Thursday, August 31, 2006
Rumsfeld Speech 'Seriously Mischaracterized'
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Defense Department has called on the Associated Press to correct a report that it says mischaracterized a speech by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday. But the AP is standing by the story and many other news organizations ran similar accounts of the speech.
Secretary Rumsfeld's speech to a veterans group drew parallels between the current conflict with terrorists and the period between World Wars I and II.
"It was a time when a certain amount of cynicism and moral confusion set in among western democracies, when those who warned about a coming crisis, the rise of fascism and Nazism, they were ridiculed or ignored," said Donald Rumsfeld.
The secretary said today America faces a new type of fascism that, just as in the 1930s, can not be accommodated or appeased.
"This enemy is serious, lethal and relentless," he said. "But this is still not well recognized or fully understood. It seems that in some quarters, there is more of a focus on dividing our country than acting with unity against the gathering threats."
Rumsfeld asked a series of rhetorical questions, including this one.
"With the growing lethality and increasing availability of weapons, can we truly afford to believe that somehow, some way, vicious extremists can be appeased," asked Secretary Rumsfeld.
Secretary Rumsfeld specifically criticized the human rights group Amnesty International, as well as media coverage of the war in Iraq, saying it is focused too much on bad news. He said that could damage public support for what he sees as the broader struggle against violent extremism.
"That is important in any long struggle or long war, where any kind of moral or intellectual confusion about who and what is right or wrong can weaken the ability of free societies to persevere," he said.
In his report on the speech, Associated Press reporter Robert Burns, the senior newswire service reporter covering the Pentagon, said Secretary Rumsfeld had "accused critics of the Bush administration's Iraq and counter-terrorism policies of trying to appease" terrorists. A later version of the story noted that Rumsfeld had not specifically mentioned critics of the administration, but quoted the secretary as saying "many" have not learned history's lessons.
The Pentagon issued a statement saying the story "seriously mischaracterized" the secretary's remarks, and calling on the Associated Press to correct the story. On Wednesday, Pentagon Press Secretary Eric Ruff explained just what he thinks was wrong with the report.
"The mischaracterization comes from the reporting that said the secretary was accusing critics of the Bush administration of supporting appeasement or being appeasers," said Eric Ruff. "I'm paraphrasing. And that is not what was said by the secretary."
In response to an email inquiry, spokeswoman Linda Wagner said only that the Associated Press is standing by its story. She provided no other response to the Pentagon criticism and declined a request for an interview.
Other major news organizations also interpreted Secretary Rumsfeld's words as referring to administration critics, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today and CNN.
Democratic Party politicians responded angrily to the secretary's remarks, with some again calling for his resignation.
Secretary Rumsfeld has frequently spoken about what he sees as the high stakes of the war on terrorism, and the central role that the fighting in Iraq has in that broader conflict. President Bush is planning a series of speeches with a similar theme, starting Thursday.
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Defense Department has called on the Associated Press to correct a report that it says mischaracterized a speech by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday. But the AP is standing by the story and many other news organizations ran similar accounts of the speech.
Secretary Rumsfeld's speech to a veterans group drew parallels between the current conflict with terrorists and the period between World Wars I and II.
"It was a time when a certain amount of cynicism and moral confusion set in among western democracies, when those who warned about a coming crisis, the rise of fascism and Nazism, they were ridiculed or ignored," said Donald Rumsfeld.
The secretary said today America faces a new type of fascism that, just as in the 1930s, can not be accommodated or appeased.
"This enemy is serious, lethal and relentless," he said. "But this is still not well recognized or fully understood. It seems that in some quarters, there is more of a focus on dividing our country than acting with unity against the gathering threats."
Rumsfeld asked a series of rhetorical questions, including this one.
"With the growing lethality and increasing availability of weapons, can we truly afford to believe that somehow, some way, vicious extremists can be appeased," asked Secretary Rumsfeld.
Secretary Rumsfeld specifically criticized the human rights group Amnesty International, as well as media coverage of the war in Iraq, saying it is focused too much on bad news. He said that could damage public support for what he sees as the broader struggle against violent extremism.
"That is important in any long struggle or long war, where any kind of moral or intellectual confusion about who and what is right or wrong can weaken the ability of free societies to persevere," he said.
In his report on the speech, Associated Press reporter Robert Burns, the senior newswire service reporter covering the Pentagon, said Secretary Rumsfeld had "accused critics of the Bush administration's Iraq and counter-terrorism policies of trying to appease" terrorists. A later version of the story noted that Rumsfeld had not specifically mentioned critics of the administration, but quoted the secretary as saying "many" have not learned history's lessons.
The Pentagon issued a statement saying the story "seriously mischaracterized" the secretary's remarks, and calling on the Associated Press to correct the story. On Wednesday, Pentagon Press Secretary Eric Ruff explained just what he thinks was wrong with the report.
"The mischaracterization comes from the reporting that said the secretary was accusing critics of the Bush administration of supporting appeasement or being appeasers," said Eric Ruff. "I'm paraphrasing. And that is not what was said by the secretary."
In response to an email inquiry, spokeswoman Linda Wagner said only that the Associated Press is standing by its story. She provided no other response to the Pentagon criticism and declined a request for an interview.
Other major news organizations also interpreted Secretary Rumsfeld's words as referring to administration critics, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today and CNN.
Democratic Party politicians responded angrily to the secretary's remarks, with some again calling for his resignation.
Secretary Rumsfeld has frequently spoken about what he sees as the high stakes of the war on terrorism, and the central role that the fighting in Iraq has in that broader conflict. President Bush is planning a series of speeches with a similar theme, starting Thursday.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
GOP Targets 'Islamic Fascism'
President Bush in recent days has recast the global war on terror into a "war against Islamic fascism." Fascism, in fact, seems to be the new buzz word for Republicans in an election season dominated by an unpopular war in Iraq.
Bush used the term earlier this month in talking about the arrest of suspected terrorists in Britain, and spoke of "Islamic fascists" in a later speech in Green Bay, Wis. Spokesman Tony Snow has used variations on the phrase at White House press briefings.
Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., in a tough re-election fight, drew parallels on Monday between World War II and the current war against "Islamic fascism," saying they both require fighting a common foe in multiple countries. It's a phrase Santorum has been using for months.
And Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday took it a step further in a speech to an American Legion convention in Salt Lake City, accusing critics of the administration's Iraq and anti-terrorism policies of trying to appease "a new type of fascism."
White House aides and outside Republican strategists said the new description is an attempt to more clearly identify the ideology that motivates many organized terrorist groups, representing a shift in emphasis from the general to the specific.
"I think it's an appropriate definition of the war that we're in," said GOP pollster Ed Goeas. "I think it's effective in that it definitively defines the enemy in a way that we can't because they're not in uniforms."
But Muslim groups have cried foul. Bush's use of the phrase "contributes to a rising level of hostility to Islam and the American-Muslim community," complained Parvez Ahmed, chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Conservative commentators have long talked about "Islamo-fascism," and Bush's phrase was a slightly toned-down variation on that theme.
Dennis Ross, a Mideast adviser to both the first Bush and Clinton administrations and now the director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said he would have chosen different words.
"The 'war on terror' has always been a misnomer, because terrorism is an instrument, it's not an ideology. So I would always have preferred it to be called the 'war with radical Islam,' not with Islam but with 'radical Islam,"' Ross said.
Why even mention the religion? "Because that's who they are," Ross said. "Fascism had a certain definition. Whether they meet this or not, one thing is clear: They're radical. They represent a completely radical and intolerant interpretation of Islam."
While "fascism" once referred to the rigid nationalistic one-party dictatorship first instituted in Italy, it has "been used very loosely in all kinds of ways for a long time," said Wayne Fields, a specialist in presidential rhetoric at Washington University in St. Louis.
"Typically, the Bush administration finds its vocabulary someplace in the middle ground of popular culture. It seems to me that they're trying to find something that resonates, without any effort to really define what they mean," Fields said.
Pollster Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center, said the "fascist" label may evoke comparisons to World War II and remind Americans of the lack of personal freedoms in fundamentalist countries. "But this could only affect public opinion on the margins," he said.
"Having called these people 'evildoers,' fascism is just a new wrinkle," he said.
The tactic recalled the first President Bush's 1990 likening of Iraq's Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler.
"I caught hell on this comparison of Saddam to Hitler, with critics accusing me of personalizing the crisis, but I still feel it was an appropriate one," the elder Bush later wrote in a memoir.
It was one of the few times the younger Bush has followed his father's path on Iraq.
Charles Black, a longtime GOP consultant with close ties to both the first Bush administration and the current White House, said branding Islamic extremists as fascists is apt.
"It helps dramatize what we're up against. They are not just some ragtag terrorists. They are people with a plan to take over the world and eliminate everybody except them," Black said.
Stephen J. Wayne, a professor of government at Georgetown University, suggested White House strategists "probably had a focus group and they found the word 'fascist.'
"Most people are against fascists of whatever form. By definition, fascists are bad. If you're going to demonize, you might as well use the toughest words you can," Wayne said.
After all, the hard-line Iranian newspaper Jomhuri Eskami did just that in an editorial last week blasting Bush's "Islamic fascism" phrase. It called Bush a "21st century Hitler" and British Prime Minister Tony Blair a "21st century Mussolini."
President Bush in recent days has recast the global war on terror into a "war against Islamic fascism." Fascism, in fact, seems to be the new buzz word for Republicans in an election season dominated by an unpopular war in Iraq.
Bush used the term earlier this month in talking about the arrest of suspected terrorists in Britain, and spoke of "Islamic fascists" in a later speech in Green Bay, Wis. Spokesman Tony Snow has used variations on the phrase at White House press briefings.
Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., in a tough re-election fight, drew parallels on Monday between World War II and the current war against "Islamic fascism," saying they both require fighting a common foe in multiple countries. It's a phrase Santorum has been using for months.
And Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday took it a step further in a speech to an American Legion convention in Salt Lake City, accusing critics of the administration's Iraq and anti-terrorism policies of trying to appease "a new type of fascism."
White House aides and outside Republican strategists said the new description is an attempt to more clearly identify the ideology that motivates many organized terrorist groups, representing a shift in emphasis from the general to the specific.
"I think it's an appropriate definition of the war that we're in," said GOP pollster Ed Goeas. "I think it's effective in that it definitively defines the enemy in a way that we can't because they're not in uniforms."
But Muslim groups have cried foul. Bush's use of the phrase "contributes to a rising level of hostility to Islam and the American-Muslim community," complained Parvez Ahmed, chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Conservative commentators have long talked about "Islamo-fascism," and Bush's phrase was a slightly toned-down variation on that theme.
Dennis Ross, a Mideast adviser to both the first Bush and Clinton administrations and now the director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said he would have chosen different words.
"The 'war on terror' has always been a misnomer, because terrorism is an instrument, it's not an ideology. So I would always have preferred it to be called the 'war with radical Islam,' not with Islam but with 'radical Islam,"' Ross said.
Why even mention the religion? "Because that's who they are," Ross said. "Fascism had a certain definition. Whether they meet this or not, one thing is clear: They're radical. They represent a completely radical and intolerant interpretation of Islam."
While "fascism" once referred to the rigid nationalistic one-party dictatorship first instituted in Italy, it has "been used very loosely in all kinds of ways for a long time," said Wayne Fields, a specialist in presidential rhetoric at Washington University in St. Louis.
"Typically, the Bush administration finds its vocabulary someplace in the middle ground of popular culture. It seems to me that they're trying to find something that resonates, without any effort to really define what they mean," Fields said.
Pollster Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center, said the "fascist" label may evoke comparisons to World War II and remind Americans of the lack of personal freedoms in fundamentalist countries. "But this could only affect public opinion on the margins," he said.
"Having called these people 'evildoers,' fascism is just a new wrinkle," he said.
The tactic recalled the first President Bush's 1990 likening of Iraq's Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler.
"I caught hell on this comparison of Saddam to Hitler, with critics accusing me of personalizing the crisis, but I still feel it was an appropriate one," the elder Bush later wrote in a memoir.
It was one of the few times the younger Bush has followed his father's path on Iraq.
Charles Black, a longtime GOP consultant with close ties to both the first Bush administration and the current White House, said branding Islamic extremists as fascists is apt.
"It helps dramatize what we're up against. They are not just some ragtag terrorists. They are people with a plan to take over the world and eliminate everybody except them," Black said.
Stephen J. Wayne, a professor of government at Georgetown University, suggested White House strategists "probably had a focus group and they found the word 'fascist.'
"Most people are against fascists of whatever form. By definition, fascists are bad. If you're going to demonize, you might as well use the toughest words you can," Wayne said.
After all, the hard-line Iranian newspaper Jomhuri Eskami did just that in an editorial last week blasting Bush's "Islamic fascism" phrase. It called Bush a "21st century Hitler" and British Prime Minister Tony Blair a "21st century Mussolini."
Late Nite Jokes
Letterman
Thanks to A-Rod I’m no longer the most overpaid disappointment in New York City.
Speaking of baseball did you follow the Little League World Series? The US team, a group of kids from Georgia beat the Japanese team to win the Little League World Series. You might not think that’s much but Mrs. Wayne Gretzky lost half a million on it.
Tom Cruise has found a new film deal. Thank God! I was so worried he’d wind up driving a cab.
President Bush was down in New Orleans. Don’t worry FEMA is now on their way down too.
Letterman
Thanks to A-Rod I’m no longer the most overpaid disappointment in New York City.
Speaking of baseball did you follow the Little League World Series? The US team, a group of kids from Georgia beat the Japanese team to win the Little League World Series. You might not think that’s much but Mrs. Wayne Gretzky lost half a million on it.
Tom Cruise has found a new film deal. Thank God! I was so worried he’d wind up driving a cab.
President Bush was down in New Orleans. Don’t worry FEMA is now on their way down too.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Kerry Revives 2004 Election Charges
Sen. John Kerry didn't contest the results at the time, but now that he's considering another run for the White House, he's alleging election improprieties by the Ohio Republican who oversaw the deciding vote in 2004.
An e-mail will be sent to 100,000 Democratic donors Tuesday asking them to support U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland for governor of Ohio. The bulk of the e-mail criticizes Strickland's opponent, GOP Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, for his dual role in 2004 as President Bush's honorary Ohio campaign co-chairman and the state's top election official.
"He used the power of his state office to try to intimidate Ohioans and suppress the Democratic vote," said Kerry's e-mail.
Kerry, D-Mass., conceded the election when he lost Ohio and its 20 electoral votes. A recount requested by minor-party candidates showed Bush won by about 118,000 votes out of 5.5 million cast. But Kerry's e-mail says Blackwell "used his office to abuse our democracy and threaten basic voting rights."
Multiple lawsuits by outside groups were unsuccessful in challenging Ohio's 2004 election. One case filed by the League of Women Voters is still in U.S. District Court in Toledo. It claims Ohio's election system discriminates against minority voters.
Blackwell, who is black, says the election was run fairly, citing 1 million more votes cast than in 2000 and record turnout among black voters.
"People will say anything for money," said Blackwell campaign spokesman Carlo LoParo. "Fortunately, the historical record contradicts Senator Kerry."
Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said the campaign welcomes Kerry's support.
Sen. John Kerry didn't contest the results at the time, but now that he's considering another run for the White House, he's alleging election improprieties by the Ohio Republican who oversaw the deciding vote in 2004.
An e-mail will be sent to 100,000 Democratic donors Tuesday asking them to support U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland for governor of Ohio. The bulk of the e-mail criticizes Strickland's opponent, GOP Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, for his dual role in 2004 as President Bush's honorary Ohio campaign co-chairman and the state's top election official.
"He used the power of his state office to try to intimidate Ohioans and suppress the Democratic vote," said Kerry's e-mail.
Kerry, D-Mass., conceded the election when he lost Ohio and its 20 electoral votes. A recount requested by minor-party candidates showed Bush won by about 118,000 votes out of 5.5 million cast. But Kerry's e-mail says Blackwell "used his office to abuse our democracy and threaten basic voting rights."
Multiple lawsuits by outside groups were unsuccessful in challenging Ohio's 2004 election. One case filed by the League of Women Voters is still in U.S. District Court in Toledo. It claims Ohio's election system discriminates against minority voters.
Blackwell, who is black, says the election was run fairly, citing 1 million more votes cast than in 2000 and record turnout among black voters.
"People will say anything for money," said Blackwell campaign spokesman Carlo LoParo. "Fortunately, the historical record contradicts Senator Kerry."
Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said the campaign welcomes Kerry's support.
Late Nite Jokes
Letterman
The Emmy Awards were last night. The security was unbelievable. It was tighter than Joan Collins face.
It was a very tough night for me. I will admit I got a little carried away with the acceptance speech and started going on and on. But they didn’t have to kick me out of Hooters.
Are any of you folks fans of the solar system? Well you can kiss Pluto good bye! Adios! It’s no longer a planet. There used to be nine, now there’s eight. Today Pluto packed up and moved out. It said it is now going to spend more time with the family.
Even sadder…it hung out around Saturn all day trying to get a job as a moon.
Here’s some new from California. A fire was started near Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. There was some dry grass and they think someone started a fire. Now I think the blaze was caused by some concerned parents.
They say that fire has them puzzled and is of suspicious origin – but so is Michael Jackson.
Letterman
The Emmy Awards were last night. The security was unbelievable. It was tighter than Joan Collins face.
It was a very tough night for me. I will admit I got a little carried away with the acceptance speech and started going on and on. But they didn’t have to kick me out of Hooters.
Are any of you folks fans of the solar system? Well you can kiss Pluto good bye! Adios! It’s no longer a planet. There used to be nine, now there’s eight. Today Pluto packed up and moved out. It said it is now going to spend more time with the family.
Even sadder…it hung out around Saturn all day trying to get a job as a moon.
Here’s some new from California. A fire was started near Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. There was some dry grass and they think someone started a fire. Now I think the blaze was caused by some concerned parents.
They say that fire has them puzzled and is of suspicious origin – but so is Michael Jackson.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Jimmy Carter Blasts Tony Blair
Being too pro-American is a bad thing ... at least according to Jimmy Carter.
The former president ripped British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying his lack of leadership and timid subservience to President Bush lie behind the ongoing crisis in Iraq and the worldwide threat of terrorism.
"I have been surprised and extremely disappointed by Tony Blair's behavior," Carter told Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
"I think that more than any other person in the world, the prime minister could have had a moderating influence on Washington - and he has not. I really thought that Tony Blair, who I know personally to some degree, would be a constraint on President Bush's policies towards Iraq."
In the exclusive interview with the Telegraph, Carter made it plain that he sees Blair's lack of leadership as being a key factor in the present crisis in Iraq, which followed the 2003 invasion - a pre-emptive move he said he would never have considered himself as president.
Carter also said that the Iraq invasion had subverted the fight against terrorism and instead strengthened al-Qaida and the recruitment of terrorists.
"In many countries where I meet with leaders and private citizens there is an equating of American policy with Great Britain - with Great Britain obviously playing the lesser role.
"We now have a situation where America is so unpopular overseas that even in countries like Egypt and Jordan our approval ratings are less than 5 percent. It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient."
Being too pro-American is a bad thing ... at least according to Jimmy Carter.
The former president ripped British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying his lack of leadership and timid subservience to President Bush lie behind the ongoing crisis in Iraq and the worldwide threat of terrorism.
"I have been surprised and extremely disappointed by Tony Blair's behavior," Carter told Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
"I think that more than any other person in the world, the prime minister could have had a moderating influence on Washington - and he has not. I really thought that Tony Blair, who I know personally to some degree, would be a constraint on President Bush's policies towards Iraq."
In the exclusive interview with the Telegraph, Carter made it plain that he sees Blair's lack of leadership as being a key factor in the present crisis in Iraq, which followed the 2003 invasion - a pre-emptive move he said he would never have considered himself as president.
Carter also said that the Iraq invasion had subverted the fight against terrorism and instead strengthened al-Qaida and the recruitment of terrorists.
"In many countries where I meet with leaders and private citizens there is an equating of American policy with Great Britain - with Great Britain obviously playing the lesser role.
"We now have a situation where America is so unpopular overseas that even in countries like Egypt and Jordan our approval ratings are less than 5 percent. It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient."
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Hezbollah Leader Nasrallah Inspires Hit Song
They were struggling in a boy band, working the West Bank wedding circuit and dreaming of stardom.
Now the five singers who make up the Northern Band have come a little closer to their goal, with help from an unwitting ally - Hezbollah guerrilla chief Hassan Nasrallah.
At the height of the Israel-Hezbollah war, the band wrote new lyrics, in praise of Nasrallah, for an old tune. The "Hawk of Lebanon" song tapped into Nasrallah's huge popularity among Palestinians and became an instant hit.
The song is being played on Arab TV networks, used as a ring tone for cell phones, passed around on e-mail and distributed on pirate CDs and tapes. Music stores have trouble keeping up with demand, in part because Israeli soldiers have confiscated some Nasrallah tapes and CDs at checkpoints.
Basking in its newfound success, the band has doubled its fee per performance to $230. At a recent wedding in the town of Ramallah, the band was asked to play the Nasrallah song six times.
Lead singer and manager Alaa Abu al-Haija, 28, said he gives the audiences what they want to hear. "I see people turning toward Islam, so I have to sing to that," said Alaa, sitting in the living room of his family's two-story house in the northern West Bank village of Yamoun.
The lyrics consist of constant repetition of a few simple rhymes: "Hey, you, hawk of Lebanon. Hey, you, Nasrallah. Your men are from Hezbollah and victory is yours with God's help."
Alaa and his two younger brothers and band partners - Nour, 25, and Mohammed, 22 - are already working on the next song about Nasrallah. Alaa also wrote the Hamas election song, to the same tune as the Nasrallah anthem, but it never reached the same popularity.
Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said the song is considered inflammatory and that tapes and CDs containing it will be confiscated. He said police in and around Jerusalem have found no copies of the song so far, but that officers have searched music stores and are on the lookout for contraband.
Palestinian society is divided, with some pledging loyalty to the Islamic militant group Hamas, which took power in March, and others backing the Fatah movement of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
However, Hezbollah fever appears to have united the Palestinians, who feel deep resentment toward Israel after 39 years of military occupation, including harsh restrictions on travel, commerce and other aspects of daily life. Many admire Hezbollah for holding off Israel's mighty army _ similar to the popular support enjoyed by then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein when he fired Scud missiles at Israel in the 1991 Gulf War.
"We used to sing for Saddam," said Saed Akrawi, 26, whose perfume shop in downtown Jenin is adorned with a Nasrallah portrait, next to posters of models. "Saddam is gone. We want someone else to sing for."
They were struggling in a boy band, working the West Bank wedding circuit and dreaming of stardom.
Now the five singers who make up the Northern Band have come a little closer to their goal, with help from an unwitting ally - Hezbollah guerrilla chief Hassan Nasrallah.
At the height of the Israel-Hezbollah war, the band wrote new lyrics, in praise of Nasrallah, for an old tune. The "Hawk of Lebanon" song tapped into Nasrallah's huge popularity among Palestinians and became an instant hit.
The song is being played on Arab TV networks, used as a ring tone for cell phones, passed around on e-mail and distributed on pirate CDs and tapes. Music stores have trouble keeping up with demand, in part because Israeli soldiers have confiscated some Nasrallah tapes and CDs at checkpoints.
Basking in its newfound success, the band has doubled its fee per performance to $230. At a recent wedding in the town of Ramallah, the band was asked to play the Nasrallah song six times.
Lead singer and manager Alaa Abu al-Haija, 28, said he gives the audiences what they want to hear. "I see people turning toward Islam, so I have to sing to that," said Alaa, sitting in the living room of his family's two-story house in the northern West Bank village of Yamoun.
The lyrics consist of constant repetition of a few simple rhymes: "Hey, you, hawk of Lebanon. Hey, you, Nasrallah. Your men are from Hezbollah and victory is yours with God's help."
Alaa and his two younger brothers and band partners - Nour, 25, and Mohammed, 22 - are already working on the next song about Nasrallah. Alaa also wrote the Hamas election song, to the same tune as the Nasrallah anthem, but it never reached the same popularity.
Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said the song is considered inflammatory and that tapes and CDs containing it will be confiscated. He said police in and around Jerusalem have found no copies of the song so far, but that officers have searched music stores and are on the lookout for contraband.
Palestinian society is divided, with some pledging loyalty to the Islamic militant group Hamas, which took power in March, and others backing the Fatah movement of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
However, Hezbollah fever appears to have united the Palestinians, who feel deep resentment toward Israel after 39 years of military occupation, including harsh restrictions on travel, commerce and other aspects of daily life. Many admire Hezbollah for holding off Israel's mighty army _ similar to the popular support enjoyed by then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein when he fired Scud missiles at Israel in the 1991 Gulf War.
"We used to sing for Saddam," said Saed Akrawi, 26, whose perfume shop in downtown Jenin is adorned with a Nasrallah portrait, next to posters of models. "Saddam is gone. We want someone else to sing for."
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Jimmy Carter Blasts Tony Blair
Being too pro-American is a bad thing ... at least according to Jimmy Carter.
The former president ripped British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying his lack of leadership and timid subservience to President Bush lie behind the ongoing crisis in Iraq and the worldwide threat of terrorism.
"I have been surprised and extremely disappointed by Tony Blair's behavior," Carter told Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
"I think that more than any other person in the world, the prime minister could have had a moderating influence on Washington - and he has not. I really thought that Tony Blair, who I know personally to some degree, would be a constraint on President Bush's policies towards Iraq."
In the exclusive interview with the Telegraph, Carter made it plain that he sees Blair's lack of leadership as being a key factor in the present crisis in Iraq, which followed the 2003 invasion - a pre-emptive move he said he would never have considered himself as president.
Carter also said that the Iraq invasion had subverted the fight against terrorism and instead strengthened al-Qaida and the recruitment of terrorists.
"In many countries where I meet with leaders and private citizens there is an equating of American policy with Great Britain - with Great Britain obviously playing the lesser role.
"We now have a situation where America is so unpopular overseas that even in countries like Egypt and Jordan our approval ratings are less than 5 percent. It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient."
Being too pro-American is a bad thing ... at least according to Jimmy Carter.
The former president ripped British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying his lack of leadership and timid subservience to President Bush lie behind the ongoing crisis in Iraq and the worldwide threat of terrorism.
"I have been surprised and extremely disappointed by Tony Blair's behavior," Carter told Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
"I think that more than any other person in the world, the prime minister could have had a moderating influence on Washington - and he has not. I really thought that Tony Blair, who I know personally to some degree, would be a constraint on President Bush's policies towards Iraq."
In the exclusive interview with the Telegraph, Carter made it plain that he sees Blair's lack of leadership as being a key factor in the present crisis in Iraq, which followed the 2003 invasion - a pre-emptive move he said he would never have considered himself as president.
Carter also said that the Iraq invasion had subverted the fight against terrorism and instead strengthened al-Qaida and the recruitment of terrorists.
"In many countries where I meet with leaders and private citizens there is an equating of American policy with Great Britain - with Great Britain obviously playing the lesser role.
"We now have a situation where America is so unpopular overseas that even in countries like Egypt and Jordan our approval ratings are less than 5 percent. It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient."
Late Nite Jokes
Letterman
It’s a sad time of the year. Summer is coming to an end. Mel Gibson blames it on the Jews.
This weekend in Los Angeles, California it’s the Emmy Awards. I’m not going this year. Last year was embarrassing. William Shatner and I showed up wearing the same toupee.
I’ve been nominated for an award. I’m actually up against Regis Philbin. The category is "oldest host”.
Regis actually has a birthday this weekend. Regis has been in television for a long time. I don’t want to say how old he is but his first show was "The Colonies Have Talent”.
I don’t want to say Regis is old but his first co-host was Eve.
Over in Baghdad, Saddam’s second trial is under way. I sure hope this one goes as well as the first. In this trial his buddy Chemical Ali is being tried too. I saw some of it on TV. It was good to see Chemical Ali’s wife there. Her name is Betty Ali.
President Bush finally has an exit plan for Iraq. In a few years he’ll leave office and let the next guy worry about it.
On this day in 1900 the devastating Galveston hurricane took place. Over $50 million in damages. Don’t worry though…FEMA is on the way.
Conan
The results of a new study are out this week saying that New Jersey is one of the most livable states in the country. The study has a margin of error of 100 percent.
President Bush was down in New Orleans this week. He flew back today. He said, "I had to get the hell out. Those levees are not safe!”
David Hasselhoff was arrested for driving under the influence. Cops thought Hasselhoff could be under the influence when they noticed his talking car was slurring its words
Letterman
It’s a sad time of the year. Summer is coming to an end. Mel Gibson blames it on the Jews.
This weekend in Los Angeles, California it’s the Emmy Awards. I’m not going this year. Last year was embarrassing. William Shatner and I showed up wearing the same toupee.
I’ve been nominated for an award. I’m actually up against Regis Philbin. The category is "oldest host”.
Regis actually has a birthday this weekend. Regis has been in television for a long time. I don’t want to say how old he is but his first show was "The Colonies Have Talent”.
I don’t want to say Regis is old but his first co-host was Eve.
Over in Baghdad, Saddam’s second trial is under way. I sure hope this one goes as well as the first. In this trial his buddy Chemical Ali is being tried too. I saw some of it on TV. It was good to see Chemical Ali’s wife there. Her name is Betty Ali.
President Bush finally has an exit plan for Iraq. In a few years he’ll leave office and let the next guy worry about it.
On this day in 1900 the devastating Galveston hurricane took place. Over $50 million in damages. Don’t worry though…FEMA is on the way.
Conan
The results of a new study are out this week saying that New Jersey is one of the most livable states in the country. The study has a margin of error of 100 percent.
President Bush was down in New Orleans this week. He flew back today. He said, "I had to get the hell out. Those levees are not safe!”
David Hasselhoff was arrested for driving under the influence. Cops thought Hasselhoff could be under the influence when they noticed his talking car was slurring its words
Friday, August 25, 2006
Sen. John McCain Hires Howard Dean Campaign Vet
In a move that’s drawn criticism from both the left and right, Sen. John McCain has added a veteran of Democrat Howard Dean’s presidential campaign to his team of advisers.
The hiring of Internet guru Nicholas Mele has sparked speculation about the ideological direction the Arizona Republican might take in a 2008 run for the White House.
McCain has also added a former Bush administration State Department official, trade negotiator Robert Zoellick, and both Mele and Zoellick confirmed that they plan to advise McCain as he explores the possibility of a presidential run, the New York Sun reports.
"I have long admired Sen. McCain's work on campaign finance reform and his independent streak," Mele wrote on his blog. "This is a personal decision for me based on my own first-hand experience. I like Sen. McCain – I think he should be president!"
Mele's move raised eyebrows because of his prior ties to Dean, who represented the Democratic Party's left wing in the 2004 race and is now chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
At RedState.com, Erick Ericson said the hiring of Mele indicated that McCain might attempt an independent bid for the White House.
"At the end of the day, John McCain and his newfound friends on the left might win the media primary, but they will have a hard time winning a Republican primary," Ericson wrote.
Perhaps tellingly, Mele’s Internet marketing firm EchoDitto, whose clients include the Air America radio network, issued a statement saying: "We do not now, nor will we in the future, support Republican campaigns.”
The hiring also drew a skeptical reaction from left-leaning commentators.
A writer for the Nation magazine's blog, Ari Berman, wrote that Mele may wind up disenchanted: "Mele and other Democrats tempted to follow his lead should realize that the straight talking McCain of 2000 is not the Bush-coddling McCain who wants to win in 2008."
Zoellick, who stepped down as deputy secretary of state in July, said he was asked to join the McCain team to bolster his stable of economic advisers, according to the Sun.
He was an adviser to the Republican presidential campaigns in 1988 and 2000.
In a move that’s drawn criticism from both the left and right, Sen. John McCain has added a veteran of Democrat Howard Dean’s presidential campaign to his team of advisers.
The hiring of Internet guru Nicholas Mele has sparked speculation about the ideological direction the Arizona Republican might take in a 2008 run for the White House.
McCain has also added a former Bush administration State Department official, trade negotiator Robert Zoellick, and both Mele and Zoellick confirmed that they plan to advise McCain as he explores the possibility of a presidential run, the New York Sun reports.
"I have long admired Sen. McCain's work on campaign finance reform and his independent streak," Mele wrote on his blog. "This is a personal decision for me based on my own first-hand experience. I like Sen. McCain – I think he should be president!"
Mele's move raised eyebrows because of his prior ties to Dean, who represented the Democratic Party's left wing in the 2004 race and is now chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
At RedState.com, Erick Ericson said the hiring of Mele indicated that McCain might attempt an independent bid for the White House.
"At the end of the day, John McCain and his newfound friends on the left might win the media primary, but they will have a hard time winning a Republican primary," Ericson wrote.
Perhaps tellingly, Mele’s Internet marketing firm EchoDitto, whose clients include the Air America radio network, issued a statement saying: "We do not now, nor will we in the future, support Republican campaigns.”
The hiring also drew a skeptical reaction from left-leaning commentators.
A writer for the Nation magazine's blog, Ari Berman, wrote that Mele may wind up disenchanted: "Mele and other Democrats tempted to follow his lead should realize that the straight talking McCain of 2000 is not the Bush-coddling McCain who wants to win in 2008."
Zoellick, who stepped down as deputy secretary of state in July, said he was asked to join the McCain team to bolster his stable of economic advisers, according to the Sun.
He was an adviser to the Republican presidential campaigns in 1988 and 2000.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Race-Based 'Survivor' Stirs Debate
NewsMax - As CBS prepares to launch a new season of the hit reality show "Survivor," this time featuring teams divided by race, enraged New York City officials are saying it promotes divisiveness and are calling for the network to reconsider.
"The idea of having a battle of the races is preposterous," New York City Councilman John Liu said Thursday. "How could anybody be so desperate for ratings?"
For the first portion of the 13th season of "Survivor," which premieres Sept. 14, the contestants competing for the $1 million prize while stranded on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific will be divided into four teams - blacks, Asians, Latinos and whites.
Liu, who is Asian-American, said he was launching a campaign urging CBS to pull the show because it could encourage racial division and promote negative typecasts. He and a coalition of officials, including the council's black, Latino and Asian caucus, planned to rally at City Hall on Friday.
In a statement, CBS Entertainment, which is part of New York-based CBS Corp. (CBS), defended the ethnic twist, saying it follows the show's tradition of introducing new creative elements and casting structures that reflect cultural and social issues.
"CBS fully recognizes the controversial nature of this format but has full confidence in the producers and their ability to produce the program in a responsible manner," the statement said. "'Survivor' is a program that is no stranger to controversy and has always answered its critics on the screen."
Last season, the show divided contestants into groups of older men, younger men, older women and younger women.
The show's host, Jeff Probst, said the network was aware this season's race ploy might offend viewers.
"It's very risky because you're bringing up a topic that is a hot button," he told asap, The Associated Press service for younger readers. "There's a history of segregation you can't ignore. It is part of our history.
"For that, it's much safer to say, 'No, let's just stick with things the way they are. Let's don't be the network to rock the boat. Let's not have "Survivor" try something new,'" he said. "But the biases from home can't affect you. This is an equal opportunity game."
NewsMax - As CBS prepares to launch a new season of the hit reality show "Survivor," this time featuring teams divided by race, enraged New York City officials are saying it promotes divisiveness and are calling for the network to reconsider.
"The idea of having a battle of the races is preposterous," New York City Councilman John Liu said Thursday. "How could anybody be so desperate for ratings?"
For the first portion of the 13th season of "Survivor," which premieres Sept. 14, the contestants competing for the $1 million prize while stranded on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific will be divided into four teams - blacks, Asians, Latinos and whites.
Liu, who is Asian-American, said he was launching a campaign urging CBS to pull the show because it could encourage racial division and promote negative typecasts. He and a coalition of officials, including the council's black, Latino and Asian caucus, planned to rally at City Hall on Friday.
In a statement, CBS Entertainment, which is part of New York-based CBS Corp. (CBS), defended the ethnic twist, saying it follows the show's tradition of introducing new creative elements and casting structures that reflect cultural and social issues.
"CBS fully recognizes the controversial nature of this format but has full confidence in the producers and their ability to produce the program in a responsible manner," the statement said. "'Survivor' is a program that is no stranger to controversy and has always answered its critics on the screen."
Last season, the show divided contestants into groups of older men, younger men, older women and younger women.
The show's host, Jeff Probst, said the network was aware this season's race ploy might offend viewers.
"It's very risky because you're bringing up a topic that is a hot button," he told asap, The Associated Press service for younger readers. "There's a history of segregation you can't ignore. It is part of our history.
"For that, it's much safer to say, 'No, let's just stick with things the way they are. Let's don't be the network to rock the boat. Let's not have "Survivor" try something new,'" he said. "But the biases from home can't affect you. This is an equal opportunity game."
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Lieberman Race Tightens in Connecticut
Sen. Joe Lieberman is barely holding on to a lead over Democratic challenger Ned Lamont in the race for the Senate from Connecticut, a new poll reveals.
The survey of nearly 800 likely voters by the American Research Group Inc. found that 44 percent would vote for Lieberman – who is running as an independent after his August 8 primary loss to Lamont – while 42 percent would cast their ballot for Lamont and three percent would vote for Republican candidate Alan Schlesinger.
An August 10-14 Quinnipiac University poll reported by NewsMax had Lieberman ahead of Lamont by 12 percentage points.
While Democrats favored Lamont by a 65 percent to 30 percent margin in the new poll, Lieberman fared much better among Republicans and independents. Registered Republicans gave Lieberman 57 percent of their votes, compared with 18 percent for Lamont and 11 percent for Schlesinger; among unaffiliated voters, Lieberman had an edge of 10 percentage points over Lamont.
Some of those polled by the American Research Group were surveyed after Lieberman defended his support for the war in Iraq on CBS’s "Face the Nation” on August 20.
Sen. Joe Lieberman is barely holding on to a lead over Democratic challenger Ned Lamont in the race for the Senate from Connecticut, a new poll reveals.
The survey of nearly 800 likely voters by the American Research Group Inc. found that 44 percent would vote for Lieberman – who is running as an independent after his August 8 primary loss to Lamont – while 42 percent would cast their ballot for Lamont and three percent would vote for Republican candidate Alan Schlesinger.
An August 10-14 Quinnipiac University poll reported by NewsMax had Lieberman ahead of Lamont by 12 percentage points.
While Democrats favored Lamont by a 65 percent to 30 percent margin in the new poll, Lieberman fared much better among Republicans and independents. Registered Republicans gave Lieberman 57 percent of their votes, compared with 18 percent for Lamont and 11 percent for Schlesinger; among unaffiliated voters, Lieberman had an edge of 10 percentage points over Lamont.
Some of those polled by the American Research Group were surveyed after Lieberman defended his support for the war in Iraq on CBS’s "Face the Nation” on August 20.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Liberal 'Fertility Gap' Should Worry Democrats
Liberals frantic to have the Democratic Party recapture the Congress in November are casting their nets far and wide to haul in a new catch of young voters for future elections.
If fertility statistics are considered, that catch has to be a disappointment for liberals because there are fewer and fewer young liberal voters in the electoral sea.
The reason? According to Arthur C. Brooks, writing in Tuesday’s Opinion Journal, it’s the "fertility gap" — the dramatically falling birth rate in this country.
Liberals, he writes, "have a big baby problem. They're not having enough of them, they haven't for a long time, and their pool of potential new voters is suffering as a result.”
Brooks, a professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Affairs and the author of the forthcoming book "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism," cites the 2004 General Social Survey as proof that liberals are vanishing. The survey reveals if you picked 100 unrelated politically liberal adults at random, you would find that they had, between them, 147 children. If, on the other hand, you picked 100 conservatives, you would find 208 kids — a "fertility gap" of a whopping 41 percent.
"Given that about 80 percent of people with an identifiable party preference grow up to vote the same way as their parents, this gap translates into lots more little Republicans than little Democrats to vote in future elections,” Brooks writes. "Over the past 30 years this gap has not been below 20 percent — explaining, to a large extent, the current ineffectiveness of liberal youth voter campaigns today.”
And the news gets worse for the prospects of a lot of new little lefties arriving on the scene: The fertility gap is widening by more than half a percentage point per year.
Here's a peek into the future:
Ohio, a state that was split 50-50 between left and right in 2004, will tilt right by 2012, 54 percent to 46 percent. By 2020, it will be certifiably right wing, 59 percent to 41 percent.
California, currently 55-45 in favor of liberals, will be 54-46 in favor of conservatives by 2020 — and all for no other reason than multiple births from family-friendly conservatives.
Conservative Republican families, a majority of whom are pro-life and religious, tend to have more children, whereas more liberal voters, many of whom are unmarried and who support abortion, tend to have less.
The suicidal impulse behind the liberal failure to reproduce was viewed by a liberal newspaper columnist quoted by Brooks as a symbol of liberal compassion and conscience: "Maybe the scales are tipping to the neoconservative, homogenous right in our culture simply because they tend not to give much of a damn for the ramifications of wanton breeding and environmental destruction and pious sanctimony, whereas those on the left actually seem to give a whit for the health of the planet and the dire effects of overpopulation."
Writes Brooks: "It would appear liberals have been quite successful controlling overpopulation — in the Democratic Party . . .
"All things considered, if the Democrats continue to appeal to liberals and the Republicans to conservatives, getting out the youth vote may be increasingly an exercise in futility for the American left."
Liberals frantic to have the Democratic Party recapture the Congress in November are casting their nets far and wide to haul in a new catch of young voters for future elections.
If fertility statistics are considered, that catch has to be a disappointment for liberals because there are fewer and fewer young liberal voters in the electoral sea.
The reason? According to Arthur C. Brooks, writing in Tuesday’s Opinion Journal, it’s the "fertility gap" — the dramatically falling birth rate in this country.
Liberals, he writes, "have a big baby problem. They're not having enough of them, they haven't for a long time, and their pool of potential new voters is suffering as a result.”
Brooks, a professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Affairs and the author of the forthcoming book "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism," cites the 2004 General Social Survey as proof that liberals are vanishing. The survey reveals if you picked 100 unrelated politically liberal adults at random, you would find that they had, between them, 147 children. If, on the other hand, you picked 100 conservatives, you would find 208 kids — a "fertility gap" of a whopping 41 percent.
"Given that about 80 percent of people with an identifiable party preference grow up to vote the same way as their parents, this gap translates into lots more little Republicans than little Democrats to vote in future elections,” Brooks writes. "Over the past 30 years this gap has not been below 20 percent — explaining, to a large extent, the current ineffectiveness of liberal youth voter campaigns today.”
And the news gets worse for the prospects of a lot of new little lefties arriving on the scene: The fertility gap is widening by more than half a percentage point per year.
Here's a peek into the future:
Ohio, a state that was split 50-50 between left and right in 2004, will tilt right by 2012, 54 percent to 46 percent. By 2020, it will be certifiably right wing, 59 percent to 41 percent.
California, currently 55-45 in favor of liberals, will be 54-46 in favor of conservatives by 2020 — and all for no other reason than multiple births from family-friendly conservatives.
Conservative Republican families, a majority of whom are pro-life and religious, tend to have more children, whereas more liberal voters, many of whom are unmarried and who support abortion, tend to have less.
The suicidal impulse behind the liberal failure to reproduce was viewed by a liberal newspaper columnist quoted by Brooks as a symbol of liberal compassion and conscience: "Maybe the scales are tipping to the neoconservative, homogenous right in our culture simply because they tend not to give much of a damn for the ramifications of wanton breeding and environmental destruction and pious sanctimony, whereas those on the left actually seem to give a whit for the health of the planet and the dire effects of overpopulation."
Writes Brooks: "It would appear liberals have been quite successful controlling overpopulation — in the Democratic Party . . .
"All things considered, if the Democrats continue to appeal to liberals and the Republicans to conservatives, getting out the youth vote may be increasingly an exercise in futility for the American left."
Monday, August 21, 2006
Implanted Chips in Our Troops?
A Florida company wants to get under the skin of 1.4 million U.S. servicemen and women.
VeriChip Corp, based in Delray Beach, Fla., and described by the D.C. Examiner as "one of the most aggressive marketers of radio frequency identification chips," is hoping to convince the Pentagon to allow them to insert the chips, known as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips under the skin of the right arms of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen to enable them to scan an arm and obtain that person’s identity and medical history. The chips would replace the legendary metal dog tags that have been worn by U.S. military personnel since 1906.
The device is usually implanted above the triceps area of an individual’s right arm, but can also by implanted in the hand if scanned at the proper frequency. The VeriChip responds with a unique 16-digit number, which can correlate the user to information stored on a database for identity verification, medical records access, and other uses. The insertion procedure is performed under local anesthetic, and once inserted it is invisible to the naked eye.
The company, which the Examiner notes has powerful political connections, is "in discussions” with the Pentagon, VeriChip spokeswoman Nicole Philbin told the Examiner. "The potential for this technology doesn’t just stop at the civilian level,” Philbin said. Company officials have touted the chips as versatile, able to be used in a variety of situations such as helping track illegal immigrants or giving doctors immediate access to patient’s medical records.
On Monday the Department of State started to issue electronic passports (e-passports) equipped with RFID chips. According to reports the U.S. government has placed an order with a California company, Infineon Technologies North America, for smart chip-embedded passports.
The Associated Press said the new U.S. passports include an electronic chip that contains all the data contained in the paper version name, birth date, gender, for example and can be read by digital scanners at equipped airports. They cost 14 percent more than their predecessors but the State Department said they will speed up going through Customs and help enhance border security.
The company's hefty political clout is typified by having former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, on its board of directors.
Thompson assured the Examiner that the chip is safe and that no one — not even military personnel, who are required by law to follow orders — will be forced to accept an implant against his or her will. He has also promised to have a chip implanted in himself but could not tell the Examiner when.
"I’m extremely busy and I’m waiting until my hospitals and doctors are able to run some screens," he told the newspaper.
Not everybody agrees with Thompson, the Examiner reported, noting that the idea of implanting the chips in live bodies has some veterans’ groups and privacy advocates worried.
"It needs further study,” Joe Davis, a retired Air Force major and a spokesman for the D.C. office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told the Examiner.
And Liz McIntyre, co-author with Katherine Albrecht of "Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track your Every Move with RFID," said that VeriChip is "a huge threat” to public privacy.
"They’re circling like vultures for any opportunity to get into our flesh,” McIntyre told the Examiner. "They’ll start with people who can’t say no, like the elderly, sex offenders, immigrants, and the military. Then they’ll come knocking on our doors.”
In an e-mail to the Examiner, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., wrote: "If that is what the Defense Department has in mind for our troops in Iraq, there are many questions that need answers. "What checks and balances, safeguards, and congressional oversight would there be?” Leahy asked. "What less-invasive alternatives are there? What information would be entered on the chips, and could it endanger our soldiers or be intercepted by the enemy?”
The company, the Examiner wrote, is also unsure about the technology. According to company documents, radio frequencies in ambulances and helicopters could disrupt the chips’ transmissions. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, VeriChip also said it was unsure whether the chip would dislodge and move through a person’s body. It could also cause infections and "adverse tissue reactions,” the SEC filing states.
But Philbin downplayed the danger of the chips.
"It’s the size of a grain of rice,” she said. "It’s like getting a shot of penicillin.”
A Florida company wants to get under the skin of 1.4 million U.S. servicemen and women.
VeriChip Corp, based in Delray Beach, Fla., and described by the D.C. Examiner as "one of the most aggressive marketers of radio frequency identification chips," is hoping to convince the Pentagon to allow them to insert the chips, known as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips under the skin of the right arms of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen to enable them to scan an arm and obtain that person’s identity and medical history. The chips would replace the legendary metal dog tags that have been worn by U.S. military personnel since 1906.
The device is usually implanted above the triceps area of an individual’s right arm, but can also by implanted in the hand if scanned at the proper frequency. The VeriChip responds with a unique 16-digit number, which can correlate the user to information stored on a database for identity verification, medical records access, and other uses. The insertion procedure is performed under local anesthetic, and once inserted it is invisible to the naked eye.
The company, which the Examiner notes has powerful political connections, is "in discussions” with the Pentagon, VeriChip spokeswoman Nicole Philbin told the Examiner. "The potential for this technology doesn’t just stop at the civilian level,” Philbin said. Company officials have touted the chips as versatile, able to be used in a variety of situations such as helping track illegal immigrants or giving doctors immediate access to patient’s medical records.
On Monday the Department of State started to issue electronic passports (e-passports) equipped with RFID chips. According to reports the U.S. government has placed an order with a California company, Infineon Technologies North America, for smart chip-embedded passports.
The Associated Press said the new U.S. passports include an electronic chip that contains all the data contained in the paper version name, birth date, gender, for example and can be read by digital scanners at equipped airports. They cost 14 percent more than their predecessors but the State Department said they will speed up going through Customs and help enhance border security.
The company's hefty political clout is typified by having former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, on its board of directors.
Thompson assured the Examiner that the chip is safe and that no one — not even military personnel, who are required by law to follow orders — will be forced to accept an implant against his or her will. He has also promised to have a chip implanted in himself but could not tell the Examiner when.
"I’m extremely busy and I’m waiting until my hospitals and doctors are able to run some screens," he told the newspaper.
Not everybody agrees with Thompson, the Examiner reported, noting that the idea of implanting the chips in live bodies has some veterans’ groups and privacy advocates worried.
"It needs further study,” Joe Davis, a retired Air Force major and a spokesman for the D.C. office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told the Examiner.
And Liz McIntyre, co-author with Katherine Albrecht of "Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track your Every Move with RFID," said that VeriChip is "a huge threat” to public privacy.
"They’re circling like vultures for any opportunity to get into our flesh,” McIntyre told the Examiner. "They’ll start with people who can’t say no, like the elderly, sex offenders, immigrants, and the military. Then they’ll come knocking on our doors.”
In an e-mail to the Examiner, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., wrote: "If that is what the Defense Department has in mind for our troops in Iraq, there are many questions that need answers. "What checks and balances, safeguards, and congressional oversight would there be?” Leahy asked. "What less-invasive alternatives are there? What information would be entered on the chips, and could it endanger our soldiers or be intercepted by the enemy?”
The company, the Examiner wrote, is also unsure about the technology. According to company documents, radio frequencies in ambulances and helicopters could disrupt the chips’ transmissions. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, VeriChip also said it was unsure whether the chip would dislodge and move through a person’s body. It could also cause infections and "adverse tissue reactions,” the SEC filing states.
But Philbin downplayed the danger of the chips.
"It’s the size of a grain of rice,” she said. "It’s like getting a shot of penicillin.”
Sunday, August 20, 2006
MoveOn.org Promotes Hurricane Katrina Book
NewsMax - Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has contributed a foreword and Norman Mailer a blurb to "It Takes a Nation," a first-person history of Hurricane Katrina compiled by the liberal activist organization MoveOn.org.
Published by Earth Aware Editions, based in San Rafael, Calif., "It Takes a Nation" includes letters, photographs and conversations featuring 29 MoveOn "host families" and the displaced hurricane victims who stayed with them.
A first printing of 20,000 will be released Aug. 29, Katrina's one-year anniversary. Profits from the $24.95 book will be donated to the New Orleans division of ACORN (The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now).
"America is a profoundly divided nation and the two halves have dangerously little in common," writes Mailer, author of "The Naked and the Dead," "The Armies of the Night" and many other books.
"(T)he letters in 'It Takes a Nation' are evidence of the overpowering truth that despite every stone-cold vice, vicissitude, and greedy-grab, every distortion of our national ideals, there remains a heart in America that still believes in compassion as the first of the virtues."
NewsMax - Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has contributed a foreword and Norman Mailer a blurb to "It Takes a Nation," a first-person history of Hurricane Katrina compiled by the liberal activist organization MoveOn.org.
Published by Earth Aware Editions, based in San Rafael, Calif., "It Takes a Nation" includes letters, photographs and conversations featuring 29 MoveOn "host families" and the displaced hurricane victims who stayed with them.
A first printing of 20,000 will be released Aug. 29, Katrina's one-year anniversary. Profits from the $24.95 book will be donated to the New Orleans division of ACORN (The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now).
"America is a profoundly divided nation and the two halves have dangerously little in common," writes Mailer, author of "The Naked and the Dead," "The Armies of the Night" and many other books.
"(T)he letters in 'It Takes a Nation' are evidence of the overpowering truth that despite every stone-cold vice, vicissitude, and greedy-grab, every distortion of our national ideals, there remains a heart in America that still believes in compassion as the first of the virtues."
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Nagin Blames Delays on Racism, Red Tape
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on Friday blamed racism and government bureaucracy for hamstringing his city's ability to weather Hurricane Katrina and recover from the disaster that struck the Gulf Coast nearly a year ago.
In remarks to the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists, Nagin said the hurricane "exposed the soft underbelly of America as it relates to dealing with race and class."
"And I, to this day, believe that if that would have happened in Orange County, California, if that would have happened in South Beach, Miami, it would have been a different response," Nagin said.
New Orleans was 60 percent black before Katrina struck Aug. 29. Early this year the mayor called on fellow blacks to again make New Orleans a "chocolate" city, but he later apologized.
On Friday, Nagin condemned federal regulations that discourage rebuilding in the largely black and low-lying Ninth Ward.
While tens of billions of dollars in federal aid have flowed to Louisiana and other states devastated by Katrina, much of it has gone to developers and contractors, Nagin said.
"Very little of those dollars have gotten to the local governments or to the people themselves," Nagin said.
Katrina dispersed three-quarters of New Orleans' pre-hurricane population of about 460,000 people, and today it's a city of about 250,000. Nagin suggested that Louisiana and federal officials would prefer the city remain smaller.
He said the city is struggling to deliver services and rebuild with a quarter of its former municipal budget. The federal and state aid the city has received is inadequate and comes with too many rules, he said.
"We are being strangled, and they're using the money to set local policies to try to take control of the city to do things that they had in mind all along, and that's to shrink the footprint, get a bunch of developers in the city, and try to do things in a different way," Nagin said.
"We're not going to let that happen. They're going to give us our money, and we're going to rebuild this city."
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on Friday blamed racism and government bureaucracy for hamstringing his city's ability to weather Hurricane Katrina and recover from the disaster that struck the Gulf Coast nearly a year ago.
In remarks to the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists, Nagin said the hurricane "exposed the soft underbelly of America as it relates to dealing with race and class."
"And I, to this day, believe that if that would have happened in Orange County, California, if that would have happened in South Beach, Miami, it would have been a different response," Nagin said.
New Orleans was 60 percent black before Katrina struck Aug. 29. Early this year the mayor called on fellow blacks to again make New Orleans a "chocolate" city, but he later apologized.
On Friday, Nagin condemned federal regulations that discourage rebuilding in the largely black and low-lying Ninth Ward.
While tens of billions of dollars in federal aid have flowed to Louisiana and other states devastated by Katrina, much of it has gone to developers and contractors, Nagin said.
"Very little of those dollars have gotten to the local governments or to the people themselves," Nagin said.
Katrina dispersed three-quarters of New Orleans' pre-hurricane population of about 460,000 people, and today it's a city of about 250,000. Nagin suggested that Louisiana and federal officials would prefer the city remain smaller.
He said the city is struggling to deliver services and rebuild with a quarter of its former municipal budget. The federal and state aid the city has received is inadequate and comes with too many rules, he said.
"We are being strangled, and they're using the money to set local policies to try to take control of the city to do things that they had in mind all along, and that's to shrink the footprint, get a bunch of developers in the city, and try to do things in a different way," Nagin said.
"We're not going to let that happen. They're going to give us our money, and we're going to rebuild this city."
Friday, August 18, 2006
Democrats Depict GOP as 'Snakes on a Senate'
Latching onto the pop culture buzz surrounding New Line Cinema's new movie "Snakes on a Plane," the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has launched a Web site attacking Republicans as "Snakes on a Senate."
The site depicts five Republican U.S. senators - George Allen of Virginia, Jim Talent of Missouri, Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Conrad Burns of Montana and Mike DeWine of Ohio - and one candidate, Tom Kean of New Jersey - as snakes. Photographs of their heads are attached to cartoon snake bodies.
In a play on the movie's logo, the site also depicts two fanged snakes wrapped around the U.S. Capitol.
"Snakes on a Plane," starring Samuel L. Jackson, was released nationwide Friday. The movie has generated a lot of Internet buzz, and the film's producers and stars have said the blogosphere drove many of the artistic decisions - including the name of the film and the decision to pursue a rating of "R" instead of "PG-13."
The movie has spawned countless jokes based on its title, as well as parody posters, clothing and short films posted on popular sites like YouTube.
"Ssssssantorum runs the K Street project where he 'vets the hiring decisions of major lobbyists,'" the DSCC site says.
"Talent "refusesssss to give his position on state minimum wage increase."
"Allen's venomous comments have brought criticism."
The Web site also says that DeWine "was forced to shed his skin and change a TV commercial featuring footage of the World Trade Center burning on 9/11 after it was discovered that the images were doctored."
The site promises that the politicians featured as snakes will be "leaving November 7," a reference to Election Day 2006, and it encourages visitors to join and contribute money to the DSCC, which paid for the site.
Brian Walton, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said he "got a good laugh out of it" but that "we really haven't had much time to look at the very minimal amount of information on there just because we were laughing so hard."
He said the site is "funny in the sense that it's just so lame."
Latching onto the pop culture buzz surrounding New Line Cinema's new movie "Snakes on a Plane," the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has launched a Web site attacking Republicans as "Snakes on a Senate."
The site depicts five Republican U.S. senators - George Allen of Virginia, Jim Talent of Missouri, Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Conrad Burns of Montana and Mike DeWine of Ohio - and one candidate, Tom Kean of New Jersey - as snakes. Photographs of their heads are attached to cartoon snake bodies.
In a play on the movie's logo, the site also depicts two fanged snakes wrapped around the U.S. Capitol.
"Snakes on a Plane," starring Samuel L. Jackson, was released nationwide Friday. The movie has generated a lot of Internet buzz, and the film's producers and stars have said the blogosphere drove many of the artistic decisions - including the name of the film and the decision to pursue a rating of "R" instead of "PG-13."
The movie has spawned countless jokes based on its title, as well as parody posters, clothing and short films posted on popular sites like YouTube.
"Ssssssantorum runs the K Street project where he 'vets the hiring decisions of major lobbyists,'" the DSCC site says.
"Talent "refusesssss to give his position on state minimum wage increase."
"Allen's venomous comments have brought criticism."
The Web site also says that DeWine "was forced to shed his skin and change a TV commercial featuring footage of the World Trade Center burning on 9/11 after it was discovered that the images were doctored."
The site promises that the politicians featured as snakes will be "leaving November 7," a reference to Election Day 2006, and it encourages visitors to join and contribute money to the DSCC, which paid for the site.
Brian Walton, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said he "got a good laugh out of it" but that "we really haven't had much time to look at the very minimal amount of information on there just because we were laughing so hard."
He said the site is "funny in the sense that it's just so lame."
Late Nite Jokes
Letterman
Did you know New York City has the oldest bartender? He’s 90 years old and still doing it. He’s so old he knows Rob Roy.
The number of planets in the solar system have been downsized. There’s now eight planets. Pluto was voted out of the solar system. It’s sort of the same thing that happened over at "The View”.
Pluto was voted out because it was too small. However, it has now been mounted on a ring and given to Mrs. Kobe Bryant.
Pluto is too small. That’s the same thing Paramount said to Tom Cruise.
Letterman
Did you know New York City has the oldest bartender? He’s 90 years old and still doing it. He’s so old he knows Rob Roy.
The number of planets in the solar system have been downsized. There’s now eight planets. Pluto was voted out of the solar system. It’s sort of the same thing that happened over at "The View”.
Pluto was voted out because it was too small. However, it has now been mounted on a ring and given to Mrs. Kobe Bryant.
Pluto is too small. That’s the same thing Paramount said to Tom Cruise.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Bush: No 'Cut and Run' in Iraq
President George W. Bush strongly defended his Iraq war policy against Democratic demands to bring U.S. troops home and warned on Wednesday that if America leaves Iraq could become a country controlled by terrorists willing to use oil as a weapon.
"Leaving before we complete our mission would create a terrorist state in the heart of the Middle East, a country with huge oil reserves that the terrorist network would be willing to use to extract economic pain from those of us who believe in freedom," Bush said.
In a campaign speech for former National Football League star Lynn Swann, the Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, Bush appeared to be addressing those Democrats who are trying to turn the November congressional elections into a referendum on his handling of the Iraq war.
He did not specifically mention Democrats. But Democratic congressional leaders last month urged Bush to start pulling out U.S. troops from Iraq this year while not specifying a time frame for completing the withdrawal.
Bush's popularity ratings are near the lowest of his presidency due largely to dissatisfaction over Iraq.
It was his first stump speech of the fall congressional election, Bush showed how he plans to reject Democrats who consider the Iraq war a failed policy.
"They want us to cut and run and there are some good people in our country who believe we should cut and run. They are not bad people when they say that, they are decent people, I just happen to believe they are wrong," Bush said. "This would be a defeat for the United States in a key battleground in the global war on terror."
His voice rising with emotion, Bush added: "If we were to leave before the mission is complete, it would hurt U.S. credibility. Who would want to stand with the United States of America if we didn't complete the mission in a mission that can be completed, and will be completed?"
"If we leave before the mission is complete, if we withdraw, the enemy will follow us home," he said.
The Bush administration has reacted to the Democrats' election of Ned Lamont, an anti-war candidate who defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut primary a week ago, by portraying Democrats as soft on terrorism.
Bush also said the terror plot in Britain that led to arrests a week ago was similar to al-Qaida activities in the past but he was reluctant to blame it on the extremist group, saying only that "it's the kind of activities that al-Qaida has done in the past."
"And so we've got to use new tactics, new efforts, new assets to protect ourselves against an enemy that will strike us at any moment. This war on terror is more than just chasing down people hiding in caves or preventing people from getting on airplanes to blow them up," he said.
In Pennsylvania for Swann's uphill campaign to unseat Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, Bush first toured a Harley-Davidson plant where he admired the craftsmanship of the quintessential American motorcycles.
President George W. Bush strongly defended his Iraq war policy against Democratic demands to bring U.S. troops home and warned on Wednesday that if America leaves Iraq could become a country controlled by terrorists willing to use oil as a weapon.
"Leaving before we complete our mission would create a terrorist state in the heart of the Middle East, a country with huge oil reserves that the terrorist network would be willing to use to extract economic pain from those of us who believe in freedom," Bush said.
In a campaign speech for former National Football League star Lynn Swann, the Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, Bush appeared to be addressing those Democrats who are trying to turn the November congressional elections into a referendum on his handling of the Iraq war.
He did not specifically mention Democrats. But Democratic congressional leaders last month urged Bush to start pulling out U.S. troops from Iraq this year while not specifying a time frame for completing the withdrawal.
Bush's popularity ratings are near the lowest of his presidency due largely to dissatisfaction over Iraq.
It was his first stump speech of the fall congressional election, Bush showed how he plans to reject Democrats who consider the Iraq war a failed policy.
"They want us to cut and run and there are some good people in our country who believe we should cut and run. They are not bad people when they say that, they are decent people, I just happen to believe they are wrong," Bush said. "This would be a defeat for the United States in a key battleground in the global war on terror."
His voice rising with emotion, Bush added: "If we were to leave before the mission is complete, it would hurt U.S. credibility. Who would want to stand with the United States of America if we didn't complete the mission in a mission that can be completed, and will be completed?"
"If we leave before the mission is complete, if we withdraw, the enemy will follow us home," he said.
The Bush administration has reacted to the Democrats' election of Ned Lamont, an anti-war candidate who defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut primary a week ago, by portraying Democrats as soft on terrorism.
Bush also said the terror plot in Britain that led to arrests a week ago was similar to al-Qaida activities in the past but he was reluctant to blame it on the extremist group, saying only that "it's the kind of activities that al-Qaida has done in the past."
"And so we've got to use new tactics, new efforts, new assets to protect ourselves against an enemy that will strike us at any moment. This war on terror is more than just chasing down people hiding in caves or preventing people from getting on airplanes to blow them up," he said.
In Pennsylvania for Swann's uphill campaign to unseat Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, Bush first toured a Harley-Davidson plant where he admired the craftsmanship of the quintessential American motorcycles.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Hispanics Blast Democrats' Ad
NewsMax - A Democratic political ad is under fire from Hispanics who say it unfairly compares Latino immigrants to terrorists.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sponsored a 35-second ad on its Web site that shows footage of two people scaling a border fence mixed with images of Osama Bin Laden and North Korea President Kim Jong Il.
Pedro Celis, chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, said in a statement Tuesday that the DSCC should remove the ad because it vilifies illegal Hispanic immigrants and is "appalling."
Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, a Democrat, sent a letter to DSCC Chairman Sen. Charles Schumer of New York asking that the ad be pulled. She said it could alienate Latino voters.
"To liken Latino immigrants to bazooka-toting terrorists not only undermines the positive relationship our party has with this community, but also lowers us to a despicable level as breeders of unfounded fear and hatred," Alvarado wrote.
The ad opens with the words "Security Under Bush and GOP?" It features scenes of a masked man with a bazooka, scenes from terrorist attacks and police inspecting a subway train. It also shows Osama bin Laden, Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a docked ship as it claims "4 times as many terrorist attacks in 2005."
Then comes footage of a person climbing over a corrugated metal border fence and another preparing to climb it as the words "millions more illegal immigrants" form on-screen. In the following scene, viewers see the words "North Korea has quadrupled its nuclear arsenal" with footage of a tank and North Korea President Kim Jong Il.
The ad ends with the words, "Feel safer? Vote for change."
"Equating these undocumented migrants to the very real threats of terrorism is inexcusable and only serves to fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment in our country," Celis said in the statement.
The faces of the people climbing over the fence are not clearly visible and there is nothing in the ad confirming the people in the ad are Hispanic. Such scenes are often captured in footage of the U.S.-Mexican border.
Bettina Inclan, the assembly's executive director, said the people in the ad appeared Hispanic, "not just to us, but to other people who saw the video."
DSCC spokesman Phil Singer dismissed the group's criticism as a Republican group "trying to gloss over the White House's abysmal record on security."
"This group's time would be better spent pressuring reluctant Republicans to support comprehensive immigration reform," Singer said in an emailed statement.
Inclan said the group was among supporters of the bipartisan Senate immigration bill, which passed the Senate but has been criticized in the House.
The ad drew rebuke from other Hispanics.
"This is the same kind of fear mongering we condemn in the extreme media and now we are seeing it at the DSCC," said Lisa Navarrete, spokeswoman for the National Council of La Raza. "It's appalling."
NewsMax - A Democratic political ad is under fire from Hispanics who say it unfairly compares Latino immigrants to terrorists.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sponsored a 35-second ad on its Web site that shows footage of two people scaling a border fence mixed with images of Osama Bin Laden and North Korea President Kim Jong Il.
Pedro Celis, chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, said in a statement Tuesday that the DSCC should remove the ad because it vilifies illegal Hispanic immigrants and is "appalling."
Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, a Democrat, sent a letter to DSCC Chairman Sen. Charles Schumer of New York asking that the ad be pulled. She said it could alienate Latino voters.
"To liken Latino immigrants to bazooka-toting terrorists not only undermines the positive relationship our party has with this community, but also lowers us to a despicable level as breeders of unfounded fear and hatred," Alvarado wrote.
The ad opens with the words "Security Under Bush and GOP?" It features scenes of a masked man with a bazooka, scenes from terrorist attacks and police inspecting a subway train. It also shows Osama bin Laden, Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a docked ship as it claims "4 times as many terrorist attacks in 2005."
Then comes footage of a person climbing over a corrugated metal border fence and another preparing to climb it as the words "millions more illegal immigrants" form on-screen. In the following scene, viewers see the words "North Korea has quadrupled its nuclear arsenal" with footage of a tank and North Korea President Kim Jong Il.
The ad ends with the words, "Feel safer? Vote for change."
"Equating these undocumented migrants to the very real threats of terrorism is inexcusable and only serves to fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment in our country," Celis said in the statement.
The faces of the people climbing over the fence are not clearly visible and there is nothing in the ad confirming the people in the ad are Hispanic. Such scenes are often captured in footage of the U.S.-Mexican border.
Bettina Inclan, the assembly's executive director, said the people in the ad appeared Hispanic, "not just to us, but to other people who saw the video."
DSCC spokesman Phil Singer dismissed the group's criticism as a Republican group "trying to gloss over the White House's abysmal record on security."
"This group's time would be better spent pressuring reluctant Republicans to support comprehensive immigration reform," Singer said in an emailed statement.
Inclan said the group was among supporters of the bipartisan Senate immigration bill, which passed the Senate but has been criticized in the House.
The ad drew rebuke from other Hispanics.
"This is the same kind of fear mongering we condemn in the extreme media and now we are seeing it at the DSCC," said Lisa Navarrete, spokeswoman for the National Council of La Raza. "It's appalling."
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Bush: Israel Defeated Hezbollah
President Bush said Monday that Hezbollah guerillas suffered a defeat at the hands of Israel in their monthlong Mideast war.
"There's going to be a new power in the south of Lebanon," Bush said.
The president also said the war was part of a broader struggle between freedom and terror and "we can only imagine how much more dangerous this conflict would be if Iran had the nuclear weapon it seeks."
Bush said Iran and Syria were the primary sponsors of Hezbollah guerrillas who captured two Israeli soldiers, igniting the battle with Israel. More than 900 people were killed in the fighting, and there was massive destruction in southern Lebanon.
Bush said the "responsibility for this suffering lies with Hezbollah."
The president spoke at the State Department after conferring with his national security team, first at the Pentagon and then at the State Department. He was flanked by Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Bush said the U.N. cease-fire resolution was "an important step forward that will help bring an end to the violence."
"We certainly hope the cease-fire holds," he said.
"Lebanon can't be a strong democracy when there is a state within a state and that's Hezbollah," Bush said.
"Hezbollah attacked Israel without any knowledge of the (Lebanese) government. Hezbollah attacked Israel. Hezbollah started the crisis, and Hezbollah suffered a defeat in this crisis," the president said.
In the Mideast, there were competing claims about who came out on top in the war that claimed more than 900 lives.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the war had shifted the strategic balance in the region and eliminated the "state within a state" run by Hezbollah, restoring Lebanon's sovereignty in the south.
But Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said his guerrillas achieved a "strategic, historic victory" against Israel.
President Bush said Monday that Hezbollah guerillas suffered a defeat at the hands of Israel in their monthlong Mideast war.
"There's going to be a new power in the south of Lebanon," Bush said.
The president also said the war was part of a broader struggle between freedom and terror and "we can only imagine how much more dangerous this conflict would be if Iran had the nuclear weapon it seeks."
Bush said Iran and Syria were the primary sponsors of Hezbollah guerrillas who captured two Israeli soldiers, igniting the battle with Israel. More than 900 people were killed in the fighting, and there was massive destruction in southern Lebanon.
Bush said the "responsibility for this suffering lies with Hezbollah."
The president spoke at the State Department after conferring with his national security team, first at the Pentagon and then at the State Department. He was flanked by Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Bush said the U.N. cease-fire resolution was "an important step forward that will help bring an end to the violence."
"We certainly hope the cease-fire holds," he said.
"Lebanon can't be a strong democracy when there is a state within a state and that's Hezbollah," Bush said.
"Hezbollah attacked Israel without any knowledge of the (Lebanese) government. Hezbollah attacked Israel. Hezbollah started the crisis, and Hezbollah suffered a defeat in this crisis," the president said.
In the Mideast, there were competing claims about who came out on top in the war that claimed more than 900 lives.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the war had shifted the strategic balance in the region and eliminated the "state within a state" run by Hezbollah, restoring Lebanon's sovereignty in the south.
But Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said his guerrillas achieved a "strategic, historic victory" against Israel.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Congress has sent a bill to the president that will set up a national database of convicted sex offenders on the internet. Don’t we have this already? It’s called MySpace.
Today marks the 53rd anniversary of Fidel Castro’s revolution in Cuba. Anybody know what Cuba’s main export is? Cubans.
It’s now illegal to feed the homeless in Orlando, Florida. Have you seen the fat people walking around Disneyworld? We should make illegal to feed them.
Will Ferrel on the show tonight for his new racing movie "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” where he plays one of the most feared men behind the wheel. If you don’t count the Kennedy’s.
Letterman
Here’s some good news. President Bush passed his annual physical. Doctors say he is in good shape and is well rested. You know what that means – he’s drinking again.
Leno
Congress has sent a bill to the president that will set up a national database of convicted sex offenders on the internet. Don’t we have this already? It’s called MySpace.
Today marks the 53rd anniversary of Fidel Castro’s revolution in Cuba. Anybody know what Cuba’s main export is? Cubans.
It’s now illegal to feed the homeless in Orlando, Florida. Have you seen the fat people walking around Disneyworld? We should make illegal to feed them.
Will Ferrel on the show tonight for his new racing movie "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” where he plays one of the most feared men behind the wheel. If you don’t count the Kennedy’s.
Letterman
Here’s some good news. President Bush passed his annual physical. Doctors say he is in good shape and is well rested. You know what that means – he’s drinking again.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Saudis: Don't Call Muslims 'Fascists'
Saudi Arabia on Monday rejected linking Muslims with fascism, days after U.S. President George W. Bush spoke of a "war with Islamic fascists".
"(Saudi Arabia) warns of accusing Muslims of terrorism and fascism without considering the history of the pure Islamic civilization," the cabinet of the major U.S. ally said in a statement after a meeting chaired by King Abdullah.
Bush said last week the news of a failed plot to blow up U.S.-bound passenger planes was "a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation".
The Saudi cabinet statement said: "What Islam is being charged with today, such as fascism, is primarily the result of Western cultural heritage.
"Terrorism has no religion and no nationality," said the statement, carried by state media. It made no direct reference to Bush or to the United States.
U.S. officials have said the plot, thwarted by Britain, to blow up several aircraft over the Atlantic bore many of the hallmarks of al-Qaida.
Bush and other administration officials have used variations of the term "Islamo-fascism" on several occasions in the past to describe militant groups including al-Qaida, its allies in Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia on Monday rejected linking Muslims with fascism, days after U.S. President George W. Bush spoke of a "war with Islamic fascists".
"(Saudi Arabia) warns of accusing Muslims of terrorism and fascism without considering the history of the pure Islamic civilization," the cabinet of the major U.S. ally said in a statement after a meeting chaired by King Abdullah.
Bush said last week the news of a failed plot to blow up U.S.-bound passenger planes was "a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation".
The Saudi cabinet statement said: "What Islam is being charged with today, such as fascism, is primarily the result of Western cultural heritage.
"Terrorism has no religion and no nationality," said the statement, carried by state media. It made no direct reference to Bush or to the United States.
U.S. officials have said the plot, thwarted by Britain, to blow up several aircraft over the Atlantic bore many of the hallmarks of al-Qaida.
Bush and other administration officials have used variations of the term "Islamo-fascism" on several occasions in the past to describe militant groups including al-Qaida, its allies in Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Iran's Ahmadinejad Launches Blog, Blasts U.S.
NewsMax - Iran's president has launched a Web log, using his first entry to recount his poor upbringing and ask visitors to the site if they think the United States and Israel want to start a new world war.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose speeches are riddled with anti-U.S. rhetoric, also described how he was angered by American meddling in Iran even when he was at elementary school.
Ahmadinejad swept to a surprise victory in last year's presidential race by promising the country's poor a fairer share of Iran's oil wealth and emphasizing his own humble origins that led many to vote for him as an "outsider" to Iran's ruling elite.
"During the era that ... living in a city was perfection, I was born in a poor family in a remote village," he wrote in a blog dated Friday, after opening with Islamic greetings.
His origins as the son of "a hard-bitten toiler blacksmith" may have been humble, but he says he excelled at school where he said he came 132nd out of 400,000 in exams to enter university.
As well as promising a better life to the poor, Ahmadinejad has sought to bolster support by refusing to bow to what he says is Western pressure to stop Iran's civilian nuclear program. The West says Iran is building an atomic bomb.
His defiance in the stand-off with the West has often played well in the Muslim world, where many are angered by U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Analyst Saeed Laylaz said the site - available in Persian, Arabic, English and French at www.ahmadinejad.ir - may be seeking to win support from abroad.
"Do you think that the U.S. and Israeli intention and goal by attacking Lebanon is pulling the trigger for another world war?" the president asks visitors to the site, offering them the choice to vote 'yes' or 'no'.
Ahmadinejad describes how in the first grade at school - for those aged about seven - he read newspapers with the help of adults about how the then shah of Iran gave Americans living in Iran immunity from prosecution under Iranian laws.
"I realized that Mohammad Reza (Shah) attempted to add another page to the vicious case history which was the humiliation and indignity of the Iranian people versus Americans," he said.
He describes listening ardently to the speeches of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the shah's vociferous critic and later leader of the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the monarchy.
He also discusses Iran's bloody 1980-1988 war with Iraq, in which Ahmadinejad fought as a Revolutionary Guard.
But he admitted his opening blog, which runs to more than 2,300 words in the English version, was too long. "From now onwards, I will try to make it simpler and shorter," he wrote.
NewsMax - Iran's president has launched a Web log, using his first entry to recount his poor upbringing and ask visitors to the site if they think the United States and Israel want to start a new world war.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose speeches are riddled with anti-U.S. rhetoric, also described how he was angered by American meddling in Iran even when he was at elementary school.
Ahmadinejad swept to a surprise victory in last year's presidential race by promising the country's poor a fairer share of Iran's oil wealth and emphasizing his own humble origins that led many to vote for him as an "outsider" to Iran's ruling elite.
"During the era that ... living in a city was perfection, I was born in a poor family in a remote village," he wrote in a blog dated Friday, after opening with Islamic greetings.
His origins as the son of "a hard-bitten toiler blacksmith" may have been humble, but he says he excelled at school where he said he came 132nd out of 400,000 in exams to enter university.
As well as promising a better life to the poor, Ahmadinejad has sought to bolster support by refusing to bow to what he says is Western pressure to stop Iran's civilian nuclear program. The West says Iran is building an atomic bomb.
His defiance in the stand-off with the West has often played well in the Muslim world, where many are angered by U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Analyst Saeed Laylaz said the site - available in Persian, Arabic, English and French at www.ahmadinejad.ir - may be seeking to win support from abroad.
"Do you think that the U.S. and Israeli intention and goal by attacking Lebanon is pulling the trigger for another world war?" the president asks visitors to the site, offering them the choice to vote 'yes' or 'no'.
Ahmadinejad describes how in the first grade at school - for those aged about seven - he read newspapers with the help of adults about how the then shah of Iran gave Americans living in Iran immunity from prosecution under Iranian laws.
"I realized that Mohammad Reza (Shah) attempted to add another page to the vicious case history which was the humiliation and indignity of the Iranian people versus Americans," he said.
He describes listening ardently to the speeches of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the shah's vociferous critic and later leader of the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the monarchy.
He also discusses Iran's bloody 1980-1988 war with Iraq, in which Ahmadinejad fought as a Revolutionary Guard.
But he admitted his opening blog, which runs to more than 2,300 words in the English version, was too long. "From now onwards, I will try to make it simpler and shorter," he wrote.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
U.S. Plans 'Smart-Chip' Passports
Despite ongoing privacy concerns and legal disputes involving companies bidding on the project, the U.S. State Department plans to begin issuing smart chip-embedded passports to Americans as planned Monday.
Not even the foiled terror plot that heightened security checks at airports nationwide threatens to delay the rollout, the agency said. Any hitches in getting the technology to work properly could add even longer waits to travelers already facing lengthy security lines at airports.
The new U.S. passports will include a chip that contains all the data contained in the paper version - name, birthdate, gender, for example - and can be read by electronic scanners at equipped airports. The State Department says they will speed up going through customs and help enhance border security.
Privacy groups continue to raise concerns about the security of the electronic information and a German computer security expert earlier this month demonstrated in Las Vegas how personal information stored on the documents could be copied and transferred to another device.
But electronic cloning does not constitute a threat because the information on the chips, including the photograph, is encrypted and cannot be changed, according to the Smart Card Alliance, a New Jersey-based not-for-profit made up of government agencies and industry players.
"It's no different than someone stealing your passport and trying to use it," Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the alliance, said in a statement. "No one else can use it because your photo is on the chip and they're not you."
Yet the ability to clone the information on the chips may not be the sole threat, privacy advocates argue. A major concern is that hackers could pick up the electronic signal when the passport is being scanned, said Sherwin Siy, staff counsel at the Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center, a leading privacy group.
"Many of the advantages the industry is touting are eliminated by security concerns," Siy said.
After testing the passports in a pilot project over the past year, the government insists they're safe.
Numerous companies competed the last two years to provide the technology. One winner was San Jose-based Infineon Technologies North America Corp., a subsidiary of Germany's Infineon AG. Another was French firm Gemalto, which earlier this month announced that it had received its first production order from the Government Printing Office. It is producing the passports for the State Department, using the Infineon technology.
Another company, On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTIV), was notified July 31 that it had been eliminated from consideration and is appealing the decision, a spokeswoman for the Fort Lee, N.J. company said this week. On Track previously had been eliminated but appealed that decision in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., which found in favor of the company and ordered it be reinstated.
Infineon has been approved for production-quantity orders but hasn't received any because of the unresolved legal dispute, said Veronica Meter, a spokeswoman for the Government Printing Office. The rollout that begins Monday will use technology built up during the pilot project.
Neville Pattinson, director of technology and government affairs for Gemalto in Austin, Texas, would not discuss financial terms of the contract. He acknowledged the economic potential is massive, noting that the State Department issued 10 million passports in 2005 and expects that to increase to 13 million this year.
Citizens who get new passports can expect to pay a lot more. New ones issued under this program will cost $97, which includes a $12 security surcharge added last year. Not all new passports will contain the technology until it's fully rolled out - a process expected to take a year. Existing passports without the electronic chips will remain valid until their normal expiration date.
American Depository Shares of Infineon fell 12 cents to $10.65 Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.
Despite ongoing privacy concerns and legal disputes involving companies bidding on the project, the U.S. State Department plans to begin issuing smart chip-embedded passports to Americans as planned Monday.
Not even the foiled terror plot that heightened security checks at airports nationwide threatens to delay the rollout, the agency said. Any hitches in getting the technology to work properly could add even longer waits to travelers already facing lengthy security lines at airports.
The new U.S. passports will include a chip that contains all the data contained in the paper version - name, birthdate, gender, for example - and can be read by electronic scanners at equipped airports. The State Department says they will speed up going through customs and help enhance border security.
Privacy groups continue to raise concerns about the security of the electronic information and a German computer security expert earlier this month demonstrated in Las Vegas how personal information stored on the documents could be copied and transferred to another device.
But electronic cloning does not constitute a threat because the information on the chips, including the photograph, is encrypted and cannot be changed, according to the Smart Card Alliance, a New Jersey-based not-for-profit made up of government agencies and industry players.
"It's no different than someone stealing your passport and trying to use it," Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the alliance, said in a statement. "No one else can use it because your photo is on the chip and they're not you."
Yet the ability to clone the information on the chips may not be the sole threat, privacy advocates argue. A major concern is that hackers could pick up the electronic signal when the passport is being scanned, said Sherwin Siy, staff counsel at the Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center, a leading privacy group.
"Many of the advantages the industry is touting are eliminated by security concerns," Siy said.
After testing the passports in a pilot project over the past year, the government insists they're safe.
Numerous companies competed the last two years to provide the technology. One winner was San Jose-based Infineon Technologies North America Corp., a subsidiary of Germany's Infineon AG. Another was French firm Gemalto, which earlier this month announced that it had received its first production order from the Government Printing Office. It is producing the passports for the State Department, using the Infineon technology.
Another company, On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTIV), was notified July 31 that it had been eliminated from consideration and is appealing the decision, a spokeswoman for the Fort Lee, N.J. company said this week. On Track previously had been eliminated but appealed that decision in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., which found in favor of the company and ordered it be reinstated.
Infineon has been approved for production-quantity orders but hasn't received any because of the unresolved legal dispute, said Veronica Meter, a spokeswoman for the Government Printing Office. The rollout that begins Monday will use technology built up during the pilot project.
Neville Pattinson, director of technology and government affairs for Gemalto in Austin, Texas, would not discuss financial terms of the contract. He acknowledged the economic potential is massive, noting that the State Department issued 10 million passports in 2005 and expects that to increase to 13 million this year.
Citizens who get new passports can expect to pay a lot more. New ones issued under this program will cost $97, which includes a $12 security surcharge added last year. Not all new passports will contain the technology until it's fully rolled out - a process expected to take a year. Existing passports without the electronic chips will remain valid until their normal expiration date.
American Depository Shares of Infineon fell 12 cents to $10.65 Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
I was driving to work and I see the huge line outside our studio today? I got excited, then I realized it’s not for our show it’s the check in line for the Burbank airport.
As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the airlines are saying no more hair gels, shampoo, makeup or hair sprays will be allowed in your carry-on bag. Who’s attacking us? Drag queens?
They also said that men can not carry on shaving cream. Why? When was the last time you saw an Islamic militant guy with a can of shaving cream? You’ve never seen that.
The terrorists called the liquid potion they were making, "Mother of Satan”. Which is what Mel Gibson now calls tequila.
See, that offends me, "Mother of Satan”. Why did they have to bring Satan’s mother into this? You can’t blame the mom for the way the kids turned out. I’m sure Mrs. Satan did the best she could.
Officials say the terrorists targeted United, American and Continental airlines. You know what that means. Even terrorists won’t fly southwest. It’s just too cramped. There’s no legroom…
We have to give credit to the U.S. and British intelligence agencies for the good work they did in exposing this terrorist plot. Yet with all our intelligence gathering capabilities we still don’t’ know if Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston are engaged. Why don’t we know this?
They’re now saying the price of crude oil could hit 80 dollars a barrel. That’s beyond crude. That’s obscene.
Give you an idea how expensive gas is getting, in Pennsylvania Amish country there has been a rash of horse and buggy jackings.
In fact, in Texas women are carpooling now to run over their cheating husbands. They get like three or four together. Wait tell the guys are in a group…then hit the whole group.
As you know, Tuesday, Senator Joe Lieberman lost his party’s endorsement. He is not taking it well. In fact, last night, he went out drinking with Mel Gibson.
The National Hobo Convention opened yesterday in Britt, Iowa. Planned activities include a parade, a flea market and a knife fight over a bottle of hooch.
Leno
I was driving to work and I see the huge line outside our studio today? I got excited, then I realized it’s not for our show it’s the check in line for the Burbank airport.
As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the airlines are saying no more hair gels, shampoo, makeup or hair sprays will be allowed in your carry-on bag. Who’s attacking us? Drag queens?
They also said that men can not carry on shaving cream. Why? When was the last time you saw an Islamic militant guy with a can of shaving cream? You’ve never seen that.
The terrorists called the liquid potion they were making, "Mother of Satan”. Which is what Mel Gibson now calls tequila.
See, that offends me, "Mother of Satan”. Why did they have to bring Satan’s mother into this? You can’t blame the mom for the way the kids turned out. I’m sure Mrs. Satan did the best she could.
Officials say the terrorists targeted United, American and Continental airlines. You know what that means. Even terrorists won’t fly southwest. It’s just too cramped. There’s no legroom…
We have to give credit to the U.S. and British intelligence agencies for the good work they did in exposing this terrorist plot. Yet with all our intelligence gathering capabilities we still don’t’ know if Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston are engaged. Why don’t we know this?
They’re now saying the price of crude oil could hit 80 dollars a barrel. That’s beyond crude. That’s obscene.
Give you an idea how expensive gas is getting, in Pennsylvania Amish country there has been a rash of horse and buggy jackings.
In fact, in Texas women are carpooling now to run over their cheating husbands. They get like three or four together. Wait tell the guys are in a group…then hit the whole group.
As you know, Tuesday, Senator Joe Lieberman lost his party’s endorsement. He is not taking it well. In fact, last night, he went out drinking with Mel Gibson.
The National Hobo Convention opened yesterday in Britt, Iowa. Planned activities include a parade, a flea market and a knife fight over a bottle of hooch.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Harry Reid: Cheney Politicizing Terrorism
Senate Democratic leaders on Friday accused Vice President Dick Cheney of playing politics with terrorism and contended that voters won't buy Republican arguments that the GOP is stronger on national security.
"They've run this play one too many times. The American people simply do not recognize any validity in what they're saying," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a conference call with reporters.
Democrats sought to put Republicans on the defensive on what historically has been a GOP strength - national security. The heated rhetoric came a day after the disclosure of a thwarted plot to blow up flights from Britain to the United States. Within hours of that news, each party accused the other of doing too little to deter the threat of attack.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., faulted Cheney and Senate Republicans for politicizing the issue.
"They shouldn't. We should all be uniting and be together at this point," said Schumer, the head of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee. "But if they're going to throw the political bombs on this issue, we are going to answer them loud and clear, and we believe we have the political high ground."
Republicans, in turn, accused Democrats of political posturing.
"While Democrat leadership is focused on attacking the vice president for political gain, the administration remains focused on attacking the terrorists for the safety of our nation," said Tracey Schmitt, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman. "The global war on terror is a critical issue to the American people and we will continue to talk about what could not be a more different approach between the two parties."
The nation's safety looms large as an issue in the midterm elections less than three months before the Nov. 7 contest. Both Republicans and Democrats are maneuvering for the political advantage.
On Wednesday, Cheney gave his assessment of anti-war challenger Ned Lamont's Democratic primary win over Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Iraq war supporter.
The vice president suggested that Lamont's victory might encourage "the al-Qaida types" who want to "break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task."
He portrayed the Democratic Party as preferring that the United States "retreat behind our oceans and not be actively engaged in this conflict and be safe here at home."
Reid took issue with the vice president's comments, saying, "This situation isn't going well and anyone that suggests that the people of Connecticut are somehow supporting terrorists, I don't think that's credible and that's what Cheney suggested."
Democrats also criticized the RNC for e-mailing a fundraising appeal mentioning the war on terror hours after British authorities disclosed they had disrupted the plot.
The RNC blamed a low-level staffer for distributing the fundraising appeal, which the party said had been scheduled for release before news of the plot broke. Schmitt said the RNC stopped distributing the e-mail when it learned of the error.
Senate Democratic leaders on Friday accused Vice President Dick Cheney of playing politics with terrorism and contended that voters won't buy Republican arguments that the GOP is stronger on national security.
"They've run this play one too many times. The American people simply do not recognize any validity in what they're saying," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a conference call with reporters.
Democrats sought to put Republicans on the defensive on what historically has been a GOP strength - national security. The heated rhetoric came a day after the disclosure of a thwarted plot to blow up flights from Britain to the United States. Within hours of that news, each party accused the other of doing too little to deter the threat of attack.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., faulted Cheney and Senate Republicans for politicizing the issue.
"They shouldn't. We should all be uniting and be together at this point," said Schumer, the head of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee. "But if they're going to throw the political bombs on this issue, we are going to answer them loud and clear, and we believe we have the political high ground."
Republicans, in turn, accused Democrats of political posturing.
"While Democrat leadership is focused on attacking the vice president for political gain, the administration remains focused on attacking the terrorists for the safety of our nation," said Tracey Schmitt, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman. "The global war on terror is a critical issue to the American people and we will continue to talk about what could not be a more different approach between the two parties."
The nation's safety looms large as an issue in the midterm elections less than three months before the Nov. 7 contest. Both Republicans and Democrats are maneuvering for the political advantage.
On Wednesday, Cheney gave his assessment of anti-war challenger Ned Lamont's Democratic primary win over Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Iraq war supporter.
The vice president suggested that Lamont's victory might encourage "the al-Qaida types" who want to "break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task."
He portrayed the Democratic Party as preferring that the United States "retreat behind our oceans and not be actively engaged in this conflict and be safe here at home."
Reid took issue with the vice president's comments, saying, "This situation isn't going well and anyone that suggests that the people of Connecticut are somehow supporting terrorists, I don't think that's credible and that's what Cheney suggested."
Democrats also criticized the RNC for e-mailing a fundraising appeal mentioning the war on terror hours after British authorities disclosed they had disrupted the plot.
The RNC blamed a low-level staffer for distributing the fundraising appeal, which the party said had been scheduled for release before news of the plot broke. Schmitt said the RNC stopped distributing the e-mail when it learned of the error.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
What a crazy day. I guess you know U.S. and British authorities foiled a terrorist plot. The plan was to blow up planes in mid air. How frightening is that? That makes flying almost as dangerous as Amtrak.
Remember the good old days when the only bomb you had to worry about on a plane was the Rob Schneider movie?
British authorities said they were able to detect the terrorist plot using a surveillance program that the "New York Times” hadn’t got around to exposing yet.
In London you can’t even bring toothpaste on the plane. Which, for the English, isn’t really a problem.
They’re banning hair gel. How’s Al Sharpton gonna fly?
As you know, President Bush is on his summer vacation. Take a break…there was a creepy moment for President Bush today at his Texas ranch. He was clearing away some brush when he suddenly came face-to-face with George Michael and a truck driver. Frightening moment.
As you know, President Bush is on a 10-day vacation. Congress is on a month vacation - and Joe Lieberman is on a permanent vacation.
Interesting fact about Joe Lieberman. Did you know that his father owned a liquor store? In fact, that how they first met the Kennedy’s.
CBS reporter Mike Wallace has scored an exclusive interview with the Iranian president. I don’t want to say that Mike Wallace is old but the last time he interviewed the leader of Iran it was Ali Babba.
"Sports Illustrated” reports there is a new Olympic sport-open water swimming where you swim over 10,000 meters in the ocean. Gee, what do you think the Cubans are going to win this one. Gold medals all around.
Apparently the Dixie Chicks had to cancel 14 shows on their tour, because of slow ticket sales. There’s some concern they’re losing their fan base. How ironic is that? They finally have something in common with President Bush.
Leno
What a crazy day. I guess you know U.S. and British authorities foiled a terrorist plot. The plan was to blow up planes in mid air. How frightening is that? That makes flying almost as dangerous as Amtrak.
Remember the good old days when the only bomb you had to worry about on a plane was the Rob Schneider movie?
British authorities said they were able to detect the terrorist plot using a surveillance program that the "New York Times” hadn’t got around to exposing yet.
In London you can’t even bring toothpaste on the plane. Which, for the English, isn’t really a problem.
They’re banning hair gel. How’s Al Sharpton gonna fly?
As you know, President Bush is on his summer vacation. Take a break…there was a creepy moment for President Bush today at his Texas ranch. He was clearing away some brush when he suddenly came face-to-face with George Michael and a truck driver. Frightening moment.
As you know, President Bush is on a 10-day vacation. Congress is on a month vacation - and Joe Lieberman is on a permanent vacation.
Interesting fact about Joe Lieberman. Did you know that his father owned a liquor store? In fact, that how they first met the Kennedy’s.
CBS reporter Mike Wallace has scored an exclusive interview with the Iranian president. I don’t want to say that Mike Wallace is old but the last time he interviewed the leader of Iran it was Ali Babba.
"Sports Illustrated” reports there is a new Olympic sport-open water swimming where you swim over 10,000 meters in the ocean. Gee, what do you think the Cubans are going to win this one. Gold medals all around.
Apparently the Dixie Chicks had to cancel 14 shows on their tour, because of slow ticket sales. There’s some concern they’re losing their fan base. How ironic is that? They finally have something in common with President Bush.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Terror Intel Leakers Are 'Traitors'
The disruption of an alleged terrorist plot to blow up airliners shows the importance of intelligence gathering and the need to pursue the "traitors" who recently leaked information about classified government programs, Sen. Rick Santorum said Friday.
Those classified programs "were important for us to be able to confront an enemy in time of war," Santorum said. "When people leak that kind of information, to me, that is traitorous activity."
Santorum, the No. 3 Senate Republican, acknowledged that he did not know whether classified programs recently brought to light by leaks, such as a National Security Agency warrantless wiretapping program, were involved in heading off the alleged terrorist plan to smuggle explosive components onto passenger jets.
The Bush administration has harshly criticized reports that revealed the existence of the warrantless wiretap program as well as another secret government initiative that accesses a huge databank of bank records.
"I think it is vitally important for us to understand that the compromises that have been made of American intelligence over the last few months were serious and that the traitors within the intelligence community who leaked that information, for whatever purposes, must be pursued aggressively," Santorum said.
Santorum, a close ally of President Bush, is locked in a difficult re-election battle with Democrat Bob Casey, Pennsylvania's state treasurer. The latest statewide independent poll showed Casey with a slight advantage.
The disruption of an alleged terrorist plot to blow up airliners shows the importance of intelligence gathering and the need to pursue the "traitors" who recently leaked information about classified government programs, Sen. Rick Santorum said Friday.
Those classified programs "were important for us to be able to confront an enemy in time of war," Santorum said. "When people leak that kind of information, to me, that is traitorous activity."
Santorum, the No. 3 Senate Republican, acknowledged that he did not know whether classified programs recently brought to light by leaks, such as a National Security Agency warrantless wiretapping program, were involved in heading off the alleged terrorist plan to smuggle explosive components onto passenger jets.
The Bush administration has harshly criticized reports that revealed the existence of the warrantless wiretap program as well as another secret government initiative that accesses a huge databank of bank records.
"I think it is vitally important for us to understand that the compromises that have been made of American intelligence over the last few months were serious and that the traitors within the intelligence community who leaked that information, for whatever purposes, must be pursued aggressively," Santorum said.
Santorum, a close ally of President Bush, is locked in a difficult re-election battle with Democrat Bob Casey, Pennsylvania's state treasurer. The latest statewide independent poll showed Casey with a slight advantage.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Here is some wonderful news. Doctors in Utah were able to successfully separate those conjoined twins. But sadly in Connecticut they were unable to successfully separate Joe Lieberman from President Bush.
Senator Joe Lieberman lost his own parties nomination yesterday. He was beaten by new comer Ned Lamont. Or you know him as "Who?” Wasn’t that Fred Sanford’s son?
And to his credit, he was just as dull in defeat as he would have been in victory.
Give you an idea how bad Lieberman got beaten, even Mel Gibson was feeling sorry for him.
Iran announced today that it cloned a sheep. They plan to use the sheep to pull the wool over the U.N.’s eyes.
President Bush ruled out sending troops to Lebanon. Know what that means, they don't have oil.
75 hours of video is hitting the internet of O.J. Simpson's day-to-day life. During one radio interview O.J. calls Oprah dishonest...he's done it now...killing two people is one thing, but taking Oprah's name in vain, you're a dead man!
Paris Hilton is now claiming she will remain celibate for 365 days. Oh, not in a row…over the course of her lifetime.
NBC is considering adding another hour to the today show. Making it now 17 hours long. It will just go to day and then right into tonight.
Conan
Floyd Landis said the reason he failed the drug test was that he accidentally ingested testosterone from another source. So he ate Barry Bonds.
President Bush is currently reading a book about President Lincoln – or as he calls him, "the guy on the pennies”.
Leno
Here is some wonderful news. Doctors in Utah were able to successfully separate those conjoined twins. But sadly in Connecticut they were unable to successfully separate Joe Lieberman from President Bush.
Senator Joe Lieberman lost his own parties nomination yesterday. He was beaten by new comer Ned Lamont. Or you know him as "Who?” Wasn’t that Fred Sanford’s son?
And to his credit, he was just as dull in defeat as he would have been in victory.
Give you an idea how bad Lieberman got beaten, even Mel Gibson was feeling sorry for him.
Iran announced today that it cloned a sheep. They plan to use the sheep to pull the wool over the U.N.’s eyes.
President Bush ruled out sending troops to Lebanon. Know what that means, they don't have oil.
75 hours of video is hitting the internet of O.J. Simpson's day-to-day life. During one radio interview O.J. calls Oprah dishonest...he's done it now...killing two people is one thing, but taking Oprah's name in vain, you're a dead man!
Paris Hilton is now claiming she will remain celibate for 365 days. Oh, not in a row…over the course of her lifetime.
NBC is considering adding another hour to the today show. Making it now 17 hours long. It will just go to day and then right into tonight.
Conan
Floyd Landis said the reason he failed the drug test was that he accidentally ingested testosterone from another source. So he ate Barry Bonds.
President Bush is currently reading a book about President Lincoln – or as he calls him, "the guy on the pennies”.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Hezbollah Ties to British Plot
NewsMax.com senior correspondent and Middle East expert Kenneth R. Timmerman said Hezbollah might be to blame for the terror plot thwarted by British security agencies Thursday.
Timmerman, appearing as a guest on MSNBC’s "Tucker with Tucker Carlson,” said the plot was reminiscent of one in 1986 that was foiled by French authorities.
"Hezbollah operatives had tried to bring in liquid explosives to launch terrorist attacks,” Timmerman said. "The French caught them and the explosives, which were brought in inside little liquor bottles. This is the kind of thing that has Hezbollah’s fingerprints all over it.”
Timmerman - who for the past several weeks has filed daily reports for NewsMax.com from Israel on the Middle East conflict – said he also suspects Iran has strong ties to al-Qaida that makes the prospect of nuclear proliferation in that region all the more troubling for the United States and Israel.
"The Bush administration is concerned that Iran has a clandestine nuclear program and we just don’t know when they will have nuclear weapons capability,” Timmerman said. While other nations, such as France, do possess nuclear capability, Iran is an obvious threat because of the theocracy that governs the nation, as reflected in the statements of its hard-line leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"The problem with Iran is not nuclear weapons per se,” he told Carlson. "Iran is a theocracy and its leaders believe that they take their cue from God. Ahmadinejad said his goal is the destruction of Israel and to destroy America. He believes that by setting off a worldwide jihad and a worldwide nuclear cataclysm, that he can bring about the end of the world and that Muslims will be free and be safe. This is an ideology we need to take very seriously.”
Timmerman’s book, "Countdown to Crisis: The Coming Nuclear Showdown with Iran," deals with this serious threat, and links the Iranian regime to al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations now actively battling the United States and Israel in the war on terrorism.
"As of 1993, the Iranian regime had started its liaison with al-Qaida,” he said. "They sent their top terrorist – who the Israelis now believe is in south Lebanon coordinating attacks against Israel – and they sent him to Sudan to meet with Osama bin Laden . . . We know this because the bodyguard of Osama bin Laden has become state’s evidence in the U.S. in several court cases . . . ”
Timmerman continues, laying the foundation for a possible conflict between Iran and what it considers the "Great Satan and Little Satan” – the United States and Israel.
"We have evidence of Iran helping al-Qaida all through the 1990s, training al-Qaida terrorists in Lebanon and taking them into Iran,” Timmerman said. "Experts of Islam that the CIA listens to said this could never happen because the Iranians are Shia and the al-Qaida people are Wahhabi Sunnis. But when it gets down to killing Jews and killing Americans, guess what, they get along very well.”
NewsMax.com senior correspondent and Middle East expert Kenneth R. Timmerman said Hezbollah might be to blame for the terror plot thwarted by British security agencies Thursday.
Timmerman, appearing as a guest on MSNBC’s "Tucker with Tucker Carlson,” said the plot was reminiscent of one in 1986 that was foiled by French authorities.
"Hezbollah operatives had tried to bring in liquid explosives to launch terrorist attacks,” Timmerman said. "The French caught them and the explosives, which were brought in inside little liquor bottles. This is the kind of thing that has Hezbollah’s fingerprints all over it.”
Timmerman - who for the past several weeks has filed daily reports for NewsMax.com from Israel on the Middle East conflict – said he also suspects Iran has strong ties to al-Qaida that makes the prospect of nuclear proliferation in that region all the more troubling for the United States and Israel.
"The Bush administration is concerned that Iran has a clandestine nuclear program and we just don’t know when they will have nuclear weapons capability,” Timmerman said. While other nations, such as France, do possess nuclear capability, Iran is an obvious threat because of the theocracy that governs the nation, as reflected in the statements of its hard-line leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"The problem with Iran is not nuclear weapons per se,” he told Carlson. "Iran is a theocracy and its leaders believe that they take their cue from God. Ahmadinejad said his goal is the destruction of Israel and to destroy America. He believes that by setting off a worldwide jihad and a worldwide nuclear cataclysm, that he can bring about the end of the world and that Muslims will be free and be safe. This is an ideology we need to take very seriously.”
Timmerman’s book, "Countdown to Crisis: The Coming Nuclear Showdown with Iran," deals with this serious threat, and links the Iranian regime to al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations now actively battling the United States and Israel in the war on terrorism.
"As of 1993, the Iranian regime had started its liaison with al-Qaida,” he said. "They sent their top terrorist – who the Israelis now believe is in south Lebanon coordinating attacks against Israel – and they sent him to Sudan to meet with Osama bin Laden . . . We know this because the bodyguard of Osama bin Laden has become state’s evidence in the U.S. in several court cases . . . ”
Timmerman continues, laying the foundation for a possible conflict between Iran and what it considers the "Great Satan and Little Satan” – the United States and Israel.
"We have evidence of Iran helping al-Qaida all through the 1990s, training al-Qaida terrorists in Lebanon and taking them into Iran,” Timmerman said. "Experts of Islam that the CIA listens to said this could never happen because the Iranians are Shia and the al-Qaida people are Wahhabi Sunnis. But when it gets down to killing Jews and killing Americans, guess what, they get along very well.”
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Floyd Landis is on the show tonight. In celebration I decided to ride my bike here. My Harley.
On the subject of drug testing someone else tested positive for too much testosterone. Rosie O’Donnell taking a test for "The View”.
Reuben Stoddard and Kevin Fedderline are going to record a duet. I believe they’re called "Ebony and Hillbilly”.
Letterman
It’s hot outside. It’s so hot out Al Gore has a new movie out called "An Inconvenient Rash”.
It was so hot that Ben Roethilsberger was wearing nothing but his helmet.
It was so hot that President Bush called some European leaders just for the chilly reception.
It was so hot Angelina Jolie was nursing Ted Williams.
Leno
Floyd Landis is on the show tonight. In celebration I decided to ride my bike here. My Harley.
On the subject of drug testing someone else tested positive for too much testosterone. Rosie O’Donnell taking a test for "The View”.
Reuben Stoddard and Kevin Fedderline are going to record a duet. I believe they’re called "Ebony and Hillbilly”.
Letterman
It’s hot outside. It’s so hot out Al Gore has a new movie out called "An Inconvenient Rash”.
It was so hot that Ben Roethilsberger was wearing nothing but his helmet.
It was so hot that President Bush called some European leaders just for the chilly reception.
It was so hot Angelina Jolie was nursing Ted Williams.
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Al Gore's Hypocrisy Exposed
Al Gore insists the world must embrace a "carbon-neutral lifestyle" and make necessary sacrifices to head off what he warns will be an environmental cataclysm – but in his personal life he doesn’t practice what he preaches.
"Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb," warns the Web site for his global warming documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth.” "We have just 10 years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tailspin."
Gore tells consumers how to change their lives to curb their carbon-gobbling ways: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, use a clothesline, drive a hybrid, use renewable energy, dramatically cut back on consumption.
But "public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va. He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.,” Peter Schweizer, author of the book Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy,” writes in USA Today.
"For someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself.”
Gore doesn’t follow his own advice when it comes to energy consumption, either.
In the Washington, D.C., area, utility companies offer wind energy as an alternative to traditional energy, and similar programs exist in Nashville. Utility customers who pay a few extra pennies per kilowatt hour can take a big step toward a carbon-neutral lifestyle.
But according to public records, there is no evidence that Gore has signed up to use wind energy in either of his large residences, reveals Schweizer, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution.
"Talk about inconvenient truths.”
Gore claims to be environmentally friendly, but he hasn’t dumped his family's large stock holdings in Occidental (Oxy) Petroleum. As executor of his family's trust, over the years Gore has controlled hundreds of thousands of dollars in Oxy stock, while Oxy has been beset by controversy over oil drilling in ecologically sensitive areas.
Humanity might be "sitting on a ticking time bomb," but Gore's home in Carthage is sitting on a zinc mine.
Gore receives $20,000 a year in royalties from Pasminco Zinc, which operates a zinc concession on his property. Tennessee has cited the company for contaminating the nearby Caney Fork River with quantities of barium, iron and zinc.
"The issue here is not simply Gore's hypocrisy; it's a question of credibility,” Schweizer writes.
"If he genuinely believes the apocalyptic vision he has put forth, and calls for radical changes in the way other people live, why hasn't he made any radical change in his life? Giving up the zinc mine or one of his homes is not asking much, given that he wants the rest of us to radically change our lives.”
Al Gore insists the world must embrace a "carbon-neutral lifestyle" and make necessary sacrifices to head off what he warns will be an environmental cataclysm – but in his personal life he doesn’t practice what he preaches.
"Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb," warns the Web site for his global warming documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth.” "We have just 10 years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tailspin."
Gore tells consumers how to change their lives to curb their carbon-gobbling ways: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, use a clothesline, drive a hybrid, use renewable energy, dramatically cut back on consumption.
But "public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va. He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.,” Peter Schweizer, author of the book Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy,” writes in USA Today.
"For someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself.”
Gore doesn’t follow his own advice when it comes to energy consumption, either.
In the Washington, D.C., area, utility companies offer wind energy as an alternative to traditional energy, and similar programs exist in Nashville. Utility customers who pay a few extra pennies per kilowatt hour can take a big step toward a carbon-neutral lifestyle.
But according to public records, there is no evidence that Gore has signed up to use wind energy in either of his large residences, reveals Schweizer, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution.
"Talk about inconvenient truths.”
Gore claims to be environmentally friendly, but he hasn’t dumped his family's large stock holdings in Occidental (Oxy) Petroleum. As executor of his family's trust, over the years Gore has controlled hundreds of thousands of dollars in Oxy stock, while Oxy has been beset by controversy over oil drilling in ecologically sensitive areas.
Humanity might be "sitting on a ticking time bomb," but Gore's home in Carthage is sitting on a zinc mine.
Gore receives $20,000 a year in royalties from Pasminco Zinc, which operates a zinc concession on his property. Tennessee has cited the company for contaminating the nearby Caney Fork River with quantities of barium, iron and zinc.
"The issue here is not simply Gore's hypocrisy; it's a question of credibility,” Schweizer writes.
"If he genuinely believes the apocalyptic vision he has put forth, and calls for radical changes in the way other people live, why hasn't he made any radical change in his life? Giving up the zinc mine or one of his homes is not asking much, given that he wants the rest of us to radically change our lives.”
Monday, August 7, 2006
Hezbollah Can Strike in U.S.
A handful of money scams uncovered across the United States in recent years bearing Hezbollah's fingerprints have some experts worried that if orders were given to launch a terror attack against the U.S. the means are in place to do so.
The FBI has made Hezbollah a central target of its counterterrorism efforts, setting up a unit dedicated to tracking the group and assigning agents to develop sources in Lebanese and other Middle Eastern communities across the country, report National Security Correspondent Dan Ephron and Investigative Correspondent Michael Isikoff in the August 14 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, August 7).
Security officials worry that if Hezbollah does one day decide to strike, it can exploit an already-existing network in this country.
"You often see in these groups that people who deal in finances also have military backgrounds," Chris Hamilton, who was the FBI's unit chief for Palestinian investigations until last year, tells Newsweek. "The fact is, they have the ability [to attack] in the United States."
American screw-tightening on Iran over its nuclear program, might prompt Hezbollah to issue such an order. Iran is Hezbollah's main political and financial backer.
"It would be enough for the Iranian leadership to say the word for Hezbollah to launch an attack," Congressman Ed Royce, a Republican from California who chairs the House subcommittee on international terrorism and non-proliferation, tells Newsweek.
Support for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah runs high in Lebanese communities across the country, and it spikes when Israel's war with Hizbullah or with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza heats up. But Arab-American leaders complain law enforcers are too quick to equate the pride some expatriots take in Hezbollah's stand against Israel --or even just the sympathy they feel for the Lebanese people-with support for terrorism.
"Any time somebody sends money to somebody in Lebanon, the [prosecutors] say it's for Hezbollah," said Maurice Herskovic, who initially represented one of the defendants in a recent case in Detroit.
Law enforcers say there's been no sign the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, with all the Arab anger it stirs against America, will goad the group into action against the U.S.
Hezbollah has not targeted Americans since the 1980s, when attacks on a Marine barracks in Lebanon and on the U.S. Embassy there killed more than 300 people.
A handful of money scams uncovered across the United States in recent years bearing Hezbollah's fingerprints have some experts worried that if orders were given to launch a terror attack against the U.S. the means are in place to do so.
The FBI has made Hezbollah a central target of its counterterrorism efforts, setting up a unit dedicated to tracking the group and assigning agents to develop sources in Lebanese and other Middle Eastern communities across the country, report National Security Correspondent Dan Ephron and Investigative Correspondent Michael Isikoff in the August 14 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, August 7).
Security officials worry that if Hezbollah does one day decide to strike, it can exploit an already-existing network in this country.
"You often see in these groups that people who deal in finances also have military backgrounds," Chris Hamilton, who was the FBI's unit chief for Palestinian investigations until last year, tells Newsweek. "The fact is, they have the ability [to attack] in the United States."
American screw-tightening on Iran over its nuclear program, might prompt Hezbollah to issue such an order. Iran is Hezbollah's main political and financial backer.
"It would be enough for the Iranian leadership to say the word for Hezbollah to launch an attack," Congressman Ed Royce, a Republican from California who chairs the House subcommittee on international terrorism and non-proliferation, tells Newsweek.
Support for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah runs high in Lebanese communities across the country, and it spikes when Israel's war with Hizbullah or with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza heats up. But Arab-American leaders complain law enforcers are too quick to equate the pride some expatriots take in Hezbollah's stand against Israel --or even just the sympathy they feel for the Lebanese people-with support for terrorism.
"Any time somebody sends money to somebody in Lebanon, the [prosecutors] say it's for Hezbollah," said Maurice Herskovic, who initially represented one of the defendants in a recent case in Detroit.
Law enforcers say there's been no sign the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, with all the Arab anger it stirs against America, will goad the group into action against the U.S.
Hezbollah has not targeted Americans since the 1980s, when attacks on a Marine barracks in Lebanon and on the U.S. Embassy there killed more than 300 people.
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Pentagon: Officials Didn't Lie to 9/11 Panel
There is no evidence that Pentagon officials intentionally misled the Sept. 11 commission when they gave inaccurate accounts about actions at the time of the 2001 terrorist attacks, a Defense Department spokesman said.
A forthcoming report from the Pentagon's inspector general will address the question of whether military commanders intentionally misled the commission, said the spokesman, Lt. Col. Brian Maka.
But "there is nothing that indicates the information provided to the commission was knowingly false," Maka said.
The inspector general's report is the result of a compromise among commissioners, some of whom concluded that the Pentagon may have been deliberately trying to mislead the Sept. 11 panel and the public, sources involved in the debate told The Washington Post last week.
The commission debated referring the matter to the Justice Department for criminal investigation before agreeing to turn the allegations over to the inspectors general for the Defense and Transportation departments.
Panel members have said that timelines from audiotapes from the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Northeast headquarters did not match accounts given in testimony by government officials.
Maj. Gen. Larry Arnold and Col. Alan Scott told commissioners that NORAD began tracking United Airlines Flight 93 at 9:16 a.m. on Sept. 11 and intended to intercept it. The commission determined that the jet was not hijacked until 12 minutes later and that the military was not aware of the flight until the jet had crashed in Pennsylvania.
Officials with the Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration later corrected some information originally given to the panel, such as the tracking of Flight 93 and the exact times the FAA notified the military of the hijackings.
Poor investigation and record-keeping contributed to the inaccuracies, according to a summary from the Pentagon inspector general's office released last week.
The summary of the report said improvements had been made, but it also called for more steps to improve the Defense Department's ability to investigate "a future significant air event."
There is no evidence that Pentagon officials intentionally misled the Sept. 11 commission when they gave inaccurate accounts about actions at the time of the 2001 terrorist attacks, a Defense Department spokesman said.
A forthcoming report from the Pentagon's inspector general will address the question of whether military commanders intentionally misled the commission, said the spokesman, Lt. Col. Brian Maka.
But "there is nothing that indicates the information provided to the commission was knowingly false," Maka said.
The inspector general's report is the result of a compromise among commissioners, some of whom concluded that the Pentagon may have been deliberately trying to mislead the Sept. 11 panel and the public, sources involved in the debate told The Washington Post last week.
The commission debated referring the matter to the Justice Department for criminal investigation before agreeing to turn the allegations over to the inspectors general for the Defense and Transportation departments.
Panel members have said that timelines from audiotapes from the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Northeast headquarters did not match accounts given in testimony by government officials.
Maj. Gen. Larry Arnold and Col. Alan Scott told commissioners that NORAD began tracking United Airlines Flight 93 at 9:16 a.m. on Sept. 11 and intended to intercept it. The commission determined that the jet was not hijacked until 12 minutes later and that the military was not aware of the flight until the jet had crashed in Pennsylvania.
Officials with the Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration later corrected some information originally given to the panel, such as the tracking of Flight 93 and the exact times the FAA notified the military of the hijackings.
Poor investigation and record-keeping contributed to the inaccuracies, according to a summary from the Pentagon inspector general's office released last week.
The summary of the report said improvements had been made, but it also called for more steps to improve the Defense Department's ability to investigate "a future significant air event."
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Democrats Weak on Terror Fight
The head of the Republican Party accused Democrats of being willing to surrender the tools necessary to combat terrorism as the GOP tries to capitalize on its national security advantage in a tough election year.
Faced with President Bush's low approval ratings and diminishing support for the Iraq war, the Republican strategy is to make the war on terrorism a central campaign issue and argue that Democrats hold a pre-Sept. 11 view of the world.
Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, stressed that argument in a speech Friday at the organization's two-day summer meeting, similar to points made by White House adviser Karl Rove in January.
"America faces a critical question," Mehlman said in his prepared text. "Will we elect leaders who recognize we're at war and want to use every tool to win it, or politicians who would surrender important tools we need to win?"
If Democrats win control of Congress, Mehlman claimed that their leaders will stop the National Security Agency from eavesdropping on foreign terrorists and pursue impeachment of President Bush.
The Democratic National Committee dismissed Mehlman's comments, saying his "desperate rantings won't change the fact that Bush and his rubber-stamp Republicans are in deep trouble with the American people who can see right through their trickery and spin.
"The American people will not be fooled again," said Karen Finney, a spokeswoman for the DNC.
Mehlman singled out House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.
"As foreign jihadists call into the United States, do we use (National Security Agency) technology to stop sleeper cells before they hit us? Or do we surrender use of this technology, as Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean would have us do?"
Democrats and some Republicans have questioned the legality of President Bush's domestic spying. The Bush administration contends that the warrantless wiretapping is needed to combat terrorism.
Mehlman also selectively quoted from comments made by Rep. John Dingell of Michigan in a recent television interview. The Democrat argued that if the United States is going to be an honest broker in the Middle East, it must talk to Israel and Hezbollah.
"I happen to be - I happen to be against violence, I think the United States has to bring resolution to this matter. Now, I condemn Hezbollah as does everybody else, for the violence," Dingell said.
Conservative Web sites and Web logs have used only snippets of Dingell's comments. Mehlman said Friday, "As our allies fight this same war on other fronts, should we support them, or should we - as the longest-serving Democrat in the House and possible committee chairman John Dingell said - 'not take sides for or against Hezbollah.'"
The political terrain looks rough for Republicans, with polls showing that many voters prefer the Democratic candidate in their district to the GOP pick. Not only is control of the House and Senate at stake, but the future of Bush's agenda in the remaining years of his second term.
Throughout the dismal polling on approval ratings for Congress, Republicans hold the upper hand on national security issues. Last month's Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that the GOP has an advantage over Democrats on foreign policy and fighting terrorism - 43 percent to 33 percent - and a smaller edge on handling Iraq - 36 percent to 32 percent.
The head of the Republican Party accused Democrats of being willing to surrender the tools necessary to combat terrorism as the GOP tries to capitalize on its national security advantage in a tough election year.
Faced with President Bush's low approval ratings and diminishing support for the Iraq war, the Republican strategy is to make the war on terrorism a central campaign issue and argue that Democrats hold a pre-Sept. 11 view of the world.
Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, stressed that argument in a speech Friday at the organization's two-day summer meeting, similar to points made by White House adviser Karl Rove in January.
"America faces a critical question," Mehlman said in his prepared text. "Will we elect leaders who recognize we're at war and want to use every tool to win it, or politicians who would surrender important tools we need to win?"
If Democrats win control of Congress, Mehlman claimed that their leaders will stop the National Security Agency from eavesdropping on foreign terrorists and pursue impeachment of President Bush.
The Democratic National Committee dismissed Mehlman's comments, saying his "desperate rantings won't change the fact that Bush and his rubber-stamp Republicans are in deep trouble with the American people who can see right through their trickery and spin.
"The American people will not be fooled again," said Karen Finney, a spokeswoman for the DNC.
Mehlman singled out House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.
"As foreign jihadists call into the United States, do we use (National Security Agency) technology to stop sleeper cells before they hit us? Or do we surrender use of this technology, as Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean would have us do?"
Democrats and some Republicans have questioned the legality of President Bush's domestic spying. The Bush administration contends that the warrantless wiretapping is needed to combat terrorism.
Mehlman also selectively quoted from comments made by Rep. John Dingell of Michigan in a recent television interview. The Democrat argued that if the United States is going to be an honest broker in the Middle East, it must talk to Israel and Hezbollah.
"I happen to be - I happen to be against violence, I think the United States has to bring resolution to this matter. Now, I condemn Hezbollah as does everybody else, for the violence," Dingell said.
Conservative Web sites and Web logs have used only snippets of Dingell's comments. Mehlman said Friday, "As our allies fight this same war on other fronts, should we support them, or should we - as the longest-serving Democrat in the House and possible committee chairman John Dingell said - 'not take sides for or against Hezbollah.'"
The political terrain looks rough for Republicans, with polls showing that many voters prefer the Democratic candidate in their district to the GOP pick. Not only is control of the House and Senate at stake, but the future of Bush's agenda in the remaining years of his second term.
Throughout the dismal polling on approval ratings for Congress, Republicans hold the upper hand on national security issues. Last month's Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that the GOP has an advantage over Democrats on foreign policy and fighting terrorism - 43 percent to 33 percent - and a smaller edge on handling Iraq - 36 percent to 32 percent.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
As you may have heard, this week President Bush had his annual physical. In a related story, Vice President Cheney had his annual autopsy.
Yesterday, President Bush flew out to his Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas to begin his eleven-day vacation. Of course it’s not really a ranch, there’s no cows or horses so really it’s more of an estate, but "ranch” sounds better. It’s kind of like when he calls Iraq a democracy. It sounds better.
Yesterday Senator Hillary Clinton really went after Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that he has a bad track record and she asked him why she should trust him. Do you get the feeling that maybe she’s been burned by guy before.
You know I keep hearing and reading regarding the Mel Gibson story that they know that Mel meant what he said because alcohol is a truth serum. Keep hearing this over and over. Alcohol is a truth serum. Really? Since when? Women, when’s the last time you met a guy in a bar drinking heavily and he told you the truth? "Married, no, I’ve never been married. Kids? I don’t have any kids?”
Floyd Landis, winner of the Tour de France, was supposed to be on our show last week and cancelled. Then yesterday he was supposed to be on the show and cancelled again. That’s pretty sad, when you don’t even think you can pass the tonight show drug test. Come on! The band got in.
100 degree weather continuing back east. I tell you, people in Connecticut were sweating like Joe Lieberman looking at poll results.
Conan
President Bush gave a speech on immigration near the Texas-Mexico border today. There was an awkward moment when an illegal asked for directions to Dallas.
Afterwards President Bush left for his ranch for a ten day vacation. This is a perfect time for a vacation when things are going so smoothly in Iraq.
The Los Angeles Police Department has a tape of Mel Gibson’s arrest but have decided they are not going to release it to the press. Instead they decided it is too good and are going to sell it on DVD.
Leno
As you may have heard, this week President Bush had his annual physical. In a related story, Vice President Cheney had his annual autopsy.
Yesterday, President Bush flew out to his Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas to begin his eleven-day vacation. Of course it’s not really a ranch, there’s no cows or horses so really it’s more of an estate, but "ranch” sounds better. It’s kind of like when he calls Iraq a democracy. It sounds better.
Yesterday Senator Hillary Clinton really went after Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that he has a bad track record and she asked him why she should trust him. Do you get the feeling that maybe she’s been burned by guy before.
You know I keep hearing and reading regarding the Mel Gibson story that they know that Mel meant what he said because alcohol is a truth serum. Keep hearing this over and over. Alcohol is a truth serum. Really? Since when? Women, when’s the last time you met a guy in a bar drinking heavily and he told you the truth? "Married, no, I’ve never been married. Kids? I don’t have any kids?”
Floyd Landis, winner of the Tour de France, was supposed to be on our show last week and cancelled. Then yesterday he was supposed to be on the show and cancelled again. That’s pretty sad, when you don’t even think you can pass the tonight show drug test. Come on! The band got in.
100 degree weather continuing back east. I tell you, people in Connecticut were sweating like Joe Lieberman looking at poll results.
Conan
President Bush gave a speech on immigration near the Texas-Mexico border today. There was an awkward moment when an illegal asked for directions to Dallas.
Afterwards President Bush left for his ranch for a ten day vacation. This is a perfect time for a vacation when things are going so smoothly in Iraq.
The Los Angeles Police Department has a tape of Mel Gibson’s arrest but have decided they are not going to release it to the press. Instead they decided it is too good and are going to sell it on DVD.
Friday, August 4, 2006
Can't Let 'Evil' Extremists Win
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned Thursday against pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq prematurely, saying it would be seen as a victory by extremists who want to control a region extending beyond the Middle East.
"If we left Iraq prematurely as the terrorists demand, the enemy would tell us to leave Afghanistan and then withdraw from the Middle East," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing.
"And if we left the Middle East, they'd order us and all those who don't share their militant ideology to leave what they call the occupied Muslim lands from Spain to the Philippines," he said.
"And then we would face not only the evil ideology of these extremists, but an enemy that will have grown accustomed to succeeding in telling free people everywhere what to do."
Testifying about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rumsfeld said the Bush administration wants to bring U.S. troops home
The head of U.S. Central Command, Army Gen. John Abizaid, also played down prospects for reducing troop levels in Iraq this year because of violence in Baghdad.
The United States has about 133,000 troops in Iraq.
Abizaid called the sectarian violence the worst he had yet seen in Baghdad, and said it could lead to civil war.
"Sectarian violence probably is as bad as I've seen it, in Baghdad in particular," he said. "If not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move toward civil war."
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned Thursday against pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq prematurely, saying it would be seen as a victory by extremists who want to control a region extending beyond the Middle East.
"If we left Iraq prematurely as the terrorists demand, the enemy would tell us to leave Afghanistan and then withdraw from the Middle East," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing.
"And if we left the Middle East, they'd order us and all those who don't share their militant ideology to leave what they call the occupied Muslim lands from Spain to the Philippines," he said.
"And then we would face not only the evil ideology of these extremists, but an enemy that will have grown accustomed to succeeding in telling free people everywhere what to do."
Testifying about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rumsfeld said the Bush administration wants to bring U.S. troops home
The head of U.S. Central Command, Army Gen. John Abizaid, also played down prospects for reducing troop levels in Iraq this year because of violence in Baghdad.
The United States has about 133,000 troops in Iraq.
Abizaid called the sectarian violence the worst he had yet seen in Baghdad, and said it could lead to civil war.
"Sectarian violence probably is as bad as I've seen it, in Baghdad in particular," he said. "If not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move toward civil war."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
It was so hot in Cuba, Fidel Castro said he’s looking forward to being put on ice.
It was so hot in Rhode Island that Patrick Kennedy was popping frozen Ambien.
Yesterday Mel Gibson was formally charged with having an open container . . . and a closed mind.
He could face up to six months in prison. Life, if he gets a Jewish judge.
You know what is really ironic about this? Mel Gibson may be the first guy in history to be in more trouble for talking while drunk then driving while drunk.
President Bush had his annual physical this week. Doctors said that the president is in excellent shape…the country gone to hell. But he’s in good shape.
The report showed that president bush had no history of disease including sexually transmitted diseases. President Bush was relieved to hear that. He’s always worried that he might have caught something from Clinton’s old office chair.
Cuban doctors said today that Fidel Castro is recovering and is in better shape than the next guy. Assuming the next guy is Dick Cheney.
Castro’s condition has been listed as stable but homeless looking condition.
Leno
It was so hot in Cuba, Fidel Castro said he’s looking forward to being put on ice.
It was so hot in Rhode Island that Patrick Kennedy was popping frozen Ambien.
Yesterday Mel Gibson was formally charged with having an open container . . . and a closed mind.
He could face up to six months in prison. Life, if he gets a Jewish judge.
You know what is really ironic about this? Mel Gibson may be the first guy in history to be in more trouble for talking while drunk then driving while drunk.
President Bush had his annual physical this week. Doctors said that the president is in excellent shape…the country gone to hell. But he’s in good shape.
The report showed that president bush had no history of disease including sexually transmitted diseases. President Bush was relieved to hear that. He’s always worried that he might have caught something from Clinton’s old office chair.
Cuban doctors said today that Fidel Castro is recovering and is in better shape than the next guy. Assuming the next guy is Dick Cheney.
Castro’s condition has been listed as stable but homeless looking condition.
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Bush Calls Sam Donaldson a 'Has Been'
As President George W. Bush joined the last daily press briefing in the White House press room, which will undergo a nine-month renovation, he took a moment to answer some questions.
At that time, a reporter shouted:
"Mr. President, should Mel Gibson be forgiven?"
The president laughed and looked into the audience to see who shouted the remark:
"Sam Donaldson, is that you? I don't have to talk to you anymore, you're a has been," the president joked.
First, there was laughter, then perhaps a more circumspect laughter.
The president then called the White House press corps a "beautiful bunch of people," and said the best question he received from them was their final question.
But, in the end, Bush did not respond to the former ABC News anchor's question.
The president and first lady Laura Bush surprised media members gathered in the James Brady Room, the formal name for the press briefing room, for the final press conference there.
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow had invited several of his predecessors to the final briefing, including James Brady, Marlin Fitzwater, Dee Dee Myers, and Joe Lockhart.
As President George W. Bush joined the last daily press briefing in the White House press room, which will undergo a nine-month renovation, he took a moment to answer some questions.
At that time, a reporter shouted:
"Mr. President, should Mel Gibson be forgiven?"
The president laughed and looked into the audience to see who shouted the remark:
"Sam Donaldson, is that you? I don't have to talk to you anymore, you're a has been," the president joked.
First, there was laughter, then perhaps a more circumspect laughter.
The president then called the White House press corps a "beautiful bunch of people," and said the best question he received from them was their final question.
But, in the end, Bush did not respond to the former ABC News anchor's question.
The president and first lady Laura Bush surprised media members gathered in the James Brady Room, the formal name for the press briefing room, for the final press conference there.
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow had invited several of his predecessors to the final briefing, including James Brady, Marlin Fitzwater, Dee Dee Myers, and Joe Lockhart.
Late Nite Jokes
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Signs The Supreme Court Doesn't Give A Damn
10.Opinion based on coin flip so they could make 2:40 showing of "Superman Returns"
9. Tough to concentrate with Ruth Bader Ginsburg trying on bikinis.
8. Spent last two days hearing arguments between Barbara Walters and Star Jones.
7. All gavels make crazy "boing" sound.
6. Recesses now take place at area Hooters.
5. Chief Justice John Roberts demands to be called "J. Ro".
4. After heated debate, ruled 7-to-2 that Aerosmith does indeed rock.
3. Upheld gay marriage, but only for really hot babes.
2. For kicks they reversed an old decision and now Gore's President.
1. Invited Anna Nicole Smith back to stand around and look slutty.
Conan
It was so hot out today in New York City that people were playing in the fountains. When you’re hot there’s nothing more refreshing than swimming in a homeless guy’s urine.
Fidel Castro is still in the hospital with a serious medical condition. He still thinks communism was a good idea until he was being rushed to the hospital in a ’55 Oldsmobile.
Israel continues its strike on Hezbollah. Tomorrow they are going to start attacking Mel Gibson’s house.
A member of "The View” said they will not see anymore of Mel’s movies. Barbara Walters said that. Mel Gibson responded by saying, "There goes one $3.00 senior discount matinee ticket.”
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Signs The Supreme Court Doesn't Give A Damn
10.Opinion based on coin flip so they could make 2:40 showing of "Superman Returns"
9. Tough to concentrate with Ruth Bader Ginsburg trying on bikinis.
8. Spent last two days hearing arguments between Barbara Walters and Star Jones.
7. All gavels make crazy "boing" sound.
6. Recesses now take place at area Hooters.
5. Chief Justice John Roberts demands to be called "J. Ro".
4. After heated debate, ruled 7-to-2 that Aerosmith does indeed rock.
3. Upheld gay marriage, but only for really hot babes.
2. For kicks they reversed an old decision and now Gore's President.
1. Invited Anna Nicole Smith back to stand around and look slutty.
Conan
It was so hot out today in New York City that people were playing in the fountains. When you’re hot there’s nothing more refreshing than swimming in a homeless guy’s urine.
Fidel Castro is still in the hospital with a serious medical condition. He still thinks communism was a good idea until he was being rushed to the hospital in a ’55 Oldsmobile.
Israel continues its strike on Hezbollah. Tomorrow they are going to start attacking Mel Gibson’s house.
A member of "The View” said they will not see anymore of Mel’s movies. Barbara Walters said that. Mel Gibson responded by saying, "There goes one $3.00 senior discount matinee ticket.”
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Sen. Hillary Clinton: Rumsfeld Should Resign
NewsMax - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday called on Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to resign, hours after excoriating him at a public hearing over what she called "failed policy" in Iraq.
"I just don't understand why we can't get new leadership that would give us a fighting chance to turn the situation around before it's too late," the New York Democrat and potential 2008 presidential contender said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I think the president should choose to accept Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation."
"The secretary has lost credibility with the Congress and with the people," she said. "It's time for him to step down and be replaced by someone who can develop an effective strategy and communicate it effectively to the American people and to the world."
Asked about Clinton's comments, Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff said, "We don't discuss politics."
Clinton had resisted joining the chorus of other Democrats demanding Rumsfeld's ouster. Her remarks Thursday were the harshest assessment yet from the woman considered her party's early front-runner for the 2008 presidential nomination.
The former first lady has come under attack from some in her own party for voting for the war in 2002 and her current opposition to a deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal.
She criticized Rumsfeld in person earlier Thursday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
"Under your leadership, there have been numerous errors in judgment that have led us to where we are," she said. "We have a full-fledged insurgency and full-blown sectarian conflict in Iraq."
The defense secretary rejected some of her specific criticisms as simply wrong and said the war against terror will be a drawn-out process. He said he never glossed over the difficulties of the fighting.
"I have never painted a rosy picture," he said. "I've been very measured in my words, and you'd have a dickens of a time trying to find instances where I've been excessively optimistic."
NewsMax - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday called on Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to resign, hours after excoriating him at a public hearing over what she called "failed policy" in Iraq.
"I just don't understand why we can't get new leadership that would give us a fighting chance to turn the situation around before it's too late," the New York Democrat and potential 2008 presidential contender said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I think the president should choose to accept Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation."
"The secretary has lost credibility with the Congress and with the people," she said. "It's time for him to step down and be replaced by someone who can develop an effective strategy and communicate it effectively to the American people and to the world."
Asked about Clinton's comments, Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff said, "We don't discuss politics."
Clinton had resisted joining the chorus of other Democrats demanding Rumsfeld's ouster. Her remarks Thursday were the harshest assessment yet from the woman considered her party's early front-runner for the 2008 presidential nomination.
The former first lady has come under attack from some in her own party for voting for the war in 2002 and her current opposition to a deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal.
She criticized Rumsfeld in person earlier Thursday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
"Under your leadership, there have been numerous errors in judgment that have led us to where we are," she said. "We have a full-fledged insurgency and full-blown sectarian conflict in Iraq."
The defense secretary rejected some of her specific criticisms as simply wrong and said the war against terror will be a drawn-out process. He said he never glossed over the difficulties of the fighting.
"I have never painted a rosy picture," he said. "I've been very measured in my words, and you'd have a dickens of a time trying to find instances where I've been excessively optimistic."
Late Nite Jokes
Conan
Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro was checked into a hospital and has temporarily given control over to his brother. Control of his beard has been given over to ZZ Top.
A lab report this week on Floyd Landis found that he had too much testosterone in his body during the Tour de France. In his defense everyone seems to have too much testosterone when hanging out with a bunch of Frenchmen.
Conan
Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro was checked into a hospital and has temporarily given control over to his brother. Control of his beard has been given over to ZZ Top.
A lab report this week on Floyd Landis found that he had too much testosterone in his body during the Tour de France. In his defense everyone seems to have too much testosterone when hanging out with a bunch of Frenchmen.
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Israel's Peretz: Hezbollah is Iran's Vanguard
Israel's offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon aims to pre-empt a perceived strategic threat by the group's Iranian patrons, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said on Wednesday.
"Hezbollah is Iran's advance commando unit. In effect, it is the Iranian vanguard," Peretz said in a televised address to Israeli troops.
"Had these events happened a year from now, and were combined with a (Iranian) nuclear threat that would already be in the works, the state of Israel would have found itself in a much more complex situation," he said.
Iran says it only provides moral support to Hezbollah, rejecting Israeli accusations it arms the Shi'ite group.
The U.N. Security Council demanded on Monday that Iran suspend uranium enrichment activities by the end of August or face the threat of sanctions.
Iran, which denies Western charges it is developing nuclear warheads, insists it has the right to produce nuclear fuel for the peaceful production of electricity.
Israel's offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon aims to pre-empt a perceived strategic threat by the group's Iranian patrons, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said on Wednesday.
"Hezbollah is Iran's advance commando unit. In effect, it is the Iranian vanguard," Peretz said in a televised address to Israeli troops.
"Had these events happened a year from now, and were combined with a (Iranian) nuclear threat that would already be in the works, the state of Israel would have found itself in a much more complex situation," he said.
Iran says it only provides moral support to Hezbollah, rejecting Israeli accusations it arms the Shi'ite group.
The U.N. Security Council demanded on Monday that Iran suspend uranium enrichment activities by the end of August or face the threat of sanctions.
Iran, which denies Western charges it is developing nuclear warheads, insists it has the right to produce nuclear fuel for the peaceful production of electricity.
