Archive for July 22nd, 2007
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 9:30 pm
Asleep at the Wheel
“You Don’t Know Me”
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| Filed under: Club Blue
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 5:08 pm
Looks like the oil law won’t be passed anytime soon.
From JuanCole.com
The United States military has bombed Iraqi cities quite a lot. But few reporters have asked the question raised by Hannah Allam and Jenan Hussein about who exactly is being killed in such raids. On Saturday, the US said its airstrike killed 6 militants. Iraqi Shiites maintain that two families were killed and that the corpses of 15 parents and children have been pulled out of the rubble in the al-Husseiniya district of northern Baghdad. Associated Press television news showed the bodies of women and children in the rubble. Apparently the US pilots were trying, at least, to kill Mahdi Army militiamen.
Radio Sawa reports that the United Iraqi Alliance bloc in parliament met and rejected the new US policy of arming Sunni Arab groups to fight “al-Qaeda” in Iraq. The UIA, the leading bloc in parliament, is a coalition of Shiite fundamentalist parties. They insisted that arms be only in the hands of state forces.
“Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia” has alienated a lot of Sunni Arab Iraqis, and appears to have assassinated [the nephew of Harith al-Dhari, who bored the same name of his uncle] a leader of the 1920 Revolution Brigades. [The uncle, a leader of the Association of Muslim Scholars, is in hiding in Amman, Jordan]. The Guardian reported recently that 7 Iraqi Sunni guerrilla groups are forming a political party and have turned against “al-Qaeda” (mainly foreign fighters adhering to the Salafi Jihadi ideology). (For the main guerrilla groups See this background piece.
The Shiite parliamentarians are alarmed at the US military’s plan to arm Sunni Arab guerrillas to fight “al-Qaeda.” Unlike clueless US pundits such as Charles Krauthammer, these UIA MPs know that being against “al-Qaeda” does not mean being for the al-Maliki government. The Sunni Arabs willing to fight the foreign volunteers are just as anti-Shiite and anti-government as ever, and, armed, will pose new problems for the al-Maliki government as the US draws down its troops over the next couple of years.
Another UIA parliamentarian, Abbas al-Bayati, announced Saturday that the negotiations over the petroleum bill now being considered in the Iraqi legislature are too complicated to be concluded before the August recess, so it will be put aside until September. Were parliament to follow through on this plan, it would guarantee that US Ambassador Ryan Crocker would have no good political news to report in his key September testimony before Congress.
(more…)
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| Filed under: Iraq
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 3:41 pm
Shouldn’t the Secretary of State be conducting any negotiations or talks with foreign representatives? As important as the war in Iraq is, I’d think that would be who would be doing the talking. Instead we have Ryan the ahh ahh ahh Robot Crocker doing the ahh ahh talking? I’m just asking…….
From Reuters:
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. and Iranian envoys will hold talks in Baghdad on Tuesday to discuss the worsening chaos in Iraq, following up on a landmark meeting in May, Iraq’s foreign minister said on Sunday.
“Iraq will host the second round of U.S.-Iranian talks on the 24th of this month,” the minister, Hoshiyar Zebari, told Reuters by telephone.
“We support this dialogue and hope it achieves tangible results.”
He said the ambassadors to Iraq from both countries would lead the talks, with Iraqi government officials also present.
The two ambassadors met in Baghdad on May 28, in the highest-level meeting of the two foes in almost three decades.
The growing security chaos in Iraq has pushed the two countries, which have not had diplomatic ties since shortly after Iran’s 1979 revolution, to seek common ground.
Washington accuses Shi’ite Muslim Iran of fomenting violence in Iraq. Iran denies backing the charges and blames the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 for the bloodshed between Iraq’s majority Shi’ite and minority Sunni Muslim Arabs.
The United States has been leading diplomatic efforts to isolate Iran over its nuclear ambitions — but both sides say any talks will focus solely on matters in Iraq.
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| Filed under: Iran, Iraq
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 12:28 pm
Feingold on Meet the Press today
From Russ Feingold:
On ‘Meet the Press’ this morning, I announced that I will introduce two censure resolutions aimed at holding President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and other administration officials responsible for the destructive path down which they’ve taken our country. It’s clear to me, and millions of Americans, that the time has come for accountability - on everything from the disastrous war in Iraq, to refusing, time and time again, to follow the rule of law. Members of Congress can no longer stand by and allow the White House to shred the Constitution, and thumb their noses at the American people.
Over recent months and years, we’ve learned that this President, and his administration, have used mistruths, spin, lofty-rhetoric, hyped-up intelligence reports, and scare tactics to drag this country into a war that can only be described as the worst foreign policy mistake in our nation’s history. In addition, the administration, in an attempt to justify this mistake, has repeatedly distorted the situation on the ground in Iraq. As a result, the administration has dangerously weakened us in our efforts to fight those who attacked us on 9/11.
What’s equally dangerous is the blatant disregard President Bush has shown for the rule of law on which our country was founded. Last year I introduced a resolution to censure President Bush for his failure to abide by the Constitution when he implemented his illegal domestic wiretapping program and for misleading the public about whether his administration was following the law. With your help, public scrutiny in this program was raised and the administration couldn’t ignore it any longer. Earlier this year, the program was finally terminated and brought under the jurisdiction of the FISA statute.
Unfortunately, failing to abide by the law is a pattern for this President. From illegal domestic wiretapping, to the President’s dubious signing statements, to redefining torture, to the current U.S. Attorney scandal, the list goes on and on. There are so many good reasons for the deep frustration so many of you and I feel about the direction of our country.
As I have said before, I believe the President and Vice President have likely committed what our Founding Fathers would have thought of as “high crimes and misdemeanors.” However, at this time I do not believe it is in our nation’s best interest to put important issues facing our country on the back burner to go through months and months of a divisive impeachment process. Some may disagree with that, but at a minimum we can agree that censure resolutions, holding the President and his administration accountable for the actions I’ve outlined above, are needed.
(more…)
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| Filed under: Russ Feingold
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 11:22 am
Bob Schieffer is disgusted that the Iraqi Parliament is going on vacation while our troops our dying.
“We need to put aside the dream of building a democracy in Iraq and focus solely on what is in OUR national interest. It won’t be pretty.”
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| Filed under: Face the Nation
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 11:15 am
God help us……
WASHINGTON - The U.S. would consider military force if necessary to stem al-Qaida’s growing ability to use its hideout in Pakistan to launch terrorist attacks, a White House aide said Sunday.
The president’s homeland security adviser, Fran Townsend, said the U.S. was committed first and foremost to working with Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, in his efforts to control militants in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. But she indicated the U.S. was ready to take additional measures.
“Just because we don’t speak about things publicly doesn’t mean we’re not doing things you talk about,” Townsend said, when asked in a broadcast interview why the U.S. does not conduct special operations and other measures to cripple al-Qaida.
“Job No. 1 is to protect the American people. There are no options off the table,” she said.
The national intelligence director, Mike McConnell, said he believed that Osama bin Laden was living in the tribal, border region of Pakistan. Bin Laden is the leader of the al-Qaida network and mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.
More at YahooNews
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| Filed under: Pakistan
Buck July 22nd, 2007 - 10:31 am
Journalism has always played a vital role in society. In recent years though we’ve seen (American) journalism become pretty much useless, with lies being reported as facts. Instead of honest reporting, we’re getting biased opinions. It’s a sad place we’ve come to be when we can’t even turn on a TV, or open a newspaper, without wondering whether the reports within are fact-based or spin.
At least with governments, we’ve come to expect a fair amount of untruths. The whole point of journalism is to report on FACTS. TV news programs and newspapers shouldn’t be allowed to use the word ‘news’ if it’s based on some reporter’s opinion!
Where does the truth lie in the following? Your guess is as good as mine.
Iran: No secret arms deal with Syria
 Syrian and Iranian Presidents, Bashar Assad, right, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, front. TEHRAN, Iran - Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Sunday dismissed as a “media game” recent reports of a secret arms deal with Syria allegedly made in return for an agreement that Damascus would not hold peace talks with Israel.
Mohammad Ali Hosseini refused to provide confirmation of the deal and questioned how the media would know about it if it was confidential.
“This is a media game,” said Hosseini during his weekly news briefing. “It is not confirmed.”
The Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported Saturday that Iran would provide $1 billion to Syria for advanced weapons procurement and would assist the country with nuclear research and the development of chemical weapons, with the understanding that Damascus would not negotiate peace with Israel.
The deal was allegedly signed Thursday when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Syria, said the newspaper. Israeli media later rebroadcast the report.
[...]
Both countries face U.S. accusations of fueling violence in Iraq and supporting Lebanon’s Hezbollah guerrilla group, which Washington labels a terrorist organization. They are also accused of supporting militant anti-Israeli Palestinian groups, like Hamas.
Article at Yahoo! News
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| Filed under: Ahmadinejad, Iran, News, Opinion
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 7:34 am
Latest term: AQI (Al-Queda Iraq) What do you think about this report? They say these things, and then they say they have no evidence.
From YahooNews:
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Al-Qaeda in Iraq already has its hands full, but US intelligence officials say the militant group’s mentors in Pakistan now want to use its formidable resources for attacks on the United States.
The war in Iraq has transformed the Al-Qaeda affiliate into a battle-hardened organization with piles of money, sophisticated recruiting networks and some of the world’s most experienced and innovative bomb makers, officials and analysts say.
A US intelligence estimate released this week said Al-Qaeda “core,” the parent organization led by Osama bin Laden, “will seek to leverage” those capabilities for attacks on the United States.
It offered no evidence that Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) is actively involved in such plots, however, and intelligence and military officials say most of its resources are currently tied down in Iraq.
But Ted Gistaro, the assessment’s author, told reporters this week that Al-Qaeda typically tries to tap into its affiliates’ networks, recruitment pool and financial resources.
“Certainly when it comes to finances, we’ve seen Al-Qaeda pull benefit from the relationship with AQI,” he said. “And the concern is: what other parts of AQI might Al-Qaeda core try to leverage or siphon off to bolster its own capabilities?”
Analyst say the concern raised in the assessment is new, and may reflect undisclosed intelligence of messages from Al-Qaeda core urging AQI to carry out operations in Europe or the United States.
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| Filed under: Al Qaeda
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 6:06 am
Looks like they’re prancing homeland security around again this week. Watch Frances and see how many times she uses the word the “homeland.” It’s creepy.
Sunday Talk
* MTP: Dir. of Natl Intel Mike McConnell on NIE & terrorism; Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) on Iraq; roundtable of NYT’s David Brooks, Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes and WaPo’s Bob Woodward on Bush-Cheney admin
* FTN: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) on Iraq and terrorism
* FNS: WH Homeland Sec. Adv. Frances Townsend; Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO); Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN); Sir Richard Branson
* Late Edition: WH Homeland Sec. Adv. Frances Townsend; Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY); David Bonior (D-Edwards); roundtable of Dana Bash, John King & Candy Crowley
* No This Week, this week. (British Open)
TV Alerts
* NOW: “The politics and science of a new pro-life argument: Do abortions endanger a woman’s mental health?” on 7/20
* Bill Moyers Journal: Poet Martin Espada on 7/20; impersonators Andy Bichlbaum & Mike Bonanno on 7/20
* Political Capital w/ Al Hunt (on 7/20; repeats on Bloomberg throughout weekend): Sen. John Sununu (R-NH); Robert Novak
* Chris Matthews Show 7/21-7/22: David Gregory, Cynthia Tucker, Katty Kay, John Heilemann “How will Republican candidates for President handle the President’s Iraq War? Has Hillary Clinton put to rest voters’ concerns about a woman president?”. Quotes here.
* Bill Maher: The Decider (HBO, originally airs 7/21; check hbo.com for repeats)
* Road to the WH (C-SPAN, 7/22, 6:30pm): John Edwards poverty tour; Bill Clinton in NH
* 60 Minutes: lobbyist Rick Berman on 7/22; mentally ill inmate’s death on 7/22; Kenny Chesney on 7/22
* The Daily Show: Neil deGrasse Tyson on 7/23; Robert Pallitto on 7/24; Rob Gifford on 7/25; Robert Dallek on 7/26
* The Colbert Report: Simon Schama on 7/23; Anthony Romero on 7/24; Charles Kaiser on 7/25; Bob Shrum on 7/26; Evan Osnos on 7/30; Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on 7/31
* Craig Ferguson: Carl Bernstein on 7/24
Source: Newsie8200
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| Filed under: Television
QuestionGirl July 22nd, 2007 - 5:49 am
By TODD LEWAN
CityWatcher.com, a provider of surveillance equipment, attracted little notice itself - until a year ago, when two of its employees had glass-encapsulated microchips with miniature antennas embedded in their forearms.
The “chipping” of two workers with RFIDs - radio frequency identification tags as long as two grains of rice, as thick as a toothpick - was merely a way of restricting access to vaults that held sensitive data and images for police departments, a layer of security beyond key cards and clearance codes, the company said.
“To protect high-end secure data, you use more sophisticated techniques,” Sean Darks, chief executive of the Cincinnati-based company, said. He compared chip implants to retina scans or fingerprinting. “There’s a reader outside the door; you walk up to the reader, put your arm under it, and it opens the door.”
Innocuous? Maybe.
More at the AP
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| Filed under: Scary stuff
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