Get "snippy" with an airlines' ticket agent and you may never see your luggage again. That's the experience of Dr. Esha Khoshnu, a New Jersey psychopath psychiatrist traveling to San Diego to attend a conference.
While changing planes in Phoenix, Khoshnu got testy at a Mesa Airlines ticket counter, reports KGTV news, saying, "If I had a bomb, you wouldn't find it." Ha.Ha.Ha. Doctor Khoshnu has clearly been living on a desert island or another planet for the last 30 years and has no idea that airport employees are not amused by bomb jokes.
The Transportation Security Administration described Khoshnu as acting "mouthy and snippy," according to KGTV. Snippy? My poodle get like that sometimes. He is old and cranky and only a dog but even he has never claimed to have a bomb.
The bomb comment touched off a security scare and FBI officials were dispatched to question Khoshnu, who was subsequently detained long enough to miss her flight. Her suitcase, however, got past security and was loaded onto the America West jet. Yikes! More sequentially challenged security, you lock the door BEFORE the horse gets out.
When Mesa Airlines Flight 6264 landed at Lindbergh Field in San Diego the pilot was instructed to taxi to a remote area of the airport where some 35 passengers were taken off the plane and escorted onto two buses, reports City News Service. "When we landed and quickly did a U-turn on the runway, I was like, 'They never do that.' Then, all the cars started coming and it was obvious that it was for our plane. That was the scary part," one passenger told KGTV.
City News Service reports members of the San Diego Fire Department's bomb squad searched the plane but found no explosives. Next, they removed Khoshnu's suitcase and inspected it in an open area on the grounds of the airport. Although they found nothing suspicious, authorities blew up the bag with an explosive charge and then doused it with water. You see, doc, WE have bombs.
Khoshnu was eventually released and allowed to board a later flight to San Diego. KGTV reports the Assistant U.S. Attorney in Phoenix decided her actions did not merit charges. I disagree, blowing up her undies wasn't enough. Any rational person should know that a comment like hers would cause a major disruption and divert security resources. She should be made to pay the costs incurred at the very least.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy ||
02/19/2005
8:39:10 AM ||
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#1
I almost shit myself laughing. I guess SHE showed them who's boss!
Too bad she didn't end up taking a six month sabbatical at Guantanamo.
#2
She's worth a google. Nothing lunatic, but I wonder what ethnicity Esha Khoshnu is, Persian or Indian?
http://www.alphabehavioralcare.com/khoshnu.htm
A long time ago I got summoned to the commander's office. NCIS wanted to talk to me about an FBI report they had, that one of my tender charges had threatened to take over an international flight, reportedly declaring "I'm a Navy officer. If you can't run this ship right, I'll take it over." To fully imagine the scene on the 747, though, you'd need to know that he was Egyptian-born, about 5'6", and thoroughly inebriated. Now, I never blamed him for shoving the Belgian flight steward who had been molesting him, which is what brought out the co-pilot and the rest of the crew, but these international incidents are messy to clean up, and this was long before 2001.
#3
Who gives a damn what her ethnicity is? She's stupid, and they are just a bunch of little Hitlers showing off their great power to harrass civilians for whatever reason they choose. It is stupid, pointless, ineffective, un-American and should be stopped.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005 9:50
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Mrs Davis, at least in olden times, a white, clean-cut male could respond to an abusive flight crew and maybe get away with it, but not a short, swarthy Egyptian. "They" were little Hitlers then, too. You see, by the time I was notified, my charge had already spent a weekend in Atlanta city jail, appeared before a magistrate, and had his trial, where he pleaded nolo to a Federal misdemeanor. The judge happened to be a retired Navy captain who knew the conseauences of such a plea, and he told the prosecutor that he was sick of these types of cases being sent to him by D***a.
Could you or I get away with it? I got the random shoe-search tag, but when I leaned against the table to remove my shoe, he snapped at me to stand up. Then he snapped at me to remove my shoes so he could swab them. So I leaned on the table. We repeated this dance a few times, before I told him I wasn't going through with this nonsense, produced my orders and military ID, and told him to get his supervisor. "He's right behind you," I was told. And so the supervisor was. He looked at me with the hangdog eyes of one who is trapped in crappy system he has no option but to enforce, produced his retired military ID and showed it to me. "Sir," he said very quietly, "I was sixteen years in AWACS. Just do it."
#5
authorities blew up the bag with an explosive charge and then doused it with water
And? Another wannabe has her stash of Victoria Secret undies destroyed. She just has to restock and the stress wil be over. There is a new catalog out, you know...
#7
ROTFLMAO -- I had to click the link just to be sure it wasn't ScrappleFace.
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 13:47
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#2, LL, I clicked on the link you provided.
Two things struck me as funny. 1)On my browser she appears to be looking through bars. 2) Her bio says ....She has extensive training/experience in crisis intervention,.... Given this report how effective do you think she is at intervening and managing a crisis? LOL
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Saturday that popular agitation against Syria's grip on Lebanon after the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri could plunge the country back into civil war.
Opposition leaders are urging Lebanese to join a peaceful "independence uprising" to free their country from Syria's military and political dominance, intensifying a war of words after Hariri's assassination in a huge bomb blast Monday. "God forbid, if the roof collapses, it collapses on all of us," any way we can give that roof a little nudge? Nasrallah told tens of thousands of Shi'ite Muslims gathered for Ashura, the most solemn event in their calendar.
"Today we are responsible for a nation that came out of the civil war ... but we face acute problems, especially this year and in the past few months," the black-turbaned cleric declared. "As Lebanese, we have no choice for remedying our crises and problems except to discuss and meet, even if we are angry and tense," he said. "We must not repeat the mistakes of the past." yeh. there's all kinds of new ones to make.
Hizbollah, backed by Syria and Iran, is now a formidable Lebanese political party as well as an anti-Israel guerrilla force that still controls much of south Lebanon since helping end a 22-year Israeli occupation in May 2000. The death of Hariri, a wealthy Sunni Muslim businessman, sparked an outpouring of public grief mixed with anger against Syria, instinctively held responsible by many Lebanese.
The anti-Syrian sentiments now uniting many of Lebanon's Christians, Druze and Sunnis have not been voiced by Shi'ite leaders counted among the most loyal allies of Damascus. Shi'ites form the country's biggest religious community.
Hizbollah, the only militia to retain its guns openly since the civil war ended, could come under intense pressure to disarm, in line with United Nations.
Nasrallah called for a speedy investigation into Hariri's killing, but rejected international involvement in Lebanon.
The United States, which this week recalled its ambassador from Damascus in response to the bombing, told Syria Friday to cooperate in the investigation or face further sanctions. Washington imposed some economic sanctions in May, including a ban on U.S. exports to Syria other than food and medicine. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Syria could avoid further punishment by changing its policies. "We are not trying to isolate Syria, what we are trying to do is to get Syria to engage in more responsible behavior," she said. or else
The United States has not blamed Syria for Hariri's assassination and Damascus has denied involvement. publicly
Washington has previously told Syria to withdraw its 14,000 troops from its tiny neighbor, crack down on Iraqi insurgents and stop backing Hizbollah and Palestinian militant groups. The Beirut government has rejected U.S. and French calls for an international inquiry into Hariri's killing, but the United Nations has asked an Irish policeman to lead a U.N. team to report on its "circumstances, causes and consequences." Deputy police commissioner Peter Fitzgerald is expected to leave for Beirut in the next few days, a U.N. spokesman said.
The Bush administration wants Security Council members to consider measures that could be taken against Hariri's killers but it was unclear how many council members would agree. In September, France and the United States engineered a council resolution demanding Syrian troops get out of Lebanon. That measure, resolution 1559, squeaked through 9-0, the minimum number of votes required, with six abstentions. Nasrallah attacked the resolution as an Israeli-inspired measure that would not bring Lebanon sovereignty, freedom and independence, as some Lebanese imagined. "There is another viewpoint that says this resolution will ruin the country and make it hostage to international powers and enemy powers, specifically Israel," he said. "The demands made in 1559 are entirely Israeli demands." does syria script this stuff for him or do they just give him talking points?
Posted by: PlanetDan ||
02/19/2005
8:31:17 AM ||
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Nowhere to run to, Nasrallah, if your little sandbox gets tipped over? Somewhere there's a Hellfire with your name on it.
#2
Iran might welcome him. Be nice to see him thinking he's got away, only to find himself swinging from a Teheran lamppost with the rest of the mullahs and ayatollahs, no?
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/19/2005 11:51
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Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Saturday that popular agitation against Syriaâs grip on Lebanon after the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri could plunge the country back into civil war.
There's nothing quite like endearing yourself to the local population...
#4
"does syria script this stuff for him or do they just give him talking points?"
I thought it was Iran that gave him his talking points. His organization is the biggest threat to a peaceful Lebanon. Why does this Fascist fear a free Lebanon? Because he has no place in one.
#9
Hezbollah has some interesting times in front of it.
Right now, they have fatwa upon fatwa that says they won't attack the Lebanese but their only real leverage is the thought that they would turn themselves into suicide bombers against the Maronites, Sunnis, Druse, etc.
President George W Bush set strict limits on the EU's global ambitions last night, saying that there was no need for the Franco-German goal of forming an alternative superpower. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, his first with a British newspaper since his re-election last year, he pointedly rejected a call by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder for Nato to be overhauled. Mr Schröder's words have been widely interpreted as an attempt to give the EU's fledgling foreign and military bodies more muscle. "I disagree," Mr Bush said. "I think Nato is vital. Nato is a very important relationship as far as the United States is concerned. It is one that has worked in the past and will work in the future just so long as there is that strong commitment to Nato."
Echoing Tony Blair's repeated calls for Europe and America to work together, Mr Bush had emollient words for Europe's leaders before his visit next week. He implicitly acknowledged that the time for the unilateralism of his first term was over. His message next week would be that America needed Europe on its side and could not "spread freedom" alone.
Despite a series of unresolved disagreements he was clearly determined to bolster hopes on both continents that they could rebuild some of the relationships that were shattered in the bruising transatlantic rows of his first four years in office. "My trip to Europe is to seize the moment and invigorate [the] relationship," he said. "We compete at times but we do not compete when it comes to values."
Mr Bush will become the first American president to visit the European Commission and, given his supporters' deep misgivings about the EU's ambitions, he had remarkably warm words for European integration. "I have always been fascinated to see how the British culture and the French culture and the sovereignty of nations can be integrated into a larger whole in a modern era," he said. "And progress is being made and I am hopeful it works because one should not fear a strong partner." Asked about the draft European constitution, he cited the difficulties that the United States had faced in formulating its federal system of government. There's been speculation that Bush will favour Blair by talking favourably about the proposed Constitution.
But there was no hiding his view that the EU should not try to counter-balance the power of America. He delivered a pointed rebuff to Mr Schröder who suggested last week that Nato was no longer an adequate body for consulting and co-ordinating the vision of its members. "I look forward to talking to him about exactly what he meant by that," Mr Bush said. "Some have said we must have a unified Europe to balance America. Why, when in fact we share values and goals? As opposed to counter-balancing each other, why don't we view this as a moment when we can move in a concerted fashion to achieve those goals?" The president said it was up to him to "do a better job of explaining the common goals and the fact that by working together we are more likely to achieve them for our own security". This is assuming that those goals remain common. They're divergent in some areas, to say the least.
Mr Bush was speaking to The Daily Telegraph and four other European news organisations before his departure tomorrow. He will spend two days in Brussels, meeting Nato and EU officials, and a day in the German city of Mainz to meet Mr Schröder. Finally, he will meet President Vladimir Putin of Russia in the Slovak capital, Bratislava.
Mr Bush sought to play down disagreements over how to confront Iran on its nuclear programme. Asked why America was not formally joining the diplomatic initiative of Britain, Germany and France towards Teheran, he said: "We have made it clear that we agree with the objective to get rid of the weapons." But he added an unmistakable note of threat to the ruling clerics. "The Iranians ⊠just need to do what the free world has asked them to do," he said. "And it is pretty clear: give up your weapons programme."
He added that he would continue to say what he thought in his second term. "I don't see how you can deal with people if you are not straightforward."
Posted by: Bulldog ||
02/19/2005
7:47:12 AM ||
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President George W Bush set strict limits on the EUâs global ambitions last night, saying that there was no need for the Franco-German goal of forming an alternative superpower.
Dudes, Viagra doesn't help when you don't have a dick...
#2
Mr Bush had emollient words for Europeâs leaders before his visit next week
I don't think I've EVER heard that word used that way LOL.
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/19/2005 12:55
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"I have always been fascinated to see how the British culture and the French culture and the sovereignty of nations can be integrated into a larger whole in a modern era," he said.
Yeah, it'll be a cold day in Hell.
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 12:56
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Article: He implicitly acknowledged that the time for the unilateralism of his first term was over.
That's code for GWB didn't actually say it, but we'd like to think he did.
Official: Britons are most cultured Europeans Heh.
The Italians have Michelangelo, the French Moliere and the Germans Beethoven. But, according to an Italian survey, the British - the beer-swilling, tabloid-reading, supposedly sports-crazy British - are more cultured than any of them. They go to more concerts, films, plays, galleries and libraries than almost anyone in Europe. They even manage to visit more ruins and monuments than the Italians. But the one area where they lag behind the other major nations of Europe is sport. More French, Italians and Spanish than British go to a course or stadium. But the British are sportier than the Germans and, proportionately, attendances are above the average for the former European Union of 15 states.
Did they have a catagory for football riots? I'm sure the Brits placed high in that one.
These and other findings are contained in a survey of European cultural consumption commissioned in Italy and due to be published next week. Interviewees in the countries that made up the EU until its enlargement last year were asked if they had been to any one of a series of cultural events in the previous 12 months. The British scored higher than the French, Germans and Italians in every category except sport. More than 60% of Britons said they were film-goers, compared with only 52% in the land of Renoir, Godard and Truffaut, and 49% of Britons claimed to have been to a library, compared with 27% in the homeland of Goethe. And almost a third of Britons claimed to have been to a gallery or museum, compared with barely 20% of Italians.
Italy's relatively low "cultural consumption" is a source of growing concern in a country that is renowned for its artistic riches. Guido Venturini, director general of the Touring Club Italiano, which carried out the survey, told the magazine Il Venerdi: "We are sitting in the most beautiful country in the world, but the Italians appear to be wholly unaware of it." Part of the problem is that Italy's stagnant economy has prompted the government to cut the budget of its culture ministry as well as to slash allocations to local authorities, which are responsible for many of festivals, libraries, museums and galleries. But it is also true that contemporary Italy's artistic output is modest. Trust the Guardian to claim that lack of government spending is at the root of the problem. They don't mention that the UK's heritage organisations are almost entirely funded by public donation and subscription...
Antonio Paolucci, Florence's top arts official, said: "The next Michelangelo, if there ever is one, will certainly not be born in Italy, but rather China, or the US, or Brazil." Or perhaps even Basingstoke.
Posted by: Bulldog ||
02/19/2005
7:34:11 AM ||
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Antonio Paolucci, Florenceâs top arts official, said: "The next Michelangelo, if there ever is one, will certainly not be born in Italy, but rather China, or the US, or Brazil." Or perhaps even Basingstoke.
Artist : BigEric (age 4), son of BigEd
Title : Velociraptor
Media : Lego
#5
Watch out. The EU may have to start a program forcing Brits to become less cultured or at least to spend more of their money on continental cultural items such as German comedy and Italian drama, French golf or Spanish philosophers.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005 15:14
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I think it's kinda derivative BE. Let the kid develope his own art.
President Bush says he has no bitterness toward French President Jacques Chirac after their tussle over Iraq, but he is taking issue with a Chirac notion that a united Europe would serve as a counterbalance to the United States. In run-up to his trip to Europe, Bush underscored in media interviews with European journalists his second-term drive to foster improved trans-Atlantic relations and work on common problems like Iraqi reconstruction, Iran, Syria and the Middle East peace process..."Bitter, heck no! I whupped his butt six ways from Sunday. He's the one with a mouthful of chewed chinaberries and no place to spit."
#2
Revenge is a dish best served cold. God, he must have a ton of paper from Iraq implicating the old rooster. Soon, soon enough o'Chirac you won't be head of state and on the seat with old Pinochet. Mmmaaahhhhwwwwaaahhhh....
More than 1 million Afghan refugees are likely to return to Afghanistan in two years with prospects of improved security, but the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, says planning should begin soon for those who wish to remain in Pakistan and Iran.
Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday at a high-level meeting of officials from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, Lubbers expressed appreciation to donors for their assistance in the return of more than 3.5 million refugees to Afghanistan since a voluntary repatriation programme began in 2002 following the fall of the Taliban regime.
He said at the meeting co-chaired by UNHCR and the European Commission that it is "absolutely crucial" that donor commitment to the Afghan returns remains high, saying that successful integration is a longer task. "Millions of Afghans have come back to help rebuild their country and we must continue to help them help themselves," he said...
"In the area of security, we have seen improvements in the past few months. It is a step by step process, but slowly we are getting there," he said.
Some donor countries said the situation in Afghanistan has improved enough that it has become possible to discuss a future transition from humanitarian assistance to development activities... Meanwhile, despite an intensive search, armchair academics have yet to locate a single example of the Afghani Quagmire, an unpleasant creature which they expected to find in great numbers, but which has not been seen since the Taliban were forced from power.
Report documenting summary executions, torture, mass arrests and other human rights crimes carried out by former Iraqi government and Baath Party officials in southern Iraq in early 1999
Even I have a gun, like everyone else now. But I have locked it away, and I don't tell my family that I have it. If they find out that I have this gun, they will take it and use it to kill the Ba`th Party members that used to live here, because we know they were responsible for Mustafa's death. ...Even I could not control myself. I have lived my life and I have buried my son... I want justice.
The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed that the Russian government is planning to deport Yuri Bagrov, a journalist who has covered the North Caucasus for The Associated Press and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in retaliation for his independent reporting on the war in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya.
An official from the Interior Ministry's Passport and Visa Service in the North Ossetian capital of Vladikavkaz came to Bagrov's office today and summoned him to the passport office tomorrow morning to be informed of his pending deportation, Bagrov said in a telephone interview with CPJ today.
The official told Bagrov that the Federal Security Services (FSB) has issued a document declaring that he is "residing illegally in the Russian Federation," and that the Leninsky Court in Vladikavkaz will issue an order regarding his deportation. Bagrov does not know to where he will be deported.
In December, the Leninsky Court convicted Bagrov on criminal charges of knowingly using falsified documents to obtain Russian citizenship. The journalist appealed the verdict in January before the Supreme Court of North Ossetia but lost the appeal.
Bagrov has received death threats, is being prevented from working as a journalist by local authorities, and is unable to travel outside Vladikavkaz because government officials have invalidated and confiscated his identity documents.
"We are alarmed by the Russian government's efforts to deport Yuri Bagrov and call on President Vladimir Putin to ensure that local authorities protect him, provide him with identity papers, allow him to continue working as a journalist, and ensure that the charges against him are not politically motivated," CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said.
On August 25, 2004, agents from the local FSB branch raided Bagrov's apartment, his office, and his mother's apartment.
FSB agents presented a court order authorizing them to search for weapons, ammunition, drugs, and forgery-related items. They confiscated Bagrov's passport and other personal documents, personal and work computers, computer disks, film, tape recorder and tapes, and his wife's diaries, according to local and international press reports.
Several unidentified men followed him for several days after the raid, Bagrov said. Also during that time, unidentified assailants stole his wife's passport.
Bagrov has reported for the AP since 1999, writing numerous stories that included closely held casualty figures for Russian military and police forces in Chechnya, information that sometimes differed from the official figures.
Bagrov is also known for investigative reporting, including a February 10, 2004, story on the radicalization of Chechen rebels and a May 24, 2004, story on a wave of mysterious abductions in the southern republic of Ingushetia.
The Iraqi Highway Patrol graduated 49 recruits from the interim Highway Patrol Academy in Al Mehaweel Feb. 6.
The officers completed a three-week training course combining components of police ethics and policing in a democratic society with the operational skills needed by the IHP in preparation for their mission to secure the nation's highways. A strong emphasis was given to firearms training and vehicle mounted patrolling.
Tasked with providing law enforcement and security along Iraq's highways and major roadways, the IHP will also respond to incidents involving anti-Iraqi forces, foreign terrorists, car bombs and attacks on convoys. Currently, there are approximately 600 highway patrol officers on the force, which is slated to reach 6,300 officers in July 2006.
The next IHP course, scheduled for mid-February, will include a train-the-trainers block of instruction in which Iraqis will be trained as instructors. These instructors will then conduct future training courses for the IHP.
"You 49 graduates represent one more step toward our goal of securing Iraq's roads for the people of Iraq," said Major General Ali, IHP commissioner. Broderick Crawford lives.
#3
# 2 .com- I LOVE the marking's and what a nice ride...where did you find such a posting?
Andrea Jackson
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 20:56
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I think that one came from BakerMedia... Uneven collection, heh.
The good stuff, of course, is branded and the photoshopping is so good you hate to change the name, even if it makes no sense. Try Worth 1000 and SomethingAwful - they have themed "competitions". There's always fark, of course - but the little contests have lost much of their original lustre - and quality.
#5
Here's a typical somethingawful entry for a contest for the latest experimental aircraft... I've got the feeling this will be a one-off test program...
The U.S. Army has only one armored cavalry regiment left, and it is scheduled to be converted to one of the new UA (units of action) brigades next year. That event has triggered a debate in the army over whether the traditional concept of, "fighting for information" is still valid. This approach involves using small units of tanks and other armored vehicles to fight your way into enemy territory, grab prisoners, documents or whatever, and bring it back. Along with your observations, photographs or whatever, you get a good sense of what the enemy is up to. The technique was developed by the Germans during World War II, and adopted by the other armies by the end of the war. The alternative, which is more frequently used, is called "sneak and peek". This means UAVs, aircraft and people on the ground who stay out of the way and just watch... A grievous error, because that is not the only tactical purpose of "light cavalry". Going back to the time of Napoleon, military units were ordered in a way similar to the pieces on a chessboard. Napoleon had some generals who were masters of this "military unit chess", and were able to optimize the use of each "piece" to amazing effect in both the capture of an enemy army at Ulm, and the subsequent battle of Austerlitz, perhaps the greatest maneuver battle ever fought, Napoleon's single army defeating four enemy armies. For you chess players out there, the effect might be to similar to trading in your rooks and knights for four more bishops. On the surface it looks powerful, but if your enemy discovers a flaw in your maneuver, you are defenseless. N.B.: the Soviets ruthlessly adhered to this concept, with such things as designing helicopters to perform the functions of heavy cavalry, and even integrating NBC war to fit this Napoleonic scheme.
#1
Cavalry units were the only integrated combat formation at the Brigade level with their own armor, infantry, artillery, and aviation assets. The new Brigade formations are basically the same thing. This is something that has been discussed for generations in the Army. It appears its what is now coming on line. The Brigades will have the same assets as the old Cav formations, they'll just pick up the 'unique' mission, screening, as another operational function.
#3
#1 mentioned another traditional light cavalry tactic, the screen. However, in combination with other "chess piece" units, they run circles around the more homogenous enemy. For example, light cavalry is superb at hit and run tactics against infantry, supply lines, and heavy (H-K) and headquarters units; finding and opening enemy line weak points; rapid encirclements; and heavy obscuration reconnaisance. As to this last, the *assumption* has to be that the enemy will plan for deception and obscuration, too, which can neutralize much air reconnaisance, and you can't tell for sure unless they lay down fire at you if they are really there or not. Committing a slower unit to finding out could result in their being wiped out. Once again, I would suggest reading a brief on the Ulm-Austerlitz campaign, to see a masterful use of maneuver against a far superior enemy.
#4
It's been more than 20 years since I served in a mechanized theater of operations, but - what are they talking about here? They are talking about converting the one remaining Armored Cav Regiment. What does that have to do with "The end of Armored Cav"? Are there not still Armored Cav squadrons at Division level?
The only isue here is about whether the Cav is grouped together at Division, Regiment, Squadron, or Troop level. Back in the cold war, when USAREUR had to defend from Denmark down to Austria, it pehaps made sense to have two ACR's - the 7th and the 11th - manning the border. And the 3rd ACR exploring the expanses of Ft. Hood. But - when you have smaller theaters of operation, the need for a larger formation under its own headquarters may no longer exist. Maybe better to send out smaller formations that report directly to the unit commander at their rear.
#5
The ACRs are extremely well armed and would have been the first units to fight Soviet tank divisions in Europe. An ACR also led the Army's 2003 drive to Baghdad. Heavy is good (and saves American lives) if you can logistically support them. An ACR has 1/2 the tanks of an armoured division and geared for high tempo combined ops. Though the new UAs seem to take to heart combined ops, an armoured UA seems to have about 1/2 the firepower of an ACR, which is OK if it has 1/2 the manpower. What concerns me is the medium weight Stryker UAs. The Strykers have a striking lack of firepower, and I think will suffer frightful losses if encountering mechanized or attacking dug in forces.
Posted by: ed ||
02/19/2005 21:12
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#6
Cavalry squadrons no longer exist as they once did. Since the division is being retired and the new modular brigade combat teams are coming on line, the divisional cavalry has been divied out between all the brigades and reconfigured to something between a real big troop or a very small squadron called a RSTA squadron (reconnaissance,surveillance,target acquisition). These units are dominated by sensors and are very light on scouts or serious fighting power. For a BCT to screen or guard, they have to use companies from a line battalion therefore depleting thier combat power for maneuver. The RSTAs are very good at "seeing" all kind of things, but there isn't a sensor that can't be decieved, and they just don't have that fighting combat ability.
Very shorly 3rd ACR will be the only true cavalry left and it is up in the air what will happen when they get back from their current rotation to Iraq.
I agree with ed, somebody better hope we don't have to fight somebody with strong mech forces or competent generals...but hope never was a plan.
Take heart however, there was a doctrinal conference recently at FT Benning to address the recon issue and it seems folks across the board are stepping back and taking another look at this monster.
#7
The real controversy is which service is gonna control the new armed UAVS - Army vs Air Force vs Navy. The USA is heading into space - soon enough even our tacair and LR control planes will control their own armed UAVS ags both enemy air and surface targets. What we call wing-mounted "smart" or "brilliant/genius" missles today will have their own submissles.
The union that represents civilian U.S. Army workers in South Korea is planning this week to ask for thousands of dollars in back pay for the more than 700 hours its members have spent at home complying with U.S. Forces Korea's curfew policy, according to the union's president.
The union says its current contract with USFK and the 8th Army requires the government to pay the normal wage for hours spent on "stand-by duty" in response to military restrictions that require civilian workers to remain home in a state of readiness.
Since September, USFK leaders have ordered civilian workers to comply with the troops' nightly curfew to ensure safety and readiness among all personnel — servicemembers, civilian workers and private contractors — who support the military mission here on the peninsula.
The expected request from Local 1363 of the National Federation of Federal Employees will ask for an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 for each civilian worker and will serve as a first step toward filing a formal grievance on the issue, the local's president, Jeffrey Meadows, said Friday from his Army Corps of Engineers office at Humphreys... Six months of curfew.
Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on North Korea to return to nuclear-arms negotiations, saying the U.S. and its allies did not want to resort to ``other measures to force compliance. Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and their Japanese counterparts, meeting for security consultations today in Washington, issued a joint statement saying the six-nation series of talks was North Korea's only route to normal relations with the rest of the world.
``They ought to return to those talks so that people don't have to contemplate other measures, Rice told reporters during a question session at the end of the talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and Defense Minister Yoshinori Ohno.
Dang, she's been taking speaking lessons from Rummie.
Tensions in the standoff increased earlier this month when North Korea publicly confirmed that it had built a complete nuclear bomb and wouldn't return to talks, accusing the U.S. of hostile policies. Former Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet told U.S. lawmakers a year ago that the intelligence agency concluded that North Korea already had nuclear bombs. The Bush administration has said that, although it has no plans to use military force against North Korea, it won't rule out future options.
Machimura joined Rice today in warning the North Koreans. ``Should we let the time slip by, I think it will only worsen the situation, he told the news briefing, according to a State Department translation. ``I'm sure that the international community will then become tougher with North Korea, Machimura said. ``And I believe that before it happens, the early return of the North Koreans to the negotiating table would be of interest for the North Koreans themselves, and I think they should be aware of that. See, we can be as tough as the female.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005
3:24:22 PM ||
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#1
hi again all :) .Always lurking but rarely comment , through time restriction but this i had to comment on, how fantastic the 'Other Measures' threat is, how mysterious, kinda like we'll 'use the force' but more threatning and fun .They can keep thier 'Sea of Fires' and 'Great Satan' shit while we'll go with this. Wonder what Kimmie and the Mullahs too will say about this, (seething in 4,3,2,1...) . Other Measures eh, Atomic Measures? Hydrogen based Atomic Measures? On a side note how wonderfull America now has Condi in place of colleen, sorry colin powell, I think a betting system is needed, perhaps everyone gets 1 day to choose as thier date for anhilation of Iran, im serious i'll go with mmmmm, November 24th 2005 is my guess, whys that u shout, cos it my birhtday, don't know what i'll win but how about it Fred? we all pay in say a 10 dollers or whatever through paypal or something/ 50% goes to rantburg the rest to the winner who guesses the correct day? Sounds good to me and i bet others will enjoy it, could be a huge hit, i can see it now " Pick A Mullah Day". Have fun all , cya :)
Posted by: Shep UK ||
02/19/2005 16:23
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Iran has begun preparing for a possible U.S. attack, announcing efforts to bolster and mobilize recruits in citizens' militias and making plans to engage in the type of "asymmetrical" warfare used against American troops in neighboring Iraq...
"Iran would respond within 15 minutes to any attack by the United States or any other country," an Iranian official close to the hard-line camp, which runs the country's security and military apparatus, said on the condition of anonymity.
In recent days, Iranian newspapers have announced efforts to increase the number of the country's 7-million-strong "Basiji" militia forces, which were deployed in human wave attacks against Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. Iranian military authorities have paraded long-range North Korean-designed Shahab missiles before television cameras. Iranian generals have conducted massive war games near the Iraqi border.
One Western military expert based in Tehran said Iran was sharpening its abilities to wage a guerrilla war. "Over the last year they've developed their tactics of asymmetrical war, which would aim not at resisting a penetration of foreign forces, but to then use them on the ground to all kinds of harmful effect," he said on the condition of anonymity.
It remains unclear how much of the recent military activity amounts to an actual mobilization and how much is a propaganda ploy. Iranian officials and analysts have said they want to highlight the potential costs of an attack on Iran to raise the stakes for U.S. officials considering such a move and to frighten a war-weary American public...
Iran, in addition to developing plans for guerrilla warfare against an invading army, also is attempting to give the impression that it is bolstering its conventional forces. In December, Iran announced its largest war games "ever," deploying 120,000 troops as well as tanks, helicopters and armored vehicles along its western border. More recently, Iran's press reported that the Iranian air force had received orders to engage any plane that violates Iranian airspace. These reports followed the disclosure that unmanned American drone planes have been monitoring Iranian nuclear sites. "It is obvious that with Iran surrounded by the United States forces and America pressing the nuclear issue, Iran wants to make a show of force," said a Western diplomat from Tehran, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Iran's army includes 350,000 active-duty soldiers and 220,000 conscripts. Its eliteby non-Western standards Revolutionary Guards number 120,000, many of them draftees. Its navy and air force total 70,000 men. The armed forces have about 2,000 tanks, 300 combat aircraft, three submarines, hundreds of helicopters and at least a dozen Russian-made Scud missile launchers of the type Saddam Hussein used against Israel during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Iran also has an undetermined number of Shahab missiles based on North Korean designs that have ranges of up to 1,500 miles.
But both outside military experts and Iranians concede that the country's antiquated conventional hardware, worn down by years of U.S. and European sanctions, would be little match for the high-tech weaponry of the United States. "Most of Iran's military equipment is aging or second-rate and much of it is worn," military expert Anthony Cordesman wrote in a December 2004 assessment of Iran's military. He said Iran lost between 50 percent and 60 percent of its military equipment in the Iran-Iraq war, "and it has never had large-scale access to the modern weapons and military technology necessary to replace them."
Iran's highly classified Quds forces, which have a global network of operatives and answer directly to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could create a myriad of woes outside Iran's borders. In neighboring Iraq, where the United States says Tehran already has been interfering, many brush off the current low-level infiltration as minor compared with the damage Tehran is capable of unleashing. "If Iran wanted, it could make Iraq a hell for the United States," Hamid al-Bayati, Iraq's deputy foreign minister, said in a recent interview.
#1
de Borchgrave, who has a "thing" for the Iranian regime - call it fear - as he did pre-Iraq and even pre-Afghanistan (Those winters, wow, nobody can take those!), sends someone to get a story tailored to his personal agenda and beliefs. Yawn. *golf clap*
I once respected this guy, thought he was pithy, insightful, learned, even wise. That was before I had the slightest inkling I was being manipulated. Now, well, now I think he's just a rather urbane cocktail circuit whore - smoother than the average MSM asshole, but no better or more ethical. Sad.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005 16:18
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#5
It is so cruel that the Kurds in Iran have to go without natural gas when the mullahs get cold.
http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=6263
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 16:24
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#6
How do you get 120,000 elite Revolutionary Guard troops from draftees? Geeze louise! Send over a few drones and satellite and they go bonkers. [Thought I imagine special forces clando ops are sticking in their craws]
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/19/2005 16:32
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#7
As in Iraq, "elite" there obviously means something entirely different than "elite" here.
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 16:39
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#8
I liked the part about the elite Revolutionary Guards... who are mostly comprised of draftees! LOL! Why is it all of these "elite" units aren't as good as the most broke-dick, undermanned, spent all Saturday night at drill drinking hooch, National Guard postal detachment? C'mon Arnaud. Most of us caught on to that one after the second time we crushed the Iraqi Republican Guard.
My guess is that no Basiji unit would even get close to launching a human wave attack. Our UAVs would spot them in their assembly areas and before they could say Allahu Akbar, they'd be clobbered with ICM.
As far as an insurgency, why would we even occupy the Persian heartland where we would be most exposed? Go in there in and take away the nukes, but all we really need to control are the Kurdish and Arab areas (especially the later, where all the oil is). After that, we wouldn't need to worry about a nuclear Iran. Do you think that Putin, AQ Khan, Kimmy and the rest are going to want to sell their technology for dirt, goats, and mountains?
#9
I think if an invasion occurs, this time, we'll make sure to wipe out the Iranian military. Every last one of them. But air attacks are much more likely. The regime will stay in place, but its military capabilities will be hobbled. Kind of like Saddam Hussein's before Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Article: "If Iran wanted, it could make Iraq a hell for the United States," Hamid al-Bayati, Iraqâs deputy foreign minister, said in a recent interview.
Somehow, I doubt this - as far as I'm concerned, the Iranians have shot their wad. But now we know whose side this guy is on.
#11
TGA . . . very, very good . . .I like that one . .
Posted by: Jame Retief ||
02/19/2005 17:58
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#12
Eh, maybe they could make Iraq much more uncomfortable for us.. maybe we'd accept their DoW. I think they'd rather use Syria as a proxy to test what our response is.
#14
Human wave attack - I can't believe he even brought that up. Last I heard of that was some years back playing ASL....a replay of the fight for the tractor factory in Stalingrad. All it's good for is tying down a couple of HMGs...and that's only temporary. Stick to what you know Borchgrave - stay with the Sapphire.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/19/2005 22:23
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#15
Basij, meet Gatling.
Posted by: ed ||
02/19/2005 22:45
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#16
we oughta be broadcasting to the Basij the admin "human wave" comments along with the previous "success/caualty" rates for the waves against lesser trained and armed forces, along with video - I'm thinking a music video
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/19/2005 22:50
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#17
The Revolutionary Guards are paramilitary police, not a military force. Otherwise, the Mullahs are looking down the road and see they are going to lose Kurdistan and Khuzestan and they will go back to being the world's biggest exporter of pistachios.
#18
Didn't Iraq also prepare for a possible American invasion in early 2003? That worked really well for them, and Iran fought Saddam's army to a standstill.... Still, I suppose it gives them something to do while they wait, and it makes it easier for us to find their weapons when the time comes.
#19
Keep busy is all they can do - doesn't make a difference. The average recruit knows that we cut through Saddam's Iraq $h!t through a goose. That leaves only the fanatic, and that's just another term for fodder. The only real variable is how we decide to proceed.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/19/2005 23:41
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For decades the national conversation in most western countries has been directed by a few talking heads. Newspapers play important roles but all the evidence suggests that broadcasters have possessed the greatest potential to frame public debate. British politicians have known that communicating their message depends upon getting the nod from a small number of powerful figures in the broadcast media. The editor of BBC1's six o'clock news bulletin can make a minister's day by putting his department's latest announcement at the front of the bulletin. Hearing Huw Edwards say something positive about that afternoon's policy launch will even put a smile on Alastair Campbell's face. But all of this looks set to change because of the blogosphere. Blogging is a geeky expression for how people use online logs, or diaries, to share their opinions. If a weblog is interesting and informed enough it can reach millions of people at zero cost. Karl Rove, the man George Bush described as the architect of his re-election, recently said that the dominance of America's mainstream media is coming to an end. And Rove credits the Davids of the blogosphere for the humbling of the old media Goliaths. After decades of centralisation, Rove believes that the national conversation is being democratised.
Mr Knowledgeable (and it is usually a Mr) of Smallville, Wyoming can, via his PC, transmit thoughts across the world. Mainstream TV can no longer say what it wants without fear of correction. Online diaries, written by teachers, soldiers and numerous other people with real knowledge of subjects, are fact-checking ill-informed broadcasters. The bloggers have already toppled two of American TV's biggest names. In the last few days Eason Jordan, the chief news director of CNN, resigned after a previously unknown blogger - Rony Abovitz - drew attention to remarks made by Jordan at the Davos World Economic Forum. Abovitz reported that Jordan had accused US soldiers in Iraq of deliberately targeting journalists. Mainstream reporters chose to ignore these remarks. But Abovitz's message was picked up by hundreds of other websites, and Jordan's fate was sealed. Easongate, as it has inevitably become known, is an echo of last autumn's Rathergate scandal. Dan Rather, the anchor of CBS's evening news, was as big as TV stars come. Rather had fronted an attack on George Bush's Vietnam-era military service record - based on forged documents. The forgery was exposed when bloggers focused on a superscripted "th" after a date in one of the documents. Experts confirmed that typewriters of the period could not have produced such lettering. Rather apologised and CBS is now desperately searching for someone else in whom viewers might put their trust.
This is just one of the ways in which the internet has strengthened the American right. Last year's Bush-Cheney campaign used information technology to build the largest ever volunteer political army. Visitors to GeorgeWBush.com were invited to join email lists that offered regular information on everything from gun ownership to school prayer. The Bush campaign collected 7.5 million email addresses and amassed 1.4 million volunteers.
You would also expect this electronic revolution to be good for the Democrats, but the American left's relationship with the internet has been disastrous. The internet has sunk a knife into Bill Clinton's moderate Democratic party. Mainstream business people were Clinton's principal funders, simultaneously approving and driving his centrism. But the Democrats' new paymasters are the 600,000 computer users who, in 2004, supported Howard Dean's bid for his party's presidential nomination. Dean energised an unrepresentative group of voters with a stridently anti-war message. Electronic money powered Dean's campaign, and all of the other contenders for the Democratic crown soon pandered to his base.
The Democrats' problem has only worsened since. The dailykos.com site of a Democratic consultant gets 500,000 hits a day. That site's memorial to four American contractors murdered in Iraq was "screw them". Hatefulness also pours out of the popular websites of Michael Moore and MoveOn.org. The conservative blogosphere has dubbed the Democrats' IT base its MooreOn tendency.
Although it was a Googler who discovered that Tony Blair's second Iraq dossier had lifted extensive material from a PhD student's research, Britain hasn't yet had much experience of electronic campaigning. But the blogosphere will become a force in Britain, and it could ignite many new forces of conservatism. The internet's automatic level playing field gives conservatives opportunities that mainstream media have often denied them.
An online community of bloggers performs the same function as yesteryear's town meetings. Through the tradition of town hall meetings, officials were held to account by local people. Blogger communities are going to be much more powerful. They will draw together not only local people but patients who have waited and waited for NHS care. They will organise parents of disabled children who oppose Labour's closure of special-needs schools and evangelical Christians who see their beliefs caricatured by ignorant commentators.
All this should put the fear of God into the metropolitan elites. For years there have been widening gaps between the governing class and the governed and between the publicly funded broadcasters and the broadcasted to. Until now voters, viewers and service users have not had easy mechanisms by which to expose officialdom's errors and inefficiencies. But, because of the internet, the masses beyond the metropolitan fringe will soon be on the move. They will expose the lazy journalists who reduce every important public policy issue to how it affects opinion-poll ratings. Tired of being spoon-fed their politics, British voters will soon be calling virtual town hall meetings, and they will take a serious look at the messenger as well as the message. It's going to be very rough.
Karl Rove is right. The internet could do more to change the level of political engagement than all the breast-beating of introspective politicians and commentators. A 21st century political revolution is now only a few mouse clicks away.
· Iain Duncan Smith MP is chairman of the Centre for Social Justice; he was leader of the Conservative party from 2001 to 2003
When you learn that Iain Duncan Smith has contemptuous feelings towards Markos Zuniga, you know that blogs have hit the mainstream.
Not much specific:
Australia's foreign minister said Saturday that terrorists could be planning to attack foreign aid workers in Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Aceh province. "New information (has been) received by the government concerning possible terrorist planning for attacks against foreigners involved in relief efforts in Aceh or other areas of northern Sumatra," Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Saturday revised its travel advice for Indonesia, warning that Australians could endanger themselves by traveling to northern Sumatra island, where Aceh is located.
Posted by: Seafarious ||
02/19/2005
1:51:14 AM ||
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(Jenna's last picture was Looney-Tunes: Back in Action.)
Some Jenna Elfman fans were startled by what the star had to say in a recent issue of Scientology's magazine Celebrity. The former star of "Dharma and Greg" is a devotee of the controversial religion, whose members also include Tom Cruise and John Travolta. "I intend to make Scientology as accessible to as many people as I can. And that is my goal," Elfman said. To do this, she says, it is my "duty to clear the planet." Hmmm, well she could always dust off some similar "planet-clearing" plans that were made in Germany 60 years ago. Oddly enough, the originators were a group that, like Scientology, is banned by the present-day German government.
By "clearing" she means to rid the world of "body thetans" aliens who Scientologists believe inhabit the earth from a nuclear explosion 75 million years ago. She continued that "the more successful I became, the more suppression I bumped into ⊠especially in the entertainment industry, which really is home to rabid suppression."
"Her comments seem to reflect an increasingly almost paranoid view of the world around her in which she appears to have cleared house of all the suppressive people," Rick Ross, who runs Cultnews.com, tells The Scoop. "Which to Scientologists would include all the people who are critical of Scientology."
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy ||
02/19/2005
1:47:42 AM ||
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#1
Hollyweirdists aren't the only ones advocating a final solution to the Thetan problem (anyone surprised at this alliance?):
#4
Someday soon, hideous but benign aliens will land on the Washington Mall and demand to see, not President Bush, but a really good tort lawyer.
Within days they will file thousands of defamation suits seeking compensation for anguish and suffering caused by false allegations of kidnapping, torture, cattle-rustling and air-traffic control violations.
#5
AzCat - ROFL!!! Thx! Ah, something insanely substantive, rather than insanely pointless such as "clearing the planet" (fung shue for off-center alien vibes?), to look forward to! W00t!!!
#6
â...the more successful I became, the more suppression I bumped into ⦠especially in the entertainment industry, which really is home to rabid suppression.â
#20
If you knew how many "body thetans" have to be cleared, you might get a little discouraged. Don't go here unless you are feeling strong: ;)
http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/htruebt.htm
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 13:06
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#21
I, for one, welcome our new body thetan overlords....
#22
I hope she would rather deport the illegal aliens backto either Mars, Titan, or Europa (Jupiter Moon, not Continent). Elswise we'd have to send them out of the solar system...
He he he he he - The place to send them can be identified in my post #19... He he he...
Keeping the Faith (2000)
B Stiller, J Elfman, E Norton
Jewish girl in real-life converted to Scientology portrays Catholic girl who converts to Judiasm. She's in love with a Rabbi.
#23
Laugh now but illegal alliens are already working at McRonalds where there 8 plams give them a competitive edge against the lexans. I say strap your blue mattress of love back on the side of your saucer and GO!
BEIRUT - Opposition figures urged Lebanese to join what they called an independence uprising against Syria's grip on Lebanon on Friday, escalating a war of words after former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri's assassination.
Lebanese Tourism Minister Farid al-Khazen resigned in another sign of the country's political turbulence, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad named his brother-in-law, Major-General Asef Shawkat, as head of military intelligence to replace retiring Major-General Hassan Khalil.
Tighting up the loyal inner circle.
Khazen, a Maronite Christian, became the first minister to quit because of the assassination and said he had done so because the Syrian-backed government was unable to "remedy the dangerous situation in the country". "There is no substitute for national dialogue on the basis of the Taif agreement," he said, referring to the deal that ended a 1975-1990 civil war and committed Syria to moving the troops it keeps in Lebanon to the eastern Bekaa Valley.
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and figures from the disparate opposition movement blamed the government and its Syrian backers for Hariri's death and called for its resignation. They urged Lebanese to back a peaceful "independence uprising" -- the first time they had used the term. It was not immediately clear what form of protest the uprising would take.
Parliament must also suspend all debate unrelated to the assassination, they told a news conference, until the truth about who killed Hariri emerged. "All the Lebanese are with Hariri, a free Lebanon and Syrian withdrawal," Jumblatt told reporters earlier. Hariri moved towards a similar position in the months before his death.
Lebanese of all religious beliefs have flocked to Hariri's grave to bring flowers and light candles since his funeral on Wednesday turned into a mass anti-Syrian street protest. Several hundred people marched towards the grave on Friday evening shouting independence slogans.
This is getting serious. The Djinn's outta the bottle.
Financial markets were busy but mostly stable on their first trading day since Hariri's death, despite tension and US President George W. Bush's latest demand for Syria to pull out its 14,000 troops. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States wanted to force Syria to change its policies, which would help remove the threat of further sanctions. "We are not trying to isolate Syria, what we are trying to do is to get Syria to engage in more responsible behaviour," Rice told reporters in Washington.
The United Nations said it had chosen an Irish deputy police commissioner, Peter Fitzgerald, to lead a UN team that is to report on the "circumstances, causes and consequences" of Hariri's assassination.
Oh, that'll work well.
Officials said President Emile Lahoud had finally gone to pay condolences to Hariri's relatives, who had refused to let him attend Wednesday's funeral. He told them he would do all he could to find the killers, a statement from his office said.
He's hiring O.J. to find them, what else can he do?
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/19/2005
12:55:00 AM ||
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#1
"What a shithole. Where's the pub?"
Posted by: Peter Fitzgerald ||
02/19/2005 12:21
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#2
Jumblatt's turned against his patrons?
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/19/2005 12:24
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Contracts Law 101...the large print giveth; the small print taketh away.
All of Britain's 153 embassies across the globe will be shut if the European constitution is adopted, Spain's Prime minister warned. They would be replaced by European missions answerable to Brussels, British newspapers reported. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told a Spanish radio station: "We will undoubtedly see European embassies in the world, not ones from each country, with European diplomats and a European foreign service." Britain and France would also lose their voices in NATO and their seats on the UN Security Council, said Zapatero. He added: "We will see Europe with a single voice in security matters. We will have a single European voice within NATO. We want more European unity."
Zapatero's views appeared to contradict claims made by British premier Tony Blair that Britain would keep its power to act alone. And it fuelled fears that Britain would have to follow EU policy even if the British government disagrees with Germany and France as it did over Iraq. Spaniards are expected to back the new EU constitution in a referendum on Sunday as their country has received billions of euros in subsidies from Brussels. The new European Constitution states: "Member States shall actively and unreservedly support the Union's common foreign and security policy." But the British Foreign Office played down Zapatero's claims. A spokesman said: "Britain will keep its embassies, its seat in NATO and its foreign policy. That cannot change without our agreement."
How many embassies will France close?
Posted by: Seafarious ||
02/19/2005
12:40:24 AM ||
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#1
. . . and the other shoe drops.
Yet another reason why the EU isn't a good idea.
And picking Zapatero for a spokesman? Come on, isn't there anyone better?
Posted by: The Doctor ||
02/19/2005 1:12
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#2
And the EU will, of course, exchange all of the individual country seats at the UN with a single seat.
#4
So who is gonna be the Head Euro? Chiraq, Zappy? **choking on sandwich***
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/19/2005 1:41
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#5
Well, well, I wonder who isn't telling the truth here? Tony wouldn't like now would he. Right. Zappy is all happy and stuff `cause it's a Tranzi wet dream.
#7
Ofcourse what Zapatero *actually* predicted is that EU nations may *eventually* agree to closing down their individual embassies and replace their individual foreign policies with a single one.
And what he actually stated is ofcourse that the Constitution is a step to that direction of political unity.
And I very much doubt he singled out the United Kingdom.
But please, do make it appear as if all this will happen immediately without UK's consent and immediately after the ratification of the Constitution. No need for truths.
The new European Constitution states: âMember States shall actively and unreservedly support the Unionâs common foreign and security policy."
And it also states that there can be no such common foreign a security policy if a single member brings forth a veto. Nice lying-by-ommission.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told a Spanish radio station: âWe will undoubtedly see European embassies in the world, not ones from each country, with European diplomats and a European foreign service.â
Oddly any reference to the idea of this happening "eventually" is missing from the quote. Perhaps that's attributible to that well-known massive conservative media conspiracy that holds all of Europe in it's iron grip eh Aris?
He added: âWe will see Europe with a single voice in security matters. We will have a single European voice within NATO. We want more European unity.â
Oddly that quote is also not qualified with any concept of this being the "eventual" state of affairs. Nor is it couched in terms of there first being British (or any other) approval for this allegedly "eventual" change.
Link please Aris, your assertion is unsubstantiated thus far.
#9
Zap made a compromise with France and Germany that gave Spain a lesser say in the EU. He's aligning himself with global powerhouses Cuba and Venezuela. The man is a buffoon. The question is: harmless or dangerous?
Posted by: Prince Abdullah ||
02/19/2005 3:47
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#10
"Link, please"? I already gave you the link (didn't you see the url?) that has the crucial word "eventually", though I admit that the word isn't placed inside quotes.
But then again neither are the unsubstantiated and foolish claims that all this will happen immediately after the ratification of the constitution and without any further approval placed within quotes either.
Except that the version *I* believe more reliable has the benefit of accurately describing the situation. Only an ignorant fool would believe that after ratification of the Constitution national embassies would immediately close down, and that all of EU would vote with a single opinion in NATO or the UN. I somehow fail to believe that Zapatero or *any* other politician would have said such a foolish thing. Not even Bush could have said such a thing. Not even Quayle or Gore could have said such a thing.
Such a foolish claim has the stench of UK tabloidism behind it instead. Only *they* are stupid enough in the whole world.
Which btw is far different to "massive conservative media conspiracies", since most right-wing parties are in favour of the EU and most opposition to it comes from the left-wingers in Europe. UK tabloidism is a branch of lies all on its own.
But keep the nonsensical parochialism where you foolishly think that EU is a "left-wing project" also.
#12
most right-wing parties are in favour of the EU
Unless politcally right and left mean the exact opposite of what they do here in the new world, that sounds farfetched to say the least.
It's going to be fun to watch my betters tie themselves up in bureaucratic red tape making them even more paralyzed and less relevant than they are now.
#13
most right-wing parties are in favour of the EU and most opposition to it comes from the left-wingers in Europe
JerseyMike - Aris says that all the time. Apparently he believes it. Like ITYS's 'say Doom!', it's a sort of 'end of the world is nigh' sandwich board which lets you know the wearer is, at best, detached from reality. Best to leave well alone.
Posted by: EU ||
02/19/2005 8:19
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"Indudablemente veremos embajadas europeas en el mundo, no una de cada paÃs, con diplomáticos europeos y un servicio de Relaciones Exteriores europeo", dijo Zapatero en una entrevista otorgada a la emisora estatal Radio Nacional de España.
"un dÃa" means "eventually" and he's not talking about British embassies.
ââ¬Â¢ Zapatero predicts greater integration of UE àÃÂ
The president of the government Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero foretold Thursday that the European countries will finish to a day closing their embassies so that the European Union promotes a unified foreign policy if the states members approve the constitution common. The president of the government Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero foretold Thursday that the European countries will finish to a day closing their embassies so that the European Union promotes a unified foreign policy if the states members approve the constitution common. "Doubtlessly we will see European embassies in the world, not one of each country, with European diplomats and an European service of Relations Outer", said to Zapatero in a granted interview to the state transmitter National Radius of Spain.
Whether un da means immediately, imminently, or eventually seems only a question of how thickly the salami is being sliced. The ultimate intended outcome is clear.
"We will see European embassies in the world, not one of each country" sure sounds like no more British embassies unless they aren't part of the EU. But then this means no more French, Belgian or Greek embassies either, so perhaps it's not all bad.
But now that the new arrangement is known as la carta magna, the English protests should diminish substantially.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005 9:41
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#16
Indeed. The timescale question is a non-issue. The ambition of EUrophiles and Euro-federalists is political union - a fact which politicians such as Blair try to hide from their own population by presenting this Constitution as a mere 'tidying up exercise'. There are already EU embassies around the world (although perhaps not in name) and they are already replacing national representations. This usurpation of national independence is an underhand and creeping process, and whether it takes one year or ten is unimportant.
The British public are increasingly waking up to what amounts to a betrayal of national sovereignty by our politicians; they're mad as hell and they're not going to take it any more! (I hope.)
#17
JerseyMike> most right-wing parties are in favour of the EU Unless politcally right and left mean the exact opposite of what they do here in the new world
Let's see -- if right-wing parties are the ones that strive for freer markets and more competition, then free-market parties generally support the EU given how one of the fundamental elements of the EU is the abolition of borders and barriers, and the free transfer of money, services and capital throughout the continent. It's one of the *fundamental* elements of the EU.
(Ofcourse EU is often bashed for being protectionist against the *outside*, and I agree with such criticism, however unlike the abolition of internal borders, external protectionism is not inherent in the EU project itself, it's just a matter of policy)
So, tell me, why should right-wing and left-wing mean the exact opposite in order for what I say to occur, hmm?
But if you're too lazy to check on the facts... Check out whether it was the right-wing or the left-wing party that supported Malta's entry in the Union. Check out the same about Greece's entry (the right-wing party again in favour, the left-wing party had been agains). Check out how many of the communist party member/Nordic Green Left supported the EU Constitution and how many opposed it. Check out whether it was the left-wing or the moderate wing of the French socialists that supported the Constitution.
JerseyMike and anonymous coward with the sig "EU", the reason I "apparently believe it" is because it's true.
#18
Bulldog, what Eurocrats in Brussels want and what they will get are two things.
If you strive for a political union, Zaparero's remarks make sense, but "un dÃa" in Spanish usually means "one fine day". In the early 60s, when De Gaulle and Adenauer signed the Elysee-Treaty, people were enthusiastic and predicting that "one fine day" border controls would cease to exist. This has happened.
I'm not sure whether the political union of Europe will take place. Usually these things only happen when there is enough danger and threats from outside to make people give up national independence and freedom.
I don't see the British in a United States of Europe. But all EU-nations have already given up a certain amount of "national sovereignty". Even if the EU were only a economic union, this would be the case.
The advantages of a economic union were clear to see for anyone. That is not necessarily the case with the political union.
#19
What a load of bullshit, Aris. If the EU is so wonderful for business, will you please explain why the British Institute of Directors recently voted overwhelmingly against ratification of the proposed Constitution, and a separate poll of big business leaders found the same percentage - ~60% - opposed to it?
The red tape and insane bureacracy of the EU is incredibly business-unfriendly, and only becoming more so. This new, stupid, airline compensation law? The tax to be levied on paintings sold at London auctions which will hand the art market to foreign competitors? The scandalous mismanagement of marine resources? The subsidising of inefficient and arcane farming practices? Restriction of access to foreign markets? The list of crimes against corporate Europe committed by the EU is long.
To claim that the EU is beneficial to businesses is plainly ridiculous. It could be, if it was just a free trade zone. But that isn't what it is nor what it wants to be.
And for every left-wing group opposing the EU constitution there are at least as many right-wing ones. Take Spain, for example, whose referendum is tomorrow - Zapatero's socialists are more enthusiastic than Aznar's right-wingers. What about the UK? The Tories reject the Constitution out of hand. UKIP attracts both left-and right-wing voters, but more of the latter than the former. Do European Libertarians tend to support the Constitution? No. Would a federal EU, wielding power over an entire continent, represent a conservative small-stater's idea of a dystopian nightmare? Yes.
But your bringing left-wing opposition to the Constitution is really a red herring, isn't it? It's not surprising that many left-wingers object to their countries being subsumed by the EU. The loss of national autonomy and individuals' democratic influence threatens people whatever their political inclination.
#20
TGA - I agree with everything you say, but the way the Constitution is sold by different politicians to different audiences in different countries is absurd. Zapatero, Chirac and Schroeder make their intentions clear whereas Blair hides his. At the end of the day, it's a question of 'why take the risk'? Surrender of some national sovereignties to facilitate free trade took place decades ago. Nowadays it's all about common policies and 'harmonisations' which are completely unnecessary in that respect. The Constitution is a giant step too far towards political union.
#22
Everyone must agree! Unless even just one disagrees, then we agree that no one agrees!
It's not a bug, it's a feature.
On another matter, I'm selling shares in a company where we will hire 10 chiefs, who all promise to agree on everything unless one of them disagrees on anything, in which case we agree not to agree, except that the rules say: he MUST agree!
But the rules say he can veto!
But the rules say he must agree!
The rules say he can veto!
agree
veto
agreevetoagreevetoagreeveto.......
#23
2b> I'm sure it's lost on you in your zeal, to believe Aris, but this is just too funny.
blah, blah, blah. You don't need to convince *me* that the Constitution is a sucky watered-down affair. I've stated so from the start.
As long as you concede that it's a sucky watered-down affair in the *opposite* direction of what the Eurosceptics are claiming (namely in that it doesn't politically unite Europe *enough*), then we're in complete agreement.
If the EU is so wonderful for business, will you please explain why the British Institute of Directors recently voted overwhelmingly against ratification of the proposed Constitution,
Hmm, perhaps because the EU Constitution's primary improvement is in the political and not the economical aspect of the unification, given how the former has lagged way behind and the latter progressed more?
You answer me this though: If the EU is so bad for business then why doesn't said Institute support UK's complete withdrawal from the EU, rather than simply try to stop *further* development of the political aspect of the union?
Zapatero's socialists are more enthusiastic than Aznar's right-wingers
Both support it. Aznar's right-wingers can't be *too* enthusiastic, given how they always need to be able to criticize somewhat the government for not making the best deal possible.
And all the quotes from Spain that I've heard attacking the constitution come from a left-wing direction -- namely accusing the Constitution that it ushers a neoliberal economic policy after the UK and American models and so forth. See the quotes that BBC News has in its front page if you don't believe.
The red tape and insane bureacracy of the EU is incredibly business-unfriendly, and only becoming more so.
I'm sure you'd like to see the red-tape and insane bureaucracies of 25 different nations, instead of having only one such insane bureaucracy to deal with. And if one nation one day decides to nationalize assets of a British industry, I'm sure all those businessmen will just love the lack of a common set of rules applying to all.
What about the UK? The Tories reject the Constitution out of hand.
The UK is the exception, in this, as in many other matters relating to EU unification. Out of Schengen, out of the Eurozone, etc, etc.
But your bringing left-wing opposition to the Constitution is really a red herring, isn't it? It's not surprising that many left-wingers object to their countries being subsumed by the EU. The loss of national autonomy and individuals' democratic influence threatens people whatever their political inclination.
Yeah, right, I'm sure that's what the communists and neonazis that hate the EU most of all are concerned about, the loss of democratic influence. That's why the people most in love with the Soviet Union and fascisms of all stripes all *loathe* the EU. That's why Yushchenko's first moves after taking the presidency was to urge membership in the European Union.
Why don't you quit *your* argumentation about loss of democracies and so-called dystopias, Bulldog? You've made it clear before that you don't object to the EU because of any lack of democracy in that project -- you hate the union of nations in *principle*, regardless of how democratic, or free, or voluntary, or good. You would never let your nation have to codecide with Germans or French, no matter how free or democratic or beneficial the process would be.
Your position doesn't come from either a democratic, nor a freedom-loving perspective -- it comes merely from a nationalistic tribal one. You don't trust the people of these other nations as much as your own.
Which is an understandable, acceptable position, but I wish you'd stop hiding it for something else.
#24
Why the fuck do we discuss the EU anymore? Everyone knows it just works him into a froth. It's like calling his mother a whore, folks, and we should just stop it.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/19/2005 12:49
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#27
Getting back to the point of the original article (oh yeah, that) I read it the same way TGA and Aris did: that eventually, one day, there will be no separate embassies for the different members of the EU, and that the EU will eventually represent the interests of all the member states in its diplomatic mission.
Now Aris first stated that this is something the Euro states would agree to do eventually. How voluntary that agreement will be I don't know, but Zappie makes it pretty clear that, eventually, there will be one federal state that represents all the member states in organizations such as NATO and the UN. That the British Foreign Office says otherwise -- for now -- is part of the political game being played -- for now.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/19/2005 13:44
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#28
I really don't know why anyone continues to discuss this issue with Aris--he's a 25-year old programmer of video games who probably still lives at home with his parents. He was also almost certainly educated in GB, hence the great English and hatred of all things British (isn't that what they teach in the schools over there?) Just let him get back to his surfing--probably the only thing he does all day--and leave off the serious political discussions with him.
Posted by: mary ||
02/19/2005 14:10
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#29
Zappie is to a no vote on the EU constitution in Britain, as Doc Howie as head of the DNC is to increased Republican votes here in the USA.
#30
He was also almost certainly educated in GB, hence the great English
Ignoring most of your post, but here's a "thank you for the compliment". However, I was educated in Greece.
And the only thing I hate about UK is its Euro-whining and sabotage. In or out, make up your fricking minds, take responsibility for your choice one way or another, and stop blaming the big bad continent for (boohoohoo) supposedly forcing you to be part of something you supposedly don't want to. Where the EU is concerned, United Kingdom is a slut that tries to present itself as a virgin. She's consented to an an orgy, and she claims to have been gang-raped instead. You can leave whenever you want from the Union, Britain! No tanks will try to stop you, no continental missiles will try to prevent you. "The more the merrier", that's true, but we only want voluntary partners in our little group.
Thanks for ignoring my points, mary, and not disputing that it was the right-wing parties in Malta and Greece that supported EU membership and the left-wing parties that opposed it -- thank you for not disputing either that it was the most leftist side of the socialists that opposed the Constitution in France even as the moderate side supported it. Indeed thank you that you reduced your whole post to nothing but a personal attack. Are you another falsified sig, btw, "mary", or is that your only identity here?
Bulldog> Which one was the ad hominem again? That I said you don't trust French and German people as much as the English? That's my memory of what you've claimed in the past. Am I misremembering? Do you claim to trust them as your own?
Why didn't you answer my question? If the EU is so bad for business why did said Institute only urge against the Constitution, rather than against the EU in its entirety?
I answered *your* questions, I should remind you, so do me the courtesy of answering mine.
#31
That I said you don't trust French and German people as much as the English? That's my memory of what you've claimed in the past. Am I misremembering? Do you claim to trust them as your own?
You find links before spouting such crap, you insulting little piece of shit.
AFAIK, polls didn't ask whether they wanted to stay in the EU or leave. Why don't you look for such data if you want to find out?
#33
So as an American let me understand the issue a bit...
25 seats in the General Assembly go down to 1 seat.
2 super seats (UK and Fr) are reduced to 1 on the Sec Council and no other EU reps on that body.
1 Seat in the World Bank
1 Seat in the WTO
1 Seat in NATO
1 Seat in the ICC
1 Seat in .....
What's the downside of all this loss of power by the EU to the US?
#34
it's a sucky watered-down affair ...that it doesn't politically unite Europe *enough*), then we're in complete agreement.
Member States shall actively and unreservedly support the Unionâs common foreign and security policy OR there can be no such common foreign a security policy if a single member brings forth a veto.
Here are the probable outcomes of this:
Countries forced to leave the union to protect their own interests;
A war will be foughtover the meaning of the word, "unreservedly";
or...most likely the end result will be:
Individual economies will come to depend on membership in the EU for economic survival and thus will be forced to subject themselves to an unelected body.
You aren't getting a representative union at all. You are getting taxation without representation. Looks good on you though.
#36
2b> If you were aware of a single element of the EU or of the European Constitution, instead of just trolling whenever the discussion arises over whatever different element comes to your attention, then your bizarre predictions might be worth a second's notice.
Until that time, your predictions are about as significant and probably as accurate, as Poison Reverse's prophecies that the EU is leading to the one-man worship of the Antichrist.
Several European countries are involved in the groundbreaking project to construct a huge science and technology park in the north of Tehran, said a local official on Wednesday. Amir Hossein-Zadeh, deputy governor of Damavand for financial and planning affairs, told IRNA that private Iranian companies have pledged to contribute rls 250 bln (nearly $28 mln) to the project, which would be launched later this year. "European countries are assisting private companies in Iran in building the park," he said, stressing that the assistance will take the form of scientific cooperation.
Well, that's different then.
He further noted that Canada is willing to participate in a project to construct a tourist resort in Damavand, stressing that rls 2.5 bln (nearly $284,000) has been earmarked for conducting feasibility studies on the project. The official further noted that a foodstuff packaging unit has been constructed in northern Tehran."The city can now export agriculture products directly to other countries," he said.
Posted by: Seafarious ||
02/19/2005
12:35:43 AM ||
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#1
This 'soft power' solution is more expensive than we thought. But at least it comes with guarantees. Peace in our time!
Posted by: EU ||
02/19/2005 7:23
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#2
"...the assistance will take the form of scientific cooperation."
You know: splitting atoms, converting one element to another, separating isotopes, stuff like that.
#3
How nice, Canada building a tourist resort in Iran. Is that where the goons'll kill and beat the shit out of more of your citizen journalists with nary a peep out of you?
#5
Now we can expand on my target practice when I go can shooting.
Posted by: Nationalis ||
02/19/2005 13:21
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#6
Let's see: Euros put in $28 million, Canadians put in $284,000. We should top that. Hmmmm... What's the pricetag on a nuclear warhead? We'll throw in the ICBM delivery for free.
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 13:28
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#7
Daisy Cutters are cleaner than nukes, Tom. I'm not sure about comparative effectiveness, though.
From the Rantburg Diplomacy Desk...somebody hit a nerve:
CIA Director Porter Goss's brief, vague reference to potential instability in Mexico led to banner headlines in newspapers here and a harsh response from Mexico's government on Thursday. "The CIA analysis is wrong, it's erroneous and it's false," said Interior Secretary Santiago Creel, considered a potential contender in Mexico's presidential race next year.
"Lies, all lies! We're just fine. And at any rate, the bilge pumps will kick in any minute now."
"It's also reprehensible for an agency of a foreign government to be expressing opinions about Mexican affairs," Creel said in a news conference.
"Cos Mexico never has any opinions on the USA. No way, no how."
"I reject interference in affairs of an internal character ... in which the CIA has no reason to be making opinions," Creel added.
"So butt out! Manuel, how's that pump repair coming along?"
The tough words results from the briefest of mentions during Goss' testimony on Wednesday before the US Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence. It occurred in a section of his written report on "potential areas for instability" that referred to "potential flashpoints" in some of the eight Latin American nations with elections next year. "Campaigning for the 2006 presidential election in Mexico is likely to stall progress on fiscal, labor and energy reforms," Goss said.
Scusi? That's all he said? Good gravy. String up the US ambassador ahora!
The comments passed almost unnoticed in the US, but in Mexico City, the daily newspaper El Sol made it the top story of the day: "Mexico unstable, according to the CIA." A rival paper, Milenio, led with the headline: "The CIA predicts `alarming risks' for the campaigns." At his news conference, Creel -- President Vicente Fox's top Cabinet secretary, said, "We know that [the CIA] frequently is mistaken and causes erroneous decisions. What we are going to have here is not a conflict but a democratic electoral competition, as intense or more so as those in the United States," he said. Attorney General Rafael Macedo de la Concha told reporters he saw "no elements that could cause what [Goss] said, what he affirmed in that report."
"I've been meaning to get my eyeglass prescription filled, but it's been so busy. Hey, is that William Shatner over behind the press corps?
Mexican President Fox himself hurried past reporters who tried to ask him about the CIA official's statements during an appearance in the port city of Veracruz.
"Hasta la vista, baby."
Posted by: Seafarious ||
02/19/2005
1:23:17 AM ||
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After all, Mexico has never tried to interfere with our internal affairs, such as publishing guides for criminals to escape authorities, producing documents to help criminals, shooting at authorities inside the US, ...
In the stern old pre-Vatican II days, Roman Catholics used to be instructed not to read the Bible by themselves. The theory was that, if they did so, they might misunderstand what it meant and commit the error of "private judgment". Reading the Bible on your own was a Protestant idea, dangerous in the heady freedom it would give you. You might end up coming to your own conclusions.
I wonder if such a notion still lingers in the attitude of European governments to another process that began in Rome — the treaties that establish and extend the European Union. These are all drawn together in one new treaty, the European Holy Bible, otherwise known as the European Constitution. Several countries, including Britain, are committed to holding referendums on the subject. Spain is first off, on Sunday. According to the Spanish justice minister: "You don't have to read the treaty to know it's a good thing." In Spain, at least, it seems likely that the faithful will accept this secular bishop's advice: they won't read the constitution, and they will vote for it.
George W. Bush is a good Protestant, but I doubt if he has read the European Constitution. Why should he, indeed, since he is lucky enough to live in a country that will not be ruled by it? No reason at all, unless, as is rumoured, early drafts of the speech he will make in Brussels next week commit him to saying what a wonderful thing it is.
Continued on Page 49
#1
"'You donât have to read the treaty to know itâs a good thing.' In Spain, at least, it seems likely that the faithful will accept this secular bishopâs advice: they wonât read the constitution, and they will vote for it."
"Nine out of 10 Spaniards say they know nothing about the charter, according to a recent government poll. But just over half said they would vote in favour."
#3
Is the EU "constitution" online? Not that everyone (or even a lot of people) would read it even then, but at least it would be available.
If it is, maybe some enterprising Brit can start a constitution web site. Link to the EU constitution AND the US Constitution, with the first pages of each displayed on the site. Particularly the "We the People" vs. the "King of the Belgians" part.
I still think the EU "constitution" is more comparable to the US Code of Federal Regulations than to our Constitution. Your mileage may vary.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 14:43
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#4
Barbara -- Considering that their constitution runs, what, 200+ pages, that would be some huge honkin' website.
#9
Time consuming- YAWN* Yes, perfect rx for insomnia. Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 15:13
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#10
I often wonder if centuries hence the comments of he-who-shall-not-be-named or someone else in this debate will put him in the ranks of Alexander, Jay and Madison.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005 15:17
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#11
Extra! extra! Tomorrow I will post a comparison between the Constitution of the United States and the Soviet EU Constitution.
#17
Lol! I want to lobby for the right to be flexible about that first "S". I'm thinking "shit" or "shrubberies" instead of "stuff", but that's just me.
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 16:14
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#19
A lot of stuff in the constitution is quite ok. The problem is that much of it is obvious, superfluous... and then you have some "goodies" which may turn out to be hidden landmines ready to explode when the first disagreements turn up.
I can't even vote on the constitution. I couldn't vote on the Euro either but my finance minister said that due to stringent, carved in stone, iron stability rules about deficits etc the Euro would be ok.
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 16:18
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#21
The German Basic Law doesn't allow for national referendums although a 2/3 majority in parliament could change that.
But now even the Greens, the former champions of "Basisdemokratie" have abandoned the idea.
---------------
Of course nobody wants you to start THINKING about the EU constitution. Just take the first Article:
Article 1: Establishment of the Union
1. Reflecting the will of the citizens and States of Europe to build a common future, this
Constitution establishes the European Union, on which the Member States confer
competences to attain objectives they have in common. The Union shall coordinate the
policies by which the Member States aim to achieve these objectives, and shall exercise in the
Community way the competences they confer on it.
No, Mr Giscard, the constitution should not "reflect" the will of its people, it should EXPRESS it, POSTULATE it. The rest is political blabla.
2. The Union shall be open to all European States which respect its values and are committed to promoting them together.
Get a map: Check where Turkey lies. And the Ukraine. So on which ground did you just refuse Yushenko? And which "values" are more European, those of Turkey or those of the Ukraine?
If I had more time I could go on fisking the whole Constitution.
#24
Thanks, Bulldog, but I'd rather put my time to more productive use - such as watching oil paint dry.
After all, we've already got a Constitution. And at the risk of sounding snarky, I'm willing to bet ours has already lasted a lot longer than the EU's will. (I'm not wishing any harm on the EU or European nations when I say that; I'm just looking at things realistically.)
Just a suggestion for some enterprising Brit who wants to keep Britain free and has some spare time on his/her hands. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 16:38
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#25
#4 Blondie - It wouldn't have to be a big site if they linked to the constitution as a whole and just posted selected pages on the site.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 16:40
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#26
The EU constitution reminds me of nothing more than the internal revenue code because regardless of how impossible it is to read for a normal human being, I know that there are dozens of people representing special interest groups who have agonized for days over the wording and placement of every sentence in it. What is even more amaxing is that it is upon this foundation that the beneficient effects of the modern welfare state lie. Yet it all still seems like the vanity of vanities.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005 16:41
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#27
Barbara (I guess you meant me), we could definitely use more American input.
#28
#21 TGA - I wish you did have more time to fisk it. Your insights are wonderful and much appreciated.
Maybe if somebody starts the web site I (only half-jokingly) suggested, you could be one of the contributors.... ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 16:44
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#29
I'll lend the domain, if you'd like a site for fisking or whatever suits you, heh. Hell, I'll set it up on a friend's hosting service, pay for it, and you can run it, TGA. How about either thenetforum.com or thewebforum.com - I own those and could set up either one in 24 hrs ready for you to take over. No bandwidth or storage limits would apply to that sort of site. Perhaps the best thing is that it maintains your anonymity. Interested, TGA?
I don't own any blog or similar software, but that wouldn't be a big deal, I don't think. Contact Fred to pass along to me, if so. I'd stay out of it - you'd control it completely.
#34
Sea - Looks interesting - excellent pricing, too, for regular blogging using their site. Pricey for corp use on own servers - guess it's for those that don't have a web team.
If it's as fast as they say, then some of our folks who're using other systems might want to take a look. The price is right, anyway, heh.
#35
I must ask a question of the better edumacated out there:
The EU Constitution says on the second paragraph of p12: Believing that Europe, reunited after bitter experiences,
When was Europe ever united? There has not been a significant period of time when there were not wars of one stripe or another going on. Some of the worst atrocities in known history were committed on the continent in those wars.
Does anyone know when the continent was united the first time?
Posted by: Jame Retief ||
02/19/2005 18:12
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#36
Gondwanaland
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/19/2005 18:14
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#37
When the dinosaurs lived there in total peace and tranquility? Y'know, the Gaia thingy.
#38
Barbara Skolaut # 3 I did read the whole EU constitution, as you mentioned; I don't think it is a constitution either! I can't imagine abidding by that in the court's.
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 18:38
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#39
Barbara Skolaut # 3 I did read the whole EU constitution, as you mentioned; I don't think it is a constitution either! I can't imagine abidding by that in the court's.
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 18:38
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#40
TGA -- good the hear there's some skepticism on the continent. What gives me the willies about the EU is the constant refrain from the French that the EU is necessary to "counterbalance" the US. The "counter" word conjures up all sorts of ugly, ugly images.
But, really, people, what are you THINKING. He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named is gonna come in here and throw a tantrum the likes of which have never been seen.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/19/2005 18:54
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#43
Robert Crawford and others, I find it very irritating that I have to come to a US website (focussing on the WOT) to get a discussion going about the European Constitution. Maybe I shouldn't do this but I'd like Aris, the constitution expert, to find me a couple of forums where the articles of the Constitution (and the consequences of its ratification) are discussed in earnest.
#48
TGA - Sadly, I think that's the way the EU wants it. Why else would people like the Spanish Justice Minister say things like "you don't need to read the treaty to know it's a good thing"?
I thought you were kidding about the lack of debate on this in Europe until I plugged in "european constitution discussion". Check out this one here: http://www.debatabase.org/details.asp?topicID=284 . The last sentence in the "motions" section just is, well, scary.
#51
And so we've come full circle:
"In the stern old pre-Vatican II days, Roman Catholics used to be instructed not to read the Bible by themselves. The theory was that, if they did so, they might misunderstand what it meant and commit the error of "private judgment". Reading the Bible on your own was a Protestant idea, dangerous in the heady freedom it would give you. You might end up coming to your own conclusions."
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 20:13
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#52
TGA, you have it.. sorta.. within bounds...
My recollections are:
"Chirac est un ver" - The Sun's special edition
Galloway winning a libel suit without the papers even having a chance to prove it was true
Wearing flags to school in The Netherlands..
The place of young people in the future Constitution:
How do you, as young people, see your role in the future European Constitution? Tell us what your think!
You click on the link and then this page comes up:
#55
TGA,
A good starting point you can try is http://eu-constitution.typepad.com/. It is written by a French guy living in the USA and is pro EU. Another site, The Fundamental Principles of the European constitution discusses the EU constitution by authors from several nationalities. Anti-EU sites that discuss more than the constitution:
http://eu-serf.blogspot.com/
http://www.eursoc.com/
Continental Europe was also pretty much united during Napoleon's reign.
Posted by: ed ||
02/19/2005 20:25
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#56
A UK blogsite discussing / dissing the EU... EU Referendum
.com, I just found that, too. (The British are most active, of course) But I'm still looking for a forum where people vividly discuss the articles of the Constitution.
#58
TGA, there must be at least one site. Hidden somewhere...in the recesses of internet...
Results 697,000 sites for discussion of articles of the EU Constitution... seeking... seeking... page20... seeking...
I give up. No forum. If you want one, TGA, I can setup one for ya. You may as well be the first to establish one. Click on my nick to email.
#59
The preamble to the EU Constitution is whatâ17 pages long? The preamble to the US Constitution isâa single paragraph that has been turned into a popular song. I know which I prefer.
Besides, it seems the entire point of the EU Constitution is to enshrine the EU's current failing economic structure and make it impossible to debate.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
02/19/2005 22:02
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President Mohammad Khatami, whose regime is in the US firing line over its nuclear activities, voiced Iran's support Thursday for Syria and radical anti-Israeli groups. "We respect the Syrians who are in the frontline in the fight against the Zionist regime and we salute their legitimate struggle to recover their occupied lands," he said after talks with visiting Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri. "We support the resistance in Lebanon and all those fighting the (Israeli) occupation," he was quoted as saying. Otri on Wednesday said Iran and Syria should form a "united front" against threats from abroad, in an apparent reference to the intense US pressure against both regimes.
Posted by: Seafarious ||
02/19/2005
12:10:23 AM ||
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#1
"Khatami backs Syria and anti-Israel groups"
In other news, a sharp-shinned hawk ate a chickadee.
PHUKET, Thailand - Former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush were due in Thailand Saturday on the first stop on their tour of Asian nations hit by December's catastrophic tsunamis. The former US leaders were due to arrive at the tourist island of Phuket at about noon (0500 GMT) and travel on to the devastated fishing village of Baan Nam Khem to assess reconstruction efforts in Thailand's hardest-hit province of Phang Nga.
Clinton and Bush, appointed by President George W. Bush to head private fundraising efforts in the wake of the tsunami, are also to visit Indonesia, Sri Lanka and The Maldives.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/19/2005
1:17:46 AM ||
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#1
I hope Daddy Bush helps out corraling Klintoon. Just picture him running "free" anywhere in Thailand... I'll bet the Secret Service is pulling some serious overtime to keep him from sneaking out.
#3
those hairless thai boys are better looking than monica and will pop his chest stitches--hide the chicken satay soaked in viagra or its a quick flight to rammstein on the cardio unit
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
02/19/2005 4:52
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#4
Hillary isn't around much, so that's given me time to do a lot of extensive research on Thailand on the internet. The conclusion: Thai chicks are hot enough to give me carpal tunnel in both hands!
Posted by: William Jefferson Clinton ||
02/19/2005 9:53
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#5
What the hell did Thailand do to us that we inflict Clinton on them?
As an african newspaper is said to have headlined when Clinton was going to visit (while he was president): Hide your daughters!.
#6
Hope Bill's been practicing his lip biting and watery eyes act in the mirror. He hasn't had much of a chance to use it lately and it might need some work.
Top West African leader President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria pushed Togo's new military-installed leader on Thursday to step aside, telling him democracy was needed in the nation blighted by Africa's longest one-man rule.
But Togo President Faure Gnassingbe — appointed Feb. 5 within hours of his father's death of a heart attack after 38 repressive years in power — showed no sign of yielding.
Togolese leaders repeated to Obasanjo that the son's summary appointment to the presidency had been essential "to prevent a descent into anarchy," said Remi Oyo, the Nigerian leader's spokeswoman. Gnassingbe was meeting with Obasanjo in the Nigerian capital on his first trip out of Togo since taking power. None of the ceremonies normally accorded a visiting head of state was performed. Gnassingbe's appointment — retroactively made legal by Togolese lawmakers in a series of constitutional amendments — dashed hopes that Eyadema's death would usher in democracy to Togo. In a case that's become a test of African leaders' willingness to crack down on one of their own, Obasanjo asked Gnassingbe and his aides Thursday "to retrace their steps and return to the position of constitutionality," Oyo said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
11:59:48 PM ||
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I AM HAVE EXCELLENT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIY FOR YOU!!!
BAGHDAD — US senator Hillary Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton, is expected in Baghdad today, a source at the US embassy said yesterday.
Remember, Hillary, you let the enlisted personnel eat before you even think of picking up a spork.
The source said the five-member delegation would hold talks with Iraqi government officials and members of the national assembly, whose make up was confirmed on Thursday by the electoral commission. Heading the US delegation is John McCain, the Republican senator for Arizona and one-time rival of US President George W. Bush. McCain has been critical of the US administration's policies in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion.
We noticed.
The delegation also includes senators Russel Feingold, Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/19/2005
1:13:28 AM ||
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#1
Great, another security show while these people parade around and get their multi hundred thousand dollar pics taken with the troops. Methinks that a few of them will pose with Hillary and extend the knuckle of the middle finger ever so nuanced.....
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/19/2005 1:49
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#2
Why? Why are any of these grubbers going, wasting tax dollars by the planeload? Most prolly don't even like tea or speak any Arabic.
#5
Difference between a political hack and a real representative of the people - talk with the troops, get the name and address of their family members back home [my god, the 10th out of Fort Drum, New York, is deployed, you don't even have to leave the state to visit], go and talk one on one with a few, quietly, off camera. Go see widows privately as well and thank them for their sacrifice and devotion without publicity. You can get your photo opportunity on the base in front of the command building or 10th Mtn Div statue. The man you want to replace already has done something like this a number of times at other installations. Odds of the senator's staff having a clue?
#8
So Hitlary thinks she's learned her lessons after the last fiasco. OK then, let's see. I'm still bettng the her disconnect is so deep that she'll still end up 100 yr old egg on her face.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/19/2005 11:40
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#9
She'll end up being treated the way any other Senator who votes on appropriations but is otherwise despised by many of the individual members of the military gets treated; as briefly as possible.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005 11:45
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#10
"Hillary Clinton to visit Iraq"
Rumsfeld's reply: "Great, there goes the neighborhood! And we had such great hopes for Iraq!"
Posted by: BA ||
02/19/2005 12:08
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#11
If they had Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy on board, the Iranian air force would offer full protection from any American-fired ground launched missiles.
#14
I understand their egos are coming over by sea.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/19/2005 12:51
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#15
US senator Hillary Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton
Face it, Hildabeest, you're always going to be thought of as being where you are because of Boffing Billy's coattails.
Even your most Leftist admirers think that, because it's true.
You'll go to your grave knowing that everything you have, you got in the name of BILL CLINTON. And 50 years from now, his name will still be listed in the history books as a past President, while YOURS WON'T.
Have a nice flight to Iraq. And try to have the decency to let the "little people," who are actually protecting your freedom to be a self-centered asshole, eat first.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 13:23
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#16
Yes, Barbara- the soldiers should eat first***
US Senator Hillary Clinton is trying hard to out shine her husband, Bill Clinton. Will she get elected the first U.S. President? "NO". About going to her grave...Many feel BILL CLINTON made a total ASS of himself with his behavior/ M.L. case. Many women admire Hillary for being able to hang in there or at least NOT give Monica Lewinsky what she was seeking~~
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 13:41
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#17
Andrea - I'm in no way defending billyboy, just stating the fact that he was in fact (barf) elected President and she won't be.
I don't admire Hill for "hanging in there." If she has no respect for herself, why should I respect her?
Your mileage may vary.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 14:20
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#18
Barbara- I'm not so sure about "hanging in there" and respect for herself. I think at that moment in her career, HILL had to be STRONG because her other half was NOT. Look at Jackie Kennedy Onassis and what she endured....
I am stating from a womens perspective. I think if you are in the eyes of the public- it would be worse to throw the towel in, like so many other women would do!
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 14:24
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#19
Feingold's an honest man. I'll trust him to keep an eye on the Hildebeast.
WASHINGTON The United States has moved to freeze assets of a Kuwaiti man suspected of raising money for an anti-American insurgency in Iraq and financing a 2002 bombing of a French tanker off the coast of Yemen. An executive order designated Muhsin Al Fadhli, a supporter of terrorism and instructed to freeze all assets he might have in the country.
This article starring:
MUHSIN AL FADHLI
al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/19/2005
1:07:42 AM ||
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HumanEventsOnline - HT to Drudge
We previously reported the conservative group, Citizens United, planned to erect two pro-Bush billboards in Hollywood "thanking" Hollywood for Bush's reelection. As planned, the signs were created, coinciding with the buildup to Oscar night. However, one of those tongue-in-cheek billboards was seriously vandalized Wednesday night, when a Swastika was painted on President Bush's forehead.
Few Angeleans saw the disfigured sign though, since Citizens United anticipated the vandalism, and had previously arranged with the sign company that their billboards would be immediately repaired if, in fact, they were damaged.
True to their word, the overnight damage was repaired within hours
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/19/2005
1:04:38 PM ||
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#6
#4 Andrea - Probably the same way people spray-paint elaborate graffiti off the side of bridges. (Which I could never figure out, but then I never wanted to do that, so really don't care.)
Remember, the billboard people got up there to paste up the billboard - and to repair it. I believe there's some kind of a narrow platform on the front and back of most billboards.
But someone with actual knowledge will probably pop up today and set us straight. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 14:14
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#7
#6 BigED - I like your idea.
I'd even donate to make it happen. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 14:16
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#8
Barbara- you are right! about the narrow platform----perhaps behind the top of the billboard? I can't imagine risking my life
to paint that!**### Like Big ED I thought the billboard was booby trapped. Tomorrow night
at 9 p.m. NBC will devote two hour's to "LIVE FROM NEW YORK:THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE". Lets watch and see satire about BUSH (*&!!@@)
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 14:20
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#9
Andrea - sorry, I don't watch SNL. The last time I saw it for more time than it takes to grab the remote and kill the TV, Steve Martin was a regular. Guess NBC has run out of ideas. Again.
But if it's the first 5 years, how can there be any Bush satire? Either Bush.
BTW, I'm slow today. Do all the symbols mean something?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 14:28
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#10
Barbara- SNL always throws in satire about the latest. I think NBC had a great idea. I'm being creative with the symbols. I think it is good to take a break from all the Terror news
and world politics., which is why I suggested
SNL tomorrow night.
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 14:32
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#11
Not exactly a booby-trap, but a point made.
When I was a kid there was someone else from my school named Mike who would cut through our backyard as a shortcut. My mother got sick of it. So, she positioned herself by the sprinkler turnon valve, which was out of sight of his "entry point". He he he. When he was on top of the wall, and began his jump, whoosh went the sprinklers. Soaked, he made a hasty retreat. About 5 minutes later Mike came up the street, completetely wet, and leering at my mother who had strategically placed herself on the front porch to watch him pass. She was "acting bewildered" at the sight of a soaked kid walking up the street. At this point another kid across the street (mouthy girl named Beth) said something about, "You mother is going to be upset about you having a water-baloon fight. You're in Trouuuuu-blllle" Mike just stared at her... He never intruded again.
#13
I'm going to go against the grain here: this billboard was a stupid idea to begin with. It's not just the stars in Hollywood who are lefties. Conservatives have to reach out more to the center. Gloating like this about the election may feel good but it achieves nothing except making you look childish - leave that to the Libs. And while it may be okay to post something like that on your blog, billboard advertising costs money. If we're going to spend money to shame Hollywood, it should've said something like "Donate to the Spirit of America" or some of the other charities that support the troops.
As a former Lib, I wish my fellow Conservatives would quit the petty jeering at Libs, some of who are my friends and family, and focus more on trying to win them over by exposing them to real conservative arguments and spirit. We may never win over George Clooney but we can peel off of few from the staff and crew and the people who work the shops and restaurants. They just need to get exposed to our point of view, which is hard to do in enclaves like New York and LA - that's why the billboard is a wasted opportunity as well as wasted cash. My own conversion came from hearing reasonable, personable and logical conservatives. I would've been a Conservative sooner but my initial contact was more with conservative online trolls who would flame me for expressing my (misguided) liberal opinions. Conservative ranting is fun, I know, but it doesn't reach the center. Save that for the blog. If you're going to rent public space to put your message out, make it a good message.
Posted by: Prince Abdullah ||
02/19/2005 19:00
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#14
# 13 I am a "lib" but conservative with $$$$$
you are right- billboard advertising is big BUCKS.
This billboard is foolish like so many other's I
see as I drive along the highway. What type of a billboard / message do you think should be displayed?
Andrea Jackson
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 19:29
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#15
I, for one, am disappointed in this childish vandalism. I knew these billboards would be vandalized, and I was secretly hoping for some sort of witty rejoinder, or covering up half the letters in the caption to spell something different. But a mere spraypaint job? Bah. Uncreative.
If they knew it was going to be hit, they should have damn well put some surveillance video cameras near the support structure. Then, we could have wanted posters up, and the Left would be forced into defending yet another group of obvious bad guys.
#16
Gromky: I have seen this done in N.Y.C. and you know what the vandal does? sprays at dark, wears a hood /mask/bandana. Often if they can spot a camera- they spray the lense of the camera making the camera inopperable. I don't know about the LEFT to defend the bad guys- plenty of liberal's would defend- it's a MONEY $$$game.
Andrea Jackson
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 20:52
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#17
Clintonism says all Lefties are Righties, all DemsLibs are GOP-Rightists, and all Commies are Fascists, ...... etc. save that, SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH, the Left just doesn't want to admit it, either to themselves or others. Thus by dissing and criticizing Bush the Left, or at least the USLeft, is dissing and disrespecting itself. * THE SIMPSONS ,or Dialectic/Totalitarian Equalism - "BE ONE WITH RIGHTISM AND FASCISM, BUT NOT OF RIGHTISM AND FASCISM", like being FBI-CIA-POlice-Law when everything goes right, while simul being Mafia when everything goes wrong. Can't blame the FBI-CIA-Police-Law cuz you're Mafia, can't blame the Mafia cuz you're also FBI-CIA-Police Law, unto eternity. *DREW CAREY - "This is America and you know what that means - SOMEONE ELSE, ANYONE AND EVERYONE ELSE, IS RESPONSIBLE [FOR MY ACTIONS]", as honest injun as Bill Clinton really, really, REALLY believed he was telling you the truth when he lied to you, and did NOT have sex with that woman Monica, but DID HAVE SEX with her dress while she was still wearing it!
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/19/2005 23:38
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#19
BIG ED- when I was a kid, it was a cruel joke to take an old pocketbook (yard sale material) fill it with Cow or horse meadow muffins...then leave the pocket book in the middle of the road! You guessed it- hide behind a wall, wait and see who stops to pick up the million dollar pocketbook.
(TRICK OR TREAT).
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 15:10
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#20
BIG ED- when I was a kid, it was a cruel joke to take an old pocketbook (yard sale material) fill it with Cow or horse meadow muffins...then leave the pocket book in the middle of the road! You guessed it- hide behind a wall, wait and see who stops to pick up the million dollar pocketbook.
(TRICK OR TREAT).
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 15:10
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#21
BIG ED- when I was a kid, it was a cruel joke to take an old pocketbook (yard sale material) fill it with Cow or horse meadow muffins...then leave the pocket book in the middle of the road! You guessed it- hide behind a wall, wait and see who stops to pick up the million dollar pocketbook.
(TRICK OR TREAT).
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 15:14
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#22
BIG ED- when I was a kid, it was a cruel joke to take an old pocketbook (yard sale material) fill it with Cow or horse meadow muffins...then leave the pocket book in the middle of the road! You guessed it- hide behind a wall, wait and see who stops to pick up the million dollar pocketbook.
(TRICK OR TREAT).
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 15:14
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#23
BIG ED- when I was a kid, it was a cruel joke to take an old pocketbook (yard sale material) fill it with Cow or horse meadow muffins...then leave the pocket book in the middle of the road! You guessed it- hide behind a wall, wait and see who stops to pick up the million dollar pocketbook.
(TRICK OR TREAT).
#24
BIG ED- when I was a kid, it was a cruel joke to take an old pocketbook (yard sale material) fill it with Cow or horse meadow muffins...then leave the pocket book in the middle of the road! You guessed it- hide behind a wall, wait and see who stops to pick up the million dollar pocketbook.
(TRICK OR TREAT).
#3
europeans are so focused on each other's crotches, that they have lost all vision. Their ONLY purpose anymore, is to find a new dick to shove up their ass. Anything outside themselves doesn't matter. They can practice their perverted desires under tyranny as well as under freedom...... so, who cares what goes on...."as long as I can get a new dick to shove up my ass?"
Posted by: Tom Dooley ||
02/19/2005 14:10
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#4
europeans are so focused on each other's crotches, that they have lost all vision
#5
Is our beloved Commander-in-Chimp(tm) about to set out on a fence-mending expedition or is this an exploratory mission to see if our european allies - if that is the right word - have come to their senses?
#2
I just hope the powers that be and US nuclear industry can get their heads out of their posteriors. These really are a better way to go and will be much cheaper and safer in all respects.
The article raises some straw men as far as proliferation goes. If a government or entity that can obtain any kind of reactor wants to divert material they will find a way regardless of the reactor type or means of tracking material.
At the rate we are going we will be using liquified coal to run things. There is little or no real alternate energy being pursued in the US.
#1
Oops, page 2
The Indymediots are getting hysterical over the activities of the Protest Warriors and similar conservative groups. This once again proves that left conformists are very easily intimidated, probably the reason they are lefties in the first place:
Commies kill dissidents, Republicans don't; safer to be a commie.
Jihadis issue fatwas, Jews don't; better to support the jihadis.
#2
There is, in fact, a worldwide groundswell of resistance to leftist intimidation, lies, incitement, and mob rule.
Besides the PW and other campus dissidents, we have incidents like the Ward Churchill cancellations, the take-down of the lynched soldier effigy in Sacramento, and the quite amazing resistance put up by British oil traders to a GreenPeace invasion.
I think this is related to the ongoing collapse of the institutional media, whose authority has served as an impenetrable shield for leftist agitators for decades.
The truth about these depraved power-seekers, the pop-left axis, has always leaked out around the edges of the media shield. Now those leaks have become a flood and people are fighting back.
#4
Indy media isn't even a bad joke. They are as closed minded as they come. Mostly they serve as a front for international wannabe anarcho-terrorists and violent transnational socialists. When I read the claim that there is no liberal bias in higher education I stopped reading and started skimming. They make the same kinds of claims for the media having a âright wing biasâ. Now knowing the rest of the article would be a pile of unconnected facts strung together with fabrications to prove this fellows claims of a right wing âcorporatistâ plot against higher education I proceeded to skim. I also knew to this clown would claim conservative student groups are akin something as evil as fascists. These people hate it when people fight back. Their idea of free speech is shouting others down. A free press is vandalizing your paper rack or stealing your pamphlets. Free speech is roughing you up and trashing your signs. These Indy Media types are the guys wearing the black balaclavas, hurling bricks, rocks and fireworks at the police. They are the ones starting riots and looting stores at international conferences.
I am all for treating people in a civil way but in the case of these types, having been around them from my youth up until now. I say slug them first before they slug you. You can not trust one word they say as they are just trying to get over on you. They have no morals or scruples. Total wastes of human skin that it is not safe to turn your back on.
#5
I don't visit too many Leftwing sites, but I have been struck recently by how defeatist they are - 'We are losing and its going to get worse'. Well, for once I agree with them for the reason AC states.
#11
The left thinks it's the 1960's again. Unfortunately it's more like the 1930's / 1940's.
More like the 1770s.
I've been reading "Undercover", the story of an American immigrant who went under cover among the fascist groups in the US in the 1930s. The organizations he describes -- their tactics, language, anger, and organization -- more closely resemble the modern left than the modern right.
Heck, some of their rhetoric -- particularly their hatred of democracy and antisemitism -- sounds the same, too.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/19/2005 12:36
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#12
SPOD -- Current leftist theory says there is no such thing as free speech. Their dogma states that free speech is actually a tool of oppression, since, if people are free to make their own minds up, they may come to conclusions that are against their own class/race interests.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/19/2005 12:38
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#13
"we're not leftists, we're progressives" who fight progress....riiiggghhtt
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/19/2005 12:45
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Kurds rejected the idea of an Islamic republic in Iraq following the victory of a conservative Shiite list in last month's historic elections.
"Sorry. No room for Shariah. We've got things to do..."
"Kurds will oppose setting up an Islamic republic if this question is asked by other political forces in Iraq," Adnan Mufti, a senior member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) headed by Jalal Talabani, said Wednesday. "Of course we are a Muslim people and we must respect our Muslim identity but we cannot pit religion against democracy," said Mufti, himself a candidate for speaker of the autonomous Kurdish parliament.
Freedom can't be confined to everything but religion. There's too much of everything else, and religion unchallenged becomes rapacious.
Sami Shursh, the unofficial minister of culture within the other heavyweight Kurdish party, Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), agrees. "What Kurds want is a republican regime founded on the principle of rotation of power, with a parliamentary system, a separation of powers and a separation of religion and the state," he said Wednesday.
Best way to preserve your freedom to practice your religion the way you see fit.
The vast majority of Kurds in Iraq are Sunni Muslims.
Mostly of the Sufi persuasion, however...
The PUK and the KDP swept to victory in the Kurdish provinces of Suleimaniya, Erbil and Dohuk, where they will control the autonomous parliament of 111 seats. Their alliance is also due to take 75 seats in the national assembly, having won the northern provinces of Tamim and Nineveh, home respectively to the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and Mosul, Iraq's third city. Kurds want Kirkuk to be the capital of their autonomous region.
That's a thought that tightens the Turkish turban but it's not Turkey's real estate...
Several candidates on the winning Shiite list, backed by spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, have said they do not want to set up an Islamic republic in Iraq, but they have yet to dispel all fears. An aide to secular Shiite and outgoing Prime Minister Iyad Allawi also advised Jaafari against the temptation of theocratic power. "Religion is a dangerous thing for Iraq... There are Shiites and Sunnis in the same tribes, in the same families, but if we go down this road, we will create divisions," said Imad Shabib Wednesday. He also warned Jaafari about the risks of siding with Iran.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
Well of course they do. They figured it out during the No Fly years. This Freedom and Capitalism shit is waay more fun than that Muzzy Govt shit. Waay more.
(2005-02-18) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin today offered to step in as an "honest broker" and prevent Iran from manufacturing nuclear weapons, in the wake of the failure of diplomatic attempts by several European nations and pressure from the United States.
Mr. Putin said today that Iran "does not intend to build nuclear weapons" because "it is much cheaper to buy them from our Cold War Factory Outlet. We've slashed prices on hundreds of classic Soviet nuclear delivery systems, with a variety of warhead configurations. Iran can buy now, and make no payments until January 2006. This will discourage them from developing their own nuke factories."
Brushing off talk of a Nobel Peace Prize, the former KGB chief said, "This is not a tribute to my global statesmanship. Our government has long employed diplomatic partnerships like this to defuse international tensions."
Posted by: Korora ||
02/19/2005
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#1
Prolly still sore that Our Captured German Scientists were better than Their Captured German Scientists and they couldn't make a bomb themselves, oh no, they had to steal it. Should've fried everyone involved in that bit of espionage, too, their dogs, cats, friends, acquaintances, the lot.
I'm actually following this with glee and deep interest, since I don't think the Syrians actually did do it. I think it really was al-Qaeda, or more likely a spinoff of al-Qaeda, maybe some of the Ein el-Hellhole goons. Now Baby Assad's taking the heat. He earned the heat by playing in the terror game without having a talent for it. When the history books are written, this will likely be seen as the beginning of the end for the Baathists in Syria.
Lebanese opposition leader Walid Jumblatt said that assassinated former Premier Rafik Hariri had hinted to him that he may be killed days before his assassination. Jumblatt said he had had a meeting with Hariri two weeks ago. Jumblatt said: "Hariri told me something was going to happen and that it is either for you or for me." His comments marked a sharp escalation of his war of words with Damascus and the Lebanese government in which he directly blamed Syrian intelligence for the assassination. He added that Wednesday's huge funeral procession for Hariri showed that Lebanese people have now come together with one voice against Syrian interference in their affairs. Jumblatt said: "He got killed, and we are all on the list. There is no immunity." He added: "The problem is that if you say no in politics you get killed. There is no dialogue."
That's kinda the Muddle East all over, ain't it?
Commenting on the huge turnout for Hariri's funeral Jumblatt said: "They managed to hit the strongest chain of the opposition. But what they did not know, what the Syrian and Lebanese intelligence did not know is that they would unite the whole country against them."
Brilliant, wasn't it?
During an interview carried by the Hariri owned television channel Al-Mustaqbal Thursday night Jumblatt said Hariri's support for UN Resolution 1559, which calls for the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, was the main factor in his murder. He said: "For the last 10 to 15 years they have been controlling the country with an iron hand. Who could do this besides them?" Describing the number of anti-Syrian slogans that dominated the mourners cries during the funeral, he said: "The Lebanese people have proved how much Syria is responsible, they simply stated it for all the world to hear."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
Eh, Jumblatt has a valid point, Who could do this besides them?
It might've just been a wink or a nod...
#3
Well I assume it was Syria. But Iran has more to lose if Syria pulls out. Iran has no other way to protect Hizballah. The Christians and Sunni sure as hell don't care for them. I am going for Iran/Hizballah with Syrian passive help.
#5
Y'know, if Jumblatt gets his timing just right, he can diss the Syrians as they leave, be seen to be laying a boot to their asses and appear a Lebanese National Hero, instead of a murdering factional scumbag.
#7
if imad mugnayah didn't do this--i'll jump off druse mountain--the iranians needed this instability to muddle the m/e while they centrifuge their way to nukedom--their syrian clients [mukhabbarat] had no way to say no since the family business was threatened--it goes all the way back to herodotus--tangled web--multiple objectives--overdetermined in the freudian sense--better plot than the davinci code
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
02/19/2005 4:27
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Lets call it the Kurdistan Syndrome. Various groups have figured out that there may be an opportunity for their own quasi-state. Jumblatt is pitching for Druzistan.
Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah directly accused the Israeli intelligence of perpetrating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Friday, as the Prayer for the Absent, which is usually reserved for high-ranking personalities such as kings, was held on Friday in Mecca and all the Lebanese mosques to pray for the soul of Hariri and the victims of the blast. "Israel has exerted violence on the region since its establishment, and allied with the American intelligence in order to implement corruption through political assassinations and attacks on the people of many countries," Fadlallah said.
The cleric's statements came during his Friday sermon delivered at Al-Imamayn al-Hassanayn Mosque in Haret Hreik, in the presence of many political, social and religious figures. According to Fadlallah, the Israeli intelligence was responsible for Hariri's assassination because Israel "did not want Lebanon to be a secure and stable country," and was taking advantage of UN Security Council resolution 1559 to stir political conflicts. He added that Hariri's assassination was within the framework of the "American strategy of political violence" aimed at weakening the Arab world, which spread throughout the region following the American occupation of Iraq and the toppling of its totalitarian regime.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
He knows he is lying when he blames Israel. Too dumb to even be scumb. This is why were are going to have to reduce the population that buys into this death cult. It's a matter of self preservation.
#2
Of course it is the fault of the Jews: if the Jews of Medina just chopped Muhammad and his twenty followers into dog meat upon their arrival, none of this would be happening.
#6
I think the school is still out on the bomb. An analyst on Fox seemed to think there was evidence the bomb was burried under the road as it was a very big explosion. If that is true, my bet would be Syria with Iranian "go ahead".
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/19/2005 8:56
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#7
Taking everything being said in the region with a large grain of salt. Deacon Blues is right, the jury is still out on it being a suicide bomb
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 11:05
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#9
Well at first blush I'd have to suspect the Syrians. WHY? Because Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's own people accuse the Syrians. Adding to that chorus, Christian Druze, Other Lebanese groups, western intelligence etc. BUT who the hell really knows with absolute certainty? >> GOD and *uckers who practice such unspeakable crimes.
#11
There is no way it was a car bomb. The crater (about the size from a JDAM, but not quite as deep) shows that the bomb was remotely detonated below ground, probably in a sewer line. The suicide video is designed to create plausible deniability for the Syrians.
Posted by: ed ||
02/19/2005 13:37
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#12
Tom, all accounts have this as a massive bomb, I haven't read or heard anything about it being a car bomb, the crater is way too big. the size and shape of the crater indicate a burried bomb.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/19/2005 13:41
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#13
*Yawn*
Big fat hairy deal.
Mullah Fidd-lah accuses Israel of breathing.
I accuse the mullah of being a pig's horse's ass.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 14:05
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#14
# 13 Barbara *yawn* What is the diference between
a pigs ass or a horses ass? SIZE?? Horses tend to be cleaner, which is why I asked.
I just dont understand the part about "framework
of the American strategy of political violence".
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 14:12
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#15
OK, Andrea, he's a pig who's also a horse's ass.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 14:48
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#16
Barbara- that is a MUCH BETTER clarification.
Remember...ONLY A SKUNK SMELLS HIS OWN HOLE ALSO**
Andrea Jackson
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 14:53
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#17
Um..... pigs/swine given the chance are way the bejeus cleaner than horses. I've cleaned too much shit from horse hoofs to even aruge the point.
#18
Hey, now, I have 5 horses and a pig and I resent comparing their asses to Fadlallah. Sunshine, a very pretty little quarter horse, has a fine rump and Elsbeth the Pig is quite cute herself, just ask Half Empty!
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/19/2005 16:45
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#19
Shipman I'll aruge the point. Horses in a stall do indeed require frequent cleaning of hooves. Horses in a pasture have several areas they have for equine bioefluent emissions and do not commonly walk in their own horsepookey.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/19/2005 16:48
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#20
#13 "Big fat hairy deal."
Ummm, Barbara,I believe that's a "big hat fairy deal".
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 16:52
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Interior and Municipalities Minister Suleiman Franjieh lashed out at the Progressive Socialist Party President and opposition member Walid Jumblatt, accusing him of holding weapons at his stronghold in Mukhtara despite the disarmament of political parties. Speaking following the Cabinet session on Friday, Franjieh defended Prime Minister Omar Karami and himself against what he called "criticism against their person," stressing that criticism can be addressed democratically but not against one's person.
The minister indicated that based on the opposition's approach, one can point his finger at Jumblatt immediately in case a member of the government was harmed. When asked why the government accused the opposition of collaboration, Franjieh defended the government, saying the opposition has previously called government officials "puppets." According to Franjieh, the opposition's escalation in the current phase meant civil war. "A major national catastrophe could lead the country to ruins," he said. Franjieh said he, as interior minister, assumes the political and moral responsibility for the assassination bid for neglecting security loopholes. "But, I will not accept to be held responsible for the blood of Hariri as the opposition claims," he said, adding that the opposition was "resorting to cheap exploitation of the incident to win parliamentary seats."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
oy yoi yoi--i'd be shorting beirut corniche property in a new york minute--get the green paint--that line is going to be drawn again--bets on who invades el hellhole to whack the palis and salafis--gonna be a run on geneva real estate around lac leman
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
02/19/2005 4:38
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Nothing like a common external enemy to unite otherwise fractious people.
Two warriors pledge war
Columnist Nazeer Naji wrote in Jang that a TV debate between ex-ISI chief General (Retd) Hameed Gul and Indian Major (Retd) Bharat Verma was commented upon in the Urdu press. Most of the commentators condemned India in the light of Verma's hawkishness. But the fact was that the two men who had no feeling for the welfare of the masses in South Asia were talking in military terms and parted throwing challenges of another war. Both presumed to speak on behalf of their nations, which was not true because the entire South Asia wanted peace and was not in the habit of talking in military terms. In Pakistan more and more leaders were talking in extreme terms, which was not a good thing.
Musharraf losing trust
Columnist Nazeer Naji wrote in Jang that General Musharraf came with a dilkash (attractive) agenda for the people of Pakistan saying the country would be the Quaid's Pakistan. After he was accepted by the people he also steered Pakistan out of grave trouble after 9/11 through very clever policy. But to implement his agenda the party he formed was from the very party that had stood to lose from his coming to power. The result was that today Musharraf was keen to call himself a devout Muslim rather than a follower of the Quaid-e-Azam and Ataturk. He talked of going inside the Kaaba, but trust had evaporated from his politics. With India the normalisation process had become a victim of lack of trust; America seemed less trusting of him now and he had shown lack of trust in the party he brought up by firing two PML prime ministers. The religious parties whom he brought to their present strength were now arrayed against him and large areas of Pakistan had become turbulent under his rule.
Quran insulted 17 times in Jhang
Daily Nawa-e-Waqt reported that some criminal threw pages of the Holy Quran in the gutter of Muhalla Sultanwalah in Jhang. The citizens of the city collected it, cleaned it, and preserved it. There was anger in the city and the local leaders said that this was the 17th incident in the city where religious and jihadi parties are strongly represented.
Musharraf should go home!
Ex-army chief Aslam Beg was quoted by Nawa-e-Waqt as saying that the only solution to the country's problems was that Musharraf should be courageous enough to go home. He said action in Balochistan would have the same results as actions in the past. Behind Wana operation and Balochistan there was an international conspiracy. Jabal as-Saraj had become a spying outpost for the US, Israel and India. India had dared build Baglihar Dam because of Pakistan's weakness. Pakistan should stop being flexible and take tough action. If the World Bank could not decide Baglihar issue justly the mujahideen would blow it up.
Eleven things must be done
Writing in Jang, Dr Mubashir Hassan stated that the government must do 11 things. It should hold fair and free elections. It should allow supremacy of parliament by stopping interference from the establishment. Make the local governments efficient. Free the country from the loot of multinationals and refuse to obey the directions of the IMF and the World Bank. Start public sector projects to give employment to people. Fill up the gap between the rich and the poor. Industrial workers should be given freedom to strike under ILO rules and given guarantee of employment. Put an end to feudalism. Increase productivity of agrarian sector and its welfare. Ensure housing, health, education and employment to the masses; and an independent foreign policy.
Where are the intellectuals?
Columnist Irfan Siddiqi wrote in Nawa-e-Waqt that America had become naked in Iraq after it finally accepted that there were no weapons of mass destruction there. Where were the Pakistani intellectuals who gave us lessons of hikmat (wisdom) while rubbing their foreheads in science and technology? Today the pens of these intellectuals had gone dry and their tongues had been stiffened by glue.
'Ghaibi haath' and Ijazul Haq
Quoted in Khabrain, religion minister Ijazul Haq said that his father General Zia's death in a plane crash in Bahawalpur in 1988 was still a mystery. Many inquiries and commissions had been asked to investigate the incident but there was always a hidden hand (ghaibi haath) that came and stopped them from going forward.
Bhutto wanted Maulana Noorani punished
Writing in Nawa-e-Waqt, MM Hassan stated that when he was in the dreaded force called FSF he was called on the phone by prime minister Bhutto who said that Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani had abused him, his wife and his daughter in a speech and therefore as an FSF officer he must teach him a lesson. When Hassan called on him to ask what action was required he flew into a rage and said that he didn't want him killed but wanted that a few bones in his body should be broken. Hassan pleaded that such an action would bring bad name to Bhutto, at which Bhutto lost his temper and said that he had formed the FSF at great expense and it should do what was required. Hassan in the end simply sent a message to Noorani to get him to speak moderately. The columnist drew the conclusion that if, like Bhutto, you separate religion from politics you only get despotism.
Inside Punjab schools
Columnist Asghar Nadeem Syed wrote in Jang that chief minister Punjab was keen to educate the masses in the province but his bureaucracy was exploiting the lady teachers in the countryside, at times seeking sexual satisfaction from them on the pain of a transfer the ladies could not afford. In some schools food is to be served to the children on orders from the chief minister. In such schools another practice had cropped up. Lady teachers began the day by preparing to cook for the children. No class was taken but elaborate preparations were made for the lunch. Somehow the mothers of the children also arrived in the schools and supervised the purchase of vegetables and the cooking of meat which was invariably below par. No one taught the children who were often busy climbing the nearby trees.
Why is the lover Hindu?
Sarerahe stated in Nawa-e-Waqt that a journalist who went to Chandigarh in Indian Punjab together with a delegation was taken aback by a film titled Veer Zara which was shown to Pakistanis in a cinema. In this film a man Veer is Hindu who falls in love with a Muslim girl Zara from Lahore. The journalist asked the hosts why did such films feature a Hindu lover and a Muslim beloved? He asked them to reverse the roles in the future.
Astrologers complain of quacks!
Sarerahe in Nawa-e-Waqt noted that many astrologers of Lahore had complained formally that the government should ban fake pirs and fakirs who told people their fortune because they were quacks and were giving the astrologers a bad name. Sarerahe said that astrologers seemed to be complaining against their own community because astrology and palmistry fell in the same category.
Bollywood actors as sacrificial animals
Sarerahe wrote in Nawa-e-Waqt that the Bakra Mandi (market for sacrificial animals for Eid) was featuring a new hard sell. Goats and cows meant for sacrifice were named after Bollywood actors and actresses. A goat was named Aishwarya Rai and sold at a high price while another one with a Lollywood name Saima was sold at a little less. The male goats were named Shahrukh Khan and Shan and so on. The column mentioned that already the sacrificed animals were supposed to enter Paradise as human being.
Fraud through printed 'bakra'
According to Khabrain, a group of thieves in Rawalpindi took to the shocking practice of imprinting the word Muhammad PBUH on the hide of sacrificial goats with a chemical and then showed it to innocent citizens for a fee. The gang earned thousands of rupees for three days before they were found out. The gang confessed that their chemical shop was not earning much so they thought of the bakra miracle.
Karachi city council against Aga Khan foundation
As reported in Nawa-e-Waqt, City Council Karachi resolved in a session that Aga Khan Foundation be stopped from censoring the textbooks in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. The following were the specific complaints. The new textbooks contained the message that Raja Dahir was a harmless man and that the two-nation doctrine was a source of hatred. Instead of Hazrat Ayesha there was now a simple story. Instead of Allama Iqbal there was now an account of a village woman. In place of Fatah Makka there was a Walk to Ziarat, in place of Baba Farid, there was a lesson titled City said Village said, instead of Islam ka Pehla Teer there was an essay on the Customs Officer, Instead of Hazrat Khadija there was morning walk, instead of Rehem Dili (merciful heart) there was an essay on Gwadar Port, and Instead of Syed Ahmad Shaheed there were sex education lessons (sifli).
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
I like the 11 things to be done....and voila! U-friggin-Topia.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/19/2005 1:37
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#2
But he left out the part about the Puppies, the Bunnies, and the Duckies With Little Sailor Hats.
#3
Hmmmm..... it's getting towards the end of the month and the ghosts are Christmas Presents are showing up in the mailbox. Perhaps I'll whip up bakra miracle. I'll use a gator for dramatic effect.
Thousands of young Sudanese girls are reluctant to return home to southern Sudan from refugee camps around Africa after last month's landmark north-south peace deal for fear they will be sold into marriage, a senior UN official said Friday. Adolescent girls in at least two camps have told interviewers from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (Unhcr) they will not return unless they are given legal protection against being married off, the official said. "Everybody talks about the lost boys of Sudan, what about the lost girls?" said Wendy Chamberlin, the UN's deputy high commissioner for refugees, after visiting the Rhino camp in Uganda and the Kakuma camp in Kenya.
The well-known phrase "lost boys" refers to the thousands of young Sudanese men who fled the country to avoid forced conscription into rebel and militia forces, many of died in the bush before reaching refugee camps. Chamberlin, a former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan and Laos, said she had been surprised by the intensity of fear displayed by the girls in her conversations with them during her visits earlier in the week. "Something that struck me ... was the number of times young girls raised the issue of (whether) they would be protected if they went home," she told reporters here. "They want assurances before they go back that there will be some legal protections so they will not be married off early against their will," Chamberlin said. "It is a major obstacle for these young girls."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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Salameh Nematt Al-Hayat 2005/02/17 He wanted to be a Lebanese and Arab nationalist at the same time and so he walked on the rope, full of bombs, of the joint two tracks until it exploded. Perhaps he did not know that the beating heart of Arab nationalism, which he was disillusioned to think he can satisfy with the game of balance on ropes, had stopped some time ago and that its flame has moved to Baghdad⊠before it burnt out there when its advocate was found in a holeâŠ
He walked on a tight rope between two fires but unfortunately there is no middle ground between the paradise of the country and the hell of Arab nationalism: he opposed the extension of Lahoud's term and then signed the amendment of the constitution⊠so that he would not cut the rope. He played a biased game: for does the "trusteeship authority" accept middle solutions? He wanted to be a partner but they wanted him an agent or a supporter like the other "supporters" and it did not help him that his people and the world were along his side⊠for there is no balance in that dirty game, and no one is immuneâŠ
Who killed him? They are the same ones that filled up mass graves in Iraq. The same who seek to burn out every beam of freedom no matter from where it shines. The same people who fought to the death to foil the elections in Iraq and Palestine and seek to foil and forge it in Lebanon. Hasn't Walid Jumblatt finally made his decision between Arab nationalism and freedom? Was it his early decision that saved him from a definite fate, considering that making up his mind made the hunt difficult and would have exposed the hunter? We do not know. Nevertheless, the Lebanese know who assassinated the leaders of their independence from Riad Solh⊠to Rafiq Al Hariri. Yet, the killer is pursuing his crimes until the last breath, when he would collapse into his hole. It is sheer malevolence. Why do the remnants of the fallen regime in Baghdad continue their crimes after more than a year on the collapse and political bankruptcy of their leader?
There are a lot of lessons to be learned from Beirut's most recent crime; it is that there can be no truce with those that do not know the difference between partnership and political servitude. The reconcilers, in the name of brotherhood or Arabism, might benefit every now and then, yet, in the end, they dig their political graves with their own hands, at least in the eyes of their people who denounce them and look toward their natural right of freedom from servitude and guardianship.
The most important lesson for the Lebanese and others is that there can be no subordination and independence and that there is no difference between oppression by an occupying enemy and oppression by a neighboring brother. Oppression is one and the result is one no matter how numerous the reasons or different the conditions. It remains for the Lebanese people and the peoples under crises in the Arab region to become aware that the biggest problem is not with external enemies; real or imagined. The enemy lives within and inside anyone who justifies oppression and subordination as a way to fight an external enemy. He who is defeated from within can win nothing on the exteriorâŠ
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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi in Cairo Thursday to discuss the Middle East peace process, Iraq and a range of other regional issues, the official MENA news agency reported. The two leaders discussed "developments in the situation in the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian issue in light of the Sharm El Sheikh summit," said MENA. Egypt hosted a summit on February 8 at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh, which ended with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas declaring an end to hostilities. "The discussions touched on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and how to maintain the momentum achieved" during the summit, presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad told reporters.
MENA said Mubarak and Qadhafi also discussed the situation in Iraq and Sudan's troubled western region of Darfur, where conflict between the government and local rebels has left tens of thousands dead. They "agreed on the need to support efforts by the African Union to resolve the crisis in Darfur within an African framework," said Awad, who added that they were against "internationalisation of the situation or crisis." They also reviewed conditions in the Arab world in the aftermath of the assassination Monday of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. After the one-on-one talks, delegations from both sides joined the meeting. Qadhafi, who arrived earlier Thursday on a three-day visit, was scheduled to hold further talks Friday with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif on boosting bilateral ties between Tripoli and Cairo.
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Lebanon's political opposition has called for an "intifada for independence" as it stepped up it attacks on the government. In a significant escalation of its feud with the government in the wake of the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri, the opposition added that all parliamentary business is on hold until Hariri's murderers are identified. Speaking from Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt's residence in Clemenceau Qornet Shehwan Gathering member Samir Franjieh said: "In response to the criminal and terrorist policy of the Lebanese and Syrian authorities, the opposition declares a democratic and peaceful intifada [uprising] for independence." He added: "We demand the departure of the illegitimate regime." When asked why the opposition didn't resign from Parliament as many people had expected, Samir Franjieh said: "We will not grant the authorities our resignation. The parliamentary seats are the people's property."
Prime Minister Omar Karami responded by calling the opposition's demands "a project to topple the government." Speaking after Friday's Cabinet session, Karami said: "If the Syrian security apparatus leaves Lebanon, it would create chaos." The escalation of the current row comes at the same time as Lebanese Tourism Minister Farid Khazen resigned from the Cabinet, saying the government was not capable of running the country at this crucial period. Khazen said his resignation was due what he called his "personal convictions and my sense of national responsibility." Khazen said there is no substitute for dialogue based on the Taif Accord. He was replaced by Wadih Khazen, who is not an MP. Monday's upcoming parliamentary session looks set for chaos as the opposition insisted it will not discuss the draft electoral law until a full debate is held on Hariri's murder and the attempt on the life, last year of Chouf MP Marwan Hamade and Syrian troops are withdrawn from Lebanon. The refusal to discuss the electoral law could delay this May's parliamentary elections. Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh was dismissive of the opposition but still took time to warn them against inciting tensions in the wake of this week's tragic events. He said: "Should security be tampered with, the government will not stand unmoved, and the army will be given the order to act." But despite the warning he added: "It is not worth announcing a state of emergency."
Posted by: Fred ||
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"In response to the criminal and terrorist policy of the Lebanese and Syrian authorities, the opposition declares a democratic and peaceful intifada [uprising] for independence." He added: "We demand the departure of the illegitimate regime."
Democratic and peaceful intifada....Interesting marriage of adjectives and nouns. Hope it works out. Demanding a departure of the illegitimate regime without some kind of a stick to back oneself up seems like an assisted suicide move, IMHO.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/19/2005 17:04
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The US-run ads in the Pakistani media asking for leads to Osama Bin Laden and other Al Qaeda operatives have yielded useful information, a US official said on Friday. The brief television spots flashed colour pictures of Bin Laden and his 13 most wanted henchmen while a voiceover in Urdu offered rewards of up to $25 million. "During the last couple of days, we got around 28 calls and a number of them gave useful information," US embassy spokesman Greggory Crouch said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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And you definition of "useful" is what, Mr Crouch?
How about your definition of "vacuous" when applied to public comments by diplomatic spokesdinks?
Dear Zarqawi I'm fine how are you?
I am still hiding out here(that much is true)
I'm a little malnourished but try to relax
Please boom those who put my face upon the milk carton backs
Send money.
#4
Big Ed- that is a good one! You forgot the pamphlets that go around in the mail seeking
to help find missing kid's** You might want to call John Walsh 1-800-good luck. in finding Mr. Bin Laden. Does anyone know if F.B.I. 10 most wanted is still on?
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 14:39
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A boy of 14 was killed and at least five others were injured in an explosion near a barber's shop on Friday morning. Conflicting reports appeared about the explosion. IG Chaudhry Yaqub and DIG Pervez Rafi Bhatti said it was a gas explosion and police had found no evidence of a rocket. However, witnesses said they saw a rocket hit the building in Duraniabad, where two rooms of house collapsed and shops were badly damaged. Witness Nazar Muhammad said he saw a rocket hit the shop. The boy was killed and at least five were injured, though some reports said seven people had been hurt.
Posted by: Fred ||
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See daily Balochistan news leads here,
http://www.balochunity.org/index.php?opinions+&did=404
Some American-Balochis want to end the Punjabi occupation,
http://www.satribune.com/archives/august04/P1_sethi.htm
A top Chinese Communist Party official on Saturday headed to North Korea on a diplomatic mission to draw the isolated Stalinist regime back to stalled disarmament talks. Wang Jiarui, head of the diplomatic department of the Chinese Communist Party, was flying to Pyongyang. During his visit, he was expected to try and persuade North Korea to return to the negotiating table. It was not immediately clear how long the trip would be.
Restarting the six-country talks has taken on greater urgency since North Korea declared last week that it is a nuclear power. The talks involve the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan. North Korea says it is boycotting the talks until Washington abandons what the North says is a hostile policy toward the secretive nation. Washington hopes Beijing — Pyongyang's last major ally — will use its economic influence on North Korea to get it to stop developing nuclear weapons. China is an indispensable source of fuel and trade for the impoverished North.
Posted by: Fred ||
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A top Chinese Communist Party official on Saturday headed to North Korea on a diplomatic mission to draw the isolated Stalinist regime back to stalled disarmament talks.
Why is it that the first image the comes to mind is of Darth Vader's initial visit to the Death Star?
#5
Why restart the 6 Party Talks? It just becomes a forum for the NORKS to rant and rave. The ball is in China's court. If they do not want a nuclear armed Japan AND Taiwan, they better shuffle on down to Kimmie Town and adjust his idle screw.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/19/2005 14:25
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#6
# 4 Shipman # 5 Alaska Paul- LETS HOPE FOR A GOOD FORTUNE INSIDE THE COOKIE, OR OUR COOKIES
MAY CRUMBLE!!
Andrea Jackson
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 14:28
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#7
I've given up my slave name, I'm now Flomoting Slolung7595
#8
China cooperates in squashing Kim or they lose access to Amercian markets!
THAT would eventually eliminate the Chinese Communists. It will soon be Kim or them. I really expect Kim to have an unfortunate accident in the next year or two. He has gone "beyond insane".
Comes as a surprise, doesn't it? Who'da ever thunk that'd happen? But it seems to me that, if you're gonna have a church, especially one with magnificent edifaces and the occasional robes of cloth of gold, you should spend some time thinking about concepts like right and wrong. Maybe you could do some research, by reading up on the ideas in your holy book. If you have magnificent edifaces and occasional robes of cloth of gold, but there's no such thing as right or wrong, if it's all relative, then you're not a church. You're a social club with funny hats. You might as well spend the time you devote to Sunday services playing bridge.
The Anglican rift over gay bishops will be costly no matter how it is resolved, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said Thursday. Ties among national churches have been severely strained by the U.S. Episcopal Church's 2003 decision to elect V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire who is openly living in a gay relationship as a bishop. "Part of the cost involved in the repercussions of recent events is that it has weakened, if not destroyed, the sense that we are actually talking the same language within the Anglican Communion," Williams told the Church of England synod, which was considering an official report on the issue. "Not having a common language, a common frame of reference, has been one of the casualties of recent events, and there is every indication that that is not going to get better in a hurry," he said.
Robinson's elevation has roiled the 77-million strong worldwide Anglican Communion, which has its roots in the Church of England. The issue has pitted liberals against conservatives within the Episcopal Church, and some African bishops have cut off contact with the U.S. church.
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#1
Unlike in the Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church has split ownership of church property, the bishop doesn't own everything. This has resulted in individual churches, who disagree with their liberal bishop's abuse, to vote to become "missionary" churches of mostly African dioceses. Needless to say, this makes the liberal bishops apoplectic. Over time, it is evolving into two separate "provinces" living side-by-side. And while the really BIG money, in very old trust accounts, will stay with the liberal wing, all the NEW money will go to the conservatives.
#3
Mostly true Anonymoose. But in Florida it's the Liberal Wing that will be left in the lurch. The Diocese of North Florida owns my wifes' church (bldg and school) and it is liberal. A chance to loose everything for them.
#4
To clarify (for once) The church my wife attends is liberal on the Gay Bishop issue and stands to loose much in a schism since the Jax based Bishop is quite conservative.
The Anglican rift over gay bishops will be costly no matter how it is resolved, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said.
Williams is a master of the obvious, nicht wahr?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 11:15
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#6
oh goodie! I hope they split!! Then the moral equivalists can go to one, and traditional Christians to another.
I don't have any problem with gays, I could care less what people do in their bedrooms. But I got sick of the sermons not being about sin and redemption but being about the sin of supporting the boyscouts or not encouraging gays to marry.
The first half of the service, they preach moral equivalence - seemingly saying how there is no such thing as sin...but then then the second half, they tell you that you are a sinner if you believe in the concept of sin. Yeah ok. Makes sense...to them apparently.
Funny, last I checked the congregation was supposed to come in order to confess their own sins, ask for forgiveness and try to walk a better road in life, be a better person and focus on what matters in life - love, charity and forgiveness.
But in the Episcopal Church Of The Left, the ONLY sin seems to be not believing that homosexuality is wrong. Or supporting Israel or the Boyscouts. Yawn. Yeah...the world would just be a better place if only everyone threw rose petals at our gay neighbors and Israel stopped funding terrorists and occupying Palestine.
#7
Hmmm... I thought the common frame of reference for Christians was supposed to be the Bible, which is clear that homosexual sex is a sin. This is not a gray area like debates on female pastors and so on.
#8
Look..the church is full of sinners. That's kind of the point of a church is it not? Like an AA meeting is supposed to be full of alcoholics. People confessing their sins asking for forgiveness and seeking redemption. Trying to be better and walk in light instead of darkness.
Gays are welcome...just like prostitutes, adulterers..and all other sinners..which would be each and every one of us. Just like an AA meeting welcomes all alcoholics - Jesus welcomes all sinners.
I don't want to belong to a church that makes it its mission to debate the rightness or wrongness of homosexuality any more than I want to belong to a church that focuses on alcohol use or pornography. It's not the areas of sin that I need to personally focus on.
I'm not going to pass judgement on homosexuals or anyone else for that matter. But the last thing I want is a church that's main focus is to convince me of the rightness of homosexuality, the wrongness of supporting the Boyscouts or why Israel should get out of Palestine. I've got better ways to spend my time.
#9
I you like the Episcopal stance on ordination of non-celibate homosexuals then you'll just love their plunge into paganism. A few months ago Rev Margaret Rose who runs the womens ministry for the Episcopal Church out of their NCY headquarters posted on the national Episcopal website pages lifted directly from a druid website. That's druid..as in pagan. The druid liturgy was suggested by her as an example of a liturgy that Episcopal women should copy and emulate.See http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ecw_55934_ENG_HTM.htm for Rose's hasty "mea culpa" after a firestorm of criticism made her pull the web pages. Advocating pagan rituals was too much even for liberal Episcopals.
#10
Oh, by the way. Speaking of druid paganism the photo accompanying this article shows front and center( white beard , standng) Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. Those are not Episcopal vestments that he and the others are wearing. No, those are druid vestments. Dr Williams was photoed when he joined a Druid order recently. Tolerant, broad minded chap, huh? Makes me wonder if he and Rev Marget Rose are really Christians any more or have they wandered way off the reservation.
Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the president of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, alleged on Friday that the deletion of religion column from machine readable passports (MRPs) was a government's conspiracy to seek access for Qadianis to Holy Mecca under the guise of Islamic names. However, he said that the nation would thwart the "plot".
God forbid any Qadianis should set foot in Holy Mecca!
Addressing a Friday congregation at Jamia Mansoora, Qazi said clerics all over the country highlighted the steps taken by the government for the deletion of religion column and blasphemy laws in Friday congregations. Qazi blamed that General Musharraf wanted blessing of the United States and other western countries by removing religion column. "Musharraf is a major ally of US in its war against the Islamic world. Waging struggle against him is a religious obligation of all Muslims," he said. Qazi said that confidence-building measures recently taken by India and Pakistan would harm the freedom movement of Kashmiris. Under the pretext of people-to-people contact, the secular elements of both countries want to set up a free society here, he said.
A free society's anathema to Qazi. Islamic societies by definition are not free. But even Qazi usually doesn't come right out and say it...
He went on to say that the nation was built on faith and General Musharraf wanted to confine it to Pakistan.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
He looks like the Amazing Randi. I thought his kidneys were almost gone, a couple of years ago. Die already!
Police in Nepal arrested 57 opposition protesters Friday as King Gyanendra plunged the Himalayan country into a communications blackout, cutting phone service to thwart efforts to organize nationwide rallies against his recent seizure of power. The rallies, scheduled for Nepal's annual celebration of democracy called Democracy Day, were the first major protests planned against the king. Only eight protesters showed up in the capital, Katmandu, and they were promptly arrested. The poor turnout could be attributed to the king cutting phone services for almost 10 hours Friday and authorities detaining dozens of opposition leaders after he assumed power Feb. 1.
A group calling itself Sipah-e-Islam (Soldiers of Islam) has claimed responsibility for the killing of two tribal journalists in South Waziristan on February 7. "We accept responsibility for the killing of two journalists in South Waziristan last week," said a message faxed to a newspaper's office in Peshawar on Thursday and obtained by Daily Times on Friday. "Some journalists are working for Christians while disguising themselves as mediamen. They are used as tools in the negative propaganda of Christians against the Muslim mujahideen," read the faxed statement signed by the group's spokesman, Ahmed Farooqi.
Well, there you have it: them damn Christians are trying to subvert all of Waziristan.
This article starring:
AHMED FARUQI
Sipah-e-Islam
Sipah-e-Islam
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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I really think many moslem males just never really get beyond the dress-up stage.
A small Yemeni opposition party has been merged into the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) party, GPC sources said yesterday. The sources said negotiations between the GPCs Secretary-General Abdul-Kareem Al-Iryani and head of the Republican Party (RP) Muhammad Ali Abu-Luhoum, have come out with an agreement under which the RP would stand under the GPCs umbrella.
Under the deal, leaders of the RP who support the merger would be appointed in leading posts in the ruling party. The GPC is headed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Established in 1992, the Republican Party suspended its political activities in the aftermath of the failed 1994 secession attempt led by socialist politicians in the southern part of the Arab country. The RP chairman, who descends from the influential Abu-Luhoum family, backed the separation bid that sparked a 10-week civil war. The Abu-Luhoum clan heads the powerful Bakil tribal grouping, the rival bloc to the Hashid grouping, which is headed by Parliament speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmar.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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Togo's new military-installed leader promised Friday to hold presidential elections within two months, bowing to intense pressure at home and abroad to end his summary succession to power following the death of his dictator father. "In the superior interests of the nation and of the country's constitution, I promise to hold elections within 60 days, without delay," President Faure Gnassingbe said on state TV. Togo's army had announced Gnassingbe's appointment to power on Feb. 5, hours after the sudden death of his father, President Gnassingbe Eyadema, from a heart attack. Eyadema, who held power for 38 years, had been the world's longest-ruling leader after Cuba's Fidel Castro, using troops and repressive rule to resist the wave of democracy that rolled across the rest of sub-Saharan Africa in the 1990s.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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Libya has declined to meet a deadline for a $540 million compensation payment to the families of the 270 people killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the lawyer for the families said Friday. Libya declined an offer to extend the deadline, which had been set for Thursday, according to James Kriendler, of a New York law firm. The government of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was apparently annoyed by what it considers the Bush administration's slow movement in lifting sanctions against Libya.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
Looks like the colonel needs reinstatement of all sanctions until he pays his bills.
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 11:03
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#2
Or a Maverick in the tent, just for old time's sake.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
02/19/2005 11:09
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#3
I didn't wanna say it.
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 19:58
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Apparently heâs willing to take the chance. Are we? I doubt it.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
I doubt it as well, but there goes the security council resolution out the window. I can only imagine how hard the mullahs where shaking in their boots over the prospect of that.
Looks like sorting this out will be up to those damn crazy Cowboys and/or evil Jooooos.
#4
Putin needs foreign exchange and he needs to keep his nuclear industry active for future use. He's not afraid of Tehran -- he could wipe it off the map in 30 minutes if he needed to. Why would Iranian-supported nuclear terrorists attack a member of the Iran/Syria/Russia axis if they could attack the U.S./Israel axis instead?
Posted by: Tom ||
02/19/2005 12:47
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#5
Putin should go back to playing his part in Lord of the Rings.
The U.N. humanitarian chief urgently called on world leaders Friday to vastly increase the number of troops in Sudan's Darfur region to protect unarmed civilians and humanitarian workers facing a wave of murder, rape and looting. Jan Egeland depicted a crisis in which the number of people needing lifesaving assistance could jump from two million to four million if immediate action isn't taken.
Addressing a news conference, Egeland backed a recent U.N. report which found that war crimes and crimes against humanity had taken place in Darfur and called for the perpetrators to be sent to the International Criminal Court. "The armed men in militias are getting away with murder of women and children and it is still happening. Those who direct the militias, these forces are also getting away with murder. It's impunity what we have seen taking place in Darfur," he said. "There should be sanctions. Which ones and against whom? Not for me to decide. There should be more robust action." Egeland said the need for more African Union troops is urgent. While there are 9,000 aid workers in the western Darfur region, there are only about 1,850 soldiers from the African Union, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
But wait . . . I thought there wasn't any genocide . . .
Posted by: The Doctor ||
02/19/2005 1:12
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#4
They want us to go in and kick out the French and other peacekeepers to stop the genocide? I get the feeling the US military wouldn't mind that job.
#5
Jan Egeland depicted a crisis in which the number of people needing lifesaving assistance could jump from two million to four million if immediate action isnât taken.
#7
The accommodation facilities for UN coordinators who need to coordinate some coordination with lots of other coordinators are just horrible in Darfur.
Suicide bombings of two Shiite mosques in Baghdad killed at least 17 people on Friday as thousands of Iraq's newly empowered majority sect marked Ashoura, the main event in their religious calendar. Separately, a rocket landed near a police station and close to a mosque in a Shiite district of northwestern Baghdad, killing three people and wounding five in a shop, police said. Hours later a suicide bomber killed two policemen and a member of the Iraqi National Guard in Baghdad, a police official said.
In the first suicide attack, a man wearing an explosives- packed vest merged into a crowd near a mosque in the Doura area of southwestern Baghdad and blew himself up, survivors said. The blast killed 15 people and wounded 33, Yarmouk hospital said. Soon afterwards, an explosion shook a second Shiite mosque in western Baghdad, the U.S. military and police sources said. Police said two suicide bombers had approached a crowd outside the mosque. They were spotted by police, who shot them, but one still blew himself up, killing at least two people. Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, told CNN he believed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant who is Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, was behind the attacks.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#2
Mojo---when I see them doing the bleeding scalp wound thing to kids it gives me the creeps.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/19/2005 1:44
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#3
more graduates of the wahabbi education system--i always said that if these people had thick lips-big kinky hair-black skin-and a bone through their noses-they would be re-colonized with a joyless abandon by the civilized races bringing the moral benefits of a superior way of life--they are the equivalent of a pack of banchees on the savannah
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
02/19/2005 4:03
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#4
My surprise meter pegged last night when Dan Blather actually called these bombers TERRORISTS, not insurgents. I wonder what changed over at CBS.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/19/2005 8:50
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#5
It's so funny to remember how everyone freaked out that the US might fire on mosques during this war, and yet the arabs have no problem blowing them up to kill each other. That tells me they don't really consider them sacred after all.
#6
It's so funny to remember how everyone freaked out that the US might fire on mosques during this war, and yet the arabs have no problem blowing them up to kill each other.
Naahh, to the types that were all up in arms over the possibility of mosque damage due to U.S. fire, the Arabs are beyond reproach; it's only the U.S. that is worth criticizing.
Assailants torched dozens of tents Friday belonging to Syrian workers in northern Lebanon, in the latest attack after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri blamed by many on Syria. "Three cars of armed elements attacked a Syrian camp in Minyeh, near the main northern port city of Tripoli, this afternoon," a police officer said. "They burned about 40 tents, with all the belongings of the workers, before fleeing the area," he said, adding that there were no casualties.
On Thursday, gunmen opened fire on a truckload of Syrian workers in eastern Lebanon before beating them up and stealing their money. Authorities detained four people after the incident. Groups of Syrian workers have also come under attack in Hariri's home city of Sidon.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#4
Nice picture - though I think an extra-large bowl of "movie-butter" popcorn would be good, too. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/19/2005 11:13
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#5
# 4 a better picture was that of the coffin
containing the Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri
being tossed around, handed from one person to another, in a football game manner along the streets as the funeral was going on!!!
Is that tradition for that country to pay respect's that way?
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea ||
02/19/2005 18:51
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President Fidel Castro called the U.S.-led war in Iraq a "brutal bombing spectacle," and criticized the Bush administration for its spending on the war. In comments televised Friday from a speech two days earlier, Castro said the billions of dollars being spent in Iraq "won't cure AIDS, won't cure any disease, won't cure anybody." Meanwhile, he said in the speech to a workers' congress in Havana, Cuba exports thousands of doctors to needy countries. "Mr. Bush put forth 15 billion dollars, and with that the world moved on to the stage of the Iraq war, that brutal bombing spectacle," Castro said in remarks lasting nearly three hours. "But what is needed over there is a man, a revolutionary doctor who can save lives. And that's what we have."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/19/2005
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#1
Castro said the billions of dollars being spent in Iraq "wonât cure AIDS, wonât cure any disease, wonât cure anybody."
-thanks for the input.
"But what is needed over there is a man, a revolutionary doctor who can save lives. And thatâs what we have."
-hey, you can still have Howard Dean if you want him, sheesh.
#3
US budget $11,000,000,000,000 (2003 Est). Cuba Budget $11 and spare change. No, literally, spare change? Guess he's jealous. 'Course he'd just buy military unforms and award himself medals if he had it. The lack of fashion sense is odd, too, since he seems to have a Queer Eye thingy going on in the pic.
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.
President Mohammad Khatami, whose regime is in the US firing line over its nuclear activities, voiced Iran's support Thursday for Syria and radical anti-Israeli groups. "We respect the Syrians who are in the frontline in the fight against the Zionist regime and we salute their legitimate struggle to recover their occupied lands," he said after talks with visiting Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri. "We support the resistance in Lebanon and all those fighting the (Israeli) occupation," he was quoted as saying. Otri on Wednesday said Iran and Syria should form a "united front" against threats from abroad, in an apparent reference to the intense US pressure against both regimes.
Top West African leader President 
BAGHDAD — US senator Hillary Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton, is expected in Baghdad today, a source at the US embassy said yesterday.
Kurds rejected the idea of an Islamic republic in Iraq following the victory of a conservative Shiite list in last month's historic elections. 
Lebanese opposition leader 
Shiite cleric Sayyed 
Interior and Municipalities Minister 
Two warriors pledge war
He wanted to be a Lebanese and Arab nationalist at the same time and so he walked on the rope, full of bombs, of the joint two tracks until it exploded. Perhaps he did not know that the beating heart of Arab nationalism, which he was disillusioned to think he can satisfy with the game of balance on ropes, had stopped some time ago and that its flame has moved to Baghdad⊠before it burnt out there when its advocate was found in a holeâŠ
Egyptian President 
Lebanon's political opposition has called for an "intifada for independence" as it stepped up it attacks on the government. In a significant escalation of its feud with the government in the wake of the assassination of former Premier 
The US-run ads in the Pakistani media asking for leads to Osama Bin Laden and other Al Qaeda operatives have yielded useful information, a US official said on Friday. The brief television spots flashed colour pictures of Bin Laden and his 13 most wanted henchmen while a voiceover in Urdu offered rewards of up to $25 million. "During the last couple of days, we got around 28 calls and a number of them gave useful information," US embassy spokesman Greggory Crouch said.
A boy of 14 was killed and at least five others were injured in an explosion near a barber's shop on Friday morning. Conflicting reports appeared about the explosion. IG Chaudhry Yaqub and DIG Pervez Rafi Bhatti said it was a gas explosion and police had found no evidence of a rocket. However, witnesses said they saw a rocket hit the building in Duraniabad, where two rooms of house collapsed and shops were badly damaged. Witness Nazar Muhammad said he saw a rocket hit the shop. The boy was killed and at least five were injured, though some reports said seven people had been hurt.
A top Chinese Communist Party official on Saturday headed to North Korea on a diplomatic mission to draw the isolated Stalinist regime back to stalled disarmament talks. Wang Jiarui, head of the diplomatic department of the Chinese Communist Party, was flying to Pyongyang. During his visit, he was expected to try and persuade North Korea to return to the negotiating table. It was not immediately clear how long the trip would be.
Police in Nepal arrested 57 opposition protesters Friday as 
A group calling itself 
A small Yemeni opposition party has been merged into the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) party, GPC sources said yesterday. The sources said negotiations between the GPCs Secretary-General Abdul-Kareem Al-Iryani and head of the Republican Party (RP) Muhammad Ali Abu-Luhoum, have come out with an agreement under which the RP would stand under the GPCs umbrella.
Libya has declined to meet a deadline for a $540 million compensation payment to the families of the 270 people killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the lawyer for the families said Friday. Libya declined an offer to extend the deadline, which had been set for Thursday, according to James Kriendler, of a New York law firm. The government of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was apparently annoyed by what it considers the Bush administration's slow movement in lifting sanctions against Libya.
The U.N. humanitarian chief urgently called on world leaders Friday to vastly increase the number of troops in Sudan's Darfur region to protect unarmed civilians and humanitarian workers facing a wave of murder, rape and looting. 
Suicide bombings of two Shiite mosques in Baghdad killed at least 17 people on Friday as thousands of Iraq's newly empowered majority sect marked Ashoura, the main event in their religious calendar. Separately, a rocket landed near a police station and close to a mosque in a Shiite district of northwestern Baghdad, killing three people and wounding five in a shop, police said. Hours later a suicide bomber killed two policemen and a member of the Iraqi National Guard in Baghdad, a police official said.
Assailants torched dozens of tents Friday belonging to Syrian workers in northern Lebanon, in the latest attack after the assassination of former Prime Minister 
President Fidel Castro called the U.S.-led war in Iraq a "brutal bombing spectacle," and criticized the Bush administration for its spending on the war. In comments televised Friday from a speech two days earlier, Castro said the billions of dollars being spent in Iraq "won't cure AIDS, won't cure any disease, won't cure anybody." Meanwhile, he said in the speech to a workers' congress in Havana, Cuba exports thousands of doctors to needy countries. "Mr. Bush put forth 15 billion dollars, and with that the world moved on to the stage of the Iraq war, that brutal bombing spectacle," Castro said in remarks lasting nearly three hours. "But what is needed over there is a man, a revolutionary doctor who can save lives. And that's what we have."
