1 Either this is an old story or the exact same thing happened a few months ago in Oakland. I saw a video clip of a number of blacks dressed in bow ties vandalizing a store. They did the same thing as described here. Does anyone know?

2 Sounds like the same story. But then again, can't stress the idiocy of it too much or too often.

3 What about the bomb in Starbucks in San Fransicko?

1 For the scum that did these things, I can only say: Rope. Tree. Skittish horse. Some assembly required. In all seriousness, why isn't this sort of crime a capital offense? Have we become so mushy as a society that it would never occur to anybody to execute the monsters who so blatantly and systematically abuse children?

2 Didn't this used to be called 'white slavery'? All the more reason to make brothels legal, IMO.

3 Rusty, you can make brothels legal but it won't stop the sex trade. Many of these girls are addicted to drugs, scared for their lives, or mentally ill. These scum that prey on children should be shot. Sorry, that's how I feel.

4 Considering what I see of the average teenage girl nowadays, there are few that have to be forced into any sort of sexual act, and many see nothing wrong with stripping or whoring their way through college or the rest of their lives for that matter.

5 The Slave Trade is not surprising. What is surprising is that websites such as www.theeroticereview.com and www.bigdoggie.net actually place "reviews" of the sexual services of Sex Slaves and children forced into prostitution. If the police wanted to locate some of these human trafficking groups, all they have to do is check these sites and the local prostitution ads.

6 I have first hand knowlege. The people at theeroticreview and thebigdoggie are low life scum who live off the misery they inflict on others. Let's get the SOB's and free the ladies. Things like this should not exist in this greatest of nations...

1 Speaking as a ten-year man who got medically discharged with 0% disability for a bad back, which still gives me trouble ten years later, I really wish I could say that I was surprised at the horrible treatment that he got, but I can't. The Army doesn't care about soldiers in the least, and nor does the VA.

1 >>>It's too early to tell whether the mainstream media will give this any play It doesn't take rocket science. The answer to that question is no. Pat Robertson, yes. Harry Belafonte, no.

2 You can send a comment to UNICEF here: http://www.unicef.org/about/contact_contactusform.html

3 Done.

4 Harry's been doing this for years - so what's new? BTW - Harry lives here in NY - watched a PBS piece on him and his wife about a year ago. Ever notice how the "I Hate America" crowd never seem to hate it or fear it enough to leave. Kinda weird huh. If I hated or feared a place I'm pretty sure I'd get away from it - but thats me.

5 This doubly annoys me since I was considering donating a little something to UNICEF. They are the only charity/ngo to ever send me address stickers that spell my full name correctly, don't transpose my first and last name, or call me "Mr." I thought that was at least worth something, but not as long as crazy man Harry is their spokesman. Thanks for the free stickers that I can actually use guys. No donation for you!

6 hondo, Belafanote violated an unwritten law called the Vandenberg doctrine: "Criticism of the government stops at the water's edge." In other words, anything goes at home, but it's trés uncool to travel to a foreign country and criticize the administration. The UNICEF folks understand that Belafonte crossed a line here, and they're worried that Harry's shit will stick to them.

7 Belafonte has fallen into the same old trap so many others have. They can't bestow admiration for one thing without tearing something else down. It's the only way they can reconcile it their own heads. Any sane person knows full well that this is a far better country to live in than the likes of Venezuela (unfortunately it's true) or they wouldn't come back here after shooting their mouths off. When they tell me, "This is my country," I clamly tell them, "No, it's not. You've denounced it in every word and deed. If things are so much better elsewhere, do us all a favor and go."

8 Harry Belafonte has a brain the size of a walnut he cant think without his brain smoking and falling out his ear what a idiot

9 After years of ranting and character assassinations, Belafonte has finally become an anti-American traitor. UNICEF should disavow him. Proud Americans should reject him. He should stay in his beloved Venezuela. In a time of war, shouldn't he be charged with treason?

10 Oh don't be too hard on him, he's just trying to be a good house negro for his massas in the DNC.

11 Harry is getting old. His singing career is over. He should move to Cuba.

12 kfuieaktboa ugobio

1 Omigod, this reads like one of those spy novels I've never read. Too bad the Germans can't be trusted, and Osthoff is such a crazy freak. http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,392690,00.html This would be a story worth exploring if it involved less loathsome characters.

2 i think she and the bnd are AIDING zarqawi. like schroeder aiding putin.

3 That answers a few questions.

4 What would a German Intelligence operative be doing in Iraq? And more important, what would she be doing arranging high-level meetings with AQ operatives?

5 Bluto - you got to follow up on this one - it is down right weird - and leaves a lot more questions than answers.

6 I also have a well informed source!

7 This is one weird story. This gal has a very tenuous grip on reality. She said that her abductors were affiliated with al Qaeda, then she said they have nothing to do with terror groups and were just "poor people". She gives an interview with al Jazeera speaking only english, yet is fluent in Arabic. She wears something to conceal her face "to protect her identity" yet her picture has been plastered all over the media. Says her daughter "is her life", yet makes no attempt to contact her for weeks. Her sister tried to organize a march in Germany for her release, but no one would join her. Ooookay.

8 Wakey, Wakey, America! Before dissinÂ’ the rest of the world. Remember, us Europeans don't elect YOUR President or determine YOUR Foreign Policy. We have to accept your countries actions, BUT it works both ways. The German people and therefore government took the stance that they were against the Iraq campaign. The near total intransigence against the TWAT means they have soldiers in Afghanistan (and have suffered KIA) and they supported the EU taker of Bosnia/Kosovo from NATO so that the UK and US had enough troops to go to Iraq. As a Brit the notion of paying Kidnappers is wrong, and if true does not help matters. As for Ali Hamadi, your governmentÂ’s policy on GTMO and the Death Penalty as well as the German Constitution prevented him being legally extradited to the US. Nuff Said.

9 When the jihadists are kicking Euroweenie ass, just don't call on us to save you, that's all I ask, jailor.

10 As I've said before, the Germans are nothing but a bunch of goddamned unreconstructed Nazi's, and are actively aiding our enemies. We should invade once again and kill every last one of them this time.

11 Jerusalem Joe, is that like the Jailor and 40,000 of his mates helping the US in Iraq. 5000 Germans in Afganistan?Kosovo, the Dutch, Danes, Norweigens, in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc etc Have you served your country? Have you done a tour of Iraq? Do you know anything about the German or UK or European constitution. Stupid ignorant immature responses like yours alienate the US from the rest of the world lose you freind and allies and support the myths proported by the Jihadists. I am not a dual citizen yet but I may be one day. My wife and Son are US citizens, I am serving Officer in the Royal Air Forces. I have done overseas tours in support of OEF and OIF. Grow up. jon.dennis@fbigs.mod.uk

12 Jailor, nobody cares what you or any other neuterd eurotard liberal-socialist moron has to say. You are irrelevant, so fuck off and let the last real men save the world.

1 I don't think you closed the italics tag. I'll fix it. I swear, I have to do everything around here. UPDATE: Fixed!

2 Vinnie: Thanks. I hate spammers. I figure they probably cost us more than the annual influenza epidemic, but for some reason people just prefer to let them get away with it. A fatwa would be a great informal way of curing the problem. No messy legislation or anything, just make it a religious duty to elimidate them. I mean, I can see the appeal. Max Weber talked about social constraints, arguing that they were as powerful as laws. Apparently, not unless the retaliation has some friggin' teeth.

1 Cue the tearful hostage Video. Those AQ "Lions of Allah" are some real tough guys when they point weapons at women and make them beg. I know that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed he would not kill a women. He also claimed he would have released Margaret Hassan if he had her, but she was murdered and found inside Fallujah which at the time was his stronghold. I still have my doubts if his "Lions" weren't the ones behind it. I hope for her safe return.

2 We'll definitely be seeing a video of her soon. Since A l Qaeda's the group behind it. It doesn't look good since she's an American. I hope people don't forget about her like they did about Jeffrey Ake and Tom Fox.

3 I am adopting a wait and see attitude on all hostages from now on if they are not military or associated. It is a dangerous environment and it is getting like you need a scorecard to know whos who walking around it.

4 I'm just a teensy bit suspicious that all these kidnappings are not much more than publicity stunts. Wait for the book, and mark my words.

5 Well she's an American so she's not in on it. The kidnappers may let her go since she's a woman but who knows. You thought the peacekeepers faked it but guess what? They are still missing and probably dead.

6 Who cares about this journalist! i bet she is a liberal commie traitor who should be shot on sight! I bet she is pro-abortion too! We should be happy that al-quaeda took this book reading liberal out of america! hahahahahahhahahaha ahhahahahahahahahah ....this is how ridiculous you guys sound. ernie

7 Ernie is an uninformed IDIOT. The kidnapped woman works for one of the most respected, conservative newspapers in the world -- and you can bet that she's also opposed to abortion. It's very sad that such a quality minded ournalist has been kidnapped - or any human being for that matter. It's stupid idiots like Ernie who deserve to be kidnapped and tortured. Take the time to learn the truth before exposing your ignorance, you fool.

8 What's wrong with being pro abortion? I don't support abortion but this is America and women have the right to choose. If they want an abortion,let them. Also just because a person's liberal doesn't mean they deserve to be kidnapped and beheaded. So to answer your question, who cares about the journalist? I do because she's a human being. Unlike you. ASS!!!

9 You don't support abortion but you support a woman's right to choose what? Abortion. That means you support abortion. j/s.

10 Hey george, nobody cares what you say, because you're such a moron that you couldn't say anything of consequence even by accident. Fuck off with your little friend ernie ya dipshit.

11 Go fuck yourself you far right mother fucker. No I don't support abortion but if woman want to do it. Let them. I can't stop them. Think. And go fuck yourself Maximus. OHHH I'm so scared. Mommy he hurt my feelings.

12 Let me explain better. I'm 18 years old so I'm not married. If I had a wife and she became pregnant, I would not want her to have an abortion. I couldn't live with myself knowing that I killed my child. However if other women want to have an abortion then I won't stop them. This is America and they have the right to do what they want. I don't know them personally so it's none of my business what they do. I'm a moderate so I support some of what Democrats and Republicans do but I also think they both screw up on some of what they do. Now do you understand Jesusland Joe? By the way, what in the name of Jesus(Pardon the pun) is J/S???

13 Hey you guys? I think we're forgetting about the important thing in this situation here...a young woman was kidnapped and is posibly being tortured. What does it matter what she stands for? She was kidnapped doing a job that's intention is to keep us informed about the current state of the world. Her professors at UMass Amherst are now my professors and all of them can only speak about how wonderful she is as a person. Please don't turn this into an argument about religious questions - just wish and hope and pray or do whatever you do to ask forher safe return, do your arguing somewhere else. Thanks.

14 There is no end to the lunacy of these people, nor are there any boundaries as to what is off limits for them ... NO act is taboo to them if they think it furthers their craziness. I feel for this young woman and pray for her return alive and well, however, the chances of this are not good. Killing a woman has more shock value than killing a man and they know this. Their goal is to shock and anger us as much as possible, and to try to make us feel powerless at their hand. No one can reason with fanatics.They do not want nor are they incapable of comprehending reason. I say STOP trying to understand them. We should not try, nor should we apologize for our actions in attempting to rescue any of our people from them. If any one of them is offended, TOO BAD. I believe the only people we should pull out of there are our civilians and then deal with these people in any manner that is necessary to get them under control before we find ourselves having to do it on our own soil. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

15 Agreed, I'm praying for this woman.

16 While Jill Carroll remains in the hands of the terrorists, we must not cease to pray for her and to take what actions we can. Jill is an intelligent and resourceful young woman. Let us pray that God gives her the words to say to her captors which result in her quick release.

17 I knew Jill when I worked at the Collegian at UMass. She is sharp, fair and compassionate. Let's hope they realize just what a valuable member of our humanity she is; it is obvious. I pray for you, Jill and for your family and hope for your safe return.

18 I knew Jill at the Collegian at UMass as well. She's a real person who has been part of people's lives. At the Collegian she was hard-working, dedicated, and extremely bright. I can see from her articles and reporting work that she hasn't changed. I am keeping her in my prayers, regardless of what her views are on abortion.

19 What do her personal views have to do with anything? Isn't this why we are over there in the first place? Anyone who makes this an issue is as sick as the terrorists. It is their agenda to kill anyone who isn't as twisted as they are, and who doesn't subscribe to their fanatical points of view. Don't sink to their level.

20 Keeping things in perspective, there is a human out there who is in danger. A woman that could be your wife, your sister, your best friend, your co-worker...even you, imagine. Sending prayers to Jill that she is comforted & protected, alive & well. Asking for God's blessings to resolve this matter & bring her & other hostages back to their family & friends, who are missing & loving them. Show us that there is good in this world. Pls leave politics & judgements aside when it comes to human suffering. Thank you. Grace

21 I am so sorry to hear that Jill's captors have now threatened to kill her, and are making impossible demands on the US as ransoms. Have we had had enough? Mr Bush, You now what must be done. These people need to understand that we no longer will stand for their fanatical behaviour.

22 I feel really bad for that young lady. I feel bad for all the innocents that get hurt on any side at war. War is a very ugly beast and should be avoided. This is a war of power, greed, and lies. One religious nut trying to take over another. They both want the very same thing. Take over the world and make everyone live under their God. That is a war zone. What was she doing there, cause it was the cool thing to do. War is not a game. It's not like tree hugging, or save the whales. I pray she stays safe.

23 I believe Ms Carroll was honestly trying to help this situation, and that she did know the risks. I do not believe this in any way justifies her kidnapping and possible death. Anyone remember Daniel Pearl? Were we not paying attention? What about all the other Americans that have died after him? People that were there trying to help these people. They do not want help. They cannot fathom living any other way than they have for the past thousands of years. There is no reason or intelligence here. HELLO !!!!!

24 Are you people insane? The Christian Science Monitor is NOT a conservative newspaper nor does it have anything to do with religion. They are a left wing rag in Boston. Jill Caroll has been writing hit pieces on the US Government for a few years now, she is a terrorist sympathizer. The irony of this story is- Now she will be depending on the marines (the people she hates so much) to come rescue her from her ordeal.

25 These people are evil. And anybody, whether American or other, that criticizes the war on terror and sympathizes with these animals, have this girl's blood on there hands if she is killed. Why? Because the anti-war, careless statements give the enemy hope and prolong this insanity. May all the radical Muslims burn forever in hell! And, may you sympathizers burn with them!

26 These terrorist know that the U.S. will never give in to their demands.Thats the whole point.They are just eager to kill as many Americans & Jews & any of our allies as they can. Although the dumbasses fail to realize that by killing all these innocent people is just gonna make things worse for them.I hope they wise up & release this young woman,because killing her isn't gonna change 1 damn thing.They know it wont.They just wanna kill as many as they can. I think we should just take over Iraq completely, because as soon as we leave there & it does'nt matter if it's 10 years from now.It's still gonna be the same & even worse once we leave.You can not teach the unteachable.If these dumbasses want us out of there.Then they need to stop beheading people.If any of them had a brain.Then the smart thing to do would be to release this young lady. Oh & by the way Ernie...I hope you burn in hell you worthless piece of shit!!!

27 Clyde ... FINALLY, a fellow voice of reson! These people are making unreasonable demands for Ms Carroll's release simply in an attempt to justify their behaviour to their people, and to send their own people a message, as wel as the US. They want us to be afraid of them, period. They want everyone to fear them and to feel powerless against them. Trouble is, they are such cowards that they can't fight us like men. They scurry around refusing to wear any uniform or be recognized, always hiding their faces, do sneak attacks and then running away, torture and kill women and helpless children. They are cowards, having no honor whatsoever. They deserve nothing from us. I believe we should pull ALL of our civilian police, contractors, and humanitarian workers out of there and take care of business. If bombing them into submission is what works, then that is what we need to do. No mercy, no sympathy. Get them under control so we can move forward and deal with other things that need attended to ...

28 Why hasn't the media had a lip reader tell us what Jill is saying in the video? It seems pretty obvious that this could be done.

29 I am certain the Government has done this. It is possible they are not releasing that for various reason I can think of.

30 Look at those who have been kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq so far. Notice what most of them have in common. Recently an entire group of American peace activists, who are against the war and seeking an end to the US occupation were taken hostage, and now Jill, who is also very sympathetic to the Iraqi people, is now being held. Remember also how the man who was beheaded, was shown to be wearing an orange jumpsuit, exactly the same as those worn by US held prisoners, he was sitting in a chair exactly the same as those used in Abu Griab Prison, and even the walls looked the same as in Abu Griab Prison. Why can't people do the math on this and come to the obvious conclusion? Well many do, as do many others around the world also, but Bush loyalists are in complete denial of the obvious. They would prefer to believe that Iraqis are intentionally harming their own cause by targeting those who are sympathetic to them, and that US military, who have been caught red handed several times torturing prisoners, are somehow above doing these things to keep the public supportive of their occupation. I am a loyal American. It is because I love my country that I am outrage by such things, and I must stand up for what is right, by standing in opposition to the Bush administration.

31 Well Natasha...I understand what you're saying...I just happen to disagree with you...It is so easy for people to point the finger at Bush now isn't it??? I do not agree on everything Bush has done,but I'd rather have someone like him in there then someone like John Kerry...The reason I voted for Bush is because I think he's the best when it comes to security...If John Kerry had of won we probably would have done had another attack like 9/11 & had some kind of massive weapon smuggled into 1 of our cities...I dont know about you,but I would much rather have car bombs & suicide bombers,& everything destoyed over there then I would here in America...It is so easy to jump across the mexican border...Who knows how many terrorist are already here & just waiting for the right time to strike...I agree with Bush invading our privacy by tapping our phones...All the democrats & liberals have nothing better to do then bitch & complain every chance they get... Thats what's weakening America...Not the bush Administration...If people are'nt talking about anything illegal on the phone,then they have nothing to worry about...If people wanna talk to their lawyers...Then the smart way to do that is in person any damn way...Im so sick of people blaming Bush for every gidamn thing that happens. He's the one who's the President...Not you....He's the one whom which the majority of the country voted for...Not You....He's the one who is there & knows whats really going on...Not You...Dont let the media corrupt your mind...They are very good about doing that sort of thing...especially to the weak idiots who believe them...OMG...Hurricane Katrina Wiped out New Orleans...Come On Everybody...Lets Blame Bush!!!Omg Everybody...Bush must hate blacks.... Come On Everybody...Bush Is A KKK Member...Omg I stomped my toe...Wait...I know...I'll just Blame Bush For that too...WAKE UP YOU FUCKIN" REJECTS...Bush is a damn good president considering all the bullshit he has had to deal with...Look how much he's changed by looks since he was elected...Thats stress...Because everything he tries to do to make this country better...you have Democrats & Liberals trying to fuck everything up...How is this country ever gonna get anything done when you have dipshits like John Kerry & Ted Kennedy,Joe Biden, & all those other jerk offs trying their best to destroy this country...They're rich...Our Opinions mean nothing to them...They would'nt piss on us if we were on fire...I dont see a good future for America.With just 2 years left we'll never get anything done...& even if we do...It wont be long enough...because once a democrat gets in office they'll just change it back or make it worse then it was before...If I had it my way...I would want Bush on for a 3rd term...We should deport all the illegals,Foreigners should not be allowed to vote,or run for any type of political office... Everything is just going to hell...Taking the pledge of allegience out of schools...Taking down certain Christian symbols simply because its offensive to illegals who are over here jacking our jobs,living on welfare,collecting food stamps,living off our goverment...living off our tax dollars...Oh,but when we,us,The Real Americans...The ones that were born & raised here are broke,or in a bind...When we need something they put us in the back of the line,or just flat out tell us Hell No!!!There is more to just being an American then being born here...If You think that by coming over here from another country & starting a new life makes you an American...Then you better go have your head examined...because you will always be a foreigner to America...You have to be born & raised here to consider yourself an American...I believe we have alot of big problems ahead of us & we're gonna have to Reunify ourselves...Get our priorities straight...And Stand United like we should be...Deal with these Islamic fucks so our children dont have to go through this bullshit... These terrorist organizations are a bigger threat then most people care to acknowledge...They Must be stopped...As you can see Iran is starting up their bullshit...Any country that has a Prime Minister who says Israel should be wiped off the map & says shit like the holocaust never happened & then says "Oh by the way,We are gonna build us a nuclear weapon",has no buisness having a nuclear weapon...And if America does'nt do anything about it,you can bet your ass Israel will...Israel will nuke there ass without hesitation...and wont give a damn if we like it or not...Americans Freedom's are slowly deteriorating...We are slowly but surely losing rights...Freedom of Speech is not as it should be anymore...They wanna lock you up now for speaking your mind...Oh & another thing...All the lawsuits on hospitals & Insurance companies & all the others are mostly caused by foreigners coming over here & faking injuries to themselves trying to get a pot of gold...That has got to stop...That is costing our goverment lots of money...Money that could be helping poor Americans...Anyways...I've spoken my mind... I wish the best for "Jill Carroll"...I hope she comes back home & I hope all the sorry piece of shit terrorist burn in hell forever...Oh...And Ernie...I have'nt forgotten about you ya little bitch...I hope you step on a shovel & knock your fuckin' teeth down your throat...Then I hope you choke to death on them & join your friends in a burning hell...

32 Listen, with all due respect, I am nobody obviously, I don't know this woman personally or something, but being human, she should not die especially at this young age, and its not wrong for her friends (directly or indirectly) to vent out their love or frustrations here. For the ones who have been giving ridiculously negative comments regarding Jill her, you don't know anything what they are undergoing! All you can go is bla bla bla, lets take Iraq over, bla bla bla, they want us to negotiate, bla bla bla, Bush government aint doin anything, bla bla .. whatever! Amanda, LAB, Dan ... ignore these ignorant fools and keep those sprits high, she will come home. There's still hope ..

33 The NEOCONS have committed the same grave error of conscience and character made by the people of Germany under Adolf Hitler. Hitler rose to absolute power on the national panic caused by the Reichstag Fire, and Bush has taken the same advantage of 911. This world has always been a dangerous place, and freedom has always been very costly. The wise know that freedom is priceless, and they know also that the safety Bush promises in exchange for it, is a mere fools ransom. Why do you think they call America the land of the free 'and' the home of the brave? If you are not brave enough to live here in freedom, then by all means live in a safe and orderly police state, but do so somewhere else. I hear the PRC is very safe and orderly. There are no drugs, no muggings, no terrorism, and the streets are clean too. If that is what matters to you most of all, then by all means, please get your stupid ass on plane and go!

34 I hope with all my heart that Jill is released and comes home safe, but I have a feelings she is a very aware and smart woman, and by now she knows who really kidnapped her. I can just see it her eyes, and I just know somehow she desperately wishes she could tell us.

35 What do you think is happening to her while she is waiting for the execution?

36 thes terrorist sons of bitches are cowards. ,aking their people do their dirty work while they sit in lavish palaces with their women. whats more they use their people and islam for their own greed manaical ends. peole of islam wake up! you must break free from those that put you in bondage.

37 Thursday, January 19, 2006 From democracy to Captive BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — As a deadline neared for hostage American journalist Jill Carroll, Muslim leaders and her pleading mother appealed Thursday to kidnappers to spare her life and set her free. Referring to demands from Carroll's abductors that Iraqi women be released from U.S. custody, a senior Iraqi official said six jailed Iraqi women were due to be freed by the U.S. military. Not just another beautiful face,but another beautiful AMERICAN face. So we have been wondering fro a long time now......what does our government in charge stand for? or are the suspisions correct and and they dont stand but are controlled by the anceant middle east? Are we going to ler our girl....that's right ( Our Girl) whose only plan as a journalist was to bring demography to seed in the middel east with comasssionate reports and storys of burnt out life in Iraq? Do you want to wake up every morning to this-----> Well have a nice day at school now son,and study the rebelion hard so you can show the world that even though we are a 3rd rate country we can offer a better show then the blai witch .So go on now Son,go suck some 1st rate blood and get a real good taste for it now. was that totally out there....out of controll,maybe even stupid? Well not any more stupid as the complete waste of man power,service men and woman lifes, millions on millions if not billions of dollars spent to show a ungrateful people the meaning of democracy. Yes they are learning all right, learning that the bush administration is a first rate fear factor machine,and doesn't have the balls to go in there...take the chance,and get the girl or not but put an end to this terrorists activitys once and for all. Will some one in the Bush administration please wake up!,and lets get moving into a peaceful future,and if that means taking out a natation full of terrorists.........do it all ready. I believ in second chances...third ,fourth,even fifth chances if that is what it takes. But if after all that time and effort the only response we can get back is ( off with her head!) Man....I mean put the playboy mag down and get out of the john Mr. P/ Do Something! Help me Mr. President! BOO HOO HOO HOO..snif! some body call 911 please. Have you seen this girl?Call Us.... we can help.Do you know where our childeren are?BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — As a deadline neared for hostage American journalist Jill Carroll, Muslim leaders and her pleading mother appealed Thursday to kidnappers to spare her life and set her free. Referring to demands from Carroll's abductors that Iraqi women be released from U.S. custody, a senior Iraqi official said six jailed Iraqi women were due to be freed by the U.S. military.Read some other blogs.

38 These beast abductors must be killed. . . the only thing they know is to raise funds by abducting people. Our society must not give importance for these kind of people. by recognizing them, they are also very happy since they thought they are important. They are evil and considered as social cancer.(Neneng C.Rellama-Philippines)

39 Clueless, they are known to torture female Americans with electricity, using car batteries, and I heard some other rumors too... It might not be all that good that she is pretty I am praying for her

40 The Iraqis want the US out of Iraq right? Yes they do, and supposedly they take hostages to make the US get out. Why would the Iraqis take peace activists and sympathetic journalists as hostages? They are not stupid. They know that if they did such things it would only make the American people more supportive of the occupation. Look at the timing of these kidnappings. They always happen when support for the occupation is failing. It is not Al-Qaeda. It is Al-CIAda. Use some common sense.

41 http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=local&id=3828678 ABC NEWS Duke Professor Skeptical of bin Laden Tape By Amber Rupinta (01/19/06 -- DURHAM) - A Duke professor says he is doubtful about Thursday's audiotape from Osama bin Laden. Bruce Lawrence has just published ?Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama Bin Laden,? a book translating bin Laden?s writing. He is skeptical of Thursday?s message. ?It was like a voice from the grave,? Lawrence said. He thinks bin Laden is dead and has doubts about the tape. Lawrence recently analyzed more than 20 complete speeches and interviews of the al Qaida leader for his book. He says the new message is missing several key elements. ?There?s nothing in this from the Koran. He?s, by his own standards, a faithful Muslim,? Lawrence said. ?He quotes scripture in defense of his actions. There?s no quotation from the Koran in the excerpts we got, no reference to specific events, no reference to past atrocities.? While the CIA confirms the voice on the tape is bin Laden?s, Lawrence questions when it was recorded. He says the timing of its release could be to divert attention from last week?s U.S. air strike in Pakistan. The strike targeted bin Laden?s deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, and killed four leading al Qaeda figures along with civilians. Lawrence believes faulty Pakistani intelligence led to the strike and the civilian deaths, and the tape was leaked by Pakistani authorities to divert attention from their mistake. ?It led to a failed military operation where America got blamed, but they people who are really to blame are the ones who provided the intelligence,? Lawrence said. ?I think this is an effort to say were not going look at this terrible incident that happened.? Another element that Lawrence takes issue with in bin Laden?s latest message is it?s length - - only 10 minutes. Previously, the shortest was 18 minutes.

42 Catching on yet? Christian peace activists and a journalist very sympathetic to the Iraqi people, Jill Carroll, are taken hostage. Then a supposed audio tape of Osama bin Laden threatening terrorism in the US is released. Now just whose agenda do these things serve? It is brutally obvious. The Bush administration is working overtime, to get the American people to support the Iraq occupation, and the immanent invasion of Iran. Wake up people! It's not Al-Qaeda. It's Al-CIAda.

43 I don't like everything he does or says, but his website has some great information, and you NEED to know what is really going on. Use the link. http://www.infowars.com/

44 What In The Blue Hell Is Going Through Your Mind Aaron???

45 And Where The Hell Did My Last Comments I Posted Run Off To???I Think They Dont Like Us Dee...

46 Natasha??? You would'nt by any chance be from Baltimore,Maryland would you?

47 Why is it that people feel the need to post views about things they couldnt possibly understand and have no intention on doing a damn thing about?Hey, how about putting on a military uniform and bringing your self over here and helping rid the world of these fanatics that you have no understanding of!That woman needs prayer not people who would venture to guess what side of the political fence she rides on or whether shes pro abortion or not.makes me sick to know that i defend your right to freedom of speech.

48 Anyone who claims it makes them sick, to know they defend the right to freedom of speech of those whom they disagree with, are not the defenders of liberty they wish us to believe they are. Out one side of his mouth pours hate, while out of the other side of his mouth oozes references to prayer. Who does that remind you of?

49 Has anyone interpreted what she was saying?!

50 as i look around iraq,Natasha......where are you?oh yeh, sitting in the states attempting to belittle others.i dont hate people like you and some of the others on this site.i just hope one day that the insurgents find and take people like you hostage instead of people like Jill Carroll.so sit in your little world taking your safety for granted and ill keep despising the fact that her life is in real danger and all you people can do is post bullshit on a web site about her.oh and by the way,rest easy knowing that we'll keep kicking in doors and dodging bullets trying to find her.god bless.....out here

51 He says he doesn't hate people like me, but he hopes the insurgents take people like me hostage, instead of people like Jill Carroll. He is obviously very confused. He advises me to, "sit in my little world taking my safety for granted", while he kicks in the doors of terrified Iraqis, dragging them off to Abu Graib Prison for "interrogation". Such despicable acts do not make me feel safe. I do not take my safety for granted anymore than the poor Iraqis do now. One would have to be a complete fool to take their safety for granted since the "Patriot" Act, what with the new secret police, and the NSA spying on us and all. Sadly now we must fear our own government. The way things are now, taking ones safety for granted is not only stupid, it is absolutely impossible. By the way. This "mongoose" guy is not in Iraq. They do not allow soldiers to log onto the INTERNET and go on forums discussing the occupation. They totally do NOT.

52 Natasha, you must be cute cuz you sure ain't smart

53 Oh. Ouch.

54 LOL...I Think One Of You Is Scared & The Other Is Glad Of It...

55 Clearly you rarely ever do though, and once again your words make this evident.

56 Oh Shut Up!!!

57 When Seeing and Hearing Isn't Believing Bill Arkin By William M. Arkin Monday, Feb. 1, 1999 "Gentlemen! We have called you together to inform you that we are going to overthrow the United States government." So begins a statement being delivered by Gen. Carl W. Steiner, former Commander-in-chief, U.S. Special Operations Command. At least the voice sounds amazingly like him. But it is not Steiner. It is the result of voice "morphing" technology developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. By taking just a 10-minute digital recording of Steiner's voice, scientist George Papcun is able, in near real time, to clone speech patterns and develop an accurate facsimile. Steiner was so impressed, he asked for a copy of the tape. Steiner was hardly the first or last victim to be spoofed by Papcun's team members. To refine their method, they took various high quality recordings of generals and experimented with creating fake statements. One of the most memorable is Colin Powell stating "I am being treated well by my captors." "They chose to have him say something he would never otherwise have said," chuckled one of Papcun's colleagues. A Box of Chocolates is Like War Most Americans were introduced to the tricks of the digital age in the movie Forrest Gump, when the character played by Tom Hanks appeared to shake hands with President Kennedy. For Hollywood, it is special effects. For covert operators in the U.S. military and intelligence agencies, it is a weapon of the future. "Once you can take any kind of information and reduce it into ones and zeros, you can do some pretty interesting things," says Daniel T. Kuehl, chairman of the Information Operations department of the National Defense University in Washington, the military's school for information warfare. PSYOPS seeks to exploit human vulnerabilities in enemy governments, militaries and populations. Digital morphing — voice, video, and photo — has come of age, available for use in psychological operations. PSYOPS, as the military calls it, seek to exploit human vulnerabilities in enemy governments, militaries and populations to pursue national and battlefield objectives. To some, PSYOPS is a backwater military discipline of leaflet dropping and radio propaganda. To a growing group of information war technologists, it is the nexus of fantasy and reality. Being able to manufacture convincing audio or video, they say, might be the difference in a successful military operation or coup. Allah on the Holodeck Pentagon planners started to discuss digital morphing after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Covert operators kicked around the idea of creating a computer-faked videotape of Saddam Hussein crying or showing other such manly weaknesses, or in some sexually compromising situation. The nascent plan was for the tapes to be flooded into Iraq and the Arab world. The tape war never proceeded, killed, participants say, by bureaucratic fights over jurisdiction, skepticism over the technology, and concerns raised by Arab coalition partners. What if the U.S. projected a holographic image of Allah floating over Baghdad? But the "strategic" PSYOPS scheming didn't die. What if the U.S. projected a holographic image of Allah floating over Baghdad urging the Iraqi people and Army to rise up against Saddam, a senior Air Force officer asked in 1990? According to a military physicist given the task of looking into the hologram idea, the feasibility had been established of projecting large, three-dimensional objects that appeared to float in the air. But doing so over the skies of Iraq? To project such a hologram over Baghdad on the order of several hundred feet, they calculated, would take a mirror more than a mile square in space, as well as huge projectors and power sources. And besides, investigators came back, what does Allah look like? The Gulf War hologram story might be dismissed were it not the case that [CENSORED] has learned that a super secret program was established in 1994 to pursue the very technology for PSYOPS application. The "Holographic Projector" is described in a classified Air Force document as a system to "project information power from space ... for special operations deception missions." War is Like a Box of Chocolates Voice-morphing? Fake video? Holographic projection? They sound more like Mission Impossible and Star Trek gimmicks than weapons. Yet for each, there are corresponding and growing research efforts as the technologies improve and offensive information warfare expands. Whereas early voice morphing required cutting and pasting speech to put letters or words together to make a composite, Papcun's software developed at Los Alamos can far more accurately replicate the way one actually speaks. Eliminated are the robotic intonations. The irony is that after Papcun finished his speech cloning research, there were no takers in the military. Luckily for him, Hollywood is interested: The promise of creating a virtual Clark Gable is mightier than the sword. Video and photo manipulation has already raised profound questions of authenticity for the journalistic world. With audio joining the mix, it is not only journalists but also privacy advocates and the conspiracy-minded who will no doubt ponder the worrisome mischief that lurks in the not too distant future. "We already know that seeing isn't necessarily believing," says Dan Kuehl, "now I guess hearing isn't either."

58 Oh Gee...That Was Something we sure did'nt know.. Thank you for the momentary Glimpse of Day-Ja-Voo

59 Hey Natasha...Can I borrow $10 bucks???

60 There are those who are not aware of that, and I posted that for their benefit. There are other people in this world other than you. What is said or done by others, does not necessarily relate to what you want, or are already aware of.

61 More On New US Containment Camps. Just in case of what? Jan. 24, 2006, 11:05AM (BW) KBR Awarded U.S. Department of Homeland Security Contingency Support Project for Emergency Support Services By Business Editors (c) 2006 Business Wire ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2006--KBR announced today that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) component has awarded KBR an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contingency contract to support ICE facilities in the event of an emergency. KBR is the engineering and construction subsidiary of Halliburton (NYSE:HAL). With a maximum total value of $385 million over a five-year term, consisting of a one-year based period and four one-year options, the competitively awarded contract will be executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District. KBR held the previous ICE contract from 2000 through 2005. "We are especially gratified to be awarded this contract because it builds on our extremely strong track record in the arena of emergency operations support," said Bruce Stanski, executive vice president, KBR Government and Infrastructure. "We look forward to continuing the good work we have been doing to support our customer whenever and wherever we are needed." The contract, which is effective immediately, provides for establishing temporary detention and processing capabilities to augment existing ICE Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) Program facilities in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs. The contingency support contract provides for planning and, if required, initiation of specific engineering, construction and logistics support tasks to establish, operate and maintain one or more expansion facilities. The contract may also provide migrant detention support to other U.S. Government organizations in the event of an immigration emergency, as well as the development of a plan to react to a national emergency, such as a natural disaster. In the event of a natural disaster, the contractor could be tasked with providing housing for ICE personnel performing law enforcement functions in support of relief efforts. ICE is one of three agencies that make up the Border and Transportation Security (BTS) Directorate of the DHS. The mission of the BTS Directorate is to secure the nation's air, land and sea borders. ICE, the largest investigative arm of the DHS, is responsible for identifying and shutting down vulnerabilities in the nation's border, economic, transportation and infrastructure security. KBR is a global engineering, construction, technology and services company. Whether designing an LNG facility, serving as a defense industry contractor, or providing small capital construction, KBR delivers world-class service and performance. KBR employs more than 60,000 people in 43 countries around the world. Halliburton, founded in 1919, is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the petroleum and energy industries. The company serves its customers with a broad range of products and services through its Energy Services Group and KBR. Visit the company's World Wide Web site at www.halliburton.com.

62 Our government keeps growing LARGER, and our rights to privacy and freedom of movement, continue to be reduced as the economy teeters on the brink of collapse. Now the Bush administration has funded the building of massive internment camps right here at home. I don't care if you are a conservative or a liberal. These things are cause for grave concern. Clearly it is high time for all of us to drop the partisan bickering, and begin taking a very hard look at what is taking place in our own land for a change. Our entire way of life, the very freedom we have fought for in so many wars, is threatened not from outside by terrorists, but from within, by the very people who claim to protect us. "Those who would sacrifice essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

63 Oh Geez Natasha...You're pretty hostile for a barnyard animal...

64 Well Natasha...I agree with you on some things... You just need to work on pointing your finger at somebody else besides the Bush Administration for once...

65 I'll be waiting to hear about that $10 bucks...

66 Oh & by the way...The world does revolve around me...I'm just that damn great!!!

67 Natasha...Maybe I can help make you feel better about yourself...So Repeat After Me............ "I LIKE ME"..."YOU LIKE ME"..."AND I'M GOING TO HELP YOU"..."LIKE YOU"..............."SMILE"...

68 I sure hope Jill comes home safe. I have not heard any news about her, and so I imagine she is still alive. I think if they had killed her they would be using that for propaganda, and so I think that may be a good sign. Maybe I am just believing what I want to believe, but I can't help it. I really really hope this has a good ending.

69 its her own fault reporters should not be there on there own will

70 fuckin retard

71 Billy...You ot to not talk like dat...You just a boy...

72 Release of al-Qaida Detainee Still A Mystery 31 Jan 2006 - UPI RABAT, Morocco: Mystery surrounds the release by U.S. authorities in August 2004 of a Moroccan, suspected of being once the bodyguard of Osama bin Laden. Abdallah Tabarak, a former Moroccan transit worker, was captured in 2001 and taken to the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But then in August 2004, he was suddenly released and now Tabarak lives near Casablanca, almost a free man, reports The Washington Post. His case comes to light as the Pentagon gets ready for the first of its military tribunals. It points to the mysteries of U.S. priorities in deciding who to keep and who to let go, said the Post. When captured, Tabarak was suspected of being the bodyguard for the al-Qaida leader, who had worked on bin Laden's farm in Sudan and helped run a gemstone smuggling racket in Afghanistan. But neither the Pentagon nor official in Morocco would publicly offer any explanation why he was released. Tabarak's attorney says his importance as an al-Qaida figure has been exaggerated. http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060130-101121-8626r [end UPI release] Hmmmmm Why was Abdallah Tabarak, Osama bin Laden's bodyguard, released by the US from Guantanamo, and yet most US prisoners have no known associations to al-Qaida? This is not the first time this has happened either. Why would "al-Qaida" kidnap peace activists and journalists, who oppose the US occupation and are sympathetic to the Iraqi people, instead of Haliburton employees or something? If "al-Qaida" is really that incredibly stupid, then why have US forces, not swiftly defeated them as promised? Why does "al-Qaida" release video and audio tapes whenever support for the war begins to fall again? Use a little common sense people. It's not al-Qaida. It's al-CIAda. We are on to you al-CIAda. Release Jill Carroll!

73 http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020106Z.shtml What Really Happened By Cindy Sheehan t r u t h o u t | Perspective Wednesday 01 February 2006 As most of you have probably heard, I was arrested before the State of the Union address last night. I am speechless with fury at what happened and with grief over what we have lost in our country. There have been lies from the police and distortions by the press (shocker). So this is what really happened: This afternoon at the People's State of the Union Address in DC, where I was joined by Congresspersons Lynn Woolsey and John Conyers, Ann Wright, Malik Rahim and John Cavanagh, Lynn brought me a ticket to the State of the Union address. At that time, I was wearing the shirt that said: 2245 Dead. How many more? After the PSOTU press conference, I was having second thoughts about going to the SOTU at the Capitol. I didn't feel comfortable going. I knew George Bush would say things that would hurt me and anger me, and I knew that I couldn't disrupt the address because Lynn had given me the ticket, and I didn't want to be disruptive out of respect for her. I, in fact, had given the ticket to John Bruhns, who is in Iraq Veterans Against the War. However, Lynn's office had already called the media, and everyone knew I was going to be there, so I sucked it up and went. I got the ticket back from John, and I met one of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's staffers in the Longworth Congressional Office building and we went to the Capitol via the underground tunnel. I went through security once, then had to use the rest room and went through security again. My ticket was in the 5th gallery, front row, fourth seat in. The person who in a few minutes was to arrest me, helped me to my seat. I had just sat down and I was warm from climbing 3 flights of stairs back up from the bathroom so I unzipped my jacket. I turned to the right to take my left arm out, when the same officer saw my shirt and yelled, "Protester." He then ran over to me, hauled me out of my seat, and roughly (with my hands behind my back) shoved me up the stairs. I said something like "I'm going, do you have to be so rough?" By the way, his name is Mike Weight. The officer ran with me to the elevators, yelling at everyone to move out of the way. When we got to the elevators, he cuffed me and took me outside to await a squad car. On the way out, someone behind me said, "That's Cindy Sheehan." At which point the officer who arrested me said, "Take these steps slowly." I said, "You didn't care about being careful when you were dragging me up the other steps." He said, "That's because you were protesting." Wow, I got hauled out of the People's House because I was "Protesting." I was never told that I couldn't wear that shirt into the Congress. I was never asked to take it off or zip my jacket back up. If I had been asked to do any of those things ... I would have, and written about the suppression of my freedom of speech later. I was immediately and roughly (I have the bruises and muscle spasms to prove it) hauled off and arrested for "unlawful conduct." After I had my personal items inventoried and my fingers printed, a nice Sgt. came in and looked at my shirt and said, "2245, huh? I just got back from there." I told him that my son died there. That's when the enormity of my loss hit me. I have lost my son. I have lost my First Amendment rights. I have lost the country that I love. Where did America go? I started crying in pain. What did Casey die for? What did the 2244 other brave young Americans die for? What are tens of thousands of them over there in harm's way for still? For this? I can't even wear a shirt that has the number of troops on it that George Bush and his arrogant and ignorant policies are responsible for killing. I wore the shirt to make a statement. The press knew I was going to be there, and I thought every once in awhile they would show me, and I would have the shirt on. I did not wear it to be disruptive, or I would have unzipped my jacket during George's speech. If I had any idea what happens to people who wear shirts that make the neocons uncomfortable, that I would be arrested ... maybe I would have, but I didn't. There have already been many wild stories out there. I have some lawyers looking into filing a First Amendment lawsuit against the government for what happened tonight. I will file it. It is time to take our freedoms and our country back. I don't want to live in a country that prohibits any person, whether or not he/she has paid the ultimate price for that country, from wearing, saying, writing, or telephoning any negative statements about the government. That's why I am going to take my freedoms and liberties back. That's why I am not going to let BushCo take anything else away from me ... or you. I am so appreciative of the couple of hundred of protesters who came to the jail while I was locked up to show their support. We have so much potential for good. There is so much good in so many people. Four hours and 2 jails after I was arrested, I was let out. Again, I am so upset and sore it is hard to think straight. Keep up the struggle ... I promise you, I will too.

74 Well,If that was exactly how it happened.Then I think they were wrong for hauling her out of there.In any case,I think they should have waited until she started running her mouth like she usually does,before they arrested her.That would have been a powerful blow against her if she had of.You can't blame Bush for it either.I know most of you democrats & Liberals like to jump at every oppertunity to blame Bush for some bullshit like that.The next thing we will hear is how Bush ordered her to be removed from the building.I sympathize with her over the loss of her son,but she has gone too far.She obviously does'nt understand the reasons we are at war.She is just so upset over her sons death she's gone insane.So I understand she has lost,but she must still pay for her actions,& she deserves the way she has been treated for her past actions.If I had of died when I was over there.I sure as hell would'nt have wanted my mother acting like that. I feel like that would disgrace my name.Everybody has their own preferences though.That's just mine.Her son chose to be a soldier & soldiers have a duty to defend their country by going into harms way.It's sad that we have to go to war,but it's necessary.If we do not confront these problems now,then we endanger the future generations.(OUR CHILDREN THAT IS).Alot of people don't think ahead of what will happen in the future if we do not take action.Thats why most of them come to retarded ass conclusions,because they don't acknowledge all the facts.Alot of people who are not political or never pay attention to what happens around the world usually,automatically make snap decisions & stupid remarks like it's wrong to be over there, Bush is evil,we're just stealing oil,stupid shit like that.Like my sisters for example.They know nothing about the world,yet they think they do. All they care about is what happens around them. They dont know who we are fighting.They dont know who attacked us on 9/11 except that they were terrorist.Hell,They would have to look it up just to find out who "President Bush" is.They dont take the time to vote for anything,even when it myte benefit them.Nor do they vote for presidential elections.My point is they know not 1 damn thing.All they hear is the rumours flowing through the air and they start running their mouths saying they're against the war.When they dont even who the hell we're fighting,or where we're fighting.They dont read the papers or watch the news or anything of that nature.They are not aware of what is happening around their country. Yet they like to bitch & complain when things dont go their way.It just pisses me off,because I see alot of that.They're the type that follows the crowd.Not knowing that they're following the wrong crowd.They're all in their late 20's.They should know better.Ofcourse,a couple of them are blondes.(Go Figure).Thats the problem with people here in America.Alot of them are afraid of failure & they panic.They're too scared to try & be independent.So instead they follow the crowd. The Democratic crowd,The Republican crowd & all the others without understanding the facts.It is very important to vote whether you like any of the parties or not.You simply must vote for whom you like the least.One way or another somebody is gonna win,& in my opinion if you don't vote,then you should sit back,seal your lips,& keep your opinions to yourself.I think we should be more stricter in our schools today.Make sure that todays youth is very well educated in these matters,because todays youth is losing interest in learning such things.Part of the reason for that is because we're not strict enough in school.Stricter by meaning kids should focus more on their work & make sure that each level they're at,that they have fully understood the subject.Then move on to the next.Where I went to school in the late 90's we hardly learned anything about the goverment.(And Yes It Was A Normal School).We were simply briefed on those subjects then moved on.I just know that I would want my kid to learn as much as they can,& understand the facts of how everything works.I dont want my kid to be the type who follows the crowd,& makes snap decisions about things they know nothing about.I dont want them to hear those rumours flowing through the air,& believe it without knowing the facts.Alot of you myte think Im a little off track,& that this is not the right place for me to be expressing my opinions.Why dont you tell that to "Natasha".She's the one who makes me go all haywire here.This is not her first time to do that either.I feel it's relevant,because all these things we talk about,are connected just about.Anyways,Lets keep hope alive for "Jill Carroll".May she return home safe & sound.

75 Oh By The Way "Natasha",BITE ME!!!

76 Oh,1 more thing "Natasha".Quit copying articles out of magazines,& posting them here.I'm the only who ever responds to them,& they suck.You just drive me nutz!

77 Why do you hate freedom?

78 Release of al-Qaida Detainee Still A Mystery 31 Jan 2006 - UPI RABAT, Morocco: Mystery surrounds the release by U.S. authorities in August 2004 of a Moroccan, suspected of being once the bodyguard of Osama bin Laden. Abdallah Tabarak, a former Moroccan transit worker, was captured in 2001 and taken to the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But then in August 2004, he was suddenly released and now Tabarak lives near Casablanca, almost a free man, reports The Washington Post. His case comes to light as the Pentagon gets ready for the first of its military tribunals. It points to the mysteries of U.S. priorities in deciding who to keep and who to let go, said the Post. When captured, Tabarak was suspected of being the bodyguard for the al-Qaida leader, who had worked on bin Laden's farm in Sudan and helped run a gemstone smuggling racket in Afghanistan. But neither the Pentagon nor official in Morocco would publicly offer any explanation why he was released. Tabarak's attorney says his importance as an al-Qaida figure has been exaggerated. http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060130-101121-8626r [end UPI release] Hmmmmm Why was Abdallah Tabarak, Osama bin Laden's bodyguard, released by the US from Guantanamo, and yet most US prisoners have no known associations to al-Qaida? This is not the first time this has happened either. Why would "al-Qaida" kidnap peace activists and journalists, who oppose the US occupation and are sympathetic to the Iraqi people, instead of Haliburton employees or something? If "al-Qaida" is really that incredibly stupid, then why have US forces, not swiftly defeated them as promised? Why does "al-Qaida" release video and audio tapes whenever support for the war begins to fall again? Use a little common sense people. It's not al-Qaida. It's al-CIAda. We are on to you al-CIAda. Release Jill Carroll!

79 I dont hate freedom...You just annoy me...

80 Then why not go over to Usenet or something? I bet they could use a good trolling.

81 Oh Shut Up ya little brat!!!

82 ....... .

83 ....... .

84 So called "Al-Qaeda", THE BASE in Arabic, was in fact the US code name for CIA funded and trained anti Soviet insurgents, operating in Afghanistan during the early 1980s. QUESTIONS Why was Abdallah Tabarak, Osama bin Laden's bodyguard, released by the US from Guantanamo Bay Prison, and yet the US admits that most "detainees", prisoners, have no known associations to "Al-Qaeda"? Why would "Al-Qaeda" kidnap peace activists and journalists, who oppose the US occupation and are sympathetic to the Iraqi people, when they could abduct people who are a threat to them? Why does "Al-Qaeda" release video and audio tapes whenever support for the war begins to fall again? Use a little common sense people. It's not Al-Qaeda. It's Al-CIAda. We are on to you Al-CIAda. Release Jill Carroll !

85 Was Jill Carroll abducted because she got to close to the truth about Al CIAda? The following article appeared in the May 23, 2002 edition of The Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0523/p11s02-coop.html Debunk the myth of Al Qaeda Its size and reach have been blown out of proportion By Kimberly A. McCloud and Adam Dolnik MONTEREY, CALIF. – News reports indicate that Al Qaeda, ousted from its camps in Afghanistan, is now on the loose, spreading terror around the world. Several recent attacks have been claimed by or attributed to the terrorist network, including an assault on a Jewish synagogue in Tunisia, multiple explosions in Yemen last month (including one at the US Embassy compound), attacks in the Philippines, and a fire in the Milan metro. But is Al Qaeda really behind all these attacks? Analysts cite differences in modus operandi compared with alleged past attacks, as well as more probable perpetrators in those recent incidents. Still, Al Qaeda is likely to be the top suspect in future incidents. Victims, including states, may even blame Al Qaeda for political reasons, namely to gain US sympathy and support. Would-be terrorists the world over may be inspired to perpetrate attacks, seeking to feel they are part of what they perceive as a large, powerful terrorist movement. The public perception that Al Qaeda is running wild is likely to increase fear, especially among Americans. Such concern, when translated into a heightened vigilance about one's surroundings – particularly in light of this week's warnings about future attacks in the US – may not be a completely bad thing. But unchecked public fear, taken to an extreme, could immobilize citizens, jeopardize civil liberties, and lead America into too many fights abroad. The United States and its allies in the war on terrorism must defuse the widespread image of Al Qaeda as a ubiquitous, super-organized terror network and call it as it is: a loose collection of groups and individuals that doesn't even refer to itself as "Al Qaeda." Most of the affiliated groups have distinct goals within their own countries or regions, and pose little direct threat to the United States. Washington must also be careful not to imply that any attack anywhere is by definition, or likely, the work of Al Qaeda. This phenomenon of "exaggerated enemy" is not new. In 1983, three spectacular suicide bombings in Beirut were claimed by the previously unknown "Islamic Jihad." Numerous subsequent attacks were attributed to the group. And while the intelligence community concluded that "Islamic Jihad" was a nom de guerre for the Lebanese Hizbullah, it was clear that many of the subsequent attacks were unrelated to the militant Shiia organization. Still, the campaign succeeded in creating the image of an invincible force, and "Islamic Jihad" became a symbol to follow – much as Al Qaeda is today. The US must be careful about its use of the term "Al Qaeda." Meaning "the base" in Arabic, it originally referred to an Afghan operational base for the mujahideen during the Soviet occupation in the '80s. In the current context of Osama bin Laden's terror network, this name was imposed externally by Western officials and media sources. Mr. bin Laden has, in fact, never mentioned "Al Qaeda" publicly. In the quest to define the enemy, the US and its allies have helped to blow it out of proportion. Posters and matchbooks featuring bin Laden's face and the reward for his capture in a dozen languages transformed this little-known "jihadist" into a household name and, in some places, a symbol of heroic defiance. By committing itself to eradicating terrorism, the Bush administration has put itself in a difficult position, especially if "Al Qaeda" begins popping up all over the map. While the US government must be diligent in protecting its citizens, it cannot try to extinguish every terrorist flame that appears without further encouraging the phenomenon as well as exhausting its resources. America must choose its battles wisely. Resisting immediate attribution of attacks to Al Qaeda is the first step in defusing the enemy. While the Bush administration has not necessarily been blaming all post-9/11 attacks on Al Qaeda, it has passively allowed others to claim themselves as Al Qaeda or to blame it. By allowing Al Qaeda to become the top brand name of international terrorism, Washington has packaged the "enemy" into something with a structure, a leader, and a main area of operation. An invisible, amorphous enemy may be even more frightening. But we must be honest with the facts in order to construct a viable long-term strategy to combat terrorism.

86 Just in case you misunderstood me before "Natasha"...SHUT THE HELL UP!!!

87 Why do you hate freedom?

88 No...Just You!!!

89 You don't hate me. You don't even know me. No. You just hate the truth.

90 An Al CIAda psychological operation (psyop) in action. "Why did it take five months for what Western media dubbed 'instant reactions to the insult' to materialize?" 'Muhammad cartoon' proved fake Imam added 3 especially provocative images to fuel outrage Posted: February 8, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48718 One of three especially inflammatory but undocumented Muhammad images distributed by a Danish imam as an example of an "anti-Muslim environment" in the European country turns out to be a poorly reproduced copy of an Associated Press photo taken at a French pig-squealing contest. The weblog NeanderNews pointed out the image used by Imam Ahmad Abu Laban was a faxed copy of AP's Aug. 15 photo of Jacques Barrot competing at the annual French Pig-Squealing Championships in Trie-sur-Baise. Since last week, Muslims throughout the world have engaged in protests and deadly riots in response to 12 cartoons caricaturing Islam's prophet Muhammad published in September by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten and three much more provocative images that Muslim leaders have been unable to document. One of those images of mysterious origin, which never were published, is from the AP photo. Another depicts Muhammad as a pedophile demon and a third has a praying Muslim being raped by a dog, according to the weblog Gateway Pundit. Abu Laban, leader of the Islamic Society of Denmark, took the images on a tour of the Middle East in December to rally support for his protest against the newspaper and Danish government. Tour spokesman Akhmad Akkari explained the three drawings had been added to "give an insight in how hateful the atmosphere in Denmark is towards Muslims." Akkari claimed he didn't know the origin of the three images, saying they had been sent anonymously to Danish Muslims. But he rejected a request by the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet to speak with the people who supposedly received them. In a television interview, Abu Laban told Fox News the cartoons came from threatening letters, but he has not replied to the network's request to provide copies of the letters. A profile of Abu Laban Friday night on Danish television documented his close ties to the Egyptian terrorist group Gamaa Islamiya. Another program the same evening showed him speaking in English on Danish television in condemnation of the boycott of Danish goods, then, in an interview with the Middle East news channel al-Jazeera, happily remarking in Arabic about how well the boycott was going. Walid Phares, senior fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington, asked in an article published on Counterterrorism blog, "Why did it take five months for what Western media dubbed 'instant reactions to the insult' to materialize?" Leaders of the Muslim community in Denmark said they attempted to resolve the matter locally by asking the newspaper or government to apologize. But some analysts, Phares said, "see more of a greater agenda: taking advantage of the harm made by the pictures to impose a new political order in that Scandinavian country, and beyond." Abu Laban seemed to affirm that in the interview with Fox News, which was noted by Gateway Pundit. The Muslim cleric told reporter Jonathan Hunt of his demand that Danish leaders "within their abilities and competence and within the concept of dynamism of liberalism to create … a new set of rules. … " Hunt: So, you want a new set of rules for the way Western Europe lives? Abu Laban: Yes. [the cartoons in question are here] http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48718

91 What makes this bitch anymore important than the previous hostages that were killed? WTF are you people thinking. Ohh... let's give in to the terrorists, let us obey their every word and release other terrorists. Wake up you liberal jerks, stop being so god dam soft. Why should the United States do anything for her? afterall, we don't give into terrorist demands. They can kill her for all I care. P.S. Somebody should tell her to stop dressing like a terrorist, she looks ridiculous with that cloth over her head.

92 Another perfect example of how morally superior Christians are to those barbaric Muslims huh? By the way. Women are required to wear that "cloth" over there. It doesn't matter who they are or why they are there.

93 So much of what is happening are propaganda stunts sponsored by U.S imperial agents to fan the flames of war and aggression. With that said I'd say things do not look good for Jill. My guess is that she will be brutally killed, on video of course, so the world can witness the villan Arabs, who according to W "have no soul." Thusly American sheeple are made ready for the attack. Orwell spins in his grave. jamie jamie

94 Very well said Jamie. It still amazes me how blind so many people are to these things. It all seems so very obvious to me. Certainly the modus/opportunity/timing and motivation revealed by the agenda being profited, would be enough to make any decent police detective or FBI investigator, place BushcoHaliburtoninc as the number one suspect if kidnap/extortion/serial murder unsubs were being profiled. The structure shows these things to be standard wartime 'making of the enemy' propaganda. But the degree of viciousness and callous nature of methodology exceeds anything previously done in wartime by anyone to garner civil support for a war. In light of these things W's accusation of 'their' supposed soulessness is doubly chilling.

95 “There’s a complete lack of empathy from senior officers who don’t know what it’s like to be a combat soldier on the ground,” Rebrook said. “There’s a whole lot of people who don’t want to help you. They’re more concerned with process than product.” [article excerpt] The Charleston Gazette February 07, 2006 Soldier pays for armor Army demanded $700 from city man who was wounded By Eric Eyre Staff writer The last time 1st Lt. William “Eddie” Rebrook IV saw his body armor, he was lying on a stretcher in Iraq, his arm shattered and covered in blood. A field medic tied a tourniquet around Rebrook’s right arm to stanch the bleeding from shrapnel wounds. Soldiers yanked off his blood-soaked body armor. He never saw it again. But last week, Rebrook was forced to pay $700 for that body armor, blown up by a roadside bomb more than a year ago. “I last saw the [body armor] when it was pulled off my bleeding body while I was being evacuated in a helicopter,” Rebrook said. “They took it off me and burned it.” But no one documented that he lost his Kevlar body armor during battle, he said. No one wrote down that armor had apparently been incinerated as a biohazard. Rebrook’s mother, Beckie Drumheler, said she was saddened — and angry — when she learned that the Army discharged her son with a $700 bill. Soldiers who serve their country, those who put their lives on the line, deserve better, she said. “It’s outrageous, ridiculous and unconscionable,” Drumheler said. “I wanted to stand on a street corner and yell through a megaphone about this.” For the rest of the article go here. http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2006020623?pt=0 Face it. They don't care about any of us, or anything other, than getting what the want.

96 Hey guys Guess what? Jill Carrol doesn't have enough insight or individuality to know not to where bell bottoms under that stupid burka. So much for the independant thinker with strong opinions. Just another dumb girl which puts her in the majority.

97 One does not "where" pants, one wears them. What a stupid ass.

98 Thanks for the correction, Natasha Let me practise for a second. I don't wear baggy pants or pants that are stacked up at the bottom. I don't wear baggy pants or pants that are stacked up at the bottom. I don't wear baggy pants or pants that are stacked up at the bottom. Now-Girls are dumb and where bell bottoms all the time and pull their eyebrows out into nothing because almost all of them are dumb Like Jill Carroll. I'm so glad that I'm 37 and my sex drive has declined to the point where I don't have to talk to girls any more. I used to have to talk to them when I was younger but now I'm free. I'm also very glad I've never been married because I don't want to do anything for any women and I don't care what their hopes and dreams or opinions are about anything. I also am not going to listen to someone's talking to me about nothing constantly. Here's a little advice for you younger guys out there. If you want to get laid act as though you care what the girl has to say and keep the conversation about nothing. If you bring up anything complicated, 99% of the time you're going home alone. Also, don't get married because once the sex dies off you're stuck paying the bills of a nagging woman who will always be complaining and you'll never get anything out of the situation. For all you Carroll fans, don't worry they're not going to kill her. They'll let her go and then she'll have a press conference in her bell bottoms.

99 Thanks for the correction, Natasha. Let me practise for a second. I don't wear baggy pants or pants that are stacked up at the bottom. I don't wear baggy pants or pants that are stacked up at the bottom. I don't wear baggy pants or pants that are stacked up at the bottom. Now-Girls are dumb and where bell bottoms all the time and pull their eyebrows out into nothing because almost all of them are dumb Like Jill Carroll. I'm so glad that I'm 37 and my sex drive has declined to the point where I don't have to talk to girls any more. I used to have to talk to them when I was younger but now I'm free. I'm also very glad I've never been married because I don't want to do anything for any women and I don't care what their hopes and dreams or opinions are about anything. I also am not going to listen to someone's talking to me about nothing constantly. Here's a little advice for you younger guys out there. If you want to get laid act as though you care what the girl has to say and keep the conversation about nothing. If you bring up anything complicated, 99% of the time you're going home alone. Also, don't get married because once the sex dies off you're stuck paying the bills of a nagging woman who will always be complaining and you'll never get anything out of the situation. For all you Carroll fans, don't worry they're not going to kill her. They'll let her go and then she'll have a press conference in her bell bottoms.

100 Oops misspelled wear again and practice too. WHere's Natasha when I need her?

101 My heart goes out to Jill, but only because she's a total babe. I don't think I'd be paying attention if she wasn't good-looking.

102 Now we have the true Natasha. Conspiracies everywhere! No matter what it is, no matter who did it, the CIA is behind it! I'm wondering; is this the bumbling CIA who couldn't get any intel straight and couldn't connect the simplest of dots - or the CIA who controls the world as if it were their own private puppet show ... MuWAHAHAHA. (Sooper sekrit note to self: remember to tell Natasha "'tis best to link to information on the net instead of copying and pasting reams and reams of someone else's work.") Natasha, you're proving to be a real lightweight, dear.

103 OK. Who brought the trollhouse kookies?

104 Uh, excuse me - "troll" speaking: For your information there are logical and reasonable explanations for all your "conspiracies". Not that logic or reason comprises any part of your repertoire. 1) ICE facilities - ICE facilities serve many purposes. They are not detainment camps in the manner you imply no matter what you read in the media. That is all hype and baloney. They are for containment purposes for emergency reasons such as disease outbreaks that may occur naturally or by reason of mass immigration of infected persons or by reason of deliberate measures like a terrorist organization which may spread, by any means, something like typhoid, plague or any type of infectious organism. They are also for the detainment of mass illegal immigrants as well as for the use of military personnel to facilitate proper procedures of containment for any manner of issues. If they're building new facilities, my guess would be that they finally intend to detain a great deal of illegals and facilitate their deportation. Sure, such things, like anything else, could be used for nefarious purposes, but this is not for the "secret" purposes of detaining American citizens or anyone for political reasons as the media vaguely implies. 2) Cartoons - To imply that the origin of the anomalous cartoons used by the Danish Imams were CIA contrived measures to enrage the Muslim community is ridiculous. The Danish Imams did this to enrage their own people as it is "their" support which is waning. 3) Jill Carroll - To imply that the CIA is "controlling" Ms. Carroll's kidnappers to drum up waning support for the war is absurd. Common sense dictates that this provides more fodder for the opposition to the war than anything. Hence my remark, is this the incredibly stupid CIA or the fantastically smart CIA? There are many and varied reasons to be angry at our government that are legitimate and well founded. To make phantasmagorical, conspiratorial stuff up only detracts from those legitimate issues. Furthermore, I understand it's hard for you to see (you know, "forest for the trees" and all that), but trolls are people who show up new in blogs and immediately display a manner contrary to that of the majority of the group, calling people names, disseminating unproven and unfounded conspiracies, displaying moral superiority and propagating thoroughly debunked or non-factual information. Contrary to your belief, those of us who come here regularly and have for a long time are educated objective people. We don't fall for every conspiracy that comes down the pipe and prefer fact over fiction or imagination. Of course, I could just be a CIA puppet planted here to deflect criticism and obfuscate the issues here. Or I could be a "blind Bush supporter" who can't tell truth from fiction as I lockstep to my master's command and the Zionist conspiracy. Or I could simply be a realist. Whatever the case, your opinion of me means nothing.

105 I am not going to rise to the bait being trolled by those who wish to divert the topic of this thread. I don't care who the trolls "really are", and I not going waste my time speculating upon their motives. Such childish nonsense is a complete waste of time. I hope that Jill Carroll will be released unharmed very soon. I think such hope is still well within reason, and to me her safe return is of primary importance. I look forward to hearing some good news about her very soon.

106 Tralfamadorians, Annanuki or Illuminati anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?.............Beuller?..............Beuller? Carroll?.............Carroll?...............Carroll?

107 hahaha. Divert the topic of the thread? Oh, that's rich. Your hypocrisy is amazing.

108 I wonder what the Nazis called their "detention facilities"? I wonder also what official explanation the Nazis gave for their construction? The Nazis put on a good show for those sent to check out their "detention centers". That much is known. New prisoners, who hadn't already wasted away from starvation or showed obvious signs of torture, were given nice new prison jumpers and good food, to show the visiting investigators how well the "detainees" were being treated. Why even the acronym ICE is friendly isn't it? So how could anyone even think the new camps, being built all over the country right now, are anything but good wholesome mass detention centers? Oh dear. It just occurred to me how they could. They think. They may also remember history.

109 Ashville Citizen Times http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/COLUMNISTS08/60224032&SearchID=73237066393288 Detention centers for who, exactly? by Jim Buchanan February 26, 2006 6:00 am Columnist Tom Hennessy beat me to the punch on today’s topic in a column published Feb. 3 in the Press-Telegram of Long Beach, Calif. The points he made also occurred to me, and they bear repeating. Here’s the story: In late January Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR), a subsidiary of Halliburton, was awarded a contract valued at up to $385 million to build detention centers. On U.S. soil. The story didn’t make much of a dent. It landed on A7 of the New York Times, and was barely picked up anywhere else. A KBR press release says: “The contract, which is effective immediately, provides for establishing temporary detention and processing capabilities to augment existing Immigration and Custom Enforcement Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) Program facilities in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs. The contingency support contract provides for planning and, if required, initiation of specific engineering, construction and logistics support tasks to establish, operate and maintain one or more expansion facilities. The contract may also provide migrant detention support to other U.S. Government organizations in the event of an immigration emergency, as well as the development of a plan to react to a national emergency, such as a natural disaster. In the event of a natural disaster, the contractor could be tasked with providing housing for ICE personnel performing law enforcement functions in support of relief efforts.’’ Apparently if the centers aren’t built, KBR won’t get paid. And apparently, this is a contingency contract, not a commitment, that could cover the next five years. KBR and Halliburton — Vice President Dick Cheney’s old firm — have been rolling in taxpayer dollars of late. KBR does a lot of work in Iraq, things like feeding the troops. They’ve also got some experience in building detention centers. The facilities at Guantanamo Bay come to mind. Hennessy called for details about the proposal from elected representatives in California (a call I’ll repeat to those from North Carolina). He finished his column with this: “Let’s not have it said, years from now, that no one ever questioned this.’’ Hear hear, brother Tom. What questions? Well, let’s look back at that press release. “In the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S. …’’ An optimist would say that’s wise planning. A pessimist would wonder just what could spark such an influx and why we should be planning to build detention centers. A true cynic would wonder just what constitutes an emergency influx. There are, after all, an estimated 10 million illegal immigrants currently in the country. Anyway, this thing sounds like a plan to deal with immigration. But it could … “support the rapid development of new programs.’’ And those would be … what, exactly? The bottom line here is that there are plans ready to build large detention facilities in the United States. Not “illegal immigrant relocation centers,’’ not “emergency housing facilities.’’ Detention centers. This at a time when the government seems bent on probing and prying into the lives of Americans — while feeling no obligation to let citizens in on what’s going on. Say another terror strike hits; perhaps everyone on the “no-fly’’ list should be put in camps. Thing is, people on that list have included infants, at least one U.S. senator, and the chairman of the House Transportation Committee. Maybe I should be fitted for a tinfoil hat. Maybe this is no big deal. Whatever. This stuff gives me the willies. Hennessy is right. We have to ask questions. We especially have to ask them in an era of fear.

110 Can we get any alien world domination theories in here. Farrakhan's always talking about the mother ship hovering just outside our atmosphere. If we ad the twelve supreme court justices to the six members of the board of governors on the federal reserve board we have eighteen. But if we throw in Jill Carroll it becomes Farrakhan's ancient evil number nineteen he's always complaining about. That's gotta mean something. Muwahahahaha You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads! Now evidently my cycloptic colleague informs me that that cannot be done. Ah, would you remind me what I pay you people for, honestly? Throw me a bone here! What do we have?

111 This is both the current and genuine US ARMY document: Army Regulation 210–35 Installations Civilian Inmate Labor Program Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, DC 14 January 2005 UNCLASSIFIED ----------------------------------------------- SUMMARY of CHANGE AR 210–35 Civilian Inmate Labor Program This rapid action revision dated 14 January 2005-- o Assigns responsibilities to Headquarters, Installation Management Agency (para 1-4j). o Makes administrative and editorial changes (throughout). This new regulation dated 9 December 1997 o Provides Army policy and guidance for establishing civilian inmate labor programs and civilian prison camps on Army installations. o Discusses sources of Federal and State civilian inmate labor. ------------------------------------------------ Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, DC 14 January 2005 Installations Civilian Inmate Labor Program *Army Regulation 210–35 Effective 14 February 2005 History. This publication is a rapid action r e v i s i o n . T h e p o r t i o n s a f f e c t e d b y t h i s r a p i d a c t i o n r e v i s i o n a r e l i s t e d i n t h e summary of change. S u m m a r y . T h i s r e g u l a t i o n p r o v i d e s guidance for establishing and managing civilian inmate labor programs on Army installations. It provides guidance on establishing prison camps on Army installat i o n s . I t a d d r e s s e s r e c o r d k e e p i n g a n d reporting incidents related to the Civilian Inmate Labor Program and/or prison camp administration. Applicability. This regulation applies to t h e A c t i v e A r m y , t h e A r m y N a t i o n a l Guard of the United States, and the U.S. A r m y R e s e r v e u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e s t a t e d . During mobilization, the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management may modify chapters and policies contained in this regulation. Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or a direct reporting unit or field operating agency of the proponent agency in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by prov i d i n g j u s t i f i c a t i o n t h a t i n c l u d e s a f u l l analysis of the expected benefits and must i n c l u d e f o r m a l r e v i e w b y t h e a c t i v i t y ’ s senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or s e n i o r l e a d e r o f t h e r e q u e s t i n g a c t i v i t y and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25–30 for specific guidance. Army management control process. This regulation contains management control provisions and identifies key management controls that must be evaluated. S u p p l e m e n t a t i o n . S u p p l e m e n t a t i o n o f this regulation and establishment of command and local forms are prohibited without prior approval from Assistant Chief of S t a f f f o r I n s t a l l a t i o n M a n a g e m e n t (DAIM–ZA), 600 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310–0600. Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA Form 2028 (Recomm e n d e d C h a n g e s t o P u b l i c a t i o n s a n d Blank Forms) directly to Assistant Chief o f S t a f f f o r I n s t a l l a t i o n M a n a g e m e n t (DAIM–MD), 600 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310–0600. Distribution. This publication is available in electronic media only and is intended for command levels A, B, C, D, and E for the Active Army, Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve. Contents (Listed by paragraph and page number) Chapter 1 Introduction, page 1 Purpose  1–1, page 1 References  1–2, page 1 Explanation of abbreviations and terms  1–3, page 1 Responsibilities  1–4, page 1 Civilian inmate labor programs  1–5, page 2 The process  1–6, page 2 Chapter 2 Establishing Installation Civilian Inmate Labor Programs, page 4 Policy statement  2–1, page 4 *This regulation supersedes AR 210–35, dated 9 December 1997. AR 210–35  14 January 2005 i UNCLASSIFIED ----------------------------------------------- Contents—Continued Negotiating with corrections systems representatives  2–2, page 4 Governing provisions  2–3, page 4 Procedures for establishing installation civilian inmate labor programs  2–4, page 7 Chapter 3 Establishing Civilian Inmate Prison Camps on Army Installations, page 8 Policy statement  3–1, page 8 Negotiating with correctional systems representatives to establish prison camps  3–2, page 8 Governing criteria civilian inmate prison camps  3–3, page 8 Governing provisions for operating civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations  3–4, page 9 Procedures for establishing a civilian inmate prison camp on Army installations  3–5, page 9 Interservice, interagency, or interdepartmental support agreements  3–6, page 10 Chapter 4 Reporting and Recordkeeping, page 10 Incident reports  4–1, page 10 Media coverage  4–2, page 10 Recordkeeping  4–3, page 11 Appendixes A. References, page 12 B. Memorandum of Agreement Format, page 13 C. Sample Inmate Labor Plan, page 19 D. Management Control Evaluation Checklist, page 23 E. 18 USC 4125(A), and Executive Order 11755, page 23 Figure List Figure 1–1: Civilian Inmate Labor Program process, page 3 Figure B–1: Sample format for a memorandum of agreement, page 14 Figure B–1: Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued, page 15 Figure B–1: Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued, page 16 Figure B–1: Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued, page 17 Figure B–1: Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued, page 18 Figure B–1: Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued, page 19 Figure C–1: Sample Inmate Labor Plan—continued, page 20 Figure C–1: Sample Inmate Labor Plan—continued, page 21 Figure C–1: Sample Inmate Labor Plan—continued, page 22 Glossary Index ii AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Chapter 1 Introduction 1–1. Purpose This regulation provides Army policy and guidance for establishing civilian inmate labor programs and civilian prison camps on Army installations. Sources of civilian inmate labor are limited to on– and off–post Federal corrections facilities, State and/or local corrections facilities operating from on–post prison camps pursuant to leases under Section 2667, Title 10, United States Code (10 USC 2667), and off–post State corrections facilities participating in the demonstration project authorized under Section 1065, Public Law (PL) 103–337. Otherwise, State and/or local inmate labor from off–post corrections facilities is currently excluded from this program. 1–2. References Required and related publications and prescribed and referenced forms are listed in appendix A. 1–3. Explanation of abbreviations and terms Abbreviations and special terms used in this regulation are explained in the glossary. 1–4. Responsibilities a. The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Environment) (ASA(I&E)) will— (1) Provide policy guidance and resolve policy issues. (2) Provide overall program direction. (3) Serve as approval authority for establishing civilian inmate labor programs and civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations. (4) Provide procedural guidance on real property acquisition, management, and disposal relating to establishing prison camps on Army installations. b. The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) (ASA(FM&C)) will— (1) Provide reimbursement policy guidance on interservice, interagency, and/or interdepartmental support agreements between installations and corrections facilities to establish civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations. (2) Provide reimbursement policy for civilian inmate labor utilization, other than reimbursement for inmate labor itself. (3) Review all actions pertaining to the Civilian Inmate Labor Program for compliance with Army financial management guidance. c. The Chief of Public Affairs will— (1) Monitor media coverage on installation civilian inmate labor programs and civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations. (2) Coordinate all proposed media coverage of potential national interest concerning the Army Civilian Inmate Labor Program and civilian inmate prison camps with the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM) prior to release. d. The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) (ASA(M&RA)) will— (1) Provide policy guidance on inmate labor utilization issues pertaining to existing in–house resources. (2) Provide policy guidance and procedures for apprising installation government employee labor unions of proposals to use civilian inmate labor and, for existing installation civilian inmate labor programs, apprising these unions of changes in agreements with corrections facilities governing inmate use. e. The Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management will— (1) Execute the Army Civilian Inmate Labor Program. (2) Develop and implement policy and procedures for using civilian inmate labor and establishing civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations. (3) Serve as the focal point for staff coordination on issues pertaining to the Civilian Inmate Labor Program and/or civilian inmate prison camps. (4) Conduct a program review in accordance with AR 11–2 once every 5 years. (5) Provide policy guidance on functions for which civilian inmate labor can be used. (6) Review reports of availability pertaining to granting the use of Army real property. (7) Immediately inform the Chief, Legislative Liaison of approval of civilian inmate labor programs and civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations to facilitate notification to interested members of Congress. f. The General Counsel and the Judge Advocate General will review all actions pertaining to the Civilian Inmate Labor Program and civilian inmate prison camps for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. g. The Chief of Engineers will, in those cases involving use of Army real property, handle all matters pertaining to granting the use of Army real property. h. The Provost Marshal General will— 1 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- (1) Monitor reporting of serious incidents, that is, walkaways, escapes, riots, disturbances, and any criminal activity by civilian inmates occurring on the installation under AR 190–40. (2) Provide policy on law enforcement operations on Army installations. i. Heads of other Army Staff and Army Secretariat agencies will provide advice, as necessary, on aspects of the Civilian Inmate Labor Program within their functional areas of responsibility. j. The Director, Headquarters, Installation Management Agency (HQ, IMA) will— (1) Ensure that their installations participating in civilian inmate labor programs comply with 18 USC 4125(a) and other applicable laws governing civilian inmate labor, Executive Order (EO) 11755, and all provisions of this regulation. (2) Review and endorse installation memoranda of agreement (MOA) and Inmate Labor Plans to establish civilian inmate labor programs and proposals to establish civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations, and forward such MOA, plans and proposals to Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) for approval. (3) Review and endorse installation requests for changes to Army Civilian Inmate Labor Program policy. (4) Annually review installation civilian inmate labor programs against the key management controls listed in appendix D. k. Installation commanders will— (1) Comply with 18 USC 4125(a) and other applicable laws governing civilian inmate labor, EO 11755, and all provisions of this regulation. (2) Submit the following through command channels to Headquarters, Installation Management Activity (SFIM–PL), 2511 Jefferson Davis Highway, Taylor Building, Arlington, VA 22202–3926: (a) Memoranda of agreement and Inmate Labor Plans to establish civilian inmate labor programs. (b) Proposals to establish civilian inmate prison camps. (c) Written notification of termination of civilian inmate labor programs. (d) Revisions to existing memoranda of agreement requiring changes to Army Civilian Inmate Labor Program policy. (e) Requests for guidance on any Civilian Inmate Labor Program situation that is not addressed in this regulation. (3) Annually review their civilian inmate labor programs to determine if their programs continue to generate cost avoidance. (4) Annually review their civilian inmate labor programs against the key management controls identified in appendix D. (5) Report all contacts with State or local corrections system on possible use of civilian inmate labor, facilities, land, or installation through command channels to Headquarters, Installation Management Activity (SFIM–PL), 2511 Jefferson Davis Highway, Taylor Building, Arlington, VA 22202–3926. 1–5. Civilian inmate labor programs a. Civilian inmate labor programs benefit both the Army and corrections systems by— (1) Providing a source of labor at no direct labor cost to Army installations to accomplish tasks that would not be possible otherwise due to the manning and funding constraints under which the Army operates. (2) Providing meaningful work for inmates and, in some cases, additional space to alleviate overcrowding in nearby corrections facilities. (3) Making cost–effective use of buildings and land not otherwise being used. b. Except for the 3 exceptions listed in paragraph 2–1 d below, installation civilian inmate labor programs may use civilian inmate labor only from Federal corrections facilities located either off or on the installation. c. Keys to operating an effective civilian inmate labor program on Army installations include— (1) Establishing a comprehensive lease agreement, interservice, interagency, and/or interdepartmental support agreement (ISA), and/or memoranda of agreement with the corrections facility. (2) Developing a cooperative working relationship between installation personnel and corrections facility personnel. (3) Working closely with installation government employee labor unions to ensure union leaders understand the program and have current information on program status. (4) Training all installation personnel involved in the operation or administration of the program frequently. (5) Developing a public affairs plan informing the installation and the surrounding local community of the program and work projects assigned to civilian inmate labor. 1–6. The process Figure 1–1 diagrams the Army Civilian Inmate Labor Program process. The flowchart reads top down and left to right, starting with the decision to establish both a prison camp and an inmate labor program (the diamond–shaped box in the upper left corner of the diagram labeled “prison camp inmate labor?”). The diamond–shaped boxes are decision nodes; the rectangular boxes are steps in the process to establish a civilian inmate labor program, establish a civilian inmate 2 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- prison camp on post, or do both. Follow the arrows through the flowchart. Chapters 2 and 3 address procedures for establishing a civilian inmate labor program and/or on–post civilian inmate prison camp. Figure 1–1. Civilian Inmate Labor Program process 3 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 Establishing Installation Civilian Inmate Labor Programs 2–1. Policy statement a. With a few exceptions, the Army’s Civilian Inmate Labor Program is currently limited to using inmates from facilities under the control of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP). Section 4125(a), Title 18, United States Code allows the Attorney General to make available to other Federal agencies the services of Federal inmates and defines the types of services inmates can perform. The FBOP provides civilian inmate labor free of charge to the Army. b. The Army is not interested in, nor can afford, any relationship with a corrections facility if that relationship stipulates payment for civilian inmate labor. Installation civilian inmate labor program operating costs must not exceed the cost avoidance generated from using inmate labor (see para 4–3 for a discussion of cost avoidance). c. Guidelines in this regulation for establishing installation civilian inmate labor programs pertain to negotiating with Federal corrections facilities only. Currently, there is no overarching law that addresses establishing State and/or local civilian inmate labor programs on Department of Defense (DOD) military facilities when these programs use inmates from off–post corrections facilities. d. However, there are 3 exceptions to using State or local civilian inmate labor from off–post corrections facilities— (1) Section 1065, PL 103–337, allows the Army to conduct a demonstration project. This demonstration project tests the feasibility of providing prerelease employment training to nonviolent offenders in a State corrections facility. The demonstration project is limited to 3 Army installations. The 3 Army installations participating in the demonstration project may use inmates from an off–post State corrections facility. (2) Army National Guard units leasing facilities from the Army or occupying State–owned land or facilities may use inmates from an off–post State and/or local corrections facility. (3) The prohibition against use of State and/or local civilian inmate labor from off–post corrections facilities does not apply to Civil Works projects where the Army has statutory authority to accept voluntary contributions in the form of services from State or local governments. If contributed, inmate services are combined with materials or services paid for with Federally appropriated funds; the use of civilian inmate labor must also comply with the provisions of EO 11755. The use of civilian inmate labor under these exceptions must still comply with the requirements of this regulation. e. Installation commanders must address, in memoranda of agreement with the corrections facilities, all items in the governing provisions (para 2–3 below). f. Section 4125(a), Title 18, United States Code and EO 11755 are incorporated into this regulation at appendix E. 2–2. Negotiating with corrections systems representatives Installation commanders may initiate discussions with FBOP representatives concerning use of civilian inmate labor on Army installations, subject to the governing provisions listed in paragraph 2–3. Installation commanders are not authorized to negotiate with representatives of State or local corrections systems or governmental agencies regarding civilian inmate labor from off–post corrections facilities (see para 3–2). 2–3. Governing provisions The following provisions govern the Army Civilian Inmate Labor Program and must be reflected in agreements with corrections facilities concerning the use of civilian inmate labor on Army installations: a. No use of land or facilities. No use of land or facilities on installations is involved in executing civilian inmate labor programs, except for designated work, latrine, eating, and vending areas. (1) Installation commanders will establish areas where inmates are prohibited from entering, and any other restrictions that are deemed necessary. These areas will be outlined in the memoranda of agreement between the installation and the corrections facility. The intent is to preclude fraternization between inmates and civilians, military personnel and/or, family members and to ensure their safety at all times. Army policy on prohibited areas is to restrict inmates to the on–post civilian inmate prison camp (where applicable), work areas, latrines, and vending machine areas. (2) Inmates will not enter or work in or near family housing areas at any time. (3) Inmates will not work in day care centers, youth services and/or school–age service centers, schools, recreation centers, and/or libraries, or similar facilities, except when these facilities are closed to the public, or when the likelihood of inmate contact with the general military community or family members is remote. (4) Inmates will not work in areas where medical supplies (drugs, syringes, and so forth) are stored unless the medical supplies are secured and the inmates are under constant view by Army personnel. (5) Inmates will not work in areas where firearms and/or ammunition are sold or stored, nor in areas where alcoholic beverages are sold, stored, or served. b. Nominal costs. The program must be without direct labor cost (for inmate labor itself) or expense to the 4 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Department of the Army except for nominal costs for equipment, materials, and supplies used in inmate labor details, program administration, telephone calls to corrections facilities, lunch time meals, transporting inmates to and from corrections facilities, and other similar costs addressed in paragraph 4–3, below. Inmates participating in the program will not be recompensed from Department of Army appropriated or nonappropriated funds. (1) Inmates are not Department of the Army employees and are not regarded as such. Inmates must not be referred to as employees. They will not be paid from Department of the Army funds, nor receive any personal or private gratuity for work accomplished or services rendered. Interservice, interagency, or interdepartmental support agreements and/or memoranda of agreement with the corrections facility must not create any appearance of employment of inmates. (2) Installation commanders have authority to determine and absorb nominal costs associated with their civilian inmate labor programs. Nominal costs are minor costs incidental to civilian inmate labor program operations. Nominal costs may be costs for equipment, materials, and supplies used in inmate labor details, program administration, telephone calls to corrections facilities, lunch time meals, transporting inmates to and from corrections facilities, and other similar costs addressed in paragraph 4–3, below. Installations may absorb nominal costs associated with their program on a nonreimbursable basis. However, installation commanders will not reimburse the corrections facility for inmate labor, either as payment of funds or establishing credits in memoranda of agreement or ISAs as payment for inmate labor. (3) Inmates are not allowed to operate Army vehicles or equipment unless they possess the necessary valid operator’s licenses, have been given proper training in vehicle operation and safety by Army personnel in accordance with AR 600–55, and are authorized to operate the vehicle or equipment by both the installation and the corrections facility. (4) Operation of Army vehicles by inmates is permitted only when absolutely necessary for completion of work. Inmates will not be permitted to operate vehicles unless in a secured area or under direct observation of installation or corrections facility personnel. Training to operate Army unique vehicles and/or equipment should be provided by the Army. (5) No personal vehicles will be used to transport inmates to and/or from corrections facilities, or to and/or from work sites. (6) Enforcement of inventory, control, issuance, and return of hand tools and equipment provided for inmate labor details must be controlled by installation plans and/or standing procedures. c. Services provided to installations. Services provided to the installation must be in accordance with 18 USC 4125(a). Such services are constructing or repairing roads; clearing, maintaining, or reforesting public land; building levees; or constructing or repairing any other public way or works financed wholly or in major part by funds a p p r o p r i a t e d b y C o n g r e s s . I n m a t e s m a y p e r f o r m c u s t o d i a l t a s k s , b u i l d i n g d e m o l i t i o n , d e b r i s r e m o v a l , m o w i n g , landscaping, painting, carpentry, trash pickup, transporting debris to and from recycling centers, and other similar activities. No other services are allowed by law. d. Work performed. Work performed by inmates will not interfere nor conflict with approved projects for which resources have been allocated and funds made available for performance by contract or Army civilian labor force, or with work which can be accomplished within authorized personnel ceilings. The Civilian Inmate Labor Program was created to provide installation commanders with an alternate labor source to perform valid requirements. Civilian inmate labor does not compete with existing in–house or contractor resources. e. Participants. Only inmates classified as minimum level security will participate in the Civilian Inmate Labor Program. Minimum level security inmates do not need constant guard. Corrections facilities will be responsible for ensuring that only minimum level security inmates participate in the inmate labor program and for selecting inmate participants. (1) Memoranda of agreement with the corrections facility will state that the installation commander will direct the removal of any inmate deemed undesirable or detrimental in any way to the mission, soldiers, family members, or civilian employees of the installation. (2) Under no circumstances will the following types of inmates be permitted in the Civilian Inmate Labor Program: (a) A person in whom there is a significant public interest as determined by the corrections facility superintendent in coordination with the installation commander. (b) A person who has been a significant management problem in their current corrections facility or in another facility. (c) A principal organized crime figure. (d) An inmate convicted of a sex offense or whose criminal history includes such conduct. (e) An inmate convicted of a violent crime or whose criminal history includes such conduct. (f) An inmate convicted of the sale or intent to distribute illegal drugs who held a leadership position in any drug conspiracy, or has been involved with drugs within the last 3 years while in prison. (g) An escape risk. (h) An inmate who poses a threat to the general public as determined by the corrections facility superintendent in coordination with the installation commander. 5 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- (i) An inmate declared or found insane or mentally incompetent by a court, administrative proceeding, or physician, or under treatment for a mental disease or disorder. (j) An inmate convicted of arson. (k) A Federal inmate convicted while on active duty, presently serving a sentence for that conviction. f. Army personnel. Department of the Army personnel will not be involved with custodial aspects of inmate labor details. (a) The Warden and/or Administrator of the local corrections facility is charged with the responsibility and accountability for the control and custody of inmates on labor details at all times. Any use of Army military or civilian personnel to guard, control, discipline, or otherwise exercise custodial supervision is prohibited. (b) Army military or civilian personnel may oversee the work to be performed by inmates or inmate labor details. Oversight is defined as telling inmates what they must do by specifying work to be accomplished. This oversight includes training inmates in performing assigned work, using special equipment, and safety precautions. Oversight also includes showing inmates the location of the work site and performing quality assurance inspections of inmate work to determine if the work performed meets quality, quantity, and timeliness specifications. Oversight may also include requiring inmates to sign time cards at intervals established by the Warden and/or Administrator of the local corrections facility. If an inmate cannot be located to sign a time card or is otherwise found missing from an assigned work area, Army personnel will immediately notify the local corrections facility point of contact staff supervisor and the installation military police. g. Property damage. Generally, any interference with or damage to property under control of the Department of the Army, incident to the execution of inmate labor details, will be promptly corrected by the corrections facility as directed by the installation commander. However, the installation commander has the prerogative to decide first to thoroughly investigate the incident prior to directing the corrections facility to correct the situation; if the installation commander opts to first investigate the incident, both Army and corrections facility personnel will participate in the investigation. If it is determined that the damage or interference resulting in a loss was caused by an inmate or corrections personnel, both the installation commander and the corrections facility superintendent will be briefed on the findings, and the installation commander may— (1) Request the corrections facility to promptly correct the situation. (2) Direct that the inmate and/or corrections personnel be removed from the installation. (3) Direct that the program with the corrections facility be discontinued. (4) Decide on any combination of these options. This does not include damages, breakage, or breakdowns occurring to equipment or other property due to normal use, or poor and/or unsafe operational condition. (a) All memoranda of agreement with the corrections facility must contain a clause addressing how property damage and/or interference will be redressed. An example of this clause is included at appendix B, paragraph 5e. The aforementioned clause has been used successfully in memoranda of agreement with the FBOP. It is offered as suggested terminology. There is no specific requirement that the corrections facility be held automatically responsible for any loss or damage; this should be resolved on a case by case basis by the installation commander. (b) Investigations may be conducted through AR 15–6 procedures or a report of survey. h. Operation. The Civilian Inmate Labor Program will operate in such a manner that it will not interfere with the operation and/or mission of the installation as determined by the installation commander. i. Safety. Inmate accident compensation procedures set forth at Section 301, Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (28 CFR 301) apply to all work performed by FBOP inmates. However, installation commanders should check with their legal advisor to determine potential liability for injuries, accidents, or deaths caused by FBOP inmates or corrections facility personnel. (1) Corrections facilities have their own safety program and will generally provide safety training to all civilian inmates participating in the inmate labor program. Installations may provide safety equipment; for example, shoes, goggles, hard hats, and so forth or negotiate this with the corrections facility. Installations providing this equipment will ensure that the equipment is in safe and serviceable condition. (2) Installation personnel will provide safety training to inmates and inmate labor details and corrections facility personnel specific to the type of work being performed. Such safety training will also cover accident and/or hazardous working conditions reporting. Installations should provide any required special protective equipment, materials, tools, and supplies in safe and serviceable condition. (3) Inmate training must include safety instruction as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 29 CFR 1910 which establishes specific training requirements and places the responsibility for such safety training on the employer (the corrections facility). Inmates will report for work details with this OSHA required training already completed. (4) Inmates will not be assigned work which is inherently dangerous, or of high risk; for example, hazardous materials cleanup, firefighting, and so forth. j. Emergency medical care. The Army will provide emergency medical care and first aid. In the event of an on–post life threatening situation, the local military hospital will respond with emergency medical service, or the installation will provide transportation to the nearest available hospital. The corrections facility will be promptly notified of such 6 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- medical emergencies and/or serious illnesses. The corrections facility will reimburse the Army for all emergency care costs incurred on behalf of the civilian inmates and/or corrections facility personnel. The corrections facility will provide routine medical care for civilian inmates. k. Security. The corrections facility retains control and custody of the civilian inmates at all times. In addition to defining areas off limits to inmates, installations should consult with and incorporate corrections facility security requirements into their memoranda of agreement. For example, the FBOP does not allow inmates to have access to or use installation phone lines, fax machines, computers and/or computer systems, nor to accept a gratuity of any kind at any time. Also, inmates will not be used in areas where classified information, personnel records, medical records, or other confidential or sensitive data is discussed or is in plain view. Inmates working in areas where such information is locked or secured will be under constant view by Army personnel. l. Training of Army personnel. The corrections facility will provide training and indoctrination to all Army personnel who will oversee inmate work. Training will cover inmate discipline, staff conduct, inmate accountability, and corrections facility safety program. This training is mandatory. This training will be provided at no cost to the Army and at least on an annual basis. m. Public affairs. Installations will develop a public affairs plan that informs the installation and the surrounding local community of the program and work projects assigned to civilian inmate labor. This will largely mitigate potential negative repercussions from using and having inmates present on the installation. Press releases involving inmates will be issued only by the corrections facility, in coordination with the installation public affairs office, as corrections facility officials are responsible for protecting the privacy and other rights of inmates. Press releases regarding the civilian inmate labor program should be coordinated with the corrections facility superintendent. One copy of the press release will be routed through command channels to HQDA, Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Plans and Operations Division (DAIMMD), and HQDA, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Public Communications Division (SAPAPCD). Press releases do not require HQDA approval prior to release. (1) Media representatives should not be allowed to interview inmates nor take photographs of inmates without the corrections facility’s and installation public affairs office specific approval. (2) Requests for interviews or photographs of inmates should be referred to the corrections facility superintendent and the installation public affairs office. 2–4. Procedures for establishing installation civilian inmate labor programs Procedures for establishing installation civilian inmate labor programs apply to both off–post corrections facilities and on–post civilian inmate prison camps. a. Upon finalizing negotiations with the corrections facility, the installation commander and corrections facility superintendent will prepare a proposed memorandum of agreement, using the format at appendix B, covering all aspects of the Civilian Inmate Labor Program under consideration. This agreement will include, but is not limited to, the governing provisions in paragraph 2–3, above. In addition, the memoranda of agreement must include provisions for reporting serious incidents and negative media coverage, addressed in paragraphs 4–1 and 4–2, and the projected cost avoidance from using civilian inmates addressed in paragraph 4–3, below. b. Installations will prepare an Inmate Labor Plan governing administration and operation of the inmate labor program on the installation. This plan will include, but is not limited to, procedures for assigning inmate labor details, oversight and/or monitoring responsibilities, procedures for requesting inmate labor details, training of personnel involved with the program, required security and/or safety measures, environmental considerations, and any installation reporting requirements. Inmate Labor Plan format is determined locally. c. Memoranda of agreement and/or Inmate Labor Plans will be reviewed as needed by the installation commander and corrections facility superintendent to incorporate changes in Army Civilian Inmate Labor Program policy and other factors affecting the terms and conditions of these documents. d. The installation Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) will review the memoranda of agreement and Inmate Labor Plan for legal sufficiency and to ensure that inmates will not be performing functions contrary to law. Other installation functional proponents will review the memoranda of agreement and Inmate Labor Plan from a functional perspective. e. Installation civilian personnel offices will inform installation Government employee labor unions of proposals to use civilian inmates and comply with any bargaining obligation under 5 USC 7101 et. seq. (Federal Labor Management Relations Statute). f. Requests to establish civilian inmate labor programs will be submitted through command channels to Headquarters, Installation Management Activity (SFIM–PL), 2511 Jefferson Davis Highway, Taylor Building, Arlington, VA 22202–3926. Requests must include HQ, IMA endorsement and copies of the proposed memoranda of agreement and Inmate Labor Plan. The HQ, IMA endorsement includes an SJA review of the memoranda of agreement and Inmate Labor Plan for legal sufficiency. Other HQ, IMA functional proponents will review the memoranda of agreement and Inmate Labor Plan from a functional perspective. g. Installations will not implement civilian inmate labor programs, nor incorporate revisions to existing memoranda of agreement and/or Inmate Labor Plans requiring changes to Army Civilian Inmate Labor Program policy without 7 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- HQDA approval. Appendix B contains the format for installation memoranda of agreement; appendix C contains a sample Inmate Labor Plan. Chapter 3 Establishing Civilian Inmate Prison Camps on Army Installations 3–1. Policy statement It is not Army policy to solicit offers from correctional systems to establish civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations. Nevertheless, the Army recognizes that these correctional systems may approach installations to lease land on which to build corrections facilities, or to lease unoccupied facilities. The Army will evaluate requests to establish civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations on a case by case basis. These prison camps will house minimum and low security inmates, as determined by the correctional systems. However, the Army’s primary purpose for allowing establishment of prison camps on Army installations is to use the resident nonviolent civilian inmate labor pool to work on the leased portions of the installation. 3–2. Negotiating with correctional systems representatives to establish prison camps Installation commanders will not initiate formal discussions with correctional systems representatives to establish civilian inmate prison camps on their installations. Installation commanders are not authorized to negotiate with these representatives without first obtaining HQDA approval to proceed. Once approval is granted, installation commanders may enter into negotiations, subject to the provisions of this chapter. a. Establishing civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations is separate from establishing civilian inmate labor programs, as discussed in chapter 2 above. Establishing civilian inmate prison camps does not automatically institute a civilian inmate labor program. Procedures for establishing civilian inmate labor programs, incident to establishing civilian inmate prison camps, still apply. b. As noted in paragraph 2–1, above, civilian inmate labor programs are limited to use of inmates under the control of the FBOP. Accordingly, establishment of a State civilian inmate prison camp under a lease pursuant to 10 USC 2667 does not permit the creation of a civilian inmate labor program. c. Section 1342, Title 31, United States Code precludes the United States Government from accepting voluntary services unless specifically allowed by statute. The Army has determined that accepting inmate labor with no associated cost for inmate labor is equivalent to accepting voluntary services from corrections facilities. This precludes using State and local civilian inmates from off–post corrections facilities. However, inmate labor programs using State and local civilian inmates from on–post prison camps is allowed. Section 2667, Title 10, United States Code governing leases of DOD property allows acceptance of inmate labor as payment in kind for real property leased to correctional systems for use as prison camps in an amount equivalent to the fair market value of the lease interest; however, such labor is limited to maintenance, protection, repair, improvement, and restoration activities on the leased facilities. 3–3. Governing criteria civilian inmate prison camps The following criteria apply to establishing civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations: a. Since the correctional system has full responsibility and authority over the use and occupation of the civilian inmate prison camp, all claims for property damage or personal injury arising therein are the responsibility of the correctional system, not the Army. b. The installation commander and HQ, IMA must assess the impacts that the prison and prison population will have on the installation, military mission, and installation population. At a minimum, the installation commander must consider mission security, possible impacts on military families living on–post, and community concerns. c. Prison facility sites should be separated from the general installation population to the maximum extent possible. At a minimum, prison facilities should not be located in close proximity to family housing, dormitories, or community support facilities. d. Prison facilities should not be located in close proximity to critical mission areas where surveillance of activities could become a source of intelligence data. e. Location of prison facilities should be in keeping with the requirements and objectives of installation comprehensive planning concepts and environmental considerations at the individual installation. f. Civilian inmate prison camps will not be collocated with military confinement facilities. g. Using installation facilities is acceptable when buildings are scheduled for demolition, or are not needed for current or programmed mission requirements and can be rehabilitated. h. The correctional system will provide the primary source of funding for establishing, operating, and maintaining prison facilities. i. Support and services provided between the Army installation and a Federal civilian inmate prison camp will be delineated in a formal ISA in accordance with Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 4000.19. There should be no 8 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- need for any reimbursement policy where State corrections facilities are concerned because the cost of doing business with a State corrections facility should be factored into the lease agreement. j. Correctional systems’ use of Army real property will be in accordance with AR 405–80. k. AR 42041 establishes policy, responsibility, and procedures for acquisition and sale of utility services. A separate contract form is required for use in the sale of utilities and related services. 3–4. Governing provisions for operating civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations Civilian inmate prison camps on Army installations are subject to the following provisions: a. No weapons other than those authorized for the security of the civilian inmate prison camp and public protection will be permitted on prison camp premises. Storage, possession, control, and use of such weapons will be in accordance with corrections facility policy and procedures. b. No alcohol or controlled substances other than those under the control and supervision of the corrections facility medical personnel will be permitted on civilian inmate prison camp premises. Storage, possession, control, dispensing, and use of such drugs will be in accordance with corrections facility policy and procedures. c. The corrections facility must have a comprehensive written security plan; a contingency plan for handling walkaways, escapes, riots, serious incidents, job actions or strikes, and any other disruption; and a plan designed to ensure that adequate medical, sanitation, recreational, and other humanitarian services are provided for the inmates housed at the civilian inmate prison camp. These plans will be made available to the installation commander. d. Army personnel will not be involved in quelling or suppressing riots, disorders, and similar incidents within civilian inmate prison camp premises. Military police may not respond to or investigate incidents which occur within the civilian inmate prison camp and involve inmates or correctional facilities personnel, unless the installation commander determines that such action is reasonably necessary to protect personnel, equipment, or facilities under his or her control. They may gather information to fulfill AR 190–40 reporting requirements. Military police may take immediate action to save life or property or protect a Federal function. They may detain and restrain walkaways, escapees, and persons who commit a felony or breach of peace in their presence. However, inmates detained by military police will be turned over to civilian authorities as soon as possible. Military police will continue to perform military law enforcement duties to maintain good order and discipline on the installation, such as patrolling and criminal investigation of incidents occurring outside the prison camp, even if these activities indirectly enhance the camp’s security. e. Civilian inmate prison camp personnel must request approval from the installation commander before using riot control agents or deadly force to quell prison riots, disorders, or other incidents. f. Army personnel will not be involved in any manner with civilian inmate prison camp operations, except as otherwise specified in paragraph 3–4d, above. 3–5. Procedures for establishing a civilian inmate prison camp on Army installations The following procedures apply to establishing a civilian inmate prison camp on Army installations. These procedures are separate from those procedures discussed in chapter 2 above for establishing a civilian inmate labor program. Installations desiring to both establish a civilian inmate prison camp and an inmate labor program must follow the procedures outlined in chapters 2 and 3 of this regulation. Establishment of a civilian inmate prison camp does not automatically establish a civilian inmate labor program. Separate documents must be executed for each action, as outlined below. However, as noted in paragraph 2–1, above, civilian inmate labor programs are limited to use of inmates under the control of the FBOP. Establishment of a State civilian inmate prison camp under a lease pursuant to 10 USC 2667 does not permit the creation of a civilian inmate labor program. a. Installations will submit a proposal to establish a civilian inmate prison camp through command channels to HQDA, Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Plans and Operations Division (DAIM–MD), 600 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310–0600. The proposal must be signed by the installation commander, be endorsed by the chain of command at all levels, and address the following areas: (1) Proposed civilian inmate prison campsite, intended use for existing buildings, planned renovations, or new construction. Include a site drawing of the planned area. (2) Proposed number of inmates to be housed and security level of inmates. (3) Proposed number of inmates to be used in work details, if applicable. (4) Economic analysis of the cost and/or benefits of establishing a civilian inmate prison camp. The analysis must include all the costs of providing all utility needs, such as water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater, solid waste management, electricity, and central steam or hot water. The analysis must also describe the planned method of reimbursing the Army for these costs and how a transfer of funds from the corrections facility to the Army will be effected. (5) Synopsis of the correctional system’s request to establish a civilian inmate prison camp. (6) Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, and any successor legislation. 9 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- (7) Local community reaction, including family member reaction to establishing a civilian inmate prison camp on the installation. ( Summary of the benefits the Army will derive from establishing a civilian inmate prison camp. Address the services the Army will provide the prison camp and the services the prison camp will provide the Army in return. However, keep in mind that for State civilian inmate prison camps established pursuant to a lease under 10 USC 2667, the services that the prison camp may provide to the Army are limited to maintenance, protection, restoration, repair, and improvement of the leased facilities. (9) Risk assessment regarding the facilities proposed for outgranting. Address the viability of establishing a civilian inmate prison camp. (10) Correctional system security plan for the civilian inmate prison camp. (11) Proposed length of time of agreements (ISAs and lease and/or permit). (12) Report of availability of real property and/or facilities proposed for outgranting. b. Upon receiving HQDA approval, installations may request the Corps of Engineers district office to proceed with preparing the appropriate outgrant document with the correctional system for the right to use Army real property and facilities, and, for Federal civilian inmate prison camps, prepare a permit and an ISA delineating the services to be rendered by the civilian inmate prison camp and the support required from the installation. One copy of the outgrant document and the ISA, where applicable, will be forwarded through command channels to HQ, IMA (SFIM–PL). c. For Federal civilian inmate prison camps, the outgrant document will reference the ISA governing services the installation will provide the prison camp, and the services the prison camp will provide the installation, if applicable, under the memoranda of agreement establishing an installation civilian inmate labor program. The outgrant document by itself does not establish a civilian inmate labor program. A separate memoranda of agreement with the corrections facility is still required. All outgrants of Army real property will be prepared in accordance with AR 405–80. d. Installations intending to establish a civilian inmate labor program using inmates to be housed in the on–post prison camp will follow the procedures outlined in chapter 2 above. 3–6. Interservice, interagency, or interdepartmental support agreements The ISAs documents the services installations will provide the Federal civilian inmate prison camp and the services the prison camp will provide the installation, in return. The ISAs will be prepared in accordance with DODI 4000.19 and AR 37–49 and will cover the same period as the outgrant document. The ISAs are subject to annual review to examine current costs and determine next year project assignments. Installation commanders have the authority to negotiate and approve ISAs locally. Executing an ISA does not establish a civilian inmate labor program. A separate memoranda of agreement with the corrections facility is still required in accordance with the procedures delineated in chapter 2 above. a. Utility sales contracts and memoranda of agreement establishing civilian inmate labor programs using inmates from the on–post Federal civilian inmate prison are attachments to the ISAs. b. The ISAs will require the Federal civilian inmate prison camp to have a mutually acceptable utility and/or energy conservation program and an environmental management plan. The prison camp will provide assurance that it is resourced to carry out these provisions. c. No credits for inmate labor will be given to offset support services provided to the Federal civilian inmate prison camp. Chapter 4 Reporting and Recordkeeping 4–1. Incident reports Serious incidents, that is, walkaways, escapes, riots, disturbances, and any criminal action involving inmates participating in the civilian inmate labor program and/or occurring in onpost civilian inmate prison camps will be reported in accordance with AR 190–40. One copy of incident reports will be provided to HQ, IMA (SFIM–PL), and HQDA, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Public Communications Division (SAPA–PCD). Accidents involving inmates will be investigated and reported in accordance with AR 385–40. 4–2. Media coverage Any media coverage involving inmates participating in the Civilian Inmate Labor Program, or involving onpost civilian inmate prison camps, will be reported through command channels to HQ, IMA (SFIMPL), and HQDA, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Public Communications Division (SAPA–PCD). Report media source (newspaper, magazine, radio, television), name of media source (and radio and/or television channel), date of coverage, synopsis of report, and whether the report had local, regional, or national coverage. Provide copies of the article and/or script, if available. 10 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- 4–3. Recordkeeping Installations will maintain records of their civilian inmate labor programs. These records will be used in higher headquarters efforts to assess program utility and assess the effectiveness of key management controls identified in appendix D. The management and final disposition of all civilian inmate labor programs and civilian inmate prison camp records will comply with AR 25–400–2. Recordkeeping will cover the following topics: a. For civilian inmate labor programs— (1) Summary listing of all work projects employing civilian inmates, including project duration, number of civilian inmates used on the project, number of corrections facility personnel supervising work details assigned to each project, and number of Army military and civilian personnel engaged in oversight activities per project. (2) Cost avoidance generated from civilian inmate labor. Cost avoidance is based on determining the dollar value of inmate labor by equating inmate work performed to the dollar value and costs of similar work if performed by authorized and funded positions, or by contract. Cost avoidance must be calculated using the following equation: Cost avoidance=Dollar value of civilian labor (including fringe benefits, monitoring, and overhead) and/or contracts for functions inmates now perform (including overtime) minus Cost of equipment, materials, and supplies furnished to inmate labor details minus Costs of transporting inmates to and from corrections facility (as applicable) minus Inmate meal costs (if provided) minus Program administration costs minus Any other costs associated with the civilian inmate labor program. (3) Synopsis of special incidents and/or military police (MP) reports involving civilian inmate labor. This includes significant events and anticipated problems. (4) Media inquiries and responses provided. (5) Synopsis of any complaints and/or concerns from the surrounding off–post community and family members regarding inmate labor, together with any action taken to resolve the complaint. (6) Borrowed military manpower returned to duty resulting from inmate labor. b. For civilian inmate prison camps— (1) Monthly average daily population for the facility. (2) Any Right of Entry violations and corrective measures taken. (3) Direct and reimbursable obligations for support provided to the civilian inmate prison camp, to allow for analysis of spending trends. (4) Synopsis of any complaints and/or concerns from the surrounding off–post community and family members regarding the civilian inmate prison camp, together with any action taken to resolve the complaint. (5) Synopsis of special incidents and/or MP reports involving the civilian inmate prison camp. This includes significant events and anticipated problems. (6) Media inquiries and responses provided. 11 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Appendix A References Section I Required Publications AR 11–2 Management Controls. (Cited in para 1–4e(4).) AR 15–6 Procedures for Investigating Officers and Boards of Officers. (Cited in para 2–3 g(4)(b).) AR 37–49 Budgeting, Funding, and Reimbursement for Base Operations Support of Army Activities. (Cited in para 3–6.) AR 190–40 Serious Incident Report. (Cited in paras 1–4 h(1), 3–4d, 4–1, and D–4c(5).) AR 385–40 Accident Reporting and Records. (Cited in para 4–1.) AR 405–80 Management of Title and Granting Use of Real Property. (Cited in paras 3–3 j and 3–5c.) AR 420–41 Acquisition and Sales of Utilities Services. (Cited in paras 3–3 k.) AR 600–55 The Army Driver and Operator Standardization Program (Selection, Training, Testing and Licensing). (Cited in para 2–3b(3).) 5 USC 7101 et. seq. Federal Labor Management Relations Statute. (Cited in para 2–4 e.) 10 USC 2667 Leases, NonExcess Property of Military Departments. (Cited in paras 1–1, 3–2 b, 3–2c, 3–5a( .) 18 USC 4125(a) Public Works; Prison Camps. (Cited in paras 1–4j(1), 1–4k(1), 2–1a, 2–1f, and 2–3c.) 28 CFR 301 Inmate Accident Compensation. (Cited in para 2–3i.) 29 CFR 1910 Occupational Safety and Health Standards. (Cited in para 2–3 i(3).) 31 USC 1342 Limitation on Voluntary Services. (Cited in para 3–2 c.) DODI 4000.19 Interservice, Interdepartmental, and Interagency Support. (Cited in paras 3–3 i and 3–6.) Executive Order 11755 Prison Labor. (Cited in paras 1–4j(1), 1–4k(1), 2–1d(3), and 2–1f.) PL 103–337, Section 1065 Demonstration Project for Use of Army Installations to Provide Prerelease Employment Training to Nonviolent Offenders in State Penal Systems. (Cited in paras 1–1 and 2–1 d(1).) 12 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Section II Related Publications A related publication is a source of additional information. The user does not have to read it to understand this publication. Army regulations and pamphlets are available on the Army Publishing Directorate’s Web site at http:// www.apd.army.mil. AR 5–9 Area Support Responsibilities AR 5–20 Commercial Activities Program AR 25–400–2 The Army Records Information Management System (ARIMS) AR 190–47 The U.S. Army Correctional System 18 USC Chapter 303 Bureau of Prisons (Available at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/USCODE/INDEX.HTML.) 18 USC Chapter 305 Commitment and Transfer (Available at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/USCODE/INDEX.HTML.) 18 USC Chapter 1385 Posse Comitatus Act (Available at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/USCODE/INDEX.HTML.) 28 USC 1346(b), 2671–2680 Federal Tort Claims Act (Available at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/USCODE/INDEX.HTML.) DODD 5525.5 DOD Cooperation with Civilian Law Enforcement Officials (Available at http://www.dtic.whs/directives.) FAR, Part 22.201 Convict Labor (Available at http://www.arnet.gov.far/.) Section III Prescribed Forms This section contains no entries. Section IV Referenced Forms DA Form 11–2–R Management Control Evaluation Certification Statement (Available at http://www.apd.army.mil.) Appendix B Memorandum of Agreement Format This memorandum of agreement (MOA) format addresses agreements between Army organizations and Federal corrections facilities under the control of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) and is the template for developing such agreements. This MOA format contains all required clauses for compliance with Army policy on using civilian inmates. This MOA format may be modified to accommodate State/local civilian inmate use authorized under the exceptions cited in paragraph 2–1d of this regulation. Users of this template should make the appropriate substitutions indicated in bold print and bounded by parenthesis to tailor this template for their own use. 13 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure B–1. Sample format for a memorandum of agreement 14 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure B–1. Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued 15 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure B–1. Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued 16 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure B–1. Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued 17 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure B–1. Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued 18 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure B–1. Sample format for a memorandum of agreement—continued Appendix C Sample Inmate Labor Plan This sample Inmate Labor Plan may be used as a template to develop user Inmate Labor Plans. This sample Inmate Labor Plan contains all required clauses for compliance with Army policy on using civilian inmates. Users of this template should make the appropriate substitutions indicated in bold print and bounded by parenthesis to tailor this template for their own use. User Inmate Labor Plans may be a regulation, letter of instruction, policy memorandum, or other document of the user’s choice. 19 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure C–1. Sample Inmate Labor Plan—continued 20 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure C–1. Sample Inmate Labor Plan—continued 21 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Figure C–1. Sample Inmate Labor Plan—continued 22 AR 210–35  14 January 2005 ----------------------------------------------- Appendix D Management Control Evaluation Checklist D–1. Function The function covered by this checklist is the administration of the Army’s Civilian Inmate Labor Program, which is currently limited to using inmates from facilities under the control of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. D–2. Purpose The purpose of this checklist is to assist HQDA, HQ, IMA, and installation program administrators in evaluating the key management controls outlined below. It is not intended to cover all controls. D–3. Instructions Answers must be based on the actual testing of key management controls (for example, document analysis, direct observation, sampling, simulation, other). Answers that indicate deficiencies must be explained and corrective action indicated in supporting documentation. These key management controls must be formally evaluated annually. Certification that this evaluation has

112 Homeland Security Contracts for Vast New Detention Camps http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=eed74d9d44c30493706fe03f4c9b3a77 News Analysis/Commentary, Peter Dale Scott, New America Media, Feb 08, 2006 Editor's Note: A little-known $385 million contract for Halliburton subsidiary KBR to build detention facilities for "an emergency influx of immigrants" is another step down the Bush administration's road toward martial law, the writer says. BERKELEY, Calif.--A Halliburton subsidiary has just received a $385 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security to provide "temporary detention and processing capabilities." The contract -- announced Jan. 24 by the engineering and construction firm KBR -- calls for preparing for "an emergency influx of immigrants, or to support the rapid development of new programs" in the event of other emergencies, such as "a natural disaster." The release offered no details about where Halliburton was to build these facilities, or when. To date, some newspapers have worried that open-ended provisions in the contract could lead to cost overruns, such as have occurred with KBR in Iraq. A Homeland Security spokesperson has responded that this is a "contingency contract" and that conceivably no centers might be built. But almost no paper so far has discussed the possibility that detention centers could be used to detain American citizens if the Bush administration were to declare martial law. For those who follow covert government operations abroad and at home, the contract evoked ominous memories of Oliver North's controversial Rex-84 "readiness exercise" in 1984. This called for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to round up and detain 400,000 imaginary "refugees," in the context of "uncontrolled population movements" over the Mexican border into the United States. North's activities raised civil liberties concerns in both Congress and the Justice Department. The concerns persist. "Almost certainly this is preparation for a roundup after the next 9/11 for Mid-Easterners, Muslims and possibly dissenters," says Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst who in 1971 released the Pentagon Papers, the U.S. military's account of its activities in Vietnam. "They've already done this on a smaller scale, with the 'special registration' detentions of immigrant men from Muslim countries, and with Guantanamo." Plans for detention facilities or camps have a long history, going back to fears in the 1970s of a national uprising by black militants. As Alonzo Chardy reported in the Miami Herald on July 5, 1987, an executive order for continuity of government (COG) had been drafted in 1982 by FEMA head Louis Giuffrida. The order called for "suspension of the Constitution" and "declaration of martial law." The martial law portions of the plan were outlined in a memo by Giuffrida's deputy, John Brinkerhoff. In 1985, President Reagan signed National Security Decision Directive 188, one of a series of directives that authorized continued planning for COG by a private parallel government. Two books, James Mann's "Rise of the Vulcans" and James Bamford's "A Pretext for War," have revealed that in the 1980s this parallel structure, operating outside normal government channels, included the then-head of G. D. Searle and Co., Donald Rumsfeld, and then-Congressman from Wyoming Dick Cheney. After 9/11, new martial law plans began to surface similar to those of FEMA in the 1980s. In January 2002 the Pentagon submitted a proposal for deploying troops on American streets. One month later John Brinkerhoff, the author of the 1982 FEMA memo, published an article arguing for the legality of using U.S. troops for purposes of domestic security. Then in April 2002, Defense Dept. officials implemented a plan for domestic U.S. military operations by creating a new U.S. Northern Command (CINC-NORTHCOM) for the continental United States. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called this "the most sweeping set of changes since the unified command system was set up in 1946." The NORTHCOM commander, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced, is responsible for "homeland defense and also serves as head of the North American A-e-rospace Defense Command (NORAD).... He will command U.S. forces that operate within the United States in support of civil authorities. The command will provide civil support not only in response to attacks, but for natural disasters." John Brinkerhoff later commented on PBS that, "The United States itself is now for the first time since the War of 1812 a theater of war. That means that we should apply, in my view, the same kind of command structure in the United States that we apply in other theaters of war." Then in response to Hurricane Katrina in Sept. 2005, according to the Washington Post, White House senior adviser Karl Rove told the governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, that she should explore legal options to impose martial law "or as close as we can get." The White House tried vigorously, but ultimately failed, to compel Gov. Blanco to yield control of the state National Guard. Also in September, NORTHCOM conducted its highly classified Granite Shadow exercise in Washington. As William Arkin reported in the Washington Post, "Granite Shadow is yet another new Top Secret and compartmented operation related to the military's extra-legal powers regarding weapons of mass destruction. It allows for emergency military operations in the United States without civilian supervision or control." It is clear that the Bush administration is thinking seriously about martial law. Many critics have alleged that FEMA's spectacular failure to respond to Katrina followed from a deliberate White House policy: of paring back FEMA, and instead strengthening the military for responses to disasters. A multimillion program for detention facilities will greatly increase NORTHCOM's ability to respond to any domestic disorders.

113 "To imply that the CIA is "controlling" Ms. Carroll's kidnappers to drum up waning support for the war is absurd. Common sense dictates that this provides more fodder for the opposition to the war than anything." If it were known, to the public, that elements within the intelligence community (including but not limited to those embedded in the CIA) were the ones behind her kidnapping (and most if not all of the other kidnappings as well) then yes it would galvanize public opposition. They pretend to be Al Queda however, because the object is to gain support 'for' the war. It is called the making of the enemy. The kidnappings also always take place when support for the war begins to wane. Now just whose timing would that be? Not Al Queda's certainly, because it runs counter to their agenda, of undermining support for the war. "Hence my remark, is this the incredibly stupid CIA or the fantastically smart CIA?" Could it be that the so called "stupid CIA" mistakes, regarding pre Iraq War intelligence, were really careful manipulations of public opinion? Once again, to garner public support, 'for' the war NOT against it. Could it be that really, the whole "oops we messed up sorry our bad" bull shit, is an exercise in plausible deniability also? The CIA knew Iraq had no WMD, and so did Bush. They lied. Perfect timing really, since a director already planning on retirement, could also "be a big man" about admitting "the mistakes" which happened on his watch. But Bushco Haliburton Inc and the rest of the CFR global corporate alliance get their war. For them, it is all about the objective, by whatever means necessary. Once again. Why in the hell would Al Queda kidnap sympathetic journalists and peace activists? They are too stupid to know how bad that makes them look? WHAT WHAT WHAT! These supposed geniuses who pulled off 911 right in NORAD's face, being also so elusive and magically effective, that they remain a huge threat to the whole planet?! Please use your head for a change. Drop the partisan crap and the hurt feelings. Take an objective look at what really is. It was some body else doing the kidnapping and executions, and the actual perps being Al CIAda figured, what the hell, we can erase this nosy enemy/sympathetic journalist 'and' those pain in the ass Christian peace activists, at the same time. I am not saying these things were done openly by the legit CIA, but rather by embeds within the Agency, and other operators of oh, say, ONI, NSA and lessor known hard/black foreign allied subintel groups, not to mention mercenary KGB left overs, who are part of shall we say a "wider agenda". I do not for one moment assume the CIA to be "stupid", and neither do I presume them to square straight and decent boy scouts either.

114 Oh my God. You Nerds are going berzerk. So far I've said girls are dumb and you guys are on State Department Reports. Let's go this way because I'm giving up here. Did the CIA sell crack to inner city minorities to fund the CONTRAS? Anyone?...............Anyone?............ Beuller?.................Beulller?............ Natasha?..............Natasha?........... Anyone here have frickin sharks with frickin laser beams mounted to their frickin heads? Oh and Natasha any allegations of CIA boy scout molestations?

115 Honestly, Jill should have chosen her "friends" more carefully.

116 I dont thinl she's coming home if shes even still alive

117 When they bring Jill's body back how will they identify the it since she'll have on the low rider bell bottoms, tramp stamp tattoo on the lower back, pierced navel, hair parted down the middle, the big chunky shoes and the high cut t-shirt just like all the other dumb girls?

118 Jill's not coming back, guys. She may have become part of a CIA mind control plot. Super sekrit note to self: try to score with natasha-she's probably like pretty hot and stuff. I'm glad I've still got my inner monologue. Muwahahahahahahah!

1 I wouldn't trade too much on the CIA's credit if I were you, as they haven't been too much of a going concern since Dhimmi Carter's days.

2 I personally believe OBL has been dead for sometime - but can't proof it beyond a shadow of a doubt. But then again - the same problem exists with proving he's alive. I know this - martyers are worth 15 minutes in reality - myths are eternal.

3 If the dems had their way I bet you would find the bugger in Newark.

4 If and when the bastard dies, why did Allah punish him with death? After all, he's a fairly young man, so he must have done an evil deed for Allah to strike him down prematurely like that. I wonder what it could have been?

5 Buggering camels is my guess.

6 If it's confirmed, Congressional dhimmicrats will probably call for an investigation into his death, with the blame resting squarely on harassment by US forces, for which his family will no doubt sue. Democrats are traitors and should all be shot, and the Republicans should all be charged with dereliction for allowing open treason to continue unchallenged. Shoot or hang all the scum.

7 Hmm..good guess, Rusty, but surely Allah forgives the camel buggerers since that is what He told them to do in the Koran. I wonder if it might have been something else.

8 Something struck me in the following article whenever the AQ operative words were translated, and he referred to Osama bin Laden: "May God 'preserve' him..." That could suggest he is dead. Article here: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/01/09/060109051601.0pm2jjra.html

9 Osama dead again....he has almost used his nine lives.. I doubt it.. cuz I think he is in mountains on the Paki/Afgani border..

10 Marvin I am curious - why do you think that? Any particular evidence to base that on?

11 I agree with Marvin. Due to some anecdotal evidence that happened to fall into my lap, there is 99.9% certainty (at least within the military) that he is alive and in Afganistan.

12 evidence?????????

13 Where is the evidence?

14 They need a boogieman to keep us all fearful and willing to support the war on terror. I have no doubt the CIA knows he is dead, and they know also it does not serve 'the agenda' to report it.

1 News articles that begin with a melodramatic vignette make critical readers cry. That initial paragraph to the effect of "Awwww, look at the poor widdle bayy-bee" is a red flag to anybody with an interest in facts. When you see that crap you know there's no point in going any further. Even more repellant is the thought of what sort of idiot comprises the target market for this garbage. I'm picturing in my mind's eye some moon-eyed old lady or teen mother, a total sucker who can be talked into anything, utterly convinced that a single untreated case of spinal bifida constitutes a significant problem in war-ravaged Iraq. These people vote. Scary stuff.

2 You know what's scarier? people who are so cynical of any good news, or deeds by our Soldiers, that they feel the need to bad mouth it at any turn. This is the fruits of the seeds sown by our Soldiers who have tried to get her treated in the U.S. to help her live. Much to everyones disappointment people such as yourself continue to yawn and wait for the news of a carbomb to make the Iraq "quagmire" talking point. sickening.

3 Dave, You're goddamn straight I'm cynical, and proud of it. The U.S. needs a lot more of us. Cynics don't let sob stories about gimpy babies and weepy mommies drive our policy judgments. We also tend not to wet our pants every time someone sparks up a pipe bomb in Baghdad. Cynicism used to be a fashionable pose in this country. Then 9/11 happened, and I watched all the wannabes melt into blubbering puddles of impotent fear. I'll have you know that while Dan Rather was heralding "the death of cynicism" I was keeping the flame alive, cracking jokes. My best one: Me: That was an impressive deed. Boss: How could somebody do something like that? Me: I guess they really believed they're going to Heaven for it. Boss: Well, I don't think they're going where they thought they were going! Me: Neither is anybody else on the plane. The whole office laughed at this, and then accused me of not being funny. And this kind of funk ran through the whole country, from the little people on up to the Old Man himself, with Bush bleating out a prayer for God to defend us as if we don't have Marines for that! So far as I can tell, the only public figures who kept their testicles on and didn't surrender to hysterical emotionalism were Donald Rumsfeld, Rudolph Giuliani, and Ann Coulter (which is all the more remarkable when you consider that only one of these has a functioning prostate gland). If we lose our nerve and turn tail in Iraq because IEDs are scary and they make servicemen's mommies cry, people like me won't be the ones responsible. Pretending the occupation is about "saving the children" won't stiffen the public's spine either.

4 >>>Cynics don't let sob stories about gimpy babies and weepy mommies drive our policy judgments. Then why are you a Liberal? Liberals policy is entirely anecdote-driven. And regarding cynics being "needed", I've found cynicism amongst the Liberal proles is entirely one-sided. You cynics were sucking Clinton's cock when he was bombing milk factories and Kosovo without U.N. authorization. Now THAT'S cynical.

5 I'm in awe, at how the murder of some 3,000 of your fellow countrymen provided you the gumption to provide some good old rib-tickling funnies for your co-workers. One could only hope, that no one snuffs out one of your loved ones like a candle, and that no one provides a real funny knee-slapper about it for you. I'm sorry people were scared, and saddened in the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, however not everyone looked at it as a twisted form of entertainment, evidently unlike yourself. I'm sure it's hard for someone such as yourself to look at Soldiers as anything but death-dealing robots, that we unleash till we put them back in their cage, but they are your fellow countrymen who have children, emotions and ideals, and most genuinely wish to help the people of Iraq.

6 Carlos, I was against any U.S. involvement in former Yugoslavia. As the U.S. has no interests there I was cynically content to watch all the warring factions spill each other's guts. It created a refugee problem for Europe, but we were in no way put out by it, so we should have let them handle it. For similar reasons I was against the first Gulf War. So Iraq strolls in and kicks over an anemic little oil monarchy. Why should we care who turns the spigot when we fill our tankers with Kuwaiti crude?

7 Dave, Shannon simply has a dry sense of humor, which is really the best psychological survival mechanism there is. SF guys, almost to the man, have a dry sense of humor, which allows them to face the hazards they do without going insane. The reason the comment about the airplane was funny to some people was because it was true. I don't think Shannon's really a liberal like Michael Mooron et al, but rather he seems to be more independant minded, like me, although I'm not sure what the hell he's talking about at times. Too many people, conservatives and liberals, let urban legends and their emotions control what they think and do, but some of us, a very few, tend to think for ourselves, and are hated for it by pretty much everyone else, which is fine with us if that's the way it has to be.

8 Im: I am British, and I am well versed in the "stiff upper lip" routine, and am often termed as having a "dry sense of humor" by American's around me. However I did not find the need to create a stand-up comedy routine to my fellow colleagues around the unfolding events on September 11th. I enjoy your comments here, due to the fact you can draw the moonbats out, like moths to an open flame with a single post, and much like yourself I am no fan of the current Administration, however I agree on their strong stance against radical Islam, this character however comes out swinging like a moonbat on some posts, and nods his head like a novelty dog in a car window in others. hard to make anything of it.

9 And regarding Shannon's office "humor". Disgusting.

10 I'm with you, Dave, on this one. Shannon can find no good in anything, and cynic is not what he is, regardless of what he says. I have another word to describe him, but I'll hold off for now. Let's just say you nailed him.

11 I understand your sentiments, but Shannon does make some valid points now and then, and should not be dismissed out of hand.

12 Shannon: One can be cynical and still display optimism through these kind acts toward children in Iraq. Contrary to what you imply here that "weepy mommies" are being used to drive policy, the focus should be on a different aspect of the story. It's called "winning hearts and minds" as merely a secondary means of gaining support. Or simply just doing the right thing. And there's nothing wrong with it. One can only hope that these children will grow up in a democracy which will cause them to reject the hateful or intolerant ways of some of the older population in Iraq. While cynicism is healthy, it can be a hindrance when the whole world is looked at from that viewpoint. As far as your attempt at office humor, I'm trying to figure out why anyone laughed. It was true maybe, but not funny. Unless of course it was simply nervous laughter. Which is understandable - sort of. I've laughed at innappropriate things at times.

13 The important thing to remember Oyster is that he said everyone else laughed, but did he mean for them too? I kinda doubt it. Also, he's right about the weepy mommies thing, as emotion is a dangerous foundation on which to build policy.

14 Yes, I agree. What I don't agree with is that people are using this to to determine how they feel about the war or any other actions we take. We bitch non-stop about all the negativity coming forth and when a good story gets told some cynic says "Don't buy it." C'mon. It's just a story about some good being done. That's all.

15 Which is why I'm going to follow it, and continue to post about it. Now for some real cynicism. There are roughly 280 million people in this country, of which Shannon makes up one. So who cares what he thinks anyway. Like the Sith Master repeatedly has said: Dude, it's just a blog.

16 All those terrorist attack casualties put together are less than the monthly violent deaths in your own country, monthly death toll being about 1/50 of yours. Fix your own problems before going crazy about the "horrible destructive forces" lurking in the desert. Terrorist problems were completely voluntary, your Saddam, your Bin Laden, your greed, your brainless urge to oppose freedom of everyone else, your fault.

17 Good point Oyster. Cynicism has its uses and its proper place, but I like the baby Noor story myself, although I'm not sure they were doing her a favor by saving her life, considering that she will likely never walk and may be retarded due to fluid on the brain. Through their acts of humanity, they've sentenced her to a miserable life. Like they say, the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions.

18 Finn, go away. I didn't miss you while you were gone. There are plenty of moonbat blogs for you to go to and spout your ignorant opinions. Try Indymedia or Democratic Underground, they are perfect for moonbats with tin foil hats like you.

19 Tin foil hats intensify most frequencies reserved for government and military usage, despite their ability to weaken regular frequencies... Indymedia and Democratic Underground, I'll probably check those out, just that this blog has become a habit in moments of boredom and endless wrath towards unification of the world into a retarded western media&popularculture empire.

1 They didn't have to, they're all out running around Paris burning cars.

2 So the real question is: What will his statement be in his press release: 1.) Sympathetic, embracing his noble captors cause. 2.) Thankful to the Coalition for his rescue. One could only hope, for #2.

3 I'm starting to notice that the names of these "little-known" militant groups are growing steadily more unwieldy as all of the slick-sounding names are taken. The progession looks like something Monty Python would dream up: Iraqi Islamic Jihad Islamic Jihad of Iraq Jihad for Islamic Iraq Iraqi Militia for Islamic Jihad Islamic Militia for Iraqi Jihad Sword of Islam Iraqi Jihad Movement Sword of Iraq Islamic Jihad Movement Sword of Jihad Iraqi Islamic Movement Milk of Magnesia Iraqi Bowel Movement Martyrs' Brigade of the Iraqi People's Islamic Jihad Iraqi Brigade of the Islamic People's Martyrs' Jihad Martyr Scream for Islamic Jihad Iraqi People's Liberation Brigade Martin Sheen in Dalai Lama's Bed and Ratty Little Nipples He Had. I think we should brainstorm a full list and have somebody post copies about Baghdad to help new jihadis avoid name collision, which I think everyone would agree would be a good thing.

4 What? No People's Front of Judea? Bloody splitters...

5 Bluto and Dr. S, have you seen this yet? Corridors of Power: The lady was a spy By ROLAND FLAMINI UPI Chief International Correspondent WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Susanne Osthoff, the German archeologist kidnapped by Iraqi gunmen on Nov. 25 and released before Christmas was connected with her country's intelligence service, the BND, and had helped arrange a meeting with a top member of the terrorist organization al-Qaida, possibly Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi himself, according to well informed German sources Sunday. I just grabbed the link from here: http://upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20060109-103853-9889r ... and was about to email it to Dr. S, but read that his email is pretty backed up. Cheers. J.R.

1 Welcome back Rusty...

2 Where the F- have you been? You don't call! You don't Write! What is a Filthy man to think(sob...sniff...dab dab.) Thank God for Howie. I LOVE YOU MAAAAN!

3 Where the F- have you been? You don't call! You don't Write! What is a Filthy man to think(sob...sniff...dab dab.) Thank God for Howie. I LOVE YOU MAAAAN!

4 Filthy will now post three weeks worth of comments as well. ;-)

5 Rusty was gone?

6 Filthy I agree he lets us worry and worry. Ya reckon he does his mom that way too?

1 It was the alien mothership what did it.

2 See my numerous comments on the conspiracy theories that Leftwingers need to support their fragile worldview. Nothing new here.

3 Um, who exactly would be "they" in this scenario?

4 I know - its kinda difficult - but if we try hard enough - we can blame it on .... the Jews. And since both appear to be "natural" causes - from afar no less - it may be those mystical mumblin' kabala whatevers - yeah! Workin' some kind of bizarro chantin' mumbo jumbo projection. Wow! now we can blame it on ... Madonna! (she is a Jew now - kinda?) - am getting confused here. Maybe it was ... alien Jews - there's one tribe unaccounted for - right?

5 There are so many idiots promoting self-serving conspiracies about the world that it literally makes no sense to track them. The issue is, now, how far off course we are and what sort of correction would be required to get back on course. In other words, we can worry about how we got off course later, but at the moment we don't have that luxury. I figure we have about a decade to straighten this out, and if we don't it won't make much difference what the heck we do. Personally I think we, as a species, are just a little bit dumber than we take ourselves to be... and that's how we got screwed up. I suppose we ought to begin to assume that our average intelligence quotient is more like 95 than 100, where it counts. Granted, it's kind of a small mistake but a course deflection of only an inch at the start of a journey can result in finding oneself a thousand miles off course in relatively short order. We assume we're just a little smarter than we actually are, and we end up thinking our asses are holes in the ground.

6 There are such things as conspiracies. Just not for everything. What I find surprising is that anyone on Air America would say anything nice at all about Sharon.

7 Actually hondo, the new fashionable scapegoat of the day are atheists, we're pretty much behind everything ya know. But seriously, everyone should read The Lucifer Principle, which explains scapegoating throughout human history, it's a fascinating read, and puts things in clear perspective.

8 Are you sure the network you heard this on was not Airhead America? Seems to fit.

9 Bortz is on WSB if you like talk radio. But this would have been past Bortz. Hannity is on WSB at that time. There is an ex jarhead on WGST who is pretty good as well. Why you were anywhere near Stone Mt at that time of day with that traffic only convinces me you are nuts.

1 Well, it turns out that I get a Comment Submission Error and the Alterne+ dot org site with the summary is questionable. I have tried to post this message several times but have been rejected. Try searching the .org site for ...story/29827.... I hope this helps you.

2 Well, he admitted to BRIBING the Chairman of the House Administration Committee, Bob Ney (Republican-Ohio). There's a lot more that's going to come out--he's now a cooperating witness.

3 I'm in the same boat as you. I read the initial indictment about SunCruz and couldn't detect the underlying crime. Mail and Wire fraud are nebulous crimes. The actual transmissions don't even have to be fraudulent. The Information about the Indian Casino deal seems to be, in part, about Abramoff overcharging the tribe. Given the amount of money that the tribes saved--or made--as a result of Abramoff, I don't see a crime. Geek, where in the plea deal does it say he admitted to bribing Ney? http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/abramoff/abr10406plea.pdf The job of a lobbyist is to gain influence with legislators and to persuade them that their client's position is the right one. I don't see how it can be proved that Ney was bribed. I also don't trust Federal Prosecutors.

4 Please don't quote me, but I seem to remember hearing something about the creation of fake Corporations, and using them for fraudulent billing.

5 I guess Libs are under the impression this makes any difference.

6 Corruption seems to be the new cornerstone of the Republican Party. Abramoff is hardly the only corrupt republican to get caught or caught up in corruption/ethics scandals, or investigations lately - google - cunningham, pombo, ney, noe, scanlon, delay, doolittle, rove, libby, this list could go on for pages and it will. Tha's the Republican Culture of Corruption and Cronyism.

7 Hope you get up to speed soon. It's breathtaking. I've been blogging Abramoff for over a year now. Where've you been? Check out Mohammad Atta being on Abramoff's Sun Cruz gambling boat, and check out the murder of Abramoff's partner, Gus Boulis. For sure the Florida prosecutor will be questioning Abramoff and the other surviving partner Kidan soon.

8 Three federal counts: Conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud stemming from Capitol Hill influence peddling on behalf of Indian gaming clients.

9 I saw the McLaughlin Report this morning and it convinced me that there's something pretty rotten here. For one thing, there was apparently a murder involving people that Abramoff had hired to protect from from the person murdered. Maybe there's an explanation, but it looks dark indeed. But more to the point, the speed with which the Republican leadership has managed to produce this level of corruption is staggering, since it took the Dems roughly 50 years to achieve the same level of corruption. My point isn't that Republicans are more vulnerable to corruption, but that something is seriously wrong with "the system." I have no doubt that Dems will succumb just as quickly (or even more quickly) if they come to power. It may simply be that Qutb was right, that there's a "horrible schizophrenia" at the core of western liberalism. It may also be that we can overcome it. (I think we can.) But so far, we haven't even begun. The "ownership society" is, I think, the "way out." But someone had better start taking that seriously pretty soon, or we're really screwed. I feel almost transcendentally angry, and it's not about Michael Moore. Abramoff was one of the people that I'd have trusted implicitly. I was simply gullible, and kind of stupid. His ilk ought never to have been trusted.

10 So, do the Indians get their money back or what? How much money are we talking about here? With all this influence peddlin' - did the Indians get their money's worth? - or did they simply get screwed again?

11 indeed, that is why I said not to quote me I was half listening while reading, and I thought they had said something in regards to him setting up Corporations, and using those Corporations to bill clients for services that he did not perform [fake billing?]. My bad.

12 It appears in the plea agreement that he only pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and wire fraud. That's not the same thing as being convicted of influence peddling. The Government hasn't proven bribery or cheating the Indians and they have dismissed all such charges. Wire and mail fraud are pretty malleable charges. The actual transmissions don't actually have to be fraudulant. They just have to be tied to transactions the government says are fraudulent. This is another instance of a man being convicted (albeit through a plea) without the underlying crime being proved.

13 Demophist, What I read in the Weekly Standard article I linked above, was that at a meeting between Kidan and Boulis (Abramoff was not there), Boulis became angry and allegedly stabbed Kidan in the neck with a pen or pencil. Kidan is the person who hired people to protect him from Boulis, not Abramoff. I'm just trying to parse through all this to see exactly what Abramoff is actually tied to. The MSM is terrible at that.

14 US News & World Report had an informing article on this late last year. Not sure of the exact date but I honestly hadn't heard of any of it till I read their article. Personally I tired of the Dems complaining when you look at their rolls of who took money and how much. Both sides are dirty, period. I'm all for term limits, no long term benefits, and make it where they have to come home and go to work thru the year. It would stream-line the gov't, save tons of money and cut out much of the corruption that is rampant today with the current system.

15 The scandal is that every sonofabitch in Congress is bought and paid for, regardless of party affiliation, and always have been, always will be. It's really a shame that the plane that crashed in Shanksville didn't make it to the Capitol building, and find every lowlife crapweasel Congrescritter inside; the damned jihadis trying to do us a favor by taking out Congress, though they thought they were hurting us. Just think, no more Kennedy, Pelosi, Kerry, et al. They almost saved us that day, but the passengers stopped them in an act of bravery that in retrospect was misguided.

16 Doh! Typo alert:"the damned jihadis trying to do us a favor" should read "the damned jihadis tried to do us a favor"

1 The deficit has been substancially reduced. Check it out

2 Demosophist. I see this more as a blessing in disguise. The Republican Party gets a good house cleaning, which it desperately needed, while the Democrats flaunt their smug superiority and do nothing about the corruption in their own party. Some will get swept up in the dust pan over this, but the media will see to it that the focus is elsewhere. I don't care how many Republicans they arrest over this, it will never make me vote for a Dem just because of it. The corrupt Republicans got fair warning and did not heed it. How long ago did they get the Democrat handbook which said, "Indict, indict, indict" ?

3 I hope you're right Oyster, but I think this is just an occasional rebalancing of which crooks are in charge. All of Congress should be taken out and shot for treason, dereliction, and stupidity.

4 I kind of agree with you, Maxie. However, I may be a little naive in thinking there are still a few good ones. While the Democrats and the media masturbate over the Abramoff scandal the Aspen Institute is still flying the likes of Barbara Boxer (and a glut of other Democrats) to every exotic destination her little heart desires in pursuit of promoting a socialist utopia under the guise of "education".

5 There may be a few good ones, but why aren't they screaming about the corruption? The silence is deafening. If we start splitting hairs, then it won't make a good example. I would love to see the Army and Marines surround the Capitol, march the scum out in handcuffs, and execute them on the steps. This country needs a real revolution, with no quarter for those who betray it.

1 You never did respond to the hundred or so "HERBAVIG - STRENGTHEN YOUR MANHOOD!" e-mails I sent you.

2 I feel like Charie Brown, my Master gets 500 emails I got a rock! (oh about 20 the whole time).

1 It was great to meet you, Rusty. You'll definitely have to make one of the full-blown Jawja blogfests. Bring a spare liver, though.

2 I got to meet Jawa Man! And feed 'im a salad! Thanks for the kind words, hon. I look forward to the day that we'll be on a first name basis.

1 Horribly. Glad to see you're back. The talent you have laboring for you is top-notch, but nothing beats the Lord Jawa hisself.

2 Who is Rusty?

3 Hey Rusty, good to have you back. Men are such pigs. They walk out on their blog, too busy for anyone else and then they come back expecting everyone to have missed them.........sorry about that, I channelled Dr. Phil for a minute there. It must be my cold medication.

4 Welcome back, Rusty! Graeme, get well soon, haha!

5 I hear this.

6 Thanks JJ. Damn Viruses!

7 Phew! Now I only need to post on 3 blogs!

8 Thanks, it's good to be back!

9 Welcome back Master!!! I'm giddy.