From the fans of terrorism everywhere, Reuters:

Baghdad bomb brings joyous Iraqis down to earth

By Paul Tait

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A car bomb killed six people in a mainly Shi’ite area of central Baghdad on Monday, ending a brief lull in sectarian violence, while jubilant Iraqis reveled in their soccer team’s Asian Cup triumph.

Police said 31 people were wounded in the explosion near wholesale and electrical shops in Bab al-Shorji district, the capital’s first big blast since Iraq’s Asian Cup win sparked the biggest street celebrations since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

A vehicle curfew, imposed on Sunday in a bid to avert a repeat of suicide bombings that killed 50 people after Iraq’s semi-final win on Wednesday, ended at 6 a.m. (0200 GMT).

The bombing delivered a sharp reminder of the nation’s difficulties, even though some Iraqis had spoken of the soccer victory bringing splintered Shi’ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities together after four years of unrelenting violence…

Iraq’s fractured parliament, struggling to meet political benchmarks set by an impatient Washington, joined the mood of national euphoria after Iraq’s 1-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia in Jakarta on Sunday.

Parliament discussed granting every player 400 sq meters of land in Baghdad, although a final decision was delayed until September. Each player in the team is already set to receive $10,000 from the government.

Despite the soccer celebrations, many suspected it was only a matter of time before bombers returned to the streets.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis have died in a relentless cycle of violence between majority Shi’ites and minority Sunni Arabs since Saddam’s fall in 2003…

A total of 3,651 U.S. soldiers have been killed since the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam…

Notice how Reuters put it: “Bomb joyous Iraqis down to earth.”

They can’t stand the thought of the Iraqis thinking of themselves in any other way but as victims.

And of course like the rest of our media, they are routing for the other team — the terrorists.

Meanwhile:

Parliament discussed granting every player 400 sq meters of land in Baghdad, although a final decision was delayed until September. Each player in the team is already set to receive $10,000 from the government.

Priorities, eh? Still, they haven’t gone on vacation yet.

Can anyone recall a Reuters (or any mainstream media article) that does not mention the current US death toll in Iraq?

A total of 3,651 U.S. soldiers have been killed since the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam.

Did they keep track like this during WWII? And will they keep track of how many are killed if we pull out too soon?

(Rhetorical questions.)

From the UK’s Telegraph:

BA ejects sheikh after row over seats

By Malcolm Moore in Rome

28/07/2007

The sheikh failed to convince other passengers in the Club Europe compartment to change their seats

A member of Qatar’s royal family was thrown off a British Airways flight after delaying take-off for several hours by insisting that strangers should not sit next to women in his party.

Sheikh Bader Bin Kalifa al-Thani, a junior noble in Qatar’s 3,000-strong ruling clan, was travelling from Milan to London on Thursday afternoon on flight BA563.

The sheikh was accompanied by another male family member, three women, a cook and a butler. There was no first-class compartment on the flight.

When the sheikh failed to convince other passengers in the Club Europe compartment to change their seats, he got up and walked to the pilot’s cabin to complain.

A three-hour delay followed, as the Qatari group refused to sit down, or to listen to entreaties from a representative of the Qatari embassy in Italy, who was sent to mediate.

Eventually the pilot called a security team to eject the group, which later flew to London with Alitalia. The Corriere della Sera newspaper said the women sat around the sheikh on the later flight.

The delay caused 50 of the 117 passengers on board to miss their connecting flight in London.

A spokesman for British Airways confirmed that a “group” had been ejected from the flight. “Two passengers stood up while the aircraft was preparing to take off and refused to sit back down.

“All passengers have to have their seatbelts on during take-off. The pilot was forced to return to the terminal…

Ah, the injustices these people are forced to face.

No doubt the ACLU and CAIR will soon be all over this latest outrage against the dignity of Islam.

From those fans of blood sports at the Associated Press:

Iraqi authorities impose vehicle bans

By BUSHRA JUHI, Associated Press Writer

Iraqi authorities announced a ban on vehicles and celebratory gunfire around Baghdad in an effort to prevent a repeat of violence that killed dozens celebrating Iraq’s progress to Sunday’s finals of Asia’s top soccer tournament.

Government offices also told employees to go home early as the nation braced for anticipated massive street parties in the event of an Iraqi win against Saudi Arabia. A victory was expected to send thousands of people into the streets to celebrate — as they did after earlier games in the runup to the finals.

The office of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in a statement that it had planned to send a Cabinet delegation to the game, but that it was not possible to organize a charter flight due to technical issues related to “the flight’s path and overflight permissions by countries through which the plane would have to cross en route to Jakarta.”

The statement did not single out any countries or give more details.

The jubilation over the ascension of the team known as the “Lions of the Two Rivers” to Sunday’s final in Jakarta, Indonesia, in the quarterfinals and semifinals gave Iraqis a rare respite from the daily violence. The victorious run sent men of all ages cheering and dancing in the streets in what politicians said was a show of unity that proved Iraqi factions could come together.

But extremists seemed just as determined to destroy national pride and unity. Two car bombs tore through crowds of revelers in two Baghdad neighborhoods, killing 50 people after Wednesday’s semifinal against South Korea.

Undeterred by the violence, optimistic Iraqi soccer fans prepared to celebrate if their national team beats Saudi Arabia and takes the Asian Cup for the first time. But many said they would be more cautious after this match…

Authorities also warned that anybody firing weapons in the air illegally would be arrested, after celebratory gunfire killed at least seven people in the aftermath of previous victories…

“Security forces are allowed to participate in the celebrations but without shooting into the air, otherwise they will face judicial measures,” he told The Associated Press in a separate interview…

Gee, things are almost as bad in Iraq as they are in Detroit or Houston.

Still, this sentence jumps out:

The jubilation over the ascension of the team known as the “Lions of the Two Rivers” to Sunday’s final in Jakarta, Indonesia, in the quarterfinals and semifinals gave Iraqis a rare respite from the daily violence.

The problem is they don’t really seem to want a respite.

From their comrades in arms at Reuters:

Taliban set new hostage deadline

KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban leaders set 0730 GMT (3:30 a.m. EST) on Monday as the last deadline for the Korean hostages, a rebel spokesman said on Sunday, and said the group will start killing the captives if Taliban prisoners were not freed by then.

“Since the talks between us, the Kabul administration and Korean government have reached deadlock and they are not honest … so, we will start killing the hostages if they do not start releasing our prisoners by tomorrow at 12 o’clock,” Qari Mohammad Yousuf said.

Gee, this is almost a pattern with these terrorist thugs.

And yet Mr. Karzai claims their actions are un-Islamic. Which is hard to believe, since kidnapping and killing infidels is spelled out in the Koran.

Still, it gives our watchdog media an opportunity to show endless pictures of crying relatives:

The South Koreans must pull out of Afghanistan. Indeed, all of the foreign forces must withdraw.

These people are suffering.

From an elated Reuters:

Japan PM’s bloc suffers crushing defeat at polls

By Linda Sieg

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s conservative ruling camp suffered a devastating defeat in upper house elections on Sunday, a result that could well force him from office and paralyze policy-making.

Voters hammered Abe’s coalition after a string of government scandals and gaffes and the bungling of pension records but he had decided to stay in his post, Japanese media reported.

“I would like to steadily proceed with education reform and revising the constitution,” public broadcaster NHK quoted him as saying.

Abe’s coalition had lost its majority in the upper house, NHK said, in its first nationwide electoral test since he took office 10 months ago pledging to boost Japan’s security profile and rewrite its pacifist constitution.

“If the outcome is in line with projections, it was a complete defeat,” Hidenao Nakagawa, the LDP’s secretary-general, told reporters. But he added that he wanted Abe to stay.

NHK said its exit polls showed that the LDP and its partner, New Komeito, winning between 39 and 55 seats — far short of the 64 needed to keep their majority in the upper house, where half of the 242 seats were up for grabs.

Abe’s coalition will not be ousted from government by a loss in the upper house, since it has a huge majority in the more powerful lower chamber, which elects the premier [sic].

But, with the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan on track to become the biggest party in the chamber, laws will be hard to enact, threatening policy deadlock.

Critics say Abe, whose top priorities are revising the constitution and reforming education to nurture patriotism, was out of touch with voters…

One supposes this is news, even though the author is forced to admit that in fact it will not force Mr. Abe from office.

The upper house, Japan’s Senate, is almost completely ceremonial. (And he’s not a “premier,” but a prime minister.)

And yet Abe’s election wasn’t considered news by most of our one party media. And when they did bother to report it, his conservatism was played down.

Weird, huh?

From those lovers of good deeds at Al Jazeera:

Libya angered by medics pardon

Libyan officials have again criticised Bulgaria’s decision to pardon six health workers, sentenced to life jail terms, after they were returned to Bulgaria.

Officials discussed cutting off relations with Bulgaria on Saturday, in response to a request from a representative of the families of the infected Libyan children.

Idris Agah, a representative for the Libyan children, told reporters: “The presidential pardon was a shock to the families of the children. That’s why we issued a formal statement and we asked Interpol to bring back the nurses and serve their sentences in Libya.”

“We have requested Libya cut all relations with Bulgaria immediately and to stop dealing with the Bulgarian companies that are working in Libya and deport all the Bulgarian workers in Libya,” he said.

Libya Today, an online Arabic newspaper, said on Friday that Libya had asked the Arab League to “cut all diplomatic relations with Bulgaria” over the incident.

Abdel-Rahman Shalqam, the Libyan foreign minister, confirmed the report, saying: “We have sent a memo to the Arab League to review its position toward Bulgaria.”

Amr el-Kahky, reporting for Al Jazeera from Libya, said: “The Libyan public are feeling very strongly towards the pardon issued by the Bulgarian president.”

“The feelings of the families is that they were let down and betrayed,” he said.

The move angered Tripoli, which summoned a Bulgarian diplomat in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, on Wednesday in protest, saying it was not in compliance with an extradition treaty between the two countries.

Sofia brushed aside the protests the following day, saying there was “absolutely no obstacle whatsoever to the pardoning of the Bulgarian medics”.

Libyan authorities allowed them to return on Tuesday to Bulgaria, where they were due to serve life prison terms but they were immediately pardoned by Georgy Parvanov, the Bulgarian president.

The medics were detained in Libya in 1999, charged with deliberately infecting 438 children at a hospital in Benghazi, where they worked, with the HIV virus, which causes Aids.

Fifty-six of the children later died.

The five nurses and one doctor were sentenced to death in 2004 on the basis of confessions by the doctor and two of the nurses who later retracted their statements, saying they had been extracted under torture.

The death sentences against the six were commuted to life in prison before the medics were extradited to Bulgaria on Tuesday.

As part of a deal to return the medics to Bulgaria, the EU normalised its relations with Libya and pledged partnerships in the fields of health, education, border control and the upkeep of the country’s many archaeological sites.

This was in addition to a separate compensation deal that gave the families of each of the children infected with the HIV virus about one million dollars.

The Czech Republic, the Gulf state of Qatar and Bulgaria all contributed to the fund, Libya said on Saturday.

“I thank Qatar for its role in the nurses’ case. European countries including Bulgaria and the Czech Republic contributed to the fund for the infected children,” Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi, the Libyan prime minister, told reporters.

“France pledged to equip Benghazi hospital and provide trained personnel for five years. It also agreed to train some 50 Libyan doctors.” …

Mind you, these Bulgarian doctors and nurses have been imprisoned and tortured since 1999. But that wasn’t enough punishment for going to the hellhole known as Libya as medical volunteers.

These devout Muslims wanted them dead.

And now they are “outraged” that they haven’t been given life sentences. And for what?

Spreading HIV accidentally, just as was done in other poor Eastern European (and Cuban) hospitals at the time.

But Middle Easterners seem to be nothing if not miserable ingrates.

From those worthies at Islam Question and Answer:

If the time for wiping over the socks ends or he takes off his shoes, is his wudoo’ invalidated?

Question:

What shall I do when I remember during my prayer that the period of wiping on shoes has run out? Should I break my prayer?

If I wore socks under my shoes after ablution (wudu’), then took my shoes off while socks still on, does this invalidate my ablution?.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

If the time  for wiping over the khufoof has ended, and you have wudoo’, then your wudoo’ does not become invalidated, according to the correct view, which was favoured by a number of scholars, including Ibn Hazm and Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on them), because there is no evidence that it becomes invalidated. Wudoo’ is only invalidated by the well known causes such as passing wind.

Based on this, if the period (for wiping over the socks) ends whilst you are praying, then you should carry on with your prayer, and pray as much as you want so long as you do not break your wudoo’. 

Secondly: 

If a person takes off the khufoof or socks after wiping over them, his wudoo’ does not become invalidated according to the correct scholarly opinion. That is because when a man wipes over his khufoof, he has completed his purification according to the shar’i evidence, and when he takes them off, this purification remains in effect, based on shar’i evidence, and it cannot be rendered invalid except with shar’i evidence. There is no evidence that taking off khufoof or socks that have been wiped over invalidates wudoo’. Based on this, his wudoo’ remains in effect. This is the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah and a number of other scholars. See: Majmoo’ Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (21/179, 215) and Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (11/179). 

But taking off the khufoof brings the period for wiping over them to an end, i.e., he cannot put them on again and wipe over them, until after he does a complete wudoo’ in which he washes his feet. 

And Allaah knows best.

Has there ever been a more obsessive-compulsive “religion” in the history of the world?

Maybe if Muslims concentrated on actually doing useful things they might get somewhere in this world — and in the next.

From his undying fans at Reuters:

Iran’s Khamenei says U.S. and Israel are main foes

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday the United States and Israel were his country’s main enemies, just days after U.S.-Iranian talks about Iraq’s security.

Iran and the United States cut diplomatic ties shortly after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. They held talks in Baghdad on Tuesday to find ways to restore security in Iraq, after an earlier round in May.

“The Zionist regime (Israel) and the American government are the main enemies of Iran, and hatred for America is deepening every day around the globe,” Khamenei said in a televised speech.

Khamenei has the last say in all state matters, including resumption of ties with the United States and Iran’s disputed nuclear program…

And here is Iran’s official report on this same homily via IRNA:

Leader says people and officials’ resistance only way of achieving ideals

Tehran, July 28, IRNA

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called Imam Ali (PBUH) ‘a shining sun in the history of human beings who never sets and the great ocean of wonders and beauties’.

Addressing a group of people on the auspicious birth anniversary of Imam Ali (the first Imam of Shia Muslims), Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Justice seeking, piety, and resistance against the oppressors and bullying powers were the characteristics of Imam Ali’s way of life and the resistance of Iranian people and officials in their way is the only way of achieving the ideals and expectations of the great nation of Iran.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said the establishment of the Islamic Republic was a manifestation, although an incomplete one, of Imam Ali’s path adding, “The identity of the Islamic government is based on the objectives of Imam Ali which are justice seeking and combatting oppression, bullying and discrimination.”

“This is the reason why the world oppressors, who tyrannize the human beings with their deceiving propagation in the name of democracy, freedom and human rights, are against the Islamic Republic,” the Ayatollah said.

He added the resistance of the Islamic Republic against the ‘Zionist network of the world bullies’ was a manifestation of Imam Ali’s cause and urged the whole nation to continue their way to achieve the great national ideals of the Islamic Republic.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic revolution called the Zionist regime and the US government as the ‘main enemies of Iranian nation’.

Referring to growing hatred of the world nations towards the US regime, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “In spite of the fruitless efforts of the enemies of the Islamic Republic, Iran is beloved among the Muslim nations and the Islamic Iran will strongly continue its way with the mottos of justice and people loving.”

“People loving”?

Maybe Mr. Khameni should stick to subjects he knows first hand. Like masturbation.

Still, there is no denying the truth of what he says about the US and Israel being his enemies.

Of course all of that will be in the past once we sit down and have a nice chat with them. At least according to B. Hussein Obama.

Never mind that we are already doing that.

From AHN:

Most Republican Candidates Won’t Participate In YouTube Debate

July 27, 2007

Christopher Rizo – AHN Staff Writer

Washington, D.C. (AHN)-The Republican version of the You Tube debate that the Democratic presidential hopefuls engaged in last week, answering video uploaded questions, could be a flop.

The only candidate to commit to the two-hour event co-sponsored by CNN and the Republican Party of Florida is U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX).

The GOP front-runner, Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, says a scheduling conflict will prevent him from participating, Time magazine reports.

Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been poking fun at the questions asked of the Democratic candidates.

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has said he would be in the debate but now appears to be considering withdrawing, Time said.

And, yet-to-announce candidate, former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN) may still be not be officially in the race by the Sept. 17 debate.

Republican campaign consultants say the candidates cannot help be nervous about the unpredictability of the questions.

Patrick Ruffini, a GOP political strategist, was quoted by Time as writing on his online blog, “It’s stuff like this that will set the G.O.P. back an election cycle or more on the Internet.”

Well, that settles it. Ron Paul is a kook. (Not that there was ever any real doubt.)

Republican campaign consultants say the candidates cannot help be nervous about the unpredictability of the questions.

With good reason. Not only will they not be given the questions in advance, like the Dems were. You know the kooks would be out for them, including CNN.

Patrick Ruffini, a GOP political strategist, was quoted by Time as writing on his online blog, “It’s stuff like this that will set the G.O.P. back an election cycle or more on the Internet.”

Mr. Ruffini is a buffoon.

Which apparently is a requirement for Republican strategists.

Surely this is some cruel jest aimed at “lookism” from The Hill:

50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill – Top 10

July 24, 2007

We welcome you to the fourth anniversary issue of the 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill.

With more beautiful people nominees than ever before, making choices was a wrenching and angst-filled process. Thanks to all that participated and we are happy to introduce The Hill’s Top 10 beautiful people on Capitol Hill…

4. It girl strikes a pose 

Name: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.)
Age: 67
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Political Party: Democrat
Dating Status: Married to Paul Pelosi

It is rather uncomfortable calling the 67-year-old House Speaker HouseNancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), mother of five and grandmother of six, “hot.”

So we let others decide.

There is a Facebook.com group called “I can’t say why, but I kinda think Nancy Pelosi is cute.” There’s another group there, too, but its name is too crass to print.

Moreover, Pelosi has become a fashion icon in colorful Armani skirt-suits.

Robin Givhan, the Washington Post fashion critic, earlier this year wrote, “She looks polished and tasteful … dignified and serious [and] she also happens to look quite good.” A copy of a Chinese Sea Pearl ring that Pelosi has been wearing sells on eBay. Opening bid: 88 cents.

No question that wealth, posh homes and a loving family have helped smooth the rough edges of life.

Nevertheless, it is puzzling just how the first female Speaker of the House stays so fit. She is always working and traveling, rarely exercises and reportedly noshes on Ghirardelli mint chocolates.

Maybe Pelosi was right when she told The New York Times, “Ice cream for breakfast is a good thing.”

- By Jonathan E. Kaplan

Sure we know the old adage about politics being show business for ugly people.

But really. The “It Girl”?

She’s no Clara Bow. (Though one supposes Nancy may have known her.)

Still, if Pulitzer Prize winner Robin Given says so, it must be true.

However I’ve always been told beauty is what beauty does.

(Thanks to Zilla for the heads up. – I think.)

From the "Newspaper Of Record," the New York Times:

EDITORIAL; Seeking the Truth About Pat Tillman

Representative Henry A. Waxman should continue his quest to get to the bottom of the convoluted and troubling case of Cpl. Pat Tillman’s death.

July 27, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Fixing the Scam on Collect Calls

No families should have to choose between putting food on the table or accepting a collect call from a loved one behind bars.

July 27, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; The Wounds Outlast the War

A public increasingly jaded about the damages from the Iraq war should demand the commander in chief face up to the sufferings of his returning troops.

July 26, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Defying the Imperial Presidency

Congress must not capitulate in the White House’s attempt to rob it of its constitutional powers.

July 26, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; No Exit Strategy

With a veto-proof majority, Congress will have to tell President Bush that prolonging the Iraq war for another two years will not bring victory.

July 25, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL OBSERVER; YouDebate: If Only the Candidates Were as Interesting as the Questioners

By ADAM COHEN

In a modest but real way, the YouTube Democratic presidential debate on Monday night managed to inject real people into arid public policy debates.

July 25, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Taxes in the Global Economy

Where is the politician who will take an over-my-dead-body approach to future tax holidays and who will broach the need for new corporate taxes?

July 25, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Democracy Affirmed

The impressive re-election victory scored by Turkey’s conservative Muslim ruling party is a tribute to the growing maturity of that country’s politics and an inspiration for the cause of democracy in the broader Muslim world.

July 24, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL OBSERVER; Just What the Founders Feared: An Imperial President Goes to War

By ADAM COHEN

Given how intent President Bush is on expanding his authority, it is startling to recall how the Constitution’s framers viewed presidential power.

July 23, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; How the Energy Dice Were Loaded

There is a new reminder of how the Bush administration has squandered six years that should have been devoted to finding innovative answers to the big questions of oil dependency and global warming.

July 23, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; What Would a Diplomat Do?

There is still a perplexing refusal by the Bush administration to do tedious but absolutely essential diplomatic prep work.

July 23, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Power Without Limits

The Bush administration, which has been pushing presidential power to new extremes, is reportedly developing an even more dangerous new theory of executive privilege.

July 22, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Vetoing Children’s Health

President Bush’s shortsighted ideological opposition to a highly successful children’s health program would leave millions of children without health insurance at a time when medical costs are soaring.

July 22, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; FEMA Runs for Cover

How many times can the federal government let down the victims of the hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast two years ago?

July 22, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; The Iraq War Debate: The Great Denier

Americans want President Bush to explain how he will extract the troops and contain the bloodletting and chaos the war has unleashed.

July 21, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; The Iraq War Debate: A Reality Check on Military Spending

Defending Americans from today’s terrorists and other threats will require larger investments in diplomacy, peacemaking and eliminating dangerous nuclear materials.

July 21, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Long-Delayed Security

As new warnings stoke the public’s fear of terrorist attacks, Congress is finally moving on some of the most important recommendations of the independent 9/11 commission.

July 21, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; The House’s Duty on Energy

Without a fuel-efficiency provision, the House version of a generally constructive energy bill will fall short of what it could do to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.

July 20, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Fighting AIDS Behind Bars

Public health officials now recognize that condom-distribution programs are integral to any meaningful AIDS prevention program.

July 18, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL OBSERVER; Trying Times Ahead: The Prospect of 60 Million Californians

By VERLYN KLINKENBORG

There’s a chance that a mid-21st-century Californian will look back in horror at the enormous consumption footprint of someone living in the state right now.

July 18, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; The Politics of Fear

By now, Congress surely can see through the president’s fear-mongering and show him the exit from Iraq that he refuses to find for himself.

July 18, 2007 Opinion Editorial

EDITORIAL; Where to Discuss the Nation’s Ills

For next year’s final presidential debates, New Orleans should emerge hands down as the site for the debate that will be dedicated to the nation’s domestic problems.

July 18, 2007 Opinion Editorial

The New York Times is nothing if not relentless.

Mind you, these are just the bouquets to America from their editorial pages.

Their "news" articles are even more biased – and ruthlessly destructive.

From the propagandists for terrorism at Reuters:

Dozens of Afghan civilians die in air raids: residents

Fri Jul 27, 2007

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Dozens of civilians, including women and children, have been killed in two foreign air strikes in southern Afghanistan, residents and a local member of parliament said on Friday.

One of the raids by NATO hit houses in the Girishk district of Helmand province on Thursday evening, killing up to 50 civilians, a group of some 20 residents reported to journalists in Kandahar, the main city in the south.

Wali Jan Sabri, a parliamentarian from Helmand, said he had credible information that between 50 to 60 civilians had been killed in a battle between the Taliban and NATO forces in Girishk.

He said most of the victims were killed in air strikes.

“Yes, there was a battle … and most of those killed were from NATO bombardment,” he told Reuters.

The district chief of Girishk, Manaf Khan, said more than 20 civilians were killed in NATO bombing when they were trying to flee the battle.

“The fighting was fierce between Taliban and NATO,” he told Reuters. “Civilians began to flee and 27 or 28 of them were killed while fleeing NATO bombing. I do not have information about the wounded,” he said.

He later phoned Reuters to say said that 50 Taliban were also killed in the bombing and battle. The Taliban could not be reached for comment.

A spokesman for British forces in Helmand said there was an ongoing operation in the province, but denied there had been any civilian casualties around Girishk.

“We have no reports of any such incidents in Girishk yesterday at all. There have been no people taken to the hospital … in relation to anything around Girishk,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Charlie Mayo.

“Because the Taliban don’t wear uniforms like us, as soon as they are killed, they are called civilians, the key is are they male or female and if they are male, what age are they?”

Due to the remoteness of the region it was not immediately possible to verify the information…

Reuters (and the rest of our terrorist enabling media) simply will not let go of this blatant propaganda.

And in their all too typical fashion Reuters a) repeats a day old story as if it is news b) takes the word of anyone against the US/UK  and c) buries the denials — from actually named sources.

Though Reuters did inadvertently allow a little common sense to slip out:

“Because the Taliban don’t wear uniforms like us, as soon as they are killed, they are called civilians, the key is are they male or female and if they are male, what age are they?”

But never mind such pesky details.

Our media have to find any way they can to keep carrying the terrorists’ water.

It’s their job.