Medical researchers have found cats can catch Sars and pass it on to other animals. A team of US scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston say the finding raises the question of whether cats can pass the virus to humans.
Researcher Dr Robert Shope, an expert on emerging diseases, said: "You might want to quarantine the pets as well as the people. If itâs been shown that the virus can transmit from cat to cat, it doesnât take much of a leap of faith that it will transmit to humans." My cats are going to hate wearing those little masks.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 4:05:35 PM ||
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Does that include my siberian tiger?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 17:52 Comments ||
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We have all heard of the dead voting, so it is only logical that the Democratic Party would now benefit from an expansion of necro-activism and post-mortem inclusiveness:> New Orleans Times-Picayune, October 2 2003 Gertrude M. Jones
Word has been received that Gertrude M. Jones, 81, passed away on August 25, 2003, under the loving care of the nursing aides of Heritage Manor of Mandeville, Louisiana. She was a native of Lebanon, KY. She was a retired Vice President of Georgia International Life Insurance Company of Atlanta, GA. Her husband, Warren K. Jones predeceased her. Two daughters survive her: Dawn Hunt and her live-in boyfriend, Roland, of Mandeville, LA; and Melba Kovalak and her husband, Drew Kovalak, of Woodbury, MN. Three sisters, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren, also survive her. Funeral services were held in Louisville, KY. Memorial gifts may be made to any organization that seeks the removal of President George Bush from office.
Nor is this an isolated phenomenon:
Capital Times August 21, 2003: Baron, Sally
STOUGHTON - Sally Baron, age 71, of Stoughton, died Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, after struggling to recuperate from heart surgery. [Begets and long bio deleted] She also held dear the Bertagnoli family of Janesville; in-laws and their families; various relatives; grand-dog, Scout; and the Packers. A memorial service will be held at COVENANT LUTHERAN CHURCH, Stoughton, at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, 2003. Graveside services in Hurley will be held at a later date. Memorials in her honor can be made to any organization working for the removal of President Bush.
From correspondents in Constantinople Istanbul (So much for innovation, I guess...)
THE sign on the front of the bus read "Come try something different with us" but police in Istanbul say the four people running Turkeyâs first brothel-on-wheels may be breaking the law. The woman owner of the bus, her driver and two prostitutes were detained on Sunday for questioning for running the traveling sex tour, the Sabah newspaper reported Monday. Prostitution is legal in Turkey but only in registered brothels. (Meaning "when the State gets a cut"...)
The four had been roaming along a national highway near Istanbul for the past two months, making several stops to greet passenger-clients in the busâ four small rooms, each equipped with a bed and shower.
Remember the other day, when the clever journalists of Al Jazeera used a "telephoto lens" to photograph an American soldier cruelly frisking a little Afghan boy.
Well it's happened again! Um, only this time it was in Iraq, and it was AP, and they didn't claim anything about shaming or nuthin', and didn't feel compelled to note what type of lens they used.
In my experience, URLs to the Yahoo news photo sites are dynamic, so you can never find the same damned picture again when you want to (here's the link anyway). The actual jpeg URLs are static, though. So I've linked to that. Here's the caption:
Two U.S. Army soldiers, of Charlie company, 1-22 Infantry regiment, 4th Infantry Division, look inside the pockets of an unidentified Iraqi boy while patroling a street in Tikrit, 193 km (120 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
This was in the front section of the Houston Chronicle this morning. No shaming was cited.
#1
Somebody want to email Yvonne Ridley with this. She'll need to add it to her War Crimes file in time for the next Human Rights or Civil Liberties or whatever the hell it is Convention.
Oh, the humanity.
#3
That picture (the new one) is front-page, above-the-fold in our "newspaper of record", the New York Times. (A spot held one day in 1945 by the flag raising on Suribachi.) And the front-page picture yesterday was of a young American soldier looking very frightened. Gee, do you think the NYT editors are trying to tell us something?
Posted by: Matt ||
10/29/2003 14:27 Comments ||
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Gee, do you think the NYT editors are trying to tell us something?
Yeah, that they're clueless idiots who don't realize that if they get their obvious wish (U.S. loses, Islamizoids win) they'll be among the first to have their heads chopped off.
I think these terrorist-enabling assholes truly believe that if some Islamonazi manages to set off a nuke in NYC, the Times and their minions magically won't be affected. Wankers.
They passed disgusting a long time ago and are picking up speed.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/29/2003 18:41 Comments ||
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Two US CIA operatives have been killed in an ambush while tracking terrorists in Afghanistan. The ambush on Saturday happened on the same day and in the same region as a six-hour gun battle in which coalition aircraft and Afghan militia killed 18 rebel fighters. Six Afghan militia soldiers were wounded in the fighting, but there were no coalition casualties, the military said. Itâs unclear whether the two incidents are linked, and the military has not explained why its account of the fighting was delayed by three days.
In Washington, the CIA identified the two men as William Carlson, 43, of North Carolina, and Christopher Mueller, 32, of San Diego, California. Both were veterans of military special operations forces, the CIA said. In a statement, the CIA said they were tracking terrorists operating in the region of Shkin, a village in eastern Afghanistan, when they were killed. It did not provide details of the ambush or the two operativesâ mission. They were in the remote mountainous region on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden is thought to be hiding. It also is a stronghold for al-Qaida, Taliban and other anti-coalition fighters.
Carlson and Mueller are the third and fourth CIA operatives that the agency has acknowledged have been killed in Afghanistan in the line of duty since the September 11 attacks.
Posted by: Bulldog ||
10/29/2003 4:03:48 AM ||
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Thank you. RIP
Posted by: Mike ||
10/29/2003 8:27 Comments ||
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repost from yesterday, since then, it's been revealed Mueller was an ex-seal...wonder how they got him.
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 8:47 Comments ||
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Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 9:39 Comments ||
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#5
I get the impression that the CIA contracts all dangerous field work to contractors that are former special ops guys.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 9:53 Comments ||
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#6
Details on William Carlson and what happened: A recently retired Special Forces veteran from Southern Pines lost his life Saturday tracking terrorists in Afghanistan for the CIA. William Carlson, 43, fought in Operation Enduring Freedom. He retired from the Army last spring.
They called him âChiefâ because some of his family members were Dakota Blackfeet. He lived in Southern Pines with his wife, Cheri, and their sons Shaun, who is in college, and Shayne, a student at Union Pines High School. Three weeks ago, Carlson went back to war, this time as a civilian working under contract to the CIA. He was assigned to the CIAâs Directorate of Operations. On Saturday, Oct. 25, Carlson was involved in a raid against suspected Taliban and al Qaeda forces southwest of the Afghan border town of Shkin. He and another CIA operative, Christopher Glenn Mueller of San Diego, were killed while tracking terrorists operating in the region, according to a statement released by the CIA. Before working for the CIA, Carlson, had extensive experience in Army special operations. Mueller, 32, was a veteran of Navy special operations.
A group of Taliban and al Qaeda fugitives fired rockets and heavy machine-guns on a base used by U.S.-led troops and their Afghan allies in the Afghan border town of Shkin, near the Pakistan border, according to Paktika province governor Mohammad Ali Jalali, as cited in Pentagon reports.
Carlson and Mueller were working with the Afghan army troops. They were officially listed as state department security officers, but the state department denied any knowledge of them at the time. In the raid that killed Carlson and Mueller, 10 suspected enemy fighters were killed by Afghan army troops backed up by U.S. helicopters and war planes, according to a statement from Pentagon sources Monday. Pentagon officials said the two apparently were hit by âarmor piercing roundsâ while working with the Afghan Army troops. Air support was called in on Tuesday.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 11:20 Comments ||
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ELF
Saudi Arabia has spent $17.6 million on public relations, advertising and lobbying since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, hoping to convince Americans it is committed to fighting terrorism although 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens, Justice Department records show. Television ads on CNN, ESPN, MSNBC and Fox News since May 2002 have depicted the Saudis as a modern nation choke, cough
aligned with American interests. Edith, my pills, quick
In a two-week period last October, 1,541 Saudi-sponsored ads ran on American television. The Saudi strategy to win the hearts and minds of American citizens and lawmakers is clear: spend large amounts on media advertising, book time with televisionâs news shows, lobby congressional leaders and monitor policies coming out of Washington. otherwise known as: bribe anyone and everyone you can. Thatâs the Soddy Way
Posted by: Spot ||
10/29/2003 9:20:38 AM ||
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"...bribe anyone and everyone you can. Thatâs the Soddy Way."
#2
Fucking Fraudis! Either Bush is planning on putting a knife in the backs of his towel-headed buddies from the sandbox, or he is going to remain allied with the very people that help finance murder all over the globe. Which is it? I would really like to see the Soddy issue become a MAIN topic of next year's re-election. Force Bush to either side with his Fraudi murderbots, or take a stand against them. I'm betting though that he deflects attention from this issue by focusing attention on Syria.
#3
Geo43 has a problem: Geo41 Saudi baggage. Sometimes ya just gotta let it go Dubya - throwing in a bad hand is always tough when you've got a stake out there on the table. Ya gotta know when to fold - and not throw good money after bad.
#4
Well at least that's 17.6 mil they can't use to finance the boys and their toys.
...and remember. Without the Saudi's, there's be no War on Terrorism.
the $17M probably only covers the stuff they are forced to declare as lobbying
the funds for paying for their own spokesmules, the funds for subsidizing CAIR, the funds for organizing 'information' conferences, etc. aren't in this total
also not in the total are funds from individual Saudis
#7
I can inform the Soddies, you're looking worse and worse to the American people. I just worry about our 'Representatives', they can be bought, Democrats rented.
Britainâs right will soon have a new leader. IDSâs been shown the door. EFL
[Conservative Party Leader] Iain Duncan Smith has narrowly failed to win the backing of enough Tory MPs to save his job in a dramatic confidence vote at Westminster. Mr Duncan Smith, party leader for just over two years, was backed by 75 MPs but opposed by 90. The vote sparks the fourth Tory leadership election in eight years, with former home secretary Michael Howard emerging as the strong favourite.
#1
LOL - I see this is small beer for al Jazeera, whose main story at the mo is a trashpiece from the chewed pen of Yvonne Ridley:
"Rebel Galloway launches political party. Rebel MP George Galloway has announced the launch of a new political movement which could change the face of British politics for ever."
#3
Bulldog, my British English must be slipping. I just read all of the Galloway quotes in the AJ article and I have no idea what the guy is saying. Is there a Galloway dictionary in print?
Posted by: Matt ||
10/29/2003 19:28 Comments ||
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#4
Matt, I tried reading the quotes out loud using my best Dundee accent, and it still doesn't make much sense to me, either. Next time I have a few too many beers, I'll try again. See if that helps.
I think I understood a few snippets here and there, though: he's got a veiled Jewish conspiracy thing going, so far as I can tell, and I think he wants a bloody- or bloodless-revolution (probably doesn't matter which really), and he wants to um... unite, and to liberate domestics.
If I can find a proper translation, I'll get back to you.
Posted by: Matt ||
10/29/2003 20:11 Comments ||
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#6
More seriously though, I wonder whether he's actually starting an Islamo-centric political entity. The sanity-challenged rhetoric fits admirably; the reference to "foreign elites" and "an increasingly exclusive international club" could be anti-Zionist or anti-EU or anti-US, or anti-Globalization, a mix, or intended to be refering to whatever the listener chooses to assume they're a reference to; he says "[t]his level will unite Muslims, Christians and Jews...", giving Muslims priority over the rest; and add this to the fact that he is rumoured to have converted to Islam and carries a Koran about with him at all times...
There's not much money for being just another socialistic moonbat with unrealistic ideas of importance, but I bet he reckons there's a moneyspinning aspect to being the UK's voice of Islam. He's probably asked the Saudi cash dispenser currently in Washington to pay a visit to London sometime in the near future...
#8
Bulldog, would you like a nice Druid curse placed on ole George? Don't know how well they work long distance, but I'd be glad to give it a try. I'm not an easy guy to rattle, but some of my ancestors give me the screaming willies! Guess that works for their enemies, too...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 22:37 Comments ||
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Worth a try, OP, but I suspect that George has made a pact with someone somewhere that might make him invulnerable to that sort of thing...
Remember this next time you hear a British terror apologist whining about Gitmo... EFL
Appeals by five suspected international terrorists detained without trial have been rejected. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission judges made the ruling in favour of the government on Wednesday. They have been detained without trial under emergency powers introduced in the wake of 11 September. Another five suspects are due to hear the outcome of their appeals later on Wednesday. Some of the men have been in jail since December 2001, held under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) backed the Home Office claims it had enough evidence to keep the men behind bars. The men include Jamal Ajouaou and Palestinian asylum seeker Mahmoud Abu Rideh, but the remaining eight have not been named. Lawyers representing the men claimed the evidence against them was "fragmentary and incomplete". Which is also how you could describe most victims of Islamic terror.
But the Home Office has maintained the menâs detention was based on "detailed evidence" and the powers had been used sparingly.
Posted by: Bulldog ||
10/29/2003 7:02:55 AM ||
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Poor Abu and Jamal. They thought that in a country like the UK the blokes had to have undeniable evidence to keep them from their appointed duties. And they worked so hard to keep that fragmentary. I wonder if these guys were working for a faith based charity.
EFL:
The terrorist suspect Willie Virgile Brigitte has revealed that his instructions to link with an explosives expert while in Sydney came from a contact in Pakistan, where he is alleged to have received al-Qaeda training. Itâs no wonder he turned out bad with a name like Willie Virgile Brigitte. Kind of like "A Boy Named Sue".
It is understood that he also told interrogators in Paris he had obtained a new "clean" passport before coming to Australia on a tourist visa, so that his trips to Pakistan and Afghanistan would not be revealed. Standard procedure.
In Sydney, members of five of the seven households raided by ASIO and federal and state police on Sunday as alleged Brigitte associates have sought legal help. A solicitor, Adam Houda, said the men who spoke to him were members of the mainly Wahhabi fundamentalist Muslim sect which worships at the Haldon Street Prayer Centre in Lakemba. Wahhabis, another non-suprise.
Some passports had been confiscated and at least two revoked. Brigitte is believed to have told French counter-terrorist police in recent days that he only wanted to defend Islam in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Chechnya, rather than attack Western-based Christians, and had travelled to Australia for personal reasons. Uh huh
Under questioning, he told police he became anxious when approached by an associate from his time in Pakistan about sheltering an explosives expert with known terrorist links in Sydney. "Willie, Don Vito Abdullah is calling in the favor you owe him"
Soon after, on October 9, he was arrested. Sounds like the Pak contact or the expert is under observation.
Information from Brigitteâs French interrogation and the weekend raids has hardened the Howard Governmentâs belief that at least two other men, and probably more, were part of a network he was putting together here. Officials remain uncertain, however, whether Brigitte was an imminent threat, or part of a plan to plant a "sleeper" terrorist cell which may not have been activated for years. Iâd say Brigitte was a very low level flunky, used to support more important players.
The 35-year-old former social worker is understood to have received arms training with Islamic groups linked to al-Qaeda in Pakistan, and tried to enter Afghanistan in late 2001 to join the Taliban. Earlier, he allegedly trained with other would-be Islamic fighters in France. I thought he ran the camp.
The Premier, Bob Carr, and AFP Commissioner, Mick Keelty, have toned down their rhetoric after initially claiming that a terror cell centred around Brigitte had been smashed. The remarks had caused deep consternation in some federal quarters, with one government source describing their victorious tone as over the top. Mr Carr, asked about his remarks on the breaking up of a cell, said it was "very clear the police visits have had impact on the associations he appeared to be establishing on Australian soil". The Government has clamped down on information about Brigitteâs wife, an Australian convert to Islam whom he met and married in September. Authorities have found no evidence that Brigitte sought to use her in any way, and are treating her as innocent. Just another slave of love.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 10:20:38 AM ||
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A former social worker ya say. Might that have been with a faith based charity, ol' chap?
#2
he only wanted to defend Islam in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Chechnya .... Kasmir, Bradford, Singapore, San Francisco, the Vatican, Tibet...............
#3
Merde in France reported that Brigitte is also suspected of providing Belgian passports to the two jihadis who assasinated Massoud - the northern alliance commander who was killed about the same time as the Sept. 11 attack.
Posted by: John B ||
10/29/2003 11:10 Comments ||
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Italian police said Wednesday they have arrested an Algerian and an Italian for allegedly providing false documents and other logistical support to Islamic terrorists. The two men were arrested Tuesday in Cassino, a town 120 kilometers south of Rome, said an official from the anti-terror police squad in the area, Antonella Chiapparelli. Two Algerians, believed to be part of the same group, remained at large, she said. The men were suspected of helping Algerian terrorists affiliated with an Islamic extremist group, the Salafist Group for Call and Combat. The suspects allegedly provided false papers, money and other support to terrorists coming to Italy from Algeria and then heading to other European countries, said Chiapparelli. They have been charged with criminal association aimed at supporting illegal immigration. Italian investigators have described Italy as a major European logistical base for Islamic terrorist groups. Dozens of people have been detained in Italy in several probes.
There are an estimated 30,000 Islamic extremists based in Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schroederâs government said Wednesday in a statement published by parliament. This is about 1 percent of the three million Muslims living in Germany, the statement said. While noting the vast majority of German Muslims had nothing to do with extremism, the statement stressed Berlin would not tolerate Islamic radicals seeking to undermine the constitution and carry out crimes "under the veil of religious conviction." It remains unclear how many of the 30,000 German Islamists are ready to use violence to achieve their aims, the government admitted. Citing security concerns the government declined to reveal further details it was making available to parliamentâs top secret intelligence affairs committee.
EFL:
The European Commission was facing a crisis last night after its auditors found Brussels had failed to shut down a network of slush funds and that abuses had spread beyond a statistics office at the centre of the scandal. MEPs called for the head of Pedro Solbes, the economics commissioner, after a final audit report leaked yesterday said missing records and the total breakdown of financial control at Eurostat, the statistics agency, made it impossible to know how much taxpayersâ money had vanished or what it was used for. Investigators identified the loss of £3 million in "a vast enterprise of looting" by senior officials in Luxembourg, mostly through inflated contracts with outside firms. Eurostat kept no central register of its contracts and records were missing "or destroyed" in 54 per cent of cases. "Not even copies of bank statements have been kept," the report said. Well, at least they are efficient at something.
The few documents that have come to light from the slush funds, known as "financial reserves", show payments of £7,500 to the "Casino equestrian society" and £1,700 to the "Beaufort equestrian club" but auditors are certain that was just the tip of the iceberg. -insert horse sh*t jokes here-
Lack of records made it impossible to discover any truth to Eurostat staff claims that slush funds were used "to get the job done" in the face of red tape. "We cannot give an opinion on the possibility of fraud involving personal enrichment," said the report. Oh, but we can.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 3:58:09 PM ||
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Lack of records made it impossible to discover any truth to Eurostat staff claims that slush funds were used "to get the job done" in the face of red tape. "We cannot give an opinion on the possibility of fraud involving personal enrichment," said the report.
Okay then, let's put it in a simple yes-or-no question:
#3
"We cannot give an opinion on the possibility of fraud involving personal enrichment," said the report.
That hurricane force wind from across the pond is thousands of Euro beaureacrats exhaling all at once. Looks like you beat the rap again, boys.
Convene the gala dinner at once so we can get to the bottom of this!
#4
Let's see if I understand this correctly-the Eurostat staff makes the rules,then claims the rules they made prevent them from doing their jobs,so they must break the rules they made in order to make new rules.This should prove once and for all to doubting Americans that Europeans do have a sense of humor.
On a more serious note,anyone notice a pattern?
France refuses to keep EU economic treaty obligations.Eurostat staff ignores regulations "to
get the job done".EU beaureacrat ignores EU courts and staff and continually tries to fine Microsoft.
Posted by: Stephen ||
10/29/2003 17:04 Comments ||
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#8
The more I read and hear about the European disUnion bureaucracy, the more I wonder if Europe can survive them. I have very strong Jeffersonian leanings. I believe government has only one legitimate duty - to "secure the rights" of free men. Apparently the EU Statistican office has a different view - they believe government has the duty to "free men of their cash".
The only way to stop crooks before they rob you is to make it VERY PAINFUL for crooks who try - by making sure you catch them, and by making their lives as miserable as possible after they're caught. You want to instil in them the fact that their behavior will result in some very unsavory, and hopefully painful, consequences. The only way to stop crooked bureaucrats is to treat the ones that are NOT honest and trustworthy as crooks. The punishment, however, for a person in a position of trust should be even harsher than for a common crook, who makes no bones about thumbing his nose at society. The government crook not only steals our money, they destroy our trust of government.
Lining the Princess Charlotte bridge in Luxembourg with the heads of crooked politicians may not lead to any rapid change in the affairs of European governments, but it would probably cause the entire political class in Europe to sleep less easily at night.
Come to think of it, it's not a bad idea for the Brooklin Bridge and the Anacostia bridge, as well... Er, maybe Golden Gate??? Naaah, too radical.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 22:59 Comments ||
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By now weâve come to accept that, as Germany was once the hotbed of anti-Semitism, it is the Middle East â from Egypt to Damascus to Saudi Arabia to the PLO â which today is a seething cauldron of racism. What, however, is even more alarming is that anti-Semitism is spreading to what would hitherto be considered the most unlikely places. I have before me a study published Oct. 20 in a leading Swedish daily, Dagens Nyheter, which reports that "Arab and Muslim attacks on Jews are rising sharply in Swedish society [while] silence surrounds Muslim Jew-hatred." The study, inadequately translated from Swedish, was prepared by two Swedish social scientists, Sverker Oredssom, a professor of history, and Mikael Tossavainen, his research assistant.
The situation has become so bad, they report, that "Jews in Sweden today often feel compelled to hide their religious identity in public: necklaces with stars of David are carefully hidden under sweaters, and orthodox Jewish men change their kippot [skullcaps] to more discreet caps or hats when they are outdoors. Jews in Sweden nowadays get secret telephone numbers to avoid harassment. In Sweden. Today." In a Swedish population of some 9 million, there are about 20,000 Jews, mostly in Stockholm, Swedenâs capital. The social scientists blame the Muslim migrants, now 3.9 percent of the Swedish population, for the growth of anti-Semitism. (Sweden has the second-largest percentage Muslim population in Western Europe. France has the highest Muslim population percentage, 7 percent.) "Most Swedes believe that anti-Semitism is an extinct problem in our country," they write. "Most Swedes believe that our society has evolved and that we are more enlightened today. ... Unfortunately, they are wrong. During the last year, the security police registered 131 anti-Semitic crimes. Nobody knows how many incidents go unreported. but the security police expect the number to be large." Jewish congregations in Sweden have noted a sharp increase in "harassment, threats and attacks by Arabs and Muslims against Jews in Swedish society during the last few years," the report states. "The problem is furthermore aggravated by the almost complete silence which surrounds this form of Jew-hatred. If anti-Semitism among Arabs and Muslims in Sweden is discussed at all in Swedish media, it tends to be in the form of trivializations or denials of the problem."
The reportâs authors say anti-Semitism was once "only found among marginalized groups at the extreme right and left. That is not the case anymore. During the last decade, another form of anti-Semitism has started to spread in the suburbs of large Swedish towns: a Jew-hatred often imported from the Middle East and not seldom presented under an Islamic flag which also wins adherents among groups of Arabs and Muslims in Sweden." Teachers in Swedish suburbs report widespread hostility against Jews among Arab and Muslim students. Several Internet Web sites in Swedish report on Muslim political and religious topics and at the same time spread anti-Semitic propaganda in this fashion: the Holocaust is dismissed as a Zionist fiction, an event that never happened. Then comes another declaration, this one full of admiration for Adolf Hitler and regret that he didnât live long enough to complete his extermination campaign. One Swedish Web site announces the existence of a Jewish conspiracy to take over the world, an announcement with which Malaysiaâs Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammed would be in full agreement.
At some point the European democracies, like Sweden, will have to decide how far freedom of expression and other civil liberties extend when Web sites in several European languages, including Swedish, are publishing blood libels against Jewish citizens. The American philosopher, Arthur O. Lovejoy, has written: "The conception of freedom is not one which implies the legitimacy and inevitability of its own suicide. It is, on the contrary, a conception which defines the limits of its own applicability; what it implies is that there is one kind of freedom which is inadmissible â the freedom to destroy freedom. The defender of freedom of thought and speech is not morally bound to enter the fight with both hands tied behind his back."
Posted by: Charles ||
10/29/2003 12:58 Comments ||
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#2
Simple enough to take care of - deport the problem back to where it originated.
If Muslims can't live in peace with the rest of the world, they should be denied access to the rest of the world. Let their little ingrown bigotry, their incestuous "family building", and their 7th-century behavior be walled up in their own little private nations, and never allowed to leak out and poison the rest of the world.
These people are truly their own worst enemies. They need to grow up and shed their almost insane immaturity.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 13:10 Comments ||
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#3
Jewish Vikings? I guess that explains the smoked salmon!
James Nichols, the brother of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols, says he was tricked into appearing in the documentary "Bowling for Columbine," according to a federal lawsuit filed against filmmaker Michael Moore. Moore roâMoore took millions of people in.
Nichols also alleges in the lawsuit, filed Monday in Detroit, that Moore libeled him by linking him to the terrorist act. Nichols accuses Moore of libel, defamation of character, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. His lawyer is asking for a jury trial and damages ranging from $10 million to $20 million on each of nine counts, the Detroit Free Press reported. A message seeking comment was left Tuesday with Mooreâs publicist.
"Solly, Missah Publicist no home! Dis-a da maid!"
In the film, Moore asks Nichols for an interview and steers the subject from the Oklahoma City bombing to gun ownership. Nichols tells Moore he has a gun under his pillow, and Moore asks Nichols to show him. Big mistake.
In the lawsuit, Nichols, who lives in Decker, said Moore misled him about the purpose of the interview. roâMooreâs a bigger liar than Clinton.
"Bowling for Columbine" won the feature-length documentary Academy Award earlier this year. An incident that told me that documentaries can be mendacious without being reclassified.
This is an announcement for another "Fund Haman not Esther" conference. Hat tip Protest Warrior
The conference is less than three weeks away and registration is beginning to fill up, so please register ASAP: http://palestineconference.com/register.htm! "Haman! Haman! Haman!"
Please make sure to indicate if you need housing or a ride from the Airport/Train Station/Bus Station. If your organization would like a table, please email finance@palestineconference.com. Also, check out the schedule of Workshops and Performances now posted on the web.
Registration Committee of the PSM
For Pro-Slaughter Movement; these beauzeaux are evil.
#1
And totally dependent upon Western technology and civilization for access, forgiveness, disbelief, communications, instruction, transportation, self-doubt, arms, the worx. Their adoption of Western methods, such as conferences, is just so cute and disarming.
If the West ever awakens en masse from its somnambulistic meanderings and gets a clue, isolating these backward brutal murderous jihadi cretins in their own festering stinkholes of hate will provide a target-rich environment, indeed.
A controversial publication distributed at the Freshersâ Fair has left the Oxford University Islamic Society (ISoc) at the centre of serious allegations over the documentâs criticisms of university life. The newsletter âAl-Ehsanâ, given to freshers who signed up for the society, was sent anonymously to The OxStu with a letter describing the contents as "frightening". Emran Islam, ISoc President, who compiled the newsletter, was quick to defend his choice of articles. Much of the criticism was directed at an introductory article about unity within Islam, which suggested that the issue was "a matter of life and death", and one which "the Believers must implement even if they have to kill or be killed for its implementation".
"Jihad!"
This viewpoint, however, was described by Mr Islam as "referring only to the authorâs views on capital punishment, which are valid only within the historical context of a theoretical Muslim state, and not applicable to this society. Under no circumstance," said Mr Islam, "does ISoc advocate any form of violence."
"No, no! Certainly not!"
Frightening indeed
Posted by: TS ||
10/29/2003 10:01:16 AM ||
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Controversial indeed. Nothing really to worry about though. Emran is only talking about religious thought. How to keep those believers tied into the Umma and all that. It's "a matter of life and death" doesn't really mean life and death but....but no violence, peace, happy, toothy smiles and batted eyelashes.
#2
LOL! Yep, Lucky's got it - they guy's weasling around trying to say "Oops. The, uh, infidels noticed! Uh, um... Nothing to see here... Move along. Move along." Wotta a maroon.
Yesterday, Old Patriot tried to explain why the US military doesnât publish, "body count" figures of enemy soldiers in particular. Here is an example of a 5th Column Think Tank with an agenda being echoed in the BBC.
About 13,000 Iraqis, including as many as 4,300 civilians, were killed during the major combat phase of the Iraq war, according to a US research group. It said the estimates were based on US combat data, battlefield press reports, and Iraqi hospital surveys. Translation - we surfed the net and read everything the NY Times printed.
Despite the advent of precision weapons, more civilians died in the latest conflict than in the 1991 war, the group suggests. Why donât we wait a while on the Gulf War I numbers, we still digging up Kuwaitis... in fact, we may need to revise the numbers for the Iran-Iraq War as well.
The US military has published no details on Iraqi deaths in either war.
Because no matter what number was estimated the NY Times publish a piece crtical of the US mititary for using brutal tactics that killed too many civilians and enemy soldiers as well. On the very same page of the NY Times there would be another article purporting that the US military had inflated the number of killed to give the illusion that the American military as an effective fighting force. For those that are unfamiliar with the Times, this page would not be the OPED page.
The study by the Project on Defense Alternatives (PDA) covers the period from 19 March to the end of April. Hum, where was this study conducted at?
It provides ranges of casualty levels, rather than specific estimates. They tried to provide actual numbers but the lucky eight ball kept telling them to ask again later and then next thing they knew it was press time.
It says that as few as 11,000 Iraqis may have been killed in the war, or as many as 15,000 - the 13,000 being the mid-point between the two figures.
According to the PDA, approximately 30% of the victims were "non-combatants" - defined as civilians who did not take up arms.
These are "working" figures, which could change as actual data new information becomes available, the group makes clear.
The report says the Iraqi War fatalities point to the "paradox of the New Warfare. One premise of the ânew warfareâ hypothesis is that precision technologies and new warfighting techniques now allow the United States to wage war while incurring dramatically fewer casualties - especially civilian casualties. "We were totally amazed at the implicatiopns of these numbers that we found wedged in our recti."
"Although Operation Iraqi Freedom was supposed to exemplify the new warfare, it provides no unambiguous support for the hypothesis regarding civilian casualties," the author writes.
However, the report adds, "the power and promise of the new warfare is evident in having achieved so much more in the 2003 war than in the 1991 war, while incurring a comparable or lower cost in lives".
The PDA is a think tank based in Cambridge, Massachusetts - Obviously, Al Franken had a side project going between fake letters to John Ashcroft.
This summer Super Hose asked a retired army lt colonel, for his estimate on how many Iraqi soldiers the coalition killed. He estimated a whole bunch. He estimated that we would have killed fewer civilians if the Iraqi miltary had chosen to continue wearing uniforms and refrained from using schools as ammo dumps. The barracks in the hoptital was not helpful either. PDA doesnât seem to have factored this data in their study. The Hose is now round filing his copy of their results. Iâll stick with the estimate of "a whole bunch."
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 9:49:12 PM ||
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With the U.N.âs oil-for-food humanitarian program set to end on Nov. 21, Security Council members have expressed concern about the fate of contracts and deliveries. Especially contracts, Iâll wager. Benon Sevan, who runs the program, told the council Tuesday that his office will continue ââa smooth hand overââ of remaining activities to the U.S.-led coalition. But he said its wrap-up work has been hampered by a cutback in the U.N.âs international staff after two bombings at the world bodyâs headquarters in Baghdad. The program allowed the former Iraqi regime to sell unlimited quantities of oil, provided most of the money went to buy food, medicine and other humanitarian goods. And we know how well that worked.
It was adopted to help ordinary Iraqis cope with sanctions imposed after Iraqâs 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Since the program began in December 1996, Sevan said, about $65 billion worth of oil was exported, more than $46 billion was allocated to the oil-for-food operation, and more than $30 billion worth of goods were delivered to Iraq. Er, even my rusty high school math tells me those figures donât seem to match up.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan suspended the program in March on the eve of the U.S.-led military campaign that toppled Saddam Husseinâs regime and the Security Council voted on May 22 to lift sanctions and to eliminate the program by Nov. 21. Before the war, the program was providing food for 90 percent of Iraqâs population and goods worth some $10 billion were in the delivery pipeline. As of this week, Sevan said, there was still more than $7.56 billion in the pipeline. "How much more, I canât say"
Sevan said he didnât know how much money would be left in the oil-for-food escrow account when the program ends. I forgot, this is UN bookkeeping.
The money is to be transferred to a development fund for Iraqâs reconstruction controlled by the United States and Britain as occupying powers. Be sure to count the money twice.
U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte urged Annan to transfer at least $1 billion from the oil-for-food account to the reconstruction effort. Iâm sure heâll get right on it.
Sevan told the council that in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, where the United Nations ran the program, he still planned to transfer over $3.5 billion worth of completed and ongoing projects to the coalition, including $1.5 billion worth of assets. In central and southern Iraq, the United Nations has determined that 3,154 approved and funded contracts worth $6.36 billion had been classified ââto have relative utilityââ after the war, he said. So far, 1,653 contracts, just over 52 percent of the total, have been renegotiated to deal with post-war changes deleted the weapons, did they?
but U.N. agencies assured him the rest would be completed by a Nov. 3 deadline.
He criticized the United States for not arranging to confirm the arrival of goods at the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, despite agreeing on a method for doing so a month ago. Germanyâs U.N. Ambassador Gunter Pleuger, who heads the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against Iraq, called for Sevanâs office to publish a list of contracts that wonât be processed, and the criteria used to determine that they were not essential. Franceâs U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere echoed the call for publication of a list and a reason for those not deemed essential. Are you really sure you want that list?
The councilâs resolution adopted in May setting the timetable for ending the program said action on contracts determined to be ââof questionable utilityââ would be delayed until Iraq has an internationally recognized government that can determine ââwhether such contracts shall be fulfilled.ââ
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 5:01:50 PM ||
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DEBKA reported this a long time ago. EFL:
Iraqi military officers destroyed or hid chemical, biological and nuclear weapons goods in the weeks before the war, the nationâs top satellite spy director said yesterday. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James Clapper, head of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, said vehicle traffic photographed by U.S. spy satellites indicated that material and documents related to the arms programs were shipped to Syria. Other goods probably were sent throughout Iraq in small quantities and documents probably were stashed in the homes of weapons scientists. Gen. Clapper said he is not surprised that U.S. and allied forces have not found weapons of mass destruction hidden in Iraq because "itâs a big place." Iraqi government officials "below the Saddam Hussein and the sons level saw what was coming and decided the best thing to do was to dispose, destroy and disperse," he said. Maybe with the help of those Russians that got shot up on their way out to Syria.
Gen. Clapper said he felt strongly that the satellite imagery of Iraqâs weapons facilities before the war was "accurate and balanced."
Imagery is imagery — how do you manipulate it?
"Based on what we saw prior to the onset of hostilities, we certainly felt there were indications of [weapons of mass destruction] activity," said the retired general and former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Gen. Clapper said the judgment was based on analysis of spy satellite photographs and was not proof of "what was going on inside of buildings." He also said the Iraqi government carried out operations after the fall of Baghdad in April to cover up the hidden weapons programs. The chaos following might have included both looting and "organized dispersal made to look like looting," he said. "So by the time that we got to a lot of these facilities, that we had previously identified as suspect facilities, there wasnât that much there to look at," he said. Valuable documents on Iraqâs weapons were destroyed or lost in the chaos, which included burning of major government ministries. "Looting" makes a nice cover.
Saddam began dispersing his weapons and sending elements of his chemical, biological and nuclear programs out of the country in the weeks before the war, he said. The dispersal included moving both weapons and equipment as well as documents. The activity began before the United Nations began arms inspections last fall. "What we saw with the avoidance of inspections, there was clearly an effort to disperse, bury, conceal certain equipment prior to inspections," Gen. Clapper said. As for shipping weapons out of Iraq, he said, there is "no question" that people and material were taken to Syria. He said he did not know whether material also was moved to Iran. Doubtful, Sammy didnât have the best of relations with the mullahs, they never even gave him his planes back from GW1.
Convoys of vehicles, mostly commercial trucks, were spotted going into Syria from Iraq shortly before the start of the war March 19 and during the conflict, he said. Bet we watched where they delivered their loads.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 12:24:02 PM ||
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#1
Just a matter of time for Syria. Once election year is over, Bush can take a hard stance and level them.
Posted by: Charles ||
10/29/2003 12:51 Comments ||
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#2
Agreed, Charles. And Bush's reelection looks better than ever now that Dean has declared himself a "metrosexual". Yep....that'll play well in the heartland. What a pander-bear.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/29/2003 12:58 Comments ||
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#3
I don't think that America will have the manpower to take on Syria during the long years it'll take to bring Iraq up to a semi-decent shape. Or the will, for that matter.
The most that will happen, it seems to me, is limited American support while Israel strikes at some Syrian targets; but again less than full-fledged war of "regime-changing" capacity.
With Iraq-seen-as-a-battle-rather-than-as-a-war, the US chose to get a base in a place surrounded by two enemy countries, two long borders to watch out for.
Had it chosen to overthrow Syria's regime as the first battle, it might have gotten even less support from allies (e.g. UK troops might not have participated), but I think it would have managed to do lots more in a single stroke, as Syria is tied much more closely to the whole Lebanon/Palestine/threat to Israel-thing than Iraq ever war. And with Syria "safe", when US eventually went after Iraq, a couple years later perhaps, you'd only have to be truly watchful of the Iranian border...
The only reason to pick Iraq first seems to me to have been the whole idea of an *imminent* Iraqi threat that couldn't *possibly* wait before it was neutralized.
And we know how well *that* argument turned out. So much that it ends up to have never been spoken at all, ignoring the whole 45-minutes thing and stuff.
#4
Although I'd probably agree that there isn't much possibility of a U.S. takeover (Like Afghanistan & Iraq), I don't believe it would be necessary. I suspect that a sustained air campaign against Syrian Army and terrorist (both in Syria & Lebanon) would be sufficient in the short term. The chances of Syrian units getting within shooting distance of our ground forces would be slim and none.
After all, our flyboys have had a chance to rest up and re-arm since April...
#5
Aris - you're gonna have to do better than parrot the dhimmicrats pathetic arguments. They've been thoroughly done over here so I won't bother to rehash. There are many ways we can skin the Syrian snake as snellnr has pointed out.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/29/2003 14:13 Comments ||
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#6
Aris, I think Syria (much like Iran) has been put on notice. I don't believe the Syrian's are stupid, but, if they did something insane - like harbor WMDs from Iraq or instigate some sort of hostilities into Iraq - I think you'll be surprised about the "American will."
As for the WMD argument; most Americans I know don't give a shit about that anymore. I know that may seem strange to you, but here's some background - We know they illegal weapons at one time, there were no real inspections since '98, and there was no evidence of their destruction. Based on that, Hussein's actions up to the war, and our distrust of UN inspections (Blix, French interests) - most feel GWB went off the best intel he had at the time. The intel may or may not be proved wrong in time, but most of us feel the president and Powell gave the best evidence they had at the time without being deceitful. You can argue they presented their favorite facts and you maybe right, but we don't feel anyone flat lied to us or tampered w/the intel.
The Dem's are playing up the no WMD thing now which is to be expected w/an election. However, most of us feel (at least those of us in the military) that when Hussein violated a UN mandate written in the blood of Americans and others of that coalition roughly 17 times - it was time for him to go. Another side note is that when we fought our way up to Baghdad you can be assured that Iran, NKor, Syria, and the other jerk-offs of the world got to see first hand what about only two divisions of U.S. mil can do. Basically cause and effect in practice or as we Marines like to say "fuck around - get dealt with." I'm not trying to personally attack you or anything, just give you something to think about. Your views as someone from the other side of the pond are interesting to me. The attack Syria first strategy has merits.
#7
Rex Mundi> And you'll have to do *far* better than to accuse me of parrotting arguments of "dhimmicracts" that I've not even been following. CIA itself recognized Syria as a more active supporter of terrorism than Iraq was in the last 10 years. If this is a "War on Terror" then shouldn't Syria have been a greater priority then? Can you tell me in what way was America made safer by the liberation of Iraq that it wouldn't have been made by the liberation of Syria and Lebanon? Add quotes or not around "liberation", as you will.
Do *you* have any argument about why attacking Iraq was any more necessary or justified than attacking Syria would have been?
And I don't think that anyone believes that those UN mandates Iraq violated are the all-important difference. To consider them important, or to consider their violation an ethical crime justifying an intervention, you first have to respect UN itself as something more than an assemply of tyrants and tyrant-supporting states.
#8
I think its very unlikely Saddam would have moved WMD to Syria because (a) numerous other sources indicate he didn't think the US would actually invade and (b) although they are Bathists the Syrians are also primarily Shia and have worked with Iran to threaten Iraq.
Oh, and I think Syria would fall quicker than Iraq did. I think the US has far more troops than required (according to the Generals on the ground) and it would solve many of the problems in Iraq (since infiltraters will lose access to Iraq) and Lebanon. The world would be upset at US involvement and it would further stretch the US beyond the ability to do much about Iran. Still Syria is the next lowest hanging fruit and I wouldn't be surprised.
#9
The US should play pseudo-imperialist-kingmaker and take out Syria and combine Syria/Iraq/Jordan into a single constitutional monarchy Heshemite Federation. A Federation that once it becomes stable and prosperous enough (so they they have something to lose) can take responsibility for the West Bank.
Most Arabs talk about an single-Arab nation, this could be the first cautious step.
#10
Aris....I'll take your word about not following the Donks line of argument - but you do one hell of an impersonation. Sure Syria is a big sponsor of terrorism...but Iraq makes more sense geopolitically AND the American people were more receptive to that. Now we've got multiple border access to Iran, Syria, Jordan, and Soddi Land because we're in Iraq. You better believe these countries have taken notice. However the flipside of that coin is true as we've seen...anyone who didn't think this would be high stakes was kidding themselves. You can think whatever you like about "liberation"...the Iraqis know the difference and that's what matters.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/29/2003 16:41 Comments ||
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#11
"Now we've got multiple border access to Iran, Syria, Jordan, and Soddi Land because we're in Iraq. You better believe these countries have taken notice."
*sigh* If Iran has taken "notice" then I've admittedly not noticed the notice it's taken. Likewise with Syria and the Palestinians -- if the defeat of Iraq made them change their tunes, I haven't seen it.
#12
"Do *you* have any argument about why attacking Iraq was any more necessary or justified than attacking Syria would have been?"
-Yes Aris, his name is Saddam Hussein.
"And I don't think that anyone believes that those UN mandates Iraq violated are the all-important difference. To consider them important, or to consider their violation an ethical crime justifying an intervention, you first have to respect UN itself as something more than an assemply of tyrants and tyrant-supporting states."
-Do you talk to many Americans besides arguing w/the ones on Rantburg? Or, did you not read my last response? We'd respect the UN if they had any balls.
The biggest problem as I see it is that we would not have had a causus belli that it could take to the U.S. public (or even the U.N.) with a reasonable chance of it being accepted.
Pre-empting the obvious rejoinder:
Jarhead covered the basic causus belli vis-a-vis Iraq, both the one actually presented to the UN (violation of various resolutions), as well as the reasons that are more important to Americans than the rest of the world after 9/11:
a history of WMD possession, development and use combined with unaccounted-for WMD weapons and programs that could be pulled out of hiding once the sanctions were lifted and the US took its eye off the ball.
Posted by: Carl in N.H. ||
10/29/2003 17:53 Comments ||
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Aris: not followin' the Dems? Good. You're better off. Now you've dished some good points. To cut to the quick...I do think Iraq is the best move - no pussyfootin' around. We're smack dab in it with multiple border access to Iran, Jordan, Soddi-land and Syria. I think it's safe to say we have their undivided attention. Of course, that access works both ways...but the fine point is we have established the battle field in their yard...not ours. Militarily and geopolically this makes sense. It's a tough go you bet, that's war. Justification? We had plenty...UN aside. As for "liberation" think of it what you want...the Iraqis can tell the difference, and that's all that matters.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/29/2003 19:44 Comments ||
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#15
"Yes Aris, his name is Saddam Hussein"
Which isn't an answer as to whether Iraq was a greater supporter of terrorism (and thus a greater threat) than Syria is.
"We'd respect the UN if they had any balls. "
Whether you should respect it or not, is irrelevant to the fact that you don't respect it, and therefore (if you are self-consistent) you shouldn't care about whether its mandates were violated or not. Or about whether the UN accepts your "casus belli" or not. In the end America went ahead on Iraq without UN authorization; it could have done the same with Syria or any other country, had it wanted to.
Carl> Saddam Hussein didn't use WMDs against Americans even when Americans were destroying his troops in the first Gulf War. And he didn't use them now. The idea that he'd suddenly give them to terrorists now, when he hadn't given them for 10 years or so... eh, we've gone over all this before.
That's the bit nobody outside the US gets. Invading Iraq for humanitarian reasons *does* make sense, but invading it as part of a "War on Terror"... when it's been far more peripheral in its support to terror than several other large countries in the region have been... well it just really doesn't make sense to me.
And as for your public, I don't think that "we'll attack this country, because our public doesn't like it, even though attacking *that* country would have made more sense" is an argument that actually supports your side.
#16
Aris, why Saddam Hussein. The answer is simple, there area a lot of dictatorships in the world and its impractical to take them all down at once. Someone had to go first. Iraq was stratetically positioned, had ignored a decades worth of security council resolutions and a cease-fire agreement with the US, and was the major reason why the US had to have our forces in Saudi Arabia (a location that caused issues with Islamic fundamentalists). Saddam was the lynchpin to all of that. The low hanging fruit so to speak.
#17
"Which isn't an answer as to whether Iraq was a greater supporter of terrorism (and thus a greater threat) than Syria is."
-Very well Aris, I see this is not getting through to you. I'll try to be more clear -
Most Americans don't see Syria as the threat that Iraq is (or was). Not to us at least. Why would we?? The Israeli situation is different. Syria is probably more of a threat to them - I will give you that. Hussein was a bigger a-hole to us. If you don't think he had the track record to rate what happened then I got some nice San Diego forest land to sell you. That bit about our planes patrolling no fly zones & still getting shot at by Iraq, UN violations galore, no weapons inspections for 5 years, Hussein's own behavior & rhetoric - the guy signed his own death warrant. Syria never made for itself the type of exposure Iraq did. Step outside the Euro-mindset and look at it from an American view point.
First, the obvious - we fought a war w/Iraq, they since violated (17 times) UN resolutions which were written in American blood (yeah, Gulf War I), that tends to piss a lot of us Yanks off. If Americans die to set up a cease-fire agreement then the UN better damn well enforce it and stop acting like a bunch of pussies. The guy's thumbing his nose at us - what the hell you going to do? Maybe the Greeks don't understand that but there it is. I know you're gonna talk about the Bush imminent threat quote again, save it, I already said we believed he was going off his best intel. Hind sight's always 20/20 - if it proves to be wrong then so be it. However, most of us don't believe anyone flat out lied about WMDs in Iraq.
Second, you say - "In the end America went ahead on Iraq without UN authorization" - so what's your point? We did that in Kosovo under Clinton in your own back yard and basically cleaned up a euro mess and I don't remember anybody belly-aching about not getting UN approval for that. When the UN doesn't enforce any of its own resolutions after 17 f*cking times - then yes, they have no balls and don't deserve any respect. Your counter argument to me on that point doesn't wash.
"The idea that he'd suddenly give them to terrorists now, when he hadn't given them for 10 years or so"
Okay let's wait and see what he does....gimme a break. After 9/11?! Use some logic. Like Yank said, we took the fight to them, one less place for shit-heads to hang out. No more Hussein, no more uncertainty. GWB took care of a loose cannon, and I hate to sound arrogant, but most of us don't give a rat's ass what the rest of the world thinks about that. Afghanistan was the first piece of the puzzle. Iraq the second. If Bush wins re-election look for Syria, Iran, and NKor to be dealt with.
#18
My two cents' worth: you've all talked all around the point, but never covered it. The problem is Wahabbi fundamentalism. THAT, and that alone, accounts for WHY three civilian aircraft slammed into civilian targets in the United States. A turbantop declared war, and struck us with a one-two Sunday punch. Stupid, stupid thing to do. I guess Been Lardbutt never watched "Tora, Tora, Tora". He should have - he might have learned something.
Our intelligence organizations aren't that bad - at least, not the unpoliticized ones. We knew where our enemies were, how they operated, and the most likely things they MIGHT do next. George Bush and his administration developed a plan to counter the threat. That included moves against the Taliban, because they provided the islamofascists with an unfettered training ground. We see how that's working - regime change, Taliban discredited, trying to make a comeback against HORRENDOUS odds - the people don't want them back.
Part two of the plan involved invading Iraq, and destroying one of the most unpredictable governments in the world - a government that not only had WMD, but had used them - against its own people, against its neighbor. There were significant indicators active that Saddam was working on nuclear weapons as hard and as fast as he could. That made him the number one threat, after the Taliban. He was therefore the number one target after the defeat of the Taliban.
A lot's been said about strategic versus tactical positioning. The US now has strong forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. A shaky Iran lies between them. American troops in Afghanistan keep Pakistan from doing anything stupid. US forces in Iraq are not only drawing the 'flies' from half the Arab world, they're building a strong, sectarian, popular army in a country happy to be liberated. Iraq has oil, is strategically located on the borders of Syria and Iran (two other sponsors of terrorism), overlooks Saudi Arabia (where the money comes from), and provides security to a half-dozen small Arab Sheikdoms whose security is otherwise tenuous at best.
As for military attacks on Syria: it's far easier to defend a single front than two simultaneously. Syria, when it was on really, REALLY good terms with the old Soviet Union, was given some rather sophisticated weaponry - far more effective than the crap Saddam ended up with. Syria also has more difficult terrain to fight in than Iraq. Being in Iraq also allows the United States to put the squeeze on Syria without having to resort to weapons - Iraq was the country's major oil supplier, a supply that has now stopped, and may not be revived for some time.
Armchair quarterback all you want, all of you. The truth is, the plan that came out of this administration to attack terror has been brilliant, whoever devised it. We see the proof in one major area: there hasn't been an overt, hostile terrorist attack on the United States since 9/11. We see other proof: the death or capture of a significant number of 'leaders' of the Al Qaida movement and its subsidiaries, the destruction of a secure home where the gunnies can rest and recuperate, train and re-arm, and the destruction of huge numbers of potential gun-bunnies as they flock to the killing fields of Iraq.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/30/2003 0:28 Comments ||
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#19
Well said Old Patriot but I still think Syria would go down far quicker than Iraq. The Assad's are sitting atop a Shia majority that would tear them to shreds given the slightest opportunity.
After yet another bloody day in Iraq, US President George Bush dropped his enthusiastic message that the latest wave of attacks was evidence of just how much "progress" was being made in bringing freedom to the country. Bushâs Democratic opponents had been scathing when he proffered this view on Monday following the death of nearly 40 Iraqis and one American in a wave of suicide bombings that also left about 230 wounded. "If this is progress, I donât know how much progress we can take," Senator Tom Daschle retorted.
In a hastily called news conference, Bush instead stressed that the US would not be defeated by terrorists. "Basically, what theyâre trying to do is cause people to run," Bush said, adding: "Theyâre not going to intimidate America, and theyâre not going to intimidate the brave Iraqis who are actively participating in securing the freedom of their country". Perhaps not. But many in Washington are now asking the question that was left hanging before the war. When do the troops come home? Or, does Bush have an exit strategy?
It's the same as our exit strategy for Portugal...
The bombing of the International Red Cross, like the earlier bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, was designed to undermine international support for the US, to isolate it as the occupying force. The wave of bombings against police stations is aimed at disrupting US plans to hand over security to Iraqis.
Gosh. Even SMH gets that!
The weekend attack on the Al Rasheed Hotel, the home of many occupation officials in the so-called secure Green Zone, also struck right at the heart of the occupation itself. That the US Deputy Defence Secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, the architect of the Iraq policy, was in the hotel, was an added coup for the assailants.
The Bad Guys' objectives are purely political, not military...
"We are at war in Iraq", said Richard Holbrooke, president Bill Clintonâs UN ambassador, voicing an opinion that is beginning to reverberate here. "You cannot do nation-building with a country at war."
Obvious solution: Kill the Bad Guys, then get on with the rest of it...
The problem for Bush is that his Iraq strategy is based on trying to nation-build while fighting the growing insurgency.
So we should stop?
Public support in Iraq for the US-led occupation is split, according to a survey done with the help of the conservative International Republican Institute. The poll, reported by The Washington Times, found that while a narrow majority still supported the presence of coalition forces, two-thirds of Iraqis felt their country was occupied rather than liberated. The Washinton Times reported that? Yeah, we all know how biased and anti American the Washington Times is (Randburgers)
I might point out that Germany was "liberated" and occupied 50 years ago...
Six months after the war was said to be over, US military casualties, like civilian casualties, are mounting daily, with 217 US soldiers killed in that time bringing the total since the war began to 355. More than 1730 US soldiers have been wounded.
The war against Sammy is over. The war against terrorists and similar Bad Guys continues. There's no telling when that's going to be over...
These numbers will become a serious political liability for Bush as he enters an election year. So, despite all the strong words about not running out of Iraq, some Democrats say they will not be surprised to see Bush declare next year that enough "progress" has been made to start pulling large numbers of US forces out, whatever the consequences. I would not be surprised, mission accomplished the oil Iraq is liberated, letâs pull out.
Posted by: Murat ||
10/29/2003 11:22:29 AM ||
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The problem for Bush is that his Iraq strategy is based on trying to nation-build while fighting the growing insurgency.
These are more like last gasps. Since killing large numbers of U.S. soldiers is proving to be difficult, these "insurgents" are now going after NGO's and Iraqi civilians. The only people that are stupid enough not to see the situation for what it is are lefties (read: Democrats) and Baath/Saddam sympathisers (like you, for instance).
Six months after the war was said to be over, US military casualties, like civilian casualties, are mounting daily, with 217 US soldiers killed in that time bringing the total since the war began to 355.
50,000 U.S. soldiers died in Vietnam. So what's your point?
Posted by: Scott ||
10/29/2003 11:45 Comments ||
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#3
I would not be surprised...
I skipped the article and scrolled down to see who had posted it. I was not surprised.
Then I checked to see where you'd found it. Boy, was I not surprised. The Sydney Morning Herald is probably the worst broadsheet in the Anglosphere. It has no conception of the line between opinion and fact, and is hostile to the US in general and to Bush very much in particular.
You're going to have to do better, little trollie.
#4
Murat, you should have been around this country during WWII. By your standard we should have surrendered to the Japanese after the fall of the Phillipines. Heck that would have saved a great many lives. Maybe living under Imperial Japan or an Islamofacists state appeals to you, but I find the idea repugnant. Any American who feels can kiss my Red White & Blue American ASS.
#5
Morning Murat! Just because the lefties say they would cut and run...don't for a minute think Bush would. We know that's what your heart desires, but sorry to disappoint you. We're there, and we're going to succeed. And just like the islamofascists, this fact eats at you everyday. Losing sucks Murat, why dont' you jump aboard for the big win. If I were you I'd start making nice with the Iraqis...it's the neighborly thing to do.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/29/2003 11:54 Comments ||
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#7
Bush never said the war was over. He called it a battle in the War on Terror, which I agree with. He said major combat operations were ended. I'm really pleased that the Iraqi oil is liberated, the main reason to take down saddam, as that will only hurt our enemies. As Iraqis splinter into power groups they can ally with us or against us. Attacks against those trying to establish an Iraqi republic will only cause resentment with the population. The US will arm those who ally with us. That's a big problem for the Sunni minority. Turkish peasants will someday be needed to work in Iraq. That should really help Turkey with much needed cash. That is if they decide to send some of their checks back to their families stuck in Turkish slums.
#8
Looks like somebody at the Sydney Morning Herald is having quite the wet dream. Looks like Murat's stroking away too, as always.
If Bush "cuts and runs" in Iraq, he's dead politically. You'd know that Murat if you had a clue about politics in this country. Stick to what you know, which ain't much.
#9
MuRAT's an honorless moral coward who cuts and runs when things don't go his way. Just call him "Wild Dumrul" and he'll get the message.
Posted by: Ernest Brown ||
10/29/2003 12:32 Comments ||
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#10
Ah, yes... Murat. Slithered out from under your rock, did you? Careful - hang around here too long and you might accidently get a CLUE!
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/29/2003 16:59 Comments ||
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#11
Bush may have to cut and run
Actually, it's Muslims around the world who are cutting and running. Hundreds of millions of Muslims are missing in action in a war that they believe the US is waging against Islam. Where are the suicide attacks on America that are supposed to bring us to our knees? We know that Muslims hate America - the question is what are they doing about it? In 180 days of combat in Iraq, we have lost just shy of 250 combat fatalities, not even 10% of the people we lost in a single day on September 11. Muslims aren't just failing at jihad - they are failing miserably.
Murat is the kid that likes to thwack a hornets nest with a stick. OK, so I don't like that so much.
When Murat gets all contra-versial, he gets the Rantburgers' juices flowing, and that part I do like.
The Murats of the world help stave off complacency because they evolke not only emotion, but informed and factual rebuttal, which enriches the debate and strengthens one's knowledge base.
The reality is obvious: Iraq is one battlefield in the war on terrorists. Rantburgers confirm that many have the resolve it takes to see this war through; resolve that is, sadly, fleeting in some.
The posts of Murat may be hard to stomach, but they do serve to stoke the fires of resolve and hone the blade of conviction.
A French aid agency helping to repair water treatment plants in Iraq said it intended to stay in the country despite the latest deadly bombings, including a massive blast at the premises of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Baghdad. The Solidarites agency, which has staff working in the regions of Hillal and Diwaniyah, said late on Tuesday that it was seeking to boost security for its members, but would not pull out. "We have decided, with our team on the ground, to continue our humanitarian activities," the group said in a statement. Teams from Solidarites are working to repair a total of 60 water treatment facilities in the war-shattered country. I donât know any details about this group, but thanks for staying.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 10:54:03 AM ||
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SOLIDARITES is a humanitarian organisation which provides aid and assistance to victims of war or armed conflict. For over 20 years the association has concentrated its action on meeting three vital needs - water, food and shelter - by carrying out emergency programmes followed by reconstruction projects.
Whilst fully respecting the assisted populations' customs and culture, SOLIDARITES' programmes are implemented through the joint expertise of around fifty French expatriate volunteers and nearly
one thousand local managerial staff and employees.
#4
Security provisions, by either Iraqi or American forces, should offered to them on a non-negotiable, friendly basis... Ditto for any other NGOs that still there.
We need to use our common sense, even if the Red Cross, U.N., and others have put theirs in storage.
He should be getting a medal, instead of having to put up with this shit
The Army has filed a criminal assault charge against an American officer who coerced an Iraqi into providing information that foiled a planned attack on U.S. soldiers.
Better have a really good case...
Lt. Col. Allen B. West says he did not physically abuse the detainee, but used psychological pressure by twice firing his service weapon away from the Iraqi. After the shots were fired, the detainee, an Iraqi police officer, gave up the information on a planned attack around the northern Iraqi town of Saba al Boor. But the Army is taking a dim view of the interrogation tactic. An Army official at the Pentagon confirmed to The Washington Times yesterday that Col. West has been charged with one count of aggravated assault. A military source said an Article 32 hearing has been scheduled in Iraq that could lead to the Army court-martialing Col. West and sending him to prison for a maximum term of eight years.
I have my doubts that's going to happen...
Some soldiers are privately questioning the Armyâs drive to punish the officer for an interrogation technique that likely is used regularly to get information from terrorists.
That one's rather mild. One story I heard about SKor techniques in Vietnam involved taking two bad guys, shooting one in the head, and taking notes while the other sang. Our guys are mild as milk compared to most others...
Col. Westâs unit in Iraq operates amid extreme danger. Fighters loyal to ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein are poised at any moment to kill the soldiers in ambushes using explosive devices, guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Col. West, 42, says he pressured the Iraqi after taking into account the dangerous environment and the risk to his soldiersâ lives.
Which is what vindicates him...
In response to an e-mail from The Times, Col. West, a 19-year veteran, gave his version of events. Col. West is a member of the 4th Infantry Division, the Fort Hood, Texas, division occupying areas around Tikrit, Saddamâs hometown and an area infested with loyalists of the former regime. An informant reported that there was an assassination plot against Col. West, an artillery officer working with the local governing council in Saba al Boor. On Aug. 16, guerrillas attacked members of the colonelâs unit who were on their way to Saba al Boor. An informant told the soldiers that one person involved in the attack was a town policeman. Col. West sent two sergeants to detain the policeman, who was placed in a detention center near the Taji air base. The interrogators had no luck at first, so Col. West decided to take over the questioning. "I asked for soldiers to accompany me and told them we had to gather information and that it could get ugly," Col. West said in his e-mail. He said his soldiers "physically aggress[ed]" the prisoner. A subsequent investigation resulted in nonjudicial punishment for them in the form of fines.
Thereby protecting them from court martial...
After the physical "aggress" failed, Col. West says he brandished his pistol. "I did use my 9 mm weapon to threaten him and fired it twice. Once I fired into the weapons clearing barrel outside the facility alone, and the next time I did it while having his head close to the barrel. I fired away from him. I stood in between the firing and his person.
Stimulates the imagination...
"I admit that what I did was not right but it was done with the concern of the safety of my soldiers and myself." Col. West said he informed his superior of his actions. The incident lay dormant until the Army conducted an overall command-climate investigation of the brigade. The investigation turned up the interrogation technique, and Col. West was charged with one count of aggravated assault.
Somebody got all official on him â probably somebody who doesn't ride a track...
Col. West said the gunshots spurred the Iraqi to provide the location of the planned sniper attack and the names of three guerrilla fighters. Col. West says the 4th Infantryâs staff judge advocate, the unitâs prosecutor, is offering him two choices: resign short of gaining retirement benefits or face court-martial. Article 128 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice describes assault in these terms: "Any person subject to this chapter who attempts or offers with unlawful force or violence to do bodily harm to another person, whether or not the attempt or offer is consummated, is guilty of assault and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct."
Take 'em on. Dispute the "unlawful" nature of the offer...
The Army relieved Col. West of his battalion command and has placed him in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which is attached to the 4th Infantry in Kirkuk. Said his wife, Angela, who lives in Fort Hood: "My husband is a top-of-the-line officer. My husband is an African-American. He has had to overcome a number of things to get where he is."
Goddammit! He's not black. He's green.
"I accept being retired at the grade of major and paying whatever fine required, but resignation and prison seems an attempt to destroy me," Col. West says. "All I wish is to go away, re-establish my family and retain some of my dignity."
Posted by: tipper. ||
10/29/2003 9:42:50 AM ||
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#1
I seriously doubt that our enemies are going to hold themselves to an equally lofty standard. This persecution is nothing but PC-inspired bullshit.
#3
I hope the shit-for-brains PC-suckup JAG weenie who's driving this is drummed out of the service - sans the retirement goodies. Obviously, he hasn't Clue One⢠what it's like outside of the Beltway Bubble⢠and has no standing regards judging the actions of real soldiers actually serving in a live-fire zone.
They'd better not follow through on this - or they will have sent the message loud and clear to the troops that the REMF gutless turds are in charge of the WoT - and still in charge of the Pentaloon.
#4
This is crap. This man questioned a terrorist, and got information that potentially saved the lives of his troops. This little Iraqi TERRORIST is lucky that neither of those bullets hit him, I can't say I would have had the same restraint.
Remember the CIA policy of trying to recruit "clean" people in foreign countries as agents? The reward was little to no agents on the ground in areas where they were needed. The U.S. paid dearly for that little piece of PC idiocy. There is a need for rules, but rules can and should be bent when prudent, especially in the face of an enemy that is trying to kill as many of you as they can in any way possible. This is one of those instances.
#8
This is just another effect of the Clinton feminizing of the Army. I am glad I got out when I did, because I wouldn't have been as polite as this guy!
#11
This is the type of leader we need more of. Take no shit, execute the mission, and take care of your lads in the process. His actions SAVED LIVES!! He has absolutely nothing to apologize for. I'd follow this guy. No offense to my Army bro's, but for their brass to entertain hurting this man's career is absurd. To even let it get any media attention is total horse shit. Some Army JAG-"OFF" is trying to make a name. Thank God I'm in the Corps.
#12
You know, I've heard stories that Viet Cong prisoners were taken up in helicopters and coerced into talking, then pushed out the open hatch with no parachute. This pistol-firing incident pales in comparison.
#13
You all make way too much from this. I predict that Col West will be convicted and forced to resign. But without loss of rank or benifits. There is not a group of Army Officers that would send this guy to Jail. Since the story is out they had to do something, this is probably the Army's way to come clean with a public 'incident'.
#14
I guess what I would like he to say is, "What I did was wrong. I am sorry that I embarrassed my country, but in the same situation I would make the same decision again. I am prepared to take one for the team."
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 18:39 Comments ||
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#15
This reeks of one of Clinton's PC flunkies. His actions saved lives.
It isn't as if he started shooting off toes or anything...
#16
Cyber Sarge is probably right about the outcome. I'm just pissed it had to come to that. Someone high up needs to go to bat for this Soldier. Give him command of a Brigade.
#17
I wrote the other day about how senior promotions had undermined the Army's ability to wage war. This only confirms what I said. The people making these charges have never faces an enemy, have never been in danger, have never feared for their life. Unfortunately, they're well-insulated in virtually every part of our military, and it'll take a decade to weed them out.
As for SKor interrogation methods, some of them made me sick. They also got results. Twenty years ago, the kind of thing this Colonel did was actually TAUGHT at our interrogation school, along with 'good cop-bad cop' and a few other choice fundamentals.
Bomb - re the helicopter rides: Two or three Cong were taken up. The interrogator asked the first guy a question, which was usually ignored. The interrogator would grab him and toss him out the door. Then he'd start questioning the second guy. Definitely not PC, but then, neither is war. Compare our methods with those of Saddam that we learned about in Basra. Hell, even this colonel is a saint, compared to that!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/30/2003 0:57 Comments ||
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The would-be bomber thwarted in Mondayâs suicide bombing wave in Baghdad was a Yemeni holding a Syrian passport, Iraqi interim Health Minister Khodair Abbas said on Wednesday. A Yemeni, involved with a bombing? Iâm shocked, well, no.
"According to the initial investigation results, the detained bomber is a Yemeni holding a Syrian passport," Abbas said. "The suspect did not want to give any information on the other two passengers in his car who managed to escape, nor the identity of the other bombers in the attacks." "But weâre working him over, er, continuing to question him."
"There is a real possibility the bombers were fundamentalist, Wahhabists," he said. Sounds right to me.
A U.S. military spokesperson said the man was caught Monday when he attempted to drive an explosives-packed car towards a police station in Baghdadâs Al-Jadida area. He fled on foot when his car came under fire and then fell down and shouted "wait, I am Syrian," the spokesman said. A Syrian passport was later found on him, the spokesman said. Only one passport? Must be a poor yemeni then.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 9:39:35 AM ||
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Everytime they nail one of these pricks they should announce their nationality. If all you listen to is mainstream media, you'd think the current situation in Iraq was the equivalent of the French resistance vs. the German's in WW2, which is bullshit.
#2
"But everyone knew her as Nancy..."
Identity Crisis Redux - Jihadi-style...
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye Rocky didn't like that
He said I'm gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon.
Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy.
Her name was Magil and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy.
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot-he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner.
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better I'll be better doc as soon as I am able.
Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival.
-Rocky Raccoon
Methinks Allah checked out, too... about a nanosecond after he was invented... hasn't been seen since.
EFL
Two US soldiers have been killed in an explosion north of Baghdad in the latest of series of attacks targeting US military posts and Iraqi police stations. And two Iraqis were killed when a police station in the northern city of Mosul was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades, French news agency AFP reported. There were also two attacks on US forces in Kirkuk. A military post was reportedly hit by several rockets - although no-one was said to have been injured - and a dry cleaning shop used by US troops was also attacked. Coalition troops in Iraq face around 20 to 25 attacks everyday but BBC correspondent Jill McGivering in Baghdad says Tuesday nightâs barrage was particularly intense.
In other overnight incidents:
A series of explosions - possibly from mortar bombs - rock Baghdad overnight, but there are no immediate reports of injuries
One US soldier is wounded in Tikrit after gunmen open fire on a military base, eyewitnesses tell the Associated Press news agency
An Iraqi journalist is shot dead, also in Tikrit, by unknown gunmen as he worked in his office, reports say
Some observers say the violence is deliberately timed to coincide with the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. And many Iraqis are increasingly blaming foreign fighters and Iraqi groups loyal to Saddam Hussein for the recent suicide attacks, our correspondent adds. Thanks, BBC. Better late than never...
Posted by: Bulldog ||
10/29/2003 8:35:53 AM ||
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What a nice excuse to blame resistance on 'foreign fighters', so we shall believe every suicidal jihadi maniac rushed to Iraq to land in the womb of the 40 virgins while the normal Iraqi population are kissing the feet of their American âliberatorsâ, truly convincing!
Posted by: Murat ||
10/29/2003 9:40 Comments ||
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#2
It's raisins not virgins.
Posted by: Paul ||
10/29/2003 9:44 Comments ||
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#3
And many Iraqis are increasingly blaming foreign fighters and Iraqi groups loyal to Saddam Hussein for the recent suicide attacks, our correspondent adds.
Yes Murat, the BBC does American bidding, as usual! Or as the BBC normally likes to say, FREE OCALAN NOW.
#4
What a nice excuse to blame resistance on 'foreign fighters', so we shall believe every suicidal jihadi maniac rushed to Iraq to land in the womb of the 40 virgins while the normal Iraqi population are kissing the feet of their American âliberatorsâ, truly convincing!
After having been under Saddam's thumb the past thirty years or so, I'm sure the locals are just clamoring for the return of Saddam's "paradise".
The ZI survey was one of only a handful that have been conducted in Iraq since the fall of Saddam. As with the others, its results must come with a health warning: the sample was small — 600 Iraqis were surveyed, in four cities: Basra (Iraqâs second largest, home to 1.7 million people, in the south), Mosul (in the north), Kirkuk (a Kurdish-influenced oil city), and Ramadi (a resistance hotbed in the so-called Sunni triangle) - and the survey was conducted in difficult conditions by a western agency. However, spin can only distort an already confused picture. Other numbers go further to dampen the vice presidentâs and the AEIâs rosy interpretations. For example, when asked if "democracy can work in Iraq", 51% said "no; it is a western way of doing things and will not work here."
And attitudes toward the US were not positive. When asked whether, over the next five years, they felt that the "US would help or hurt Iraq", 50% said that the US would hurt Iraq, while only 35.5% felt the US would help. On the other hand, 61% of Iraqis felt that Saudi Arabia would help Iraq in the next five years, as opposed to 7.5% who felt Saudi Arabia would hurt their country. Half felt that the UN would help Iraq, while 18.5% felt it would hurt. Iranâs rating was very close to the USâs, with 53.5% of Iraqis saying Iran would hurt them in the next five years, while only 21.5% felt Iran might help them.
It is disturbing that the AEI and the vice-president could get it so wrong. Their misuse of poll numbers to make the point they wanted to make resembles the way critics have noted that the administration used "intelligence data" to make a case to justify the war. But wishing something to be canât make it so. For the administration to continue to tell itself and the American people that "all is well," only means that needed changes in policy will not be made. Consider some of the other poll findings:
· Over 55% give a negative rating to "how the US military is dealing with Iraqi civilians". Only 20% gave the US military a positive rating.
· By 57% to 38.5%, Iraqis indicate they would support "Arab forces" providing security in their country.
· When asked how they would describe the attacks on the US military, 49% said as "resistance operations". Only 29% saw them as attacks by "Baath loyalists". 49%? damn lot of terrorists, ah well in the eyes of some Randburgers all Iraqis are terrorists
· When asked whom they preferred to "provide security and restore order in their country, only 6.5% said the US, while 27% said the US and the UN together, 14.5% preferred only the UN, and the largest group, 45%, said they would prefer the "Iraqi military" to do the job alone.
There are important lessons here; lessons policy-makers ought to heed if they are to help Iraq move forward. What Iraqis appear to be telling us is that they have hope for the future, but they want the help of their neighbours more than that of the US. That may not be what Washington wants to hear, but it ought to listen. Because if policymakers continue to bend the data to meet their desired policy, then this hole they are digging will only get deeper. Even the polls of American magazines (which try to picture the reality more positive than it is) show how Iraqis think of Americans
Posted by: Murat ||
10/29/2003 7:35:06 AM ||
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The poll in question was conducted by Zogby International, and the writer is Zogby's brother -- chair of the Arab-American Institute.
Note also, the story is in the Guardian, not known to be a friend to U.S. policies.
Now, I think Zogby means well and I trust his numbers in other situations -- but don't you think there might be a wee bit of bias here?
#2
Murat,for once,would you stop looking at skewed opinion polls.
600 out a population of 28 million is stastistacally insugnificant.Why don't you try visiting one of the Iraqi blogs,or even one of the blogs set-up by American soldiers.At least then you might get a sense of what is happenning on the ground(straight from the horse's mouth so-to-speak).It serves no-one to blindly accept the word of a pollster who twist the questions/answers to fit thier own needs/agenda.Come-on man don't be afraid to have your bubble burst,can't you think for yourself for once?
It wasn't but a couple of weeks ago that a member(can't remember wich one)said that the IGC did not want any of Iraq's neighbors involved in the internal security of Iraq.You know the neighbors I'm talking about(Turkey,Saudi,Syria,Iran),the ones who had absolutly no desire to help the Iraqi people get Saddam and sons boot off thier The Iraqi people's neck.
#4
It's worth noting the rather significant fact (a fact which the Guardian declines to point out and that I'll assume Murat is ignorant of) - that this poll was released on the 10th September - 50 days ago.
There's also the fact that your article from the Guardian was written by:
"Dr James J Zogby is president of the Arab American Institute. His brother, John Zogby, is the president of Zogby International, which carried out the poll in Iraq"
The fact that the family which carried out the poll feels the need to write opinionated letters to a newspaper tying its findings to their own bias hardly engenders trust in the impartiality of the organisation behind it.
You only have to read the Iraqi blogs to get an idea of how the opinions of Iraqis seem to be turning overwhelmingly against your so-called Iraqi Resistance. Or maybe you know of other, reliable, polls conducted more recently than almost two months ago?
You know, Murat, for even the Guardian this is a pathetically unconvincing piece of anti-coalition propaganda. Must try harder.
#5
My apologies to the Guardian, I've re-read the original article, and discovered that it was Murat who chopped text suggesting that the poll was somewhat aged.
#6
Well Bulldog it didn't stop Cheney to take and bend the piece of the poll that suited him, by the way wasn't the poll taken by Zogby with American Enterprise magazine?
Posted by: Murat ||
10/29/2003 8:35 Comments ||
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#7
Raptor, the IGC did not want any of Iraq's neighbors involved in the internal security of Iraq.You know the neighbors I'm talking about(Turkey,Saudi,Syria,Iran)
You can read Turkey, cos the rest is of no meaning. Letâs be objective, Syria and Iran marked by the US as axis of evil are in no position to get involved in Iraq at all, leaves only Saudia whose army has no capacity to provide any meaningful numbers of troops.
Posted by: Murat ||
10/29/2003 8:42 Comments ||
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#8
I tend to disregard anything Murat posts, and don't have the energy, desire, or time to try and shoot down whatever anti-american spin/fallacious editing the boy's selling. Ignore and move on. Life is too precious
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 8:44 Comments ||
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#9
Thanx Catfish & Bulldog, an excellent Fisking of our local Rat.
LOL - It just hit me what a zoo we have going here! Thanx, again, guys - it's a K.O. in the 1st round.
#10
As with all polls it depends how good the sampling was of the population. Anyone can just go up to the first people on the street. The way the questions have been phrased is also so important, and don' t forget that fear has played such an important in peoples lives for the last 30 odd years that some will feel an implied duress to answer some of the questions.
And last of all the "hidden agenda" always comes into play. Ha!
Posted by: Barry ||
10/29/2003 8:53 Comments ||
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#11
Murat,You can read Turkey, cos the rest is of no meaning... Does not answer or alter the fact that not a single Muslem country gave a damn nor helped the Iraqi people,all you folks did was sit around with your collective thumbs up your collective ass'.
If haveing America save these people from the most despicable thug in the ME is so heinious to you people why did you not do something about Saddam and his murderous sons.
Don't give me that song and dance about"The Qouran says no Muslem shall harm another Moslem,and that all Moslems are required to protect all Moslems from non-believers".You Muslems just don't give a damn,if you cared what happens to the Iraqi people(you know those Brother and Sister Moslems you profess to care so much about)you would have put an end to Saddam and company decades ago.
Lucky me that I am not suffering the amnesia you do, a few decades ago it was the US aiding Saddam, he'd never got that much of power if he wasn't blessed by the White house, only after kuwait you guys declared him the bad boy remember.
Posted by: Murat ||
10/29/2003 9:32 Comments ||
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#13
Murat - now please try and use some common sense. after the 79 hostage fiasco we had no choice but to support iraq agaisnt iran. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Yes Saddam was a bad character but he blunted iranian revolution from spreading - and yes with American help.
Posted by: Dan ||
10/29/2003 9:47 Comments ||
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#14
he'd never got that much of power if he wasn't blessed by the White house
Yeah, and he was a friend to the Kurds--just like the Turks!
Keep on parroting your conspiracy theories, Murat. Maybe the French will help you someday.
#15
What happened to the international support? Since the approved UN resolution I'd expected Koreans, Pakistanis and Indians rushing in backed up by the Germans and French.
Oops sorry I overlooked Malaysia with a crushing support of 196 troops, I guess the coalition forces are very reliefed now.
Posted by: Murat ||
10/29/2003 9:54 Comments ||
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#16
"When asked whom they preferred to "provide security and restore order in their country, only 6.5% said the US, while 27% said the US and the UN together, 14.5% preferred only the UN, and the largest group, 45%, said they would prefer the "Iraqi military" to do the job alone. "
this is a surprise? Its what I would expect, and what we here in the US want as well, and are trying to achieve. I dont see the results as inaccurate. The Iraqis are not jumping for joy with the current situation - well who would? They would rather the US not be running things- understandable - they are pragmatic however, and want the US to stay long JUST enough for them to get back on their feet. And they certainly realize that getting rid of Saddam was a good thing. And they'd like it if a hundred thousand fair, effective guys in blue helmets suddenly showed up - unfortunately thats not in the cards. Theyd also like it if we could assure security without searching their homes, etc - understandable, if not realistic (where i live everyone wants new schools, roads etc, but without increasing taxes to pay for them)
#17
Oh Raptor boy, Lucky me that I am not suffering the amnesia you do, a few decades ago it was the US aiding Saddam, he'd never got that much of power if he wasn't blessed by the White house, only after kuwait you guys declared him the bad boy remember.
"Aiding" Saddam with what? Weapons? Not likely.
This report details the extent of the U.S. "aid", which turns out to be civilian-use-intended helicopters. So do tell, where are all the U.S.-supplied bombs, missiles, and bullets?
Yeah, Saddam got "power" all right, with helicopters, of all things. Hahahahahaha....
Posted by: Charles ||
10/29/2003 12:43 Comments ||
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#20
Murat - kinda funny how Germany and france represent the international community. If you take a hard look there is an international presence - Poles, Ukrainians, Spanish, Nicaraguans, Honduran, Mongolians, of the course Brits, Australians and some others.
There are not too many countries that can contribute significantly â as for the Indians and Paks â they are best left out of this picture.
Never will we allow our and our friends security to be dictated by your so called international assortment.
If you cannot see the power play attempted by france then you are an idiot. france would rather have a voice in a world of disorder than no voice in a world of order.
Turkey is just peeved because we will not play ball when it comes to their historical claims on the region.
You are a troll who uses just pieces of information to spew your bullshit!
Posted by: Dan ||
10/29/2003 13:08 Comments ||
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#21
"57% support Arab forces to provide security." Vhat is dis "Arab Forces", Toyota pick-ups with old Soviet machine guns duct taped to the roof.
#22
Anisia.not hardly,murat.I very well do remember.I remember the Vaugnted Islamic Solidarity with the People of Iraq.
Answer my question!
"If haveing America save these people from the most despicable thug in the ME is so heinious to you people why did you not do something about Saddam and his murderous sons. Don't give me that song and dance about"The Qouran says no Muslem shall harm another Moslem,and that all Moslems are required to protect all Moslems from non-believers".
Could it possibly be your shame is so great you can't admit your own dispicable,enableing behavior even to yourself?
#24
I love polls they usually tell you NOTHING that you wnat to know. I saw many polls that had the recall election in a dead heat here in California but in fact it was never a race. Arabs are no differnt than anyone else taking a poll. they usually tell you what you want to hear and not how they feel. I would suspect that a GREAT many Iraqis don like us or the conquest of their country. Hell I wouldn't like it if my country was invaded. But the idea of an Arab force swooping in to provide 'security' is too funny. None of the Arab heavies have an Army large enough to send a Division-size force to Iraq. Those that have the force, have their own internal security problems and can't spare the people. I love the idea of the Turks patrolling the Sunni triangle, but I don't think the Iraqis would like the way they 'pacify' an area. Bottom line is that the Iraqis can wish for an Arab Legion to help them but they are not going to get one. Best bet is to get a Turk and Korean zone side-by-side. Let the Bathists chew on that one.
EFL:
The Philippines has enlisted the countryâs largest rebel group in the fight against the regional Muslim militant network Jemaah Islamiah, new Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Wednesday. Yeah, thatâll work.
Who better to guard the henhouse than the fox?
Ermita, who took the reins of the military two months after a July mutiny by disgruntled soldiers, said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had agreed to implement a pact to hand over wanted criminals and militants in areas it controls. "We are challenging them to help the government in locating these people and accounting (for) them in order to free their area of JI elements so that there will be no suspicion that they have relations with JI," he told Reuters in an interview. "Put up or shut up!"
The agreement comes as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo focuses on the JI as a major national security threat, raising the pressure on the MILF to cut any links it has with the group in the run-up to peace talks being brokered by Malaysia. Gloria really, really, really wants a peace deal.
Former general Ermita was the chief government negotiator with Muslim rebels before Arroyo handed him the defense portfolio in September. Ermita said he had warned the MILF that ties with JI, blamed for several bombings in the region including a devastating blast in Bali last year, could derail the peace talks that are due to start on an informal basis in Kuala Lumpur next week. A fragile cease-fire with MILF militants has held since August, and the MILF declared it had cut links with JI and the al Qaeda network when it decided to enter the peace talks. Sure you did.
"We want to give them the benefit of the doubt because we have the peace process," Ermita said. "Once we get to know that they have not severed as they promise, then it will be an entirely different story." He said the MILF would have a chance to prove its good faith by responding to a list of wanted criminals and militants the government planned to hand over. "I have specific instructions to furnish the list to the MILF so we will see if they are sincere." . That last sentence tells me this is Gloriaâs idea. The only question is does she believe this is going to work, or is this their one last chance before the hammer comes down. If I was the MILF, Iâd play along, publicly give up any JI people I had at hand (who are poison right now), and see what I could get at the peace talks. Then lay low for awhile, you can always resume actions at a later date.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 9:25:05 AM ||
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"MILF" - Ah-hahahhaha!! - I hope they find out what that acronym stands for in english!
EFL:
A man suspected of taking over the spiritual leadership of a key South East Asian terrorist network has gone on trial in Indonesia. Abu Rusdan is not charged over his alleged links with Jemaah Islamiah, blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings. Instead he is accused of helping two suspects wanted in connection with the attacks. Easier to prove, you can always file more charges later.
Abu Rusdan told reporters outside the Jakarta courtroom that he was feeling fine and was confident that his defence team would prove the charges against him were the result of what he called "foreign intervention". He denied playing a part in the Bali bombings and also denied that Jemaah Islamiah (JI) existed. "Jemaah Islamiah does not exist as a formal organisation nor does it exist as an underground organisation," he said. "Lies, all lies!"
"Dere ain't no sech t'ing as da mafia..."
The prosecution has accused him of hiding two Bali bombing suspects when they were on the run from police, including Ali Gufron, also known as Mukhlas. If found guilty, Abu Rusdan, 43, faces up to 15 years in jail. Itâs a start
The indictment also alleged that Abu Rusdan took over the spiritual leadership of the radical Islamic extremist group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) after the arrest of the Islamic cleric Abu Bakr Bashir. Got called up from their farm team to the majors.
Abu Bakar Bashir was found guilty of sedition in early September, but the judges ruled there was not enough evidence to show that he was ever a leader of JI. The BBCâs Jakarta correspondent, Rachel Harvey, says it is an extremely difficult point to prove, which is perhaps why prosecutors in the case of Abu Rusdan are concentrating on the lesser charge of tax evasion harbouring fugitives. They will now have to wait until Monday to make their case. Defence lawyers managed to get a postponement, because they say they have only just received a copy of the case file and now need time to consider it. "No hurry, we get paid by the hour."
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 8:48:59 AM ||
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From Geostrategy-Direct, subscription reqâd. Abdul Rahim Al Nashiri is no longer a threat. He was captured a year ago and has been talking to the CIA about his involvement in Al Qaida, especially its naval assets. But members of U.S. intelligence continue to have a nagging feeling that Al Qaida has already restored its naval terrorist force capable of attacking Western military and merchant ships throughout the Gulf and Arabian Sea. Al Nashiri, Al Qaidaâs naval operations chief and a Saudi native, was captured in October 2002. His interrogation has provided Western intelligence agencies with an assessment of the importance Osama Bin Laden had placed on destroying Western shipping. The suicide strike in 2000 against the USS Cole in Yemen was only a warm-up. The 2002 suicide attack on the French supertanker Limburg off the coast of Yemen was to have been another exercise.
Unfortunately, Al Nashiriâs value to U.S. authorities has long expired.
Intelligence experts believe that Al Qaida renews its operations and command structure at least twice a year. That means Western agencies have been left with a taste of Al Qaidaâs intentions but remain in the dark over current capabilities. Bin Laden has been investing heavily in naval terrorist assets, intelligence sources say. They report that Al Qaida has purchased a number of small vessels for suicide strikes in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and the Mediterranean. The estimated size of the Al Qaida fleet varies. Some sources said about 20 vessels are being prepared for suicide strikes while others say fleet numbers into the hundreds. "We know itâs going to happen and weâve warned every country in the Gulf to be prepared," said a U.S. intelligence source.
The campaign could commence during the Islamic fast month of Ramadan, which began Oct. 27. Al Qaida and other Islamic terrorist groups have used Ramadan for the worst of their outrages against Western targets. It is a time of religious passion and many Muslims could see such attacks as an inspiration. Al Nashiri was involved early in process. He was the mastermind behind the USS Cole attack in 2000 which 17 U.S. sailors were killed. Al Nashiri also masterminded the attack on the Limburg in October 2002. U.S. authorities also suspect Al Nashiri of being behind plans to bomb the U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain. That plot was disclosed in January 2002 after a top Al Qaida operative was captured by Pakistan as he attempted to flee Afghanistan.
So far, NATO has been tracking 50 vessels suspected of being either bought or leased by Al Qaida and related groups. These vessels range from fishing boats to merchant ships. As early as April, NATO allies have been coordinating efforts to improve security in the western Mediterranean, particularly around the Straits of Gibraltar. The alliance launched a preemptive policy of stopping and boarding suspicious ships. Another measure involved escorting tankers through the Straits of Gibraltar. Other vulnerable points include the Horn of Africa and the Bab el Mandeb. Al Qaida terrorists have trained in some of these areas in such areas as commandeering merchant ships. One scenario envisions Al Qaida insurgents in a rubber Zodiac boat seizing a merchant ship and rigging it with explosives to attack another Western naval ship or the port of a U.S. ally. At least one ship was pirated in 2002 off the coast of Indonesia in a joint operation by Abu Sayyaf and Al Qaida. The international community has been slowly gearing up to improve security at ports and on merchant ships to prevent terrorist attacks. But the pace has been leisurely and intelligence experts warn that the vulnerability to an Al Qaida attack at sea is far greater than that of civilian airliners. This was Al Nashiriâs key conclusion.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
10/29/2003 4:34:09 PM ||
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Ah, yes, the invisible al-Qaida navy.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 16:43 Comments ||
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Unfortunately, Al Nashiriâs value to U.S. authorities has long expired.
Tip of the hat to LGF for the link to Robert Spencerâs new weblogs; Jihad Watch and Dhimmi Watch where I found this story:
Members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, one of the most widespread illegal Islamic movements in Central Asia, have told Forum 18 News Service that if it comes to power, Islamic Sharia law would be imposed on all and faiths not mentioned in the Koran would be banned. The international organisation, thousands of whose members have been imprisoned in Central Asia, especially in Uzbekistan, mostly devotes its energies to circulating leaflets and other literature and says it avoids violence. But Hizb-ut-Tahrir members in both the Uzbek and the Kyrgyz sections of the Fergana valley, speaking to Forum 18 on condition of anonymity, described how the party plans to treat non-Muslims if it achieved its chief goal of establishing a caliphate.
Hizb-ut-Tahrir, whose headquarters is illegally based in Jordan, is banned or treated as illegal in all the Central Asian republics. It aims to achieve the unification of Muslims worldwide under a single caliphate and believes that western democracy is unacceptable to Muslims. Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel are considered to be the work of the devil. Blatant anti-Semitism is a characteristic of the partyâs ideology. For example, Hizb-ut-Tahrir leaflets distributed illegally in Uzbekistan invariably call the Uzbek president Islam Karimov a "Jewish kafir". One Uzbek member of Hizb-ut-Tahrir expressed his regret to Forum 18 that Hitler had not succeeded in eliminating all Jews.
Hizb-ut-Tahir members told Forum 18 that ideally an Islamic state should be formed, as the prophet Mohammed decreed, at the initiative of citizens. However given todayâs conditions, it was said that such a step "would become a farce, like the so-called European democracy", and so the decision to form an Islamic state should be taken by the most "influential people" (i.e. powerful politicians and businessmen). Ideally it was said, all the countries of the world would join the caliphate although Hizb-ut-Tahir plans to allow non-Muslim countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, not to join the caliphate provided that they pay a tax to it. They would then fall under the protection of the caliphate and it would defend their interests. If non-Muslim countries refused to pay the tax, the caliphate would launch military attacks against them.
In the caliphate itself Christian and Jewish communities would be permitted because, according to the Koran, adherents of these religions are "people of the Book". Other religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism and the Hare Krishna faith, would be considered pagan sects and would be banned. In particular, the caliphateâs leadership would oppose what it regards as sects within Islam itself (including Ahmadiyya, Bahaiâism and Ismailism). In Hizb-ut-Tahrirâs view, the only true Muslims are those who adhere to the four Madhabs {i.e. the four separate schools of legal interpretation within Shariah law). Those who depart from the Madhabs would be considered as apostates and liable to punishment according to Islamic law.
All citizens in the caliphate would have to abide by Sharia law when outside their homes. For example, all women would have to wear long dresses and scarves when in public places. However, Hizb-ut-Tahir members told Forum 18 that in Christian and Jewish quarters women could wear clothes permitted by the laws of their own religion. Christians and Jews would also be allowed to drink alcohol within their own communities, if that was required for religious rituals. Although all citizens of the caliphate would be subject to Sharia law, Christians and Jews could administer justice according to their own laws in what were described as internal matters (i.e. marriage, divorce and the assignment of possessions). One thing I canât understand is why all these people keep asking "Why do they hate us?", when these Islamic groups wonât shut up about what they really want.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 11:51:06 AM ||
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#1
Folks, there can be bo doubt. At some point in the not too distant future, it will be necessary to exterminate or otherwise reduce considerably the worlds Muslim population.
So-called moderate Muslims show no interest in purging from their midst the radical Islamo-fascists, therefore, it is going to be left to us.
Death to Islam!
-AR
Posted by: Analog Roam ||
10/29/2003 12:31 Comments ||
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Members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, one of the most widespread illegal Islamic movements in Central Asia, have told Forum 18 News Service that if it comes to power, Islamic Sharia law would be imposed on all and faiths not mentioned in the Koran would be banned.
If? They're usually not that pessimistic. I thought they considered it a foregone conclusion.
Hizb-ut-Tahir members told Forum 18 that ideally an Islamic state should be formed, as the prophet Mohammed decreed, at the initiative of citizens. However given todayâs conditions, it was said that such a step "would become a farce, like the so-called European democracy", and so the decision to form an Islamic state should be taken by the most "influential people" (i.e. powerful politicians and businessmen).
So we're ignoring The Prophet now? I thought The Prophet was infallible?
This sounds like the workup for some fantasy miniseries on Al Jiz.
Last week Fred posted something in response to the latest Binny tape along the lines of "it is hard for a civilization to make a wasteland and call it peace."
I am prepared for the not too distant future you predict, but I hope it never comes and show no enthusiasm if we must do so.
TEHRAN, Iran -- If the United States wants better relations with Tehran, it could start by ending accusations that Iran supports terrorism, a government spokesman said Wednesday.
"They have to avoid making irrelevant accusations against us," government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh said, referring to the terrorism charges.
He also urged U.S. officials to "release our assets blocked there and lift sanctions." Iran says billions of its dollars of its assets were blocked by the United States after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
"These are the preliminary practical measures to win the confidence of the Iranian nation. We need to justify better ties with America for our people," Ramezanzadeh said after a Cabinet meeting.
He was reacting to what some saw as a new conciliatory tone on Iran emanating from Washington a day earlier.
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, quoted President Bush as saying with regard to Iran: "Not every policy issue needs to be dealt with by force. Secretary (of State Colin) Powell also noted last week that we do not seek conflict with Iran."
Bush said Tuesday the United States was working closely with Syria and Iran to prevent foreign terrorists from crossing into Iraq. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, "At times, weâve seen a little bit of action. But, frankly, weâve also made clear that, both in the case of Syria and of Iran, they need to do more."
Ramezanzadeh said the Americans "appear to be understanding regional realities more than before," but said Washington should stop its threats if it wants dialogue to develop.
Bush has described Iran as part of an "axis of evil," together with North Korea and prewar Iraq. American officials also say Iran may be harboring terrorists, including high-ranking members of al-Qaida, the network blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Washington also suspects Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons.
Ramezanzadeh said Washington was expected to live up to its international commitments in fighting terrorism. The State Departmentâs list of terrorist groups includes the Mujahedeen Khalq, which wants to overthrow Iranâs Islamic government.
Iran and America have had no diplomatic ties since 1979, when Iranian militant students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took its occupants hostage.
#1
Oh, it is to laugh! Sure, ya blood-sucking black turbans, we'll promise to stop calling you goat-humping oppressors and thugs just as soon as ... we feel like it.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/29/2003 23:53 Comments ||
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Doc, chill! We need to be more compassionate. We need to understand why they hate us so much. We need to be compassionate when dealing with the mullahs and the secular leaders in Iran. Most of all, we need to be very, very appologetic when we laugh in their face over the whole damned thing!
Wonder how many different ways there are to say "stick it in your belly-button from the back side".
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 23:56 Comments ||
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JPost Reg reqâd
In the past ten days, the Shin Bet and IDF forces succeeded in thwarting seven potential suicide bomb attacks in Israel, including a double suicide bomb attack that was to have taken place in Beit Shean, and a car bomb attack in Israel. Busy little Paleo beavers - interestingly enough another news article showing up on Google says the Paleos are looking for another Hudna (truce) - probably to rearm
The security establishment registered 41 warnings of plans by terrorists to perpetrate attacks on Wednesday, a security official told The Jerusalem Post, noting that the majority of the warnings received related to potential suicide bomb attacks. good intel - need to start turning the Hamas/IJ/A-A paranoia on themselves
"People should not be misguided by the supposed calm," the official said, noting that the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank continues in its efforts to launch attacks against Israeli citizens. build the wall- faster
On October 19, security forces arrested two senior terrorist commanders affiliated with the Islamic Jihad and Tanzim who were described by officials as âticking bombsâ. The two, Said Zid and Yakub Jawadra were planning to perpetrate an imminent suicide bomb attack in Beit Sheâan and later disclosed to security officials the whereabouts of the two explosive belts, each weighing ten kilos they planned to use in the attack.
A day later near Kibbutz Nahal Oz, IDF forces shot a number of terrorists attempting to infiltrate members of their cell into Israel to perpetrate attacks. Ow! you guys go on without me! Guys?
In Hebron, On October 22, IDF forces arrested Imad Natsche and Wajah Abu Shama, members of the Islamic Jihad who they spotted hiding in a car parked next to Natscheâs home. Troops shot and killed Tanzim fugitive A-Khadi Natsche spotted fleeing from Imadâs house.
Basem Natsura an Islamic Jihad fugitive was arrested in Kalkilya by security forces and revealed plans to smuggle a car rigged with explosives into Israel.
Sami Jeradat, an Islamic Jihad commander was arrested in Silat A Hartiyah and was involved in the plotting of suicide bomb attacks including the attack at the Maxim restaurant earlier this month in which 22 Israelis were killed and scores wounded. Officials said Jeradat was also involved in the planning of additional attacks against Israelis. In the same village security forces also arrested Iman Jeradat who assisted Sami in the planning.
Ahmed Hamis a senior PFLP commander was shot and killed while evading arrest by security forces in Kalkilya. Officials said Hamis was involved in plotting and planning shooting and bomb attacks against Israeli vehicles traveling on roads in the area and was also involved in attempts to launch suicide and shooting attacks against Israelis on the seam line border.
In the village of Raiâ security forces arrested Mohammed Melahem a member of the Islamic Jihad who was involved in tracking down and recruiting two potential suicide bombers willing to perpetrate attacks on behalf of the Islamic Jihad. fodder finder huh?
In Ramallah, security forces arrested Osama Braham, an Islamic Jihad commander and bomb expert, who operates in the Tulkarm area and was visiting in the city. During his investigation it was revealed that he prepared a number of bombs and smuggled potential suicide bombers on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine into Ramallah.
Good hunting, Shin Bet!
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 5:01:20 PM ||
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They have passive agents within the terror orgs. Also they have observers in the terror org neighborhood. Also all the terror orgs do unpleasent things to ordinary people (steal flatbread, break windows, insult people's grandparents, etc.) Finally, some Palestinians are so horrified by the terrorists they cooperate willingly.
#3
They have passive agents within the terror orgs. Also they have observers in the terror org neighborhood. Also all the terror orgs do unpleasent things to ordinary people (steal flatbread, break windows, insult people's grandparents, etc.) Finally, some Palestinians are so horrified by the terrorists they cooperate willingly.
#4
I read a hilarious article in teh Guardian entitled: Israel tells foreign backers of Geneva Peace Initiative They Threaten Road Map. Sharon must have been yanking somebody's chain about Geneva "threatening the road map." The Guardian seems to play both teh Geneva peace initiative and the Road Map as if they're not punchlines in a Letterman monologue.
That's like telling some mumbling crackhead to shutup before his bad Kharma disturbs Xanadu. And the crackhead scampering off humming some Olivia Newton John.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 21:08 Comments ||
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JPost Reg Reqâd - EFL
Call us when youâre serious about disarming militants — thatâs the message Palestinians are getting from U.S. mediators who have scaled back their presence in the region. cause/effect lesson #8454
The apparent disengagement comes amid a deadlock in the U.S.-led "road map" peace plan, Washingtonâs growing troubles in Iraq, and the distractions of the U.S. presidential election campaign. A Palestinian bombing attack on a U.S. convoy in Gaza earlier this month had led to expectations that the United States would scale back its involvement. the leash is off Sharon too....consequences are a bitch, huh?
Israeli and Palestinian critics warn that reduced U.S. involvement will likely lead to more bloodshed, further harm Americaâs image in the Arab world, and in the end bring on another round of U.S. mediation.
That's okay. Y'all just, ummm... keep on exploring your sexuality. We'll talke to you later. When you're done...
With the sides here so far apart on the issues, many previous peace moves have required active U.S. mediation - or pressure - to move forward.
"Forward, back. Forward, back. Forward, back. Forward, back. Forward, back. Forward, back... Oh, Maudette! I'm having a... a... a breakthrough!"
But an ambitious effort by the Clinton administration to broker a comprehensive peace settlement collapsed three years ago, and the Bush administration was initially reluctant to involve itself, fearing a quagmire. In the wake of the Iraq war, however, the United States hoped that showing a renewed commitment to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would help repair its badly damaged image in the Arab world. No mention of the damaged image of Paleos and Arabs in the U.S.?
After a flurry of activity, capped by a June visit by U.S. President George W. Bush to the region to launch the road map, the United States has scaled down its efforts amid continuing violence and disagreements that have stalled the plan. the plan is dead, and only a viable stable Paleo govât (i.e.:over Arafatâs dead body) that truly wants peace - and not a piece of Israel - can make it happen. First stepâs yours Pals
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 4:51:35 PM ||
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The apparent disengagement comes amid a deadlock in the U.S.-led "road map" peace plan, Washingtonâs growing troubles in Iraq, and the distractions of the U.S. presidential election campaign.
Wait a minute. What growing troubles? Doesn't seem to me that the Iraq situation is any worse than before, so what are these guys talking about?
In the wake of the Iraq war, however, the United States hoped that showing a renewed commitment to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would help repair its badly damaged image in the Arab world.
Who gives a rat's ass what the Arab world thinks about the U.S.' "image"? The solution is simple - that region needs a prolonged period of peace, but as long as Arafart and his cronies, allies, and sympathizers are unwilling to leave the Jews alone then that's not going to happen. Why waste efforts on fruitless negotiations just so that the Arabs will "like us"?
#2
So what are the REAL consequences for the perpetrators of this premeditated murder of 3 US security personnel?
Why is GW pandering to the Muslims, when it is clear that they hate us and everything that we stand for?
Our govt needs some basic honesty in its dealings with the Arabs. That will eventually save US lives, Isreali lives, and even Arab lives, despite the best efforts of their leaders. Image is BS. We need cold hard facts and honesty in our foreign relations, both with allies and enemies. They may not love us, but they will respect us. Those that do not respect us should at least fear us.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
10/29/2003 17:41 Comments ||
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The lesson from the 70's, 80's and 90's is that not retaliating for terrorist attacks on Americans only encourages more attacks. Why hasn't Bush retaliated for the roadside bombing of the three Americans on an agreed to diplomat mission in Gaza? Where's the B-2's saying hello to Ramallah? Why no retaliation for the Americans murdered by Palies on the bus and at the university? Why does Palie terror get a free pass? Bush? Bush? Bush?
Posted by: Fred ||
10/29/2003 17:08 Comments ||
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#5
Like everyone else, I seem to read Rantburg at work.
Posted by: john ||
10/29/2003 20:28 Comments ||
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Umm, not everyone, John. I take a good long look first thing in the morning, before going off and doing the normal day's routine, then come back right after lunch for another quick look, then spend some 'quality time' reading Rantburg to my dog. Makes for a full, fun, Rantburg day!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 23:08 Comments ||
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The Axis of Evil is still the Axis of Evil. From Geostrategy-direct.
Iranâs leadership buttered up European Union foreign ministers in Teheran last week, agreeing to sign the "Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty" that could accelerate international inspections of Iranâs nuclear facilities. But look at Iranâs air force bases in the east, and the picture seems much different. Iran has accelerated unspecified sensitive imports from North Korea, Western intelligence sources said. While the exact contents of the imports are unclear, the sources said they appear to be nuclear and ballistic missile components. Iran has been open about these flights from North Korea, with Teheran telling Central Asian countries to clear an air corridor for shipments from North Korea. The sources said Iran wants to signal the United States that it has nuclear options and is building a strategic deterrence against Washington. What does Iran seek? The sources said Iran wants components and technology to complete the Shihab-4 intermediate-range missile, which has a planned range of at least 2,000 kilometers. Iran also seeks technology for nuclear warheads on its Shihab-3 and Shihab-4. The EU can negotiate and play games, but Iranâs strategic objectives have not changed. As usual, the ball is in our court. (*looks around, sees few in the EU behind us*)
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
10/29/2003 4:42:36 PM ||
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Sounds to me like runway cratering bombs needs to be loaded up and fused.
One of the few and the proud. EFL:
When desperate refugees storm the U.S. Embassy or rocket-armed fighters attack it, Horacio "Hersh" Hernandez guards the gates. He is a private contractor who has been in charge of protecting the embassy compound since 1995. Heâs seen nine of his locally hired guards killed and 43 wounded as wave after wave of Liberiaâs wars lapped at the razor-wire-topped walls, but never breached them. As rebels fought their way into the heart of the capital this summer, thousands of civilians ran through zinging bullets and exploding shells to besiege the embassyâs gate. Piling corpses of family and friends outside the walls, they angrily screamed demands for U.S. help.
"They didnât want to attack us - they were frustrated that others were being evacuated and not them," said Hernandez, a 49-year-old retired Marine lieutenant colonel. "They wanted us to intervene, to stop the slaughter. But we were not in a position to do that." Mortar shells also hit in the sprawling, oceanside compound during the fighting that finally drove warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor into exile in August. Hernandez was responsible for keeping the mobs at bay, while deciding who to let in, and who to leave outside at the mercy of the fighters. He said his Liberian guards "were filling the sandbags, working to have dead bodies removed, organizing food - that stuff is not in the contract, but itâs defusing a volatile situation."
Hernandez runs African operations for Inter-Con, an American security company with 18,000 employees worldwide. It has its Africa headquarters in Monrovia, and its employees also guard U.S. embassies in Ghana, Guinea, Togo, Benin and Tunisia. "The only time weâre going to have 30, 40, 50 Marines here is in a crisis," Hernandez said. On the morning of Sept. 17, 1998, Hernandez walked outside to find 300 fighters surrounding the embassy, pointing their AK-47s and rocket-launchers at the Americans. One of Taylorâs rivals, Roosevelt Johnson, had just scrambled inside for sanctuary with some of his militiamen. Taylorâs troops stormed the front barriers at the embassy gate, and started executing rival fighters on the spot. Hernandez, knocked to the ground by a rifle butt that shattered five teeth, held the gate with three other guards. They were the front line for the small force inside the embassy - six Marines, and U.S diplomats who put on flak vests and picked up assault rifles. The defense held. Hernandez estimates 300 Liberian civilians and fighters, but no Americans, died during the standoff, before Johnson could be flown out from the compoundâs helipad into exile. Think anybody will make a movie about this? Me neither.
Hernandez, a native Cuban who served 20 years as a Marine, was asked why he works in one of the worldâs most dangerous places, why he isnât back home with his wife and four children in Virginia. "Iâve had four kids in college, with one of them in law school," he said with a laugh. "But itâs not just a money thing: Itâs my profession. Itâs what I know." He said he tries to make a difference in life. You have.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 4:24:18 PM ||
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EFL.
A new left-wing think tank â the Center for American Progress â unveiled itself Tuesday as the Democratic vaccine to what center supporters say is a plague of conservatism now dominating America. "We think the debate has been unbalanced in the country," center president John Podesta, a former chief of staff to President Clinton, told Fox News. just before his lips fell off
"The conservative movement has really built up an infrastructure of not just ideas, but the ability to kind of get out there and do the kind of hard communications work to sell to the American public," he added. The center made its debut sponsoring a conference along with the Century Foundation, which has been around since 1919. Among the headliners was Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark. Clark, who is almost as new to the presidential trail as the center is to Washington, explained why both decided they had to get into the act. "Going forward, we will need new labels and new ideas. Many of them will be created right here at the Center for American Progress," Clark said from New Hampshire in a speech beamed into the conference via satellite.
Then he changed his mind and said he was against it. But then he changed it back again...
But conservatives say labels wonât stick when they have nothing on which to back themselves up. Think tanks earn their credibility by being able "to deliver accurate timely information" to policy and lawmakers that will help them "understand where they may be going wrong and hopefully allow them to go in the right directions on a whole range of very important policies," said Michael Franc of the Heritage Foundation. Accurate? The Donks arenât willing to be honest if itâll hurt them.
"[Credibility] is something that this think tank canât just assume is going to come its way by some kind of virtue of entitlement. You have to earn that," Franc said. Podesta said his group is in the business of "thinking through those new ideas, doing the long-term policy analysis," but it also plans to focus its attention on explaining to the public through direct communications "where we think conservative policies are taking the country off in the wrong direction." Podesta insists that conservative institutions like the Heritage Foundation donât have better ideas, but are merely better at marketing. He said he is confident his center can take over the marketplace of ideas with notable innovations such as a big media staff that will push the centerâs thoughts onto the Internet, television and radio.
The conservative (and libertarian) think tanks were a counterweight to the liberal think tanks, if I remember correctly. The liberal think tanks thereupon tanked, because the conservatives (neo- and otherwise) and the libertarians were outperforming them. One of the prerequisites for running a think tank is that there has to be a certain amount of actual thought going on, rather than a mere continuous adjustment of poltical tactics. To gain a reputation, the think tank's output should ideally be predictive — if this, this, and this are the conditions that apply, then this should be the outcome. Nobody's perfect, but the libs aren't noted for being particularly accurate. Their conclusions do avoid hitting the PC buzz buttons, though. That might be because the confuse "predictive" with "predictable."
#1
Podesta insists that conservative institutions like the Heritage Foundation donât have better ideas, but are merely better at marketing.
Then why are you creating a new think tank instead of changing marketing firms / personnel?
He said he is confident his center can take over the marketplace of ideas with notable innovations such as a big media staff that will push the centerâs thoughts onto the Internet, television and radio.
So it's about ideas after all. I like it: a self-fisking concluding paragraph!
#2
as long as they continue it wasn't the quality of their ideas that put off voters there'll be no resurgence in Dem fortunes..and that's fine ith me. A liberal thinktank? Doesn't that describe almost every Academic Institution (College) in America
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 16:37 Comments ||
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#3
Well, yes... anyone who saw the Democratic debate would agree that it was unbalanced.
#4
"The conservative movement has really built up an infrastructure of not just ideas, but the ability to kind of get out there and do the kind of hard communications work to sell to the American public," he added.
Maybe if liberals would cut the B/S and stop resorting to emotions to try selling their plans they might have better luck. (the assumption here being that their plans could actually be sold without an emotional hook)
#5
They've lost confidence in themselves, or they wouldn't be trying to copy the right's successes. Does anyone really think that a liberal talk radio network will succeed? "More Michael Moore on the Al Franken show."
This reminds me of Bill Gates' version of innovation.
#6
I for one am willing to embrace those liberal ideas that this new center will.....Sorry can't stop laughing! I have a picture of Bill Clinton in a Playboy type setting (Ascot/smoking jacket) telling all present how taxing people will create jobs. Look over there: Monica is serving cocktails in a LARGE Playboy bunny suit. And in struts General Clark in his Camo Smoking jacket and cigarette holder (Picture FDR). Look for SNL to do a skit on this soon. Heck I have done most of their work for them! COPYRIGHT!
#9
Liberal Think Tank: they've lost the battle already. Half their membership will have visions of a huge brain-shaped metal vehicle moving down a highway, while the other half will lie on the floor screaming, trying to rationalize thinking with the Democratic mainstay, feeling.
Let's face it - the Donks haven't had an original idea since FDR. Their one and ONLY idea is to make Government the be-all and end-all of EVERYTHING in America. They don't understand personal freedom, they don't understand the willingness to take risks in hopes of becoming fabulously wealthy (or at least well-off), they don't understand people's aversion to having half or more of their income robbed from them with nothing to say about how that money is spent, and they don't understand that most adults not only don't NEED the government holding their hand, the resent like hell the government TRYING.
This 'think tank' nonsense, the new NPR look-alike, the "liberal talk show network", and all the rest of the BS the donkeys are coming out with are just conclusive proof they have no clue about the current state of affairs among the people of this nation. They somehow cannot understand that they haven't failed to get their message out, but that the American people heard it, thought about it, laughed, and flushed it where it belongs. The Democratic Party in the United States is dead. Someone should tell them - after the next election.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 23:28 Comments ||
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An exhibition of sex-related art in Beijing has been forced to close because it has proved too popular. The show featured works of art from the past 2,000 years. Porno that is two millenia old would have very limited appeal to me. You would need a crowbar to pry the pages apart.
According to the Chinese newspaper Beijing Youth Daily, chaotic scenes ensued after 200 people crowded into a small exhibition room designed to hold half that number. You would think they would want private booths or something.
Security personnel had to watch helplessly as one of the glass panes of the exhibits was smashed, the paper said. The organisers then decided to shut the exhibition, although it had been scheduled to last a week. Pack it up boys; on to the next junior high school.
Many of the objects on show had taken years to collect by the deputy head of Beijing Sexual Health Research Association, Paul Reubens, Ma Shaonian, according to the paper. My older brother acquired quite a stash himself over several months until mom found the stash. What happened next was a cultural catastrophe not equalled until the US failed to properly guard a certain museum in Iraq.
A sex museum in Shanghai has had a very different reception. Chinaâs Xinhua news agency reported earlier this month that Liu Dalin was being forced to shut his Ancient Chinese Sex Culture Museum because it receives an average of only 30 visitors a day, way below the minimum needed to pay its overheads. People in Shanghai obviously have access to the internet.
Local authorities in a city labelled in colonial times as the "Whore of the Orient" are reported to have hindered Mr Dalinâs attempts to publicise his peep show museum. NOW said they would put up with the whole footbinding thing but a porn museum was out of the question.
It will move early next year to a Qing Dynasty womenâs school in Tongli, a town in neighbouring Jiangsu province. Tongli is a popular cultural tourist spot and Mr Dalin hopes his 3,700 pieces will attract more visitors there. Peewee has booked a ticket Iâm sure.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 3:13:09 PM ||
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#1
SH, ever read the popular 2000 year old book from India called Kama Sutra? Many book store carry an English translation. If you get a new copy chances are the pages won't be stuck together.
#2
Katze, I believe my mom burned my older brothers copy.
On a serious note - what encouraged me to post this article was the contrast between the reactions of the people to the same material in two different areas of China.
The article also gave me a chance to make fun of male puberty - a truly pitiful experience all around. The salvos in the direction of Paul Reubens were purely gratuitous.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 17:47 Comments ||
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Short take from a long article in FrontPage Magazine. Be sure to wrap your head in duct tape to prevent it from exploding:
Ever wonder who is behind the well-oiled Palestinian propaganda operation that reaches out to every media outlet and every college campus in sight? Who pays for Palestinian efforts to lobby Congress to overlook its campaign of homicide bombing? Who finances glowing histories of the PLOâs role in stabilizing the Middle East? Who funds studies about how Yasser Arafat can better manipulate public opinion in the United States? Look no further than your own tax return.
Uhhh... I dunno. Who?
This week, in response to a question from our news agency, the U.S. government has finally acknowledged that the U.S. Aid For International Development (USAID) indeed funds the Palestine Academic Society For the Study of Academic Affairs (PASSIA), the PLO lobby group in Jerusalem which trains PLO media professionals in the art of transforming the image of the Arab-Israeli struggle into an Arab David against an Israeli Goliath.
Cheeze, we're stoopid. Can I use that drooly bib when you're done with it?
USAID reports directly to the White House, which makes that allocation of particular significance to U.S. taxpayers. This funding arrangement was made possible back in 1997, under an agreement reached between the PLO and the man who was then the U.S. Consul in Jerusalem, Mr. Edward Abington. Immediately upon leaving his position as consul in Jerusalem in 1997, an employee of the U.S. State Department, Abington was hired by the PLO to be their paid lobbyist and official foreign agent in Washington, D.C., where Abington continues to lobby for the PLO under the framework of Bannerman and Associates. Thereâs nothing like paying back a friend who helps you out. Must...control...anger..aghhhhhhhhh!!!!
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 3:09:22 PM ||
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#1
Set The Death Ray to incinerate, please.
And save some juice for Mr. Abington...
#2
Why is this not a political issue? I would shut off the money until such time that the PLO stops playing us like a fool. That goes for Egypt as well. The bottom line is that if tou want OUR money you will play by OUR rules.
Because in order for it to be an issue, people would have to be informed about it. In order for people to be informed, the press would have to spread the information.
That's not going to happen, because the media love the Saudi Pension Plan as much as the State Department does.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
10/29/2003 17:47 Comments ||
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EFL
America has said it is prepared to open limited talks with Iran but is against restoring normal diplomatic relations at this stage. Contacts with the Islamic Republic could be made on issues such as Iraq and drugs, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told Congress. The move came after Iran moved to allay fears it is building a nuclear bomb. Low-level talks broke off earlier this year after the US accused Iran of harbouring al-Qaeda members. "We are prepared to engage in limited discussions with the Government of Iran about areas of mutual interest, as appropriate," Mr Armitage told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington. The article goes on to say that the meetings are likely to be lower level side meetings in the UN. The BBC take on this issue is in the following article: Moderates in the Bush administration appear to have gained the upper hand over United States policy towards Iran.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 2:53:47 PM ||
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Who says, the BBC? Now there's some credibility for you.
A prominent U.S. Muslim activist accused of involvement with groups that finance terrorists pleaded innocent Wednesday to charges of trying to funnel Libyan money into the United States illegally. The judge in the case refused to release Abdurahman M. Alamoudi and set trial for Feb. 16. "There is a risk and danger of flight," said U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton, citing Alamoudiâs multiple passports frequent travel and connections to terrorists family and friends in the Middle East. Alamoudi, a founder of the American Muslim Council and related American Muslim Foundation, is accused of engaging in illegal financial transactions with Libya, most notably once in August when he received a briefcase containing $340,000 in cash from the Libyan-controlled Islamic Call Society.
"Hello, operator? I'd like to make an Islamic call!"
The 18-count indictment alleged that Alamoudi hoped to launder funnel that money through Saudi Arabia to the United States and evade currency reporting requirements. Alamoudi, 51, who has remained jailed without bond, also is charged with money laundering, misuse of a passport, failure to report foreign bank accounts and making false statements in his application to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. Thatâll do for a start.
A federal affidavit contends that Alamoudi also was involved in numerous groups with financial links to the Hamas and al-Qaida terrorist organizations - including one founded by a relative of Osama bin Laden. The affidavit, filed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Brett Gentrup, suggests that Alamoudi was a key player in a complex web of organizations that appeared to be raising money for Muslim charities but actually funded terrorist groups. Thereâs a difference?
"These layered transactions were designed to both disguise the true origin and end destination of the funds and render it exceedingly difficult and confusing for any prospective investigation by law enforcement authorities," Gentrup says in the affidavit. One such organization, the Happy Hearts Trust, allegedly transferred tens of thousands of dollars to two organizations long suspected of helping fund Hamasâs attacks against Israel. One of these, the West Bank-based Humanitarian Relief Organization, has been closed in the past by Israel on suspicion of providing money to militants. The other, Jordan-based Humanitarian Appeal International, has been tied by the FBI to both Hamas and the Holy Land Relief Foundation for Relief and Development - which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Officials said they found seven U.S.-designated terrorist groups among the names and numbers in al-Amoudiâs confiscated Palm Pilot. Had them on his speed dialer, did he?
The government also found an unsigned document in Arabic during a search of al-Amoudiâs office in Virginia that makes numerous references to Hamas and discusses "execution of operations against the Israelis to delay the peace process," authorities said. Havenât these guys ever heard of a shredder?
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 1:09:39 PM ||
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there were jahidists cheering for Alamoudi at the courthouse
anybody want to guess what happens when there are more muslims in the jury pool
A 14-year-old New Jersey schoolboy â whose dad and stepdad are in the military â was suspended for five days because he drew a "patriotic" stick figure of a U.S Marine blowing away a Taliban fighter, officials said yesterday. "Heâs been punished for the drawing," said Tinton Falls school superintendent Leonard Kelpsh [aka "ASSHAT"]. "We felt it was highly inappropriate, and we took it very seriously." Scott Switzer, of Colts Neck, was sent home last week from Tinton Falls Middle School (search) after a teacher saw the image on a computer and described it to the principal. Scott, who turned 14 Tuesday and was headed back to school Wednesday, said he was unjustly disciplined for his sketch of "a war scene."
"Truth be told, itâs a Marine shooting a terrorist Taliban," he told The Post. "Itâs just a picture. What upsets me most is that the principal would dare say itâs not normal. To me, itâs patriotic." Kelpsh said the five-day punishment was appropriate, adding that he would not discuss Scottâs prior disciplinary record. But family members said the teenager had been involved in three "minor" incidents, including an earlier suspension. Scottâs stepmom, Kim Switzer, 36, told The Post her son suffers from attention deficit disorder.
From what I've seen, that's usually educational shorthand for a kid who gets bored with lowest-common-denominator learning...
The boy lives with his stepmom and father, who is serving as a Navy engineer aboard the USS Detroit in the Persian Gulf. Scottâs stepfather is in the Army. Scott said school officials may have been edgy because of an earlier incident in which other students had drawn a "very Columbine-ish" picture.
How many kids at the school wear turbans?
Officials said they were concerned because his drawing contained a reference to another student who they feared might have been a potential target. But a local psychologist who examined the teenager said the sketch was benign. "I donât attribute pathological significance to it," said Dr. Gloria Tillman, a psychologist who treated the boy for ADD. "I have to wonder what is expected of our children today when 1) our country is at war and 2) both his father and stepfather are out fighting the war." Scottâs mother said school officials described the drawing as "not the work of a normal mind."
It's not a "normal" mind, asshat. Pop's off doing what the kid's thinking about. Y'think the two might be connected? The inability to guess at such a concept is probably not the work of a normal mind.
Scott said he understood the schoolâs concern for student safety, but was offended by the principalâs comments. "Truth be told, Iâm more upset that heâd insinuate that Iâm mentally unstable," he said. "Iâm the class clown. Iâm not a bully."
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
10/29/2003 12:56:37 PM ||
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#1
Congrats Scotty, you just met a Liberial Principal.
Posted by: Charles ||
10/29/2003 13:00 Comments ||
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#2
If he drawn a picture of paleostinian wearing a bomb vest, bet the teacher would have given him a A+.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 13:12 Comments ||
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#3
Our "education establishment" is definitely defining itself as part of the problem. No wonder home schooling is the primary choice of almost 20% of parents in some areas. We also need to stomp hard on these 'education' experts who also 'play psychologist' with such brazen disregard for the consequences of their actions.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 13:15 Comments ||
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#4
Gee, thank God the PC police hadn't infiltrated my school 20 years ago when I was drawing American stick-GI's kick Nazi stick-uebermensch butt, or I'd have been out on the streets, too.
Posted by: Dar ||
10/29/2003 13:23 Comments ||
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#5
If he drawn a picture of paleostinian wearing a bomb vest, bet the teacher would have given him a A+.
Or if the Palestinian flag was drawn over the shooter and the Star of David drawn over the figure being shot.
#6
kids ADD, probably impulsive, disruptive etc (though probably not violent) teachers probably nervous about him, saw a violent drawing and overreacted. If it wasnt for the liberal PC crowd, he might not be in a mainstream school at all.
This may not be technically Peshawar, but its not really about what y'all think its about.
#7
Typical over reaction; Tinton Falls needs a reality check. Sounds like a normal rambunctious 14 yr old kid. When I was in school (not that long ago) ADD was still not a widely used term like now. The teachers called it being rambunctious and discipline cured that. Now, ADD is the big cop out. I'd like to see the picture, send it out to some of buddies for motivation. Heck, patriotic young kid like that, he can come down here to Parris Island, we'd be more then happy to give him a free tour!
#8
Gotta strongly disagree with ya LH....I'm with Jarhead on this...it's complete copout and worse. They tried to pin this on my daughter a couple of years back. This idiot teacher requested that we have her tested based her "observations" We had her tested alright...and the doc wrote a nice pithy rebuke of the teacher. Later, I found that the teacher had still put her "observations" into my daughter's file....and I had that removed. Many doctors don't even subscribe to the notion of ADD. The kid sounds completely normal. It's the educrats that are whacked.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/29/2003 14:39 Comments ||
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#9
In these idiot's world, a "normal mind" doesn't see anything worth defending in our culture. Post 9/11, my seven year old dreamed he was Batman in Afghanistan killing Bin Laden. These folks would no doubt find that "disturbing", but he knows better than to lay down and be a victim, and we'll make sure they don't train it out of him.
#10
R.M. Good that you were able to save your daughter from being 'labeled' as being disturbed by this slander. All from the observations from an biased and unqualifed 'teacher'.
I have no doubt that if the stick picture was of a boy blowing up a bus with the star-of-david on the side it would be considered 'free speech' and protected.
I hope this parent reviews the students school record and, if the principal's comments are in there, would file a slander suit against the school district. School records can impact the kid's collage admission, etc....
Notice that the superintendant of the school at least does not have a 'Dr.' prefix to his name (no mention of the Principal) which appears to mean that he does not have a license to practice medicine or is qualified to make such an evaluation.
As for ADD. I am sure that there are valid cases of it. However it seems to me to be used to 1) control the kid with drugs, and 2) have an excuse for his behaviour -- he is a 'victim'.
#11
the claim to be "the class clown" reminded me of a boy I know who is definitely, IMHO, ADD (ADHD in fact). I certainly dont know whther the diagnosis fits the boy in the story - and, BTW neither do any of you. If he at all resembles the boy I know the story is very different from the one of political persecution you are all assuming.
ADD may be over diagnosed, but i know of NO serious psychiatrist who thinks its not real.
#12
There is real debate about ADD, mostly because so many particular ailments fall under its umbrella...and they tend to be neurological in nature. My nephew was also targeted with ADD but more specifically it turned out to be a processing disorder. Even though technically an ADD - the usual medication would not have helped. Point is, Teachers should raise concerns where warranted...but it should stop there.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/29/2003 15:58 Comments ||
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#14
DANE, I stand corrected. He is a Doctor. Apologies to all (except for FoxNews which should have referred to him as Dr. in the first place). That 'Dr.' is hard to get and should be respected.
#16
I have a daughter that's both ADHD and extremely dyslexic. It took her working with a professional almost six months to get to where she could read. Now she devours about six books a month. That's HIGH for a teenage girl... As for school, her 'grades' are the pits. I blame half of that on the teachers, and half on the administration for failing to do three simple things: work with HER and her problem (she simply CANNOT do math - she doesn't see the numbers in the same place looking at them twice), get us better involved (they kind of ignore us, unless we get really snotty about it, which we do), and following the advice of the education psychologist that tested her and worked with her to get her to read.
My daughter's different from the kid mentioned in this article. The problem with ADHD is that it's often different FOR EVERY SINGLE KID THAT HAS A PROBLEM. It's not like a broken leg, where everybody has a leg that's more or less the same. We're talking about how the brain is actually wired (against what is considered 'normal'), how the body chemistry affects brain function, and how outside stemuli are processed - if they are at all. Too many variables, and it's too easy for other considerations, not necessarily considered as part of ADHD, such as allergies, normal childhood illnesses, and environment, to affect these kids and how they learn.
Real ADHD kids, those who have a valid medical diagnosis, have serious problems in today's school system. The schools try to make it the kid's fault, and do their best to shunt them aside into 'special' schools, where all too often there are no expectations, no discipline, and no real learning taking place. The fact that the schools get away with such outrageous behavior, as reflected in this story and in my daughter's case, is the true catastrophe, not that some kid draws stick figures about his dad's 'work'.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 23:44 Comments ||
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Two today. Theyâve been kinda muted lately. Too much White Slag maybe?
The ambition of the U.S. imperialists to dominate the world is getting wilder in the 21st century and a psychological warfare is a trite method the United States has consistently used in invading, toppling and dominating other countries, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary. Itâs working so far, Rodung. Why change?
Noting that the U.S. imperialists pay special attention to conducting a psychological warfare through broadcasting media, the commentary observes: The aggressive nature of the psychological warfare was fully disclosed in the Iraqi war. Yes, it was. You have problems with it?
They are using the psychological warfare not only in invading other countries but instigating anti-government forces of the countries to serve their purpose. The DPRK has become a main target of their psychological warfare. Nice of you to notice.
U.S. psychological warfare experts and tricksters are craftily working to smuggle transistor radios into the DPRK through many channels in a bid to cause ideological and political vacillation and destabilization and degeneration among people and bring about social chaos and changes. Yes, the 1st Airborne Trickster Brigade. Their skills are legendary!
Through this the U.S. seeks to spread its corrupt American culture and bourgeois way and style of life in a bid to benumb the Korean peopleâs revolutionary faith, class consciousness and spirit of national independence and break the single-hearted unity of the DPRK. Drop in some Big Macs and see how long the single-hearted unity lasts.
The U.S. is grossly mistaken if it thinks its psychological warfare will help bring down the DPRK as it did Iraq. Nothing can break the DPRK peopleâs faith in socialism and their single-hearted unity. Gimme that single-hearted unity...gimme that single-hearted unity...
#4
No mention of Juche, no mention of Kimmie-boy (or his poofy hair :). No mention of 'stupid man'.
Hmm.. very disappointing.... I am afraid I can only give this a 1.5 on the spittle meter.
As mentioned above. If Voice of America (or any other broadcasts) cannot break the peoples faith (in the starving workers paradise) then why do you ban transister radios except for the party elite?
#6
Radios would be nice because we could invite all of North Korea down to the DMZ and drop food there so the roads become clogged and it becomes impossible for the NK to keep control.
#8
Hope Hwang Jang Yop can explain how all these clowns are talking about Radio when it just hit the theaters. Do they think Cuba Gooding is portraying Kim? Insidious.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 20:58 Comments ||
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#9
Want to see some REAL psyops? Build a half-dozen Sizzlers, a Micky-D's or two, and a greaseburger Burger King joint, put some huge fans on the south side, and blow all that aroma north. Then sit back and watch the fireworks.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/30/2003 1:14 Comments ||
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FARGO -- Democratic lawmakers in Washington are asking a North Dakota radio personality to take on Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other conservative talk show hosts. Ed Schultz, who earlier considered running for governor, has been tapped by national Democratic leaders for a talk show to start in January. Democratic lawmakers in Washington are raising money for the show, and Democrats have pledged about $1.8 million over two years to get it off the ground, Schultz said Monday. He said a half-dozen stations are looking at whether to carry it. "The Democrats are getting the tar beat out of them constantly by Limbaugh and Hannity, and they feel they donât have a platform," Schultz said. "Thereâs this conservative mantra thatâs being jammed down the throats of the American people, and the other side of the story is not being told."
Schultz is the host of "Left and Lefter News and Views," a talk show on Fargoâs KFGO radio, which he said will continue in its usual slot from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The national show is planned to run from 2 to 5 p.m. Central time, and Schultz will broadcast from both Fargo and Washington, he said. "I think it can be an advantage having him broadcast from Fargo because it really is middle America," said Amy Bolton, general manager of Colorado-based Jones Radio, which is marketing the program.
That makes it, like, authentic, y'know?
State Democrats had considered Schultz a possible candidate to run against Republican Gov. John Hoeven, who is announcing his re-election campaign on Wednesday. "I had every intention of running for governor until this project came up," Schultz said. "I think I can fry more fish and help more people have more of an impact if this goes." Jason Stverak, director of the North Dakota Republican Party, said he will be waiting to see how many radio stations will broadcast Schultzâs show. "Ed is very good at whipping up peopleâs passions about issues and getting them involved," Stverak said. "That is always something you have to be cognizant of."
I remember how Mario Cuomo used to fire 'em up every time he opened his mouth. He got on the radio and became a powerful soporific. It's a war of ideas. If you come unarmed, it doesn't matter how well you turn a phrase...
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said Schultz impressed Senate Democrats at a meeting in Washington about a year ago, after Democracy Radio officials approached Schultz about the job. Democracy Radio was founded by Tom Athens, the husband of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. "He knocked their socks off," Dorgan said. "To say that Ed has a competitive drive is probably an understatement. Heâs a pusher and a fighter, but heâs also an entertaining guy. Right now we have hours and hours filled by conservative talk, and thereâs a huge void out there."
Before there were those hours and hours of conservative talk, there were the same people on the radio that there were on the terriblevision, saying the same things. There was a reason talk radio took off as a conservative phenomenon, and it wasn't Rush Limbaugh and his Golden Ego. It's the ideas, stoopid...
Michael Harrison, editor and publisher of Talkers Magazine, said Schultzâs show can work because he is entertaining, not because thereâs a void of liberal politics on the air.
If he's not entertaining, he's toast...
"There are other liberals on the radio, but you need a host whoâs funny, engaging, talented and charismatic," Harrison said. "Ed Schultz is known around the country, even though heâs basically in a small market, one thatâs off the beaten path. That says a lot for the guy." Schultz said ownership of the new talk show will be divided among himself, Democracy Radio, Jones Radio and Media Syndication Services, a radio production company I know this sounds silly⊠But wouldnât the left howl if Senate Republicans had a direct role in choosing a Limbaugh or Hannity for a Republican radio Project? I have never heard of Schultz but based on his comments I doubt that I will have time to listen. "Thereâs this conservative mantra thatâs being jammed down the throats.â Nobody is forced to listen or watch these shows. As a matter of fact Hannity SHARES the stage with Alan Colmes a staunch Liberal. That show is about as âfair and balancedâ as they come. My question for all is how many times can this guy talk about raising taxes or attacking Bush before EVERYONE tunes him out?
Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) ||
10/29/2003 11:42:55 AM ||
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"Thereâs this conservative mantra thatâs being jammed down the throats of the American people, and the other side of the story is not being told."
What is this numbskull talking about? The other side IS being told. The American public sees it in all those Democratic debates, public statements by Democrats (like Mr. Chappaquiddick, Howard Dean, and Gen. Clark, to name a few) and in all these "protests" by leftist groups. Quite frankly, it's an ugly message.
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 11:55 Comments ||
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#3
so this will be like NPR-2?
Right on, Frank, but without even the tiny portion of entertainment that NPR provides. Watch the trajectory - straight up, straight down. Wonder how long it'll have to burn before the Dummycheats pull the plug.
The "other" party in this country gets loonier and farther from our founding principles every day. Pretty soon, they're going to find themselves so looney, so far left, that even the Commies won't have anything to do with them.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 12:11 Comments ||
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#4
I'm surprised that anyone is surprised. These are the folks that have revised history, made victimhood the norm of social discourse, and defined anyone who has structured their life to acquire resources as "the richest 5% of Americans". They simply have no world view that doesn't require Government to act to rectify the wrongs that they have defined. Don't be surprised when listening to this new point of view is mandated in classrooms.
#5
I remeber listening to Alan Combs on the radio a few years ago. Don't know if he is still on the dial. He was like in a war zone most of the time as he couldn't buy many friendly callers and it was pretty comical. Seattle has a guy named Dave Ross, who is pretty level and has been going national with some canned, one minute, comments. He does tend to call conservative type reasoning hipocritcal. Which is pretty easy to do when one tries to defend the Ideal vs Real.
#6
Mario Cuomo tried this, too. He failed, Big Time. This won't be any different except for the over / under (six weeks, let's get this added to the WOT Futures, too.)
#7
"Ed Schultz is known around the country, even though heâs basically in a small market, one thatâs off the beaten path. That says a lot for the guy."
You mean, THE Ed Schultz?!
Sorry. I must've missed the Ed Schultz bandwagon when it rolled through town.
Who the f**k is Ed Schultz?
#8
What idiots.How many times have they tried this?
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/29/2003 12:18 Comments ||
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#9
Mario was one, Hightower was another....
Unless Ed goes by the nickname "Dutch" or "Sargeant", then I don't have a frigging clue who he is
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 12:41 Comments ||
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#10
There's just nowhere to get good liberal news anymore - except for ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, NPR, BBC, NYTimes, LATimes, WAPost...
And no spokesmen, except for Donahue, Bill Moyers, Michael Moore, Al Franken, anyone with an acting career, anyone working for the aforementioned news companies...
#11
If this guy is as tactless and vicious as Limbaugh(who has been known to make people from the Religious Right feel sorry for left-wing extremists) then the show's going to get low ratings, radio stations will pull the plug, and the Donks will whine about censorship.
#12
If this guy is as tactless and vicious as Limbaugh...
I don't listen to Limbaugh. I don't listen to anybody on radio or television, and believe only a portion of what I read on the Internet. The only people I've ever heard speak about Limbaugh in these terms, however, have been the whiners on the other side of the debate. It's only "tactless and vicious" when you point out the GAPING flaws in their lunatic thought and expression. Sorry, TRUTH is seldom 'caring' or 'nurturing' or 'compassionate'. Frequently it rips out your throat and takes a big hunk of the rest of your anatomy as well - just ask any guy who has ever been shot at...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 13:04 Comments ||
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#13
Well gang if this fails look for the Liberals to insists on the 'fairness doctrine.' This will requires stations to give equal time to opposing viewpoints. Like that will last.
#14
I thoroughly support this effort by the national Democratic establishment to make their big media debut (I mean, c'mon, as if Hollywood, NPR, and broadcast news are enough of an outlet).
Not only will it drain the financial resources of the Dems in a misguided effort to push their party line but I predict that it will also have to run to the left to attract the hardcore listeners that are the mainstay of the Dem voters (e.g. those that have nothing better to do between 2 and 5, like work).
#15
But wouldnât the left howl if Senate Republicans had a direct role in choosing a Limbaugh or Hannity for a Republican radio Project?
I believe it's an article of faith on the left that Limbaugh WAS chosen by the Republican party.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
10/29/2003 15:13 Comments ||
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#16
Colmes is still on the radio, he does a fairly good job. Of course he's liberal but not insanely so. He's learned to pick his battles, something that has the far left angry with him a lot of the time. I agree with Hannity more often but think Colmes is far more persuasive on the issues I'm undecided on.
Lately the far left has chosen attacks and emotional knee-jerk responses in replace of arguements. If this guy doesn't have something a little more than that he's not going to last long.
#17
Before someone claims I'm hypocritical I don't think of Colmes as being of the far left. His often logical debating tactics, willingness to disassociate himself from the rapid left, and ability to stake out a position seperate from the Democratic talking points seperate him from the run of the mill leftist.
On the other hand I can determien Hannity's position before he states it. He's consistant if nothing else, but his positions tend to line up with the Republican talking points 99% of the time.
U.S. President Bush was reported to let loose vituperation against the DPRK in an interview in the plane on Oct. 22 when flying for Australia after his Indonesia visit. He was so reckless as to describe its top leader as a "dictator" and express "loathing" for him. So, whatâs your point?
The reported outbursts are touching off bitter indignation of all the Korean people and servicepersons of the Peopleâs Army as they are unpardonable remarks undisguisedly revealing his habitual rejection of the DPRKâs supreme headquarters and social system. Theyâre bitter, dammit!
If Bush actually said so, it would prove that his earlier remarks listing the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil" and a "target of its preemptive nuclear attack" still remain the core of the U.S. policy toward the DPRK. Yes, thatâs the prevailing opinion.
Bush talked about giving "written security assurances" to the DPRK and seeking a "peaceful settlement of the issue through dialogue". As if he had said nothing, he continued hurling mud at the DPRK. This suggests that he lacks qualification as a politician and his remarks about the "written security assurances" to the DPRK were not prompted by his true intention to settle the problem. "Mud hurling" bastard!
The Bush administrationâs loudmouthed "concession" and "peaceful settlement" are, in the final analysis, nothing but a sleight of hand to win in the next presidential election. This goes to prove that the U.S. does not seek to co-exist with the DPRK by finding a solution to the issue but disarm it and overthrow its political system. Oh-oh. Theyâre catching on...
Bush claims to be president of the worldâs only superpower. But his disqualification as a politician finds an expression in that he has no elementary way of thinking to analyze the issue. They must be getting Peter Jennings again on cable...
As far as the DPRKâs economic problem touted by Bush is concerned, it arose because the U.S. has pursued a hostile policy toward the DPRK for over half a century, imposing harsh economic sanctions against the DPRK and posing a grave threat to the existence of the Korean people and creating difficulties in their way. I thought they didnât have economic problems? I thought it was a frigginâ Workers Paradise up there?
Bush, however, said nothing of the U.S. crimes committed against the DPRK but attributed what he called "starvation" to the DPRKâs supreme headquarters. This is unjustifiable and intolerable. ...and true.
The world knows many political leaders. But it is only leader Kim Jong Il who gives field guidance day and night to solve the problem of peopleâs living. ...and a helluva job heâs doing.
It is an anachronistic and foolish behavior to speak ill of the DPRKâs supreme headquarters this or that way because it convinces no one. Nah. Not me.
We solemnly state that the DPRKâs supreme headquarters and the precious popular system enjoy the absolute trust of all the people and that any mud-slinging at them is what we guard against most strongly. If the shit hits the fan, it wonât be mud weâll be slinging at you.
The people and Peopleâs Army of the DPRK regard it as the primary requirement of their life to devotedly defend the supreme headquarters representing their life and soul and do not hesitate to dedicate their lives to protecting it, a symbol of national dignity. Ah, yes. The "dignity".
The U.S. is well advised to stop its rash acts, clearly mindful that with nothing can it break the single-hearted unity of the DPRK. If anybody ever gets up there, could they pick me up a "single-hearted unity" T-shirt?
Posted by: tu3031 ||
10/29/2003 11:05:09 AM ||
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"But it is only leader Kim Jong Il who gives field guidance day and night to solve the problem of peopleâs living. "
There's only one cure for living, and Kimmy's got enought to go around!
Nice spittle, and putting 'starvation' in quotes walks that fine line between vituperative recklessness and indignant ...
... damn, now they've got me doing it!
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/29/2003 11:22 Comments ||
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#3
Hmm... no mention of Judice(sp?). But it does mention that Kimmie-boy solved the people's problems (starvation) in the 'workers paradise'. It also mention that all the people stand behind kimmie-boy and the headquarters (in spite of the thousands leaving for China...).
Somehow I think that the Army is not entirely behind Kimmie-boy - much like Saddam you know.... But that is just a hunch.
Hmmm... I give it a [also holds up card] 6.3 on the spittle meter.
#5
Had poofy hair, Mojo. Remember, he solved the 'starvation' issue with his people. What do you think he gave them to eat?
Posted by: Charles ||
10/29/2003 12:48 Comments ||
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#6
I think they've gone off the deep end. The post above this one indicates that they are starting to crack, and this one confirms it. his habitual rejection of the DPRKâs supreme headquarters and social system
I think they might start to cry (I thought you loved me!) imposing harsh economic sanctions against the DPRK
Why would sanctions matter to a country with Juche (self-reliance)? They should be impervious to sanctions.
The names of about 40 people listed on the World Trade Center death toll for more than two years are being removed because the city cannot confirm their deaths or even their existence, a city official said Tuesday. The city was to announce the change in death toll from 2,792 to about 2,750 on Wednesday. The decision was made by several city agencies, including the medical examinerâs office, the police department and the mayorâs office, said the city official, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The city formed a group called the Reported Missing Committee, charged with weeding out fraud and crossing errors off the death list, which peaked at 6,700 two weeks after the attack. As of early September 2003, police had made about 40 arrests related to people falsely claiming they lost loved ones, and law enforcement agencies in other cities have nabbed others.
In most cases, victims whose remains have not been identified have been legally declared dead by the court and their families issued death certificates based on documents or other proof they were at the trade center or on the hijacked airplanes. In the cases expected to be removed, no such proof was ever found and remains were never identified. About 60 percent of the victims have been identified.
Posted by: Mike ||
10/29/2003 10:21:39 AM ||
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#1
I've wondered how many people took a once in a lifetime opportunity to opt out of their current reality.
#3
That's the up side. The down side is, how many "undocumented" workers died, people that were here illegally, had no records, were working for companies in "menial" positions that were never documented, and whose families are afraid to mention anything about them.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 12:55 Comments ||
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EFL
An organisation in Israel has gained rabbinical approval to train pigs to guard Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Until now, Jewish settlements have been guarded by men with guns and also by guard dogs. But a new idea - guard pigs - has been thought up by an organisation called The Hebrew Battalion. The man in charge, Kuti Ben-Yaakov, insists it is a serious proposal. "Pigsâ sense of smell is far more developed than that of dogs," he said.
So's their, ummm... odor.
"The pigs will also be able to identify weapons from huge distances, and walk in the direction of the terrorist, thereby pointing him out. Moreover, this animal is considered to be dangerous by Islam and, according to the Muslim faith, a terrorist who touches a pig is not eligible for the 70 virgins in heaven."
Ignore the smell. Keep the piggies...
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
10/29/2003 10:08:53 AM ||
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"Moreover, this animal is considered to be dangerous by Islam and, according to the Muslim faith, a terrorist who touches a pig is not eligible for the 70 virgins in heaven.
Isreal is going Religious on their asses! Have every Detainee touch a pig! Forget that, arrest Arafish and make him touch a pig on TV!
Posted by: Charles ||
10/29/2003 12:55 Comments ||
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#6
I hiked school back in 8th grade and was cutting through some fields when we were charged by about 50 pigs. As they got closer I got more 'concerned' and bolted so fast I made Carl Lewis look like Jerry Lewis.
I agree w/ Slumming - you don't want to be in that situation.
#7
In the old days the people at Aramco used to put bacon bits in everything - including ice cream (!!!) - to keep the Saudis from stealing the food supplies. For those with a desire to read how it was there circa 1947 - 1979, you can read from an online "book" by Larry Barnes. To find the bit about the bacon, just do Edit/Find/bacon - it's the first hit. Interesting reading beyond the sound bytes.
http://www.amble.com/barnes.htm
Note that the whole thing is in one page - and it's all text - once loaded, you can save it to your own machine. Barnes was a classic American of the post WW-II era, open, adventurous, and gentle to innocents... I wonder what he'd have to say about what's transpired in the following 25 years.
#10
Raj has it right. The only thing I forgot to mention is that pigs run fast as hell. He could have been in mucho trouble. I can see it now; a new market for attack pigs competing with the German shepards.
#11
Can't you hear the Paleos whinning and screaming about those"Barborious Joooos".Talk about asymetric warfare.
Arizona has Javilina(desert version of a wild pig)them bad boys is just plain mean.Any of you folks that have spent any length of time in Arizona know what critter I'm talking about.
#12
Hmmm.. Doesn't Australia have some kick-ass razorback boars? Sounds like an export item to me. Can you imagine their fear of not only touching a pig... but being gored and trampled by one.
#14
I know of an available compound in Ramallah that only has one occupant remaining. Perhaps it could be used as a pig farm and holding area.
Posted by: Don ||
10/29/2003 15:13 Comments ||
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#15
snellenr,
ROTFLMAO!
That, my friend, is what we call laugh out loud funny. We should go to one of those whack-job islamist sites and 'Ask the Imam'! 'Dear Imam, my cousin Mohammed and my brother Muhammed, were both killed and devoured by walking porkchops on their way to become shaheed (sp?). Will they still get their virgins?'
Posted Part One yesterday. Last of two parts.
The leader of the local Islamic organization preparing to build a major new mosque in Boston is allegedly linked to a network of Muslim companies and charitable groups in Virginia suspected by federal investigators of providing material support to Islamic terrorists. The chairman of the board of trustees of the Islamic Society of Boston, which has city approval to construct a $22 million cultural center and mosque in Roxbury, was also a leader of an Indiana-based Muslim organization known for its anti-Western rhetoric and for providing a platform for radical Islamists, some of whom have been linked to terrorism. The chairman, Osama M. Kandil, has been a leader of the Islamic Society of Boston for more than a decade. In addition to serving on the groupâs board of trustees for many years, public records show he has been a trustee of the groupâs real estate arm since 1993, when it purchased property for its current mosque in Cambridge. Anybody got an English eqivalent for "Osama"?
"Ollie"? "Oswald"?... Actually, I believe there have been real people named "Osman," though not many of them.
Outside Massachusetts, however, Kandil is identified in a federal government affidavit as a member of what U.S. investigators have dubbed the ``Safa Group,ââ a complicated array of individuals and interlocking for-profit and non-profit entities allegedly involved in financing Islamic terrorism. One Safa Group firm, American Products International Inc., lists Kandil as its registered agent. The companyâs registered address is the Herndon, Va., home of Safa Group member Jamal Barzinji, which was raided in March 2002 as part of Operation Green Quest, a terrorist financing probe. Iâm a simple businessman.
A 101-page search warrant affidavit unsealed in federal court in Virginia last week said financial activity by the Safa Group ``evidences a conspiracy. . .to route money through hidden paths to terrorists and to defraud the United States.ââ
But it's all a misunderstanding, of course. If we understood their culture better, we'd... ummm...
``I believe that Barzinji is not only closely associated with PIJ (Palestinian Islamic Jihad). . . but also with Hamas,ââ wrote David Kane, an agent in the Department of Homeland Securityâs Immigration and Customs Enforcement division. Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government since 1995, Kane wrote. According to Kaneâs affidavit, Barzinji is an officer of at least 14 Safa Group entities, and his neighbor, M. Yaqub Mirza, is an officer of 29 Safa Group entities. Mirza was also a board member of Ptech, a Quincy-based computer software company raided by federal agents last year as part of Operation Green Quest. My neighbor is also... just a simple businessman.
Another link between the Islamic Society of Boston and the Safa Group is Abdurahman Alamoudi, the founder and first president of the local Muslim organization. Alamoudi was indicted last week for laundering money from the Libyan government and is suspected of funding terrorist groups in the Mideast through Safa Group charities and businesses. Alamoudi? Again, a simple businessman. The Herald reported yesterday that in addition to Alamoudi, the Islamic Society of Boston has a longstanding relationship with Dr. Yusuf Abdullah al-Qaradawi, a radical Egyptian cleric whose vocal support of suicide bombings and the terrorist group Hamas prompted the State Department to bar him from entering the U.S. four years ago. Even though the groupâs tax filings from 1998 to 2000 list al-Qaradawi as a director, the Islamic Society of Boston said in a written statement Monday that al-Qaradawi ``never played any role in the ISB.ââ He was just a guy we knew...
The group attributed the appearance of the clericâs name on its tax forms to ``an administrative oversight.ââ Yeah. Good help is so hard to find these days.
However, the Herald also reported that during a fund-raising event for the planned mosque last November at the Sheraton in Boston, hours after the projectâs ceremonial groundbreaking, Islamic Society of Boston officials played a videotaped message from al-Qaradawi urging attendees to support the new Islamic cultural center on Malcolm X Boulevard. The statement released by the Islamic Society of Boston on Monday also said: ``The ISB has a policy of disallowing groups or individuals with extremist views from having any forum for their divisive and destructive rhetoric at the Societyâs mosque in Cambridge.ââ In a telephone interview yesterday, Kandil, speaking from a hotel in Frankfurt, Germany, said he believes the U.S. government mistakenly associated him with the so-called Safa group.``The only connection I have is I rented a house on Safa Court,ââ Kandil said. ``American Products International was a trading company we established and we ran the business from our house. I had nothing to do with the Safa group.ââ He said he knew Barzinji and Mirza because they were his landlord and next-door neighbor, respectively. ``I was never part of that group. I was never involved in their activities,ââ he said. Nice. They got a little compound down there.
Kandil said the new mosque planned for Roxbury is being financed by donors both from the Boston area and the Middle East. He said all donors have been checked to make sure they do not appear on the U.S. Treasuryâs list of designated terrorists and terrorist organizations. Wonder how hard they looked? Wonder if the new fronts are in place yet?
He said the new mosque and Islamic cultural center will promote ``the moderate, sophisticated view of Islam.ââ I think weâre all familiar with that view... `Evils of Western civilizationâ
Meanwhile, public records show that Kandil is also one of nine founding directors of a controversial organization called the Muslim Arab Youth Association. MAYA established in the 1970âs and incorporated in Plainfield, Ind., in 1989, held a series of conferences at which prominent members of the Palestinian organization Hamas and others associated with Islamic terrorism were featured speakers, including al-Qaradawi. In the 2002 book ``American Jihad,ââ author and Islamic terrorism expert Steven Emerson wrote that MAYA conferences ``have regularly attracted a parade of top Islamic militants.ââ Itâs must on the Jihadi rubber chicken curcuit...
Emerson also excerpted the preface to MAYAâs constitution: ``In the heart of America, in the depths of corruption and ruin and moral deprivation, an elite of Muslim youth is holding fast to the teachings of Allah.ââ Is this the moderate or the sophisticated new Islam? I always get them confused...
And according to Emerson, a companion MAYA publication states that ``Western civilization is based upon the separation of religions from life (whereas) Islamic civilization is based upon fundamentals opposed to those of Western civilizationââ and warns Muslim women to be ``conscious of the evils of Western civilization.ââ Mind your place, woman, if you know whatâs good for you! Abdullah bin Laden, a nephew of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, was also a founding director of MAYA. Bin Laden headed the U.S. office of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, a major Saudi-based charity investigated by the FBI for suspected financing of terrorism. Bin Laden abandoned WAMYâs office in Falls Church, Va., soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks masterminded by his uncle. I thought the family had nothing to do with Binny? He was "the outcast" (gasp). Sounds like that was all bullshit too.
Kandil, a former instructor at Harvard Medical School and the founder and chairman of an Egyptian pharmaceutical company, Biopharm Group, said yesterday he was a member of MAYA and became the groupâs vice president for several years, beginning in the late 1980s. Kandil described MAYA as a moderate group. ``MAYA was an organization established by Muslim students who came to the U.S. to study,ââ he said. ``Its purpose was to help new students acclimate to life in the United States and to make sure they could perform their Islamic rituals.ââ The Islamic rituals? Weâve seen a few of them too.
Kandil strongly disagreed with Emersonâs description of MAYA as a forum for radical Islam. He said MAYA allowed many different people to speak at its conferences, but also made it clear those speakers did not necessarily reflect the views of the organization. Well... not necessarily. But usually, yeah, they did.
``Before we make conclusions from a self-proclaimed expert of Islam, we should make decisions on what is and is not true,ââ Kandil said. ``The fact that MAYA was never named by the government (as a terrorist organization) is a very strong indication no wrong activities were performed.ââ Nothing to see here...
The Islamic Society of Boston backed Kandil in its written statement Monday: ``Dr. Osama Kandil has served on the ISB Board of Trustees for ten years. Dr. Kandil served as Vice President of MAYA, an organization that assisted Muslim families in adjusting to life in the U.S. Dr. Kandil is a well-respected Muslim, and the ISB is confident of his character and integrity.ââ Iâm convinced. Friends at Ptech
In December 2002, Basyouny Nehela, the imam at the Islamic Society of Boston, posted a message on the groupâs website exhorting Muslims to support Ptech, Inc., a Quincy company raided just weeks earlier by federal agents probing the software firm for suspected ties to terrorism financiers. In Imam Basyounyâs message, he described the actions against Ptech as ``oppressionââ and said all members of the Muslim community ``are obligated to stand with the oppressed ones regardless of their religion or origin.ââ "Oppression". Popular word in the Muslim community these days.
Imam Basyouny said the people ``running and workingââ at Ptech are ``well known within the Muslim Community and respected among this community.ââ Again, Iâm convinced.
He also urged Muslims to lobby on behalf of the company: ``We must contact our elected officials to express our concern about this aggression and also to urge them to take a just and expeditious stand in resolving this injustice.ââ "Injustice". Another one.
Imam Basyouny moved from Egypt five years ago to take over as the spiritual leader at the Islamic Society of Bostonâs mosque on Prospect Street, just outside Central Square. When he arrived to take his new post in America, he did not speak English, sources said. Another immigrant success story...
According to Kandil, most imams in mosques in the U.S. and Canada come from the Middle East because there is a shortage of qualified imams in North America. He said Imam Basyouny was educated at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the oldest and most prestigious Islamic school in the world.``He is a very humble, kind person,ââ Kandil said. ``He reflects the peaceful, moderate aspects of Islam.ââ Great. Lets send him down to Gitmo to council the "freedom fighters".
Ptech remains under investigation by a federal antiterrorism task force for its connection to Saudi businessman Yasin al-Qadi, who the U.S. Treasury Department has identified as a financier of Osama bin Ladenâs al-Qaeda network and other terrorist groups. Both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have frozen al-Qadiâs assets. Another "oppressed" simple businessman.
Investigators led by the U.S. Customs Service searched Ptechâs office in Marina Bay on Dec. 6. after being told al-Qadi may have invested $16 million in the software company. Federal authorities are concerned about Ptechâs ties to al-Qadi because the company has provided software and consulting to 18 federal agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Treasury, Customs Service, Secret Service, Department of Energy, Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration, and U.S. Postal Service. Wonder if theyâre still under contract?
Ptech executives, who have not been charged with a crime, have denied any involvement with terrorists and said they are cooperating with the governmentâs investigation. Federal investigators have said there is evidence al-Qadi, a Ptech investor, and Mirza, a Ptech director, had financial dealings. Mirza, along with Kandil of the Islamic Society of Boston, are both alleged members of the Safa Group.
Posted by: tu3031 ||
10/29/2003 9:54:45 AM ||
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Well, looks pretty harmless to me. Everything looks pretty "fragmentary and incomplete". Heaven knows we need more Islamic teaching in the Boston area, especially the more moderate type that the Islamic Society of Boston promotes. For so long only the 'light version' of Islam was available in those parts. Don't forget, moderate is a relative term.
President Robert Mugabe, did suffer a minor stroke recently but was treated in Zimbabwe and not South Africa, some senior Zimbabwean officials said privately yesterday. They dismissed widespread speculation and media reports yesterday that the 79-year-old leader had been surreptitiously flown to South Africa for emergency treatment. South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said that the South African government had been notified that Mugabe was chairing the regular Tuesday cabinet meeting in Harare yesterday. He said the South African government had no knowledge of Mugabe having been to South Africa for treatment. "Nope, he ainât here"
Zimbabweâs high commissioner to South Africa, Simon Moyo, said the reports were "absolute hogwash" and that Mugabe was chairing cabinet. Independent Newspapersâ correspondent in Harare, Brian Latham, confirmed that Mugabeâs motorcade had arrived at his central Harare presidential offices yesterday, presumably for the cabinet meeting. But Latham did not actually see Mugabe and in Harare his absence from public engagements for some time appears to be fuelling speculation that he is seriously ill. Thatâs what weâre hoping for.
And Pahad could not completely rule out the possibility that Mugabe might have entered South Africa without informing the South Africa government and then returned to Harare for the cabinet meeting. He said under the rules of international protocol Mugabe need only have informed the South African government of a visit if he wanted VIP treatment in South Africa. If he flew into SA, somebody would know
According to some media reports Mugabe was collected in Harare by a South African military aircraft and flown to Pretoria for treatment on Monday. Defence spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said he did not know if Mugabe had been in South Africa but other defence officials denied firmly that he had been treated in any South African military hospital. Independent Newspapers contacted most of the major civilian hospitals in Gauteng and they all denied Mugabe had been treated there. "Nope"
"Nope. Nobody by that name. We got a Robert Mugblep, and a Bob Mugabe. That's as close as we get..."
Top sources in Mugabeâs ruling Zanu-PF party and his spy agency, the Central Intelligence Organisation, (CIO) said Mugabe had recently popped a vein suffered a minor stroke but was treated by Chinese doctors in Harare and had recovered. "Heâs drooling a little, but heâs fine."
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 9:53:26 AM ||
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I believe it would only be more fitting for Mugabe to go for a long drive, not unlike those of his cabinet ministers of the past. 2001 May - Defence Minister Moven Mahachi killed in a car crash - the second minister to die in that way in a month.
#3
This BBC article may explain why he didn't want to be treated locally: Zimbabwe deploy army staff in hospitals - Hundreds of medical staff in Zimbabwe's army have been deployed to help in hospitals which have been hit by a strike by doctors and nurses.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 14:30 Comments ||
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#4
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe appeared on state television Wednesday, smiling and showing no visible sign of the health problems reported by some media in South Africa and Britain.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation showed footage of Mugabe addressing an international cultural conference in the northwestern tourist resort of Victoria Falls and urging delegates to take time to enjoy one of the wonders of the world.
This proves he's as healthy as Osama is.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 16:41 Comments ||
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Are Bob, Ayman and Osama going to do a tape together then? Or just compile a box set?
A doctor who helped lead the sarin nerve gas attack on a Tokyo underground train station will be hanged. Doomsday cult lieutenant Tomomasa Nakagawa, 41, has been sentenced to the death penalty for the attack in 1995, which killed 12 people, and another earlier attack that killed seven people. He has also been found guilty of taking part in earlier murders. Nakagawa is the 10th member of the Aum Shinri Kyo sect to be given the death sentence.
Closing arguments are being [presented] in the trial of the sectâs guru Shoko Asahara, who is also facing a possible death sentence for allegedly organising the subway gassing. Asahara has claimed he is innocent, and his lawyers have argued that Aum disciples acted on their own. The subway gassing was the worst case of urban terrorism in Japanâs history. Raids of cult headquarters and confessions of leading members later revealed the cult had numerous plots to overthrow the government and operated labs to develop chemical and biological weapons. At its height, the sect claimed 30,000 members, about a third of them in Russia. It still exists under the name Aleph, but its membership has dwindled to about 1,000 or so.
Posted by: Bulldog ||
10/29/2003 9:26:10 AM ||
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Asahara's as innocent as Charlie Manson was
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 9:43 Comments ||
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"It still exists under the name Aleph, but its membership has dwindled to about 1,000 or so."
Proof positive that some people are just too stupid to live.
#3
I didn't know Japan had the death penalty in this "enlightened" age. Hang him high!
Posted by: Dar ||
10/29/2003 10:50 Comments ||
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#4
"I didn't know Japan had the death penalty in this "enlightened" age."
Yes they do, and most Japanese I know support it. They are very serious about people being held responsible for their actions, that's why they also have such a high suicide rate. They are a shame/honor culture, but in a good way these days.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/29/2003 11:02 Comments ||
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#5
Japanese have death penalty, eh? Wonder how long it will take our Hollywood twitsbeauzeauslemmings to protest this?
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/29/2003 11:16 Comments ||
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#6
Hey, I like the idea of a shame/honor culture--to a degree! I don't think enough shame exists in American culture today, nor personal responsibility. However, taking that to the point of seppuku is a little too much... except perhaps for the lefties that feel ashamed just to be Americans.
Unfortunately and conversely, honor seems to have branched off independently from shame and self-respect and become perverted way beyond scope, but that's an OT rant I won't go into just now. If you've ever seen daytime TV and watched some slimeball justify his actions because he was "dissed", you'll know where I'm going...
Posted by: Dar ||
10/29/2003 11:18 Comments ||
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#7
I didn't realize Japan had the death penalty either. Hanging.... kinda low-tech. Maybe they use a bucky-ball noose.
Shipman - I know about Bucky-balls (the geometry, chemistry applications, etc.), cuz Fuller's up there with Tesla as one of my heroes but, um, what is a bucky-ball noose?
(I just know I'm gonna regret being so naive...)
#9
Not only that, they have an interesting way of carrying it out. The date of Execution is kept secret, even to the condemned. Prisoners have spent years in jail never knowing when the sentence would be carried out. The first they know about it is on their way to the Barber Shop for their monthly haircut, when they take a left rather than a right. It is considered more humane that way.
Of course, there was that prisoner that dropped dead of a Heart Attack on his way to the Barber shop the week after they moved itâ¦.
#10
The really interesting thing about the death penalty in Japan is how it's administered. The condemned are not told the date of their execution and often are made to wait years. The warden just shows up one day with a noose. They are indeed serious.
Now hereâs a surprise
Iran said on Wednesday it would not share intelligence with the United States about al Qaeda members held in Iran despite repeated requests from Washington for it to do so. Pretty please?
"We donât have any relations with American security services so there is no reason to do anything on this issue," so there, nyah
government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh told a weekly news conference.
Posted by: Spot ||
10/29/2003 5:25:46 AM ||
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Yeah. Iraq felt the same way. But they are whistling a different Dixie now. Although I wouldn't be surprised if by "Iran", they really mean "The Mad Mullahs", and other parts of the society ARE helping the West.
#2
I'm not sure what back-channel crap exists with the Black Hats currently, but should they live through the coming year, I'm sure they will have close personal relationships with their Gitmo (Ooooooh Gitmo!â¢) interrogators. So don't give up hope, Ramanzandazanzibar, we'll get together soon.
Thousands of Britons are facing banishment from Kenya following the announcement by President Mwai Kibakiâs government yesterday that it would expel two-thirds of the countryâs expatriate workforce. Some continents never seem to learn...
British businessmen and economists denounced the decision, which will force out more than 16,000 of Kenyaâs 25,352 working expatriates, along with their families. Between 30,000 and 50,000 Britons live in Kenya, more than half of whom are thought to be British Asians, prompting comparisons with Idi Aminâs expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972. I have a British Asian friend whose family were booted from Tanzania back in the 70s. Fatherâs a consultant on third-world agricultural research, motherâs a maths teacher, she and her sister are medical doctors. Now how many countries need losers like that?
"This is a racist and economically suicidal move by the government," one British businessman said. "What is the difference between this and what Idi Amin did or what Robert Mugabe is doing?" Um... this time thereâs no pleading ignorance of the inevitable consequences?
Aware of the damaging publicity a mass exodus would cause, the government said the expulsion would be implemented over the next two years. "Itâs racist stupidity, but that doesnât mean we have to rush."
"It will not be a blanket removal," said Ali Mwakwere, the labour minister. "The process has already begun, but we are honouring existing work permits until they expire." Mr Mwakwere said he would target skilled and semi-skilled foreigners in the manufacturing industry, many of whom are Asians from Britain and the Indian sub-continent. Asian-dominated commerce is also in the sights of the minister, whose ruling will be welcomed by poor, nationalist Kenyans. "Quite obviously possibly British Asians and Asians in general are the target," a British High Commission official said. "We are watching the situation closely." Non-Asian Britons are likely to be forced out too, as Mr Mwakwere said the clearout would sweep through the hospitality and tourism sectors. "We are looking at anywhere where a foreigner is doing a job a Kenyan could be doing," he said. "We have well-qualified tour guides and so on who are out of a job." "So what, if they donât have the skills or experience to run a hotel?!".
Under Kenyan law, an expatriate whose two-year work permit is not renewed must leave the country with his family within two months. Missionaries have won an exemption and the government has promised that senior managerial and technical staff at multinational companies will be allowed to stay. How very generous.
Despite those promises some British businesses say they have already had work permit applications for technical staff rejected. Several British schools were threatened with closure when permits for expatriate teachers were rejected. An appeal by the British Government and by cabinet ministers whose children are educated in the private system won the schools a reprieve. British businessmen welcomed Kenyaâs attempts to root out foreigners who had illegally acquired work permits from corrupt officials in the previous government of Daniel arap Moi. But they said a number of technical specialists had been refused permission to remain, although they were in roles that could not be filled by local people. Economists said the expulsion order was completely at odds with the presidentâs appeals to multinational companies to invest in Kenya and revive the flagging economy. And so it starts again...
Posted by: Bulldog ||
10/29/2003 3:49:17 AM ||
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"We are looking at anywhere where a foreigner is doing a job a Kenyan could be doing," he said.
But isn't qualified.
"We have well-qualified tour guides and so on who are out of a job."
Hmmm. They churn out tour guides, but not skilled workers. Great economic plan. Must be one of Mugabe's.
#2
Bulldog: what, if any, Commonwealth status consequences will this have? trade or financial?
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 9:42 Comments ||
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#3
Funny, this is not what I would call new - it's called Saudization and has been in progress for more than 10 years in LalaLand.
But it does differ in 2 ways:
1) Kenya doesn't print money via oil exports and can't hire back that ExPat as a contractor to do the same work while the Saudi Kenyan gets the "title" and just hangs out with the bozos drinking tea and skipping prayers.
2) Saudi doesn't have a tourist industry - yet. It appears, to my amazement, that there is a type of barking moonbat who yearns to see The Empty Quarter. I guess Lawrence of Arabia lives!
I empathize with the Brits who are being displaced - and anyone who doesn't get it lacks much in the way of imagination - it sucks to have your plans crushed without warning or immediately apparent alternatives. That's why I left Saudi back in '93 - my job title was handed to a connected Saudi twit who could barely log into the system - and I refused to be his flunky.
#4
Frank G, Not any that will to have any effect. Zimbabwe is only suspended, pending a demonstrated renewed respect for humanity, and I don't think that Bobsland had economic sanctions imposed on her. The dire economic consequences of all this will be entirely self-imposed. They'll be receiving international aid in a couple of years...
#5
I have a British Asian friend whose family were booted from Tanzania back in the 70s. Fatherâs a consultant on third-world agricultural research, motherâs a maths teacher, she and her sister are medical doctors. Now how many countries need losers like that?
Send them to America. If they need any help, I'll be proud and happy to be a sponsor.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/29/2003 11:09 Comments ||
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#6
I say let Africa go, and allow it to clean itself out. If they fancy themselves a better judge at fixing what ails them, then they can have a go at it. On their own, of course.
#7
Actually, I have some sympathy with ex-colonies like Uganda which wanted to deport people from other cultures, brought there by their colonial masters. I also sympathize with people who don't want the foreign workers brought in by their own governments.
The people of Uganda did not ask thousands of Asians to move there. They were held powerless while the British played with their demographics. Then the world called Ugandans "racist" when they kicked the Asians out. Actually, the Ugandans chose cultural unity (such as it is) to economic and technologic progress. Economically, that hurt them. But it was their choice.
Kenyans today are willing to suffer economic set backs to preserve national identity. Kicking out Brits and Asians will hurt their economy, but they have seen Uganda's loss, and want to go ahead anyway. Like most African nations, Kenya already has tribal divisions. Maybe they don't need race divsions on top of that.
Our American elite has decided to throw away American cultural unity and allow tens of millions of Third World people to pour in. Following simple supply-and-demand rules, these millions of new, mostly uneducated workers have been a big factor in the large decrease in working class salaries since the 1970s (at a time when all economists projected massive salary increases for the working class).
Worse, the elite celebrates our growing cultural disunity ("multiculturalism")and lectures us incessantly about our racism for wanting a united, traditional American culture. Meanwhile, Mexicans and other folk brag about how their cultures and languages are going to dominate our border states.
Here in the border states, we feel like a colony of the federal government, to do with whatever they wish as regards to demographics. Meanwhile, the wealthy get low-wage servile emloyees, and the welfare bureaucrats get an unending supply of new clients.
#8
Catherine - This is not a criticism, but an observation: from 90,000 feet we see Govt policies and their effects. Individuals, however, usualy don't know anything about it - they get a job offer that beats what they can make at home and take a great chance in a foreign land. If things work out as advertised - not always the case - they work hard and send the money home - and many suffer amazing levels of isolation and loneliness for the duration. The host society determines whether this happens - or not. They are pawns - all judgements should be with the policy makers - not the workers. This even applies to the employers - it takes corruption in Govt to have collusion with greedy employers.
I have a very schizophrenic (50% ultra-liberal and 50% ultra-conservative) opinion about US immigration - but I'll spare you. Hell, I'd prolly get roasted for it, anyway, cuz people don't read and absorb the entirety before reacting.
#9
B-A-R - Here's a Kim du Toit article on Afria that echoes your comments - and he certainly knows Africa first-hand...
http://www.kimdutoit.com/dr/essays/essays.php?id=P82
This is only anecdotal, but it's been my experience that my friends who are (relatively) recent immigrants are the most American people I know, at least in terms of their outlook on life. They don't want to be multicultural and establish a Little New Delhi on the banks of the Kokosing (or a Little Mogadishu in Cleveland, or New Shanghai by Lake Erie, and so on)--hell, they moved here to get away from all that!
Posted by: Mike ||
10/29/2003 12:28 Comments ||
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#11
Some passing comments, part on the article, part on the response:
1. Steve, if you need help, I'll gladly volunteer. I have no money, but I'm a fair typist, and I KNOW how the government demands everything in 26 copies, with no errors (and certainly don't correct the errors in THEIR documents - or even comment on them - hypocrites!). We should always be willing to allow those people willing and able to not only support themselves, but to contribute to our overall society, entry into this nation. Especially when they're being kicked out of another for such blatantly arbitrary reasons.
2. The total failure of our government to adequately patrol our southern border is tatamount to treason, and some people should hang for it. The people responsible for this are mostly in Washington, hidden behind layers of bureaucracy in the State Department, in Interior, and even in the new Homeland Security department. It will eventually lead to civil war in the southwest as two radically different and diametrically opposed cultures clash. We don't need that. We'll win, unless the Mexicans get TONS of outside help - including military intervention - but it will distract us from the REAL clash of civilizations RE the Islamofascists (the "Shariah law is the only law" moonbat crowd that can only be stopped by being totally destroyed).
The way it looks to me, we've been at war since the early 1950's, will continue to be at war for at least another century, and most Americans are totally clueless. We need to first weed out the traitors among us, then stop the idiots imposing upon us from without - regardless of who they are (Hear that, France????).
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 12:30 Comments ||
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#12
Whatever your gripes about the US government's lax border security, Catherine, there's no excuse whatsoever for your astonishingly racist remarks regarding non-black communities in East Africa.
The people of Uganda did not ask thousands of Asians to move there. They were held powerless while the British played with their demographics.
When you talk of East African "Asians" you're refering to people of whom the majority have lived there all their lives. How the hell could you justify removing a person by force from a country they were born in, and expect them to find refuge somewhere else, simply because you think that their presence upsets your idea of "cultural unity"?
Then the world called Ugandans "racist" when they kicked the Asians out.
Well, I wonder why? You know, Hitler did a very similar thing. I think he was called racist too.
Actually, the Ugandans chose cultural unity (such as it is) to economic and technologic progress.
Much to the benefit of countries, like the UK and the US, not run by xenophobic dictators.
Economically, that hurt them. But it was their choice.
And it was Germany's choice to get rid of the Jews, Slavs and Gypsies. And no one else's business?
Kenyans today are willing to suffer economic set backs to preserve national identity. Kicking out Brits and Asians will hurt their economy, but they have seen Uganda's loss, and want to go ahead anyway. Like most African nations, Kenya already has tribal divisions. Maybe they don't need race divsions on top of that.
Do you know anything about East African cultural history?! The Swahili coast has been one of the most culturally mixed regions in the world. African, Arabian, European, and Asian peoples have mixed, traded, colonised and assimilated there over millennia. Do I need to point out that, genetically, there is more racial diversity on the continent of Africa than there is in the rest of the world?
You may not like being over run with Mexican migrants, a situation FUBAR'd by government weaknesses, but that's no justification for advocating the horrific racist insanity which threatens to ravage yet another African state.
#13
I agree w/B-A-R on cutting Africa loose. That will be a money pit.
OP - took the words outta my mouth about our southern border. A-holes in D.C. as well as elected officials (McCain for one) need to put an end to the border madness. It is treason. GWB has also not done enough in my opinion to stop this.
This is just too easy.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The key to ending Congoâs civil war and the plunder of its wealth is to implement human rights, property rights, rule of law, freedom of religion, speech and press break the ``vicious cycleââ of arms shipments to the African nation, a U.N.-appointed panel said Tuesday. In its final report to the Security Council released Tuesday, the panel called on the international community to focus on halting the flow of illegal arms. And they want a pony for Christmas.
The panel, following a three-year study, gave the council details on groups and individuals involved in arms trafficking, which is funded by the illegal sale of Congoâs diamonds, gold and other riches. But that information was not released, leaving it up to the council, which will discuss the report on Thursday, to decide whether to make it public. Some U.N. officials worried that identifying traffickers could jeopardize peace efforts. Itâs been a sterling success so far!
In October 2002, the panel accused criminal groups linked to the armies of Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Congo of plundering Congoâs riches and called on the Security Council to impose financial restrictions on 29 companies and 54 individuals. It also named over 70 companies in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America which it alleged had violated international standards for business ethics. Europe, eh?
The panel said that 119 of the 157 parties it named last year responded to the report. Over the past year, its members met with almost all of them and resolved 61 cases. Wonder how many shakedowns plea-bargins with donations to the UN were made?
But it said the cases against 18 companies werenât ``resolvedââ - including international diamond giant De Beers and Avient Air and Das Air of Britain - but it didnât give specifics on why. Couldnât track the diamonds?
The panel said it referred the cases to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ``for updating or further investigation.ââ Another 38 companies and individuals were referred to governments for investigation, some at the request of the governments themselves. Iâm sure the French prosecutor will get right on it.
The Security Council has imposed an arms embargo in areas of eastern Congo where fighting has intensified, and the panel proposed finding a way to implement it and track the arms supply chain from manufacturers to recipients and deter illegal trafficking. Nah, that would mean chips in every gun and special grips coded to let only certain people ... oh wait, now I see where theyâre going.
To help ensure that Congoâs resources are legally exploited, it called on the Congolese government to give ``serious considerationââ to breaking up two ``grossly inefficientââ state-owned mineral resource enterprises, the copper producer Gecamines and the diamond company MIBA. "We have a special program known as Diamonds-for-Foodâ that we believe will work!"
The panel also recommended the establishment ``a natural resources fundââ In an effort to see that Congolese people share in the countryâs riches. The fund should be given a portion of the proceeds from the legal exploitation of the countryâs mineral wealth and timber resources for schools, hospitals, and other projects, it said. Which will then be spent on UN-approved activities like per-diems for UN workers, sex workers, travel, wine, and housing overlooking the river ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/29/2003 1:04:15 AM ||
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FROM: M.J. Kozlowski
TO: The UN Security Council
RE: Arms Trafficking
Sirs:
1. F**king DUH.
Yours Respectfully,
M.J. Kozlowski
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
10/29/2003 1:21 Comments ||
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#2
Arms trafficking is a symptom, not the disease. Lack of democracy, law, etc. is the disease. Ah! The UN is on the case (the operation will be a success but the patient will die). Paging Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard
#4
... it said the cases against 18 companies werenât ``resolvedââ - including international diamond giant De Beers
De Beers has been controlling the diamond market for at least the last 75 years, keeping the price high and manipulating the market in Africa for its own gain. Whacking De Beers won't change much, but it will end one more outpost of economic colonialism in Africa. In doing so, diamond production will skyrocket, the price of diamonds will fall, millions of people will lose money, and not a whole lot if anything will change in Africa. Until the people of Africa start looking beyond tribalism and local gain at some other tribe's loss, it's going to be the bunghole of the world. Only by cooperating with one another, using each group's individual talents to build on local success, and recognizing that someone outside their immediate family group might just possibly be good for something other than a snack can Africa ever pull itself out of the huge hole it's dug for itself.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 12:42 Comments ||
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#5
Mike - Every time I roll past this post - and I mean every time - your post makes me break out laughing - Thanx!
Posted by: Super Hose ||
10/29/2003 14:35 Comments ||
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#8
I think if Liberia had MORE guns, and not just guns concentrated in the hands of nutbags, you'd see less killing and much more politeness. Everybody in Liberia should be armed, 24/7, and be willing to use their weapons against the nutcases that want to make their lives more miserable. One of two things will happen: either the nutcases will stop random killings (afraid they, not their chosen victim, will be the one on the receiving end), or the population will be so decimated there won't be anyone left to pull a trigger. Either way, the WORLD wins.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 22:33 Comments ||
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BEIJING (AP) - Chinaâs No. 2 leader began a ``goodwill visitââ to North Korea on Wednesday as efforts mount to convene a second round of six-nation talks on the insular nationâs nuclear program - a parley that would probably be held, like its predecessor, in Beijing. Wu Bangguo, a member of the Communist Partyâs Standing Committee and head of Chinaâs legislature, is leading a state delegation that also includes a vice premier, Zeng Peiyan, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Also aboard: Wang Yi, the diplomat who is Chinaâs point man on North Korea. Some heavies there.
A top-level military official is also on the trip, Xinhua said. The Northâs official news agency, KCNA, reported the party arrived in Pyongyang late Wednesday morning at the invitation of North Korea. The trip by Wu is be the highest-level visit to the North by a Chinese leader in more than two years. It comes as China encourages the reconvening of six-nation talks over the Northâs nuclear program. "Listen, you nuts, youâre coming to the conference whether you like it or not."
Many believe Beijing, North Koreaâs leash holder most powerful ally, is exerting pressure on Pyongyang through diplomatic channels. The North said last week it was not interested in more talks unless Washington agrees to discuss signing a nonaggression treaty agreeing not to launch a pre-emptive attack. But a few days later, it said it would consider President Bushâs offer for written security assurances to resolve the crisis. The dual responses are characteristic of the Northâs schizophrenia delicate game of brinkmanship - welcoming progress, then rejecting it, then welcoming it again. Then agan, they could just be nuts.
China, in its dealings with North Korea, is struggling to balance its duty to its longtime communist ally and neighbor with its deep trepidation at what a nuclear Korean Peninsula might mean for Chinese security. Weather forecasting being the inexact science that it is, you just never know where the fallout will land.
A six-nation summit in Beijing in August brought together the two Koreas, China, the United States, Japan and Russia to discuss Pyongyangâs nuclear program. The talks adjourned with no concrete progress but with a promise to meet again - an agreement that the North since has questioned. Last week, though, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhang Qiyue referred to ``the next Beijing talks,ââ implying that China considers them a certainty. "Youse muggs, Iâm tellinâ youse ..."
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/29/2003 12:53:15 AM ||
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North Koreaâs most powerful ally
You mean they have others?
Hey Wu (I like the sound of that;), make them an offer they can't refuse.
#2
A military action/confrontation with Korea would have devastating effects on trade in the region, including China - even if it sat on the sidelines. I don't see where there's an upside to letting Kimmy continue playing with matches, even for China
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/29/2003 9:52 Comments ||
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Follow-Up: The best collection of photographs of the weekend A.N.S.W.E.R. "demonstrations" Iâve been able to find...
Hat Tip: Winds of Change
From Annaâs Belligerent Bunny Blog
Solidarity with Saddam
Saturday, October 25, 2003
With Operation Iraqi Freedom concluded, with the Iraqi Baath Party driven out of power, youâd think that groups like International Answer would acknowledge reality and help the millions of Iraqis yearning to join the Free World...
See for yourselves!
Posted by: .com ||
10/29/2003 12:42:56 AM ||
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#1
These jokers are a hoot. Makes me glad to be a soldier and an American. Honestly to think I go shoulder to shoulder to protect the likes these freaks is a hoot.
Posted by: Joe ||
10/29/2003 5:19 Comments ||
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#3
Say, how come these folks weren't out there at the UN HQ and the Red Cross in Baghdad as "human shields" protecting them from those American B-52's?
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
10/29/2003 8:32 Comments ||
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#4
Hey Star Wars fans! Is there any mention of A.N.S.W.E.R. in the Peace Brigade(the SW:NJO equivalent of the ISM)?
#6
50,000 is what I heard, and now I see these photographs. I think somebody has trouble counting in the press room
Posted by: Charles ||
10/29/2003 12:34 Comments ||
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#7
A.N.S.W.E.R. claimed 100,000 in attendance. The news claimed under 10,000. The Freep folks claimed about 4,000. Either way you slice it, that's still a lot of misguided people.
#8
Jarhead - the local newspaper reported a moose wandering in the middle of downtown, along the creek that runs along the Interstate. They specifically asked people to NOT go down there, because of the traffic, because moose can be rather dangerous to us poor flabby homosaps, and because they didn't want people to startle the critter and have him run out into a vehicle on the Interstate. By the end of the week, 15,000 people a day were going moose-gazing. This isn't Washington - we're a third the size. If you've got something that interests people, they show up. If you don't, well, look at the photos! I'd be willing to bet a third of the people there were there just to see who else turned out, not to really DO anything.
BTW, the majority of the people that went moose-gazing were quiet, respectful of the fact that the moose was a wild creature, and just LOOKED. No incidents, no danger - for more than a month. The moose seemed to be oblivious to his stardom.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/29/2003 23:52 Comments ||
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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.
