I've changed the troll deletion routine again, so that all droppings associated with the spew should go at once. Saves clicking and reclicking. The text will also go into the sink trap now, assuming I haven't left a comma out or something. Just in case, I just did a database backup...
It appeared to work when I ran it against Boris' earlier appearances, but they'd already been scraped. C'mon Boris! Where are you?
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2004 10:56:51 AM ||
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#1
Thanks Fred, seems to be working great, I do so enjoy troll hunting. By the way, did you forward my request for overtime to Zionist World Headquarters? I checked my swiss account and it hasn't been deposited yet.
Posted by: Steve ||
03/29/2004 11:28 Comments ||
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#2
Thanks Fred, I'll keep an eye out for Boris. Did we ever hear from Natasha?
I deleted several dropping this morning around 8 am. He changed his text again ever so slightly.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/29/2004 11:40 Comments ||
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#3
Damn! Did they short you, too? I hate it when we have to be driven like cattle to the bank to pick up the extra checks.
This one's got a new, improved, longer, lower, leaner, wider hoover mechanism to it... Assuming it works, of course.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2004 11:42 Comments ||
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#5
Moose is in the freezer, along with about 70 pounds of fresh salmon. I gave up squirrel for lent - about 20 years ago.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/29/2004 11:52 Comments ||
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#6
Some day there should be a troll Olympics. Thre could be medals for 100 second comment attack, high delection rate jumping, triple jump for off subject, bigoted and illogical comments, etc.
#12
Hi hon...Jamie Leigh here from LABYRINTH (jamieleigh.net)
I need your help, it's very important. I need as many strong web voices as possible. This New Jersey gal needs some web support, and is not a joke by any means. I hope to hear from you and I'll fill ya in on all the specifics. ;-)
EMAIL me at jamieleighdotnet@hotmail.com as soon as you can.
You just knew I'd look, didn't ya, baby? Well, well - you're a camgrrl - selling titty pix. So what's with the strong web voices bit, eh? You want green for flash. And you're a Michael Jackson freakazoid. Selling skin peekies and worshipping Jacko? Heh, you're phriggin' lost little grrl - in more ways than one.
#21
Boy, for awhile there I didn't think Boris was going to show up. But there he was, right on schedule. Hit the button, and it worked like a champ. Everything gone in one click.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2004 22:56 Comments ||
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From MEMRI:
On March 9, 2004, Saudi Arabiaâs King Fahd Bin Abd Al-Aziz officially approved the establishment of the countryâs first non-governmental human rights organization... NOHR Chairman Dr. Abdallah Bin Saleh Al-âUbeid explained that the organization would strive to protect human rights in accordance with the principles of the Saudi regime, based on the Qurâan and the Sunna, as well as international human rights conventions, in a manner that does not conflict with Shariâa..... WRONG! _ go back and try again.....
#2
the problem for the Saudis is that Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says,
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."
In Saudi Arabia if you leave islam, you face the death penalty (true in several other Islamic counties). Similarly, if you attend a Christian religious service you face punishment, etc.
#4
237 is bad luck for Saudis.
I will also bring to your attention to the FACT that 23 less 7 is 16. FACT 16 added to the middle numeral is 19! QED (An excellent name for an Office Supply Store)
Posted by: Dr. Science ||
03/29/2004 16:32 Comments ||
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#5
Don't know why I appeared as Anon3966 for my Uranium joke. BTW, 3966 / 3 = 1322.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 18:07 Comments ||
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#6
Wow! Mathematician stuff on RB! Pretty soon, we're gonna hafta figure out how to act snobby and be snotty to newcomers - y'know, the clique thingy. I guess all that's lacking is bringing Mucky around on the wine thing and someone talking about art.
So. Anybody know dick about art? I don't mean the guy with no arms and no legs hanging on the wall - I mean like pictures that somebody like drew and everything, y'know?
As for the Saudis, well they don't know anything about art -or- mathematics. Come to think of it, they don't know dick about dick. We'll have to make sure an' exclude them from our clique thingy.
#9
.com, isn't art where you get on a boat with some understudies and go hose red paint onto an iceberg?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 20:11 Comments ||
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#10
Whoa - that sounds like fun! Shit, man, the only painting I ever did was rocks. White. Rocks. White. Rocks. 'Course I'm not interested in hanging over the side of a ship and scraping old paint off in 8 hour shifts...
#11
We should have Kofi Annan write a memo to the Saudis demanding that they comply with Article 18 of the United Nations Charter, or they will be suspended from the organization and have to go to charm school. Yeah, that will do it!
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/29/2004 20:41 Comments ||
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A good forensics investigation will clear this right up, EFL:
A U.S. forensics team led by an expert who investigated John F. Kennedy's assassination began its probe Monday into the election eve shooting of Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian. Solving the shooting mystery could be key to defusing a political crisis over the March 20 election. Chen's top rival, Lien Chan, has insinuated that the president staged the shooting to get a boost from last-minute sympathy votes. Chen's margin of victory was 0.2 percent.
Pretty tough way to get votes
Lien's Nationalists and Chen's Democratic Progressive Party agreed Monday to consider passing a law that would set up a special commission to probe the shooting. Lien has said he doubts the foreign investigation team will be impartial.
Starting off well, don't you think?
The team began analyzing bullets, blood samples, medical photos and other evidence Monday from the March 19 shooting that grazed Chen's abdomen. The gunshot slightly injured Chen as he was campaigning in an open vehicle. The team leader, Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, suggest the conspiracy theories that Chen faked the shooting seemed unlikely. The bullet left a 4 1/2-inch gash under Chen's navel. "Looking at this wound, it is consistent with a gunshot wound," said Wecht, who also helped investigate the death of former Federal Bureau of Prisons intern Chandra Levy, and consulted on high-profile cases ranging from the Kennedy assassinations to the death of Elvis Presley.
Chandra Levy? Kennedy? ELVIS!! Yeah, he really cleared those cases, didn't he?
The team, invited by Taiwan's government, also includes Taiwanese-American forensics expert Henry Lee, who has investigated several prominent cases including those of O.J. Simpson and JonBenet Ramsey.
O.J.? JonBenet? Have any of these experts ever solved a high profile case?
Police have no suspects or other solid leads, but Wecht was optimistic that the experts would figure out what happened. Lee will probably already have "some final opinions" about the case before he arrives, he said.
"It was a lone white male drug dealing golfer on the grassy knoll in the park, eating a peanut butter banana sandwich, angry at Chen for getting his sister, a former child beauty contest winner, pregnant."
Posted by: Steve ||
03/29/2004 1:57:20 PM ||
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#1
Screaming Screeching commentary. But the Green, the Green, the Green! In the name of Goethe, just dial in about 10 precent cyan. My EGA monitor essentially resets each time it sees the green, the green, the green.
#2
My bets on the Blonde haired hippy,behind the white fence, wearing a "No War For Oil" t-shirt, angry at Chen's wife for only paying him half price for staying silent about her being a Chinese hooker/spy/diplomat.
Posted by: Charles ||
03/29/2004 18:31 Comments ||
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#3
"Now, working with former Carter administration officials and military men who were forced into early retirement for various reasons which we won't go into here..."
via BBC A controversially lenient sentence for a wealthy Chinese woman whose BMW car ran over a peasant has been upheld.
Su Xiuwen, who drove into a crowd last October, was originally sentenced to a suspended jail term. But popular anger at the ruling, and Mrs Suâs political links, persuaded the government to review the case. A judicial panel has now decided the ruling was "appropriate", and agreed that Mrs Su had no ill intent, but instead was a bad driver.
The case began last October when a tractor pulling a load of green onions scraped the side of Mrs Suâs metallic-silver BMW in a crowded market in the northern city of Harbin. Mrs Su reportedly swore and hit out at the farmer and his wife who had got down from their tractor to apologise, then drove her car into the growing crowd on the roadside, killing the farmerâs wife and injuring 12 others.
Ms Suâs two-year suspended sentence for what the judge ruled was an "accidental traffic disturbance" touched off rumours that her wealthy businessman husband was related to senior provincial officials. The rumours and unease spread particularly quickly via the internet, prompting local officials to agree to begin a comparatively rare review of the case.
But the review panel, made up of provincial security and legal officials, has approved the courtâs judgement, according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua. Xinhua said that allegations that Mrs Suâs family tried to menace and bribe some witnesses, or that Mrs Su benefited from her links to provincial officials, had not been substantiated. "No, of course not, thereâs no corruption here. Only in running dog imperialist dens of iniquity will you find corruption. We are the workerâs paradise. Hell, everyone has a BMW* here."
* Big Metal Wok
Posted by: .com ||
03/29/2004 3:22:44 AM ||
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#8
Shipman, do you think that all Vegans should drive Vega's or would Pacers be OK as well?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 18:10 Comments ||
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#9
Pacer's are you serious? Do you have any clue about what kinda training goes into a serious (tho magnificent) standardbread? Go for the Vega it only a star and probably hasn't hurt anyone.
#10
Shipman, in China doesn't a guy with a long braid pull the surrey?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 20:16 Comments ||
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#11
Xinhua said that allegations that Mrs Suâs family tried to menace and bribe some witnesses, or that Mrs Su benefited from her links to provincial officials, had not been substantiated.
Hey, wait! They left out the part about how China's justice system is riddled with forgery, bribery and intentional errors of judgement. Not that it has anything to do with the resolution of this particular case. No siree, Bob.
From Transparency International's 2004 Global Corruption Report:
--------------------------
Corruption Perceptions Index 2003 score: 3.4
(66th out of 133 countries)
Bribe Payers Index 2003 score: 3.5 (20th out of 21 countries)
Reforms to combat widespread judicial corruption
Many of China's most senior leaders admit that corruption is rife in the country's judicial and law enforcement systems, in spite of a crackdown on illegal practices and a series of recent reforms. In November 2002, Liu Liyang, former deputy secretary general of the CCDI, highlighted judicial corruption as one of the key concerns.¹ Offences by judges and court officials include abuse of power in lawsuit proceedings, intentional errors of judgment, forging court papers and accepting bribes.
Germany raises doubts over EUâs Kyoto policy
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Friday Europe should not rush into enforcing targets to curb greenhouse emissions if Russia fails to sign the Kyoto treaty on climate change, warning it could harm industry. Yaâ think? What was your first clue? (Other than the U.S. is too smart to do it.)
The European Union has set a 2005 start date for measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to fight global warming. Typical socialists - they think that if they say it often enough, it will become true.
But critics say the Kyoto Protocolâs strict requirements may hamper Europeâs effort to boost its economic competitiveness. "Europe" and "economic compteitiveness" - does not compute.
EU leaders renewed their commitment to economic reforms to boost competitiveness as well as to the early entry into force of the Kyoto treaty in a joint statement at a Brussels summit. Notice they "renew their commitment"; might work better if they would actually do it rather than just commit to it.
Russia, whose support is vital to reach a quorum for the treaty to enter into force, has angered the EU by suggesting it may not sign before the 2005 deadline. What, you thought the Russian bear would roll over and hibernate forever just for you?
"We hope that Kyoto will be ratified, for example by Russia," Schroeder told a news conference. "But if that doesnât happen, it will distort competition at the expense of European and especially German economy." Gerryâs putting the German economy ahead of the EU as a whole? Iâm shocked, shocked, I tell you. How American.
Without giving a direct answer, he asked: "What happens with the emissions trading system if Kyoto is not ratified?" Whatâs the problem, Gerry? If "trading" emissions is a good thing under Kyoto, it should be a good thing without it, too.
EU diplomats say German concerns are shared by Italy, Spain and Denmark. These countries fear that without Russia, the cost of the EUâs emissions-cutting scheme will shoot up. Appears thereâs been a liberal cluebat⢠application throughout the non-Frogistan countries. There may be hope yet!
Under Kyoto, the EU must cut its greenhouse gas output -- an inevitable result of burning fossil fuels like oil and gas -- by eight percent of 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. You could try using less. Or fiddle while Rome burns until the Islamonazis start killing off large numbers of European infidels - youâll need less then, too.
To help reach these targets, the EU has designed an international emissions trading scheme, due to start in 2005. "Scheme" - that about sums it up.
Plants in each member state will be granted tradeable carbon dioxide certificates which allow them to generate a set amount of the polluting gas. If a company exceeds its limit, it can avoid a stiff fine by buying permits from someone with a surplus, thus creating a secondary market. Experts say if Russia joins, the cost of traded emissions will drop as Moscow, whose industrial output fell dramatically in the 1990s, will flood the market with emission credits. I know theyâre not related, but "trading emission credits" schemes make me think of a cross between Rube Goldberg and Ponzi.
If I ever write a novel, the hero's name's gonna be Ponzi Goldberg.
If it does not join, countries that have banned "clean" nuclear power, such as Italy, or are phasing it out, as in case of Germany, will face higher costs. Thereâs an easy remedy for that, but theyâre too dumb to think of it. Hereâs an idea, Gerry, old buddy - scrap the whole thing, since itâs based on wild-ass guesses, and go with something based on actual science. If you even know what that is.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut bskolaut@hotmail.com ||
03/29/2004 4:32:00 PM ||
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"renewed their commitment"
reminds me of the Chief in Outlaw Josey Wales:
"We will endeavor to persevere"
nice bromides, meaning nothing in practice
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/29/2004 18:40 Comments ||
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#2
Ponzi Goldberg
I suggest you put him/her on a balcony and make his/her famous "I have a Scheme" speech.
#3
Instead of raising the level of everyone, including developing countries, the Kyoto scheme brings the advanced ones down. It is insane. Bush was 100% right in not signing on to it. The world needs to work together in developing cleaner energy for everyone so we can get off the ME tit. And that is the bottom line.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/29/2004 20:17 Comments ||
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#4
The idea of trading emmissions is actually a good idea turned bad by applying it to a farce like Co2 emmssions.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 20:18 Comments ||
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#5
I think I have posted this before but it is worth re-posting:
#6
By the way, somebody remember to ask Kerry what his position on Kyoto is these days, or maybe I should say his positions. Full employment and Kyoto do not mix.
Posted by: Matt ||
03/29/2004 21:10 Comments ||
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#7
Damn, Shipman, ROFLMAO! "I have a Scheme."
You da' man.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
03/29/2004 22:31 Comments ||
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#2
The international community has made repeated attempts to render the Balkans conflict easier to follow. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said last night the Security Council would convene in New York on Wednesday to consider Kostunica's request and whether he was the same guy that used to team up with Goran Ivanisevic in the doubles. However, it was later confirmed that this was Slobodan Zivojinovic.
That and the hyphen part are my favorites.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 12:56 Comments ||
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#3
Was this the humour column?
Because if not, this was one of the most annoyingly parochial articles I've ever read. How many jokes of the "Haha, I can't pronounce the names of Slavs and that's *their* fault" variety can one fit in an article?
#6
Shipman> Pretty much, yeah. I mean, perhaps the native English-speakers find a name like Kostunica to be unpronouncable, but I live in a country where we pronounce names like Chrysanthakopoulos and don't flinch...
So, no, I didn't really understand where the joke was. Reminds me a bit of some equally parochial jokes in an old 60s Greek movie where the Chinese were being mocked for similar perceived similarities between their names (something like Ching Chong, Chong Chang, Cheng Chung and the like -- back in the 60s people may have laughed with these jokes, but nowadays they just annoy and even offend)
#7
(something like Ching Chong, Chong Chang, Cheng Chung and the like -- back in the 60s people may have laughed with these jokes, but nowadays they just annoy and even offend)
Ruh Oh.... I still think that's funny. If you will examine my name you will find a multitude of houmorous possibilities and it's actually my name! I used to blush. ;> But then puberty. LOL!
#8
The Age of Organized Touchiness is full upon us.
Memo to World:
Nothing is funny. Nothing. Anymore. Ever again. Someone will find it offensive, so humor, both high and low, left and right, up and down, and spot-on dead solid perfect bull'seye have been banned. All of it. You have been warned.
#10
Was this the humour column? Because if not, this was one of the most annoyingly parochial articles I've ever read.
No, it was an editorial done by Australians. I think they summed it up pretty well, albeit a bit snarky: the Balkans are a dog's breakfast; beyond any concept of normal human understanding. Always have been and pretty much always will be.
She died face up in the snow, with her arms outstretched, as if she had been making angels. Beneath her, the fresh snow in the courtyard was dark and slushy with her blood.
She was in the second grade, and her name, Khursheda, meant "sunbeam."
Khursheda Sultanova, born in Tajikistan, died in St. Petersburg last month in a grisly attack, another sad episode in what has become a violent onslaught against ethnic peoples in Russia. The dozen or so young men who killed Khursheda â stabbing her 11 times, shredding her blue-and-yellow parka â screamed "Russia for Russians!" as they swooped down on her.
A surge of nationalism in Russia, a kind of demented patriotism run amok, has led to a new wave of xenophobia, intolerance and violence, especially among young people. Nationalities Minister Vladimir Zorin, blaming overheated campaign rhetoric, said Russian youth had become "ethnically phobic."
A law against hate crimes passed two years ago, but it's had little effect. Harassment, beatings and slayings of ethnic minorities and dark-skinned foreigners still occur so often that most Russian news media pay scant attention. African students and diplomats are assaulted so regularly that a Russian Web site, www.africana.ru, keeps a running log.
Adults and children have been killed by ultranationalist gangs: a crew of Tajik laborers locked in a boxcar and burned alive; an Azeri watermelon vendor beaten to death by marauding skinheads who videotaped the killing; a Syrian college student pushed in front of a passing train, a 6-year-old Tajik girl killed in St. Petersburg.
The extremist violence almost always is directed against "the blacks," a term whose everyday usage includes anyone who's not a Slavic Russian or white-skinned.
Indians, Africans, Chinese, Central and Southeast Asians, Gypsies, darker-skinned Russian citizens from Chechnya and elsewhere in the Caucasus region are all vulnerable to skinhead gangs, ultranationalist youths and the lunatic fringe of Vladimir Zhirinovsky's notorious Liberal Democratic Party, a party that's stridently anti-Western, anti-Semitic and ultranationalist.
The police either can't keep up or won't.
"The police haven't told me anything," said Khursheda's father, Yunus, 35, a slightly built, sad-eyed man who works as a porter in St. Petersburg's Haymarket. "At first they tried, but they're not interested now."
"The police hate us," said Nazar Mirzada, a leader of the Tajik community in St. Petersburg. "They say, "Why are you here? Go back home.' They use vulgar words. They call us 'black ass.' They insult us, demand bribes and take our money."
Several months ago, Yuri Vdovin, a prominent human-rights lawyer, asked the local authorities to stop the gang that was painting Nazi symbols on buildings in his neighborhood in downtown St. Petersburg.
"No one has ever been caught," Vdovin said. "But when somebody painted the slogan 'Russia Without Putin' on a building, they caught that guy the very same day!"
A string of Chechen suicide bombings in Moscow and last month's subway blast, which killed 40 commuters, have contributed to the growing fear and suspicion of ethnic minorities, particularly of Chechens and other Muslims from the Caucasus.
"Chechens have it the worst; it's pure hatred for them," Mirzada said. "But I get calls every day telling me about murders and beatings of Tajiks, Uzbeks, other people from Central Asia. Anyone is vulnerable. Jews are beaten, too, if they're seen to have unruly hair."
Khursheda's father had been a tractor driver in Dushanbe, but jobs were scarce and the pay was low. So five months ago, he and his wife brought their daughters â 8-year-old Khursheda and her 18-month-old sister, Mahira, or "new moon" â to St. Petersburg. Work was easier to find in Russia, and he was determined to save enough money to buy an apartment in Dushanbe.
On that awful night, Feb. 9, Yunus and Khursheda were walking home after an evening of sledding in a nearby park. The snow was deep and new, and they had slid down the hills on their bottoms. An 11-year-old cousin, Alabir, had tagged along.
They had just turned into the darkened courtyard of their apartment block when the men struck them from behind. Yunus was slashed three times, clubbed on the head and left for dead. Alabir managed to save himself by crawling under a nearby car.
The attack took only a few minutes, but Khursheda had bled to death by the time they got her home.
Later, at the morgue, her mother, Sharifa, arrived to prepare her daughter's body for a Muslim burial. She and several other Tajik women washed the body, wrapped it head to toe in white cloth, then placed it in an adult-sized zinc coffin. Khursheda's face was unmarked, and they left it uncovered so Yunus could see his daughter one last time.
When he arrived, even the hardened morgue attendants burst into tears.
"She was lying there so beautifully," said Yunus' sister, Khalima, tears rolling down her face. "It was like she had fallen asleep after a nice bath."
Then a welder arrived and sealed up the coffin for the flight back to Tajikistan. Sharifa went along and saw to the burial; Yunus stayed behind to work and to testify if the killers are caught.
"We had been hurrying home that night to have a party â it was my birthday," he said, eyes brimming as he recalled the attack. Then he paused and said, "I'll never celebrate my birthday again."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
03/29/2004 12:18:28 AM ||
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Posted by: John Doe TROLL ||
03/29/2004 0:25 Comments ||
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#2
Azeris, Syrians, Chechens, and Jeeks. Can you spot the common thread?
#3
All these atrocities happening right now in Russia and the useful idiots of the world are only concerned about Iraq. Oh, wait....Americans are not committing these atrocities therefore there are of not use to the idiots...move along, nothing to see here.
#4
Well, Anon 3964, it's obvious you're John Kerry (a/k/a Lurch).
American soldiers don't commit atrocities!
As for an enraged Putin and his Russian Army, ah, c'est une autre chose..,
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 12:41 Comments ||
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#5
Yet, another gang of 11 who secretly find Halle Berry attractive. You would think that that large a gang could step up to the plate and knock the books away from the high school geek. Skinheads a f$%king pitiful.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 13:09 Comments ||
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#6
Anyone seen a fat Mexican Sargeant around here, long name, typical, I prefer to deal with Omar.
Posted by: Col Flagg ||
03/29/2004 17:25 Comments ||
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MADRID â Spain's incoming foreign policy chief says the new Socialist government wants to repair the rift with the United States over the impending Spanish troop withdrawal from Iraq by cooperating in the war on terrorism. "I commit myself to go to Washington immediately," said Moratinos, a former ambassador to Israel who is set to be foreign minister under the government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Zapatero was elected in an upset three days after the Madrid bombing March 11. "You can have a good strategy against terror, you can make Iraq democratic," Moratinos said, but those initiatives will fail unless world leaders realize "the heart of the problem is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
Sounds like a socialist, all right. "We can't solve the world's problems til them Jooos finally roll over!"
After Zapatero's victory, President Bush said, "This (terrorist) enemy will never be appeased." Moratinos bristled at the statement. "What appeasement? We're not in Munich now. These are old slogans," he said, referring to the Munich talks of 1938.
Old, timeless slogans.
Spain's new government won't appease Washington by saying, "yes sir, yes sir, yes sir," Moratinos said. But he added, "We don't want to be controversial. We look to the future. You will find Spain to be a most close ally to engage in the common goal of giving Iraqis a sense of freedom though we're going to back out of doing any of the heavy lifting." He also said fighting terrorism would be "priority No. 1 unless more bombs go off in Madrid."
Tensions between the incoming Spanish government â expected to take office in late April â and the Bush administration worsened when Secretary of State Colin Powell complained of being kept waiting 40 minutes to meet Zapatero after a state funeral last week for the Madrid victims. Moratinos called the delay a misunderstanding caused by the memorial service running longer than expected.
Security Council members have been discussing a way to establish a larger U.N. security role in Iraq. But Zapatero has set June 30 as a deadline for pulling Spain's troops out. Moratinos said a U.N. agreement was unlikely ever by then.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/29/2004 12:04:00 AM ||
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[rant]
I'm sure someone priding him/her self in the "moderate" and "reasonable" role will take exception, but that's the way it goes. Knock yerself out. No, really. Knock yerself out - I suggest a greasy ball peen hammer to the crown of thy pointy head. I love the visual of such a clash of geometry.
Anyway.
The "old slogans" are the threadbare absurd puppet-mouthing inanities that the Paleos are at the center of the fucking universe. Puhfuckingleeze. That's about the stupidest notion possible. It is the hemorroid in the anus of the smallest flea on the tip of the tail of the dog. People who buy this are the stalwart citizens of Tardsville.
He wants to visit D.C? Fine. Buy a ticket. Book a tour. Wanna pretend that you are a player, fine, add on an El Lay leg and rent a limo. Visit Planet Hollywood. Be sure to buy a shitload of t-shirts for the little tards back in El Socialissimo.
Once upon a time, Mark Twain "ranked" humanity from 1 to 10. The bottom three were Congress, the savages, and the French. Today, with sincere apologies to Mr Clemens, I would suggest the bottom three are Socialists, Communists, and Islamists. When we are in need of advice, I'm certain we will find worthy input long before we reach the Socialists. And, BTW, we don't want to hear you say, "Yes, sir. Yes, sir" -- we don't want to hear you at all. There is no "tension" - you have rendered yourselves irrelevant untrustworthy bystanders. Don't worry, future contact will not come in the personage of our SecState, we'll leak it to USA Today and you can read it there. Spain. How far you have fallen. When you have embarrassed yourselves sufficiently, then send us a message. Put it in a bottle and make it a day at the beach.
[/rant]
#4
I'm sorry .com, as much as I smile and enjoy your rant, only we, only Washington can make the Spanish, "irrelevant untrustworthy bystanders."
It's not something we should do. They stood by us when the going was tough...they are trying to take a mature apporach now and Washington should welcome it.
This doesn't mean that we should clasp them to our bosom, but we need not kick them in the balls either.
This will be a long, long, long war, Governments will come and go...we already have real enemies, we don't need to manfacture the Spanish into something like al-Q and treat them as though they are exactly alike.
#5
Sorry, Traveller, but I agree more with the hilarious dotcom.
In just a couple of short weeks, Zapatero has taken the Spanish bull and charged him willy-nilly into the world fray, with the very wrong Socialist bent.
Zappo wants to pull their troops out of Iraq--fair enough, I guess, but then this doesn't give him the liberty to start criticizing current U.S. policy vis-a-vis the Israeli-Paleo "crisis."
Withdrawing troops from the Coalition says to me, "Spain is no longer a player in the WOT."
Or at the worst, they're not a major player for the Good Guys.
To meddle in the Middle East problem hints strongly that Spain will be on the side of the "Palestinians," which, as Rummy would say, is "not helpful."
Particularly when there's been some hope of late that the EU might look a little less fondly on the PA and when Britain has frozen Hamas funds at last.
Nor should Zappo have rushed to approve that awful EU Constitution, but he did and even though it was thought to be dead 6 months ago, Zappo's willingness to sign it single-handedly put its acceptance back on track.
I think only the UK can stop that train on the tracks now.
The man is a budding demagogue who was backed by 2/3 of the Spanish people--the more he rants, the more he scares me.
Dotcom is right about the message in the bottle.
The less we listen to Zapatero's rantings the better.
All we can do is hope and pray that the Spanish realize their mistake and recall this loon before he does more damage to the Western world!
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 4:29 Comments ||
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#6
Well, Jen, both you and .com make compelling arguments. I would agree that at least so far Zapatero seems to be....nuts?...lol
But my real problem is with the reading of the Spanish Election and giving al-Q much more credit than they deserve. All this Spain bashing is not only, IMO, making matters worse, it is giving al-Q a fuller victory than they deserve.
Here's the thing, Of course Madrid Bombing was a victory for al-Q...tactically, because they could pull the bombings off in a coordinated & spectacular fashion, and strategically, because of the impact that this has had on the world in general.
The won a big one in Madrid. But so what? Wars are long and almost tidal in the giving of victory and defeat...As many people have noted, this is going to be with us for a long time.
What I think I object to is how the Spanish election is being used to bolster this interpretation or that. I still think that the world is reading the Election results wrong, but most unfortunately, the Islamist are also and may well draw the wrong lessons.
The PP and Aznar had been in power for a full 8 years. That is a long time in political, democratic time, and electorates are know & notorious to swing right to left and back left to right. There is nothing surprising in this. What would have been surprising would have been if Aznar and the PP had held on to a Parliamentary majority. That would have been very unusual and noteworthy.
What would be really interesting would be if we could enter an alternate time-line where there was no Madrid bombing....and how foolish we would all look and feel because Aznar lost anyhow and we would then still have to deal with Zapatero.
ALL the polls predicted a clear victory of the PP, the only question was if the PP would be forced to form a coalition or if it would be able to govern alone (ie would get over 50% of the represntatives).
Also the voting of the expats (who have ever been in good correlation with the general exlctorate) who was closed before the bombings gave a clear victory to the PP.
Everything points to Sapotero owing his victory to eth opportune errors made by the Al Quaida team. Like forgetting a K7 for learning Koran in the van or having bombs who didn't explode
#8
No small irony here that the supposed mastermind behind the Mardid bombings Zarqawi is a palestinian who travels on a Jordanian passport. And now the root case is the Paloe situation.
It depresses the hell out of me that this is clearest win I have ever seen for terrorism and can only result in much more of the same now it demonstrably works.
Posted by: Phil B ||
03/29/2004 8:29 Comments ||
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#9
Traveler - yes the spanish do deserve a good kick in the balls. They have been struck and dont realize they are at war yet. I predict more suffering in spain because of it.
#10
traveller: we already have real enemies, we don't need to manfacture the Spanish into something like al-Q and treat them as though they are exactly alike.
This is a straw man. We're not confusing the Spanish electorate with al Qaeda. We're saying that they're a bunch of back-stabbers. We share a lot, but not all, of the same values. But we're also bound by a mutual defense treaty that is mutual only in name. The fact that Spain has chosen to withdraw its troops is a real betrayal. We don't *need* their troops, but the withdrawal is a sign that the Spanish aren't allies, but neutrals.
And we're not treating Spain like al Qaeda either. If we were, Spanish leaders would be on the receiving end of JDAM's and Spain's Muslim terrorists would have been driven out under a hail of air-dropped bombs. Note that Europe, like Afghanistan, has been a real haven for terrorists. If the Europeans continue to harbor them - by refusing extradition to the US - there may come a time when we may need to issue the same kind of diplomatic threats we issued to the Taliban before we removed that government.
#11
definitely no more Spanish wines for me !!!
I swear i'll drink only Californian, Aussie and Israely wines from now on.
my little contribution to WoT and retribution against the Spanish socialists.
Posted by: Colton L. ||
03/29/2004 10:39 Comments ||
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#12
colton if you are a smart you stay away from wine. im liking beer myself but have none this weekend so i drink 2 botle of wine that in my house. i feel so sick now and my head hurt real bad and i still taste wine in my mouth. i probly smell like a frenchman to now. stick with beer cuz this wine shit suck. im not be surprise if chainey make this stuff.
#13
Muckie, if that is really u out there, you're a piece of work.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/29/2004 11:16 Comments ||
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#14
"You can have a good strategy against terror, you can make Iraq democratic," Moratinos said, but those initiatives will fail unless world leaders realize "the heart of the problem is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
Yawn. Forget about Zapatero and the rest of his kind until an election in Spain results in someone put into power that doesn't swallow the old the-heart-of-the-problem-is-the-Israel/Palestinian-conflict bullshit. No one in their right mind is going to think that any near-term "solution" to the above mentioned problem is going to put the brakes on terrorism.
After Zapatero's victory, President Bush said, "This (terrorist) enemy will never be appeased." Moratinos bristled at the statement. "What appeasement? We're not in Munich now. These are old slogans," he said, referring to the Munich talks of 1938.
Those are REALLY old slogans. Apparently though, slogans that are not as old (as in "the heart of the problem is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict") haven't reached Spanish Socialists' use-by date.
#16
Read teh nuances uder what Moratinos is saying. Here is how I translate his actual statement, "we will move our Spainish troops into the West Bank to keep the peace - that is where we think the focus belongs." Have Colin Powell call him for clarification.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 13:15 Comments ||
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#17
Here is how I translate his actual statement, "we will move our Spainish troops into the West Bank to keep the peace - that is where we think the focus belongs."
One patented Paleo boom and watch the Spaniards retreat a second time.
#18
Too funny, B-a-R!
"Adios, muchachos! You're on your own!"
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 16:02 Comments ||
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#19
Fine, let Spain do it's thing. Let them deal with ME conflict. The only problem is they are going to have to deal with Israel and it's defense needs and a rabble on the other side. Good luck boys. I hope they aren't counting on an election change in the US to help them though.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
03/29/2004 17:34 Comments ||
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#20
Dear JFM, Jen and All:
I think that the criticism of my position that the polls showed the PP winning was the most serious. I have, however, checked the poll number and I fear that JFM's position that the PP was going to win before the Madird Boming is highly suspect and has become almost an Urban Legend.
Aznar and the PP's numbers had been falling in the the run up to the election, and stood at +3.5 before the bombing....However, the margin of error was 3.7 in the polling. But the trend was downward in any case.
It further seems that 92% of the Spanish population had alaread made up it's mind prior to Madird Bombing, 8% undecided. The after polling indicates that the 92% never changed, but much of the 8% went Zapatero. More importantly, turnout went from an anticipated 55% to 65%...this is where the election was won.
Lastly, Aznar's and the Government's approval rating before the Election stood at a measly 43%.
No, I stand by my original assertion...Aznar was going to lose anyhow. What is unfortunant is how this has been spun by the world...giving a free victory to the Islamist. Worse, all this harping at the Spanish only enhances al-Q's victory further.
#21
Traveller, what do you think he means when he says that solving the Palestinian crisis is the highest priority for Spain? Do you think he is ready to send troops into the West Bank to act as a buffer between the warring parties?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 18:15 Comments ||
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#22
Oh, Super Hose, the Palestinian question is far too tough to handle here...or anywhere for that matter....lol.
I am currenly in a fairly bitter debate with a friend that is a Diplomat where he is trying to change my pro-Israeli views...or at least for me to be more moderate toward the Palestinians.
He is making some good points and at the moment I am quite frankly in a re-evaluation of Israel and the Palestinians. I realize that I just can't call for the killing of 2 Million Paleo's...though I suppose that is where my logic leads.
So, I'm sorry, but I'm just going to bow out on this. Honest minds can differ...but I just don't know what I want to say on this anymore.
#23
Resist, Traveller, resist! Hold out - they'll destroy each other in a civil war which will refute any sympathetic arguments your friend, or anyone else, can possibly pose. Just hang on a little while longer...
Besides, your friend can't rewrite history without your approval.
#25
A full Roman Legion decimation? Something like what happened with Caesarâs rebellious 13th legion? Of course, what made a decimation so utterly frightening is that a soldier would never know who was coming up in a decimation. The men would be circled and then randomly, one man would be slaughtered and they would move then in units of 10's in both directions. A decimation was a terrifying thing to go through, but then, nine out of every ten was desperately relieved to just be alive.
I think I prefer the example Caesar set at the end of his Gallic campaigns where he lopped off the hands of every man, 5,000 or so, in the rebellious tribe and set them to wander across all of Gaul as an example of both Caesarâs mercy, and equally an example of his terrible wrath.
#26
Now that I have an actual free moment, let me amend the above regarding Decimation.
The place was Uxellodunum, the tribe Drappes, and Caesar himself in Volume 8, sections 38 through 44, says that he had the "Hands," meaning presumably plural, cut off of everyone that held a sword.
There is an alternate story that Caesar only had the right hand cut off and this has troubled me for a while...which version was true? I far prefer the one handed story because the true story of Caesar in Gaul was pacification through his policy of clemency, which he carried over to good effect in the Civil Wars.
Well, I will just have to adjust my thinking on this. But I do appreciate being motivated to finally put this rest, even if it is not the way I wanted it.
#27
Traveller, I don't know the answer to the Palestinian question other than being told that the Palestinian question should be my first priority by a dude who has no attention of helping is quite annoying. Moratinos can be part of the solution if he is willing to bleed, but as far as I'm concerned the spectator gallery is closed in Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq and in the West Bank.
The time for opinions ended when the suicide bombings began. I have friends that are Palestinians, but don't see how sending a check to Arafat serves their interests any better than governments selling missiles to Sadaam in 2002 served the interests of the Iraqi people.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/30/2004 0:03 Comments ||
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#28
Americans are herded to Iraq like cattle to slaughter -- visit http://AD LUSA.com#cattle but first delete space which was added due to censorship.
PLEASE NOTE: Rantburg is a Zionist propaganda BBS spewing hate against Moslems in order to incite wars and sacrifice American lives and resources for the state of Israel.
#29
Americans are herded to Iraq like cattle to slaughter -- visit http://AD LUSA.com#cattle but first delete space which was added due to censorship.
PLEASE NOTE: Rantburg is a Zionist propaganda BBS spewing hate against Moslems in order to incite wars and sacrifice American lives and resources for the state of Israel.
by Justin Berton, East Bay Express. EFL. Hat tip: LGF. The reporter treats the Cult of St. Pancake with all the respect it deserves . . . .
Like many subversive plots, this one began at a cafe. Beneath a hot sun last week, about forty activists met outside a Starbucks in a San Leandro strip mall, their base camp, before heading toward their true target a few blocks away: the local Caterpillar tractor sales office.
The group, Jewish Voice for Massey-Ferguson Peace, wants Caterpillar Inc. to stop selling its bulldozers and tractors to the Israeli government. According to the activists, the companyâs machines are being used as weapons and are responsible for destroying thousands of Palestinian homes. Also, on this particular day one year ago, the American-born activist Rachel ("Pancake") Corrie was killed when she got pinned between a D9 bulldozer and a home slated for destruction. . . .
In front of Peterson Tractor Co., a big green lawn welcomed its visitors. A shining bulldozer with the CAT logo was on display out front, its scoop proudly in the ready-to-plunge position. ". . . like a Zionist vulture feasting on the corpse of Palestinian dreams . . . ."
The protest groupâs videographer ran onto the grass and stopped behind the machine to get a shot of the activists passing the bulldozer in the background. "It looks so, like, symbolic, yâknow."
A few tractor salesmen, who were roaming the lot in short-sleeved shirts and ties, watched the line of people pass them by. The videographer hurried for another shot at the front of the line to get the protesters as they entered the office.
The square buildingâs interior was cool from the air conditioning. The lead protesters passed the receptionistâs desk and surrounded the square cubicle station directly behind her, which housed about six file clerks, mostly middle-aged women who wore sensible clothes and had framed pictures of their children on their desks, but were now crowded by strangers reading Jewish prayers and holding lit candles. One clerk stood dumbfounded, a brown file in her right hand dangling at her side, and her mouth gaping open as if thinking: Why do these people have a problem with me? I donât even work for Caterpillar.
A few men in suits and ties came out to the front, then walked back down the hallway and closed their doors. For a few seconds, the activists just stood there. One positioned a large cardboard poster of a smiling Rachel Corrie on the receptionistâs desk. Others decided the candles might set off the fire alarms, and yelled to everyone to blow them out, which merely caused a plume of smoke to waft through the office.
Finally, a short man in a yellow oxford shirt appeared and asked the lead organizer to direct his minions to leave the building. The man would identify himself only as a controller, and he pointed out that business was being disturbed.
"Caterpillar bulldozers disturb Palestinian lives every day," one protester countered, to applause.
"Oh, okay then, I guess youâve got me there. Stay as long as you like."
The lead organizer read his demands aloud. He likened Caterpillar bulldozers to weapons of mass destruction and considered the company culpable in Corrieâs death, then held the companyâs shareholders and employees all but responsible for the devastation taking place a hemisphere away. One clerk turned up the volume on her radio. The organizer spoke louder.
"In addition, we demand world peace, a Palestinian state, a pony for Christmas, $100 gift certificates to International House of pancakes, . . . ."
The workers inside the cubicle believed they were the victims of a misdirected effort. They believed right.
One woman said to her colleague, "This isnât going to help one bit, I tell you that much." Her colleague nodded in agreement, with a look of such bitterness that it seemed as if sheâd been forever turned off to the activistsâ cause, as if personally insulted by their righteous implications. Why do these people have a problem with me? I donât even work for Caterpillar.
The protesters believed theyâd scored a good one. As they exited the office, just ahead of two arriving police officers, they were pumped up with pride. "Did you see that? I Spoke Truth To Power! I Stuck It To The Man, man! I am one kick-ass revolutionary vanguard of the proletariat!"
Theyâd established that yes, this was a serious campaign, and they left with the hope that the yellow-shirted controller would tell his boss all about his uncomfortable afternoon, who would tell his supplier, who would tell his boss, who would tell his, who would tell his. Until one day, Caterpillar stopped selling bulldozers to Israel.
. . . and Kubota moved in to fill the vacuum in the market.
"Hey, you guys," one female organizer shouted as they left the building, "letâs go back to Starbucks and debrief."
"After a hard day of Speaking Truth To Power and Sticking It To The Man, I need a double latte!"
Posted by: Mike ||
03/29/2004 11:31:54 AM ||
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Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
03/29/2004 12:08 Comments ||
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#5
What if the bulldozers used by the IDF are made by Komatsu? These protestors plan on finding the nearest Komatsu office and conducting their worthless little show there too?
Thanks for the kind words. There's some Windex in the cabinet under the sink.
Posted by: Mike ||
03/29/2004 12:35 Comments ||
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#7
Once more, the loonie liberal left displays its blind ignorance to everything reasonable and sensible. The only thing that particular dealership had in common with Caterpillar sales to Israel is a franchise agreement with the Caterpillar company, and MAYBE a vague memory on the part of one or two of the employees of Rachel Corrie being killed by a bulldozer. Most of the employees probably felt sorry for St. Pancake, until this bunch of fruitcakes came in and distrupted the entire office. What a bunch of total losers. These people must have been "education" majors
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/29/2004 12:39 Comments ||
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#8
Oh no, not Weapons of Mass Construction!
Hey Mike, the Zionist vulture line was definitely worth the price of admission.
#9
Saw a news flash on a local station of demonstrators climbing local trees ... seems we have a catapillar infestation and the protestors are attempting to hold the crawly things accountable for their actions agains the Palestinians.
#10
I once visited a machine shop a small NC town called Winterville to get some plates manufactures for a Sakamura HBP-100. The shop foreman showed me a bunch of parts they were making for Cat. I highly doubt that those clowns on their little field trip from Social Ethics 120 would be well received by the machinists at Winterville Machine. If they taped the confrontation, maybe one of the guys taking a film course could add some "BAM" and "ZAP" graphics like the old Batman TV show.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 13:24 Comments ||
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#11
Why they weren't arrested for trespassing?
One positioned a large cardboard poster of a smiling Rachel Corrie on the receptionistâs desk.
No one set it on fire? That's what St. Pancake would have done.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
03/29/2004 13:35 Comments ||
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#12
Maybe we should demonstrate at Starbucks for allowing these asshats to foment their plans on the chain's premises. Makes as much sense.
Posted by: Sofia ||
03/29/2004 14:35 Comments ||
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#13
A few Mates and I all drank ourselves silly on the 16th of March, to celebrate Caterpillar D9 day. Of course we had a picture of Rachel in attendance, which ended up beer soaked and incinerated in the BBQ pit. It was kinda sad though, many gallons of innocent beer, along with quite a few pounds of hog and chicken gave their lives so that we could make merriment and honor the great and wonderful D9 equalizer. God Bless Bull Dozers, female pubic hair, and Wholesome, refreshing, recreational, icey-cold hydraulic sandwiches!
EFL
Canada is sending one of its largest warships, a squadron of helicopters and 200 ground troops to the high Arctic this summer in an exercise designed to show the flag -- and a very little military muscle -- in the North. Shivers being transmitted up spine...
"This is a first," Colonel Norris Pettis, commander of the Canadian Forces northern area, said yesterday. "This is the first time weâll have a joint naval, air and land force operating this far north. And itâs sending a message that this land is important to us ... that we can put troops, and aircraft and ships, on the ground to respond to whatever we might be called upon to deal with. Since when does hockey require combined force?
"Itâs putting a military presence up here ... flexing our muscles." Oh my.
Posted by: Dragon Fly ||
03/29/2004 8:00:33 AM ||
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#4
They'll visit Connecticut when she surfaces and accidently sinks the Canadian "Warship".
"We didn't even see it on the scope! It was to small!"
Posted by: Charles ||
03/29/2004 8:58 Comments ||
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#5
Canadianistan.... or Canaduh has had these wargames planned for 5 years. It seems that Santa's elves have some new technology that the canadianistani military is interested in.
Posted by: Dan ||
03/29/2004 17:15 Comments ||
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#14
do the canadian military have enough money
No. And I've evidently bitched the link to the old Warrior and fine Light Carrier that was seconded to the RCN. Sorry Fred.
#6
You Freeper Bastards will never learn. It's a different socio/economic system. I don't know why I waste my time here. Fred do you have a big letters option? I don't like people touching what I write.
#8
So what the hell ARE you doing hanging around here, Antigum? And why should any of us give a fat rat's rosey red rectum what the hell you think, about anything?
Make like a tree and leave. Make like a bakery truck and get your buns outta here. Make like an Arab and go eat your date.
Whatever.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
03/29/2004 20:37 Comments ||
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EFL John Kerry cited a Bible verse Sunday to criticize leaders who have "faith but has no deeds," prompting President Bushâs spokesman to accuse Kerry of exploiting Scripture for a political attack. Kerry never mentioned Bush by name during his speech at New North Side Baptist Church, but aimed his criticism at "our present national leadership." Kerry cited Scripture in his appeal for the worshippers, including James 2:14, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?" Sure this isnât an autobiography?
"The Scriptures say, what does it profit, my brother, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?" Kerry said. "When we look at what is happening in America today, were are the works of compassion?" Uh.... in Iraq. What the hell are you smoking these days John?
Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said Kerryâs comment "was beyond the bounds of acceptable discourse and a sad exploitation of Scripture for a political attack." As is using a Mass as a âphoto-opâ.
Kerry told worshippers in the largely black congregation that the countryâs leadership has served the privileged while ignoring people across America who live in neighborhoods like theirs. Yeah! Kerry should know! He lives in a neighborhood where... uh... nevermind....
"Today we are told that, after 3 million lost jobs and so many lost hopes, America is now turning a corner," the pending Democratic presidential nominee said. "But those who say that, theyâre not standing on the corner of Highland Street, where two 15-year-old teenagers were hit in a drive-by shooting last week." And this has to do with âlost jobsâ how?
Kerry is Roman Catholic when it suits him, but his support for abortion rights is at odds with Vatican teachings. "I donât tell church officials what to do, and church officials shouldnât tell American politicians what to do in the context of our public life," Kerry said in an interview with Time posted on the magazineâs Web site Sunday. So John... why are you a Roman Catholic again?
Before church, Kerry stopped at Chrisâ Pancakes & Dining, where his physical appearance seemed to be the top concern among diners who agreed that he looked better in person than on television. Iâll refrain from the St. Pancake jokes.
Ok. So lets list all the âdeedsâ which the Maginificant Mr. Kerry (who, BTW is a Vietnam war hero.....) has accomplished.
#1
Somebody should point out that the "work" (as in "Fide et Opera", my family motto) don't involve taxpayer money. Use your own moola if you want credit in heaven for charitable deeds, Mr. Kerry.
#2
Since Kerry has neither, what's he yammering about?
Oh, that's right, I forgot - he's a HYPOCRITE.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
03/29/2004 16:37 Comments ||
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#3
Kerry's charitable contributions prior to this year rivals Al Gore's for stinginess. His tax returns up to IIRC, 96, are the only ones release. Check him out. Chutzpah works for Senator Kohn Kerry
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/29/2004 16:37 Comments ||
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#4
Could Lurch possibly be a bigger prick?!
(I suppose to make up for the one he doesn't have in his pants.)
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 16:39 Comments ||
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#5
Oh, good greif!
Not the faith vs. good works debate again. :(
Oh well, at least we now know Kerry is not one of those Lutheran heretics.
Posted by: N Guard ||
03/29/2004 17:16 Comments ||
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#6
Kerry needs to lay off the Bible-quotin'. It'll alienate his European base.
#12
Democrats can say ANYTHING they want about religion, because no one expects them to actually do anything about it, or thinks they actually believe any of it. For any Democrat to reach the level of national office, their real religion has to be the Party and the State (in that order).
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
03/29/2004 20:36 Comments ||
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#13
What if you go to church but don't really follow the church practices. You know like going to IHOP just before receivng holy communion. AHTER, DAH OAST IS STUK ON DAH CIRUP.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/30/2004 0:11 Comments ||
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#14
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?"
-Kerry then added, "I know nothing of either but thought it sounded kind of cool to say, sort of like a hip-hop rap rhyme thingy." The Democratic candidate for president then gave a "shout out to all his hos in south Boston."
The Wall Street Journalâs "Best of the Web" solicited reactions from its readers who are in the military or have family members in the military to the Presidentâs "WMD joke" at last Wednesdayâs Radio and Television Correspondents dinner. The Journal received 101 responses: 98 approving, 3 disapproving. Click the link to read it all; Iâve posted here just one of the responses, the one which touched me the most:
I served in Iraq, and it sucked. The dust storms that sandblasted your skin raw werenât fun. The heat was unbearable. We placed a thermometer in the sun in August, and it registered 157 degrees. At the same time, a thermometer in the shade read 137. Of course, for the most part, it was a dry heat, except I was in the South, and in late August and September, the wind would shift bringing moist air from the Persian Gulf. How about 120-plus and 90% humidity to brighten your day? Oh and the critters--rats, snakes, scorpions and my favorite, the camel spider. They live on the desert floor and have venom that numbs the poor camels they jump up on. After numbing the area, they chow down on the still-alive camel. The locals told me that its normal to see camels walking through the desert and their guts fall out because camel spiders eat their intestinal walls. The camel spiders also donât discriminate--people, camels, itâs all the same to them. Did I mention the critters of the microscopic variety? Explosive doesnât do justice to the intestinal issues I encountered. Of course, I almost forgot the AK-47-wielding locals or the imported locals with explosives and rocket-propelled grenades.
Yes sir, it truly sucked. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! If you could meet the sincerely grateful Iraqis that I helped liberate, youâd understand.
To answer your question, do I care if the president makes a crack about WMDs? Not at all. Based on my experience, Iâd be perfectly happy if the presidentâs reason for going to war wasnât WMDs but rather that he was just having a bad day and wanted a piece of Saddam.
--K.B., Army
We really donât deserve to be protected by people like this. Thank you, K.B., you and your brothers in arms. Good luck, good hunting, and get home safe.
Posted by: Mike ||
03/29/2004 2:05:01 PM ||
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#3
K.B. - Did we rock or what? I also spent 9 months over there, and it is very humbling to have your face and hands kissed by joyous Free Iraqis. I also would do it again, in a heart-beat.
#4
May God continue to bless our men and women in the military who "get it" and who serve bravely and proudly whether they get it or not.
I am so proud of them and grateful for their service, especially in the Iraq theatre, more than I can say.
Outstanding post, Mike! Thank you so much.
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 15:59 Comments ||
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#5
Bodyguard:
Good to see you back in the 'Burg, Sarge. Come visit more often, and thanks again for your service.
Posted by: Mike ||
03/29/2004 16:16 Comments ||
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#6
Oh, great. Camel spiders. In the southern end of Iraq. That's where my son is now (Umm Qasr), guess I'll be hearing from him about all those nifty critters once the weather heats up.
Bodyguard: yes, you guys sure did rock. God bless you, and thanks.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
03/29/2004 16:20 Comments ||
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#7
For the record I have read a report in "Paris-Match" (remember that magazine whose reporter was with the terrorists who tried to down a cargo plane over Irak) about the war wounded. people who would never walk again or worse and they too were telling it was worth their sacrifice and that they would do it gain. And no the reporter didn't write sneering comments. Quite the opposite: general tone was respectful and admirative.
In the same issue there was an editorial attacking the remainder of the French press for showing so much compassion to Saddam and so little to his victims.
#8
Thanks for a great post! Interestingly enough, only a couple of people on the Wall Street Journal editorial page complained. There are many, many responses after that, all friendly to, and appreciative of, the President. As it should be!
The beef over the WMD is just another example of the Dems trying and failing to smear George Bush. The truth will come out in the end regarding the WMD. In the meantime, I bet all the favorable responses that came in supporting the President just made the libs cringe. I like thinking about that.
From Scrappleface:
When asked what the president thought of Mr. Kerryâs comment, chief White House spokesman Scott McClellan released the following written statement: "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." -- James 1:5-8
EFL
Senate Votes John Kerry John McCain
Subject U.S. Troops to ICC (12-7-01) Yes No
Xfer Navy funding to AIDS (7-10-01) Yes No
McCain amendment to reduce pork
and use money saved for DOD (7-10-01 No Yes
National Missile Defense
(18 votes, 1991 to 2000) No, 18 Times Yes, 18 Times
Cut Defense by $400M (7-10-97) Yes No
Cut Defense by $5M (7-9-97) Yes No
Cut Defense by $13B (6-26-96) Yes No
Freeze DOD spending for 7 years & use
the $34.8B for entitlements (5-24-95 Yes No
Pub Covert Intel Budget (10-19-93) Yes No
Gays in the Military (9-9-93) Yes No
Block military pay raise (3-24-93) Yes No
Help new Enl regist to vote (3-17-93) No Yes
Eliminate B-2 bomber program (9-18-92) Yes No
Xfer $3B from DOD to DE (9-16-92) Yes No
Xfer $3B from DOD and use the money
for social programs (9/10/91) Yes No
Cut $6B from Defense (4-9-92) Yes No
First Iraq War (1-12-91) No Yes
Cut funding for MX Missile (8-1-89) Yes No
Aid anti-Communist fighters in Nicaragua
and Cambodia during the 1980s No, No Yes, Yes
The original article was in tabular form. I agree with McCain. Kerry certainly had a hardon for Defense; nothing soft about that voting record.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 11:49:22 AM ||
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Subject U.S. Troops to ICC (12-7-01) Yes
Reason enough not to put the guy in the White House.
This reminds me: is anyone going to be minding the store this November when Kerry sends out armies of lawyers to try and disqualify every absentee military ballot they can lay their filthy hands on? Al Gore did that in 2000, and somebody ought to be watching out for the same thing this time.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
03/29/2004 12:32 Comments ||
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I would expect the issue to be raised in the debates by W and/or Cheney
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/29/2004 13:28 Comments ||
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Certainly an exemplary record for one who would be our next CIC. Pathetic, but I'm not surprised. Great info.......
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
03/29/2004 15:10 Comments ||
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Late this week the results of the March payroll survey will be announced. This number has become one of the most important things in the election. If the aggregate payroll numbers start increasing by 200k between late spring and the end of summer, Bush probably wins in a walk. If they increase at, say, 20k for this period, Kerry has a chance.
The household survey numbers are used to compute the unemployment rate. This number is already low by historic standards but much higher than in 1999-2000 during the telecom and dotcom bubble. If the unemployment rate goes up each month between now and the election and the aggregate payroll shrinks, Kerry probably wins in a walk.The BLS has a a primer on the differences between the household and payroll numbers at the linked site.
The article doesnât have the comments I made above in HiLite. That is for those Rantburgians who want to watch the end of the week action.
Posted by: mhw ||
03/29/2004 10:50:58 AM ||
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I don't think the March payroll numbers will have much effect on the election.... temporarily it might cause a boost and offer talking points to one side or the other but by the time the elections are around I think people will only be looking at the last couple months of employment figures.
#2
The Oct report will be released too late to factor into the election (it will be released on Nov 4 or Nov 5, two of three days after the election). So actually the Sept and Aug reports might be the most important.
#4
DPA - I generally agree. Note however that campaigns are like football games in that it is possible to disrupt the other team's game plan. For example a great running team may be forced to pass all the time if they fall well behind early. Good economic data now would help boost Bush and push Kerry to try more desperate attacks which would impact how the remainder of the campaign goes.
#7
The BLS is full of BS. In order to justify the dramatic differences in the two numbers, they basically subtract self-employed and agricultural employees, and add back in folks with more than one job. See my blog here.
The two surveys differ by over 2 MILLION jobs created since November 2001! The reason is the HUGE numbers of people starting their own business. Rather than admit that they have an error in a survey, the BLS tries to argue the difference away by making that very point.
#10
Your LLC numbers show something but its not clear what; yes there are more incorporations but its not enough to explain away the household vs. payroll gap.
The BLS does the best it can given the situation. The economy today is a dynamic creature and its virtually impossible to design a survey that can allow analysis of all the possible work force options. My daughter had 6 w-2s for 2003 (and she did other things which didn't produce a W-2).
Several hundred people stormed the small yard of President Bushâs chief political strategist, Karl Rove, yesterday afternoon, pounding on his windows, shoving signs at others and challenging Rove to talk to them about a bill that deals with educational opportunities for immigrants. Protesters poured out of one school bus after another, piercing an otherwise quiet, peaceful Sunday in Roveâs Palisades neighborhood in Northwest, chanting, "Karl, Karl, come on out! See what the DREAM Act is all about!"
Who the hell are these mopes? They're supporting a bill in Congress to provide free education to the children of illegal aliens.
Rove obliged their first request and opened his door long enough to say, "Get off my property." He should have obliged them by shooting a couple of rounds into the crowd.
"Seems like he doesnât want to invite us in for tea," Emira Palacios quipped to the crowd. Maybe Rantburgers should organize a little trip to Emiraâs house and see if heâd like to invite us in for tea.
Others chanted, "Karl Rove ainât got no soul." The crowd then grew more aggressive, fanning around the three accessible sides of Roveâs house, tracking him through the many windows, waving signs that read "Say Yes to DREAM" and pounding on the glass. At one point, Rove rushed to a window, pointed a finger and yelled something inaudible... Rove opened his garage door and allowed Palacios and Inez Killingsworth to enter. The meeting lasted two minutes and ended with Rove closing the garage door on Palacios while she was still talking. Palacios said that Rove was "very upset" and was "yelling in our faces" and that Rove told them "he hoped we were proud to make his 14-year-old and 10-year-old cry."
I suspect Karl was offended by the lack of class and political idiocy of the whole stunt. He's a pro, remember.
A White House spokesman said one of the children was a neighbor. Palacios, trembling and in tears herself, said, "He is very offended because we dared to come here. We dared to come here because he dared to ignore us. Iâm sorry we disturbed his children, but our children are disturbed every day. He also said, âDonât ever dare to come back.â We will, if he continues to ignore us." He needs to get a restraining order on this freak. These people need serious jail time. An example needs to be made.
Posted by: Damn_Proud_American ||
03/29/2004 8:51:48 AM ||
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They want to play dirty, fine. Any volunteers for a Rove Defense Force?
Posted by: Charles ||
03/29/2004 9:13 Comments ||
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While I really can't condone this if you glory in being the proverbial evil mastermind I find it hard to have much sympathy; at least not in the wake of Madame Plame being outted.
#4
So in the last week, the Democrats have had their thugs beat up pro-Bush demonstrators and have threatened the president's political advisor.
Yes, these people need to be made an example of. I think assault charges are appropriate, as well as trespassing and criminal conspiracy.
We need to find out who paid for this protest -- who chartered the busses. Those people need to be stopped.
Oh, and Hiryu -- sod off. If Democrats like you keep making excuses for this kind of behavior, it's just going to get worse. If it keeps getting worse, people are going to get hurt. Reign in your hatred and stupidity for once.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
03/29/2004 9:26 Comments ||
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Hiryu, you did not read that much about the Plame-nonsense did you?
Oh and that: "proverbial evil mastermind" Please get a CLUE!
#6
Hiryu--I am pretty g--damn sick of Dems and Libs calling Bush "Hitler" while advocating the same thug tactics Hitler and his miscreants used to gain power. If you and the other idiots out there continue to advocate crap like this, it's going to blow up in your faces. These morons have NO RIGHT to trespass on Rove's property and terrorize his family! How would you like YOUR family and property to be treated this way?
Posted by: Dar ||
03/29/2004 9:41 Comments ||
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Hmmm... methinks it's going to be a long, hot summer. The McAuliffe-orchestrated violence is only beginning, and I suspect MUCH bigger things are coming.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
03/29/2004 10:17 Comments ||
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Wait a miniute. These are farking SCHOOL BUSSES!!! Apparently from a PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The protest was organized by National People's Action, a coalition of neighborhood advocacy groups based in Chicago.
Ok, even if this is only based in Chicago, was Chicago public school busses used for political purposes to haul Chicago 'students' to this event. Who arranged this or are the busses stolen?
Leaders said they want Bush to advocate for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, a bill that would permit illegal immigrants who have lived in the United States for at least five years to apply for legal resident status once they graduate from high school. The measure would eliminate provisions of current federal law that discourage states from providing in-state tuition to illegalundocumented student immigrants.
Immigrant activists say that 50,000 to 65,000 ILLEGAL undocumented students graduate from U.S. high school each year and that many students can afford college only at the reduced, in-state rates given to legal residents.
Maybe because they are fucking ILLEGAL. I am sick and tired of people wanting to give legal status to illegal aliens who are breaking the law. What the fuck happened to the rule of law? These people are here in violation of federal law. They should have no privledge status such as 'in state tuition' and 'education entitlement.'.
#9
"He also said, âDonât ever dare to come back,â " Palacios said. "We will, if he continues to ignore us."
Americans have 2nd Amendment rights. I would shed no tears if Mr. Rove decides to exercise them should this Palacios cretin and her fellow swine have the nerve to return and engage in the same behavior.
#14
Hiryu is worthless fucktard. Democrats are immoral scum sucking pieces of shit. Tell that jackass Emira to get out of my fucking country. Why the hell should I pay for your children to have an education when you are a criminal? Illegally in MY country? If one of these assholes tried that shit at my house, I'd shoot them. But don't worry, I'd aim for their knees. Karl should have at least fired up his garden hose and hosed those criminals down. And yes, everyone of them is a criminal. They were all tresspassing. He should press charges.
#18
To be "civil" to Hiryu, Joe Wilson's charge that his spook wife was outed and by Karl Rove have yet to be proved.
There is no excuse for terrorizing someone at their home!
Have these protesters done something radical like try to make an appointment with the White House to air their grievances? Or contact their Senators and Congresspersons?
This was criminal trespass and harrassment--no excuse for it, no matter what they thought the cogent "reason" for it was.
In fact, I think they did it knowing it was wrong.
Anarchy and the breakdown of a civil society where we have government through consent of the governed (by voting) loom.
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 12:04 Comments ||
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Man I could think of a thousand ways to get these people off my yard. #1 Turn on the sprinklers #2 let the dogs loose #3 Paintballs #4 Frozen paintballs. Can't imagine that the police didn't respond to this? BTW I don't support that bill either and please, PLEASE feel free to protest at my house. I'll be waiting!
#20
I, like many others, would be exceedingly interested to know who bankrolled this. It goes far beyond civil protesting to criminal, and it would serve these loonies right if every one of them was sent to jail. Appalling behavior that I cannot find words - curse or otherwise - that would describe how disgusted I am. Yet this is a tactic of the left - claiming that the other side is facist, then using facist techniques. Poor Karl should have called the police and arrested 'em all for trespassing. And make no mistake about it, that's what they were doing. They were on private property, not public grounds - and so they have no right to claim it was "just a protest."
I am forced to wonder, if this "DREAM" (and let's hope that's all it remains, though "NIGHTMARE" might be more appropriate) actually goes through, what group we'll see the most of. Mexicans and Cubans are the obvious answer, but . . . okay, maybe I'm seeing conspiracies here, and after the reading I've done I certainly have no love for the religion, but does anyone else think we may see a wave of illegal Muslim immigrants who come here, get educated for free, and take up jobs without ever becoming registered? And who then try and influence society in the same way they're trying to in Europe?
Posted by: The Doctor ||
03/29/2004 12:11 Comments ||
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#21
Hiryu is a valued member of the Rantburg community. He has a different opinion here, no probs with me.
Pardon me, but he was playing the "I condemn this, but..." game that we don't like to hear from Muslims in regards to Islamist terrorism. If the left keeps playing games like this, there will be violence -- either from them or to resist them.
I'd expect anyone of integrity to condemn this kind of crap, not to play "I don't condone it, but..." games.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
03/29/2004 13:30 Comments ||
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#22
This was a stunt designed to (a) get them in the paper (b) get the attention of the wackos that think Karl Rove runs the government.
It will get this group donations aplenty, but will probably hurt their chances of having what they want made into law. Still, I'm sure they feel good, and feel like heros, and its the feelings that's important isn't it?
#25
National People's Action appears to be a "community action group" based in Chicago - web site www.npa-us.org. They were in DC Mar 27-29 for the "33rd Annual National People's Action! Neighborhood Conference. LaBlanc and Palacios are "co-chairs" of the group. They seem to be channelling the 1960s-era "power to the people" bong smoke and bringing their "people power" to those they perceive as powerful is part of their shtick. Previous targets have been Andrew Cuomo, Phil Gramm and Alan Greenspan. They appear, based on cursory research, to receive some funding both from the United Way and from the Combined Federal Campaign, through the local groups that make up NPA.
It's interesting that they chose Rove's house rather than someone in Congress. It's a sign of just how far the irrationality over the Bush Administration has gone.
Posted by: Sofia ||
03/29/2004 14:30 Comments ||
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Some people have a hard time parsing my language it would seem. Are the folks who were blockading Rove's residence out of line; sure. Is Rove basically a bully who doesn't deserve a lot of sympathy; pretty much so.
Still, if this confrontation continues it should be slapped down in no uncertain manner, even if Rove is no a public figure who thus has a lot less privacy then the rest of us.
#27
Hiryu..."Public Figures" have less privacy under N.Y. Times v. Sullivan in determining libel and slander claims. This has nothing to do with property rights or criminal behavior.
Now bugger-off.
#28
"Is Rove basically a bully who doesn't deserve a lot of sympathy; pretty much so."
As an average American, I don't have enough information to determine if he's a "bully" nor do I know if he deserves any more or less sympathy than any other human being.
You know, Karl Rove's never done anything to me and I'd bet he hasn't done anything to you either.
All I know about him is that he manages President Bush's campaigns and such.
But the Left has him targeted for hate....I suppose because he succeeds in getting Bush elected over and over. "...even if Rove is no a public figure who thus has a lot less privacy then the rest of us. "
I don't know about you, buddy, and I'm no public figure, but I sure as hell don't want an angry mob outside of my private home banging on the windows!
How this group figured that Rove was "responsible" for not getting their bill passed and that he should hear about it at his home resembles nothing so much as a lynch mob!
Interesting that you should bring up Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame...Wilson keeps calling for Rove's head.. Just Because.
See above about Rove plotting successful campaigns for Bush.
(You oughtta quit while you're ahead, Hiryu, when Steve defended you.)
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 15:10 Comments ||
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It's time to call out the cast-iron skillet brigade. They're small, handy, and do one heck of a smack-down. I'm thinking of putting a six-inch skillet in my car from now on, just to protect myself from Dem nut-jobs. They're especially deadly if you use 'em edge-on.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/29/2004 15:24 Comments ||
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"It's interesting that they chose Rove's house rather than someone in Congress. It's a sign of just how far the irrationality over the Bush Administration has gone."
And it shows the value of a public education. Apparently civics isn't taught anymore.
#33
This worries me. When political parties start fielding gangs of thugs to intimidate opponents, the democratic process is gone. (Think Mugabe, or the French Third Republic) And this is only a little step away.
Posted by: James ||
03/29/2004 16:58 Comments ||
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#34
Um, I don't recall Hiryu being a loon. What's with the attacks on him?
Posted by: Rafael ||
03/29/2004 17:08 Comments ||
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#35
James: Maybe OBL was right. Maybe dealing with Islamist terror will prove to be such a divisive issue that the US will disintegrate. Part of me wonders if bin Laden isn't sitting in some compound in Saudi, drinking mint tea and signing checks for DU and MoveOn while he laughs his goat smelling ass off. It's money much better spent than on Islamic charities and madrassahs.
#36
What absolute BOZOS! Rove doesn't decide this stuff. I agree with Lucky and ruprecht.
To eLarson and CrazyFool: Conservatives never should have let public education deteriorate. Our freedom depends so much on the education of the general population. Now the media is the "educator." No wonder people can't think and don't have the facts. Tax dollars and activism should be funneled toward education (in order to promote competition and attract quality teachers who can actually teach outside of the "politically correct" neo-facist camp), a stong and capable defense, and the intelligent preservation of the environment.
#37
Hiyru, these people are way WAY out of line end of story. Itâs just not the way things are done in this democracy. Itâs the way the brownshirts used to do business in Germany, but not here in America. Next time I expect the police to busts some skulls and drags some of this 60s leftovers away to jail for trespassing, assault, and unlawful protest. And they were doing this on behalf of ILLEGAL residents? Add aiding and abetting criminals to that list of charges too. This is America not Nazi Germany! All are welcome, but please sign the guest book on the way in.
#38
ex-lib. I agree with you on education. Here in Washington State they just passed a measure for some 'charter' schools and already the Washington Education Association (i.e. the Union and its democratic allies) are filing suit against it. Stating that it will take money from Public schools. They are also going to make contribution to their legal fund mandatory (i.e. extortion) like they now do with teachers (you will contribute to the democratic party if you want to work in this state).
To everyone else... sorry for the offtopic comment :^)
BTW: Where the protesters wearing brown shirts by any chance?
#40
"Conservatives never should have let education deteriorate". Huh? WTF? Conservatives? It was liberals who have destroyed the education system in this country. The three largest impediments to quality education in this country are the NEA, the Department of Education, and the Dimocrat Party.
#41
Denny: Well they couldn't have done it if they hadn't been allowed to. What I meant was, conservatives let things in the field of education slide out from under them. And now we gots wut we gots.
Posted by: Stephen Crockett ||
03/29/2004 00:29 ||
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Note: The poster is one of the authors.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2004 6:07 Comments ||
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This is an excellent article, because it manages to condense, onto just one page of crudely-crafted fiction, the staggering dishonesty and lust for power that forced me to conclude, after 31 years as a registered Democrat, that no decent person could possibly remain in that party.
The Democratic Party: idiots led by crooks.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
03/29/2004 6:15 Comments ||
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Congratulations,Fred,Rantburg has made the big time when Dim flacks use it to post their own propaganda pieces.
#4
The article's conclusion says, While the public has been calling for Rice to testify publicly, we really need both Bush and Cheney to testify publicly before the 9-11 Commission.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
03/29/2004 6:44 Comments ||
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#8
Wow--that was so enlightening! If only we could have elected Clinton to a third term--he would have handled those naughty Taliban and Osamanauts just as effectively as he did the first eight years! [/sarcasm]
Posted by: Dar ||
03/29/2004 9:31 Comments ||
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It is interesting that you have allowed Mr. Crockett to post his article here. This indicates that you are receptive and open minded to other opinions. The same cannot be said of Mr. Crockett, who does not allow anyone of differning beliefs to post at DTR.
I also note that his opening paragraph contains two insults and one barbed inuendo. This is so typical of those who have no substance to support their beliefs.
The more opinions like Mr. Crockett's are heard, the stronger the Republican Party will become.
#2
Surprise..surpise....In my attempts to enlighten people at work abou the biased coverage of the Steford Networks some look at me like I'm speaking Martian....They need some more edycation methinks.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
03/29/2004 17:27 Comments ||
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White House allies and Republicans investigating the Sept. 11 attacks pressed Sunday to hear open testimony from national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, with one commissioner calling her refusal a "political blunder of the first order." Rice said in a TV interview that she wants to meet with the families of the Sept. 11 victims because she knows they are disappointed she cannot testify publicly. "Nothing would be better, from my point of view, than to be able to testify," Rice told CBS's "60 Minutes." "I would really like to do that. But there is an important principle involved here: It is a long-standing principle that sitting national security advisers do not testify before the Congress."
They're supposed to be busy advising, not taking part in the ritual shooting of the wounded...
President Bush, spending a long weekend on his Texas ranch, gave no ground, and several aides said he will not change his mind on letting Rice testify. But Bush sent her and other top administration officials out for television interviews to rebut fresh attacks on the way his administration has handled the threat of terrorism.
It's political, important to his campaign, but a remote sidebar to the real issue of killing turbans.
Sharpening his criticism, former counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke said President Clinton was more aggressive than Bush in trying to confront al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's organization. "He did something, and President Bush did nothing prior to September 11," Clarke told NBC's "Meet the Press."
Well can I recall Clinton telling us to "make no mistake," the perps in the Kenya-Tanzania bombings would be "brought to justice." I didn't believe him, and I made no mistake.
"I think they deserve a failing grade for what they did before" Sept. 11, Clarke said of the Bush administration. "They never got around to doing anything."
Clarke is just a passed-over, embittered old man whom I suspect was counting on a Saudi consultancy for his retirement.
But Rice said the Bush administration regarded terrorism as "an urgent problem."
Not as urgent as we regard it in retrospect. On 9-11-01 we were a nation at peace, the most important item in the news being how Gary Condit had bumped off Chandra Levy and where the body was hidden. Strong counterterror measures, to include demolishing Afghanistan, would have been impossible.
Clarke said a sweeping declassification of documents would prove that the Bush administration neglected the threat of terrorism in the eight months leading up to the attacks.
That's pretty safe to call for, from a political point of view. Sweeping declassification of documents would be stupid, not so much for the content as for the sources and methods. That's why they take 30 years to age before they're reviewed for declassification — and in many cases not declassified then.
He said he sought declassification of all six hours of his testimony before a congressional committee two years ago. Some Republicans have said that testimony about Sept. 11 contradicts Clarke's current criticism. Clarke said he also wanted Rice's previous interview before the independent Sept. 11 commission declassified, along with e-mails between him and Rice, and other documents, including a memo he sent on Jan. 25, 2001 offering a road map to the new Bush administration on how to confront al-Qaida, and a directive that the National Security Council adopted on Sept. 4, 2001. The material will prove "they wasted months when we could have had some action," Clarke said.
Bill Clinton wasted eight years. Your point?
Rice says the approach formulated over the eight-month span was "a more comprehensive plan to eliminate al-Qaida."
As opposed to firing a ten million dollar missile at a camel's butt, or something like that.
Asked about Clarke's request for the declassification, Secretary of State Colin Powell on CBS' "Face the Nation," said, "My bias will be to provide this information in an unclassified manner not only to the commission, but to the American people." White House spokesman Jim Morrell said decisions on declassification "will be made in discussion with the 9/11 commission." One senior administration official said the White House and intelligence community would never agree to release the Sept. 4 national security directive, because it contains sensitive information on sources and methods.
Not that Clarke cares about that.
Members of the Sept. 11 commission made clear they will not relent in their pursuit of public testimony from Rice, but said they were not inclined to subpoena her. The White House has declined to let her appear at the commission's televised hearings, citing the constitutional principle of separation of powers; the panel was created by Congress. "Condi Rice would be a superb witness. She is anxious to testify. The president would dearly love to have her testify," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told reporters. "But the lawyers have concluded that to do so would alter the balance if we got into the practice of doing that." Rice was interviewed by the panel behind closed doors on Feb. 7. The administration has offered a second private session with Rice, but the commission has not accepted. Rice was "very, very forthcoming in her first meeting with us," said former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, a Republican named by Bush to lead the commission. "But we do feel unanimously as a commission that she should testify in public. We feel it's important to get her case out there. We recognize there are arguments having to do with separation of powers. We think in a tragedy of this magnitude that those kind of legal arguments are probably overridden," Kean told "Fox News Sunday."
Not having a poltical turn of mind, I probably underestimate the importance of the commission. To me, the blame for 9-11 lies with Binny and his gang(s), rather than with the Bush administration or with the Clinton administration. Islamism is a problem that grew while we were preoccupied with who killed Jon Benet. Clinton could have paid more attention, been more aggressive, but he was preoccupied with defining what "is" is. Bush could have paid more attention, as well. But without an overt action at least on the order of the WTC bombings or the Nairobi-Dar es-Salaam attacks, there simply wasn't grounds for it. Recall Yemen's contemptuous treatment of us after the Cole bombings, for instance. They knew we wouldn't do anything, and if Binny had kept the level of attacks on the same plane he could have gone on pinpricking us for years.
Commissioner John Lehman, another Republican, said Rice "has nothing to hide, and yet this is creating the impression for honest Americans all over the country and people all over the world that the White House has something to hide, that Condi Rice has something to hide. And if they do, we sure haven't found it. There are no smoking guns. That's what makes this so absurd. It's a political blunder of the first order."
Most political flareups are short-lived, though. Name the biggest political battle of last year off the top of your head — no peeking.
A White House ally, Richard Perle, said, "I think she would be wise to testify." Perle, who resigned last month as an adviser to the Pentagon, said he recognized the constitutional concerns at issue. "Sometimes you have to set those aside because the circumstances require it," he told CNN's "Late Edition." Richard Ben-Veniste, a Democratic commissioner, noted in an interview with The Associated Press that several White House staff in recent years have appeared before legislative bodies, including former national security adviser Sandy Berger when he was in office. Rice's several media appearances also undermine the White House's position, he said. "I fail to see the logic on the one hand relying on the confidentiality of such communications with the president and yet appearing everywhere except the one entity that has been created for the express purpose of investigating and holding public hearings on 9/11," he said.
I know GWB is big on keeping powers separate, but I have to think that Condi would blow away her critics in any forum.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/29/2004 12:00:00 AM ||
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Stand firm, Condi!
The more they pick on her and cast asperions on her expertise, the more the Lib Dims (which includes Clarke) on this partisan witch hunt look like sexists and rascists!
[Drudge pointed out on his show that the WaPo's editorial cartoon today portrayed Dr. Rice with huge Negroid lips--Charming.]
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 0:25 Comments ||
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He has a 1/25 roadmap - so, what was it? Why can't he say?
#3
This is a battle between the legislative and executive branches of the gov'ment, which will blur the party lines. Condi should, and will hold firm. Also, why all the focus on Condi? Pure and simple...she's hot! Hot...and a republican. That's got to hurt!
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
03/29/2004 2:14 Comments ||
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#4
I keep expecting to see a headline that says:
"Tapes show Bush waited nearly 30 days to attack al-queada after 9/11"
It seems like everyone has had a collective mind wipe of the weeks after 9/11 and what the impact was. It also seems like everyone forgot how awful the transition went from the Clinton administration to the Bush administration. The transition office had to be funded by the Bush campaign because the Clinton administration refused to turn over the keys. This caused a huge delay in the rollout of the Bush adminstration staffing. Bush was a full 3 months late getting his people into play just due to that problem alone. Every step of the way the incoming administration had to fight to accomplish the most mundane tasks due to outright sobotage and childish behavior from the outgoing clintonites. Did everyone forget the state the Clinton adminsitration left with their offices? Remember the mass removal of the GWB keys from keyboards? You dont think we burned a hell of alot of calories and manhours on petty little crap like that?
Now kiddies, let's all squint our eyes together and take a trip on "Mr. Peabodys way-back machine" and imagine if the President and evil John Ashcroft had arrested all 19 of the hijackers on September 10th and paraded them around as al-queada operatives who planned on crashing aircraft into the WTC and then said that we were going to invade Afghanistan to stop the spread of terror, do you think these same people badgering Bush today would have supported him?
Ok, you can stop laughing now.
Sometimes I think President Bushs biggest failure has been to make it all look so easy. We all seem to forget how no one predicted we could successfully invade Afghanistan, much less Iraq. Allies? oh yeah, they've been very helpful AFTER we pulled it off, but none of them were there to get the job done because frankly no one believed it could be done! Now,everyone acts like it was a done deal, which is a complete misrepresentation of reality.
As far as Bush asking the intelligence staff to look into seeing if 9/11 was from the Iraqis- Well DUH people!! People are acting like it was as if Clarke had said that Bush told him to "look into seeing if the Swiss had anything to do with it." And what President signed the executive order calling for regime change in Iraq?
President Clinton, Under the advice from his then counter terrorism director - Dick Clarke. Who then subsequently bombed Iraq on three separate occasions.
Posted by: Frank Martin ||
03/29/2004 4:05 Comments ||
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#5
Frank, you made all excellent points. Thank you!
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 4:30 Comments ||
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#6
"Sometimes I think President Bushs biggest failure has been to make it all look so easy."
Two bigger failures, in my opinion, are his apparent assumptions that (a) only a small minority of Americans is too dumb to tell shit from Shinola, and (b) the people running the Democratic Party have the honor and integrity to refrain from playing cheap politics with life-and-death matters like the survival of our country.
So far it looks like most Americans are capable of figuring things out for themselves, thank God, but that "most" is a bare majority at best.
At the end of Dick Clarke's American Grandstand Week, I am left with this: they want us to believe the Bush administration should have accomplished in eight months, what Clinton didn't in 8 years; that when Bush launched a policy review, barely into his second week in office (!), to come up with a plan to not just "roll back" al-Qaeda (the Clinton policy) but to exterminate it altogether, and approved a fivefold increase in funding for covert CIA operations, that constituted "doing nothing about terrorism"; that Condi Rice didn't even know al-Qaeda existed until Clarke told her about it; and that we should all vote for John Kerry, who by the way served in Vietnam.
This whole bloody farce smells like a choreographed setup to me: the content of Clarke's book, so much at odds with his previous statements on public record; the timing of his book release to coincide with his Committee testimony; his appearances on all the talk-shows; the careful selectivity of news coverage from the Alphabet Networks which emphasize some parts of Clarke's testimony while burying others (such as the utterly gross inconsistencies with what he has said previously) and the breathless news accounts depicting the Adminstration as "reeling" from a "knockout blow" by Clarke- I smell a rat.
And a hint of who that rat might be lies in the overall clumsiness and ham-handedness of this orchestrated farce: I smell Terry McAuliffe.
I think Rice should testify. I understand the precedent they're trying to avoid by not having her testify, but IMO its importance is secondary to the compelling necessity of winning the war- and that, in turn, means winning this election.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
03/29/2004 6:08 Comments ||
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#7
And a hint of who that rat might be lies in the overall clumsiness and ham-handedness of this orchestrated farce: I smell Terry McAuliffe.
And -- completely seriously -- believe we should start looking at how much Saudi cash is flowing into the Democrats. A Democrat win will let the Saudis get back to business as usual, while a Bush win will put their ability to farm out their war for the throne at risk.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
03/29/2004 9:19 Comments ||
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#8
What I'm curious about is, if testimony is what the commission requires for its work, WHY does it have to be public? Facts are facts, regardless of whether they're stated in public or private.
Whatever gave you the idea this was about facts? It's all about political grandstanding and you have to have cameras rolling for that.
Posted by: Steve ||
03/29/2004 12:32 Comments ||
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#11
I see two possibilities here:
1) Having Condoleeza Rice testify is really the briar patch that the Administration doesn't want to be thrown in--and particularly don't want to be thrown in around the time of the Democrat National Convention.
2) They don't want to set a precedent that would be at odds with the pending Supreme Court case that is trying to get the Administration to turn over the notes on the energy task force.
#12
eLarson, in that we're at WAR with the same enemy who perpetrated 9/11, don't you think it's smart that we don't tell them everything we know about them via this hearing?
Posted by: Jen ||
03/29/2004 16:01 Comments ||
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#13
Lucky's right again.
Richard Clarke said President Clinton was more aggressive than Bush in trying to confront al-Q . . . And he said that with a straight face? Really?
If Condi testified, the press would make it look like she's in "big bad trouble," by misrepresenting and twisting things she would say, and if she doesn't they will make it look like she's trying to hide something, thereby "proving" all of their accusations. Nevertheless, I think she's right not to, for a number of reasons--especially the precedent-setting issue. The press and members of Congress have always wanted to be "in" on everything. But it just don't work that way.
#14
Americans are herded to Iraq like cattle to slaughter -- visit http://AD LUSA.com#cattle but first delete space which was added due to censorship.
PLEASE NOTE: Rantburg is a Zionist propaganda BBS spewing hate against Moslems in order to incite wars and sacrifice American lives and resources for the state of Israel.
#15
Americans are herded to Iraq like cattle to slaughter -- visit http://AD LUSA.com#cattle but first delete space which was added due to censorship.
PLEASE NOTE: Rantburg is a Zionist propaganda BBS spewing hate against Moslems in order to incite wars and sacrifice American lives and resources for the state of Israel.
#5
Isn't this a sort of eschatological "through the looking glass" of the end times doctrine? I guess you just can't get in the temple door without one these days.
A father and six brothers who chopped off their relativeâs arm and leg each received a few years of rigorous imprisonment. Civil Judge and Kabirwala Magistrate Syed Naveed Raza Bukhari gave between five and seven years rigorous imprisonment to a father and six brothers who chopped off the right arm and right leg of their 18-year-old relative Safia in Mahni Siyal in Kabirwala. âAhmed Bakhsh, with the help of his six sons Zafar, Dilbar, Iqbal, Mazhar Hussain, Nazar Hussain and Ajmal, cut off the right leg and arm of his daughter Safia on January 15, 2002, because she did not obey her fatherâs orders,â a court official said.
I guess that'll teach her. A stern word and maybe a spanking always worked for me, though...
Zafar, Dilbar and Iqbal got seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 130,000 and the father and Mazhar, Nazar and Ajmal were given five years rigorous imprisonment. Half of the fine will be given to Safia as compensation or diyat.
Well, I guess honor is preserved. Though now they're a whole family of jailbirds. I'll bet COPS could film some interesting episodes in Multan...
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2004 9:04:57 PM ||
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I get the feeling that "Harsh Imprisoment" isn't the type of thing you live through very often. Not that I'm complaining, but I would have just had the father and sons lose their own right limbs.
Posted by: Charles ||
03/29/2004 21:18 Comments ||
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#2
without anesthesia
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/29/2004 21:44 Comments ||
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#3
This is that mental illness thing popping up again, right? I also notice that it took seven of them to figure out how to do it.
And one more. How much is Rs 130,000 in real money?
Not a whole lot. The awarded money is probably alot in their terms though. One Dollar here in America could buy an entire family food for a whole day. 'Could' being the key word here since I'm not sure about prices and currency.
Posted by: Charles ||
03/29/2004 23:01 Comments ||
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#6
None of this would have happened if they hadn't outlawed clerically approved gang rape as a form of punishment.
#7
Americans are herded to Iraq like cattle to slaughter -- visit http://AD LUSA.com#cattle but first delete space which was added due to censorship.
PLEASE NOTE: Rantburg is a Zionist propaganda BBS spewing hate against Moslems in order to incite wars and sacrifice American lives and resources for the state of Israel.
Maulana Samiul Haq, the chief of Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) strongly criticised Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Qazi Hussain on Monday, accusing them of seeking to undermine the six-party religious alliance of which the JUI-S is a part, by encouraging the dominance of two other parties. He denounced the assertions made by the two leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) that the difference in the ranks of the alliance was an internal matter. They had in fact abandoned the house of the MMA, he said while talking to journalists in Akora Khattak. Mr Haq claimed that the differences between the Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam-Fazalur Rehman (JUI-F) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had reached a peak. He alleged that top leadership of the dominant component of the alliance had in fact deviated from the basic objectives for which the alliance had been hammered out in the premises of Darul Uloom Haqqania. Had they not deviated from their basic objectives, the country would not have faced such a difficult foreign policy situation, he said.
And Sami's ego would feel ever so much better...
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2004 8:52:36 PM ||
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internal dissension sown among the locals? How.....British
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/29/2004 21:46 Comments ||
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Bangladesh has launched a countrywide manhunt for nabbing the mastermind of a gruesome triple murders that have shaken the government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and put on alert the Bangladesh Rifles so that he and his accomplices could not cross the border to neighboring India. âWe are making ceaseless and allout efforts to get the culprits,â said a senior official of the Home Ministry yesterday. The mastermind Kajal, a family friend and business partner of old Dhaka businessman Shamsul Haq and his son, is absconding since the macaber murders were unearthed following recovery of 200 pieces of their bodies at Gazipur, north of Dhaka city.
"Inspector Camembert! How can you be sure it was murder and not suicide?"
"Their bodies were chopped into 200 pieces, Legume!"
"Ahhh! I see!..."
"Not 201 and not 199. It is a well-known fact in the literature of crime that suicides never chop themselves into even numbers!"
The killings of Shamsul Haq and his son Russell Sheikh came to light two days after police found their driver hacked to death in Dhamrai, about 50 kilometers off Dhaka, in the first signs of the incident that underlined security fears of businesspeople. The 56-year-old and his 29-year-old son went missing after they left home with 200,000 taka on Friday after a phone call from Kajal, accused as the prime suspect in a case filed with Sutrapur police station.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2004 8:45:59 PM ||
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"Not 201 and not 199. It is a well-known fact in the literature of crime that suicides never chop themselves into even numbers!"
Fred...buddy...I'm thinking therapy while the HMO still covers it?
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/29/2004 21:47 Comments ||
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An Afghan government team arrived in Herat on Monday to investigate the killing of the son of the province's powerful governor, and a senior U.S. military officer called on the commander blamed for the death to surrender. Lieutenant-Colonel James Hand, head of the U.S. military's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Herat, said he understood the government intended to recall Nayebzada -- who is thought to be in his home province of Baghdis adjoining Herat. "I would encourage General Zahir and the central government to facilitate his return to Kabul as soon as possible," he told Reuters.
Hand said he had met Khan as well as the commission sent by Kabul on Monday. He said failure to resolve the crisis would create mistrust for the Kabul government in Herat province. It could also confirm "the worst suspicions of those who are sceptical" of the Kabul government and embolden people like Osama bin Laden "who would like nothing better than to see the sons of Afghanistan battling each other". He said the crisis in Herat had tied up national army troops who could be helping hunt al Qaeda and Taliban leaders. The tensions in Herat have highlighted the difficulties Karzai faces in trying to exert his authority over regional power-brokers like Khan, who professes loyalty to Kabul but is accused by critics of running Herat like a personal fiefdom.
Since Nayebzada fled, Khan's Herat Television has announced his replacement as commander of Herat's 17th military division. It said the appointments were approved by the defence ministry, but ministry officials said they had not been endorsed by Kabul. The head of the Kabul delegation, Taj Mohammad Wardak, said such decisions were for the central government. "There is only one government in Afghanistan and that is in Kabul," he told Reuters.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
03/29/2004 3:20:53 PM ||
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It so damn simple:
Karzi is the C-in-C,this pretty boy needs to take charge.
Go into these trouble areas with the will to clean them-up.
Use U.S.firepower where and when needed.
Hunt down the Warlords,&lieutenants,throw the in prision/or kill.
USAIDâs mission director in Iraq, tells Insight he reached Kuwait while the war was still raging and that on April 21, 2003, as soon as control of southern Iraq was secured, his team moved over the border into Iraq. He reports that the first goal for USAID was to rehabilitate Iraqâs only deep-water seaport at Um Qasr so that food could be shipped in to avert a humanitarian crisis.
Lucke and his team were shocked at what they found. "The state of Iraqi infrastructure in general was in pretty sad shape, but it wasnât because of the conflict," he says. "It was because of ... decades of complete and utter neglect by the regime. ... It was truly unbelievable ... even to the experts." The mission director says the condition of the power plants was especially poor. He inspected one such plant with a team of subcontractors from the German company Siemens, which had built it 30 years earlier. Engineers who remembered building the plant were astounded at the state of disrepair in which they found the generator units.
For many years the Iraqi engineers had not even had replacement parts but somehow found a way to keep the machines running, Lucke says. These are "ingenious" and "clever and very capable folks technically," he says, but there are only so many times a machine can be fixed with bailing wire and chewing gum. Even so, according to the USAID mission director, Iraqi engineers sometimes were executed by Saddamâs men when they could not keep a power unit on-line.
The condition of the power plants has been vastly improved, and by October 2003 power production surpassed prewar levels, says a USAID report. And supported by engineers and logistical wizards from Bechtel Corp., a private contractor based in San Francisco that has taken on enormous projects all over the world, USAID soon had put in place the new Iraqi Telephone Exchange. Assessing the situation with professional aplomb, USAID identified 1,700 "critical breaks" in the water network of Baghdad alone and teams set to work to repair them. The Army Corps of Engineers, USAID and the private American corporations have been busy rebuilding the critical Khazir, Tikrit and Al Mat bridges and nearly have completed reconstruction of the Baghdad and Basra airports.
Though many of these reconstruction projects were handled quickly under emergency conditions by Western companies, Lucke says, it is the policy of USAID and the CPA to use local Iraqi subcontractors "to the absolute extent possible" because of their in-country experience and to stimulate local employment. "This is going to work best if the Iraqis are not only involved in it but take the lead," says the mission director.
-snip- self-congradulation
The condition of schools in Iraq was "abysmal," Lucke says. He reports that USAID and the CPA found schools without electricity and lighting fixtures. Blackboards had been torn from the walls and desks were in a "terrible state." Saddamâs regime stored weapons in schools, the mission director says, and buildings fell into such disrepair that his team discovered raw sewage backed up in school hallways.
Working with Bechtel and the NGOs, the CPA and USAID have rehabilitated 2,200 schools. Lucke anticipates another round of school rehabilitation because Congress recently appropriated $18 billion more to help Iraq recover and move toward democratic rule. And USAID has started the Accelerated Learning Program to help students who have missed or dropped out of school because of cruel punishments or because they could not afford the bribes that were extorted under Saddamâs rule.
The program is designed to give children two years of accelerated schooling in one year. It provides a "master teacher" to assist classroom teachers (whom the reconstruction partners will train in modern teaching techniques) and also a community-outreach counselor to encourage attendance. All of these positions are filled by Iraqis. So far, USAID reports, 55 teachers are working in the accelerated program and 644 students have been enrolled.
Another area that is receiving attention is the Iraqi judicial system. Stephen M. Orlofsky, a former U.S. District judge, is one of three federal judges invited by the CPA to be part of a 13-member judicial-assessment team, which also includes court clerks, public defenders and defense attorneys. Orlofsky tells Insight that Iraqâs courthouses "had been stripped of everything from lightbulbs to doorknobs. They had no power or had it only intermittently. No furniture, books, no telephone service. All of this was compounded by the fact that the temperature hovered at 130 degrees." Orlofsky adds that a massive amount of court documents and official records had been destroyed.
Under Saddam, Orlofsky says, judges were required to join the Baâath Party to gain their positions, though about 35 of the judges he interviewed insisted they were not members of the Baâath Party or were low-ranking members. Only one admitted he was a high-level Baâathist, says Orlofsky, and "I remember thinking at the time, âWe should probably keep this guy because heâs the only one whoâs told me the truth.â"
Bribery was routine in the practice of Iraqi law, taking the form of cash, gifts or sexual favors. "When I met with the attorneys, they told me the Iraqi judicial system was rife with corruption. Money changed hands frequently. The Saddam regime often intervened to influence the outcome of cases" by providing gifts to judges, Orlofsky says. Adding to the already deformed system, many of the judges who were in place had little or no legal training. Instead, they were sent to a "judicial institute" that Orlofsky says was nothing more than a propaganda school.
Even so, he observes, most members of the judiciary seemed to be excited to start reforms with the CPA despite pressure from hidden Baâathists who continue to threaten and strike against those working for modernization. Orlofsky says he met one judge who expressed thanks to the United States for toppling Saddam. A month after their meeting, he learned the man had been killed for cooperating with the Americans. Although the Iraqi judicial system was not proactive and case management was a foreign concept, Orlofsky believes there is hope because of the commitment of key Iraqi jurists. "Thereâs certainly a pool of talent on the Iraqi bar that can be drawn upon to select fair, impartial and independent judges," he says.
For Iraq to be fully reconstructed, the American judge tells Insight, Iraqis must establish the rule of law. Among other things that means banning torture, establishing the right to remain silent and providing counsel for suspects - all revolutionary ideas in Iraq.
Meanwhile, there is little that the CPA, USAID or other reconstructors can take from the U.S. experience in Afghanistan, says Ron Cruse, head of Logenix International, a Virginia-based company that supports agencies such as USAID in war-torn countries. He says the cultures and internal conditions of Iraq and Afghanistan are so completely different as not to translate. But for the moment, he says, it is most important that Iraqis "stand up and make their country a safer place."
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2004 12:14:26 PM ||
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One of the doctors I work with is Lewis Lucke's fater-in-law. While the war was going on he would tell us what Lewis had emailed him about the reality of what really was going on over there. Reinforced that the media wasn't showing us the good stuff we were doing. Interesting article though.
Posted by: Bill ||
03/29/2004 13:49 Comments ||
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By Jamie Glazov
FrontPageMagazine.com | March 1, 2004
Frontpage Interviewâs guest today is Ion Mihai Pacepa, former acting chief of Communist Romaniaâs espionage service. In 1987 he published Red Horizons (Regnery Gateway), reprinted in 24 countries. In 1999 Mr. Pacepa authored The Black Book of the Securitate, reportedly an all time bestseller in Romania. He is now finishing a book on the origins of current anti-Americanism. Learn about âSãrindarâ - and WMDâs. I look forward to Pacepaâs forthcoming book - which Iâm sure Prez Putty and ANSWER dread. Now thatâs what I call a recommendation.
Posted by: .com ||
03/29/2004 4:00:12 AM ||
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Dave D - In here you'll find a major component of the 'answer' (pun intended) to the question you posed yesterday. I wish I could explain why I skipped over external causes yesterday - Doh! Symptomatic, I guess, of not being a member of the Blame Society. 8-)
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.
