No Hope Here

From Jim Kouri at The Reality Check, via Free Republic: [...] As Americans remember the horror of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington almost four years ago, the US borders are practically as porous as ever. According to testimony given to the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee by General Peter Pace, the Vice Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hamas has joined Hezbullah and Al-Qaida in the Triple Frontier Zone in Latin America where the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay converge. There the Islamic terror groups train recruits, gather intelligence on targets, launder money and sell drugs. There is evidence that these terrorists and narco-terrorists will soon migrate north into the United States. He cited terrorism reports indicating terrorist groups are active in Canada and Central-South America. [...] We are in danger. Not only terrorist organizations, but drug-related organizations are also becoming more active: [...] Border Patrol agents began to voice what many believed were legitimate concerns about "armed incursions" into the United States from Mexico-based assailants. They reported that heavily armed Mexican army units and federal police, called federales, had infiltrated US territory and fired upon them[,] I would hesitate to believe that Mexican army and police personnel are acting in any official capacity in this regards. More likely it's los Zetas, with maybe some off-duty police and federales joining in on their own time, so to speak. I wrote previously about los Zetas here. Andi at Andi's World also talks about los Zetas, but she only hints that they may have turned. Returning to the original Reality Check article, it also says that: [...] If these killers aren't afraid to target or kill cops, then who in America is really safe from terrorists, murderers, rapists and other offenders; and anyone wishing to address the problem is labeled a racist or xenophobe. Americans can probably count on one hand the number of congressional leaders who will even debate the issues of illegal immigration or border security. What sense does it make to inspect shipping containers in New York seaports while ignoring the vulnerabilities existing on our borders? (Emphasis mine) Obviously, perfection is not attainable. The fact that borders are still porous DOES NOT mean that we should do nothing about alternative avenues of entry. All seaports should be monitored. AND borders should be closed. Update: From MSNBC via unpartisan.com comes this article about the Minuteman Project, and plans to scale up the operation. [...] Headlines from the Arizona event gave the group momentum, and turned what some first believed to be nothing more than a publicity stunt into a national movement. The group has since hired lawyers, reorganized into separate corporations, filed to legally protect the name “Minuteman Project,” hired a Washington-based media consultant and started an aggressive fund raising campaign. And, representatives of the group, have been to Washington to lobby Congress and relate the lessons learned from their time on the border. [...] If our government won't do anything, then we as private citizens must. Tagged as United States, Mexico, Immigration, Illegal Immigration, Illegal Aliens, Border, Border Control, Closed Border, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Hamas, Hezbullah, Al-Qaida, Al-Qaeda, Canada, los Zetas, Islam, Muslim, Minuteman, Minuteman Project

You CAN Go Home Again, Stay There This Time

From the AP via Newsday: MEXICO CITY -- Ninety-four deported migrants arrived in Mexico's capital Friday on the first flight of a renewed U.S. repatriation program aimed at discouraging repeated border-crossers in desert areas during the hot summer months. Some of those deported said they would try to cross again, while others said their border crossing days were over. The twice-daily flights are expected to bring thousands of Mexicans caught crossing illegally in the Arizona desert back to their hometowns. [...] So, 14,000 deportations last year, expected to be up to 33,900 this year. And these are the ones that we fly direct to Mexico City, instead of just dumping right across the border. Why make their next attempt easier? Let's do the math... 300,000 enter illegally, 33,900 go back at a cost of $14.2 million, or about $420 each. Looks like at a cost of $126 Million we can stay even. Sounds like a good deal to me. And if we do the sensible thing and close the borders, we can apply that same amount to those illegals ALREADY here, and in a few decades the problem will disappear. My 300,000 estimate mught be a little low, according to this article: [...] No one can say for certain how many illegal immigrants live in the United States. The INS put the number at 7 million in 2000, with an annual increase of 350,000. The U.S. Census Bureau put the number at between 7.7 million and 8.8 million in 2000, and the Center for Immigration Studies calculates an annual increase of 500,000. Based on those estimates, the number now could be 8 million to 10 million. Other estimates put the number at 11 million or more.[...] From the same report comes the reason I judged the $126 Million ($210 Million, if you use the high figure of 500,000 illegals per year): [...] Another study in 2002 estimated that hospitals near the U.S.-Mexican border spent $190 million a year treating illegal immigrants, about 25 percent of their total cost for uncompensated care. In November, as an amendment to the Medicare prescription drug bill, Congress set aside $1 billion to help hospitals that treat large numbers of illegal immigrants. Hospitals in every state are eligible for money, but the funding formula favors hospitals in California, Texas and other border states. [...] This report cited only medical care, and does not address the additional burden on other social services. This ain't rocket science, folks. Tagged as United States, Mexico, Immigration, Illegal Immigration, Illegal Aliens, Border, Border Control, Closed Border

Service

The true meaning of service... revealed! Thanks to Nashville Truth for pointing me to this Blog. Tagged as Humor

Deep Impact - And Missle Defense

It seems to me that if we can successfully hit a comet 83 million miles away, then earth-bound anti-missle defense should be a piece of cake. NASA Announces Spectacular Day of the Comet After a voyage of 173 days and 431 million kilometers (268 million miles), NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft will get up-close and personal with comet Tempel 1 on July 4 (EDT). The first of its kind, hyper-speed impact between space-borne iceberg and copper-fortified probe is scheduled for approximately 1:52 a.m. EDT on Independence Day (10:52 p.m. PDT on July 3). The potentially spectacular collision will be observed by the Deep Impact spacecraft, and ground and space-based observatories. Remember the spectacular pictures from the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacting on Jupiter? We are primed to capture some from this fly by shooting, too, if anything is visible. The Deep Impact mission is designed to offer a look under the surface of a comet, where material from the solar system's formation remains relatively unchanged. Astronomers do not know what kind of impact they will see when the impactor hits: the crater produced on the comet could range in size from a large house to the size of a football stadium. Either way, it will not appreciably change the comet's path. The crash is expected to eject a spray of ice and dust from the comet's surface and reveal the material beneath it on this Manhattan-sized space rock. At that point, the Deep Impact craft will have about 13 minutes to capture images and data before it weathers what astronomers expect will be a blizzard of particles thrown out of the nucleus of the comet. There are cameras aboard the impactor and the main craft, and the crash will also be observed by the Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra space telescopes in addition to telescopes on Earth. Thanks to Free Republic for the heads up Tagged as NASA, Space, Deep Impact, Comet, Tempel 1, Anti-Missle Defense, Science, Technology, Hubble, Spitzer, Chandra

Shameless

I have posted a number of times with the contention that the mainstream media create the public agenda for this country, and included the assertion that, in the majority of cases, their normal agenda is to advance an anti-American stance. Usually I am reduced to a simplistic statement, such as the recent: THOSE BASTARDS! Today I found (via Instapundit) a good atricle by Heather Mac Donald at National Review Online detailing how the NPR, Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek, et al., utilize their own erroneous reporting and headlines of Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, etc., to support their continuing anti-American, anti-military agenda. She characterizes their non-acknowledgement that their own erroneous past reporting is used as supporting data in their current reporting as 'false modesty'. This is a must-read article. I would again be reduced to name calling. The average American, Joe Six-pack as he's been called, would have to agree with the truthfullness of the current MSM anti-American reporting simply because the supporting evidence supplied by the MSM is ALL that he has heard previously. Sounds true to him. The American conversation is largely controlled by the MSM, and this MUST be countered. Tagged as New York Times, NY Times, Military, NPR, Washington Post, Newsweek, Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, Mainstream Media, MSM, anti-American

The Threshing Floor

Dr. D at the Daily Demarche has initiated a challenge to bloggers from the left and right to pair up and debate ideas. The first pairing has begun. Get over to Dr. D's place and get up to speed, then check out the combatants: Marc Schulman at the American Future and Eric Martin at Total Information Awareness. Up for debate now: - In what circumstances should the US attempt to spread democracy? -What means should the US employ in attempting to spread democracy? -While attempting to spread democracy, what are the constraints that the US should abide by? I haven't had time to really read these postings closely, but a quick scan indicates that good arguments are presented by both, and for the most part the comments are constructive. The American conversation at present is sadly lacking in good reasoned debate... no, that's not accurate... good reasoned debate is overwhelmed by the amount of trash being written. Separating the grain from the chaff is time consuming, and many people don't care to or want to take the time necessary to extract the goodness. Dr. D has done the threshing, and presented us with the grain. Eat hearty! Tagged as Politics, Culture, Democracy

Time's a Wastin'

[...] In December, Bush signed a bill providing for the 10,000 border agents. But his proposed 2006 budget unveiled in February funds only 210. An estimated 11 million immigrants are in the United States illegally. Samantha Levine and Julie Mason at the Houston Chronicle discuss illegal immigration. Read it. Thanks to Free Republic for the link. Tagged as United States, Mexico, Texas, Immigration, Illegal Immigration, Borders, Closed Borders, George W. Bush, Tom DeLay, John Cornyn

Republicans Are From Mars

Looking for a new tagline? Might I suggest this: Republicans Are From Mars, Democrats Are From Uranus Shamelessly ripped from The Nose On Your Face, #4 in a list of suggested titles for an Ann Coulter book. Thanks, Buckley! Tagged as Humor, Satire, Politics, Republican, Democrat, Ann Coulter

The American Conversation - Driven

The Washington Post poll showing a decline in President Bush's numbers is the talk of the town, so to speak. Just one more example of how the MSM sets the agenda for the American conversation. Ankle Biting Pundits has a breakdown: [...] However, look at the MSM today. This poll is driving the news, and unfortunately the politicians (especially in the GOP) listen to them. Pretty much all of GOP Senators in the "Gang of 14" who brokered the filibuster deal cited recent polls about Congressional approval ratings in making the deal, saying "Polls show the American people want us to get to work on other more important things". That's why we feel the need to go after these polls whenever they come out. [...] Go read it. John Hinderaker at Power Line also weighed in: [...] Having said that, it shouldn't be a surprise that lots of people (whatever the right number may be) don't think the Iraq war is worth the cost. Why would they? Anyone who relies on the newspapers believes that 1) we went to war only because of Saddam's WMDs, and 2) there weren't any WMDs. Further, the casual news consumer never hears about Iraq except when there is an explosion. There was an increase in support for the war following the elections in January, but that was the last time most people heard any good news. [...] Glenn says not to worry, kinda, but I do anyway. If these numbers are misleading, as the poll is diagnosed by Gerry Daly of Daly Thoughts, that does not change the fact stated in the two excerpts above that the American public AND politicians are listening to them, and forming incorrect opinions. Tagged as Mainstream Media, MSM, Washington Post, AP, Associated Press

For Ecstacy- A Goat

Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit has a note on the juxtaposition of Lebanese protest babes with Norwegian protest goats. He says, to paraphrase... Whatever floats your boat. However, it brought to my mind this piece from Uncle Jimbo: For Children- A Woman For Pleasure- A Boy For Ecstacy- A Goat" Had Glenn commented on this, I'm fairly certain he'd have said 'Heh'. Follow the links. 'Nuff said. Tagged as Lebanon, Norway, Babes, Goats, Sexual Practices

It's About Time... or Maybe Too Late

NATO will begin airlifting African Union troops into Sudan's Darfur region for ovservational purposes (Information here, and here). Some of the NATO airlift assests may belong to the United States. It's about time something happens there. Personally, I'd like to see some U.S. Special Forces people there on the ground to 'assure security of U.S. and NATO assets'. And hopefully not a blue helmet in sight. Tagged as United States, Sudan, Darfur, NATO, African Union

Dancing With The Devil

[...] The time has come for justice at the ballot box, and justice in the courts, and justice in the legislative halls, and justice in the governor’s office. But there will be no justice, there will be no government of the people, by the people, and for the people, as long as the government and its officials permit bribery in any form. This includes campaign contributions, which is just another name for political bribes, as these bribes have transformed our government from a democracy which empowers ordinary people into an aristocracy, which has enthroned the rich and well-born. The rich and the well-born, according to the Federalist Papers, was greatly feared by the founders. The rich and the well-born have learned how to dance with the dirty dancers. These dirty dancers have created in Washington, DC and in every capitol city in America, a government of the money, by the money and for the money, and this circumstance will soon deprive us all of the blessings of liberty [...] John J. Hooker, extrapolating from the FBI sting codenamed Tennessee Waltz Speaking of dirty dancers, can you say McCain-Feingold?. Tagged as Politics, Tennessee, Tennessee Waltz, FBI, Campaign Finance Reform

The Other Side Of The Coin

I have been ranting in no uncertain terms about segments of the media (OK, I said 'most', or the 'majority') who have printed and broadcast stories that, given my perception of their bias and story choice, I have characterized as anti-American, and as enemies of America. In all fairness, I must say that not all in the mainstream media fit my definitions of anti-American. Tim at Sysphean Musings rises in defense of some of the media, and I have to agree with him. (Disclaimer: I have met Tim personally at BlogNashville, and conversed with him about just this subject via email, and I like him and respect his opinions.) Specifically, he notes Hiawatha Bray at his Choose Honor blog (and with a name like Hiawatha, how can he possibly be bad!). Go read his postings, you'll see what I mean. Tim also references Erik Sass on the Overseas Press Club of America about instances of detention and mistreatment of foreign (i.e. non-U.S.) reporters and stringers by Iraqi and U.S. forces in Iraq. Erik says: [..] Since the April 5 th shooting and detention of Abdel Amir Hussein, the U.S. army has detained just one other journalist, Ammar Daham Naef Khalaf, a reporter for Agence France-Presse; the bulk of intimidation and detention, as noted, has been the work of the newly constituted Iraqi interim government. Iraqi soldiers have detained three journalists, Iraqi police two, and the mayor of the southern town of Kawit ordered two more arrested and jailed for “libel” – signaling, it seems, the re-introduction to Iraq of this long-favored legal tactic for silencing journalists. Of the seven journalists detained by Iraqi police and soldiers, two were tortured and beaten, and Iraqi police tried to extort $10,000 from the family of a third. No one outside the Iraqi or U.S. military knows the definite whereabouts of any of these men, except for Abdel Amir Hussein and Sami Shouker Naji, who are both supposedly being held at Abu Ghraib prison.[...] Now, I absolutely do not believe that Coalition forces are 'targeting' the press (i.e. Linda Foley and Eason Jordan), but I would not discard out of hand allegations that there might be instances of improper treatment and/or detention. Each and every case should be investigated (tranparently!!) and results reported. Tagged as Global War on Terror, GWoT, War for Survival, Iraq, United States, MSM, Mainstream Media, Freedom of the Press

The Enemy Within

Wretchard at Belmont Club says it like no other. Robert Mandel believes. Gateway Pundit weighs in. Matthew at Fresh Tasty Ideas is right in there, from Berkeley, no less. The Discerning Texan, too, and linking to Rick Moran's post at the American Thinker, where he says: [...] Our national conversation about the War on Terror is proceeding in a manner very much as our enemies wish. They have seized the psychological initiative by playing our national news organs like a Wurlitzer. Admittedly, the military has helped al Qaeda out enormously, not only by the occasional breakdown in discipline which has led to isolated but significant incidents of torture, but by the natural tendency of the military command authorities to not give the enemy a propaganda weapon to use against us. This has resulted in the appearance of cover-up, if not in the intent then certainly in the result of torture allegations. [...] Kevin at Strategy Revolutions has some comments, and a reprint of a Col. Oliver North dispatch from Fallujah, Al-Anbar Province, Iraq. Many, many more examples are available. Notice that all of these cites are not from Mainstream Media! Those are few and far between. Based on my favorite simplistic theory that 'If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck...', the majority of the Mainstream Media are behaving exactly like the enemy, al Qaeda. The only difference is that the choice of weapons are words, instead of AK-47s and IEDs. I'm sure that each individual does not feel like they are an enemy to America, but when they open their mouths... QUACK! Back to Wretchard, drawing parallels between current war-fighting philosophies and those of yesteryear via Rudyard Kipling's The Grave of the Hundred Dead: [...] There'll be some who say that toppling Saddam was meant to be an object lesson to the Arab world. If so, it has sent mixed messages because it was never prosecuted with the kind of frightening brutality that some have advocated. The image of the US after OIF is one of a giant afraid to hurt or even give offense to its enemies. Even in the battles of the First and Second Fallujah there were always extraordinary efforts to preserve mosques and similar places, probably to the glee and wonderment of the enemy. If the Kevin Sites incident and the subsequent investigation proved anything it was that the Marines were no Shikaris. [...] Actually, the Marines ARE akin to the Shikaris of the poem, but they have been unfairly restrained by our politicians, who seem to live in fear of the enemy within. Concerning the enemy without, our military forces are trained and expected to fight for our causes with perserverance, honor, and bravery, and they perform admirably. But now they are asked to fight a 'kinder, gentler' war. Rather, the enemy, looking in our direction, should see 'A thousand points of light' emanating from 'A shining city on a hill', and each point of light should be a muzzle flash. Although too late to employ in the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaigns of the Global War on Terror, upcoming campaigns should be guided by a different philosophy, ably stated by W.S.... 'Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;' To defeat the enemy without, we must defeat the enemy within. They must be defeated using their weapons of choice; words, courts, and public opinion. The enemy within must be confronted at every turn, and given no rest or quarter. Tagged as Global War on Terror, GWoT, War for Survival, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, al Qaeda, Terrorist, Terrorism, MSM, Mainstream Media, Military, U.S. Marines, Rudyard Kipling

The REAL!!! Thing

[...] So, I'm standing there with my bottle of water when I look out in the hall and there sits an unmolested water fountain with ten pansy-asses drinking Evian around it. And it just struck me. I stared at my bottle like Mickey Rourke at those dog tags in Angel Heart and came to a similar dark and ugly realization about myself; I'm becoming an L.A. pansy-ass. I put the water back and grabbed a Coke. Not that Diet Coke with the twist o' lime either. Coke. Real Coke. My Manhood. Oh, and if you ever catch me carrying one of those briefcase purses. You know, the briefcase men carry around their necks like a purse -- kill me. You won't get in any trouble. I've already signed the release. Kill me, take the release from my pansy-ass purse, and no jury will convict. [...] Posted by Dirty Harry at Jackson's Junction. I've yet to slip that far to the PA Side, Coke has always been the REAL thing for me. :) Tagged as Miscellaneous, Humor, Biting Social Commentary

Becoming an American

From Fjordman: [...] Being brutally candid means recognizing that the huge and largely uncontrolled inflow of unskilled Latino workers into the United States is increasingly sabotaging the assimilation process. [...] Control the flow so that those that choose to immigrate can become Americans, and that those who choose not to become Americans are barred. Yes, yes, I know that Mexico is part of America, and technically Mexicans are Americans, too, but for purposes of this argument Americans means citizens of the United States, and Mexican means citizen of Mexico. Read this article by Robert Mandel, a high school teacher. Then consider this question from Fjordman: Will immigration continue to foster national pride and strength or will it cause more and more weakness and anger? Tagged as United States, Mexico, Immigrant, Illegal Immigration, Border, Closed Borders, Latino

OK, Close GITMO, Then...

All the complaining recently about the terrorists detained at Gitmo, and the manner in which they are being treated, and their future disposition, can be solved easily. Acquiesce to the demands to close Gitmo. So, we have 500 plus terrorist there. What to do with them? Simple. Line 'em up, give each a shovel, and make 'em dig a body-sized hole. In front of this assemblage, and during the digging, stand Abu Farraj al-Libbi. With interpretors and plenty of note-takers. Note-takers will preferably be moonlighting journalists from Newsweek, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Events should be filmed by Amnesty International from close up. Instruct digging to begin. Ask al-Libbi a question. Record the answer. Ask all 500 plus terrorists about the truthfulness of al-Libbi's answers. If any ONE terrorist says that al-Libbi is lying, shoot another one of the terrorists. Dump body in hole. Ask al-Libbi a question, record the answer, etc. Rinse and repeat until either we have all the information al-Libbi has, or all of the terrorists are dead. During questioning, insert test questions that we know the answer to, that al-Libbi would be likely to lie about, and if the others agree that it is the truth, go ahead and shoot 'em all. End of problem. "But... but... but... we CAN'T do that!", you say. Sure we can. Show me where they are covered as prisoners of war in the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (another reference here). They are illegal combatants, and we can do with them as we choose. If you're squeamish about it, I'll volunteer to pull the trigger. This is war, not a game. Tagged as Global War on Terror, GWoT, War for Survival, Gitmo, Guantanamo Bay, United States, Terrorists, Geneva Convention, Newsweek, New York Times, Washington Post, Amnesty International

This Just Ain't Right!

Dick Waterman Photography has a post about retired sports greats, and their struggle to survive comfortably during their waning years. He references Basketball Hall of Famer George Mikan and Football Hall of Famer Marion Motley. [...] He [Motley] was telling the interviewer that football players who had ended their careers before a certain year were not included in the league’s pension plan which had recently been enriched greatly through different networks actively bidding for games. Most of the players were had carried the sport through the 1940s and 1950s and into the television era were physical wrecks with permanently damaged knees and shoulders. They wanted some medical coverage for their injuries and a pension to help them in their final years.[...] Ya know, if I was a present day sports figure, I'd probably be of the attitude that I didn't owe them too much in a monetary sort of way, either. [...]Shaquille O’Neal makes about $30 million a year playing for the Miami Heat and probably adds at least that much through product endorsements. When he heard that Mikan had died virtually penniless, O’Neal offered to pay for funeral expenses. He said that he had met Mikan a few times and “He seemed like a nice guy.”[...] Great gesture, Shaq! Way to go, guy! No, I'm serious here... I think that what Shaq did was good. However, I think that goodness is relative. And I don't want to pick on Shaq personally. [...] I remembered the greatness of Marion Motley and how demeaning it must have been for him to beg for crumbs that might fall off the plate. I also remember that they [the football league] listened to his request and then refused to include the early players in the pension plan. And that ain't right! (and thanks again to B.L. Ochman at What's Next? for the link) Tagged as Basketball, Basketball Hall of Fame, Football, Football Hall of Fame, Marion Motley, George Mikan, NFL, NBA, Pension

Psychology of Weblogs

From Dyske Suematsu at DYSKE comes a white paper titled Psychology of Weblogs. [...] By the same token, in most weblogs, the creator is the "audience" of his own content. Well written, good observations, and some fine points covered in the comments section. I'd recommend it. Go gaze into the mirror and see for yourself. Thanks to B.L. Ochman (or is it B.B.?) at What's Next? blog for the link, AND for pointing me to her source, Dick Waterman Photography, which leads me right into my next post. Tagged as Miscellaneous, Weblog, Blog, Blogging

Shame, Shame, Shame

I have a major decision to make. I just read this article written by Joseph L. Galloway for Knight-Ridder Newspapers. Here's an excerpt to illustrate the tone (bolds mine) [...] President Bush echoed his No. 2's conclusions the next day, declaring that the upsurge in violence in Iraq is evidence that the insurgency is on its last legs. We haven't heard the like since July 3, 2003, when the president told those misguided souls who thought they saw an opportunity to kill Americans in Iraq: "Bring 'em on!" Since the last good news in Iraq, the Jan. 30 elections, and a resulting but brief pause in the pace of attacks on Americans and Iraqis, more than 700 Iraqis have been slaughtered in a wave of terrorist bombings and attacks that are increasing in sophistication and viciousness. The death toll among American troops in Iraq is 1,665 and rising. Rising while the president is "staying the course" and Dick Cheney still believes that Saddam Hussein was in cahoots with bin Laden, on the verge of building a nuclear weapon and preparing to unleash clouds of chemical and biological agents on the world in general and Americans in particular. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld marches stubbornly on with his crackpot ideas about how to transform the military so it's lighter, faster and more agile. So far, he's succeeding only in breaking the Army and the Marine Corps.[...] Giving this article some thought, I have to reach the conclusion that Mr. Galloway is ignorant and misinformed of the facts, or that he has been in seclusion for the past year, or that he's a lying bastard with an axe to grind. I choose... LYING BASTARD Unless he considers the Iraqi elections as the only criteria for good, he's incorrect. Much good news has come out of Iraq since then. True, terrorist bombings decreased, and have spiked again this past month, and true, many of our finest (and many, many Iraqis) have given their lives. President Bush is 'staying the course'. Does Dick Cheney believe that Saddam Hussein was in cahoots with bin Laden, or has he indicated that belief? Nope. Nuclear/Chemical weapons? According to every major intelligence agency at the time, he was. We know differently now, but you don't judge performance then on information now. At least a sensible person doesn't. Rumsfeld's ideas are his alone, and crackpot, and have broken both the Army and the Marines? Sorry, you can add IDIOT to my assessment above. Knight-Ridder Newspapers syndication is carried in a LOT of small to mid-sized papers, and will be read by a LOT of normal, patriotic Americans who, by choice or by lot, will have no other access to the truth. For injecting these lies and half-truths into the American conversation... SHAME on them! Tagged as United States, Iraq, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Lying Bastard!

Zarqawi Dead - Again? Still? Maybe?

Note: I've updated this so many times, I'll be posting the update info at the top. How long? As many times as Zarqawi dies, and I hope each death is long and painful! Update: (06/06/05 7:45 PM CDT) China Daily is reporting that Zarqawi had been wounded, fate unknown. BAGHDAD, Iraq - The interior minister said Thursday his office believes insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was wounded, while an Internet statement claimed that Iraq's most feared terrorist group had appointed a deputy to fill in for the Jordanian. [...] The latest statements concerning al-Zarqawi follow recent rumors and claims he had been wounded, possibly by a bullet in the lung, or perhaps even had died. Interior Minister Bayan Jabr told reporters he has information that al-Zarqawi was, indeed, wounded, but that he wasn't sure how seriously. "We are not sure whether he is dead or not, but we are sure that he is injured," Jabr said. [...] China Daily also discusses many of the rumors over the status of Zarqawi in this article dated 5/26/05. (Thanks to Free Republic for the link) Update: (06/03/05 10:18PM CDT) Adnkrons International is reporting: IRAQ: FALLUJAH SHEIKH SAYS AL-ZARQAWI DIED ON FRIDAY Baghdad, 2 June (AKI) - The Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq - died on Friday and his body is in Fallujah's cemetary, an Iraqi Sunni sheikh, Ammar Abdel Rahim Nasir, has told the Saudi on-line newspaper Al-Medina. He claims that gunfights which broke out in Fallujah in the last few days involved militants trying to protect the insurgency leader's tomb from a group of American soldiers patrolling the area. During a telephone conversation from the city of Fallujah with the Saudi newspaper, Nasir said al-Zarqawi was taken there after being injured in the city of Ramadi around three weeks ago, and may have been treated by two doctors who had worked with his aides in Baghdad. He said the two doctors had stopped a serious haemorrhage in al-Zarqawi's intestines, but that after his condition worsened last week, the militant died on Friday. I'm assuming they were referring to last Friday, May 27, but today would be just fine. Read the whole thing. (Thanks to Free Republic for the link) End update Hammorabi is reporting that: The Jordanian thug Fadhel Nazal Al-Khalayla (Zarqawi) 38 years has died. He received treatment from Arab doctors who were not very experts and lacking intensive care equipments which he needed for his puncture in the right lung. His wounds infection gets resistance to the antibiotics. He had what is called septicemia which is according to doctors an infection of the blood resulted from infected wound. Zarqawi's systems started to fail including his kidney and liver. He died and now in the hands of the Keepers of the Hell in its worst level. His family in Jordan preparing and expected to do Fataha (funeral for him soon). He also reports that others are denying this: A site related to Zarqawi group just stated that Abo-Musab Zarqawi is well and he is following the news of the (terrorists) attacks in Iraq. He promises updates as information becomes available. I'm wondering if we can arrange to have an official presence at the funeral, say a batallionor ten of our finest US Marines, to see that the solemn occasion is observed properly. This would be a proper Memorial Day gift. Update: (5/28/05 11:50PM CDT) Discussion here of possible accuracy of Zarqawi stories. No definitive confirmation yet. (Thanks to Free Republic for the link.) Update: (5/31/05 9:25PM CDT) Hammorabi is now reporting that Zarqawi may be still alive, and taken to Iran via Syria. The fate of the mass murderer terrorist Abomusab Zarqawi after his injury in Al-Qaim is not yet known. Iran quickly denied news report by the Sun which is a UK newspaper that Zarqawi has been transferred for treatment to Iran. Most likely he was transferred to Syria which again denied it but Syria denied before the existence of Saddam half brother and after pressure it gave up and handed him to the US forces in Iraq. Update: (06/01/05 3:45 PM CDT) Mehr News is reporting: Al-Zarqawi received treatment in Amman hospital: Arab Times TEHRAN, June 1 (MNA) - Al-Qaeda terrorist leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has received treatment at a hospital in the Jordanian capital Amman amid tight security by Jordanian intelligence forces and under the supervision of the Jordanian King Abdullah II, the U.S.-based daily Arab Times reported on Wednesday. There are reliable news in Jordan that al-Zarqawi was transferred to the Al-Hussein clinic in Oman where he received treatment in a section guarded by security forces, the Arabic-language daily claimed. The news comes after reports previously claimed that al-Zarqawi was receiving medical treatment in Iran. Wonder why Jordanian treatment is being reported out of Iran? Curiouser and curiouser. Tagged as al Zarqawi, Zarqawi, US Marines, Jordan, Iraq, Memorial Day, Syria, Iran

War On The Home Front

(Note: Updates below) In case anyone was wondering, or even if they are not, I'm going to set something straight here. I don't give a rat's ass about the Koran. It is a book that has absolutely no meaning for me. I have never read it, nor do I intend to read it. I place it in the same category as L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics, another book I've not read, and don't intend reading. (I DID enjoy Battlefield Earth, though.) What DOES have meaning for me is the fact that certain organizations are playing these events for all they can get out of them, forcing us to divert attention and resources to them that can better be used elsewhere... like killing the enemy. How can that misdirected attention be better used? Direct it against those individuals and organizations that insist on bringing it to the public attention in such a manner. The current administration has decided, and rightly so, that the detainees at Gitmo are not eligible to be included in the Geneva Conventions of whenever... the ones we signed. If a judge rules in any manner that forces diversion of resources to fight that ruling, that judge should be immediately impeached. If the ACLU (or any other organization) files a frivilous suit requiring diversion of resources, etc., then countersuits, both civil and criminal, should be immediately filed against the ACLU, charging the ACLU and the individual attorneys appropriately. The enemy uses propaganda well. When an organization or individual aids and abetts that disemmination of propaganda, they should be charged... immediately. You know who they are. This is an effing WAR, not a game! Who is the enemy? Islamofascists, or radical Islam, is usually considered that. There is some interesting discussion going on over at Gates of Vienna about whether ALL Islam is in reality the enemy, or not. Go read the posts and comments, draw your own conclusions. However, they are not ALL of the enemy. Many in our very midst are acting as an enemy to the United States. Holding views contrary to government policy does NOT make them enemies. Criticizing gevernment policies does NOT make them enemies. Contributing to our external enemies through financial support, personal services, or the disemmination of propaganda favorable to them DOES make them our enemies. Read the discussion of the latest Koran report from Gitmo by Brig. Gen. Jay Hood, and the enemy actions that it has spawned, at Austin Bay's Blog, The Pink Flamingo Bar and Grill, Michelle Malkin, Captain's Quarters, and BlackFive. Let me repeat: This is an effing WAR, not a game! This may not be so much a Global War on Terror as a War for Survival. Once that survival is assured, THEN we can address whether or not Gitmo detainees should be treated differently. Update: (06/06/05 12:02 AM CDT) Excellent, must read column on Tech Central Station by Frederick Turner about the complicity of the New York Times in treasonous activities in this article by Scott Shane, Stephen Grey and Margot Williams. Update: (06/06/05 4:09 PM CDT) The New York Times is at it again, or still, or are they? From the Word Unheard: The New York Times has done it again, making non-public government documents public. Or has it[?] [...]Again, why must the New York Times and other media outlets be so predisposed to write on ‘confidential’ or ‘secret’ or otherwise classified information? In this instance, is it possible that the report is not really classified ‘confidential’ at all? [...] [...] If the report is so sensitive as to be classified ‘confidential’ by DHS, why is their spokesman sharing such words with the New York Times rather than bringing charges up against them? DHS may have leaked the report from the top themselves. If this is the case, it means the report has no business being classified as ‘confidential’ to begin with. This is also an abuse of security. This practice cheapens the classification system and fosters disregard for it. If the document warrants the ‘confidential’ label, then those who leaked it to the New York Times should be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. From the other end, the New York Times should exercise better judgment and refrain from publishing classified materials. If this blog were to do the same, surely there would be hell to pay. The New York Times has a far broader readership. Hmmm... read the whole thing. Tagged as United States, Guantanamo Bay, Gitmo, BG Jay Hood, War, Military, Global War on Terror, ACLU, Judges, L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics, Battlefield Earth, Propaganda, Koran, Islam, Islamofascist, Muslim, New York Times, CIA, Treason

More War On The Home Front

As goals are acheived in the Global War on Terror, or the War for Survival, the progression has been first Afghanistan, then Iraq. The question has been who/where will be next in line as the United States addresses the issue. Will it be Iran? Syria? Korea? Regardless that all of these need to be confronted, maybe, just maybe, the next area will be Mexico. Yesterday I wrote about an article by Mariano Castillo, staff writer for the San Antonio Express-News, speaking of "Mexican presidential hopeful Jorge Castañeda ", and an offer to assist the U.S. in the illegal immigrant problem. Today's World Net Daily has an article discussing the reasoning behind possible war with Mexico to curtail illegal immigration, driven by economic, politicial, and social pressures. WASHINGTON – Ronald Reagan's defense secretary, Caspar Weinberger, credited with engineering the demise of the Soviet Union, once predicted – because of illegal immigration and social unrest south of the border – the U.S. would be at war with Mexico by 2003. As the U.S. becomes increasingly concerned about just those issues – and one more, the growing power and violence of the drug cartels operating in and around the border – some U.S. intelligence and military analysts are dusting off Weinberger's "Operation Aztec" battle plan for review. Weinberger's scenario outlined a rapid three-pronged military invasion designed to control domestic Mexican unrest and stem the influx of millions of immigrants. [...] Oddly, however, the border with the U.S. was a very low priority for Fox and his advisers. They were concerned more with their own southern borders with Belize and Guatemala, where Mexico faces its own illegal immigration crisis. [...] The above data when added to the overall, possibly shaky, political situation in Mexico, and with Fox's open disregard for mutual border respect, the U.S. is faced with a dangerously looming confrontation with her supposedly friendly neighbor in the south. I would suggest that El Presidente Fox become more concerned about the flow northward before the United States is forced into action. The other option may be a repeat of history, with U.S. Marines once again at the Halls of Montezuma, and the Regiment of Mounted Rifles (3d ACR) at the gates of Mexico City. Mentioned prominently in this article are the Zetas, or Los Zetas (NOT these Zetas): The U.S. Justice Department is warning local police in Arizona and California a group of rogue Mexican military commandos may be headed this way. They're thought to be setting up new drug smuggling routes and it could bring new violence to the border area. They are elite "special forces" of the Mexican military trained in the U.S. at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia and sent to "wipe out" one of the most powerful Mexican drug cartels. But these soldiers deserted and became the muscle for the very cartel they were supposed to destroy. Can you say "Oops!" Not only the seeming indifference of the Mexican (AND U.S.) government, but organizations such as these, and the Salvadoran Mara Salvatrucha 13, must be confronted. The unchecked flow of illegal immigrants across our borders will eventually, if not already, include those with terrorist ties intent on causing harm to the United States. These borders WILL be closed. The only question is whether they will be closed BEFORE or AFTER a terrorist strike where open borders can be identified as partially causal. That choice is now ours, but may not remain ours for long. (Thanks to Free Republic for initial link) Tagged as Global War on Terror, GWoT, War for Survival, United States, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Korea, Mexico, Terrorism, Borders, Closed Borders, Open Borders, Immigration, Illegal Immigration, George W. Bush, Vicente Fox, Jorge Castañeda, U.S. Marines, 3d ACR, Military, Zetas, Mara Salvatrucha 13, MS-13

A New Fox In The Henhouse?

Via a Free Republic link comes an article by Mariano Castillo, staff writer for the San Antonio Express-News, speaking of "Mexican presidential hopeful Jorge Castañeda ", and an offer to assist the U.S. in the illegal immigrant problem. It remains unclear exactly what he was offering, or expected in return, you'll have to read the article and draw your own conclusions. However, he was quoted: [...] "It makes sense," Castañeda said. "The Mexican economy doesn't grow, the U.S. economy does grow, and well, people leave. It's not rocket science." [...] And then makes this statement: [...] He [Castañeda] rapped the Bush administration's lack of urgency in reforming immigration. [...] OK, we all know that President Bush does not appear to put a really high priority on border control, and President Vicente Fox has absolutely no incentive to slow the flow, and I am curious exactly how Sr. Castañeda expects to perform this miracle. He appears to complain about NAFTA not working as expected, and wants more integration of operations. With more integration, Americans could have a more direct hand in screening passengers in Mexico before they reach the border. Hmmm, that is interesting. Does that mean we get to deploy the 101st South of the border for 'screening' purposes? Update: a few minutes later... Ya know, on second thought... I read somewhere that it was illegal to use the U.S Army for Police services within our borders. If true, then deploying them South of the border would be a logical workaround. Maybe he's on to something here??? Tagged as United States, Mexico, George W. Bush, Vicente Fox, Jorge Castañeda, Closed Borders, Border Control, Borders, NAFTA, 101st Airborne

Catcalling from the Cheap Seats

Ace at Ace of Spades HQ has an interesting post about the role of bloggers in the political process, particulary in the recent defeat of the EU Constitution in France. He makes some good points about zero-entry-cost media - blogging. One particular entry struck me: But they're [establishment media] not moderating that conversation anymore. Or, rather, they're partly moderating it, but there are now some boorish voices catcalling from the cheap seats. Tagged as EU, European Union, Constitution, EU Constitution, France, Blogs, Bloggers