The usual suspects are predicting gloom and doom, despite the fact that the computer simulations are incomplete and quite possibly flawed. But it makes for good facetime.
Or bad movies.
Gothamist has more on what the worst case scenarios could mean for New Yorkers - and what New Yorkers could do to make themselves feel better.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
The Battle For Ground Zero, Part 124
Mayor Bloomberg certainly appears that he wants Ground Zero to remain empty. He said that he's prefer the hole to making a bad deal with Larry Silverstein. Silverstein has claimed that he had the financial means to rebuild the project, but Bloomberg has been skeptical and it appears that there's a serious grudge match bubbling just under the surface.
Steve Cuozzo notes that there's been zero progress at Ground Zero. "Nothing will come of nothing."
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.
Saying he's fed up with the seemingly endless talks, the mayor for the first time raised the prospect of a mammoth court battle if Silverstein rejects the latest offer made by the city, state and Port Authority.Sorry, but the past several months have been spent with the Port Authority trying to figure out what it wants to do, not negotiating with Silverstein. They've only reached an agreement internally - after Corzine, Pataki and Bloomberg held talks last week. And it seems that Corzine and Bloomberg's views won out, which is pushing this to a crisis point. Yet, Gov. Pataki's office noted the following:
"You can always say, 'What do you do?' if they keep holding us up," Bloomberg said on his weekly WABC radio show.
"If it stays a hole for a while and we fight it out in court, that's what it's going to be. We're not going to make a bad deal."
The potential for a court showdown has always loomed in the tense negotiations with Silverstein, who signed a 99-year lease on the World Trade Center site just weeks before the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
But, until yesterday, everyone involved has tried to steer clear of litigation, knowing full well that it could take years to resolve the flood of suits.
Bloomberg has been arguing for months that more than one developer should be involved to speed up the construction process.
Joanna Rose, Gov. Pataki's spokeswoman, pointed out that Silverstein has to proceed with construction if he doesn't accept one of two alternatives.Silverstein is getting dragged into the middle of a political fight between Pataki, Bloomberg, and other local politicians (Shelly Silver, where are you?). The Post rips Bloomberg for his comments. As should anyone else paying attention - he's trying to forment a crisis and prevent any rebuilding at this point. And the editorial correctly points out that even if Silverstein walks into the sunset tomorrow, we're no closer to getting anything rebuilt at Ground Zero because the entire process would then be subject to new contracting processes and a search for developers would have to begin (though one would suspect that a politically connected developer to Bloomberg might emerge as the candidate - Forest City Ratner perhaps?)
"Construction is underway on the memorial, the two transportation hubs, West Street, Goldman Sachs, and we fully expect Silverstein Properties to keep his commitment to the people of New York and commence construction on the Freedom Tower in the upcoming weeks," she said.
Silverstein declined comment.
Steve Cuozzo notes that there's been zero progress at Ground Zero. "Nothing will come of nothing."
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.
Air Force One: Punk'd
A startling Internet video that shows someone spraying graffiti on President Bush's jet looked so authentic that the Air Force wasn't immediately certain whether the plane had been targeted.And how much free press will Ecko get because of it? Well, it got my attention. Not that I'd buy any of his stuff, but it's still a funny gag.
It was all a hoax. No one actually sprayed the slogan "Still Free" on the cowling of Air Force One.
The pranksters responsible for the grainy, two-minute Web video — employed by a New York fashion company — revealed Friday how they pulled it off: a rented 747 in California painted to look almost exactly like Air Force One.
"I wanted to do something culturally significant, wanted to create a real pop-culture moment," said Marc Ecko of Marc Ecko Enterprises. "It's this completely irreverent, over-the-top thing that could really never happen: this five-dollar can of paint putting a pimple on this Goliath."
The video shows hooded graffiti artists climbing barbed-wire fences and sneaking past guards with dogs to approach the jumbo jet. They spray-paint a slogan associated with free expression.
After the video began circulating on the Web on Tuesday, the Air Force checked to see whether the plane had been vandalized.
Cronyism at the CIA?
So, were the Pulitzers awarded for the trechery of two separate journalistic endeavors? It's increasingly apparent that this is indeed the case.
Ace has two separate posts about Mary McCarthy's potential ties to various figures including Joe Wilson and Sandy Berger. Oh, and Ace was on fire, starting with this post that suggests that this weekend will become known for the distinctions made between bad leaks and good (though I seem to have seen that made elsewhere - including on my own blog). Mac Ranger thinks that this may lead back to Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). I can't believe that is the case, but head over there and make up your own mind. Would someone be so stupid as to risk their entire career to try and undermine the President of the US and threaten US national security and lives of Americans? Well, if all's fair in politics, then anything is possible, including treasonous activities that give away national secrets to our enemies and otherwise engage in activities to undermine the Administration's ability to prosecute a war against our enemies.
We're witnessing Act I, Scene 4 of the battle within the CIA. Scene 1 was the partisan use of CIA resources to undermine the Administration following the 2000 election. Scene 2 was the appointment of Porter Goss to clean up the CIA following Tenet's run as director. Scene 3 was the beginning of the cleanup and simultaneous leaks of classified information to journalists. Scene 4 is the firing of McCarthy, the pushback that morale within the CIA is poor because of the widespread use of lie detector tests to figure out who knew what and when and whether they leaked classified information to media figures, and the ongoing investigations into leaks at the agency.
Oh, and anonymous emails sends in the news of McCarthy's name may itself have been a violation of the federal Privacy Act - itself an illegal leak. So, guess which part of the equation will the Lefties latch onto. That's right. A diversion. The Washington Post reports that Secretary of State Condi Rice may have leaked information as well. Go figure. Just when things look bleak for the Left, they've got to try and mask things with a bit of news that would hurt Rice (whose standing in various polls has never been higher).
Blue Crab Boulevard notes that some in the media would much prefer that leaks of classified information not be considered criminal acts - and that they would make the determination of what remains classified and what doesn't.
Tom Maguire critiques the coverage at the New York Times and Washington Post.
Others blogging: Sister Toldjah, All Things Beautiful, and Big Lizards is amazed that the CIA is actually starting to act like an intelligence agency (and yes, I did post that the info about McCarthy itself came from leaks - see above).
UPDATE:
Clarified paragraph noted with ***
Dana Priest of The Washington Post, won the best reporting award for revealing that the CIA was using secret prisons in Easter Europe to interrogate terrorists.Ed Morrissey thinks that Rick Moran at Right Wing Nut House is onto something with the use of misinformation to smoke out leakers. And apparently caught a live one.
In other words, they gave an award to a reporter who got a tip from a government worker who betrayed his or her country by revealing top-secret information. The reporter and The Post, in an effort to become the darlings of left, then splashed said top secret information all over the front page. Who benefited from this "Pulitzer Prize Winning Reporting?" Terrorists who mean to kill everyone in the United States.
Next, you have the New York Times winning a Pulitzer Prize for announcing President Bush's "domestic eavesdropping program." Again, a proudly left-of-center newspaper is given a prestigious award for revealing top secret information that can only bring aid and comfort to al Qaeda and other terrorists who mean to destroy us and our allies.
It should be noted that with regard to the two prizes just mentioned, in the interests of national security, Mr. Bush personally appealed the patriotism and commonsense of both The Post and the New York Times, and implored them not to run the stories. Both papers, it seems, put their strong dislike of Mr. Bush and his policies before the future safety of Americans.
Ace has two separate posts about Mary McCarthy's potential ties to various figures including Joe Wilson and Sandy Berger. Oh, and Ace was on fire, starting with this post that suggests that this weekend will become known for the distinctions made between bad leaks and good (though I seem to have seen that made elsewhere - including on my own blog). Mac Ranger thinks that this may lead back to Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). I can't believe that is the case, but head over there and make up your own mind. Would someone be so stupid as to risk their entire career to try and undermine the President of the US and threaten US national security and lives of Americans? Well, if all's fair in politics, then anything is possible, including treasonous activities that give away national secrets to our enemies and otherwise engage in activities to undermine the Administration's ability to prosecute a war against our enemies.
We're witnessing Act I, Scene 4 of the battle within the CIA. Scene 1 was the partisan use of CIA resources to undermine the Administration following the 2000 election. Scene 2 was the appointment of Porter Goss to clean up the CIA following Tenet's run as director. Scene 3 was the beginning of the cleanup and simultaneous leaks of classified information to journalists. Scene 4 is the firing of McCarthy, the pushback that morale within the CIA is poor because of the widespread use of lie detector tests to figure out who knew what and when and whether they leaked classified information to media figures, and the ongoing investigations into leaks at the agency.
Oh, and anonymous emails sends in the news of McCarthy's name may itself have been a violation of the federal Privacy Act - itself an illegal leak. So, guess which part of the equation will the Lefties latch onto. That's right. A diversion. The Washington Post reports that Secretary of State Condi Rice may have leaked information as well. Go figure. Just when things look bleak for the Left, they've got to try and mask things with a bit of news that would hurt Rice (whose standing in various polls has never been higher).
Blue Crab Boulevard notes that some in the media would much prefer that leaks of classified information not be considered criminal acts - and that they would make the determination of what remains classified and what doesn't.
Leonard Downie Jr., The Post's executive editor, said on its Web site that he could not comment on the firing because he did not know the details. "As a general principle," he said, "obviously I am opposed to criminalizing the dissemination of government information to the press." (emphasis added)*** Sorry, but the President is entrusted with that power. Period. He can delegate the power to classify/declassify information to others, but it ultimately resides within the President and Vice President to make that determination. AMERICAblog makes the same mistake. The President and Vice President have the singular right to classify and declassify information. If they have made the determination to divulge information that was classified, they have not committed a crime because the power to classify/declassify information resides in their inherent powers. If members of the Executive Branch do not have that right, they are in violation of leaking classified information. Former Spook weighs in on that aspect.
Tom Maguire critiques the coverage at the New York Times and Washington Post.
Others blogging: Sister Toldjah, All Things Beautiful, and Big Lizards is amazed that the CIA is actually starting to act like an intelligence agency (and yes, I did post that the info about McCarthy itself came from leaks - see above).
UPDATE:
Clarified paragraph noted with ***
Friday, April 21, 2006
The Friday Night News Dump
In a rare occurrence, the CIA fired an officer who acknowledged giving classified information to a reporter, NBC News reported on Thursday.So, will this result in something more than a firing? Will there be criminal charges filed against the leaker? That's not stated in the article, but federal law was violated in the leaks of classified information, so it stands to reason that someone may be facing criminal charges in the coming weeks for this leak.
The officer flunked a polygraph exam before being fired on Wednesday and is now under investigation by the Justice Department, NBC reported.
The leak pertained to stories on the CIA’s rumored secret prisons in Eastern Europe, sources told NBC. The information was allegedly provided to Dana Priest of the Washington Post, who wrote about CIA prisons in November and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize on Monday for her reporting.
But that's not all:
CIA Director Porter Goss told the Senate in February that leaks to the media had damaged national security. Subsequently, Goss ordered an internal investigation on leaks involving classified security data.So, the Pulitzers appears to be headed toward a 2-0 record in getting those who leaked classified information to reporters for major stories that adversely affect national security into serious trouble for their efforts to undermine national security. Way to go.
The probe led to the fired CIA officer, sources told NBC.
This leak is not linked to the recent scandal in the CIA involving undercover agent Valerie Plame’s identity being revealed, NBC reported.
Separately, the Justice Department is investigating a New York Times stories about the National Security Agency’s domestic warrantless eavesdropping. Times reporter James Risen won a Pulitzer on Monday for his reporting on the issue.
And someone, somewhere, will write the story about the leakers and themselves become eligible to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Excellent judgment by those who leaked the classified information, and even better judgment by the reporters who thought that it was their duty to provide such information to the general public and let the terrorists know our means and methodologies to prevent future terrorist attacks.
UPDATE:
AJ Strata has more, as does Michelle Malkin, and Small Town Veteran.
UPDATE:
Confederate Yankee thinks that the CIA officer didn't do a good job at CYA. No kidding. There's apparently confusion over whether the officer was fired for the wiretap/NSA story or the secret prisons story. Oh, and Porter Goss is actually living up to his reputation and putting his money where his mouth is by clearing out the deadwood and the leakers - the kind of people who put our national security at risk.
Wizbang notes that the name of the fired officer is Mary McCarthy. From MSNBC:
Intelligence sources tell NBC News the accused officer, Mary McCarthy, worked in the CIA's inspector general's office and had worked for the National Security Council under the Clinton and and George W. Bush administrations.Isn't that special. Oh, and apparently she gave $2,000 to Kerry's 2004 campaign.
The leak pertained to stories on the CIA's rumored secret prisons in Eastern Europe, sources told NBC. The information was allegedly provided to Dana Priest of the Washington Post, who wrote about CIA prisons in November and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize on Monday for her reporting.
Sources said the CIA believes McCarthy had more than a dozen unauthorized contacts with Priest. Information about subjects other than the prisons may have been leaked as well.
Right Wing Nut House surmises that the secret prisons story might have been part of an internal mole hunt to find leakers. It's tempting to think that this is the case, but the facts don't quite support that conclusion at this point in time.
Also blogging the CIA leak story developments tonite: Ace of Spades, In the Bullpen, Kesher Talk and Dr. Sanity both notes that this is a long time coming, Stop the ACLU, Flopping Aces, Power Line, and memeorandum.
Meanwhile, in another Friday night news dump, Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV), is leaving the House Ethics Committee under a cloud of ethical misdeeds. He's been accused over the past several weeks of enabling friends and former colleagues to profit from their relationships with Mollohan.
The Wall Street Journal reported two weeks ago that Mollohan steered millions of dollars to nonprofit groups in his district _ with much of the money going to organizations run by people who contribute to the lawmaker's campaigns.
Also, a conservative group filed a complaint with federal prosecutors this year questioning whether Mollohan correctly reported his assets on financial disclosure forms.
While Mollohan's troubles threaten to become a major campaign problem for Democrats, Pelosi, of California, said in a statement that Mollohan decided on his own to step down and that she accepted his decision.
Violating the Laws of Physics?
By the time this thing comes to fruition, there should be some pent up demand for a new Star Trek movie. At least that's what Paramount is banking on. Star Trek is going to get a fresh infusion of JJ Abrams goodness. Is this a good idea? The last Star Trek movie bombed at the box office and there isn't a Star Trek television show in production for the first time in more than a decade (Star Trek: TNG, ST: DS9, ST: Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprise).
So what better thing to do than bring in the hottest television director (Alias and Lost) and the director for the soon to be released Mission Impossible III.
Actually, the best thing Abrams could do is bring in Jennifer Garner and a couple of the Losties to fill in some of the character slots.
Either that, or have a really good plot to work.
Technorati: star trek.
So what better thing to do than bring in the hottest television director (Alias and Lost) and the director for the soon to be released Mission Impossible III.
Actually, the best thing Abrams could do is bring in Jennifer Garner and a couple of the Losties to fill in some of the character slots.
Either that, or have a really good plot to work.
Technorati: star trek.
Darfur Genocide Just As Bad Now As In 2004
Jan Egeland told the BBC that aid workers in Darfur were "in retreat" from attacks by armed groups, a funding shortfall and government obstacles.Of course, Khartoum does absolutely nothing to actually stop the janjaweed from operating completely unfettered within Sudanese territory. If Khartoum wanted the janjaweed to actually stop their attacks in Darfur, it could. That it doesn't speaks volumes. The Sudanese government is actively thwarting the UN from figuring out what is going on in Darfur, and the violence has spilled over into neighboring Chad, making the situation even more dangerous.
He said that 500,000 people of the 3m who needed help were "out of reach".
The US says a genocide is being committed against Darfur's black African population.
Sudan's governments has consistently said the scale of the problems are being exaggerated for political reasons.
It denies backing the Arab Janjaweed militias accused of mass rape, killing and looting.
Russia and China oppose UN action against Sudan, which makes perfect sense since both need Sudan for its oil.
Technorati: darfur, dafur, UN, sudan, chad, janjaweed, and Kofi Annan
This Isn't News - It's Confirmation
A militant leader appointed to a senior security position in the Hamas-led Palestinian government said on Friday he would not abandon the fight against Israel which has long sought to kill him.This terrorist was selected as head of security under the terrorist group Hamas' new 'government' yesterday. This is yet more confirmation that Hamas has absolutely no intention of making peace with Israel. It seeks to make Israel into little pieces - at the moment with condoning suicide bombings, but at its earliest possible date with a trained cadre of terrorists who operate openly.
Jamal Abu Samhadana, high on Israel's most wanted list as leader of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), was appointed on Thursday to supervise the Interior Ministry and set up a new police force from militants to crack down on anarchy and chaos.
"Factions and security services should unite in one trench against the daily Israeli aggression against our people," Abu Samhadana told Reuters in an interview.
Also, when will the world wake up and understand that Hamas and the other terrorists who dress up in these kinds of garb (the guys holding the guns in the hoods in the background) are actually dressed in uniform - and therefore justified military targets?
UPDATE:
Abbas is trying to block Hamas from installing their terrorist as the head of a new 'security force.' Notice how the New York Times calls these thugs militants and not the more accurate term - terrorists.
The Battle For Ground Zero, Part 123
Are you kidding me? The memorial plan has been accepted for how long now, and Pataki Administration finally concedes that there are problems with security now?
And wasn't it yesterday that Pataki and Bloomberg were saying that now was the time to end negotiations and get a deal done? So what does Pataki do? Throw doubt into the whole process for the memorial. Figures.
New York real estate insiders question the Port Authority proposals to Silverstein. The Post calls this a bogus breakthrough. It only means that the Port Authority is finally in agreement among themselves over a bargaining position with Silverstein. Bloomberg may be all for this new deal, but there's absolutely no incentive for Silverstein to accept any part of it. Silverstein has the legal right to redevelop the site, and the holdups have not been on his part - but that of the Port Authority, LMDC, and the politicians who have gummed up the works. The latest 'deal' is nothing more than window dressing on a proposal that Silverstein will likely reject because it is far less than what he's already legally entitled to.
UPDATE:
In other Ground Zero news, Tower 2, which is being designed by Sir Norman Foster's firm, is moving forward in the design and engineering phase. That's a positive sign in an otherwise bleak outlook.
The New York Sun calls the latest Port Authority offer nothing more than a land grab.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.
Mr. Kallstrom said he was writing on behalf of the Lower Manhattan Counter-Terrorism Advisory Team, a multiagency group that includes the Police Department, and its private security consultants, Science Applications International Corporation. He also said the firm Ducibella Venter & Santore helped identify areas of vulnerability.While they're talking about making modifications to the ramps and others access points to the subterranean memorial, I see this as backtracking on the concept and could provide an out given that the fundraising has been abysmal.
Although the letter repeatedly uses the phrase "L.M.C.A.T.'s recommendation," Mr. Kallstrom said yesterday that it was intended more as a heads-up to the architects and engineers about possible security considerations. Bids from contractors for the memorial's structural foundations are due next month.
"My concern is that we didn't have to go back and jackhammer things out," Mr. Kallstrom said.
The letter was addressed to Stefan Pryor, president of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, with a copy to John P. Cahill, secretary to the governor. It was distributed on April 5 to senior executives of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, which will build and operate the memorial.
It is striking for its explicit references to terrorist threats. Officials are typically much more circumspect in public remarks. Mr. Kallstrom would clearly have preferred to keep it that way. "I'm going to recommend that we have an investigation to see who disclosed it," he said.
And wasn't it yesterday that Pataki and Bloomberg were saying that now was the time to end negotiations and get a deal done? So what does Pataki do? Throw doubt into the whole process for the memorial. Figures.
New York real estate insiders question the Port Authority proposals to Silverstein. The Post calls this a bogus breakthrough. It only means that the Port Authority is finally in agreement among themselves over a bargaining position with Silverstein. Bloomberg may be all for this new deal, but there's absolutely no incentive for Silverstein to accept any part of it. Silverstein has the legal right to redevelop the site, and the holdups have not been on his part - but that of the Port Authority, LMDC, and the politicians who have gummed up the works. The latest 'deal' is nothing more than window dressing on a proposal that Silverstein will likely reject because it is far less than what he's already legally entitled to.
UPDATE:
In other Ground Zero news, Tower 2, which is being designed by Sir Norman Foster's firm, is moving forward in the design and engineering phase. That's a positive sign in an otherwise bleak outlook.
PLANS for one of the key buildings at Ground Zero are starting to jell.UPDATE:
The 65-story tower, referred to as "building two," will have a 200 Greenwich Street address and is being designed by Lord Norman Foster.
Foster designed Hearst's "Crystal Cathedral" and is planning two towers for RFR Holdings - one at 610 Lexington and 53rd St. by the Seagram Building, and the other on the old Sotheby's building at 77th and Madison. You can be sure all the curtain walls will be creative and unique.
We already know the base of "two" will include 130,000 feet of street and underground retail connecting directly to Santiago Calatrava's PATH station just across the new Fulton St.
The New York Sun calls the latest Port Authority offer nothing more than a land grab.
Governor Pataki and Governor Corzine appear to be betting that Mr. Silverstein will decide that it's better to gain the right to build anything on the ground that he leased rather than waiting for the Port Authority to honor its word. If the Port Authority wins this, New Yorkers will spend the next several decades regretting that the Port Authority ever had anything to do with the site.It wont be just New Yorkers, but all Americans who will have to live with the results. Considering that the Port Authority was trying to divest itself of nonessential real estate holdings before 9/11, that it would try to weasel its way back into the real estate business is counter productive to a public authority whose mission is not to develop real estate but to assist in the growth and development of the Ports of New York and New Jersey.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Oh My God, Air Arabia Airlines Copied Kenny!
A big hat tip to Brian J. Markowitz (who really needs to get a blog of his own).
There's that UAE thing again. They keep popping up in the oddest places. And did Air Arabia know that Kyle was Jewish and that the other characters are infidel Christians? Brian notes:
Also picked up by Opinion Journal's Best of the Web, grapeshisha notes that this ad campaign has been going on for eight months now who also provides a link to let you create your own South Park character, which also was noted by Steve Portigal.
And this post is technorati bait to boot: south park, cartoon, cartoon jihad. Sweet!
Air Arabia, a discount carrier based in the United Arab Emirates, features on its website the images of animated children who bear a striking resemblance to characters such as Stan, Kyle and Eric from the Comedy Central hit.So, an airline is seeking to profit from the use of cartoon figures that look suspiciously like the four featured South Park characters? Say it isn't so.
There's that UAE thing again. They keep popping up in the oddest places. And did Air Arabia know that Kyle was Jewish and that the other characters are infidel Christians? Brian notes:
Additionally, they are opening themselves up to copyright infringement lawsuit. Commercial advertising is not a fair use under 107 of the copyright act. Additionally, the altered images would be consideredBusting out the legal doctrine. I love it!
derivative works. They could be liable for damages (diminution of value of
the copyright, disgorgement of profits received from the infringing use, etc.) as well as a permanent injunction, enjoining them from using the images further.
Also picked up by Opinion Journal's Best of the Web, grapeshisha notes that this ad campaign has been going on for eight months now who also provides a link to let you create your own South Park character, which also was noted by Steve Portigal.
And this post is technorati bait to boot: south park, cartoon, cartoon jihad. Sweet!
Questioning the Timing
Michelle Malkin is. So is Confederate Yankee. Why would the DHS conduct a series of raids on illegal immigration now? The timing is surely curious. Not that taking such action isn't overdue because it is. However, it appears that political considerations are taking precedence over national security. And that's a bipartisan scandal that has gone on for too long with respect to illegal immigration and border control. Yes, these raids are being conducted now under the DHS and the Bush Administration - and the timing is quite likely to assuage GOPers who were concerned about border control, but the inaction by the government for decades on both sides of the aisle provides the context.
These raids should be the norm, not the exception.
UPDATE:
Iowa Voice notes that the Minutemen are back in the news. They want the feds to build a wall along the border, and if the feds don't, they will.
Others covering the raids on illegal aliens and businesses that were hiring said illegals: Memeorandum, Balloon Juice, and California Yankee.
These raids should be the norm, not the exception.
UPDATE:
Iowa Voice notes that the Minutemen are back in the news. They want the feds to build a wall along the border, and if the feds don't, they will.
Others covering the raids on illegal aliens and businesses that were hiring said illegals: Memeorandum, Balloon Juice, and California Yankee.
A Real Bad Move
This is just bad form for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. It looks like he's lost the election, and is now defying the Supreme Court's decision that affirmed the final tally and trying to get other votes invalidated. It doesn't just look bad, but it's bad for the Italian democractic system of government.
Do the honorable thing and step down.
Do the honorable thing and step down.
Terrorists as Security
Here the Palestinans are, stuck in the middle of a nascent civil war, and someone decided that the best thing to do would be to put the terrorists themselves in charge of security.
There's a joke somewhere in there. I think it's on the Palestinians who are getting everything that's coming to them in one huge heap of cosmic irony.
There's a joke somewhere in there. I think it's on the Palestinians who are getting everything that's coming to them in one huge heap of cosmic irony.
Don't Adjust Your TV in China
The Chinese Communist government controls the horizontal and the vertical: (Via Drudge)
Oh, and so much for spending months trying to choreograph a White House appearance down to the number of soldiers presenting salutes and whether Hu would get a state dinner (he didn't).
Nancy Pelosi says that there's nothing to celebrate in Hu's visit to the US. China's record on human rights is abysmal and their support for rogue nations is atrocious - Sudan, Iran, North Korea to name just three.
She's got a point, although trade with China drives a large portion of the California economy and making sure that relations between China and the US are okay is a smart thing to do. The problem is that every time Bush takes any action, Pelosi automatically finds fault without offering even the modicum of alternative - just to say she's doing something different. This meeting has been a long time coming, and Bush actually wanted to play down the pomp and circumstance of the meeting, hosting Hu at the Crawford ranch instead of the White House. That didn't happen, and it's unfortunate. Hopefully, some positive steps will be taken on North Korea and the Iran situation - to get China to recognize the severity of the threat posed by those countries nuclear programs. I have a feeling that energy issues will be at or near the top of the agenda since that is driving China's need to be involved in Sudan and Iran.
UPDATE:
Anonymous emailer incredulously notes that Hu's heckler is being charged with disorderly conduct and intimidating foreign official. She's still in custody. They have to make a show of it because of the geopolitics involved. And she'll probably have those charges dismissed as soon as Hu and the Chinese delegation are on a plane back to China.
UPDATE:
The protestor's name is Wenyi Wang. She's a member of Falun Gong and also an official journalist with press credentials and she was able to have her say for two minutes. President Bush made the following comments to Hu:
And the Chinese censored all references to the entire Wenyi Wang incident. Nothing was allowed to come in, including news reports of the incident. Falun Gong is a religious movement that is banned in China. Wikipedia has an entry on the Falun Gong movement and the Chinese government crackdown. It apparently stems from an April 1999 mass protest - the largest since Tienneman Square protests in 1989. Since then, followers have been persecuted and prosecuted, with the government claiming that the movement was a cult and spreading misinformation that could adversely affect the health of followers.
UPDATE:
Others blogging Wang's heckling and subsequent media coverage: Michelle Malkin who has the video of the incident (2 minutes), Outside the Beltway, Newsbusters, Riehl World View, Pajamas Media, Amboy Times, Peaktalk, Gateway Pundit, and Blogs for Bush.
UPDATE:
Don Surber has a couple of zingers on this, starting with his title. Then Screw Hu. I think that's priceless. Also blogging: Pundit Guy, Wizbang, Expose the Left (who also has audio and video of the encounter), and Peking Duck.
FLASH: Heckler disrupts Chinese President Hu's speech on south lawn at White House: 'President Bush, stop him from killing'... 'Stop persecuting the Falun Gong,' she yelled... She also shouted in Chinese, 'President Hu, your days are numbered'... woman is taken away by uniformed secret service officers... right after Bush urged Hu to allow Chinese to 'speak freely'...Is the Chinese government doing anything other than trying to hide the fact that its leaders can't take any dissent. This isn't like when MLB breaks away from games to avoid showing the numbnuts who run out on the field and cause mayhem or streak or are otherwise showboating to get attention. It only further reinforces the fact that the Chinese don't get the concept of free speech.
On China TV: As Hu Jintao was speaking, as yells of protesters became audible, the screen went black. Feed then came back and once again went black when woman was once again audible. During CNN International's post-speech commentary, at mention of south lawn heckler, screen went black again... feed returned when topic was no longer being discussed...
Oh, and so much for spending months trying to choreograph a White House appearance down to the number of soldiers presenting salutes and whether Hu would get a state dinner (he didn't).
Nancy Pelosi says that there's nothing to celebrate in Hu's visit to the US. China's record on human rights is abysmal and their support for rogue nations is atrocious - Sudan, Iran, North Korea to name just three.
She's got a point, although trade with China drives a large portion of the California economy and making sure that relations between China and the US are okay is a smart thing to do. The problem is that every time Bush takes any action, Pelosi automatically finds fault without offering even the modicum of alternative - just to say she's doing something different. This meeting has been a long time coming, and Bush actually wanted to play down the pomp and circumstance of the meeting, hosting Hu at the Crawford ranch instead of the White House. That didn't happen, and it's unfortunate. Hopefully, some positive steps will be taken on North Korea and the Iran situation - to get China to recognize the severity of the threat posed by those countries nuclear programs. I have a feeling that energy issues will be at or near the top of the agenda since that is driving China's need to be involved in Sudan and Iran.
UPDATE:
Anonymous emailer incredulously notes that Hu's heckler is being charged with disorderly conduct and intimidating foreign official. She's still in custody. They have to make a show of it because of the geopolitics involved. And she'll probably have those charges dismissed as soon as Hu and the Chinese delegation are on a plane back to China.
UPDATE:
The protestor's name is Wenyi Wang. She's a member of Falun Gong and also an official journalist with press credentials and she was able to have her say for two minutes. President Bush made the following comments to Hu:
Bush later addressed the matter when he met with Hu in the Oval Office. "He just said this was unfortunate and I'm sorry it happened," said Dennis Wilder, acting senior director for Asian affairs on the National Security Council staff.And so much for all that planning - the Chinese Communist national anthem was announced as that of the Republic of China, which is the official name for Taiwan.
Wilder said Hu was gracious in accepting Bush's apology.
And the Chinese censored all references to the entire Wenyi Wang incident. Nothing was allowed to come in, including news reports of the incident. Falun Gong is a religious movement that is banned in China. Wikipedia has an entry on the Falun Gong movement and the Chinese government crackdown. It apparently stems from an April 1999 mass protest - the largest since Tienneman Square protests in 1989. Since then, followers have been persecuted and prosecuted, with the government claiming that the movement was a cult and spreading misinformation that could adversely affect the health of followers.
UPDATE:
Others blogging Wang's heckling and subsequent media coverage: Michelle Malkin who has the video of the incident (2 minutes), Outside the Beltway, Newsbusters, Riehl World View, Pajamas Media, Amboy Times, Peaktalk, Gateway Pundit, and Blogs for Bush.
UPDATE:
Don Surber has a couple of zingers on this, starting with his title. Then Screw Hu. I think that's priceless. Also blogging: Pundit Guy, Wizbang, Expose the Left (who also has audio and video of the encounter), and Peking Duck.
A Sign of Progress?
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, under intense pressure to give up plans for a second term, agreed Thursday to let Shiite leaders reconsider his nomination, a step that could mark a breakthrough in the months-long effort to form a new government.It's just what the doctor ordered - and if al Jaafari does step down, it paves the way to form a new government and would invigorate the political process that has gotten bogged down amid the terrorists' use of mosque bombings to try and incite sectarian violence and a civil war.
The Battle For Ground Zero, Part 122
The Port Authority has made a new offer to Larry Silverstein.
For what it's worth, Team Twin Towers is still trying to petition to get its own design involved in the process. There doesn't seem like any chance of that happening, but there is one quote from their email that made a lot of sense and should be heeded by those involved in the process:
According to CBS Channel 2, Larry Silverstein responds that he's going to take the necessary time to analyze the proposals. The first proposal would have Silverstein building only two of the five towers at the site and develop the Freedom Tower for the Port Authority. The PA would build everything else. The other would simply have Silverstein develop the Deutsche Bank building - that's it. Sure, there's a bunch of money involved as a consolation prize, but neither plan strikes me as a good deal for Silverstein. He's the one with the lease for developing on Ground Zero. The Deutsche Bank building isn't even part of the original 16 acres of the site. It also sounds like the Port Authority's plans hew more closely to those of Bloomberg and Corzine than to Pataki's original idea for the site. After all, it was intended to have Silverstein develop Pataki's preferred master plan - the Libeskind plan, which set forth the schedules and tower locations. That certainly appears to be the effect of Pataki exiting stage left in November. He needs something to be done, and needs Bloomberg and Corzine on board to make it happen.
And it's Silverstein's real estate interests at Ground Zero that are going to get tossed aside.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the site, offered Larry Silverstein commitments to fill 1 million square feet of office space with government leases and the rights to rebuild three lucrative towers on the site in exchange for concessions that could fund the memorial, state and city officials said.The latest plan was crafted after negotiations between Gov. Corzine of New Jersey, Gov. Pataki of New York, and Mayor Bloomberg.
``I think it's a fair and appropriate offer, and I hope that he takes it,'' Gov. George Pataki said.
Silverstein officials didn't immediately comment on the proposal, which was delivered Wednesday evening.
The Port Authority presented the offer after weeks of negotiations with officials from New York and New Jersey -- which control the agency -- and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
City and state officials said they agreed to commit more than $3 billion in tax-exempt bonds to build out the trade center site and would give Silverstein the option of developing retail space at all five planned towers.
The Port Authority would build two of the five skyscrapers, including the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, the symbolic replacement for the twin towers. The Freedom Tower has been seen by business leaders as the most difficult to rent because of its proposed location far from a transit hub and its potential as a terrorist target.
Instead of moving into the Freedom Tower, the Port Authority and city agencies would agree to move into one of the towers that Silverstein would develop, while seeking commitment from the federal government to move into the Freedom Tower, officials said.
If Mr. Silverstein accepts it, the officials said a deal would signal a major realignment at ground zero, clearing the way for construction to begin on the $2 billion Freedom Tower, the biggest, costliest and most symbolic skyscraper planned for the site. That, in turn, could restore public confidence in the project and allay fears that the money will run out before the work is finished.The NY Post frames it somewhat differently:
For Governor Pataki in particular, who is leaving office and may harbor presidential ambitions, a deal could put an end to the embarrassing squabble over a project to which he has tied his legacy, the Freedom Tower.
Details of the plan were described by officials from the city, both New Jersey and New York State, and the Port Authority. They included Mr. Ringler and Mr. Coscia from the authority; John P. Cahill, Mr. Pataki's chief of staff, who now oversees Lower Manhattan redevelopment; and Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff. They insisted that the proposal was fair to Mr. Silverstein, who will retain the right to build three office towers on the most valuable parcels, though on a strict timetable. The Bloomberg administration and the Port Authority are also offering to lease 1.2 million square feet in the buildings.
The ball was tossed into Ground Zero developer Larry Silverstein's court yesterday with a new proposal that would give him a single, $250 million tower and $50 million in cash in exchange for his surrendering the lion's share of the site.Tower 5 is where the existing Deutsche Bank building is currently situated.
The drastically scaled-back role for Silverstein is one of two options presented to the developer last night by Port Authority officials.
The offer to Silverstein was worked out by Gov. Pataki, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and Mayor Bloomberg after weeks of talks.
Under the option that would trim Silverstein's role, he would be given the right to build only the 57-story Tower 5 a block south of the main World Trade Center site, and he would get $50 million in cash.
The Port Authority would take over development of the remaining four towers at the World Trade Center, including the Freedom Tower.
The option is available to Silverstein if he doesn't accept new terms to rebuild the majority of the site.
"The reason that option is in there is to be as fair as possible to Larry," said PA Chairman Anthony Coscia.
"It's an easier financial option if he chooses not to take the more complicated build-out of the entire site," Coscia added.
Coscia said he wants the deal wrapped up by the authority's September board meeting.
Under a second option, Silverstein could retain his role as Ground Zero developer if he accepts the Port Authority proposal for reworking his lease at the site in a package that would leave him with three towers on Church Street.
For what it's worth, Team Twin Towers is still trying to petition to get its own design involved in the process. There doesn't seem like any chance of that happening, but there is one quote from their email that made a lot of sense and should be heeded by those involved in the process:
Austin Tobin, a man who personally sacrificed a great deal to raise the Twin Towers the first time, would often invoke the words of Daniel Burnham, the architect who built New York's Flatiron Building, when trying to build support for the World Trade Center: "Make no small plans -- for they have no power to stir the blood." Those words echo the core principle of the Alliance: "Dream no small dreams" for they have no power to stir the human heart. Small plans and small dreams have no place at Ground Zero. That is what this is all about.UPDATE:
According to CBS Channel 2, Larry Silverstein responds that he's going to take the necessary time to analyze the proposals. The first proposal would have Silverstein building only two of the five towers at the site and develop the Freedom Tower for the Port Authority. The PA would build everything else. The other would simply have Silverstein develop the Deutsche Bank building - that's it. Sure, there's a bunch of money involved as a consolation prize, but neither plan strikes me as a good deal for Silverstein. He's the one with the lease for developing on Ground Zero. The Deutsche Bank building isn't even part of the original 16 acres of the site. It also sounds like the Port Authority's plans hew more closely to those of Bloomberg and Corzine than to Pataki's original idea for the site. After all, it was intended to have Silverstein develop Pataki's preferred master plan - the Libeskind plan, which set forth the schedules and tower locations. That certainly appears to be the effect of Pataki exiting stage left in November. He needs something to be done, and needs Bloomberg and Corzine on board to make it happen.
And it's Silverstein's real estate interests at Ground Zero that are going to get tossed aside.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Rich Content
President Bush and U.S. policy-makers are receiving more intelligence from open sources such as Internet blogs and foreign newspapers than they previously did, senior intelligence officials said.The Donovan notes that if the CIA is reading, so are enemy governments. Count on it. In the Bullpen notes that the CIA is data mining blogs for signs of intelligence. You never know what you might find, but this may result in more opinion intel rather than hard intel.
The new Open Source Center (OSC) at CIA headquarters recently stepped up data collection and analysis based on bloggers worldwide and is developing new methods to gauge the reliability of the content, said OSC Director Douglas J. Naquin.
"A lot of blogs now have become very big on the Internet, and we're getting a lot of rich information on blogs that are telling us a lot about social perspectives and everything from what the general feeling is to ... people putting information on there that doesn't exist anywhere else," Mr. Naquin told The Washington Times.
Eliot A. Jardines, assistant deputy director of national intelligence for open source, said the amount of unclassified intelligence reaching Mr. Bush and senior policy-makers has increased as a result of the center's creation in November.
"We're certainly scoring a number of wins with our ultimate customer," said Mr. Jardines, who became the first high-level official in charge of the government's nonsecret intelligence in December.
"I can't get into detail of what, but I'll just say the amount of open source reporting that goes into the president's daily brief has gone up rather significantly," Mr. Jardines said. "There has been a real interest at the highest levels of our government, and we've been able to consistently deliver products that are on par with the rest of the intelligence community."
Mr. Naquin said recent OSC successes have included the discovery of a technology advance in a foreign country. Also, most data on avian flu outbreaks come from open sources, he said.
Searching blogs for intel might provide insight into the general opinion and sentiment of a given population or group. Sometimes we need that intel to help make policy decisions, and it's just as important as other intel about means and methodologies or technology. Part of the problem with trying to figure out what is going on in some parts of the world is a lack of contacts and ability to get a pulse of daily life in those countries.
Security Watchtower notes the application towards China. Winds of Change wonders if we should be terrified or encouraged by this development. And did they take up the idea of the CIA blogging internally.
Outside the Beltway notes that there are quite a few subject matter experts who are providing analysis for free online. It definitely makes sense to harness the expertise found online, though there are more than a few folks who go around professing to things that they are not experts on. The CIA would have a bear of a time trying to separate out the wheat from the chaff.
Blue Crab Boulevard is looking over his shoulder - and at his server/referrer logs.
Technorati: cia, intel gathering, humint.
Not Gonna Gloat Or Anything: A Fantasy Baseball No-No
First read the recap from Week 1 of one of my leagues (a head-to-head league). Then read the Week 2 recap. What's the common thread?
That's right folks. That's my team in the lead. The PAWs.
Never will there be another week with my team in the lead. Count on it. Jobu doesn't like braggarts.
Another light post brought to you by the likes of anonymous emailer.
That's right folks. That's my team in the lead. The PAWs.
Never will there be another week with my team in the lead. Count on it. Jobu doesn't like braggarts.
Another light post brought to you by the likes of anonymous emailer.
Spine Sighting at Turtle Bay
Secretary-General Annan for the first time has accused the mullahs of Iran of interfering in the affairs of the sovereign state Lebanon and asked that they heed the 2004 Security Council resolution urging the country's complete independence.That's a first step. Too bad the UN is overlooking Iran's meddling in the affairs of Iraq, its continued use of proxy armies against Israel and the US, and ongoing nuclear program but this wasn't within the scope of the report, whose focus was on Lebanon.
Mr. Annan last night also expressed his deep concern about the actions of Iran's surrogate militia - the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which operates in Lebanon - and its repeated defiance of the council's call for the disarming of all factions in Lebanon.
The language of the report, finalized late yesterday afternoon by the secretary-general's envoy in Lebanon, Terje Roed-Larsen, took a blunt tone for the usually mild-mannered Mr. Annan.
The Chairs Are Rearranged
As White House spokesman, Scott McClellan has one of the toughest jobs in D.C. Fending off the media hordes whose agenda isn't just getting news, but undermining an Administration - moreso during GOP Administations than during Democratic Administrations. It's a pressure filled job, and he's stepping down.
And Karl Rove fans (and haters) take note: he's shifting from policy to election duties. Expect him to have a major role in the November elections.
Wuzzadem has the best suggestion for White House Spokesman. Well, it's a whole lot funnier than my suggestion, which was to can the position.
UPDATE:
Don Surber also thinks that the position of official spokesperson doesn't make sense. The Man thinks that Jack Bauer should be the next White House spokesperson (and yes, there is humor there too).
Upon further reflection, Jack Bristow would be an acceptable alternative if Jack Bauer isn't available and we know that he probably is (despite the fact that Jack Bauer can bend time and space). Bristow has theater training as a cover, knowledgable in all the martial arts, and has excellent diction and known for pithy statements and steely demeanor. Oh, and knows how to use a screwdriver for more than putting together a crib.
Others blogging the Administration changes: Ed Driscoll, and Stop the ACLU.
And Karl Rove fans (and haters) take note: he's shifting from policy to election duties. Expect him to have a major role in the November elections.
Appearing with Bush on the White House South Lawn just before the president boarded a helicopter at the start a trip to Alabama, McClellan, who has parried especially fiercefully with reporters on Iraq and on intelligence issues, told Bush: "I have given it my all sir and I have given you my all sir, and I will continue to do so as we transition to a new press secretary."UPDATE:
Just over a year ago, Rove was promoted to deputy chief of staff in charge of most White House policy coordination. That new portfolio came on top of his title as senior adviser and role of chief policy aide to Bush.
But now, the job of deputy chief of staff for policy is being given to Joel Kaplan, now the White House's deputy budget director, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the president had not yet made the announcement.
The move signals a possibly broad effort to rearrange and reinvigorate Bush's staff by new chief of staff Joshua Bolten. Bolten moved into his position last week; Kaplan was his No. 2 person at the Office of Management and Budget.
Wuzzadem has the best suggestion for White House Spokesman. Well, it's a whole lot funnier than my suggestion, which was to can the position.
UPDATE:
Don Surber also thinks that the position of official spokesperson doesn't make sense. The Man thinks that Jack Bauer should be the next White House spokesperson (and yes, there is humor there too).
Upon further reflection, Jack Bristow would be an acceptable alternative if Jack Bauer isn't available and we know that he probably is (despite the fact that Jack Bauer can bend time and space). Bristow has theater training as a cover, knowledgable in all the martial arts, and has excellent diction and known for pithy statements and steely demeanor. Oh, and knows how to use a screwdriver for more than putting together a crib.
Others blogging the Administration changes: Ed Driscoll, and Stop the ACLU.
In His Prosecution, A Show Is Born
Couldn't the same be said of the media's reliance on the comments of less than a dozen retired generals who have criticized Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld? There are more than 4,700 retired generals in the US, and given that many are now coming forward to defend Rumsfeld's actions, what does that say about the original media coverage? The show is in the outsized and out-of-proportion reliance on the words of a few generals who have multiple reasons not to like Rumsfeld - many of them personal and professional conflicts because Rumsfeld stepped on their toes. That aspect has largely been unexplored by the media.
Actually, the headline says more about the New York Times editorial position than it does about Rumsfeld, his defenders, or even Rumsfeld's detractors. An individual who stands for all that the New York Times opposes is mocked because his supporters have come forward in response to comments and criticism by a few other generals.
Actually, the headline says more about the New York Times editorial position than it does about Rumsfeld, his defenders, or even Rumsfeld's detractors. An individual who stands for all that the New York Times opposes is mocked because his supporters have come forward in response to comments and criticism by a few other generals.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Something Lighter
Anonymous emailer - a friend and associate who remains nameless - suggested that I post on something lighter than my usual fare. He suggested baseball and that I should make a few predictions.
Mrs. Lawhawk thought this quite funny. I agreed. Actually, the only thing funnier will be the quality of my predictions. So, without further ado, here are my predictions and take them for what it's worth:
1) Chris Shelton will not win the home run title this year. Albert Pujols will.
2) The Mets will win just enough games to make it interesting, but not enough to make the playoffs.
3) Since I play fantasy baseball online, whenever I bench a player in favor of another guy on my team, the guy on the bench will go lights out with a couple of homers and a bunch of runs batted in. Tonite alone, I lost out on Jason Bay (2 for 2, a home run, 3 rbi and an OPS of 3.5) Two days ago, it was Xavier Nady (2 for 3, 2 runs, a homer, 3 rbi, and OPS of 2.167). I hear people pay good money for this kind of abuse.
4) Barry Bonds will not bat his weight this year, but will still manage to hit enough homers to give Bud Selig palpitations.
5) Pedro Martinez, who currently has his mojo back, will lose it and blame Jobu.
6) David Wright should win the National League MVP award.
7) Women prefer Yankees over Mets. So says the New York Post. No word on whether Page Six was involved.
8) Travis Hafner is the best slugger no one has heard of.
9) Alex Rodriguez is still better than Albert Pujols. For now. Let's see if either of them can win a World Series.
10) Ben Sheets will be the best pitcher in the NL - once I either trade him or drop him because he's on the DL just a wee bit too long.
11) The pitcher of the year will be Roy Oswalt. And his being on my team has everything to do with that selection.
So there you have it.
Mrs. Lawhawk thought this quite funny. I agreed. Actually, the only thing funnier will be the quality of my predictions. So, without further ado, here are my predictions and take them for what it's worth:
1) Chris Shelton will not win the home run title this year. Albert Pujols will.
2) The Mets will win just enough games to make it interesting, but not enough to make the playoffs.
3) Since I play fantasy baseball online, whenever I bench a player in favor of another guy on my team, the guy on the bench will go lights out with a couple of homers and a bunch of runs batted in. Tonite alone, I lost out on Jason Bay (2 for 2, a home run, 3 rbi and an OPS of 3.5) Two days ago, it was Xavier Nady (2 for 3, 2 runs, a homer, 3 rbi, and OPS of 2.167). I hear people pay good money for this kind of abuse.
4) Barry Bonds will not bat his weight this year, but will still manage to hit enough homers to give Bud Selig palpitations.
5) Pedro Martinez, who currently has his mojo back, will lose it and blame Jobu.
6) David Wright should win the National League MVP award.
7) Women prefer Yankees over Mets. So says the New York Post. No word on whether Page Six was involved.
8) Travis Hafner is the best slugger no one has heard of.
9) Alex Rodriguez is still better than Albert Pujols. For now. Let's see if either of them can win a World Series.
10) Ben Sheets will be the best pitcher in the NL - once I either trade him or drop him because he's on the DL just a wee bit too long.
11) The pitcher of the year will be Roy Oswalt. And his being on my team has everything to do with that selection.
So there you have it.
The Train to Somewhere
Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit doesn't put much stock in the relocation of the CSX rail line in Mississippi at a cost of $700 million in taxpayer dollars. He thinks that this is nothing but a pork barrel project, especially since the existing rail line was repaired at a cost of $250 million.
I think Glenn's got this wrong, along with Ace and the Heritage Foundation. The problem is that even those who have come out in support of this project aren't doing a particularly effective job of defending it; this piece on the relocation misses the mark. This piece strikes me more as righteous indignation rather than a reasonable defense of the project.
As a nation, we're not supposed to rebuild what existed prior just for the sake of rebuilding. We're supposed to be improving infrastructure to prevent against its failures the next time there's a hurricane. Rail traffic is crucial to restoring services - and the existing route is vulnerable to disruptions because of its proximity to the coast. The same goes for the nearby I10 that runs through the state. Both the CSX line and I10 were badly damaged, with major bridges badly damaged by Katrina. Six major bridges and 40 miles of track had to be repaired. The existing route was rebuilt because it is crucial to getting things back to normal along the entire Gulf Coast, not just Mississippi. It took months before service was restored. And it needed to be restored so that traffic could once again easily flow between Florida and Texas.
Relocating the rail line is the second phase of improving and rebuilding infrastructure. I can understand why this is perceived as a government handout - nearly $1 billion of taxpayer money spent on repairs and relocating a CSX rail line, but this isn't like Ted Stevens' bridges to nowhere in Alaska. The rail links are crucial to rebuilding efforts throughout the Gulf Coast. Making sure that they are more secure by pushing them inland of I10 improves their survivability the next time a hurricane hits. And one will inevitably hit the region.
Do we want to deal with having to rebuild the transportation infrastructure before we push on to rebuilding communities, or do we want to have an intact transportation infrastructure that can bring more equipment and materials to bear in less time than trying to airlift it into hard hit communities up and down the Gulf Coast the next time a hurricane hits?
Infrastructure changes such as this aren't cheap. They seem like handouts and largesse now, but the long term benefits may only be seen with another storm hitting the Gulf Coast. It is at that point when we'd see if the money was well spent. I think the cost will be worth it.
In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, there were people who questioned whether New Orleans should ever be rebuilt - and whether it should be relocated someplace safer inland. The decision has been made to rebuild as it was, but rely on the levees and flood control systems that have already proven themselves unable to handle a fraction of the storm damage it was meant to protect against. Billions are being thrown at improving those levees. And we're going to have to hope that the levee boards, the Army Corps of Engineers, and those involved in flood control in Louisiana get it right this time. There is no margin for error.
Here, we're talking about the relocation of a rail line so that it is out of the path of the worst kind of storm surges - which wiped out miles of track and hampered the relief/recovery efforts throughout South Mississippi and cut a significant rail link in the region. Yet, it doesn't just benefit Mississippi, but all of the states on the Gulf Coast. Improving this piece of infrastructure will come in handy the next major storm to hit the coast. Considering that many people have complained about the slow federal and state response to the emergency - and that many of the same people have forgotten that the reason for the slow response was due, in part, to the destruction of key transportation infrastructure, making sure that rail links are improved should be a priority.
Another added benefit of this relocation is the economic impact of making sure that infrastructure is improved through the region. That means that disruptions will be lessened due to storm damage, businesses will be able to restock quicker, and life can return to normal even faster. These are not insignificant issues that ought to be considered when evaluating whether this project should go forward.
UPDATE:
Welcome Instapundit readers! It's my first Instalanche, so be gentle. I've been blogging the hurricane recovery efforts so there's lots more here if you look through my archives.
I think Glenn's got this wrong, along with Ace and the Heritage Foundation. The problem is that even those who have come out in support of this project aren't doing a particularly effective job of defending it; this piece on the relocation misses the mark. This piece strikes me more as righteous indignation rather than a reasonable defense of the project.
As a nation, we're not supposed to rebuild what existed prior just for the sake of rebuilding. We're supposed to be improving infrastructure to prevent against its failures the next time there's a hurricane. Rail traffic is crucial to restoring services - and the existing route is vulnerable to disruptions because of its proximity to the coast. The same goes for the nearby I10 that runs through the state. Both the CSX line and I10 were badly damaged, with major bridges badly damaged by Katrina. Six major bridges and 40 miles of track had to be repaired. The existing route was rebuilt because it is crucial to getting things back to normal along the entire Gulf Coast, not just Mississippi. It took months before service was restored. And it needed to be restored so that traffic could once again easily flow between Florida and Texas.
Relocating the rail line is the second phase of improving and rebuilding infrastructure. I can understand why this is perceived as a government handout - nearly $1 billion of taxpayer money spent on repairs and relocating a CSX rail line, but this isn't like Ted Stevens' bridges to nowhere in Alaska. The rail links are crucial to rebuilding efforts throughout the Gulf Coast. Making sure that they are more secure by pushing them inland of I10 improves their survivability the next time a hurricane hits. And one will inevitably hit the region.
Do we want to deal with having to rebuild the transportation infrastructure before we push on to rebuilding communities, or do we want to have an intact transportation infrastructure that can bring more equipment and materials to bear in less time than trying to airlift it into hard hit communities up and down the Gulf Coast the next time a hurricane hits?
Infrastructure changes such as this aren't cheap. They seem like handouts and largesse now, but the long term benefits may only be seen with another storm hitting the Gulf Coast. It is at that point when we'd see if the money was well spent. I think the cost will be worth it.
In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, there were people who questioned whether New Orleans should ever be rebuilt - and whether it should be relocated someplace safer inland. The decision has been made to rebuild as it was, but rely on the levees and flood control systems that have already proven themselves unable to handle a fraction of the storm damage it was meant to protect against. Billions are being thrown at improving those levees. And we're going to have to hope that the levee boards, the Army Corps of Engineers, and those involved in flood control in Louisiana get it right this time. There is no margin for error.
Here, we're talking about the relocation of a rail line so that it is out of the path of the worst kind of storm surges - which wiped out miles of track and hampered the relief/recovery efforts throughout South Mississippi and cut a significant rail link in the region. Yet, it doesn't just benefit Mississippi, but all of the states on the Gulf Coast. Improving this piece of infrastructure will come in handy the next major storm to hit the coast. Considering that many people have complained about the slow federal and state response to the emergency - and that many of the same people have forgotten that the reason for the slow response was due, in part, to the destruction of key transportation infrastructure, making sure that rail links are improved should be a priority.
Another added benefit of this relocation is the economic impact of making sure that infrastructure is improved through the region. That means that disruptions will be lessened due to storm damage, businesses will be able to restock quicker, and life can return to normal even faster. These are not insignificant issues that ought to be considered when evaluating whether this project should go forward.
UPDATE:
Welcome Instapundit readers! It's my first Instalanche, so be gentle. I've been blogging the hurricane recovery efforts so there's lots more here if you look through my archives.
UN Still Awaiting New Home
The U.N. is not going ahead with its plans to build a temporary office tower in Midtown while its headquarters is being renovated. Originally, Mayor Bloomberg had proposed building a new, temporary headquarters for the world body over Robert Moses playground near its current building, however approvals and construction timing seem to be issues. Instead, the U.N. will look to rent space in Midtown (7 World Trade Center had been reviewed, but the U.N. thought it would be too long a commute for officials based in Midtown). Well, some lucky broker will hit the jackpot is there's 200,000 square feet of space around. Ah, remember when the U.N. was thinking about moving to Brooklyn for a spell? It's still in play, according to their report, since Brooklyn is the least expensive.Bloomberg has been pushing this project, and it's nearly as messy as the whole Ground Zero fiasco. Perhaps Bloomberg isn't as good at real estate as he is with financial information.
Maybe they should put 'em in the new Times headquarters building. They should get along quite nicely, and the Times might even get to know some of the players involved in the UNSCAM mess - and never report on them. Just like now.
Bracing for the Next Step
What will Israel do in response to yesterday's terrorist that killed nine Israelis and wounded over 65 at a Tel Aviv restaurant? That's the question of the day. Will military raids be enough? Some analysts don't think it is.
I think speeding up the construction of the security fence, and threatening that for every attack against Israel, Israel will not only move the barrier further into areas that Palestinians might have once called their own had they accepted the 2000 deal at Camp David, but annex such territory as a claim of right under international laws of war as being part of the next step. Military action is a given, and the range of targets should be more than just the bomb factories. Terrorist leaders have gotten used to the fact that they can get away with whipping their followers into a frenzy without facing the repercussions of their actions. That has to change. Threats to Israel's security should translate into action against the terrorist leadership directly.
Hamas has declared war on Israel - and has done so not only as a terrorist organization, but as the head of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas needs to be taught that their actions bring serious repercussions and the lesson must be unequivocable and thorough. Half measures and giving Hamas and the Palestinian Authority any kind of break is a losing strategy. After all this time, Hamas still thinks it can win and destroy Israel. They must be disabused of that notion, along with all the other terrorist groups operating in the territories. Jay Tea also notices.
Meanwhile, Norway is looking to recapture its Oslo glory by playing host to Hamas. Inexcusable. The only dialogue that should be going on is demands on Hamas to unconditionally surrender or face destruction of the Palestinian Authority and all the terrorist organizations once and for all. Giving into the demands of a terrorist group will lead to no good. There is no way to negotiate with such a group - they do not bargain in good faith, and their ultimate goal is the elimination of Israel and reestablishing an Islamic state where Israel once stood.
UPDATE:
This NY Sun editorial wraps up the events of the past 24 hours quite nicely. Starting with the bombing in Israel, it wends through the anti-Semitism and terrorism apologists to the Sami al Arian case.
I think speeding up the construction of the security fence, and threatening that for every attack against Israel, Israel will not only move the barrier further into areas that Palestinians might have once called their own had they accepted the 2000 deal at Camp David, but annex such territory as a claim of right under international laws of war as being part of the next step. Military action is a given, and the range of targets should be more than just the bomb factories. Terrorist leaders have gotten used to the fact that they can get away with whipping their followers into a frenzy without facing the repercussions of their actions. That has to change. Threats to Israel's security should translate into action against the terrorist leadership directly.
Hamas has declared war on Israel - and has done so not only as a terrorist organization, but as the head of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas needs to be taught that their actions bring serious repercussions and the lesson must be unequivocable and thorough. Half measures and giving Hamas and the Palestinian Authority any kind of break is a losing strategy. After all this time, Hamas still thinks it can win and destroy Israel. They must be disabused of that notion, along with all the other terrorist groups operating in the territories. Jay Tea also notices.
Meanwhile, Norway is looking to recapture its Oslo glory by playing host to Hamas. Inexcusable. The only dialogue that should be going on is demands on Hamas to unconditionally surrender or face destruction of the Palestinian Authority and all the terrorist organizations once and for all. Giving into the demands of a terrorist group will lead to no good. There is no way to negotiate with such a group - they do not bargain in good faith, and their ultimate goal is the elimination of Israel and reestablishing an Islamic state where Israel once stood.
UPDATE:
This NY Sun editorial wraps up the events of the past 24 hours quite nicely. Starting with the bombing in Israel, it wends through the anti-Semitism and terrorism apologists to the Sami al Arian case.
Anyone with doubts about Hamas's intentions can consult its charter, which contains such gems as "Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it as it had eliminated its predecessors." Or that "enemies... used the money to establish clandestine organizations which are spreading around the world, in order to destroy societies and carry out Zionist interests. Such organizations are: the Freemasons, Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, B'nai B'rith and the like. All of them are destructive spying organizations...Their scheme has been laid out in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion." Or they can consult the words of one of Hamas's financial backers, President Ahmadinejad of Iran, who has repeatedly vowed to wipe Israel off the map. Iran was just voted vice chairman of the United Nations Disarmament Commission, Fox News's Brit Hume reported last night.
The Times ad claims "Many Americans do not understand that Hamas is a typical anti-colonial insurgency responding to an Israeli occupation and what amounts to government terror against Palestinian civilians. It is not at all related to al-Qa'ida or 9/11." In fact Hamas represents colonialism by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood in the West Bank and Gaza. Its ideology reeks of Al Qaeda and bin Laden. Americans don't need the New York Times and Hamas to tell them what they don't understand. They know that the victims slain yesterday at a felafel restaurant in Tel Aviv are no different from those slain on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center. They are casualties in a war being levied by an enemy that aims to reestablish the caliphate and enforce Islamic law worldwide, an enemy that kills civilian women and children while Western sympathizers make ill-timed excuses.
Shed No Tears For Moussaoui
Sorry, but I have no tears for Moussaoui's supposedly rough upbringing. No matter how he grew up, condoning mass murder, engaging in terrorist plots to commit mass murder, and taking steps in furtherance of those plots cannot be laid at the feet of an unhappy childhood.
Moussaoui is responsible for his actions as an adult. Period. No nonsensical sob story by the defense team changes that.
UPDATE:
Some relatives of 9/11 victims are going to testify on behalf of Moussaoui. I think it's misguided of them to think that showing any kind of compassion towards Moussaoui will change anything, but that's what they think.
UPDATE:
Moussaoui is up to his usual tricks - mocking the psychologist who were called to testify on his behalf today.
Moussaoui is responsible for his actions as an adult. Period. No nonsensical sob story by the defense team changes that.
Lawyers trying to persuade a jury to spare the life of Zacarias Moussaoui began presenting testimony about his childhood on Monday, to show that he grew up in a neglectful household in France where his father beat his mother regularly and that he spent much of his youth in orphanages.Kids get taunted all the time, and they all don't turn into sociopaths. And Moussaoui knows that the legal maneuverings by his advisors are nothing more than a smokescreen. Michelle Malkin has more.
Witnesses also said Mr. Moussaoui was unprepared to deal with the racist anti-Islamic taunts of schoolmates and the hostility of the parents of a French girlfriend.
UPDATE:
Some relatives of 9/11 victims are going to testify on behalf of Moussaoui. I think it's misguided of them to think that showing any kind of compassion towards Moussaoui will change anything, but that's what they think.
One of the family members expected to appear for the defense is Alice Hoagland. She's the mother of Mark Bingham, 31, a passenger on United Flight 93, the hijacked plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.I suppose that those who oppose the death penalty will find a reason to oppose it in this case as well, as the cross section of political views of 9/11 families is much like that of America at large.
Hoagland, who was in court observing the trial Monday, said in a recent interview with CNN that she hopes that the United States would show Moussaoui more mercy than his confederates showed September 11 victims.
UPDATE:
Moussaoui is up to his usual tricks - mocking the psychologist who were called to testify on his behalf today.
Russia and China Block Darfur Action
John R. Bolton, the United States ambassador, said Monday that he intended to offer a Security Council resolution on Tuesday that would publicly identify four Sudanese individuals responsible for atrocities in Darfur and possibly force a vote on whether the panel would impose sanctions on them. ...And because Russia and China oppose action, the genocide will continue and Khartoum will escape justice. Millions of Sudanese have been affected by the Darfur genocide, with hundreds of thousands already dead. How many more will die as a result of the Russian and Chinese action?
He said he decided on the move after learning that China and Russia had objected to action against the four individuals. Their names were circulated among Council members last Thursday under a so-called silence procedure that would have applied the sanctions unless they met opposition.
On Monday, China said it opposed the sanctions, and Russia said it backed China's view. Wang Guangya, the Chinese ambassador, said that taking action now would complicate African Union-sponsored peace talks on the conflicted Darfur region under way in Abuja, Nigeria. "At this sensitive moment, to publish the list of names will have a negative effect on the negotiations there," he said.
The four — including a member of government, as well as fighters from pro- and anti-government militias — are charged with committing atrocities and undermining peace efforts in Darfur. The sanctions include travel bans and freezes on assets.
Oh, and why are Russia and China so intent on protecting Sudan from UN resolutions or actions? Oil. They need the Sudanese oil. Pure and simple.
Still think that the UN is the cure-all for international disputes? Ed Morrissey has similar thoughts:
We castigated ourselves for not intervening in the Rwandan massacre before it turned into the horrid genocide that left hundreds of thousands dead. Now we find out that even had we wanted to get action in the UNSC, the genocide enablers would likely never have allowed any action at all. Perhaps someone can craft a rationale for the continued existence of the United Nations, but the pursuit of peace and justice can't possibly be one of the components for such an argument.
The Battle For Ground Zero, Part 121
Still more bone fragments have been recovered from the Deutsche Bank building in the past week. That brings the total to more than 450 fragments recovered.
Meanwhile, Fiterman Hall is still a hulking ruin that must be dealt with by CUNY, LMDC, and the Governor.
UPDATE:
John Whitehead criticizes a report from last week that claimed that the memorial foundation was having problems with fundraising. Sorry, but I'm not convinced. Just because you're raising funds from all 50 states doesn't mean that you're reaching your fiscal goals. And that's what the bottom line is on the memorial project.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.
A Sept. 11 family group, unhappy that city officials had not found the remains earlier, has asked the federal government to take over the search efforts. But White House spokesman Alex Conant said the government will let local authorities handle the recovery of remains.One has to wonder if there are still remains to be found on the roofs of nearby buildings that were also affected by the collapsing towers, including the World Financial Center. Another week of searching is planned at the Deutsche Bank building.
''We've consulted with state and city officials, and they indicate they are proceeding carefully to recover remains, and we have been advised that federal involvement is not requested at this time,'' Conant said.
More than 500 human bone fragments have been found at the former Deutsche Bank building since workers began cleaning it last fall and preparing to dismantle it. The 41-story building suffered severe damage on Sept. 11, 2001, when the trade center's south tower partially collapsed on it. It has stood vacant since the attacks.
Retired firefighters and fire department battalion chiefs joined in the search last week for human remains that have been found mixed in with gravel on the building's roof.
Meanwhile, Fiterman Hall is still a hulking ruin that must be dealt with by CUNY, LMDC, and the Governor.
The community can thank CUNY's selfishness and the fecklessness of its rebuilding agent, the state Dormitory Authority - and also the "leadership" of Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg.This is a horrible gap in leadership by the governor's office to deal with this issue. It's not as though this is rocket science. The building cannot be salvaged and it must be deconstructed. A replacement building must be built for the college, and the only thing lacking is the will to make this happen quicker. Instead there is foot dragging that has drawn out the process and made the area around 7WTC an eyesore that will continue for far longer than should have been necessary.
The latest bad news: The federal Environmental Protection Agency has raised extensive questions about plans to decontaminate the building - a four-to-six-month process that must precede demolition.
CUNY and its Borough of Manhattan Community College have posted a sign on the Greenwich Street side promising a new building by 2009. Eight years to replace a simple 15-story classroom structure? Ridiculous. Yet even 2009 is looking more like wishful thinking than a serious deadline.
For months, Pataki's people have tried to suggest that the tangled ruin would be down this year. Last week, Pataki's Downtown construction-coordination czar, Charles Maikish, told me that work should start "in June," and that a "substantial portion" of the wreck should be down "by year end."
He called back yesterday with a whopper of a revision: The state is now looking at an "October start date," not for demolition, but for five-plus months of decontamination.
UPDATE:
John Whitehead criticizes a report from last week that claimed that the memorial foundation was having problems with fundraising. Sorry, but I'm not convinced. Just because you're raising funds from all 50 states doesn't mean that you're reaching your fiscal goals. And that's what the bottom line is on the memorial project.
Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Sami al Arian To Be Deported
Former Florida university professor Sami al-Arian has pleaded guilty to aiding the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad and agreed to be deported, U.S. officials said on MondayArian gets deported, which means he's no longer able to do his business in the US, but count on him shilling for Islamic Jihad overseas. So far, there's no indication of where he's going to end up.
Al-Arian and three co-defendants were charged in 2003 with helping the group carry out attacks in Israel. In December, a federal jury in Tampa found al-Arian not guilty on eight charges and failed to reach a verdict on nine others after a six-month trial.
Prosecutors, whose failure to convict al-Arian after the jury trial was seen as a stiff blow to the U.S. government's attempts to prosecute terrorism suspects, hailed the plea bargain agreement as a victory.
"Al-Arian has now admitted providing assistance to help the Palestinian Islamic Jihad ... as the government has alleged from the start," Assistant U.S. Attorney General Alice Fisher said in a written statement.
The United States has designated Islamic Jihad a terrorist organization. When the charges against al-Arian and the others were made public three years ago, then-U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said the group was responsible for over 100 deaths in Israel, including two Americans.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed nine people and wounded 60 outside a restaurant in Tel Aviv on Monday.
Others blogging: Texas Rainmaker and Stop the ACLU. Wizbang has photos of Islamic Jihad's latest handiwork (that would be today's suicide bombing in Israel that killed nine and wounded over 65). It shows just who and what al Arian was involved in, and none of it any good. He supported mass murderers who sought to commit heinous acts of violence.
Words and War
Fatah denounces the terrorist attack that killed nine and wounded 65 in Tel Aviv. Hamas calls it a legitimate act of resistance. Hamas is in charge of the Palestinian Authority, Fatah isn't. Hamas makes no bones about its intentions and desire to eliminate Israel from the face of the planet. Fatah is more circumspect, but has the same long term goal (just look at all those maps the PA produced of the region - they all show a Palestinian country where Israel once stood).
Both Fatah and Hamas have sufficient men under arms that they can quickly and easily get into a shooting war - with each other - let alone enter into a real shooting match with Israel's military. With little in the way of money coming into the PA and the costs of maintaining things not going away, the pressure is on. The pressure is resulting in 'security' forces breaking into PA offices demanding to be paid.
And the leaders of the various terrorist groups are all triangulating against each other and against Israel. They need to be seen as the most violent in order to curry favor with the gunmen who don't care who they work for. This means that the possibility of more terrorist attacks only increases.
Does any of this matter for Israel? The terrorist attacks continue regardless of who calls themselves in charge. Israel needs to finish the fence to reduce the likelyhood that terrorists could infiltrate into Israel to launch bombing attacks, but it doesn't eliminate the threat. That can only come through engaging the terrorist groups in military action, and the likelyhood of that is far from certain, despite the fact that the terrorists' intentions are well known.
Another possibility is that Israel's reprisals could result in the various factions uniting behind Hamas - and that would actually undermine Israel's security posture because they couldn't exploit the factions in a divide and conquer strategy.
UPDATE:
Israel isn't pulling punches - calling the actions of Iran, Syria and the PA a declaration of war:
Both Fatah and Hamas have sufficient men under arms that they can quickly and easily get into a shooting war - with each other - let alone enter into a real shooting match with Israel's military. With little in the way of money coming into the PA and the costs of maintaining things not going away, the pressure is on. The pressure is resulting in 'security' forces breaking into PA offices demanding to be paid.
And the leaders of the various terrorist groups are all triangulating against each other and against Israel. They need to be seen as the most violent in order to curry favor with the gunmen who don't care who they work for. This means that the possibility of more terrorist attacks only increases.
Does any of this matter for Israel? The terrorist attacks continue regardless of who calls themselves in charge. Israel needs to finish the fence to reduce the likelyhood that terrorists could infiltrate into Israel to launch bombing attacks, but it doesn't eliminate the threat. That can only come through engaging the terrorist groups in military action, and the likelyhood of that is far from certain, despite the fact that the terrorists' intentions are well known.
Another possibility is that Israel's reprisals could result in the various factions uniting behind Hamas - and that would actually undermine Israel's security posture because they couldn't exploit the factions in a divide and conquer strategy.
UPDATE:
Israel isn't pulling punches - calling the actions of Iran, Syria and the PA a declaration of war:
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations called actions by Iran, Syria and Palestinian leaders "declarations of war," but the Palestinian envoy said Israel's attacks on Gaza were inhumane and violated international law.Israel defends herself by going after the terrorists and the PA claims that these are violations of international law and whatever agreements they have signed. Never mind the fact that the Palestinians have never lived up to any of their obligations under those agreements.
The two diplomats on Monday opened a U.N. Security Council debate that included some 35 speakers. The session had been scheduled before Monday's Palestinian suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, in which nine people were killed and 60 wounded.
Nevertheless, the Palestinian U.N. observer, Riyad Mansour, echoed the condemnation made by Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. The Hamas-led Palestinian government has not made similar comments.
"We restate our condemnation of the loss of innocent lives, Palestinian and Israelis, and we call upon the occupying power to do the same," Mansour told the council.
Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman said every day fundamentalist leaders were inciting acts of terrorism.
"A dark cloud is looming above our region, and it is metastasizing as a result of the statements and actions by leaders of Iran, Syria, and the newly elected government of the Palestinian Authority," Gillerman said.
"These recent statements are clear declarations of war, and I urge each and every one of you to listen carefully and take them at face value."
TWU Blues
The TWU Local 100, which illegally went on strike just before Christmas is not going to like the judge's decision to impose $2.5 million in fines and eliminate the checkoff that enabled the union to collect dues directly from worker paychecks.
Not only are the workers still without a contract, but he's essentially run the union into the ground.
UPDATE:
Gothamist has more details on the ruling, including the fact that the suspension of dues' collection will be for three months. Also, TWU's financial situation is quite dire, which makes the $2.5 million fine all the more painful. Guess they should have thought of this before they took to the picket line. It's not like they weren't warned. They knew the Taylor Law would kick in should they go on strike, and that the penalties were harsh. If anything, the union got off lightly - considering that they were initially fined $3 million ($1 million per day), and could have been permanently prohibited from collecting dues automatically from paychecks.
Prior coverage: TWU Facing the Music, If A First You Don't Succeed, Vote Again. And Again, That's Rich, Some Free Advice For the MTA and TWU, Drawing the Line, The MTA/TWU Mess Drags On, The Train Wreck Continues, Hold Onto Your Hats: NYC Transit Workers Rejected Contract, The Cowardly Lion, Dissecting the Transit Deal, Awaiting a Deal, A Deal In Sight?, Tallying the Toll, Winners and Losers, Strike Over?, Seeing The Humor in Striking, Three Strikes and You're Out?, Rogering New York, A Pox On Both Their Houses, The Pension Gap, The TWU to NYC: We're Gonna Strike, Taking Sides in the Transit Strike.
Technorati: toussant, toussaint, strike, nyc, transit strike.
A Brooklyn judge has just imposed a $2.5 million fine on Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union for its illegal three-day strike -- and suspended the union's automatic collection of dues from its members.This may mean the end of the transit workers' union as we know it and it would be a fitting end for Roger Toussaint - a way to cap his horrendous run as head of the union.
Not only are the workers still without a contract, but he's essentially run the union into the ground.
UPDATE:
Gothamist has more details on the ruling, including the fact that the suspension of dues' collection will be for three months. Also, TWU's financial situation is quite dire, which makes the $2.5 million fine all the more painful. Guess they should have thought of this before they took to the picket line. It's not like they weren't warned. They knew the Taylor Law would kick in should they go on strike, and that the penalties were harsh. If anything, the union got off lightly - considering that they were initially fined $3 million ($1 million per day), and could have been permanently prohibited from collecting dues automatically from paychecks.
Prior coverage: TWU Facing the Music, If A First You Don't Succeed, Vote Again. And Again, That's Rich, Some Free Advice For the MTA and TWU, Drawing the Line, The MTA/TWU Mess Drags On, The Train Wreck Continues, Hold Onto Your Hats: NYC Transit Workers Rejected Contract, The Cowardly Lion, Dissecting the Transit Deal, Awaiting a Deal, A Deal In Sight?, Tallying the Toll, Winners and Losers, Strike Over?, Seeing The Humor in Striking, Three Strikes and You're Out?, Rogering New York, A Pox On Both Their Houses, The Pension Gap, The TWU to NYC: We're Gonna Strike, Taking Sides in the Transit Strike.
Technorati: toussant, toussaint, strike, nyc, transit strike.
Pulitzers Honor Those Who Report...
... using information that was quite likely based on leaks of classified information. In other words, criminal activities that are considered good leaks because they undermine the Administration's ability to act and those reporters should be honored for their actions. Bad leaks are the kind that the Administration does to protect itself and show that its actions were correct and those reporters should be prosecuted and forced to reveal their sources.
So who were the winners? Is it any surprise that Risen won a Pulitzer on his NSA story though does that come with a subpoena, indictment, and handcuffs?
So who were the winners? Is it any surprise that Risen won a Pulitzer on his NSA story though does that come with a subpoena, indictment, and handcuffs?
Dana Priest of The Washington Post has won the Pulitzer Prize for beat reporting on secret prisons and the government's counterterrorism campaign.The other winners can be found here. So how did I do in predicting the outcome of the Pulitzer prizes this year? Mixed. At least I got the Times Picayune and Sun Herald awards right. And I thought it would be funny that Risen would win - and watch the ensuing blogswarm on who was picked and analyzing the decision (a self fulfilling prophesy?). Well, I got that part right, even if I didn't pick him to win. Don Surber did a little better.
James Risen and Eric Lichtblau of The New York Times and the staffs of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Copley News Service have won the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting.
American Airlines Pilots Want Flt 587 Investigation Reopened
group of American Airlines pilots wants the federal government to reopen its probe of the 2001 crash of Flight 587 in the Rockaways, saying newly discovered problems with Airbus jets raise questions about the investigation's conclusions.
The doomed Airbus A300's co-pilot, Sten Molin, got most of the blame for the Nov. 12, 2001, crash of the jet, which killed 265 people.
Molin pushed so hard on the plane's rudder controls that the jet's entire tail section fell off, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded.
But some American Airlines pilots say no plane should break because someone pushes a pedal too hard. And they say Airbus never told anyone pushing the rudder pedals endangered the planes.
The Katrina Rebuilding Roundup
Today marks the election day for New Orleans to look towards the future and find a replacement for Mayor Ray 'Whiplash' Nagin, who was in charge before, during, and after the debacle that was known as the New Orleans hurricane response 'effort.' Nagin is facing competition from 22 other candidates, and among the questions is just how many New Orleans residents will actually vote.
Not that any of that might matter because the city will be bankrupt in a month unless something radical is done in the short term. And the problems are so big, that experts are saying that bankruptcy wont solve them.
Elections in Slidell, LA aren't nearly as difficult to figure. Mayor Ben Morris won in overwhelming fashion with 80% of the vote.
The Louisiana Public Facilities Authority has approved an agenda that includes nearly $700+ million in projects:
And if you thought that Trent Lott was out of the political picture, you'd be sadly mistaken. He's working on a political comeback, precipitated by the destruction caused by Katrina to his hometown of Pascagoula, MS.
Rebuilding is still going in fits and starts, though having flood plan maps is a start - though the maps don't entirely make sense considering that raising your building three feet would do little to spare it from total devastation where some areas of New Orleans were flooded by 12-15 feet of water for weeks at a time. This graphic shows just what some of the changes might mean in New Orleans. Have no doubt that the decisions were determined by cost, not necessarily by how safe the resulting flood maps will be. Mississippi localities are also looking at their flood maps.
People are still working to get their financial situations in order, and state and federal programs are straining to keep up. More than 29,000 are expected to seek assistance in Mississippi alone under programs that would assist property owners who were flooded out but not within flood zones:
Given these stakes, if evacuees don't vote in large numbers, it will likely become a topic of an emotionally charged debate: Is it because they wanted to vote but weren't able to because they were disenfranchised, or because they just didn't want to vote? Historically, African-Americans, particularly low-income African-Americans, have not shown much inclination to vote absentee. Many evacuees have settled into their new locations, found housing and jobs and put their kids in school. They may not see New Orleans, with its crippled economy, housing shortage and battered school system as having much to offer them. But the suggestion that some evacuees may not want to vote is anathema to civil rights activists and advocates for New Orleans, who insist that the evacuees want to return to the city but can't, and point out that voting is one way to show they still consider themselves to be residents.It is a very distinct possibility that those who were displaced by Katrina are not looking back and are making a new and better life outside New Orleans. They may choose not to vote because they no longer have a stake in the future. And the civil rights groups are going to raise the inevitable stink because it is their core constituency that decided to turn its back on the city if they choose not to vote.
No one knows how large the electorate will be. More than 13,300 current and displaced residents of the city have cast ballots after a week of early voting. According to Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater's office, a large percentage of those voting so far have been African-American. A majority cast their votes in person at polling places set up in 10 parishes across the state, while a small percentage have mailed in absentee ballots.
Not that any of that might matter because the city will be bankrupt in a month unless something radical is done in the short term. And the problems are so big, that experts are saying that bankruptcy wont solve them.
Elections in Slidell, LA aren't nearly as difficult to figure. Mayor Ben Morris won in overwhelming fashion with 80% of the vote.
The Louisiana Public Facilities Authority has approved an agenda that includes nearly $700+ million in projects:
$500 million for Entergy New Orleans, Inc. to rebuild facilities in Orleans Parish that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina;The $500 million would be in the form of a bond offering.
- $135 million for Sugar Growers of Central Louisiana, Inc., a non-profit organization, to build a sugar processing facility;
- $75 million for a high-rise residential facility for seniors in Jefferson Parish;
- $16 million for a 300-400, single-home development north of Slidell in St. Tammany Parish; and
- $1 million for a water well and water treatment facility in Eunice.
And if you thought that Trent Lott was out of the political picture, you'd be sadly mistaken. He's working on a political comeback, precipitated by the destruction caused by Katrina to his hometown of Pascagoula, MS.
A turning point for Lott came in August after Hurricane Katrina struck his home state, destroying his stately home in Pascagoula, Miss., a framed photograph of which sits on his office coffee table. In announcing last January that he would seek election to a fourth Senate term, Lott cited the need to help Mississippi recover.Not sure that he's the right guy for a leadership post, but his unique perspective having watched his own home destroyed by Katrina gives him insights into what thousands of other Americans face throughout the Gulf Coast. Lott has the potential to be an effective spokesperson for them.
Friends say Lott is giving serious thought to a bid for an official leadership post next year, perhaps seeking the job of Republican whip, the No. 2 slot. But Lott said he was not "obsessed" with the idea.
"I am OK with the role I'm playing now," he said
While some senators have urged Lott to run for leadership, not everyone believes reinstating Lott is a good idea. Some say the baggage from his Thurmond comments remains damaging and that the party needs a fresh face.
Rebuilding is still going in fits and starts, though having flood plan maps is a start - though the maps don't entirely make sense considering that raising your building three feet would do little to spare it from total devastation where some areas of New Orleans were flooded by 12-15 feet of water for weeks at a time. This graphic shows just what some of the changes might mean in New Orleans. Have no doubt that the decisions were determined by cost, not necessarily by how safe the resulting flood maps will be. Mississippi localities are also looking at their flood maps.
People are still working to get their financial situations in order, and state and federal programs are straining to keep up. More than 29,000 are expected to seek assistance in Mississippi alone under programs that would assist property owners who were flooded out but not within flood zones:
Bailey hopes he qualifies for some money from the $3 billion in federal grants the Mississippi Development Authority soon will hand out. An estimated 29,000 homeowners are expected to qualify for grants totaling as much as $150,000 each to help them rebuild their insured, flooded homes that weren't in flood zones.Problems aren't confined to the physical rebuilding of the city. The legal system is also suffering from problems as well. Defendants aren't able to get court appointed attorneys for criminal cases, and that's affecting the disposition of many cases.
After months of anticipation, applicants will begin meeting MDA officials on Monday in Gulfport, Gautier and Bay St. Louis.
MDA spokesman Scott Hamilton said about 11,900 people already have called to make appointments.
"No one has gotten a busy signal," he said. "There are 70 people at the call center. Fifty work at a time."
Pete Smith, Gov. Haley Barbour's spokesman, said as many as 75,000 people could apply, although they all won't be approved for this phase of the program.
"We're not going to discourage anyone from applying," Smith said. "The governor has said we have never done anything like this before. It's not going to be very smooth."
A second phase of the program could make about $1 billion available to uninsured homeowners and apartments owners. Those plans have not been announced.
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