A woman pleaded guilty Friday to tying up a man during sex, slashing him with a knife and telling him she liked to drink blood.
Tiffany Sutton, 23, originally pleaded not guilty to nine counts of aggravated assault. On Friday, she changed her plea, pleading guilty to one count of aggravated assault and one count of dangerous aggravated assault.
Sutton was arrested Feb. 13 outside the Tempe home she'd been sharing with Robert McDaniel. Sutton claimed the two were living together, but McDaniel told police Sutton was a transient who'd been staying at his place for a few days.
McDaniel told police that he'd consented to being tied up during sex but became scared when Sutton attacked him with a knife.
Sutton used multiple knives to stab McDaniel seven times in the torso and slash him twice. When she cut his inner leg, McDaniel screamed, "What are you doing?"
Sutton told him she liked to drink blood.
McDaniel freed himself and ran from the house, only to be chased by Sutton with a pickax.
By the time police arrived, McDaniel had passed out. Sutton initially told officers she was the victim.
Before he was taken away in an ambulance to be treated for his injuries, McDaniel identified Sutton as his attacker.
Sutton then claimed the entire encounter was consensual.
Sutton and McDaniel admitted to police that they had consumed alcohol and drugs prior to the attack.
After Sutton changed her plea, the judge set a Sept. 28 sentencing date.
For a quarter of a century, the regime established by Khomeini has been labelled a mullahrchy, a theocracy dominated by the Shiite clergy.
Now, however, those familiar with the Iranian situation know that a majority of Shiite clerics never converted to Khomeinism and did not endorse the Islamic Republic. In the past few years, especially since the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as President in 2005, those mullahs who had converted to Khomeinism have lost some of their power privileges.
Today, it is safe to say that the dominant force within the ruling establishment in Tehran is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This is, perhaps, one reason the Bush administration in Washington is mulling the possibility of declaring the IRGC a terrorist organisation.
Were this to happen, the US would be labelling as terrorist the principal force that ensures the survival of the Islamic Republic.
The trouble, however, is that the IRGC is not a monolith, and to label all of its as terrorist may make it difficult to make deals with parts of it when, and if, an opportunity arises.
Any analysis of the IRGC must take into account a number of facts.
First, the IRGC is not a revolutionary army in the sense that the ALN was in Algeria or the Vietcong in Vietnam. Those two were born during the so-called revolutionary wars in which they became key players.
The IRGC was created after the Khomeinist revolution had succeeded.
This fact is of crucial importance.
Those who joined the IRCG came from all sorts of backgrounds. The majority were opportunists who wanted to jump on the bandwagon. By joining the IRGC, an individual would not only obtain revolutionary credentials, often on fictitious grounds, but would also secure a well-paid job, at a time that economic collapse made jobs rare.
Joining the IRGC enabled many who had cooperated with the ancien regime to re-write their CVs and obtain a new revolutionary virginity, so to speak.
Membership of the IRGC ensured access to rare goods and services, from colour television sets to more decent housing.
As the years went by, IRGC membership provided a fast track to social, political and economic success. Today, more than half Ahmadinejads Cabinet ministers are members of the IRCG, as is the president himself. IRCG members hold nearly a third of seats in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis), the ersatz parliament Khomeini created in 1979. Twenty of Irans 30 provinces have governors from the IRGC.
IRGC members have also started capturing key posts in the diplomatic service. Today, for the first time, the Islamic Republics ambassadors in such important places as the United Nations in New York and embassies in a dozen Western capitals are members of the IRGC.
More importantly, perhaps, the IRGC acts as a business conglomerate with interests in many sectors of the economy. By some accounts, the IRGC is Irans third corporation after the National Iranian Oil Company and the Imam Reza Foundation in Mashhad.
In 2004, a Tehran University study, estimated the annual turnover of IRGC businesses at $12 billion. The privatisation package prepared by Ahmadinejad is likely to increase the IRGCs economic clout. Almost all of the public sector companies marked for privatisation, at a total value of $18 billion, are likely to end up in IRGC hands or its individual commanders.
The IRGC also controls the lucrative business of exporting the revolution estimated to be worth $1.2 billion a year. It finances branches of the Hezballah movement in at least 20 countries, including some in Europe, and provides money, arms and training for radical groups with leftist backgrounds. In recent years it has emerged as a major backer of the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas and both Shiite and Sunni armed groups in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Islamic Republic is believed to have invested some $20 billion in Lebanon since 1983. In most cases, the Lebanese branch of the Hezballah nominally in control. But a closer examination reveals that in most cases the Lebanese companies are fronts for Iranian concerns controlled by the IRGC. Hezballahs business empire, the source of much of its power in Lebanon, is like a house of cards that could collapse with an adverse breeze from Tehran.
The crown jewel of the IRGCs business empire is the Islamic Republics nuclear programme that has cost the nation over $10 billion so far. This is part of a broader scheme of arms purchases and manufacture, accounting for almost 11 per cent of the annual national budget.
For all that, IRGC is more of a franchise chain than a corporation controlled by a board of directors. This is why a more sophisticated approach may be needed in dealing with it.
The IRGC is divided into five commands, each of which has a direct line to the Supreme Guide Ali Khamenehi, a mid-ranking mullah, himself one of the earliest members of the force in 1980.
To minimise the risk of coup detat, IRGCs senior officers of are not allowed to engage in sustained communication with one another on sensitive subjects.
Of the five commands in question, two could be regarded asterrorist according to the US State Departments definition that, needless to say, is rejected by the Islamic Republic.
One, which includes the so-called Jerusalem (Quds) Corps, is in charge of exporting the revolution. Apart from Hezballah and Hamas it runs a number of radical groups across the globe.
The second command that could be targeted deals with internal repression. It operates through several auxiliary forces, including the notorious Karbala brigades charged with crushing popular revolts in Tehran. Many Iranians see these as instruments of terror.
The IRGCs officers corps, including those in retirement, numbers around 55,000 and is as divided on domestic and foreign policies as the rest of the society.
Some IRGC former commanders who did not share the Islamic Republics goals have already defected to the United States. Hundreds of others have gone into low-profile exile, mostly as businessmen in The United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Turkey. An unknown number were purged because they refused to kill anti-regime demonstrators in Iranian cities.
Many prominent IRGC commanders may be regarded as businessmen first and military leaders second. Usually, they have a brother or a cousin in Europe or Canada to look after their business interests and keep a channel open to small and big Satans in case the regime falls.
A few IRGC commanders, including some at the top, do not seek major military conflict with the United States that could wreck their business empires without offering victory on the battlefield.
There is no guarantee that, in case of a major war, all parts of the IRGC would show the same degree of commitment to the Islamic Republic. IRGC commanders may be prepared to kill unarmed Iranians or hire Lebanese, Palestinian and Iraqi radicals to kill others. But it is not certain they would be prepared to die for Ahmadinejads glory.
These concerns persuaded Khamenehi to announce a Defence Planning Commission last year, controlled by his office.
A blanket labelling of the IRGC, as opposed to targeting elements of it that do mischief against the Iranian people and others in the region and beyond, could prove counterproductive.
It could unite a deeply fractious force by leaving it no door through which some of its members could walk out of the dangerous situation they have helped create. And not all members of the Schutzstaffel were part of the Allgemeine-SS, which did not prevent the US from hanging a lot of the Waffen-SS with little remorse.
followup to a previous disgusting story, a sick individual, and justice (sentence still to be determined). As a SD Charger fan, I get down on my knees every (rhetorically...) night and thank God we traded Vick for LaDainian Tomlinson: a star, a role model, and genuinely good man who makes everyone around him better. Sorry Atlanta, not your fault :-(
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2007
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Frank, not surprisingly there is a lot more interest in Georgia right now in the Warner Robins Little League team being in the finals of the Little League World Series than there is in the Falcons. Vick may eventually play somewhere, but never again in Georgia.
#2
Shouldn't be too hard to tell. They'll all be wearing black armbands in hollyweird...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/24/2007 20:48
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I hope Hugo has an appropriate black mourning dress....something that goes with a faux-Che beret
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2007 21:13
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Babalu's blog and killcastro are reporting that local, state and Federal authorities are prepping for something big. One of the last update says the Whitehouse was "kinda sorta" denying. Babalu has recently (last 45 minutes) posted that Miami Mayor, Danny Diaz is reporting that there has been NO movement of law enforcement or Fed assets.
#5
I hope Hugo has an appropriate black mourning dress....something that goes with a faux-Che beret
A simple raw silk sheath with a boxy Jackie Kennedy style jacket would be best for his figure I think, Frank. With plain mid-heel black pumps and that beret, and a black clutch purse. Nothing more than a single strand of jet beads around the neck, and simple jet earrings -- he'll be in deep mourning, of course.
Pay attention, Hugo. He used to be a loud mouth, anti-American big shot too...
MIAMI - A judge refused Friday to block the extradition of former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega to France, where he is accused of laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds through French banks.
Senior U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler rejected arguments by Noriega's lawyers that his status as a U.S. prisoner of war negated the French request under the Geneva Conventions and required his return home to Panama.
The decision, which could be appealed, means a hearing before another judge will go forward Tuesday on the extradition request.
Hoeveler, in a 12-page decision, said his designation of Noriega as a prisoner of war following his 1992 conviction was not meant "to shield him from all future prosecutions for serious crimes he is alleged to have committed."
Noriega, 72, is to be released from a U.S. prison Sept. 9 after serving 15 years for drug trafficking and racketeering. He faces up to 10 more years in prison in France.
While in the U.S., Noriega was convicted in Panama of embezzlement, corruption and murdering political opponents and sentenced to 60 years. But he could wind up serving only a fraction of that time or even get house arrest under Panamanian law.
U.S. forces captured Noriega after a 1989 military invasion ordered by then-President George H.W. Bush in part because of the Panamanian's links to Colombian drug traffickers. He was convicted of accepting bribes to allow shipments of U.S.-bound cocaine to pass through Panama.
Noriega also was an asset of the CIA for many years in Latin America, including acting as liaison to Cuban President Fidel Castro, according to court documents. Ah, yes, the AP zinger. I blame Bush. The other Bush...
France wants Noriega to face charges of laundering more than $3 million in drug proceeds through five French banks. Noriega was convicted in absentia of those charges and sentenced to 10 years, but the French agreed to hold a new trial if Noriega is extradited from the U.S.
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2007 17:08
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Wonder if French prison food is any good?
Papillon quality?
Posted by: john frum ||
08/24/2007 17:36
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mmmm...millipedes!
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2007 18:47
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I never understood the Noriega story. Sure, he was a smuggler and a thug and a general (heh) no-good, but he was our guy for the longest time. So what happened? Did he finally do something so far beyond the pale that even the CIA was horrified? Did he become too self-important and demand too big a payoff? Or did he simply outlive his usefulness? Inquiring minds want to know!
RCMP have arrested a pair suspected of stealing 22 pigs from a barn near Sussex, N.B., in a getaway that police say was likely a very tight squeeze.
Thieves took the pigs earlier this month after smashing the locks on a barn in Knightville, rented by Moffett's Farms. The two from Petitcodiac, aged 19 and 20, are suspected to have used one small car to haul the 22 pigs, weighing 23-27 kilograms each, from the farm to the house in Havelock where police tracked them.
RCMP picked up the trail after one of the men forgot his ID at the scene of a break-in.
History does repeat itself. Never exactly -- there are always enough differences in the details that people who are determined not to learn anything from the past can find an excuse.
But history shows patterns precisely because human beings don't change. Orson Scott Card: Fairly long, but well worth reading
Choice quote
We are right now in the business of saving the world from a Muslim empire that will make Hitler look like an amateur, when it comes to murder and oppression. And yet nobody is telling that true story to the American people.
#1
As various comments at the link note, if Brussels mayor Freddy Thielmans forbids SIOE (Stop Islamisation Of Europe) to demonstrate in sympathy for victims of the 9-11 atrocity, yet allows the AEL (Arab Europe League) to protest Islamophobia and racism in Europe he will have conceded the crucial opening battle of a much larger war.
Muslims protesting Islamophobia and racism in Europe on the day that is emblematic of this world's newfound distrust of all things Islamic represents both monumental hubris and a willing disregard for the innocent life lost in the 9-11 atrocity. By gathering in numbers and not voicing stronger opposition to the terrorism now memorialized by 9-11 but instead demanding even greater sympathy for Muslim causes, the AEL demonstrates distinct approvalif not outright celebrationsuch heinous acts.
Dhimmi Watch quotes from the AEL and its Belgian head, Ahmed Azzuz:
"We want to warn Antwerp's Jewish community in its entirety to be on its guard. The community's support for Israel is no secret," Ahmed Azzuz, head of the AEL in Belgium told the Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique.
"The AEL calls on the Jewish community in Antwerp to cease its support of, and distance itself from, the state of Israel. If not, attacks in Antwerp are almost unpreventable," Azzuz had earlier told the Belgian Flemish magazine Knack, adding, "Every year, 200 Belgian-Israeli reservists leave for Israel to kill innocent civilians." EMPHASIS ADDED
As always, the "unpreventable" attacks that no individual Muslim or Islamic group is willing to condemn or try and stop. Such a frank message of intimidation and implicit violence mysteriously evokes no government protest or action against Muslim organizations.
How long will it be before similar threats of "unpreventable" attacks are made in America? If and when such threatened attacks occur here, how many milliseconds would elapse before a vigilante backlash took place against American Muslims?
Islam is skating on thin ice at noontime during a hot summer's day.
#2
A good portion of Antwerp's Jewish community are young Israelis, extensions of the family diamond businesses that re-established themselves in Israel following the second world war. It's not just the stereotypically meek ultra-orthodox Jews in old-fashioned black coats and curly sidelocks. As Mr. Azzuz says, several hundred Israeli reservists go to do their reserve service every year... and then they come back, beautifully trained, to their homes in Antwerp.
#3
Belgium is a turd little country that shouldn't even exist. All one has to do is read the crap they get up to to know this. The southern part will be the first place to go islamic in Europe. The AEL and it's member would be tossed out on their ears most places buy they are honored on Brussles.
#4
Freddie Thielmans is as much dhimmi as Bloomburg and Kline in NYC allowing a madrassa in Brooklyn.
Hey, when you pimp for votes, you have to keep a low profile like a rat, snake, or roach. These 3 were all once men, but PC has made pussies out of them.
The soil on Mars may indeed be teeming with microbes, according to a new interpretation of data first collected more than 30 years ago.
The search for life on Mars appeared to hit a dead end in 1976 when Viking landers touched down on the red planet and failed to detect biological activity. There was another flurry of excitement a decade later, when Nasa thought it had found evidence of life in a Mars meteorite but doubts have since been cast on that finding.
Today, Joop Houtkooper from Justus-Liebig-University in Giessen, Germany, will claim the Viking spacecraft may in fact have encountered signs of a weird life form based on hydrogen peroxide on the subfreezing, arid Martian surface. His analysis of one of the experiments carried out by the Viking spacecraft with a geophysicist, Dirk Schulze-Makuch of Washington State University, Pullman, suggests that 0.1 percent of the Martian soil could be of biological origin, he will tell the European Planetary Science Congress in Potsdam, Germany.
That is roughly comparable to biomass levels found in some Antarctic permafrost, home to a range of hardy bacteria and lichen. It is interesting because one part per thousand is not a small amount, Houtkooper said yesterday. We will have to find confirmatory evidence and see what kind of microbes these are and whether they are related to terrestrial microbes. It is a possibility that life has been transported from Earth to Mars or vice versa a long time ago.
The discovery of microbes on Earth that can exist in environments previously thought too hostile has fuelled debate over extraterrestrial life. Houtkooper believes Mars could be home to just such extremophiles - in this case, microbes whose cells are filled with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.
Such a mixture would provide at least three clear benefits to organisms in the cold, dry Martian environment. Its freezing point is as low as -56.5 C (depending on the concentration of peroxide); below that temperature it becomes firm but does not form cell-destroying crystals, as water ice does; and hydrogen peroxide is hygroscopic, which means it attracts water vapour from the atmosphere - a valuable trait on a planet where liquid water is rare.
Houtkooper believes their presence would account for unexplained rises in oxygen and carbon dioxide when NASAs Viking landers incubated Martian soil. He bases his calculation of the biomass of Martian soil on the assumption that these gases were produced during the breakdown of organic material.
Hydrogen peroxide is also a powerful oxidant. When released from dying cells, it would sharply lower the amount of organic material in their surroundings. This would help explain why Vikings gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer detected no organic compounds on the surface of Mars.
This result has also been questioned recently by Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City University of Mexico, who reported that similar instruments and methodology are unable to detect organic compounds in places on Earth, such as Antarctic dry valleys, where we know soil microorganisms exist.
The twin spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking II, landed on the Red Planet in 1976. They were equipped with detectors designed to test the Martian soil for evidence of life. The main instrument, called the TV-GC-MS assay, rapidly heated and vaporised soil for analysis by a spectrometer.
Dr Navarro-Gonzales concluded: The fact that no organic molecules were released .. during the analysis of the Mars soils does not demonstrate that there were no organic materials on the surface of Mars..
We suggest that the design of future organic instruments for Mars should include other methods to be able to detect extinct and or extant life.
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 18:11
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I recall that Mars meteoite hoopla. Somebody clue me, how can a rock leave the surface of Mars ? Mars does have gravitational pull.
Is this pure bullshit or what ?
Surveillance video shows that five to 10 people in the St. Paul apartment building saw a man attack a woman - but did nothing. The video shows what most witnesses in a St. Paul apartment building apparently didn't tell.
A man beat a woman, removed his pants and sexually assaulted her in a hall, and five to 10 people saw at least part of the attack but did nothing to intervene or help, according to investigators and court documents.
It was only after police were summoned on a report of two drunk people lying in the hall that they learned there had been a rape. Rage Ibrahim, 25, of St. Paul, was charged Thursday with first-degree and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is in Ramsey County jail.
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#4
"He maintains that the incident was a misunderstanding, according to Omar Jamal, the executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center who spoke Thursday on Ibrahim's behalf."
Yeah..the same Omar Jamal from the Airport Cabbies, No-pork checkout workers, flying Imams, and Footwashing machines in colleges. Now this? Wake up Twin Sillies!
French officials rejected a request to extradite a man suspected of killing a Loop dermatologist last year, a Cook County state's attorney's spokesman said Thursday.
Hans Peterson, 29, turned himself in to French authorities Aug. 6 on the Caribbean island of St. Martin after an arrest warrant was issued for him in the U.S. He is accused of fatally stabbing Dr. David Cornbleet in his office in October.
On Wednesday, French officials declined to extradite Peterson because he is a French national, said Cornbleet's son, Jon Cornbleet. The French typically do not extradite citizens who may be facing charges that could result in the death penalty. The family, however, would not object if prosecutors don't seek death, Jon Cornbleet said.
Authorities in Illinois are working with U.S. officials to extradite Peterson to Chicago to face murder charges. Peterson is a U.S. citizen who obtained French citizenship in May while living on St. Martin. His mother is French. The murder was in October. He wasn't a French citizen then.
Cornbleet said he believes Wednesday's decision is only an initial one and that he expects talks between the two sides to continue. He said he is considering hiring a lawyer to aid prosecutors in getting Peterson extradited. "I think that is an injustice to my father and my family who are the true victims," Cornbleet said. "We are not giving up hope and will continue to do everything that we can to get him to face justice in the United States."
Local officials agreed this doesn't mark the end of their extradition efforts. "We will use every legal and diplomatic means at our disposal to get this killer extradited back to the United States to face a trial," said John Gorman, spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
Peterson is being held in French-controlled Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. He allegedly confessed to French authorities.
Democratic U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama of Illinois on Monday wrote letters to the French Embassy in Washington and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging that Peterson be extradited. They raised concern that Peterson may have obtained French citizenship in order to avoid prosecution in the slaying. Geez, ya think?
Durbin pledged that if the letters were insufficient, he would make further appeals. He said he decided to reach out at the request of Cook County State's Atty. Dick Devine. Durbin also said he has a staff member who knew Dr. Cornbleet.
The Cornbleet family has been urging the public to help sway the French government to agree to extradition, placing a petition on a family Web page that in the past was dedicated to seeking information about the doctor's death.
#2
The French people may be our friends but the French Government is not.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/24/2007 18:24
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Hmmmm...wonder if they'd grant 'citizenship' to around...say...10 million coming from the US. Paying for their airfare will be a lot cheaper in the long run in the off sets of costs for schools, hospital, and other social services rendered.
#1
This douchebag again. He's been around a lot lately...
Mr Clive Stafford Smith said yesterday there was no evidence any suspects were on board these flights when they landed at the Scottish airports - a disclosure which official sources believe undermines the case for a police inquiry.
So I guess that wouldn't make them "rendition flights" then, right? So what's your fucking point, asshole?
But Reprieve said the flights may have carried US personnel implicated in the abuse of prisoners.
Oh. So what if they took Air France home? Or Lufthansa? You gonna go after them?
My big wish is that some day one of these "human rights" lawyers heads down to Guantanamo to see one of their clients and ends up getting his throat cut.
And I'll laugh and laugh and laugh...
#2
"Reprieve" are the same clowns that claimed that Ramstein Airbace in Germany had a secret torture chamber. Check out their smoking gun evidence.
"Shaker Aamer, the third detainee cited in the report, who was also detained in Pakistan, believes that he and 30 other prisoners stopped in Germany and changed planes while being transported from Afghanistan to Guantanamo Bay in February 2002.
The prisoners were blindfolded and shackled, but Shaker Aamer could see underneath his blindfold and hear people talking, Reprieve said."
Multi-National Division-Baghdad troops were engaged with small arms and machine gun fire by illegal militiamen while searching for a cache in a northwestern neighborhood of the Iraqi capital Aug. 23.
Paratroopers from Troop C, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, confirmed killing 18 enemy combatants who were engaging a U.S. patrol with small arms and machine gun fire in Baghdads Hayy al Shulla neighborhood.
During the firefight, attack helicopters from the 4th Guns Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, observed eight to 12 men armed militiamen with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades moving toward Coalition Forces. The pilots fired on the armed men and shortly thereafter observed several other Iraqi citizens policing up the site of the attack.
Charlie Troop continued with their mission to find the weapon cache after the small arms fire subsided. While searching the suspected area, they discovered several mortars rounds, two explosively-formed projectile roadside bombs, a rocket, other small arms weapons and command wire in an abandoned house.
#2
"Policing up the site of the attack." Important intel information, as it indicates that they are becoming so short of weapons and equipment that they have to recover it from their dead. Which also probably means that the black market prices for such things are jumping, putting pressure on finances.
James Taranto, "Best of the Web" @ the Wall Street Journal
Several readers sent us this link with the suggestion that we file it under "Bottom Stories of the Day," but we actually found it oddly interesting. The New York Observer has tracked down Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, and asked him to weigh in on today's politics:
It was around this very moment 20 years ago, the summer when Oliver North told Congress he was "authorized to do everything that I did" and Reagan fatigue took hold, that Mr. Dukakis, then the 53-year-old governor of Massachusetts, emerged at the head of a crowded Democratic presidential pack. By the time he was formally nominated in Atlanta the following July, he'd opened a 17-point lead over Vice President George H.W. Bush.
"I can handle this guy," Mr. Dukakis supposedly replied around that time when John Sasso, his consultant in exile, asked to return to the campaign. "You worry about the first 100 days."
So you can understand why the numerous harbingers of a triumphant 2008 for Democrats--George W. Bush's Nixonian approval ratings, polls that show voters favoring a Democratic White House candidate by double-digit margins, the electorate's historical aversion to three-term rule by one party--haven't prompted Mr. Dukakis to begin planning his trip to the 2009 inaugural celebration.
"We're not going to outspend the other guys," he said during an interview in his modest office in the political science department at Northeastern University, where he was the first to arrive (at 7:30 a.m.) on a recent midsummer morning. "We're probably not going to outstrategize them. And some crazy guy will blow up a building with three weeks to go, you know, and then we'll be back in Bush-land again."
. . . that last quote is really creepy. The thought of a massacre on American soil seems to leave Dukakis unmoved, except that he worries it might be harmful to his party's political prospects. But this is of a piece with his insouciant attitude toward the depredations of Willie Horton (a murderer who brutalized a Maryland couple after his release on a Dukakis-approved prison furlough program) and a hypothetical question in a 1988 debate about how he would feel if his own wife were raped and murdered. An important reason Dukakis lost is that he comes across as freakishly bloodless, unable to convey the normal range of human emotion. . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
08/24/2007
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An important reason Dukakis lost is that he comes across as freakishly bloodless, unable to convey the normal range of human emotion. . . .
For a moment there I thought they were talking about Al Gore.
#6
"We're probably not going to outstrategize them [Trunks]. And some crazy guy will blow up a building with three weeks to go, you know, and then we'll be back in Bush-land again.". . . that last quote is really creepy. The thought of a massacre on American soil seems to leave Dukakis unmoved, except that he worries it might be harmful to his party's political prospects.
It's not just Dukakis; this is the attitude of the whole friggin Democratic Party; party first, America second--they've sold their soul to the devil.
#7
Dukakis still can't get over Willie Horton. The sins of the father are revisited by the son.
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08/24/2007 17:29
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They just don;t get it. If the U.S. being attacked is a bad thing then that means people simply don't trust them with security. If we can't trust the Donks with security why are they even being considered given the state of world affairs?
#10
I suppose they would see another major attack upon US soil as the ultimate vindication of their stance that "killing terrorists only creates more terrorists". What's more strange is that they must all be unaware of the basic principles behind standard pest extermination methods. What do they do, try to "negotiate" with the termites that're eating their homes? Hold "talks" with the cockroaches? Work out "treaties" with the rats and mice?
Tonight's Episode: Jooo Hunt Gone Bad...
PCHRs preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 00:00 on Sunday, 19 August 2007, armed Palestinian groups deployed in the village of El-Fokhar southeast of Khan Yunis after news spread of the infiltration of special Israeli forces in the area. An exchange of fire took place between these groups due to a mix up, with the groups suspecting each other to be the infiltrating force. It became clear afterwards that no Israeli forces infiltrated into the area of the clash. Three residents of El-Fokhari were injured in the clash:
Abdallah Sami El-Omur (22), injured by a bullet in the right hand.
Reyad Khader El-Omur (21), injured by a bullet in the right leg.
Sari Ali El-Omur (22), injured by a bullet in the left leg. Disappointing. No foot shots. But the "hat trick" for the El-Omur family!
The injured were taken to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis for treatment, where their injuries were listed as moderate. It hurts when I do this.
Well ,then don't do that.
PCHR is concerned over this incident that constitutes a continuation of security chaos in the OPT. The Centre calls upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate the incident and prosecute the perpetrators. Aw, c'mon guys, cut em a break. They thought it was Jooos. At least they meant well
Another case of a celebrity who thinks he's above the law.
A court in India has upheld the sentencing of Bollywood star Salman Khan in a case of poaching. Khan had asked the court to set aside a five-year jail term, issued in April 2006 for hunting a protected gazelle on a trip to Rajasthan in 1998.
And Michael Vick thinks he has problems ...
Khan, one of Bollywood's top actors, was not present in the court in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city when the judge upheld the sentence. The court said that the actor should be sent to prison immediately.
Khan's lawyers told reporters that the actor would appeal against the sentence in a higher court.
The court had found Khan guilty of killing a gazelle in September 1998 while he was shooting a film in the area. Khan was sentenced by the same court in February last year to one year for killing two protected black buck antelopes during a separate hunting trip in 1998.
The poaching cases are not Salman Khan's only brush with the law. He is also facing trial in Mumbai (Bombay) in a 2002 hit-and-run case. One person was killed and three others injured when Khan allegedly drove into a group of homeless people sleeping on a pavement.
Khan faces 10 charges, including causing death by negligent driving which carries two years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty on all counts.
Posted by: john frum ||
08/24/2007
11:05 ||
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#1
Meanwhile...
Bollywood's Sanjay Dutt released
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, jailed for buying weapons from bombers who attacked Mumbai in 1993, has been released from an Indian prison.
Dutt, who was sentenced for six years last month by a special court, was given temporary bail by the Supreme Court earlier this week.
On Monday, the court ordered the actor's release on the grounds that a copy of the judgement, passed by the special anti-terror court in Mumbai, was yet to reach the actor.
But court specified that the relief was temporary.
The judge said as soon as the actor received a copy of the Mumbai court order, he would have to surrender again and he would be sent back to jail.
Only after that could the actor file an appeal for bail and the matter would be considered on merit, the judge added.
Posted by: john frum ||
08/24/2007 11:09
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#2
Somewhere in India a prison erupts in rapturous applause
Posted by: john frum ||
08/24/2007 11:11
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Bye, Sanjay, bye. I'll miss you. I'll never forget our...
Ooooooh, helloooooo, Salman...
Looks like Hamas got it all under control...
Gaza Ma'an Gaza's municipality workers have been striking for two weeks in protest against the non-receipt of their salaries. In consequence, rubbish is piled high in the streets. On Friday, the Gazan population began to burn their rubbish. Suha Arafat got paid last week. Did you?
Local residents of Gaza complained of rubbish blockading the homes of people all over the strip. Now the thick smoke from the rubbish is blacking-out the sky. Might be a good time for a sewage flood...
In addition, Gaza is at threat from Israeli attacks and is experiencing frequent electricity outages. Geez, everything happens to them...
A woman in Gaza, Om Abdullah, described the stench created by the burning rubbish around her home last night, "this pollution is making my children sick," she said. "My youngest children were sent to the children's clinic several times as their chests inflamed from the smoke." She also said that her family are also suffering from water shortages. Ismail Haniyeh feels your pain I'm sure...
A Gazan supermarket owner, Abu Muhammad, said "life in Gaza during this summer was almost impossible due to blackouts for several days, and in my home there was not even a drop of water." A young man, Wisam, said "human beings cannot spend hours in this heat without even taking one shower a day." Awwwwwww, that's...too bad.
Ma'an attempted to speak to paediatricians in Gaza to find out the impact of the burning rubbish on children's health. The doctors apologized and said they were unavailable for interview due to an overwhelming number of patients needing treatment. So I guess from this we could imply that sucking in trash fire smoke can't be good for kids?
#1
A young man, Wisam, said "human beings cannot spend hours in this heat without even taking one shower a day."
Suck it up, Wisam. The prophet (bees pee upon him) probably didn't take a shower in his entire life. So you are just emulating him, like you should.
#5
The Jooo Macro used to be F11, but now we have a perl script that automatically inserts it into each story.
As for the sewage flood putting out the garbage fires, what a special effects dream! Just the thing for my screenplay "Escape From Gaza". Anyone know what Snake Plissken is up to these days?
Posted by: Unineting Prince of the Faith4345 ||
08/24/2007 14:31
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I thought that it was reported here the other day that public workers WERE being paid, but had to stay home, I'm so confused. But the bottom line is, the garbage is still piling up in Gaza AND there is still trash in the streets.....(bring on the sh!t tsunami)
#13
Steve, look up. Rantburg is run by PHP, not Perl. With Perl, you could get a soothing haiku with every story.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
08/24/2007 22:04
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Steve, look up. Rantburg is run by PHP...
I wasn't refering to the 'burg, where we know it's all about joos, Jooos, Joooos I tell you! but to whatever meme-spewing systems these media hacks compose their drivel on. Probably WinCE, because that is what it makes me do!
Apparantly his performance was unsatisfactory.
MESA, Ariz. An Arizona woman has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing her estranged husband in the chest during sex, MyFOXPhoenix.com reports. NOW he's 'estranged', but if he was estranged before, why were they ...?
The heart is a lonely hunter ...
Falon Gonzales, 23, was released on $100,000 bond after being booked Tuesday night, according to the report. Her husband, Juan Carlos Gonzales, 26, was listed in serious condition at a local hospital.
He fled to neighbor Tony Ballard's home on West Stanford Avenue in Gilbert, Ariz., after the attack, MyFOXPhoenix.com reports. "I've never had a naked man run to my house bleeding, you know what I mean?" Ballard told MyFOXPhoenix.com.
Actually, I think we do. Ewwwww ....
Ballard told MyFOXPhoenix.com that the couple was in the middle of sex when the alleged attack occurred. "She was on top and she reached out of a bag and pulled a knife out of a bag and drove it into his chest," Ballard said of the incident.
That's just gotta hurt ...
"She apologized first," the neighbor told MyFOXPhoenix.com. "She said 'Juan, I'm sorry about this.'"
Not half as sorry as Juan was. Heck, not even a tenth as sorry ...
Juan Carlos Gonzales was transported to Scottsdale Osborn Healthcare hospital with a collapsed lung and was listed in serious condition.
#1
Bunch of cowards.
They will run all over and offend everyone under the sun........ except those that will kill them.
Real brave way to show you are all for the first amendment guys. Real brave.
#2
A slap in the face for all the people who fought and died so that we could enjoy a free and open society. Islam has already worn out its welcome several times over. Watching craven cowards kow-tow to these cretinous bastards goes beyond revolting. This appeasement only greases the wedge's thin end.
#3
Hey! Mebbe they pulled the strip becasue I find it offensive. Sometimes. Usually pretty funny, though.
But Doonesbury is almost always offensive to me.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/24/2007 10:42
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moose - I attempted to access the link but all I get is a message saying "service unavailable".
I'm not 'puter literate. Please advise: Is it me or my 'puter or the link? Thank you.
OT: I don't listen to him everyday but as so happens I was tuned into the end of the Rush Limbaugh show yesterday (as perhaps were some other RB'ers. I'm going to paraphrase Mr. Limbaugh's words but I assure you what I'm about to write is accurate:
On Thursday, Aug. 23rd Rush said the following: "What I am about to say is going to get me into trouble...what I'm about to say will upset some people...but I'm going to say it anyway. My good friend Andy McCarthy...who writes for National Review and who helped to prosecute The Blind Sheik after the first attack on the WTC in 1993 has made this point and I'm about to make the same point: Read the words of Al Queada, read the words of the muslim throughout the world as to why they hate America. And when you do you will find that their reasons for wanting us destroyed will be found in the...(pause for effect)...their KORAN.
The manner in which he stated this fact... a fact known to us for a long time here at RB, suggested to me that he was announcing this fact for the first time to his radio audience. Maybe you had to be there to hear for yourself, but I'm saying that a hurdle in educating America was crossed by Rush yesterday on Aug. 23rd. A hurdle, I might add, that should have been crossed a long time before yesterday as we are now some 6 years removed from 9-11.
Would that our elected leaders have the simple courage to acknowledge this disturbing but truthful reality. Sigh.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
08/24/2007 11:00
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I've yet to find the Constitutional Amendment that declares "You have the right not to be offended."
But it's gotta be in there someplace, right?
#6
From Wikipedia "The word Islam means "submission", or the total surrender of oneself to God (Arabic: الله, Allāh)."
That is inconsistent with:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
One has to be subordinated to the other. You choose.
#7
I was going to say that I wouldn't mind if they censored offensive cartoons if they had a practice of censoring cartoons which were similarly offensive to Christians, etc. Papers censor offensive items DAILY.
But then I clicked and saw the cartoon. That's IT! That's what they felt compelled to censor?!!
Sheesh. What a bunch of wimps. And considering that they constantly publish works far more offensive to Christians, Jews, women, etc., we can all have a good laugh next time they say they are bold protectors of the first amendment.
#8
I say we all go out and offend the over sensitive.... I for one am a little hungry today... Lets have some baby back PORK ribs!
BTW : I am also getting "Service Unavailable" on the link, but as a fan of Opus, I know Breathed doesn't hold back, and shame on Wappo and the other rags for witholding the strip...
#12
There server has probably died, as this article was posted on some very high volume sites. However, they did say that *two* of his comics on the subject have been censored, and that they could be seen at the Slate site, in their Opus archive. One of the comics was in mid to late September, the other later.
#13
It's still there when I click. Maybe some of the browsers are censoring?
For those of you who can't see... The guy with the cigarette always hanging out of his mouth is talking to a woman dressed up in a hijab that also covers her mouth.
Wondering why she is dressed that way, he asks her, "A Muslim Fundamentalist?" She answers, "No, Radical Islamist. Hot new fad on the planet".
Bobby - it's not Doonesbury. It's Bloom County. Different cartoonists. Doonsbury (Tradeau) is boring liberal tripe. Breathed (Boom County) is funny.
#15
I understand, UMcG I see both every Sunday in Mrs. Bobby's WaPo. Sometimes Bloom County is offensive to me (Bush bashing), but almost always funny. I haven't found Doonesbury funny since Clinton left office. Liberal tripe is generous.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/24/2007 16:14
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Bobby: Sorry, I misunderstood your comment. I cancelled my papers long ago and so I haven't read Bloom County for years. Too bad if sunk to Bush basing I used to really like him - I suppose it helps keep him syndicated. If nothing else, I give him a tip of the hat for being brave enough to publish these cartoons.
#17
Try here for odd comics (I like Pibgorn myself)
http://www.gocomics.com/
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/24/2007 18:45
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But then I clicked and saw the cartoon. That's IT! That's what they felt compelled to censor?!!
Don't forget the South Park episode -- they had Mohammed show up at the door to deliver a note or something, and then had Jesus dancing around crapping on things.
Guess which was blanked out by the network?
For those of you who can't see... The guy with the cigarette always hanging out of his mouth is talking to a woman dressed up in a hijab that also covers her mouth.
That would be Steve Dallas.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
08/24/2007 19:30
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...it's not Doonesbury. It's Bloom County.
Actually, it's Opus. Bloom County was funny. Opus...not so much, except when he's recycling old Bloom County gags (previously recycled in Outland).
Any of them are funnier than Doonesbury. I have some Doonesbury books which suggest that in the distant past it, too, was funny. Scientists now believe these to be hoaxes.
The Hague police on Thursday announced they had arrested one of the three suspected attackers of Islam critic Ehsan Jami. A police spokeswoman said the arrest could be made thanks to the detailed description Jami gave of the 17-year-old young man.
Jami recently founded a committee for former Muslims, saying it was necessary to overcome what he called "persistent taboos" in Muslim society about leaving the faith. He is also a member of the city council for the Labour Party in Leidschendam-Voorburg near the Hague.
Jami told police the attacker was someone he had seen in his neighbourhood several times in recent months.
Iranian born Jami received extra personal protection early August after being attacked for the third time by Muslim youths. He lives in a secret location and receives police protection around the clock. He has not appeared in public since he was last attacked almost four weeks ago.
The attacks followed after Jami referred to the Muslim Prophet Mohammed as a "horrible man" in several interviews and said he wanted to start a debate about domestic violence and human rights in Islam.
The police said efforts would continue to arrest the other two alleged attackers. In the meantime, police protection for Jami will remain unchanged.
A MSM article that is hard to EFL, but I did - go read the whole thing.
But six years after US special forces failed to capture the al-Qa'eda leader in his mountain stronghold, the place where the September 11 attacks were hatched, American troops are again scouring the mountains of Tora Bora.
A week ago American forces launched a major operation to counter a rejuvenated al-Qa'eda, which has been steadily regrouping in the tribal areas of Pakistan, and has in the past three months moved back into the Tora Bora area of Afghanistan.
American military officials say much of what is happening around Tora Bora remains "classified". Discreetly, Western officials in Kabul describe it as "very successful", trapping insurgents in a series of adjacent valleys. "Five hundred infiltrated the area," said Gen Qadim Shah, the commander of 1st Brigade, Afghan Army in Nangahar. "We have captured 57 fighters from the Taliban and al-Qa'eda. They include Chechens, Arabs and Uzbeks."
Tribal leaders said that these include several men known locally as long-standing Afghan figures in the al-Qa'eda leadership.
Gen Dan McNeill, the Nato commander, moved a battalion from 82nd Airborne, which makes up his operational reserve in Afghanistan, from Helmand to support the operation. Pakistani troops are also reported to have taken up escort blocking positions along the border.
The Daily Telegraph was the first Western newspaper to reach the area of the fighting, thanks to help from local tribesmen who smuggled us in along the only access road. Three US special forces soldiers and their translator were killed (bows in their honor)
on the approaches to the caves last week and Western officials say that two helicopters have also been damaged in the fighting.
Taliban fighters had last been reported in the area the day before, when they severely beat a number of local villagers. The intelligence officer contacted US forces by phone to forestall the danger of an air attack. Newly-built Taliban stone firing positions were visible close to the track.
In 2001 the US was widely criticised for relying on local militias, who reputedly took bribes to allow the majority of al-Qa'eda's key leadership to escape. This time American forces were dropped unexpectedly into the area by helicopter, blocking escape routes to the border.
Taliban "night letters" in local villages announced a new "Tora Bora Front" under the leadership of Maulawi Anwar ul-Haq Mujahed, the son of the prominent Mujahideen commander Younis Khalis, who fought the Soviet occupation.
An important al-Qa'eda figure, Dr Amin ul-Haq, who has been listed by the US government as bin Laden's security co-ordinator, was also with the force. Local leaders say Amin was injured in a bombing raid and smuggled back across the border.
#2
Word. They have really kept the lid tight as far as I can read. There doesn't even seem to be much speculation about what is really going on. Guess we'll have to wait for the book.
#7
Pakistani troops are also reported to have taken up blocking positions along the border.
Just lovely...
Posted by: john frum ||
08/24/2007 12:33
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Though Pakistani forces were employed in 'blocking' position, you will also note that "American forces were dropped unexpectedly into the area by helicopter, blocking escape routes to the border." It seems that was not sufficient, as "Amin was smuggled back across the border."
#12
They probably didn't throw them out as much as, by habit, when they think the pressure is on in Pakistan, they go to Afghanistan, and vice-versa.
So when we let it be known that we knew where their relatively safe and dispersed camps in Pakistan were, they immediately abandoned them and went to Tora Bora, where we could get them.
US and Afghan commanders believe they have a large force pinned down in the valleys in southern Nangarhar. "Five hundred infiltrated the area," Gen. Qadim Shah, the commander of 1st Brigade of the Afghan Army, told Mr. Coghlan. "We have captured 57 fighters from the Taliban and al-Qaeda. They include Chechens, Arabs and Uzbeks." Local tribesmen are also saying Chinese Muslims, or Uighurs, and "a large contingent of Uzbeks led by Tahir Yuldashev" of the al Qaeda affiliate Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan are fighting in the area.
The fighting has been reported to be heavy in the Tora Bora region. The United Nations reports over 400 Afghan families have been displaced due to the ground combat and NATO airstrikes.
#14
close the lid on this kill box roach motel and dispose of properly. I bet we have some MOABs near their printed "use by" dates :-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2007 17:06
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Why should we care about the sovereignty of this area? It is a no-man's land. The terrorists had little regard for our sovereignty on 911; they attacked our soil. They have no regard for the sovereignty of any nation. The dastardly, evil 911 scheme was hatched in this tribal area and Afghanistan. Go after the enemy and kill them.
#16
pressure is on in Pakistan, they go to Afghanistan, and vice-versa.
Except for the Arabs. They go to the Karachi Hilton. Which is part of my beef. Why care about capturing or killing Uighurs and Uzbeks. They are just more mouths to feed and sheets to change at Gitmo. It's the Arabs and their Paki butt boys we want.
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 17:51
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#11: Did they just wear out their welcome?
From article: Taliban fighters ... severely beat a number of local villagers.
A quick way to squander support. Apparently no one has translated Mao's Little Red book and other works into Arabic or the other languages of these arrogant thugs. Good. Seems they have a knack for alienating those they rely on for support.
Wind turbines continue to multiply the world over. But as they grow bigger and bigger, the number of dangerous accidents is climbing. How safe is wind energy?
It came without warning. A sudden gust of wind ripped the tip off of the rotor blade with a loud bang. The heavy, 10-meter (32 foot) fragment spun through the air, and crashed into a field some 200 meters away.
The wind turbine, which is 100 meters (328 feet) tall, broke apart in early November 2006 in the region of Oldenburg in northern Germany -- and the consequences of the event are only now becoming apparent. Startled by the accident, the local building authority ordered the examination of six other wind turbines of the same model.
The results, which finally came in this summer, alarmed District Administrator Frank Eger. He immediately alerted the state government of Lower Saxony, writing that he had shut down four turbines due to safety concerns. It was already the second incident in his district, he wrote, adding that turbines of this type could pose a threat across the country. The expert evaluation had discovered possible manufacturer defects and irregularities.
Mishaps, Breakdowns and Accidents
After the industry's recent boom years, wind power providers and experts are now concerned. The facilities may not be as reliable and durable as producers claim. Indeed, with thousands of mishaps, breakdowns and accidents having been reported in recent years, the difficulties seem to be mounting. Gearboxes hiding inside the casings perched on top of the towering masts have short shelf lives, often crapping out before even five years is up. In some cases, fractures form along the rotors, or even in the foundation, after only limited operation. Short circuits or overheated propellers have been known to cause fires. All this despite manufacturers' promises that the turbines would last at least 20 years.
Gearboxes have already had to be replaced "in large numbers," the German Insurance Association is now complaining. "In addition to generators and gearboxes, rotor blades also often display defects," a report on the technical shortcomings of wind turbines claims. The insurance companies are complaining of problems ranging from those caused by improper storage to dangerous cracks and fractures. More at the link
#1
And yet 75 year-old windmills continue to pump water out in Nebraska - though it sometimes takes rather creative repair work, since parts are not very available.
#2
Ahhhhhmm..see thaya, I..errrrrrrrahhhhhhhmmmm....told you!
So...ahhhhmmmm...get off my...errrrrrrahhhhmmmm...back, friggin peons!
Posted by: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy ||
08/24/2007 13:37
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#3
gag. So I guess we should get rid of powerlines too. How often do they fall? How many people die from touching them each year. And of course, we need to get rid of natural gas too. How many houses blow up each year? How many people die from unlit pilots? And that's not to mention the danger gas poses after an earthquake or in a fire.
And while we are at it, shouldn't we just get rid of all planes trains and automobiles? Why, compared to wind energy, the death toll is staggering.
#5
Currently producing tooling for some monster blades; the parent specs have been provided to us and they read like we are building an airplane; material traceability, torque values on fasteners, redundant mechanical systems, all that really cool ISO9001 stuff. Well cool if your spousal unit's bread and butter is dependent on you being the resident ISO-geek.....
#6
As a mechanical engineer who worked for many years in custom process equipment design, I can assure you that all of these problems are man-made and solvable.
This is probably just another example of the trend for system manufacturers to eviscerate their engineering staffs and rely on component vendors for "free engineering". You get what you pay for -- sometimes less.
"They would get his autograph, commend him on his tightly spiraled forward passes, then bet on one of his dolphins."
It's going to take a long, long time for Johnson to live this down. The Al Sharpton blog post he's linked to is a parody site.
UPDATE: MSNBC has issued a correction:
An earlier version of this article quoted from a blog entry purportedly by the Rev. Al Sharpton. MSNBC.com has determined that the blog is a hoax. In July, Sharpton signed a letter with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals condemning dogfighting, saying: "Dogfighting is unacceptable. Hurting animals for human pleasure or gain is despicable. Cruelty is just plain wrong."
No, it's not a hoax. The blog is clearly labeled as a parody site. MSNBC has scrubbed the link from their correction so readers can't see how easily they were duped.
Posted by: Mike ||
08/24/2007
09:23 ||
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Funny blog!
Amusing that MSNBC's correction confuses hoax and parody. Hoax, parody. Metaphor, simile. Lays, lies. Journalism be hard!
Hey, if it is any consolation to you all, reporters get paid for these bone-head errors, unlike you and me who just look like morons.
A man who wildly stabbed fellow passengers on board an Oslo tram three years ago is now reportedly seeking compensation from the state. He claims he never should have been released from psychiatric care just days before he went amok.
We might in fact agree, but we still don't want to pay you ...
The man, an immigrant from Somalia in his 40s, killed one of the passengers and wounded four others in the bloody attack on board the #17 tram as it rolled by Bislett Stadium on an August afternoon in 2004.
He had been sitting quietly on the tram when he suddenly pulled out a large knife, which he'd just bought in downtown Oslo, and started slashing at everyone around him. The shocked driver of the tram brought it to a halt and frantically called for assistance. By the time it arrived, the man had fled, hijacking the car of a passing motorist. One of his victims, a 23-year-old man who didn't hear the uproar around him because he was deaf, was stabbed to death.
The assailant was eventually captured later that day and has been committed to psychiatric care ever since. Newspaper VG reported Friday that he now claims the state is liable for turning him into a killer because he didn't receive the care he needed at the time. His attorney wouldn't elaborate on the case, nor would the organization that promotes patients' rights in Norway.
State health authorities earlier criticized a doctor at Ullevål University Hospital for releasing the man from acute care without having a plan to follow up his treatment. An intern on duty had actually handled the release, but the doctor was viewed as being responsible.
#2
He probably will, tu, it's Norway after all.
In Norway's defense, they couldn't have just kept him locked up in psych care - it would have been profiling, even if most Muslims probably do belong in psych wards.
Swedish politicians favour tough restrictions on press freedom, according to a new survey. A majority of Swedish members of parliament want to forbid 'sexist' advertising, force newspapers to gain permission when they publish photos of celebrities and to ban the publication the names of suspects in criminal trials.
In results described as "frightening" by the Swedish Newspaper Publishers' Association, 60 percent of MPs want to make it possible for companies to sue media for defamation. Especially state-owned companies, staffed with political cronies.
The findings are the result of a survey of all members of parliament carried out by polling company Sifo. Of Sweden's 349 MPs, 227 responded to the questions.
PeO Wärring, deputy chairman of the Swedish Newspaper Publishers' Association, said that MPs "do not understand the importance of freedom of speech and freedom of the press for an open and democratic society." Au contraire, mon amis, the communists understand all to well how freedom of speech interferes with their "special, unique, and precious" right to deliver ukazes from the imperial conference table.
77 percent of MPs replied that newspapers should be banned from publishing names and photos of crime suspects until they are convicted. 55 percent said sexist advertisements should be banned. That's how a police state works: Suspects cannot be named when sought; suspects cannot be named when arrested; suspects cannot be named when indicted; suspects cannot be named when tried. Why, then, bother with public trials?
59 percent said that police should be banned from leaking details of investigations to the media. Sweden's current freedom of speech laws mean they can usually speak to the media about investigations without fear of disciplinary action.
55 percent wanted a law to limit the rights of media to report on famous people. As with most of the other issues, support for restrictions was reduced since the survey was carried out last year, when the Social Democrats were in power. Then, 74 percent of MPs wanted restrictions. "Famous" people, being first and foremost, political rulers and their cronies.
55 percent of those asked said that damages in cases involving press freedom should be "raised substantially."
"Freedom of the press and freedom of expression have been won by the people through political struggle. Our politicians must not forget this, and should take their responsibility for the citizen's right to know," said PeO Wärring. How brave. What you should have said is that the survival of liberty in Sweden requires that these political thugs be kicked out of office in the next election. That's "democracy".
#1
If they asked me if I favored limiting rights to media people focusing on celebs, I might say yes. I think that the media should not have the right to stalk celebrities the way they do. Everyone, even celebs should have reasonable rights to privacy.
So what does it matter if 55% say yes to that? Talk about bait and switch. That I agree that celebs should not be legally stalked by the press does not mean that I would want the tough restrictions on press freedom as described here.
#2
If the Swedish press has any sense, they should hound and torment the politicians who support this mercilessly. They literally have to ruin any politician who supports this, or they are ruined themselves.
They really need to go tabloid on them with mean allegations, carefully written to avoid libel laws, but horrifying to the typical reader. And they should attack the parliament as a whole, to undermine their power as a group, so that voters are disgusted with them.
Portray politicians as a whole in the worst possible light, greedy, corrupt, perverted, filthy drunks and drug abusers. They will get the message.
Sen. John Edwards, in a campaign theme speech about the culture of Washington, became the first Democrat to refer to the correlation between major Democratic fundraisers circa 1995 and their subsequent overnight stays in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House.
The choice for our party could not be more clear. We cannot replace a group of corporate Republicans with a group of corporate Democrats, just swapping the Washington insiders of one party for the Washington insiders of the other.
The American people deserve to know that their Presidency is not for sale, the Lincoln Bedroom is not for rent, and lobbyist money can no longer influence policy in the House or the Senate.
Posted by: Mike ||
08/24/2007
08:55 ||
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Jim Geraghty at National Review adds:
I hate to say it, since I think its such a legitimate line of inquiry and criticism against Hillary, but Ill bet this gets widely interpreted as a desperation move on Edwards part. Hell get slammed for repeating right-wing noise machine talking points and being a Fox News Democrat and deviations from acceptable discourse authorized by The Party must be punished with reeducation and the usual response from the rest of the party.
Posted by: Mike ||
08/24/2007 12:16
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The delegation of so-called Indian Muslim intellectuals led by secretary general Tanzeem Aimma-e-Masajid Maulana Umair Ilyasi, which had left for Israel August 15, signed an agreement with the Chief Rabbis in Tel Aviv to work together in unison against the forces of hatred and violence, reports Urdu daily Hindustan Express citing agencies here Friday.
The Express report claims that this is the first time that a Muslim organisation has signed an agreement with the religious heads of Jews. This agreement, which was signed following a series of meetings between the two parties, reportedly mentions some very delicate and controversial issues including the imbroglio of Jerusalem (Bait al-Maqdis), though in veiled terms.
One striking feature of this agreement is that it appeals to political leaders to find out some permanent solution to the issue of Jerusalem guaranteeing religious rights of every religious community.
At the time of inking of this Jew-Muslim agreement, or as the Express would love to call selling out the community interests', president Inter-Religions Harmony Foundation Dr Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmad (who had launched Vajpayee Himayat Committee soon after the Gujarat massacre of Muslims) and representative of Dargah Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia, Khwaja Afzal Nizami were also present. However they say that the agreement has been signed between Tanzeem Aimma-e-Masajid and Jewish Rabbis. The Express report makes it clear that the main points of agreement have not been made public.
Before the signing of this agreement, the delegation met Israel president Shimon Peres and foreign minister Tzipi Livni, who appreciated these so-called Muslim intellectuals' daring to visit Israel.
It looks like Father Ramadan has joined the festivities in the first photo at the link.
A Muslim charity and the U.S. government will split the costs of photocopying financial and personnel records seized from the charity in a raid last September, a federal judge ruled Thursday. In another compromise, Life for Relief and Development will get a break on the copying costs because the FBI will allow Kinko's to copy the documents in a nonclassified section of the FBI headquarters. Previously, the FBI had insisted on using a copying company with a security clearance, which would charge much higher fees.
Copying only the financial records should cost about $7,200, said Michael Taxay of the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division in Washington, D.C. Previously, the FBI quoted Life for Relief copying charges of $21,000 to $115,000, depending on how many records were copied.
Agents raided the Southfield offices of Life for Relief on Sept. 18, taking computers and nearly 200 boxes of paper records. Nobody has been arrested or charged with any crime yet. Since then, the FBI has copied and returned the computer files, but not the paper records. Life for Relief argued for their return, saying the charity has not been able to file its tax return, complete audits, manage personnel matters, and perform other functions.
The Justice Department says the FBI continues "a wide-ranging and substantial investigation" and has filed sealed documents with the judge disclosing why it needs the records. "Eleven months is not an extensive period of time given the size and scope of the investigation," Taxay told U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds Thursday.
#1
"Eleven months is not an extensive period of time given the size and scope of the investigation," Taxay told U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds Thursday.
I don't care if it takes eleven years, but they had better burn these scumbags down. Zakat funds terrorism. Period. There is no way to prevent it except by ending either or both. Islam's religious protections must be stripped away at the soonest possible instant. It makes no pretense of transparency and in light of taqiyya, there can never be any, ever. Through willful deceit and constant perfidy, Islam has painted itself into a moral and ethical corner. We need to brick it up.
Malaysia's government ordered a Tamil-language daily to immediately halt publication for a month Friday as punishment for printing an image of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette, an official with the newspaper said.
S.M. Periasamy, general manager of Makkal Osai, which caters to Malaysia's ethnic Indian minority, said his office received the directive by fax from the Internal Security Ministry. "Of course we are shocked by this. My entire staff are all in tears. They will lose a month of income," Periasamy said, adding that the newspaper would abide by the order but plans to appeal the suspension. Ministry officials in this Muslim-majority nation could not immediately be reached for comment.
The newspaper had said it published the photo by mistake Tuesday and carried a front-page apology Thursday. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday that the picture was hurtful and an insult to Christians. Kuala Lumpur archbishop, Murphy Pakiam, criticized the picture as a "desecration," but later accepted the newspaper's apology.
On Thursday, Periasamy said a graphic artist - who has since been suspended - downloaded a picture of Jesus from the Internet for use along with a quote from the Bible on the paper's front page on Tuesday. But the artist overlooked the fact that the picture had been altered to insert a cigarette in one hand and another object - a can or a book - in the other, he said.
The Malaysian Indian Congress, a party in Malaysia's ruling coalition, had called on the government to close the paper, which is generally critical of the MIC. Makkal Osai is one of two Tamil-language newspapers catering to Malaysia's largely Tamil-speaking ethnic Indians. The other newspaper is aligned with the MIC.
At the urging of the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), a scholarly book pulped by its British publisher is maintaining a safe haven in U.S. libraries. Alms for Jihad was the target of a potential libel suit in England by Sheikh Khalid bin Mahfouz, whose charitable activities have reportedly been linked to terrorist activities, as conveyed in the book. In response, publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP) pulped its unsold copies of the book, put it out of print, asked libraries to pull it, and agreed to pay damages. CUP also issued a stunning public apology on its web site in which it characterized the "serious and defamatory allegations" against Mahfouz in Alms for Jihad as "manifestly false."
In a statement released last week, the OIF recommended libraries resist Cambridges request. Libraries "are under no legal obligation to return or destroy the book," said OIF deputy director Deborah Caldwell-Stone. "Libraries are considered to hold title to the individual copy or copies. Given the intense interest in the book, and the desire of readers to learn about the controversy firsthand, we recommend that U.S. libraries keep the book available for their users."
As of mid-August, Alms for Jihad was not available through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or Alibris. (About 1500 copies of the book were sold worldwide.) Libraries suddenly have an incredibly rare book in their stacks; a WorldCat search finds the book at nearly 300 libraries. Rather than discard the book, many libraries are safeguarding it, keeping it on hold, at the reserves desk. "I have recalled the copy of this title in order to place it in our Rare Books collection, where it may be read by anyone but not borrowed," said Dona Straley, Middle East Studies librarian at Ohio State University's Ackerman Library. "Several of my colleagues at other institutions have reported their copies as missing." That may be the case at University of North Carolina's Davis Library, whose catalog reveals that Alms for Jihad is "in search," meaning "someone has gone to the shelf to look for the book and not found it," said reference librarian Carol Tobin.
These sorts of measures may eventually be less necessary, because the authors hope to republish Alms for Jihad in the U.S. Co-author Robert O. Collins, a professor at University of California Santa Barbara, told LJ that he and co-author J. Millard Burr, a former state department employee, are currently negotiating with CUP for a rights reversion. The authors have had several offers from U.S. publishers.
"We stand by what we wrote and refused to be a party to the settlement," Collins said. "As soon as CUP received notice, they decided to settle as rapidly as possible despite our vigorous defense. CUP did not want to embark on a long and expensive suit which they could not win under English libel law." Indeed, libel laws in England are far more favorable to plaintiffs than those in the U.S.
Collins said he is confident Alms for Jihad will be republished in the U.S., where Mahfouz's charges would have little chance of succeeding in court. "In reality, the few passages referring to Mahfouz are trivial when compared to the enormous amount of information in the book that is in demand," Collins noted, adding that he has received calls from booksellers offering as much as $500 for copies.
#1
Sickening spineless Cambridge. At least Philby, Burgess, et al. believed in Communism. And at least the prior generation were genuine Nazi sympathizers/erstwhile collaborators. Now it is just KY for the musselmen.
#2
I am actually surprised the ALA is supporting this. Generally, they've supported our enemies, whether Red or Green.
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds ||
08/24/2007 9:13
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#3
Actually, it's probably their idea of a bit of fun. They'll watch the book get checked out never to be seen again and pat themselves on the back for helping their muzz brothers and sisters out...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/24/2007 10:21
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#4
"Hi, we're Americans! Brit law don't mean squat to us!"
After months of surreality, the Iraq debate has quite abruptly acquired a relationship to reality. Following the Democratic victory last November, panicked Republican senators began rifling the thesaurus to find exactly the right phrase to express exactly the right nuance to establish exactly the right distance from the president's Iraq policy, while Murtha Democrats searched for exactly the right legislative ruse to force a retreat from Iraq without appearing to do so. In the last month, however, as a consensus has emerged about realities on the ground in Iraq, a reasoned debate has begun. A number of fair-minded observers, both critics and supporters of the war, agree that the surge has yielded considerable military progress, while at the national political level the Maliki government remains a disaster.
The latest report from the battlefield is from Carl Levin, Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a strong Iraq War critic. He returned saying essentially what we have heard from Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack of the Brookings Institution and various liberal congressmen, the latest being Brian Baird, D-Wash.: Al-Qaeda has been seriously set back as Sunni tribal leaders in Anbar, Diyala and other provinces switched from the insurgency to our side.
As critics acknowledge military improvement, the administration is finally beginning to concede the political reality that the Maliki government is hopeless. Bush's own national security adviser had said as much in a leaked memo back in November. I and others have been arguing that for months. And when Levin returned and openly called for the Iraqi Parliament to vote out the Maliki government, the president pointedly refused to contradict him.
This convergence about the actual situation in Baghdad will take some of the drama out the highly anticipated Petraeus moment next month. We know what the general and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are going to say when they testify before Congress because multiple sources have already told us what is happening on the ground.
There will, of course, be the Harry Reids and those on the far left who will deny inconvenient reality. Reid will continue to call the surge a failure, as he has since even before it began. And the left will continue to portray Gen. David Petraeus as an unscrupulous commander quite prepared to send his troops into a hopeless battle in order to advance his political ambitions (although exactly how that works is not clear). But the serious voices will prevail. When the Democratic presidential front-runner concedes that the surge "is working" (albeit very late) against the insurgency, and when Petraeus himself concedes that the surge cannot continue indefinitely, making inevitable a drawdown of troops sometime in the middle of next year, the terms of the Iraq debate become narrow and the policy question simple: What do we do right now -- continue the surge or cut it short and begin withdrawal?
Serious people like Levin argue that with a nonfunctional and sectarian Baghdad government, we can never achieve national reconciliation. Thus the current military successes will prove ephemeral. The problem with this argument is that it confuses long term and short term. In the longer run, there must be a national unity government. But in the shorter term, our assumption that a national unity government is required to pacify the Sunni insurgency turned out to be false. The Sunnis have turned against al-Qaeda and are gradually switching sides in the absence of any oil, federalism or de-Baathification deal coming out of Baghdad. In the interim, the surge is advancing our two immediate objectives in Iraq: (a) to defeat al-Qaeda in Iraq and prevent the emergence of an al-Qaeda mini-state, and (b) to pacify the Sunni insurgency, which began the post-liberation downward spiral of sectarian bloodshed, economic stagnation and aborted reconstruction.
Levin is right that we require a truly national government in Baghdad to obtain our ultimate objective of what O'Hanlon and Pollack call "sustainable stability." The administration had vainly hoped that the surge would provide a window for the Maliki government to reform and become that kind of government. It will not. We should have given up on Maliki long ago and begun to work with other parties in the Iraqi Parliament to bring down the government, yielding either a new coalition of less sectarian parties or, as Pollack has suggested, new elections.
The choice is difficult because replacing the Maliki government will take time and because there is no guarantee of ultimate political success. Nonetheless, continuing the surge while finally trying to change the central government is the most rational choice because the only available alternative is defeat -- a defeat that is not at all inevitable and would be both catastrophic and self-inflicted.
#1
You can gage the potential political effectiveness of GWB's recent VFW remarks by the speed with which the media was able to post stories attempting to debunk him. Less than 12 hours after the VFW speech, breathless articles appeared citing numerous military historians and politicians stating that he got his history wrong about Vietnam, but curiously absent from most of these stories was any detailed analysis of WHY he was wrong, we were left with general and broad humbugging. I suppose, though, time was short, and it's hard to build a convincing lie under such time constraints!
Fact is, the anti-war crowd had the blood of millions of SE Asian people on its hands after Vietnam, and it knows that a bloodbath would likely ensue in Iraq should we pull out prematurely, but they don't care. And that is the instructive element: The Left, who have for 50 years portrayed themselves as having a corner on the human rights market, is more than willing to see a million human beings slaughtered if it will result in America being beaten, shamed and bankrupted. It's sick and twisted.
#2
You can gage the potential political effectiveness of GWB's recent VFW remarks by the speed with which the media was able to post stories attempting to debunk him.
Very good point, gb506. I hadn't made that connection. A happy thought to take with me to my morning nap. :-)
#3
This really puts the donks in a box. Even the Brits get it.
Mr Bushs case is that Americas gravest mistakes in Iraq are behind it, that the counter-insurgency strategy devised by General Petraeus is yielding results, but that the military have a question: Will their elected leaders in Washington pull the rug out from under them just as theyre gaining momentum and changing the dynamic on the ground? For elected leaders, read Democrats. In historical perspective, the Democrats do not come well out of the Vietnam debacle.
Insurgents shot dead a former village headman in Narathiwat on Friday morning, taking his gun with them, police said. Win Wangthong, 71, was attacked when he was riding a motorcycle to a tea shop at around 6.30am in Tak Bai district.
Police said he was followed by two insurgents who were wearing masks. They shot him two times first when he was on the vehicle, before shooting him in the head one more time after he fell down to make sure he is dead.
. . . Some say we're the Roman Empire, but I don't think the soldiers of Rome were known for their kindness, nor the people of Rome for their decency. Some speak of Abu Ghraib, but the humiliation of prisoners there was news because it was American troops acting in a way that was out of the order of things, and apart from tradition. It was weird. And they were busted by other American troops.
You could say soldiers of every country do some good in war beyond fighting, and that is true enough. But this makes me think of the statue I saw once in Vienna, a heroic casting of a Red Army soldier. Quite stirring. The man who showed it to me pleasantly said it had a local nickname, "The Unknown Rapist." There are similar memorials in Estonia and Berlin; they all have the same nickname. My point is not to insult Russian soldiers, who had been born into a world of communism, atheism, and Stalin's institutionalization of brutish ways of being. I only mean to note the stellar reputation of American troops in the same war at the same time. They were good guys.
They're still good.
We should ponder, some day when this is over, what it is we do to grow such men, and women, what exactly goes into the making of them. . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
08/24/2007
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BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- China has launched a four-month "war" on tainted food, drugs and exports, state media reported on Friday, as beleaguered officials embraced time-tested campaign tactics to clean up the country's battered image. About long enough to get the MSM focused on something else.
Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi told officials the campaign, to run to the end of the year, would focus on problem products that have badly dented domestic and foreign consumers' confidence in the "Made in China" label. That health and safety inspection thingy might be starting to make sense with them now.
"This is a special battle to protect the health and personal interests of the public and to protect the reputation of Chinese goods and the national image," Wu said, according to the government Web site.
The world's largest toymaker, Mattel, recalled more than 18 million Chinese-made toys in mid-August because of hazards from small magnets that can cause injury if swallowed, just two weeks after it recalled 1.5 million toys due to fears over lead paint.
Wal-Mart said it was asking suppliers to resubmit testing documentation for the toys it sells after Mattel's move.
Other Chinese export scares have hit toothpaste, animal-food ingredients, tires, eels and seafood, and deadly chemicals that found their way into cough medicine, killing dozens of patients in Panama. Yeah, don't eat Chinese tires.
Shaken by the product scares, China has fought back with new rules, factory shutdowns, constant news conferences and now an old-style campaign to shake up local officials often more focused on economic-growth targets. You forgot about making up $hit about US exports to China.
Wu blamed lax inspection and enforcement and failure of officials in rival agencies to cooperate. She vowed to whip them into line with a list of eight tasks and 20 specific goals.
"Clearly, this is an autocratic, top-down approach using campaigning methods," said Mao Shoulong, an expert on public policy at the People's University of China. For once I sort of see an advantage to an autocracy.
"In China, this campaigning method still has a role to play in addressing relatively simple problems, because when grassroots officials see the premier or vice premier taking up an issue, focusing on it, they know they also have to sit up and pay attention."
Since 1949, the ruling Communist Party has often resorted to short-term storming campaigns to deal with enemies, pests and policy bottlenecks, though the frequency and intensity of these efforts have died down in past decades.
"The execution of Zheng Xiaoyu was also part of that campaigning approach to get officials' attention," said Mao, referring to the former head of the national food and drug safety watchdog, who was executed in July for taking bribes. I'll bet that got his attention!
In the latest health scare the Shanghai Daily reported on Friday that city officials had seized more than a ton of kelp soaked in a toxic chemical to keep it looking fresh. They also found fake wine and vinegar. Fake wine?
Wu, the powerful trade-policy chief who was named head of a leading group on product safety, announced targets to clean up pig slaughtering, restaurants and canteens, pesticide use, food additives and the country's vital exports. Vital exports? You mean like lead in paint, baby toys, wiring insulation, etc.?
She defended the general quality of food exports but said there were also deep-seated problems. Rat poison, lead, and ethylene glycol, etc. aside, they are fine products.
"In some businesses the management level is low, production conditions are poor, quality levels and standards are low, and reliability is weak," she said. Hmm. All those extra costs.
#1
Back in the 50's, 'Made in Japan' meant cheap unreliable products. The Japanese government set out to change that. First a ministry was established to insure goods sold abroad would meet strict specification in quality. It took about ten years to work it all out. We can see the effect in the market place. It first of all takes honest real commitment upon those in power to make it happen. We'll see.
#5
I'm starting to think we are not dealing with a case of "Let's make crap for the export market", but simply everyday business in China.
For all it's modernisation, China is still feudal, imperial China with the Party taking the place of the emperor. There is no OSHA or Underwriters Laboratories, the country is heavily polluted, and as they say "the mountains are high and the emperor is far away". I suspect toxic food and goods are everyday items of commerce. I pity the Chinese.
#7
I first read it as: China declares war 'with' tainted products
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 18:02
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I'm starting to think we are not dealing with a case of "Let's make crap for the export market", but simply everyday business in China.
And you'd be thinking right. Notice how it is only the threat of profit loss that is driving this crackdown and not any compromise of actual reputation. Being known for high quality has absolutely nothing to do with this. We are the recipients of goods from a culture centered upon minimal or marginal product quality, not true competition involving premium workmanship. Such an expensive notion is almost entirely foreign to the typical Chinese profit motive. It goes a long way towards explaining China's institutionalized theft of intellectual property, constant copyright violations and routine knocking off of counterfeit products.
(CNN) -- Few stories have touched CNN.com users like that of 5-year-old Youssif, an Iraqi boy who had gone out to play on a January day when he was suddenly grabbed by masked men, doused in gas and set on fire. Any human rights groups out there want to comment on this? Any moral equivalencies we need to know about comparing the despicable and intentional acts of these masked animals and the regretable but unintentional acts our soldiers may have been involved in due to the knowing acts of the aforementioned animals? Oh, I see. We'll all have to wait until the memory of this subsides a bit before we get back into that again, eh? I thought so.
CNN.com users responded by the thousands to the story asking how they could help. But there were tricky and difficult issues the family had to suddenly confront, as several aid organizations quickly offered their services.
Specifically, the family had to make a decision on whether to leave their homeland or stay inside Iraq for treatment. If they chose to leave, could they get visas to travel to the United States or leave Iraq safely? Further complicating matters is the fact that few aid organizations remain in Iraq; most moved out months ago due to the constant threat of being targeted.
Leaving one's homeland is never an easy choice to make, even during war. But the family has decided Youssif should seek treatment in the United States.
The Children's Burn Foundation -- a non-profit organization based out of Sherman Oaks, California, that provides support for burn victims locally, nationally and internationally -- has agreed to pay for the transportation for Youssif and his family to come to the United States and to set up a fund so you can donate.
The foundation says it will cover all medical costs -- from surgeries for Youssif to housing costs to any social rehabilitation that might be needed for him. Surgeries will be performed by Dr. Peter Grossman, a plastic surgeon with the affiliated-Grossman Burn Center who is donating his services for Youssif's cause.
Officials are still trying to get the appropriate visas for his travels. Youssif could be in the United States for up to a year for the various treatments he needs. For their part, the DoS has tossed out the idea that they will try to get them their visas before they all grow old and die. This is assuming that the boy and his family aren't all terrorist, of course.
You can make a donation at the foundation's site by clicking here. There's a drop down menu under the "general donation" area that is marked "Youssif's fund."
When informed of the news in Baghdad, Youssif ran around his house, saying, "Daddy, daddy, am I really going to get on a plane?!"
Youssif's father was also cheered by the news. "I feel like I am going to fly from happiness," his father told CNN's Arwa Damon, who reported the story on what happened to Youssif.
Barbara Friedman, executive director of the Children's Burn Foundation, said she and others at the foundation were deeply moved when they first read the piece.
"In terms of a personal reaction, the only thing I could say is it takes your breath away -- because it's just so unfathomable, that that kind of brutality and violence was undertaken in a premeditated way against a defenseless child," she told CNN.com. Yeah, lots of people think just like you. They probably wouldn't if the MSM actually did their job without some kind of agenda.
"From the foundation's perspective, our immediate reaction was: Can we help? How can we help? We want to help. This is what we do."
Many of you had the same reaction. "This kind of thing breaks my heart," wrote CNN.com user Jessica Allen. "To see that smiling adorable face before that day that he was so brutally attacked is enough to make you cry. How could someone do this to anyone, let alone a child?"
Others pleaded for CNN to act. "CNN, if you put this on for us to read, then you should allow us to donate," wrote Brian Quinn.
The story -- published and broadcast on Wednesday -- has been one of the most-read, non-breaking news stories in CNN.com's 13-year history.
"We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for Youssif and his family, and are grateful that the Children's Burn Foundation and the Grossman Burn Center have volunteered to help," said Mitch Gelman, CNN.com's senior vice president and senior executive producer.
"It is heart-warming and restorative to see such generosity and goodness emerging from this truly unspeakable horror."
I suspect there will be several cosmetic surgeries involved. Anyone know how good are they at fixing this kind of stuff nowadays? Any cool new treatments out there?
#2
So -- good on CNN. Don't they just feel soooo good about themselves and this story and it's happy ending, that they, by publishing this story, got help for this young man.
/sarc
Our soldiers have been reporting doing these kind acts of goodness for the last 3-4 years. If CNN and other MSM had "reported" more stories like this one, well, I believe the approval rating of this war and our Pres would be much, much higher.
Plus, Americans, by taking interests in these stories and donating time and money, would feel a part of this war. Marines wouldn't have to hold up signs with "Marines are at war, Americans are at the Mall."
Another example of our MSM not supporting our military -- by not telling these kinds of stories.
CNN finally gets one right, and look at the credit THEY are taking. Selfish of them, it is.
WHEN slackers, decades hence, travel great distances at their own expense to celebrate doers of great deeds which, come to think of it, would go against the slacker ethos the saga of Kyle MacDonald, or, as he is known in these parts, the Red Paper Clip Guy, will be told and told again.
Even now, with Mr. MacDonalds book, One Red Paperclip, hitting the stands this week, the Web doth still veritably tremble with his legend: hes the 27-year-old Canadian who traded a paper clip for a house.
The tale goes like this: It was a dull day in Montreal, two summers past. The young MacDonald, his fair girlfriend toiling at her labors, was Lying About the House in their minuscule apartment, thinking about What a Drag It Is to Pay Rent and how nice it would be to Own Your Own Place and Stuff Like That when a thought occurred. What if he could trade a red paper clip for a house? Not in one swap but in a bunch of swaps, as in the game Bigger and Better, which he did play when he was but a youth.
And lo, on only the 14th trade, after he bartered such treasures as a moving van and an afternoon with Alice Cooper while dealing with a media torrent, the farm town of Kipling (Pop. 973), on the prairie of western Canada, does buy and give Mr. MacDonald a house. The publicity may help the towns fortunes, the townspeople do think.
The price of the house the young real estate warrior refuses to divulge, and the town graybeards indulge him in this, until a Dragon From the East doth come and give them a Look such as is not normally seen in Canada.
....
The first trades (from paper clip to fish pen to handmade ceramic doorknob to camp stove to 1,000-watt generator) brought Mr. MacDonalds Web site 20 to 30 hits a day. Then he wrote a note to the Web site boingboing.net. The day it was posted Mr. MacDonalds site had over 100,000 hits. Eight months later, after he had swapped an afternoon in a recording studio for a years rent in a Phoenix condo, members of the news media were calling him hourly.
His last trade item, a speaking role in a movie produced by Corbin Bernsen (offered by Mr. Bernsen for a Kiss snow globe), led to the offer of the house in Kipling. NICE TO SEE SOMEONE BEING CREATIVE. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT I COULD GET FOR TRADING RANDOM STUFF FROM MY HOUSE. WANNA TRADE?
Posted by: NOLA ||
08/24/2007
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#1
Actually, a very creative approach. Unlike the vicious idiot who became a soldier to jump start his career at the New Republic, Mr. MacDonald gave people things they valued, taking in exchange that which they valued less. That in the end he got what he most valued -- a beloved wife, a little house, and his first published book -- does not take away from the the fact that he left small happinesses behind every step of his journey.
Neither the clearly earnest and hard working New York Times reporter, nor such vicious idiots as that New Republic writer who joined the Army to give his output more gravitas even as he spun his poisoned lies, will ever understand the difference between their choices and his. Thanks, NOLA!
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has changed his country's name, redesigned its flag and rejigged its coat of arms in his drive for a socialist state. Now the leftist reformer, highly popular for redistributing oil income, is seeking to move the country's time zone to offer a more equitable distribution of sunlight.
Venezuela in September will turn clocks back by 30 minutes as it switches time zones to boost the amount of natural light to residents, a government official said on Thursday.
Next month Venezuelan clocks will be set at Greenwich Mean Time minus 4-1/2 hours, compared to the previous GMT minus four hours, Science and Technology Minister Hector Navarro told reporters at a news conference. He said the measure sought "a more fair distribution of the sunrise," which would particularly help poor children who wake up before dawn to go to school. "Very rigorous scientific studies have determined that ... the metabolic activity of living beings is synchronized with the sun's light," he said. Navarro said the government is planning to announce additional measures to "make more effective use of time."
Venezuela, which under Chavez was officially changed to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, adopted its current time zone in the 1960s.
#1
I had to check the link to see if it was ScrappleFace or The Onion. Hey, I've got an idea: maybe Venezuela could use part of Zimbabwe's timezone. With the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe, I doubt they are using all of it
#2
Ever considered just changing the time schools and businesses open? Oh, nevermind. I forgot that you had a thing for the grandiose solutions.
Hey Oogo the Clown, while you're at it why don't you change the number of hours in the day, too. And don't forget to tell the plant and animal life when you change the time zone so they will know when they can expect to start enjoying more hours of natural light.
#3
Didn't they try this in the French Revolution? Different calendar, different system of timekeeping, the whole works.
Posted by: Mike ||
08/24/2007 6:43
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#4
yup. And what he isn't saying is that this screws up the software and business routines of anyone outside the country who tries to do business with them.
And that is not a side-effect, it's quite likely one of the main purposes.
#8
There's nothing inherently stupid about changing the time zone. As this map shows, Venezuela straddles two time zones. And many other countries have a half-hour zone (Hugo's buddies in Iran, for one -- but also Australia).
It's the rationale that gets me: "a more fair distribution of the sunrise". Next he'll command it to rain only after sundown.
#9
Chavezs economic intelligence is no better. On January 1, 2008 the national money, the Venezuelan Bolivar, will go through a currency change to the new Bolivar Fuerte which will take three zeros from it's current value. The government says that the new strong Bolivar will end inflation.
AS; Thanks for the new trivia question. What do Iran, Venezuela and Australia have in common?
GAZA - Hamas said on Thursday its elite Executive Force, which helped the Islamist group seize control of the Gaza Strip in June, will become the territorys main police force. The announcement was largely a sham symbolic because the 6,000-man Executive Force has been carrying out day-to-day policing duties since the group routed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass secular Fatah forces.
The official police force in Gaza, loyal to Fatah, has refused to work under the Islamists.
Taher al-Nono, a spokesman for Haniyehs administration, said the bulk of the Executive Force would become policemen. They will be dispersed in various roles, including launching rockets at the Zionists anti-drug, beating up on Fatah criminal investigation and collecting ammo for the widows traffic control, to get those departments running again after the old policemen were killed refused to return to their jobs, Nono said. He said a few hundred men would remain as a separate force.
But seriously, folks. Isn't it just plain hilarious watching Hamas use typically craptacular methods to win the hearts and minds of their fellow Muslims? Could it happen to more deserving people? Could I give a flying rat's ass?
The State Department, asked to comment on the Supreme Court decision permitting the Sharifs to return to Pakistan, said that while it had taken note of the decision, there has not been a determination regarding the particular legal charges against him (Nawaz Sharif). An official of the department told Daily Times that obviously, we follow events in Pakistan closely but this is a domestic political matter up to Pakistanis to decide.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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ANTWERP Muslim women who work in crèches [NB: day care centers, I think] in Antwerp may no longer wear a headscarf. Starting next week they will be offered an alternative: a bandana. The decision to ban the wearing of headscarves by Antwerp city employees who have contact with the public was introduced at the beginning of this year. The measure has provoked a great deal of criticism but the municipal executive has stood firm.
In the meantime it appears there has been a breakthrough. "We have discussed the situation openly and have reached an agreement," says Veerle Degryse, spokesperson for the Antwerp alderman for social advancement Leen Verbist (SP.A). "Unlike a headscarf a bandana is neutral," says Degryse.
Absolutely wrong. A headscarf, like a bandana, is just a piece of colored cloth. It's what you do with it, and why you do it, that matters.
A woman who wears a headscarf because she believes it an appropriate way to show her reverence to God? Great, more power to her. A woman who wears a headscarf because she believes that if she doesn't, some local hard boys from the 'Committee for the Protection of Virtue' will beat the crap out of her? That there is the problem.
Calling it a bandana doesn't change the underlaying problem: the problem of forcing a woman to be submissive, to conform to the whims of misogynistic men, and to identify those who aren't wearing a headscarf bandana as infidels.
Until now the alternative has not yet been implemented everywhere. Muslim women in the 22 city crèches will be able to wear a bandana instead of a headscarf starting next week. The alternative may be introduced at city hall and other municipal services in future.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Top|| File under: Govt of Syria
#1
Unfortunately, IDF doesn't have enough Arrows. Arrow is very expensive, and Israel's attempt to defry some of the costs by selling Arrows to India was blocked by our dear friends---mustn't interfere with Patriot sales.
#2
Especially since the US has already paid $2 billion for Arrow for Israelis and still pays 50% for more systems. How much have Israelis contributed? BTW, where are the missiles built, using whose technology?
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 7:31
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#3
Perhaps the most annoying part of this is that Israel seems to make no effort to use counter missile fire, but wants to fight purely defense. The Syrians are probably terribly weak in their own anti-missiles defenses and damage control, and if the Israelis used appropriate retaliation, they would think twice.
For example, let it be known that if attacked, they would strongly target all the assets of the Alawite Shiites, the 10% minority ruling tribe. They would be thrilled with Assad for that.
But Israel's policy seems to be "nothing, or massive nuclear attack", which is downright stupid.
#7
US paid for research BA, and has full access to the tech. Which is a huge benefit to USA, because none of your firms haven't come with anything even close. Let me give you a hint: how do you distinguish between first rate & seconf rate USA high tech companies?
Posted by: Mike N. ||
08/24/2007 16:29
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#10
Let's see what army-technology.com has to say. Boeing is responsible for production of approximately 50% of the missile components in the US, including the electronics section, booster motorcase and missile canister.
Boeing also co-ordinates the production of Arrow missile components being manufactured by more than 150 American companies, including ATK (first and second stage rocket motor cases and first stage nozzle).
BTW, the seeker is built by Raytheon. You know the folks who build the Patriots and Standard missiles. The dual seeker looks to be lifted from Standard-IIIB (10 years old).
Doesn't leave a whole lot for the Israelis to do. But wait: The first stage booster is manufactured by Israel
The warhead is a high explosive directed blast fragmentation warhead developed by Rafael,
So do stuff the interceptor with rocket fuel and explosives and call it a day.
The fundamental problem of Arrow is that is uses a blast fragmentation warhead (Like Patroit I & 2). In Gulf War I, it was found that the warhead must be destroyed, else it will land and explode somewhere. US TBM projects like THAAD or Standard SM-3 are more ambitious, designed to intercept 5000km range missiles in the exoatmosphere. All US ATBM designs use hit to kill.
Another note is Arrow is sized to intercept 1000km range missiles (i.e. fired from Iran). Syrian missiles (e.g. Iskander, 280km range) are much more efficiently intercepted by PAC-III.
Not only did the US pay for the R&D and builds most of it, but still pays for Israeli acquisition of it. Not much of a deal for the US. Any data can be aquired for less than $2 billion, of which did not come from the $2.4 yearly US-Israeli military aid, but special and separate appropriations from Congress. BTW, have the Israelis sold the tech to China yet, like they did with Patriot only a year after the US gave it to the Israelis?
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 17:20
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#11
In February 2003, IAI signed an agreement with Boeing to establish the production infrastructure to manufacture components of the Arrow missile in the US.
[that is, the money actually goes to american companies] Boeing will be responsible for the production of approximately 50% of the missile components in the US. Boeing will produce various missile components and co-ordinate the production of existing Arrow missile components already being manufactured by more than 150 American companies. IAI will be responsible for integration and final assembly of the missile in Israel.
The system's development is jointly funded by the United States and Israel. Since 1988, the United States has provided Israel with more than $628 million in grants for research and development of the Arrow through the defense budget. When fully deployed, Israel will have paid for 60% of the program, which is ultimately expected to cost about $1 billion.
The Elta Green Pine early warning and fire control radar for the Arrow system. The radar can detect targets at ranges up to about 500km and is able to track targets at speeds over 3,000m/s.
The Arrow Weapon System features a state-of-the-art EL/M2080 L-band radar, Green Pine
[without which it's just an expensive Scud], based on the decades of experience in developing technological solutions for early warning and fire control defense systems.
The Elta Electronic Industries subsidiary of IAI Electronic Group developed the Green Pine early warning and fire control radar for the Arrow system. The radar carries the designation EL/M-2090 and includes the trailer mounted radar and antenna array, the power generator, a cooling system and a radar control centre.
Green Pine is an electronically scanned, solid state, phased array radar operating at L-band in the range 500MHz to 1,000MHz, and was developed from the Elta Music phased array radar. The radar operates in search, detection, tracking and missile guidance modes simultaneously.
BTW, have the Israelis sold the tech to China yet, like they did with Patriot only a year after the US gave it to the Israelis?
Seems to be an article of faith with you people---exactly the same way your EUro cousins believe that we deprived Palestinians of their land.
#13
You know TW, now then I think of it---it's kind of funny. Americans, of certain type, endlessly complain that their government f*cks them over. However, exactly the same people rise in wrath then I say that USG has been f*cking Israel over for 30 years. Maybe I should start addressing them in Spanish?
#14
When fully deployed, Israel will have paid for 60% of the program, which is ultimately expected to cost about $1 billion.
Ah, no. The US has already paid for about $2 billion. The crux of funding is:
http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1988/04/mm0488_06.html There have been a few disagreements, however. Israel felt betrayed when Washington offered direct financing for only 50 percent of the ATBM project, with the further stipulation that at least 10 percent of the remainder had to be Israeli money, rather than recycled U.S. aid. Israel had expected all costs to be picked up by Washington, either directly or indirectly.
That's only a 10% Israeli money requirement.
According to a 1993 General Accounting Office (GAO) report, the United States had paid $553.4 million of the Arrow project's $579.5 million cost as of the end of fiscal year 1995
That's 95.5% US funding till 1995.
US funding includes 50% of the $1.6 billion R&D funded by extradinary Congressional grants plus the yearly military aid to Israel. The total R&D phase has cost the US taxpayer $1.3 billion. Israel picked up the tab for the Green Pine radar (and fire control as far as I know).
1.3/1.6 = 81% directly traceable to the US. Green Pine dev and components sourced from the US is unknown.
Congratulations on the Green Pine. The US used L band radar in WW2 and has progressed several generations to X-band for the ABM role, though I do give credit for the phased array, a miniature of that in US service in the mid 1970s (e.g. Cobra Dane early warning). Israel has already sold it to India. Any doubt it would have been sold to China if the US did not threaten consequences?
Since 1988, the United States has provided Israel with about $1 billion in grants for research and development of the Arrow anti-missile missile (Global Security Newswire,
March 15, 2002).
Then there is procurement. US extraordinary funding for almost all the first battery and second batteries. Only half of the third battery price ($81.6M extraordinary funding) has been approved by Congress. Most of the rest will be paid with regular US mil aid (assuming Congress doesn't pony up even more money).
To give you a feeling for the extraordinary US aid (in addition to yearly military aid). This is several years old: In addition to the foreign assistance, the
United States has provided Israel with $625
million to develop and deploythe Arrow anti-
missile missile (an ongoing project), $1.3
billion to develop theLavi aircraft (cancelled),
$200 million to develop the Merkava tank
(operative), $130 million to develop the high
energy laser anti-missile system (ongoing),
and other military projects. In FY2000 the
United States provided Israel an additional
$1.2 billion to fund the Wye agreement, and in
FY2002 the United States provided an
additional $200 million in anti-terror
assistance.
So tell me again how the US is screwring Israel? That or buy a clue. I'm sure the US taxpayer will fund that too.
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 22:26
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#15
USA also provided (approx) a trillion in military aid to its various Islamic allies. That doesn't include 300 billion spent on bringing democracy to Iraq. But, for some reason---you expect a lot more from Israel than from your other allies.
So tell me again how the US is screwring Israel?
Sinai (twice), Judea & Samaria. Lavi. Sabotaging Israel's trade with China*. Training Paleo terrorists. The recent Lebanese war. Forcing Israel to finance Paleo terrorism. Interfering in Israel's internal politics.
*I don't mention the accusations of Israel's floging US tech to China because none ever came from official sources---who can't afford to make statements they can't substantiate.
China's Missile Imports and Assistance From Israel
China's missile-related imports and assistance from Israel have been a subject of particular concern in the United States because of worries that Israel may be providing China with "back door" access to controlled, sensitive US technology. For example, in the early 1990s, reports surfaced that Israel had secretly transferred information on the US Patriot missile system to China, in violation of Israel's promise to the United States not to transfer the Patriot technology to any third country. Although both China and Israel denied the allegations, US government sources concluded that it was almost certain that a transfer of technology (though not physical equipment) had taken place.
China is reportedly using the Patriot technology to improve its surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and to develop countermeasures against the Patriot for its ballistic and cruise missiles; reports also indicated that China intended to sell these SAMs and enhanced missiles to other countries, possibly including Iran. Reports suggested various Israeli motives for the transfer: some suggested that Israel had traded Patriot information for information on China's missiles; others asserted that Israel's transfer of Patriot technology was intended to encourage China to curtail its sales of ballistic missiles to countries in the Middle East such as Syria and Iran.
In addition to the alleged Patriot technology transfer, Israel has allegedly supplied China with cruise missile technology, including sensitive US technology. Specifically, Israel is allegedly assisting China with the development of its YF-12A, YJ-62, and YJ-92 cruise missiles.
...
Since the cancellation of the Phalcon radar deal, Israel has assisted China in other areas including the development of the HQ-9/FT-2000, a surface-to-air missile, which would possibly use U.S. seeker technology. It has also assisted China in the area of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). In July 2002, China deployed Israeli "Harpy" anti-radar drones in military exercises in Fujian Province.
...
An Israeli official, electing to remain anonymous, suggested that Israel would continue to sell to China military equipment available on the global arms market.
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 22:41
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#17
Our tech Eddy, not your---we're not your slaves yet.
#18
Yours as a thief would claim.
Arrow 80-90% paid by US.
Lavi 90% paid by US. Sold to Cina. Now J-10.
Patriot 100% paid by US. Data sold to China. Countermeasures incorporated into ballistic missiles, some aimed at israel.
Python-3 direct copy of AIM-9L. Entire manufacturing line sold to China as PL-9.
Want more?
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 23:00
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#19
Of course, the easy way to solve the problem of America butting in on internal Israel policy or Israeli foreign military actions would be to simply tell the U.S. to go away.
maybe I should address them in Spanish
Maybe you should sponge Spanish tax dollars instead.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
08/24/2007 23:38
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The two Western diplomats were "involved in activities that constitute an intervention into the internal affairs of the Sudan."
Sudan said Thursday it is expelling the top Canadian diplomat here and the European Commission envoy from the country for what was described as "meddling in its affairs."
The two diplomats were summoned to the foreign ministry which declared them "persona non grata" and were handed their expulsion notes, the official SUNA news agency reported, citing Ali Al Sadeq, the foreign ministry spokesman. The two Western diplomats were "involved in activities that constitute an intervention into the internal affairs of the Sudan, a matter that contradict their diplomatic duties and mission," the spokesman said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Iraqi Army soldiers, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained three suspected terrorists in the village of Bulayj and destroyed a weapons cache near Mandali Aug. 22.
During the cordon and search operation in Bulayj, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, raided two structures local Iraqis identified as al Qaeda in Iraq safe houses. Three males were detained, one of which was identified as a terrorist cell leader responsible for attacking the Iraqi Army in April, killing six people.
In a second operation in the village of Khalaf al Hassun, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division uncovered a weapons cache during an intelligence driven raid to disrupt an al Qaeda in Iraq improvised explosive device making cell.
The weapons cache of high explosives, copper wire, pressure wire, blasting caps and electrical wire used for making improvised explosive devices was destroyed in place. A truck and motorcycle from the cache house, along with two AK-47 assault rifles, four cases of AK-47 ammunition, and three cases of machine-gun ammunition were confiscated by the Iraqi Army.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
How 'bout next time we see "Destroy three, detain weapons cache?"
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds ||
08/24/2007 9:11
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The number of people applying for asylum in the UK last year dropped by over 2,000 to 23,610, the lowest level since 1993 according to government figures. The drop, which mirrors an 18 percent drop across the European Union as a whole, was welcomed by the government as a success of the countrys stronger border controls. We said we would double resources for immigration policing and last year we delivered record removals of those still in Britain illegallywith one being deported every eight minutes, said Home Office Minister Tony McNulty. He said the government is speeding up plans to tighten border security further, saying that in the next 12 months, a single border force, fingerprint checks for all visa applicants, ID cards for foreign nationals, electronic passenger screening and Australian-style points system would be introduced.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
No need for the muslims to apply for asylum when they are granted UK passports by divine right.
Mark Pasternak said he lost his state job helping troubled youths because he couldnt stand working under a black boss who called him racist names like cracker, polack and stupid white boy.
Pasternak was dismissed from his position as a youth worker with the state Office of Children and Family Services in 1999. But today, he feels some relief and vindication. After a rare reverse racial discrimination trial in Buffalos federal court, a jury Tuesday awarded Pasternak $150,000. Jurors found that his former boss, Tommy E. Baines, discriminated against him racially and created a hostile working environment
#1
If you think race, sexual preference, and sex alone are going to win the justice system, you are of the belief that you are somewhat unique and deserving. I disagree. All are created equal. What you do with it from there is your own ignorance or production.
If you are a politician using race, you are a schmuck - hear that New Orleans. I have many bigots where I live, It pisses me off. I do not think it is effective in anyway. If I hear race as the #1 political reason again this year.......
#5
Some very interesting details at the link. The supervisor was fined $2000 as a result of the original investigation, the trash talking took place in front of other department members -- who testified for Mr. Pasternak -- and Mr. Baines' lawyer didn't bother to deny his behaviour. Perhaps the mayor's office thought they couldn't do anything while the trial was still ongoing (the state will pay the award, not the city), but of course that concern no longer holds.
#7
"After a rare reverse racial discrimination trial..."
Yaknow...sounds like it's just plain ole' discrimination to me. Why the term "reverse" is needed implies that it's usually one direction. As a White devil cracker, I resent that.
Lebanese authorities have arrested two Palestinians in connection with a roadside bombing that targeted UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon last month, a security official said Thursday. The suspects, Salem Kayed and Ahmed Mohammed, were arrested Wednesday near the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh in southern Lebanon after they were lured out of the camp by security agents.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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LONDON: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday he intended to return home as soon as possible and contest elections to try to oust President Pervez Musharraf from office, Reuters reported. It is the beginning of the end of Musharraf, he told a news conference here. Asked what role he would play in challenging Musharraf, Nawaz was evasive. Our party is preparing to contest the elections and I am very much part and parcel of my party, he said.
This article starring:
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has recently made it clear that he does not intend to run for another term, PA officials here said Thursday. Abbas, who was elected in January 2005 in the first presidential election in the PA following the death of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, prefers to retire and devote more time to his family, the officials told The Jerusalem Post.
"I doubt if the president will run for another term," said one aide. "He has hinted more than once that he is tired and wants to relax."
They also pointed out that the 73-year-old Abbas, who has devoted more than half of his life to "serving the Palestinian cause," believes that he and other old timers in the PLO should step aside and pave the way for younger leaders to emerge.
Abbas, according to some of his aides, is planning to call early elections within the next six months. "I doubt if the president will run for another term," said one aide. "He has hinted more than once that he is tired and wants to relax."
Abbas's status within his own Fatah faction has been dealt a severe blow following Hamas's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip last June. Many Fatah leaders and activists have openly blamed him for the Hamas "coup," saying it was Abbas's conciliatory approach toward Hamas increased the Islamist movement's appetite.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
He's this nice little villa on the shore of lake Geneva.
House Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday lashed out at rival Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt for accusing him of becoming a "mail box" for Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. "The parliament speaker has the honor to be a mail box for the resistance that he was the first to establish," Berri said in a statement released by his office.
The statement said Jumblatt's attack of the "parliament speaker is aimed at forcing him (Berri) to relinquish all positive initiatives and his incessant efforts to unify ranks which you constantly reject."
Jumblatt on Wednesday accused Berri of becoming a "mail box for Hassan Nasrallah." "Unfortunately Berri has finished himself with his own hands," Jumblatt said in an interview with the youth supplement of the daily An Nahar. Excerpts of the interview were distributed by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
In 2005 Jumblatt was the leading supporter of Berri to be the speaker of the parliament and lobbied hard for him. Jumblatt lost faith in Berri after the resignation of the Shiite ministers from the cabinet. Jumblatt saw Berri transformed from being the leader of the Amal movement to becoming the rubber stamp of Hezbollah. Berri refused to convene the parliament ever since the Shiite Ministers resigned, despite pressure from several groups.
Berri's credibility suffered greatly during his November 2006 trip to Iran. He was asked right after the resignation of the Shiite ministers from the cabinet " if the cabinet was still constitutional " He responded by saying " of course it is " . He later , reportedly after pressure from Syria and Iran , retracted the statement and said the cabinet was unconstitutional .
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Alleged al-Qaida fighters attacked a Sunni village east of Baqouba on Thursday and killed a village leader who had led the community in an uprising against the terrorist organization, witness and police said. At the same time Timim, a nearby Shiite village, came under attack, again by alleged al-Qaida fighters.
A total of 15 people, including seven women, were killed and 22 wounded in the two assaults, said Baqouba police Brig. Ali Dlaiyan. Ten attackers were killed as villagers fought back.
A total of 15 people, including seven women, were killed and 22 wounded in the two assaults, said Baqouba police Brig. Ali Dlaiyan. Ten attackers were killed as villagers fought back, he said. A joint US-Iraqi force had blocked the region.
The attack began at 6:30 a.m. by about 25 gunmen on the Ibrahim al-Yahya village when the fighters exploded a bomb at the house of Sheik Younis al-Shimari, destroying his home and killing him and one member of his family. Ten people were wounded, including four other members of the family and passers-by. Some of the wounded were hit by gunfire. "They were shouting Allah Akbar and Curse be upon the Renegades," said Umm Ahmed, who was among the three women wounded in the attack. She refused to give her full name fearing retribution. "This attack will cause the uprising against them to spread to other villages."
A police vehicle rushing to the attack scene crashed and two policemen were killed, according to officials in the Diyala provincial police force who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.
Armed men in the village assembled and drove al-Qaida back in a 30-minute gunbattle, witnesses said. Al-Qaida has been forced to fight a rear-guard action against many of its former allies in the Sunni community who have risen up against the organization because of its brutality and attempts to impose the group's austere version of Islam. The uprising began spontaneously in Anbar province, one a bastion of the Sunni insurgency in the west of Iraq, and has spread to Diyala province and some Baghdad neighborhoods.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq
#1
Now we know why Rove resigned - he had to put on his Arab clothes and go to Timin and murder some women and children.
Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards are using front groups to beat UN sanctions and acquire weapons and material for Tehrans nuclear programme, an exiled opponent of the Iranian government said on Wednesday.
Alireza Jafarzadeh, who accurately disclosed important details about Irans nuclear programme in 2002, called for tighter UN curbs and swift US action to rein in the elite corps. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been, consistently over the past few months, violating the United Nations resolutions 1737 and 1747, using different ways to evade the sanctions and import goods and material, Jafarzadeh said at a news conference in Washington.
Jafarzadeh provided names and details of 15 firms he said were operating as fronts for the Revolutionary Guards and its affiliates.
Jafarzadeh, who provided names and details of 15 firms he said were operating as fronts for the Revolutionary Guards and its affiliates, said the UN sanctions did not cover all of the firms that were abetting Irans nuclear drive. This is alarming because we have seen an upsurge of activities of the Iranian regime in regards to a whole host of rogue activities - both stepping up their engagement in terrorism in Iraq, but specifically on the weapons of mass destruction (and) the nuclear weapons programme, he said.
US needs to take action: Jafarzadeh said his information came from Iran-based members of the Peoples Mujahideen Organization of Iran, which seeks to topple Irans government and is on the US list of extremist organizations. Now a Washington consultant, he served as congressional liaison and spokesperson in the United States for the exiled National Council of Resistance of Iran for 12 years until 2003.
A staunch critic of Tehran, he has been vilified by Iran and pro-government groups. The list identified Toseeh Silo Co. and Sazeh Pardaz Co. of Iran as primary builders of Irans Natanz nuclear site. Jafarzadeh listed some prominent firms as front companies for the Revolutionary Guards and said other firms, including Iranian-owned companies in Dubai and Italy, played roles in Irans clandestine nuclear and weapons programmes. A lot of these organizations need to be added, not only to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions ... but, specifically, the United States needs to take action, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the bench accepted the constitutional petitions of the Sharif brothers in which they had asked the court to instruct the government not to hinder their return.
Headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the bench accepted the constitutional petitions of the Sharif brothers in which they had asked the court to instruct the government not to hinder their return. For reasons to be recorded separately, both the captioned petitions, being maintainable, are accepted. It is declared that Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, under Article 15 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 have an inalienable right to enter and remain in the country as citizens of Pakistan. Their such return/entry to the country shall not be restrained, hampered or obstructed by the federal or provincial government agencies in any manner, said the short order of the Supreme Court. The detailed judgment on both petitions will later be released separately.
This article starring:
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
former premier Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
his brother Shahbaz Sharif
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
"Pakistan's tent has room enough for all advocates of terrorism!"
The Left parties are at it once againtrying to position themselves as ardent nationalists and champions of the country's interests. Over the past three years, ever since they've managed to exert an inordinate amount of influence (not commensurate with their actual strength) on New Delhi's policies, the Left parties have been systematically attempting to portray themselves as a viable, if not only, alternative to the two national parties and their alliances. And the Indo-US nuclear deal, which they say will compromise India's interests and hence should be dumped, has come as another occasion for the Left to flex its muscles, mislead the people of India and seek to emerge as a pan-Indian party that wants to preside over this country's destiny.
But is the Left really capablemorally, ideologically and intellectuallyof protecting and promoting India's interests? An honest answer to this can be sought and found from the Left's track record in Bengal, a state they've ruled, or misruled, for more than three decades now. A dispassionate study of the policies followed by them would reveal that save for a few, like land reforms, the Left has jettisoned and junkedafter publicly admitting that they were 'mistakes'--most of the major ones they had so vociferously advocated and implemented over more than 30 years. Let me list some of these 'follies':
Banished English: Immediately after coming to power, the Left Front in Bengal banished English from primary schools. English was, they said, the language of the hated bourgeois classes and imperialists and was a means of subjugating the poor and keeping them shackled and in a state of economic and social deprivation for eternity. So out went English. This hatred for the English language was not confined to primary school classrooms alone, but ardently followed at the high school, college and university levels. Speaking in that language was, in fact, frowned on and considered politically incorrect or even a display of 'reactionary' behaviour. Thus, generations of Bengalis grew up without any knowledge of English and, as a result, lost out heavily in matters of higher and technical education, employment and other facilities to their counterparts from other states. It was only a few years ago that the Left Front government realised this folly and overturned the policy, re-introducing English at the primary school level. But by then, lakhs of Bengali boys and girls, men and women, had lost out and suffered immeasurably. (The children of the Left leaders, however, had all been educated in English-medium private schools and never had to suffer.) The Left parties have remained totally unapologetic about this 'mistake'; but more than this, it is their sheer nonchalance over having destroyed so many careers and having callously played with (and ruined) the lives of lakhs of men and women that's galling and unpardonable.
Computers, the Left parties had been shouting from the rooftops till even five years ago, were anti-worker and would render lakhs of people jobless. Computerisation was a ploy of the 'capitalist' and 'exploitative' classes to bring workers and employees to ruination. They had even proclaimed it was a neo-imperialist ploy of the USA and the West to subjugate Third World and developing countries. Office automation had to be opposed and the Left launched a shrill, often violent, movement against introduction of computers in offices and establishments; they had even opposed introduction of lessons on computer operations in schools. As a result, while the rest of the world and India marched ahead, Bengal floundered and lagged behind.
Five years ago, the Left, led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, discovered the benefits of computers, computerisation, IT and IT-enabled services and sectors and, overcoming its earlier antipathy, zealously launched a drive to promote computerisation and teaching software programming and other related subjects in educational institutions. This was coupled with an overdrive to attract investments in the IT and ITeS sectors in Bengal. But by the time Bengal's Leftists woke up, other states had raced ahead and Bengal is still trying to catch up with them. In the process, the sufferers have been the people of the state in terms of opportunities lost. But no, the Left has never bothered to apologise for this folly. In fact, some rigid and doctrinaire elements in the CPI(M) and its allies still cling to the 'computers are evil, imperial devils' stance.
Business: Even before capturing power in Bengal, the Left parties had launched a virulent campaign against private capital, industrialists and businessmen. 'Tata, Birla go back' was the credo of the Left till very recently. Private capital was evil and industrialists and businessmen were class enemies who had to be obliterated. This policy, aggressively pursued after the Communists captured power in Bengal, resulted in the flight of capital from the state and, consequently, economic downslide and ruin. It was only after two and half decades, in the last leg of Jyoti Basu's tenure, that the Left parties realised the monumental folly of this policy and overturned it to shamelessly start courting industrialists and businessmen, falling over backwards to get them to invest in Bengal. Even American businessmen, or perhaps especially they, will have the red carpet rolled out for them in Bengal today. While it is good that the Communists have realised the utter foolishness in driving away capital and have done a U-turn on that, they've never publicly owned up to this folly and acknowledged responsibility for having brought Bengal to the brink of ruination. Communists, given their supreme arrogance, can't be expected to do such a thing.
Trade Unionisms: Coupled with this anti-private capital idiocy was another dangerous policy actively followed by the Left all these decadespromoting irresponsible and militant trade unionism. Wildcat strikes, bandhs, verbal and physical assaults on owners and their managers, and much more, led to lockouts in industrial units and closure of many commercial establishments. Companies moved their offices out of Bengal. Consequently, lakhs of people were rendered jobless. This policy of encouraging militant trade unionism is being abandoned only now, with Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee leading the lobby within the Left that talks of responsible trade unionism. In fact, Bhattacharjee has gone one step further and has spoken out against the formation of employees' unions in sunrise sectors like IT and ITeS. But many in the Left ranks still swear by workers' rights to go on strikes, make unreasonable demands and rough up their employers if such demands are not met. However, even though these hardliners will soon realise the imprudence of encouraging workers to behave so irresponsibly and militantly, the Left will never acknowledge, leave alone apologise or atone for having encouraged this trend and for having been singularly responsible for closures and lockouts and, consequently, loss of lakhs of jobs in Bengal.
International Institutions: Till not very long ago, institutions like the World Bank, IMF and ADB were anathema to the Left in Bengal. The Communists here were vehemently opposed to taking loans from these 'capitalist' and 'imperialist' institutions which, they dogmatically believed, were out to undermine the country's economy and subvert it to suit US and Western imperialism.
The Left even sought to apply the brakes on the Union Government negotiating loans and aid from these institutions. But of late in Bengal, the ruling communists have realised the irrationality of shunning the World Bank or ADB and have enthusiastically lined up to seek aid from them. It's a different matter that some hardliners in Kerala still pursue the same policy, but they too will come around soon; Communists don't take time to change colours anyway. But a lot of time has already been lost, along with many opportunities. Had the Left in Bengal not reserved such irrational disdain for the World Bank or ADB, a lot of development, especially in infrastructure, could have taken place much earlier. That it hadn't has been Bengal's loss.
Urban Neglect: The Left Front in Bengal had pursued an absurd policy of neglecting Kolkata and refrained from establishing and developing other urban centres in the state. The reason they held out was supposedly ideologicalthat the rural areas required and deserved equal, if not more, attention than Kolkata. As a result of this weird and inexplicable anti-urban policy, Kolkata fell into neglect and slid into becoming perhaps the worst city in the country in terms of infrastructure, civic amenities, entertainment options and even cultural development. This led to the urban elite (the best and the brightest, actually, from all spheres), already reeling from the impact of shrinking economic opportunities (thanks to the Left's pursuit of other policies listed above), hastening their migration from Kolkata. This city, thus, became a cesspool of mediocrity. Kolkata's neglect is the sole reason for its underdevelopment and that's why it still fails to attract the best and the brightest. The Left Front government has, of late, tried to hasten the city's development, but there's a lot of catching up to do with other urban centres in India that have forged ahead.
The collective impact of all these blunders committed by the Left in Bengal was there for all to seea state and people with a lot of potential that sunk into the morass of poverty, despair and hopelessness. A state that was once the leader in the field of industries, commerce, economic development, arts, culture and intellectual development sliding slowly to the bottom of the heap. And it is not the Left parties who brought about such sad devastation that suffered. It is the people of the state who have. And they've suffered terribly. People in the rest of the country should learn from the Bengal experience and deny the Left any room to put its retrograde, myopic and destructive policies into effect.
Getting back to the nuclear deal, though its complex technicalities may appear incomprehensible to most of us, one would rather go by what a person like Dr Manmohan Singh says rather than buy the specious, warped and dogmatic statements spewed by the fire-breathing Left leaders. And if an innately decent and honest person like Dr Singh says India's interests haven't been compromised at all by the deal, that's good enough for me and for most Indians, I'm sure. And what our Prime Minister says has been attested by nuclear experts who are known to be hawks on India's right to develop nuclear weapons.
Why, then, has the Left suddenly upped the ante and wants the deal scrapped?
Its visceral hatred of the USA can't be the sole motivating factor in this opposition. For, had that been the case, the Left would have raved and ranted against the deal right from the day it was proposed two years ago and all through the tumultuous negotiations between India and US. It did not, save for making the customary protesting noises at regular intervals. The Prime Minister's challenge to the Left in the course of an interview to a Kolkata-based newspaper last week couldn't also have angered the Left so much.
The reasons, I suspect, can be found across the border.
That the CPI(M)'s masters in Beijing aren't at all happy with the deal and would love to scupper it is very well-known. Especially since, as it has now been revealed, a similar US-China nuclear deal of 1985 (but ratified by the US Congress a full 13 years later) is heavily loaded against China. China's rulers haven't been able to stomach the fact that not only is India set to sign a nuclear deal with the USA and thus gain a seat at the nuclear high table, but Indians have also been able to wrest better terms from Uncle Sam than the wily Chinese. Thus, while the Indo-US deal includes supply of fuel and India's right to reprocess spent fuel, the agreement with China does not. China has had to accept bilateral inspections by US inspectors while there's no such clause in the Indo-US deal. USA's nuclear deal with China is linked to various external factors like China's relations with Pakistan, its behaviour in Tibet and its non-proliferation record. The Indo-US deal has no such linkages, nor does it provide any role to external agencies to oversee the separation between civilian and military reactors in India, unlike the US-China deal that forced China to allow Australia to attest its separation plan.
Naturally, with the Indian negotiators having done much better with the US than their Chinese counterparts many years ago, the Chinese, their precious egos punctured, have been bristling with rag. But it is not just that. It wouldn't be difficult to imagine, consequently, the rulers in Beijing directing their minions at New Delhi's AK Gopalan Bhavan to suddenly raise the pitch and threaten the Manmohan Singh government with a 'US or us' ultimatum in the hope that New Delhi will develop cold feet and ultimately abandon the deal. That would benefit China the most, because a deepening of Indo-US strategic ties that the nuclear deal would herald would be the biggest stumbling block towards complete Chinese hegemony in South Asia, which is what they fear the nuke deal is engineered to prevent. No wonder, then, that the (state-controlled) media in China has been reveling in the crisis that Beijing's foot soldiers in India have precipitated. And that's reason enough for Indians not to trust the Left, particularly the CPI(M). Not only is their track record in governance extremely poor (as the Bengal experience shows), their commitment to the country's strategic and other interests is also suspect.
Posted by: john frum ||
08/24/2007
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#1
Ahh.. the city of Calcutta.. that shining example of what decades of communist rule will produce...
Posted by: john frum ||
08/24/2007 8:02
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#2
A black hole?
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 8:06
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An investigating officer recommended Thursday dismissing all charges against a Marine accused of murdering two girls in an assault that killed 24 civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha. Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, 26, is charged with unpremeditated murder of two girls and negligent homicide on suspicion that he unlawfully killed two men, a woman and a boy. He is also accused of assaulting another boy and a girl.
Investigating officer Lt. Col. Paul Ware said the evidence was too weak for a court-martial. Tatum shot and killed civilians, but "he did so because of his training and the circumstances he was placed in, not to exact revenge and commit murder," Ware wrote. "I believe (Lance Cpl.) Tatum's real life experience and training on how to clear a room took over and his body instinctively began firing while his head tried to grasp at what and why he was firing," Ware wrote. "By the time he could recognize that he was shooting at children, his body had already acted.
Ware's recommendation is nonbinding. Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general overseeing the case, has final say about whether Tatum will be court-martialed.
#1
I believe that shoot and no shoot in war belongs to the authority of higher being. If there is no way to exhume a body and no way to CSI this,there is no case. I do think something very wrong was done.
Yes, and you know what it was? It was "insurgents" (otherwise known as 'bloodthirsty moon-god death cultist pieces of shit') firing from residential areas and rooftops of homes, knowing there were women and children inside and that the American forces would retaliate.
Given the same situation, in the same circumstances, I doubt anyone here would have reacted any differently. Clear the men. Leave them alone.
#4
Ala Mark Levin, how about a Rantburg Surge? Contact John Murtha 202-225-2065. Ask John Murtha when the Congressman intends to either apologize or resign. Be respectful. Go!
#5
This whole situation was a joke from the get-go. Just like Abu Ghraib. Just like Lt Pantano. We can police our own. Pay the locals their blood money and move on. Yes, I'm cynical, & no, I don't care. I'm sick of media stoking a burn pit until it turns into a full fledged forest fire. Pathetic western elitist muslim-apologists performing corporal mortification on themselves for having to come to grips w/the realities of war...while our enemies laugh at us. I contemplate "all enemies foreign and domestic" more & more each day........
#6
terrorists hiding behind women and children with these so called civilians protecting and giving them a place to hide.
I hate that this gives our guys a momment of hesitation that they may be slammed with a war crime, this really sucks.
There was a chapter in Lone Survivor about this very thing, which ended up getting them killed.
Posted by: Jan from work ||
08/24/2007 9:16
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I do hope this has repercussions for those who decided to proceed with this case against all common sense. It was so obviously a propaganda attempt by the enemy to win in the court what had been lost on the battlefield.
Dear Broadhead6, the political battlefield here at home is being reshaped even as we type... and every month there are fewer "journalists" receiving paychecks as the profitability of the MSM continues ever deeper into the red resulting from the work of their poison-tipped pens. They have been creating their own doom, as have the ever more despised "anti-war" members of both houses of Congress. The latest Rasmussen poll puts Congress' approval rating at the lowest since the that question was first asked in the early 1970s.
#8
Dear Broadhead6, the political battlefield here at home is being reshaped even as we type... and every month there are fewer "journalists" receiving paychecks as the profitability of the MSM continues ever deeper
No problem. The MSM will be funded either by billionaires with axes to grind and selfguilt complexes or by our friends teh Saudis.
Solution is when people no longer trust teh medias even for learning the day's date.
#11
I called Murtha's office today. I asked if he was going to issue an apology to the troops he slandered. The phone girl said he doesn't have a statement as the case is ongoing. I pointed out that didn't stop him from the slander a couple of months ago. She said she'd pass it on.
#13
Many Senators and Representative accept e-mails from anybody, but there are a select few that only accept e-mail from their constituents. The short list is Pelosi, Murtha, and (Majority Whip?)Steny Hoyer.
So I have (in the past) written all of them letters complaining about how they speak for all the people, but only listen to a tiny fraction. I never get a response, of course, because it's six weeks later by the time the mail has been de-anthraxed, etc.
It does, however, make me feel ever-so-slightly better.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/24/2007 16:20
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You can't even rely on the MSM news accounts to decently wipe your arse.
#15
#11: I called Murtha's office today. I asked if he was going to issue an apology to the troops he slandered. The phone girl said he doesn't have a statement as the case is ongoing. I pointed out that didn't stop him from the slander a couple of months ago. She said she'd pass it on.
Sorry, you wasted a phone call, her job is to NOT "pass it on" to make the complaints vanish, if she did "Pass it on" she'd be fired.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/24/2007 17:57
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If Pelosi and her gang had an OUNCE of decency they would censure that dingbat Murtha for wrongly accusing our Marines. But I know better.
#17
So you live in a state not affected by illegal aliens, or so you think. Did you know that they count illegal aliens in the census? Well they do and these numbers are put towards how the population is apportioned for seats in Congress.
so if the illegals are in their jurisdiction they could call 'their' congress critters, but we can't?!
I was shocked to learn that illegals are counted in deciding how many seats for that state. It should be citizens.
Posted by: Jan ||
08/24/2007 22:42
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Two Lebanese soldiers were killed in fighting with Islamist militants who have been battling the army in northern Lebanon since May 20, a army source said Thursday. The soldiers died of wounds sustained on Wednesday at the Nahr al- Bared Palestinian refugee camp where the army is trying to crush the remaining members of Fatah al-Islam, a group linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
The army has so far lost 143 soldiers in the fighting. According to unconfirmed reports from inside the camp, some 120 militants have been killed as well as 42 civilians since the violence erupted three months ago.
On Monday, Fatah al-Islam asked Palestinian mediators to seek a ceasefire to allow the evacuation of their family members from inside the devastated camp. The army agreed to the request on Tuesday. But the Palestinian clerics who are carrying out the contacts between the militants and the Lebanese army said they have lost contact with the militants holed up inside the camp since Tuesday and that is why the operation was delayed.
One of the mediators, Sheikh Mohammed al-Haj, said he had been unable to reach the militants via telephone since Tuesday. "Now it depends on a phone call so we can organize the evacuation," he said. The number of women and children holed up with the militants is estimated at 70 to 75, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
At least lebs stopped announcing victory every Tuesday.
Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained 10 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Thursday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq weapons and leadership networks.
During an operation north of Baqubah, Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader and two other suspected terrorists. Intelligence reports indicate the cell leader was a terrorist weapons facilitator and has been watching a Coalition Forces base, possibly to plan an attack. During the operation, the ground forces observed a man maneuvering around them and passing information about the assault force to additional enemy elements. Coalition Forces, responding to the threat against the force, engaged the man, killing him.
Coalition Forces captured two targeted individuals and detained two other suspected terrorists during coordinated raids in Bayji. One of the suspects is an alleged safe house operator and meeting coordinator for senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Another suspect is believed to be second-in-command to the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Bayji, who is linked to several attacks against Coalition Forces.
In Mosul, Coalition Forces conducted a precision raid looking for an al-Qaeda in Iraq improvised explosive device facilitator, who is believed to receive, store and assemble IEDs at his home. The ground forces detained one suspected terrorist. Coalition Forces also detained one suspected terrorist during a raid on a farm complex north of Muqdadiyah targeting members of an al-Qaeda in Iraq anti-aircraft cell. Our operations continue to target terrorist leaders and their resources, said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. We are on the offensive to keep al-Qaeda from making headline-grabbing attacks against the Iraqi people.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
We are on the offensive to keep al-Qaeda from making headline-grabbing attacks against the Iraqi people.
Don't speak too fast. They'll just go find some other soft target that is vital to their mission. Like an orphanage.
President Robert Mugabe's government introduced a bill yesterday to give Zimbabweans majority ownership of foreign companies, a move critics say will deepen an economic crisis.
Not much gets past these critics, I tells ya.
When If passed, it will would give the government sweeping powers over how foreign companies, including mines, operate in Zimbabwe.
Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister
My shiny new business cards are at the printers: Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister
Paul Mangwana told parliament the bill would create an environment that would increase the "participation of indigenous people in Zimbabwe".
Critics said it was reminiscent of President Mugabe's controversial policy of seizing white-owned farms to give to landless blacks, which many say triggered the current economic crisis. Foreign companies in Zimbabwe include British American Tobacco, Barclays Bank, BP, Shell, Ernst & Young, Price Waterhouse and Coca-Cola. Economic commentator Eric Bloch said: "What remains to be seen is how vigorously they are going to implement it, but it's certainly going to discourage investors."
Palestinians prefer the Western-backed government of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad over the ousted Hamas government, although residents of the Gaza Strip believe their security has improved since Hamas seized control of the area, according to a poll released Thursday.
The survey by the Palestinian Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, an independent and respected polling firm, was the first since Hamas took over Gaza in five days of bloody fighting in June. Following the takeover, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas threw Hamas out of the unity government with his Fatah Party and formed his new Cabinet based in the West Bank. Hamas, which continues to control Gaza, refuses to recognize the new government.
47 percent said the Fayad government is performing better than the previous Hamas-led Cabinet led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. In comparison, 24 percent favored Haniyeh's government, while 23 percent said there was no difference between the two governments.
In the new poll, 47 percent said the Fayad government is performing better than the previous Hamas-led Cabinet led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. In comparison, 24 percent favored Haniyeh's government, while 23 percent said there was no difference between the two governments. Six percent did not answer.
Even in Hamas's Gaza stronghold, 47 percent of respondents said they think the Fayad government is performing better than Haniyeh's government, compared with 31 percent who say Fayyad is worse.
Still, Gaza residents say their security situation has improved since Hamas took power. The group has pledged to restore law and order to the chaotic area, banning public displays of weapons. According to the poll, 44 percent of Gaza respondents said their personal security has improved, while 31 percent said it has become worse.
However, with Gaza facing isolation and economic hardship, 45 percent of Gazans say the general situation has worsened, while 34 percent say it is better. More than 61 percent of Palestinians oppose the reported Israeli offer of an exchange of territories in a peace agreement, while 38 percent support the idea, the poll found. Israeli media reports say Israelis have proposed the swap in recent negotiations. Almost 82 percent of those questioned oppose the proposal's premise that Israel would get control of West Bank land where Jewish settlements are located.
The poll indicated diminished support for Hamas, which trounced Fatah in January 2006 legislative elections.
When asked which party they support, 34 percent of the respondents said Fatah and 21 percent said Hamas. The same question before Hamas takeover in June brought Fatah 33 percent and Hamas 29 percent. If presidential elections were held today, Abbas would get 20 percent of the vote, Haniyeh 18 percent and Marwan Barghouti - a Fatah leader imprisoned by Israel - would get 16 percent.
The question did not take into account the possibility that Abbas or Barghouti might pull out of such a race to back the other in a showdown with Hamas. The poll questioned 1,200 people in the Gaza Strip and West Bank and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
According to the poll, 44 percent of Gaza respondents said their personal security has improved, while 31 percent said it has become worse.
However, with Gaza facing isolation and economic hardship, 45 percent of Gazans say the general situation has worsened, while 34 percent say it is better.
#2
Riiight . . . they support it now. Now that they've seen just how much life sucks when it's run by people who think they know what Allah wants.
But I'd bet my life's savings that after a year of a Western-backed government's rule, once the internal fighting has died down, they'll happily elect anyone who promises to bring a Massive Jihad of Resistance and Revenge(C) against Israel.
Posted by: The Doctor ||
08/24/2007 9:06
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Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers detained nine Iraqi Policemen Aug. 21 as clearing operations in the Rashid District continued, Troops from Company C, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, detained the policemen, suspected to be involved in an improvised explosive device attack near their checkpoint. The detainees are being held for further questioning.
Earlier that day, numerous sworn statements led Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4IBCT, to apprehend two men suspected of involvement in anti-Iraqi activities. The two men allegedly financed Al Qaeda actions in the area and trained youths in creating and placing IEDs. The two alleged terrorists are being held for questioning.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
detained the policemen, suspected to be involved in an improvised explosive device attack near their checkpoint
I guess Condi will have to drop her plan to provide US training to Abbas' bodyguards?
A witness on Thursday accused Chemical Ali, Saddam Husseins most notorious hatchet man, of killing her sons by throwing them out of a helicopter during the crushing of an Iraqi Shiite rebellion. The mother, giving testimony in the trial of 15 Saddam aides accused of crimes against humanity over the brutal repression of the 1991 rebellion in southern Iraq, vented her fury against Ali Hassan al-Majid, widely known as Chemical Ali. Speaking from behind a curtain to protect her identity, the woman accused Saddams army of arresting her family members and later said Majid himself had killed her two sons. The army detained my two sons, my brother and my niece on March 3, 1991, she told the court on the third day of the trial. Nine days later, my brother and niece were released and they told me that Ali Hasan al-Majid had executed my two sons by throwing them out of a helicopter into the Gulf.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#2
Nine days later, my brother and niece were released and they told me that Ali Hasan al-Majid had executed my two sons by throwing them out of a helicopter into the Gulf.
Insurgent attacks in southern Afghanistan left 13 people dead, 10 of them private security guards escorting a NATO supply convoy, officials said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a German engineer held hostage by the Taliban for more than a month appeared on a private Afghan television, coughing and holding his chest while appealing for help. I am a prisoner of the Taliban, said the man, who identified himself as Rudolf Blechschmidt. We live in the mountains, very high in a very bad condition, please help us. Tolo TV did not say how it obtained the video, and there was no indication of when it was shot. The German Foreign Ministry in Berlin said they were checking its contents.
The ambush on the NATO-supply convoy took place in southern Zabul province. A large group of Taliban attacked the trucks, killing at least 10 private security guards and destroying three vehicles, said Mohammad Salim, an official with the security company, who witnessed the attack.
In Helmand province, provincial police chief Mohammad Hussein said insurgents triggered a remote-controlled bomb, hitting his convoy. He said he was unhurt in the attack but that three civilians were killed and 13 wounded.
On Wednesday, a roadside bomb killed two Canadian troops and an Afghan interpreter travelling in an armoured vehicle in Kandahar province, a former Taliban stronghold. A Canadian radio reporter was also injured in the attack. The casualties - from Quebec provinces Royal 22nd Regiment - bring to 69 the number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2002. Canada has about 2,300 soldiers in the country, mainly operating in Kandahar province.
Separately, the Afghan intelligence said that it had detained a teenage militant who detonated a bomb, which killed three German nationals in the capital. Two German police officers and a foreign ministry employee were killed when the remote control device blew up their vehicle on a road in the outskirts of Kabul a week ago.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted a raid in Kubaysah Aug. 22, detaining an al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist believed to be responsible for shooting down a Coalition Forces helicopter in 2004.
Iraqi Police raided a residence in the vicinity of Kubaysah, located west of Hit, detaining their primary suspect and a second person of interest without incident. An assault rifle as well as numerous identification cards and passports were seized during the operation. The detained individual is a known al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist and allegedly associated with improvised explosive device and sniper attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces in Hit and Kubaysah.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
Looks like the killed / detained ratio has flipped to once again in favor of 'detain.' and a couple of weeks ago, it was looking so promising.......
Lebanon's Democratic Gathering parliament bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt declared Wednesday that the March 14 majority alliance would elect a new president by simple majority at any venue outside parliament and rejected the principle of choosing a head of state by consensus. Jumblatt, in an interview with the youth supplement of the daily an-Nahar to be published Thursday said "We will elect a president for the republic from the March 14 ranks by simple majority and in any venue outside parliament because the constitution permits this after the 14th of October." Excerpts of the interview were distributed by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
He stressed on rejecting a new head of state by consensus saying: "If we accept the principle of consensus with the other side, which I term the foe that doesn't believe in the principles of the Cedars Revolution, we would waste the sacrifices of all our martyrs."
He accused Hezbollah of seeking to establish "a mini state" through purchasing property by "Iranian backing."
"They want to establish political, military and economic control over the nation," Jumblatt said of Hezbollah.
He said the "great battle" would be fought over choosing the team of Lebanese judges to the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 killing of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes. He accused Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri of becoming a "mail box for (Hezbollah leader) Hassan Nasrallah."
"Unfortunately Berri has finished himself with his own hands," he added.
The pro-Syrian opposition has been calling for convening the parliament and electing the president with 2 third majority. Their demand for the 2 third majority is to control the outcome of the elections and this is why they want to agree on a president by consensus before heading to the parliament on September 25, the date set by Speaker Berri. The idea is if no agreement is reached on a president by consensus, the opposition MPs will not show up at the parliament on September 25 and no election could take place because of lack of a quorum.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
I think he meant "male box"
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2007 7:14
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Britain this week refused entry visas to a team of Palestinian soccer players who were scheduled to play exhibition games across the UK. The decision came days before the Palestinian Under-19 team was due to arrive for a three-week tournament, with the opening game against Chester City set for next Thursday. Other games were scheduled against Tranmere Rovers on September 4 and Blackburn Rovers on September 8.
The players were told the visas were blocked because of a perceived risk they would not return home to Gaza, the BBC reported.
The team's visa applications were rejected "after every member failed to meet entry criteria."
According to the British Consulate in Jerusalem, the team's visa applications were rejected "after every member failed to meet entry criteria," the report stated.
The ban has been criticized by War On Want, a charity based in London that is under investigation by the UK Charity Commission for allegedly violating its charity status for political campaigning. It was "hypocrisy" for the UK to deny entry to the Palestinian team but to allow the Israeli national squad entry to play England in London on September 8 in a Euro 2008 qualifier, War on Want said. "The refusal stands in marked contrast to the welcome given the Israeli national team, due to play England at Wembley on 8 September. This is despite calls for that match to be canceled in protest of continuing Israeli assaults on Palestinian towns, including the bombing of the national football stadium," said the charity.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Plans to reduce the height of a planned mosque in the cathedral city of Cologne were dropped on Wednesday after objections by the architects. The Turkish mosque association Ditib said the mosque's two minarets would be 55 metres high, although some modifications would be made to the original design of the complex. Architect Paul Boehm said reducing the height of the minarets would have left them out of proportion with the rest of the building and surrounding structures, such as a television tower and a high-rise block.
The Muslim minority has been facing vehement criticism in the city where there is a strong opposition to the 40-million-dollar (30- million-euro) mosque covering an area of 20,000 square metres. The most widespread criticism has been that the proposed building would be too dominant. Plans call for it to have a 35-metre glass dome, space for 1,900 worshippers and a community centre with shops well as offices and a restaurant.
Boehm said the minarets would be more abstract and less traditional due to "organic changes in the dome-shaped construction of the mosque's prayer room."
Cologne Mayor Fritz Schramma had originally welcomed plans by Ditib to consider shortening the height of the minarets as a "first and an important step." He said many city residents still had difficulty accepting the size of the mosque's domed roof in Cologne's Ehrenfeld inner-city area. Ditib said the mayor was happy with the latest compromise.
A recent survey of city residents by Omniquest pollsters showed 36 per cent favoured the original design, 31 per cent opposed the project and 27 per cent said they would accept a mosque on a smaller scale.
Ditib, backed by the Turkish ministry of religion, is a a major builder of mosques for ethnic Turkish Muslims in Germany.
Ralph Giordano, a novelist of Jewish origin with atheist views, has been one of the most vocal critics of the project. He said last month that mosques were "popping up like mushrooms and named after Ottoman conquerors." He has also called on Muslims to learn secular values and integrate into German society. Giordano received death threats for his criticism, but these were condemned by Ditib, which claims to represent a large section of the 3.2 million Muslims resident in Germany.
#2
In WWII the cathedral in Cologne was about the only thing ABOVE 0' elevation. One expects a mosque would not fare as well.
May 31, 1942, Operation Millenium, was the first 1000 bomber assault out of Britain - Cologne had the misfortune of being one of the closest major targets to the British bomber bases.
From East Asia Intel, subscription.
Republican President candidate Mitt Romney has adopted a pro-China foreign policy that observers say is based on his close ties to former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has large consulting contracts with the Beijing government. If the politicians are not 'hos of the Oil Ticks, they are 'hos of the Chicoms.
If I'm lucky enough to be president, making China a partner for stability in the world will be one of my highest priorities," the Associated Press quoted the former Massachusetts governor as recently pledging. "China is really key, in many respects, as they become a very large economy, he said.
Romney's financial disclosure statement made public indicates he owns stock worth between $50,000 and $100,000 in China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. or Sinopec, which human rights activists say is a key investor in Sudan. Romney aides said the investments are in a blind trust and the trustee sold other stock having connections to Sudan. Hidin' behind the Blind Trust thingy, ya say?
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/24/2007
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#1
Republican President candidate Mitt Romney has adopted a pro-China foreign policy that observers say is based on his close ties to former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has large consulting contracts with the Beijing government.
After he's been thoroughly greased, I'm sure the Politburo refers to Romney as their "Catcher's" Mitt. He certainly seems to be crouched and ready.
#2
The guy is worth more than $200 million. If he only has $50-100K invested in China then I question his financial savvy in forgoing the world's fastest growing market for the last 20 years.
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 6:48
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#3
Ohferchrisakes. Chances are if you looked under Mitt's sofa cushions you could find $100K.
The Lebanese authorities arrested two persons suspected of involvement in the July 16 bombing of a UN peacekeeping patrol in south Lebanon, the daily An Nahar reported Thursday. It said their detention came after Lebanese security forces found and seized a "remote control," which had been used and left behind in the July 16 roadside bomb that targeted a United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol on Qassmiyeh Bridge near the southern port city of Tyre.
There were no casualties from the July 16 attack on the vehicle belonging to the Tanzanian contingent, which was slightly damaged. A preliminary investigation showed that the two detainees were Palestinians with links to Jund al-Sham ( Soldiers of Damascus) , an extremist armed Islamic groups, the daily said. It said the authorities were still hunting for a third suspect.
Shortly after the July 16 bombing, the Lebanese government linked it to the battle between the army and the Fatah al-Islam's militants in the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. The Lebanese army has been battling with the militants of Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Bared camp since May 20. The bloodiest internal violence since the Lebanese 1975-1990 civil war has killed more than 200 people. The Lebanese government lists Fatah al-Islam as a terrorist network aimed at destabilizing Lebanon.
In recent months, the UNIFIL troops have occasionally targeted by militants. On July 24, three Spaniards and three Colombians serving in the Spanish battalion were killed in a car bombing attack targeting their patrol convoy in the main road between the towns of Marjayoun and Khiam near the Israeli border.
The July 24 bombing was the first deadly attack against the about 13,000-strong UNIFIL troops, which were deployed along Lebanon's border with Israel to enforce the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war last summer.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Top|| File under: Jund al-Shams
An explosion ripped through a car east of Gaza City late Thursday, witnesses said, and hospital officials said one person was killed and another was seriously wounded. Hamas security officials said Israel fired a surface-to-surface missile at a group of Hamas fighters, killing one and wounding an unspecified number of other fighters, including one who was seriously hurt.
The Israeli army, which customarily acknowledges its air and ground operations against Palestinian militants, denied involvement in its initial response. Some blasts that do not involve the military are caused by explosive devices intended for use against Israel that go off prematurely.
In related news, a Palestinian rocket hit a house late Thursday in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, a frequent target of militant attacks. No injuries were reported. In all, seven rockets were fired throughout the day at Israel from Gaza, including at least three that landed in Israeli territory.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Top|| File under: Hamas
#9
Surface-to-surface missile? Why the hell would they do that when air-to-surface is so much more accurate?
Money. All these air-to-surface shticks been consuming ground forces' training budgets for years.
PS. Wanna bet IMI can't make Surface-to-surface just as accurate as air-to-surface?
Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal said efforts to end the bitter feud with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas were deadlocked because of Israeli and US meddling, and insisted his men would stay in control of Gaza. And he warned in an interview with AFP that despite renewed efforts to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians, resistance remained the only option for Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.
Mediation efforts are at an impasse because they have shut all doors and rejected Palestinian and other Arab mediation, Meshaal said in a telephone interview from Syria.
Mediation efforts are at an impasse because they (Abbass Fatah faction) have shut all the doors and rejected Palestinian and other Arab mediation, including initiatives by some Fatah officials, Meshaal said in a telephone interview from Syria. Israeli and American interference is responsible for blocking the reconciliation, he said.
Fierce rivalry between Hamas and Abbass secular Fatah boiled over into deadly fighting which saw the Islamist movement seize control of the Gaza Strip in mid-June, effectively splitting the Palestinians into two separate entities. The Western-backed Abbas sacked the Hamas-led government in the wake of the takeover and has since repeatedly said he is steadfastly opposed to any dialogue with Hamas until it returns the Gaza Strip to his authority. But Meshaal said: We have not taken Gaza in order to give it back to them... We have defended our legitimacy against warlords who were preparing a coup with the help of the Americans and the Israelis.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
is Meshaal still hiding in Damascus? Why doesn't he return in glory to his lil bit o' hell, Gaza?
Can you say "coward"? I knew ya could.
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2007 7:11
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#2
resistance remained the only option for Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.
Well, doesn't that have "Crush me like a bug" written all over it! Hard to live with neighbors who are determined to kill you.
(SomaliNet) One of the government soldiers in Somalia was on Thursday put to death after he was convicted of deliberately killing a comrade last month, local security official said.
Farhan Abdi Kulmie, blindfolded and chained on both hands and legs was shot dead in public by squad of soldiers.
According to the police spokesman Abdiwahid Mohamed Hussein, the murderer was finished at the former execution ground at the police academy near the port in Mogadishu. Farhan Abdi Kulmie, with blindfolded and chained on both hands and legs was shot dead in public by squad of sorted soldiers.
The execution came when the Somalia military court sentenced Abdi to death penalty after he was found of murder guilty. The government rejected the press to take pictures during the execution.
Meanwhile, one soldier died when grenade explosion targeted the military base of the Somali forces in north of the capital Thursday. Witnesses said unknown gunmen hurled a grenade at government troops around the mother and child SOS hospital. Another soldier was injured in the blast. The attackers escaped unharmed.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Top|| File under:
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 7:10
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#6
I believe that's the hardbound collector's edition of Great Moments in the Rantburg Defender-Scimitar & Times-Picayune, Volume 1 that she's reading.
Posted by: Mike ||
08/24/2007 8:54
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A militant was killed and nine Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel injured when hundreds of Taliban militants attacked an FC fort in the Nawai Dand area bordering North Waziristan Agency late on Wednesday with heavy weapons, officials told Daily Times. The militants shouted Allah-o-Akbar before attacking the fort, FC personnel told Daily Times as sources in the local administration said that hundreds of militants took part in the onslaught. This is the second attack in Hangu district since an August 20 suicide attack on a checkpost in which six paramilitary soldiers were killed.
According to unofficial reports, the security personnel had vacated the fort before the attack. The reports said that the attackers dismantled the forts main gate and damaged the building.
Police sources said that the militants used heavy weapons in the three-hour attack. They said that the security personnel killed an attacker, Sher Ayub of Mir Ali town in North Waziristan, in retaliatory fire. Ayubs body was later handed over to the Tal police. Naib s bedar Bashir Ahmed, who is in charge of the FC fort, said that 25 security personnel were deployed at the fort. However, according to unofficial reports, the security personnel had vacated the fort before the attack. The reports said that the attackers dismantled the forts main gate and damaged the building. Hangu DPO visited the area and directed the officials to register a first information report against the unidentified militants.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Top|| File under: Taliban
#1
The militants shouted Allah-o-Akbar before attacking the fort,
#2
The moonbats attacked the empty fort and won! Did anyone consider that those who occupy the local ground also might control the local ground. The moonbats knew it had emptied and the potempkin-like victory helped the moonbat propoganda machine, bolster self-confidence thru their rank and file, created a distraction from other events underway or soon to pop off, come damn close to being a rehearsal and training event for current or future operations, and feed the MSM something to needle the good folks fighting the good fight against islamo-fascism. Then again... it could very well have been what it appeared to have been and reported.
IDF troops arrested a senior Hamas fugitive in Halhoul, north of Hebron, on Thursday. The army said that the man, 31-year-old Ahmad Sayid, played a central role in Hamas's West Bank operations.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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The first sign of serious tension between Gordon Brown and President George W Bush over Iraq have emerged as a senior US general said the withdrawal of British troops was creating a security crisis in the south of the country.
Gen Jack Keane, who is close to the White House and was the architect of the American troop "surge" in Baghdad this year, said the policy was helping to turn Basra into a city of "gangland warfare". "I think what has happened is that they [the insurgents] know British numbers are going down and see the character of operations is changing," he told The Daily Telegraph. They sense it and have got the momentum going. That's what's happening. There is a power play but they know no one is going to interfere with them."
The remarks represent the first public questioning of British strategy by a senior US military official since Mr Brown became Prime Minister at the end of June.
Gen Keane said the situation had deteriorated to the point where military commanders had even considered using US forces to reinforce the dwindling British presence. Privately, some US and British commanders believe that by backing the phased withdrawal and hinting that Afghanistan is a higher priority, Mr Brown is buoying up the morale of insurgents.
The Ministry of Defence said there were problems in Basra but claimed that the ability of Iraq's own security forces to confront them was improving.
Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, accused Mr Brown of ignoring the Iraq issue while soldiers were dying. He said: ''Our forces deserve clear political leadership, which is singularly lacking at present while our troops are toiling in a very deadly and difficult situation.''
The number of British troops in Iraq has fallen from 7,200 at the start of this year to 5,500. This will drop to 5,000 by the beginning of next month.
Posted by: lotp ||
08/24/2007
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#1
More shame for England. And no alternative government on offer. We will live to regret this time for generations to come.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto has said in an interview telecast here this week that she wants a facilitated transfer of democracy and is willing to have a working relationship with President General Pervez Musharraf,
The PPP chairwoman indicated that two of the confidence-building measures that she is waiting for from Musharraf are: lifting of the ban on a third term for prime ministers and indemnity for holders of public office prior to 2001.
who could stay in charge of the army as president if he sheds his uniform.
In an interview with former CBS news anchor Dan Rather, the PPP chairwoman indicated that two of the confidence-building measures that she is waiting for from Musharraf are: lifting of the ban on a third term for prime ministers and indemnity for holders of public office prior to 2001.
Asked if she and her party were open to sharing power with Musharraf and leave him in charge of the military, Bhutto replied, The president of our country under the Constitution is the commander-in-chief. So even if Musharraf leaves the chief of army post and is legally elected president, he would still continue to be in charge of the military, or any president, even if he is a civilian.
This article starring:
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister and chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said on Thursday the United States must distance itself from President Gen Pervez Musharraf if it wants to win the fight against terrorism, in an interview with The Associated Press. Nawaz said Washington must actively promote democracy in Pakistan and shift its support away from Musharraf, who ousted him in a bloodless 1999 coup. America must support Pakistan. It should not equate Pakistan with Musharraf, Nawaz said at his London office. It is being perceived America is supporting one man against 150 million people in Pakistan.
He confirmed he would seek office again, for a third term as prime minister. If the people of Pakistan elect me to serve the country, Ill be honoured to do that, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
No. Only 5.56 MM or .45 can defeat terrorists. If you are elected, I expect you to know tour power. And that is already unsettling to me. I will look at your resume this week.
#2
Nawaz played the Islamofascist card during his kleptomaniac rule. We should not be supporting pseudo-democratic processes that mean: one-man-one-vote-one-time. Pakistan's Jamaat-i-Islami is a terror gang; we should be asking Mushy to eradicate them.
One in four babies born in the UK has a foreign mother or father, official figures showed yesterday. Population data for the year to July 2006 showed the proportion of babies born to a foreign parent has risen to 25 per cent compared to under 20 per cent just six years ago.
The startling statistic reflected the impact of recent record levels of immigration on the population.
Continued on Page 49
#1
At least Mohammed is only the 22nd most popular boy's name, the 44th, and the 69th. (2006 England and Wales baby names)
Posted by: ed ||
08/24/2007 7:27
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"It is clear from these figures that immigration is continuing unchecked and continues to break all previous records - despite the fact this is opposed by the vast majority of the public," he added.
Many of whom are themselves foreign born. Time to pull up the ladder.
#3
Here is what I teaching my children and grandchildren about the not too distant future:
IF (big if) the Brits finally wake up (rise up) and fight back against those in their midst (their muslim overlords and leftist-liberal enablers) then, and only then, should you support sending American transport ships into harms way to England to evacuate the Western Civ resistance.
Should England submit to Islam without resistance - sadly as now appears to be the case -don't even think about committing to the required effort to evacuate england. To do so would only be advantageous to the muzzies.
The same goes for Europe as a whole.
Please understand, however, that the nukes currently in possession of our current and (at best) weak ass nominal allies in europe, will have to be destroyed least they fall under control of the muzzie. If (when) that day comes to pass it will not be healthy for anyone, but especially Europe.
So I guess the bottom line is this: Europe, get your stuff together NOW, or eventually face the consequences of the choices you make today.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
08/24/2007 12:21
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#4
Throughout the long history of the British Isles there have been many invasions: the Saxons, the Vikings, the Romans and the Normans. I have probably left some out. All of these invasions were opposed by force of arms and many would be invaders were repelled by British arms. Now they can't seem to lift a finger in their own defense when a bunch of unarmed third world types just walk right in and take over. Amazing. One of the big advantages these foreigners have, of course, is their refusal to use birth control which results in birthrates that are far higher than native Europeans and families with seven or eight children. Native Europeans should remember what happens when their tiny countries become overpopulated - war, disease, famine, poverty. Nobody seems to understand that Western Civilization is at stake.
Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 ||
08/24/2007 13:05
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A Coalition Outpost in northern Baghdad was attacked by two Suicide Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Devices August 22. The COP is manned by U.S. soldiers from 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and Iraqi soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division.
The attack wounded eleven U.S. soldiers and four Iraqi Army soldiers. Four Iraqi soldiers were killed. Eight of the U.S, wounded were transported to Camp Taji. The remaining three U.S. and four Iraqi soldiers were evacuated to a medical facility. Eight local Iraqis suspected of having information concerning the attack have been detained.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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US intelligence eavesdrops on thousands of foreign telephone calls on lines that cross through US territory but monitors the calls of fewer than a hundred people in the United States, intelligence chief Mike McConnell has disclosed.
McConnells comments followed passage by the US Congress this month of a law allowing the intelligence agencies to conduct warrantless intercepts of calls between two foreign points. McConnell stressed in an interview with the El Paso Times that intelligence agencies must still obtain court warrants to monitor calls in which at least one of the parties is in the United States. And so if a terrorist calls in and its another terrorist, I think the American public would want us to do surveillance of that US person in this case, he said. So we would just get a warrant and do that. Its a manageable thing. On the US persons side its 100 or less. And then the foreign side, its in the thousands.
The Texas newspaper, which interviewed McConnell last week, posted a transcript on its website on Wednesday. McConnell led the administrations campaign for passage of the new law, which encountered fierce resistance in Congress. He said he acted after a judge on a special court that oversees intelligence surveillance activities ruled that the intelligence agencies had to get warrants to intercept calls between foreign points if they were carried on a US wire. The issue is volume and time, McConnell said. He argued that it takes 200 man-hours to put together a request for a warrant on a single phone number, making it impractical to do for thousands of calls.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#2
Great - so the FISA judges are as prone to idiotic, indefensible and dangerous meddling as their colleagues on other courts. I wonder if the "reasoning" that rationalizes a warrant requirement to monitor FOREIGN communications is of the standard used by the SCOTUS to rip the Geneva Conventions to shreds and make up a new meaning for Common Article 3. Collapse of the rule of law is truly scary - from capricious govt. refusal to enforce some laws, to courts' just making shit up and disregarding facts and actual law. We're far from the situation in most systems, but it's still depressing and frightening to behold.
the normal Judge's ego 'requores' 15 minutes of fame like.
then you get a FISA judge like this one here, demanding a warrant on every G'D tap, he wants/ he'll git 20-40 hours or so of fame.
jumping ahead to the all time sucking asshat of fame and attention, Arlen Spector, it's enuff to make a growd up man cry plus you caint git a breath of fresh air anywhars in the room.
Posted by: Red Dawg ||
08/24/2007 5:55
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#4
Amazing how this crap pushed the Echelon program off the radar screen, ain't it?
Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Aug. 22 after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al-Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area of villages and palm groves in Iraqs Diyala province.
The operation, which involved approximately 16,000 Iraqi and Coalition Forces clearing approximately 50 villages, was a key element in Multinational Corps-Iraqs overall operation, Phantom Strike; and resulted in 26 al-Qaeda members killed, 37 suspected terrorists detained and the discovery of 10 weapons caches. The strength and determination of the fighting men and women from the Iraqi and Coalition Forces showed great results during Lightning Hammer, said Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of Coalition Forces in Diyala province. We have continued to diminish their supplies and disable al-Qaedas abilities to disrupt the population.
Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, partnered with members of the 5th Iraqi Army Division, initiated the operation with a late-night air assault into targeted locations Aug. 13, and conducted an additional three air-assaults during the course of the operation.
Residents of most villages welcomed the security forces, providing tips and intelligence about recent activities in their towns; and were interested in joining the Iraqi Security Forces. Following clearing operations, the Iraqi army provided medical assistance and humanitarian aid to the local citizens, many of whom said their villages were recently influenced by al-Qaeda.
More importantly, more than 80 tribal leaders and representatives, some of whom had not spoken in over a year, met Aug. 19 to discuss their grievances and swore on the Quran to unite in their fight against terrorists and become one tribe of Diyala. As I conducted my battlefield circulation and talked with many of the citizens, they repeatedly thanked our Soldiers, but more importantly, their security forces, for liberating their towns from the terrorists specifically al-Qaeda, Sutherland said. Because their villages have been cleared, the local and central governments will now be able to provide those essential services al-Qaeda destroyed; and the people feel a sense of security they have not known for some time.
Throughout the operation, the Task Force Lightning Soldiers also discovered 22 improvised explosive devices, 11 of which were discovered based on tips from a police chief in the river valley; and reduced three house-borne IEDs and six vehicle-borne IEDs, all of which could have been used to harm a large portion of the population or security forces.
Additionally, an al-Qaeda command post was discovered in the village of Shadia, and an al-Qaeda medical clinic was located in Qaryat Sunayjiyah. The command post, which was surrounded by fighting positions, contained bed space for 20 individuals, supply requests, records of munitions, a list of families supporting the element, a list of al-Qaeda members detained by Coalition Forces and other terrorist propaganda. Although we didnt find many of the terrorists, the operation proved to be a great success because we disrupted al-Qaeda, causing them to run, Sutherland continued. Their fear of facing our forces proves that the terrorists know there is no safe haven for them in Diyala. And though this specific operation is over, our fight is not over. We will continue to aggressively target al-Qaeda, and ultimately, they will be brought to justice.
The results of Lightning Hammer cleared the Diyala River Valley of al-Qaeda and allowed Iraqi and Coalition Forces to maintain a permanent presence in Mukeisha, a village in the heart of the river valley area.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2007
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#1
OK, 63 bad guys taken out. In 50 villages. That's a little over 1 bad guy/village. If it really takes about 10-20 bad guys to hold each village, that means over 90% got away.
#2
Gorb - wrong set of equations. Twenty bad guys can hold from five to ten villages, moving from town to town, getting a couple of snitches in each town. There were probably no more than 150 AQ in the area, and half of those were hangers-on. We killed a little more than a third, and caused another ten to fifteen percent to take to the hills in Syria. They also lost valuable space, something that cannot be made up easily. They're most vulnerable to detection when they're moving around. It will take several YEARS to recoup what they've lost, if given a chance. The idea is to never give them a moment's rest, so there's no chance to recoup lost ground. Eventually, all of Iraq will be a Blue zone, with tiny pinpricks of red here and there, constantly shifting.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/24/2007 15:48
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#3
Thanks, OP. I hadn't thought about the rat angle. Hopefully their fellow villagers know who they are and convert them to something more useful as they see fit.
Anybody know how big these villages are?
Seems to me the usefulness of these villages lies in that they are a handy place to fall back to after half their buddies get their a$$es shot off in yet another ambush or failed engagement. It seems the only way that would be handy would be if the residents didn't snitch on them, which could only happen if there were the threat of future reprisals, which would mean there are a bunch of AQ types outside their own village who would come over and kill a bunch of them. This kind of suggests that the operation needed to make these go away would be over a broad area and basically simultaneous, and the residents would have to know if they pointed the bad guys out that nobody would come along the next day to kill them.
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.
The soil on Mars may indeed be teeming with microbes, according to a new interpretation of data first collected more than 30 years ago.
GAZA - Hamas said on Thursday its elite Executive Force, which helped the Islamist group seize control of the Gaza Strip in June, will become the territorys main police force. The announcement was largely 
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has recently made it clear that he does not intend to run for another term, PA officials here said Thursday. Abbas, who was elected in January 2005 in the first presidential election in the PA following the death of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, prefers to retire and devote more time to his family, the officials told The Jerusalem Post. 
House Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday lashed out at rival Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt for accusing him of becoming a "mail box" for Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. "The parliament speaker has the honor to be a mail box for the resistance that he was the first to establish," Berri said in a statement released by his office.
Alleged al-Qaida fighters attacked a Sunni village east of Baqouba on Thursday and killed a village leader who had led the community in an uprising against the terrorist organization, witness and police said. At the same time Timim, a nearby Shiite village, came under attack, again by alleged al-Qaida fighters. 
Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards are using front groups to beat UN sanctions and acquire weapons and material for Tehrans nuclear programme, an exiled opponent of the Iranian government said on Wednesday. 
A seven-member larger bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that 
Palestinians prefer the Western-backed government of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad over the ousted Hamas government, although residents of the Gaza Strip believe their security has improved since Hamas seized control of the area, according to a poll released Thursday. 
A witness on Thursday accused Chemical Ali, Saddam Husseins most notorious hatchet man, of killing her sons by throwing them out of a helicopter during the crushing of an Iraqi Shiite rebellion. The mother, giving testimony in the trial of 15 Saddam aides accused of crimes against humanity over the brutal repression of the 1991 rebellion in southern Iraq, vented her fury against Ali Hassan al-Majid, widely known as Chemical Ali. Speaking from behind a curtain to protect her identity, the woman accused Saddams army of arresting her family members and later said Majid himself had killed her two sons. The army detained my two sons, my brother and my niece on March 3, 1991, she told the court on the third day of the trial. Nine days later, my brother and niece were released and they told me that Ali Hasan al-Majid had executed my two sons by throwing them out of a helicopter into the Gulf.
Insurgent attacks in southern Afghanistan left 13 people dead, 10 of them private security guards escorting a NATO supply convoy, officials said on Thursday. 
Lebanon's Democratic Gathering parliament bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt declared Wednesday that the March 14 majority alliance would elect a new president by simple majority at any venue outside parliament and rejected the principle of choosing a head of state by consensus. Jumblatt, in an interview with the youth supplement of the daily an-Nahar to be published Thursday said "We will elect a president for the republic from the March 14 ranks by simple majority and in any venue outside parliament because the constitution permits this after the 14th of October." Excerpts of the interview were distributed by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Britain this week refused entry visas to a team of Palestinian soccer players who were scheduled to play exhibition games across the UK. The decision came days before the Palestinian Under-19 team was due to arrive for a three-week tournament, with the opening game against Chester City set for next Thursday. Other games were scheduled against Tranmere Rovers on September 4 and Blackburn Rovers on September 8. 
Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal said efforts to end the bitter feud with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas were deadlocked because of Israeli and US meddling, and insisted his men would stay in control of Gaza. And he warned in an interview with AFP that despite renewed efforts to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians, resistance remained the only option for Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. 
(SomaliNet) One of the government soldiers in Somalia was on Thursday put to death after he was convicted of deliberately killing a comrade last month, local security official said. 
A militant was killed and nine Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel injured when hundreds of Taliban militants attacked an FC fort in the Nawai Dand area bordering North Waziristan Agency late on Wednesday with heavy weapons, officials told Daily Times. The militants shouted Allah-o-Akbar before attacking the fort, FC personnel told Daily Times as sources in the local administration said that hundreds of militants took part in the onslaught. This is the second attack in Hangu district since an August 20 suicide attack on a checkpost in which six paramilitary soldiers were killed.
