Contrary to what a few liberals want, I personally believe Osama bin Laden, once captured, doesn't deserve a trial.

Osama Bin Laden, 15 Feet, Slow Fire

Osama Bin Laden, 25 Feet, Rapid Fire

Maybe one shot from every family member who lost a loved one on 9/11.

Originally Posted at

Posted by: Chris Short at 04:42 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
Post contains 62 words, total size 1 kb.

Interesting development in the Oklahoma suicide-bombing carried out by Joel Henry Hinrichs III on Oct. 1st outside a University of Oklahoma football game. CNS is reporting that the FBI is now denying that they have found any links between Hinrichs and Islamic terrorists. CNSNews:

The head of the FBI investigation of a suicide bombing at an Oklahoma University football game said the investigation has yielded no information tying the bomber to terrorist activities, in spite of Internet reports to the contrary.

When asked if NIN's reports are consistent with the FBI investigation, [Gary] Johnson [who is heading the investigation from the bureau's Oklahoma City office] said, "No," then added, Well okay the stuff that's found in his apartment, I can't comment on [be]cause it's part of a search warrant that's sealed.

"As this time," he said, "there is no known link between Hinrichs and any terrorist or extremist organization group or activity or activities." Johnson said the investigation is ongoing.

As we stated the very first time we posted on Hinrichs, NIN has not proved to be the most reliable source in the past. Despite this, they remain on my daily reading list and I believe Hagmann provides a valuable service. It's very possible that some of the information past on to NIN them is incorrect, but that other bits of information given to them by their sources is wrong.

What we know about Joel Henry Hinrichs is dwarfed by what we don't know. For instance, Hinrichs attempting to purchase ammonium nitrates is part of the public record. What we don't know, though, is why Hinrichs was after ammonium nitrates if he was a lone suicidal nut. Maybe he just wanted to go out with a bigger-boom? It's possible.

So what is the truth about Hinrichs? Was he part of an Islamic terror cell in Norman, Oklahoma? Still too early to tell based on public information.

NIN more than stretches unrelated bits of information when they say follow the money and uniquivocally claim Hinrichs was part of a terror cell.

But it's also way too early to dismiss the notion given the context of the present war against radical Islam. When someone commits what is normally considered an act of war (suicide-bomb), during a time of war, it's not being hasty to come to the initial conclusion that the act in question was part of the larger war.

So, we'll continue to cover this story as a case of terrorism--just as the FBI continues to investigate it as an act of terrorism--until all avenues of investigation have been exhausted.

This and all other posts related to Joel Henry Hinrichs and the Oklahoma bombing can be found on this archive.

PS-I swear I'm going to post less....

Posted by: Rusty at 04:06 PM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
Post contains 535 words, total size 4 kb.

Cindy Sheehan, the left-wing conspiracy nut hailed by the MSM as a simple mother who lost her son in Iraq and just wants the troops to come home, has written a letter confirming her status as a moonbat and accusing the Bush Administration of being an "evil cabal". In the letter, she also admits to being a Left-wing peace activist, and not the 'peace mom' as she is often portrayed in the media which routinely overlooks her anti-semetic and nutty conspiracy statements. It's an old letter, but new to me.

From A Word From Cindy Sheehan:

The media are wrong. The people who have come out to Camp Casey to help coordinate the press and events with me are not putting words in my mouth, they are taking words out of my mouth.

Contrary to what the mainstream media thinks, I did not just fall off a pumpkin truck in Crawford, TX. on that scorchingly hot day two weeks ago. I have been writing, speaking, testifying in front of Congressional committees, lobbying Congress, and doing interviews for over a year now. I have been pretty well known in the progressive, peace community and I had many, many supporters before I left even left California.

What else does Cindy Sheehan say in her letter? She calls the war her son so bravely died:

George Bush's war for imperialism and insatiable greed.

My son died for NOTHING, and George Bush and his evil cabal and their reckless policies killed him

my son died for LIES. George Bush LIED to us and he knew he was LYING...I believe that George lied and he knew he was lying. He didn't use patriotic rhetoric. He lied and made us afraid of ghosts that weren't there. (emphasis Cindy Sheehan's)

She then asks a series of rhetorical questions. Rhetorical because Sheehan and her moonbat friends know why we went to war and Bush lied. It's the Jews, of course. Or, if not the Jews, its about the oil. And if not about the oil about imperialism. And if not about imperialism then, well, you get the picture. There are real reasons for fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, that have nothing to do with democratization, national interests, or fighting terrorists and the states that sponsor them.

What makes this all so ironical is that I found this letter published in a "Jewish magazine".

The Jawa has spoken.

Posted by: Rusty at 10:20 AM | Comments (21) | Add Comment
Post contains 578 words, total size 4 kb.

"C" at Way Off Bass admits the un-admittable in the process of reviewing The 40 Year Old Virgin: he is a 40 year old virgin. No, I haven't seen the movie yet, but after reading his review I think I sort of have to.

So, why am I writing this post after I swore off blogging for the time being? Because such self-revealing, brave, and honest writing is rare in the blogosphere. Go give it a look.

Ok, yes I'm blogging but this kind of post takes seconds.

And if you're a single-gal, in the Los Angeles area, Mormon, who is into poetry, doesn't mind geeks, and looking to get married, I can recommend no one better than "C" to ask out on a date. It's a start.

And once the two of you do get hitched, for the love of all that is holy, please help "C" out with his, er, problem....

Posted by: Rusty at 09:07 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 173 words, total size 1 kb.

In the time it took to write this post, Richard Perle and other prominent Neo-smurf Zionist smurfs at the Defense Policy Smurf, planned to smurf Smurf children with thousand pound smurfs. Meanwhile, smurfs at Haliburton grow richer off the smurfs of dead smurfs. All we are saying, is give smurf a chance!

Brought to you by UNICEF.

Hat tip to Shawn at Bare Knuckle Politics who has the UNICEF produced video of bombs falling on Smurfs here for France Junior TV. Seriously.

More commentary from Kevin Aylward at Wizbang and Jeff at Caerdroia. (PS-Come on, this post took like 2 minutes.....)

UPDATE: Dave at Garfield Ridge is just funny.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:17 AM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
Post contains 119 words, total size 1 kb.

(Brisbane, Queensland) In a previous report, eight flight attendants sued Virgin Blue Air Lines on the basis that they were discriminated against because of their ages and the air line only hired younger and more-shapely women. The older attendants contended that they didn't have a fair chance for a job during the application process. They filed a formal complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal in Brisbane.

The ruling of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal favored the flight attendants, finding today that they were discriminated against on the basis of age. The tribunal awarded $5,000 to the initial claimant, Alma Frank. Claims for monetary remuneration have been filed by the other seven oldsters.

My take is that there are circumstances where an employer wants youth, vigor, and attractiveness. In particular, regarding job qualifications for positions dealing with the public, those attributes shouldn't be considered unreasonable. Taken to the extreme, anti-discrimination rules concerning employees' ages would mandate that Hooters Restaurant hire 50-year-old waitresses. If so, the business would end up sagging, figuratively and literally.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 04:08 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 186 words, total size 2 kb.

If you have been watching quietly like I have the leftÂ’s smug attitude and utter glee at recent Republican troubles and have been waiting for the other shoe to drop here you go. It seems this story has all the elements of all the stories the left has been shouting about for weeks now all in one place. So have the Democrats become the new party of honesty and good moral judgement?

Chicago Tribune:

Child-welfare advocates on Saturday said they were concerned and angered by newly disclosed allegations that more than $60,000 in Department of Children and Family Services funds ended up in a bank account controlled by a former high-ranking DCFS administrator with close ties to Gov. Rod BlagojevichÂ… Â… "For Illinois' child-welfare advocates, who have fought so long to ensure that money actually gets to the kids and the people who serve them, this is a sad reminder that DCFS is still vulnerable as an agency to hustlers who apparently think they can act with impunity in fleecing the system," said Ronald Davidson, a University of Illinois at Chicago faculty member and a state DCFS consultant since 1994

ILL Republican Newsletter:

GOVERNOR'S CRONY HAUNTS STATE AGENCY. The Department of Children and Family Services is the latest state agency to fall under federal scrutiny as it was revealed this week that a political crony of Governor Blagojevich's, Bamani Obadele, had shifted agency funds into personally controlled bank accounts. The U.S. Attorney's office subpoenaed DCFS documents this week in connection with the scandal and are investigating questionable relationships Obadele had with vendors. DCFS services suffered under the leader ship of Obadele resulting in numerous internal complaints. The unqualified Obadele was appointed to the post at the agency after helping the Governor win Chicago's south side during the 2002 campaign. Unfortunately, the ones who suffered from the crony appointment were the children who needed these services the most.

Uh, guess not huh.

Posted by: Howie at 09:20 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 329 words, total size 2 kb.

Bluto is oppressing the masses today by playing golf with his son. While Bluto amuses his atavistic capitalistic impulses with a game that celebrates the symbolic rape of oppressed peoples everywhere, I, Otulb the Terrible, shall explain to you why today is not a holiday, but an occasion to mourn with the wearing of sackcloth and the gnashing of teeth.

We are called to "celebrate" the birth of an Italian merchant prince, a rogue whose name is Anglicized to "Christopher Columbus", who we are lead to believe is responsible for the "discovery" of the "New World". Blasphemy! Columbus merely happened upon a world previously discovered by its pure, innocent, peaceful, indigenous peoples who were living in a state of equilibrium with sacred Nature. Columbus allowed all of the evil that flowed from the reactionary proto-capitalist centers of trade and commerce in Europe.

Centuries before, Leif Ericson had noted the existence of the Americas and correctly identified the inhabitants as sharing the peaceful, nature-loving tenets of his own misunderstood Viking culture. Ericson lovingly protected the environment of the American aborigines by concealing its existence from the monstrous monarchical regimes already oppressing most of Europe. The gentle Viking knew, from the oppression practiced against his people by the vicious barbarians to the south, that the rapacious Europeans would spell doom for the worthy cultures flourishing in the "New World".

But the greedy merchant princes of Italy and Spain were not to be denied. Not satisfied with their growing oppression of the peaceful Japanese and Chinese cultures, they sought a shorter route to impose their will on their Asian brothers and discovered an innocent childlike race to brutalize.

All modern evil has flowed from the voyage of Columbus. It was his "discovery" that allowed the rise of the maniacal West, through the exploitation of the resources of the Americas. Surely, Adolph Hitler would have succeeded in wiping the stain of Western civilization from the map had it not been for the intervention of the diseased oligarchy running the United States. Likewise, Brother Lenin's holy experiment in raising up the oppressed masses came to grief only through the intervention of the imperial American hegemonistic bourgeoisie and their running dog lackeys in NATO. Even today, the vile scions of American imperialist exploiters afflict and oppress our peaceful Muslim brothers in pursuit of the Holy Oil.

Otulb the Terrible invites you to join him in cursing the memory of the evil merchant prince who has brought so much suffering into the world.

Down with Christopher Columbus! Vile Oppressor of Generations and Tool of the Worldwide Capitalist Conspiracy!

Otulb has also posted this right-thinking historical document at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Posted by: Bluto at 06:23 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 456 words, total size 3 kb.

Caption this photo of the leader of Islamic Jihad, Mohammed Al Hindi.

A fatwa will be issued Monday against the winners.

Fatwas have been issued!:

T. Azeredo - "An inch of Hindi is 2.54 cm of Love"

Charlotte- "Don't worry, children. Blowing yourself up feels just like a little bee sting.
You can trust me- I'm a pediatrician."

MonkMojo - "I'm crushing your head, I'm crushing your head..."

Honorary fatwa for gratuitous Harriet Miers mention:

YJLAW - "And I was this far from the nomination. But nooooooo, George said Harriet Meirs will piss my constituents off more. By Allah's goat, its the story of my life..."

Posted by: Rusty at 04:52 PM | Comments (40) | Add Comment
Post contains 120 words, total size 1 kb.

I'm going on blog sabbatical starting immediately. No more than a single post daily for the rest of the month. Things should return to normal after then. Sorry, but I have some deadlines that have to be met and such. And then there's that family commitment thing. In the meantime I'm here, I'm just not here, if you get my drift.

Posted by: Rusty at 04:19 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 81 words, total size 1 kb.

UPDATED: Scroll down for updates. This is looking less like terrorism, and more like a minor prank.

One bomb exploded and two more have been found at Georgia Tech.

Via Jason at Generation Why and Reaganites Unite this news report:

Three explosive devices found in a courtyard between two Georgia Tech dormitories on the East Campus Monday morning were part of a "terrorist act," an Atlanta police official said.

One of the devices exploded, injuring the custodian who found them inside a plastic bag. Two others were detonated by a bomb squad.

The custodian suffered ringing to the ears and was treated at a local hospital. The events led to a temporary evacuation Monday morning.

"It is a terrorist act at this point and depending on the outcome of the investigation it potentially could become a federal violation as well," said Major C.W. Moss of the Atlanta Police Department.

Developing......

UPDATE: Witnesses from the scene are suggesting that this may be no more than a minor prank. Let me confess something: Many years ago, before the GWOT, I constructed more than my fair share of dry-ice powered bottle-bombs. Here is what one reader, Stephen-- who I checked into and is actually at Georgia Tech --says happened at the scene:

I walked by the janitor at about 8:40 as I went to go eat breakfast. I heard the pop not 15 feet away from him (I was basically in front of dumpsters by Cloudman - he was by trash cans outside Glenn). I turned around when I heard it, it looked like he had just pinched a plastic bag with his clamper picker upper things - it was louder than a ziploc explosion but not that loud.

One important aspect of the case, however, is how the Atlanta Police jumped to the conclusion that this was an act of terror. It looks like they were wrong, but I am happy that law enforcement is erring on the side of caution in Atlanta.

Now contrast that with how the University of Oklahoma jumped to the conclusion, less than 90 minutes after the suicide-bombing of Joel Henry Hinrichs III, that it was not an act of terrorism--even though it was much, much worse and much more suspicious.

I'd feel much safer if I were a GT student than an OU student right now.

Michelle Malkin is following this much more closer than The Jawa.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:53 PM | Comments (34) | Add Comment
Post contains 434 words, total size 3 kb.

The University of Oklahoma student newspaper, The Oklahoma Daily (OD), today calls for the FBI break its silence on Joel Henry Hinrichs III--the OU student who blew himself up outside a football game on Oct. 1. The reason? To dispell the myths propogated by online 'hacks' that are claiming that the Oklahoma bomber, Hinrichs, may have been part of a larger Islamic terror plot.

Underlying today's editiorial is the assumption that Hinrichs was not part of a larger plot and that any evidence to the contrary is simply poor journalism.

The Oklahoma Daily even goes so far as to call those circulating this evidence "liars".

Such accusations come as no surprise to Jawa Report readers. The prevailing wisdom in both academia and in the media is that worries about homegrown Islamic terror cells are overblown. In many corners, especially prevelant in our nations' universities, there is even suspicion that the Bush Administration is really behind domestic terror fears as a way of diverting the publics' attention away from real issues.

It remains to be seen whether of not Joel Henry Hinrichs III was part of a larger Islamic terror plot. Stating unequivocally that he was part of such a plot is, in fact, shoddy journalism.

However, it is equally shoddy journalism to state, unequivocally, that Hinrichs was not part of such a plot. And to state, unequivocally, that there is no evidence that would lead some to this conclusion is the type of head-buried-in-the-sand type of journalism that we've come to expect out of the mainstream-media and in who's image aspiring journalists are molded.

There is, in fact, a great deal of circumstantial evidence to suggest that Hinrichs' death was a failed terror attack. Glaringly missing from today's OD editorial is the fact that Hinrichs was under investigation by local authorities because he had attempted to buy ammonium nitrate, a key ingredient in the truck bomb used to bring down the Murrah building in Oklahoma City by Timothy McVeigh. Hinrichs, of course, blew himself up before the investigation could be completed. A first, we might add, since there is no record of an American killing himself by explosion.

Further, neighbors of Hinrichs claim he was a frequent visitor to a nearby mosque. The leaders of the OU Muslim Student Association, though, deny that Hinrichs was a Muslim. At best, then, we have conflicting reports. But just because the OU student newpaper cannot confirm that Hinrichs attended the mosque in question does not mean that media reports to the contrary are fabrications. They could be fabrications, but, then again, so could the denials.

The problem with this student newspaper, and the mainstream-media in general, is that they cower in fear over reaction to any implication that the Muslim community might have a greater propensity towards terrorism than, say, the Mennonite community. They are, in fact, held hostage from the truth by their unwavering faith that all religious ideologies are equal in driving violence as those on the other end of the spectrum are held hostage from the truth by their unwavering faith that Islam, alone, is responsible for the ills of the world.

They are right in the central premise of the editorial: the FBI ought to release pertinent information. But they make a major assumptive leap, which is quite revealing, that whatever information the FBI has would be exculpatory rather than damning.

Release the information, they say, because we know (without having seen this information) that it will prove there is no Islamic terror cell at the OU campus.

The fact remains that we have no idea what evidence the FBI has. The only bit of revealing information about which way the evidence is leading the FBI is a single statement from first assistant attorney for the Justice Department in Oklahoma City, Bob Troester, who said:

We don't comment on sealed indictments.

Of course, Troester's statement could have been a slip of the tongue. He could have meant sealed search warrant rather than indictment. People make mistakes, slips of tongue happen. But until such time as the Justice Department seeks to clarify the statement, then we ought to assume that they meant what they said.

The fundamental question raised is whether or not we have learned anything from 9/11 or not? Do we continue to treat terrorism, as we did prior to 9/11, as an act of criminality or do we treat terrorism as an act of war?

If a mere criminal act, then the public ought to reserve judgement. Innnocent until proven guilty, it is better to let a hundred guilty men go free than convict one innocent, etc., etc, and all that. The greatest fear among people with this point of view is that innocents are unfairly branded enemies and that publications, like this, might call someone a name they don't desrve.

If an act of war, then the public has a right to expect that affirmative measures will be taken to assure that such acts will not take place in the future. In war, there is no presumption of innocence. In fact, when an act of war (such as a bombing) takes place on a field of battle (as the American homeland now is) in such a way that the only known incidents of the act have been perpetrated by enemy combatents (as suicide-bombings are relatively rare outside the Islamic terror community), then one ought to presume terrorism until otherwise disproven.

We at The Jawa Report take the latter stance. The context of war changes everything. If the OD does not understand that we are at war and that the field of battle is U.S. soil itself, then they have learned nothing from 9/11. Their greatest fear may be that innocents are unfairly branded terrorists, and that is a legitimate concern.

Our greatest fear, though, is that our enemies walk freely among us, using that presumption of innocence to plot our demise and kill us. In either case, the possibility of being wrong is present, but only in the latter will being wrong get people killed.

So, since the good editors at the OD decided to call us hacks (and worse) for suggesting that Hinrichs might just be part of a larger plot, let us practice that age old journalistic practice of tit-for-tat and suggest that it is the OD that is staffed by hacks. But hacks isn't sufficient a word to describe people who's agenda it is to make all seem right at OU, despite the fact that a student just blew himself up outside of a football game. No, hacks is reserved for mundane political types who say what they say in order to get their guy elected. As far as we can tell no one is running for election at OU--unless of course David Boren is thinking of coming out of retirement--so hacks isn't appropriate here. A far stronger term is needed to describe people willing to cover up what looks to be an act of terrorism in America's heartland and call that responsible journalism.

Any guesses on what that word is? Please put your answers in the comments section.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:01 PM | Comments (39) | Add Comment
Post contains 1230 words, total size 8 kb.

CENTCOM Public Affairs

October 10, 2005
Release Number: 05-10-32

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIRST U.S. HUMANITARIAN AIRLIFT REACHES ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A United States Air Force C-17 delivered the first relief supplies here within 48 hours of the devastating earthquake that has left thousands dead and thousands more injured and displaced.

The aircraft and its crew from the 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 12 pallets -- weighing almost 90,000 pounds -- of food, water, medicine and blankets from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.

With only a few hours notice, Airmen and soldiers at Bagram, successfully worked to palletize the humanitarian relief supplies and prepare them for the flight. Three aerial port specialists were also on the flight to coordinate and manage the cargo once it arrived at Islamabad.

"This was a total team effort," said Col. Mike Isherwood, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Vice Commander. "Our hearts go out to all those affected by the earthquake and we are thankful we were able to help out."

Pakistan Army Brig. Gen. Imtiaz Sherazi, director of logistics, is coordinating the relief efforts as supplies arrive and ensuring rapid distribution of assistance to areas that need it most.

Said General Sherazi, "These items are very valuable to us because there are lots of people in great distress."

As relief efforts are ongoing worldwide, United States Central Command will continue to identify and provide additional capabilities for airborne reconnaissance, heavy lift ground equipment, medical support, shelters, rations and water to aid and assist the people of Pakistan.

October 9, 2005
Release Number: 05-10-30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE more...

Posted by: Chris Short at 10:51 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 568 words, total size 4 kb.

See California Conservative for the details. I've been so busy I have several things I wanted to blog but the time just is not there. So Sorry CC better late than never.

"We need to attack Jesus..." - atheist Philip Paulson,
who filed a lawsuit challenging the presence of the cross
on city land in 1989.

Posted by: Howie at 10:08 AM | Comments (23) | Add Comment
Post contains 61 words, total size 1 kb.

1 >>>"The city has attempted twice to sell the property to the Mount Soledad Association, but federal courts have overturned the sales because they said the transactions favored a buyer who would preserve the cross." Wow. Now the activist courts are in the business of discerning people's hearts and motives. That's out of control.

Posted by: Carlos at October 10, 2005 11:35 AM (8e/V4)

2 As serious an issue as this may be, I couldn't help thinking, "Go ahead, Phil, attack Jesus, I think he can take you."

Posted by: Brian B at October 10, 2005 11:39 AM (rGfpg)

3 yep not a laughing matter cept how do you attack he in whom you don't believe. If you really don't believe why attack?

Posted by: Howie at October 10, 2005 11:46 AM (D3+20)

4 Yes, Carlos, that is one part of the business they are in. These activist judges will do whatever they can to destroy Christianity and whatever tradition might remain in the US. They know that the only way to destroy the US is to destroy the traditions and mores that unite us as a people. The wish to destroy Christianity I don't get, because what will ultimately take its place will utterly destroy the liberals and the Left. I am mystified by the motivation of the Left. What do they think will be accomplished? It is truly one of the mysteries of this age.

Posted by: jesusland joe at October 10, 2005 11:55 AM (rUyw4)

5 Jesus, The Bible speaks of anti-christs, and in my view this Lefties fit the bill to a tee. The Constitution restricts the GOVERNMENT'S acts and motives, not the people's. That's why that court ruling is so fucked up. It's basically saying that the citizen's motives (the buyer) are improper. The BUYER'S motives are unconstitutional. If he was instead an atheist, the sale coult have gone through! Unbelievable. Could these activistas in black robes be anymore transparent? I think not.

Posted by: Carlos at October 10, 2005 12:09 PM (8e/V4)

6 I just read an interesting (maybe) Instapundit co-analysis of Joe's question, the roots of this by a guy named James C. Bennett: which speaks to me as byproduct of anti-Catholic Protestant elitism: This is primarily an effect of the Calvinist Puritan roots of American progressivism. Just as Calvinists believed in the centrality of the depravity of man, with the exception of a minuscule contingent of the Elect of God, their secularized descendants believe in the depravity and cursedness of Western civilization, with their own enlightened selves in the role of the Elect. HTH

Posted by: -keith in mtn. view at October 10, 2005 12:12 PM (T85lV)

7 Brian took the words out of my mouth. I'd only add that Paulson is being disengenuous. He's attacking a target closer to home. Keith, while Calvinists and other Reformed thinkers believe in the depravity of man - and who can fault that kind of thinking? - they believe that only God can regenerate the heart. This doesn't make them less the sinner; the Holy Spirit works in their life through discipleship in scripture and fellowship toward their sanctification. It often seems that He's working faster in some of us than in others. Paulson could clearly benefit from a less-stony heart. To complete your analogy, one must remove a personal God from the equation, putting human wisdom and understanding at the pinnacle. With that sort of equation, it's easy to see how some of us believe we should be in authority over others, like shephards and sheep. Democracy is much more respectful of the individual.

Posted by: tee bee at October 10, 2005 12:27 PM (q1JHF)

8 I don't believe that any government entity should promote or discourage religion in any way whatsoever, but these people are on an anti-crusade, but we shouldn't be surprised, because they're just a bunch of ACLU commies. I'm an atheist, but not like them, not at all; these people make me sick and are traitors to the prinicples of Liberty.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at October 10, 2005 01:44 PM (0yYS2)

9 IM, you're the kind of atheist I can live with-- that we HAVE lived with since the founding of this country. But these anti-God types are out of control.

Posted by: Carlos at October 10, 2005 01:54 PM (8e/V4)

10 Carlos, the sentiments are mutual. I have nothing against Christians, and even think that Christianity is a necessary influence to the development of civil society, I'm just not wild about government involvement in religion. After all, do we want to look to the same government that gave us Amtrak and Social Security for our spiritual guidance?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at October 10, 2005 02:01 PM (0yYS2)

11 Another wretched atheist trying to force himself on us all why should we be allow these jerks to force themselves on us they are your usial selfish self centered soclialists forcing the,selves on us and getting help from the supreume court and its band of idiots

Posted by: sandpiper at October 10, 2005 02:04 PM (U+eLg)

12 IM, the Europeans do. Their churches are state-sponsored. Their pastors are paid by the State. Ironic, no?

Posted by: Carlos at October 10, 2005 02:06 PM (8e/V4)

13 Fuck it, I'm going to attack Buddha. I'm going to punch that fat bastard right in the nose and wipe that silly smile off his smug little face. Grrrrrr! A little off topic: Type "Failure" into google, then press "I'm feeling lucky" and see what comes up. Hmmmmm...

Posted by: osamabinhiding at October 10, 2005 02:12 PM (Ttija)

14 osama, that's why I don't use google anymore. They can no longer be trusted.

Posted by: Carlos at October 10, 2005 02:13 PM (8e/V4)

15 Osama, So that's where you bin hiding. You're a googlebomber. How cute!

Posted by: jesusland joe at October 10, 2005 02:48 PM (rUyw4)

16 Yeah, it kind of makes you wonder, eh? Their stock is hyped anyway...

Posted by: osamabinhiding at October 10, 2005 03:42 PM (Ttija)

17 Jesus... One man, huge damage to humanity for thousands of years and to the future. The guy who inspired Muhammed who we all know led his masses to such a sofisticated and peaceful situation they are in today, the guy because of whom the Romano-Catholic church exists, most evil organisation of all times that had entire religions wiped out, peoples hunted to extinction, masses cowed to brainless lemmings and riches looted to it's replacement-of-Jesus-on-earth leader for 15 horrible, bloody, dark centuries. Therefore I'm suggesting attacking Jesus now is absolutely useless, the Jews should have had him stoned before or right after he made a mess at their temple.

Posted by: A Finn at October 10, 2005 04:53 PM (lGolT)

18 they tried but he escaped. they also tried after he healed the blind man on the sabbath but again they could not see him although he was right there. Odd huh? so finn want a copy of John I got one for you too.

Posted by: Howie at October 10, 2005 05:00 PM (D3+20)

19 Yes Carlos, it is ironic, but it is also part of why Europeans no longer go to church. And sandpiper, cut the "wretched atheist" crap. I don't go around saying "wretched Christian" every time a priest molests a little boy, do I? Watch your manners and remember, like I do, that it's acts, not labels, that are important.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at October 10, 2005 09:26 PM (0yYS2)

20 No thanks, Howie, I think I have a bible of some sort somewhere, or at least the New Testament in a little red pocket book (some preachers travel the country giving those to everyone... I've had 3 or so, they always manage to disappear, since they're leather coated and there's a dog in the house). So it was the inefficiency of fundamentalist Jews that allowed Jesus to live and preach on? Guess the J00s can be blamed for everything one way or another....

Posted by: A Finn at October 11, 2005 04:15 AM (cWMi4)

21 FWIW, IM, sandpiper, who makes me wonder if there are indeed commentbots, is best overlooked - and I think was just commenting on Paulson, not you. The bots rarely talk to other commenters.

Posted by: tee bee at October 11, 2005 08:58 AM (q1JHF)

22 Yes just like fin to be such a pigheaded fool. You woild think he would believe in God since it's a supernatural that some one has not bashed his thick skull in by now.

Posted by: Howie at October 14, 2005 10:02 AM (D3+20)

23 JESUS, IS GIVING EVERY MAN, WOMAN, & CHILD "ONE LAST CHANCE". NO MATTER HIS OR HER RACE, RELIGION, OR NATIONALITY; TO REPENT & TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAY; CONFESS JESUS CHRIST, AS LORD AND SAVIOUR. AND DO HIS WILL. mcgdogm

Posted by: mcgdogm at November 28, 2005 02:54 PM (6krEN)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Jeffrey Ake was in Iraq to help the people of that country secure a safe water supply when, on April 11th of this year, he was taken hostage. Days later a video emerged of Ake. Jeffrey Ake has not been heard from since.

Former hostage Terry Anderson later recounted that realizing that the world was indifferent to the fate of Western hostages was nearly as bad as the torment administered on them daily.

We will not forget the fate of the hostages still held in Iraq. We urge you to keep them in your prayers.

Here is a little about Jeffrey Ake from the Indy Star:

The lack of attention on Jeffrey Ake baffles people here.

On April 11, when Ake was seized by gunmen outside Baghdad, the well-known and longtime LaPorte resident was national news. He was in Iraq doing business as the country rebuilds, helping to build a water bottling plant...

The townsfolk sprang to action the way people do in such a crisis: They tied ribbons around trees in their yards, they spelled out "Pray for Jeff Ake" on the signs at their businesses, they expressed fear and hope to the media that swarmed them, and they organized a candlelight vigil.
And then, suddenly, Ake was not news. The candlelight vigil was canceled. Ake's neighbors suddenly went silent.

Today, with the six-month anniversary of his disappearance coming Tuesday, Ake's whereabouts remain unknown. The equally nagging question beyond what happened to him is why folks in LaPorte are mum about it.
As it turns out, they're just trying to help.

"His wife asked us to have no comment, so that's what we're doing," said Mel Turner, who lives next door to the Ake family.

Liliana Ake asked everyone to keep quiet because the FBI, the agency investigating Ake's disappearance, recommended it.

Ake's only hope is that Coalition forces are tipped to his whereabouts and is freed, as Roy Hallums recently was. After six-months it should be clear that silence is not a winning strategy. Keeping Jeffrey Ake's name in the forefront of the news so that forces on the ground will keep an eye out for him, and so that local Iraqis know who they are looking for.

In the meantime, we pray for his speedy release.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:16 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
Post contains 427 words, total size 3 kb.

The New York Times, then and now. Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.

Posted by: Drew at 07:38 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 23 words, total size 1 kb.

A while back I started looking over this flu thing. So when I saw this crap on the Times well. IÂ’ve been saving up some more links and stuff. Just trying to keep up you know.

Ajc:Tom Skinner, spokesman for CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding, could not respond when asked about the manual on handling "sensitive but unclassified" information, which was released July 22, because he had not seen it. He asked a reporter to e-mail a copy to him.National security concerns Upon further questioning, CDC spokesman Von Roebuck cited national security concerns. He said the agency has programs that require protection from disclosure, such as the locations and work of laboratories with such biological agents as smallpox or anthrax.

Ok another Reason to make sure we get and keep some good American companies to research and improve vaccine production methods. And uh fire Skinner.

CNN: Experts in Hong Kong said on Friday that the human H5N1 strain which surfaced in northern Vietnam this year had proved to be resistant to Tamiflu, a powerful antiviral drug which goes by the generic name, oseltamivir

Also Time magazine:

So far fancy anti virus medications donÂ’tÂ’ cut it. Way more profitable and easier to make but not a replacement for vaccines. And all this screaming about them is just noise that serves drug companies and moon bat politics. Are these drugs useful as stop gap measure? Sure but that is about it.

H1N1 similar virus from 1918.

BBC:US scientists have found the 1918 virus shares genetic mutations with the bird flu virus now circulating in Asia.

CNN: Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt: “:A bigger gap is how to create quickly a vaccine to match whatever pandemic flu strain erupts, Leavitt said. That currently takes months. The new plan will focus on rejuvenating vaccine production to speed the process, he said.”

You bet the government working with private industry and I mean US private industry for vaccine production capacity and breakthroughs is the way. Will we get it in time IÂ’m not sure. All I know is that if we work at it we will be able to create an economically sustainable and awesome solution so the next 100 years won't be a repeat of last 100. I'm not sure how long it may take but it's very possible. I repeat my challenge, the US has the most innovative industry in the world itÂ’s up to them. The market is there if you can only figure out how to produce vaccine quickly and cheaply. American business always brags about better, cheaper faster just in time. Ok, I may not be from Missouri but IÂ’m close enough, SHOW ME.

The Times is way behind the curve on this and the left is trying to again wait and attack, possibly spread some panic rather that work for solutions. I don't vote for whiners. Government can only help move us along it can't solve it. Sure it can make plans and do what it can to protect public health but only science can put it to rest. Only science and industry can bring about the day when flu is no big deal. It appears to me that conservatives are working for the best solutions. If you want more commentary on this load crap just hit the lefty politics whiney ass no solutions blogs.

Updated : Yahoo news:

Many governments around the world are stockpiling antiviral drugs and some companies are trying to speed up vaccine production but these measure give a false sense of security and will do little to counter a flu pandemic, an expert cautioned on Monday

Hat Tip: Carlos
more...

Posted by: Howie at 01:03 PM | Comments (21) | Add Comment
Post contains 749 words, total size 5 kb.

(Islamabad, Pakistan) According to officials, it's estimated that more than 18,300 people have died as a result of Saturday's earthquake. Communications have been cut off and landslides have made roads impassable. Current need is for helicopter transportation to carry relief supplies to remote areas.

From CNN.com:

"In certain areas, the entire villages -- they have collapsed. In certain areas, almost entire towns, they have vanished from the scene," Pakistan's military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, told CNN. The country, he said, has launched its largest relief operation.

He estimated at least 18,000 people have died in Pakistan alone, and 41,000 are injured. The majority of those deaths are thought to have occurred in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. Another military spokesman, Brig. Shah Jahan, said relief and rescue workers have yet to access 30 to 40 percent of the affected areas.

CNN can confirm more than 10,000 deaths in Pakistan, most in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. The dead include 230 Pakistani soldiers and 250 school girls whose bodies were recovered from a school at Gari Habi Ullaha between Manshera and Muzaffarabad.

Eyewitnesses report the city of Balakot, in the North-West Frontier province, is destroyed. "It is likely the ground zero," Sultan told CNN.

From Aljazeera.net:

The estimated toll of the South Asian earthquake on Saturday has hit 30,000, Pakistan-administered Kashmir's works and communication minister says.

"Our rough estimates say more than 30,000 people have died in the earthquake in Kashmir," minister Tariq Farooq said on Sunday.

"There are cities, there are towns which have been completely destroyed. Muzaffarabad is devastated," he added, referring to the capital of Pakistan's sector of disputed Kashmir.

According to a CNN cable broadcast and Xinhua, rescue teams from the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Russia, and the U.S. are due to arrive in hours. Medical relief centers have been set up by the Pakistan military. Confirmed dead in Indian-controlled Kashmir is 355. Frantic efforts are underway to rescue people out of collapsed apartment buildings in Islamabad.

Companion at Interested-Participant.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 05:16 AM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
Post contains 423 words, total size 3 kb.

Congratulations are in order for James Joyner of OTB who is getting married tonight. Good luck and may God bless your marriage as he has mine.

Posted by: Rusty at 02:08 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 30 words, total size 1 kb.

The FBI says that JOEL HENRY HINRICHS III was not spotted on security tapes trying to enter the University of Oklahoma vs. Kansas State football game before he blew himself up just outside the stadium on October 1st.

This is important news that would indicate that earlier reports that Hinrichs was seen trying to enter the stadium, but ran away when security guards attempted to check his backpack, were wrong. If Hinrichs was really part of larger Islamic plot to commit an act of terrorism, then why didn't he try to get into the stadium where he could do maximun damage?

However, the report is unclear just how much of the stadium is under video surveillance. If all the entrance gates were not under surveillance, then the fact that Hinrichs does not appear on video is really a minor point.

KOTV:

A completed review of University of Oklahoma stadium surveillance tapes by the FBI did not spot Joel Henry Hinrichs III trying to get inside.

Posted by: Rusty at 01:57 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
Post contains 203 words, total size 1 kb.