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.