Following the horrific Supreme Court decision which greatly increased the power of governments to seize private homes in favor of development and higher tax revenues, many states are limiting the scope of eminent domain seizures.
No government has the right to take away a person's home in favor of ripping it down and putting a shopping center or other development without the consent of the person that they are trying to remove.
The negotiations should be between the landowners and the developers; government shouldn't be involved. They should be protecting the rights of homeowners who decide to say 'no' to any offer that a developer gives them and punish developers who harass those landowners who decline the developer's offer.
The only way that the government should be involved is if it seizes a property for non-payment of property taxes.
It is unbelievable that the Supreme Court ruled to open Pandora's Box the way it did. And it's a relief that the states are applying a generous amount of common sense (that the Supreme Court was missing in their decision) to deal with the injustice being dealt to landowners.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Patriot Act Misapplied Again: Man Charged With Shining Laser into Jet Cockpit
Here they go again with misapplying the Patriot Act.
A court in New Jersey applied the Patriot Act against a man who was charged with firing a laser into a jet cockpit and a police helicopter and sentenced him to two months probation.
TWO MONTHS PROBATION??!
Existing statutes should have been applied; he would have gotten significant jail time AND probation. Instead this man is getting two months probation for endangering a commercial jetliner on landing approach and a police helicopter some time later.
They need to either upgrade the Patriot Act sentencing guidelines or stop applying it and let more stringent federal laws punish the transgressor.
A court in New Jersey applied the Patriot Act against a man who was charged with firing a laser into a jet cockpit and a police helicopter and sentenced him to two months probation.
TWO MONTHS PROBATION??!
Existing statutes should have been applied; he would have gotten significant jail time AND probation. Instead this man is getting two months probation for endangering a commercial jetliner on landing approach and a police helicopter some time later.
They need to either upgrade the Patriot Act sentencing guidelines or stop applying it and let more stringent federal laws punish the transgressor.
Bird Flu Could Enter U.S. Through New Mexico or Louisiana: States Allow Cockfighting and Transportation of Fighting Birds
The U.S. has gaping holes in its efforts to keep avian bird flu out of the country.
It stems from the fact that New Mexico and Louisiana allow cockfighting (rooster fights) and the fact that the Animal Welfare Act allows for combat roosters to be transported over state and national lines to those states where the bloodsport is legal.
The concern comes from overseas, as some people have gotten bird flu from their contaminated combat roosters, mainly in Thailand.
The current conventional wisdom is that each time the bird flu jumps from an animal to a human, it increases the possibility of the bird flu mutating into a monster epidemic/pandemic that goes airborne, easily infects humans, and is resistant to antibiotics. This must not be allowed to happen.
The U.S. government should ban the import and/or transport of combat roosters to any U.S. territory, whether cockfighting is legal in the states or not.
Efforts to amend the Animal Welfare Act have failed thus far; cosponsors in the House and Senate tried to attach an amendment to a Department of Defense Bill, which they shouldn't have done. It should have been a stand-alone bill: the Senate unanimously passed the amendment, and the House amendment had two hundred cosponsors. But the amendment was killed in committee.
Hopefully the state governments of Louisiana and New Mexico do the right thing and ban both the import of foreign birds and criminalize cockfighting, since it has been shown to be an avenue for avian bird flu to contaminate humans.
But the U.S. government should get with the program and pass the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act regardless of what Louisiana and New Mexico choose to do.
It stems from the fact that New Mexico and Louisiana allow cockfighting (rooster fights) and the fact that the Animal Welfare Act allows for combat roosters to be transported over state and national lines to those states where the bloodsport is legal.
The concern comes from overseas, as some people have gotten bird flu from their contaminated combat roosters, mainly in Thailand.
The current conventional wisdom is that each time the bird flu jumps from an animal to a human, it increases the possibility of the bird flu mutating into a monster epidemic/pandemic that goes airborne, easily infects humans, and is resistant to antibiotics. This must not be allowed to happen.
The U.S. government should ban the import and/or transport of combat roosters to any U.S. territory, whether cockfighting is legal in the states or not.
Efforts to amend the Animal Welfare Act have failed thus far; cosponsors in the House and Senate tried to attach an amendment to a Department of Defense Bill, which they shouldn't have done. It should have been a stand-alone bill: the Senate unanimously passed the amendment, and the House amendment had two hundred cosponsors. But the amendment was killed in committee.
Hopefully the state governments of Louisiana and New Mexico do the right thing and ban both the import of foreign birds and criminalize cockfighting, since it has been shown to be an avenue for avian bird flu to contaminate humans.
But the U.S. government should get with the program and pass the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act regardless of what Louisiana and New Mexico choose to do.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Press Criticizes Decision to Delay News of Cheney Hunting Accident: So?
The press is complaining about not being notified that the Vice President was involved in a hunting accident immediately after it happened.
Too bad.
Perhaps they could point to the part of the Constitution or the law that requires the White House to inform the press IMMEDIATELY that the Vice President was involved in a hunting accident?
Maybe they would have dropped their cameras and rushed to the scene to render first aid? NOT!!
The press didn't NEED to be informed ASAP. They would have swarmed the scene and interfered with a rescue situation to get the story out.
Granted, this is a very interesting story; but the press can go jump in a lake with their demands. They're not next of kin.
Too bad.
Perhaps they could point to the part of the Constitution or the law that requires the White House to inform the press IMMEDIATELY that the Vice President was involved in a hunting accident?
Maybe they would have dropped their cameras and rushed to the scene to render first aid? NOT!!
The press didn't NEED to be informed ASAP. They would have swarmed the scene and interfered with a rescue situation to get the story out.
Granted, this is a very interesting story; but the press can go jump in a lake with their demands. They're not next of kin.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Thousands of Displaced Katrina Victims Facing Eviction: This Isn't Right
Monday will be a national disgrace.
It's when thousands of Katrina families will be turned out into the streets to fend for themselves, in spite of the fact that the government hasn't done what it promised to help them. Many are still waiting for FEMA trailers that are currently sitting unoccupied at an airport in rural Arkansas.
What the hell are we paying taxes for?
Our government would rather spend money to rebuild Iraq (that will never be a true democracy), but not on fellow Americans who got ran out of their own homes because the government-built levees surrounding New Orleans failed. This isn't right.
Until the government fulfills it's pledge to rebuild the Gulf Coast, it shouldn't be putting ANYONE onto the streets just yet. They have a LONG ways to go before this should be even considered.
It's when thousands of Katrina families will be turned out into the streets to fend for themselves, in spite of the fact that the government hasn't done what it promised to help them. Many are still waiting for FEMA trailers that are currently sitting unoccupied at an airport in rural Arkansas.
What the hell are we paying taxes for?
Our government would rather spend money to rebuild Iraq (that will never be a true democracy), but not on fellow Americans who got ran out of their own homes because the government-built levees surrounding New Orleans failed. This isn't right.
Until the government fulfills it's pledge to rebuild the Gulf Coast, it shouldn't be putting ANYONE onto the streets just yet. They have a LONG ways to go before this should be even considered.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Yahoo Should Be Punished for Helping Chinese Government Jail Chinese Pro-Democracy Writers
Yahoo screwed up. Again.
The Internet company aided Chinese authorities in their persecution of Chinese dissidents by providing evidence that led to Chinese dissident Li Zhi being sent to prison for eight years for writing in favor of democracy and trying to join a pro-democracy group.
This is the second time that Yahoo has helped the Chinese communists put pro-democracy writers into jail. The first dissident was sentenced to ten years in prison for writing about what kind of effect that communist rule was having on average Chinese citizens and about protest movements that the Chinese government put down with extreme levels of violence. Yahoo helped lock him up too.
Yahoo needs to STOP assisting the Chinese communists in their oppression of people with different views than the official Chinese Communist Party line.
Yahoo is guilty of conspiring with the Chinese government and should be punished! And so should any Internet company that puts pro-democracy supporters under threat from their oppressive governments by giving assistance in convicting them of POLITICAL crimes.
If China becomes a democracy one day, hopefully the Chinese people will remember which companies were willing to sacrifice their freedom for the sake of profit.
Yahoo should be ashamed of what they have done for their bottom line.
The Internet company aided Chinese authorities in their persecution of Chinese dissidents by providing evidence that led to Chinese dissident Li Zhi being sent to prison for eight years for writing in favor of democracy and trying to join a pro-democracy group.
This is the second time that Yahoo has helped the Chinese communists put pro-democracy writers into jail. The first dissident was sentenced to ten years in prison for writing about what kind of effect that communist rule was having on average Chinese citizens and about protest movements that the Chinese government put down with extreme levels of violence. Yahoo helped lock him up too.
Yahoo needs to STOP assisting the Chinese communists in their oppression of people with different views than the official Chinese Communist Party line.
Yahoo is guilty of conspiring with the Chinese government and should be punished! And so should any Internet company that puts pro-democracy supporters under threat from their oppressive governments by giving assistance in convicting them of POLITICAL crimes.
If China becomes a democracy one day, hopefully the Chinese people will remember which companies were willing to sacrifice their freedom for the sake of profit.
Yahoo should be ashamed of what they have done for their bottom line.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Iranian Newspaper Plans on Holding Holocaust Cartoon Contest
Iran's Hamshahri newspaper announced an international contest for Holocaust cartoons to see if the same papers who printed the Mohammed cartoons would also print the Holocaust ones.
One clear result will come out of this for the entire world to see:
Jewish reaction to it will be much more mature than militant Islamic reactions to the prophet cartoons has been. Don't expect to see Jewish demonstrators burning down Iranian embassies, burning Muslim flags or parading children through the streets chanting anti-Iranian or anti-Muslim slogans as the militant Muslims have done in recent days. Nor will they attack the embassies of Western nations who do run the cartoons.
The international reaction will probably be very muted in contrast to the juvenile-like violence taking place in the Islamic world.
It should be noted that the hostage-taking Iranian President's friends control this newspaper, and that this also is not about freedom of speech, but keeping the hatred of Israel and Jews alive in the Muslim world.
Since Iran and most of the Muslim world have no free speech or free press, they have little credibility in making critical observations about the free press in other nations and have no right to ask Western media outlets to spread their anti-Jewish venom to make a point.
Freedom of speech is no more a weapon for Islamic nations to use against their enemies than it is for a Western newspaper to use as a shield to hide behind instead of admitting to a major screw-up.
So if this Iranian terrorist paper wants to publish their hatred and demand that Western newspapers republish them, they should probably print them into toilet paper form so that they'll have a practical use afterwards.
These Holocaust cartoons will probably be much worse than the prophet cartoons as the Holocaust cartoons will be based on revenge-style hatred and will be propaganda, not free speech.
One clear result will come out of this for the entire world to see:
Jewish reaction to it will be much more mature than militant Islamic reactions to the prophet cartoons has been. Don't expect to see Jewish demonstrators burning down Iranian embassies, burning Muslim flags or parading children through the streets chanting anti-Iranian or anti-Muslim slogans as the militant Muslims have done in recent days. Nor will they attack the embassies of Western nations who do run the cartoons.
The international reaction will probably be very muted in contrast to the juvenile-like violence taking place in the Islamic world.
It should be noted that the hostage-taking Iranian President's friends control this newspaper, and that this also is not about freedom of speech, but keeping the hatred of Israel and Jews alive in the Muslim world.
Since Iran and most of the Muslim world have no free speech or free press, they have little credibility in making critical observations about the free press in other nations and have no right to ask Western media outlets to spread their anti-Jewish venom to make a point.
Freedom of speech is no more a weapon for Islamic nations to use against their enemies than it is for a Western newspaper to use as a shield to hide behind instead of admitting to a major screw-up.
So if this Iranian terrorist paper wants to publish their hatred and demand that Western newspapers republish them, they should probably print them into toilet paper form so that they'll have a practical use afterwards.
These Holocaust cartoons will probably be much worse than the prophet cartoons as the Holocaust cartoons will be based on revenge-style hatred and will be propaganda, not free speech.
Ricky Holland's Parents Charged with Murdering Him
The developing Ricky Holland story out of Williamston took another turn today when the prosecutor charged both parents with murdering Ricky. If convicted, they face life in prison.
Tests to determine how the boy died are continuing.
These people (the boy's foster-parents) have some nerve, watching as hundreds of volunteers from around the region turned out to search for the boy after the foster-parents reported him missing on July 2nd of last year and KNOWING full well that the boy was already dead.
Innocent until proven guilty, I know, but they told the cops precisely where to find the body and swore that the other had killed him. That's incriminating enough as it is. If there was an accident, why didn't they call the police straightaway, instead of inventing a bunch of HOOEY about what happened to this child?
Here's the LSJ collection of stories on this case.
Monday, February 06, 2006
European and American Use of "Freedom of Speech" in Real-World Situations are Clearly Not the Same
The ongoing cartoon row between the Islamic world and the West has illustrated major differences in how freedom of speech is applied in real-world situations.
One European newspaper after another ran the Mohammed cartoons simply because they could. After it blew up in their faces, they took the HOW DARE ANYONE ATTACK OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH!! defense. This militant approach isn't helping Europe's cause.
In contrast, American newspapers didn't run the cartoons simply because they could; a few outlets did run them, but, according to some of these newspapers, they ran them deep inside their papers with various explanations of why they did so, and to let readers decide for themselves if the cartoons were offensive or not.
For the most part, most American papers and broadcast outlets refused to air the photos as they subscribe to the notion that fighting words (or pictures) are not protected speech. Yelling FIRE in a packed room which leads to a stampede is not protected speech either. These cartoons have the same effect as fighting words. They shouldn't have, but they did.
The failure that happened was when the Western newspapers ignored what was already happening in the Islamic world and ran the cartoons. They did so regardless of the serious consequences that were playing out on the news right in front of their faces. If one is trying to extinguish a fire, does one throw gasoline on the fire to put it out? DUH!!!
This is not about a threat to freedom of speech. This is about newspapers realizing that they've made a catastrophic mistake but choosing to hide behind the freedom of speech instead of admitting their mistake and getting it right.
This also shows that in spite of what happened to it on 9/11, America is a more tolerant society than the Europeans give it credit for. The fact that most American news sources refused to show the photos out of respect for the various Islamic faiths is proof of it for one thing; American news media is also more open to admitting when they make a mistake.
Remember Memogate on CBS's 60 Minutes program during the 2004 U.S. Presidential election campaign? Remember the outrage following incorrect reports that the Quran was flushed down a toilet at Guantanamo Bay? Both news agencies involved apologized there.
Europe needs to get their act together and get this right.
Using freedom of speech as an excuse to cover up deeply irresponsibile behavior should not be tolerated by any free society; especially if people are dying because of what the newspapers did. This is a sickening situation.
One European newspaper after another ran the Mohammed cartoons simply because they could. After it blew up in their faces, they took the HOW DARE ANYONE ATTACK OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH!! defense. This militant approach isn't helping Europe's cause.
In contrast, American newspapers didn't run the cartoons simply because they could; a few outlets did run them, but, according to some of these newspapers, they ran them deep inside their papers with various explanations of why they did so, and to let readers decide for themselves if the cartoons were offensive or not.
For the most part, most American papers and broadcast outlets refused to air the photos as they subscribe to the notion that fighting words (or pictures) are not protected speech. Yelling FIRE in a packed room which leads to a stampede is not protected speech either. These cartoons have the same effect as fighting words. They shouldn't have, but they did.
The failure that happened was when the Western newspapers ignored what was already happening in the Islamic world and ran the cartoons. They did so regardless of the serious consequences that were playing out on the news right in front of their faces. If one is trying to extinguish a fire, does one throw gasoline on the fire to put it out? DUH!!!
This is not about a threat to freedom of speech. This is about newspapers realizing that they've made a catastrophic mistake but choosing to hide behind the freedom of speech instead of admitting their mistake and getting it right.
This also shows that in spite of what happened to it on 9/11, America is a more tolerant society than the Europeans give it credit for. The fact that most American news sources refused to show the photos out of respect for the various Islamic faiths is proof of it for one thing; American news media is also more open to admitting when they make a mistake.
Remember Memogate on CBS's 60 Minutes program during the 2004 U.S. Presidential election campaign? Remember the outrage following incorrect reports that the Quran was flushed down a toilet at Guantanamo Bay? Both news agencies involved apologized there.
Europe needs to get their act together and get this right.
Using freedom of speech as an excuse to cover up deeply irresponsibile behavior should not be tolerated by any free society; especially if people are dying because of what the newspapers did. This is a sickening situation.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Conflict Over Anti-Islamic Cartoons: Newspapers Are Fueling the Fire
A major culture clash is taking place between Europe and the Islamic world.
It stems from European newspapers depicting caricatures of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, which are viewed as highly insulting to the Muslim world. A newspaper in Denmark ran the cartoons first, and other European newspapers in Germany, France and Norway ran them as well.
A rage far worse than what was seen during the Abu Gharib prison photo scandal has enveloped much of the Muslim world; militants are threatening to kill Westerners in reprisal in Palestine and other countries.
The outrage stems from Islamic law that strictly prohibits Mohammed from being portrayed visually.
The original idea was to see if cartoonists drawing the original cartoons would change their work in the face of "offending Muslim sensibilities" or if they would go all-out and do what they wanted. Most went all-out; the cartoons were printed and protests around the world began.
Then more newspapers printed the cartoons.
Consider: after the severe political backlash against Denmark, why did other newpapers in other nations run the cartoons as well, knowing that it would enrage the Muslim world even more and reinforce a Muslim-held belief that Europe was Islam-hostile? And that it would give Muslim extremists another excuse to kill Westerners?
The real problem is that the cartoons don't just insult Islamic extremists; it offends every Muslim, including moderate and neutral Muslims. The ban on Mohammed drawings and pictures is observed by the Shiite and Sunni sects of Islam.
I am sensitive to free-speech issues, but when free speech causes innocent people to die, then there's a problem, and the less said the better. For that reason, I will not post the photos here and contribute to an innocent person or persons being beheaded by sword-waving extremist idiots.
This should never have made it into print in the first place. The more the photos are reproduced, the worse this will get, and the deeper the divisions between Islam and the West will become.
It stems from European newspapers depicting caricatures of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, which are viewed as highly insulting to the Muslim world. A newspaper in Denmark ran the cartoons first, and other European newspapers in Germany, France and Norway ran them as well.
A rage far worse than what was seen during the Abu Gharib prison photo scandal has enveloped much of the Muslim world; militants are threatening to kill Westerners in reprisal in Palestine and other countries.
The outrage stems from Islamic law that strictly prohibits Mohammed from being portrayed visually.
The original idea was to see if cartoonists drawing the original cartoons would change their work in the face of "offending Muslim sensibilities" or if they would go all-out and do what they wanted. Most went all-out; the cartoons were printed and protests around the world began.
Then more newspapers printed the cartoons.
Consider: after the severe political backlash against Denmark, why did other newpapers in other nations run the cartoons as well, knowing that it would enrage the Muslim world even more and reinforce a Muslim-held belief that Europe was Islam-hostile? And that it would give Muslim extremists another excuse to kill Westerners?
The real problem is that the cartoons don't just insult Islamic extremists; it offends every Muslim, including moderate and neutral Muslims. The ban on Mohammed drawings and pictures is observed by the Shiite and Sunni sects of Islam.
I am sensitive to free-speech issues, but when free speech causes innocent people to die, then there's a problem, and the less said the better. For that reason, I will not post the photos here and contribute to an innocent person or persons being beheaded by sword-waving extremist idiots.
This should never have made it into print in the first place. The more the photos are reproduced, the worse this will get, and the deeper the divisions between Islam and the West will become.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Communities Devastated by the Loss of Ricky Holland; Parents Stand Accused
The nightmare surrounding the disappearance of seven-year-old Ricky Holland has turned a corner.
The boy's body was found six months after he disappeared; both foster parents are accusing the other of killing Ricky.
Things came to a head earlier this week when the mom tried to kill the dad; both spoke to the police, and after detailed conversations, police pinpointed the boy's exact resting spot, twenty miles from his adopted home. Both parents are under arrest; the mom is charged with assault with a deadly weapon for trying to kill her husband; both are charged with obstruction of justice with more charges to follow.
Many CERT team members, neighbors, friends, family members, law enforcement officials, community members and people from all over the area converged on Williamston to hunt for the boy when a massive search was initiated on July 2nd. A vigil was held Sunday night in Ricky's memory; his brothers and sisters are being cared for by other relatives.
Like many in our community, I was deeply saddened to learn of Ricky's fate. Many were holding out hope that the boy would reappear as mysteriously as he disappeared, but that hope was dashed when the Williamston police announced that Ricky was gone and that his foster parents were accusing the other of complicity in Ricky's death.
Ricky can be lain to rest now; he's in God's loving care.
The truth will soon be known as to exactly what happened to him, and the guilty will be punished for this act of unspeakable evil.
The complete story can be found at the Lansing State Journal.
The boy's body was found six months after he disappeared; both foster parents are accusing the other of killing Ricky.
Things came to a head earlier this week when the mom tried to kill the dad; both spoke to the police, and after detailed conversations, police pinpointed the boy's exact resting spot, twenty miles from his adopted home. Both parents are under arrest; the mom is charged with assault with a deadly weapon for trying to kill her husband; both are charged with obstruction of justice with more charges to follow.
Many CERT team members, neighbors, friends, family members, law enforcement officials, community members and people from all over the area converged on Williamston to hunt for the boy when a massive search was initiated on July 2nd. A vigil was held Sunday night in Ricky's memory; his brothers and sisters are being cared for by other relatives.
Like many in our community, I was deeply saddened to learn of Ricky's fate. Many were holding out hope that the boy would reappear as mysteriously as he disappeared, but that hope was dashed when the Williamston police announced that Ricky was gone and that his foster parents were accusing the other of complicity in Ricky's death.
Ricky can be lain to rest now; he's in God's loving care.
The truth will soon be known as to exactly what happened to him, and the guilty will be punished for this act of unspeakable evil.
The complete story can be found at the Lansing State Journal.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Hamas Says No to Peace with Israel: Won't Renounce Violence
Hamas has said 'no' to peace with Israel and 'no' to renouncing their goal of destroying Israel.
Their stance has guaranteed that the bloodshed will continue.
Except now, the Palestinians are moving toward a civil war, so Palestinians will be killing each other in addition to the Israelis, who will continue striking back wherever and whenever they can.
The Palestinians fell victim to groupthink; the ruling Fatah party was widely seen as being corrupt, and the Palestinians voted for Hamas's platform of clean government, even though they didn't support the rest of Hamas's stated goals and ambitions.
Voting for a candidate on a single issue is extremely unwise; this is true anywhere in the world, including here. Here's an example of this kind of groupthink:
A candidate's stated goal is to change the U.S. flag, but is also a crime lord who has murdered politicians, judges and ordinary people for supporting strong laws against crime and against changing the Pledge of Allegience and the U.S. flag.
Johnny Voter and many like him decide to vote for the crime lord candidate because they don't like the current U.S. flag either. They ignore the crime lord's stand on abortion, gun control, the death penalty, taxes, and everything else because of the U.S. flag issue. This is in spite of the fact that they totally disagree with the candidate on his views of the issues mentioned above.
That's exactly what the Palestinian voters did. And now the entire peace process is in chaos because of their shortsightedness.
Their stance has guaranteed that the bloodshed will continue.
Except now, the Palestinians are moving toward a civil war, so Palestinians will be killing each other in addition to the Israelis, who will continue striking back wherever and whenever they can.
The Palestinians fell victim to groupthink; the ruling Fatah party was widely seen as being corrupt, and the Palestinians voted for Hamas's platform of clean government, even though they didn't support the rest of Hamas's stated goals and ambitions.
Voting for a candidate on a single issue is extremely unwise; this is true anywhere in the world, including here. Here's an example of this kind of groupthink:
A candidate's stated goal is to change the U.S. flag, but is also a crime lord who has murdered politicians, judges and ordinary people for supporting strong laws against crime and against changing the Pledge of Allegience and the U.S. flag.
Johnny Voter and many like him decide to vote for the crime lord candidate because they don't like the current U.S. flag either. They ignore the crime lord's stand on abortion, gun control, the death penalty, taxes, and everything else because of the U.S. flag issue. This is in spite of the fact that they totally disagree with the candidate on his views of the issues mentioned above.
That's exactly what the Palestinian voters did. And now the entire peace process is in chaos because of their shortsightedness.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Mexico Must Stop Violating U.S. Territory and Close the Border to Illegal Border Crossings
Mexico shouldn't be providing maps of the southwestern U.S. to illegals preparing to go over the border into the United States.
Nor should the U.S. hesitate in arresting or firing on uniformed Mexicans OR Americans who appear to be protecting border crossers or drug dealers on our side of the border. Mexico has said that these men are imposters and that they are actually Mexican gangs who have access to military uniforms and weapons.
Mexican gangs are not welcome here; nor is Mexican government interference in the protection of our border. It could be argued that Mexico is helping al-Qaeda and other extremist groups around U.S. security measures, thereby weakening our civil liberties by forcing the government to tighten up security measures. It isn't right.
More to follow on this.
Nor should the U.S. hesitate in arresting or firing on uniformed Mexicans OR Americans who appear to be protecting border crossers or drug dealers on our side of the border. Mexico has said that these men are imposters and that they are actually Mexican gangs who have access to military uniforms and weapons.
Mexican gangs are not welcome here; nor is Mexican government interference in the protection of our border. It could be argued that Mexico is helping al-Qaeda and other extremist groups around U.S. security measures, thereby weakening our civil liberties by forcing the government to tighten up security measures. It isn't right.
More to follow on this.
Scope of Hamas Victory Widens Overnight: Big Trouble in the Works
It appears that Hamas has captured 70-75 seats of the 132-seat Palestinian parliament, which means they will be running Palestine.
Last night, exit pollers were predicting that Hamas would capture 40% of the seats, but now it looks like Hamas got 57% of the seats.
The consequences are already beginning: the Palestinian cabinet has already resigned as Fatah does not wish to participate in a coalition government with Hamas. The peace process is definitely on hold as Israel and the U.S. have said that they will not deal with Hamas until it gets rid of it's platform of calling for Israel's destruction. Should that happen, however, both governments have signalled a willingness to deal with Hamas.
Any hope of a bi-lateral peace now rests with Hamas and their attitude toward Israel.
The sad part about this is that Fatah and Israel failed to work together to bring peace to the Holy Lands. They blew it.
Now they have radicals in charge of the Palestinian territories who have no interest in recognizing Israel or working toward peace. Additionally, Fatah's corruption problems and Israel's hard-line stance brought this about. So they shouldn't blame the Palestinian people too much for what has happened. Their own stubborn attitudes are more responsible than the Palestinians voting in free and fair elections for the government of their choice.
Last night, exit pollers were predicting that Hamas would capture 40% of the seats, but now it looks like Hamas got 57% of the seats.
The consequences are already beginning: the Palestinian cabinet has already resigned as Fatah does not wish to participate in a coalition government with Hamas. The peace process is definitely on hold as Israel and the U.S. have said that they will not deal with Hamas until it gets rid of it's platform of calling for Israel's destruction. Should that happen, however, both governments have signalled a willingness to deal with Hamas.
Any hope of a bi-lateral peace now rests with Hamas and their attitude toward Israel.
The sad part about this is that Fatah and Israel failed to work together to bring peace to the Holy Lands. They blew it.
Now they have radicals in charge of the Palestinian territories who have no interest in recognizing Israel or working toward peace. Additionally, Fatah's corruption problems and Israel's hard-line stance brought this about. So they shouldn't blame the Palestinian people too much for what has happened. Their own stubborn attitudes are more responsible than the Palestinians voting in free and fair elections for the government of their choice.
Hamas Victory in Palestinian Elections Should Cause U.S. to Reconsider Diplomatic Relations with Palestine
"The United States does not negotiate with terrorists."
That mantra has been the bedrock of U.S. conduct toward hostage takers, terrorists, and other scum who use terrorism to get the U.S. government to do their will for decades.
The huge question now is: what will the U.S. do now that the terrorist group Hamas is a legitimately elected force in the Palestinian territories?
If they capture control of the Palestinian government, we ought to be looking at breaking off relations with the Palestinians.
Hamas is still dedicated to destroying Israel; there can be no peace as long as Hamas is dedicated to this goal. If they change their tune and work WITH Israel to establish a viable Palestinian state that will be at peace with Israel, then the U.S. should do all it can to support peace in the Middle East.
But Hamas is at war with Israel; until that is resolved, peace will not be coming to the Middle East anytime soon. It leads one to wonder how many Palestinians and Israelis will end up dying because the Palestinians chose Hamas's message of hatred instead of electing those who are continuing to work for peace.
It's a sad state of affairs in the Middle East.
That mantra has been the bedrock of U.S. conduct toward hostage takers, terrorists, and other scum who use terrorism to get the U.S. government to do their will for decades.
The huge question now is: what will the U.S. do now that the terrorist group Hamas is a legitimately elected force in the Palestinian territories?
If they capture control of the Palestinian government, we ought to be looking at breaking off relations with the Palestinians.
Hamas is still dedicated to destroying Israel; there can be no peace as long as Hamas is dedicated to this goal. If they change their tune and work WITH Israel to establish a viable Palestinian state that will be at peace with Israel, then the U.S. should do all it can to support peace in the Middle East.
But Hamas is at war with Israel; until that is resolved, peace will not be coming to the Middle East anytime soon. It leads one to wonder how many Palestinians and Israelis will end up dying because the Palestinians chose Hamas's message of hatred instead of electing those who are continuing to work for peace.
It's a sad state of affairs in the Middle East.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Utter Chaos: Saddam Trial Nearing Collapse as 2nd Chief Judge Steps Down
As was widely feared, the trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has turned into an utter farce.
The trial has been delayed again with the removal of another chief judge after it was discovered he had close ties with Saddam's regime and was under investigation. The first judge in the trial stepped down due to political pressure being brought on the court by the new Iraqi government.
The new judge is a Kurd whose hometown (near Halabja, Iraq) was attacked with chemical weapons, leaving nearly 5,000 dead. The new judge has said that this will not affect his judgment. Maybe, maybe not, but the mere possibility cannot be tolerated. That leaves two judges left on the five-judge panel. And neither of those judges were properly vetted by Iraqi authorities either.
It's high time to end this fiasco, declare a mistrial and either wait until the judiciary is up and running properly, or send him to the Hague. Either choice is better than allowing him to get off for what he has done to his people.
Does the Iraqi government want the world to think that kangaroo court convicted him? That's how it looks right now. They've got to step in and get control of the proceedings before the court loses any more credibility in the eyes of the Iraqi people and the international community.
This man cannot be allowed to escape justice, and that's what is happening. More attention is being paid to the court itself instead of the trial and the testimony of the witnesses.
The trial has been delayed again with the removal of another chief judge after it was discovered he had close ties with Saddam's regime and was under investigation. The first judge in the trial stepped down due to political pressure being brought on the court by the new Iraqi government.
The new judge is a Kurd whose hometown (near Halabja, Iraq) was attacked with chemical weapons, leaving nearly 5,000 dead. The new judge has said that this will not affect his judgment. Maybe, maybe not, but the mere possibility cannot be tolerated. That leaves two judges left on the five-judge panel. And neither of those judges were properly vetted by Iraqi authorities either.
It's high time to end this fiasco, declare a mistrial and either wait until the judiciary is up and running properly, or send him to the Hague. Either choice is better than allowing him to get off for what he has done to his people.
Does the Iraqi government want the world to think that kangaroo court convicted him? That's how it looks right now. They've got to step in and get control of the proceedings before the court loses any more credibility in the eyes of the Iraqi people and the international community.
This man cannot be allowed to escape justice, and that's what is happening. More attention is being paid to the court itself instead of the trial and the testimony of the witnesses.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Iranian and Syrian Belligerence Will Lead to War
How far will this go?
Iran clearly intends to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency in developing nuclear weapons. There can be no other conclusion.
On Friday it was learned that Iran began transferring $50 billion out of European banks to protect it's foreign assets from possible (likely) U.N. sanctions.
In addition, the terrorist President of Iran met with Hamas and Islamic Jihad while visiting with the Syrians. You can bet that they were not swapping recipes for cajun gumbo; they were talking about destroying Israel. The meeting took place one day after a bombing killed 20 people in Israel; that attack was claimed by Islamic Jihad.
Fact: Iran doesn't need nuclear power to generate electricity. They want the weapons, pure and simple, and are telling the world to go screw itself. Their vast oil reserves are more than sufficient to meet their immediate needs; they have no need for nuclear power in the timetable that they're talking about. In fact, they have surplus energy already.
Israel is now hinting at military options to deal with the Iranians. And they won't be bluffing either.
Syria is also misbehaving, refusing to cooperate in the investigation that has implicated the top Syrian leadership in the killing of a former Lebanese prime minister. They've also publicly allied themselves to the Iranians, and have allowed Hamas and Islamic Jihad to operate out of their territory for years.
If these two countries are not careful, they may become the latest target for "regime change" and it won't just be the U.S. and Britain coming after them either.
This is going to get worse before it gets better.
Iran clearly intends to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency in developing nuclear weapons. There can be no other conclusion.
On Friday it was learned that Iran began transferring $50 billion out of European banks to protect it's foreign assets from possible (likely) U.N. sanctions.
In addition, the terrorist President of Iran met with Hamas and Islamic Jihad while visiting with the Syrians. You can bet that they were not swapping recipes for cajun gumbo; they were talking about destroying Israel. The meeting took place one day after a bombing killed 20 people in Israel; that attack was claimed by Islamic Jihad.
Fact: Iran doesn't need nuclear power to generate electricity. They want the weapons, pure and simple, and are telling the world to go screw itself. Their vast oil reserves are more than sufficient to meet their immediate needs; they have no need for nuclear power in the timetable that they're talking about. In fact, they have surplus energy already.
Israel is now hinting at military options to deal with the Iranians. And they won't be bluffing either.
Syria is also misbehaving, refusing to cooperate in the investigation that has implicated the top Syrian leadership in the killing of a former Lebanese prime minister. They've also publicly allied themselves to the Iranians, and have allowed Hamas and Islamic Jihad to operate out of their territory for years.
If these two countries are not careful, they may become the latest target for "regime change" and it won't just be the U.S. and Britain coming after them either.
This is going to get worse before it gets better.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Castro Says U.S. is Afraid to Play Cuba in Baseball
Cuban President Fidel Castro accused the U.S. government of being afraid to let the Cuban national baseball team play at the World Baseball Classic, which is to be held in Puerto Rico and then in the U.S. itself.
Castro should be thanking the American government for considering not letting the Cuban team play: by the time the tournament is underway, the entire Cuban team will have defected to this country, as so many other Cuban baseball players have.
It would be so sad if the Cubans were to forfeit due to their entire team showing up in the Cuban exile communities in Florida en masse.. and they had signed major league baseball contracts in hand. The Cuban coach and Castro would have so much egg in their faces!
So it's only out of a sense of sportsmanship that the U.S. government may not want the Cuban team to show up, Mr. Castro. They want the Cubans to field a team elsewhere so that the U.S. team won't have to accept a forfeit from the Cubans due to lack of an entire team!
(I know, it's the embargo, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up!)
Castro should be thanking the American government for considering not letting the Cuban team play: by the time the tournament is underway, the entire Cuban team will have defected to this country, as so many other Cuban baseball players have.
It would be so sad if the Cubans were to forfeit due to their entire team showing up in the Cuban exile communities in Florida en masse.
So it's only out of a sense of sportsmanship that the U.S. government may not want the Cuban team to show up, Mr. Castro. They want the Cubans to field a team elsewhere so that the U.S. team won't have to accept a forfeit from the Cubans due to lack of an entire team!
(I know, it's the embargo, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up!)
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Clinton Unashamedly Uses MLK Day to Score Political Points
Senator Clinton used a speech at a MLK Day observance to call the GOP-dominated government 'one of the most corrupt in U.S. history' and said that the House and Senate were run like a 'plantation' where 'voices of dissent were quashed'.
It's simply amazing that Senator Clinton would toot her own horn on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and to launch an attack on her rivals by means of one the most mean-spirited and culturally insensitive ways imaginable. She also showed a unique misunderstanding of what plantations were and what was done to slaves there. Coming from a white southern woman, it was an incredibly dumb thing to say.
I don't see any Democrats in Congress being whipped, being forced to work out in the cotton fields, being shot, being raped by their overseers, being severely beaten, having parts of their feet being cut off to keep them from escaping, being starved (plenty of overweight Senators and Congressmen to go around), and other unspeakable terrors inflicted on African American slaves in the South.
Senator Clinton's side can't get their legislation through Congress, nor can they stop GOP legislation due to their lack of numbers. And they're whining about it. Consider this: if they had the same amount of control over both houses that the GOP has, they would be really sticking it to the GOP in the SAME way that the GOP is sticking it to them right now.
The Democrats ought to get over it, and campaign for what they believe in, not for what they think people want to hear. Honesty and establishing where they stand on specific issues will gain them more points than Senator Clinton's misinformed and insensitive comments will.
It's simply amazing that Senator Clinton would toot her own horn on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and to launch an attack on her rivals by means of one the most mean-spirited and culturally insensitive ways imaginable. She also showed a unique misunderstanding of what plantations were and what was done to slaves there. Coming from a white southern woman, it was an incredibly dumb thing to say.
I don't see any Democrats in Congress being whipped, being forced to work out in the cotton fields, being shot, being raped by their overseers, being severely beaten, having parts of their feet being cut off to keep them from escaping, being starved (plenty of overweight Senators and Congressmen to go around), and other unspeakable terrors inflicted on African American slaves in the South.
Senator Clinton's side can't get their legislation through Congress, nor can they stop GOP legislation due to their lack of numbers. And they're whining about it. Consider this: if they had the same amount of control over both houses that the GOP has, they would be really sticking it to the GOP in the SAME way that the GOP is sticking it to them right now.
The Democrats ought to get over it, and campaign for what they believe in, not for what they think people want to hear. Honesty and establishing where they stand on specific issues will gain them more points than Senator Clinton's misinformed and insensitive comments will.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Next U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Should be Christened USS America
Construction is set to begin next year on the U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier (CVN-78).The new vessel should be named to honor the ship that was sacrificed to improve the safety of the next generation of aircraft carriers, the Kitty Hawk-class carrier USS America, and to honor the veterans of today's wars.
Many do not realize this, but the Navy used the retired carrier for target practice last year, and then scuttled the ship in 6,000 feet of water, much to the resignation of veterans who served aboard her.
The ex-America is the largest warship to have been sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic ever.
Explosions above and below the waterline were carried out on the carrier, via explosives planted inside the ship, as well as from gunfire, missile and torpedo attacks from U.S. Navy warships, to determine how much punishment a supercarrier could take and what the effect of anti-ship missiles would have on such a huge ship. Detailed sensors relayed data to nearby Navy vessels for analysis.
After three weeks of tests, the sea chocks were opened and the USS America (CV-66) was sent to the bottom. The picture to the left was taken moments after the carrier sank on May 14, 2005.
The next Nimitz-class carrier that will come out of the shipbuilding yard at Newport News, VA, is to be the massive USS George HW Bush (CVN-77), named for the last war veteran President.
After that, CVN-78 is to be laid down.
It appears that CVN-78 will be a new class of carrier that will have incorporated the lessons learned from the USS America's final mission. Even in death, the ship served the Navy that had built her, so it seems appropriate that the next carrier be named to honor both yesterday's and today's veterans, as well as honoring the decommissioned USS America.
Hopefully the Navy does the USS America veterans justice and honors their sacrifice with the naming of an entire class of carriers after their famed ship.
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