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February
06, 2006
Libertarian
Commentary on the News for Week of 29 JAN to 04 FEB 2006
Courage
is the libertarian character trait of the week: the willingness to stand
up for what is right, to defend yourself and others against what is wrong,
and the wisdom to know which is which. But courage is not enough - tyrants
and would-be tyrants and their ilk can be courageous, also: so our courage
must be tempered with a and result in a firm commitment to NOT initiate
force or violence, but only to respond. That takes a lot of courage, in
and of itself - letting the other person first draw their weapon, letting
them rant and rave but taking no action until they actually initiate an
attack requires much more bravery than attacking them "preemptively"
or "preemptively."
We start
out with an event which has been bubbling quietly on the back burner for
months and finally begins to spill over from the pan into the fire.
UK:
Hate bill protesters rally at Commons
Independent [UK]
"Thousands of protesters were expected to demonstrate outside
Parliament today (Monday, 31 JAN 06) as MPs debate controversial religious
hatred legislation. Opponents of the Government's Racial and Religious
Hatred Bill, which faces its final Commons hurdle today, say the proposed
legislation attacks the principle of freedom of expression. A broad coalition
of politicians, religious groups and secularists yesterday joined forces
to oppose the plans to ban incitement to religious hatred. "
(01/31/06)
This bill,
one of many affronts to freedom by the Blair Laborite government, deserves
to die, but it is highly unlikely, no matter what the Lords or Her Majesty
does. One more nail in the UK's coffin. Together with the other free speech
fights in Europe, we can tell who is winning! And it ain't the lovers
of liberty, folks.
Danish
Refuse to Bow Down to Islamicists
Various: see various stories
CNS News
'Buy
Danish' Campaign Aims to Counter Muslim Boycott
(CNSNews.com) - Conservative websites and bloggers are promoting a
"buy Danish" campaign, in an effort to counteract the effect
of a Muslim boycott of products made in Denmark. The Muslim boycott stems
from a Danish newspaper's cartoon depictions of the prophet Mohammed...
Muslim
Militants Threaten Christians and Europeans
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Palestinian militants angry over the publication
of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in European newspapers issued threats
against Europeans on Thursday, while a Christian group said there may
be a link between the Danish cartoons and a recent wave of attacks against
Iraqi Christians...
Additional
Newspapers Challenge Muslims Over Prophet Cartoons
(CNSNews.com) - More than four months after a Danish newspaper angered
Muslims by publishing 12 cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed, a debate
over the freedom of speech issue has finally taken off across Europe,
where newspapers in at least six countries have now reproduced some or
all of the sketches. That poses a new challenge to Muslims and Islamic
bodies promoting a boycott of Danish products...
Many stories
in the web (alternative media) this week about this amazing story, but
few in the MSM. This could be one of the most important events this year,
as dozens of Muslim nations and hundreds of Muslim organizations in Europe,
the US and elsewhere seek to destroy the freedom of speech for their own
benefit - and apparently many Euro and other businesses, NGOs, and government
organizations (including some of the MSM) are willing to let them do so,
to pay for peace and commercial sales. This started in late September,
and has risen steadily to the current situation where the MSM MUST take
note of it, but too many people are willing to kowtow to the nutcases
who are willing to go out and kill people over cartoons.
More
European papers defy Muslim protests
Guardian [UK]
"More newspapers across Europe today reprinted the 12 cartoons
of the prophet Muhammad that have sparked protests across the Middle East
-- although most refrained from publishing them on their websites. Earlier
this week hackers attacked the website of Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten,
which first published the controversial pictures last September, and the
site became unavailable for a time. When the website reappeared it published
a statement in Danish, Arabic and English stating that the cartoons 'were
not intended to be offensive, nor were they at variance with Danish law,
but they have indisputably offended many Muslims for which we apologize.'
However, the newspaper did not apologise for publishing the cartoons in
the first place. ... The Swiss daily Le Temps today printed a selection
of the drawings. In an editorial, Patricia Briel argued that 'freedom
of the press and freedom of speech are fundamental achievements made by
democratic societies, and the latter do not have to bow in the face of
demands that endanger these hard-won principles.'" (02/02/06)
More and
more, though, are buckling under: at least three websites that I visited
had removed them from their site; one claiming it was "out of respect
for the Egyptian shipwreck victims" - which absolutely amazes me.
For those who want to see them, they are (as of Friday at 8 PM Mountain
Time) still
posted here. I am also keeping a set. They are NOT, in my opinion,
that bad - I cannot see in any way, as claimed by one cowardly Danish
MP, that these are the equivalent of "drawing a picture of Christ
with an erection." To add fuel to the fire, my
own quick Mohammed cartoon is right here with the rest! (The page
is large and will load slowly. Have patience...)
I urge
anyone else with a grain of artistic talent to join in a symbolic protest
(send us
your cartoon) of these people who would impose their own religious
beliefs on others by governmental fiat, and respond to criticism, however
mild, by making threats and going out and killing people.
Syrians
Torch Embassies Over Caricatures
Associated Press
British
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw criticized European media for reprinting
the caricatures. While free speech should be respected, Straw said "there
is not any obligation to insult or to be gratuitously inflammatory."
The State
Department called the drawings "offensive to the beliefs of Muslims"
and said the right to freedom of speech must be coupled with press responsibility.
"Inciting religious or ethnic hatred in this manner is not acceptable,"
State
Department press officer Janelle Hironimus said.
Jack Straw
has NEVER been one of my favorite people, but this definitely lowers my
opinion of him to well below zero. The man is like some character out
of "1984" or "Animal Farm" or "Brave New World."
He may not agree with me that these are not offensive to anyone with two
brain cells to click together, but that is no excuse for his denial of
the rights of free Englishmen (or free anyone else).
Freedom
Fighters
Whether I agree with them or not, some people have at least tried to do
the right thing in the past and have passed from us, or seem very likely
to. Honor the fallen.
Coretta
Scott King, 1927-2006
Time
"Coretta Scott King, the widow of civil rights icon Martin Luther
King Jr., died in her sleep early Tuesday morning at the age of 78. She
had worked tirelessly after her husband's death in 1968 to carry on his
legacy and only recently began to slow down her efforts. Having suffered
a stroke in August, 2005, King made a surprising appearance at a children's
program in mid January during events surrounding the annual commemoration
of King's birthday. Passive and regal in a wheelchair, King did not speak
but welcomed a line of children to her side. She leaves four children,
Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter and Bernice. Flags in Atlanta began flying
at half-mast shortly after the news was circulated of her passing."
(01/31/06)
We can
count our blessings, that we had this woman and not Winnie Mandela. Unfortunately,
her courage and that of her husband was NOT tempered with the God-given
sense of liberty and understanding needed by true lovers of liberty.
Kubby
case becoming media circus
Auburn Journal
"The topic of jailed medical marijuana activist Steve Kubby is
gaining popularity on the Internet as he reports failing health and poor
medical attention in Placer County Jail. Placer county law-enforcement
officials say they are treating Kubby humanely as they do all inmates.
... Despite reports posted on numerous Web sites and blogs about Kubby's
physical condition, jail officials report that he appears to be doing
well. ... Technorati.com, a Web site that reports it tracks 26.7 million
sites and 1.9 billion links, lists Kubby as its most searched topic Monday
above Ted Koppel and Ipod. Many of the postings are duplicates of press
releases posted on Kubby's own Website Kubby.com." [FND editor's
note: Media circus? That would be nice. H***, it would be nice if the
Auburn Journal would cover the case instead of leaving the blogosphere
to do the heavy lifting and then covering that - TLK] (01/31/06)
Steve's
return from Canada and the immediate treatment he received are being watched
by many people, as this story reports. Tom's complaint is certainly valid,
but this is not the only story that the alternative press is doing far
better on than the "mainstream media" (MSM).
Mama's
Note: All this because Kubby had a mushroom? Just how in hell was he supposed
to destroy western civilization (seemingly the fear of the drug war advocates)
with a mushroom? How was he going to harm anyone, including himself, with
one stupid mushroom? We all know, of course, that the only real crime
is causing harm to other people - not even the threat of harm. So, this
man will be murdered - as so many others have been - because he had a
bit of vegetable the "state" didn't like. Makes perfect sense
- if you are a Nazi.
The
Coming Fall of Europe
In addition to the free speech issue in Denmark, which is showing how
sincere the rest of Europe is about freedom, we have a few other stories.
I don't know if events are accelerating, but we shouldn't expect complete
collapse for at least a few more years.
Views
on Abortion Shifting in UK
CNS News
London (CNSNews.com) - With a new poll showing that a growing proportion
of British women now oppose late-term abortions, pro-life leaders have
called upon the government to rethink its position on the matter...
As important
as this might be for the lives of future subjects of Her Majesty, it points
out one of the most damning and distressing facts of our modern age -
the idea that morality is decided by popular vote.
Mama's
Note: And worse, these people are not even "voting" from a moral
position. The pictures of a "late term" abortion are more disturbing
than the idea of a tiny blob of "tissue," just as pictures of
children blown up by bombs are more disturbing than the printed notice
of children starved to death by economic sanctions against the government
where they live... The idea of late term abortion is outside of their
comfort zone, not their morals.
Home
Front in all our various wars
We have no reason to crow about Europe's troubles, with all our own -
and like theirs, mostly self-inflicted. Courage is sometimes defined as
continuing to do what has to be done, no matter how scared you are. That
could certainly apply to the current situation in the US.
New
Patriot Act provision creates tighter barrier to officials
Fox News
"A new provision tucked into the Patriot Act bill now before Congress
would allow authorities to haul demonstrators at any 'special event of
national significance' away to jail on felony charges if they are caught
breaching a security perimeter. Sen. Arlen Specter , R-Pa., chairman of
the Senate Judiciary Committee, sponsored the measure, which would extend
the authority of the Secret Service to allow agents to arrest people who
willingly or knowingly enter a restricted area at an event, even if the
president or other official normally protected by the Secret Service isn't
in attendance at the time. The measure has civil libertarians protesting
what they say is yet another power grab for the executive branch and one
more loss for free speech." (01/30/06)
It has
already been the practice of many people to make sure that if they can,
they leave ANY area where someone with Secret Service protection might
be, and this just adds reasons to do so. This kind of thuggish behavior
will soon backfire - but in the meantime, what good does a protest do,
anyway?
Papers:
FEMA passed up available equipment
Tampa Tribune
"Hundreds of available trucks, boats, planes and federal officers
were unused in search and rescue efforts immediately after Hurricane Katrina
hit because FEMA failed to give them missions, new documents show. Additionally,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency called off its search and rescue
operations in Louisiana three days after the Aug. 29 storm because of
security issues, according to an internal FEMA e-mail given to Senate
investigators." (01/29/06)
We all
saw and heard stories about this at the time it happened, and now, belatedly,
the agency is confirming its incompetence. Far better to depend wholly
on volunteers than this.
CA:
Technology not effective at finding border tunnels
Arizona Republic
"A U.S. government effort to find drug-smuggling tunnels underneath
the Mexican border with ground-penetrating radar and other high-tech gear
has had little success. Human intelligence has proved the most effective
method of finding the passageways. A case in point: The longest tunnel
ever found along the border was discovered last week after a tip. The
Homeland Security Department said Monday that a Mexican man, Carlos Cardenas
Calvillo, was arrested in connection with the 2,400-foot tunnel, which
went as deep as 90 feet and was about 5 feet high and 5 feet wide. He
appeared in federal court Monday on charges of conspiracy to import more
than a ton of marijuana. A bail hearing was set for Wednesday. 'The problem
is the technology picks up some kind of anomaly or variation of soil,'
said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
(01/31/06)
A lesson
to be learned in ALL intelligence (and counterintelligence) operations:
humint* is almost always superior in results to all other kinds, which
are usually based on some kind of technology. In this case, I may have
to apologize for making a wrong conclusion that it was something about
their operating pattern that gave the tunnel operation away. Disloyal
and disaffected employees (or customers or vendors) can be devastating
for a company in ANY business - especially an illegal one.
*HUMINT,
short
for HUMan INTelligence, is an intelligence gathering discipline collecting
information either by interviewing or tracking a subject of investigation,
or by using a combination of 'black' techniques to gain confessions
or involuntary disclosure of information. The organization primarily responsible
for the collection of HUMINT for the US
is the CIA.
OH:
Sheriff bills US government for jailed illegals
Washington Times
"An Ohio sheriff has billed the Department of Homeland Security
$125,000 for the cost of jailing illegal aliens arrested on criminal charges
in his county, saying he's angry that the federal government has failed
in its responsibility to keep them out of the United States. Butler County
Sheriff Richard K. Jones yesterday said that although the government may
not be legally obligated to pay the three bills he has sent since November,
he intends to send similar ones every month until the federal government
gains control of the border. He said 900 foreign-born inmates have been
booked into the crowded Butler County jail in the past year. 'Why should
Butler County taxpayers have to pay for jail costs associated with people
we don't believe should ever have been in this country, let alone this
state or county, to begin with?' Sheriff Jones said. 'They are in my jail
because they have committed crimes here. It's time the federal government
should at least pay for the criminals they let stay here,' he said. 'If
they don't want to pay for them, then they can deport them.'" (01/31/06)
Funny -
I thought the claim was that "undocumented visitors" never did
anything to get in trouble. But I also can't believe this sheriff is so
naïve that he believes the Fedgov will accept a dime's worth of responsibility
for failing to do its constitutional job, whether that job is morally
wrong or right.
Librarian
refuses to let FBI seize computers without warrant
The Chronicle
"An e-mail threat that prompted the evacuation of more than a
dozen Brandeis University buildings on January 18 led to an unusual standoff
in a public library in Newton, Mass., a few miles from the Brandeis campus.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents tried to seize 30 of the library's
computers without a warrant, saying someone had used the library's Internet
connection to send the threat to Brandeis. But the library director, Kathy
Glick-Weil, told the agents they could not take the machines unless they
got a warrant first. Newton's mayor, David Cohen, backed Ms. Glick-Weil
up. After a brief standoff, FBI officials relented and sought a warrant
from a judge. Meanwhile, Ms. Glick-Weil allowed an FBI computer-forensics
examiner to work with information-technology specialists at the library
to narrow down which computers might have been used to send the threatening
message. They determined that three computers were implicated in the alleged
crime. Late that evening, the FBI received a warrant to cart away the
three computers. According to Mayor Cohen, the warrant allows the FBI
to view only the threatening e-mail message and the messages sent immediately
before and after that message. " [RRND editor's note: Three cheers
for this "radical militant librarian!" - MLS] (01/31/06)
I agree
with Mary Lou: hip-hip-hooray! The question I ask, though, is a toughie:
how many libraries are quietly cooperating with the Feebs and turning
the info or the systems over?
Mama's
Note: What in the world do they hope to gain by taking the whole computer?
A lot of people use those, and they can't learn anything more about the
email users than what's already in their hands. Again, it's all about
power, nothing else.
Our
Imperial Court System
Well, it has a new czar, a new CJSCOTUS, a new name with which to continue
the assault on our liberties. And meanwhile, the lower courts continue
to show why the so called immunity of the court system has got to end,
to restore a justice system based on the right of free people to live
their own lives and provide justice for all, not just the wealthy, the
well-connected, and those with titles.
Alito
wins Supreme Court confirmation
Detroit Free Press
"Samuel Alito took his place on the Supreme Court Tuesday after
winning Senate confirmation, a personal triumph for the son of an Italian
immigrant and a political milestone in President Bush's campaign to give
the judiciary a more conservative cast. The 58-42 Senate vote was largely
along party lines as Democrats registered overwhelming opposition to Bush's
choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, whose rulings have helped
uphold abortion rights, affirmative action and other legal precedents
of the past 50 years." (01/31/06)
At last,
the END of the saga! Hooray! I was totally amazed at the lack of effort
on the part of the people who were screaming that he would return us all
to the dark ages. Their rhetoric is so overblown these days that they
are indeed living the fable of the boy who cried wolf. It makes me despair
for those who might be called the libertarian-left.
Mama's
Note: It doesn't matter in the least who is nominated or who is finally
chosen. The court has its own agenda, as does the rest of government,
and nothing is going to be allowed to change that short of total revolution.
You can bet that whoever is "confirmed" will play the game,
no matter what they say.
Courts
uphold challenge to abortion limit
USA Today
"Two federal appeals courts on opposite sides of the country declared
the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional Tuesday, saying the
measure lacks an exception for cases in which a woman's health is at stake.
The first ruling came from a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals. Hours later, a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals in Manhattan issued a similar decision in a 2-1 ruling."
(01/31/06)
Never mind
that every honest doctor I've heard of (even those who support abortion
on demand) has stated that there is no threat to a woman's health that
requires pulling a baby mostly out of the womb to kill it. Never mind
that even most abortion supporters in general find this to be immoral
and highly objectionable - these black-robed supporters of injustice believe
that this is one form of child abuse that must be preserved.
Mama's
Note: I'm not aware of ANY legitimate claim of medical necessity for any
abortion, let alone this barbaric degradation of both medicine and humanity.
The radical feminist whores can scream all they want, but there is no
moral justification - however flawed - for abortion of any kind.
DNA
tests gain ground as legal defense
Christian Science Monitor
"When Alan Crotzer emerged from a Tampa courthouse last week a
free man, he became the fifth person in Florida and the 173rd nationwide
to be cleared from a wrongful conviction by DNA testing. But his exoneration
after serving 24 years of a 130-year sentence for a crime he didn't commit
is significant for another reason. It marks a possible turning point in
how Florida prosecutors and lawmakers approach DNA testing. Prosecutors
had fought earlier attempts to use DNA to prove someone's innocence, keeping
one man behind bars three years after tests proved he couldn't have committed
the crime that sent him to prison on a life sentence. In Mr. Crotzer's
case, by contrast, they ultimately filed the legal motion that set him
free, once defense lawyers convinced them he was innocent." (01/31/06)
Don't hold
your breath expecting this to happen often: it requires a degree of honesty
virtually unknown in the legal profession.
Mama's
Note: These tests are very expensive and it's not clear here just who
is paying for it. Most people don't have that kind of money, not to mention
being able to pay for lawyers who will fight a conviction after the fact
like this. Wholesale testing of every convicted rapist, etc. is hardly
the answer, but it ought to be used in every new case, where applicable
and guilt cannot be clearly demonstrated otherwise.
Mideast
Tarbabies
More analysis of tends in the occupation of Iraq and events in Israel,
Iran, and elsewhere this week, which turned out to be yet another bad
week all around. Tension continues to be elevated, as much by the reporting
as by the actual events, almost as if they are trying to keep other things
from drowning out news from the Middle East.
Identity
of many kidnappers in Iraq remains vague
Christian Science Monitor
"In the past 10 days, four more foreigners have been kidnapped
in Iraq, two Germans and two Kenyans. Agence France-Press reports that
a video of the Germans pleading for their government to help them was
broadcast Friday. Slightly more than 300 foreign civilians have been kidnapped
in Iraq since the US-led war began in March 2003. But IRINnews.org, the
new website for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs, reports that Iraqi officials say the identity of the kidnappers
often remains vague. Of those 300-plus kidnapped, 39 have been killed
by their abductors." (01/30/06)
More than
10% - not a good statistic for anyone liable to be kidnapped there. And
not that unusual, I understand, for any middle-eastern country: but Iraq
naturally gets more coverage. Kidnapping and holding people for ransom
goes right back to the time of Abraham - as recorded in the Bible itself:
Abraham had to rescue his nephew Lot and several neighboring kings (mayors
in today's language) from a similar bunch of thugs, not unlike these mysterious
abductors in Iraq.
German
hostages in Iraq shown in video
Cincinnati Enquirer
"A roadside bomb killed a British soldier in southern Iraq Tuesday
as a new video from kidnappers threatened to kill two German hostages
if Germany fails to stop cooperating with the Iraqi government. In a series
of apparent sectarian killings, police found the bodies of 16 handcuffed
and blindfolded young men around Baghdad, and gunmen shot dead the wife
and two sons of a Sunni Arab cleric north of the capital." (01/31/06)
These,
at least, were released later in the week, to grateful families. It isn't
clear if the weak Merkel government gave in on something or not - although
US officials say that is unlikely. Although the CDU is clearly more friendly
to the Bush administration than the old SDP outfit, they still have to
placate many groups that are anti-Bush.
What's
driving the kidnappings in Iraq
Christian Science Monitor
"A wave of abductions is sweeping through Iraq -- as evidenced
this week by three videotaped demands by groups holding Western hostages.
Since last fall the number of foreigners seized has spiked, following
a prolonged lull. Meanwhile, Iraqis themselves are being kidnapped in
large numbers -- some months, more than 30 per day. These crimes occur
for many reasons in a society that is still struggling with basic governance
and security. But the political kidnappings that have received the most
attention in the West -- such as the case of American reporter Jill Carroll
-- may be terrorism of a particularly pure sort, say experts. In today's
wired age, it's easier than ever to affect viewers around the world with
powerful images of powerless hostages. And that may be the point of these
terrible acts: to frighten the West, intimidate moderate Iraqis, and rally
supporters." (02/02/06)
Like the
last story, this points out that the West's twisted fascination with the
bizarre (look at the newsstand tabloids in the US) makes a big deal out
of what is everyday life in the Arab world and the Middle East, and has
been for millennia.
Mama's
Note: Of course, nobody would get "kidnapped" there if everyone
were minding their own business. They would be at home where they belong
instead of wandering around a hostile country. I'm afraid I don't have
too much pity on these kidnapping "victims." They must know
the risk when they leave home.
Saddam's
lawyers want new judge taken off case
Houston Chronicle
"Saddam Hussein's defense lawyers are demanding that the new chief
judge be removed before they will end their boycott of the trial, which
resumes Wednesday after a stormy session where the former president was
tossed out. Khalil al-Dulaimi and Khamis al-Obeidi said they have written
to the Iraqi High Tribunal to demand that Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman,
who was named chief judge last week, be removed from the current trial
and any other legal proceedings against Saddam." (01/31/06)
I understand
the importance of the Iraqis doing this themselves, but wouldn't it be
better if say, Sandra Day O'Connor (now that she is free from her normal
workload) might preside over this trial?
Saddam,
defense leave trial in protest
Detroit Free Press
"A new judge cracked down Sunday in a chaotic session of Saddam
Hussein's trial, ordering a codefendant and a lawyer expelled from the
courtroom. The entire defense team left in protest and Saddam was escorted
out after a shouting match in which he yelled, 'Down with America!' Despite
the turmoil, chief judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman pushed ahead, replacing
the defense lawyers with court-appointed attorneys and hearing three prosecution
witnesses before adjourning the trial until later this week."
(01/29/06)
Who exactly
is on trial here - we didn't tolerate this kind of shenanigans when Hitler's
cronies were being tried. Would we have allowed it for Hitler himself?
Probably not, but then, he was just a pagan pretending to be a Christian.
Mama's
Note: What does that have to do with it? He should be tried by his own
people, according to their own laws. The US has no business being involved
at all. This idiotic mishmash, trying to accommodate both cultures and
law systems isn't ever likely to accomplish anything, let alone justice
for Saddam.
Israel
rules out contact with Hamas
Las Vegas Review-Journal
"Israel's acting prime minister on Sunday ruled out contacts with
a Palestinian government led by Hamas unless the Islamic group renounces
violence, and the defense minister threatened to 'liquidate' militants
if they attack Israelis. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel
will stop the monthly transfer of tens of millions of dollars in tax rebates
and other funds to the Palestinian Authority if a Hamas government is
installed." (01/29/06)
I am sure
I will hear lots about how Israel is no better than Hamas, and I've already
seen stories stating how Israel helped Hamas get up and running in the
first place, but this makes sense to me. I'd just like to see it applied
to a lot of other so-called governments as well.
Hamas
won't be blackmailed, leader says
Fox News
"A top Hamas official said Tuesday the Islamic militant group
will not be 'blackmailed' by international threats to cut off aid to the
Palestinians and is searching for new sources of funding. Osama Hamdan,
a member of the group's exiled leadership, spoke a day after international
donors that support the Palestinian government said millions of dollars
of aid could be in jeopardy if Hamas does not change its violent ways.
Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide attacks, is poised
to lead the next Palestinian government after winning legislative elections."
(01/31/06)
As with
Iran the bully, here we see a bunch of terrorists seeking to brand everyone
else as terrorists. Of course, given the track record of most national
governments, it is hypocritical of them to refuse to deal with Hamas as
a government. But that never stopped any of them - perhaps this attempt
to turn the tables just strengthens Hamas' claim to legitimacy; once more
they are using a favorite tactic of "real" governments.
Leaders
pledge Afghan support
CNN
"Afghanistan set out a plan Tuesday to tackle problems from opium
production to corruption and terrorism, as envoys from more than 60 nations
pledged they would help the shattered nation along the road to peace and
self-sufficiency. Dignitaries at the opening of a two-day conference on
Afghanistan's future spoke proudly of the country's achievements since
a U.S.-led coalition toppled the hard-line Taliban regime in 2001."
(01/31/06)
This should
scare the Afghani people no end: when 60 nations say you are doing the
right thing, it brings your judgment to question - and your sanity. I
really do wish them the best of success, but know that they have just
gone down the wrong path of statism with the same idea that doomed Israel
3200 years ago: "we want to be like all the other nations."
Iraq:
US soldier, Iraqis killed, journalists wounded
azcentral.com
"Car bombs exploded in quick succession Sunday near four Christian
churches and the office of the Vatican envoy, killing three people and
raising new concerns about sectarian tensions. At least 17 other people
were killed in other violence around the country. ... ABC News co-anchor
Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt were seriously injured Sunday when
the Iraqi army vehicle they were traveling in was hit by a roadside bomb
and small arms fire near Taji, about 12 miles north of Baghdad. Both suffered
serious head injuries and underwent surgery at a U.S. military hospital
in Balad, ABC News said. The U.S. Military announced the death of an American
soldier in a roadside bomb blast in Baghdad on Saturday. ... bombings
and ambushes killed eight policemen and a medic in attacks across Baghdad
and in the northern cities of Baqouba and Beiji. ... A massive car bomb
killed four Iraqi soldiers and wounded six more in Saddam Hussein's birthplace
of Uja .... A former high-ranking general in Saddam's disbanded army,
Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Idham, was assassinated near Tikrit .... U.S. soldiers
shot dead three men wearing Iraqi police uniforms and captured a fourth
during a gunfight in Kirkuk." (01/30/06)
The week
started out badly and got worse, as the next stories show.
Iraq:
100th British soldier, others killed
Houston Chronicle
"A British soldier was killed in a roadside bombing Tuesday, the
second member of the country's armed forces to die in Iraq in as many
days and the 100th fatality since the conflict began nearly three years
ago, officials said. Three Iraqi soldiers were killed and six wounded
in a gunbattle Tuesday in Buhriz, a tense Sunni Arab town 30 miles northeast
of Baghdad. Police also said a roadside bomb struck a U.S. patrol in Samarra,
but there was no word on casualties. ... police found the bodies of 11
handcuffed, blindfolded men inside a truck Tuesday near the Ghazaliyah
district of western Baghdad. ... Three other bodies were found Tuesday
in Baghdad's Rustamiyah area ... Shiite-led paramilitary troops backed
by U.S. forces launched raids Tuesday in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad,
searching for suspected insurgents, police said. Police said two Iraqis
were shot and killed when they violated orders for residents to stay in
their homes. Late Monday, gunmen killed the wife and two sons of a Sunni
Arab cleric north of Baghdad ..." (01/31/06)
Clearly
a milestone for the UK similar to the US's 2000th casualty, already used
in the UK by the "antiwar" groups. What this story doesn't point
out is that the dead man was a Scot: the latest in many hundreds of thousands
of Scots to die in or as a result of their southern neighbor's imperial
adventures.
Iraq:
Eight killed in Baghdad bombing
Frankfort Times
"A bomb exploded alongside a group of Iraqi men waiting for work
in eastern Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least eight and wounding more
than 50, as a key Sunni Arab leader threatened to call for a nationwide
'uprising' unless the Shiite interior minister is replaced. The blast
occurred hours before the trial of Saddam Hussein and at least seven codefendants
resumed on charges of involvement in the 1982 killings of more than 140
people. It was unclear if the two events were linked." (02/01/06)
Uprising?
What is it now? It isn't enough to kill people looking for work, they
have to demand that the same people that they are targeting have to join
them AND probably get killed anyway, by the occupation authority or new
government or their own seemingly random bombings. As crazy as our own
government and policies are, this "insurgency" is even crazier.
Bombs
kill 11 Iraqis in Baghdad; dozens hurt
Houston Chronicle
"Two bombs exploded about 20 minutes apart today in eastern Baghdad,
killing at least 11 Iraqis and wounding dozens, officials said. The American
military said five U.S. troops died in separate attacks. The explosions
at a gas station and a market came hours after a U.S. helicopter fired
rockets after coming under attack in a crowded Shiite neighborhood elsewhere
in eastern Baghdad, killing a young woman." (02/02/06)
More killing
- this time finally getting a few of the hated Americans. Based on the
relative effectiveness of their killing sprees, the "insurgents"
must hate their own people a whole lot more than they hate the evil "Crusading"
Americans and Brits.
Iran
condemns nuclear "bullying"
BBC News [UK]
"Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country will
not submit to 'bullying' over its nuclear programme. ... Mr. Ahmadinejad
was speaking a day after the five permanent members of the UN Security
Council -- the UK, France, the US, China and Russia -- plus Germany, agreed
to ask the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report Iran to
the council over its nuclear ambitions." (02/01/06)
A typical
bully's trick - to claim that everyone else is bullying him!
Iran
threatens full-scale enrichment work
Indianapolis Star
"Iran threatened to retaliate Thursday in the face of almost certain
referral to the U.N. Security Council for its nuclear activities, and
the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said the dispute was
'reaching a critical phase.' Ahead of a decision by the IAEA's 35-nation
board, U.S. and European delegates turned to behind-the-scenes diplomacy
to build the broadest possible support for reporting Iran to the council
over concerns it is seeking nuclear weapons." (02/02/06)
More and
more news about Iran this week: they are making a big noise over "tattling"
to the Security Council, like the Security Council could force a baby
to stay in its crib.
Security
Council to review Iran nuke case
Las Vegas Review-Journal
"The United States and other permanent members of the U.N. Security
Council reached surprising agreement Tuesday that Iran should be hauled
before that powerful body over its disputed nuclear program. China and
Russia, longtime allies and trading partners of Iran, signed on to a statement
that calls on the U.N. nuclear watchdog to transfer the Iran dossier to
the Security Council, which could impose sanctions or take other harsh
action." (01/30/06)
This is
almost as scary as the 60 nation agreement on Afghanistan! Iran is getting
its wish to be in the center of attention of the "West" (which
of course to Islamic fanatics includes both China and Russia).
Mama's
Note: The "UN" has no more right to decide who can have a nuclear
program than a city council has to determine who "should" own
a gun - or a rocket launcher... If there are actions of aggression, that's
the point at which others can and should be involved. An armed world is
a polite world, unless some parts of it gang up on other parts to "prevent"
something by initiating aggression!
Bush
'plotted to lure Saddam into war with fake UN plane'
Independent [UK]
"George Bush considered provoking a war with Saddam Hussein's
regime by flying a United States spyplane over Iraq bearing UN colours,
enticing the Iraqis to take a shot at it, according to a leaked memo of
a meeting between the US President and Tony Blair. The two leaders were
worried by the lack of hard evidence that Saddam Hussein had broken UN
resolutions, though privately they were convinced that he had. According
to the memorandum, Mr. Bush said: 'The US was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance
aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in UN colours. If Saddam
fired on them, he would be in breach.' He added: 'It was also possible
that a defector could be brought out who would give a public presentation
about Saddam's WMD, and there was also a small possibility that Saddam
would be assassinated.' The memo damningly suggests the decision to invade
Iraq had already been made when Mr. Blair and the US President met in
Washington on 31 January 2003 when the British Government was still working
on obtaining a second UN resolution to legitimise the conflict. "
(02/02/06)
Excuse
me, but this is nothing new, no matter how the Independent and other MSM
are touting it. Isn't it time to stop beating a dead horse?
Mama's
Note: This seems to be a zombie horse that refuses to stay dead. Unfortunately,
no matter how much we beat it, the problem doesn't get solved.
Political
Campaign 2006 - Politics as Usual
Well, we can't say that anyone has forgotten the election is coming up
soon. But this kind of thing doesn't show anyone's courage - just their
opportunism. Next we shall be subjected to pictures of the various candidates
and incumbents tying kittens into sacks and throwing them into the creek,
no doubt.
Mama's
Note: It would be much more satisfying - not to mention useful - if the
politicians were tossed into the creek instead, but nobody will give them
the sack. It's far more profitable to leave them to business as usual.
Witness
for the prosecution
In These Times
"A Florida hit man. A high-powered lobbyist. A pair of disgraced
Republican congressmen. The ingredients for a potboiler novel? No -- this
is what passes for political news in the age of Abramoff. In a trial scheduled
to start in early February, Brian Cavanaugh, an assistant state attorney
in Broward County, Fla. is prosecuting three men for the murder of former
SunCruz Casino cruise ships owner Konstantinos 'Gus' Boulis. And he wants
to talk to Abramoff and a close business associate, Adam Kidan, about
what role, if any, they played in the murder." (01/30/06)
It is all
about posturing for political gain, as the election campaign heats up.
Any excuse at all for getting your name in a bit bigger type in the newspaper
is used as the beauty contest draws near.
Lawmakers
push Bush on Abramoff contacts
USA Today
"Republican lawmakers said Sunday that President Bush should publicly
disclose White House contacts with Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist who has
pleaded guilty to felony charges in an influence-peddling case. Releasing
the records would help eliminate suspicions that Abramoff, who helped
raise more than $100,000 for Bush's reelection campaign, had undue influence
on the White House, the Republicans said." (01/29/06)
IF all
he did was raise $100K, it would be amazing if he had ANY influence at
all in the White House, much less "undue." But any accusation
in an election year!
From
bread to chardonnay, a ballot debate rages
Boston Globe
"Dan Comerford takes wine very seriously: His Somerville liquor
store, the Wine & Cheese Cask, sells about 2,600 varieties, ranging
in price from $5 to $500. But most wine buyers are not connoisseurs, and
some of Comerford's customers would not make a separate trip to his store
if they could pick up a standard bottle of $10 chardonnay at their local
supermarket. 'It's convenience -- we'd all do it,' Comerford said. 'If
you're buying milk and bread and your Robert Mondavi is in the next aisle,
you'll buy it there.' This fall, Massachusetts voters will decide whether
to allow as many as 2,000 food stores to sell wine, revising a 1934 law
that prevents most grocers and supermarkets from selling alcohol now.
The debate over the ballot initiative pits supermarkets and corner grocers
against liquor wholesalers and small package-store owners such as Comerford.
Grocery chains have already spent nearly $500,000 to collect signatures
to get the initiative on the November ballot, and both sides are expected
to pour millions of dollars into a fight that is shaping up as a sleeper
issue in the 2006 election year." (01/29/06)
Sigh. Of
all the things to have to waste ballot space on! The only people that
should be concerned over what is sold where is the people who own the
store and work in it, and the people who want to buy the product. Like
blue laws, this is a ridiculous example of government supporting one type
of business and coming down like gangbusters on another, for the sake
of votes and pandering to a pitiful excuse for an electorate.
Mama's
Note: This kind of insane "law" persists all over the country.
I visited Sacramento once, many years ago, and was profoundly shocked
to learn that most fresh meat could not lawfully be sold on Sunday - the
meat cases were empty!! In many states you can't buy anything alcoholic
except from state owned stores - at insane prices, and one state has recently
proposed to try prohibition all over again! The list is pretty long...
Twenty
Percent Solution?
Cato Institute
"The Gallup Poll's annual survey on government found that 27%
of Americans are conservative; 24% are liberal, up sharply because the
poll was taken after Katrina, which boosted support for the proposition
that 'government should do more to solve our country's problems.' Gallup
also found -- this year as in others -- that 20% are neither liberal nor
conservative but libertarian, opposing the use of government either to
'promote traditional values' or to 'do too many things that should be
left to individuals and businesses.' Another 20% are 'populist' (supporting
government action in both areas), with 10% undefined. Libertarian support,
spread across demographic groups, is strongest among well-educated voters."
- David Boaz of the Cato Institute
IF true
(and readers know my opinion of opinion polls), this means that we are
more than halfway to the critical mass needed to start regaining the freedom
which is our gift from the Creator: at least a third of the population
is needed to win (assuming that the remainder is divided): this was the
case in 1776-1783, when only 1/3 of colonials favored independence, 1/3
favored the Crown, and 1/3 were, apparently, lost in the ozone. Today,
it appears that only about 9 percent are clueless (well, aren't sure of
their convictions - we can argue that the populists and liberals and a
good many of the conservatives are indeed "clueless.")
Privacy
Issues and Spying
I
have several articles this week on this subject, as well as the spying
"scandal" which is tied closely to the 2006 election campaign
dirty deeds department. We've got to keep in mind that most of this stuff
has been going on for a long time, and is just now considered "newsworthy"
outside the alternative press (Internet press) which has been reporting
it for years.
NH: Lawmakers reconsider audio surveillance
on school buses
Seacoast Online
"Lawmakers are considering for a second time whether to allow
school districts to record audio as well as video on school buses. Rep.
Stephen L'Heureux, R-Hooksett, tried unsuccessfully to get similar legislation
passed last year but lost to those who felt the audio recordings were
an invasion of privacy. This time, L'Heureux said he feels those issues
have been resolved. 'We addressed that issue by saying someone viewing
the tape looking for a specific incident cannot use anything not relevant
to that incident to be used against the kid,' L'Heureux said. 'The whole
idea of putting audio on a bus is because now you just have video and
when you see two kids fighting, you don't hear if there are two other
kids instigating the fight. The bus driver may say there's four kids involved,
but there's no proof.'" (01/29/06)
This should
not come as any surprise - more and more "public" schools are
doing this, treating children like penitentiary inmates. Get your kids
out now!
Trial
will test teen privacy vs. Kansas law
Wichita Eagle
"A 15-year-old girl tells her doctor she needs birth control because
she and her boyfriend are having sex. Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline
says the law requires the doctor to report the girl to child protective
services. A group of doctors, nurses, counselors and other healthcare
providers across Kansas say it's none of the state's business. U.S. District
Judge J. Thomas Marten will have to decide who's right during a trial
beginning Monday in Wichita that's being watched across the country by
legal, women's and healthcare groups. To complicate matters, the 10th
Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday struck down a temporary restraining
order Marten had issued more than a year ago in the case. The restraining
order had prevented the state from requiring healthcare professionals
to report all sexual activity involving children younger than 16."
(01/29/06)
This is,
I admit, a very tricky situation, and could best by solved by the simple
expedient of requiring that parents know what is going on - yes, sadly
there are some parents who will not care if their 13-year-old is sleeping
with her 16 (or 21) year old boyfriend, but that is going to happen anyway,
sadly. At least then government doesn't have to stick its nose in.
Mama's
Note: Unfortunately, by this time it's too late to help a youngster in
this situation, even if the parents are notified. If they don't have a
close enough relationship with the girl to KNOW what is going on and have
her complete respect and cooperation, this won't change anything. You
can't put Pandora back in her box and you are not likely to return a sexually
active teen ager to a celibate state.
KNOW
where your children are and who they are with ALL THE TIME from birth
until they are ready to be adults. That's the only way it works. It isn't
a matter of trust. Teen hormones cannot be trusted, no matter how good
or trustworthy your children are in anything else.
Most
big bosses are playing Big Brother
Star-Ledger
"Whether they know it or not, employees are rarely alone on the
job. Businesses are deploying a battery of high-tech gadgets to keep track
of employees in office cubicles, factories and hospitals, and on the road.
Nine out of 10 companies engage in workplace surveillance -- above all,
monitoring computer use -- according to a survey last year." (01/29/06)
Let's try
for three, now: we've seen schools, doctors, and now, employers. I suspect
that "9 out of 10" applies to what the media would consider
"real companies" and not the mom-and-pop outfits that many of
us own and work for. Still, it is wise to be aware of it, and may require
the courage to give up your job in order to live free.
Librarian
refuses to let FBI seize computers without warrant
The Chronicle
"An e-mail threat that prompted the evacuation of more than a
dozen Brandeis University buildings on January 18 led to an unusual standoff
in a public library in Newton, Mass., a few miles from the Brandeis campus.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents tried to seize 30 of the library's
computers without a warrant, saying someone had used the library's Internet
connection to send the threat to Brandeis. But the library director, Kathy
Glick-Weil, told the agents they could not take the machines unless they
got a warrant first. Newton's mayor, David Cohen, backed Ms. Glick-Weil
up. After a brief standoff, FBI officials relented and sought a warrant
from a judge. Meanwhile, Ms. Glick-Weil allowed an FBI computer-forensics
examiner to work with information-technology specialists at the library
to narrow down which computers might have been used to send the threatening
message. They determined that three computers were implicated in the alleged
crime. Late that evening, the FBI received a warrant to cart away the
three computers. According to Mayor Cohen, the warrant allows the FBI
to view only the threatening e-mail message and the messages sent immediately
before and after that message. " [FND Editor's note: Three cheers
for this 'radical militant librarian'! - MLS] (01/31/06)
Well, this
librarian has drawn the line and not joined with businesses, schools,
and doctors in violating our privacy - but sadly, most librarians are
perfectly willing to be willing agents for the state.
Librarian
takes heat over search
Boston Globe
"In the face of a storm of protest, Newton officials defended
their decision to demand that the FBI obtain a warrant before searching
the public library's computers to track down who had e-mailed a threat
to Brandeis University. The head librarian's defiance prompted a rare
public rebuke from the US attorney in Boston and a tongue-lashing from
a conservative radio talk host who called her a ''loony liberal.' ''I
believe in the rule of law,' said Kathy Glick-Weil, 56, executive director
of the Newton Free Library. ''The law in Massachusetts protects the privacy
of library users in their intellectual pursuits. It's important for people
to be able to read without thinking the government is looking over their
shoulder. 'I felt that I was doing my job.' Both Glick-Weil and Mayor
David B. Cohen said they insisted on the warrant in order to ensure that
the e-mails of other library patrons would not be available for government
scrutiny. ''Had we given them the entire three computers without a search
warrant,' Cohen said, ''they would have been able to examine everything,
including the communications of innocent citizens who use those computers
every single day for the most benign and appropriate purposes.'"
[RRND Editor's note: Thank heavens there are some 'loony liberal' librarians
out there ... - MLS] (02/02/06)
This follow-up
story is worth reading, and I agree with Mary Lou's comments.
Mama's
Note: So, what was the point of taking away the three computers? Anybody
who thinks the goons will limit themselves to those few emails, please
slap yourself silly and get over it. They could have "viewed"
those few messages in just a few moments in the library. How is it a "court
order" makes it all hunky dory to take the three of them anyway?
When are we going to face the fact that the court is not acting in our
best interest or even constitutionally?
Biometrics
use to accelerate in 2006
CNet
"Electronic passports have driven technological improvements in
biometrics and will pave the way for greater commercial use of it in 2006,
IT services company Unisys predicted. 'Traveler security is driving the
adoption of biometrics much faster than commercial pressures would have,'
Terry Hartmann, director of secure identification and biometrics at Unisys,
said in a statement. 'Now that the concept has been proven in a public
context, this will pave the way for the adoption of biometrics by the
commercial sector,' Hartmann added. 'Other government departments that
need to verify identity, such as drivers' licenses and welfare, will also
consider the technology initially, after which the private sector will
be prompted to investigate how it can solve existing problems, such as
building access control, via the use of biometrics.' According to Unisys,
Australia last October was one of the first nations in the world to introduce
biometric e-passports, which are in accordance to standards laid out by
the International Civil Aviation. " (02/02/06)
Be very
wary of this as it goes into high-gear implementation.
Feds
say cell phone tracking won't breach privacy
Democrat & Chronicle
"Federal prosecutors contended Wednesday that they want to know
only the general location of a criminal suspect when they seek information
about the whereabouts of the individual's cell telephone. The federal
government is not seeking information so specific that it would breach
a person's privacy rights, Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin Littlefield
told U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Feldman in a hearing. 'We're not invading
somebody's house,' Littlefield said. Federal authorities have asked Feldman
to approve an order allowing them to get information about which cell
tower an individual's telephone made contact with. They insist that they
do not have to show there is probable cause that the suspect committed
a crime - a legal threshold necessary for a search warrant, for instance.
Authorities didn't reveal the nature of the criminal probe at the hearing.
In recent months, several federal magistrate judges across the country
have refused to sign similar orders. Monitoring a person through a cell
phone violates the constitutional guarantee against unreasonable searches,
they ruled. " (02/02/06)
Do you
believe this? Would you like to live in Florida?
U.K.
proposal to police the Web hits hurdles
CNet
"Another government tech policy has been defeated by the British
House of Lords, with members rejecting plans to give police more power
over terrorism-related content on Web sites. The government's original
plans would have allowed police to act after deciding information on the
Internet is related to terrorism. But this was changed by the House of
Lords so that police would have to ask judges before telling Internet
service providers to remove Web pages, according to the BBC. The government
was defeated by 148-147 vote. The bill received a third reading and will
now return to the House of Commons." (02/02/06)
Gee, another
delay. And made even more meaningless by the narrow margin by with the
Lords returned it.
OH:
Peace activists stage "spy-in"
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"The watched became the watchers Monday. Trench coats and shades.
The surreptitious passing of a mysterious black briefcase. Cameras and
binoculars focusing on -- none of your business. Someone singing the refrain
to 'Secret Agent Man.' It was guerrilla theater staged outside the Celebrezze
Federal Building about 7:30 a.m. by the Northeast Ohio Anti-War Coalition
(NOAC). Some two dozen members of NOAC and other groups affiliated with
the coalition dressed in exaggerated spy gear to protest government surveillance
of a NOAC meeting in Cleveland last November, and similar monitoring of
other peace groups, including the Quakers. Hence, 'Operation Turn the
Tables,' as one sign read near the man wearing a CIA -- 'Citizens Intelligence
Agency' -- jacket." (01/31/06)
Nutcases,
but funny enough. I'm not sure exactly how this will stop the real spying,
though.
AT&T
sued over NSA eavesdropping
Wired News
"The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a class-action lawsuit
against AT&T on Tuesday, accusing the telecom company of violating
federal laws by collaborating with the government's secret, warrantless
wiretapping of American citizens' phone and internet usage. The suit,
filed by the civil liberties group in federal court in San Francisco,
alleges AT&T secretly gave the National Security Agency access to
two massive databases that included both the contents of its subscribers'
communications and detailed transaction records, such as numbers dialed
and internet addresses visited." (01/31/06)
I suppose
this has some chance of succeeding, where a direct lawsuit against the
government for violating its own laws would have virtually none. But I'm
not going to count on it. If I had ANY number of calls to (or from) outside
the US, I'd invest in PGP and some other privacy software that would protect
me from someone listening in, even if all it is, is making hotel reservations
or wishing friends happy birthday.
More
News and Commentary on Page 2
Nathan
Barton's views and comments, however normal they sound, are too weird
to be anyone's but his own, and not necessarily anyone else's. Caveat
Lexor. Be sure to visit my blog,
Liberty's Outpost.
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