"Across the country and around the world, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360" !!
Why us !
Mount Hood - I don't believe we will see those men again. They should release the pictures. It might be too painful to the families but they probably have already seen them. It would give the public who waited and hoped for so long to come to terms with what they were facing and why their climb went so much better than their return. They made it to the top. That was no minor accomplishment. It's upsetting to realize the hardest part was yet to come.
"The MLU was born out of tragedy right here at Mount Hood."
There needs to be some kind of regulation. To realize the loss of human life and the cost that went out to try to rescue these men is to realize a better way. I don't believe Mt. Hood is a national or state park. Probably wrong about that, but, there is a website that is somewhat troubling given the events of the last week or so.
Virtual Mt. Hood Climb
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2483/virthood.htm
The pictures of the virtual climb are interesting BUT when one looks at the provisions that are stated are needed it gets a little upsetting.
Climb Smart!
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2483/smart.htm
1. Topographic Map
2. Compass, altimeter
3. Flashlight/Headlamp, spare bulb & batteries
4. Food
5. Insulating Clothing layers & wind proof shell
6. Space blanket or bivy sack
7. Sunglasses
8. First aid, sunblock, & medications
9. Pocket Knife
10. Matches/Lighter
11.Helmet
12.Ice Axe
13.Crampons/snowshoes/skis
14.Water
That is a very sparse list. There is no tent, sleeping bag, ground cover and list goes on from there. Water supply, duct tape, there is no mention of climbing gear itself, not even a rope, a back pack capable of carrying 60 pounds of gear in potential weather conditions like this and it makes no mention of an MLU. $5.00 to rent one and somehow it's not required to climb that mountain. If I were going up the mountain there would be no doubt in my mind about not only renting one but making sure it was in good working order and what it took to keep it working well the entire trip. No doubt that this would be a necessity.
It's nearly impossible to stop people from embarking on a dangerous hike/climb up a mountain if they are that intent on it, but, at the same time when folks come into a store for equipment there needs to be some kind of certification before they purchase materials such as these. Crampons and ice axes aren't just your usual walk in the woods. If one is to scuba dive there has to be classes and certifications in order to purchase or rent equipment to facilitate that, it needs to be the same here...
There is The American Safe Climbing Association
http://www.safeclimbing.org/
...and they are backed by high end product manufacturers like Black Diamond. It's the only way to fly. These guys know what they are doing, you know?
The Iraq War
We never belonged in that country and we don't belong there now. There is some reality today that all of a sudden the Sadr folks are more powerful than al Qaeda in Iraq. That is bulloney. There is nothing different today than a year ago. The Shi'ites have armed themselves because they became a majority with power. To them that was security against being killed. I don't blame them. At all. 50,000 people were killed in 2002 and the Saddam jerks cut off the water to them and their wetlands. That is being completely at the hands of lunatics and there were pictures of Rumsfeld shaking Saddam's hand while instilling him into power. Then the USA invades the country illegally. What did Bush think would happen? Then he attacks the Mosque No forethought, just knee jerk Texas '...smoke 'em out...' lunacy.
And not to leave out the Sunnis, the USA military simply leveled Fallujah with complete abandon. What the heck was that all about and it sure didn't seem to accomplish anything.
Gates needs to realize an exist strategy for the troops and hold to it. He better do a good job, too. No 'last soldier out' scenario either, that dies on the rooftoop !!!
Ben Wedeman
Pretty scary in Palestine, huh? The 'authorities' are stating there is a cease fire. Abbas claims this time it's for real. It sure doesn't look that way on the Palestinian street, does it? You know the Hamas leader got caught at the border with a few suitcases full of cash and all of a sudden Abbas states there is a ceasefire that will hold. Ya, right. You think maybe he's trying to convince The Arab League to turn over the cash, Ben?
Here ya go, straight from Dubai. Our friendly neighborhood American Ports management firm. Way to go, Jihad, huh, babe:
Jihad will 'liberate Palestine'
Dubai - Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri said in a video aired by Al-Jazeera television on Wednesday that only jihad can bring about the liberation of occupied Palestinian territory.
"Any road other than jihad will only lead to loss. Those trying to liberate the land of Islam through elections based on secular constitutions or on decisions to surrender Palestine to the Jews will not liberate a grain of sand of Palestine," said Osama bin Laden's right-hand man.
On the contrary, "their attempts will lead to choking jihad and besieging the mujahedeen", he said.
Muslims will not win the West's approval if they retreat, irrespective of their skills in manoeuvring and talking, Zawahiri said.
It was not immediately clear when the videotape was recorded, and its authenticity could not be independently confirmed.
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,9294,2-10-1462_2047199,00.html
Hey, ya know, when the going gets tough and it looks like The West might be right, call al Qaeda.
Fred Goldman
When it this ludicrous mess going to stop? When are women going to be safe in this country from violence and when will nice guys finish first? Ron was a nice guy.
It's Florida. What else is there to say? The illegal fortune of the Bush Family has to be safe somewhere. Maybe not that Jeb is out there might even be some reform to the laws that victimize families like the Goldmans.
Brook Anderson
Any relation to Pam, Andy?
You know what her new title is, don't you? Some circles are calling her "Mistress USA."
enough
