I have begun to ban commenters from the forum. If you want to argue strategy, fine. If you wish to argue that Bush = Hitler or that America is to blame for the ills of the world, you are banned. No blog for you!! If you believe you have been banned unfairly I am open to revisiting the issue. I have been wrong in the past and mistakes will be made. Just drop me a line.
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Glad to hear it, Rusty.
~C
Posted by: firstbrokenangel at September 22, 2004 01:08 PM (D39Vm)
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Typical right wing anti-freedom reactionary.
Posted by: Anti-censorship at September 22, 2004 01:22 PM (73Ifz)
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Ban is bad, if you wanna know the truth. If you don't want to hear it, just ban

. Just my last two cents:
"If you wish to argue that Bush = Hitler or that America is to blame for the ills of the world"
Bush is not Hitler, is Bush, Hitler killed millions of people to create a unique race, this is why UN were created, to eliminate people like that who could do so much danger to humanity. Bush has done good things and bad things, and had commited many errors, this is why so many people is blaming on him as politician, and so many people in the world (as CNN said in a study two days ago) wants that Kerry wins November US elections (but this will be decided by US people, that is who has to decide it)
US (not America, it is a little bit different, America is a continent, named by Americo Vespucio, an italian, some centuries ago, US is the name of a country), isn't the responsible for the ills of the world, more than that, US, Russia and UK did something essential for humanity's future on Second War II. But, and you will agree me, you cannot said that terrorism this or terrorism that, when so many senior members of Al Qaeda have been trained by CIA (look for this issue on US and European magazines, newspapers and TV networks, this is truth). The CIA trained them to stop Soviet expansion all over the world, they created a problem, and now, ironically, almost half century later, we (nowadays humanity) have to stop this people. It is true too, that there have been many changes on the last decades, but this is the truth, if you like or not
now ban me
Posted by: Apocalipsis at September 22, 2004 01:22 PM (FXexy)
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The US did not train al Qaeda, though they did train mujahadin, some of whom joined al Qaeda. Others became the Northern Alliance, and still others became the Taliban. To say "the US trained al Qaeda" is to implicate the US in al Qaeda's crimes. The US can no more be blamed on the crimes of al Qaeda than we can be blamed for Stalin's crimes because we sent billions in aid to the Soviets during WWII. There is no irony here. Irony, by the way, is the use of a word in a way that perverts its literal meaning.
Posted by: RS at September 22, 2004 01:30 PM (JQjhA)
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Anti-Censorship
This is not censorship, I OWN this blog. This is MY HOUSE. Your comments here are a privelege, not a right.
Posted by: RS at September 22, 2004 01:36 PM (JQjhA)
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I just found your corner of the web today and I just wanted say...good for you for sticking to your guns on people who can only flame like middle/high schoolers and dont have the intelligence to debate like an adult...far too many boards that discuss these things let anyone say what they want in a manner that drives off people who really might like to discuss issues (and not type their posts in all caps...that is SO annoying)
Keep up the good work...this is YOURS..you have the right to set the rules..people that dont like it can go pay for their own space and run it however they want to.
Posted by: ShaniFaye at September 22, 2004 01:41 PM (RXjHU)
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"The US did not train al Qaeda, though they did train mujahadin, some of whom joined al Qaeda. Others became the Northern Alliance, and still others became the Taliban."
The CIA (as many US and European newspapers said) helped Osama Bin Laden to defeat Soviet people, some links:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/190144.asp
http://www.guardian.co.uk/wtccrash/story/0,1300,551037,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/2004/time100/leaders/100osama.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/155236.stm
"To say "the US trained al Qaeda" is to implicate the US in al Qaeda's crimes."
US?, I am talking of CIA, not US. US people would have not tolerate this. This is a political issue, not a patriotical one

"The US can no more be blamed on the crimes of al Qaeda than we can be blamed for Stalin's crimes because we sent billions in aid to the Soviets during WWII."
Sorry, but that was not the same type of "help"
Posted by: Apocalipsis at September 22, 2004 01:46 PM (FXexy)
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What? We GAVE the Soviets weapons, planes, food. It was exactly the same kind of help. Further, we helped Stalin much more than we ever helped the Mujahadin--billions and billions in direct military aid. And the US public knew we were training the Mujahadin. It was part of the public record. This was not covert ops. What we did not know, and neither can your European papers which like to tell half-truths, is that some elements of the Mujahadin would eventually BECOME al Qaeda. There was no "al Qaeda" during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, this is just plane nonsense. By saying that we "trained al Qaeda" you are implying that the CIA could have somehow foreseen that Osama bin Laden, sometime in the distant future, would become an an anti-US terrorist. At the time he was only a low level money man who raised funds from the Gulf States to give to his Afghani allies. That is all. It was not until after the First Gulf War that OBL founded al Qaeda. Your European papers be damned, they are wrong.
Posted by: RS at September 22, 2004 01:52 PM (JQjhA)
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Your sandbox, your rules. I fully support this decision. This is not a media outlet, as Rusty said, his house.
Good on ya, Rusty.
Posted by: B52GUNR at September 22, 2004 01:56 PM (isG+j)
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Typical right wing anti-freedom reactionary.
Uh huh. I suppose you consider DU a "Typical right wing anti-freedom reactionary" website, since they have a similar policy, only stricter? Typical leftist hypocrite.
As has been stated, this is Rusty's blog, he can permit or ban anyone he likes. This is MyPetJawa, not Hyde F'ing Park!
Posted by: Brian B at September 22, 2004 02:02 PM (OnnW3)
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Thanks, RS, for taking the trouble to provide the forum, for the patience you show in putting up with such pinheads, and for bringing us the images and information our gutless Mainstream News Organizations refuse to let us see.
Posted by: David March, animator & fiddler at September 22, 2004 02:10 PM (YbI4w)
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Apocalipsis and Anti-censorship ... get over it and grow up. If your 14 year old brains cant work to converse on a subject like grown adults no one wants to hear what you have to say. Thats what makes us different than "My way, or the highway" attitudes of people hitler and Osama'Bn Laid. Play by the rules or ship out.
Posted by: Salamander at September 22, 2004 02:15 PM (D4mP3)
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I dare somebody to go over to Atrios or Oliver Willis and start saying that they are paid operatives for a foreign Marxist evildoer who is attempting to steal the electoral process through specious ads and a shadowy Bolshevik undgerground network, in order to amend the constitution to allow foreigners to run for President, and once installed in the White House this Stalinist billionaire will surrender national sovereignty to the United Nations and ...
Start out with something like that and see how long you get to freely troll.
Posted by: Johnny Walker Red at September 22, 2004 02:23 PM (4AwR3)
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when does the ban start?
Posted by: firstbrokenangel at September 22, 2004 02:42 PM (D39Vm)
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That was a joke, btw, everybody.
Posted by: Johnny Walker Red at September 22, 2004 02:54 PM (4AwR3)
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Absolutely - your blog, your call.
Besides, they still have DU where that sort of thing makes them feel all warm and fuzzy.
Posted by: MartiniPundit at September 22, 2004 02:57 PM (fLdsW)
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That was a joke, btw, everybody.
NOW you tell me! Thanks a damned lot! I'm never going to get the monkey poo out of this shirt!
Posted by: Brian B at September 22, 2004 03:31 PM (OnnW3)
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ha ha ha Brian - you are too funny.
Cindy
I don't think the ban is a joke, tho.
Posted by: firstbrokenangel at September 22, 2004 04:35 PM (D39Vm)
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Way to go, Rusty. I appreciate your house cleaning efforts.
Posted by: bj at September 22, 2004 07:13 PM (9TZvy)
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This is off topic but in the local paper yesterday there was a story likening a hazing incident at John Kerry's old boarding school St. Paul's to Abu Ghairb. Having survived that school in the 90s I can say with some certainty that SPS is one of the most liberal high schools in the country. It looks like they completely overreacted to what these kids did, I'm still trying to find out exactly what happened but what I have so far is at.
http://curbsideprophet7.blogspot.com/2004/09/st-pauls-new-abu-ghraib.html
No question they deserved punishment but the correlation in the press to Abu Ghairb shows how disconnected from reality they are.
Posted by: James at September 22, 2004 07:22 PM (rl/jf)
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Interesting site; can't say the same for the rhetoric. Every comment I read has missed the true strategic problem we in the West are facing. I laud your efforts in bringing us the graphic evidence that is inappropriate elsewhere. Let me know when we are ready to discuss the only ways to solve the underlying causes of this worldwide tribulation.
Posted by: G at September 22, 2004 10:33 PM (OvMVz)
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To rusty. The offensive posts purporting to be from James, are not from me. Sure, my views may differ from the status quo, but I have no intention of lowering the tone of the topics discussed in this blog. It shouldn't take you any time at all to realise that the author of the childish posts is none other than one of your regular contributors. Perhaps he should be banned.
Posted by: james at September 23, 2004 02:11 AM (4PPsx)
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Did I miss something? I did not get Rusty's comments to mean you cant disagree....My impression was it was the childish manner in which some were posting that was the annoyance
Posted by: ShaniFaye at September 23, 2004 07:08 AM (RXjHU)
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Good.....But what happens when someone hijacks your login and posts spurious messages? Surely Rusty can see that they are not genuine?
Posted by: ShaniFaye at September 23, 2004 07:23 AM (4PPsx)
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ShaniFaye, that was me, james who sent that post using your login. That was a mistake but it does illustrate my point just how easy it is for morond to send spurious posts. Though in this case it was a genuine mistake. Apologies for any offence caused. James
Posted by: james at September 23, 2004 07:26 AM (4PPsx)
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No offense!!! It was a good way to illustrate it...but..not knowing how his admin side works...on most of the ones I've handled like this he can see IP numbers next to the user name so that no matter WHAT name they type it, its the IP number that tells him what he needs to know about who it is...if thats the case here then you'll be safe!!!
Posted by: ShaniFaye at September 23, 2004 07:45 AM (RXjHU)
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Re: St. Pauls School
Try the Concord, NH newspaper, the Monitor, online at www.cmonitor.com
for more info about the "hazing" at St Pauls. There were 2 dorms involved, one of the "hazing" incidents sounds petty to me. The seniors woke the freshmen up in the middle of the night, took them into the dorm cellar, and asked them "sexually explicit"questions, then "forced" them to simulate oral sex using a banana. The freshmen
involved were all so upset by what happened to them that they wrote and signed a letter to St. Pauls administators backing up the seniors and telling them they all willingly participated. The seniors involved were all suspended for 2 weeks.
In the other dorm they aren't saying (so far) what took place, but the seniors invloved were all suspended for a full term, and may come back after Thanksgiving. They are telling us the incident was more serious. Hmmmmmmm.....
This sums up what the Concord Monitor has been reporting (along with other NH newspapers) over this alleged hazing. I know Catholic schoolgirls who were involved in 'traditional' yearly incidents like this one, that were far more crude. They all survived and now as adults still laugh at the tradition. Kids will be kids, even at St Pauls, even at Catholic school.
If people are being physically harmed, or abused in other ways, it should be considered hazing; but when the "victims" all say they willingly took part in the situation, is it still hazing, and do these seniors deserve suspension for it?
Posted by: geoff at September 23, 2004 10:04 AM (AaBEz)
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G wrote:
Let me know when we are ready to discuss the only ways to solve the underlying causes of this worldwide tribulation.
In case you weren't aware, folks, and I may be wrong in G's case, but that's usually leftspeak for "It's all the Joooooooos' fault!"
Do enlighten us, G.
Posted by: Brian B at September 23, 2004 11:16 AM (OnnW3)
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I have just watched Ken Bigleys plea for his life!! what a harrowing thing to see, someone must do something to help him. Trouble is we all feel so helpless!! I agree about the bombing of Al Jazeera I think they are a disgrace to the human race.....These terrorists are uneducated thick morons who have no humanity in them and they should be treated in the same sickening way they have treated their hostages....
Posted by: steve at September 24, 2004 04:25 AM (/qd3b)
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know what i think ive seen the video above and i want to see it from another angle like this.i dunno about the usa but here in the uk the war is a wain many people believe it was unjust and they want it over with support is not in it anymore people want the troops home.i maybe wrong but look at it this way by our governments LETTING this happen and doing nothing about it and it being aired on the internet which these terrible images being are a first ,could be the spark to reignite the fire and us to the support our gov's?
Posted by: samson at September 24, 2004 09:21 AM (/kyWL)
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Rusty I don't see my post here anymore. Given the content of your comments I assume it was my post that pushed you over to this decision. Is this true?
I have a couple of things I would like to say regarding your ban decision.
First I am disappointed that I will not get others feedback on my post...I am interested in all feedback whether they be my belief or otherwise.
This was my first posting anywhere ...I hhad been reading it for several days and felt a stirring to contribute. Based on your comments I have been reading I thought you were interested in true input and reactions.....real thoughts agreeable or not. How else you you form beliefs and opinions and become passionate if you don't have a variety of information and input? I sincerely apologize for my misunderstanding of your site. I thought it was open format and unbias. I agree given it is your site you can make the rules should you decide that is the type of site you want. I think you have a good thing here with very controversial input from a diverse group....I would challenge you to go beyond your own comfort zone and depart from the my way or the highway type of thinking. This is how we all learn...even if we don't ever agree we can learn to appreciate and tollerate differences. Myself I have no convictions to either party...as I said I voted for Bush last time. My opinion and correlation to times of past are from years of observation and study. Our ill decisions of the past, our history...is the gift of guideance for the present and future. I am an American who care about their country and simply wants the best person in charge to protect us and promote and healthy and postive way of life. Take Care.
Catcher
Posted by: catcher at September 24, 2004 08:09 PM (PcgQk)
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I did not say it before but I wanted to make it clear. My heart goes out to the families...god bless you all. God bless everyone innocent life taken. What horrific images remain for you of your loved ones.......I don't think I'll stop hearing the sounds of Mr. Armstrongs screams gargled by his own blood!
I do not blame anyone else but the individuals commiting these sick acts of cruelity and murder. They are savages and they alone are responsible for these atroscities and injustices. Regardless of why they are doing it it is ill and wrong. I have read the KJ version of the bible numerous times. I have questioned most of it. I can tell you if my god appeared on my couch and asked me to rape and kill children or behead a man of nonfaith in his name or to get us all to heaven or whatever.....I WOULD NOT DO IT. As humand we have the gift of cognative processing..we are not sheep.....these acts are nothing less than evil, regardless of religon or what geographical area you are raised in. EVIL! And should be destroyed. My anger at our administration is because of the lack of preparation, the body count hiding...etc.etc. Someone please tell me how we make a country in the very middle of what Bush calls "the axis of evil" a democracy? How do you see that working?...ever? I agree with Fred....sad and unfortunate as it may be...we need to step up and throw it all at them....whatever necessary .....obviously these savages only respond to what they deal....horror and death.
It's time they feel the power of this great nation...maybe then they will think before they rape and murder and behead the innocent in the name of their god.
Mr. Hubbard said that these people to us are apples and oranges...in my opinion that is true...but at our house...when we pick apples...all the bad ones get separated and crushed into juice for cider before they affect the good ones.
Posted by: catcher at September 24, 2004 09:34 PM (PcgQk)
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Hey all you Americans – You have more filth in your own country than the whole remainder of planet earth.
Try cleaning up your own place before dictating to the rest.
How many murders do you have in the USA every day. In most other countries it makes the headlines when someone is murdered as itÂ’s not the norm. Not yours, itÂ’s so common it doesnÂ’t even get a mention. Think about the mass murderers youÂ’ve had alone, they are way too numerous to mention. Your court rooms are clogged with the scum. No one deserves to have there head sliced off, but be real everyone what do you expect when you turn up in a country who now hates you so much, and why? Let me see could it be because you murdered their men, women & children, destroyed their land & homes?
Your military has raped & tortured, you hold many of their people in prisons, guilty only by association.
You are all outraged with these gruesome beheadings, as are the rest of us. But are you any better – what’s this Electric Chair thingy?
ThatÂ’s pretty Barbaric donÂ’t you think?
We all know there was no weapons of mass destruction. Oh but there was OIL, Oh the OIL.
Posted by: Graham Wells at September 26, 2004 04:59 PM (u/TP3)
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I, just a normal working class man from Liverpool, am truly sickened and horrified by the death of Ken Bigley.
I don't believe in any god, and neither have i any political persuasions.
Liverpool is a place of many diverse cultures and races from both near and far. We did have our problems at first, but over the years we have all learned to live next door to one another, and send our children to the same schools, and we now watch our children play and grow up together. In fact, you could even say we like each other.
We ALL need to take a page out of the book that our children grow up by, who's minds have not yet been corrupted by any god, leader or currency.
But sadly, today a cloud hangs over merseyside as a result of another son who will never return to his home town, friends and family, and as I look around Liverpool I see all races grieving together as one, and i ask the question..... 'has anything changed, who won?'
As i said, i am not a believer of any god, but a saying from the bible does come to mind...... "he who lives by the sword...."
The time has come to put down that sword and pick up the pen that writes how we want our children to live their future lives.
Derry,
Liverpool
U.K.
Posted by: derry at October 10, 2004 05:39 AM (5DWht)
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has britan learned nothing fron the war in ireland?this is not a war you can win.you cannot occupy another country and not expect the concequences were seeing in iraq now.the people who are be-heading innocent people are constantly being called animals and evil on your british newspapers and news channels,but i call what is happening in places like falluga and gaza and even bigger evil.america,britian and worst of all isreal have no right occupying these countries and for them to call the people who are defending there country and there familys animals and terrorists is a complete joke.this is a war you cant and wont win,prepare yourselves for many many more of your sons coming home in body bags and remember it was bush and blair who sent them to death for there own greedy,dirty reasons.
Posted by: g.hyland at October 28, 2004 09:46 AM (rCJi5)
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