Deputy Sheriff Killed

(Near Waldo, Ohio) A report from the Ohio News Network:

A veteran sheriff's deputy on an early morning call was shot and killed early Thursday morning.

Brandy Winfield, age 29, was found shot in his overturned cruiser. Winfield was a six-year veteran of the Marion County Sheriff's Department.

He leaves behind a wife and two young children. His father and brother are both Marion city police officers.

The whole incident started around 4 a.m. Thursday morning along SR 423 near Waldo, which is six miles south of Marion.

Deputy Winfield was responding to a report of a disabled vehicle and he radioed in that he saw two men walking along the highway, the sheriff's office said.

A short time later, all radio transmissions ended. Winfield's cruiser was found upside down in a ditch, and Winfield had been shot in the head.

A suspect was arrested at the scene and another showed up at the local hospital while a third is still being sought.

We should never forget that there is nothing routine in the life of a police officer. Condolences to the family and friends of Deputy Winfield.

[Update 4:45pm EDT] From nbc4i.com:

(Waldo, Ohio) Authorities on Thursday released a photo of the man who they said shot and killed a Marion County sheriff's deputy earlier in the morning.


Juan Carlos Cruz
Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers released the photo of Juan Carlos Cruz, 20, who allegedly shot Winfield.

Described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, Cruz is considered armed and dangerous.

As a precaution, the Buckeye Valley School District was placed on lockdown and a section of S.R. 423 was closed by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Anyone with information should call the Delaware Police Department.

Suicide Websites

From The Japan Times, it's reported that authorities are investigating the suicide-pact deaths of nine young people whose bodies were found yesterday.

In recent years, a number of Web sites have sprung up in Japan to introduce suicidal people to others so that they can die together, often of carbon monoxide poisoning using charcoal stoves in sealed vehicles.

Something is seriously wrong when suicide becomes a group activity.

Zarqawi Beheads Iraqis

Fadhel Ibrahim and Firas Imeil, two Iraqi National Intelligence officers, were beheaded today by followers of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Dr. Rusty Shackleford has the report with still photos and video and adds the following:

Disclaimer: When I started posting about this subject I never expected the terrorists to begin beheading people on a daily basis. I am saddened to keep posting on this subject. However, I still feel strongly that most Americans have forgotten what it was like to watch the Twin Towers fall. They have forgotten what it was like to watch people jumping out of those buildings. Many claim to remember, but an intellectual understanding of such attrocities is not enough. Let the images and video posted below remind you of the sick SOBs we are fighting. We fight for our secularism, we fight for religious choice, and we fight for our civilization.

There have been complaints about putting the beheading reports on the Internet and I can understand the views of those in disagreement. My personal belief is that the United States and its allies are locked in a battle with a primitive and brutal enemy and any attempt to put blinders on their atrocities is shielding the true nature of the conflict from the American people. The terrorists are not noble adversaries and we shouldn't pretty them up. They are the assassins of a savage and feudal civilization. The war is a death match and the video and photo images remind us who the enemy is and why we must win. In summary, I agree with Rusty and Interested-Participant will continue to point to the ugly images of reality.

Unwanted Implant

Bogus Doctor Busted

(Miami, Florida) After evading criminal charges for five years, doctor impersonator Reinaldo Silvestre has been apprehended in Belize where he was teaching medicine. He awaits extradition to the U.S.

Investigators say Silvestre performed operations on champion bodybuilder and former Mr. Mexico Alexander Baez and at least two women, resulting in gross disfigurement and severe physical and emotional pain. He earned the nickname from police "The Butcher of South Beach."

Police say Baez went to Silvestre's Ocean Health Center in Miami Beach to have his pectoral muscles enhanced. But he woke up to find he had been given female breast implants.


Former Mr. Mexico Alexander Baez
Baez' attorney also says veterinary anesthesia was used on his client, who woke up three times during the procedure. A warrant for Silvestre's arrest was issued in September 1999 after he failed to appear in court.

Silvestre is charged with organized fraud, aggravated battery, practicing medicine without a license and grand theft.

One would imagine that a doctor nicknamed "The Butcher" would have difficulty in getting patients. (via Slings and Arrows)

Armored Truck Spill

Armored Truck Flips, Spills Cash

(Akron, Ohio) From NewsNet5.com:

Interstate 77 is closed after an armored truck flipped on the highway, NewsChannel5 reported.


The armored truck flipped at about 9 a.m. on Interstate 77 southbound between the White Pond Drive and Ridgewood exits.


Police said money was sent everywhere after the crash. At least three other vehicles were involved.

Apparently the armored truck driver lost control going northbound and crossed the median and hit another car head-on in the southbound lane. It's unknown how much money was strewn over the area. However, it is understood that passing motorists exhibited award-winning rubbernecking skills.

Mafiaville

From an AP report:

Investigators found the remains of two people believed to be former Mafia captains at a vacant lot apparently used for years as a graveyard for people ordered killed by the late mob boss John Gotti and other gangsters, authorities said.

The remains are believed to be Bonanno crime family captains Philip Giaccone and Dominick Trinchera. The area in Queens where the remains were found is known locally as Mafiaville and agents are continuing the search for more bodies including the man who accidentally killed John Gotti's 12-year-old son in 1980 and then disappeared.

Babies In Mass Grave

According to this report, a mass grave in northern Iraq has produced evidence that Saddam Hussein executed women and children. Investigators found nine trenches in the village of Hatra containing hundreds of bodies including skeletons of unborn babies and toddlers clutching toys. The victims are thought to be Kurds shot and killed in the late 1980s and bulldozed into the trenches.

The body of one woman was found still clutching a baby. The infant had been shot in the back of the head and the woman in the face.

"The youngest foetus we have was 18 to 20 foetal weeks," said US investigating anthropologist P Willey.

"Tiny bones, femurs - thighbones the size of a matchstick."

Mr Kehoe investigated mass graves in the Balkans for five years but those burials mainly involved men of fighting age and the Iraqi finds were quite different, he said.

"I've been doing grave sites for a long time, but I've never seen anything like this, women and children executed for no apparent reason," he said.

Frankly, the finding of another mass grave doesn't surprise me. It's been known that Saddam Hussein is, and always has been, an ignorant, murderous thug and mass killings of innocent people is what murderous thugs do. However, I continue to be flummoxed by the attitudes of leftists that say the U.S. should have left Hussein in power.

Also blogging: A Western Heart, The Jawa Report

PayPal Outages

For the fifth consecutive day, outages have affected PayPal payments, log-ins and account creations.

The technical glitch plaguing the eBay (EBAY) subsidiary has affected an untold number of users, making it hard for some online sellers to complete deals, according to the eBay website.

Since some people are able to log in while others are not, eBay spokeswoman Amanda Pires said the total number of affected users remains unclear.

With 50 million user accounts worldwide, the financial impact of the PayPal outages could be substantial.

For some reason, when I hear of persistent technical glitches associated with the Internet, I immediately suspect that they are deliberate.

Haiti Violence

Former Haitian President Aristide is in South Africa but his thugs are on the streets of Port-Au-Prince inciting violence and killing members of the interim government. The level of violence has caused interruptions in food aid and, according to Abby Maxman, Haiti's CARE Director, has also caused the UN peacekeepers to reduce their forces. Oddly, when the job becomes more difficult, the UN reduces its forces. Maybe Kofi Annan can explain the logic.

Hospital records indicate 17 people were killed this week and the gangs have instituted a new campaign called "Operation Baghdad" where policemen are beheaded.

Of course, the United States is being blamed for the violence which is pretty much normal. The U.S. gets blamed for everything.

Transmission Towers Toppled

(Oak Creek, Wisconsin) At least eight FBI investigators are analyzing the scene of two deliberately toppled electrical transmission towers to gather evidence to find and convict the perpetrators. A $10,000 reward has been established for information about the crime.

Oak Creek Police Chief Thomas Bauer declined to specify what was found at the scene but said the sabotage, which temporarily left 17,000 homes and Mitchell International Airport without power Saturday and disrupted train travel, could have been done "with a common wrench." Two-inch-long bolts, a half-inch in diameter, were removed near ground level, he said.

Authorities decided early on it was a deliberate act, but no suspect was identified and no one publicly claimed responsibility.

Authorities haven't ruled whether or not the crime was a terrorist act since transmission line sabotage has been carried out in the past by disgruntled workers and vandals in addition to terrorists. Radical environmentalists would be my guess. To contact authorities: Oak Creek police at 414-762-8200 or the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force at 414-276-4684.

Shiite Muslim Beheaded by Army of Ansar al-Sunnah

A video has surfaced on the Internet showing the beheading of a Shiite Muslim named Al-Sayed Alaa al-Malki by the Sunni Army of Ansar al-Sunnah. With an Iraqi accent, al-Malki said on the tape he was a follower of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The video showed the man saying he worked with an American military officer named Paul, with whom he allegedly established a "Citizens Claims Office" that was used as a cover "to collect and buy weapons from the street, and sell them to the American army."

A statement purportedly from the Ansar al-Sunnah Army that accompanied the video said al-Malki was killed because "he used the Citizens Claims Office as an underground tunnel -- during his work with the American forces -- to assassinate a number of Sunni leaders."

It appears that Tawhid and Jihad leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is trying to incite a civil war between the Sunnis and the Shiites. (via In The Bullpen)

Also Blogging:

Backcountry Conservative,

In The Bullpen,

Outside The Beltway,

The Jawa Report.

Chad Evans is hosting the video here (scroll down).

Abdullah Mehsud

Pakistani Kidnappers Borrow From Iraq

(Chagmalai, Pakistan) In a previous entry, it was reported that al-Qaeda-linked kidnappers took two Chinese engineers (Wang Ende and Wang Peng) as hostages and demanded the release of two Uzbek al-Qaeda militants held by Pakistan Security Forces. The leader of the kidnappers is a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, Abdullah Mehsud, who was released because he was no longer considered a threat. Oops!


Abdullah Mehsud
Preferring to be called Commander Abdullah, the leader has directed a group of al-Qaeda-linked militants comprised of Chechens, Uzbeks, Arabs, and Pakistanis who have been battling Security Forces since March. Abdullah is currently surrounded by security forces and vows to kill the Chinese, one at a time, unless the security forces stop all military operations, free the two detained Uzbek militants, and leave. According to Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Abdullah learned from tactics employed in Iraq.

"Whatever is happening in Iraq, they are moving according to that," he said.

Of note is that the situation in Pakistan provides direct evidence of ties among the al-Qaeda terrorists of Chechnya, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Also of note is that Abdullah is the second recently-released prisoner from Guantanamo Bay known to be drawn back to al-Qaeda. Slimane Hadj Abderahmane clearly indicated his intentions to kill Russians in Chechnya.

Human Rights Watch Protests Al-Qaeda Treatment

From a report by the BBC:

A New York-based human rights group has challenged America's treatment of 11 al-Qaeda suspects it is thought to be holding outside the US.

Human Rights Watch said prisoners were being denied access to the Red Cross and protection under international law, and it suggested torture had been used.

In light of the savage beheadings of innocent civilians by groups linked to al-Qaeda, the contention that terrorists aren't getting bandages for their boo-boos sits angrily on my stomach. Personally, I don't see how any purported mistreatment of terrorists is comparable. Also, the Human Rights Watch, as a group of international complainers, seems to focus an inordinate amount of time criticizing the civilized world while giving the atrocities of fundamentalist Islamic groups barely a mention. For example, months and months of unyielding attention has been devoted to alleged mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. Meanwhile, terrorist atrocities, such as the Beslan murders and the beheadings of Eugene Armstrong, Jack Hensley, and Ken Bigley, fade as issues in less than a week.

Most telling about the agenda of Human Rights Watch is the joint NGO statement of condemnation regarding the Beslan terrorist massacre. Paraphrasing, a group of armed men (not terrorists) took hostages in what they consider to be the international equivalent of a domestic dispute. The fault lies with Russia and the "hostage-takers" broke international hostage-taking laws and, therefore, they should be "prosecuted or extradited" for the crime. Rather than advocating human rights, the statement condemns Russia, deflects responsibility for Beslan from the terrorists, and downplays the immensity of the murders of hundreds of children, parents, and teachers.

Just for drill, try to find the word "terrorist" in the website for Human Rights Watch. I expect that it appears somewhere in the pages. I sure didn't see it.

FBI Raids Indymedia

From a report in today's MediaGuardian (free reg.):

The FBI has seized the British-based internet servers hosting the independent news network Indymedia, prompting accusations of intimidation.

Officers from the US-based federal law enforcement agency took servers belonging to Rackspace, a US-owned web-hosting service with premises in Uxbridge, Middlesex.

[ ... ]

The operation resulted in the temporary closure of about 20 Indymedia websites, covering 17 countries.

It appears that this action effectively shuts down the entire Indymedia operation out of Britain. Many people are enraged, claiming infringement on freedom of information and government cybersnooping. And, no information has been provided as to why or where the equipment was taken.

From a practical standpoint, there is good reason to keep Indymedia in operation. It's a method to monitor what the communist, anarchist, socialist, and other radical groups are doing. I'm sure law enforcement agencies see things the same way so it's odd that they would shut the operation down.

Alcohol Excites Males, Makes Females Drowsy

Research conducted by the University of Kentucky found that men are much less capable of holding their liquor than women.

In tests, scientists gave their subjects set amounts of alcohol and measured their ability to hit a button at the right time when a symbol flashed in front of them.

Shapes were flashed repeatedly on to a computer screen and when a green shape appeared, the subjects had to press a green button on the keyboard.

The green shapes were interspersed with a smaller number of blue shapes. When these flashed, participants were supposed to leave the keyboard alone.

The more drunk the subjects became, the less able they were to stop themselves hitting the keyboard when the blue shape flashed, with men markedly worse than women.

I don't know if I'd give this study much credence. I have problems hitting the keybroad when I'm compeltly sober.

Army of Ansar al-Sunna Beheads Turk, Iraqi

As punishment for working with the Americans, a Turkish man working on reconstruction and his Iraqi Kurdish translator were beheaded by terrorists of the Army of Ansar al-Sunna. The Turk's name is Maher Kemal and the Iraqi's name is Lukman Hussein.

In video from an Islamic website, it appears that the Army of Ansar al-Sunna and the Tawhid and Jihad groups are working together. Rusty Shackleford discusses the relationship and has some photos (WARNING - very graphic images). Video available here and here (WARNING - very graphic video).

Also blogging:

Backcountry Conservative,

In The Bullpen,

The Jawa Report,

Outside The Beltway

The fact that dozens of innocent people have now been savagely murdered by the terrorist scum does not jade me. The loathing I have for the perpetrators multiplies as does the sadness and sorrow I feel for the victims, their friends, and their families. These murderers have to be killed. Not captured, not tried in a court of law, just killed!

Ecosystem Enhanced

NZ Bear has been busy and the result is an upgraded ecosystem with fancy new features. Go visit and kick the tires.

Alcee Hastings To Lead Election Monitors

This is unbelievable! The Austrian-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), soon to provide the first ever foreign monitoring of U.S. elections, has elected Alcee Hastings as president of its parliamentary assembly. This will allow him to appoint and assign November election monitors.

When he was a federal district judge, Alcee Hastings was convicted of soliciting a $150,000 bribe from racketeers in return for sentence reduction from three years to probation AND in return for a modified ruling to allow the racketeers to get back over $800,000 worth of property that had been confiscated. Hastings also was convicted of perjury for lying to the court during the bribery trial. After the criminal convictions, he was impeached by the U.S. Senate and fired from his position as a federal judge.

The Senate decided to dump Hastings for the simple reason that his presence marred the integrity of the judiciary. Hastings exhibited a complete lack of moral and ethical underpinnings by demonstrating that he could become a puppet of the criminals for a fist of cash. To hell with the law! Judge Alcee can be bought.

But, it's more than just being bought. Judge Hastings actively sought people to buy him. He solicited the bribe. His conviction wasn't a case where someone was minding his own business and along comes temptation. Hastings went and put his decision-making power on the market. And, I'm sure he would have held an auction if there had been more than one bidder.

In addition to having a total disregard for the tenets of the law and the judiciary along with the ethics of a crack whore, Hastings is a convicted liar, having perjured himself under oath in court.

In summary, Hastings was convicted as an influence peddler and liar because he had no respect for truth and the law. So, now he is responsible for monitoring the November election in Florida to assure that everything is on the up and up. Since Hastings can't tell right from wrong and he's monitoring an election where there's lots of cash flowing from the ample hands of George Soros, my take is that he'll do his best to cheat the system in favor of the Democrats.

What's needed is an election monitor monitor to watch Hastings like a hawk.

There's more on this story at Spoons who has learned to post while clenched.

Slimane Hadj Abderahmane

Gitmo Prisoner Released, Vows To Fight For Muslims

According to this story, Danish authorities are investigating whether a prisoner recently-released from Guantanamo Bay should be arrested and returned to U.S. custody.


Slimane Hadj Abderahmane
In a television interview, former prisoner Slimane Hadj Abderahmane said Denmark's cabinet ministers were fair targets and vowed to travel to fight Russian forces in Chechnya. Slimane Hadj Abderahmane is the 31-year-old son of an Algerian father and Danish mother who was arrested in Pakistan at the end of 2001 after he fled neighboring Afghanistan following U.S. military strikes there. Abderahmane spent two years at Gitmo as an enemy combatant and was released last February.

One of the conditions for his release from the base on Cuba was that he signed a statement that he would not partake in terror actions. He now says he will hide from the Danish authorities until he can get to Chechnya.

Conservative juridical spokesperson Helge Adam Moeller stated that Abderahmane should be sent to prison for murder threats and, also,

"He's a terrorist. He wants to go to a place where he can kill women and children."

Maybe so. Or maybe it's getting cold in Denmark and, fondly recalling the tropical climate in Cuba, maybe he wants to go back. Either way, the authorities of Denmark, the U.S., and Russia have taken a keen interest in the case.

Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve Dies


Christopher Reeve
Actor Christopher Reeve died yesterday in New York at the age of 52. More at Backcountry Conservative. (Photo: Drudge)

Bus Accidents

Report from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

Seventeen people died when a bus carrying pilgrims veered off a country road in northeastern Brazil.

Another 18 of the 51 people on board were injured, highway police said today.

The bus driver, who was among the dead, lost control of the vehicle between two curves, officer Francisco Gouvea said.

Report from Beijing, China:

A total of 20 tourists were confirmed dead today with four more missing after a bus plunged into a river in southwest China's Sichuan province, state media reported.

The accident happened early yesterday, when the bus, crammed with passengers on their way to a scenic spot, veered off the road at a sharp turn along the Fu river, Xinhua news agency said.

And, of course, let's not forget this report from Arkansas:

A tour bus carrying 30 Chicago-area residents to a Mississippi casino left Interstate 55 north of Marion and flipped Saturday morning, killing 14 aboard, a state police spokesman said.

Tragic and somewhat odd that they should all occur about the same time on three different continents.

Bombs in Baghdad, Pakistan, Chechnya

From AP/Yahoo:

Car bombers struck twice in rapid succession in the capital Sunday, killing at least 11 people including an American soldier, as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned that violence may increase before the January election.

Iraq's most feared terror group - Tawhid and Jihad - claimed responsibility for the near-simultaneous car bombings, one near an east Baghdad police academy and the other outside an east Baghdad market as an American military convoy was passing by.

From News.com.au:

A Shiite leader in Pakistan said at least seven people were killed in the apparent suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in the country's east.

Witnesses said a man detonated the bomb after opening fire on a security guard when he tried to stop him from entering the mosque in Lahore.

In addition to these bombings, News.com.au reports:

A Russian colonel and his driver were killed and three other officials severely injured when their vehicle hit a mine in war-torn Chechnya, Interfax quoted the Chechen interior ministry as saying today.

Colonel Nikolai Zhabko and his driver died when the vehicle they were travelling [sic] in jumped on a mine in the Chali region, in the southeast of Chechnya, between the villages of Novye Atagy and Chiri-Yurt, the agency reported.

Along with these examples of violence and murder, it's appropriate to mention that they are not instances of the lack of peace since peace has been redefined to mean planting trees. Therefore, wars, violent killings, terrorism, bombings, and murders can continue and, as long as plenty of trees are planted, the world will be at peace.

Kumbaya, everyone!

Also blogging: Backcountry Conservative

Erskine Bowles - Democrat In Hiding

With North Carolina Senator John Edwards running for Vice President, his seat in the U.S. Senate is being sought by Representative Richard M. Burr, a five-term Republican Congressman, and Erskine Bowles, a Democrat and former White House Chief of Staff for the Clinton administration. In his campaign, Burr proudly asserts being a Republican with close ties to President Bush while reminding the voters that his opponent is a Democrat. On the other hand, Bowles' campaign doesn't allow his name to be associated with the Democrat Party in any manner. In fact, the main page of Bowles' website indicates only one reference to the Democratic Party and it pertains to his favorite issues. All one finds is:

These ideas are not Republican ideas or Democratic ideas.

The fact that Bowles is a Democrat is hidden from the reader. Bowles also doesn't mention that he was one of Bill Clinton's primary sounding boards and continues to be part of the DNA of the Democratic Party. And no one will hear Erskine Bowles talk about John Kerry either.

In North Carolina, a state where President Bush has strong support, Bowles must pretend that he is independent from the Democrats in hopes of winning the hearts of uninformed voters. It's generally recognized that politicians don't like to be called liberals because the voters often refuse to elect them. Now we have Democratic politicians, in at least one state, that don't want to be associated with the Democratic Party. And what's most interesting is that the Democrats have been accusing the Republicans of deceiving the American people. In reality, Erskine Bowles is doing some deceiving by trying to pull a classic bait-and-switch on the voters of North Carolina.

Ken Bigley Caught While Escaping

According to a report in the Sunday Times, Ken Bigley was on his way to safety when his car was stopped by terrorists in a different cell of the Tawhid and Jihad group. He was returned to the house where he had been held and then beheaded. The two men who helped in the escape attempt were executed.

Through intelligence channels, it's been confirmed that the Tawhid and Jihad group got antsy after the failed MI6 (British Intelligence) escape attempt. The terrorists believed that their hiding place would soon be overrun with U.S. and Iraqi Forces so they killed Bigley and ran. (via Blogs Of War and Backcountry Conservative)

Two Chinese Engineers Kidnapped in Pakistan

(Islamabad, Pakistan) Two Chinese engineers and two Pakistani security personnel have been kidnapped by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists near the Afghan border. The terrorists have demanded the release of all al-Qaeda detainees or they vowed to kill Wang Ende and Wang Teng, who worked for China's state-run Sino Hydro Corporation.

The engineers were kidnapped yesterday morning as they travelled [sic] from the western town of Dera Ismail Khan to the Gomalzam dam project in South Waziristan, the remotest and most dangerous of Pakistan's north-west tribal districts.

Hundreds of al-Qaeda militants have taken refuge and set up training camps in South Waziristan, and have been battling thousands of Pakistani army troops trying to flush them out.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, it's being reported that four people were killed and two wounded today in an early morning rocket or mortar attack near the oil ministry.

Also blogging:The Jawa Report

Arkansas Bus Crash Kills 14

(Marion, Arkansas) From the Associated Press:

A tour bus carrying 30 Chicago-area residents to a Mississippi casino left Interstate 55 north of Marion and flipped Saturday morning, killing 14 aboard, a state police spokesman said.

The bus, owned by Walters Charter and Tours of Chicago, was about 30 miles from its destination, Tunica, Miss., when the accident occurred around 5:04 a.m., state police spokesman Bill Sadler said.

A light mist was falling at the time of the accident, but visibility did not appear to be greatly limited, he said.

No cause has been identified. Notably, the bus was recently inspected and determined to be in good mechanical shape. The NTSB is investigating.

Since no other vehicles were involved in the early morning crash and with good visibility and sound equipment, it appears that the driver may have fallen asleep.

Australia Keeps Howard

Earlier today, John Howard won his fourth term as Australia's Prime Minister. As a loyal and unyielding ally of the United States, Howard's reelection is worth toasting. John Howard, I raise my coffee cup in your honor.

Afghan Woman Votes First

A woman cast the first vote in the Afghan national election and it has to be considered much more than symbolic. It is a dramatic first step towards equal rights for women in the Muslim societies of Central Asia and the world. Every person in America should be proud of the United States and its allies for helping lead the country of Afghanistan to democracy and women's suffrage. On the other hand, the Afghans should be applauded for their courage in resolutely moving towards a democratic government while suffering setbacks from the forces of evil and ignorance. (via In The Bullpen)

Plan To Outlaw Smoking In Europe

(Brussels, Belgium) Before the European Parliament, the incoming European health enforcer, Markos Kyprianou, announced his plan to make smoking illegal in Europe within five years. He also pledged to fight for more laws to restrict eating food and drinking alcohol.

Apparently, health enforcement has been lax and there are too many fat, drunk, and coughing Europeans. Also, it's interesting to note that Kyprianou did not mention how the anti-smoking laws are to coexist with legislative efforts that have already legalized marijuana and hashish smoking in some European countries.

Afghan Polling Station Bombed

From News.com.au:

A bomb exploded at a polling station in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif early today, a Western official said, shattering what had been a relatively calm start to Afghanistan's first-ever presidential election.

No word on casualties at this time. Polls close at 1130 GMT (7:30 am, EDT).

Fired For Hunting Spacemen

(Columbus, Ohio) On weekends and weekday nights, 63-year-old computer programmer Charles E. Smith would use a state-owned computer server to search for aliens in outer space. His employer, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, fired him. Smith's boss, Director Tom Hayes, remarked

"I understand his desire to search for intelligent life in outer space, because obviously he doesn't find it in the mirror in the morning," Hayes said. "I think that people can be comfortable that security has beamed this man out of our building."

It's glaringly apparent that Smith wasn't being very intelligent while looking for spacemen. He risked and lost a job that paid a comfortable $60,000 per year.

Bigley Beheaded By Tawid and Jihad Terrorists

It's been reported by an Abu Dhabi television station that British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been beheaded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's Tawid and Jihad terrorist organization.


Kenneth Bigley
Confirmation has been provided by reports from various news sources. Abu Dhabi television claims to have received the beheading video and decided not to broadcast. Earlier it was reported that a Reuters employee has seen the video. Links and/or stills should be available soon.

Following the story closely are:

Backcountry Conservative,
Blogs of War,
The Jawa Report,
Diggers Realm,
In The Bullpen,
ISOU,
Outside The Beltway,
Wizbang.

Obviously, there's a lot of interest in the Ken Bigley story. Unfortunately, from all indications, there is no happy ending. Condolences to his family.


[Update 10/10]

The video of Kenneth Bigley is here. (Hat tip: Backcountry Conservative)


[Update 04/21/06]

Senior al-Qaeda terrorist claims he presided at Bigley's phony trial.

Mexican Migrants in Mexico

When Mexicans sneak into the U.S., they leave openings in the labor forces of the northern states of Mexico which are being filled by indigenous Indians from the countryside. The towns and communities are seeing an influx of people of different cultures and, in some cases, they cannot even speak Spanish. Local populations are not always happy with the situation.

Sounds somewhat similar to what's happening in some communities in the U.S., eh? Digger takes a closer look at the story.

Another German Cannibal

In Germany last year, it was reported that Armin Meiwes, 42, killed and ate Bernd Juergen Brandes, 43. Meiwes was ultimately convicted of the crime. This year, it's reported that Ralf Meyer, 41, killed Joe Ritzkowsky, 33, with every intention of eating him.

"I wanted to eat him," Meyer told the police. "It has been a fantasy of mine for a long, long time."

Police said Meyer lost his nerve and confessed after killing his victim. "There's a body in my flat," he told them. "Please stop me before I eat it."

Police found a chopped-up Joe Ritzkowsky in Meyer's flat.

One has to wonder if the cannibalism perversion can be categorized as uniquely European. Cannibalism has occurred many times in the modern era, however, it usually occurs when people are starving. The two German incidents seem to result from some sort of mental sickness.

Indonesian Paris Embassy Bombed

From Reuters:

A package bomb exploded in front of the Indonesian embassy in Paris before dawn Friday, causing minor injuries to about 10 people and shattering windows of nearby apartments.

"This is clearly an act with criminal intentions," said Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin, who rushed to the scene in the wealthy 16th arrondissement in western Paris.

"As far as we know, there was no specific threat but we are investigating," he told journalists.

Villepin's words were echoed by President Jacques Chirac who pledged "All means will be deployed to shed light on this criminal act." The apparent French denial of any terrorist underpinnings was not shared by Indonesian president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who condemned the blast as an act of terrorism.

It should be noted that tension is high worldwide due to terrorist attacks yesterday on Egyptian Red Sea resorts crowded with Israeli tourists, killing at least 20 people in bombings that appeared to be the work of al Qaeda. Additionally, the second anniversary of the Bali nightclub bombings has heightened security concerns regarding Indonesia.

Companion post at Backcountry Conservative

Red Sea Resort Attacks

The total number of casualties in yesterday's bomb attacks at a resort hotel in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula is still unknown. According to this report,

Officials initially reported at least 30 dead, but by this morning they said rescuers had located 19 bodies in the rubble - although more were expected to be found. Egypt said at least 12 Egyptians were dead, and a senior Israeli army officer, Yair Naveh, said 38 Israelis were missing.

Israel has announced that al-Qaeda is to blame.

For a comprehensive overview and relevant links, see The Jawa Report.

Horse Steaks

(Mason, Ohio) According to this report, many people were upset when they heard that The Red Derby Restaurant was legally selling horsemeat dinners. The advertising campaign for the restaurant serving sizzling horse steaks and horse burgers resulted in hundreds of telephone and e-mail complaints and even death threats. There was no need to protest, however, because the restaurant and advertising campaign were part of a hoax created by a horse lovers group called Second Chance Horse Rescue. The hoax was intended to motivate people to donate money.

The group's founder, Alice Crow, said there are 150,000 horses slaughtered each year for human consumption in other countries and, since 2002, her group has rescued 200. Golly, Alice, in two years, you've rescued 200 horses. That's 100 horses per year which means that 149,900 horses each year weren't rescued. It doesn't look like you are ever going to make a big dent in the overall numbers. Maybe you should change the name of your group from Second Chance Horse Rescue to Snowball's Chance Horse Rescue, just for the sake of accuracy in advertising, of course.

Anglicans Won't Accommodate Homosexuals

In Australia, the Anglican Church held the General Synod Meeting in Perth and officially rejected homosexual marriages and ordaining women bishops along with condemning adultery. Debate was heated yet the measures passed by a significant margin.

School Dress Codes

Examples abound in the U.S. where school systems have instituted student dress codes to more formalize the education process while reducing discipline problems. Naturally, civil libertarians come out of the woodwork claiming that Gestapo tactics are being used to stifle freedom of expression. The controversy rages on, and on, yada, yada, yada.

Well, folks, check out this story. American school systems don't even come close to the level of stifling expression that the administrators impose at the Priestnall High School, Heaton Mersey, England. Students have been "separated from their friends and kept in isolation for two days, for such crimes as wearing the wrong colour socks, or having their shirt untucked." Comparing infractions, solitary confinement for the wrong color socks, the British standard, is not even close to just telling a boy to pull his pants up or a girl to cover her midriff, which is commonly all that's demanded in U.S. schools.

Due to public protest, the Priestnall headmaster was forced to change the policy and the uniform "purge" was called off. The administrators believe the purge was successful in upgrading the quality of the student's appearance. Uniforms are still required but the daily inspections are no longer conducted.

$15,000 For Bruised Marbles

(Oakland, California) After an adrenaline-charged chase of a bank robber, a policeman kicked the criminal in the groin. As a result, the city of Oakland will pay the felon the sum of $15,000.

Troy Barnes robbed the Wells Fargo Bank on Fruitvale Avenue on Aug. 21, 1998. He led officers on a chase and crashed into a park ranger's car on Golf Links Road in East Oakland. Barnes was shot -- apparently seven times by numerous officers who fired 51 shots -- after police spotted him holding a 9mm semiautomatic pistol.

Officer Edwin Somarriba was seen on a television news videotape kicking Barnes between his legs after he had been shot and lay bleeding on the ground.

[ ... ]

Barnes, a three-time convicted bank robber, was found guilty in the 1998 bank holdup of two counts of robbery, brandishing a weapon and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He is serving a lengthy prison sentence at Salinas Valley State Prison.

Attorney Michael Rains of Pleasant Hill, whose firm represented Somarriba, said Wednesday of the officer's kick, "It was not done sadistically or maliciously. It was done to control and not to punish. The kicking was to distract."

Now, get this. Barnes is a Muslim who wants to donate half his settlement to mosques and the other half to his granddaughter. What a bunch of hooey. After his lawyer sucks his fee from the $15,000, Barnes will be lucky just to have enough left to buy a few cartons of cigarettes.

And another thing. What's the story with the police force that couldn't shoot straight. Holy moley! All they needed was one cop able to hit the target and Barnes would be in the morgue. End of story.

Companion post at Backcountry Conservative

Help Wanted - Driver

A national search is underway by the Subaru Motor Company for a female driver in good health.

- No experience necessary

- Must have valid U.S. driver's license

- Travel is required

- PAY: $40,000 minimum

Applications are available at Subaru dealerships and they must be submitted by October 18, 2004. For additional information, contact CGHill.

Organ Donor Dies From Organ Removal

(Grand Junction, Colorado) The Montrose County Coroner, Mark Young, ruled that the death of William Rardin, 36, was a homicide caused by the removal of his heart, liver, pancreas, and kidneys by an organ recovery team. Apparently the Montrose Memorial Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital did not follow "accepted medical standards" for determining death prior to removing Rardin's organs for transplantation. The incident prompted Coroner Young to remark:

"This has me so concerned I'm taking the donor thing off my driver's license. I don't mind donating if I'm dead, but hopefully the results of this incident will mean new standards will be established."

People are surely aware that organ transplant procedures have extremely restrictive time limits and organ recovery teams constantly have to battle the clock. That type of pressure may well have contributed to this death by organ removal.

Sheesh! This story is going to give me nightmares where I lapse into a coma and a team of surgeons arrives to hurriedly take my body apart, piece by piece, while I'm still alive.

Blasts Kill At Least 34 In Pakistan

From a report in the Star Online (Malaysia):

Two bombs exploded at a gathering of Islamic radicals in the central Pakistan city of Multan early Thursday, killing at least 34 people and injuring dozens, police said.

Hundreds of people had gathered in a residential area in the city to mark the anniversary of the death of the leader of the outlawed Sipah-e-Sahaba group, killed in an attack last year.

A car bomb exploded near the venue, and within minutes a second bomb attached to a motorcycle went off, deputy city police chief Arshad Mohammed said.

Multan's police chief, Skindar Hayyat, said that at least 34 people were killed.

Dr. Mohammed Tayyab at the Nishtar government hospital in the city said they had received 34 dead bodies and 70 injured.

Occurring at about 2340 GMT Wednesday, the attack appears to be one group of terrorists blowing up another group of terrorists. It's suggested that the bombs were exploded in the gathering of radical Sunni Muslims because they are believed responsible for a suicide bombing of Shia Muslims that occurred last week in the eastern city of Sialkot, killing 31 people and injuring more than 50.

Canadian Sub Emergency

(Halifax, Nova Scotia) An updated report indicates that the fires onboard the HMCS Chicoutimi were worse than originally reported. Three sailors were airlifted to an Irish hospital where one is described in "critical" condition. Although the boat is without propulsion bouncing in rough seas, one diesel generator and the battery are providing ventilation and lighting.

Nine crew members suffered minor injuries while fighting the fires which, according to Commodore Tyrone Pile, Commander of the Canadian Fleet Atlantic, was major and caused extensive damage to cabling.

The cause of the [first] fire was still unknown, Pile said. However, it burned on both the first and the second deck, badly damaging Captain Luc Pelletier's cabin and the electrical equipment room.

A second "minor' fire erupted in the oxygen generator after the first had been extinguished. Currently, rescue vessels are attending to the boat with towing to the British Naval Base in Faslane, Scotland, expected to begin tomorrow.

Interestingly, the fires on the submarine have led to fiery arguments in the Canadian House of Commons. The Conservatives are saying the Liberals are neglecting the Canadian Armed Forces.

"They wanted a military capability on the cheap. This is a pattern with the Liberals," Conservative defence critic Gordon O'Connor, a retired army general, told reporters on Tuesday.

So, the Liberals support the military except when it comes to paying for it. The Liberals counter the Conservative argument by stating that this is not the time to be asking questions.

[Update 10/06/04, 2055EDT] The critically injured submariner, Lieut. Chris Saunders, from Saint John, N.B., died while being transferred to the hospital. The news is devastating to Saunders' wife and two small children who earlier were informed that everyone was fine. Poor communications have been blamed. Late Wednesday, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced the death to a hushed House of Commons.

Vancouver Pot Shop Closes

(Vancouver, British Columbia) After about four months in operation selling marijuana and hashish, the Da Kine Smoke and Beverage shop has surrendered its license to conduct business. Da Kine shuts down on the eve of license renewal and a mere month after being raided as a drug trafficking operation. The owner, Carol Gwilt, and seven employees were charged with trafficking after "police seized cash, nine kilograms of marijuana, some hashish and 300 marijuana and hash cookies."

Mayor Larry Campbell has stated that a licence would not have granted had they known the shop would be selling illegal drugs. His statement seems disingenuous since the police opposed the licence prior to issuance, saying they had concerns drugs might be sold on the premises.

"We were aware and had information that this is what they planned to do, that they would set up a marijuana cafe," police spokeswoman Const. Sarah Bloor said.

The business had revenues of about $30,000 a day which would appear to indicate the shop was selling something other than coffee and sticky buns.

"This is not a small compassion club for medicinal marijuana use. This is a drug trafficking operation that is making more money than any other legitimate business [in the area], close to half a million dollars a month," Bloor said.

It should be no surprise that the typical marijuana cafe caters to dopers, not glaucoma and cancer patients.

Cheney - Edwards Debate Mini-Wrap

My viewing pleasure for the evening was baseball as opposed to the debate. I relied upon others to keep me informed, such as Allah, who has posted a good compilation of snippets from around the blogosphere. In particular, after John Edwards repeated the false allegations about Halliburton, Cheney erroneously informed everyone to consult "Factcheck.com" to find out the true story. He should have said that 'Factcheck.org" is where the Democrats assertions are debunked. Allah notes:

At some point tonight after Cheney's gaffe, Factcheck.com was reconfigured to redirect visitors to George Soros's website. Whether this was done at Soros's behest or whether any cash changed hands in the process, no one knows (yet) ....

I can't think of a better demonstration of the fact that the Democrats will be as underhanded as necessary to keep people from hearing the truth. Their whole campaign is based upon deceiving the American people.

From Wizbang comes this Vice-Presidential quote,

"I have been president of the senate for several years and the first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight."

Cheney gets the blue ribbon for best campaign zinger.

I agree wholeheartedly with Spoons regarding Gwen Ifill as a moderator with one exception. He says she's nasty with an extreme leftist bias and should be beaten to death with her own shoes. Personally, any person's shoes would be fine with me, preferably with spiked heels. Ifill is the poster person for what's wrong with PBS. Overall, Spoons charts Cheney thumbs down on his performance.

Over at the Llama Butchers, it's a draw. Chad Evans In The Bullpen provides a good collection of blogospheric reactions and personally thinks Edwards is a lightweight and Cheney outclassed him. Michelle Malkin looks at some details to give the nod to Bush/Cheney. She remarks:

It was a substantive debate and the reason the MSM navel-gazers are grumpy is that they didn't get any non-substantive fireworks--no sighs, no frowns, no major flubs--which forced the pundits to do what Kerry/Edwards don't want them to do: talk about the Dem ticket's pathetic record, constant flip-flopping, and perilous weakness on fundamental national security questions.

Bill at INDC Journal credited Cheney with a strong, solid performance while Edwards lacked substance. Slight advantage to Cheney.

James Joyner at Outside The Beltway considered the debate to be much more illuminating than Round 1 of Bush/Kerry with Cheney a clear winner. Poliblogger Steven Taylor gave a slight edge to Ifill over Cheney who edged out Edwards. Andrew Sullivan saw Edwards win. According to Right On Red, Cheney won. Period. Jeff Goldstein gets a gold star for this bit of homey Protein Wisdom.

Dick Cheney smokes imported cigars, drinks double Scotch neat from a chunky tumbler, and talks to his friends about dames and gams and stock options. John Edwards wants to be a fireman when he grows up. Bless his li'l heart.

Based upon my quick review, Cheney showed his strengths, which are many, and Edwards was a cute new guy but you'd do further checking before you allowed him to go out with your daughter.

Canadian Submarine Distressed Off Irish Coast

According to this report, a Canadian diesel-electric submarine called the HMCS Chicoutimi had a fire onboard and lost propulsion in the North Atlantic Ocean about 100 nautical miles (180 kilometers) northwest of Ireland. It's been reported that some crew members suffered from smoke inhalation. Rescue operations by Canadian Forces and the Royal Navy are underway.

17-Year-Old Mayor?

Her name is hyphenated and her britches are big so she's announced her candidacy for mayor of St. Mary's Point, Minnesota. Only 17, Erin Feehan-Nelson's campaign slogan indicates she's not corrupted by having experience. "I'm ignorant, vote for me" may work. Just look at Congress. (via Spoons)

Kerry's Paper Endorses Bush and Vice Versa

Here's a few words from John Kerry's hometown newspaper, the Lowell Sun.

We in Massachusetts know John Kerry. He got his first taste of politics 32 years ago in the cities and towns of Greater Lowell.

In his 20 years in the U.S. Senate, Kerry, a Navy war hero, hasn't risen above the rank of seaman for his uninspiring legislative record. He's been inconsistent on major issues. First he's for the 1991 Persian Gulf War, then he opposes it. First he's for the war in Iraq, then he's against it. First he's for a strong U.S. defense, then he votes against military weapons programs. First he's for the U.S. Patriot Act, then he opposes it.

Kerry's solution to stop terrorism? He'd go to the U.N. and build a consensus. How naive. France's Jacques Chirac, Germany's Gerhard Schroeder, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and other Iraq oil-for-food scam artists don't want America to succeed. They want us brought down to their level. And more and more, Kerry sounds just like them.

The paper concludes by "proudly" endorsing George Bush for re-election.

However, it would be inappropriate not to mention that President Bush's hometown paper, the Lone Star Iconoclast, endorsed John Kerry for president praising "30 years of experience looking out for the American people."

More at the Backcountry Conservative

U.S. Unemployment

In the next debate between candidates Kerry and Bush, unemployment in the United States will be a point of sharp disagreement. President Bush will state that many jobs were lost due to uncontrollable circumstances in the economy, however, the trend in job growth is positive, sustained, and substantial. John Kerry will state that people in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are suffering from lost jobs while quoting an abundance of statistics. Since raw data can be misleading, it's important to place statistics in context. Consequently, by comparing unemployment percentage rates among various countries, an indication of the state of the economy in the United States with regard to the global economy can be obtained. The following numbers (Unemployment rate, Data date) for each country should be kept in mind when enjoying the campaign rhetoric of the candidates' debate.

United Kingdom - 4.7% (May 2004)

Japan - 4.9% (July 2004)

United States - 5.4% (August 2004)

Canada - 7.2% (July 2004)

Italy - 8.5% (January 2004)

France - 9.5% (year ending July 2004)

Germany - 9.9% (year ending July 2004)

NOTE: These are OECD, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, standardized unemployment rates which reflect uniform application of definitions resulting in estimates that are more internationally comparable than those based on national definitions.

It should be noted that these are national rates and local pockets within the U.S. are experiencing rates higher than the national. However, the locally high unemployment rates in the U.S. (for example, the NE Ohio rate is higher than the national but still less than 6%) don't even come close to the rates published for France and Germany. In fact, according to the Federal Labor Office, German unemployment rose substantially last month to 10.7%, almost twice the rate of the U.S.

Obviously, the above comparison is meaningless to people that are out of work and it's recognized that any rate of unemployment is undesirable. However, the comparison can be useful in helping recognize grossly exaggerated claims sprinkled into debate rhetoric.

Companion post at eTalkinghead

Israeli Air Strike Kills Hamas Commander

From the Sidney Morning Herald:

An Israeli air strike on a northern Gaza refugee camp killed at least four Palestinian militants yesterday, the fifth day of one of Israel's bloodiest offensives in Gaza in four years of conflict.

Witnesses and doctors said the dead included a Hamas field commander.

The early-morning raid was launched shortly after Israel's army chief warned that the incursion into Gaza would last "as long as necessary" to halt rocket attacks against Israel.

Nearly 200 tanks and armoured vehicles have seized nine square kilometres of the northern strip and carried out raids deep into the teeming Jabalya refugee camp, a militant hotbed. Other armour has encircled the town of Beit Hanoun.

Fifty-nine Palestinians, at least 38 of them militants, have been killed in fighting since Israel launched the offensive five days ago after two Israeli children were killed in a rocket strike on the Israeli border town of Sderot.

"Our mission is to remove Sderot from rocket fire range," said the Israeli commander, Colonel Eyal Izenburg.

More ...

In preparation for their planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip next year, the Israelis are more than justified in striking areas used by terrorists to lob rockets at their settlements inside Israel. Within the past five days alone, Israeli military has "hit seven gangs of militants involved in firing rockets, including one on a donkey cart."

Companion post at Backcountry Conservative

Passengers Kill Train Robbers

(Calcutta, India) Six armed train robbers were beaten to death with sticks and umbrellas by passengers today as the train approached a small town north of Calcutta. The report doesn't mention what the robbers were armed with but it apparently wasn't sufficient.

Massive South Korean Protest

(Seoul, South Korea) An estimated 100,000 largely conservative and Christian protesters gathered and converged on the Seoul City Hall Plaza to condemn plans to abolish the South Korean National Security Law. The "Citizens' Mass Rally to Protect the National Security Law" was held in conjunction with the "10 Million Signature Campaign to Oppose the Abolition of the National Security Law." The law suppresses dissent by making it illegal to advocate or accommodate communism. Right wing South Koreans see the law as a necessity to battle pro-communist North Korean influences. During the event, demonstrators burned three North Korean flags and a poster of Kim Jong-Il, the North Korean leader.

"Those who are afraid of the National Security Law should leave this country!" the protesters chanted, waving small South Korean and US flags.

It needs to be mentioned that the National Security Law in South Korea is a domestic issue and it has nothing to do with the United States. Although it's quite welcome to see support for the U.S. in South Korea, having tens of thousands of American flags being waved during the National Security Law demonstration is probably inappropriate. Robert Koehler expresses some discontent in his detailed analysis of the issue at The Marmot's Hole.

Terrorists Murder Italian-Iraqi and Turk

(Baghdad) From Reuters comes the report that a video (dtd. Oct. 2) has been distributed showing the murders of an Italian man of Iraqi origin and a Turk. The video shows the terrorists reading a statement accusing the men of spying and then, blindfolded and kneeling, they are shot. The Italian-Iraqi is identified as Iyad Anwar Wali.

[Update 10/05/04, 3:45pm EDT] Here's a video of the murders by the Salafist Brigades of Abu Bakr Al-Sidiq. Stills and links to more video can be found here.

Rubbish Started Humming Furiously

Here's an addition to the growing list of unpleasant aspects of air travel. Earlier today, the airport terminal in Mackay, Australia, was evacuated and flights were disrupted for an hour after it was noticed that a strange humming noise was coming from a trash can. According to cafeteria manager Lynne Bryant,

"It was rather disconcerting when the rubbish bin started humming furiously," she said.

The emergency was terminated and flights resumed when it was found that the suspected bomb was an adult novelty device. Maybe there should be a sign.

Note to Travelers: Make sure all electric moments are exhausted prior to discarding personal relaxation equipment in airport terminals.

Iran Says Kerry Can Shove It

Last week, candidate Kerry proposed to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue by having the U.S. supply the country with uranium. Apparently, I'm not the only person that believes Kerry's proposal is absolutely bizarre, the Iranians do too. Their position is that Kerry can basically shove the idea. Iran's reasoning is different than mine but the result is the same.

Also blogging:

In The Bullpen,
Backcountry Conservative

Reference needs to be made to the fact that Kerry's proposal mirrors what the Clinton administration actually did with regard to North Korea. We saw there that giving the NORKS nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes resulted in Kim Jong-Il having nuclear weapons. Even Clinton's SecState, grimacing Madeleine Albright, has stated that 'we were fooled' concerning negotiations with the NORKS. Maybe John Kerry should crack a book on the recent history of the world.

Government Offers Legal Funds To Fight Greenpeace

Greenpeace has found evidence that appears to indicate the Australian government offered to subsidize the Southern Pacific Petroleum (SPP) company if it took legal action against the environmentalists. An amount of $36.4 million was to be given in return for a promise from SPP. The evidence, an email,

[S]uggests the Government wanted SPP to take legal action against the environment group to ensure the company could sell its products freely on the market.

The email refers to "Greenpeace's activities ... which ... resulted in SPP's inability to sell its product domestically".

The Federal Government gave subsidies to SPP to help with its export sales because the company was unable to get subsidies for domestic sales because they were unable to find Australian buyers for their oil.

SPP said this was because of Greenpeace's campaign against shale oil, which the group says generates greenhouse gas emissions.

So, it appears that Greenpeace is spewing an end-of-the-world global warming message and effectively scaring away customers from SPP. Since the solvency of the energy supplier is at stake, the government has offered to help with their legal bills.

Apparently, from the perspective of Greenpeace at least, the government shouldn't be spending taxpayer dollars in this manner.

Cleveland Foodbank Now Sells USDA Food

Okay, here's the deal. Taxpayers provide food free of charge to a charity. The charity then sells the food. The taxpayer receives no benefit beyond the knowledge that somebody is scamming somebody.

Unless I'm missing something, there's not enough French foo-foo in the world to cover the smell coming from this arrangement.

Shawnee Announce $250 Million Casino

With long-term goals for wide investment and economic development in Ohio, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma has announced plans to purchase land and build a casino and resort adjacent to Interstate 75 between the metropolitan areas of Dayton and Cincinnati. The 150-acre site is expected to take two years to develop while the tribe coordinates with neighboring landowners regarding new hotel, retail, and entertainment businesses. Total investment by the tribe is calculated to be $250 million.

Interestingly, the Shawnee Tribe's property will not be the typical 'Indian casino' enterprise since it will not be on land governed by the tribe. The land is subject to the laws of Ohio and, consequently, the tribe may only conduct Class II gambling operations. Class II gambling only includes bingo gambling machines, pull-tabs, and card games against other players. It excludes slot machines, blackjack, craps, roulette, and other traditional casino games. Notably, Class II gambling receipts also do not provide a revenue stream for the State of Ohio.

Gov. Bob Taft has stated he is opposed to any expansion of gambling in Ohio, however, there may be some pressure for him to change his mind. With Congress passing the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988, the governor has the power to approve Class III gambling by the Shawnee Tribe. Class III provisions allow for slots, blackjack, and other moneymaking games which would add jobs and increase business in the Ohio economy. And the state would gets its cut in tax revenue. From a political standpoint, Gov. Taft will be tested on the issue.

On a related issue, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma is continuing in its effort to reclaim 'lost' tribal lands in Ohio. They expect to submit an application to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs reflecting their historic ownership of some lands prior to being forced to Oklahoma in the 1800s.

Professor Hailey Authenticates Forgeries

As discussed previously, David E. Hailey, Jr., Ph.D, Associate Professor at Utah State University, has been working hard to authenticate the Rathergate documents. According to this report, Hailey has now published his findings and states:

"All indicators imply they are authentic."

[ ... ]

If Hailey had been one of the experts advising CBS, "I would have told them that from my point of view, the memos are worthy of presenting to the public."

However, it seems Hailey's definition of 'authentic' has nothing to do with the specific attacks on George Bush contained on the documents. He bases his opinion on the capabilities of the typewriter available in the early 1970s. It needs to be noted that he's not the only expert weighing in on the typewriter issue. Hailey is, however, the only 'expert' who believes that a 1970s vintage typewriter can emulate the capabilities of Microsoft Word. By the way, Hailey has also been found to be a financial supporter of John Kerry for president. He has also admitted to emotional instability when his credibility and credentials are challenged.

At the forefront of the investigation of Hailey's methods and motives is Wizbang which, oddly enough, has been characterized unfavorably in the Deseret News.

An unidentified person claiming to represent the www.wizbangblog.com Web site called Smitten [USU English Department Head Jeffrey Smitten] and accused Hailey of "academic misconduct." There were 50 pages of blog entries critical of Hailey on the Wizbang site as of Friday.

I don't believe that Kevin Aylward, or any other writers for Wizbang, would ever fail to identify themselves. And, if there are 50 pages of blog entries about this issue at Wizbang, they are hidden. I visit the site often and I haven't seen them.

Apparently, the newspaper has a loyalty to Hailey and Utah State University.

Cats Used To Control Rats

The northern Mexican State of Chihuahua is importing cats to try and control the rat population. Health officials want to send several hundred felines to Atascaderos, an isolated farm village in the rugged Tarahumara mountains, a region where it's estimated there are about a half million rats. One health official, Roberto Gallegos, stated:

"So far we don't have any cats, but an animal control agency already promised to donate 50."

A large population of cats will surely eradicate the rats. Unfortunately, they'll also eradicate the songbird population. Be careful what you wish for.

Iraqi Beheaded by Ansar al-Sunna

(Dubai) According to a Reuters report, an Iraqi Islamic terrorist group called Ansar al-Sunna beheaded Barea Nafea Dawoud Ibrahim, an Iraqi contractor, for working with U.S. forces. A video and accompanying statement were posted on the Internet. Rusty Shackleford has stills and video links.

Ansar al-Sunna terrorists are responsible for a number of kidnappings and murders. They need to be found and eliminated.

Suicides Result From Child Porn Raids

As described in a previous post, around 200 people were arrested in a massive Australia-wide raid of child pornographers. Now it's being reported that some of those implicated in the raids have committed suicide.

A former Queensland policeman, a Victorian prison officer, another Victorian man and a West Australian electrician were all found dead after being interviewed by police over child pornography allegations.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison described the deaths as regrettable but vowed they would not deter Australia's biggest crackdown on child porn.

It's easy and, I think, accurate to conclude that these evil perverts cannot stomach themselves once they're exposed.

New Al-Qaeda Attack Tape

Al-Jazeera has aired an audio tape allegedly by Osama Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, a bespectacled Egyptian former surgeon, who is believed to be the architect of the al-Qaeda ideology. The tape calls for organized resistance against the US, the UK, Australia, France, Poland, Norway, South Korea, and Japan. He also cited countries that provide Israel a "means of survival." CIA Analysts have concluded the voice on the tape is most likely Zawahri.

It's probably reasonable to expect an increased flurry of malice by the murdering terrorist cells on the run up to the elections in Australia and the United States. Responses to terrorism need to be bold, firm, and unrelenting.

CBS's Don Hewitt: Rathergate Not 'Done Well'

(Vermillion, South Dakota) Don Hewitt, executive producer of CBS News and creator of 60 Minutes, was at the University of South Dakota yesterday to accept an award for excellence in journalism. At an afternoon news conference, he spoke of Iraq and Rathergate.

On the topic of the Iraq War, Hewitt didn't hesitate to give his opinion on the U.S. troop presence.

"How do we get out of a place when we never should've been there in the first place?" he asked. "The reason we're not winning the war in Iraq is it's not a war - it's mayhem. It's the OK Corral.

[ ... ]

Hewitt offered what [sic] called a "radical suggestion" on how U.S. troops could leave Iraq.

"I think we should get up and leave and do like the French did and hire a Foreign Legion," he said. "I think you have to hire killers to kill killers. Open up the prisons."

Jeez! I can hear Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton already. Also, I don't think his characterization of the French Foreign Legion is entirely accurate.

Hewitt also addressed the controversy surrounding Rather's "60 Minutes" report that suggested Bush received preferential treatment while in the National Guard.

Rather recently apologized publicly on behalf of CBS News because it could not authenticate documents used in the story.

If there is a culprit in the case, Hewitt said, it may be the producer who led Rather to go with the story. [Emphasis mine - ed.]

"I wouldn't have done the story," he said. "I don't think it was done very well. You can't take on the president of the United States on flimsy information.

"I would've said, 'Don't do it.' You don't want to inject yourself into a campaign. You can't talk about one of the candidates and his military record without injecting yourself."

Wait a minute! He's suggesting that Rathergate is entirely on the head of Mary Mapes? It seems there may be a break in the CBS circle of wagons and I wouldn't doubt that they're looking for a head, other than Rather's, to lop off. Mary Mapes should be looking for a job, it seems.

Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today and namesake of the Excellence in Journalism Award given to Hewitt, stated:

"In my judgment, there is no previous winner who has a better overall grasp of journalism than Don Hewitt," Neuharth said.

"I hope you remember he's the one who taught Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace ... what the news is all about."

Neuharth didn't mention who taught Dan Rather.

Man Lets Child Steer Car

(Muskego, Wisconsin) A drunk man planted his six-year-old son on his lap and told him to steer the car as they barreled down Interstate 43 in rural Wisconsin. After reports to Muskego Police from other motorists, Paul Boland, 37, was pulled over and given a breath test. He blew a point one-eight, more than twice the legal limit and was arrested. Besides DUI, Boland will also probably be charged with child endangerment.

Boland should be smacked hard by the law. He put his child's life in significant danger.

Utah State Professor Attempts Forgery Authentication

David E. Hailey, Jr., Ph.D, Associate Professor at Utah State University, apparently wants to work for CBS or is related to Dan Rather. It's unknown at present whether the university is involved, but Professor Hailey has been doing his damnedest to authenticate the already discredited forged memos of Bill Burkett. Unfortunately for Hailey, Paul and Kevin at Wizbang have already blown holes in his effort to manufacture evidence. Consequently, Hailey is now feverishly trying to cover his tracks and the university is calling for a stop. Too late, copies of everything have been gathered. Now the only question is whether the university is culpable in the attempted fraud. The story continues to develop.

[Update] Gerry at Daly Thoughts relates a little anecdote about Professor Hailey which seems appropriate for someone who would resort to fraud. It seems the professor can rationalize anything.

Army Vet Shot At Donut Shop, Then Pummels Shooter

(Weymouth, Massachusetts) A U.S. Army Military Policeman on leave from a tour in Afghanistan gets shot in the head at a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot and then beats the shooter into submission.

Jeremy Bailey, 24, of Weymouth, received stitches at South Shore Hospital to close a gash in his forehead left by the bullet, and was released.

Edward Green, 20, of Mattapan was arrested and charged with attempted murder. His girlfriend, Nicole D. Pina, 21, of Braintree, was arrested for assaulting several police officers. Idiots!

More on this story at Diggers Realm.

U.S. Forces Storm Iraqi City

(Samarra, Iraq) Earlier today, about 100 terrorists were killed in air strikes and street-to-street combat during a major new Coalition and Iraqi forces offensive in the town of Samarra.

Iraq's Interior Ministry said that by midday (5 a.m. EDT) Iraqi police were in control of the center of Samarra and most surrounding areas following a joint U.S. and Iraqi operation to "remove the terrorists who have been holding the town hostage."

Before dawn, troops backed by tanks pushed through the streets as guerrillas unleashed mortar attacks and fired rocket-propelled grenades and rifles from the rooftops.

Sporadic fighting was still being heard in the early afternoon and electricity and water were cut off in the town of more than 100,000 people, 62 miles north of Baghdad.

The U.S. military says it will retake guerrilla strongholds such as Samarra, the western cities of Falluja and Ramadi and the Baghdad districts of Sadr City and Haifa Street by the end of the year so elections can go ahead in January as planned.

The offensive enabled the rescue of Turkish hostage Yahlin Kaya who was kidnapped while working for the 77 Construction Company.

See also: Backcountry Conservative, In The Bullpen

Dream Blogging

Unfortunately, trying to catch forty winks before last night's debate between candidates Kerry and Bush was not a good idea. I ended up napping through the entire program. However, I couldn't avoid dreaming I saw the debate.

ZZZZZZ ... ZZZZZZ ...

"The Blue State Klefts won the toss and were awarded the ball on the 45-yard-line. On the first play from scrimmage, the Klefts QB went to the right looking for a receiver, then he went left, then he was sacked. After a timeout and two incomplete passes, the Klefts punt. The Red State Brights call a fair catch inside their 5-yard-line."

ZZZZZZ ... ZZZZZZ ...

"The Brights quarterback calls a textbook off-tackle play, moving the ball 5 yards. The Klefts believe there was unsportsmanlike conduct and they are furious. The officials fail to call the illegal whining.

Brights line up, hut-one, hut-two, QB fumbles the snap and immediately falls on the ball. Third down and 5 to go. Klefts are showing blitz. The snap. It's a QB draw, good for six yards and a first down at the Brights 15-yard-line. Three plays later and the Brights make only 8 yards. They are forced to punt."

ZZZZZZ ... ZZZZZZ ...

"It's halfway through the first quarter and the Klefts have the ball at the 50-yard-line. Yes, Bob, the Klefts have been getting consistently good field position. They only have to march the ball half the length of the field to score."

"You're right, Dan, the football spirits are surely watching out for the Klefts today. They just haven't been able to take advantage because of all the delay of game and false start penalties. It seems they're having trouble getting coordinated in the backfield."

ZZZZZZ ... ZZZZZZ ....

"It's still a no score game here in the second quarter and the Brights have the ball at their own 2-yard-line after another incorrect political conduct penalty. How many does that make, Bob?"

Uh, let's see. That's five for the Brights so far in the first half, Dan. None for the Klefts. The Brights do have all their timeouts left, unlike the Klefts."

"Sure enough, Bob. It seems like the Klefts are having some difficulty implementing their game plan."

ZZZZZZ ... ZZZZZZ ...

"It's the fourth quarter and still no score. Under two minutes left. The Klefts have been pushed back to their own 20-yard-line after three straight delay-of-game penalties. Dan, it looks to me like there's confusion in the huddle."

"Undoubtedly, Bob. The Klefts also have been tagged for 12, 13, and 14 men on the field. It's just uncoordinated. It has to be embarrassing for the Blue Staters."

"Here we go, they're lined up. Klefts QB takes the snap. It's a sweep to the right ... the Klefts QB turns and laterals to the fullback ... Oh NO! He lateraled to the wrong side. The sweep was to the right and he lateraled left. The ball is loose. The Brights have it. It's Brights ball, first and goal inside the 10-yard-line."

ZZZZZZ ... ZZZZZZ ...

[YAWN] ... [stretch]

What time is it? ... Oh man! I missed the debate.

[Update] Some notable blogging of the debate, amid much more:

Allah Is In The House has put together a clearinghouse of everyone's thoughts. Definitely worth a visit.

HughHewitt.com has the debate comparisons charted.

Spoons logs the back-and-forth repartee.

Since even Instapundit did a bit of live-blogging, it's easy to imagine that the subject is all over the blogosphere. Based upon what I've read so far, the general impression by observers is that the outcome was a push, which means that Kerry essentially lost since he needs a big win just to get back to even in the polling.

Terrorists May Target U.S. Schools

This report is disturbing:

A man arrested by U.S. authorities in Iraq had a computer disk in his possession containing a public report downloaded from a U.S. Department of Education Web site on crisis planning in school districts, including San Diego Unified.

The man was described as an Iraqi national with connections to terrorism and the insurgency that is fighting U.S. forces in Iraq. Officials in San Diego said the man's intentions were unknown.

San Diego law enforcement officials said there was no indication of any terrorist plot against schools in San Diego or elsewhere in the country. They did not publicly release the information because there appeared to be no threat. The information was relayed to the San Diego FBI office last week and then to the school district Friday.

To have a man in Iraq connected to terrorists carrying around the emergency plans for a school system in the U.S. is not a coincidence. The authorities, however, are downplaying the significance of the occurrence, possibly fearing that people would overreact.

With the recent atrocities in Beslan, it should be clear that terrorists have no qualms about murdering children in schools. It is irresponsible for the authorities in San Diego to ignore the obvious indication that terrorists are looking closely at American schools.

(via Instapundit)

[Update 10/08/04] The Department of Education has issued an advisory to U.S. school systems with regard to potential terrorist threats. Dr. Rusty Shackleford is following the story.