Thursday, August 24, 2006

Gail Shister | Ex-anchor will not yet attend any 9/11 movies

Aaron has yet to compromise his principles. He constantly strives to find justice in his journalism and is chronically humble all along the way. I don't think of Aaron as insecure. I think of him as resolved but willing to look at whatever might be shortcomings to his ability to find the justice he wants most at the forefront of any news he tenders.

I think it wonderful he can have this time with his daughter. Time flies and to get to know your children and the accomplishments a parent has rendered in their success is the most gratifying experience one can invest in. He is fortunate at this time in Gabby's life he can realize the young woman she has become under his tutelage/mentoring as a father. I know all too well what it is to say good-bye to children that are now adults when they have achieved a standard of living that will sustain them. It's a pride and yet a realization that 'the future' no longer belongs to you but to the young people that once depended on the loving home you provided for them.


Though clips of his 9/11 coverage are seen and heard throughout World Trade Center, CNN exile Aaron Brown says he has no plans to see Oliver Stone's acclaimed film.

No surprise there. Brown hasn't seen United 93, either. And the tapes of his own anchor marathon from September '01 have never left their storage container in his home in the New York suburbs.

"It's too soon," says Brown, 57, pushed out of CNN in November. "I wish I had a smart answer. I just know for me, I'm not ready to watch it.

"It's not like I'm the only person affected by 9/11. I did it. I lived it. I told the story as well as I could. I live in New York. I can look out at the skyline and see it. People died there. All our lives changed."

Brown finds it "odd" that none of the major anchors who covered 9/11 - ABC's Peter Jennings, CBS's Dan Rather, NBC's Tom Brokaw, and Brown - are working today.

"I didn't expect not to be working," Brown says. "It's the way things turned out. Nothing about TV surprises me. Ever. I did it too long."

Brown isn't exactly itching to work. Why should he be? He's collecting an estimated $2 million salary for not working until his CNN contract expires June 30.

"I'm not interested in working 15-hour days, 48 weeks a year. I've done it. I don't quite get why I'd do it again. Every now and then, I think of what I'd like to do."

He'd like to do a "newsy" five-day-a-week interview show, taped over three or four days. As for where, "there are millions of outlets," he says. "Maybe a Bravo-like show."

Aside from suffering a herniated disc, Brown has been having a ball this summer. The best part, he says, has been hanging with Gabby, his only child.

"We do stuff. Sit around watching TV together, going to movies, sometimes just talking. She's a 17-year-old girl. It's not like she's waiting to see what my plan is for the night."
Brown sees his time with Gabby, a high school senior, as "a kind of bonus" and says he's developed a much better sense of her character.


"I watch how comfortable or uncomfortable she is with people she thinks lack character - people who have to do all their shopping at Saks, girls who can't just have cars, they have to be Beamers."

Brown and his wife, Charlotte, are building a house in North Scottsdale, Ariz., where they plan to live seven months a year after Gabby heads to college.

"I like the West. Neither one of us wanted to be in a place like Palm Springs, where there's nothing to do but count the days until you die."

After Jan. 1, he'll join Arizona State University as the John Rhodes chair of American Public Policy, doing a few major speeches and talking with students at the Cronkite School of Journalism.

Like Jennings, his former ABC colleague, Brown is acutely aware that he lacks a college degree. (Brown says he "stopped by" the University of Minnesota for about a year.)

"I'm sort of embarrassed that I don't have a degree. It's the only thing in my life I think I regret... . There's not a day that I don't think, 'I wish I knew that.' I'm not dead, either. I've got time to learn stuff."

Brown says he and Jennings used to discuss their mutual insecurity over their lack of formal educations.

"We talked about the fact that both of us were stupid and didn't know stuff, and how it impacted how we did our work. Peter was a voracious reader of serious stuff. I'm a less serious person.
"I've sort of blithely gone through my life. I'm constantly amazed at how it turned out... . I've lived most of my life fooling people. Is there any reason to stop now?"


With the fifth anniversary of 9/11 approaching, Brown says he wishes he had a TV platform to express his feelings.

Until his contract runs out, CNN must approve all his speeches, public appearances and job offers. He'll do a speech Sept. 8 in Washington before a pair of major think tanks.

"There are a lot of questions I'd like to ask," Brown says. "Have we honestly done the things we should have done in the post-9/11 era? The administration tried to sell 9/11 as a bumper sticker - 'They hate us for our freedom.'

"That's ridiculous. They hate us for very specific policies. Some should change, some shouldn't. We need to understand that, and we don't want to challenge ourselves to really understand anything."

The CNN Rant is Meaningless, It's obviously a journalist that sold out for his own goals. The immorality of that itself is such a violation of trust.

The West doesn't have anything to worry about. The Brits are making headway into this entire set of circumstances Bush keeps spinnig his wheels over.

'Substantial material' gathered in British terror investigation

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=e856a23f-a266-41c1-8b9a-fd6678346d2a&k=65483

LONDON -- British police probing an alleged terror plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners have gathered "substantial material" in their investigation, Home Secretary John Reid said Sunday.
"The police and the security authorities are content that their investigation is rewarding substantial material which would allow them to take forward the judicial process," Reid said in an interview with ABC-TV's This Week, refusing to reveal details of the evidence.
"The police and the authorities are convinced that there was an alleged plot here. They have intervened. And in the course of the next few days, we'll wait and see what happens in terms of charges."


The Brits have stated they have so much information that it takes the investigation globally. I don't doubt. I also anticipate many nations are involved and the implications of that is just too much for most of Arabia to allow. For that reason it is better countries beware of each other than trusting of each other, especially at port security, for the individual it is the airliners, trains and basically transportation infrastructure, public or private.

When the Brits finish they will have accomplished more than Bush was ever WILLING to accomplish. After all who wants to insult Arabia and risk the loss of oil? Right? Or is it the oil and it's vast income to nations unwilling to care about The West that is the real enemy?

The fallout of London. The fallout of Hezbollah. It's going to end. The fact of the matter is Arabia is on fire from internal conflict over the power of oppression. It will come to pass and Islam will be safe but the people will have a peaceful presence on Earth and not the false pretense of a justified jihad/fatwah.

The fact of the matter is, Hezbollah has pulled the plug on what is 'owed' them. It's getting sticky for the nations of Arabia.


Embattled Liberal critic resigns over Hezbollah statements

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=8b76dda1-4ef9-4438-8f68-a39c26b14525&k=20904

Meagan Fitzpatrick, CanWest News ServicePublished: Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Article tools

Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj has resigned as associate foreign affairs critic for his party after controversial comments he made about the conflict in the Middle East.
Wrzesnewskyj offered his resignation Tuesday night, he told CanWest News Service, and it was accepted by Liberal Leader Bill Graham.
Wrzesnewskyj, who will meet with reporters this afternoon, came under fire earlier this week for suggesting he favoured removing Hezbollah from Canada’s list of terrorist organizations. In some media reports, the MP was quoted as saying that Israel was responsible for "state terrorism" in the conflict with Lebanon. He later denied saying that Hezbollah should be taken off the list and released a statement saying he believes it is a terrorist organization and should remain on the list. What he meant, according to the MP, was that Canada needs to evaluate its anti-terror legislation so it can have dialogue with groups like Hezbollah in order to implement a peace process.
But even that suggestion raised the ire of both the government and some of Wrzesnewskyj’s own colleagues in the Liberal party.







It's upto the British to lead the way to global oppression of al Qaeda and the terrorist movement spawned by Hezbollah. They are the only ones who can. They have the determination without the corruption.

The Arab News


The Lessons Arabs Should Learn From the Lebanese DevelopmentsMuhammad Salahuddin, Arab News

There is nothing innovatory or new in the lessons that Israel has been continuously teaching the Arabs since the very establishment of the Zionist state in 1948. It is the same old story in relation to the latest barbarian and bloody reminders of those lessons. Arabs and Muslims globally have become used to the daily scenes of blood spilling in Palestine; the Israeli air, land and sea attacks; and the daily demolition of houses and live burying of innocent people under the debris. To be quite honest, the Arabs don’t really care much for what Israel has done and still continues to do. Perhaps the enemy wants to weaken the Arabs and it is with this aim that Israel initiated a bloody and savage attack on Lebanon and coordinated a massive plan of death and destruction to destroy the infrastructure of the country.


http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=86169&d=24&m=8&y=2006



Editorial: Nuclear Row24 August 2006

THE UN Security Council has directed that Iran suspend its nuclear enrichment program within the next seven days. It now looks almost certain that Teheran will do no such thing. On Monday, Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, stated that his country would not stop its development program. Yet 48 hours later, the country’s chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, offered “serious talks” with the five permanent council members — China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA — plus Germany. Larijani said that the six had been sent detailed proposals. Almost immediately, however, the French said that the document offered absolutely nothing to talk about.


http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=86171&d=24&m=8&y=2006&pix=opinion.jpg&category=Opinion



Called on to Walk the Walk, EU Prefers Chaise LoungesJonathan Freedland, The Guardian

Insults are not predictions: They’re not meant to come true. But the leading nations of Europe seem bent on proving that every word of abuse rained down on them from across the Atlantic over the past few years was justified. To call the French “cheese-eating surrender monkeys” once appeared no more than a neocon slander. The American insistence that Europe was a continent of limp-wristed wusses, who were fond of fancy oratory but ran from the first sign of trouble, could be written off as mere Texan bluster.


http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=86172&d=24&m=8&y=2006&pix=opinion.jpg&category=Opinion


ARABIA continues to report on 'the mistakes' of the British but not the conviction. They seem to think one by one it will be proven that the British are bigoted story tellers rather than a country with sincere problems.






Scotland Yard Releases One SuspectMushtak Parker, Arab News

LONDON, 24 August 2006 — Scotland Yard yesterday released without charge one of 11 suspects still in detention but not yet charged with any offense in connection with an alleged terror plot to blow up nine trans-Atlantic airliners out of major UK airports en route to US cities.
A total of 24 suspects were detained in early morning raids on Aug. 10, of whom one was released without charges after a few days. Police stressed that the alleged plotters intended to “commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale”.
At the time of writing, police were at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London asking a High Court judge for more time to question the remaining 10 suspects, who were participating in the proceedings via video link from the high security police cells at Paddington Green in Edgware Road. Police, according to local media reports, want to continue holding the 10 suspects for a longer period.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=86134&d=24&m=8&y=2006

Of course the Lebanese are facing all kinds of odds. That doesn't have to be the case, but, for Israel to assist Lebanon to clear the land of not only unexploded munitions but also Hezbollah's weapons is too much to allow. They complain about the lack of interest in nations to provide a peacekeeper force but won't admit that some of those that wanted to send sodliers also are Islamic and have made open Anti-semitic statements similar to that of Iran's president.





Lebanese Soldiers Die Clearing ShellsAgencies

BEIRUT, 24 August 2006 — Three Lebanese soldiers were killed yesterday while clearing unexploded Israeli shells in southern Lebanon, underscoring the dangers of a region awaiting the deployment of thousands of UN peacekeepers.
The three men were the first Lebanese troops to die since the army began moving south last Thursday to bolster a UN-backed truce that halted a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.
The Lebanese are due to send around 15,000 soldiers to the area to work alongside a similar number of UN troops.
Some 2,000 UN soldiers already serve in Lebanon with a force called UNIFIL but recruiting another 13,000 has proved difficult, with few nations ready to provide big contingents.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=86129&d=24&m=8&y=2006&pix=world.jpg&category=World

The Gulf News

Assad rejects UN Peacekeepers. WHO ASKED HIM?

Bashar rejects UN troops
AP
Dubai: Syria's President Bashar Al Assad was quoted on Wednesday as rejecting the deployment of UN troops along the Lebanon-Syria border, saying such a move would create animosity between the two countries.
"This is an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty and a hostile position," Assad told Dubai Television. The TV station's anchor quoted Bashar without showing video of the interview, which would air later last night.
Bashar also urged the Lebanese government to adhere to its responsibilities and not embark on anything that could sabotage relations with Syria.


http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Lebanon/10062372.html

All the anger over Hezbollah and all the hate against Israel over it, yet, be the 4 millionth visitor to "Wild Wadi" and win a trip to New York City. HUH?

http://www.wildwadi.com/

Osama should try to be the 4 millionth visitor. New York City would put out the red carpet for him. Arabia would do us the favor of picking him up.

Money going to the Lebanese or Hezbollah. Is there a difference in Southern Lebanon?


Indians urged to donate relief material and cash
Staff Report
Muscat: Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) is reaching out to the largest expatriate community in Oman Indians to generate relief material for the Lebanese.
The cash and relief material drive is picking up momentum in the country, with the OCO issuing appeals through advertisements in the local media.
The OCO has asked two of its Indian volunteers, S.N. Gopakumar and Ruchika R.S., who are also volunteers of the ad-hoc voluntary body Helpline, to spread the appeal among Indians for contributions.


http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Oman/10062374.html

The Jordan Times


Syria, Israel in showdown over UN force mandate

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria hotly opposed deployment of an international force along its border to prevent arms shipments to Hizbollah, and Israel on Wednesday called the situation in Lebanon “explosive”, as the ceasefire was shaken by artillery shells and explosions that killed three Lebanese soldiers and an Israeli.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora asked the US to help lift an Israeli blockade on his country's coast and airport — something Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said would not happen until UN troops deployed along the Lebanon-Syria border to block the flow of weapons.
Hizbollah's vast arsenal of rockets and other weapons, much of which is believed to originate in Iran, reaches the fighters across the Syrian border.


http://www.jordantimes.com/thu/news/news1.htm


This one is beautiful. Still another terrorist network wants sainthood rather than prison. The ONLY thing the Islamic Brotherhood did was to sympathize with Chechen rebels. That's all. No big deal, just some people dead.


House urges Russia to take Brotherhood off ‘terror’ list

AMMAN (Agencies) — The Lower House on Wednesday urged Russia to remove the Muslim Brotherhood from a list of 17 groups declared “terrorist organisations” by the country’s supreme court.
The House said in a statement the decision was “unjust and groundless”, stressing that the movement is “a respectful charity organisation that has nothing to do with any terrorist activities”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The group is “an integral part of the Jordanian national fabric and a key component of the state”, the statement said. “The Lower House call on Russia to reconsider its decision and bolster relations with the Arab and Muslim worlds.”
News reports said the Muslim Brotherhood’s sympathy with the Chechen fighters promoted the move. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in the late 1920s and has since become a worldwide Islamist movement boasting two million members and the support of three million more people around the globe,

http://www.jordantimes.com/thu/homenews/homenews2.htm

Putin knows, just as Blair does what the issues are within Arabia. The West, Russia and China have to keep the pressure on Arabia, without it they will never come to terms with it's own internal governmental turmoil over these violent regimes that inhabit their streets and dominate them through the threat of violence. It has to come to pass that Arabia is taking an inventory of it's own best interests and it is not handing over control to infiltrated terrorist netoworks like Hezbollah or the Islamic Jihad.

Starting to get the picture?

There is Arabia that exist and then there is Arabia of promise yet to exist. Whether you believe it or not, Israel has done a great thing by taking on Hezbollah and forcing these issues to the surface. They are saving the world from further knuckling under to terrorist warlords such as Osama bin Laden. Arabia needs help in straightening this out. It will come to pass, but, in the meantime, it gives Bush lots of political rhetoric for his politics that does nothing to assist peace so much as prolong the angry turmoil that is the Middle East.

enough