A dual between Andrew McCarthy (No, Islam can't be reformed) and Mansoor Ijaz (Yes, Islam can be reformed). Start at the top and read the whole thing. (via Robert)

Update: Ground State has some good commentary here on the futility of non-Muslims becoming theologans. By their fruits, ye shall know them. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 04:05 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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I'm *shocked*, *shocked* I tells ya! Al Qaeda warns UN not to send peacekeepers into Darfur.

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Surreal photos of the day. Yes, those are Iraqi soldiers. Yes, that is Nicole Kidman.

more...

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Mixed news from Nigeria. American Macon Hawkins has been freed, but Cody Oswald and Russel Spell are still being held by the Ijaw rebels. Also held hostage are Briton John Hudspith, Egypt's Bardese Mohammed and Aly Shady, Tony Santos of the Philippines and Thailand's Muado Somsak and Arak Suwana.

We urge their immediate and unconditional release. Thanks to George for the tip. AFP:

Nigerian separatist guerrillas released six of their nine foreign hostages but warned that they would step up attacks aimed at shutting down the country's oil industry.

The militants also stated they would not hand over the remaining captives -- two Americans and a Briton -- until two ethnic Ijaw leaders are freed from jail and the oil giant Shell makes a hefty payout to polluted villages.

Officials confirmed that Macon Hawkins, a 69-year-old Texan suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, had been freed.

Meanwhile, an AFP reporter saw five more freed oil workers arriving at Delta State Governor James Ibori's lodge in the oil city of Warri and navy spokesman Captain Obiara Medani said that a total of six men had been freed.

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Two tips came in to me today letting me know that there may be more to the Joel Henry Hinrich III University of Oklahoma bombing than my last dismissal of it (scroll through the entire Joel Henry Hinrich III archive, from bottom to top, if you aren't up to speed on the case).

The first came from Jason at Generation Why, who notes that a local police officer, Sgt. George Mauldin, believes Hinrich may have intended to blow up more than himself based on evidence that he had tested bombs with shrapnel, in the weeks leading to the apparent suicide-bombing, and material that could be used as shrapnel was found in his apartment.

Also noted by Jason is the fact that 2 to 3 pounds of TATP were used in the bomb--a material of choice among Islamic terrorists.

The second tip was from Mark Tapscott, who posted about the FBI's response to Mauldin's speculation that Hinrich was intent on taking out other students, and not just himself. Tapscott interviews Gary Johnson of the FBI who says:

"That's just an individual's opinion," Johnson said in an interview with Tapscott's Copy Desk. Johnson said the FBI stands by its view that Hinrichs was not involved in any terrorist activities.
...

Johnson said he expects an official statement from the FBI concluding the Hinrichs investigation "within a few weeks."

Lawhawk, who I nearly always trust, follows the lead of the afformentioned bloggers and comes to the conclusion that:

$64,000 questions one and all, and all remain a mystery.

Hinrichs was not part of a larger Islamic plot and the FBI seems to have it right. I will revise my views based on further evidence, but between the opinion of a local cop and a member of the FBI's counterrorism task-force, I'll take the latter as the more informed.

However, all of the above begs a very interesting question: If you want to blow up yourself, to what authority to you go to? Why, the experts at blowing themselves up, Muslim terrorists! And that, I think, is a story worth telling in and of itself.

UPDATE: et tu Michelle? While the rush to declare the OU bombing "not Islamic terrorism" by many in the media and government was troubling, its also troubling that many of us have a hard time believing that maybe sometimes a rose is just a rose.

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From Reuters:

GAZA (Reuters) - Islamic Jihad's most senior commander in the Gaza Strip was killed on Wednesday by an explosion that tore through his car, the Palestinian militant group said, blaming the Israeli army, which denied involvement.

Witnesses to the death of Abu al-Waleed al-Dahdouh, head of Islamic Jihad's armed wing in the Gaza Strip, said his car blew up as he opened one of its doors and that an Israeli military aircraft was flying overhead at the time.

"The Israeli army did not operate in Gaza," a military spokeswoman said. "It wasn't us."

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto and Vince Aut Morire.

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Many supporters of the Bush Administration are making the claim that the UAE is an ally of the U.S., and any questions regarding the wisdom of letting a company owned by Dubai operate U.S. ports must therefore be motivated out of irrational prejeduce. While it may be true that the UAE--and especially Dubai--have been cooperative in letting U.S. ships make ports of call, helped establish a CIA station, and allow U.S. planes to refuel there, is this all that it takes to become an 'ally' of the U.S.?

Aaron has been posting data on U.N. votes the past couple of days. So, who is America's strongest ally--as measured by percent of votes alligned with the U.S. in the United Nations?

Palau at 100% in 2004. Don't worry, I had to look it up too! Did you know, for instance, that we've have a free trade agreement with Palau since 1993? Me either. That giant sucking sound you hear are all the jobs going to Palau!

Next to the tiny grouping of islands, who is our greatest ally in the U.N.?

Israel, which was 100% in 20004, 93% in 2002-03, and 100% in 2001.

How does the UAE compare? The UAE, our allies according to President Bush, voted with the U.S. 12.5% of the time in 2004. In 2001 and in 2003 the UAE voted 0% of the time with the U.S. In 2002 they voted with us 17.6% of the time.

That's an average of 7.5% of agreement in the U.N. with the U.S. after 9/11 (if we include 2001). Don't believe me? Go look at the data yourself.

If you'll remember, the Bush Administration makes the claim that after 9/11 the UAE made a strategic decision to become a U.S. ally. So, if that claim were true, you'd expect that before 2001, the UAE must have supported the U.S. position in the UN even more.

2000 30%
1999 33%
1998 32%
1997 34%
---------

Pre-911 four year average = 32%
Post-911 four year average = 7.5%

Are the United Arab Emirates allies of the U.S.? You do the math.

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1 Interesting, but I need more information... how many votes actually occurred each of those years? What was the nature of the votes when they agreed with us? How many of these votes are general assembly votes and how many are security council votes? Also, the idea that our allies would agree with us the most is kinda blown out of the water by Somalia voting the closest to us in 2003 and 2004 and Iraq only voting with us 25% of the time. It could be that while the UAE is an ally, they do have different interests from us when it comes the the UN - or at least the things that the UN has votes on. While I'm not the biggest fan of having a government owned company controlling the ports (and that would be foriegn or domestic governments) - I'm not entirely sure that the port deal is a bad thing. Dubai has shown itself to be a somewhat modern place - even tolerant (see Smash's post) - and I'm thinking that those are not people that we want to push away. If this is a war against the violent wing of Islam, than don't we want to have the modernish, capitalistic version of Islam on our side? If we want to say that no foriegn government owned company can have a contract for port control in this country, fine - but that's going to screw up the west coast where the Chi-com owned COSCO controls a few ports.

Posted by: KG at March 01, 2006 11:50 AM (SZsz5)

2 KG, All of them are GA votes, since the UAE is not on the Security Council. Of course votes reflect differing national interests--but that is definitional. The higher percentage of votes, then, should reflect congruence of national interests. And alliances, again by definition, are built on mutual interests. The higher the percentage of vites, the more mutual interests. Clearly the interests of the U.S. and the interests of the UAE are different.

Posted by: Rusty at March 01, 2006 12:09 PM (JQjhA)

3 KG Somalia ??? I didn't think that was still really a country, I thought it was just some ummmm place. And the UAE still has slavery !! Me thinks it may have beeen better idea about starting democracy amongnst are friends in the mideast rsther than trying to begin it with our enemies.

Posted by: john ryan at March 01, 2006 12:18 PM (TcoRJ)

4 shame. I would have expected a much better analysis from John "do the math" ryan ;/

Posted by: dave at March 01, 2006 12:25 PM (CcXvt)

5 Rusty General Assembly votes on what? Everything? (Think not) Rusty - you and I both know that the UN/General Assembly is a bloated meaningless and worthless organization - they have "votes" on virtually everything and anything - (like our own Congress or State Houses) - including tons of stupid stuff like National Flower Week, Be Kind to Lefthanded Black Secretaries Month etc. So what's Aron counting? I already know he is cherrypicking votes according to criteria and interest to him. Not a Single piece of detailed information other than his "percentages" is provided. I don't like it when CBS does this - and I don't like it when Aron does it. While I can probably agree with Aron on most things - I find this approach more personally insulting to my intelligence than anything else. Some people have a problem with this deal - I can understand that. But a lot of people are being dishonest about their motives - and there is a temendous amount of ignorance involved also. I know - I have "proof" and will point it out later. Some Dems and the left also recognize the truth - which is why they are playing this so hard.

Posted by: hondo at March 01, 2006 01:35 PM (fyKFC)

6 Hondo, If I'm not mistaken, these are ALL votes.

Posted by: Rusty at March 01, 2006 03:12 PM (JQjhA)

7 Rusty I've seen Aron's "chart" and I don't buy it. Don't tell me you didn't notice the other's on the list and their percentages and didn't raise an eyebrow. I'd like an explanation from Aron particularly on the 0.0 percenters - the GA also votes on meaningless fluff things likes stamps and pretty animals.

Posted by: hondo at March 01, 2006 03:24 PM (fyKFC)

8 I still can't believe it. People are allowing their attention to be diverted from the most important issue regarding the UAE DPW deal. Try looking at the larger picture instead of allowing yourselves to be drowned in far less than relevant details. Yes, there are obvious irregularities and "conflicts of interest" involved, in this little deal really, which are of concern surely. These are sides issues of less importance though, in comparison to the fact that ownership or control, when not both, of our entire infrastructure has already been sold to foreign corporations. It is not just our seaports which have been sold off over the last four Presidential administrations. If only that were all there is to it. No, also our airports, railways system, trucking companies, highways and toll roads, bridges, hospitals, national retail chains, shipping companies, and even most of what little domestic industrial capacity left here to us in the US, have already been sold off. For whatever reason, whether by design or by accident, the public has become aware of some of this because of the DPW of the UAE Ports deal. The electronic media however has not told even half the story. For example DPW is not buying control of a mere 6 ports, but 21 ports in fact. Thus far media coverage has focused on the sensationalist possibilities, which I am certain the Bush admin, both can and will put to rest as they proceed with the deal. Media coverage is also making this a very sensationalized partisan issue. Clearly however both US Parties have been fully complicit all along, in selling control and ownership of our entire infrastructure, to the multinational corporate alliance. This same global confederation of Big Corps, doing all the buying, has no loyalty to any nation state. In fact this multinational corporate alliance, is becoming more powerful in wealth (the one true power) than all national governments put together, and they are doing it through the buying of the infrastructure within all nations, everywhere, not just here in the US. Well what can we expect of the media? It too is owned and controlled by, the very same multinational corporate alliance. Now if you think objections raised about the UAE DPW ports deal, are merely partisan in nature, then please consider the following. John Buchanan lamented Clinton doing the same thing, back when Bill was President. {excerpted under fair use] A Chinese Naval Base -- at Long Beach by Patrick J. Buchanan March 13, 1997 "And last year, Johnny Chung, who gave $366,000 to the Democratic National Committee, showed up for a Clinton radio broadcast at the White House, with six Chinese in tow, including an adviser of Cosco. The president begged off being photographed with his guests, which raises a question: If Bill Clinton is leery of being seen with these characters, why is he giving them a Long Beach naval base?... Does anyone care about national security anymore?" Read the rest here http://www.buchanan.org/pa-97-0313.html [end excerpt] As you can see the selling off of America is NOT a partisan issue. Bush too is selling off our infrastructure. But why would a supposed conservative hell bent on National Security, and improving our economy, sell off our infrastructure? Really, it doesn't matter what foreign outfit he sells them to, or which party is involved in this sort of thing now obviously. The question really is why? Bush does not need the money, and it didn't go to him. I guess. So what the hell is going on? We shall hear the official story, endlessly ad nauseam, whether we wish to or not. So lets take a look at it from another perspective also. Could globalization have anything to do with this, and does that have anything to with Globalism? Of course it does. What the hell is Globalism, and who are these guys anyway? Now that is THE question, and here is the answer. George W Bush, like his father, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, as are both Bill and Hillary Clinton, Dick Cheney, Carl Rove, Donnie Rumsfeld, and yes of course John Kerry and other phony liberals and phony conservatives. WHAT THE HELL!? WHO ARE THESE GUYS? The Council on Foreign Relations strongly advocates such deals, referring to the practice as "proactive global interdependence", touting it also as a necessary step toward WORLD GOVERNMENT. That's right. the CFR is a Globalist organization. They want a world government, 'and' they want to 'be' that world government. How could they ever hope to accomplish this?! Well, nobody is stopping them, and they can certainly afford it, because "they" are also BIG OIL not just here in the US but everywhere on earth. Now that is some serious economic power right there. The CFR along with the Bilderburg Group seems to be the headship of globalization, and they have long advocated "Corporate Powerbuilding" as a means to outstrip governments in wealth, in order to then subvert governments everywhere, through direct economic influence. It sure seems to be working doesn't it? Oh by the way. Did I mention that Bush Jr and Sr, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Carl Rove, John Kerry, and others you have heard of recently, are also members of the Bilderburg Group? SURPRISE! They are! So is the owner of FOX and many other media owners, major newscasters, and yes even some cute and fuzzy pundits are members too. Hello, Rush? Is that why you are so well fed? How could it even be possible, for this group of super wealthy corporate heads 'and' heads of state the world over, to ever hope to take over governments all over the world? Can they do it? Well obviously, they have so much money now, they can both buy the infrastructure 'and' the political cooperation necessary to that possible. In effect they are buying the world as we speak. Both Clinton and Bush, and Reagan and Carter, and Ford, and others, have been selling our nation all along, like, well, like hotcakes. How does that make you feel? Wont it be wonderful?! Imagine the same ethic displayed by EXXON, McDonalds, "The Good Guys", WAL-MART and that place you slave at, applied mercilessly on a global scale without the government or civil restrictions now protecting you. Wont it be great?! Do you think maybe they (repubs and dems alike), got us all so divided and blinded with partisan squabbling, thanks Rush, that we didn't notice what they were up to in secret behind our backs? Ya think? I mean do you think at all? Does anybody think anymore? "Fascism should more rightly be called corporatism, as it is the merging of State and Corporate power." - Benito Mussolini

Posted by: Natasha at March 01, 2006 03:26 PM (i6py+)

9 This is a cut & paste repost of a cut & paste article. Is this a bulletin board and a filesharing publication database ... or a commentary blog? Natasha - you can post your own topics and LINK to your article/file library rather than forcing all to subscribe to your magazine/newletter! This is SPAM - and I don't give a damn its ideologically orientated! If this is not a blog, then I and others maybe should go hang out at Bluto's place for awhile - and pump up his numbers and chat.

Posted by: hondo at March 01, 2006 03:46 PM (fyKFC)

10 I think this is good reason to re-examine the Dubai Ports World deal. Another good reason is that Dubai Ports World has participated in an Arab anti-Israel boycott. I also have no problem with refusing to deal with the UAE because they were backward enough to recognize the Taliban. Security concerns are not a reason. Responsibility for port security remains the bailiwick of the Department of Homeland Security. It doesn't matter who ministers some of the port terminals.

Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at March 01, 2006 03:56 PM (RHG+K)

11 hondo, Not it is not. I wrote this. Although I did post another version of my article earlier, this is an updated version of it and not identical. I suggest that you do some work, and endeavor to come up with a counter argument, instead of merely trying to silence me as you are so fond of doing.

Posted by: Natasha at March 01, 2006 04:14 PM (i6py+)

12 Bluto Fair enough - examination from those points is a good start and I would love to tackle it. The "Security" aspect is BS and bugging the shit out of me. Guess your blog is a good place to start - free of newsletters, magazine articles, thesis', treatises etc. (unless linked for reference).

Posted by: hondo at March 01, 2006 04:19 PM (fyKFC)

13 C&P What's the matter - got tired of handing out pamphlets and newsletters at airport terminals and bus stations? Figure you can "publish" here for free? Argue what! New requirement for Rusty's blog - research papers and policy statements 1000 words or more? What's next - scanned charts and diagrams to accompany re-printed articles. No one is silencing you - but you are just another version of SPAM, and you damn well know it. I'll "publish" in the proper venue - you want to hijack this blog - knock yourself out.

Posted by: hondo at March 01, 2006 04:32 PM (fyKFC)

14 How can anyone responsibly claim that our National security is not an issue? The little commercial for bluto's Blog, oft having fatwas issued against it at that, is really rather odd also. All freight containers entering Honk Kong are checked, while only 5% or less entering our ports are checked.

Posted by: Natasha at March 01, 2006 04:43 PM (i6py+)

15 You guys should stay on topic. Your personal attacks and wrongheaded claims about whose comments are acceptable and whose are not, are clearly your attempts, to divert us all away from the topic.

Posted by: Natasha at March 01, 2006 04:48 PM (i6py+)

16 That's right - it's all part of the conspiracy. hondo spelled backwards is Odnoh - have fun gogglin' that one.

Posted by: hondo at March 01, 2006 05:02 PM (fyKFC)

17 Natasha, you answered your own question. The fact that 5% or less of incoming containers are searched means that we have a serious national security issue regardless of who is administering commerce in certain port terminals. I point out that this issue has nothing to do with the boots on the ground performing actual security functions and everything to do with grossly incompetent administrators who squander funding and mismanage personnel. I'm a co-blogger here. That means I can publish pretty much whenever and whatever I want. Fatwahs are self-issued by tracking back to a post on The Jawa Report. Anyone with a blog who sends a trackback gets a fatwah. By the way, Rusty loved my Olympics sport rating post.

Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at March 01, 2006 06:12 PM (RHG+K)

18 Bluto, You can post pretty much whatever you want. Fine with me. I still wish hondo would stay on topic instead of telling me that my contribution is unacceptable. I don't understand why you said, "By the way, Rusty loved my Olympics sport rating post." I don't see at all what that has to do with this thread. Would you drop the personal issues please? This is a serious matter. You also wrote, "The fact that 5% or less of incoming containers are searched means that we have a serious national security issue regardless of who is administering commerce in certain port terminals" Obviously I agree. You wrote also, "Natasha, you answered your own question. The fact that 5% or less of incoming containers are searched means that we have a serious national security issue regardless of who is administering commerce in certain port terminals. I point out that this issue has nothing to do with the boots on the ground performing actual security functions and everything to do with grossly incompetent administrators who squander funding and mismanage personnel. I answered my own question? I stated it as rhetorical because I beleive the answer is obvious. Of course I agree with you however, that it doesn't matter who checks that mere 5% since we are left wide open for the lack of thoroughness, regardless of who does the checking. It really is a moot point entirely isn't it? The media dwells on it using it as smokescreen. How can people notice all of the glaring discrepancies regarding security, and yet fail to to pull back and even consider, the larger picture I wrote of in my opening post?

Posted by: Natasha at March 01, 2006 07:49 PM (i6py+)

19 Debunking the Claim that the UAE is a strong ally in the GWOT: U.N. votes analyzed Er, Aron's percent chart/poll was the er, topic thread - OK? Bluto - Natasha's into the world global conspiracy thing - the issue(s) at hand are just interwoven with it for dramatic effect - but, you've already picked up on that too.

Posted by: hondo at March 01, 2006 08:01 PM (fyKFC)

20 Natasha, I was responding to your 4:43 post, I haven't read your opening post. I mentioned the Olympic sports thread to see if you had developed a sense of humor yet. Alas, no.

Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at March 02, 2006 01:00 AM (RHG+K)

21 KG, say I wrote books and appeared on TV saying I was going to murder one of your loved ones. Who the hell cares about doing business with me, right? It's that simple. We need a new Jackson-Vanik amendment to make illegal doing business with hostile (see the voting record) and evil (see the Freedom House report) regimes. Ask anyone who survived the Iron Curtain how effective tying trade to human rights improvements is. How about this... US legislation prohibiting trade to any nation that denies the legitimacy of another nation in good standing in the UN. Isn't THAT what the UN is also supposed to do instead of funneling money to Kofi's son, the French and Russians? When I read stuff like your rationalizations, I'm scared that we didn't learn anything about totalitarianism from 65 years ago and we'd do as little as FDR did to prevent another Holocaust. Just the anti-Israel boycott is sufficient to deny the deal. With a Texas drawl, it SHOULD be easy for Dubya to say "Hey, Sheikh... In Texas we don't do business with people who go out of their way to hurt our friends." Moreover, given the Saudi-pensioned State Department, this deal STINKS. As we learned from Watergate... rule #1 in journalism is FOLLOW THE MONEY. Until the fine print is on the web for us to read, we should be screaming bloody murder to prevent this deal. When someone says "trust me", my first instinct is to make sure my wife and kids are safe and then I check to see if my wallet is still in my pocket. If someone wants trust, PUBLISH THE ENTIRE DEAL ONLINE.

Posted by: Aaron's cc: at March 02, 2006 04:08 AM (ov6Vw)

22 Aaron's cc wrote, "As we learned from Watergate... rule #1 in journalism is FOLLOW THE MONEY.' Finally someone with some awareness! Welcome welcome welcome

Posted by: Natasha at March 02, 2006 10:35 PM (i6py+)

23 Bluto wrote, "I mentioned the Olympic sports thread to see if you had developed a sense of humor yet. Alas, no." Oh quibble dear Bluto. I certainly do have one. For example last night on The Colbert Report, Steve had words on the screen saying, reference Bush, "A Mighty Fortress Is His Brain". I nearly fell of the couch for laughing so hard!

Posted by: Natasha at March 02, 2006 10:40 PM (i6py+)

24 No you don't. Like everything else - you only think you do.

Posted by: hondo at March 03, 2006 12:50 AM (fyKFC)

25 UN votes? Measuring Stick? Are you going to be O K? This Blog is sounding more like Kos?? WTF is this? I really don't know where to come down on this, but if indeed the U.A.E is a strong ally in the WOT,contributed strongly, has changed it's ways? What would be GB's motive for Lying about this? Or are u stating he is jus stupid? I've heard that also from the Looney Left! Be interested in knowing Kuwait's, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, etc.'s voting records as well! Very weak, Rabbit! I've come to expect better from this Blog! U disappoint greatly!

Posted by: Mike at March 05, 2006 06:08 PM (2tRi8)

26 Hey Steve. Are you really going to wipe it and close it down?

Posted by: hondo at March 05, 2006 08:37 PM (i6py+)

27 No way hondo. We can pull this out of the fire. We need Frank to tell us how to block Natasha and protect IDs though. Do you know where his Dad took him on vacation? We don't even have a number to reach him at. My bad. Man that was a blunder on my part. I still say we can get an A+++++. We will prove that people will accept any truth we want them to as long as it is well packaged. Her it worked for Bush and Cheney. Don't worry man.

Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at March 05, 2006 08:42 PM (i6py+)

28 No way hondo. We can pull this out of the fire. We need Frank to tell us how to block Natasha and protect IDs though. Do you know where his Dad took him on vacation? We don't even have a number to reach him at. My bad. Man that was a blunder on my part. I still say we can get an A+++++. We will prove that people will accept any truth we want them to as long as it is well packaged. Hey it worked for Bush and Cheney. Don't worry man.

Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at March 05, 2006 08:42 PM (i6py+)

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Bush makes first state visit to Afghanistan since Ike. New York Times:

President Bush made a surprise five-hour visit to Afghanistan today to meet with President Hamid Karzai and to see for the first time the country created after the United States went to war against the Taliban in retaliation for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

In a news conference with Mr. Karzai, Mr. Bush said he remained confident that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, would be captured, and that the Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar would be apprehended as well. The two are believed to be hiding across the border in Pakistan. "It's not a matter of if they're captured or brought to justice, it's when they're brought to justice," Mr. Bush said.

Posted by: Rusty at 10:35 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Merriam-Webster:

bigot: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices

For instance, isn't obsinately insisting that all religions produce equal amounts of violence and oppression then a form of bigotry? And, isn't intolerance for criticizing a certain religion of peace then a form of bigotry? And isn't it prejudging when one assumes--contrary to all statistical evidence--that cultures produce equal hostility towards liberty?

If such is the case, then we are all bigots now. Malkin has more.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:11 AM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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The Iraqi Interior Minister has claimed that the Islamic Army in Iraq is holding Jill Carroll, and that she is alive and well. This is a very odd claim. Some of you may remember that we were the first media outlet to reveal that the Islamic Army in Iraq was behind the kidnapping of four Western peacekeepers--still missing.

In any event, we pray for Jill Carroll's immediate release.

NY Sun:

American reporter Jill Carroll is being held by the Islamic Army in Iraq, the insurgent group that freed two French journalists in 2004 after four months in captivity, Iraq's Interior Minister said yesterday.

Interior Minister Bayan Jabr, who is in charge of Iraq's police, also said he believed the 28-year-old freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor is still alive, although the deadline set by her captors for America to meet their demands expired Sunday.

Three videotapes provided by the kidnappers to Arab satellite television stations identified the group holding her as the previously unknown "Revenge Brigades." She was seized January 7 in Baghdad and her translator was killed.

However, Mr. Jabr told Iraqi television that he believes Ms. Carroll is being held by the Islamic Army in Iraq, one of the country's principal insurgent groups.

Mr. Jabr said the same group was responsible for kidnapping his sister, who was seized about four days before Ms. Carroll and freed about two weeks later.

"The kidnapping of the American journalist, Jill Carroll, occurred about the same time as the abduction of my sister," he said. "I was equally keen to get both of them released. I recognized that the Islamic army was responsible for both plots."

Posted by: Rusty at 08:10 AM | Comments (38) | Add Comment
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1 Sounding more and more like another BS kidnapping. She is a better actress then Sgrena, though.

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 08:43 AM (V5vwb)

2 Was the murder of her translator and friend part of the "BS kidnapping"?

Posted by: Peter Dolan at March 01, 2006 09:09 AM (oWpXE)

3 Good question, Peter, and one to which an answer should be found.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 01, 2006 10:01 AM (rUyw4)

4 Actually, I remember your claim of the IAI being the captors of the CPT4... that was how I stumbled across this hole in the wall. I don't know about Carroll... but I am still dubious about your claims concerning the IAI and CPT4. The tremendous outpouring of support for them from Palestinians is why I doubt it. The PLF and Abu Abbas were founding members of IAI. The CPT4 were in Iraq for years investigating stories of death squad activity directed against Palestinians and Sunnis. They came in to the country from Syria with Palestinians. The fact this recent claim comes from the Interior Ministry does not give me any confidence in its veracity. The death squads are being run out of the Interior Ministry. If you think that is looney left wing bullshit...take it up with Major General Peterson. He's the highest ranking US Army officer to confirm the existence of death squads operating in the Special Police Commando units...

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 10:04 AM (SVPNF)

5 WRT to the killing of Carroll's translator. His name was Alan. Riverbend knew him and wrote a rather poignant rememberance of him in her blog (http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/) The link to that entry is here: http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_riverbendblog_archive.html#113709584389005811

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 10:07 AM (SVPNF)

6 Could be. There is nothing that the Lefties won't do for their insane agenda.

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 10:13 AM (V5vwb)

7 Come one William. You should be more brighter than that. Of course she didn't fake her kidnapping. Her best friend was killed. The only hostage that faked a kidnapping was Wassef Ali Hassoun. He's living the life in Lebanon which has refused to extradite him to the U.S. I doubt Jill is being held by the Islamic Army. The group that kidnapped Bayan Jabr's sister is called the Revenge Brigade. The Revenge Brigade is also holding Jill Carroll. The sister was thankfully released. Calm down William. You're going crazy. Jill is an innocent and very attractive woman who faces a bullet to the head. You should be praying for here like Rusty. Not degrading her. Thank you for your time and God bless.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 01, 2006 10:25 AM (CnDtU)

8 The PLF helped found the Islamic Army in Iraq? WTF?? The "claim" that I made that "The Swords of Righteousness Brigade" was really a front for the IAI has been confirmed by numerous intelligence sources. The fact that the video of the CPT4 first appeared on the IAI website (before they removed) is fairly strong evidence, isn't it? I agree about the veracity of the claim, especially given the Arab tendency to exaggerate to the media. If you read Arab media for any period of time then you realize just how speculative and filled with conspiracy theories they generally are. Also, the fact that a couple of hit squads seem to have been working out of the Interior Ministry does not mean that the entire Interior Ministry is one big hit squad. Especially given that the head of the Interior Ministry is a Sunni and the hit squads are alleged to be Shias against Sunnis.

Posted by: Rusty at March 01, 2006 10:27 AM (JQjhA)

9 For those of you who think she is "in on it" because of the way she appeared in the videos, consider this from former hostage Roy Hallum: "In my case, and it sounds like Jill's case, they hand you a script to read and tell you to memorize it." If someone points a gun at you and says "cry for the camera," you do it. If someone points a gun at you and says "say the lines calmly and tell them you're fine," you do it. Period. Is she in on it? Possible, but Allan Enwiyah's death and the obvious agony of her family and friends say "no." Lighten up, pray, and hope for the best.

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 11:04 AM (3aCNQ)

10 Thanks for the reality check Dave!

Posted by: Rusty at March 01, 2006 11:06 AM (JQjhA)

11 I dont think any rational person believes the nonsense of William Teach, who calls others "insane". Talk about a glass house.

Posted by: Peter Dolan at March 01, 2006 11:13 AM (oWpXE)

12 Yes... IAI was formed by a coalition including members of Abu Abbas' group. Remember there were a lot of Palestinians in Iraq, they were given preferential treatment under Saddam. In fact, the one thing I ever agreed with Ollie North on was his take that "Saddam will fight the Israelis to the last Palestinian"... WRT to the death squads... it's not a couple. More like a few dozen. And true the ENTIRE IM is not a death squad. But when you have torture chambers in the IM building... where electric drills are used to kill people.... I think you have a hard time arguing the IM doesn't know what is going on. As for the location of videos on servers used by IAI... that is not terribly informative. Even though it was stored in a restricted access directory. It is well known that groups are sharing resources ... grabbing each others stuff and making competing claims. You don't have any chain of custody to make any real inferences from. Your point about speculation is valid... and worth holding front and center. The reason I keep focusing on possible death squad activity is that it is a unifying thread between the CPT4 and Carroll. They were there to investigate the charges. She wrote about the death squads. http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0504/p01s04-woiq.html The other three reporters who have written about it (Steve Vincent, Yaseer Saliheh, and Fakher Haider) are all dead. That was last year, before things started changing and the Army started to re assert control over the IM and training. It was US forces that uncovered the torture at IM. It was US forces that busted the recent death squad. Unfortunately, it was US contractors that trained the Special Police Commando units. The chain of command is clear : James Coffman to James Steele to Steven Casteel to John Negroponte. All of these guys were involved in counterinsurgency training in CA... and the groups they trained were involved in atrocities. The reason why I harp on this is the "Salvador Option" is creating massive problems for the men and women serving under military command. I am glad to see Peterson stepping in and trying to clean out that cesspool. Unfortunately, I think he is too late. Like you, I'm praying all the hostages get out alive. We pray for them every night at 7 PM. Feel free to join in. God forbid they don't get out alive, then the people responsible (and that includes the people their captors answer to) have to be held accountable. I don't care what flag they fly under.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 11:16 AM (SVPNF)

13 Thank you Dave, Rusty and Peter Dolan. It's nice to know not everyone in the world thinks hostages fake their kidnappings.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 01, 2006 11:19 AM (CnDtU)

14 To 8ackgr0und N015e, your thoughts about the death squad connection are intriquing. I've also thought it suspicious that the official whom Ms. Carroll was supposed to interview conveniently disappeared prior to what was clearly a well-planned abduction. There is no solid proof, only circumstances and speculation, but this has always sounded more like a set-up to me than a faked abduction.

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 11:30 AM (3aCNQ)

15 Unfortunately, it was US contractors that trained the Special Police Commando units. Can you then reinforce that statement, with the specifics of their training? are you then saying that U.S contractors trained them to torture, and detain with the intent of purging people? because there is a big difference between training them in the use of weaponary, engagement, detaining and security detail -- then painting with a broad brush that they trained them to be "death squads" as you call it.

Posted by: dave at March 01, 2006 12:50 PM (CcXvt)

16 Isn't it possible that the U.S gave paramilitary training to some Iraqis which is now being used for unintended purposes? Is that what you meant?

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 01:05 PM (3aCNQ)

17 it obviously was a set up Dave. Jill, her interpreter and her driver go to this mieeting. He isn't there. They leaver and gunmen kill her interpreter, and kidnap her. The driver miraculously escaped. Someone told the gunmen she would be there. There are terrorist moles all over the country. No foreigner is safe.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 01, 2006 01:46 PM (CnDtU)

18 Like anyone, I wouldn't wish death on any of these people. As horrid a person as I think G. Sgrena is, I wouldn't wish it upon her any more than Ms. Carroll. I only think it's a shame that when they are fortunate enough to be released some go right back to spewing invectives at the same old targets and it's never the people who kidnapped them. Yu'd think it would be a sort of wake-up call, at least to some degree.

Posted by: Oyster at March 01, 2006 01:54 PM (zCI3+)

19 Yup, I thought this was pretty obvious too but noticed no one else ever seems to comment on it.

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 02:07 PM (3aCNQ)

20 I'm not sure you could really compare Guiliana Sgrena to Jill Carroll. The former was (and remains)an American basher who glorified the insurrection. The latter was a journalist that was equally critical of anyone whom she thought was harming civilians. But I do agree that no one deserves to be treated in this manner whatever their convictions.

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 02:16 PM (3aCNQ)

21 Robert Savage's scenario reminds me of another mole: The abduction of Jack Hensley, Eugene Armstrong and Kenneth Bigley: "These are kind people who have come to rebuild Iraq," she added. "Why did this happen to them?" Neighbors knew the foreigners because they had allowed them to use their generator for electricity during Baghdad's sweltering summer. Several neighbors said the men had at least two guards who worked in shifts, and one said the guards were unarmed. Others said the guard hadn't showed up, prompting some of the foreigners to open their black iron gate and go out in their underwear during the power outage to turn on the generator. It wasn't clear if that was the moment the kidnappers seized to snatch the men. The night they're abducted, miraculously the Guard doesn't show up, and people knew they would go out and switch on the Generator (and share their electric too)

Posted by: dave at March 01, 2006 02:37 PM (CcXvt)

22 David to answer your questions directly: I am saying that the Police Special Commando units (specifically the Wolf Brigade, Scorpion Brigade, Volcano Brigade, Snake Brigade, Lion Brigade, and others like them) were specifically created as part of a counterinsurgency strategy referred to as the "Salvador Option".... the argument that policies used in Central America during the 70s and 80s would be effective in Iraq. This happened under Bremer's CPA where some local militias (e.g. Badr Brigades and other SCIRI militias) were recruited as part of "de-Baathification"... essentially they were given intelligence so they could go cap former Ba'athists or sympathizers. This work was originally done by contractors working with Special Forces. The problem was that did not quell the insurgency because it morphed into a guerilla war where tribal and regional affiliations play an important role. The people responsible for training, outfitting, etc. were not merely following a doctrine from the Reagan era (which was actually an extension of the Phoenix Program used in Vietnam)... they are the SAME people who carried out these policies in Central America. There is no question that the groups trained by Steele, Casteel and Coffman , supplied by Goss and managed by Negroponte were actively involved in death squad activities. This has been a matter of public record for decades. There is nothing in the public record to suggest that these men believe they did anything wrong. There is plenty of evidence in the public record that the same sorts of atrocities have been going on in Iraq with American complicity. The big difference between Iraq and El Salvador is this time the US Army is actively trying to disrupt these groups while a war is going on. As far as references go... you can google any of the names (including journalists) that I provided along with "death squad" or "death squads" ... that way you can pick and choose whatever references you find most credible without worrying that I am slanting this.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 02:51 PM (awLLT)

23 Clarify the point about contractors though, are we talking about a company like Blackwater? I wasn't aware there were civilian "mercenary" forces under the Phoenix program, or are you saying those same people left the folds of the CIA/Military and went to work for a U.S contractor?

Posted by: dave at March 01, 2006 02:58 PM (CcXvt)

24 Dave, I harbor no ill feelings toward Ms. Carroll yet I do toward Ms. Sgrena. The only reason for bringing them both up was to make a point that whether or not they share my political beliefs to any degree, I wouldn't wish kidnapping or death on either. I wasn't trying to draw any parallels between them them or the circumstances surrounding their situation.

Posted by: Oyster at March 01, 2006 03:18 PM (zCI3+)

25 I apologize for the misunderstanding and thank you for the clarification.

Posted by: David (formerly Dave) at March 01, 2006 03:21 PM (3aCNQ)

26 No problem

Posted by: Oyster at March 01, 2006 03:28 PM (zCI3+)

27 I'll admit it, I was wrong. Forgot about the people killed with her. My bad.

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 03:39 PM (V5vwb)

28 You've taken quite a beating here, William, but I can also understand. When I first saw that third video I, too, was a bit suspicious. Then I read firsthand accounts from former hostages and understood what I was probably seeing much better. These people play psyche games and the victim has to go along just to survive.

Posted by: David at March 01, 2006 03:52 PM (3aCNQ)

29 Dave, Your latter point is the one I intended. Steele was former Special Forces. Since CA he has left and become a contractor. Coffman I believe is active duty Special Forces he answered to Lt. Gen. Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne. Steele was a former Army colonel when he was posted to El Salvador in the mid 80s. After leaving the Army he went to work for Enron. He was working as a contractor answering to Bremer for at least the initial period of this program. Casteel has a long career in DEA, mostly in Latin America. He was the one who put the "Special Police Commando" units together with Falah al-Naqib, then Interior Minister under the transitional government. Negroponte...we all know. He's the fellow who left behind three mass graves and secret prison cells at El Aquacate when he departed Honduras. Since most of close to 100 bodies exhumed after his departure were peasants without dental records, it was very difficult to tie their disappearance and death to Contra operations. However, one of the victims was an American priest, James Francis Carney.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 04:14 PM (awLLT)

30 Well, it was good for a converstion starter, eh?

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 04:42 PM (V5vwb)

31 Perhaps, William, but keep in mind that the lives of people (and not just Jill Carroll's) are at stake here. Some people don't appreciate too much jocularity under such circumstances.

Posted by: David at March 01, 2006 04:55 PM (3aCNQ)

32 wasn't meant that way for the original comment.

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 05:00 PM (V5vwb)

33 Fair enough. Gotta' admit, you definitely say what you mean, and it takes a big man to acknowledge a mistake. Gotta' respect that.

Posted by: David at March 01, 2006 05:06 PM (3aCNQ)

34 "God forbid they don't get out alive, then the people responsible(and that includes the people the captors answer to) have to be held accountable. I don't care what flag they fly under." Mr. Noise makes an interesting allegation here. He is alledging that certain people in Iraq(specifically the CPT4 and Jill Carroll) have been kidnapped by death squads operating in Iraq under the auspices of the Interior Ministry. He is accusing Americans of training and perhaps even influencing the targets of these death squads, and is suggesting that higher ups in the US are giving orders to these goon squads. Those are interesting allegations, Mr. Noise. I hope you have some proof. That is why you continually attack Rusty when he posts on the Islamic Army in Iraq being behind the kidnappings. You want it to be otherwise. Time will tell.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 01, 2006 10:36 PM (rUyw4)

35 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/10/11527/172

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 11:00 PM (gAXw0)

36 Mr. Noise, It would take cash(and a large amount) to get me to go to dKos, and I never accept anything there as truthful. You see, they lie all the time, so you never know what is true at Kos.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 02, 2006 10:33 AM (rUyw4)

37 The problem, as I see it, with any theory involving underground or black-ops style paramilitary activity is that even if it DOES exists, there is usually plausible deniability due to the very secretative nature of such activity. No sources that are acceptable to the general public can usually prove such things conclusively. Most of the time, it's simply a matter of which sources you choose to accept. The possibility is intriquing , but I remain very skeptical.

Posted by: David at March 02, 2006 10:46 AM (3aCNQ)

38 I want to thank jj for showcasing his prejudice... anyone who views the link will see why I used it here. Nice to see that jj calls me a liar without even looking at the material.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 02, 2006 06:04 PM (K5Ko+)

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Yes itÂ’s quite past my bedtime. Normally I go to bed with the Chickens. This week Howie would like to nominate Russell Winstead as a big old piece of white trash. The long arm of the law finally caught up with him this week.

WTVW : Winstead was on the run for almost three years, hiding from Madisonville Police in Costa Rica. He`s accused of stabbing his aunt, Anna Mae Branson, more than 80-times in January 2003. He was questioned, but left the country before he could be charged.

AMW profile. more...

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Muslim Charities Complain US Targets Them For Investigation
From Haaretz [emphasis added]:

WASHINGTON - U.S. Muslim charities feel they are being targeted by the U.S government's counterterrorism efforts. On Tuesday, a coalition of U.S. Muslim organizations requested a meeting with Treasury Secretary John Snow to discuss concerns that Muslim charities are targeted in the government's counterterrorism efforts.

In a letter to Snow, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT) said government closures of Islamic charities have hindered American Muslims' ability to carry out their religious obligation to help the needy.

The state has revoked the medical license of Dr. Rafil Dhafir, formerly of Manlius, because of his conviction last year in federal court on 59 felony charges.

Dhafir is serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison in Fairton, N.J., for his crimes, which include mail and wire fraud, tax evasion, money laundering and mishandling nearly $2 million from his charity, Help the Needy. Dhafir maintains he is innocent and plans to appeal his conviction.

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto and Vince Aut Morire.

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Do our troops support withdrawal from Iraq? Duh. Every one wants to get out of Iraq. But there are ways to rig, spin, and manipulate poll numbers. First, set up a straw man argument: Bush wants us to stay indefinitely in Iraq. Second, ask if people agree with the straw man: Do you think we should leave Iraq? Third, make sure that whoever does the polling has your agenda in mind.

UPDATE: Related analysis of the poll.

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From our ally the UAE's official news agency [emphasis mine]:

The Ministry of Education has decided to withdraw the book "World Cultures" from all private foreign schools as it contained references that defamed Arabs and Muslims .

The publisher of book will be blacklisted.

The ministry has prepared a circular in this regard to educational zones, which will be received on Tuesday so that committees can be sent to the schools to ensure that the book is withdrawn.

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Former Democratic Attorney General Ramsey Clark (far left) spotted in Bulgaria marching with Communists and next to former Saddam Hussein advisor. Marching against what? Against U.S. troops, of course! He is a Democrat...

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The identity of Irhabi 007 (also known as Qaeda 007 & Terrorist 007) has finally been revealed by the SITE institute as Younis Tsouli, a 22 year old from West London. Irhabi [which means 'terrorist' in Arabic] 007 was one of the most prolific internet jihadis of the last several years. The FBI had been actively tracking down Irhabi 007 for at least a year. Aaron at Internet Haganah had been tracking him for even longer.

According to SITE, Younis Tsouli was among four terror suspects arrested by Scotland Yard on Oct. 21, 2005. Tsouli, aka "Irhab 007", may have been involved in a plot to attack the White House. He has also been linked to a string of arrests in Europe--including Scandinavia--over plots to commit acts of terrorism all over the Continent.

Through his contacts with al Qaeda in Iraq and other terror organizations, Irhabi 007 put up scores of posts. Among his many claims to fame, it was Irhabi 007 who first posted the al Qaeda video of Jack Hensley being beheaded at an Islamic forum. more...

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So I f***ed up the regular one. It wasn't supposed to be humorous, but, let bygones be bygones.

Caption this photo of Iraqi military viewing the corpse of a terrorist:

Fatwas will be issued today, Tuesday, February 28th, 2006.

Unless Mr. Venom says no.

***Fatwas Issued***

Capp: "Is today terrorist pickup or is it bottles and cans?"

Steve Sharon: "I thought the terrorists said they wouldnt take this lying down?"

Buckley F. Williams: "Listen Jabbar, I clearly called 'Allah, Allah, oxen-free'. And on top of that, we all agreed beforehand that the dirt patch in front of the falaffel shop was to be home base, not the dirt patch in front of the used car lot. If you are not going to play by the rules then I will take my weapon and go home. Jabbar? Are you hearing me?

Gratuitous Star Wars reference fatwa:

Venom: "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Your Picture Can Be Seen Here fatwa:

Anyone sees a picture they think would make a good caption contest photo, send it to me at vinceautmorire@gmail.com. If I don't use it that week, don't fret, I'll at least have it in Vinnie's Increasingly Growing Image Library for possible future use.

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Salman Rushdie and Ayaan Hirsi Ali have signed this letter. more...

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Anna Nicole Smith showed up to the Supreme Court today to witness oral arguments on her probate case. Fox News via Llama Butchers:

Dressed in all black, Smith fought her way through a throng of photographers and autograph-seekers Tuesday on her way to the courthouse in Washington. Smith didn't say a word and didn't sign any autographs as she and a lawyer tried to slip into a side door of the court.

From the vast archives of The Jawa Report an oldie but a goodie: Certiorari worthy vs. Uncertiorari worthy Anna Nicole Smith. more...

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(Beirut, Lebanon) From the Khaleej Times comes the report that Lebanese authorities refused to extradite to the United States Hezbollah members suspected of attacking Americans in Beirut during the 1980s.

They also refused to extradite U.S. Marine Corps deserter, Wassef Ali Hassoun (pic).

Authorities have also rejected a US request to hand over Wassef Hassoun, an American of Lebanese origin who deserted the Marines in 2004 and left Iraq for Lebanon and then left the southern port city of Tripoli for the US. It was reported later that Hassoun has left the US and headed back to Lebanon.

The judicial sources said the general amnesty law which was adopted in 1991 after the 1975-1990 civil war ended in Lebanon covered incidents of which the four were accused. As for Hassoun, the sources gave no reason for rejecting his extradition.

So, somewhere in Lebanon, fugitive deserter Wassef Ali Hassoun is living his life constantly looking over his shoulder. I hope he suffers from anxiety attacks.

In a later report from Beirut, The Daily Star indicates that Lebanese officials are still considering the U.S. extradition request.

"The issue is still being studied," said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson to The Daily Star in reference to the latest request by a U.S. official to extradite five wanted Lebanese citizens, accused of attacks against Americans, to be tried in the U.S.

"We have no official final comment at this point," said the spokesperson.

From Interested-Participant.

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