New RINO sightings is up itÂ’s unearthly strange.

No more little piggie stress relievers. Gees give me a break. I hereby vow to eat left over pork chops at lunch every day for the duration of Ramadan.

Hat Tip: Big thanks to Mike at Mr. Muffler for getting Howie back on the road again for cheap.

In other strange and paranormal news Howie gets a beyond the Grave visit and interview with Ben Franklin. Actually IÂ’ve been worried about buying propane and propane related accessories this year. Mainly the fuel, I mean IÂ’m sitting on bone dry empty and winter is coming on. I entered the FS(thatÂ’s farm service city slicker) drawing for 100 bucks worth of free propane. Turns out I won. I mean I freaking won is that weird or not. Even stranger than that, Mr. FranklinÂ’s ghost delivered the C note to my door. Below is a record of our exchange.

Updated: Ok no comment? Well let's try this. Scott Baio was on Arrested Development tonight as Lawyer Bob Loblaw. His lawfirm speicalizing in cool stuff like Fraud, Tax Evasion, money laundering. Hope you saw, it was good stuff.

Nipsey Russell has died Hat Tip: The Filthy One

Typhoone Longwang has struck China and 59 soldiers are missing. Aside from the name of the storm, not funny.

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Posted by: Howie at 01:36 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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To Dave Gullyborg at Resistance is Futile! Once you're past the first year, it's all down hill man......

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Connecticut sets itself square into the middle of one of the stickiest battles our country has ever faced by granting Civil Unions to homosexual couples.

The whole time that this has been a fight, I have felt that it is wrong, but wasn't sture why. Now I think I've figured it out, at least for me. Procreation. Heterosexual relationships are the only relationships that offer the ability to procreate and continue the survival of the human species. That's not to say that every human couple is able to procreate, but there is at least an underlying reason for the attraction. Other forms of sexual perversion don't even have this to fall back on.

Now, with that being said, if a state wishes to recognize two people, regardless of gender and cohabitating as a couple for all legal purposes such as medical treatment, living wills, etc. Then so be it. But you better be careful when you word the statute because you could be leaving the door open for your state to provide a civil union between he and his sixteen wives. Or a man and his dog. Think it won't happen? It's already happening in some of the same-sex marriage states. A woman is sueing the state to get a marriage license issued between her and her dog. All I'm saying is that if you want to grant special priviliges to one sexual deviation while leaving others out, you had better be prepared for the firestorm that will percipitate.

Posted by: Drew at 05:28 AM | Comments (54) | Add Comment
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The Bush administration has, overall, done a fine job of foreign policy. Controlling proliferation, destabilizing and toppling terror sponsors, sowing the seeds of democracy.

But when it comes time to write the retrospectives, one glaring error will mar his legacy: Bush has ignored Latin America. For our first Spanish-speaking president it's a strange omission, though he's certainly had justifiable demands that took his attention elsewhere.

The next president will have to face down a creeping anti-Americanism that is advancing through the Latin world, led by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez in collusion with Castro from Cuba. His minions have already successfully brought down two governments in Bolivia and he is establishing a television network to consolidate his influence across the continent. Brazil's Lula has mellowed a bit but he's still redder than a parboiled lobster. The Communists are winning.

Today the Washington Post brings word that Chavez is undermining the democratic government of Nicaragua as well. And Chavez' gimp there is a blast from the past--America's old friend, the man whom Reagan nearly blew his whole presidency trying to bring down, the big Sandinista, Daniel Ortega. Of course, depending on the next president, that might be just fine and dandy:

Bush governs in interesting times, and his first responsibility remains the war on Terror. But he needs an affirmative policy for Latin America that begins the rollback of Chavez. We can't let this problem metastasize anymore. What will it profit us if we clean out the madrassas and terror dens of the middle east only to face a hostile continent unified against us to the south?

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(Lake George, New York) Dozens of senior citizens were onboard a 40-foot Shoreline Cruises tour boat when it flipped over on Lake George, about 50 miles north of Albany. The weather was clear, with the temperature in the 70s. Eyewitnesses say the glass-enclosed boat sank.

From PostStar.com:

Nineteen people were killed in a tour boat accident on Lake George today, according to Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland.

The Ethan Allen, a small cruise boat on the lake, was carrying 47 passengers this afternoon when the accident happened about 3 p.m. today.

According to Cleveland, the wake from the Mohican, a boat owned by Lake George Steamboat Company, swamped and flipped the glass-enclosed Ethan Allen.

[Update 2030EDT]

Twenty-one people are now listed as having died when the Ethan Allen sank in approximately 70 feet of water. The only crew member onboard, Captain Richard Paris, survived. The estimated number of passengers was increased to 49 and it's reported that none pulled from the water were wearing life vests. Also, since those onboard were senior citizens, a number were in wheelchairs or required walkers.

The incident occurred about 200 yards from shore. An unconfirmed report states that it capsized after it hit the wake of a larger cruise boat. In my opinion, before this tragedy is history, some serious liability will be assigned for negligence or malfeasance.

Companion at Interested-Participant.

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Leave a comment and show your support for this young lady's family.

Nothing about her sacrifice on our behalf overshadows those others who have given their lives for freedom, but a friend asked, and I answered. We honor them all here.

"But I suppose it's often that way. The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of a sport, as you might say. But that's not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually - their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't. And if they had, we shouldn't know, because they'd have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on - and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end."

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(Jakarta, Indonesia) Near-simultaneous bomb blasts ripped through popular tourist areas of Kuta and Jimbaran Beach on the Indonesian island of Bali on Saturday killing at least 23 persons and wounding at least 35 foreign tourists. Details remain sketchy.

Two explosions hit beachside area seafood restaurants at dinner time and minutes later an explosion struck a popular shopping area, Matahan Square.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono strongly condemned the bombings in a televised address: "These are clearly terrorist attacks because the targets were random and public places."

[Update 1500 EDT]

Xinhua now reports that at 30 people are dead. In another report, the blasts are being blamed on the fuel oil price hikes of an average of 126 percent instituted Saturday. Professor Budiatna of the University of Indonesia observed that opposition groups no longer demonstrate because the government ignores them.

"They pressured (the government) by resorting to terrors. Their message is to lower the fuel oil price or else the terror acts will continue," the observer added.

[Update 1545 EDT]

The BBC reports that over 100 are wounded.

From Aljazeera.com:

A government spokesman, Dino Djalal, said up to six bombs exploded at different locations.

Local media said police discovered a number of unexploded devices.

Companion at Interested-Participant.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 01:19 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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Bill Bennet has apparently ruffled a lot of feathers recently by making the point that aborting all the black pregnancies in the land would reduce the crime rate. And the PC brigades are out in force attempting to cash in a little anti-conservative treasure. None of this is very encouraging, because everyone is thinking in terms of a broad fallacy. No one is bothering to make sense. Bennet obviously thought he was making a clear empirical point, using it to bolster a case that there are lots of things one could do to reduce the crime rate that would be more objectionable than simply putting up with crime. This was, in fact, one of the more subtle points of Seymour Martin Lipset's classic: American Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword. Lipset's point being that it's our unwillingness to give automatic deference to authority that partly explains higher historical crime rates in the US, at least until Europe began to pass us in the robbery, burglary and home invasion category. And that if we changed that basic relationship to authority, the whole tapestry of our civilization could come unravelled... Compared to that, a high crime rate is a small price to pay.
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1 Now that is exactly the kind of dialog his statement should have created. A common sense refutation by a non-reactionary. Instead we got gasps and outrage.

Posted by: Oyster at October 01, 2005 05:39 AM (YudAC)

2 Bennett's remark was an abstraction, and a reductio ad absurdum, much like Jonathan Swift's "Modest Proposal" for curing the famine in Ireland. Nancy Pelosi and Jesse Jackson may not be mental giants, but one has to believe they understand this--and choose, nevertheless, to use Bennett vilely to whip up their more-ignorant followers. It's typical of the kind of smear Democrats use against Republicans, and the liberal media uses against Republicans, shamelessly betraying their own total lack of ethics. In this case the underlying charge is doubly absurd, inasmuch as Bennett, despite many enormous changes from Democrat to Republican, academic to Reagan or Bush cabinet officer, and think-tank moralist to talk show host, has always and consistently maintained his vehement opposition to all abortion everywhere, in accord with the devout Catholic faith which everyone knows him to practice.

Posted by: Exguru at October 01, 2005 08:31 AM (M7kiy)

3 ". And the PC brigades are out in force attempting to cash in a little anti-conservative treasure. " Even dubya cashed in on the action. See? he does care about black people.

Posted by: actus at October 01, 2005 08:56 AM (Zi15r)

4 these comments and those by bennet don't "add" up. when one looks at raw numbers of crimes in U.S. and 'race' of those persons, you find the results don't point toward african american.

Posted by: richard at October 01, 2005 08:57 AM (53R3n)

5 Bennett's remark was an abstraction, and a reductio ad absurdum, much like Jonathan Swift's "Modest Proposal" for curing the famine in Ireland. Well yes, in terms of the spirit of the remark; which is why it wasn't "racist." But the relationship between humans and nutrition is largely fixed, while the relationship between blacks and crime isn't. It's his assumption that it is fixed that's fallacious.

Posted by: Demosophist at October 01, 2005 10:53 AM (QvodM)

6 Richard: I don't think he was looking at "raw" numbers. I think it was "disproportionate" numbers of black to white. I thought Demosophist's response was pretty spot on.

Posted by: Oyster at October 01, 2005 10:56 AM (YudAC)

7 You kill off any subset of the population and crime will reduce. What Mr. Bennett tried to do was to take the argument that abortion has reduced the crime rate to an absurd place on the field. I do not think it is completely unfair to attack the argument the way it is either. I think even dunderheads like Jesse Jackson can figure out what the whole meaning of Bennett's comments were about. What is being attacked is the assumption that black==criminal, which is separate from the abortion aspect of Bennett's comments. In the end we file this along with the case of Bill Cosby. Blacks may be able to use the N word but they can not offer thoughtful and substantial criticism either.

Posted by: Marcus Aurelius at October 01, 2005 11:15 AM (hTZG+)

8 In the same manner, racism can be reduced in america by aborting all white children.

Posted by: customer at October 01, 2005 11:35 AM (J/bfB)

9 customer - genius comment!

Posted by: I spit on your grave at October 01, 2005 12:07 PM (BmtfW)

10 Just read what he said. No one should be defending this racist. CALLER: I noticed the national media, you know, they talk a lot about the loss of revenue, or the inability of the government to fund Social Security, and I was curious, and I've read articles in recent months here, that the abortions that have happened since Roe v. Wade, the lost revenue from the people who have been aborted in the last 30-something years, could fund Social Security as we know it today. And the media just doesn't -- never touches this at all. BENNETT: Assuming they're all productive citizens? CALLER: Assuming that they are. Even if only a portion of them were, it would be an enormous amount of revenue. BENNETT: Maybe, maybe, but we don't know what the costs would be, too. I think as -- abortion disproportionately occur among single women? No. CALLER: I don't know the exact statistics, but quite a bit are, yeah. BENNETT: All right, well, I mean, I just don't know. I would not argue for the pro-life position based on this, because you don't know. I mean, it cuts both -- you know, one of the arguments in this book Freakonomics that they make is that the declining crime rate, you know, they deal with this hypothesis, that one of the reasons crime is down is that abortion is up. Well -- CALLER: Well, I don't think that statistic is accurate. BENNETT: Well, I don't think it is either, I don't think it is either, because first of all, there is just too much that you don't know. But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.

Posted by: I spit on your grave at October 01, 2005 12:47 PM (BmtfW)

11 I always thought putting drops of liquid acid on ATM bank deposit envelopes would help society get along. But then again, I've witnessed racism more in the mind than in action. Being white, it's always touchy trying to talk about race with someone who isn't white. It's almost like there's some sort of PC code where you're supposed to agree that whitey is the worst, etc. I don't buy that shit. It's like you're racist if you have a different opinion! For instance, I think that blacks bring racism on themselves in different ways, like kids thinking it's sly to be a menace, or people who use race as an excuse or crutch. The worst being the whole "Your ancestors enslaved my ancestors, so now I'm going to be a dick to you" thing. Depending on who's version of history you're believing in, it's obvious: Hate only breeds more hate. If Bennett is a racist, I wouldn't be surprised. He is guilty of saying stupid shit, but it's not like it hasn't been said before. Just recently the NYtimes had a pro-author review about a book called "Freakonomics" which had similar views about abortion and ghetto crime. Anyway, I'm going on tangents. We all know Kanye was wrong...Bush hates POOR people.

Posted by: osamabinhiding at October 01, 2005 12:53 PM (QMrot)

12 In the same manner, racism can be reduced in america by aborting all white children. Hmm... That implies that whites are more racist than blacks, which isn't something I'd concede. My hunch is that there's no difference between the races on that score, so the rate of racism probably wouldn't change at all. Of course there are those who define racism exclusively as an attitude of the dominant group, but that's easily seen through. I'm even skeptical that racism would be reduced if we got rid of all but one "race," because the term isn't really scientific so Hutu and Tutsi, Arab and Jew, see one another as racially distinct when the fact is otherwise. Race is in the eye of the beholder. But it was a brain-teasing comment, that's for sure.

Posted by: Demosophist at October 01, 2005 02:47 PM (egnHl)

13 A couple of things. It is clear what he is arguing and people want to focus on one tree from a whole forest. Some years ago Rush got into trouble by saying something very similar. He said if a test came out where parents could tell if their unborn children had homosexual tendencies then a whole segment of the population would come out against abortion. This was taken to mean Rush favored the aborting of unbron gay children. Of course it isn't true. What Bill Bennett is saying that utilitarian arguments for or against abortion end up in abusrdity. Why isn't Margaret Sanger villified in a similar fashion?

Posted by: Marcus Aurelius at October 01, 2005 02:49 PM (hTZG+)

14 "In the same manner, racism can be reduced in america by aborting all white children." I concur with Demosophist in his response. I'll tell you, here where I'm from, I see more racism from the black folk. And most times it's born of paranoia. They expect most white people to be racist when they're not. I work for a restaurant and watched on more than one occasion when the manager has asked someone to leave because they've become confrontational. Sometimes it's white people and sometimes black. But everytime it's someone black, they cry racism. So yeah, it's a real problem. It's become a catchall reason for every grievance.

Posted by: Oyster at October 01, 2005 03:28 PM (YudAC)

15 labelling seems inappropriate when it isn't pushed by some agenda. For example during Katrina in New Orleans the looting was excused by the media labelling the looters as "poor black people" now I have known quite a few poor people in my time but does that mean they steal when given the chance? No. So why was there no outrage when they linked income -> criminal behavior ? Playing the race card these days is almost synonymous with having a royal flush.

Posted by: dave at October 01, 2005 08:48 PM (CcXvt)

16 Bennet defended racial comments with falsehood. http://mediamatters.org/items/200509300008

Posted by: Screaming At A Wall at October 02, 2005 03:32 AM (BmtfW)

17 CUSTOMER: Racism would not be reduced in America by aborting all white children. With blacks in the majority one would quickly find just how racist blacks are. Blacks are far more racist than whites. Look at Africa and the constant murders, rapes and attacks that continue. Whites are leaving for fear of the lives in massive numbers. Look at any prison population. Take your ass to an all black area of town as see what happens. How many white muggers are arrested in New York City compared to black muggers. How many blacks were attacked and killed in the superdome. But whites were attacked by blacks for no other reason than they were white. One young man was beaten to death by the animals. Right in front of hundreds of so called (good)blacks. How many looters were white in New Orleans? And I'm not talking about those that were taking food and essentials. How many whites were shooting at the white people attempting to save black asses? The truth is crime is rampant in black communities. Me, I believe in accepting the truth and working on it from there. Denying the truth promotes the problem. Your post is bullshit. Only accepted by candy assed black ass kissing liberals.

Posted by: greyrooster at October 02, 2005 10:01 AM (ywZa8)

18 I spit on your grave: I SPIT ON YOUR FACE.

Posted by: greyrooster at October 02, 2005 08:56 PM (ywZa8)

19 Racism would not be reduced in America by aborting all white children. With blacks in the majority one would quickly find just how racist blacks are. Blacks are far more racist than whites. Look at Africa and the constant murders, rapes and attacks that continue. Whites are leaving for fear of the lives in massive numbers. Honestly, I don't see why blacks in a modern society would be inherently more racist than whites. Granted tribaly people are more "racist" in the sense that they stick to their own tribe. And as a rule tribal warfare has taken no prisoners. The Tutsi and Hutu rivalry, however, is no more nor less vile than the ethnic cleansing in Serbia-Herzogovnia, which was white on white. The reason North Americans (especially Canada and the US) are generally less racist than other peoples is simply that they're better protected from invasion, and have a culture that's more centered on ideology than ethnicity. Of course, you wouldn't know than North Americans are generally less racist than other people if you listened to Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore. Strictly speaking there isn't that much difference within western societies on "prejudice." They're all within a fairly narrow range. The two ends of the spectrum are Canada (least prejudiced) and Belgium (most prejudiced). And again the explanation is pretty straightforward. Belgium has been trampled by practically every power in every war since Charlemagne, while Canada (with a big menacing protector to the south) has almost never been invaded. It's purely a matter of which culture feels more secure. Has nothing to do with race.

Posted by: Demosophist at October 02, 2005 09:16 PM (0cPRt)

20 What Bennett should have said to avoid the charge of "racism" is that if you kill off all WHITE people then crime will dissapear. But he chose blacks because his entire point was that a racist could easily make that argument, but that such arguments are morally reprehensible, according to Bennett.

Posted by: Carlos at October 03, 2005 08:06 AM (GbzDT)

21 There is no explaining such a moronic,racist,stupid remark by a hypocrite like the gambling,womanizing,steak and booze guzzling moron bill bennet. to call for the extermination of an entire race is outrageous. to think this idiot wrote a book "of virtues"while he was losing millions at the crap tables is bad enough,I dont think even david duke ever said such a stupid thing,what an imbecile!

Posted by: joe at October 03, 2005 08:39 AM (FWGcT)

22 Nothing joe says is the truth. " Bennett called for the extermination of an entire race". What a bunch of bullshit. Joe are you a liberal democrat black muslim? That is the only group ignorant enough to come up with what you said. Gambling, womanizing, steak and booze guzzler. Hmmmm. Sounds like me. I didn't care much for Bennett until now. So I take it the Joe doesn't gamble. I bet on all football games. Joe doesn't like womanizing. So he apparently likes men. Joe doesn't eat steak. A veggie freak. Joe doesn't drink alcohol. Joe attacks our republican leader. Joe refers to David Duke as saying stupid things. But Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton he leaves out. Since Joe never brought these maggots up I now deduce that: Joe is a black democrat faggot veggie freak that doesn't like beer. WHAT A FRIGGING FREAK!

Posted by: greyrooster at October 03, 2005 02:22 PM (ywZa8)

23 to call for the extermination of the black race is outrageous.this imbecile who ghostwrote a book called"book of virtues"is so stupid,a steak and liquor guzzling(just look at his face and gut)womanizing gambler who spent the book profits at the craps table.Even David Duke never said anything so stupid.the man is an imbecile.period!

Posted by: joe at October 03, 2005 06:47 PM (dV2NF)

24 Joe, which part don't you understand? He did not "call for the extermination of the black race". He may have used a poor choice of words that others took wrongly. But he absolutely did not do what you suggest. You're going to have to do better.

Posted by: Oyster at October 04, 2005 07:16 AM (YudAC)

25 Oh, ferchrissake! Bennet was quoting a passage from a book . . taken in context, it was an anology, no more . . but as is the custom today, by so many, "let's lynch the mother******" for reading and quoting . . he stated that he didn't neccessarily agree with the passage, it was just to point out a point of view that some have . . . And you have the Racists who make good money for being Racist, Jesse, Al and that group, then Pelosi and her whole far left whiners association, who wait for ANYONE to say something that will get them in front of a camera and a bank of microphones. I don't pay much attention to Bennet or a lot of the far right, just as I think the whole Far left should be ignored to the point of "Termination" . . there's far too much emotion in Politics today, and that makes politics far less logical than it should be . . my nickle . . .

Posted by: large at October 04, 2005 09:47 AM (Ny1Tj)

26 Joe is like any other liberal idiot. He refuses to admit the truth and continues on with his stupid comments. Again, must be a black democrat faggot veggie freak who doesn't like beer. A weirdo at best.

Posted by: greyrooster at October 05, 2005 06:32 AM (ywZa8)

27 Bush hates poor people? Ha, Ha. Well why do we need them. Down with the poor. They don't pay their share of taxes. Ha, ha. What a bunch of shit.

Posted by: greyrooster at October 05, 2005 06:34 AM (ywZa8)

28 You all are IGNORANT and you don't know half of what blacks go through on a daily basis. I'm used to racist comment like that (and yes, saying somebody must be a "black democrat faggot" is racist.It doesn't even bother me because there are some shitty ass people in this world that will get what they deserve when they die. "Unless you was me, how could you judge me, I was brought up in pain you can't touch me. Police pursued me, chased cuffed and subdued me, talked to me rudely, cause I'm young, black, and I'm living a movie, not living by rules." Yes there are some racist blacks, but they wouldn't be that way unless given a reason to. I've walked in stores and been literally followed everywhere I go, treated differently, yes because I'm black. But all blacks are not violent....I am in college on a full scholarship. Young, black and educated......AMERICA'S NIGHTMARE

Posted by: Melissa at October 10, 2005 06:10 PM (Al5t1)

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It is a dark day in the Vinnie household.

To be part of a blog that was publicly de-linked has brought shame to me and my family.

Do you realize, Dr., that I had to keep my children home from school to shield them from the cruel taunts of their peers over this?

Do you realize that you have plunged my wife even further in to her addiction to Rachael Ray? A torment I have fought against for years now?

This is what I am reduced to, Dr. Shackleford, for your inability to control your flying fickle fingers of fate upon your keyboard:



In a last great act of defiance, Rusty, I have done this. Make sure you click on that link in the post.

In unrelated news, may God continue to bless Roy Hallums and his family.

At least some people still understand what is truly meaningful in life.

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I've received a couple of nice e-mails the past couple of days from Carrie Hallums Cooper and Susan Hallums. They both express their deepest gratitude for all of your efforts at keeping Roy's name in the forefront of our nation's collective conscience. Thank you one and all for helping spread the word!

After 60 Minutes aired the interview with the former hostage on Monday, you'll be happy to know that President Bush telephoned Roy to wish him his best. We have been quite critical of State Department policy regarding hostages on this website, and are grateful to learn that much more goes on behind the scenes to free our hostages than is publicly aknowledged.

Roy is aware of what you, the readers, did for him during his long ordeal and his family has promised to pass on our best wishes to him.

Last, here is a picture sent to me by Susan Hallums of the family finally reunited. God Bless America! more...

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Now what was all that talk about no terrorism in China? The Jawa Report has been warning readers of the low-level Islamist insurgency in China's western Xinjiang province for some time. Called East Turkistan by its own people, Islamic militants in the area have ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network and are working to oust the communist Han Chinese and restore the brief lived Islamic Republic of East Turkistan--an Islamist state that predates Iran by over forty years.

In fact, after China's Strike Hard campaign of the early 1990s, aimed at wiping out the Islamic insurgency, many jihadi leaders fled to a neighboring country where they found safe haven and a network of like minded individuals willing and eager to supply them with arms and cash. Can you guess which country the fled to? Drumroll please.........

Afghanistan.

Khaleej Times:

The United States has warned American travellers to be vigilant against a terrorist attack in ChinaÂ’s restive northwestern region of Xinjiang after Beijing told police there to be prepared for danger.

The call came ahead of the 50th anniversary on Saturday of the establishment of Xinjiang as an autonomous region.

Muslim Uighur militants, whom Beijing calls terrorists or separatists, have been struggling for decades to make the remote region, formally established on Oct. 1, 1955, an independent state called East Turkestan.

“Americans considering travel to the region and those already there should review their plans carefully, remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and exercise caution,” a message e-mailed from the US embassy in China said.

“Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Americans in remote areas or border regions where military or police authority is limited or non-existent could also become targets.” ...

The Public Security Ministry said earlier this month that more than 260 terrorist acts had been committed in Xinjiang in the past two decades, killing 160 and wounding 440. It labelled East Turkestan forces the main terrorist threat to China.

And, of course, Islam Online blames Chinese oppression on the troubles. So the Chinese fascists are oppressing the Islamist fascists? Talk about your Sophie's choice scenario.....

For related info see Jihad in China and Suicide Bomber Blows Up Bus in China: Government Covers Up

Posted by: Rusty at 04:24 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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Ok, so the ACLU, courtesy Judge Hellerstein, wants to take as many Abu Ghraib images as possible and spread them high and low.  The Judge argues that he can't withhold their release on the grounds that it will incite terrorism based on the idea that terrorists aren't looking for excuses to act against us as is.

Which, I actually buy.

But the part that baffles me is the talk about Terrorist Magnets and how the flypaper strategy is foolish because it creates a even greater terrorist threat.   If our approach to Iraq is wrong because it creates more terrorists, then how is it possible to turn around and then say that releasing more Abu Ghraib photos isn't bad, although it incites terrorism?

(Cross posted to Demosophia and The Daily Jawa)

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It's important to note the details of the original minor charge of 'lying on an immigration application' officially levied against Hamid and Umer Hayat. Yes, they only 'lied on an immigration application'....of course, the lie they told was that they were not al Qaeda supporters! Kind of seems like an important detail.

The good news is that the younger of the two, Hamid Hayat, was charged with material support to terrorists this week. The bad news is that the father, Umer Hayat, was given bail.

I dunno, call me paranoid, but there's just something about an Imam with clear al Qaeda sympathies walking the streets that makes me uncomfortable.

California Mafia has more details.

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Has the FDNY hired a Muslim chaplain that comes from an Islamic school with an association with the Al-Ihsan society (AKA the Elehssan Charitable Society) that has been designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a "charitable front" for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terrorist organization based in Damascus, Syria?

The Muslim moonbat was one of several imams recommended for the chaplain's job by the Islamic Society for the Fire Department.

Michelle Malkin writes that just when we think things are getting better in New York City, "politically correct insanity rears its monstrous head again." In pointing to Tom Bevan at Real Clear Politics, she notes Tom's flaging of today's Newsday story about the new Islamist-sympathizing, nutball Muslim chaplain hired by none other than the New York Fire Department. We need to stand-up in solidarity with Michelle's suggestion: "Don't let up on the FDNY commissioner, though. Someone made a boneheaded decision to hire a tinfoil Islamist like Habib in the first place. Make sure it doesn't happen again!"

An imam slated to be sworn in Friday as the second Muslim chaplain in Fire Department history said he questioned whether 19 hijackers were responsible for the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and suggested a broader conspiracy may have brought down the Twin Towers and killed more than 2,700 people.
In a telephone interview Thursday, Imam Intikab Habib, 30, a native of Guyana who studied Islam in Saudi Arabia, said he doubted the United States government's official story blaming 19 hijackers associated with al-Quaida and Osama bin Laden.

"I as an individual don't know who did the attacks," said Habib, 30, a soft-spoken man who immigrated to New York in July 2000 after spending six years in Saudi Arabia getting a degree in Islamic theology and law. "There are so many conflicting reports about it. I don't believe it was 19 ... hijackers who did those attacks."

Asked to elaborate on his reasons for doubting that story, he talked about video and news reports widely disseminated in the Muslim community.

"I've heard professionals say that nowhere ever in history did a steel building come down with fire alone," he said. "It takes two or three weeks to demolish a building like that. But it was pulled down in a couple of hours. Was it 19 hijackers who brought it down, or was it a conspiracy?

Posted by: Richard@hyscience at 02:48 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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SICK: LITHWICK-- “PICK CHICK”; LUTTIG QUICK TO NIX…MANHOOD
Court Watcher Exclusive—Must Credit JAWA REPORT

The Jawa Report has learned that conservative Fourth Circuit Judge J. Michael Luttig is to undergo emergency gender-reassignment surgery at a Swedish hospital. The move fuels speculation that President Bush will nominate Luttig to the Supreme Court.

MORE!!!! more...

Posted by: seedubya at 02:25 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Bad Polygamy

Good Polygamy

Because Steve the Llama Butcher asked and Michelle Malkin didn't want the answer....

Posted by: Rusty at 12:06 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Al-Qaida is planning to detonate nuclear devices in seven major U.S. cities next month during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. At least, that's what World Net Daily is reporting. Of course, to find out the details of the report WND is only asking for the paltry sum of $99 dollars a year or $9.95 a month.

On a related note, The Jawa Report has intercepted a message from al-Qaeda Godfather Osama bin Laden to Iraq's sheikh of al-Qaeda, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in which he reveals exactly which seven American cities will be nuked.

Which cities will suffer, and I quote, "a nuclear hell storm"? For the amazingly low price of $1,000, The Jawa Report will let you in on the big secret.

Here's a hint: you there, the guy reading this right now from your office computer. Yeah, you. I'd be having second thoughts about that business trip to you-know-where next month.

Seriously.

Ok, so there is no intercepted message. Color me skeptical about WND's claims of an impending nuclear holocaust. If al-Qaeda has nukes, is it simply waiting for Ramadan for maximum impact? Why didn't it use them on September 11th? Fourth of July? Chanukah? Groundhog Day?

Scenario 1) Al Qaeda doesn't have nukes, and never has had nukes. If they ever did manage to get a hold of an old Soviet suitcase bomb it was a dud or a fake. Most likely scenario.

Scenario 2) Al Qaeda has nukes but is afraid to use them. The goal of al Qaeda is the gradual restoration of the global caliphate. Nuking the U.S. would surely unleash retalliation so severe as to make several parts of the future caliphate unlivable for the foreseeable future. Less likely, but possible.

So, relax, go about your business, and enjoy the traditional Ramadan festivities--such as personally slitting the throat of a sheep or goat!

Thanks to John from Stop the ACLU for the tip.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:38 AM | Comments (19) | Add Comment
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1 I will celebrate Ramadan by renting a Kabbab Cart and parking it in front of a Mosque. I will then cook up a delicious batch of Lamb Kabbabs and Cumin cakes and fan the delicious smells into the mosque to drive the faithfull into a lather.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at September 30, 2005 08:59 AM (5ceWd)

2 Rusty, I'm liking your comments. They made me laugh. Such silliness is doing this country no good and just adds to the fear everyone has today. There is no way this ragtag group has nukes. Sure they are good at roadside bombs but how would they launch these nukes? And from what sub? The US is not that pathetic. Next thing we'll hear about are how a certain middle-eastern man has made inquires into submarine school. He doesn't want to learn how to surface or anything, just how to shoot the missiles. Give me a break.

Posted by: jason at September 30, 2005 09:23 AM (BmtfW)

3 If they do this we celibrate by nuking mecca

Posted by: sandpiper at September 30, 2005 09:30 AM (Tl3bz)

4 In the case of New York, L.A., San Fran, and Seattle it would be seen as a definite improvement to the social climates and attitudes.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 09:34 AM (y+I+a)

5 The libs would call this action "Arab Urban Renewal"

Posted by: Filthy Allah at September 30, 2005 09:36 AM (5ceWd)

6 I swear, World Nut Daily is the Apocolyptic Christian version of the National Enquirer. They may report some actual news from time to time, but they do so many sensationalistic pieces that it's hard to tell when they're being serious. The chief over there, Joseph Farah, is an Arab, and we all know that Arabs are genetically incapable of being completely honest, no matter their religion.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at September 30, 2005 09:52 AM (0yYS2)

7 I take umbrage at that Arab remark. As far as you know, I'm an Arab.

Posted by: Rusty at September 30, 2005 09:55 AM (JQjhA)

8 WND has already named the seven cities they suspect such a device to be detonated in, but they offered it free. Bin Laden has received clearence to detonate a nuclear bomb by his religious authority, but WND has been going gangbusters with this constant talk with AQ and nukes. They predicted this would happen a couple of months ago, and since it did not, it seems like they are trying to keep the story alive and rehash it several times over. They have lost a lot of credibility in my book from this exact scenario.

Posted by: Chad Evans at September 30, 2005 10:21 AM (KMwbU)

9 I'm with IM here in blaming Joseph Farah on this, not because he's Arab, but because he's kind of an alarmist. Of course, if I were an Arab Christian who knew the history of Islamic persecution I would also be a little alarmist......

Posted by: Rusty at September 30, 2005 11:22 AM (JQjhA)

10 Don't take umbrage unless you are willing to pay for it.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at September 30, 2005 11:48 AM (5ceWd)

11 ah, yes I believe the words of a man who once bought an irradiated canister full of ash.

Posted by: dave at September 30, 2005 11:55 AM (CcXvt)

12 I AM GOING TO ORANGE ALERT !!!! NO...... ALL THE WAY TO RED !!!!!!

Posted by: john Ryan at September 30, 2005 12:30 PM (ads7K)

13 J.Adams: I for one, welcome our new Mardi overlords why is it no surprise that the muslim equivalent of Jesus comes to kill all the non-muslims, instead of reading storybooks to Children or healing the sick. The Muslim Jesus has already caused one prophecy to pass I see: Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf and Yasser Arafat will be annihilated in the same month. Oh No's! The Muslim jesus killed arafish with Aids, but forgot the paki president!

Posted by: dave at September 30, 2005 01:07 PM (CcXvt)

14 No doubt in my mind. It's going to happen, just when and where.

Posted by: dick/elliott at September 30, 2005 01:15 PM (XlQVK)

15 if Rusty is an Arab than i am the Tyrant of Crete...but anyways, Al-Queda with nukes???....dounbtfull, as these knuckleheads have enough problems with their roadside bombs going off on them as it is, so imagine one of them fooling around with a suitcase nuke....and who knows how old one of those are???....rather unstable and probally most of the wiring and hardware has been so exposed to radiation and been handled rather roughly the past few years, well, you know....lookie, there goes Abdullah and Akmed up to see Allah on top of that small mushroom cloud...have a good trip, fella's

Posted by: THANOS35 at September 30, 2005 01:19 PM (FMsU7)

16 He don't know us very well do he. should they even come close to nuking the USA all that oil wil be getting pumped out through a big layer of glass for free.

Posted by: Howie at September 30, 2005 01:32 PM (D3+20)

17 I can't remember the last time WND was right about anything. They are just as bad, if not worse, than Debka.

Posted by: Ariya at September 30, 2005 03:15 PM (noCGr)

18 I am very happy for being a muslim

Posted by: Ismael at October 03, 2005 06:16 AM (vUpEQ)

19 Found this posted on another site; ----- If I were to put a bet on when the attack would happen, it would be 10/13. 10/13/2005 = 698th Anniversary of the Destruction of the Knights Templar in 1307. The descendants of the Templars are the Freemasons, who founded the United States. Therefore an attack on this date would be symbolic of the destruction of the Templars who fought the Muslims during the Crusades. 10/13/2005 = 9th Day of Ramadan during the 9th Month on the Islamic Calendar. Put the two "9's" together and you get the number 99. In Islam, "99" represents the number of names of Allah; http://www.themodernreligion.com/basic/islam_99_names.htm 10/13/2005 = Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of Atonement, the most important religious holiday in Judaism. So circle 10/13 on your calendar because the fecal matter is about to hit the fan. ---

Posted by: Jack Bauer at October 08, 2005 10:59 PM (fWTP2)

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I’m still politicked out so I’m going to put up a list of the twenty best bad guys in the movie business. These are actors who would, if I were flipping channels and saw these guys clutching a tommy gun and spraying a cop car with lead, make me stop and watch for a few minutes. Or they might break the tie if I were deciding between two schlock action films. I’m picking out actors here, as opposed to characters, and while you’ll probably find most of them somewhat pedestrian there were a few I had to look up on IMDB—they were always just filed under “Oh, that guy!” This list inclines away from horror and toward action, crime, and Westerns, but hey, so do I. So click below, and here we go: more...

Posted by: seedubya at 05:41 PM | Comments (40) | Add Comment
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U.S. forces have captured over a hundred suspected terrorists in Iraq in the past week. Coalition Forces, often teaming up with Iraqi Army Soldiers, conducted 69 cordon and search operations and raids against anti-Iraqi forces over the past week, seizing 135 terror suspects and many weapons caches in and around the capital city.

In one incident, Soldiers were approached by an Iraqi citizen who told them that a suspicious car was parked in his neighborhood. The Soldiers searched four men near the car identified by the citizen and found bomb-making materials.

While the U.S. troops questioned the car owners, they stopped and searched a fifth man who was acting suspiciously. The man's cell-phone history contained a message from another terrorist that roughly translated into "Thanks for the use of the rocket-propelled grenades."

Can terrorists really be that stupid? Yes they can. I wonder if this is one of the guys 'Abu Musab al-Zarqawi' was referring too here?

For more news from Iraq, read Centcom news briefs daily.

Posted by: Rusty at 04:46 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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I just want to point out that a little guilty pleasure of mine is Frank J's serialized novel over at IMAO, called "Superego". It's a sort of sci-fi Raymond Chandler thing about a wisecracking psychopathic intergalactic hitman. He's working pretty hard to crank out a new chapter of this every couple of days and it's pretty entertaining.

You can go to all the archived Superego stories here--there are 37 chapters so far, the first at the bottom..

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