January 24, 2003

[Found at Lucianne.com. Thanks, Ldotters!]
An Open Letter To The President

1-24-2003
Dear Mr President:

Even as you keep your brave demeanor and tough approach to the current World situation, we surmise that in private moments you surely agonize over the weighty decisions that you soon will be called upon to make.

Our prayers are with you, and our support as well. We know that you will do the right thing, as you see it in your heart. You are a good man.

War is ugliness incarnate, and it is always to be avoided when possible. The day it becomes an attractive option, we fear, then we all are doomed.

But, to every season we must turn. Action now may be the only way to avoid a worse scenario down the road. That decision falls to you and the Congress. It is part of the job description. You must have known that when you signed on.

We don't envy you your task, but we will support you and our fine men and women in the military, as the future unfolds. Support in every way.

Of course, you will take a lot of criticism, no matter what you do. Stand strong. Your strength is our strength. As a nation, that is the way it must be.

God and history will judge us all, eventually.

We don't know what help a small publication like ours can offer to the leader of the Free World, but we are in your corner, as you are in ours.

Best regards,
RG Griffing,
Editor/Publisher San Antonio Lightning

PS: Our heroes have always been Cowboys

Mine, too, Mr. Griffing!
Thanks for a beautiful letter.
I don't know what help my small web publication can offer the leader of the Free World either, but I'm in your corner, also.
God Bless President Bush.
God Bless America.

Chrétien supports U.S. push for war

Minister Jean Chrétien took Canada a step closer to war yesterday, raising the prospect of joining the U.S. and Britain in an attack on Iraq if there is evidence President Saddam Hussein has defied the United Nations.

Chrétien's endorsement of George W. Bush's stand came the day after the president telephoned him to talk about the possibility of war in Iraq.

Chrétien said the U.S. doesn't need to go back to the Security Council a second time for permission to attack ? the resolution adopted in November gives a green light for military action if there is evidence that Iraq has failed to disarm or to reveal all its weapons programs.

Well, Chrétien, nice to see you agree with our President and Tony Blair.
Welcome aboard, Neighbor to the North!
(We're sorry about Hitlery Clinton yelling at you and our boys accidentally killing yours in Afghanistan.)
We're rolling!
Baghdad delenda est!
[Hat tip to the incomparable Daily Pundit .]

The Dissident Frogman,blogging from behind the Weasel Curtain, has created Axis of Weasels wallpaper for your 'puter, with your choice of French (who call weasels "blaireaux") or German background.
I love them, so go get your own!

Saddam son warns U.S. of losses

President Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday has warned the United States of huge losses and a calamity worse than the September 11 attacks if it goes ahead with plans to invade Iraq.

"It is better for them (the Americans) to keep themselves away from us," Uday was quoted as saying on Thursday night by al-Shabab (Youth) television which he owns.

"Because if they come, September 11 which they are crying over and see as a big thing will be a real picnic for them, God willing," Uday said, referring to suicide hijacker attacks in New York and Washington which killed about 3,000 people in 2001.

What a psychotic idiot!
Translation: "We don't have those WMDs, but if you attack us to get rid of my Dad, we'll use those weapons--that we don't have--to kill you."

U.S. to Start Civilian Smallpox Vaccinations

Hospital workers in Connecticut were scheduled to become the first American civilians vaccinated against smallpox on Friday under a government program aimed at protecting against a biological attack, U.S. health officials said.

Friday is the first possible day the vaccinations can take place under the provisions of the new Homeland Security Act, and Connecticut state officials said they would lead the way with the first immunizations at the University of Connecticut health center in Farmington.

Gulp.
Sometimes I find it hard to believe that things like this are really happening, but they are. (What a nightmare!)
We are at war and have been attacked and could be attacked again...with smallpox, so I suppose we should "work smart" and get these vaccinations, if possible, as soon as we can.

Frank J. of IMAO provides us all with a little comic relief in these tense times by offering President Bush "Frank Advice on the State of the Union Address".

Read it and weep (with laughter)!

"Bush has been working on his first draft of his State of the Union address, and, since there is still about a week before he delivers it, I thought I'd give him my advice.

First thing's first, remember, it's not the content so much as the attitude. Don't have that fruity "Hail to the Chief" song playing when you enter, instead have the "Imperial March." Come in all stern-faced, and, to further show everyone you're a badass, head butt the first person who tries to shake your hand. Think of what evil dictators will say when they see that. "Holy crap! He broke that guy's nose for just trying to shake his hand. Think of what he'll do to me, an evil dictator!"

Start off with a great applause line, such as raising your fist in the air and shouting, "Our enemies must suffer!"

But remember, it's not enough that our enemies get blown apart into their component particles, but, at the same time we are bombing the crap out of them, they have to see us all eating caviar and cruising around in fancy cars. That's why you should propose a huge tax cut to improve our economy.

"We should have a tax cut of epic proportions," you should say, "And most should go to the best Americans - the rich. Some may say this is unfair." You should then pause dramatically. "They will die!"

Democrats may not applaud everything that is said. Whenever they don't seem to agree with a new proposed policy, point at them and scream, "Traitors!" This will make them uncomfortable with not applauding. One may voice protest at being labeled a traitor; if that happens, shout, "Rarrrr!" and charge at him while the VP and Speaker of the House try and hold you back. The Democrats should be pretty scared by then, and will probably clap politely at whatever you say.

Don't let them off the hook, though. Single out those who are against war in Iraq. "There are some who sympathize with our enemies," you should say angrily, "But mercy is for the weak! It is the same as being our enemies? allies. Hang you gigantic head in shame, Ted Kennedy - if your neck is strong enough to support such a feat without snapping in twain." (he'll probably respond with "What neck?", but it's still a great line).

As for a finale, declarations of war will be great. Declare war on Iraq as people will expect, but also declare war on North Korea. Then pick a few other countries as a surprise (just throw darts at a map of the world; if you hit the U.S., try again).

Now say, "Some of our 'allies' will not support our plans of war, but I have one thing to say to them..." For this part, raise both fists in the air and scream as loud as possible, "DEATH!!!!" (you may need a voice coach to hit this just right)

This should be a huge applause line, even though it's not the most coherent thing ever said. If the Democrats don't give you a standing ovation, pull out a gun and shoot at their feet.

Finally, have fireworks go off indoors while you laugh insanely. Then, when the smoke fades, you should have mysteriously disappeared. If you do this right, all our enemies will be scared out of their wits, and the European leaders should wet their pants. Then noone will mess with the U.S.!

Bless you, Frank!
President Bush should hire you to be his speechwriter: you run rings around David Frum and his "axis of evil!"
I know whatever Bush says on Tuesday night, we'll all wish that he had given your speech and in precisely the cunning way you described!

Nasa to go nuclear

President Bush is set to endorse using nuclear power to explore Mars and open up the outer Solar System.

He is expected to back the US space agency's recent nuclear propulsion initiative, Project Prometheus, either in his State of the Union speech, due on 28 January, or later this year when he submits his 2004 budget to Congress.

It is believed he will give the initiative $1bn over five years, arguing that nuclear propulsion represents an essential technology for the manned and unmanned exploration of space.

Supporters say nuclear power could change the nature of space exploration, but add that it will take many years and significant resources to develop.
[...]
Using current rocket technology, it would take at least six months to cruise to the Red Planet.

Project Prometheus - named after the Greek god who stole fire and gave it to man - could cut this travel time to two months.
[...]Current rocket technology does not allow a spaceprobe to reach distant Pluto and go into orbit around it - only a flyby is possible.

Chemical rockets also make it very difficult to get a probe to orbit such significant bodies as Jupiter's ice-crusted moon, Europa, a possible abode of life, or Titan, Saturn's major moon.

But it is inevitable that the development of the new propulsion systems will spark controversy from anti-nuclear groups.

They opposed the launching of Nasa's Cassini probe to Saturn in 1997. The spacecraft uses plutonium to generate electricity for its onboard instruments.

They feared a launch failure or an accidental re-entry could have led to widespread contamination.

Betcha the loons in those "anti-nuclear groups" are the same ones who whine and complain about developing "alternative energy sources" and who are too busy having protests to notice those who truly threaten the U.S. with radioactive contamination like Iraq acting in concert with Islamist terrorists and possibly the NorKs.
Anyway, I think the prospect of a Mars Mission with nuclear powered-ships is terrific!
Nowhere does the United States of America shine more brightly as a nation than she does in space...!

January 23, 2003

Nato allies in eastern Europe line up to offer services to US

The new Nato allies of eastern Europe are lining up behind Washington in offering to join a war against Iraq with or without a UN mandate.

More instinctively pro-American than the west Europeans, the new Nato members from Bulgaria in the south to Lithuania in the north are under US pressure to contribute to a war coalition, although militarily they have less to offer than the traditional Nato allies.

"Romania does not want to go to war against Iraq, but it will do what America says," said a Romanian newspaper this week.

A senior Czech official said that Romania and Bulgaria, invited to join Nato last November, are anxious that doubts about their participation in Iraq could delay US ratification of their membership.

In Washington last week, the Polish president, Alexander Kwasniewski, pledged full support for the Americans, and the Polish government this week offered to contribute to coalition forces even without a UN mandate.

Mr Kwasniewski nurses ambitions to be the next Nato secretary general and needs American backing if he is to replace Lord Robertson.

The Czechs have pledged to put their highly rated anti-chemical warfare unit, currently based in Kuwait, at the disposal of the Americans, although 27 of the 270 men currently in Kuwait embarrassed the government this week by voting to come home rather than join a war.

Opinion polls in the Czech republic and Hungary show deep opposition to taking part in a war, but President Vaclav Havel in Prague, while nursing private doubts, has offered unequivocal backing to the Americans, and Hungary is allowing the US to train thousands of Iraqi exiles at a military base in the south of the country.

The Czechs have also agreed to allow hundreds of US troops to be stationed on their territory and made their airspace available. The Bulgarians are still awaiting an official US request for assistance, but are preparing an air base on the Black Sea coast.

Analysts say that Washington is urging the new Nato members in eastern Europe into the war camp in order to highlight the relative reluctance of the west Europeans to get involved.

US officials in eastern Europe deny that, arguing that the timing of Washington's requests for contributions are dictated purely by logistics and military planning considerations and by the need to escalate the credible threat of military force against President Saddam.

Although the east Europeans have less to offer than the west Europeans in military terms, one exception is the Czechs, whose anti-chemical warfare unit comprises almost one third of the Nato capacity in this area.

With fears widespread that President Saddam could resort to the use of chemical or biological weapons if attacked, the Czech unit is particularly valuable.

Many thanks to our friends in Eastern Europe!
Welcome aboard.
Now, let's roll.

With thanks to N. out in Midland, TX with Jessica's Well for this great graphic!

French Jews leave with no regrets

[...]But nothing, it seems, can persuade Jonathan to stay in the country where he was born and grew up.

He is part of the growing exodus of French Jews leaving for Israel.

"As a Jew I don't see any future for me in France," he said. "Just put on a skull cap in the street and see the reaction you get. While Muslim girls can wear veils and no-one says a word."
[...]
Indeed the violence in the Middle East was seen as one of the reasons for a series of attacks on French synagogues last year. With Europe's largest Arab and Jewish communities, France is ever sensitive to the possibility of violence far away being reflected close to home.

And now after a relatively calm few months the malaise is creeping back.

At the weekend's anti-war demonstrations it was noticeable how many protesters sang anti-Israeli songs, while just a few weeks ago a liberal Rabbi in Paris was stabbed and had his car set on fire for reasons which remain obscure.["Obscure" only to the BBC. The stabber was an Islamist who cried "Allah Akhubar! before he attacked the rabbi.--J.T.]
[...]
I'm sad to say goodbye to my family and friends, but France, no. How can I be sad to leave a country which is without exaggeration, anti-Semitic?"[Jonathan Taieb said.]

France also demonstrated its great tolerance and inclusiveness for the world's murdering leaders by inviting Robert Mugabe, current leader of the reverse-KKK in Zimbabwe, over to play:
France defies UK over Mugabe

What I'd like to know is do the Froggies really think Mugabe's a super guy or did Jacques Chirac do it just to p*ss off Tony Blair again?
France is so deep in la merde that it doesn't matter anymore.
Vichy France had nothing on these mecs!

Why We Know Iraq Is Lying

Eleven weeks after the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution demanding yet againthat Iraq disclose and disarm all its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, it is appropriate to ask, "Has Saddam Hussein finally decided to voluntarily disarm?" Unfortunately, the answer is a clear and resounding no.

That was the opening 'graph, but do read the whole piece (and thank God, the NYSlimes had a "slip" from their Liberal peacenik views and printed it!).
Dr. Rice effectively argues that South Africa, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine (although the Ukraine is an arms problem, again, I think) all disarmed in the true spirit of cooperation and peace, while Iraq has done anything but!
As Lee at Right Thinking from the Left Coast says about this statement from Dr. Rice: "I love this woman!"
Me, too, Lee.

Iraqi women want Saddam ousted, tell of oppression by his regime

Six Iraqi women who say they or their families were brutalized by the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) on Tuesday called for the Iraqi leader to be indicted for war crimes and said regime change is the only way to save their desperate nation.

The women refused to either endorse or oppose plans by the United States and Britain to invade if Saddam refuses to get rid of any weapons of mass destruction in his possession. But it was clear the women supported the ouster of the Iraqi dictator by almost any means.

"The Iraqi people have been living in a state of war for 30 years," said Nazand Beghakani, a founder of the International Kurdish Women Study Network. "I'm calling on the international community to stop this war that has been forced on the Iraqi people."

Representing a handful of the country's different ethnic communities, the women told a Paris news conference of deaths and disappearances of their relatives, the beheading of innocent women, and of living day to day under threat.

They called on the international community to help halt "ethnic cleansing" and oppression of minorities in Iraq; to investigate the disappearance of thousands of Iraqis; and to send Saddam before an international war crimes tribunal for prosecution.

Aida Ussayran, a member of the Union of Iraqi Democrats, fled her native land 25 years ago after being jailed three times for pro-democracy activism and an act of particularly harsh punishment ? the execution of her son.

"My story is no different that any other political activist living under a cruel regime," she said. "The regime is merciless in its bitter pursuit of any innocent man, woman or child."

The women also denounced the systematic beheading of innocent women who belong to families suspected of opposing Saddam's regime. Ussayran said 16 innocent women were decapitated in front of their own children three months ago.

In the north, Iraq's Assyrians, who are Christians, have suffered cultural oppression and thousands have been forced to leave the country, said Pascale Isho, a member of the Assyrian Women's Union.

In December, two human rights groups released a report detailing the agonies of daily life under Saddam that drew on accounts from Kurdish groups, humanitarian agencies and 80 witnesses from Iranian refugee camps or the Kurdish autonomous zone in Iraq.

The report by the International for Human Rights and the International Alliance for Justice said that more than 1 million people have been killed by Saddam's government since he took power in 1979 and that up to 4 million Iraqis have been forced into exile or fled.

Hat tip to MerdeInFrance for the link to this story, but as he/she observes although this press conference took place in Paris, it might as well have taken place in Paris, Texas for the scant attention it received from the Froggies.

France, Germany are 'problems' in Iraqi conflict

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Wednesday dismissed French and German insistence that "everything must be done to avoid war" with Iraq, saying most European countries stand with the United States in its campaign to force Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to disarm.

"Germany has been a problem, and France has been a problem," said Rumsfeld, a former NATO ambassador. "But you look at vast numbers of other countries in Europe. They're not with France and Germany on this, they're with the United States."

Germany and France represent "old Europe," and NATO's expansion in recent years means "the center of gravity is shifting to the east," Rumsfeld said.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
I couldn't agree more, Mr. Rumsfeld!
But who could take care of those two weak sisters and paper tigers France and Germany like you with your no-nonsense, funny and frank plain speaking!
Go, Rummy, Go!
I love you and if you weren't already married, I'd go after you Big Time!
Update: I just found a better version of Rummy's remarks blogged by the hysterical Scrappleface who notes that Rummy uses this opportunity to brand France and Germany as the "Axis of Weasels"!

Check out this site for links to Venezuelan Liberty blogs:From The People of Venezuela To The World - Elections in Venezuela Now!
Let Freedom Ring, Venezuelans!

Germany rules out Iraq war support

Germany has declared it will not back a UN resolution authorising war against Iraq, adding its concerns to mounting reservations within the Security Council about military action.

After starting the last 2 World Wars, Germany decides to push back from the table?
"No thanks, I'm full."
Didja ever think you'd live to see the day?
Or maybe they're just bitter that they didn't get to start it...
I'm sure the "axis of evil" could find a spot for them somewhere--betcha they've missed that whole "Axis" action.
This is not to say that Our War, the U.S.-led mission to remove an evil, arms-amassing dictator like Saddam, is not just and right--it is!-- and that Germany's efforts at world domination--also led by evil warring dictators--weren't contemptible and horrible: they were.
What offends and shocks me is Germany's "peace-loving" stance, as if they've never supported war and military action and never ever would.
Their disingenuous dovishness is what I find galling and infuriating.
Guys like my dad put their lives on the line to stop the Nazi war machine!
He was stationed in Western Europe for over 3 years.
My boyfriend's father was involved in the liberation of France and came in with the guys right behind the Normandy Invasion.
These men saw endless suffering, their comrades killed and wounded and liberated the death camps where 6 million Jews and 6 million other "enemies of the Reich" needlessly were murdered.
And that was just WWII.
We're not even talking about the two Berlin airlifts, or our bases in the former West Germany and all over Western Europe where thousands of American's finest men and women (including Elvis and Jimmy Hendrix) kept the Soviet Russians in check for 45 years.
Or the trade and tourism, which may strike some as unimportant, but do the math and see how much America's import of French and German goods and services and our tourism over there has contributed to their economies. (Hint: It's plenty!).
I think I've bought my last Chanel bag and Hermes scarf and believe you me, that makes me sad, but I have my loyalties!
France and Germany are going to be really sorry for so many reasons that they've made this poor choice: they're backing the losers and they're (perhaps) mortally betraying the Honor of the special "Allied" relationship we've had with them for over two centuries, in the case of France.
(The Statue of Liberty was a gift from them to us for the birth of the democratic republic! Can you believe it?)
It's not pretty to watch and it's almost physically painful to endure this backstabbing.
But to dwell on it is to give them more importance than they deserve and slights unfairly other countries who have given more and "been there" for us in real meaningful ways since 9/11 like Australia, Poland, Italy and Pakistan.
Au Revoir and Aufweidersehen--and good luck with those millions of restless Muslim immigrants in your borders!

January 22, 2003

Inspectors 'violated' Iraqi mosque

An Iraqi cleric has accused United Nations weapons experts of seeking to provoke Muslims by inspecting his mosque in Baghdad.

Sheikh Qutaiba Ammash, the imam of the al-Nidaa mosque, said that a team of inspectors had "profaned" the mosque on Monday.

I'd say that Blixie's boys just hit paydirt, wouldn't you?
If these Iraqis are like their Muslim brothers at the Finsbury Park mosque in London (where the police "out of respect" didn't check the hot part in a raid earlier this week), they might have stumbled onto Baghdad's Manhattan Project if the UNMOVIC team had "profaned" it a little more!

Rebels kill 29 Ivorian soldiers

The Ivory Coast army says at least 29 of its soldiers have been killed in an attack by rebels in the west of the country.

"The battle is continuing," a military representative told Reuters news agency on Wednesday.
[...]
A French soldier injured in the attack had to have his arm amputated.

According to the BBC's correspondent in Abidjan, the latest clash raises grave concerns that Liberia is getting more involved in Ivory Coast's four-month civil war.

On Sunday, the Liberian Government demanded an explanation from the Ivorian authorities for a cross border attack into Liberian territory.

The latest round of hostilities have serious implications for the peace talks coming to an end in Paris.
Rebel leaders have not yet reached a deal.

The French Government is urging all sides to respect the ceasefire agreed before the talks.

Despite the progress made on some issues in Paris, there has been no breakthrough on the rebel demand for early elections, which our correspondent says will kill or complete a peace deal.

Before the talks began, rebels insisted President Laurent Gbagbo step down. He refused.

Mr Gbagbo meets French President Jacques Chirac on Friday, and West African presidents are due to take part in a second Paris conference over the weekend.

Looks like old Jacques has got his hands full, but he *did * make the decision to get French troops involved in this little (but getting bigger) spat.
I don't recall Chirac asking anyone's permission to act unilaterally in this...?
Given the small size and battle readiness of the French Army, is it any wonder that Jacques doesn't want to commit troops to our Iraq attack?
It's probably because he can't.
But I still think France may have sold Saddam some of his arsenal of nasties..and of course, there are the lucrative French oil contracts with Iraq,too.
Maybe Gerhard can lend his dear, close and intimate new friend Chirac some troops to go to the Ivory Coast--they like cocoa in Deutschland, too, you know!
[Aside, Lester Holt just reminded me on MSDNC that Germany was the first nation to use poison gas on the French in 1915.
Isn't it nice to see that the 2 countries can literally forgive and forget?]

Update: Well, it's not going to happen now: in a very close election, it seems that the Christian Democrats beat out Mr. Cohen's Labour Party. Pity!

On the eve of national elections, chances grew Tuesday that the Netherlands would elect its first Jewish prime minister.

The last polls taken just before general elections are held on Wednesday show a slight edge for the Labor Party, headed by Amsterdam's Jewish mayor and son of Holocaust survivors, Job Cohen, over the Christian Democrats.
[...]Cohen, originally from the Dutch academic world, has served as deputy minister of education and deputy minister of justice in former cabinets.

He is known for his involvement in a controversial law aimed at restricting asylum seekers and immigrants allowed into the Netherlands.

Bos explained he chose Cohen for the job because of the successful implementation of his immigration law as well as Cohen's experience with integration problems within the country's immigrant community, particularly with Muslims.

Cohen, a son of Holocaust survivors, was born and raised in a Jewish secular family in Haarlem.
Amsterdam has had a "tradition" since 1945 of being led by Jewish mayors, all of whom are known for crusading against racism and discrimination.

Mazeltov, Mr. Cohen!
I'm sure this news wasn't lost on Joe Lieberman, either.
But it sounds like a good thing for Holland and for Jews everywhere and the EU could certainly use some thoughtful leadership in a member country in the area of Muslim immigrants and their integration into European society!

January 21, 2003

France Says It May Veto Use of Force in Iraq
Foreign minister tells U.N. that intervention isn't yet warranted. His remarks highlight a growing divide between the U.S. and its allies.

In a broad challenge to the Bush administration's foreign policy, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said Monday that France would not yet approve the use of force against Iraq and cautioned that U.N. handling of Baghdad would set a precedent for North Korea and the Middle East.

De Villepin spoke moments after U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell warned the United Nations Security Council that it "cannot shrink" from action against Iraq and said the U.N. must enforce its will if it intends to "remain relevant."
[...]
But De Villepin countered that there is no current justification for military action and hinted strongly that France would veto a resolution proposing an invasion of Iraq if peaceful alternatives remained.

"As long as you can make progress with the inspectors and get cooperation, there's no point in choosing the worst possible solution military intervention," he said.

The French remarks, echoed in similar statements by the Chinese and German foreign ministers, highlighted a widening divide between the United States and its allies over what the next steps should be. Of the 14 foreign ministers summoned here for a counter-terrorism meeting, Britain's Jack Straw was the only one to agree with the U.S. that "time is running out."

I strongly encourage you to read the whole story and I think you'll find that the only one making any sense at all was SoS Colin Powell (with a little help from Jack Straw). The other diplos were literally babbling inanities.
This development on the part of the French isn't really surprising, but yet I still find it shocking.
As does Steven Den Beste who has penned another excellent piece on the long-term implications of the possible treachery of France and Germany if indeed these erstwhile "allies" have helped arm Saddam: indeed, it is yet another Must Read by the Captain of the (anything but) Clueless and he says other noteworthy things about Jacksonian Democracy and the notion of Honor between nations, too.
Steven worries, as do I, that the increasing French recalcitrance to join with us on an Iraq attack can have no other explanation except that they have sold something awful to the Iraqis in the WMDs product line.
He and I both hope and I pray that it's not nukes, but from the strange, bordering-on-hostile behavior of the French, it doesn't look good.
The bottom line of this fallout between nations, as SDB sees it, is not only the death of an effective U.N., but the demise of NATO, as well. (Certainly the EU can't be far behind, as France and Germany are the EU's twin leaders.)
It took me awhile to blog about this, having read it this morning, but it was so depressing and scary that I put it off.
Sometimes, the truth isn't pretty.
This is one of those times.
Even if France and Germany change their minds and eventually go along with us in our War on Islamist Terror, I don't think Americans will forget their perfidy and fecklessness even up to this point and it will surely sour our future relations with them, at best, if not be a complete "poison pill."
Hopefully, new alliances with new countries like Poland, Pakistan and Australia will replace and surpass in mutual benefit these old post-WWII alliances we thought were as dear to those "allies" as they were to us.
Judases always betray with a kiss and no-one will kiss you more often than the French.
[Not to be unkind, but now that their mask is coming off, couldn't the CIA at least interrogate and sweat these Froggies to find out what they *did* sell to Saddam before our military has to find it in Iraq?]

I must take some hours away from blogging to have oral surgery.
While I'm away, please visit some of the other fine blogs on my blogroll on the left hand side under "Blog Reads."
Fellow warbloggers, got my back?
Thanks.
And wish me well. (I'm a big pain weenie.)

Bush deploys 'Iron Horse' of Army to Gulf -- The Washington Times

The Bush administration yesterday rolled out its most-advanced land combat division for a war against Iraq, ordering the Army's 4th Infantry Division to deploy to the Persian Gulf from Fort Hood, Texas.
     The deployment of the "Iron Horse" division marks the second of the Army's "heavy" divisions, along with the 3rd Infantry at Fort Stewart, Ga., to be tapped for a possible desert showdown.
[...]
Of the Army's 10 active divisions, the 4th is its laboratory for systems developed in the 1990s. As a result, it will take new tools to battle: the advanced M1-A2 battle tank, a digitized system of communicating from a brigade commander to individual tanks and to Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and a new spy drone, the Shadow 200 RQ-7A.
     The division also boasts Apache attack helicopters, which proved effective in the 1991 Gulf war by destroying Iraqi tanks from a safe range. The 4th is one of the few divisions to operate the more advanced AH-64D Longbow Apache. Improvements include "fire-and-forget" Hellfire anti-tank missiles and digital communications.
The 4th is commanded by Maj. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, a West Point graduate and artillery officer with the 3rd Armored Division in the Gulf war. His division will join a burgeoning air, land and sea force assembling for what would be a lightning strike on Iraq from the south, east and north to seize Baghdad.
     Eventually, Army sources say, the 1st Cavalry Division, also at Fort Hood, plus the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., and two heavy divisions in Germany also will deploy. Elements of the European-based units may head to bases in Turkey, from where they can activate a northern front against Iraq.
     Gen. Richard B. Myers, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, was in Turkey yesterday discussing basing rights. The United States desires as many as 80,000 troops in the country, but Ankara wants to keep the deployment to fewer than 20,000, Turkish press reports say.
     Turkey at first balked at letting the United States use Incirlik Air Base to strike Iraq in 1991, but then relented, permitting Air Force F-111 long-range fighters to launch missions.
     Mr. Bush earlier this month traveled to Fort Hood and gave a rousing pep talk to 4th Infantry and 1st Cavalry soldiers, who responded with enthusiastic "hoo-ahs" ? the infantry's shout of approval.
     The president seemed close to tears as he concluded his speech. The president, who has been briefed several times on war plans, knew then that many in the audience would be leaving soon for a possible war.
[...]
Yesterday, Mr. Rumsfeld told a symposium of the Reserve Officers Association, "No one wants war, but, as the president has said, Iraq will be disarmed, and the decision between war and peace will be made not in Washington, D.C., and not in the United Nations in New York, but rather in Baghdad. It is their decision. Either they will cooperate or they won't, and it will not take months to determine whether or not they are cooperating."
     U.S. Central Command yesterday continued its low-grade air war against Iraq. Jets struck communication cables feeding into Iraq's network of air defense radars, batteries and command centers.
     Central Command, which runs U.S. military operations in the Gulf region, said aircraft targeted eight "cable repeater sites" around 7 a.m. EST. The targets sit between al-Kut, 95 miles south of Baghdad, and an-Nasiriyah, 170 miles southeast of Baghdad.

I am so proud of our military and our leaders!
God Speed to the men and women of "Iron Horse" and Happy Hunting--Don't mess with Texas, Saddam!
Come home to us soon, victorious and unharmed.

January 20, 2003

Reuters AlertNet - Seoul rally urges North to reverse NPT decision

About 30,000 people held a rally in central Seoul on Sunday to oppose any withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea and to demand North Korea reverse its decision to withdraw from a global treaty preventing the spread of nuclear arms.

Protest leaders, wearing gas masks in a symbolic protest against Pyongyang's nuclear programmes, burned a North Korean flag and placard bearing a picture of Kim Jong-il, reclusive leader of the isolated communist North.
Chanting "North Korea, re-enter the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty)" and "Oppose withdrawal of U.S. troops" the crowd -- many from churches[And by this they mean Christian churches--Jen] across South Korea -- gathered in front of Seoul's City Hall.
[...]
It's wrong for North Korea to threaten the United States, South Korea and the whole world with nuclear weapons," said Kiel Ja-yeon, a protest leader.

"The regime of Kim Jong-il should drop its nuclear development programme, return to the NPT and support world peace," Kiel said.

The rally, the second this month, contrasted with huge anti-U.S. protests late last year that were prompted by anger over the acquittal in November of two U.S. soldiers involved in the deaths of two schoolgirls killed under the treads of their armoured vehicle last June.

And in our country in Miami, Florida, at a rally with just as many (and I think more) people as the ANSWER anti-America one in Washington, D.C. there were the pro-democracy/anti-Chavez crowd showing their solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Venezuela:
Thousands Rally In Miami To Protest Chavez

About 50,000 protesters took to the streets of Miami to call for the ouster of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The demonstration jammed the Little Havana neighborhood and slowed traffic as motorists waved Venezuelan flags from their cars on nearby highways.

Venezuelans were joined by Cuban-Americans and supporters from other Latin American nations.

Homemade signs denounced Chavez and compared him to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Passersby honked car horns, music blared and protesters banged pots and pans.

Later in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, at least
100,000 anti-government protesters staged a candlelight march.

Protesters on both continents support a 7-week-old strike called by business and labor groups to force a nonbonding referendum on Chavez's rule.

So, that's really 3 protests the media ignored, if we include the one in Venezuela.
Protests that large, however, have been going on almost every day for the last 2 months there, but because it's against a Socialist dictator and for a return to democracy and liberty, the Liberal Left media guys aren't interested (except how it effects the cost and supply of oil and gas here in the U.S.).
Notice also that many of the South Korean demonstrators were Christians.
I visited Pusan, South Korea in 1988 and was surprised to learn that a large portion of the SK population are Christians!
It's a good thing we've done there, you know...

Via born Bushie John Ellis comes this story from the NYSlimes which contains the following telling passage:
Tears Are the Rule of the Day as an American Armada Leaves

No one said they wanted war, and nothing said that better than the contorted faces of the 10,000 troops and their families as an armada of warships departed for the Persian Gulf. "There's a little pit in everybody's stomach," Sgt. Scott Hall of the Marine Expeditionary Force said on the pier of the Naval Station here.

But unlike the scene in any previous conflict, while the families said they feared for the safety of the troops, the troops said they feared for the safety of their families, as the threat of domestic terrorism seems as real as the threat of war.

"It used to be that people at home worried about you coming home," Sergeant Hall said, "but nowadays you worry about what's going on at home. Tell New York they're in my mind."

Wow. What a world.
We do live in strange and terrible times.
God be with these men and women and with us here at home, too.
The days may be upon us where America becomes exactly like Israel, where everyone is a soldier!

God Bless the Internet and the blogosphere for outing the real force behind this weekend's "peace protests:" the Communist Workers World Party, which hid its Marxist aims clumsily behind the front of A.N.S.W.E.R.
Calling President Bush and his Administration (including Congress!) the "enemies of freedom,"
ANSWER spokesmen called for the violent overthrow of our government and praised the actions of Slobodan Milosevic, the Secretariat of the Communist Party in China who massacred the Tien Amen demonstrators, the violent rebels in Colombia, and the terror killings of Yasser Arafat (among other Islamist terror masters) as well as the brutal dictatorships of Fidel Castro, Kim Jung-Il and of course, Saddam Hussein.
David Horowitz, is a former Leftist who demonstrated against the Vietnam War in the '60's--so he knows whereof he speaks--, spells out exactly what ANSWER and its adherents stand for in his column today which he's entitled "America under Siege".
More importantly for our purposes here in the blogosphere, brave and sage ideological soldier Tacitus calls out several prominent Leftist warbloggers for marching with the Communists, rightly claiming that standing with those who endorse Communism gives their "Hate America First" platform legitimacy, credibility and power.
Even those who participated for the "right" reasons ("I just wanted to protest the war, but I don't support anything else they stand for...") he nails as at the least dupes and the quintessential Useful Idiots.
He ironically and astutely opines, "I forget that we live in a country where the left will howl about you if you express addled nostalgia for the Confederacy, but march alongside you if you strongly support the proprietors of modern-day slave camps."
In her post which she calls "Fellow Travelers" Jane Galt also calls out the peacenik Left for a reckoning and an explanation:

"I've seen a number of people say that it doesn't matter that A.N.S.W.E.R. organized the anti-war marches -- they may be quasi-marxist apologists for Stalin using the anti-war rallies to advance a hard-left statist agenda, but why should we let that stop us from marching in a good cause?

Come again? Would you go to a fundraiser for abandoned puppies organized by the Klan? Please do not bother trying to convince me; of course you wouldn't. You'd donate money to a shelter, or adopt a puppy, but no matter how good the cause was, you wouldn't stand up to be counted alongside the guys in sheets.

In this Age of Information and as citizens who want to play an active role in the shaping of American policy by voting, paying taxes and blogging as well as protesting, there is no excuse--NONE--for not knowing who you're demonstrating with and what they're protesting for and against.
Ignorance is no excuse.
Nor are "good intentions."
Thank you, Jane and Tacitus.
This is definitely a conversation (or more accurately an argument) that needed to take place in the blogosphere.
And given the heavy and favorable coverage of the "peace" protests that the Liberal Media gave them and their [the Media's] not-so-hidden pro-Left agenda, I think it's a discussion that can happen nowhere else but the blogosphere.

January 19, 2003

Breaking news: Police raid mosque

Police officers raided Finsbury Park mosque in north London at 2am and arrested a number of people.

Oh, yeah!
See my post below about Abu Hamza ("Captain Hook") who was expelled as the mosque's leader but refused to leave.
Now it seems the London Metro police are helping him with that...as well as his minions of IslamoFascist jihadi followers.
I love it!
This is like hitting a hornet's nest with a baseball bat and high time, too.
There's no telling who or what they'll find in this hellhole...Stay tuned!

Forbes.com: U.S. worries North Korea will sell nuclear bombs

North Korea's arms bazaar soon may boast an enticing new product -- a nuclear bomb which U.S. officials fear could be available to the highest bidder.

With the communist nation's decision this month to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the pact aimed at curbing the spread of atomic weapons, U.S. defense officials and military analysts are worrying that North Korea might sell a nuclear bomb to a willing customer with a lot of cash.

They say North Korea, through its past arms sales, has shown a willingness to sell just about anything to anyone, and fear that potential customers for a nuclear bomb could include hostile countries or even groups such as al Qaeda.
[...]
Any nuclear weapon that North Korea may decide to sell likely will command a large price, said military analyst John Pike, director of the GlobalSecurity.org think tank.

"The bidding starts at a billion dollars," Pike said.

The world's nuclear powers are Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States; Israel also is believed to have such weapons. Israel on June 7, 1981, bombed an Iraqi nuclear power plant in a pre-emptive strike to deny Iraq the capability of building atomic bombs.

Pike said interested parties might include al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"Would Osama buy one?" Pike said. "Osama is reputed to have several hundred million dollars on hand. Would he pay half of his endowment to be able to nuke Washington? Yeah, I think he would probably pay $100 million dollars for one. How much would Saddam Hussein pay for one? I think he'd pay several billion dollars. What's he got to lose?

Mr. Pike forgot to mention the Iranians, now developing nuclear facilities with Russian help (are we going to confront this problem anytime soon???), and he forgot good old Yassir Arafat, whose personal fortune is now estimated at $2 billion and who's reaching the point very quickly of having nothing left to lose, either-- his advancing age and declining health plus his waning personal influence as well as the decreasing viability of the "Palestinian" "cause" all make him a prime customer for a nuclear "I'm taking you all with me" type conclusion to his failed Intifada.
And with the election of "Lula" the pro-Communist in Brazil, he talks about taking Brazil nuclear, too.
How was that the world kept quiet and relatively happy without nukes since they were used in 1945 and all of sudden, 55 years later, it seems every country's worth its flag has gotta have at least one--Nuke envy.
What a trend.

Bush leaves Camp David early
Hmmm.
I've heard that the President came back early to watch football...maybe they have a fabu flat screen up in the private quarters...
and he didn't come back to personally greet the protesters...
Hope it's not 'cause all "h-e-double hockey sticks" is about to break loose...
then again, I'm with Emperor Misha over at Rottweiler: "Let's roll, already!"
It's long past time for us to take out the trash in Baghdad!

'Bin Laden tapping into terror groups'

Terrorists linked to al-Qaida remain at large in Britain and are using established terror groups, warns the UK's most senior policeman.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens says a large number of people are being watched and "a number" are still to be arrested.

He believes Osama bin Laden and his network are acting "very cleverly" in tapping in to existing organisations.
[...]
Asked if the people were linked to al Qaida, he added: "I think there's no doubt they are and we know that there's certain links with al Qaida and, of course, the link in with North Africa [I think he means primarily Algeria here--J.T.] is proven with other groups as well."

Sir John stresses the police and security services have a better idea of what the network of terrorists was than before.

Asked if bin Laden and others were out there directing operations to disrupt the UK, Sir John said: "I think there's some of that in terms of what is happening worldwide.

"But I think very cleverly what bin Laden and others have done is actually lock into established terrorist groups to see if they can actually use their potential to cause the problems that they are."

Give this man a fine cigar!
By Jove, I think he's got it!
I hope that right-thinking people in the West, even our own American Lib Dims, hear this because they keep acting as if the only "official" Al Queda are in Afghanistan and that members of other Islamist terrorist groups somehow are "different and separate" from Bin Laden's little group and are therefore not targets of the War on Islamist Terror.
Britain, pay attention--your man just bought you a HUGE clue!

Blix: Iraqis have found more warheads

Iraqi officials said they have found four more empty chemical warheads similar to 12 others found last week, the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector said Sunday.
[...]They said they had been surprised themselves" about finding the empty warheads, Blix said. "They were in boxes, never opened, there were bird droppings on them. But of course they should have been declared and destroyed."

The discovery of four more such warheads -- and the potential to discover more -- beg the question of whether they are "remnants of the past [or] the tip of an iceberg," Blix said.

I'm gonna go with (B), Hans.

Also last week, inspectors found nearly 3,000 pages of documents in Arabic that "appear to be related to laser-enrichment technology" at the home of an Iraqi scientist, ElBaradei said.

Good work, boys, but the clock is ticking!
You only have 8 more days to find out if Saddam will put up or shut up.
Again, I'll go with the second choice: Saddam's gonna shut up, if the takes the full force of the U.S. and Britain to do it!

We have Mean Mr. Mustard'sRussell Wardlow and Lee of
Right Thinking from the Left Coast at the rally in San Fran (both with good pictures)
and the precious Anna in D.C. with a pictorial account and hilarious commentary
at her Belligerent Bunny Blog
and les merveilleux Merde in France and (new find for me) Collin May of Innocents Abroad for a report on the poorly attended marches of the French/Parisians.

I know it was hard to stomach all this Liberal Leftism gathered in gaggles, but thanks to all and congratulations to these intrepid reporters who've shown they'll give their maximum for accuracy and truth in Web Journalism!

"Anti-Zionism = Anti-Semitism" - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Anti-Semitism and Holocaust

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
". . . You declare, my friend, that you do not hate the Jews, you are merely 'anti-Zionist.' And I say, let the truth ring forth from the high mountain tops, let it echo through the valleys of God's green earth: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews--this is God's own truth.

"Antisemitism, the hatred of the Jewish people, has been and remains a blot on the soul of mankind. In this we are in full agreement. So know also this: anti-Zionist is inherently antisemitic, and ever will be so.

"Why is this? You know that Zionism is nothing less than the dream and ideal of the Jewish people returning to live in their own land. The Jewish people, the Scriptures tell us, once enjoyed a flourishing Commonwealth in the Holy Land. From this they were expelled by the Roman tyrant, the same Romans who cruelly murdered Our Lord. Driven from their homeland, their nation in ashes, forced to wander the globe, the Jewish people time and again suffered the lash of whichever tyrant happened to rule over them.

"The Negro people, my friend, know what it is to suffer the torment of tyranny under rulers not of our choosing. Our brothers in Africa have begged, pleaded, requested--DEMANDED the recognition and realization of our inborn right to live in peace under our own sovereignty in our own country.

"How easy it should be, for anyone who holds dear this inalienable right of all mankind, to understand and support the right of the Jewish People to live in their ancient Land of Israel. All men of good will exult in the fulfilment of God's promise, that his People should return in joy to rebuild their plundered land.

This is Zionism, nothing more, nothing less.

"And what is anti-Zionist? It is the denial to the Jewish people of a fundamental right that we justly claim for the people of Africa and freely accord all other nations of the Globe. It is discrimination against Jews, my friend, because they are Jews. In short, it is antisemitism.

"The antisemite rejoices at any opportunity to vent his malice. The times have made it unpopular, in the West, to proclaim openly a hatred of the Jews. This being the case, the antisemite must constantly seek new forms and forums for his poison. How he must revel in the new masquerade! He does not hate the Jews, he is just 'anti-Zionist'!

"My friend, I do not accuse you of deliberate antisemitism. I know you feel, as I do, a deep love of truth and justice and a revulsion for racism, prejudice, and discrimination. But I know you have been misled--as others have been--into thinking you can be 'anti-Zionist' and yet remain true to these heartfelt principles that you and I share.

Let my words echo in the depths of your soul: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews--make no mistake about it."

References:
From M.L. King Jr., "Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend," Saturday Review_XLVII (Aug. 1967), p. 76.
Reprinted in M.L. King Jr., "This I Believe: Selections from the Writings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

These words are particularly meaningful in light of the blatant anti-Zionism that was seen too often yesterday at the anti-war protests.
Dr. King was a great man and a very good Christian man.
I deeply regret that he was taken from the world so violently and as such a young man--the world could certainly have used his presence for decades more...
thankfully, his left us his words, his example and his spirit to guide all Americans of every colored-skin in the Truth and the Right.
These words apply to all of us, but should be especially meaningful to the thousands of Ethiopian Jews who have been immigrating to Israel.
Thank you, Dr. King, for your life and your work!
And Happy Birthday in Heaven.