This week I am blogging from Canada, my home and native land. I'm an American citizen, but was born and raised in Canada about 45 minutes south-west of Toronto. In addition to the typical blogging, I'll be watching the Canadian news media to see how they report on such events as the Israel-Iran confrontation, stem-cell research and news that makes it into Canadian media from south of the border.
Update (July 30th, 2006):
There really wasn't a whole lot to blog about this week other than the usual anti-American bias that's present in most newspapers and television networks. Having grown up here, media bias has been present for as long as I can remember.
I believe the anti-American sentiment stems from a deep-seeded inferiority complex that Canadians have concerning their neighbors to the south.
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July 20, 2006 , by
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The Jawa Report recently commented on an article written by Larry C. Johnson, a former CIA agent and New York Times columnist. As usual Jawa's commentary is witty and right on the money.
All I can say after reading Mr. Johnson's article is, I'm glad he's a former CIA employee.
Posted on:
July 15, 2006 , by
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Iranian Soldiers on the ground in Lebanon helping Hezbollah:
A Hizbullah strike on the IDF warship off the Lebanese coast damaged the ship severely, and the IDF confirmed early Saturday to The Jerusalem Post that four sailors had gone missing from the damaged warship.
An IDF investigation into the attack showed that Hizbullah had fired an Iranian-made missile at the vessel from the shores of Lebanon, said Brig. Gen. Ido Nehushtan.
A senior IDF intelligence official says that Iran has approximately 100 soldiers in Lebanon and that they helped Hizbullah hit an Israel Navy ship with an anti-ship missile.
Story by the Jerusalem Post. This is the second report that Iranian Revolutionary Guard are operating alongside Hezbollah's fighters. Interestingly, the Washington Post reported, back in April 2005, that most of Iran's troops left Lebanon leaving a mere 12 to 15 military personnel in the country:
Iran has pulled out the vast majority of its Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon after two decades as a major player among the country's Shiite population, most notably as the impetus for the creation of Hezbollah, according to U.S. and European officials.
At one point, Iran was estimated to have as many as 2,000 of its elite troops inside Lebanon. But today Tehran is reported to have from 12 to 50 military personnel in the country — and probably on the lower end of that range, the officials said.
Israel issues Syria an ultimatum (via YNETNEWS):
The London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Saturday that "Washington has information according to which Israel gave Damascus 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity along the Lebanon-Israel border and bring about the release the two kidnapped IDF soldiers or it would launch an offensive with disastrous consequences."
The report said "a senior Pentagon source warned that should the Arab world and international community fail in the efforts to convince Syria to pressure Hizbullah into releasing the soldiers and halt the current escalation Israel may attack targets in the country."
Israel has no plans to attack Syria (via Haaretz.com):
Responding to a report in a pan-Arab daily newspaper that Israel presented Damascus with an ultimatum, an Israel Defense Forces officer said Saturday that targeting Syria is currently not on Israel's agenda.
"We're not a gang that shoots in every direction," the officer said. "It won't be right to bring Syria into the campaign."
Hezbollah has Launched more than 500 Missiles into Israel (via DEBKAfile):
July 14, 2006, 11:20 PM (GMT+02:00)
Haifa had its first rocket attack Thursday, causing no casualties. Residents of the metropolitan area of Israel’s third largest city are told to stay in protected areas Friday night.
Hizballlah’s arsenal supplied by Iran includes the Katyusha rockets Hizballah has fired till now with a range of up to 30km, its improved version, the Grad 333mm, which has the same range but a larger warhead. The range of Fajjar-5 is up to 70km, while Zalzal-2 can reach targets at a distance of 200km. Hizballah claims to have taken delivery of a more advanced Fajjar, but this is not confirmed.
More than 500 rockets have hit dozens of Katyusha hit towns and villages of northern Israel in 48 hours leaving 4 dead, scores injured, between 1-2 million people in shelters for the third night and heavy damage to property.
Hezbollah Missile Stocks in Underground Fortress at Naama 30 km South of Beirut (via DEBKAfile):
Our sources also report that immediately after Nasrallah’s statement to the media, Hizballah’s leaders went into hiding, their bases were evacuated and their fighting strength transferred to pre-planned places of concealment. Ahead of the abduction, Hizballah ordnance and missile stocks were transferred to the Palestinian Ahmed Jibril’s tunnel system at Naama, 30 km south of Beirut, which was built in the 1980s by East German engineers.
There's more…
Iranian National Security Adviser Ali Larjani is in Damascus while the Syrian army has been put on a state of "preparedness":
July 13, 2006, 11:46 AM (GMT+02:00)
Larijani is also Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator. He will remain in Damascus for the duration of the crisis in line with the recently Iranian-Syrian mutual defense pact. His presence affirms that an Israeli attack on Syria will be deemed an assault on Iran. It also links the Israeli hostage crisis to Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West.
The White House released a statement holding Syria and Iran responsible for Hizballah abduction and demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
The Syrian army has been put on a state of preparedness.
Israel deploys patriot missile system in Haifa (via YNETNEWS):
For the first time since the Gulf War the IDF has stationed two Patriot Missile batteries in Haifa. The Patriots missile is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missile.
Posted on:
July 15, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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My rant for the day:
The Europeans, the media and people around the world can blame Israel for the current conflict with Iran's proxy armies. And the U.S. and its allies can tighten up homeland security, fight to establish democracy in Iraq, keep up the pressure on the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, and hunt down terrorists in every corner of the planet. But it'll never completely solve the problem.
Moderate citizens and Muslims in particular are going to have to stand up to the extremists. Israel isn't at war with the Lebanese government or its people. It's fighting two terrorist groups, both supported by Iran, and each holding Lebanon, Palestine and the Middle East at-large hostage.
Each group was born of Iran, Hezbollah has no business operating from Lebanon and Hamas has no business governing Palestine. They are essentially occupying those countries while Iran meddles in the affairs of a sovereign nation (Lebanon, not Palestine.)
Posted on:
July 14, 2006 , by
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My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to every Indian family affected by the recent transit system bombings and grenade attacks in Mumbai and Srinagar, India.
Bloggers from around the World have posted varying report, thoughts and commentary all in support of the victims of the attacks.
One group of bloggers in particular have set up Mumbai Help. The blog is designed to function as a portal helping people trace missing relatives and express their grief.
We can help them, help others by spreading the word…
Posted on:
July 13, 2006 , by
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In an obvious effort to tie down Karl Rove from helping republicans maintain their majority in the house and senate this November. Valerie Plame and her husband, Joe Wilson are filing a civil lawsuit against Vice President Dick Cheney, Lewis Libby and most notably Karl Rove.
Their effort to influence the Presidential election back in November 2004 didn't quite work out as planned. So now they are attempting to influence the upcoming house and senate elections this November.
Download a copy of the Plame-Wilson Complaint.
From USA Today:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former CIA officer Valerie Plame is suing Vice President Dick Cheney, presidential adviser Karl Rove and other White House officials, saying they orchestrated a "whispering campaign" to destroy her career.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, Plame and her husband, Joseph Wilson, a former U.S. ambassador, said Cheney, Rove and Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby, leaked her CIA status to reporters to punish Wilson for criticizing the Bush administration's motives in Iraq.
Legal analysis from one, rather intelligent (sarcasm), Democratic Underground operative:
Posted by H2O Man on Fri Jul-14-06 06:19 AM
I've posted a few comments on this thread, but there is so much good discussion going on that my comments are easily missed. See posts 91, 92, and 103.
In general, a person has three years to file a civil case. The rules of evidence are very different than in a criminal case, and the jury reaches a verdict on a different standard. The best example involves OJ Simpson: he was found "not guilty" in the criminal trial, and found responsible for the death of his ex-wife and her friend in the civil trial.
I do not think that there is any reason to think they have "given up" on Mr. Fitzgerald. In fact, their court filing indicates they are relying largely upon his work. I assume — and this is only my opinion — that like all patriotic Americans, they wanted to see Mr. Rove frog-marched out of the White House.
I have long said that there is an iceberg in this case, and we only see the top of it. The good ship Cheney & Co is about to discover the size of that iceberg.
While I try to be conservative in my estimates, I will say without hesitation that, after reading the complaint and considering the legal team representing the Wilsons, their chance of success is 100%.
I'd say the chances that this case will succeed are closer to zero. As I noted earlier, this lawsuit is more about keeping Karl Rove tied down in the run-up to the November elections.
At least one sensible liberal seems to agree with me:
Posted by Jazz2006 on Fri Jul-14-06 03:20 AM
is there anything in particular in its contents that makes you think it will be successful?
Having read it, I'm not feeling particularly good about the odds of it being successful, as much as I wish it were otherwise.
Typical Bush-deranged reactions from the left (warning, graphic language):
Posted by buff2 on Thu Jul-13-06 05:51 PM
through all that shit over there. When you go over to FReeptard land,you run into all the loonies Raygun set free when he had all the mental institutions closed. You couldn't put all those ignorant mofos together and come out with ONE GOOD PERSON with a WORKING BRAIN. It's pathetic.I wish they would all go sign up and go to Iraq. That could eliminate part of the "patriotic" trash residing in this country.People like that should be put out of their misery.I know this would be a better place to live without those insane terrorists.
Posted by tridim on Thu Jul-13-06 03:42 PM
So, how is BushCo going to avoid all this?
Because you know they will. My guess, they'll claim some new executive privileges and claim, "We don't have to stand trial because we're above the law".
I can't wait to hear their initial response. It'll be a doozey.
And my personal favorite posted by AndyA on Thu Jul-13-06 02:55 PM
YES! YES! YES! It's about time!!! Hey, what about Bush?
YES!
FRY THE BASTARDS!!!
More liberal fantasizing… According to Murray Waas of the National Journal:
Bush told prosecutors he directed Cheney to disclose classified information that would not only defend his administration but also discredit Wilson.
No kidding. Read the whole article.
Posted on:
July 13, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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As the G8 summit draws near, one of the major topics discussed will most likely be Iran's nuclear program. It is no coincidence that Hamas led the first series of recent attacks, including the kidnapping of an IDF soldier, on Israeli defense forces. Now Hezbollah has opened a second front in the assault.
The two operations against Israel may seem isolated. Or at least business as usual in the region. However, if you look at the type of operations undertaken by the two Iranian-born terrorist groups you could surmise that they're designed to cause a diversion from the real issue—the Iranian nuclear program. It's certainly not outside the realm of possibility that these groups are being coordinated directly by the Iranians themselves with support from the Syrian government.
The capture of 3 IDF soldiers puts pressure on the Israeli government to either negotiate with terrorists or use military aggression. Creating the perfect conditions for a game of distraction and deception.
UPDATE: Willard Payne correctly notes on his (slightly left-leaning blog):
Regulars readers of this site know that for more than a year I have been saying Teheran intends to use the next major war with Israel as another unifying crises for the Islamic world. Another crisis Teheran will use to maintain their position of leadership. A position that has been establish since the Khomeini revolution of 1979. The entire foundation of Teheran’s foreign policy ever since then has been crises creation which Teheran’s government and supporters see as a way of not only guaranteeing their security but as the vehicle to pursue their religious calling. Other fronts like Iraq-Afghanistan-Kashmir-Caucasus-Balkans have served the same purpose. But none of them will generate the spritual-emotional response than Israel and Jerusalem with its Al Aqsa mosque.
More at CrossfireWar.com.
Reuters:
ROSTOCK, Germany (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday demanded the immediate release of two Israeli soldiers captured by Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrillas and blamed Syria and Iran for the attacks.
"We condemn in the strongest terms Hizbollah's unprovoked attack on Israel and the kidnapping of the two Israeli soldiers," said Frederick Jones, spokesman with the White House National Security Council.
"We call for immediate and unconditional release of the two soldiers," Jones told reporters in Germany, hours before President George W. Bush was to arrive for meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"We also hold Syria and Iran, which directly support Hizbollah, responsible for this attack and for the ensuing violence," Jones said.
The United States called the attack "an unprovoked act of terrorism" aimed at exacerbating Middle East tensions.
The U.S. also needs to acknowledge that the kidnapping strategy employed by Hamas recently is part of the same overall strategy devised by Iran.
Posted on:
July 13, 2006 , by
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This is an update to my previous post: Religion of Peace Strikes Again in Mubai (Bombay) India.
People killed: 140, Now over 151, 183, More than 200
Person's injured: 257, More than 300, More than 714
Source: The Hindu News, The Times of India, PTI
Interested Participant is quoting sources that report more dead and injuired.
Bomb Blast at Mahim in the train Mumbai on Tuesday . (TOI)
The Times of India ran a story indicating early intelligence reports point to the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba as the people responsible for carrying out the attack. Lashkar-e-Toiba means "Army of the Pure" and was formed in the early 1990's in Afghanistan. They are active in the Jammu and Kashmir regions. Although not openly known, LeT has formal ties with al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. The group has provided operational security to many of AQ's terrorist-cell members.
Bill Roggio has more details about LeT at the Counterterrorism Blog.
(Times of India):
NEW DELHI: The terror attack on Mumbai trains was carried out by Lashkar-e-Toiba and local Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activists and was designed to trigger communal conflagration in the country’s financial capital, intelligence sources said.
While still waiting for clues to emerge, top intelligence sources in New Delhi seem pretty sure the blasts on the trains were plotted by Lashkar modules which are increasingly collaborating with activists of SIMI, which boasts of strong pockets of influence across Maharashtra.
Read the whole article.
So far it is being reported that 105 innocent people died in the blasts, with 230 men, women and children wounded and counting…
A first class bogie of a suburban train ripped apart in a bomb blast at
Mahim, Mumbai, on Tuesday evening. Photo courtesy: PTI
Update from The Hindu News Service:
105 dead, 230 wounded as explosions rock Mumbai trains
Mumbai, July 11 (PTI): At least 105 people were killed and 230 injured in a string of seven terror blasts in first class compartments of suburban trains around 6PM during the peak hour traffic here today.
As the blasts ripped apart train compartments, mangled bodies of passengers were hurled out and survivors, many of them bleeding profusely, jostled to come out leading to chaotic scenes.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary D K Shankaran put the figure of dead at 105 and the injured at around 230.
Read the whole story here.
Posted on:
July 13, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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