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The Devil We Know 2007-07-19 01:25:05 Hamilton urges U.S. to rout al Qaeda from Pakistan(CNN) -- U.S. forces should go into Pakistan to rout al Qaeda from the safe haven it has found in the mountains on the border with Afghanistan, a co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group said. Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who also served as the vice chairman of the 9/11 commission, says the Iraq war distracted the United States when it had al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on the run in the tribal region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He says it's now time to finish the job. "This has to be carefully calibrated, worked out with the Pakistanis, but I am very concerned that you have a safe haven in Pakistan today where they (al Qaeda) can regroup, rethink, and get ready for more attacks," Hamilton said on CNN's "Newsroom" on Wednesday. Declassified portions of the National Intelligence Estimate released Tuesday reported that al Qaeda has "protected or regenerated key elements" of its ability to attack the United States while in this region. ...

The Greatest Living American 2007-07-19 00:46:29 I rarely read more than an article from the Huff Po (I do however appreciate the traffic they send to me) but this story they nailed. Today Norman Borlaug (1970 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate) was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for saving the lives of millions of people."Born 1914 in Cresco, Iowa, Borlaug has saved more lives than anyone else who has ever lived. A plant breeder, in the 1940s he moved to Mexico to study how to adopt high-yield crops to feed impoverished nations. Through the 1940s and 1950s, Borlaug developed high-yield wheat strains, then patiently taught the new science of Green Revolution agriculture to poor farmers of Mexico and nations to its south. When famine struck India and Pakistan in the mid-1960s, Borlaug and a team of Mexican assistants raced to the Subcontinent and, often working within sight of artillery flashes from the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, sowed the first high-yield cereal crop in that region; in a decade, India's food production increased seve ...

None of the Above 2007-07-18 01:46:56 From the AP:WASHINGTON - And the leading Republican presidential candidate is ... none of the above.The latest Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that nearly a quarter of Republicans are unwilling to back top-tier hopefuls Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and no one candidate has emerged as the clear front-runner among Christian evangelicals. Such dissatisfaction underscores the volatility of the 2008 GOP nomination fight.(snip)A half year before voting begins, the survey shows the White House race is far more wide open on the Republican side than on the Democratic. The uneven enthusiasm about the fields also is reflected in fundraising in which Democrats outraised Republicans $80 million to $50 million from April through June, continuing a trend from the year's first three months.(snip)More Republicans have become apathetic about their top options over the past month. A hefty 23 percent can't or won't say which candidate they would back, a jump from the 14 percent who took a pass in June ...

Iraqis Being Smuggled Across the Rio Grande 2007-07-18 01:14:57 From The Blotter:The FBI is investigating an alleged human smuggling operation based in Chaparral, N.M., that agents say is bringing "Iraqis and other Middle Eastern" individuals across the Rio Grande from Mexico. An FBI intelligence report distributed by the Washington, D.C. Joint Terrorism Task Force, obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com, says the illegal ring has been bringing Iraqis across the border illegally for more than a year. Border Patrol officials in the area said they were unaware of the specifics of the FBI's report, and federal prosecutors in New Mexico told ABCNews.com they had no current cases involving the illegal smuggling of Iraqis. The FBI report, issued last week, says the smuggling organization "used to smuggle Mexicans, but decided to smuggle Iraqi or other Middle Eastern individuals because it was more lucrative." Each individual would be charged a fee of $20,000 to $25,000, according to the report. moreHey, wasn't that one of the reason's the 9/11 comm ...

Obama Girl vs Giuliani Girl 2007-07-17 01:49:59 Part two in the series...In the third video Obama Girl finally reaches Mount Doom and throws a ballot box into its fiery chasm just in time to keep Ron Paul from being victorious.H/T to TMV ...

Darfur Being Resettled by Arabs 2007-07-17 01:18:47 This sheds an even uglier light on things.From The Independent:Arabs pile into Darfur to take land 'cleansed' by janjaweedBy Steve Bloomfield, Africa Correspondent Arabs ...

The Song Remains the Same.. 2007-07-17 00:22:42 though the shoe is on the other foot:Courtesy of Bob GeigerForcing his Republican colleagues to put up or shut up on the notion of an up-or-down vote, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) just moments ago announced that he will immediately file a cloture motion on the Reed-Levin troop redeployment bill and, if Republicans follow through with a filibuster, will place the Senate in a prolonged all-night session Tuesday to force a true continuation of debate."Now, Republicans are using a filibuster to block us from even voting on an amendment that could bring the war to a responsible end," said Reid. "They are protecting the President rather than protecting our troops. They are denying us an up or down – yes or no – vote on the most important issue our country faces."The Reed-Levin amendment to the Department of Defense (DoD) Authorization Bill requires George W. Bush to "commence the reduction of the number of United States forces in Iraq not later than 120 days after the date of ...

U.S. Warns Of Stronger Al-Qaeda 2007-07-15 17:26:01 I thought the Iraq war was a bad idea. That's mainly because I believe in finishing one job before moving on to the next. Its the easiest way to ensure that you don't end up with two jobs done half assed which is exactly what has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.Administration Report Cites Havens in PakistanBy Spencer S. Hsu and Walter PincusWashington Post Staff WritersThursday, July 12, 2007; A01Six years after the Bush administration declared war on al-Qaeda, the terrorist network is gaining strength and has established a safe haven in remote tribal areas of western Pakistan for training and planning attacks, according to a new Bush administration intelligence report to be discussed today at a White House meeting.The report, a five-page threat assessment compiled by the National Counterterrorism Center, is titled "Al-Qaida Better Positioned to Strike the West," intelligence officials said. It concludes that the group has significantly rebuilt itself despite concerted U.S. attempt ...

IAEA approves atom bomb shutdown mission to N.Korea 2007-07-15 14:37:29 I forgot to blog this the other day...More nuclear good news:VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's governing body agreed on Monday to send monitors to North Korea to verify a shutdown of its atomic bomb program, launching what is likely to be a long and arduous disarmament process.It would be the first International Atomic Energy Agency mission in the reclusive Stalinist state since it expelled IAEA inspectors in 2002 after Washington accused it of a clandestine effort to refine nuclear fuel.Clearance for IAEA monitors to fly into North Korea was expected once Pyongyang receives a first batch of fuel later this week, pledged as part of its February disarmament accord with the United States and four other powers.South Korea said a ship carrying the fuel would leave on Thursday on a voyage likely to take two days.In a special session, the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors approved by consensus the return of nuclear monitors to North Korea 10 days after senior IAEA and North ...

Unleashing the Badgers of War 2007-07-14 19:52:03 British blamed for Basra badgersBritish forces have denied rumours that they released a plague of ferocious badgers into the Iraqi city of Basra. Word spread among the populace that UK troops had introduced strange man-eating, bear-like beasts into the area to sow panic. But several of the creatures, caught and killed by local farmers, have been identified by experts as honey badgers. The rumours spread because the animals had appeared near the British base at Basra airport. UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: "We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area. moreIf that isn't an illustration of how hard it is to win hearts and minds in Iraq then nothing is.Besides, it's so obvious that it's a chupacabra. ...

One Less Flower in Texas 2007-07-14 18:38:47 Lady Bird Johnson passed away today. If you haven't spent much time in Texas its hard to understand how well loved she was here. I have never heard her name spoken without respect and frequently with reverence. On that note, and keep in mind I rarely agree with our governor, but I give him points for getting this much right:"She inspired generations of Americans with her graceful strength, unwavering commitment to family and keen sense of social justice. Her unflagging efforts to beautify our highways and byways are a lasting legacy, through which our state will forever bear the unmistakable signature of a genuine Texan." — Texas Gov. Rick Perry.AUSTIN, Texas - Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady who championed conservation and worked tenaciously for the political career of her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, died Wednesday, a family spokeswoman said. She was 94.(snip)As first lady, she was perhaps best known as the determined environmentalist who wanted roadside billboards and j ... Texas

Al-Qaeda Threatens War With Iran 2007-07-14 16:13:14 Courtesy of MemeorandumFrom Al Jazeera:The leader of an al-Qaeda umbrella group in Iraq, who was thought to have beeen killed by US forces, has threatened to wage war against Iran unless it stops supporting Shias in Iraq within two months. Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, head of the Islamic State in Iraq, said his Sunni fighters have been preparing to wage a battle against Shia-dominated Iran. Al-Baghdadi made the announcement in an audiotape that was posted on a web site commonly used by armed groups.(snip)"We are giving the Persians, and especially the rulers of Iran, a two-month period to end all kinds of support for the Iraqi Shia government and to stop direct and indirect intervention ... otherwise a severe war is waiting for you," al-Baghdadi said.(snip)In the recording, al-Baghdadi also gave Sunnis and Arab countries doing business in Iran or with Iranians a two-month deadline to cease their ties. "We advise and warn every Sunni businessman inside Iran or in Arab countries especial ...

Iran Takes a Step Back 2007-07-14 01:26:50 In what seems like a sudden reversal from its President's rhetoric Iran has opted to allow nuclear inspectors into one of its plutonium producing reactors. Odds are the threat of further sanctions coupled with Iran's current gas rationing are causal in this decision. I'm curious if W will use this as an opportunity to open a dialog with Iran, will Iran allow further inspection if he does, and what will be enough for certain hawks to stop beating the drums of war? ...

The Week in Intolerance 2007-07-13 22:51:18 Did somebody make this International Religious Intolerance Week and forget to notify the calender makers?I opened on the fifth with Of Paganism and Pundits,followed that with a post about Christians trying to firebomb another Christian church, then two days ago the Pope declared that all other churches weren't true churches, and today we have this:From The Times of India:Christian activists disrupt Hindu prayer in US Senate WASHINGTON: Christian activists briefly disrupted a Hindu invocation in the US Senate on Thursday, marring a historic first for the chamber and showing that fundamentalism is present and shouting in the US too. Invited by the Senate to offer Hindu prayers in place of the usual Christian invocation, Rajan Zed, a Hindu priest from Reno, Nevada, had just stepped up to the podium for the landmark occasion when three protesters, said to belong to the Christian Right anti-abortion group Operation Save America, interrupted by loudly asking for God's forgiveness for a ...

NAACP Buries the N Word 2007-07-11 01:48:25 From the WaPo:NAACP Symbolically Buries N-WordDETROIT -- There was no mourning at this funeral. Hundreds of onlookers cheered Monday afternoon as the NAACP put to rest a long-standing expression of racism by holding a public burial for the N-word during its annual convention.Delegates from across the country marched from downtown Detroit's Cobo Center to Hart Plaza. Two Percheron horses pulled a pine box adorned with a bouquet of fake black roses and a black ribbon printed with a derivation of the word.The coffin is to be placed at historically black Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery and will have a headstone."Today we're not just burying the N-word, we're taking it out of our spirit," said Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. "We gather burying all the things that go with the N-word. We have to bury the 'pimps' and the 'hos' that go with it." moreI wish it were that easy. I'm also wondering if it'll backfire since making the word even more taboo will only increase its shock value whi ...