Gambling is already illegal in most parts of the USA. That is, except the state lotteries, which have the lowest expected return of any gambling game. What a sham. For years, gamblers were forced to play over the net. This is legal because the internet books are located "offshore", outside the country. However, this introduces additional, and completely unnecessary risks. If your book screws you over, there is basically nothing you can do, because itâs not subject to US jurisdiction. The law has thus penalized American players, and hurt American gambling industry.
But it gets worse. Congress is about to pass a law which would make it illegal to gamble over the internet. The bill has already passed in the House of Representatives, and has passed in a Senate committee with flying colors. Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill this month.To protest this outrageous violation of personal rights, fill out a petition at Internet Gamblers for Internet Freedom. Some info from the site:
... Representative Jim Leach, a Republican from Iowa, and Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, have introduced H.R. 21 and S. 627 respectively, unjustly titled the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act." ...
A U.S.-based licensed and regulated Internet gaming industry would "suck all of the oxygen" out of an off-shore industry without U.S. licenses.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) put this well in hearing when he said, "If people in the U.S. have a choice between betting at Offhshore.com or CaesarâsPalace.com, they are going to go to Caesarâs every time. The marketing potential of U.S. branding, combined with the confidence that players would feel with a U.S. licensed entity would allow U.S.-licensed operators a substantial advantage.
In sum, licensing and regulation of Internet gaming is the best way to ensure appropriate consumer protections, appropriate protections against money-laundering, and an appropriate revenue stream to U.S. jurisdictions. Efforts at prohibition are unlikely to achieve any of these.
Posted by: Alex ||
09/09/2003 6:14:22 PM ||
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#1
This still doesn't explain why Congress thinks it has the POWER to outlaw internet gaming. The laws of the states rule here, which is why you can legally gamble in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, etc., but not Montana or Rhode Island.
It's a state-by-state thing, and Congress has no jurisdiction since gambling is never even mentioned in the US constitution - so quite obviously, it could NOT have granted this power to Congress.
My guess is they'll try and shoe-horn it in under the "Interstate Commerce" clause again.
#2
I'll put it on my list to do things after I finish my municipal Capital Improvement Plan funding requests at work. Anyone stupid enough to do internet gambling, giving their credit cards away to some offshore sleaze-co deserves to part with their money.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/09/2003 18:54 Comments ||
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No offense mojo, but were I to dedicate any portion of my regular schedule to addressing "outrageous violation(s) of personal rights", I would probably spend my time on the following MORE OBVIOUS violations:
1) Unconstitutional restrictions on gun ownership;
2) Taxation of hard-working and LEGAL citizens to provide welfare and other funds to those who are NOT in this country legally;
3) The unconstitutional "war on drugs" (which selectively decides that companies such as Seagrams, RJ Reynolds, and Liggett may manufacture and distribute as much addictive material as they wish but declares other chemicals illegal).
SP Gave a radio interview with the BBC Today programme this morning.
Thereâs a direct link to the 5 min interview here, and a subsequent webchat here.
He paints a positive picture of the coalition, its campaign and post war achievements, in spite of questions delivered with typical Beeb spin (which is presumably why they disgruntledly refer to him as "the infamous Baghdad resident..." at the main link.)
Posted by: Bulldog ||
09/09/2003 6:31:14 AM ||
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Thx bulldog - it was a good and satisfying read!
Daughters need not apply. EFL:
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have urged families to report any missing children for fear they might have be recruited by militant groups. The Saudi Interior Ministry has placed an appeal in newspapers, along with a telephone number for relatives to inform security services of suspicious cases. The measure is the latest step by the kingdom to try to crack down on activities by militant groups at home and improve its image abroad. It needs a lot of work.
The ministry said the government was "keen to protect its citizens and sons from being misled by suspicious groups seeking to drive them to crime and to distance them from their Islamic and moral upbringing. "Citizens must immediately report any absence or loss of contact with children or relatives so the concerned authorities may help the family locate them before any harm occurs." Hummm.
Many young Saudis have disappeared in recent years to join Osama Bin Ladens al-Qaeda network and other Islamic militant groups. There has been a growth in activity of such groups in the kingdom, sparking clashes between armed militants and Saudi security forces. You know, I almost believe that they dont know just how many are missing, and that is beginning to scare them. Admitting this in public must be a huge loss of face.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 8:18:58 PM ||
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Well, if they are having a tougher time shipping their problem children overseas (Afghanistan and Iraq ain't particularily friendly to them anymore), that means they're going to stay home and act up. Can't have that, now, can we?
Posted by: Baba Yaga ||
09/09/2003 21:22 Comments ||
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Why does this sound like we are going to be seeing some strangely bearded charecters on Saudi milk cartons?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 22:13 Comments ||
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Yemen says it has arrested a Saudi fugitive suspected of involvement in the Riyadh bombings. Officials said Bandar al-Ghamdi was arrested by Yemeni security forces and would be handed over to Saudi authorities. To be never heard of again.
Mr al-Ghamdi was one of 19 men on a list of wanted suspected militants issued by the Saudis.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 8:13:05 PM ||
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Israelâs Military Chief of Staff warned Tuesday against Al Qaeda attempts to recruit Saudi pilots that would take off from the Tabouk air base, which is relatively close to Israel, with the aim of carrying out attacks such as those committed on September 11, 2001. Saudis on suicide missions, now where have I heard that before?
According to the Yediot Aharonot daily, army chief Moshe Yaalon said Israel was concerned about the possibility that Saudi F-15 pilots, based in Tabouk, would carry out such missions on behalf of Al Qaeda. Yaalon told a conference held near Tel Aviv that "From interrogations the United States is conducting with al Qaeda detainees, we know that the network is trying to recruit Saudi pilots to carry out aerial suicide missions against Israel, similar to the September 11 attacks on US cities". According to Yaalon, "Such an attack may be carried out by an F-15 plane or a civilian plane originating from the Tabouk air base." Trying to fly into Israel is the surest form of suicide I know of. Iâll lay money Israel knows the second anyone goes wheels-up from these bases.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 9:07:05 AM ||
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It would be interesting to see the U.S. perform the first field test of the remote kill switch they installed in these F-15s. I have a mental picture of the Saudi pilot holding up a sign that says "Oh, no!" a la Wiley Coyote as he begins to descend...
Posted by: N. guard ||
09/09/2003 10:58 Comments ||
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I'd wire the remote to the ejection seat with a female voice doing a countdown;
5...4...3...2, ya'll have a nice day, 1, eject!
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 11:57 Comments ||
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Aren't many Saudi pilots actually retired RAP? If not I still don't think that many, would be interested in giving up perks for jehadi status.
If I were his Iman, I would disable the ejection seat to ensure the pilot's compliance with the fatawah.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 13:55 Comments ||
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I'd hit the kill switch just as they're starting too disappear. They start flying higher, higher, higher! Then suddenly start falling, falling, fal-Splat! Right in front of the Jihadis eyes.
That will make a lasting impression.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:19 Comments ||
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These guys are really good at buzzing the Aramco Core Area. Anything more than that will take a serious hald-holding session with a patient AWACS controller. My first bet is that they couldn't FIND Israel without several steers / course corrections.
#7
Al Qaeda trying to hire a British or American pilots???
As far as i know most of the Saudi pilots are retired Americans and British, some of them from other nations, real Saudi pilots are rare.
Posted by: Murat ||
09/09/2003 15:34 Comments ||
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No this is about military pilots, not civilians - Tabouk Air Base.
BTW, over the last 10 years, almost every occupation in SaoodiLand has been Saudi-ized - that means replacing non-Saudis with Saudis. Where it's merely a title at stake and ExPats can be hired to do the actual work, it approaches 100%. They give the Saudi the title and contract an ExPat to make him look like he can do something. We ExPats are highly-paid potted palms placed upon a stage where the Saudis prance about muffing their lines and pretending to do business with the real world.
In occupations where you actually have to be able to do something or have skills it's far lower.
Saudi military pilots are all Saudis - so there are actually very few (able to fly a jet) and they are the studs of the Saudi military. They wouldn't pass the entry exams for the AF Academy or make it through a single round of training exercises with a Western AF, but for Saudis, boy howdee, they're really something...
Opinion
EFL/FU
The Kelly affair may lead some people to think that the BBC cannot really be politically biased. The usual accusation is that it is biased against the Conservative Party. But this is a saga of a row between the corporation and a Labour government. On the whole, the BBC is careful to fulfil its obligations to balance air-time for different parties. Indeed, if it were only a party dispute, there would be little reason why we, the general public, should worry ourselves too much about it. BBC bias is not a piece of partisan trickery - it is a state of mind. So strong is the state of mind that a great many of the acts of bias, perhaps the majority of them, are quite unconscious. It is time to delve into that unconscious. Hence our Beebwatch, which starts on the opinion pages today.
The BBCâs mental assumptions are those of the fairly soft Left. They are that American power is a bad thing, whereas the UN is good, that the Palestinians are in the right and Israel isnât, that the war in Iraq was wrong, that the European Union is a good thing and that people who criticise it are "xenophobic", that racism is the worst of all sins, that abortion is good and capital punishment is bad, that too many people are in prison, that a preference for heterosexual marriage over other arrangements is "judgmental", that environmentalists are public-spirited and "big business" is not, that Gerry Adams is better than Ian Paisley, that government should spend more on social programmes, that the Pope is out of touch except when he criticises the West, that gun control is the answer to gun crime, that... well, you can add hundreds more articles to the creed without my help. None of the above beliefs is indefensible. The problem is that all of them are open to challenge and that that challenge never comes from the BBC.
During the first Countryside March, the Archers managed not to mention it at all, but mentioned the Gay Pride March instead. It is a question of who is being put on the spot, of where the BBC stands in relation to its chosen subject. "Yesterday, just after Yasser Arafat had torn up the road map by ousting his prime minister, I heard James Naughtie asking an Israeli spokesman why his country wouldnât give the Palestinians more concessions. On the same programme (the famed Today), I heard an interviewer asking an Islamist, virtually unchallenged, to expound his belief that the men who killed thousands in the World Trade Centre were doing the will of Allah. Imagine such respectful treatment for some white fascist who thinks God wants black people dead.
Readers are warmly invited to point out examples, but please make them specific and give the name of the programme and the date on which it appeared, and send them to beebwatch@telegraph.co.uk. Why are we bothering? Because anyone who wants to watch television in this country must by law pay £116 a year to the BBC for the privilege. It is like compulsory tithes to the Church of England in the 18th century. You may be interested to know what sermons your money is paying for.
Read it all. Donât have to comment on this - the article does enough itself. If even the BRITS are getting upset with the Beeb, maybe something will change. Best thing to do is to force the BBC to enter the marketplace as a private corporation, and try to survive without its government subsidy. The knife would cut deep in many, many places.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
09/09/2003 12:43:49 PM ||
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"If even the BRITS are getting upset with the Beeb, maybe something will change."
Yes, one of 2 changes. Now, either the Beeb more balanced, or else the Beeb goes out of business.
Hopefully a false alarm. EFL
Two men carrying knives in their hand luggage have been stopped from boarding a passenger plane at Stansted Airport, Essex Police said. The men were trying to board a Ryanair flight to Oslo in Norway. It was not yet known if they had any links to terrorism.
I hope somebody's digging hard to find out...
A total of six men were stopped from boarding the plane as a result of the finds. The first man stopped, a British national, was found to have a small knife in his hand luggage when it was put through the scanner. He was prevented from boarding the Boeing 737-800. A second man was then found to have a lock-knife in his hand luggage. The second man, said to be "of Eastern origin", was also stopped from boarding the plane. Police could not confirm if he was from the Middle or Far East but said he was travelling as part of a group of five.
Raises my hackles, especially as we near 9-11...
A man who was trying to board at the same time was stopped from getting on and the other three people in the group, who had already gone through the scanner, were also prevented from flying. Police said there was nothing to suggest that the two men found with knives knew each other. They were continuing their investigations, including checking the menâs backgrounds. The finds come amid heightened security fears as the second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist atrocities approaches.
Posted by: Bulldog ||
09/09/2003 7:54:12 AM ||
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#1
And check their Norwegian itineraries...see if Mullah Krekar's business card was in either of their wallets...
#5
Just remember to use your seat cushion as a shield against knives, box cutters, etc. - and the fire extinguisher as your offensive weapon - to blind and bludgeon - then pile on and pound the living shit out of 'em. It'll feel so fucking good that you'll prolly pass on the ticket refund the airline will offer.
#6
More info here-- One man is described as a Briton from southeast London. The other was a Norwegian Muslim traveling with four other muslim men...both men were detained briefly but allowed to continue their journey.
EFL
A computer expert who masterminded Britainâs biggest credit card fraud in an attempt to impress his better-paid girlfriend has been jailed for nine years. In the dock with Sunil Mahtani were would-be journalist Shahajan Miah and Shaidal Rahim, both 26, and from Enfield, north London, who pleaded guilty to one of the conspiracy counts. They were each jailed for four years. Sunil Mahtani, 26, felt so "frustrated" with the financial gulf between him and the merchant banker he loved that he teamed up with a gang of hi-tech crooks. Over the next three-and-a-half years, he downloaded details of nearly 9,000 credit cards and handed them to his partners in crime. Much of the highly-sensitive information was electronically encoded on to cloned credit cards to fund hundreds of illicit spending sprees in the UK and abroad. Most of the money went on buying large quantities of cigarettes on the continent.It is thought they were brought back to Britain and sold for huge profits. Iâd like to know if any of that "profit" ended up in Finsbury Park...
EFL
Leni Riefenstahl, whose hypnotic depiction of Hitlerâs Nuremberg rally, "Triumph of the Will," was renowned and despised as the best propaganda film ever made, has died. She was 101. Riefenstahl died Monday night at her home in the Bavarian lakeside town of Poecking, mayor Rainer Schnitzler said. Riefenstahlâs companion Horst Kettner said she died in her sleep. "Her heart simply stopped," Kettner told the online version of the German celebrity magazine Bunte.
A tireless innovator of film and photographic techniques, Riefenstahlâs career centered on a quest for adventure and portraying physical beauty. Even as she turned 100 last year, she strapped on scuba gear to photograph sharks in turquoise waters. She had begun to complain recently that injuries sustained in accidents over the years, including a helicopter crash in Sudan in 2000, had taken their toll and caused her constant pain.
Despite critical acclaim for her later photographs of the African Nuba people and of undersea flora and fauna, she spent more than half her life trying to live down the films she made for Hitler and for having admired the tyrant who devastated Europe and all but eliminated its Jews. Even as late as 2002, Riefenstahl was investigated for Holocaust denial after she said she did not know that Gypsies taken from concentration camps to be used as extras in one of her wartime films later died in the camps. Authorities eventually dropped the case, saying her comments did not rise to a prosecutable level. Speaking to The Associated Press just before her 100th birthday on Aug. 22, 2002, Riefenstahl dramatically said she has "apologized for ever being born" but that she should not be criticized for her masterful films. "I donât know what I should apologize for," she said. "I cannot apologize, for example, for having made the film âTriumph of the Willâ â it won the top prize. All my films won prizes." Since you won prizes, itâs all right?
EFL
...top trade officials meet in Cancun, Mexico, this week to decide on weighty issues of global industrial tariffs, farm subsidies and cheap medicines for poor countries. The big wild-card issue â almost sure to produce one of the nastiest fracases in Cancun â is a looming battle over food names. Simply put, Europe would like them returned. The 15-nation European Union says feta cheese from Wisconsin is fake, cognac from Chile a canard, champagne from California a cheat. Whatâs more, producers of such products are thieves, the Europeans say. The EU says names such as Bordeaux and Chablis, mozzarella and Roquefort belong to small producers in specific regions of Europe, where those delicacies originated and are still made to traditional specifications. The Europeans are demanding a global trade agreement that says so... "Iâd say âbaloney,â but you realize thatâs a name they want back, too," retorts Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Indeed, your bologna has a first name â itâs O-S-C-A-R â but risks losing its most important name. Lunch meats called bologna or baloney get the name from mortadella bologna, the smooth, pink, steamed sausage made since the Renaissance in Bologna, Italy. Time for Oscar Mayer and others to cut it out, the EU says... Mortadella bologna is one of the 41 names on a list that European trade negotiators are taking to Cancun. The list consists of wines, spirits, meats and cheeses from France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Germany... In the European view, geographic name protection would trump trademark rights. That means, for example, that Anheuser-Busch could be stripped of Budweiser, the brand name of the worldâs top-selling beer. Budweis is the Germanic name of a Czech town that has been brewing beer for more than 700 years. A Czech brewer, Budweiser Budvar, claims it is the rightful owner...
Posted by: Tom ||
09/09/2003 11:49:38 AM ||
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#1
That does it! No more Spam⢠in your courriel, pal!
#2
You have to know that the European Union is a collection of fruitcakes when they do something as stupid as this. Consider, "Frankfurter" (hotdog) comes from Frankfurt, "Hamburger" comes from Hamburg, and so on and so forth. Trying now to change the use of these names for common items is both stupid and irelevant. The EU/WTO "ministers" that try to force this down the throats of the rest of the world should be faced with a total boycott of ALL European products until they wise up and learn to "live and let live". I will even give up my Dusseldorfer mustard (Made in New Jersey).
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
09/09/2003 12:57 Comments ||
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#3
"Hamburger" actually refers to the style of preparation - finely ground beef "a'la Hamburg"
#4
Boy, I bet that tomorrow morning all EU citizens will wake up, hear this and puff their chests out with pride. EU euros hard at work. MUAHAHAHAHAHA.
Posted by: Paul ||
09/09/2003 13:54 Comments ||
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#5
Ladies, Gentleman, and ranters around the world, behold the power of the EU!
" We fight for your food names that you never complained about until they became multi-billion dollar industries! "
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 13:56 Comments ||
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#6
This sort of thing happens within the EU too. A few months ago the sublime omnipotents of Luxembourg, peace be uponn them, declared that Parma Ham is no longer Parma Ham if it's not been sliced in Parma. Beat that!
#9
I suppose there are some folks in Britain who will like this as well. Like, for example, the folks from cheddar?
Actually, Liberal, yes, there are. Several of the smaller cheese producing towns in England are hailing this as "inevitable justice".
This translates as "we'll get more money for doing nothing but selling the right to use our name.."
Ed Becerra
Posted by: Ed Becerra ||
09/09/2003 15:02 Comments ||
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#10
Actually the French (or the Quebecois) have a word for spam as well: pourriel (contraction of pourrir and courriel, sort of "rot & mail").
At least give them som credit for being creative.
That said I'm rather pissed that no Munich brewery is allowed to sell (authentic) Oktoberfest Beer because some shitty US brewery with undrinkable piss trademarked that name.
#13
Ok not the beer. definately not the beer! mmmmmm beer from Bavaria *Homer Simpson flashback*
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 17:38 Comments ||
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#14
Well I guess that means no more Olds Calias' or Buick Rivieras' either. The Aussies will have to rename the Southern Alps( or is that the NZers,yup just checked ). What's stupid about this is that only a complete idiot( perfect job discription for an EU minister ) would think that swiss chese made in Wisconsin or California is really from Switzerland. Ditto for any of these other food items. Nor will anybody confuse Paris, Texas/Wisconsin with Gay Paree. And TGA, quit sending us the swill and start shipping the good stuff over!
Posted by: Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire ||
09/09/2003 18:12 Comments ||
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#15
That is the stupidest idea i've heard in a long time. It reminds me of the french's trying to "purify" their language by inventing new words for the ones imported from English. Speaking for most of Wisconsin, (I think) I'd like to see them try to take away our cheese and beer... Besides, people brought these recipes to America when they decided to leave good old Europe did they not?
Posted by: S ||
09/09/2003 19:11 Comments ||
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#16
Someone, the good stuff (Munich Spaten beer at least) is getting shipped over to Iraq to be destroyed by U.S. troops.
Polandâs president on Monday approved a new national security strategy on terrorism as the military takes a central role in stabilizing postwar Iraq. President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Polandâs involvement in Iraq was one factor in the governmentâs decision to draw up a new security doctrine. Last week, a 9,500-strong Polish-led force took command of peacekeeping across a wide swath of south-central Iraq. ``Terrorism is international and one needs to fear an attack,ââ Kwasniewski, who refused to discuss details of the new strategy, said at a press conference. ``But I donât connect it with Polandâs involvement, as many months have passed and there have been no such acts.ââ
I wouldn't feel too secure...
Last monthâs bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad has showed that ``terrorists do not care about anyone,ââ Kwasniewski said. ``Itâs a fight for the safety of all of us.ââ
Civilized world versus barbarians, y'might say...
Poland has sent 2,400 troops to help stabilize Iraq, with large contingents coming from Ukraine and Spain and smaller commitments from 18 other nations. Warsaw sent a small contingent of troops to the U.S.-led war to remove Saddam Hussein, and was rewarded with command of a postwar security sector. ``That difficult mission symbolizes the new character of the challenges,ââ Prime Minister Leszek Miller said, adding that traditional threats such an armed invasion have given way to ``unconventional threats whose sources are non-state organizations.ââ Thank you, Poland!
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/09/2003 2:18:33 AM ||
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Thank you, Poland!
The Poles have more than a few roots related to immigration to this country. At the same time, we should be conscious of the fact that Poland is in Iraq for the same reason that Turkey was in Korea 50 years ago. For Turkey, it was fear of the Soviet Union and the relentless onslaught of communism. In Poland's case, it is about preparation for a resurgent Russia - they want as many brownie points with Uncle Sam as they can get, just in case there really is an unfriendly bear in the woods.
#2
A lot of countries reevaluated their international policy after 9-11. I like what Poland has done but don't care much for the direction that the French government has decided to go in.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:02 Comments ||
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#3
Thank you, Poland!
I would hold off on that. The Miller government isn't too popular right now (as if any government since 1990 was). If the EU membership experiment fails (which it will), Miller will be gone, and there's no guarantee that the next guy will be pro-American. The people are generally not pro-American (a sizable percentage of Poles have a tradition of hating Jews, and this automatically means that they don't necessarily like America).
Secondly, I'm not entirely convinced that Americans would protect Poland in case of military conflict with Russia, as an example, even though Poland is within NATO. Remember that not all members of congress were happy that the eastern European states were joining NATO, way back when... And Poland has been sold many a times in its history.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 14:45 Comments ||
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#4
Poland hating Jews? I've never heard of that. I wonder if the blame the Jews for Hitlers invasion in WWII?
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:51 Comments ||
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#5
It is my belief that the US would protect any NATO member regardless of whether Congress approves. My only caveat is that this is dependent on the American people continuing to elect presidents that understand the result of ignoring the invasion of an ally. I'm sure Luxembourg will be right by our side.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 15:03 Comments ||
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#6
I wonder if the blame the Jews for Hitlers invasion in WWII?
Some of them blame Jews for everything. Mind you, to stave off any heat, not every Pole hates Jews, in fact many Poles protected Jews in WW2. Some even sacrificed their lives doing so. But I think there is a significant group who privately do not wish the Jews well. As an aside, there's a list circulating among this group that lists the real "Jewish" names of people they don't like. Kwasniewski is on this list, along with Lech Walesa. In other words, anyone who disagrees with them is labeled a Jew. Funny stuff until you realize the people subscribing to this mentality are (supposedly) highly educated.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 15:45 Comments ||
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(Via LGF)
An Italian author who wrote an attack on Muslims, calling their culture rotten and backward and saying "the sons of Allah are multiplying like rats", was accused of inciting racial hatred in Paris yesterday.
[snipped, rerun from 9/6/03]
Posted by: mojo ||
09/09/2003 12:47:06 AM ||
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The case SHOULS (rhough ir won't) set a new precedent for U.S. targeting priorities . . .
Posted by: Ralph ||
09/09/2003 1:42 Comments ||
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#2
First off, I believe this story has already been 'rantified' here.
Secondly, French law has no bearing on people who aren't French. Maybe if it was a international law that was broken, but this is domestic nonsense.
Whine all you want, but when we mail you your brothers head, don't cry about 'murder'. Afterall, he has 72 virgins now.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 1:48 Comments ||
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#3
First off, I believe this story has already been 'rantified' here.
#4
"When a victim is clearly designated, the sons of Allah, why should I, a Muslim, not feel victimised?"
I feel victimized by the Koran, ie. "'O believers do not take the Jews and Christians as friends or supporters ..." source Can I file a lawsuit in Paris too?
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 7:23 Comments ||
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#5
"When a victim is clearly designated, the sons of Allah, why should I, a Muslim, not feel victimised?"
Isn't feeling victimized the sixth pillar of Islam?
(Note: We really need some help in California!)
By Comarade MARTHA MENDOZA, AP National Writer
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) - The Santa Cruz City Council is considering becoming the first local government in the country to ask Congress to look into impeaching President Bush. "It seems to us as lay people and elected officials that Bush has committed impeachable offenses," Vice Mayor Scott Kennedy said Tuesday.
(This is what happens when you legalize âMedicalâ Marijuanaâ)
Specifically, city leaders say Bush violated international treaties by going to war in Iraq, and that the president manipulated public fears to justify the war and undercut Constitutional rights. If approved by a majority of the council later Tuesday, the city of Santa Cruz would be the first community in the country calling for Bushâs ouster.
Political stands arenât unusual here. A year ago, Santa Cruz became the first of what would swell to 165 city councils to oppose the war against Iraq. Santa Cruz was also one of more than 100 cities declaring its opposition to the Patriot Act. And in April, the city and county of Santa Cruz sued the Drug Enforcement Administration and Attorney General John Ashcroft, marking the first time a public entity has sued the federal government on behalf of patients who need medical marijuana. White House spokesman Ken Lisaius, responding to Santa Cruzâs current proposal, said Tuesday that the president "welcomes the fact that we live in a democracy and that people are free to make their opinions known." (Translation: We donât give a rats a@@! Friggin Dopeheads!)
"The president understands that peaceful protest in any form is the strength of our Democracy," said Lisaius. "That being said, itâs important to point out that there are large numbers of people in this country who very much support this president and what this president is doing to keep Americans and the people of the world safe." (We just donât have to make stupid declarations about it!) Commissar Francis Boyle, a University of Illinois law professor who has founded a national "Impeach Bush" campaign, said local city council resolutions can have a significant impact in grass roots movements. Anti-apartheid resolutions, among others, have sparked policy reforms, he said. "I think this will take off too, and a lot of cities will give serious consideration to what Santa Cruz has done," he said in advance of the council meeting. (Here have another joint âFrancisâ)
Arcata, another California coastal community about 350 miles to the north, will be considering a similar resolution calling for impeachment next month. (Another podunk town on the California Coast where hippies have settled)
Mark Primack, an architect by trade and the lone voice of reasonsobriety opposition on the Santa Cruz City Council, has urged his colleagues to focus on local, not national, issues. But Boyle said Bushâs policies are everyoneâs issues. "President Bush wants to waste another $87 billion in Iraq," he said. "That could pay for a lot of stop signs in Santa Cruz." Hmmm, so itâs all about you? Why donât they get rid of about half the city council and stop the marijuana subsidies? Please let a big earthquake take the coast (plus 20 miles inland) and let it slide into the ocean. America I apologize for my idiot hippie citizens on the coast. I think the sea air has rotted their brains.
#1
The left coast in general seems to have ZERO understanding of just how out of touch it is with the "flyover" states. Many of us in the midwest would never even THINK of moving a business out to that environment--simply too much NUTCASE legislation popping up all too regularly for it to be worth the risk!
#4
I wonder if the City Council has also passed resolutions requiring the Norks and Iran not to build nuclear weapons, or would that be, like, not hip?
Posted by: Matt ||
09/09/2003 20:42 Comments ||
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#5
It's the perfect idiotarian cause. They know they don't have a chance in hell of effecting anything (see previous attempt via the war in Iraq), but this makes them "feel good". They can go off all smug and self-satisfied, knowing that "they did not stay silent" in the face of EEEEEEEVILLLLLLLLLL (as in, anything they think is "icky").
Posted by: Baba Yaga ||
09/09/2003 21:48 Comments ||
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#6
Another, albeit, unintended reason they call California the entertainment capital of the world.
#7
Isn't Santa Cruz a Nuclear Free Zone....except for the electrons buzzing around random nuclei one would happen to meet here and there?
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/09/2003 22:05 Comments ||
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#8
Which treaty was violated? These folks need a General Patton tour of Uday's Olympic Torture Facility. Maybe the smell of fear, sweat, blood and feces will get the the haze in between their ears.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 22:22 Comments ||
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#9
SH--Add some patchouli, and they'll think it's a flashback to that bad acid trip they had the last time they saw the Grateful Dead.
Posted by: Baba Yaga ||
09/09/2003 22:53 Comments ||
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#10
I live around thrity miles from that place, and I avoid it like a nagging mother-in-law. If I need to go to the coast, I rarely bother to stop over there, choosing to head in either a north or south direction away from Santa Cruz. Now you know why.
Edited and rewritten to make sense.
A Canadian appeals court ruled Monday that a former Rwandan government official accused of inciting genocide can remain in Canada, saying no evidence suggests his speech caused the 1994 massacres. "Your Honor, that âkill the Tutsis, kill the Tutsis, die die DIE!â was jesâ a figger oâ speech!" Leon Mugesera was accused of encouraging attacks on Rwandaâs Tutsi minority in a speech in 1992. At the time, he was an adviser to President Juvenal Habyarimana, whose death in a plane crash in April 1994 sparked the slaughter of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. An adviser who somehow wasnât on the plane when it crashed. How, er, convenient.
Mugesera, who moved to Spain and then Canada before the genocide began, has been accused by human-rights groups of facilitating war crimes and inciting the Hutu-sponsored killings in the tiny central African nation. Mugesera had appealed two deportation orders by Canadaâs Immigration and Refugee Board. On Monday, a three-member Federal Appeals Court panel unanimously rejected the accusation. ``There is nothing in the evidence to indicate that Mr. Mugesera, under the cover of anecdotes or imagery, deliberately incited to murder, hatred or genocide,ââ Justice Robert Decary wrote. According to evidence submitted to the immigration and refugee board, Mugesera, a Hutu, gave a speech in November 1992 calling for the extermination of Tutsis. But there were no anecdotes or imagery, so heâs okay.
Opponents of Mugesera want him sent back to Rwanda to face trial. If deported, he would be sent to Spain, the country he came from when he originally entered Canada.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/09/2003 2:09:14 AM ||
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#1
Why do they always emmigrate to Canada. I don't wanna live with these guys. Oh wait, I know why: "There is nothing in the evidence to indicate..."
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 7:30 Comments ||
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#2
Rafael,
Don't despair at least all the homeless go to San Fransico for free cash.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:05 Comments ||
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#3
Damn, now I'm despairing even more than Rafael, SH. Stupid homeless bums. Try free education centers, or homeless shelters.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:32 Comments ||
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#4
I goofed. I got Dean and Kucinich's names mixed up while doing that span class="hilite".
Pakistan warned yesterday Indiaâs massive arms purchases from Israel and from all other sources in the world would have a destabilising impact in South Asia.
Not as destabilizing as a constant swarm of jihadis across the border, but still destabilizing...
Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan issued the warning at a press briefing on the eve of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharonâs visit to India, the first by an Israeli leader to that country in 11 years. Reports quoting Indian officials have said the two sides could sign a $1 billion contract for the sale of three Phalcon advanced airborne early radar system that would give India a clear edge over its rival Pakistan. Khan said Sharonâs visit would be "very negative" if it was aimed at building an anti-Muslim axis.
How about if it's aimed at building an axis of self-preservation?
"I think if this axis is directed against Muslims all over the world and if it is directed against Pakistan and Pakistani Muslims, we would be most concerned and it would be a very negative development." He said Indiaâs acquisition of arms from Israel would disturb the conventional arms balance between Pakistan and India. "It will have destabilising effects in the region and we are deeply concerned about it. We have warned against dangerous consequences of such collaborations between India and Israel."
Consequences such as sending swarms of jihadis across the line of control, no doubt...
The spokesman said India was buying weapons "from all over the world, from all directions and from all sources. We donât know what they intend to do with these weapons, because they are saying they have friendly relations with Russia and China. Of course they donât need all these weapons just to target Pakistan. "Are they going to use these weapons beyond the Indian Ocean? Are they going to unleash these weapons in their immediate neighbourhood? These are some of the unanswered questions." The spokesman said that Pakistan was not considering recognising Israel.
No, no! Certainly not! The fundos would eat us up! Besides, they're... ummm... ucky."
Khan also expressed concern over reports on induction of nuclear capable surface-to-surface Prithvi missile in the Indian army. "On the one hand they talk of peace and on the other they are inducting weapons to target Pakistan."
Maybe they read some of the things Hafiz Saeed has to say?
He said Pakistan "reserves the right to maintain minimum credible deterrence." Pakistan was against arms race in South Asia and wanted a "genuine dialogue" with India for which it had been regularly making peace overtures, the spokesman said. Khan said the military exercises by Indian troops in Ladakh were being conducted within a "disputed territory" and they would be counter-productive.
"Don't make us do something stoopid..."
Hamid Gul, a retired army general and former head of Pakistanâs spy agency, said Sharonâs visit and the U.S.-approved deals were disconcerting. "After using Pakistan as a front-line state in the war against terrorism, America has started encouraging Israel to sign new defence deals with India," he said. "Americaâs policy will kill the conventional balance in the region." He said this like itâs a bad thing.
Posted by: seafarious ||
09/09/2003 11:21:18 AM ||
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#1
Paki's military and ISI have basically had a free ride, sending the fundos and jihadis out to destabilize their neighbors. It's about frigging time the consequences of dealing with the devil are brought home to them, personally. I feel a lot better knowing that India's militarily/technologically superior to the nutcases in Pervland
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 11:34 Comments ||
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#2
Wait just a minute. I thought Israel controlled us through the Wolfowitz cabal -- this guy's got it the other way 'round.
Posted by: Matt ||
09/09/2003 11:47 Comments ||
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#3
How much military hardware does the PRC have in Nepal? Is all of this proliferation aimed at Indias Western border?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 15:07 Comments ||
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#4
Since Pakland does not recognise Israel, it does not exist in their reality. So as far as they are concerned either India is working with a non-existent country or Khan/Gull are just hallucinating all this. There is no Israel and a non-existent Ariel Sharon has not gone to India. And their fundos won't be getting blown up by non-existent Israeli weapons.
aahh ignorance is bliss.
Breaking, this is all thatâs being reported:
A car bomb exploded Tuesday outside an office used by U.S soldiers in northern Iraq, private CNN-Turk television reported. Several people were reported wounded, but it was unclear if Americans were among them. The wounded included Iraqi Kurdish guards and children from nearby houses. Firefighters rushed to the scene. U.S. military officials said they could not immediately confirm the report. Authorities in Irbil, the administrative capital of Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq about 200 miles north of Baghdad, called to residents over loudspeakers to donate blood for the wounded, CNN-Turk said. Northern Iraq has been the most stable part of the country since the ouster of Saddam Hussein. My money is on Ansar, thatâs their old stomping grounds and car bombs are their M.O.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 4:16:40 PM ||
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Well, we were feeling a tad under the weather (we blame Jell-O of mass destruction) as we watched Bushâs address to the nation, so canât vouch for the accuracy of our recollections, but here are the key points we got from it.
1. Bush does too have a coherent plan for dealing with Iraq, but it will cost you $87 billion to find out what it is.
2. U.S. military leaders say there are enough American troops in Iraq, but we need some NATO ones there too, to add European flair to the combat and to give the Iraqis uniforms of various colors to shoot at.
3. Iraq, by existing, was responsible for what happened on September 1, 2001. Iraq is now the "central front" in Americaâs war on terrorism, because the light is better there than wherever Osama and Sadam are.
4. We are "engaging the enemy where he lives" -- and since he canât afford plane fare to come where we live, this is mighty considerate of us.
5. Bush never called us all into the tree house and said: "Okay, we all know why weâre here, right? To fight Sadam Hussein, the bully. That guy has been tormenting all of us for years, and I for one am sick of it! I canât promise you victory. I canât promise you good times. But the one thing I do know. . .[The country starts to leave] Whoa! Whoa! I promise you victory! I promise you good times! [The country cheers]
That never happened. Bush told us it was going to be tough all along, and so we canât blame him now that more Americans have been killed since an end to combat operations was declared than were killed during the actual war.
6. Terrorists only attack weak nations, like, um, Norway. We need to show terrorists how tough we are, by invading various countries all over the globe -- otherwise, theyâll pick on us and steal our lunch money.
7. "Not all of our friends agreed with our decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power --not to mention names or anything, but I mean the Krauts and the Frogs here. But we cannot let past differences interfere with our present duties. And when I say âwe,â I actually mean âyou,â of course. Getting rid of evil doers in Iraq and Afghanistan will also help Japan, Saudi Arabia, and other countries with lots of money, so youâll be getting a bill in the mail. No, you canât claim this war was unsolicited and then not pay for it, like you did with those CDs from Columbia House, or we will report you to a collection agency."
8. "America has experience in occupying various nations worldwide. Remember Japan and Germany? Good times, good times. So, in conclusion, let me read you a letter from a soldier stationed in Iraq who says, âMr. President,â he says, âsometime when the team is up against it and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go out there with all theyâve got and win just one for the Gipper. I donât know where Iâll be then, Mr. President, Sir, â he says, âbut Iâll know about it and Iâll be happy.â So, GOOOO TEAM!
#1
No, dot, I don't - cuz it's mainly lame, sophmoric, and oh so desperate to be cute. A vain attempt at mimicing something funny, say the National Lampoon of 30 yrs ago. This is IndyMedia trying to sneak in under the guise of humor. No go. It sucks. I would say that solon content sucks the big one just about any way you slice it, in fact. If you like it, why don't you go hang at salon. Click refresh a lot. They need the hits cuz they're going under. May have something to do with their not so clever editorial agenda and even less clever writing.
#3
Too cute? Probably. However, it's clear that this is not the war the administration thought that it would be getting and they better have a plan Real Soon Now to sort it out.
#4
However, it's clear that this is not the war the administration thought that it would be getting and they better have a plan Real Soon Now to sort it out.
Right of the left's playbook. First, it was quagmire. Then it was Bush lied. Then they claimed Bush said the danger was imminent. Now they're claiming that it's not turning out the way Bush told us. What is it with the left's allergy to the truth?
#5
Actually, this is the war they thought we would be getting. They said we would be facing guerilla tactics from the very beginning.
It was no secret that Sadaam would try to imitate Somalia.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:29 Comments ||
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#6
This is not news...pure opinion, and rather pathetic at that given that the troll admits to a definite lack of accuracy - being somewhat 'dstracted' at the time. This does not measure up.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
09/09/2003 14:37 Comments ||
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#7
However, it's clear that this is not the war the administration thought that it would be getting and they better have a plan Real Soon Now to sort it out.
And your point is?
Wars (and just about any contest) seldom ever go exactly as planned and you cannot plan every contigency. I think it is called the 'fog of war'. You must be flexable and roll with the changes. That is what I see Bush and Co doing. Only an idiot (or Democrat) would stay the plotted course no matter what happens.
All in all I think the war is going pretty much along the lines Bush and Rummey planned it would go. The extreamists and terrorists are flocking to the Iraqi 'killing ground' to be wiped out. Better there then here in America. Iraq *IS* being rebuilt it *IS* being turned back over to the Iraqis, and our casualties are pretty low.
Now if the Iraqi's were so much against us as the Left (and the media) would like us to think then the body bag count would be at least 10 times its current number. The low number of casualties is a testiment to the training, skill, and professionalism of our troops over there in both handling the enemy and the civilians.
It seems the only news from the war which gets reported in the (american) media is the 'body bag count'.
#8
It seems the only news from the war which gets reported in the (American) media is the 'body bag count'.
Considering that the rate of casualties has significantly dropped in the last few weeks, there is nothing to report, I guess.
On the other hand, the financial cost of war is staggering. 160 billion in two years! I donât understand why it costs so much money to have 150 thousand soldiers in Iraq. It is almost as much as Vietnam (if not higher), but there were more soldiers there. Is it something to do with military pay?
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
09/09/2003 15:02 Comments ||
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#10
I am watching the trend on the body bag count. Things have taken an interesting turn, but no one is reporting it.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 15:12 Comments ||
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#11
On the other hand, the financial cost of war is staggering. 160 billion in two years! I donât understand why it costs so much money to have 150 thousand soldiers in Iraq.
The 87 Billion (now) is not only to keep our forces in Iraq but in Afghanistan as well as for the rebuilding of both countries and 'other needs' such as intelligence and other stuff (bounties, bribes, pizza and beer, etc...).
Tho I do concede that that is a rather large chunk of change and there is more to come.
Bush had said that this would not be a 'quick' war or a traditional war (this is the war on Terror which is still ongoing) but a 'different' war since the enemy is not a single country or even the 'axis of evil' but a network of secretive international organization (who just happens to be supported by the so-called 'axis of evil'...).
#12
dot - go back to IndyMedia - they'll be glad to give you tons of incorrect reasons for every little thing that bothers you. As for posting obvious bullshit pieces and then pretending that they don't stink, you will have to get used to the response of people who know shit from shinola. Either you're a troll or just disingenuous. Either way, posting on Rantburg just may be a bridge too far for you.
#13
I'm not going to take a shot at the poster. But I will take a shot at the author and Salon, which is little more than an Apple-funded IndyMedia.
The left,and this writer's, agenda is clear: hope that the US wobbles and loses in Iraq. It's plain and clear that this is their greatest hope. They are, pretty much to a man, defeatist, submissive, cowards with no new ideas or solutions.
Posted by: R. McLeod ||
09/09/2003 16:04 Comments ||
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#14
I'd like to comment on all this "post-war planning was terrible" bullshit. The post-war planning was to avoid 1) the anticipated humanitarian crisis that everyone was crying about and 2)a scorched-earth retreat by Saddam, including destruction of all the oil wells, the subsequent ecological disaster and chemical weapons finale. The post-war planning was to feed and shelter masses, put out oil fires, contend with bio/chem disaster. Sorry it didn't happen but don't blame the planners for expecting the worst.
#15
A little more perspective:
--The coalition forces have overcome enormous physical and logistical challenges, for example, providing payroll for the army, pensioners, and government workers despite problems like looted banks and lost records (Russia didn't have a payments system for YEARS after the Soviet Union fell)
--Standing up 55,000 Iraqis (from ZERO) as police, border guards and civil defense forces in less than five months
--New currency is being introduced; trade bank established; moratorium on collection efforts aimed at defaulted foreign debt negotiated with the Russians and the French
--evidence of cement producers (for example) responding to price signals (deciding whether to import generators and detach from the national grid in order to compete with importers and take advantage of 10-fold price increase)(Compare this to massive payment arrears in Russia as communist producers kept right on making and shipping things despite lack of payment)
--low level of combat deaths compared to prior American conflicts covered elsewhere in Rantburg
--municipal councils established in 90% of cities and towns
Of course, more needs to be done, but this is a phenomenal record compared to other totalitarian transitions
#16
On the other hand, the financial cost of war is staggering. 160 billion in two years! I donât understand why it costs so much money to have 150 thousand soldiers in Iraq.
A lot of this is probably related to reconstruction. Here are some sample numbers, completely out of the blue:
(1) assuming the fully loaded cost of each soldier at $100K per year, 150,000 soldiers comes to $15B a year.
(2) the air force contingent usually costs more than the army, but the operating tempo is basically non-existent right now, so assume parity with the army - $15B a year.
(3) assume Iraqi pensioners are being paid $50 a month, or $600 a year - if there are 2 million such pensioners, that comes to $1.2B a year.
(4) assume a security force of 300,000 Iraqis, each making $200 a month, or $2400 a year. Annual cost comes to $720M a year. Doubling the dollars to account for security infrastructure and training brings the total to $1.4B.
(5) cost of construction materials - say, $10B - most Iraqis have housing that wasn't bombed, etc.
After doing this back of the envelope calculation, I still get $30B+ still unaccounted for. I suspect a big chunk of it may relate to non-Iraq expenses - i.e. the military may be using this as an opportunity to appropriate the amounts necessary to deal with all the maintenance gaps that opened up during the massive defense spending cuts of the Clinton administration era.
#17
It was no secret that Sadaam would try to imitate Somalia.
One problem: Somalia wasn't exactly a defeat. There was a battle that inflicted a large number of casualties on U.S. forces, but that's about it. It only looked like a defeat because the media spun it that way. See here.
After doing this back of the envelope calculation, I still get $30B+ still unaccounted for. I suspect a big chunk of it may relate to non-Iraq expenses
It seems to me that the administration is asking for more money that it needs for Iraq - just in case... It won't look good if they need to make another request next summer just before the elections... For now they will get criticized by the congress, but it will be forgotton by the end of the year. IMO, good political move.
#20
Hiryu - you like many of your fellow small minded friends seem to forget the South Korean Armed Forces. They not only did the bulk of the fighting and dying in the first conflict 1950-53, they'll do it in any second run. Except this time unlike the first, it is well equipped, trained and lead. Other than taking down demonstrators in the streets or opponents who've been denied military material support, do you know of a victorious Soviet modelled army since 1980?
Posted by: Don ||
09/09/2003 18:22 Comments ||
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#21
OK 'dot' welcome to Rantburg! Let's not forget what the president said...this is going to take awhile. Don't be surprised when further funding is needed. In terms of real dollars spent, this is much less than the Marshall Plan, but I agree with you on the contigency aspect of this package. This should get them through the 'O4 elections. I withdraw my troll accusation.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
09/09/2003 18:42 Comments ||
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#22
On the other hand, the financial cost of war is staggering. 160 billion in two years!
Funny how it's 'staggering' when it's not being spent on some social program...
Over its four-year life, the Marshall Plan cost the U.S. 2.5 to 5 times the percent of national income as current foreign aid programs. One would need to multiply the program's $13.3 billion cost by 10 or perhaps even 20 times to have the same impact on the U.S. economy now as the Marshall Plan had between 1948 and 1952. (Most of the money was spend between 1948 and the beginning of the Korean War (June 25, 1950); after June 30, 1951, the remaining aid was folded into the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.)
Posted by: R. McLeod ||
09/10/2003 3:06 Comments ||
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U.N. Chief Trying to Get Nations to Agree on Iraq Plan only the good parts
Secretary-General Kofi Annan launched a high-level diplomatic offensive Monday to get feuding nations to unite behind a plan to stabilize Iraq and said the United Nations is prepared to play a major political role to quickly restore its sovereignty. The Security Council is starting to debate a U.S.-proposed draft resolution to get more peacekeeping troops and money into Iraq, but it faces tough opposition led by France and Germany. It would authorize a multinational force to replace the current U.S.-led force, but the United States would command the force and continue to run the civilian administration.
But Chinaâs U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said there is a consensus among council members that the United Nations should be given "a vital role in the area of political and economic reconstruction." France has said it would like to see the United Nations take over the administration of Iraq from the United States. Chinaâs Wang said he believes this is "the common position of most of the members -- but itâs up to whether the United States is ready. I think the shorter the transition the better." The secretary-general said economic issues including control of Iraqâs oil production and oil revenue, and responsibility for awarding contracts and privatizing the oil industry are also "very much part of the discussions which are going on at the moment." I know this is tired news but itâs so CUTE.
All of the countries involved have indicated they canât/wonât send troops or contribute money. They can only offer us the warm fuzzy feeling of international legitimacy, and expertise in bureaucratic inaction. But they donât hesitate to hold their hands out.
Posted by: eyeyeye ||
09/09/2003 10:34:27 AM ||
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The secretary-general said economic issues including control of Iraqâs oil production and oil revenue, and responsibility for awarding contracts and privatizing the oil industry are also "very much part of the discussions which are going on at the moment."
#6
Good news: Many countries have responded to President's request for help:
Denmark said on Tuesday it would send an extra 90 soldiers to Iraq by the end of October to join 410 others near Basra. Romania, which has 687 peacekeepers in Iraq, said it was considering sending 56 more.
#8
This has got to stop being treated as "news" as it is mere claptrap. The UN is not the "legitimizer" of anything as it is comprised of every swinging dick that calls itself a nation on the face of the Earth... and that includes all of the thuggy bastards and corrupt shitheads and dicksuckerstators and religious or royal kleptocracies - each with a magic "vote" as if all nations are equal in some magical way. The UN is a MOB. It is not a vessel of morality or legitimacy or sanctity. Its imprimatur means zip, zilch, nada, nothing. It is a failed format for a grand idea. It is merely taking up space and resources - and obfuscating and preventing action wherever action is needed.
To paraphrase the classic parody, Deteriorata, "The UN is a fluke of the Universe, and whether it can hear it or not, the Universe is laughing behind its back."
#9
Oh, it's a very good idea, Hiryu. If we do get Turkish, Pakistani, and Indian troops on the groound, then the 'Resistance' will start attacking them. Killing fellow muslims, the Religion of Peace proves it's worth again.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:37 Comments ||
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#10
Super, but Turkey, Pakistan, India, et al, will send about as many troops as Denmark, if at all.
And if Wimpy shells out 2 billion, super-duper, but it's a drop in the bucket. We're shelling over a hundred.
Weapons âno longer the issueâ Has it ever been?
United States President George W. Bush has changed his public rationale for the increasingly costly American military effort in Iraq. The once-heralded search for weapons of mass destruction is now little more than a footnote as Bush recasts Iraq into Ground Zero in a broader war against terrorism. How comes that it does not surprise me dear George.
So downgraded has the hunt for such weapons become that Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he didnât even bring it up when he met in Baghdad on Saturday with David Kay, the CIA adviser heading the search. "Iâm assuming heâd tell me if heâd gotten something," Rumsfeld told reporters travelling with him on Monday. Nice reply Rummy
Saddam Husseinâs arsenal isnât the only item dropped from the administrationâs rhetoric. Also gone are the early assurances that, unlike barren Afghanistan, Iraq could easily finance its own reconstruction from oil revenues. Damn Baathist keeping blowing up those pipelines
More than five months after Bush stood on a carrier deck under a "Mission Accomplished" banner and proclaimed major combat operations over, no weapons of mass destruction have been found and Iraqi oil exports have failed to bring in large revenues. Meanwhile, deadly attacks on American forces are continuing, terror bombings are on the rise and Saddamâs fate remains unknown. The presidentâs speech to the nation on Sunday was a sombre acknowledgment that winning the peace in Iraq is proving far more complex and costly than winning the war. With the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaching, "Iraq is now the central front" in the US-led war on terrorism, Bush asserted. He said it would take $87-billion more for the job in Iraq and Afghanistan and called for a United Nations peacekeeping force in Iraq. "The president clearly has changed course here," said former Republican Lee Hamilton , vice chairman of the national commission on terrorist attacks against the United States. "He speaks now about a transformation of the Middle East and he certainly blends together the war on terrorism with the effort to build a stable Iraq. And he went on record seeking international help, which is a change in tactic that comes about because he simply found out we canât do it alone," said Hamilton, former chairman of the House International Relations Committee. You @#$#@! pervert democrat, shut the @#*! up!
US and British occupation forces have found little to justify pre-war claims by the president and British Prime Minister Tony Blair that Saddam possessed chemical, biological and possibly even nuclear weapons - and was poised to use them. Bushâs claim in his State of the Union address that Saddam was seeking uranium in Africa has been discredited. No weapons of mass destruction have been located, even though searchers have found quantities of chemicals and substances that could be used to make both weapons and legitimate civilian items. US forces turned up two truck trailers that some administration officials contended where probably biological weapons labs. But a team of Pentagon investigators also said they could have been used to produce hydrogen for military weather balloons, just as the Iraqis had said. Whether Saddam actually possessed weapons of mass destruction "isnât really the issue," John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control, now suggests. "The issue I think has been the capability that Iraq sought to have," Bolton said in a recent interview.
Benjamin Barber, professor of civil society at the University of Maryland and author of the book, Fearâs Empire: war, terrorism and democracy, said that Bushâs recast war rationale makes it easier for administration hawks to justify pre-emptive wars as a means of going after terrorism. "Thatâs a more serious mistake than to try to claim we were going after weapons of mass destruction," Barber said. "It sends the wrong note to our allies at the United Nations."
The presidentâs congressional allies welcomed his new war rationale. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar called Bushâs address "a comprehensive presentation of the scope of our war against terrorism, its current focus, our determination to succeed and the cost". Yeah sure, guess mr. Lugar masturbates on every speech of Bush
Posted by: Murat ||
09/09/2003 10:25:45 AM ||
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murat, you give Rantburg a schizophrenic feel. It's very odd to read through the items and then hit one of yours. Not necessarily bad, just odd.
#2
Benjamin Barber, professor of civil society at the University of Maryland and author of the book, Fearâs Empire: war, terrorism and democracy, said that Bushâs recast war rationale makes it easier for administration hawks to justify pre-emptive wars as a means of going after terrorism.
This windbag was a left-wing professor at Rutgers. Any news source that quotes this pretentious moron has forfeited its credibility.
Yeah sure, guess mr. Lugar masturbates on every speech of Bush
Murat, once again, has raised Turkish standards for serious commentary - I, for one, am impressed that he has stayed away from scatology.
Yesterday, you had a good, substantive, respectful discussion going with some of the regulars. Today, well, . . . hate to say it, but we're not quite there.
If you want to disagree with the conventional wisdom, that's cool. But insult is not persuasive.
I'll admit that there's a fair bit of smart-assery and "trash talk" here in Rantburg, but today is one of those days when you've pushed it a little too far.
Settle down, take a deep breath, relax.
Posted by: Mike ||
09/09/2003 10:50 Comments ||
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#6
Yes, Murat, whatever meds you were taking yesterday, you need to take them again.
Posted by: Tom ||
09/09/2003 11:20 Comments ||
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"I'll admit that there's a fair bit of smart-assery and "trash talk" here in Rantburg"
What?? A fair bit??? Am I not posting enough Mike? ;-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 11:47 Comments ||
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Damn Baathist keeping blowing up those pipelines
No, actually they blow themselves up. Secretly, they hate George Bush too!
Bushâs claim in his State of the Union address that Saddam was seeking uranium in Africa has been discredited
It must really steam you Murat, that for once an American (or any other EU/UN politiian) would actually admit they received bad intel. No beating around the Bush (no pun intended) or changing the subject like the US liberal or Euro trash politicos.
It's cool though Murat, since the same frustration you feel is the same most Rantburgers feel when they read that BBC, Al-Bizarro, and CNN trash they always put out. Can't stand the spin can you. Muahahahaha.
You see, when the troopies return to Germany from the Gulf, I get the lowdown. They consistantly tell me that the mass media is full of sh!t. It seems that the entire country of Iraq fits into the Baghdad city limits. Anything good that happens outside the city limits doesn't count. But, wait I can feel the popular Iraqi civilian uprising coming....
....
....
....
Wait another soldier wounded in Baghdad! Woo Hoo! It's on now for sure! (ROTFL)
Posted by: Paul ||
09/09/2003 13:49 Comments ||
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How long has it been since a American soldiers actually died? On top of that, A Sadaam Fedayeen was caught trying too take out another Ayatollah ( However the hell you spell the damn names! ).
Plus we've nabbed some high-profile people who were paying the militia to attack us.
" We'll commit ourselves to Jihad just as soon as we get paid. "
We've made progress and have practically rooted out the Sadaam Fedayeen. You're just loath to admit it, Murat.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:15 Comments ||
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I like the weather balloon angle that folks are going for. Never knew the Iraqi army had meteorologists. Must be important to know the upper-level wind direction if you are going to air-burst a .... Forget it. Must be dreaming.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:19 Comments ||
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Weapons âno longer the issueâ
Has it ever bin?
Yes, when Saddam was in power. Now that that he's gone, weapons are 'no longer the issue'. Easy enough to understand.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 14:26 Comments ||
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Murat - What do you expect in response to your half-wit posts? You merely sift though the lefty-pandering BS and look for trouble. Any dope could do it. Sigh. Ye Olde Reservoir O' Patience is getting low and the flow is tasting a bit muddy...
#13
There was and old fart named Chirac
who looked down his nose on Iraq
Without blinking an eye
He sniffed "Turkey bye-bye"
Cried all Rantburg "Where's Murat?"
Posted by: john ||
09/09/2003 16:34 Comments ||
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#1: If we haven't found any then the Inspectors were not going to find any.
#2: If the U.N. could not find any then the U.N. WOULD HAVE TO LIFT SANCTIONS!
#3: With the sanctions lifted then there is a good chance the U.S. would have to get out of Saudi Arabia (as we just have done)
#4: Now with no Sanctions and No American presense Saddam is completly free to Re-start making the WMD's since he never LOST THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEM.
Look, this was a stupid chess game all along. Saddam knew he had to ACTUALLY GET RID OF all evidence of the weapons to get the U.N. sanctions off. We knew (and anybody with a brain knows) that he would then start making them again (or move them back into the country). Therefore while we still had the enforcement of the U.N. mandate we applied pressure (i.e. troop buildup). Saddam then worried that we may invade was forced pretend he had them (WMD's are a deterent) and therefore added doubt to His claims he did not have any (this type of tactics are common, remember the fake army in England before D-Day, or the fake Marine Invasion during Ds-1, or the Soviets flying Bombers in Circles to make us think they had more than they had?). Therefore we had probable cause to act and we acted using the Authority of the U.N. mandate, following pretty close the same model used for Kosovo (remember the U.N. did not authorize that operation and therefore it was launched under Nato).
Therefore the real question to the anti-war people is "Do you believe that Saddam would never return to making WMD's?" If you believe he would have then we were right in acting. And we DID operate well within what has been done before (i.e. Kosovo) Continued carping about this is stupid, dangerous, and serves nobody but the Terrorists.
Posted by: Patrick ||
09/09/2003 21:24 Comments ||
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The anti-war people are on drugs. They're also behaviourly irrational people.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 22:36 Comments ||
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Saboteurs struck a critical oil pipeline in northern Iraq on Monday, the latest in a series of attacks that have halted the countryâs oil deliveries to Turkey at an estimated cost of $7 million a day. Adel al-Qazzaz, director general of the Northern Oil Co., said the line attacked Monday had carried 35,000 barrels a day from the Jabour oil field 20 miles southeast of Kirkuk to the main pipeline that originates in the northeastern Iraqi city. The official said saboteurs set the line afire at a valve at 10:30 a.m., sending huge flames and clouds of smoke into the air. Firefighters had the fire under control by nightfall; about 300 yards of the pipeline were damaged. L. Paul Bremer, U.S. civil administrator for Iraq, has estimated the country is losing $7 million daily because of damage to the pipeline that carries oil from the Kirkuk fields to a Mediterranean port at Ceyhan in Turkey. iraq has the worldâs second-largest proven crude reserves, at 112 billion barrels, but its pipelines, pumping stations and oil reservoirs are dilapidated after more than a decade of neglect. The Kirkuk fields account for 40 percent of Iraqâs oil production; saboteurs have crippled attempts to resume exports. Income from oil exports is crucial to U.S. plans for rebuilding Iraqâs infrastructure. The Kirkuk-Ceyhan line, which was first reported attacked Aug. 18, just days after the major export pipeline began carrying oil to Turkey, was expected to remain closed for five more weeks because of Mondayâs attack. Keep whacking the Baâathists, please.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/09/2003 2:23:47 AM ||
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Baathists most likely, but, if I were a turk, and wanted a "security situation" as excuse for inserting thousands of kurd-fighting troops....
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 8:34 Comments ||
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Yeah Frank we Turks fight Kurds for the sport, is the duck season opened already?
Posted by: Murat ||
09/09/2003 8:40 Comments ||
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Outbreak of common-sense virus in Cairo. Film at 6.
The Arab League unanimously granted the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council a seat on the pan-Arab body early Tuesday - delivering a major boost to the Bush administrationâs post-war occupation. The decision ended weeks of debate within the 22-member League over whether to recognize Iraqâs interim authority, with opponents fearing that acceptance could be seen as a sign of support for the American invasion. ``Thatâs good,ââ James Cunningham, Bushâs deputy U.N. ambassador, said of the landmark decision. ``Thatâs a positive step.ââ
A State Department spokeswoman said the United States hadnât been officially notified of the development, but said it would be welcome. She said U.S. officials will follow up with the Arab League Tuesday on details of the step. Washington has said a new, democratically appointed government in Iraq could also act as a catalyst for reform throughout the Middle East, where most countries have been ruled for generations by royal families or regimes. Arab League foreign ministers issued a communique after six hours of debate saying the Governing Council had been granted a seat until an Iraqi government is formed and a new constitution drawn up. ``This decision was agreed upon unanimously,ââ the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters following the meeting. Awright, the weasels are up to something.
The Arab League, which opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq, had been reluctant to welcome the Governing Council into its fold, fearing any recognition of it would be seen as a sign of support for the American invasion of an Arab state. But Tuesdayâs decision paves the way for Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi Kurdish leader appointed foreign minister when the Councilâs first Cabinet was named Sept. 1, to sit alongside Arab envoys when a two-day foreign ministerial conference begins later in the day. On arriving Monday in Cairo, Zebari, making his first trip abroad since being appointed foreign minister Sept. 1, told reporters that he was not seeking recognition from the league. ``This is our right. We are claiming our legitimate right to be here and to be represented,ââ he said. ``Our message is: Weâre the representatives of de facto Iraqi authority.ââ The effects of the councilâs recognition could be far reaching. An emboldened Governing Council is expected to be a modifying influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a stark contrast to the anti-Israeli position of Saddamâs regime. "See here boys, weâve had a most impressive demonstration of modern combined arms warfare in our homeland. Spectacular, really. Weâre convinced. Donât make the Israelis convince you!"
The councilâs increased political standing regionally could be transferred to wider stages, paving the way for it to be Iraqâs official U.N. representative. The Security Council has already indicated broad acceptance of the council a transitional body. China, a veto-holding member of the Security Council, supported the Leagueâs decision, with its U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, calling it ``a good move.ââ And the Leagueâs decision was also expected to give the Iraqi council greater influence in the countryâs important oil industry. Venezuela and some other OPEC members have refused to deal with U.S.-picked panel, saying its hadnât been internationally recognized. Chavez is still awaiting permission from Fi-del.
An example of some of the opposition faced by the council came when 30 Jordanian lawmakers on Monday presented a petition urging the government to block the Iraqi representative ``assigned by the U.S. occupationââ from the Arab League meeting. But approval came after strong indications that Iraq would gain a seat. The foreign ministers of Sudan and the Comoros welcomed Iraqâs participation, saying the Governing Council should be dealt with until a permanent government was in place. ``The Iraqi people need the Arab League ... and itâs important that we, as Arabs, deal with this transitional situation ... and support it, ``Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told reporters. Other countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, have said they would deal with the interim Governing Council. In Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, the foreign ministers of six Gulf countries issued a statement of support for the new Iraqi interim administration. Kuwait asked the Arab League earlier this month to allow Iraq to take part in its meetings. On Sunday, the Emirates said they had informed Zebari that it supported his participation in the meetings and ``all (efforts) that aim at returning stability and security to Iraq.ââ Good news.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/09/2003 2:16:02 AM ||
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#1
BAD news. First: A democratic Irak is a mortal danger for the thugocracies, jihadocracies of the "Arab" countries. They will do their utmost to torpedo it
Second: Many of those countries have a Shiah majority opressed by a Sunni minority. That gives them a second reason to torpedo Iraq.
Third: The Arabs only moment of glory has been the Islamic conquests and Islam is an effective tool for giving the Arabs a privileged status in other countries. When the young and secular Saddam Hussein or the young and secular Haffez el Assad dreamt of a united and glorious Arab nation extending from the Iranian border to Morocco they were referring to the Arab conquests and implicitly assigned the same objective than the islamists: world domination for the Arabs. Despite having fought one another Islamism and panarabism are close brothers.
What we have to do is try as much possible to cut links between Iraq and the other Arab countries, remind them that they have a significant non-Arab minority, that the Shia are discriminated and persecuted in the other Arab countries, that they have their own glorious past in Babylon and if they want to succeed as a nation they have to define themselves as the descendents of Babylon and that they have no business playing games with the Arabs.
#3
Given the rude backhanding they received from the "Arab League" mere weeks ago, let's hope that the Governing Council has a decent memory. The precious seat will go vacant, if they have any sense, to let them know that it is they who are not legitimate representatives of anything or anyone worthy of notice.
#5
Wasn't the governing council planning on sending a Kurd (or was it a Kurdish delegation?) to the Arab League to represent its seat? I'd bet THAT would get their britches in a knot.
The alleged mastermind of last yearâs terrorist attacks on the Indonesian island of Bali said Tuesday he would welcome a death sentence by firing squad and the chance to become an Islamic martyr. Imam Samudra will face court on Wednesday to hear whether he has been found innocent or guilty of planning, financing and carrying out the Oct. 12 attacks at two Bali nightclubs, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. Itâs Wednesday in Bali.
On the eve of his court appearance, Samudra, 33, told Australiaâs Nine Network television that he welcomed the prospect of execution. I welcome your execution as well.
But he called on Indonesian authorities to show leniency to others accused in the terror attack -- the worst since those in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. "(Let) me be the only one who gets the death penalty,ââ he said. "Let me be the one to die as a martyr and release the others, Iâm glad with that.ââ Sorry, youâre all going up against the wall.
Samudra predicted the destruction of Australia and the United States within 10 years, as well as continuing conflict between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia -- the worldâs most populous Islamic nation. Heâs half right.
"There will be war,ââ he said. "War is the solution, it will happen as it says in the Quran and the Bible.ââ Afraid so, however I donât think itâs going to turn out like you expect, Samudra.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 10:10:46 AM ||
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well, since everyone's so agreeable and happy about the execution there won't be any appeals, right?
As far as the conflict between western and islamic cultures, Samudra, ...when's the last time an Arabic/Islamic nation had any sort of technological breakthrough? Never? The Hindus have, the Christians have, the Jews have.... but the Arabs and Islamists have to buy their tech from everyone else. Too freaking backward and culturally infantile to even get societally productive work from the 50% of their population born with a uterus
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 10:24 Comments ||
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Well, lessee. There was The Zero (not really tech, but useful) and... erm...
#7
Samudra predicted the destruction of Australia and the United States within 10 years
These guys just don't get it, do they?
We're NOT going to roll over and become good little muslims, shari'a will NEVER become the "law of the land" in the US, we'll nuke as many countries full of crazed Islamonazis as we need to if it comes down to the real hard-core nitty-gritty.
#8
Hey! The Arabs did to invent something! They invented a way to prevent lice in bed-o-wins hair. Camel piss, yup still use it too. Just not a big seller in western supermarkets. Harrumph! Not technologically advanced..says you.
Posted by: Paul ||
09/09/2003 14:23 Comments ||
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#9
mojo-
Hear, hear! The nutjobs would be best served to find their own way to stifle it, but we will do it for them if need be and ain't no one gonna' be all that happy with the aftermath.
I hope the Indonesians put these critters to the firing squad, it will keep their lieutenants from trying to bust 'em out of jail.
#10
I find it interesting that China has expressed an opinion at all, however equivocated. As far as I can remeber, China has been silent on Iraq. I wonder if this has been tied by Powell to the NK and Chechen issues in a way to fashion support.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 15:15 Comments ||
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Glad to hear it, Imam. Good to see we're all on the same page here. Hope you get your wish.
"A âKarzaiâ regime exists officially in all the Muslim countries. All rulers are crowned in the Karzai way⊠The legitimacy of any of these Karzais is no different than that of his brothers⊠The rulers of the land of the two holy places [Saudi Arabia] are no different than the othersâŠ
"The real ruler is Crusader America; the subjugation of these rulers [to America] is no different than the subjugation of district rulers to the king or president of their country⊠Anyone who fights them is in effect fighting the one who has given them authority and made them rulers over the MuslimsâŠ
"The establishment of the Palestinian state wrested the issue even from [the hands of] the countries of confrontation, and made it an issue of the Palestinian state and its treacherous government, headed by the vilest of agents ever in history â Yasser Arafat, who will get what he deserves from Allah⊠So when are we going to get a fatwa on Yasser?
Hey! Go for it!
"Even if people disagree today regarding which of these two groups â the apostate traitor agents [i.e. the Arab governments] or the colonialist enemies [i.e. the Americans] â is more worthy to wage Jihad against, there need be no disagreement that Jihad is the solution for dealing with both of themâŠ
Interesting reading, wonder how long theyâre going to stay online?
Perhaps I'm mis-reading this, but it seems like they're now at war with everyone, not just us. The Soddies are too soft for them, they don't like Yasser. They've never liked Perv. The ayatollahs are Shia heretics and apostates. I think this is a trend we should encourage — since they don't like anybody, eventually nobody will like them, and no one will care when we kill them all.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 11:07:07 AM ||
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#1
A little more pushing...
Drive Hamas into the open arms of al-Qaeda...
and Arafat under the protection of Israel.
#2
September 11 has meaning. No, not what you think. The murderous bastards who attacked America on September 11, 2001 were commemorating another September 11, that of 1683.
September 11, 1683 marked the day the Turks turned away from the gates of Vienna in defeat. The last threat to Europe from Islam had failed.
That shows the kind of people weâre dealing with. They live in the past, the far past. They recall the glory days of Islam, a thousand years ago.
Our enemies hate us, and their perversion of a religion tells them that we must be conquered and enslaved or killed for the glory of a god named Allah. They will give us no other choice.
In 1860 America faced another situation that would define who we are as a people and as a country. Americans were enslaving other human beings, owning them as farm animals. The moral thing, the right thing, was to free these people and allow them the choices that all other Americans had. We engaged in a great civil war, a war that many did not support. The war was to free the slaves, and to preserve the Union. We succeeded at a terrible cost, but the right thing was done and our nation is the better for it.
September 11, 2001 marked another defining moment in our history. We are faced with an enemy who will not stop, who intends to bring to ruin all that we hold dear. In the name of an abomination of a religion, our enemy comes to kill or enslave us. There can be no other choice but war, war to the bitter end. The full force and fury of the United States, the people of the United States, must be brought against our foe. We must kill them, and kill them until they are no more or until they renounce forever their murderous desires. There is no moral compromise, no room for negotiation. We must make of them what Carthage came to be. Only one winner can emerge from this struggle and that winner will be the United States of America.
#3
What he (Chuck)said! Yow! All they have to do to stop this is to change their demands. Islam will be reformed, all they have to decide is how many of their deaths that will take.
#4
They live on the glories of others. It was the Turks, the Afghans and the Mongols not the Arabs who made most of the conquests of Islam. And Spain was conquered by an army who was 98% Berber not Arab.
#5
Chuck's right. The enemy IS the religion. We try to ignore it, spin it, rehabilitate it, recast it, moderate it and equivocate it, but it still comes out the same way. From Mo's own mouth.
The only thing that's changed since 1683 is the recently (in terms of centuries) gotten petro wealth. Now they have means and opportunity to go with motive. They're back. INSIDE Vienna.
If we don't take the war to those who call for jihad while wearing the cloth of Islam, how do we say we are truly supporting ours, who we send to resist that call? If there is an analogy with Viet Nam, this is it. Our leaders were willing to put our young people in harm's way, without the courage to do what it takes to back them up.
Posted by: Scott ||
09/09/2003 14:57 Comments ||
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I just love this shit. The more they talk and the more exposure they get of their true goals and ideals - the fewer friends and supporters as everyone comes to realize that they're all on the list.
The judge overseeing the case of Zacarias Moussaoui has ordered the government to tell her by Wednesday whether it will give him access to two high-ranking al Qaeda detainees. The government has previously denied him access to Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-confessed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, and alleged al Qaeda financier Mustafa al-Hawsawi. Both Mohammed and al-Hawsawi are being held by the U.S. military at an undisclosed military location overseas. Spare us the drama and move this douchebag overseas, as well. Or under.
On August 29, Brinkema ordered videotaped depositions of two detainees whom sources have identified as Mohammed and al-Hawsawi. Lawyers helping to represent Moussaoui have argued the detainees can help clear their client of any role in the September 11 attacks. Hahaha, yeah. While theyâre at it, they can clear each other, too!
The government has vigorously fought any access to such detainees, who remain in U.S. custody, arguing any interruption of the ongoing interrogations could hurt its anti-terrorism efforts. The government lost a similar argument when it was ordered to allow access to another al Qaeda detainee, Ramzi Binalshibh, who helped plan the September 11 hijackings. After Brinkema ordered access to Binalshibh, the government said it would defy that order and not allow the defense to question him. Brinkema delayed imposing sanctions against the government for its refusal until the issue of access to Mohammed and al-Hawsawi is resolved. Whatever. Part of me wouldnât mind if this trial ended up letting him go, just because Iâd love to see him be viciously lynched on his way out of the courthouse.
#3
When we release him out of our custody, lets do it in NYC.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 20:18 Comments ||
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#4
I second what tu3031 said. Send him to Gitmo, but he doesn't get a happy meal from the base McD's for at least two months.
Posted by: Baba Yaga ||
09/09/2003 22:04 Comments ||
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#5
He has dual citizenship. Finger print him. Tattoo his entire head blue and release him to France. Maybe he was one of their operatives.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 22:25 Comments ||
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#6
Okay, Bush won the debate on military tribunals back in early 2002, then, what? Nothing....he hasn't used them. Unfortunately, lack of follow through is a pattern with Bush.
Federal agents say they are investigating how a man succeeded in stowing away in a cargo plane on a flight from New York to Dallas by shipping himself in a wooden crate. After hours of traveling, Charles McKinley, 25, of New York City, pried open the crate with a crowbar Saturday morning, authorities said. He popped up outside his parentsâ doorstep in suburban DeSoto, shook the hand of a shocked deliveryman and walked away. The deliveryman called DeSoto police, who arrested him on outstanding Texas warrants. McKinley has not been charged with a crime.
The FBI and the Transportation Security Administration are investigating. "Itâs amazing that the gentleman survived. Itâs absolutely a bizarre case," said FBI Special Agent Lori Bailey, a spokeswoman for the Dallas field office. "Our concern at this point is to determine how this was done." Officials said McKinleyâs crate was put aboard a pressurized Boeing 727 operated by Indiana-based Kitty Hawk Cargo from Kennedy International to Fort Wayne, Ind. The crate was transferred to a second plane bound for Dallas-Fort Worth International. A ground shipping company picked up the crate and delivered it to the residence of McKinleyâs parents. McKinley spent at least half a day in the crate and broke out just in time for the deliveryman to see him, authorities said.
Air cargo receives less scrutiny than airline passengers in the heightened security imposed after the September 11 terror attacks. "While this is a very unusual situation, we are fully cooperating with the regulatory agencies, the shipper and other parties handling this investigation," Kim Wiemuth, a spokeswoman for Kitty Hawk Cargo, said in a statement. "Kitty Hawk Cargo followed all current cargo security procedures." If youâre sure that there is no way the servcie could get worse on US airlines, just think of this.
Posted by: Frank Martin ||
09/09/2003 4:50:41 PM ||
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Reminds me of the Houston construction guy who was effectively held captive by Saudis out in the sticks - and shipped himself out of SA to Amsterdam to escape. The key, of course, is to pick a flight in which the cargo space is pressurized, else you're delivering a slab of frozen dumbass. This twit, with the outstanding warrants, may have opened some eyes at his own expense. Ok, give him some time off his eventual sentence for, uh, um, being caught!
1) Whats a thing like this cost? I send a little package via Fedex its like 20 bucks. I weigh the same as about 250 of those little packets, so you do the math. Seems like he could have taken a cab for the amount it must have cost.
2) It does seem like a rough ride, but so does seat 12b with two really big people on both sides and a kid with stomach flu sitting behind you.
3) Theres only 2 crewmembers on your average Fed Ex 767 cargo jet and only one on the Cessna carvan, a small plane by comparison, but the cargo bay in the caravan is bigger than my first apartment. Its big enough to do some real damage. Lets hope the pilot/crew at Fed Ex are armed.
4) When they Xray-ed the container he was in, didnt anyone notice that the package contained a grinning idiot skeleton?
5) Seeing as how he got xrayed by a commercial Cargo scanner, does he still plan on having kids?
Posted by: Frank Martin ||
09/09/2003 20:43 Comments ||
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#4
Tom Ridge must be sooo proud
Posted by: Not Mike Moore ||
09/10/2003 0:42 Comments ||
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Breaking News on CNN:
Hillel Cafe - a huge blast in West Jerusalem
- a number of bodies on the ground....2nd suicide bombing today time to kill.them.all start with Arafat
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 4:29:31 PM ||
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Gil the Israeli Guy said on his blog that they were expecting this, more or less. There had been credible reports of infiltration into Jerusalem (one or two bombers). The earlier Tel Aviv explosion was somewhat of a surprise.
May G-d bless and keep us all.
#2
JPost:
An explosion was reported Tuesday night at the Cafe Hillel restaurant on Emek Refaim Rd. in the German Colony in southern Jerusalem.
Cafe Hillel is a very popular Coffee shop, usually packed at this time of night. There are definitely fatalities at the scene, according to reports. Other reports indicate their are scores of wounded. Magen David Adom ambulances are racing to the scene.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 16:40 Comments ||
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#3
Expect IDF payback tomorrow. This may be a welcome to the new PA FM from the snuffies.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 16:42 Comments ||
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Those targeted killings? It's time to ramp them up considerably, and I mean really considerably. This means Yassin, Rantissi, and whomever else the IDF can get their hands on.
Some Hamas people are going to be dead soon. And that's a good thing. It would be a GREAT thing if Rantissi and Yassin are the first blown straight to hell.
#8
This chess game has gone too long with pawns. Time to wipe out the back row and be done with it. There is NO negotiation with terrorists. Israel bargaining the lives of its people away is death on the installment plan. What say, Howard Dean? Got any opinions? Any bright ideas? Hellllllloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
*echo*
*echo*
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/09/2003 17:27 Comments ||
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#9
Time for Israel to become a force of nature.
Make a simple rule:
Israeli casualites X on Day Y will produce Palestinian casualties (X^2) on Day (Y+1)
Then stick to it.
Either the Palestinian population will discover sanity quick and get rid of the radicals, or they don't deserve to.
Howard Dean came under fire yesterday from two rivals for the Democratic nomination for saying the United States should not "take sides" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Five days after Dean told stupes supporters in New Mexico that "itâs not our place to take sides" in the conflict, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.) accused him of advocating a "major break" from the United Statesâ long-standing policy of explicitly siding with Israel in the Middle East. Heâd declare an embargo against Israel while Hamas and IJ got more funds from sources heâd be too big a coward to root out.
"If this is a well-thought-out position, itâs a mistake, and a major break from a half a century of American foreign policy," Lieberman said in a statement. "If itâs not, itâs very important for Howard Dean, as a candidate for president, to think before he talks." For Dennis the Menace, thatâs a novel idea!
Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) said: "It is either because he lacks the foreign policy experience or simply because he is wrong that governor Dean has proposed a radical shift in United States policy towards the Middle East. If the president were to make a remark such as this it would throw an already volatile region into even more turmoil." Hmm⊠maybe there ARE a few intelligent Dems allowed on the national level.
In an interview, Dean sought to save his own ass clarify his statement but did not back down from his belief that the United State cannot negotiate peace unless it is seen as a neutral party in the region. "Israel has always been a longtime ally with a special relationship with the United States, but if we are going to bargain by being in the middle of the negotiations then we are going to have to take an evenhanded role," he said.
For more than 50 years, the United States has backed Israel as its closest ally in the region, providing the Jewish state with billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid. Dean does not advocate breaking the U.S.-Israeli alliance, but believes the only way to bring peace to the Middle East is for the president to broker a deal without playing favorites. A top Dean adviser said the former Vermont governor is doing nothing different from what President Bill Clinton did when he reached out to Yasser Arafat and the Palestinians as a path to peace. Several Democrats predicted Dean would pay a political price for his remarks. Democratic candidates receive a significant amount of money and support from the Jewish community. It would be hard for any Democrat considered unsympathetic toward Israel by Jewish leaders to win the nomination, several party strategists said. Dean believes his rivals are trying to slow his surge by manufacturing a "divisive issue." He specifically struck back at Lieberman, who is emerging as Deanâs harshest critic on the campaign trail. "For Joe to raise this as a divisive issue in the Democratic Party is a major error on his part," he said. "I am deeply disappointed in him." The Dean-Lieberman spat comes only days after the Connecticut senator warned of an impending "Dean depression" if the country were to follow Deanâs trade policies.
#2
I love it when they feed on each other! Kerry's comments are very informative. Seems Deano did not get the DNC talking points and decided to adlib. LMAO!
#3
Dean's yellow streak will become more and more evident as he talks about foreign policy issues. He is basically a classic, post-60s, timid Democrat defeatist who believes that the US is a force for evil in the world.
It's no accident who his loudest and most enthusiastic supporters are: the hard left.
Posted by: R. McLeod ||
09/09/2003 15:46 Comments ||
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#4
Shit! It seems like I'm posting what I want to say below every article save the right one!
I goofed twice by posting below the wrong article. What I was trying to say was that I goofed by getting Dean and Kucinich's names mixed up while doing that span class="hilite".
#5
Dean must have been trying to appeal to black voters. I think the Dem candidates aer supposed to appeal to black voters tomorrow. Today was the strong on defense day again. He must have screwed up his calender again. Hope he doesn't start talking pro-envirmontal on a pro-labor day. It could get ugly.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 16:32 Comments ||
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#6
I hope he does exactly that. Why? Because there's nothing funnier than a Democrat caught in the cross-fire.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 20:15 Comments ||
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#7
Howard appeals to black voters. The three that live in Vermont voted for him.
Weâre getting colors!! EFL:
In the most aggressive -- and, some say, invasive -- step yet to protect air travelers, the federal government and the airlines will phase in a computer system next year to measure the risk posed by every passenger on every flight in the United States. The new Transportation Security Administration system seeks to probe deeper into each passengerâs identity than is currently possible, comparing personal information against criminal records and intelligence information. With emphasis on the probe deeper part.
Passengers will be assigned a color code -- green, yellow or red -- based in part on their city of departure, destination, traveling companions and date of ticket purchase. Most people will be coded green and sail through. But up to 8 percent of passengers who board the nationâs 26,000 daily flights will be coded "yellow" and will undergo additional screening at the checkpoint, according to people familiar with the program. An estimated 1 to 2 percent will be labeled "red" and will be prohibited from boarding. These passengers also will face police questioning and may be arrested. One could also ask why the "reds" arenât already in jail.
The new system, called Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System II (CAPPS II), has sparked so much controversy among both liberal and conservative groups that the TSA has struggled to get it going. Delta Air Lines backed out of a testing program with the agency earlier this year, and now the TSA will not reveal which airlines will participate when it tests a prototype early next year. Iâm guessing the ones that draw the short straws.
If all goes as planned, the TSA will begin the new computer screening of some passengers as early as next summer and eventually it will be used for all domestic travelers. Next summer is early?
The existing system identifies certain passengers as risky based on a set of assumptions about how terrorists travel. For instance, passengers are flagged for additional screening if they bought a one-way airline ticket, or if they paid with cash instead of a credit card. The next hijacker will buy a roundtrip ticket using his Visa Gold card, they learn too.
But the TSA, recognizing that the system is outdated and easy to fool, wants to replace it and put the government in the role now played by the airlines in making security assessments. Under the new program, the airline will send information about everyone who books a flight to the TSA, including full name, home address, home telephone number, date of birth and travel itinerary. If the computer system identifies a threat, the TSA will notify federal or local law enforcement authorities. I ask again, if you know this much about these "threats", why are they not under arrest?
The agency has not indicated the number or type of personnel needed to oversee the program. 1. Thousands, if not tens of thousands.
2. Entry level, low wage data entry types (just the kind of job made to order for identity theft. Anyone want to bet they wouldnât outsource this overseas? No?)
The TSA will check each passenger in two steps. The first will match the passengerâs name and information against databases of private companies that collect information on people for commercial reasons, such as their shopping habits. I guess those of us who tell these companies that we are 90 year old Eskimo women are screwed, huh?
This process will generate a numerical score that will indicate the likelihood that the passenger is who he says he is. And if the data entry clerk makes an error, youâre screwed.
Passengers will not be informed of their color code or their numerical score. Your first hint will be the cold steel muzzle behind the ear and the taste of concrete.
The second step matches passenger information against government intelligence combined with local and state outstanding warrants for violent felonies. Known for their accuracy.
David A. Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, worries that the computer screening program will go beyond its original goals. "This system is not designed just to get potential terrorists," Keene said. "Itâs a law enforcement tool. The wider the net you cast, the more people you bring in." Of course, somebody sees this as a great way to close their open cases at the publics expense. Iâm glad I just bought a new truck, I see a lot more road trips and a lot fewer flights in my future.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 3:05:39 PM ||
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#1
The real problem, in the long run, is that there is no recourse once labelled. Multiple agencies contribute to the various systems and you are not privvy to who or what puts you on the list, so there is no one entity to whom you can appeal if they've screwed up... and that, my friends, is UNAmerican: no means of redress of grievances.
#2
And whats to keep this from being misused for political reasons. I would not put it past a politician (from either side) to have someone placed on 'the list' for political reason or to derail their opponents campain team.
Ask a tough question of a president and find that you cannot fly because you have been labeled 'red'. There have been reports (is this true?) of the IRS being used to perform 'annual random audits' on people who have asked tough or embarassing questions....
#3
Holy Big Brother Batman! This is the biggest GIGO pile of sh-t I have ever heard. While we are doing alimentary canal cruises on innocent passengers, our terrorist buddies are looking at ways of creating mischief using other modes of transport or industries.
This is a typical case of knee-jerk reaction of government on a problem. If you are going to beat the terrorist, you have to think like a terrorist and stay at least 2 steps ahead.
And finally, while we are cleaning up our deep probe instruments, we have the biggest security problem right smack dab here on our US-Mexico border. What is being done about el-Turbano crossing there? Welcome to the US. Have a driver's licence. Have a nice day.
Well, this little rant has made me see red. Now I will be flagged red, and I won't even be allowed to board my own plane.
We do not need a dept of homeland security. What we need are a few thousand real smart folks in key places making things happen.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/09/2003 16:05 Comments ||
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#4
1 or 2 percent will be denied boarding? This sounds like the ultimate nonsense to me.
And you are not even able to find out why you might be labeled red? Even bigger nonsense.
You are suspicious when taking a one way flight or when paying cash? It gets more absurd.
When the first congressman or important CEO gets flagged red because of an error that thing will be dead. You might as well not start it and save your taxpayers a lot of money.
#5
True German Ally---This scenario is almost out of Franz Kafka's novel, The Trial, nicht war?
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/09/2003 18:14 Comments ||
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#6
And whats to keep this from being misused for political reasons...
I don't think it will be used in the way an IRS audit is used - i.e. to 'punish' a particular individual enemy. That said, it is probable that it could go beyond use as a 'law enforcement tool' to target other groups, e.g. "deadbeat dads", members of certain advocacy groups, etc.
#9
"There have been reports (is this true?) of the IRS being used to perform 'annual random audits' on people who have asked tough or embarassing questions...."
Indeed. Bill Clinton had thousands of opponents tax records delivered to the White House. But they said it was a 'mistake'. Among those whose tax records were taken: Shawn Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, and others.
Those records are still missing to this day.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 20:29 Comments ||
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#10
True German Ally---Don't know. I have a US passport, so the US Govt knows all about me. It is sort of a national ID.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/09/2003 22:11 Comments ||
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#11
So thousands of people daily wouldn't be able to board their flights. Tix refunded immediately, right? Plus the hotel reservation on the other side? Plus the gas they'll need now that they're driving to grandma's house? Or cruise tickets since they were headed to the Bahamas? Piss off. For once I'll be on the side of the lawyers.
Notice that I'm not assuming TSA DHS FBI CIA NSC NKLMNOP will be able to flag the proper individuals.
Christ this is stupid. Just tack on a few bucks to my fare instead, so I can see a nice, polite, pistol-packing pilot at the front of the plane.
Posted by: (lowercase) matt ||
09/09/2003 22:12 Comments ||
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#12
TGA--If there is such a thing as a national ID here, it would be a driver's license. True, they are issued by the individual states, but they are kind of accepted nationwide as ID cards. That's why a lot of people are worked up about California giving licenses to illegal aliens. It's seen as kind of "legitimizing" them without making them do any of the things that resident aliens/nationals have to do, and rewarding them for getting past immigration officials.
The whole "why don't you have national ID's" thing is hard to explain. Americans feel that the national government already knows too much about them. It's something that we practically feel from birth, and it doesn't matter to us if that government file is only one sheet of paper. I know that sounds illogical to many foreigners, but that's the way we feel about it.
Posted by: Baba Yaga ||
09/09/2003 22:26 Comments ||
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#13
If you go red, you should still have the option to fly handcuffed after consuming a fifth of scotch.It just makes sense.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 22:30 Comments ||
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#14
Shouldn't we get to do a "survivor" and vote people on and off the aircraft during "pre-boarding"? Is this a friggin' democracy or what? Have bouncers, maybe - big gorilla-lookin' dudes with no necks and bad dispositions just open up the rear hatch and chuck the ones we don't like the looks of out onto the tarmac...
The nationâs schools are telling an unbalanced story of their own country, offering students plenty about Americaâs failings but not enough about its values and freedoms, says a report drawing support across the ideological spectrum. Without a change of approach, schools will continue to turn out large numbers of students who are disengaged in society and unappreciative of democracy, the report contends. Produced by the nonpartisan Albert Shanker Institute, "Education for Democracy" is the latest effort to try to strengthen the nationâs underwhelming grasp of civics and history. Authors hope it will lead to curriculum changes and, in the short term, stir debate about todayâs social studies classes as people reflect on the terrorist attacks of two years ago.
Beyond its provocative findings, Provocative ? Provocative ? People going nuts on college campuses for years and this report is provocative ?
the report is notable for the range of people and groups supporting it, from Republicans and Democrats to labor unions and conservative think tanks. Those who have signed on include former President Clinton; Jeane Kirkpatrick, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and U.N. ambassador during the first administration of Ronald Reagan; and David McCullough, the historian and author. Dozens of scholars, professors, labor leaders and representatives of school groups have backed it, too. "It really shows the depth of concern across the country about the status of our civil society," said one signatory, Lee Hamilton, president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a former Democratic congressman from Indiana. "How low voter participation can you have and still have a democracy?"
Too many classroom lessons and text books contribute to a sense of historical indifference by focusing on Americaâs darker moments, the report says. In a push to give a warts-and-all account of the struggles of democracy, schools have turned the nationâs sins into the essence of the story instead of just a part of it, the new report says. "Vietnam, Watergate, impeachment hearings, the rottenness of campaign finance, rising cynicism about politicians in general -- weâve gone excessively in our society ... toward cynicism," said Larry Diamond, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. "Itâs a call for balance; itâs not a call for purging from the history books honest criticism of our failings."
"People have been so anxious to be self-critical, probably with good intentions," said Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the nationâs second largest union of teachers. "But we feel thatâs just gone too far over in that direction. We definitely have had terrible problems as a nation, but we also have a society that is totally different than that of a totalitarian society. Children need to understand and value what has been built here," said Feldman, also president of the institute, which is endowed by the AFT.
Reg Weaver, president of the largest education union, the National Education Association, has also endorsed the report. So have leaders of the National School Boards Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The report accompanies an earlier institute-sponsored study on civics standards, one that contends history and civics are often lost in the emphasis on reading and math. The report says: "We do not ask for propaganda, for crash courses in the right attitudes or for knee-jerk patriotic drill. We do not want to capsulize democracyâs arguments into slogans, or pious texts, or bright debatersâ points."
But it takes aim at a lack of teaching about non-democratic societies, saying that comparison could show the "genius" of Americaâs system. Sanitized accounts of real-life horrors elsewhere lead to the "half-education" of children, the report says. The report calls for a stronger history and social studies curriculum, starting in elementary school and continuing through all years of schooling. It also suggests a bigger push for morality in education lessons. "The basic ideas of liberty, equality, and justice, of civil, political and economic rights and obligations, are all assertions of right and wrong, of moral values," the report says. "The authors of the American testament had no trouble distinguishing moral education from religious instruction, and neither should we." Iâm surprised that the idea of morality in education lessons has drawn support across idealogical lines. Then again I didnât hear the ACLU or NOW sound off in the article.
#2
I define "problem identification" as the easy part.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 15:05 Comments ||
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#3
They discuss campaign finance law???
What's so funny is that the unions always had it in their power to balance this and they chose not to. Until now. School vouchers??
--Itâs a call for balance; itâs not a call for purging from the history books honest criticism of our failings."
"People have been so anxious to be self-critical, probably with good intentions," said Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the nationâs second largest union of teachers. "But we feel thatâs just gone too far over in that direction.
"We definitely have had terrible problems as a nation, but we also have a society that is totally different than that of a totalitarian society. Children need to understand and value what has been built here," said Feldman, also president of the institute, which is endowed by the AFT.--
IT KILLED 35 troops during Operation Desert Storm and was considered one of the biggest problems facing U.S. forces on the battlefield. A decade later, little has changed. I disagree. My opinion is that if you eliminate the problems with the Patriot Misslie System. This military campaign represented substantial progress in eliminating Blue on Blue enagement.
The U.S. military calls it "blue on blue"--but most people know it as "friendly fire" or "fratricide." The problem of friendly forces killing their own has been a danger throughout history. Though the rate of friendly fire deaths has declined since the Gulf War, the combination of more rapid movement on the battlefield, more precise weaponry, and the increasingly close ranges within which these weapons are being employed in modern warfare has made the chance of fratricide more dangerous--and more deadly. Has no progress been made or are engagements more complex? For example, the Patriot missile system was designed to intercept air craft but was jury rigged as a missile defender during Gulf War I. It was upgraded and did a much better job of knocking out missiles, but definitely had some problems with Identification Friend or Foe (IFF). IFF during a multinational operation is no easy task.
U.S. commanders were keenly aware of the dilemma in Iraq. Still, forces that deployed during the war were often ill prepared to deal with the potential for blue-on-blue strikes. Sometimes life and death hung in the precarious balance between the gut feeling of a Marine or soldier on the ground and a pilotâs targeting computer in the air. During the Vietnam war U.S. aircraft and some troops on the ground carried a system called Identification Friend or Foe--essentially a radio transponder that sent a coded message to another transponder that identified the sender as a friendly aircraft. These systems were sometimes transferred to ground units to let aircraft high above know who the good guys were in the dirt. But IFF systems were prone to interference and the codes could be broken or mimicked. Over the years, various updated versions of the IFF system were developed, but never universally employed. A special problem that becomes even more complex when the US goes coalition building.
Decades later, both U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq were forced to settle for more low-tech approaches to the dilemma. Standardized communications such as the so-called "nine-line" brief--a detailed list of coordinates dictated to pilots by ground units calling for close air support; well defined forward lines of control and "kill boxes" that designate where friendly troops are positioned and where U.S. forces are free to engage any target thatâs moving; and some ingenious tricks such as affixing strips of tape to helmets and jackets that glow green when viewed through night vision goggles are but a few of the methods by which U.S, and coalition forces kept from killing one another in the wide open deserts and village warrens of Iraq. But that still didnât prevent blue-on-blue casualties. At least two British fighters were shot down when Patriot missile batteries mistook them for Iraqi SCUDs; a Marine AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter shot and disabled an American M1A1 Abrams tank, injuring its crew; and at least six Marines were killed when an Air Force A-10 Warthog attack jet engaged them during the battle of An Nasiriyah on March 22.
New systems are being supplied to forces in Iraq such as the Blue Force Tracker--the most modern version of the IFF--and futuristic technologies are being developed which could give weapon sights a "shoot, no-shoot" signal or even disable the weapon if it is pointed at blue forces. But the U.S. military is still a long way from getting the problem licked. "Weâre the most technologically advanced country in the world," remarked the Marinesâ top commander in Iraq during an interview at his Camp Babylon headquarters. "Shame on us as we continue to kill our young people because we havenât developed something that âbeepsâ or âsquawksâ or sends out a transmission or something that tells our troops âoops, thatâs a friendly vehicle.â" A recently concluded Joint Forces Command exercise conducted in Gulf waters off Florida and meant to tackle the problem is a start. But if the post-1991 Gulf War efforts at eliminating friendly fire are any indication of this nationâs progress, the services still have a long way to go. I was inspired to include this by an issue that Murat and I discussed yesterday. While I was actually in Izmir, Turkey a number of years ago, the USS Saratoga accidently shot the TCG Muavenet with two Sea Sparrow missiles during an excercise. I expressed appreciation to Murat for the fact that my ship was treated politely despite the incident. In many countries I would have expected to have experienced a reenactment of the Steve McQueen movie, The Sand Pebbles. Murat expressed that it is generally still believed in Turkey that the Turkish flag ship was purposefully targetted. I donât believe so but have no inside information other than what is in the public domain lke the circuit court document at http://www.law.emory.edu/11circuit/rt... Although I beleive that the US military has improved in this area, I certainly wouldnât want to argue that point with the families of Canadiens, Italiens, Turks, South Korean, British and Afghanistani soldiers and civilians that have suffered accidental death due to US Military Operations. I donât think we will ever be able to eliminate all incidences without keeping our military totally stationary in Conus. I donât see that happeneing anytime soon.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 1:04:42 PM ||
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one of the facets in the friendly fire issue is the lethality, accuracy, and autonomy of the weapon systems. The time from identification to engagement of a target has shrunk considerably since ww2 and even DS1. Because of this it is far easier for friendly forces to be designated a threat and attacked. There is less time to pull the plug on the engagement. More often than not the attack will be deadly, no more near misses on the scale of past conflicts.
however, murphy's law indicates that these things will happen. The Patriot system can be rectified, and from my navy FC friends who were in the gulf, I learned that there were some close calls out there with some cowboy allied aircraft. Or even some Iranian craft that decided to do a flyby without notifying everyone.
A lot of times the key to Fratricide is communications. Everyone looks to other ways to fix the problems, such as fail safes, or blaming the commanders. What it comes down to a lot of time is lack of communication between various elements in what is now an increasingly complex, and coordinated war.
#2
Another factor too take into account is the possibility of identify a enemy missle or aircraft as friendly. It's true we have had FFA's sometimes, but it's also key to remember that if we hesitate too long we might have let a enemy get away. Or even worse, given the enemy missle/aircraft a free pass at our ground-bases.
Too my knowledge, all of the Patriot FFA incidents were with aircraft coming TOWARDS our forces, and the system acted like it was supposed to. Human error is unavoidable in war.
My sympathies go out to the families who lost loved ones in FFA's, but they didn't die in vain. Not only are we correcting problems because of their tragic deaths, but also learning how to avoid the situations altogether.
In the long run, it was better to have those FFA's then to let a enemy escape or get through our front-line to attack us.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 13:44 Comments ||
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#3
Fratricide with respect to an anti-air weapons system is pretty understandable as because of the high speed of the target there is not much time to make choices and the systems should be in automatic anyway. I had thought the Saratoga/Muavenet incident was an anti-aircraft foulup. The link I incuded to emory/law showed that not to be the case. It looks perfectly assinine in hindsight. I imagine that several folks paid a heavy price and that case deserved it.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 13:49 Comments ||
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#4
The big blue-on-blue problem is between coalition partners because the equipment tends to be slightly different. One of the ways the recent Iraqi war lowered the number of incidents was to give the UK their own sector. The US still provided some air support but in an increasing number of cases the UK provided their own close air support.
#5
Would hope that the in a safe condition that Patriots are tested for target differentiation of the planes of our allies as soon as possible. That would be a priority for me if I were deploying and selling them throughout the world. Bad results could be quite discouraging for US allies. I also hope that work is being done for a conutermeasure for the Silkworm or other low flying cruise missiles. I'm sure I'm not teh only person who noticed that a cruise missile got through. Don't want to encourage buyers of the cruise missiles that the one Aussie is building in his garage.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:56 Comments ||
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#6
Also this is my first post and I dumped it under the wrong topic. If some one could move it to a more appropriate place that would be appreciated. Don't want to mess up anyone looking for an update on Nude Volleyball.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:57 Comments ||
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A federal judge has ruled that the government of Iran was responsible for the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people, including 17 Americans, and awarded $123 million in damages to some of the U.S. victims and their families. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates said the bombing on April 18, 1983 was carried out by the terrorist group Hezbollah with funding, weapons and training provided by senior Iranian officials. In the 165-page opinion released late Monday, Bates concluded the bombing was part of Iranâs campaign to remove the U.S. presence in Lebanon by killing American diplomats and servicemen and kidnapping civilians. We knew this, but itâs nice to see a court agree. Interesting timing, donât ya think?
The bombing was the first major attack against any American embassy in the world and was followed only six months later by a massive suicide bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 American servicemen. That attack led then-President Reagan to withdraw U.S. troops from Lebanon. The lawsuit is one of dozens filed against Iran under a 1996 U.S. law that allows Americans to sue nations that sponsor terrorism for damages suffered in terrorist acts. The Iranian government has not formally responded to any of the lawsuits. Iâm sure weâll hear from them as soon as their turbans stop spinning.
In the embassy bombing case, Bates issued his ruling after holding a six-day evidentiary hearing in April. I canât remember, did we ever release Iranâs assets? Otherwise, I guess weâll need to send a collection agency.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 12:59:34 PM ||
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They may never get any money, but the judgement helps to marginalize the Iranian regime. Keep up the pressure, especially on the nuke issues. An Iran on the defensive is a good place for em.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/09/2003 13:56 Comments ||
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I hope we take payment in the Bekaa valley as soon as possible.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:12 Comments ||
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Hat tip LGF
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Ahmed Korei, nominated to be Arafatâs next puppet the next Palestinian prime minister, said on Tuesday he would not take the job if he faced the same "Israeli dictate" of military crackdowns that undermined his predecessor. "No! They need to continue their murders!"
Laying down terms for accepting what many see as a poisoned chalice, Korei urged Israel to stop trying to isolate Dictator President Yasser Arafat and halt army raids against Islamic militants, the latest of which killed three Palestinians including a boy of 11. A boy whom they say was in the fighting
Korei has delayed a decision on whether to accept Arafatâs nomination to replace Mahmoud Abbas, who quit on Saturday, leaving the fate of a U.S.-backed peace plan in the balance. The roadmap? Oh, thatâs been torn for months.
"I have told the Americans, Arabs, Russians...everybody, that this situation cannot continue. I will not be under the Israeli dictate-- âdo this and donât do thatâ," he told Reuters. "They are too strict. "Stop those who purposely kill civilians.""
He was referring to Israeli demands the Palestinian Authority crush militant groups, an obligation under the peace plan but a step which Palestinian officials say could sow civil war if Israelâs army maintains its grip on Palestinian cities. Jews need to survive too.
Korei called for a cease-fire agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, rather than another unilateral truce by militants to ensure both sides keep their powder dry. The Palis wonât.
He said Palestinian leaders were committed to co-existence with Israel under the "road map" peace plan outlining steps to end nearly three years of violence and create a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by 2005.
Posted by: Katz ||
09/09/2003 11:18:30 AM ||
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#1
Looks like a months long process where Abu #2 whining is covered by the big media while the real war between Israel and Hamas takes place, mostly in the shadows.
#2
Note to Isreal: Get it over with for crying out loud. Steam roller the bastards into the sea. When the Arabs attack the US can invade to destroy their military assets and then leave the country. No "nation building" required. Just decimate their offensive capabilities and leave. No civilian casualties (unless they're strapped to the tanks) clean and easy. Then we can move onto more important news like an asteroid slamming into us or an Elvis sighted in the Austrailia outbacks or something.
Posted by: Paul ||
09/09/2003 14:14 Comments ||
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#3
Transalation and Summary of this story: Please stop killing Hamas! My Master, Lord Arafish, is afraid he might be killed next! And we need to keep killing more of your people!
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:26 Comments ||
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Haven't we heard enough from these a@@holes? What's wrong with taking the Fatah leadership to the Lebanon border and kicking them out? The Pals really need to clean house politically or they will NEVER have peace. But then I guess Arafart probably killed anyone who opposed him. I think at the next meeting the IAF should practice precision bombing.
#6
"I have told the Americans, Arabs, Russians...everybody, that this situation cannot continue. I will not be under the Israeli dictate-- âdo this and donât do thatâ," he told Reuters.
What is so funny is that the only thing that has ever really been said repeatedly by Israel is that whoever is in charge dismantle Hamas and the other terrorist organizations (It's amazing how I even end up saying this over and over and over). What's more, it's one of the conditions on that stupid "roadmap". But somehow the person in charge can't find it within themselves to do the job. I repeat, they WON'T DO IT. They won't fulfill their commitment toward a lasting solution. All that is offered are either excuses (not wanting to start a "civil war") or distractions ("I have told the Americans, Arabs, Russians...everybody, that this situation cannot continue. I will not be under the Israeli dictate-- âdo this and donât do that" or saying that he would only accept the position if he had guarantees that Israel would comply with its obligations under the "road map" peace plan).
The Palestinian leadership is STALLING. Grant them NO MORE TIME, and NO MORE CHANCES. Their leaders have failed to prove themselves to be trustworthy, honorable individuals, and giving any more chances to the current leadership would be ignoring reality. Further "diplomacy" would certainly be a waste of time and a waste of effort. It's time for the IDF to get on with the task of cleaning out the West Bank and Gaza, and the sooner they get the show going, the sooner it will be over.
#2
On a personal note...I'm sure this was timed to disrupt Sharon's trip to India. Every time he leaves his country, his citizens die. This madness must end!!!
#3
JPost had a report on an imminent terror/bombing threat this AM, since there's so many, I didn't think about posting it, but this was obviously the case
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 11:31 Comments ||
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Haaretz report:
At least two people were killed and approximately
30 were reported wounded Tuesday, 15 seriously,
when a suicide bomber blew up just before 6 P.M.
at a crowded bus stop adjacent to the Tzrifin
military base in Rishon Letzion. Security
officials said there were many soldiers at the bus
stop.
Police, who were checking the possibility that the suicide bomber was a woman, evacuated bystanders from the scene of the attack, fearing additional
explosive devices might have been placed at the scene of the blast.
Police cars chased a vehicle spotted fleeing the site of the bombing shortly after the attack took place. The car was supposedly heading north towards Netanya.
Emergency rescue workers at the scene of the attack found the body believed to be that of the bomber.
The wounded were evacuated to the nearby Assaf Harofeh Hospital, Ichilov Hosptial in Tel Aviv and Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.
"The attack today is further indication that the Palestinian Authority is doing absolutely nothing whatsoever to reign in terrorists or to dismantle the terror infrastructure in their areas," said David Baker, an official in the Prime Minister's Office.
The security forces have been on high alert since Israel's failed attempt Saturday to wipe out the top leadership of Hamas, including the radical Islamic movement's spiritual leader.
Security forces raised the alert level in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning due to warnings of terror attacks. Israel Radio reported that the security forces suspected one or more terrorists may have already succeeded in infiltrating into Israel.
The explosion comes as the cabinet and security officials have been calling for the expulsion of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat - whom Israel holds responsible for the attacks - and there has been some speculation that a suicide bombing that causes many fatalities might be the trigger for such a move. The United States has blocked the idea in the past.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
09/09/2003 11:48 Comments ||
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#5
If you look at the Isreal/Palestinian in the context of an NHL hockey fight, where the US is the linesman. I think its time that we stepped back and let the belligerents attempt to knock the snot out of each other until their arms are weary. It probably sounds very pragmatic of me, but there it is.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:10 Comments ||
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#6
True, but it would be an unfair fight. While the Paleo's have this slim, underused, noodle like body, the Isreali's have a massive frame of muscle, and the brains to match.
That is why I vote we let them fight, and watch as the Isreali's use the Paleo's to floss their teeth.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:41 Comments ||
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#7
In a fair fight, the Israelis would pound the shit out of the Palis. Hell, even if the Palis were given a mild advantage, the Israelis would still thump 'em.
That's the rub; the Palestinians are probably convinced that Israel would not be "allowed" by it's allies (namely, the U.S.) to thoroughly whip the asses of the PA and their terrorist partners. That would explain the never-ending provocations in the form of shootings and suicide/murder bomb attacks.
JPost Reg Reqâd
Following hours of an intense gunbattle, IDF troops have broken into an eight-story building in Hebron which has been surrounded since the early hours of Tuesday, and have discovered two bodies. The bodies are suspect to be Hamas terrorists, belonging to a group of fugitives who sought refuge inside the building. IDF troops are currently searching the building for other terrorist, Israel Radio reported. 2 down, but from initial reports thereâre more in the building
The IDF has reported no casualties. Palestinians, however, reported that a 13-year-old boy from a neighboring building, Saer Sayuri, was killed by an IDF shell. The boy, who was standing on the sidelines watching the action with his family, was injured by shell shrapnel and died in the hospital, hospital officials said. The IDF is currently investigating this report. Watching a tank fire on the bldg from nearby? Whereâre the f*&king parents? Oh, watching with him...collective stupidity
A 10-year old girl is also reported to be moderately wounded, as well as a Palestinian adult, who walked out of the surrounded building wounded and was transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital. Following his treatment he will be interrogated, as he is suspected to be one of the fugitives who fired at IDF troops, Israeli sources say. he should be charged with the kidâs death...think thatâs what the press will report?
IDF special forces surrounded the building in the early hours of Tuesday to arrest high ranking Hamas operatives who had taken refuge inside the building. The troops called upon the occupants of the building to leave but, during the evacuation, several militants opened fire at the Israeli forces. Following the initial exchange of fire, the troops called for military backup, which has been surrounding the building since. Heavy gunfire is reported to have been exchanged, and the IDF fired two tank shells toward the building. Should take the bldg down now...donât risk IDF lives
After evacuating the building, troops sent in two Palestinians, to check if it was empty. Troops also blew up a car outside the building in Hebron, sending smoke billowing over the city. The building, belonging to the Kawasmeh family, members of which belong to the Hamas, is located in the Abu-Kteila neighborhood, which houses many Hamas operatives accused of carrying out terror attacks in the past year. Nice neighborhood - there go the property values
The army did not specify who was targeted in the raid, but in the past three weeks troops carried out a series of strikes against the terror organization, which claimed responsibility for a bus bombing last month that killed 22 people in Jerusalem. The suicide bomber in that attack came from Hebron.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 10:17:32 AM ||
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"as well as a Palestinian adult, who walked out of the surrounded building wounded and was transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital. Following his treatment he will be interrogated,"
#2
as well as a Palestinian adult, who walked out of the surrounded building wounded and was transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital. Following his treatment he will be interrogated," by the Hadassah ladies?
What? He didn't want to continue fighting to the death? What about his virgins?
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:22 Comments ||
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#3
"After evacuating the building, troops sent in two Palestinians, to check if it was empty."
Is this like being drafted to be a Tunnel Rat? I can't picture any Paleo volunteering to do this, since they'd be hung from a lamppost the next day for collaboration, but what good would they do otherwise? Just bait to see if someone shot at them? Shit, they're not gonna tell the Israelis if there's someone in there... This is a weird tidbit, IMO.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 16:57 Comments ||
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MORE: From the JPost -
Hebron Hamas commander killed in battle with IDF forces
IDF forces killed Hebron Hamas commander Ahmed Bader, who dispatched the suicide bomber to the Jerusalem bus in August.
Senior Hamas commander in Hebron, Ahmed Bader, who dispatched the suicide bomber who blew up in the Jerusalem bus three weeks ago killing twenty-two Israelis, was identified as one of two terrorists killed in the city by security forces on Tuesday following intensive gun battles that ensued throughout the day.
Bader's body together with that of his assistant Izzadin Misek were discovered lying in the lift shaft of the first floor of the eight-story building undercover troops had surrounded before dawn in an operation to nab senior Hamas gunmen holed up inside.
Near the bodies, security forces found a Kalshnikov rifle, a gun, a grenade launcher , ammunition clips and night vision equipment. Security officials said the Hamas infrastructure in the city was responsible for the deaths of scores of Israelis. Chief of Staff Lt.Gen. Moshe Ya'alon said the Hamas cell was planning to perpetrate an attack in the coming days.
At nightfall security forces blew up the first few floors of the building but did not continue searching the higher floors fearing it may be booby-trapped. IDF officials said the building would be demolished in its entirety during the night and that no other fugitives remained inside.
Palestinians reported that Thaer Sayuri, a twelve-year-old boy who lived in an adjacent building was also killed after IDF tank shells fired several rounds at the building where the fugitives were hiding out. According to the reports, Sayuri stood on the balcony of his third floor apartment watching the operation outside when he was hit by shrapnel. He died shortly after arriving at the local hospital , doctors said he had suffered shrapnel wounds to the face. The IDF Spokesman said the army is investigating the claim.
Aside from Sayuri, Palestinians reported that a young girl Nisreen Hamadiyeh, 10 , was also wounded in addition to a Palestinian man identified as Bassem al Dajani who wounded in the first hours of the operation and was taken to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem and will later be questioned by the Shin Bet. Israeli officials were seeking to determine whether al Dajani was one of the wanted Palestinians or a civilian. Palestinians claim he was a factory worker and suffered a neck wound.
In the early morning hours, acting on an intelligence tip-off, IDF undercover troops from the elite Duvdevan unit accompanied by armored units surrounded the building of 27 apartments that belongs to the Kawasmeh family, located in the Abu Kteila neighborhood near the Polytechnic College.
Abdullah Kawasmeh, considered to have masterminded numerous attacks against Israelis was killed by security forces in the city in June when he attempted to evade arrest. Bader who was his deputy then became the senior Hamas commander in the city.
The soldiers using loudspeakers called out to residents to leave the building when they came under heavy gunfire from the gunmen inside. A fierce gun battle erupted and tanks at the site fired a number of shells. Throughout the day, sporadic gunfire between the sides continued, with the troops remaining outside the building. In the afternoon, tanks again fired a number of rounds and light weapons fire before security forces broke into the building where they engaged in a gun battle with Bader and Masek who hid in the lift shaft.
The soldiers searched the first floor of the building and towards nightfall placed charges and blew the first floors up. Security officials deemed the operation a success. They noted that while it had continued for many hours, drawing conclusions from a similar operation launched in Nablus in which a naval commando was killed after entering the building where Hamas fugitives were hiding , tank fire and light weapons were deployed during the day and only in the afternoon when deemed secure did soldiers enter the building to search for the fugitives, engaged in a gun battle with them and killed them.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, three Hamas fugitives were arrested in Nablus and two in Abu Kash north of Ramallah. Palestinians fired shots at security forces deployed in Nablus and an explosive device was thrown at troops in Tulkarm.
In the Gaza Strip Palestinians fired four mortar shells at an Israeli community in the north Gaza Strip, two exploded inside the community but no one was wounded in the attack. Near the Karni crossing a Palestinian apparently armed with a bomb was killed by IDF forces who spotted him near the Karni crossing. Shots were fired at an IDF post near Gadid and at an IDF patrol near the north Gaza Strip fence, no one was wounded in either attack.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 17:10 Comments ||
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#7
Wow - what a followup... Busy day all around, for the IDF and the boomerdopes. Every bomber only hardens the resolve to wipe out the assholes. This is showing the signs of escalating to the point where Arafish may finally get fried. Long overdue - I hope the US has signaled Israel that we will stay out - even then.
Side note: "the building of 27 apartments that belongs to the Kawasmeh family"
This is not unusual in Arab countries. With a full standard quota of 4 wives, they can build quite a sizable clan. In '92 I lived across the street in Al Khobar (on the edge of Thoqbah) from a guy who owned a 6-story bldg - normally 20 apartments and a ground floor lobby / office / switchboard - it housed only his wives and children - I don't know how many of each there were. He had 2 huge Suburbans for hauling everyone around. I got to "know" some of the kids as they waited each morning for the schoolbus when I came out heading for work at Aramco. I wanted to smuggle the littlest girls out before they hit puberty - and became ninjas. The oldest girl was already beyond it - and wore the full black abaya and veil. Sad. I bought them soccer balls and such over the course of my 14+ months on that contract... and the young kids were cool and curious. The adults, on the other hand, were very wary of the infidel with the Yosemite Sam mustache. Prolly cursed it. What a trip.
The United Nations is investigating reports that Uruguayan troops stationed in this northeastern Congolese town broke into a Roman Catholic chapel, drank communion wine and stole items used in the celebration of Mass, the deputy commander of UN forces in Congo said on Tuesday. Iâm shocked, shocked that UN troops would loot a church. Usually they just confine themselves to turning the nuns into sex slaves. Oh, wait, thatâs the civilian UN staffs job, sorry.
Brigadier General Jan Isberg, who is also acting commander of a special UN brigade deployed to quell violence in volatile Ituri province, said a priest told UN military officials here that the Uruguayans, who are part of the UN mission to Congo, known as Monuc, broke into the chapel inside the Chem-Chem compound on Monday and stole a gold-plated chalice and other religious items. Choir boys who were in the compound on Monday told the priest, who asked not to be further identified, that they witnessed the robbery and also saw the Uruguayans drinking the wine and eating the wafers used in communion. Theyâre lucky, African troops would have eaten the choir boys.
Isberg said he didnât know how many Uruguayan troops were involved in the robbery. He said a patrol unit made up of Uruguayans had been sent to guard the compound after residents looted it when the French withdrew, scooping up whatever they had left behind. The school and the nuns residence were also robbed. Isberg said the boys gave statements to UN officials and identified several of the Uruguayan soldiers they said took part in the robbery. UN military police and security officers later went to the Uruguayan base and recovered some of the stolen items. "Right now an inquiry is ongoing to establish whether the Uruguayan soldiers will be court- martialed," said Isberg. "The UN does not tolerate looting from anybody, and it is very tragic when we find our own personnel doing it." Then his lips fell off.
An internal UN report said the Uruguayan soldiers "alleged that the material was removed purely for safekeeping". Good story,stick to it.
The Uruguayan troops, who had been sent to Bunia several months earlier, remained inside their base in Bunia during the fighting in May during which at least 500 people were killed. "Hey, weâre only peacekeepers, we might get hurt out there."
The mandate of the earlier UN mission in Bunia was only to protect unarmed military observers and UN equipment; the beefed-up mission includes a mandate to shoot to kill to protect civilians and to patrol the entire province, where fighting continues. Another successful UN mission.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 9:42:11 AM ||
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"African troops would have eaten the choir boys"
er, uhm, given the church scandals, perhaps you want to rephrase that.
EFL/FU:
Two Libyan men shouted insults at Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal on Monday and tried to attack him in the lobby of a Cairo hotel in response to past jibes at their leader Muammar Gaddafi, a police officer said. According to the officer, the pair, aged 25 and 27, were prevented from coming close to the Saudi minister by his bodyguards and were then arrested by Egyptian security officers. Whereâs a boomer when you need one?
Prince Saud confirmed later the incident. "One man tried to aggress me but the men around me prevented him," he told reporters as he emerged from an Arab foreign ministersâ meeting held at the headquarters of the Arab League. The police officer said the two Libyans were bitter over remarks made at an Arab summit on March 1 in Egypt by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who branded Gaddafi a "liar" and a "slave of colonialism". "They said they had acted spontaneously, not upon instructions from their government," the officer added. Theyâll get a bonus when they get home.
A witness said the Libyans dashed towards prince Saud, shouting "how dare you insult Muammar?". The police officer said one of the two Libyans raised his fist but the bodyguards pushed him back before he could reach the minister. He did not confirm accounts by an employee of the hotel that the minister had been hit on the shoulder before his bodyguards reacted. So close, such poor security, sigh.
The spat between Gaddafi and Crown Prince Abdullah was broadcast live on television. It came after the Libyan leader charged in a speech to fellow Arab leaders that Riyadh was ready to "strike an alliance with the devil" to shield itself from then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Itâs not the devil, dammit! Weâre the Great Satan, get it right.
Another row broke out between Riyadh and Tripoli in August after Gaddafi claimed that Wahhabism, the rigorous Islamic school dominant in the kingdom, fosters terrorism. Well, he got that one right.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 9:25:10 AM ||
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#2
Rarely do I agree so profoundly with both sides of an argument. Too bad that I don't think a duel will be arranged.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 13:51 Comments ||
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#3
Not the type of duel you're thinking of SH. The duel they will have will follow several simple rules.
1: Free acces between countries must be made for both sides Martyrs/Boomers.
2: You must target high-ranking officials or large crowds. Great Satan targets are also acceptable, but frowned upon for fear of annihilation.
3: If you manage to kill a high-ranking official,you must deny your government had anything too do with it, then be shocked when the boomers/martyrs trail leads back to your government or teaching facilities.
4: All bombings must be blamed on joos in the Arab press.
5: You must use this to recruit more martyrs/boomers. The country that recruits the most wins Allahs grace.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:05 Comments ||
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#4
Frank - What was that line from the last GCC meeting where Iraq had a Rep and he had a girlie fight with the Kuwaiti, I think it was? Curse your mustache? This is some seriously funny shit.
#6
SinNYC - Yup! It was one of those magical hoots that we so seldom get to see. The arrogant strutting Iraqi - spitting mad and powerless - waaay funny!
Iran has clearly violated its United Nations nuclear safeguards obligations, the United States has said. "The United States believes that the facts... would fully justify an immediate finding of non-compliance by Iran," US ambassador Kenneth Brill said in written remarks to UN nuclear watchdogâs governing board. But Mr Brill, who serves as ambassador to the UN in Vienna, said Washington had consented to other board member statesâ desire "to give Iran a last chance to stop its evasions". "Don, did you get the clock back from PMEL?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
"OK, wind it up." Tick...tick...
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 8:45:26 AM ||
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Last chance huh?? One has to wonder if they are going to be as stupid as SO Dam was. I guess the rest of the world still hasn't gotten it into their heads that this Bush is unlike any prez we have had since Teddy Roosevelt. He actuallly means it when he says "or else"
#2
I was wondering whether any troops left in the U.S. for another war. I thought the military was prepared for a 2-war strategy: being prepared to fight two major wars at once. Now, it seems the U.S. doesn't have enough resources even for a single war (A congressional study showed that the US army lacks the active-duty troops to sustain the occupation past next March without either receiving help from other countries, calling on other services and reserves, or spending vastly more money).
It seems to me that the war in Iraq doesn't help the U.S. in diplomatic front against Iran or N.Korea - the stick is too short.
#3
The Iranians aren't nearly as much fun as the NK loonies for threatening us.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:13 Comments ||
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#4
The NORKS are totally isolated and produce nothing but some weapons for nutcases to buy. Sorry, I forgot the juche and the famous White Slag, and the tunneling expertise. The Iranians are a heavy duty oil producer with lots of cash to give jihadi misery away, read Hizbollah.
I have a feeling that GW and Rumsfeld are holding back troops because they see something coming up, or a contingency for NORK or Iran in the somewhat near future.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/09/2003 14:38 Comments ||
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#5
Also, Iran is probably a major buyer for NK. Buy taking them out of the picture, we would greatly reduce the money that NK has for his already decaying military.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 14:48 Comments ||
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#6
You know the Black Hats will be arrogant, non-responsive, and haughty - they have learned nothing since coming to power except how to brutalize kids on the street and accumulate personal wealth. The case is already made, now, for whatever Dubya & Co⢠decide to do.
I eagerly anticipate The Fucking of The Black Hats. K-Y is optional.
Via Drudge
North Korea did not display any new missile or military hardware at a parade to mark its 55th birthday Tuesday, a Western diplomat based in Pyongyang said. "No new missiles, only soldiers, no (military) hardware," the diplomat told Reuters by telephone. "It was a pretty normal, run-of-the-mill parade as far as I could see. Nothing special," the diplomat, who asked not to be identified, said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il viewed the 90-minute parade from a platform, but did not make a speech, the diplomat said. Unfortunately the marbles were also forgotten - thatâs for you tu3031
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/09/2003 8:29:44 AM ||
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It has also been about a week since NKor threatened to test a nuke and a long range missile. Possibly the soldiers putting together these items died of starvation before they could finish the job.
#2
No heavy equipment, just goose-stepping soldiers. I'm sure the Norks wanted to rattle their heavy ubber-weapons, but it's really hard to look tough when you have to hitch them up to a couple hundred army guys and PULL them through the square.
Posted by: Dave ||
09/09/2003 11:42 Comments ||
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#3
I hear that the paper mache didn't dry fast enough and the dummy warhead kept falling off.
Posted by: Paul ||
09/09/2003 14:06 Comments ||
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Thanks, Frank!
No sign of the "Big, Huge Fucking Dong", huh? Must've sent it to... Yemen?
Looks like a job for CSI:Tehran
Shots have been fired for the second time in less than a week at or near the British Embassy in Tehran. Foreign Office spokesman Ian Gleason told CNN that three or four shots were fired from the street at or near the embassy just before 1am local time on Tuesday. He said there were no injuries and he was not aware of any damage to the building. oops, nothing for CSI:Tehran to do, they can go back to working on that other case.
The shots come less than a week after a similar incident near the British mission in Iranâs capital, amid bilateral tension between the countries after a former Iranian diplomat was arrested in Britain over the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina that killed 85. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said last week security had been beefed up around the compound and police were investigating the shooting, which he described as an "irresponsible act." An irresponsible act is when you have one too many on company time. This sounds a bit more than irresponsible.
Last weekâs shooting took place just hours after the announcement Iranâs rapid reaction force?
that Iran had temporarily recalled its British ambassador, Morteza Sarmadi, for consultation over the dispute over the arrest of former diplomat Hadi Soleimanpour. The Foreign Office in London has denied that Sarmadiâs departure amounts to any downgrading of relations. Soleimanpour, who is in custody at Argentinaâs request, has protested his innocence. Iran says his detention is politically motivated. It has promised "strong action" and warned Britain that the issue would harm bilateral ties. Hmm, if I was CSI:Tehran Iâd start with that last sentence. Could be a clue.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 7:58:46 AM ||
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CSI:Tehran = Contracted Shootings for Islam, Tehran Branch Office.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/09/2003 8:33 Comments ||
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If you chose to have an embassy in Tehran, make sure the windows are armoured and there are no women stationed there.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/09/2003 14:14 Comments ||
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EFL
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Nominated to take over as Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qureia said Monday that Israel must comply with its obligations under the ``road mapââ peace plan - or he will face the same impossible situation that felled Mahmoud Abbas. Rats -- he noticed!
The parliament speaker, who won a respected place on Mossadâs dart board respect in Israel and abroad for his role in peace negotiations a decade ago, warned that unless Israel changes its attitude toward Yasser Arafat there is no point in appointing a Palestinian prime minister. By George I think heâs got it! Higgins, the bubbly!
``I donât want failure,ââ said Qureia (pronounced Kill-is-RAEL-is Ko-REY-yah), who is a close ally of Arafat but also has credibility with Israel as a moderate and former peace negotiator. ``Itâs the Israeli government that brought down the previous government.ââ Sorry, Fred, your previous lesson on "cause and effect" didnât take. Theyâre going to need a refresher course.
Early Tuesday, Israeli soldiers surrounded an eight-story building in Hebron, evacuating residents, engaging armed Palestinians in a gunfight and firing tank shells at the apartment complex, witnesses said. The soldiers surrounded the building, where the Kawasme family lives, calling on loudspeakers for occupants to leave, Palestinian witnesses said. Four suicide bombers in the past three years of fighting have been members of the Kawasme family. Israel has a policy of demolishing the homes of suicide bombers in the hopes of deterring further attacks. Speak of the devil ...
After meeting with Qureia - known as Abu Ala - Arafat told leaders of his Fatah Party and other factions that Qureia had accepted the nomination in principle, said an official who was present at the meeting. ``Arafat told us that Abu Ala has accepted the job in principle, but he is working to get guarantees from the various parties that his mission will succeed,ââ said Qeis Abdelkarim, a member of a PLO faction.
But Qureia said he has not given his final answer. ``Iâm still studying the issue,ââ he told The Associated Press. If Qureia formally accepts, he must be confirmed by jackasses and thugs parliament.
Israel has ignored clauses that require it to freeze construction in Jewish settlements and dismantle settlement outposts established since 2001. It also remains in control of most West Bank towns. Israeli leaders demanded Abbas dismantle militant groups as required by the plan. Abbas refused to use force to do so.
The militant groups declared a temporary end to attacks on Israelis in June. But some attacks continued, as did Israeli arrests of militants. After a suicide bombing that killed 22 people in Jerusalem last month and was claimed by the militant group Hamas, the truce fell apart. Did I just read that right, did an AP reporter actually blame Hamas for the collapse of the truce?
Israel is now in the midst of a campaign against Hamas militants, killing 12 in recent weeks and slightly injuring the groupâs revered founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin.
``I want to see a real cease-fire from both sides with enough commitment to stop all kinds of killing of the Palestinians or killing of the Israelis,ââ Qureia told reporters on Monday. "Although that last part is optional to me!"
``I want to see that the Israelis will change the way of dealing with Yasser Arafat, the elected president, because I cannot go without his support,ââ he said. "Please donât kill me!"
``We also need the support of the Israelis, the support of the Americans, and the support of President Arafat,ââ he said. So far youâre batting .000, al-Q!
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/09/2003 2:02:23 AM ||
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"Abu Ala" wants a guarantee? Fine.
I guarantee that ol' fat & greasy will screw him over just like his predecessor for as long as the game will play, then stab him in the back "for the good of the state" or some such fatuous drivel.
He'll need to be precise when he finally shoves the knife in, though - he wouldn't want to stab his own hand...
#2
"unless Israel changes its attitude toward Yasser Arafat"
I once stepped on dog shit in the park and was pretty pissed about it. Arafat is like stepping in dog shit, you can never change your attitude about it.
...did an AP reporter actually blame Hamas for the collapse of the truce?
He still managed to finger Israel though: But some attacks continued, as did Israeli arrests of militants. You could tell he was searching for something bad to say against the Israelis, and all he could come up with was 'arresting militants'.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/09/2003 7:43 Comments ||
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#3
The parliament speaker, who won respect in Israel and abroad for his role in peace negotiations a decade ago
That would be Oslo, right?
Why would anyone involved in that travesty be respected anymore?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
09/09/2003 8:35 Comments ||
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A Frenchman on trial over the Casablanca suicide bombings has worked for French intelligence, he has claimed at his trial in Morocco. Pierre Robert told the court he had been paid to infiltrate Muslim groups. Mr Robert and 33 other people are charged with murder, conspiracy and possessing arms and explosives. The Casablanca attacks, involving around 12 suicide bombers, killed 33 other people. Maybe the groups he infiltrated managed to turn him..?
Mr Robert, 31, said a French secret service agent known as "Mr Luc" first approached him to recruit him five years ago, and paid him for his services. "I was contacted at the time of the (football) World Cup in 1998 by the DST to conduct inquiries into Algerian Islamist networks in France, and I did that," Mr Robert told the court in Rabat. After successfully completing the mission, Mr Robert was asked by Mr Luc to investigate "Islamist activities in Belgium" — which he also carried out. A French Interior Ministry official has insisted that the department had "never had contact with this person."
"In the event you are captured or killed, Mr. Phelps, the Agency will disclaim any knowledge of you..."
Robert, who faces the death penalty if found guilty, also implied in court that he had been sexually assaulted during his detention in Morocco.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
09/09/2003 1:08:29 AM ||
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#1
"Maybe the groups he infiltrated managed to turn him..?"
No, I think he was still working for the FI when this happened. He did exactly what they wanted him to.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/09/2003 1:43 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
