I think the past few days have proven that a determined troll can get through despite our best efforts. Why he's want to is a question best addressed by his mental health professional. Multiple IPs, multiple aliases, muliple spam strings â you just can't keep up with everything without devoting more time and effort to it than I have available. You can't keep one person out if you're not prepared to keep everyone out, and I don't want to do that.
So now we enter Phase II: I've added the Trolls and Spam category to the editor so that Boris and his clones can be assigned to their very own category, at the bottom of the page. I was going to call it "Potters' Field," that that falls too high in the alphabet. I've also added a "Killed" field for the editors to use, which will cause the post not to display. I've had that for a few days, but if you browse single articles you've seen that they still show up there. So now that's fixed, and the text will be replaced by a nice message that they've been consigned to perdition. If it's a troll, but it picks up witty and amusing comments before it can be dealt with, it doesn't have to be killed. If it's just trash, kill it. Having the troll postings retained will throw counts off here and there, but I'll fix them as I notice them â pretty minor tasks.
I'm going to consider the problem as solved. Yesterday we had 106 postings and over 600 comments, a new record. I'm going to get back to my project of splitting the Burg into Page 1 and Page 2, which I consider much more important than Boris and his hangups.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/18/2004 9:35:03 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Spiffing.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
03/18/2004 9:50 Comments ||
Top||
#2
I grew up in Potters Field. It was the name of the street I lived on.
#3
I used to think that Stevo could have just gone to the library and used a computer there to beat the ban. Most of them seem to melt away when the become objects of derision unless they think that they are honestly aggravating someone. Trolls must sense aggravation like predators smell fear. I get my news via Rantburg and don't frequent many other Blogs. My impression is that humiliating trolls has worked more effectively for Fred than efforts to censor the clowns.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/18/2004 10:40 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Well done.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
03/18/2004 10:47 Comments ||
Top||
#5
ahhh but the CSerb is a special troll - immune to ridicule and humiliation here, cuz it's ineveitably less than he experiences in his everyday life...and that's from his family and "friends"
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/18/2004 12:19 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Fred Akhbar!
Interesting troll theory Super Hose. Rantburg seems to have developed strong troll anti-bodies. I'm dealing with a troll situation right now on a board where I'm a moderator. We've got a clown who slides in and out of troll hood in direct proportion to the aggravation he generates. I'm going to use your line with my fellow moderators. In fact, I'm going to put it in my board signature.
"Trolls Sense Aggravation Like Predators Smell Fear"
#9
I did an google searh for ("Boris Pribich" information) and looked under groups. Looks like our Troll is a little bit of a fruit and has a nude beach and nude work fetish. He seems to post allot at rec.nude with the reply address of CompuSerb@hotmail.com.
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
03/18/2004 12:50 Comments ||
Top||
#10
The anti-trolling measures seem to be working, but the troll still seems to be winning.
The only solution to trolls is the bullet.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
03/18/2004 12:55 Comments ||
Top||
#11
Fred,
Perhaps its time to consider rating Rantburg posters the way ebay rates its sellers and buyers. Let the readers rate the posts and the editorial body adjust the posters privelges as a result of how folks are rated. Get rated as a troll and the editorial staff get to push you into the swamp till you learn how behave.
Just a thought......
Posted by: Frank Martin ||
03/18/2004 12:56 Comments ||
Top||
#12
YS--That makes perfect sense. The moron can't count to 21 unless he's naked.
Posted by: Dar ||
03/18/2004 13:40 Comments ||
Top||
#13
Dar - LOL!
Yeah - I was surprised how much about him is available through a GIS. Sounds like he's been doing things like this since the late 90's. Lots of ticked off people looking for him too.
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
03/18/2004 14:49 Comments ||
Top||
#14
His NIC registry lists an email of pribich@gte.net.
Posted by: Sofia ||
03/18/2004 14:55 Comments ||
Top||
#15
This is great; those wacked postings are swept off almost as quickly as they appear. Hehehehe
#22
It looks like everything before today is in the Troll/Spam box.
Posted by: Lil Dhimmi ||
03/18/2004 16:50 Comments ||
Top||
#23
Perhaps it would be easier to institutute a voluntary subscription system whereby posters can pay for the priviledge of posting new articles (maybe $5.00 a month?). Of course those holding subscriptions would abide by the same rules as everyone, except in your database, there could be a bit that suggests the person who posts is a subscriber, and could help sort out the garbage.
For example, you have 100 rants, 12 of which are posted by folks who are on your database as subscribers, 60 of which are by non-paying subscribers. Posts by the others are subject to removal with enough complaints or warnings, and accounts under which those posts were made are suspended. Have a little suggestion box with two fields: A rant number and the username of the person submitting the complaint. Adminstrators could then quickly scan the article, make the determination if the article is not what belongs here, zap the article if not, then mail the poster with a warning. Could help in sorting out the leftwingers. Have a tiny program to mail users once a quarter with a confirming email they are who they said they are when they registered. If so, fine, if not, zap goes the weasel.
I know, I know, that sounds like a lot of programming, but hey, I program perl/postgresql, and I could help with the db part if you can program the http users manager stuffies.
Let everyone comment and post, as registered users with valid emails, etc
#1
if true that they want bush there i can think of only one reason, that is to make a huge attempt on his life,Binny must surly realise that just like George wants to kill him to 'decapite' the head off the snake so to speak why wouldn't binny want to do the same in return. Imagine a headline that reads "George Bush killed by Binny" wouldn't that be a crushing blow to the coalition. Be to us what killing Binny would be to them.
#2
talk about not getting the end result desired: Cheney would love to be unrestrained by political niceties. Assassination of Bush would be a verrrry bad idea for Bin Laden and Islamofascism
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/18/2004 8:13 Comments ||
Top||
#3
is cheney the real driving force against them, i was more under the impression rummy was, or does rummy and Wolfawitz just sort out all the gear and statagies tec to go after what Chainey says.I always thought Rummy was the key stratagist thats all. Any one got a chart or something like a chain of command tree thing if you get what i mean to say exactly what they all do, not to well up on it as you can see :)
That's a rational conclusion. So what makes you think Binny is rational?
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
03/18/2004 10:40 Comments ||
Top||
#5
It's pretty much impossible to tell what's going on in the admin from the outside... but from the articles I've read Bush makes all the major decisions after consulting with everyone and Condi is his closest advisor (but she doesn't talk much in meetings... just gives her opinion to Bush after). Rummy and Cheney are more hawkish and Powell is a bit more doveish... Bush is in the middle. Apparently Bush has no problem making big decisions and once he does he demands everyone is on board 100%. Oh yeah... wolfowitz doesn't have any direct influence on Bush, he does have influence on Rummy who's opinion Bush values though.
Btw, being in a democracy one man doesn't really mean much to our war effort (even if that man is the commander in chief). Killing Binny is a lot more devastating to AQ then any one person they could get of ours.
#6
JS UK -- Since you're not a US citizen (you're not, are you?), you can be excused for not understanding the VRWC/Neo-Con Cabal. Cheney was Rumsfeld's pupil back in the '70s, so Rummy is the original master.
BTW, check this out. It's hysterical (and a great idea):
Posted by: Tibor ||
03/18/2004 10:46 Comments ||
Top||
#7
If I were Bin Laden I would stop all attacks, everywhere, except in Iraq. I'd let the world fall asleep again and think the war is over except where the US stirred up a hornets nest. At least until Kerry was elected.
#8
IF binny managed to get Bush assassinated (and that a very big "if"), Cheney and Rumsfeld would definitely take off the gloves. (Oh yes, boys and girls, we've been heavily gloved so far.)
There would be a great deal of regret in many places simultaneously around the world. For about one millisecond, before they died.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
03/18/2004 18:56 Comments ||
Top||
From the "Space rocks--Why do they hate us?" Dept. Edited for brevity.
A 100-foot diameter asteroid will pass within 26,500 miles of Earth on Thursday evening, the closest-ever brush on record by a space rock, NASA astronomers said. The asteroidâs close flyby, first spied late Monday, poses no risk, NASA astronomers stressed. "Itâs a guaranteed miss," astronomer Paul Chodas, of the near-Earth object office at NASAâs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said Wednesday. The asteroid, 2004 FH, was expected to make its closest approach at 5:08 p.m. EST, streaking over the southern Atlantic Ocean. It should be visible through binoculars to stargazers across the southern hemisphere, as well as throughout Asia and Europe, said astronomer Steve Chesley, also of JPL. Professional astronomers around the globe scrambled Wednesday to prepare for the flyby, which could provide an unprecedented chance to get a close look at the asteroid, he added. The asteroid will pass within the moonâs orbit. Similarly sized asteroids are believed to come as close to Earth on average once every two years, but have always escaped detection. "The important thing is not that itâs happening, but that we detected it," Chesley said. With only three days notice and no means to counter it if it were destined to hit us... Well, at least weâd have had time to kiss our a**es good-bye.
That does it, dammit! I'm leaving!
Posted by: Dar ||
03/18/2004 10:50:22 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Didn't we have a few of these where the "experts" thought we might get hit, but we didn't? And now they're sure this one will miss...
#6
Not to worry. This piece is just the "marker" piece. It's the next one that we need to watch. It's the Bad Boy - a ball of frozen methane ice holding a bunch of rocks together. As the methane ice melts, the rocks come free. THOSE will be the punishment the "pretenders" in Iran will receive.
/channeling Oslammer ben Loosing.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/18/2004 14:21 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Mucky,
You've discovered the secret of chaineys space program. Asteroids are lousy with hydrocarbons. Why do you think we are going to Mars. The rovers are equipped with DRILLS.
Beware of chainey's hitmen .. err Halliburton consultants.
Posted by: ed ||
03/18/2004 14:24 Comments ||
Top||
#8
PS. Do you know the FULL names of the Mars rovers? Spirit of Texaco and Exxon Opportunity.
Posted by: ed ||
03/18/2004 14:26 Comments ||
Top||
#9
LOL Ed! Excellent names too. I wonder if they would have financed the trip if allowed to name the suckers..... As a taxpayer I say go the hell for it. Better putting money on a stadium.
#10
Better than wasting money on a stadium name. Remember one of the very early internet myths that Coke was going to somehow make the moon like like their bottecap for 48 hrs? If they'd financed Apollo 20 & 21 I would have approved of a little advertorial.
#11
Yeah, what the hell is wrong with companies sponsoring space exploration? Its better than the taxpayer getting stuck with the bill. You got to admit if they were to find oil on Mars we would get there a hell of a lot faster.
Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge ||
03/18/2004 18:51 Comments ||
Top||
A security source said last Sunday that the Ministry of the Interior received from the Saudi Security Authorities 25 children. They were detained in Saudi Arabia at child care centers for illegally infiltrating Saudi territory via the child trafficking trade, which is active in Hajjah and Al-Mahweet Governorates.
"Child trafficking"?
These children, under the age of sixteen, are exploited as beggars and other unsuitable forms of work, resulting in them encountering physical and psychological harm. The source said that the families of some of the children are still not known.
"Other unsuitable forms of work"? Y'mean like camel jockeys and pleasure toys?
The Authority seeks to confront the phenomenon of smuggling poor Yemeni children and women, especially to Saudi. This phenomenon intensifies during the pilgrimage season. Poverty is one of the elements leading to children seeking work.
Yemen's government is socialist. The weak point of socialism is that you've got to have some swag before you can confiscate it and split it.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/18/2004 8:59:59 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
They're slaves. Remember the interview with John Rhys-Davies? He tells a story of his Dad pointing to a boat headed towards Arabia: "There are one or two boys on those boats, slaves, and the UN won't let me do anything about it."
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
03/18/2004 9:40 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Based on the article from several days ago, a large portion of the Yemeni GNP is flushed into the khat trade. I don't think that you can run a supply-side economy based on drug trade. Not much value added to keeping your population anesthetized.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/18/2004 11:02 Comments ||
Top||
#3
At next Friday's sermon, the mullahs ought to preach against Saudis who are involved in smuggling children. Do mullahs ever preach against any crimes that Saudis commit?
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
03/18/2004 11:42 Comments ||
Top||
#4
I already know that mullahs preach all the time against crimes that Saudi women commit. But do they ever preach against crimes that Saudi men commit?
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
03/18/2004 11:44 Comments ||
Top||
#5
I've heard everything about Khat from it the equivalent to 400 micrograms of LSD to it's the equivalent to 1 quart of 3.2 beer. Is there any research?
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) today announced that it is opening an office in London, and joining with embattled British citizens in their fight to restore their firearms rights. It is the first time an American firearm civil rights organization has opened an office on foreign soil. CCRKBA Chairman Alan M. Gottlieb has appointed veteran Conservative Party activist Greg Smith as the organizationâs European representative. "British citizens and gun owners from other European countries will be funding this effort," Gottlieb said. "Just as with Americaâs war against international terrorism, we are taking the fight against international gun control to our enemies. With the attack on gun rights becoming global, it is important to fight these battles on every continent before we find ourselves isolated from an important human civil right. "Extremist gun control measures have disarmed the British people," Gottlieb continued, "leaving them vulnerable to criminal assault. Incredibly, if they do defend themselves, they can be prosecuted and imprisoned. Since the United Kingdom banned privately owned handguns in 1997, gun crime has nearly doubled. What more appropriate place for the Citizens Committee to be than in the middle of this battleground, offering whatever help we can to British citizens in their efforts to take back their neighborhoods and make their communities safe once again?"
Gottlieb is traveling to London to help Smith open the office there. While there, he will meet with members of Parliament. "The British example," Smith said, "is conclusive proof to anyone who proposes gun control that it simply does not work. You can take guns away from law-abiding citizens, whose only desire is to protect their homes and families. However, our experience has proved that you cannot stop criminals, who are reportedly bringing guns into the country illegally, while honest citizens find it nearly impossible to even own a sporting shotgun."
"Gun control zealots in the United States contend that America should follow the British model," Gottlieb observed. "Now law-abiding British citizens are telling us that doesnât work. There is no more credible a source about the consequences of British disarmament than the citizens who have become the victims of their governmentâs policies, and the criminals those policies have unleashed." I would encourage all of you British Rantburgers to join this new chapter of the CCRKBA. Itâs an extremely effective organization of which I am a proud member.
AS INVESTIGATIONS into the Madrid attacks continued to point towards Islamic extremists today, Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi roundly accused the Basque separatist movement ETA of involvement, something his interior minister said boded ill for the rest of Europe. "I am convinced that Aznar called it right," said Berlusconi, a staunch ally of Spain's prime minister Jose Maria Aznar. Spanish public opinion turned against Aznar's government after it appeared to rush to judgement in blaming ETA for the attacks, when evidence pointed to the involvement of Islamic extremists intent on revenge for Spain's support for the US-led war in Iraq. "I am convinced that in some way ETA had a role in the March 11 attacks. Let's look at it, the technique is too refined, the timing, the attacks happening at the same time," Berlusconi told reporters, adding that he was expressing a personal feeling and that he had "no proof".
Ummm... The timing is a hallmark of al-Qaeda operations...
"This whole story doesn't convince me. Deep down inside, I cannot get rid of the doubt that ETA had some role," said Berlusconi, though he did not rule out the involvement of Islamic extremists. Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu also inclined to the belief that an Islamic group may have had help from a domestic terrorist group, saying it was "very likely" that the bombers had local help. "It is difficult to imagine an operation like the Madrid attacks being carried out without the contribution of vast local involvement," Pisanu said in an interview with the Corriere della Sera daily.
Except that Spain has a vast local North African population...
"This concerns me because it would demonstrate that Islamic terrorism can find accomplices in Europe, not only on the extremist fringe of 17 million Muslim immigrants, but also in national terrorism." Italian anti-terrorist police have so far been unable to demonstrate links between left-wing and Islamic extremists in Italy. A leader of an outlawed Red Brigades faction arrested last year, Desdemona Lioce, claimed in a statement made after her arrest that disenfranchised Arabs were the "natural allies" of the "proletariat".
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/18/2004 14:17 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Damn, I not sure what to make of this. Any experte de Romas out there?
#3
They can add me too. I'm inclined to agree with Berlusconi, that a lot of things don't add up.
According to MEMRI the press release was not from Al Qaeda. It has all the hallmarks of a leftist, who may have converted to Islam. The jargon, doesn't ring true. I think, and I hope I'm proved wrong, that these statements emenating from the so called Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades are opportunistic rhethoric from some lunatics, who think they can spook the Europeans, and make political capital for the jihadis at the same time.
Leftists worldwide are gonna take away their red cards and McDonals/Heinz discount cards for this!
Posted by: badanov ||
03/18/2004 8:43:49 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
And the jihadis are very unhappy with that website you just linked. This was on Memri's news ticker yesterday: March 17, 2004
The website of Fatah's military arm al-Aqsa Brigades posted a notice for readers to participate in hacking the 'biggest Zionist website that is responsible for the closure of many Palestinian sites and sites dealing with jihad,' and that at least 500 people were needed for the task. The site's url was not mentioned. (Http://www.kataebaqsa.org/arabic/autohtml.php?op=modload&name=join-us.Html&file=index)
(Yes, I passed on a warning.)
Posted by: Kathy K ||
03/18/2004 18:33 Comments ||
Top||
.... As for Spain-and I say this with real remorse given their suffering and national catastrophe-not since Theodosius and the late Romans paid their annual bribe money to Attila have we seen such success in bullying and terrifying a Western nation. It is right off the pages of Gibbon in his discussion of how weak, wealthy, and fearful Westerners paid Goths and Huns before Adrianople and Chalons. And this is the beginning not the end of it, as we shall soon see.
All Americans feel terrible about the Spanish mass murder, but how can we express our solidarity when the reaction is to repudiate both us and Spaniards who were allied with us? And contrast the American example: 26 days after 9-11 we were in Afghanistan attacking the Taliban and al Qaeda; the Spaniards n 48 hours were turning out to apologize. A sad day for the West..... Once we withdraw some troops, once they begin to fathom the jam theyâve gotten themselves into through appeasing Middle East dictators and large, unassimilated Islamic minorities, and once-- terribile dictu--terrorists divert their attention to such easier targets, they will slowly and ever so insidiously began to talk about NATO, the Atlantic alliance, and the friendship of the United States.
The irony? George Bush was the best friend that the Europeans ever had. He really believes in making sacrifices for Western Civilization and promoting, not just talking about, our shared vision of liberal democracy that after all began in Europe. His muscular action and courage to address the corrupt status quo in the Middle East (whether Arafat, Saddam, or the Taliban) allows Euros to triangulate like never before, playing good cop to our bad, and touting their soft power as the civilized alternative to us. The Euro diplomats and elites Iâve talked to are more worried about our growing pique than promulgating their own. ....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
03/18/2004 8:15:58 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
What a great read. Read the whole enchilada, es muy buena. Even the Greeks come out looking good.
Farce - hat tip: JWarrior - LGF Commenter
World News TheDailyFarce.com - Marcelo Lewin
A letter from an Islamic group calling themselves the âServants of Allah the Powerful and Wiseâ threatening France of an improbable terrorist attack, was received by the French Interior Minister, Jack Puppon. "It is with great displeasure that I announce that this letter is in my possession." Stated Jack Puppon, "We are working closely with United States intelligence agencies to see if this is a real group and to asses the probability of an actual attack by them." The letter states that France was incorrect in banning headscarves in their state run schools. The minister of the interior released the letterâs content.
Dear Arrogant People,
Let us introduce ourselves. We are the Servants Of Allah the Powerful and Wise. For more information on our thoughts and believes, please do visit our web site located at http://www.theservantsofallahthepowerfulandwise.net (We tried to get â.comâ but it was already taken by some other Islamic organization. Please donât confuse us with them, they do nice things, we donât.)
Now on to the main reason for this letter. How dare you ban headscarves from your schools! We donât agree with this. Because of this, we wish you one million years of bad luck, 10,000 monkeys in your stomach, 2,000 shoes on your face and brace yourself for the greatest attack on your country ever!
This letter is a warning. Either remove that silly law or face the wrath of SOATPAW (sorry too long to write out, Iâm in a hurry).
Nonetheless, you have 48 hours to change this stupid law.
Sincerely,
The entire team at SOATPAW
webmaster@theservantsofallahthepowerfulandwise.net
French President Chirac announced that their terror alert system would be raised 2 notches, from âOK TO BE ARROGANTâ to âBE HUMBLEâ.
"We raised the level just in case." Stated President Chirac, "We must not act arrogantly at times like these. We may soon have to start saying nice things about the United States just in case we do get attacked and require their help in saving our behind yet one more time." The terror alert will remain at âBE HUMBLEâ for at least another 2 weeks. If the threat is found to be invalid, then everyone in France will be able to go back to being arrogant again. Click the link and check out the French Terror Advisory System...
Posted by: .com ||
03/18/2004 6:22:08 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Yes, the French Terror Advisory System is funny. Go see it.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
03/18/2004 8:35 Comments ||
Top||
#2
That is hilarious! They should put that chart on a t-shirt.
Posted by: Dar ||
03/18/2004 9:49 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Darn straight!
Posted by: David Pruitt ||
03/18/2004 10:14 Comments ||
Top||
#4
"If we receive credible intellegence that an attack is imminent, the terror alert will be raised to bend over"
Posted by: Michael ||
03/18/2004 13:25 Comments ||
Top||
#5
I don't know...the whole thing is pretty unfunny. They're trying too hard, or something. Everyone and his dog wants to be The Onion these days, and very very few have the insight on what it takes to make funny satire.
Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Wednesday described the U.S. occupation of Iraq as "a fiasco" and suggested American voters should follow the example set by Spain and change their leadership by supporting Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts for president in November. "I said during the campaign I hoped Spain and the Spaniards would be ahead of the Americans for once," Zapatero said in an interview on Onda Cero radio. "First we win here, we change this government, and then the Americans will do it, if things continue as they are in Kerryâs favor."
I think we all know what the reaction would have been if Bush had made remarks about the "need to block Zapatero" in the recent election.
Zapatero, whose Socialist Party swept the governing Popular Party out of office in elections Sunday, just three days after terrorist attacks killed 201 people in Madrid, also rejected President Bushâs request that he reconsider his plans to withdraw Spainâs troops from Iraq unless the United Nations is given control of the country. "Iâll listen to Mr. Bush. But my position is very clear and firm," Zapatero said. "The occupation is a fiasco," he said. "There have almost been more killed after the war, from a year ago, than during the war. In the end, the occupying forces have not handed over control of the situation to the U.N."
The Spanish force currently in Iraq is scheduled to come home in April, and a replacement contingent had its farewell ceremony Wednesday at a Spanish military base. Officials said no decision had been made to delay or cancel the transfer. Zapatero said he looked forward to "a profound debate" with the Bush administration about how to effectively combat terrorism. "Fighting terrorism with bombs, with Tomahawk missiles, isnât the way to beat terrorism, but the way to generate more radicalism," he said. Zapateroâs implicit endorsement of Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee, was a surprising public repudiation of a sitting U.S. president by the incoming leader of an allied country and fellow NATO member. Members of Spainâs Popular Party -- which will become the opposition when Zapatero, a 43-year-old lawyer, takes office next month -- immediately criticized Zapateroâs remarks, saying they demonstrated his inexperience in diplomacy. "I think that was extremely un-careful," said Gustavo de Aristegui, a Popular Party member of parliament who is expected to become the oppositionâs spokesman on foreign affairs. "A prime minister cannot say that -- maybe an opposition leader can say that."
The Spanish interior minister, Angel Acebes, offered no new details about the investigation Wednesday, telling reporters that it had reached "a decisive phase." The Spanish are being assisted by Moroccan investigators and by other European intelligence agencies. The FBI is helping with fingerprint and background checks on some suspects. Also Wednesday, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that investigators believe the explosives used in the attacks may have been stolen from a factory in Burgos, north of Madrid, and that the detonators had come from a nearby rock quarry. That would suggest a high degree of local knowledge and some sophisticated planning for the attacks.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
03/18/2004 12:37:48 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
You know.... its almost as if Zapatero and Al-Q were in cahoots all along....
#4
I think we are witnessing a severe "ego" problem here. This guy, winning this election, now thinks, he can control the USA? and our election? Sheeezzzz -- the ETA will get him in a minute, cause they now know, he will blame it on the "terrorists," and he will be worshipping with those 72 virgins and never even know what happened.....
#5
I've been watching this guy. His high forehead shows a brain. But his unformed jaw shows, to me, a guy who has had a contant argument throughout his life. He's not a happy camper. I would guess a foul mouthed type. Just guessing!
#6
"There have almost been more killed after the war, from a year ago, than during the war."
Sure, Zappo, but how many of them were fed into plastic shredders? How many recent rape complaints against Uday and Qusay?
"In the end, the occupying forces have not handed over control of the situation to the U.N."
Yes, we can all learn from the UN's sterling performance in Srebenice, Rwanda, Lebanon, Somalia, ad nauseum.
#7
Who knew you could hate a guy so much in so short a time?
I'd never heard of Zappo until Sunday night and I've already made a dartboard with his evil picture on it!
The man is possessed by Satan, I tell ya!
(Have you seen those Exorcist eyes?!?)
If his head spun all the way around, it would *not* surprise me!
Posted by: Jen ||
03/18/2004 2:06 Comments ||
Top||
#8
He is your basic tranzi socialist. Not to be taken seriously. I suggest he take a trip to the Gaza strip to see what a UN run Iraq would end up like.
#10
I can't make up my mind whether Zappo looks "evil" or just clueless. I don't think reality is going to end up being too kind to this clown.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
03/18/2004 6:21 Comments ||
Top||
#11
Yes Bush has to go. Vote for someone else please. I know a lot of you will probably vote for him but please please reconsider and do the world a favour. Thats all I have time for today as I would like to catch up on my reading am reading 6 books.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
03/18/2004 9:27 Comments ||
Top||
#14
GK--Hmm...If we put that on it, our "small" will be XXL!
Anti--Make sure you color within the lines. Yeah, I know, I know--I'll save you the time and effort: "whatEVER".
Posted by: Dar ||
03/18/2004 9:57 Comments ||
Top||
#15
Antiwar - 6 books am impressed. Ill reconsider my political allegiances to but am in UK so cant vote for Bush anyway. It must be nice to be so literate wish I was too.
#17
Antiwar, oh, yeah, I'll really reconsider my vote for Bush...AS IF a moron like you could sway me.
I'm tempted to tell you to forget the books; learning is clearly lost on you.
Obviously, you can't do justice to 2 careers, so perhaps your RB posting career has to be sacrificed...
You did remind me to not only vote for Bush again, but to send the Bush-Cheney 2004 people even more money! Thank you!
Posted by: Jen ||
03/18/2004 10:24 Comments ||
Top||
#18
I say ignore this turkey and keep contacts with the adults in Spain. Since Zippy is rooting for a change in the US gov, maybe Bush should "root" for a change in Spain. And since a week ago, we know what works in Spain. Too bad Bush isn't evil as the Socialists smear him.
Posted by: ed ||
03/18/2004 10:43 Comments ||
Top||
#19
BTW, Spain deal with it:
One of five wills of suicide bombers read out in Ansar al Sunnaâs video warned "the brokers of the West" that jihad would continue "until we get back [the Jerusalem mosque of] Al-Aqsa and Andalucia [Spain]". The videos appear to offer some support to claims that al-Qaedaâs ideology is motivating, if not directing, the attacks.
Posted by: ed ||
03/18/2004 10:48 Comments ||
Top||
#21
This is wonderful, you know because Americans have a backbone and when we get a whif that someone like this is meddling in OUR elections we get pissed. Bush is really liked by the average american - not the elitist in NYC or San Fran (ones who view the world as surrender monkeys in eruo). He talks straight and does not have an air of pretense to him. This is why we AMERICANS like Bush, when he talks straight and not very formal eurotrash squirm but we AMERICANS look with pride to the average joe in the white house.
I am confident the Bush will be re-elected, especially if Nader enters the race.
America is at war and Bush is the right person at the right time and Americans understand this. Appeasement will not work, way too many american boys have given the ulitmate so we and the freedom loving people around the world can be free.
We will never go back to appeasement, at the most we will become isolationists and even more determined to eliminate threats.
These left leaning eurotrash had no problem with the US as long as we were eruocentric and taking care of their concerns but when America acts for herself, now this is a problem. I am sick and tired of this duality. Bush had is right - either you are with us or you are with the terrorists. In this fight there is no inbetween, Non-Aligned countries.
And for all that think Kerry is so popular because of what you saw on tv recently. Keep in mind that these were primaries of Democratic voters ONLY and their turnout was pathetic (compared to the numbers of registered democratic voters).
Anit-War - you really need to get a more clear reasoning instead of spewing bs.
And for those who will say Bush stole the election - learn how a prez is elected. Bush won the electoral votes and thus the presidency. Of historical note all Gore had to was win his own home state of Tennese and he would be president and not Bush regardless of Florida. But no Bush won on Gore's home turf.
Posted by: Dan ||
03/18/2004 11:47 Comments ||
Top||
#22
Antiwar - it's one thing to read 6 books, a whole 'nother thing to comprehend and understand them.
#26
#11 & 15. Bulldog,I don't think Antiwar can vote in US elections either. There's a rule that says anyone who spells favor with a "u" (favour)is automaticaly disqualified.:)
BTW glad to have you commenting regularly again.
#29
Is it really Zapatero, or is it more along the lines of Zippodildo??? At this point, the name is one thing, the actions another. Listen, nutcase, you've just got the job. You haven't even gotten settled in yet, and you're trying to bother other people. We CAN take you out - a lot easier than Al-Q took out the trains and got you elected. We can do things that make your economy fold like a flattened Japanese screen in a hurricane. Would you like us to close our NATO Military bases? Why not? Rota? Ditto! Oh, and all those nice overseas contracts you won in Iraq? When they expire... Ask your buddies the French how much it cost them last year when the US quit buying their schtuff, and didn't come visiting. None of that was even HINTED at by our government - it was all accomplished by the ordinary joe-on-the-street American, but France lost BILLIONS. Care to join them? You want Gibraltar handed over: we just might have to back the Brits (and the folks of Gibraltar, that don't want anything to do with you) on that issue, since you've been so dense. Why, we might even help them replace some of that useless artillery in the caves with some up-to-date weaponry - perhaps some leftover GAU-8 cannon and sufficient ammunition to rip the entire Spanish mainland to shreds twice a day for a year.
Be very, very careful what you wish for, Senor Zapatero - you might get it. Then you'd just be Senor Zero.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/18/2004 22:18 Comments ||
Top||
#30
Thanks for the input, but we make our own decisions here, despite what your friend Mr. Kerry might tell you. You have talked to him, right?
Paz, Senor Dickweed.
Spain's defeated Popular Party said Wednesday it will sue Oscar-winning director Pedro Almodovar for repeating rumors that the party had prepared a coup attempt ahead of last weekend's elections. Ignacio Calabuig, spokesman for outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's party, said the complaint for "slander" would be filed with a Madrid court.
Cheez, Ted Rall's worse than this every day.
At a packed screening of his latest film, "Bad Education," Almodovar told reporters he'd heard rumors that the Popular Party planned a takeover last Saturday, the eve of the elections it lost. "If confirmed it would be horrendous," El Mundo newspaper quoted the double Oscar winner as saying, putting his comments on its front page.
Of course he's apologized since then, right?
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Angel Acebes said Almodovar's comments were "ludicrous" and didn't "merit respect." The leader of the victorious Socialists, Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said he, too, heard rumors but gave them no credence.
Taking lessons from Howie Dean -- just repeat the rumor.
In his defense, Almodovar said in a statement Wednesday that "I just echoed a sea of rumors" but never suggested they were true.
"¡No, no! ¡Ciertamente no!"
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/18/2004 11:59:41 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
pedro al modovar--guess who this mozarab's ancestors were--the fruit of islam no doubt-- if you catch my drift
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
03/18/2004 4:45 Comments ||
Top||
#2
A mozarab was a person who remained Christian while living in occupied Spain. Muslims living in liberated Spain were called Mudejares.
EFL
The wife of the Democratic candidate for president of the United States, John Kerry, appears to be giving money [indirectly - kind of like the way Saudi gives to Hamas]
to the Council on American-Islamic Relations......the Howard Heinz Endowment (which Teresa F. Heinz chairs) gave some $4 million to the Tides Center during the period 1998-2001, or about $1 million a year. In addition, the Vira I. Heinz Endowment (where Teresa sits on the board) gave $75,000 to the Tides Foundation in 1998... The Tides Center and the Tides Foundation both make up part of what are called the "Tides Family of Organizations" (leave it to the far left to use the word family in this way), as is Groundspring.org. CAIR is among the organizations Tides has announced it is "privileged" to support. So here is the unfortunate linkage: John KerryâTeresa HeinzâHeinz EndowmentsâTides Family of OrganizationsâCAIR. (March 17, 2004)
#4
SAD!! But understandable.. She has a husband who HATES America and will do anything in his power to to bring us to the "bargining table" with these killers!! He does'nt give a flying F%#& for this country all he and she wants is ABSOLUTE POWER. They are akin to the, excuse the language, Clintons. When is America going to WAKE UP!!!
Posted by: Barry ||
03/20/2004 0:48 Comments ||
Top||
from NewsMax - EFL / Fair Use
Title link point to the first item... Kerry Caught in Whopper Trying to Get the Cuban Vote
John Kerry doesnât just flip-flop in his desperate attempt to be all things to all voters; he even makes things up. In an article Sunday in the Miami Herald that an alert reader just sent us, the soft-on-communism Washington waffler, pandering for the prized Cuban-American vote in crucial Florida, claimed: "Iâm pretty tough on Castro, because I think heâs running one of the last vestiges of a Stalinist secret police government in the world."
The Herald reported:
"Then, reaching back eight years to one of the more significant efforts to toughen sanctions on the communist island, Kerry volunteered: âAnd I voted for the Helms-Burton legislation to be tough on companies that deal with him.â ...
"There is only one problem: Kerry voted against it," the newspaper noted. ...more...
Video Shows Kerry Conducting âWar Crimesâ Interviews
A 1971 videotape shows Sen. John Kerry taking an active roll at the infamous Winter Soldier Investigation by personally grilling Vietnam vets about alleged war crimes they committed. The tape, obtained by Vietnam war historian B.G. Burkett, apparently contradicts Kerryâs claim that he was a mere observer at the Winter Soldier hearings - an event bankrolled by Jane Fonda that Kerry later cited in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations committee. "I was looking at the tape tonight," Burkett told WABC Radioâs Steve Malzberg on Tuesday. "It shows that prior to putting these people on the air, Kerry is interviewing them." According to Burkett - whose book "Stolen Valor" debunks much of the disparaging mythology perpetuated by the anti-war movement about Vietnam veterans - the tape shows Kerry rehearsing the Winter Soldier witnesses. ...more... This is going to be a very interesting election season...
Posted by: .com ||
03/18/2004 2:56:14 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
No it ain't. Its going to be a long noisy, nasty effort that will be a foregone conclusion by say June. It will be annoying as all hell.
Posted by: Ben ||
03/18/2004 5:32 Comments ||
Top||
#2
It'll be fun to watch kerry put his big fat foot in his big fat mouth again,I see him becoming the new Howard Dean, A great hope for the Dems who ends up looking more and more stupid every day, maybe it'll all end in a loud scream like deans carrear did :)
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/18/2004 8:16 Comments ||
Top||
#4
There are SOOOO many thinks that paint JF Kerry in a bad light that I think the DNC is having buyers remorse. He can't hide from all his votes in the Senate and the Anti-war stuff forever.
#5
You gotta feel sorry for his handlers/aids, though. When he gets ready for the day and they need to define his position on an issue to juxtapose Bush's, they won't be able to trust what the guy says now, and they will have to research his entire voting record for responses to his socialist views, and his inability to protect America.
You gotta hand it to the democrats. They have nominated someone who is totally not Bush: deceitful, petty and socialist. All features which are recursive of each other.
#6
For the Helms-Burton legislation Kerry seems to be having problems remembering which side he was flipped on that day.....
Its been proven that 'Winter Soldier' was a fraud. Some of the vets were never in Vietnam and some were imposters (at least the real vets whos name and record they were using say they were never there [at the hearings]... have never been to Chicago [where the hearings were held]...).
This whould seem to indicate that Kerry was 'rehearsing' the whole thing and knew that it was all a fraud. That the entire thing was a fraud and John Kerry's testimony to congress was an intentional flat-out lie.
Of course the media and the democrats will claim this is all in the past and has no bearing on the present and we need to address the 'important' issues like 'was Bush AWOL back in 71....'
#8
I think Kerry's handlers (with the help of a lot of free advertising from our unbiased media) have done a great job of attacking Bush and propping up Kerry, considering what they have to work with. However, Kerry himself looks like he's playing Twister.
Posted by: Matt ||
03/18/2004 11:43 Comments ||
Top||
#9
I think Kerry only plays twister naked with Ted Kennedy, while Hillary shoots spitwads at them naked butts
#10
He should've been smart and just stayed the junior senator from Massachusetts who nobody cared about or paid attention to, including his constituents, of which I am one. Nobody gave a shit about John Kerry. It wasn't a bad gig. Now everything he has ever said, ever done, ever voted on is going to be right out there for the whole country to see.
By the time November rolls around this clown will make Al Gore look like Thomas Jefferson.
#11
Wow! so many comments about """"OUR"""" presumptive "democratic" or should I enlist the "excuse my "french", please note the NON capitilization", of the the "F" word!
Yes Ben, I believe the DNC must continue to support the "rag-head" supporter only because his agenda is one of surrender and "lets try and live with "suicide bombrs" in Grand Central Station rather that " EXCUSE MY FRENCH" piss them of by killing them before they kill us: Do you remember the date "9-11" I certainly do.
Yes Frank Why, and I pose this rhetorical question, just as you do and with the same, I am sure, anger and frustration, HOW COME WE, AS AMERICAM CITIZENS CANNOT GET EQUAL TIME, ON ANY VENUE, I POSE THE QUESTION: COMMUNIST OR DEATH:: THEY LIVED WITH THAT FOR OVER 75 YEARS; IS, AND BE CAREFUL BEFORE YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION, ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT SO EVER WITH WHAT WE ARE FACING TODAY! NO WAY!!!! THE ISLAMISTS HAVE ONLY MANIPULATED, THE COMMUNIST PHILOSOPHY, INSTEAD OF A "GODDLESS" SOCIETY, TO ONE OF A SOCIETY "ie ALLAH ONLY" IS THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO BE::: WELL EXCUSE F%$#*&^ ME" I AM NOT NOW NOR WILL I EVER BE SUBSERVIANT TO SOME ASSH&%LO NAMED BIN ( YES HE HAS BIN- LADEN AND LADEN YES PROBABLY SCREWING EVERYTHING HE CAN GET HIS HANDS ON BEFORE WE GET OUR HANDS ON HIM....
TO CYBER-SARGE::: OH HOW RIGHT YOU ARE!!!!!
Posted by: Barry ||
03/21/2004 1:56 Comments ||
Top||
(abridged) John Kerry chose not to support our troops.
By Barbara Comstock
"I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it." â John Kerry, March 16, 2004
Perhaps this is one of John Kerryâs "nuanced" positions. Perhaps it sounds better in the original French. However, the English translation of the above is, "It depends upon what the meaning of âvoted forâ is." I really could not have said it any better myself. Read the whole thing - Ms. Comstock pretty much rolls the guy. Shame the "mainline" press hasnât said a peep about this howler of a quote.
Posted by: OldSpook ||
03/18/2004 1:27:34 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I'm beginning to think Kerry is a big time "shrimper" as well. Every time he opens his mouth....there's his foot. "Mmmmmmmmmmm, that's good foot. It has a certain...I dunno what."
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
03/18/2004 2:06 Comments ||
Top||
#2
VP Cheney mentioned Kerry's "voted for before voting against line" in his speech yesterday. Got a big laugh.
Continued exposure and just maybe the electorate will catch on to this weasel. Then again most of the people "pulling the lever" at the polls will not tune in until after labor day.
via NewsMax - EFL / Fair Use Cheney Blasts Kerry on Voting Record, Claims of Foreign Support
Melanie Hunter, CNSNews.com
"American voters are the ones charged with determining the outcome of this election, not unnamed foreign leaders," Vice President Dick Cheney said today in response to Sen. John Kerryâs claims that foreign leaders the Democrat spoke to have privately endorsed him for the presidency. Speaking to an audience at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Cheney also challenged Kerryâs voting record on the Iraq war, the military, and his comments on the cooperation of U.S. allies. This is some fun stuff - delivered in his calm deliberate manner, chainney exposes Skeeryâs flip-flops and lies misstatements. Itâs almost unfair to waffles everywhere, except perhaps the Belgian variety, heh. Enjoy.
Posted by: .com ||
03/18/2004 1:01:05 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Brothers Judd noted this as:
"Gettin' Butt-Whipped By A Fat Old Bald Guy With A Bum Ticker"
heh heh
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/18/2004 8:20 Comments ||
Top||
#2
It was a brilliant speech. Kerry must have shit his pants. "Bring it On". More Cheney!!!!More of that!!!
He's so good at cut'n through the BS. Nameing names, calling a spade a spade.
via NewsMax
A secret CIA videotape shows that the Clinton administration had pinpointed the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden a year before the 9/11 attacks, but declined to kill him because of White House orders that he should be taken alive. The video, obtained and broadcast by NBC News, "illustrates an enormous opportunity the Clinton administration had to kill or capture bin Laden," the network reported Tuesday. Images filmed in Afghanistan by CIA Predator Drones show a man clad in white robes who towers over his entourage. (Bin Laden is 6â 5" tall.)
The film was shot over Tarnak Farm, the walled compound where bin Laden was believed to live at the time. The layout of the buildings in the Predator video perfectly matches previous photos and diagrams of Tarnak Farm prepared by U.S. intelligence. The clip left CIA analysts convinced they had located the man who in 1998 had bombed U.S. embassies in East Africa and whose agents, four years earlier, had detonated a bomb in the parking garage of the World Trade Center. "Itâs dynamite. Itâs putting together all of the pieces, and that doesnât happen every day," said William Arkin, a former intelligence officer and now military analyst for NBC. Though President Clinton has boasted repeatedly that he issued orders to kill bin Laden, no action was taken when the White House finally got its chance. Why not?
Gary Schroen, a former CIA station chief in Pakistan, told NBC that the White House had in fact ordered the CIA to do just the opposite - take bin Laden alive or not at all. The order "reduced the odds from, say, a 50 percent chance down to, say, 25 percent chance that we were going to be able to get him," Schroen told the network. The directive effectively killed the plan and, along with it, the U.S.âs best chance to prevent the 9/11 attacks. To listen to ex-President Clinton explain why he turned down an offer to have bin Laden arrested, Click Here. And yet another Clintonian Myth bites the dust.
Posted by: .com ||
03/18/2004 3:22:56 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#3
Gary Schroen, a former CIA station chief in Pakistan, told NBC that the White House had in fact ordered the CIA to do just the opposite - take bin Laden alive or not at all.
What would one expect from a president that treated terrorism as a law enforcement matter??
#5
Why on earth did'nt I think of this earlier? Lets get the ACLU to ask the pointed questions of our Ex "thank allah" Commander in Chief, sexual predator, and whatever else comes out on the paper which is put behind you in the smallest room in the house. What did he know: When did he know it: and probably the most damming question of all, WHY DID HE SAY IN BRAZIL SOME MANY MONTHS AGO THE HE ONLY WISHES "9-11 HAD TAKEN PLACE ON HIS WATCH" What on earth was he talking about!! But of course!!!! How foolish can I be!!!!!
Posted by: Barry ||
03/21/2004 0:33 Comments ||
Top||
EFL
A terrorist strike on American soil before the November election would affect public opinion in a way that favors the re-election of President Bush over Senator Kerry of Massachusetts, a new poll suggests. In a nationwide survey conducted for the New York Sun, 39% of likely voters said they would be more likely to vote for Mr. Bush in the event of an attack, while 30% said they would be more likely to vote for Mr. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee. More Republicans, 71%, said they would be motivated to go to the polls to support their candidate in the event of an attack. That compared to the 58% of Democrats, who said an attack would make them more likely to vote for Mr. Kerry. Registered independent voters also said an attack would make them more likely to vote for Mr. Bush than for Mr. Kerry, 34% to 24%. The Bush and Kerry campaigns declined to comment on the poll results. My comment: Weâre not tapas-eating appeasement monkeys.
Posted by: someone ||
03/18/2004 2:22:42 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Not news, but interesting background on the recent news of the need to selectively call up technical people. Also some good quotes. Go read the whole thing.
They tote M16s, but their job is to jump out of helicopters and set up packet-based wireless networks. "Whatâs funny about using Microsoft Chat," he adds with a sly smile, "is that everybody has to choose an icon to represent themselves. Some of these guys havenât bothered, so the program assigns them one. Weâll be in the middle of a battle and a bunch of field artillery colonels will come online in the form of these big-breasted blondes. Weâve got a few space aliens, too." The further down the line I go, the easier it is to see the holes in the system. "Who the fuck do we look like, Lewis and Clark?" Private Jared Johnson blurts out when I ask him how we ended up lost in the Iraqi desert.
Posted by: phil_b ||
03/18/2004 12:54:44 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
This is a fun read - and exactly the way the Military would have to do it without making everything itself -- and haven't we had enough with the $600 hammers and toilet seats - i.e. everything custom made and spec'ed to withstand 500 G's?
Cobbling it all together is what you do when it's pretty much all available - somewhere - just not all avaiable in a single convenient catalog of solutions... like the real world. It just takes brains, innovative thinking, and some gardcore geeks. We got 'em - in spades.
Things go right, things go wrong. People encounter the unexpected and improvise. Shit happens. Toilet paper appears. They adapt. They overcome.
The only problem is the author, Joshua Davis. Mr Davis (Not to be confused with RB's Mr Davis - who exhibits far more class!) seems hell-bent on whining, disparaging creativity and "can do" attitudes, or off-handedly ridiculing what he himself describes as a "revolution in military affairs."
Revolutions are messy chaotic affairs. This one was no different and it was, indeed, revolutionary. As the story clearly demonstrates, a surprisingly few individuals with the right skills and creative mindset in the pivot points can do some amazing shit. Only in an open society would all of these qualities and decisions meet in such a nexus.
About to miss his ride, he begs for a lift to catch his disappearing convoy. Without a horn, he must lean out, flail his arms and scream: "Stop you goddamn motherfucking bastards!" I finally scream. It's good old-fashioned Army communication.
It worked.
Indeed - they can do that, too. So thanks, Joshua for the info, now fuck off, weenieboy.
Thx for the post - this is the kind of story that warm's an old geek's heart!!! 8-)
#4
Hehe, its always really hard to figure out just how much goes into black ops even in the US where stuff is "usually" reported to the pentagon and GAO. Theres basically an official black ops project list and theres the list that no one ever even gets to hear about even in passing.
#6
Um, the $600 hammers most likely did go to buy hammers. Its overbilling and it easy when the receipt is a million items long and the hammers are listed as HA56801-bp instead of Hammer.
The whole thing came to light when someone finally recognized, or cross-indexed the names with the numbers.
#7
Anybody know if this whiner was ever in the military? I suspect not, because if he had been (as so many Rantburgians have already recognized), he'd know this is exactly why duct tape ("100-mph tape") was invented. Jeebus, Joshua, war doesn't go according to a production schedule. You want planning and time lines, buy a box of cake mix.
And, just for accuracy's sake, there never was a $600 hammer. It is more or less a political urban legend - a bit of truth, some conflated facts and a good story:
Steven Kelman, professor of public policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, U, National Review, 12/7/98:
"It was an accounting artifact. The government bought the hammer - originally $15 - "bundled" in a bulk purchase of many different spare parts. Because of contract accounting rules, when the contractor apportioned its allowed expenses (comment: these are things like R & D, overhead, etc - see Federal Acquisition Regs), the hammer picked up the same amount of additional expenses ($420) as all the other parts included in the purchase, making the total "cost" of the hammer $435. Later news reports inflated the price and rounded it off at $600."
Kelman points out that, because of the accounting rules, the hammer received the same amount of overhead charges as jet engine - "but no one ever says, 'Gee, what a good deal the government got on that engine!'"
I haven't researched many of the other cases, but I do know that the $2000 toilet seat for the USN P-3 Orion sub-hunting plane was pretty much the same case.
Posted by: Sofia ||
03/18/2004 12:25 Comments ||
Top||
#8
Good article, too bad it was written by a preening weenie.
Posted by: Carl in N.H ||
03/18/2004 13:25 Comments ||
Top||
#10
Despite his biases, the author makes being a patriotic geek seem pretty cool. Seems to me this article will help, not hurt recruiting the right sorts of people.
#7
Someone did a nasty, and ran. I can't blame them for running - this has a putrid stench to it. Some mothers' children have absolutely NO manners whatsoever. I would be ashamed...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/18/2004 22:49 Comments ||
Top||
#5
as the first LEGITIMATE ranter to post, to those who don't understand what this moron is doing:
apparently he's too stupid to know that companies pay to ensure that their food products are Kosher. Sort of like how companies pay to make sure their electrical products are UL Listed.
So, he calls these costs a "tax."
So, this is a guy simply blinded by two things: hating Jews and being REALLY REALLY stupid. A horrible combination of afflictions! hahahaha!
A Claremont McKenna psychology professor vandalized her own car last week and falsely reported the damages as a hate crime against her, police said Wednesday. Kerri Dunn, who spoke at a free speech seminar March 9, reported to police after the lecture that her car had been vandalized - tires slashed, windows broken and spray painted with racial epithets. Police, however, say two witnesses have come forward claiming they saw Dunn vandalizing her own vehicle. The incident prompted all five of the Claremont Colleges to cancel classes March 10 for teach-ins and rallies against hate crimes. More than 1,000 people attended an evening rally at Claremont McKenna, where students pushed for racial and ethnic tolerance and Dunn was one of the speakers. "Very admirably, the college community came together," Claremont McKenna President Pamela Gann said. "But to have within the community someone who is part of the investigation and questioned is repulsive to the values of the community."
Along with the vandalism, Dunn reported $1,700 in property missing from her car. The epithets on Dunnâs car included derogatory remarks about blacks and Jews. Police said Wednesday that Dunn could be charged with filing a false police report but said it was unlikely that she would be charged herself with a hate crime. Dunn could not be reached for comment Wednesday. "As far as we have been able to determine, the only possible charge - unless the District Attorney knows something we donât know - would be filing a false police report, which is a misdemeanor," Claremont police Lt. Stan Van Horn said. Dunnâs contract with Claremont McKenna ends in June, but administrators will consider whether she should continue teaching at the school. "No decision has been made at this time," Gann said. Why wasnât she given tenure on the spot?
Gann said the college will honor its agreement to pay for a rental car for Dunn so that she can drive to work. The college has offered to pay for the car repairs. Is Claremont a publically funded institution? If so then taxpayers just sponsored her vandalism.
Dunn was arrested by the Lincoln Police Department on September 29, 2000 on suspicion of shoplifting, possessing stolen property, refusing to comply with a police officerâs orders among other charges, records show. All of the charges, which are misdemeanors, were dropped except for the shoplifting charge. She was found guilty and fined $200, according to criminal records. In September 1999, Dunn was cited on suspicion of driving on a suspended license and failing to appear for a court hearing. She was found guilty of the first charge and paid a $50 fine, records show. I see the defense case building before my very eyes.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/18/2004 2:31:21 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Why wasnât she given tenure on the spot?
LOL!!!
Posted by: B ||
03/18/2004 14:47 Comments ||
Top||
#2
I see the defense also, innocent by reason of skin color. Blacks cant be racist against blacks, only whites can. You're free, get out!
Posted by: Live to Ride ||
03/18/2004 14:53 Comments ||
Top||
#3
She is white. She is a white woman from Nutley, NJ. What a dingbat. Anything for the cause!!
Posted by: dick ||
03/18/2004 15:03 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Well! After that little episode I will not allow her to fly in my plane!
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/18/2004 15:54 Comments ||
Top||
#5
If you can read legalese, she's fired. The lawyers are trying to figure out whether it's immediate or just a contract non-renewal. If you've ever been involved in something like this, you know it can get expensive fast, so you keep your mouth shut and do what the lawyers tell you to.
There have been several other (about 8) racial incidents on the campuses in the past year and that is why there was the over-reaction to this incident. Claremont McKenna is a private institution and is a rather conservative for an American institution of higher education. This is actually an excellent lesson for the students.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
03/18/2004 16:46 Comments ||
Top||
#6
The Claremont Colleges are all private. I used to live nearby.
Posted by: Bill ||
03/18/2004 16:55 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Lady Claremont McKenna must stay and teach white racists to obey the law of land and whatever discriminated jewish or african-american minorities suffer, must not be ignored.
She has the right to sue College, Students, Professors and the rest of Whites for terrible stress she went thru by teaching diversities and tolerances!
I believe that she noticed nonacceprance of her teachingsa on the faces of some white racists-bigots and it triggered her nervous break!
Posted by: Joel Lieberman ||
03/18/2004 19:18 Comments ||
Top||
#8
A lot of people try to think outside the box but my brain is sort of claustrophobic so it refuses to return to the box for days at a time - and without mind altering substances. That said, I can't make heads or tails out of comment number seven. I'm not curious enough to sniff my son's model glue as an aid to cryptography.
Oh well, maybe I missed something important that was incoherently rendered. Of to the John Kerry meme-creation chamber for a constitutional. Anyone seen the sports page? How about the crossword?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/18/2004 22:01 Comments ||
Top||
Offended Muslims are demanding that the FCC do something about an "Islamophobic" skit that aired on Los Angeles radio station KFI-AM last week. The Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-L.A.) said it has filed complaints with both the Federal Communications Commission and Clear Channel Communications, after a "pretend Muslim" on the Bill Handel show suggested that Muslims have sex with animals, avoid bathing and are obsessed with killing Jews. CAIR-L.A. said it asked the radio station to apologize for the skit, but the station has refused to do so. Right on!
"While we understand and appreciate the concept of comic satire, this skit obviously crossed the line from comedy to outright bigotry and racism that could negatively impact the lives of ordinary American Muslims," said CAIR-L.A. Communications Director Sabiha Khan.
That statement shows they don't really get the concept...
Khan said the KFI program contained some of the most "hate-filled and Islamophobic statements reported to CAIR in recent years." In her letter to the FCC, Khan wrote: "Increased ratings should not be obtained at the expense of any culture or religion. We fully respect and value freedom of speech, including for Handel, however, these Islamophobic comments are outrageous and hurtful, and only serve to increase animosity and hatred against the American Muslim community. No doubt, such bigotry would not, and should not, be tolerated if it were directed toward any other ethnic or religious group." I doubt it. Anyways, whatâs the fuss over? This, not EFL âcause itâs too darn funny:
KFI-AM Bill Handel Show : With us is that great constitutional scholar -- the Iraqi constitutional scholar -- Muhammad Barak Farud Kaffi: (phonetic spelling) Mr. Muhammad, would share with us some of the provisions in that constitution that very few of us are aware of.
"Muhammad": Yeah, I brought a couple of pages to read to you.
Handel: Okay.
"Muhammad": We, the people of Iraq, in order to form a more perfect union, promote injustice, ensure domestic anarchy, provide for a radical religious fundamentalist theocracy, promote the subjugation of women and secure the blessing of the almighty Allah for ourselves and our prosperity, do ordain and establish this interim constitution of the new Iraq. Sounds very familiar, doesnât it?
Handel : It does. Iâm surprised. You took a lot of it from the United States, didnât you, sir?
"Muhammad": Yes, and we will take more of your money.
Handel: Yes, thank you.
"Muhammad": Article One, Section One: All legislative powers are herein granted and shall be vested in Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, who will personally see to it that personal freedom and civil rights be set back 1,000 years.
Section Two: Death to the Jews, death to the Jews, death to the Jews.
Section Three: The House of Representatives shall be composed of [unintelligible] of American-hating terrorists who shall conduct a war of attrition for one thousand years or until the infidel is eradicated from the planet entirely, whichever comes first.
Section Four: Kill all Jews, death to Israel, kill all Jews.
(pause) Handel: Thank You.
"Muhammad" : Section Five.
Handel: Oh, thereâs more? Go ahead, yes, go ahead.
"Muhammad": Section Five, every martyr in the name of Allah will be given 72 virgins upon entry into heaven. The virgins, however, will not be hairy Iraqi women but lovely Japanese schoolgirls. This will be personally guaranteed in the name of Allah.
Section Six: The Hebrew must die, free Palestine, the Hebrew must die.
Section Seven: All western teachings shall be from this day banned throughout Iraq, especially the infidel custom of bathing on a regular basis.
Section Eight: Death to the Zionist conspiracy, death to the Zionist conspiracy, death to the Zionist conspiracy.
Section Nine: All homosexual marriages are expressly prohibited and are punishable by death; however civil unions between consenting Iraqi adults and loving camels and goats will be recognized.
Section Ten, See Sections Two, Four, Six, and Eight.
Posted by: growler ||
03/18/2004 11:30:38 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Sections two, four, six, eight, and ten were cribbed from CAIR publications, right?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
03/18/2004 11:51 Comments ||
Top||
#3
I listen every day to KFI: Handel in the AM and John & Ken in the PM. Biggest drivetime shows in the nation and they stream online. CAIR does NOT want to get on the bad side of these guys. Just ask Gray Davis
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/18/2004 12:15 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Wait a minute. Is this the Iraqi Constitution or the CAIR organizational goals? They sound the same. BTW I was wondering when CAIR would pop up from a spider hole with all the terrorists actions in Spain and Iraq.
Independent tests on controversial polio vaccines used in Nigeria show they are safe, Nigeria's president said Wednesday in a bid to ease Muslim fears the vaccines are contaminated with HIV and other deadly diseases. President Olusegun Obasanjo told reporters Wednesday the test results "categorically attest to the safety of the oral polio vaccine and clears it of contamination by HIV, cancerous agents and anti-fertility agents." Obasjanjo said the tests, conducted in South Africa, India and Indonesia, were consistent with the results of similar tests carried out earlier in Nigeria.
Mad mullahs aren't going to believe anything from India.
Many Muslims in the north have boycotted polio immunization campaigns because radical Islamic leaders said they were tainted with cancer-causing agents, the virus that causes AIDS and sterilizing chemicals in an alleged U.S. plot to decimate Muslim populations. A number of states in the north suspended polio immunization after one them, Kano, said its shamans scientists found trace levels of estadiol - a form of the female hormone estrogen - in samples of the vaccines used in Nigeria. Obasanjo said the next polio immunization campaign, on May 23-26, would be conducted with "the highest commitment and dedication possible" to halt the spread of polio in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the last reservoirs of the disease worldwide. Mohammed Maccido, a Muslim leader, appeared at the news conference alongside Obasanjo and said he accepted the report. "I hereby urge all our people to bring out all their children to be immunized," Maccido said.
"Apostate!!!"
A spokesman for Kano state rejected the results. "With due respect, I believe our shamans (scientists) know better and their findings have not been disputed so far," Kano state spokesman Sule Ya'u Sule said.
"Look at all the Nobels our scientists have won!"
World Health Organization officials stress that even if the hormones were present - which they said was highly improbable - the substances would be absolutely harmless at the almost undetectable levels alleged.
"Except for a small problem in that a mullah's voice will change, and they'll start carrying purses. Otherwise it's fine."
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/18/2004 11:43:17 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
And except for growing monkey tails and pig snouts, it's fine.
Posted by: ed ||
03/18/2004 0:11 Comments ||
Top||
#2
I think the Nigerian stance has been pretty ridiculous so far, but I am beginning to look at the polio issue from a different angle. AIDS is so rampant in Africa that the whole continent is probably fertile soil for the germination of whatever paranoid conspiracy theory flutters in on the wind.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/18/2004 10:51 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Independent tests on controversial polio vaccines used in Nigeria show they are safe, Nigeria's president said Wednesday in a bid to ease Muslim fears the vaccines are contaminated with HIV and other deadly diseases.
Why? If Muslims don't want to be vaccinated, leave them alone. Quarantine the areas where the people are being bamboozled by their clerics and let them all die out. All these efforts to accomodate medieval types is just a waste of time, effort, and money. Best to spend it all on people who want help, instead of those who feel that such help has to be questioned.
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.
