Bush, shoes and good reflex

This is not reflex of a slow-minded person as Bush has been pretending to be for the last 8 years. No way!

2 things

I've been meaning to express my opinion concerning two issues.

1 - Virginia Tech Massacre
Again I offer my condolences to the families of the students who died, even the guy who shot them. However, all the time I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that we hear about tens of people die every day in Iraq... Have we really gotten used to killings in Iraq, that we really are not saying anything about it anymore?

2- The 2 youth who were kidnapped then murdered
I would like to also offer my condolences to both youth's families, hope their souls rest in peace. Moreover, most people labelled it as a step to create a turmoil in Lebanon among civilians, however the crime is a crime, and too soon to have been categorized as a vendetta act or personal crime. No drawing conclusions or actions must be taken but those of the army and the investigations. It is sad and upsetting to see everyone panic over this and hatred arise.

Let`s try to help Iraq

Dear Reader,

Petition to US, Iraqi, Syrian, and Iranian leaders meeting on May 3rd and 4th

Avaaz is launching a major advertising and text-message campaign inside Iraq this week to bring Iraqi voices to this decisive meeting. As citizens around the world, let's join our voices with theirs to end this war -- sign the petition calling for negotiations and a withdrawal of US troops here:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/iraq_new_plan

Bombing at Iraqi parliament kills 8

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber blew himself up in the Iraqi parliament cafeteria Thursday, killing at least eight people — including three lawmakers — and wounding dozens in a stunning assault in the heart of the heavily fortified, U.S.-protected Green Zone.

A news video camera captured the moment of the blast...

The explosion came hours after a suicide truck bomb exploded on a major bridge in Baghdad, collapsing the steel structure and sending cars tumbling into the Tigris River, police and witnesses said. At least 10 people were killed.

[...]

The parliament bombing was believed to be the deadliest attack in the Green Zone, the enclave that houses Iraq's leadership as well as the U.S. Embassy, and is secured by American and Iraqi checkpoints.

Click here to read full article. And here to read how "Bush condemned green zone attack".

Warm welcome greets freed British crew

By TARIQ PANJA, Associated Press Writer

ROYAL MARINE BASE CHIVENOR, England - Fifteen Royal Navy crew members freed from Iran enjoyed their first night on English soil Thursday. Amid the relief, champagne and tearful embraces, however, some Britons raised questions about the sailors' conduct and their apparent confessions in captivity.

While much of the country rallied behind the crew's return, others criticized them for offering apologies where none was required — namely for appearing in videos in which they admitted and offered regrets for entering Iranian waters.[1]

While the crew are being criticized for apologizing, Iran is considered to have won this round. Because when suddenly Iran demandes Britain to admit that their crew were in Iranian waters and not in Iraqi waters, even when the crew confessed according to local Iranian media, Blair kept the same attitude, thus Iran calling the british reaction wrong and this will lead for Iran not to free the sailors. A couple of days after, Iran releases the crew, while the crew thanks Iran and apologizes again for being in Iranian waters.

British newspapers' headlines yesterday were not only a rejoice for the crew's coming back home, but questioning whether a deal has been done between Britain and Iran.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has insisted no deal was done to free 15 Royal Navy crew members, as they arrived in the UK after being held in Iran for 13 days.

[...]

British officials also denied that the UK had apologised over the incident.[2]

Finally, whatever said, the fact remains. We cannot rely on what we are being told, apparently we are living in a world of propaganda, and secrecy at the same time, and us the people, follow blindly and think we're smart.

Let's see what they're cooking for us this time. Rumors of US attacks on Iran which were mentioned in a previous post, are also mentioned here [3] (Link provided by a commentator), they also mentioned that at the end of April, US will attack Iran nuclear facilities.

The U.S. is planning to attack Iran’s nuclear reactors and facilities by the end of April.

The Times said that various White House departments have started preparing the speech.·The sources were quoted as saying that U.S. will not resort to a ground attack.

Justification will be presented of course, in case there are attacks, however the main question remainds, would U.S. do such a move, while they're still present in Iraq?

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Several National Guard brigades are expected to be notified soon that they could be sent to Iraq around the first of next year, according to a senior Defense Department official. [4]

[1] AP
[2] BBC
[3] Contre Info
[4] AP

April 6? People going mad?

Well, a rule of thumb, if you want to think Lebanon is fine and things are great, just stop watching the news. Other than that, you will know they're as mad as always and even madder.

British sailors were caught last week in Iranian waters according to Iran, yet UK says it was in Iraq, accusing Iran in taking the sailors hostages, while Iran said that the two sailors confessed that they were in Iranian waters.

Word on the street is that April 6 is the starting date for a World War III, how exciting and ravishing, the analysis is exquisite and fascinating, even genious. USA to bomb all nuclear facilities in Iran, they said. Question: Could the whole british sailors be linked to this issue in any way?
Another question: Would USA go into a new war, while it is still haven't finished with Iraq? Or is it a one day thing, leave Iraq, go into Iran.
A third question: For the US to do the above, it will need Blair's support. Surprised? The hostages are british!

Recently a summit has been held, the Arab summit, of course the unity among the Lebanese got translated in two presidents, lucky us. And of course, when was an Arab summit ever useful, no offense, I wish it was, but it never is.

Israel suggested for a summit between the moderate Arab countries and Israel to occur in order to discuss a possible peace. Amro Moussa automatically dismissed it.

And of course, our Lebanon, the precious Lebanon and its precious leaders, we have this saying in lebanese that goes like "Kil wa7ad 3am bi ghanni 3ala mouwelo", by rough translation, it means that each is speaking a different language, singing a different song. News it we are no longer relying on Saudi's interference, nevertheless this time Berri and Hariri will talk and find a solution themselves... YEAH RIGHT!

The difference between the politics football and the real football, is that in politics, each has his own ball. There is the Iranian ball and the American ball, however the others don't really have ... ones.

British troops to withdraw from Iraq

While Blair is going to announce today a plan for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq, Bush is making a plan to increase the number of US soldiers in Iraq by thousands. Until now other coalition partners have either pulled out or are going to, such as the Italians, the Danes and the South Korean respectively.

Read full article here.

Several boys die copying Saddam hanging

By ANNA JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt - The boys' deaths — scattered in the United States, in Yemen, in Turkey and elsewhere in seemingly isolated horror — had one thing in common: They hanged themselves after watching televised images of Saddam Hussein's execution.

[...]

The experts say such graphic images can severely affect youngsters who do not yet understand the consequences of death and violence — especially because Saddam's death received intense international attention.

[...]

A day after Saddam's execution, a 10-year-old boy in Texas hanged himself from a bunk bed after watching a news report on the execution. Police in the Houston suburb of Webster said the boy, Sergio Pelico, tied a slipknot around his neck while on the bed but had not mean to kill himself.

"I don't think he thought it was real," Julio Gustavo, Sergio's uncle, said afterward. "They showed them putting the noose around his neck and everything. Why show that on TV?"

[...]

Click here to read full article.

I am too outraged to comment on this ... I had already warned in this post. This is just too sad.

Democrats to Bush: Time to end Iraq war

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Congress's new Democratic leaders warned President George W. Bush that surging more troops into Iraq would fail and it was time to end the war, days before his expected unveiling of a new US strategy.

[...]

Pelosi and Reid called on Bush to start a phased redeployment of US forces within four to six months.

"After nearly four years of combat, tens of thousands of US casualties and over 300 billion dollars, it is time to bring the war to a close," the two leaders wrote.

Click here to read full article.

Apparently, and preventing to call this war a failure, it still had become a failure. It seemed from the first moment that it's a war only promising more deaths and battles, yet which war doesn't? But to keep investing in this war as Bush continues doing is a hopeless decision, moreover the Bush administration has squeezed themselves in one crazy situation, if they leave, a sectarian war will prevail and if they stay, well the same thing will and is happening.

Eventually, another solution should be found for Iraq, probably UN Peacekeepers with authorities will be sent to Iraq to maintain "Peace", the US troops to redeploy, with time end their presence in Iraq and to finally end their extravagant spending which they can probably use in a more useful way.

Saddam execution video leads to arrests

By STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi authorities reported the arrests Wednesday of two guards and an official who supervised Saddam Hussein's hanging and said the guard force was infiltrated by outsiders who taunted the former leader and shot the video showing his body dangling at the end of a rope.

The unauthorized video, which ignited protests by Saddam's fellow Sunni Arabs in various Iraqi cities, threatens to turn the ousted dictator into a martyr. Saddam was shown never bowing his head as he faced death, and asking the hecklers if they were acting in a manly way.

[...]

Click here to read full article.

Apparently the Iraqi authoraties delt with this in a good way, they could at least save face by showing some objectivity and justice in the manner. As much as the man was a heart-colded criminal, he is still a human being and has rights. The room should not have been infiltrated by people who had no business being there during the execution.

Saddam execution video draws criticism

By ANITA CHANG, Associated Press Writer

Grainy cell phone video of Saddam Hussein's execution triggered international criticism Tuesday, with Britain's deputy prime minister calling the leaked images "unacceptable" and the Vatican decrying the footage as a "spectacle" violating human rights.

[...]

The unofficial video showed a scene that stopped just short of pandemonium, during which one person is heard shouting "To hell!" at the deposed president and Saddam is heard exchanging insults with his executioners. The inflammatory footage also showed Saddam plummeting through the gallows trapdoor and dangling in death.

The grainy video appeared on the Internet and Al-Jazeera television late Saturday. On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered an investigation into the execution to try to uncover who taunted the former dictator, and who leaked the cell phone footage.

Click here to read full article.

I was surprised to see LBC also showing the whole movie (AL Jazeera already did so) of Saddam's execution that was captured on a cellphone. I had previously seen it on the internet (willingly), but still it was kind of shocking to show a man dying on TV, I remember the persons beside me were startled, and not ready to see such thing. I think there is no more respect to anything in the media anymore, even if he is a bad person and an enemy, they still lose respect when they (and we) don't mind seeing and showing such footage on TV. What if a child was watching it? It was only 8:30pm! I don't recall them even giving a warning.

This is no longer good journalism, this is plain greed for money.

Saddam Hussein capitally punished

December 30, 2006 is a milestone in history. A lot of things may change, and not to the better. Saddam Hussein after being sentenced to death on November 5th, 2006, has been executed dawn of today. Way of execution: Hanged. There has even been photos and videos of how it happened, although they only broadcasted part of it, and not the actual moment when the hole under Saddam has opened.

Nevertheless it is not clear how killing this man who happens to be a war criminal, will erase all his crimes and make Iraq in better shape. Even though the decision of Saddam's execution was taken 55 days ago, a date wasn't set, and out of the blue, on Friday 29 December 2006, a date (the next day) was set.

Saddam, is not an innocent man, however it appears that he has paid a bigger price while others are still out there.

Capital punishment is something I don't approve. And to happen on the first day of Adha Holiday, does send out a certain message. But what is it?

Iran, Israel, United Kingdom and of course the United States are all on the same side concerning this matter. Interesting group, isn't it? While Syria, Russia, Lybia and other countries disapprove this execution.

Iraqi people are divided, some celebrated today, and some demonstrated against it.

What will happen next in response to this legal murder?

U.S. deaths in Iraq exceed 9-11 count

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, Associated Press Writer

7 BAGHDAD, Iraq - Three more American soldiers were killed in Iraq, officials said Tuesday, pushing the U.S. military death toll to at least 2,975 — two more than the number killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

[...]

The deaths — announced Tuesday — raised the number of troops killed to 2,975 since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes at least seven military civilians.

The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks claimed 2,973 victims in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Opponents of President Bush have criticized him for raising the attacks as a justification for the protracted fight in Iraq.

Source: AP

Sadly enough, the claimed reason behind the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan was the war on terrorism which was the result of the 9/11 attacks on the world trade center. There are two ways at looking at the above numbers now.

In rescue, a team of 5 might be sent to rescue 2, which probably the whole team could die attempting to rescue the two. However a rescue is a rescue and the other 2 cannot be left out.

Possibly, Bush was doing a "rescue" in his own way, and perhaps, his war, especially the one on Iraq, was a wrong call. More men had died, and did the terrorism stop?

It's horrible what is happening in Iraq

As a human being, it is just horrible to watch the news everyday, and hearing that a bomb blasted here and a bomb blasted there in Iraq, and killed dozens of people. Or an offensive occured at a wedding and killed another dozens of people there. This is just horrible, and I am surprised it has lasted so long.

We have grown used to and accustomed to seeing people die in Iraq and just feel nothing, haven't we? It has become a part of the news, we would think there is something missing if we don't hear something like "an explosion in Iraq had killed 43 people today".