After having the site crashed with a trojan horse, moving the blog to another server, and then finally managing to restore the original blog, we’re finally up and running again….I think. Unless i find more problems somewhere, things are back the way they were in their original location. I’ll do backups more frequently from now on.
It’s things like this that make me wish we still had President Bush in office. Bush wasn’t perfect, and the fact that opened the door to the bailout, socialist mess Obama is continuing angered me, but we could at least count on the man to keep us safe. Bush never would have let North Korea’s nuke and missile tests go unanswered, and Kim likely wouldn’t have felt so emboldened if not for the weak, Arab supporting community activist we have in office now.
We continue to hear the media repeat the mantra that North Korea has made threats before, so they’re probably just bluffing. Do we really want to take that risk and do nothing but “vote present”? This sounds pretty serious to me:
North Korean troops will respond to any sanctions or U.S. provocations with “an annihilating blow,” one senior official vowed—a pointed threat as an American destroyer shadowed a North Korean freighter sailing off China’s coast, possibly with banned goods on board.
Perhaps Obama is counting on the U.N. to take care of this problem for him. In his naive world, the U.N. is the answer to all the worlds ills, along with American apologies to foreign countries, and bowing before Islamic dictators. The U.N.’s answer to the last threat was as follows:
A new U.N. Security Council resolution passed recently to punish North Korea for conducting an underground nuclear test in May requires U.N. member states to request inspections of ships suspected of carrying arms or nuclear weapons-related material.
They are “punishing” North Korea by REQUESTING inspection of ships? That worked out really well didn’t it.
In response to the sanctions, the North pulled out of nuclear talks and has ramped up already strident anti-American rhetoric. And the isolated regime may now be moving to openly flout the resolution by dispatching a ship suspected of carrying arms to Myanmar. While it was not clear what was on board the North Korean-flagged Kang Nam 1, officials have mentioned artillery and other conventional weaponry. One intelligence expert suspected missiles.
Obama can’t even back up a toothless resolution and follow through on inspecting these ships.
The U.S. and its allies have made no decision on whether to request inspection of the ship, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Wednesday in Washington, but North Korea has said it would consider any interception an act of war.
North Korea’s “armed forces will deal an annihilating blow that is unpredictable and unavoidable, to any ‘sanctions’ or provocations by the US,” Pak Pyong Jong, first vice chairman of the Pyongyang City People’s Committee, told the crowd gathered for the Korean War anniversary rally.
There are massacres happening in Iran, where election protesters are attempting to overthrow the current Islamic dictatorship. North Korea appears in many ways to be preparing for war, their leadership is threatening a nuclear attack, and they’re shipping banned weapons in faster than Michelle Obama can buy new clothes. Meanwhile, Obama is eating ice cream and golfing. All we hear from his administration is dismissals and attempts to refocus our attention on nationalizing (aka rationing) our health care. I hope those who voted for Obama are enjoying their “hope and change”.
Follow the link below to see pictures taken today at the Seattle Tea Party. It was a great rally! We need to have more of them all over the country, and keep protesting until they listen.
It’s not surprising that Liberals wouldn’t know about, or wouldn’t care about the U.S. Flag Code. Since these flags will now need to be burned….
U.S. Flag Code – “The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.â€
….I’m feeling an urge to do some community service and help them out.
More at Inside Charm City
Poor Al. Just when his global warming scam was really paying off, scientists have found that the polar ice caps, and floating arctic ice, are growing at a rapid rate. So much for the “sky is falling” crowd and their claim that global warming is melting ice so fast that Santa is about to be homeless. The next time an atheist tries to tell you Christians have been proven wrong by science, ask them if they are referring to the work of the same scientists that believe in global warming.
Thanks to a rapid rebound in recent months, global sea ice levels now equal those seen 29 years ago, when the year 1979 also drew to a close.
Ice levels had been tracking lower throughout much of 2008, but rapidly recovered in the last quarter. In fact, the rate of increase from September onward is the fastest rate of change on record, either upwards or downwards.
The data is being reported by the University of Illinois’s Arctic Climate Research Center, and is derived from satellite observations of the Northern and Southern hemisphere polar regions.
Each year, millions of square kilometers of sea ice melt and refreeze. However, the mean ice anomaly — defined as the seasonally-adjusted difference between the current value and the average from 1979-2000, varies much more slowly. That anomaly now stands at just under zero, a value identical to one recorded at the end of 1979, the year satellite record-keeping began.
Putin is still enjoying success, as he tries to take Russia back to the days of the old KGB. A proposed bill would mark a major step in that direction by imposing treason charges on citizens accused of “harming the constitutional order”. That’s KGB for disagreeing with the government, or protesting it’s policies in any way. Russia is facing far worse economic conditions than the rest of the world, because their economy was a disaster to begin with, so expect expedited crack downs on free speech or any publicly displayed civil unrest. Dictators love a crisis. It presents the perfect cover for a large scale power grab. Democrats in America are fully aware of this, too.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned Russia’s foes on Friday against trying to destabilize a country facing broadening economic crisis, Russian news agencies reported.
Putin did not specify who might pose a threat to Russia’s stability. But in the past, he has often blamed Western security services of trying to destabilize the country using opposition groups and non-governmental organizations as their instruments.
“Any attempts to weaken or destabilize Russia, harm the interests of the country will be toughly suppressed,” they quoted ex-KGB spy Putin as telling an annual meeting of top spies and security officers ahead of their professional holiday.
Putin, who was the Russian president in 2000-08, has contributed greatly to the growth of influence of Russia’s FSB federal security service, a successor of the Soviet-era KGB.
Many ex-KGB officers became key government and regional officials during his presidency forming his power base, which largely remained intact after Putin handed over powers to his successor Dmitry Medvedev in May.
Critics say that under Putin, security services have become excessively influential and expressed fears Russia could one day become a police state.
While Congress and President Bush are working out a bailout deal for the Auto Industry, the United Auto Workers Union is funding a posh golf course and “education center” that has been losing money for years. Maybe along with caps on CEO salaries, the government should look into making the union give up their money pit country club. American tax payers should not be paying for union greed!
From michellemalkin.com
Black Lake Golf Club is the newest addition to the UAW’s Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center, situated on 1,000 heavily forested acres along the southeast side of Black Lake, one of Michigan’s largest inland lakes near Onaway, Michigan.
Black Lake Golf Club complements the Center’s recreational facilities, which now include a beautiful gym with two full-sized basketball courts, an Olympic-size indoor pool, and exercise and weight room, table-tennis and pool tables, a sauna, beaches, walking and bike trails, softball and soccer fields and a boat launch ramp.
The UAW selected one of golf’s most acclaimed course architects, Rees Jones, to design an environmentally responsible, championship caliber course. It was a challenge eagerly embraced by Jones, Golf World Magazine’s “Architect of the Year†in 1995.
From the DC Examiner
What do UAW executives and workers do to relax? They play golf at the union’s highly touted championship caliber Black Lake Golf Club, designed by Rees Jones. The UAW golf club is in secluded Onaway, MI, as part of the union’s Walter and Mary Reuther Family Education Center. Also part of Black Lake are a learning center, a practice facility with practice bunkers, chipping and putting greens, and a small, nine-hole par-three Little Course.
Golf Digest named Black Lake as one of top “upscale public courses.†And Michigan Golf described the course as a “classic†that includes “wide, well-groomed fairways [that] provide ample room for big hitters.†But some big hitters get special privileges at Black Lake. Tee times can be reserved up to two weeks in advance by UAW execs, compared to only three days for non-UAW duffers. Cost to play Black Lake is $95 per round.
Remember all the much-deserved bad press Detroit’s high-paid Big Three executives received last month when they flew in their corporate jets to beg Washington for a tax-paid bailout? Has anybody in Congress or the media bothered to ask UAW head Ron Gettelfinger about his union’s assets and perks like Black Lake Golf Club?
As head of one of the nation’s most powerful unions, Gettelfinger doesn’t earn nearly as much as Detroit’s top CEOs. GM’s Rick Wagoner, for example, made more than $14 million last year. But Gettelfinger’s total compensation of nearly $160,000 annually far exceeds the U.S. median gross family income of $61,500 and puts him among the top five percent of all tax filers, according to U.S. Census Bureau and IRS data.
And the UAW is anything but poor, with net assets reportedly worth an estimated $1.23 billion. UAW membership has been declining for years, as it has for most major unions, but annual income from member dues, interest and other revenues exceeded $300 million in 2006.
People working for the Salvation Army in the UK have been told not to rattle their tins as they collect money for charity, because it might offend people of other religions, and intimidate them. Maybe the P.C. police should just ban Christians from the public square all together. It’s just about getting that bad, and America is not far behind.
For 130 years they have been part of Christmas, filling the air in towns across the land with music and carols.
But one thing is missing from the repertoire of Salvation Army bands this year – the percussion of rattling tins.
Members have been forbidden to shake their charity tins – even if it’s done in time to the music – in case it harasses or intimidates people. One said she had been told it might also offend other religions.
Guidelines for branches organising public collections say tinholders should simply keep the tin still.
It means that when the brass bands start up they can rock and roll all they want – but if they shake and rattle, it could put them in conflict with the law.
Councils and police can enforce the no-rattle rule and have powers to prosecute or ban offenders. The restriction was branded ‘bonkers’ yesterday both by donors and long-serving Salvation Army volunteers.
Obama escaped any scrutiny during the election for his connections to convicted felon Tony Resko, but the problem may not be going away. It seems the investigation into Governor Blagojevich’s attempted sale of Obama’s Senate seat has brought with it new interest in Resko’s shady real estate deal with the Obamas. Obama surrounded himself with so many sleezy people, including his real estate broker for the Resko deal, who was none other than bleeping Mrs. Blagojevich, wife of the good governor, that one of these relationships is bound to catch up with him. Could it be that Blagojevich is willing to spill the beans on just about anything, if it will get him a plea deal? It’s almost like going through the Clinton years all over again.
Since arresting Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has renewed interest in convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko’s part in the purchase of Barack Obama’s Chicago mansion, according to a former real estate analyst who says he was interviewed by the federal prosecutor in the past 10 days.
Kenneth J. Conner told WND he was interviewed by investigators from Fitzgerald’s office regarding the purchase of the Obama mansion and the adjacent vacant lot that Rezko’s wife, Rita, purchased simultaneously. As WND reported last week, Connor filed a civil complaint in October with the Illinois Circuit Court in Cook County alleging he was fired by Mutual Bank of Harvey, Ill., because he objected to land appraisals submitted on behalf of the Rezkos and the Obamas, with the complicity of the bank.
Connor previously confirmed to WND that he told the FBI, months ago, when he initially was fired, that the bank and the Rezkos were engaged in “fraud, bribes or kickbacks, use whatever term you want,” to benefit the Obamas.
Connor said his lawyer, Glenn R. Gaffney, also has been interviewed by the FBI about the Rezko-Obama deal within the past 10 days.
I don’t think just ignoring Obama’s corrupt past is going to work for much longer. The media will have to cover this, or it won’t just be print news going bankrupt.
We elect a weak on defense, Marxist President, and, right on cue, Russia strengthens relationships with dictators close to America geographically. Liberals loved to chastise President Bush for being too much of a “cowboy”, but there’s something to be said for being feared by your enemies. Everyone knows Obama is a push over who considers a Kumbaya-style diplomacy our best defense. As Obama’s own Vice President warned during the campaign, we will be tested.
A group of Russian warships will from December 19-23 visit the Communist island of Cuba, a long-time adversary of the United States and Moscow’s ally in the Cold War, the Russian navy said on Monday.
“This will be the first visit to Cuba by Russian warships since the Soviet era,” the Russian naval headquarters said in a statement.
The destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and two other ships will visit Havana in what the navy described as a “significant practical step towards strengthening and developing ties between the two states’ navies.”
Russian ships have been touring countries close to US waters in what is seen as a riposte to Washington’s own moves in Russia’s Soviet-era sphere of influence, including US naval deployments in the Black Sea.
Last month President Dmitry Medvedev visited Cuba on a four-country Latin American tour intended to revive what he called “privileged relations” that existed between Moscow and several Latin American states in the Cold War.
The Russian moves in Central and Latin America follow heightened tensions over this summer’s Russian military onslaught in Georgia, a close US ally in the Caucasus.
The navy also announced the completion of a visit to Nicaragua, during which it delivered aid to the Central American country led by leftist President Daniel Ortega.
Ortega is due to visit Moscow this week.
If you think the economy is bad now, wait until Democrats start passing legislation that will bring us in line with the latest version of the Kyoto Treaty. This U.N. treaty was designed for the purposes of sticking it to the United States, while letting countries like China (now the worst polluter in the world) off easy. What makes this treaty even more devastatingly ignorant is that scientists are now finding that greenhouse gases are NOT the cause of “global warming”. It’s utter nonsense to believe that they are. Does coffee get hotter when you put it in a thermos? No. Those who blame man’s CO2 emissions for global warming are trying to convince us that it is possible to raise the temperature of something by insulating it. In other words they think coffee will rise above it’s initial temperature if you put it in a thermos. They could drink a whole thermos of ice cold coffee, and still believe that this theory is true, because they want it to be true.
Isn’t it interesting how the world only listens to their favorite scientists when they are saying something they like. When scientists find man isn’t to blame for what amounts to normal, cyclical climate change, Liberals cover their ears.
The U.S. Senate will let President-elect Barack Obama sign up to a U.N. pact to fight global warming in late 2009 even if U.S. climate laws are not yet in place, U.S. Senator John Kerry predicted on Thursday.
But Kerry, designated head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on the sidelines of U.N. climate talks in Poland that China, India and Russia would also have to promise to cut greenhouse gas emissions to win Senate blessing of any pact.
“It will be like the difference between night and day,” Kerry, of Massachusetts, said of Obama’s enthusiasm for action against climate change after what he said were eight years of inaction under President George W. Bush.
He told Reuters support in the United States for climate action was strong enough to let Obama sign up for emissions cuts under a U.N. pact to be agreed in Copenhagen in late 2009 even if the Senate had not by then agreed matching U.S. climate laws.
“We can have commenced the (domestic) legislative process, we don’t have to have completed it,” before agreeing to cuts under a U.N. treaty, he said.
President Bill Clinton agreed in 1997 to the U.N.’s existing Kyoto Protocol for cutting greenhouse gases until 2012 but never tried to get the pact ratified by a hostile Senate.
Kerry, a Democrat beaten by Bush in the 2004 presidential election, will report back to Obama from Poznan.
By the time of the Copenhagen meeting, domestic legislation might have passed “a couple of committees” but might not have reached the full Senate “because of the economic situation and the budget issues and other things,” Kerry said.
CUTS
Obama has said he plans to cut U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases, now about 17 percent above 1990 levels, back to 1990 levels by 2020 and then by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
“Some of us believe he should go further than that” by 2020, Kerry said. “My hope is that … we may even be able to do better.”
Bush rejected Kyoto, which sets 2012 targets for 37 developed nations to cut emissions, saying it was too costly and should have also set targets for developing nations.
Kerry said that all major emitters would have to accept goals for cuts under a new treaty.
“What’s important is that we go to Copenhagen understanding that no treaty is going to pass the U.S. Senate unless it is a global solution. China, India, Russia — all countries have to be part of the solution,” he said.
“China is now the largest emitter in the world,” he said. “China has to reduce, in concrete fixed levels from its current levels. So do we. So does the EU (European Union), so does the rest of the world.” Targets could vary by country. Comments Off
Russia continues to threaten not only her neighbors, but the United States in response to an agreement to extend the missile defense system to Poland. I don’t know how Russia could possibly think it’s helping itself by ruling out diplomacy, and threatening to attack Poland with nukes. It’s bellicose threats only serve to make its leaders look like stark raving lunatics, and make even the pacifist, anti-American enablers in Europe wary of taking their side. Whatever their reasoning, it’s clear that the Cold War is back on, and it’s more important than ever to elect a U.S. President that has the experience and the backbone to handle such threats.
Russia says its response to the further development of a U.S. missile shield in Poland will go beyond diplomacy.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the U.S. missile shield plans are clearly aimed at weakening Russia.
The U.S. says the missile defense system is aimed at protecting the U.S. and Europe from future attacks from states like Iran.
The United States and Poland signed a deal Wednesday to place a U.S. missile defense base just 115 miles from Russia’s westernmost fringe.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
Read the AP’s previous reporting on Russia’s threat of nuclear war against Poland here.
Sadly, I actually agree with something the psychotic President of Iran has to say. The Annapolis Conference will not bring peace to the Middle East.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday the U.S.-hosted Mideast peace conference was a “failure” and that Israel is doomed to “collapse.” He also suggested it was a mistake for his closest Arab ally, Syria, to participate.
The comments were the first time in months that the hard-line Ahmadinejad has used such strong anti-Israeli rhetoric, highlighting Tehran’s bitterness toward the Annapolis conference, which is widely seen as isolating Iran.
“It is impossible that the Zionist regime will survive. Collapse is in the nature of this regime because it has been created on aggression, lying, oppression and crime,” Ahmadinejad said after a Cabinet meeting, according to state-run television.
“Soon, even the most politically doltish individuals will understand that this conference was a failure from the beginning,” he said in comments reported by the official IRNA news agency.
Especially ironic was this statement by Ahmadinejad:
Ahmadinejad said the Palestinian “resistance”—such as Hamas, which is backed by Tehran—must have a say in any settlement.
“Many such meetings have been held but have failed,” he said. “If decision is made about Palestine, representatives of the elected Palestinian government and resistance should be there and the rights of the Palestinian people—self-determination, the right of voting and return of refugees—must be recognized,” he said.
Hamas spoke loud and clear today to the negotiators at the Annapolis Conference. They began preparations for a Gaza-style takeover of the West Bank, and vowed to seize the territory from Abbas’ hands as soon as the deal is sealed.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday the U.S.-hosted Mideast peace conference was a “failure” and that Israel is doomed to “collapse.” He also suggested it was a mistake for his closest Arab ally, Syria, to participate.
The comments were the first time in months that the hard-line Ahmadinejad has used such strong anti-Israeli rhetoric, highlighting Tehran’s bitterness toward the Annapolis conference, which is widely seen as isolating Iran.
“It is impossible that the Zionist regime will survive. Collapse is in the nature of this regime because it has been created on aggression, lying, oppression and crime,” Ahmadinejad said after a Cabinet meeting, according to state-run television.
“Soon, even the most politically doltish individuals will understand that this conference was a failure from the beginning,” he said in comments reported by the official IRNA news agency.
In a reference to Arab countries attending the conference, he said, “We are disappointed that some individuals fell victim to the sinister Zionist regime. They are mistaken if they thought that this summit will bring any achievements for them.”
Fighting continues in the Middle East, but we can all rest easy. Kofi Annan of the “do nothing” U.N. has the answer.
Israeli troops met fierce resistance from Hezbollah guerrillas Thursday as they crossed into Lebanon to seek tunnels and weapons for a second straight day, and Israel hinted at a full-scale invasion. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council that “hostilities must stop” between Israel and Hezbollah.
That’ll work! I’m sure terrorists everywhere are pondering Kofi’s words, and considering putting down their rockets, missiles, and suicide belts to live peacefully with the Jews.
Israeli pilots have told local news stations that they’ve already dealt Hizbellah a critical blow in preperation for a possible ground invasion. Most interesting, is the support Israel is getting for this kind of attack. Even some of the Arab countries, who fear this war could backfire and ruin their chances to nuke Israel later, are giving Israel a green light to fight back.
If anything good can come from this clear example of why we’re fighting a war on terrorism, maybe it will wake up the Israeli government, and they’ll stop handing over more Jewish lands to terrorists.
Israeli warplanes also launched new airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, shortly after daybreak, followed by strikes in the guerrillas’ heartland in the south and eastern Bekaa Valley.
The strikes followed bombings Wednesday that killed as many as 70 people, according to Lebanese television, making it the deadliest day since the fighting began July 12.
Of course, Kofi never misses a chance to condemn Israel. As the media tosses around the idea of charging Israel with war crimes (terrorist attacks don’t count as war crimes), Kofi condemned Israel for using excessive force. I guess they should be more gentle and understanding with the animals launching rockets at innocent civilians in Israel.
Annan also condemned Israel’s “excessive use of force” against Lebanon.
“There are serious obstacles to reaching a cease-fire or even to diminishing the violence quickly,” Annan said.
He added that the fighting had triggered a humanitarian crisis.
Russia sharply criticized Israel over its onslaught against Lebanon, now in its ninth day, sparked when Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Israel’s actions have gone “far beyond the boundaries of an anti-terrorist operation” and repeating calls for an immediate cease-fire.
Good grief!
Here are some of the headlines I’ve seen this morning concerning the war in the Middle East.
Blair in push for peace in Middle East
Big power diplomacy to stop the fighting in Lebanon ground into gear yesterday as Britain and other European states pushed hard for the deployment of an international intervention force on the Israeli-Lebanese border.Arab world fed up with Hizbullah
With the exception of the Palestinians, the Arab world appears to be united in blaming Iran and Syria for the fighting in Lebanon. Until last week, Arab political analysts and government officials were reluctant to criticize Hizbullah in public. But now that Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and his top aides are in hiding, an anti-Hizbullah coalition is emerging not only in Lebanon, but in several other Arab countries as well.Diplomacy Gains Traction in Mideast Crisis
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Diplomatic efforts to end Israeli-Hezbollah fighting gained traction Monday, with Israeli officials saying they would agree to halt fighting if their two captured soldiers were returned and Islamic guerrillas withdrew from the border.New York Jews rally in support of Israel
Thousands of American Jews clogged the streets leading to the United Nations building here in a massive show of support for Israel on Monday afternoon. The turnout was particularly impressive for a weekday and one of the hottest so far this summer.Americans, Europeans Begin to Evacuate Lebanon Amid Mideast Conflict
Lebanon — Westerners fled by land, sea and air as Israel launched three waves of bombings on southern Beirut and on a Lebanese army base in the early hours Tuesday.Congress Considers Resolutions Supporting Israel
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are preparing to vote this week on resolutions backing Israel and condemning Hezbollah, which last week kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, sparking violence across the Israel-Lebanon border.Iran parliament speaker: No part of Israel safe
Iran’s parliament speaker warned Tuesday that no part of Israel is safe during Hizbullah’s battle with Lebanon – a statement made despite Iran’s claim that it is not aiding the guerrillas in their fight.
Here are more headlines and links concerning the war in the Middle East.
Hezbollah Rockets Hit Nazareth
By Sher Zieve – Hezbollah rockets are reported to have struck upper Nazareth, Sunday night. Reports are that the attacks also hit 5 other close by towns.Israel strikes back after Haifa attacked
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) — The Israeli military and Hezbollah traded deadly attacks for a fifth straight day on Sunday, with the Lebanon-based militants striking Haifa and other towns deeper inside Israel.U.S. Evacuation Teams Arrive in Lebanon
U.S. security teams landed at the American embassy just outside Beirut on Sunday to plan the evacuation of some of the estimated 25,000 U.S. citizens living in war-torn Lebanon.
Witnesses said two helicopters flew in from over the Mediterranean and landed on the embassy grounds, located on a fortified hilltop in the north Beirut suburb of Aukar.
“The arrival of the teams is an important first step in facilitating the safe departure of Americans who want to leave Lebanon,” the embassy said in a statement.Rockets hit Haifa, Tiberias, Safed, Karmiel, Acre
A barrage of rockets fired from Lebanon hit the Haifa region Monday afternoon.
A rocket hit a building in Haifa causing it to collapse. Two people were evacuated by medical personnel and others have been trapped beneath the rubble.
Two of the rockets landed before the city’s warning siren was sounded.
Rockets landed in Tiberias and adjacent Lake Kinneret beaches, Acre and Safed as well. In addition, rockets were fired for the first time on communities in the southern Golan Heights.Hezbollah Appears in Control of Lebanon
Hezbollah and its backers, not the government, now appear in control of Lebanon’s fate.
After moderating their stance in recent years, the guerrillas surged back to the war front with a surprise attack on Israel and a sophisticated arsenal, leaving Lebanon’s politicians and army looking nearly powerless. The government seems paralyzed over how to deal with Hezbollah, whose Shiite Muslim fighters have had near autonomy in the south for more than a decade.Syria vows to respond directly to any Israel strike
Syria has warned it would respond directly and by all means necessary to any Israeli attack on its territory, in its first official reaction to Israel’s offensive on neighbouring Lebanon.
The warning Sunday coincided with a similar threat by Damascus’s key ally Iran, and came amid rising fears that the Middle East is being dragged deeper into the spiralling conflict sparked by the capture of Israeli soldiers by militants linked to Hamas and Hezbollah.Iran heaps praise on Hezbollah fight against ‘tumour’ Israel
TEHRAN (AFP) -Iran has rallied behind allies Hezbollah and Syria, praising the Lebanese Shiite militant movement’s battle against “infected tumour” Israel and warning the Jewish state against widening the conflict.Ground troops enter southern Lebanon
A government spokesman said Monday afternoon that IDF ground forces have entered southern Lebanon to attack Hizbullah bases along the border in order to push the terrorist group out of rocket-firing range.
In addition, the IDF has denied Lebanese news reports that an Israeli F-16 jet was downed near Beirut. Virtually all Lebanese news agencies were showing unclear video footage of what was claimed to be the downed jet.
Things could escalate rapidly in the Middle East.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today an Israeli strike on Syria would be considered an attack on the whole Islamic world that would bring a “fierce response,” Haaretz reports.
“If the Zionist regime commits another stupid move and attacks Syria, this will be considered like attacking the whole Islamic world and this regime will receive a very fierce response,” Ahmadinejad was quoted by Iranian state television as saying in a telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Israel has blamed Syria and Iran for the Hezbollah rocket attacks on towns and cities in northern Israel. In recent weeks, Israel has buzzed the palace of Assad with fighter-bombers as a warning against hostile actions.
Ahmadinejad has called repeatedly for the destruction of Israel – or for moving the Jewish state to Europe. Iran is believed to be developing a nuclear weapons program and has long-range missiles capable of striking the Jewish state.
Hezbollah rockets today rained down on northern Israeli towns as the Jewish state’s warplanes carried out strategic strikes against the Hezbollah’s infrastructure and the Beirut International Airport. A total air and sea closure was imposed over Lebanon.
Hezbollah threatened to use longer range rockets against the major northern port city of Haifa, in which case military officials tell WND Israel would likely launch a major ground invasion inside Lebanon.
The fighting today was instigated by a well-orchestrated Hezbollah attack against Israel’s northern border yesterday in which two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped and three others were killed.
And more problems from North Korea.
PUSAN, South Korea (Reuters) – North Korea stormed out of talks with South Korea on Thursday and Seoul froze food aid to its impoverished neighbor, as regional fissures over how to deal with Pyongyang’s missile tests widened.
Pyongyang also appeared to have stood up to its closest ally, Beijing, which has sent a “friendship delegation” to North Korea.
“So far they don’t seem to be interested in listening, much less doing anything,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters in Beijing. “I think the Chinese are as baffled as we are.”
Here are the latest headlines concerning the developments in the Middle East.
US says Israel has right to defend itself
ROSTOCK, Germany (Reuters) – The United States, reacting to escalating violence between
Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, on Thursday urged restraint on both sides but said Israel had a right to defend itself.
In a widening of reprisals after Hizbollah guerrillas captured two soldiers in a border clash, Israel aircraft attacked Beirut airport and blockaded Lebanese ports.
“We are urging restraint on both sides, recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself,” a U.S. administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.Lebanon braces as Israel responds to attack
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon braced for spiraling violence on Thursday a day after Israel vowed a severe response to Hizbollah attacks in which two Israeli soldiers were captured and eight killed by the Syrian-backed group.
A statement issued by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s cabinet after an emergency meeting on Wednesday night said that Israel held the Lebanese government responsible for the attacks and for the safe return of the seized soldiers.
But it offered no details about what type of action would be taken.
Hizbollah’s bold attack drew Olmert into a second crisis over captured soldiers. Israel is engaged in a military offensive in the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants captured a soldier on June 25.
Israeli aircraft attacked the Palestinian Foreign Ministry in Gaza City on Thursday, causing a fire in the building, witnesses said. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israel killed at least 23 Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, including nine members of one family in an air strike that destroyed a house where the army said senior Hamas commanders were meeting.
Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the soldiers had been seized to force Israel to release prisoners, but Israel state says the attack was an act of war and that it would not swap prisoners.
“You don’t negotiate with terror organizations,” Gideon Meir, senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official, told Reuters.Syrian VP blames Israel for escalation amid worry over Israeli retaliation
Syria’s vice president blamed Israel for the escalating violence in Lebanon and Palestinian territories Wednesday, and Arab countries worried over possible Israeli retaliation against Syria after the capture of two Israeli soldiers by its ally, Hezbollah.Ahmadinejad: World will soon witness the demise of Israel
Tehran, Iran, Jul. 12 – Hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that the world will soon witness the demise of Israel, the government-run news agency Fars reported.
“In the near future we will witness the rapid collapse of the Zionist regimeâ€, Ahmadinejad told a crowd in the north-western city of Jolfa.
“The nations of the region will record the names of states that support the Zionist regime alongside the Zionist’s crimesâ€, he added.
Ahmadinejad caused an international furore last year when he publicly declared that the Holocaust was a “myth†and said that Israel must be “wiped off the mapâ€.
Well, as most of us suspected, the North Korean governement isn’t going to stop being crazy and is preparing to carry out more missle test. And on top of this, China has introduced a non-binding resolution at the U.N. against North Korea. A binding U.N. resolution doesn’t carry any teeth, so I guess a non-binding one isn’t even worth the paper it’s written on.
TOKYO (AFP) – North Korea could be preparing for new launches of mid-range missiles following last week’s tests, with activity detected at its bases, a report has said citing Japanese government sources.
US and Japanese satellite photos show that mid-range Rodong missiles had been set up on launch pads at a base in southeastern North Korea, but were later removed, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported.
Fuel tanks could be seen near the launch pads, the report said.
The report said the satellite photos were taken after last week’s tests of seven missiles, but did not give a specific date.
“We think North Korea can launch missiles whenever it wishes,” the top-selling daily quoted a government source as saying.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Sunday suggested Tokyo would have the right to launch a pre-emptive strike to protect its citizens from a missile launch by Pyongyang.
He said there were “visible signs” of activity at a North Korean missile base from which North Korea launched a Rodong missile last week.
Japan submitted a draft binding resolution in the United Nations Security Council that would impose sanctions on North Korea over the missile tests.
But on Monday, the Security Council put off a vote on the resolution to allow more time for Chinese diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis.
Even ignoring the Biblical aspect of the withdraws, we have already seen that it hurts Israel security rather than helping it.
KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ, Israel – A group of prominent rabbis is calling on President Bush to refuse political and financial support for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to evacuate most of Judea and Samaria, stating the withdrawal is against U.S. interests, and that it violates basic tenets of Jewish law.
“U.S. interests are being impacted by Israel’s proposed retreat from terrorist strongholds in Judea and Samaria. In addition, as rabbis our obligation is to teach, guide, and lead our congregations to conduct their daily lives in accordance with Jewish Law. This holds especially true in a matter of life or death threatening the residents of Israel,” stated a letter sent to Bush and signed by leaders of the Rabbinical Congress for Peace, a coalition of over 1200 rabbinic leaders and pulpit rabbis.
Congress members include some of the most esteemed Orthodox rabbis in the Jewish world.
Olmert is attempting to push through a withdrawal from most of Judea and Samaria, mountainous territory that is within rocket firing range of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Israel’s international airport. The territory is also commonly called the West Bank.
The rabbis point out in their letter to Bush that villages slated for withdrawal from Judea and Samaria are mentioned throughout the Torah.
They state a withdrawal from the area violates Jewish law because an evacuation will lead to massive violence.
“There is a clear definitive ruling in the Jewish Code of Law ‘Orach Chaim’ Chapter 329 which rules that it is strictly forbidden to give up even one inch of a Jewish border town to foreigners because it will lead to bloodshed. How much more so regarding retreating from holy land that enemies bent on your destruction have already stated will be used to launch attacks against Jews,” states the letter to Bush.
The rabbis wrote to Bush that Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza last summer has already impacted regional U.S. interests and that Olmert’s proposed Judea and Samaria evacuation will have “disastrous” consequences for the American-led war on terror.
“Israel’s 2005 retreat from Gaza has been perceived as a cave-in by the role-model of counter-terrorism. It paved the road to Hamas’ electoral victory and upgraded the posture of Islamic Jihad and al-Qaida, thus providing friendly platforms for Iran, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and the pro-Saddam elements. The Gaza retreat has established the largest terrorist base in the Middle East, threatening accelerated anti-U.S. terrorism.
“Bolstering the Palestinian profile by enforcing a withdrawal in Judea and Samaria constitutes a present and immediate lethal danger to pro-U.S. regimes in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf states and will establish an enormous terror sanctuary threatening US troops in the Gulf area. It would also undermine Israel’s posture of deterrence, which is critical to the enhancement of regional stability.”
The rabbis urged Bush against “morally or financially supporting Israel’s disastrous withdrawal plan.”
Even ignoring the Biblical aspect of the withdraws, we have already seen that it hurts Israel security rather than helping it.
KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ, Israel – A group of prominent rabbis is calling on President Bush to refuse political and financial support for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to evacuate most of Judea and Samaria, stating the withdrawal is against U.S. interests, and that it violates basic tenets of Jewish law.
“U.S. interests are being impacted by Israel’s proposed retreat from terrorist strongholds in Judea and Samaria. In addition, as rabbis our obligation is to teach, guide, and lead our congregations to conduct their daily lives in accordance with Jewish Law. This holds especially true in a matter of life or death threatening the residents of Israel,” stated a letter sent to Bush and signed by leaders of the Rabbinical Congress for Peace, a coalition of over 1200 rabbinic leaders and pulpit rabbis.
Congress members include some of the most esteemed Orthodox rabbis in the Jewish world.
Olmert is attempting to push through a withdrawal from most of Judea and Samaria, mountainous territory that is within rocket firing range of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Israel’s international airport. The territory is also commonly called the West Bank.
The rabbis point out in their letter to Bush that villages slated for withdrawal from Judea and Samaria are mentioned throughout the Torah.
They state a withdrawal from the area violates Jewish law because an evacuation will lead to massive violence.
“There is a clear definitive ruling in the Jewish Code of Law ‘Orach Chaim’ Chapter 329 which rules that it is strictly forbidden to give up even one inch of a Jewish border town to foreigners because it will lead to bloodshed. How much more so regarding retreating from holy land that enemies bent on your destruction have already stated will be used to launch attacks against Jews,” states the letter to Bush.
The rabbis wrote to Bush that Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza last summer has already impacted regional U.S. interests and that Olmert’s proposed Judea and Samaria evacuation will have “disastrous” consequences for the American-led war on terror.
“Israel’s 2005 retreat from Gaza has been perceived as a cave-in by the role-model of counter-terrorism. It paved the road to Hamas’ electoral victory and upgraded the posture of Islamic Jihad and al-Qaida, thus providing friendly platforms for Iran, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and the pro-Saddam elements. The Gaza retreat has established the largest terrorist base in the Middle East, threatening accelerated anti-U.S. terrorism.
“Bolstering the Palestinian profile by enforcing a withdrawal in Judea and Samaria constitutes a present and immediate lethal danger to pro-U.S. regimes in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf states and will establish an enormous terror sanctuary threatening US troops in the Gulf area. It would also undermine Israel’s posture of deterrence, which is critical to the enhancement of regional stability.”
The rabbis urged Bush against “morally or financially supporting Israel’s disastrous withdrawal plan.”
This is an interesting development. I like it though.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian cabinet ministers and legislators from the Islamic Hamas, increasing pressure on militants to release a captured Israeli soldier and witnesses said tanks moved into northern Gaza, widening Israel’s largest military operation in the year since Israel pulled out of the seaside territory.
Adding to the tension, a Palestinian militant group said it executed an 18-year-old Jewish settler kidnapped on the West Bank of the Jordan River. Israeli security officials said Eliahu Asheri’s body was found buried near Ramallah. They said he was shot in the head, apparently soon after he was abducted Sunday.
Palestinian security officials said Israeli forces detained Palestinian deputy prime minister Nasser Shaer and three other cabinet ministers, as well as four legislators in Ramallah. Two others were arrested in the town Jenin they said and Israeli news media reported a roundup of Hamas legislators in Jerusalem and other locations. More than 30 legislators were detained, Palestinian security officials said.
Army Radio said the arrested Hamas leaders might be used to trade for the captured soldier. Israel had refused earlier to trade prisoners for the soldier’s release.
Oh this was just choice. As if anyone was willing to believe that pali terrorist actually could carry out a threat like that. Anyway, suckering teens into blowing up innocent Israelis is more their speed anyway.
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) – A threat by a militant group to use biological and chemical weapons if Israel invades the Gaza Strip is probably a bluff, an expert here said on Monday.
The Al-Aksa Martyrs’ Brigades (the militant wing of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction) said it would surprise Israel with new kinds of weapons if Israel invaded the Gaza Strip.
“With the help of Allah, we are pleased to say that we succeeded in developing over 20 different types of biological and chemical weapons…after a three-year effort” the group said in a leaflet distributed on Sunday.
“We say to Olmert and [Defense Minister Amir] Peretz: Your threats of invasion do not frighten us. We will surprise you with new weapons you have not faced until now,” they said. “As soon as an [Israeli] soldier sets foot on Gaza land, we will respond with a new weapon.”
The group said that it would declare “open warfare without limits” if Israel invaded the Gaza Strip.
But Israeli counter-terrorism expert Dr. Ely Karmon described the statements as “wishful thinking.” They already indicated that they had chemical weapons in 2003, he said.
It’s “psychological warfare,” said Karmon. Hamas tried to put chemicals in explosive belts worn by suicide bombers and it didn’t work, he said.
Look at what disengagement has done. Now Israel is going to have to go back into Gaza, but as invaders this time. The media is going to have a hayday with this one. Well done, Olmert…NOT!
Can you please not make the same mistake in the West Bank?
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) – Israeli troops massed along the Gaza Strip border on Monday, ready to launch a major ground offensive if a kidnapped Israeli soldier is not returned immediately.
Israel said it is holding P.A. Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his Hamas-led government responsible for the early Sunday morning assault on an Israeli army outpost at Kerem Shalom on the Gaza-Israeli border near Egypt. Two Israeli soldiers were killed, four wounded and a seventh wounded and kidnapped in the sneak attack.
Palestinian gunmen tunneled half a mile under the Gaza border fence, came up 975 feet into Israel and attacked the outpost and a tank from behind, the army said.
Two Palestinians were killed in the ensuing battle. The remaining terrorists blew a hole in the fence and retreated back into Gaza, taking Israeli soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit with them.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and top ministers involved in security decisions gave the army the go-ahead to prepare for battle in the Gaza Strip and said they were holding the P.A. responsible for Shalit’s well-being.
“No person or organization will have immunity at this time,” the cabinet said in a statement.
If the homosexuals can’t silence the truth about their lifestyle choices by name calling (such as intolerant, bigot, racist) then they’ll resort to having the children of people who oppose homosexuality beaten up.
(AgapePress) – The young son of a Massachusetts pro-family activist was physically assaulted by fellow elementary school students on the two-year anniversary of same-sex “marriage” in the state.
On May 17, first-grader Jacob Parker was beaten up by a group of eight to ten kids on the playground at Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington. Just weeks before the assault, his father and mother had filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school.
Last year, David Parker was arrested and jailed for refusing to leave the school until officials agreed to grant him the right to opt his son out of classroom discussions on homosexuality. The Massachusetts father believes the assault was incited by parents who are upset with his opposition to homosexuality.
“What we’re concerned about,” Parker says, “is actually the environment being created in the schools, where children, maybe in the normal course of scuffling, will translate the aggression that they may be hearing from parents and administrators to other children.”
The pro-family advocate suspects the physical attack on his son may have occurred because parents and school officials are angry over his stand for traditional marriage in Massachusetts and have allowed these feelings to influence kids who attend Estabrook Elementary. Also, he notes, back issues of the “biased” Lexington Minuteman newspaper were placed on a table in the school library for children to read the local coverage of the lawsuit.
Now look, give them a break. They’re not paranoid, they just know everyone is out to get them.
(CNSNews.com) – A homosexual activist group, seeking the elimination of the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, continues to allege that the Bush administration conducted domestic spying on homosexual and anti-war student protesters in New York and California. But a spokesman for the activist group admits he has no evidence to back up the charge.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in order to obtain any federal documents referring to the investigation and/or surveillance of the New York University (NYU) homosexual advocacy group OUTlaw and the University of California at Santa Cruz group Students Against War.
Our “good” friend, Cindy Sheehan, has gone to Canada (to bad she won’t stay there) to show support of the handful of U.S. service people who are AWOL. Momma Sheehan sure has spit on her son’s grave alot, along with many other brave service people who have given their lives for their country.
A group of American military deserters publicly embraced their new lives in Canada on Saturday with the support of “peace mom” Cindy Sheehan, who said she wished the son she lost in Iraq was among them.
“I begged him not to go to Iraq,” the anti-war activist said through tears at a rally in support of the former soldiers, who wore black T- shirts emblazoned with “AWOL.” “And I wish he was standing up here with these people because he didn’t want to go.”
Sheehan was making her second visit to Canada in support of sanctuary for those fleeing the U.S. military. The Canadian government has so far denied political asylum to U.S. soldiers who have sought it but appeals are pending.
“They’re trying to deport me,” said Darrell Anderson of Lexington, Ky., who arrived in Canada by way of Niagara Falls in January 2005. He spent seven months in Iraq with the Army’s 1st Armored Division and received a purple heart following a roadside bomb attack before deciding during a leave he would not go back.
“When I was in Iraq, we were killing innocent people for oil. It was obvious they didn’t want us there,” said Anderson, 24, who is petitioning to remain in Canada.
The gathering at a park in the town of Fort Erie, across the border from Buffalo, N.Y., was organized by peace groups on both sides of the border.
Anyone who actually believes that the website Al Jazeera is a legitimate source of news is a fool. About the only thing they can spout is anti-Israel, anti-American, hate filled propaganda. Not all that different then the so-called newsworthy satellite TV network by the same name.
The Middle East news website Al Jazeera published a provocative photo purporting to show a “massacre” by Marines in Haditha, Iraq, despite the fact several papers already issued retractions admitting the image was of fishermen executed by terrorists months before the incident under investigation.
The Times of London and the Chicago Sun-Times issued apologies last week before Dubai-based Al Jazeera – which is not associated with the Arab satellite TV network – published the photo with a caption referring to the infamous slaughter of civilians by U.S. troops during the Vietnam war.
“The Haditha massacre is far worse than My Lai,” the caption read.
After receiving complaints, Al Jazeera replaced the photo but maintained the caption, issuing a statement that said:
“Al Jazeera Magazine’s editorial team deeply regrets and apologizes for the previous mistake of publishing a wrong picture for this story.”
This is the security Israel got in return for evacuating their territory. Also, who in their right mind is going to believe a slimy pali terrorist anyway?
On Wednesday, Israel informed Hamas Authority leader Haniye that he himself could be the next target of Israeli missiles if the Kassam rockets don’t stop. According to some reports, Haniye ordered them stopped.
At the same time as Ismail Haniye was supposedly ordering Hamas terrorists in the field to lay down their rockets, Hamas administrators were preparing a ceasefire offer to Israel: Israel must stop all targeted killings of terrorists, and Hamas will cease its rocket fire. However, Hamas is not the only terrorist group in Gaza, and in fact Islamic Jihad, Fatah and the Popular Resistance Committees have not agreed to stop their attacks on Israel.
After firing more than 100 rockets from Friday through Tuesday, Hamas was, in fact, quiet yesterday. Only one Kassam was fired in the course of the day – an Islamic Jihad affair that landed close to a strategic infrastructure just south of Ashkelon. The rocket caused no damage.
Israeli officials have implied all along that Israel would not initiate an escalation in hostilities, but would only respond to attacks by the terrorists.
I believe this is going to be an issue with voters, just like the immigration issue. Guess we’ll see how it plays out.
The Senate rejected a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, but supporters say the measure is gaining ground and today’s vote should help energize the Republican base.
The 49-48 tally was 11 short of the 60 needed to hold an up-or-down vote by the full Senate. A roll call showing how senators voted can be found here.
A sponsor of the joint resolution, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., warned opponents will have to answer for their positions.
“People are going to be responsible for this vote,” he said. “We are making progress in America on defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.”
Forty-five states have acted to define marriage in traditional terms, as a union between one man and one woman.
But one GOP opponent, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told the Senate he won’t support the federal amendment because most Americans “are not yet convinced that their elected representatives or the judiciary are likely to expand decisively the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.”
Along with McCain, Republicans Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Judd Gregg, Arlen Specter, Lincoln Chafee and John Sununu voted against the cloture vote, which would end debate and move to an up-or-down tally. Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson and Robert Byrd voted for cloture.
If one of your senators is mentioned in the paragraph above, I’d sure consider let them know how unhappy you are with them.
This is the line the homosexual activist have been trying to shove down our throats for years. Now they have Senator Kennedy on board for it. No surprise there. Well Mr. Kennedy, a vote against this amendment is a vote against families and values.
By the way, just what does a Kennedy know about marriage anyway?
WASHINGTON, June 6, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The U.S. Senate will vote this week on the Marriage Protection Amendment, a bill which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. Senator Edward M. Kennedy was quoted today as saying, ‘A vote for this amendment is a vote for bigotry pure and simple.”
Kennedy, who claims to be Catholic while opposing the Church on every major tenet of morality, was blasted by Catholic League president Bill Donohue.
“A vote for the Marriage Protection Amendment is a vote to maintain the traditional understanding of marriage as it has been accepted for thousands of years all over the world,” said Donohue. “To brand those who support this amendment as bigots is mud-slinging: it is analogous to those who would call foes of the amendment ‘gay lovers.’”
Donohue recalled that in 1996, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act which denies federal recognition to same-sex marriages and allows states the right to deny recognition of gay marriages that have been performed in other states. “Only 14 senators voted against this bill, and Senator Kennedy was one of them,” Donohue pointed out. “Thus, his proclaimed opposition to gay marriage is nothing but an empty gesture: he refuses to do anything that would protect the institution of marriage from legislative or judicial tinkering.”
Donohue also noted the public support for the measure. “In the last election, all 11 states that had same-sex marriage on the ballot voted against it, including states with a ‘progressive’ reputation like Oregon,” he said. “Moreover, more than 80 percent of the states have passed Defense of Marriage Acts.”
Donohue reminded Kennedy the “Catholic” that “the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is in favor of a constitutional amendment.” He also noted that “Black ministers, like Bishop Harry Jackson of the High Impact Leadership Coalition, have rallied in favor of the amendment. Even in New York City, surveys show the people don’t want same-sex marriage.”
Concluding Donohue asked, “Are all these people bigots, Mr. Kennedy?” Answering the rhetorical question with: “Reasonable people may disagree whether a constitutional amendment is the right remedy, but only fanatics will call those who support it bigots.”
This is what Sharon’s and Olmert’s withdraws have brought on Israel.
JERUSALEM – The Jewish state is headed toward a major, violent confrontation with the Palestinians while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to withdraw from most of Judea and Samaria will “not help” to decrease the terrorism, according to an Israeli army assessment.
The prognosis will be released in an official Israeli Defense Forces report to be published next month. It follows a series of WorldNetDaily exclusive interviews in which the leaders of every major Palestinian terror organization said recent events here are leading them to launch what they call a third intifada – or violent confrontation against Israel. The terrorists warned of suicide bombings, rocket attacks against Jewish communities and “a few new surprises in our arsenal.”
“The new intifada is only a question of time and this will be the hardest and the most dangerous one. It’s just about timing until the order to blow up a new wave of attacks will be given,” Abu Nasser, a senior Al Aqsa Brigades leader from the Balata refugee camp in northern Samaria told WorldNetDaily in an interview.
-snip-
Army: Violence to escalate with evacuation…
Al Aqsa Brigades: ‘We’ll kill Israelis to revolt against Hamas’…
Rocket war against Israel…
Islamic Jihad: ‘The Israelis should wait for our surprises’…
Hamas developing guided rockets, bomb-laden planes…
‘Terror forced Israel out of Gaza, will get us rest of Jewish state’.
I’ve said for quite some time that the U.N. is more of a thorn in the side of society than the helpful organization that it was originally supposed to be. I don’t think the U.N. is getting it’s “black eye” from Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. I think they are doing it to themselves.
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations’ No. 2 official accused the U.S. government of keeping Middle America in the dark about the world body’s good works, a rare direct criticism that drew an angry response Wednesday from Ambassador John Bolton.
Bolton called Tuesday’s speech by Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown a “very, very grave mistake” that could undermine Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s efforts to push through an ambitious agenda at the world body.
“I spoke to the secretary-general this morning, I said ‘I’ve known you since 1989 and I’m telling you this is the worst mistake by a senior U.N. official that I have seen in that entire time,”‘ Bolton told reporters on Wednesday.
“To have the deputy secretary-general criticize the United States in such a manner can only do grave harm to the United Nations,” Bolton said.
In the speech, Malloch Brown said the United States relies on the United Nations as a diplomatic tool but doesn’t defend it against criticism at home, a policy of “stealth diplomacy” that he called unsustainable.
He lamented that the good works of the U.N. are largely lost because “much of the public discourse that reaches the U.S. heartland has been largely abandoned to its loudest detractors such as Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.”
As this is being posted late Saturday night (PDT), this is actually old news. Therefore, I won’t spend much time on it. However, we shouldn’t overlook that Canadian authorities have arrested 17 homegrown would-be terrorists who were loaded to the gills with explosives. What do this Canadians have in common with other terrorists around the world today? Yup, they’re Muslims. The “religion of peace” suffered from bombus interruptus thanks to the Canuck Mounties. Good on ya, eh?
Canadian police foiled a homegrown terrorist attack by arresting 17 suspects, apparently inspired by Al Qaeda, who obtained three times the amount of explosive ingredients used in the Oklahoma City bombing, officials said Saturday.
The FBI said the Canadian suspects may have had “limited contact” with two men recently arrested on terrorism charges in Georgia. About 400 regional police and federal agents participated in the arrests Friday and early Saturday.
“These individuals were allegedly intent on committing acts of terrorism against their own country and their own people,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement. “As we have said on many occasions, Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism.”
…
Alvin Chand, a brother of suspect Steven Vikash Chand, said outside the courthouse that his brother was innocent and authorities “just want to show they’re doing something.”“He’s not a terrorist, come on. He’s a Canadian citizen,” Chand said. “The people that were arrested are good people, they go to the mosque, they go to school, go to college.”
Seattle Post Intelligencer (P-I) columnist Robert L. Jamieson has taken a header off the deep end. Jamieson has always been a liberal moonbat, but his most recent column reaches new levels in moral equivalency. In his column, Jamieson targets Washington State senatorial candidate Mike McGavick (R), and McGavick’s proposal that Iran be barred from the World Cup soccer tournament if it refuses to give up its nuke program. McGavick is challenging incumbent Senator Maria Cantwell (D). RJ quotes McGavick’s reference to South Africa being banned from Rugby competition due to its apartheid policy, then takes his long walk off a short pier:
The trouble with McGavick extending rugby logic to Iranian soccer is one of perspective.
South Africa’s government policy was morally reprehensible, inhumane and lethal. Apartheid also was sanctioned and embraced across South African society, from the elite to commoners.
Iran has no such repugnant policy. It has not implemented any diabolical plans, unless you count its push to become a nuclear power like the United States, China and other members of that club.
Admittedly, Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has invoked language that is tough, defiant and downright ugly at times.
That just puts him in good company.
In many parts of the world, President Bush doesn’t exactly come across as a honeyed voice of reason, either.
Most irksome about McGavick’s plaintive cry on the pitch is how Americancentric and huffy he sounds. He seems to suggest that because America doesn’t like Iran’s nuclear saber-rattling the rest of the world should join us on some soccer-sacking sortie.
The aspiring senator is broaching dangerous territory by mixing sports and politics in this instance.
If it were up to a vote of World Cup nations, the United States — not Iran — may get the boot first.
Other countries could point to our bungled and legally questionable invasion of Iraq, as well as our continuing, imploding occupation there. A recent poll of more than 91,000 people in 50 countries by the Pew Research Center found that anti-American sentiment is at its highest level ever. Much of the antipathy is no doubt a reflection of American foreign policy and our lost art of diplomacy.
Iran has no such repugnant policy?! It has not implemented any diabolical plans?! Jamieson isn’t forgetting that Ahmadinejad has stated that Israel should be “wiped off the map.” He isn’t forgetting that He has threatened violence against U.S. and Israeli interests. He simply doesn’t care! To Jamieson, Ahmadinejad’s statements don’t make him dangerous – they’re just unique little peccadillos that we should chuckle and shake our heads at. After all, Iran wants nothing more than equality with other nations. Right? Yea, right! And perhaps the rain we’ve had lately in Seattle has caused some facts to leach from Jamieson’s head. For instance, Jamieson intimates that the desire to prevent an Iran nuke program is simply an American desire. Uh, Bobby? That’s an issue that most nations are united on. That’s why the IAEA, the UN, and the EU are so heavily involved! Perhaps you should try getting your news from some other source than the Seattle P-I. And what is so WRONG about being Americacentric?! McGavick is an AMERICAN! It comes natural for Americans to be Americacentric. Well, not for all Americans, apparently. Jamieson is a loyal citizen of the People’s Socialist Republic of Seattlestan. His thinking is a little Seattlecentric.
Read Jamieson’s article, and make sure you give him some feedback: robertjamieson@seattlepi.com
Former KGB Agent and current Russian President, Putin announced today his plan to build up Russia’s military in order to counter the “wolf” that “does whatever it wants around the world”. I don’t think Putin got the memo about the Cold War being over. Or, is it? Putin’s threats and name calling aren’t really as intimidating as he’d hoped, though. We still spend 25 times as much as they do on defense. The real threat from Russia isn’t their military, it’s their cooperation with Iran.
President Vladimir V. Putin, in a blunt response to U.S. criticism of his domestic and foreign policies, declared today that Russia will boost its military strength to ensure the ability to resist foreign pressure.
In an annual address to parliament, Putin said new weapons will enable his country to maintain a strategic balance with the United States, which he compared to a wolf — the arch-villain in Russian fairy tales — doing as it pleases in the world.
Despite the strong language on international and military issues, the bulk of the speech focused on domestic policies. Putin called today for wide-ranging measures to reverse Russia’s sharp population decline by providing financial incentives to women to have more babies.
He also stressed a need to place greater emphasis on developing the economy’s technological foundations, while admitting that Russia has not solved the growth-inhibiting problem of corruption in business and the government bureaucracy.
Putin’s comments did not seem to signal a return to Cold War hostility so much as a bid by an increasingly self-confident Russia to engage in tough bargaining on international issues, and to reject outside interference in its domestic politics.
Moscow’s fresh assertiveness comes, in part, from rising oil prices, which have fueled strong economic growth in this energy-rich nation for the past seven years.
The maniacs in charge of Iran are making threats if the West imposes sanctions or other “stern” measures. They have threatened to hide their nuke program from the IAEA. They have also met with Sudan to plan for transferring nuclear technology to that country. The possibility of Sudan having nuclear technology is as frightening a proposition as Iran having nukes.
Iran ratcheted up its defiance ahead of a U.N. Security Council deadline to suspend uranium enrichment, threatening Tuesday to hide its program if the West takes “harsh measures” and to transfer nuclear technology to chaos-ridden Sudan.
Ali Larijani, the top Iranian nuclear negotiator, also renewed a vow to end cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency and said increasing pressure on Iran would only stiffen its resolve.
“If you take harsh measures, we will hide this program. If you use the language of force, you should not expect us to act transparently,” Larijani said, adding that Western nations “have to understand they cannot resolve this issue through force.”
Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice fired back almost immediately, saying, “Iranians can threaten, but they are deepening their own isolation.”Top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the offer to transfer nuclear technology at a meeting Tuesday with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
“Iran’s nuclear capability is one example of various scientific capabilities in the country. … The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to transfer the experience, knowledge and technology of its scientists,” Khamenei told al-Bashir.
Al-Bashir said last month that his impoverished, violence-ridden country was considering a nuclear program to generate electricity.
…
“Electricity”. Yeeeaa, right.
We can always count on China to arm our worst enemies, and then defend those enemies when they threaten to annihilate our allies. I hope our government views China as the enemy that they are, and are preparing for all contingencies.
China and Saudi Arabia have signed defense and security agreements that strengthened the strategic relations between the two Asian powers.
The accords were signed during the visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Riyad over the weekend. Hu, arriving on April 22, has sought to offer Chinese weapons and technology in exchange for greater access to the Saudi crude oil market.
“This will further strengthen the friendship between our two countries and our two peoples as well as expand strategic and friendly cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia,” Hu said.
Over the last few weeks, China and Saudi Arabia have accelerated cooperation in defense and energy relations. In January 2006, Saudi King Abdullah signed a memorandum of understanding during his visit to China, the first by a Saudi monarch since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1990.
I’m blogging late, and not sure how much I’ll get done. Today was the big appointment with the spine surgeon. Praise God, I finally found one who isn’t afraid to operate on my back a 6th time. He may even operate later and fix my neck, too. Woohoo! It probably seems weird to be excited about surgery, but I’ve been dealing with this for a long time and I’m looking forward to one of those big breaks I get after they operate and fix things. I have one more test to get done and then we’ll know what part of my spinal fusion bit the dust and needs repaired. I should have a lot more time to blog now. It usually takes a while to schedule a big surgery like that, so I can relax for a bit. I hope to get some new things added to the CM site soon, as well. Thanks to those who’ve been praying. It’s very much appreciated.
Judge Forces Obama Admin to Stop Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research Job fears grip voters, Obama ratings crumble (52% Disapproval) We’re back…..finally Al Sharpton Needs to Read the 10th Amendment Israel issues ‘urgent’ warning to its citizens to leave Egypt’s Sinai area immediately Obama’s approval rating plummets, but Harry Reid instists Obamacare is supported by majority of Americans Global Warming Scientist contemplates suicide after being caught lying Even Democrats Disturbed by Withdrawal Date
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