Pat Robertson wants a way to extend the culture of fear into September. I think the man is one of the most crude evangelicals on Earth. Doesn't care about preaching and ministering, but, just like Bush sensationalism is his forte'. Last time it was bench pressing 2000 pounds or some ridiculous notion.
The execution of Saddam Hussein
MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM CALDWELL, U.S. ARMY SPOKESMAN, COALITION FORCES IN IRAQ: And we had absolutely nothing to do with any of the procedures or any of the control mechanisms or anything from that point forward.
I think that is exactly the point. The people that should have mentored the executioners and the witnesses DIDN'T !!!
However, the government is saying that this guard that they have detained was actually already on site. He was already at the facility where Saddam was executed. And they're suggesting that he was somehow able to sneak into that facility, sneak into the execution chamber itself, with that cell phone and take that video, going undetected. I think it's fair to say, though, that that is something many Sunnis aren't going to buy.
The Sunnis aren't going to buy it? No kidding. They aren't alone. The videographer was aided by whomever was in the rooom to get all he could on digital. If he wasn't supposed to be in that room how did he manage to take a picture of Saddam after the death. I really think there was a consensus about the events. And maybe culturally some of the yelling can go on. It's not the USA and if Bush and the USA military are washing their hands of it, then no one has a right to criticize the actions of a different culture. Iraq is not Little America.
AL-RUBAIE: I believe the Western media has been played by the -- some of the Arab rulers, and that this incident has been blown out of proportion, to -- to be used against Iraq. And they capitalize this to make even further division between the Sunni and Shiite. And we should stop this immediately.
I believe we should concentrate on a new page. This is a closure. This is meant to be psychological healing and rehabilitation for our people, those -- for the victims, especially. And we -- we need to close this chapter and forget about it and forgive the -- the rest. And we need to go forward for -- to build and reconstruct our country together, the Shia and Sunni and Kurds.
Not bad. I am concerned about one very profound statement by one of the men, "...you have destroyed us." That came from his own experience. I am concerned that the hatred Saddam had of the Shi'ites, especially the party that now leads in Iraq, actually did a great deal of damage to them in a way they feel is irreparable harm.
That statement more than anything else that transpired bothers me. It is as if they have nothing to live for. As if their holy lineage was ravaged. When Cleric al Sadr makes it clear that he is in lineage to an Ayatollah, I sometimes wonder that it is more his desire to 're-establish' the hope of the Shi'ites than any other purpose. I am concerned for a people so brutally treated and a minority in Islam as a whole regardless the majority status in Iraq, that there is no bridging that gap.
One thing that justice, in this case an execution, can provide is a feeling of vindication. I am concerned no matter how much justice, as defined by The West, is done in Iraq, it will never be enough because in all efforts to reconstruct, there is actually never going to be enough reconstruction of their lineage for them to feel safe and whole. I hope I am wrong about all that but that statement, "...you have destroyed us..." is one I cannot reconcile.
The Girls Triumph over Trump
And Barbara Walters enters the fight between Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell. Now is it a three-way battle?
I am really happy about that. What an alliance. That is absolutely wonderful. Barbara is a journalist, she knows the value of 'the spoken/written word.' Congratulations to them both, it is going to be 'the good fight.' Hey, First Runner Up was cheated.
COOPER: And does it have real repercussions on the ground in Iraq? I mean, we have seen Sunnis demonstrating in Jordan and elsewhere. There are those who say, well, look, well, Sunnis have plenty other reasons to be angry, and -- and this just adds to it. But -- but does it go beyond that?
The repercussions are more extensive than the ground war. You are focusing on that to bolster the 'idea' that more troops are needed. The execution of Hussein at least according to Mubarak reaches beyond Iraq into the leadership of the nations of Arabia. Hussein's execution may actually quell the violence, at least that is the hope, but it may also build a ground swell of uprise against established leadership in the way Osama bin Laden wanted them diminished and removed from their capacities.
It's a worry.
The long range vigiliance will be required for at least two generations more to come to understand what the events of Saturday has actully caused. That doesn't mean the USA should occupy the entire of Arabia either, but, it needs to be a focus of concern for the United Nations and monitoring the outcomes of elections and the tone of the campaigns.
To put it plainly, Arabia's 'street' may hold surprises for us just at the very time we were getting to know them better. It would be helpful, Anderson, if you reached beyond the 'glitz' of anchoring a 'show' and actually rose to scholarly pursuit in your interviews. That, sir, requires dedication and insight beyond the camera lens. It is more than experience. It is a desire to be correct and bring that correctness to your clients/readership/viewership. I suppose I would be considered to be 'talking past you' as a defense to yourself, but, I am not, I giving you some very good advise.
This is two examples of the misguided rhetoric that Anderson Cooper 360 stands behind. Did you ever explore the possiblity that Iran actually NEEDS nuclear energy to it's people and govenrment due to poor infrastructure? Did you?
Iran says will soon launch industrial nuclear fuel cycle
http://en.rian.ru/world/20070103/58364901.html\
While everyone is screaming about Iranian potential for atomic weapons did anyone at AC 360 do anything to bring the entire picture to the American people? No. They simply want to focus on bolstering war. Others have gone to Iran to speak to the people and explore the reasons behind an unreasonable president. But, not here. No. Here all anyone wants to due is support war and more of it. Was it Ted Kopple that I heard on MSNBC, that had a conscience about what he was actually 'backing' in the way of contributing to the dialogue. He came home with a view of Iranians rarely shared in The West and certainly not engaged by many. Iran needs reassurance their country will have energy without enrichment otherwise they just might step outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty to simply gain their right to nuclear power and defend it and Shia Islam at the same time. Sanctions may not help with a country that is thristy for energy with an infrastructure in complete disrepair. I don't disagree with sanctions, but, I do disagree with a 'picture' of any aspect of international judgement as a consumer of information in the USA with a president chronically on the trigger finger that is tainted and/or incomplete. The illegal war in Iraq can happen again simply because people are kept misinformed and stupid to 'the truth.' What a convenience that would be for someone like Bush and Cheney.
Russia increases gas exports to Turkey after Iran cuts supplies
http://en.rian.ru/business/20070104/58420699.html
ANKARA, January 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's energy giant Gazprom has increased its daily natural gas exports to Turkey by 14 million cubic meters to 84 million cubic meters following a cutoff in supplies from Iran, Turkish state-run pipeline company Botas said Thursday.
Iran announced Wednesday it suspended gas supplies to Turkey to meet its own domestic demand, which dramatically increased due to unusually cold weather, but promised to resume them in 10 days.
Under a contract, signed in 1996, Iran supplies Turkey with 27 million-28 million cubic meters of gas per day via a 2,500-km gas pipeline. But in late December gas supplies via the pipeline were reduced 10-fold to about 2.5 million cubic meters before being stopped completely.
A simple change says Taxpayers Union president Berthoud, if you are convicted of any felony while in office, you forfeit your right to get paid.
In office? Once they've retired, you mean they should be exempt from living an ethical life to uphold the dignity of the country. Heck, if the Taxpayers Union wants to make a difference than they have to extend penalties to 'conditions' of the pension. The pensions are enough to 'insure' ethical living and dignity to the definition of Congressman or woman, it should not be an option.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Emerging from his first cabinet meeting of the year, President Bush didn't even mention Iraq, but once again framing it as part of the war on terror.
He is too busy shifting people and seats inside the Cabinet Meeting Room to talk about Iraq. One thing about Bush, he always can look at the news media, stone cold and be concerned about "The War on Terror" while holding his fingers crossed behind his back. Come on, get over this mess already. Bush is no one to even seek opinion from, he is a chronic liar. When is everyone going to wake up to that fact. He has done nothing but lie. He could not care less about what happened on September 11th except it gave him a reason for his Neocon agenda no matter where it would take him.
GERGEN: That's a darned good question. And they obviously are not trying to put Iraq front and center, except through the hearings process. I felt that they might get the job that they in effect passed a resolution embracing the Baker-Hamilton report, that that will be a fairly straightforward thing for the Democrats to do, get themselves on record. Instead, what they're going to be is mostly the beginner party, they're going to be, you know --if, as the president -- you reported here on CNN the president recommends 20,000 to 40,000 troops, he's going to face a lot of opposition from Democrats, but he's also going to face a lot of opposition within his own party.
So, it is -- Iraq, very quickly, and we'll see where we go next week, but Iraq is, as you know, is taking up all the oxygen of politics, so it's somehow -- I mean, it has made this whole Congressional effort, 100-hours agenda somewhat secondary, I think in the voters' minds. But, you know, they can still have a constructive beginning, but I think your question is a good one. Should they not have taken a tougher stand on Iraq than they have.
It would be a political 'cop out' to simply endorse the Iraq Study Group. They made recommendations that were supposed to be started when they were announced. The recommendations weren't meant to be studied and discussed and debated, that all happened when the Study Group met.
By endorsing a 'dead issue' the Democrats would appear to have no real ideas or leadership of their own. It's not a matter of being clever. Bush was supposed to take the Iraq Study Group seriously. They were commissioned by Congress. He didn't. He is negligent AGAIN. So, what is left to do? Investigate. Call hearings and find out what the heck it takes to deal with the circumstances including a president that will only hold to 'the same course' or a varied one with no real research or validity behind it. It was like he and Condi and Gates met and Bush said, "Look guys we are 4th and 10 here, come up with something."
Where did this number 20 to 40 thousand come from? There is a huge difference between 20 and 40 thousand anyway. Is Bush saying 20 thousand is enough? No? 40 thousand enough? Or we actually have a plan that reflects EXACTLY what needs to be done. Bush has none of that. Prime Minister Maliki has been having success with his 'call up' of the elements of Iraq's political party. I don't believe Maliki is actually interested in Bush's ideas at all.
To say it would be better to embrace a 'timed out' Iraq Study Group recommendation is to say, well we did what we could and I guess Bush is just a lame duck. The Democrats can't do that, both politically and the fact that they need to form a solution to this mess; al Qaeda is still alive and well. It's left up to the Democrats to actually resolve Iraq and return to defense of this country, the president is no longer capable.
enough
