$25M REWARD

IF. . . .this is Al-Zawahiri and he's captured/killed, would Pakistan receive the reward? I would be in favor of distributing the reward to the participating soldiers of the Pakistani Army.

RICE ON TODAY'S EVENTS

Condoleeza Rice said that getting one will not mean that it's over.

True, but many people would like to see this as a GOOD DAY.

PETER BERGEN (CNN):

The fact that there is fierce resistance does not mean that there is a high-value target. There have been times of fierce resistance and no high-value target, and time when there was fierce resistance. Another "expert" saying that we don't know.

ASSURANCES:

There are no assurances that this is Al-Zawahiri. We have been through this again and again. However, there is no reason to refrain from hope at the possibility. If Al-Zawahiri is captured or killed, this could be a effective lobotomy to Al Q'iller.

CNN: PAKISTANI INTEL. SOURCES SAY TARGET IS AL-ZAWAHIRI

Pakistani Intelligence Sources are saying that Al-Zawahiri is within these fighters and is fighting with them. Heavy duty army has gone into the area.

REUTERS: PAKISTANI OFFICIAL SAYS HIGH-VALUE TARGET NOT BIN LADEN

STEVE BRIDGES IMPERSONATING GW:

He resembles Bush(43) and his movements and mannerisms are really good. He's got the eyebrows and neck/head motions down pretty well. When he was questioned about Saddam trying to kill his dad and responded that his mother tried to kill his dad and we haven't heard from her. . .makes me LAUGH! Barbara Bush (apparently) asked for an introductory tape (Steve Bridges pretending to be GW introducing her.) And, she showed it to her son. Bridges and group were invited to the White House, where Steve impersonated George to George. . .and the President laughed.

The thought that Steve Bridges can go around the country and say outrageous things (many of which GW might like to say, too) gives rise to inner laughter at all the possibilities. Picture GW (Steve) meets Saddam!

At some time in the future, look forward to Iraqis producing a movie or a play about the years of Saddam. Sure, there was little laughter; but, there might be much more laughter in the years to come. Iraqis may not be able to do that yet. They will. In the past, a joke against Saddam could mean torture or death; in the future, Saddam will be the "butt" of decades of jokes.

BAGHDAD

Reports are that the Al Hyaat Hotel has been hit with an RPG; but, damage not said to be extensive. No casualties reported at this time. We can hope that it's a scar in the building with no human damage.

BAGHDAD

Explosions heard. Sirens (briefly) in the Green Zone. Channel-switching doesn't do a thing--commercials abound.

Location--South Waziristan

Ayman Al-Zawahiri is considered a more important "catch" as he is the one suspected of being in charge of operations. Highly intelligent, he may be the "brains" of AQ. No one knows who or what is being defended. The location is so remote that there are no reporters in the area.

Al-Zawahiri has been involved in AQ for a long time. If we got Bin Laden, the operations would continue. If Al-Zawahiri is captured or killed, it is more likely that operations would slow down, as soon as they ran out of the current plans.

Watching the news on this type of thing is usually exciting and hopeful. It also can(usually) turn out to be nothing. A very senior Pakistan official is saying that a very senior AQ is surrounded. The hope continues!

MSNBC--Fighting going on between Pakistani forces against local tribesmen, Talaban/AQ who may be defending someone (suspected of being the "high-value" target. Might be some coordination between Special Forces and Pakistan Forces for intelligence purposed. They are talking Al-Zawahiri, who son was captured a few weeks ago. Ayman Al Zawahiri is suspected to be the one who moves around.

PAKISTAN--FIERCE FIGHTING

In the past two days, there has been fierce fighting going on in Pakistan. Speculation is rampant. The assessment is that the fighters are defending a "high value" target. What? Who? Well, we don't know yet, as usual.

Because the fighting has been increasingly fierce, media pundants are going wild. CNN: "Pakistani Pres.: "High-value Al Qaeda Target Possibly Surrounded.

AP: (Apparently saying) They suspect it's the second in command.

APPEASEMENT DIDN'T WORK IN WWII, either

The appeasement which so amuses the French may not be so funny when played by the Spaniards. For Spain, in concert with America and France, shared the watch of North Africa. And since that is where many Al Qaeda have moved, as the Madrid train bombing carried out by North Africans proves, Europe will find their relative danger increased far more greatly than the Americans, who can comfortably lose the Spanish contingent in Iraq. The loss of a solid Spain, while an annoyance to America is a catastrophe for Europe. Iraq is far from America but Spain is close to France.
(belmontclub.blogspot.com)

SOCIALISTS WIN

Well, it looks like the Socialists won in Spain. That is sad. Thanks for the help, we did appreciate it. Sorry it turned out this way. I cannot help but feel that the score is Aznar's Party 0; Socialists 0; Terrorists 1.

Wish you hadn't caved. (Guess it's too much to hope for a Dewey/Truman result, isn't it?)

BLIX

Hans Blix has another scheduled appearance. This time it's on CNN (Monday, 8pm.) Will there be mis-direction, accusations? SURE!! Seems Dr. Hans Blix is able to be diplomatic with rogue nations, but not so diplomatic with US. Should be fun; much more fun than when he was with the UN.

NEWT

Newt Gingrich is on the TV warpath concerning the UN Oil-for-food Program. Apparently, there are billions unaccounted for and Newt is promoting an investigation to find out what happened. Some 50 Billion Dollars is the question; where is it is another question. No answers, yet.

There should be more information somewhere on the WEB. I need to see what the full story is, according to Newt.

SPAIN--TRAIN BOMBING

Our warm thoughts go out to the families and friends of the people killed and injured in the Madrid Train Bombing. There are no words to soothe the pain. Our thoughts are with you.

PYRAMID

"I somewhere read that the truth is like a pyramid. Some chose to believe that the only truth is the side that is in front of them when in fact the truth is the whole pyramid." (Nadia)

The pyramid idea is interesting; and, I agree, too. The problem seems to be that there are so many factors/people/countries/organizations putting obstacles in the way of a person making the trip around all sides of the pyramid. It’s a very difficult trip.

While we are trying to decide the truth, Hans Blix will be telling his side on CNN (Monday at 8pm.)

Newt Gingrich is telling his version of UN activities.

The Spaniards will be deciding their future in today's elections.

Europe is tightening security.

One thing is clear. This is world-wide; and, the world needs all of the great silent majorities (the vast numbers of regular people) to speak against the targeted killing of innocents; to fight against the attempted eradication of us-- the humanity of the earth, the fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters.

WE'VE BEEN BLIXED

Nadia says: "Blix book will tell the world what sort of liars Bush and Blair are. And some will go to any length to discredit the messenger (Blix) instead of turning the focus to Bush and Blair." (Al Muajaha.com)


Blix's book may just tell more than Blix wants known. His quotes are wonderful. There is a saying that sometimes it's best to "smile and let the world believe you are intelligent; rather than open your mouth to confirm your ignorance." In the Hans Blix case, it may be more than ignorance.

Earlier this year, Blix admitted to a British newspaper: *****"It's correct to say that the IAEA was fooled by the Iraqis."*****

No, Hans Blix (who said they were clean again, and again) was fooled. It's very possible that no one will bother to discredit Hans Blix, we'll just wait for him to do it himself.

BLIX AGAIN

More quotes and miscellanous:
Blix said Iraq was unable to account for its cache of VX poison gas or its stockpile of anthrax. The VX gas, Blix told the panel, appeared to have been "weaponized." In addition there were concerned about the fate of VX precursor chemicals, which Iraq told inspectors were lost in the Gulf War bombing or destroyed by Iraq.

[note: It doesn’t exist, and now it “appeared to have been ‘weaponized.”]

Iraq declared that it had destroyed its store of 8,500 liters of anthrax in 1991, but Blix said no "convincing evidence" existed of its destruction.

"There are strong indications that Iraq produced more anthrax than it declared and that at least some of this was retained after the declared destruction date. It might still exist," Blix said

Those questions include what Iraq has done with its stockpiles of
the nerve agent VX. There are indications that Iraq has weaponized this deadly chemical, Blix said. Moreover, "There are strong indications that Iraq produced more anthrax than it declared."

"Any further sign of the concealed documents would be serious," Blix said. "There can be no sanctuaries for proscribed items, activities, or documents. A denial of prompt access to any site would be very serious matter."

"Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance, not
even today, of the disarmament which was demanded of it," Blix said.