(KUNA) -- The Sudanese army admitted Thursday attacking the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) convoy in Umm Baru area in the troubled western Sudanese region of Darfur, adding that the incident occurred by mistake.
According Sudan News Agency (SUNA), spokesman for the Army affirmed that the incident was an accident, pointing out that the fault could be blamed on both parties not notifying each other about their movements. The Sudanese army east regional command has apologized for UNAMID about the incident and the peacekeeping force also acknowledged both parties mistake.
This is the first attack against UNAMID forces since it began operations last month. UNAMID has deployed 26,000 peacekeeping troops in the troubled region of Darfur in accordance with UN resolution 1769.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2008 00:00 ||
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[10 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan
#1
The next attack should result in an ARCLIGHT strike on the city of Khartoum. Maybe there won't be any more accidents after that, but if there are, repeat the strike with twice the number of aircraft. Keep it up until all attacks cease.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/11/2008 22:30 Comments ||
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The Japanese government is on Friday expected to use its two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament to ram through controversial anti-terror legislation in what would be the first use of such override powers in more than half a century.
The administration of Yasuo Fukuda, prime minister, has invested substantial political capital in the legislation, which would allow Japanese naval vessels to resume supplying oil to allied ships on anti-terror patrols in the Indian Ocean. If the bill is passed on Friday, Japanese ships are expected to set sail within weeks.
The anti-terror law is opposed by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which controls the less powerful upper house. It describes the bill as being solely for the benefit of Washington. Mr Fukuda yesterday told an upper house panel that the law was needed to fulfil Japans obligations in the war on terror.
The DPJ blocked the extension of previous legislation last year, forcing Japanese ships to suspend a six-year mission, helping to bring down the previous Liberal Democratic party administration of Shinzo Abe in the process.
People close to the DPJ suggested that the party was prepared to make a tactical retreat on the issue. It would instead seek to embarrass the LDP during budget deliberations, which are expected to come to a head in March, they said.
Posted by: lotp ||
01/11/2008 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Global Jihad
Sunni Muslim groups from across Europe adopted a charter on Thursday aimed at easing tensions with non-Muslims amid growing concerns about radicalisation. The 26-point European Islamic Charter stresses moderation, equality between men and women and rejects violence and terrorism, while urging Muslims to integrate positively into society."
The Brussels-based Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe (FIOE), which drove the initiative, said that over 400 Muslim groups from around 28 countries from Russia to Spain had signed. An FIOE spokesman said that the signatories represented between a quarter and a fifth of Europes Muslim population. The aim of this initiative was to elaborate a common basic position on Islam in Europe, more precisely the contribution of Islam to modern Europe, the FIOE said in a statement.
The charter aimed to promote active participation of Muslims in society and better recognition of their citizenship based on justice, equality of rights, respect for difference, the statement said.
Analysts say that around 15 to 20 million Muslims live in Western Europe, up to five percent of the regions total population.
Analysts say that around 15 to 20 million Muslims live in Western Europe, up to five percent of the regions total population, although exact numbers are difficult to establish as Western censuses rarely ask about faith.
Islam, the worlds second biggest religion after Christianity, is widely seen as Europes fastest growing faith. A majority of immigrants in most Western European states are Muslim. Total numbers of Muslims in the region are projected to double by 2025 or sooner, amid growing concern among non-Muslims about radicalisation.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2008 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Global Jihad
#4
The 26-point European Islamic Charter stresses moderation, equality between men and women and rejects violence and terrorism, while urging Muslims to integrate positively into society."
But still advises it's followers to "get those goddamned jews".
#2
Sounds like the Republicans learned something from the last election, when the Democrats put a bunch of veterans up. If they win, it will be interesting to see how all that military blood, on both sides, will start changing the debate in Washington.
#3
They need to smack those freshmen Dems and paint them Pelosi Pink in places where they won red districts. Like Foleys old one in Texas, florida, a bunch in Indiana and Ohio, etc.
#4
These candidates aren't well funded, so far as I can tell, and in at least one case has gotten only the mildest of support from the local GOP apparatus (blue state). Might be worth donating to one or more of them, for those who are so inclined and able. I think even small contributions like the $25 they're asking for would be valued, as would the count of people who took time to do so.
#5
Darn, too, on that 'help' vote TW, primaries on March 4th in Ohio. I'm in the 2nd District with Jean Schmidt doing a great job for us. Right next door to my LtC USMC son and your districts Mr. Boehner, who is the Best of the best...maybe I can send a buck or two to the 18th districts Rep campaign...
From the Washington Times Inside the Ring gossip columnist. The reporter is having great fun stirring the pot. This article should be commented as if it were a mixed martial arts fight, but I'm not quite sure how to do that. So I've just bolded the names of those lining up against the deputy defense secretary, poor man. Note also the reporter's choice of adjectives and the services the various people mentioned belong to.
Some Pentagon and military leaders, along with lots of working-level officials, are quietly rallying to support ousted Joint Staff counterterrorism analyst Stephen Coughlin. Pentagon officials said a number of generals and admirals who share Mr. Coughlin's well-reasoned assessment of the Islamic law underpinnings of Islamist terror are voicing support for the lawyer and former military intelligence official.
Mr. Coughlin was fired last month as a Joint Staff contractor after his confrontation with Hasham Islam, a special assistant to Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England. Mr. Islam, a Muslim, referred to Mr. Coughlin as a "Christian zealot with a pen" during the meeting several weeks ago. Critics of Mr. Coughlin are spreading word falsely that he is being let go because he talked out of school to the press. One official suggested the action was due to budget cuts.
But defense and military officials supportive of Mr. Coughlin said the real reason is that critics, like Mr. Islam want him sidelined because they oppose his hard-to-refute views on the relationship between Islamic law and Islamist jihad doctrine. Those views have triggered a harsh debate challenging the widespread and politically correct view of Islam as a religion of peace hijacked by extremists. "Steve Coughlin is the most knowledgeable person in the U.S. government on Islamic law," said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney. "The secretary of defense should ensure that he stays at DOD."
Another booster is Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Corps, who said in November that Mr. Coughlin's briefing for Marines bound for Iraq "hit the mark in explaining how jihadists use the Koran to justify their actions."
Army Lt. Col. Joseph C. Myers, commandant's Army adviser at the Air Force Air Command and Staff College in Alabama, said in a letter posted on the Internet that the Joint Staff is losing its only Islamic law scholar if the firing stands. Col. Myers said Mr. Coughlin should continue to educate the military for the war on terrorism. "If we don't understand the war and the enemy we are engaged against, we remain vulnerable and we cannot win," he stated. Unlike during the Cold War, when Soviet war-fighting doctrine dominated his education at West Point, "can anyone show me where the equivalent of the Soviet threat doctrine series for the global war on terror is published?" he asked. "It has not been done." Col. Myers said the military is fighting a war that "from doctrinal perspective, we fundamentally do not understand."
Mr. Myers also stated that U.S. counterintelligence failures should lead people to "wonder and question the extent we are in fact penetrated in government and academia by foreign agents of influence, the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamists and those who truly in essence do not share our social compact."
The firing of Joint Staff counterterrorism analyst Stephen Coughlin also is having a negative impact throughout the U.S. intelligence and counterterrorism community. Analysts are watching closely to see if the firing of the Islamic law specialist over his views of the Islamist law basis for extremism will be allowed to stand and thus hamper the production of honest intelligence analysis of terrorist threats throughout the 16-agency community. "The analyst now sees two threats to their work: the enemy and the uninformed policy-maker," said one analyst.
#3
I suspect that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Coughlin might have had a tendency to color his briefings with inappropriate dialogue, which is a nice way of saying that he is either obnoxious, abrasive, annoying, or kooky. These are far more likely to get you fired.
I have met plenty of civilian experts in the military who were quite intelligent, but would let their guard slip every now and then and start ranting about UFOs or whatever.
#5
ION, TOPIX > BLOOMBERG - CHINA, USA MAKE PLANS FOR [military]INTERVENTION IN CASE OF NORTH KOREAN COLLAPSE. Not just CHINA anymore, but USA-SOKORS as well - EOY 2007 US Army making contingency plans, to include for SOKOR OCCUPATION OF NORTH KOREA, ESPEC AS PER ANTICIPATED REFUGEE FLOWS + FOOD, etc. MULTILATERAL APPROACH [US-CHINA-Intern] PREFERRED.
BUSAN ILBO OP-ED > THE COMING NORTH KOREAN COLLAPSE - SERIOUS RISKS FOR ASIA? You-know-what will likely hit the fan, from NOKOR as a de facto new "GAZA STRIP/PALEOS" in Asia = UNO-UNSC HEADACHE, to US-CHINA KOREAN WAR 2 scenario. YEAR 2010 OR EARLIER [read - now].
Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get more secure driver's licenses in the next six years under ambitious post-9/11 security rules to be unveiled Friday by federal officials.
The Homeland Security Department has spent years crafting the final regulations for the REAL ID Act, a law designed to make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and con artists to get government-issued identification. The effort once envisioned to take effect in 2008 has been pushed back in the hopes of winning over skeptical state officials.
Even with more time, more federal help and technical advances, REAL ID still faces stiff opposition from civil liberties groups.
To address some of those concerns, the government now plans to phase in a secure ID initiative that Congress passed into law in 2005. Now, DHS plans a key deadline in 2011, and then further measures to be enacted three years later, according to congressional staffers who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not yet been made. DHS officials briefed legislative aides on the details late Thursday.
Without discussing details, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff promoted the final rules for REAL ID during a meeting Thursday with an advisory council.
"We worked very closely with the states in terms of developing a plan that I think will be inexpensive, reasonable to implement and produce the results," he said. "This is a win-win. As long as people use driver's licenses to identify themselves for whatever reason there's no reason for those licenses to be easily counterfeited or tampered with."
In order to make the plan more appealing to cost-conscious states, federal authorities drastically reduced the expected cost from $14.6 billion to $3.9 billion, a 73 percent decline, according to Homeland Security officials familiar with the plan.
The American Civil Liberties Union has fiercely objected to the effort, particularly the sharing of personal data among government agencies. The DHS and other officials say the only way to make sure an ID is safe is to check it against secure government data; critics like the ACLU say that creates a system that is more likely to be infiltrated and have its personal data pilfered.
In its written objection to the law, the ACLU claims REAL ID amounts to the "first-ever national identity card system," which "would irreparably damage the fabric of American life."
The Sept. 11 attacks were the main motivation for the changes.
The hijacker-pilot who flew into the Pentagon, Hani Hanjour, had a total of four driver's licenses and ID cards from three states. The DHS, which was created in response to the attacks, has created a slogan for REAL ID: "One driver, one license."
#2
Exactly the point. DMVs around the country are the lowest order of government, and are often highly corrupt. This near guarantees that Real IDs will be useless. Overnight, all the illegals and criminals will suddenly get IDs from the corrupt States.
Right now, I think either Tennessee or Kentucky have a reputation as the most popular fake drivers license. However, it is a matter of scale.
Also, I think several States have already voted to opt out of the program.
#3
Washington has enacted this, as well as British Columbia, due to public backlash over the earlier requirement for passports.
But i still don't understand the reasoning that these DL are ok for surface travel ( car / boat) but for air travel you still need a passport. especially since the TSA does such a marvelous job screening out threats from the skies.....
#4
seems to me the easiest solution would be to let the states keep doing their thing and use a reganesque approach... create a secure ID format and require a secure ID for travel and the opening of a bank account or to wire money across state lines and all other things currently regulated under federal law. the need to have a secure ID for these activities will in fact drive compliance by market forces.
Posted by: Abu do you love ||
01/11/2008 15:40 Comments ||
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The suicide bombing that killed more than 20 policemen in Lahore on Thursday comes a day before the start of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
According to an article on BBC News, the attack also came just a day after the government finalised security arrangements for the holy month, which is often marred by sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Lahore, where the attack took place, is among 35 districts that the government has declared sensitive during the holy month.
The attack was apparently not sectarian in nature - it targeted the policemen who were on security duty near a lawyers rally. Also, militants have been targeting police and military personnel over the last couple of years. But the view that the attack may have been meant to set the stage for Muharram-related violence in the coming days cannot be ruled out.
The timing and the pattern of the blast appear to conform to militant attacks last year that targeted police guarding Shia mourning ceremonies and processions. Since the 1980s, these days in Pakistan have also meant attacks on Shia ceremonies and processions by hardline groups within the Sunni Wahabi sect. Originally imported from the Middle East, the purist Wahabi ideology as espoused by some extremist clerics considers Shias as heretics who deserve to die.
The Wahabis created a strong local following among Afghan and Pakistani mujahideen who fought against Russian troops during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Over subsequent years, the mujahideen formed several militant groups, fighting anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan, Indian troops in Kashmir, and Shia Muslims in Pakistan.
During the 1990s, sectarian violence at or around Shia or Sunni religious occasions became the norm, and was suspected to have been used by the countrys intelligence apparatus - which is accused of controlling some such groups - to destabilise successive elected governments.
The last high-profile sectarian attacks took place in 2004, after which direct bombings of Shia or Sunni mosques and worshippers by rival militants have become few and far between.
Conflicting militants: Analysts say this happened because Sunni militants increasingly came into conflict with the government. Although ideologically these groups still consider Shias as heretics, opening multiple fronts by hitting directly at Shias at this stage appeared to them to be a bad strategy.
This became apparent last Muharram, when a series of bombings and rocket attacks created panic in large parts of the country. The attacks were not directed at Shia mourners, but at the law-enforcement agencies. Scores of policemen were killed during the mourning season, including the Peshawar police chief, and his deputy. But most of those attacks took place very close to where Shia ceremonies were being held, creating panic among the mourners and leading many Shias to believe the attackers aim was also to disrespect their ceremonies. The attack in Lahore, coming as it does on the eve of the start of Muharram, has rekindled those fears. Many Shias are convinced that while the attackers target the law-enforcement personnel, they also wish to put pressure on the Shias to take their public ceremonies indoors.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2008 00:00 ||
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[13 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda
#1
ION, see ASIA TIMES > BHUTAN: WHERE CHINA AND INDIA COLLIDE.
George W Bush today called for the end to the Israeli "occupation" of the Palestinian territories, in language that marks a hardening of his stance towards one of the United States' closest allies. Speaking after meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on his tour of the Middle East, the US president urged both sides to makes sacrifices to bring about peace. "There should be an end to the occupation that began in 1967," Mr Bush told reporters. "Now is the time to make difficult choices. The agreement must establish a Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people." He added: "I am confident that with proper help the state of Palestine will emerge."
Earlier, Mr Bush had called for an agreement on a Palestinian state by the time he leaves office, saying it must not be riddled like "Swiss cheese" with pockets of Israeli territory.
But Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, used the opportunity of Mr Bush's Holy Land visit to state that Israel regards the larger settlements in the West Bank and those in Arab East Jerusalem as not up for negotiation.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2008 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority
#1
This verbiage / syntax of "Occupation" must cease. Arabs Occupy Israeli lands. Israel is a sovereign country. More so to God than even the USA. So when you use the word "occupation" you give the impression that someone other than Israelis have right to Israel, which is not true.
"Palestine" is a roman invention from their conquest of the holy nation. It was a derogative term.
It is important that History and true rights are discussed in any further "negotiation" when we are selling out Gods personal state to miscreants of death and wanton destruction.
It may be one thing that we want to get right from now on.
Israel as practically done nonthing *but* 'make sacrifices to bring about peace' and all it has brought them is more bloodshed and more murder.
The only thing the Palieos have sacrifices are innocent Israeli men, women, children, and even the unborn on the alter of their death 'god'.
They have not kept a single one of their agreement. And their ultimate goal - which they have openly proclaimed again and again and again - is the utter destruction of Israel and the 'human sacrifice' of each and every one of its citizens to their death cult.
#4
THe Message that the Palestinians will understand is that terrorism works. The message he should have issued is: "Not a single cent of aid until you honor what you signed for and you dismantle the system who is brainwashing children into future suicide bombers and genociders. And do it fast or we will force you to refund the aid you got since Oslo".
#5
THe Message that the Palestinians will understand is that terrorism works. The message he should have issued is: "Not a single cent of aid until you honor what you signed for and you dismantle the system who is brainwashing children into future suicide bombers and genociders. And do it fast or we will force you to refund the aid you got since Oslo".
#6
They are worse than the Mayans, or the Hittites. Sacrificing their kids for a moon god of all things to force God out of his dwelling place? Think about it.
#7
When Israel takes all of Jerusalem, inlcuding the site of the Dome of the Rock, which someday it will, scriptually that is when Armageddan occurs, also known as the end of the age of the Gentile. 200 million (Islamists? there are 1 Billion now) come together to take out Israel.
#10
Mr. President, your endorsement of "democracy" for the Palestinians helped to empower Hamas. Now you are echoing their tropes while we pump money into that kleptocratic terror machine.
Israel has even more to fear from foolish "friends" like you than from its enemies.
#11
Something weird is going on with the W-man. It started before the NIE report, which was weird enough in itself, beyond weird. Maybe it started when Condi was made Sec State?
Posted by: moody blues ||
01/11/2008 7:22 Comments ||
Top||
#12
Big rebates to companies that don't need it, no total war on the country that launched 9-11, no war with the sauds that funded it, open borders, exporting American jobs, kissing islamic ass.
His next move will be giving CAIR a cabinet position. I've had it with this puss nuts.
#14
The Israelis really need the lesson pounded down their throat that they screwed up royally by not kicking all the Arabs out of their nation when they had the chance. However, the opportunity will again present itself, no doubt, so they should not make the same mistake yet again.
#15
And this is supposedly a warmongering evangelical President. It is almost possible (almost) to imagine Kerry doing a better job. At least that lying sack of crap would have had to pretend to man it up.
If America and the West cannot side with the only democracy in the middle east, Israel will look to India and elsewhere. At least the Indians have a clear-eyed view of muslims.
And I want to second every letter of what newc wrote. If we refuse to defend the land God promised his people we do not deserve his Providence in the lands we have made for ourselves in the New World. We are breaking the Covenant and we will deserve our fate.
Well, the neighborhood bully, he's just one man
His enemies say he's on their land
They got him outnumbered about a million to one
He got no place to escape to, no place to run
He's the neighborhood bully.
The neighborhood bully he just lives to survive
He's criticized and condemned for being alive
He's not supposed to fight back, he's supposed to have thick skin
He's supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in
He's the neighborhood bully.
The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land
He's wandered the earth an exiled man
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn
He's always on trial for just being born
He's the neighborhood bully.
Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized
Old women condemned him, said he could apologize
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad
The bombs were meant for him. He was supposed to feel bad
He's the neighborhood bully.
Well, the chances are against it, and the odds are slim
That he'll live by the rules that the world makes for him
'Cause there's a noose at his neck and a gun at his back
And a licence to kill him is given out to every maniac
He's the neighborhood bully.
Well, he got no allies to really speak of
What he gets he must pay for, he don't get it out of love
He buys obsolete weapons and he won't be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood to fight by his side
He's the neighborhood bully.
Well, he's surrounded by pacifists who all want peace
They pray for it nightly that the bloodshed must cease
Now, they wouldn't hurt a fly. To hurt one they would weep
They lay and they wait for this bully to fall asleep
He's the neighborhood bully.
Every empire that's enslaved him is gone
Egypt and Rome, even the great Babylon
He's made a garden of paradise in the desert sand
In bed with nobody, under no one's command
He's the neighborhood bully.
Now his holiest books have been trampled upon
No contract that he signed was worth that what it was written on
He took the crumbs of the world and he turned it into wealth
Took sickness and disease and he turned it into health
He's the neighborhood bully.
What's anybody indebted to him for ?
Nothing, they say. He just likes to cause war
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed
They wait for this bully like a dog waits to feed
He's the neighborhood bully.
What has he done to wear so many scars ?
Does he change the course of rivers ? Does he pollute the moon and stars ?
Neighborhood bully, standing on the hill
Running out the clock, time standing still
Neighborhood bully.
#17
Okay, George, you've done the "Peace in the Middle East" thing like all the rest of them do in the last year of their final term. Did it make you feel better?
Why don't you get on the plane and come home now...
#18
There just has to be more to this. He can't be this stupid or craven. I'm thinking some sort of qqp for relaxation on Pals position. He just came from Israel, this can't be a blindside for Olmert, and I haven't heard a peep from them.
I hope this is just politics, and not what it looks like.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
01/11/2008 11:49 Comments ||
Top||
#19
"Now is the time to make difficult choices. The agreement must establish a Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people." He added: "I am confident that with proper help the state of Palestine will emerge."
slow down their cowboys! You are allowing MSM propagandists to yank your chain. Bush did not "call for the end to the Israeli occupation". Read what is in quotes. I think you will agree with what Bush actually said.
#20
oops. I guess he did say, "There should be an end to the occupation that began in 1967".
My mistake. duh. Nevertheless. I still agree with his overall point. The only way to end it is to give the Paleos their own state. Notice that Bush says, "just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people". That's a big sticking point for the Paleos. The Paleos still haven't advanced past wanting the Jews in the sea. Perhaps his use of the word "occupation" was just the spoonful of sugar.
#21
Thanks George. It wasn't enough that you half-assed Iraq, did nothing to the Saudis, did nothing to Iran, and did nothing to the Pakis. You had to out-do yourself and blurt out some of the stupidest drivel since the last time Jimmah opened up on this topic. Exit stage left, please--you've wasted 8 years of the time we COULD have been battling Islam.
#22
This move escapes logic.
All I can think is that the bible fortells of a time when all nations are against the Jews and then Armageddan and then the end times will come.
Could it be that God has control of Bush and he makes moves that defy logic to set the stage for God's return ?
#23
Israels position cannot be maintained forever. At some point, occupation has to end. Better to do it when they have a better economy and better military than all their neighbors than to wait for them to be forced out of the territories.
Occupation never was a permanent solution. Some might have hoped they could colonize the territories and push the Paleos out, but that was never going to happen in real life. Not with all the Arab nations around to stick their noses in it.
The only way for Israel to address the Palestinian problem once and for all is for the Palestinians to have a state. Once they have a state, the Paleos can either A) Act like normal people - HA!, or B) Act, as a state against Israel, giving Israel cause to wage actual factual war against the Terrorist Entity.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/11/2008 13:27 Comments ||
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Angry demonstrators in the West Bank town of Ramallah branded US President George W Bush a "war criminal" yesterday as locals said he would do nothing for the plight of the Palestinians.
Security forces, out in force to ensure the security of the American leader on his first trip to the occupied Palestinian territory, used batons and tear gas as they charged around 200 demonstrators who were chanting "Bush, war criminal!" and "Bush out!".
While their leader Mahmud Abbas gave Bush a red carpet welcome on the second day of his Middle East tour, ordinary Palestinians were dismissive.
"I don't believe he will do anything for the Palestinians," said Mohammed Khaldi, 64. "If he wanted to really do something, he had six years for that and he didn't do a single thing."
Around 4,000 security officers sealed off the area around the Palestinian Authority compound known as the Muqata to pedestrian and vehicle traffic, with numerous checkpoints set up to verify the identification of any passers-by.
Bush was in the West Bank on the latest leg of a trip aimed at pushing forward the peace process, which has stumbled since its revival six weeks ago over Jewish settlements and Israeli-Palestinian violence.
He had been due to fly into Ramallah aboard his Marine One helicopter but was grounded by thick fog which covered the city and nearby Jerusalem, so was forced to travel in a road convoy instead.
Armed Israeli soldiers lined the route from the King David Hotel to the Beit El checkpoint where military responsibility switched to Palestinian control as the presidential limousine hurtled along the normally congested streets.
Snipers and spotters scoured the area as security chiefs took no chances with the safety of the US leader with about 4,000 men law enforcement officers out on the streets.
Authorities issued an order banning locals from climbing on to rooftops to watch the arrival of only the second sitting US president to visit the Palestinian territories.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2008 00:00 ||
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[4 views]
Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority
#2
He stated it was wrong to associate the actions of the United States of America to that of the Christian church.
I agree with that statement, as America has a separation of the Catholic Church and state for a good reason. Unfortunately, AQ doesn't make the same distinction, considering us all Crusaders and why America is a target. I will not apologize or compromise for being an American Christian, but the signed statement he is referring to is a start if real dialogue toward peace in the ME is going is to be achieved.
#3
"Describing the Christian letter of goodwill to Muslim as unwise, he argued the letter was inherently flawed because as Christians, we were called to be witnessed for Jesus Christ, the Son of God for whom God has bestowed all authority on earth and in heaven, and he is not merely a prophet." Mohler
Bout time the truth came out. Talking straight up will kill this anti-Crusades garbage. atel saved the West. I am demanding apology from the Muslims for invading Europe in the first place.
#4
yes, because signing meaningless documents apologizing only for the sins of Christians is so meaningful in preventing Islamist extremists from lighting off in a crowd of young infidels.
#6
On the other hand if they'd actually planned the thing properly instead of going after Jerusalem...
For example if the Crusaders liberated Spain a few centuriers earlier and pushed occupied North Africa. If they helped the Byzantines and kept Anatolia from falling... they could have rolled back Islam in a sustainable way rather than just occupying a chunk of the Holy Land for awhile.
The final push on Jerusalem would have been easier than as well.
#7
Ayatollah Khomeini, the dictator of Iran, called a world conference to seek a solution to the turmoil in the Middle East. And in the palace that once belonged to the Shah they prepared a beautiful, elaborate state dinner to which the delegates of the world conference were invited. When the time came for them to arrive, the Ayatollah Khomeini demanded that the women cover themselves in black veils. They refused, and the conference fell apart. That elaborate dinner was never eaten. The food was never touched. There was not a speech made. There was not a discussion held.
There will be no discussion, until you submit to ISLAM. And that means to apologize for standing up against ISLAM during the Crusades. THAT is what these dhimmis have done. Signed, sealed and delivered to who are now their overlords, the Imams of Islam.
#8
Apologizing for the Crusades? Nuts! (A la Screaming Eagles)
Let Muslims apologize first for teh centuroes of Jihad and its atrocities. Like the taking of Cesarea where they ran in teh streets carrying the guts of teh defenders.
Or of the invasiopn of Spain where teh Muslims chronicler tells with obvious joy and pride that 30,000 (thirt thousand) women of great beauty were captured and sold into slavery. Now if their future had invoilved just cleaning dishes their beauty was irrelevant. Its only irrelevant when you enslave them for raping.
Let's have them apologize. And pay one million dollars and an oil well per girl.
#11
As soon as we get that apology for abdur rahmin's pre-emptive invasion into France back in the 700s.
Honestly, I could give a rat's-arse what these dorks apologize for. None of them represent my gov't or me. I have 761 grains of sorry for the islamo-nuts.
#12
I wouldn't be that proud of crusaders. When they first set out the first thing they did was massacring the Jews in the Holy Empire who up to then had enjoyed significant liberties and protection of the emperor.
Spain was a Visigoth rural miserable place when the Arabs invaded. The majority of the peasant population welcomed the Arabs because their life was saddled with oppressive taxation imposed by the small Visigoth elite. In the 10th century Cordoba was about the most civilized place to live in Europe. Caliph Abd ar Rahman III was about the most enlightened ruler in Europe. He employed Christians and Jews as his principal advisers.
That was then. This paradise was not destroyed by Christians but by religious fanatics from Morocco.
The crusaders storming Jerusalem killed all Muslims and Jews in the Holy City, even quite a few Christians.
It was fanatism and stupidity on both sides that led to all these wars and useless destructions... as always.
The crusaders didn't tolerate a single Muslim in Jerusalem. Saladin did let Christians live in Jerusalem and made it possible by treaty that Christians could freely visit the Holy Sites.
The Christian Spanish kings did have their moments of tolerance as well. Just look at the synagogues of Toledo or the palace of Peter the Cruel in Sevilla.
It's not all black and white.
Destructive Islamic fanatism that flared up time and again led to the downfall of what could have been a real advanced Muslim civilization
And Europe's advance would have been faster without the wars of religion, the 30 years war and so on.
#13
BJ8878 - your historical notes are quite accurate. The crusaders also very misguidedly sacked Constantinople thus widening the gap between east & west christianity. The massacre during the first jerusalem sacking took almost a day to complete. Many eastern Christians were murdered during that evolution.
Use of religion for personal gain by the monarchy. Somethings never change.
Saladin faced a different situation than the Crusaders. There was no other threat to the Crusaders when they stormed Jerusalem. The Crusaders could bet it all on one big assault, even taking significant casualties. Saladin was a 'pretender' to the throne. There were others who were in the wings. If Saladin took the city at great cost to his army, another pretender would be on his throat. He couldn't afford an expensive assault. Saladin had to 'make a deal' to keep the rest of his domain in order. As for the treatment of the inhabitants of the city, what was different from any other major assaults of cities in the West?
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