News you should know about

Howdy y’all. I’m just sitting here wondering why we even bothered to waste our time letting Congress know how strongly we feel about illegal aliens when you, in South Carolina, are only going to vote for John McCain, author of the amnesty bill. Hey, it wasn’t me.

I would like to ask all of you to pray for one of our blogger friends. I was not given permission, so I will not use his/her name, but this person’s marital partner has had a heart attack and is in the hospital. With all of the medical breakthroughs we have had in the last few decades, he/she should be just fine. It is pretty serious, though. I don’t believe they have any breakthroughs to help people when they look death squarely in the face, whether it happens that way or not. It is very unnerving when you come that close to losing your best friend. God be with them every moment.

I caught up on some sleep I desperately needed. That feels good. I always feel a little ‘off-key’, however, when that happens. I do not do it on purpose. My body is sometimes the boss. *heh* (Thanks David for the *heh*. I’m stealing it. Isn’t there something that says imitation is a form of flattery? lol) Getting back my monologue. Okay, dribble. 😉

There is so much I want to write about, but I do not have the time. There is an article in the Sudan Tribune titled, “Sudan wants released rebel monitors to leave Darfur ceasefire HQ“. This article does not help any form of movement forward for peace between Khartoum and Darfur.

There is also an article written at Counter Terrorism Blog by Andrew Cochran titled, “The “Cartoon Jihad” – The Lie That Doesn’t Die.” The terrorists just will not leave this alone until everyone is silenced. My words, not his. The whole ordeal started out with a lie, but it shall be put down by the Truth.

The next article is also from the Counter Terrorism Blog by Olivier Guitta. The title of this is, “Europe faces up to Iranian threat.” I found this one particularly interesting. Did you know, for instance, that the Dutch are considering banning altogether Iran students? They have already refused Iranian three students who wanted to study nuclear techniques. Very interesting how they are getting tougher while the Left in America are going soft of Iran’s nuclear weapons drive. Interesting indeed. This is happening because the NIE was released not too long ago. I guess no one read the part that said that Iran could start up their programs anytime they felt like it.

Just for the record. I believe, if they actually did stop progress on their nuclear weapons, it was because WE WERE RIGHT NEXT DOOR. Everyone talks about international pressure? There’s nothing like the good ol’ US of A’s Army and Marines to help you change your feeble-minded ways. When the Democrats started showing weakness, the war against Iran’s weapons was lost. They started back up. Thank you, you useful idiots. The blood will be on your hands.

I have just stumbled upon these two articles by the same blog, Counter Terrorism Blog. The first one is titled, “Text of Original Senate Finance Committee Letter on Suspect Charities, Including IARA“, and the second one is titled, “Another Indictment Shows Sophistication of Charity Operations“. They are written by Andrew Cochran and Douglas Farah respectively.

The first one concentrates on terrorists financing and Congressional oversight with the IRS, while the second one concerns a newly released indictment. There is just one more that I would like to bring to your attention, and that is, “Al-Qaida’s MySpace”: How Suicide Bombers Are Being Recruited Online. It is written by Evan Kohlmann. Anyone who is following these monsters on the terrorists sites and forums, when they disappear, inform someone. They are showing up as suicide bombers for al Qaida.

That should be enough for now. Now I think I shall have a cup of tea (we don’t have any) and relax. Yeah right! Oh brother. Please God, help us to elect someone who will actually KEEP OUR SOVEREIGNTY and win this war they are having with us, because you sure as heck couldn’t convince me we are at war with ANYONE…

Each of the men writing for Counter Terrorism Blog is an expert in one field or another having to do with counter-terrorism. They do not always agree, which makes it a very good read. They do not act like children when they disagree, they present their facts and try to persuade the readers and the person with whom they disagree to agree with them. Or at least, if nothing else, to look at the data with fresh eyes. They are a very fine group of men, and I am very grateful we have them on our team.

Have a good day everyone.

Update: Debbie has written about the health of her husband and thanks us all for our prayers and concern, so it is okay for me to disclose her name. Please go to her site and send her your warm wishes, prayers, encouragement, and just plain old decent concern. Thank you.

Sites I have trackbacked to:

• Douglas Farah: Indictment of Another Islamic Charity Shows Possible Tradecraft.
• Right Truth: Reflections.

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News: Africa, Lebanon

There are three articles in particular that should be of import. They concern a war in the Horn of Africa (Somalia), Hizbullah trying to disrupt the elections in Lebanon so Syria can come back, and the prayers of a maniac in Iran telling the people that USA should stop meddling in Lebanon’s affairs.

EXCUSE ME?! We have Hizbullah slaughtering the Lebanese people on a daily basis, we don’t do anything about that because we are trying to allow them room to work things out and hopefully get up the courage they showed during the Cedar Revolution to kick out the Hizbullah creeps. To no avail, apparently, but to accuse us of meddling? You’ve got some nerve! God does NOT like being lied to or about, especially when He can see for Himself!

My article is Hizbullah troubles elections, Iran tells USA to stop meddlin, and these two articles discuss this: Geagea: Hizbullah obstructing election to bring Syria back and Tehran prayer leader tells US to leave Lebanon alone. They can be found at the Daily Star in Lebanon.

Going to Africa, Ethiopia has left the area which they were controlling in Somalia to keep the peace, and who do you think came trouncing right back in to make sure there would be none? That is correct. The islamists. They have taken control of a town in south-west Somalia. And these misguided people in the USA want us to just cut and run? NOT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.

Here is that article: Islamists move in after Ethiopians leave Somali town.

Tonight was Saturday, but I can see that it is Sunday now. Whichever day you would like it to be, it is an open trackback day. Just add me to your post, trackback to me, and send me a ping. Have a great weekend, and stay home if you’re going to drink. 😉

Posts I’ve trackbacked to at Linkfest and others:

• Stop the ACLU: New Years Free For All.
• Stuck on Stupid: New Year Extended Weekend Linkfest 12/29/2007-01/01/2008.
• Phastidio.net: Tradition [Year-End Open Trackback].
• Big Dog’s Weblog: Discrimination in Baltimore. Will she be our next Rosa Parks, only in reverse?
• Right Truth: Final thoughts on the Bhutto-Pakistan situation for this year – UPDATED with video.
• Adam’s Blog: Post of the Day for December 30, 2007.
• The World According to Carl: 2007 Liberty Bowl: University of Central Florida vs Mississippi State University.
• walls of the city: sensor ping XXXVIII.
• Thanks to: Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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Trackbacks to this post (most recent tb listed first):

• Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker: Happy New Year 2008.
• Right Truth: Happy New Year.
• Diary of the Mad Pigeon: Short Notes on Bhutto.
• 123beta: One Year Ago: Saddam Hussein Hanged.
• Stuck On Stupid: New Year Extended Weekend Linkfest 12/29/2007-01/01/2008.

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Somalia in trouble again

I have some rather disturbing news which was foreseeable, had anyone bothered to look. After the Ethiopians left Somalia overnight on Thursday/Friday, Islamists moved in quickly to overtake Guriel, a small town in south-central Somalia. Here is article from The Daily Star:

Islamists move in after Ethiopians leave Somali town.
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Saturday, December 29, 2007.

MOGADISHU: Islamist militia on Friday took control of a town in south-central Somalia after Ethiopian soldiers withdrew overnight, witnesses said. The Islamists, who briefly controlled much of south and central Somalia before they were ousted by Ethiopia-backed Somali government troops early this year, have since been waging near daily attacks against the joint forces. “The Ethiopian forces withdrew from the town overnight, and now I can see the former Islamic courts fighters,” said Mohammad Haji Elmi, a local elder. The Islamists took over Guriel town, some 300 kilometers north of the capital Mogadishu, which they had previously controlled. Somalia has been plagued by 16 years of violence that has defied numerous bids to restore stability. – AFP

Yes, we really know how to fight this war, eh? Why don’t we all just pick up and leave? This is the best evidence of why…NOT! We are not cut-and-runners. If we were, we would be speaking German or Japanese. Please, do not vote for anyone who suggests we can just come home and all will be well. It won’t. Don’t forget, we were helping the Somalians and Ethiopians in this war. See what happens when you run? HUH?

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Peaceful transfer of power in Sierra Leone brings hope

On Tuesday, September 18, 2007, Sierra Leone made history. One of the war-torn countries of Africa is now on the first steps towards a weak democracy. While it has been a quasi-democracy in the past, they were constantly at war with Charles Taylor, war-lord ousted of Liberia by the USA.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — War-ravaged Sierra Leone’s peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box bodes well for a continent that has struggled against repression and conflict for half a century.

But violence often simmers behind the democratic facade in Africa, where corruption is rife and a dying breed of tyrants remain.

Sierra Leone’s run-off, in which Ernest Bai Koroma defeated Vice President Solomon Berewa, saw the opposition oust the ruling party — a rare occurrence in a region where power-hungry leaders keen to stay on have long used the machinery of state to their advantage.

Observers praised the relatively smooth transition, though street brawls accompanied campaigning and looters ransacked Berewa’s party headquarters Monday as Koroma was sworn in. Police fired into the air to disperse the crowd and two people were electrocuted in the melee.

Still, Sierra Leone’s vote strengthens hope for democratic change in Africa.

Hope is the backbone of many beginnings. Just as important as peace, let us not forget about Sierra Leone is our prayers.

Prior to the election, however, there was some very nasty assualts and riots. I didn’t have the time to write it down because I was busy moving, but I do remember reading about it. I knew there was something, and here it is! This is when the president was threatening to call a state of emergency. I would still offer caution.

Here is some more background:

After the brutality of the colonial era and the coups and dictatorships that followed, democracy began making inroads on the continent in the early 1990s, when the end of the Cold War spelled the collapse of support from the West or Moscow that had propped up so many tyrants. Leaders allowed opposition parties and held elections to show they were changing, but many were shams.

Today, the state of democracy in Africa is mixed. Sierra Leone’s two neighbors provide an illustration: Liberia, emerging from its own civil war, held elections two years ago and has become a shining example of good governance. Guinea, on the other hand, is ruled by Lansana Conte, an aging dictator who has clung to power for 23 years through fear and fraudulent elections.

Don’t Miss: Sierra Leone’s new president inaugurated.

To understand the significance of this election (or the problems that may lay ahead), I have decided to ‘borrow’ the rest of the article. Most of time, CNN moves its articles, and I want you to have a place of reference. 🙂

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Charles Doukubo of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, a Cameroonian who works for the Washington-based democracy advocacy group Freedom House, said there had been “notable progress” in the last few years, citing recent elections in Liberia, Congo, Senegal, Mali and Mauritania that have been deemed free and fair.

When Freedom House began ranking global levels of political rights and civil liberties in 1977, only three African nations were considered free. “Today there are 11,” Agborsangaya-Fiteu said. “There’s definitely movement in a positive direction, but we need to see more.”

Freedom House’s 2007 report lists 23 other countries on the continent as partly free, with 19 more “not free.”

“Democracy means more than being able to hold a peaceful election,” said Gross-Umstadt, Germany-based Eric A. Witte of the Democratization Policy Council, a nongovernmental advocacy group.

The biggest challenge for Sierra Leone now is what happens after the vote. Will Koroma’s administration be able to tackle corruption and ease massive unemployment? Will it be able to keep the peace?

Koroma’s party, in power for the first time since a 1992 coup, carries with it the baggage of years of mismanagement and corruption allegations.

Witte said the elections largely reflected “ethnicity and patronage politics,” with Berewa doing well in ethnic Mende strongholds in the south, and Koroma doing well in Temne areas in the north.

The vote “did not revolve very much around the very important issues that face Sierra Leone. It was more a popularity contest, a test of loyalties among different ethnic factions,” Witte said.

Similar criticisms have been made against upcoming elections due by year’s end in Kenya, where the governing party is running on the endorsement of the corruption-addled party it defeated five years ago — back when it was hailed as the clean opposition.

Witte said Sierra Leone’s people were unanimous in their widespread disgust with the ruling party’s failure to curb corruption. Carolyn Norris, Dakar-based West Africa Project Director for International Crisis Group, agreed.

“They voted for substantial fundamental change — but actually instituting that change is the challenge now,” Norris said. “The new president will have his hands full.”

The vote also reinforced the idea that a sitting president can stand down, Norris said. “There are still people around the continent who aren’t prepared to do that.”

Sierra Leone’s departing President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah was barred by law from running for a third five-year term. Other countries have put constitutional caps on terms in office, including Nigeria and Mauritania’s former military junta, which organized a free vote and returned power to civilian rule earlier this year. Gabon, Uganda and Chad, on the other hand, have gone the other way, amending constitutions so incumbents can stay on.

And many have.

Cameroon’s Paul Biya has held power since 1982, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe since 1980, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang since 1979. Gabon’s Omar Bongo has been president since 1967, the longest-serving head of state in Africa, second in the world only to Cuba’s Fidel Castro.

Successful elections don’t always herald peace — and can sometimes be divisive.

Burundi’s 1993 vote installed an ethnic Hutu in power, but the president was killed shortly after, sparking a civil war that only ended recently. A long-awaited presidential poll in Ivory Coast has twice been delayed because of the cocoa-producing nation’s civil war. The vote, expected next year, is likely to be tense, and a test of whether the country can turn its back on conflict.

Nigeria’s elections this spring were deemed flawed by local and international observers who cited ballot-box stuffing, vote-rigging, lack of ballots in polling stations and voter intimidation.

“Democracy in Africa is a work in progress. You can take a step forward, then take two steps back,” Doukubo said. “Africa is trying to embrace change, but … it needs time.”

Sound familiar? I hope no one intends on ‘helping’ these people. They must learn to work out their problems on their own, and they are off to a great start. They have Charles Taylor incarcerated, he will face a court of some sorts (although if it’s from the UN? Don’t hold your breath!). Of course if they ask and the need is great, can we turn such a blind eye as we did in Darfur? Think about it…

Sources: CNN and NewsFeed.

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Violence in Sierra Leone on election day?

There is fear in this African state where there has already been too much violence for any one people. The president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, is thinking about declaring a state of emeregence. So what is taking place?

President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone, whose ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) faces the prospect of losing power in the second round of a presidential election, is threatening to impose a state of emergency, news agencies report.

The BBC reported today that Kabbah warned, in a television address made yesterday, that he might declare an emergency after two days of clashes between rival parties.

His warning came as the SLPP issued a statement complaining that supporters of the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), had “brutally assaulted” SLPP supporters.

Kabbah was quoted as saying that “The government shall not hesitate for one moment to declare a state of public emergency if the current state of intimidation, molestation and violent acts is not stopped immediately.” [Continue reading.]

Source: allAfrica.

Here is more information from CNN (I know, but maybe they may say something that is correct. lol)

Police declared a curfew in the eastern border region with Liberia on Monday, a center of the illegal diamond mining trade which fueled a 1991-2002 civil war, after dispersing more than a thousand demonstrators from rival political groups.

The unrest spread to the suburbs of the capital Freetown late on Monday, where supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party and the opposition All People’s Congress took to the streets with machetes, local radio said.

U.N. sources said one person was believed to have been killed in the violence.

“The people of this country have suffered long enough,” Kabbah said in an address broadcast late on Monday.

“I’m deeply distressed by events at the weekend. … From henceforth the government shall not hesitate to declare a state of emergency,” he said.

The polls in the West African country are the first since United Nations peacekeepers left two years ago following the civil war, a brutal conflict in which children were drugged and forced to fight and civilians were mutilated with machetes. [Continue reading.]

All we can do is sit prayerfully and wait…

Update: If you have any trouble with those links, ie. the site is no longer there, try this link for CNN, and this link for allAfrica. Thank you.

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Civil Affairs Team Delivers Medical Supplies

21 Aug 07
By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Public Affairs.

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti – Members of the 350th Civil Affairs Command Special Functions Team donated eight pallets of excess medical supplies valued at $800,000 to the Pelltia Hospital in Djibouti, July 25.

Items such as pajamas, oxygen masks, sheets, gauze bandages, knee braces, surgical instruments and humidifiers were flown in from warehouses in Qatar and Bahrain to be delivered to the hospital. From there, the supplies will be dispersed to hospitals and clinics throughout the region.

“The pallets are excess medical property and if we don’t accept it, it’s literally just buried in the sand and it all goes to waste,” said Army Lt. Col. Alana Conley, 350th medical team chief. “Basically every clinic and hospital in Djibouti and throughout the Horn of Africa can use medical supplies. Items that are usually expendable to us, they’re reusing. The supplies will be used to improve patient care overall.”

Dr. Christian Oman Glele, acting chief of staff was on-hand to accept the property once it was offloaded from the trucks with the help of people in the local community. “Thank you a lot for the medical supplies,” said Glele. “Offloading the material is a big job, but now patients have access to good equipment which is very beneficial for the hospital.”

Other civil affairs teams throughout the Horn of Africa also received medical supplies to distribute to hospitals and clinics in their respective countries. “Everywhere we’ve been, every hospital and clinic we’ve looked at, didn’t have enough supplies,” said Air Force Maj. Pauline Lucas, 350th public health officer. “Some hospitals even rewash bandages. We know that with this property, we could do more for them. We went to look at their supply warehouse and it was bare. When we looked at it, we were like wow, we have all these excess items; we can fulfill their need.”

In the future, the 350th Civil Affairs Command Special Functions Team plans to send first aid shelter kits to field hospitals in Garrissa and Bal Bala, Kenya, as well as clinics throughout Tanzania and Djibouti. Dr. Madian Said, the Pelltia Hospital’s chief of staff who also runs medical caravans throughout the country, will use some of the first aid shelter kits to help fight cholera outbreaks in the region.

Photo – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Swain, and Air Force Maj. Pauline Lucas, 350th Civil Affairs Command Special Functions Team, offload medical supplies at the Pelltia Hospital in Djibouti with the help of local residents. More than eight pallets of supplies and equipment valued at $800,000 were donated to the hospital, July 25. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh.

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NMCB-133 drilling wells, building schools in the HOA

26 Jul 07
by MC1 Mary Popejoy
CJTF-HOA Public Affairs.

The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-ONE THIRTY THREE Detachment Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonier have been deployed to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa area of operation since Feb. 5 performing well drilling operations, school building projects and other quality of life projects throughout East Africa.

The Seabees, more than 130 strong, are currently in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya providing each community with much-needed assistance to improve the quality of life in each area. Each project the Seabees have taken on aligns with the task force’s mission of preventing conflict, promoting regional stability and protecting coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. This mission is accomplished by partnering with nations on humanitarian assistance, civic action programs such as school and medical clinic construction and water development projects.

“I am very proud of each and every member of my team because they not only have built structures, but have formed friendly bonds that will mentally form lasting impressions with those they’ve helped,” said Navy Lt. Edward Miller, officer in charge of NMCB-133 Det. Djibouti. “Our efforts not only make the host nation populace appreciate our efforts, but the efforts their government is making to better their lives.”

As part of improving the different locations throughout the Horn of Africa, the Seabees are currently doing projects at the Abiot Emerja and Charichcho Schools in Ethiopia where they are building concrete masonry units, which will be used to house office spaces, classrooms, a library and latrines. The Seabees will also help improve ground drainage, install shelving units and provide electricity to the new and existing structures.

In Kenya, they’re doing several projects such as replacing a deteriorating boat ramp, renovating and completing Southwest Asia-style huts and installing air handlers. In addition to those tasks, the Seabees are also conducting Water Well drilling operations in cooperation with the Kenyan Ministry of Water.

Closer to home in Hol Hol, Djibouti, the Seabees have demolished a portion of the existing deteriorated school structure and begun partial reconstruction of the schoolhouse. The statement of work includes replacing all windows, doors, wood style ceiling tiles, installing new ceiling fans and installing a block structure with four Turkish-style pit toilets.

“Many of the projects throughout the Horn of Africa are completed by local contractors, so when the Seabees take on a task there are less people and it might take longer, but it will be of better quality and have a more positive impact on the community,” said Miller. “We bring our specialty skills and our American building standards, so we’re going to make sure what we build lasts a long time and doesn’t pose any safety concerns.”

For Builder 2nd Class Gabriel Kelly, it provides a lot of personal satisfaction being able to build structures in a country such as Africa. “It is very rewarding to be able to use the skills I have and provide a better way of life for the people who use the facilities in the future,” he said.

According to BU1 (Seabee Combat Warfare) Michael Cadoret, project manager for Camp Lemonier, the end result of each project makes it completely worthwhile. “The best part of any project is seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and how happy they are to have a new and improved building for them to use,” he said. “Seeing the effect and impact our projects have on a community make the long hours completely worth it.”

Leaving the community with a good impression of the U.S. military is an important and critical part of every mission. “We want them to know Americans are good people and we’re here to do good things that will benefit the area in many ways,” said Cadoret. “Each project we do is a stepping stone that brings Africans closer to helping Africa become more stable in the Horn of Africa.”

So when its time for NMCB-133 to pack up and head back to the states in mid-August, the Seabees can be proud of their individual and team success and the improvements that have made Africa better than when they first arrived on scene.

“When this deployment wraps up, we’ll feel good about what we’ve accomplished here because we as a team have grown personally and professionally by doing these great projects and improving Africa; one project at a time,” said Miller.

Photo – Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ONE THIRTY THREE pour concrete into a concrete pad located inside the expansion area of Camp Lemonier May 15. The concrete pad project is just one of three projects the Seabees are responsible for on Camp Lemonier. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Edward Miller.

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Islamists are stealing Darfurian land; where is the UN?

I found this article to be so dishearening. If this were Israel trying to build one home on THEIR own land, there would be a world-wide outcry. So why is everyone silent when the Arabs, by invitation from Bashir, are moving into the land that belongs to Darfurian refugees? You may read about it in The Independent on Sunday.

I am at the point where I can no longer just write and call about this situation. I am going to call the UN and find out just who is in charge of Darfur over there. I will be polite. I will be firm. I will demand that these people are arrested, along with Bashir, for the theft of property.

Will I get very far? Who knows? I have been known to be very persuasive. Still, we are dealing with terrorists in the UN on OUR land. If this fails, if they keep diddling around in Congress, I just may reconsider the reasons why I dropped out of the race for Congress in the first place…

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Video for Darfur – Send peacekeepers NOW

Please listen to this video. It says in a few seconds what I have been saying for years. There is only one difference. I am not asking you for anything other than a phone call (Toll free: 866-340-9281). I will never ask you for a dime or a penny. They do not ask for any money in this video for which I am grateful. However, when you go to their site, they will.

They do not have a bad site. You should visit it just to educate yourself. BTW, it has been 400,000 killed for a couple of years now. Do ya think the number ought to be higher? I do.

The Darfurians have no voice other than yours. Please consider abolishing slavery and Jihadist genocide. If you have any questions, please contact me. I will gladly answers any questions to the best of my ability. Thank you for your time to read this. It would mean a lot more to me if you would raise your voice…politely! 😉

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Video for Darfur – Send peacekeepers NOW!

Please listen to this video. It says in a few seconds what I have been saying for years. There is only one difference. I am not asking you for anything other than a phone call (Toll free: 866-340-9281). I will never ask you for a dime or a penny. They do not ask for any money in this video for which I am grateful. However, when you go to their site, they will.

They do not have a bad site. You should visit it just to educate yourself. BTW, it has been 400,000 killed for a couple of years now. Do ya think the number ought to be higher? I do.

The Darfurians have no voice other than yours. Please consider abolishing slavery and Jihadist genocide. If you have any question, please contact me. I will gladly answer any questions to the best of my ability. Thank you for your time to read this. It would mean a lot more to me if you would raise your voice…politely! 🙂

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Sarkozy pushes for help in Darfur, NOW

Source: CNN.

It is about time someone else besides President Bush started pushing Bashir in Sudan and the EU to allow the AU-UN peacekeepers to take control. If something doesn’t happen soon, we will have another Rwanda, if we don’t already. Boy, I’ll bet the Left would be just thrilled with that. They could blame Bush for it! Ah, but where are THEY? [Hello? Hello? (Kennedy on the Senate floor.)]

PARIS, France (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy pushed fast international action toward speeding up deployment of troops in Darfur, as key world players met Monday to try to consolidate efforts and resources for the ravaged Sudanese region.

Sudan was not invited to the one-day Paris conference, organized by a new French government that has made the four-year conflict in Darfur a top priority. The meetings come after Sudan agreed — under international pressure — to allow the deployment of a joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in the region. [Continue reading.]

I shall be praying for the people in Darfur. I hope whoever reads this, if you still that you are not the be all to end all, would pray with me for these people. I will also be praying that the al Qaida will be found and killed! Have a great day.

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Finally, 3 convicted of war crimes in Sierra Leone

Source: CNN.

I have been waiting for many years to hear this news, and they still have not convicted Charles Taylor, ex-President of Liberia. Does anyone remember how long it took for them convict Milosevic? That’s right. They never did. He died after 4 years – at least – of waiting for them to convict him or let him go. (And they have a problem with Gitmo? HA!)

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — A U.N.-backed court trying those accused of bearing greatest responsibility for the brutality of Sierra Leone’s civil war issued its first verdicts Wednesday, convicting three former leaders of a junta that had terrorized the country during a brief reign.

The court found the three defendants guilty of 11 of 14 charges, including terrorism, using child soldiers, enslavement, rape and murder. [Continue reading.]

The crimes they were NOT convicted of were the crimes against the children. There were no sexually charged crimes that these scums were convicted of for having committed.

I have mixed feelings about this. I’m very glad these terrorists were FINALLY convicted. This lets the other people know that when you enslave children and force them to take up arms, you will be found guilty of war crimes. (Except in the Middle East, I suppose.) This trial has set that precedent. On the other hand, if you only rape these children, then what? That doesn’t matter? That is very disheartening.

Charles Taylor’s trial began in the ICC (International Criminal Court) a month ago. I guess we have at least 10 years before we get a verdict out of there. That is, if he lives that long…

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Coalition for International Justice 5/20/2005

Posted first at Causes of Interest.

Coalition for International Justice has released their report about the deaths that are occurring in Darfur. This survey includes not just the deaths from violence, but also the deaths from starvation, exposure, and disease.

Hagan and his colleague University of Toronto researcher Patricia Parker reviewed data culled from 1,136 interviews of refugees from Darfur conducted by the Coalition for International Justice last summer, as well as data presented in the World Health Organization’s survey of deaths in refugee camps last year. Based on their analysis of the combined data, they estimate that the number of persons who have died or disappeared between February 2003 to April 2005 is close to 400,000.

I recall it being said that one death is a tragedy, 400,000 deaths is a statistic. I do not agree with this assumption. Each of these people had dreams and hopes, just as you have. Maybe their’s were not as luxurious, but they were still worth our consideration and care. They still deserved to live, and all we are doing is nothing.

Don’t explain to me how hard it is to save the world. I am well aware of that. What is the cost to you to pick up the phone and make a toll free number to the Congress and Senate? Hmm? (877 866) 762-8762 340-9281. Let them know that is not okay to declare genocide, and then do nothing. We said never again. Did we mean it? Well? Did we?

Hat tip: Coalition for International Justice.

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Update: Charles Taylor’s money trail

First posted at My Newz ‘n Idea..

Hat tip: Counter-Terrrorism Blog.

Douglas Farah has been working overtime to prove that Charles Taylor is continuing to violate the political assylum he was given by Nigeria. Taylor is funding terrorist groups such as al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and many others through bribes from businessmen who want to rape the country of diamonds and timber. (I have not bought nor worn a diamond since the early 80’s when I first heard of the atrocities done to children to mine them.)

This is a chart of the companies Viktor Bout owns. What does this have to do with Charles Taylor? Viktor Bout has front companies which he is laundering money and is a

provider of weapons to Taliban and most sides of most wars in sub-Saharan African in violation of U.N. embargos.

He can do this because he owns many companies. One of the reasons this was kept so close to the chest is because one of his partners is a citizen of the USA. American citizens need much more scrutiny than other citizens. (Remember that the next time you want to trash America, will ya.)

Viktor Bout is involved with Chichakli-controlled

30 companies and four individuals designated, he is clearly the most important and newsworthy.

Bout was very active financially in the USA.

For years Chichakli, the son fo a former Syrian president and self-proclaimed childhood friend of Osama bin Laden, has helped Bout on many fronts, while happily residing in Richardson, Tx.

There are a few links with more information for those so inclined.

This is a flow chart of Taylor’s involvement in the diamond and timber sales that made him an estimated $105 Million dollars, although it is believed he had to spend at least 80% for the weapons he gave to outlawed groups to continue wars (page 10.)

This link is a copy of the Coalition of International Justice’s report from following Charles Taylor’s money path of war and destruction.

Excerpt (page 18 of “Path of War and Destruction”): “As president, Taylor controlled access to the country, allowing him to host a variety of international criminal syndicates and terrorist organizations, ranging from Israeli, Lebanese, Russian and Ukrainian organized crime groups, to al Qaeda and Hezbollah. Each of these groups, as well as scores of businessmen seeking to enter the diamond or timber business, were obligated to pay Taylor directly, in cash…

This is the appenices where all the documents, proof, records, and other data you would expect to find. It is very good.

This is Douglas’ blog where he comes right out and explains the reaction of the Nigerian government at the UN.

At the press conference at the UN Correspondents seat in New York yesterday, a senior Nigerian diplomat made the most unequivocal statement to date that Taylor will be turned over if he is found to have violated his terms of assylum.

Hat tip: Andrew Cochran from Counter Terrorism.

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Genocide is on the Rise. Do You Care?

This is from a site I no longer have. Sorry. 🙂

The UN talks, the USA declares, the African Union watches, and the people of Darfur, Sudan die. Have we not had enough yet? Are we too busy? Is their skin color too dark? You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

How long? How many talks? Are you aware that over 400,000 people have perished while we sit around talking? That is one half the number of the people lost in Rwanda, and we said it would never happen again.

I seem to remember another time when we said, “Never again.” We just honored the people who FOUGHT that war 60 years ago. Some never made it home. We knew from the beginning some would not. It is a very hard thing, but the fascists and genocide had to be stopped. (I understand that noone knew, at least to what extent, the genocide had occured.)

The horror is great, I still cannot look directly at it. The evil, I am afraid of it. It haunts me. Does it have no effect on you? Are you satisfied with your life to the point that you don’t care about anyone else?

Okay. That is your choice, but do not get in my way as I beg President Bush to go in there and put a stop to this with our Military. I do not want to hear a peep out of you against me. Your silence, now, is deafening as it is.

I have written, I have called, and I happen to know that Senator Brownback has been working on a bill to help those in Darfur, Sudan. He needs our support. This is not a partisan issue. People, innocent men, women, and children, are dying because they are black, they are Christian, they are not the right Muslim, and just because. It has to stop. Now.

I will post more information on the bill so you can pressure your Senators and Congressperson. I am waiting for a call back as I type. I just feel very strongly about this. We can do this if we stick together.

Maybe if I describe to you what they do… Are you aware they are enslaving black Africans? They mutilate the young girls private area without anastesia. They rape, kidnap, pillage, murder, beat, torture, and this is all for fun? They are beyond sick.

It has been allowed to rise in April. This is why I am so angry. I can only pray that enough of you will see the truth about what is happening, and join me. Please read this article. Thank you.

Hat tip: Passion of the Present, (Darfur).

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