Month: July 2007

While in Tel Aviv on Tuesday… Our US blogger delegation was honored to meet with Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

I didn’t notice any of these recent stories at Amnesty International, so I decided to take a quick tour of current events in the world of torture.

Hillel Halkin, contributing editor of the New York Sun, reflects on a seemingly lost talent in Israel, occasioned by a reunion of surviving passengers of the Exodus, made famous by the fictional treatment, and exaggeration, of Leon Uris’ book and Otto Preminger’s film.

The conclusion of Andres Oppenheimer’s column from the Miami Herald sparked my curiosity about the World Bank report it’s based upon: With democratic institutions, a free press and a professional – not politicized – civil service, corruption can be reduced anywhere.

“Health-care coverage without access is meaningless,” says Massachusetts’ governor.

Al Gore’s former communications director, when Vice-President, sees why: Contractors are the proxy for anti-military sentiments on the political left.

Jerusalem is alive— The people are out in the streets.

Internationally recognized Human Rights activist and former Soviet dissident, Natan Sharansky sat down in Jerusalem today to speak about the Iraq War, democracy and the fight against radical Islam with a gathering of American bloggers.

The Washington Post reports House of Representatives Majority Whip James Clyburn fearing that a “Positive Report by Petraeus Could Split House Democrats on War.” Many Democrats have anticipated that, at best, Petraeus and U.S.

“Captain” Ed Morrissey at Captains Quarters blog points out, “According to sources on Capitol Hill, the bill signals a retreat on earmark reform in several ways,” and provides examples.

I usually write on subjects that aren’t prominently, and better, handled by others.

Werner Herzog’s new film Rescue Dawn has garnered much praise and usual snarkiness from professional film reviewers.

This is from my new best buddy Scott Johnson from Powerline who is traveling with me in Israel.The article is from Debka File which has not always been the most accurate, but anyway if it’s not, blame my buddy: (Vancouver, BC) — “How close were we to seeing an armed nuclear conflict?” That is the question being asked as Syrian nationals temporarily vacated Beirut, Lebanon and the Jordan Valley during mid July according to sources close to ACG-CIS.

The United Nations “Peacekeeper” forces have racked up quite a record – for sexual abuse of those it’s supposed to protect.

I was surprised that my friend Jim Hoft invited me to guest at Gateway Pundit, as my style at Democracy-Project and elsewhere tends toward non-photo, wonkish essays.

The Iraqi People united in celebration after their soccer team smashed Saudi Arabia in the Asian Cup today.

I am out of the country this week in Israel.

A year has passed since the unprovoked abduction of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser on the Israeli side of the Lebanese border by the terrorist group Hezbollah.Eldad Regev (Left) and Ehud Goldwasser- Israel ministry of Foreign Affairs Now, Lebanese News is reporting that one of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers has died in captivity.The Jerusalem Post and ROP reported: One of the two Israeli reservists held by Hizbullah for more than a year has died and the other is still alive, the Lebanese daily newspaper an-Nahar reported Saturday.

Another threat from Iran… Is anyone keeping count?ISNAFars News has the latest threat from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei against the Zionist network (US, Israel, Great Britain, and the West): Addressing thousands of Iranians in a ceremony here on Saturday to commemorate the birthday anniversary of the Shiite Muslims’ first Imam, Hazrat Ali (PBUH), the Supreme Leader viewed establishment of the Islamic Republic as a continuation of the path of Imam Ali, and said that the identity of the Islamic Republic ruling system is based on the goals of the Shiites’ first Imam, including justice-seeking and confrontation with oppression, bullying and discrimination.

Statement indeed!An invitation to a fatwa…Artist, atheist and gay activist Charles Merrill enjoys a moment of peace in Venice.

The hard Left is obviously not happy with FOX News and Bill O’Reilly for exposing their premier website for what it is… “Hate of the worst order.

Terrorist-Accountant, Yakub Memon, was sentenced to death for slaughtering 257 in Mumbai, India.Rubina Memon, center, sister-in-law of the 1993 Mumbai bombings mastermind Tiger Memon, arrives at a special court trying the bombings case in Mumbai, India, Friday, July 27, 2007.

Senator Charles Shumer announced today that democrats will oppose the Constitution.Democratic Senators (L-R) Reid, Schumer and Durbin.

Nancy Pelosi and the democrats voted against the recommendations on the 9-11 Commission on October 8, 2004.

It’s a natural disaster and since Bush wasn’t around and they had to blame someone, British protesters blame all industrialized societies for their current pain.

Imprisoned Iranian students are being sexually tortured by the regime in Iran!A photo from a protest at Amir Kabir University in Tehran earlier this year demanding the release of fellow students arrested by the regime.

Jonathan Darman at Newsweek sulks at America’s “inability to be moved” by the suffering spotlighted by the John Edwards’ poverty publicity tour: “There is something tragic about Edwards’s failure to break through.

Kesher Talk has photos from the disturbance.

The blast came after hundreds of madrassa students blocked a government-appointed cleric from leading prayers at its planned reopening –AP.

Actor Jon Voight talks about working with Jane Fonda in “Coming Home” and on what happened when the US pulled out of Vietnam.

Michael Moore’s favorite doctors are resisting those lucrative $15 per month wages and fleeing to the US.Cuban doctors and graduating medical students sit underneath an image of late revolutionary hero Ernesto “Che” Guevara during an event in Havana, Cuba.

Several Iranian women bravely protested for more rights in June of 2006……But, instead of more rights, the women were given a beating by the Iranian regime.Now, the Iranian authorities are trying the women for “plotting against state security” and sentencing them to jail.

Too funny!The liberal Bush-hating terror expert Juan Cole falls for the re-run tape filmed in 2001!Osama Bin Laden appears in a new Al Qaeda video clip on July 14, 2007 (on left Laura Mansfield) and from a release in May 2002 (filmed in 2001) scratching his noggin (La Republicca)- same session, different release date.

The very popular former Bolivian Congressman Jose Brechner is having his articles translated into English.Here is Jose’s recent article on the war on terror: Asymmetrical war?

If you missed the socialist party’s YouTube debate the other night, you may have missed the duo from Tennessee- the good ol’ boys at RedStateUpdate.com.

The first “Anti-Imperialist Cars” reached Venezuelan roads this month.

Ali Akbar Velayati, the International Affairs Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei spoke to an audience of baseej members about the influence of Israel in Iraq today.A photo from one of the rallies to wipe out Israel held in Iran in October, 2005.

A Very Proud & Very Successful Engineer Friend sent this video from Fallujah with the following report: This is a video from a F16 doing CAS (close air support) during the recent fighting in Fallujah.

This poor sad story telling private is in a heap of trouble!Do you suppose John Murtha and the democrats will support him?Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp (his blog is here) comes out of the shadows at The New Republic: A STATEMENT FROM SCOTT THOMAS BEAUCHAMP: As we’ve noted in this space, some have questioned details that appeared in the Diarist “Shock Troops,” published under the pseudonym Scott Thomas.

Well this is odd… This doesn’t sound like “cold blooded” murder… Lance Cpl.

Soldier, co-author and founder of “Troops Need You”, Major Eric Egland, sends an update on the wonderful work his organization is doing to help the soldiers and people of Iraq.Major Eric Egland and his wife Ania.Here Is another military story that you won’t hear on the nightly news… Jim,Thank you for the encouragement.Thank goodness for Midwestern values and common sense.It has been a blessing to run Troops Need You.

Rep.

With the latest accusations by Bill O’Reilly on the the profanity at the premier democratic blog Daily Kos and the latest excuses by Daily Kos apologists who defend their God-given right to post profanity and hate speech… I thought it was time to dust off the infamous “7 Words Study” comparing language on the right side of the blogosohere with the language frequently used on the left side of the blogosphere.

Fred Thompson might as well get used to this crazy aggressive Leftist behavior.This tactic seemed to work well for the Left in the last election- we are likely to see much more deranged Leftist antics the closer we get to the 2008 elections.

45% of Iraq’s 27,500,000 people are under the age of 14.Democrats refuse to discuss how these children will be safe once democrats pull out the US forces who protect them in Iraq.

The Zimbabwe Crisis Today- The reality is that the inflation rate is running at 3,700%, the unemployment rate is at 80%, and tens of thousands are homeless… School is too expensive for many Zimbabwean families.

What’s the expression?… “Know your audience.”Finally, PETA starts making sense.Count me in…Animal rights activists, dressed up as dogs, attend a protest against the eating of dog meat in central Seoul July 25, 2007.

Thousands of Iraqis celebrated in the streets of Baghdad after the national soccer team won the semifinal in the Asian Cup.The barbarians were waiting for them.The barbarians will allow no joy.Iraqis celebrate in Baghdad.

ETA separatists bombed the Tour de France today.The pack of riders cycle in the Pyrenees mountains during the 16th stage of the 94th Tour de France cycling race between Orthez and Gourette-Col d’Aubisque, July 25, 2007.

The US raided the offices of two suspected terror front groups in Dearborn, Michigan yesterday: WASHINGTON – The Bush administration took action Tuesday against an Iran-based foundation, including its U.S.

The Taliban went ahead and killed one of the male Evangelical Christian hostages from Korea.

This didn’t get much play in the press for some reason.

The “Breasts Not Bombs” women crashed the Hillary Campaign launch last night.Zombie has a photo report.

THE REGIME IN IRAN EXECUTED MEISAM LOTFI AFTER HIS BRUTAL ARREST IN MAY.

UPDATE: (6:40 PM CST) Churchill Is Canned!

Abdullah Mehsud pulled the pin on his grenade today in southwestern Pakistan.Abdullah Mehsud, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, talks to the media as his bodyguard stand guard near Chagmalai in South Waziristan along the Afghan border in this Oct 14, 2004 file photo.

While the US and Iran were meeting in Baghdad to iron out(?) Iraqi security issues, the planned meeting of former Baathists and Saddam’s henchmen was scrapped in Damascus.ADN Kronos reported: Syrian authorities cancelled, just hours before it was set to take place, a conference Tuesday in Damascus by groups representing the so-called “Iraqi resistance” – including former members of Saddam Hussein’s regime – opposing the Baghdad government and its US-led international backers.

Well, it’s a start anyway…Thousands of Indonesian workers stage a noisy protest outside the offices of U.S.

TNR’s bogus attacks on the military are starting to make headlines!… The Weekly Standard Blog has been leading the charge to find the truth behind the disgusting anti-military hit pieces that The New Republic says are coming from a “group of active duty soldiers in Iraq.” The New York Times is even reporting on The New Republic soldier scandal today.According to the Times, the TNR staff are still investigating the incredulous claims by anonymous reporter, “Scott Thomas”: Franklin Foer, the editor of The New Republic, will not reveal the author’s identity but says the magazine is investigating the accuracy of his articles.