cottonfever

TV3 Video: Cash flows as hostages freed

2006-03-28T00:22:00.000+12:45

A true Hero

2006-03-13T20:18:00.000+13:45

Three weeks ago, Dr. Wafa Sultan was a largely unknown Syrian-American psychiatrist living outside Los Angeles, nursing a deep anger and despair about her fellow Muslims.

For Muslim Who Says Violence Destroys Islam, Violent Threats - New York Times: "Violence Destroys Islam"

ONE down 3 to go

2006-03-11T18:41:00.000+13:45

BY TOPIC: Abduction of four CPT members in Iraq

Car Swarm Ahoy

2006-03-07T14:43:00.000+13:45

Palestinians shout anti-Israel slogans ( and dip hands in blood) after an Israeli air strike in Gaza March 6, 2006. Two Islamic Jihad militants and an eight-year-old child were killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza on Monday, Palestinian medics and witnesses said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Yahoo! News Photo

Rachel Corrie play... censored?

2006-03-06T13:48:00.000+13:45

he play, My Name is Rachel Corrie, which "consists of her diary entries and emails home... won the best new play prize at this year's Theatregoers' Choice Awards in London." It was then considered by the New York Theatre Workshop for a March opening.

Oh dear how sad too bad

more here at LGF....

LA Times Shills for Terror Supporters (Again)

High Five A Muslim Day

2006-02-28T01:02:00.000+13:45

what tian has learned: High Five A Muslim Day
Few days ago, I posted a cartoon and some video clips which have upset some readers, especially the Muslims. I would like to offer my apology for my poor judgment and complete disregard of cultural sensitivity at the time.

My dear Muslim friends, I am sorry to think your religion’s claim of peace and tolerance is a complete sham and your Prophet may bear the resemblance of Anubis.*

You know, I have noticed lately some of our Muslim brothers have become victims of unfair prejudice and stereotype. So much so they begin to feel a little left out. So that is why next Tuesday, the 28th of February, is High Five a Muslim Day.

Iraq shrine bombing

2006-02-23T15:48:00.000+13:45

BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Iraq shrine bombing: "Iraq shrine bombing"

Caption this :
"this man was lucky in that the only damage he sustained was to his anti-us sign"

After word of survivors spreads, 12 dead

2006-01-05T02:00:00.000+13:45

TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va.-- In a stunning and heartbreaking reversal, family members were told early Wednesday that 11 of the 12 trapped coal miners found were dead-- three hours after they began celebrating news that they were alive.

The devastating new information shocked and angered family members, who had rejoiced with Gov. Joe Manchin hours earlier when a rumor began to spread that the miners were alive. Rescue crews found the first victim earlier Tuesday evening.

"About the confusion, I can't tell you of anything more heart-wrenching than I've ever gone through in my life. Nothing," Manchin said.
After word of survivors spreads, 12 dead

Palestinian has blood on his hands

2005-12-15T19:58:00.000+13:45

These guy's love this stuff

A Palestinian has blood on his hands as they gather around the wreckage of a car that was hit in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Four Palestinians were killed and four wounded Wednesday after their car was ripped apart in an Israeli air strike near the Gaza Strip's main cargo passage, Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said. The Israeli military said it targeted militants from the Popular Resistance Committees. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Al Galloway still at it

2005-11-19T22:15:00.000+13:45

Found this latest traitorous gem from this scumbag over at atlas.
Atlas Shrugs

IT'S OFFICIAL: 2005 WILL BE the newspaper industry's worst year

2005-11-02T11:59:00.000+13:45

I wonder why (not). Do you think they will treat this as a wake up call? I doubt it, and in the mean time the Bloggers are bringing the truth to the masses one fired biased anchor at a time.

2005 WILL BE the newspaper industry's worst year since the last ad industry recession. And things aren't looking much better for next year either, according to a top Wall Street firm's report on newspaper publishing. "Sadly, 2005 is shaping up as the industry's worst year from a revenue growth perspective since the recession impacted 2001-2002 period," says the report from Goldman Sachs, adding a warning that meaningful growth in 2006 is "very unlikely."
MediaPost Publications - '05 Proving To Be Worst Newspaper Year Since Recession - 10/31/2005

So long guys

2005-10-31T14:31:00.000+13:45

I'll miss ya.
click for larger

Right vs Left

2005-10-29T18:12:00.000+13:45

Galloway GIVEN 18m barrels of oil

2005-10-28T23:29:00.000+13:45

Not long now George and we will have you doing cake deals and bread deals and licklesplit deals.

Lets see you wriggle out of this snake-oil.
Independent Online Edition > World Politics: "Galloway given 18m barrels of oil from Saddam, claims independent US report"

Wi Huata loses bid for home detention

2005-10-28T23:17:00.000+13:45

24.10.05
By Jon Stokes

Convicted fraudster Wi Huata has begun a two-year sentence after being denied home detention.

However, 44-year-old Huata, husband of former Act MP Donna Awatere Huata, who is also behind bars after being convicted of fraud, could soon be out on bail after instructing his lawyer to appeal his conviction.

Last month the pair were found guilty of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Government-funded Pipi Foundation, which Awatere Huata set up in 1999 to help under-privileged Maori children in literacy and social skills.

Ha...justice is served and the bully-boy gets his dish...cold.

Wi Huata loses bid for home detention - 24 Oct 2005 - National News

UN drops the ball...again

2005-10-22T14:36:00.000+13:45

THE United Nations withheld some of the most damaging allegations against Syria in its report on the murder of Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese Prime Minister, it emerged yesterday.

The names of the brother of Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria, and other members of his inner circle, were dropped from the report that was sent to the Security Council.

The confidential changes were revealed by an extraordinary computer gaffe because an electronic version distributed by UN officials on Thursday night allowed recipients to track editing changes.
UN office doctored report on murder of Hariri - World - Times Online

And why are we allowing the UN to continue on it's merry way again
and again.

Past Impact and Future Prospects

2005-10-22T05:36:00.000+13:45

Anyone who wishes to cope with the future should travel back in imagination a single lifetime . . . and ask himself just how much of today’s technology would be, not merely incredible, but incomprehensible to the keenest scientific brains of that time.

Arthur C. Clarke
Barnett

Kidnapped Irish journalist freed

2005-10-21T14:33:00.000+13:45

Wow freed in 36 hrs. Lesse as far as capturing and releasing terrorist apologist's goes if George Galloway was to be kidnapped he would be freed in 36....minutes!

A REPORTER for the Guardian newspaper who was kidnapped while covering the trial of Saddam Hussein was freed unharmed last night, 36 hours after he was snatched in Baghdad.

Rory Carroll, 33, told his parents, Jo and Kate, of his freedom in a telephone call to their home in Dublin.

Later, speaking from the office of Ahmed Chalabi, the Iraqi deputy prime minister, the Irish journalist told the Guardian: "I'm absolutely fine, both physically and psychologically. I've been well treated, apart from a bit of initial roughness when they first took me."

Scotsman.com News - UK - Kidnapped Irish journalist freed: "Kidnapped Irish journalist freed "

Person of the Year the US Soldier

2005-10-13T01:22:00.000+13:45

Bounty hunter wanted

2005-10-10T10:59:00.000+13:45

Prime Minister John Howard warned Australia would feel a "deep and lasting anger" if Indonesia allowed Abu Bakar Bashir another reduction in his 30-month jail term.

Bashir, the spiritual leader of terror group Jemaah Islamiah, could get an automatic remission early next month, as part of commemorations for the holiday which marks the end of Ramadan.

JI is believed to be responsible for the latest Bali bombings which killed 22 people including four Australians.

Australia will again protest to Indonesia about the possible remission after telling Indonesia in August that it objected to the four-and-a-half month cut to Bashir's two and a half year jail sentence.

Galloway - Hitchens Debate DONT MISS

2005-09-14T14:16:00.000+12:45

Thanks in part to Eve and Jane, the “anti-war” movement has as its new star a man who is openly pro-war, but openly on the other side. A man who supported the previous oppressors of the region—the Soviet army in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein in Iraq—who supports its current oppressors—Bashar Assad and his Lebanese proxies—and who still has time to endorse its potential future tyrants in the shape of the jihadists in Iraq and elsewhere. Galloway began his political life as a fifth-rate apologist for the Soviet Union, but he has now diversified into being an apologist for Stalinism, for fascism, and for jihadism all at once! All this, and Jane, too. One’s cup runs over.

There has been a real question as to whether or not Galloway does all these favors to despots for free. A shallow and superficial press has allowed itself to be used as his megaphone and has allowed him to change the subject by means of tirades of abuse that are considered brilliantly apt and witty. At www.hitchensweb.com, you will find a compilation of the hard evidence that he has very good reason to try and change this dangerous subject; you will also find a great deal more chapter and verse about the record and the true opinions of this disgusting figure.

Christopher Hitchens

KPFTX.org KPFT 90.1 Houston Online: "Galloway - Hitchens Debate"

Katrina “Relief”: Sean Penn To The Rescue

2005-09-07T21:38:00.000+12:45

California Conservative » Katrina “Relief”: Sean Penn To The Rescue

More great word and picture from a neat blog I found while searching for grit on this pillick ( sp?).

Eject! Eject! Eject!: TRIBES

2005-09-07T20:08:00.000+12:45

I fucking love this bit

I could have done something.

If I had known, if I had only known, I could have run over that evil, sick son of a bitch Mohammed Atta in the parking lot. I could have been on one of those airplanes. They only had box cutters, for the love of God! Those seat cushions have straps on the back for floatation; they’d make excellent shields against a goddam two inch blade. Ladies, listen carefully…when I say go, you throw your shoes and cell phones and these little liquor bottles and cushions and whatever you can, just throw them right in the face of these cocksuckers and guys, when we get up there we need to kill them, fast, just break their fucking necks, just stomp on their heads until they are dead, because I know how to land a goddam airplane and…and…
Eject! Eject! Eject!: TRIBES

Shaun Penn's TRIBE

2005-09-06T15:45:00.000+12:45

Eject! Eject! Eject!: TRIBES: "Sean Penn can take himself, an entourage and a personal photographer – that’s three or four people in a four-person boat – and show us all how incredibly big and down-home he is by sailing off a few feet to rescue people, before the boat sinks from the incompetence of failing to put in the drainage plug. He wore a very nice white flak vest, instead of the passé orange life preserver, because getting shot at is a lot more macho looking, if a million or so times less likely, than drowning because you went out into the water with a lead vest rather than a life vest. It’s a scene in the trailer that runs incessantly in their heads: In a world run by evil corporations, a rebel who plays by his own rules starts a deadly game of cat and mouse with an all-powerful conspiracy in this searing portrait of extraordinary courage in a life under siege, starring…me!

I was actually ready to publicly commend the guy, until I heard about the personal photographer. If he wanted to help people – and that’s all – he could have paid for that boat, and a few hundred others, manned them with reasonably competent recreational boaters, and sent out a flotilla. But no. It’s not about having people saved. It’s about something else entirely. It’s about having people saved by Sean Penn. That’s when I realized that whether it’s the Murderous Regime in Iraq, or the Murderous Regime in Iran, or the Murderous Storm in Louisiana…ultimately, it’s all about Sean Penn. Peace Be Upon Him.

But thank God we have people like him, and the rest of that vain, useless, smug, self-centered, incompetent, insecure and thoroughly broken Tribe to point out the error of our ways.

I hate those sons of bitches with all of my heart. And the fact that so much of our society has come to worship these shallow, egomaniacal dolts says a lot about where we are, and none of it is good."

triple car bomb explosions Baghdad

2005-08-18T02:01:00.000+12:45

larger image
Getty Images Editorial - Detail View: "BAGHDAD, IRAQ - AUGUST 17: Bodies of those killed in triple car bomb explosions are seen outside a hospital morgue on August 17, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq. Three car bombs exploded on August 16 at al-Nahda bus station and a nearby hospital, killing at least 40 and injuring many more during the morning rush hour in central Baghdad, Iraq. al-Nahda bus station is one of Baghdad's largest bus stations. (Photo by Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty Images)"

UK bars Islamic cleric Bakri ( at last, good on ya UK)

2005-08-13T01:05:00.000+12:45

Britain barred hardline Muslim cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed on Friday from returning to the country, part of a government crackdown on Islamic preachers it fears inspire bombers such as those who attacked London in July.

Syrian-born Bakri, 45, left Britain for Lebanon on Saturday, saying he was going on holiday, after British Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged to silence Islamists who glorify violence.

Lebanese security forces detained him on Thursday for questioning and he is still being held.

"We don't feel he's conducive to the public good," said a Home Office spokeswoman. His family were free to remain in the United Kingdom, she added.

The ban was issued after Britain detained 10 people on Thursday, including the alleged spiritual leader of al Qaeda in Europe, Jordanian national Abu Qatada, and pledged to deport them.
Top News | Reuters.co.ca

R.I.P Steven Vincent

2005-08-04T18:32:00.000+12:45

BAGHDAD, Aug. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- American freelance journalist Steven Vincent has been shot dead in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, Iraqi police and the US Embassy said Wednesday.

"I can confirm to you that officials in Basra have recovered the body of journalist Steven Vincent," embassy spokesman Pete Mitchell said.

Police in Basra said the American journalist, together with his female translator, were abducted Tuesday evening by five gunmen in a police car.

Vincent was shot multiple times while the translator was seriously wounded, police said.

"The US Embassy is working with British military and local Iraqi officials in Basra to determine who is responsible for the death of this journalist," the embassy spokesman said.
Xinhua - English

NZ Sport stars busted for drugs ( Mark Ellis and Matthew Ridge?)

2005-07-20T23:32:00.000+12:45

Company director charged over drug ring

A 55-year-old company director is one of several people due in court after police searched 10 places in inner city Auckland yesterday and broke a white collar drug ring.

Police and customs drug officers arrested six people on a variety of drug dealing offences, Counties Manukau police district head Superintendent Ted Cox said.

"This police operation, code-named Aqua, shows that certain drugs are readily available to all spectrums of society and dealing may not be limited to those in the criminal underworld or in gang circles," he said.

The company director, who was due to appear in Auckland District Court yesterday, was alleged to be "at the top end of the drug ring", police said.

He faced numerous charges of supplying or conspiracy to supply methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.

Police said others charged were at the lower end of the supply chain, allegedly dealing with groups of close friends or acquaintances.

Well for the record my money is on Matthew Ridge and Mark Ellis. They are ovderseas right now and I can see these teo likely lads being at the hub of this type of thing. We shall see.
AUCKLAND : NATIONAL NEWS - STORY : New Zealand's leading news and information website

al asad dust storm01

2005-07-13T20:41:00.000+12:45

al asad dust storm01
Originally uploaded by live in iraq.

WOW Is that a brown Tsunami. Scary shiite.

One Day and Counting!

2005-07-13T19:15:00.000+12:45

Mission: International Space Station Flight LF1
Shuttle: Discovery
Launch Pad: 39B
Launch: July 13, 2005 at 3:51 p.m. EDT
Landing: July 25, 2005 at 11:01 a.m. EDT
Duration: 12 days
Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination: 51.60°

The launch countdown clock began on Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT at the T-43 hour mark counting down toward a launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-114 on Wednesday at 3:51 p.m. The launch control team members are in firing room 3 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and will be monitoring their system consoles.

The STS-114 crew spent Sunday in various reviews including a briefing with the Astronaut Support Personnel and the Vehicle Integration Test Office and a bench review of the items in the tile repair kit and the new Cure in Place Ablator Applicator for use in on-orbit tile repair.
NASA - Return to Flight

Would you believe they had trouble with the heat shield tiles this time as well?

London 2005

2005-07-11T18:27:00.000+12:45

Female Iraqi Army Soldiers

2005-06-21T02:23:00.000+12:45

Two women Soldiers Pvt. Suha Muhssin Hussin, right, age 20, and 28n year-old corporal Shada Nazar Kzar, both in the Iraqi Army on February 23, 2005,in Baghdad, Iraq. Activist in Iraq worry that new laws could bar a women from taking a job against her husband's wishes.

wow this is news to me. Excellent.

RIP 'Fitz' 1995-2005

2005-06-20T16:46:00.000+12:45

"And beloved master , should the Great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather, hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest... and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I draw, my fate was every safest in your hands."

A better cannine friend I could not have wanted.
Rip old boy

Man Boy Love Association Celebrates Jackson Acquittal

2005-06-17T23:00:00.000+12:45

Man Boy Love Association Celebrates Jackson Acquittal: "Man Boy Love Association Celebrates Jackson Acquittal"

SAN FRANCISCO — Members of the North American Man/Boy Love Association – NAMBLA - rejoiced as pop singer Michael Jackson was found not guilty of all charges of sexual molestation of boys and of providing minors with alcohol.

NAMBLA considers Michael Jackson's acquittal to be a vindication for the Association.

"Michael’s innocence is something that is held very dear to this group,” said a representative. “We can all relate to wanting to love a child. Many of us have small children that we love and many of us take small children to bed with us every night. Loving a child is not a crime and Michael has proven that to everyone."

Some Association members feel this is breaking new ground for them and hope to see laws amended such as mandatory curfews for minors and the legal age of consent lowered to nine years of age.

Tj Irwin

Where is that chemical castration kit

2005-06-14T04:58:00.000+12:45

Michael Jackson Trial

Jihad in Small Town America: Part I of a Series

2005-06-13T23:05:00.000+12:45

Northeast Intelligence Network: "Jihad in Small Town America: Part I of a Series"

"Jimmy Carter and his people were going to reach the next generation of young men by giving them scholarships to come and study in America. They were going to teach them how great the US was. They recruited from universities in Egypt, Syria, Saudia, the Emirates – all the Arab countries."

Al-Jimmy

According to Dr. Mohamed, the US inadvertently bankrolled a generation of sleeper agents, educating them, and helping them to become established, respected members of their communities.

Talk about hiding in plain site. But while the US worries about the welfare of the POW's in Gitmo, they grow stronger in their US cells purely by the fact they are US CITIZENS.

We/you are screwed...unless.

2005-06-13T19:56:00.000+12:45

The Devils Playground

Deep into Fallujah just prior to ~~the Invasion~~ sorting the place out.

'It's a Hard Feeling, Not to Be a Violent Man Anymore'

2005-06-13T16:13:00.000+12:45

Google News New Zealand: "'It's a Hard Feeling, Not to Be a Violent Man Anymore'"

The morning after the most submissive defeat of his career, in which he quit on his stool although he had suffered no knockdowns, Mike Tyson shouted out once more in rage. "No! No! No! ...

Held hostage for five months, Bullshit

2005-06-13T15:20:00.000+12:45

Bullshit!

Another fwench farcical anti-war piece of propaganda.Ideally suited to Al-Jazz. She looks like she just come back from 3 weeks on the Riviera.

children collect body parts

2005-06-02T01:46:00.000+12:45

Palestinian children collect body parts of two Palestinian militants of the Al Aqsa Martyrs brigades killed east of Gaza city, Sunday, May 29, 2005. the two militants were killed and three seriously wounded when explosives they were carrying detonated in their car, Palestinians said. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Mideast Conflict on Yahoo! News Photos

Yet another example of Palistinian child abuse. Bizarre culture.

Free email protection script

2005-02-07T13:05:00.000+13:45

Free email protection script: "Free email protection script"

Neat little app I stumbled over looking for some scumbag's addy.
here what mine looks like:

Attack of the killer shoes

2005-02-03T03:02:00.000+13:45

click larger

The Department said community members bringing specimens into
the Warwick NRM&E office for identification and increased
reports of shoes being found in the Adymihir and Bashir
districts confirmed anecdotal evidence of the shoes presence
in the region.

Land protection officer Pedro Hodgson said the shoes
would not cause widespread ecological damage.
“The shoes will cause some ecological damage in the
short term, however, history has demonstrated that native
shoes will re-establish and become aware of the dangers of
tis pest quite quickly,” al mahir said.

He said young shoes are at the greatest risk because of their
habit of playing with anything that moves.

G.I Joe captured in Iraq (woe is me)

2005-02-02T20:16:00.000+13:45

These idiots almost had Mecca nuked pulling this stunt. Do they thing people from "A-m-r-i-k-a" are that stupid. I almost feel sorry for them if were not for the fact they are not only the dumbest mutha's on the planet but the cruelest. I think the west has shown great restraint in dealing with these neanderthals.But this just defies credulity. No wonder they have had there asses kicked in every battle they have fought on their own AND thought it would be a good idea to enlist as SS soldiers during WW2.
Critical Bill

Tribute to Theo Van Gogh

2005-02-01T20:39:00.000+13:45

Theo R.I.P

There's a reason why Islam is hated all over the world. Ever talk to a Hindu, an Eastern European Christian, a Middle Eastern Christian, a Thai Buddhist, or any other non-Muslim who has lived in an Islamic country? Most of them hate Islam quite passionately. And they are pissed off that our leaders have allowed Muslims to come to the West, to the countries where they fled as refugees to get AWAY from Islam

The infiltration of Islam in the West is taking away our long-cherished freedoms -- first slowly, but now more rapidly as Muslim numbers have increased. Americans and other Westerners have fought, bled and died for centuries for the right of free speech, and now we are losing it because of an alien religious tradition that had NOTHING to do with the formation of our societies. Do Muslims think that taking away our rights will somehow endear them to us and their "religion"?

Get and spread his film from here

Rotterdam Film Festival Cancels Theo Van Gogh's "Submission Pt 1"

2005-02-01T20:14:00.000+13:45

click to enlarge

Glad to see LGF is not letting this story die. I am hosting his film Submission Pt1 to keep it alive, so download it and send it to everyone you know.

DutchReport: Murder trial Theo van Gogh

2005-01-30T00:17:00.000+13:45

Today was the first pro-forma trial day of Mohammed Bouyeri, the terrorist who slaughtered Theo van Gogh on 2 November. This high profile trial was held in Amsterdam Osdorp in the extra secure court. The trial could be seen on national Television with a half hour delay, to make it possible to sensor privacy sensitive information. But although they tried to censor the name out, the name Bouyeri sometimes still slipped through. It is not clear why they keep this charade, for this already widely known fact.
.....more here:
DutchReport: Murder trial Theo van Gogh

Husband bites off wife's nose

2005-01-27T13:43:00.000+13:45

A farmer in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province, who hid 20,000 yuan (US$2,400) in grain, did not expect the cash would get accidentally shredded.

And as Chinanews.com reports last week, it will take about two years before there is the possibility of him getting assistance from the bank.

The farmer has been told by a local bank that he has to piece and paste the notes back together before he can even think about exchanging them.

It then took the man and his family two days to remove more than 62,000 pieces of shredded money, all the size of rice grain, from the grain.

After 17 days, only two notes each with a face value of 50 yuan (US$6) each have been restored.
Husband bites off wife's nose: "Farmer's savings reduced to shredded pieces"

2005-01-27T03:36:00.000+13:45

KILLROY WAS HERE

Boeing Unit Sues Mysterious Arms Dealer

2005-01-27T02:09:00.000+13:45

Russia's X-31 anti-ship missile is a devastating weapon. Capable of traveling at 2,000 mph, the 15-foot missile skims over the ocean until it slams into its target and explodes. It also can be modified to seek out and destroy radar systems, such as those used to guide the U.S. military's Patriot missiles, defense analysts say.

For years, the U.S. military has sought to develop an effective defense against the X-31. In 1999, Boeing Co. announced in St. Louis that it had won an $18.8 million contract from the Navy to acquire 34 of the Russian missiles and modify them to test the effectiveness of U.S. ship defense systems. But Boeing's efforts stalled as Russian officials, who once seemed ready to sell to the United States balked.

Stymied in Moscow, Boeing sought help from an obscure weapons dealer, Dale C. Stoffel, who sought to buy the missiles through contacts in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Russia itself, documents show. Now, those efforts also have largely failed, culminating in a courtroom dispute over $6 million that reveals the lengths to which Boeing went in its bid to acquire the X-31.
continued

I may be wrong but I think this could be the same "Dale C. Stoffel" who was murdered. in Iraq last week
I am going to watch the outcome of this FBI investigation very carefully.

2005-01-26T20:26:00.000+13:45

A very handy little app. Glad I found it so I can dig up viddy of our boys over in the sand box.
blinkx video search

2005-01-23T01:08:00.000+13:45

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

via lgf: Apologizing Moonbats Sighted in DC!

2005-01-22T18:27:00.000+13:45

Once again LGF shows us why they are th best blog with this photo.

lgf: journey heaven is a funky moose

The truth about the cop-killing Marine

2005-01-22T18:07:00.000+13:45

By Michelle Malkin
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | If you watched the evening news a week ago, you may recall the sensational story of a distraught Marine who died in a murderous shootout with police. Anti-war writers and Latino activists have turned the cop-killer, Lance Cpl. Andres Raya, into a martyr. Don't believe the hype.

Network and cable TV shows repeatedly broadcast video and photo stills of Raya's Jan. 9 bloody gun battle in a Ceres, Calif., liquor store. Mental health experts immediately blamed post-traumatic stress disorder. Ignoring the cold-blooded murder of one of the ambushed police officers who was lured to his death, international headlines instead trumpeted the supposedly traumatized Raya:
Michelle Malkin: "The truth about the cop-killing Marine"

There are a series of 3 videos showing the shooting at Ogrish.com.

First Video from the Oath of Office

2005-01-21T16:04:00.000+13:45

The Oath of Office was great! Everyone felt the power of the message that W was putting out there.
Here's a my first video exclusive from the event. Right at the end of the Bush's speech some hecklers tried to muck things up. Caught of tape!

Looks like (Justin?) jostled for a good position at the Inaugural. I watched his video over at rightsideredux with a warm feeling as hecklers where dispatched post haste.

Right Side Redux video video

Shaky start to Friday

2005-01-21T14:51:00.000+13:45

It was a shaky start to Friday for many in Wellington and the Hutt Valley with a strongly felt earthquake jolting the region just before 8am.

The quake, centred within 5km of Upper Hutt, measured 5.5 on the Richter Scale and struck at 7.56am. It was 30km deep.

Just minutes later at 8.02am a second quake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale was recorded in the same location but 25km deep, GNS said.

The quake triggered fire alarms, there are reports of minor damage and some trains were delayed.

This morning's quake followed a flurry of seismic activity in the lower North Island on Tuesday when 10 earthquakes were recorded over a 10-hour period - the biggest reaching 5.3 on the Richter scale and seven centred 40km southeast of Martinborough in the Wairarapa.
STUFF - STORY - HOME : New Zealand's leading news and information website

Ayaan Hirsi Ali defying death threats

2005-01-21T02:03:00.000+13:45

A Dutch politician who received death threats after writing a script for the murdered film-maker Theo van Gogh yesterday made a defiant return to public life.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali vowed not to cave into the pressures of her critics as she was escorted into the Dutch parliament by security guards after 75 days in hiding.

Somali-born Ms Hirsi Ali has been under police protection since receiving repeated death threats after writing the script for the film Submission , a critique of violence against women in Islamic societies.

Her collaborator, MrVan Gogh was murdered in Amsterdam last November in protest against the film. Pinned to his body with a knife was a five-page letter addressed toMs Hirsi Ali, accusing her of "terrorising Muslims and Islam".

Yesterday, Ms Hirsi Ali described how although she remained fearful, she felt she had to confront her critics and fulfil her duties as a politician. "I am scared now and again, but I will go on. I must go on," she said. "I am convinced that you cannot give in to threats and terrorism.

"What Theo and I had in common was an awareness of the threat formed by radical Islam. The attack on 2 November brought Dutch society face to face with Muslim terrorism for the first time. We are talking about an international phenomenon here, not just a local incident."

Ms Hirsi Ali, 37, a member of the lower house of parliament for two years with the VVD liberals, launched her political career after fleeing to the Netherlands to escape an arranged marriage.

A Dutch-Moroccan man with suspected links to a network of Islamic militants has been charged with Mr Van Gogh's murder, which in turn led to a string of retaliatory attacks on mosques, religious schools and churches.

2005-01-19T01:52:00.000+13:45

Corpses lie on the ground in a dry ice mist, keeping cool, while volunteers take a rib for DNA samples, at the Yan Yao temple on January 11, 2005, in Khao Lak, Thailand. Forensic scientists are working on the identification and storage of the dead. Most of the bodies are Thai, but occasionally a foreigner is found.

Boxing Day Tsunami

2005-01-02T04:41:00.000+13:45

Boxing Day Tsunami 2003

What is there to say that has not been said already.

Man Commits Suicide Inside Interview Room - Suicide Video Included (Videotaped) | OGRISH.COM

2004-12-22T03:02:00.000+13:45

MUSCOY, Calif. -- A man who shot and wounded a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop in Muscoy on Friday morning killed himself an hour later while alone inside a sheriff's interview room with a pistol he apparently sneaked into the building, officials said.

Calif. Man Shoots Cop Then Kills Self While in Custody

SAN BERNARDINO: The sheriff says he wasn't searched properly. The suicide was videotaped.

By TIM GRENDA AND IMRAN GHORI / The San Bernardino Press-Enterprise

Sheriff Gary Penrod said officers failed to adequately search the man, identified by the San Bernardino County Coroner's office as Ricardo Alfonso Cerna, 47, of San Bernardino.

The deputy shot during the traffic stop, Mike Parham, 31, is in critical but stable condition and is expected to recover, officials said.

In an extraordinary move, a 13-minute surveillance-camera video that included footage of the man's suicide was shown by the Sheriff's Department to reporters, the leaders of local Latino groups and officials from the Mexican consulate to quash any questions regarding the department's treatment of Hispanic subjects.

The video shows Cerna pulling a .45-caliber handgun from his pants and firing one shot into his left temple.

"The best way to dispel any rumors was to have the media view this tape," said Undersheriff Bob Peppler.

The video, which sheriff's officials said was unedited, begins with Cerna being brought into an interview room where Sheriff's Sgt. Bobby Dean uncuffed him and had him sit in a chair in front of a table.

Cerna, looking tired and disheveled, only spoke briefly and in Spanish, replying to questions from Dean.

He leaned down on the table on his right arm for much of the time, occasionally rubbing his head, his nose and eyes with his hand, and coughing a few times. His eyes were downcast, only looking up a couple times when speaking to Dean. He responded with a short, tired laugh when Dean asked him the Spanish word for wallet and he responded " cartera."

At one point, Dean took Cerna out of the interview room for about four minutes to have his fingerprints scanned electronically. The man was brought back shortly because the machine wasn't working at the time, officials said.

Shortly after they returned, someone brought in a bottle of water and a cup of coffee for Dean. Dean stepped out of the room, leaving Cerna alone.

Cernasat down with his back against the wall, took the cap off the water bottle, took two gulps, and put the bottle down. He started breathing heavily, pulled a large handgun from the front of his pants with his left hand and shot himself in the left temple.

The video ended with an expletive from Dean off camera.
Man Commits Suicide Inside Interview Room - Suicide Video Included (Videotaped) | OGRISH.COM: "Man Commits Suicide Inside Interview Room"

Face of Evil

2004-12-21T15:41:00.000+13:45

2004-12-20T17:42:00.000+13:45

Brandon Wilhelm from Spokane, Washington, a U.S. Marine from the 3rd battalion, 5th Marines, holds machine gun belt in the war-torn town of Falluja
Brandon Wilhelm from Spokane, Washington, a U.S. Marine from the 3rd battalion, 5th Marines, holds a machine gun belt in the war-torn town of Falluja, 50 kms west of Baghdad December 13, 2004. Seven U.S. Marines were killed in two incidents on Sunday in Anbar province, which includes Falluja and Ramadi.
© SHAMIL ZHUMATOV/Reuters/Corbis
Photographer: SHAMIL ZHUMATOV
Date Photographed: December 13, 2004

2004-12-20T16:57:00.000+13:45

Pali animal swarm. Just what is it with these fixated cretins. I feel like knocking their stupid cowering heads together.

Death Cult

2004-12-20T16:06:00.000+13:45

Once again another example of the mindset of these people. Why do they feel compelled to stick there hands in gore and cover themselves with it?

GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP - SEPTEMBER 30: (NOTE TO EDITOR : GRAPHIC CONTENT) A Palestinian man is seen with his severely injured brother, after an Israeli tank shell killed at least seven Palestinians in the Jabalya refugee camp, on September 30, 2004 in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip.Twenty-one Palestinians were killed by army fire and at least 108 wounded during a major Israeli army operation in the Jabaliya camp, sources said. Three Israelis, two soldiers and a woman jogging in a Jewish settlement, were also killed by Palestinians. (Photo by Ahmad Khateib/Getty Images)

Palestinian Child Abuse ( again)

2004-12-20T15:57:00.000+13:45

Palestinian Child Abuse
A medical worker looks over the body of 2-year-old boy Amir Ayyad May 1, 2003 in Gaza City, Gaza. Eight Palestinians were killed and 12 were wounded after Israeli troops backed by helicopter gunships entered Shijaia neighbourhood of Gaza city to detain suspected militants. (Photo by Getty Images)

Why in a war zone do these blood thirsty Pali's let their children run around playing where they are in the way of harm if fighting breaks out. I mean you can hear tanks approaching from miles away, do they get the children to safty?, Nooooo.

glass and polymer

2004-12-19T01:06:00.000+13:45

WFTV.com - Slideshow: "SYDNEY, Australia -- Swinburne University of Technology's center for micro-photonics have constructed a model of the Sydney Opera House, see photo above, that is about half the diameter of a human hair. It is more than a million times smaller than the real Sydney structure. The model was built from a hybrid material of glass and polymer by firing intense laser light into the matter in a liquid state to create what to the human eye appears as an almost imperceptible dot, but under an electron microscope it contains the detail and the beauty of the iconic Sydney harbour side structure. (07/23/04 AP-Swinburne University)"

RIP Sweet Laci

2004-12-16T03:51:00.000+13:45

Justice has prevailed.

2004-12-15T00:16:00.000+13:45

Fallujah test map

No wonder the Pom's are pissed

2004-12-15T00:03:00.000+13:45

0cents Stamp Products: Pajama Patrol

2004-12-13T23:39:00.000+13:45

0cents Stamp Products: Pajama Patrol

Dan Rather/CBS's attempt to influence the election through the use of fraudulent documents was exposed on www.FreeRepublic.com, the internet's premier conservative news forum. Within minutes of Rather's "news" broadcast, members of Free Republic started to dissect the story. Freepers Buckhead & TankerKC led the charge and quickly uncovered the bogus charges that the network was leveling against President Bush.

The spinning and stonewalling began immediately with a former executive Vice President of CBS news, Jonathan Klein, stating on Fox News that "You couldn't have a starker contrast between the multiple layers of checks and balances at 60 minutes and a guy sitting in his living room in his pajamas writing".

Stratfor Situation Reports no proof of deliberate poisoning

2004-12-13T20:47:00.000+13:45

Stratfor Situation Reports
Sources in the Ukrainian intelligence and security community said Dec. 12 it was unlikely that opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned by his political opponents. The sources say that if Yushchenko's opponents had decided to poison him, they could have used much deadlier and non-recognizable poisons, which are easily available for secret services in several countries in the world. The sources say that Yushchenko's political opponents easily could have tasked specialized professionals to execute the poisoning in such a way that it would have left no proof of deliberate poisoning.

Tepttu Vartiainen, the leading scientist from a Finland's main health research institution in Kuopio, told Finnish news agency CTT that dioxin was a bad choice if someone had tried to assassinate Viktor Yushchenko, the pro-Western opposition leader and presidential candidate. The scientist said that dioxin poisoning is easily recognized, and its traces in the body could be found for several years after a person's death. Russian news agency RIAN, referring to the above interview, said Dec. 12 that the who treated Yushchenko in a Vienna clinic, Nikolai Korpan, says that dioxin could not have been the only reason for the health conditions with which Yushchenko was admitted to his Rudolfinerhouse clinic Sept. 10 this year. His symptoms included severe inflammation of the stomach, colon, pancreas and liver enlargement, as well as paralysis of facial nerves.

7 US marines killed in Iraq's Anbar Province

2004-12-13T20:20:00.000+13:45

7 US marines killed in Iraq's Anbar Province
Seven U.S. Marines were killed in two separate incidents in Iraq's Anbar province, a vast region encompassing the battleground cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, the military said Monday.

It was unknown whether the deaths Sunday were connected to heavy fighting in Fallujah. American warplanes pounded the city with missiles as insurgents fought running battles with coalition forces.

On Sunday, the military reported the death of another U.S. Marine in Anbar.

The seven members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force died while conducting "security and stabilization operations" in Anbar, the military said in a statement.

The statement gave no other details about the deaths, saying the release of more information could place U.S. personnel at risk. The names of the dead were withheld pending notification of their families.

As of Monday, at least 1,296 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Fallujah was the scene of a weeklong U.S.-led offensive last month to uproot insurgents based in the city. U.S. officials had said the insurgents scattered and they now were planning the return of the estimated 250,000 people who fled.

The latest violence began with American and Iraqi forces clashing with guerrillas in several suburbs and ended with U.S. airstrikes on suspected insurgent hideouts.

"The strikes were conducted throughout the day and were called in by troops in (armed) contact with and observing the enemy moving from house to house," spokesman Lt. Lyle Gilbert said.

Fallujah resident Abdullah Ahmed said the fighting started after U.S. soldiers brought 700-800 men into the city to clear rubble from damage caused by November's offensive.

"The clashes started as soon as the young men entered the city," Ahmed said. "The American troops were surprised and decided to launch military operations."

The military hoped it had routed the insurgents after the Fallujah invasion, but the latest attacks suggest they may be trickling back into the city.

Doctors: Yushchenko Poisoned With Dioxin

2004-12-13T13:37:00.000+13:45

Doctors: Yushchenko Poisoned With Dioxin

VIENNA, Austria - The mysterious illness of Ukrainian opposition leader and presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was caused by dioxin poisoning that was likely intentional, doctors said Saturday.

Yushchenko has accused Ukrainian authorities of trying to poison him in the runup to a presidential vote marred by fraud. Ukraine's Supreme Court voided the outcome of that vote, which Yushchenko lost to Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, and a rerun of the ballot is slated for Dec. 26.

Yushchenko first fell ill in September and was rushed to the Vienna hospital. He resumed campaigning later in the month but with a pockmarked and badly disfigured face.

He returned to the hospital later in September for further treatment and checked in for a third time Friday.

Petition the execution of teenagers

2004-12-13T13:07:00.000+13:45

Communique (petition)The Islamic Republic of Iran once again demonstrates its contempt for human rights by sentencing three more teenagers to death. Not content with the merciless recent execution of the sixteen year old Atefeh Rajabi , the Iranian authorities plan to execute Ali M, Morteza F and Milad B all of whom are under the age of eighteen and are currently in detention. Execution of children is prohibited by Article 37 of the International Human Rights (Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989).
We, the undersigned, express our unreserved condemnation of these executions, and call upon human rights organizations to pressure the Iranian government to stop these barbaric acts.

To sign this petition:

2004-12-13T11:35:00.000+13:45

My own personalised weapon ( yeah right). But isn't it gorgeous.

Dimebag Darrell killed in Ohio nightclub shooting

2004-12-09T21:00:00.000+13:45

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Nation -- At least four dead, four injured in Ohio nightclub shooting
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A man walked onstage in a crowded nightclub during a rock concert ( Damageplan) Wednesday night and opened fire, killing at least four people and wounding at least two others before he was shot to death by police, authorities said.
The man began shooting during the show at the Alrosa Villa and opened fire on members of the heavy metal band Damageplan just after they had begun playing, a witness said.

This from an eyewitness who was there for the band Damageplan

all i can say is holy crap!! that was such a freakin' nightmare... i don't ever want to be a part of anything like that again... i'm still shaking.... i don't even know what to say...

i was up close to the stage on the side where DBD was playing.... then i saw the guy jump out of the crwod onto the stage... he was yelling something about how "you broke up pantera.... you ruined my life.... what about phil??? he needs heroin money..." or something like that then i saw the gun and he shot DBD right in the head... when DBD went down he kept shooting... then he turned around for bobzilla then vinnie... teh hole time i thought it was part of the show... i had blood on me i was so close... i'm still freakin' out here...

after he turned around and kept shooting i was gone... i swear i almost crapped my pants... it was ####' crazy as ####... people were totally messed up outside... i was standing next to this one chick and she was crying and couldn't stop... she fell on the ground and it was like she was possesed or something... dude it was so kayotic its not even funny... the cops showed up and then people started sayin' that DBD was killed... then people started freaking out even more...

i can't belive this happend... its so crazy... its totally unreal and there's no way to describe how messed up i am right now...

i had tickets to the show in flint michigan too... i don't know whats going to happen... theres some blood on my ticket stub so i'm going to sell it on ebay or keep it or something... i know DBD is in heaven (or ripping some mad riffs in hell)

#### what a wild #### nigth... dude i won't even be able to sleep tonight

Band website

Scott Peterson's mother takes the stand

2004-12-09T20:38:00.000+13:45

“He’s an exceptional young man and he’s my son,” she said. “I know he’s not perfect ... but he is genuinely a loving, caring, nurturing, kind, gentle person.”

She must be talking about another son, certainly not the murdering scum on trial for slaughtering his wife and unborn fetus. Fry the the bastard

Defense lawyers are trying to convince jurors that Peterson deserves life in prison, not the death penalty.
The 32-year-old former fertilizer salesman was convicted Nov. 12 of two counts of murder for killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and her fetus.

MSNBC - Scott Peterson's mother takes
the stand

2004-12-09T02:59:00.000+13:45

Amman, Jordan, Sep. 18 (UPI) -- Iraq's flagship air carrier, Iraqi Airlines, took off Saturday on its first flight in 14 years with its one plane flying between Amman and Baghdad.

The flight departed early Saturday from Amman's international airport and was to return Saturday afternoon, after a stop in Damascus, airline sources said.

Iraqi Airlines had been grounded since 1990 when the United Nations imposed international sanctions on Baghdad for its invasion of Kuwait that year.

The company subsequently transferred its fleet to several countries, including Jordan, Tunisia, Iran and Mauritania. The plane flying Saturday was the airline's only plane, a Boeing 737.

The airline said it will operate daily roundtrips between Baghdad and Amman as a first step towards resuming regular operations.

The ticket price for a roundtrip on the company's sole flight is $400.

Van Gogh Murder Suspects Cleared

2004-12-09T01:51:00.000+13:45

lgf: Van Gogh Murder Suspects Cleared

Those 6 Muslim men arrested in the Netherlands on the day of Theo Van Gogh’s murder have been cleared of the killing, but are still charged with belonging to a terrorist group. (Hat tip: zulubaby.)

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Six men arrested following the slaying of filmmaker Theo van Gogh are no longer suspects in the killing, but still face charges for belonging to a terrorist group, authorities said Tuesday.

The prime suspect in the Nov. 2 killing, 26-year-old Mohammed Bouyeri, remains in custody, officials said. But national prosecution spokesman Wim de Bruin said Amsterdam prosecutors have found no evidence linking six others to Van Gogh’s killing.

However, the men still face charges of belonging to a group of fundamentalists identified by Dutch intelligence as the “Hofstad” network, which is alleged to have links to the March 11 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and the 2003 suicide bombings in Casablanca that killed 33.

Van Gogh, whose film “Submission” sharply criticized Islam’s treatment of women, was slain while bicycling in Amsterdam. His killer also left a note threatening Dutch politicians and others in the name of radical Islam.

Bouyeri was arrested minutes later following a shootout with police. The other suspects, some of whom had shared Bouyeri’s apartment and attended meetings there with an alleged fundamentalist spiritual leader, were arrested in a sweep the same day.

Their names have not been released. Their spiritual leader, identified as Syrian Redouan al-Issar, remains at large.

posted by Charles at 8:13 AM PST

Plus some great photos here

Ex-Miss India Nafisa Joseph kills herself

2004-12-09T01:17:00.000+13:45

A few months late finding out about this but if you are as blown away as I am then it's cool right? What a waste.

Former Miss India and VJ Nafisa Joseph committed suicide last night, apparently in depression over her marriage to a Bandra businessman that was to take place next month.

Nafisa was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her rented flat at Versova, at about 9 pm.

According to preliminary information available with Versova police, Nafisa was to be married to Gautam Kanduja (28) on August 28.

Gautam who is already married, first met Nafisa at a nightclub a year ago.

Police have been told that the two had an altercation over his divorce papers and that this had upset her.

Gautam, who lives at Pali Hill, in suburban Bandra, deals in automobile parts.

More:Ex-Miss India Nafisa Joseph kills herself

I initially found out about her here: sepiamutiny blog

Who poisoned Yushchenko?

2004-12-08T20:26:00.000+13:45

Bizzare story here, I have been following this and never thought for a second he would have been 'date-drugged'. Did someone slip him the proverbial Ugly Pill I wonder?

MEDICAL experts have confirmed that Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine’s opposition leader, was poisoned in an attempt on his life during election campaigning, the doctor who supervised his treatment at an Austrian clinic said yesterday.

Doctors at Vienna’s exclusive Rudolfinerhaus clinic are within days of identifying the substance that left Mr Yushchenko’s face disfigured with cysts and lesions, Nikolai Korpan told The Times in a telephone interview.

Specialists in Britain, the United States and France had helped to establish that it was a biological agent, a chemical agent or, most likely, a rare poison that struck him down in the run-up to the presidential election, he said. Doctors needed to examine Mr Yushchenko again at the clinic in Vienna to confirm their diagnosis but were in no doubt that the substance was administered deliberately, he said.

“This is no longer a question for discussion,” Dr Korpan said. “We are now sure that we can confirm which substance caused this illness. He received this substance from other people who had a specific aim.”

Asked if the aim had been to kill him, Dr Korpan said: “Yes, of course.”

Proof that Mr Yushchenko was deliberately poisoned would be a devastating blow for his rival, the Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych, as the two candidates prepare for a repeat of a presidential run-off on December 26.

It would raise questions about whether the poisoning was ordered by Mr Yanukovych, his allies, or even the Kremlin, which fears that Mr Yushchenko will take Ukraine out of its sphere of influence by joining Nato and the EU.

Mr Yushchenko had said recently that he would soon reveal proof that his opponents had tried to assassinate him, but a spokeswoman said he had no plans to travel to Vienna.

Mr Yushchenko fell ill on September 6 and was rushed to Rudolfinerhaus four days later with severe abdominal pain and lesions on his face and trunk. His liver, pancreas and intestines were swollen and his digestive tract covered in ulcers, but doctors could not explain the symptoms. Against their advice he went back on the campaign trail after a week, but returned to the clinic two weeks later with back pain.

more here

Japan: Switching from Defense to Offense

2004-12-08T17:38:00.000+13:45

Japan: Switching from Defense to Offense?
December 06, 2004 1641 GMT

Summary

Japanese Defense Minister Yoshinori Ono has announced a draft of the country's defense plan for 2005 to 2009. The plan, which is expected to be approved by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet on Dec. 7, includes provisions for the development of ballistic missiles with enough range to reach Japan's most remote islands. These missiles, if deployed, also will be capable of striking targets on the Asian mainland, such as North Korea, Shanghai and Beijing. The plan also identifies North Korea and China as potential enemies and stresses the need to project power regionally. Although this has been in the works for some years, this official change from Japan's previous pacifist defense policy will cause great concern in the region and escalate the missile race in Asia.

Analysis

Japan's revision of its defense policy for 2005 to 2009 -- announced by Japanese Defense Minister Yoshinori Ono -- includes research on a ballistic missile intended to counter an invasion of its remote islands. Such a missile also would have the capability to hit targets on the Asian mainland, such as North Korea, Shanghai and Beijing, and would dramatically escalate the missile race in East Asia. The move toward a pre-emptive or offensive capability has been considered in earnest since the August 1998 launch of North Korea's Taepodong missiles, which flew over Japanese territory.

The significance of Japan's policy change is the pace with which new technologies and capabilities geared toward an offensive capability are being considered in defense planning. The Japanese Constitution prohibits Japan from using its armed forces for anything other than defense. Japanese intentions to develop ballistic missiles, along with other provisions in the National Defense Program Outline that would enable Japan to project power regionally, signal Japan's turning away from its defensive policy while holding on to the "Peace Constitution" as a cover.

Since the end of World War II, Japan's defense policy was based solely on a defensive posture, with no ability to attack or conduct pre-emptive strikes in the region. With memories of World War II-era Japanese brutality in mind, many countries in East Asia often have expressed concern over the prospect of Japan becoming more militarily active in the region.

The remote islands Ono said would be protected under the proposed defense plan are most likely the southern Ryukyu Islands, which have been the scene of recent Japanese military deployments and Chinese submarine incursions. In an internal meeting Nov. 7, the Japanese Defense Agency identified China as a potential enemy and established three scenarios of possible attacks against Japan by Chinese forces. The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) also has been shifting its force concentration from northern Japan, where old Cold War doctrine was concerned with threats from the Soviet Union. Japanese forces have been realigning toward southern Japan, Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, closer to Japan: Switching from Defense to Offense?

Army SPC Charles Graner

2004-12-07T21:50:00.000+13:45

Soon to be Private Sad Sack, and what the fuck does he have to smile about?

Army SPC Charles Graner talks to press outside courthouse after hearing
U.S. Army SPC Charles Graner talks to the press outside the courthouse after a pre-trial hearing at Fort Hood, Texas December 6, 2004 on charges in connection with prisoner abuse at the Iraq Abu Ghraib prison. The scandal erupted last April when photographs depicting U.S. soldiers taunting and humiliating naked prisoners became public.
© JEFF MITCHELL/Reuters/Corbis

Lynndie England; Ugly & Fugly

2004-12-07T21:38:00.000+13:45

Corbis--stock photography and pictures: "Lynndie England leaves courtroom during Iraq Abuse hearing
Pfc Lynndie England (R) accompanied by paralegal Lori Hernandez, leaves a Fort Bragg courtroom during a break in her pre-trial hearing on charges of abusing inmates at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, December 1, 2004. England faces 19 charges that could yield 38 years in prison if she is found guilty. The court heard a motion to suppress three early statements by England on the grounds that those statements were not given voluntarily.
"

THE NEW MILLI & VANILLI OF MOTION PICTURES

2004-12-07T19:40:00.000+13:45

::...The Pirates of The Third Eye...::

On April 24, 2003, A Sophia Stewart resident of Salt Lake City, Utah filed a Federal lawsuit in the District Court Of California, against defendants Andy and Larry Wachowski, also among the accused are Hollywood's Joel Silver, and Warner Brothers. These defendants are being sued for the recreation, redevelopment, promotion, reproduction, proliferation, distribution, and disbursement throughout the United States of America and abroad to third world countries, for the movie the "Matrix".

Allegedly the defendants cut, removed and, or destroyed from the original production of the movie motion picture, more than thirty (30) minutes of the movie, and the introduction. In an attempt to avoid both civil and criminal penalties for Copyright Infringement from Stewart's 45 page Epic Science Fiction Manuscript entitled The Third Eye which copyrights date back as far as 1981, as noticed and acknowledged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In the summer of 1986 Stewart answered an ad in a national magazine in which the Wachowski’s were looking for a science fiction manuscript to make in a comic book. Stewart six-page treatment shows exactly how the movie should look on the screen and how the scenes should go. The brothers used as much of the material as they could, before the story department at Warner’s allegedly changed features while preserving the heart of the Epic, in order to protect themselves of being held libel. Credible witnesses employed at Warner Brothers have come forward claiming that the executives and lawyers had full knowledge that the work in question did not belong to the Wachowski brothers. The witnesses also add that the original work of Stewart had been seen, and often used during preparation of the motion picture.

:: Sophia Stewart : The Mother of the Matrix ::...

2004-12-07T19:38:00.000+13:45

:: Sophia Stewart : The Mother of the Matrix ::...: "THE SEARCH FOR THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE MATRIX
After buildin' with Sophia Wednesday evening [November 17th], she informed me the case is building momentum! She told me she is close to victory and realized she could really put a 'nail in the coffin' if she had her handz on one key piece of evidence... the original version of The Matrix that aired March 31, 1999."
If you've heard the 3-part inner-view I did with her January of 2004, you will remember her sayin' Warner Bros., Joel Silver and the Wachowski's are also guilty of deceiving the public with their various versionz of The Matrix.

When Sophia saw the movie back in '99, she witnessed blatant theft and plagiarizm from her script, 'The Third Eye' written and copywritten back in 1983. Soon after, she contacted the Pirates informing them she was aware of the theft and a demand for credit and compensation for what soon became the most successfull movie franchise to date. Not too long after, Warner Bros. allegedly began released versionz of The Matrix edited from the 2 hour and 40 minute original.

Sophia's aggressively on the hunt for that original copy. She, as well as I, am positive that version is out there somewhere. Some Matrix fan got a bootleg copy from a street vendor somewhere!

She informed me there are various scenes that are different from the later released version(s) which will enable you to know you have the original release:

* In the beginning of the movie, there's an intro that scrolls up the screen just like in the movie Star Wars that layz out the plot. It speaks of a nuclear war that happened in the year 2110AD, where humanz were now used as fuel for the machines like batteries
* In the part where Neo barters for a stack of programz for programz of his. No money was exchanged like in the edited release(s)
* The girl in the beginning who came over Neo's had a rabbit on her arm. In the edited version(s), she's seen with the rabbit on her back shoulderblade

If you have a version of The Matrix with these 3 scenes, contact Sophia via email or phone (801.220.0588) as soon as possible! She would love to talk to you!

Even if you do not have the critical evidence, you're making your people's aware of her case is vital! YTs 'massa'-media's doin' all they can to suppress this case from the general public, but there's nothin' more effective than the 'word', which is 'vybration'!

Kofi Annan unveils Fool for Oil program

2004-12-07T18:32:00.000+13:45

Kofi Annan, jokes, humor, satire, news, United Nations
Mr Annan said the show would take responsibility for people suffering from sadness in countries dealing with terrorism.

"It will be a series in which I meet with world leaders in my living room and play the part of a slightly deranged host," Mr Annan said. "They will come to show expecting it to be a legitimate meeting where we will discuss the impact of OPEC prices."

Mr Annan said he did not want to give too much away but said one occasion would include meeting former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher while he was completely nude.

"Sir Elton John has also been so kind in lending me some of his 70s outfits which I will wear while playing the piano while people attempt to speak to me," Mr Annan said.

The series will be shown on FOX and is expected to screen during the Christmas break.

THE LEFT TRIES TO STEAL THE BLOG AWARDS

2004-12-07T01:53:00.000+13:45

: "The decision by lefty activist fans of lefty activist bloggers to cheat in order to win in The Wizbang awards has been extensively commented upon both at Wizbang and throughout the blogosphere. That there is no great consequence from their cheating does not mean that the cheating is without significance. In fact, I think it is a great piece of evidence to put forward in the case of why center-right activists fear 'recounts' like those underway in Washington State and those conducted by Gore-Lieberman forces in Florida in 2000. Simply put, people with moral codes do not cheat as often as those without such codes, and moral codes are more apt to be more deeply ingrained within people of religious belief than those with little or no religious belief. Which means --simply as an objective proposition-- that those who do not view cheating as 'wrong' or sinful are more likely to cheat than those who do. Cheating at cards is not altogether different from cheating on your taxes or cheating in an internet contest or cheating in a recount. Cheating is cheating."

read more....
FrontPage magazine.com :: War Blog by FrontPage Magazine

Abbas Is Palestinian Election Front-Runner

2004-12-07T01:32:00.000+13:45

Yahoo! News - World - Middle East: "Abbas Is Palestinian Election Front-Runner
AP - 28 minutes ago
Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is emerging as the front-runner in presidential elections, with an 18-point lead over jailed uprising leader Marwan Barghouti, according to the first poll on how Palestinians will vote next month"

Riverbend's around the bend

2004-12-06T22:56:00.000+13:45

Riverbend's around the bend

"The situation in Falloojeh is worse than anyone can possibly describe. It has turned into one of those cities you see in your darkest nightmares- broken streets strewn with corpses, crumbling houses and fallen mosques... The worst part is that for the last couple of weeks we've been hearing about the use of chemical weapons inside Falloojeh by the Americans. Today we heard that the delegation from the Iraqi Ministry of Health isn't being allowed into the city, for some reason.

I don't know about the chemical weapons. It's not that I think the American military is above the use of chemical weapons, it's just that I keep wondering if they'd be crazy enough to do it. I keep having flashbacks of that video they showed on tv, the mosque and all the corpses. There was one brief video that showed the same mosque a day before, strewn with many of the same bodies- but some of them were alive. In that video, there's this old man leaning against the wall and there was blood running out of his eyes- almost like he was crying tears of blood. What 'conventional' weaponry makes the eyes bleed? They say that a morgue in Baghdad has received the corpses of citizens in Falloojeh who have died under seemingly mysterious conditions. "

Someone need to go around to her shack and explain the error of her propagandizing way's to her as 'politely' as possible. (or not so)

2004-12-04T20:50:00.000+13:45

yum

Boeing 737 converted to Bomber

2004-12-04T01:49:00.000+13:45

Boeing 747 bomber

SEATTLE -- Picture the Boeing 737 -- the small, stocky jetliner that's the workhorse of hundreds of airlines around the world. Now picture the 737 with missiles slung under its wings and a bomb bay in its belly.

Boeing is gearing up to modify its ubiquitous twin-jet, single-aisle airliner into a Navy patrol bomber called the Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft, or MMA. The plane will have a variety of sensors to pinpoint a submarine’s location: anti-submarine radar, an electro-optical-infrared camera and Magnetic Anomaly Detection, or MAD. Rotary magazines will drop sonar sonobuoys.
Five tactical consoles inside will integrate information from all those sensors and inform the aircraft commander, headquarters and friendly units in real time.

What's more, the plane could launch Harpoon missiles from two racks under each wing, or from a weapons bay aft of the wing, which could also carry torpedoes, mines or nuclear or conventional depth bombs. The MMA will have a receptacle to take on more fuel in flight so it can extend a patrol for up to 21 hours.

The planes would replace the Navy's fleet of 223 Lockheed P-3 Orion undersea warfare and reconnaissance planes and EP-3E electronic intelligence planes, like the one forced to land on the Chinese island of Hainan on April 1, 2001, after it collided with a Chinese interceptor.

P-3s have four turboprop engines, and getting the Navy to consider a twin-engine turbojet wasn't easy. Boeing took a 737 to air stations around the country and Europe to show Navy aviators a twin-jet could do the job -- even on one engine if it had to -- and helped Boeing secure the contract over rival Lockheed Martin, which proposed an updated turboprop plane for the mission.

"I love the P-3," said Tim Norgart, who commanded a wing of P-3s at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station before retiring from the Navy and joining Boeing’s MMA program. "It always brought me home. But I can't see my granddaughter walking out to the flight line to a propeller plane in 2050."

The world has changed since the P-3 was developed in the 1950s, but the submarine threat hasn't gone away, Norgart said. Currently, 42 nations operate diesel-electric submarines, and that technology could negate America’s cutting-edge weaponry. "Can you imagine us deploying the (nuclear-powered aircraft carrier) Carl Vinson to the Gulf with one of those submarines unaccounted for?" he asked.

It shouldn't be that hard to imagine a civil airliner converted to a weapons-packing warplane -- the P-3 itself was based on the Lockheed Electra airliner. A British plane with a similar mission, the Nimrod, is based on the de Havilland Comet jetliner.

Under a $3.9 billion Navy contract awarded last June, Boeing will build seven 737 MMAs for testing. The plane's design has begun its 3,000 hours of testing in wind tunnels. First flight will be in 2008 and delivery in 2009. It would enter service in 2013. Ultimately, the Navy will need 108 of the planes, a deal that would be worth $20 billion.

A production contract will be good news for the city of Renton, Washington, where 737s are built. Boeing's factory there, with space for four production lines, went to two lines because of the worldwide airline downturn. The discontinuation of the larger 757 in October reduced production floor space even further. The 737 MMA will be built on a separate, security-controlled assembly line in Renton. The completed planes will be flown to Seattle's Boeing Field for modification into bombers.

Source:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,65817,00.html

2004-12-03T17:59:00.000+13:45

They said Fallujah would be "A-m-r-i-k-a's" graveyard. Well I think we showed them different.

"Killing an Arab"

2004-08-27T13:04:00.000+12:45

The men who shot Uday Hussein

First inside account of a 1996 ambush that signaled active Iraqi resistance.

By Peter Ford | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

SHATRA, IRAQ – As Salman Sharif gave the order to open fire, he was certain he was going to die himself. You did not try to assassinate Uday Hussein, the former Iraqi president's elder son and heir-apparent, at point blank range and expect to get away with it.
"We knew we had a 1 percent chance of returning alive," Mr. Sharif says today, sitting crosslegged on a carpet-strewn floor as, for the first time, he recounts to a foreign newspaper the daring attack he led. "Strict security made this kind of operation almost impossible."
But after months of careful planning, the four man hit squad drawn from a shadowy resistance group was determined to go ahead. As Uday Hussein drove his golden Porsche slowly up a busy street in one of Baghdad's smartest districts, just after dark on Dec. 12 1996, two gunmen responded to Sharif's command with a hail of bullets from their AK-47 rifles.

"We were sure we had killed him," Sharif recalls. "We fired 50 rounds into that car."

In fact, he discovered later, Uday had been hit 17 times but survived. He was crippled for the rest of his life, and - according to popular belief - rendered impotent (a special kind of justice, Sharif said, because of the elder Hussein son's reputation for brutal womanizing), but he lived.

Still, the unprecedented assassination attempt on a member of the ruling Baath Party's inner circle sent an important message. "We showed that the Islamic resistance could reach any target at any time," Sharif says. "And we refuted before the whole world the regime's claim that there was no resistance inside Iraq."

Mr. Sharif, who was 27 at the time he mounted the operation that sent shockwaves through the Iraqi leadership, looks an unlikely freedom fighter. Studious and methodical, peering intently through a large pair of spectacles, he resembled a provincial primary school teacher more than a guerrilla hit-man. But Sharif's tale offers a rare window into how the Iraqi resistance movement operated during Hussein's reign
more

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

"Killing An Arab"

Standing on the beach
With a gun in my hand
Staring at the sea
Staring at the sand
Staring down the barrel
At the arab on the ground
I can see his open mouth
But I hear no sound

I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killing an arab

I can turn
And walk away
Or I can fire the gun
Staring at the sky
Staring at the sun
Whichever I chose
It amounts to the same
Absolutely nothing

I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killing an arab

I feel the steel butt jump
Smooth in my hand
Staring at the sea
Staring at the sand
Staring at myself
Reflected in the eyes
Of the dead man on the beach
The dead man on the beach

I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killing an arab

-The Cure

Rape victim marries jailed attacker to avoid Muslim shun

2004-08-23T23:38:00.000+12:45

Scotsman.com News
SHAIKH AZIZUR RAHMAN IN CALCUTTA

THE dusty Berhampur Central jail, 120 miles north of Calcutta, provided the setting for a bizarre wedding last week between a rapist and his victim.

The victim faced a life as an outcast, ostracised and stigmatised by Indian society for being on the receiving end of a violent sexual crime.

But if her assailant married her, the shame would be lifted in the eyes of the local Muslim community.

On the order of the court in Berhampur, Ahammad Shaikh, 30, tied the knot with Sabina Khatoon, 18, inside the local prison where he is serving his sentence.

Shaikh kidnapped Khatoon - the daughter of a daily wage labourer - from her village and raped her in a nearby forest in March this year.

After her father complained of the rape to the police in June, Shaikh was arrested. In the court he admitted having raped the teenager and was sent to prison for the deed.

Shaikh’s lawyers failed to bail him out and he expected to be handed at least a seven-year sentence within a few months.

Then, with permission from the court, an activist carrying out work among rural women, approached Shaikh inside the jail and informed him of the woman’s miseries after being ‘tainted’ by his rape.

The women’s rights activist suggested that Shaikh marry Khatoon. Shaikh said that he needed time to respond to the overture.

The court also said that if Shaikh came forward to marry Khatoon, it could consider his case with sympathy and a possible release.

Shaikh’s lawyers and Khatoon’s parents then petitioned the court that the defendant was willing to marry Khatoon, and they sought his release from the jail for the purpose of the marriage.

The court observed that it could never release Shaikh until he married his victim. However, it ordered that the two could get married inside the prison if they wanted.

As bride, Khatoon turned up in the jail with her relatives. In the presence of Shaikh’s relatives, the jailhouse wedding took place according to the Muslim rites, followed by a registration.

The jail officials and about 60 remand prisoners took part in the marriage celebrations, which included a feast.

"I took advantage of her weakness and assaulted her while she was alone. What I did was wrong," the apparently repentant Shaikh said at the end of the ceremony.

"Now I am happy to get a chance to make amends for the crime I have committed."

Khatoon, who looked very happy after the marriage, said: "For that act [of rape] I hated him. Sometimes I felt like I wanted to tear him to pieces.

"But I have a different feeling for him now. I have forgiven him because he has chosen me as his wife. I have to love him now."

After the marriage Khatoon went to stay with her in-laws, while Shaikh is likely to be released on bail within one or two weeks when his lawyers produce the marriage certificate to satisfy the judge.

In recent weeks, at the order of the courts, at least three such marriages between rapists and their victims have taken place inside jails in eastern India.

In all the cases concerned, judges ordered the release of the rapist prisoners when the marriage certificates were produced in the court.

A public prosecutor in connection with one case said: "Our job is to oppose the bail of a criminal. But in such a case we are happy to support the bail, as the man, in an act of repentance, pledges to take care of the woman as a permanent measure by marrying her."

Mideast Conflict

2004-08-21T18:43:00.000+12:45

Yahoo! News Photos - Mideast Conflict

The father of 10-year-old Palestinian boy Khaled Al-Osta cries next to his dead body after he was shot by Israeli soldiers during an army operation in the Old City area of the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Six other people were also wounded by Israeli bullets including a 17-year-old youth who was said to be in a critical condition(AFP/Jaafar Ashtiyeh)

what they fail to say is what was young Khalad doing to be shot. Throwing stones ? Keep your children safe indoors during obvious dangerous conflict and they will be safe no?

America after 9/11

2004-08-19T01:00:00.000+12:45
We are a good and moral people and we form a nation that is the last hope of mankind.
Don't listen to our enemies or the weak sisters in our own ranks who accuse us of all sorts of purposeful atrocities around the world. If we were what our enemies said we were Afghanistan would be an uninhabitable moonscape. Iraq would be the same and quite possibly several other places on the map. would be in similar shape.
No, our sins have been those of omission and inattention.
At most we have been a selfish people, concentrating our attention n the creation of wealth and becoming fixated on the contemplation of our financial navel. And as you have gathered from this book, we as a nation were never really serious about the threat of terrorism in the past.
Our government did more than apply band aids to abrasions while ignoring the festering infection within.
All we really did was to keep terrorism away from our own shores.
Little real work was accomplished because the political leadership lacked the will to tackle the problem, and their lack of willpower was caused by the intuitive knowledge that the American people would not support the effort.
our enemies became bolder while the nation and it's agencies were focused almost exclusively on their petty problems of self absorption, rampant careerism, and beauracratic infighting - an the came September 11, 2001.
We now know what we're up against and I am convinced that \we as a nation have the resolve to protect ourselves and eradicate the scourge of terrorism.
But make no mistake, it won't be easy and it won't be quick. The worst parts , the most threatening parts, of the terrorist menace will be eliminated rather rapidly, but that won't be the end of it.
The work will go on for years if not generations, until the sources and causes that bring about terrorism are addressed and changed. Notice I said changed, and not defeated. For what must change is the attitude of a large part of the Muslim world. The attitude that the United States is responsible for the ills suffered by that segment of the world population. We can't do the changing for them but we must help bring it about.
But at the same time that we are working to help the Islamic populations of the globe find their place in the modern world, we must continue to seek out and destroy terrorist threats wherever they exist.

And tonight , when you are comfortably in your bed, in those quiet moments before you go to sleep, give thanks to what ever deity you speak to that we have a group of men and women who readily go into the worst of harms way, and are prepared to lay down their lives if that's what it takes so that you can live a life without fear.
Remember , we don't call ourselves the land of the free and home of the brave for nothing.

Eric L Haney
American Citizen, Soldier
( excerpt from 'Inside Delta Force')

Najaf battle a crucial test for Allawi

2004-08-16T19:47:00.000+12:45
Najaf battle a crucial test for Allawi | csmonitor.com

Thursday, tanks sealed off all approaches to Najaf's Old City, while 2,000 US marines and 1,800 Iraqi forces closed in. US forces stormed Mr. Sadr's home, but he wasn't there. It's just a matter of time, US military officials say, before the radical cleric and his militia are expelled from one of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam, the Shrine of Imam Ali.
For Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, this is a crucial test of the strength of his government, barely a month and a half old, and a first chance to extend government authority over a key part of Iraq, most of which remains under the control of armed militias and insurgents.

"The attack in Najaf is a strategic one, with limited US costs, against Sadr's ragtag militia that doesn't enjoy local support," says Toby Dodge, a Middle East expert at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. "Sadr is a symptom of a security vacuum in Iraq. The US military does not have enough forces on the ground to take control of the country. Even if you defeat Sadr, that still leaves a majority of the population living under the control of militias and insurgents."

What's at stake is not just the control of Najaf, but perhaps Iraq's territorial integrity. Key territories in Iraq are controlled by armed groups opposed to central government control from Baghdad. Kurdish militias in the north are vying for control of the crucial oil field town of Kirkuk; Sunni insurgents, many of them loyal to Saddam Hussein, control much of the center and the Northwest, including the transit link to Jordan. And now, as Shiite militias in the south and Baghdad turn to armed confrontation,

Prime Minister Allawi, a Shiite, has chosen to exert power where it seems most likely the government will prevail. In Shiite Najaf, a religious tourist and university city where many residents support the interim government, defeating Sadr would be a small but significant step toward preserving the Iraqi nation-state.

In an Aug. 10 speech, Allawi promised Iraqis to "teach these criminal outlaws the lesson they deserve."
Scott Baldauf

Alaa: "Basrah is in Grave Danger"

2004-08-16T10:08:00.000+12:45
I appeal to people of the World; Please, Please, Please hear the true voice of the Iraqi people. We are facing a terrible conspiracy. The people of the South are being persecuted and massacred, not by the Americans, not by the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police. The gangs of the “Mehdi” army financed and recruited by the Iranian security forces and others, this has become amply clear, are massacring the people, right now as I am writing these lines. As one caller to the “Fayhaa” T.V. station is saying right now from Kut, for the first time in history the Wahabis, the Iranian hardliners and the Baathists have formed an alliance against the people of Iraq and particularly against the Shiaa people. Horrifying stories are emerging from the South.

In the name of the Iraqi people and the Shiaa people, as God is my witness, we appeal to our friends everywhere to come to the rescue of our people in the South in particular. The people of Kut are fighting the gangs with their bare hands at the moment. Don’t expect any coherent words from me now. Please do not listen to the lies. The vast overwhelming majority of the Shiaa people in particular are dead against these gangs. They don’t want them; please believe me, and may God strike me dead immediately if I tell you lies or my own personal feeling only.

The greatest danger is not in Najaf, but in Basrah where the main oil wealth of the country is being jeopardized (and so is the world economy and the security of the entire free world), and placed at the mercy of Gangs financed and employed by the Iranians, Al Qaeda and the Baathists. So much for the much-vaunted success of the British at controlling the region, they have allowed the thugs to gain control of the area. Basrah is in grave danger , Basrah, Basrah, Basrah; not only us but the whole free world is threatened. Can anybody understand, will anybody hear?

So what is to be done? Only one thing: to give full support to the Iraqi Government and Security forces, and allow the people to mobilize under their banner to fight the final battle - I mean real support and real arms and real capability.

No one, but no one, is going to rob us of our hopes and our future. No one can succeed in subduing the majority of the people of Iraq again, least of all gangs of thieves, thugs, robbers and kidnappers. It is better to die a thousand deaths than to submit to the forces of darkness and evil.

This guy is alway's spot on as to the happenings around Iraq and I have no reason to doubt him now
messopotamian

al-Sadr for 3 Purple Hearts

2004-08-13T18:29:00.000+12:45
Yahoo! News - World Photos - AP

NAJAF, Iraq -
Not to be outdone by the swaggering postering 'Lurch' Kerry, Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has been wounded in fighting between his followers and U.S. and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf, his spokesman said Friday.
Her also intimated that te wounds were more or less self inflicted to garner sympathy and support from not only his Mehdi Army and supporters but those followers in the Western world as well.
"See guy's, being wounded three times is no biggie" he said from his pulpit on Fri.

Sadr will fight to "last drop of blood"??

2004-08-11T17:41:00.003+12:45
Yeah right

NAJAF Firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr said on Thursday he was prepared to meet an Iranian delegation in Najaf as he embraced mediation efforts to avert a showdown with US troops massed outside the holy city.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/99963/1/.html

but then

NAJAF Firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr said on Thursday he was prepared to meet an Iranian delegation in Najaf as he embraced mediation efforts to avert a showdown with US troops massed outside the holy city.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_16-4-2004_pg4_9

Later heard to remark to head thug - "over my dead body will I shed every drop of my blood for these peasants, maybe theirs by God Inshalla hatass ( Arabic for you gotta be shittin me)

(hat tip forgotten will advise)