| allawi
to us congress
“So in Iraq we confront both, insurgency and the global war on terror with
their destructive forces sometimes overlapping. These killers may be just
a tiny fraction of our 27 million population, but with their guns and
their suicide bombs to intimidate and to frighten all the people of Iraq,
I can tell you today, they will not succeed.”
—
“There are now over 6 million children at school, many of them attending
one of the 2,500 schools that have been renovated since liberation.
“Last week, we completed a national polio vaccination campaign, reaching
over 90 percent of all Iraqi children.
“We're starting work on 150 new health centers across the country. Millions
of dollars in economic aid and humanitarian assistance from this country
and others around the world are flowing into Iraq. For this, again, I want
to thank you.”
—
“In 15 out of our 18 Iraqi provinces we could hold elections tomorrow.
Although this is not what we see in your media, it is a fact.
“Your government, our government and the United Nations are all helping us
mobilizing the necessary resources to fund voter registration and
information programs. We will establish up to 30,000 polling sites,
130,000 election workers, and all other complex aspects mounting a general
election in a nation of 27 million before the end of January next.
“We already know that terrorists and former regime elements will do all
they can to disrupt these elections. There would be no greater success for
the terrorists if we delay and no greater blow when the elections take
place, as they will, on schedule.
“The Iraqi elections may not be perfect, may not be the best elections that
Iraq will ever hold. They will no doubt be an excuse for violence from
those that despise liberty, as were the first elections in Sierra Leone,
South Africa or Indonesia.
“But they will take place, and they will be free and fair. And though they
won't be the end of the journey toward democracy, they will be a giant
step forward in Iraq's political evolution.
“They will pave the way for a government that reflects the world, and has
the confidence of the Iraqi people.”
—
“Neither tyranny nor terrorism has a place in our region or our world. And
that is why we Iraqis will stand by you, America, in a war larger than
either of our nations, the global battle to live in freedom.”
related item
bush speech to the un - transcript selections
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#allawi
facts are better than left-wing hysteria
“ [...] insurgents, whose estimated numbers range from 20,000, according to
one American general, to twice that figure [...] ”
The Iraqi population is over 25 million; that is, 1 or 2 in a thousand are
causing problems.
“ [...] at least 137 have been nabbed [kidnapped], of whom 28 have been
killed, 29 are still being held, and 60 have been freed or escaped, says
the Brookings Institution [...] ”
That is, about 5 in a million relative to the population have been kidnapped of
whom around 1 in a million have been murdered.
“Mr Allawi and the Americans stress that most of Iraq is more or less
safe. Of 18 provinces, 11 are said to be calm. The three Kurdish provinces
in the north-east have been quiet. A state-funded newspaper, al-Sabah,
reports that 75 out of Iraq's 86 biggest towns are at least "semi-stable".
Most of the unstable 11 are in the Sunni triangle mainly north and west of
Baghdad.”
—
“ [...] foreigners are thought responsible for most of the suicide-bombs that
periodically cause mayhem (some 83 have gone off since the fall of Saddam
Hussein, at a rate that may be slightly going down), they do not dominate
the insurgency. Of 5,500 suspected rebels in prison, only 130-140 are
foreigners [...] ”
—
“Despite the gloom, Iraqis are still surprisingly optimistic. An opinion
poll a few weeks ago found that 47% reckoned life was better than under Mr
Hussein, versus 31% who said it was worse; and 58% said democracy was
likely to succeed, against 32% who said it would not. But responses varied
hugely from area to area: Sunnis were notably gloomier on all scores.”
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#facts |
related item
bush speech to the un - transcript selections
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my kerry is goin' down the plughole...
To the tune of My bonnie lies over the ocean....
MOTHER’S LAMENT LYRICS
A mother was washing her baby one night;
The youngest of ten and a delicate mite.
The mother was poor and the baby was thin;
’twas naught but a skeleton covered with skin.
The mother turned ’round for a soap off the rack.
She was only a moment but when she turned back
Her baby had gone, and in anguish she cried,
Oh, where has my baby gone? the angels replied:
Oh, your baby has gone down the plug hole.
Oh, your baby has gone down the plug.
The poor little thing was so skinny and thin,
He should have been washed in a jug, in a jug.
Your baby is perfectly happy;
He won’t need a bath anymore.
He’s a-muckin’ about with the angels above,
Not lost but gone before.
“ John Kerry has finally decided that the only way he can win the US
presidential election is to come out against the war in Iraq.”
—
“And he presents an easy target: President Bush immediately hit back,
accusing Mr Kerry of again reversing his position.
“ "Last December he [Mr Kerry] said this, and I quote, 'those who doubted
whether Iraq or the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein and
those who believe we are not safer with his capture don't have the
judgement to be president or the credibility to be elected president'".
“ "I could not have said it better," Mr Bush added." ”
And another swoosh as Kerry spins around his vortex of self destruction,
soon to be sucked down his own personal plughole and kerried out to
sea, never more to adorn a talk show.
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#plughole |
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the outing of the fossil media proceeds apace
The media is not changing, just public awareness is growing.
“The CBS fontgate/memogate/Rathergate scandal has produced an uptick in
feelings of liberal bias in the media, while trust in the press has fallen
to an all-time low. According to new numbers (Subscription Required) from
the Gallup organization, which has been tracking the question of media
bias for many years, the issues of media bias and trust showed significant
shifts during the time CBS was under scrutiny, September 13-15.
“For the first time since Gallup began this research over 30 years ago,
more than half the people (55%) answered "not very much" or "none at all,"
when asked about trust in reporting the news.”
Link found at aoiko
related material
the fossil media: "Maybe there is no point to listening now"
blogs destroy cbs reputation, and dishonest story on bush
the fossil media: please explain mister rather
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#fossil_media |
advertising
disclaimer |
|
the fossil media: please explain mister rather
“ Please understand that at this moment there seem to be only two
explanations for your recent performance: (1) You have no standards at
all, and throw anything you want on your airwaves, in which case you
cannot be trusted, as you are too sloppy and careless; or (2) you have
standards, which you waive when you have a chance to hurt a Republican, in
which case you cannot be trusted, as you are partisan hacks. Please get
back to us, before the phrase "Phony as a CBS newscast" replaces "phony as
a three dollar bill" in the national argot.”
Item worth a quick read.
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#rathers_ethics |
|
nato agreement to train irakis in irak, as long as old europe doesn't have to pay!
Good to see old Europe standing on principle as usual:
“The Nato alliance has agreed to take on a larger role in the training of
Iraqi security forces, a spokesman said.
The organisation will now work towards creating a large military training
academy to expand the work done by some 40 Nato instructors already in
Iraq.
“After a week-long delay, accord was reached through a revised plan that
overcame French and Belgian objections.”
—
“BBC regional analyst William Horsley says the move is a big step forward
for the US and its allies in Iraq, who have long wanted to draw more on
the huge resources and experience of Nato in the task of bringing security
and stability to Iraq.
“France, Germany, Belgium and Spain will not contribute personnel for the
project and have sought assurances that other members of the 26-nation
alliance will shoulder the bulk of the training costs.”
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#nato |
|
bush speech to the un - transcript selections
Recommended reading.
“Eventually there is no safe isolation from terror networks or failed
states that shelter them or outlaw regimes or weapons of mass destruction.
Eventually there is no safety in looking away, seeking the quiet life by
ignoring the struggles and oppression of others.
“In this young century, our world needs a new definition of security. Our
security is not merely found in spheres of influence or some balance of
power; the security of our world is found in the advancing rights of
mankind. These rights are advancing across the world, and across the world
the enemies of human rights are responding with violence.”
—
“[...] We're determined to end the state sponsorship of terror, and my nation
is grateful to all that participated in the liberation of Afghanistan.
We're determined to prevent proliferation and to enforce the demands of
the world, and my nation is grateful to the soldiers of many nations who
have helped to deliver the Iraqi people from an outlaw dictator.”
—
“[...] When we say "serious consequences," for the sake of peace there must be
serious consequences. And so a coalition of nations enforced the just
demands of the world.”
—
“We've witnessed the rise of democratic governments in predominantly Hindu
and Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish and Christian cultures. Democratic
institutions have taken root in modern societies and in traditional
societies. When it comes to the desire for liberty and justice, there is
no clash of civilizations. People everywhere are capable of freedom and
worthy of freedom..”
—
“As we've seen in other countries, one of the main terrorist goals is to
undermine, disrupt and influence election outcomes. We can expect
terrorist attacks to escalate as Afghanistan and Iraq approach national
elections. The work ahead is demanding, but these difficulties will not
shake our conviction that the future of Afghanistan and Iraq is a future
of liberty. The proper response to difficulty is not to retreat, it is to
prevail. The advance of freedom always carries a cost paid by the bravest
among us. America mourns the losses to our nation and to many others. And
today I assure every friend of Afghanistan and Iraq and every enemy of
liberty: We will stand with the people of Afghanistan and Iraq until their
hopes of freedom and security are fulfilled.”
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#bush_un_speech |
|
blogs destroy cbs reputation, and dishonest story on bush
“Orville Schell, dean of the school of journalism at the University of
California in Berkeley, said CBS's admission of error after days of
stonewalling was "a landmark moment for the balance between the
blogosphere and mainstream media."
“Bloggers were the first to challenge the authenticity of the documents and
the first to publish detailed examinations of the evidence [...] ”
This report from Reuters attempts to be heavily biased in order to confuse the
subject in hand: the very unreliable fossil media. Reuters also show many errors in its news reports.
Much of fossil media ‘reporting’ comprises hundreds of repeats
of ‘news’ service agency releases from groups such as Reuters.
The fossil media is so biased and unreliable that it is now in process of
complete unravelling. You are watching a historic process in action.
It has taken CBS nearly two weeks to admit errors pointed out
by bloggers from immediately after their broadcast grandstanded the ‘memos’.
These errors are multiple. It was not a matter of simply being taken
in. Rather, a democrat activist and contact of the story fabricator,
is thought to have been aware there were from problems early on.
But the spin just kept right on coming down from CBS,
and defensiveness has been common across the fossil media.
Here is CBS’s admission in the form of an interview with the ‘source’,
who also has a previous reputation for unreliability.
Some of the media is still hoeing to the major line that the documents are genuine, despite
the documents cannot be verified.
From the interview in the above link:
“Burkett still insists the documents are real, but says he was in no
position to verify them.”
It is not easy imagine Burkett was not paid for this interview.
While the left wing attempt to keep the smears going, it is, and was, screamingly obvious these documents are very poor quality
forgeries.
Continue to watch the fossil media sinking
or keep buying the product.
Your choice.
Every day the tripe pours forth,
and the naive lap it up and recirculate it to support this week’s idiotic claims.
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#cbs |
the fossil media: "Maybe there is no point to listening now"
Yet again the blogosphere looks like it is taking apart another
fossil media ‘story’:
“ The echoes of the big Internet bang which annihilated a 60 Minutes story
in under 12 hours are still resounding. The key riffs apparently started
at the FreeRepublic and Powerline and as Samizdata notes, the distributed
intelligence of the Internet took over. Under the scrutiny of thousands of
analysts, the CBS story began to melt down. The idea that the intellectual
resources of a major news agency are always superior to the blogosphere is
given by lie by citing these two separate lines of analysis which, though
proceeding from different starting points, both led to the conclusion that
the documents which Dan Rather relied on to question the Bush National
Guard record were faked. Donald Sensing's analysis was grounded in a
familiarity with military documents.”
[link thanx to DaveVH]
For more detail on the font analysis see the originating site, freerepublic.com, for
this story.
also powerline (link from a correspondent) and INDC Journal.
The errors and the inability to support ‘stories’ emanating from
the fossil media, are coming so thick and fast it is hard to keep up.
and here at instapundit, for amusement, we have a neat logo to bug the fossils.
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#memo |
|
niger yellowcake claimed by italian 'diplomats' to be a french black op
“A row has broken out between France and Italy over whose intelligence
service is to blame for the Niger uranium controversy, which led to
Britain and America claiming wrongly that Saddam Hussein was trying to buy
material for nuclear bombs.”
However, Steyn claims the Niger story was not false:
“ First, contrary to what Wilson wrote in the New York Times, Saddam
Hussein was trying to acquire uranium from Niger. In support of that
proposition are a Senate report in Washington, Lord Butler's report in
London, MI6, French intelligence, other European agencies -- and, as we
now know, the CIA report, based on Joe Wilson's original briefing to them.
Against that proposition is Joe Wilson's revised version of events for the
Times.
“This isn't difficult. In 1999, a senior Iraqi "trade" delegation went to
Niger. Uranium accounts for 75 percent of Niger's exports. The rest is
goats, cowpeas and onions. So who sends senior trade missions to Niger?
Maybe Saddam dispatched his Baathist big shots all the way to the dusty
capital of Niamy because he had a sudden yen for goat and onion stew with
a side order of black-eyed peas, and Major Wanke, the then-president, had
offered him a great three-for-one deal.”
Meanwhile, it is said that Iraq already had 500 tonnes of yellow cake under IAEA
seal throughout the years!
“ Five hundred tons of yellowcake uranium ore stored at Saddam Hussein's al
Tuwaitha nuclear weapons research laboratory near Baghdad could have been
enriched to produce 142 nuclear weapons, a prominent British physicist has
determined.
Addressing the claim by British intelligence last year that Iraq had
sought uranium in Niger, Norman Dombey, professor of theoretical physics
at the University of Sussex, argued, "Iraq already had far more uranium
than it needed for any conceivable nuclear weapons programme." ”
By the way, this report also contains a ludicrous error as yellowcake is around
70 - 75% uranium and, therefore, the figure should be about 105 weapons.
So much for the “professor of nuclear physics”.
This story has been picked up around the place without correction.
google currently shows at least 36 copies.
[First link lead from a private communication.]
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#yellowcake |
|
2004 us republican convention—
presidential election rave-up
Most of the speeches at the GOP convention are rather repetitious, but often interesting.
Here are some links.
bush speech
“If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will
drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch.”
—
“ Many of our most fundamental systems the tax code, health coverage,
pension plans, worker training were created for the world of yesterday,
not tomorrow.
“We will transform these systems so that all citizens are equipped,
prepared and thus truly free to make your own choices and pursue your own
dreams.”
—
“ We are transforming our schools by raising standards and focusing on
results. We are insisting on accountability, empowering parents and
teachers, and making sure that local people are in charge of their
schools.
“By testing every child, we are identifying those who need help and we're
providing a record level of funding to get them that help.”
For those not aware, the Bush administration is assigning vast real
increases to government funding for education and health
Then comes a mercifully short mash waffle and self-serving tripe to
appease the fundies and cliche tendency, then back to solid ground.
“Our Nation is standing with the people of Afghanistan and Iraq, because
when America gives its word, America must keep its word. As importantly,
we are serving a vital and historic cause that will make our country
safer. Free societies in the Middle East will be hopeful societies, which
no longer feed resentments and breed violence for export. Free governments
in the Middle East will fight terrorists instead of harboring them, and
that helps us keep the peace. So our mission in Afghanistan and Iraq is
clear: We will help new leaders to train their armies, and move toward
elections, and get on the path of stability and democracy as quickly as
possible.”
—
“ [...] The wisest use of American strength is to advance freedom [...]
”
—
“ [...] You may have noticed I have a few flaws, too. People sometimes have to
correct my English -- I knew I had a problem when Arnold Schwarzenegger
started doing it. Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which
in Texas is called "walking." [...]
”
—
“ [...] I've held the children of the fallen, who are told their dad or mom is
a hero, but would rather just have their dad or mom.”
Generally down to earth, sadly lacks any serious comment on energ,y but
workmanlike speech that tends to underline the vacuity of Kerry.
Contains a clear drive towards independence for the citizen.
All in all, this looks like a man who can hack it and is looking forward to
four more years.
speech of Laura Bush
highly recommended reading.
For those more dedicated, here is Schwarzenegger’s speech.
It is solid enough, but not in the same class. Boilerplate cornpone
americana.
McCain
A bit lame but sound enough.
Guiliani on Kerry
“ "Now, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, John Kerry voted against
the Persian Gulf War."
“AUDIENCE: "Boooo."
“GIULIANI: "Ah, but he must have heard your booing because -- because later
he said he actually supported the war." ”
This speech has some adequate knock-about
and is, in my view, considerably damaging to Kerry,
but a trifle too long/verbose.
Cheney’s speech
mostly workmanlike and dull, mainly for political wonk readers.
“I am also mindful that I have an opponent of my own. People tell me that
Senator Edwards got picked for his good looks, his sex appeal, and his
great hair. I say to them, "How do you think I got the job?" ”
—
“In his years in Washington, John Kerry has been one of a hundred votes in
the United States Senate and very fortunately on matters of national
security, his views rarely prevailed. But the presidency is an entirely
different proposition. A senator can be wrong for 20 years, without
consequence to the nation. But a president, a president always casts the
deciding vote. And in this time of challenge, America needs and America
has a president we can count on to get it right.”
In a very unusual action, Democrat senator Miller has made a stinging
and wide-ranging attack on his own party leader (Kerry) at the Republican
convention. He was particularly critical at the lack of statemanship among present Democrat politicians.
“ For more than 20 years, on every one of the great issues of freedom and
security, John Kerry has been more wrong, more weak and more wobbly than
any other national figure.”
Comments on Bush speech still to come.
the web address for the article above
is
https://www.abelard.org/news/politics0409.php#gop |
