Some news for those who mocked the President when he spoke of the "Axis of Evil". Iran's insane hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is seeking a trade deal with fellow lunatic North Korean president Kim Jong-il. Oil and natural gas for nuclear missiles.

From Haaretz:

BERLIN - Iran has offered North Korea oil and natural gas as payment for help in developing nuclear missiles, German weekly magazine Der Spiegel reported on Saturday, citing unidentified Western intelligence sources.

A senior Iranian official traveled to the North Korean capital Pyongyang during the second week of October to make the offer, the magazine quoted the sources as saying. It was unclear what North Korea's response was, it added.

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(San Francisco) The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that 7th-graders training for three weeks to be Muslims is not a "religious exercise."

From the SacBee.com:

Christian students and parents cannot sue a school district where some seventh-graders pretended to be Muslims for three weeks during a course in world history, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the role-playing game was not a religious exercise that violated anybody's constitutional rights.

The decision was issued one day after the U.S. House of Representatives chastised the 9th Circuit for ruling earlier this month that parents can't sue public schools for providing information about sex. That decision "deplorably infringed on parental rights," said the House resolution.

Thursday's decision came down in an unpublished memorandum, indicating the judges considered it routine.

U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton dismissed the case two years ago, saying teaching was not indoctrinating.

The 9th Circuit upheld her decision in a five-sentence ruling, saying only that the activities weren't "overt religious exercises" that would raise concerns under the First Amendment prohibition of "establishment of religion."

Senior Circuit Judge Dorothy Nelson of Pasadena and Circuit Judges Johnnie Rawlinson of Las Vegas and Carlos Bea of San Francisco signed the decision.

The unpublished memo format indicates the appellate judges did not believe they were breaking legal ground. Unpublished decisions cannot be cited in future cases.

This is worth seeing also. Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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According to a an unverified statement on an Islamist website, Al Qaeda in Iraq takes responsibility for the triple bomb attacks on Amman hotels.

From ABC News Online:

"A group of our best lions launched a new attack on some dens," the statement said.

"After casing the targets, some hotels were chosen which the Jordanian despot turned into a backyard for the enemies of the faith, the Jews and crusaders."

The admission comes as no surprise since al Qaeda was suspected from the very beginning. That said, it is odd that many hours transpired before they claimed responsibility.

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(Amman, Jordan) Eighteen people are reported dead from explosions at three major Amman hotels about two hours ago. Suicide bombers are suspected. More than 120 injured.

From the JPost:

"The attacks carry the trademark of al-Qaida," one police official said on condition of anonymity in line with police regulations. "However it is not certain. We are investigating."

The explosions struck the Grand Hyatt, Radisson SAS and Days Inn hotels. A police officer at the Radisson site said it was caused "apparently by a bomb."

The hotels, in the commercial Jebel Amman district, are frequented by American and European businessmen and diplomats. The Radisson, in particular, is popular with Israeli tourists, and was a target of several foiled al-Qaida plots in the past.

[Update 1625 EST]

From Reuters, at least 23 people are now reported dead from three suspected suicide bombers in the three hotels.

The explosion at the Radisson Hotel occurred in a banquet room where 300 people were attending a wedding reception. The room was adjacent to a bar which security sources believe was the intended target.

The stone entrance to the Grand Hyatt was completely shattered. Hyatt General Manager Otto Steenbeek stated the explosion was in the bar area and caused many casualties.

The blasts came without warning or any hint from intelligence. Thus far, no claims of responsibility have been received.

Television news reports that suicide bombers are believed to have walked into the hotels. Videotape surveillance footage should be available. Similarities are being drawn to last month's bombings in Bali where suicide bombers walked into restaurants.

[Update 1640 EST]

Fox News reports that a Jordanian security force spokesman has confirmed that there are 53 dead. The explosions are believed to be the first organized simultaneous terrorist attacks in Jordan.

[Update 1700 EST]

From Lawhawk, it seems there may have been some warning that Jordan was a target for an imminent attack. Check out Hammorabi who posts an alert that Zarqawi has been planning an attack in Jordan. The source of the information is not clear.

[Update 1745 EST]

(via television newscasts) The Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher said there were two suicide bombers and a car bomb. The Hyatt and Radisson were attacked by suicide walk-ins, the Days Inn was attacked with a car bomb. The death toll has increased to 57.

The AP reports approximately 300 wounded. The borders of Jordan have been sealed and a search is underway for collaborators.

Jordan's King Abdullah blamed a "deviant and misled group" for the attacks. The Jordanian cabinet is in an emergency session.

Companion at Interested-Participant.

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(Austin) With over 472 thousand votes counted, Texas voters have overwhelmingly passed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Called Proposition 2, voters came out in favor by a 3 to 1 margin. Nobody should be surprised. For cryin' out loud, this is Texas we're talking about.

Although same-sex marriage is already prohibited by state law, supporters of Proposition 2 believed constitutional guidance was necessary to prevent political subdivisions from creating or recognizing any legal status identical to or similar to marriage. Also included are marriage-like legal status relationships created outside of Texas.

I believe 'created outside of Texas' means Massachusetts right now.

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Foiled I say. Last week John Howard (great name) announced that Australia had intelligence that they were a target for a major terrorist attack. This week they arrest 15 possibly stopping an attack in the final stages of planning. My Aussie Cube mate says hold their head in the billabong till they are ready to talk.

FOXNEWS: "I'm satisfied that we have disrupted what I would regard as the final stages of a large scale terrorist attack ... here in Australia," Moroney told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

Here we are dancing to some tune about roos and dangerous wallabies and stuff. Aussie folk are good Joes.

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We had some storms blow through here last night. We had lightning and wind and some rain. I love storms and slept like a rock. No damage here but I get up this morning to find a tornado struck the Evansville-Newburgh, Indiana. From reports on WTVW it was pretty bad. CNN is also covering.

CNN:Adam Groupey, deputy director of emergency management for Evansville and Vanderburgh County, said the tornado touched down about 2 a.m. in Henderson County, Kentucky, then hit an Evansville mobile home park before moving into Warrick County.

Here is the list of shelters and phone numbers WTVW is posting this AM for people needing shelter or attempting to locate family members.

Shelters Set Up Phone Numbers by WTWW: (Note southern Indiana area code is 812)

* Deaconess Hospital -- 450-5000.

* St. Mary`s Hospital -- 485-4496.

* St. Mary`s Warrick -- 897-4800.

* National Guard Armory in Evansville -- 469-4020.

* Henderson, KY shelter -- 270-827-7700.

* Zion Baptist Church -- 853-8828.

*Castle High School -- 305-1926.(moving to Crossroads Church at 3:00pm due to lack of power).

Shelters Set Up To Assist in Relief by WTWW.* The Vanderburgh County Red Cross has set up a shelter at their main office just off of the Lloyd Expressway.

* The Warrick County Red Cross has a temporary shelter in the south gym at Castle High School. Since there is no power at the school, the shelter will be moved to Crossroads Christian Church at 3 p.m. today.

* The Epworth United Methodist Church at the corner of Epworth and Lincoln has set up a shelter. They have breakfast available, and will have soup and sandwiches later today. They will also have showers available.

 Souls Harbor Church will be serving meals this afternoon from 1:30 to 5 p.m. today. The church is located at 2126 Cass Avenue.

Note : The East Side Wal Mart and National Guard Armory are also taking people. Diapers were noted to be in short supply at at least one shleter.

The Vanderburgh Co. CoronerÂ’s Office is confirming 12 dead, more have been reported. A state of emergency has been declared in Warrick County IN. The National Guard has arrived in affected areas as well as much private equipment & local law enforcement to dig through houses in the search for Victims. The weather is good this AM which should help. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is expected to arrive this afternoon. Eville's airport is on the North side so no problem there.

Others: Jay at Stop the ALCU and In the Angora.

Other Eville Area Outlets.

WFIE
WEHT
WEVV
Evansville Courier & Press

Update: So far confirmed 22 deaths. The path of the storm took it over Ellis Park Raceway killing several race horses and then Eastward leaving a path as wide as 500 yards and 35 to 40 miles long. The storm missed the denser areas of the city but struck smaller towns and suburbs to the south and east. Mrs. Stella Rawlings and her husband stepped out so see the entire area around their home destroyed The elderly couple credited their minor damage and tremendous luck to the Lord

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(Sacramento, California) In an effort to translate ogling into support for a political cause, an anti-war group is seeking court protection.

From the SacBee.com:

Mendocino County women who have been baring their breasts at various venues to protest the war in Iraq are in Sacramento federal court seeking an order prohibiting the California Highway Patrol from arresting them during a planned noon demonstration Monday at the Capitol.

The women's group, Breasts Not Bombs, is suing CHP Commissioner Mike Brown and two of his officers over a warning that if the women demonstrate while topless, they will be arrested and charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.

The group claims it also was warned by the CHP that if its members are convicted of indecent exposure they may have to register as sex offenders.

And, it's probably true that many guys would show up to look but that doesn't mean they'll listen. However, when many people show up, the media follows and it becomes a news story, even though nobody was listening.

U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. will rule on a temporary restraining order preventing the arrest of Breasts Not Bombs members.

Companion at Interested-Participant.

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(Bucharest, Romania) From the standpoint of geopolitical strategy, this is an important reshuffling of players in the region.

From Xinhua:

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit Romania by the end of the year to sign an agreement setting up US military bases in Romania, Romanian Foreign Minister Razvan Ungureanu said on Monday.

The military deals are close to be completed, Romania's Mediafax quoted Ungureanu as saying.

The foreign minister made the remarks after meeting with his US counterpart Rice in New York.

Romanian President Traian Basescu told visiting US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley on Oct. 23 that possible locations for the bases might be Babadag, close to the Danube delta, Constanta, on the Black sea, and Fetesti, 200 km east of Bucharest.

Companion at Interested-Participant.

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