After Tense Days, Iraqi Political Crisis is Abating

IRAQI OPPOSITION PROTESTERS TOOK TO THE STREETS OF BAGHDAD TODAY BUT THEIR NUMBERS DWINDLED SINCE THE WEEKEND,VIDEO HERE As Mohammed at Iraq the Model was saying yesterday the political situation in Iraq seems have subsided in the last 48 hours.

The Amazing Tsunami Survivors, One Year Later

A year after the devastating Asian tsunami, the amazing survivors of the disaster that killed an estimated 230,000 people in southeast Asia are still struggling to put their lives back together.

After They Took His Oil Wells, China Jails Investor for Protesting

“As long as I am alive, I will not be resigned to being a slave.” Feng BingxianDuring his trial for organizing protests in China.December 26, 2005 “They accused my father and the other three defendants of ‘disrupting social order’, which is groundless, since we only gathered around 200 people to stand in front of the provincial government and ask them to negotiate.

Powell Defends Eavesdropping and Bush, Former Aide is Sad

COLIN POWELL HAD SPECIAL WORDS FOR THE TROOPS WHO ARE SERVING AWAY FROM HOME DURING THE HOLIDAYS,VIDEO HERE This is the second major interview in ten days where Colin Powell has defended the Bush Administration since he was attacked by a former aide.

Looking Heavenward at Christmas 2005

Antiphon for Monday Vespers in the 4th week of Advent: O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you.

Good News from South America

Russell Crandall was appointed Director for Western Hemisphere Initiatives, one of five advisors for the Western Hemisphere to the President and National Security Advisor.

Oh, Little Prison of Bethlehem

Despite Bethlehem’s largest Christmas celebration in years, Senior Roman Catholic Leader Michel Sabbah just sees a prison.Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah sprays water in front of the Nativity Church in the Biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Bush Job Approval at 50%, Expected to Rise

Despite constant attacks and the refusal to emphasize any of the terrific economic numbers and progress in the Mideast by the media, President Bush has bounced back to 50% approval in performance as president.

Dutch Court Claims Genocide on Kurds, Arms Dealer Convicted

Dutch arms merchant who sold Saddam chemicals is convicted of war crimes as a Hague Court claims Saddam waged genocide against the Kurds.Iraqi Kurds celebrate after hearing the verdict outside the Court in The Hague, the Netherlands Friday Dec.

At 0 & 15… Daily Kos Says "It's All About Winning"

In an interview with the Washington Monthly liberal blogger Daily Kos, Marcos Moulitsas, says “It’s all about winning” and shows no remorse for his outrageous comments in June 2003 about the murdered American contractors in Fallujah: I hate Washington,” says Markos Moulitsas Zuniga… When Moulitsas says Washington, he’s not talking about Bush’s Washington with its pitched partisan camps and pay-to-play ethos.

How Public Terrorist Trials have Hurt America

Prairie Pundit has the distressing story on how Bin Laden gained knowledge that we were listening in on his cell phone conversations in 1998 and what it was that tipped him off to it.

Tony Blair Praises Iraqi Troops in Surprise Visit

TONY BLAIR MADE A SURPRISE CHRISTMAS VISIT TO SOUTHERN IRAQ TO PRAISE BRITISH TROOPS,VIDEO HERE British troops were happy to see Leader Tony Blair.British Prime Minister Tony Blair (C) poses with British troops based in Basra, Iraq December 22, 2005.

Legality of NSA Electronic Surveillance Program

John Hinderaker at Powerline discusses the NSA matter today including this point: If our soldiers or intelligence agencies discover a terrorist in Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere, the President or his designees can order an air strike or other attack to kill him.

White House Wakes Up from Slumber

The White House Wakes Up David White, a former speechwriter for the Bush Administration, wrote on Wednesday in the New York Sun and American Enterprise Institute on how the Bush team has FINALLY come out of hibernation and how the democrats have gone back into their anti-war fantasyland of a strong defense by one thousand options.

Arnold "Terminates" Ties with Town, Mayor Comes Begging

After Crips Co-founder Tookie Williams was put to death last week, activists in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hometown of Graz, Austria started a petition to remove Arnold’s name from the city stadium.

The President's Legal Wiretapping

Not to bust a big liberal bubble or anything, but John Schmidt at the Chicago Tribune explained how President Bush had legal authority to wiretap: President Bush’s post- Sept.

The Gang's All Here (and a few gunshots!) as Tookie is Laid to Rest

CRIPS CO-FOUNDER TOOKIE WILLIAMS WAS LAID TO REST TODAY,VIDEO HERE The Tookie Legacy: In 2004 alone, in the City of Los Angeles alone, gang-related crimes accounted for 291 homicides, 717 attempted homicides, 2616 felony assaults, 61 attacks on police officers, 2308 robberies, 44 kidnappings, 36 rapes, 754 acts of witness intimidation, 20 acts of extortion, and 188 carjackings.

Vicente Fox Slams US, Likens Proposed Barrier to Berlin Wall

BILL OREILLY GOES OFF ON VICENTE FOX, MEXICO AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS,VIDEO HERE “There was a lot of criticism about the Berlin Wall, and the wall that Israel is building along its border with Palestine, and now it´s happening here…” …Except that the Berlin Wall kept people in instead of out.Three layers of fences separate the U.S.

Dems Say They Didn't Approve Wiretaps, Pictures Tell Different Story!

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.

The "Moderate" Iranian Ayatollah Speaks Out on Israel

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.

Monkeys in the Mideast

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.

Good News for Crack Dealers, Morales Elected in Bolivia

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.

Charting the Iraq War

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.

World Moonbats, Unite!

John Hawkins at Right Wing Pundits has released a list of the most striking comments from the “Democratic Underground” from the last year.

Bush Blitzes Beltway, Cheney Cabals in Kabul

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).

After Only 1,000 Days, Bush Takes Credit for Iraq

“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction… Saddam may well hide his most lethal weapons in mosques, schools and hospitals.

The Left's Disgusting View of Freedom & Blue Fingers!

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 Says West Needs to be More Tolerant

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.

Despite Setbacks, Lebanon Continues on Message

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.

White House Never Told of WMD Doubts, But Bush Lied!

“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… even though news came out today that the Administration never knew of any doubts on WMD information given to them before the war.

Will the Gray Lady Leakers Get Frog Marched to the Hoosegow?

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.

George Bush Gains Fans in Unexpected Places

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.

New Video Makes its Way Out of Dongzhou Village

NDTV VIDEO FROM DONGZHOU VILLAGE THE SCENE OF THE GOVERNMENT MASSACRE,HERE Police 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.

A Full Year of Osama Silence

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.