The Morning Paper

2006-12-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

In Honor of Kofi Annan’s Departure...............NOT !

(Tune : “ Bill Bailey “ )

Won’t you go home, Mr. Kofi
Won’t you go home ?
I shout the whole day long –

Pick up your offshore money
And get on home there sonny-
You know you done us wrong !

Remember poor Rwanda –
All them poor dead babies ?
You shrugged them off
With such aplomb !

Oughta hang your head in shame
‘Cause your UN was to blame –
Mr. Kofi won’t you please go home ?

Bring back John Bolton-
Mr. Kofi get your be-hind home !

2006-11-21T16:13:00.000-08:00

Global Orgasm Day ???

You can't hardly make stuff like this up !

Some "world peace group" has decided if millions of people all over the world were to experience an orgasm on December 22,2006, so much "positive energy" would be released that war would just...end.

I suppose I could enter a logical debate on this subject (for example, at any given moment of any day of any week,month,or year, large numbers of people are undoubtedly achieving orgasm , and there is no shortage of fighting going on. In fact, some of those doing the killing the group wishes to stop, may well be achieving orgasms thereby...)

Oh, well: let me respond in this fashion.

T'was three days before Christmas
And all through the land
Was the sound of brisk friction
As folks "took things in hand".

And Maw in her nightie
And me in my cap
Had just settled down-
No, t'was not for a nap !

Then up on the rooftop
I heard a loud clatter:
It was eight writhing reindeer-
Golly gee, did they spatter !!

A fat dude in red longjohns
With a white,greasy beard
Was "helping keep time" :
Yes, t'was just as you feared !!!

I cannot describe
The effect on my wife:
Were I to attempt it
You'd shun me for life !

So, do as you see fit
On "twelve twenty-two"-
But stay off my rooftop.
Merry Christmas to you !!

2006-10-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

Machina - She Take Me Vote and Run Venezuela-Style !

The NY Times is finally reporting something reported since early 2005: a close tie between the regime of Hugo Chavez and the Smartmatic voting machines being used in many US elections.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/washington/29ballot.html?ei=5065&en=e0c8ab46eb7f870b&ex=1162789200&adxnnl=1&partner=MYWAY&adxnnlx=1162123697-fGdgFeTtCKTTCxcnenqAsQ

This story was explored in considerable detail by Alekzander Boyd - a Venezuelan expatriate.

http://www.vcrisis.com/print.php?content=letters/200508141135

One of the things he discussed was the rather close tie between ex-President Jimmy Carter and Hugo Chavez.

"The USAID, IFES, Carter Center, CNE and Smartmatic connection In June 1998, the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela contracted the International Foundation for Election Systems IFES to renew and make recommendations regarding proposals for an automated voting system in Venezuela [21, page 29 ].

IFES has been awarded (award number AEP-I-00-00-00007-00) an "indefinite quantity contract" (IQC) by USAID with the following purpose: "To support the transition to, and consolidation of, democratic governments through which citizens choose their leaders and participate in all levels of political decision-making, particularly in transition and sustainable development countries" [22, page 30 ].

According to Carter Center's America's Programme director Jennifer McCoy "President Carter had traveled several times to Venezuela, including monitoring the 1998 and 2000 elections, and he and President Chavez built a very good personal relationship" [23].

Such warm relationship may have come about due to the fact that the Carter Center is the sole subcontractor of IFES for the aforementioned purpose. "

The machines were used - unsuccessfully-in Chicago in 2005.

http://vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/200603240714

Incidentally, I've read a LOT of criticism ( which seems well-warranted) of the Diebold machines ,but can't help wondering how much of that criticism was generated by the Smartmatic/Sequoia operation.

2006-10-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

Too Many Headstones this Halloween !

Driving through the neighborhood today, I noticed some of the Halloween decorations on nearby lawns.

One neighbor had little handmade wooden "tombstones" -painted sort of gray-white,with messages printed on them in black ink ; eg: "My name is Fred. I'm dead."

I thought (very briefly) of putting markers on my lawn...only they would look like military gravestones , and the messages would be different.

We died yesterday because the Media wanted to publicize Abu Ghraib !

We died today because Terrorists watch TV too !

We'll die tomorrow because The Times likes to publish secrets !

We'll die later on because certain politicians encouraged the Enemy !

As I say, I thought about it briefly ,but decided against it .

Much, much, MUCH too scarey !!!

2006-10-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

The Mark Foley Saga

A gay Congressman named Mark Foley
Sent out some Emails unholy :

Sent suggestions outrageous
To handsome young Pages –

His motives, it seems
Were quite lowly.
______________________________

With Elections just short weeks away
Leading Democrats shouted : “Hooray !”

They grew almost violent,
But Barney Frank remained silent:

For a change he had
Nothing to say !
___________________________________

House Republicans all sang the blues:
As the Media tightened the screws:

CNN was restrained –
(The reporters looked pained)

ABC was as bad
As Fox News !

2006-09-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

A Day in the Life of Joseph Neo-Lib

Joseph (never “Joe” !) Neo-Lib reaches out quickly to turn the alarm off at 9:00 AM. His spouse is still sleeping , and he has no desire to awaken her – as she is apt to resume her late - night critique of his lack of social consciousness. ( Sometimes Joseph wishes Amanda would pay more attention to sex than geo-politics ; but she is, otherwise , an asset in their social circle.)

The children are already in school . Alma , the maid has seen to that . (She is indeed a treasure , and someday , Joseph supposes , he should do something about getting her a Green Card –but that would entail paperwork,legal fees,and the payment of Social Security and Income tax to those Fascists in Washington : quite a bit to undertake for a lowly , overweight Mexican woman ! )

Having heard her employer stirring , Alma has begun the process of grinding fresh-roasted , de-caffeinated Costa Rican coffee beans –(organically grown by a socially conscious co-op producer) – for preparation in a French coffee press.

After a leisurely breakfast of fresh coffee , and a low fat muffin ,spread with a dab of wild honey –harvested by a commune up in Carmel – Joseph is ready to go to work.

Paco (or is it Pedro ?) the chauffeur brings the fuel-efficient Prius around . Amanda will be taking the big Cadillac Escalade to the Club later on today , so Joseph will have to make do.

On the way to the airport , Joseph spots a commuter train rumbling downtown . There are only a few passengers aboard : well –dressed executives much like himself – but he is glad he does not have to squirm on the hard seats and make polite conversation with them : even happier he does not have to endure an early morning ride – standing elbow to elbow with the smelly proletariat who pay for this train.

Grandfather’s Trust Fund makes such indignities unneccessary. The old man invested wisely in railroads, heavy , smoky industry , airlines , trucking, real estate , and banking – then got out before the various bubbles burst : his estate , in due time time , leaving Joseph exceptionally comfortable.

Joseph sighs. He has a busy day ahead of him.

He will board a Lear jet and fly to a conference in the Bahamas on Global Warming : a cause he is passionate about. The Proletariat must be persuaded to cut back on their emissions – via car pools, mass transportation , and mandatory adjustments of their thermostats !

The sleek jet roars southward – spewing more emissions in the transport of one man than caused by thousands of morning commuters-caught in the twice-daily gridlock...

2006-09-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

NIGERIAN SCAM E MAIL - Sent to Iraqi Intelligence Service (Pre-War Documents)

From: MARYAM ABACHA
mamaba2002@email.com
c/o The Abacha’s Family Legal Adviser
(Abacha’s Family Estate)
BARRISTER: TOM BELLO Esq.
Email:tombello@maktoob.com
Attn.: The President/CEO

I am Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Abacha, wife to the late
Nigeria Head of State - General Sani Abacha. I am
proposing this business to you because we could be of
great assistance to each other, likewise developing a
cordial business relationship. I currently have within
my reach the sum of Twenty-Five Million, Six Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars (US$25,600,000:00) cash
which I intend to use for investment purpose specifically
in your country.

This money came as a result of a pay back contract
deal between my late husband and a Russian firm on our
country’s Multi-billion Dollars Ajaokuta Steel Plant.

The Russian partners returned my husband’s share of
US$25.6 million after his death and lodged it with my
husband’s security firm in Nigeria of which I am a
director.
Right now, the new civilian government has
revoked our licenses that allow us to own a financial
and oil company. In view of this, I acted very fast to
withdraw the US$25.6 million from the company’s vault
will preserved and packaged in trunk boxes and
deposited it in ECOWAS Security Bank.

I have since declared our security company bankrupt.
No record ever existed concerning the many neither is
the money traceable by the government because there is
no document showing that we received the money from the Russians.

Due to the current situation in the country concerning
the government attitude towards my family, it has
become quite impossible for me to make use of the
money within, thus I seek your assistance to move the
money out of this country.

On your consent, I shall expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss
in detail about this transaction.

Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to transfer this fund.
Your urgent response is highly needed. All correspondences
must be channeled to our legal adviser thus:

Barrister Tom Bello Esq through his direct Email
tombello@maktoob.com. I must also use this opportunity to implore you to exercise
the
utmost indulgence to keep this transaction a confidential issue. You can also contact
me directly on my secret confidential email address if
there is need.
Thanks and God bless you.
Dr. (MRS.) MARYAM ABACHA
commercial Export
organization
Respected General Director
Please review: One of the
messages delivered to us by
E-mail. With regards,
[signature]
10/27
To be translated into Arabic.
[signature]
10/27

2006-09-11T06:27:00.000-07:00

CHUCK COSTELLO

Dedicated to First Responders Everywhere

On the Eleventh of September
In the Year Two Thousand One
America lay wounded
In the smoke-filled morning sun.

It was a day of horror
To sear the very soul-
It was a day when Heroes
Like Todd Beamer cried : “ Let’s roll !”

In the blazing World Trade Towers
Where so many people died,
Some thirty thousand lives were spared
Because Heroes rushed inside.

A civilian, Chuck Costello
Was one who heard the Call:
He was not paid to risk his life,
But he bravely risked it all.

He rushed to the fierce inferno:
Pulled people out of Hell ;
And he went back – time and time again
Till the great South Tower fell.

Though he died an unsung Hero
May his memory live on-
Till the Great Clock chimes its final note
And the Human Race is gone !

Navy veteran Chuck Costello, of Old Bridge, NJ , was a family friend -best man at my daughter's wedding- and is still missed by his family and his many friends.

2006-08-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

New TSA Policy : Amish to be Selected for Extra Scrutiny

Washington : In response to recent complaints by CAIR and other Muslim groups,the TSA has decided to make a dramatic shift in its screening policies.

According to Haye Bin Dover, the agency’s newly-appointed Special Deputy for Political Correctness and Dhimmitude , TSA screeners will now select Amish air travelers for extra scrutiny.

“They have these funny little chin beards “, Mr. Bin Dover said disapprovingly. “The men could stand a good shave too.”

“These Amish speak some sort of “Pennsylvania Dutch” . If our friends from the Hamburg Cell have trouble understanding them , how are we supposed to make heads or tails out of what they’re saying ?”

“For all we know, they could be plotting to smuggle scrapple – or “shoo –fly pies” aboard our aircraft . They are a very devious people !”

Asked if there were really that many “Flying Amish” , Special Deputy Bin Dover shrugged. “ Nobody knows for sure; but we’ve appointed a blue ribbon multi-million dollar taskforce to study the problem ,and should have some clear answers in a year or two.”

“These days, you just can’t be too careful !”

2006-08-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

British Bank Releases Names of Terror Bombing Plot Suspects

Veracity Questioned : None Appear to Zionists !

London: A British bank has released the names of several suspects in the recently thwarted Airline Bombing plot.

The bank released the following names:

Abdula Ahmed Ali,
Cossor Ali,
Shazad Khuram Ali,
Nabeel Hussain,
Tanvir Hussain,
Umair Hussain,
Umar Islam,
Waseem Kayani,
Assan Abdullah Khan,
Waheed Arafat Khan,
Osman Adam Khatib,
Abdul Muneem Patel,
Tayib Rauf,
Muhammed Usman Saddique,
Assad Sarwar,
Ibrahim Savant,
Amin Asmin Tariq,
Shamin Mohammed Uddin,
Waheed Zaman.

An angry Islamic spokesperson denounced the release of these names to the public.

“This is profiling at its worst ! Where are the names of the Zionists we know to be responsible for this plot ?” , shouted Ibn Veri Badd –director of the prestigious Hed’Loppr Institute , located on Rottencrutch Square.

“Why are the names of peaceful,law-abiding Islamic citizens being bandied about in this fashion ? Everybody knows this is a filthy Mossad deception – just like the so-called 9/11 attack !”

“ Did you know that Jew Senator – Chuck Schumer was at Heathrow yesterday ? Heathrow ! What further proof do you need ?”

Director Badd concluded : “ It all has to do with that other Jew-Lieberman – who was defeated in the primaries by a likeable chap named Lamont. The Jew couldn’t stand being rejected ,so he got together with his Neo-Con friends in Washington and Israel to cook up this make-believe plot ! “

“Hands off our fine Islamic lads, you evil baby-killers !”

2006-08-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

The Mexican Fisherman
>
> A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village.
>An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the
>quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
>
>"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
>
>"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"
>asked the American.
>
>The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his
>needs and those of his family.
>
>The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
>
>"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta
>with
>my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have
>a
>few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs . I have a full life."
>
>The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can
>help you!
>You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the
>extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue,you can buy a bigger
>boat."
>
>And after that?" asked the Mexican.
>
>With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second
>one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of
>trawlers.
>Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate
>directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own
>plant.
>You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los
>Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge
>new enterprise."
>
>"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
>
>"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.
>
>"And after that?"
>
>"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting,"
>answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really
>big, you can start selling sto cks and make millions!"
>
>"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.
>
>"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the
>coast,
>sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta
>with
>your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
>
>And the moral is:
>Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.

2006-08-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

PAPAL VISIT TO ALASKA !!

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

The Pope took a couple of days off to visit the mountains of Alaska for some sight-seeing. He was cruising along the campground in the Pope mobile when there was a frantic commotion just at the edge of the woods.

A helpless Democrat, wearing sandals, shorts, a "Save the Whales" hat, and a "Bush Lied - People Died" T-shirt, was screaming while struggling frantically, thrashing around trying to free himself from the grasp of a 10 foot grizzly.

As the Pope watched horrified, a group of Republican loggers came racing up. One quickly fired a .44 magnum into the bear's chest. The other two reached up and pulled the bleeding, semiconscious Democrat from the bear's grasp. Then using long clubs, the three loggers finished off the bear and two of them threw it onto the bed of their truck while the other tenderly placed the injured Democrat in the back seat.

As they prepared to leave, the Pope summoned them to come over. "I give you my blessing for your brave actions!" he told them. "I heard there was a bitter hatred between Republican loggers and Democratic Environmental activists but now I've seen with my own eyes that this is not true."

As the Pope drove off, one of the loggers asked his buddies "Who was that guy?" "It was the Pope," another replied. "He's in direct contact with heaven and has access to all wisdom."

"Well," the logger said, "he may have access to all wisdom but he sure doesn't know anything about bear hunting! By the way, is the bait holding up, or do we need to go back to Massachusetts and snatch another one?"

2006-07-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

Syrian-Run Lebanon Had No Intention of Disarming Hezbollah

By

Barbara J. Stock

Imagine my surprise when the news was broadcast that United Nation’s Peace Keeper forces have been in southern Lebanon since the United Nations passed Resolution 1559 in 2004. Now a United Nations team is on the way to Lebanon and the media reports make it sound as though these diplomats were facing a new conflict.

Since the fighting broke out between Israel and Hezbollah, two thousand mighty “peacekeepers” have sat there watching Hezbollah as they launch their rockets into Israel and there has been nary a peep from them. They are as useless as the body that sent them.

Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000. Part of the agreement was that the Lebanese government would disband and disarm Hezbollah and Israel would be protected from attacks from Lebanon’s southern border. Not wanting to identify Hezbollah as a terrorist group, the word “militias” was used instead.

In 2004, the United Nations again informed the government of Lebanon that all militia groups were to be disarmed in Resolution 1559.

“In a related provision, the Council called for the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias. It also called upon all parties concerned to cooperate fully and urgently with the Council for the full implementation of all its resolutions concerning the restoration in Lebanon of territorial integrity, full sovereignty and political independence.”

No one in the United Nations seemed concerned that this statement was added to the press release by Lebanon:

“MOHAMAD ISSA, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, said that there were no militias in Lebanon. There was only the national Lebanese resistance, which appeared after the Israeli occupation and which would remain so long as Israel remained.”

Perhaps, the important line here is the last five words of this statement—“…as long as Israel remained.” Does this mean that Lebanon’s government was expecting an entire country to just disappear? What this statement does is make the United Nations resolution a waste of time. It clearly states that the “national Lebanese resistance,” also known as Hezbollah, would NOT be disbanded nor disarmed as long as Israel existed.

Keep in mind that this statement was made in 2004. In April of 2005, Syria was forced to leave Lebanon. Up until that point, it was the leader of Syria making the statements, not the leader of Lebanon.

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was elected in July of that same year. Unfortunately, by that time, Hezbollah had a firm grip on southern Lebanon and had worked its way into the political workings of the government. In that election, Hezbollah won 35 seats out of the 128 seats in the new government. It was not a majority, but it was a very powerful and heavily armed minority.

Using the money it received from Iran, Hezbollah built schools, a hospital, and provided other services that the Lebanese government was unable to provide. The Shia Muslims in southern Lebanon see Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah as their leader and not Prime Minister Siniora. Hezbollah has successfully created a state of Islam within the state of Lebanon. Those people are now paying the price for their choice.

The general belief is now that the fragile Lebanese government cannot stop Hezbollah. Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran have hijacked Lebanon from its own people to be used as cannon fodder for their war against Israel.

Islamic terrorists and those countries that support them, in this case Syria and Iran, do not care about the people of Lebanon any more than Hamas cares about the Palestinians. The Islamic spokesmen that wail and cry about the civilian deaths deserve Oscars for their performances. Islamic leaders want a high casualty number to show the world. For Islam, the more dead, the better and they don’t care if they are innocent people. People must understand a basic premise of Islam—that there are no innocent people.

In the Islamic rampage to destroy Israel, there is no cost that is too high in human life. There is no Islamic concern for the dead or injured. Islam’s goal is total control of the Middle East and eventually, the world.

Members of Hezbollah proudly take reporters through the ruins of buildings proclaiming that there were no terrorists there, only civilians—only innocent women and children. What the tour guide fails to mention is that groups like Hezbollah always place themselves within civilian populations. Then, when the bombs start to fall, the Islamic leaders run and hide where it is safe, leaving the innocent civilians to die. Then, the dead are displayed like trophies to gain the sympathy of the world.

Many are mystified that Hezbollah fired rockets on the city of Nazareth, which is mostly populated by Arab Israelis, killing three, two of whom were children. It is not a mystery at all if one understands the mentality of Islamic leaders. In the mind of Islamic Hezbollah, any Arab Muslim living in peace with people considered descendants of monkeys and pigs deserves to die with them. Any Arab or Muslim living peacefully with Jews is considered the enemy and must suffer the same fate as the Jews.
Islam and the Quran are very clear on this matter: Apostasy 4:89
“They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them.”
Islam has loosed its evil children on the world. They use many names: Hezbollah, Hamas, al Qaeda, Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, and many more. Some are Shia Muslims and some are Sunni Muslims and some follow the Wahabi sect of Islam, but they all have two things in common. They are all Muslims and they all believe that it is Islam’s right to dominate the world and subjugate it and all who live in it to Islam.
The number of dead “civilians” means nothing to them. Islam does not see it as murder; it sees this mass murder as a purging of unbelievers from the Earth to prepare and purify it for Islamic rule.
Hezbollah is probably somewhat bewildered that its usual ploys of starting a conflict and then crying to the world about how out-gunned and helpless it is doesn’t seem to be working as well as in the past. For the first time, Israel’s plight is being recognized. Only muted requests for “restraint” on the part of Israel are being heard.
But this is only the beginning. This is a mere battle in a larger war with the followers of Islam. The war itself, lies ahead.

2006-07-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

Golden Wedding Day

50 years ago, my wife and I got married. I’m sure she remembers the details perfectly : who wore what,and what the flowers were, and who said what afterwards.

I mostly remember we were both so nervous we were shaking ; but,after a few minutes, we settled down enough to get through the ceremony ;and the reception,and the honeymoon, and all the joys and sorrows of marriage.

Sunday, just for the heck of it, we’re going to “renew our vows”.
(It’s one of those romantic “girly things”, I guess. You’re supposed to tell ‘em you still love ‘em-in case they haven’t figured that out by now.)

(Am I going to have to put up with this vow business every 50 years ?)

Oh well: Happy Golden Anniversary, honey – and yes, I do love you !

2006-07-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

One of the Last Pre-War Documents : From Saddam Himself !

IZSP-2003-00000008 (Full Translation)
Order Number: 31
Based on Para B, Article 58 from the Constitution. The following Order.

All people and companies in the private and mixed sectors are forbidden from importing and producing Biological, Chemical and Nuclear weapons and materials.

All Ministries involved must perform this order. And prosecute violators.

Written in Bagdad on 14 Feb 2003.

Sadam Husain

Top Secret.
Western Area.
The top order is from from the president # 1133, 15 Feb 2003,
#3092,
25 Feb 2003
Please review.

From:
COL Nabeel Lamam Abd-Gabr
Western Area Commander
8 Mar 2003
Secret

Hmmmmmmmmmmm..........

If there were no WMD programs in Iraq,prior to the US invasion, why did Saddam Hussein send out this order ?

2006-07-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

NEW RULES TO LIVE BY

New Rule: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com! There's a
reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't
particularly like them! Besides, I already know what the captain of the
football team is doing these days: mowing my lawn.

New Rule: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless
you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was
found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What
did you expect it to contain? Trout?

New Rule: Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with their hot,
blonde teachers are permanently damaged. I have a better description
for these kids: lucky bastards.

New Rule: If you need to shave and you still collect baseball cards,
you're a dope. If you're a kid, the cards are keepsakes of your idols.
If you're a grown man , they're pictures of men.

New Rule: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care
about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done

New Rule: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole
aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery
taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want
flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your
flavored water

New Rule: Stop f***ing with old people. Target is introducing a
redesigned pill bottle that's square, with a bigger label. And the top
is now the bottom. And by the time grandpa figures out how to open it,
his ass will be in the morgue. Congratulations, Target, you just solved
the Social Security crisis

New Rule: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the ass
hole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy,
half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra
dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're
a huge ass hole.

New Rule: I'm not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my
card, entering my PIN number, pressing "Enter," verifying the amount,
deciding,no, I don't want cash back, and pressing "Enter" again, the
kid who is supposed to be ringing me up is standing there eating my
Almond Joy.

New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it
doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And
it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything
spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not
spiritual You're just high.

New Rule: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven
deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the US Open of Competitive Eating,
because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned
exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait. They're already
doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show."

New Rule: I don't need a bigger mega M&M. If I'm extra hungry for
M&Ms, I'll go nuts and eat two.

New Rule: If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy,
old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a
remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's
remember the reason something was a television show in the first place
is that the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie.

New Rule: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for
weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab.
Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you
isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.

2006-07-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

This just in from our N. Korean Correspondent :

N. Korean Taepodong 2 Missile Suffers From “ Projectile Misfunction “ : Fails 45 seconds into Flight

Kim Jong IL mutters: “ This never happened to me before !”

July 4 , Pyongyang : In an early morning gesture of friendship toward the United States , Kim Jong IL , Fearless Leader of the Extremely Democratic and Nice People’s Republic of North Korea launched no less than three “celebratory fireworks displays” , including one that employed the much-heralded Taepodong 2 multi stage rocket.

The display started out rather well. Alerted by early-warning sensors, Japanese officials hurried to a protective bunker , and there were rumors that Walter Mondale ( a former Peace candidate, who had urged destruction of the North Korean display units while they were still on their launch pads ) might have had to change his Underoos.

Unfortunately, a mere 45 seconds into its flight, the Taepodong 2 suffered “projectile dysfunction” , and failed. (Look : It can happen to ANYONE, okay ? )

Our Fearless Leader rose bravely to the occasion , and had two Scud –type rockets fired towards Japan ; however, the Scuds experienced“premature oscillation” , and fell into the sea quite some distance from their goal .

Needless to say, our Fearless Leader was somewhat distressed.

“This has never happened to me before !”, he shouted.

( A young woman, who had been “attached to his staff” –as it were–had the temerity to giggle most inappropriately,and was handed over to the troops for Socialist re-indoctrination. )

It is hoped that Carter chap will be sent over soon to bring us some better rocket fuel , a few tons of uranium (and, perhaps, some Viagra) so we can help America celebrate its next birthday more fittingly !

2006-06-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Some Interesting Data About Poison Gas Weapons

1. Mustard is classified as a "persistent" agent. How persistent? Not a year goes by when a Frenchman or two (and some of his farm animals) doesn't die from plowing up a mustard-gas shell from WORLD WAR ONE.

There is an entire unit of the French Army devoted to disposing of World War One HE and mustard gas shells that surface on the old battlefields. The freeze-thaw cycle pushes them to the surface, and farmers die when their tractors run over them. The HE and mustard are still sufficiently virulent to kill or maim, and that stuff is going on a hundred years old, not just fifteen.

2. In the March 2003 UN report about Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction there is the following on page 77 (Page 79 of the pdf file), paragraph 1 of the report

"http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/documents/6mar.pdf :

“ The Sulfur Mustard contained in artillery shells that had been stored for over 12 years, was found by UNMOVIC to be still of high purity. It is possible that viable filled artillery shells and aerial bombs still remain in Iraq. “

3. The question of long-term degradation becomes academic if the binary precursors are not mixed. (Iraqi shells using binary components were designed to mix en route to target. This was seen in shells found by a Polish unit,and in a single shell set up as an IED, but recovered unexploded by US troops.)

Following is a brief quotation from an authoritative source.

Efforts to Lengthen Shelf Life

# According to the CIA, nations such as Iraq have tried to overcome the problem of sarin's short shelf life in two ways: The shelf life of unitary (i.e., pure) sarin may be lengthened by increasing the purity of the precursor and intermediate chemicals and refining the production process.

# Developing binary chemical weapons, where the two precursor chemicals are stored separately in the same Shell (projectile)|shell, and mixed to form the agent immediately before or when the shell is in flight. This approach has the dual benefit of making the issue of shelf life irrelevant and greatly increasing the safety of sarin munitions

http://www.territoriopc.com/eng/sarin.php

Bottom line ? Some of these “short life” munitions found in Iraq might remain lethal a century from now !

2006-06-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

Article Review

“What to do about Climate Change” by Ruth Greenspan Bell

(FOREIGN AFFAIRS – May/June 2006 Issue- p 105-113)

I became a subscriber to “Foreign Affairs” – official publication of the Council on Foreign Relations – mainly so I could cast an eye on this “sometimes-controversial” group. ( Some claim CFR –and the nefarious Tri-Lateral Commission are secretly ruling the world.)

The “top-secret documents” of CFR members are available in
magazine form at most reasonably well-stocked public libraries;but,if you want to access them (in pdf format) online, you will pretty much have to subscribe – which , I suppose, proves “the truly malevolent depth of their global conspiracy” …or not.

Moving right along, Ms Bell, who held management-level positions in the EPA from 1979 to 1996, starts out her discussion of climate change in the approved “ We’re all going to die-horribly !” manner , then tells us why.

The Kyoto Agreements – as interpreted and enforced by most of the signatories – are little more than a sham. Let’s illustrate.

Imagine Manufacturer A – located just about anywhere in Europe – finds his factory is producing too many emissions. He gets an estimate, and learns it will cost –let’s say 150,000,000 Euros to fix the problem.
Bad news ….but wait !

For a mere 1 million Euros, he can buy pollution control equipment for a factory on Africa’s Gold Coast. The happy recipients don’t have to USE it; heck, they don’t even have to know HOW to use it ! The donation has been made , and has generated “Emission Credits” for Manufacturer A:
so many, in fact, that he is now in compliance !

Manufacturer A is not only spilling out the same emissions, but can point an accusatory finger at the nasty ,uncivilized Americans who refuse to comply with Kyoto !!

Ms Bell points out just how ridiculous this situation is , and suggests only very strong enforcement-on a global level- will cure the problem.
Environmental ministries need to stop being handed out as political consolation prizes : they need to be staffed with competent scientists and technocrats,who will have a REAL say in the decisions and operations of government.

Unless I’m mistaken, the real goal is the establishment of Technocracy as a world-wide mode of government . Such a goal makes the number of scientists lining up to jump on the Global Warming bandwagon quite understandable … and quite unattractive !

Am I reading too much “between the lines” of this interesting article ?
I hope you’ll get your own copy, read it, and think about it.

2006-06-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Al Qaeda and Other Terror Groups in Iraq – Pre-War / Post-War

(I’ve long been fascinated by claims Saddam’s regime had no connections to terrorism and/or terrorists.His Intelligence Service kept very detailed records of these connections !)

Post-War declaration by former Premier Allawi:

Baghdad, 23 May (AKI) - The number two of the al-Qaeda network, Ayman al-Zawahiri, visited Iraq under a false name in September 1999 to take part in the ninth Popular Islamic Congress, former Iraqi premier Iyad Allawi has revealed to pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

In an interview, Allawi made public information discovered by the Iraqi secret service in the archives of the Saddam Hussein regime, which sheds light on the relationship between Saddam Hussein and the Islamic terrorist network.

He also said that both al-Zawahiri and Jordanian militant al-Zarqawi probably entered Iraq in the same period. (Al-Zarqawi was killed yesterday,06/07/06 by a US airstrike on an Iraqi safehouse.)

"Al-Zawahiri was summoned by Izza Ibrahim Al-Douri – then deputy head of the council of the leadership of the revolution - to take part in the congress, along with some 150 other Islamic figures from 50 Muslim countries," Allawi said.

According to Allawi, important information has been gathered regarding the presence of another key terrorist figure operating in Iraq - the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

"The Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi entered Iraq secretly in the same period," Allawi affirmed, "and began to form a terrorist cell, even though the Iraqi services do not have precise information on his entry into the country," he said.

Allawi's remarks come after statements to al-Hayat by King Abdallah II of Jordan over Saddam's refusal to hand over al-Zarqawi to the authorities in Amman.

On this question Allawi said: ''The words of the Jordanian King are correct and important. We have proof of al-Zawahiri's visit to Iraq, but we do not have the precise date or information on al-Zarqawi's entry, though it is likely that he arrived around the same time."

In Allawi's view, Saddam's government "sponsored" the birth of al-Qaeda in Iraq, coordinating with other terrorist groups, both Arab and Muslim. "The Iraqi secret services had links to these groups through a person called Faruq Hajizi, later named Iraq's ambassador to Turkey and arrested after the fall of Saddam's regime as he tried to re-enter Iraq.

Iraqi secret agents helped terrorists enter the country and directed them to the Ansar al-Islam camps in the Halbija area," he said.

The former prime minister claims that Saddam's regime sought to involve even Palestinian Abu Nidal - head of a group once considered the world's most dangerous terrorist organisation - in its terrorist circuit. Abu Nidal's organisation was responsible for terrorist attacks in some 20 countries, killing more than 300 people and wounding hundreds more.

He added that Abu Nidal's refusal to cooperate with Islamist groups was the reason for his death in Iraq, in the summer of 2002.
(Ham/Aki)
23-May-05 12:08

Iraqi Training of Terrorists – Year 2000- Source IIS Documents

Beginning of the translation of page 2 of document CMPC-2003-005935
In the Name of God the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate
The Presidency of the Republic
The Intelligence Apparatus
Mr: The Respected Director
Subject: Projects of a Plan

Below are projects of the plan for the year 2000 and according to the budget suggested for it in the spending budget of the year 2000 and as follow:
1. Prepare an armored brief case to protect the VIPs 180 days.
2. Study on the Epoxy used currently in preparing the IEDs and the possibility of finding another type that will not affect the explosive.
3. Studies and researches of the materials that increase the intensity of the explosive.
4. Prepare theoretical and applied lessons on the popular explosives 120 days.
5. Training of the Arab Feedayeens- within the plan of the year 2000.
Establish tournaments specialized in the explosives 30 days
Please review and your command with regards
Signature…
Khaled Ibrahim Ismail
Senior Chemist
22/11/99
End of page translation.

More on Training of Terrorists by Iraq –Source IIS Documents

In the Name of God the most Merciful and the most Compassionate
Top Secret
Recommendation on how to use the Arab Feedaeyeen (Suicide Martyrs)
1. Supervision for training and usage

Formation of a devoted commission headed by Lieutenant General Hamza Alwan Zaher from the Directory of Military Engineering and the membership of Staff General Azawi Saleh Hassan from the Directory of Planning and the and Colonel Dr. Abdel Rahim Abdel Saheb Ali from the Directory of Political Orientation and that the commission will be related to Mr. assistant of Chairman of Army Training Staff.

2. Training Course

The commission will prepare a very intensive training course for a period of week where it will be focused to raise the physical fitness and train on how use the automatic rifle Kalashnikoff and hand grenades and the largest section of the course will be specialized to focus of using the explosive material in the body, in motorcycle, in cars, and in camels.
3. Instructors

They must be dedicated from the Special Forces Command, from the Directory of Military Engineering and from the First Military School those that appear in them competence and capability.

4. Duty Requirements

A. Explosives
All the explosives and attachments will be provided by the Directory of Military Engineering.
B . Cars
All the cars and motorcycles that will be used in fulfilling the duties will be provided by the Department of Armament and Equipping.
C. Camels
Will be provided by the Directory of General Military Intelligence.
D. Light Weapons
The Kalashnikoff rifles and the hand grenades will be provided by the Department of Armament and Equipping.

5. Usage

The Directory of General Military Intelligence will take the responsibility to provide the dictations and supervise the execution of duties and that this will occur after that the end of extensive training period.

6. General issues

A. The representative of the Directory of Political Orientation and the Religious Scholars from among the volunteers to give religious sermons that emphasize Jihad for the Arab volunteers outside the hours dedicated for training.
B. Bedouin clothing and other equipment (tents) to be provided by the directorate of general military intelligence.

Those who believe the Iraqi regime was “totally secular” may be a bit surprised to see the “ In the Name of God” heading on Iraqi Intelligence Service documents – and instructions that call for selection of “Religious Scholars” to give sermons that emphasize Jihad to the Arab volunteers .

2006-06-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

Flight 93 - The Movie : Review by a Commercial Pilot Who Flew That Day

This e-mail is riveting as it relates the perspectives of a seasoned, commercial pilot. / jpm

Susie and I just got back from seeing "UAL Flight 93", it was absolutely gripping, and as a former airline pilot who was flying a trip that morning on a Boeing 767 from Cincinnati to Orlando it was almost too horrific to watch...it was very disturbing!

For you pilot types, the attention to detail, the cockpit, the preflight, the crew, pilots and flight attendants boarding the aircraft and making small talk was OH, so real and routine...just another day in the office! Likewise the views from central flow control, NY and Boston ARTCC and the NORAD command center were very realistic.

Should anyone have any doubts about our response, or lack of that morning you need to view this movie. Watching all the various controllers and their supervisors trying to get their arms around the problem and to come to grips and connect the dots is so very real. The movie appears to almost happen in real time and you can really sense the problem that the commanders had in thinking outside the box and realizing that we were really at war.

Fighters are scrambled, late, and in the wrong direction, as threats are suppose to come from over the water to the east not from over land to the west; the planes are not armed, can they ram, and who has the authority to give that command...the command is given but not relayed to the pilots. ; The lack of communications, or rather the disbelief and lack of coordination is stunning but easy to understand. Even the pilots of UAL Flt 93 are given a data link message that the Towers have been hit and to beware of cockpit intruders...they brush it off in disbelief...as I'm sure any pilot would have prior to that date.

The time line given at the end of the movie and the confusion over what planes were involved, and which flights were being hijacked is very revealing...we just couldn't get it together quickly enough.

As pilots and crew members we had never been trained to deal with suicidal hijackers who were prepared to die, it was simply inconceivable at the time. A key point, though not belabored, was when the supervisor of the FAA Central Flow Control ordered that all aircraft in US airspace land immediately, (there were over 4200 in the air), that no planes from overseas would be allowed into the country and would be turned back, and that there were to be no over flights...he realized that we were at war but didn't know with whom...it was a very bold and brave move and he was thinking way outside the box...I believe that it was also his first day on the job as the boss!

All Americans should see this movie as it may help them get a grip on the terrorist threat that we are up against vs. the radical Muslim world. I don't know if we belong in Iraq or how we should deal with Iran or North Korea or the Sudan, but I know that there is a real threat to our way of life from the radical Islamic fundamentalists.

I continually hear that this is not a true reflection of the Koran or true Islamic beliefs. Well that may be true, and it might not be, but there would appear to be plenty of Muslims in the world that have an entirely different and radical interpretation of the Koran which we cannot ignore.

What was probably as disturbing as watching an airline crew, that could have been me or any of my friends, seeing their world and their life taken away, was the hijackers preparing to die, washing themselves and praying to their god as if they were doing his will. They looked like ordinary young men, and to think that they could sit next to all these people on that plane that they were going to kill, who had nothing against them or done nothing to them, was beyond words.

I guess if nothing else it gives you insight into the minds of suicide bombers, which to our Western way of thought is beyond comprehension.

This movie will make you angry, very angry. My experience on 9/11. We were just ready to close the door for our Delta767 flight from CVG to MCO when the gate agent came on board and asked if we had heard anything about a small plane hitting the World Trade Center, we had not, so she said goodbye and closed the door. Shortly thereafter we were airborne climbing out on a beautifully clear crisp fall morning heading to Florida with not a cloud in the sky or a care in the world. I heard a bizjet ask for a reroute since he could not get to New York and I thought that was strange. Then another bizjet said "well I guess we won't be going there either" and asked for a clearance to an alternate. At that point I asked center what was going on. There was a pause and then the controller came back in a very excited voice and said "they have hit both of the Trade Center Towers, they have hit the Pentagon, they have hit the Capitol and the White House"...well you can imagine it got reall y lively on the frequency.

I turned to my Co-Pilot and said "I don't know what has happened, but I do know that things will never be the same", and I think I got that right! Within seconds the controller had composed himself and said all flights on this frequency standby, and it was dead quiet. He then said all flights are to land immediately and went down the list of the planes under his control..."American 235 turn right heading 230 you're landing at Pittsburgh, Continental 456 turn left heading 180 for Cincinnati, Delta 235 (that's me) turn right to 250 and descend to 8000, you're landing at Knoxville, airport your 2 o'clock 40 miles....etc" It was the best, fastest and most efficient handling I have ever had from ATC...they had everyone on the ground all over the country in minimum time.

After all the initial confusion, their professionalism, and that of all the flight crews was exemplary! We spent two days in Knoxville and then ferried an empty 757 back to Atlanta and I believe were one of the first flights to land back at our main hub.

Our arrival at ATL was one of the most moving experiences of my flying career. The airspace was totally empty, there was no talk on the radio, and we were the only plane in the sky over ATL, the busiest airport in the U.S., but we did have, unknown to us until informed by the controller, an F-16 right on our tail, but we never saw him.

When we taxied in the normally frantic ramp area was dead quiet, all the ground equipment, tugs, baggage carts, tugs, fuelers etc. were lined up in military precision and the ground crews were standing at attention and saluted....wow, I'll never forget that. They needed a sign that things were getting back to normal...that we were moving and flying again.

Reflections. As you may know I was on a United Flight several weeks ago from Chicago to Sacramento that had a passenger who tried to open the front cabin door, allegedly claimed to have a bomb, and took a swing at the flight attendant. We'll yours truly was sound asleep in the last row of coach and missed all the action, but suffice it to say that before he got very far he was rapidly subdued by the first class section and we diverted to Denver.

Unlike Flight 93 he couldn't have gotten into the cockpit as the cockpit door is now armored and no passenger is going to sit still and let anyone interfere with the flight. I always felt that with the improved cockpit door that I would be totally safe, and that all my passengers in the cabin would act as Sky Marshals...I was and they did...they remembered 9/11, lets hope that we never forget!

I would also like to mention that all the crew members on my United flight as well as all the ground rescue folks in Denver and the United station personnel did an absolutely marvelous job in handling this incident. It made me proud to have once been a part of this profession.

2006-06-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

"Guest Post" : This is a copy of an online letter written by an Amry Warrant Officer,who flies helicopters in Iraq,and who faces combat nearly every day.
It contains some "rough" language-which I've left untouched.

I just finished reading most of the thread titled "Civilians Likely Killed Without Provocation." It really pissed me off to see that some people have already tried, convicted and condemned these Marines... even though the investigation hasn't been completed, let alone any trials held. Some people even seemed to be elated about the news... as though they've finally been vindicated in their claims that the war is corrupt and the troops are doing nothing but terrorizing Iraq.

I wasn't there with the Marines. I don't know what happened. And while the initial reports are disturbing, it's wrong to draw all of these grand conclusions without even waiting for the investigatory findings!

Like I said - I wasn't in Haditha with those Marines. But I am in Iraq, and I see similar shit all the time. Every freakin' engagement the Americans get into... we some how manage to "murder innocent women and children." I swear to god, I am starting to wonder if we've unknowingly been using secret bullets that ignore the bad guys and only hit little babies, old women and cute little puppy dogs!!! Because, if you listen to the Iraqis, we never kill any bad guys... we only kill Joe-Haji, who was innocently out on his morning walk!

Some of the same idiots who are so quick to condemn these marines are just like same desk weenies that are writing our ROEs (rules of engagement.) We're talking about people who haven't stepped one foot outside the wire, who haven't had a single bullet fired at them, and who haven't the slightest god damn clue what the REAL war is like.

Haji isn't stupid. Haji dresses like civilians. Haji takes pop shots at us while standing among civilians. When you're driving down the road in a HMMWV, and an Iraqi cuts out in front of you and blocks traffic... and seconds later mortars and RPGs rain in on you... that car didn't stop because he saw a good sale at the local bazaar!! He's a fucking BAD GUY, who's job was to bring the convoy to a halt!! But he didn't fire at me... so I can't touch him? WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!

When someone has sworn to make it his life's goal to kill me... I can't keep him locked up, powerless, in prison? Because if I did, it would be an insult to the muslim community? And oh by the way... when in two weeks after he is released, he shoots my buddy in the head, I've got to simply live with it? "That's war."

Isn't it funny. If I die - people say, "That's war. It's hell." But if Haji dies - people say it was cold blooded murder and we're nothing but evil Americans.

You know, I can't even talk about my exact ROEs because it would be a clear OPSEC violation... but it's obvious the people writing them have no idea what it is like out here. Back home in the states... you've got all the time you want to second guess every decision you make in your life. Over here... you don't have the luxury. And sometimes, just because they are not shooting a bullet at your head, doesn't mean they are innocent.

And it pisses me off when people just refer to these Marines as a bunch of blood thirsty killers. We're talking kids here. We are talking 17-25 yr old guys who lived childhood very much like you. Knowing that you partook in the taking of human life is something that weighs on your conscious very heavily and tears at you. It's nothing like you thought it would be and it's nothing you ever learn to "enjoy" to "crave." But you keep yourself sane with the knowledge that they were evil people with evil motives. They were trying to kill your buddies and you, and they chose their own fate. You take comfort in knowing that, in the long run, you saved more lives than you took. We rationalize it and hope to god we were right.

I wonder about the people who so quickly pass judgement on these Marines. I wonder how you would react in Iraq. Would you cower in a corner and become combat ineffective? Or would you snap and wildly fire at anything that moved? Or would you, in the span of mere seconds, attempt to maintain control, delineate the difference between the good and the bad guys, and take the appropriate actions to neutralize the bad guys?

Like I said... how many professions back home in the states subject you to, day-in day-out, the stress of knowing everyone around you could be a threat? How many professions subject you to the constant ebb and flow of combat stress and battle? How many professions subject their employees with the demand of "kill or be killed?"

Not only do we not yet know the facts of the story... many of us can't even relate to very experience those Marines endured. If they are guilty, then they deserve a stiff punishment. If they are innocent, they deserve quite a few apologies. But how can you so easily pass judgment?

Gotta a lot of IEDs, RPGs, snipers and suicide bombers on your drive to work every morning, do ya?

No? Huh... well, maybe you should stop and think about that.

2006-05-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

FINGERPRINTS ON THE WIND – WMD USE IN IRAQ

Before the dust of battle settled in Baghdad ; while lovable Baghdad Bob was still telling rapt BBC reporters Saddam was in control of the situation,a chant began to rise-here and abroad.

Where are the Weapons of Mass Destruction ? Show us the WMDs !

For all their self-proclaimed intelligence, they were asking the wrong question: the right one being “Where are the rest of Saddam Hussein’s weapons ?”

(One likely answer – “ in Syria” – did not satisfy them,even though the National Imagery and Mapping Agency described extraordinary road traffic from Iraq to Syria just before Operation Iraqi Freedom began, and even though one of those elusive goodies-in the form of VX gas had been intercepted as Syrian-based militants tried to use it in Jordan.)

The weapons – theater-launched ballistic missiles – loaded with biowarfare agents – had already been fired – at Coalition troops ; and they had left “bullet holes” as far away as India,and New Zealand.

The warheads of these missiles had been loaded with botulinum – laced with a mycotoxin called tricothecene ; with anthrax; with ricin;and with aflatoxin. ( There was some thought one might have carried weaponized Marburg ,but apart from a mysterious outbreak of that deadly disease in Angola,which occurred much,much later,there is little to sustain such a hypothesis.)

There were 20 Scud missiles fired by the Iraqis during Operation Iraqi Freedom . The first launches were fairly accurate,and were aimed at US troops still massed in Kuwait. Three of these were knocked out by Patriot missile batteries. A fourth fell short,exploding in the desert.

The remaining missiles seemed to have been launched almost at random.They flew out over the desert and exploded – usually in mid-air-as they were designed to do. (Bio or chemical warheads are proximity fused to explode above massed troops – like Fourth of July fireworks – and to rain their deadly contents down.)

There were no Coalition troops in the areas these missiles exploded – but they were expected to be there.

In late 2002, an American officer, serving in the Pentagon, was approached by an Iraqi agent,who was willing to pay big money for a look at the US operation plans. The officer reported the contact immediately,and was instructed to “play along” . (The agent,and his courier-a “peace activist” from California-were scooped up by the FBI not long after Iraqi Freedom began.)

Counter-Intelligence agents supplied the officer with copies of OPLAN-1003: the original 1998 plan for Gulf War II . This plan had undergone at least 10 major revisions since then,and, apart from its title,bore little resemblance to the original.

(It interesting to note –from captured Iraqi Intelligence Service documents, certain Russian military personnel may have supplied pre-invasion dispositions of Coalition forces to Iraq as well –apparently using the same disinformation documents.)

It was a successful ruse: one that led Saddam to position his tanks around Baghdad – where they were virtually annihilated by air strikes,and to fire his limited supply of theater missiles into areas long since bypassed or vacated by Coalition troops.

There was another factor: bad weather.

On March 25,2003-right after the Iraqi missile launches,one of the worst sandstorms in recent memory swept through the country: slowing the Coalition advance to a crawl,and spawning dolorous New York Times headlines about a “quagmire”.

The storms also had the effect of sweeping the desert clean; of gathering huge clouds of fine dust – and biotoxins – and carrying them aloft.

There is nothing new or unique about this phenomonon. Every year, the East coast of the United States plays unwitting host to dust from Africa’s Sahara Desert: dust that includes spores,pollen, animal dander, tiny insects,and enough viral and bacterial matter to make epidemiologists thankful for the presence of ozone and solar radiation.

Until very recently, it was believed ozone and solar radiation would kill off such airborne pathogens, but new research suggests otherwise.
In the May 26,2006 “Guardian” ,scientists recounted evidence the very clouds and dust that carry pathogens also act to shield them.

“Giant clouds of dust whipped up by desert storms in Africa can carry infectious organisms to other continents, scientists claim today.
Despite being blown more than three miles high and exposed to radiation from the sun, strains of bacteria and fungi survived and were able to grow when they returned to Earth, researchers found.”

“Among 40 tests of air samples taken in the mid-Atlantic, 24 revealed living microbes, including 26 colonies of bacteria and 83 fungi. They included strains capable of causing disease in humans, animals and plants. A typical gram of Sahara soil contains up to 1bn bacteria, and estimates suggest 2bn tonnes of soil particles are blown around the planet each year. “

"Even if the UV kills 90% of the microbes, dust higher up in the cloud will shade those lower down, so you still get a phenomenal number surviving," said lead scientist Dale Griffin of the US Geological Survey. His research will be presented at the American Society for Microbiology meeting in Orlando today.

Dr Griffin's team used genetic tests to prove that the micro-organisms collected in the Atlantic were from specific regions in Africa. The microbes included Gordonia terra, which can cause skin disease in humans, Massaria rosatii which infects sycamore trees, and Alternaria dauci, a cause of carrot blight.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1782440,00.html

This dust storm” fallout” doesn’t fly like an arrow. It wanders: borne north by this trade wind; south by that trade wind. It may visit one island and skip another. It may take several months before it reaches land -or it may not reach land at all. This is the nature of wind-borne debris.

During the Cold War-when nuclear testing was commonplace-it was not unusual to discover Strontium-90 from a nuclear explosion in Ulan Bator in the milk of Minnesota dairy cows,several months later. (Our fallout often landed on our allies-much to everyone’s embarrassment.)

The Biotoxins from Iraq were part of a “new breed” of bio-weapon :one that had been engineered to resist the effects of sunshine and oxygen –via a novel, silicon-based coating, applied during the spray drying process. Instead of dissipating within hours or days , they had a shelf life that could me measured in months – or,in the case of anthrax – years !

I began to see their effects – the fingerprints of Saddam Hussein – in “odd corners” of the world.

By way of quick explanation, shortly after the Anthrax attacks of 2001, I became a regular contributor to the now-dormant BioHazard News- an online journal that “kept an eye on” clusters of diseases,incidents suggestive of biowarfare,and incidents arising from the War on Terror.

One of the websites I found myself visiting on a daily basis was ProMed: “the global electronic reporting system for outbreak of emerging contagious diseases and toxins”. ProMed is sponsored by The International Society for Infectious Diseases,and was, at that time, affiliated with the Federation of American Scientists .

Here is the ProMed link:

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/askus/f?p=2400:1000:

Incidents and Clusters Suggestive of Biotoxin Poisoning : Please note I have included ProMed Archive identification numbers for those of you who might wish to make an independent search.

Please keep in mind the “incident dates” are the dates a report was forwarded to ProMed , and sometimes include outbreaks that began weeks before the report date.

Incident No. 1 (Status – doubtful) :Reports filed 09 May 03 : Index number: 20030509.1153, and 10 May 03 : Index number 20030510.1164

Undiagnosed disease,ebola-like symptoms, southern Sudan. Marburg comes to mind ; however,this viral disease has a very short “shelf life”: 4-6 days outside a host/nutrition source and it seems unlikely it could survive the trip. Note: Ricin could survive,and could produce similar symptoms.

Incident No. 2 ( Status – Insufficient data ): Report filed 28 May 03: Index number 20030528.1309.

Unexplained deaths on Ukerewe Island, Tanzania. 582 people infected;55 “youths” dead. The Tanzanians appear to have explored and eliminated a number of possibilities: tainted fish,polluted well water,presence of an unknown toxin. Unfortunately,their report lacks description of symptoms,manner of death,and other clarifying details. There does not seem to have been any follow-up reporting. Note: Very tentatively,Botulinum comes to mind.

Incident No. 3 (Status-Possible,with reservations) Report was not filed until 30 June 03 –(Outbreak began in April) . Index number 20030630.1614

There were 83 cases of human Anthrax , resulting in 7 deaths,in India’s Koraput District. As noted, the outbreak began in April. Anthrax, in its spore form (the form used in bioweapons) is an exceptionally hardy bacteria,and could easily survive a journey from Iraq. Note: Anthrax is endemic in parts of India . Health officials there – who are usually Hindus and deplore consumption of beef – invariably blame the outbreaks on the victims. “They ate bad meat”, etc.

Incident No. 4 ( Status- High probability) Report was not filed until 28 August 03 (Outbreak began in May). Index number 20030828.2175

Karnataka region of India. There were 12 reported cases of human Anthrax,and12 cattle had died of the disease. Several pigs-normally thought to be immune to the disease-had also died…plus a large number of vultures-universally believed immune to the disease. It appeared the grass on which livestock grazed was heavily infested with the bacteria.

The death of pigs and vultures is strongly suggestive of the presence of “enhanced anthrax” : one of the nightmarish projects Ken Alibek was involved in when he was director of the Soviet’s Biopreparat program.When the Soviet Union imploded,many of the Biopreparat scientists found work in other countries-notably Syria and Iraq.

Note: Anthrax is endemic to the region , and the usual excuses about “spoiled meat” were given.

Incident No. 5 (Status-Probable : Mycotoxin) I have found 5 reports,made on varying dates-all of which appear to refer to the same outbreak. The Index numbers are : 20030606.1399 ,20030607.1410 , 2003608.1416 , 20030612.1449 , and 20030716.1753

This outbreak began in West Bengal, India,sometime during the month of May,2003, and ravaged 5 small villages.By the time it ended,approximately 132 children had died, and at least 300 were gravely ill.

Indian health authorities offered a wide range of “official diagnoses”, ranging from pneumonia to Japanese encephalitis ; however, none of these stood up to the rigors of lab testing, and the cause remained unknown.

Because of the victims’ ages, it was speculated something might have tainted the powdered milk supply,and there were near-riots between villagers and authorities.

The symptoms: high fever,breathlessness,convulsions,increased salivation, and stiffening of the jaws were consistent with mycotoxin. Note: No official finding has ever been agreed upon.

Incident No. 6 ( Possible Ricin involvement) Reported 28 August 03.Index number 20030828.2165

This is one of the more intriguing clusters, because it took place in faraway Dunedin, New Zealand ! Three previously healthy,active adults-no known relationship to one another-no known environmental exposures- were stricken,one after another,with a pneumonia – like ailment,for which no viral or bacterial cause was ever discovered,but which killed each of them in a matter of a day.Note: Symptoms consistent with Ricin inhalation.

COMMENTS

Let me stress one point: The incidents reported to ProMed – startling as they might be – are not necessarily the only related events. They are reports filed by a relatively small group of conscientious physicians and health workers , and could well be just the tip of a very large iceberg.

Life , in many parts of the world ,is short. Medical care ranges from “iffy” to non-existent, and death by disease or mishap is unremarkable.

The villagers may know that So-and-So’s baby died on the same night that the reigning matriarch of the village passed away – but, apart from noticing the coincidence,have nothing to connect it to the Aflatoxin that dusted parts of their village – or the roaring battles of great armies in faraway places.

Iraqi Survey Group Findings

The findings of the Iraq Survey Group, which conducted searches of likely locations after the fall of Baghdad, have been widely trumpeted as
“negative” ; and the public has been given to understand “no weapons programs were found” ; but this is hardly the truth.

The truth is , enormous amounts of “trace evidence” were found – PLUS evidence of a massive “cleanup” : burned documents, hacked up computer hard drives , and-above all, evidence of hasty removal of materials and people . The ISG could not produce evidence of WMDs
as a result, and was roughly in the position of a wife who returns home to discover her bed has been slept in, there are strange hairs on the pillows , a glass with lipstick traces in the dishwasher,and her husband
is unable to look her in the eye. It’s not PROOF of adultery, but what else can it be ?

Here’s a link to the ISG interim report:

http://www.cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/2003/david_kay_10022003.html

Missing / Dead Scientists

This is another topic that never quite captured Media attention HERE, but was remarked upon extensively abroad. Quite simply,Iraqi scientists who would have been in a position to know about, and/or to have participated in Iraq’s WMD programs were threatened, killed , kidnapped, or are “unaccounted for”.
(Source is the Brussels Tribunal - a Left wing group supportive of Saddam's regime.You will find references to "American death squads", etc.,which may be taken with a few tons of salt : Coalition forces were quite anxious to lay hands on and question any Iraqi scientists, and would have gladly rewarded anyone who could fill in the informational gaps !)

http://www.brusselstribunal.org/academicsList.htm

193 were killed,49 are "missing-unaccounted for" and 76 are listed as "threatened,arrested by coaltion forces,or fled the country."

CONCLUSIONS

There was extensive pre-war intelligence –including a defector from the Iraqi “Special Weapons Program” ,and reports from the UN inspectors,and reports from our own CIA that Iraq had a “robust” bio-weapons program.

There were warnings – immediately before Operation Iraqi Freedom- of Saddam’s Bioweapons programs : from King Abdullah II of Jordan, and from Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak – both of whom had intelligence and diplomatic assets in Iraq.

It is now fashionable to sneer when MOPP suits are mentioned – as if they were mere window dressing. (Try telling that to the troops – and to the embedded reporters- who cursed the hot,restrictive protective garments every moment of the day – while worrying what would happen if the suit developed a tear, or the gas mask did not achieve a proper seal,or they were wounded while in a “hot” environment !)

That fact Saddam’s troops had similar suits in their barracks, and nerve gas antidote syringes close at hand suggests nothing else but the presence of poison gas , and a readiness to employ it. Captured post-war documents indicate the Iraqi military took considerable pains to insure the suits would protect against bio-warfare threats as well.

Does anyone recall the unwillingness of Iraqi troops to engage in combat during Gulf War I ? Has anyone contrasted that with the utter ferocity they displayed during Iraqi Freedom ? Has anyone wondered at the difference?

I believe a large part of the difference was the leaflets we dropped on Iraqi troops by the hundred thousands in the opening days of the conflict. The leaflets warned the Iraqis they would be held strictly accountable for any use of WMDs.

I further suspect a few Iraqi troops knew WMDs had been used , and that they expected to be shot out of hand if captured by Coalition forces.
It would not surprise me to learn these troops immediately “joined the resistance”.

Our troops –and their Iraqi opponents – “lucked out” when good counter-intelligence tactics, a lightning-fast advance,and a brutal sandstorm combined to remove the danger of Iraqi bioweapons from the battlefield .

(There are still isolated reports of odd illnesses popping up in people who serve or have served in Iraq. In one case, a few months ago, an East coast police officer died at home of “natural causes” that were never made public. Something about the appearance of his corpse caused first responders to go back and get “moon suits” out of their rigs before moving his body.)

The record- incomplete and inconclusive as it may seem- suggests to me that the people at the end of the bioweapons chain were not as fortunate ; and, that in some cases, their deaths bear the unmistakable fingerprints of Saddam Hussein’s Bio-weapons program.

Suggested Additional Reading: (hardcover) “Biohazard” by Ken Alibek. Dr. Alibek (Kanatjan Alibekov) was the former director of the Soviet Union’s Biopreparat program : one of the most ambitious-and frightening- biowarfare projects of all time.

“American Soldier” by Retired General Tommy Franks

2006-05-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

STOP THAT JADE !!!

She’s a runnin’ through the Barrens
With a skillet in her hand-
Stop that Jade ! Stop that Jade !
An’ things just ain’t a workin’ out
The way the Deacon planned-
Stop that Jade ! Stop that Jade !

It’s no…use to call the Sheriff
‘Cause the rascal’s outa town,
An’ the Deputy’s in Chatsworth
Payin’ court to Molly Brown;
Pass the jug around again
Maybe then we’ll run her down-
Deacon’s yellin’ go stop that Jade !

2

That Jade she was indentured to
Ol’ skinflint Deacon Jones-
Stop that Jade ! Stop that Jade !
An’ while his missus was in town
He tried to jump her bones-
Stop that Jade ! Stop that Jade !

Oh she…waited till the Deacon
Had his britches round his knees,
Then she hit ‘im with a skillet
Just as nicely as you please !
Done left ‘im with his wherewithal
A coolin’ in the breeze-
Deacon’s yellin; go stop that Jade !

3

She’s a runnin’ past the still-house
And across the Treaty land-
Stop that Jade ! Stop that Jade !
But I reckon we won’t catch ‘er
If we get too drunk to stand-
Stop that Jade ! Stop that Jade !

It’s no…use to go a runnin’
When your feet’s all tangled up
She’ll be halfway down to Quakertown
Before we sober up.
So pass the jug around again-
I’ll try another cup !
Deacon’s yellin’ go stop that Jade !

(footnote) A jade was an indentured female servant, who signed an agreement to work for room, board, and basic clothing,in exchange for becoming an unpaid household servant – and was generally worked so hard , she was “jaded out” by the end of the indenture. Indentured servants quite often “took French leave” and headed out to the frontier.

In Southern New Jersey – deep in the Pines- there is a small brook or “run” named “Stop That Jade Run”. It got its name after a wealthy landowner placed a full-page ad , seeking the whereabouts of a runaway servant in the Philadelphia Papers .

The ad, which tickled the fancies of the local Pineys , read :

STOP THE JADE !!

and the Pineys renamed the brook to mock him.

2006-05-24T05:28:00.000-07:00

JERSEY DEVIL

1

Deep in the Jersey Barrens
Outside the town of Leeds
There lived a lonely widd-errr-
No man to tend her needs !

So, one All Hallows Evenin’
When the moon was pale and white
She cried, “I’d let ol’ Satan himself
Come share my bed tonight !”

Chorus

Keep to the middle of the trail,friend
When the moon is pale an’ white
An’ build up the fire in the ol’ campsite-
The Devil walks tonight !

2

Old Satan come a courtin’
Kept her dancin’ till the dawn:
One year later to the day
The Devil’s Child was born !

Oh, when she saw that baby
The widder gave a wail:
He looked just like his Daddy…
Complete with horns and tail !

Chorus

Keep to the middle of the trail,friend
When the moon is pale an’ white
An’ build up the fire in the ol’ campsite-
The Devil walks tonight !

3

The moral to this story
Is mighty plain to see:
The Devil’s always willin’…
To furnish company !

So gentlemen ,be on your toes:
Better treat them ladies right-
Or that ol’ Jersey Devil…
Might take your place some night !

Chorus

Keep to the middle of the trail,friend
When the moon is pale an’ white
An’ build up the fire in the ol’ campsite-
The Devil walks tonight !

2006-05-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

THE OLD SOLDIER

Verse 1

As I walked ,long ago
Through the Valley of Shadows –
So cold, and alone in my fear,
Oh, I heard a voice call me:
“Come walk in green pastures –
Be not afraid, I am here.”

(Chorus)

Reach out your hand to Me
Come and meet me half-way –ay
Fear not the terror that walks at night
Or the arrow that flieth by day.

Verse 2

In the air, all around me
The bullets were howling-
All around me my brave comrades died;
But I reached out my hand
For the hand of my Shepherd
And we walked through that storm
Side by side.

(Chorus)

Reach out your hand to Me
Come and meet me half-way –ay
Fear not the terror that walks at night
Or the arrow that flieth by day.

Verse 3

Many years have gone by
Since I walked through that Valley-
I am old and my time ‘s drawing near;
Soon my Shepherd will call me
To eternal Green Pastures
And I’ll run to His side
Without fear.

(Chorus)

Reach out your hand to Me
Come and meet me half-way –ay
Fear not the terror that walks at night
Or the arrow that flieth by day.

2006-05-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

SULLIVAN Ballou

Narrative:

To a place some call Manassas
And others call Bull Run
Marched two great armies -Blue and Gray
In the Spring of ’61.

Two generals manuevered
And emplaced their heavy guns
But Sullivan Ballou's last thoughts
Were of Sarah and his sons.

(Lyrics – 1st verse)

I dreamed of you last night, dear wife
Of our home-so far away:
Saw the dear children kneel by the fireside bright –
I could almost hear them pray !

But the grandfather’s clock that I bought for your Birthday
It was silent: the hands stopped at Ten -
Then I knew in my dream I had fallen in battle:
Ne’er would I see you again !

(Chorus)

Oh, If I should fall in battle, darling ,
Please promise not to cry:
The breath of Spring upon your cheek
Will tell you that I am still nigh –

Through blazing sun and winter’s cold,
Till life itself is through :
When you reach the end of your long, long road,
I’ll be waiting,dearest for you !

(Lyrics, verse 2)

The bugles sound, and the horses snort -
I must march with my Brigade ;
We must cross the bridge at Manassas Creek
Where the cruel games of War will be played.

I”ll finish this letter when the battle is over-
You’ll be in my thoughts until then;
I just wish I could be there to tell you I love you-
Just wish I could hold you again !

(Chorus)

Narrative:

When the smoke of battle lifted
And everything was still,
Sullivan and all his dreams
Lay silent on that hill.

The centuries have come and gone
And there’s no more Blue and Gray-
But brave soldiers still write letters home
And brave families wait and pray.

2006-04-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Mary Mc Carthy and Plastic Morality

By now , everyone has heard the story : Mary Mc Carthy , a long-term veteran at the CIA , has been fired for “leaking” highly classified material to Dana Priest, a star reporter for the Washington Post.

Ms Mc Carthy is not only unemployed ; she is in criminal jeopardy as well – and it is by no means a given that Dana Priestly and her employers are “off the hook” for prosecution under the espionage statutes.

At the moment, a Republican administration is in power , and many loyal Democrats are proclaiming (rather vigorously) Mc Carthy should be honored as a “whistleblower” , because some of the material she is said to have leaked made life more difficult for the Administration.

Some of her supporters suggest she had a “moral duty” to violate the stringent terms of her employment –and the espionage laws : a duty that transcends mere statutes and regulations. Some have even suggested that anyone who believes otherwise is on the road to becoming “ a good little Nazi”.

I have a suspicion many of those who presently extol the lady’s virtues might be cursing her - if Democrats occupied the White House ; but I could be wrong.

It’s hard to predict reactions in an age of “plastic morality”.

In many parts of our country , people who feel a high sense of moral obligation towards animals have bombed facilities that conduct animal research , vandalized the cars and homes of research employees,and conducted acts of criminal harassment.

On both coasts, other people who feel halting development is a highly moral act ,have burned down SUV dealerships, spiked trees in an effort to injure lumberjacks, burned down homes under construction, and have even fire-bombed a spring water bottling plant.

In the year 2001, a microbiologist (and friends) exercised their highly developed “morality” by sending Anthrax through the mail to “punish” America for its sins. (They had the good sense to suggest al-Qaeda might have done it – and loyal supporters willing to lay false trails for the FBI to follow ; but a day of reckoning will come…)

Politicians from all major parties have reached out eagerly to accept unclean contributions – forwarded by those who want to promote questionable commercial enterprises ,and welcomed the lobbyists who broker these deals with open arms. They justify betrayal of the public trust by claiming a high moral duty to secure and remain in elective office.

I could go on – and on – until my fingers are too weary to type,and your eyes are too weary to continue reading ; yet , after all was said and done, any one of us might nod approvingly – then go out to do something unspeakable – in the name of a “higher moral purpose”.

Such is the nature of Plastic Morality.

2006-04-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

Libby Makes Outrageous Disclosure :Massive Protests Feared !

Lewis “Scooter” Libby made an outrageous disclosure in court papers filed yesterday: claiming – under penalty of perjury – that while President Bush and Vice President Cheney had authorized him to furnish details of the National Intelligence Estimate to New York Times reporter Judith Miller (thereby de-classifying the document) , neither the President or the Vice President authorized him to reveal the identity
Of “Secret Agent X-9 ½ “ – otherwise known as Valerie Plame !

Reaction on the Left was swift…. and furious .

“ This is a direct slap in the face to those of us who wanted to see Karl Rove frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs so he could watch Bush and Cheney being burned at the stake in the Rose Garden ! “, shouted one red-faced Senator.

He was joined at the podium (“elbowed aside” might be a more accurate description ) by a Northern Senator famous for his support of rigid gun-control measures. Yanking a small pistol from his shoulder holster, the Senator shouted “ Let’s get the bastards !”

Not to be outdone, an angry woman Senator from the same state whipped a large caliber automatic from the waistband of her black pantsuit, and screamed : “Power to the People !” ( A spectator remarked : “Gee ! She doesn’t look much like Geena Davis !” )

Impatient members of the Progressive Coalition – some waving guns and machetes – began jostling one another for “face time” before the network cameras ; but ,what might have become a rather nasty confrontation lost momentum, when a large , chanting group of Latino demonstrators – many carrying signs demanding instant citizenship – suddenly arrived on the scene.

Asked by reporters for an explanation of their presence at this late date, a spokesperson shrugged and said the contingent had been delayed
because of poor planning by some of the Marxist organizers. “ We were supposed to come here by bus, but wound up having to walk , because the Organizers traded our tickets for some Guatemalan weed.”

The Senators, outflanked by the demonstrators (who were,to be fair, receiving most of the media attention) sulked off in high dudgeon :one calling over his shoulder: “ You haven’t seen the last of us ! “

Contacted later in the day, the White House refused to comment :
thereby reinforcing Media belief they must be trying to hide something.

2006-04-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

April Morning Reverie – or-

An Imaginary Conversation with Seymour Hersh

It’s a beautiful April morning , and I’d like to sit out back and enjoy it: (at my age, you never know if you’ll see another Spring) ; but I’ve got other things on my mind.

I find myself engaging in an imaginary conversation with “investigative reporter”, Seymour Hersh.

Me: Good morning, Mr. Hersh .

SH: (Expansively) Call me Sy. Everyone else does – and this IS an imaginary conversation.

Me: The Iran article of yours in The New Yorker created quite a stir.

SH: Which one ? The one back in 2005 about secret commandos operating in Iran, or the latest one about bombing Iran ?

Me: Both, actually. That 2005 article sort of surprised me: I hear the Iranians had their military and their secret police out combing the hills, searching for those commandos…

SH: What’s surprising about that ? I gave them everything but the GPS coordinates , but the Iranians were just incompetent !

Me: You wanted our people to be caught ?

SH: I just wanted the you-know-what to hit the fan , so that that evil bastard Rumsfeld, and that insane neo-con Death Cult in the White House could be swept from office.

Me: Ah, How about this latest story – about how we’re going to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iraq ? I believe you suggested we might use nuclear weapons ?

SH: What of it ?

Me: Well, it occurs to me we have about 120,000 of our troops in harm’s way, if Iran should decide to pre-empt this pre-emption you wrote about…

SH: And ?

Me: According to my notes, Iran has 350,000 in its army,about 20,000 in the navy, and about the same number in its air force/ missile forces.
It has a hefty inventory of missiles that could reach Iraq , a robust chemical warfare capability, and a small-but-advanced biowarfare capability.

SH: Your point being ?

Me: Since Iran actually reads your articles , and apparently takes them seriously, aren’t you deliberately putting American lives at risk by reporting a story the Administration and the British Government say is totally ridiculous ?

SH: (Heatedly) American lives would not be at risk if there were no Americans in Iraq in the first place !

Me: How about the claim your stories are …less than factual ?

SH: That’s outrageous ! Who has made such a claim ?

Me: Funny you should ask ! I’ve got one right here:

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

On the Web:
http://www.defenselink.mil/cgi-bin/dlprint.cgi?http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050117-1987.html
Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131 Public contact:
http://www.dod.mil/faq/comment.html
or +1 (703) 428-0711

No. 046-05
IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2005

Statement from Pentagon Spokesman Lawrence DiRita on Latest Seymour Hersh Article

The Iranian regime’s apparent nuclear ambitions and its demonstrated support for terrorist organizations is a global challenge that deserves much more serious treatment than Seymour Hersh provides in the New Yorker article titled “The Coming Wars.”

Mr. Hersh’s article is so riddled with errors of fundamental fact that the credibility of his entire piece is destroyed.

Mr. Hersh’s source(s) feed him with rumor, innuendo, and assertions about meetings that never happened, programs that do not exist, and statements by officials that were never made.

A sampling from this article alone includes:

 The post-election meeting he describes between the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff did not happen.
 The only civilians in the chain-of-command are the President and the Secretary of Defense, despite Mr. Hersh’s confident assertion that the chain of command now includes two Department policy officials. His assertion is outrageous, and constitutionally specious.
 Arrangements Mr. Hersh alleges between Under Secretary Douglas Feith and Israel, government or non-government, do not exist. Here, Mr. Hersh is building on links created by the soft bigotry of some conspiracy theorists. This reflects poorly on Mr. Hersh and the New Yorker.
 Mr. Hersh cannot even keep track of his own wanderings. At one point in his article, he makes the outlandish assertion that the military operations he describes are so secret that the operations are being kept secret even from U.S. military Combatant Commanders. Mr. Hersh later states, though, that the locus of this super-secret activity is at the U.S. Central Command headquarters, evidently without the knowledge of the commander if Mr. Hersh is to be believed.

By his own admission, Mr. Hersh evidently is working on an “alternative history” novel. He is well along in that work, given the high quality of “alternative present” that he has developed in several recent articles.
Mr. Hersh’s preference for single, anonymous, unofficial sources for his most fantastic claims makes it difficult to parse his discussion of Defense Department operations.

Finally, the views and policies Mr. Hersh ascribes to Secretary Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz, Under Secretary Feith, and other Department of Defense officials do not reflect their public or private comments or administration policy.

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050117-1987.html

Me: Then there was that “expose” you did on the Jack Kennedy – you know: the involvement with Marilyn Monroe, the ties to the Mafia,and the chapters your publisher had to pull-because they were based on forged documents .

New York magazine did quite a “hit piece” on you – I’ve got a link to it somewhere or other – Here it is !

http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/people/features/11719/index.html

Me: So tell me, Sy: why on earth should anyone with half a brain believe your stories on Iran ?

SH: That’s MISTER HERSH to you ,smart-ass ! I’m outa here !

Me: Thank God for small favors !

Hey ! Look at those apple blossoms ! It’s a fine April morning again .

2006-04-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press : Smear and Run Tactics ?

Much of what you read in your daily newspaper,or see on TV,comes from the Associated Press.

Once upon a time, the “AP” symbol at the beginning of a news story meant the story you were about to read was reasonably accurate,and reasonably free of political bias. Today, quite the opposite seems true !

Let’s look at a story that appeared in newspapers all over America this morning. “Fair Use” rules permit the quoting of one or two sentences, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Vice – President Dick Cheney authorized Cheney’s to aide to launch a counterattack of leaks against administration critics on Iraq by feeding intelligence information to reporters,according to court papers citing the aide’s testimony in the CIA leak case.

The article adds : “…the prosecutor,detailing the evidence he has gathered, raised the possibility that the vice-president was trying to use Plame’s CIA employment to discredit her husband,administration critic Joseph Wilson. “

WHOA !

The Prosecutor raised no such possibility ! Unlike the AP reporter,he has been extremely careful to avoid making such irresponsible statements ; careful to avoid this sort of partisan speculation.

The AP did not see fit to disclose the fact that much of the information given to the NY Times reporter was already in the public domain , or that the full text of the National Intelligence Estimate (minus a few redactions) was made public a few days later.

The AP reporter,in a word, was speculating – but refrained from making that clear : thus insuring that millions of Americans would read an editorial – masquerading as news.

This is hardly an isolated occurrence. The AP website showed the following headline and lede this morning:

Immigration Deal Held Up Over Amendments

By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A Senate breakthrough on an immigration bill praised by leaders in both parties appeared endangered by partisan bickering over amendments from opponents.

Please note the use of the term “partisan bickering”- which apparently means “Republican resistance” to the AP writer. When the story appeared earlier this morning, it was accompanied by a photo of Senate Majority Leader Frist –gesturing with an upraised arm – next to the words “partisan bickering”.

A few days ago, the AP ran a big story about a Department of Homeland Security employee who had been arrested as the result of an Internet sting, after soliciting sex from someone he thought was a 14 year old girl.

AP “suggested ” the suspect was a political appointee,and that his arrest was yet one more embarrassment for a “troubled administration”.

Assorted left wing posters were having a field day with the story, until it was learned the man was not a political appointee, that he was a recent civil service hire, that he had previously worked as a staffer for Time,
that he was a loyal Democrat and a Kerry / Move On supporter.

The AP did not bother to report any of that. They had already pulled what looked very much like a “ smear and run” attack.

Maybe it’s just me, but when I see similar incidents on an almost daily basis – (example: If a Bush administration member introduces a program, it is usually headlined as So-and-So defends new program-even when the accompanying story shows no one actually attacking the proposal ) – it’s clear to me the Associated Press has definitely moved away from the notion of impartial news-gathering.

I can’t help but wonder if AP stands for “Alarmingly Partisan” .

2006-03-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

“ Ambiguous” Document Raises Interesting 9/11 Questions

This is the text of a document seized from Iraqi Intelligence files during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

It is one of the translated documents aired by ABC TV in March,2006, and may have been printed in your hometown newspaper.

Please keep in mind it was written on 09/15/01.

In the name of God the merciful the compassionate
Presidency of the Republic
Intelligence Service
2/913/5th directorate

Sir: Director General of the 5th directorate

Subject: Information
Our Afghani source #002 (info on him in paper slip ‘1’) has informed us that Afghani consular Ahmed Dahistani (info on him in paper slip ‘2’) had spoken before him of the following:

1-That Usama Bin Ladin and the Taliban group in Afghanistan are in contact with Iraq and that a group from the Taliban and Usama Bin Ladin’s group had conducted a visit to Iraq.

2-That America possesses evidence that Iraq and Usama Bin Ladin’s group had cooperated to strike targets inside America.

3-In case Taliban and Usama’s group are proven involved in those sabotage operations, it will be possible that America directs strikes at Iraq and Afghanistan.

4-That the Afghani consular had heard about the Iraq connections with Usama Bin Ladin’s group during his presence in Iran.

5-In the light of what preceded we suggest writing to the Intentions Committee about the above information.

Please be informed…..your feedback please…..with appreciation.
)signature) (signature(

Information office send immediately to the
Of the 5th directorate/3 Intentions Committee
9/15/2001

I call your attention to the opening, (and pious salutation) which makes it clear Iraq and the Taliban were sharing intelligence – possibly on an informal basis-prior to 9/11. (Not surprising, or even remarkable ; but worth keeping in mind when someone declares the sectarian Iraqis and fanatically religious Taliban could not possibly have had common interests.)

Item 1 in the report mentions something most of us have known for years: that “Usama bin Ladin's group” had visited Iraq. (Item 4 tells us how the Taliban came by this information.)

Item 2 is far more interesting: “…America possesses evidence that Iraq and Usama bin Ladin’s group had cooperated to strike targets inside America.” (Item 3 discusses the likely consequences.)

A. Please note the bald matter-of-factness of this statement; the lack of speculation or ambiguity.

B. How does somebody in Afghanistan know what evidence America possesses ?

C. If there is/was such evidence,who had it, and where is it now ?

Would I be “reading too much into this document” to suggest al-Qaeda
had (and perhaps still has) a “mole” in the US Intelligence community ?
Someone so highly placed as to be aware of al-Qaeda/Iraqi cooperation ? Someone able to cover his/her tracks by “burying” evidence so deep in the files as to make it almost non-retrievable ?

Would I be too far out of line in suggesting such a person might have had prior knowledge of 9/11 ?

2006-03-18T07:51:00.000-08:00

Lou Dobbs on Chinese Inroads in Latin America : Dead Wrong !

Recently,veteran newscaster Lou Dobbs informed his audience –with much frowning , tsk-tsk-ing, and head shaking – the main reason Communist China has been able to make such massive inroads into Latin America was due to America’s refusal to permit its troops to be hauled before the International Court of Justice at the Hague.

With all respect to Mr. Dobbs, it is difficult to imagine how he came to such a conclusion !

Let me state a few basic facts of life; and, after review, perhaps we may reason together.

Fact 1 : China is an expansionist nation, which, despite its flirtation with “capitalism” – (if one may describe industries owned by the Peoples Liberation Army as capitalist ) – is still officially and actually committed to the promotion of Maoist Communism all around the globe.

Fact 2 : China is a massive –(some might even say reckless) - consumer of
oil ,and has demonstrated time and time again it will do almost anything to obtain and maintain steady sources of that commodity.

Fact 3 : Latin America has massive reserves of oil – on shore and off shore:
enough, some say, to make the vaunted Middle Eastern oil fields look like mud puddles.

Fact 4 : Latin America is a seething cauldron of unrest : much of which has been stirred up by Chinese “surrogates” – ( Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, The Shining Path,and FARC come to mind.) This makes it a prime market for high-end military equipment.

Fact 5 : The United States – at least in the last 20 years or so – has become increasingly hesitant to supply military equipment to Latin American nations interested in attacking their neighbors, suppressing burgeoning democratic movements at home, or otherwise trying out for membership in the “Axis of Evil”.

Fact 6 : China has no compunctions about supplying military equipment to Latin American oil producers – in exchange for oil. If the equipment adds to area-wide tensions, or is used to overthrow democratic regimes – so much the better !

Fact 7 : China would never dream of turning its troops over to the International Court . Were it to do so, the Hague would be so inundated with pending complaints, it would cease to function.

Fact 8 : The Latin American nations being courted by China don’t give a tinker’s dam about the Hague (although a few of their diplomats may make appropriate noises at the UN) . They have oil to sell, and they have a buyer – who will help them extract and refine it, and who is willing to supply them with shiploads of weapons : all without tiresome moralistic or ecological restrictions.

Lou Dobbs, with all respect , I think you were dead wrong .

2006-03-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

Let Us (Chuckle ! Guffaw !) Praise Che Guevara !

One would be hard-pressed to find any college campus in the United States where there was not at least one “Che” poster or tee shirt. In places like San Francisco, there are whole bookshops devoted to the published works of Che Guevara –with ample stocks of Che banners,posters,tee shirts ,and (I am told) articles of intimate wear -emblazoned with the bold image of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna : the legendary “freedom fighter”.

The truth is, Che Guevara was a legenday failure : one of those folks of whom it could be said : “Almost every piece of gold he touched turned to dross”.

Born in 1928 to a well-heeled , but fashionably leftist family,Guevara studied medicine at the University of Buenos Aires , practiced for a short time, then set off with a friend on a motorcycle trip though Latin America ,where he discovered there was widespread poverty .

After a brief stint as a medical volunteer ,he decided to express his solidarity with the poor by returning to civilization and marrying a well-to-do Peruvian socialist named Hilda Gadea. She introduced him to “high society” , but it didn’t do much for his medical career,as he was too busy studying Marxism to attend to his patients.Things got so bad, he was forced to sell some of his wife’s jewelry : thus teaching her an important lesson about the re-distribution of wealth.

(Feminist admirers of Che will be nonplussed – or not –(probably not) - to learn he expressed his appreciation by divorcing the long-suffering Hilda almost the moment he received honorary Cuban citizenship.)

Che Guevara is next noted to be in Guatamala-where he joined Jacobo Arbenz Guzman in a failed revolution – and had to flee back to Argentina. He is reported to have met Fidel Castro there ,and seems to have joined him in a failed attempt to invade Cuba.

Fidel,Che, and the few remaining survivors of the failed invasion hid out in the Sierra Madre mountains of Cuba and built a guerrilla army : eventually succeeding in the overthrow of the Batista dictatorship.

During this long campaign, the “gentle doctor Guevara” gained a reputation for ruthlessness among his fellow guerrillas : rooting out and executing any
“deviationists” , slackers, or potential traitors.

This reputation would serve him well once Castro assumed power. Che became Commander of La Cabana Fortress , and, for the next six months, oversaw the trial of Batista loyalists and political dissidents. (The rattle of Cuban firing squads shook a few members of the American media out of their fatuous complacency , but most just shrugged it off as “excess of revolutionary zeal.”)

Che was next named director of the National Institute of Agrarian Reform,and president of the National Bank of Cuba (where he took to signing bank notes with his nickname - “Che”.)

Guevara did rather poorly at Agrarian Reform and at banking , and Fidel decided to make other use of him.

Packed off to Panama – and later to the Dominican Republic – to organize communist revolutions, he failed miserably : barely getting back to Cuba alive.

In 1960, an arms ship – La Coubre – exploded as it docked in Cuba.
Fidel dispatched El Commandante Che to supervise the cleanup-but
Che did such a careless job, a second explosion occurred: killing over 100 dock workers, and seriously injuring many more.

When the Bay of Pigs fiasco occurred in 1961, Castro wisely avoided giving Che any meaningful role. He was sent to a command post on Pinar del Rio,where a small diversionary force had mounted a feint. Almost no shots were fired in warding off this decoy force, but Che managed to get wounded:He accidentally shot himself in the face with his own gun !

Che supported the Russian importation of nuclear missiles into Cuba, and later, as the Cuban missile fuss was slowly dying down, expressed anger over the refusal of the Russians to turn their nukes over to Cuban control.Guevara made no bones about saying he would have used them to launch a nuclear attack on the norteamericanos.

In 1964, Che Guevara visited the UN as leader of the Cuban delegation – and was lionized by CBS. He had warm meetings with Senator Eugene Mc Carthy,with several associates of Malcolm X, and with Canadian radical Michelle Duclos; then flew off to Paris to begin a 3 month “world solidarity” tour; culminating in his delivery of a distinctly Maoist address at the Second Economic Seminar on Afro-Asian Solidarity, on 2/24/65.

When Che Guevara returned to Cuba on 3/14/65, Fidel and Raoul Castro were on hand to give him a “hero’s welcome” ; but, just two weeks later, the popular Che “disappeared” from public view.

Where he disappeared to was never revealed , but , on 10/31/65 , Fidel Castro displayed an undated letter from Che Guevara , in which Che resigned all his government offices, renounced his Cuban citizenship, and expressed a desire to “fight abroad”. (Students of Marxist history may be reminded of a similar document Leon Trotsky was obliged to sign before he was allowed to leave the country. Castro-like Stalin before him-was not inclined to tolerate potential rivals for power.)

Officially, some time after March,1965 , Che Guevara emerged in the Congo, and began teaching guerrilla tactics to the Simbas : a violent Marxist revolutionary group that had gained notoriety with acts of kidnaping, rape,looting, arson, and the hacking to death of anyone who got in their way.

Once he felt the Simbas were ready, he began leading them personally on raids , but this time there was organized opposition – in the form of a 100 man team , made up of a handful of US Special Forces troops, and Cuban refugees,who had been recruited as mercenaries by the Congolese government.

The mission of the team was to thwart and humiliate Che Guevara whenever possible. Team members intercepted Simba communications , tracked the guerrillas through the jungle, and helped the Congolese Army set up ambushes at likely spots.

Seven months later, a sick (and thoroughly humiliated) Che Guevara decided it was time to leave the Congo. Being Che, he blamed the Simbas for his failures, and issued communiqués glorifying his own role in “the great work”.

Fidel Castro sent out emissaries to persuade Che to come home to Cuba-but Guevara chose to stay out of his former patron’s reach : popping up in Dar-es-Salaam, Prague, and East Germany , and moving on before Cuban “escort teams” could get their hands on him.

He seems to have made his peace with Fidel soon afterwards,however, because, in the autumn of 1966, Che enters Bolivia on a forged Uraguayan passport, and sets up shop in a remote section of Bolivia on land purchased by Bolivian Communists at Fidel Castro’s express request.

In March ,1967 , accompanied by a band of approximately 50 Cubans, Peruvians, Argentinians, and Bolivians, Che begins raiding Bolivian Army outposts . His well-equipped troops style themselves the National Army of Liberation (ELN),and for the next few months, he is able to ambush the Bolivian troops with impunity ; however, in August of 1967, his luck begins to change,and the Bolivians wipe out about a third of his men.

Under a Memo of Understanding , the US has sent CIA and Special Forces to train the 2nd Ranger Battalion of the Bolivian Army in counter-insurgency tactics, and, by September, 1967 the Battalion is combat ready.

Che’s arrogance plays an important part in his downfall. On 9/22/67,
his ELN guerrillas arrive at Alto Seco Village – not far from their own base camp, and after subjecting the forcibly assembled villagers to a lecture on revolutionary objectives, the guerrillas take large quantities of food from the village store – without paying for it.

It’s all down hill from there. When the guerrillas enter the village of La Higuera a few days later, they come under attack, and are forced to evacuate – but the local people are quick to tell the Army where they are hiding, and, over the next week, the Army and the Rangers attack Che’s group again and again.

On 10/08/67 , alerted by a peasant woman ,the Rangers discover the ELN hiding in a ravine, and engage them in a fierce fire fight. Che, who has been several times in the legs, is trapped , and shouts” Do not shoot ! I am Che Guevara and worth more to you alive than dead !”

Troops carry him to the village of La Higuera on a stretcher. A CIA agent/advisor attached to the Battalion asks that Che’s life be spared:telling the Rangers his government would like to move Guevara to Panama for interrogation; but the Bolivian High Command disagrees. They have already announced to the world that Che has died of battle wounds , and the Ranger commander is ordered to “make it so” – which he does,rather sloppily.

It is at this point that Che Guevara ceases to be the arrogant, inept bungler that he was , and enters the Left’s “pantheon of heroes : a Certified Martyr of the Revolution .

Had the Bolivians agreed to the American request, Guevara would have been pumped dry of information –with the results revealed to the world- then
handed over to anyone who wanted him for disposition.

Fidel Castro would have disowned him , faster than you can say “VD”; and the legions of “Che worshippers “ would have slunk off in offended silence : their posters,banners, and tee shirts finding their way to recycling bins all over America.

The Left loves its martyrs – but nobody likes a loser !

2006-03-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

Growing Unrest in Venezuela – (But No Film at 11)

We don’t see or hear much about Venezuela in the news – unless “outspoken” Presidente Hugo Chavez happens to be bashing our
President ,and/or ranting about his need to defend against imminent attack by the dreaded norteamericanos.

Sample here from the (UK) Daily Telegraph:

http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=OLL0GJ4QZJZCTQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2006/03/04/wvenez04.xml

Such announcements are often made in the presence of fatuous American admirers – Harry Belafonte , Cindy Sheehan ,and assorted pols and academics – and they receive full, undivided media attention. ( Hey ! Anyone who bashes “Dubya” can’t be all bad !)

There is so little American media coverage of unrest in Venezuela ,one might easily assume the country has become the “socialist paradise” its Leftist boosters claim–but there is unrest, and it is growing.

Here’s the lede of an article in the(UK) Daily Telegraph

Venezuelan middle class flees Chávez rule of hate
By Sophie Arie in Caracas
(Filed: 05/03/2006)*

Venezuela's once-thriving middle class is packing its bags and fleeing the country, afraid for the future as the socialist president, Hugo Chávez, calls on the slum-dwelling masses to rise up and seize wealth from those better off than themselves.

Growing numbers of professionals, business owners and shopkeepers are fed up with the climate of hostility that the Left-wing president has encouraged in his effort to boost his populist credentials.

* We would show this date as “03/05/2006”.

(Link to full article here:)

http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/05/wvenez05.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/03/05/ixworld.html

Here is an Internet post from Luis: a hard-working young Venezuelan student, who details the growing unrest in Western Venezuela.

“A group of Venezuelans from Zulia State which is located in western Venezuela, is seeking to hold a referendum in the region to determine if the Zulian people agree with the idea of seeking a higher level of autonomy.

Zulia is Venezuela's richest and most populated State (something like California to the US). Vast oil fields are located in the state. Zulia is also Venezuela's most important agricultural state. Venezuela's 2nd largest city, Maracaibo, is Zulia's capital.

The group that is organizing this movement consider themselves an oposition group to Chavez's authoritarian regime.

Their proposal is to give Zulia greater autonomy over its resource management, and to establish a free market economy to reduce poverty and to bring jobs and education to the Zulia population.

The socialist regime imposed by Chavez is helping increase poverty all around the country despite the higher-than-ever oil income.

The idea is to give Zulia a status similiar of what some regions in Spain currently enjoy (Catalonia, Basque Country, etc...). The movement clearly states that they don't seek independence from Venezuela, they just want to manage their money.

Inmediately after the announcement by this group, the Chavez regime started a criminal prosecution of the leaders of the group accusing them of rebellion and treason.

The Armed Forces which are 110% Chavez loyalists, threatened to “crush and destroy” any rebellious movement in Zulia.

The FARC (Colombian Guerrillas who are receiving overt Chavez support) have announced that they will “fight to the death” against any rebel movement in the region – (a curious statement from a “rebel” group !)

People from Zulia have always sought greater autonomy from the cental govt. Some of them have even proposed seeking full independence.

I have lived in Zulia and half of my family was born there, thus, I feel very Zuliano and would love to see Zulia holding a referendum on the issue.

Zulia deserves to receive the money its natural resources produce. I give my full support to their stance and I hope that, through democratic means, Zulia will be able to achieve its long-wanted autonomy.”

Such “rumblings” do not not appear in our media (CNN had a small “squib” about “separatism in western Venezuela” – which they pretty much got wrong ) but they do not escape the attention of the Radical Left – here and abroad.

Venezuela Solidarity, which is linked closely to the Pro-Castro “ Hands Off Venezuela” organization,published a heavy-handed online response:

http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org.uk/ven/web/2006/articles/zulia_secessionist.html

Here are small samples of the article:

“Authorities and the media had previously alerted about the existence of a secessionist plan for Zulia as part of actions planned against the government of President Chavez.

This state where a great deal of Venezuela’s oil wealth is located, is controlled by opposition governor Manuel Rosales who has been accused of participating in conspiracy meetings with ex military coup mongers and Colombian paramilitaries.”

The article goes on to note because Rosales was able to prove he had never left Venezuela to go conspire with anybody ,this was “proof” he must have gone undercover-(handily “proving” his participation in a conspiracy)- and concludes:

“Reports indicate that the denouncements made, that Zulia is being taken over as “free territory by criminal and terrorist organizations with the cooperation of the Governor. These groups are dedicated to kidnapping, extortion and vehicle theft.

Footnote: Any “declaration of Zulia’s independence” by Governor Rosales could lead to military action to unseat this self-appointed coup monger as President of Zulia. This could trigger a series of events and destabilization in western Venezuela leading to an excuse for the US to send troops or UN Peace Keepers arriving as is the case in Haiti. The obvious intention is to capture the oil supplies. This secessionist adventure in not new and forms part of the overall destabilization plan being hatched in Langley at CIA headquarters. Maximum alert is required by the Venezuelan military and the Venezuelan people, as well as international support from workers and trade unionists worldwide.”

Not long after Luis posted his message, he received this response from-(you guessed it)- an American, who had this “thoughtful” response:

" STOP POSTING BULLSHIT AND LIES !"

If the sheer volume of Chavez-friendly “ Google bombing” is any indicator,
It would appear the Left in general and the Communists in particular are making a major effort to “suffocate” any adverse information coming out of Venezuela.

It took a fairly lengthy search to find the Daily Telegraph material,as I had to wade through hundreds of pro-Chavez stories – most of which were duplicates of material posted elsewhere. It’s an ingenious way of controlling the flow of information without seeming to – and quite effective !

What goes on in Zulia – or elsewhere in Venezuela – is, of course, the business of the Venezuelan people ; and it is hoped they will be able to counteract the machinations of President Chavez before it is too late.

Viva la libertad, Luis !

2006-03-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

What Junior May Have Learned in School Today

Taped in a Denver – area classroom by a concerned student –the day after the State of the Union Address, this transcript details how a teacher named Jay Bennish instructed this class in World Geography at Overland HS.

Bennish: [tape begins with class already underway. Bennish completing an unintelligble statement about Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.] Why do we have troops in Colombia fighting in their civil war for over 30 years. Most Americans don't even know this. For over 30 years, America has had soldiers fighting in Colombia in a civil war. Why are we fumigating coca crops in Bolivia and Peru if we're not trying to control other parts of the world. Who buys cocaine? Not Bolivians. Not Peruvians. Americans! Ok. Why are we destroying the farmers' lives when we're the ones that consume that good.

Can you imagine? What is the world's number one single cause of death by a drug? What drug is responsible for the most deaths in the world? Cigarettes! Who is the world's largest producer of cigarettes and tobacco? The United States!

What part of our country grows all our tobacco? Anyone know what states in particular? Mostly what's called North Carolina. Alright. That's where all the cigarette capitals are. That's where a lot of them are located from. Now if we have the right to fly to Bolivia or Peru and drop chemical weapons on top of farmers' fields because we're afraid they might be growing coca and that could be turned into cocaine and sold to us, well then don't the Peruvians and the Iranians and the Chinese have the right to invade America and drop chemical weapons over North Carolina to destroy the tobacco plants that are killing millions and millions of people in their countries every year and causing them billions of dollars in health care costs?

Make sure you get these definitions down.

Capitalism: If you don't understand the economic system of capitalism, you don't understand the world in which we live. Ok. Economic system in which all or most of the means of production, etc., are owned privately and operated in a somewhat competitive environment for the purpose of producing PROFIT! Of course, you can shorten these definitions down. Make sure you get the gist of it. Do you see how when, you know, when you're looking at this definition, where does it say anything about capitalism is an economic system that will provide everyone in the world with the basic needs that they need? Is that a part of this system? Do you see how this economic system is at odds with humanity? At odds with caring and compassion? It's at odds with human rights.

Anytime you have a system that is designed to procure profit, when profit is the bottom motive -- money -- that means money is going to become more important potentially than what? Safety, human lives, etc.

Why did we invade Iraq?! How do we know that the invasion of Iraq for weapons of mass destruction-- even if weapons had been found, how would you have known, how could you prove--that that was not a real reason for us to go there.

There are dozens upon dozens of countries that have weapons of mass destruction. Iraq is one of dozens. There are plenty of countries that are controlled by dictators, where people have no freedom, where they have weapons of mass destruction and they could be potentially threatening to America. We're not invading any of those countries!

[Pause.]

I'll give you guys another minute or two to get some of these [definitions] down. I agree with Joey. Try to condense these a little bit. I took these straight out of the dictionary.

Anyone in here watch any of Mr. Bush's [State of the Union] speech last night? I'm gonna talk a little about some of things he had to say.

...One of things that I'll bring up now, since some of you are still writing, is, you know, Condoleezza Rice said this the other day and George Bush reiterated it last night. And the implication was that the solution to the violence in the Middle East is democratization. And the implication through his language was that democracies don't go to war. Democracies aren't violent. Democracies won't want weapons of mass destruction. This is called blind, naive faith in democracy!
Who is probably the single most violent nation on the face of planet Earth?!

Unidentified student interjects: We are.

The United States of America! And we're a democracy. Quote-unquote.

Who has the most weapons of mass destruction in the world? The United States.
Who's continuing to develop new weapons of mass destruction as we speak?! The United States.

So, why does Mr. Bush think that other countries that are democracies won't wanna be like us? Why does he think they'll just wanna be at peace with each other?! What makes him think that when the Palestinians get their own state that they won't wanna preemptively invade Israel to eliminate a potential threat to their security just like we supposedly did in Iraq?! Do you see the dangerous precedent that we have set by illegally invading another country and violating their sovereignty in the name of protecting us against a potential future--sorry--attack?

Why doesn't Mexico invade Guatemala? Maybe they're scared of being attacked. Ok. Why doesn't North Korea invade South Korea?! They might be afraid of being attacked. Or maybe Iran and North Korea and Saudi Arabia and what else did he add to the list last night - and Zimbabwe - maybe they're all gonna team up and try and invade us because they're afraid we might invade them. I mean, where does this cycle of violence end? You know?

(Sources of this report were the Rocky Mountain News and Michelle Malkin’s column.The teacher in question was suspended after a tape of his lecture surfaced on the Web and was seen by a school board member.)

I can’t help but wonder whether this is an isolated event, or whether such classroom political indoctrination attempts are commonplace.

Judging by some of what I’ve seen expressed on the Internet, I suspect Mr. Bennish has had a LOT of company over the years –probably to the great distress of the truly dedicated teachers who have to work with such people.

2006-02-25T08:10:00.000-08:00

Excellent Reason to Cancel UAE Port Deal : Justin Likes It !!

That “lovable” troll – Justin Raimondo – LIKES the idea of the UAE controlling our ports – and says his counterparts on the Left (especially that awful , no-taste Arianna Huffington !) are PROFILING our poor Arab brethren.

America’s self-appointed "Chief Copperhead" has kind of a THING about Arabs – apparently because they don’t get along too well with Jews. He also likes Hugo Chavez, Slobodan Milosevic, and Saddam Hussein ...(So manly !)

In the event you are “into “ self-punishment, here is a link to his latest bit of wit and wisdom :

http://antiwar.com/justin/

Enjoy !

2006-02-21T07:08:00.000-08:00

Permit Me a Geriatric Growl or Two…

Call me mean -spirited and divisive if you will,but I hate the way the Olympics
are covered on TV !

I have nothing against the athletes. I know they work very hard and do super-human things during the competitions. It’s the “Entertainment Events” and the Network Commentators I hate –passionately !

By “Entertainment Events” , I mean those insane gymnastic events – performed on snowboards or skis – with arcane scoring rules , and ratchet jaw commentary. It’s all quite spectacular, and it is clearly “made-to-order” for TV audiences , but what in Heaven or Hell does it have to do with Olympic competition ?

One event – Giant Slalom – in which skiers manuever around simulated obstacles – is spectacular in and of itself ; but is ruined for me by the loud, yelping commentaries that accompany it.

Hey, NBC : I have a working pair of eyes, which is why I’m WATCHING the event on television. I can SEE Kurt Muskular struggling to keep his balance as he rounds that tricky gate, and I don’t NEED you shouting at me !

I’ve saved my biggest gripe for last : Skate Dancing.

I watched the finals last night , and wanted – in the worst way – to snatch the remote out of my wife’s hand ,and fling it at the wall – after listening to Commentator Dick Button’s derogatory comments about the various teams; but I waited. NBC, it seems, had injected a note of “high drama” into proceedings normally about as exciting as watching wallpaper dry.

THE ITALIAN COUPLE HAD ISSUES !!!

It seems, during their last performance, the male skater had lost his grip on the female skater, causing her to fall down and go boom ; and she: good-natured trouper that she was , was giving him THE GLARE !

The NBC crew followed the couple around –on and off the rink – capturing evidence these two were not speaking to,or even looking at each other.
She was still doing THE GLARE , and he was IGNORING HER ANGER !!

COULD THESE ISSUES BE RESOLVED ??

Finally it was time for them to go on the ice. I wondered : would he do a lift on the lady , wind up , and pitch her into the stands ? If he did , how many generations would it take for the ensuing vendetta to subside ? Would NBC be doing follow-up coverage of the feuding ? Would they somehow find a way to blame the whole thing on the Bush Administration ?

Ho-hum. They managed to complete their program without resorting to anything even remotely homicidal – unless you count boring the audience to death .

As we prepared to switch channels , Dick Button – who had nearly soiled his drawers with joy over the rather boring Russian skaters – was heaping scorn on the Israeli team – who had turned in a very similar performance. It seemed they had made the unforgivable error of using Ravel’s “Bolero” as their background music : the same music somebody else had used in the 1980’s – which made them crass imitators, yadda yadda yadda.

Be still my heart : Women’s Figure Skating starts tonight …

2006-02-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

Girlie Porn : Is Someone YOU Love Addicted ??

Men of America : Has this happened to you ?

You leave for work in the early morning hours – but – a few minutes away from home, you suddenly discover you have left important papers or vitally-needed equipment behind; so you turn around and rush back to your cozy little home.

As you hurry to the door, you notice the house is still dark – except for the telltale blue flicker of a TV set – and you begin to wonder.

Why is my wife/girlfriend sitting there in the dark – at this hour - watching TV ?

You enter the house quietly. Perhaps she turned the TV on, forgot it,and went back to bed . Then you hear it : a low, ululating cry that seems to be coming from the TV room:

“Yes ! Yes- YES !!”

And, worse still : “ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh – OH YES !!! “

If you are like most husbands (or Significant-Others-likely-to-make-a-Real Commitment ), you are faced with a dilemma.

Should you get what you came for,and tiptoe out quietly ?

Or should you confront the wanton and “have it out” right now (in a sincere,caring,and supportive manner: paying special attention to her previously unattained needs; and your careless failure to recognize and meet them ) ?

Yep. That’s what I’d do, too. You are on your way to work !

But, just to satisfy your curiosity, you tiptoe to the slightly ajar door of the TV room, and peek in ---recoiling instantly from the gut-wrenching filth
flashing brazenly across the screen !

It’s the (Ulp !) HOME IMPROVEMENT NETWORK !!!

Gentlemen : If you have never seen this insidious material before, mere words can do no justice to the effect of scenes like the following :

A neatly-but-casually dressed young man – who is not clenching the stub of a cigar in his teeth ,and who speaks perfect, colloquial English,is conferring earnestly with a moderately (but not threateningly) attractive young woman about a remodelling project.

He is suggesting conversion of the spare, highly functional dinette area into a reasonable facsimile of a Trappist refectory : complete with arched doorways , acres of hardwood tables,overhead racks laden with gleaming implements, huge cooking ranges and ovens,great,gleaming copper bottomed pots, and… Oh my !

The attractive young woman will never actually cook anything in this refectory – but she will get to show it off to all her green-with-envy friends ! (Oh, yes !)

There are, or course, no budget restrictions on this project …
(Oh-oh- OH !)

Come away from that doorway, Brother ! You’ve seen enough !

Tiptoe : softly – softly out the door , and scurry to your car before
She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed notices you have watched any part of a Home Improvement show !

There will be plenty of time – after you come home – to take drastic remedial action : to re-program the “favorite channels” so that “Pimp My Ride” , or “Motorweek” , or “ NFL Classics” , or “The Hunting Channel” come up when she tries to tune in any Shop-at-Home or Home Improvement channel. (You will, of course, use the adult “blocking” tools provided by your Supplier – if you have any sense at all.)

Men of America, strike a blow against Girlie Porn !!

Your future happiness may well depend upon it !

2006-02-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

HUGO CHAVEZ BRINGS SOCIALIST BENEFITS TO VENEZUELA !!

So what if the poor peasants in Venezuela are STILL poor ?

Fearless Leader Hugo Chavez is making sure they are well-armed: another 900,000 rifles, MIGs, Fulcrums,patrol boats,SAMs,and (for those hungry campesinos out in the bush) submarines !!

http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/200602141617

To make sure los pobrecitos receive the correct sort of information, the benevolent Socialist government has increased its level of "guidance" on TV and other media outlets:

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/11/30/venezu9754.htm

It has also taken steps to reduce the amount of divisive chatter from those who do not have the proper attitudes towards Bolivarismo.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/24/venezu10368.htm

and has taken steps to insure that the clear true voice of Bolivarismo is heard in the nation's courts.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/12/14/venezu9864.htm

I ask you,my Progressive friends: Is this not a true miracle of Socialism ?

2006-02-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

Lay Off the Boy Scouts !!

I’ve had it with the vicious attacks on the Boy Scouts of America !

I’ve seen them called “ a Brownshirt Taliban” , “KKK for Kiddies”,
and worse !

The main bone of contention seems to be that the organization uses its free association rights (upheld by the Supreme Court) to screen out potential Boy Scout leaders who are openly gay : a precaution most parents whole-heartedly endorse.

“This is discrimination !” , the protestors howl. “ There is no scientific evidence that gays are more likely to be pedophiles than heterosexuals are.”

I’ve looked at the available evidence, and tend to agree – but pedophilia is not the issue !

Pedophilia is the desire to have sex with very young children , and those who practice it are (statistically) male members of the immediate family , and juveniles.

From a Scouting perspective, the young boys at risk for pedophile
molestation are Cub Scouts – who are usually well protected by Den Mothers. Cub Scouts are also quite a bit less likely to be far from home on extended camping trips.

The real issue is ephebophilia ( sometimes called hebephilia ) : the desire to have sex with young adolescents.

Ephebophilia is most notable among male homosexuals – many of whom see nothing wrong with having sex with a young adolescent male-whose sexual orientation is still somewhat amorphous.

Here is a link to a male homosexual information center that studies this problem:

http://www.mhamic.org/terminology/terminology_print.htm

Here's yet another link: this one to the "Queer Issue" of The Village Voice-

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0025,guichard,15827,1.html

If you would like to assess how widespread this disorder * is, I suggest you go to your favorite online search engine –eg: Google, Yahoo, or Jeeves – and type in the word “twinks”. (See how many entries you get. 100,000 or more is not improbable.)

A “twink” is a young boy – preferably about 14 years old – and one of the favorite pornography topics for male homosexuals (and others who frequent gay sex sites).

The Boy Scouts of America have been around for a very long time-and have had to deal with the problem of sexual abuse of young adolescents by older, homosexual leaders for a very long time.

One such “wave” of abuse occurred in my area about a generation ago,and created a major scandal. Right on the heels of this scandal,a trusted leader-not involved with the abuse, as far as I know- decided it would be a good time to “ come out of the closet “. ( Talk about really bad timing !)

The organization dropped him like a hot potato . He took them to court and lost-and lost-and lost: all the way up to the top.

Since then,assorted civil liberties groups , gay advocacy groups , and ideologues of various stripes have harrassed the Boy Scouts like a swarm of gnats: pressuring everybody who will listen to them to penalize the Scouts for making the safety of their membership more important than soothing the ruffled feathers of those most likely to do harm.

I guess this is what passes for civil rights now !

* note: The American Psychiatric Association still classifies ephebophilia as a “disorder” – but just barely. It seems the problem is so common among gays , it has become “normal”.

2006-02-10T16:04:00.000-08:00

That Old Red Menace Has Me in its Spell…

In the 1950’s , it was not unusual to see articles in mainstream magazines with titles like : “The Red Menace Must Be Stopped !”

Were you to try and publish such an article anywhere today – including the Internet – you would be greeted with rudely worded suggestions you were in dire need of psychiatric care ; because we all know there is no “Red Menace” !

How do we know this ? If we’re under the age of 50, we probably learned it in school. Those of us who are over 50 have had it drummed into our stubborn heads by the Media, by our political leaders, and by the Academic Community – (which has written many books on the subject, and which can cite them in mind-numbing detail.)

Hmmmm…. Would Chinese Communist espionage and other activities on US soil be considered a menace ?

Here’s a report I saw on Reuters yesterday (brief citation).

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Taiwanese citizen was charged in the United States on Thursday with being a covert agent for Beijing, and accused together with a Frenchman of trying to illegally export an F-16 jet engine, Blackhawk helicopter engines and cruise missiles to China.

U.S. prosecutors in Miami said a federal grand jury had returned a nine-count indictment against Ko-Suen Moo, of Taipei, and Maurice Serge Voros, of Paris.

Reports-so far – in the Mainstream US Media …..none.

Report from 11/05. (This did make the Media-about 6 weeks later,and was never really followed up.)

Story in The Washington Times, 11/05/05

“Four persons arrested in Los Angeles are part of a Chinese intelligence-gathering ring, federal investigators said, and the suspects caused serious compromises for 15 years to major U.S. weapons systems, including submarines and warships.

U.S. intelligence and security officials said the case remains under investigation but that it could prove to be among the most damaging spy cases since the 1985 one of John A. Walker Jr., who passed Navy communication codes to Moscow for 22 years.”

In the interest of conserving bandwidth, let me say a search of “Chinese espionage>USA” on Google will produce volumes and volumes of Chinese espionage cases in the USA- going back decades.

Just for chuckles, I suggest a further search of
“Cuban espionage>USA” .

You may find the under-reported story about a female Castro agent who penetrated the NSC, and who managed to escape detection for several years.

Two days ago , in Atlanta, Georgia ( Yes, that’s still part of the USA, last time I looked ) a technical editor for Epoch Times was beaten in his apartment by two Koreans and a Chinese. His laptops were stolen,but cash and other valuables were undisturbed.

At noon on February 8th, two armed men forced themselves into the home in Atlanta of Epoch Times Chief Technical Officer Mr. Yuan P. Li, beating him and stealing two of his laptops. After Mr. Li managed to free himself from the extension cord used to bind him, he was taken to an area hospital for treatment. His statement describing this attack is published below.

This crime, occurring in a very safe area in Atlanta and done without concern for the taking of valuables, breaks new ground in the Chinese Communist regime's campaign against The Epoch Times.

The Epoch Times is a strongly anti-Communist publication, which specializes in critical reports about conditions and life in Red China.

National Media interest to date : None.

“Well, okay,” the Intelligentsia say. “ We all know the Chinese like to play rough – and maybe they do stray onto our turf once in a while – but you can hardly cobble up a “ Red Menace” from that ! That would be kind of paranoid, wouldn’t it ? “

“ For there to be any sort of menace, there would have to be some sort of Party infrastructure here in the United States.”

If you are looking for a Party infrastructure , you might want to visit the linked site – which is neutral-friendly towards groups on the Left.

http://reds.linefeed.org/groups.html

Just for the sake of clarity, I have eliminated groups that are “Socialist or Social Democrat”, have eliminated both Green Parties, and have concentrated on “hard core” Communists.

It is difficult to estimate true numbers,since the groups tend to report numbers of cadres (a cadre is presumed here to mean an organizational “cell” ), so I’ll have to count in cadres.

Maoists-200 cadres
Castroites – 200 cadres
Trotskyites- 300 cadres
Marxist/Leninists – 50 cadres
Stalinists – 500 cadres

The size of the crowds at major Party demonstrations has been in the hundreds of thousands. Eliminating the curious ,the groupies, and the hangers-on ,it is still obvious the combined Communist factions are able to field tens of thousands of activists : a “Party infrastructure” by any definition !

The next time someone looks at you with pity, and tells you : “ But Communism is dead “, keep in mind that old Monty Python routine :

“ Actually, sir: I’m not quite dead yet !”

2006-02-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

The NSA Hearings : The Media Misses a HUGE Story !

I ‘ve been reading the news in the papers and on the Net, and I’ve watched the reports on TV; but so far, the Media seem almost clueless.

Locked onto the story that “over 5000 Americans’ phone conversations were monitored” , the reporters seem to be missing a huge story:

Suspected Terrorists telephoned over 5000 people in the USA !

WHY did terror suspects from Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran,Indonesia,Syria,and other powderkeg countries call people in America ?

Were they ordering pizza ? Getting competitive estimates on car insurance ? Signing up for 30 day “firmer butt” courses at the local health spa ? Subscribing to The New York Times ?

Here’s a clue :

These are people with an intense –some would say fanatical – desire to do us harm.

Much of their waking day is spent attempting just that , and their telephone calls and their E mails are apt to be concerned with the transmission of intelligence, status reports on operations in progress,warnings to cell members, instructions on financing,etc.,etc.,etc.

If “Uncle Achmed” – a terrorist in Khartoum - calls “Cousin Farad” in Baltimore, and tells him “ The family is still sick” , it tends to mean :“Our cell is still under surveillance, so be careful what you say. “

The very fact these communications are being made to people on our soil is the real story …and it is an alarming one !

The fact the Media seems to be ignoring this story is prima facie evidence that ideology (perhaps I should say “axe-grinding” ) and news-gathering are poor companions.

2006-02-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

“Death to America “– More Than Just a Slogan !

It has become quite fashionable- in leftist,copperhead,and pro-Islamic circles-to claim the United States has attacked Islamic countries without justification or reason.

History,however, tells a very different story !

Before 9/11/01, there were at least 12 attacks by Islamists : all carried out on US soil. Daniel Pipes lists the following:

 July 1980: an Iranian dissident killed in the Washington, D.C. area.
 August 1983: a leader of the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam killed in Canton, Mich.
 August 1984: three Indians killed in a suburb of Tacoma, Wash.
 September 1986: a doctor killed in Augusta, Ga.
 January 1990: an Egyptian freethinker killed in Tucson, Ariz.
 November 1990: a Jewish leader killed in New York.
 February 1991: an Egyptian Islamist killed in New York.
 January 1993: two CIA staff killed outside agency headquarters in Langley, Va.
 February 1993: Six people killed at the World Trade Center.
 March 1994: an Orthodox Jewish boy killed on the Brooklyn Bridge.
 February 1997: a Danish tourist killed on the Empire State building.
 October 1999: 217 passengers killed on an EgyptAir flight near New York City.

In addition, there were numerous attacks on Americans overseas. (Daniel Pipes is quoted here. Emphasis and additional punctuation/spacing added .)

“America's war on terrorism did not begin in September 2001. It began in November 1979.

That was shortly after Ayatollah Khomeini had seized power in Iran, riding the slogan "Death to America" - and sure enough, the attacks on Americans soon began.

In November 1979, a militant Islamic mob took over the U.S. embassy in Tehran, the Iranian capital, and held 52 Americans hostage for the next 444 days.

The rescue team sent to free those hostages in April 1980 suffered eight fatalities, making them the first of militant Islam's many American casualties. Others included:

 April 1983: 63 dead at the U.S. embassy in Beirut.
 October 1983: 241 dead at the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut.
 December 1983: five dead at the U.S. embassy in Kuwait.
 January 1984: the president of the American University of Beirut killed.
 April 1984: 18 dead near a U.S. airbase in Spain.
 September 1984: 16 dead at the U.S. embassy in Beirut (again).
 December 1984: Two dead on a plane hijacked to Tehran.
 June 1985: One dead on a plane hijacked to Beirut.

After a let-up, the attacks then restarted: Five and 19 dead in Saudi Arabia in 1995 and 1996, 224 dead at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August 1998 and 17 dead on the USS Cole in Yemen in October 2000.

Pipes notes:
“ In all, 800 persons lost their lives. “

It’s worth noting some of these murders were carried out by Shi’ites – associated with Iran and/or the PLO ; while others were carried out by Sunnis -–associated with al-Qaeda and other offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Clearly, “Death to America” is not an empty slogan: It is a way of life.

2006-01-31T16:27:00.000-08:00

That Darned Old Tree

I glanced at the obituaries this morning-on my way to the comics-and saw a familiar face on the page : a man who looked quite a bit like Santa Claus.

“Hey !”, I thought. “ That looks like Henry : my back fence neighbor.”

I had met Henry –to talk to-only once, though I had seen him puttering around his yard; and I had once pointed him out to one of my granddaughters. (I asked her: “ Do you suppose that’s Santa Claus over there ?” She looked at him and her eyes got big for a moment-then she answered , scornfully : “ Santa lives at the North Pole,Pop !Don’t you know ANYTHING ?”

The one and only time Henry and I talked, the old tree became part of our conversation.

It was – or had been – a weeping willow tree, and it stood gracefully on his side of the fence: shedding skinny willow leaves into our swimming pool – way back when we had a swimming pool.

My wife and the kids would grumble about scooping all those leaves out of the pool every summer, and I would grumble about raking them up every fall.

Time passed. The kids grew up, and we took the pool out. We had the sense we were growing older – not that we felt old,you understand !

The tree was aging too, and,one hurricane season, the top snapped off:leaving a raw, naked looking trunk , that occasionally sprouted bits of green, but was visibly rotting away.

My wife fretted that the tree would come down in our yard some day,and she took to calling it “that darned old tree” – as in “That darned old tree dropped branches in our yard last night , so I threw them back over the fence.”- or – “ When are they going to do something about that darned old tree ?”

Then,after all those years of being backyard neighbors,Henry and I finally met. I think the occasion was due to a woodchuck racing out of my yard ,climbing the fence like an overweight cat, and dropping heavily into Henry’s yard.

It was a pretty comical sight,and once we had stopped laughing, we introduced ourselves and chatted for a few minutes about Henry’s backyard menagerie. He had chipmunks, a possum or two, the occasional visiting racoon,and,of course, a family of woodchucks.There were other critters – some of which had made a home in the old willow tree.

“People ask me,” he said. “When are you going to cut that old eyesore down ? – and I tell them I hope I never see the day.”

Henry explained that his mother had brought him the tree many, many years ago- only, back then, it was just a tiny willow slip in a glass of water. He planted it to please her-never thinking it would take root and grow; never imagining,in his wildest dreams,it would someday be a tall and graceful weeping willow.

“My mother is still alive, God bless her !”,he added; “ And as long as she’s still alive, that old tree can stay right there !”

I told my wife the story later on-and suddenly the willow stopped being “that darned old tree”, and became “the old willow tree”. It became reassuring to glance out the window and see it there: old and threadbare,but still standing –for all of that.

And so, this morning I sipped my coffee and read the obituary of a backfence neighbor I barely knew : a man who looked like Santa Claus;
a man who joined the Army right out of high school, who fought in the almost forgotten Korean War,who came home, found a job, and settled down to help raise a family.

He is survived by a wife,children,grandchildren,and great grandchildren-and yes : his mother (God bless her !) is still alive.

I hope that “darned old tree” is still there when I go.

2006-01-31T05:40:00.000-08:00

“Analyzing the Anthrax Attacks – The First 3 Years”

By Edward G. Lake ( Book Review)

(Available through:Barnes and Noble or Amazon.)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=QC7aOeEBUq&isbn=0976616300&itm=44

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0976616300/qid=1110054825/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9291931-9798534?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

The Anthrax Attacks of 2001 : which involved about 2 grams of anthrax, sent through the mail, killed 5 innocent people,sickened 17 more-including a young child,caused widespread panic, and millions of dollars in property damage.

They also spawned a snarled ball of conspiracy theories –from virtually every spectrum of the political landscape : mis-information, deliberate-even vicious dis-information, honest misunderstandings, wild speculation, and some outright insanity – most of which spilled over onto the Internet.

I jumped into the tangle myself – mostly because I was enraged to learn someone had used “ my back yard “ to launch a terrorist attack ; and I’ll have to confess I reached at least 10 “flawless solutions” of the mystery: of which, I’m sure, 10 will prove wrong.

Among the people I chatted online with was Ed Lake – the author of this book. I found myself then- as I find myself now : in agreement with him on some things ; in disagreement on others.

The real source of disagreement between “Anthrax Theorists” is lack of evidential knowledge. None of us have access (as far as I know) to the FBI investigation – and that’s as it should be.

No one has ever been charged – but that does not mean no one will ever be charged. The Amerithrax investigation has already been so badly damaged by leaks to the Media, the FBI had to “go back to square one” ,and develop new protocols. An inopportune leak could throw it into the “cold case files” forever,by making it legally impossible to convict the perpetrator(s).

Ed Lake has, nonetheless, compiled an impressive body of information,and has shed light on aspects of the case many of us found it more convenient to detour around.

For that reason alone, his well written, very readable book is a valuable resource , and well worth the modest price !

2006-01-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

News That is ….Different !

Nairobi: A Kenyan woman,angered because of a persistent local famine,placed a “powerful tribal curse on God” before going to bed.

Something may have gone awry: she died in her sleep.

Leavenworth,Kansas : Police were intrigued to learn a man suspected of drug dealing was handing out business cards; and made it their business to obtain one.

The card bore an image of a boxing glove striking a clock, with the legend: “For a quick hit on time, call The Boss !”

A handy telephone number was furnished : something the police made good use of.

Apparently the old slogan :” Advertising doesn’t Cost – It Pays !” isn’t always true.

Springfield, Ore: An armed robber held up a diner on a Monday,but was unhappy with the amount of money his deeds had netted-so he decided to return on Wednesday , for “seconds”.

After robbing the diner a second time, he fled across the parking lot: firing his pistol repeatedly to discourage pursuit …but managed, somehow ,to shoot himself in the foot.

Richmond, Va : A State Legislator, who decided to unload his pistol while sitting in his State House office , got an instant lesson in safe gun-handling practices , when the pistol fired.

Fortunately – for all concerned – a local Sheriff had given the lawmaker a bulletproof vest as a “gag gift” ; and the vest, hanging on the solon’s door, stopped the .380 slug.

The only damage was to the Legislator’s pride: He has felt compelled to issue numerous public apologies , and will probably be long remembered as someone who shot off his gun instead of his mouth.

2006-01-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

Brrr !! Global Warming in the News Again !!!

As Europe struggles with another week of sub-zero temperatures-
(Russia and the Ukraine have reported –40 degree temperatures and considerable loss of life)-

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=a3bP1M2yzyKo&refer=europe

recent discoveries have been causing “the Green Gang” some additional loss of composure.

Last year, according to the January 14,2006 of “New Scientist” magazine, environmental engineer Frank Keppler, and his colleagues at the Max Planck Institute discovered that living plants emit a significant portion – 10% to 30 % ,depending on the season – of the methane –a more serious greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide- that makes its way into the atmosphere..

This discovery, which has been confirmed by two other prestigious bodies,means that the Kyoto Accords – which call for compensating for carbon dioxide production by planting trees – would actually increase global warming significantly if carried out.

A second discovery – announced last year in “Scientific American “-showed that global warming was not beginning at the poles of the earth as climatologists had predicted.

It was discovered the earth “oscillates” in its rotation , and that this “pendulum-like” oscillation causes portions of Africa to receive additional solar radiation : producing heat , that is transferred by convective ocean currents to the earth’s poles.

This effect, called “Chandler’s Wobble” , is believed by some to be the primary cause of earthquakes,global warming, and oceanic currents such as “El Nino”. A discussion of this phenomenon may be read here:

http://www.michaelmandeville.com/polarmotion/spinaxis/vortex_correlations2.htm

As a final “slap in the face”, it has just been announced the amount of sunlight reaching the earth – which had showed a pattern of increasing for 15 years – has begun to decrease.

More sunlight is being reflected back into space-but the planet is still warming up : reinforcing a growing suspicion that much of the “greenhouse gas” concept may be in error.

http://www.livescience.com/forcesofnature/060124_earth_albedo.html

How much warming of the world’s oceans is due to lava flowing up from the earth’s core ? As far as I know, there is no practical way to measure this factor, and it has pretty much been ignored.

Anyone who thinks this lava flow is minor and inconsequential might wish to study this easy-to-read Cal-tech report on plate tectonics:

http://pr.caltech.edu/periodicals/EandS/articles/LXVI/tectonics.html

Global warming doctrines are being taught and promoted as if they were Holy Writ; but Science, combined with Ideology , produces a hybrid that is of little scientific value.

Perhaps it is time to nail some new theses to the doors of our scientific “cathedral” !

A day after posting this,someone directed me to this National Geographic article about a "geo-thermal mega-plume" beneath the Indian Ocean,that has been pumping huge quantities of heat into the ocean waters: enough-by itself-to account for much of our global warming !

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1212_051212_megaplume.html

This just in: Saturday, 01/28/06: Arctic ice blocks crashing ashore in Alaska-something not seen in decades.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060128/ap_on_sc/ice_surge;_ylt=AuvwtRF2wwVPg1U9Sruunkys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MzV0MTdmBHNlYwM3NTM-

(Was this phenomenon in the global warming models ? )

2006-01-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Al Gore ? Nevermore !!

Al Gore , who won the 2000 election by Popular votes, but lost by Electoral votes , has emerged recently to criticize the Bush administration ,and to make recognizable running-for-president noises.

No surprise there ! Mr. Gore can hardly be expected to have warm,fuzzy feelings for his erstwhile opponent .

It is also unsurprising to see that some of his former supporters are experiencing a wave of nostalgia for “Honest Al “ – and wondering : “Gee ! Suppose He had become President – instead of that awful Republican ? How different –no, how WONDERFUL life would be !”

What WOULD life have been like with Al Gore in the “cat bird seat” ?

Well, for starters, 9/11 WOULD have happened. It had been planned years in advance,and Osama and his Merry Men were not overly interested in the outcome of the 2000 elections.

Let’s assume the outcome would have been pretty much the same .
(Perhaps Al Gore would have been in Tennessee mending political fences –and reading “My Little Goat” to some grade schoolers there:
Who knows ? )

Once he and Vice President Lieberman returned from their “undisclosed locations” , and things settled down a bit, President Gore would have been in a very tight spot – with the circumstances leading up to 9/11 aimed like an arrow at the very heart of his presidency – and no one else but Al Gore and Bill Clinton to blame !

People would want to know why airport security wasn’t better – and someone would have pointed out that Al Gore himself (presumably with the whole-hearted approval of his boss) had gutted recommendations made by a “blue ribbon” panel he had chaired – AND – that almost immediately afterwards, the airlines made huge contributions to the Clinton-Gore campaign .

The connection was so brazen, even The Nation – hardly a bastion of Neo-Con Thought – remarked upon it : rather sarcastically, in an article titled: “Boodle and Airline Security”.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20011029/sifry

People would also want to know about that whole “Saudi thing” , whereby just about any holder of a Saudi passport was admitted to the United States without question. ( The US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia-Clinton appointee Wyche Fowler- even disciplined one Consular Officer who questioned the policy.)

Source for this is the 9/11 Commission Report supplement: “9/11 and Terrorist Travel”.

The Saudis, you see, were considered “ideal” visitors, as they spent lavishly, and very often wanted nothing more than a trip to Disneyland.

(Did I mention the Disney empire was a heavy Clinton-Gore campaign contributor ? $21,950 for the 96’ re-election campaign + $23,114 for the ’97 Inaugural .)

http://www.opensecrets.org/clinton/index.asp

People might also ask about the NSA and the CIA : Why didn’t they warn us ?

The NSA – yes, the same NSA being accused of “ spying on Americans” – had been tied up with spying on…..France !

http://cryptome.org/echelon040100.htm

America and France were commercial rivals ,and the French , it was said, were in the habit of closing lucrative overseas contracts by paying hefty bribes to foreign officials ( and collecting a commission on the bribes !)

The American business community appealed to Mr. Clinton –and-once the contributions were bundled and received , NSA was put to work on those pesky French : turning up bushels of information on who was paying what to whom. The CIA would then see to it that “the lowdown” was given to the Opposition Press in the Purchaser’s country.

A multi-million dollar sale the French had counted on would suddenly fall through, and the Americans would win the contract. ( Our tax dollars at work ! Yay !) The grateful business community would cough up another hundred thou or so for one of the many Clinton “slush funds”.

Meanwhile, the NSA and the CIA were picking up all sorts of chatter from places like Pakistan,Afghanistan, Yemen,and other Islamist strongholds – but the chatter was going untranslated . Too much of the budget had been spent on French-speakers.

http://echelononline.free.fr/documents/wp_20062002.htm

Okay, I think we can conclude 9/11 wouldn’t have done much for Mr. Gore’s reputation , can’t we ?

“Maybe so”, his loyal followers say. “ But at least we wouldn’t have all this wicked invasion of privacy !”

Really ?

Let me draw your attention to this article – courtesy of EPIC : the “somewhat progressive” Electronic Privacy Information Center.
I have abstracted a bit of the report. Contents in full may be viewed at the link shown:

http://www.epic.org/crypto/clipper/

Clipper Chip is a cryptographic device purportedly intended to protect private communications while at the same time permitting government agents to obtain the "keys" upon presentation of what has been vaguely characterized as "legal authorization."

The "keys" are held by two government "escrow agents" and would enable the government to access the encrypted private communication.

While Clipper would be used to encrypt voice transmissions, a similar chip known as Capstone would be used to encrypt data.

The underlying cryptographic algorithm, known as Skipjack, was developed by the National Security Agency (NSA), a super-secret military intelligence agency responsible for intercepting foreign government communications and breaking the codes that protect such transmissions.

In 1987, Congress passed the Computer Security Act, a law intended to limit NSA's role in developing standards for the civilian communications system. In spite of that legislation, the agency has played a leading role in the Clipper initiative and other civilian security proposals, such as the Digital Signature Standard.

NSA has classified the Skipjack algorithm on national security grounds, thus precluding independent evaluation of the system's strength.

On Feb. 4, 1994, the White House announced the adoption of the Clipper Chip. The adoption was supported by Vice President Gore. The White House released a factsheet of Questions and Answers on the decision.

Let’s talk about Post 9/11 actions by a Gore-Lieberman administration.

Given the fact Mr. Gore would have had the same military and CIA advisers, and given earlier assessments and statements by the previous (Clinton-Gore) administration, I’m inclined to believe we would still have troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One of the compelling factors in the decision to “neutralize” Iraq was the seldom-publicized belief Saddam Hussein would have taken advantage of the US involvement in Afghanistan to launch a pre-emptive attack on Saudi Arabia . (Tommy Franks alluded to this-rather briefly- in his book “ American Soldier”.)

The Saudis –understandably – were playing their own game. Despite huge purchases of American arms,their only real defense was hired mercenaries of uncertain loyalty , “led” by absentee Saudi officers.

They were terrified of Iraq, and terrified of providing open support to the Americans – so they used their contacts in the CIA to present the White House with carefully manicured intelligence.

It is “fashionable” in certain circles to suggest it was the Israelis who wanted the US to invade Iraq . I’m sure they have shed no tears over the downfall of Saddam , but even a casual examination suggests they were more likely alarmed by the prospect : in the previous Gulf War,it was Israel that was targeted by Saddam’s missiles ; and , had Saddam used chemical or biological warheads, the Patriot batteries that shot down the incoming Scuds would have dumped the deadly contents on Israeli cities. It may be instructive to recall that the Israelis threatened Saddam with a nuclear strike the second time around.

Okay. We probably would have troops at risk in Iraq. How about Iran ?

This is where we start getting into some very strange areas !

In 1995, Al Gore – with the full authorization of President Clinton – signed a secret agreement with (then) Russian Prime Minister Viktor S. Chernomydin ,which called for an end to the sales of Russian armaments to Iran by 1999 – but which approved of Moscow’s completion of “existing orders” – including the delivery of 3 Kilo class diesel electric submarines – despite the fact this order completion was a direct contravention of the Iran-Iraq Arms Nonproliferation Act (also known as Gore-McCain, because the very same Al Gore had co-sponsored the bill in 1992,when he was a Senator.)

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/rus/877.htm

Noting the proximity of the 1996 elections,one cannot help but wonder –given Mr. Gore’s predilection for fund-raising – whether some carefully laundered Russian and/or Iranian money did not flow into one of the many Clinton funds.

The Russians ignored this secret “agreement”, and were still delivering goodies to Iran in the year 2000 : prompting this chiding article in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/13/world/13RUSS.html?ex=1137992400&en=735fcbeb7cdc84a7&ei=5070

In early 2000 , while Mr. Gore was still on the campaign trail , the Clinton administration allegedly supplied plans for nuclear weapon triggers to Iran – in a botched CIA operation called Operation Merlin : again with the full knowledge and approval of (then) President Clinton – according to NY Times writer James Risen , in his controversial book : “State of War”.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060104/pl_afp/usirannuclearcia_060104212637

According to the Risen story , the designs were defective, but the defects were easily remedied, and the Russian go-between selected for this odd mission offered to do just that.

I’d like to believe Mr. Risen’s source got it wrong, and that the plans were for “fail safe” devices – intended to self-destruct a weapon if it were accidentally launched, or had been hijacked by militants – (President Eisenhower provided the same information to the Russians during his term in office as a means of reducing the threat of an inadvertent nuclear exchange) – but, given the Clinton-Gore history of “open market” diplomacy, and the recent revelations about Hillary Clinton’s acceptance of campaign contributions from two pro-Iranian groups, I wonder if Mr. Risen got only half the story !

Should “ auld acquaintance” be forgot ?

In the case of Al Gore : most definitely !

2006-01-19T04:46:00.000-08:00

Thoughts to Live By : Confession is Good for the Soul

There once was a religious young woman who went to Confession. Upon entering the confessional, she said, 'Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.'

The priest said, 'Confess your sins and be forgiven.'

The young woman said, 'Last night my boyfriend made mad passionate love to me seven times.'

The priest thought long and hard and then said, 'Squeeze seven lemons into a glass and then drink the juice.'

The young woman asked, 'Will this cleanse me of my sins?'

The priest said, 'No, but it will wipe that smile off of your face.'

An old man walks into a confessional. The following conversation ensues.

Man: 'I am 92 years old, have a wonderful wife of 70 years, and many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Yesterday I picked up two college girls who were hitchhiking. We went to a motel, where I had sex with each of them three times.'

Priest: 'Are you sorry for your sins?'

Man: 'What sins?'

Priest: 'What kind of a Catholic are you?'

Man: 'I'm Jewish.'

Priest: 'Then why are you telling me all this?'

Man: 'I'm telling everybody!'

2006-01-07T17:59:00.000-08:00

Red Star Rogue – by Kenneth Sewell and Clint Richmond

Did Russia try a sneak nuclear attack on Pearl Harbor in 1968 ?

On the night of March 7,1968, K-129 : a “Golf class” diesel-electric submarine, armed with three nuclear missiles, and two nuclear torpedos , surfaced quietly in the darkness at Latitude 24 degrees North; 163 degrees West – a mere 350 miles from the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The sub was hundreds of miles away from its assigned patrol area, had not checked in with Soviet naval headquarters for almost a week , but had aroused no official curiosity : a circumstance that would itself be viewed as extremely curious . Russian submarine crews were rigidly disciplined ,almost fanatically loyal , and quite unlikely to go off on a “free lance” mission – especially with a KGB zampolit (Political Officer) aboard.

The location was in “direct line” with the Chinese submarine bases.
The procedure of launching from a fixed navigational point was consistent with Chinese launch doctrine; as was surfacing in order to launch missiles. The fissile material in the missiles and torpedos was of Chinese manufacture.

The authors believe a small group of Stalinist holdovers in the Kremlin and the KGB – led by Mikhail Suslov : a shadowy figure who had been Stalin’s blood-stained right hand, and Yuri Andropov: a Suslov protégé, who was head of the KGB, orchestrated this attack in order to bring about a nuclear exchange between the United States and China.

The United States , already bogged down in the Vietnam conflict , would have been substantially weakened. China would have been devastated , and an easy conquest when Russian troops (already poised on the border) rolled in “to restore order.”

What the plotters did not know – according to the authors – was that Russia had seen the wisdom of accepting a top secret offer from President Eisenhower of fail safe devices : little bombs that could be built right into a nuclear warhead , and that would destroy the warhead –and anything else nearby-if an unauthorized launch was attempted.

According to the authors , a rogue crew –probably highly trained KGB Spetsnaz troops assigned to KGB’s Executive Action Department - aboard the K-129 attempted to launch one of the 1 megaton missiles at Pearl Harbor ; but perished in the attempt ,when the failsafe blew the warhead apart, and exploded a second missile still in its tube. The combined explosions blew the bottom out of the boat, and sent her to the bottom.

There was a second thing the plotters did not know: US sub tracking capabilities were light years beyond anything envisioned by the Soviets,and K-129 had been under more-or-less continuous remote surveillance since it left its home base in Avachinskaya Bay. It had been tracked and identified by underwater SOSUS arrays, kept under watch by satellites, and pinpointed by its one micro-burst transmission.

There was no way the United States – which even had a photographic record of its exploding missile tubes – would have mistaken K-129 for a Chinese boat.

Had the attack on Pearl Harbor succeeded , approximately 500,000 Americans would have died. Pacific fleet headquarters would have been vaporized – and – given the information the US had at its disposal, the retaliation against the USSR would have plunged the two nations into no-holds-barred nuclear war.

How the United States gathered evidence about this event, and how it used the evidence make for some very interesting reading : If the authors are correct, our view of Cold War history – and the role some of our political leaders played – are overdue for significant revision .

Whatever your political education and orientation , I think you will be in for some unsettling surprises when you read “Red Star Rogue” !

2005-12-28T16:22:00.000-08:00

Publication of “Jawbreaker” Excites Trolls !

A former “CIA Commander” – (that’s what Newsweek calls him ) – named Gary Berntsen has finally managed to secure CIA clearance for the publication of what looks to be an interesting book , entitled “Jawbreaker”.

According to Newsweek ,Mr. Berntsen says Osama bin Laden was able to escape from the siege of Tora Bora in December,2001 because US Central Command would not allow more American troops to be deployed.

He adds he was sure bin Laden was there,because sources he trusted had told him so ; and he disagrees with former CENTCOM commander Tommy Franks – because “ I was there and he wasn’t.”

With all due respect to Mr. Berntsen , he may be wrong about bin Laden: a close friend of the missing terrorist leader claims he left Tora Bora 10 days before the siege began – and his account is replete with small details that suggest high credibility.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/1212-05.htm

This does not faze the Neo-Copperhead Trolls in the least.

They are,in fact suggesting President Bush let Osama bin Laden escape ,because :
(a) They were former business partners ;
(b) Bush didn’t want the war to end;
(c) Neo-Cons are stupid;
(d) It was all a Zionist / Theocratic /Homophobic plot.

At the risk of venturing over into Troll Territory myself, may I suggest that some of the Neo-Copperheads wanted large numbers of American troops on the ground in Afghanistan because it would increase friction between the Afghanis and the Americans, because it would increase the likelihood of American casualties, and because it would increase tension between the US and Pakistan to have so many of our troops milling about right next to the Pakistani border.

Any or all of these things would help make their original predictions about the Afghanistan campaign – (that we would become bogged down in the same sort of mess the Soviets encountered ) -come true:thus proving that they were “ right again”.

It didn’t work out that way. As a matter of fact, the Afghan campaign was a model of how unconventional special forces can be used to overthrow a regime.

If some of the Afghani troops were not up to snuff, what of it ? It was Afghani troops who fought and died to take back their nation from the Taliban – with American assistance ; rather than the usual routine of Americans doing the dying while ineffectual “allies” skulk and pose in the background, criticizing their every move.

The Afghanistan campaign was a world class victory – whether Osama bin Laden escaped or not – and that’s something the hissing, writhing Neo-Copperheads cannot abide !

2005-12-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

There’s No Business Like Troll Business !

If you post on any “message boards” , you’re probably well aware of Internet Trolls.

These are people with a “MESSAGE “ – usually a hateful one - and they insist on plastering it all over the message boards – regardless of what topic is being discussed.

One of the message boards I read has become clogged with Neo-Nazi/ Aryan Identity / New Klux Klan posters : all of whom flood the board with “ The Jews Are Out To Get You “ crap. They express solidarity with their Arab counterparts ,and distress over Muslim casualties in the War on Terror.( Oh, yes ! They hate President Bush. Doesn’t everybody ? )

There are some Radical Leftists – who , one would think , would be at loggerheads with the Nazis . Not so. The Nazis hate President Bush,and are treated as allies. (Shades of the Hitler/Stalin Pact ! )

There are also the Copperheads – quite often from the most radical part of the Libertarian movement. Everything is un-constitutional to them: including the Consitution. They are anti-tax,anti-government,anti-military, anti-violence …and violently opposed to President Bush.

Last – but not least – are the Gay Crusaders . They urge the world to “get with it” and start cracking down on those awful people who oppose that most sacred of institutions : Gay Marriage. Their list of villains includes the Pope -who persists in preaching that –(I’m quoting here)-“dago mafia” doctrine ; the dreaded Religious Right , the Republican Party in general, and (You guessed it !) George W. Bush in particular.

Here’s how a typical message board exchange looks on a troll-infested board.

Poster 1: It’s been raining awfully hard the last few days. Do you think the rain will hurt the rutabagas ?

Poster 2: :) Not if they’re in cans. :)

Nazi : Damn Jews ! Always bitching about the Holocaust, and how you were starving . I have it on good authority there were plenty of rutabagas to eat ! (Comment is followed by two pages cut and pasted from “Urban Warfare Now !” – a White supremacy site , dedicated to -Victory or Valhalla ! )

Leftist: Why shouldn’t the people in Cannes have rutabagas ? What else are they going to throw through shop windows ? The (censored) Bushbots have jacked up the price of rutabagas to fund their vicious and illegal war …and where is Osama bin Laden ? Can you answer that simple question, you stupid neo-cons ?

Gay Crusader: Why are you worrying about people’s cans ? What you puritan busybodies should be worrying about is the way our right to true happiness is being interfered with !

Copperhead : Frog march the arch-criminal Bush out of the White House before he can tax our rutabagas !

Leftist : Still ducking and dodging my question, you stupid neo-cons ?
You can’t tell me where Osama is, and yet you want to interfere with the natural lifestyle of other-oriented people – and increase taxes on rutabagas !

And there you have it : TROLL TIME !!

( Makes you wish for The Three Billy Goats Gruff ,doesn’t it ?)

2005-12-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

After the “Ho-ho-ho” Ends

We keep a little ceramic Christmas tree on a table near the living room window. It’s one my wife made –with my daughter’s help – when they were “doing ceramics” ,and when its tiny bulbs are lit, we can share the spirit of Christmas with anyone who passes by.

We haven’t put up outdoor decorations for a number of years. For one thing, we’re both a bit long in tooth to be climbing ladders, and stringing lights outdoors . For another thing, we tired, some years ago, of having the neighborhood delinquents steal them !

So the little tree is “it” ; and, every morning , I make it a point to turn it on as soon as I come downstairs at “dark o’clock of the morning” : not for me, but for anyone who is on the way to work – and who could use a tiny reminder of Christmas in those cold gray hours of morning.

Lord knows, I could use a bit myself !

A quick glance at the Internet tells me there was chemical warfare (a poison gas attack) this morning in St. Petersburg, Russia . The Russian news agencies are trying to squelch the story – probably on orders of the FSB (Russia’s successor to the KGB) – but 70 people were hospitalized,and chemical bombs with timers were found and neutralized in at least two large market areas of the city.

Let’s see: on one website , a story about the Pope celebrating Christmas mass inspired at least one poster to denounce the Roman Catholic Church as a “dago mafia conspiracy” . Another attacked Jews in general, and Zionists in particular – when not attacking Blacks and Mexicans. (He’s fond of folks with white,pointy hoods, I do believe.)

Somebody “kidnapped” ( Is that the right word ?) a baby penguin ,and there is great angst about what may have become of the poor creature-but no interest whatsoever in the fact that over 200,000 human beings perished in the tsunami a year ago.

What else ? Oh. Justin Raimondo ( a leading spokesman for the Neo-Copperheads) is still angry that we unseated that manly hero, Saddam Hussein; that the Iraqis managed to form some sort of government after over 30 years of total repression ; and that they had the guts to turn out and vote –in spite of a torrent of death threats. Justin, who is nothing if not predictable,wants the Ba’athist thugs, who murdered so many thousands of Iraqis, returned to office,so they can pick up where they left off. (Justin is still carrying the torch for another manly brute-Slobodan Milosevic as well. He just adores strong men !)

In short, a quick look around suggests it’s still the same nasty world we set aside on Christmas Eve – only a day later.

All the more reason to light up our little tree this morning : it is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.

2005-12-17T17:46:00.000-08:00

America at the BRIDGE

I
John Kerry , fallen Candidate
By the DNC he swore
That the Left Wing of his Party
Would suffer scorn no more.

By the DNC he swore an oath
That Bush would rue the day
When “Ted's Annointed” faced defeat
And power ebbed away.

II
“I’ll call upon my privileged friends
Within the CIA :
Get them to leak some secrets-
And in general, pave the way.”

“Their tales will hint at dreadful deeds;
And Presidential Crimes-
Once embellished by the Editors
Of the friendly New York Times.”

III
“ Once this bloody work is done,
With movements swift and deft
We’ll pack the Halls of Congress
With the Minions of the Left.”

“ With Congress firmly in control
Our goal at last we’ll reach:
We’ll bring that upstart Bush to heel
With a Motion to Impeach ! “

IV
The challenge has been issued :
Will Americans awake –
Or yawn and watch their football games -
Not caring what’s at stake ?

Horatius battled on the bridge-
And invaders turned away :
We all must rise and do the same
This next Election Day !

2005-12-15T17:02:00.000-08:00

What Should Society Do With Its “Tookie Monsters” ?

The “ Tookie Williams Saga “ has finally ended.

After decades of appeals and delays , and more appeals and more delays; after vast agitation by a wide variety of people : ranging from sincere opponents of the death penalty, to shameless self-advocates looking for more media “face time”, Tookie Williams – the convicted murderer of four people finally got the justice a jury of his peers had decreed.

There are many who say the death penalty is “barbaric” ; or that it serves no useful purpose.

I tend to agree – when the penalty is exacted 20 years after the crime !

Justice delayed is – all things considered – justice denied ; and thus, serves no useful purpose.

I find myself nodding in agreement with the proposal by an Ocean County ,NJ official ; who says-with considerable accuracy- New Jersey should abandon the death penalty ,because decades of experience have shown the NJ Supreme Court simply will not permit a death sentence to be carried out : no matter how hideous the crime.

The official points out the insanity of a financially-stressed state paying out millions and millions of dollars in death sentence appeal costs , when it is obvious what the outcome will be.

I think most people would agree with this pragmatic assessment – though I am sure there are some cynics who would say we need a death penalty - in case a NJ Supreme Court Justice is ever murdered.

(Anyone care to bet on the outcome of THAT appeal ?)

So, without a death penalty , what DO we do with our “Tookie Monsters”?

I use the term “monsters” advisedly. By the time a homicide case has passed through the court system , the “lesser” homicides have been dealt with. Commonly, these lesser cases do not involve the monsters who plan and premeditate murder,and who are as willing to kill to secure their goals as we are to sip a beverage or scratch or yawn.

I’ve met a lot of them ,and can say ,when you see one of them do or say something which seems to have redeeming qualities –like Tookie Williams and his “famous” (303 copies sold) anti-gang books – it is done for one reason only: to secure a temporary advantage for the criminal.

Every SERIOUS criminal I’ve ever met is lacking in what we might call “moral vitamins” , or “conscience” , or genuine empathy towards for his fellow humans. “Right” is what helps him; “Wrong” is what hinders or delays his satisfaction. If we were to express it in wilderness terms, career criminals are predators,and we are their chosen prey.

Unfortunately, there is a small-but-influential segment of our society that has never been able to grasp this simple truth – even when it springs up like a stepped-on rake to hit them in the teeth.

Their first thought (Lord help us !) seems to be : “ What did WE do wrong ? Was there some sort of program which could have prevented this ? How much will it cost ?”

This small segment of our society also thinks the obvious answer as to what to do about “Tookie Monsters” is just …wrong-headed.

“We can’t lock people up without hope of release !”, they shout. “ It’s –it’s – just WRONG !”

Did I mention the fact this small segment of influential people gets to sit on parole boards,or judicial and legislative committeees that govern our parole policies ? That they are people nobody elected ? That some see it as their function to achieve ethnic or racial quotas in granting parole ? That some believe it is their plain duty to frustrate the will of the electorate ?

If we’re not going to execute monsters who would kill us in a heartbeat, let’s at least make sure they are locked up - as securely as human ingenuity will permit – for the rest of their natural lives: no parole, no release on “intensive supervision”, no “max –outs”.

Tookie Monsters need to be in the jar-with the lid on securely !

2005-12-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

The Christmas of 1947

The Christmas of 1947 started out on a not-too-promising note:
It was “green”.

Despite the renditions of “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas “ on our radios – renditions so continuous they were like the Monks’ spinning prayer wheels in Tibet – there was no snow on the ground , and not even a flurry in the air.

It was Christmas vacation , and we wanted to race our sleds down Zobel’s Hill with friends from school, but the Weatherman was not cooperating, and the steep slopes remained a disappointing brown.

We wanted to skate, but the weather had been unseasonably warm,and what little ice had formed was black and treacherous.

Christmas Eve was the usual : the adults rushing about frantically to get ready for midnight services ; the kids heading reluctantly to bed. We were too old to believe in Santa Claus, but just young enough for a little of the holiday magic to rub off on us.

We got through Christmas Day , with its mandatory big dinner in the dining room , and visitors and relatives a kid could live without – rather nicely if you want the truth : an aunt who couldn’t stop talking ; a stout,jolly priest who couldn’t say a short “grace” - or no to second helpings. After that, there were chores to be done. (Cows and horses,and pigs and chickens don’t take the day off – ever !)

The next evening, I got permission to “go uptown” – about a 20 minute walk . There wasn’t much going on – outside of the local gin mills, and the diner, but the Christmas lights looked pretty nice – especially with those big soft flakes of snow coming down.

“Yay ! Christmas vacation is saved !” , we shouted.

Little did we know we were looking at the beginning of the Blizzard of 1947: a storm that would cripple much of the Central Plains and the Northeast for weeks : leaving at least 80 dead in its wake.

Little did we know, that when our road was finally plowed, the plow drifts at the sides of the road would be at least 12 feet high; that in New York City, it took thousands of men, digging for weeks,at a cost in the millions to restore service to NY’s subway system.

Sometimes I wonder if all those impassioned wishes for a White Christmas did it . I do know I haven’t felt quite the same about that song since the Christmas of ’47 !

2005-12-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

Three Nights Stumped

(Inspired by an article in New Scientist warning of a mini-ice age –that could – somehow - be attributed to man-made global warming.)

I come home on Monday night –
I was sober as could be !
Found an ice-skatin’ rink in the backyard
Whar the swimmin’ pool should be.

So I sez to my wife
My purty l’il wife,
“Explain this thang to me :
What’s an ice rink doin’ in our backyard
Where the swimmin’ pool should be ?”

An’ she said :

“Old fool, you stubborn fool –
Are you too blind to see ?
It’s an artifact of global warming :
They said so on TV.”

Well, now:

I’ve traveled this whole world round an’ round :
Ten thousand miles or more –
But an artifact in my swimmin’ pool ??
I never did see before ! !

I come home late on Tuesday night :
Two foot of snow was in the ground,
An’ every time I tapped the brakes
My pickup spun around .

So I sez to my wife
My purty l’il wife :
“Explain this thang to me :
How’d we get a blizzard in August ?
What could the reason be ?”

An’ she said :

“Old fool, you stubborn fool
Are you too blind to see ?
It’s an artifact of global warming-
They said so on TV .”

Well , now :

I’ve traveled this whole world round and round :
Ten thousand miles or more –
But a blizzard in the middle of August
I never did see before !

We was all snowed in by Wednesday night-
It was piled up to the trees !
The power was off, an’ there wasn’t any heat .
I was sure we was gonna freeze !

So I says to my wife
My shiverin’ l’il wife:
“Explain this thang to me :
Where in heck is that Global Warmin’ ?
Can they send a bit to you an’ me ? “

An’ she said:

“Old fool, stop yammering
An’ fetch a quilt for me –
If you snuggle here beside me
We’ll be toasty as can be !”

Well,now:

I’ve traveled this whole world round an’ round:
Ten thousand miles or more-
But a warmer like my purty l’il wife
I never did see before !

2005-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

December 7,1941 – A Few Personal Memories

64 years ago today , I was “almost eight” : one of three brothers,living on a family farm in New York state.

The day started out like most : we were up at the crack of dawn,because there were cows to be milked ,a wood stove to be lit, and a hearty breakfast to be wolfed down before we changed clothes for church.

Like most kids my age, my thoughts were pre-occupied with Christmas-but it would be a long time before anyone felt really “merry” again.

That evening was spent, huddled around the radio: listening to the broadcasts of an attack on some place I had never heard of- Pearl Harbor-by people I had never thought of : the Japanese.

The adults talked after a while,with quiet intensity that went on long after the hour we kids should have been in bed.

There was talk about war and the draft ,and what these things would mean. Our hired man-Lou-was angry enough to give notice that he would be enlisting as soon as possible. I think Mom tried to talk him into waiting until he was drafted , but he would have no part of that !

We didn’t know then about rationing, or war bonds, or scrap drives,or air raid drills,or Gold Star Mothers …but we would learn.

Darkness had fallen on our world, and our Age of Innocence was forever over.

2005-12-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

Did the CIA Build a “Bridge to Nowhere” ?

We’ve heard the mantra: “Bush lied-people died !” – so many times and in so many ways, a high percentage of the American people have actually come to believe it.

One of the key issues was whether Iraq was seeking uranium to resume its nuclear weapons program. ( A previous attempt , which had progressed rather far, had been interrupted by an Israeli bombing raid on Saddam’s nuclear facilities,and by Gulf War 1.)

It is my considered belief a small ,politically partisan “cabal” in the CIA furnished misleading intelligence to the White House and the Congress: in effect, building a “bridge to nowhere” that could be yanked out from under the feet of the Administration , just in time to affect the 2004 Presidential election.

The CIA did make just such an attempt , via document leaks to The NY Times, the Washington Post, and anyone else willing to quote the “unnamed sources” they supplied. These “document leaks” contain information that was never previously furnished to the White House or to Congress : information that might have made all the difference in the world prior to the launch of Iraqi Freedom.

When we look at the casualty figures from Iraq, it might be well to reflect they are (at least in part) a direct result of a cynical attempt to bring about the political defeat – or , failing that , the actual impeachment of the President.

The Senate Intelligence Committee investigated the CIA’s performance prior to the opening of Operation Freedom in Iraq. This is a partial report of the bi-partisan committee’s findings.

(U) Conclusion 12. Until October 2002 when the Intelligence Community obtained the forged foreign language documents9 on the Iraq-Niger uranium deal, it was reasonable for analysts to assess that Iraq may have been seeking uranium from Africa based on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reporting and other available intelligence.
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(U) Conclusion 13. The report on the former ambassador's trip to Niger, disseminated in March 2002, did not change any analysts' assessments of the Iraq-Niger uranium deal. For most analysts, the information in the report lent more credibility to the original Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reports on the uranium deal, but State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) analysts believed that the report supported their assessment that Niger was unlikely to be willing or able to sell uranium to Iraq.
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(U) Conclusion 14. The Central Intelligence Agency should have told the Vice President and other senior policymakers that it had sent someone to Niger to look into the alleged Iraq-Niger uranium deal and should have briefed the Vice President on the former ambassador's findings.
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(U) Conclusion 15. The Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Directorate of Operations should have taken precautions not to discuss the credibility of reporting with a potential source when it arranged a meeting with the former ambassador and Intelligence Community analysts.
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(U) Conclusion 16. The language in the October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate that "Iraq also began vigorously trying to procure uranium ore and yellowcake" overstated what the Intelligence Community knew about Iraq's possible procurement attempts.
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(U) Conclusion 17. The State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) dissent on the uranium reporting was accidentally included in the aluminum tube section of the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), due in part to the speed with which the NIE was drafted and coordinated.
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(U) Conclusion 18. When documents regarding the Iraq-Niger uranium reporting became available to the Intelligence Community in October 2002, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analysts and operations officers should have made an effort to obtain copies. As a result of not obtaining the documents, CIA Iraq nuclear analysts continued to report on Iraqi efforts to procure uranium from Africa and continued to approve the use of such language in Administration publications and speeches.
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<(U) Conclusion 19. Even after obtaining the forged documents and being alerted by.a State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) analyst about problems with them, analysts at both the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) did not examine them carefully enough to see the obvious problems with the documents. Both agencies continued to publish assessments that Iraq may have been seeking uranium from Africa. In addition, CIA continued to approve the use of similar language in Administration publications and speeches, including the State of the Union.
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(U) Conclusion 20. The Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) comments and assessments about the Iraq-Niger uranium reporting were inconsistent and, at times contradictory. These inconsistencies were based in part on a misunderstanding of a CIA Weapons Intelligence, Nonproliferation, and Arms Control Center (WINPAC) Iraq analyst's assessment of the reporting. The CIA should have had a mechanism in place to ensure that agency assessments and information passed to policymakers were consistent.
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(U) Conclusion 21. When coordinating the State of the Union, no Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analysts or officials told the National Security Council (NSC) to remove the "16 words" or that there were concerns about the credibility of the Iraq-Niger uranium reporting. A CIA official's original testimony to the Committee that he told an NSC official to remove the words "Niger" and "500 tons" from the speech, is incorrect.
( ) PARAGRAPH DELETED
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(U) Conclusion 22. The Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) should have taken the time to read the State of the Union speech and fact check it himself. Had he done so, he would have been able to alert the National Security Council (NSC) if he still had concerns about the use of the Iraq-Niger uranium reporting in a Presidential speech.
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(U) Conclusion 23. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Defense Humint Service (DHS), or the Navy should have followed up with a West African businessman, mentioned in a Navy report, who indicated he was willing to provide information about an alleged uranium transaction between Niger and Iraq in November 2002.
( ) PARAGRAPH DELETED
( ) Conclusion 24. In responding to a letter from Senator Carl Levin on behalf of the Intelligence Community in February 2003, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) should not have said that "DELETED of reporting suggest Iraq had attempted to acquire uranium from Niger," without indicating that State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) believed the reporting was based on forged documents, or that the CIA was reviewing the Niger reporting.
( ) PARAGRAPH DELETED
(U) Conclusion 25. The Niger reporting was never in any of the drafts of Secretary Powell's United Nations (UN) speech and the Committee has not uncovered any information that showed anyone tried to insert the information into the speech.
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(U) Conclusion 26. To date, the Intelligence Community has not published an assessment to clarify or correct its position on whether or not Iraq was trying to purchase uranium from Africa as stated in the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). Likewise, neither the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) nor the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which both published assessments on possible Iraqi efforts to acquire uranium, have ever published assessments outside of their agencies which correct their previous positions.
( ) PARAGRAPH DELETED

It’s worth noting a new CIA director, Porter Goss has been appointed, and that he has been “cleaning house” at the CIA. (We know this from the former CIA officials , who complain – bitterly and regularly – about the “poor effect” Director Goss’ housecleaning is having on CIA morale.)

Stay the course, Mr. Goss : that broom has been idle far too long !

2005-12-02T04:36:00.000-08:00

DRAGON IN THE DARK -by D. J. Mc Guire

( How and Why Communist China Helps
Our Enemies In the War on Terror )

( Book Review )

In the four-plus years since 9/11/01 ,Communist China has spent a great deal of time trying to convince us her sinister regime is an ally in the war against terror ; and has even used this war as an excuse to further victimize its captive population.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

China’s ties to terrorist organizations are (as the author points out)
“long,wide,and deep.” It paid as much as $ 10 million to the Taliban for unexploded US cruise missiles : providing that group with a badly needed cash infusion.

On 9/11/01 – while the United States reeled from the horror of al-Qaeda assaults, the Peoples’ Republic signed an economic agreement with the Taliban .

There is some suspicion the events of 9/11 were based on a plan of action devised by two colonels in the Peoples’ Liberation Army .It is known they designated the World Trade Center as the best place for such an attack, and that they identified Osama bin Laden as the Islamic leader best suited to carry out the attack.

China opposed UN sanctions against the Taliban , and , via a worldwide network of “friendly academics” called the 9/11 attacks a normal response to America’s “quasi-hegemonic policies”.

Adding insult to injury, China’s news/espionage network –Xinhua- aired a video “glorifying the attacks as a humbling blow against an arrogant nation” – something America’s own Left wing radicals were quick to pick up on . ( Ward Churchill comes to mind.)

After 9/11/01 , Huawei , a Chinese technology firm, began building a communications network in Kabul for the Taliban.

Large caches of recently manufactured weapons from Communist China were found in Afghanistan’s al-Qaeda hideouts. Weapons included surface-to-air missiles.

China pressured Pakistan ( its close ally for 50 years) to oppose American presence in Afghanistan,and, in September,2002,played gracious host to a three man delegation from the Taliban-led by Ustad Khalil –right hand man to Mullah Omar.

China has sold conventional weapons , missile technology, and bio-chemical technology to Iraq, Iran, Syria,Sudan, Angola, Cuba, and Venezuela –among others , and has gone out of its way to encourage and support “rogue” nations of all sorts.

Their reasons for doing so are pretty obvious: they plan to become the world’s leading superpower, and (though the author does not mention it) find new places to colonize with their exploding , impoverished,and restive population. This has been their style in Tibet and East Turkestan,where native populations have been murdered to make room for millions of Han Chinese immigrants. ( Cuba, which recently signed an agreement with China may find out – to its dismay – why the Chinese are so eager to teach Chinese to the Cuban population !)

I found a few places in the book where there was room for cordial dispute with the author , but my overall assessment is as follows:

Save out some of the money you would have spent buying goods made in China by slave labor , and BUY THIS BOOK !!

Purchase Link (hardcover or PDF available):

http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=20543

2005-11-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

“CIA Torture Flights “ : Stolen Names – Stolen Honor

The Internet has been flooded with “investigative reports” about mysterious “CIA torture flights” – written pretty much by the same people ,under a variety of names : at least some of which appear to have been stolen.

One of the names that has been “borrowed” is that of Clayton H. Hallmark: a respected electrical engineer, who has written a number of technical and self-help books. (The borrowers omit the middle initial – “H” – but Internet search engines have now blurred the two names beyond redemption.)

Another alias is George A. Doole – an actual person, who ran the CIA’s Air America operation ……………and who died on March 9,1985.

Doole is regarded as a “legend” in CIA circles – though the Agency “never heard of him”. I’m sure, were he still alive, he would be outraged to see his name being appropriated by someone who got kicked off one of the “plane spotters” websites, and used by someone offering photos and maps of the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas-at a time when the president was expected to be “in residence”.

These stories all seem to originate in an Italian Communist online publication, called “Bellaciao” , and they have had the (undoubtedly desired ) effect of causing international alarm and tension.

Routine civilian flights have been boarded by heavily-armed police and searched – in Spain and other European countries. Each time , the searchers exited with shrugs , because there was nothing there to discover ; and each time a search turned up nothing , the “Red Orchestra” cried : “Aha ! They’re covering up !”

Let me offer a gentle reminder to folks who may have taken this “torture flight” nonsense seriously : CONSIDER THE SOURCE !

2005-11-23T06:53:00.000-08:00

Judging The President

Judging the President has become America’s favorite sport – if the chatter on the Net and in the Media is any gauge.

Some of his “friends” ( Don’t get me started ! ) leave much to be desired . A few of those same friends have created considerable dismay.

But what about his ENEMIES ?

Joseph Conrad once remarked : “ You shall judge a man by his foes, as well as by his friends.” Others have said pretty much the same thing: “ If you want to judge someone accurately, look at his enemies .”

Who are the enemies of President Bush ?

The last time I looked , those enemies included:

Anarchists –who want to tear down all government;

Communists – (like the folks from A.N.S.W.E.R. and Code Pink ) who want to overthrow all democratic institutions;

Neo-Nazi Rascists from groups like W.A.R. and Stormfront;

Neo-Copperheads like Justin Raimondo and Michael Moore , who ADORE strong leaders like Stalin, Saddam Hussein,Fidel Castro, Slobodan Milosevic, and Hugo Chavez;

Pro-Islamic Racists , like Aztlan, the Black Panthers, the Nation of Islam,etc.;

Stalin’s Orphans – Neo-Marxists of all sorts (many in Academia), who were “caught short” when Communism imploded in Russia. They have transferred their loyalty to Castro, China, the Ba’athist dictatorships,etc.

Islamic Extremists – a worldwide coalition dedicated to placing as much of the globe as possible under Islamic law- no matter how many heads they have to cut off;

Manipulative Profiteers- (George Soros comes to mind ) who donate millions to groups like MoveOn , so they can reap BILLIONS in currency manipulation schemes.

When I look at the Administration’s Enemies , one thing becomes crystal clear :

President Bush must be doing something right !!

2005-11-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

Chinese Concealment of Dangerous Influenza Variant

This is a story that has leaked-in dribs and drabs- out of China over the last two years ; and that has been kept alive ( barely ) by a dedicated virologist : Dr. Henry L. Niman – late of Harvard Medical School- more recently, the president of Recombinomics, Inc.,which specializes in the use of recombinant DNA materials for medical treatment.

This link will tell you a little about Dr. Niman :

http://www.atsnn.com/story/157892.html

Dr. Niman has been warning about the growing danger of Avian Influenza ,and its potential for worldwide pandemic – but few have been willing to listen.

He has also referred to what seems a determined effort by the Chinese government to suppress information about how bad the situation actually is in that country.

One of Dr. Niman’s sources of information as to events in China has been the Boxun Network: a group of incredibly courageous dissidents,who smuggle information out of China via Internet. Those who are caught are usually beaten and imprisoned for lengthy terms.
A few have “disappeared” after being taken into custody.

http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/english/page1.shtml

In July ,2005, some material relating to Chinese concealment surfaced in a more “mainstream” publication –and was picked up in a Yale Global bulletin.

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6077

The information related to a probable variant of “bird flu” , which the Chinese passed off (successfully) as “ Streptococcus suis” – a bacterial ailment which can produce similar symptoms , but which is so rare in humans as to be almost unheard of.

Dr. Niman also commented on it :

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/08060505/Sichuan_100s_Dead.html

As you probably know, in September , 2005, President Bush helped set up a 16 nation group to prepare for possible Pandemic Flu.

It is a difficult task – made more so – by the obsessive secrecy of the Chinese. Instead of turning over viral specimens to the WHO, they have destroyed them ;and have blocked WHO access to patients and accurate information.

There is some speculation China – which recently lavished huge amounts of money on Cuba, in exchange for Cuban expertise in the field of recombinant bio-technology – may be trying corner the market on effective flu vaccines : a move that could put both nations “in the catbird seat” for quite some time to come.

http://www.plenglish.com.mx/article.asp?ID={CA3DBBE2-4A6A-4628-9988-59744DB0CF46}&language=EN

Having that kind of edge might well inspire considerable secrecy !

2005-11-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

Massive Anti-American Disinformation Campaign Underway

It started a few weeks ago : reports of “CIA Torture Planes” that were being used to transport hapless innocents to “secret torture camps” in Eastern Europe.

The source was Belliciao – an Italian Communist publication run by a “writers’ collective” that seems to use the name ‘CLAYTON HALLMARK” for stories by a number of people (assuming Google is not totally confused ) : Greg Szymanski,Wayne Beson,Charlene Fassa,etc.

The story even has a chart of “known CIA aircraft” , and the names of “CIA shell companies “ that operate them.

The New York Times and The Washington Post have picked up on this story , amplified it ,and agonized over it – so naturally, the world press is doing likewise. (Hey : If it’s in the Times and the Post, it must be true-right ?)

Browsing through the worldwide part of the Internet , I see the story has had an adverse reaction on foreign relations. Spain is boarding our Diplomatic Corps aircraft and conducting searches with armed troops and dogs. Denmark is forbidding the use of its airspace to “CIA planes”. The Netherlands is troubled; Germany perturbed. (Al-Jazeera,as might be expected,is beside itself with joy.)

Nobody seems interested in asking the most important question :
“Is the information being published TRUE ? “

1. There really is a worldwide-very informal network of “plane spotters”: most of whom are interested in photographing civil aircraft because they like to, and because they able to sell just enough photos to help defray the costs of their hobby.

2. With one possible exception* ,none of these plane spotters appears to have the capability of searching FAA databases – let alone being able to identify an aircraft owner as a “shell” for the CIA.

I have absolutely no reason to believe in the existence of secret CIA torture facilities , and note the various countries in which such facilities might logically be found have gone on record-repeatedly-to deny they host any such thing.

I do believe the CIA uses aircraft –quite a lot ; but most of the usage is purely administrative – such as flying diversity training specialists into Station X-ray , etc.

CIA Torture Flights ? Give me a break !!

* I’ve witheld some extremely interesting information about the “exception”, but will be happy to share it with any interested law enforcement agency.

2005-11-11T07:28:00.000-08:00

Veterans’ Day 2005 – A Bittersweet Occasion

This is the day set aside to honor all who have served, and who now serve our country as part of the Armed Forces.

Many of those who served gave their lives . Even more were casualties,whose chances of a normal life were destroyed because of injuries and wounds ; and there has never been a full count of the "walking wounded" lives were forever scarred by the horrors of war.

My brother was one of the latter, and he well deserved the honors he received at his interment.

Of late (and I speak of the Viet Nam period forward ) there has been another type of casualty: veterans and serving troops who have been scarred by the never-ending drumbeat of criticism emanating from an openly hostile Media , which has seized and engorged itself upon the rantings of the Radical Left, and the Neo-Copperheads – (an odd amalgam of Anarchists,Neo-Nazis,Anti-Semites,and miscellaneous Anti-Government groups-some of whom pass themselves off as “Libertarians”.)

Truly heroic efforts by our troops go unreported , while the misdeeds of a few are made front page news. The whole world knows about Abu Ghraib – but almost nobody knows how Marine Corporal Danny Santos of South Central Los Angeles won the Silver Star in Iraq . ( We have heard, ad-nauseam , of the lesser exploits of John F. Kerry , who won a Silver Star in Viet Nam ……….”But that’s different !” )

1st Lt. Dustin M. Shumney , a Marine Platoon Commander was awarded the Bronze Star with combat "V” for repeated acts of heroism in Iraq over an 11 month period. He was en route to yet another tough assignment on January 26,2005 ,when the helicopter he and his men were riding in crashed, during a sand storm: killing all aboard. (That part made the news: “More US Casualties !”)

Everybody knows who Cindy Sheehan is, and has heard her opinion.
How many people have heard what Julie Shumney – wife of the gallant Lieutenant had to say ?

“I am forever grateful that not only do the Marines not leave each other behind,but they also do not leave their brothers’ families behind when they have given the ultimate sacrifice. I feel so grateful that my husband picked the Marine Corps. The Corps was a decision we made as a family-a sacrifice as a family.”

Don’t hold your breath waiting for this brave woman’s comment to be aired in the New York Times – even on Veterans’ Day !

2005-11-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

Chinese Espionage Arrests – Still “Under the Radar”

Story in The Washington Times, 11/05/05

“Four persons arrested in Los Angeles are part of a Chinese intelligence-gathering ring, federal investigators said, and the suspects caused serious compromises for 15 years to major U.S. weapons systems, including submarines and warships.

U.S. intelligence and security officials said the case remains under investigation but that it could prove to be among the most damaging spy cases since the 1985 one of John A. Walker Jr., who passed Navy communication codes to Moscow for 22 years.

The Los Angeles spy ring has operated since 1990 and has funneled technology and military secrets to China in the form of documents and computer disks, officials close to the case said. “

This is an excerpt from an article by Bill Gertz –Washington Times.
So far it has escaped the notice of The Washington Post, NY Times,Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, etc. (As of 11/08/05,only the Washington Times and two or three web sites that quoted the Washington Times had anything published.)

Perhaps the major Media outlets were too busy trying to impeach ( or at least dismantle ) the Bush Administration to pay attention to Chinese spies .

(It was mentioned on Fox News , so I imagine the “big boys” will be forced to report it – eventually . Just don’t hold your breath !)

For those of you who may be mildly curious about national security matters, the FBI says the spy ring was led by a naturalized American citizen named Chi Mak , and his naturalized wife Rebecca Laiwah Chiu.

Mr. Mak – an electrical engineer-held secret-level security clearance, and was employed by Power Paragon – a defense contract subsidiary of L3/SPD Technologies/Power Systems Group of Anaheim, California….and for 15 years , Mak allegedly obtained highly classified data on Naval weapons and communications systems by downloading information at his workstation.

What kind of data is Mr. Mak charged with obtaining ?

For starters, sensitive data on the Navy’s Aegis electronic battle management systems – developed after years of extremely costly research – and deployed by our Navy only a few years ago.

You will be delighted to learn the Chinese – by means of a little espionage – were able to take a big shortcut, and have now deployed their own Aegis-type system on their new state-of-the-art warship – which they have code-named “Magic Shield”.

The Chinese are also the proud possessors of highly classified data on the new Virginia-class attack subs: data that will enable China to track
US submarines at will – anywhere in the world.

They also received an electrical engineer’s eye view of one of our latest aircraft carriers.

Mr. Mak, according to the allegations, was so prolific a source of information, the Ministry of State Security sent his brother, Tai Wang Mak, and his sister-in-law , Fuk Heung Li over to help out. They arrived in the US in 2001, and had little trouble obtaining Resident Alien status.

According to (scanty) details released so far, Chi Mak would download information the Chinese government wanted ,and bring it home, so he and his brother could copy it onto CDs. The brother, Tai Mak would then encrypt the data, using coding software.

Eventually the Maks came under suspicion – (perhaps the new Chinese Aegis ship was the clue) – and electronic surveillance was approved and conducted.

Agents learned Tai Mak and his wife planned to travel to Guangzhou,China , and hand over their treasure trove of purloined secrets. Tai expressed some nervousness about the risks in taking the CDs out of the country, but agreed to return to China on October 28,2005, for handover of the encrypted disks to 2PLA (Chinese Military Intelligence).

Federal agents aborted this plan by arresting all four suspects.
A search of engineer Chi Mak’s Downey,California home was made, and hundreds of thousands of pages of highly classified documents, and large numbers of encrypted CDs were seized.

The information included technical details of the Navy’s new “Quiet Electric Drive” , details of state-of-the-art aircraft carriers, Electro Magnetic Pulse research , and unmanned reconnaissance craft of several types.

So far, the defendants have been charged with unauthorized possession of classified materials , although other charges are being studied.

The charges ,to date, are identical to those filed against another
Chinese immigrant : Wen Ho Lee , who was found to have downloaded extremely sensitive nuclear weapons data, and to be in possession of same.(Some of the material he downloaded was never recovered.)

Although Lee pled guilty to this (lesser) charge,he has become yet another “hero” of the Radical Left, and is held up as an example of “racism and xenophobia” in America – mainly because the government was unable to prove he actually transmitted data that allowed China to embark on a massive upgrade of its nuclear weapons program.

I’ve passed this story along to you , so you can see for yourself whether it is ever reported in the Mainstream Media – other than as an “oh-by-the way” squib printed next to the classified ads , or a brief mention on the telly.

Meanwhile, as the Media is fond of reminding us, we should all concentrate on ways to tear down the Administration , and not let ourselves be diverted and distracted by a few Chinese pranks.

Oh: By the way , don’t forget to do your holiday shopping at Walmart,and other fine purveyors of Chinese goods !

PS: Here's more information - from South China Daily,which has published more-so far- than the New York Times !

2005-11-07T16:14:00.000-08:00

Ignoring the Chinese Tiger

Do you ever watch nature documentaries ? Remember this one ?

There’s a herd of red deer , and it’s mating season, so all of the herd bucks start squabbling over who is going to have first dibs at the does.

They lock horns and scuffle – with everybody trying to drive off the reigning buck , while the does watch, and cheer on their favorites.

Meanwhile , in the trees , a little bird sees something, and starts squawking : “Tiger ! Tiger ! Tiger ! “

The herd ignores the warning cries. “Stupid bird !” , someone mutters.
“Always trying to divert and misdirect us when we’re busy deciding important things !”

As the herd concentrates on the scuffle , a tiger emerges from hiding, puts the snag on a carefully-selected doe, and trots off with her….as the scuffle for dominance continues unabated.

Something of the same sort has been going on in our own “political jungle”.

Political “herd bulls” are struggling to bring down the Bush presidency , while the Media cheers them on. Every thrust-every parry-every wound is reported gleefully ; but the soft footsteps of the approaching Chinese Tiger are ignored.

The Tiger has been very,VERY busy !

In 1997, China leased key portions of the Panama Canal , through its holding company-Hutchison Whampoa ( also known as Hutchison Port Holdings). These 50 year leases allow China to close off portions of the Canal , and include vast warehouse facilities that can be used for “dual purposes” ; e.g: storage of normal trade goods and/or nuclear weapons.

As of the end of 2000, China’s Panama trade was at 1.2 billion dollars-no small sum – and, on 12-06-01,Panama agreed to additional trade concessions – including the free exchange of “visiters, traders, and entrepreneurs” ( read Chinese intelligence agents.)

On 11-23-03, China entered into a new agreement with Cuba. China agreed to bail out the financially strapped “people’s democracy”, in exchange for highly specialized bio-technical assistance, and the establishment of a Chinese electronic listening post 90 miles away from Miami.

China invested heavily in Cuba’s Nickel mines –in exchange for the right to sell millions of TV sets to Cuba , and (more alarmingly) the right to set up schools where the Cuban population could learn to read,write,and speak Chinese.

On 11-05-05 , Cuba and China set up a military assistance pact – the details of which have not been published.

Across the globe, China has already established a brisk African trade: petroleum, uranium ,minerals, and other raw materials flow out from
Nigeria,Ethiopia,Tanzania,Sudan,Rwanda,Uganda,Cape Verde, and Mauritania , while a steady supply of Chinese weapons – including helicopters and fighting vehicles-flows in to the starving natives – who,unsurprisingly, have begun to export Communist revolution to their neighbors.

On 1-30-05 , China entered trade agreements with “socialist” Venezuela. In exchange for petroleum, China agreed to build a railroad,and to set up satellites and radar outposts along the Venezuelan borders – especially the border of Colombia (which Venezuela has been trying to subvert and swallow up.) China has also supplied weapons of all sorts – 2 to 3 times what the Venezuelan military could possibly use – and it is quite probable they will be used to spread Maoism ( I guess you’d have to call it “Che-ism”) to Venezuela’s neighbors.

On 9-13-05, China signed several bilateral trade agreements with Mexico , which include heavy investment in Mexico’s raw material production facilities,oil fields, and the like.

On 10-25-05, China began discussing additional trade agreements with Chile. Chile is to furnish copper – which China needs, and is to receive Chinese goods in return.

Chile already does almost $ 25 million a year in trade with China,but would like to get her hands on the sort of Chinese goods that guerillas like to carry into battle. (Che is very much “in” in Latin America. )

None of these stories is particularly exciting – if considered alone.

(That may be part of the reason the Mainstream Media doesn’t bother to report them ; that, and the fact you have to dig a bit. I found most of these stories in People’s Daily, New China News ,and the Cuban press.)

It is only when you look at them in series that a pattern begins to emerge : China has been very busy , indeed . At the rate she is going,the Chinese Tiger will soon have Asia,South America, Central America , and Africa clutched tightly between her paws.

Looking at the news reports, it’s obvious the Media is blissfully unaware of the stalking Tiger.

Last week, for example, when thousands of demonstrators –carrying Che Guevara banners and other obviously Marxist signs – thronged the streets of Buenos Aires to protest President Bush’s Free Trade conference, they were “carrying water” for their Chinese sponsors –who want no competition for trade on “their” new turf.

The Media should have known this, but was content to describe the demonstrations (rather approvingly) as “anti-war, anti-Bush protests”.

During press conferences, the only topics they wanted to talk about were “Plame-gate”, Karl Rove, and poll ratings. “Mr. President !
Mr. President : Aren’t you ready to resign yet ? “

Challenges are bellowed. Antlers rattle, and the earth is pawed.
The Chinese Tiger smiles as it contemplates which member of the herd to carry off next.

2005-11-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

Something Interesting in the Washington Post

Contained in a column that “scolds” President Bush in The Washington Post was some rather interesting information.

I have excerpted the paragraphs of Jim Hoagland’s Op-Ed piece that caught my eye:

“One lesson available in this story is that amateurs are no match for the CIA in disinformation campaigns. The spies are far better at operating in the shadows than you politicians will ever be. They have a license to dissemble.

The hidden management of the criminal justice process and the news media practiced by spooks in Wilson-Rove-Libbygate is nothing short of brilliant. So you were right to fear the agency. Where else do you think the one-page crime report that triggered the investigation and then the pressure-building leaks disclosing its existence came from?

Fear probably caused you to keep the Clinton-appointed leadership in place at the CIA long after some of its top operatives mounted a rebellion against the White House, in part to shift attention from their failures to yours. I know that George Tenet charmed you, and the rest of us. That's what spies and spymasters do, sir. You should have been taking that into account.”

What is Mr. Hoagland trying to say ?

Is he suggesting the CIA, in an effort to shift attention from their failures,deliberately fed false information to the administration , then waited until the administration acted on the information before admitting it was false ?

Did the CIA make a deliberate attempt to influence the 2004 elections ,in an effort to unseat George Bush ?

Is it-even now- attempting to disrupt , and, if possible unseat , the Bush administration ?

Mr. Hoagland seems to be suggesting such a scenario is common knowledge in Washington.

I wonder who his sources are !

2005-10-31T17:16:00.000-08:00

An Open Letter to Senator Schumer

Dear Senator :

You have been quoted in the press as being opposed to the nomination of Judge Alito to the Supreme Court because it would “divide – not unite Americans”.

I don’t mean to sound sarcastic, but I should have thought you’d be aware America is ALREADY a “divided” nation – and, if you are the Liberal you claim to be, one would think you would want it to STAY that way !

We Americans differ on a LOT of issues.

For example , you have long been famous ( or infamous ) for your efforts to disarm the American public. I’m sure you’d like everyone to agree with you, but a lot of us don’t. Should we be silenced ? Disregarded ? Treated with hostility by the Court ?

You favor abortion – as do a lot of other people; however, a large number of people are opposed to it outright ; and , I suspect,an even larger number are uneasy with the concept of abortion for the sake of personal convenience. Should the Judiciary be compelled to march in lockstep with the Pro-Abortion groups – or should it remain independent ?

I think , if you were to ask the American people , they would tell you they FAVOR a “divided” Supreme Court ; that they LIKE the idea of Judges with differing points of view getting together , arguing the strengths and weaknesses of the cases before them , and arriving at carefully reasoned decisions .

What they hate – and what they have resisted vigorously in the past – is a Supreme Court so united in outlook , its only function is to rubber stamp the prevailing philosophy of elected officials.

I don’t know how qualified Judge Alito is for the Supreme Court , and I hope you will study his background carefully . If you find him ignorant, cruel and malicious , mentally unstable , mired in scandal , or otherwise unfit for office , I hope you will move to disqualify him.

By the same token, should you find him well suited for the High Court,I hope you will move to confirm him – even if you disagree with him on certain issues.

We are selecting a Justice of the Supreme Court – not a Schumer running mate.

2005-10-31T06:10:00.000-08:00

Scratch Where it Itches

I

There was a gal named Ida Mae :
When she was seventeen,
She went to Atlantic City
To become a Beauty Queen.

She could sing just like an Angel,
An’ her figger shore did please-
But then she started scratchin’
Like an ol’ houn’ dog with fleas !

Chorus

Scratch where it itches-
Right down in yer britches;
Scratch where it itches-
An’ not where it looks the best !

II

Oh, it musta been contagious ,
Or somethin’ in the air –
‘Cause all of them Contestants
Started itchin’ everywhere !

They had to stop the Pageant :
All the Judges hollered “Whoa !”
When lovely Miss America
Scratched herself from head to toe !

Chorus

Scratch where it itches-
Right down in yer britches;
Scratch where it itches-
An’ not where it looks the best !

III

There’s a moral to this story-
Now that we’ve had our fun :
Folks are pretty much the same
After all is said and done,

There’s times you can’t be subtle-
When you gotta be direct:
When you gotta scratch even though it ain’t
Politically correct !

Chorus

You gotta scratch where it itches :
Right down in your britches-
You gotta scratch where it itches,
An’ not where it looks the best !

2005-10-30T17:28:00.000-08:00

IMPEACHMENT WATCH – DAY 1745 !

(Scene- The White House : It is early morning, and there is almost nothing happening . It is cold, and raining heavily . The carefully coiffed Newsreaders look a bit haggard at this hour, as they huddle under protective umbrellas.)

Back in the studio, the cameras focus on veteran Newsreader Frank Lee Marvelous, and his Co-anchor , Malise A. Forrthawt - better known as The Marvelous-Malise News Team.

Marvelous: It’s Day 1745 of our Impeachment Watch , and we’re awaiting exciting news from the White House !

Malise : Let me bring our viewers up to speed .

(Cut to archival tapes.)

Malise: One thousand,seven hundred forty-five days ago, an Evil Republican …

Marvelous : (snickers) Is there any other kind ?

Malise : (smiles, then re-assumes stern expression) As I was saying, an Evil Republican named George W. Bush was sworn into office as President of the United States, following what many called “ a stolen election” .

(Tape shows George Bush taking the oath of office – cuts to clip of
Al Gore ,who intones: “Let ALL the votes be counted.” – cuts again to clip of Karl Rove – then cuts to shot of VP Cheney, who looks as if he is having a gas pain - then (just for the hell of it) - to NY Senator Chuck Schumer elbowing his way towards a microphone – back to the inauguration of President Bush –then to clip of Scooter Libby riding in the back of a limo, while camera strobes flash. Tape is accompanied by music : “The Ride of the Valkyries”.)

Malise : It’s been quite a roller coaster ride for “Dubya” since then :
All downhill !

Marvelous: Now it’s Day 1745 of our Impeachment Watch, and we’re waiting for a surprise announcement from the White House !

Let’s go to our Impeachment Watcher , Kurt Ansar , at the White House. Kurt: What’s going on ?

Ansar : (Mutters something that will probably have to be edited out,and stands in front of camera.) Ah….Good morning ,Frank ; Malise. Ah…

As you can see, it’s still rather dark here – about what you’d expect at 5:03 AM on a rainy morning here in the Nation’s Capitol. There –uh – hasn’t been a great deal of activity yet.

(Three gang bangers materialize behind Ansar – (Lord knows where they come from !) – and begin mugging for the cameras : making faces, and flashing gang signs.)

Ansar: As you can see, the people on the street are quite excited about forthcoming events. (Beckons) I’ll try to get some reaction.

Ansar : (Addresses one of the gang bangers ) What are your feelings on Day 1745 ?

Gang Banger : Speaking from the perspective of a member of what has been regarded,traditionally,as the Under Class, I would have to say:

TRICK OR TREAT !!

Give me your wallet, Homes , or I’ll perforate you with my O-O-O-O- zee ! You too, Camera Creep ! Give it up !!

Happy Hallowe’en !!!

2005-10-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

Something Wonderful Happened Today !!

The Special Prosecutor met with the Media. He announced the indictment of VP Cheney’s aide, “Scooter” Libby ,and he went on and on about “Grand Jury Secrecy”.

He kept ducking and dodging, and invoking “secrecy” , until finally
our Star Reporter – Malisha Hemlock – leaped to her feet and shouted out the question all of us in the Responsible Mainstream Media wanted answered :

“When is Karl Rove going to be charged with High Treason and frog-marched in handcuffs across the White House lawn ? “

Her courageous question seemed to galvanize the other reporters,and they began stamping their feet , and shaking their fists, and chanting :

“Two – Four – Six – Eight : Karl Rove’s Head Upon a Plate !”

The Special Prosecutor got very rattled , and called for Courthouse Security –then he did something truly un-American : He had them shut the microphones and cameras off : thus depriving the Public of the right to see our reasonable display of First Amendment Rights !

Our camera persons , deprived of power for their broadcast feeds, began chanting too:

“Frog March ! Frog March ! Karl Rove Frog March !”

It was obvious to all of us “The Fix” was in . Somebody – no ! Some evil Neo-cons had gotten to the Grand Jury and forced them to leave the part about Karl Rove out of their findings.

Utterly despicable – but we stood up to them –because we just can’t help being wonderful - and we invite you to do likewise.

Please join us on Monday morning when we storm the White House.
We’ll have the cameras rolling , and the World will get to watch you on TV !

We’ll start with : “Frog March – Karl Rove ” , and work our way up from there.

(Don’t forget to bring good, stout ropes , so we can really “hang this administration out to dry !”)

2005-10-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

Oh, No ! More Animals in the News !!

London: Researchers from Emory University of Texas, and The University of Louisiana have made a careful study of two separate groups of chimpanzees – in an effort to determine whether the primates have any “altruistic impulses”.

Both groups noted ,when chimps are provided with treats, they are not the least bit inclined to share them with other chimps – despite clearly identifiable “begging gestures” by their less fortunate counterparts.

( Oddly enough,the same behavior has been observed in self-described liberals – who tend to contribute far less to the needy than their “tight-fisted” conservative counterparts . )

Cape Girardeau,Mo : Sharon , a 7 month-old goat ,who is the mascot of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at Southeastern Missouri State University,had an exceptionally bad week !

On Friday,somebody sneaked inside a security fence at the frat house,and spray-painted the capering Caprine.

On Sunday, the poor goat was (excuse the expression ) kidnapped.

On Monday, police located the missing goat ,who had been placed behind the fence of a local animal hospital.

No arrests were made; and , to add insult to injury ,unsympathetic Animal Control officials have served an “eviction order” on the fraternity’s Caprine companion: saying it is illegal to keep “ farm animals “ inside city limits.

The Morning Paper dispatched its best bleating-heart reporter to interview Sharon ; who said - (while trying to chew the reporter’s notepad) she was proud to call herself a Caprine-American, and that she was outraged at the specie-ist prejudice she had encountered on and off campus.

Sharon said she is contemplating legal action, and has contacted the Caprine Appreciation League to that end.

(We didn’t have the heart to tell her the Caprine Appreciation League is a Middle Eastern group, dedicated to the creative preparation of goat meat.)

London: Over 26% of all dogs in Britain are “stressed out” ; and fully 1/3rd of all British canines are prone to vomiting and diarrhea –according to a survey of about 1200 pet owners , conducted by one Roger Mugford , a self-described pet behaviourist .

According to Mugford , humans lead increasingly busy lives , and feel guilty about not spending adequate time with their “animal companions”.

The survey results were announced by a spokesperson for “Direct Line Pet Insurance”- which may be as real as the statistic conclusions arrived at by this relatively tiny sampling of pet owners.

Come to think of it, I suspect someone was pulling the reporter’s leg- (dangerous metaphor there ) but maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree.

2005-10-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

“Biased” Reporting in Iraq ?

I recently posted a link to Michael Yon’s Online Magazine – specifically, to an article he wrote, entitled “Purple Fingers”.

http://www.michaelyon.blogspot.com/

(Here is a brief excerpt)

The soldiers do a pre-mission briefing before leaving the gates, and CSM Mellinger warned that the “Green Zone” is extremely dangerous, and not secure. “It’s just a place on the map,” he said. And then, apparently to make me feel more at home, he warned that journalists are specifically targeted. We started down Route Irish to the Combat Support Hospital (CSH) in the Green Zone.

Down at the CSH, Mellinger asked an Iraqi nurse what she thought of the referendum on Saturday. She seemed uncertain. Every time I’ve gone into a CSH, the people seem to be under stress, as if the carnage they see wears on them. Up in Mosul, one soldier told me that he once saw a nurse walk outside and just burst into tears.

For those unfamiliar with his work, Mr. Yon is a truly independent journalist – not affiliated or subservient to any of the networks, or to the so-called “think tanks” of the Right or Left. His work is totally financed by small contributions from people like you and me ; and, in case you are not aware of it, going to Iraq is a very expensive business !

He has travelled to Iraq twice , and has embedded himself with a line company of infantry. Embedded, in his case, means out in the field with the troops – not sitting in comfortable real echelon surroundings.

When the troops he is with are shot at – or bombed – he is in the line of fire ; but must resist the impulse to pick up a fallen soldier’s rifle ,and must continue to walk the fine line between “journalist” and “combatant”.

I admire his work ; but, as you might imagine, there are some Americans who claim his reporting is “biased” because it is “pro-American”.

These critics much prefer the work of “name” journalists , who hunker down in the relative safety of a heavily fortified and defended hotel,and who rely on “indigenous” correspondents and photographers (translation: correspondents embedded with the enemy ; only-we-can’t-call-them-“the enemy”-because-that-would-be-taking-sides.)

The work of these journalists can seldom be described as “pro-American” ; but it seems to fit the distorted, contorted worldview of the Neo-Left and their Copperhead companions.

Honest , no punches pulled reporting – such as that of Michael Yon-endangers the flimsy structure of their beliefs , and must therefore be labelled “biased”.

I have the feeling we could use a lot more Michael Yon – style “bias” in this troubled world !

2005-10-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

Good News for Iraqis = Bad News for Others ?

It’s official: the Iraqi people have voted to accept the contentiously-arrived-at draft of a new ,more democratic Charter.

The people came out and voted – in spite of bombings , drive-by shootings , beatings , threats , and vicious intimidation : but it appears their courage is not being greeted with much appreciation.

Islam Online first announced the Charter had been defeated – but hedged its bets by acknowledging – near the end of the article the Charter had actually been approved. Updated postings reflected the percentages : 78 % to 21% in favor of adoption - and began to complain the process had been rigged against the Sunnis.

Al Jazeera claimed the Charter had been “shoved down the throats “ of the Iraqi people.

The U.S. administration has managed to shove the rejected draft charter down the throats of the Iraqi people. The administration’s illegal tactics have been aided by the deliberate failure of the U.S media to investigate Iraq’s recent fraudulent elections. The evidence that this referendum was most certain to be rejected by the Iraqi people is abundant, but the United Nations and the media have chosen to ignore it.

Okay. I can understand the Islamic press being unhappy with democracy. How can you institute a caliphate if people are allowed to make up their own minds about how they wish to be governed ?

Let’s see what “our” Media has to say .

The Associated Press – which seems to view the election with a certain lack of enthusiasm – has now “buried” the good news in a story about American deaths in Iraq passing the 2000 mark , and increasing domestic opposition to the war.

CNN has followed the lead of AP in presenting this story.

I assume our “Mainstream Media” will (a) focus on American casualties and increasing resistance to the war ; (b) describe the Charter process as (Let me guess !) “deeply flawed”.

Was it flawed ? Let’s look at what the UN observers had to say :

The UN, which supervised the elections , says there was some fraud (about on the same order as we experience here , when the deceased rise from their graves in our larger cities to cast votes for the ruling political machine) ; but not enough to affect the outcome in any meaningful way.

The Radical Left has reacted (for the most part) with sullen silence, or with repetition of the Islamist “party line”. I assume they are too busy “celebrating” the death of 2000 Americans.

The Neo-Copperheads seem to be ignoring the Charter vote. (Some of them are apparently planning to join the Radical Left in celebrating American deaths, judging by board postings.)

From all this, I gather the Iraqi Charter elections are a blow to the self esteem of our national pundits. It did not work out as they had predicted-which means they were wrong – but, even if you were to torture them , they would never admit it ; because it might collapse the shaky foundations of their elaborate “Tower of Babel”.

Congratulations to the Iraqis with purple fingers !

Bad cess to your tormenters and detractors !

And as for those who celebrate the deaths of our troops –

“May the Devil come claim ye,while yer warm in the grave !”

2005-10-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Shh ! People From a Parallel Universe at Work !

Some say there are people who look like us, and walk amongst us:
people from a strange parallel universe !

Tijuana : A motorcylist , roaring through downtown Tijuana ,lost control while rounding a curve, crashed his bike , and fled on foot – leaving his helmet-wearing passenger behind.

When police checked the passenger, they discovered he had been dead for at least six hours. There were cuts and other wounds on his head ; and ligature marks suggested he had been strangled.

The deceased had bindles of methamphetamine in a pocket – leading police to suspect his demise had something to do with drugs. Police also speculated the motorcylist may have planned to dump the body in some remote,deserted area; but were mystified as to why he would have entered this heavily-populated city to do so.

Sidney: Australian authorities have apologized to the family of a man found dead in his car in a suburban shopping center.

The victim, who was in his 70’s and in poor health, had disappeared 9 days earlier, and police were supposed to be on the lookout for him.

When the body was finally discovered, police found one of their Parking officers had found him a day earlier – but had been so dedicated to his duty , he placed a parking ticket on the windshield of the decedent’s car , and walked away.

(Crikey,mate ! Bein’ dead’s no excuse for illegal parkin’ !)

West Bend, Wisconsin: A 40 year-old man from Hartford, Wisc. has told police he placed envelopes - containing photos of his genitalia
on the windshields of women who worked in local shopping centers , because he thought they “would find it funny”.

It seems he was inspired - while viewing a porn site- to offer photos of his “family jewels” for sale online ; but there were no takers . He had a large number of photos to dispose of , and decided to be more selective.

The “photogenic one” has been charged (so far) with 8 counts of lewd behavior and 5 counts of disorderly conduct. The District Attorney’s office says it expects another 14 counts to be filed here,and notes additional charges may be filed in other counties in which the defendant may have distributed his bounty.

Circuit Court Judge Annette Ziegler was able to control her amusement long enough to remand the defendant on $ 3000 bail.

(That’s today’s crop of people whose actions suggest they occupy a strange parallel universe – which occasionally intersects with ours – to our surprise and dismay.)

2005-10-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Plan to Bomb Nuclear Reactor in US ?

October 04, 2005

CENTCOM: A recent posting to the UK-based Islamic Renewal Organization website assigned the “al-Qa'ida Organization in America led by Abu-Azzam al-Amriki” the task of blowing up a US nuclear reactor in the near future

Commentary:
This fantasy threat will go unfulfilled as the terrorists realize that any type of mass destruction attack would harm everyone. It would not only mean the end of al-Qa’ida and similar gangster-type organizations which routinely kill innocent women and children, but will ultimately hurt the communities of the terrorists and their supporters.

The right side of the law is not that which disrupts civilization and creates mayhem in the land or interferes with commerce, education, and the rights of men to raise their children safely. The terrorists have sent the message that their own families and neighbors are worth nothing and they are running out of places to hide. World history has proven that such brigands soon exceed their abilities and are justly punished.

Arabic Text:
إعلان جديد لتنظيم التجديد الإسلامي على موقعهم الإلكتروني في المملكة المتحدة, بتعيين "منظمة ألقاعدة في أمريكا التي يقودها أبو عزام الأمريكي" مهمة تفجير مفاعل نووي في الولايات المتحدة في المستقبل القريب. هذا التهديد الخيالي لن يتم تحقيقه عندما يتيقن الإرهابيون بأن أي نوع هجوم "تدمير شامل" سوف ينتج عنه أذىً للجميع. سوف لن يعني فقط النهاية لتنظيم ألقاعدة ومنظمات العصابات المشابهة ألتي بشكل روتيني تقتل الأبرياء من نساء وأطفال, بل في النهاية ستؤذي مجتمعات الإرهابيين ومؤيديهم. ليس الجانب الصحيح للقانون ذلك الذي يعطل الحضارة ويخلق ضرراً بتعمد في الأرض, أو بتعطيل التجارة والثقافة وحقوق الرجال في تربية أولادهم في بيئة آمنة, فالإرهابيون قد بعثوا رسالة بأن عائلاتهم وجيرانهم لا يستحقون شيئاً. لم يعد للإرهابيون مكاناً يختبؤون فيه. لقد برهن تاريخ العالم بأن قطاع الطرق كهؤلاء سوف يتجاوزون قدراتهم عن قريب وسيعاقبون بعدل.

“Terrorism: Participant Says al-Qa'ida in US Set to Attack Nuclear Reactor, Outlines Geographic Divisions

On 3 October, "Ayaf" posted a message to the Islamic Renewal Organization's forum in which he stated that "orders to destroy a nuclear reactor in the US " have been assigned to the al-Qa'ida division in the US , which is led by Abu Azzam al-Amriki.

The message also included the geographic area of responsibility for the al-Qa'ida leadership. "Ayaf" stated that he came about this information via a conversation with "brother Abu-Jandal," who he said is "close to al-Qa'ida leadership."

"Ayaf" signs all his postings to the forum as "Al-Zarqawi's aide," and includes his email addresses: "cade7722@yahoo.co m and boda_8899@hotmail.com." The poster also included a photo of an individual in his signature. The individual sits before a background of Mecca . It is unclear whether this photo is of the author himself or someone else. Jihadist forum participants frequently include photos of "mujahidin martyrs" in their postings. http://www.tajdeed.co.uk/forums *

*Note: This website no longer active.

A translation of the posting follows:

"Designation of tasks and geographic division for the al-Qa'ida Organizations . . . Orders to destroy a nuclear reactor

I transmit to you what went on between me and brother Abu-Jandal, who is close to the al-Qa'ida leadership. The middleman said that the leadership agreed to the following geographic division:

 al-Qa'ida Organization in the Middle East, Qa'idat al-Jihad led by Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi
 --- al-Qa'ida Organization in Europe, Abu-Hafs al-Masri Brigades Organization led by Abu-Hamam
 -- al-Qa'ida Organization in America led by Abu-Azzam al-Amriki [the American]


The tasks are designated as agreed upon, add to that, the fact that al-Qa'ida is adamant on attacking a nuclear reactor in America during the coming days. The task will be designated by the leader Abu-Azzam al-Amriki.

Note that the FBI has published several photos of a wanted man under a variety of names. They said that he wanted to blow up a nuclear reactor. The last name published with that picture was Ja'far al-Tayyar. This was two years ago.

After that, it was unknown whether that photo was delusive, or whether he was arrested, or killed, since we no longer heard from him or saw pictures of him.

According to the information made available, the mission was assigned to the leader Abu-Azzam al-Amriki, may God grant him success. This is the information that we received. We present it to you just as we received it. We bear, with God's help, all [the consequences] that result from this."

The Islamic Renewal Organization is the website of the Saudi dissident group, formerly known as CDLR, based in the United Kingdom and headed by Muhammad al-Mas'ari.”

The FBI has been seeking information on this individual since 2004.

Link to their “poster”:

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/oct04/seekinfo103004.htm

Is the “threat” real,or another “wannabee” boast ? I don’t know ; but,
I would hope, if any of you reading this has any information, you would contact the FBI.

2005-10-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

Commander 'n Cheat

It’s now out in the open: The new TV drama “Commander in Chief” was aired to pre-test and pre-market the candidacy of Hillary Clinton for President in 2008.

Secondary goals may have been : getting on Hillary’s “good side” early on, suggesting what her agenda should be , getting some juicy staff appointments lined up in advance ,getting an inside track for the campaign advertising dollars – the possibilities are endless.

With this in mind, here are my screenplay notes for an ALL (!) NEW (!)
EPISODE (!) of TV’s up-and-coming drama :

(Please note: In keeping with my usual practice, I have made a conscious effort to offend as many people as possible. It’s hard work, but somebody has to do it ! )

COMMANDER ‘n CHEAT

(Scene is the Breakfast Nook in the White House. Camera does quick pan of tastefully set table , waiting attendants. Then, in background, we hear: )

Marine Guard : “ Ten….HUT !!”

(Secret Service Agents are shown briefly. They are at rigid attention-and humming “Hail to the Chief”. Brisk footsteps approach the Breakfast Nook.)

President Clinton : (Enter,stage right. Stops abruptly, glances back, snarls:)” Agent Witherspoon : Is that a gravy stain on your tie ?”

Witherspoon : (Stammering) “N-no, Madame President . It’s a blood stain…from when I got shot last time ? Jumping between you and that –uh- disappointed campaign contributor ?”

President : “ Oh. Yes. Well, consider yourself “on report” anyway. I want my people to look sharp !” (Enters Breakfast Nook.)

Attendant : “Good morning,Madame President ! What would you like for breakfast ?”

President : “ Bring me a tall glass of iced tea with lemon. I need something to warm up my blood and sweeten my disposition.”
(Smiles. Geena Davis she’s not.)

Bill (Bubba) Clinton : ( Enters Breakfast Nook, looking a bit sheepish.)
“Mornin’ darlin’ !”

President : “Don’t good morning me, you worm …and it’s “Madame President” to you ! “

Bubba : “Lord,woman ! What did ah do now ? “

President : “You know very well what you did ! Last night !! “

Bubba : (Bites lip) “Ah did not have sex with that woman ! “

President : (Glares) “What woman ? “

Bubba : “ Helen Thomas , darlin’ . She was in the Lincoln bedroom last night, but she was with some Ay-rab feller : Pajama ? No, Osama .
Osama bin Laden, or some such. An’ Hugo Chavez, too. “

President: “What was Hugo Chavez doing in the Lincoln bedroom ?”

Bubba : “ Well….Fidel couldn’t make it. He is getting’ on in age,darlin’.
Hugo sorta took his place.

President : “ And what,exactly, were you doing there ?”

Bubba : “ Mostly, ah was tryin’ to keep a straight face, darlin’.”
(Grins) “ Ol’ Osama bin tryin’ , but he wasn’t doin’ much to uphold the honor of Islam – if you catch my drift. Ol’ Hugo kept a-yellin; : “Just pretend she’s a camel !” ; and Osama fires back : “ I thought she was !”

Bubba : An’ ol’ Helen : she’s lookin’ disgusted – like she mostly does anyway – and she says : “Do you think the American people will (umph) stand for this ? “

President: (Intrigued,in spite of herself) “ Then what ?”

Bubba : “Ol’ Hugo shouts: “ They won’t stand for it – they’ll be too busy rollin’ on the floor, laughin’ !”

Bubba: “ That was some “interview” she did ! Ah had the Chief of Staff tape the whole thing – just like ah had someone tape that interview you give to Janet before she got her big job.”

President: “ You-you – PIG ! If I ever find that tape , you’re HISTORY ! “

(Fade to……………..Commercial break.)

2005-10-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

It’s Geneva Conventions Time !

CNN – and any newsreader who can find a microphone and camera – is about to have a cow !

Oooh ! Ooooh !! Oooooh !!! (Newsreader looks shocked ) The Geneva Conventions have been violated (newsreader looks stern)
by American Troops - (newsreader frowns) In Afghanistan !!!

(Newsreader bites lip,pretends to look reluctant.) Let’s go to the video ! (Studio camera catches newsreader’s triumphant smile just before tape begins.)

Let’s see what all the fuss – and newsroom joy – is about , okay ?

On October 1st, troops who were part of a psychological warfare unit – attached to the US Army 173rd Airborne Brigade- moved the bodies of two dead terrorists ( the media persists in calling them “Taliban fighters”) into the hills ouside the village of Gonbaz- near the old Taliban stronghold at Kandahar.

Instead of wrapping the bodies in white linen and interring them with proper Muslim ceremony, the troops laid the bodies down – facing Mecca ( a big no-no !) ,doused them with fuel, and burned them,

Adding insult to injury, the troops then broadcast the following message in the local dialect , using loudspeakers:

“Taliban, you are all cowardly dogs ! You allowed your fighters to be laid down facing west and burned. You are too scared to come down and retrieve their bodies.”

(You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that the whole point of the exercise was to enrage the Taliban so much they would leave the safety of their hideouts and come storming into a carefully-laid ambush-thereby reducing the threat of Taliban terrorism for some time to come.Alas ! Such an outcome was not to be .)

An Australian free-lance reporter – Stephen Dupont – was shocked at this egregious violation of the Geneva Conventions, and had his camera crew record the burning bodies, and the watching American troops. He then filed an indignant report : American Misconduct in Afghanistan ! Geneva Conventions flouted !! Film at eleven !!!

Was the burning of the bodies a violation of the Geneva Conventions ?
Probably – and the Army is treating the matter as a crime : sending out CID teams , dotting every “i” and crossing every “t” – something the Army’s Rear Echelon ….persons are exceptionally good at.

The media,of course, is treating this incident as a “new Abu Ghraib” scandal , with which they hope to attack the Administration – especially the much-despised Donald Rumsfield , Secretary of Defense,and bane of reporters–who–ask–really–dumb–questions–during–press conferences.

Shouldn’t we be all distressed and agog ? Stammering with shame and confusion ? We are talking about the sacred, inviolable Geneva Conventions, are we not ?

Truth be known , this series of international treaties on the rules of “civilized warfare” –enacted between 1864 and 1949- has never been much more than words on paper,and long lists of arcane rules : almost none of which have any relationship to the realities of modern warfare.

One must , for example , never sharpen the edge of one’s bayonet – only the tip – but it’s okay to carry a sharp knife or machete, or to hone the edge of one’s entrenching shovel: thereby turning a tool into a weapon.

Rifle,pistol, and machinegun ammunition must be fully jacketed , to reduce the likelihood bullets will expand upon impact with human flesh-
but Russian and Chinese troops are equipped with the new AK-74 : which fires bullets made with a hollow tip under the metal jacket,so they will penetrate deeply and expand rapidly. ( Have you heard anyone protest – or even mention this wholesale violation ?)

In World War I, both the Germans and the “Allies” used poison gas against each other. In World War II, all parties involved engaged in the bombing of civilian targets. The Japanese experimented with biowarfare agents on helpless prisoners. We experimented with the non-peaceful use of atomic energy on the Japanese – and so it goes.

Now we are engaged in a war against terrorists- (Ooops ! We’re supposed to call them “Heroic Freedom Fighters” !!) – whose only interest in the Geneva Conventions arises when they are captured.

These are folks who murder children for daring to go to school,who beat and exploit women, who bomb their own countrymen because they follow a different version of Islam, who kidnap and behead people who have come to help their country rebuild, who murder and terrorize all they come into contact with.

It’s nice-I suppose-if we follow the Geneva Conventions while fighting them ; but I hope you will pardon my total indifference to violations –no matter how egregious – of their burial customs.

2005-10-19T05:22:00.000-07:00

Official Conduct in the News

Sofia,Bulgaria: Two Bulgarian border guards are facing a variety of theft charges after a high-tech mobile phone – issued to US Ambassador John Beyrle was found in one of the guards’ pocket.

The Ambassador had set the phone down near the X-ray screening machines while his baggage was being screened by the two guards,and, when he glanced back, he saw the phone was missing.

The guards denied the phone had even been there;but, to their sorrow,the phone had a built-in tracking device,which-when activated-pinpointed its location in one of the guard’s pocket.

(Can you hear me now ? You have the right to a jail cell. )

Silchang,India: 54 years ago, 23 year-old Machal Lalung had an epilepsy attack-but was mis-diagnosed as “mentally ill” and confined to an asylum.

The patient protested to doctors – but was apparently thought to be “in denial” about his “illness” – and his confinement simply continued.

Thanks to the intervention of a human rights group, Lalung – now 77-has been released, and is living quietly with a nephew. He has no memory of his family,his original tribal dialect,or his earlier life.According to his nephew,he putters around in the garden,and so forth, but is essentially “waiting patiently for death”.

When reporters asked Lalung about women , he said there were many women in the hospital, but he never made friends with, or sought a relationship with one. “Who would want to marry a crazy woman ?”,he asked.

( What a shame this man’s deluded doctors cannot take his place in the asylum ! Let’s see: delusions of grandeur, denial of reality…)

Albequerque,NM : Bob Schwartz, Governor Bill Richard’s crime adviser,was hospitalized briefly over the weekend because of serious dog bites – inflicted by one of the Schwartz dogs.

Mr. Schwartz is the author of a new state law that permits filing of felony charges against the owners of dangerous dogs – especially dogs that attack people.

The law requires-among other things – prompt reporting by medical caregivers of all dogbites.

(Thus far, no such official report has been filed ; and Mr. Schwartz remains the proud owner of 2 bulldogs and a boxer.)

2005-10-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Trivia

Wasau,Wisconsin: A hungry 78 year old man drove his car into the glass entryway of a Burger King restaurant,causing extensive damage.

The man backed up, parked his car,and ordered a meal. He was sitting at a table,rather nonchalantly, eating his meal, when police arrived.

No summons was issued, because the incident occurred on private property.

(The restaurant manager declined to say what kind of food the gentleman ordered , but it definitely sounds like a “Happy Meal”.)

Brussels: European “sex workers” ( that’s the new PC term for prostitutes ) are demanding their unique profession be recognized as “work” , and say they deserve the same social rights as workers in other industries.

Male and female members of ICRSE (International Committee on the Rights of Sex Employees) held a news conference , urging the 25 member European Union to end discrimination against the Sex Industry.

Camille Cabral ,speaking for French workers, said it was time to end the stigma associated with the Sex Industry.

Reporters noted her tastefully selected ensemble included bright pink stickers reading : “Sluts Unite !” and “ Whore Power”.

(Parents of teenagers : You are now on notice as to what next week’s hot fashion statement will be. )

2005-10-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

Monday Morning Musings

New York : American feminists – who have long complained about Barbie Dolls, and the “Barbie look” – are expected to go ballistic over toy maker Mattel’s plan to introduce high-priced, Barbie-styled designer clothing and accessories for women – under the “Barbie Luxe” label.

“Our target model is the fashionista “, according to Richard Dixon, VP of consumer marketing. “ It’s not Mattel’s usual target audience.”

“When a teen or 20-something is carrying an Anya Hindmarch Barbie bag, it’ll reinforce Barbie as (a) relevant cool brand for little girls”,said Dixon. “ Little girls are growing up faster than ever.”

(Indeed !)

Little girls have dainty feet – compared to the subject of this Texas conference.

Jefferson,TX: A Bigfoot Conference has drawn hundreds of true believers here to mill about tables stacked with plaster casts of footprints, books, T-shirts, and other memorabilia.

The purpose of the conference is to discuss the latest sighting reports,learn about new tracking methods, and to review the proper procedures for preservation of Sasquatchian evidence.

Conference participants estimate there may be as many as 2000 of the reclusive,hairy,evil-smelling giants living in North America, and believe it is only a matter of time before incontrovertible evidence is brought to light.

Hmm…. 2000, huh ? Nah. Not enough for a voting bloc – though it might work here:

Oakley,ID: The city of Oakley has two City Council vacancies to fill in November – but no candidates for the positions : not even a write-in candidate.

It appears the vacancies may have to be filled by mayoral appointment
If no one writes in to file for candidacy by October 25th.

( We should be so lucky around here ! )

2005-10-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

One for Each Hand

It’s funny the things you half-forget about your children – but are reminded of as new generations come along.

We had a get together today : my wife and I, our five children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson – two year-old Nicholas - who is fond of cookies.

Nicholas wanted a cookie for each hand , but seemed unsatisfied when he got his wish . Then I remembered: the correct “ one for each hand “ formula is : one cookie to nibble on –and then – one for each hand.

It’s the same formula his Great-Aunt Marianne “required” at the same age ; and, for a few moments, I was awash in memories – and regrets.

I’ve always wished I could have shared more of my children’s “growing-up” years – but you can’t always do what your heart tells you is right ;and like most parents , I had to settle for doing what I could.

We can’t always have “one for each hand” and one to nibble on.

2005-10-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Biowarfare: Are My Predictions Coming True ?

In August, I wrote a blog about “the next 9/11”,in which I suggested the next attack might come in on the wings of wildfowl – carrying a lethal-to-humans Chinese-manipulated version of Avian Influenza (“bird flu”).

http://mrmeangenesnews.blogspot.com/2005/07/next-911-next-911-is-apt-to-be.html

I predicted in that blog the Chinese would suddenly announce they had developed a vaccine for the deadly disease – and that they would make it available to the world : at a price.

“Bird Flu” has erupted in the Far East, in Russia,and in Europe, and has been claiming human victims. There may have been “non-human” cases in the United States and Canada already.

An alarm has been raised. The President has asked for a major government-funded project to fight the oncoming pandemic (and some witless politicians have voiced the usual criticisms).

The are vaccines – but they are of limited efficacy. The World Health Organization is still trapped in its own bureaucratic timewarp. The Media is finally voicing shrill cries of alarm (between car commercials and promos,of course),and folks are beginning to get a wee bit worried.

(“If civilization grinds to an ignominious halt, how will that affect the playoffs?” “ What will be in fashion after an epidemic ?” “Shouldn’t we push for a new art museum now – while there is still somebody to pay for it” ?)

I sort of wondered when I read a few months ago about “vaccines being administered to Party leaders” in China (source Boxun Network) after an outbreak of “streptococcus suis” – (modified bird flu ?), and I was not too surprised when I read this on the Reuters Alert Net this morning.

BEIJING, Oct 15 (Reuters) - China has developed a new and better vaccine for use on birds against the avian influenza strain that scientists fear could cause a global pandemic among humans, state media said on Saturday.

(This is an excerpt. Full article is available here.)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK215236.htm

When I published my original blog, there were many who suggested a nice,long rest in a well-padded room might be helpful – or that the tinfoil in my (deerstalker) hat might be in need of replacement.

To tell you the truth, I hope they are right !

UPDATE: October 20,2005- Source Recombinomics Commentary:

Dr. Henry Niman reports H5N1 - infected birds were smuggled into Taiwan from China,and were part of a cargo seized.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10200504/H5N1_Taiwan.html

I think my tinfoil hat is getting loose again !

2005-10-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

Commander-In-Chief ?

Yes ma’am ! No ma’am ! Aye-aye,ma’am !!

Shine your shoes,ma’am ?

I’ve been watching (what some call) the Hillary Clinton Commercial-otherwise known as “Commander –in- Chief” , on ABC, and have to admit I’m fascinated !

The plot goes something like this: The President is dying. He summons his Vice President –ably portrayed by Gena Davis – and asks her to resign : saying she really wasn’t his choice for the office, but he needed her to get the Women’s vote.

Madam VP is not too thrilled – in fact one could say she is enraged ; but she drafts a letter of resignation like a good and faithful do-bee ,and is about to turn it in for typing , when – you guessed it – El Presidente messes up everybody’s plans by dying.

Can you say “coup d’etat” ? Neither can I, but Madam Vice President sure can ! She tears up the letter and gets herself sworn in as President before you can say “ Purloined silverware.”

While official Washington is still reeling from the shock, the new President mounts a military operation to free a Nigerian woman who has been condemned to death for adultery.

She lets the Nigerian ambassador watch the planning . He is – as one might expect – horrified ; and races to the phone to call his boss, and to arrange the safe release of the woman into US military custody.

At this point, the women of America are divided : some shouting : “Sisterhood is powerful !” ; others muttering : “ I don’t like that outfit on her. “

A week later,Madam President confounds the Evil-Republican Speaker of the House by selecting one of her most bitter rivals-a retired general- to be her Vice President.(He seems to have a Southern accent…Arkansas,maybe. Sort of like retired general Clarke….Could it be ???)

While confounding Evil-Republicans and Dazed-Democrats ,Madam
President overthrows the military dictator of an un-named South American country by sending planes ,with orders to spray the cocoa crop and bomb the cocaine-processing facilities.

The cocoa farmers overthrow the dictator, and the crops are spared-but-just to keep everybody on the same page, Gena has the cocaine processing plants destroyed.

Wow ! Two military operations in as many weeks !! This President is making Ronald Reagan look like somebody’s feeble Grandmother !!!

The Media responds by mobbing the President’s children – but is forced to hunker down, shame-faced when the President herself confronts them , and orders them to lay off.

There’s nary a peep out of the UN – but I imagine that’s because she’s threatened to nuke ‘em.

One of the amusing features of this slightly psycho drama is the role of the “First Husband” . ( Bubba, are you reading this ? )

We are led to believe he was once a powerful politician; but now he is being consulted on menu choices , and being handed color swatches.

Presumably he will soon be directed to spend a few hours on the Stair Master  firming up those thighs,and getting rid of unsightly midriff bulge.

( It’s also safe to assume the Secret Service will protect him from inadvertent ravishment by Interns , etc. ; and that the only woman he will have sex with will be Madam President – if she ever allows him in her bed again. )

As I remarked at the beginning, this show fascinates me – and, if this really is a “Hillary Commercial” – it scares the hell out of me !

2005-10-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

Today’s Trivial News – Including Justin Raimondo

Port Charlotte,FL: The pastor of the Bethanie Seventh Day Adventist Church was forced to call the Sheriff’s Office for help when 16 of his parishioners began singing hymns as he tried to deliver his service.

One of the caroling congregants said the group was protesting the diversion of $ 100,000 in hurricane insurance proceeds from Bethanie to the building of a new church in Fort Myers : apparently a pet project of the pastor.

Another complained the pastor had assaulted him during an October 1st meeting to elect new church board members.

All 16 were charged with simple trespass, released without bail,and advised to worship elsewhere. All agreed,saying their primary goal was to rid their church of this particular pastor.

The pastor said he “just wants to get on” with delivering his message-but it sounds as if he might have a tough audience !

San Angelo,TX : Texas-Angelo State University is now the proud possessor of a baby two-headed rattlesnake : Western Diamondback type –donated by a visiting professor of Biology.

The professor said he found the creature in a rockpile; and notes the two fully functional heads were joined at the neck. Both heads had eyes,forked tongues,and fully functional fangs.

Noting that the snake was lethargic, refused food, and wouldn’t strike at him,the biologist euthanized it, before presenting it to the University.

(“Eat your veggies, or I’ll euthanize you !”, snarled Mom. )

Speaking of Snakes: Justin Raimondo ,spokesperson for what some call the “Copperhead Faction” of the Libertarian movement , had some unkind words for those who would spread democracy in the Middle East , and other parts of the world.

(You may view his complete text here.)

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=7597

Justin has expressed a preference for strong leaders : men with a mustache and a mission - like Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein , and clean-shaven chaps like the murderous Hugo Chavez : all men who – given the opportunity – would stand him against a wall just to see how many AK-47 rounds he could absorb.

This may surprise you, but not everybody loves Justin !

(Me ? I find him ....trivial. )

2005-10-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Important (?) News From Around the Globe

Chesapeake ,VA: Motorists who travel busy Interstate 464 in eastern Virginia will no doubt be distraught to learn one of two full-sized fiberglass cows has been stolen from a 50’ billboard overlooking the highway –assuming they ever noticed it in the first place.

The theft was discovered by workers from a company that services billboards . They expressed some bafflement as to how it was carried out, but note there have been about a dozen such thefts across the country in the last year.

Value of the “rustled” fiberglass cow - $3200;

Advertising value of reporting the theft : Priceless.

Seneca Falls,NY : Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton – especially noted for her collection of White House silverware – has been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Montclair,CA : When a 71 car Union Pacific freight train stopped for a signal,the perhaps-overly-enterprising Juventino Vallejo - Camerena
climbed aboard ,armed with a bow and arrow , and allegedly tried to hijack it.

The two UP employees aboard – the engineer and the conductor – made their escape , turned off the fuel switches so the engine could not be moved,and, in a departure from Wild West tradition ,used a cell phone to call the police.

When the cops arrive , the wannabee hijacker pointed his bow at them and drew back the string; but one of the officers (who had, perhaps, heard tales of The Lone Ranger) shot the bow right out of his hand-merely grazing the “owlhoot’s” wrist.

The train was loaded with containers – nothing hazardous – and was bound for an ocean shipping port. What this latter-day outlaw planned to do with it is unclear.

(Oh well: Let’s whistle a few bars of “The William Tell Overture”
anyway ! )

Miami Gardens, FL: The disappearance of Frances- a treasured one year-old Siamese cat appears to have been solved.

Fish and Wildlife personnel were called to the scene of the disappearance when a man –who was searching for his lost wallet-
Discovered a 12’ Burmese python taking its ease.

The snake – captured after a strenuous tussle – had a missing-cat-sized-bulge in the midsection.

Such incidents are increasingly common in Florida , where residents who think it is “way cool” to own pythons , boas , and other potentially dangerous snakes , think it equally cool to turn the creatures loose in the Everglades.

(Picture this: Former snake owner stands at the edge of the “Glades”, humming “ Born Free” , as Agnes, his former pet , eyes him with increasing interest. "Are these things edible ? , she muses…)

2005-10-10T04:56:00.000-07:00

All the Naked News That’s Fit to Print

Clearfield,Utah: A 51 year-old Sunset, Utah man, who, it is alleged, has a certain fondness for appearing nude in public , was charged with lewdness after entering a local convenience store- wearing nothing but a tentative smile.

Not content with that achievement,he reportedly made a trip –au natural-past the drive-in window at a fast food restaurant,

After being arrested and released on recognizance, the intrepid flasher telephoned the convenience store,asked permission to enter the store naked,and tried to talk employees out of testifying against him.

Store personnel called the police-who watched as the man approached the shop, stripped naked , and walked inside.

He is now lodged in the county jail on a variety of charges and has been issued nice, eye-catching orange clothing.

For more of the “naked truth”, let us go to:

Darlington, SC : When police responded to an intrusion alarm at a local check cashing/cash advance center, they noticed ceiling tiles,insulation,wires and braces littering the floor.

A naked 22 year-old man – whose body showed numerous scapes, bruises and abrasions, then dropped from the ceiling and tried to open the front door .

He claimed somebody had thrown his keys up on the roof of the building – which explained why he might have climbed up there – but was at a bit of a loss to explain why he had removed his clothes and slid through a roof air vent.

The intruder has been charged with burglary, and will doubtless be chagrined to learn the business keeps no money on the premises overnight.

Medford,Oregon: A 33 year-old man, who is registered in the state of Washington as a sex offender, apparently started out his visit to Oregon naked-and covered with what looked like excrement.

A Medford woman was a bit alarmed when she saw the visitor enter her yard – wearing nothing but a piece of rope around his waist.

The man then tore a strip of “leopard - pattern” vinyl from the seat of a lawn chair, and used it to fashion himself a sort of loincloth.

The woman alerted police, who began looking for him – but four high school girls riding in a car spotted him first.

By this time,the Washington man had acquired a pair of jeans – (cool!) but still appeared to be covered with excrement – ( uncool !)

The young ladies declined his request for a lift to a nearby motel, and called police.

Police took the man into custody and stripped him, prepatory to hosing him down – (he said he had rolled in tomato paste the night before, but police scented a whiff of deception ) – and found he was wearing a leopard - pattern vinyl loincloth, secured by a rope.

(Two cases solved with one arrest ! Now that’s police work !)

2005-10-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

Have They, At Last, No Shame ??

It has just come to my attention – via the Associated Press – the Evil Idealogues in the US House of Representatives have voted to fund hurricane relief by making cuts in Medicaid funding !

The House resolution calls for de-funding Medicaid-subsidized purchase of vitally needed erectile disfunction drugs (EDD)– such as Viagra and Cialis !!

It was bad enough when they voted to cut off EDD funding for sex offenders , but this is just over the top. Have they, at last, no shame ??

Don’t they realize, without EDD funding there will be lower birth rates among disfunctional and lower income families ? That Public Assistance applications may decrease , instead of increasing at comfortably predictable levels ??

Hasn’t it crossed their puny minds there may well be a serious ripple effect ?

Fewer recipients could have an adverse effect on the careers of thousands of dedicated Assistance workers : fewer job openings;fewer opportunities for supervisors ; fewer chances for the up-and-coming Administrator to attend catered meetings and conferences with peers; fewer opportunities to nod wisely and say : “Yes. This is important. This is very important !”

Please contact your elected representatives today , and let them know how much is riding on the setting aside of this ill-considered decision :
campaign contributions , welcoming speeches , and votes (assuming any of you actually vote ! )

Amalgamated Social Service and Incredibly Perspicacious Executive Supervisors *
Executive Committee

* Sorry for long name. We haven't come up with a catchy acronym yet !

-This message sponsored in part by the EDD Mfrs. Of America -

2005-10-06T04:56:00.000-07:00

I Hadn’t Planned to Tell This Story – But :

Sometimes you have to speak out and be heard – even when you’re a Certified Old Fogey .

Long ago , but not too far away , I lived in a little country town, in upstate New York. Most of the people who lived there were small farmers, tradesmen, mechanics, or factory workers : “blue collar with pretensions” , I guess you’d call us.

The town was mostly what my Dad used to call “ Narrowback Protestants “ ( You’d have to show a girl your Sunday School pins before she’d neck in a parked car with you ) with a scattering of Roman Catholics (regarded with deep suspicion) and one or two Jews (routinely mocked and despised.)

One of the town Jews- an old grouch named Meyer- owned a United Cigar store : candy, newspapers,cigarettes, tobacco, pipes, magazines, and sundries.

On the 4th of July – if you were old enough , and hadn’t been kicked out of the store too many times , you might be allowed to buy (illegal, immoral, delightful) firecrackers.

When World War II ended , one of the soldiers who came home was a fellow named Sid. We’d always heard Jews got “ the soft spots” in the Army : places where they would never be in danger, and could probably turn a few bucks on the side ; so we didn’t quite know what to make of Sid – who had been a Ranger, and who had taken 6 machine gun bullets in the hedgerows of France.

Sid married Meyer’s very pretty daughter, and took over the store –
As much as Meyer would let him, anyway; and, in the fullness of time,became the man to see if you wanted to buy cigarettes ( for your Dad,of course ), condoms ( to carry in your wallet –forever unused ) or those illegal, immoral ,delightful 4th of July firecrackers.

Our part-time Town Constable – as narrowback as they come – regarded the Cigar store as a den of iniquity , and kept a very close eye on it : the same way he kept a close eye on “the girls” who worked in the town’s little factory. He was the foreman there – and universally hated for his ability to sneak up behind workers and catch them if they paused to chat.

He sneaked up on me as I prepared to light the second firecracker from a pack I had just talked Sid into selling me . “I’ll take those firecrackers ,”he purred. “ You’re in big trouble !”

The Constable wasted no time in making his offer: I would not be prosecuted for possession of fireworks , but would have to identify the person who sold them to me…in front of a Jury.

When you are 12 years old and trying (well:sort of) to do the right thing, a Subpoena can make you feel pretty tense.

For one thing, I liked and respected Sid and his wife. I used to hang out in the store when I could , and talk about life , and values, and the turbulent world we lived in. They never “talked down” to me , and I had gotten to be on a first name basis with them.

On the other hand , Dad was part of the Town Board that paid the Constable’s salary , and I was expected to be reasonably upright and law-abiding. I knew – when summoned to testify in a case – one is supposed to tell the truth , the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I agonized for weeks over what to do in the matter of The State of New York - by Grace of God Free and Independent vs Sid : wounded war veteran , small town merchant ,and friend. Everyone I talked to had different advice – even Sid , who said : “ Whether it helps me or harms me - do what your conscience says is right.”

Suddenly it was time to appear in court. The Constable came to the house , and we began driving to the County seat.

We rode in silence for a while, and then he said : “ Don’t be nervous. All you have to do is tell the truth. “ He glanced over at me. “ Do you think you can do that ?”

“Yes sir”, I responded glumly.

“Good !”, he beamed. “ I’ve been trying to get something on that damn kike for a long time !”

Would it surprise you to learn I had a sudden loss of memory on the stand ? That Sid and his attorney sat there trying not to look surprised as the memory loss persisted ? That cross-examination by the prosecution and further direct questioning by an irate judge failed to restore my faculties ?

I hadn’t planned to tell this story –ever ; but today I ran across another anti-Semite on the Internet --- and I guess you could say it restored my memory !

Just a couple of footnotes: One Halloween night, the Constable found himself the "disgruntled"- I guess you could say - possessor of a 300 lb.,not-very-happy pig,which had somehow gotten tied to the bumper of his patrol car. (That was back when cars actually had bumpers !)

You could ask me who was responsible,but I'd probably have trouble remembering the guilty party's name !

The other thing is less flattering: Often,of a sleepless night, I find myself wishing I had grown up to be half the man I was at the age of 12...

2005-10-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

The Anthrax Investigation: Deceptions and False Trails

Just over four years ago, a small batch of letters was dropped into the mail at Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ. Unlike our regular, dependable mail, these letters were tainted with a reasonable approximation of weapons-grade anthrax.

Evaluators have differed over how close to weapons-grade the deadly enclosure was, but none can quarrel with its effect: 5 people known dead, at least 17 others seriously ill (some with permanent after-effects) , paralysis of the postal system, contamination of Senate offices, and nationwide panic.

The letters themselves contained layers of deception – ranging from the use of a fictitious New Jersey elementary school as a return address on the envelopes, to the text of the letters themselves.

This is the text (including exact punctuation used ) of the letter sent to Senator Tom Daschle ( D- S. Dakota ) who was then Senate Majority Leader.

09-11-01

YOU CAN NOT STOP US .
WE HAVE THIS ANTHRAX.
YOU DIE NOW.
ARE YOU AFRAID ?
DEATH TO AMERICA.
DEATH TO ISRAEL.
ALLAH IS GREAT.

This is the text (Note lack of punctuation) of the Brokaw and NY Post letters.

09-11-01

THIS IS NEXT
TAKE PENACILIN NOW
DEATH TO AMERICA
DEATH TO ISRAEL
ALLAH IS GREAT

( Please note – in both sets of letters – the flat,unemotional affect of the text. No exclamations; no excitement.)

It took me quite a while – and the reading of Lord knows how many actual “jihad” letters , published by genuine Islamic militants – to see
what was wrong with the text of these letters : “Allah” is mentioned in the wrong part of the anthrax letters.

Every “jihad letter” I have ever seen opens with a pious invocation of the name of Allah ; eg : “The blessings of Allah the merciful and compassionate be upon us.” – even when the rest of the letter promises the destruction of the recipient.

Placing the name of God at the end of the letters constitutes an act of disrespect verging upon the blasphemous , and tells us the persons who prepared the anthrax letters were probably not militant Muslims.

Yet another (probable) layer of deception is the use of “ 09-11-01” as a heading. It is intended to persuade the recipient the letter has a direct relationship to the 9/11 attacks – and was , arguably, carried out by the same organization : al-Qaeda.

Viewed as a deception alone , the letters say ( to me, anyway ) “ This attack has nothing to do with 9/11; and, had it occurred at some other time, might well have revealed the identities of those responsible. We have, therefore, used 9/11 as a frame of reference because we want you to link these separate events. “

Footnote on the letters: The misspelling of penicillin as “penacilin” in the letters has been taken as evidence they were written by a non-English-speaking person. If you run a search of that word-spelled that way- you will learn such a misspelling is fairly common among Americans – especially those who learned phonetic spelling- as a precursor for “the real thing” -in school; Americans now in their 30’s and 40’s.

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

Let’s imagine – (Humor me on this ) – 9/11 had never happened , but there had been an anthrax attack.

(There would,of course,be no reference to “09-11-01” at the top of the letters , and I imagine Allah might have been “out of the picture” for this purpose – no offense to Muslims intended ! )

Who would suspicion have fallen upon ?

Would this group have become “Persons of Interest” ?

DISCLAIMER: As far as I know, the Sunshine Project had nothing whatsoever to do with the anthrax attacks of 2001, and is merely a well-informed non-profit group dedicated to eliminating biochemical warfare-a goal I concur with.I have used them purely and solely as an illustration !

The Sunshine Project
Press Release
29 August 2000
USA Admits Possible Link between Biological Weapons and Agent Green
Seattle and Hamburg, 29 August - In an August 22 memorandum, US President Bill Clinton has conceded that the US plan to use microbial agents to eradicate drug crops may have an impact on biological weapons proliferation. This is the first time that US officials have publicly admitted that the use of biological agents like Fusarium oxysporum (dubbed "Agent Green") raises arms control concerns.

The Sunshine Project has convincingly argued that F. oxysporum and other mycoherbicides are biological weapons. Because of its illicit coca crop, Colombia is on the front line of US biological warfare plans. Other projects on biological agents to kill opium poppy and marijuana are also funded by the US and the British Governments.

The Presidential memo waives several conditions for US assistance to Colombia. In particular, Clinton overruled the US Congress and severed the link between Colombian acceptance of Agent Green and the overall implementation of the US 1.3 billion dollar bilateral assistance package for Plan Colombia. Clinton states that the US will not use Agent Green until "a broader national security assessment, including consideration of the potential impact on biological weapons proliferation and terrorism, provides a solid foundation for concluding that the use of this particular drug control tool is in our national interest." (from Memorandum of Justification for Presidential Determination 2000-28).

According to the Sunshine Project's Edward Hammond, "This is an important step forward. While important parts of the US Government stubbornly refuse to withdraw support for Agent Green, President Clinton has eased the bilateral pressure on Colombia and admitted that this may have been a bad idea from the start."

Adds Sunshine's Jan Van Aken, "Agent Green is a biological weapon. It was developed with a hostile purpose, intended to be used in an armed conflict in Colombia. Use of Agent Green threatens to undermine international agreements prohibiting biological weapons. It must be stopped immediately, worldwide."

It is important to note that the presidential memorandum does not necessarily signal a change in US policy. "Pro-fungus parts of the schizophrenic US Government could easily rebound. The memorandum is a window of opportunity. Governments should take fast action and exploit the possibilities for progress before the window closes." says the Sunshine Project's Susana Pimiento.

The Sunshine Project is calling on governments and international agencies to take the following steps:

The United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), which administers the US-funded work in Uzbekistan and is promoting Fusarium testing in Colombia, should immediately freeze all of its international projects on crop-killing biological agents and withdraw the contract it is offering Colombia. No government, much less a United Nations agency, can take risks with bioweapons proliferation. Work cannot resume until the arms control issues have been resolved, a broader range of expert UN agencies have independently evaluated the program, and UNDCP's governing body has fully reviewed the work.

With aid no longer conditional on acceptance of Agent Green and with the US publicly admitting that it is uncertain about bioweapons links, there is no reason why the Government of Colombia has to proceed with the US-inspired biological eradication idea. Colombia may now heal regional unease with the plan and publicly withdraw from negotiations with UNDCP, halting any planned research on Fusarium and other biological agents.

The US Government must conduct a transparent review of the US Department of Agriculture program that funded and developed F. oxysporum and other crop-killing weapons.

The USDA worked for more than a decade on projects. A dangerous policy failure has taken place if serious assessment of the treaty compliance and proliferation aspects of this program have not been reviewed until now - after agent identification, work on virulence enhancement, delivery systems, and field testing.

The current situation offers a remarkable opportunity to strengthen the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BTWC), updating it to reflect new and different political realities and type of conflict prevalent in the post-Cold War era. With the US leadership having conceded there are proliferation concerns raised by the drug war biological agents, during the next Review Conference of the BTWC in 2001, states parties should leap on the opportunity to insure that all crop-killing biological agents, especially those used with hostile intent in an armed conflict, are banned by the convention.

Opposition Increasing In July, the Ecuadorian Government banned the introduction and use of Fusarium oxysporum. In an editorial in its August 7th edition titled "Agent Orange and F. oxysporum", the Managing Editor of Chemical and Engineering News, the magazine of the American Chemical Society, called for a halt to drug war bioweapon research. Accusing the US of developing "dubious weapons systems", the editorial condemns the program, saying, "There is an unavoidable moral component to scientific research, and development of F. oxysporum as a weapon in the war on drugs or any other war violates it. Scientists should just say no to participating in this research."

If you knew Jan Van Aken holds a PhD in Cell Biology, has received UNMOVIC training , and is on the UNMOVIC roster , would you wonder about him as the FBI wondered about Hatfill and Berry ?

If you knew Susana Pimiento was Colombian - born –( I don’t know what her citizenship status is at present) – would you wonder if the possible destruction of cocoa crops , necessary to cocaine production, in Colombia and Ecuador might have inspired a “counterattack” ?

If you knew Edward H. Hammond had published something “interesting”- on or about the same date the anthrax letters were mailed
Would you think of him as a “person if interest” ? (Following was published on 9/19/01.A similar statement was published on 09/25/01.)

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Critical Policy Mistakes
As fear of a terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction skyrockets, the US must analyze and correct its policies that contribute to biological weapons instability. There are four recent critical missteps:
 First, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is conducting a secret program of biodefense research that, in the opinion of many experts, violates the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. This work, revealed in the New York Times, involves testing mock biological bombs and construction of a bioweapons production facility in Nevada. If any other country conducted this research, it would have drawn the US's harshest denunciations and, quite possibly, military attack. The longer the United States insists on this biological weapons research double standard, the more determined its enemies will be, and the greater the risk to its own and allies' citizens.

 Second, the United States failed to disclose the CIA's research in annual declarations of biodefense activities to the Bioweapons Convention, deliberately evading a UN mechanism to enhance transparency and trust between nations. The significance of this US failure is difficult to overstate. Secret US biological weapons research has drawn suspicion from the US allies and undermined faith in voluntary confidence building measures. To US enemies, the CIA's work is nothing short of a biological weapons threat. Failing corrective action, pious declarations about the danger of bioweapons will ring hollow and be understood by US enemies as lies - or even threats.

 Third, while it may shock many Americans, it is no secret to arms control experts that the United States has menaced Afghanistan (and Colombia, home to three groups on the US State DepartmentÕs terrorist list) with the threat of a biological attack since at least 1998. This threat is through plans to use the fungus Pleospora papaveracea, a biological weapon, to forcibly eradicate opium poppy crops. Transcripts of Kabul Radio clearly indicate that the Taliban is aware of the plan and opposes it. Through the United Nations Drug Control Program, the US has attempted to veil the fungus in legality by obtaining the approval of the Afghan government in exile, which has no de facto power. The Taliban is thought to willingly harbor terrorists who use weapons of mass destruction. The US and its allies are foolish, hypocritical, and courting disaster to continue to threaten such a state with a biological weapons attack.

 Fourth, in July, the United States trashed six years of negotiations to develop a Protocol for international verification of the Bioweapons Convention. Not only did it anger the world by being uncooperative, the US even said it would block other nations' attempts to proceed with new controls on biological weapons. Close US allies were publicly appalled; but few publicly suggested it was because the US itself intended to violate the treaty. With the New York Times revelation and the new, dangerous atmosphere following the terrorist attacks, the size and ramifications of the USA's terrible miscalculation are now fully apparent.
At a minimum, the US needs to take the following actions:
1) The CIA's research program must be immediately and entirely terminated. Because of frail US credibility on this issue, this decision must be made and explained in clear detail by a high-ranking US official and;
2) In light of incontrovertible evidence that it has not complied with confidence building measures, the US has no peaceful alternative but to endorse a United Nations system of bioweapons verification requiring broad declarations and mandatory, short-notice, and comprehensively-equipped UN inspections of commercial and military biotechnology facilities. Nothing less will restore faith in US compliance. Dubious arguments about shielding US facilities in deference to commercial interests are outmoded by recent events and no longer tenable. Lives cannot be put at risk in the interest biotechnology profits, even if the US Defense Secretary once headed Searle, the former pharmaceutical division of Monsanto;
3) The Drug War cannot be a pretext for undermining biological weapons controls and escalating the war on terrorism. The United States and the United Nations Drug Control Program must immediately and unequivocally renounce the development and use of biological agents in forced crop eradication. The US-supported research facility at the Institute for Genetics in Tashkent, Uzbekistan must be immediately locked and the key thrown away. Research efforts in the United States must be similarly halted. The government of the United Kingdom, which has provided lukewarm support for the research, should announce that in light of the current political situation it must withdraw its support in the interests of peace and security.
4) The United States must come back to the table at the Verification Protocol negotiations and signal its intention to cooperate. The US does not have the ability to inspect suspected biological weapons facilities worldwide. A UN system could possess this strength and obtain access and apply verification technology not possible for any state to use alone. US policymakers say they are developing new ideas for verification, which they Ð and other countries - should bring to the 5th Review Conference of the BTWC in November. But political reality dictates that the current negotiating text must be the starting point. The vast majority of countries have already agreed to a number of measures to improve verification. Scrapping existing work and developing a new text is an option unlikely to be possible for at least several years.
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A working hypothesis might well conclude – had the anthrax attacks occurred in some context other than 9/11 – that a domestic group – willing to use mass terror to achieve its ends, and not overly squeamish about possible loss of life was responsible.

Investigators would probably begin with some of the large number of highly-skilled people who had been laid off in the early to mid 90’s from “secure” government careers at Fort Detrick and Dugway ,and who might be bitter at the loss of their jobs.

It was exactly such people the Hartford Courant interviewed in November/December of 2001- and it is from these people the Courant learned of the deplorable “ Camel Club” incidents of 9 years earlier-incidents the Courant was able to verify with FOIA filings.

The Hartford Courant did a tremendous job of reporting --- but could very well have been “played” by one of the disaffected former workers, who wanted to lay a false trail , and deflect attention from his/her own activities.

It has been an exceptionally durable false trail – used as recently as a month ago by the “ever popular” Justin Raimondo for one of his “Neo-Copperhead” rants.

That particular false trail – which inferred, without a shred of supporting evidence, that because retired Army Colonel Philip Zack visited lab worker Marian Rippey when she was working the night shift, the visits involved conspiracy instead of concupisence.

The next false trail was laid by Barbara Hatch Rosenberg – generally described as “ an expert in bioweapons” (though some have raised doubts about that description).

As far as I know, Dr. Rosenberg was acting in good faith when she began suggesting to the FBI they might have a “person of interest” in Steven Hatfill – a man with a slightly questionable past.Dr. Hatfill and his attorney think otherwise,as might be imagined.

After a massive ( some might say frenzied) FBI investigation – that included the draining of a pond and the destruction of Hatfill’s career, the FBI moved on to ( You guessed it !) yet another false trail.

This one included Dr. Kenneth Berry an upstate New York physician who was apparently at odds with his wife, and who may (according to media reports) have engaged in domestic violence.

Again, there was massive media frenzy: fanned by images of FBI agents in protective gear raiding Dr. Berry’s homes , coming up with nothing, and wrecking whatever career he had. (He is drawing Unemployment benefits in New Jersey , as of last report.)

So far, I’ve counted 3 major false trails (apart from the letters themselves) , and really don’t know if they were deliberately laid – or just happened ; but I am beginning to doubt they were all happenstance.

I’m also beginning to form a “ profile “ of the persons who were responsible for the anthrax attacks – and I invite you to do likewise.

Maybe-just maybe – one of us will come up with an answer.

2005-10-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

Eagle Song

The Eagle calls !

Forsaking walls

My spirit leaps to join her

In the freedom of the skies.

Our golden eyes

Flash like summer lightning

As in mock attack we clash :

Talons locked, we pinwheel down

In savage Courtship Dance.

Plummeting like meteors :

How the wind around us sings !

Until, content , we spread our whistling wings

To soar , aloof

Above Man’s world of petty things.

But then , below , I see myself

Still trapped in Human chains :

Never to know the secrets of the wind -

Or to drink the wine of Freedom

From the chalice of the rains.

( Written while riding in a NY subway to yet another assignment.)

2005-10-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

“Inconceivable” was Unpardonable

In an effort to placate my wife – who insists : “ You never want to watch the shows I watch !” – I watched the new drama (or whatever it is) called “ Inconceivable”.

The setting is an upscale, cutting-edge fertility clinic ; and the viewer is introduced to surrogate mothers who change their minds (thankfully before impregnation) , couples seeking eugenically superior “designer babies” , and a clinic worker who is surreptitiously changing the label on a specimen.

There is a lawsuit – filed by a couple who are unhappy with the baby the clinic “designed” for them. (Could this be related to the clinic worker who is switching labels ? Hmmmmmmmmm….)

There is a gay couple with an infant – presumably acquired from a surrogate mother. One partner works in the clinic. The other is the “maternal” one ; and the issue is finding a reliable source of breast milk for the infant. ( A helpful,heart-of-gold-but-nothing-to-look-at clinic worker finds an answer of sorts – artificial udders – on e Bay.)

There is Angie Harmon – of “Law and Order” fame – who pauses from time to time with a deer-in-the-headlights look , as if to say : “ I can’t believe I let my agent talk me into this role !”

Let’s see: what else ? Oh. Everybody has ISSUES – an absolute requirement for a TV show aimed at a carefully targeted upscale feminine audience that is sure to look at the cosmetic and feminine hygiene commercials supporting this …whatever it is.

Oh yeah. I almost forgot to tell you : About 40 minutes into the program,
my wife exercised her “right to choose” by handing me the remote and announcing : “ That’s it ! I’m going to bed !! “

As she headed up the stairs , she paused to snarl : “ Why do you watch programs like this ? “

2005-09-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

Some Suggestions for the Network Execs

I’ve been watching as much of the new TV shows as I can stand- usually about the first 5 to 6 minutes – commercials included.

Having subjected myself to that torment, I feel entitled to make a few suggestions. (No extra charge, of course !)

The Ghost Whisperer: Let’s liven thing up a bit ! If dead people need somebody to explain to them that they are really and truly dead, let’s
put Judge Judy on the job !

Judge Judy : Read my lips , Skeletor ! I don’t care who your widow is fooling around with , or how she’s spending your pukey little estate !

Skeletor : But-but –but…

Judge Judy : Skeletor, I’ll bet you haven’t paid child support in… (glances at document, sneers viciously ) seven and one-half years !

Skeletor : ( shocked expression ) But-but Ah’m day-edd !

Judge Judy : ( Smirks triumphantly ) That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, cuckoohead ! ( Raps knuckles against side of head.)

Skeletor : Looks at judge with dismay, then slowly de-materializes.

Widow : That’s tellin’ him Judge ! I allays hated thet cheap, no-good ,womanizin’ (bleeped) !

Judge Judy : Don’t push your luck, sweetheart ! And, by the way,there’s something new called “Dentistry”. You might want to consider spending a few bucks on it.

Judgment for the Defendant ! Get outa here !!
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What do you think guys ? Want me to try some other shows ?

No ? Okay, okay ! No need to call security ! I’m outa here !!