Don't worry David. If Armitage wasn't indicted, you won't be.

Mr. David Corn,

The liars and fabricators, the cry-baby neocons and conmen all hate the truth. You are careful with your words and are often misrepresented. Too bad those filled with hate and vitriol cannot see the clear light you shine on the facts you write about. Their loss.

You keep on telling it like it is. That really bugs the people who need to be bugged by the truth.

"Why would Toensing disregard the obvious?"

She was too busy or binary to tell the truth, just like every other liar from that flock of lemmings.

Thanks for all of your work!

Kirk

"It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations. Bartlett's Familiar Quotations is an admirable work, and I studied it intently. The quotations when engraved upon the memory give you good thoughts. They also make you anxious to read the authors and look for more."
~ Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), Roving Commission: My Early Life, 1930, Chapter 9

Or Novak for that matter. Bottom line, you can't be outed if you weren't inned. She was not covert and her status was common knowledge in social circles in D.C. So was that husband of hers who was never the Ambassador but somehow gets credit for being so.

Fitz!

David, It's not personal it's business. You have more integity in your little finger than Toensing has in her . . .Anyway, keep an open mind, don't harbor a grudge, forgive, never forget.

"I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good. "
~ Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

"A short saying oft contains much wisdom. "
~ Sophocles (496 BC - 406 BC)

"Every quotation contributes something to the stability or enlargement of the language. "
~ Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)

"The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages is preserved into perpetuity by a nation's proverbs, fables, folk sayings and quotations. "
~ William Feather (1908 - 1976)

Novak-ula is on C-SPAN again tonight at 11:05PM. Take a look at that plump and expanding blood-sucker. He beady little eyes are sunk so far into his pumpkin-size head, the camera barely picks it up. He spends an hour and tells his story. . .

Snakes on a Plame - Redux, Revised, Reviled.

David, Victoria Toensing will be on CSPAN's Washington Journal at 8:30 tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Everyone who reads this should call in to tell her what we think.

A funny bit from Novak on c-span... Michael and David become: "Isicorn."

Here is a thought for those of you searching for an impeachable offense... President Bush has now admitted that he ran a series of secret CIA prisons to interrogate captured enemy. This violates the enumerated powers of Congress, put forth in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. The Congress shall have the power:

"To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water."

Bruce Fein, where are you?

I quoteth not. For I would appear without thought. Dick Buckley.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

David I hope you address (when you are on C-span Monday at 7:45 a.m. ) some of the statements made by Novak about you and your book today on C-Span's Washington Journal.

Today Novak said "Corn is not interested in getting facts, he is interested in putting out a line".

Novak also said that "Corn is desperately trying to find away to keep this story alive to help his friend Joe Wilson" He also called you "a nasty piece of work" Have you ever attacked Novak personally? What was his point by personally attacking you?

I also hope you take the opportunity to clarify for the public that Valerie Plame was undercover at the time according to Patrick Fitzgerald's findings. This fact keep being disputed.

Novak must have said that the investigation has been "blown out of proportion" at least five times.

My question for Novak that I was not able to get on (although I did get a written question on basically taken from your article ) was what qualifies Novak to determine that Fitzgerald's investigation "is much to do about nothing" (he said that on the program).

There has yet to be a determination of how this leak effected U.S. National Security. I also hope you bring this up. What qualifies Novak to make such a determination?

How about a list of facts from your book? He makes most of his statements about you at 2hours 40 min at the Cspan Washington Journal clip.

I have been thinking that it was through Novak's article and release of Plame's identity that it was confirmed that White House officials had intentionally leaked her identity. While I question what Novak's intentions were, it did end up being the reason for the appointment of the Special Prosecutor and the investigation.

I still wonder. Who was Judy Miller protecting?

Victoria Toensing has been undermining Fitzgerald's investigation from the beginning. Who or what is she trying to protect?

She really ripped on Fitzgerald during one of her public appearances batting for Judy Miller.

What is her agenda? Let Fitzgerald do his work without constant interference.

U.S. Military Prepared To Walk Away From Strategic Iraqi Province

Al-Anbar Has Seen Fiercest Fighting And Highest Death Toll Of War

SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. military may be prepared to walk away from a strategically critical area of Iraq: The Al-Anbar province.

The area, which is surrounded by the Kurdish-controlled area to the north and the Shiite-controlled area to the south, has seen the fiercest fighting and the highest death toll of the war,

Despite that, the U.S. has never controlled the area since the war began.

But one top secret report by a Marine intelligence officer said there is no chance the U.S. military can end the insurgent violence or that a viable government can be set up in the area.

Analysts believe the insurgents are being funded from a variety of sources, all hoping to gain control of the country.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

Wow, who would have predicted this would be such a mess?

Oh, that’≥ right - everybody but Bush and his insane cronies.

Where are the choruses of "cut and run" from the right-wingnuts? Their silence is louder than their shrill cry-baby neocon whines. Stay and die, lie and die, it is all the same to them unless they are the ones doing it, eh?

capt

'There is not one fact that I have seen that there could be a violation of the agent identity act,' said Victoria Toensing, a lawyer who helped draft the 1982 act." The Washington Times, October 10, 2005

Why woud Victoria Toensing assume that she has seen everything having to do with this case? How many pages were redacted?

Victoria Toensing
Victoria Toensing is a partner in the Washington law firm, diGenova and Toensing. Her practice specializes in white-collar criminal defense, regulatory inquiries, and legislative advocacy. She claims "particular expertise in high-profile, media-driven matters requiring special legal and press skills." She has appeared as a legal commentator on several networks such as CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC

Toensing graduated from Indiana University (where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority) in 1962 with an education degree; she taught high-school English until she entered law school. She graduated from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1975, embarking on a career in the U. S. Attorney's office. In 1981, she became Chief Counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where she helped draft the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982.

In 1984, she joined the Reagan administration as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General, where she headed the "Terrorism Unit," the first working group in the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute terrorism-related crimes. As part of her work in the DoJ, she managed the government's legal efforts during the terrorist hijacking of TWA Flight 847, the bombing of Pan Am flight 103, and the takeover of the cruise ship Achille Lauro. She also supervised S&L fraud cases, prosecuted nuclear industry regulation cases, securities fraud, and fraud and bribery in the banking industry. In 1988, she entered private practice.

Being one of the key people to help draft the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982, Toensing has been retained by a number of media organizations to give commentary on the Plame Affair. In March 2005 Toensing authored an amicus curiae brief on behalf of Matt Cooper and Judith Miller, two journalists who were subpoenaed in the Valerie Plame investigation for refusing to reveal information obtained from confidential sources. In the brief, she argued that "there exists ample evidence in the public record to cast serious doubt as to whether a crime has even been committed under the Intelligence Protection Act in the investigation underlying the attempts to secure testimony from Miller and Cooper." She also contended that Ms. Plame didn't have a cover to blow, citing a July 23, 2004 article in the Washington Times which argued that Valerie Plame's status as an undercover CIA agent may have been known to Russian and Cuban intelligence operations prior to the article (by Robert Novak) that revealed her status as a CIA employee.

Misrepresenting court documents, Cameron adopted "expert[]" Toensing's claim that NIE leak authorized by Bush "has nothing whatsoever to do" with Plame case
Summary: Fox News' Carl Cameron adopted Republican attorney Victoria Toensing's false claim that President Bush's alleged authorization of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former vice presidential chief of staff, to leak portions of a classified NIE "has nothing whatsoever to do with the Valerie Plame matter."

Being the amateur military strategist that I pretend to be, I pull my troops out of Al-Anbar. I make the terrorists believe they have safe haven drawing in more terrorists. Meanwhile, I surround the province with security forces and systematically eliminate every terrorist within the province. I call it cut and wipe out. The liberals would not participate in the second part of my plan. They would just run. What would you do cry baby?

I know, David, that in your business you have to "make nice" with a motley crew -- and some motley fools -- but color me surprised that you have found Ms. Toensing's company enjoyable. Hello! She demonstrated during the Clinton impeachment debacle that she "cares more about scoring points than serving the truth." (your words) That's not an admirable trait. (I think you have a low opinion of Bill Clinton, so perhaps that colored your attitude about Toensing?)

Smart cats wouldn't share a saucer of milk with her. Why would anyone want to have a drink with her?

She and her husband, Joe diGenova, were pimps for the Repugs back then in the Clinton years, appearing on cable TV over 300 times serving up the Repug line of BS. You'd better watch out for her, David. She's trouble.

#16 Kathleen, this is a "clever" device they use to make it sound like they are the final arbiter:

There is not one fact that I have seen that there could be a violation of the agent identity act,' said Victoria Toensing, a lawyer who helped draft the 1982 act." The Washington Times, October 10, 2005

She may have seen only two facts -- but they were not in violation of the agent identity act. The other gazillion facts, which she didn't see, could show violations -- so technically, she is not lying.

I don't like her.

The Betrayal of Valerie Plame By Larry C. Johnson
AlterNetTuesday 07 February 2006
A judge's rulings make it clear that Scooter Libby did lie to the grand jury, and that, yes, Valerie Plame was an undercover agent protected by federal law.

Valerie Plame was a covert intelligence officer covered by the Intelligence Officer's Identity Protection Act, and Lewis "Scooter" Libby lied to the grand jury. These two truths emerge from the opinion written by Judge Tatel, of the U.S. Court of Appeals, and released in February 2005. Thanks to a FOIA request by the Wall Street Journal we now have a more complete record, although key parts of his decision are still blacked out. Perhaps most of the media will now realize that they have been fed a pack of lies by the likes of Ken Mehlman, Victoria Toensing, Cliff May and others.

alternet

The first journalist to reveal Ms. Plame was "covert" was David Corn, on July 16, 2003, two days after Mr. Novak's column. The latter never wrote, because he did not know and it was not so, that Ms. Plame was covert.

Toensing claims "Corn outs Plame who was not covert." Huh? And Toensing is a laywer? If I'm looking for a lawyer who can't construct an argument. She's the one for me!

corn outed plame!
OMG! and yet he remains a free man? but i'm sure that he was the culprit - just ask any bushbot!

13 I still wonder. Who was Judy Miller protecting?
Posted by: TRH at September 15, 2006 10:14 PM

Not Scooter?

O'Reilly,

I don't know. Do you know? Does anyone know except Judy Miller?

Fitz

Well, she agreed to testify if Fitz restricted his questions to her conversations with Libby but you are right to ask, why did she request that restriction?

From the October 12 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews:

MATTHEWS: Let me ask you both about the motivation of prosecutors, all right? If you're up against, whatever case it is, as complicated as this is, this leak case, and it has to do with the war and the argument for the war, somebody challenged the argument --

TOENSING: No, it doesn't. Don't say that. It doesn't. It has to do with whether somebody violated the criminal law and gave a name of an undercover agent as defined by the law and whether that person knew that she was undercover.

MATTHEWS: And what would be the motive for doing that?

TOENSING: Look, go back in time and just think about this a little bit. When Bob Novak wrote his column, it could just have easily been framed as he, Bob Novak, was exposing nepotism. But it didn't happen that way because the press didn't like President Bush and framed it all for poor Joe Wilson. If a wife gets a husband an assignment, and he doesn't have any experience in WMD, and he doesn't have any kind of senior experience in the country, Novak thought he was exposing nepotism.

Protecting the 9-11 Patsies: Order W199I-WF-213589

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=W199I-WF-213589&fr=yfp-t-500&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8

http://freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=12165

US agents told to "back off" Bin Ladens (ANANOVA)

Bush Thwarted FBI probe against Bin Ladens (AFP)

FBI told to "back off" investigating Bin Laden family before the attacks on Sept. 11th: BBC Newsnight Video

Has someone been sitting on the FBI? BBC Newsnight transcript

Bush took FBI Agents off bin Laden family trail (TIMES OF INDIA)

FBI claims Bin Laden inquiry was frustrated (LONDON GUARDIAN)

FBI 'was told to back off bin Laden family' (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD)

Another FBI Agent Blows the Whistle on 9-11

FBI agent: I was stymied in terror probe

Whistleblower Complains of FBI Obstruction

Judicial Watch press conference featuring special FBI agent Robert Wright - impeded from terrorist investigations

Scandal Inside the FBI: Did G-Men Miss the Boat on 9-11?

O'Reilly,

Libby wasn't charged with leaking, he was charged with giving false statements to a grand jury. Sorta like Clinton. Miller must have received her information from somone else and merely went to Libby for confirmation. Interesting, I must say.

David, another thought about "Queen" Victoria -- if her face-time on cable TeeVee ratchets up bad-mouthing you, your book sales may increase, but I hope they don't have a smear campaign in the works that will require that you hire a team of lawyers.

Those bastards would do that to you out of spite.

From Victoria Toensing:

"Joseph Wilson. In July 2003, when he demanded an investigation of a White House cabal for violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act by "outing" his wife, Mr. Wilson knew Ms. Plame did not meet the factual requirements for covert status under the act. She was neither covert at the time of publication nor had a covert foreign assignment within five years. He acknowledged so in his book: "My move back to Washington [in June 1997] coincided with the return to D.C. of a woman named Valerie Plame." As the Senate negotiator for this 1982 act, I know a trip or two by Ms. Plame to a foreign country while assigned to Langley, where she worked in July 2003, is not considered a foreign assignment. I also know covert officers are not assigned to Langley."

You folks really need to learn that, when in a hole, the first rule is to quit digging.

Toensing's reporting is going to come back to bite her. The printed word is always there. I would think that as a professional reporter one would be very careful about reputation. If you write a column that is obviously wrong and misleading and the facts within it can be countered who believes you from that point on? Stupid decision.

Why are people still worried about Plame? She will sue, win or not, and write a book that will most likely become an ABC movie of the week. In any case she will come out ahead in spite of the traitors that destroyed her career. What a joke. David B. are you telling me that there are other steel framed buildings that caught on fire, burned for less than two hours, with oxygen starved fires, and collapsed straight down at freefall speed? Show me, I want to see the proof.

Bush's second choice for Vice President to assail GOP over Schiavo, gay rights

The former Missouri senator shortlisted to be then-Governor Bush's running mate in the 2000 presidential election -- said to have been second choice only to Vice President Cheney -- will come out vehemently against administration and Congressional Republican policy in a book to be published next week., according to an advance copy obtained by RAW STORY.

John Danforth, who retired in 1995 after four terms in the Senate, briefly served as Bush's ambassador to the United Nations but resigned after Condoleezza Rice was tapped to be Secretary of State. According to CNN, he was second on the list of Bush's potential vice presidential choices in 2000.

In Faith and Politics, to be released Tuesday, Danforth blasts the alignment of the Republican Party with the Christian right, lays out his most aggressive pro-gay stance to date and attacks the handling of the Terri Schiavo case.

Some people have asked me whether America is a Christian country. The answer must be no, for to call this a Christian country is to say that non-Christians are of some lesser order, not full fledged citizens of one nation." Danforth is himself an ordained Episcopal minister.
Danforth calls the Terri Schiavo case -- where Congress intervened to attempt to keep a severely brain-damaged woman from being taken off life support -- "Big Brotherism."

...."I think that the only purpose served by the campaign for the amendment is the humiliation of gay Americans, advocated by the Christian right and eagerly supported by its suitors in the Republican Party," he adds. "In reality, it is gay bashing."

Danforth then goes even further, saying supporters' assertions that the amendment would protect marriage is ludicrous.

"America's divorce rate is now over 50 percent, and marriage is under attack from a number of quarters: finances, promiscuity, alcohol and drugs, the pressures of work, cultural acceptance of divorce, et cetera," he pens. "But it is incomprehensible that one of these threats is when someone else, whom we have never seen, in a place where we may have never been, has done something we don't like."

sal - what didn't he accept my "the columns were simply terrified and leapt out of the way" theory? it's either that or magic or explosives, whichever is the least preposterous

Some good reading here.

Top 25 Censored Stories of 2006

The first caller on Novakula's C-SPAN appearance asks the question whether Armitage's relationship to PNAC explains his involvement as a leaker more completely than his status as a White House outsider from State. Novakula doesn't really touch it in his answer. What a great question. I hope Murray Waas is on it.

18 minutes into the interview Novak references a new book by David Corn and & Michael Isakoff.

Woodward knew before Novak. . . .but we knew that.

Two Republican callers back to back. The first one wants to know how Nixon got canned and Bush survives these scandels. Caller two is suggesting that Novak's current PR campaign is to keep himself out of legal trouble. "I was never a target of this investigation and I was a cooperative witness."

"Corn and Isakoff is odd couple. . . Corn is a left wing ideologue from the Nation magazine. . .
Corn is frantic. He's wrting in the Nation and writing on the blog."

Novakula has memoir coming out next year.

After 42 minutes into the interview, the next question comes from a quotation from DavidCorn's Blog, the blog about the discrepency between Novak's orginial claim that Armitage's disclosure was casual versus Novak's most recent claim that Armitage's disclosure was delibrate. His response?

"Mr Corn is a nasty piece of work. . . . he built this story up, it's an ironic situation, Corn was advising Joe Wilson which he never puts in his column. Now he is a party to breaking down the story. Which actually destroyed ... . He seems to be taking Armitages side"

He says "Corn is trying to keep this story alive for his friend Joe Wilson."

Should Bush pardon Libby? Novakula says YES. Not before the election. Maybe after. Many people are advising Bush not to pardon Libby.

Novak says he will go to his grave and never watching Jon Stewart.

A caller references that Plame filed a law suit so she can stay at home and afford to be a full time mother. WOW! When you hear Republicans call in on C SPAN and repeat talking points its a powerful reminder of how effective these arguments become when they're repeated often.

Favorite Novak quote:
"Not every conservative is a war-hawk not every liberal is a traitor.

Fuc% You very much Novakula.

Toensing gets her hour to dismiss and dissemble on the Valerie Plame case tomorrow (Sat 8:30 AM) Is anyone going to ask her who her clients are and whether the claims she is making are based on evidence her clients provided, if not, what her sources are? Will they ask her what her interest is in the case? Is she hired as a lawyer, lobbyist, PR person and who is paying that bill? Or do rich people get air time on C SPAN to spread their web of deceit.

African-American Minnesota Legislator Keith Ellison Slated to Become First Muslim Elected to Congress

In Minnesota, an African-American state legislator who won Tuesday's Democratic primary is slated to become the first Muslim elected to Congress. Keith Ellison defeated three rivals to become the Democratic nominee for the seat of retiring Congressmember Martin Olav Sabo. He will face Republican business consultant Alan Fine in November and is favored to win the heavily Democratic fifth district.
Ellison was raised Catholic in Detroit and converted to Islam as a 19 year-old student at Wayne State University before moving to Minnesota for law school. Lebanese-American pollster John Zogby hailed Ellison's primary win saying, "American Muslims are now a political constituency not just simply a growing group."

----------
Ellison spoke at the regional Democratic caucus that I attended. More than a Muslim he's a person interested in making a difference. Why has it taken so long for a Muslim to get to get elected? We live in a melting pot. Why aren't we better at reflecting that?

David, You're doing something right when people (a conservative political columnist) start calling you names (ad hominem) on a national cable network (C-SPAN).

Wow...you either have to be stupid to say this or real ballsy.

Bush Hails 'Fiscal Responsibility' As GAO Warns of 'Ever-Larger' 'Out of Control' Deficits

President Bush on our country's fiscal health, 9/15/06:

If the American people would take a step back and realize how effective our policies have been, given the circumstances. ...I've strongly believed the reason it is because we cut taxes, and at the same time, showed fiscal responsibility here in Washington with the people’≥ money. That's why the deficit could be cut in half by 2009, or before.

Government Accountability Office on our country's fiscal health, 9/15/06:

GAO's current long-term simulations continue to show ever-larger deficits resulting in a federal debt burden that ultimately spirals out of control. ...[U]nder either optimistic ("baseline extended") or more realistic assumptions, current fiscal policy is unsustainable. ...The question is how our current imprudent and unsustainable path will end. At some point, action will be taken to change the Nation's fiscal course.

Long week...
night all.

9/11 Toxic Dust Whistleblower Raided By SWAT Team
Ground zero hero Major Mike McCormack says he was deliberately targeted for helping release documents on EPA government cover-up, says 75% of police, firemen believe 9/11 cover-up

A 9/11 toxic dust whistleblower, a ground zero hero and one of the individuals influential in the release of documents proving a government cover-up that deliberately put police, firemen and rescue personel at risk, has been raided by a New York SWAT team - who ransacked his home for three hours after he was arrested.
Major Mike McCormack is a hospital technician and civil air patrol pilot who worked the ground zero site for eight days after the collapse of the twin towers. He is one of the real heroes of 9/11 and was the man who found the American flag that was later displayed as a token of unity atop the rubble.
Within hours McCormack was coughing up black mucus and within days he was coughing up blood as the toxic dust that was deliberately covered up by the EPA poisoned his lungs along with all the other rescue workers, police and firemen who were being used in photo ops by Bush and his cronies while their very livelihoods were being endangered by a government cover-up.
McCormack now suffers from an extreme respiratory sensitivity, has a 5-millimeter metal nodule in one lung and has been forced to give up his passion of scuba diving.
McCormack is part of an organization lobbying Congress to demand a response from the federal government to the toxic dust cover-up and just compensation for the heroes of 9/11 who were deserted by their own government while the Bush administration had the audacity to use the attacks to fulfil a pre-determined political agenda by exploiting the unity created by the events of that day.
"Numerous firemen were telling me that they heard numerous secondary explosions all over the building - these guys are seasoned firefighting professionals - a lot of them have military backgrounds and they're not stupid."
"Everybody on the planet knew that not only was the World Trade Center hit - it was totally wiped out," said McCormack.
McCormack said that around 75% of police, firemen and rescue personnel that he had personally spoke with now believe there is a cover-up pertaining to 9/11 and that many had been threatened that "if they ever open their mouth their pensions are at risk."
McCormack said that friends of his had also personally been involved in the construction of FEMA internment camps in Washington DC and New York. BBC investigative reporter Greg Palast was recently charged with "threatening infrastructure" after videotaping a Katrina victims camp in Louisiana and Exxon Mobil's Baton Rouge refinery - the charge has now thankfully been dropped.
McCormack said the government had "abandoned" the heroes of 9/11 and that "when Alex tells you this is Nazi Germany, you best believe it," describing the events as "part of the new world order."
============
A cover-up? NO WAY!! The govt. lies? I can't believe it!

Sign the Petition to Support H.R. 4232

Introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)

(For complete details about H.R. 4232, including a link to the full text of the bill, a list of co-sponsors, and recent actions on the bill in the U.S. House, click here.)

H.R.4232 would prohibit further use of Defense Department funds to deploy United States Armed Forces to Iraq. Funds could still be used to provide for:

the safe and orderly withdrawal of all troops;

consultations with other governments, NATO and the UN regarding international forces;

financial assistance and equipment to either Iraqi security forces and/or international forces.

In addition, the bill would not prohibit or restrict non-defense funding to carry out reconstruction in Iraq

For more information, read the full article.

Listen to Rep McGovern live from Camp Democracy: Click here.

Sign the Petition HERE

*****end of clip*****

A little petition to sign if you agree.

capt

Angry Bush tackles terror revolt

The President counters a rebellion by senior Republicans over terror suspects treatment


GEORGE BUSH came out fighting yesterday against the senior Republicans, including Senator John McCain and General Colin Powell, who have led a revolt over his latest plans for the treatment and trial of terror suspects.

He said that if legislative proposals to clarify "vague" obligations under the Geneva Conventions were blocked by the Senate, a CIA interrogation programme that had helped to prevent attacks in both the US and Britain would be scrapped.

On occasions during yesterday's White House press conference, the President appeared to be genuinely angry, interrupting a reporter's question to shout: "I'm just telling you the bottom line.

"Perhaps some in Congress do not think the programme is important . . . I think it's vital. The point is that the programme is not going to go forward if our professionals do not have clarity within the law."

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

Bush sounds very much like every other cry-baby neocon.

Let me see if I understand his position: If he doesn't get his way he will let the terrorists go. That sounds very childish, eh?

He will protect us from the bogeyman but only if he gets HIS way? If the senate does not send him a veto proof answer they are bigger Wusses than the wannbe cowboy-cheerleader.

This might get interesting. Bunnypants knows what is at stake and it is him facing the dock not CIA agents worried about legal troubles.

capt

If torture is considered VITAL what does that say about us?

#20 micki, you are right. Toensing and diGenova are not only pimps for the repugs but they also give lawyers a bad name. Both are scumbags and slimeballs. Cornposters, when Toensing and di Genova were on televison discussing Clinton, my puking episodes commenced. They are two hateful low lifes.

Bush is a spoiled sniveling brat!!!

If we accept torture as our signature method for gathering information, then it says that Americans are low life beasts.

Another Swiftboat Victim

These critics, these swiftboaters, are still at it today attacking the patriotism and service of veterans running for office. And they damage others in the process. They are the antithesis of the patriots they attack. The swiftboaters have lost sight of the true meaning of patriotism. It is not love of a leader, policy or Party, it is love of the Constitution and all the rights and privileges it grants to us as Americans. Our Constitution is what makes our Country great, and we all have an obligation to insure that it is not breached by the government or ignored by the people. Supporters of that war or any war have every right to express that support by whatever means they chose. But they do not have the right to defame the patriotism of those who hold a different point of view. And no true soldier would ever demean the sacrifice of another.

#44)
what are you implying? are you implying that when the wtc was destroyed lots of toxic substances were released that are making people deathly ill and the govt has been covering that up? it would mean a conspiracy of some magnitude.

Pope Struck a Cord With Muslims, Says Expert
Despite Some Harsh Reactions

ROME, SEPT. 15, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's words regarding Islam resonated with millions of Muslims worldwide who reject the justification of violence in the name of religion, said an expert in Islam.

Father Justo Lacunza, until recently rector of the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of Rome, explained today on Vatican Radio, why, nonetheless, certain Muslim circles reacted harshly to the discourse the Pope gave Tuesday at the University of Regensburg.

"In this the Pope has done no more than take up again the sentiment and desire of millions of Muslims who in one way or another, say: 'Violence and Islam cannot be related,'" Father Lacunza said.

He said that many Muslims say: "We are Muslims and we want to be Muslim believers in today's world and against those who use religion to strike at others with violence. Religion cannot be the foundation of a conflict, a war, or any other kind of violence."

The Muslim world reacted so violently to the words of the Pope, said the priest, for two reasons: "The first is that the Islamic world and Muslims are very sensitive to those who speak of Islam, in particular, when they do not belong to the Muslim faith.

"The second reason is that the Pontiff touched on a very, very delicate point, which is that of violence and war."

David,

Serves me right to check in here before booting down the computer! 40 minutes later & I'm keyboarding this.

I (finally) read your July `03 piece. Yes, you did NOT flat out state Plame was "covert", but you used these descriptions: "top-secret", "deep-cover", "undercover", "has worked under nonofficial cover"....Plus, you used the word "covert" in raising the possibility of criminality under Intell. ID Protect.Act.

Now, consider your statement hours ago: "The fact that Novak did not state she was a "covert" operative is utterly meaningless." For the record, all Novak stated was an "Agency operative".

Maybe it's just me, but it sure seems your retort on Novak is much more applicable to yourself. Try it out: "The fact that Corn did not state she was a "covert" operative is utterly meaningless."

Anyway, all the legal crap is over whether Ms. Plame was "covert" under the `law'. She probably was a "classified" employee, "NCO", and all the other (spy like) adjectives you used, but the ONLY question that matters is: was Ms. Plame "covert" as defined under the Act at the time (July, 2003)? And from all I've read, including your posted definitions, she was NOT.

I hate to say it for like the 3rd time. This was a whole lot of nothing! And to think, dumbo Wilson claimed that his wife's outing is "the stuff of Kim Philby and Aldrich Ames"!!!!

Mark my word, NO ONE will be indicted for `outing' Ms. Plame under the often-mentioned `Act'. Tax evasion, perjury, jaywalking...Maybe.
================================================

Alan:

Get a better grip on `serving'! How can someone who can refute 9/11 BS so well, not `buy' the commonly held notion of `serving'?

some help for you: Serving = Stationed = Posted

Like I asked capt, PROOF me wrong! Don't give me opinions that aren't solidly backed by logic or reasoning.

(PS: Happy has messed up his biological sleep clock)

DEN, if you're still interested...
Someone else, not the chemist I asked, posted this about barium. The post before this one concerned "titanium dioxide is present in paper to make it white."

Barium

Applications

Barium is often used in barium-nickel alloys for spark-plug electrodes an in vacuum tubes as drying and oxygen-removing agent. It is also used in fluorescent lamps: impure barium sulfide phosphoresces after exposure to the light.
Barium compounds are used by the oil and gas industries to make drilling mud. Drilling mud simplifies drilling through rocks by lubricating the drill.
Barium compounds are also used to make paint, bricks, tiles, glass, and rubber. Barium nitrate and clorate give fireworks a green colour.

"Like I asked capt, PROOF me wrong!"

I think you just "PROOFed" youself wrong. If you read what David writes and read the book, he needs nobody to defend his careful use of words and his facts.

It is not up to me to PROOF you anything, you make the wild accusations that are completely false - you PROOF what you post.

I stand behind everything I have ever posted, so YOU go about PROOFing anything you say. It is not up to me to PROOF you anything. If you think I have posted something not factual just ask I will PROOF me right. Unless it is matters of opinion on that count PROOF is not possible as opinion is a conclusion - but if you have any question just ask, I always post WHY and the facts that support my conclusions. You might try it sometime.

capt

Pope Gets it Wrong on Islam

Pope Benedict's speech at Regensburg University, which mentioned Islam and jihad, has provoked a firestorm of controversy.

The address is more complex and subtle than the press on it represents. But let me just signal that what is most troubling of all is that the Pope gets several things about Islam wrong, just as a matter of fact.

He notes that the text he discusses, a polemic against Islam by a Byzantine emperor, cites Qur'an 2:256: "There is no compulsion in religion." Benedict maintains that this is an early verse, when Muhammad was without power.

His allegation is incorrect. Surah 2 is a Medinan surah revealed when Muhammad was already established as the leader of the city of Yathrib (later known as Medina or "the city" of the Prophet). The pope imagines that a young Muhammad in Mecca before 622 (lacking power) permitted freedom of conscience, but later in life ordered that his religion be spread by the sword. But since Surah 2 is in fact from the Medina period when Muhammad was in power, that theory does not hold water.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

Read what Juan Cole has to say about the issue before making any conclusion. Cole has no ax to grind and is a Middle East expert.

capt

some help for you: Serving = Stationed = Posted

Serving, checking up on her undercover agents, supervisoring their work... all the same to me. That was her NOC job, and her employment was a guarded secret. Go to bed.
Maybe sleep with Hubris under your pillow, and maybe some it will seep in your thick skull. haha

OIF/OEF Vets Stand With Other Vets in Congress to Condemn Torture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 15, 2006
CONTACT: Will Coghlan, IAVA
212-982-9699, will@iava.org

Iraq and Afghanistan Vets Stand with Fellow Combat Vets in Congress to Unequivocally Condemn Torture

President's Proposal Puts U.S. Troops in Unnecessary Danger

NEW YORK - The nation's first and largest organization of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, IAVA, released the following statement today from Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff, commending Senators McCain, Graham and Warner, and also General Colin Powell, for their unequivocal stand against the use of torture on enemy detainees.

"As veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, we stand with our fellow combat veterans in Congress. For the safety of our own troops, it is absolutely imperative that we take an unequivocal stand against the use of torture on all enemy detainees," said Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq War veteran and the executive director of IAVA: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "Not only is it the right thing to do, but it is also the smart thing to do."

"It is insulting that the President, who has never served in combat, would dismiss the credible and reasoned advice of men like Senator McCain, a brave combat veteran who endured years of torture as a prisoner of war," said Rieckhoff.

"This is an example of the President's questionable commitment to our troops, and his failure to grasp the dynamics on the battlefield," Rieckhoff said. "How can the President say to our men and women in uniform that he is willing to risk their safety unnecessarily? Maybe the President would understand the importance of this issue more clearly if he had personally served in combat."

"The President repeatedly tells us that this fight is tough, but those of us who have been there know that already," said Rieckhoff, "and the President's stand on this issue will only make it tougher."

IAVA is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization representing the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. To arrange an interview with Paul Rieckhoff or to learn more about IAVA, please contact Will Coghlan at 212-982-9699 or will@iava.org.

I can say without reservation Mr. David Corn checks his facts and is copious in his study of an issue, then he writes being careful with his words.

That much should be well understood by all regulars that post here (regular trolls are cornruts too)

Making unsubstantiated claims is the business of smear. No reason for such if the discussion is both honest and straight-forward. No honest discussion can be based on whimsy, Ad Hominem, insults or unsubstantiated claims. Parroting talking points is not the basis for meaningful intercourse.

"The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments. "
~ Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900), The Gay Science, section 191

capt

Well, this long set of short articles in a timeline, about the buildout of the towers is interesting reading by itself and worth a post. That it shows yet again a wild-azz post or two is wrong, by a couple of certain people... well, that makes it even better.

What we called "bar joists", they call trusses, but in this short example, they use both.

SOME ARTICLES FROM ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD

Typical office floors have 4-in. thick slabs of composite construction using top chord knuckles of the joists, which extend into the slab, as shear connectors. On mechanical floors, composite action is provided by welded stud shear connectors.

Since Koch is assembling the truss floor sections under a separate $2.5-million contract, and they arrive at the site as ready-to-place sections 20 ft wide and up to 65 ft long, installation of typical floors is faster than the floors with structural steel frames. When Koch gets to the typical floors, it expects to achieve the 10 or even nine-day cycle.

"Throughout my years in Washington, I've debated a lot of conservatives and Republicans. There are some for which I have no regard. There are others whom--though I disagree with them on politics and policy--I've considered friendlies: not quite friends, but people who are smart and whose company I enjoy, who are fun to drink and argue with."

"I've considered friendlies" well good for you David. When I think of republicans I think of Fat stupid, sweating, ingnorance, no argument, no realism, no common sense. Maybe someday. The repugs you visit must have good teeth. You feel comfortable hanging with them, but they would shread you in a heartbeat. The repugs you speak of are trying to destroy our nation. They are the problem, it's not us it is you, it is your willingness. To give away your saddness.

wow do you suppose there were trusses in the top floor of the building? i wonder if they fell to the ground straight thru 110 stories of massive steel columns at the same speed that the rest of the top floor did? how fast was that again? oh ya - 10 seconds! how many floors per second is that again? oh ya - 11!

for some reason the 47 extra massive steel core columns and the 200+ regular massive steel perimeter columns not to mention the massive steel spandrel plates and the even more sturdy corners that were a part of each floor's composition leapt in a sequential order out of the way of the top floor at the incredible rate of 11 floors per second! astounding.

president bush personally asked senate majority leader tom daschle to limit the congressional investigation into the events of september 11.
~CNN - 01/29/02

is that the same sen. daschle whose office received an envelope full of military-grade anthrax from the terrorist after he refused to rubber-stamp the patriot act?

"fatty was had" shit is starting to stink. Shut your asshole. C-student in chief? Time has come today.

what do you think the name uncledad is not stupider than fatty was had!?
maybe you should go write a song about how cool your name is and how stupid my name is. it shouldn't be too hard since they rhyme!
--------------------

"It is a national scandal" and "If this decision stands [to limit access to White House documents], I, as a member of the commission, cannot look any American in the eye, especially family members of victims, and say the commission had full access. This investigation is now compromised."
~~former 9/11 Commissioner Max Cleland who resigned from the 9/11 commission in disgust.

is that the same decorated vietnam vet max cleland who returned from vietnam with only one limb and was slandered and called a traitor by bushco/rove?

The Popular Mechanics editors are convinced that any explanation other than the government’s explanation is a conspiracy theory. However, the title of their new book applies equally to their view, as there is no more fantastic conspiracy theory than the view championed by the Popular Mechanics editors. How, for example, can it be possible that on one short morning of September 11, 2001, multiple failures occurred not only in airport security but also in FAA and NORAD procedures? The probability of any one of these failures is low. The probability of all of these failures occurring on one morning is very low indeed. How is it possible that essentially all US security failures of the last 5 or 10 years occurred on one morning? What probability do independent statisticians assign to such an event?

The probability is also extremely low that the only three steel columned buildings believed to have collapsed from fire all failed on the same day from three separate fires.

The Pope and Islam

Dear Cornposters:

Juan Cole is a Middle East expert. The Pope is not a Middle East expert and I am not a Middle East expert.

I try not to dwell and relive history. Throughout history many mistakes have been repeated by people and religions. We can learn from these mistakes and we should learn from these mistakes. People who are unfamiliar with the past will surely repeat the same mistakes. War, for example, is mistake and we have failed to learn that it is a mistake and so we keep repeating the mistakes with wars.

The holy books of the three great religions that believe in one God have beautiful words and, yet, there are people who will interpret their holy book to meet their needs or wants. Dr. Teresa Whitehurst discusses in some of her articles that the followers of Bush will talk about Jesus' birth and death but they exclude His words. For example, do you honestly believe that they want people to love one another as Jesus loved us? They preach hatred, murders, torture, war crimes, corruption, decadence, greed, and lies. Bush's followers will use their interpretations of the holy book or Bible to justify their crimes and sins against humanity. Bush's followers are terrorists and extremists as surely as the radical Muslims who interpret the holy book to their needs and wants.

Even, today, Bush calls for more murders, war crimes, and torture to satisfy his sadistic and diabolical needs and wants. Bush is the world's extreme terrorist. If you doubt my words, you have only to note that he wants to rewrite the Geneva Convention articles to permit torture and so he can never be held accountable and tried for mass murders and war crimes by the international community and the international courts. You must not forget that Bush is a mass murderer and a war criminal.

The key to the Pope's talk in Germany was that we, each, have to look in the mirror before we blame others for many of our problems and the world's problems. Juan Cole is a Middle East expert and he knows Islam's history better than the Pope but I view the Pope's comments as a wake up call to search our soul and to determine how much hatred we have for our brothers and sisters in God. For some reason we keep the hatred alive for God's children within our souls.

Sincerely,

Gerald

Well, no suprise here. It is well known that anyone who stands up to the Bush adminstration or reports their wrong doings is going to be attacked and attacked viciously. We have seen it happen to Richard Clark, O'Neil and countless others. That is probably why so many who have knowledge of the wrong doings of this administration keep quiet.

What I hate to see is the courageous people who dare to speak out whether it be in an interview or in a a best selling book find themselves on the defensive. It makes them look weak and indecisive--in some cases (such as O'Neil) appear as though they are questioning their own information.

I thought about that as I read David Corn's blog this morning. He appears to be on the defensive--right where V. Toensing and Rove want him to be. Instead of attacking V. Toensing for being rediculous and most likely being a mouthpiece for Rove--Corn is defending himself when there is no need to do so. Why not make her produce facts to back up her claim against you--tell her to produce facts that you are the one who outed Plame. Her claim is utterly rediculous and she should be ashamed.

"Hubris" has more credibility to me today than it did when I finished it a couple of days ago. The fact that Rove&CO. are sending out their cronies to trash the credibilty of the authors is an excellent sign that the book has shaken the Bush administration and they are worried.

Corn and Isikoff need to strike back at these Rove cronies, but I hope they are careful to keep themselves on the offense. Strike back at Toensing--she well deserves it. I look forward to seeing Corn on CSPAN.

Spy, did you mean this flimsy core? You're probably right, those poor wimpy trusses were terrified and jumped out of the way. I will avoid high rise buildings in the future, they can't be trusted to stay put under stress.

Tell them produce facts? That's a good one! Facts don't get results, lies do all the work.

Saladin,

That OBVIOUSLY re-touched photo proves nothing!

It is a well-known fact that the cores were put together with papier-mache and staples!

The question is not "Why did the buildings collapse?"...it is "How did they stand there so strongly for so longly?"

-T

Hajji, I'm convinced that it was the ample use of duct tape that held those buildings, all three of them, together for so long!

Registered traveler program to cost $200 per year By Michael Hampton Posted: September 15, 2006 9:48 am Newsvine

The cost per person of the Terrorist Support Agency's Registered Traveler program to pre-clear passengers and give them a fast lane through airport security would be $200 per year, out of the range of many business travelers.
The costs include an annual fee of $80 for the program, along with $30 for a terrorist watchlist check, $20 for a separate criminal background check, and $70 to pay for dedicated TSA screeners and screening lanes at participating airports.
Businesses wanting to get the program started, though, say the cost would deter many people from participating.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., whose committee oversees Registered Traveler, said $200 far exceeds anything that's ever been entertained. You donÔøΩt know if it's going to succeed now.
Larry Zmuda, head of homeland security for Pennsylvania-based Unisys, which also wants to run Registered Traveler, said the heftier price tag would be a huge blow. It could deter millions from signing up and make Registered Traveler unprofitable at some airports, he said.
The program would operate only at airports that choose to apply and are approved by TSA. About 20 have applied so far.
The TSA says it wants to avoid spending taxpayer dollars on Registered Traveler. It's a private-sector program, and it's designed to have Registered Traveler customers pay for use of the lane, [TSA spokeswoman Ellen] Howe said. USA TODAY
=============
Unprofitable? Bummer. So I guess if you don't want to contribute to the "profits" of this program that makes you a potential terrorist? Freedom and democracy, ya gotta love it!

From that good Christian Gerald,

"Toensing and diGenova are not only pimps for the repugs but they also give lawyers a bad name. Both are scumbags and slimeballs. Cornposters, when Toensing and di Genova were on televison discussing Clinton, my puking episodes commenced. They are two hateful low lifes."

My, my, Mr. Gerald - you have gone off your meds.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

And, rather than quoting Thomas Merton, how about the original quote from the original source:
"The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates

Gerald, you have commited a mortal sin, and are forthwith banished to eternity in Hell.

Saladin,

I beg to differ, since I know that duct-tape will generally burst into flame with little effort.

It burns brightly, yet slowly and makes a great long-lasting torch when wrapped around the end of a stick!

I used just such a method to get out of Bat Cave, at Carter Caves State park, when the cheap batteries failed.

#69 thanksforhubris -- GOOD point!

#40 Jeanne -- Melting pot? Seems the "pot" doesn't allow for religious "melting" or amalgamation -- racial, social, cultural assimilation, well maybe. With all those folks shouting, "we are a Christian nation," I hope a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist, an atheist, an agnostic wins an election soon. Then we can truly claim to be a "melting pot."

#39 O'Reilly -- Novakula -- that's him!! Thanx for the rundown.

#48 Gerald -- you remember the nasty duo too! Also, @68 about the pope's comments: No, he's not a Middle East expert, but he's recognized as a scholar. I asked somewhat sarcastically yesterday if popes ever apologize. I believe that Pope Benedict could quickly tamp down this firestorm by explaining himself, in his own words. He wasn't speaking ex cathedra, so the concept of papal infallability doesn't apply -- he's only human. So, he should clarify his comments and move on!

Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA
Harpers
Blackwater USA, the private security contractor that has operated in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and New Orleans, has been booming the past few years. Founded in December of 1996, the company spent its early years paying staff with an executive's credit card and begging for customers, according to the Virginian-Pilot. But today, Blackwater reportedly has revenues of about $100 million annually, almost all of it from government contracts, and maintains a compound half the size of Manhattan and 450 permanent employees, according to the newspaper.
How did Blackwater rise so high, so fast? The war on terrorism got the ball rolling for the firm, but one suspects that political connections played a big part as well. Erik Prince, Blackwater's founder, is a former SEAL who is deeply involved in Republican Party politics. Since 1998, he has funneled roughly $200,000 to GOP committees and candidates, including President Bush. In 2004, Blackwater retained the Alexander Strategy Group, the PR and lobbying firm that closed down earlier this year due to its embarrassing ties to Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay. (Paul Behrends, a former national security adviser to Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, handled the account for Alexander. After the firm shut down, Behrends moved on to a firm called C&M Capitolink, and took the Blackwater account with him.)
============
Another beneficiary of the "war on terra." Actually, terra is an apt term, isn't that the word for earth? A war on earth, that's exactly what they are engaged in.

Hajji, that explains the whole thing! It was the duct tape that destroyed those buildings. Thanks for clearing that up.

Joe, from the previous thread... - thanks for your comments...

As you point out, bush says whatever he feels is appropriate at that particular time, whether it contradicts a previous statement or not. Here's a current "whatever it takes" GWB remark:

GWB on Osama bin Laden, Sept. 15, 2006: "There's kind of an urban myth here in Washington about how this administration hasn't stayed focused on Osama bin Laden. Forget it. It's convenient throwaway lines when people say that."

GWB on OBL, March 13, 2002: "You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, Kelly, to be honest with you ... And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure ... I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him."

Ya know the repugs are even afraid to show their party affiliation on their campaign signs, I thought that was part of the process. Nope, I guess that when you are ashamed of your compadres you want to distance yourself from them in order to not get any of the stink on yourself. Won't work, but hey give it a shot, after the last primary they are really starting to worry about not only losing the seats but finding themselves on the business end of an indictment. Can't wait for November. Gonna be a show, but in the big picture it doesnt' matter a bit who wins they aren't winning anything but the front row seat on a bus that is going over a cliff. So enjoy these days they are the good old ones. The process is increasing rapidly and unless you are aware it is going to be a hell of a surprise for most. Can't wait, chaos and destruction the harvest for the US. Saddle up boys.

Corn is dancing around some obvious truths here that make him look bad.

1. He personally and obviously drew attention to Plame's alleged covert status. He cannot on the one hand draw attention to it and at the same time take great offense at what Novak and the original leakers did in disclosing less specific information that was not the source of significantly publicity.

2. Even his account of his conversation with Wilson (notice how he says nothing about whether he talked to Plame) represents how Wilson implicitly told him that Plame was working under NOC, when he told Corn about her friends supposedly thinking she worked for an energy company. Anyone in Corn's position listening to Wilson would have concluded she was NOC.

3. Corn's conversation with Wilson further points the blame to Wilson because, if talking about Plame was traitorous and highly damaging to national security as Wilson and Corn have made it out to be, Wilson would and should have done everything possible to persuade Corn not to run the story. [Same applies to the CIA when Novak contacted them.] Instead, Corn became Wilson's cheerleader.

4. Corn's word games about him just raising questions about Plame's purported covert status in a "thought exercise and not an act of disclosure" is intellectually insulting spin. He knew that he effectively was stating that Plame was "covert" and/or "NOC" with his story. He has no alternative now other than to try to play word games to try to defend himself. Comment 53 nails him on the issue.

5. Corn's conduct in his original story reflects that he cared nothing about national security or Plame's supposed covert story (or knew her disclosure was no big deal), and that he just wanted to make a claim that might damage republicans [the same applies to Wilson's conduct all along].

6. Has Corn ever said anything critical of Wilson?

7. Finally, the truth is that Corn was wrong in his assertions of a violation of the law and in the various conspiracy theories he had advanced. He also showed no regard for protection of whatever "covert" information that was to be protected related to Plame. His partisanship has overcome his integrity.

Vatican Statement on Pope's Words About Islam
"A Clear and Radical Rejection of the Religious Motivation for Violence"

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 15, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is the press statement released Thursday by Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi concerning the interpretation of certain passages of the Holy Father's address at the University of Regensburg.

Concerning the reaction of Muslim leaders to certain passages of the Holy Father's address at the University of Regensburg, it should be noted that what the Holy Father has at heart -- and which emerges from an attentive reading of the text -- is a clear and radical rejection of the religious motivation for violence.

It was certainly not the intention of the Holy Father to undertake a comprehensive study of the jihad and of Muslim ideas on the subject, still less to offend the sensibilities of Muslim faithful.

Quite the contrary, what emerges clearly from the Holy Father's discourses is a warning, addressed to Western culture, to avoid "the contempt for God and the cynicism that considers mockery of the sacred to be an exercise of freedom" (homily, Sept. 10). A just consideration of the religious dimension is, in fact, an essential premise for fruitful dialogue with the great cultures and religions of the world.

And indeed, in concluding his address in Regensburg, Benedict XVI affirmed how "the world's profoundly religious cultures see this exclusion of the divine from the universality of reason as an attack on their most profound convictions. A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion to the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures."

What is clear then, is the Holy Father's desire to cultivate an attitude of respect and dialogue toward other religions and cultures, including, of course, Islam.

If the Muslims want the Pope to convert to Islam, it ain't going to happen. The Pope's stand on violence is well recorded. The problem is that we need more priests and bishops taking a stand against violence. The problem in America is that the Catholic right seems to have taken over the Church.

I am amazed as to how strong the Catholic right is in America and there lust for more wars and destruction of our planet and God's children.

Sorry to intrude on your fantasies, cornbots. Novak may not be good for much, but he’s good for this: characterising the commintern-inspired Hugo-Chavez-loving David Corn as “a nasty piece of work.” Novak is spot on with that assessment.

As for Novak’s use of the word “operative” in his reference to Mrs Wilson — “operative” is a word thrown about a lot around the Beltway: FBI operative, Republican operative, Democrat operative, political operative, and so on. No reason to think Novak’s use of the word had anything at all to do with Val’s being a “covert operative.”

Don’t believe me? Ask Novak himself. He and the political hack (or “political operative”) with the high, high forehead used it all the time on CNN’s Crossfire. (I confess. I know high-forehead-man’s name was Paul Begala. Chances are it still is.)

Not gonna argue that David Corn is not careful with his words. Corn is very, very careful with his words. What he is not careful with is the truth. Corn may use a fact here and there if he’s cornered, but he has a clear preference for innuendo.

I am also very, very careful with my words, even though I may not be much of a stylist: Messieur David Corn is an asshole.

Pope regrets remarks offended Muslims

VATICAN CITY, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday he regretted his remarks about Islam offended Muslims.

In a statement read by a senior Vatican official, the pope said he respected Islam and hoped Muslims would understand the true sense of his words, the BBC reported.

During a speech in Germany Tuesday, Benedict cited a medieval text that described parts of Islam in the 14th century as "evil and inhuman." The pope did not say he agreed with the text.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the pope's remarks were taken out of context.

Germany's Bild newspaper quoted her Saturday as saying the pontiff had been calling for inter-religious dialogue and made the remarks in a statement that renounced "all forms of violence in the name of religion."

More HERE

+++++++++

Firebombs follow pope's remark about Islam (September 16, 2006) -- Criticism against Pope Benedict XVI's remarks about Islam escalated Saturday with the firebombing of two West Bank churches. A group calling ... > full story

Pope speech draws Muslim ire (September 15, 2006) -- Pope Benedict XVI is drawing growing criticism from Muslim leaders for a speech in Germany in which he quoted historical sources to denounce jihad in ... > full story

Arab leader: Muslims will rule Jerusalem

UMM AL-FAHM, Israel, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Israeli Arab Islamic leader Sheikh Raed Salah told a rally in Jerusalem the "Israeli occupation" of the city will soon vanish.

"With fire and blood we shall liberate al-Aqsa," Salah told 50,000 people Friday at the Islamic Movement's 11th annual rally in Umm al-Fahm, a city in Israel's Haifa district, YNetNews reported.

The Al-Aqsa mosque is part of a complex of buildings in Jerusalem known as the Temple Mount to Jews and some Christians.

"Soon Jerusalem will be the capital of the new Muslim caliphate, and the caliph's seat will be there," Salah said. Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam.

Salah said history tells of many occasions in which the al-Aqsa mosque was occupied by foreign conquerors, but the occupiers left and so will what he termed the Israeli occupiers, YNet said.

"There are all sorts of plans to divide the al-Aqsa mosque but they will not succeed," he said.

More HERE

Re: #56

Afghanistan's Taliban on Saturday demanded Pope Benedict XVI to apologise for remarks linking Islam with violence, adding the comment showed the Christian West was waging war against Muslims.

Buddhas of Bamiyan - In March 2001, according to Agence France Presse in Kabul, the decree declared, "Based on the verdict of the clergymen and the decision of the Supreme Court of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) all the statues around Afghanistan must be destroyed. All the statues in the country should be destroyed because these statues have been used as idols and deities by the non-believers before. They are respected now and may be turned into idols in future too. Only Allah, the Almighty, deserves to be worshiped, not anyone or anything else."
On March 6, the London Times quoted Mullah Mohammed Omar as stating, "Muslims should be proud of smashing idols. It has given praise to God that we have destroyed them."

Two churches in the West Bank city of Nablus were fire-bombed Saturday, with a previously unknown group calling itself the "Lions of Monotheism" claiming responsibility. It said the bombings of the Nablus Roman Catholic and Anglican churches were in protest of the pope's remarks about Islam.

"If we do not get a proper response, agitations will intensify",said Gufran at Asafi Mosque. Irfan Ahmad Rizvi, a contractor, said that he was upset with a section of the English media for playing up the issue. "A section of the media did not even bother to write the Prophet's name respectfully and let it go just like that. We never say Mohammed. It's always Prophet Mohammed",Irfan said.

Daifallah Buramia also vowed to put forward draft legislation in a bid to "reduce the number of churches in Kuwait," in response to the remarks which he described as an offence to Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.

Understanding JIHAD: Definition and Methodology - Part One

S. Abdullah Schleifer www.salaam.com.uk

In Islam, the central doctrine that calls on believers to combat the enemies of their religion. According to the Qur'an and the Hadith, jihad is a duty that may be fulfilled in four ways: by the heart, the tongue, the hand, or the sword. The first way (known in Sufism as the “ßreater jihad”© involves struggling against evil desires. The ways of the tongue and hand call for verbal defense and right actions. The jihad of the sword involves waging war against enemies of Islam. Believers contend that those who die in combat become martyrs and are guaranteed a place in paradise. In the 20th and 21st centuries the concept of jihad has sometimes been used as an ideological weapon in the effort to combat Western influences and secular governments and to establish an ideal Islamic society.
In the chronology of the Qur'an, divine permission to fight (gital) is first given to the Muslims in response to persecution:

Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged: and Allah is indeed Able to give them victory.
and as a means to end discord and preserve the moral order threatened by the sedition of the unbelievers:
And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter

But fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.

Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress the limits; for God loveth not transgressors.

That when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah
Is Forgiving, Merciful.

Fight against such of those have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the religion of truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.

In these circumstances fighting is a binding, sacred duty on Muslim thought he dislike it, and the Prophet is commanded to exhort the Believers to fight, which he does in declarations that leave little room for ambiguity as to the uses of jihad as the instrument for an Islamic social order.

Researchers Find Evidence Of The Earliest Writing In The New World

New research published this week in Science details the discovery of a stone (serpentine) block in Veracruz, Mexico, containing a previously unknown system of writing, thought to be the earliest in the New World.

An international team of archaeologists, including Brown University's Stephen D. Houston, determined that the slab –†named the "Cascajal block" dates to the early first millennium B.C.E. and has features that indicate it comes from the Olmec civilization of Mesoamerica. They say the block and its ancient script "link the Olmec civilization to literacy, document an unsuspected writing system, and reveal a new complexity to this civilization."

"It's a tantalizing discovery. I think it could be the beginning of a new era of focus on Olmec civilization," said Houston, an expert on ancient writing systems and corresponding author for the Science article. "It's telling us that these records probably exist and that many remain to be found. If we can decode their content, these earliest voices of Mesoamerican civilization will speak to us today."

More HERE

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Interesting stuff. Especially the translated prediction that says an Andover cheerleader will steal power from the people and destroy the world. (I made up the last part)

capt

Pope: Jihad contrary to God's plan

REGENSBURG, Germany, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI, speaking in Germany, briefly quoted sources on Islam to say the idea of jihad is contrary to God's plan, reports The New York Times.

In an address Tuesday at the university in Regensburg where he had once taught, the pope said the West is so beholden to reason that Islam cannot understand it. At the same time, he said reason should become the common ground for a "genuine dialogue of cultures and religions so urgently needed today."

Much of the pope's speech dealt with how science and philosophy in the West have divorced themselves from faith, bringing secularization to Europe, the report said.

Secularization has made it impossible for the West to talk with cultures where faith is fundamental, he said.

Several experts on Islam and the Roman Catholic Church told the Times the pope's source-based speech did not appear to be a condemnation of Islam.

A Vatican spokesman said the comments were not meant as any statement on Islam but only a brief reference to his argument of the dangers of the separation of reason and religion.

More HERE

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Time meant nothing, never would again
Let's do the Time Warp again!
(Rocky Horror Picture Show)

capt

Capt,

Almost as old, is another stone block, thought to be a vitriolic criticism of the above-mentioned block!

-T

(Does the CIA employ non-secret "operatives"?)

I looked up the definition of "operative"

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8&q=define%3A+operatives

Workers who operate machines or processing equipment or perform other factory-type duties of intermediate skill levels which can be mastered in a few weeks and which require only limited training. Includes: apprentices (auto mechanics, plumbers, bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, machinists, mechanics, building trades, metalworking trades, printing trades, etc. ... (emp added)

No wonder there's so much bad intelligence going around, the CIA should really train their agents better!

UREKA!

I just had a flash of insight on how to solve the problem with fundamentalist muslim jihadists! I was reading news stories on the Pope's experience with "the religion of peace" and it came to me.

Given the violent reaction by Muslims at the mere mention of the prophet (peace be upon him) All we have to do to is set a trap for them and then DELIBERATELY start the "insults"!!! They will all come out from their hiding place to burn our churches, etc., and we'll have them!

We can put the National Guard (good and trigger happy those boys) in our churches and at our newspaper buildings. Then we set of THE PERFECT STORM of the TRUTH about Mohammed and the so-called "religion of peace." We shout the truth from every pulput; we print it in every newspaper; we put it on all the talk shows and then they will go into an absolute FRENZY! It's then a simple matter to mow them down when they come with their torches and knives to cut our heads off!

This is such a simple, yet brilliant plan I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. They will absolutely go out of their minds with hate and be driven to violence. Then we take care of them once and for all. Whoever is left that is willing to truly live in peace will be left alone.

David, I used to respect your writing. Unfortunately, since this whole sordid incident started, I've come to respect you less and this latest broadside, although an attempt to protect yourself after an attack by the WSJ, makes me question the veracity of your statements - unfortunately, it does appear that you were the first to really bring the world's attention to who Ms. Plame was... The good thing for you is that most of the world really couldn't care less about this whole mess - only those people fixated on both of the political fringes will whip themselves into a froth about it. Everyone else will stare blankly if you ask them who Joe Wilson is. Its time to fold a losing hand and move on. Keeping the brouhaha alive only serves to diminish you.

Just think of it - Muslim extremists have no control over themselves when they perceive even a whiff of an insult to their prophet of their faith!

We need to use this as a powerful weapon against them. It is their achilles heel.

Most people (including the President) do not really understand Islam. If you do a careful study of it and really examine the Quoran you will find that it is most certainly NOT a "religion of peace."

Now to be certain, there are different factions and sects within Islam, but underlying it all is their prophet - his words and deeds. Truly shocking stuff, folks.

We had better wake up to the truth about Islam before it's too late. They already have a network of Madrasses in our country that were funded by the Wahabist sect from Saudi Arabia. These are truly dangerous people.

I realize that for the most part Muslims in this country are well-integrated into our society, but I believe that this could be a false illusion that everything is O.K..

I don't think so.

The official story of 9/11 holds that four passenger planes were diverted and that none of them were intercepted for reconnaissance and response, which constitutes a massive and unprecedented failure of standard operating procedures. The story of how and why that happened has changed repeatedly since 9/11, and no official has ever been held accountable for the failures. On the contrary, many of the key figures involved received promotions, among them Myers, who was confirmed in that position soon after 9/11, and Gen. Ralph Eberhart, the NORAD director who was appointed to head the new Northern Command (since retired).

During the last four years we have seen a plethora of contradicting timelines and testimonies presented by NORAD, the US Air Force (in its official history Air War Over America), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), press reports citing official sources, and, finally, The 9/11 Commission Report. Each of these versions of what happened on 9/11 was upheld in its turn for months or years without revision. The contradictions mean that at least some of the responsible officials must have been promoting falsehoods, but again, no move has been made to hold anyone accountable for that.