor groups in his own country, but seemed to me to be over his head as a national leader later.
Havel OTOH has broader and deeper skills - and the polish to do the diplo waltz with (and around) the various international bureaucrats.
But he turned out to have a lot of difficulty making the transition from an inspirational movement leader to an effective executive. The Poles voted him out of office after 5 years because of it, and despite his being loved by many still.
#19
What about General Honare? He is a problem solver, and he was instrumental in pointing out that the MSM was Stuck on Stupid. Just a thought. Put his hat in the ring.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/23/2005 22:24 Comments ||
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Caught Michael on Laura Inghram talk show this am. I didn't realize he has an SF background, and lost a good buddy at the Fallujah BBQ (I wish we could have dropped the Big One on those turds).
BTW I wouldn't trade all the lives in the ME for one of our brave soldiers.
Posted by: Captain America ||
11/23/2005 18:51 Comments ||
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#3
I am amazed sometimes at how European-looking many of these Iraqis are - perhaps those are Kurds ? I have never gotten quite that impression from Iranians. I wonder what ethnic group these children are from.
#4
From the location he mentions, and from the uncovered heads of most of the girls and the mixed classrooms, these are almost certainly Kurds, who are linguistically/ethnically IndoEuropean and not Arab.
John Hinderake over at Powerline has posted a report from Minnesota congressman Mark Kennedy's latest visit to Iraq. Go to link and scroll down to Nov 22, Congressman Kennedy Reports. Kennedy reports significant progress since his last vist in August 2004. Why can't the MSM report like this?
#1
So, again, I ask why first amendment rights for a bunch of entertainment corporations to make sums of money that rival 'Big Oil'? Keep the internet free [I'll play the lefty - rights for me, not for thee - game]. Really though the excuse that if it bleeds it leads, just shows that there are no real writers, communicators in the business since they can't seem to be able to sell good news. And that is just not Iraq. I'd challenge anyone to go to another big city in America and just watch 10 minutes everyday of the local broadcast and ask themselves based solely upon that information would they think the place was a) a place to move a family to and b) safe for future business or investment? So why the special protection that other business and industries don't get for their product?
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged visiting Iraqi officials yesterday to ask U.S.-led forces to leave their country and pledged Tehran's cooperation in restoring security to Iraq.
If Iran did intervene militarily in Iraq, the overwhelmingly Shi'ite nation would be expected to assist the Shi'ite majority against a wave of violence perpetrated mainly by the Sunnis, who lost power with the ouster of dictator Saddam Hussein.
"Iran considers the United States to be responsible for all crimes and terrorist acts in Iraq and the suffering and misery of the Iraqi people," Ayatollah Khamenei was quoted as saying after a meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
"The Iraqi people may ask the occupiers to leave Iraq by setting a timetable for them. ... In the end, Iraq and its neighbors will remain in this region, while the U.S. will only be there temporarily," he said.
The reference to a timetable appeared to be an attempt to exploit recent arguments between Democrats and Republicans in Washington and a resolution passed Monday night at a "reconciliation" conference of major Iraqi political factions in Cairo.
The latest addition to the dialogue came last night from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who told Fox News Channel in an interview that conditions for reducing the number of U.S. troops deployed in Iraq could be in place "fairly soon."
"The president has said that as soon as Iraqi forces are ready, we want to see a reduction in our own forces, and I think those days are going to be coming fairly soon when Iraqis are going to be more and more capable of carrying out the functions to secure their own future," she said.
The U.S. Senate last week defeated a Democrat-led effort to set a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq, instead voting for a Republican proposal that requires regular updates from the White House until all U.S. troops are withdrawn and the mission is completed. On Friday, the House voted 403-3 against starting immediately a proposal to withdraw from Iraq over six months.
On Monday night in Cairo, leaders of Iraq's Shi'ite, Kurdish and Sunni communities issued a communique "calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops according to a timetable, through putting in place an immediate national program to rebuild the armed forces ... control the borders and the security situation" and end terror attacks.
The conference was attended by Mr. Talabani, who then traveled to Tehran for a three-day official visit.
Posted by: Captain America ||
11/23/2005 02:18 ||
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Question:
Which came first, the donks or the ayatoliet?
Posted by: Captain America ||
11/23/2005 2:24 Comments ||
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The Asspeople came first.
Jimmy "Donk" Carter installed Ayatollah I when he was President -- providing the islamofascists a safehaven for waging terror war against America.
#3
On Friday, the House voted 403-3 against starting immediately a proposal to withdraw from Iraq over six months.
Notice the subtle changing in the wording here. During the debates and immediately after, the Dims were trying to sell that they were not about immediate withdrawl, but just about "plans(TM)" for withdraw. Now they have been forced to clarify a bit...most likely due to that pesky phrase "immediate termination" in Murtha's resolution.
So now they are rewording it as plans starting immediately. lol!
Go ahead and spin away. No matter how you slice it, the 403-3 showed that the American people don't support their idea to withdraw.
#5
"Iran considers the United States to be responsible for all crimes and terrorist acts in Iraq and the suffering and misery of the Iraqi people," Ayatollah Khamenei was quoted as saying after a meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
thank you Apostate, I love Aayatoliet ribalry, especially titty Spice!
Posted by: John Murtha ||
11/23/2005 11:14 Comments ||
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Another Billary brain fart in the form of a "Third Way"
Joining the furious debate over withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., rejected calls for an immediate pullout while suggesting Iraq may not be stabilized until the new government is told that the U.S. troop commitment is not open-ended.
Speaking to reporters in Rye Brook, N.Y., on Monday, Clinton recommended that a decision on U.S. forces be made after Iraq's Dec. 15 elections.
"Then we have to tell this new government we are not going to be there forever, we are going to be withdrawing our young men and women and we expect you to start moving towards stability," Clinton said.
The former first lady said an immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be a "big mistake."
"It will matter to us if Iraq totally collapses into civil war, if it becomes a failed state the way Afghanistan was, where terrorists are free to basically set up camp and launch attacks against us," she said.
She suggested, however, that Iraq may not be stabilized until the United States signals its intention to leave.
Clinton said the Bush administration's approach amounted to giving the Iraqis "an open-ended invitation not to take care of themselves."
"What you hear from the president, the vice president, the secretary of defense is, 'We'll stay as long as it takes until the job is done,'" Clinton said. "They've never defined the job."
Echoes of Bill Clinton's 'Third Way'?
Clinton's little-noticed comments â made at a news conference about the flu vaccine â are the latest sign that the debate over Iraq has shifted in the wake of a call by Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pa., to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. Murtha, a combat veteran with close ties to the military, said last week that the United States had accomplished all that it can in Iraq militarily and that it is time to redeploy troops to the periphery.
Clinton's efforts to fashion a "third way" on Iraq were reminiscent of the political approach her husband made famous when he announced his presidential campaign in 1991. "The change we must make isn't liberal or conservative," Bill Clinton said then. "It's both, and it's different."
"My approach is different," the former first lady and current senator said Monday. "My approach is we tell them we expect you to meet these certain benchmarks and that means getting troops and police officers trained, equipped and ready to defend their people."
"I don't think realistically we know how prepared they are until we get a government on Dec. 15," she added.
After meeting with anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan in September, Clinton held firm to her support for the Iraq war, telling The Village Voice, "My bottom line is that I don't want their sons to die in vain."
At the time, Clinton demurred when asked about withdrawing troops. "I don't believe it's smart to set a date for withdrawal. I don't think you should ever telegraph your intentions to the enemy so they can await you."
Posted by: Captain America ||
11/23/2005 00:03 ||
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#2
At her next love-in press conference perhaps someone should put this multi-prong Dhimmidonk attack, Hillary's being just one, into perspective and inquire about US timetables and "benchmarks" in Germany, Japan, SKor, etc.
"They've never defined the job."
Her idiot bait "third way" and this pluperfect asinine assertion masquerading as rationality begs the question: Is there any common sense left, anymore? I guess not.
What a totally cynical phoney. The troops know she's a jive-assed press chameleon - and I hope they make sure the folks back home know it, too. Coming from them it will have more punch.
Posted by: Red Dog ||
11/23/2005 1:32 Comments ||
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#5
Chipmonk cheeks = someone's nuts?
Posted by: Captain America ||
11/23/2005 2:17 Comments ||
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#6
"What you hear ... is, 'We'll stay as long as it takes until the job is done,'" Clinton said. "They've never defined the job."
LOL!! Gotta give the Hill Pill credit. Unlike, Making Us Record Our Vote Is A Dirty Trick Pelosi, Hillary grasps the meaning of the 403-3 vote and she's attempting to re-define the meaning of "is" to give herself some political cover from the fray.
#7
"What you hear ... is, 'We'll stay as long as it takes until the job is done,'" Clinton said. "They've never defined the job."
LOL!! Gotta give the Hill Pill credit. Unlike, Making Us Record Our Vote Is A Dirty Trick Pelosi, Hillary grasps the meaning of the 403-3 vote and she's attempting to re-define the meaning of "is" to give herself some political cover from the fray.
#8
"Clinton said the Bush administration's approach amounted to giving the Iraqis "an open-ended invitation not to take care of themselves."
Sounds like she could be talking about Euorpe.
BAGHDAD â U.S. officials said the Iraqi security forces have more than 212,000 trained and equipped soldiers and police. They said the military was training and deploying soldiers and police at a rate of nearly 1,000 per week.
Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said 120 Iraq Army and police battalions have joined the war against Sunni insurgents. Lynch said 25 percent of the battalions were able to take the lead on counter-insurgency operations.
On Oct. 28, the U.S.-led coalition transferred security responsibility for the Diyala province to the Iraq Army, Middle East Newsline reported. The Multi-National Force said 3,000 U.S. soldiers from Task Force Liberty have been replaced by the Iraq Army's 1st Brigade of the 5th Division.
Officials said Iraqi security forces continue to be hampered by poor logistics. But they said Iraqi soldiers and police have been increasingly effective in collecting and processing tactical intelligence, many of them composed of tips from Iraqi civilians. "The Iraqi 1st Brigade continues to train and equip its forces while providing command and control for battalion-sized operations in eastern Diyala Province," a U.S. military statement said. "The regiment achieved significant success during its operations in eastern Diyala Province. Troopers of the regimental combat team conducted more than 13,000 combat patrols during their eleven months of service."
Officials said 17 bases have been turned over to the Iraq Army. They said the army has been in charge of an entire province as well as a large section of Baghdad.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Iraq now has more than 100 military and police battalions engaged in battle. Rumsfeld said the security forces were "well respected by the Iraqi people," who have provided increased tips on insurgency activity and whereabouts.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 00:03 ||
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"hampered by poor logistics"
This is the hard part - and the second most important thing the the US has as an advantage over all other armies in the world: the ability to sustain, rather than burn out, a unit in combat.
The most important US advantage? The individual soldier, Marine, sailor or airman - treated and trained as an individual, which produces the best NCO corps in the world, NCOs that fill the leadership roles reserved for officers and aristocracy in almost all other armies.
The IAF and ISF are both learning how to "grow" grow NCOs - and that takes time. Once those "American" type of NCOs are in place along with a proper command structure that respects them and expects them to provide tactical leadership, then the Iraqi units become effective in combat.
Adding the logistics layer to sustain the NCOs and lower enlisted instead of using them up as cannon fodder is the key element left before the US in Iraq now. Growing these good NCOs and setting up a proper "US Style" command structure requires experienced lower enlisted and NCOs in order to function at high levels of tactical ability. And the only way to get experienced lwoer enlisted and NCOs is to keep them alive and thriving: give them adequate food ammunition and supplies, proper working gear such as uniforms body-armor weapons and vehicles, and prompt medical attention in battle as well as in garison.
Its all interconnecting - and thats why it takes a long time to stand up a fully effective modern army. We probably have another 2 years to go in Iraq before they have sufficent numbers to fully take the lead in counter-terror operations nation wide in Iraq. And another 1-2 years after that until they are logistically proficient enough to sustain their forces without direct US involvment in the supply chain.
But there are sufficent numbers (with US Log supt) to let the Iraqis start militarily handling well defined regions, which is what we are starting to see.
When you start hearing about Iraqi supply units, you will then know we are on our way home.
Nice side effect: Iran will be scared sh*tless - they will have a well trained and well organized neighbor that will have sufficient numbers and expertise to kick their asses in any border war.
#2
Thanks, OS. I appreciate the realistic and informed info. One of your posts blows away a month of MSM bullshit, heh. So post more often, plz, lol. Thx.
Iraqâs vice presidents, Adel Abdel Mahdi, said the government stood ready to help insurgents lay down their weapons, in the latest bid to encourage reconciliation in the wartorn country. âWe are not bent on revenge. We will help any party wishing to disarm,â he told reporters. His comments came just two days after President Jalal Talabani said he was prepared to hold talks with rebels. âTo those who took up arms to end the occupation, we say that the solution will not come through weapons but through political dialogue and democratic means,â Talabani said in Cairo where he attended an Arab League-sponsored meeting of Iraqâs rival factions.
Posted by: fred ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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Defense-Aerospace relays reports from Der Spiegel and Focus that Germany will sell Israel two AIP-equipped SSK Dolphin Class submarines for a total of EUR 1 billion ($1.17 billion), with the German government picking up one-third of the cost. They will be constructed at the Howaldtswerke-Deutche Werft AG (HDW) shipyard, in the Baltic Sea coastal city of Kiel.
The Dolphins are quiet diesel attack submarines that evolved from Germany's famous and ubiquitous U209 Class. They can fire torpedos and missiles from their 533mm torpedo tubes, perform underwater surveillance, and even launch combat swimmers via a wet and dry compartment. It is also rumored that Israel has tested a nuclear-capable verson of its medium-range "Popeye Turbo" cruise missile design for deployability from the two 650mm torpedo tubes in its Dolphin Class submarines. The 2002 launch tests' location off Sri Lanka suggested that they may have been performed in cooperation with India.
The AIP system chosen for the 2 newest Dolphin submarines was not specified. While HDW owns Kockums AB and its successful Stirling AIP system, it also has its own technology using Siemens PEM hydrogen fuel cells. This HDW system is used in the U212/214 Class, which the Dolphins resemble and which also derived from the U209 1300/1400 subs.
HDW's AIP SystemGermany had already donated two Dolphin submarines to the Israeli navy after the Gulf War in the early 1990s. The first-of-class INS (Israeli Naval Ship) Dolphin was commissioned in 1999, while INS Leviathan was commissioned in 2000. The Israelis later bought a third submarine at $175 million/ $175 million shared cost with the German government, and INS Tekuma ("revival, renewal") also entered service in 2000.
The rumours concerning Israel's nuclear-capable cruise missiles had stalled additional sales in 2003, as had Israeli reluctance over the price. Israel's Navy is widely considered to be last among the services on the spending priority list. The $667 million/ $333 million Israeli-German deal for two more submarines satisfies Israeli price concerns, provides a job creation benefit for the German government, and completes the second major and long-delayed arms sale that the Schroeder government has solidified in its final month in office.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 09:39 ||
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#1
Bet India ends up buying secret squirrel block II
#2
That's an extremely interesting link to the article describing cooperation with India. It's a Walter Pincus piece from 2002 discussing all sorts of Iraqi intentions and capabilities. Of course, he lies throughout since it is all based on misleading intelligence. I wonder if the WaPo is taking any remedial action on this point?
#3
"The rumours concerning Israel's nuclear-capable cruise missiles had stalled additional sales in 2003, as had Israeli reluctance over the price."
German export regulations bar the sale of heavy weaponry to "crisis areas". Yet it is the common assumption that Israel already is capable of mounting nuclear weapons on its submarines. And if not, its only a matter of time before they do. So are the descrepencies in production cost vs sale price due to shrewd negotiations or simply an indirect military assistance grant?
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 18:27 Comments ||
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#5
"off Sri Lanka" suggests Chandipur-On-The-Sea where India has a missile test range and tracking radars.
Israel has already sold versions of the popeye turbo to India so the sub launched version may find a home with India's own German made subs.
HDW is back in India, bidding for the next submarine tender (France won the lsts tender and will be building Scorpenes in an Indian shipyard).
HDW is in competition with the Russian Amur. They claim to be able to retool the submarine shipyard they built in India in the 1980s in a matter of months.
One interesting offshoot of this is that it will make possible Indian subcontracting from the US for the building of submarines for Taiwan.
There are reports of Israeli collaboration on the Indian ATV (nuke sub project)
The Indian engineering firm Larson and Taubro is reportedly building the hull and has constructed this pontoon test launcher, already used to testfire a ballistic missile from underwater.
Jakarta, 23 Nov. (AKI) - Hasyim Muzadi, head of Indonesia's largest Muslim grouping - the 40-million-member Nahdlatul Ulama - said convicted Bali bomb mastermind Imam Samudra's best-selling biography should be withdrawn from bookshops as it could inspire other militants, the Australian daily The Age reports. The books contains defiant justifications for the October 2002 Bali nightclub blasts which killed 202 people, among them 88 Australians. Samudra is currently on death-row in an Indonesian jail for his role in the bombings.
Muzadi condemned Samudra's book, entitled 'Me Against the Terrorist!' whose cover shows Samudra, 35, in the classic pose he adopted at his trial, lecturing the judges with his right arm raised, and wagging his finger. "Islam teaches that there shall be no killing of other human beings unless it is a war situation," Mazadi was quoting as telling the Swara Muslim (Voice of Islam) website, adding "The government must withdraw the book from sale."
The 280-page book has outlines Samudra's political beliefs, which include anti-US sentiment, the killing of Westerners, and the 'rationale' for the Bali bombings. Retailing at four dollars a copy, it is a bestseller in Indonesia, covering Samudra's early school years, his training as a mujahadeen in the mountains of Afghanistan, and his exile in Malaysia during a crackdown on Islamic militants. A chapter titled Hacking, Why Not, urges Muslims to wage invade the websites of US companies.
Muzadi called for the book's banning as part of an effort by Islamic religious leaders in Indonesia to combat the recruitment of Islamic militants, announced earlier this month after police discovered a video in which a masked man, believed from his accent to be Noordin Top - considered one of the top figures in recruiting and training terror operatives for the al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group. The video, found in what police believe was a recently-abandoned Top hideout in Central Java province, warned Britain, Italy, Australia and America that they will be "the target of our next attack". Muzadi backed the government's decision not to air the video, saying:" Young people could follow them."
The taskforce, comprising the progressive 30-million member Muhammadiyah movement, as well as the more conservative Nahdlatul Ulama, is likely to track terror suspects, scrutinise Islamic publications that promote Muslim extremism, and put these on a list of banned publications. It is also expected to start its own publication aimed at promoting peaceful, tolerant Islam.
It's a start
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 10:19 ||
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I'll take "No-Brainers" for one thousand, Alex.
#2
If it's already a "best-seller" then they're too late to "ban" it. But they can confiscate the profits and give them to the families of victims of these assholes, such the Bali victims and the little girls who were beheaded.
According to BBC Persian and Persian service of IRNA, the hardline ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi has announced that the Iranians living in the US need 5000 Islamic clerics for their religious services.
Mesbah Yazdi asks the new Iranian government to finance their trainings!
This hardline ayatollah is known as the founder of the shiite version of Taliban in Iran.
#1
This is a move in an internal struggle between two alliances of Ayatollahs (Yazdi is a mentor of the current President).
Actually, at least 95% of all the Iranians in the US are anti regime and the only reason they would have these clerics is to pelt them with rotten vegetables.
WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (KUNA) -- Lebanese MP, General Michel Aoun, said on Tuesday he supports the disarmament of Hizbollah. Aoun, a formerly exiled Lebanese Christian militia leader who recently returned to his country after Syria's withdrawal this year, made the remarks at a news conference one day after Hizbollah fighters clashed with Israeli soldiers on the uneasy border between Israel and southern Lebanon, where Hizbollah remains largely supported by the majority Shiite Lebanese there.
Aoun invested in a remote car starter a long time ago, right?
That's his brother-inlaw, Nervous Bob
"Hizbollah has real backing from Shiites and is a political force, but it is time for them to become part of making Lebanon a great country again," said Aoun, adding that security could be restored in Lebanon by the disarmament of groups outside the central government. At least three Hizbollah fighters were killed by Israeli forces in the most escalated fighting between the two sides since Israel withdrew from Lebanon five years ago.
Aoun, who is on a week-long visit to Washington, said he met with members of Congress and US officials at the State Department and National Security Council (NSC) at the White House to "exchange ideas" on issues of interest pertaining to Lebanon and the Middle East. Aoun did not meet with any high level US officials such as the president or Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during his visit, which may be a sign of US apprehension to publicly show too much support for any one politician seeking a higher political post. Although Aoun was invited to the US to speak before Congress in 2003 when tension was swelling in US-Syrian relations, he said that this time he returned to the US with gratitude for sponsoring crucial UN resolutions that have mounted international pressure on Syria.
Aoun accused the current Lebanese government, still viewed by many as pro-Syrian, of not doing enough to push for true reform or curb the "rampant buying of votes." Despite his skepticism of continued Syrian involvement in Lebanon, Aoun said that relations with Syria could never be severed because of common rights to water, shared borders, economic interests and transit routes. He said he supports an exchange of embassies with Syria and wants to see a Lebanese embassy in Damascus as well as a Syrian embassy in Beirut.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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I wouldn't get within blast distance of the guy. I can't believe he's lived this long.
European Union powers are willing to revive nuclear talks with Iran to discuss a Russian proposal aimed at defusing an impasse over what the West believes is an Iranian atomic bomb program, diplomats said yesterday. Under Russian President Vladimir Putinâs proposal, Iran would be allowed to continue converting uranium ore but would ship it to Russia for enrichment, a system which, in theory, would prevent Iran from producing weapons-grade uranium.
Britain, France, Germany and Russia have set a tentative date in December to meet with Iran to discuss the nuclear program. âThe date is Dec. 6. There is no agreement yet on the venue,â a European diplomat said. He said the idea would be to âtalk about (resuming) talksâ between Iran and EU negotiators Britain, France and Germany on guaranteeing Tehran will not make nuclear weapons.
Posted by: fred ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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Lebanon yesterday marked its first Independence Day for three decades without the presence of Syrian troops. Pro-Damascus President Emile Lahoud, under pressure since Syria pulled out its troops from Lebanon last April, sat in frosty silence next to his rival, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, at an Independence Day military parade. In a gesture toward Damascus, Siniora said Beirut wanted good relations with its large neighbor who dominated Lebanon since it sent in troops in 1976. But, he said, that depended on Syria. âWe want to have excellent relations with Syria, based on mutual respect.â He added: âThe problem is not on the side of Lebanon which unceasingly expresses its stand for ties based on cooperation and mutual respect.â
Posted by: fred ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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Syria has asked the United Nations for help in reaching a âcooperation protocolâ with the inquiry team probing the killing of Lebanonâs former Premier Rafik Hariri that will, at the same time, respect its sovereignty. Syria called on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday to intervene and help broker the cooperation agreement.
The Syrian call in a letter by Foreign Minister Farouk Shara came after a meeting last week between a Syrian legal adviser and chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis appeared to have failed to agree on the venue and legal framework for the questioning of six senior Syrian security officials. âThe foreign ministerâs letter asked the help of the president of the (UN) Security Council and the UN secretary-general in agreeing a cooperation protocol with the Syrian government,â a Foreign Ministry official said in a statement.
But really, they're cooperating with the investigation...
Annan on Monday defended his efforts to help persuade Syria to cooperate with the UN probe. Speaking to reporters on his return to UN headquarters after a two-week tour of the Middle East and Pakistan, the UN chief responded to press allegations that he had interfered with the probe led by Mehlis by urging Syria to cooperate. He said that during his recent trip to the Middle East, he had had a chance to help Mehlis by encouraging âleaders in the region to urge Syria to cooperate fully.â He also noted that since the UN Security Council last month passed a resolution demanding full cooperation with the UN probe into last Februaryâs Hariri slaying, he âhad the chance to talk to Syrian authorities several times urging them to cooperate with Mehlis.â âI think it is my duty as secretary-general to do whatever I can ...to make sure that everybody cooperates,â he added. Annan said the Syrian issue figured prominently in his discussions with Arab leaders.
Posted by: fred ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
It's not your night, Detlev. We're goin for the price on Assad...
I remarked that there did not seem to be much evidence of the Haqqania suffering from the crackdown on centers of radicalism promised by President Pervez Musharraf. Sami's face lit up:
"That is for American consumption only," he laughed cheerfully. "It is only statements to the newspapers. Nothing has happened."
"So," I asked, "You are not finding the atmosphere difficult at the moment?"
"We are in a good, strong position," replied Sami. "[President George W] Bush has woken the entire Islamic world. We are grateful to him."
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 16:12 ||
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#2
Chickens? I like 'em sacrificed with a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.
But this calls for installing a BBQ pit next to the "space" set aside - and giving away free pork tenderloins, briquettes, utensils, and a choice of sauces. Wanna play these political games, assholes? - Fine you gutless cowards, be Fair and Balanced.
Next they'll want access to the stadium PA system for the call to prayer.
#3
Methinks there will be shower of pork rinds from the upper tiers.
Posted by: ed ||
11/23/2005 16:02 Comments ||
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#4
Comon - game played with a PIGSKIN! Can't imagine a muzzy wanting to be near the unclean spectacle - except maybe as a vendor...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/23/2005 16:28 Comments ||
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Well, we'll just have to see if they claim the air vents where they got caught before are 'closer to Mecca' or something.
Camden Yards was the first ballpark in MLB to have a kosher hot dog stand and the 'fans of faith' are encouraged to congregate in a room behind the stand near the end of the fifth inning for prayers. When the Yankees are in town, there's always a big contingent from Brooklyn with the prayer shawl fringes peeking out from under their Yankees jackets.
November 23, 2005: Let's take a look at the track record of terrorist movements. This can provide useful insights on where the current wave of Islamic terrorism is heading. First of all, terrorism is nothing new, nor are international terrorist movements. Regional terrorist movements go back over a thousand years, and showed up in the Middle East and the East Asia centuries ago. Terrorist movements can be international now because of mass media (especially satellite news operations) and cheap international communications (especially the Internet). But terrorist movements have a life cycle. Unless they are sustained by success, or state sponsorship, they tend to fade after a decade or so. The reason is simple, new recruits note that the movement is not making any progress and do not join. No volunteers, no terrorists.
Terrorist movements that do succeed, do so because they are able to go beyond terrorism, and into conventional military and political operations. This drill was refined and laid down in print by several communist terrorist leaders in the last century. You start with terrorism, and end up in charge. The current Islamic terrorist groups are having a hard time following the communist cookbook. The governments they are trying to overthrow have proved capable of beating the terrorists. Iraq has become such a playground for Islamic terrorists because it is actually a civil war between the minority Sunni Arabs and the three times as numerous Shia Arabs. This war has both political and religious angles, so it is particularly intense.
Because the Shia have an American army to back them up, the Sunni Arabs have no chance of going to the next level, and taking over the government. But the violence has left many parts of Iraq, all Sunni Arab, or mainly Sunni Arab, free of government control. From these base areas, the terrorists are able to launch attacks. And they do. Every day. But most of the people they kill are Iraqis, and many are Sunni Arabs. You don't make much political progress when you are killing the people you want to support you. Worse, the Islamic terrorists are losing the opinion war. Surveys show support for al Qaeda (the flagship of the Islamic terrorists) sinking. The terrorists are losing the media war.
While there are still plenty of recruits, that's not as important as the trends. So, like the last wave of Islamic terrorism (the Palestinians of the 60s and 70s), failure begets despair and dissolution. But, until Arabs get their political act together, new terrorist movements will appear. This happened with the Palestinians, because of the failure of Palestinian leaders to lead. Even all that oil wealth is no substitute for wise and prudent leadership. Without it you have economic and social failure, and some pretty nasty terrorism.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 10:02 ||
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BOMBAY, India (AP) - One of India's most wanted men, suspected of terrorizing Bollywood and plotting bombings that killed hundreds, told a court Wednesday he feared he might be murdered by Bombay's mafia for spilling secrets. Abu Salem was extradited last month from Portugal after more than a decade on the run, a prime suspect in 1993 bombings of Bombay's stock exchange along with trains, hotels and gas stations, killing 257 people and wounding more than 1,100. "There is a threat to my life from the underworld," Salem said. "I fear being tortured by the police."
The judge ordered him to be held until his next hearing on Dec. 7 and instructed police to increase security at the prison. Police also suspect Salem in several high-profile killings, including attacks on Hindi film personalities, extortion and the 1997 murder of Indian music industry czar Gulshan Kumar. Salem is facing charges of committing a terrorist act, criminal conspiracy and supplying arms and ammunition. He could face life in prison if convicted.
The Bombay bombings are believed to have been revenge attacks for the December 2002 demolition of a 16th-century northern Indian Muslim mosque by Hindu extremists. The incident triggered riots that killed at least 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.
Police say Salem fled India after the Bombay blasts, but he says he left to elude other Indian mobsters chasing him over unpaid debts.
He was arrested in Lisbon in September 2002, but was extradited only this October, because the two nations don't have an extradition treaty.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 09:48 ||
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Egyptian authorities have released more than half of some 460 Muslim Brotherhood activists arrested in legislative elections this week, a leading member of the group said yesterday. The activists were rounded up before and during the elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood poses the strongest challenge to the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). âAbout 260 have got out and there are still about 200 (in prison),â Essam El-Erian told Reuters. The Brotherhood, which is officially banned, has tripled its strength in Parliament halfway through the elections with 47 seats. They had 15 places in the outgoing chamber, which was elected in 2000. The NDP has won about 120 seats so far.
The Brotherhood is contesting about one third of Parliamentâs 444 elected seats, not posing a threat to the NDPâs control. Brotherhood candidates stand as independents to sidestep the ban on the group. The Islamists say they were given unprecedented leeway in the first stage of voting earlier this month. But the authorities cracked down in the second stage, which began on Sunday and continues on Saturday with a second day of voting.
Posted by: fred ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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Of course, there were 19,000 of those animals in prison on September 11, 2001. The State Department believes that respecting their democratic wishes, advances "freedom." Muslims just love it when Westerners use that ambiguous little word.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned Monday that Sudan's volatile Darfur region faces an increasing threat of complete lawlessness and anarchy and said it is crucial that the government and rebels conclude a peace agreement by the end of the year.
In his monthly report to the U.N. Security Council, Annan said "a dangerous increase" in violence in recent months has affected the delivery of humanitarian aid and claimed the lives of civilians and five members of the 6,700-strong African Union peacekeeping force. "The looming threat of complete lawlessness and anarchy draws nearer," he wrote.
Annan said further deterioration can be averted only by rapidly consolidating the progress made at the sixth round of peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels which ended in October.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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There's "lawlessness" in Turtle Bay too, Kofi.
And you've been just about as effective there.
KATHMANDU - Nepalâs major political parties have agreed to work with Maoist rebels to abolish the monarchy and restore democracy if the insurgents first disarm, a former prime minister said on Tuesday.
The agreement, announced by Girija Prasad Koirala, is the first between the rebels and an alliance of seven political parties since King Gyanendra sacked a coalition government in February and assumed power. âThe countryâs seven agitating party alliance and the Maoists have agreed to a 12-point agenda to establish full-fledged democracy and launch a movement to end the tyrannical monarchy and hold constituent assembly elections under UN supervision,â Koirala told a press conference.
âHowever the two sides will not launch the joint movement until the Maoists surrender their arms,â said Koirala, who leads the Nepali Congress, the largest party, and has been premier of the Himalayan kingdom four times.
That should take a while.
Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, also issued a statement Tuesday announcing the agreement but did not mention abandoning arms. âThe seven-party alliance and the Maoists have reached a 12-point agreement during various phases of talks,â the emailed statement said.
âThe tie-up is a natural course of action because the king has not sought to reconcile with political parties,â said senior human rights leader Padma Ratna Tuladhar, who has led government negotiations with the Maoists in the past. âThe political leaders are joining hands with the Maoists because the king has sidelined the parties.â
And boy howdy, the political leaders are in for a surprise.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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President Isaias Afwerki underlined that statements about the resumption of imminent war between Eritrea and Ethiopian are the invention of the TPLF [Tigrayan People's Liberation Front; once a liberation front and later a political party with a potent army, now supposedly shares rule of Ethiopia]. The President elaborated that in a bid to escape from the current internal crisis it is facing, the TPLF regime is resorting to war as an alternative.
Noting that the [UN] Security Council is duty bound to implement the Boundary Commission's ruling and as such it has no other authority, the President underscored that the failure of the Council over the past three and half years to live up to its responsibility has no legal, political or moral justification at all. President Isaias further underlined that in the event such a situation remains unchanged, the Security Council bears full responsibility for any ensuing consequences.
Stating that Eritrea had demonstrated sufficient patience over the past three and half years with all the attendant sacrifices and disadvantages, the President nonetheless pointed out that this patience cannot continue for an indefinite time. "In view of the fact that sovereign Eritrean territory is still under foreign occupation, its right of self-defence is legally and morally ensured under the UN Charter," he underlined.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Up to 20 foreigners were in custody in Britain awaiting deportation to countries that have a record of torturing or abusing detainees, the prime minister said yesterday, but Blair defended his efforts to counter extremism.
The United States and its partners on Tuesday dealt the death blow to a project to build two light-water atomic reactors for North Korea to entice it into dismantling its nuclear weapons program, officials said.
Japan's ruling party unveiled plans to revise its constitutional commitment to pacifism and allow the country to establish armed forces "for self defence". The proposals would end Japan's renunciation of the right to maintain an army, as enshrined in the constitution imposed by America after the Second World War.
WASHINGTON (AP) - New Jersey Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is among eight Republican congressmen targeted by a liberal advocacy group for criticizing a call for American troops to immediately withdraw from Iraq. Television ads featuring the congressmen were to begin airing nationally on Thanksgiving Day, and then will run in each of the lawmakers' home districts a few days later.
At a time when international diplomacy is greatly needed from the New York-based United Nations, the organization has become mired down in a complex power struggle. All this is very bad timing. Earlier this week, the Iranian Parliament approved an outline of a bill that states it would bar United Nations inspectors from entering its nuclear sites if the UNâs Security Council considers punitive measures when it meets this Thursday in New York. âThis is a time for diplomacy, and we donât have the diplomatic capacity to do it,â William Luers, current president of the United Nations Association of the US, told reporters.
WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (KUNA) -- Lebanese MP, General Michel Aoun, said on Tuesday he supports the disarmament of Hizbollah. Aoun, a formerly exiled Lebanese Christian militia leader who recently returned to his country after Syria's withdrawal this year, made the remarks at a news conference one day after Hizbollah fighters clashed with Israeli soldiers on the uneasy border between Israel and southern Lebanon, where Hizbollah remains largely supported by the majority Shiite Lebanese there.
European Union powers are willing to revive nuclear talks with Iran to discuss a Russian proposal aimed at defusing an impasse over what the West believes is an Iranian atomic bomb program, diplomats said yesterday. Under Russian President Vladimir Putinâs proposal, Iran would be allowed to continue converting uranium ore but would ship it to Russia for enrichment, a system which, in theory, would prevent Iran from producing weapons-grade uranium.
Lebanon yesterday marked its first Independence Day for three decades without the presence of Syrian troops. Pro-Damascus President 
Syria has asked the United Nations for help in reaching a âcooperation protocolâ with the inquiry team probing the killing of Lebanonâs former Premier 
I remarked that there did not seem to be much evidence of the Haqqania suffering from the crackdown on centers of radicalism promised by President Pervez Musharraf. Sami's face lit up:
Egyptian authorities have released more than half of some 460 
KATHMANDU - Nepalâs major political parties have agreed to work with Maoist rebels to abolish the monarchy and restore democracy if the insurgents first disarm, a former prime minister said on Tuesday.
