Here is the headline from this morning’s AP story on wiretaps, republished at ABC, MSNBC, and at least 76 other places:”Democrats Say They Never OK’d Wiretapping”But, here’s the proof that they did…That document they were all smiling about called the Patriot Act.
As Dick Cheney arrived to inspect the earthquake ravaged country of Pakistan, a new poll released shows that Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is at an all time low since 9-11.U.S.
The “moderate” two-time former Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has pulled through his bitter presidential loss to the hardliner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad enough to ease public sentiment about the current crisis with Israel:Rafsanjani said earlier this month that the Muslim world would win a nuclear exchange with Israel, aggravating fears Tehran’s quest for atomic weapons indeed has one purpose: the annihilation of what it calls the Zionist “cancer.””[The] application of an atomic bomb would not leave anything in Israel – but the same thing would just produce damages in the Muslim world,” Hashemi-Rafsanjani was quoted as saying by the government-controlled Iran Press Service.The spiritual leader, who wields ultimate power in Iran, made the comments during a prayer service in Tehran.
It’s not uncommon in the Middle East to see Israelis characterized as animals as Little Green Footballs pointed out last week with a new children’s clamation film where Jews are turned into monkeys and pigs.But, heaven forbid if the shoe is on the other foot!Palestinians don’t like it so much if Arafat is the one made the monkey.The Russian gallery explained that the artwork is named after the monkey and not Yasser Arafat.The embassy of the Palestinian Territories’ in Moscow has complained about a controversial Russian arts gallery that has exhibited a portrait of a monkey dressed as the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat:In a letter sent to the gallery owner Marat Guelman the Palestinian diplomats voiced regret over the unethical attitude of the artist, whose name was reported as Ilya Chichkan, towards the late president of the Palestinian National Autonomy and Nobel Prize winner.
“During 10 years, threats from angry conservative Muslims silenced the Norwegian and Muslim pop singer Deeyah.
EVO MORALES IS ELECTED IN BOLIVIA AND SAYS HE WILL LEGALIZE COCA FARMING,VIDEO HERE”Shades of Che” in BoliviaSupporters of Evo Morales of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) celebrate holding flags in La Paz.
Ann Althouse (via Glenn Reynolds) posted a chart earlier today comparing Iraqi Civilian War casualties with other conflicts in recent history:Click on picture to enlarge.This number of civilian(?) casualties lost during war, as sad as it is, is at a rate less than when Saddam was in power and filling his mass graves.This shows how Iraq War Casualties compares to other American Wars:Here’s more:As noted last month in World Net Daily, California’s murder rate dwarfs Iraq deaths.Russia lost more soldiers in peacetime than we did in Iraq last year.And, Pre-Katrina New Orleans had a murder rate that compares with both the US military and Iraqi civilian deaths combined.Joe’s Dartblog wonders what happened to the media’s earlier claims.Driftwood prepared a timeline comparison of Iraq with Germany.Obviously, the men and women of the United States Military and fellow Allies are not “broken, worn out” and “living hand to mouth” but are doing a brilliant job in supporting Iraq in its transition from a murderous dictatorship to a functioning Middle Eastern democracy in just 1,000+ days!Update: I have included the suggestion on “fatalities” verses “casualties”.
John Hawkins at Right Wing Pundits has released a list of the most striking comments from the “Democratic Underground” from the last year.
While Dick Cheney participated in an emotional, teary-eyed Parliamentary session in Kabul, Afghanistan, George Bush left the Green Zone and entered hostile territory today in Washington (see Michelle Malkin and Lorie Byrd’s -Hell Yes, Baby – Santa has Come Early!- post).
“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction…
After history was set on Thursday with Iraq’s thrilling vote; After nearly 70 percent of eligible voters braved death to have their voice heard; After millions of Iraqis walked, were carried, or were pushed to get to the polls;After whole families dressed their children and put on their finest clothes to celebrate freedom,This is what the Left in America sees in the Middle East’s newest and bravest democracy…”Our Leader Celebrates Another Success”* Notice the cutoff fingers!
Iran’s Foreign Minister says that the it is up to academicians to decide on the truth behind the reality of the holocaust and the West needs to be more tolerant:Last week, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the Holocaust a myth and suggested that Israel be moved to Germany or Alaska, remarks that prompted international uproar and threatened diplomatic talks with Europe over Iran’s nuclear programme.But Hamid Reza Asefi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, defended the president’s remarks, which also drew a rebuke from the UN Security Council.”What the president said is an academic issue” he told a weekly news conference.
A joyous occasion, the picture on the left was taken during a massive Lebanese march for freedom from Syria in March……And, this weeks sadness, the picture on the right was taken this week at the funeral of slain Lebanese journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni via Free Thoughts and Egyptian Sandmonkey.On Saturday the chief investigator of the Hariri murder in Lebanon that sparked the Revolution to Free Lebanon accused Syria of being behind the murder:Detlev Mehlis, outgoing head of the UN probe into the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, said he was certain that Syria was behind the incident, according to an interview publishedyesterday by the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.Asked by the Pan-Arab daily, “Do you believe unequivocally that Syria was behind Hariri’s assassination?” Mehlis responded, “Yes”.
“I was deeply disturbed by what intelligence presented to me and to the rest of us, and what really upset me more than anything else was that there were people in the intelligence community that had doubts about some of the sourcing.”Former Secretary of State Colin PowellBBC INTERVIEW, VIDEO HERE Advise to George Bush…Don’t check the mailbox for a sloppy “please forgive me” card from Nancy Pelosi, don’t expect an American Greetings ecard from Howard Dean in your email, don’t look for Dick Durbin to pick up the phone and call begging for forgiveness, or for Teddy Kennedy to ask you out for drinks…
After yesterdays high fives and back slaps, the mood at the New York Times was not so jolly today after about, oh, 10:06 AM, when GW talked about how he really feels about the latest national security leak reported in yesterday’s edition:”This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national security.
This was great…”Yes, You are a Winner” And, this picture pretty much sums up the week!Two-year old Mohammed wanted to have his fingers stained with ink just like his father, so the two went back to the electoral table at the central polling station in Copenhagen, Tuesday, December 13, 2005, to get the little proof of democracy.
NDTV VIDEO FROM DONGZHOU VILLAGE THE SCENE OF THE GOVERNMENT MASSACRE,HEREPolice killed dozens of protesters in the Chinese Village last week; checkpoints are set up on the perimeter of the town.A government office with a banner warning against breaking the law is seen near the power plant under construction at left that is believed to be at the heart of a dispute at Dongzhou village near Shanwei, Guangdong, southern China, Wednesday, Dec.
Poll Says Americans want to finish the job in Iraq and Iraqi Sunnis give insurgents another blow.Despite the big push by Congressional Democrats, the “Cut and Run” option is not the preferred choice of most Americans.
While Iraq made history on Thursday with successful strides towards democracy, its neighbor Iran made its own kind of history.
It’s been over one year since Osama Bin Laden has been heard from.Osama Bin Laden is seen gesturing during a videotaped statement broadcast on November 3, 2001.
That didn’t take long!After the very successful elections yesterday in Iraq, US General George Casey says he would make recommendations in the next few weeks about troop withdrawals from Iraq, and he expects the force level will drop back to 138,000 by early February.Speaking from Iraq, Gen.
PRESIDENT BUSH VISITS WITH IRAQI EXPATRIATE VOTERS,VIDEO HEREAs electoral workers opened each ballot box they said a quick prayer.President George W.
BUSH RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF EAVESDROPPING,VIDEO HEREIt is interesting how the New York Times would just happen to print leaked classified information today about about Bush lifting limits on phone taps after 9/11 during the vote on the Patriot Act.
Don King also plans to bring live boxing to Iraq for the troops.Boxing promoter Don King, center, smiles as undisputed welterweight champion Zab “Super” Judah, left, of Brooklyn, NY, faces down the No.
Provisions will end on December 31st.Senate Blocks Extension of Patriot ActThe Senate on Friday rejected attempts to reauthorize several provisions of the USA Patriot Act as infringing too much on Americans’ privacy, dealing a major defeat to President Bush and Republican leaders.
The vote was already held on House Resolution 612 early this afternoon so there will be no Friday Night Fights like last month!The Representatives were asked to vote on their commitment to achieving success in Iraq.
The Bush Administration agreed today to ban torture and is looking at other means to extract critical information from Islamic jihadists.After U.S.
As Iraqis return home from their historic vote, Democrats demand a plan!President Bush welcomed Iraqi voters to the White House today.President Bush, right, holds up the right voting finger of Zainab Kassem Mohammad, of Baghdad, during his meeting with Iraqi out-of-town voters, Thursday, Dec, 15, 2005 in Washington.
59% in January, 64% in October, 70-80% Turnout Expected Today in Iraq!A nation awakes from a long and very dark slumber.AZ AZUBAYR, IRAQ – DECEMBER 15: An extended family walks through a heavy morning fog to vote in parliamentary elections on December 15, 2005 in Az Azubayr, Iraq.
Senator Joseph “We’re doomed in Iraq” Biden joined the party today in Hillah.Sens.
One banner read, “Al-Jazeera are terrorists.” Iraqis demonstrate in the southern city of Basra to protest against what they claimed were defamatory comments about Shiite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani aired on Al-Jazeera television.
Sending holiday cheer via the web to our soldiers in the field.Jose Mondragon, sitting, and his wife Patricia, holding a photo of their son US Marine Cpl.
LOUISIANA GOVERNOR BLANCO TODAY SAYS “ADEQUATE FUNDING IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY”,VIDEO HERELouisiana is asking Congress for $250 Billion in federal aid!If you break that down say, for each person living in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina (484,169) that come out to $516,370 per person.
There was a breach in the upper reservoir to the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric plant in Southern Missouri early this morning.
Will Tom Delay’s attorneys have their own charges against Mr.
IRAQI FOREIGN NATIONALS SAY A NEW PARLIAMENT WILL BRING PEACE,VIDEO HEREIndependent Conservative has this:Iraqi Citizen Betty Dawisha voting from the US offered strong words for President Bush’s detractors after casting her vote.”Anybody who doesn’t appreciate what America has done and President Bush, let them go to hell!” Iraqis are selecting 275 members to Parliament this week.Ayad Saidi, an Iraqi citizen from Najaf expresses his support for the the U.S.
This story by Tony Snow is huge!via Michelle MalkinI didn’t know that in our country that this type of suppression of information took place!I hope Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) gets his way, here.
Iraqi officials are saying that the New York Times is trying to discredit the national elections this week.
Her limbs are frozen and she is not able to respond much, but given the right treatment the woman may be able to lead a normal life once again!After 63 days of being buried, a Kashmiri woman was found alive after surviving under her collapsed house.
TIME magazine has released its “Pictures of the Year” for 2005.(via Michelle Malkin)The Anchoress thought the selections looked predictably bleak and offered her own favorites.I concur, and offer up these…”The Hug”First Lady Laura Bush and Army Staff Sgt Norbert Lara, foreground left, injured in action, look on as William Norwood, whose 25-year-old son, Marine Sgt.
Call back the speechwriters!New data released today derails another Democratic talking point.Miserable Donuts brings miserable data to the quagmire bunch.(via the Washington Times):The Army has exceeded recruiting goals in the first two months of this fiscal year, reversing a trend that had some Iraq critics saying the armed services branch was “broken.” (Who might that be?
This was printed by the editor and chief of the independent Iraqi newspaper Alsabah Aljadeed or New Sabah.By ISMAEL ZAYER:I don’t know if Mr.
Freedom for Egyptians has this incredible posting on what life is like for a woman in Egypt.
Representative Murtha held a press conference in Philadelphia following the president’s speech today on the War on Terror:Rep.
Pajamas Media has a an excellent discussion raging tonight on,…
THOUSANDS OF IRAQIS HEAD TO THE POLLS TODAY, EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN,VIDEO HERE300,000 Iraqis voted today, 90,000 from hospitals, 20,000 from prisonsPresident Bush reminds the world that while the path toward Iraqi democracy has been somewhat rocky, so was the path to American democracy more than 200 years ago.An Iraqi patient shows his finger tainted with ink as mark for already casting his vote at the Central Yarmouk Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Dec.
AUSTRALIAN YOUTH IN DRUNKEN RACIAL RIOTS,VIDEO HEREMy thinking is that it was more of a “drunken” rather than “racial” riot.Anger spills over …
What’s a lousy 20 dead Chinese?Take the total number of Chinese killed by the Chinese Communist Party (Approximately 75 million), and divide it by the number of days that the CCP has been in power (20470), and you can see that, on December 6, 2005, the Chinese government would have had to kill another 3,643 just to maintain their daily average.And people say Beijing isn’t reforming!
“Representative Murtha, has urged Clinton to withdraw U.S.
The Pope warned Christians of the commercialization of Christmas today.It must have had something to do with this light and sound show…THE MOST AMAZING CHRISTMAS LIGHT & SOUND DISPLAY EVER,VIDEO HERE(click to page, let it download, press play)It makes you appreciate your neighbors even more!
Video from Dongzhou Village has made its way out of Communist China.An injured Dongzhou Village man with visible wounds on his side and feet recuperates from Tuesday’s carnage when government forces fired on land rights protesters.
Here is a terrific review of Surprise, Security and the American Experience that supports the Bush Doctrine with arguments that “preemption” is rooted in American history.Condoleezza Rice chimed in on the Bush Doctrine today with her article in the Washington Post:The Promise of Democratic PeaceWhy Promoting Freedom Is the Only Realistic Path to SecurityPresident Bush outlined the vision for it in his second inaugural address: “It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.” This is admittedly a bold course of action, but it is consistent with the proud tradition of American foreign policy, especially such recent presidents as Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan.
After slaughtering embittered land rights protesters in Dongzhou Village of Shanwei last Tuesday, Chinese officials released a report today claiming that the government is cracking down of corruption in the country as new protests hit Shanghai.A group of workers gather outside the Shanghai municipal government building to protest against corruption.
Hamas likes to begin class early.Palestinian youths march holding Islamic flags during a rally organized by the Islamic group Hamas calling for reform in the Palestinian Authority and an end to the arrest by the Palestinian government of Islamic militants in the West Bank town of Ramallah Friday Dec.
Iran’s Supreme Ruler, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, came out in support of President Ahmadinejad in his comments on relocation Israel to Europe:Iran’s supreme ruler came out in support of his maligned president on Saturday, who created an international storm by demanding Israel be moved to Europe and casting doubt on whether the Holocaust happened.
The situation at Dongzhou Town, Red Bay, in the city of Shanwei, Guangdong Province is rapidly deteriorating.
He was so good!His wife says he died with a smile on his face.God rest his soul.Roger Simon has a moving tribute to Richard Pryor at Pajamas Media.
** Rumsfeld shocks Jim Lehrer by firing back at the media!
“I’ve seen relatives of the people who were killed kneeling in front of the police asking them to return the bodies,” said a villager surnamed Wei.”But the police have refused to hand over the bodies.
