More "cheerleading" from the AP...
WASHINGTON - The House passed a $463.5 billion spending bill Wednesday that covers about one-sixth of the federal budget as Democrats cleared away the financial mess they inherited from Republicans.
Before the 286-140 vote, Republicans made modest objections to Democrats' spending decisions but protested greatly over how the new majority muscled the measure through the House.
This is considered straight reporting??? AP doesn't even make an attempt to hide it anymore as this "journalist" unabashadely editorializes in the very first paragraph. If I hear any more nonsense from the left on the "Fairness Doctrine" I think I'll hurl.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
I Have Had My Differences With Members of the Press.
He would have been more than justified.....
Does President Bush have it in for the press corps? Touring a Caterpillar factory in Peoria, Ill., the Commander in Chief got behind the wheel of a giant tractor and played chicken with a few wayward reporters. Wearing a pair of stylish safety glasses--at least more stylish than most safety glasses--Bush got a mini-tour of the factory before delivering remarks on the economy. "I would suggest moving back," Bush said as he climbed into the cab of a massive D-10 tractor. "I'm about to crank this sucker up." As the engine roared to life, White House staffers tried to steer the press corps to safety, but when the tractor lurched forward, they too were forced to scramble for safety."Get out of the way!" a news photographer yelled. "I think he might run us over!" said another. White House aides tried to herd the reporters the right way without getting run over themselves. Even the Secret Service got involved, as one agent began yelling at reporters to get clear of the tractor. Watching the chaos below, Bush looked out the tractor's window and laughed, steering the massive machine into the spot where most of the press corps had been positioned. The episode lasted about a minute, and Bush was still laughing when he pulled to a stop. He gave reporters a thumbs-up. "If you've never driven a D-10, it's the coolest experience," Bush said afterward. Yeah, almost as much fun as seeing your life flash before your eyes.
Damn, I'm sorry I missed that!
Does President Bush have it in for the press corps? Touring a Caterpillar factory in Peoria, Ill., the Commander in Chief got behind the wheel of a giant tractor and played chicken with a few wayward reporters. Wearing a pair of stylish safety glasses--at least more stylish than most safety glasses--Bush got a mini-tour of the factory before delivering remarks on the economy. "I would suggest moving back," Bush said as he climbed into the cab of a massive D-10 tractor. "I'm about to crank this sucker up." As the engine roared to life, White House staffers tried to steer the press corps to safety, but when the tractor lurched forward, they too were forced to scramble for safety."Get out of the way!" a news photographer yelled. "I think he might run us over!" said another. White House aides tried to herd the reporters the right way without getting run over themselves. Even the Secret Service got involved, as one agent began yelling at reporters to get clear of the tractor. Watching the chaos below, Bush looked out the tractor's window and laughed, steering the massive machine into the spot where most of the press corps had been positioned. The episode lasted about a minute, and Bush was still laughing when he pulled to a stop. He gave reporters a thumbs-up. "If you've never driven a D-10, it's the coolest experience," Bush said afterward. Yeah, almost as much fun as seeing your life flash before your eyes.
Damn, I'm sorry I missed that!
U.S. Economy Grows 3.5%; Inflation Gauge Falls Sharply
Goldilocks economy if there ever was one.
The U.S. economy resurged at the end of 2006, overcoming a slump in housing as consumers, sustained by lower energy prices, ramped up spending.
Gross domestic product climbed at a seasonally adjusted 3.5% annual rate October through December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday in its first of three readings on fourth-quarter GDP. That was up from 2% in the third quarter. A price inflation gauge within the report posted its biggest drop in 52 years.
The U.S. economy resurged at the end of 2006, overcoming a slump in housing as consumers, sustained by lower energy prices, ramped up spending.
Gross domestic product climbed at a seasonally adjusted 3.5% annual rate October through December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday in its first of three readings on fourth-quarter GDP. That was up from 2% in the third quarter. A price inflation gauge within the report posted its biggest drop in 52 years.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Global Warming is Natural; Not Caused By Human Activity
We now know that our solar system as a whole is warming ie: Pluto, Mars, Triton, yet these revelations go unnoticed or rather are ignored by the so called experts.
Perhaps Ms. Dr. Heidi Cullen can can shut her agenda driven self righteous self important pie hole for a brief minute and open her mind....
Via Drudge:
Two powerful new books say today’s global warming is due not to human activity but primarily to a long, moderate solar-linked cycle. Unstoppable Global Warming Every 1500 Years, by physicist Fred Singer and economist Dennis Avery was released just before Christmas. The Chilling Stars: A New Theory of Climate Change, by Danish physicist Henrik Svensmark and former BBC science writer Nigel Calder (Icon Books), is due out in March.
Singer and Avery note that most of the earth’s recent warming occurred before 1940, and thus before much human-emitted CO2. Moreover, physical evidence shows 600 moderate warmings in the earth’s last million years. The evidence ranges from ancient Nile flood records, Chinese court documents and Roman wine grapes to modern spectral analysis of polar ice cores, deep seabed sediments, and layered cave stalagmites.
Perhaps Ms. Dr. Heidi Cullen can can shut her agenda driven self righteous self important pie hole for a brief minute and open her mind....
Via Drudge:
Two powerful new books say today’s global warming is due not to human activity but primarily to a long, moderate solar-linked cycle. Unstoppable Global Warming Every 1500 Years, by physicist Fred Singer and economist Dennis Avery was released just before Christmas. The Chilling Stars: A New Theory of Climate Change, by Danish physicist Henrik Svensmark and former BBC science writer Nigel Calder (Icon Books), is due out in March.
Singer and Avery note that most of the earth’s recent warming occurred before 1940, and thus before much human-emitted CO2. Moreover, physical evidence shows 600 moderate warmings in the earth’s last million years. The evidence ranges from ancient Nile flood records, Chinese court documents and Roman wine grapes to modern spectral analysis of polar ice cores, deep seabed sediments, and layered cave stalagmites.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Behind Ford's scary $12.7 billion loss
Unions realized early on they needed to organize entire industries as opposed to individual companies. Worked OK for them untill the inevitable foreign competition cropped up. Now if you notice the industries that have or are about to fail in this country are almost exclusively Union dominated.
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- An enormous gap still separates the performance of Detroit automakers from their foreign competitors - and it isn't all their fault.
The stupefying $12.7 billion loss that Ford Motor Co. reported Thursday for 2006 comes one year after General Motors' equally horrendous $10.6 billion loss for 2005.
The dominant reason? The cost of labor. As analyzed by Harbour-Felax, labor costs for Detroits "Big Three"is significantly more per vehicle than their Japanese counterparts.
Health care is the biggest chunk. GM for instance spends $1,635 per vehicle on health care for active and retired workers in the U.S. Toyota pays virtually nothing for retired workers - it has very few and a mere $215 for active ones.
Other labor costs add to the disparity. Contract issues like work rules, line relief and holiday pay amount to $630 per vehicle, costs that the Japanese don't have. And paying UAW members for not working when plants are shut costs an additional $350 per vehicle.
Hat tip/AntiBubba182 at FR.
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- An enormous gap still separates the performance of Detroit automakers from their foreign competitors - and it isn't all their fault.
The stupefying $12.7 billion loss that Ford Motor Co. reported Thursday for 2006 comes one year after General Motors' equally horrendous $10.6 billion loss for 2005.
The dominant reason? The cost of labor. As analyzed by Harbour-Felax, labor costs for Detroits "Big Three"is significantly more per vehicle than their Japanese counterparts.
Health care is the biggest chunk. GM for instance spends $1,635 per vehicle on health care for active and retired workers in the U.S. Toyota pays virtually nothing for retired workers - it has very few and a mere $215 for active ones.
Other labor costs add to the disparity. Contract issues like work rules, line relief and holiday pay amount to $630 per vehicle, costs that the Japanese don't have. And paying UAW members for not working when plants are shut costs an additional $350 per vehicle.
Hat tip/AntiBubba182 at FR.
Iranian Khalq opposition group releases Names of 32,000 Iranian Agents
Interesting....
NCRI – On Friday 26, January, Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee of the NCRI, held a press conference in Paris to reveal new dimensions of the Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq and the extent of its network in that country. Here is the text of his speech:
I would like to share with you some untold aspects of the clerical regime’s meddling in Iraq. The documents I am going to present shed light on the scope of the Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraqi affairs.
A top-secret document of the IRGC, it was obtained by the sources of the resistance inside Iran.
A few points on the list:This list only contains details of 31,690 Iraqis who are primarily affiliated with the Badr Brigade of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, also known as SCIRI. But it is not limited to them and includes other individuals and mercenary groups in Iraq.
NCRI – On Friday 26, January, Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee of the NCRI, held a press conference in Paris to reveal new dimensions of the Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq and the extent of its network in that country. Here is the text of his speech:
I would like to share with you some untold aspects of the clerical regime’s meddling in Iraq. The documents I am going to present shed light on the scope of the Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraqi affairs.
A top-secret document of the IRGC, it was obtained by the sources of the resistance inside Iran.
A few points on the list:This list only contains details of 31,690 Iraqis who are primarily affiliated with the Badr Brigade of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, also known as SCIRI. But it is not limited to them and includes other individuals and mercenary groups in Iraq.
Air raid kills Taliban boss
KABUL -- A NATO air strike destroyed a Taliban command post in southern Afghanistan, killing a suspected senior militant leader, the alliance said yesterday.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
U.S., Iraqi forces kill 250 in Najaf battle -police
MNF continues to create a serious virgin shortage.
NAJAF, Iraq, Jan 28 (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 250 gunmen in a fierce battle involving U.S. tanks and helicopters on the outskirts of the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf on Sunday, an Iraqi police officer said.
The day-long battle was continuing after nightfall, Colonel Ali Nomas told Reuters. Shi'ite political sources said the gunmen appeared to be both Sunni Arabs and Shi'ites loyal to a cleric called Ahmed Hassani.
Update and Correction: 350 Scumbags offed.
NAJAF, Iraq, Jan 28 (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 250 gunmen in a fierce battle involving U.S. tanks and helicopters on the outskirts of the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf on Sunday, an Iraqi police officer said.
The day-long battle was continuing after nightfall, Colonel Ali Nomas told Reuters. Shi'ite political sources said the gunmen appeared to be both Sunni Arabs and Shi'ites loyal to a cleric called Ahmed Hassani.
Update and Correction: 350 Scumbags offed.
Birds of a Feather
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Air America Can't Even Pull Listeners In Santa Cruz
Just goes to show that angry venemous and shallow thinking SPs aren't listened to even by their bretheren....
Pretty telling when liberal radio can’t even pull listeners in one of the most liberal cities in America
Al Franken, Randi Rhodes and Sam Seeder articulate liberal pundits don’t sell well, even in Santa Cruz.
The trio are part of the nationally syndicated Air America, which was dropped from Santa Cruz radio station KOMY 1340 AM on Thursday and replaced with music from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
“We didn’t sell a single ad in a year and a half,” Zwerling said Thursday. “I thought liberal radio would work as a viable advertising business in the most liberal town in America. I was wrong”
Jeeez, did this guy need a building to fall on him or what?
Pretty telling when liberal radio can’t even pull listeners in one of the most liberal cities in America
Al Franken, Randi Rhodes and Sam Seeder articulate liberal pundits don’t sell well, even in Santa Cruz.
The trio are part of the nationally syndicated Air America, which was dropped from Santa Cruz radio station KOMY 1340 AM on Thursday and replaced with music from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
“We didn’t sell a single ad in a year and a half,” Zwerling said Thursday. “I thought liberal radio would work as a viable advertising business in the most liberal town in America. I was wrong”
Jeeez, did this guy need a building to fall on him or what?
Friday, January 26, 2007
Friday Rant (Weather Channel Woes)
Oh how I pine for the Weather Channel of old. The one where they just did a damn good job of reporting well, you know, the weather.Then after years of just doing that which they were designed to do they began having delusions of their own grandiosity. Reporting the weather in studio was not enough, they had to have their so called "meteorologist reporters" on scene. And from there on it has been all downhill.
They lost me two summers ago when during the most active night for tornadoes in decades (some 450+ sightings) across the country they chose to run "Storm Stories"while many of us huddled in our basements frantically channel flipping to our local news for an update. Then came their Katrina manifesto ad nauseum, it was unwatchable.
Now with additional irritants Abrams & Bettes, and Dr. Ms. Heidi Cullen (the self proclaimed climate expert and global warming cop) and other assorted knotheads the Weather Channel has become nothing more than a propaganda spewing agenda driven caricature of it's original self. Reporting the weather has become just another tiresome chore that gets in the way of them saving the world from itself.
They long ago quit dancing with the one who brung them and some day that may very well come back to bite them. They have no cable competition so their likely spending money like crazy and are, at least for the moment dumb, fat and happy in their success.
Some day however some bright young entrepreneur is going to realize that the cable Co's are probably fed up paying the inflated price for the new Weather Channel and all it's bells and whistles and put together a bare bones weather service channel similar to the way the original Weather Channel was designed all at a third the cost.
Then we'll see if the self indulgent a$$es running the WC and their views are as essential to the world as they believe them to be.
Update: Well we've done it again...
Global Warming is Real
And It’s Happening on Mars!
U.S. troops authorized to kill Iranians in Iraq
Two words, ABOUT TIME!
The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy to weaken Tehran's influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear program, according to government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort.
For more than a year, U.S. forces in Iraq have secretly detained dozens of suspected Iranian agents, holding them for three to four days at a time. The "catch and release" policy was designed to avoid escalating tensions with Iran and yet intimidate its emissaries. U.S. forces collected DNA samples from some of the Iranians without their knowledge, subjected others to retina scans, and fingerprinted and photographed all of them before letting them go.
The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy to weaken Tehran's influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear program, according to government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort.
For more than a year, U.S. forces in Iraq have secretly detained dozens of suspected Iranian agents, holding them for three to four days at a time. The "catch and release" policy was designed to avoid escalating tensions with Iran and yet intimidate its emissaries. U.S. forces collected DNA samples from some of the Iranians without their knowledge, subjected others to retina scans, and fingerprinted and photographed all of them before letting them go.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Muslim Groups Opposed to ABC's Hiring of Radio Talk Show Host
The truth's a beotch!
CNSNews.com) - Three Arab and Muslim American advocacy groups are voicing their opposition to ABC's "Good Morning America" hiring talk-show host Glenn Beck, claiming he has "an obvious anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice in his broadcasts." The Arab American Institute, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council claim Beck made "threats and blatantly inaccurate statements" on his show. The groups sent a letter to ABC/Disney asking for a meeting to detail their concerns
CNSNews.com) - Three Arab and Muslim American advocacy groups are voicing their opposition to ABC's "Good Morning America" hiring talk-show host Glenn Beck, claiming he has "an obvious anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice in his broadcasts." The Arab American Institute, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council claim Beck made "threats and blatantly inaccurate statements" on his show. The groups sent a letter to ABC/Disney asking for a meeting to detail their concerns
Iraqi PM wins key security vote
It appears that the IP is finally acknowledging the writing on the wall if they don't act.
Iraq's parliament has voted to back Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's new drive to improve security in Baghdad.
Mr Maliki said operations would be under Iraqi control with US troops acting in support.
The key bloc of MPs allied to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - which had boycotted parliament for two months - gave its backing to the plan.
Iraq's parliament has voted to back Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's new drive to improve security in Baghdad.
Mr Maliki said operations would be under Iraqi control with US troops acting in support.
The key bloc of MPs allied to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - which had boycotted parliament for two months - gave its backing to the plan.
U.S. envoy says Quds Force operations director among detained Iranians
And so the "proxy war" with Iran continues. The question is now when rather than if it wll turn hot.
BAGHDAD, Iraq: The U.S. ambassador said Wednesday that one of the Iranians detained by U.S. forces in Iraq during two raids over the past month was the director of operations for Iran's Revolutionary Guard Quds faction, the organization responsible for funding and arming Iraqi militants.
Zalmay Khalilzad said the recent raids were part of a "new strategy" to "go after their networks that are active here."
The United States is building up its troops in the region, beyond the additional 21,500 on their way to Iraq for a new security crackdown, in what appears to be a message to Iran. Khalilzad sought to reinforce Washington's message that Tehran should keep hands off Iraq, where it has enormous influence with the majority Shiite population.
Iran is ruled by a Shiite theocracy
BAGHDAD, Iraq: The U.S. ambassador said Wednesday that one of the Iranians detained by U.S. forces in Iraq during two raids over the past month was the director of operations for Iran's Revolutionary Guard Quds faction, the organization responsible for funding and arming Iraqi militants.
Zalmay Khalilzad said the recent raids were part of a "new strategy" to "go after their networks that are active here."
The United States is building up its troops in the region, beyond the additional 21,500 on their way to Iraq for a new security crackdown, in what appears to be a message to Iran. Khalilzad sought to reinforce Washington's message that Tehran should keep hands off Iraq, where it has enormous influence with the majority Shiite population.
Iran is ruled by a Shiite theocracy
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Governor Mitt Romney Announces the Support of Former Speaker Dennis Hastert (Updated and Bumped)
And our boy keeps chipping away at the frontrunners....
Boston, MA - Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) will be joining the Romney for President Exploratory Committee.
"I am honored to have the support of Speaker Hastert. As a leader in our Party and former Speaker, his long and continued career of service has been marked by a deep commitment to improving the lives of the American people. Under his leadership, Congress passed the most significant tax relief in a generation, and in the aftermath of September 11, approved historic legislation protecting the American people and supporting the men and women defending our country," said Governor Romney. "Today's announcement is a clear indication that our message is being embraced across the country."
Boston, MA - Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) will be joining the Romney for President Exploratory Committee.
"I am honored to have the support of Speaker Hastert. As a leader in our Party and former Speaker, his long and continued career of service has been marked by a deep commitment to improving the lives of the American people. Under his leadership, Congress passed the most significant tax relief in a generation, and in the aftermath of September 11, approved historic legislation protecting the American people and supporting the men and women defending our country," said Governor Romney. "Today's announcement is a clear indication that our message is being embraced across the country."
Update: Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) will pick up the endorsement today of Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), the ranking member of the House intelligence committee and its former chairman. Hoekstra will be Romney's campaign adviser on intelligence and will serve as one of his principal tutors on foreign affairs.
Hoekstra's endorsement may boost Romney's credibility among conservatives who worry that he lacks national security experience.
Hoekstra was chairman of the House Intelligence Cmte from '04 until two weeks ago. He is an independent -- though unabashedly conservative -- operator
Rosie O'Donnell calls for Bush's impeachment
The girthy one just called for impeachment proceedings against President Bush on "The View"... "Do it so the world knows the nation is not behind him, that he is no monarch".Such deep intellect from a person who obviously has no clue concerning the constitutional dictates relating to the impeachment of a President.
But, then again, ignorance has never slowed her down before.
Poll: Mild Positive Reaction to State of the Union Speech
A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. telephone poll of 370 adults who watched or listened to the speech found 41 percent had a very positive opinion of it, while 37 percent indicated somewhat positive. A year ago, the number of very positive was 48 percent, and in 2005, it was 60 percent.
A CBS News Poll conducted online by Knowledge Networks of 525 viewers immediately after the speech found about 80 percent generally approve of the proposals he outlined. By comparison, the number for last year and 2005 were about the same, CBS said.
Just 32 percent of respondents said Bush will be able to accomplish all the goals he set out in his speech and 52 percent support Bush's plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.
Now that I find surprising.
A CBS News Poll conducted online by Knowledge Networks of 525 viewers immediately after the speech found about 80 percent generally approve of the proposals he outlined. By comparison, the number for last year and 2005 were about the same, CBS said.
Just 32 percent of respondents said Bush will be able to accomplish all the goals he set out in his speech and 52 percent support Bush's plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.
Now that I find surprising.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Discount-Mats.com refuses to ship to troops in Iraq (Updated & Bumped)
Snopes contacted the soldier in question and he confirms this account.
On Tue Jan 16 3:25, contact@discount-mats.com sent:
To Whom it may concern:
Do you ship to APO addresses? I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for who ships to APO first.
SGT Hess
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: contact@discount-mats.com [mailto:contact@discount-mats.com] Sent: Tuesday,
January 16, 2007 9:44 PM
Subject: Re: Feedback: from discount-mats.com
SGT Hess,
We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq.
Bargain Suppliers Discount-Mats.com
Lets all let DM know how we feel about their mindless, condescending, self righteous, chicken sh!t attitude.
Do it here.
Update: Thanks to some slick detective work by Chandan and confirmed by Apollo, we find that Discount-Mats.com is owned by a Faisal Khetani. Faisal Khetani it turns out is a health and fitness consultant, & editor of the Dream Body newsletter.
Still have not determined if he is indeed Muslim or not. An anonymous E-mail informed me that he could possibly be Sikh.
Update II: Euphoric Reality has this......
Now there are some interesting coincidences about all these websites owned by Muslims who happen to all live in the Milwaukee area. The sports sites, one owned by Faisal and the other owned by Sajid are the exact same format and established the same month. They are nothing more than low-grade generic copy-and-paste sports information. The blogs were set up with a few token blog entries, with generic links (one even uses the sample Wordpress links that come with the blog), and then abandoned. Likewise, the Discount Mats and Discount Scooters sites share similar formatting and generic links.
Read more here.
On Tue Jan 16 3:25, contact@discount-mats.com sent:
To Whom it may concern:
Do you ship to APO addresses? I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for who ships to APO first.
SGT Hess
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: contact@discount-mats.com [mailto:contact@discount-mats.com] Sent: Tuesday,
January 16, 2007 9:44 PM
Subject: Re: Feedback: from discount-mats.com
SGT Hess,
We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq.
Bargain Suppliers Discount-Mats.com
Lets all let DM know how we feel about their mindless, condescending, self righteous, chicken sh!t attitude.
Do it here.
Update: Thanks to some slick detective work by Chandan and confirmed by Apollo, we find that Discount-Mats.com is owned by a Faisal Khetani. Faisal Khetani it turns out is a health and fitness consultant, & editor of the Dream Body newsletter.
Still have not determined if he is indeed Muslim or not. An anonymous E-mail informed me that he could possibly be Sikh.
Update II: Euphoric Reality has this......
Now there are some interesting coincidences about all these websites owned by Muslims who happen to all live in the Milwaukee area. The sports sites, one owned by Faisal and the other owned by Sajid are the exact same format and established the same month. They are nothing more than low-grade generic copy-and-paste sports information. The blogs were set up with a few token blog entries, with generic links (one even uses the sample Wordpress links that come with the blog), and then abandoned. Likewise, the Discount Mats and Discount Scooters sites share similar formatting and generic links.
Read more here.
Latest From Rasmussen
Poll: Giuliani 30% McCain 22%
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll shows that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) continues to hold an eight-point lead over Senator John McCain (R) in the race for the Republican nomination. Giuliani now earns 30% of the vote, up from 28% a week ago. John McCain (R) has support from 22% while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich remains in third at 12%.
Hmmmm.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll shows that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) continues to hold an eight-point lead over Senator John McCain (R) in the race for the Republican nomination. Giuliani now earns 30% of the vote, up from 28% a week ago. John McCain (R) has support from 22% while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich remains in third at 12%.
Hmmmm.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Details Emerge About Possible Terror Threat
The war in Iraq has nothing to do with the war on terror dontcha know. Oh wait, OK well, even if it does then we're the cause of it because we shouldn't be there.
ABC/WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2007 — Mimicking the hijackers who executed the Sept. 11 attacks, insurgents reportedly tied to al Qaeda in Iraq considered using student visas to slip terrorists into the United States to orchestrate a new attack on American soil.
Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, recently testified that documents captured by coalition forces during a raid of a safe house believed to house Iraqi members of al Qaeda six months ago "revealed [AQI] was planning terrorist operations in the U.S."
At the time, Maples offered little additional insight into the possible terror plot. ABC News, however, has learned new details of what remains a classified incident that has been dealt with at the highest levels of government.
ABC/WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2007 — Mimicking the hijackers who executed the Sept. 11 attacks, insurgents reportedly tied to al Qaeda in Iraq considered using student visas to slip terrorists into the United States to orchestrate a new attack on American soil.
Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, recently testified that documents captured by coalition forces during a raid of a safe house believed to house Iraqi members of al Qaeda six months ago "revealed [AQI] was planning terrorist operations in the U.S."
At the time, Maples offered little additional insight into the possible terror plot. ABC News, however, has learned new details of what remains a classified incident that has been dealt with at the highest levels of government.
Obama Primer
Just in case you were under the misguided belief that Obama Hussein might be a slightly preferable alternative to "Her Thighness, here's a bit of background on the junior Senator....
Special Interest Group Ratings: Planned Parenthood - 100% Support
National Right To Life - 0% Support NARAL - 100% Support
Americans for Tax Reform - 0% Support ACLU - 83% Support
NEA - 100% Support
NOW - 100% Support
Citizens Against Government Waste - 13% Support
Gun Owners of America - 0% Support
NRA - "F" Rating
Federation for American Immigration Reform - 0% Support
US Border Patrol - 8% Support
Unions - 82% - 100% Support
Population Connection - 100% Support ('Zero Growth idiots)
Special Interest Group Ratings: Planned Parenthood - 100% Support
National Right To Life - 0% Support NARAL - 100% Support
Americans for Tax Reform - 0% Support ACLU - 83% Support
NEA - 100% Support
NOW - 100% Support
Citizens Against Government Waste - 13% Support
Gun Owners of America - 0% Support
NRA - "F" Rating
Federation for American Immigration Reform - 0% Support
US Border Patrol - 8% Support
Unions - 82% - 100% Support
Population Connection - 100% Support ('Zero Growth idiots)
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Morris Going After the Hildebeast
A worthy cause but I trust the TS about as far I can spit....Persons on Republican mailing lists this week received an appeal for funds from Dick Morris, President Bill Clinton's political strategist in 1995-1996, asking for a contribution between $25 and $100 or more to finance a critical film documentary of Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Signing the letter as "Former Clinton Adviser," Morris wrote: "If you liked how the Swift Boat Veterans turned the tide against John Kerry, you understand how a top Clinton aide can turn the tables and stop a Clinton-style liberal from becoming the next president of the United States."
Morris's appeal was made through The Presidential Coalition, run by conservative activist Dave Bossie. The letter described Morris as dedicated to electing presidents like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Since 1996, Morris has been an author, columnist and television commentator.
BTW, stay away from Ft. Marcy Park Dick.
Somali Warlord Surrenders Guns, Militia
It's really amazing how effective you can be when you're not contrained by trying to fight a politically correct war.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, (AP) - The last major warlord in Somalia surrendered his weapons and 200 militiamen to the army on Saturday, while an Islamic leader claimed responsibility for a string of guerrilla attacks and promised there would be more until the government agreed to talks.
In a major step toward helping the fledgling government consolidate power, one of the most feared warlords in Somalia, Mohamed Dheere, gave the army chief 23 trucks mounted with heavy weapons and ordered 220 of his fighters to report for retraining at government camps. The handover took place during a ceremony in Dheere's stronghold of Jowhar, 55 miles north of Mogadishu, said Abdirahman Dinari, the government spokesman.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, (AP) - The last major warlord in Somalia surrendered his weapons and 200 militiamen to the army on Saturday, while an Islamic leader claimed responsibility for a string of guerrilla attacks and promised there would be more until the government agreed to talks.
In a major step toward helping the fledgling government consolidate power, one of the most feared warlords in Somalia, Mohamed Dheere, gave the army chief 23 trucks mounted with heavy weapons and ordered 220 of his fighters to report for retraining at government camps. The handover took place during a ceremony in Dheere's stronghold of Jowhar, 55 miles north of Mogadishu, said Abdirahman Dinari, the government spokesman.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Post #207 ROP Chronicles (Guest Contribution)
Today we have a ROP update from our good friend Apollo in India. He informs us:
There was a anti-US rally organised today evening by a muslim congress MP in Bangalore to protest saddam's execution which turned ugly with rioters attacking non-muslim shops and bystanders etc... The congress party in India currently leads a coalition government at the centre which is widely considered as a muslim fundamentalist appeasers.
Bangalore, Jan 19: Certain areas of the city like Shivajinagar, Ulsoor, Kamaraj Road (former Cavalry Road) and others after a rally organized by former union railway minister C K Jaffar Sharief turned violent by ransacking shops.
The rally was meant to express outrage over the execution of former Iraqi supremo Saddam Hussein. Unconfirmed reports said that leaders of another community gathered elsewhere where provocative speeches were delivered.
The pro-Saddam rallyists were forcing shop-keepers to down the shutters which was resisted, which was followed by ransacking.
Update: Apollo...The final tally of that carnage is nearly 20 seriously injured, one policeman stabbed, 50 vehicles burned, many shops looted or gutted. just because some two bit politicians wanted to appease their votebank. So who is now going to foot all that bill? The answer is ofcourse honest taxpayers like ourselves and not those political scumbags who arranged this rally.
There was a anti-US rally organised today evening by a muslim congress MP in Bangalore to protest saddam's execution which turned ugly with rioters attacking non-muslim shops and bystanders etc... The congress party in India currently leads a coalition government at the centre which is widely considered as a muslim fundamentalist appeasers.
Bangalore, Jan 19: Certain areas of the city like Shivajinagar, Ulsoor, Kamaraj Road (former Cavalry Road) and others after a rally organized by former union railway minister C K Jaffar Sharief turned violent by ransacking shops.
The rally was meant to express outrage over the execution of former Iraqi supremo Saddam Hussein. Unconfirmed reports said that leaders of another community gathered elsewhere where provocative speeches were delivered.
The pro-Saddam rallyists were forcing shop-keepers to down the shutters which was resisted, which was followed by ransacking.
Update: Apollo...The final tally of that carnage is nearly 20 seriously injured, one policeman stabbed, 50 vehicles burned, many shops looted or gutted. just because some two bit politicians wanted to appease their votebank. So who is now going to foot all that bill? The answer is ofcourse honest taxpayers like ourselves and not those political scumbags who arranged this rally.
Friday, January 19, 2007
USS Ronald Reagan To Deploy
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan will leave its home port in a few weeks for a mission related to President George W. Bush's plan to send a surge of new troops to Iraq, sources told NBCClick for bigger.
U.S., Iraqi forces arrest top aide to al-Sadr
It's a start, now on to the fat toothless SOB behind it all.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces arrested one of Muqtada al-Sadr’s top aides Friday in Baghdad, his office said, as pressure increases on the radical Shiite cleric’s militia ahead of a planned security sweep aimed at stemming the sectarian violence ransacking the capital.
Sheik Abdul-Hadi al-Darraji, al-Sadr’s media director in Baghdad, was captured Friday and his personal guard was killed, according to another senior al-Sadr aide.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces arrested one of Muqtada al-Sadr’s top aides Friday in Baghdad, his office said, as pressure increases on the radical Shiite cleric’s militia ahead of a planned security sweep aimed at stemming the sectarian violence ransacking the capital.
Sheik Abdul-Hadi al-Darraji, al-Sadr’s media director in Baghdad, was captured Friday and his personal guard was killed, according to another senior al-Sadr aide.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Reuters toughens rules after altered photo affair
Pure window dressing......
LONDON (Reuters) - Reuters named a new chief photographer for the Middle East on Thursday and said it had tightened its editing procedures after the publication last year of two photographs that had been digitally altered.
The measures were among several steps announced by David Schlesinger, editor-in-chief of the global news and information agency, following an internal investigation that he said had resulted in disciplinary action.
The two photos, both of Israeli military action in Lebanon during the war there last August, were taken by a freelance photographer, Adnan Hajj.
LONDON (Reuters) - Reuters named a new chief photographer for the Middle East on Thursday and said it had tightened its editing procedures after the publication last year of two photographs that had been digitally altered.
The measures were among several steps announced by David Schlesinger, editor-in-chief of the global news and information agency, following an internal investigation that he said had resulted in disciplinary action.
The two photos, both of Israeli military action in Lebanon during the war there last August, were taken by a freelance photographer, Adnan Hajj.
Iraqi PM: 400 Shiite fighters detained
If they're not back on the street in 24 hrs it will be be encouraging.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Apparently seeking to calm fears that he will not go after militia gunmen loyal to one of his key political backers, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said 400 fighters from the Mahdi Army had been arrested over the past several weeks.
In Baghdad on Thursday, bombers and gunmen killed at least 19 more people in a series of attacks in the pre-noon hours as the capital faces a surge in violence ahead of a planned U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown.
It was the first time the Shiite prime minister has specifically detailed any arrests of figures from the Mahdi Army militia that is loyal to his key backer, the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Many of the militiamen are believed responsible for a majority of the sectarian violence in Baghdad over the past year.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Apparently seeking to calm fears that he will not go after militia gunmen loyal to one of his key political backers, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said 400 fighters from the Mahdi Army had been arrested over the past several weeks.
In Baghdad on Thursday, bombers and gunmen killed at least 19 more people in a series of attacks in the pre-noon hours as the capital faces a surge in violence ahead of a planned U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown.
It was the first time the Shiite prime minister has specifically detailed any arrests of figures from the Mahdi Army militia that is loyal to his key backer, the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Many of the militiamen are believed responsible for a majority of the sectarian violence in Baghdad over the past year.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Philippines confirm top al-Qaida-linked militant killed
Another REAL baddy guy takes a dirt napMANILA, Philippines - A top al-Qaida-linked militant, long wanted by U.S. and Philippine authorities for deadly terror attacks, has been killed in a clash with troops in a major blow to his rebel group, the military said Wednesday.
Jainal Antel Sali, popularly known as Abu Sulaiman - a top leader of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group - was fatally shot Tuesday in a fierce gunbattle with army special forces on the mountainous southern island of Jolo, military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said, confirming earlier reports of the militant's death.
Esperon warned Sulaiman's death could set off retaliatory attacks, but the military was ready.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Saudis May Ban Letter ‘X’
Good grief...
A group of Islamic clergy in Saudi Arabia has condemned the letter "X” because of its similarity to a hated banned symbol – the cross.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which has the ultimate say in all legal, civil and governance matters in the kingdom, issued a fatwa, or religious edict, against the "X.” It came in response to a Ministry of Trade query about whether a Saudi businessman could be granted trademark protection for a new service with the English name "Explorer.”
The request from the businessman, Amru Mohammad Faisal, was turned down.
A group of Islamic clergy in Saudi Arabia has condemned the letter "X” because of its similarity to a hated banned symbol – the cross.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which has the ultimate say in all legal, civil and governance matters in the kingdom, issued a fatwa, or religious edict, against the "X.” It came in response to a Ministry of Trade query about whether a Saudi businessman could be granted trademark protection for a new service with the English name "Explorer.”
The request from the businessman, Amru Mohammad Faisal, was turned down.
Benon Sevan Indicted in NY
Breaking per Fox News: Benon Sevan indicted in New York court for his role (bribes, etc) in the UN oil for food scandal.
I'll have the details up when they become available.
Update: Former U.N. Oil-for-Food chief Benon Sevan has been indicted in New York federal court for allegedly taking bribes under the program from Saddam Hussein's regime, U.S. authorities announced Tuesday.
The charges, detailed in a joint press release by the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's office and the Manhattan district attorney, came over a year after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker completed an investigation for the United Nations into the massively corrupted Oil-for-Food program that operated in Saddam's Iraq between 1996 and 2003.
I'll have the details up when they become available.
Update: Former U.N. Oil-for-Food chief Benon Sevan has been indicted in New York federal court for allegedly taking bribes under the program from Saddam Hussein's regime, U.S. authorities announced Tuesday.
The charges, detailed in a joint press release by the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's office and the Manhattan district attorney, came over a year after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker completed an investigation for the United Nations into the massively corrupted Oil-for-Food program that operated in Saddam's Iraq between 1996 and 2003.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Hamas 'planned to murder Abbas'
When your're weaned on the concept of murdering others to solve you're disagreements it becomes the option of first choice.
The Palestinian Fatah faction has accused the ruling Hamas movement of plotting to kill Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and other officials.
A Fatah spokesman said tunnels laden with explosives believed to be aimed at senior Fatah members have been unearthed in Gaza.
He said the party believes they were dug by Hamas. The group has dismissed the allegations.
It comes amid an ongoing power struggle between the two rival factions in Gaza.
The Palestinian Fatah faction has accused the ruling Hamas movement of plotting to kill Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and other officials.
A Fatah spokesman said tunnels laden with explosives believed to be aimed at senior Fatah members have been unearthed in Gaza.
He said the party believes they were dug by Hamas. The group has dismissed the allegations.
It comes amid an ongoing power struggle between the two rival factions in Gaza.
Police in Iraq see jump in recruits
Interesting...
RAMADI, Iraq — The U.S. military is reporting a dramatic and unexpected increase in the number of police recruits in Anbar province, the center of Sunni insurgent activity in Iraq.
In the past two weeks, more than 1,000 applicants have sought police jobs in Ramadi, the provincial capital. Eight hundred signed up last month in Ramadi, said Army Maj. Thomas Shoffner, operations officer for the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division.
Those figures compare with only "a few dozen" recruits in September, the U.S. military said.
RAMADI, Iraq — The U.S. military is reporting a dramatic and unexpected increase in the number of police recruits in Anbar province, the center of Sunni insurgent activity in Iraq.
In the past two weeks, more than 1,000 applicants have sought police jobs in Ramadi, the provincial capital. Eight hundred signed up last month in Ramadi, said Army Maj. Thomas Shoffner, operations officer for the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division.
Those figures compare with only "a few dozen" recruits in September, the U.S. military said.
Iraq hanging video shown to reporters
Too long a "fall" usually is the cause of this....
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The official video of hanging of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants screened for reporters Monday showed the former leader's half brother lying headless below the gallows, his severed head several yards away.
The video shows Barzan Ibrahim, Saddam's half brother and former intelligence chief, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court, being hanged side by side.
They wore red prison jumpsuits. As they reached the gallows, black hoods were put on their heads and five masked men surrounded them.
After the trap doors opened, al-Bandar could be seen dangling from the rope. Ibrahim's body was lying on the floor, chest down, his severed head resting several yards away.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The official video of hanging of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants screened for reporters Monday showed the former leader's half brother lying headless below the gallows, his severed head several yards away.
The video shows Barzan Ibrahim, Saddam's half brother and former intelligence chief, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court, being hanged side by side.
They wore red prison jumpsuits. As they reached the gallows, black hoods were put on their heads and five masked men surrounded them.
After the trap doors opened, al-Bandar could be seen dangling from the rope. Ibrahim's body was lying on the floor, chest down, his severed head resting several yards away.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Anatomy of a Failed Insurgent Attack.
See what happens when lesser minds try to hurt our guys. Be advised this video is graphic.
US military strike on Iran seen by April ’07; Sea-launched attack to hit oil, N-sites
Carrier group dispatched to region as well as patriot missiles being divvied out to various ME countries, this scenario should NOT be considered unlikely.
KUWAIT CITY: Washington will launch a military strike on Iran before April 2007, say sources. The attack will be launched from the sea and Patriot missiles will guard all oil-producing countries in the region, they add.
Recent statements emanating from the United States indicate the Bush administration’s new strategy for Iraq doesn’t include any proposal to make a compromise or negotiate with Syria or Iran. A reliable source said President Bush recently held a meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice and other assistants in the White House where they discussed the plan to attack Iran in minute detail.
KUWAIT CITY: Washington will launch a military strike on Iran before April 2007, say sources. The attack will be launched from the sea and Patriot missiles will guard all oil-producing countries in the region, they add.
Recent statements emanating from the United States indicate the Bush administration’s new strategy for Iraq doesn’t include any proposal to make a compromise or negotiate with Syria or Iran. A reliable source said President Bush recently held a meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice and other assistants in the White House where they discussed the plan to attack Iran in minute detail.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Now a school bans 13-year-old from wearing crucifix
Europe offers more previews of coming attractions here.
A school provoked fury last night by ordering a devout Catholic schoolgirl to remove her cross necklace because it posed a health and safety risk.
Teachers demanded Samantha Devine remove her chain and tiny crucifix despite allowing Muslim and Sikh pupils to wear symbols of their religion.
Her family have vowed to fight the decision "all the way" claiming it discriminates against Christians.
The case mirrors the row which engulfed British Airways and forced the airline into an embarrassing climbdown after it threatened to sack an employee who insisted on wearing her cross at work.
A school provoked fury last night by ordering a devout Catholic schoolgirl to remove her cross necklace because it posed a health and safety risk.
Teachers demanded Samantha Devine remove her chain and tiny crucifix despite allowing Muslim and Sikh pupils to wear symbols of their religion.
Her family have vowed to fight the decision "all the way" claiming it discriminates against Christians.
The case mirrors the row which engulfed British Airways and forced the airline into an embarrassing climbdown after it threatened to sack an employee who insisted on wearing her cross at work.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Nifong Punting
Breaking: Nifong recusing himself from Duke kidnapping and sexual assault case. Will post the article when I get it.
Now let the lawsuits begin!
Update: It's official....
Jan. 12, 2007— District Attorney Mike Nifong has requested that he have himself removed from prosecuting the Duke Lacrosse rape investigation, ABC News has learned.
A source close to the investigation said Nifong sent a letter to North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper asking his office to assume responsibility of the case.
Now let the lawsuits begin!
Update: It's official....
Jan. 12, 2007— District Attorney Mike Nifong has requested that he have himself removed from prosecuting the Duke Lacrosse rape investigation, ABC News has learned.
A source close to the investigation said Nifong sent a letter to North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper asking his office to assume responsibility of the case.
14 Carter Center Advisers Resign Over Former President Jimmy Carter's Book
WASHINGTON — Fourteen members of a leadership group under former President Carter's think tank resigned Thursday over concerns that Carter's book on the Middle East does not represent "the Jimmy Carter we came to respect and support."
The members of the 200-member Board of Councilors, a leadership advisory group founded in 1987, join a longtime Carter aide, Jewish groups and lawmakers who have publicly criticized the former president's best-selling book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid" for inaccuracies and distorting history.
Oh yes it does. This man hasn't changed, people who have supported him in the past were deluding themselves and are only now coming to realize what this man actually thinks.
The members of the 200-member Board of Councilors, a leadership advisory group founded in 1987, join a longtime Carter aide, Jewish groups and lawmakers who have publicly criticized the former president's best-selling book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid" for inaccuracies and distorting history.
Oh yes it does. This man hasn't changed, people who have supported him in the past were deluding themselves and are only now coming to realize what this man actually thinks.
TOP ISLAMIC REGIME STRATEGIST CAPTURED IN IRAQ
Working on confirmation of this....
Reports from Tehran state that Iran's top IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) strategist, Hassan Abbasi, was captured in the recent raid on the Islamic Iran's office in Erbil, Iraq.
Referred to inside Islamic Iran as the Regime's version of Kissinger, Abbasi works directly as special advisor for the dead or dying Supreme Ruler in Iran - Ali Khamenei.
His attitude to the main competitor for the Supreme Leadership position, Hashemi Rafsanjani, as the telephone report elaborated, is "like a knife and cheese", meaning he hates Rafsanjani.
Abbasi has in the past indicated he has already chosen and set up attack capability on a large number of targets inside the USA and said the Islamic regime would wipe out the Western culture - as a whole - and replace it with Islam
Reports from Tehran state that Iran's top IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) strategist, Hassan Abbasi, was captured in the recent raid on the Islamic Iran's office in Erbil, Iraq.
Referred to inside Islamic Iran as the Regime's version of Kissinger, Abbasi works directly as special advisor for the dead or dying Supreme Ruler in Iran - Ali Khamenei.
His attitude to the main competitor for the Supreme Leadership position, Hashemi Rafsanjani, as the telephone report elaborated, is "like a knife and cheese", meaning he hates Rafsanjani.
Abbasi has in the past indicated he has already chosen and set up attack capability on a large number of targets inside the USA and said the Islamic regime would wipe out the Western culture - as a whole - and replace it with Islam
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Iran, Syria Denounce Bush's Iraq Plan (and the press)
Must be on the mark....
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran and Syria on Thursday denounced President Bush's new Iraq strategy that blames them for fueling violence in the war-torn country, and they said the plan to send more U.S. troops would only increase bloodshed.
Bush's speech Wednesday night underlined his staunch rejection of recommendations that Washington reach out to Syria and Iran in an attempt to calm Iraq.
Instead, Bush set out plans to isolate the two countries, calling on help from Arab allies and vowing to cut off Syrian and Iranian aid to militants in Iraq. He announced the deployment of an additional aircraft carrier battle group and Patriot air defense missiles to the region - seen as muscle-flexing toward Iran
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran and Syria on Thursday denounced President Bush's new Iraq strategy that blames them for fueling violence in the war-torn country, and they said the plan to send more U.S. troops would only increase bloodshed.
Bush's speech Wednesday night underlined his staunch rejection of recommendations that Washington reach out to Syria and Iran in an attempt to calm Iraq.
Instead, Bush set out plans to isolate the two countries, calling on help from Arab allies and vowing to cut off Syrian and Iranian aid to militants in Iraq. He announced the deployment of an additional aircraft carrier battle group and Patriot air defense missiles to the region - seen as muscle-flexing toward Iran
Proud Papa
Just a personal note here but I couldn't resist. Most of you who read the blog regularly know that I have two eight year old twin boys .
Well one of them (Nathan) just got his yearly reading assessment and he tested out in the top (1) percentile nationally. He's in second grade and reading at mid 5th grade level. Michael is about equal to or even a bit better reader so his results ought to be equally as good.
Makes all the nightly battles to get them to do their reading worthwhile. Sorry for being rank braggart but I couldn't help myself.
Well one of them (Nathan) just got his yearly reading assessment and he tested out in the top (1) percentile nationally. He's in second grade and reading at mid 5th grade level. Michael is about equal to or even a bit better reader so his results ought to be equally as good.
Makes all the nightly battles to get them to do their reading worthwhile. Sorry for being rank braggart but I couldn't help myself.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Bush's Warning
Iraq govt says top cleric Sistani backs crackdown
If true it appears that in the recent meeting that Sistani had with Sadr he to him to stick it.
NAJAF, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Iraq's national security adviser said on Wednesday the country's most senior Shi'ite cleric had given his blessing to government efforts to disarm militants as it prepares to implement a major new security plan for Baghdad.
U.S. commanders and Iraq's once dominant Sunni minority have made clear they want any crackdown to include not just Sunni rebels but militias loyal to powerful Shi'ite Islamists.
Mowaffaq al-Rubaie said he had briefed Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on the security situation in Iraq, and particularly in Baghdad, during a meeting in the holy city of Najaf.
NAJAF, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Iraq's national security adviser said on Wednesday the country's most senior Shi'ite cleric had given his blessing to government efforts to disarm militants as it prepares to implement a major new security plan for Baghdad.
U.S. commanders and Iraq's once dominant Sunni minority have made clear they want any crackdown to include not just Sunni rebels but militias loyal to powerful Shi'ite Islamists.
Mowaffaq al-Rubaie said he had briefed Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on the security situation in Iraq, and particularly in Baghdad, during a meeting in the holy city of Najaf.
Somali official: Airstrike killed al Qaeda militant
Execution for past crimes carried out...
Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, the suspected al Qaeda militant who planned the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in east Africa, was killed in an American airstrike in Somalia, a Somali official told the Associated Press today. The embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania killed 225 people.
AP story here.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
U.S. Attacks Al Qaeda In Somalia
Paybacks a b!tch!CBS/AP) Two U.S. airstrikes in Somalia killed large numbers of Islamic extremists, government officials and witnesses said Tuesday.
A U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship conducted the strikes against suspected members of al Qaeda, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin first reported Monday.
The targets included the senior al Qaeda leader in East Africa and an al Qaeda operative wanted for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of two American embassies in Africa, Martin reported. Those terror attacks killed more than 200 people.
The attacks came after the terror suspects were spotted hiding on a remote island on the southern tip of Somalia, close to the Kenyan border, Somali officials said. The island and a site 155 miles north were hit.
And this: Helicopters Strafe al-Qaida in Somalia
Monday, January 08, 2007
Creating a Generation of Hate
A child stands on a flag of the U.S., holding a poster showing the portraits of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, left, and al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, right during a rally to condemn the execution of Hussein's, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007 in Lahore, Pakistan. (AP Photo/K M Chaudary) House rules change clears way for tax increases
And so it starts. The Dems have already broken several campaign promises and the "No raise in taxes pledge will undoubtedly be broken as well. Grab your ankles and bend over, be ready to recite "Thank you Sir (Madam), may I have another".
One of the first key procedural votes in the Democrat-controlled House last week established legislative rules that Republicans say will make it easier to raise taxes by a simple majority vote.
The straight party-line vote received little attention Thursday as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, was elected speaker of the House. But Republican leaders and conservative tax-cut advocates said it opened up a huge loophole in a Republican-imposed rule drawn from the Republicans' 1994 Contract with America, which requires a supermajority, or three-fifths vote, to raise taxes.
Democrats unanimously voted down a motion offered by Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio that would have prevented them from waiving the rule, a move that tax-cutters said signaled the Democrats' intention to raise taxes between now and the 2008 elections
One of the first key procedural votes in the Democrat-controlled House last week established legislative rules that Republicans say will make it easier to raise taxes by a simple majority vote.
The straight party-line vote received little attention Thursday as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, was elected speaker of the House. But Republican leaders and conservative tax-cut advocates said it opened up a huge loophole in a Republican-imposed rule drawn from the Republicans' 1994 Contract with America, which requires a supermajority, or three-fifths vote, to raise taxes.
Democrats unanimously voted down a motion offered by Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio that would have prevented them from waiving the rule, a move that tax-cutters said signaled the Democrats' intention to raise taxes between now and the 2008 elections
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Iraqi Army To Reinforce Baghdad
The Peshmurga are most competent indigenous fighting force in Iraq and they won't take crap from either the Sunnis or Shia.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three Iraqi army brigades from the Kurdish north and the Shi'ite south will be brought in for a security crackdown in Baghdad seen as central to hopes of averting civil war, a senior Iraqi official said on Sunday.
Sami al-Askari, an adviser to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said the extra troops were part of the plan which foresees Iraqi forces taking responsibility for inner Baghdad while U.S.-led multinational forces will be in charge of the surrounding areas.
Maliki announced the plan on Saturday, vowing to crush illegal armed groups "regardless of sect or politics" -- suggesting he may be ready to tackle militias loyal to his fellow Shi'ites, a key demand of Washington and the once dominant Sunni Arab minority.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three Iraqi army brigades from the Kurdish north and the Shi'ite south will be brought in for a security crackdown in Baghdad seen as central to hopes of averting civil war, a senior Iraqi official said on Sunday.
Sami al-Askari, an adviser to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said the extra troops were part of the plan which foresees Iraqi forces taking responsibility for inner Baghdad while U.S.-led multinational forces will be in charge of the surrounding areas.
Maliki announced the plan on Saturday, vowing to crush illegal armed groups "regardless of sect or politics" -- suggesting he may be ready to tackle militias loyal to his fellow Shi'ites, a key demand of Washington and the once dominant Sunni Arab minority.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran
Whoa....
ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons.
Two Israeli air force squadrons are training to blow up an Iranian facility using low-yield nuclear “bunker-busters”, according to several Israeli military sources.
The attack would be the first with nuclear weapons since 1945, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Israeli weapons would each have a force equivalent to one-fifteenth of the Hiroshima bomb.
ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons.
Two Israeli air force squadrons are training to blow up an Iranian facility using low-yield nuclear “bunker-busters”, according to several Israeli military sources.
The attack would be the first with nuclear weapons since 1945, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Israeli weapons would each have a force equivalent to one-fifteenth of the Hiroshima bomb.
US and Britain 'to target Mahdi Army
Hopefully Moqtada al Sadr is the first one of them to buy it.
A NEW offensive against Iraq's Mahdi Army - a militia blamed for sectarian death squad killings - is to be launched by the United States and Britain, it was claimed yesterday.
US-led forces are to target the organisation, led by the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, after the Pentagon described it as the biggest threat to Iraq's security. Diplomats say Washington is impatient to confront its key figures.
Several officials in the Shiite political parties that dominate the unity government of the prime minister, Nuri al- Maliki, are also losing patience with Sadr's supporters and predict more raids like last week's joint US-Iraqi operation in which a senior Sadr aide was killed.
A NEW offensive against Iraq's Mahdi Army - a militia blamed for sectarian death squad killings - is to be launched by the United States and Britain, it was claimed yesterday.
US-led forces are to target the organisation, led by the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, after the Pentagon described it as the biggest threat to Iraq's security. Diplomats say Washington is impatient to confront its key figures.
Several officials in the Shiite political parties that dominate the unity government of the prime minister, Nuri al- Maliki, are also losing patience with Sadr's supporters and predict more raids like last week's joint US-Iraqi operation in which a senior Sadr aide was killed.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Bush to Nominate Khalilzad to U.N. Post
Some of my conservative counterparts are opposed to this for ridiculous reasons. I believe Khalizad is an imspired choice and will do a great job. I'd rather it were Bolton but since the Left won't let that happen Khalizad will do very nicely.
Jan. 4, 2007— ABC News has learned that President Bush will nominate Zalmay Khalilzad to be the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Khalilzad is currently the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. The announcement may come as soon as tomorrow. Khalilzad's departure from Baghdad will happen as soon as he is confirmed as U.N. ambassador.
Ryan Crocker, currently the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, will be nominated to replace Khalilzad in Baghdad. Khalilzad has been U.S. ambassador to Iraq since June 2005. He is the highest ranking Muslim in the U.S. government and one of the few officials at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad fluent in Arabic.
Jan. 4, 2007— ABC News has learned that President Bush will nominate Zalmay Khalilzad to be the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Khalilzad is currently the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. The announcement may come as soon as tomorrow. Khalilzad's departure from Baghdad will happen as soon as he is confirmed as U.N. ambassador.
Ryan Crocker, currently the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, will be nominated to replace Khalilzad in Baghdad. Khalilzad has been U.S. ambassador to Iraq since June 2005. He is the highest ranking Muslim in the U.S. government and one of the few officials at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad fluent in Arabic.
Saddam execution is stain on America
I have read some superficial, ill thought out and deluded liberal tripe before but this one from Andrew Greeley takes the cake.....
Americans cheered enthusiastically last week for President Ford, who pardoned Richard Nixon. Simultaneously they celebrated the fact that President Bush did not insist on pardoning Saddam Hussein -- in fact didn't even think of it. Those who wanted Nixon behind bars only wanted revenge. Those who wanted to see Saddam attached to a rope just before he died were not seeking revenge.
Go figure.
He was once our man in the Mideast, the Republican Party's man. Indeed American Republican intelligence services provided support for his killing of Kurds and Shiites before the first Gulf War. Should those American leaders who supported such efforts be put on trial and hanged?
So the coverup of a political dirty trick is comparable to the genocide of hundreds of thousands of men woman and children over a forty year period??? There are several legitimate arguments for a life term instead of death for Sadaam but to compare a pardon for Nixon to one for the tyrant is beyond ludicrous. Andrew Greeley is really a pathetic excuse for a journalist.
Americans cheered enthusiastically last week for President Ford, who pardoned Richard Nixon. Simultaneously they celebrated the fact that President Bush did not insist on pardoning Saddam Hussein -- in fact didn't even think of it. Those who wanted Nixon behind bars only wanted revenge. Those who wanted to see Saddam attached to a rope just before he died were not seeking revenge.
Go figure.
He was once our man in the Mideast, the Republican Party's man. Indeed American Republican intelligence services provided support for his killing of Kurds and Shiites before the first Gulf War. Should those American leaders who supported such efforts be put on trial and hanged?
So the coverup of a political dirty trick is comparable to the genocide of hundreds of thousands of men woman and children over a forty year period??? There are several legitimate arguments for a life term instead of death for Sadaam but to compare a pardon for Nixon to one for the tyrant is beyond ludicrous. Andrew Greeley is really a pathetic excuse for a journalist.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Gallup: Majority of Americans Feel Iraq Media Coverage is 'Inaccurate' -- and Mainly Too Negative
From E & P...
A new Gallup poll released today reveals that most Americans -- some 56% -- believe that the news media's coverage of the war in Iraq is generally "inaccurate."
But in what way? Of those who feel that coverage has been inaccurate, 61% feel it has painted too negative a picture there, while 36% say it has pictured it as too positive.
Looking at the partisan divide, Gallup explains: "Two-thirds of Republicans believe that the news media's coverage of Iraq is both inaccurate and makes the situation there appear worse. Only one-quarter say that news media coverage is accurate.
"On the other hand, a majority of Democrats (55%) say that news media coverage of the situation there is accurate, with most of the rest saying that it is inaccurate and biased toward making the situation there appear better than it really is.
36% of 56% means 20% of the public are complete and utter morons, sounds about right.
A new Gallup poll released today reveals that most Americans -- some 56% -- believe that the news media's coverage of the war in Iraq is generally "inaccurate."
But in what way? Of those who feel that coverage has been inaccurate, 61% feel it has painted too negative a picture there, while 36% say it has pictured it as too positive.
Looking at the partisan divide, Gallup explains: "Two-thirds of Republicans believe that the news media's coverage of Iraq is both inaccurate and makes the situation there appear worse. Only one-quarter say that news media coverage is accurate.
"On the other hand, a majority of Democrats (55%) say that news media coverage of the situation there is accurate, with most of the rest saying that it is inaccurate and biased toward making the situation there appear better than it really is.
36% of 56% means 20% of the public are complete and utter morons, sounds about right.
Bill Clinton authorized Sandy Berger's access
Sooner or later the entire sordid details of this are going to come out and my bet is sometime between now and the 08 election.
Investigation into pilfered documents reveals former president signed letter
President Bill Clinton signed a letter authorizing former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger's access to classified documents that later came up missing, according to a newly released investigation report by the National Archives and Records Administration.
The sensitive drafts of the National Security Council's "Millennium After Action Review" on the Clinton administration's handling of the al-Qaida terror threats in December 1999 suspiciously disappeared after Berger said he intended to "determine if Executive Privilege needed to be exerted prior to documents being provided to the 9/11 Commission." Then-Attorney General John Ashcroft testified before the 9-11 commission about the millennium report, urging the panel to ask why the document's warnings and "blueprint" to thwart al-Qaida's plans to target the U.S. were ignored by the Clinton administration and not shared with the incoming Bush security staff.
Investigation into pilfered documents reveals former president signed letter
President Bill Clinton signed a letter authorizing former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger's access to classified documents that later came up missing, according to a newly released investigation report by the National Archives and Records Administration.
The sensitive drafts of the National Security Council's "Millennium After Action Review" on the Clinton administration's handling of the al-Qaida terror threats in December 1999 suspiciously disappeared after Berger said he intended to "determine if Executive Privilege needed to be exerted prior to documents being provided to the 9/11 Commission." Then-Attorney General John Ashcroft testified before the 9-11 commission about the millennium report, urging the panel to ask why the document's warnings and "blueprint" to thwart al-Qaida's plans to target the U.S. were ignored by the Clinton administration and not shared with the incoming Bush security staff.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Nasseri: Ayatollah Khamenei Will Be Dead Soon
Cant' be soon enough.
Iran's Supreme Mullah Leader, Ali Khamenei is seriously ill and will have to be replaced in the coming months as he is no longer capable of holding office, according to Assembly of Experts member mullah Nasseri. The powerful mullah body appoints and oversees the country's supreme leader. "Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is gravely ill - he can no longer see very well, has difficulty hearing, and is no longer able to properly perform his duties," Nasseri told a women's group
Iran's Supreme Mullah Leader, Ali Khamenei is seriously ill and will have to be replaced in the coming months as he is no longer capable of holding office, according to Assembly of Experts member mullah Nasseri. The powerful mullah body appoints and oversees the country's supreme leader. "Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is gravely ill - he can no longer see very well, has difficulty hearing, and is no longer able to properly perform his duties," Nasseri told a women's group
New U.N. Chief Defends Death Penalty for Hussein
Hmmmm, I think I'm gonna like this guy....
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 -- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said Tuesday that Iraq and other countries have the right to impose death penalty, adding that the world should never forget Saddam Hussein's "heinous crimes."
Ban's first public reaction to Hussein's execution signaled sharp break from his predecessor, Kofi Annan, an ardent death-penalty critic who opposed U.N. participation in Iraqi war crimes tribunal that sentenced Hussein to die. Human rights advocates expressed concern that Ban's comments lend credibility to what they see as flawed trial of the former Iraqi leader, and complained that he could set back efforts to abolish the death penalty.
Remarks suggest that former South Korean foreign minister, who began a five- year term on Monday, would defer to the United Nations' 192 member states on some of the day's most controversial and unsettled issues. Nearly 70 countries, including the United States and South Korea, retain the death penalty.
Lucid analysis and common sense from the leader of the UN? I think I maybe better sit down.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 -- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said Tuesday that Iraq and other countries have the right to impose death penalty, adding that the world should never forget Saddam Hussein's "heinous crimes."
Ban's first public reaction to Hussein's execution signaled sharp break from his predecessor, Kofi Annan, an ardent death-penalty critic who opposed U.N. participation in Iraqi war crimes tribunal that sentenced Hussein to die. Human rights advocates expressed concern that Ban's comments lend credibility to what they see as flawed trial of the former Iraqi leader, and complained that he could set back efforts to abolish the death penalty.
Remarks suggest that former South Korean foreign minister, who began a five- year term on Monday, would defer to the United Nations' 192 member states on some of the day's most controversial and unsettled issues. Nearly 70 countries, including the United States and South Korea, retain the death penalty.
Lucid analysis and common sense from the leader of the UN? I think I maybe better sit down.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Hundreds of cars torched overnight
The Southern Baptists at it again??
VANDALS set fire to about 400 cars overnight and police said they arrested more than 250 people, as violence marred France's New Year celebrations.
However, a police spokesman said there were fewer problems than in 2005, when youths attacked trains in the Paris region and southeast of the country.
25,000 police were on duty throughout the country during the night, including 4500 in Paris, where the authorities banned fireworks and firecrackers.
Police said that they had arrested 258 people nationwide by early morning, including two children aged eight and 10 who set fire to dustbins in the eastern city of Strasbourg.
Vandals is oft used code for Islamofascist terrorists.
VANDALS set fire to about 400 cars overnight and police said they arrested more than 250 people, as violence marred France's New Year celebrations.
However, a police spokesman said there were fewer problems than in 2005, when youths attacked trains in the Paris region and southeast of the country.
25,000 police were on duty throughout the country during the night, including 4500 in Paris, where the authorities banned fireworks and firecrackers.
Police said that they had arrested 258 people nationwide by early morning, including two children aged eight and 10 who set fire to dustbins in the eastern city of Strasbourg.
Vandals is oft used code for Islamofascist terrorists.
Monday, January 01, 2007
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