Is there any such thing as a fair trial by an impartial jury?
Via Drudge:
"JUROR: WE HAD SYMPATHY FOR LIBBY, HE WAS THE FALL-GUY, WHERE WAS ROVE, WHERE WERE THE OTHERS...?"
Does this sound like an impartial juror? "Where was Rove?" "[Libby] was the fall-guy"
How can a juror say something like that and there be a presumption of a fair trial?
Pajama's Media has an amazing video up.
The video purports to be from the Obama campaign; however, at this point it is unclear whether his camp had anything to do with this.
Wow. This election cycle is going to be UGLY.
The troops have not yet even been deployed en mass to Sadr City, one of the poorest and most violent parts of Baghdad, and yet the troop surge is already showing progress there. The people of Sadr City, previously hostile to the presence of US forces, are now urgently anticipating and even inviting the prospect of greater security and the real chance for stability the troop surge represents.
BAGHDAD – Coalition and Iraqi security forces are bringing new ideas into the ongoing operation to secure Baghdad.
Sadr City is being included in negotiations through efforts on all sides. Commanders from the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police, and 2nd Brigade Combat, 82nd Airborne Division met with a civic leader of Sadr City, Raheem Al Darraji, on March 1 in order to discuss upcoming security plans for Sadr City and the infusion of national level Iraqi security forces. The meeting took place at a police station in Sadr City that will soon become the area’s first Joint Security Station, manned 24 hours-a-day by all elements of the security forces including U.S. forces.
“It was a very positive meeting,” said Col. Don Farris of Lone Star, Texas, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Bragg, N.C., “They’ve shown they are willing to reach out to the government of Iraq and coalition forces.”
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division is the first of several BCTs that will flow into Baghdad in the coming months as part of the troop surge to combat sectarian violence. They are already having an impact in the key area of Sadr City.
Farris’ unit has been establishing small bases called combat outposts on the edges of Sadr City since early last month, positioning themselves for a significantly increased presence in the densely populated six square mile area. That move, which at one time would have been politically unthinkable for the Iraqi government, is now becoming a reality.
This time rather than barricade them off, it appears that leaders in Sadr City are ready to work with coalition forces when they come.
Weary of a cycle of violence and militia activities, as well as al-Qaeda attacks in the area, Mr. Raheem Al Darraji stressed again and again during the meeting that he welcomed the presence of Iraqi and U.S. forces, and the help they could provide his people.
“We want you here sooner, rather than later,” Al Darraji said.
Initial reports indicate the overall Baghdad Security Plan – which has placed thousands of additional troops on the streets of the Iraqi capital – has achieved reduced levels of violence thus far.
Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem, commander of the 8th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, a joint partner said there is no reason why the successes of the security plan in other parts of Baghdad can’t be replicated in Sadr City.
“We will do the same as we did in Adhamiyah. It is one nation and no one is above the law,” Kareem said.
Farris also stressed that point. The Iraqi Government and its coalition partners have the authority to go after criminals, extremists, and insurgents wherever they are located.
“There are no sanctuaries, anywhere,” Farris said.
I have made a decision with regard to the Republican candidate I am going to back throughout the primaries.
I have decided to back the highly electable, yet decidedly imperfect, Rudy Giuliani.
This was a tough decision. Ideally the Republicans could have a candidate who holds every single conservative platform, is a strong, effective, well spoken candidate, and who is universally loved. Since no candidate seems to fit that bill, I have decided to pick the candidate who I trust most on my number one issue (the war on terror).
Rudy has a stellar record to fall back on. Aside from his leadership after the attacks of 9/11, during his tenure as Mayor of NYC, he cut crime rates in half, cleaned up a dirty, dirty city, implemented policies which reduced dependence on welfare, cut taxes, turned a multi-billion dollar deficit into a multi-billion dollar surplus, and he accomplished all of this in a city where Democrats outnumbered Republicans 5 to 1.
There is no candidate that polls better than him in a head to head race. He is the Republican's best shot of retaining the White House in 08, and the best hope for continuing the war against Islamo-fascism (the war on terror).
The only other Republican candidate I really like is Newt Gingrich, but I'm not sure he can win. Right now he is polling in the single digits, nationally, and in head to head match ups with Democrats he doesn't look particularly strong. I think Newt would be a fine President, and if he gets the nomination I will certainly back him, but for now I am backing Rudy all the way to the White House.
Obama's ancestors may have owned slaves
NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON - Democrat Barack Obama, who would be the first black president, has white ancestors who owned slaves, according to a genealogical researcher.
The researcher, William Addams Reitwiesner, says the discovery is part of his first draft of research into Obama's roots. Obama's father was from Kenya and his mother was a white woman from Kansas.
Democrats to load Iraq bill with add-ons
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - While Democrats try to restrict how President Bush can spend the $100 billion he wants for Iraq, they also hope to load his measure up with $10 billion in add-ons — from aid for avocado growers to help for children lacking health insurance.
That's right, Nancy Pelosi. Good to see the Democrats are serious about "fiscal responsibility, with the highest ethical standards and civility."Mad props to Bill Hobbes for these interesting developments:
As the controversy over global warming doomsayer Al Gore's voracious energy-eater mansion rolls on, there's an angle I think merits deeper investigation than it is currently getting. While much of the focus has been on whether or not Gore is an environmental hypocrite, the story has raised the profile of the role of "carbon offsets" in achieving a "greener," more environmentally friendly world.
In its original story, The Tennessean reported that Gore buys "carbon offsets" to compensate for his home's use of energy from carbon-based fuels.
...
So far, so good. But how Gore buys his "carbon offsets," as revealed by The Tennessean raises serious questions. According to the newspaper's report, Gore buys his carbon offsets through Generation Investment Management:Gore helped found Generation Investment Management, through which he and others pay for offsets. The firm invests the money in solar, wind and other projects that reduce energy consumption around the globe...
Gore is chairman of the firm and, presumably, draws an income or will make money as its investments prosper. In other words, he "buys" his "carbon offsets" from himself, through a transaction designed to boost his own investments and return a profit to himself. To be blunt, Gore doesn't buy "carbon offsets" through Generation Investment Management - he buys stocks.
Source.
Al Gore claims to buy "carbon offsets" from a firm, Generation Investment Management, which he co-founded and serves as chairman. If you visit the firm's website, you will find no mention of carbon offsets . If Generation Investment Management sells them, they don't say so publicly.
So, what does Generation Investment Management do?
... what Generation Investment Management really does is manages investments in a portfolio of companies the list of which doesn't seem particularly "green."
Source.
This is amazing. Wow. I can't even begin to express how good this clip is... outstanding. Whoever put this clip together: great job!
This past week was an interesting one for those of us who don't buy into the global warming hype.
First off, we hear that that the global warming debate is officially over, and the time to act is now!
Global warming debate over, time to act now: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Declaring the global warming debate over, an international team of scientists urged the world's nations on Tuesday to act now to keep climate change from becoming a catastrophe
Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says
National Geographic News
Simultaneous warming on Earth and Mars suggests that our planet's recent climate changes have a natural—and not a human- induced—cause, according to one scientist's controversial theory.
...
In 2005 data from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey missions revealed that the carbon dioxide "ice caps" near Mars's south pole had been diminishing for three summers in a row.
Habibullo Abdussamatov, head of the St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in Russia, says the Mars data is evidence that the current global warming on Earth is being caused by changes in the sun.
"The long-term increase in solar irradiance is heating both Earth and Mars," he said.
He’s telling the media they have to stop asking questions or reporting dissenting views and simply fall in line.
EIGHT TERRORISTS KILLED DURING SALMAN PAK RAID
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists during a raid Thursday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq operating in the Salman Pak region.
Intelligence reports indicate a significant number of individuals involved with the AQIZ terrorist network currently operating in the area. Activities in this area have been linked to a roadside and vehicle-borne explosives network. Terrorists in the area are also believed to be involved in smuggling weapons and facilitating foreign fighters.
During the raid, in which Coalition Forces were repeatedly confronted by small arms and mortar fires, Coalition Forces identified three armed terrorists maneuvering toward them with hostile intent. Ground forces engaged the enemy, killing the three terrorists.
Twenty minutes later, ground forces were again confronted by eight terrorists who began firing upon them. Ground forces returned fire, killing four terrorists. The other four fled the area.
Ground forces also witnessed armed terrorists in a vehicle who were accessing a weapons cache and removing small arms. Coalition Forces engaged, killing one terrorist. Two terrorists were wounded and fled.
Coalition Forces recovered several sniper rifles, AK-47s and rocket-propelled launchers from one of the engagement sites.
“Successful coalition operations continue to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, restricting freedom of movement and reducing the organization’s manpower pool,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesman.
Men captured while emplacing explosive device
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — Two men were arrested while attempting to emplace an improvised explosive device on a major Iraqi highway Tuesday near Camp Striker, Iraq.
Soldiers of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) were patrolling Route Tampa, the main highway running in and out of Baghdad, at approximately 10:30 p.m. when they spotted two men crawling in a canal on the south side of the road.
The troops stopped the men and searched them, discovering that they had a U.S.-made night-vision tool. A further search of the area revealed an IED ready to be emplaced.
IEDs are commonly placed on Route Tampa due to its central location south of Baghdad and the heavy traffic, both civilian and military, that it supports.
The IED consisted of six 57mm rounds in a white bag about 200 meters from the road, as well as a video camera, a washing-machine timer, a pressure plate and a blasting cap.
The men were detained for further questioning.
Task Force Iron Claw finds booby-trapped vehicle
YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — A burned-out vehicle on a rural Iraqi road proved to be a vehicleborne improvised explosive device when it was investigated by Soldiers Thursday near here.
The vehicle was found along a road outside Yusufiyah, Iraq, near a settlement known to coalition forces as Janabi Village.
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)’s Task Force Iron Claw noted wires leading out of the trunk of the vehicle at approximately 1 p.m. and called for an explosive ordnance disposal team to investigate further.
The vehicle was destroyed by EOD with a controlled detonation.
The ordnance in the trunk could not be identified.
“This vehicle was rigged to detonate for no other reason than to kill the Iraqi
security forces or U.S. Soldiers,” said Maj. Web Wright, 2nd BCT spokesman.
“Attention to detail by the Soldiers of Task Force Ironclaw saved lives today.”
Iraqi, U.S. troops unearth large weapons caches
YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — Military operations southwest of Baghdad snared extensive weapons caches March 1 near Yusufiyah, Iraq, hindering terrorist activity.
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) and the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division conducted search missions into an area known to coalition forces as Janabi Village, uncovering multiple caches and detaining several Iraqis suspected of being involved in or having knowledge of terrorist operations.
The caches included five AK-47s and 19 magazines, 60 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, four bandoliers for ammunition, a flare, an unknown type of machine gun, an Iraqi Army-issued radio, a radio tuned to the Iraqi national police frequency, four false identification cards, three rolls of copper wire, a garage-door remote control, a log book and paperwork documenting terrorist operations, a collapsible baton, two sniper rifles, an 82mm mortar system with 64 rounds and 400,000 Iraqi Dinar – about $312 in U.S. currency.
Also found were two 155mm rounds, 46 105mm rounds, a directional charge, a roll of detonation cord, eight 120mm rounds, three 60mm rounds, an Iraqi soldier’s load-bearing vest, a bag of unidentified powder, a remote timer, altered identification papers, a camera, two lengths of crush wire, two long-range cell phones and command detonation wires.
The Iraqi and U.S. troops also found a Dragonov sniper rifle with telescopic sights, 800 rounds for a PKC machine gun, a pressure-wire improvised explosive device, a rifle with a telescopic sight, two shoulder-fired rocket launchers, a receiver for a Dishka machine gun, a bipod, a bottle of homemade explosive, 20 shotgun shells, two gas masks, two air-delivered bombs, 70 unidentified fuses, a used rocket shell, two Katyusha rockets, 44 60mm mortar rounds, three small artillery charge bags and one large artillery charge bag, two 70mm rockets, two video cassettes, two hand grenades, five electric switches, a Japanese-made grenade, 46 mortar charges, 19 155mm mortar fuses and a destroyed camera.
“The caches found by the 4/6 and the 2-15th Soldiers will definitely have an impact in the Sayyid-Abdullah corridor,” said 2-15th executive officer Maj. Douglas Mayzel.
The two units are working together as part of Operation Commando Viper, said Maj. Web Wright, a spokesman for the 2nd BCT.
“The mission is being conducted to deny the enemy freedom of movement in southern Baghdad,” he said. “We have found multiple caches throughout the area of operations.”
UFO science key to halting climate change: former Canadian defense minister
OTTAWA (AFP) - A former Canadian defense minister is demanding governments worldwide disclose and use secret alien technologies obtained in alleged UFO crashes to stem climate change, a local paper said Wednesday.
"I would like to see what (alien) technology there might be that could eliminate the burning of fossil fuels within a generation ... that could be a way to save our planet," Paul Hellyer, 83, told the Ottawa Citizen.
Lawmakers take aim at gas price gouging
H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Although gasoline prices have dropped sharply from last summer, 79 lawmakers sought to send a message Wednesday, introducing a bill that would impose stiff penalties on oil and gas companies for price gouging.
With prices at the pump rebounding in recent weeks, Rep. Bart Stupak (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., said he's worried "this summer prices may once again exceed $3 a gallon."
The bill introduced by Stupak and 78 other members of the House would establish the first federal law against price gouging by oil and gas companies, imposing criminal penalties and fines of up to $150 million for corporations and $2 million on individuals.
THREE TERRORISTS KILLED, 16 OTHERS DETAINED IN OPERATIONS
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained 16 suspected terrorists during operations Thursday morning targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq.
During an operation west of Ramadi, Coalition Forces killed two terrorists and detained six suspected terrorists with alleged ties to foreign fighter facilitation.
South of Baghdad, Coalition Forces killed one armed terrorist who charged at them as they entered a targeted building.
Six suspected terrorists allegedly associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq were detained in operations in Bayji, and four others with alleged ties to foreign fighter facilitation were detained in Ramadi.
“Coalition Forces will continue to successfully kill or capture al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists regardless of where they may hide or operate,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “No place is safe for a terrorist in Iraq.”
Barack Obama
