Monthly ArchiveJanuary 2007
Personal Favorites 28 Jan 2007 07:39 pm
Launched – USS New York
USS New York
It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.
The USS New York is the fifth in a new class of warship – designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.
Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, Louisiana to cast the ship’s bow section.
When the steel was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003, “those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,” recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. “It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.”
Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the “hair on my neck stood up.” ”It had a big meaning to it for all of us,” he said. “They knocked us down. They can’t keep us down. We’re going to be back.”
The ship’s motto? “Never Forget”
Media Bias 28 Jan 2007 11:34 am
In the News Jan 28
Jan 28 – Strategypage.com there is an interesting article…
Top 10 Myths of the Iraq War.
1-No Weapons of Mass Destruction were found.
2-The 2003 Invasion was Illegal.
3-Sanctions were working.
4-Overthrowing Saddam Only Helped Iran.
5-The Invasion Was a Failure.
6-The Invasion Helped Al Qaeda.
7-Iraq Is In A State of Civil War.
8-Iraqis Were Better Off Under Saddam.
9-The Iraq War Caused Islamic Terrorism to Increase in Europe.
10- The War in Iraq is Lost.
Read more here.
Did you catch the Sunday CBS news show where Ben Stein was a guest?I found an article from last week that was the substance of his “talk”. You can read the whole thing here. His ending statement is posted below:
My point: let’s be aware that Bush has presided over a lot of success in addition to substantial failure. My second point: no one elected the media to anything. If we let them lynch the man we elected as President we are throwing out the Constitution with the war in Iraq. In the studios and newsrooms, there is a lynch mob at work. Let’s see it for what it is. We have a good man who has made mistakes in the Oval Office. He’s the only President we have, and I trust him a lot more than I trust unelected princes of the newsroom.
God Bless Ben Stein.
on Fox’s Sunday news show with Chris Wallace:Bret Hume says – “Poor Chuck Hagel, who is getting grandiloquent about voting for a legislatively meaningless Senate resolution and calling it courage. It makes you kind of sad.”
Bill Kristol said about John Kerry recent’s disgraceful display. “there was a day when United States Senators did not go abroad to call the United States an ‘international pariah’. Responding, Hume said: “Is it really fair to John Kerry to argue, Bill, that when he’s in Switzerland he’s away from home?”
I read somewhere that Kerry will be this generation’s Carter – angry for the population rejecting him and forever artfully used by our enemies. A sad epitaph of a public figure.
Also interesting that jon carry and janefonda were on the world stage bashing America on the same day yesterday. (the more things change…)
National / World Politics 27 Jan 2007 11:56 pm
Nancy and the Koolaide
“As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.”
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California) Statement on US Led Military Strike Against Iraq December 16, 1998 http://www.house.gov/pelosi/priraq1.htm 
In the President’s 2007 State of the Union speech President Bush said:
This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we’re in. Every one of us wishes this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk. Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. Let us find our resolve, and turn events toward victory.” The Republicans in the room rose to their feet and applauded. The majority party members remained planted in their seats. So there it is, stark and unmistakable, the Democrats do not wish to win in Iraq and will do nothing to further the cause of victory.
As Speaker Nancy Pelosi said upon taking the gavel,
“Iraq is not a war to be won but a situation to be managed.”
National / World Politics 27 Jan 2007 10:33 pm
Another Looney in the Bin
In his rebuttal to President Bush’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday, Sen. Jim Webb (D., VA) stated,
“The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military.”
Wouldn’t you say that miltary retention would be a key indicator of whether the majority of the military supports the 3 year old war?
FY06 goal 64,200 actual retention = 67,307
FY05 goal 64,162 actual retention = 69,512
FY04 goal 56,100 actual retention = 60,010
FY03 goal 51,000 actual retention = 54,151
FY02 goal 56,800 actual retention = 58,237
FY01 goal 64,000 actual retention = 64,982
Welcome to the Senate Mr. Webb. See Messrs Kerry, Kennedy and Reid for your next indoctrination meeting.
National / World Politics 27 Jan 2007 09:58 pm
He just WONT go away!!!
what a weak pathetic man.
“When we walk away from global warming, Kyoto, when we are irresponsibly slow in moving toward AIDS in Africa, when we don’t advance and live up to our own rhetoric and standards; we set a terrible message of duplicity and hypocrisy,” Kerry said.
John Kerry in Davos today (Saturday Jan 27)
Can you remember this Mr. Kerry?
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 1st Session Vote Date: July 25, 1997, 11:37 AM
Question: On the Resolution (s.res.98 ) Declares that the United States should not be a signatory to any protocol to, or other agreement regarding, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992, at negotiations in Kyoto in December 1997 or thereafter which would: (1) mandate new commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the Annex 1 Parties, unless the protocol or other agreement also mandates new specific scheduled commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for Developing Country Parties within the same compliance period; or (2) result in serious harm to the U.S. economy.
YEAs 95 NAYs 0 Not Voting 5 Kerry (D-MA), Yea
A 2002 David Corn article (not exactly a BUSH fan…)
For the next seven years—while Clinton was in office—the budget for combating AIDS overseas remained flat. (It was $124.5 million in 1992.)
From a 2003 Bill Sammon article
Although Bill Clinton reveled in his image as the “first black president,” President Bush has won plaudits for doing more to help blacks in Africa, where he is visiting this week. The most prominent example of this disparity is in the funding of the fight against AIDS.
Mr. Bush recently pushed a $15 billion AIDS bill through Congress.“His $15 billion commitment is unparalleled,” said Melvin Foote, executive director of the nonpartisan Constituency for Africa. “Clinton offered $300 million, parking-meter money, even though he knew it was a tremendous challenge.”
Even liberals have credited Mr. Bush with doing more than his predecessor to help Africa. In May, Live Aid founder Bob Geldof said Mr. Bush is far more committed than Mr. Clinton to fighting AIDS and famine on the continent.
oh and on Sunday? (see below) thanks John
Media Bias 21 Jan 2007 10:06 am
Jamil Hussein Revisited
As promised, Michelle Malkin went to Iraq this month and one mission was to understand the events of the AP report on 6 people burned alive / 4 mosques burned story that has received so much attention since it was dramatically reported around Thanksgiving 2006. If you read that story, understand too – there is no morgue at the hospital described in this AP release.
Find Michelle’s report of her Hussein investigation here.
I have posted and linked as much as I think anyone can stand to read on this mess in the Free Jamil Hussein! [note 1/29 this page has been renamed Jamil Hussein Updated] and Media Bias 1 pages to the right of this post.
It should not go unnoticed that neither the NYTimes or the Washington Post could ever independently verify this story, which significantly damages the AP’s credibility for people who want the TRUTH reported out of IRAQ.
It is difficult NOT to see much of the news reported out of IRAQ has another purpose other than fair and accurate reporting.
The rest of this post is from Michelle Malkin’s blog; a very brief summary of Michelle’s findings during her trip to Iraq last week, with a little background…
Bloggers led by Curt of Flopping Aces (floppingaces.net) raised questions about the veracity and existence of Hussein and the information he supplied to the AP. U.S. military officials and the Iraqi government initially disputed that Hussein was employed as a legitimate police officer.
After several weeks of stonewalling by its news executives, the AP published a report quoting an Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman who reversed course and verified Hussein’s existence and employment.
… Bryan Preston and I visited the area during our Iraq trip last week. The “destroyed” mosques all still stand. … summary reports and photos …. filed at the time by Iraqi and U.S. Army troops on the scene… contain no corroborating evidence of Hussein’s claim that “Shiite militiamen grabbed six Sunnis as they left Friday worship services, doused them with kerosene and burned them alive near Iraqi soldiers who did not intervene.”
Contrary to Hussein and the AP’s account, military reports note that Iraqi Army battalion members were on the scene – pursuing attackers, securing the area, calling the fire department, providing support and an outer cordon.
Neither The New York Times nor The Washington Post was able to confirm AP’s story.
Football 20 Jan 2007 08:45 am
Da Bears !!!
Bear Down, Chicago Bears!
01/21 3,4 inches of new snow on the ground when I got up this AM sounds like it’s snowing in Chicago too, but not too cold. Go Bears!
Bears WIN!!!
new Super Bowl post coming up!
01/20 29 hours to game time! Mr. Barrack Obama has created a win-win for me. The Illinois Senator has publically called this game over, the game is unwinnable by New Orleans. Interesting bravado by a fan of a team with a 3 point spread and a penchant for turnovers. So, if the Bears lose, one of my least favorite politicians has some ’splainin’ to do, as Ricky told Lucy over and over again…
In any case – GO BEARS! They do look like they’re matched evenly – inexperienced big game QB’s – good skill players, solid defenses – Bears are at home – let’s hope that makes the difference and Rex has a turnover free game.
01/14 It’s 8am and I’m ready for some FOOTBALL! here’s hoping two weeks off helps the Bears offense and heals some defensive woes. If we can’t beat Seattle we don’t deserve to host the Saints for the National Conference Championship next week. more later in the day.
At Halftime - the Bears should have a 14 point lead or more but it’s only 7. Probably just as well, don’t want to be over confident going into the second half – we’re playing one of the best coaches and QB’s in the league. Bears wide receivers are making great receptions, if that keeps up we’ll be ok.
Holy CRAP! The Bears come through in overtime with a 49 yard field goal. The story of the game has to be 3,4 crutial, contested catches by the Bears wide receivers, and a great kicker.
How long can we keep pulling these games out??#!? Now, over to the Bears PostGame with Richard Dent and Dan Jiggetts. Go BEARS! Beat the Saints!
12/31 New Years Eve game – holy cow - we have no confidence going into the Payoffs. Only thing we have going for us is the two week layoff. Work to do guys. No offense, even worse, the offense is SO bad it’s giving up 10-20 points a game – too much stress on a good defense.
12/24 Christmas Eve and the Bears. Another squeaker against a 2 win team. Griese looked good in the 4th. History does not treat 1st year QBs well in the Playoffs (which is basically what Rex Grossman is). Lovey has some decisions to make.
12/17 well, kinda - It seems like it all depends on Rex – but not this week. a squeaker today against a marginal team. 34-31, but a win is a win – home field until the super bowl or a loss in the post season. can’t beat that.
Personal Favorites 19 Jan 2007 11:58 pm
Local News & Events
Visit the Muscatine Arts Center for these new displays (Jan 14-April 1)
Interesting “digs” in Muscatine
New Muscatine Art Center Exhibits
IOWA Politics 13 Jan 2007 05:56 pm
Tommy Thompson visits Iowa
Tommy Thompson made a quick visit to Muscatine today to talk to a small group of interested citizens.
Looking for a candidate to support, it appears to me he stands equally with Romney as a favorite of mine for the 2008 run for President of the United States. [POTUS] I could support this man. 
You can read more here about his exploratory efforts for POTUS. Tommy Thompson is a good man, has a lot of the right experience running government and has a good track record.
Some of the things he talked about today:
He thinks he’s got a great shot of carrying critical Midwestern states – Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan – key to a republican victory and something not many candidates can say (he was a four term governor in a typically democratic state). He’s got a farming background, and a supporter of Ethanol.
He cited success in Wisconsin with movement on welfare reform by inviting welfare mothers into the governor’s mansion for dinner to discuss their general situation and what would most effectively remove them from welfare roles.
He’s very much in favor of POTUS line item veto power to control spending.
When asked about immigration, he said, “People in this country must comply with the law”. However, when asked about the current 12 million illegal immigrants in the US today, he said he would not have a problem with new laws that allowed those in the country illegally to gain citizenship over time.
The Global War on Terror – this is the issue that most concerns me; and unfortunately Thompson did not articulate a strong position. I would like to see someone with more international experience and savvy.
I was also looking for strong support of our current POTUS, but Thompson thinks we went into IRAQ with too few troops and he left me with the impression he was not in favor of the surge. I am tired of people (especially republicans) not supporting the POTUS – not that a conversation in Jerry’s kitchen is a national stage.
I totally support the POTUS when he said yesterday [January 12] “Those who refuse to give this plan a chance to work, have an obligation to offer an alternative that has a better chance of success.”
He is concerned about the current state of the military and also believes that a draft would be extremely counter productive to this modern volunteer force. Thompson spoke of increasing the number of active duty citizens so the national guard members are not extended as much as they currently are, and the money it would take to “refresh” supplies of tanks and other material.
Thompson is suggesting winning the hearts and minds of the women and children of the Middle East through massive medical support and training. During his time in Muscatine, he discussed something he supported in 4 trips to Afghanistan when Thompson served in W’s first term Cabinet as HHS Secretary.
Tommy Thompson does understand what will work in the long run to dismantle the Global War on Terror. Thompson calls it “Medical Diplomacy”. I’m just not sure we have time for this “multi-generation” long term approach without some long term ugliness. Read more here about one medical mission in Afghanistan in 2002.
Stay tuned in IOWA.
National / World Politics 12 Jan 2007 01:30 am
In the News
January 12 – update – go to the Jimmy Carter “Tribute” Page (right column) for new responses to his book just out – what an awful man.
Saddam’s Law from Best of the Web Today –
January 2, 2007 By JAMES TARANTO
Saddam’s ‘Law’
Here’s a curious passage from the main New York Times story on Saddam’s hanging:
Finally, he was ousted by an American-led invasion force in 2003 and the country fell into a new round of internal violence as the rule of law disintegrated and the Western invaders proved unable to control a country in the aftermath of totalitarian rule. Presumably the Times didn’t actually mean to equate “the rule of law” with “totalitarian rule,” but it’s an interesting case of sloppiness. Along similar lines is this from the Associated Press:
Hours after Saddam faced the same fate he was accused of inflicting on countless thousands during a quarter-century of ruthless power, Iraqi state television showed grainy video of what it said was his body, the head uncovered and the neck twisted at a sharp angle. That “accused” seems out of place, but more important, did Saddam really face “the same fate” as his victims? Surely there is a difference between a lawful execution of a duly convicted murderer and the murder of innocents by a dictatorial state.
Come to think of it, it’s the difference between the rule of law and totalitarian rule.
Eason Jordan’s blog “The Iraq Slogger” an AP Scandal in the making
Eason Jordan was a CNN Executive who stated multiple times in 2005 that he believed Journalists have been targeted by the US military in Iraq. So tainted by that statement – Jordan resigned, only to appear as a blogger in DEC 2006 (see link above). He’s invited Michelle Malkin to go to Iraq with him to search for the Mr. Jamil Hussein.
[1/13 update - Michelle Malkin is in Iraq, but declined Eason Jordan's offer to finance her trip.]
Bloggers, researching AP’s war reporting, note that there have been over 60 negative stories over two years citing deaths, bombings and other bad things in Iraq reported variously by a Minister of Information Officer or a Police Officer named Jamil Hussein, that once confronted, no one seems to be able to find! Read more about Jamil here and more about Mr. Jordan’s controversy here.
[January 5 update Captain Jamil Hussein has been found, now let's talk to him and see where he got the stories that no one else says happened... this is getting very interesting.]
Powerlineblog – note re: Richard Clarke sour grapes?
Romney to announce candidacy on Jan 8?
Mitt Romney discusses some issues in recent interviews he’s had with National Review Online, Human Events Online (audio available here–he always sounds good), and on the Hugh Hewitt Show (click on the links for the interviews):
Also, the Financial Times has a nice article reviewing Romney’s past successes as well.
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The Hundred Year War for Survival pf the United States as we know it.
Pentagon briefings reveal Al Qaida’s 20-year plan, inevitability of ‘Long War’
The Pentagon’s Joint Staff is very secretive but it is coming out of the shadows to better promote the idea that the global war on terrorism will be a “Long War” of perhaps 100 years’ duration. A Joint Staff briefing, entitled the “Long War,” is given five or six times a week within the Pentagon to various public audiences and as many as 60 times around the country.
The goal is to help the American people and leaders better understand the nature of the conflict, the enemy and its actions and the U.S. strategy and tactics for defeating them. “It is not just about Iraq or Afghanistan. It involves the whole world and it involves the whole government,” said Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark Schissler, deputy director of the war on terrorism within the Joint Staff J-5 strategy office.
According to the briefing, Al Qaida remains the main threat but it is also changing. The terrorist group is succeeding in making more connections around the globe, especially in Muslim-dominated regions where Islamists seek to re-establish a caliphate. These include North Africa, Southern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central and Southeast Asia. further text requires subscription here
