As some of you know, I spent the weekend down in the Gulf helping victims of hurricane Katrina. The area I was in was about 45 miles inland from the coast, so I'm sure that I did not see the worst of it. But after seeing the devestation of the storm, I think I am now in a better position to comment on the grand-standing and finger-pointing of politicians and of pundits alike: you are all full of an enormous amount of bullshit.

The biggest bullshit coming from partisans on the Left, trying to blame the federal government, and partisans on the Right, trying to blame local governments, is that the response was somehow too slow. Let me briefly explain.

Nearly a hundred miles inland I began to see downed trees. By the time we approached about the sixty mile mark from the coast (we were driving from Jackson, Mississipi, towards the coast--so, say 20 miles outside of Hattiesburg) it became worse. Much worse.

Downed trees lined the road. I presume that the majority of them were blown across the highway during the hurricane. They had been roughly cut and then dragged to the side of the road, . Hundreds of them. No, thousands of them.

Each tree had to be moved just to let traffic flow. Every. Single. One. For mile upon mile upon mile. For hundreds of miles. In every direction. This takes time.

And as lanes were cleared and highways opened, trucks and supplies had to move into the zone at the same time as hundreds of thousands of people were trying to move out.

If getting people out of the zone of destruction was a logistical nightmare, getting relief in was an equally daunting task.

Now imagine that same task, and add on severe flooding. Also, you don't know how deep the water is between point A and point B. Difficult under any circumstances, nearly impossible when such a large area was affected.

I spent most of Saturday and Sunday cutting trees off of people's roofs, sheds, and dog pens. By the time we got to their houses most of the trees had been cut out of the roads and driveways, but this took some time depending on a lot of factors. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 07:53 PM | Comments (33) | Add Comment
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Ayman al-Zawahiri has released a new tape to Al-Jazeera.

Al-Qaida number two Ayman al-Zawahiri has dismissed the legitimacy of Afghanistan's parliamentary elections in a new tape broadcast by Aljazeera, saying the polls took place under the control of what he called "lords of war".

And you are what Mr. Zawahiri?

Also here on CNN.

"There is no reform except through jihad," he said in the video, broadcast on the Arabic-language TV network based in Qatar.

We got some reforming of our own to do Doc. We will find you.

Posted by: Howie at 06:17 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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I'll second Howie's rant here about Slick Willie's poor taste in lighting into Bush. The really pathetic part of it, though, is that he chooses to do so the very same day that North Korea announces it's giving up its nuclear program and turning over the stuff it's made already. Like Al Gore giving a speech about the urgency of global warming on the coldest day of the year, Bill's timing is hilariously lousy.

Of course, Jeff, I don't trust the Norks on this at all: I don't trust them to allow complete IAEA inspections--I suspect there will be a lot of Saddam-style peek-a-boo being played--nor do I trust them to turn over everything like they say. But if they turn over anything at all, well, that's one pile of plutonium or maybe even one completed warhead they're not going to sell to Zawahiri or Assad or anyone else. It'll join Khadaffi's naughty stuff up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. When it comes to yanking them out of circulation, any nukes is good nukes. What's more, this appears not to have affected our own bargaining position in the slightest.

Now: let us remember who let them get that far in the first place:

That is not Condi clinking the bubbly with The Indomitable Man from Mount Paektu! Yes, once again, Bush is cleaning up a Clinton-era problem. Much like we're now hunting down Osama--after Clinton bumbled along and wasted several shots to take him out, and while Gorelick and co. were busy building the wall between intel and law enforcement which helped shelter the Sept. 11 hiackers. Or much like Bush has deposed Saddam, after Billy Jeff looked the other way while oil-for-food corrupted the world and Iraqi children languished under sanctions, or tossed a few cruise missiles Baghdad-way after Saddam tried to take out G.H.W. Bush in 1993.

As Ace likes to say, I question the timing. And the question is, could Bill have screwed the timing up any worse if he'd planned to?

PS Cordial glasses for champagne? No flutes or saucers? Tacky, tacky, Lil' Kim. The sanctions were clearly having an effect.

UPDATE: Sorry, I'm just very curious about those cordial glasses in the picture. They look like these, which are 6.5" high and hold 2 oz.

I think this is a photo-op choice. Since Kim is like five-one with the poof, and Albright couldn't guard Smurfette in a pickup game, they chose tiny glasses for tiny people. Ordinary champagne glasses would have looked like goldfish bowls on these two. Can't have the dignitaries dwarfed by the stemware.

No, I'm happily married, one kid, why do you ask? more...

Posted by: seedubya at 03:38 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Shaun at Bareknucckle Politics has it. Notice the terrible conditions 'Roy was kept in, how happy he seems, and listen at the end as he describes his hostage takers beating him so that he would cry during the earlier hostage video.

We're glad you are back Roy.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:23 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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FOXNEWS:

Ever wonder why a person would strap on a bomb and blow himself and civilians to bits, me too?

Mohammed Ali, who claimed to be Saudi-born and appeared to be in his 20s, Ali said insurgents kidnapped him from a field near his home earlier this month, then drugged and beat him. His story was similar to those recounted by other captured militants. The captives routinely claim they were either coerced or fooled by insurgent leaders who promised them a role in the holy war against the U.S. military, only to find themselves as would-be suicide bombers sent to attack civilians.

Next.

Musab Aqil al-Khayal, a 19-year-old Syrian, was shown on state television Saturday confessing to his aborted involvement in a bombing earlier in the week in which a companion exploded his car bomb in the midst of day laborers assembled to find work. "Those dogs fooled me," he told Iraqi interrogators.

Ah now I see, come on Zaqueery strap one on and put your money where your mouth is. Having seen some of Al-Zarqawi's methods I would not put it past him.

Posted by: Howie at 12:06 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Bill Clinton broke with tradition and has flamed President Bush for just about everything. Actually I've been waiting for this.

On the US budget, Clinton warned that the federal deficit may be coming untenable, driven by foreign wars, the post-hurricane recovery programme and tax cuts that benefitted just the richest one percent of the US population, himself included

Bullshit Bill. I may not agree with everything Bush has done the last six years but being upper lower or lower middle class I have gotten the best tax returns ever. I mean I get back more than I pay if I spend my bucks right. The idea that only the rich benefit from these cuts is just untrue. I got back about 2400 bucks last year and as a single income family of three 2400 bucks is good money for me. The bush tax policies are way better for me than yours ever were. If we want to raise taxes on the rich fine with me. But to reverse the tax cuts will cut my return from 2400 bucks to about 350 under Clinton. I have to ask myself am I better off than I was six years ago? Hell yes I am!!!!. Grrrrrrr.

In the right place has more. As does polipundit on WMD.

Posted by: Howie at 08:52 AM | Comments (48) | Add Comment
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1 More from slick willie whats this jackas trying to prove? just that he is still a liar and a crook as well

Posted by: sandpiper at September 19, 2005 09:19 AM (4v/PL)

2 He's trying to prove that he wants to be first in line when we start hanging traitors. I guess he thinks he's too good for a used rope. Whatever, it works for me.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at September 19, 2005 09:46 AM (0yYS2)

3 Bill Clinton's taxes made it impossible for me to continue a small business I had even as a sub-s corp. When all was said and done, I was paying out 42%+ on wages alone by the end of his term. Being that I was the only employee, that was pretty sad.

Posted by: Oyster at September 19, 2005 09:59 AM (fl6E1)

4 This is Bill Clinton, the consumate politian. My mother is from Arkansas, very close to where Clinton grew up(within 30 miles), and she always said that Clinton was the best politian the US has ever had, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln. He knows that Hillary is lining up for a run for the White House in '08, and he smells blood in the water. His problem, though, is that he is always attuned to polls, and doesn't take other factors into consideration. Leadership is the major value he lacks, therefore he is somewhat like a child in his temperament. That is why the women all love him so. He seems to be their baby boy the bully is picking on.

Posted by: jesusland joe at September 19, 2005 10:00 AM (rUyw4)

5 Will someone just ask him to go away? I assume all this BS from him is because of Tony Blair sticking a fork in the Kyoto BS and then Able Danger and Frontpage magazine highlighting his shortcoming with terrorists. He is just like a windup doll.

Posted by: From the Swamp at September 19, 2005 10:27 AM (7evkT)

6 All these rich people complaining about getting a tax cut should talk to their tax preparer and ask how to donate money to the government. The IRS webpages have instructions. Although, Bill should know this, being the former president and all. If they are all so pissed about getting a tax break, then they should put their refund where their mouth is and donate it back! (If paying taxes is so great, why are all the rich hiding their money overseas?)

Posted by: Fred Fry at September 19, 2005 10:36 AM (cQilN)

7 I'm sure that the Pres is pleased at his good judgment in allowing this POS to stand with him and his father in seeking Katrina relief, not to mention the Far East tsunami. I have never understood why Bush 43 gave Clinton the time of day. Perhaps he wonders why now too.

Posted by: Redhand at September 19, 2005 11:25 AM (TrmBs)

8 "wants to be first in line" ... yes. For the UN leadership job when the crooked leadership is tossed out on their ___'s. Also, this is the form of 'wag the dog' played by a former President. Divert attention from the truth thats coming out.

Posted by: Jonathan at September 19, 2005 12:20 PM (ywZa8)

9 That part of the left arguemnt about the tax cuts just pisses me off.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 01:26 PM (D3+20)

10 howie, you emailed me this link with the note that I wouldn't agree with it... not for nothing, but I have only posted a handful of political-type posts on my site and if you've read all of them you would have come to the conclusion that I vote for whomever I think will do the best job. I am neither right or left. so don't send me blatant blogwhoring emails in some lame attempt to get me to post a link to your site in hopes that you've riled me enough to do so. sorry, but THAT is where I disagree.

Posted by: gigglechick at September 19, 2005 04:34 PM (nRJLd)

11 Gee Erin thanks for the support. You could ignore them you did ask what the post was about. An no I was not blogwhoring for a link. If I wanted to post a link on yer site I would but you would ban me. So get off it.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 04:54 PM (D3+20)

12 Again you asked for the link.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:24 PM (D3+20)

13 gee howie- there you go assuming what my thoughts or next move would be... jumping to conclusions (much like any political blogger does) howabout we clarify something... the only reason I asked what the link that you'd emailed me was about was because I was in the middle of running to the train and wasn't able to pop onto this site to read the drivel... just to quench any desire for people to assume that I didn't understand your post. and why would you think that I would "support" you since you already attempted to put me on the defensive with your "you'll disagree" assumptions...? seriously... don't be a frigging jackass.

Posted by: gigglechick at September 19, 2005 05:24 PM (nRJLd)

14 That's like the pot calling the kettle black babe. You started ranting like a jackass former blog buddy.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:26 PM (D3+20)

15 again. no. I did not ever ask for the link... you wrote a cryptic creepy email to me and I asked what you were talking about. NEVER did I write "gee send me a link"... on second thought, tonight when I get home I will be sure to send some folks over to this site...

Posted by: gigglechick at September 19, 2005 05:27 PM (nRJLd)

16 It was not crypic nor creepy you are paranoid.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:29 PM (D3+20)

17 I link what pleases me. Now I see you were fishing for blog material.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:32 PM (D3+20)

18 Send em on we like hits here at Jawa.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:36 PM (D3+20)

19 funny you said you can't see I'm on the train and like two seconds later you are posting here. So were you lying or what?

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:43 PM (D3+20)

20 From: GigglechickHA@aol.com View Contact Details Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 08:34:41 EDT Subject: Re: NUTJOB To: mchlhwrd@yahoo.com Feel free to link me. Please. I have sporadic cell/web coverage in mtns. Killing me See Erin I asked permission and you gave it.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 06:00 PM (D3+20)

21 howie, you're frigging insane. get a fucking life instead of keeping emails for over 2 months (and then posting them out of context) i've been dealing with your emails to me for the past few months and have been quite creeped out by them... especially when you talk about yourself in the third person. as far as "lying" about not being able to see the page... jackhole, i wrote that i was in the middle of running to the train when i was checking my email on my phone and that i didn't view this effing site until i was on said train... you are seriously posting fucking emails from july 10th? god, you really DO have a frigging mental problem. i just never realized how fucked up you really are.

Posted by: gigglechick at September 19, 2005 07:37 PM (+YVLt)

22 Adjust your w-4 stupid, if for no other reason than you could be investing that money in your retirement instead of letting the govt have it. If you have 3 kids, 200 a month would go a long way towards college.

Posted by: Kstumpf at September 19, 2005 09:08 PM (gvpiY)

23 can the real blogwhore raise their hand...ERIN (gigglechick). not for nothing (one of many GC idiotic, overused expressions...) but come on Erin, if ANYONE is unstable, insane, or fucked up? ITS YOU. Delusional... All this bragging about the audition that you were 'specially selected' for? *cough* BULLSHIT *cough* Yea sure you are performing - congrats. But come on - be honest about how you got the spots.... those of us in the know are tired of your deluded view that you were selected based on talent....And like your mom says, HBO funny - you are not. Um, recall doing a website for improv? And the terms? Yea. At least be honest. MMM K?

Posted by: in the know... at September 19, 2005 09:55 PM (EqOvy)

24 Hey! What's all this squabbling? Ah...I check back in and nothing is different: Howie is offended and IM is measuring rope to hang people with. Anyway, I was wondering what you guys might think of this while you're talkin' about bubba ho-tep: George Stephanopoulos: On rolling back some of Bush's tax cuts to pay for Katrina: "I think it's very important that Americans understand, you know, tax cuts are always popular, but about half of these tax cuts since 2001 have gone to people in my income group, the top 1 percent. I've gotten four tax cuts. They're responsible for this big structural deficit, and they're not going away, the deficits aren't. Now, what Americans need to understand is that that means every single day of the year, our government goes into the market and borrows money from other countries to finance Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina and our tax cuts. We have never done this before. Never in the history of our republic have we ever financed a conflict, military conflict, by borrowing money from somewhere else." On the Republicans' responsibility for problems involving poverty and race: "If you give your tax cuts to the rich and hope everything works out all right, and poverty goes up, and it disproportionately affects black and brown people, that's a consequence of the action made. That's what they did in the '80s; that's what they've done in this decade. In the middle, we had a different policy. We concentrated tax cuts on lower-income working people and benefits to low-income people that helped them move from welfare to work, and we moved 100 times as many people out of poverty. We know what works, and we had a program that was drastically reducing poverty, and they got rid of it. And they don't believe in it." On whether the United States has a strategy for winning in Iraq: "Well, if we do, it's not working right now, at least ... A lot of good Americans have given their lives; thousands of others have been horribly wounded. So I have been in a position where I wanted the strategy to work. Whether it will or not, I don't know. But the only thing I would sacrifice it to is if I thought we were going to lose in Afghanistan. We cannot lose in Afghanistan. We cannot let the Taliban come back. We cannot let [Hamid] Karzai fail. We cannot relax our efforts to try to keep undermining al-Qaida, because that's still by far a bigger threat to our security."

Posted by: osamabinhiding at September 19, 2005 11:54 PM (cKjAz)

25 what? the terms that i got paid $1000 for the improv website? hmmmm? are those the terms you are talking about "in the know" (which apparently you DON'T know anything.) gee, what "terms" exactly are you talking about? hmmmm? would love to be privy to your information... what about the details to theindustryroom.com? huh? howabout those? are you INTHEKNOW on those? would LOVE for you to come to the improv and see my show on the 27th - WOULD LOVE IT... feel free... YOU TOO, HOWIE... come on down, jackasses.

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 06:08 AM (+YVLt)

26 My W4 is Fine. Refundable credits you now. $01k stuff like that. Yeah she is trolling for a WTW one two three four Erin is a blog whore. See it's all fine and dandy when she is a linkwhore but seriously I've supoorted the whiney little turds work you knwo when she whined about not getting credit for that photoshop. When she whined about being a lardass. I thought we had a good kind of penpal thing going. I don't care about her political opinions. I did link the little man who beat himself to death on his keyboard. Stuff like that. Then yesterday out of the blue she goes all nutso on me. Hint Erin If you want to be a great comedian like say Phlyis Diller, Or Ruth Buzzy or Lilly Tomlin it might help if you get a sense of humor. Send yer trolls on cause at the jawa we have the best ones. So guys give Erin a taste of a troll she will ban you like after the first comment but hey you can add that to the list of sites you are banned from what fun blog games eh.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 08:40 AM (D3+20)

27 Osama, What pisses me off is the lie that lower income people get no benefit. It's just not true. George I have gotten tax cuts as well as refundable credits for investment education so on and so forth so I benefit greatly and I'm by no means a rich man. Ksumf: See I get a refundable credit for the investemnt in my 401k actually changing my W4 only gets me 80 bucks a month plus I would have to file another if the tax cuts expire. Oh yeah stumppeter why the name calling?

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 09:34 AM (D3+20)

28 Heya Howie... When you say it's not true, and refer to tax cuts...who do you think pays for those tax cuts? Then there's that pesky 16th amendment which has increasingly become hard to prove for the IRS! Funny thing is, properly ratifying personal income tax wouldn't be a huge deal. I think it's just that people seem to have a lack of literacy and awareness in our leadership...and for once, I'm not picking on Bush to that effect. Anyway, where are you at Howie? I was wondering about how people on Jawa were doing after the hurricane since I know for one that Gayrooster is near there. Did anyone in here get hit?

Posted by: osamabinhiding at September 20, 2005 12:34 PM (cKjAz)

29 I'm not sure I';ve not heard from the Rooster is all. I'm way too far inland to be affected. Hey go over to erins gigglechick and supoort my sorry ass.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 12:45 PM (D3+20)

30 We have people like you in Canada Howie ... They are French and live in Quebec. They think that they can do no wrong and believe everyone else should bend to their will. Unofficially, it has been discovered that it was a case of mass-insanity most likely caused by long-term inbreeding. The government of Quebec is quietly increasing immigration quotas, with preference to francophones, in an attempt to rectify the situation.

Posted by: Rick O at September 20, 2005 01:19 PM (/bCSM)

31 So Rick since when is Howard a French name?

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

32 For the record I do not approve of erins site being hacked. Neither do I know how to do such stuff. Sorry erin I thought our arguement would get us both a lot of hits today. I'm sad to see it got out of hand. It was fun while it lasted I hope you are back up and running soon. Also I don't hate Erin I have no idea why she decided to go off on me thanks for all the support except the hacking that was a bit over the line as was Erins posting IP addresses.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 02:44 PM (D3+20)

33 aw... you think it was hacked? hah. no. sorry. don't think so, Howie..

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:02 PM (ZeupY)

34 Well whatver It's not working right and I think it was over the line.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:04 PM (D3+20)

35 what? the gaydemon.com site that you were redirected to? too bad.

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:07 PM (ZeupY)

36 No I got websensed. Still over the line and posting Ip addresses is too. We never do that not even to a terrorist.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:10 PM (D3+20)

37 oh well. too bad. you really ought not to comment with your IP address all vulnerable like that "Howie" --- or should i say "Greg" (your alter ego that you've been commenting and emailing with)

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:12 PM (ZeupY)

38 and you may want to think twice when you comment and email me with "don't fuck with jawas"

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:13 PM (ZeupY)

39 Gee Erin I assumed you had some scruples. Wrong again. Best of luck glad you were able to use the NOLA link and thanks again for letting me comment link the little dude beating himself on the keyboard greg was who it reminded me of. He has been banned here once twice three times out. So can we call it even and quit this foolish bullshit.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:17 PM (D3+20)

40 Nope not going to play anymore.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:25 PM (D3+20)

41 i'm sorry. the NOLA link? are you talking about nola.com? the site that i designed with my team back in 1997? yeah, thanks for giiving me aa heads up on that site, howie.

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:26 PM (ZeupY)

42 so you can stop hounding me via email now.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:27 PM (D3+20)

43 You do good work Erin the Improv site was cool.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:29 PM (D3+20)

44 thank you.

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:37 PM (ZeupY)

45 You are quite welcome Erin. I'm still pretty much a novice blogger and I'm still in awe of the power of it. I really don't care you flamed me heck I've been hanging here for quite a while. I've seen it all.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:39 PM (D3+20)

46 also Erin I'll remove you from my Yahoo page as well as all contacts. Thanks for the support you have given me and I'm sorry. Although you don't seem to have it in you to say that.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:43 PM (KE1Y+)

47 I haven't really looked around this site a ton but I thought I'd let you know that whatever gigglebitch is blaming you for is actually me (lol) but umm.. I suppose I'll let you continue taking whatever lukewarm heat she's trying to give off because getting something through her head requires power tools which isn't up my alley. Good luck s0ldier

Posted by: caustic lipstick at September 20, 2005 05:58 PM (cmkoZ)

48 Thanks she's a backstabbing nut. Not sense me being a sore winner.

Posted by: Howie at September 21, 2005 08:37 AM (D3+20)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

There has been a letter bombing at a British embassy in Croatia. The media coverage is detailed at Conservative Thinking.

As more reports come I'll be updating the coverage of the story there.

Posted by: Chris Short at 04:27 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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In an agreement that can be seen as a step back to the Clinton or an agreement to appease the North Korean government North Korea has decided to stop it's nuclear program in exchange for economic and energy benefits, an agreement to keep the NKs safe, and an open door to later start back up their program later.

North Korea Vows to Drop Nuclear Program (AP):

BEIJING (AP) -- North Korea pledged to drop its nuclear weapons development and rejoin international arms treaties in a unanimous agreement Monday with other countries at six-party arms talks. The joint statement was the first ever after more than two years of negotiations.

The North "promised to drop all nuclear weapons and current nuclear programs and to get back to the (Nuclear) Nonproliferation Treaty as soon as possible and to accept inspections" by the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to the agreement by the six countries at the talks.

"All six parties emphasized that to realize the inspectable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the target of the six-party talks," the statement said.

The North and United States also pledged in the agreement to respect each other's sovereignty and right to peaceful coexistence, and also to take steps to normalize relations.

"The United States affirmed that it has no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and has no intention to attack or invade (North Korea) with nuclear or conventional weapons," according to the statement, assurances echoed by South Korea.

Negotiators agreed to hold more talks in November, where they were expected to move on to concrete discussions about implementing the broad principles outlined in Monday's agreement. The main U.S. envoy, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, has warned that could still be a long process.

Putting aside the question for now, the joint statement said: "The other parties expressed their respect and agreed to discuss at an appropriate time the subject of the provision of light-water reactor" to North Korea.

Pyongyang has also refused to totally disarm without getting concessions along the way, while Washington has said it wants to see the weapons programs totally dismantled before granting rewards. The statement, however, says the sides agree to take steps to implement the agreement "in a phased manner in line with the principle of 'commitment for commitment, action for action.'"

he other countries at the talks said they were willing give energy assistance to the North, including a South Korean plan to deliver electricity across the heavily armed border dividing the peninsula.

While I'm okay with North Korea giving up its nuke program I'm not exactly sure that giving the Communist North what it needs to survive another ten to fifteen years is the best course of action. Let their economy fail and let their people overthrow the communists. A free North Korea is better than a communist one struggling to get what it needs from the rest of the world to survive.

Others Covering the Story:
In The Bullpen
The Moderate Voice

Originally Posted at

Posted by: Chris Short at 12:46 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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A line from one of my favorite bands of the '60s that no one ever heard of: Bread. And it don't matter to the Western Media (according to Wretchard) just exactly who wins a conflict:

Of all the weapons of the insurgency, it is their ability to set the public terms of the debate that has proven the most powerful. Their model of fighting a combined media-arms campaign has created an alternative reality which Western opinion-makers unconsciously inhabit.

Posted by: Demosophist at 12:29 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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One of the most impressive people I know is Dr. Ann Kao. She is a brilliant doctor who recently got written up in the Wall Street Journal for having discovered a new disease (“Tsunami Lung”) in the aftermath of the Indonesian Tsunami.

Ann is also a Christian, an Ivy Leaguer, and (at least the last time I talked to her) quite sensible politically, too. SheÂ’s also cute and pleasant to talk to. Where do you go to meet women like this?

Rwanda, of course. SheÂ’s now on a fellowship doing refugee medicine there, saving babies from dysentery and staving off the onset of AIDS wherever she can. The conditions are primitive and sheÂ’s dreadfully undersupplied, but sheÂ’s doing her best. I expect theyÂ’re not paying her too well, either.

She has a blog, Letters Home, which she updates now and then from Kigali. Why not check it out, and leave some comments or send her an e-mail, and surprise her? Here's a sample of daily life for Ann:

“The anxiety comes from the moans emanating forth from the rear of the land cruiser – the contractions are coming faster and I hear grunts starting and I say “DON’T PUSH” really loud in English which makes everyone laugh. Then in a completely surreal moment where time seems to freeze the other two women in the Land Rover start singing piercingly beautifully and clearly – “It is a hymn” says Immanuel my driver the words he struggles to translate but says are praising God and creation – and the 19 yo in labor ceases her grunting and slows her breathing to listen to the song. It’s yet another truly indescribable moment – careening down a mountain in pitch black surrounded by banana groves with 3 refugee woman – one nearing delivery and the soundtrack is this beautiful wild song being sung by 2 of them. I think if I die at this very moment going down this mountain – there wouldn’t be any other way I’d rather go.”

But weÂ’d rather you stayed a while, Ann.

P.S. And donÂ’t even tell her where you heard about this. I donÂ’t want her figuring out who I am. Just tell her howdy, and let her know her work is appreciated.

Cross-Posted at Patterico's Pontifications.

Posted by: seedubya at 10:59 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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I went through a stage where I liked A Prairie Home Companion. I call it my "pretentious" phase. Now lefty PHC host Garrison Keillor has lowered the boom on a blogger. Seems this dude was cranking out some T-shirts that said "Prairie Ho Companion" (snicker) and Keillor's big bad lawyers sent him a cease and desist order.

How's that for some free speech? How's that for being hassled by The Man? How's that for humorless priggery?

"This is a great country, and it wasn't made so by angry people." Some liberal said that...some fair-minded wholesome Volvo-driving scribbler named...hmm...ah, yes, Garrison Keillor. --who also noted in the same unhinged rant, "Hypocrisies shine like cat turds in the moonlight!" Yep.

Posted by: seedubya at 07:49 AM | Comments (37) | Add Comment
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Many of you will recognize the name Dafydd ab Hugh from smart comments around the blogosphere. He's also been a co-guest-blogger with me at Patterico's Pontifications, and he has also guest-blogged at Captain's Quarters, and he gets mentioned at Powerline all the time. Oh, and he wrote a bunch of sci-fi novels, too.

Anyway, Daf Ab has fired up his own blog now--part of a bigger site called "Big Lizards" he's been working on for ages. It looks very promising--check out his post on why he doesn't write "Islamofascism" but insists on "militant Islamism". As he uses loaded and atmospheric words for a living, he knows what he's talking about.

(As an aside, I think the good thing tactically about "Islamofascism" is that A: it's somewhat accurate; after all, the Taliban and Baathism are fascist in character and B: it illustrates the odd cleavages in Western politics. Those romantic fools who jumped at the chance to fight Franco in the last century are swanning around with their thumb up their hindquarters in this one, and apologizing for a fanatically illiberal movement and the totalitarians who foster it. )

And now I'm the only person in America without my own blog.

Posted by: seedubya at 12:39 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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A source inside FEMA told me recently that, as of a couple of days ago, the agency had granted 1,758 funeral benefits to families whose pre-disaster address was in Jefferson Parrish. These are confirmed deaths with confirmed identification, but the implication may not be what it seems. So far this number is not in the public domain, and I can't verify it by any independent sources, but I believe it. The thing is, any large population of people will have a certain number of deaths over any 2 week period, so it's not a given that all, or even most, of these deaths occured during the hurricane or flood. In fact, since identification is a fairly rigorous process it's probably accurate to infer that most of these deaths occured under non-disaster conditions, either after the event or before it, and people are simply applying for the funeral benefit because they're without funds. The critical issue isn't the number, but whether these deaths were a direct consequence of the storm, whether the storm was a secondary factor, or whether they would have occured storm or not. And that's simply unknown to us at this time.

But be advised that if numbers like these are leaked to MSM it's very likely that certain people will interpret them to mean that the death toll from Katrina is much higher than the current number of confirmed deaths (579 in the state of Louisiana according to FOX just a few moments ago).

Posted by: Demosophist at 11:45 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Yes Cindy and Michael the perfect couple are at it again (ugh mental image I wish I never had but this should help). What can I say but wheeew looney looney looney!!!!!!

Mark In Mexico has the goods on this latest moonbat mission.

Cindy Sheehan's post in the Michael Moore blog is an obvious attempt to place blame for the conditions in New Orleans and Algiers on George Bush. She drops the name of Malik Rahim as though he is backing up her accusations. It doesn't sound like Rahim agrees.

Also Mr. Right is struggling with his blog addiction as well. We know we can't leave it alone either.

Posted by: Howie at 10:02 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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Today is the birthday of our Constitution

On Saturday, September 17, 2005, we are celebrating the 218th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. This day is known as Constitution Day. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered in Pennsylvania and came up with a great and intricate system of checks and balances. It was decided that our government would have an executive, judicial, and legislative branch. The decision for a bicameral legislative branch came from the argument between the smaller and larger states. The larger states wanted more representation because they had more people, forming the House of Representatives. The smaller states wanted equal representation of every state, forming the Senate.

Cool link.

Hat Tip: Rep. John Shimkus.

Note for Iraqi's this is our second one and it took ten amendments to get it passed. So if you don't like the one you are considering you can always change it. Heck the French have had dozens. Let's see what else Mr. Shimkus is up to. Below the break and it's good stuff. Also this kind of got me thinking. How many think Mr. Shimkus should run for old DICK Durbin's Senate seat? Think about it Mr. Shimkus you'll only have to run every 6 years.

more...

Posted by: Howie at 08:14 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Mrs. See-Dubya: "I'm going to order this book called Baking Without Sugar from Amazon. Is there anything you need so we can spend enough to get free shipping?"

See-Dubya: "Sure, get me a copy of Sex Without Orgasms and get yourself a bottle of unscented perfume to go with it. I'll run out and get a keg of O'Doul's to drink with your sugarless bran brownies."

Yes, the couch is breaking in nicely, thank you.

Posted by: seedubya at 05:59 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Heard it. Loved it. Fine Political Theater.

I doubt very much that any minds were changed, but I think Hitchens won in a walk. Galloway savaged Hitchens; Hitchens savaged Galloway, but he also laid out an unrefuted case for regime change in Iraq. Plus many of Galloway's ad hominems lacked any real sting--he triumphantly bellowed that Hitchens had opposed the 1991 Gulf War, but he had apparently changed his mind, so how could we ever trust him again?

That may be a more effective insult in Galloway's fever swamp, where deviating from blind orthodoxy and reconsidering one's position is considered treasonous. Among the right, many of us (not me so much) got here from liberalism after being, as Irving Kristol put it, mugged by reality. It's called growing up.

Anyway, two links of note about the debate:

The first is a useful transcript of the debate prepared by one-man-think-tank George Gooding at Seixon.com. He'll have the second half up soon, but in the meantime look at his other stuff about Iraq casualty reports, Galloway's perjury, and Valerie Plame (who?).

The second--and only a few of you will think this is funny--is this news roundup by the New Criterion's blog Armavirumque (which is Latin for "armavirumque".)

If the wording of one of their links doesn't jump out at you, go here and Dave will explain it for you. Very strange thing to see referenced in that bow-tie and brandy-snifter blog of highbrow literary criticism--but I guess no one's immune to the boyish charm of a bad sportscaster.

(PS It doesn't actually use that phrase in the linked article.)

Posted by: seedubya at 05:48 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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1 Galloway is a piece of shit who, like all other liberals, needs a hemp necktie.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at September 16, 2005 07:23 PM (0yYS2)

2 I finished the second half 17 hours ago. So the entire Galloway vs. Hitchens transcript is there now. Enjoy!

Posted by: George at September 17, 2005 04:28 AM (9RcD9)

3 While what I've read so far is quite entertaining, it devolved into nothing but guttersniping. Then I read this in the UK's Independent: "The "sold out" sign on the doors of Baruch College spoke volumes about the thirst for open public debate on the issue, and the rarity of home-grown voices who might quench it. For a subject that is often discussed but seldom debated, the talent had to be imported." It made me want to personally go over there and slap the crap out of the writer. That was not a "debate". Debates have moderators and an air of decorum. Debates stick to facts and appeal to the intellect of the listeners. And last of all, the debators should be evenly matched. I mean really - I could have beat Galloway myself. He's a disgusting and vile man and a compulsive liar. No wonder he's so loved by the extreme left in this country. They said roughly 2/3 of the audience was with Galloway. Sure they were. It was in NY. Next time, let's have it in Texas and see how well received he is.

Posted by: Oyster at September 17, 2005 06:24 AM (YudAC)

4 "They said roughly 2/3 of the audience was with Galloway. Sure they were. It was in NY." Didn't some sort of terrorist attack happen in NY some time back? Is it just me, or do New Yorkers have a much higher incidence of absolute morons than most populations? Where I live, I've even heard some flaming pansyass liberals say muslims should be deported, so WTF is the matter with these idiots?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at September 17, 2005 08:30 AM (0yYS2)

5 Actually, IM, I think California's got 'em beat.

Posted by: Oyster at September 17, 2005 12:08 PM (YudAC)

6 It's funny that Oyster is lecturing the British about decorum. Not that Oyster isn't decorous, I mean, just the idea of Americans telling them to act like grownups.

Posted by: See-Dubya at September 17, 2005 01:41 PM (hmJ+A)

7 Good point, See-Dubya. What I was going to allude to as well, but did not mention, was the raucous manner in which they even conduct Parliament sessions. Heckling and shouting insults while people speak. It's quite amazing to watch. And while our own House and Senate display their share of snide and sideways remarks during sessions, it's never quite so, well, boisterous and disorderly. Of course that's only because we've so far been able to keep Ted Kennedy relatively constrained.

Posted by: Oyster at September 17, 2005 02:09 PM (YudAC)

8 Impy, you would be crying after five minutes with Galloway.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at September 18, 2005 12:14 AM (VhNDM)

9 Yes, I would be crying after five minutes with Galloway, for one of the following reason: 1. The human body only contains so much blood, and that tends to leak out too quickly during vigorous "debate". 2. Because I left my propane torch and vise-grips at home. 3. Because I didn't bring my weighted gloves, and my fists are too sore to continue. 4. Because there's only one of him, and he's too soft to last long. 5. Because it's a once in a lifetime chance, and there's nobody around with a camcorder.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at September 18, 2005 12:50 PM (0yYS2)

10 C'mon Impy, the rattling medicine bottles are ringing in your ears!

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at September 18, 2005 07:49 PM (VhNDM)

11 The Incapability of the American right to deal with anything from a Hurricane to a bomb, is outstanding. Not only can the United States not keep the price of Oil down when it steals it from Iraqis but it cannot even organise a few buses to get poor black people out of New Orleans. Galloway was opposing Saddam Hussein When you kids were probably in cradles. He was my local representative,a very true and caring man. The comment he made to Saddam was addressed to the people (something which he very quickly expressed to the press and others). Hitchens is a turncoat, a fool and a warmonger. And like all other American Warmongers he's not in the front line. Plenty of Black Amnericans are in it though. For some reason when it came to getting them from New Orleans to Baghdad, it was a smooth effective operation. PS. My Url is not being accepted because its from the UK.

Posted by: Brian Christopher at September 19, 2005 11:00 AM (I70Fk)

12 Futhermore, George Galloway is not a "Liberal". In American politics and culture the term Liberal has been skewed and distorted for propaganda terms. Many might remember a time when Liberty was something the United States was proud of - but no more. Liberals in America are people who believe in social change and are open minded about the way these social changes should be brought about. All of them believe in Liberal markets - capatalism and free enterprise. George Galloway is a socialist. That's not a liberal. He may have some liberal attitudes but that does not make him a "Liberal". After all, in the US you can call yourself a "Democrat" but it doesn't mean that you believe in willy-nilly liberal ideas like Democracy. At least not if coercion is more beneficial to you and your Papa's business partners.

Posted by: Brian Christopher at September 19, 2005 11:09 AM (I70Fk)

13 BC: In Britain, do the articles appearing in the leftist BBC just get pasted into hardcover scrapbooks and sent off to the schools for your children to read (while held only in their left hands--their right hands tied behind their backs--and with their right eyes taped shut)? And then they all speak with one voice, out of--guess with side of their mouths? (No.... way further south!) Is that where you learned your propaganda?

Posted by: JV at September 20, 2005 03:14 PM (9UtjO)

14 Yes, Brian - Galloway is a socialist. In America many, many liberals are socialists as well. But America is not a socialist country (or at least we are fighting an uphill battle not to become one). What do you know about American liberty? Is cradle to grave socialism liberty? Is abortion, mercy killing, rationed healthcare, confiscatory taxes and living from welfare check to welfare check liberty? I think not. How dare you impune the American political right in regards to 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. Those are cheap shots. You know, we Yanks are constantly being accused of being arrogant - we've got nothing on you Brits. Your media - the BBC World News especially - makes our leftist media look like the amatuer hour. Fortunately our TV's and radios have an on and off button that we exercise when ever the BBC comes on. Good day.

Posted by: Craig Willms at September 24, 2005 10:33 PM (0nyqN)

15 Interesting that you refer to the "leftist BBC". In the UK the BBC is considered a right-wing government mouthpiece (just ask Andrew Gilligan). I couldn't have learned anything from the BBC as the only encounters I have with them is when their security men try to silence my protests (The BBC Building here in Glasgow is a stone's throw from my house - depending on how big my stone is). Incidentally the BBC apologised to Israel for not going through the Israeli censor when it interviewed Israel's illegally detained anti-nuclear hero Mordecahi Vanunu (who I am proud to say is the Rector of my student council). Abortion is not socialism. Mercy killing is certainly not Socialism (Mr Galloway isn't a fan of it by the way). rationed helath care is the opposite socialism, nor is confiscatory taxes or living from one welfare cheque to another. Health care in this country is free by the way. What you are describing is a slanted view of the failed American liberal left - that is the very point I am trying to make. Socialism, my friend and comrade is the equality of all human beings. It is the attempt by the democratic masses to ensure that equality exists in fact as well as on paper. It does this by ensuring that every individual is rewarded in proprtion both to his or her needs and according to his or her value to society as a whole. It puts people before profit. that is it's essence. In a socialist society unemployment is non-existent and so "welfare" is not required unless someone is unable to work, in which case it is assumed that they nonetheless deserve necessities to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Therefore real socialism isn't about taking taking away taxes from the owners of production. Its about getting them to pay people a fair wage in the first place - result fat Cats dont get so fat and the little guy doesn't slave his life away for nothing. My problem with the United States right-wingers is not that I am a socialist or that Socialists in the United States are targeted as madmen or dreamers. I don't care that your twin towers of so called "Free trade" were bombed or that your President will go down in history for his lack of intelligence. What I do care about are the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine who suffer from your arrogance, your hypocrisy and your lies (not to mention your bombs) . I do care about the people of Saudi Arabia who have campaigned for democratic change only to see your Government (And mine) sell them £40 billion of arms to suppress their people. I do care about the people of Malawi, Sudan and Ethiopia who work as slaves to make pills for Westerners and yet cannot afford to buy medicine for themselves or their familes. Even though in a single year the US Arms buget could wipe out african debt. Every year each Israeli citizen gets the equivilent of $1000 curtesy of Mr and Mrs John Q taxpayer in the US - A country of Six Million relatively wealthy people. Just to the west of them an entire continent sits on the biggest mass of fertile land in the world and starves - receiving less money in aid (as a continent) than the zionist pet project that the US funds as a way of keeping Christian fundamentalists and arms dealers in America happy and as a way to further Anti-semetic aims by encouraging Jews to leave the land of the free and head for Israel. Oh! And I hear creationism might be on it's way back into science class. You're absolutely right, the US is on the brink of becoming a socialist utopia any day now. You better buy a flight to Britian. Our Mr Blair only has a little while left before he's kicked out of the Labour party for being an under-cover Nazi.

Posted by: Brian Christopher at October 03, 2005 08:41 AM (6RMND)

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I'm flying down to the Katrina disaster zone today to see what little help I can offer. It's the least I can do after I was such an arrogant prick about it. I regret those words. There was no bigger news than Katrina that week or since. I'll be back Monday.

Posted by: Rusty at 11:56 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Bring me back a piece of the levee wall. Seriously, good news. Let us know what you see down there. Don't forget to pack your digital camera and lots of memory cards.

Posted by: IO ERROR at September 16, 2005 01:22 PM (+UctD)

2 Smack that jackass Nagin for Filthy will you?

Posted by: Filthy Allah at September 16, 2005 03:11 PM (5ceWd)

3 good luck and stay safe dude

Posted by: THANOS35 at September 16, 2005 05:53 PM (FMsU7)

4 Good luck!

Posted by: Maureen at September 16, 2005 08:25 PM (ny5O/)

5 Way to go Rusty! You're doing what many of us wish we could do. As an added bonus... Right now, as I type this, an indignant liberal is exploding due to the dissonance of him caring about people and doing nothing while you, a hatemonger actually do some good.

Posted by: Gordon at September 17, 2005 09:33 AM (dEFhD)

6 Good job, Rusty. You da man.

Posted by: Oyster at September 17, 2005 12:09 PM (YudAC)

7 Dr. Rusty, you absolutely rock. ;-) I pray G-d look with favor upon your journey and deliver you safe back.

Posted by: matoko kusanagi at September 17, 2005 03:29 PM (eGHkQ)

8 Find Klanrooster and wean him off the cheese.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at September 18, 2005 07:07 AM (VhNDM)

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Roy Hallums, the American hostage held in Iraq since November and who's cause was covered extensively at this website, is back in the U.S.

Additionally, the U.S. military has released a video of the rescue operation that led to his release. I will post the video and images from it as soon as I have it. Please e-mail me if you have the video. The video is described below.

Above: A photo taken by Sgt. Jason Mikeworth MNF-I PAO (by way of of DOD) of Roy Hallums shaking hands with Air Force Brig. Gen. Frank Gorenc before boarding a flight home from Iraq.

Susan Hallums sent me an e-mail this morning. I thought I'd share it with you.

Dear Rusty,

I am sorry that it has taken me a few days I have thought of you many many times. I dont have my computer so there has been limited communication.

I have been so thrilled to have Roy back home. We are truly blessed that our prayers were answered and our faith NEVER allowed us to stop believing that Roy would return home.

I didnt know he would request a turkey sandwich and then request to be H-o-m-e, but I am truly extremely thankful and happy for this wonderful outcome.

You were the 1st to help Carrie and I and our interviews are an unforgettable experience, but Roy told me we all helped. We will never forget your huge efforts. My prayers are with the other hostages and their families may God be with them.

Thanksssssssssssssss,
Susan Hallums

Please visit their website here and donate if you can. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 11:54 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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(Denmark) The Danish government has launched a program which pays prostitutes to have sex once a month with disabled people.

The program has created some contentiousness, particularly from Danes that don't get taxpayer-funded hookers. The argument is that every Dane deserves free whores, not just the disabled.

My take is that this is a clear case of discrimination.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 10:51 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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