This is a little personal story that I would like to share with you all. I have been managing the SmartArt Kiosk at the Coral Ridge Mall, Coralville, Iowa since April and I have been having fun and learning alot about art, in addition to having the time to write, which I never before had time to do. Each month I have been selling well and yet just missed the goal and therefore missed a bonus as well.
TUESDAY, July 31st, at 2:04 p.m. I sold my 92 fine art print, and surpassed the monthly goal by $442.10 and there are still a little less than 7 hours to add to it, but at this moment I did it and just wanted to share the excitement!! My girlfriend is even happier than me, because 4 days ago I was $5000 away from the monthly goal and told her that if I got a bonus she could have it!!!
Funny Right! That will teach me to keep quiet!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
New View Of Last Supper?
I was reading this story the other day and found it interesting how everyone keeps trying to find hidden meanings in Da Vinci's work, and more so since the Dan Brown book and the Da Vinci Code movie. Now I have not read or watched the movie as I think it is mostly silly, but it is probably harmless fun, except for the few folks that take it seriously.
Years ago I read the book, "Holy Blood, Holy Grail", which was about the bloodline of Jesus, after he left the Holy Land and went to Rome. It was a good read, and at that young age, I enjoyed conspiracy theories and what might have beens. I think that is probably where Mr. Brown got his ideas, even though he testified that he had not, in an English court earlier this year, as the authors of the Holy Blood book had sued him over the liberal use of their book and sources.
Anyway this new view of the "Last Supper" has Europe in a stir, but I tried to follow the links in the story and I keep getting error messages, so perhaps the servers are still overwhelmed. I thought I would get this posted so that others may have a chance to find the superimposed image and see what they think. I shall also try some more searches and if I find a link that will get us there I will post it.
Good luck and if you find a link that works, please write back, so we can share it with others.
A new theory that Leonardo's "Last Supper" might hide within it a depiction of Christ blessing the bread and wine has triggered so much interest that Web sites connected to the picture have crashed.
Jesus
Years ago I read the book, "Holy Blood, Holy Grail", which was about the bloodline of Jesus, after he left the Holy Land and went to Rome. It was a good read, and at that young age, I enjoyed conspiracy theories and what might have beens. I think that is probably where Mr. Brown got his ideas, even though he testified that he had not, in an English court earlier this year, as the authors of the Holy Blood book had sued him over the liberal use of their book and sources.
Anyway this new view of the "Last Supper" has Europe in a stir, but I tried to follow the links in the story and I keep getting error messages, so perhaps the servers are still overwhelmed. I thought I would get this posted so that others may have a chance to find the superimposed image and see what they think. I shall also try some more searches and if I find a link that will get us there I will post it.
Good luck and if you find a link that works, please write back, so we can share it with others.
A new theory that Leonardo's "Last Supper" might hide within it a depiction of Christ blessing the bread and wine has triggered so much interest that Web sites connected to the picture have crashed.
Jesus
Is Ted Stevens A Crook?
I am just reading the story of Republican Senator Ted "The Bridge To Nowhere" Stevens and it looks like he may have Big problems in the near future
The FBI and IRS have searched the home of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens in a ski resort in Alaska as part of an investigation into his links with an oil-services company, officials said Monday.
Alaska
The FBI and IRS have searched the home of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens in a ski resort in Alaska as part of an investigation into his links with an oil-services company, officials said Monday.
Alaska
Monday, July 30, 2007
I woke up to a report on Fox News that Tom Snyder, the former host of the Tomorrow Show, had died of complications from Leukemia, and was saddened. Tom Snyder was 71 and had been living in San Francisco for the last year.
I had watched his show from the first to the last and always found him entertaining and informative. He was so impressive that he spawned a regular character for then Saturday Night Live performer, Dan Ackroyd, who made "fun" of, but also made it so over the top, that Tom was even more endearing, and he took it with humor and good grace. He was always the professional. He had a good sense of humor and a big laugh to go with it, and there was always the constant smoke about him, as he smoked his cigarettes as he pleased throughout the show. It gave him an Edward R. Murrow "look" to me, in particular when it was a serious subject he was discussing.
I was particularly angry at NBC, when they decided to cancel his show in favor of one hosted by David Letterman, who was everything that Tom was not. I would not even watch Letterman at first, and when I did check in to see what his show was about, I found him to be crude, rude and unfunny. He was the opposite of Tom Snyder, though I know there are many Letterman fans, including my brother, girlfriend and other friends who think he is a comic genius. To each his own, I shall mourn the passing of this t.v. pioneer, who after an explosive (literally) show by the now deceased Plasmatics singer Wendy O. Williams, who blew up a car on his stage during her performance, looked at the camera and said "That's the end of Television"! I can still see the look on Tom's face all these years later and it makes me smile.
My condolences to Mr. Snyder's family, friends, and fans. May Tom Snyder, Rest in Peace!
71
I had watched his show from the first to the last and always found him entertaining and informative. He was so impressive that he spawned a regular character for then Saturday Night Live performer, Dan Ackroyd, who made "fun" of, but also made it so over the top, that Tom was even more endearing, and he took it with humor and good grace. He was always the professional. He had a good sense of humor and a big laugh to go with it, and there was always the constant smoke about him, as he smoked his cigarettes as he pleased throughout the show. It gave him an Edward R. Murrow "look" to me, in particular when it was a serious subject he was discussing.
I was particularly angry at NBC, when they decided to cancel his show in favor of one hosted by David Letterman, who was everything that Tom was not. I would not even watch Letterman at first, and when I did check in to see what his show was about, I found him to be crude, rude and unfunny. He was the opposite of Tom Snyder, though I know there are many Letterman fans, including my brother, girlfriend and other friends who think he is a comic genius. To each his own, I shall mourn the passing of this t.v. pioneer, who after an explosive (literally) show by the now deceased Plasmatics singer Wendy O. Williams, who blew up a car on his stage during her performance, looked at the camera and said "That's the end of Television"! I can still see the look on Tom's face all these years later and it makes me smile.
My condolences to Mr. Snyder's family, friends, and fans. May Tom Snyder, Rest in Peace!
71
Citizens Using Courts Against Gangs
This is a wonderful story of people who are Fed up with deadly drive-by shootings, incessant drug dealing and graffiti, cities nationwide are trying a different tactic to combat gangs: They're suing them. Fort Worth and San Francisco are among the latest to file lawsuits against gang members, asking courts for injunctions barring them from hanging out together on street corners, in cars or anywhere else in certain areas.
I am reading this and loving it, as it is perfect for people to use the justice system, which often could do nothing to the criminals, to impact them in a very real way. Justice is SO sweet when it can hurt evil people such as this!!
Gangs
I am reading this and loving it, as it is perfect for people to use the justice system, which often could do nothing to the criminals, to impact them in a very real way. Justice is SO sweet when it can hurt evil people such as this!!
Gangs
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Iraq Wins Asian Cup
It was kind of interesting how something as simple as a football (Soccer) game could bring together people who are killing each other on any other day. Thank God or Allah for one day of relative (only 50 dead) calm in a country where killing your neighbor is not just a sport, but a necessity, and more is the pity!
Anyway, Tens of thousands of Iraqis from the Shiite south to the Kurdish-dominated north poured into the usually treacherous streets Sunday to celebrate a rare moment of joy and unity when the national team won Asia's most prestigious soccer tournament. The revelers spanning the country's sectarian and ethnic divisions danced, sang and waved flags and posters of the team after Iraq beat three-time champion Saudi Arabia 1-0 to take the Asian Cup.
WINS
Anyway, Tens of thousands of Iraqis from the Shiite south to the Kurdish-dominated north poured into the usually treacherous streets Sunday to celebrate a rare moment of joy and unity when the national team won Asia's most prestigious soccer tournament. The revelers spanning the country's sectarian and ethnic divisions danced, sang and waved flags and posters of the team after Iraq beat three-time champion Saudi Arabia 1-0 to take the Asian Cup.
WINS
10 Funniest Jokes Ever?
We are going to have a little change of pace today for a brief moment or two. Everything we read and write about is predominately about the bad things occurring in the world. Therefore, I just typed in funniest joke ever and received several sites. One of the funniest sites, which did not have spyware attached offered the following ten jokes, as the funniest jokes ever.
I hope that you enjoy some or all of the jokes and pass them on to your friends, family, and co-workers. Take care and have a Wonderful weekend!!
Two doctors and an HMO manager die and line up together at the Pearly Gates. One doctor steps forward and tells St. Peter, "As a pediatric surgeon, I saved hundreds of children." St. Peter lets him enter. The next doctor says, "As a psychiatrist, I helped thousands of people live better lives." St. Peter tells him to go ahead. The last man says, "I was an HMO manager. I got countless families cost-effective health care." St. Peter replies, "You may enter. But," he adds, "You can only stay for three days. After that, you can go to hell."
I saw two dogs walk over to a parking meter. One said to the other, "How do you like that? Pay toilets."
A panda walks into a bar, sits down and orders a sandwich. He eats, pulls out a gun and shoots the waiter dead. As the panda stands up to go, the bartender shouts, "Hey! Where are you going? You just shot my waiter and you didn't pay for the food." The panda yells back, "Hey, man, I'm a panda. Look it up!" The bartender opens his dictionary to panda: "A tree-climbing mammal of Asian origin, characterized by distinct black and white coloring. Eats shoots and leaves."
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One cannibal turns to the other and asks, "This taste funny to you?"
The 16th tee featured a fairway that ran along a road. The first golfer in a foursome teed off and hooked the ball. It soared over the fence and bounced onto the street, where it hit the tire of a moving bus and ricocheted back onto the fairway. As they all stood in amazement, one of the golfer's friends asked, "How did you do that?" The golfer shrugged. "You have to know the bus schedule."
How do you keep a jackass in suspense?
I'll let you know tomorrow!
Two campers are hiking in the woods when one is bitten on the rear end by a rattlesnake. "I'll go into town for a doctor," the other says. He runs ten miles to a small town and finds the only doctor delivering a baby. "I can't leave," the doctor says. "But here's what to do. Take a knife, cut a little X where the bite is, suck out the poison and spit it on the ground." The guy runs back to his friend, who is in agony. "What did the doctor say?" the victim cries. "He says you're gonna die."
Six guys are playing poker. After losing $500 on one hand, Smith clutches his chest and topples over, dead at the table. To decide who's going to tell his wife, his buddies draw straws. Anderson picks the short one. "Break it to her gently," they all urge. "Leave it to me," he says. When Smith's wife comes to the door, Anderson says, "Your husband just lost $500 playing cards." "How much?" the wife yells, eyes blazing. "Tell him to drop dead!"
Do you know what you get when you play a country song backward? You get your job back, you get your house back, your wife back, your truck back...
Proudly showing off his new apartment to a friend late one night, the drunk led the way to the bedroom, where there was a big brass gong. "What's that brass gong for?" asked the friend. "It's not a gong. It's a talking clock," the drunk replied. "A talking clock? How's it work?" "Watch this," said the drunk. He took a hammer, gave the gong an ear-shattering pound and waited. Someone on the other side of the wall screamed: "Hey, you jerk. It's 3:00 in the morning!"
If you have any that you think are funnier, please share them with us. Always ready for a cute or funny joke or story to make me smile. Thank YOu.
I hope that you enjoy some or all of the jokes and pass them on to your friends, family, and co-workers. Take care and have a Wonderful weekend!!
Two doctors and an HMO manager die and line up together at the Pearly Gates. One doctor steps forward and tells St. Peter, "As a pediatric surgeon, I saved hundreds of children." St. Peter lets him enter. The next doctor says, "As a psychiatrist, I helped thousands of people live better lives." St. Peter tells him to go ahead. The last man says, "I was an HMO manager. I got countless families cost-effective health care." St. Peter replies, "You may enter. But," he adds, "You can only stay for three days. After that, you can go to hell."
I saw two dogs walk over to a parking meter. One said to the other, "How do you like that? Pay toilets."
A panda walks into a bar, sits down and orders a sandwich. He eats, pulls out a gun and shoots the waiter dead. As the panda stands up to go, the bartender shouts, "Hey! Where are you going? You just shot my waiter and you didn't pay for the food." The panda yells back, "Hey, man, I'm a panda. Look it up!" The bartender opens his dictionary to panda: "A tree-climbing mammal of Asian origin, characterized by distinct black and white coloring. Eats shoots and leaves."
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One cannibal turns to the other and asks, "This taste funny to you?"
The 16th tee featured a fairway that ran along a road. The first golfer in a foursome teed off and hooked the ball. It soared over the fence and bounced onto the street, where it hit the tire of a moving bus and ricocheted back onto the fairway. As they all stood in amazement, one of the golfer's friends asked, "How did you do that?" The golfer shrugged. "You have to know the bus schedule."
How do you keep a jackass in suspense?
I'll let you know tomorrow!
Two campers are hiking in the woods when one is bitten on the rear end by a rattlesnake. "I'll go into town for a doctor," the other says. He runs ten miles to a small town and finds the only doctor delivering a baby. "I can't leave," the doctor says. "But here's what to do. Take a knife, cut a little X where the bite is, suck out the poison and spit it on the ground." The guy runs back to his friend, who is in agony. "What did the doctor say?" the victim cries. "He says you're gonna die."
Six guys are playing poker. After losing $500 on one hand, Smith clutches his chest and topples over, dead at the table. To decide who's going to tell his wife, his buddies draw straws. Anderson picks the short one. "Break it to her gently," they all urge. "Leave it to me," he says. When Smith's wife comes to the door, Anderson says, "Your husband just lost $500 playing cards." "How much?" the wife yells, eyes blazing. "Tell him to drop dead!"
Do you know what you get when you play a country song backward? You get your job back, you get your house back, your wife back, your truck back...
Proudly showing off his new apartment to a friend late one night, the drunk led the way to the bedroom, where there was a big brass gong. "What's that brass gong for?" asked the friend. "It's not a gong. It's a talking clock," the drunk replied. "A talking clock? How's it work?" "Watch this," said the drunk. He took a hammer, gave the gong an ear-shattering pound and waited. Someone on the other side of the wall screamed: "Hey, you jerk. It's 3:00 in the morning!"
If you have any that you think are funnier, please share them with us. Always ready for a cute or funny joke or story to make me smile. Thank YOu.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Two Extremes In Kids Deaths
This story is part of the earlier post concerning how sentencing varies in cases where a child has died from being left in a hot vehicle.
This story illustrates two extreme cases, one with no time and one with 20 years. It is very compelling.
SENTENCES
This story illustrates two extreme cases, one with no time and one with 20 years. It is very compelling.
SENTENCES
Sentences Vary When Kids Die In Hot Vehicles
I was just reading a very interesting story about children who are left in vehicles and die from heat exhaustion, not by design, but by neglect. It may be a parent, guardian, babysitter and often results in charges which may result in jail sentences for the person who neglected the child by forgetting that they were in the backseat of the vehicle.
I know you may be sitting there wondering how in the heck someone could forget that their child is in the vehicle, but as the cases show, it happens to people in all walks of life from derelicts to professionals.
The crux of the story is that there is a huge disparity in the sentences that are handed down in these cases. There is a wide range of penalties, which range from no time in jail to several years in prison, depending on many variables, such as whether you were the parent, what state you live in, and whether it was intentional or not.
Since the mid-1990s, the number of children who died of heat exhaustion while trapped inside vehicles has risen dramatically, totaling around 340 in the past 10 years. Ironically, one reason was a change parent-drivers made to protect their kids after juvenile air-bag deaths peaked in 1995, they put them in the back seat, where they are more easily forgotten.
Please check out the full story as it will really make you think. I know that whether someone goes to prison or not, they must forever be haunted by the knowledge that they caused the death of their child. I am usually a pretty hardcore law and order guy, but reading some of these cases makes me a little less inclined to "throw" the book at them. Obviously, that is a case by case basis, because I did believe that in some of the cases, prison was appropriate, in particular when it was intentional, such as when alcohol or drugs were involved. These were choices that were made by these people, who were supposed to take care of children, who had no choice in who their parents were, and died because of it.
KIDS
I know you may be sitting there wondering how in the heck someone could forget that their child is in the vehicle, but as the cases show, it happens to people in all walks of life from derelicts to professionals.
The crux of the story is that there is a huge disparity in the sentences that are handed down in these cases. There is a wide range of penalties, which range from no time in jail to several years in prison, depending on many variables, such as whether you were the parent, what state you live in, and whether it was intentional or not.
Since the mid-1990s, the number of children who died of heat exhaustion while trapped inside vehicles has risen dramatically, totaling around 340 in the past 10 years. Ironically, one reason was a change parent-drivers made to protect their kids after juvenile air-bag deaths peaked in 1995, they put them in the back seat, where they are more easily forgotten.
Please check out the full story as it will really make you think. I know that whether someone goes to prison or not, they must forever be haunted by the knowledge that they caused the death of their child. I am usually a pretty hardcore law and order guy, but reading some of these cases makes me a little less inclined to "throw" the book at them. Obviously, that is a case by case basis, because I did believe that in some of the cases, prison was appropriate, in particular when it was intentional, such as when alcohol or drugs were involved. These were choices that were made by these people, who were supposed to take care of children, who had no choice in who their parents were, and died because of it.
KIDS
Friday, July 27, 2007
Johnson County Auditor Tom Slockett Pleads Guilty
There is a story that I had missed until today, as I missed one of my Iowa Press-Citizen daily updates and opened it a few minutes ago. It seems that after initially pleading not guilty, Johnson County Auditor Tom Slockett, had a change of thought and pleaded guilty to drunken driving and issued a public apology.
I checked out the story and found several comments from citizens who are mostly against Mr. Slockett being allowed to keep his public job, and they do not wish to see him driving again as well. Beings this is his "first" conviction that will probably not be the case.
From what I could find at the iowa website (link provided),he may receive 48 hours in jail, $1000 fine, 180 days license suspension, but could get a work permit without an ingnition interlock device being needed, and could in fact receive a deferred sentence on all of it, because it is his "first" offense.
So those who did not wish to see this man driving again, you may be sorely disappointed, in that he could actually receive less punishment than a college kid being picked up for public intoxication and spending the night in jail. Perhaps due to the public nature of this case his sentence will be the full extent of Iowa law, but that would still put him back on the streets in a relatively short time.
OWI
IOWA LAW
I checked out the story and found several comments from citizens who are mostly against Mr. Slockett being allowed to keep his public job, and they do not wish to see him driving again as well. Beings this is his "first" conviction that will probably not be the case.
From what I could find at the iowa website (link provided),he may receive 48 hours in jail, $1000 fine, 180 days license suspension, but could get a work permit without an ingnition interlock device being needed, and could in fact receive a deferred sentence on all of it, because it is his "first" offense.
So those who did not wish to see this man driving again, you may be sorely disappointed, in that he could actually receive less punishment than a college kid being picked up for public intoxication and spending the night in jail. Perhaps due to the public nature of this case his sentence will be the full extent of Iowa law, but that would still put him back on the streets in a relatively short time.
OWI
IOWA LAW
Thursday, July 26, 2007
HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM
America's space agency was shaken Thursday by two startling and unrelated reports: One involved claims that astronauts were drunk before flying. The other was news from NASA itself that a worker had sabotaged a computer set for delivery to the international space station.
nasa
nasa
On Tillman's Death
This is such as sad story as it took a heroic volunteer in the war on terror and has turned him into a symbol for everything that is wrong with this same war. Mr. Tillman was killed from a mere 10 yards away, which only shows me how scared and touchy these first warriors were as they went to war. A very sad statement on our troops, their superiors, and our leaders.
Army medical examiners were suspicious about the close proximity of the three bullet holes in Pat Tillman's forehead and tried without success to get authorities to investigate whether the former NFL player's death amounted to a crime, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Tillman
Army medical examiners were suspicious about the close proximity of the three bullet holes in Pat Tillman's forehead and tried without success to get authorities to investigate whether the former NFL player's death amounted to a crime, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Tillman
Lawsuit Over Veteran's Suicide
Here is just one more example of the breakdown of the Veterans' Affair's and a case which brings it down to a single individual who was not helped by the current system. We can only hope that this lawsuit and the class action lawsuit filed the other day will get all of our politicians in Washington working on, and correcting this mess that our injured veteran's are dealing with on a daily basis.
The parents of an Iraq war veteran who committed suicide sued the U.S. government on Thursday for negligence, charging their son hanged himself after the government ignored his depression.
I wish to send my condolences to the parents, family, and friend's of Jeffrey Lucey, May he now be at peace.
lawsuit
The parents of an Iraq war veteran who committed suicide sued the U.S. government on Thursday for negligence, charging their son hanged himself after the government ignored his depression.
I wish to send my condolences to the parents, family, and friend's of Jeffrey Lucey, May he now be at peace.
lawsuit
Michael Vick Is Headed To Court
The case of Michael Vick is extremely disturbing whether he is guilty or not, as it shows that terrible abuses of animals are still occurring in our 21st century politically correct society.
The facts of the case indicate that either he knew nothing about what was happening at his home, or he knew everything that was going on. There is no grey area in this case and if found guilty he could spend 6 or more years in prison, and could have charges of tax evasion, etc., piled on to the other crimes, as there would have been illegal gambling occurring, and income that was not disclosed to the IRS.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was expected to appear at a bond hearing and enter a plea on dogfighting conspiracy charges. Vick is accused with three others of conspiracy involving competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines. Federal prosecutors allege the operation, known as Bad Newz Kennels, operated on Vick’s property in rural Surry County
This will obviously receive alot of coverage, and I hope that The ever media grabbing attention getters, Reverends Jackson and Sharpe, do not try and turn this into a racial case as they do everything else that involves an african american, and the legal system. This case should only be about whether he is guilty or not and leave the racial component out of it.
So far the photos that they have shown of the animals and the aftermath of dogfighting are disgusting, this is a barbaric "sport", and all who participate in it should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Vick
The facts of the case indicate that either he knew nothing about what was happening at his home, or he knew everything that was going on. There is no grey area in this case and if found guilty he could spend 6 or more years in prison, and could have charges of tax evasion, etc., piled on to the other crimes, as there would have been illegal gambling occurring, and income that was not disclosed to the IRS.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was expected to appear at a bond hearing and enter a plea on dogfighting conspiracy charges. Vick is accused with three others of conspiracy involving competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines. Federal prosecutors allege the operation, known as Bad Newz Kennels, operated on Vick’s property in rural Surry County
This will obviously receive alot of coverage, and I hope that The ever media grabbing attention getters, Reverends Jackson and Sharpe, do not try and turn this into a racial case as they do everything else that involves an african american, and the legal system. This case should only be about whether he is guilty or not and leave the racial component out of it.
So far the photos that they have shown of the animals and the aftermath of dogfighting are disgusting, this is a barbaric "sport", and all who participate in it should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Vick
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Lindsay Lohan Is Committing Suicide
This is a very sad story as this young lady is destroying herself in the full view of the world. I hope that someone can get her to change, but know that it is probably too late for her, as she tries to kill herself with her lifestyle.
Lindsay Lohan is the latest star to tumble from Hollywood's heights into the tumult of substance abuse, continuing a sad tradition of young celebrities who deal with mounting or fleeting fame by turning to drugs and alcohol.
The actress, 21, was arrested Tuesday in Santa Monica and released on bail for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence and with a suspended license and felony cocaine possession.
Lindsay
Lindsay Lohan is the latest star to tumble from Hollywood's heights into the tumult of substance abuse, continuing a sad tradition of young celebrities who deal with mounting or fleeting fame by turning to drugs and alcohol.
The actress, 21, was arrested Tuesday in Santa Monica and released on bail for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence and with a suspended license and felony cocaine possession.
Lindsay
Injured Veteran's File Suit
There is a story at the link below which accuses the government of ignoring the plight of our returning injured war veteran's. Our men and women in the armed forces should be treated with respect and dignity. The politicians on the right and the left purport to care for the troops, each in their own way. If this is so they should be able to get together and fix whatever is broken with the Veteran's Affairs system, so these injured warriors can get the care and benefits they were promised.
Tuesday, Injured Iraq war veterans filed a class action suit against the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday, "accusing VA Secretary Jim Nicholson of breaking the law by denying them disability pay and mental health treatment" reports CNN. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco on behalf of thousands of veterans, alleges the VA failed to provide prompt disability benefits or extra staff to reduce wait times for medical care among other criticisms.
Hopefully, this will wake our politicians up, and make them do the right thing, without having to wait for a lawsuit to wend its' way through the court system, and bring about the needed changes to assist the past and current injured veteran's, in obtaining treatment and benefits. The system may need to be overhauled to handle the larger than expected number of injured troops. I think the truth is that they just were not equipped to handle this many people and were overwhelmed and underfunded.
Veterans
Tuesday, Injured Iraq war veterans filed a class action suit against the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday, "accusing VA Secretary Jim Nicholson of breaking the law by denying them disability pay and mental health treatment" reports CNN. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco on behalf of thousands of veterans, alleges the VA failed to provide prompt disability benefits or extra staff to reduce wait times for medical care among other criticisms.
Hopefully, this will wake our politicians up, and make them do the right thing, without having to wait for a lawsuit to wend its' way through the court system, and bring about the needed changes to assist the past and current injured veteran's, in obtaining treatment and benefits. The system may need to be overhauled to handle the larger than expected number of injured troops. I think the truth is that they just were not equipped to handle this many people and were overwhelmed and underfunded.
Veterans
Ad Says bin-Laden Should Hide In New Orleans
“Bin Laden would be smart to hide where the U.S. pays the least attention -- New Orleans,” reads one of five advertisements prepared for the nonprofit, which raises money to supply clothing, shelter and other services in the area.
The above advertisement is using a bit of humor to get the point across that we have forgotten about New Orleans, and that there is still a great need for aid to this region. It would seem that there has been a tendency to assume that because we do not hear about it everyday, that everything is going well, as the city continues to try and right itself.
Just last week there was also a story about illnesses that have come about from the FEMA trailers that many resident's live in, and the lack of interest by the authorities to address their concerns about these illnesses.
I know everyone enjoys bashing Bush over the mishandling of the situation during and after Katrina hit New Orleans, but I have not. I think there was enough blame to be leveled at the Governor, the Mayor and others who were on the ground, and everyone misjudged the ferocity of the storm. I think that people like Kanye West are totally wrong, when they say that Bush ignored what was going on, because he hates black people. What nonsense!
Personally, I do not think that they should have rebuilt New Orleans in the same location, but that is up to the powers that be. Perhaps these ads will get people to open their hearts and wallets and give a little more assistance to our fellow still suffering Americans. We are a very generous nation and as long as they do not play the Bush blame game, I would be willing to help a little more as well.
Ads
The above advertisement is using a bit of humor to get the point across that we have forgotten about New Orleans, and that there is still a great need for aid to this region. It would seem that there has been a tendency to assume that because we do not hear about it everyday, that everything is going well, as the city continues to try and right itself.
Just last week there was also a story about illnesses that have come about from the FEMA trailers that many resident's live in, and the lack of interest by the authorities to address their concerns about these illnesses.
I know everyone enjoys bashing Bush over the mishandling of the situation during and after Katrina hit New Orleans, but I have not. I think there was enough blame to be leveled at the Governor, the Mayor and others who were on the ground, and everyone misjudged the ferocity of the storm. I think that people like Kanye West are totally wrong, when they say that Bush ignored what was going on, because he hates black people. What nonsense!
Personally, I do not think that they should have rebuilt New Orleans in the same location, but that is up to the powers that be. Perhaps these ads will get people to open their hearts and wallets and give a little more assistance to our fellow still suffering Americans. We are a very generous nation and as long as they do not play the Bush blame game, I would be willing to help a little more as well.
Ads
Monday, July 23, 2007
Israel To Add Palestinian View To Textbooks
I was just listening to a story about Israel and the way that they are going to treat the issue of the founding of their nation and the impact that it had on the Palestinian people who were already living there.
The Education Ministry announced that for the first time in Israel's history a school text book will acknowledge that with the creating of the nation of Israel in 1948, came a tragic side, as it impacted the Palestinians, who had been living in this land. An updated third garde primer has been approved to be used in Arab classrooms this fall, which will tell the truth of Israel's founding and the displacement of the Palestinian's which continues today.
The Rightist's in Israel are angry about this new text, and want a traditional one sided teaching of history, which would only show the "true" side of Israel's founding as a safe haven for Jews who were being killed around the world.
The book is titled "Living Together In Israel" and describes the events of 1948 and 1949, when Israel was created by the United Nations in what had been British ruled Palestine, which then prompted an attack by Arab armies and the displacement of about 70,000 Palestine Arabs.
Previous editions of the text only pointed out the Jew's historical connection to the Holy Land and their need for a state, due to persecution in Europe. The previous edition also focused on the treachery of the Arabs and the heroism of the Israel forces and indicated that the flight of the Palestinian's was strictly voluntary.
The new text also notes that Palestinian's were forced from their homes, and soon became refugees, after the winners of the war confiscated their land and barred their return.
I find this another hopeful sign in a nation that is trying to do the right thing and be more open and truthful about their history, and whether you support them or not, you should welcome the honesty that they are trying to show.
It is the "good" countries that try and live up to their past sins and try to move forward, just as America has done with Native Americans, japanese, african americans, etc., and I applaud Israel for being more open. I hope that this will lead to more dialogue with the Palestinians and hopefully the Palestinian's will pick up the baton and make this a moment to change their hard line, "kill the Israeli's stance", and instead maybe try the path of knowledge and peace. Good Luck to the Israeli's and the Palestinian's.
The Education Ministry announced that for the first time in Israel's history a school text book will acknowledge that with the creating of the nation of Israel in 1948, came a tragic side, as it impacted the Palestinians, who had been living in this land. An updated third garde primer has been approved to be used in Arab classrooms this fall, which will tell the truth of Israel's founding and the displacement of the Palestinian's which continues today.
The Rightist's in Israel are angry about this new text, and want a traditional one sided teaching of history, which would only show the "true" side of Israel's founding as a safe haven for Jews who were being killed around the world.
The book is titled "Living Together In Israel" and describes the events of 1948 and 1949, when Israel was created by the United Nations in what had been British ruled Palestine, which then prompted an attack by Arab armies and the displacement of about 70,000 Palestine Arabs.
Previous editions of the text only pointed out the Jew's historical connection to the Holy Land and their need for a state, due to persecution in Europe. The previous edition also focused on the treachery of the Arabs and the heroism of the Israel forces and indicated that the flight of the Palestinian's was strictly voluntary.
The new text also notes that Palestinian's were forced from their homes, and soon became refugees, after the winners of the war confiscated their land and barred their return.
I find this another hopeful sign in a nation that is trying to do the right thing and be more open and truthful about their history, and whether you support them or not, you should welcome the honesty that they are trying to show.
It is the "good" countries that try and live up to their past sins and try to move forward, just as America has done with Native Americans, japanese, african americans, etc., and I applaud Israel for being more open. I hope that this will lead to more dialogue with the Palestinians and hopefully the Palestinian's will pick up the baton and make this a moment to change their hard line, "kill the Israeli's stance", and instead maybe try the path of knowledge and peace. Good Luck to the Israeli's and the Palestinian's.
Democratic Candidates Field Internet Questions
I was trying to keep up with the Democratic debate on CNN, with the assistance of YouTube, and the cadidates fielded internet questions. I did not catch all of it as I was at work, but shall watch the reruns which i believe will be shown overnight.
Democratic presidential hopefuls struggled Monday night to answer questions posed by young, Internet-savvy voters who challenged traditional political labels and the candidates' own place in a broken political system.
YouTube
Democratic presidential hopefuls struggled Monday night to answer questions posed by young, Internet-savvy voters who challenged traditional political labels and the candidates' own place in a broken political system.
YouTube
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Korean Hostages Given 24 Hours
In a very tense situation the Koreans being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been given 24 more hours to be tortured by being allowed to live a little while longer. They must be mortified over their ultimate fate; which will be Death! This is sad for them and their families, but should be a stark reminder of who we are dealing with!
Afghan elders leading the hostage negotiations met with the kidnappers and reported that the Koreans were healthy, said Khwaja Mohammad Sidiqi, the police chief of Qarabagh district in Ghazni district, where the Koreans were kidnapped Thursday.
Talks
Afghan elders leading the hostage negotiations met with the kidnappers and reported that the Koreans were healthy, said Khwaja Mohammad Sidiqi, the police chief of Qarabagh district in Ghazni district, where the Koreans were kidnapped Thursday.
Talks
U.S. And Iran To Talk?
This is a story that we should all hope comes true, but reality is that it will probably not produce any positive results, because "both" sides do not really want to change the status quo. How sad for the Middle East, and for us, that this will continue to devolve into another war scenario, and give us one more land to send our troops too.
The United States and Iran have set a date for ambassador-level talks in Baghdad on the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, the first such meeting since late May, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Sunday.
Talks
The United States and Iran have set a date for ambassador-level talks in Baghdad on the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, the first such meeting since late May, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Sunday.
Talks
In a story unfolding Sunday, we are seeing a somewhat democratic government surviving an election, that will decide how much radical Islamist's will influence a "friendly" government, at a time when we need as many friend's as we can get.
Turkey's Islamic-rooted ruling party was headed for victory Sunday with more than half the votes counted in parliamentary elections that pitted the government against opponents warning of a threat to secular traditions.
Congratulations to the Turkish people, for voting against the forces of evil, that are trying to take control of the governments in the Middle East.
I do hope that Turkey will find someway to get more autonomy to the long suffering Kurds, who richly deserve their own homeland!
Turkey
Turkey's Islamic-rooted ruling party was headed for victory Sunday with more than half the votes counted in parliamentary elections that pitted the government against opponents warning of a threat to secular traditions.
Congratulations to the Turkish people, for voting against the forces of evil, that are trying to take control of the governments in the Middle East.
I do hope that Turkey will find someway to get more autonomy to the long suffering Kurds, who richly deserve their own homeland!
Turkey
Tammy Faye Is Dead
I am just reading the story of the death of Tammy Faye Messner (BAKER) today and while I would have been content to gloat at one time, I do not feel that way today. In fact, I feel sorry that she is dead and had to die in such a horrible way. I guess the empathy factor was very strong as I have a niece who had a brain tumor and has had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy for the last year, after brain surgery.
Tammy Faye Messner, who as Tammy Faye Bakker helped her husband, Jim, build a multimillion-dollar evangelism empire and then watched it collapse in disgrace, has died. She was 65.
Messner had battled colon cancer since 1996 that more recently spread to her lungs. She died peacefully Friday at her home near Kansas City, Mo., said Joe Spotts, her manager and booking agent.
I think that Tammy Faye was a faithful wife and I hope that Jimmy Bakker has to suffer, die and burn in hell for the way he treated his flamboyant wife, who I once hated and now only feel sorry for!!
Tammy
Tammy Faye Messner, who as Tammy Faye Bakker helped her husband, Jim, build a multimillion-dollar evangelism empire and then watched it collapse in disgrace, has died. She was 65.
Messner had battled colon cancer since 1996 that more recently spread to her lungs. She died peacefully Friday at her home near Kansas City, Mo., said Joe Spotts, her manager and booking agent.
I think that Tammy Faye was a faithful wife and I hope that Jimmy Bakker has to suffer, die and burn in hell for the way he treated his flamboyant wife, who I once hated and now only feel sorry for!!
Tammy
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Obama To Walk Picket Line
I was just reading a story about Barack Obama is in Des Moines today and is courting the labor vote.
Democratic Senator Barack Obama is telling union activists he would walk a picket line as President if organized labor helps elect him in 2008.
I am not an Obama supporter, but is he really serious. He is saying that he would use the office of the President of the United States, as a weapon against any company that may be in a dispute with its' workers. That seems a little heavy handed to me.
My father was a union worker when he worked for John Morrell's Meat Packing Company and the union did do much to make working conditions safer. However, after my father was gone from there, the company gained control once more, and took away many of the gains that had been made. They then began hiring "immigrants" that they could pay about half the wages as union workers, so there is a need for some union protections. My problem with unions has always been that they overreached and damaged many of the companies they were employed by; such as the auto workers, airline employees, and even meatpacking workers, to an extent.
I have always been on the management side of things, so my perspective is one of trying to be fair to my employees, but still have a profitable company, so that we all had a place to work. I had to deal with union issues on a few occasions, and I felt that the unions were not really offering the employees much, for what they would give back in dues to the union.
I know that we have had a pretty powerful supporter's of Big Business, in Bush and Cheney, so maybe a little turnabout would be fair play, but whoever is in office should use their power sparingly, because without the companies being able to make a reasonable profit, there will be no jobs, and then what good would it be to be in a union then.
I am curious, and would like to hear from any union workers, or management personnel, about your views on Obama's offer to walk a picket line as President, and I thank you in advance for any comments you may have about this.
Democratic Senator Barack Obama is telling union activists he would walk a picket line as President if organized labor helps elect him in 2008.
I am not an Obama supporter, but is he really serious. He is saying that he would use the office of the President of the United States, as a weapon against any company that may be in a dispute with its' workers. That seems a little heavy handed to me.
My father was a union worker when he worked for John Morrell's Meat Packing Company and the union did do much to make working conditions safer. However, after my father was gone from there, the company gained control once more, and took away many of the gains that had been made. They then began hiring "immigrants" that they could pay about half the wages as union workers, so there is a need for some union protections. My problem with unions has always been that they overreached and damaged many of the companies they were employed by; such as the auto workers, airline employees, and even meatpacking workers, to an extent.
I have always been on the management side of things, so my perspective is one of trying to be fair to my employees, but still have a profitable company, so that we all had a place to work. I had to deal with union issues on a few occasions, and I felt that the unions were not really offering the employees much, for what they would give back in dues to the union.
I know that we have had a pretty powerful supporter's of Big Business, in Bush and Cheney, so maybe a little turnabout would be fair play, but whoever is in office should use their power sparingly, because without the companies being able to make a reasonable profit, there will be no jobs, and then what good would it be to be in a union then.
I am curious, and would like to hear from any union workers, or management personnel, about your views on Obama's offer to walk a picket line as President, and I thank you in advance for any comments you may have about this.
Friday, July 20, 2007
General's Say Stay
United States military commanders said Friday the troop buildup in Iraq must be maintained until at least next summer and they may need as long as two years to ensure parts of the country are stable. The battlefield generals' pleas for more time come in the face of growing impatience in the United States and a push on Capitol Hill to begin withdrawing United States troops as soon as this fall.
Generals
Generals
Reagan Was An Evil President III
I think the people trying to make Reagan the Greatest President ever are way off. We have had GREAT President's and he doesn't even come close.
Best President ever-Abraham Lincoln who saved the United States through war, Dwight Eisenhower was very good and barely gets a mention, Another top five was Richard Nixon, who would have succeeded in Vietnam if the Dems had not gone communistic, and Gerald Ford who saved our government by pardoning Nixon, who should have never been in trouble, except for some major politics. Even George H. Bush was a better President. I find all of these Presidents above Ronald Reagan.
I will admit most of my venom against Reagan is because of his attack on war veterans who were on disability social security including my father and were nearly destroyed by his policies. I was a hardcore conservative until he took such actions against REAL soldiers, sailors, marines and airman, and he hurt them immensely.
And as for being liberal--I don't think so. if Fred Thompson runs, he shall have my vote. I think he represents America as it should be, and his values are most assuredly conservative.
This is going to be very short as it is a link to another anti-Reagan site, as I have still not made the 5 hour drive to my storage unit and materials.
I am being assailed as a liberal and yet MY list of the five BEST Presidents are Abraham Lincoln, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Dwight Eisenhower, and George H. Bush, in that order.
Enjoy!
Best President ever-Abraham Lincoln who saved the United States through war, Dwight Eisenhower was very good and barely gets a mention, Another top five was Richard Nixon, who would have succeeded in Vietnam if the Dems had not gone communistic, and Gerald Ford who saved our government by pardoning Nixon, who should have never been in trouble, except for some major politics. Even George H. Bush was a better President. I find all of these Presidents above Ronald Reagan.
I will admit most of my venom against Reagan is because of his attack on war veterans who were on disability social security including my father and were nearly destroyed by his policies. I was a hardcore conservative until he took such actions against REAL soldiers, sailors, marines and airman, and he hurt them immensely.
And as for being liberal--I don't think so. if Fred Thompson runs, he shall have my vote. I think he represents America as it should be, and his values are most assuredly conservative.
This is going to be very short as it is a link to another anti-Reagan site, as I have still not made the 5 hour drive to my storage unit and materials.
I am being assailed as a liberal and yet MY list of the five BEST Presidents are Abraham Lincoln, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Dwight Eisenhower, and George H. Bush, in that order.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
U Of I Faculty Rethinking Wellmark Offer
This has been a great two days for someone like me, who is laughing out loud, as the faculty of the University of Iowa College of Public Health is rethinking its' decision to turn down the Wellmark offer of $15 million, just for naming a building after them. I guess they had an emergency meeting on Monday, called by University of Iowa's interim President Gary Fethke, to discuss ways to reignite the talks to get the money from Wellmark.
My offer to accept the gift is still open, but if they do decide to take the gift from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I hope that there are other stipulations besides just naming a building after the company. If I were Wellmark, and please feel free to use my suggestion, I would require that each faculty member appear in public at the ground breaking ceremony and have them kiss the Wellmark representatives derrieres, for having given Wellmark the finger initially.
I am sure it will not happen, but it would be appropriate and entertaining! Truthfully, I am still hoping Wellmark will come to its' senses and accept my very generous naming proposal. Anyway, this story should continue to bring enjoyment for weeks to come. Have A Wonderful Laugh Out Loud Week! LOL!
My offer to accept the gift is still open, but if they do decide to take the gift from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I hope that there are other stipulations besides just naming a building after the company. If I were Wellmark, and please feel free to use my suggestion, I would require that each faculty member appear in public at the ground breaking ceremony and have them kiss the Wellmark representatives derrieres, for having given Wellmark the finger initially.
I am sure it will not happen, but it would be appropriate and entertaining! Truthfully, I am still hoping Wellmark will come to its' senses and accept my very generous naming proposal. Anyway, this story should continue to bring enjoyment for weeks to come. Have A Wonderful Laugh Out Loud Week! LOL!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Reagan Was An Evil President II
As promised we shall begin to deconstruct the myth of President Ronald Wilson Reagan as the "greatest" President of all time, and put him where he rightfully belongs, which is at the bottom of the list, unless you count the evil he wrought, and then he would be right at the top!!
I must make a journey to an old storage unit where my pro and (after 6 months of Reagan) con political columns are stored. It is quite far away, so until then I shall help you to get rid of the idolization of this fraud, by directing you to others who are more schooled, and have written accurate and telling articles and stories about the evil that former President Reagan did, while making us all cry with his great speeches and "empathy" for those who were killed at his behest.
The second person I have chosen for you to read is Bob Fitrakis, who has an excellent column, which he wrote June 17th, 2004. Mr. Fitrakis is the editor of the freepress (http://freepress.org). he is a political science professor, attorney, and co-author with Harvey Wasserman of "George W. Bush vs. The Superpower of Peace.
ENJOY!!
I must make a journey to an old storage unit where my pro and (after 6 months of Reagan) con political columns are stored. It is quite far away, so until then I shall help you to get rid of the idolization of this fraud, by directing you to others who are more schooled, and have written accurate and telling articles and stories about the evil that former President Reagan did, while making us all cry with his great speeches and "empathy" for those who were killed at his behest.
The second person I have chosen for you to read is Bob Fitrakis, who has an excellent column, which he wrote June 17th, 2004. Mr. Fitrakis is the editor of the freepress (http://freepress.org). he is a political science professor, attorney, and co-author with Harvey Wasserman of "George W. Bush vs. The Superpower of Peace.
ENJOY!!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Chavez Denounces Catholic Church
As a non-participating, born and raised Catholic I have been watching with interest the vagaries of the Church. In one instance they seem to side with the terrorist's, as in their opposition to the United States and President George W. Bush's war in Iraq, and then today, I read a hopeful story that says that President "Wacko" Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has pronounced the Catholic Church and its' priests as enemies, and accuses them of interfering in his countries politics illegally. If this is true then I am wholeheartedly on the side of the Church, as they must see the danger that this crazy dictator poses to the whole region.
The Venezuelan Bishops' Conference complains that proposals for the forthcoming constitutional reform are being drafted without public involvement by a committee appointed by Chavez.
Catholic
The Venezuelan Bishops' Conference complains that proposals for the forthcoming constitutional reform are being drafted without public involvement by a committee appointed by Chavez.
Catholic
Terrorists Kill 80
As the surge continues in Iraq the insurgent terrorist's are attacking in areas that were once safe, but are becoming killing grounds as they are chased from Baghdad and other safe terrorist havens by United States and Iraqi troops. It is good that they are being driven out of their hiding areas, but sad for those new innocents who are getting in their way.
A suicide truck bombing followed by two smaller car bombs killed more than 80 people and wounded at least 180 Monday in what's believed to be the deadliest attack in this northern city since the start of the war, police said. The blasts in this city of deep tensions between Kurds and Arabs came as Sunni insurgents were believed to be moving north, fleeing a U.S. offensive around Baghdad and consolidating to carry out deadly bombings.
The massive explosion from the truck bomb around noon blasted a 30-foot-deep crater and damaged part of the roof of the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party of President Jalal Talabani.
MURDER
A suicide truck bombing followed by two smaller car bombs killed more than 80 people and wounded at least 180 Monday in what's believed to be the deadliest attack in this northern city since the start of the war, police said. The blasts in this city of deep tensions between Kurds and Arabs came as Sunni insurgents were believed to be moving north, fleeing a U.S. offensive around Baghdad and consolidating to carry out deadly bombings.
The massive explosion from the truck bomb around noon blasted a 30-foot-deep crater and damaged part of the roof of the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party of President Jalal Talabani.
MURDER
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Karzai's REAL World
The actual reality of our world is that the call by President Karzai to stop the most extreme elements of Islam will do nothing, but get him accused of being a puppet of the United States government. This is so sad and hopefully someday, the true "Moderates" will take control of this religion and stop its' violent ways.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai criticised some madrassas in Pakistan for teaching violent extremism Sunday, as he forgave a teenager who said he was sent across the border to carry out a suicide attack
The actual reality of our world is that the call by President Karzai to stop the most extreme elements of Islam will do nothing, but get him accused of being a puppet of the United States government. This is so sad and hopefully someday, the true "Moderates" will take control of this religion and stop its' violent way.
Karzai
Afghan President Hamid Karzai criticised some madrassas in Pakistan for teaching violent extremism Sunday, as he forgave a teenager who said he was sent across the border to carry out a suicide attack
The actual reality of our world is that the call by President Karzai to stop the most extreme elements of Islam will do nothing, but get him accused of being a puppet of the United States government. This is so sad and hopefully someday, the true "Moderates" will take control of this religion and stop its' violent way.
Karzai
Reagan Was An Evil President
There has been laudable mentions of former President Ronald "Raygun" Reagan by notables such as Rush Limbaugh, Shaun Hannity, and Michael "my father hated me, but I use his image to prosper" Reagan, to keep the image of Reagan as a "GREAT" man alive and growing, when the TRUTH would make people realize just what a piece of s)!% he really was, and the fact that we only won the cold war, because of spending ourselves into oblivion.
We shall go over the Reagan administration in between current events over the next few months, but I just wanted to start this reality check of one of the worst and most evil President's in history with an article by one David Corn, who says so much truth about Reagan.
I hope you enjoy the link and look forward to updates and truth of the evil of Ronald Reagan!!!!!!!!
Reagan
We shall go over the Reagan administration in between current events over the next few months, but I just wanted to start this reality check of one of the worst and most evil President's in history with an article by one David Corn, who says so much truth about Reagan.
I hope you enjoy the link and look forward to updates and truth of the evil of Ronald Reagan!!!!!!!!
Reagan
Buchenwald's 70th Anniversary
This is an important story to be READ by everyone, to remember that there was a HOLOCAUST in the former Nazi republic, and that detractor's and liers should be made to understand what happened during World War II.
Therefore I was very pleased that Leaders of the city of Weimar, a cradle of German culture and democracy, vowed Saturday to fight racism and far-right extremism as part of ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the opening of the nearby Buchenwald concentration camp.
As part of ceremonies at the camp, where some 56,000 people perished behind its barbed wire fences or in incoming transports, Weimar city council members and survivors signed a statement pledging to honor victims' memories by fighting extremism.
We are aware of our responsibility to keep the memory alive and pass it down from one generation to the next, the statement says.
The Weimar's history is inextricably linked to the establishment of Germany's first democratic republic there and several cultural giants whom it nurtured, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, but during World War II its name was tarnished due to its proximity to the Nazi camp.
The Formal ceremonies are to be held at the camp on Sunday, where archivists plan to hand survivors of the camp a memorial book listing, as completely as possible, all those who died at Buchenwald. The book, which contains some 38,000 names is the result of years of painstaking research.
BUCHENWALD
Therefore I was very pleased that Leaders of the city of Weimar, a cradle of German culture and democracy, vowed Saturday to fight racism and far-right extremism as part of ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the opening of the nearby Buchenwald concentration camp.
As part of ceremonies at the camp, where some 56,000 people perished behind its barbed wire fences or in incoming transports, Weimar city council members and survivors signed a statement pledging to honor victims' memories by fighting extremism.
We are aware of our responsibility to keep the memory alive and pass it down from one generation to the next, the statement says.
The Weimar's history is inextricably linked to the establishment of Germany's first democratic republic there and several cultural giants whom it nurtured, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, but during World War II its name was tarnished due to its proximity to the Nazi camp.
The Formal ceremonies are to be held at the camp on Sunday, where archivists plan to hand survivors of the camp a memorial book listing, as completely as possible, all those who died at Buchenwald. The book, which contains some 38,000 names is the result of years of painstaking research.
BUCHENWALD
Russia To Suspend Arms Agreement
Well Thank you to President George "who haven't I pissed off yet" W. Bush who has continued to push for a missile defense system in Poland, to the great annoyance of Russia and President Victor Putin, who said they will not such a dangerous event to occur. President Putin even offered a radar station further east to be used by the United States and Europe if they really wanted to have a missile defense system against Iran or North Korea, and not aimed at Russia.
So Russia said Saturday it will suspend participation in a key European arms control treaty, halting NATO inspections of its military sites and no longer limiting the numbers of its tanks and other heavy conventional weapons.
The move, threatened for months, added new tension to relations with the West already strained over U.S. plans to build a missile shield in Eastern Europe, Russian conflicts with its neighbors and Western criticism of Moscow's human rights record. The suspension is to take place 150 days after Russia officially notifies all the countries concerned of its intention. Experts said the move was a symbolic gesture rather than a sign of Russian intent to build up forces near its borders. The Kremlin, they said, appeared to be expressing its dissatisfaction with the perceived U.S. domination of global affairs, and positioning Russia as an unyielding global player.
Please read the story at the end of this link and contact the White House on down and tell them to stop pissing off Putin and do the right thing for once and work toward a common goal!!
ARMS
So Russia said Saturday it will suspend participation in a key European arms control treaty, halting NATO inspections of its military sites and no longer limiting the numbers of its tanks and other heavy conventional weapons.
The move, threatened for months, added new tension to relations with the West already strained over U.S. plans to build a missile shield in Eastern Europe, Russian conflicts with its neighbors and Western criticism of Moscow's human rights record. The suspension is to take place 150 days after Russia officially notifies all the countries concerned of its intention. Experts said the move was a symbolic gesture rather than a sign of Russian intent to build up forces near its borders. The Kremlin, they said, appeared to be expressing its dissatisfaction with the perceived U.S. domination of global affairs, and positioning Russia as an unyielding global player.
Please read the story at the end of this link and contact the White House on down and tell them to stop pissing off Putin and do the right thing for once and work toward a common goal!!
ARMS
Pakistani Militants Kill 70
Sunday the truce between Militants in northwest Pakistan ended as they disavowed a peace pact with the government and launched two days of suicide attacks and bombings that killed at least 70 people, dramatically escalating the violence in the al-Qaeda infiltrated region.
The attacks Sunday and Saturday followed strident calls by extremists to avenge the government's bloody storming of Islamabad's Red Mosque and a declaration of jihad, or holy war, by at least one pro-Taliban cleric.
Termination of the peace treaty, the hopeful handiwork of President General Pervez Musharraf, puts even greater pressure on the military leader as he struggles with both Islamic extremists and a gathering pro-democracy movement.
As President Musharraf said the other day, this is an all out war for Pakistan and the Militants will surrender or be killed, which is the stance that he should have taken four years ago, and this mess would be over instead of just starting.
Militants
The attacks Sunday and Saturday followed strident calls by extremists to avenge the government's bloody storming of Islamabad's Red Mosque and a declaration of jihad, or holy war, by at least one pro-Taliban cleric.
Termination of the peace treaty, the hopeful handiwork of President General Pervez Musharraf, puts even greater pressure on the military leader as he struggles with both Islamic extremists and a gathering pro-democracy movement.
As President Musharraf said the other day, this is an all out war for Pakistan and the Militants will surrender or be killed, which is the stance that he should have taken four years ago, and this mess would be over instead of just starting.
Militants
Saturday, July 14, 2007
bin-Laden Alive?
I just saw a story about a new al-Qaeda videotape posted Sunday on a militant Web site featured a short, undated clip of a weary-looking Osama bin Laden praising martyrdom.
So I guess the A$$#*(e is still alive. how sad for the world. Anyway I have a link to the full story below!
The bin Laden clip, which lasted less than a minute, was part of a 40-minute video featuring purported al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan paying tribute to fellow militants who have been killed in the country.
bin-Laden
So I guess the A$$#*(e is still alive. how sad for the world. Anyway I have a link to the full story below!
The bin Laden clip, which lasted less than a minute, was part of a 40-minute video featuring purported al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan paying tribute to fellow militants who have been killed in the country.
bin-Laden
North Korea Shuts Down Nuclear Reactor
It looks as if there is a ray of light with one of the axis of evil countries and an actual diplomatic success by the Bush admnistration and the United Nations, as a North Korean diplomat confirmed that his country had shut down its sole operating nuclear reactor after receiving an initial shipment of oil aid and said United Nations inspectors would start verifying the closure on Sunday. If confirmed by the United Nations inspection team, the shutdown would be the North's first step in nearly five years toward de-nuclearization, one that comes after lengthy international talks.
Saturday's delivery of 6,200 tons of heavy fuel oil from South Korea was the first of 50,000 tons promised to the North in exchange for shutting down its reactor in a deal with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. Pyongyang will eventually get 1 million tons of oil and other financial and political concessions. After tortuous negotiations and delays, during which the North argued its nuclear program was needed for self-defense, the reclusive regime said earlier this month that once it received the oil shipment, it would consider halting its reactor.
In Washington, the State Department said Saturday that North Korea had told the United States the reactor had been shut down, hours after the oil arrived in port. Footage showed dozens of cardboard boxes being loaded onto the back of two trucks. It was not immediately clear what they contained but Tolba earlier said he and his colleagues were bringing 2,200 pounds of equipment for use during the trip.
After the IAEA team installs monitoring equipment, some experts will remain at Yongbyon to ensure the reactor stays shuttered, said a diplomat familiar with North Korea's file at the IAEA. United States envoy Christopher Hill has said the disabling of the North's nuclear facilities could be completed by the end of the year. He said he also expected a complete declaration of its atomic programs within months.
The United States was informed of the shutdown at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday Pyongyang time (9:30 a.m. EDT), Hill told Japanese broadcaster NHK. He added that he expected a report from the IAEA inspectors at Yongbyon by the end of Sunday. The six-party agreement eased a standoff that began in October 2002, when the U.S. said North Korean officials had admitted having a secret uranium enrichment program. Washington said that violated a 1994 agreement for the North's disarmament, and a month later halted oil shipments under that deal. The North reacted by expelling IAEA monitors, withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and restarting the reactor.
North Korea has since occasionally shut down the reactor to remove fuel rods and extract plutonium. It is believed to have harvested enough for at least a dozen bombs. The government set off an underground nuclear test explosion in October, leading to intensified international efforts to negotiate an end to its arms program.
The North was likely to term the shutdown simply a suspension of operations, which could be easily reversed, but for now this is something to celebrate and perhaps a starting point for negotiations with Iran to end their nuclear program.
Perhaps diplomacy, and not war can end Iran's program!
Saturday's delivery of 6,200 tons of heavy fuel oil from South Korea was the first of 50,000 tons promised to the North in exchange for shutting down its reactor in a deal with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. Pyongyang will eventually get 1 million tons of oil and other financial and political concessions. After tortuous negotiations and delays, during which the North argued its nuclear program was needed for self-defense, the reclusive regime said earlier this month that once it received the oil shipment, it would consider halting its reactor.
In Washington, the State Department said Saturday that North Korea had told the United States the reactor had been shut down, hours after the oil arrived in port. Footage showed dozens of cardboard boxes being loaded onto the back of two trucks. It was not immediately clear what they contained but Tolba earlier said he and his colleagues were bringing 2,200 pounds of equipment for use during the trip.
After the IAEA team installs monitoring equipment, some experts will remain at Yongbyon to ensure the reactor stays shuttered, said a diplomat familiar with North Korea's file at the IAEA. United States envoy Christopher Hill has said the disabling of the North's nuclear facilities could be completed by the end of the year. He said he also expected a complete declaration of its atomic programs within months.
The United States was informed of the shutdown at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday Pyongyang time (9:30 a.m. EDT), Hill told Japanese broadcaster NHK. He added that he expected a report from the IAEA inspectors at Yongbyon by the end of Sunday. The six-party agreement eased a standoff that began in October 2002, when the U.S. said North Korean officials had admitted having a secret uranium enrichment program. Washington said that violated a 1994 agreement for the North's disarmament, and a month later halted oil shipments under that deal. The North reacted by expelling IAEA monitors, withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and restarting the reactor.
North Korea has since occasionally shut down the reactor to remove fuel rods and extract plutonium. It is believed to have harvested enough for at least a dozen bombs. The government set off an underground nuclear test explosion in October, leading to intensified international efforts to negotiate an end to its arms program.
The North was likely to term the shutdown simply a suspension of operations, which could be easily reversed, but for now this is something to celebrate and perhaps a starting point for negotiations with Iran to end their nuclear program.
Perhaps diplomacy, and not war can end Iran's program!
Iraqi Report: Success And Failure
The White House and Congress agreed to get the Iraqi government to meet 18 targets and the interim report that was released by the White House shows mixed results.
The benchmarks that are considered saticfactorily completed include the following:
To have the Iraqi government form a commmittee to review the constitution; and the committee has been formed, but the review is not done. To establish a process to form and implement semi-autonomous regions; and procedures are in place, but it's unclear whether more regions will be added. To establish political, media, economic, and service committees to support security plan; and the steering committee meets weekly to discuss topics. Subcommittees have formed, but they vary in effectiveness. To provide three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support operations in Baghdad; and the Iraqi government has provided the equivalent of three brigades, but staffing levels are a concern. To protect the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature; but Shiite factions are feuding. Women work closely with one another, often across party lines. To allocate and spend $10 billion in Iraqi revenues for reconstruction projects; and the Iraqi government has only spent about $1.4 billion in 2006. The oil ministry hasn't made a real effort to spend its capital budget. True success depends on improving delivery of services. To ensure that the Baghdad security plan will not provide safe haven for outlaws, regardless of sectarian or political affiliation; and United States commanders say they're satisfied with their ability to target any extremist group. Security forces have been able to clear some areas around Baghdad. To establish joing security stations in neighborhoods across Baghdad; and more than 60 stations are in Baghdad, and 30 more are planned. Increased interaction with locals has reduced violence.
The benchmarks that showed mixed results are, to establish an electoral commission, set up provincial councils, and their authorities, and set a date for elections; and a commission is formed. A law establishing provincial elections is drafted. Still trying to agree on council authorities, but no date has been set for elections. To reduce the level of sectarian violence in Iraq and eliminate militia control of local security; and the militia presence is still strong and far-reaching, and there has been some decrease in sectarian violence, but too early to tell whether it will continue.
The benchmarks that were judged as having unsatisfactorily results are, to divide oil revenues among Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish factions; While Kurds and Shiites have agreed on how to do this, but Sunnis are balking, which has had the effect of reducing Iraqi's confidence in the government. To reintegrate former Baath Party members into Iraq society; exclude democracy opponents; and this is among the most divisive political issues, and compromise is extremely difficult. There have been competing conceptions of justice and accountability. To give Iraqi commanders authority to execute the security plan and make tactical and operational decisions; and while Iraqi and coalition forces have authority to go after insurgents and militias, but concerns about negative political influence continue at various levels. To ensure that Iraqi security forces provide even handed law enforcement; but some individual units are not complying, and performance is generally adequate when teamed with coalition forces. To increase the number of Iraqi security force units capable of operating independently; and with slow and steady improvement, though the Bush administration is concerned about sectarian leanings of some national police units. To ensure Iraq's political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against members of the Iraqi security forces; but accusations of wrongdoing are not being adequately addressed by the Iraqi government. As a result, security forces don't operate in a professional, non-sectarian way.
And lastly, there are two benchmarks that are too early to assess, and they are: To pass a law giving amnesty to former members of the ruling Baath Party, but conditions for amnesty for those who have fought against the Iraqi government since 2003 do not exist. Also violence is extensive, and various groups aren't willing to reconcile. To enact and implement law on militia disarmament so security forces are loyal and accountable; but there is disagreement on whether the law is needed now. No armed group has committed to disarmament. The United Nations and others have reservations about timing.
So as the surge completes its' first full month since all of the troops that were requested have arrived, we cannot see if this is going to go well or not. We know that there shall be a Congressional report that General Petraeus must give them by September 15th, so until then, it looks like more troops will die and we shall see if the surge does any good whatsoever. For our troops sake, I hope something good will come of this, but it looks more doubtful each day as the violence continues!
The benchmarks that are considered saticfactorily completed include the following:
To have the Iraqi government form a commmittee to review the constitution; and the committee has been formed, but the review is not done. To establish a process to form and implement semi-autonomous regions; and procedures are in place, but it's unclear whether more regions will be added. To establish political, media, economic, and service committees to support security plan; and the steering committee meets weekly to discuss topics. Subcommittees have formed, but they vary in effectiveness. To provide three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support operations in Baghdad; and the Iraqi government has provided the equivalent of three brigades, but staffing levels are a concern. To protect the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature; but Shiite factions are feuding. Women work closely with one another, often across party lines. To allocate and spend $10 billion in Iraqi revenues for reconstruction projects; and the Iraqi government has only spent about $1.4 billion in 2006. The oil ministry hasn't made a real effort to spend its capital budget. True success depends on improving delivery of services. To ensure that the Baghdad security plan will not provide safe haven for outlaws, regardless of sectarian or political affiliation; and United States commanders say they're satisfied with their ability to target any extremist group. Security forces have been able to clear some areas around Baghdad. To establish joing security stations in neighborhoods across Baghdad; and more than 60 stations are in Baghdad, and 30 more are planned. Increased interaction with locals has reduced violence.
The benchmarks that showed mixed results are, to establish an electoral commission, set up provincial councils, and their authorities, and set a date for elections; and a commission is formed. A law establishing provincial elections is drafted. Still trying to agree on council authorities, but no date has been set for elections. To reduce the level of sectarian violence in Iraq and eliminate militia control of local security; and the militia presence is still strong and far-reaching, and there has been some decrease in sectarian violence, but too early to tell whether it will continue.
The benchmarks that were judged as having unsatisfactorily results are, to divide oil revenues among Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish factions; While Kurds and Shiites have agreed on how to do this, but Sunnis are balking, which has had the effect of reducing Iraqi's confidence in the government. To reintegrate former Baath Party members into Iraq society; exclude democracy opponents; and this is among the most divisive political issues, and compromise is extremely difficult. There have been competing conceptions of justice and accountability. To give Iraqi commanders authority to execute the security plan and make tactical and operational decisions; and while Iraqi and coalition forces have authority to go after insurgents and militias, but concerns about negative political influence continue at various levels. To ensure that Iraqi security forces provide even handed law enforcement; but some individual units are not complying, and performance is generally adequate when teamed with coalition forces. To increase the number of Iraqi security force units capable of operating independently; and with slow and steady improvement, though the Bush administration is concerned about sectarian leanings of some national police units. To ensure Iraq's political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against members of the Iraqi security forces; but accusations of wrongdoing are not being adequately addressed by the Iraqi government. As a result, security forces don't operate in a professional, non-sectarian way.
And lastly, there are two benchmarks that are too early to assess, and they are: To pass a law giving amnesty to former members of the ruling Baath Party, but conditions for amnesty for those who have fought against the Iraqi government since 2003 do not exist. Also violence is extensive, and various groups aren't willing to reconcile. To enact and implement law on militia disarmament so security forces are loyal and accountable; but there is disagreement on whether the law is needed now. No armed group has committed to disarmament. The United Nations and others have reservations about timing.
So as the surge completes its' first full month since all of the troops that were requested have arrived, we cannot see if this is going to go well or not. We know that there shall be a Congressional report that General Petraeus must give them by September 15th, so until then, it looks like more troops will die and we shall see if the surge does any good whatsoever. For our troops sake, I hope something good will come of this, but it looks more doubtful each day as the violence continues!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Democrats Hold Miers In Contempt
For quite some time we have heard that President Bush has told former White House counsel, Harriet Miers to not talk to Congress about the United States attorney's who were fired. She has complied with the President's wishes so far, but things will get more dicey for her as the Democrats move to find her in contempt of Congress.
On Thursday, Judiciary Committee Chairman, Joh Conyers, Democrat of Michigan took the first step to find her in contempt as she had informed the House Judiciary subcommittee on Wednesday, through her lawyer, that she was ordered by the President to not appear, citing executive privilege.
The subcommittee voted 7-5 Thursday to pass a resolution that said Harriet Miers defiance of a congressional subpoena lacked a legal basis. Representative Conyers said that if they do not enforce the subpoena, no one would ever have to come before the Judiciary Committee again.
Republicans defended the White House, saying that the Democrats are merely trying to paint the White House with an obstructionist brush, because they cannot find any wrongdoing in the firings of the United States attorneys.
With the power of the committees in their hands the Democrats will try and kill the Bush administration by "death by a thousand cuts", just as the Republicans did to the Clinton administration when they were in power!
On Thursday, Judiciary Committee Chairman, Joh Conyers, Democrat of Michigan took the first step to find her in contempt as she had informed the House Judiciary subcommittee on Wednesday, through her lawyer, that she was ordered by the President to not appear, citing executive privilege.
The subcommittee voted 7-5 Thursday to pass a resolution that said Harriet Miers defiance of a congressional subpoena lacked a legal basis. Representative Conyers said that if they do not enforce the subpoena, no one would ever have to come before the Judiciary Committee again.
Republicans defended the White House, saying that the Democrats are merely trying to paint the White House with an obstructionist brush, because they cannot find any wrongdoing in the firings of the United States attorneys.
With the power of the committees in their hands the Democrats will try and kill the Bush administration by "death by a thousand cuts", just as the Republicans did to the Clinton administration when they were in power!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
LADY Bird Johnson Dead At 94
A Classy lady died today, and we should mourn for a truly Good woman, who was a Good First Lady, and a Great Mother and Wife. Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady who championed conservation and worked tenaciously for the political career of her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, died Wednesday, a family spokeswoman said. She was 94.
Lady
Lady
Senators Grill Taylor On Firings
The Senate is continuing to hold hearings in the firing of the United States Attorney's, and former White House political director Sara M. Taylor was being questioned by a congressional panel Wednesday. She said that she did not talk to or meet with President Bush about removing federal prosecutors before eight of them were fired. When asked more broadly whether President Bush was involved in any way in the firings, Taylor said, "I don't have any knowledge that he was."
I think there will be a rerun on CSPAN II overnight if you wish to view the proceedings yourself.
Taylor, who left the White House eight weeks ago for reasons she said were unrelated to the firings, was treading a rough line between obeying President Bush's order to not reveal internal White House deliberations about the firings and a congressional subpoena compelling her to do so.
Loyal to President Bush even outside the White House, Ms. Taylor at first refused to answer questions that might violate the president's claim of executive privilege and at one point reminded the committee that as a commissioned officer, she took an oath and that she takes that oath to the president very seriously.
Seeing a chance to weaken Ms. Taylor's observance of President Bush's executive privilege claim,Senator Leahy corrected her: She took an oath to uphold the Constitution, he noted. The exchange was part of proceedings that were as much about the ongoing dispute over what information the White House can keep secret as it was about the stated topic, the firings over the winter of eight U.S. attorneys.
Ms. Taylor began by telling the committee she would observe President Bush's directive to defy the subpoena and refuse to answer questions, unless a court ordered her to do so. Democrats insisted that the decision to cooperate, or not, with the subpoena was hers.
"It is apparent that this White House is contemptuous of the Congress and feels that it does not have to explain itself to anybody," Senator Leahy, of Vermont., said as he opened the hearing. "I urge Ms. Taylor not to follow that contemptuous position and not to follow the White House down this path."
With that, Democrats and ranking Republican Arlen Specter, of Pennsylvania, began to try to unravel Ms. Taylor's adherence to President Bush's directions and prod her into answering their questions about who ordered the firings and why.
Democrats noted that Ms. Taylor, 32, is a private citizen compelled by subpoena to testify, under threat of being held in contempt of Congress. During a first round of questioning, Senator Leahy asked Ms. Taylor repeatedly whether she had met with or talked to President Bush about the replacement of U.S. attorneys. Ms. Taylor repeatedly refused to answer, citing President Bush's instructions.
She got some backup, at first, from Senator Specter. "I think your declining to answer the last series of questions by the chairman was correct under the direction from White House counsel," Senator Specter said. "Whether White House counsel is correct on the assertion of executive privilege is a matter which will be decided by the courts," Senator Specter added. But, in the senator's view, "congressional oversight has the better of the argument."
Nonetheless,Senate Democrats pressed Ms. Taylor, and most did so in a very rude manner, in particular, where Senators Chucky Schumer of New York, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island that treated her answers with disdain.
Apart from her comments about President Bush, Ms. Taylor revealed a few other details: She said she did not recall ordering the addition or deletion of names to the list of prosecutors to be fired. And she disputed testimony by Kyle Sampson, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' chief of staff, that Ms. Taylor wanted to avoid submitting a new prosecutor, Tim Griffin, through Senate confirmation.
"I expected him to go through Senate confirmation," Taylor said under questioning by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, of California. Ms. Taylor also issued a stiff defense of her colleagues in the Bush administration. "I don't believe there was any wrongdoing by anybody," she said.
Senator Leahy took the unusual step of allowing Ms. Taylor's lawyer, Neil Eggleston, to sit next to her at the witness table. There, he advised her on which questions she should or should not answer under the president's directive. Democrats said the same standard applied to a second former Bush aide, one-time White House counsel Harriet Miers. Miers, subpoenaed to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, said through her lawyer that she "cannot provide the documents and testimony that the committee seeks."
I think there will be a rerun on CSPAN II overnight if you wish to view the proceedings yourself.
Taylor, who left the White House eight weeks ago for reasons she said were unrelated to the firings, was treading a rough line between obeying President Bush's order to not reveal internal White House deliberations about the firings and a congressional subpoena compelling her to do so.
Loyal to President Bush even outside the White House, Ms. Taylor at first refused to answer questions that might violate the president's claim of executive privilege and at one point reminded the committee that as a commissioned officer, she took an oath and that she takes that oath to the president very seriously.
Seeing a chance to weaken Ms. Taylor's observance of President Bush's executive privilege claim,Senator Leahy corrected her: She took an oath to uphold the Constitution, he noted. The exchange was part of proceedings that were as much about the ongoing dispute over what information the White House can keep secret as it was about the stated topic, the firings over the winter of eight U.S. attorneys.
Ms. Taylor began by telling the committee she would observe President Bush's directive to defy the subpoena and refuse to answer questions, unless a court ordered her to do so. Democrats insisted that the decision to cooperate, or not, with the subpoena was hers.
"It is apparent that this White House is contemptuous of the Congress and feels that it does not have to explain itself to anybody," Senator Leahy, of Vermont., said as he opened the hearing. "I urge Ms. Taylor not to follow that contemptuous position and not to follow the White House down this path."
With that, Democrats and ranking Republican Arlen Specter, of Pennsylvania, began to try to unravel Ms. Taylor's adherence to President Bush's directions and prod her into answering their questions about who ordered the firings and why.
Democrats noted that Ms. Taylor, 32, is a private citizen compelled by subpoena to testify, under threat of being held in contempt of Congress. During a first round of questioning, Senator Leahy asked Ms. Taylor repeatedly whether she had met with or talked to President Bush about the replacement of U.S. attorneys. Ms. Taylor repeatedly refused to answer, citing President Bush's instructions.
She got some backup, at first, from Senator Specter. "I think your declining to answer the last series of questions by the chairman was correct under the direction from White House counsel," Senator Specter said. "Whether White House counsel is correct on the assertion of executive privilege is a matter which will be decided by the courts," Senator Specter added. But, in the senator's view, "congressional oversight has the better of the argument."
Nonetheless,Senate Democrats pressed Ms. Taylor, and most did so in a very rude manner, in particular, where Senators Chucky Schumer of New York, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island that treated her answers with disdain.
Apart from her comments about President Bush, Ms. Taylor revealed a few other details: She said she did not recall ordering the addition or deletion of names to the list of prosecutors to be fired. And she disputed testimony by Kyle Sampson, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' chief of staff, that Ms. Taylor wanted to avoid submitting a new prosecutor, Tim Griffin, through Senate confirmation.
"I expected him to go through Senate confirmation," Taylor said under questioning by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, of California. Ms. Taylor also issued a stiff defense of her colleagues in the Bush administration. "I don't believe there was any wrongdoing by anybody," she said.
Senator Leahy took the unusual step of allowing Ms. Taylor's lawyer, Neil Eggleston, to sit next to her at the witness table. There, he advised her on which questions she should or should not answer under the president's directive. Democrats said the same standard applied to a second former Bush aide, one-time White House counsel Harriet Miers. Miers, subpoenaed to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, said through her lawyer that she "cannot provide the documents and testimony that the committee seeks."
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Bush And Iraq Losing More Support
The sh** is starting to roll down the hill as we got more bad news about the war in Iraq and the fact that the Iraqi government has not met any of the benchmarks that had been set for it.
President Bush threatened to veto legislation setting a date for a troop withdrawal from Iraq on Tuesday despite growing bipartisan calls in Congress for an end to U.S. participation in the war and sharp criticism of the Iraqi government.
As the Senate opened a new debate on the conflict, one of the president's staunchest supporters bluntly said the administration had pursued the wrong policy for years after toppling Saddam Hussein.
Democrats said Bush's newest strategy was hardly a success, either. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that since Bush ordered thousands more troops to Iraq last winter, "we've lost more than 600 troops, costing the American taxpayers more than $60 billion. The escalation has done nothing to bring the Iraqi government together. It's done absolutely nothing to lessen the violence in Iraq. Two Democrats, Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, back legislation to require a troop withdrawal to begin within 120 days, to be completed by the end of April 2008.
A vote is expected next week, and Reid said nearly all Democrats support the proposal. Republican Gordon Smith of Oregon is a supporter, as well, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, told reporters she may switch her position and vote for it, too. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would call for a vote on a similar measure by week's end.
The Senate proposal appears to be short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a threatened Republican filibuster. Bush's veto threat applied to any legislation that sets an arbitrary date for withdrawal, without regard to conditions on the ground or the recommendations of commanders.
In a further sign of eroding GOP support, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., called for troops to come home next year.
Also expected to come to a vote in the next two weeks is a plan to place into law recommendations from last winter's report from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. The group called for removing all combat brigades not needed for training, force protection and counterterrorism by March 31, 2008. In an ominous sign for the White House, six Republicans have signaled support for the proposal, along with six Democrats.
Despite a steady procession of Republicans calling for a change in course, several GOP lawmakers warned against a precipitous withdrawal. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, who accompanied McCain to Iraq, also cited progress since Gen. David Petraeus took command several months ago and the additional troops began arriving.
The Iraqis are rejecting al-Qaeda at every turn. I don't want the Congress to be the cavalry for al-Qaeda, he said.
Graham was also part of a group of senators who met privately during the day with Stephen Hadley, the president's national security adviser, and Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, a top adviser on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The senator said afterward the White House is looking at new ways to hasten progress in two primary areas: destroying al-Qaida in Iraq and forcing the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad to make political progress.
But he quoted Bush's aides as saying the administration would oppose calls for a troop withdrawal.
Bush, who was in Cleveland, said issues related to troop strength, will be decided by our commanders on the ground, not by political figures in Washington, D.C. He added, I call upon the United States Congress to give General David Petraeus a chance to come back and tell us whether his strategy is working, and then we can work together on a way forward.
General Petraeus is expected to make his report in September, but Bush also must give Congress an evaluation by July 15 on the progress made by the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in several areas of political and economic change. The 23-page report is expected to state that Iraq has not met or made substantial progress toward about half the targets set by Congress, and has made progress on or arguably achieved the others.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack declined to list any benchmarks that have been met. But he conceded that the most prominent goals had not, enactment of legislation to allocate oil and gas revenue among the Iraqis or a law to address consequences of the mass firings of Baath Party members.
Bush's allies made clear their unhappiness with the government in Iraq. Senator McCain, Graham, Bond and others took turns on the Senate floor to warn of grave consequences if Democrats get their wish for a quick troop withdrawal. Late last winter we confirmed General Petraeus unanimously to bring a new strategy. Republicans and Democrats said we needed a new strategy, and there's no question we did.
The strategy we had before was not the right strategy. We should have had a counterinsurgency strategy. Unfortunately, General Garner lost that argument several years ago, he said a reference to the general who was installed as the first postwar governor of Iraq. Garner arrived in Iraq in April 2003 and was replaced the following month.
Asked, in retrospect, how long the House and Senate should have permitted an inadequate strategy to continue, Bond replied, Congress was not running the war, George Bush and Dick Cheney were running the war!
Bush has real problems ahead this year before the report comes back on the success or failure of the surge this September.
President Bush threatened to veto legislation setting a date for a troop withdrawal from Iraq on Tuesday despite growing bipartisan calls in Congress for an end to U.S. participation in the war and sharp criticism of the Iraqi government.
As the Senate opened a new debate on the conflict, one of the president's staunchest supporters bluntly said the administration had pursued the wrong policy for years after toppling Saddam Hussein.
Democrats said Bush's newest strategy was hardly a success, either. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that since Bush ordered thousands more troops to Iraq last winter, "we've lost more than 600 troops, costing the American taxpayers more than $60 billion. The escalation has done nothing to bring the Iraqi government together. It's done absolutely nothing to lessen the violence in Iraq. Two Democrats, Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, back legislation to require a troop withdrawal to begin within 120 days, to be completed by the end of April 2008.
A vote is expected next week, and Reid said nearly all Democrats support the proposal. Republican Gordon Smith of Oregon is a supporter, as well, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, told reporters she may switch her position and vote for it, too. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would call for a vote on a similar measure by week's end.
The Senate proposal appears to be short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a threatened Republican filibuster. Bush's veto threat applied to any legislation that sets an arbitrary date for withdrawal, without regard to conditions on the ground or the recommendations of commanders.
In a further sign of eroding GOP support, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., called for troops to come home next year.
Also expected to come to a vote in the next two weeks is a plan to place into law recommendations from last winter's report from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. The group called for removing all combat brigades not needed for training, force protection and counterterrorism by March 31, 2008. In an ominous sign for the White House, six Republicans have signaled support for the proposal, along with six Democrats.
Despite a steady procession of Republicans calling for a change in course, several GOP lawmakers warned against a precipitous withdrawal. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, who accompanied McCain to Iraq, also cited progress since Gen. David Petraeus took command several months ago and the additional troops began arriving.
The Iraqis are rejecting al-Qaeda at every turn. I don't want the Congress to be the cavalry for al-Qaeda, he said.
Graham was also part of a group of senators who met privately during the day with Stephen Hadley, the president's national security adviser, and Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, a top adviser on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The senator said afterward the White House is looking at new ways to hasten progress in two primary areas: destroying al-Qaida in Iraq and forcing the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad to make political progress.
But he quoted Bush's aides as saying the administration would oppose calls for a troop withdrawal.
Bush, who was in Cleveland, said issues related to troop strength, will be decided by our commanders on the ground, not by political figures in Washington, D.C. He added, I call upon the United States Congress to give General David Petraeus a chance to come back and tell us whether his strategy is working, and then we can work together on a way forward.
General Petraeus is expected to make his report in September, but Bush also must give Congress an evaluation by July 15 on the progress made by the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in several areas of political and economic change. The 23-page report is expected to state that Iraq has not met or made substantial progress toward about half the targets set by Congress, and has made progress on or arguably achieved the others.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack declined to list any benchmarks that have been met. But he conceded that the most prominent goals had not, enactment of legislation to allocate oil and gas revenue among the Iraqis or a law to address consequences of the mass firings of Baath Party members.
Bush's allies made clear their unhappiness with the government in Iraq. Senator McCain, Graham, Bond and others took turns on the Senate floor to warn of grave consequences if Democrats get their wish for a quick troop withdrawal. Late last winter we confirmed General Petraeus unanimously to bring a new strategy. Republicans and Democrats said we needed a new strategy, and there's no question we did.
The strategy we had before was not the right strategy. We should have had a counterinsurgency strategy. Unfortunately, General Garner lost that argument several years ago, he said a reference to the general who was installed as the first postwar governor of Iraq. Garner arrived in Iraq in April 2003 and was replaced the following month.
Asked, in retrospect, how long the House and Senate should have permitted an inadequate strategy to continue, Bond replied, Congress was not running the war, George Bush and Dick Cheney were running the war!
Bush has real problems ahead this year before the report comes back on the success or failure of the surge this September.
Terrorist Pleads Guilty
In a report today it would seem that we will not get to find out what Mr. Abdel-Ilah Elmardoudi would say in a Federal court case which was to begin on July 17th, because he plead guilty today.
He plead guilty to a federal charge of misuse of Social Security numbers and he will be sentenced after a presentence investigation report is prepared.
Mr. Elmardoudi had filed four motions to dimiss, but late last week, United States Disctrict Chief Judge Linda Reade decline to dismiss his charges. At a late afternoon hearing, Mr. Elmardoudi pleaded guilty to the Social Security charge before United States Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles.
He made this deal and now only faces up to five years in prison, and has been held nearly that long already. Since November 2002, when he was arrested in North Carolina, at which time he faced charges in Michigan and Iowa. a Michigan pro-terrorists rights judge dismissed terrorism charges, because of prosecutorial "misconduct" and then the moron prosecutor dismissed the documents charges.
I am very interested why they chose to give this Terrorist Suspect such a reduced charge, and I am not feeling safer for this DEAL, are you???!!
He plead guilty to a federal charge of misuse of Social Security numbers and he will be sentenced after a presentence investigation report is prepared.
Mr. Elmardoudi had filed four motions to dimiss, but late last week, United States Disctrict Chief Judge Linda Reade decline to dismiss his charges. At a late afternoon hearing, Mr. Elmardoudi pleaded guilty to the Social Security charge before United States Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles.
He made this deal and now only faces up to five years in prison, and has been held nearly that long already. Since November 2002, when he was arrested in North Carolina, at which time he faced charges in Michigan and Iowa. a Michigan pro-terrorists rights judge dismissed terrorism charges, because of prosecutorial "misconduct" and then the moron prosecutor dismissed the documents charges.
I am very interested why they chose to give this Terrorist Suspect such a reduced charge, and I am not feeling safer for this DEAL, are you???!!
Wellmark Rescinds Gift
This has been a good day to update a story I commented on the other day and it is a perfect ending to this story.
On Tuesday, John Forsyth, CEO of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, wrote a letter to the Dean James Merchant of the University of Iowa College of Public Health, informing them that they were rescinding the offer of the $15 million gift to the school. Mr Forsyth wrote that until there is unwavering support from both college and university administrators for a major gift, as orginally solicited by the college's capital campaign committee leadership, the gift will remain withdrawn.
How sweet! It is a special gift for the college from the gods of Karma, and it could not happen to a better group of elitist's. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!! Yes, I am sorry that I am gloating over this turn of events, but I do hope that this puts my offer to Wellmark higher on their lists of things to do for company awareness!!
Truthfully, I do have a small bit of conflict of interest, in that I want the $15 million dollars, and also several years ago I was in a near fatal accident and I was lucky enough to have company provided insurance, and the insurer was Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and THEY were wonderful and covered nearly every penny of a nearly $80,000 hospital bill, so I have a soft spot for this company.
I hope that if I do not get the gift, that Wellmark finds some good smaller college that needs the money, and would be proud to have a gift from a such a Good company.
In another response to this gift, former University of Iowa President Gary Fethke said in an email to reporters said that having been the dean of Tippie College of Business to develop University of Iowa partnerships with corporate leaders and businesses in Iowa, he was proud of named programs. He continued with a regret that the discussion of such a generous donation failed to focus on the substantial benefits of corporate partnerships would have for the students, faculty, and staff.
Hopefully, others who were considering whether or not to assist the University in their money drive will think twice about assisting such a group of arrogant and ungrateful people!
On Tuesday, John Forsyth, CEO of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, wrote a letter to the Dean James Merchant of the University of Iowa College of Public Health, informing them that they were rescinding the offer of the $15 million gift to the school. Mr Forsyth wrote that until there is unwavering support from both college and university administrators for a major gift, as orginally solicited by the college's capital campaign committee leadership, the gift will remain withdrawn.
How sweet! It is a special gift for the college from the gods of Karma, and it could not happen to a better group of elitist's. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!! Yes, I am sorry that I am gloating over this turn of events, but I do hope that this puts my offer to Wellmark higher on their lists of things to do for company awareness!!
Truthfully, I do have a small bit of conflict of interest, in that I want the $15 million dollars, and also several years ago I was in a near fatal accident and I was lucky enough to have company provided insurance, and the insurer was Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and THEY were wonderful and covered nearly every penny of a nearly $80,000 hospital bill, so I have a soft spot for this company.
I hope that if I do not get the gift, that Wellmark finds some good smaller college that needs the money, and would be proud to have a gift from a such a Good company.
In another response to this gift, former University of Iowa President Gary Fethke said in an email to reporters said that having been the dean of Tippie College of Business to develop University of Iowa partnerships with corporate leaders and businesses in Iowa, he was proud of named programs. He continued with a regret that the discussion of such a generous donation failed to focus on the substantial benefits of corporate partnerships would have for the students, faculty, and staff.
Hopefully, others who were considering whether or not to assist the University in their money drive will think twice about assisting such a group of arrogant and ungrateful people!
Iraq Missed Targets
There is a report coming out this week that will not bolster Bush's hopes that his surge is succeeding in anyway that he had hope for and the sadness shall be in the waste of lives during this escalation for so little gain.
The progress report on Iraq will conclude that the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad has not met any of its targets for political, economic and other reform, speeding up the Bush administration's reckoning on what to do next, a U.S. official said Monday. One likely result of the report will be a vastly accelerated debate among President Bush's top aides on withdrawing troops and scaling back the U.S. presence in Iraq.
The point for addressing the matter will no longer be Sept. 15, as initially envisioned, when a full report on Bush's so-called "surge" plan is due, but instead will come this week when the interim mid-July assessment is released, the official said. The report, required by law, is expected to be delivered to Capitol Hill by Thursday or Friday, as the Senate takes up a $649 billion defense policy bill and votes on a Democratic amendment ordering troop withdrawals to begin in 120 days.
Also being drafted are several Republican-backed proposals that would force a new course in Iraq, including one by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that would require U.S. troops to abandon combat missions. Collins and Nelson say their binding amendment would order the U.S. mission to focus on training the Iraqi security forces, targeting al-Qaida members and protecting Iraq's borders.
Republican support for the war has eroded steadily since Bush's decision in January to send some 30,000 additional troops to Iraq. At the time, Bush said the Iraqis agreed to meet certain benchmarks, such as enacting a law to divide the nation's oil reserves.
This spring, Congress agreed to continue funding the war through September but demanded that Bush certify on July 15 and again on Sept. 15 that the Iraqis were living up to their political promises or forgo U.S. aid dollars. The official said it is highly unlikely that Bush will withhold or suspend aid to the Iraqis based on the report. A draft version of the administration's progress report circulated among various government agencies in Washington on Monday.
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow on Monday tried to lower expectations on the report, contending that all of the additional troops had just gotten in place and it would be unrealistic to expect major progress by now.
What will happen is hard to predict, but as the President loses more and more of his most fervent supporters it becomes obvious that things will change radically in the next six months for good or bad, and Iraq will be the loser, no matter what happens! I am already sad for the innocent people of Iraq, whose lives have been disrupted by our ineptness and by evil and hatred that cannot be fixed in a matter of a few years. Their deaths after we leave shall be on the national consience as well it should, and in particular the elitist, who can not ever imagine actually fighting for anything, whether it be freedom, democracy or just against tyranny..There are those who will fight for nothing, and hate the very military that gives them the right and freedom to be anti- everything that might imply that you love America and the ideals that she stands for and fights for!!
We screwed up in invading Iraq after 9/11 and that is our only mistake. TRYING to do the right thing by these people after we had already invaded and won the war, was not!
I salute and mourn all of the young men and women who died trying to fix a mess we should have left alone..You are Heroes and may you Rest In Peace!! Bush and his warmongerer's shall Burn in Hell!
Please do not take it out on the men and women in uniform who were only doing their Duty and Deserve our Respect in not our Congratulations!
The progress report on Iraq will conclude that the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad has not met any of its targets for political, economic and other reform, speeding up the Bush administration's reckoning on what to do next, a U.S. official said Monday. One likely result of the report will be a vastly accelerated debate among President Bush's top aides on withdrawing troops and scaling back the U.S. presence in Iraq.
The point for addressing the matter will no longer be Sept. 15, as initially envisioned, when a full report on Bush's so-called "surge" plan is due, but instead will come this week when the interim mid-July assessment is released, the official said. The report, required by law, is expected to be delivered to Capitol Hill by Thursday or Friday, as the Senate takes up a $649 billion defense policy bill and votes on a Democratic amendment ordering troop withdrawals to begin in 120 days.
Also being drafted are several Republican-backed proposals that would force a new course in Iraq, including one by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that would require U.S. troops to abandon combat missions. Collins and Nelson say their binding amendment would order the U.S. mission to focus on training the Iraqi security forces, targeting al-Qaida members and protecting Iraq's borders.
Republican support for the war has eroded steadily since Bush's decision in January to send some 30,000 additional troops to Iraq. At the time, Bush said the Iraqis agreed to meet certain benchmarks, such as enacting a law to divide the nation's oil reserves.
This spring, Congress agreed to continue funding the war through September but demanded that Bush certify on July 15 and again on Sept. 15 that the Iraqis were living up to their political promises or forgo U.S. aid dollars. The official said it is highly unlikely that Bush will withhold or suspend aid to the Iraqis based on the report. A draft version of the administration's progress report circulated among various government agencies in Washington on Monday.
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow on Monday tried to lower expectations on the report, contending that all of the additional troops had just gotten in place and it would be unrealistic to expect major progress by now.
What will happen is hard to predict, but as the President loses more and more of his most fervent supporters it becomes obvious that things will change radically in the next six months for good or bad, and Iraq will be the loser, no matter what happens! I am already sad for the innocent people of Iraq, whose lives have been disrupted by our ineptness and by evil and hatred that cannot be fixed in a matter of a few years. Their deaths after we leave shall be on the national consience as well it should, and in particular the elitist, who can not ever imagine actually fighting for anything, whether it be freedom, democracy or just against tyranny..There are those who will fight for nothing, and hate the very military that gives them the right and freedom to be anti- everything that might imply that you love America and the ideals that she stands for and fights for!!
We screwed up in invading Iraq after 9/11 and that is our only mistake. TRYING to do the right thing by these people after we had already invaded and won the war, was not!
I salute and mourn all of the young men and women who died trying to fix a mess we should have left alone..You are Heroes and may you Rest In Peace!! Bush and his warmongerer's shall Burn in Hell!
Please do not take it out on the men and women in uniform who were only doing their Duty and Deserve our Respect in not our Congratulations!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Musharraf's Forces Storm Red Mosque
In news reports coming out of Pakistan tonight it would seem that President Pervez Musharrafs calls for the islamic radicals hiding in the Red Mosque to either surrender or face death are in play right now with Government troops stormed the compound of Islamabad's Red Mosque before dawn Tuesday, prompting a fierce firefight with militants accused of holding scores of hostages, officials said. At least 20 rebels and three soldiers were killed.
Amid the sounds of rolling explosions, commandos attacked from three directions about 4 a.m. and quickly cleared the ground floor of the mosque, army spokesman Gen. Waheed Arshad said. Some 20 children who rushed toward the advancing troops were brought to safety, he said.
Well-trained militants armed with machine guns, rocket launchers and gasoline bombs put up tough resistance from the basement, Arshad said, adding rebels were also firing from minarets and have booby trapped some areas.
The assault began minutes after a delegation led by a former prime minister left the area declaring that efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to a week-old seige had failed.
Clashes this month between security forces and supporters of the mosque's hardline clerics prompted the siege. The religious extremists had been trying to impose Taliban-style morality in the capital through a six-month campaign of kidnappings and threats. Prior to Tuesday's assault, at least 24 people had been killed in and around the mosque.
The assault was signaled by blasts and gunfire. About three and a half hours after the assault started, Arshad said 50 to 60 percent of the complex had been cleared, but there were still various fights occurring.
Nearly 20 militants had been killed and between 15 to 20 had been wounded. Arshad said three special forces commandos were also killed and 15 wounded. Rebel leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi told the private Geo TV network that his mother had been wounded by gunshot. There was no immedidate official confirmation of his claim. He said that about 30 militants were resisting security forces but were only armed with 14 AK-47 assault rifles.
On Monday, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf assigned ex-premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to try and negotiate a peaceful end to the standoff. But Hussain and a delegation of Islamic clerics returned crestfallen from the mosque before dawn Tuesday after about nine hours of talks with rebel leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi via loudspeakers and cell phones. They offered many things to the radicals, but all of their offers were turned down, thus leading to the attack on the Mosque.
The government has said wanted terrorists are organizing the defense of the mosque. In his comments on Tuesday, Ghazi said he had offered to show the mediators that they had no heavy weapons, foreign militants or other wanted people inside the mosque. The siege has given the neighborhood the look of a war zone, with troops manning machine guns behind sandbagged posts and from the top of armored vehicles. It has also sparked anger in Pakistan's restive northwest frontier. On Monday, 20,000 tribesmen, including hundreds of masked militants wielding assault rifles, held a protest in the frontier region of Bajur.
As is usual in any group who gets together these days they chanted "Death to Musharraf" and "Death to America" in a rally led by Maulana Faqir Mohammed, a cleric wanted by authorities and who is suspected of ties to al-Qaida No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri, who we just heard from the other day, and who said the fight is a fight to the Death between themselves and the United States and its' allies.
President Musharraf is trying to retain control of his government and is being visciously attacked inside and outside of his government. So for him this attack was necessary to end this embarrassment and show that he is still firmly in control, or the Taliban backed radicals will topple his government.
Amid the sounds of rolling explosions, commandos attacked from three directions about 4 a.m. and quickly cleared the ground floor of the mosque, army spokesman Gen. Waheed Arshad said. Some 20 children who rushed toward the advancing troops were brought to safety, he said.
Well-trained militants armed with machine guns, rocket launchers and gasoline bombs put up tough resistance from the basement, Arshad said, adding rebels were also firing from minarets and have booby trapped some areas.
The assault began minutes after a delegation led by a former prime minister left the area declaring that efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to a week-old seige had failed.
Clashes this month between security forces and supporters of the mosque's hardline clerics prompted the siege. The religious extremists had been trying to impose Taliban-style morality in the capital through a six-month campaign of kidnappings and threats. Prior to Tuesday's assault, at least 24 people had been killed in and around the mosque.
The assault was signaled by blasts and gunfire. About three and a half hours after the assault started, Arshad said 50 to 60 percent of the complex had been cleared, but there were still various fights occurring.
Nearly 20 militants had been killed and between 15 to 20 had been wounded. Arshad said three special forces commandos were also killed and 15 wounded. Rebel leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi told the private Geo TV network that his mother had been wounded by gunshot. There was no immedidate official confirmation of his claim. He said that about 30 militants were resisting security forces but were only armed with 14 AK-47 assault rifles.
On Monday, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf assigned ex-premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to try and negotiate a peaceful end to the standoff. But Hussain and a delegation of Islamic clerics returned crestfallen from the mosque before dawn Tuesday after about nine hours of talks with rebel leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi via loudspeakers and cell phones. They offered many things to the radicals, but all of their offers were turned down, thus leading to the attack on the Mosque.
The government has said wanted terrorists are organizing the defense of the mosque. In his comments on Tuesday, Ghazi said he had offered to show the mediators that they had no heavy weapons, foreign militants or other wanted people inside the mosque. The siege has given the neighborhood the look of a war zone, with troops manning machine guns behind sandbagged posts and from the top of armored vehicles. It has also sparked anger in Pakistan's restive northwest frontier. On Monday, 20,000 tribesmen, including hundreds of masked militants wielding assault rifles, held a protest in the frontier region of Bajur.
As is usual in any group who gets together these days they chanted "Death to Musharraf" and "Death to America" in a rally led by Maulana Faqir Mohammed, a cleric wanted by authorities and who is suspected of ties to al-Qaida No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri, who we just heard from the other day, and who said the fight is a fight to the Death between themselves and the United States and its' allies.
President Musharraf is trying to retain control of his government and is being visciously attacked inside and outside of his government. So for him this attack was necessary to end this embarrassment and show that he is still firmly in control, or the Taliban backed radicals will topple his government.
Bush Defies Congress Again
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Vice-President Dick Cheney has decided he is not part of the executive branch and therefore he does not have to abide by an executive order which clearly specifies how classified documents are to be handled and that an oversight group is supposed to make sure that it is done.
This week the White House has also chosen to defy more Congressional requests. This time they have decided to refuse the latest request by Congress for informaton regarding the dismissal of nine United States attorneys. This action will surely escalate the constitutional struggle and bring this closer to ending up in a court showdown.
As watched on CSPAN, the Senate and the House have directed the White House and President Bush specifically, to provide a detailed justification of his executive privilege claims, and a full accounting of documents he has been withholding. The White House counsel Fred Fielding plans to tell lawmakers that he already has provided legal basis for the claims and will not provide a log of withheld documents and will provide nothing else.
This is just one more arrogant action by this White House, which is obviously trying to cause a Constitutional crisis, as they must think that they can win this one in court, or why would they take this action over such an unimportant matter. Is this just one more bypass of the Congress to keep them from focusing on something else that is being hidden and might be much more important.
The only thing that I can see that the Bush administration did that was different than previous administrations was that they only fired a few of the attorneys, instead of all of them, as President Clinton and other previous administrations had done. This type of job is always one of political payback and patronage, so why should this matter in the grand scheme of things. If they do not want these jobs to be about politics then they should take the discrentionary power of a President to fill these jobs, otherwise they should just deal with the consquences of each election and hope their guy wins next. It would seem that this is just sour grapes on the part of the Democrats in Congress, when taken in this context.
I think that the Bush has more nefarious things that they are hiding and maybe Congress should drop this minor issue and look closer and other areas of policy and abuse of power!
This week the White House has also chosen to defy more Congressional requests. This time they have decided to refuse the latest request by Congress for informaton regarding the dismissal of nine United States attorneys. This action will surely escalate the constitutional struggle and bring this closer to ending up in a court showdown.
As watched on CSPAN, the Senate and the House have directed the White House and President Bush specifically, to provide a detailed justification of his executive privilege claims, and a full accounting of documents he has been withholding. The White House counsel Fred Fielding plans to tell lawmakers that he already has provided legal basis for the claims and will not provide a log of withheld documents and will provide nothing else.
This is just one more arrogant action by this White House, which is obviously trying to cause a Constitutional crisis, as they must think that they can win this one in court, or why would they take this action over such an unimportant matter. Is this just one more bypass of the Congress to keep them from focusing on something else that is being hidden and might be much more important.
The only thing that I can see that the Bush administration did that was different than previous administrations was that they only fired a few of the attorneys, instead of all of them, as President Clinton and other previous administrations had done. This type of job is always one of political payback and patronage, so why should this matter in the grand scheme of things. If they do not want these jobs to be about politics then they should take the discrentionary power of a President to fill these jobs, otherwise they should just deal with the consquences of each election and hope their guy wins next. It would seem that this is just sour grapes on the part of the Democrats in Congress, when taken in this context.
I think that the Bush has more nefarious things that they are hiding and maybe Congress should drop this minor issue and look closer and other areas of policy and abuse of power!
Cedar Rapids To Host Terror Suspect Trial
There is an interesting story unfolding right here in eastern iowa. On July 16th, Abdel-liah Elmardoudi, a 41 year old Moroccan, is to go on trial in federal court, in Cedar Rapids, on charges of conspiring with others to create fake visas, alien registration cards, and other documents. He also is accused of obtaining fraudulent Social Security numbers and cards for foreign nationals living in the United States, and being part of a terror cell, with plans against the United States.
Mr. Elmardoudi is trying to get the federal court to dismiss his case here in Iowa, because the ket prosecution witness is a known liar.
This case is also intertwined with federal charges in Michigan and Minnesota, so we shall see how it all plays out over the next few weeks. It is the first case of its' kind post 9/11. The scheme supposedly started in July 2001, shortly before 9/11, when Youssef Hmimssa, a computer expert and scam artist, and at least 20 people were brought to Iowa to get Social Security cards, backed up by counterfeit documents. Elmardoudi is accused of getting at least two of the Social Security numbers for himself under different aliases. His known aliases are Abdullah, Hussein Mohsen Safieddine, Egyptian national George Labibe, and French national Jean-Pierre Tardelli. He then used the Social Security cards to open bank accounts , got jobs, found housing, applied for credit cards, and obtained identification cards or driver's licenses in Iowa and elsewhere.
Mr. Elmardoudi has tried to say that his charges must be dropped, because he has not been given a speedy trial, even though he has been causing delays all through the process. He had fled in 2001, and he has asked for or agreed to continuances, and has refused efforts to negotiate a plea agreement that would have encompassed charges in Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota, according to assistant United States Attorney Kandice Wilcox, who will be prosecuting the case against Mr. Elmardoudi.
There is much more extensive coverage of this case on the news and I am sure it will be written about extensively as the trial begins. It should be interesting to see just how easy it was for these people to operate under our laws and obtain documents that made them appear to be legal citizens. Just one more argument against immigration reform and its' TAMPER PROOF identification cards!!
Mr. Elmardoudi is trying to get the federal court to dismiss his case here in Iowa, because the ket prosecution witness is a known liar.
This case is also intertwined with federal charges in Michigan and Minnesota, so we shall see how it all plays out over the next few weeks. It is the first case of its' kind post 9/11. The scheme supposedly started in July 2001, shortly before 9/11, when Youssef Hmimssa, a computer expert and scam artist, and at least 20 people were brought to Iowa to get Social Security cards, backed up by counterfeit documents. Elmardoudi is accused of getting at least two of the Social Security numbers for himself under different aliases. His known aliases are Abdullah, Hussein Mohsen Safieddine, Egyptian national George Labibe, and French national Jean-Pierre Tardelli. He then used the Social Security cards to open bank accounts , got jobs, found housing, applied for credit cards, and obtained identification cards or driver's licenses in Iowa and elsewhere.
Mr. Elmardoudi has tried to say that his charges must be dropped, because he has not been given a speedy trial, even though he has been causing delays all through the process. He had fled in 2001, and he has asked for or agreed to continuances, and has refused efforts to negotiate a plea agreement that would have encompassed charges in Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota, according to assistant United States Attorney Kandice Wilcox, who will be prosecuting the case against Mr. Elmardoudi.
There is much more extensive coverage of this case on the news and I am sure it will be written about extensively as the trial begins. It should be interesting to see just how easy it was for these people to operate under our laws and obtain documents that made them appear to be legal citizens. Just one more argument against immigration reform and its' TAMPER PROOF identification cards!!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Iraqi Updates
Well President George W. Bush has a problem that is growing by the day. The problem is that he is losing support for this Iraqi endgame by his own party.
As announced Thursday, Senator Pete Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, is withdrawing support for President Bush's Iraq war policy and has embraced a proposal to bring most of the troops home by March of 2008. This comes on the heels of Republican Senators Richard Lugar and George Voinovich's pronouncements that they would no longer support the current Bush policy of the "surge" as they believe that it is a failure and that wwe must get our troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible.
Senator Domenici said that he carefully studied the Iraq situation and he believes that we cannot continue to ask our troops to sacrifice indefinitely, while the Iraqi government is not making measurable progress to move their country forward.
I was just reading another story which I will write about tomorrow that says that many areas of Iraq are having positive outcomes, since our troops have stepped up the hunting of insurgents and terrorists, so did Pete miss that story or is he just trying to set himself up to get re-elected by opposing an unpopular President. I am very wary of politicians that start changing when they get closer and closer to an election.
We shall do more checking into this change of heart by Senator Domenici and shall report to you on what I find.
-------------------
In a related story about Iraq, there was a message by the number 2 in command of al-Qaeda, one Ayman al-Zawahiri, a supposed deputy to Osama bin-Laden, who went on a hour and a half video taped rant about the fight with the United States troops in Iraq. He relates how the United States Presence in Iraq is part of a "Crusaders" style move to take over the region. Of course he also had to add a rant about the Zionists who are in this attempt to take over muslim territory.
Please Dude al-Zawahiri, do us all a favor and stop sending young men to die for Allah. If it is such a GOOD deal, why don't you and your coward boss stop hiding behind women's skirts and strap on a suicide vest and get with the Program!!
I know you won't because you are scared little men who only feel power when you can send young, idealistic young men to their deaths, and then go on video rants about all the bad people who oppress you. Give me a Break..You are nothing but spoiled, rich A$$&*^s who cannot do anything but destroy what other people have built. The sooner one of our troops gets you in his sights and puts you down the BETTER!!
----------------------
And in keeping with the cowardly way that these people act, a car bomb detonated and killed 17 people and wounded 28, when it exploded outside a photographer's studio in a Shiite part of Bahgdad, which also injured a bride and groom who were getting their wedding pictures taken while their friends and family waited outside. How very brave of this bomber to kill innocent people celebrating their marriage, and affirming LIFE instead of the DEATH that the bombers and the terrorists CELEBRATE!!
----------------------
A suicide truck bomber blasted a Shiite town north of Baghdad on Saturday, killing more than 100 people, police said, in a sign Sunni insurgents are pulling away from a U.S. offensive around the capital to attack where security is thinner.
The marketplace devastation underlined a hard reality in Iraq!! There are not enough forces to protect everywhere. U.S. troops, already increased by 28,000 this year, are focused on bringing calm to Baghdad, while the Iraqi military and police remain overstretched and undertrained.
The U.S. military on Saturday also reported that eight American service members were killed in fighting in Baghdad and western Anbar province over two days, reflecting the increased U.S. casualties that have come with the new offensives. A British soldier was killed in fighting with Shiite militias overnight in the southern city of Basra.
In Saturday's attack — among the deadliest this year in Iraq — the truck detonation ripped through the market in the farming town of Armili at around 8:30 am, as crowds had gathered for morning shopping.
Another rough couple of days all around for those in and out of Iraq. Perhaps tomorrow will bring better news!!
As announced Thursday, Senator Pete Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, is withdrawing support for President Bush's Iraq war policy and has embraced a proposal to bring most of the troops home by March of 2008. This comes on the heels of Republican Senators Richard Lugar and George Voinovich's pronouncements that they would no longer support the current Bush policy of the "surge" as they believe that it is a failure and that wwe must get our troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible.
Senator Domenici said that he carefully studied the Iraq situation and he believes that we cannot continue to ask our troops to sacrifice indefinitely, while the Iraqi government is not making measurable progress to move their country forward.
I was just reading another story which I will write about tomorrow that says that many areas of Iraq are having positive outcomes, since our troops have stepped up the hunting of insurgents and terrorists, so did Pete miss that story or is he just trying to set himself up to get re-elected by opposing an unpopular President. I am very wary of politicians that start changing when they get closer and closer to an election.
We shall do more checking into this change of heart by Senator Domenici and shall report to you on what I find.
-------------------
In a related story about Iraq, there was a message by the number 2 in command of al-Qaeda, one Ayman al-Zawahiri, a supposed deputy to Osama bin-Laden, who went on a hour and a half video taped rant about the fight with the United States troops in Iraq. He relates how the United States Presence in Iraq is part of a "Crusaders" style move to take over the region. Of course he also had to add a rant about the Zionists who are in this attempt to take over muslim territory.
Please Dude al-Zawahiri, do us all a favor and stop sending young men to die for Allah. If it is such a GOOD deal, why don't you and your coward boss stop hiding behind women's skirts and strap on a suicide vest and get with the Program!!
I know you won't because you are scared little men who only feel power when you can send young, idealistic young men to their deaths, and then go on video rants about all the bad people who oppress you. Give me a Break..You are nothing but spoiled, rich A$$&*^s who cannot do anything but destroy what other people have built. The sooner one of our troops gets you in his sights and puts you down the BETTER!!
----------------------
And in keeping with the cowardly way that these people act, a car bomb detonated and killed 17 people and wounded 28, when it exploded outside a photographer's studio in a Shiite part of Bahgdad, which also injured a bride and groom who were getting their wedding pictures taken while their friends and family waited outside. How very brave of this bomber to kill innocent people celebrating their marriage, and affirming LIFE instead of the DEATH that the bombers and the terrorists CELEBRATE!!
----------------------
A suicide truck bomber blasted a Shiite town north of Baghdad on Saturday, killing more than 100 people, police said, in a sign Sunni insurgents are pulling away from a U.S. offensive around the capital to attack where security is thinner.
The marketplace devastation underlined a hard reality in Iraq!! There are not enough forces to protect everywhere. U.S. troops, already increased by 28,000 this year, are focused on bringing calm to Baghdad, while the Iraqi military and police remain overstretched and undertrained.
The U.S. military on Saturday also reported that eight American service members were killed in fighting in Baghdad and western Anbar province over two days, reflecting the increased U.S. casualties that have come with the new offensives. A British soldier was killed in fighting with Shiite militias overnight in the southern city of Basra.
In Saturday's attack — among the deadliest this year in Iraq — the truck detonation ripped through the market in the farming town of Armili at around 8:30 am, as crowds had gathered for morning shopping.
Another rough couple of days all around for those in and out of Iraq. Perhaps tomorrow will bring better news!!
Saturday, July 07, 2007
NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD
Well everyone the voting ended last night at 7 p.m. and the NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD ARE (Drum roll please!!)-
The Great Wall of China, Rome's Colosseum, India's Taj Mahal and three architectural marvels from Latin America were among the new seven wonders of the world chosen in a global poll released on Saturday.
Jordan's Petra was the seventh winner. Peru's Machu Picchu, Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer and Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid also made the cut.
About 100 million votes were cast by the Internet and cellphone text messages, said New7Wonders, the nonprofit organization that conducted the poll.
The seven beat out 14 other nominated landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Easter Island in the Pacific, the Statue of Liberty, the Acropolis, Russia's Kremlin and Australia's Sydney Opera House.
The pyramids of Giza, the only surviving structures from the original seven wonders of the ancient world, were assured of retaining their status in addition to the new seven after indignant Egyptian officials said it was a disgrace they had to compete.
The Statue of Liberty and Australia's Sydney Opera House were near the bottom of the list from the start.
Also among the losing candidates were Cambodia's Angkor, Spain's Alhambra, Turkey's Hagia Sophia, Japan's Kiyomizu Temple, Russia's Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral, Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle, Britain's Stonehenge and Mali's Timbuktu.
The traditional seven wonders were concentrated in the Mediterranean and Middle East. That list was derived from lists of marvels compiled by ancient Greek observers, the best known being Antipater of Sidon, a writer in the 2nd century B.C.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pharos lighthouse off Alexandria have all vanished.
Thanks to everyone who voted and maybe an American Icon will have better luck next time, if there is a next time!!
The Great Wall of China, Rome's Colosseum, India's Taj Mahal and three architectural marvels from Latin America were among the new seven wonders of the world chosen in a global poll released on Saturday.
Jordan's Petra was the seventh winner. Peru's Machu Picchu, Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer and Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid also made the cut.
About 100 million votes were cast by the Internet and cellphone text messages, said New7Wonders, the nonprofit organization that conducted the poll.
The seven beat out 14 other nominated landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Easter Island in the Pacific, the Statue of Liberty, the Acropolis, Russia's Kremlin and Australia's Sydney Opera House.
The pyramids of Giza, the only surviving structures from the original seven wonders of the ancient world, were assured of retaining their status in addition to the new seven after indignant Egyptian officials said it was a disgrace they had to compete.
The Statue of Liberty and Australia's Sydney Opera House were near the bottom of the list from the start.
Also among the losing candidates were Cambodia's Angkor, Spain's Alhambra, Turkey's Hagia Sophia, Japan's Kiyomizu Temple, Russia's Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral, Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle, Britain's Stonehenge and Mali's Timbuktu.
The traditional seven wonders were concentrated in the Mediterranean and Middle East. That list was derived from lists of marvels compiled by ancient Greek observers, the best known being Antipater of Sidon, a writer in the 2nd century B.C.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pharos lighthouse off Alexandria have all vanished.
Thanks to everyone who voted and maybe an American Icon will have better luck next time, if there is a next time!!
Men As Chatty As Women
There has been many stories this week concerning the lore that women talk more than men, and the actual findings which make quick work of that erroneous notion.
One James Pennebaker, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin, who while looking at what people talk about after emotional experiences realized that he would also be able to check out the old wives tale, which states that women use two to three times more words than do men. To put in actual numbers, it would be 20,000 for women and about 7,000 for men if this old wives tale were to hold true.
In the study which will be published in Science, he outfitted students from the United States and Mexico with portable tape recorders, and they taped 30 second bits every 12.5 minutes, which allowed for the unbiased monitoring of normal daily conversations.
When the data from 210 women and 186 men were compiled, women were found to use 16,215 words a day, and men use 15,669 a day, which is statistically insignificant.
This is a fascinating study, but should be obvious to anyone who has ever been to a barber shop, that men can be just as chatty as women in beauty salons, and in just about every area where men and women interact with each other, whether at work or at play. this is just one more area of stereotypes that is rightfully knocked down and shown to be wrong. This can be said of nearly every stereotype, whether it be sexist, racist, or about people's religions.
The most current example is the stereotype that all muslims are terrorists, and I know it sometimes seems like that statement is true to me, but then I read and wrote about the conference for understanding and peace held in Bali in June, and the moderates who live in this country and are outraged and outspoken about he evil of the terrorists and their attacks, and I know that it is the minority,, not the majority that are terrorists.
Anyway thanks to Mr. Pennebaker for the study and the results of this fascinating subject.
One James Pennebaker, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin, who while looking at what people talk about after emotional experiences realized that he would also be able to check out the old wives tale, which states that women use two to three times more words than do men. To put in actual numbers, it would be 20,000 for women and about 7,000 for men if this old wives tale were to hold true.
In the study which will be published in Science, he outfitted students from the United States and Mexico with portable tape recorders, and they taped 30 second bits every 12.5 minutes, which allowed for the unbiased monitoring of normal daily conversations.
When the data from 210 women and 186 men were compiled, women were found to use 16,215 words a day, and men use 15,669 a day, which is statistically insignificant.
This is a fascinating study, but should be obvious to anyone who has ever been to a barber shop, that men can be just as chatty as women in beauty salons, and in just about every area where men and women interact with each other, whether at work or at play. this is just one more area of stereotypes that is rightfully knocked down and shown to be wrong. This can be said of nearly every stereotype, whether it be sexist, racist, or about people's religions.
The most current example is the stereotype that all muslims are terrorists, and I know it sometimes seems like that statement is true to me, but then I read and wrote about the conference for understanding and peace held in Bali in June, and the moderates who live in this country and are outraged and outspoken about he evil of the terrorists and their attacks, and I know that it is the minority,, not the majority that are terrorists.
Anyway thanks to Mr. Pennebaker for the study and the results of this fascinating subject.
Friday, July 06, 2007
U Of I Faculty Turns Down Wellmark Name
There was a story that said the faculty at the University Of Iowa College of Public Health overwhelmingly rejected the idea of naming their college after Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, but said they are open to negotiating with the insurance company on a different name.
The faculty said that changing the name to Wellmark might affect research at the facility. Really? You mean that these researchers are such hacks that the name of the building that they do research in is enough to change the outcome of their research. We should be worried that they are doing any meaningful research right now, if they are this easily influenced.
As for the potential gift of $15 million dollars from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I would like to offer myself as a potential recipient. I will gladly change my name to Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and have it tattooed on my arms if they would wish, so please give me a call and we'll see what we can work out to get the gift changed to me. I would even thank you loudly, everyday to everyone that I meet. Yeah Me!!
The faculty said that changing the name to Wellmark might affect research at the facility. Really? You mean that these researchers are such hacks that the name of the building that they do research in is enough to change the outcome of their research. We should be worried that they are doing any meaningful research right now, if they are this easily influenced.
As for the potential gift of $15 million dollars from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I would like to offer myself as a potential recipient. I will gladly change my name to Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and have it tattooed on my arms if they would wish, so please give me a call and we'll see what we can work out to get the gift changed to me. I would even thank you loudly, everyday to everyone that I meet. Yeah Me!!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Sorry Stomach virus wins
am just writing to let you know that I am dealing wtih a horrible stomach virus!!!!!!HELP!!!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Last Week To Vote On NEW 7 Wonders
I am doing a repost of the 7 wonders story as we are running out of time to vote and possibly get one of America's wonders listed in this edition of the NEW 7 wonders!! Go to www.new7wonders.com and vote TODAY !!!!!!! COME on, the Statue of Liberty, the Hoover Dam , Mt. Rushmore, or even the Golden Gate Bridge have to be up there in the rankings as they are WONDERS!!
There is an excellent story at yahoo news today about an internet campaign to choose the “new” wonders of the world. It states that over 45 million people have already voted for the top seven out of twenty-one from which to choose.
I had never heard of this campaign but it sounds like fun and I am going to go vote as soon as I finish this post, and I encourage you to do the same. Even though it is a quick bit of fun, it is founded on serious events. Swiss filmmaker, curator, and traveler, Bernard Weber, begin this contest to raise global awareness of the world’s heritage after the destruction of the giant Buddha statues at Bamyan, Afghanistan, by the Taliban in 2001.
As of May 7, the top 10 were the Acropolis in Greece, the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Coliseum in Rome, the Eiffel tower in Paris, the Great Wall of China, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Petra in Jordan, the statues on Easter Island, Britain's Stonehenge and the Taj Mahal in India.
The second tier of choices are the Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia, the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Kiyomizu Temple in Japan, the Kremlin and Red Square, Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Germany, New York's Statue of Liberty, the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Sydney Opera House and the ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali.
You would think that everyone would be onboard, but there are serious misgivings, by the Egyptians in particular, due to the “popularity” vote aspect instead of historical significance. There has been awarded “honorary” New 7 Wonders status given to the Pyramids so they will not be on the list to vote for as the Egyptians said there importance could not be put into question by such a publicity stunt contest. I think no matter what that this contest isn’t hurting anyone and if it brings awareness of the sites listed and to others not listed it can only be a good thing.
It was nice to see the Statue of Liberty as one of the choices, but I am sure that all of the sites listed are important as historical reference points. We receive too little history in school and I hope that school officials will read about this contest and get their children involved so they may appreciate our world history more then is currently the case.
I know that too a great many people history is boring and who needs to know about it, but I guess because I do like history I want others to enjoy it too. I think that we are better people when we know of how we got to this point in time. The other day in my rant on amnesty I let anger guide my words and was rightfully called on it by varsity blogger James Eaves-Johnson in his From Right 2 Left blog.
Part of being an American is knowing that we can be a great nation, but our past is full of pride, arrogance, atrocities, lots of blood, prejudice of other immigrants, races, religions, and cultures. We are in imperfect country that has on occasion risen above the evil of our past and did great good, such as defeating Nazi Germany and Japan, and championing the cause of freedom and democracy. We have had many failures as we saw with Vietnam, another war that should not have been fought, and we have done evil such helping Saddam remain in power when he was gassing his own people, because he was fighting our enemy Iran, and the contras in Nicaragua, etc. We need to be a little longer sighted when we decide to help or intervene, because invariably it sets in motion events that often turn around and bite us.
Anyway I think that anything that gets people thinking about history is good, so if you have a chance read the story and then perhaps you will want to vote as well. Thanks.
45 million vote for updated seven world wonder
There is an excellent story at yahoo news today about an internet campaign to choose the “new” wonders of the world. It states that over 45 million people have already voted for the top seven out of twenty-one from which to choose.
I had never heard of this campaign but it sounds like fun and I am going to go vote as soon as I finish this post, and I encourage you to do the same. Even though it is a quick bit of fun, it is founded on serious events. Swiss filmmaker, curator, and traveler, Bernard Weber, begin this contest to raise global awareness of the world’s heritage after the destruction of the giant Buddha statues at Bamyan, Afghanistan, by the Taliban in 2001.
As of May 7, the top 10 were the Acropolis in Greece, the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Coliseum in Rome, the Eiffel tower in Paris, the Great Wall of China, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Petra in Jordan, the statues on Easter Island, Britain's Stonehenge and the Taj Mahal in India.
The second tier of choices are the Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia, the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Kiyomizu Temple in Japan, the Kremlin and Red Square, Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Germany, New York's Statue of Liberty, the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Sydney Opera House and the ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali.
You would think that everyone would be onboard, but there are serious misgivings, by the Egyptians in particular, due to the “popularity” vote aspect instead of historical significance. There has been awarded “honorary” New 7 Wonders status given to the Pyramids so they will not be on the list to vote for as the Egyptians said there importance could not be put into question by such a publicity stunt contest. I think no matter what that this contest isn’t hurting anyone and if it brings awareness of the sites listed and to others not listed it can only be a good thing.
It was nice to see the Statue of Liberty as one of the choices, but I am sure that all of the sites listed are important as historical reference points. We receive too little history in school and I hope that school officials will read about this contest and get their children involved so they may appreciate our world history more then is currently the case.
I know that too a great many people history is boring and who needs to know about it, but I guess because I do like history I want others to enjoy it too. I think that we are better people when we know of how we got to this point in time. The other day in my rant on amnesty I let anger guide my words and was rightfully called on it by varsity blogger James Eaves-Johnson in his From Right 2 Left blog.
Part of being an American is knowing that we can be a great nation, but our past is full of pride, arrogance, atrocities, lots of blood, prejudice of other immigrants, races, religions, and cultures. We are in imperfect country that has on occasion risen above the evil of our past and did great good, such as defeating Nazi Germany and Japan, and championing the cause of freedom and democracy. We have had many failures as we saw with Vietnam, another war that should not have been fought, and we have done evil such helping Saddam remain in power when he was gassing his own people, because he was fighting our enemy Iran, and the contras in Nicaragua, etc. We need to be a little longer sighted when we decide to help or intervene, because invariably it sets in motion events that often turn around and bite us.
Anyway I think that anything that gets people thinking about history is good, so if you have a chance read the story and then perhaps you will want to vote as well. Thanks.
45 million vote for updated seven world wonder
Glasgow Reminds Us Of Jihad Against The West
A huge blast rocked Glasgow, Scotland's airpot terminal on Saturday as a Jeep Cherokee, rammed into the terminal. Police said that they believe the attack is connected to the attempted car bomb attacks in London from Friday.
Britain has raised its' terror alert to critical, the highest possible level, and the Bush adminstration announced plans to increase security at airports and on mass transit.
One of the men in the car was in critical condition at a hospital with severe burns, while the other was in police custody, and five bystanders were wounded, although there are reports that none of the wounded are serious condition. Police later arrested two more suspects in the London and Glasgow plots in Cheshire county in northern England, as reported by Scotland Yard on Saturday.
This should be a wake up call for all of the anti-war protestors who continue to think that you can have a dialogue with people who want you dead. It is obvious that the terrorist's are trying to do to England and other friends of the United States the same tactic as they did in Spain, where a few well placed, deadly bombs was enough for them to pull out of the Iraqi coalition.
I think the terrorist's underestimate the English people, after all these were the same people who vowed to fight Hitler's armies on the beaches, in the air, and to fight until they vanquished their attackers. These are not cowards like many of our "allies" or even like our fellow americans, who would love to surrender to the terrorist's if only we would allow them too!
The attack left passengers shaken and stranded on the first day of summer vacation for Glasgow schools. At the time of the crash, the airport was bustling with families heading out on vacation.
Meanwhile in London, police were gathering evidence from closed circuit television footage, as forensics experts searched for clues into the foiled bombings. The two Mercedes cars had been loaded with gasoline, gas canisters and nails in one of the capital's busiest areas on a night when Londoners like to go out and party. Security officials and police denied an ABC News report that they had a "crystal clear" picture of one suspect from CCTV footage.
The vehicles were found abandoned in the early hours of Friday in what police believe was an attempt to kill scores or even hundreds of people. Detectives said they were keeping an open mind about the bombers' identities, but terrorism experts said the signs pointed to a cell linked to or inspired by al-Qaida.
One car was abandoned outside the Tiger Tiger nightclub on Haymarket in the heart of London's entertainment district. The other had been towed after being parked illegally on nearby Cockspur Street and was discovered in an impound lot about a mile away in Park Lane, near Hyde Park.
London police said extra officers were being deployed at landmarks, airports, train stations and bus terminals across the capital Sunday, and had been ordered to step up the use of stop and search powers. Armed police would patrol at major rail stations, it said.
In the New York area, officials at the airports went on a heightened state of alert and police manned vehicle checkpoints. No threats had been made against the airports, said Steve Coleman, spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Brown came to office pledging to win back the support of voters disenchanted over the Iraq war. But he backed Tony Blair's decision to send troops to Iraq in 2003 and has shown support for greater anti-terror measures that have angered Britain's some 1.8 million Muslims.
The Glasgow incident carried reminders of a foiled plot in December 1999 to attack Los Angeles International Airport, when customs agents stopped an Algerian-born man in a car packed with 124 explosives. He was jailed for 22 years and prosecutors said he was intent on bombing the Los Angeles airport on the eve of the millennium.
This is just one more reminder that people are out there that want to kill us and our allies and will keep coming until they succeed, unless we end their existence first! We are going to Live or Die by the choices that we make over the next few months and we must hope that we get it right each and everytime or we may have another 3,000 Americans dead underneath the rubble of another huge building.
Britain has raised its' terror alert to critical, the highest possible level, and the Bush adminstration announced plans to increase security at airports and on mass transit.
One of the men in the car was in critical condition at a hospital with severe burns, while the other was in police custody, and five bystanders were wounded, although there are reports that none of the wounded are serious condition. Police later arrested two more suspects in the London and Glasgow plots in Cheshire county in northern England, as reported by Scotland Yard on Saturday.
This should be a wake up call for all of the anti-war protestors who continue to think that you can have a dialogue with people who want you dead. It is obvious that the terrorist's are trying to do to England and other friends of the United States the same tactic as they did in Spain, where a few well placed, deadly bombs was enough for them to pull out of the Iraqi coalition.
I think the terrorist's underestimate the English people, after all these were the same people who vowed to fight Hitler's armies on the beaches, in the air, and to fight until they vanquished their attackers. These are not cowards like many of our "allies" or even like our fellow americans, who would love to surrender to the terrorist's if only we would allow them too!
The attack left passengers shaken and stranded on the first day of summer vacation for Glasgow schools. At the time of the crash, the airport was bustling with families heading out on vacation.
Meanwhile in London, police were gathering evidence from closed circuit television footage, as forensics experts searched for clues into the foiled bombings. The two Mercedes cars had been loaded with gasoline, gas canisters and nails in one of the capital's busiest areas on a night when Londoners like to go out and party. Security officials and police denied an ABC News report that they had a "crystal clear" picture of one suspect from CCTV footage.
The vehicles were found abandoned in the early hours of Friday in what police believe was an attempt to kill scores or even hundreds of people. Detectives said they were keeping an open mind about the bombers' identities, but terrorism experts said the signs pointed to a cell linked to or inspired by al-Qaida.
One car was abandoned outside the Tiger Tiger nightclub on Haymarket in the heart of London's entertainment district. The other had been towed after being parked illegally on nearby Cockspur Street and was discovered in an impound lot about a mile away in Park Lane, near Hyde Park.
London police said extra officers were being deployed at landmarks, airports, train stations and bus terminals across the capital Sunday, and had been ordered to step up the use of stop and search powers. Armed police would patrol at major rail stations, it said.
In the New York area, officials at the airports went on a heightened state of alert and police manned vehicle checkpoints. No threats had been made against the airports, said Steve Coleman, spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Brown came to office pledging to win back the support of voters disenchanted over the Iraq war. But he backed Tony Blair's decision to send troops to Iraq in 2003 and has shown support for greater anti-terror measures that have angered Britain's some 1.8 million Muslims.
The Glasgow incident carried reminders of a foiled plot in December 1999 to attack Los Angeles International Airport, when customs agents stopped an Algerian-born man in a car packed with 124 explosives. He was jailed for 22 years and prosecutors said he was intent on bombing the Los Angeles airport on the eve of the millennium.
This is just one more reminder that people are out there that want to kill us and our allies and will keep coming until they succeed, unless we end their existence first! We are going to Live or Die by the choices that we make over the next few months and we must hope that we get it right each and everytime or we may have another 3,000 Americans dead underneath the rubble of another huge building.
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