INEPT?

.
“There is a lot of pent up rage in middle America at Bush's inept handling of the war in Iraq and its contribution to soaring terrorism.”(Anonymous--Sam's comments section)

Difference of opinion from this former “Silent Majority” member of middle-America:

Inept handling-- the war action was anything but inept.  It was swift, and effective.  The aftermath of the major action is the “inept” song sung by partisan groups and movements whose only solution was “don’t do it”; there are few viable solutions offered beyond that.  The conductor continues to play the tune, the singers warble the same notes; and, the tempo of the orchestra increases its beat (the closer we get to the elections.)

Contribution to soaring terrorism—there would be little difference in the eventual activity of the terrorists.  They had been plotting, and planning.  The setup had been underway.  Those who blame Bush for 9/11 fail to account for the plans prior to his candidacy.  It took approximately 5 years to plan.  The terrorists’ crystal ball isn’t any better than mine; I didn’t know GWB would be President, did you?  Bush (43) wasn’t in the picture for the 1993 WTC bombing.  In short, it didn’t matter who was President; when the terrorists were ready to perform the action, they did it.

The enemy is clearly defined:  those who willingly target the innocents, and those who support them.  The enemy is not easily recognizable; they hide and blend in with their eventual victims.

Tell us your solutions, Anonymous. 

(Anonymous)“There is also a lot of disgust at the non-stop fear-mongering of the Bush administration and the media since 9/11. Lots of Americans are sick of the attitude that 20 or 30 years of war is what it is going to take -- sort of an adoption of the Israeli/Palestinina never-ending war scenario.”

**We are going to get sicker of hearing it….but the reality curls the spine.  “Non-stop fear-mongering is something I would hesitate to say to any family of the 9/11 WTC victims.  Tell Ted Olsen that it’s “fear-mongering” and not a reality which needs supreme effort on the part of each of us.  You suggest a “cry wolf” scenario.  Tell it to the people of Bali; shout it to the people of Madrid and Morocco; mumble it to the subway riders in Tokyo.  Hell, try telling it to the people of Iraq.  This could be the toughest fight in the new century; and, it’s the most difficult battle in our short existence as a country.

If part of the plan is to “divide and conquer,” divide has happened.  The question is:  will we be able to pull together?  I had felt that we could if we had to.  Now, I wonder how many will fail to see that we have to.  How many (who didn’t see it for the last decades) will not see it now?

The Iraeli/Palestinian Conflict (“Israeli/Palestinina never-ending war scenario”) has been going on for half a century.  There has been little, if any, improvement.  The “WALL” was the one thing which could help the situation; but, of course, Israel shouldn’t be allowed to wall itself off for protection—thereby changing Palestine to an UN-OCCUPIED COUNTRY.  And, the Palestinians shouldn’t be allowed to see what their “P-friendly” terrorists are doing to them and their children.  All those little P-suicide bombers will be ready in about 10 years.  And, it’s difficult to imagine that all will be quiet during the next 10 years while we wait for the new group. 

I don’t know what would lead you to think that the WoT would be easier/shorter than the half-century I/PC, that (at least) has a defined geographic area.

Kindly, give us some solutions. We could use a little hope. I'll be more than happy to listen--especially to some really good solutions. We need them.

ANOTHER I-KIDNAPPING

.
Quttab (FOX)


(CAUTION: FIRST REPORTS AREN'T USUALLY ACCURATE)

Report: Egyptian Diplomat Kidnapped in Iraq
Friday, July 23, 2004

CAIRO, Egypt — Al-Jazeera television broadcast a videotape Friday from militants who claim to have kidnapped an Egyptian diplomat in Iraq.

The diplomat, identified as Mohammed Mamdouh Helmi Quttab (search), was shown seated in front of six masked kidnappers. They were clad in black hoods and robes, with white headbands. One was holding an assault rifle and another had a pistol on his hip.

The group, which called itself the Lions of Allah Brigade, said it had abducted him because the Egyptian government said it was prepared to deploy security experts to help the interim government in Iraq.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry officials confirmed they have a diplomat in their Baghdad (search) mission by the name of Mamdouh Qutb, but not Quttab. The officials said they were checking the Al-Jazeera report.

COMMENT:  Turn the threat around!  You've got 24 hours to release him or we add 500 troops.  Each day, we will add more.  When we run out, we'll request and pressure others to help.

LEGAL TERROR

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(C-SPAN) During a brief discussion about the Jacobsens (see Terror in the Skies) a female caller put forth her idea that part of this activity was “legal terror.” There were too many incidences of the type of actions the Jacobsens experienced in their described flight. Is there a concerted effort to terrorize the American public while staying within the bounds of U.S. Law? It’s an interesting point.

There have been many taunting incidences, including the one where the Georgia woman overheard two men in a questionable discussion. The circumstances must be reported, must be investigated, and it drains resources—it costs money. Are some of the activities purposely engineered to cause notice, thereby terrorizing the population incrementally—bit by bit, drip-drip water torture.

My philosophy is that we deal with it step-by-step, as we have been dealing with it. We must continue to view the incidences as real, until proven otherwise. The American public believes we can be protected, but doesn’t realize the difficulty . . .yet. We are too preoccupied with the blame game.

We need ideas; we need people participation. We, the people, cannot sit back (doing nothing) while accusing the government of not protecting US. They cannot protect all of US from everything, all the time.

Any ideas?

SH RIGHTS

.
via Komentariat (right link)

Saddam files new human rights complaint
Date: July 23 2004

Lawyers for ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein have filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights calling on France to make the United States respect the Geneva Conventions.

This is today's laugh!  Now Saddam wants to promote human rights.  Doesn't he have to prove that he's human, first?

IRAQ/IRAN

.
memri

July 20, 2004 No.750

Iraqi Defense and Interior Ministers Accuse Iran of Terrorism Against Iraq, Threaten Retaliation within Iran

In an interview published in the London Arabic-language daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Al-Sha'lan warned Iran that Iraq is capable of responding to Iranian-supported terrorism in Iraq, within Iran itself. [1] To read previous MEMRI dispatches on Iran's subversive actions within post-war Iraq, see MEMRI's Inquiry & Analysis, "Iran's Stirrings in Iraq," released on May 5, 2004. [2]

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat also reported about statements made by Iraq's Interior Minister Falah Hassan Al-Naqib, following his meeting with Jordanian Interior Minister Samir Al-Habashnah. [3]

SHIP JOKE

.

FOX 

WASHINGTON — A report of a bomb aboard a Turkish merchant ship Thursday forced the U.S. Coast Guard (search) to escort the vessel away from the port of Philadelphia and anchor it near the mouth of the Delaware River, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, senior Defense officials told FOX News.

The ship's master became irritated with the length of time a routine Coast Guard search was taking and made comments about a possible explosion, officials said. He refused to allow authorities to search certain portions of the vessel, called the Cenk Kaptanoglu (search).

But the captain later told authorities he'd been joking about the bomb, officials told FOX News. The ship, which was carrying coal, had not yet been boarded for its second inspection.

The joke falls flat.  It's costly.  This could be the objective. . ."Legal Terror!"

FOX NEWS ALERT

.

LATEST: We are hearing the word HOAX; so, this is leaning toward STUPID SHIP.

(Update #1,#2)

Within the last few minutes, there was a News Alert.  A Turkish Merchant ship destined for the port of Philadelphia is being escorted off the coast.  The ship is on the way to a destination off the coast of Delaware.
 
The ship’s Captain/Master reported a bomb aboard.  Now that the ship has proceeded off the coast, the Captain/Master does not want to be boarded.

The words from US:  THE SHIP WILL BE BOARDED.   Teams are standing by.

TURKISH MERCHANT SHIP:  You are in the bullseye.  It isn't wise to issue requirements or refusals---much wiser to cooperate.

UPDATE #2:
The ship (CENK KAPTANOGLU, Istanbul) had been boarded.  The captain was impatient, expressed that it was taking a long time to inspect, and indicated might explode (which was like shouting "fire" in the crowded theater.)  This may be serious or may be stupid, and we don't take the chance.

Teams are going to board and search.  The captain was impatient before--now, he's out of port and the search is ON.  Serious or stupid, the teams are doing what they have to do, and will do.
  

 
UPDATE #1:

FOX 
 

WASHINGTON — A report of a bomb aboard a Turkish merchant ship Thursday forced the U.S. Coast Guard (search) to escort the vessel away from the port of Philadelphia and out into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Delaware, senior Defense officials told FOX News.


The ship's master notified authorities about the possible bomb, officials said. The information was revealed after the captain refused to have portions of the ship searched by the Coast Guard.

Upon reaching a safe distance off the coast, officials planned to inspect the ship.

This particular vessel is well known to authorities and its prior movements have been tracked, senior Defense officials said.

 

TERROR/SKIES II

.

UPDATED:
Jacobsens (reportedly interviewed on MSNBC) were interviewed on CNN.  The Syrian "Band" has been checked out; but, Annie believes they may have been on a "dry run."  They were acting weird.  It was quietly reported.  The Jacobsens are letting people know what is out there.  We need to know.  And, we need to be alert; but, we don't need to run around wild or to panic.  The Jacobens did well.


(posted to Redhunter)
Thanks, Tom. We need to know these things. Already have a link to your site; but, will mention your additional coverage of this continuing severe problem.

SEE REDHUNTER SITE 
Redhunter (linked at far right) has continued to notify us about the TERROR IN THE SKIES.  He provides the links to the articles to guide you to all the information.
 
We need to get over “fear of paranoia” and get on with the job.  Keep your eyes open; look for the weirdness.  No one takes pictures of the plane’s lavatory…weird.  When you visit the restroom, check it for strange articles or marks/damage.  There are more of US than of the terrorists.  WATCH FOR THE WEIRDNESS!  QUIETLY REPORT IT.
 
See Redhunter’s latest (Terror in the Skies, Part II; Terror in the Skies, Again. Continued) and be sure to read the first “Terror in the Skies, Again” (info below, or at Redhunter—linked at the right.)

KURDO/OMAR ITM

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(posted to Kurdo)
Kurdo,  there will be people outside Iraq who will stress the differences; they will purposely try to tear sections of Iraq away.  Some inside Iraq are trying to do the same.  When you stress the differences, it (sometimes) serves their purposes.  Their purposes are not what you and your fellow citizens need for Iraq.
 
One Iraqi looked at the Turkmenistan game with great pride in the ***Iraqi Team*** and cheered the victory.  He was saluting IRAQIS!!! 
 
See Iraq the Model
 
Add more Kurds to those players.  Get your government candidates ready for the election.  There is much work to do….FOR IRAQ.
 
(posted to Omar, Iraq the Model)
Omar, your blog about the game gave me the opportunity to suggest to Kurdo (who blogged about the Uzbekistan game) that the team is Iraqi.  Kurdo is very sensitive to Arab Nationalism, and what is could mean to the Kurds.  During the Uzbekistan game, he kept switching from channel to channel and the announcers continued to refer to the Arab Iraqi Team.  But, you didn’t; you continuously said, “IRAQI TEAM”, “OUR TEAM.” (which prompted me to point this out to him)
 
The Kurds could and can make a tremendous contribution to Iraq.  They have worked hard; but, their fear is high.  It is important to continue to draw all Iraqis into the new Iraqi.  It is important for all Iraqis to be valued.  Is there something you could blog which would help?

3 SITES ADDED

.
Three more sites have been added to the Military Blogs:

J ----I
 
Daggerjag----I
 
Missick----I

 
All of them are in Iraq.  Thank you for your service!  And, thanks for keeping us informed!

DNC EDGE

.
$100 or less
 
For a political edge!   (via Drudge)
 
McAuliffe, DNC Chairman, wrote to the Dept. of Justice requesting docs under Freedom of Information Act:
 

According to recent reporting, an investigation into former National Security Adviser Samuel Berger has been going on for at least nine months, since October 2003. Yet, the criminal investigation only came to light three days prior to the release of a report expected to be critical of the Bush administration's lack of focus on the events leading up to the 9-11 attacks. As conservative scholar Norm Ornstein stated, "you can't look at the timing of this with anything but an enormous amount of skepticism." [CNN, 7/20/04](…)

In light of the seriousness of the possibility that the Bush administration and the Department of Justice have politicized an ongoing investigation, it is imperative that this Freedom of Information request is responded to in an expedited manner.(…)
 
(…)requesting copies of the following:Any and all communications relating or referring to the investigation of Samuel ("Sandy") Berger, between, correspondence (including electronic mail) between, memoranda between, phone records of communications between, meeting notes and/or minutes of meetings between, on the one hand, any official or employee of the US Department of Justice AND, on the other hand, (i) the Executive Office of the President or any unit or office thereof (including but not limited to the Office of the Vice President); (ii) any official, employee, or representative of the Republican National Committee; OR (iii) any official, employee or representative of the Bush-Cheney 2004 presidential campaign.

 
Let me see…the Democrats are accusing the Republicans of being political about Sandy Berger’s theft of information from the archives.  They want to investigate all the correspondence between Justice and the Administration so the DNC can be……(you guessed it!) POLITICAL about the Republicans’ being POLITICAL.
 
The problem isn’t who is being political.  The problem is that information and notes were missing…WHY?  What was taken?
 
Don’t tell me they were *just copies*; it was the information which was important and classified.  It wasn’t blank paper that was classified. It wasn’t Berger’s blank note cards. It was the information, stupid! 

BERGER'S BS

FOX

(…)Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed the handwritten notes by placing them in his jacket, pants and socks, and also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio.

(…)Berger had ordered his counterterrorism adviser, Richard Clarke, in early 2000 to write the after-action report and has publicly spoken about how the review brought to the forefront the realization that Al Qaeda had reached America's shores and required more attention.

The missing documents involve two or three draft versions of the report as it was being refined by the Clinton administration. The Archives is believed to have copies of some of the missing documents.

In the FBI search of his office, Berger also was found in possession of a small number of classified note cards containing his handwritten notes from the Middle East peace talks during the 1990s, but those are not a focal point of the current criminal probe, according to officials and lawyers.

Breuer said the Archives staff first raised concerns with Berger during an Oct. 2 review of documents that at least one copy of the post-millennium report he had reviewed earlier was missing. Berger was given a second copy that day, Breuer said.

Officials said Archive staff specially marked the documents and when the new copy and others disappeared, Archive officials called Clinton attorney Bruce Lindsey.

Berger immediately returned all the notes he had taken, and conducted a search and located two copies of the classified documents on a messy desk in his office, Breuer said. An Archives official came to Berger's home to collect those documents but Berger couldn't locate the other missing copies, the lawyer said.

Breuer said Berger was allowed to take handwritten notes but also knew that taking his own notes out of the secure reading room was a "technical violation of Archive procedures, but it is not all clear to us this represents a violation of the law."

Justice officials have informed the Sept. 11 commission of the Berger incident and the nature of the documents in case commissioners had any concerns, officials said. The commission is expected to release its final report on Thursday.

---

 

ABC

 

Berger: Incident Was 'Honest Mistake'
Berger Says Document Incident 'Honest Mistake,' but GOP Calls for Answers
The Associated Press
 
 
WASHINGTON July 21, 2004 — Former national security adviser Sandy Berger says he regrets the way he handled classified terrorism documents, calling the whole thing "an honest mistake." Republicans say the matter raises questions about whether the former Clinton administration official sought to hide embarrassing materials.
 
(..)"Last year, when I was in the Archives reviewing documents, I made an honest mistake. It's one that I deeply regret," Berger said. "I dealt with this issue in October 2003 fully and completely. Everything that I have done all along in this process has been for the purpose of aiding and supporting the work of the 9/11 commission, and any suggestion to the contrary is simply, absolutely wrong."

From the Fox Article:
 

There are laws strictly governing the handling of classified information, including prohibiting unauthorized removal or release of such information.
 
Berger served as Clinton's national security adviser for all of the president's second term and most recently has been informally advising Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Clinton asked Berger last year to review and select the administration documents that would be turned over to the Sept. 11 commission.
 
Breuer said the Archives staff first raised concerns with Berger during an Oct. 2 review of documents that at least one copy of the post-millennium report he had reviewed earlier was missing. Berger was given a second copy that day, Breuer said.
Officials said Archive staff specially marked the documents and when the new copy and others disappeared, Archive officials called Clinton attorney Bruce Lindsey.

 
 
 
COMMENTS:  Whatever else this involves, it was not an honest mistake.  Honesty would be following the rules, not secreting notes and documents.  Berger had much experience with classified documents, apparently he was above the rules and the laws; but, it was inadvertent….accidental.

Well, one document Berger had reviewed previously was missing and the staff had furnished another copy which was marked.  In short, he had one and it disappeared.  They furnished another….that disappeared, too.  Pockets, pants or socks; Berger knew better and did it anyway.  He was savy about what he was doing.  He knew the "drill", and it happened more than once with Berger.
 
Whatever the Republicans say, or the Democrats say, is less important than what Berger said.  He said that it was an honest mistake.  Twice?  Pants or socks, his notes, and copies of documents?   Honest mistake?  Twice?
 
If you believe it was honest, I’m going into the bridge-selling business.

PAUL RAY SMITH, HERO

.

posthumously

AMERICAN HERO: SGT. 1ST CLASS PAUL RAY SMITH, US ARMY

July 20, 2004 -- NOTE: PostOpinion's "American Heroes" series takes note of U.S. servicemembers decorated in the War on Terror.

SGT. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, who lost his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. He is currently a nominee for the Medal of Honor.

Smith was killed in battle April 4, 2003, when his unit, the 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, was assigned the task of establishing an enemy prisoner of war holding area and was aggressively counter-attacked by a large Republican Guard unit near the Baghdad International Airport. The unit was overtaken and pinned down within minutes.

Several vehicles were out of action and some soldiers were down. Smith climbed aboard a damaged armored vehicle, and under intense fire managed to get a .50-caliber machine gun working and provided critical covering fire so the wounded could be evacuated.

BERGER BOTCH?

.
FOX

WASHINGTON — Former President Clinton's national security adviser is under criminal investigation for taking highly classified terrorism documents that should have been turned over to the independent commission probing the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, FOX News has confirmed.

Sandy Berger (search) is under scrutiny by the Justice Department (search) following the disappearance of documents he was reviewing at the National Archives

Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI (search) agents armed with warrants after the former Clinton adviser voluntarily returned some sensitive documents to the National Archives and admitted he also removed handwritten notes he had made while reviewing the sensitive documents.
He apparently was seen stuffing classified documents into his pants and his coat, according to some newspaper reports.

However, some drafts of a sensitive after-action report on the Clinton administration's handling of Al Qaeda terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration are still missing, officials and lawyers told The Associated Press.

Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed the handwritten notes by placing them in his jacket and pants, and also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio.

WILSON/PLAME

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Hitchens
 
Plame's Lame GameWhat Ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife forgot to tell us about the yellow-cake scandal. 

By Christopher HitchensPosted Tuesday, July 13, 2004, at 9:27 AM PT

Two recent reports allow us to revisit one of the great non-stories, and one of the great missed stories, of the Iraq war argument. The non-story is the alleged martyrdom of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wilson, supposed by many to have suffered cruel exposure for their commitment to the truth. The missed story is the increasing evidence that Niger, in West Africa, was indeed the locus of an illegal trade in uranium ore for rogue states including Iraq.

The Senate's report on intelligence failures would appear to confirm that Valerie Plame did recommend her husband Joseph Wilson for the mission to Niger. In a memo written to a deputy chief in the CIA's Directorate of Operations, she asserted that Wilson had "good relations with both the Prime Minister and the former Minister of Mines [of Niger], not to mention lots of French contacts." This makes a poor fit with Wilson's claim, in a recent book, that "Valerie had nothing to do with the matter. She definitely had not proposed that I make the trip." (It incidentally seems that she was able to recommend him for the trip because of the contacts he'd made on an earlier trip, for which she had also proposed him.)

Wilson's earlier claim to the Washington Post that, in the CIA reports and documents on the Niger case, "the dates were wrong and the names were wrong," was also false, according to the Senate report. The relevant papers were not in CIA hands until eight months after he made his trip. Wilson now lamely says he may have "misspoken" on this. (See Susan Schmidt's article in the July 10 , Washington Post.)

PLAME/WILSON

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Washington Post

Plame's Input Is Cited on Niger Mission
Report Disputes Wilson's Claims on Trip, Wife's Role

By Susan Schmidt
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 10, 2004; Page A09

Former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, dispatched by the CIA in February 2002 to investigate reports that Iraq sought to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program with uranium from Africa, was specifically recommended for the mission by his wife, a CIA employee, contrary to what he has said publicly.

Wilson last year launched a public firestorm with his accusations that the administration had manipulated intelligence to build a case for war. He has said that his trip to Niger should have laid to rest any notion that Iraq sought uranium there and has said his findings were ignored by the White House.

Wilson's assertions -- both about what he found in Niger and what the Bush administration did with the information -- were undermined yesterday in a bipartisan Senate intelligence committee report.(…)

ANOTHER WEASEL

. 
New Weasel
 
The mollycoddling milksops of Manila
Michelle Malkin 
July 14, 2004

 

Add the flag of the Philippines to the International Hall of Appeasers. Sign this pitiful nation up for a lifetime membership to the Axis of Weasels. And remind me never again to brag about the proud fighting spirit of my ancestors.

 I never thought I'd say this, but I'm deeply, mortifyingly ashamed of my parents' native land. The island nation has gone and pulled a Spain (and a France and a Germany). Philippine president Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo has crumbled like a fried lumpia wrapper under pressure from radical Muslim terrorists.

 The Battling Bastards of Bataan have given way to the Mollycoddling Milksops of Manila. And ultimately, we -- not just Filipinos, but all Americans and our allies battling Islamofascism -- will pay a grisly price for this disgraceful capitulation.

 
 
DISGUST for the betrayal, Filipinos.  It doesn’t help the next victim and makes it possible for this to continue to threaten and kill more.  It didn’t help…it hurt.  You didn’t help yourselves and the rest of the world.  Not an easy choice to make; but, the courageous have to fight against the murderers, kidnappers, and terrorists.  The brave have tough choices to make. . . apparently, you aren’t one of the brave. 

You took the easy way out and harmed the rest of us while you were doing it!  The terrorists won’t do what doesn’t work. 

BETTER

.
SMART BOMB

A saboteur attempting to plant a bomb Saturday under a natural gas pipeline set off the explosion early and killed himself, The Associated Press reported. The pipeline was undamaged in the explosion in Riayd, about 30 miles southwest of Baghdad, said Col. Sarhat Qader of the Kirkuk police.

Reference Site
 
The bomber must have been a surviving student from GM's cartoon:

check out the cartoon


U.S. Air Raid on Suspected Militants in Iraq
 
Reuters

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. forces in Iraq launched an air strike on suspected guerrillas allied to al Qaeda in the rebellious city of Falluja on Sunday, and local doctors said at least 12 people were killed.

The U.S. army said in a statement that Iraq's interim government had authorized "a strike against a known terrorist fighting position in southern Falluja."
Around 25 fighters loyal to Jordanian militant Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi were in the area just before the attack, it said.

 

IN A BRIEF REPORT (heard once) :

In a recent report of an attack on a convoy, the terrorists perpetrated the attack and proceeded to escape.  While they were in the process of their escape, local residents were shooting at them. 
 
Good or bad, those residents were tired of the attacks and were doing something about it---the local residents were chasing the attackers.