Here is my one-year old grandson running wild in the grass. This was how our day went, he ran, I chased. But as you might guess being the first grandson on both sides of the family, he knows how to play to the camera. This shot he was running, but stopped for a PR pose and shot. Hollywood, here he comes.
Click on the title for the link to this short Op-Ed piece by the Baltimore Sun, via the IHT. But since it is so short, here it is in its entirety: BALTIMORE: The Russian government says it will kick ABC-TV out of the country because it had the effrontery to show an interview with the Chechen rebel leader, Shamil Basayev, who has been behind some of the bloodiest and most humiliating episodes in Russia's war to retain the breakaway republic.
Whether you agree with the Chechen cause or not, their tactics have been despicable. The separate takeovers of the theater and the school were acts of terror, plain and simple. Anytime a group targets innocents, it qualifies them for terrorist status.ABC has pointed out that showing an interview with someone is not an endorsement.
It may not be an endorsement. But, when a news agency grants an interview with a terrorist from any country, it gives that terrorist and his movement more credibility than it deserves. Not only does it gives them an over-inflated sense of importance, but it makes them believe in their own minds that what they are doing is noble, and presents their distorted views as a valid rationale for their murderous deeds. In short, it emboldens them further.Expelling a news organization as a matter of national policy is wrong.
Not if their irresponsible reporting runs a risk of giving aid and comfort to an enemy that has already demonstrated, they are hell bent on destroying their country. Remember, ABC is not a Russian news agency, but an American organization and they are guests in that country. Besides that, no other foreign agency has been kicked out as a result of this story, only the one that was responsible for this irresponsible act of journalism. Russian officials are angry because they've been trying to find Basayev for years. The freelance reporter who did find him, Andrei Babitsky, has infuriated the Kremlin with his reports from Chechnya. The Kremlin has brought most of the Russian press to heel through intimidation and blackmail; now it's trying to punish a foreign news operation. There's a pattern here, and it's an ugly one.
Equating the crackdown on the Russian news media with expelling a foreign news agency for irresponsible journalism, is the Baltimore Sun's faulty way of excusing its own past misjudgements. While the crackdown on its own media is deplorable and significantly sets back basic freedoms in Russia, it remains their sovereign right to expel any foreign agency that practices this type of journalism, especially when safety and security are at stake. It's not like they expelled NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox, the BBC, et al. They kicked out the guilty party and only the guilty party.
Click on the title for the complete AP article via the San Francisco Chronicle. Iran's nuclear brinksmanship has paid off — so far. It gained two years to complete uranium enrichment facilities during unproductive negotiations with the European Union, which has not carried out threats to seek U.N. sanctions.
Meanwhile the clock keeps ticking. Tick, tock. Tick, tock.It should be fairly apparent by now that Iran has no intention of negotiating in good faith. And, they have bought precious time by pretending to do so. But until someone decides to bring it to the Security Council, it will continue to be a game in which Iran is holding the cards and bluffing, with minimal effort.This needs to be Bolton's first order of business, and soon. How many more years are we willing to give them?
To those that read this blog regularly or semi-regularly, you have no doubt noticed I have been on low blogging status. I have had a harrowing couple of days that have left me very tired. August and September are usually busy months for me, because of a variety of commitments. Today, I am taking my one-year old grandson to see his great grandmother and its about a 100 mile trip, one-way. I will return tonight and if little junior hasn't worn his grandpa out, I will be back reading your blogs and inserting my acerbic comments, like usual.I will also be leaving for vacation on Thursday, so I will be on another low volume blogging status, then. Thanks for reading, and have a great Saturday.
The NFL starts its preseason Saturday in Tokyo, with the Indianapolis Colts playing the Atlanta Falcons. The game starts at 5:00AM EDT/2:00AM PDT. I don't like preseason games because of the risk of player injury, in a meaningless game. Starters usually take a few snaps, then the rest of the game consists of reserves and those trying to make the team. I know it generates a little revenue and I know it helps coaches evaluate who to keep and who to cut. But for me, I just can't get excited about a preseason game, in any sport. Teams can go 4-0 in preseason and then, go 3-13 in the regular season.Anyway, now would be a good time to ask my readers if anyone would like to start a team blog, on the NFL and NCAA football season. If anyone is interested, let me know.
Click on the title for the full AP article.CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez strongly denied U.S. charges that he is supporting Colombian rebels or trying to destabilize other South American countries, accusing the United States of spreading lies.
Did I ever mention that my uncle plays lead guitar for the Who? Hugo would certainly do well to save that statement for a tavern. Someone there will believe him.
Click on the title for the complete Reuters article.BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari set out a 12-point security plan on Thursday to fight "the worst kind of war" waged by insurgents but gave few details of how he would end daily bloodshed.
Is it just me, or this starting to sound like the UN?
Click on the title for more at Boortz.Com. Watch this as it develops into a serious issue. This may get some serious support, as more people learn about it and get behind it. It has only been out a day or two and so far, it trails only the Harry Potter book on Amazon.Com. I will be getting my copy soon.Addendum - I saw Boortz on Hannity & Colmes last night and Hannity appears to be behind it. So look for some good press, in the coming days, weeks, and months.
The book is titled, The International Islamic Resistance Call. The author is Mustafa Setmarian Nasar. Here is a quote:"I think, in brief, that the September (2001) happenings, and what followed from it in the international happenings leads us to what the Prophet Mohammed told us. There will be difficulties and more confrontation and a shrinking of the number of the believers. The power will be greatly unbalanced between us and the enemy, so the only choice is that we will have to be patient and to sacrifice. However, the duty of jihad is a must until the end of days. The people who are fighting for the religion will be victorious, until at last they fight the false Messiah."
What a peaceful, soothing, and uplifting passage from such a peaceful religion. If you want to read the other two quotes reported by the AP, click on the title.
Everyone wants to get a deal. Right? Well, click on the title for an archived post by Pedro, offering a great deal. Some of you may want to cash in on this, now. I have been looking at his site for a couple of weeks now and I just can't wait any longer, he must be blogrolled. He has style, intelligence, he makes good sense, and he is fun to read. Check him out.
