This is an archive page. For the latest news on terrorist groups in Iraq please go to the MAIN PAGE HERE.

UPDATE 5/10: Army of Ansar al-Sunna website releases images of Japanese hostage Akihiko Saito. Images, story, and link to website.
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Abu Musab al-Zarqawi al Qaeda linked terrorist organization has released the videotaped murder of Japanese hostage Shosei Koda. I have a copy of it and have posted graphic images from the video below. A link to the video is also below. Zarqawi had previously threatened to murder Koda if Japan did not withdraw its troops from Japan. The Japanese troops are engaged in a non-combat rebuilding role. Shosei Koda, for his part, was a civillian who apparently went to Iraq as a tourist. He was reported dead late last week.

Sofia News Agency:

A group led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi showed the beheading of Japanese hostage Shosei Koda in Iraq in an Internet video posted on Tuesday.

The video showed the execution of the Japanese hostage while he was lying on top of a U.S. flag.

Al Qaeda Organisation of Holy War in Iraq also warned Tokyo to withdraw its forces from Iraq or "drown in the hell of the mujahideen" in the country along with "crusader forces".

Reuters:

Al Qaeda Organization of Holy War in Iraq said Tokyo had offered a ransom of "millions of dollars" for 24-year-old Koda. It warned Japan to withdraw its forces from Iraq or "drown in the hell of the mujahideen" along with "crusader forces."

Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima denied the ransom claim. "It's just groundless. We have not done that," he said, denouncing the video posting as "disgusting." ...

The video showed the hostage, who was wearing a white T-shirt, kneeling with a U.S. flag laid out behind him. Koda's hands were tied behind his back and three masked men dressed all in black stood beneath the group's banner.

After reading a statement, the men grabbed Koda and put him on the flag before sawing off his head with a large knife and holding it aloft and placing it on top of the corpse.

"We had given the Japanese government 48 hours to save its citizen and meet our demands ... and after the deadline passed we cut off the head of this infidel," one of the militants said.

"Let the whole world know that Al Qaeda Organization of Holy War is firm in its jihad (holy war) despite the Japanese government's offer of a ransom of millions of dollars to release their parasite son," said a separate statement from the group dated Nov. 2 and posted on a Web site often used by Islamists.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a close ally of President Bush, has condemned the killing and vowed to keep Japan's troops in Iraq.

Others covering the news: James Joyner, Straight Banana, In the Bullpen, ISOU, Digger's Realm, M.H. King

WARNING: Graphic images from the video posted below. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 09:07 AM | Comments (88) | Add Comment
Post contains 593 words, total size 5 kb.

1 OMG, horrible, horrible. God bless that poor young man...this only furthers my justification. THOS BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Laura at November 02, 2004 09:34 AM (ptOpl)

2 I say Nuke them all, I'm sick of this. What a way for children to grow up. God Speed

Posted by: Susan at November 02, 2004 10:49 AM (3pOYP)

3 I agree, what other solution IS there? These savages obviously don't care about their victims, they're even beheading their own fucking people! Can't there be a way to get the civilians out of there, go to a safe place or something, get our men out of there and level it? I don't see how you can snuff out all the terrorists that are hiding in these countries any other way!! Do YOU?

Posted by: Laura at November 02, 2004 11:07 AM (ptOpl)

4 My gut reaction is that same as you guys, but I'm conflicted. I just don't think nuking the country is the solution. Call me old-fashioned that way.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at November 02, 2004 12:08 PM (JQjhA)

5 I say the same thing but know that it isn't right either. But I am glad we have Trident subs out there, just in case.

Posted by: Mr. K at November 02, 2004 12:11 PM (SuM3H)

6 I remember irv rubin one time offered 500$ to kill a nazi. To bad he isn't around anymore would be hillarious to have heard him say 500$ to kill an islamist. Oh well, dirty pigshit eating filthy islam turds. Hell is stocked with plenty of virgin male camels for these bastards when they die, they'll be getting their 72 virgins in ways they never imagined the day a bullet puts them under or a nuke wipes them out either way the earth would be better off without any of them. ANIMALS, ANIMALS GD ANIMALS! Islam is proof the devil has a sadistic sense of humor.

Posted by: Andre at November 02, 2004 12:13 PM (hD5mx)

7 Animals have a reason to kill, no matter how humans decifer it....This is.........Satan at "ITS" best...and the "chickens" are to chicken to show their own faces to get the glory of sawing heads off of the inocent..."IT" is not Islamic..."IT" is not of any religion..."IT" stands alone..."IT" is dividing and conquering the unsuspecting ones that believe in destroying any one religion. Don't fall for the belief that the "chickens" stand for a religion...because they DO NOT! My heart goes out to every one of the victims families, friends and countries...not matter what religion they are...No matter what country they are from... DO NOT let "IT" conquer all. OH YEA! For you "chickens" out there, have you talked to one of your brothers that gave "its" life to go to heaven? And if so, are they getting their just rewards? LOL. Not a reward they expected, I'm sure!!

Posted by: Morethantickedoff at November 02, 2004 12:44 PM (N4SKL)

8 Ya wearing masks is one thing I think is completely idiotic. If you're gonna tell people you're Zar-coward or whoever, why not just show your damn face?

Posted by: LMAO at November 02, 2004 12:51 PM (p5xDI)

9 If not nuking, then WHAT IS the solution?

Posted by: Laura at November 02, 2004 01:40 PM (ptOpl)

10 If we knew what the solution was it would be over. I said lets NUKE them, but to be honest, it was a gut reaction as I saw the pictures of the latest beheaded Japanese dude. I dont look at myself as predjudice, but how do you tell who is good and who is bad anymore. Just because they have black hair and a thick mustache does not mean they are bad. Yet, the Arab nations make me sick, am I prejudice now? God help me with this quandry. My parents live across from people who are from Afghanistan and the males will not even look at women, nor will they talk to women (this cmoing from my mom who tried to initate contact)...Man I just dont know... Maybe the answer is to boycott all the 7-Elevens? Elias Brothers? Convenice stores Are they helping to fund the Terrorists? God, thats another post for another time....

Posted by: Susan at November 02, 2004 02:45 PM (3pOYP)

11 The ability to cut the head from a living human being is not natural, someone must 'groom' and nurture their evil tendancies. More intel with new governments might be the only way to catch the individuals drawn to such acts in the name of power. If this isn't it, then perhaps we are faced with a very scary 'killing culture' in these countries, who knows

Posted by: chris at November 02, 2004 03:29 PM (J4kAq)

12 Ok, I'd be lying to myself and others. I re-thought my idea about NUKING them, I'm all for it. I just cant support a country or countries that are evil and where children will grow up learning such evil and saddistic behavior. What the hell are our kids in for? I'm headstrong about this one, and thats not a bad pun.

Posted by: Susan at November 02, 2004 03:37 PM (3pOYP)

13 My advice for you all: don't watch any more beheading videos..pls give respect to the dead.I don't think any1 would be watching if it was someone you knew.Just imagine the state of the relatives. What amazes me is that a group which is on the run,contantly bombarded,..and what not..is able to at ease to capture a hostage/film a hostage video/murder him/air the execution video.. All this looks so fishy.Not only they must be having a huge organization behind them and also that they are well aware of the dammed intelligence we( coalition )have. Definitely they have someone insider to help them out. Another thing all this religion attack,nuking is just a waste of time and most important POINTless ..ain't gonna be heard by no one.Yeah it might voice the unity within group discussions..that's all. Laura mentioned above that apart from Nuking what can be done. Simple thing..Intelligence. Don't you still see what's happening.Falluja is still being bombed and is readied for the last asssualt after elections( US).The sad part will be that a lot of civilians + coaltion soldiers lives will be lost for what =not poor but incorrect intelligence.The US still does not have a clue whether the Z group is in falluja or not. You people should ask the question the whole country was taken in less then 1 month. A small town is still under siege for almost 1 1/2 year.is it ironical??

Posted by: Roopesh at November 02, 2004 04:27 PM (q9wBH)

14 Susan: I'm not ready to nuke them. Yet! I think we can selectively missle them into thinking like human beings. I agree so much with you concerning how they raise their children. They are being desensitized to normal feelings. Just like nazis in the death camps. Once this happens there is no going back. Can you imagine an American child draging and mutilating dead bodies on the streets? I can't. Can you imagine American adults not stopping them? I can't. I live on a ranch. Once a dog starts killing my calves there is only one cure as much as it hurts me. I say we should clean up the mess and not leave it for our children and grandchildren. If you are raised by cannibals you'll probably grow up to be a cannibal.

Posted by: greyrooster at November 02, 2004 04:48 PM (CBNGy)

15 what do you think the aim of such a barbaric act is? why do they record it? the comments about nuking them are exactly what they want. the terrorists want to divide the world into us and them. they want you to be angry, to hate, to be racist. they need the support of their populace, and the more we hate arabs and muslims, the more we leave them only terrorists to be on their side. they are deliberately antagonising us as part of a much larger goal of creating a worldwide jihad. they clearly havent got the full support of the populations, but if we get to the stage where we see them all the same - where our inability to easily tell terrorist from non-terrorist causes us to give up - well when we reach that stage the terrorists have achieved a goal. when someone tries to make you angry, tries to make you l;ash out at them: stop and think. why are they goading us? what are they trying to get us to do? we shoudl react as we choose in a way that hurts them most. dont let them dictate our reactions. thats all.

Posted by: bert at November 02, 2004 05:07 PM (OdJik)

16 But isn't "cleaning up the mess" nuking them? Sure, innocents will be lost, but do they really have a life over there? Living with the threat of terrorism every day? We'd be doing them a favor, surely they are dying a slow death anyway? One by one, how many more beheadings? Intelligence? How? What? I don't get that, use intelligence? Isn't there some way to get the good people the hell out of there (shades of Shindler's List) or something? And I agree with the other poster, this must be something bigger than just a few terrorists...think about it....They're not being found....they have these people doing the beheadings and videotaping them, then messengers to go to Al Jazeera to air it, put it out on the internet...this is a BIG operation! Surely, there are insiders, maybe even some (gasp! Americans in on this? How can it go on and on, without them being detected? Just think about it.

Posted by: Laura at November 02, 2004 05:09 PM (ptOpl)

17 These murderers who behead innocent people will go to hell. They have no idea what is about to happen to them after the United States shoots them in the head or bombs the shit out of those faceless cowards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: MJ at November 02, 2004 05:48 PM (VVSXg)

18 I'm sorry to say but by saying nuke to clean up the mess is just conceding defeat to the terrorists.Isn't it? My suggestion would be is that let every person going to Iraq be provided with some tracking device that could trigger an alarm and which could be trackable. The implementation would be costly but hey is money more important than civilian lives? I guess the US army wants the mess which started from Falluja ( May 2003 insurgent attack start ) to end in Falluja itself.The war being inevitable the question is ( I hope ) will they be right this time?

Posted by: roopesh at November 02, 2004 05:49 PM (q9wBH)

19 "These events of our world are the beginning of what will become, the spark of rage for justification by means of "WAR". The civilized world and the "good nature of all innocence" will be ignored to join hands with arms to eliminate the evil we are now witnessing on internet video. Yes "WAR" is already in existence, but now emotion and motivation are mixed within. Do you not feel angry? helpless? feel the need for revenge and/or action. We as human beings want to help and stop these events, Do we not???? THIS IS THE SPARK IN EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT WILL BREED AND MULTIPLY IN THE REALITY OF "now & then". Until the end my friends...........

Posted by: Peacekeeper at November 02, 2004 06:45 PM (ywZa8)

20 I hope Shosei will come back for you inhumane bastards.

Posted by: Shosei Koda at November 02, 2004 06:51 PM (dSzFN)

21 I'm sorry to say but by saying nuke to clean up the mess is just conceding defeat to the terrorists.Isn't it? There's where you're wrong, Roopesh. There wouldn't be any terrorists left.

Posted by: Laura at November 02, 2004 07:03 PM (ptOpl)

22 Think with a little rationality..Nuclear warfare is something that you don't want. There would be more devistation in a greater area than intended. AND, we are not the only ones with this technology. Besides, that is what they thrive off of. DESTRUCTION. These things that resemble a human, have made a mistake once and they will do it again. The implimentation of tracking devices is a great idea. Example: Instead of killing one of these scumsuckers, one gets shot; just do a little surgery to fix the wounds; shhhhh don't say anything, but also implant a gps type chip; let the bugger heal for a few days; let the snot ooze out with some type of escape. Viola. Bish, Booooom, Splat. One group down. And yes, there will be more terrorist to deal with. Use a little bit more imagination with the next group. Like I said before, don't let these "things" have you judge a few religions by their actions. THEY ARE NOT STANDING FOR ANY RELIGION. You give in to what they want, which is to hate ALL who follow Islamic or Muslin beliefs, or whatever they want to say they stand for the next day. I would bet that one of these scummers read these posts and get a good laugh at what we think. They thrive off of destructive thinking.

Posted by: Morethantickedoff at November 02, 2004 08:11 PM (N4SKL)

23 AN OUTSPOKEN ARTIST THAT DEPICTED THE SUFFERING OF WOMEN UNDER ISLAMIC CONTROLED REGIMES IS MUREDERED IN HOLLAND tue/2/Nov/2004. Just wanted to make a point that somebody that had the guts to speak up about the sufferings of women in Islamic controled countries has been murdered in Amsterdam earlier today. Saw it earlier this evening on B.B.C News and I am sorry but I cant remember the name off hand.This kind of thing scares the shit our of me. As in their holy book it says anyone who speaks out against Islam(I take this to mean anyone who also objects to the sufferings inflicted up on women living in Islamic countries),any moslem has a right to kill that person.The fanatic that murdered this man of conscience was an immigrant to HOLLAND, this country that had given him citizenship no doubt because he was fleeing some sort of persecution, real or concocted,in his native Morroco. Havent seen the video of the poor unfortunate Japanese Hitchiker and I don't intend to for the moment I am all horrored out. NO other religion has so much witness to beheading in the pages of its holy book, it is full of it, even their prophet sanctioned it. He had some of his own relatives killed because they were against the teachings of his then new religion.Dont care what you say, all this balloney the moslem liberals preach that such and such practice,beheading innocents for example is un Islamic are just trying to passify our reactions to what goes on in the name of Islam. What they are doing is like a tap dripping, they are slowly, slowly, ever so gently pushing the political boundaries in their favour.In all so called infidel countries they are gaining a foothold.They are waiting until such a time as they have enough of a percentage of the population to tip the balance. Then they will seize control as did their prophet in Arabia and then the Whole Arabian peninsula, on through North Africa and Asia Minor now modern day Turkey. They will then begin murdering and geheading us dont kid yourselves. Their religion is barbarick and full of shit! Their prophet went up a mountain for god knows how long then when he came down he revealed his revellations, the sort of final solution,this man that was illiterate for christ's sakes! Their plan is a 500 year one and they dont mind haw long that thay wait.We and un believers are nothing but pig meat to them.They kill us without guilt,they will be joyous to kill us like dogs. The civilised countries of the west must be like a bastion of freedom or death against them.France Is so scared of the size of their current Moslem population which now exceeds six million, in a country with a population o f 58 million . Fuck Allah, Fuck God, Fuck religion.

Posted by: sopotamia at November 02, 2004 09:50 PM (JCmTp)

24 THE ONLY THING THESE MOSLEM EXTREMISTS UNDERSTAND IS WHEN YOU BASH THEM DOWN. All this liberal talk about our extreme reaction is what they want I'm tired of reading and hearing about.The only thing they understand is when you do unto them the ssme things they've been doing to defenceless people tied up and helpless. You can't use no civilised rules with these ragheads, their minds are in the middle ages for goodness sakes. You've got to get every democratic countries troops in there, flood the whole of Iraq with troops.Stop the pussyfooting and the bellyaching and support the cause.You liberal sorts will be the death of the rest of us.I'm itchin to get over their now,I can't join the Army cause I'm passed the age limit for being accepted.If they do raise the age of acceptance I,m enrolingt right away. These places for enroling in to the Army should be packed out with patriots cueing around the blocks to enrol and fight these ragheaded murderers! If you want freedom youv'e got to be prepared to fight to defend it.

Posted by: sopotamia at November 02, 2004 11:40 PM (QRy77)

25 Read the news folks...the Bush re-election is mere votes away. TO ALL OUR MUSLIM FRIENDS.....TAKE IMMEDIATE NOTE 1. Although the votes were close, America will do what we do best, WE ARE READY TO RALLY BEHIND OUR PRESIDENT. 2. Killing, anyone, by any means, in the name of a religion is wrong and must be dealt with harshly and swiftly. You have publicized these killings one too many times, your broadcasting days are numbered. 3. Residents of Falluja: Turn the militants over now. 25 million dollars in your pocket is a lot of money, your city and residents will be spared, justice to these animals WILL be served. 4. Now that our election is over, President Bush and the collective eyes of America will turn our attention SQUARELY ON YOU with renewed vigor. 5. I dont think we need to issue you a timed warning, you aint got 24 or 48 hours to do CRAP, our patience with you has waned thin, the hammer is now ready to fall. These beheadings are about to come to an abrupt halt. You will not have time to take hostages and taunt the world with your childish demands, your gonna be too busy fighting for your lives.

Posted by: slackett at November 03, 2004 02:59 AM (U/uuo)

26 fuck all the muslims ass holes a real coverd basterds

Posted by: Man of the earth at November 03, 2004 08:49 AM (k2CCk)

27 Slackett, I like your thinking. Let's just hope that Bush does something....quickly. :-)

Posted by: Laura at November 03, 2004 01:10 PM (ptOpl)

28 I am moslim but I think all the moslim must shame

Posted by: ryad at November 04, 2004 03:41 AM (IXwYP)

29 Americans have also tortured many Iraqis to death in the prison. Those people died in a more terrible way. If it was videotaped, it could be more shocking. At least these Al Qaeda fighters did kill their victims very speedily. Not like the Americans, who like to torture, to sex-abuse, and then to grin in front of the camera. Now, who is more wicked? Speaking of evil, Americans are second to none.

Posted by: DwDuiDuiNo at November 04, 2004 11:38 AM (OOimA)

30 Hey DwDuiDuiNo - Are you honestly gonna try to spin that liberal bullshit to this crowd that putting panties on a MUSLIM TERRORIST's (is that redundant??) head is the same as sawing off the head of an INNOCENT civilian? You are a fucking asshole. I'm with you Susan: NUKE THE FUCKERS.

Posted by: sasho at November 04, 2004 02:06 PM (pGVwi)

31 i am not going to see this video or any other disgusting portrayals of brutality. I hope they get the bastards though. Bush has worsened this mess, and look at who suffers- some young Japanese kid, hostages, 10s of thousands of iraqi civilizans die, thousands of US soldiers, it's sick... none of them deserve this...all for American's thirst for oil and money. but i say this: I hope they go in and pulverize every square inch of hiding place where those murderers are, and if they get em alive, string em up in the desert, that's right, by their stinky toenails. And if they ever get a chance to string up George Bush and his wealthy mob of murderers in a texas desert, they should do that too. And then, USA, get the hell out and leave iraq alone! You just want the oil, you dont care about freedom.

Posted by: sprmfacial at November 04, 2004 02:46 PM (3+LTh)

32 The murderers of hostages know they have no religion but death, and they will die with no place but darkness left. Their methods are those of cold murderers. They prove no other point but that. So when the hostages are killed we are not angered at Bush, but at the murderers. I agree with the last poster- I hate bush's policy and action in Iraq, but the murderers of hostages do not influence me or anyone else. They have no effect but to show me there are murderers with no soul out there that must be captured and destroyed. Then life will go on as before. Their act of murder has destroyed innocent lives, but their act shows us nothing and proves nothing but murder. For this reason i am surprised the killers have not stopped this barbaric act of kidnapping and killing. My only thought is that they are psychotic killers who hadbeen let out of prison during the last days of Saddams regime. I hope they are silenced soon.

Posted by: bush-eater at November 04, 2004 03:02 PM (3+LTh)

33 bush-eater and sprmfacial: You two are typical retarded liberal pussies.

Posted by: sasho at November 04, 2004 03:11 PM (pGVwi)

34 Killed prisoners??? Are you fucking nuts? What's making them sit in twisted positions and making fun of them got to do with it??? We are NOT BEHEADING them! THey are the enemy, you stupid shithead. Maybe we SHOULD start beheading them, and that Dr. Germ and the other woman they say we have. Start beheadind videos of our own, yes, that's just as bad, but what the fuck, these killers know no other language, so give them a dose of their own medicine and maybe we can put an end to this and to them.

Posted by: Laura at November 04, 2004 04:35 PM (ptOpl)

35 BERT: Better there, than here. Better now, than later. Bring the Jihad on. It won't take long.

Posted by: greyrooster at November 04, 2004 07:39 PM (CBNGy)

36 DWDUIDUINO: You are a liar. Tortured many Iraqis to death. My ass. Why are backward pieces of shit like you allowed to type on a piece of modern technology. Join your stupid monkey mother and climb back in the tree you came from.

Posted by: greyrooster at November 04, 2004 07:57 PM (CBNGy)

37 Aint got much to say. Laura took the words right outa my mouth. I'm getting mighty tired of all these wooly minded liberals out there.Some folks in my bar are saying that maybees we should start smokin them too. Theyre crawling out of the woodwork faster than a sand nigger runs at the return of fire. 'That maybe the enemy is closer to home than we think'. Who's side are you on boys? Thats my question. I'm getting tired,real tired!Got to get some rest, before I really speak my mind, catch you in a couple of hours.

Posted by: sopotamia at November 04, 2004 08:23 PM (lVy4L)

38 Hey greyrooster Almost forgot, got your email, thanks, yeah Bushy boy had me worried their for a while,but he came good in the end! I'd rather live in a world of Bush kicking ass than Crawling Sand NIggers having the whip hand over us with their ramalamadingdong religion shit. Weve got to remember, no other religion is so full of violence or beheads unbelievers . I'm all for upholding peoples right to practice their beliefs,exept these motherfuckers that propogate hate. Get rid of em!

Posted by: sopotamia at November 04, 2004 08:45 PM (lVy4L)

39 The horrific murder of this innocent young Japanese man from a Christian family is just too disgusting for words. It proves, once again, if any more proof were now needed, that Islam is the religion of Satan, and was spawned in Hell itself.

Posted by: Jeff at November 05, 2004 02:31 AM (6xNAa)

40 OMG YOU SICK FUCKS I SEEN THE VIDEO THAT IS VERY SAID HOW HE DIED. SO YOU JUST KILL ANY ONE UHH WHATS NEXT ONE OF YOUR KIDS, WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO SHIT LIKE THAT YOUR ALL GOING TO HELL FOR THE SHIT YOU DO TO PEOPLE MY GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL YOUR JUST MAD CAUSE YOUR NOT IN THE USA DIE A SLOW DEATH YOU FUCK TARTS

Posted by: chablis at November 05, 2004 08:29 AM (QD/ce)

41 1 comment lets nuke em. who cares if we kill innocent iraqi's, If we don't kill em then these Cowardly Militants will. It's a no win situation lets get rid of them all together.

Posted by: Punisher 001 at November 06, 2004 03:17 PM (1mJow)

42 I've said this from the beginning, we need to get rid of them, but get blasted all the time by the peace-loving, anti-war lib's from the UK from the Bigley blog. I think I've found a new home; right here. Yet, if there are THAT many Arab nations, are we to fucking nuke ALL of them? What do we need to do to scare the shit out of these terrorists? I mean, some of them live and breathe right here among us...how do we snuff them all out? I mean I really wanna know, I'm not saying we shouldn't, but how?! We can start by beheading the ones Al Qaeda is wanting released, and tell them we are going to behead one for each one THEY kill and wait for a reaction? I dunno, maybe I need to get some rest too. All of this is too much to bear, I do know I'm getting sick and tired of the same, bleating sheep that keep saying we killed innnocent ciivilians. Yeah, like we picked on them on purpose? Don't they understand that this is WAR and sometimes this is what happens? Then, they tell you, but WE STARTED the war, it was an illegal invasion, Iraq was never a threat. I'm so tired.

Posted by: Laura at November 06, 2004 06:29 PM (ptOpl)

43 Talking about abusing of prisoners-Let them taste other countries' prisons. Guarranty they won't last a year to complain or take out revenge on innocent people. It also would be cheaper to hire other countries to handle the prisoners. Those mujahideen all came out from my ass.

Posted by: TNT at November 12, 2004 02:53 AM (5/V+P)

44 I agree on how horific and I cry everytime I hear something like this happening but WHY WAS HE A TOURIST IN IRAQ?????? I am in NO way saying his choice to be there was justified .. of course not ... this is horrific and we need to do something to stop it .. I dont know what that is ... but why was he there? Is anyone else wondering that as well?

Posted by: Innocent at November 15, 2004 03:47 PM (3Frrd)

45 we should not get carried away and say NUKE them all. we as human beings and americans should remember our logic and morals. these savages are not representative of an entire race or culture. Shosei should be remembered as a living FREE human who died hideously under the (in)direction of some evil individuals. we can only continue spreading our compassion and education and be accepting and open even under the most difficult circumstances. i do not agree 100% with all of our governments directives, but i do not pretend to think i could make any easier decisions. i am lucky to be an american citizen and was adopted by a military couple. though my family and i disagree i have the freedom to do so. and the freedom to understand that in every culture there are psychotics and murdererers.

Posted by: amiko at November 30, 2004 02:13 AM (6krEN)

46 How many people die in afghan & iraqi war?, this is A WAR, WAr...and WAR, USA is WAR!!

Posted by: maria at December 16, 2004 02:32 AM (sMz6j)

47 Hi I was very shocked when I saw these pictures... it is awfull .. disgusting.. no words for it..

Posted by: Talitha from Holland at December 28, 2004 07:10 AM (F3YXf)

48 this is not not not not ISLAM friends

Posted by: rafiuddin at January 02, 2005 01:33 PM (0bqs+)

49 this if ukin unacceptable,hoenstly personally its a piss take,do u know y a say dat?COZ DESE FUKIN IRAQ'S ARE NASTY BASTERDS

Posted by: JOHNNY at January 07, 2005 12:11 PM (Qrd2E)

50 I am almost in tears reading the comments posted here. I am a citizen of the UK who has always begin against this illegal war on Iraq, waged purely for oil on a poor country that has never attacked the US and was found to possess no WMD (the grounds that Bush took you to war). This beheading of a Japanese Tourist was horrific and in no way justified, (although bad idea to go on holiday in a warzone) but this video (which I don't need to see) must be recognised as the Iraqi's desperate plea to Japan to withdraw it's 550 soldiers in Iraq (Japan refused to cooperate). British hostages have also been killed (our government also refused to cooperate). You talk about "nuking" everyone in Iraq, including the innocent, but how many more young American soldiers will lose their lives/ limbs in the attempt? How many more demonstrations of anger like Shosei Kosa will this incite the Iraqis to perform? In a "War on Terror" is genocide of Iraq somehow alright? The terror of this war will continue for as long as such bloodthirsty attitudes prevail, and the US will suddenly find itself in a huge recession as more and more $$$ are poured into weaponry and your young adults are sent into battle for decades. And did you know that Bush has cut US soldiers pay by 33% and crippled US Iraq veterans pay by 60%. I am so frightened for the people of America. I pray that you see sense to protest that your troops be withdrawn from Iraq. Your poor, young men and women are facing death and are just as afraid and desperate as the Iraqi civilians they are killing in their thousands. To many people who have posted on this site- I try to understand why you feel the way that you do, but I believe your anger is dangerously misplaced.

Posted by: isthereanybodyoutthere? at January 07, 2005 07:32 PM (htmLk)

51 I am as liberal as the next but I say nuke the f-kers they are absolutely remorseless, cold f-ks, they deserve the worst typs of pain. America wake the f-k up your thirst for oil is goin to hurt you in ways I'm sure you cannot yet fathom

Posted by: Horrified at January 14, 2005 07:17 AM (+nsN/)

52 I am a United States soldier who has already been to Iraq and now I'm being forced to go to Iraq again .I hate Bush and his adminstration I hate what he's doing to this country. I hate how he keeps relating this war to terrisom when there is no strong evidence Iraq is involved (meaning Saddam Hussein is involved in 9/11).Yes I'm a soldier yes I know I signed my life over to protecting the United States. But who's protecting the soldiers now!? What am I protecting in Iraq ? Why are we liberating Iraq (because we fount Saddam)? What if somebody wanted to liberate us with all the tranny we are acruing in the US! I don't want to lose my life because some idiot is in power and have no plan on how he's going to get " the states out of trouble". I want to fight for freedom . I want to go to a country that actually wants our help. Those fucking people are willing to give there own lives , kill there on people only for us to get the fuck out of there land. GREAT!What am I really fighting over then ? Greed.I don't know what I would do if I was ever kidnapped . Keep calm knowing my country gives two fucks about me. I'm just a number when my time comes about. The only thing my family and my son get is a phone call saying " the Secretary of Defense would like to say a condonces for your lost but we are here to say your troop died in the line of fire.FUCK THAT AND MR PRESIDENT FUCK YOU. I use to love being a US soldier after my tour and if the good lord is willing to bring me back. I'm moving far away from the United States. The only thing this president have done is made America the most wanted place in the world. Yes I am willing to go to Iraq . WHY? I have no choice either that or go to jail . Now who's the tryant / dicator. I love being a soldier but not in Iraq. Don't think that I'm the only that feels that way . Look at the news look at the consqeunces. Protest if you must but we must fix what Mr President fuck up. We need a treaty now not elections. Treaty first the Election talk to these terrorist. Make a plan. It might be easier said then done , BUT IT MUST START SOME WHERE.

Posted by: hidden id at January 21, 2005 05:35 PM (ywZa8)

53 WHAT WRONG DID HE DO TO THE IRAQ'S?

Posted by: japanese at January 21, 2005 08:59 PM (6KvjH)

54 Yes, it is time to nuke All of the Middle East, but America shouldn't do it. Let Russia do it. They never have had the fun of dropping the bomb. This would help get rid of some their nuclear weapons also. Its time to start cleaning up the world and there is a lot to clean up! All of those people are just taking up to much of our time that is needed for other things. Quit dicking around and finish the job once and for all.

Posted by: gah657 at January 22, 2005 08:17 AM (ZNAq7)

55 You guys need to stop blasting the Islamic religion. I myself am a Catholic, and i know what goes on in some Arabic countries with some people, but that does not represent Islam. I know several good Muslims, and they are respectable and very honourable people. As for Shosei Koda and the many other victims of this crime, they were not victims of Islam. They were victims of ransom artists. Kidnapping goes on here in the good old U.S of A all the time, these ``fighters`` are petty little criminals. This is not a war about religion, or what is right! This is propaganda and violence all in the name of money and power. Zarqawi is just a fool taking the fall for a more intelligent man who is lining his pockets with terrorist money. If Zarqawi was really the brains behind this, we would never have heard of him. And Fuck everyone who made racist remarks about Iraqis. They are good people too, and they did not deserve any of the shit that happened to them. My heart goes out to Shosei, i didnt dare watch the video but unfortunately have seen the pics here. I will keep him in my prayers. My heart also goes out to Zarqawi and his men. I hope one day whether its in this life or when they are in heaven that they can finally find peace and let go of all of their pain and suffering. I hope God will help them deal with the sins theyve commited when their day comes.

Posted by: Ipeey Freely at January 22, 2005 06:08 PM (nwY6E)

56 fuck america and israel!

Posted by: god at January 25, 2005 12:34 AM (1VJgn)

57 To the guy who wrote that last comment.. how old are you, 5? Get back in your crib little toddler, you shouldnt be looking at these things. Did you know Islam is against suicide? Suicide bombers forsake their religion, theyre doing it for some rich guy who is losing money, not their Allah. I just wished somehow the top dogs could be uncovered, theyre only hurting the Palestinians with all these suicide attacks. God bless Palestine. I hate what Israel is doing there, but kid. Go back to your crib, you just dont know what youre doing little baby.

Posted by: Ipeey Freely at February 10, 2005 09:25 AM (liTl6)

58 Im so sorry for his family in Japan. Last minutes not wishing his death and having fear, begging this was a dream he wanted to wake up from, there is no god, I am ashamed! I live in safe sweden, but I dream bad bad dreams as a result of seeing these pictures. You people should not publish these videos, You are doing great damage. To the men hurting this poor man I curse their faith to feel the same fear when they ley on their death beds. To always be recognized forever and ever as the murderers they are. And to the people of United states I say please, Please leave Iraq and start doubting your lieing government instead. You are so, so easy to fool, U the millions of ordinary US people. You are no heroes, and you cant fight terrorists with your simple training and mentality. Protect your minds! Dont let anyone fool u anymore. try to think and read between the lines. dont think dollarbills, because the men who are lieing to you are only thinking of how to use your money! stay neutral, always!

Posted by: Philip at February 20, 2005 05:09 PM (VyIeG)

59 They are the follower of Bastard MAWYA son of Abi Sofyan who fought aganist the Prophet Mohammed. These MAWYA followers can do anything they are cruels Not Muslims Not human being. I wish that every soldiers of US Army captures them and Please when you find them do not send them to court or justice bring justice to them SHOOT THEM ON THE HEAD PLEASE.

Posted by: I hate this kind of muslims at February 28, 2005 07:07 AM (loNwd)

60 He was nothing but stupid. He did or will NOT know what he did. When a guy living with you come back home with so many luxuaries, while you work so hard for him/her earining nothing because you are born in poor country, don't you say to him that something wrong in this world? The rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer. Many people take pity on the poor but only to some extent. No matter how you pretend to be a kind or nice guy, you are rich. All rich people are just hypocrites. No guy in rich country has thought of the poor when they leave the power on, throw food, buy cheap material. And the simbol of this thought is United states of America, the evil of this world. But how was it created? Everybody sought the freedom there. In another word, USA is the final goal of human desire. Only the rich, the talented, the power get win. There is no excution. Beat them right now and give them a hell for future, if human beings has still a reason. Otherwise, we are just animal.

Posted by: he asked for it at March 02, 2005 07:13 AM (hB9ER)

61 iev seen all the beheadings they are savage

Posted by: stoner! at March 03, 2005 04:27 AM (7xwYO)

62 US are the real terrorist..i dun pity the japanese man...he deserve to die..

Posted by: mcbeth at March 08, 2005 08:30 AM (ZWIo6)

63 I ust saw some videos. I still got chills. I can't understand it. I can only imagine their pain and their families'. But not all are bad. And that is exactly the image they have of Americans, according to their experience we are all bad, are we? I don't think I am and so I don't dare to generalize. But these sad things are going on all around the world. When we get rid of them... who will get rid of us? since we would have become the bad guys then. So sorry for the families, may GOd be with them!!!

Posted by: Maria at March 23, 2005 03:22 PM (FEYA2)

64 If you see ,if you look to the reality ,maybe you will understand THE REAL TRUTH.What i want to explain now... The thing is that Islam religion,Christian religion and what else all religions are the same. They are creation by humanity to manipulate STUPID humans who believe all this dog shit ...Allah? Jesus?.. all that is used to manipulate humanity Christianity is the same crap like islam and..what else you want Judaism,Budism...etc. ...bhppff

Posted by: 坂本 at April 08, 2005 12:23 PM (z3Jmi)

65 kill those islamic fuckers with a baseball bat with rusty nails sticking out,,,,,i will volunteer to rip thier bowels out

Posted by: nathan young at April 15, 2005 02:18 PM (izSOu)

66 These bloody Basterds have to be chucked out into pieces and given to stray dogs in their own country! Hope their allah is seeing all these and one day i get an opurtunity to cut these basterds into pieces for ever!

Posted by: Mahesh.Krishnan at April 22, 2005 08:01 AM (agj3B)

67 Kill all humans! They are evil, Islams, Americans, every last one of 'em. We're all evil, every one of us, so die, already.

Posted by: Salkhinir at April 26, 2005 01:09 AM (8KTry)

68 all i have to say is that these people that killed the japanes or korean or whatever should burn in hell,along with the rest of these bitches

Posted by: megan at May 03, 2005 01:30 AM (1YMxN)

69 They will get caught and burn in hell either on earth or when they meet the God himself Of good he will destroy there soul for this sick brutal crime.

Posted by: Peter at May 12, 2005 08:42 PM (7iBbU)

70 Oh very very good. Please destruct all frfom USA, England and Israely. Get the peace, kill all american

Posted by: Son of Satan at May 15, 2005 11:56 AM (hCd/d)

71 Oh very very good. Please destruct all from USA, England and Israely. Get the peace, kill all american

Posted by: Son of Satan at May 15, 2005 11:57 AM (hCd/d)

72 hi my name is zainabou trawally and im sorry im muslim too. i go to abrica too and learn quern.

Posted by: zainabou at May 15, 2005 06:48 PM (3Em50)

73 I don't know what to say here. These images are just beyond horrible. I don't understand why these self-proclaimed jihadists beheaded this young man and showed the video. Perhaps, they think it would terrorize and weaken anyone who is brave to stand up against their devil ideas and agenda.

Posted by: hoa truong at May 18, 2005 06:06 PM (AurKJ)

74 Japan should launch a jihad against the whole world.

Posted by: Triaro at May 24, 2005 03:39 AM (WSZK6)

75 You goota be kidding me. It's YOU americans who have started it... The funny thing is: you say: nuke them, kill them, then you add the word god... man... are you serious? good christians indeed...

Posted by: George at May 28, 2005 06:56 AM (aZGLF)

76 You gotta be kidding me. It's YOU americans who have started it... The funny thing is: you say: nuke them, kill them, then you add the word god... man... are you serious? good christians indeed...

Posted by: George at May 28, 2005 06:57 AM (aZGLF)

77 You gotta be kidding me. It's YOU americans who have started it... It's YOUR fault and you cannot even clean up the mess YOU made! The funny thing is: you say: nuke them, kill them, then you add the word god... man... are you serious? good christians indeed...

Posted by: George at May 28, 2005 06:57 AM (aZGLF)

78 Well said. The problem with americans, and especially their "leader" is that they create hatred of other people, other religion, other color, other country, other everything. They maintain their "servant" mass to believe it and it works... Fear is the best way to rule people. When I see pictures of that poor Japanese man and that george bush guy... they are both headless, but unfortunately george can live without his...

Posted by: me at May 28, 2005 07:02 AM (aZGLF)

79 When will the US do what needs to be done? Capture an Islamic terrorist? Kill him. Then kill every one of his male relatives. Kill a terrorist? Identify him, find his relatives, kill them. Foreign "martyrs" come to Iraq to kill Americans and (mostly) Iraqis? Wipe out their families. That is what the Islamic Arab world understands.

Posted by: Earnán at May 28, 2005 10:02 AM (s1Lam)

80 after watching a few of these beheading videos, it leaves me sickened that anyone can do that, i believe that any civilians that do not belong out there get the hell out,let the iraqis fend for themselves. i am in 2 minds about this war, but i am very sure in the fact that i believe in TIT FOR TAT. Catch these evil bastards and let the victims families dish out the punishments, hopefully they will make them suffer?

Posted by: sharon at May 28, 2005 02:58 PM (vFdN+)

81 You are wrong, people... Proof that the government has done its job well. "Be afraid of others, hate others, kill others..." You have indeed well learned the lesson and are like obedient little dogs that will bite at the order of their master... ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!

Posted by: Bob at May 29, 2005 12:34 AM (aZGLF)

82 Fruit.

Posted by: Triaro at May 29, 2005 06:20 PM (HFxYt)

83 To quote a great pacifist: "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one." Unfortunately, you speak for peace and people don't see anything. They call other people names, like you did, and kill for violence, instead of loving for peace. Think about it

Posted by: Bob at May 29, 2005 11:10 PM (aZGLF)

84 I think the way that you get at the Sunni terrorist is each time you identify a terrorist or Al Quaeda member, you kill or imprison all the men in his family. The loyalties of these terrorists are supported by the extended family units. wipe out the family units and you will dismantle the logistical, political and financial support of the Al Quaeda terrorists within Iraq. You also ply pressure to their greatest weakness which is always the thing these people love most; their families. More than money, power or Allah these men love their families. If you take custody of their children and deny their women rights to education, medical care, food and work, Over time you break their spirit. After all,the United States government takes children away from american parents all the time. When the U.S. Government can does it to us, we know how painful that is (divorced dad). Wouldn't it affect them in the same way?

Posted by: Chris at May 30, 2005 12:14 AM (JySPT)

85 You say and know how painful it is to do it to your own people, so why would you want to do it to others? "I suffer, they will suffer too" You are unhappy, angry, frustrated, so you want them to be, too? How about when you are happy? Do you want them to be happy? I don't think so... But why not??? Remember one thing: we are ALL the same: human beings... one head, 2 arms, 2 legs, red blood... Only human being is capable to killing its own... doesn't that make you think? when will that ever stop???

Posted by: bob at May 30, 2005 08:12 PM (aZGLF)

86 Alah loves there people ???????????? The Devil cant stand them .....Moslems NEVER....

Posted by: Peter at July 07, 2005 11:59 AM (D5ZX0)

87 islam vv

Posted by: magicien at September 30, 2005 07:08 PM (YMqiJ)

88 as suggested by somebody, all muslims must be beheaded and their video shown like the same way

Posted by: Gokilan at November 07, 2005 10:34 PM (QUTtd)

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It's been far too long since I had a good hearty blog breakfast. Since I cancelled classes today, I finally have time to do the important work of the untenured college professor: link drop!! But seriously folks, there's a whole lot of shakin goin on out there.

I also endorse Shit Sandwich. Ooh, and more SP related election news bitches.

Larry Sabato is to political science what, er, Rusty Shackleford is to political science (But at least Rusty Shackleford knows he's a hack and limits his pontifications to the four or five thousand people who come here daily while Larry Sabato's assinine opinions are heard by four or five million people. Oh, and he's a hack.) more...

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1 Rusty, as always, Thank you! Not to seem ungrateful, but "office move?" Dude, what about my unrivaled skills as a photojournalist? What about my insights into the very soul of the city? -Biting the hand that feeds me, Gordon

Posted by: Gordon at November 02, 2004 11:18 AM (7b4+6)

2 Rusty, I'm flattered by the attention, but the pinup cartoon used on my site is bound to be sexy--she's a pinup. There are two actual photos of me online, but I'll leave it to you to figure out how to find them. And what about my hot little BRAIN?

Posted by: Attila Girl at November 02, 2004 11:49 AM (SuJa4)

3 Gordo, sorry dude. "Gordo is a genius". Atitila Girl, it's your brains I'm after...I swear baby.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at November 02, 2004 12:09 PM (JQjhA)

4 Glad someone else agrees about Sabato being a hack. He is a total media "ho". I lived in Charlottesville, VA for 15 years (left 2 years ago) and Sabato was on the local news constantly - didn't seem to matter if it was an election year or not. It got so bad in the 2000 election that I would switch channels the second that I heard his name.

Posted by: Kim at November 02, 2004 02:21 PM (SUuFZ)

5 Thanks, Rusty! BTW, how did you get the link you put here? I noticed it had that awful PHPSESSION crap at the end of it, which it isn't supposed to have. Needless to say, I'm still debugging...

Posted by: SparseMatrix at November 02, 2004 02:45 PM (935pb)

6 http://www.threadwatch.org/node/2317/trackback

Posted by: Nck W at April 20, 2005 10:52 AM (ty4sU)

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The penalty for apostasy in Islam is the death penalty (for those of you in my intro class, 'apostasy' means you leave the faith).Dutch Filmmaker Who Criticized Islam Slain in Amsterdam:

A Dutch filmmaker who had received death threats after releasing a movie criticizing the treatment of women under Islam was slain in Amsterdam on Tuesday, police said.
A suspect, a 26-year-old man with dual Dutch-Moroccan nationality, was arrested after a shootout with officers that left him wounded, police said.

Jane uses the news to note that "Freedom of speech is a corollary of freedom of thought."

The rest of the story is below. Commenting on the Dutch PM's PC comment that "Nothing is known about the motive," James Joyner responds: "please, is there really any doubt as to the motive of the murder? "

McQ: "ThatÂ’s a pretty sad testament about a religion if you ask me."

Indeed. more...

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by Demosophist

A great deal has been made of the Democrats' GOTV (get out the vote) program. I was a Democratic organizer and activist for years, and I'm pretty familiar with some of the rigmarole. My thesis is that Kerry's ambiguity is pretty much a wash with Democrats, so their motivation to vote for the candidate is no stronger than in any other year, and probably weaker. In fact, the more hawkish he's compelled to be, in order to match Bush, the less attractive he appears to the Deaniacs. Their motivation comes almost exclusively from their aversion to George Bush. more...

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Reaching into the depths of my vast well of political science factoids I pulled out this little semi-factoid: weather can change the outcome of a Presidential election. Who said it? I dunno, but it seems like something some political scientist must have theorized at some time and then found enough information about to get his findings published in the APSR (that's the American Political Science Review the flagship journal of the profession--mostly used for paperweight). Anyway it's sounds good and I'm too lazy to look it up!!

So, let's pretend for a moment that this very poli-sci-ish sounding theory is correct and try to game the Electoral College. Assume a couple of things. First, that a large voter turnout would mean a Kerry victory in close states. Second, assume that the poorer the weather the better it will be for Bush. This is based on a third assumption which is that Kerry voters are more likely than Bush supporters to have to hoof it, use public transportation, or drive cars which risk floating away in sudden rainstorms.

Ok, so using the above let's look at the states where the pundits have it too close to call. Too close to call is defined by Slate's 'iffy' states.

Florida=Sunny and 86 in Daytona, partly cloudy and 86 in Miami. The AARP goes out in droves, public transportation running smoothely, and convicted felons have no problem making it to the polls.

Jawa call Fla=Kerry.

Ohio=Rain all day in Cleveland, but a balmy 61--unseasonally warm. The same pretty much all over the state. Farmers and SUV loving Bushies will have no problem getting out the vote.

Jawa call Oh=Bush.

Wisconsin=Cloudy and in the mid to upper 40's in Milwaukee. Just chilly enough to suppress the Medicaid/welfare vote, but not so much that it stops the UW-Madison vote. That's a wash.

Jawa call WI=Kerry.

Minnessotta=Sunny and in the mid-40's in Minneapolis/St. Paul, low 40's in Duluth. Average temps all around.

Jawa call MN=Kerry.

Pennsylvania=Rain/heavy rains and in the mid-50's in Western and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Democratic stronghold of Philadelphia is partly cloudy with a high of 62. Fired lawyer-HIV-Springstein vote en masse on the liberal coast.

Jawa call PA=Kerry.

New Hampshire=Chance of rain increases throughout the day and a temperature in the mid-40's. But this is New Hampshire, which means that the richer you are the more likely you are to vote for John Kerry--because, naturally, how could you hold your head up high in your Boston office having voted for that dolt Bush?!? The quick-run-to-get-some-duty-free-Moulson's vote suppressed by old snow-tires and high price of gas.

Jawa call NH=Kerry.

Iowa=Partly cloudy and afternoon temps in the upper-40s. Practically summer in Iowa. Hawkeye kegger party weather-- togas, bonfire, and lots of College Republicans terrorizing the Women's Studies department.

Jawa call Iowa=Bush.

New Mexico=Albuquerque is unseasonally cold with temps in the mid-40's and some snow in the hours before the polls open. The Taos liberals are all still comfortably in the Bahamas--not enough snow to make the migration to the slopes yet--so no advantage there. But the Santa Fe art crowd will wake up to temps in the upper 20s and icy roads. The weather will be just cold enough to suppress the recently trimmed pony-tail laden.

Jawa call NM=Bush.

And as the song goes, and the rest........

The moral of the story is this: pray for bad weather!!!

Can't one of you, like, do a dance or something and rummage up a storm? How about another hurricane in Florida? Some nice hailstorms in Wisconsin?

*I actually think Bush will win, but hey, this was much funner than grading some stupid midterms!!!

*Double PS-As another good poli-scientist, Dr. Choas, noted to me, under this scenario Bush would only need to pull WI or MN to get the tie. Tie goes to the House. The House is Republican. Bush wins.

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Dean Esmay scores his final Swiftie interview, this time with Steve Gardner who served on Kerry's boat for 2.5 of the 3 months JFK saw combat. Money quote:

Just so you do understand, absolutely I do have a grudge against John Kerry for what he did in 1971 and 1972 for what he did when he met with the Viet Cong and said in Senate that we were baby killers and were committing war atrocities--that is absolutely a categorical lie. But the guys who really have a grudge are the POWs that he caused all the harm to because of his self-aggrandizing lies that he told.

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by Demosophist

Why the deuce isn't George W. Bush using this TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST BIN LADEN? Is he, like, politically tone deaf?

Update: Brit Hume just annonced the details of the MEMRI translation on FOX Special Report (6:15 PM). Every vote is important now.

(Cross-posted by Demosophist to Demosophia and Anticipatory Retaliation)

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Last week I reported that a bomb had gone off in downtown Islamobad's (that's the capital of Pakistan for those of you in my intro classes) Marriott hotel. While Pakistani authorities tried to play down the blast as an accident, the fact that the blast was in a lobby frequented by Westerners immediately gave rise suspicions. Turns out, these suspicions were well founded. While ex-Gitmo inmates in Brittain are busy suing the US for illegaly holding them for doing nothing more than studying the Religion of Peace under Osama bin Laden, and current Chinese inmates beg the US not to send them back to China, others have been busy bombing the J.W. Marriot in Islamobad. Via LGF this Reuters piece:

Abdullah Mehsud, a former Guantanamo Bay inmate who masterminded the kidnapping of two Chinese engineers, has claimed responsibility for a blast last week at Islamabad's Marriott Hotel, a journalist said on Monday.

Pakistani journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai said Abdullah, the target of a huge manhunt after the kidnapping of the engineers last month, made the claim after contacting him by telephone from an undisclosed location on Sunday.

"We carried out the Marriott bomb blast," Yusufzai quoted him as saying.

An explosion hit the Marriott Hotel on Thursday, injuring seven people, including a U.S. diplomat, two Italians and the Pakistani prime minister's chief security officer.

The government and the hotel immediately said it was not a terrorist attack and was most probably caused by an electrical short circuit.

But the State Department said it believed the blast, which happened while 11 U.S. officials were at the hotel for a dinner, was caused by a bomb and the U.S. embassy has advised its citizens to stay away from the Marriott.

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Note that the 'rebels' a) are led by remnants of Sadam Hussein's Army b) have chemical weapons c) are collaborating with Zarqawi's al Qaeda linked terrorist organization. The Australian:

AS the US reeled from the death of nine marines in Iraq at the weekend, insurgents in Fallujah claimed to have obtained chemical weapons and threatened to use them in any battle for control of the rebel stronghold.

Rebel commanders said chemicals such as cyanide had been added to mortar rounds and missiles that would be deployed against coalition troops reported to be preparing for a major assault on the town west of Baghdad.

A military committee made up of former officers in Saddam Hussein's army, including experts on chemicals and guerrilla warfare, is said to have been organising forces in Fallujah and planning tactics.

The committee is understood to include members of all the main insurgent groups, including that of Iraq's most wanted man, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the terrorist leader behind the beheading of several foreign hostages and a string of car-bomb attacks.

Others: Right on Red, NZ Bear

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Since most of my intro classes are taught on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, today afforded me the last opportunity to give some advice to students who are about to get their election cherries popped. Here's what I told them: DON'T VOTE.

PS-Amen.

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Thanks to James Joyner for alerting me that the BBC is reporting that four more hostages have been siezed in Iraq, including one American. Two of the hostages are reportedly non-Iraqi Arabs, while the fourth is from Nepal. The Washington Times reports:

The abductions, which reportedly left one kidnapper dead, occurred in the Mansour district of the capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but officials said Muslim insurgents were almost certainly behind the crime.

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by Demosophist

According to MEMRI the Osam speech delivered on Saturday threatens each individual state in thet US that votes in favor of Bush. So, I guess that means that New York is OK but Virginia is "in trouble" unless we can float the excuse that his message was garbled by the press. Boy, if Hawaii goes for Bush they're sure gonna kick themselves, huh? From MEMRI: more...

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On October 28th we reported that three UN workers had been taken hostage in Afghanistan. Yesterday, a video was released of the three hostages pleading for their lives. The hostages were in Iraq to help with last months elections and all were employed by the UN. They are Annetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland, Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan and Shqipe Habibi of Kosovo. As more evidence that involving the UN does not translate into support for US policies, the terrorists "threatened to kill them unless U.N. and British troops leave Afghanistan and Muslim prisoners are freed from U.S. jails (source: China Daily)".

The BBC reports that the deadline set by the terrorists has been extended. In what seems to be a precaution against raids aimed at freeing the hostages, their are also reports that the three have been split up.

UPDATE: Make that threatening to behead the hostages. more...

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From the same country that stones 13 year old girls to death for incest comes this news. AP:

To shouts of "Death to America," Iran's parliament unanimously approved the outline of a bill Sunday that would require the government to resume uranium enrichment, legislation likely to deepen an international dispute over Iran's nuclear activities....

Some lawmakers broke out with shouts of "Death to America!" after the conservative-dominated parliament after lawmakers voted to advance the nation's nuclear program, an issue of national pride that provides a rare point of agreement between conservatives and reformers.

Parliament speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel called Sunday's vote a message to the world.

"The message of the absolute vote for the Iranian nation is that the parliament supports national interests," he said. "And the message for the outside world is that the parliament won't give in to coercion."

The legislation said the goverment is "required to make use of scientists and the country's facilities ... in order to enable the country to master peaceful nuclear technology, including the cycle of nuclear fuel."

Vic at anti-com.com: "Does anyone reading this even know what Kerry's position on Iran is? Let's get our allies involved? Let's get France and Germany and Britain involved? Let's get the international community involved? Let's get the IAEA involved? Let's get the UN involved? They already are."

G. Turner over at AIR links to Kerry's own words from his own official campaign website: "If this process fails, we must lead the effort to ensure that the IAEA takes this issue to the Security Council for action."

Posted by: Rusty at 08:51 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Sometime over the weekend, my little pet Jawa reached one million page-views! Sit Jawa, sit. Nice Jawa. Good boy!

Yeah, it's not one million visits, but we're halfway there. Thanks to BRD and Demosophist for stepping up to the plate and becoming my partners in crime.

PS-All this without a single Instalaunche---no sour grapes, though.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:39 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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As noted here a few days ago, the Swifties promised to break some big news about John Kerry's less than honorable discharge. I then tried to help spread the word that the announcement would come at a rally at the Capital. Well, it looks like the info the Swifties had was not as shocking as some of my readers had suggested it would be and they pulled the plug on the event. I know Beth is pretty pissed about this, but I would remind her that the early reports at the Swiftie board promised that a former Sec. of Navy would confirm speculation on Kerry's discharge and not a former JAG officer--which is what we got.

Still, this World Net Daily article by Earl Livey does a pretty decent job at piecing together the case that John Kerry was not honorably discharged from the Navy. The Sun also runs a story by Thomas Lipscomb, the man who had first speculated on Kerry's discharge on the 13th of Oct. Of course, John Kerry could clear all of this up if he would just authorize the DOD to release all of his records, something President Bush has done. From WND:

There is overwhelming evidence that the Navy gave John Kerry either a dishonorable discharge or an undesirable discharge – which is the equivalent of a dishonorable discharge without the felony conviction – and that, as a result of such discharge, he was stripped of all of his famous but questionable Navy awards and medals. And the kicker? The evidence is on his website! ...

What Mr. Lipscomb noticed (and I overlooked when I first read the document) was the date of the posted discharge, Feb. 16, 1978. This was six years after Kerry's six-year (1966-1972) commitment to the Navy ended. The anti-war detractor of our military did not re-up for another six-year term in 1972, so why the delay of his discharge? The only logical conclusion is that the 1978 honorable discharge was a second discharge given to replace an earlier undesirable discharge under less-than-honorable conditions, as unfit for military service.

A former officer in the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps Reserve has built a case that Senator Kerry was other than honorably discharged from the Navy by 1975, The New York Sun has learned.

The "honorable discharge" on the Kerry Web site appears to be a Carter administration substitute for an original action expunged from Mr. Kerry's record, according to Mark Sullivan, who retired as a captain in the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps Reserve in 2003 after 33 years of service as a judge advocate. Mr. Sullivan served in the office of the Secretary of the Navy between 1975 and 1977....

"Mr. Meehan may well be right and all Mr. Kerry's military records are on his Web site," Mr. Sullivan said. "Unlike en listed members, officers do not receive other than honorable, or dishonorable, certificates of discharge. To the contrary, the rule is that no certificate will be awarded to an officer separated wherever the circumstances prompting separation are not deemed consonant with traditional naval concepts of honor. The absence of an honorable discharge certificate for a separated naval officer is, therefore, a harsh and severe sanction and is, in fact, the treatment given officers who are dismissed after a general court-martial."....

It is hard to see why Mr. Kerry had to file an "extremely late" application since he lost the congressional race in Lowell, Mass., the first week of November 1972 and was basically doing nothing until he entered law school the following September of 1973.A member of the Harvard Law School admissions committee recalled that the real reason Mr. Kerry was not admitted was because the committee was concerned that because Mr. Kerry had received a less than honorable discharge they were not sure he could be admitted to any state bar. [There's more in the Sun article, read the whole thing]

the information I received yesterday was that the story would go beyond circumstantial evidence, and have actual, on-the-record testimony from at least one senior military official with knowledge of Kerry's discharge.

That didn't happen. But if you read to the bottom of Sullivan's piece, you can see one potential reason why:

"All officials with knowledge of what specifically happened in Mr. Kerry's case are muzzled by the Privacy Act of 1974.The act makes it a crime for federal employees to knowingly disclose personal information or records."

Posted by: Rusty at 08:31 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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by Demosophist

It's a pretty gloomy Monday. The Redskins lost yesterday, the polls are ambiguous at best, a speech by Osama against Bush gets spun so that it helps Kerry, and logical fallacies repeated with mind-numbing frequency at a setting of 11 on the volume knob seem to count for valid argument. Beldar holds the theory that we're "creating terrorists" in about as much esteem as the theory that leaving the meat at room temperature will spontaneously generate maggots: more...

Posted by: Demosophist at 07:53 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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by Demosophist

Well, reading that little Mark Steyn piece helped (hat tip Gerard). I was pretty bummed, mostly by the apparent circumstance that the Osama speech, according polling guru Schneider, helped Kerry. So the aging Hamlet furrowed his brow, and stroking his razor-sharp chin decides that the thing to do after the man that orchestrated the murder of 3,000 Americans waggles his finger at the nation, is to take a freakin' poll! Just to test the waters with his toe lest he get a chill jumping in. And after "asking the audience" he decides that the way to play it is to hype the defeatism angle... like that's a new wrinkle for him. more...

Posted by: Demosophist at 12:21 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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What's worse: the guy who pimps the link free for all or the whore who links to him?

Posted by: Rusty at 12:21 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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