Red Cross: Al Qaeda May Violate Geneva Conventions

Just a day after The New York Times leaked excerpts from a confidential Red Cross report claiming that detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have undergone psychological and physical coercion 'tantamount to torture,' the Times has printed a second story alleging that Al Qaeda-linked terrorists in Iraq conduct interrogations 'tantamount to beheading.'

Al Qaeda terror cells, like the Pentagon, gave the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross complete access to facilities, staff and medical records of detainees for an entire month.

'We've found numerous incidents of Al Qaeda captives who were released,' said an unnamed Red Cross source in the Times report. 'And for that we applaud Al Qaeda. However, in a footnote to the report, we mention that a disturbing number of these detainees are released without their heads, which we believe may be a violation of the Geneva conventions.'

The source emphasized that 'both sides in the war on terror have transgressed.'

'Whether it's the apparent videotaped beheading of an innocent civilian contractor, or psychological manipulation of an enemy combattant who may have knowledge of planned attacks on the U.S. citizens--it's all reprehensible,' she said.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said, 'Sure, we play head games with terrorists to get them to divulge information that will save lives. We can do that at Guantanamo because our detainees have heads. A recent internal study shows that the ratio of detainees to detainee-heads at Gitmo is one-to-one.'

President Bush, upon learning of yesterday's leaked confidential Guantanamo report, said, 'I'm always deeply concerned about allegations that our government has acted improperly. And of course this story has the added credibility of coming from anonymous sources leaking selected excerpts of confidential documents to the The New York Times. And that's tantamount to journalism.'" - Scott Ott

Oops This Wasn't Supposed to Happen !

Hell Will Freeze Over First !

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Abbas orders end to 'incitement': "Mr Abbas has asked the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation to review programmes before they are aired.

The order meets a key demand by Israel before peace talks are resumed.

Israel PM Ariel Sharon recently called for an end to 'constant poisonous incitement' in the Palestinian media.

Radwan Abu Ayyash, head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, said that Mr Abbas has asked them to 'ensure that programmes do not include material that might be interpreted as incitement.'

'In fact we do not incite,' said Mr Ayyash, 'We report what Israel commits against the Palestinian people.'

Israel has long complained that the Palestinian media incites hatred by broadcasting religious sermons praising the killing of Jews and glorifies attacks by militant groups, describing them as 'martyrs'.

The changes may be largely symbolic, as most Palestinians prefer to watch pan-Arabic satellite channels. "

Hell will freeze over before local Palestinian media discontinue broadcasting anti-Israeli newscasts! We suspect this is a "political gesture" designed at indicating to Israel that the new Palestinian Prime Minister is serious about advancing peace between these two historical adversaries, the Hatfields' and the McCoys' of the U.N. General Assembly. - zzb

I'd Rather be Fishing

Greed is the Stumbling Block to World Peace-Joseph Hill of Culture

The following is a sweet interview with the reggae star Joseph Hill, of Culture, conducted by Joel Savage - Voice Magazine Belgian Correspondent. We are posting an excerpt of it here for our readers at the request of Joel who is working on his own blog. - zzb

BY JOEL SAVAGE - PolePole festival, Gent-Belgium 2004

Down in Jamaica, where Garvey comes from, many groups and musicians started in the early seventies, like the mighty Joseph Hill of Culture. But they are no where to found today. Like the spirit of the Lord upon Joseph Hill, for the past thirty years, nothing at all could stop him from spreading his strong message against war, oppression, crime, discrimination, poverty, racism, corruption, and injustice. Last year 2003, he came out with "World Peace" seeking peace worldwide and rejecting war totally through music. On July 25, 2004, after performing live, he granted this interview to the Voice Magazine Belgian Correspondent. Joel Savage

TV: I have to call you sir Joseph Hill. Let's rally round Jehovah's throne. I have some few questions to ask you.

Joseph: You are welcome (Then he smiled)

TV: It was in the seventies I heard of Culture. Can you please tell me what has inspired you to be in this hard music industry for all these years?

Joseph:It's Jah (referring to God) that gives me the strength. Always feel that there is something watching out for me. For my self, I love to play for the people. They are also part of my inspiriation. This is what has inspired me through all those years.

TV: You have been singing all your life, about corruption, oppression, discrimination, war, poverty and so on. Were you a victim to such things in any circumstances?

Joseph: There are people I saw in comparison. Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! I have seen those things through political reasons. I have seen people die and not a word of justice is been said. Think of the person's life. It is priceless. My last grief I had was this woman in Afghanistan, separated from the land. They treated her so bad that she and her sixteen year old child were eating grass. (Joseph moved with sorrow spelt the word grass, G R A S S -grass) That was my last grief.

TV: Your lyrics and beats in every song of culture touches and moves everyone on the road of trials and tribulations. Where do you get such wonderful rhythms and lyrics from?

Joseph: The big man that rules the earth. (He laughed) He is the governor.

TV: You were in Sierra Leone on two occasions, when the war was at its peak with brutal activities of the rebels. Did your visit create any impact or change your view on the suffering masses in that country?

Joseph: Yes my visit brought a change. When the people saw me, they didin't know what to say. They just cried and cried. You know, the rebels told the government that "You should be glad that Joseph is here, this place would be destroyed within 24 hours. I just came back from there few weeks ago.

TV: I learnt that in the capital Freetown, at the guest house you lodged, there is a tree near by and every morning a bird came to sing, and out of the song of the bird, you composed a song from it. Is it true?

Joseph: Yes it's true. Read More...

Feel free to read the entire interview on Joel's blog! - zzb

Lunch with Martha

My Way News: "DENVER (AP) - The food at the Federal Corrections Camp in Alderson, W.Va., apparently is nothing to write home about - unless one is eating it with Martha Stewart.

Roman Catholic nun Carol Gilbert, 57, who is serving time in the same prison as the famous homemaker, says she enjoys eating with Stewart, although the setting could be better.

'We're not talking about a tea party,' Gilbert's attorney, Sue Tyburski, told the Rocky Mountain News for a story in Saturday's editions. 'We're talking about a big cafeteria setting with the terrible food.'

Gilbert is serving 33 months on convictions of obstructing the national defense and damaging government property for her role in an anti-war protest at a missile silo in 2002.

Stewart was convicted on obstruction of justice in May and began serving her five-month sentence at the women's federal prison Oct. 8." More...

National Guard Call Up

Carmen Electra: Sex On Beach "Not all it's Cracked Up to Be"

Carmen Electra Sex On Beach Is To Gritty: "ELECTRA: 'AVOID SEX ON THE BEACH'

Hollywood beauty CARMEN ELECTRA has dispelled the myth that sex on the beach is mind-blowing, because sand infiltrates all bodily areas.

The BAYWATCH actress, married to ex-JANE'S ADDICTION rocker DAVE NAVARRO, prefers making love in her bedroom.
She says, 'I've had sex on the beach before and it's kind of fun, but then maybe a bit overrated.

"Sand gets everywhere - it's not all it's cracked up to be. Mind the pun. I just realised what I said."

Taj Mahal - No Cassino Royale

It won't be a matter of luck to guard the security at the Taj Mahal. After several years of this architectural wonder being closed to visitors at night, now 200 policemen and commandos will stay vigilent during the evening hours at key entrance locations as it re-opens to the public.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Taj Mahal open to nocturnal visit: "India's Taj Mahal opens its doors to the public for night-time viewing for the first time in 20 years on Saturday.

The shrine, which has just celebrated its 350th anniversary, was closed at night because of security worries.

But now the Supreme Court has ruled the famous monument to love can open five nights a month. A maximum 400 people will be allowed to see it each night.

The Taj, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a shrine for his wife, is one of India's most protected sites.

The white marble mausoleum, situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, is sometimes known as a teardrop on the cheek of time."

Macy's Parade in Ramallah

A Letter from Fallujah

The following letter from a Marine on the ground in Falluja is worth reading. Special thanks to 2slick for the orginal post. Letter from Fallujah:

"'Upon the fields of friendly strife, are sown the seeds that, upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory' -Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the importance of having a sports program at West Point.

Mike was a baseball player at West Point. Now he's an Army officer serving in Task Force 2-7 CAV. His email came to me through the West Point distro list. It's long- but well worth a read: M. Simon.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...Now that it's over, there is a lot of things that people back home should know. First of all, every citizen of Fallujah (non-insurgent) is getting $2,500 USD (that's a lot over here) to fix up their house or buy new things that may have been destroyed in the fighting. Insurgents took up positions in resident's houses so we were forced to destroy a lot of buildings....

Everyone,

Well Task Force 2-7 Cav made it back from Fallujah earlier than expected, mission accomplished. It feels so good to be back from a second successful mission that was as difficult as it was dangerous.

We left Camp Cooke on Nov 1 and staged at Camp Fallujah for about a week. While there, we got the good news that George Bush was re-elected and we had busy days and nights of planning and rehearsals for the big attack.

2 days before "D Day," a 122 mm rocket impacted 50 meters away from our tents that sent everyone to the floor. We staged there at a remote part of the post and it was obvious that a local national tipped off the "mujahadin" (Arabic name for the enemy) where we staged. From that attack, we lost one soldier and 4 more were wounded. That attack gave the rest of the Task Force enough anger to last the whole fight.

After all the drills and rehearsals, the day for the attack finally came on Nov 8. Prime Minister Allawi gave the green light and Coalition and Iraqi forces went all the way. On Nov 7, a battalion of Marines seized the peninsula to the west of the city to prevent insurgents from fleeing. A brigade (4,000 soldiers) from the First Cav set up another cordon around the city to catch anyone fleeing. The plan was to make sure the insurgents would either surrender or fight and be killed. Intelligence estimates put the enemy between 3,000 - 5,000 strong, so we knew we had a tough fight ahead of us.

One of the interesting factors to this fight was the weather... although Iraq is unbelievably hot in the summer (up to 130 in Najaf), it was colder out in Fallujah than it was back in New York. Temperatures were typically in the upper-30's and low 40's between 5 pm and 8 am. The average temperature here has dropped about 30 degrees in the past month or so.

Also cited Letter from Fallujah. M. Simon.

In Fallujah, the enemy had a military-type planning system going on. Some of the fighters were wearing body armor and kevlars, just like we do. Soldiers took fire from heavy machine guns (.50 cal) and came across the dead bodies of fighters from Chechnya, Syria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Afghanistan, and so on...no, this was not just a city of pissed off Iraqis, mad at the Coalition for forcing Saddam out of power. It was a city full of people from all over the Middle East whose sole mission in life was to kill Americans. Problem for them is that they were in the wrong city in November 2004.

Now that it's over, there is a lot of things that people back home should know. First of all, every citizen of Fallujah (non-insurgent) is getting $2,500 USD (that's a lot over here) to fix up their house or buy new things that may have been destroyed in the fighting. Insurgents took up positions in resident?s houses so we were forced to destroy a lot of buildings.

There is over $100 million dollars ready to be spent to re-build the city. This may seem like a lot of money, but I can assure you that it is a small price to pay for the amount of evil people no longer alive, contemplating how to kill more Americans. The intelligence value alone is already paying huge dividends. Some of the 900 detainees are telling everything they know about other insurgents. And the enemy never expected such a large or powerful attack and they were so overwhelmed that they left behind all kinds of things, including books with names of other foreign fighters, where their money and weapons come from, etc.

I went into the city 3 times, but after a lot of the fighting had been done. It was amazing to see how the American military had brought the world's most evil city to its knees. I have an awful lot of pictures that I am going to upload to my webshots site...it will blow your mind to see what the insurgents forced us to do to win this fight. And seeing the pictures of what I saw first hand will make you very happy to be an American and know that our country has this might if evildoers force us to use it. More...

A film titled Desert Sky is also being shot on location of the 159th Aviation Brigade... it's also worth a look see.

If you found this article interesting, please leave your comments here, ZZ OpenForum or on QuickTopics below. All comments are welcome regardless of your politics. - zzb




Discuss Letter from Fallujah

Ukraine Journalists Drop Bias, CBS to Study Idea

"(2004-11-27) -- Inspired by a public pledge from Ukrainian TV journalists to provide unbiased reporting from now on, CBS News has launched an internal investigation to assess the potential impact of such a move.

'If it tests well in our focus groups, you can bet that Dan Rather will break the story,' said an unnamed spokesman for CBS. 'We're always looking to improve our bronze-medal broadcast, but you can understand why were cautious. This new theory of news coverage would require massive re-staffing here and at our bureaus around the world.'

The CBS source added that if the other U.S. networks didn't follow suit, and begin removing the bias from their newscasts, 'we're going to look like a bunch of liars, and we'll be virtually alone. Other than Fox News, we have no empirical evidence to suggest that integrity and balance is a profitable marketing position to own. The concept is too new, too cutting edge.'" - Scott Ott

Send us your comments...

Bird Flu Could Kill Millions

As if we did not have enough to worry about in the Middle East, Iran with a nuke, and that mad man in N. Korea, along comes a distraction. What distraction you are asking? Well you see it is very early yet in the flu season, and what some World Health Organization officials are spending their time worrying about has not made front page news yet. Wait till about January or February when the flu season is upon us in earnest. Check this out... - zzb

"Health officials are concerned about a Bird Flu outbreak they say could kill millions of people.

The World Health Organization says as many as seven million people could die and billions of others could get sick from a flu pandemic that could be triggered by the Asian Bird flu.

The virus first spread among chickens, but killed 32 people this year in Thailand and Vietnam. Scientists say the best way to control the disease is to make changes in the way animals are raised for food." More...

Something to be Thankful For ?

Suggest a Caption !

Maryland Renames Thanksgiving 'Lucky Thursday'

(2004-11-24) -- Faced with the constitutional prohibition against teaching about the Christian origins of Thanksgiving in public schools, the Maryland State Department of Education has rewritten its curriculum, and renamed the holiday 'Lucky Thursday'.

Starting in 2005, 'Lucky Thursday' lessons in public schools will instruct children in the random, yet fortuitous, events which led a band of deranged religious fanatics (called Puritans) to beach their boat on an unexpected continent where the native people stumbled upon, then rescued them.

'The Puritans jumped on a boat, spun the wheel of fortune, and whammo...they ended up here,' said an unnamed professor at the University of Maryland who directed the curriculum adjustment project. 'Then they knelt in the sand and thanked their lucky stars.'

Donald Trump, whose casino operations declared bankruptcy earlier this week, has promised to provide dice, cards and other instructional tools to help reinforce the curricular concept that 'We're Americans because biology accidentally collided with geography.'" - Scott Ott

Your reaction ?



Discuss Maryland Renames Thanksgiving 'Lucky Thursday'

Kevin Sites - Combat Blogger - Tells His Story

Kevin Sites is an embedded reporter with a Marine unit in Falluja. He has been under criticism for filming an incident inside a mosque where a Marine shot a wounded insurgent. This past Sunday he has blogged the entire experiance in his words un edited. If you have been reading Kevin's work, we have linked to his site for several months, you will know he plays it straight. He has been providing fair and objective coverage. Read the facts for your self and you be the judge. War is hell... and hell is no place for the human spirit. Fear... is the enemy.

Kevin Sites Blog: "To Devil Dogs of the 3.1:

Since the shooting in the Mosque, I've been haunted that I have not been able to tell you directly what I saw or explain the process by which the world came to see it as well. As you know, I'm not some war zone tourist with a camera who doesn't understand that ugly things happen in combat.

...We hear gunshots from what seems to be coming from inside the mosque. A Marine from my squad yells, "Are there Marines in here?"
...

I've spent most of the last five years covering global conflict. But I have never in my career been a 'gotcha' reporter -- hoping for people to commit wrongdoings so I can catch them at it.... " More...

Blog on Kevin, show us and tell us straight up the good and the bad. The fog of war can be blamed for many mistakes, but never the mistake of silencing the truth. The rules of engagment are clear and they are what separates us from the enemy we seek to defeat. -- zzb

New NBA TV Ad

The NBA has been asked by the NHL Player's Union to consider hiring several striking NHL hockey players as security guards courtside in an effort to keep their hockey skills sharpened. - zzb

CBS Unloads Rather

You gotta love Scott Ott over a Scrapple Face. He captures the spirit of Dan Rather's resignation perfectly :

"Dan Rather Scrambles to Confirm Story of His Resignation

(2004-11-23) -- Veteran CBS News anchor Dan Rather this afternoon said he was 'scrambling like a gila monster on hot sand' to verify allegations that he will step down from his role on the CBS Evening News in March 2005.

'If this is true, I want to break this story,' said Mr. Rather as he rushed from his office to track down a hot tip on the story. 'I received a fax from a Kinko's in Texas indicating that I'm relinquishing the anchor desk, but we need to run this past several handwriting experts and get it fully vetted before we break into programming with the announcement.'" - Scott Ott

In an act of desperation CBS unloads Dan Rather. Mr. Rather joins the cast of dismayed leftist characters who are stunned by the outcome of the Presidential election. Not what you expected eh Danny boy. It was common knowledge that there were no love lost between him and the Bush family in general given the adversarial relationships between him and GW's dad.. CBS will now try desperately to regain some credibility for a face lift. - zzb

Satan's Toolbox

Iran Suspends Uranium Enrichment, E.U. Suspends Disbelief

ScrappleFace: Iran Suspends Uranium Enrichment, E.U. Suspends Disbelief: "Iran Suspends Uranium Enrichment, E.U. Suspends Disbelief

(2004-11-22) -- Iran today said it had suspended uranium enrichment as part of a deal negotiated with several European Union countries which, for their part, have agreed to suspend disbelief.

'It's like going to a stage play,' said an unnamed French official familiar with the negotiations. 'In the theatre we know that the people on stage are just actors but, for the sake of entertainment, we suspend disbelief. It's make believe and we all feel good about ourselves.'

In addition to freezing uranium enrichment, Iran also announced it would destroy its stockpiles of sand." - Scott Ott

Streetwise Guide to Conquering the Universe

Streetwise guide to conquering the universe A short encounter with space travel of a very different kind.

Taking over the universe and stroking your own ego are mutually exclusive goals, that's why the guys who've come out ahead have all, at one point, given it. That's right, sweet-cakes, the world is a dirty, dingy place. Flowers are sex organs, birds are violent descendants of dinosaurs, and honey is just bee vomit. You want polite? Read a fairy tale, sister, because the real world does not brush under its fingernails and it does not starch its collar. More...

The U.N. Flexes It's Muscle

NFL Parity

Powell says Iran pursuing nuclear bomb

MSNBC - Powell says Iran pursuing nuclear bomb If you still have doubts about where Iran's head is at after reading this you are living in a fantasy land. This activity will certainly be viewed as a direct threat to Israel. Anyone want to take a shot at telling us what passage of the Apocalypse is unfolding now with the advent of this news item ?

Falluja Streets

Excerpts of Kevin Sites's Account of Street to Street Fighting...

"Even before first light -- U.S. Marines, soldiers and Iraqi National Guard troops swarmed into Falluja. Tanks and heavily armored Bradley Fighting used their main guns to blow up cars and buses parked down side streets -- just in case they might be booby-trapped -- packed with explosives..."

"This is a frigging ghost town," says Corporal Steven Wolf, a squad leader for the vehicle the CAAT (Combined Anti Armor Team) Platoon. The streets are deserted. But there are some exceptions. The dead.

Kevin Sites Blog - Provides an graphic description of the fighting in the streets of Falluja. He also reports on heavy fighting and the fact that this initiative was not a cake walk by any stretch of the imagination.

Despite the constant weapons fire and explosion that have accompanied our advance -- this one is different -- it's directed at the Marines. As a squad from India Company passes by a way with a spray painted rocket propelled grenade launcher -- a real RPG round explodes against it. One Marines' face is burned by the powder and hot gas -- another has caught shrapnel in the leg, a third has been shot in the finger by the small arms fire that followed. The Marines are outraged.

...Almost to a man -- the 3.1 Marines I'm embedded with have all lost friends in this protracted war of attrition. They are eager "to get some," to pay "haji" back for the car bombs and IED's"...

They turn their M-16's on the building to the west where they believe the shooter is hiding. But that's just an appetizer.

They are extremely likeable -- these young Marines -- full of bravado and easygoing about the danger that surrounds them. Some thumb through Maxim Magazine, others the Bible while the wait patiently to reign down death and destruction on their enemies. Almost to a man -- the 3.1 Marines I'm embedded with have all lost friends in this protracted war of attrition. They are eager "to get some," to pay "haji" back for the car bombs and IED's (improvised explosive devices) that have killed or maimed so many of their brother "Devil Dogs."

"The gun battle continues late into the night -- eventually an AC-130 gunship is called in and strafes Elizabeth Street with its mini guns. With eight of their men wounded--it is a bloody and disappointing start for the Marines -- and a reminder that to win the battle for Falluja -- they will likely have to fight as they did today block by block, street by street."

Kevin is an embedded reporter who has been blogging from within his assigned Marine unit. Stay safe Kevin, and thank you for the courage and the coverage. -- zzb

Rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon

Rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon: There are reports that some type of missle or rocket had been fired towards Israel from Lebanon... Unconfirmed reports are one laned in the sea and the other close to a small Israeli town. There has been no confirmation yet from Israeli officials. The rockets may have been the work of Hizb Allah.

Two rockets were fired towards Israel from inside Lebanon, one landing in the sea and the other in an Israeli town just across the border without causing any damage, Lebanese security sources have said.

They said the Katyusha rockets were fired at around 7 pm (1700 GMT) on Monday and that police were trying to find out who had fired them.

Initial indications were that Hizb Allah, the main group fighting Israel from Lebanon, was not involved.

An Israeli army spokesman did not immediately comment on the rocket launch, saying only than an explosion was heard near Israel's border town of Shlomi. - Al Jazeera - More...

A few days ago Hizb Allah took credit for flying two drones into soverign Israeli airspace. Still it remains unclear what group fired these rockets towards Israel. israel has been on a higher state of alert since the death of Yasser Arafat. -- zzb

Powell to Resign; Rice Is Seen as Likely Successor

"Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said today that he would resign as soon as a successor was confirmed, and administration officials said that President Bush was expected to nominate Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser and long a confidante of the Bush family.

Mr. Powell's departure is the result of what he described as a longstanding agreement with the president that he would serve only four years as the nation's chief diplomat.

'It has always been my intention that I would serve one term,' Mr. Powell told reporters in a televised briefing from the State Department early this afternoon." More...

The likely replacement will be Condi Rice, whose father is as close to a full blown evangelical Christian as they come. Colin Powell has stated he would only server one term amid speculation that the stress on his wife is a factor in his decision to offer his resignation. -- zzb

The Carville Omelet !

Here's a screen shot of James Carville with Egg on His Face !



He cracked an egg on his head after Tim Russert played back his prediction that Kerry would win 53% of the vote. He showed the world what a loud mouth dope he really is. The interesting part he was still in a state of denial regarding the DNC's alienation of the so called "red states". - thank you Tim Russert for making my morning !

Arafat's Pearly Gates

Iraqi security forces enter Mosul

Iraqi security forces enter Mosul: "Clashes between anti-US fighters and interim government forces erupted in the centre of Mosul, with the two sides exchanging automatic gunfire and rockets. They were particularly heavy close to the police headquarters in the Zanjali area.

As the clashes intensified, local mosques were heard broadcasting a call to 'resistance against occupation forces'." More...

The local mosques must be filled with ammunition, and escape tunnels. Once the mop up operations are completed we suspect there will be more findings of collaboration between islamic clerics and the insurgents. Reports today indicate some last remaining pockets of resistence in the last 24 hours. Will the Iraqi police force be able to keep it that way or will the U.S. require a division in each major Iraqi city to keep the peace ?

Battle for Falluja

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said pockets of resistance remained, but US-led troops were now operating in much, if not all, of Falluja.

The first aid convoy has arrived, amid fears of a humanitarian crisis.

But a relief agency spokeswoman told the BBC that US forces had refused to let them distribute the supplies.

The fighting is not over yet. The insurgents are broken up and scattered in the city. Their command and control has been disrupted but they continue to fight in small pockets in the city.

More than 1,000 rebels have been killed and about 200 captured, National Security Minister Kasim Daoud said.

However, he said militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose group has claimed attacks across Iraq and a series of hostage beheadings, had escaped from the city.

The US-led assault on Falluja is aimed at taking back control from insurgents and stabilising the country before planned elections in January.

US forces say 22 Americans and five Iraqis have been killed, and almost 180 US soldiers wounded, since the assault began on Monday. More...

There is a sense that the process of stamping out these insurrections will be like playing "Whack-A-Mole !". - zzb

Peterson - A Man of Courage and Conviction [Satire]

ScrappleFace: "(2004-11-12) -- Just minutes after a California jury declared Scott Peterson guilty of the murders of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn child, Conner, French President Jacques Chirac called Mr. Peterson 'a man of courage and conviction like the late Yassir Arafat.'

National Abortion Rights Action League Pro Choice America ordered flags in front of the nation's abortion clinics to be flown at half-staff 'to show the empathy and support of professional abortion providers for our amateur brother, Scott,' according to a NARAL news release.

'We feel Scott's pain,' said an unnamed NARAL spokesperson. 'And we ask all Americans to rally to the cause of this man who is being persecuted for his personal interpretation of the freedoms we have under Roe v. Wade. He has done little more than doctors at our women's health clinics nationwide do everyday, and yet he's treated as a criminal.'"

- Scott Ott

V.P. Cheney - Hospitalized

Cheney, Short of Breath, Heads to Hospital: "'On the recommendation of his doctors, the vice president is going to George Washington University Hospital for some tests,' spokesman Ken Lisaius said. 'He experienced some shortness of breath Saturday morning and has had a bad cold, which could be the cause for the shortness of breath.'" More...

Boy he sure looks like a bull dog in this picture doesn't he? John Edward's knows his bite is even worse than his bark ! He sort of looks like he is having a cardiac arrest in this picture, but actually he is thinking about bitting off the head of the snake. Islamic radical terrorists.

James Carville - The Architect Of Defeat !

Carville the Fool

Twelve days before the election, James Carville stood in a Beverly Hills living room surrounded by two generations of Hollywood stars. After being introduced by Sen. John Kerry?s daughter, Alexandra, he told the room ? confidently, almost cockily ? that the election was in the bag.

?If we can?t win this damn election,? the advisor to the Kerry campaign said, ?with a Democratic Party more unified than ever before, with us having raised as much money as the Republicans, with 55% of the country believing we?re heading in the wrong direction, with our candidate having won all three debates, and with our side being more passionate about the outcome than theirs ? if we can?t win this one, then we can?t win shit! And we need to completely rethink the Democratic Party.? More...

Read this article if you want to get a good laugh at just what a fool James Carville is and the rest of the Democratic political advisors to the Kerry "failed" campaign. - zzb

'Slaughterhouses' in Fallujah "Gloves are Off"

Forces Find 'Slaughterhouses' in Fallujah: "In one of the most dramatic clashes of the day, snipers fired on U.S. and Iraqi troops from the minarets of the Khulafah Al Rashid mosque, the military said. Marines said the insurgents waved a white flag at one stage but then opened fire, BBC's embedded correspondent Paul Wood reported. The troops called in four precision airstrikes that destroyed the minarets but left the mosque standing.
Pool footage showed U.S. forces battling insurgents in a neighborhood surrounding the mosque. Troops were pinned down by gunfire on a rooftop, forced to hit the deck and lay on their stomachs.
'We're taking fire from the mosque,' one of the Americans said. Forces returned fire, blasting the mosque ? a large domed building flanked by two minarets ? and sending up clouds of debris.
'When they're using a mosque to do command and control for insurgents and kill my fellow Marines and soldiers and airmen that are out here ? No holds barred, the gloves are off,' said Marine Staff Sgt. Sam Mortimer. "

Fighting intensifies in Fallujah and with no surprise, the enemy uses a mosque as a shield, while sites used for beheadings were found and characterized as "slaughter houses".

Entering Falluja

Major offensive breaks out in Iraq today. A clear message is being sent to the "insurgents".

With Jets and Armor, Thousands of Troops Enter Rebel-Held City: "American forces began an assault in Falluja today, using airpower and armor to attack suspected guerrilla targets and sending thousands of troops into neighborhoods considered to be the center of the Iraqi insurgency.

The operation started this morning with bombing by American jets, while artillery and heavy gunfire thundered across the city as American troops seized control of two strategic bridges, a hospital and other objectives in the first stage of a long-expected invasion aimed at the center of the Iraqi insurgency." More...

The success of this campaign will have direct implications on the January election. Amid growing concerns that terrorist insurgents will disrupt January elections, a full scale offensive on the city stronghold of Falluja has been ordered by the Iraqi government. What is expected to be one of the most intense battles since Vietnam war era or Desert Storm, US Marine Divisions entered the city today behind Iraqi commando forces vowing to avenge the months of sniper and IED deaths sustained by troops over the past year. It is believed that Falluja is a bastion of terrorist insurgency. God speed 1st Marine Div. - zzb

Partial-Burial Abortion for Arafat

ScrappleFace: Specter Backs Partial-Burial Abortion for Arafat: "(2004-11-07) -- U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, R/D-PA, today said that to resolve the condition of Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat, who is 'hovering between life and death,' he favors a procedure which critics call 'partial-burial abortion'

'Of course, it's Mrs. Arafat's right to choose,' said the future chairman of the senate judiciary committee, 'But to end her inconvenience, I would recommend what physicians call an INX, which stands for interment and expiration.'

If Mrs. Arafat chooses this option, her husband's body will be lowered feet-first into the grave. When only the head remains above ground, a surgeon will use a pair of scissors at the base of his skull to remove his brain.

'The beautiful thing about his procedure,' said Mr. Specter, 'is that since Chairman Arafat wasn't really alive, it won't make him a Muslim martyr. Plus, it pro-actively fulfills the requirement of Islam for burial within 24 hours of death.'"

Allawi Declares State of Emergency

This signals the likely beginning of the major offensive crack down in Fallujah

Aljazeera.Net - Allawi declares state of emergency: "The state of emergency, which applies to all of Iraq except the Kurdish north, is based on the National Safety Law passed in July after the formal end of the US-led occupation.

The powers the law gives the government are explained below.

How can a state of emergency be declared?

The prime minister, with support from the president and vice-presidents, can declare a state of emergency anywhere in Iraq if Iraqi lives are threatened by a persistent campaign of violence aimed at hindering the political process.

The prime minister must give reasons for declaring a state of emergency, define the areas it covers and its duration.

The state of emergency cannot extend beyond 60 days or the end of elimination of the threat, whichever comes first, but can be extended every 30 days by written declaration.

What powers does it give the prime minister?

It enables Allawi to:

Restrict the freedom of movement, assembly and use of weapons by Iraqis or foreigners suspected of crimes. Suspects can be detained and searched. Their homes and workplaces are also subject to searches.

...Restrict transport by land, air and sea in specific areas
and for defined periods.

Limit the activities, monitor, suspend or disband any clubs, associations, unions, companies and offices, connected to crimes. This requires a court order....

Impose a curfew for a short and defined period in areas facing serious security threats such as explosions, unrest and large-scale armed attacks.

Cordon off and search an area if its inhabitants are suspected of possessing medium or heavy arms or explosives or harbouring outlaws.

Freeze the assets of those accused of conspiracy, fighting foreign forces, armed unrest, killings and bombings, and anyone who cooperates with them, commissions or incites their actions or offers them places to stay or gather.

Intercept, monitor and seize mail, packages, telegrams and wired and wireless communications if there is evidence they could uncover or prevent crimes.

Restrict transport by land, air and sea in specific areas
and for defined periods.

Limit the activities, monitor, suspend or disband any clubs, associations, unions, companies and offices, connected to crimes. This requires a court order.

Take security and military measures in areas where a state of emergency is declared.

Seek the help of US-led troops in Iraq during large-scale operations. In the northern Kurdish region, these measures must be implemented in coordination with the Kurdish government.

What if someone flouts the measures?

They can be jailed for up to three years or fined up to
one million dinars ($700).

What happens to suspects?

They must appear before a judge within 24 hours of arrest.

They are referred to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq.

The prime minister, with the support of the president and vice-presidents, can pardon a suspect for reasons of national interest, security or stability.

What are the restrictions on the prime minister?

The prime minister cannot abrogate, in whole or part, the Transitional Administrative Law (interim constitution).

The prime minister cannot use the law to delay elections due in the new year.

The prime minister's decisions are subject to review by the Court of Cassation. The Supreme Federal Court has the right
to abrogate them." - Al Jazeera

It time now with the full support of the U.S. behind him, for Allawi to take the gloves off.

Arafat Fragments to Be Scattered at Final Death

Arafat Burial Plans Done in Time for Final Death: "(2004-11-05) -- After Yassir Arafat's final death, Palestinian officials said today that tradition will determine the location of his final resting place.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has not yet agreed to the funeral plan or location, but Palestinian authorities said they expect no roadblocks since many of their other heroes have had similar ceremonies.

'Chairman Arafat will be placed in a Tel Aviv city bus and driven to a crowded market,' said an unnamed spokesman for the Hamas social services agency. 'There we will conduct the traditional scattering of his fragments. According to protocol, no friends or family will attend this ceremony.'

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed his sympathy to the Palestinian people.

'I have grieved each time Chairman Arafat has died,' said Mr. Annan, 'and I know the last death will be even harder to take than the previous ones. But I'm comforted that he will go to his rest according to the custom of his people.'"- Scott Ott

One America or Two ?

F-16 Fires at Elementary School in NJ

: "LITTLE EGG HARBOR, N.J. - A National Guard F-16 fighter jet on a nighttime training mission strafed an elementary school with 25 rounds of ammunition, authorities said Thursday. No one was injured.

The military is investigating the incident that damaged Little Egg Harbor Intermediate School in southern New Jersey shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday. The school is a few miles from a military firing range.

Police were called when a custodian who was the only person in the school heard what sounded like someone running across the roof.

Police Chief Mark Siino said officers noticed punctures in the roof. Ceiling tiles had fallen into classrooms, and there were scratch marks in the asphalt outside.

The pilot of the single-seat jet was supposed to fire at a ground target on the firing range three and half miles from the school, said Col. Brian Webster, commander of the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard, which is responsible for the range. He did not know what led to the school getting shot up."

Get well Mrs. Edwards

This must have been an incredibly difficult day for this family.

Get well Mrs. Edwards: "Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, was diagnosed with breast cancer the day her husband and Sen. John Kerry conceded the presidential race.

Spokesman David Ginsberg said Mrs. Edwards, 55, discovered a lump in her right breast while on a campaign trip last week. Her family doctor told her Friday that it appeared to be cancerous and advised her to see a specialist when she could... --Right Thoughts"

I would encourage bloggers to go easy on the Edward's family, and especially Mrs. Edwards. We wish her well and strength with God's help.

An Open Letter to the Hate Bloggers of the Left !

TAKE A MINUTE AND READ THIS !! re-posted from Moore Watch

Also concider this.... when you are done !!!

. . . if you really believe in democracy, and if the election is close, then it doesn't much matter who wins. The theory of democracy (stripped down to bare essentials, and omitting all sorts of caveats that I could list but won't) is that the guy who gets more votes is the better guy. Surely, then, it follows that the guy who gets only slightly more votes is only the slightly better guy. And if one guy's only slightly better than the other, then a miscount is no great tragedy.

You might have a strong preference for one candidate over the other, but if you have an overriding preference for democracy ("Let the majority rule, even when I'm in the minority"), then you can stop worrying about miscounts. Surely there's not much difference between a world where Bush gets 3 more votes than Kerry and a world where Kerry gets 3 more votes than Bush. If Bush is the rightful president in one of those worlds, he's got to be darn close to rightful in the other.

-- Steve Lansburg

Was the election considered close ???

Putin says Bush win means U.S. not scared of terror

Hmmm... a new found friend?

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Nation > America's War on Terror -- Putin says Bush win means U.S. not scared of terror: "'I am convinced that international terrorism gave itself the goal of not allowing the re-election of Bush. The statement by bin Laden in the final stages of the pre-election campaign is the best confirmation of this,' Putin said.

He was referring to a video statement by bin Laden promising attacks on the United States in retaliation for deaths in Iraq.

Putin sounded a note of caution, however, saying relations between Moscow and Washington would not be plain sailing.

'Relations will not be easy. Between such countries as the United States and Russia with such a scale of mutual obligations, there are always some problems,' he said.

'Our relations in the last four years have undergone a big change, for the good of our peoples, of our countries, and for the good of our security,' said Putin, adding that he found Bush 'a reliable and predictable partner.'"

Look to see the US / Russian relationship grow as the hard reality sets in. Watch what happens next with other EU nations. GW has a golden opportunity... discounting of course France.... who live in their own space time continuum. -- zzb

This Could Finally Be It for Arafat...

Now that the minor distraction of a Presidential election is behind us and getting back to more serious issues, the world may soon be rid of the "Father of Terrorism", Yasser Arafat.

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Arafat's health 'suffers setback': "Mr Arafat is being treated at a military hospital in Paris for an undisclosed medical condition.

Palestinian envoy Leila Shahid told the BBC that his health had suffered a setback, but gave no further details.

Her statement followed rumors that Mr Arafat had been vomiting and lapsing in and out of consciousness, before being moved to intensive care." - BBC News More...

Maybe watching the U.S. Presidential election was just too much for him! We wonder how many virgins will be waiting for him at the pearly gates ? We suspect this will be spun by the Palestinians as assassination by "Zionists" and martyrdom when he finally leaves the Middle East and this planet for good. -- zzb

Bush Wins !!

Kerry concedes within the hour .....

It's Looking Good for W

Editorial
It's 6:10 GMT and it's looking pretty good for George W. Bush and also another four years of Republican controlled Congress. (Not to mention looming Supreme Court appointments). Sure there will be disputes and re-counts but in the end it appears President Bush will get another four years to correct any errors of the previous four. We do try to stay somewhat politically neutral here but it can be very difficult at times and we do admit to be somewhat biased to the right at times. When all is said and done however, this nation of our's remains very polarized. If the numbers hold up... and who knows they might FLIP overnight, the true test will be to see if Democrats and Republicans alike can re-unite this country on the key critical issues facing us as a nation. Somehow I doubt this will happen any time soon. Regardless of the final outcome however... we do need to stand as one nation again, at least on our fight against the barbarism eminating from the Middle East... God Bless Our Troops and God Bless America Democrats, Republicans and Naderite's alike ! - zzb

Kerry Votes for Bush, Before Voting Against Him

More great prose from the genius of Scott Ott !

ScrappleFace: Kerry Votes for Bush, Before Voting Against Him: "2004-11-02) -- Democrat presidential contender John Forbes Kerry today voted to re-elect George W. Bush, but then requested a new ballot and voted for himself for president.

'I actually did vote for George W. Bush, before I voted against him,' said Mr. Kerry. 'After I punched my ballot, I remembered that the 'W' stands for 'wrong'. I told the election official at the precinct that I had spoiled my ballot, and she gave me a new one.'

Asked if other Americans should vote for him, Mr. Kerry said, 'I believe in voting for John Forbes Kerry, but I can't take what is an article of faith for me and impose it on people who don't share that faith.'" -- Scott Ott / ScrappleFace

Scott has a great sense of the macabre. It is sort of twisted isn't it, yet so honest ! - zzb

The Undecided ...

"Red States" Targets for AlQuaeda ?

This may be very distrurbing information glossed over by the mainstream media over the weekend. It showed up today in the New York Post and in Drudge Report. This clearly points to Bin Laden's view that Kerry, and "Kerry States" will make "peace" with his cause. In a potential mis translation of the word "state" in the original translation meaning not a Foreign "State" but state as in State of Texas. Given the clarification, the terrorist is threatening any of the so called Red states that vote republican as being an enemy of his Islamic movement. This clearly points to the outcome Bin Laden is looking for !!!

New York Post Online Edition: news: "The respected Middle East Media Research Institute, which monitors and translates Arabic media and Internet sites, said initial translations of a key portion of bin Laden's video rant to the American people Friday night missed an ostentatious bid by the Saudi-born terror master to divide American voters and tilt the election towards Democratic challenger John Kerry.

MEMRI said radical Islamist commentators monitored over the Internet this past weekend also interpreted the key passage of bin Laden's diatribe to mean that any U.S. state that votes to elect Bush on Tuesday will be considered an 'enemy' and any state that votes for Kerry has 'chosen to make peace with us.'

The statement in question is when bin Laden said on the tape: 'Your security is up to you, and any state that does not toy with our security automatically guarantees its own security.'" More...

MEMRI also translated an analysis of bin Laden's statement from the Islamist Web site al-Qal'a, well known for posting al-Qaeda messages, which agreed that bin Laden's use of the word "ay-wilaya" was meant as a "warning to every U.S state separately."

"It means that any U.S. state that will choose to vote for the white thug Bush as president, it means that it chose to fight us and we will consider it an enemy to us, and any state that will vote against Bush, it means that it chose to make peace with us and we will not characterize it as an enemy," the Web site said, according to MEMRI's translation.

It will be interesting to see if any of this gets picked up in this evening's mainstream news !!! -- zzb