'Quote of the Day'
"It's not a matter of what is true that counts,
but a matter of what is perceived to be true..."
-Henry Kissinger-
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
'Bush Quotes'
"I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here."
--at the president's economic forum in Waco, Tx., Aug 13, 2002--
"we both use colgate toothpaste."
--after a reporter asked what he had in common with British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
Camp David, Md., Feb. 23, 2001--
"I glance at the headlines Just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves."
--Washington, D.C., Sept. 21, 2003--
"I'm the commander-see, I don't need to explain-I do not need to explain why I say things.
That's the interesting thing about being president."
--as quoted in Bob Woodward's 'Bush at war'--
"do you have blacks, too?"
--to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2001--
"It's white."
--after being asked by a child in Britain what the White House was like, July 19, 2001--
"I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the Joy of Hanukkah."
--at a White House Menorah lighting ceremony, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 2001--
"we need to counter the shocwave of the evildoer by having individual rate cuts accelerated and by thinking about tax rebates."
--Washington, D.C., Oct. 4, 2001--
"the most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
--Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2001--
"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."
--Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002--
"I Just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."
--Washington, D.C., June 18, 2002--
"we found the weapons of mass destruction. we found biological laboratories...and we'll find more weapons as time goes on. But for those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they're wrong, we found them."
--Washington, D.C., May 30, 2003--
"those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere!"
--Joking about his administration's failure to find WMDs in Iraq.
Washington, D.C., March 24, 2004--
"I wish you'd given me this written question ahead of time so I could plan for it...I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of trying to come up with an answer, but it hadn't yet...I don't want to sound like I have made no mistakes. I'm confident I have. I just haven't-You Just put me under the spot here, and maybe I'm not as quick on my feet as I should be in coming up with one."
--after being asked to name the biggest mistake he had made.
Washington, D.C., April 3, 2004--
"I'm the master of low expectations."
--aboard air force one, June 4, 2003--
"I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here."
--at the president's economic forum in Waco, Tx., Aug 13, 2002--
"we both use colgate toothpaste."
--after a reporter asked what he had in common with British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
Camp David, Md., Feb. 23, 2001--
"I glance at the headlines Just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves."
--Washington, D.C., Sept. 21, 2003--
"I'm the commander-see, I don't need to explain-I do not need to explain why I say things.
That's the interesting thing about being president."
--as quoted in Bob Woodward's 'Bush at war'--
"do you have blacks, too?"
--to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2001--
"It's white."
--after being asked by a child in Britain what the White House was like, July 19, 2001--
"I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the Joy of Hanukkah."
--at a White House Menorah lighting ceremony, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 2001--
"we need to counter the shocwave of the evildoer by having individual rate cuts accelerated and by thinking about tax rebates."
--Washington, D.C., Oct. 4, 2001--
"the most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
--Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2001--
"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."
--Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002--
"I Just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."
--Washington, D.C., June 18, 2002--
"we found the weapons of mass destruction. we found biological laboratories...and we'll find more weapons as time goes on. But for those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they're wrong, we found them."
--Washington, D.C., May 30, 2003--
"those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere!"
--Joking about his administration's failure to find WMDs in Iraq.
Washington, D.C., March 24, 2004--
"I wish you'd given me this written question ahead of time so I could plan for it...I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of trying to come up with an answer, but it hadn't yet...I don't want to sound like I have made no mistakes. I'm confident I have. I just haven't-You Just put me under the spot here, and maybe I'm not as quick on my feet as I should be in coming up with one."
--after being asked to name the biggest mistake he had made.
Washington, D.C., April 3, 2004--
"I'm the master of low expectations."
--aboard air force one, June 4, 2003--
'British Troops To Aid US Forces
In Horn Of Africa'
Filed: 12/24/2005
According to the UK's Telegraph newspaper, British soldiers are expected to be sent to the tiny state of Djibouti in the horn of Africa for the first time to help America's anti-terrorist Operation Enduring Freedom.
Defence officials and diplomats are said to be in the advanced stages of discussions with the authorities in Djibouti, at the southern end of the Red Sea.
The strategically vital enclave is the site of America's only base on African soil, with 1,500 soldiers based at headquarters in a fromer French Foreign Legion base.
In Horn Of Africa'
Filed: 12/24/2005
According to the UK's Telegraph newspaper, British soldiers are expected to be sent to the tiny state of Djibouti in the horn of Africa for the first time to help America's anti-terrorist Operation Enduring Freedom.
Defence officials and diplomats are said to be in the advanced stages of discussions with the authorities in Djibouti, at the southern end of the Red Sea.
The strategically vital enclave is the site of America's only base on African soil, with 1,500 soldiers based at headquarters in a fromer French Foreign Legion base.
'Ohio Mosque Bombing'
FBI Offers Reward In Ohio Mosque Bombing
Thursday, December 22, 2005
the Associated Press
Cincinnati--The FBI offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the bombing of a Cincinnati Mosque.
"no one was injured in the explosions Tuesday evening and they caused only minor damage, but they could have been deadly if anyone had been nearby," said FBI agent Stanley Borgia.
The devices went off at the entrances of adjoining buildings in the Islamic Association of Cincinnati Mosque Complex about two hours after prayers ended.
"with christmas coming up, we wanted to keep the public's attention on this case,"
FBI spokesman Michael Brooks said in announcing the reward.
He declined to discuss the progress of the investigation but said no one had claimed responsibility.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations also offered a reward of $5,000 for information about the explosions, and more than two dozen civic and religious leaders gathered at the Mosque Wednesday to show support for the Islamic community and to denounce the bombing.
An all-faiths prayer vigil was set Thursday night as "a chance for people to offer prayers and support for peace and unity," said Karen Dabdoub, spokeswoman for the Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
courtesy of:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Mosque_Explosions.html
FBI Offers Reward In Ohio Mosque Bombing
Thursday, December 22, 2005
the Associated Press
Cincinnati--The FBI offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the bombing of a Cincinnati Mosque.
"no one was injured in the explosions Tuesday evening and they caused only minor damage, but they could have been deadly if anyone had been nearby," said FBI agent Stanley Borgia.
The devices went off at the entrances of adjoining buildings in the Islamic Association of Cincinnati Mosque Complex about two hours after prayers ended.
"with christmas coming up, we wanted to keep the public's attention on this case,"
FBI spokesman Michael Brooks said in announcing the reward.
He declined to discuss the progress of the investigation but said no one had claimed responsibility.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations also offered a reward of $5,000 for information about the explosions, and more than two dozen civic and religious leaders gathered at the Mosque Wednesday to show support for the Islamic community and to denounce the bombing.
An all-faiths prayer vigil was set Thursday night as "a chance for people to offer prayers and support for peace and unity," said Karen Dabdoub, spokeswoman for the Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
courtesy of:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Mosque_Explosions.html
'Iraqi Army Desertions'
Below is an interesting piece of information about low morale and desertions that has afflicted Just one Iraqi army battalion, that I ran into while reading an Associated Press article on Friday, December 23, 2005...
I wounder if the pentagon included this battalion (and maybe others like it) in its estimate, when it stated that there are many Iraqi army battalions ready to assume combat duty alone and replace existing american troops.
If there are other Iraqi army units suffering from low morale and a high rate of desertion, then I really doubt that our troops will be coming home any time soon.
Below is an interesting piece of information about low morale and desertions that has afflicted Just one Iraqi army battalion, that I ran into while reading an Associated Press article on Friday, December 23, 2005...
I wounder if the pentagon included this battalion (and maybe others like it) in its estimate, when it stated that there are many Iraqi army battalions ready to assume combat duty alone and replace existing american troops.
If there are other Iraqi army units suffering from low morale and a high rate of desertion, then I really doubt that our troops will be coming home any time soon.
"meanwhile, gunmen friday attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint in the city of Adhaim, in religiously and ethnically mixed Diyala province, killing eight soldiers and wounding seventeen, an Iraqi army officer said on condition he not be identified for fear of reprisal.""there were too many to count, said Akid, a 20-year-old soldier from Diwanayah being treated for gunshot wounds to both thighs. they tried to kill everybody."
"Akid, who would only give his first name for fear of reprisal, said his battalion of about 600 men had already suffered over 250 desertions after the Dec. 3 ambush in Adhaim killed 19 Iraqi soldiers."
"they gave up", he said
"they said, 'the hell with this.'"
Friday, December 23, 2005
'Peacebuilding Commission Created By UN'
The UN General Assembly and Security Council adopted a resolution on tuesday, that sanctions the creation of a new peacebuilding commission to aid nations emerging from conflict, manage the difficult transition to stability and development.
The 15-member council, in an anonymous vote, and the 191-member General Assembly,
by consensus, passed the resolution to establish the commission as required by the UN summit in september.
In accordance with the resolution, the committee will consist of seven security council members, including the five permanent with veto power, five top providers of contributions to the UN budget and of voluntary contributions to UN funds, programs, agencies, and other members.
"the main objective of the commission is to bring together all relevant actors to marshall resources and to advise on and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery," said the resolution.
Meanwhile, the commission will also pay attention to the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for recovery from conflict and to support the development of integrated strategies in order to lay the foundation for sustainable development.
The UN General Assembly and Security Council adopted a resolution on tuesday, that sanctions the creation of a new peacebuilding commission to aid nations emerging from conflict, manage the difficult transition to stability and development.
The 15-member council, in an anonymous vote, and the 191-member General Assembly,
by consensus, passed the resolution to establish the commission as required by the UN summit in september.
In accordance with the resolution, the committee will consist of seven security council members, including the five permanent with veto power, five top providers of contributions to the UN budget and of voluntary contributions to UN funds, programs, agencies, and other members.
"the main objective of the commission is to bring together all relevant actors to marshall resources and to advise on and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery," said the resolution.
Meanwhile, the commission will also pay attention to the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for recovery from conflict and to support the development of integrated strategies in order to lay the foundation for sustainable development.
'US Monitors Muslim Sites For Radiation'
Yahoo News, Australia
Saturday, December 24, 2005 10:50 am
US officials have reportedly used a top secret program to monitor Muslim sites in the country as part of a search for a terrorist nuclear bomb.
The radiation monitoring was revealed by a US online news magazine. The US News and World Report says 100 sites, including Mosques, homes, businesses and warehouses, in Washington and five other US cities were checked without court warrants.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations says the program comes as a "complete shock."
Spokesman Nihad Awad says America is being ruled by fear. "I'm very concerned and I would like assurances from the president that American Muslims are not black-listed,"
Mr. Awad said.
A Justice Department spokesman says FBI agents did not intrude on any protected areas without the proper legal authority.
President George W. Bush's administration has been criticised over revelations that government agencies spies on US citizens without first obtaining court orders mandated by law.
Mr. Bush, who authorised the NSA surveillance, maintains that the spying is legal, and that he has the legal authority to permit such activities.
courtesy of:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/051223/21/xcm3.html
Yahoo News, Australia
Saturday, December 24, 2005 10:50 am
US officials have reportedly used a top secret program to monitor Muslim sites in the country as part of a search for a terrorist nuclear bomb.
The radiation monitoring was revealed by a US online news magazine. The US News and World Report says 100 sites, including Mosques, homes, businesses and warehouses, in Washington and five other US cities were checked without court warrants.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations says the program comes as a "complete shock."
Spokesman Nihad Awad says America is being ruled by fear. "I'm very concerned and I would like assurances from the president that American Muslims are not black-listed,"
Mr. Awad said.
A Justice Department spokesman says FBI agents did not intrude on any protected areas without the proper legal authority.
President George W. Bush's administration has been criticised over revelations that government agencies spies on US citizens without first obtaining court orders mandated by law.
Mr. Bush, who authorised the NSA surveillance, maintains that the spying is legal, and that he has the legal authority to permit such activities.
courtesy of:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/051223/21/xcm3.html
'Rocks and Pebbles'
from the river bed, I picked some pebbles
formerly rocks, turned mutinous rebels
now they Just lay there, motionless and dead
their last resting place is the river bed...
further down river was a sandy shore
grains of sand covered the river floor
rocks and pebbles against the river's trend
all became sand by the rivers end...
all former rocks opposing the flow
misjudged the power of the rain and snow
force of the river made them tumble
now they just lay there accepting, humble...
If we too ignore the power of our source
constantly oppose our life's river's course
tumble, fall and move, until we are dead
humble and still lie in our final bed...
but if like fish with the river flow
the course of the river we get to know
we can swim with ease to the river's motion
until in the end, we reach the ocean.
Poem by: Shahriar Shahriari
formerly rocks, turned mutinous rebels
now they Just lay there, motionless and dead
their last resting place is the river bed...
further down river was a sandy shore
grains of sand covered the river floor
rocks and pebbles against the river's trend
all became sand by the rivers end...
all former rocks opposing the flow
misjudged the power of the rain and snow
force of the river made them tumble
now they just lay there accepting, humble...
If we too ignore the power of our source
constantly oppose our life's river's course
tumble, fall and move, until we are dead
humble and still lie in our final bed...
but if like fish with the river flow
the course of the river we get to know
we can swim with ease to the river's motion
until in the end, we reach the ocean.
Poem by: Shahriar Shahriari
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