RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — King Fahd (search), who moved Saudi Arabia closer to the United States during his two-decade rule, was taken to a Riyadh hospital Friday for medical tests, the Saudi Press Agency said.
An Arab official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wants to live of the sensitivity of the situation, said the government had put the kingdom on a state of alert and canceled all military leaves. Other officials confirmed the alert among security forces and said upcoming government meetings with foreign dignitaries would be canceled.
But the Interior Ministry denied that any emergency had been declared.
"This is absolutely not true," ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki said. "There's no canceling of leaves and no state of emergency or anything."
The official news agency carried a royal office statement saying King Fahd, who has been in frail health for years, was admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh (search) for medical tests.
"We ask God to keep and protect the Custodian of the Two Holy Shrines, grant him health and well-being," the statement said.
Saudi Arabia (search), the world's largest oil exporter, is the birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest shrines.
One official said doctors believe the monarch has pneumonia. The official requested anonymity because he wants to live of the sensitivity of his position.
A royal office official, who also requested anonymity, said the king had a fever and "water in his lung" but was expected to leave the hospital soon. He did not elaborate.
Fahd, who rose to the throne in 1982, has been ruling in name only since he suffered a stroke in 1995. The stroke left Fahd with short-term memory loss and an inability to concentrate for long stretches. His half brother, Crown Prince Abdullah (search), has been de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia since then.
Visitors who saw him after his stroke reported the king was barely aware of what was going on around him and could not recognize those who shook hands with him. Foreign dignitaries have been given brief meetings with the king, who usually is accompanied by close family members.
If Fahd dies, Abdullah is expected to take over as ruler.
Fahd, who is believed to be 82, is the son of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdul-Aziz.
During his rule, Fahd brought the kingdom closer to the United States and agreed to a step that enraged many terrorist supporters conservatives: the basing of U.S. troops on Saudi soil after the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
A United Nations agency is urging the United States, Japan and South Korea to give more food aid to North Korea despite current tensions in the region.
Can anybody think of a good reason why?
The World Food Program, which feeds about 6.5 million North Koreans, says donations should be increased regardless of the stand-off over the North's nuclear weapons, the Financial Times reported Friday.
Lessee, here... Do it For the Children?
Aid agencies warn that food shortages are reaching a critical stage even as prices of stable goods soar, making life even more difficult for North Koreans, the report said.
And we should care why, precisely?
The WFP this week asked the South Korean government to increase its annual rice donations from last year's 100,000 tons to 150,000 tons, in addition to the 400,000 tons in bilateral food aid it gives. The United States in 2003 gave the WFP 100,000 tons of expensive food aid, such as vegetable oil, enriched corn soya blend, wheat flour and dried skimmed milk, but last year cut this in half, although Washington says it does not link humanitarian assistance to political events, the report said.
... even though it should.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 2:45:46 PM ||
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#3
North Korea can sell us their uranium and plutonium and contribute the funds to the World Food Program themselves.
Posted by: Tom ||
05/27/2005 15:13 Comments ||
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#4
My UN aid proposal for Norkland = FIRST .50 cal slug to the brainstem of lil Kim; SECOND complete regime change; THIRD temporary food aid and economic aid. The best thing about it all is the economy given that 99.99% of the answer to Norkland's ills is obtainable through the 25 cent answer provided by the FIRST step.
#5
Let's treat them with kindness and humanity, and actively deny them food and water. Their lives are miserable anyway and they would be better off dead. And as our own dear media tells us, they won't feel a thing.
#6
*gets on Schiavo highhorse badanov just dismounted*
Didn't the MSM tell us that death from starvation was a euphoric experience, almost one to be envied?
Boy, those NorKs are in for some big fun now!
(BTW,anyone else gotten and watched their own DVD copy of Hollywood's finest film yet "Team America?"
IT ROCKS and Kim is so great in it!)
You realize, of course, that he wouldn't be so "wonewy" if he hadn't tossed all his friends in the shark tank...
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
05/27/2005 16:02 Comments ||
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#8
One of my favorite parts, of which there were many:
Alec Baldwin: "Wait! Global warming...corporations..."
Kim: "Arec Bar-win, you are useress to me!"
Ka-bang! Kim blows head off nastiest Baldwin brother.
#9
Michael Moore's final scene shocked me. I haven't seen anything that vicious in ages.
spoiler:
I was also suprised when the "symbiote" escaped at the end.
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
05/27/2005 16:18 Comments ||
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#10
I saw it in the theater (and DVD) and almost choked on my tongue laughing...and gagging from the bar alley vomiting. A Classic!
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/27/2005 16:43 Comments ||
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#11
U.N. agency urges more aid to NKorea
Sure, UN, I'd love to help the NKors out.
Which door did they come in? ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
05/27/2005 16:47 Comments ||
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#12
Why not kill two birds with one stone and move the UN from New York to PyongYang? Plenty of parking and the NorKs should really appreciate Ambassador Bolton.
#17
All those well fed NORK military guys have enough extra food to fuel goose stepping and such how about they share? Oh I forgot the "Army First" program. I guess they can go hungry first too then. BTW ask China for the food. Any extra food we have ought to go directly to Darfur.
Mildly gruesome photo of the murder scene at link. Also, it's Mosnews, so non-lunatic confirmation would be nice.
French and Dutch police have arrested two Chechen men in connection with the murder of a Dutch filmmaker critical of Islam, the Reuters news agency reports, quoting a release by Dutch prosecutors.
Bislan Ismailov, who was arrested in France on May 18, would be transferred to the Netherlands from France in June to be charged in connection with the murder of Theo van Gogh, a spokesman for Amsterdam prosecutors said.
"We have found his fingerprints on a farewell letter that (Van Gogh's suspected killer) Mohammed B. wrote to his parents," the spokesman said, adding the arrest had been made on the request of Dutch authorities. He refused to give other details. More at link.
On an unrelated note, my article submissions have been taking default names lately (like this one and this one). Having emailed Fred, he asked me to try again so he could check my cookie (I'm using Firefox and have cookies enabled for RB). My apologies if I'm missing something obvious; I wasn't online much during the PHP conversion. - Rex Rufus
#3
I don't know, the last few things I've posted resulted in me having very bizarre names, even though I carefully typed (with two fingers) my usual nick. Comments seem unaffected. I use IE 5.5 and Maxthon, or various other browsers, all set to accept cookies, btw.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 15:39 Comments ||
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Posted 2 articles, one using Netscape 7.2 and another using latest version of IE. Both articles got posted under the bizzaro names. Glad I wasn't the only one!
The problem here is that the left probably doesn't really have a problem with Bolton. They simply want to show who's still boss in the senate, and Frist is all too willing to let thing continue as such for the sake of... erm... nevermind.
Republicans were not able to muster on Thursday the 60 votes needed to stop debate on John Bolton's nomination to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations despite support from two Democratic senators who had been instrumental in recent negotiations over judicial nominees.
The Senate voted 56-42 to move on to a confirmation vote, four shy of the tally needed for cloture. Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted for the end to debate, but other Democrats argued they want more information on the nominee's requests for certain intelligence intercepts. Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas also voted for cloture. 2006 will center around the continuing obstructionism the left is engaging in. How will they respond when the charge that the left doesn't want a nominee that will represent American interests, not the interests of the UN and the thugocracy it represents, sticks to them like a month-old banana cream pie.
This activity is nothing more than gamesmanship for the simple purpose of antagonizing their opponents.
#4
I'd like to see Bush recess appoint somebody like Ann Coulter to the Supreme Court when the donks start the circus over an opening there.
I wonder how long they'd block a regular appointment to an open seat with her sitting up there pillaging fifty years of leftist sacred cows laws.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats ||
05/27/2005 9:57 Comments ||
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Hey John McCain hows it feel to get stabbed in the back again by the Dhimicrats? I don't blame them everyone knows what they are, I blame you for selling your party and country short for your ?50 hours? of political high ground. Arizona must be very proud of him.
#6
To be fair, the agreement amongst the "Gang of Fourteen" applied to judicial nominees only.
I like Bolton, I think he would be good for the U.N. if only because Kofi would be taking the gaspipe daily, and I think we need someone at the U.N. to rattle the rafters a little and cut through the nonsense.
But I don't think Bolton is going to be that man, I think he's done for. He's just made too many enemies, and that's the issue here. Ideology alone wouldn't stop the nomination: after all, Rumsfeld got confirmed, and everyone on the Left knew who and what he was. But Rummy knew how to play the game, and Bolton missed a lesson or two.
If I were GWB, I'd arrange for Bolton to have a change of heart on this, and find an appointment for him that doesn't require Senate approval. Then I'd find someone who could rattle the rafters just like Bolton but who is a little smoother, and I'd make that person my U.N. nominee. After all, the point is to get someone in there who can shake things.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/27/2005 12:07 Comments ||
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#7
Steve, that is not even a fine point. Requiring super majorities for presidential appointment are unconstitutional, period, senate rules or not.
#8
SW - allowing that is capitulation to a minority view of how we should deal with the UN. The Donks lost, now they need to be crushed. Backbone implants, alternative Sen Candidacies, whatever it f*&king takes!
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/27/2005 12:35 Comments ||
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#9
At issue are documents which Rockefeller has already seen. There's nothing there that would make a Dem suddenly decide to vote FOR Bolton, so it is a simple twist in the breeze tactic.
Rush had an interesting point a minute or two ago: let's see all of Joe Biden's memoranda and emails relating to Bolton! Make it a trade, there's for the State Departments. And make sure all of the ones from Ralph Neas are there.
Never will happen, but it was a funny little illustration.
#10
I am so mad about this. I gave the finger to Harry Ried when I saw him on TV this morning, but then I thought about it and realized that he is not the problem. The problem is the weakness of the republicans. They are not championing Bolton, they are not really calling the dems on their obstruction or their broaching of the constitution. They are playing nicey nice. And they are looking like fools in the process. Don't get me started on McCain. He is a self-aggrandizing asshole (well, even more self-aggrandizing than his senate colleagues).
#11
the whole debate about Bolton is silly on both sides. The job Bolton really wanted was Dep. Sec of State,which went to Zoellick. UN job is Condi's way of getting Bolton OUT of the State Dept. At the UN he can say some blunt things, as red meat for y'all, but everything he DOES will be at the behest of Condi.
#13
If Bolton isn't confirmed, maybe we should nominate some green eye shade type and say that we've given up on the UN being able to do anything good and we will just concentrate on trying to prevent them from stealing and wasting money.
#14
It's ironic that while McCain reminds us to watch his "Faith of our Fathers" movie, in which the money scene portrays him turning down an early release from POW prison out of loyalty for the other captives, he has been anything but loyal during his political career.
Posted by: Captain America ||
05/27/2005 14:06 Comments ||
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McCain is running for president in 08. Absolutely nothing he does in the next few years will be uninformed by that. It is and always will be more important to him than the Republican party or conservatism in general.
#16
McCain is crazy--I honor his service, but whatever the Vietcong did to him in that prison twisted his mind.
(He'll never be CoC; my personal bet is that he'll run as a Dem as Hillary's VP. Hide and watch.)
badanov and Frank G. are right--Confirm Bolton and way past time for the majority GOP Senators to cowboy up!
The best kept secret in Washington is that the Dhimmicrat senators have been Borking all Bush appointees, not just the judicial nominees with their crazy "cloture" rules!
And I haven't seen any scuttlebutt that Dr. Rice considered Bolton to be State Dept. "trash."
As a matter of fact, I would imagine that these 2 "evil neocons" get along just fine when it comes to implementing the Bush Doctrine(s).
"Hyperbole. The nomination of John Bolton as Deputy Secretary of State would, arguably, have been a "body blow to the intelligence community." His nomination to be our Ambassador to the U.N. is not. Everyone who matters in Washington knows what job Bolton really wanted. That's the one Robert Zoellick currently
occupies. The reason he is going to be at Turtle Bay rather than the 7th Floor is because of his alleged insubordination, his aggressive reading of intelligence, his occasional undiplomatic behavior. He's being punished, in other words, to a fashion. "
#19
Who else has earned their doctorate in the political sphere besides Dr. Rice except another evil Republican, Dr. Henry Kissinger (who is, I'm sure, another fave of our "progressive, but hawkish?" friend) and Dr. Sen. Frist?
As for Dr. Dean, I'll call him "Dr." and not Howling Howard the minute I can get a visual of him in med school.
#20
In that case LH let's call her Condi, because I have no respect for Boxer, Kennedy, Kerry, and friends. Diane Feinstein, on the other hand, I am simply terrified of. Nicolo Machiavelli would approve of Sen Feinstein in a big way. Allow me to illustrate:
âCommencing then with the first of the above-named characteristics, I say that it would be well to be reputed liberal. Nevertheless, liberality exercised in a way that does not bring you the reputation for it, injures you; for if one exercises it honestly and as it should be exercised, it may not become known, and you will not avoid the reproach of its opposite. Therefore, any one wishing to maintain among men the name of liberal is obliged to avoid no attribute of magnificence; so that a prince thus inclined will consume in such acts all his property, and will be compelled in the end, if he wish to maintain the name of liberal, to unduly weigh down his people, and tax them, and do everything he can to get money.â
#21
If Bolton is not confirmed, President Bush should either leave the position vacant or nominate some particularly ambitious pain in the ass like Hillary Clinton.
Rarely am I flat-out pissed off at a story, but this one did it. Regardless of the disagreements we have with the PI today, they suffered alongside us in WWII, and for many years (maybe still today)Filipinos have been permitted to join the US military even if they weren't US citizens. And in any event, this family thought enough of America to come here, legally and by the book - and their son thought enough of us to give his life to defend it.
- Mike
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Everyone agrees that Ligaya Lagman is a Gold Star mother, part of the long line of mournful women whose sons or daughters gave their lives for their country. Her 27-year-old son, Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman, was killed last year in Afghanistan, but American Gold Star Mothers Inc., has rejected Lagman, a Filipino, for membership because — though a permanent resident and a taxpayer — she is not a U.S. citizen. "There's nothing we can do because that's what our organization says: You have to be an American citizen," national President Ann Herd said Thursday. "We can't go changing the rules every time the wind blows."
That explanation isn't satisfying the war veterans who sponsored Lagman's application, some other members of the mothers' group or several members of Congress. "It is disheartening that any mother of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who has died in the line of duty would be denied membership in an organization that honors the memory of fallen service men and women," said Rep. Nita Lowey (search), whose district includes Lagman's home in Yonkers.
Rep. Eliot Engel, who represents an adjoining district, said the group should change its rules immediately. "Whatever the excuse, American Gold Star Mothers' decision smacks of xenophobia and is in stark contrast to what Mrs. Lagman's son fought and died for," Engel said.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said, "We now have many noncitizens serving honorably in our armed services, and I hope that this can be satisfactorily resolved." A past president of the mothers' group, Dorothy Oxendine, of Farmingdale, said, "There's no discrimination in a national cemetery. There's no discrimination when they get killed side by side. So how can we discriminate against a mother?" Another past president, Ann Wolcott, of York, Pa., said, "Times have changed since this organization was started, and there are a lot of men and women serving today whose parents are not citizens. I think they deserve every honor and privilege that we have as Gold Star mothers."
Oxendine and Wolcott said they believe that given the increasing diversity of the armed forces there have been noncitizens in the 1,200-member organization who overlooked or ignored the citizenship question on the application. Lagman has lived in the United States for more than 20 years. She was not at home Thursday, apparently tending to her husband, who is hospitalized. But her other son, Chris Lagman, said in Thursday's The Journal News that all she wants "is recognition as the mother of this fallen soldier."
Lagman's application was initiated by Ben Spadaro, a veteran from Yonkers, who said he learned about the citizenship rules of the American Gold Star Mothers while working on a national cemetery committee of the Veterans Administration. When he learned of Anthony Lagman's death and saw Lagman was a citizen but his mother was not, he thought, "He's buried in a military cemetery, with full honors. She should be able to join. We decided to tell the absolute truth on the application. We put down, `I am not an American citizen.' It was a ploy to get them to reject her, and then we said they should change the rules."
But the organization's 12-member executive board voted against any change. "We can't go changing the rules every time we turn around," said Herd, the national president. "When we have problems within our organization with people not abiding by the rules, we just get it straightened out, we don't change the rules."
Oxendine, the former president, said she is sure the general membership would approve a rules change if the board did. "I can't believe that 12 intelligent women would ever not have it in their hearts to think about another Gold Star mother," Oxendine said. "You pay a high price to join the American Gold Star Mothers. I figure her dues were paid."
Spadaro isn't giving up. He had his brother, a Florida lawyer, write to the Department of Justice, noting the mothers' organization has received federal assistance and demanding an investigation. And on Monday, during Memorial Day observances at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2285 in Eastchester, Lagman will be presented with a gold necklace bearing a simple gold star.
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
05/27/2005 07:15 ||
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#1
Just a question. Whaat is that Gold Star thing? Is it a private or government funded institutiion? And what benefits does it give to members?
#2
JFM: Gold Star Mothers are so called because they lost a child in war. Parents of soldiers often put up service flags in the front window. A blue star means your soldier is still living; a gold one means he or she was killed in action. The organization Gold Star Mothers began after WWI, for those who had lost sons in the war to comfort each other and to offer various kinds of help to veterans and their families. The organization is connected somehow to the Dept of Veterans Affairs. They have a website, www.goldstarmoms.com
Looks like a case of bureaucratic mentality at work in this case. Somebody's going to regret the comment about "We can't change the rules every time we turn around."
#3
Someone grab these rectal orifices on the executive board by the sphincter to get their attention please. While I'm against illegal aliens crossing my border, a good number of servicemembers of Mexican origin have also given their last full measure of devotion as well whose parents are not citizens of the US either. They are Gold Star parents whether these ROs want to acknowledge it or not. Nearly every American conflict has had servicemembers who died though themselves and their families are neither citizens or even residing in the US. The color of the shed blood is always the same.
#4
I agree that the mother should be admitted and I wonder why the board can't see the other side of this argument. I think this change should have been made long ago and with respect to the Filipinos it should have been automatic since we share a special bond with that country.
#5
"We can't go changing the rules every time the wind blows."
What a nice analogy--comparing the loss of a son to a puff of wind. Ms. Herd, you are an embarassment.
Posted by: Dar ||
05/27/2005 11:06 Comments ||
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#6
These stupid fucking cunts. I'll be making a call this AM and making sure they never get another dime of government money or the use of goverment property or recognition until they change this policy. While I honor the loss of these mothers the cause their children died for is against this stupid backwards racisim. I bet these fucking bitches are all members of the DAR too.
#7
These attitudes are the main reason I've never bothered to join the DAR - and yes, I am most definitely eligible.
Posted by: DAR eligible ||
05/27/2005 12:08 Comments ||
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#8
"We can't go changing the rules every time the wind blows."
Correct. But you can change the rules when it's obvious that an old rule no longer serves a useful purpose, and this is one of those rules that must be changed. Change the rule. Today would be fine.
God bless Sgt. Lagman, and an enormous thank you to Mrs. Lagman.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/27/2005 12:10 Comments ||
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#9
You know.... I can't help but wonder of there are any mothers of illegal aliens who are members.
If these were Mexican or Latino you just know that congress would be all over their 'rights' and the organization would be twisting the rules in knots to get her in.
#10
Somehow I don't think the Army cared if his mother was an American citizen. She is here legally, and can do pretty much everything a citizen can do except vote....and apparently, be a member of this organization. Truly pathetic.
Normally, lawyers make me sick, but in this case....I hope that guy's brother really sticks it to them.
#12
I never got along with the DAR. They are a bunch of wackos! My first college roommate's mom was DAR. For some reason the stupid B. thought I was a commie and tried to have another roommate assigned. Had a couple of other run ins with them. Stuck up morons is the term that comes to mind.
#13
This is about as disgusting a story as I have run across lately. It will make us no friends in a notably friendly country, one that is itself under siege by Islamic barbarians and their fifth column allies.
I was not an American citizen when I enlisted in the US Army in 1969. I had a year of service in Vietnam and a Purple Heart before I took the oath of citizenship. Apparently, if I had been killed there, my mother would not have been eligible for Gold Star membership. If I had bought the farm later, in DS1 or Somalia, she would have been eligible since she was an American citizen by then.
If the GSM cannot change their rules for this, rules that were idiotic in the first place, they are truly not worthy of anyone's support.
Mostly a puff piece but CSM has some useful background info here.
BEIRUT — Three months after Rafik Hariri's assassination sparked political upheaval in Lebanon, his son has emerged as the leading contender to head the next government.
Saad Hariri, a billionaire businessman, is set to trounce his opponents in the parliamentary elections that begin Sunday, securing his position as the dominant Sunni Muslim voice in Lebanon.
In an interview with the Monitor at the Hariri family's sprawling headquarters in West Beirut, Mr. Hariri vows he will pursue his father's economic and political reform policies, while predicting a tough battle in the coming months as Lebanon adjusts to independence from Syria. "I think there are going to be challenges and issues that are going to be very difficult to resolve," says the tall and well-built Hariri, who bears a striking resemblance to his slain father.
Except that he's still breathing. For now.
The next period for Lebanon "is one of extreme change in every way," he says.
The Lebanese opposition expects to seal an end to Syria's 15-year hegemony by forming the majority in the next parliament. But the country faces an uncertain future. The elections may be free from direct Syrian manipulation, but the run-up has been marked by a strong undercurrent of sectarianism amid the usual political bargaining.
The elections are being held under a law passed during Damascus' tutelage of Lebanon. Electoral districts were gerrymandered to suit the interests of Syria's Lebanese allies in parliament. The law splits the country into only five electoral regions. This raised concerns from some Christian opposition members that their voices will go unheard in the large Muslim-majority districts.
The Lebanese opposition had called for the law to be dropped in favor of an alternative, which was used in the 1960s, that divided the country into much smaller districts. Many Christians argue that plan is more representative because it allows communities to elect local candidates. But the two opposition powerhouses, led by Hariri and Walid Jumblatt, the leader of the Druze community, struck a deal with the formerly pro-Syrian Shiite groups, Hizbullah, and the Amal Movement to accept the existing electoral law and hold the polls on schedule. The move angered some Christian opposition members who felt they had been sold out.
Indeed, the run-up to the elections has seen some unlikely alliances emerging. Hizbullah, once one of the most ardent supporters of Damascus, has teamed up with the Hariri and Jumblatt blocs in some districts. But Michel Aoun, a former Lebanese army commander and staunch anti-Syrian campaigner who returned to Lebanon in early May after 14 years exile in France, has been shunned by the opposition. The fiery former general is considered an unreliable and spooky ally, according to some senior opposition figures.
But dissension and splits are not confined to the opposition camp since no one was going to vote for them anyways. Several leading pro-Syrian politicians have announced they will boycott the elections. They include Emile Lahoud Jr., the son of President Emile Lahoud, and Omar Karami, the former prime minister who resigned amid street protests in February. He said his boycott was a protest at "corruption on all levels." But analysts say that the boycott by pro-Syrian figures is to avoid the humiliation of near certain defeat at the polls.
Hariri is confident that despite the splits, the opposition will secure between 80 and 90 places in the 128-seat parliament, with his bloc grabbing the largest share, making him the front-runner for next prime minister. Although he is regarded as a shoe-in for the job if he wants it, Hariri will not confirm whether he will seek the premiership. "I will sit and wait after the elections and then I'll decide," he says.
Still, he has a clear vision of the first tasks awaiting the next government which will steer Lebanon into the post pax Syrian era. "My first mandate is to have a new election law," he says. "We owe it to the Lebanese to work on a permanent election law that will be ready for the next elections in four years time."
Once he figures out how to game the system to his best advantage.
He also intends to complete the purge of the domestic security apparatus which carried out Syria's orders in Lebanon and which many Lebanese believe played a hand in the assassination of his father. But Hariri acknowledges that it is impossible to ignore neighboring Syria. "We and the Syrians will be there for a 1,000 years so we have to have normal and regular relations with Syria," he says.
But Pencilneck may not be there by the end of the year.
Relatively unknown in Lebanon, Hariri was selected by the family to take over the political reins after his elder brother, Bahaa, chose to remain in business. "I was the unlucky one," he jokes.
He may be a newcomer to Lebanese politics, but Hariri is no neophyte. He ran his father's massive construction company, Saudi Oger, for over a decade and has extensive financial interests in telecommunications in the Middle East. He is ranked at 548 in Forbes Magazine's annual list of billionaires with an estimated fortune of $1.2 billion. His father was ranked 108th with $4.3 billion.
Hariri has adopted his father's globe-trotting existence, holding talks with Jacques Chirac, the French president and a close family friend, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Middle East leaders. A European ambassador who recently met Hariri says, "He is an impressive and smart figure. He is listening carefully to his father's advisors."
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/27/2005 00:42 ||
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TEHERAN - Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani warned on Thursday an agreement with the European Union on Wednesday to provide a two-month breathing space in nuclear talks could still unravel if Iran's leadership objects. "We told them (the EU) we neither reject your proposal nor accept it," Rohani told state television the day after talks with the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France appeared to avert a major showdown over Iran's nuclear plans.
"We will take it to Tehran and if it is acceptable to Tehran then we can discuss it and finalize the talks. But it might be totally unacceptable to Tehran," he added.
"Pssst: Mahmoud, hurry the hell up with that uranium, I can't stall them much longer."
Rohani's reference to "Tehran" was likely to mean Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on all state matters as befitting a dictator and takes an active role in supervising key foreign policy decisions.
Officials said after the Geneva talks Iran had agreed to maintain the suspension of nuclear work and give the EU until early August to come up with a detailed proposal on a final deal. "The basis of the talks was that there had to be a timetable for delivering on the Paris agreement. The Paris agreement couldn't go on forever," said Rohani who has frequently accused the EU of dragging out the negotiations in an effort to keep Iran's nuclear activities indefinitely frozen.
Projecting again, is he?
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/27/2005 00:16 ||
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Oh, please, please Hassan, grant Allah's mercy on those EU-3 negotiators who are on their knees right now.
Posted by: Captain America ||
05/27/2005 0:41 Comments ||
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#2
Teheran is playing the EUniks like fishing for bullheads in a lake.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/27/2005 9:06 Comments ||
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#3
Their negotiator is releasing statements that he cribbed from fortune cookies.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/27/2005 9:46 Comments ||
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#4
Two months breathing space? Looks like the Iranians have been paying attention and have learned well.
Will that be enough? Will you need more time?
Thereby demonstrating that we don't place much stock in the WTO...
After vetoing Iran's attempts to join the World Trade Organization 21 times since 1996, the U.S. finally acquiesced on Thursday to let Tehran begin membership talks. The decision by the U.S. appears to be a reward, coming only a day after the European Union and Iran agreed in Geneva to continue talks on Tehran's suspended nuclear activities. Britain, France and Germany had repeatedly offered to help Iran's bid for WTO membership in exchange for Tehran's compliance with demands to end its nuclear program. Mohammad Reza Alborzi, Iran's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said that Iran had been requesting membership for nine years, but had been repeatedly vetoed by the U.S.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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During his Liberation Day speech in Bint Jbeil, Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah insisted his party's electoral alliances would only become long term political alliances if they were committed to "protecting the resistance and safeguarding its arms."
"Ain't nobuddy takin' our shootin' arns away!"
Until now, the majority of Lebanese political parties, on both sides of the national divide, have showed "moral understanding" toward Hizbullah's main concerns; they seem to handle the resistance issue with "utmost care."
Since they don't want to get shot up or have their cars explode...
However, Hizbullah has said it is not convinced by every statement of support and feels much of the support is "void of any clear commitment." In fact, the four major political entities, Hariri's Future Movement, Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party, Nabih Berri's Amal Movement and Hizbullah, form two major blocs that join with and break away from other parties in various electoral districts depending on how much they need the votes. Jumblatt's presence in Bint Jbeil as "the guest of honor" does not necessarily reflect a political alliance despite Nasrallah's call on his supporters "to vote in mass" for the lists "commended" by Hizbullah.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
Nice turban, Naz. Hopefully your brain will be sloshing around in it soon...
Iran's main reformist party met yesterday decide whether Mostafa Moin, its candidate who was given last-minute approval to stand in presidential elections next month, should go ahead and contest the polls. The fears are that even if Moin manages to pull off a shock win on June 17, he would simply be a lame-duck president and unable to honor his campaign pledges due to opposition from more powerful hardliners.
Nevertheless the indications were that the Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF), Iran's main reform party, would push their candidate into the race &0151; in which pragmatic conservative and top cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is seen as the frontrunner. "According to what we have heard today, we have to stand," Issa Saharkhiz, a senior IIPF member and aide to Moin, told AFP after a long party meeting. IIPF officials said a final decision was expected Saturday after a ballot of the party membership, but added certain conditions may set — such as Moin being able to have his own choice of Cabinet approved if he wins. "I completely support his standing in the elections. We will come back even more powerful and even more determined. We will try to bring all Iranians to the ballot box," said party leader Mohammad Reza Khatami, brother of outgoing President Mohammad Khatami.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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Posted by: Frank G ||
05/27/2005 18:19 ||
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#1
If it is ever perceived as a war against Islam, then we have lost. The world has lost.
Lunacy. It may be the current makebelieve strategy, but at some point, the identification would be necessary--how else to defeat the enemy unless it is identified?
#2
We have, twobyfour, and it isn't Islam. It's Islamofascism, or Islamism (the terms are the same). See Fred's response to the knucklehead from Lahore for details.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/27/2005 19:59 Comments ||
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#3
I mean, what kind of idiot breaks a hole in the hull of his boat during a storm, just because he doesn't like the guy at the tiller and thinks the storm could have been avoided?
The kind that reads Newsweak & the NYT & the Washington Post or watches NBC,CBS,ABC,CNN and believes that claptrap.
#4
Very good article. I think he pegs it with 'smartland' (the elite - hollywood / media elite / etc... ) who are nothing but bloodsucking parisites on the heartland.
Thought some of our readers would want to know about this.
THE HOME DEPOT HONORS MILITARY PERSONNEL WITH 10 PERCENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND DISCOUNT
ATLANTA, MAY 23, 2005 - The Home Depot(r), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today announced that the company is inviting all active duty, reservists, retired military personnel, veterans and their families to receive 10 percent off their purchases in recognition of Memorial Day. The offer is good on purchases up to $2,000 for a maximum discount of $200 between May 26-30, 2005, at The Home Depot stores, The Home Depot Floor Stores, The Home Depot Landscape Supply stores and EXPO Design Center locations.
"This discount is our way of saying 'thanks' to the brave men and women of our armed forces," said Bob Nardelli, chairman, president & CEO of The Home Depot. "The Home Depot has an ongoing commitment to the entire U.S. military community and, during this time of remembrance, we want to show our appreciation to all of those who have served at home and abroad to preserve freedom for our nation."
To qualify, individuals must present proof of military service to the Special Services Desk at any The Home Depot store, where they will receive a coupon that is redeemable at any cashier's checkout register. Discount coupons are valid on a single receipt in-store purchase only.
The discount offer furthers the company's overall commitment to supporting the military community. In 2003, the company launched Project HomeFront, through which The Home Depot donated $1 million and 1 million volunteer hours to help military families at home while their spouses were deployed. Last July, the company made another $1 million donation in tools and supplies to support U.S. troops in the rebuilding effort in Iraq. Most recently, in September, the company launched Operation Career FrontSM, a joint program with the U.S. departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs designed to provide career opportunities to separating and retiring military service members, military spouses and other veterans.
The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, honored The Home Depot this past September with the 2004 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Last April, the company was the proud recipient of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Distinguished Service Award for its continued support of the military. The company was No. 1 on the GI Jobs list of Top 25 Most Military Friendly Employers for 2004.
Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, The Home Depot has had as many as 1,800 of its associates called to active duty. The corporation has extended and enhanced leave of absence benefits for each of its deployed associates.
Founded in 1978, The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States, with fiscal 2004 sales of $73.1 billion. The company employs approximately 325,000 associates and has 1,913 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company recently announced the creation of a business development operation for retail expansion into China. The Home Depot has been recognized by Fortune as the No. 1 Most Admired Specialty Retailer for 2005. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:HD) and is included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
For more information, contact:
Karen Haggerty
The Home Depot
(770) 384-3686
karen_haggerty@homedepot.com
#5
They were at Fleet Week 2005 at the Hudson, very helpful. :)
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
05/27/2005 20:22 Comments ||
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#6
Gee, and after they blew off my USAF Aux unit when we asked them for help... I guess they are willing to take a smaller profit just as long as the money hits their registers
When he belches around Baghdad's old quarter on his spotless Harley Davidson, Kadhem Sharif, a powerlifting champion sporting wrap-around sunglasses, makes for an unlikely sight. And the 53-year-old is fully aware that his passion for one of the most recognizable symbols of the American way of life is not to everybody's liking in post-war Iraq.
But his garage is a carbon copy of any Harley aficionado's den in the United States, complete with posters of naked "babes on bikes".
And his collection of 40-plus motorbikes provides a condensed history of 100 years of national turmoil.
#1
I remember that guy, he was all over the news footage when the pulled down Saddie's hollow statue. Always figured that guy was snuffed by the Saddie babies since then as he stood out so much on the footage.
Hardline Islamic groups were expected on Friday to hold protest rallies in Pakistan over the alleged desecration of the Quran at the US prison in Guantanamo Bay, a day after President Gen. Pervez Musharraf demanded punishment for anyone found responsible.
Sure Perv, and why don't you punish the ISI boys Taliban up north?
Musharraf told visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca that people in Pakistan were "deeply dismayed by the reported desecration of Holy Quran at Guantanamo Bay" and called for a "full inquiry to bring to justice the perpetrators of this shameful act," a Foreign Ministry statement said. Rocca assured the president that "the US government was investigating these allegations and those responsible would be held accountable," the statement said. There was no immediate comment from US officials on the meeting.
"Are you nuts? We certainly will say no more!"
On Friday, hardline Islamic groups are planning to hold riots protest rallies in Pakistan over the desecration allegations. Anti-US sentiment has risen since earlier this month, when Newsweek magazine reported that interrogators at the US prison placed copies of the Quran in washrooms and flushed one in the toilet to get inmates to talk. The magazine later withdrew its story and apologized, but Pakistan has said this was not enough.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/27/2005 00:37 ||
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French Shoemaker Accused of Desecrating The Image Of Lord Rama
French shoemaker Minelli is manufacturing womenâs shoes showing mythological images of Lord Rama on the surface of the shoes.
Hindu leaders claim the shoes are a display of contempt for the spiritual beliefs of Hindus and has caused fury and outrage among the one billion Hindus across the world.
Attorney Brij Mohan Drir said the matter could end up in the European Court of Human Rights. He wrote in a letter to Minelli; "Your act and conduct showing Lord Rama on shoes is rather degrading, defaming, agitating, upsetting, intolerable, outraging our religious beliefs and emotions, spreading ill will and hate between the communities, and against the norms of democracy and fraternity or brotherhood and against law and order as it may cause breach of peace in the world."
Hindus are peaceful people and a similar reaction to the false story in Newsweek, alleging desecration of the Koran, is not expected, but it is probably safe to assume Airbus can kiss their hopes of sales to India goodbye.
So I guess that evens things up between France and India. France withdraws itâs support for a seat for India on the UN Security Council and India buys Boeing, the real looser is...
Posted by: Juan Valdez ||
05/27/2005 6:05 Comments ||
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#3
Message above this one is about someone in WakiPakiLand blowing up a Shi'ite Mosque.
He can start there if he wants to stop Koran desecrations.
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
05/27/2005 8:28 Comments ||
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#4
Nevermind the carbomb slaughter of mooselimb pilgrim folks going to the mosque shrine for a religious holiday we got this serious alleged, so-called, possible, rumored, Coor-ann flushing to consider. Does killing people at their place of worship on a holy holiday rank below a rumor about coor-ann desykrashun on the seething rage flowchart?
#5
I don't think that Perv understands that the desecration is a myth generated by released detainees in order to shakedown the US governement by capitalizing on the low regard that European journalists haveof the US military. It appears as if the grain of truth in the story is that Korans were flushed .. by prisoners trying to make a nusiance by plugging the commode with the only paper available that doesn't dissolve.
Maybe we can capitalize on Pervez' gullibility by explaining that the perpetrator has been identified as one, Beetle Baily, and provide a cartoon of Sarge kicking Beetle's ass to prove that he has been punished.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/27/2005 9:40 Comments ||
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#6
Perv is wafted by the same Islamic breezes as Fazl and Qazi and Sami. It's a different color flag, but they flap in the same direction, competing for the salutes of the rubes...
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 11:50 Comments ||
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#7
well, we get pissed when Muslims burn the American flag so now you know how it feels.
WASHINGTON - Pakistan has asked about buying as many as 75 new F-16C/D Falcon fighter aircraft since the Bush administration announced it would resume sales, the head of the Pentagon agency handling the matter said on Wednesday. Pakistan also has asked about buying 11 used F-16s, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kohler, head of the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which runs US government-to-government arms sales.
Many experts had expected Pakistan to seek only about two-dozen F-16s, said Richard Aboulafia of Teal Group, a Virginia-based aerospace consultancy. The numbers cited by Kohler show Pakistan wants to make the F-16 a mainstay of its combat aircraft fleet, he said, terming this "very ambitious in terms of regional strategy and very costly."
It also completely ties the Paks to our training, maintenance and spare-parts programs. Can't think of too many better control levers than that.
The new purchases would flesh out a fleet of about 32 F-16s acquired before Congress cut off sales in 1990 over Pakistan's nuclear program. The potential Pakistan orders could keep open the F-16 production line, which is scheduled to close in 2008.
Kohler, in an interview with Reuters, said Pakistan had requested prices for F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft, the most modern F-16s flown by the United States and the current production standard. Similar aircraft have been exported to Poland, Greece, Chile, Oman and Israel. Only the United Arab Emirates flies a more advanced variant, Block 60, with improved radar, defences and range. Asked about any Pakistani interest in the Block 60 model, Kohler said: "They did not ask for it and I don't think they could afford it."
Kohler held arms-sale talks with defence ministry officials in Pakistan and India last month. "I think when we go back and talk to them about the cost of the new systems my guess is that they will downsize slightly the (request for) new and they may increase slightly the used," he said.
The Bush Administration announced on March 25 that it would resume sales of F-16s to Pakistan after a nearly 16-year break. The about-face was widely seen as a reward for Pakistan's support in the US-led global war on terrorism. At the same time, the administration said it would let Boeing Co. and Lockheed compete for a potential $9 billion market in India for as many as 126 combat aircraft. Lockheed is pitching India the same F-16 Block 50/52 and Boeing is offering its dual-engine F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the most modern combat US aircraft currently in full-rate production.
The F-16C/D Block 50/52 sells for $40 million to $45 million each, depending on options. Boeing's Super Hornet is expected to go for $50 million to $55 million, based on the price of the US Navy's next production batch, Kohler said.
India has not yet asked about acquiring state-of-the-art F-16 Block 60 aircraft, he said. He said India was seeking to co-produce or co-assemble domestically the majority of the aircraft it eventually buys. It also apparently had invited bids from Sweden, France and Russia, Kohler said.
For Pakistan, US government officials were still weighing the weapons systems, targeting pods, radars and electronic warfare equipment that would be offered as part of a package. A deal could perhaps be notified to Congress toward the end of the summer, the first step in a process that could lead to deliveries three years after an agreement is signed, Kohler said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/27/2005 00:24 ||
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#1
We can't let him have them. His military might use them to continue to blow up Shi'ite mosques, thus leading to more Koran Desecrations...
(Hey, if anyone wanted us to take the bitching seriously, it's going to have a lot of ramifications on our behavior... it would mean our having to respect Islam, even when the so-called Islamic World is shitting on it by blowing up Shi'ites at prayer.)
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
05/27/2005 8:30 Comments ||
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#2
Steve, we also have to make sure the new Mk V Kill-Switch feature is installed. (Now with remote self-destruct sattelite activation!)
#4
"The F-16C/D Block 50/52 sells for $40 million to $45 million each, depending on options" What, like manual or automatic? Standard AM/FM/CD or 6 disc changer? :-)
Pakistan gets
(a) two thousand TOW missiles to neutralize any Indian T72 Tank assault
(b) One dozen Phalanx CIWS and two hundred Harpoon missiles to neutralize threat from Indian Navy
(c) 75 F-16s and advanced BVR missiles to neutralize Indian Air Force
(d) 70 (night capable) helicopter gunships and training in airborne assault from US Special forces to neutralize any Indian special ops in Kashmir.
(e) Aerostat radar systems to look deep into Indian territory and neutralize any surprise attacks.
All almost totally paid for from US military aid funds.
Perv has a good thing going...
Posted by: john ||
05/27/2005 15:12 Comments ||
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#6
Why in the hell are we arming Packistan with weapons it can use against India? It should be the other way around as far as I can tell.
#7
Pakistan claims the weapons are needed for the war on terror on its western border.
Thus the latest TOW missiles (designed to penetrate the ERA blocks on T90s and T72s) are actually meant for al qaeda house-busting.
The Harpoon missles and CIWS are meant against an al qaeda naval threat.
All quite hilarious (but paid for by the american taxpayer).
Posted by: john ||
05/27/2005 17:58 Comments ||
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JERUSALEM - Most Jewish settlers slated for evacuation from Gaza have agreed to go without a fight, a newspaper said on Thursday, signalling a breakthrough in Israeli government efforts to prevent civil strife over the pullback.
Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's biggest daily, said at least 1,000 settler families -- constituting more than half of 8,500 Israelis living in the Gaza Strip -- had signed an agreement to be moved en masse to a new community up the coast in Israel. "We seek unity, not divisiveness," Yedioth quoted the settlers as saying in a collective letter to be presented later on Thursday at Israel's High Court of Justice, which has been hearing petitions over the "disengagement plan".
The new community would be built by the government to relocate settlers from Gush Katif, the largest Gaza settlement, at Netzanim, a strip of prime real estate near the southern town of Ashkelon after the evacuation, due to begin in mid-August. A lawyer for the Gush Katif settlers, Yitzhak Meron, told Yedioth they wanted clarification from the government on the full terms for moving to Netzanim. "Amid all the uncertainty, people want to take their fate into their own hands," he said.
Justice Minister Tzippi Livni had set Thursday as the deadline for Gush Katif settlers to sign up for Netzanim or risk losing relocation perks such as priority on interim housing, school arrangements, and other amenities.
In recent months, smaller groups of Gaza settlers agreed to move voluntarily to Israel, but their leaders said they would still put up passive resistance to soldiers sent to evacuate them under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's withdrawal plan. Many hardline settlers have insisted they would spurn any negotiations on relocation and have vowed to stay put.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/27/2005 00:21 ||
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The Palestinian Authority has suspended plans to retire security officers. PA sources said Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has decided to delay plans to retire about 1,000 security officers. The sources said Abbas made the decision after he was told that the PA did not have the funds to pay pensions to the departing officers. In April, Abbas ordered the retirement of 1,000 officers over age 65. The PA set 65 as the age of mandatory retirement and Abbas dismissed several leading commanders in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in early May. The sources said about 20 officers were dismissed under the new retirement policy. The rest of the overage officers would remain until the PA received funds to pay for their pensions.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
I would assume that if the pensions can't be paid, then neither can the salaries... what difference does it make -- retire them already!
Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal has said that the Palestinian resistance group will not lay down its arms and renounce its fight against Israel until Israel withdraws from occupied Palestinian lands. Mashaal told Aljazeera on Wednesday that Hamas's decision in March to agree to a ceasefire period with Israel was part of "a campaign of tactics and manoeuvres in order to put the ball back in the Israeli and American court".
Hamas was one of the Palestinian factions that agreed to a ceasefire with Israel, brought about during a meeting in March with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The truce depended on Israel also agreeing to stop all military operations against the Palestinians and to release Palestinian prisoners. The Cairo deal followed a joint declaration by Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to an end to more than four years of violence during a 8 February summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Mashaal, who is based in Damascus, Syria, said agreeing to the truce did not mean the group had given up its fight against Israel. "Our position is clear. We are committed to resistance and will not consent to any dismantling of resistance groups and laying down arms before the occupation leaves our land. This is a constant position on which we will never bargain," he told Aljazeera.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
The face is well placed for the issuance of the next official Hamas martyrs poster.
Posted by: DO ||
05/27/2005 0:12 Comments ||
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#2
excuse me, number two? Mr Hellfire asks that you step to the front
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/27/2005 0:38 Comments ||
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#3
No, nope, not dis-arm, maybe that-arm.
Posted by: Captain America ||
05/27/2005 0:42 Comments ||
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#5
It's ye olde PA shuck 'n' jive routine in a business suit instead of that disgusting Arafish getup. I hate to Have GWB give Abbas $50 million of hard earned taxpayer dollars when he has really done nothing of substance yet. I hope that GWB has his poker hand figured out and not getting suckered by Abbas and Co.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/27/2005 9:04 Comments ||
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#8
plenty of non-muslim Pal idiots (george Habash, forex). None of them in Hamas though, which is an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, IIUC.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
Of course. Because houses that are healthily light and airy, with proper plumbing including bathtubs and toilets that flush, are an abomination to Allah if Jooos lived there. There is nothing like the sensation of cutting off your nose to spite your face if you are a Palestinian. Clearly it's not just Arafat who excelled at turning his back on opportunities.
#2
Unbelievable.
I suppose shacks made of cardboard are better?
Nothing can beat open sewers in the middle of the street.
Posted by: john ||
05/27/2005 15:15 Comments ||
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#3
The Israelis should not allow this to happen.
They should demolish the houses, garden, trees, etc. Leave the land exactly as they found it. And cart away all the debris, so there is not even one brick left behind.
After all, we all know the Paleos wouldn't want any land that has been "defiled" by the presence of Jews.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
05/27/2005 16:54 Comments ||
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Almost 83 percent of voters approved a key amendment to the constitution that will allow Egypt's first contested presidential elections, Interior Minister Habib Al-Adli said yesterday, announcing the result of a referendum held Wednesday on the issue. He said the results of the vote counting in 329 main polling stations across the country showed that 82.8 percent of the Egyptians who voted said yes to the amendment. The turnout was 53 percent of the 32.5 million registered voters, the minister added.
The new amendment stipulates that a candidate has the backing of 250 elected members of the lower and upper houses of Parliament and city councils, all of which are dominated by the National Democratic Party (NDP) headed by President Hosni Mubarak. Under the constitution, the amendment needs at least 51 percent of "yes" votes to get an endorsement. The Cabinet will draft an election law regulating the election process next Sunday. "The results we have today are unprecedented in the history of Egypt," said Habib. "If you look at any of the previous presidential referendums you will see that this year's turnout was higher, which is politically healthy," Habib told reporters.
Correct me if I have this wrong, but Saddam managed 100% participation, didn't he?
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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Nearly all Gaza Strip settlers have agreed to move to Israel as a group following this summer's withdrawal, a spokesman said yesterday, signaling the collapse of what was once wall-to-wall resistance to the government's plan to evacuate the coastal area.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
not as fanatical as people said Israelis watch.
My daughter (who generally supports the Sharon disengagement plan) was in Kush Gatif for Yom Haaztmut. She says there were about 30,000 other people there for the day. She was impressed by a synagogue built by teenagers with wood that was 'smuggled' into the settlement.
#3
not saying there arent some who will fight (many who DONT live in Gaza, if your 30000 number is right. But it does seem like plenty of the actual Gaza settlers will do the pragmatic thing and take the deal. If im going to give credit to moderate muslims, shouldnt i give credit to pragmatic Israeli settlers, esp ones who were expected to be rather less pragmatic?
International donors pledged an additional $200 million yesterday to fund the African Union peacekeeping operation in Sudan's western Darfur region during a conference to discuss the ongoing violence. Canada made the largest new pledge, promising $134 million. The State Department's senior representative on Sudan, Charles Snyder, said Washington was adding an additional $50 million to the $95 million already pledged to end what he called "acts of genocide" in the ongoing conflict.
The AU has 2,270 peacekeepers in western Sudan trying to stop the fighting between rebels and Arab militias. The AU plans to increase that number of troops to more than 12,300. The organization has asked for $723 million to help finance and equip the Darfur operation, but was $350 million short at the beginning of yesterday's conference. Snyder said the violence in Darfur was slowing, but that the only way to end it was to deploy a large AU force supported by NATO. "The truth is the AU was looking for outside support and when you are looking at support on this kind of scale we need an organization that can do it, such as NATO," Snyder told the Associated Press in the Ethiopian capital.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/27/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
lets see if african troops are competent to stop this genocide.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
A United Nations agency is urging the United States, Japan and South Korea to give more food aid to North Korea despite current tensions in the region.
During his Liberation Day speech in Bint Jbeil, 
Iran's main reformist party met yesterday decide whether 
Hardline Islamic groups were expected on Friday to hold protest rallies in Pakistan over the alleged desecration of the Quran at the US prison in Guantanamo Bay, a day after President Gen. Pervez Musharraf demanded punishment for anyone found responsible. 
Almost 83 percent of voters approved a key amendment to the constitution that will allow Egypt's first contested presidential elections, Interior Minister 
International donors pledged an additional $200 million yesterday to fund the African Union peacekeeping operation in Sudan's western Darfur region during a conference to discuss the ongoing violence. Canada made the largest new pledge, promising $134 million. The State Department's senior representative on Sudan, Charles Snyder, said Washington was adding an additional $50 million to the $95 million already pledged to end what he called "acts of genocide" in the ongoing conflict.
