Security sources have disclosed that the belief amongst most intelligence agencies is that a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) attack, using a so-called dirty bomb, is now inevitable.
Today, Palestinian terrorists are claiming they already have.
A roundup of blog reaction and analysis to the SCOTUS decision on Guantanamo. Ed Morrissey thinks we’ll see more terrorists shot on the battlefield.
“…since the notion of having the servicemen who captured these prisoners forced to appear to testify to their “arrest” is not only ridiculous but would require us to retire combat units as a whole whenever their prisoners appear for trial. Congress needs to correct this issue immedately.”
Michelle Malkin has lots too, as expected. More – Andrew Cochran predicts this will turn out to be a “huge political gift to President Bush”.
The American economy, still sputtering along.
The new snapshot of gross domestic product for the January-to-March period exceeded the 5.3 percent growth rate estimated a month ago, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The upgraded reading – based on more complete information – matched economists’ forecasts.
The stronger GDP figure mostly reflected an improvement in the country’s trade deficit, which was much less of a drag than previously estimated.
Hill Times;
While the United States sleeps, the unelected Chinese government has publicly stated it is increasing its military budget by nearly 15 percent a year, an eye-opening figure. But the report makes it clear that the true figure is vastly higher: “Estimates place Chinese defense expenditure at two to three times officially disclosed figures.”
Share yours in the comments.
Here is the bsbsbsbs from the left liberals/MSM:
“Mr Haniyeh, a democratically elected head of state”
“Elected”, the hack says; “democratically”, the hack says.
Fatah/Hamas are Muslim Islamist terrorists/fascist criminals. The people of Gaza/West Bank are held hostage by the fascist regime. The people had no say; there was no “democratic election”. Lies, lies, lies.
Jordan expelled the so-called Palestinians years ago; Egypt built a wall to pen them in. Syria/Lebanon will not take them.
The hack reporter adds in the hoary old cliche:
“sharply raised the stakes”. More bs.
Stand with Israel. …-
Israel warns: free soldier or PM dies
Posted by West Coast Conservative
The Australian ^ | July 1, 2006 | Martin Chulov
ISRAEL last night threatened to assassinate Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh if Hamas militants did not release a captured Israeli soldier unharmed.
…
But last night’s direct threat to kill Mr Haniyeh, a democratically elected head of state, sharply raised the stakes. …- freerepublic
Human Rights Atrocities: The Consequences of United Nations Gun Confiscation in East Africa
Posted by FreedomCalls
The Volokh Conspiracy ^ | June 30th, 2006 | David Kopel
That’s the subject of a new Issue Backgrounder just published by the Independence Institute, co-authored by Paul Gallant, Joanne Eisen, and [David Kopel]. The monograph details how U.N.-backed gun confiscation programs in Kenya and Uganda have led to murder, torture, and arson, and have turned tens of thousands of pastoral tribespeople into starving refugees. It is currently available only in PDF, but we hope to have a html version soon. …-
free republic
‘Just finished watching the last episode of Studio 2 on TVO. ‘Anyone know what this is about?
I just heard on the CBC last night that tonight was the last show, and it seems kind of sudden. Studio 2 always veered pretty far to to the left, but I thought with McGuinty in power they should be OK.
Do you think that the cost of McGuilty buying the property in Caledonia was the axing of Studio 2???
An Israeli police source reported on Wednesday that a group of 50 Christian tourists, said to be pro-Israel, were attacked by some 100 extreme ultra-orthodox Jews living in the Mea She’arim area in Jerusalem.
Three of the tourists and one Israeli police officer were injured in the attack and received treatment at the scene.
Israeli online daily Haaretz reported that the tourists arrived at the Mea She’arim area in the city wearing T-shirts with the words “Love your neighbor as yourself” printed across the shirts.
Haaretz added that as the group came close to one of the squares in Jerusalem the extremist group “identified them as Christians” and began to hit them.
Police present in the area managed to stop the attack but did not make any arrests, and the extreme Jewish group left the area.
A police source said that the police are waiting for the tourists to file “official complaints” before conducting any legal steps.
Seems the Israeli’s don’t like others that think different then they do. Just like some brown shirts we once fought.
What you support overseas might come home to roost!
Although recognizing its right “to ensure security for all its citizens,” Kobia nevertheless called on the Israeli government “to refrain from using excessive military force and immediately open equitable negotiations to find a permanent solution through ending the illegal occupation and securing a just peace”. On the other hand, the Palestinian leadership “should also continue to seek a platform for equitable negotiations and hold to the one-party ceasefire and a diplomatic solution”, Kobia affirmed.
A member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) was attacked by a woman settlerIn the Tel Rumeida district of Hebron on Friday, 23 June. Whilst in the area of the Cordoba school, where Christian volunteers accompany children to school, Duduzile Masango, a South African ecumenical Accompanier was attacked by an elderly settler woman, who pulled a towel tightly around her head.
It is not known if the woman intended to suffocate her, but the accompanier had difficulty breathing. Stones were also thrown at Masango and four other internationals who were with her. The incident left her shaken, although she did not need to receive medical treatment.
Although a soldier was standing next to the group of volunteers, he did not act to stop the attack. After the incident, members of the international solidarity movement who had witnessed the incident filed a complaint with the police. However, Masango was told by the police that they did not believe her testimony.
Jews only like Jews. your tax dollars at work.
On 1 April, a Swiss lawyer, was stoned by a young Israeli settler in the same Hebron district, and on 20 April still in Tel Rumeida, a German social worker and a Norwegian sociologist were attacked by some 15 young settlers. The Swiss lawyer needed seven stitches for a head wound as a result. In both cases, the Christian volunteers were escorting Palestinian pupils of the Cordoba Girls School to protect them from harassment by settlers. The WCC presented a formal protest to the Israeli ambassador in Switzerland over these two incidents on 25 April.
John Ruessman, USA
As an Ecumenical Accompanier, I am based in the village of Jayyous, a stones throw away from the eastern shore of the Mediterrenean Sea.
The village of Jayyous is an agricultural community of about 3,000 Palestinians. They work hard in their fields, which produce delicious tropical fruits as well as olives and other vegetables. It’s remarkable to see how many of the Palestinians of Jayyous, wherever they are, pray faithfully everyday. They carry with them a small prayer mat which they use when praying away from home.
As in any community, sometimes there are conflicts between families. But generally this is a peaceful community – “praise God!” (as people here often say).
However little by little, the military occupation is destroying these families and all of Jayyous. This is happening in many different ways, especially because of the Separation Barrier. Here in Jayyous, the barrier is complete. Its purpose is to separate Israeli territory from Palestinian territory, and make it more difficult for Palestinian suicide-bombers to enter Israel.
However, in order to protect Israel’s security, the Israeli Government could have erected the barrier along the internationally recognized border (the Green Line). However that is not what they are doing. According to the Applied Research Institute of Jeruusalem, the barrier which the Israeli armed forces have built in Jayyous and many other parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territories runs along the Green Line only 20% of the way!
Here in Jayyous I’ve seen how the barrier has been constructed about 3 and ½ miles into Palestinian territory. Clearly this is not just a question of addressing legitimate security concerns of the Israelis. Rather this Barrier also serves for stealing Palestinian lands, water, and other valuable resources.
Accordingly the people of Jayyous can no longer draw the water from any of the six springs which remain on the opposite side of the barrier. Soon all of us in Jayyous will no longer have sufficient water.
People here have told me that a few years ago the Israeli government said to them that it wanted to buy their ancestral farmlands (in order to build settlements for Israelis, between the barrier and the Green Line). However the Palestinians did not want to sell this land which they love. So the Israeli government confiscated the land. The Palestinians have never received compensation.
I’ve seen the site where they’ve begun work to build another settlement not far from the nearest Israeli settlement. The already constructed settlement is called Zufim. The new one was going to be called New Zufim. But that would be a clear violation of international law and the U.S. government’s publicly declared policy. So the Israelii government decided that the new settlement will be called Zufim North. There are some clever people in the Israeli government!
Many people here in Jayyous have been very hospitable our team of three accompaniers based here. They have invited us into their homes, to share tea and conversation with us. One friend of ours is called Abu Azzam. Recently he and his wife invited us to have dinner at their house. After serving us a delicious, simple dinner, Abu Azzam introduced to us one of his granddaughters, Arwa. (She is ten years old.) Arwa sang for us. While most of her songs were in Arabic, one was in English. “We shall overcome,” she sang.
“We shall overcome, some day. Oh deep in my heart, I do believe: we shall overcome someday. . .We’ll walk hand in hand. . .We will live in peace. . .” As I listened to Arwa sing this song, tears came to my eyes.
During my time here I have met many Israelis doing excellent work for justice and peace, not only for Israelis but also for Palestinians. When some Israelis and many Palestinians struggle nonviolently to end the military occupation of Palestinian land, it’s like David going up against Goliath. Many consider this a hopeless cause, especially because the situation just keeps getting worse for Palestinians.
But miracles can happen. The South African government and its apartheid system was overcome.
Year after year, the U.S. government has provided billions of dollars to support the Israeli government. What happened to our commitment to freedom? Is that only for Israelis in this land of conflict?
The Israelis are not the only ones who want the violence to stop. Again and again people of Jayyous have told us how the violence of the military occupation is destroying their olive trees, taking their farmlands, and in many other ways making them more and more desperate. They express their heartfelt desire to live in peace, with not only an Israeli government (behind the Green Line) but also a viable Palestinian government. Clearly Palestinians here in Jayyous long to be free!
We can turn our backs on them. Or we can join with them in singing, “We shall overcome. . .!”
IAF’s are really schmucks?
Hitting an empty building, at night, in the dark, when the lights were out, nobody there, no one at work, no casualties reported, building ablaze, incompetent? Two missiles just on the south side? None nowheres else? Total incompetence? … tsk, tsk. …-
Airstrikes on Hamas PM’s Office
IAF warplanes hit Ismail Haniyeh’s office in Gaza City.
IAF warplanes attacked the office of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City overnight Saturday, witnesses said, setting the building on fire.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
One bystander was lightly wounded, hospital officials said. The IDF confirmed the air strike.
Witnesses said two missiles hit the south side of the building, setting it ablaze. Because of the late hour, the building was empty, they said. via LGF
Update
The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point has just made a key Jihadi manual, the Management of Savagery available for download. The USMA site also provides links to commentary: Stealing al-Qaeda’s Playbook. The authors of Stealing al-Qaeda’s Playbook say:
…
If you read the re-read Omar’s post in conjunction with the Management of Savagery and Stealing al-Qaeda’s Playbook it is clear that a democratic, or even semi-democratic Iraqi government represents a direct challenge to the Jihadi Grand Strategy. An existential challenge. Omar understood that the war in Iraq, far from being the optional extra John Murtha thinks it might be, is the central theater in a global conflict. It is the Spanish Civil War of our time. The Jihadis themselves understand the centrality of politics within that war; the importance of the “media halo” and have a clear idea of what happens after they drive the US from Iraq. A better idea perhaps then many Western politicians have themselves.
The interesting thing is how Naji’s playbook has and has not worked out as planned. True, the US accepted battle in the Middle East, but I think to the Jihad’s surprise, the US fight in Iraq was not predominantly conventional, but largely an intelligence war fought by local, not European allies. Those tactics have largely defeated or al-Qaeda’s organization to the point where the second factor now gains prominence. That second factor is the emergence of a large Shi’a component within the fight, a direct consequence of elections, through which the US can exploit the fracture lines within the enemy ranks, not just locally, but globally. Those factors underlie the negotiations now taking place in Iraq. Think of it: this has never happened to the Jihad before. Not in Algeria, Afghanistan or anywhere else. They are fighting for their political lives in a country which hates them, though the same cannot be said of Western intellectual circles. But this is where the Internet comes in.
posted by wretchard at 4:24 PM
http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot….- catalonia.html
The Management of Savagery
By Abu Bakr Naji
Translated by William McCants
DOWNLOAD THE MANAGEMENT OF SAVAGERY
http://www.ctc.usma.edu/naji.asp
“Can anyone tell me why Omar Kadr should be brought back to Canada from Getmo when he is charged with killing an American Medic in a forign country. ”
exactamundo mr c.
silly me with my law & order version of understanding the law, I thought extradition was to try the suspect for crimes committed IN the country attempting to extradite. success would depend on existing extradition treaties including such conditions as the severity of the offence.
so, what did kadr do in canuckistan to warrant extradition? hes in gauno gauntanimo for crimes committed against americans, in yet another country, ie iraq. wtf do canadian interests have to do with this?
aw jeez, I just figured it out.
the great canuckistan naivitee to think our pacifist inclinations and dread of offending anyone will convince all and everyone to allow us to treat khadr with kid gloves.
remember, this is the canadian legal system we’re talking about. the one that gave ms homolka her freedom for involvement in the most notorious triple murder in the 90s.
git yer kid gloves and weepy face out !!!!
I wonder how recruitment would fair if instead of martyrdom, Insurgent wounded spent their remaining days as a crippled beggar in Iraq or wherever they came from?
The Dickensian picture I envision is not terribly glamourous or joyous, Allah or not.
Something for a woould-be captive/Guantanamo houseguest to ponder. Or maybe I’m not pragmatic, just cruel?