Iyad Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister, yesterday secured important backing from Saudi Arabia for his appeal to Muslim countries to contribute peacekeeping forces, but analysts said he was still unlikely to succeed. Mr Allawi discussed what was described as a Saudi initiative with Saudi officials and Colin Powell, US secretary of state, yesterday. "This is a global war," he told reporters.
None of Iraq's neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, would contribute to the force, which some officials said was intended to protect the United Nations mission while it helped Iraq prepare for legislative elections. So far, no country outside the US-led multinational force has made a firm commitment to aid the UN, while five countries have pulled out of the coalition.
US lobbying has had little impact; at worst it has been counterproductive, so analysts say Iraq is hoping that Saudi Arabia's position as guardian of Islam's holiest shrines, and its considerable financial weight, will persuade countries such as Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh to reconsider their refusals to become involved.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
07/30/2004 12:00:00 AM ||
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#1
Can Powell make a difference and can he keep the progress going?
#2
Thursday's State Department Press Briefing was rather brutal with respect to the questions and follow-ups concerning this issue(and every other issue discussed as well.) Here is a sample:
QUESTION 1: ... In London, an Arab League official said, "any such force would only be acceptable if ordered by the UN Security Council and linked to a specific timetable for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq." How does the State Department feel about those conditions?
QUESTION 2: The Arab League statement isn't attached to any specific difficult or delicate or obscure detail and we all know it's in the preliminary stage. They're saying, "any such force can only be acceptable if ordered by the UN Security Council and linked to a specific timetable for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq." Even though for your own good political reasons you are having the Saudis and the Iraqis up front on this, instead of the U.S., what they're saying deals specifically with the U.S., the Arab League. They say a timetable for U.S. forces. Presumably, the United States remains in control of its own forces. Is the U.S. prepared to withdraw its troops from Iraq in order to have Muslim countries contribute to peacekeeping operations there, as demanded by the Arab League?
I read these questions as a perception by the media that the Arab League plans to spike all Arab involvement until the US is out of Iraq or has set a definite date for leaving. I speculate that the Arab League is hoping that Bush is either defeated or succumbs to election pressure in a way that allows Iran and Syria to escape confrontation by getting American troops out of Iraq in the near term.
Some would say that the attacks in Iraq would tail off if Iraq was eliminated as a staging area for the next chapter of the WOT. I would say that similar thinking held that the removal of American troops from Vietnam would be a panacea for Southeast Asia.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/30/2004 3:12 Comments ||
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#3
It's hard to say...we can't babysit Iraq indefinitely or at least I don't think we should get into another 50 year deployment of our troops like we did in Germany.
Frankly, I think we may need to use our military to defend our own borders. I'm serious. I don't think the ocean protects us anymore like it did in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam. Trying to be an open society with OBL and his merry men recruiting new nutballs to penetrate thru the southern, northern borders is going to need something more than 2000 border guards.
Terrorism isn't going to go away just because Iraq has a democracy. The Muslim extremists hate us and they are reproducing like rabbits. With our immigration based on family reunification, we'll have more and more Arabs passing our borders back and forth...it'll be a matter of percentages, more bad guys will try to come thru.
European cities have military in their airports on their streets. When I was in Rome a couple of years ago, at night the military were at popular tourist sights along side the local cops.
Posted by: rex ||
07/30/2004 3:28 Comments ||
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#4
rex,
Nobody is going to invade the U. S. unless we allow them to. And it won't take the whole Army to do it. Step 1 is build a wall, just like Israel. Step 2 is establish and enforce rigorous immigration laws. Step 3 is attack potential invaders where they live before they leave. It's up to us.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
07/30/2004 7:44 Comments ||
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#5
The talk about a Muslim peacekeeping force is just Arab performance art.
The Saudis get to play the good guys by promising funds. The Iraqi govt gets to play the good guys by inviting co religionists to help. The govts of Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. which have competent armies get to be flattered but then get to pretend that they would help except for this and that condition.
However, the likelihood is that nothing will happen and the Iraqi people, will, assuming they win the war against the terrorists, have an extra portion of pride.
#6
I think its quite possible Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain,Bangladesh, etc may manage to put together a modest force - if Albania and Kazahstan could be in the coalition of the willing, why not the above? And I cant see that they would bow to the Arab League.
#7
Hell the members of the Arab league are going to be arming the insurgents, not protecting Iraq. This whole thing is a crock. I hope that it is just a bone that Powell is throwing to the Arab states or something that he is doing for show to support the election. Having these assholes in Iraq is not going to do one positive thing.
Rex, we can and should stay there for a long time. It is in our national interest. We have to be there to truly learn the culture and have our intelligence get fully integrated into that society. If we are going to defeat our enemy, we have to know our enemy. We aren't going to be able to do that by just hanging in Dearborn, MI.
Posted by: remote man ||
07/30/2004 12:58 Comments ||
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#8
LH-
If Morocco and the other smallish countries manage to provide, say 5000 people or fewer-- won't that small number be perceived by Iraqis as essentially a slap in the face to Iraq?
#9
We have to be there to truly learn the culture and have our intelligence get fully integrated into that society
And what a success story it was when we had troops in Soody Arabia learning about the culture, integrating our intelligence into the society, and learning more about the enemy. Yahoo! Now that was a winning strategy, wasn't it, folks.
Sorry, been there, done that, #7, and all we get in return is increased anti-American Arab Muslim hatred for being "infidels" soiling their magic religious soil. I'd give our presence in Iraq another 5 years MAXIMUM before it starts back firing BIGTIME on our GI's and on us. As I've said before, the faster we get our military out of sacrosanct Sunni/Shiite Iraq, the better.
Next idea, please...
Posted by: rex ||
07/30/2004 13:13 Comments ||
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#10
From what I've read on Iraqi blogs, things are going quite well in Iraq, despite the efforts of several thousand foreign terrorists. After a shaky start, the Iraqi army and police forces are beginning to coalesce into a capable force, and are striking back, hard. We will need to stay in Iraq until those forces can become fully capable to defend Iraq on their own. That may be a year, it may be three years, it may be ten years. I doubt it will be more than five, personally, but that's just one slightly-uneducated guess, as opposed to a large number of other, equally uneducated guesses.
Right now, terrorist groups are pushing as hard as they can, hoping to influence the upcoming US election and defeat George Bush. If Bush wins, things will rapidly slack off in Iraq, as the potential for an early collapse of the Iraqi interim government will be virtually nil. Once we're passed the November elections (assuming a majority of the American electorate are not complete and total idiots), I expect a major counter-terrorism push by both US and Iraqi forces that will cause some significant, LASTING harm to the terrorist movement. I also expect that, either Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia will reduce or eliminate their support to terrorist groups in Iraq, or they will face military consequences for their continued activities.
The crap about "Islamic sentimentalities" is just that, CRAP. The Islamofascists don't want us in any nation where they are because we spoil their plans. The plain truth is that a lot of the people in Iraq, Afghanistan, and a few other places are damned happy we're there, and don't want us to leave until things are much more secure than they are at present. The ordinary people know the whining, seething, and spittle-spewing is being done primarily by types that want to put a foot on their necks, and they want no part of it.
As for securing our borders, the Israeli wall will be less than 200 miles long. It's a hell of a long way from Brownsville to Tiajuana, and most of it's pretty difficult terrain. The bad news is, that's the SHORT border. While we could build a fence, I'd bet the cat's whiskers most of the wire would be stolen before it was up two weeks. A concrete fence would take up about half the world's concrete for a year or more. There are other, better ways to secure the border, but they're not "nice", and our "friends" the Dummycheats won't let us play unless we're "nice".
Being "nice" to everybody is what's gotten us into this situation in the first place. I think it's time to tell the world, in the words of "St. Teresa", to "shove it", and back it up with an axehandle across the knuckles when they step out of line. Kofi "Cash for Terrorsts" Annan should be target #1.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/30/2004 18:00 Comments ||
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#11
Excellent sit rep analysis, as always, OP!
Thank you.
#12
Insightful comments, Old Patriot, not to mention that you also managed to keep everyone happy by coalescing seemingly conflicting opinions to make them work in concert woth one another. Are you a business manager or something like that where you need to herd cats[staff] in the same direction?
Posted by: rex ||
07/30/2004 21:16 Comments ||
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#13
Actually, Rex, I spent 26 years learning how to read government pap and make sense of the small grains of truth buried in it. I also worked with enough classified information (reconnaissance imagery, technical reports, raw intercepts, you name it) to understand how the world really works, and how mindless, timid morons try to bury unwelcome news in bull$$$$. My military service, my retirement, and my current situation is old news to most Rantburg regulars.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/31/2004 0:01 Comments ||
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Pyongyang, July 25 (KCNA)
Leader Kim Jong Il's idea that the Juche character and national character are the life and soul of a country and nation serves as important guidelines and the banner of strategic struggle in frustrating the vicious moves of the United States and reactionaries of history and advancing the people's cause of independence, the socialist cause, along the road of victory. Rodong Sinmun Sunday says this in a signed article. Preserving the Juche character means that the popular masses are responsible for shaping the destiny of their country and nation and their own destiny independently and creatively. Keeping the national character means to preserve and develop the peculiar and good characteristics of a nation and apply them in all spheres of social life, the article says, and goes on:
If a nation fails to correctly settle the issue of preserving the Juche character and national character, it will make a mess of the gains of revolution achieved with blood. This is a serious historical lesson.
"Smythe! Make a note of that!"
"Yessir!"
Now that the imperialists are further intensifying their moves for domination and ideological and cultural infiltration while clamoring for "globalization", it is of particular importance to preserve the Juche character and national character.
"We don't even want to get globalized!"
It is the essence and method of the U.S. strategy of domination over the world to obliterate the Juche character and national character of other countries and nations through the "globalization" and establish its unipolar world by Americanizing and Westernizing the world.
Uhhh... Precisely how many countries and nations have a Juche character to be obliterated?
I count "one".
Independent development and prosperity of a country and nation can not be achieved through the U.S.-pursued "globalization". Preserving the Juche character and national character makes it possible to smash the imperialists' moves for "globalization", ideological and cultural infiltration and domination, defend the dignity and independence of a country and nation and promote sound social development.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/30/2004 09:27 ||
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#1
Nothing will happen until Bush wins. If Bush loses the NKs will do whatever they want.
Posted by: Formerly Dan ||
07/30/2004 13:28 Comments ||
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#2
If Bush wins the NKs will do whatever they want too. This will never be resolved at the bargaining table. It's just too easy for the NKs to hide stuff. Sure wish Israel was in striking distance...
Posted by: Tom ||
07/30/2004 20:11 Comments ||
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Pyongyang, July 29 (KCNA)
A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland Thursday issued a statement denouncing the south Korean authorities for their anti-national act of taking a group of "defectors from the north" to south Korea. The statement said:
The south Korean authorities committed such anti-national act as taking a group of "defectors from the north" to south Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was organized and premeditated allurement, abduction and terrorism committed by the south Korean authorities against people in the north in broad daylight.
The north, therefore, considers this action as a flagrant violation of and challenge to the June 15 joint declaration in which the north and the south committed themselves to solve the issues related to the inter-Korean relations and the country's reunification independently by their concerted efforts and the most hostile act to destroy the system in the north. The successive south Korean rulers took the human scum who committed crimes in the north to south Korea to use them in the campaign for confrontation with the north.
The north can not but take a serious view of the fact that even in the era after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration the present south Korean authorities lured and abducted a group of northerners by more crafty and vicious methods, repeating their predecessors' crimes.
"They waved a pork chop at us, how more vicious and crafty can you get?"
"Tree bark, well, tree bark we could handle. But a pork chop? And the secret sauce!"
What merits a serious attention is that this terrorism was timed to coincide with the U.S. House of Representatives' recent passage of the "bill on human rights issue in north Korea." By nature the issue of "defectors from the north" is a product of the anti-DPRK campaign the U.S. is escalating by using a lot of money and materials in a bid to destroy people-centered socialism of Korean style.
You knew it was our fault, somehow.
Had to be us. Couldn't be anybody else, except maybe Zionists...
The north will never allow the south Korean authorities to impair the international prestige and image of the DPRK and realize the "change of its system" in pursuance of the U.S. campaign. The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland bitterly condemns in the name of the whole nation standing for its unity and reunification the above-mentioned crime committed by the south Korean authorities to drive the inter-Korean relations to a phase of acute confrontation. The south Korean authorities are feeling uneasy, seized by extreme guilty conscience after luring and abducting those northerners like alley cats.
"... Tasty alley cats! Plump and juicy from eating mice! Plump mice! Well-fed and meaty mice..."
The recent criminal act committed by the south Korean authorities is sparking off fresh antagonism and confrontation between the north and the south and throwing insurmountable obstacles in the way of improving the inter-Korean relations. The north will never remain a passive onlooker to this crime but settle accounts with them. The south Korean authorities will be held wholly accountable for the ensuing consequences and other forces who supported them will have to pay a high price for them.
God, that's lame. Wonder if the old writers skipped town with the human scum.
Posted by: Steve ||
07/30/2004 9:18:26 AM ||
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#2
"...Human scum is people! For God's sake listen to me, it's people !!"
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
07/30/2004 10:22 Comments ||
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#3
Let’s see if I have this straight? North and South Korea committed themselves on June 15 to the country's reunification while maintaining the system of the north. Sounds like the Dimocrat’s definition of bipartisanship.
#5
Build a massive highway across Korea, just below the DMZ. Set up a hundred KFC's, Pizza Huts, Wendy's, Black Eyed Pea, IHOP, Waffle House, and every other form of restaurant you can think of all along the highway. Build huge fans to blow the scent of all that food cooking toward the north. THEN see how many defectors you get! Ten to one, Kimmie will be in the first thousand...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/30/2004 18:13 Comments ||
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#6
Old Patriot, I'm afraid that the DMZ is about as absurd as a North Korean press release. Aside from the North Korean Army, very few North Koreans ever get a glimpse of it. North Korea actually has a large "town" near the DMZ that is nothing more than a huge plywood facade to make things look prosperous from the south. With North Korea, truth is definitely stranger than fiction.
Posted by: Tom ||
07/30/2004 20:07 Comments ||
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#8
Tom, I'm sure the wind could carry the smell of real food for more than 20 miles, which is about how far the NKor have the DMZ isolated. Besides, those NKor troops don't eat all that well themselves. It's not just rumor that they trap rats from within the DMZ to add protein to their diet - there's a lot of truth to it. As for the NKor deception, I spent many, many months "working" that part of the world - I probably know it better than most. I damned well know their rail network better than most - keeping track of it was my job for sixteen months!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/31/2004 0:06 Comments ||
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#9
The North Koreans better search their souls and discover what they did to make our Jewish mastes hate them so much.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/31/2004 2:10 Comments ||
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Islamists claiming links to al Qaeda have issued another threat against European countries for supporting the policies of U.S. President George W. Bush. "We will not hesitate to shed blood in all parts of Europe, in Rome and other places, as long as countries move in the orbit of the pinnacle of unbelief, America," the statement by the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades said on Friday.
The Euros can't help themselves, they're in our orbit, and gravity is a harsh mistress.
"From here from Italy, from Britain, from Bulgaria and all European countries we call on all our units to prepare themselves to enter the battle," said the message, posted on an Internet website and dated July 30. "You will not enjoy security while you remain in the shadow of the despicable Bush," it added.
Alas, these jokers have yet to know the shadow that a JDAM casts.
The message made reference to a three-month truce issued to European states by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. That truce, which ended on July 15, gave countries three months to pull troops out of Afghanistan, Iraq and other Muslim states or face attacks like the Madrid train bombings in March. The authenticity of the statement could not be immediately verified. The message said other statements had been falsely attributed to the Abu Hafs al-Masri group in the past two days. A statement signed in the name of the same group appeared on Islamist websites on Wednesday, but its content was similar. It warned of a "bloody war" in Europe after the expiry of bin Laden's truce. Previous claims of responsibility by the group for attacks in Turkey and Iraq have been greeted with scepticism. U.S. officials have said its links with al Qaeda are unclear.
Posted by: Steve ||
07/30/2004 9:29:19 AM ||
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#1
Yadda, yadda, yadda....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/30/2004 17:08 Comments ||
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#2
We need to start training some bomb-sniffing hogs.They should all be at least 300 pounds, and used to inspect mosques, "culture centers" and other Islamic buildings in Europe for the presence of explosives and ammunition. We should use 20 or 30 in each inspection, and do it at least once a week (but never on Friday, that would be tacky). We should make it absolutely clear that we're doing this for "their own good", not as an affront to their religion, of course...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/30/2004 18:19 Comments ||
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The European Union has to learn to take itself seriously before it can expect the United States to treat it as an equal, the outgoing EU ambassador to the US has warned. Speaking before the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament on Thursday, GÃŒnter Burghardt said that getting Washington to treat the 25-nation bloc as a partner "depends on how seriously we take ourselves" adding "that is something only we can manage".
No. It depends on what of any substance you actually do...
The German diplomat said that while there is an overall general will by the EU to "enter into a partnership of equals" it is undermined by the fact that some member states continue to accord bilateral interests more importance.
It's undermined by the fact that in a "partnership of equals" both sides have to be equal...
Refusing to comment on whether George W. Bush will be re-elected in November and what it would mean for transatlantic relations, Mr Burghardt said that, in 2005, the ties should be renewed anyway.
But if Bush wins it's going to cost Brussels more...
He said that the transatlantic agenda has not been updated since 1995 although since then the European Union has undergone its biggest enlargement ever and agreed a new Constitution. He says the Constitution will allow Europe to be taken more seriously as now the EU is represented by the head of the EU Presidency, the European Commission President and three foreign ministers - from the EU presidency at the time, Chris Patten (external relations commissioner) and Javier Solana (EU High Representative).
Prodi, Patten and Solana made a pretty forgettable team...
Under the new Constitution, Europe's foreign policy will be the domain of the new EU foreign minister.
Who will be allowed to be forgettable all by himself...
The ambassador, who is expected to be replaced later this year by a hockey puck former Irish prime minister John Bruton, does not deny that there are, and will continue to be, fundamental differences between the two sides. One of them is the two different attitudes to the "notion of sovereignty". The US sees its sovereignty as "unlimited" he said and this will not change whereas the EU is more about "joint sovereignty" and "multilateralism".
We have the perhaps mistaken idea that this is our country and we'll look out for our interests, if that's what you mean...
I dunno, the EU thought Saddam's sovereignty was pretty unlimited ...
The vast majority of the questions Mr Burghardt received from MEPs centred around the idea that Washington and the US President do not take Europe seriously and whether the ordinary American had any interest in Europe.
You mean other than the nude beaches? None I can think of...
By way of reply, he said there is still a huge amount of "good will" among Americans towards Europe. He added that the "extreme" neo-conservatives "are no longer setting the agenda" and that those people who spoke about new and old Europe (famously US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld) have "suddenly dried up".
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/30/2004 03:22 ||
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"...he said there is still a huge amount of "good will" among Americans towards Europe."
A "huge" amount? Only among chocolate-lovers and left-wing metrosexual sycophants. Among the rest, there is mostly annoyance.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
07/30/2004 9:26 Comments ||
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#2
...the Constitution will allow Europe to be taken more seriously as now the EU is represented by the head of the EU Presidency, the European Commission President and three foreign ministers.
Their Constitution will not be the reason for Americans to take them seriously; getting their heads out of the clouds and eliminating their condescending attitudes would be a good place to start. They have a LOOOONG way to go to earn our trust back.
#3
A few mistakes on his part. Yes, there is still a huge amount of "good will" among Americans toward *some* people in Europe. Specifically, some individuals and some countries. However, while you might find some Americans that love Germany, and some Americans that love France, there are a lot fewer that love *both* Germany and France, as an example.
Europe, as a whole, sucks. Americans detest the Roman or Napoleonic Law on the continent, and their overreaching bureaucrats. But most of all, Americans are optimistic, whereas Europeans are pessimistic. This simple difference means that we will never invite them to the party. Who wants a depressing, cynical sourpuss to make everybody feel bad and assure everyone that "it" is impossible and not worth the effort?
Russians and Americans have a future, however, in that Russians are optimists, too. Their sense of humor may be a little, uh, course, but I don't think that is much of a stumbling block.
#4
Most Americans are of European descent. Their forefathers left Europe because they didn't like it for one reason or another. They disliked it so much they were willing to come here and never go back. And now their offspring are going to have good will for Europe?
We spent the last century cleaning up the messes Europe made on the floor. They would be smart to find a corner, curl up in a ball and sleep for 100 years. Maybe then we'll be ready to take them out for a walk without the pinch collar.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
07/30/2004 10:13 Comments ||
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#5
"Most Americans are of European descent. Their forefathers left Europe because they didn't like it for one reason or another."
Bulls-eye.
When my ancestors left France three hundred and fifty years ago it was a land of sullen, violent, ignorant peasants lorded over by a haughty, priviledged class of self-absorbed, arrogant, posturing dandies.
And it would appear that not much has changed since then-- or at least, not enough to warrant going back.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
07/30/2004 10:30 Comments ||
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#6
he said there is still a huge amount of "good will" among Americans towards Europe
Let's just say that we've achieved parity with our EUtopian friends, in terms of hatred. But really, EU, do you care? Why concern yourselves with the opinion of someone you despise?
#12
When my ancestors left France three hundred and fifty years ago it was a land of sullen, violent, ignorant peasants lorded over by a haughty, priviledged class of self-absorbed, arrogant, posturing dandies.
Dude, your family was lorded over by John Kerry's ancestors!! My condolences.
#13
The European Union has to learn to take itself seriously before it can expect the United States to treat it as an equal, the outgoing EU ambassador to the US has warned.
Actually, the problem is that they DO take themselves seriously. A little TOO seriously, I might add, as in "too big for their britches" seriously.
#14
In a on-going debate I've been having elsewhere with an Irish moonbat socialist sourpuss (there, see, all of you now have an exact mental image!), I've noted that "my ancestors came to America to get away from your ancestors."
She doesn't like that much :-)
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/30/2004 13:14 Comments ||
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#15
The European Union has to learn to take itself seriously
Bzzzzzt. Euros take themselves far too seriously already.
Note to Europe: Contrary to your beliefs, the world does not revolve around you.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/30/2004 17:13 Comments ||
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#16
Particularly not our world.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/30/2004 17:16 Comments ||
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#17
Bzzt.. they don't have a constutitiom yet, Plenty of folks in the EU don't even want one. Good luck, Larpo.
#18
Flamebait> I've not known of anyone outside Britain that doesn't want a constitution for the EU (regardless of whether we disagree on what should be in it), and I think that one of the reasons the Brits don't want one is probably because the United Kingdom doesn't have a constitution of its own either.
#19
Aris, as you've said in comments here a few days ago that you really aren't acquainted with anyone outside of Greece, may I assume that your comment here is limited to the opinions of Greeks you know personally?
OTOH, his circle of acquaintances is fairly small and not necessarily representative of other countries. So while he rather implied he speaks for the continent, as he has himself admitted, he is not acquainted with anyone outside of his own, relatively small country.
No shame in that ... it just puts his comments in proper context, that's all.
#22
Okay, let me rephrase that, I don't remember *ever* talking to *anyone* in the Internet, who didn't want a constitution for the EU and was non-Brit.
I'm sure some exist, but the *vast majority* of the people who don't want an EU constitution seem to me to be Brits.
Communists excluded, but that's because they want the whole of EU, NATO and Western civilisation to perish, so them not wanting a consitution either is a given.
rkb> There's a difference between my friends (mostly Greeks and a couple Americans) and the people I've butted heads over political issues with (a large number throughout the world through the Internet).
#23
rkb, what piffle!
Aris just wants to be right all the time when he never is.
And he will argue about anything and everything;
in this case, he actually tries to "get" Bulldog over the color of blue in the Bosnian flag.
Un-fricking-believable.
Sweet Dreams in the UK, Bulldog and you're right, plenty of people in the EU besides the British don't want that constitution (Didn't Denmark vote "No" last year or some other Scandinavian country?).
#24
I will take the EUropeans seriously when they display the intellectual integrity and acceptance of responsibility (both as a group and individually) at least on the level I expect of my minor children. You cannot shirk responsibility for past actions, current behavior, or words and deeds that have caused major catastrophies in dozens of different places around the world, and expect to be taken seriously. Such behavior is that of a spoiled child. Once Europe as a whole moves beyond childishness and assumes adult responsibilities, the rest of the world will begin to treat them like adults. You cannot demand to be taken seriously and still act like a fool.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/30/2004 19:31 Comments ||
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#25
You cannot demand to be taken seriously and still act like a fool.
You can if you're a Dem or a dhimmi Euro, O.P.
They can demand it all they want, but serious people won't pay any attention to their whining.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/30/2004 23:18 Comments ||
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I thought I read about this on Rantburg before, but can't find anything in the archives.
Beneath the blue skies of Athens, an odd droning noise this week has prompted many a harried commuter to look up and squint into the sun. Above their heads, cumbersome but quiet enough to creep up unawares, is a 200ft airship - its unspoken motto: "Eat at Zorba's" "You are being watched." In a country where memories of the 1970s military junta are still fresh, and suspicion of authority is common, the airship is not seen as some novelty attraction. While some of the foreign athletes and VIPs heading to Athens for next month's Olympics have voiced concerns about safety precautions, locals are beginning to wonder if security measures have gone too far.
Feel free to relax security and accept the consequences. Just let us get our atheletes outta town first.
The list of defence gadgetry is formidable: Patriot missile batteries to shoot down rogue planes, high-speed coastguard vessels to sink terrorist boats, special sensors to detect lorry bombs and, today, a battalion of specialist Czech troops arrives to focus on any possible threat from weapons of mass destruction.
Which of course don't exist.
It is not so much the high-tech, high-cost, anti-terrorist systems that have irked locals. Rather it is the surveillance - city-wide, round-the-clock and in pin-sharp detail - that has provoked discontent. Leading the snooping is the airship, brought in as the final link in an observation network that will co-ordinate and direct 70,000 security officers on the ground. In the 13-seat gondola beneath the helium blimp, monitors display images from super-sensitive cameras that can work in pitch darkness. Chemical detectors sweep the air for any signs of gas attack. On the ground, a network of 1,300 fixed cameras keeps a beady eye on street level around potential targets such as Olympic venues and the Greek parliament. Police will even know when swimmers decide to take a dip near the port of Piraeus - where cruise ships will accommodate thousands of VIPs - thanks to an underwater sensing system. Meanwhile, a new law has given the authorities greater powers to tap phone calls.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Bulldog ||
07/30/2004 5:39:32 AM ||
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#1
Heard a news snippet a week or so ago that Greece has requested 400 U.S Secial Forces(that is alot of operators).
Do you know anything about this,Aris?
Why are you worried, commrade? If you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.
#undefine checkist
Stay safe, Aris. I hope nothing interesting happens.
Posted by: N Guard ||
07/30/2004 8:49 Comments ||
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#3
raptor
The story posted here said we were shoving the 400 SOF operators down Greece's throat to provide protection for the U. S. Team. Greece objects because their constitution prohibits foreign troops from packing in country. So everyone agreed to say it is not going to happen.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
07/30/2004 9:05 Comments ||
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#4
Sounds like some pretty sophisticated technology they've deployed there... now if only they can get that arena built.
#6
All of this will be useless if they continue to have power and phone outages.
Ahhhh Greece, mediocracy at its best! Have you guys ever read the olympic website - they put down their own city! I'll go get some examples...
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
07/30/2004 10:33 Comments ||
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#7
heres a few snippets of how their website tries to sell their city.... www.athens2004.com
from "Athen's Guide/Children's time":
Large cities are never a children's paradise, and Athens is no more child-friendly than any other metropolis. However, even in a city like this, where the air is polluted, the pavements are narrow and the recreation facilities sometimes outmoded, children will always find a way to escape.
from "Athen's Guide/Life & Style":
It is not easy to figure out a non-conformist, unruly and liberal city like Athens.
On the one hand, there are antiquities literally scattered all around them, making Athenians particularly snobbish as regards monuments. They move around and have constant access to an open-air museum, which means they are not easily impressed by a pile of ancient marble.
from "Athens Guide/Beaches":
The free beaches (by far the majority) do not charge admission, but take a different toll of the user: that of greater distance and weekend traffic jams
And un the "Athens Guide/Whats On" all the topics are only available in Greek!
Dumbasses - no wonder nobody wants to go there!!!
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
07/30/2004 10:49 Comments ||
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#8
concur yosemite....athens is truly a cesspool....a dirty city in a two bit - almost third world country....if it weren't for the acients (and athens glory was in the 5th century B.C) they would have nothing to be snobbish about...
Posted by: Dan ||
07/30/2004 11:09 Comments ||
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#9
In the US, ethnic Greeks are among the wealthiest groups. However, perhaps due to socialism, Greece itself is one of the poorest countries in Europe.
#10
That's a nice airship they've got there. At least, it's a nice airship on calm days. On windy days, however, it has to stay on the ground. Lots of windy days in Athens this time of year.
Posted by: Patrick Brown ||
07/30/2004 11:44 Comments ||
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#11
In regards to the Airship, I had posted a link about it here: http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.asp?HC=Main&D=2004-07-20&ID=38621
And BH, the "arenas" have been built -- please try to be accurate in your condemnation of Athens because it messes my mind when nationalistic annoyance is intermixed with my annoyance at factual innaccuracies.
And, mhw, I've not been aware there's been any fiscal disaster. Sure, we had to pay 5 or 10 times more in security than Sydney ever did, but that couldn't be helped given 9/11.
#14
We'll be seeing alot of airships guarding our borders in the future. Techspheresystems has a manufacturing facility in Columbus, GA (home of Fort Benning) creating airships that fly above wind currents. Lower than satellites, higher than balloons or blimps. Easy to service and out of range from any missiles. Awesome aviation inventions being introduced almost daily. www.techspheresystems.com
Posted by: Frank ||
07/30/2004 12:48 Comments ||
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#15
And, mhw, I've not been aware there's been any fiscal disaster. Sure, we had to pay 5 or 10 times more in security than Sydney ever did, but that couldn't be helped given 9/11.
Small humanitarian one, though. The construction worker death toll is fourteen times that of Sydney's. That's inflation for you, I guess.
#16
It is not so much the high-tech, high-cost, anti-terrorist systems that have irked locals.
Yeah, it's the plumbing.
Posted by: Formerly Dan ||
07/30/2004 13:32 Comments ||
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#17
Bulldog> Not sure what the root cause of that may be, but I'm betting nationalism's to blame. Death of nameless Albanian workers less media-worthy than what Greek ones would have been. Certainly I've not noted any media ever making a fuss about such work accidents.
#18
Uzo bad. They used it as a means of torture in my college days. One step better than Tequilia and Underberg but it was a small staggering step at that. Give me Jager, or give me death!
John Kerry said Friday he would put Osama bin Laden on trial in U.S. courts rather than an international tribunal to ensure the "fastest, surest route" to a murder conviction if the terrorist mastermind is captured while he is president.Of course he's not counting the time for appeals
"I want him tried for murder in New York City, and in Virginia and in Pennsylvania," where planes hijacked by al-Qaida operatives crashed Sept. 11, 2001, Kerry said in his first interview as the Democratic presidential nominee.
The Saudi-bred terrorist is suspected of plotting attacks that have shed blood across the globe, not just in the United States.Hitler was never convicted of killing any Jews, so I guess he's only suspected of it. Kerry suggested he would place the highest priority on avenging American deaths.How about preventing more?
He called the Bush administration's attempt to create a Muslim security force in Iraq an overdue act of desperation. "Great idea," he said. "Should have been done from the very beginning.".
Kerry fielded questions about foreign policy, presidential politics, abortion and the death penalty in a 12-minute interview at a Wendy's fast-food restaurant in this GOP-leaning Hudson Valley community.
After polishing off a bowl of chili and a Frosty his usual lunch, the newly minted nominee took Bush and his Republican allies head-on.
"They don't have a record to runafter four years in office? You may not like their track record, but they've got one. Kerry is the guy without. The big lie will be a big tactic. on so all they can do is attack," Kerry said. He was responding to Bush, who a few minutes earlier had said from the campaign trail that Kerry had no "significant achievements" in Congress.
Word of the criticism drew a chuckle from the fourth-term senator, who wore an open-collar shirt and slacks. "That's the response to a positive campaign." he said sarcastically.
Saying he had no control over the DNC ads, Kerry didn't rule out airing his own ads critical of the White House. "I'm going to certainly reserve the right to respond to these people if they continually hack away," he said. snip
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
07/30/2004 6:37:16 PM ||
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#1
Heck, I'm almost unaware of active campaigning on Bush's part for about the last year...
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
07/30/2004 18:43 Comments ||
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#2
More rope-from-a-dope. Politizing something that hasn't yet happened is really lame. Besides, the plan is capture dead or alive, with dead the preferable option.
Posted by: Capt America ||
07/30/2004 19:30 Comments ||
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#3
Just a thought, Jawn, but how do you feel about killing the fucker?
#4
I can't think of a bigger nightmare than the "trial" of OBL.
Dead or alive, but I prefer dead.
Show his severed head on TV for ID purposes.
That's as much of Osama as I ever want to see in this country.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/30/2004 09:45 ||
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#1
When it's necessary and when it's not necessary. With help or without help. Be it hamster or sperm suited spaceman, I will be there. Or maybe I won't.
#2
"I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as president."
I won't knock your service in Vietnam, Mr. Kerry, mainly because I am not informed enough to do so, and as a civilian who has never served in the military, it is not my place to do so. But you embraced a philosophy about war upon your return from Vietnam that sounds an awful lot like that of Mr. Chirac, so you'll have to excuse me for being skeptical of your fitness to be commander in chief. Your judgment in determining when it is necessary to use force is in question.
Kerry also said he would beef up the military, step up efforts to fight nuclear proliferation and implement the recommendations of the 9/11 commission, including tightening scandalously lax port security. While some particulars may cause debate, the country will likely find much to support there. And many may be beguiled by Kerry's promise to repair relationships with countries, such as France, that took offense at America's muscle-flexing.
But it's just that type of outlook that causes doubts about Kerry.On the one hand, he promised that he will not hesitate to go it alone in protecting the country, while on the other hand he trumpeted the necessity of building new alliances in the war on terror. With Europe and much of the rest of the globe of a mind to appease terrorists, the evidence says those positions are mutually exclusive.As Kerry said of Bush in the speech, saying it's so doesn't make it so.
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
07/30/2004 12:40 Comments ||
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#4
"Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response."
As it has already been pointed out by various people, this attitude is not proactive, but REACTIVE. Waiting for the enemy to make a move before taking action allows them to stage attacks at a time and place of their choosing, putting others in danger unnecessarily. In other words, Kerry is willing to see Americans and/or our allies DIE first before doing something about terrorists/terrorism. Unacceptable.
#5
Hey Bomber, I was listening to Tony Snow's radio show when a caller said the same thing about the "swift response" thing at the same time your comment posted. Was that you?
Or has the universe enterd a space/time zone of demensions that we, as mortals, can only dream about?
#6
I read in another blog that discussed a list of questions that had been sent in to respond to "If you had the chance to talk directly to John Kerry, what would you ask him?". The question that made it to the top of the list was:
"Senator Kerry, we understand that you fought in Vietnam. Umm ... on whose side?"
Posted by: Michael Sheehan ||
07/30/2004 13:53 Comments ||
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#7
"Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response."
Remember in the '90s' when Slik Willie tossed a few Tomahawks at assorted camel herds Terrorist training camps in Sudan and A-Gstan, and claimed resounding victory over the AQ and terrorism in general?
#8
"Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response."
How about pre-emption and eliminate the middleman: attack on us. Alimentary Elementary, my dear Watson.....
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
07/30/2004 17:43 Comments ||
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#9
I was listening to Tony Snow's radio show when a caller said the same thing about the "swift response" thing at the same time your comment posted. Was that you?
Nope. Hell, I wasn't even aware that Snow had a radio gig. :) I thought it was just Fox News for him, and that was it.
#10
"Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response."
Maybe so, but I just don't see how bending over and jamming your head in the sand is going to impress anybody.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/30/2004 18:23 Comments ||
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#11
OP, how quickly you forget the Clinton Years. He is obviously talking domestic policy in this statement.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/30/2004 22:43 Comments ||
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EFL. The whole thing is a nice update on what's going on.
Laksamana.Net - Supporters of detained radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Baasyir, the alleged spiritual leader of regional terrorism network Jemaah Islamiyah, have urged police to drop their investigation into his suspected role in terror attacks and release him. * * * But police are adamant that Baasyir (65) will be charged under Law No.16/2003 on the Elimination of Terrorism Crimes, which carries the maximum penalty of death.
The Constitutional Court on July 24 ruled that the retroactive use of the law to cover the October 2002 Bali nightclub bombings was unconstitutional and violated basic legal principles. The ruling does not overturn the law, but merely states that it cannot be used to prosecute crimes that were committed before the legislation was enacted. Court officials have said the decision will not alter the cases of 33 militants already convicted over the Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.
* * *
National Police criminal investigation chief Commissioner General Suyitno Landung on Wednesday said Baasyir will no longer be charged with involvement in the Bali bombings because of the Constitutional Court's ruling. But he said the cleric will remain charged with involvement in other terror-related crimes, including the August 2003 suicide bombing of Jakarta's JW Marriott Hotel that killed 12 people. "We are now working on our charges that he is the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah and is responsible for other bombings," Landung was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Police have accused Baasyir of presiding over a graduation ceremony at a Jemaah Islamiyah training camp in the southern Philippines in 2000 in his capacity as the group's spiritual leader. He is also accused of involvement in a bomb plot in the Central Java capital of Semarang last year. "He also was an inspector of the Moro Hudaibiyah camp and there are six-monthly reports addressed to him so that the charges against Baasyir can still be based on the anti-terror law," Landung was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse. "He is also linked to the findings of bombs in Semarang at Jalan Sri Rejeki which involves members claiming to belong to Jemaah Islamiyah where Baasyir is the leader," he added. [snip]
#1
His supporters argue that he should be freed under Sharia law, Section 1, Pargraph 1, Line 1:
"When dealing with infidels, no Muslim is ever guilty of anything, anywhere, at any time.".
Oh, look. It's the only line in the book.
A report by the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations urged the Bush administration to stop any Israeli attempt to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. The council warned that such an Israeli attack would be blamed on the United States and hurt its interests in the region. Maybe I missed the newsflash, CFR...but how in the heck could stopping a group islamo-maniacs hellbent on destroying Israel and western civilization BAD?? Buncha mooks.
"Since Washington is always blamed would be blamed for any unilateral Israeli military strike, the United States should, in any case, make it quite clear to Israel that U.S. interests would be adversely affected by such a move," the report, entitled "Iran: Time for a New Approach," said. Yeah...a new approach...just like the great appeaser Jimmy Carter...that'll work for sure.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the United States supports Israel's right to what he termed weapons of deterrence, regarded as a reference to nuclear weapons, Middle East Newsline reported. He said the United States was also pressing Iran to halt its nuclear weapons program. Uh, yea. Go IDF. The whole islamo-maniacal middle east is scare as Hell of Israel.
"Israel faces 24 hour a daty, 7 days a week, 365 days a year forever an existential threat, and it must be able to defend itself by itself by preserving its deterrent capability," Sharon said. "We have received here a clear American position that says in other words that Israel must not be touched when it comes to its deterrent capability."
An air strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would incur civilian casualties, the report said. It pointed out that many of Iran's nuclear facilities have been located in or near urban centers. Would incur civilian casualties??? You mean like WTC I and II... supported by those SOB mullahs?? It's a fact that the Revolutionary Guard has their barracks near the facilities. Take their butts out, too. The world would be a cleaner and safer place.
Israel has never directly threatened in public Iran's nuclear facilities. But the Sharon government has warned that it would not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapons arsenal. Lizbeth. It's the big one!
The U.S. report, drafted by an independent task force sponsored by the council, said Washington should resolve concerns over Iran's nuclear weapons program by coordinating with the European Union. But the council ruled out any military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Oh yeah...the EU. A stalwart of anti-terror backbone.
"In addition, any military effort to eliminate Iranian weapons capabilities runs the significant risk of reinforcing Teheran's desire to acquire a nuclear deterrent and of provoking nationalist passions in defense of that very course," the task force said. "It would most likely generate also hostile Iranian initiatives in Iraq and Afghanistan." OK...let them develop the weapons...cuz they will...in two years or less. Then what in the Hell will we do??
The report also said direct U.S. efforts to overthrow the Iranian clerical regime would not succeed. The council said the regime could eventually provide greater liberties to its people. What are these guys smokin?? Are they REALLY that stupid?? Sheesh what a bunch of high paid idiots.
"Despite considerable political flux and popular dissatisfaction, Iran is not on the verge of another revolution," the report, entitled ". The current Iranian government appears to be durable and likely to persist in power for the short- and even medium-term. However, Iran's generational shift and prevailing popular frustration with the government portend the eventual transformation to a more democratic political order in the long term. That process is too deeply entrenched in Iran's political history and social structure to be derailed or even long delayed." If someone does not kick the heck out of the black hats soon...it will be too late within 2 years...end of story
#4
Hell, I think we ought to give Israel nukes for a strike just so they don't have to use up theirs. It's going to take a mushroom cloud or two over these nuke facilities to bring Iran and North Korea and Pakistan into proper attitude adjustment.
Posted by: Tom ||
07/30/2004 20:39 Comments ||
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#5
What did you expect when Arabist Richard Haass slithered over from the State Department to take the top job at the CFR? What is truly awful is that there are plenty more of these creatures -- what the Brits call the "camel corp" -- remaining at Foggy Bottom.
#6
Yes, yes, these are the same geniuses who will be screaming bloody murder that nothing was done to stop them after the psychos in Teheran decide to use one someplace. The great thing about being an expert is that you're always right, even when you're dead wrong.
#7
Maybe I missed the newsflash, CFR...but how in the heck could stopping a group islamo-maniacs hellbent on destroying Israel and western civilization BAD??
Professional diplomats worship stability. While a nuclear Iran would be destabilizing (to say the least!), those diplomats realize they have no way to stop that short of, well, you know -- that thing that happens when professional diplomats are ignored and not allowed to try one more time to talk to the nice mullahs. Unable to stop Iran, they've decided to focus their efforts on something they might be able to stop, the defense of civilization destabilizing acts of Western nations.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
07/30/2004 21:16 Comments ||
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#8
This doesn't happen often but I agree with the transis at CFR. There is no way that we should let Israel do our work for us. It sends a message of cowardice to the world at large. Tell Israel to sit tight like they did during GWI and GWII, we have this issue under control. America doesn't need a catspaw. I think we should bomb the crap out of all nuclear sites and the Revolutionary Guard for 444 days straight, but I may be wrong. How many days was it? That was a long time ago.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/30/2004 22:49 Comments ||
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#9
I'm confused.
Does Israel run the United States or does the United States run Israel?
#10
CFR is where the "expert" Anthony Cordesman hangs his kafiyeh chappeau, I believe. I guess we know who pays the tab for all those CFR thinky-tanky wiz-bangs, now, eh?
#11
"Yeah...a new approach...just like the great appeaser Jimmy Carter...that’ll work for sure.
Hey! Leave Jimmy Carter alone! He's a great man and clever politician. Just look how he got the North Koreans to stop all nuclear weapons programs...uh...er...never mind.
NICK MCKENZIE: Pakistani officials say Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani was arrested after a 12-hour clash between its security forces and militants in a small town in central Pakistan.
The US has been hunting Ghailani for several years and was offering up to $25 million for information leading to his arrest. Aged in his early 30s, the Tanzanian-born militant had been indicted in the US for the bombing of US embassies in August 1998, which left 213 people dead in Kenya, and 11 dead in Tanzania.
ROHAN GUNARATNA: He worked mostly with the operational leaders of al-Qaeda. So he remained a very important figure in terms of conducting terrorist attacks.
NICK MCKENZIE: That's terrorism expert, Professor Rohan Gunaratna. He says over the past three years, almost 3,5000 or around 80 per cent of al-Qaeda members have been killed or arrested in more than 100 countries.
Professor Gunaratna says Ghailani is the most significant al-Qaeda member to be arrested since the capture more than a year ago of the mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.
ROHAN GUNARATNA: Al-Qaeda has been significantly weakened, and of course, recent arrests is a clear indication that the organisation is gradually falling apart. Al-Qaeda per se is becoming weak, but its associated groups still remain strong.
NICK MCKENZIE: Professor Gunaratna says organisations associated with al-Qaeda are likely to remain inspired while its two most senior leaders, Osama bin Laden and Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri remain on the run.
ROHAN GUNARATNA: They're very much behind the instigation of this contemporary wave of violence. The co-leadership of al-Qaeda still remains free and they're believed to be on the Afghan-Pakistan border, which is a 1,520 mile-long border. It's very difficult to capture anyone on a border like that unless there is specific intelligence.
NICK MCKENZIE: Professor Gunaratna says recruitment of new al-Qaeda members is continuing, albeit at a much slower rate. He says the group's operation capacity is weakened, but it has retained the ability to launch small to medium-scale attacks.
ROHAN GUNARATNA: As long as there is recruitment, the group will continue to survive. So certainly the attack will continue, but I do not think that we will face another attack like 9/11 because they do not have significant high quality operatives. Medium to small-scale attacks of Bali, Marriott — those attacks are very much likely.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
07/30/2004 12:00:00 AM ||
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BAGHDAD — Multi-National Force Soldiers along with the Iraqi National Guard captured five men suspected of manufacturing vehicle borne improvised explosive devices during a cordon and search in Baghdad around 10 p.m. July 29. The Solders found four improvised explosive devices, numerous identification cards and car bomb making materials. The suspects were detained and taken to a MNF facility for questioning. The incident is under investigation.
Posted by: Steve ||
07/30/2004 2:08:28 PM ||
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#1
The last week and a half - at least - seems to be missing as well . . .
Posted by: The Doctor ||
07/30/2004 14:49 Comments ||
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#2
ima save pichure links that bulldog and .com is make yesterday for you view pleashure
#3
The truth is that for all the rants and all the fun, Rantburg is still the place to come to get a really, really wide range of currrent news.
I suppose that there can never be enough praise heaped on the regular posters for shifting through all the reports on what is going on in the world and posting it, with or without comments, for the rest of us.
So I guess I'll just take this momentary lull to say a thank you again. Wheather we agree on this or that point, Rantburg remains a primary source for real news.
Posted by: ed ||
07/30/2004 15:03 Comments ||
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#29
Back to the article. I still maintain that perps found with IEDs should be made to staddle them until they're detonated. Takes all the fun out of manufacturing IEDs.
Posted by: ed ||
07/30/2004 13:15 ||
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#1
The lesson of WWII impacts on Americans because of its *novelty*. Americans note so many qualities of that war and think them unique.
Europeans are not as impressed. For them, WWII is becoming just another war. A war not that different from WWI, or even the campaigns of Napoleon--who, whether with his Grand Armee, or with his professional Divisions led by brilliant generals, still led campaigns of horror and destruction.
In fact, it is believed that more books have been written about Napoleon than of any other character except Jesus. There are entire libraries devoted to books about him. For almost a hundred years many thought of him as the "anti-Christ", and how long has it been since the insane have been pictured as aping Napoleon? Would a cartoon picturing an insane person as Hitler be unusual?
But after a thousand years of war in Europe, the typical European is a pessimist: "Things will go on like this for years and then get worse"; and they expect little--they have heard optimistic promises for too long without result to still believe in them.
For many of them, the EU is their savior. A dreary government by bureaucracy that promises nothing but peace at any price. A government that will defy the next Napoleon or Hitler solely by inertia. No great leader will be permitted, all must be done by committee and group therapy.
"We must attack the French!" will be replaced by "Who are we, and who are the French?", so blended and homogenized they hope their peace becomes and remains.
They have given up and surrendered to despair. And, while it may take a century or three, their fate is assured. They will die out.
EFL
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is considering stepping down after the November election, telling colleagues he is worn out from the massive reorganization of government and needs to earn money in the private sector to put his teenage children through college, officials said.
Ridge will not make a final decision until he talks to President George W. Bush later this year and is focused on thwarting the terror attacks that officials fear al-Qaida will attempt before November, Assistant Homeland Secretary Susan Neely said.
#1
Yes!!! Now GWB can appoint someone effectual for the job. Rudy Gulliani? Or does John Ashcroft have a twin?
Posted by: rex ||
07/30/2004 14:06 Comments ||
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#2
I've never been thrilled with Ridge, but trusted that President Bush was using his judgement in appointing him, but...I must admit, Rudy would kick *ss as head of HS!
#3
Regardless of how good a job you think Ridge has done, and that is certainly debatable as it was for the first SecDef, this is bad:
needs to earn money in the private sector to put his teenage children through college
You can bet none of the snivelling tenured professors who bite his ankles will have a problem paying for college. Nor will any of the crooked politicians who sup at the public trough. But an honest guy who sits atop one of the most important bureaucracies is not paid enough to send his kids to college? That is a disgrace and we need to think about what motivates the people who take jobs where they are underpaid. Is government service going to become like a seat in the Senate, only the rich need apply?
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
07/30/2004 16:54 Comments ||
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#4
Mr. D., agreed but there's something wrong with this story.
Good Lord, the man makes over $175 K (don't know about his wife), but people who make a lot less have managed to send 2 kids to college.
And why would he air his "dirty laundry" to the press like this?
(I swear, the Dimocrats have targeted every member of the Bush Administration!)
Ridge has been a governor, too, and he should know only too well that the only public servants that have ever gotten rich from their service have been the Clintons!
#5
Ridge has 2 kids. If he sends them to a private college that will be $40,000 per year per student today. College tuitions rise at 5-10% per year. At this rate he's probably looking at a $350,000 nut for his two kids. That's tough to swallow on $175,000. No doubt it can be done. But do you want the guy in charge of Homeland security spending time checking for double coupons to afford to send his kids to college? Can you think of a CEO who manages a company of 100, let 10,000 people who takes down $175,000. That's a lot of money to most Americans. It's chickenfeed to the people who are managing the country, outside government.
If we make it so that the only people who can afford to send their kids to college, ignore getting rich, through public service are the Clintons, don't be surprised if the only peole in public service are Clointons.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
07/30/2004 17:25 Comments ||
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#6
Its an opportunity for Bush. Ridges replacement should take the color coded system underground. Let the cops and those that need to know, know but not the networks and the nation at large. At least not unless its a red alert scenerio.
That will prevent unnecessary "fear" and claims of "playing on our fears". Unless, of course, the system is designed to scare off the terrorists by making them think we know more than we do.
The UN Security Council today passed a resolution warning Sudan to halt atrocities in the Darfur region within 30 days or face international action. Thirteen members of the 15-nation council backed the resolution with two abstentions. Up to 50,000 people have died and more than a million driven from their homes in Darfur since ethnic minority rebels launched an uprising last year against the Sudanese army and its Arab militia allies, the Janjaweed.
#5
Unfortunately, nothing will happen before the election anyway. This is gamesmanship for the winter.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
07/30/2004 17:05 Comments ||
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#6
U.N.: "Stop the genocide or we will taunt you a second time!"
Posted by: Scott R ||
07/30/2004 20:53 Comments ||
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#7
Evidently, China is the country that is threatening to boycott any resolutions that niggle too far at holding the Sudan accountable for Human Rights violations. PRC is always a strong force for good throughout the world.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/30/2004 23:21 Comments ||
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The trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein would be "a judicial masquerade," one of his French lawyers Andre Chamy said in an interview published in the regional daily L'Alsace.
The term I was thinking of was "circus"...
"Saddam remains the legal president of Iraq and he is about to be tried in the framework of his functions, after he was arrested by the foreign occupation forces who invaded Iraq without any international legality" said Chamy, who joined Saddam's defence team -- 23 lawyers including three French -- in mid-July. Chamy went on: "The Iraqi constitution only allows for trial of its president in one single case: high treason. Up to now, no one has abrogated the constitution. There is no parliament. For me, under international law, Saddam's arrest is void and the procedure against him is illegal. It is a judicial masquerade."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/30/2004 9:24:26 AM ||
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#1
Well, M. Ribbit Ytram Frogg, at least he's getting a trial, unlike many of his slaves who went down the shredder.
#2
Mon Dieu! Monsieur Saddam must be allowed to mitigate ze false and malicious accussations by pointing out ze great economic benefits he has brought to certain French officials. Vive le Euro!
#5
Well, let's not get too smug and knock zee frog lawyer, because at least Monsieur Chamy is not working at odds with any French soldiers dying on the desert of Iraq, unlike lawyers from coalition countries...there's one US lawyer defending Uncle Saddam and also lawyers for Saddam have been recruited from Britain.
I think it's shameful quite frankly. Say what we will about corrupt ME regimes, but we have no room to talk about being on a higher moral level, when we educate morons in law schools with brains and no common sense, with lips that can quote legal precedent but with hearts that have no moral compass.
But here's the rationalization that the US lawyer gives...Talk about confusing law with justice-he puts refugees and murdering dictators on the same level, moral equivalence at its richest, why they're all God's children at the core...ah, the beauty of rule of law...Maybe some of these Western lawyers should let justice take its swift course and let God decide if Saddam is his child and worthy of mercy and forgiveness...My point is, Saddam has no shortage of legal advise from the usual suspect ME countries. There is no reason whatsoever for US/UK lawyers to volunteer their services[except to hug themselves over how "fair and impartial" they are] considering we have GI's who died trying to bring this piece of scum down. http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/25/Worldandnation/The_defense_of_Saddam.shtmlUntil defense lawyers are allowed to meet Hussein, a long-term strategy is unlikely to emerge, said Curtis Doebbler, the only American on a team that includes law professor Aicha Moammar Gadhafi, daughter of the Libyan leader, and lawyers from Belgium, Britain, France, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia.
Doebbler, an expert on international law, said his clients over the past decade have included Ethiopian refugees and political activists in Sudan.
"Whether it's a former president or whether it's a refugee, individuals have the same basic human rights," Doebbler said. "Even the people we dislike the most have a right to a fair trial."
Posted by: rex ||
07/30/2004 11:18 Comments ||
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I have a question - since when was this "Iraqi constitution" (the one that allowed presidential trial only for high treason) still in effect? I recall that the CPA-aided constitution applied.
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
07/30/2004 12:47 Comments ||
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"Saddam remains the legal president of Iraq and he is about to be tried in the framework of his functions,..
Apparently, this guy must believe that the "election" Hussein staged where he got 100% of the vote was really and truly legit...
#8
I don't think the CPA super-imposed constitution is operative since the hand-over, #6, or at least it won't be much longer.
I recall reading that Allawi's Justice Minister said that Iraq was planning to reinstate the death penalty[which Bremer had suspended], which it historically has always had on the books.
The Justice Minister also said that no matter what tricks the lawyers for Saddam would pull re: showing no direct evidence of Saddam's personal hand in crimes against humanity, he's toast, because Iraq has the death penalty on the books for any military commander who deserts his men, and the Justice Minister has the video tape of Commander in Chief Saddam Hussein in civilian clothes hiding in a spider hole. End of story. How do you say "Kaput" in Arabic, because that's what Saddam's sorry butt is according to the Justice Minister.
Posted by: rex ||
07/30/2004 13:23 Comments ||
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#9
Thing is, he's right. Saddam is going to get the noose. We don't need the trial to determine that. The purpose of the trial is to make a public record of the evidence which justifies Saddam's summary execution.
It's not due process, but it is justice.
Posted by: Mike ||
07/30/2004 13:54 Comments ||
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I would highly recommend applying Saddam's sentence (a nice half-inch rope noose around his neck, and nothing under his feet but ten feet of air) to at least one of his lawyers, as well - this slimy piece of French excrement. As Mike said, it may not be due process, but it would certainly be justice.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/30/2004 18:39 Comments ||
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Posted by: Fred ||
07/30/2004 09:25 ||
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Just two days after a massive suicide bombing and a wave of attacks across the country left more than 120 people dead, Yawar said the insurgents were "getting more helpless and hopeless"
"Helpless and hopeless" is getting old to describe the "insurgents" -even I'm beginning to use it like a common everyday phrase.
Try something new,Mr. Yawar,[it could even be a fib] like "the insurgents we caught are dead and buried in pork rinds & dog poo-poo".
Now that phrase will put fear into the hearts of the remaining boobs and cause them to re-think their evil mischief mighty fast, I guarantee you.
Posted by: rex ||
07/30/2004 11:47 Comments ||
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#2
US to stand strong in Iraq, despite killings and kidnappings
Not if Kerry is in charge.
Hold your nose if you have to, but vote Bush, or we're toast.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/30/2004 17:34 Comments ||
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Seven months after being taken prisoner, former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein suffers from a chronic prostate infection but has rebuffed suggestions that a biopsy be performed to rule out cancer, Iraq's human rights minister said Thursday. So give him two aspirin and tell him to call back in the morning if it still hurts. OK, tetracyclene too.
Tests show that, despite the prostate problem, the 67-year-old deposed dictator is otherwise in good health He's going to live for the execution, Hoorah! and has even shed some extra weight while in U.S. detention We know how to cure obesity! , Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin told Al-Jazeera television.
He said X-ray and blood tests came back negative for cancer, but officials wanted to take a biopsy to be safe.
Chronic prostate infections occur in about 35 percent of all men over 50, but are not linked to cancer Especially when their diet is constipating. . Routine screening for prostate cancer, especially among older men, is becoming more common.
Saddam has been held by U.S. officials at an undisclosed location in Iraq since his capture by U.S. forces last December near Tikrit. He had been on the run since his regime collapsed in April in the face of a U.S.-led invasion.
There have been several media reports saying his health was deteriorating, something the U.S. military denied Thursday. Look at the picure at the link. It is obvious that at a minimum the U. S. has cut off his Botox treatments
"Saddam did not have a stroke, and he is not dead," 1st Sgt. Steve Valley told The Associated Press. He did not provide further information. He can say no more. Must have been in country too long.
A Jordanian-based spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, the only neutral Bwahahahah at least the reporter has a sense of humor entity with access to Saddam, said Thursday the organization had no information about a downturn in Saddam's health. We know nothing.
"Saddam's sickness was rumors spread by the media," Mu'in Kassis told The Associated Press. The ICRC said it has visited him at least twice to check on his condition and carry messages to his family.
According to Amin, Saddam has lost weight after following a diet. He spends his time reading the Quran Preparing to met his maker? , writing poetry and tending to a garden, Amin said.
Mohammed al-Rashdan, a member of Saddam's defense team, said in an effort to establish a basis for an appeal the lawyers have received unconfirmed information that Saddam suffered a stroke. He urged the Iraqi government to allow them, his family or a neutral party to send a doctor to Iraq to examine Saddam.
Officials at the Iraqi prime minister's office said they had no information on the ousted leader's condition. No one knows nothing
Caused by a variety of bacteria, prostate infections develop gradually and can remain undetected for a long time because symptoms are typically subtle and sometimes there are none at all.
The infections are not easy to cure because antibiotics do not accumulate in high concentrations in the prostate. Treatment usually involves several months of strong antibiotics. Can this treatment ever be fatal? After much suffering
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
07/30/2004 7:59:50 AM ||
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#3
I had a prostate infection a couple weeks ago. Not a big deal, but not fun either. Apparently they're usually caused by stress. The symptoms are be a bit scary though - bloody semen. Yuck! Antibiotics cleared it up quick, thankfully.
#4
Man, what's the sense in finding out if he's got cancer and wasting all this money testing and, subsequently, treating him? He's gonna be dancing at the end of a rope soon enough!
Posted by: Dar ||
07/30/2004 13:32 Comments ||
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#5
I still think radiation and chemo should be applied just to be on the safe safe.
You are quite right, Dr. Shipman. Let's bring that chemo and radiation on!
Posted by: rex ||
07/30/2004 13:47 Comments ||
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#6
I do NOT have an anal probe...
It's a prostrate infection,
and I'm big boned...
From The Washington Post, an article by Craig Charney, president of Charney Research, a New York polling firm, which conducted a voter education planning survey in Afghanistan for the Asia Foundation.
... Our survey showed that ... Afghans ... are looking forward to their first free presidential election, scheduled for October, and say they will vote in large numbers. They are also surprisingly supportive of democratic values such as equal rights and peaceful opposition. .... In the study, which involved 804 interviews with a representative, random sample of men and women in urban and rural areas in 29 of the country's 32 provinces, Afghans' interest in the election was palpable. Almost everyone knew it was coming, and 81 percent intended to vote. (This included large majorities of both sexes in every region, though some women feared their husbands might not let them vote.) Their eagerness to participate was confirmed by the rapid progress of voter registration since May, when it began in the rural areas (home to four-fifths of the population). In three months, registration soared from 1.5 million to 8 million of the estimated 9.5 million eligible voters. It continues at a pace of up to 125,000 per day, despite Taliban remnants opposed to the vote who threaten and even kill registrants.
... two out of three think Afghanistan is headed in the right direction, citing the progress toward peace, reconstruction and normality in most of the country. Interim president (and presidential candidate) Hamid Karzai has a 62 percent job approval rating and is praised for hard work and efforts to bring peace. Karzai's personal favorability is even higher -- 85 percent -- and runs across regional and ethnic lines. Moreover, Afghans have placed great faith in democratic elections: Fully 77 percent say the election of a president and parliament will make a difference. ... A solid consensus (more than 80 percent) supports equal rights under law -- regardless of religion, tribe or gender -- and the right to peaceably oppose government. Two in three now favor separating religious and political leadership, while less than 10 percent think democracy and Islam are incompatible. ...
It's hard to name any other country that has successively experienced monarchy, dictatorship, communism, anarchy, warlordism and Islamic fundamentalism. Afghans might well testify to the truth of Winston Churchill's famous aphorism that "democracy is the worst system of government -- except for all the rest." In Afghanistan, they have tried them all.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
07/30/2004 7:30:21 AM ||
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we can all hope for Afghanistan's hopes to be realized
however, with 10% of the population being terrorists or terrorist supporters, it will be difficult
FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) - A military hearing was abruptly recessed Thursday until commanders decide whether to grant immunity to three officers linked to the drowning of a 19-year-old Iraqi civilian earlier this year.
Lt. Col. Nathan Sassaman, Maj. Robert Gwinner and Capt. Matthew Cunningham already have been punished for their roles in the incident under Article 15, which means there was no court proceeding or public record. Details have not been released, but the Army has said the punishment did not include jail time. The officers are refusing to testify without immunity at a hearing to determine whether three soldiers should be court-martialed on charges of shoving two Iraqis into the Tigris River north of Baghdad on Jan. 3. Officials say one of the victims drowned.
Maj. Gen. James Thurman, commander of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, is deciding whether the officers will be granted immunity, spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington said. That decision was expected before the hearing resumes Friday.
Much more at the link.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/30/2004 12:54:33 AM ||
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...Yeah, but the Article 15 also means their careers are toast, all over, stick-a-fork-in-'em done. For officers, the US military is pretty much a one-mistake culture.
Having said that, I would be inclined to agree with their insisting on immunity before testifying against the EMs. I ran across a couple of instances where someone thought they were getting away, only to find that they were about to be charged under a different article. Not knowing exactly what they were hit with in the first place, I'm guessing that they could have been - or may still be - charged under:
ART. 9. IMPOSITION OF RESTRAINT
ART. 10. RESTRAINT OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH OFFENSES
ART. 11. REPORTS AND RECEIVING OF PRISONERS
ART. 13 PUNISHMENT PROHIBITED BEFORE TRIAL
ART. 80. ATTEMPTS
ART. 81. CONSPIRACY
ART. 82. SOLICITATION (specifically part B)
ART. 92. FAILURE TO OBEY ORDER OR REGULATION
ART. 93. CRUELTY AND MALTREATMENT
ART. 97. UNLAWFUL DETENTION
ART. 99. MISBEHAVIOR BEFORE THE ENEMY (specifically #3)
ART. 191. MANSLAUGHTER
ART. 124. MAIMING
ART. 128. ASSAULT
ART. 131. PERJURY
ART. 133. CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
...As you can see, the UCMJ pretty much covers everything. That's one reason courts-martials have such high conviction rates (those twinkie prosecutors you see on JAG would last about three days losing that many cases) - if they can't get you on one thing, they'll do it on another.
And finally, when all else fails, you can be charged under Article 134, the General Article, to wit:
"Though not specifically mentioned in this chapter, all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital, of which persons subject to this chapter may be guilty, shall be taken cognizance of by a general, special or summary court-martial, according to the nature and degree of the offense, and shall be punished at the discretion of that court."
Hope those lads are reading the fine print VERY carefully.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
07/30/2004 2:01 Comments ||
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That's one reason courts-martials have such high conviction rates (those twinkie prosecutors you see on JAG would last about three days losing that many cases) - if they can't get you on one thing, they'll do it on another.
That's based on who's doing the prosecuting. In my now-admittedly ancient experience, Navy JAGs tend to be sticklers, and you didn't see "2 from Menu A, 3 from Menu B" charges. However, they got convictions because the evidence/testimony was solid enough to bring up multiple charges. A good JAGMAN investigation is thorough (also from experience).
A military jury found a soldier guilty of armed robbery Thursday for taking an Iraqi sheik's sport utility vehicle at gunpoint, but concluded he did not deserve prison. The panel also convicted Sgt. 1st Class James Williams of willful dereliction of duty for allowing his soldiers to consume alcohol in Iraq. Williams, 37, of rural Westmoreland County, Va., maintains he helped take the SUV only because his lieutenant ordered him to procure a vehicle and because he did not think it was a criminal act, but the prosecution alleged he was simply after a "sweet ride." Williams, a soldier with the 101st Airborne Division, declined to comment to reporters after the ruling, but his civilian defense attorney, Bernard Casey, said he plans to appeal. "Where was the evidence this constituted a crime?" Casey said.
Right in front of the military court.
The jury recommended a reduction in rank to private and a bad conduct discharge, but no prison time. The commanding general of the 101st, Maj. Gen. Tom Turner, will decide Williams' sentence. With tears rolling down his face when the sentence was read, Williams put his chin down and nodded his head back and forth. The prosecution had recommended a four-year prison term. "We're lucky that he got this sentence," said Williams' wife, Kim. "It could have been a lot worse." Said his sister, Russell Perry: "At least he won't be going back to Iraq."
That does it. Jug him.
Army prosecutor Capt. Howard Hoege said Thursday that Williams helped take the SUV at gunpoint from the sheik's son, who was driving the vehicle. Williams then helped orchestrate a cover-up story that the vehicle was found abandoned, Hoege said.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/30/2004 12:48:34 AM ||
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Forces in breakaway South Ossetia's main city and a nearby ethnic Georgian village exchanged heavy fire as tensions grew between Georgia's government and the region's separatist leadership, authorities said Friday. South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said towns and villages in the region came under fire from Georgian forces late Thursday and early Friday in what he claimed was the beginning of "a well planned aggression" by the government, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. Georgian and Russian military officials described more limited fighting, and a Georgian officer said South Ossetian forces had initiated the exchanges of fire.
Kokoity said Georgian forces fired on South Ossetia's main city Tskhinvali from three sides and had tried to enter the northern part of the city but were turned away, Interfax reported. He said ethnic Ossetian villages in two other parts of the region also came under fire. Kokoity said one South Ossetian serviceman was injured, and other South Ossetian representatives said two civilians in Tskhinvali were injured, Interfax and the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/30/2004 12:41:39 AM ||
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JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel is rerouting its West Bank barrier to move it closer to the 1967 pre-war boundary, but it will still jut into the occupied territory to encircle major Jewish settlements, a Defense Ministry official said Thursday. The disclosure of the fence's new route by Nezah Mashiah, head of the barrier project in the Defense Ministry, was a sign that recent international and domestic challenges would not deter Israel from keeping Jewish settlement blocs on the "Israeli side" of the barrier.
The Netherlands-based International Court of Justice and a U.N. General Assembly resolution called on Israel to tear down the wall, and the Israeli Supreme Court ordered a repositioning of a key section. Israel says it will ignore the International Court ruling and the U.N. resolution. But the Defense Ministry has drawn up a new map for the barrier that heeds the Israeli Supreme Court's order to reduce hardships for Palestinians. The new route runs closer to Israel's pre-1967 border, known as the Green Line.
Mashiah told Israel Radio that the new route would be closer to the Green Line but said it would put the Jewish settlement bloc of Gush Etzion - home to 40,000 Israelis - on the "Israeli side" of the barrier. "Within the framework of changes following the Supreme Court decision, there is certainly movement in the direction of the Green Line," Mashiah said. Mashiah stressed that the barrier would not run exactly along the Green Line, a cease-fire line from the 1948-49 war that followed Israel's creation. Israel does not recognize it as a border.
Nor do the Paleos.
Speaking at a party meeting in Tel Aviv on Thursday, Sharon said the United States backs Israeli policy about the settlements. "The U.S. position is that the large settlement blocs would remain under Israeli control, and the rest of the West Bank would be open to negotiations," he said.
Of course, if the Paleos never negotiate ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/30/2004 12:31:22 AM ||
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#1
PC ala Israel. To me it's like just win baby, But I guess there are more detailed things to keep in perspective. Schools, duckies, the pony club.
#5
And even though you're learning to write, you'll always be just another sputtering hate-filled Nazi stooge. To me, giving up any of the 1967 border would be like giving Berlin to a bunch of Nazi wannabes like you. And no, I'm not Jewish.
Posted by: Tom ||
07/30/2004 7:54 Comments ||
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Sounds like Anti had a nice tall glass of Carnation Instant Bitch for breakfast.
#10
Ol' nuke should be gratefull that the Jews haven't decided to REALLY apply the lessons they learned in WW II to their good friends the Paloes. Roles reversed of course. Kill them all. Let Allah sort them out.
#11
With a wall surrounding them I guess that the scummy Isra are trying to recreate
Grand pa and Grand ma the 1940 dacau style living
So that they can better screw you moron Americans holocaust suckers
Posted by: nuke israel ||
07/30/2004 4:39 Comments ||
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Iraq authorities abruptly cancelled a national conference of political, religious and civic leaders considered a crucial step on the road to democracy, amid disarray over choosing delegates and boycott threats by key factions. The announcement came a day after a car bombing killed 70 people.
Allawi should say to those who would boycott: go ahead. Train's leaving the station. All aboard!
The national conference, which had been due to start tomorrow, appeared to be far behind schedule even before the two-week delay was announced. No venue had been disclosed and there were no outward signs in Baghdad of preparations for the 1,000-person gathering. Conference organisers insisted they were ready to start, but agreed to the postponement at the request of United Nations officials, who wanted time to encourage wider participation and prepare for the meeting. UN secretary-general Kofi Annan welcomed the decision to postpone the conference. "The secretary-general believes that a well-prepared national conference can provide a much-needed opportunity for UN apparatchiks to start stealing the silver Iraqi political forces and civil society," Annan's spokeswoman Marie Okabe said yesterday in New York. Officials hope the conference, which is to elect an interim national assembly, will give Iraqis faith in their government and isolate the terrorists militants who have carried out a 15-month campaign of bombings, assassinations and kidnappings.
Polls show that the Iraqis have faith in their government; said government needs to get on with killing the terrorists.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/30/2004 12:04:33 AM ||
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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.
