Just a Review

I had save some various web pages over the last couple days to "blog later" -- never really got around to them but still think they are interesting....SO:

For all those who accuse the military is hiding any wrongdoing -- they are holding trials, convicting people, and producing criminal investigation reports. Not doing a good job if "hiding the information" is their intent.

• Army captain convicted of assaults on Iraqis

FORT CARSON, Colo. - An Army captain accused of terrorizing an Iraqi town under his supervision was convicted Wednesday of assaulting Iraqis, but acquitted of charges stemming from an alleged assault of one of his own soldiers.

• Army Details Scale of Abuse of Prisoners in an Afghan Jail

WASHINGTON, March 11 - Two Afghan prisoners who died in American custody in Afghanistan in December 2002 were chained to the ceiling, kicked and beaten by American soldiers in sustained assaults that caused their deaths, according to Army criminal investigative reports that have not yet been made public.

The Atlanta police admit there might have been some mistakes. You think -- they failed to find the car or the suspect at one of the first places they should have searched.

• Atlanta Police Concede Mistakes in Responding to Shooting

ATLANTA, March 18 (AP) - The city's embattled Police Department acknowledged Friday that it made mistakes just after the deadly courthouse rampage here a week ago, and the chief said the suspect had spent as much as 12 hours undetected outside a busy mall.

The police chief, Richard J. Pennington, said he would oversee a full review of his department's response to the attacks. Among the issues to be studied, Chief Pennington said, will be communication problems among law enforcement agencies and their mistaken focus on searching for a carjacked vehicle that they believed the accused, Brian Nichols, was using to flee.

Finally -- North Korea stays in the news!

• U.S., S.Korea to Push for Fresh North Nuclear Talks

SEOUL (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with the strongest proponent for dialogue with communist North Korea when she consults with South Korean officials on Sunday to try to kick start stalled nuclear talks.
With U.S. impatience over the six-country talks rising, Rice in Tokyo on Saturday urged North Korea to return to dialogue immediately. She also said the United States had no intention of invading North Korea.

North Korea has rejected further talks with the United States until Rice retracts her labeling of Pyongyang as "an outpost of tyranny" as proof that Washington regarded it as a dialogue partner and not the enemy in an imminent war.

Another Tragedy

MSNBC - Police find Jessica Lunsford's body
This is a sad ending to another story involving a "registered sex offender". What is going to take before we realize that it is an anomaly for a child molester or any sex offender to rehabilitate [change their ways]?

HOMOSASSA, Fla. - The body of missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford was found early Saturday, a day after officials said a registered sex offender confessed to kidnapping and killing the girl.
Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said Jessica's body was found during an overnight search in a densely wooded area, only about 150 yards away from the home the girl shared with her father and grandparents.

Our Pal For Thirteen Years

She has been our best friend for thirteen years, but has congestional heart failure and not knowing how much longer we might have her I thought I would give her the fifteen minutes of fame she deserves. Not to worry besides medicine, which she thinks is a treat, she does not have a clue she is sick. Truly a Lap Dog!

Let the Infighting Begin

Yahoo! News - Clinton Adviser Critiques Kerry Campaign
Well it might be early -- but let those who live in glass houses start throwing stones... Have to love it, maybe by the 2008 campaign season they will have caused each other too much damage.

ALBANY, N.Y. - A top adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites) thinks fellow Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) 'ran what was basically an inconsistent campaign' for president last year, according to a published report.

Clinton and Kerry are considered potential rivals for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.
The Kerry campaign had 'a different message every two or three weeks,' Ann Lewis, director of communications for Clinton's political action committee, said in Friday's issue of the Forward, a Jewish weekly published in New York City.

What a Mom!

TheDenverChannel.com - News - Mom Sues Hospital Claiming She Nursed Wrong Baby
What a mom -- trying to collect the child's college fund early and without any personal sacrifice. Read the story -- I do not dispute a mistake was made; in fact one of the offending parties was so upset she became emotional -- but wait this error can pay for the child's college or maybe a new car, house -- lottery time! The mother states the accident, which was easily rectified because of proper procedures [the bracelet], "traumatized" her to the point of filing a lawsuit. If this was traumatizing maybe she should give the child up for adoption, because if this child puts her through half the things I put my mother through -- mom will have no less then a dozen nerves breakdowns... No, we don't need TORT reform -- RIGHT!!

A Thornton woman is suing the hospital where she had her daughter, claiming nurses got mixed up and brought her the wrong baby to breastfeed.
Lisa Johnson said it happened last October at North Suburban Medical Center.
Johnson's daughter, Emily, was born with light blonde hair. The new mother said she tried for 10 minutes to breastfeed a baby the nurses thought was hers and was wondering why the baby wouldn't latch on when she finally made a closer inspection.
"And then when the back of the cap was raised up, I could see there was brown hair, and I panicked and took the whole cap off," said Johnson.
"I immediately freaked out and screamed, 'This is not my baby,'" Johnson said. "Then they checked the bracelets and the nurse started to cry and said, 'Oh my God, I can't believe we did this, I'm so sorry."
Johnson demanded to talk to the other baby's mother, Tasaya Reilly.
"I wanted to make sure what they were telling me was the truth," she said.
This little girl was given to the wrong woman, her mother says.
Reilly said the hospital staff told her right away that her baby went to the wrong room but only for 2 to 5 minutes.
[...]
Johnson and her husband are suing the hospital, claiming it was negligence. They are asking for unspecified damages. Johnson said she's been traumatized by the event, has been unable to work and has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress syndrome.

Un-Volunteering MY .....!

The New York Times -- Un-Volunteering: Troops Improvise to Find Way Out
Can you believe this dribble? The New York Times has created a new term for desertion-- Un-Volunteering. No, Ms. Davey it is desertion -- deserting your fellow soldiers and deserting your commitment -- your word, among other things. First, I don't agree with draft dodgers during Vietnam, but comparing this to Iraqi/Afghanistan desertion is asinine -- and that is exactly what Ms. Davey is attempting to do by slipping the Vietnam reference in [IMO]. Let us recall that Vietnam was a military consisting largely of and dependent on draftees -- today we have a volunteer force! This concept seems difficult for the media to understand -- let me explain it, you choose to join and now 3.5 years after 9/11 you know the likely consequences. To further elaborate on the process of choosing -- you take an oath, sign your name to an agreement [contract], and are thereby committed -- upon completing your training, you are further committed by the bonds developed with your fellow service-members. No this is DESERTION plain and simple and should be prosecuted to the full extent allowed under the UCMJ.

The night before his Army unit was to meet to fly to Iraq, Pvt. Brandon Hughey, 19, simply left. He drove all night from Texas to Indiana, and on from there, with help from a Vietnam veteran he had met on the Internet, to disappear in Canada.
In Georgia, Sgt. Kevin Benderman, 40, whose family ties to military service stretch back to the American Revolution, filed for conscientious-objector status and learned that he will face a court-martial in May for failing to report to his unit when it left for a second stint in Iraq.

Un-volunteer my...! (Hat tip: Michelle Malkin)

Iraqi Goverment Moving Along

Top News Article - Iraqi Kurd Leader Sees Government Deal in 7-8 Days
I know the gloom and doomers will say "not so fast", but I believe this is progress -- notice the words secular Iraq. They are working hard and deserve the benefit of the doubt -- those that wish or hope for bad news forget how long it took our small little country to reach agreement on the constitution.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A deal between Iraq's Shi'ites and Kurds on the shape of the government should be reached by the time the new parliament next meets on March 25 or 26, a Kurdish leader said on Friday.
Jalal Talabani, who is expected to be Iraq's next president, was quoted as telling CNN in an interview that the names of the proposed president, prime minister and parliament speaker would be agreed ahead of the next parliament meeting.
He said Iraq's new constitution, which should be written by August, would be based on the interim agreement that contains provisions for a federal and secular Iraq -- main points which Iraq's northern Kurds wanted safeguarded.

Annan wants Syria to Pull Out

USATODAY.com - Annan wants Syria to pull out of Lebanon
Welcome to the ballgame! Will the UN now define terrorist as terrorist?

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan demanded Thursday that Syria withdraw all its troops from Lebanon before Lebanese parliamentary elections in April and May, marking the first time he has set a specific timetable for Damascus.

Militants Halt Attacks on Israel

MSNBC - Militants agree to halt attacks on Israel
I believe this is great news and a big step towards peace -- now what can Mahmoud Abbas and Ariel Sharon accomplish in the next nine months?

SIXTH OF OCTOBER CITY, Egypt - Palestinian militants declared a halt to attacks on Israel for the rest of this year, their longest cease-fire promise ever and a victory for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. But they warned Thursday the truce would collapse if Israel does not hold its own fire and release Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon described the announcement as a “positive first step,” though he insisted that for greater progress to take place “terrorist organizations cannot continue to exist as armed groups.” A top aide to Sharon, Ranaan Gissin, said Israel would continue to refrain from military action so long as Palestinians do not attack Israelis.

Good News -- I Think all Can Agree?

MSNBC - U.S. expects to trim Iraq force this year

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army expects to begin cutting troop levels in Iraq later this year, a move that would reduce the level of American forces there to below 138,000, an Army general said on Thursday.

Bush Steps Back on SS - Did He?

Chicago Tribune -- Bush steps back on Social Security
You are the judge -- did President Bush "step back" or is he pushing the democrats to come up with a plan instead of blocking any plan or simply disagreeing with all republican ideas.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush urged members of Congress Wednesday to consult their constituents and help him seek a 'permanent fix' for Social Security, but said that he will not be the first to advance a long-range plan because he thinks 'the first bill on the hill always is dead on arrival.

More on Drilling ANWR

KnoxNews: Frist, Alexander cite potential supply
I am not currently living in Tennessee, but am a Vol by the grace of God, and found this article informative... I agree with the thought process of both senators.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said: 'The high cost of gasoline illustrates that our nation is too dependent on foreign oil. I believe that we can access this vital energy supply in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.'
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said gasoline prices are going up 25 cents a gallon and nearly 60 percent of U.S. oil supply comes from overseas.
'It makes no sense to ignore a new source of American oil that should produce as much oil as Texas already produces each year,' he said.

Here is the rebuttal from the same article:

Kate Prevost of U.S. PIRG's Southeastern office in Atlanta said the group concluded from a U.S. Geological Survey study in 1998 that there may be only a one-year supply of economically recoverable oil in the targeted 2,000 acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
"It's not going to be enough to make a dent in our dependence on foreign oil," she said.

Notice that may is the key word in the rebuttal! Now we should not drill the 2,000 acres, which is less then .0015 of the overall 1.5 million acres in question -- based on the fact it may not produce; what if it does? Now here is something for the environmentalist, what if it does not? Wouldn't this reinforce any arguments they may have for future drilling sites? Now me personally if I was battling for the environmentalist and I knew that this would not produce I would say go ahead what is a .0015 sacrifice for the overall good; giving us a bigger stick to fight with...but are they that confident in their science?

Well -- Maybe Not?

I blogged something today about the "left being ecstatic", here, and how we are being bombarded with news reports that could be perceived as "bad Bush news", here. Hold the presses -- let us see if this gets as much attention, seems Italy's Prime Minister might be backing off the "confirmed" status a bit.

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday appeared to back track from his proposal of withdrawing troops from Iraq starting from September, saying the date was only his hope and could be changed.

Berlusconi, one of U.S. President George W. Bush's most vocal supporters, shocked friend and foe on Tuesday when he said Italy would start pulling out its troops in September, adding he was in talks with Britain's Tony Blair about a total exit.

"There's never been a fixed date," Berlusconi said.

"It was only my hope ... If it is not possible, it is not possible. The solution should be agreed with the allies."

Blake Innocent?

FOXNews.com - Blake Found Not Guilty of Murder:
Well I have not followed this case, but what I did hear sounded pretty damning... Well considering the previous news today and this maybe guilt or innocence in California depends on your celebrity even if it is from years gone by -- who knows.

LOS ANGELES - The jury in the Robert Blake (search) murder trial has found the 'Baretta' actor not guilty of the 2001 murder of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley (search).
Jurors also acquitted Blake of one charge that Blake solicited murder, but deadlocked on a second solicitation charge. The jury voted 11-1 in favor of acquittal and the judge dismissed the count.

Bush Concedes -- What?

USATODAY.com - Bush concedes accounts won't fix Social Security
You have to love the "spin" in the headlines -- this is news? I have known this and the administration has acknowledged this for months, which is why many democrats along with the AARP have said his [President Bush's] plan would cut benefits, even before we knew what the plan looked like. From the beginning the plan was said to call for "private or personal accounts" and a change in the way benefits are figured to address the solvency issue -- President Bush conceded nothing, maybe the reporter just did not understand the plan from the get go, which I fear is an issue with many other Americans. Nevertheless, you have to admire the continual effort to make President Bush look bad, but unlike the media thinks most Americans are intelligent and realize the intent.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush conceded Wednesday that private accounts do not address the projected problems with Social Security, but he defended his approach and said he wanted more input from Congress on overhauling the troubled system.

Senate Opens Arctic to Drilling

MSNBC - Senate votes to open arctic refuge to oil drilling
Breaking news -- a blow to environmentalist, a vote for Human needs over animal rights. Now before anyone jumps on the "you want the world to end" bandwagon; no I do not! I do believe we should be good stewards of our earthly resources but do not believe this means we, as humans, must sacrifice for nature... Not to mention the little known fact that the caribou that are suppose to die were supposed to have died after the "Alaskan pipeline" construction -- what happened -- the herd multiplied… Go figure! This is not the final decision but it is a step! Another bright side -- the oil prices may go down just with the threat of opening this area up to drilling.

WASHINGTON - Amid the backdrop of soaring oil and gasoline prices, a sharply divided Senate on Wednesday voted to open the ecologically rich Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling, delivering a major energy policy win for President Bush.

The Senate, by a 51-49 vote, rejected an attempt by Democrats and GOP moderates to remove a refuge drilling provision from next year’s budget.

The action, assuming Congress agrees on a budget, clears the way for approving drilling in the refuge later this year, drilling supporters said.

Death Penalty

Top News Article Reuters.com
Guilty and the death penalty in California -- wonders never cease.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Reuters) - A California judge said on Wednesday that he agreed with the jury's death penalty sentence against Scott Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife and unborn son in a case that attracted nationwide attention.
The judge was to formally sentence Peterson later on Wednesday.

Taiz "Tea Party"

BBC NEWS -- Riots in Yemen over sales tax
Just a quick read caused me to flashback to when I first heard about the "Boston Tea Party" during one of my first history lessons.

Police in Yemen have clashed with demonstrators on a second day of protest over a proposed sales tax rise.
In Taiz, about 250 kilometres south of the capital, Sanaa, as many as nine people are reported to have been injured and another 10 detained.

Italy Confirms

BBC NEWS -- Italy confirms Iraq troop plans
Well it is officially confirmed -- as if we did not know the first 100 articles were. Maybe it is just me but I find is suspicious when you keep articles saying the same thing circulating, causing me to think it is an attempt to keep "bad Bush" news in the news, but that is me. At least there is a theory mentioned that the move might be related to the "upcoming" election -- you think?

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed that he intends to begin withdrawing Italian troops from Iraq as soon as possible.[...]
The Italian media has speculated that the announcement was aimed at a domestic rather than international audience, ahead of Italy's general election.

Italy to Pulls Troops

BBC NEWS -- Italy 'to pull troops from Iraq':
Well this news should make the "left" ecstatic -- let see how gloomy they spin these 3,000 leaving -- BTW I am sure the fact it want be happening for another six months will slip their mind.

Italy is to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September 2005, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said.
He told Rai state television the pullout would take place 'in agreement with our allies'.
Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq - the fourth largest foreign contingent.