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Binny reported injured
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Arabia
Saudi Arabia Exposed - Interview with John R. Bradley
Rather long interview from the blog Eurabian Times. Here is one highlight:

Q: The Saudis have quietly announced that they don't believe the U.S. will be their primary arms supplier in the coming decades. Are they anticipating a split with the U.S.? Is the U.S.-Saudi relationship salvageable?

BRADLEY: In the long-term I predict an invasion by the U.S. military of Eastern Province to secure the oil fields there. The plans are there, drawn up. The invasion would take a matter of hours; all that is needed is a certain number of forces to occupy all the strategic positions...
Update: link fixed. AoS
Posted by: Pappy || 08/24/2005 00:31 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sorry - left out the
link
.
Posted by: Pappy || 08/24/2005 0:38 Comments || Top||

#2  Thanks for finding the nuggets, Pappy. Bradley, from my experience, is quite knowledgeable.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 0:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Is this the same guy Charles Johnson at LGF doesn't like?
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 08/24/2005 2:04 Comments || Top||

#4  Interesting read,check the discusion too.
Posted by: raptor || 08/24/2005 6:33 Comments || Top||

#5  Is this the same guy Charles Johnson at LGF doesn't like?

You know the history behind that, don't you? Bradley wrote some puff pieces touting the beauty, gentility, and absolute perfection of the Saudi regime -- and even denied the obvious antisemitic nature of some of the pieces published in "his" newspaper, and Charles called him on it. Bradley insultingly dismissed the idea he could be wrong, and went on to praise Saudi Arabia as a place where you could really discuss who's screwing up the world -- IOW, the Jews.

Fast forward a few months, and Bradley's disappeared from the masthead. About a year later he surfaces talking smack about the Saudis.

I personally trust Bradley about as far as I could throw him.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/24/2005 7:33 Comments || Top||

#6  Bradley, from my experience, is quite knowledgeable

Big difference between knowledgeable and wise. Not that I'm judging here, I'll read the article later when I'm more awake. ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/24/2005 7:53 Comments || Top||

#7  IIRC, th Saudis have charged Bradley with pedophilia. He is definitely persona non grata there. Yep. I remembered right.
Posted by: 11A5S || 08/24/2005 7:59 Comments || Top||

#8  I've been reading his book on the bus to work. From page 188:
At the Jeddah-based Arab News, the newspaper I worked for, sub editors were often amused to see columns of Middle East "experts"--Thomas Friedman, Daniel Pipes, and the like--quoting the newspaper's anonymous editorials because they seemingly reflected "a change in the Arab mindset." In fact, they were written by me, a British chap who lives in the south of France, and--when we were not available--by another British chap, who lives in the north of England.

Posted by: James || 08/24/2005 13:38 Comments || Top||

#9  Bradley is knowledgeable. Whether or not you agree with him or find him "wise" is your decision.

P.S. I wasn't aware of the Johnson/LGF issue. Another factoid to consider, I like LGF.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 17:21 Comments || Top||

#10  Yeah, Bradley was the Saudi's lickspittle for years. Now he's not. So he was either lying then or he's lying now. Or maybe both.

BTW, isn't getting accused of pedophilia in an Arab country sort of like getting a speeding ticket at the Daytona 500?
Posted by: Parabellum || 08/24/2005 18:17 Comments || Top||


Britain
Blair: My War against Extremists
Britain is proud of its global and deserved reputation as a tolerant, multi-cultural society where people of all nationalities, backgrounds and faiths live in peace and friendship.

The unified and calm response of the British people to the terrorist attacks in London last month – in which the victims were of all faiths and none – underlined the tolerance and strength of our society. While there have been isolated and completely unacceptable acts of religious and racial hatred, the overwhelming response of our population was that these attacks were the work of a few fanatics, not of any section of our society. If a goal of these attacks was to turn our citizens against each other, they failed.

But there is also an almost universal agreement – among the two-million strong British Muslim community as much as any other group – that we can’t continue to allow extremists to abuse our freedoms and the tolerance of our society to support, encourage, condone or glorify terrorism. Indeed it is the Muslim community who understand more than most what a menace these fringe fanatics are to good relations and to cohesiveness of our country.

So we are bringing forward a package of measures aimed at closing the loopholes in our law which these extremists have been exploiting. But these are not crude measures. Part of our long-held and valued traditions of freedom and tolerance is a commitment by any government to consult widely across the breadth of society before bringing forward any new legislation.

I am determined to maintain these proud traditions – and the reputation which goes with them. None of the new measures will threaten these. But equally, the rules of the game have changed, and we need to respond. Young men, born in Britain, have been brainwashed by extremists to the point where they blow themselves up and murder innocent people.

The new measures I am proposing are directed against extremism and extremism only – whatever form it takes, and whichever faith it claims to represent. In some cases, I suspect there will be surprise abroad that they are not already in place. So we will seek new powers to deport or exclude foreign nationals who foster hatred, advocate violence or justify such violence. This will include clerics associated with extremism.

There has, for some time, been a call for action from within the Muslim community against such clerics. With the help of the community, we will now draw up a list of foreign-born clerics who will not be allowed to preach in the UK and who can be excluded. For British citizens, we will bring in a new offence of condoning or glorifying terrorism in the UK and abroad.

These measures are not aimed at decent law-abiding British Muslims – or Britons of any other faith. We know that this fringe of extremism does not truly represent Islam. British Muslims have made abundantly clear how they abhor the actions of the extremists and how they fear that the good name of the community will be contaminated by the words and actions of these fanatics.

Many, after all, made their homes in the UK exactly because they enjoy in the UK, like all other faiths, the complete freedom to worship and to make a better life for their families. Their children have been born here. British Muslims make a huge and welcome contribution to our national life.

We will continue to welcome as well those, of all backgrounds, who visit our country from abroad in peace and who understand that the respect and tolerance towards others in which we believe is the surest guarantee of freedom and progress for people of all religious faiths.

But coming to Britain is not a right, and even when people have come here, staying here carries with it a duty. That duty is to share and support the values of freedom and tolerance that sustain our shared way of life. Those that break that duty and try to incite hatred or engage in violence against our country and its people have no place here. On this principle, people of all faiths in Britain are agreed. And it is my job to act on it.
Posted by: tipper || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Clarke spells out extremist deportation criteria
Charles Clarke, Home Secretary, has set out the Government's final criteria for excluding and deporting foreign extremists who stir up hatred. The list of unacceptable types of behaviour was finalised following a two-week consultation. It is intended to make clear that those who would attempt to foment terrorism or provoke others to commit terrorist acts are not welcome in the UK.

The list, which the Home Office said was indicative rather than exhaustive, covers the expression of views which:

* Foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs

* Seek to provoke others to terrorist acts

* Foment other serious criminal activity or seek to provoke others to serious criminal acts

* Foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK

The actions it covers include:

* Writing, producing, publishing or distributing material

* Public speaking, including preaching

* Running a website

* Using a position of responsibility such as teacher, community or youth leader

Mr Clarke said Britain was facing a "real and significant" threat which the Government and law enforcement agencies had to counter. "That includes tackling those who seek to foster hatred or promote terrorism, sending a strong message that they are not welcome in the UK," he said.

"Individuals who seek to create fear, distrust and division in order to stir up terrorist activity will not be tolerated by the Government or by our communities.

"By publishing the list today, I make it absolutely clear that these are unacceptable behaviours, and will be the grounds for deporting and excluding such individuals from the UK."

The Islamic Human Rights Commission said it was "alarmed" at the Home Office list of unacceptable behaviour. It warned that the new grounds for deportation amounted to the "criminalisation of thought, conscience and belief". It said that the plan was based on the "fallacy" that foreign preachers who could not speak English were responsible for radicalising British youths who spoke only English.

IHRC chairman Massoud Shadjareh said: "The fact that Mr Clarke's final list is almost identical to his initial proposals, despite numerous objections from interested parties, makes a total mockery of the consultation process."

James Welch, Liberty legal director, said: "Today's announcement fails to answer the fundamental question; will the Government's deportation plans result in suspects being sent to countries with a known record of torture?

"What has always separated us from the terrorists is that we do not torture people or send them to be tortured - that is the standard we need to maintain.

"We believe it is better for terrorist suspects to be tried than shuffled around the world. If they have to be deported, then at the very least there must be corroboration and robust involvement from international human rights monitors."
Posted by: tipper || 08/24/2005 07:03 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If Bush won't hire me, I am gonna, gonna, gonna, work for free, dammit!!
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/24/2005 10:49 Comments || Top||


UN says British deportation plan may breach human rights
GENEVA: A UN expert on torture and human rights on Tuesday expressed concern over Britain's plan to deport hardline Islamists to their countries of origin on the basis of assurances that they will not be abused or tortured there. Manfred Nowak, the UN special rapporteur on torture, said the deportation plans - part of a crackdown announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair in the aftermath of the London bomb attacks - could breach international human rights rules.
I take it there aren't international human rights rules against blowing people up?
In a statement, Nowak piously condemned all acts of terrorism, and extended his sympathy to the British government and the families of the victims of the July 7 London bombings.
That, and about $3.95 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks...
But he added: "The fact that such assurances are sought shows in itself that the sending country perceives a serious risk of the deportee being subjected to torture or ill treatment upon arrival in the receiving country. Diplomatic assurances are not an appropriate tool to eradicate this risk."
"Then what is?"
"Nothin' I can think of. Guess you gotta keep 'em!"
"And make sure they are receiving proper benefits from Her Majesty's Government. We don't want them all impoverished and in despair, turning to terror when they just can't take the injustice of their brothers in Palestine!"
A diplomatic assurance that a mook won't be tortured isn't good enough. A 'cross our hearts' diplomatic assurance that mad mullahs won't develop nuclear weapons, however, is good enough for all right-thinking people.
Ten foreigners were rounded up earlier this month in raids in London and other parts of Britain, and have been slated for deportation. They are said to include reputed Al Qaeda "ambassador" Abu Qatada, 44, from Jordan.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Are you sure the UN is not the UCLA and the UCLA is not the UN?
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 0:11 Comments || Top||

#2  What is the UN if not Diplomacy and agreements? So this guy admits the UN and it's agreements aren't worth warm spit. The UK may safely ignore said UN "agreements" they as they are equally invalid.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0´ Doom || 08/24/2005 0:23 Comments || Top||

#3  Laswt time I looked, those 52 people were still dead - what about *their* human rights Mr Nowak? Arsehole.
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 08/24/2005 1:29 Comments || Top||

#4  Keep in mind that this same UN is still befiddled to define what terrorism is.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 3:16 Comments || Top||

#5  Remember guys the U.N. has some of the foremost experts on human rights violations,"set a thief to catch a thief".
Posted by: raptor || 08/24/2005 6:36 Comments || Top||

#6  ...serious risk of the deportee being subjected to torture or ill treatment upon arrival in the receiving country.

If the UN "experts" are so efficient, let them do something about the receiving countries. After all, they should be no worries, as the UK is not going to send any body to the USA...
Posted by: SwissTex || 08/24/2005 8:41 Comments || Top||

#7  UCLA? Do you mean ACLU? Although must do admit, the UN is more or less like a bunch of frat boys.

Besides, isn't the UN too busy to worry about such things now that they're in the paleo printing business (today gaza, tomorrow the west bank and jerusalem")"
Posted by: PlanetDan || 08/24/2005 8:58 Comments || Top||

#8  A UN that still won't admit that "human rights" are being violated in Sudan.
Posted by: mmurray821 || 08/24/2005 9:44 Comments || Top||

#9  A UN expert on torture and human rights on Tuesday expressed concern over Britain's plan to deport hardline Islamists to their countries of origin on the basis of assurances that they will not be abused or tortured there.

Somehow, I just can't muster up a lot of sympathy for Muslim extremists.....
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 08/24/2005 10:29 Comments || Top||

#10  Ah, there we go. When I hear the word "expert" it is often code for idiotic whore.
Posted by: MunkarKat || 08/24/2005 11:25 Comments || Top||

#11  Maybe they can ship them all to Geneva to live with Manfred? I'll bet the UN digs there got plenty of room. He can teach them all to be butlers and servants...
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/24/2005 13:32 Comments || Top||

#12  "We don't care what happens to them, as long as it happens somewhere else." say the Brits...
Posted by: mojo || 08/24/2005 14:10 Comments || Top||

#13  House arrest in the UN Compound. Its the only human solution.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 08/24/2005 16:23 Comments || Top||

#14  PlanetDan -- you caught me. I am a USC fan.

Yes, the ACLU is analogous to UN. They both want to get us killed.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 17:17 Comments || Top||

#15  I would speed up the deportation process if I was assured they would be abused and tortured in their Islamic homeland. Serves them right for preaching Jihad and sedition in Western nations
Posted by: sea cruise || 08/24/2005 19:34 Comments || Top||

#16  Manfred Nowak, the UN special rapporteur on torture....

What a title! Jeeze Louise, these guys are hopeless. *sigh*
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 08/24/2005 20:25 Comments || Top||

#17  What does PETA say?
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/24/2005 21:36 Comments || Top||


Animal Rights Ghouls Gloat over Latest Terrorist Success
Note how the terrorist-ghouls' public shills have no problem with this barbarism and are openly gloating.
A family that breeds guinea pigs for medical research announced yesterday that it was to close its farm in a final attempt to get back the remains of a relative whose body was dug up by animal rights extremists. David, John and Chris Hall said that Darley Oaks farm in Newchurch, Staffs, would close by the end of the year.

Their family, friends and business associates have been subjected to a six-year campaign of terror and intimidation that culminated last October in activists digging up and stealing the remains of Chris Hall's 82-year-old mother-in-law, Gladys Hammond, from St Peter's churchyard in Yoxall, Staffs.

Animal rights supporters celebrated the announcement but it was condemned by scientists as a triumph for mob rule that would hurt patients and damage an industry that employs 22,000 people and is worth £3.6 billion a year to the British economy. It is also certain to lead to questions as to whether the Government is doing enough. Six months ago, Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary, vowed to jail those guilty of "economic damage" to companies and their associates.
I have an alternative to closing the farm: PM Blair should announce that the authorities will exterminate every guinea pig in the UK if the old lady's body is not returned within 24 hours and the perpetrators arrested.
Government officials, worried about the message that the farm closure would send out, are understood to have tried to persuade the Halls to stay open.

Timothy Cruttenden Smith, the family's lawyer, said it was "a very, very bad day for democracy". He said: "It is an undemocratic day when a campaign of terrorism stops a hard-working, law-abiding family from undertaking an activity that is crucial to research and upon which the lives of many elderly people depend.

"A little piece of freedom died today. I don't suppose there is a single day where they don't think about Gladys's remains. They are experiencing emotional, spiritual and traumatic problems."

In a statement, the Halls said: "David Hall and Partners' involvement in breeding guinea pigs for biomedical research will cease at the end of 2005.

"The business, which has operated for over three decades, will undergo a phased closure until then to ensure the welfare of animals involved.

"The business has continued during a sustained protest from animal rights extremists for six years, which included the desecration of the grave of Gladys Hammond last October. We now hope that, as a result of this announcement, those responsible for removing Gladys's body will return her so she can lie once again in her rightful resting place."

They said they planned a "return to traditional farming" and "have no plans to be involved in the breeding of animals for medical or scientific research".

A close relative of Mrs Hammond, who declined to be named, said: "Gladys was a relative of the Halls by marriage only and had no involvement in guinea pig breeding. David Hall and Partners will now close. The reason Gladys was taken from her family no longer exists. There is no reason why her body cannot be returned to those of us who loved her."
Don't count on it; the ghouls will think of something else.
The Halls have been receiving letters from a group calling itself the Animal Rights Militia (ARM), which claimed to have stolen the body and said it would return it once the farm closed. Sources close to the family said their decision was not based on any new information or deal struck with the group.

Insp David Bird, of Staffordshire Police, said the investigation into the theft of Mrs Hammond's remains would continue. He said the episode did "nothing to forward the cause of animal rights".
The AR savages think otherwise.
A spokesman for Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs, a campaign group set up in 1999 to lobby for the farm's closure, said: "This is the most fantastic day of my life. It's a victory for the animals and it's a fundamental victory for the animal rights movement. I feel so unbelievably proud to be part of the movement."
Any chance the Bobbies can arrest this mook and apply a #4 to him? I certainly don't expect a #7, but I suspect the the pisher is a nancy-boy. A #4 might work wonders.
The latter mutant is a diseased organism and should by all rights be killed on the spot, like an anthrax infected cow. Kill people over a stolen body? I think it is justified to keep organized monsters from further eroding fundamental values that have been a near-universal norm since prehistoric times.

It gets worse: At one point, the mutant claimed that they have dismembered the body and buried "one sixth" of it in a different location from the rest.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "mook"
Potentially interesting etymology here.
In the Staffordshire dialect, "moke" (pronounced almost as "mook") is one of several words for "donkey." It occurs as such in Shakespeare and is also the origin of the name Mini-Moke for the utility version of the original Austin Mini automobile.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 08/24/2005 0:17 Comments || Top||

#2  If they(Darley Oaks farm)had told the buttwipes"So what,shes dead.You can'hurt her know"it would have blown the ghouls whole plan and made it meaningless.
Posted by: raptor || 08/24/2005 6:40 Comments || Top||

#3  "Animal Rights Militia" sounds like an armed group set on insurrection.

Treat them as such.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/24/2005 7:28 Comments || Top||

#4  Couldn't have said it better, RC!
Posted by: BA || 08/24/2005 8:41 Comments || Top||

#5  A new and especially depraved low for the animal liberation folks. They suffer from a very special, as of yet not clinically recognized form of mental illness.
Posted by: MunkarKat || 08/24/2005 9:15 Comments || Top||

#6  YEA It's called F**KIN'NUT"S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ARMYGUY || 08/24/2005 10:05 Comments || Top||

#7  Of course, these maggots would never go back on their word, right? And, of course, it will never happen again, right?
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/24/2005 12:09 Comments || Top||

#8  Surely it's illegal to mess about with a corpse in England? I know it is in the States -- an "artist" was convicted in Cincinnati just for photographing posed cadavers in the morgue, as was the morgue attendant for allowing it.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/24/2005 16:28 Comments || Top||


Down Under
Anti-Aussie Muslims 'should go'
MUSLIMS in Australia who don't want to accept local values should leave the country, Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson said today.
Muslim schools will have to denounce terrorism as part of an effort to stamp out home-grown extremism, under measures announced yesterday following a meeting between Muslim leaders and Prime Minister John Howard.

Dr Nelson said today he would meet with the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils to discuss programs that ensure students understand Australia's history, culture and values.

He said all Australian schools were required to teach the national values framework, including tolerance, responsibility and understanding, to students.

People who were not prepared to follow these Australian values should "clear off", he said.

"We believe in giving every person a fair go, we don't care where people come from, we don't mind what religion they've got," Dr Nelson said.

"But what we want them to do is commit to the Australian constitution, Australian rule of law and basically, people who don't want to be Australians, and they don't want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then they can basically clear off."

Treasurer Peter Costello has also raised the prospect of the government asking radical Muslims clerics who put Islamic law above Australian law to leave the country if they are dual citizens.

"There might be other countries where the system of law is more acceptable to them," he said.

"If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option."

Habib slammed

Meanwhile, Dr Nelson will meet with the University of Western Sydney (UWS) vice-chancellor to discuss a controversial address given on campus by former Guantanamo detainee Mamdouh Habib.

Mr Habib, who was released without charge in January this year after being held for more than three years at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, condemned Australia's hardline approach to terrorist suspects.

He reportedly described the US as a "pack of terrorists" during the open-air forum at the university's Bankstown campus on Monday.

Dr Nelson today said that while the forum on war, terrorism and civil liberties had been organised by the UWS Students Association and not the university, he would still seek an explanation from vice-chancellor Janice Reid over Mr Habib's appearance.

"When I saw the report of that ... I immediately got on to the vice-chancellor's office out there at the University of Western Sydney," Dr Nelson said on Southern Cross radio.

"I'm seeing her shortly ... to find out what on earth is going on."

Dr Nelson said he had been informed that the student union had invited Mr Habib to give a lecture to about 100 students assembled at Bankstown, where he "peddled his anti-American view of the world".

"I was reassured that there was no expense involved as far as the taxpayer is concerned," Dr Nelson said.

Under laws introduced into Parliament in March by Dr Nelson, university students will no longer have to join student unions and pay compulsory union fees.

Dr Nelson said he was also concerned by a recent UWS student newspaper editorial which said former hostage in Iraq Douglas Wood was an example of someone living off the fat of dead Iraqis.

"Why should the average student who wants an education be funding all that sort of nonsense?" he said.

"That's where we're coming from."

Dr Nelson said if student services were up to scratch, there would be no problem convincing students to join the union.

"I encourage students to join all of these things – sporting, cultural, political – but under no circumstances should they be forced," he said.

Mr Habib was captured in Pakistan in late 2001 on suspicion of terrorist activities. He claims he was taken to Egypt and tortured between November 2001 and February 2002 before being moved to Guantanamo Bay.

Since his release, Mr Habib has become a regular on the speaking circuit, addressing University of Technology students last month and a rally in March to mark the International Day of Action.

Earlier today, Mr Habib said he was stabbed in an attack by three men near his Sydney home on Monday, but did not need hospital treatment.
Posted by: tipper || 08/24/2005 07:18 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Brendan Nelson...uh ya want a job in our country? On second thought I don't want to see you in enprisoned for diversity violations.

Posted by: anymouse || 08/24/2005 8:22 Comments || Top||

#2  diversity violations

Why that is just the same policy in operation on America's campuses today. If you don't like the political agenda of the school and cirriculum, then go to another university/college. Academic freedom for me, not for thee. Oh, by the way, have the state government increase our funding this year.
Posted by: Angotle Ebbinemble6237 || 08/24/2005 9:35 Comments || Top||

#3  Kudos, Mr Nelson. On many fronts in the war against PCism, the greatest danger we face since we can only lose by failing in resolve, Howard's cabinet leads the way. Kudos to Mr Howard, too.
Posted by: .com || 08/24/2005 20:23 Comments || Top||


Australian Muslims vow action against terrorism
Australia’s mainstream Muslim leaders Tuesday pledged to defend the country against terrorism, disowned Osama Bin Laden and accepted differences with the government over the Iraq war.
I guess "shape up or ship out" is a workable approach...
The commitment came at a meeting Prime Minister John Howard called with 14 Islamic leaders after last month’s London bombings by British-born Muslims raised fears of similar violence from disaffected members of Australia’s small Islamic community. Howard and the president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Ameer Ali, told a joint news conference that delegates had agreed on their loyalty to Australia and their rejection of terrorism. The prime minister said there was “a concern that a small section of the Islamic community of this country could be the source of terrorism”.
"Define 'small.'"
"Less than totality."
“The important thing coming out of this meeting is that we all agree on that and we need to work together.” Howard was criticised ahead of the talks for refusing to invite more radical Islamic leaders to participate, but said he did not want to “provide a forum for fanatics”.
So it's only the ones who were invited who're on board. Are the other guys going to be deported, we hope?
Asked whether the Muslim delegates had denounced Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden - once described by an uninvited radical cleric as a “good man” - Howard and Ali said this was implied by the rejection of terrorism. “No one supports him,” Ali said, describing the cleric’s comment as “stupid”. “It goes without saying that the majority of the community do not see him as a Muslim leader. He is not in the main group, his activities are not welcome, there’s no reservation in that.” Ali said the Islamic leaders had denounced extremism, terrorism and the teaching of hatred, and saw themselves as Australians. “We believe in the Australian family, we are all members of the same family. We have an unreserved commitment to the safety and security of this nation, of all the groups that live in this country, so that we can live in a peaceful, harmonious society in the future,” he said. The prime minister had raised the contentious issue of the deployment of Australian soldiers in Iraq, described by one group ahead of the talks as the main cause of alienation for Muslims, and was met with differences of opinion. “That’s democracy. We are entitled to our own opinions but we are not here to change the foreign policy of this country,” Ali said.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  “We are entitled to our own opinions but we are not here to change the foreign policy of this country,for now” Ali said.

Posted by: Sobiesky || 08/24/2005 3:03 Comments || Top||

#2  How do you say Taqiya in Australian?
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/24/2005 14:28 Comments || Top||


Europe
Sakra's still singing
Two weeks ago, Turkish police arrested an Islamist with ties to many upper tier al-Qaida members. The man not only tried to get asylum in Germany, but claims to have known about the London bombings beforehand and to have helped the 9/11 pilots.

The Turkish interrogators in Istanbul's high-security prison wanted to be polite; they wanted to show respect for Islam. They offered their prisoner, an Islamist named Luai Sakra, 31, a chance to pray during a pause in questioning.

They'd done the same thing with earlier suspects. The move was supposed to establish trust.

But this prisoner reacted a bit differently. "I don't pray," Sakra answered politely, "and I like alcohol." When the baffled officials didn't want to believe him, he elaborated: "Especially whiskey and wine."

It wasn't the only surprise the Syrian-born suspect presented to investigators. Turkish anti-terror officials held the suspected al-Qaida member for four days. Just after his arrest two weeks ago, Sakra admitted to planning strikes against Israeli cruise ships; he hoarded 750 kilograms of explosives for the purpose. When some of those explosives went up in flames in his Antalya apartment, he fled.

What Sakra told officials during his interrogation suggests a deep jihadist career. The Syrian, who knows weapons as well as he knows his whiskey and wine, has obviously played a far more important role in the terrorist underground than officials first suspected. According to his own testimony, he knew about the London bombings before they happened, and supported the pilots on 9/11.

"I was one of the people who knew the 9/11 perpetrators," Sakra reportedly said in passing during the interrogation, "and I knew the plans and times beforehand." He claims to have provided the pilots with passports and money.

These details, if true, close some gaps in the narrative of the worst terrorist assaults in history -- and they raise a question which German investigators have wrestled with in past week: Did Sakra -- who lived from September 2000 to July 2001 with his wife and two small children as an asylum-seeker in the southern town of Schramberg -- work with anyone else in Germany? Are there any unknown contacts still out there who know what he knows?

Western investigators accept Sakra's claims, by and large, since they coincide with known facts. On September 10, 2001, he tipped off the Syrian secret service -- which had chased him since 1999 for his role in a revolt in a Lebanon refugee camp -- that terrorist attacks were about to occur in the United States. The evidently well-informed al-Qaida insider even named buildings as targets, and airplanes as weapons. The Syrians passed on this information to the CIA -- but only after the attacks. Sakra owes his rise in al Qaida to the Palestinian Abu Subeida, a bin Laden confidant now in custody, who ran a sort of recruiting office for new mujahideen in the Pakistani city of Peshawar. From Abu Subeida's testimony, the CIA knows that he and the young Syrian soon came to trust each other.

With help from his mentor in 1997, Sakra attended a military training camp in Khalden, where he drilled with about 80 other volunteers. They trained with Kalashnikov rifles and practiced using explosives, especially TNT and C4. In Khalden, Sakra also met the German Christian K., a Muslim convert who later served as his translator when he was waiting for asylum in Schramberg. Christian K. married one of Sakra's sisters in Aleppo in 1998.

Abu Subeida sent the Syrian back and forth to Turkey, to help build new branches of his terror network. When bin Laden started a new camp for Syrians and Jordanians in 1999 in Herat, Afghanistan, he handed leadership responsibilities to five Arabs. One was Sakra; another was the Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the current chief of al-Qaida in Iraq. The two of them quickly became friends.

Those years in Herat helped establish a still-growing terrorist network that's responsible for a large portion of attacks in the Near and Middle East. During one of his interrogations, Sakra claimed to have fought personally for Zarqawi in Iraq, apparently in Fallujah, the rebel stronghold where American forces found a number of torture chambers after a raid in late 2004.

A video allegedly recorded in Fallujah played an important role for Turkish investigators: Sakra boasted to an Istanbul magistrate that he'd attended the execution of a kidnapped Turkish truck driver in Iraq.

The video shows the death of driver Murat YÃŒce in August 2004, at the hands of armed, masked fighters for Zarqawi. Sakra gave a running commentary with a slight smile and no remorse: "Look, now they'll cut off his head. Soon they'll take that pistol off the table, so the blood won't ruin it." And, like a ballistics expert: "Blood wrecks the insides of a pistol."

This cold-bloodedness -- mixed with moments of high emotion -- may be related to Sakra's shaky mental health. He comes from a well-to-do family, but officials who arrested him at an airport in Diyarkbakir found phony papers under the name "Ekrem Oeyer," along with $120,000 in cash, as well as a bottle of psychopharmaceuticals and antidepressants. Officers of the CIA and the Turkish intelligence services (MIT) who took part in this operation thought it was strange that such a hot-tempered mujahid, in custody, could sometimes act so extroverted, while at other times become so apathetic.

The man's mental condition, his precisely-timed arrest shortly before an attack, and his statements in the meantime have provoked speculation that Sakra was in contact with several secret-service agencies for years. Turkish media reported that the CIA had contacted him twice in 2000, and tried to tempt him with money, apparently very large sums. Then the CIA lost his trail and turned to the Turkish MIT for help.

Sakra's attorney, Ilhani Sayan, who believes some of Sakra's statements but not others, claims that in August 2001 -- four weeks before the assaults in America -- the MIT picked up their man, but let him go. Sakra himself says he was arrested twice by the MIT but freed again, both times. In 2003, his wife was also supposedly detained and interrogated for 20 days.

Sakra's family lived in Turkey from 1960 on, but then emigrated to Syria, and subsequent financial strain may have been a reason for the fanatical Islamist to cooperate (at least sometimes) with officials.

But Sakra never became the high-value al-Qaida informant which the CIA so desperately needs; and in the meantime the various intelligence agencies realized that any hope of controlling Sakra was just a deadly dream.
Posted by: Dan Darling || 08/24/2005 18:09 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


More on the al-Qaeda fax
Spanish police are investigating an Arabic-language fax sent in Al Qaeda’s name to two media outlets in which the Vatican is criticised for allegedly supporting the Iraq war and Nazi Germany, news reports said on Wednesday.

The fax, sent from an unspecified office in Barcelona to Spanish National Television and the ABC daily, also justified the terror attacks in London and Madrid. ABC said police were treating the document with caution, but believe it may have come from an Al Qaeda sympathiser rather than a terror cell.

The newspaper said police had not detected any specific threat in the fax.

Police could not immediately be reached for comment.

The fax is entitled “Operation Vatican” and “Iraq and the world terrorist attack.” In it, the author says the bomb attacks in London in July and last year in Madrid were “in self-defense against the terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

According to the paper, the document criticises the Vatican for its alleged role in the extermination of millions of Jews in World War II, saying, “Hitler was a scapegoat of the Vatican and 44 million people were assassinated by the Nazis so as to rob them of their riches.”

“The Iraq war won the support of the Vatican for the capitalist countries, all for Iraqi oil,” the paper quoted the fax as saying. “Those governments will reap the harvest for their support and for the reason they killed.”

ABC said police had a good idea who may be behind the fax, based on where it was sent from.

The paper said the fax was written in two parts, one dealing with terrorism and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the other with the Vatican’s alleged support for Nazi Germany. The second part is believed to have been copied from a book or a newspaper article, ABC said. In certain paragraphs, it cites an unspecified article from The New York Times published in December 1941.
Posted by: Dan Darling || 08/24/2005 18:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Again, it sounds more like a leftist than Islamist.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/24/2005 21:40 Comments || Top||


Al-Qaeda fax threatens the Vatican
I'm really not understanding the point of these, except maybe to piss Catholics off ...
Spanish police are investigating a fax signed by al-Qaeda and containing veiled threats against the Vatican that was sent to TVE state television on Monday and to the daily newspaper ABC on Tuesday. The three-page Arabic missive accuses the Vatican of having supported the Nazis and the Iraq war. It justifies the March 2004 Madrid train bombings in Spain and those in London on 7 July as "acts of self-defence against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan."

"In the war in Iraq, the Vatican has supported capitalist countries who are just interested in Iraq's oil. The people in charge will pay for what they have done. Hitler, who was hand in hand with the Vatican, murdered 44 million people in order to steal their wealth," the fax states.

ABC quotes Spanish police as saying they are "exhaustively" analysing the fax, which they believe was authored by an al-Qaeda sympathiser rather than than a cell member, according to ABC. The text is a "generic threat" that does not mention the names of any potential targets, ABC said, quoting police sources. Islamist terror experts believe they have "quite reliable indications" of who could be behind the fax, based on the place it was sent from - a state office in Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, ABC reported.

The fax appears to contain few similarities to the one signed by 'Serhane the Tunisian' and sent to ABC on 3 April 2004 after the coordinated train bombings in Madrid on 11 March that killed 191 people and injured 1,460. This was much more resolute in tone and contained much more of a concrete threat against Spain.
Posted by: Dan Darling || 08/24/2005 17:58 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I am confused by this too, Dan. There are, afterall, more than a few Catholics out there. Some of which lean appeasement. I suspect they may harden a bit over such threats.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 18:07 Comments || Top||

#2  In the war in Iraq, the Vatican has supported capitalist countries who are just interested in Iraq's oil.

Sounds more Democrat or Marxist than Islamist.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/24/2005 21:39 Comments || Top||


Palestinian Clerics Association Now Demanding A Piece Of Spain
(Palestinian Clerics Association Deputy Director Sheikh Muhammad Ali on Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV):
"Any land, any piece of land, over which flies the banner of 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger,' and which at a certain point belonged to the Muslims – as far as we are concerned, plundering and occupying such land is forbidden, and it is the duty of all Muslims to do what they can to liberate this land, wherever it may be. True, many precious Muslim lands are under occupation today. They have been forgotten, and Andalusia is one example. Nevertheless, it is the duty of the Muslims to liberate them. But since we are discussing Palestine, Gaza, and so on, let us focus on this precious piece of Muslim land, especially since Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque belong to all Muslims, and have become a part of the Muslim faith...
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/24/2005 12:20 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  No surprise here, the Muslims are the biggest poor losers in world history. It was mine, I want it back! I want it back! I want it back now!
Posted by: rjschwarz || 08/24/2005 13:09 Comments || Top||

#2  Shoot him...
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/24/2005 13:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Don't for Europe up to Vienna. Mine, all mine!
Posted by: Sheikh Ali || 08/24/2005 13:17 Comments || Top||

#4  Don't forget.
Posted by: Sheikh Ali || 08/24/2005 13:18 Comments || Top||

#5  BTW, Rome has claim to the Holy Lands[tm] that predates Mohammad.
Posted by: Elmemble Ulaitch5567 || 08/24/2005 13:39 Comments || Top||

#6  Take this mook to Tunisia, put him in a rowboat and point him north.

"Lotsa luck, Sheikh Muhammad" they cry, waving him off.
Posted by: mojo || 08/24/2005 14:08 Comments || Top||

#7  Damn. The madness just never ends. Today Gaza, by friday Spain! They just don't play well with others do they. Tolerance indeed.
Posted by: MunkarKat || 08/24/2005 14:19 Comments || Top||

#8  Sounds like a job fer Pat Robertson.
Posted by: macofromoc || 08/24/2005 14:20 Comments || Top||

#9  Acceptable to me.
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/24/2005 14:29 Comments || Top||

#10  What do you expect from the Religion of Piece?

I don’t want war! All I want is Peace! Peace! Peace!
A little piece of Poland, a little piece of France,
A little piece of Portugal, and Austria perchance.
A little slice of Turkey and all that that entails.
And then a piece of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

--W.C.Sellar and R.J.Yeatman, "1066 and All That"
Posted by: Jackal || 08/24/2005 15:31 Comments || Top||

#11  ..the Muslims are the biggest poor losers in world history. It was mine, I want it back! I want it back! I want it back now!

Even bigger losers are those that are more than willing to give in to such demands.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 08/24/2005 16:41 Comments || Top||

#12  BAR,

Amen!
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/24/2005 16:51 Comments || Top||

#13  W.C.Sellar and R.J.Yeatman, "1066 and All That

I knew it.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/24/2005 17:18 Comments || Top||

#14  Now if we can get these statements from the PCA onto the MSM, people can see the face and hear the voice of the enemy.

Our biggest enemy is the LLL and the MSM. We need to deal with them PDQ if we are not all going to be KIA or MIA or on KP. [/Robin Williams monologue style]
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 08/24/2005 17:19 Comments || Top||

#15  LOL!
Posted by: BH || 08/24/2005 17:25 Comments || Top||

#16  They learned last year that if they press spain, spain will give in. Now they're back and I wouldnt doubt it a bit if this caught on and became a major objective since they got them to withdraw from Iraq.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 08/24/2005 17:28 Comments || Top||

#17  typical so typical
never happy until they get all the monopoly's, utilities too
Posted by: Jan || 08/24/2005 23:59 Comments || Top||


France mulls cameras, wiretap database to fight terrorism
PARIS: The French government is looking to increase video surveillance of public areas and keep a database of tapped telephone and computer communications under a bill to be introduced within days, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday.
I'd recommend bringing back the guilletine, too, though I guess the corpse count isn't quite high enough for that yet...
Other measures in the anti-terrorist law he has proposed would require cooperation with other EU states, he told journalists.
Oh, yeah. That always works well. We've found cooperation with EU states solves most problems, to include neuritis, neuralgia, ladies' complaints, spavins, and galls.
I dunno about that. I took the waters at Wiesbaden once, and I still got plenty complaints.
In the meantime, "we are maintaining our operational services on alert" with police, gendarmes and soldiers observing level red anti-terrorist procedures that have been in place since the July 7 bomb attacks on London's transport system, he said. "On this subject, as with others, such as border control and handling immigration flows, cooperation with our European partners is real. Because we are all exposed," he said. Sarkozy added that his services would take tough action against Islamic radicals making "inciteful comments".
Good idea. Chop their heads off and they'll stop doing it.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Fifth Column
Mother Sheehan: Terrorists are "Freedom Fighters"
Cindy Sheehan, the so-called Treason Mom Peace Mom seeking a second meeting with President Bush in connection with the Iraq War death of her son, says terrorists killing Americans are "freedom fighters."

She made the remark during her trek earlier this month to Crawford, Texas; but her equating the enemy with freedom fighters has not been highlighted by the mainstream media, despite her telling it directly to a reporter for CBS News.

Sheehan's comments were recorded on video by Sons of Benedict Arnold Veterans for Peace, a group pushing for Bush's impeachment. (Editor's note: The video of Cindy Sheehan is approximately 30 minutes long, and requires several minutes to load, even with a high-speed connection.)

"You know that the president says Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism, don't you believe that?" asked Mark Knoller of CBS, surrounded by a host of other reporters.

"No, because it's not true," Sheehan replied. "You know Iraq was no threat to the United States of America until we invaded. I mean they're not even a threat to the United States of America. Iraq was not involved in 9-11, Iraq was not a terrorist state. But now that we have decimated the country, the borders are open, freedom fighters from other countries are going in, and they [American troops] have created more terrorism by going to an Islamic country, devastating the country and killing innocent people in that country. The terrorism is growing and people who never thought of being car bombers or suicide bombers are now doing it because they want the United States of America out of their country."

A WorldNetDaily search of CBS News, Google News, and Lexis-Nexis archives found not a single news report mentioning Sheehan's "freedom fighters" remark. Tap. Tap. Nope. Got any AA cells for the Surprise Meter?

"The question of whether or not we should be in Iraq is not relevant in this discussion," Fred Keller of Clearwater, Fla., told WND. "We're there and have troops in the field under fire and these people are aiding and abetting the enemy."

"What's her problem then?" asked one messageboard poster on FreeRepublic.com. "Her son was killed by a 'freedom fighter.' She should be proud." Last week, I would have called that cruel. Now...

Sheehan referred to her son, Casey, not as a war hero, but rather a war victim. That's an evil philosophy in which "victim" is status to claim and gain moral ascendency. I hope you achieve such status soon.

President Bush, meanwhile, is slated to spend two hours tomorrow with families of other slain soldiers.

"Well, I did meet with Cindy Sheehan," Bush said, referring to his meeting with the entire Sheehan family last June at Fort Lewis, Wash. "I strongly support her right to protest. There's a lot of people protesting. And there's a lot of points of view about the Iraq war."

"She expressed her opinion. I disagree with it," he added, noting Sheehan's pullout philosophy. "I think immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake. I think those who advocate immediate withdrawal from not only Iraq but the Middle East would be – are advocating a policy that would weaken the United States. So I appreciate her right to protest. I understand her anguish. I met with a lot of families. She doesn't represent the view of a lot of the families I have met with. And I'll continue to meet with families."
Posted by: Jackal || 08/24/2005 08:44 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Now I am really happy that I had a part in shutting down her blog from accepting comments.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/24/2005 9:53 Comments || Top||

#2  who's freedomn are they fighting for? The freedom for them to run the country and all that oil of course how they want too.
Posted by: Thraing Hupoluper1864 || 08/24/2005 10:26 Comments || Top||

#3  Cindy Sheehan, the so-called Peace Mom seeking a second meeting with President Bush in connection with the Iraq War death of her son, says terrorists killing Americans are "freedom fighters."

Louder, please. And more frequently too, if you would be so kind.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 08/24/2005 10:31 Comments || Top||

#4  The political "everbody's picking on the poor mourning mother" spin didn't take long to wear thin after the same parasites managed to push her to depraved activist mode. Wonder where they will be when she's kicked off the bandwagon and left to live with herself and what she's done. It won't be pretty.
Posted by: MunkarKat || 08/24/2005 11:11 Comments || Top||

#5  Hopefully somebody takes the time to speak to her when it's over and document the exploitation and who did it.
Posted by: MunkarKat || 08/24/2005 11:12 Comments || Top||

#6  I mean they're not even a threat to the United States of America. Iraq was not involved in 9-11, Iraq was not a terrorist state.

I don't see how this matters. She told Chris Matthews that it would have been the same if her son died in Afghanistan, which was a threat to the US, which was involved in 9-11, and which was a terrorist state.

Hopefully somebody takes the time to speak to her when it's over and document the exploitation and who did it.

You mean, so she can paint herself a "victim" of the nasty media? No. There's no exploitation here. She did it to herself.
Posted by: Angie Schultz || 08/24/2005 11:20 Comments || Top||

#7  The more she talks, the more she annoys people.

Keep it up, you Mother.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 11:28 Comments || Top||

#8  Does she have any more info on the Evil Zionist Jews?
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/24/2005 11:46 Comments || Top||

#9  freedom fighters from other countries are going in

Wow.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/24/2005 12:16 Comments || Top||

#10  She's doing a great job representing the left. You go girl!
Posted by: 2b || 08/24/2005 13:29 Comments || Top||

#11  Hey, they're fighting for the FREEDOM to impose their belief system on the entire world by force! And what could be better than that?
Posted by: mojo || 08/24/2005 14:05 Comments || Top||

#12  I've read her called "Mother Eva Braun", for her anti-Semitic comments, and it just made the lefties go utterly ballistic. The completely lost it.

Try it out somewhere where the lefties hang out. I can almost guarantee that it will blow their little minds.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/24/2005 14:19 Comments || Top||

#13  Have Howard Dean and Cindy Sheehan ever been seen in the same room together? Hmmm. Talk about gifts that keep on giving. As I've said before, the campaign commercials just keep writing themselves.
Posted by: Dreadnought || 08/24/2005 15:04 Comments || Top||

#14  I've read her called "Mother Eva Braun", for her anti-Semitic comments, and it just made the lefties go utterly ballistic. The completely lost it.

Yeah. "Mother Coughlin" is probably too subtle.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/24/2005 15:05 Comments || Top||

#15  "Mother Coughlin" is probably too subtle.

Not for me, consider it stolen.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/24/2005 17:21 Comments || Top||

#16  We may want to refer to Mother Sheehan as "bankshot" as in:

She calls the people who killed her brave son, Casey, freedom fighters, but blames President Bush.

Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 18:04 Comments || Top||

#17  Isn't her saying that those killing American soldiers are freedom fighters the same as saying that her own son deserved to be killed?
Posted by: FeralCat || 08/24/2005 19:34 Comments || Top||

#18  I didn't agree with our going into Iraq. Once we did however and committed our troops we need to back them 100% and have a strong show of support of our collective effort there.
Cindy Sheehan being allowed all of this attention is bad for our country, and I have a hard time understanding why the MSM is giving her so much coverage.
I am very proud of my son who is also in the military. I look forward to him coming safely home when this is all over. I would never dishonor his service to our country by acting out like Cindy Sheehan. It is even more of a crime how so many folks have been manipulating her and using her for their cause.
Posted by: Jan || 08/24/2005 23:52 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Leak: Draft of Bush Answer to Cindy Sheehan

by Scott Ott - Scrappleface


(2005-08-24) -- An internal White House memo, leaked today, indicates how President George Bush initially planned to address Cindy Sheehan's question: What "noble cause" did my son die for?

The draft memo includes suggestions from White House communications staff, followed by several paragraphs apparently handwritten by the president.

While handwriting experts from CBS News continue to pore over the document to verify its authenticity, here is the text of the president's alleged response to the grieving Mom whose protest has captured the hearts of America's journalists.


Dear Mrs. Sheehan,
You have asked me to identify the noble cause for which your son died. I have not answered you personally out of respect for the nobility of your son's sacrifice.

Being president forces me into the spotlight, but I would rather stand in the shadows of men like Casey Sheehan.

Directing national attention on my response to your protest creates a distraction from what matters. The focus of our attention, and our admiration, should rest on people like Casey Sheehan, who stand in the breach when evil threatens to break out and consume a helpless people.

The running story on the news networks should be the valiant efforts of our troops -- the merchants of mercy who export freedom and import honor. They trade their own lives for the sake of others.

As a result, we live in a nation where a woman can camp outside of the president's house and verbally attack the president for weeks on end without fear of prison, torture or death. And the number of nations where such protest is possible has multiplied thanks to the work of our military.

You ask for what noble cause your son died?

In a sense he died so that people like you, who passionately oppose government policies, can freely express that opposition. As you camp in Crawford, you should take off your shoes, for you stand on holy ground. This land was bought with the blood of men like your son.

Now, 25 million Iraqis cry out to enjoy the life you take for granted. Most of them will never use their freedom to denigrate the sacrifice of those who paid for it. But once liberty is enshrined in law, they will be free to do so. And when the Iraqis finally escape their incarceration, hope will spread throughout that enslaved region of the world, eventually making us all safer and more free.

The key is in the lock of the prison door. Bold men risk everything to turn it.

Mrs. Sheehan, everyone dies. But few experience the bittersweet glory of death with a purpose -- death that sets people free and produces ripples of liberty hundreds of years into the future.

Casey Sheehan died that freedom might triumph over bondage, hope over despair, prosperity over misery. He died restoring justice and mercy. He lived and died to help to destroy the last stubborn vestiges of the Dark Ages.

To paraphrase President Lincoln, the world will little note nor long remember what you and I say here. But it can never forget what Casey Sheehan did during his brief turn on earth. If we are wise, we will take increased devotion to that cause for which he gave the last full measure of devotion.

Our brave warriors have blazed a trail. They have enstrusted the completion of the task to those of us they left behind. Let's, you and I, resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.

Let's finish the work that they have thus far so nobly advanced.

Sincerely,
George W. Bush
Ordinarily Scrapplface means satire... but not always
Posted by: Griper Ulising3677 || 08/24/2005 13:59 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Nice frisking by scrappleface!
Posted by: mmurray821 || 08/24/2005 15:12 Comments || Top||

#2  If only...
Posted by: Mac Suirtain || 08/24/2005 15:48 Comments || Top||

#3  President George W. Bush would be the f*cking man, if this weren't Scrappleface, as much as I believe that he thinks the same. Therefore, Scott Ott IS the f*cking man.
Posted by: Edward Yee || 08/24/2005 16:09 Comments || Top||

#4  Satire worthy of an Irish Bard.
Posted by: Xbalanke || 08/24/2005 16:34 Comments || Top||

#5  Hey! Thatn not funny!
Posted by: Shipman || 08/24/2005 17:24 Comments || Top||

#6  It brings a sort of nobility to the phrase "fake, but accurate."
Posted by: slo jim || 08/24/2005 18:01 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Bomb explodes at U of A
University of Arizona police yesterday arrested two 18-year-olds after an explosive device thrown from a vehicle detonated on campus.

The explosion was reported at 11:29 a.m. in the alley between the College of Music and the Honors College, UA police said. There were no injuries.

Witness descriptions of the vehicle helped lead police to Francisco Joel Torres and Yoel S. Caballero. Neither attends UA. They were booked into the Pima County Jail.

Torres has been charged with five counts of prohibited weapons manufacturing and one count of depositing explosives.

Caballero has been charged with one count of prohibited weapons manufacturing and one count of depositing explosives.
Posted by: Jackal || 08/24/2005 18:03 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  University of Arizona out of Aztlan!
Posted by: Pappy || 08/24/2005 19:05 Comments || Top||


Feds "really" promise to protect Arizona's border
Federal authorities have outlined a plan to help Arizona crack down on human smuggling, ease overcrowding in state prisons and increase immigration training for police. And cure povery and illness and...

The announcement Monday by the Department of Homeland Security came a week after Gov. Janet Napolitano declared the beginning of her reelection compaign an emergency in four border counties because of problems related to illegal immigration and pledged $1.5 million in state funding to local authorities.

Napolitano's order said the federal government's failure to secure the border allowed a flood of illegal immigration that threatened public health and safety.

Napolitano has accused federal authorities of not reimbursing state and local governments for apprehending, prosecuting and imprisoning illegal immigrants who commit crimes in Arizona as she continues to frustrate implementation of an initiative that barred illegals from receiving government benefits.

"I think this is very promising," she said of the letter from Homeland Security. "We're finally seeing some movement... It's finally nice to get something in writing." Yeah, we can frame it as "Broken Promose #77823"
Posted by: Jackal || 08/24/2005 08:56 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  [sigh]. That's "promise," of course. I originally wrote it as "primose," and when I saw it in Preview, "corrected" it.
Posted by: muck4Jackal || 08/24/2005 9:22 Comments || Top||

#2  I think this is where Bush moved all those Civil Service protected American buearucrats who previously worked on UN issues. I'm sure we're in for 'study', 'planning', 'options', 'impact statements', 'meetings' and more requests for funding.
Posted by: Angotle Ebbinemble6237 || 08/24/2005 9:26 Comments || Top||

#3  Got a call from the RNC last week. I told them 'Not a freakin' dime until that border's secured'. I then got a boilerplate message about the difficulties in managing numerous priorities, etc. at which point I hung up.
Posted by: Raj || 08/24/2005 9:41 Comments || Top||

#4  I'm still waiting to see the 500 or so agents we were promised this summer after the border watchers showed up in May (sorry, forgot what they were called....the ones the ACLU got their panties in a wad over).
Posted by: Desert Blondie || 08/24/2005 9:54 Comments || Top||

#5  I'll believe it when I see it. The posting of the entire armored texas national guard brigade on the border of texas/mexico would be a good start.
Posted by: mmurray821 || 08/24/2005 11:50 Comments || Top||

#6  Federal authorities have outlined a plan to help Arizona crack down on human smuggling,..

Why just Arizona? Seems to me such an activity wouldn't necessarily be confined to AZ only, but would occur anywhere along the border from the Pacific to the Gulf.

Secure the entire border, please.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 08/24/2005 13:25 Comments || Top||

#7  A government that will not practice the sovereignty to protect it's own borders is illegitimate. All this other talk is misdirected. it's about sovereignty.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0´ Doom || 08/24/2005 17:46 Comments || Top||

#8  I think that one of the avenues we can pursue is FAXED letters to the President at the White House. They should state that:
*We are in a war against an enemy that has vowed the destruction of our republic;
*This enemy has committed acts of war against the United States;
*The President has taken the war to the enemy in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other foreign lands to protect our citizens;
*Airlines, highways, ports, and other points of entry have been provided with heightened security to meet the threat of terrorist attacks;
*The southern border is still wide open and is letting in illegals with no controls, which negates the efforts done to date, including the efforts and sacrifices of our troops.
*The President, as Chief Executive of the Government, needs to enforce the laws regarding our borders. That is one of his sworn duties as President.
*If the President does not enforce the law, then he sends a message to the citizens of the United States that it is all right to not obey our laws. A message like this will destroy the fabric holding this country together and it will weaken and fall.
*If the President does not secure our borders and enforce the laws concerning immigration and the hiring of illegal aliens, his benign neglect will destroy his presidency and the Republican Party. The public is getting fed up with the inactions of the President and the Congress with respect to the borders and illegal immigrants.

Those are my thoughts so far.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 08/24/2005 19:21 Comments || Top||

#9  what Alaska Paul said, and to only add to that not allow the folks here breaking the law by being here illegally to get citizenship automatically.
Posted by: Jan || 08/24/2005 23:31 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
Weekly Piracy Report 16-22 August 2005
[August 22 2005] at 0245 UTC in position 06:20.7N - 003:20.3E, Lagos Anchorage, Nigeria. Two robbers boarded a general cargo ship and tried to assault duty A/B. He managed to raise alarm and crew mustered. Robbers stole ship’s stores and broke seals of two containers before escaping.

[August 21 2005] at 1945 UTC in position 29:43.6N - 048:39.3E, Um Qasr-Khawr Abd Allah Channel, Iraq. Six robbers in two boats armed with machine guns and knives approached a general cargo ship at anchor awaiting berthing. Four robbers boarded; overpowered duty A/B and went to the bridge, where they took hostage Deck Officer and two crewmembers. Robbers held further seven crewmembers at gunpoint and took them to Master’s cabin. By this time Master escaped and hid inside engine room. Robbers assaulted the hostages and threatened them with guns and knives and ordered them to open the safe. As none of hostages knew the safe combination they lowered the safe in their boat. Robbers escaped in a two metre dark green speedboat at 2020 UTC.

[August 19 2005] at 2030 LT in position 02:37.1N - 108:57.0E, off Natuna Islands, Indonesia. Pirates armed with guns in a fishing boat fired upon a tug towing a barge causing damage to navigation equipment and accommodation. Master cast off the barge, took evasive manoeuvres and proceeded to Singapore. No injuries to crew.

[August 16 2005] at 0200 LT in approx posn 01N – 104E, Indonesia. Pirates hijacked a tug towing a barge. They threw a crewmember overboard who was rescued by a nearby craft. He reached shore and reported the incident to naval authorities in Tg. Pinang. The tug and barge are still missing.
Posted by: Pappy || 08/24/2005 00:40 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  These last two reports bother me, on the 16th and again on the 19th "Pirates" attacked a tugboat pulling a barge.

At first glance what the hell would they want with a tugboat?

But on second thought I can think of all kinds of nasty stuff a legitimate seeming tug and barge full of explosives could do.

That two tugnoat/barge combos were attacked bothers me greatly, sounds suspiciously like a contract order for one barge/tug combo to be procured and delivered.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 08/24/2005 10:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Easier to take a tug/barge combo than a ship.
Posted by: Pappy || 08/24/2005 19:06 Comments || Top||


'Secrets and Lies': The UN's search for Iraq's WMD
Posted by: Oztralian [AKA] God Save The World || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  You only have to mention Barton's relationship to the infamous Hans Blix and save us all the curiosity.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 0:38 Comments || Top||

#2  It wasn't much of a secret that the tales the UN told about WMDs were all lies.
Posted by: mmurray821 || 08/24/2005 9:28 Comments || Top||

#3  It wasn't much of a secret that the tales the UN told about WMDs were all lies.

Hmmm - I thought their official position was 'we have no idea, there is evidence both ways.'
Posted by: Rawsnacks || 08/24/2005 11:19 Comments || Top||

#4  If memory serves, there was a question of being able to interview Iraqi scientists (and accompanying family members) outside Iraq and still some vexing, open questions about WMD.

Still under consideration, the heavy transport to the Bekka Valley in the lead up to the invasion.

Barton is a panty waste foil for Hans Blix and the other befiddled inspectors.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 14:20 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
UN chief condemns latest bombing in Lebanon
BEIRUT: The international community and Lebanese officials condemned Monday night's bomb attack in Beirut which left five people wounded. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called the bombing a a "terrorist attack" and urged all Lebanese parties to join hands and establish a "united and sovereign country." In a statement, Annan said he "strongly supports the efforts of the government of Lebanon to improve the security situation and urges it to bring to justice those behind this crime."
"Issue the usual statement in my name!"
"Yes, Mr. Secretary General!"
The latest bombing, which has cost Lebanon almost $50 million in losses, came as top country officials continue to squabble over the appointment of new security chiefs for the country's main security agencies. That attack also comes as the head of a UN commission of inquiry into the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri, Detlev Mehlis, gets ready to deliver an initial report to the Security Council in which he is expected to request his mandate be extended.
Not being real cooperative, are they? I'm so surprised.
Denouncing the bombing, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud described it as "another piece of the conspiracy that is targeting Lebanon and its safety and security." Lahoud, who has been accused by some political parties of hindering the appointment of new security heads, said: "Security agencies should intensify procedures that would suppress attempts to foil the country's stability." Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who headed for a one-day trip to Saudi Arabia yesterday, said the government will not be intimidated by "criminal acts," and that it will go on with its plans to rebuild the "concerned security apparatus in order to prevent such criminal acts."
Still no word on who they arrested, though...
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I'm available for another fact-finding mission at the finest pubs in Beirut Mr. Secretary general.
Posted by: Peter Fitzgerald || 08/24/2005 9:32 Comments || Top||


Iran outlines plans to expand air defense
Expecting visitors, are we?
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  imported spitballs

Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 3:18 Comments || Top||

#2  There is no defense from RODS FROM GOD.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 08/24/2005 17:31 Comments || Top||


New Iranian Cabinet
Mostafa Mohammad-Najar, brigadier general in the Revolutionary Guards, has packed a lurid, blood-spattered biography into his 49 years, according to the profile of Iran’s new defense minister sketched here by DEBKAfile’s exclusive intelligence and Iranian experts. Last week, the Iranian majlis automatically approved the new cabinet tailored by president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to conform with the ultra-conservative policies of the supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Of the 21 new ministers, 18 hail from the Revolutionary Guards and the dread secret police, forming a war cabinet par excellence. Mohammad-Najar’s credentials stand out enough - even in this company - to attract the attention of watchers in Washington, Jerusalem and most Middle East capitals. They mark him out as one of the most brutal products of Iran’s secret services and therefore, by definition, a high-ranking and seasoned terror master. DEBKAfile names him in fact as the longtime senior controller of Imad Mughniyeh, one of Washington’s most wanted terror masters, who currently serves as chief of the Hizballah’s special security apparatus and Tehran’s go-between with al Qaeda.

The new defense minister is notorious for his role in the earliest terror attacks on US targets in the Middle East. The first was the October 23, 1983, suicide bombing of US Marines headquarters in Beirut which killed 241 Marines. The second was the Khobar Towers blast in eastern Saudi Arabia on June 25, 1996. This was a joint Iranian intelligence-al Qaeda operation targeting the facility housing American fighter pilots and air force crews guarding the Dharan oil fields. The death toll of that atrocity was officially put at 19 with 200 injured, but was certainly much higher.

In 1982, after the Iran-Iraq war, Muhammad-Najar was placed at the head of the Revolutionary Guards Middle East department which controls Iranian intelligence bodies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf emirates, and runs clandestine projects for the “export of the Islamic revolution” to these countries. He quickly proved himself an able organizer and operations chief. He forthwith planted 1,500 Revolutionary Guardsmen in the Lebanese Beqaa Valley. Their transit through Syria was approved by the Damascus government. This Iranian outpost established the first recruiting center for the new Lebanese Shiite terrorist organization calling itself Hizballah.

Right from the start, Muhammad-Najar worked closely with a rising star in the Islamic terrorist firmament, Imad Mughniyeh, who debuted with spectacular abductions of foreigners, mostly American and British hostages. The two became firm friends in this period. In February 1988, the pair organized the kidnapping of Colonel William R (Rich Higgins, the most senior American intelligence officer in Lebanon. He was tortured to death by Iranian Revolutionary Guardsmen and Hizballah operatives on an unknown date. Later in the 1980s, when Lebanon became too hot for him, Mughniyeh fled the country ahead of American pursuit. His Iranian friend and future Iranian defense minister arranged for Iranian intelligence to protect him and smuggle him to safety in Tehran.

Muhammad-Najar also has a history of deadly strikes against Israel. More than one account ascribes him a role in the suicide bombings of Israeli army command posts in the southern Lebanese towns of Tyre and Sidon in 1983. After his 1985 appointment as head of Iran’s Military Industries Organization under the aegis of the Revolutionary Guards, he kept up his connections with the Iranian terrorist machine including the Hizballah. One of his jobs was to develop weapons adapted to terrorist warfare outside Iran. He took a personal interest in developing the 230mm Iranian super mortar that was supplied to the Revolutionary Guards’ al Quds battalion and the Hizballah for use in the Middle East and also in Europe.

The new defense minister is also credited with organizing the 12,000 Katyusha short-range rockets Hizballah has positioned on the Lebanese-Israeli border as a deterrent against Israeli attacks on Iran and itself. In October 2000, a month after the outbreak of the Palestinian suicide terror war against Israel, Muhammad-Najar took a hand in the Hizballah’s kidnap of three Israeli soldiers, Adi Avitan, Benny Abraham and Omar Suweid. At the end of 2001, he helped prepare the 50-ton illegal weapons cargo for loading at Kish Island aboard the Karine-A smuggling ship. Vessel and cargo were seized by Israeli commandos on the Red Sea before they reached Arafat’s terrorist squads in the Gaza Strip. In nearly five years of the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the new Iranian defense minister stayed in close touch with the Hizballah’s 1800 Unit, which interacts with the Palestinian terrorist organizations and whose agents are actively present in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and among dissident Israeli Arabs.

Ahmadinejad picked him as defense minister in appreciation of his expertise as an intelligence and terror mastermind with long experience of violent covert operations against American and Israeli targets in such places as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and his work in conjunction with Hizballah and Palestinian terrorist organizations. Muhammad-Najar’s presence in a key position in the Iranian government is bad news above all for the United States and Israel. They see him as an omen of the imminent stepping up of Iranian involvement in Hizballah and Palestinian terrorist campaigns across the Middle East.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If these accusation are correct, why is this guy still sucking air?
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 14:24 Comments || Top||

#2  A question that could be asked of many a senior Iranian official ...
Posted by: Dan Darling || 08/24/2005 17:57 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Wackos Back In Crawford - World Rolls Eyes
A fallen soldier's mother who started an anti-war demonstration near President Bush's ranch returned Wednesday after a weeklong absence for a family emergency.

About a dozen protesters who have continued the peace vigil picked up Cindy Sheehan at the Waco airport Wednesday afternoon, six days after she flew to Los Angeles when her 74-year-old mother suffered a stroke.

“This is where I belong, until Aug. 31, like I told the president,” Sheehan said at the airport before driving about 20 miles to the Crawford site.

More than two weeks after Sheehan started camping off the main road leading to Bush's ranch, vowing to stay through his monthlong vacation unless he met with her, she continues drawing harsh criticism as well as support.

Conservative activists and military families were en route to Crawford from California on a tour called “You don't speak for me, Cindy!” The caravan coordinated by Move America Forward plans to hold a pro-Bush rally in town Saturday.

Among those defending Sheehan are former U.S. ambassador Joseph Wilson, who believes that his wife's identity as an undercover CIA operative was leaked in retaliation for his criticism of the Bush administration in a 2002 New York Times op-ed piece.

Joe Wilson is like a disease. Like moths to an outdoor night light.

“The Bush White House and its right-wing allies are responding to Cindy Sheehan and the military families vigil in Central Texas in the same way that they always respond to bad news – by unleashing personal attacks and smears against her,” Wilson said in a statement released Wednesday.

Later Wednesday, Bush was to return to Texas after a three-day trip to Idaho where he met with some military families and gave speeches to rally support for the war. He said Tuesday that he appreciates Sheehan's right to protest and understands her anguish, although she does not represent the views of a lot of families with whom he has met.

Sheehan and other grieving families met with Bush about two months after her son died last year, before reports of faulty prewar intelligence surfaced and caused her to become a vocal opponent of the war.

Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 18:54 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And from August 31st and onward, I expect that Mother Eva Braun will be on tour to every radical speaking venue her handlers can come up with. School will be back in session, and these university speaking funds are fat and managed by liberals.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/24/2005 19:46 Comments || Top||

#2  If Wilson supports her she gots to be legit.
Posted by: macofromoc || 08/24/2005 21:29 Comments || Top||

#3  Wilson is the risible visible canker whenever Moonbat herpes arises.
Posted by: Frank G || 08/24/2005 21:47 Comments || Top||

#4  Who? Were? How does that effect the price of gas? The weather? Other important stuff like my cats?
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0´ Doom || 08/24/2005 21:50 Comments || Top||

#5  From LGF:

I'll be here all week, try the veal!
Posted by: DMFD || 08/24/2005 22:34 Comments || Top||

#6  How sad that she only gave herself one week with her mom. Life is too short, having only one shot at it, she needs to spend it with her family, not be camped out with a bunch of strangers manipulating her.
I'm reminded of the Star Wars mind control on the weak minded....
Posted by: Jan || 08/24/2005 22:36 Comments || Top||

#7  DMFD,
man just saw the photo, isn't she supposed to be in mourning? Looks instead like it's party time.
Posted by: Jan || 08/24/2005 22:39 Comments || Top||

#8  and Lady looks like a Dude (apologies to Aerosmith)
Posted by: Frank G || 08/24/2005 22:43 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
AFGHANISTAN: Many candidates still linked to armed groups
Despite significant progress on preparations for autumn polls, some candidates of Afghanistan’s upcoming parliamentary elections are still linked with armed groups and some are holding stocks of weapons, the United Nations and a local human rights body warned.

The concern was raised after the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) released a joint report on the verification of political rights prior to the Wolesi Jerga [lower house] and provincial council elections slated September.

“The challenge and vetting process was met with disappointment. Of the 208 suspected candidates with links to armed groups, unfortunately only 11 were disqualified,” Sima Samar head of AIHRC said on Monday.

Samar said, however, that 4,052 weapons had been collected from candidates with links to armed groups. The disarmament of the candidates and their armed affiliates was still seen as less than complete and most of the candidates still possessed stocks of arms and ammunition.

There are in fact few verified cases of direct intimidation from these candidates but some commanders are attempting to dominate the electoral process, as reflected in the report, added Samar.

The verification process shows that the greatest threat to the elections continues to come from anti-government elements.

According to the new report, an escalation of violence against candidates has been seen in the east, southeastern and southern parts of the country.

“Fortunately these threats have not disrupted the elections process but there is a concern that it could have an impact on candidates’ ability to campaign,” Samar noted.

More than 5,000 Afghans have registered to stand in the legislature and provincial council elections scheduled for 18 September. According to the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) - a UN-Afghan organisation overseeing the election - of the 2,900 people who have registered to run for the 249-seat Wolesi Jerga, or lower house, nearly 350 are women. Afghan electoral law requires that at least 68 seats in the general assembly be reserved for women.

The report mentions two cases in which candidates have been the targets of threats and attacks due to statements they have made in public. In one case, a women from southern Kandahar was shot at after receiving threatening phone calls warning her not to make remarks against the Mujahideen - those religious fighters who opposed the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.

In the second incident, the house and car of a candidate who edits a secular newspaper known for being critical of religiously-inspired violence, were the targets of an arson attack, according to the report.

Meanwhile, improvised attacks and ambushes of government, JEMB and private vehicles continue to be the main impediment to freedom of movement within the country, said the rights advocate.

“However, we also take note of a candidate being detained by Satar, the former district governor of Seyagird district of Parwan [province], and Mustafi, the current [Seyagird] district chief of police,” Samar added.

The United Nations in Kabul also expressed disappointment that some people with links to armed groups have managed to get through the vetting process.

According to UNAMA, about 90 percent of the cases of complaints against candidates were not supported by evidence making the vetting process challenging and problematic for the Election Complaints Commission (ECC).

“We are concerned by the escalating threats. We are concerned with the links of some of the candidates to illegally armed groups,” Ameerah Haq, deputy UN special envoy in Afghanistan, said.

Vigilance with regard to candidates suspected of links to armed groups would continue up to the time of elections and any violation could still disqualify them at any time during the electoral process, she said.
Posted by: Wheresh Ebback3540 || 08/24/2005 18:46 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What happens to candidates who are not?
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/24/2005 21:19 Comments || Top||


Africa: North
AIS supremo backs Algerian amnesty
One of Algeria's most influential former Islamist militants endorsed on Tuesday a partial amnesty for rebels that the government hopes will end more than a decade of civil strife.

But Madani Mezrag, former leader of the now-dissolved AIS movement, said a minority of rebels would continue their armed fight for a purist Islamic state.

"I am with the president. I will campaign for this project," Mezrag told a news conference in Algiers.

A national referendum on the amnesty will be held on September 29 but the plan has troubled human and civic rights groups, who have branded it a "charter of impunity" that would deprive some victims' families of justice.

Thirteen years of violence that threatened the survival of the state and cost 150,000-200,000 lives broke out when the army cancelled elections a radical Islamic party -- the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) -- was poised to win in 1992.

Mezrag negotiated the surrender of his AIS, the armed wing of the FIS party, in the late 1990s. The AIS, with several thousand members, was responsible for hundreds of deadly attacks.

The public backing of the amnesty by Islamist heavyweights is expected to help convince reluctant militants to lay down their arms and surrender in exchange for a pardon.

Bouteflika says his so-called national reconciliation project will enable Algerians to put a bloody past behind them.

Although rebel attacks continue, violence has sharply fallen in recent years and brought back much-needed foreign investment.

Mezrag forecast 80 percent of militants would surrender, including members of the al Qaeda-aligned Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), although some in that group would continue their fight.

"I am in permanent contact with rebels. I can say that most of them will lay down arms to take advantage of Bouteflika's partial amnesty. The rest should be fought," Mezrag said.

The authorities estimate 300-400 militants are still active while security experts say it could be double that figure.

Mezrag criticised excluding former FIS members from the amnesty.

"The charter says that if you are a former member of the FIS you don't have the right to return to politics ... Not letting them express themselves is not the way to set a democracy," he said.

The amnesty will not include militants involved in massacres, rapes or explosions in public areas.

Legal proceedings would be dropped against Islamist rebels who had surrendered and against some still wanted at home and abroad if they handed themselves in.

Analysts say Bouteflika watered down a general amnesty expected to be offered to all rebels and security forces implicated in illegal killings after the GSPC applauded the killings of two Algerian diplomats in Baghdad.
Posted by: Dan Darling || 08/24/2005 18:14 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Afghanistan/South Asia
Fazl rejects accusations of al-Qaeda links
MMA secretary general and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman has rejected US assertion that three Pakistan political parties have links with al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.
Talking to newsmen here Monday he said MMA was not an extremists religio
political party and blamed the government of its involvement in Dubai airport incident. "My silence is in the best interest of Pak UAE relations", Maulana Fazl said.

While rejecting the anti NWFP government propaganda regarding ban on women participation in the local government elections, he said the government had not barred women to cast vote, but they were stopped in the constituency of Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao. He said religious madaris issued decrees in favour of women vote casting. To a Question, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that MMA won majority of seats in the local government elections.

MMA secretary general questioned why human rights organisations were acting as silent spectators on the expulsion of foreign students from religious madaris. He said several foreign envoys expressed their concern on this act of the government. He said that there was no proof of involvement of foreign students in terrorism and nor cases were framedagainst the students.

To another question, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said local government elections must be on party basis. He said that in Punjab ministers were issuing statements against each others, which was the violation of code of conduct, however Election Commission has not taken any notice, whereas the court summoned a minister of NWFP government.
Posted by: Dan Darling || 08/24/2005 18:01 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Qazi rejects accusations of Jamaat-e-Islami ties to al-Qaeda
The chief of Jamaate Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed has rebutted charges that his party has any links with Al Qaeda.

Appearing on BBC’s programme ‘Hard Talk’ yesterday, he acknowledged that he knew Osama bin Laden but did not believe that any credible evidence has been produced to implicate him in the 9/11 attacks in US.

Qazi said his party is a peaceful organisation which supports a peaceful worldwide struggle for political, economic and cultural freedoms in entire world. He said the JI condemned the 9/11 and 7/7 London bombings. Simultaneously it condemns the killing of Palestinian people by Israel, US bombing in Iraqi and Afghanistan which killed tens of thousands of people.

Asked if he supports Gen. Musharraf‚s policy to support US-led war on terror, Qazi Hussain Ahmed who is also MMA president, said Musharraf is a usurper and the US must not side with him. Instead the US should encourage restoration of democracy in Pakistan because only true representatives of the people would be able to overcome problems of extremism and militancy.

He acknowledged that some madrassas might be involved in preaching sectarianism and extremism but rejected any US interference to combat these menaces.

Qazi rejected objections to Hasba Bill and said it is being misrepresented as an attempt at Talibanization of Pakistan. He said there are no restrictions on women‚s participation in public life in the NWFP where the MMA rules.

Meanwhile, Qazi Hussain Ahmed has rejected as baseless news about possible UN sanctions against his party.

The JI has not been involved in any terrorist activity and has not been accused so far in this regard, he said in a statement in Lahore.

Qazi said that JI was a responsible organisation and there are no demands that the world body take any action against the party.

He argued the JI had never been accused of having links with any terrorist organisation.

“In fact people all over the world recognise our welfare projects. The JI is respected in the world due to its love for humanity and this is what Islam teaches us”.
Posted by: Dan Darling || 08/24/2005 18:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hey Qazi!
You personally invited ObL to attend the JI's national convention in 1998.
You personally cancelled an invitation to attend the Islamic Society of North America convention in 1998, after the US tossed 70 cruise missles at an al-Qaeda genocide camp in Afghanistan.
You personally accepted a Clinton administration Visa, to attend an Islamic Circle of North America convention in 2000, and accepted paid consultation fees from the State Department for advise that you personally gave to Karl Underforth (Undersecretary of State, Asian Affairs), while staying at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in Washington.
You personally embrace the exact aggressive terror ideology of al-Qaeda, and maintained - with your allies in the legislatures (shariah polluted terror centers) of NWFP and Balochistan, with which you share power with Mushy's Pakistan Muslim League (Qaid e Azam).
Posted by: Vlad the Muslim Impaler || 08/24/2005 22:25 Comments || Top||

#2  Hey Qazi!
You personally invited ObL to attend the JI's national convention in 1998.
You personally cancelled an invitation to attend the Islamic Society of North America convention in 1998, after the US tossed 70 cruise missles at an al-Qaeda genocide camp in Afghanistan.
You personally accepted a Clinton administration Visa, to attend an Islamic Circle of North America convention in 2000, and accepted paid consultation fees from the State Department for advise that you personally gave to Karl Underforth (Undersecretary of State, Asian Affairs), while staying at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in Washington.
You personally embrace the exact aggressive terror ideology of al-Qaeda, and maintained - with your allies in the legislatures (shariah polluted terror centers) of NWFP and Balochistan, with which you share power with Mushy's Pakistan Muslim League (Qaid e Azam).
Posted by: Vlad the Muslim Impaler || 08/24/2005 22:28 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Michael Graham to be hired by KFI
From Drudge. Do we have a picture of the Bonneville Salt Flats?

KFI has an extended offer for Michael Graham to fill in at the station because KFI still values free speech, says KFI pd, Robin Bertolucci...

That's the AM station in LA that carries Rush.
Posted by: Jackal || 08/24/2005 09:04 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  To whoever said yesterday that WMAL was going to add liberal voices, I think you're right. Today they had a promo about how "we can all sometimes disagree."
Posted by: Seafarious || 08/24/2005 9:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Sea,

That would be me. I also posted the hiring of Mr. Graham, yesterday. Here is the link #6, #7, & #10.

Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/24/2005 9:47 Comments || Top||

#3  they also carry Handel (AM) and John & Ken in the afternoon - wonder where they'll fit him in?
Posted by: Frank G || 08/24/2005 9:48 Comments || Top||

#4  Thanks PR.

I had lunch with MG (at McCormick & Shmick!) a few weeks ago on the radio station's dime. Glad I got the chance to meet him before the wheels fell off the wagon...
Posted by: Seafarious || 08/24/2005 10:05 Comments || Top||

#5  Frank,

I don't know if the people you mentioned are conservative. If they are conservative and have low ratings then rumors are that, they will be moved over to weekend shows. They have done this in the past.

I think that there is some new advertising money deal between this station and the mujahadeen's of CAIR. They made a deal with the devil for revenue. But, I can't find any proof. This is more than a simple firing, this station for some reason, for local coverage ONLY, is slanting to the Left. I say local coverage because Rush and Sean are syndicated.

Maybe, Sea can keep a eye on this because he is in the green zone.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/24/2005 10:06 Comments || Top||

#6  MG's site http://michaelgraham.com/ now says that CAIR is denying that they asked for MG to be fired and ABC is denying that they asked MG to apologize.

In CAIR's case, their denial contradicted by one of their own press releases.
Posted by: mhw || 08/24/2005 10:12 Comments || Top||

#7  Er, she.

I've heard multiple rumors that ABC/Disney wants to unload all of its radio stations, and "controversial" hosts are difficult to package to prospective buyers. My only hope is that they keep The John Batchelor Show. His show is top-notch.
Posted by: Seafarious || 08/24/2005 10:15 Comments || Top||

#8  Handel's interviewing him right now on KFI

www.kfi640.com streaming audio
Posted by: Frank G || 08/24/2005 10:39 Comments || Top||

#9  Well, I don't imagine he'll be on air in Britain once their new anti-terror laws make it through. :)

But we might well see popular demand surge on behalf of Mr. Graham in the US. I've never heard him before, but now I'm interested in hearing what he has to say. Maybe other folks are, too. What country is hungrier for straight talk?
Posted by: jules 2 || 08/24/2005 23:27 Comments || Top||


Africa: Horn
USS Cole: Sailors' families to pursue lawsuit
Families of the 17 sailors killed in a terrorist attack on the USS Cole can pursue a lawsuit against the government of Sudan, a federal judge has decided.

In Norfolk, Virginia, district judge Robert Doumar said there was enough evidence the Sudanese government co-operated with al Qaida and its leader, Osama bin Laden, to allow the lawsuit to go forward.

"I find that there are facts sufficient to say: They're sort of partners and therefore I would allow the suit to go forward," Doumar said during a hearing on Sudan's request to dismiss the suit.
Posted by: tipper || 08/24/2005 06:49 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  You mean they're not suing Bush! If it wasn't for Bush and the Iraq war ... oh, wait
Posted by: DMFD || 08/24/2005 7:48 Comments || Top||

#2  Sudan has a government? Who knew?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 08/24/2005 9:10 Comments || Top||

#3  Yeah, but who do you hire as a process server in Sudan?
Posted by: Seafarious || 08/24/2005 9:25 Comments || Top||

#4  Get a garnishment on their Chinese oil contracts. When they don't fork over, attach Chinese property which can be traced back to the mainland central government.
Posted by: Angotle Ebbinemble6237 || 08/24/2005 9:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Hope they win and collect. Sudan was a willing accomplice.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 14:07 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Nepal parties to talk to Maoist rebels
Idiots. Nepalese army finally gets the upper hand, now this.
KATHMANDU - Nepal’s main political parties will hold talks with Maoists on forming a broad front against King Gyanendra provided the rebels keep to their promise to stop killing civilians, senior party officials said on Tuesday. “We have decided to set up a committee representing the seven (main political) parties which will take the initiative to hold a dialogue with Maoists,” Laxman Ghimire, a member of the central committee of the main Nepali Congress party, told AFP.

“But we have yet to decide the date, we have yet to decide the venue (for the talks),” he said, adding that the seven members of the comittee had still to be approved by the political parties.

Gopal Man Shrestha, chief of Nepal’s third largest party, the Nepali Congress (Democratic) party, told AFP that rights groups and activists would be asked to monitor whether the rebels had ended their attacks on civilians before any dialogue is held.

In the past the political parties have said they will not talk to the rebels unless they lay down their arms. “Maoist leader Prachanda had given the assurance they would stop killing civilians and party activists,” Shrestha said. “A civil society monitoring committee will be formed to survey whether the killings and kidnappings have now stopped,” he said.

“On the basis of that report, we will decide whether to go ahead with dialogue,” he added.
The Maosists must be wondering what they did right. Give this 6 months and the Maoists will be on top.
Prachanda had on June 29 called on the parties to form a broad front against the monarchy, who seized absloute power after sacking the four-party coalition government in February for its failure to end the Maoist uprising.
How likely is the king to return power to parties who are consorting with the enemy?
Posted by: Steve White || 08/24/2005 00:17 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  deeper ad deeper they go, such twists and turns can only be found in the Hindu Kingdom.
Posted by: bk || 08/24/2005 11:01 Comments || Top||


Indian Prime Minister to visit Afghanistan
NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Afghanistan from Sunday, marking the first visit there by an Indian leader in nearly three decades, it was announced on Tuesday. The last such visit was when Indira Gandhi visited Kabul in 1976.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said Singh during his two day visit will hold talks with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and other leaders on India’s assistance programme to the country as well as the regional situation. India is helping the war ravaged country’s reconstruction and is involved in transportation, roads and power transmission projects as well as rebuilding of mosques in the country.

The Indian premier will also call on Baba-e-Millat (Father of nation), former King Zahir Shah.

During Singh’s visit, King Zahir Shah would lay the foundation stone for Afghan Parliament building, to be constructed with India’s assistance. Singh and Karzai will hand over an elite school, the Habibia School, renovated under India’s assistance programme, to Afghan authorities.
Posted by: Steve White || 08/24/2005 00:05 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This aught to put a knot in the Paki'd knickers!
Posted by: raptor || 08/24/2005 6:33 Comments || Top||

#2  India has an assistance program? They're moving into the big leagues!
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/24/2005 7:48 Comments || Top||

#3  An article from 2003

India Switches from Borrower to International Lender

India has joined a pool of lenders to the International Monetary Fund for the first time. It has also told 22 small donor countries that it will not accept aid in the future.

India's Central Bank said the International Monetary Fund has selected India to become a member of its Financial Transaction Plan, which helps bail out poor countries in financial trouble. The Central Bank said the decision was prompted by India's strong foreign exchange reserves of around $82 billion.

The step comes on the heels of another significant decision. Last month, India told 22 small donor nations that it will stop taking aid on a government-to-government basis once existing programs are complete.

However, New Delhi will continue to receive loans from the World Bank and large donors such as United States, Britain and Japan.

But India has begun restructuring its $54 billion debt to pay off its more expensive loans early.

It has also doubled its own $600 million aid budget, adding African countries to its existing list of Asian recipients.
Posted by: john || 08/24/2005 8:15 Comments || Top||

#4  So now India can join the 'flush money down the toilet' club too. Glad we send $3 billion annually to Egypt to have you aboard, guys...
Posted by: Raj || 08/24/2005 9:12 Comments || Top||

#5  Maybe if India let other 3rd world countries borrow money, then maybe India won't be considered as a 3rd world country. Riiiight!

Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/24/2005 11:10 Comments || Top||

#6  They're trying to buy influence and garner resources (oil, gas, minerals etc) just like China (though China is much better at this game).

Posted by: john || 08/24/2005 12:04 Comments || Top||

#7  Where's the picture of pincers, when?
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/24/2005 21:35 Comments || Top||

#8  a vise mabe?
Posted by: Frank G || 08/24/2005 21:48 Comments || Top||


Africa: North
Egypt artistes rally against Mubarak
CAIRO — Well-known writers, musicians and theatre figures gathered along with hundreds of fellow artistes in Cairo yesterday to protest against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who is seeking re-election next month. Poets recited their works and musicians played Middle Eastern stringed instruments known as ouds.
And of course there was nothing strong to drink. Oy.
Some in the crowd of about 300 chanted: “Egypt arise, Egyptians will support you,” lines from a song by Sayyed Darwish dating back to Egypt’s independence movement against the British mandate in the early 20th century. “No to dictatorship! Down with Mubarak the dictator! Yes to freedom of expression and creation!” read a large banner. “No to a fifth term!” read another.
Did the artistes create any large paper-mache puppets?
The protest was called by a newly formed organisation, Writers and Artists for Change, that rallied to call for Mubarak to step down after 24 years at the helm and make way for democracy. “The elections are symbolic,” said novelist Mohammed al-Busati. “Shame on the opposition parties that are participating because in doing so that they go along with the regime and help its perpetuation.”
Election night in Cairo is going to be so exciting ...
Stage director Muhsen Helmy said the group was calling on Egyptians to show their opposition to the system by staying home on voting day. “We must boycott the elections. This is a comedy. We’re here to call on Egypt’s people to boycott.”
Posted by: Steve White || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Fred. That graphic needs a beverage alert.
Posted by: Seafarious || 08/24/2005 9:26 Comments || Top||

#2  Who knew an electric oud?
electric oud
Posted by: Shipman || 08/24/2005 10:37 Comments || Top||

#3  I liked the graphic myself. I was going through the master file (no shipman, you can't look :-) and just found this one. Hilarious. And combined with a story of effete artistes, well, I couldn't resist.
Posted by: Steve White || 08/24/2005 11:28 Comments || Top||

#4  And you call yourself a Doctor.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/24/2005 16:06 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine
Next step working government in Gaza: Bush
DONNELLY (Idaho) — President George W. Bush said yesterday the next step after Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza would be establishing a working Palestinian government there and suggested more confidence-building was needed before jumpstarting the “roadkill map” peace process. “Of course you want to get back to the ‘roadkill map’,” Bush told reporters. “But I understand that in order for this process to go forward there must be confidence: confidence that the Palestinian people would have in their own government to perform; the confidence with the Israelis that they’ll see a peaceful state emerging.
That's going to take a lot of confidence.
“And, therefore, it’s very important for the world to stay focused on Gaza and helping ... the Gaza economy get going, helping rebuild the settlements for Gaza, for the people of Gaza,” Bush said at a resort in Donnelly, Idaho.

Washington was counting on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s “disengagement plan” to kick-start the “roadkill map” peace plan for a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, where evacuations of settlers wrapped up on Monday. “So to answer your question, what must take place next is the establishment of a working government in Gaza, a government that responds to the people,” Bush said.

He said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “has made a commitment to fight off the violence because he understands a democracy can’t exist with terrorist groups trying to take the law into their own hands.” Bush stopped short of calling on Abbas to dismantle the groups following Israel’s withdrawal.
Since he knows Abbas can't deliver on that.
Bush also called for a renewed push to consolidate Palestinian security forces. He said these forces were divided into factions and were not designed to “protect the overall security of the Palestinian people.”
Posted by: Steve White || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  President George W. Bush said yesterday the next step after Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza would be establishing a working Palestinian government..

Excuse me sir, but that should have been done a very long time ago.

"..helping rebuild the settlements for Gaza,.."

If you would be so kind, not with my money. How about tracking down Arafart's ill-gotten millions and using that instead?

Bush stopped short of calling on Abbas to dismantle the groups following Israel’s withdrawal.

I don't see why that can't be done. Can't the Paleos EVER be expected to reciprocate? Or is it always going to be Israel that is expected to do everything, while the Paleos do absolutely nothing?

Hmmm???
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 08/24/2005 2:22 Comments || Top||

#2  Can't the Paleos EVER be expected to reciprocate? Or is it always going to be Israel that is expected to do everything, while the Paleos do absolutely nothing?

Ofcourse not,BAR'60 years of bomb making and killing Israelies is all they know.
Posted by: raptor || 08/24/2005 6:44 Comments || Top||

#3  The man who spent 300 000 000 000 $ trying to establish a democracy in an Arab country is speaking.
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/24/2005 14:24 Comments || Top||

#4  Bush is still ever the optimist about arabs and democracy and ability to self governance. I have admittedly had my doubts in the recent past and hope he is at least partly right. I think they are a bunch of f*cking animals and should be treated as such, but then again I never professed to be especially sanguine on arabs in general.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 08/24/2005 17:46 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Madrassas resisting registration
Over 300 hardline Islamic schools in Pakistan have vowed to resist a government order to register with the authorities, a senior announced on Tuesday. Representatives of the madrassas met in Islamabad on Monday and denounced the order from President Pervez Musharraf as discriminatory. Under the order, 12,000 madrassas across Pakistan, some of which are suspected of being breeding grounds for Islamist militants, are required to register by the end of this year.

Abdul Rashid Ghazi, a senior teacher at Jamia Faridia, one of Islamabad's main religious schools, said the government had enforced the law without consulting clerics. "This is a discriminatory and unilateral law. We reject it," he said. "Madrassas should not be singled out for registration. All private institutions and schools, some of which are preaching anti-Islamic and anti-Pakistani teachings, should also be registered."
Sounds good. Perv should do that. But you go first, okay?
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Africa: North
Egypt Eyes Possibility of Islamist Party
Nearly 10 years ago, Abul-Ela Madi was jailed when he first proposed creating an Islamist party in Egypt, and now he seems closer than ever to achieving his dream. If he does, it will further alter his country's already changing political landscape. If Madi's al-Wasat party is approved, it will launch a new experiment in incorporating Egypt's powerful — but long banned — Islamic fundamentalist forces into politics at a time when the government of this key U.S. ally in the Muslim world is promising greater democracy.

After a few months in jail when Madi sought to establish his party in 1996 and two subsequent rejections by the committee in charge of licensing new political parties, a State Council court panel in June recommended approval for al-Wasat. An appeals court is to rule on Oct. 1, but the court has never reversed such a recommendation. "I never lost hope," Madi said with a smile as he sat in his downtown office. "Anyone with a cause has to have a huge reservoir of hope and optimism to change a black reality."

While the approval would come too late for al-Wasat to field a candidate in the Sept. 7 presidential election, it could participate in parliamentary elections set for November. The road to gain legal status for al-Wasat has been rough. Madi was opposed both by the government of President Hosni Mubarak and his former colleagues in the Muslim Brotherhood, believed to be the country's most powerful opposition force.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Gadhafi's son insists ties between U.S. and Libya improving
The Libyan and U.S. flags will soon be flying in Washington and Tripoli to mark a new page in diplomatic ties after decades of enmity, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's son said in an interview. "The American flag will be raised in Libya and the Libyan flag hoisted in the United States in the next few days," Seif al-Islam said, apparently referring to the opening of embassies.
Next year at Wheelus...
Diplomatic relations were restored in June 2004 after a 24-year rupture following Gadhafi's surprise announcement the previous December that he was giving up the quest for weapons of mass destruction. However, a senior U.S. official said in Washington that he was not aware of any imminent opening of a U.S. Embassy in Libya. "I think there are some issues to be resolved as far as I understand," he said. Currently the two nations are represented in each other's capital by liaison offices. "I think that we have certainly come a long way from where we were in our relationship with Libya, but there are certainly issues that still need to be addressed and we're working with Libya on these issues," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "If they continue to make progress along the pathway that we have laid out, we, again, will meet their acts of good faith in return," McCormack told reporters.
I think they'll continue to make progress, as long as Saif doesn't have any unfortunate helicopter accidents. The rest of the family doesn't seem any smarter than Pop, and some seem to be worse. I'm guessing he's the one who convinced Muammar that the world had changed out from under him and that tin-hat dictators have become passe. This is an interesting story to watch. I wish Libya had some sort of news outlet other than JANA, so we could get more than an occasional glimpse.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Fred, I agree. Seif has been pitching good for the past several years. Could have swayed dad
Posted by: Captain America || 08/24/2005 0:10 Comments || Top||

#2  Is Seif al-Islam the kid who keeps slapping around whores and crashing race cars in France?
Posted by: Secret Master || 08/24/2005 11:25 Comments || Top||

#3  Nope.
Posted by: Seafarious || 08/24/2005 12:23 Comments || Top||

#4  Wonder what Mo paid for all of Joan Crawford's old clothes?
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/24/2005 14:37 Comments || Top||

#5  Ah, Seif al-Islam (would that mean "Sword of Islam"?) seems like the best of a very bad lot.
Posted by: Secret Master || 08/24/2005 14:42 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Hasba Bill not meant to Talibanise NWFP: Qazi
The Hasba Bill has been wrongly portrayed as meant to Talibanise the NWFP when its actual purpose is to regulate government functions via an ombudsman, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal President Qazi Hussain Ahmed has said in an interview with BBC’s Hardtalk programme.
"Oh, we'd never do nuttin' like dat! Who? Us?"
The JI chief agreed that there were some madrassas in Pakistan teaching bigotry and hatred, but did not support the reforms introduced by the president. “Pervez Musharraf is not a legitimate ruler, his rule is a continuation of martial law and he is not even an elected president,” he said. He said Gen Musharraf was a “usurper” who had broken his promise to the MMA to quit as army chief in 2004.
"So we shouldn't do anything he says, whether it makes sense or not!"
Qazi said he and his party supported peace with India, but not at the cost of Kashmiris’ right to self determination. He said with India deliberately delaying resolving the issue, Kashmiris were left with no option but to start an armed struggle™. “We want to resolve the issue of Kashmir according to UN resolutions and support the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination,” he said.
Where's the UN resolution that sez to start an Armed Struggle™?
The MMA chief criticised the US-led war on terrorism and urged all “just and peace-loving nations” to stand up to Washington. “We want Americans and Westerners to march on the streets against the war on terror, against the US flouting the UN,” he said. “The innocent people of Kashmir, Palestine, Chechnya and Iraq have no one but themselves to resist the invading forces.”
"... as long as the Soddies keep providing the money."
Qazi said suicide bomb attacks were not legitimate in Islam in a peaceful society. Even in a state of war, violence was regulated by the Sharia and not by individuals, he said. Suicide bombings in London, New York, Pakistan and in other peaceful societies were not legitimate. “We have categorically condemned the London bombings and violence in any other peaceful society. We want to live in peace with the whole world.” He said he did not believe that Osama Bin Laden was capable of carrying out the “sophisticated” September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. “The Zionists must be behind the attacks as they were the only beneficiaries of the September 11 incident,” he said.
See, now, Qazi, when you lie through your teeth like that, nobody's going to believe your other, more believable lies.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Musharraf to address Jewish Congress in New York
President Musharraf will become the first Pakistani leader to address the American Jewish Congress in New York on September 17, according to a Washington-based online newspaper. The online publication said in a special report on Tuesday that its story was based on an announcement by the American Jewish Congress, which said the event “may mark a turning point in the relations between our peoples”.
Won't that tighten some turbans...
Mansoor Sohail, press minister at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, told Daily Times that he had no information regarding such an engagement. All he could confirm was that the president would be speaking at the Columbia University as well as attend a community event around a Qawwali fund-raiser organised by Dr Naseem Asharf, chairman of the National Commission for Human Development. President Musharraf’s address would coincide with his visit to New York for the UN Millenium Summit in mid-September. The president is due to arrive in New York on the 13th of that month.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Fatwa on his ass in 4,3,2.....
Posted by: Angotle Ebbinemble6237 || 08/24/2005 9:27 Comments || Top||

#2  "president would be speaking at the Columbia University as well as attend a community event around a Qawwali fund-raiser organised by Dr Naseem Asharf"

I am going to talk to the stupid Jews before I raise money to kill them.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/24/2005 10:52 Comments || Top||

#3  Ze showers are zat way.
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/24/2005 14:31 Comments || Top||


‘Fazl himself agreed to madrassa registration’
Contrary to Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statement on registration of madrassas, government sources and Wafaqul Madaris Secretary Hanif Jalandhry said that Maulana himself had given “a go ahead” to the registration ordinance.
You mean he didn't stay bought? Who'da ever expected that?
NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani had advised the governor to promulgate an ordinance to amend the Societies Act of 1860 so that seminaries could be registered in the province. Maulana refused to accept registration of 12,000 seminaries throughout the country on Monday. He said, “Neither will we register madrassas nor accept any restriction on them.” He added that he would resign from parliament if “the government’s intervention in madrassas continued”.
Somehow I don't expect him to carry through on that threat...
“Maulana’s statement came as a surprise because I had briefed him about the ordinance and he agreed to the amendment, suggesting a minor amendment pertaining to the definition of extremist literature,” said Jalandhry.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


MMA ready to quit NWFP govt for grand alliance
The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) is ready to sacrifice its NWFP government and National Assembly seats if that is needed for all political parties to form a grand alliance against the Pakistan Muslim League and its dictatorship, said MMA leader Syed Munawar Hasan during a function arranged by the Media Elites Forum on Tuesday.
I'm obviously missing something here. To me, that'd be an incredibly stoopid move.
Hasan, also the Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general, said the opposition parties were moving towards a consensus to form a grand alliance. He said the all parties’ conference organised by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on August 11 had decided that a grand alliance was the “hour’s need”. Replying to questions, the JI secretary general said PML’s rigging of local council elections had highlighted the need for a grand alliance because it had united the opposition parties.
"I mean, those elections hadda be rigged! We lost!"
He said the opposition would sit together after August 25, the elections’ second phase, and work out the aspects of forming the alliance and removing the present undemocratic regime. Hasan said the opposition would also decide in their meeting after August 25 whether to continue their roles in the district government. He said the MMA would discuss with other opposition parties if it should resign from the NWFP government, adding, “The party is keeping all options open. We have tendered resignations in the past and are ready to sacrifice our seats for our ideals and policies.”
"I guess you could think of it as one last, really big walk-out."
"Nonsense. We do not resign from Parliament, Parliament resigns from us."
The MMA leader said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman would also support resigning from assemblies this time. He said, “Rehman is a broken changed man after being deported from Dubai.” He added that the opposition had concluded that no more talks should be held with the government.
Posted by: Fred || 08/24/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:



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In no particular order...
Steve White
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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2005-08-24
  Binny reported injured
Tue 2005-08-23
  Bangla cops quizzing 8/17 bomb suspects
Mon 2005-08-22
  Iraq holding 281 foreign insurgent suspects
Sun 2005-08-21
  Brits foil gas attack on Commons
Sat 2005-08-20
  Motassadeq guilty (again)
Fri 2005-08-19
  New Jordan AQ Branch Launches Rocket Attack
Thu 2005-08-18
  Al-Oufi dead again
Wed 2005-08-17
  100 Bombs explode across Bangladesh
Tue 2005-08-16
  Italy to expel 700 terr suspects
Mon 2005-08-15
  Israel begins Gaza pullout
Sun 2005-08-14
  Hamas not to disarm after Gaza pullout
Sat 2005-08-13
  U.S. troops begin Afghan offensive
Fri 2005-08-12
  Lanka minister bumped off
Thu 2005-08-11
  Abu Qatada jugged and heading for Jordan
Wed 2005-08-10
  Turks jug Qaeda big shot


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