ScrappleFace: Bush: Kerry Election Would Heighten Kennedy Threat

ScrappleFace: Bush: Kerry Election Would Heighten Kennedy Threat: "Bush: Kerry Election Would Heighten Kennedy Threat

(2004-09-28) -- If Americans elect John Forbes Kerry to the White House, the nation faces the 'greatest risk in a generation' of seeing Ted Kennedy in a cabinet post, according to President George Bush.

The president's remarks--called 'apocalyptic' by some pundits--come just a day after Sen. Kennedy accused Mr. Bush of making a 'nuclear 9/11' more likely by invading Iraq.

'Many Americans are too young to remember the threats of the 1970s and 1980s that sent frightened schoolchildren scrambling under their desks,' said Mr. Bush. 'Some people actually built underground shelters as a safe haven in which to ride out a so-called 'Kennedy winter'.'

In a preemptive move against this 'grave and gathering threat', Mr. Bush today ordered government agencies and public schools to gear up for civil defense drills."

Firefox Makes Headlines !

Reuters Recommends News Article | Reuters.com: "LONDON (Reuters) - Since Microsoft won the browser wars in the late 1990s, its Internet Explorer software has been the way most people surf the Web. But with some slick new challengers on the scene, that may be about to change.

While Internet Explorer has remained largely unchanged for years, alternative Web browsers like Opera, Apple Computer's Safari and especially Firefox are wowing users with innovative features and the promise of increased protection from hackers.

...Tabbed browsing lets you open dozens of sites within a single window, saving space on your computer desktop. If there are a number of sites you visit daily, you can group them into a folder and open them all at once....

Firefox rose from the ashes of Netscape, the first popular Web browser, which kick-started the dot-com boom before being vanquished by Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Netscape was then purchased by America Online, which donated the software's code to the non-profit Mozilla Foundation." More >>>

Nice to see that Mozzila's FireFox is getting the press it finally deserves. With more and more folks looking for Microsoft alternatives, this new generation of community developed browsers are likely attracting some attention out in Seattle. We use and love it. Download version 1.0PR the new pre release is still being shaken out. -- ZZB

Aljazeera.Net - Musharraf: Iraq war a mistake

Aljazeera.Net - Musharraf: Iraq war a mistake: "Though an ally of the United States, Musharraf on Friday described the invasion as a mistake and said it had complicated the 'war on terror'.

'It has ended up bringing more trouble to the world,' Musharraf said in a television interview.

'The world is more dangerous because the Iraq war has aroused the passions of the Muslims more,' he added.

'The war in Iraq has complicated the war on terror ... it has made the job more difficult.'" More...

It will be interesting to see if US mainstreet media pick up on this story on Sunday 9/26. Musharaff has been a long supporter of US efforts to eliminate Al-Quada. It is no wonder Pakistan sees the Iraqi War as a distraction from the search and destroy mission in Afganistan and in the border regions of their country.

How viable is Kerry's exit strategy?

The article below was run in Al Jazeera earlier today. According to the article, most see Kerry's plan very similar to Bush's plan for democracy in Iraq. The difference being that somehow the EU will be quick to jump in if Kerry became the next president. Don't count on it !

Aljazeera.Net - How viable is Kerry's exit strategy?: "Will Europe help?

'We must make Iraq the world's responsibility, because the world has a stake in the outcome and others should share the burden,' Kerry said in his New York address.

Some analysts, however, say a Kerry victory in November would have little impact on the international community in terms of more direct involvement in Iraq.

'Invading Iraq has created a crisis of historic proportions and if we do not change course, there is the prospect of a war with no end in sight'

...I don't see [the Europeans] changing their tune in terms of sending mass numbers of troops...

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry

'I have seen nothing to suggest that the Europeans would be more willing to get involved with a Kerry administration than with a Bush administration,' Yaphe said.

Although few analysts predict that major European countries such as France and Germany would send troops to Iraq under a Kerry administration, some suggest they might be willing to show support in other areas.

'I don't see [the Europeans] changing their tune in terms of sending mass numbers of troops, but I see them willing to participate [if Kerry becomes president],' said Peter Singer, a national security fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington thinktank." More...

That about sums it up. A good five years of occupation unless the Iraqi Gov't can handle security themselves with their own police and army.

Iran Tests Strategic Missile

: "TEHRAN, Iran - Iran said Saturday it successfully tested a 'strategic missile' and delivered it to its armed forces, state-run radio reported.

The report did not say whether the missile was the previously announced new version of the Shahab-3 rocket, which already was capable of reaching Israel and U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East, or was a new missile.

Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani declined to give details about the missile for 'security reasons,' but said Iran was 'ready to confront all regional and extra-regional threats,' the report said.

Defense Ministry officials could not be reached for comment on the report.

'This strategic missile was successfully test fired during military exercises by the Revolutionary Guards and delivered to the armed forces,' Shamkhani was quoted as saying. The exercises were held Sept. 12-18."

Earthquakes Reported At Mount St. Helens

Earthquakes Reported At Mount St. Helens: "LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Seismologists in Washington state report hundreds of tiny earthquakes at the Mount St. Helens volcano, but the activity is unlikely to threaten anyone outside the crater, they said" More...

In addition to the smoke and steam, indications are that anothr major erruption may be about to occur this month. Scientists have sensors and monitoring devices strategically placed in and around the crater to make critical measurements.

The last eruption of Mt. St. Helens took 57 lives and dessimated miles of timerland, vegetation and animal life.

"Nothing's Perfect In Life" - Rumsfeld

Partial democracy is better than no democracy at all. Rumsfeld makes clear his perspectives on the January vote in Iraq.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: AP - Washington, D.C.: Bush: Terrorists may plan more attacks: "'Let's say you tried to have an election and you could have it in three-quarters or four-fifths of the country - in some places you couldn't because the violence was too great,' Rumsfeld said. 'So be it. Nothing's perfect in life. You have an election that's not quite perfect. Is it better than not having an election? You bet.'" More...

The pressure will be stepped up to control insurgents in the days leading up to the "election". Assuming of course there will be an election.

CBS Insiders beginning to Sweat

Instapundit.com -: "CBS insiders are increasingly worried that the credibility of the network's news division has been grievously damaged by anchor Dan Rather's persistent defense of a story which relied on questionable documents about George W. Bush's National Guard service. 'This has clearly hurt us,' one veteran correspondent told NEWSWEEK. Network sources describe finger-pointing within the news division, with concerns greatest among '60 Minutes' producers, who fear the issue has tainted their entire program. While CBS News president Andrew Heyward has publicly backed Rather, the network has quietly assembled a team of additional producers to work the case. Rather is privately telling colleagues he remains 'confident' that the story, and the memos, will be vindicated. . . .

Emily Will, a documents expert approached by CBS to examine the memos, told NEWSWEEK that she was told by a CBS News producer that the network's source had received the memos anonymously through the mail."

CBS defense of Rather hints at bigger story

Well if this don't beat all ! Dan Rather is intimating that HE would believes there is a news story BEHIND that of his going on the air with fradulent documents? I wonder if there is any credibility left with this guy at CBS. Maybe the CBS executives should be thinking about what size golden parachute to order for Mr. Rather. Maybe it might even be packed by John Kerry and the DNC.

CBS defense of Rather hints at bigger story: "Of all the loopy statements made by Dan Rather in the 10 days since he decided to throw his career away, my favorite is this, from Dan's interview with the Washington Post on Thursday:

''If the documents are not what we were led to believe, I'd like to break that story.''

Hel-looooo? Earth to the Lost Planet of Ratheria: You can't ''break that story.'' A guy called ''Buckhead'' did that, on the Free Republic Web site a couple of hours after you and your money-no-object resources-a-go-go ''60 Minutes'' crew attempted to pass off four obvious Microsoft Word documents as authentic 1972 typewritten memos about Bush's skipping latrine duty in the Spanish-American War, or whatever it was.

The following day Charles Johnson of the Little Green Footballs Web site drove a stake through your phony '70s memos by overlaying them with modern MS Word documents, whose automatic word wrap is amazingly an exact match with Lt. Col. Killian's ''typewriter.'' And every document expert agreed with Johnson your memos are junk, including your own analysts." More....

The 10 Dumbest Quotes of Campaign 2004

Read a list of the 10 dumbest things said during the 2004 presidential campaign, including idiotic statements by George W. Bush, John Kerry, Dick Cheney, Teresa Heinz Kerry, and others. ? Related: Bushisms, Funny Quotes, Today's Jokes... More...

Iran rejects UN nuclear call

Aljazeera.Net - Iran rejects UN nuclear call: "Tehran threatened to end spot checks of atomic facilities on Sunday if its case was sent to the UN Security Council.

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment related activities." More...

How much longer will this charade continue ? - zzb

CBS Beginning to Squirm...

News: "More than a week after the controversy over the '60 Minutes' report began, it showed no sign of abating. It remained one of the top stories in the news media -- particularly on cable TV -- which already was saturated with the coverage of Hurricane Ivan.

CBS didn't have much more to say Thursday about the documents. In the network's coverage of the controversy Wednesday night on the 'CBS Evening News' and '60 Minutes,' CBS for the first time indicated that the network had some concerns about the veracity of the memos because of the numerous discrepancies and questions that have been raised by documents experts and others. More..."

Let's see, shall we give them the weekend to admit they screwed the pooch on this one ?

ScrappleFace: Dan Rather: 'I Flat Out Lied' About Bush Memos (Satire)

ScrappleFace: Dan Rather: 'I Flat Out Lied' About Bush Memos: "Dan Rather: 'I Flat Out Lied' About Bush Memos

(2004-09-15) -- CBS News reporter Dan Rather, with characteristic candor and objectivity, told his Evening News audience tonight, 'I flat out lied' about the authenticity of memos which seem to show George W. Bush tried to evade service in the Air National Guard in the early 1970s.

'People have placed their trust in my words for four decades,' said Mr. Rather. 'With that kind of credibility, I never thought anyone would question the memos. I figured by the time the news broke, President Kerry would have named me as White House spokesman.'

Mr. Rather added, 'In light of the revelation that I lied through my teeth to the American public, I am announcing my retirement so I can devote full time to writing my memoir.'

Random House has already offered the veteran newsman an $8 million advance for the book, according to photocopies of a memo distributed by Mr. Rather." --- Scott Ott / Scrapple Face

I thought you would enjoy this.... considering the post below. -- zzb

Dan Rather in Denial !

Tim Graham on Dan Rather, CBS & Vietnam on National Review Online:

Last night, ABC's Brian Ross found two more document authenticators hired by CBS who discovered immediate problems with the supposed National Guard documents. "I found five significant differences in the questioned handwriting, and I found problems with the printing itself as to whether it could have been produced by a typewriter," said Emily Will, a North Carolina document examiner. She says she urged CBS not to use the documents. "I did not feel that they wanted to investigate it very deeply," Will told ABC. More...

And so the controversy continues with Dan Rather in a state of denial! CBS is digging their hole deeper and deeper the longer they insist on sticking by this poor excuse of a story. The other news outlets smell blood and are circling like the hungry sharks that they are. CBS insists on bleeding more profusely as a counter measure! Go figure? - zzb

Worth a Thousand Words ?

Swift Boat Spirit

Powell: N. Korea Blast No Nuke

In a follow up to the previous post from the breaking news last night, Secratary of State, Colin Powel, is sending signals that the U.S. does not believe the massive explosion in an isolated part of N.Korea to be nuclear in origin. (Photo: Colin L. Powell - Department of State website)

"There was no indication that was a nuclear event of any kind. Exactly what it was, we're not sure," Powell said on ABC's "This Week." More...

The Secretary of State also made a similar statement during Tim Russert's Meet the Press this morning on NBC.

During his statement this morning on Meet The Press, Powell appeared fairly certain in his remarks. Considering the amount of monitoring devices, space, ground and at sea, it is probably fair to assume that the massive explosion was not nuclear but a statement as such with 100% certainty has yet to be released by the State Department. Mr. Powel also went on to indicate, this if indeed the ordinance was nuclear in origin, the neighboring nations would be united in holding the N. Korean gov't accountable as he has indicated they are resolve in their quest for a "nuclear free Korean penninsula". - zzb

Nuclear Test Blast in North Korea ? No Says State Depatment

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Big blast reported in North Korea: "The blast is said to have happened last Thursday, as North Korea marked the 56th anniversary of its founding.

Yonhap quoted a diplomatic source in Seoul as saying a large mushroom cloud was spotted in Yanggang province.

South Korea's Unification Minister has reportedly played down the possibility that it was a nuclear weapons test.

Diplomatic officials in Washington are also quoted as saying the nature of the blast is unclear." More ...[BBC]

Reports indicate that a large crater was spotted from U.S. satellite surveillance as well as local reports of a large "mushroom" cloud several miles away. This event, if confirmed as a nuclear explosion, should spark major international concern in the weeks going into the U.S. election. Do we feel the need for a strong ICBM defense now ?

Ret. General Says Misled by CBS !

ABCNEWS.com : Noted Now: ABC News' Political News Digest: "The 60 Minutes Documents:

Retired Maj. General Hodges, Killian's supervisor at the Grd, tells ABC News that he feels CBS misled him about the documents they uncovered. According to Hodges, CBS told him the documents were 'handwritten' and after CBS read him excerpts he said, 'well if he wrote them that's what he felt.'

Hodges also said he did not see the documents in the 70's and he cannot authenticate the documents or the contents. His personal belief is that the documents have been 'computer generated' and are a 'fraud'.

CBS responds: ''We believed Col. Hodges the first time we spoke with him. We believe the documents to be genuine. We stand by our story and will continue to report on it.'"

- Story breaking

U.S. Media - Tilting at Windmills

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2004?: "The biggest challenges to the authenticity of the documents featured in the 60 MINUTES segment on President Bush's Texas National Guard service are answered in a report to be broadcast on the CBS EVENING NEWS tonight (6:30-7:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

...the American people deserve more from the main street media than to steer the national discussion to personal events that have taken place more than 30 years ago...

The report states that the type style, typewriter and the superscript function critics claim did not exist at the time the memos from President Bush's former Texas National Guard commander were typed were indeed all available. In fact, similar raised 'th' superscripts have been found on other National Guard documents the White House has released from the president's file.

Furthermore, Marcel Mately, the document and handwriting expert used to authenticate the documents for CBS News and 60 MINUTES, asserts that copies of the memos critics are examining have been degraded by reproduction though photocopying, computer scanning and faxing and are not reliable representations of the memos. " (CBS News Transcripts / Drudge)

While mainstream media argue over validity of documents on Bush's records and Kerry's medals, tommorow will be the 3 year anniversary of 911. Now, in this century, an evil force is spreading through the world. The American people deserve more from the main street media than to steer the national discussion to personal events that have taken place more than 30 years ago in two young lives. What are these candidates DOING AND SAYING TODAY? More importantly, what decisions are they likely to make TOMORROW?!! The U.S. electorate deserves better than a biased media feeding frenzy every four years searching for tidbits that they believe the American people will find "juicy". - zzb

Russia's Putin and Germany's Schoreder's Statement on Terrorism

We may be seeing signs of a revitalizing of international unity against islamic radical terrorism. Yet still no word from France and their dialogue diplomacy.

MOSCOW. Sep 9 (Interfax) - The terrorist attack in Beslan which was aimed against children "is a new dimension of the threat international terrorism poses to mankind," says a joint statement issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Thursday.

"Thirty-six months after the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and six months after the terrorist acts in Madrid, the Russian Federation became a target for attacks of international terrorism," reads the joint statement, which was read out on Russia's Channel One.

"We agree that terrorism should be cooperatively fought everywhere," the statement says.

"Today, international terrorism, along with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts and organized crime, is the most dangerous challenge to the security of our countries," the statement said.

Is President Putin laying the ground work for a pre-emptive campaign of his own? Is this the early stages of developing an international coalition of support for what he might need to do next? Wonder if he will be addressing the U.N. to ask permission to take out the terrorist bases in Chechneya or Georgia? Give us your thoughts here or on the ZZ Portal Forum.

Ivan Takes Aim at Jamaica

AP: "Ivan, the deadliest hurricane to hit the Caribbean in a decade, pummeled Grenada, Barbados and other southern islands on Tuesday. On Thursday, it strengthened into a Category 5 storm - the most powerful, with 160 mph winds - and was expected to hit Jamaica, where officials urged a half million people to evacuate coastal and flood-prone areas, on Friday."

Russia Threatens to Strike Terror Bases

Will we see a new alliance formed between US / NATO and Russia to drive premptive strikes against terrorist camps? The answer may be yes if one Russian General has his way. With Russian citizens furious at muslim radical terrorism taking the lives of hundreds of innocent Russian children, their military leadership is calling for swift action not unlike that take by the US after 911.

Russia Threatens to Strike Terror Bases: "Col.-Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, asserted Russia's right to strike terrorists beyond its borders.

'As for carrying out preventive strikes against terrorist bases ... we will take all measures to liquidate terrorist bases in any region of the world,' he told reporters.

Baluyevsky made his comments alongside NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, Gen. James Jones, [right] after talks on Russia-NATO military cooperation, including anti-terror efforts." More... (AP News)

What a negative turn of events it would be for John Kerry if Russia came out in support of George Bush's pre-emptive doctrine! It would be close to public vindication on his decision to strike first against terrorist bases, and those regimes who are aiding and abetting terrorism activities ! Iranian and Syrian leadership better take heed as it might be wise to take a lesson from Omar Kadafi. Of course this statement may be mostly rhetoric to appease the Russian population, but I suspect more Russians now may be sympathetic President Bush's decisive action and will now want and expect the same from President Putin. At least there's one General in the Russian Military that certainly feels that way ! - zzb

Serena robbed? Capriati wins controversial match

ESPN.com - TENNIS/USOPEN04 - Serena robbed? Capriati wins controversial match: "It happened in the opening game of the third set between Williams and Jennifer Capriati, who went on to win their Open quarterfinal 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 Tuesday night.

The match was tight and testy, the way it almost always has been during the 17 matches between the two: contested calls, spiked rackets, a bit of gamesmanship and strokes pounded with power. A lot of power.

Capriati played superbly, without a doubt, but what always will be remembered is the miscue by chair umpire Mariana Alves of Portugal. She gave a point to Capriati at deuce to start the final set after Williams hit a backhand that clearly landed in -- and was ruled good by the line judge. Alves overruled the call, even though television replays showed the ball landed inside the land." ESPN / US OPEN

I am sure we won't hear the end of this ! The umpire should be held accountable, and as for Serina, she should stick to tennis and hang up the tennis court formal wear dress design career. Maybe she would have had more of a decisive lead is she were more focused on tennis instead of making a fashion statement.

Statement from Sen. Clinton and Chelsea Clinton

"Chelsea and I thank God and the incredible medical team and staff here at New York Presbyterian Hospital for taking such good care of my husband. Bill, Chelsea and I stayed up pretty late last night talking, playing games and just being with each other. These past few days have been quite an emotional roller-coaster for us. As so many families know, open-heart surgery, though increasingly common, is a very serious procedure. That is why we are so grateful to the people of this hospital and so many others around the country and the world who have been giving us their prayers and support. The president's optimism and faith will carry him through the difficult weeks and months ahead. Of that we have no doubt. But we welcome your continued prayers and we are so deeply thankful for the good news that we've received today.'" --- from Drudge Report

Israel spy satellite program hits a Wall

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel satellite plunges into sea: "The Ofek 6 satellite fell into the Mediterranean sea near the southern city of Ashdod.

The satellite had been designed to expand Israel's coverage of distant foes such as Iran, analysts said, and its loss is seen as a major setback." (BBC)

No doubt this will make some of the neighbors a bit uneasy. The loss of the Ofek 6 satellite was reported as a very expensive dissapointment that will no doubt be used as additional fuel for anti-Isreali sentiment in the region.

Bin Laden near Capture.. Unofficial US State Dept. Report

U.S. Near Seizing Bin Laden, Official Says: "ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The United States and its allies have moved closer to capturing Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) in the last two months, a top U.S. counterterrorism official said in a television interview.

Joseph Cofer Black, U.S. State Department coordinator for counterterrorism, said he could not predict when bin Laden and other top al-Qaida fugitives would be nabbed.

'If he has a watch, he should be looking at it because the clock is ticking. He will be caught,' Black, told private Geo television network here Saturday."More.. (AP)

He was also quoted as saying "What I tell people, I would be surprised but not necessarily shocked if we wake up tomorrow and he's been caught along with all his lieutenants. That can happen because of the programmes and infrastructure in place," he told Geo (TV). More ...

Mr. Bush should only be so lucky. (As well as the rest of the world) - zzb

Tough Words from President Putin !

After another tragic hostage siege at a Moscow theatre nearly two years - in which 129 people died - President Putin made clear his anger at the media by accusing it of living on the publicity of blood.

"In general, we need to admit that we did not show an understanding of the complexities and dangers of the processes occurring in our own country and in the world," he said in a grim televised address to the nation."

..."We showed weakness, and weak people are beaten" ...

He noted in particular that Russia's borders had become porous and "unprotected from either West or East", and that corruption had pervaded the law-enforcement agencies.

"In any case, we couldn't adequately react ... . We showed weakness, and weak people are beaten."

"We are obliged to create a much more effective security system and to demand action from our law-enforcement organs that would be adequate to the level and scale of the new threats," he said. [ sources BBC and Al-Jazeera]

It is clear that Putin will be pulling out the stops in reaction to this week's massacre. He faces mounting pressure from the Russian people ironically similar in some ways to that felt by President Bush after 9-11. The need to act decisively with local intelligence reforms will be forthcoming yet the larger matter at hand is the strategy to deploy in Chechneya? Will he strengthen relations with the U.S. and NATO to enhance a unified front in the War on Terror in this aftermath? Will swift military action take place to attempt to seal off the "porous borders" in Southern Russia?

Turkish Driver Threatened with Beheading in 48 Hrs

By Zardoz Z. Bachman
Al-Jazeera this morning ran a story indicating yet another radical group linked to the general terrorist movement is threatening the beheading of yet another Turkish truck driver within 48 hours. The truck driver, Medhat Chiwi, was a worker for a Kuwaiti company although he himself is a Turkish citizen. No comment yet from Turkey or Kuwait. -zzb

"An armed group has taken a Turk hostage in Iraq and is threatening to behead him unless his firm and other Turkish companies cooperating with US occupation troops pull out within two days.A speaker for the captors, the "Islamic Resistance Movement - Noman Brigades", said driver Medhat Chiwi would be killed unless his firm and a Kuwaiti company with which it works stop ferrying supplies to US forces in Iraq.
The group made their demand in a video aired by Al-Arabiya TV on Saturday."

"We ask the two companies to desist from these operations, (whose punishment is) beheading. We also warn all Turkish companies cooperating with occupation forces to pull out immediately," the speaker said.

An elderly bearded man was shown in the video, with a banner carrying the group's name in the background. Three hooded armed men were briefly shown." - Al Jazeera

This event follows a string of multi national kidnapping of innocent middle eastern Muslims in reprisal for the support of the new Iraqi government. It is quite clear that without the U.S. and coalition presence in Iraq, the terrorist acts would increase until the present Iraqi government was overthrown. Other Muslim nations in the area must step up the pressure against these acts while the U.S. turn more and more autonomy back to the Iraqi people. - ed. zzb

Massacre at the Hands of a Religion ?

"BESLAN, Russia - The three-day hostage siege at a school in southern Russia ended in chaos and bloodshed Friday, after witnesses said Chechen militants set off bombs and Russian commandos stormed the building. Hostages fled in terror, many of them children who were half-naked and covered in blood. Officials estimated the death toll at more than 200. More...

"The Arab presence among the attackers would support Putin's contention that al-Qaida terrorists were deeply involved in the Chechen conflict, where Muslim fighters have been battling Russian forces in a brutal war of independence on and off for more than a decade. ITAR-Tass said Basayev received funding for the attack from allege al-Qaida operative, Abu Omar as-Saif." More...

This act of barbarism just once again underscores the mentality we are dealing with. Does anyone have any doubt what would if nerve gas, plutonium, ricin, our any other high tech weapon of mass destruction should fall into these barbaric hands ? Just imagine world blackmail on a massive scale with an entire city held hostage ?

They view it as the great equalizer of that we should all be certain. How can one not sense after the events today that PREEMPTIVE strikes and LIBERATION (not OCCUPATION) will turn out to be the civilized world's best offense in the short term. Longer term, fanatical governments and political organizations supporting religious radical extremism must be eliminated. The next move is President Putin's and ironically the American people in the next election. Appeasement does NOT work. Long term benevolent societal change does. 50 years of "cold war" should have taught that lesson to the U.N and the EU. We will not have 50 years to solve this problem. - zzb

Bill Clinton Hospitalized for Chest Pain

"An angiogram given to Clinton, who had been expected to campaign for Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) in his run for the White House, revealed "significant blockage," said a Democratic official. It did not appear that Clinton suffered a heart attack, said the official, who had discussed the condition with the former president's staff and spoke on condition of anonymity." - AP

Breaking News: President Clinton Has Been Hospitalized !

By Zardoz Z. Bachman

Breaking news is unfolding that President Clinton has a few hours ago been admitted to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC for Quadruple Bypass Surgery. Details are unclear as to the severity of his reported chest pains late yesterday. More updates as they occur over the wires... It is unclear if either President Bush or John Kerry are aware of the news at this time and no reaction from either candidates have been given as of yet.

High death toll in Russia siege

US officials are concerned about the events in Russia today. Are we seeing a new strategy of terror driven by local cells linked to the general "cause" of Islamic Fundamentalism ?

Reports indicate casualites in the hundreds. The seige was unplanned and perhaps a reaction to open gunfire inside the school giving the russian troops no choice but to storm the school and attemt to save as many wounded children as possible. Reports from the BBC...

BBC NEWS | Europe | High death toll in Russia siege: "Russian troops are fighting to free children still held hostage. There is confusion over what sparked the operation, which was unplanned.Correspondents say the day's events have taken Moscow by surprise" More...

Meanwhile, the US White House condemned the hostage-taking as "barbaric" and blamed the hostage-takers for the lives lost during the storming of the school."...Hundreds of children were freed in the seizure, though some are badly injured.

"However Aslanbek Aslakhanov, an aide to Mr Putin who has just arrived in the region , said the death toll would be considerably higher than 150. Sixty of the dead have so far been identified.More than 400 people were injured." More...

The world must wake up to what is happening here. Especially the moderate muslim nations. Will they abandon their policies of appeasement and take a more vigorus stance against these barbaric scum? -zzb

Text of President Bush's RNC SpeechAP

For those of you that could not catch the RNC this evening, or prefer to read the President's speech without the 117 interuptions of applause and shouts of " 4 more years", The AP has provided the full transcript here :

(AP) - Text of President Bush's RNC Speech: "Mr. Chairman, delegates, fellow citizens: I am honored by your support, and I accept your nomination for President of the United States." More ...

The ZZ Portal will follow up tommorow with after convention reactions in the media around the world. CNN however wasted no time this evening in having the DNC spin doctor on the air during their coverage before the balloons had barely hit the convention floor! His comments were not worth repeating here. More reaction and world opinion to be reported later in the day as stories break. - zzb

Kobe Bryant's court statement

ESPN.com - NBA - Kobe Bryant's court statement: "'I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally" More ... (AP)

At least the man has some real class to make this public statement. So... one less high profile court case for the talking heads to cover during prime time this month. Just as well. This one was getting old anyway. Stay tuned however for the civil case, in case that's your cup of tea. It won't be far behind. Will it be a slam dunk, or a lay-up for Kobe? Hmm...

Mosque attacked as Iraq killings jolt Nepal

Aljazeera.Net - Mosque attacked as Iraq killings jolt Nepal

Thousands of protesters have ransacked a mosque and clashed with police in Kathmandu to vent their rage over the killing of 12 Nepalese captives by an Iraqi group.

"We want revenge," demonstrators shouted as they stormed the Jama mosque - the only one in the Nepalese capital - on Wednesday. They broke windows and set fire to carpets, furniture and parts of the building, which was empty at the time. " More... - Al Jazeera