I have no intention to resign, Olmert says

I have no intention of throwing up after a night of heavy drinking either. But it happens anyway.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would hold a special cabinet meeting to discuss the conclusions of the Winograd report on the failures during the Second Lebanon War.

Honestly, I didn't know Israel failed the second Lebanon war. What I saw of Lebanon after the fighing made me think Israel did pretty good, you know, with the devestation and all. Oh well, I'm through trying to figure out the whole Middle East war-mentality thing. Muslim's want to be martyred so when you kill them they're all happy about it. So they win? I give up.

In a special TV address Olmert stressed that he would not resign, and said he planned to appoint a team devoted to "swiftly learning the report and implementing the lessons it requires."

"Yea I'll read it but don't ask me anything about it."

At a meeting of Kadima ministers earlier, Olmert said, "The report is indeed harsh, but I have no intention of resigning."

I'll revisit this topic when he resigns.

Sunday Sign of Hope April 29th 2007

Freed French hostage flies home

From IOL.com:

A French woman freed by the Taliban after 24 days in captivity flew out of Afghanistan overnight after a tearful appeal for the release of her four male colleagues, the French embassy said on Sunday.

The aid worker was freed in the southern province of Kandahar on Saturday with a message from her captors demanding the withdrawal of France's troops in the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force.

"She went back to France during the night," the embassy in Kabul told AFP, adding the matter had been treated with "due discretion."

It would not release details of where the woman, Celine Cordelier and aged between 20 and 30, had flown to or who had transported her.

Cordelier was captured April 3 in the southwestern province of Nimroz with another French volunteer, Eric Damfreville, and three Afghans - all employees of non-government organisation Terre d'Enfance (A World For Our Children).

U.S. high official quits after call-girl ring probe

Somebody got caught with their hand in the cookie jar huh?

A senior U.S. State Department official in charge of foreign aid programs abruptly resigned Friday after his name surfaced in an investigation into a suspected Washington call-girl ring, media reports said Sunday.

Really is anyone surprised? I mean, really?

Randall Tobias, director of U.S. foreign assistance and administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "that he must step down" for personal reasons, the State Department said in an announcement, without giving further details.

Gee, wonder if those personal reasons include the fact he's been banging call girls? You think?

But on Friday night, ABC News said Tobias, whose resignation was effective immediately, had confirmed on Thursday that he had called the Pamela Martin and Associates escort service several times "to have gals come over the condo to give me a massage."

I'd have a lot more respect for the government if they didn't treat us all like fucking idiots.

Computer Is Trying to Kill Me

Due to some computer problems I'm pretty sure are related to a plot between the monitor, mouse and my chair to kill me, I was unable to post yesterday. Sorry bout that. While I'm taking care of this issue (I've taken the keyboard into custody and interigations are underway) I'll just give you a piece of good news.

Top al Qaeda leader taken to Guantanamo

from CNN:

The U.S. military has taken custody of a major al Qaeda figure and is holding him at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon said Friday.

Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, described as a high-level member of al Qaeda, had been in CIA custody, the Pentagon said, but it provided no details on how long and where.

The CIA took al-Hadi into custody last year, a U.S. intelligence official said.

Al-Hadi "was one of al Qaeda's highest-ranking and experienced senior operatives at the time of his detention," the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon lists his key alias as Nashwan Abd al-Razzaq Abd al-Baqi.

The intelligence official said al-Hadi came into CIA custody after President Bush's September speech on the agency's program of interrogating high value-prisoners.

At that time, Bush said, there were "no terrorists" presently in the CIA program.

But he said that "as more high-ranking terrorists are captured, the need to obtain intelligence from them will remain critical -- and having a CIA program for questioning terrorists will continue to be crucial to getting life-saving information."

The intelligence official said al-Hadi may have been transferred to Guantanamo after the CIA gleaned all the useful information it could from him. There are now about 385 detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

The official described the militant's detention as "significant," saying he has "provided information on al Qaeda presence in a number of countries" while he was in CIA custody.

He also provided insights "into command and control operations and planning," the official said.

Born in 1961 in Mosul, Iraq, the militant joined al Qaeda late in the last decade, according to the intelligence official.

Al-Hadi was "clearly in the senior ranks," a member of a now-defunct 10-person governing council. He reportedly was involved in training programs.

A Pentagon fact sheet lists the following allegations:

# Al-Hadi had been a key paramilitary commander in Afghanistan from the late '90s into this decade.

# He was "in charge of cross-border attacks in Afghanistan against coalition forces."

# He "directed plots to assassinate perceived opponents of al Qaeda," including a U.N. official and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

# He had been attempting to return to Iraq "to manage al Qaeda affairs and possibly focus on operations outside Iraq against Western targets."

# Al-Hadi met with al Qaeda leaders in Iran and urged them to back efforts in Iraq and cause "problems within Iran."

# A rocket attack in fall 2003 against U.S. military forces in Afghanistan benefited from al-Hadi's leadership.

# He was "known and trusted" by Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda's leader, and Ayman al-Zawahri, its No. 2 man, and "interacted with other senior al Qaeda planners and decision-makers." One of them cited is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected 9/11 mastermind.

# "Al-Hadi associated with leaders of other extremist groups allied with al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including the Taliban."

# He worked with the Taliban "to determine responsibility and lines of communication between Taliban and al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan, specially with regard to the targeting of U.S. forces."

For those of you who follow the war on terror closely, this guy is a big catch. Keep your fingers crossed that his capture will yeild more good news.

Bin Laden overseeing Iraq, Afghanistan ops: Taliban

Overseeing? That's hard to do from a cave.

Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is orchestrating militants' operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a senior commander of Afghan Islamist group Taliban said in remarks broadcast on Wednesday.

Of course he is. And he is also controling the weather with his mind. Please, I doubt bin Laden is even still alive.

Bin Laden has not made any video statements for many months raising speculation that he might have died.

That's what I just said!

"He is drawing plans in Iraq and Afghanistan ... Praise God he is alive," Mullah Dadullah told Al Jazeera television.

Of course he is. And what possible reason would we have to think you were lying except every, other word out of your mouths is utter bullshit. Please, if he's alive, tell him to stick his head out of his hole.

Afghans say Taliban commander may be surrounded

Come out with your hands up or we will open fire. Actually, don't come out with your hands up.

Afghan and NATO troops have surrounded more than 200 Taliban insurgents and their feared military commander Mullah Dadullah might be among them, Afghan officials said on Tuesday.

How many times have we've heard that a major player in the jihad-game (home version) is surrounded only to hear days later that they slipped through? Please guys, don't let this piece of shit slide down the drain. KILL HIM.

A Taliban spokesman denied that Dadullah was surrounded and said he was not even in Uruzgan province, where provincial security chief General Muhammad Qasim said troops had encircled the militants.

He's not there. No one's there. I'm not here. You're not here. Nothing is happening.

"We got information that senior Taliban commanders came for a meeting in the area. We want to capture all of the Taliban including the commanders," Qasim told Reuters.

Guess it was a bad idea to hang all those "Taliban Meeting Tonight" posters up.

Found: The New Earth

I'm already packing.

Above a calm, dark ocean, a huge, bloated red sun rises in the sky - a full ten times the size of our Sun as seen from Earth. Small waves lap at a sandy shore and on the beach, something stirs...
This is the scene - or may be the scene - on what is possibly the most extraordinary world to have been discovered by astronomers: the first truly Earth-like planet to have been found outside our Solar System.

Oh YES! Can I get a ticket or a ride or something?

The Earth-like planet that could be covered in oceans and may support life is 20.5 light years away, and has the right temperature to allow liquid water on its surface.

20 Light years? Okay so, I'd be in my forties when I get there. But there will be no people. Fair trade I'd say. Now to invent the ability to move at the speed of light...

Former Russian Leader Boris Yeltsin Dies

Yea, so...he's dead. I...um...well honestly I didn't know much about him so I can't really make any snappy remark here.

Former President Boris Yeltsin, who engineered the final collapse of the Soviet Union and pushed Russia to embrace democracy and a market economy, has died, a Kremlin official said Monday. He was 76.

Alright, there you go, he brought Russia into a democracy. I...um...I got nothing.

Kremlin spokesman Alexander Smirnov confirmed Yeltsin's death, but gave no cause or further information. The Interfax news agency cited an unidentified medical source as saying he had died of heart failure.

Well this is embarassing. Can't think of anything funny to say. I guess, well, okay, a nun, a priest and a former leader of Russia responsible for bringing Russia into a democratic age walk into a bar...

Man Cuts Off His Own Penis In Restaurant

Wow the food must have been horrible.

A man chopped off his penis with a knife in front of horrified diners at a busy restaurant. Police were called to Zizzi, in The Strand, London, at 9pm on Sunday after reports of a man in possession of a knife.

You know, try as I might, I just can't even IMAGINE the level of crazy you have to reach to cut off your own penis. I mean, that's just a level of crazy that I didn't think was attainable. Kudos to you dickless.

Sales rep Stuart McMahon, who was eating at the restaurant with his girlfriend, told the SUN:
"This guy came running in then charged into the kitchen, got a massive knife and started waving it about. Everyone was screaming and running out as he jumped on a table, dropped his trousers and popped his penis out. Then he cut it off. I couldn't believe it."

Unforunately, it's a one-time only show. There will be no encore.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said a man aged between 30-40 was the only person injured and that his injuries were self-inflicted.

You think?

She said he was taken to a south London hospital where his condition was today described as stable.

Oh I don't know about that...

Sunday Sign of Hope April 22nd 2007

Insurgents battling al-Qaida outside Baghdad, U.S. says

From The Seattle Times:

At least two major insurgent groups are battling al-Qaida in provinces outside Baghdad, American military commanders said Friday, an indication of a deepening rift between Sunni guerrilla groups in Iraq.

The clashes have erupted over the last two to three months, pitting al-Qaida in Iraq against the nationalist 1920 Revolution Brigades in Diyala and Salahuddin provinces north of Baghdad as well as Anbar to the west, U.S. officers said. In Diyala, another hard-line militant Sunni group, the Ansar al-Sunna Army, is also fighting al-Qaida, they said.

"It's happening daily," Lt. Col. Keith Gogas said Thursday in an interview at an Army base in Muqdadiyah, 60 miles northeast of Baghdad. "Our read on it is that the more moderate, if you will, Sunni insurgents are finding that their goals and al-Qaida's goals are at odds."

American commanders cite al-Qaida's severe brand of Islam, which is so extreme that in Baqouba, al-Qaida has warned street vendors not to place tomatoes beside cucumbers because the vegetables are different genders, Col. David Sutherland said.

Pro-Pakistan tribal leader 'would shelter Bin Laden'

Don't act all surprised when a bomb hits your house then.

A pro-government tribal leader hailed by Pakistan for expelling foreign militants from a troubled frontier region said Friday he would protect
Osama bin Laden if he sought shelter with him.

Better build a bunker.

Mullah Mohammad Nazir told a rare press conference in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan tribal district, that he had never met the Al-Qaeda chief but would help him in line with local traditions.

Many people don't know this but it is apparently custom in the Pakistani tribal belt to shelter the world's most wanted criminals.

"Bin Laden has never come to this area but if he comes here and seeks our protection then according to tribal laws and customs we will protect him," the 32-year-old former Taliban commander said.

Did you know that it is American custom to scatter your body parts all over the sand? While I do cringe at the thought of innocent people being killed in US bombings, some people are asking for it. I present the previous as exhibit A.

Buddhist monks clash in Cambodia amid anti-Vietnam protest

Great, now the monks are getting violent.

At least two Buddhist monks were injured Friday in a street clash in Cambodia's capital between two opposing groups of monks during a protest against Vietnam, which some monks accuse of suppressing religious freedom.

There are opposing groups of monks?

The demonstration march was made by some 40 monks, most of whom identified themselves as Khmer Krom, an ethnic Khmer minority people of Vietnam who inhabited the Mekong Delta area prior to the colonization of that area by Vietnamese settlers.

Ok...

The marchers were demanding relief from alleged religious suppression of Khmer Krom by Vietnamese authorities, and had hoped to deliver a protest letter to the Vietnamese Embassy but were dispersed by some 150 riot police.

Use the post office.

They then walked to the Royal Palace, where the clash occurred, and to the U.S. Embassy.

How did we get envolved in this?

Man Kills Self, Hostage at NASA Building

Insanity is contagious. First the terrible event at Virginia Tech and now, all the pyscho's think this is a good idea. Most Americans remember that following the massacre at Columbine, there was a rash outbreak of other students copycatting that event.

A NASA contract worker took a handgun inside an office building Friday at the Johnson Space Center and fatally shot a hostage before killing himself, police said. A second hostage escaped with minor injuries. The gunman shot himself once in the head more than three hours after barricading himself on the second floor of Building 44, which houses a laboratory.

Why can't people just kill themselves and leave everyone else out of it?

The slain hostage was probably killed "in the early minutes of the whole ordeal," Houston Police Capt. Dwayne Ready said.

Does that really matter?

The man was believed to be an employee of Jacobs Engineering, which has a technical support contract with NASA.

Great so he didn't even technically work for NASA. That's like the lunch truck guy outside your office losing it and killing you.

NASA employees and contract workers were kept informed of the situation by e-mail.

Dear Tina,
We're sending you this e-mail to let you know not to make any sudden movements. Don't turn around. Oh shit, get down, GET DOWN!

Berlin's polar bear cub Knut receives death threat

Assholes.

Germany's celebrity polar bear cub Knut has received an anonymous death threat, causing alarm at Berlin Zoo on Thursday and prompting heightened security.

Anyone stupid enough to threaten the life of a baby animal should be beaten in the head with a hammer.

Top-selling Bild newspaper said the zoo had received a hand-written fax from a suspected animal hater with the words: "Knut is dead! Thursday midday."

I say if they find this prick, they should give him his shot at killing a polar bear. Throw him in with Knut's mother.

But that deadline came and went safely for media star Knut, who has been on newspaper front pages around Germany and the world for weeks. "He is safe and in good spirits," said zoo official Ragnar Kuehne after the time had passed.

Amazing how truly innocent every other species is on this planet. Knut has no idea how very, very dangerous those animals are that are on the other side of his fence.

Bush reveals steps to pressure Sudan

First we threaten em, then we threaten em again, and just when they think we might follow through on those threats, we stop talking to them all together.

Praising the US Holocaust Memorial Museum for its work to stop the genocide in Darfur, President George W. Bush declared during a speech there Wednesday that the US would intensify sanctions and other measures against Sudan if the country's leadership failed to take appropriate action.

Alright, so, let's see now, yup, the whole world hates us.

"This museum cannot stop the violence. But through your good work, you're making it impossible for the world to turn a blind eye," said Bush.

Oh I think you greatly underestimate the power of the museum. I once saw an entire museum take down a crocodile bare-handed. It's true.

"No one who sees these pictures can doubt that genocide is the only word for what is happening in Darfur - and that we have a moral obligation to stop it."

Since when were you concerned with morality?

Va. Tech: Gunman Student From S. Korea

In the wake of tragic actions as this in the US, one can't help but hear the allegations from over the borders that this type of act only happens in the US, that it is the country that is at fault, our laws, our ways, our culture. Now, knowing that the person responsible spent half of his life outside the US, let us begin the debate whether it was the US culture that drove an immigrant to this action, or are we really just blaming a country for the faults of our species?

The gunman suspected of carrying out the Virginia Tech massacre that left 33 people dead was identified Tuesday as a senior English major from South Korea. But police and university officials offered no clue to his motive.

"He was a loner, and we're having difficulty finding information about him," school spokesman Larry Hincker said, a day after the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history.

The rampage consisted of two attacks, more than two hours apart—first at a dormitory, where two people were killed, then inside a classroom building, where 31 people, including the gunman, died after being locked inside, Virginia State Police said. The gunman committed suicide.

Police identified the gunman in the classroom attack as 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui (pronounced Choh Suhng-whee). Cho held a green card—meaning he was a legal, permanent U.S. resident—and had been in the United States since 1992, federal officials said. Officials said he graduated from a public high school in Chantilly, Va., in 2003.

Gunman Kills 32 In Virginia Tech Rampage

Don't have much to say about this except that this world sickens me. From Guardian:

A gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history Monday, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours apart before the university could grasp what was happening and get the warning out to students.

The bloodbath ended with the gunman committing suicide, bringing the death toll to 33 and stamping the campus in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains with unspeakable tragedy, perhaps forever.

Investigators gave no motive for the attack. The gunman's name was not immediately released, and it was not known if he was a student.

Sunday Sign of Hope April 15th 2007

Ethics Charges Stand Against Duke DA

From Fox News:

A disciplinary committee rejected a request Friday to dismiss ethics charges against the former prosecutor in the dismissed Duke lacrosse case, who is accused of withholding critical DNA evidence from the defense.

The decision by the three-member panel came shortly after an hourlong hearing, at which committee chairman F. Lane Williamson repeatedly challenged the arguments made by attorneys for Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong.

The North Carolina State Bar has accused Nifong with breaking several rules of professional conduct as he led the investigation into allegations three lacrosse players raped a stripper at a team party in March 2006.

This week, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper dismissed all charges in the case, and said the three players indicted were innocent and that his investigators concluded no attack occurred. In doing so, he portrayed Nifong as a "rogue" prosecutor who rushed the case by failing to verify the accuser's allegations.

German army recruit given racist orders in training

Racism in Germany. No way. That's never happened before as far as I know.

The German Defence Ministry is investigating an amateur video clip of a German army instructor ordering a recruit training with a machine gun to imagine he is firing at "African Americans" who are insulting his mother.

Forget the racism for a second and one must wonder how seriously the Germans take having their mothers insulted.

"You're in the Bronx, a black van pulls up in front of you and three African-Americans get out and start really insulting your mother ... now do something!" the instructor says in German while a recruit lying on the ground starts firing his gun.

Remind me not to insult any German's mother. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go imagine a group of Muslims are kicking my dog and practice my Kung-Fu.

The instructor in the grainy 90-second video, which Stern magazine online's edition said it found on the internet, then tells the recruit he wants to hear screaming swear words each time the recruit fires his weapons.

Well I'd imagine it'd be strange to hear BANG "Cupcakes!" Bang "Unicorns!" Bang "First snowflake of the season!"

Cleared Duke players consider suing DA

As they should. This is a news story for the ages. Let's begin shall we?

Despite an apology from the prosecutor who pursued rape charges against their clients, the lawyers for three exonerated former Duke lacrosse players were weighing a lawsuit against him, and legal experts said their case could have merit.

You know who else should be sued? The media, the groups that proclaimed these boys guilty before knowing the facts and last but certainly not least, the accusser. Rape is a tough charge to look at objectionally. Unfortunately it usually comes down to he said, she said. And while it is one of the worst crimes imaginable, I believe leveling these charges falsely should be on par. No woman should ever be intimidated into not filing rape charges if the rape occurs. We should protect our wives, our mothers, our sisters. But I believe a woman should be scared to level rape charges falsely. The damage done to a man or a group of boys as in this case is irreversible. Punishment should be handed out to Crystal Gail Mangum (the accuser). Why? Not because she lied, but because of what her lie has caused.

Now people can argue that a punishment being handed out to a woman who claims rape and later the accused is found not guilty shouldn't be punished for a possible mis-handling of justice and that's agreeable. But in this case, where the accusers story changed over and over, she was caught in her own lies and proceeded to be found to be flat out lying, just the fact that the charges are dropped against the accused isn't enough. She should be sued, charged and punished. No one can take those boys pictures off the 24 hour news networks for the past six months. No one can give them there honor back. Apologies aren't enough. We need to take a long, hard look at the role the media plays in our justice system. We need to start wondering if "innocent before proven guilty" can exist in a world with MSNBC and FoxNews.

'Fat' gene found by scientists

That's not really fair, It's hard for fat genes to hide.

A gene that contributes to obesity has been identified for the first time, promising to explain why some people easily put on weight while others with similar lifestyles stay slim.

Any luck finding the gene that makes people stupid?

People who inherit one version of the gene rather than another are 70 per cent more likely to be obese, British scientists have discovered. One in six people has the most vulnerable genetic make-up and weighs an average 3kg more than those with the lowest risk. They also have 15 per cent more body fat.

STOP EATING SO MUCH!! Jeez...

CBS Fires Don Imus Over Racial Slur

Well, I guess I enjoyed free speech while it lasted. So, no one's going to comment on the comments of Howard Stern, Al Sharpton or how about Rosie O'Donnell. I'm sure many people find the things they say offensive. How about we gather up all the adults on TV and radio and replace them all with 24 hours of the Teletubbies? That way no one has to hear things that make them sad. Idiots.

CBS announced Thursday that it has fired Don Imus from his radio program, following a week of uproar over the radio host's derogatory comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

I was watching a show on television the other day and they were talking about Italian immigrants. I'm Italian, that's why I was watching, and I thought, wow, this is interesting. They started to list off the things that Italians were responsible for bringing to the US when one lady says "And let's not forget gold chains and jogging suits." I immediately said, "What the fuck?" and giggled. Why? Cause I don't care that some stupid lady on TV stereotyped my nationality. Why don't I care. Cause I don't concern myself with the thoughts and words of stupid people. I didn't write a nasty letter and I didn't immediately jump on the internet to create a gathering of shouting morons. Because people sometimes say things I don't agree with and I might find offensive. It's a part of life. Look around you. See all those other things walking around that look like you? Those are other people. They're all over the place. Learn to live with it.

"There has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society," CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves said in announcing the decision.

You mean the ones not accusing college lacrosse teams of rape?

One of those discussions took place at noon today with a coalition of leaders from the civil rights and women's movements, who said it was time for Imus to go, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

I'm beginning to hate this country.

"It's important that we stand with the women of Rutgers who are deeply hurt by the highly insensitive comments of Don Imus," said Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League.

Oh no, they're feelings are hurt. These adult, professional, intelligent women can't deal with a comment they didn't like? Personally, I think the actions on Imus, who by the way I can't fucking stand, are more of a danger for the young people than his comments. Put the shields down people and let the kids get a dose of reality. People say stupid things sometimes. You can't always create an uproar about it.

Trapped suspects blow themselves up

Well thank you.

Three suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up after a police raid on a house in a Casablanca slum in which a fourth man was shot dead.

That should show the world just how dedicated these fanatics are to staining carpets.

Two of the men had been on the run since a raid in Fida neighbourhood in which one suspected Islamist militant was killed by police and an accomplice blew himself up after he was trapped on a roof terrace, police sources and witnesses said.

I truly hope there is an afterlife, I really do. And I hope, with every inch of my soul that it is nothing like what these nutcases think it is/ That way I get to see the look on their faces as the Jews and Christians show up in their "paradise" and giggle about how stupid it was to blow yourself up.

The four were members of a gang of up to 12 that police have been looking for since March 11, when the alleged leader of a suicide squad detonated his explosives belt in a cybercafe to stop police arresting him. Police sources said they believed the bombers had started wearing the belts all the time to stop security forces taking them alive.

You know, more criminals should adopt the "never take me alive" attitude. It saves tax dollars, legal fees, saves a lot of people time, saves paperwork which in turn helps the environment. Think of what a lovely world this would be if people like this killed themselves more often. Oh well...I'm a dreamer.

Rutgers Team, Coach Lash Out at Imus

For all those not in the know here's how it breaks down.
Rutgers = college in New Jersey, in this case the "team" is the womans basketball team which played, and lost, in the NCAA finals this year.
Imus = some idiot on the radio

Rutgers women's basketball coach on Tuesday called the comments radio host Don Imus made about her team "racist and sexist remarks that are deplorable, despicable and unconscionable."

Those are some big words for a woman...ah shit...I'm being sued.

"These young ladies before you are valedictorians, future doctors, musical prodigies," coach C. Vivian Stringer told a nationally publicized news conference a day after the uproar over Imus' comments led to a two-week suspension of his show.

"Future waitresses, stewardesses, rap video back-up dancers..."

Team member Essence Carson said she and the other players were angry and disgusted but would meet with Imus. They stopped short of saying whether they thought he should be fired for calling the team "nappy- headed hos."

I've been called worse. Kind of a double standard no? Howard Stern has said the word nigger more than Ice-T. Oh sorry:
Ice-T = former "gangsta" rapper turned actor who plays a cop on a TV show. He's also black.

"We are students first," Carson said. "We did not do anything to deserve his controversy."

Well you did lose the game, just saying.

But she said, "We all agreed the meeting with Mr. Imus will help."

Should make for some good ol' fashioned race bickering. I'll skip it.

Afghan paper wants Taleban prisoners executed

Amen to that.

The Afghan government should execute Taleban prisoners, an Afghan daily said on Monday, the day after the rebels killed the translator of an Italian journalist.

As much as the world would like to believe it, the Taliban are not a resistance group or freedom fighters or insurgents. Iraqi militias are neither. You see, freedom fighters don't blow up crowded markets of civilians of their own nationality. Insurgents don't behind their own nationals. Terrorists do. There is only one thing terrorists understand and that is violence. And while it may make us cringe, you start beheading Iraqi terrorists and Taliban fighters and you'll see them start to double-think their actions.

A spokesman for the Taleban commander holding translator Ajmal Naqshbandi said he was beheaded on Sunday after the government refused to free several insurgent prisoners. Government officials later confirmed the man was killed.

See, terrorists. Need I say more?

“Martyring Ajmal Naqshbandi and their other crimes happen as the government shows extreme leniency towards the Taleban prisoners,” Arman-e-Millie daily said in an editorial.

You mean by the fact we continue to allow them to breathe? You have a good point.

“There has been no implementation of punishment for any criminal and killer Taleban who has been sentenced to heavy punishment by the judicial authorities,” it said. “From now on, criminal Taleban should be executed.”

Go for it. The world won't miss 'em.

Sunday Sign of Hope April 8th 2007

Pope Calls For Peace In Easter Message

Even though I am not the religious type, you can't fault world peace. From Newswire:

Pope Benedict has used his traditional Easter message to call on Christians to work for peace in what he said was a world afflicted by a thousand faces of violence.

Speaking to a huge crowd at St Peter's Square in Rome, the Pope criticised those who use religion to justify violence, human rights abuses and exploitation.

In the address that was shown live on television, he said "nothing positive comes from Iraq" as the country is "being torn apart by continual slaughter," but noted some signs of hope from the Middle East because of talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The Pope said he also looked with apprehension at conditions prevailing in several parts of Africa, including the "catastrophic" humanitarian disaster in Darfur, violence and looting in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe.

Earlier the pontiff led Easter Sunday Mass before tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in the square.

After giving his Easter blessing, the Pope, dressed in gold vestments, greeted pilgrims in more than 60 different languages.

Taliban driven out of key town

And don't come back!

BRITISH commandos who spearheaded a 1,000-man push into the Taliban’s “heart of darkness” were claiming a major success yesterday, writes Tim Albone.

Into the heart of darkness? When did the war in Afghanistan become a part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

The dawn raid on Sangin in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, was designed to prevent a build-up of Taliban forces who had been building elaborate tunnel systems and fortifications in the town.

No digging for you.

The operation to drive them out combined Royal Marine commandos and US paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne division, backed by Afghan, Dutch, Eston-ian, Danish and Canadian troops. The ground troops were supported by helicopters and Harrier jets.

See, when we all come together, work as one to accomplish a common goal, there's no limit to the amount of Muslims we can slaughter.

British sailors speak out over Iranian capture

Now we get to find out what Britain says really happened. There's two sides to every story. Then there's the truth which usually lies somewhere inbetween. My thoughts. I don't think the Brits were in Iranian waters, but they were probably closer than they want us to think.

The 15 British sailors and marines held by Iran for 13 days have told a chilling story of their captivity. They were blindfolded, stripped, bound and held in isolation.

Waiting for the human rights outcry. No? None? What the fuck?

They only saw each other when they were filmed for Iranian television.

"Hey Bill, did they hook your balls up to that car battery too?"

And they've recanted their confessions, insisting that the Iranians illegally seized them from Iraqi waters. Stephanie Kennedy reports they're angry because they believe they were used as a propaganda tool by Iran.

I'd be more angry about that whole held captive thing than that they used me for propaganda. I find that, at least myself, tends to say pretty much anything you want me too when I think you're going to kill me.

British Sailors, Marines Land in London

Welcome home.

A British navy crew returned home Thursday from Iranian captivity to the relief of a nation, after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced their surprise release and ended the two-week crisis. The 15 sailors and marines broke open champagne and changed into fresh uniforms on the flight home. After landing, they smiled and stood at attention before being whisked by helicopter to the Royal Marines base at Chivenor, southwest of London.

A happy ending. So far...

Terrorists endorse Pelosi's 'good policy of dialogue'

I don't know how to feel about this one.

Palestinian terror group members call US House speaker's visit to Damascus 'brave' and hope for talks with Iran; ‘I think the Democratic Party can do things the best,’ Islamic Jihad member says

So terrorist organizations like the Democrats. While I think that opening up "lines of dialogue" with middle eastern countries, I do think it should go hand in hand with blowing up people who mean us harm. It's a thin line but a walkable one.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Syria Wednesday – in which she called for dialogue with Damascus – was "brave" and "very appreciated" and could bring about "important changes" to America's foreign policy, including talks with "Middle East resistance groups," according to members of Palestinian terror organizations whose top leaders live in Syria.

America DOES need to change its foreign policy, that is for sure. Although holding talks with organizations that use terror and violence as a tool to accomplish a goal should not be brought to the table. If talks are held, then it should be only talks, and if violence is used, we should react with violence. It's time to stop tip-toeing around these people. Either talk or get yourself killed. We should pursue talks, but keep the missiles close by.

Freed British Navy crew coming home

Good news? I...don't know what to do with myself.

The 15 British sailors and marines captured by the Iranians are preparing to fly home after their 13-day ordeal was suddenly and dramatically brought to a close.

I feel something stupid coming. Someone did, said, or both, something stupid. Why? Cause nothing is ever this good without an underlying really fucking stupid action or phrase.

Iran's hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unexpectedly used a news conference in Tehran to theatrically announce that he was pardoning them as "a gift to the British people".

And as a gift to you and yours Mr. Ahmadinejad, they didn't bomb the shit out of your home.

On Wednesday night, Iran continued to show fresh pictures of the detainees being interviewed after their release. Faye Turney - the one woman in the group - thanked Mr Ahmadinejad for "letting us go home". She added: "We apologise for our actions."

I'm interested to see how her tone will change when she gets home.

Keith Richards: 'I Snorted My Father'

I don't like where this is going.

Keith Richards has acknowledged consuming a raft of illegal substances in his time, but this may top them all. In comments published Tuesday, the 63-year-old Rolling Stones guitarist said he had snorted his father's ashes mixed with cocaine.

Oh no, no, no, no, no.

"The strangest thing I've tried to snort? My father. I snorted my father," Richards was quoted as saying by British music magazine NME.

Anyone beat that? Didn't think so.

"He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow. My dad wouldn't have cared," he said. "... It went down pretty well, and I'm still alive."

And this is why, kids, we shouldn't look up to rock stars.

Nancy Pelosi Rebuffs Criticism of Syria Visit

As much as I'd like to see some unity in the US government, I'm glad that someone finally went to Syria. It's become quite obvious that NOT talking to certain governments has harmed us in multiple ways. You can't just go fighting around the world and not hold dialogue. A person much more intelligent than I once said that the pen is mightier than the sword. Well, what better way to stab someone then when they're in the middle of a sentence, not expecting it. Hah!

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi toured Damascus on Tuesday, the highest- ranking American politician to visit Syria since relations began to deteriorate four years ago. President Bush criticized the trip, saying it sends mixed signals to President Bashar Assad.

"Do they like me or not. First they won't talk to me, then they send the Speaker of the House. Oh man, I hope they like me. Maybe I should write them a note."

The United States accuses Syria of interfering in Iraq and Lebanon and sponsoring terrorists—charges Syria denies. The Bush administration has resisted calls to open direct talks with Damascus on resolving the countries' disputes.

I'm a fan of talking. Talking to an enemy has more gains than consequences. Know your enemy, talk to them, learn them, exploit that. There is no better way to conquer an enemy than to learn their weakness and use that against them. Or just shoot them. Unfortunately, you can't shoot a country. Or can you. I don't know, we have big missiles.

Pelosi, D-Calif., is scheduled to meet Assad and other Syrian officials on Wednesday. She made no comment on arrival and headed for the Old City of Damascus where she toured the 8th-century Omayyad Mosque.

Maybe some good will come of this. If not, hey, I hear the sights are quite beautiful in Syria.

Pelosi draped a scarf over her head as she entered the historic mosque and stopped at a tomb inside the mosque said to contain the head of St. John the Baptist. She made the sign of the cross in front of the tomb. About 10 percent of Syria's 18 million people are Christian.

Strike one!

In the nearby outdoor Bazouriyeh market, she chatted with Syrians, who offered her dates, in front of shops selling olive oil soaps, spices and herbs. At one point, she bought some coconut sweets and looked at Syrian carpets.

She's shopping. See, this is why you can't send a woman. She goes to talk politics and winds up blowing all her cash on pretty dresses. I hope my girlfriend doesn't read this.

In Washington, Bush said visits to Syria by u.S. officials were "counterproductive."

Yeah, and giving them the silent treatment has produced such wonderful outcomes.

Iran rules out trial for British sailors

That's nice. All I'm wondering is where the fucking international outrage is that would be resounding the planet if roles were reversed in this situation. Why are the stronger countries supposed to take the moral high-ground as the less developed countries get away with whatever they want. If Britain had taken 15 Iranian sailors, the world would cry foul. Where's the fucking backlash here?

Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security official, said on Monday Tehran wanted a speedy diplomatic solution to its dispute with Britain and had no wish to put the 15 British naval personnel it has captured on trial.

You keep poking the lion with a stick and it's going to bite you. Iran's running out of stick and I think they know that.

After a day in which the two sides appeared to make more progress than at any time since the dispute began 11 days before, the UK said it shared Mr Larijani’s desire to begin talks soon.

Talky, talky, that don't work with crazy regimes. They understand when you bomb them though. The mistake that we made in Iraq was the occupation, not the war. Lets not go in, let's stay home, with our feet up and start making holes.

Sunday Sign of Hope April 1st 2007

Pakistani tribesmen battle Uzbek al Qaeda fighters

If the enemy of my enemy is my enemy too, when they kill each other, I win. From Reuters:

Al Qaeda-linked militants and Pakistani tribesmen fired rockets, mortar shells and automatic weapons on Saturday in a region where officials say up to 177 people have been killed since last week.

The fighting showed the foreign militants, most of them Uzbeks from Central Asia, had alienated tribesmen who had earlier sheltered them in Pakistan's South Waziristan region after U.S. backed forces chased them out of Afghanistan in late 2001.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said more than 50 people had been killed on Friday during clashes between Islamist militants and local Pashtun tribesmen.

Witnesses said the estimate was on the high side, but even by their reckoning the fighting has taken a heavy toll.

A resident of Shin Warsak, the village where fighting is concentrated, said he saw the bodies of 21 dead foreigners.

"Sporadic heavy fire continued throughout the night, but it has become more intense now in Shin Warsak," Noor Ali, another resident, told Reuters.

The clashes began after the Uzbek militants tried to assassinate a pro-government tribal leader earlier this month, and flared again on Wednesday after attempts to broker a truce broke down.

The tribesmen are demanding the militants lay down their arms and leave the area. The government views the turnaround as a success for its strategy of trying to win over the tribesmen and isolate the foreign interlopers.

Having lost more than 800 troops fighting pro-Taliban tribesmen and al Qaeda in North and South Waziristan, the government struck peace deals with militant tribesmen last year and in 2005.

Critics said the pacts risked creating militant sanctuaries in the two semi-autonomous tribal regions, but the clashes in March showed the tribesmen could be finally keeping their end of the bargain.