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Egyptian Blogger Sentenced

Posted by Sunny on Thursday, February 22, 2007 2:55:36 PM
Really makes you appreciate where you were born, or the struggles your parents went through to secure citizenship.

A court in the port city of Alexandria has sentenced a young Egyptian blogger to four years' jail for contempt of religion, insulting the president and spreading false information.
Abdel Kareem Nabil Soliman, 22, is the first Egyptian blogger to stand trial for views expressed on the internet.

The case against him was based on a complaint from al-Azhar University, where he studied law until he was expelled last year because of his critical writings about religion.

Mr Nabil had declared himself a secularist who does not fast during Ramadan and he criticized al-Azhar, the most prestigious institution of religious learning in the Sunni Muslim world.

He accused it of spreading radical ideas and suppressing freedom of thought.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6386613.stm
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Vacation Idea: The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2007

Posted by Sunny on Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:53:07 PM
Not sure what to do for vacation this summer?  Need some extra college credits?  Here you go:

The Palestinian summer celebration is a unique annual program that gives people from all over the world the chance to encounter the life and culture in Palestine in addition to donating some of their time to a local community organization through voluntary work and internships. The Palestinian summer celebration 2007 will take place in the Bethlehem area in Palestine, between Wednesday June 20th and August 18th 2007.

Sounds great.  The costs:

Program registration is: $180 non refundable
After the payment of the registration fees, Siraj, Bethlehem University and The Society for Biblical Studies will be able to process your application.

$2280 including:
1- Accommodation with local families (Bed, Dinner and Breakfast)
2- Tow courses: Arabic and Modern Palestine, including books and handouts
3- All days trips

$1930 including:
1- Accommodation with local families (Bed, Dinner and Breakfast)
2- One course only, either one including books and handouts
3- All day trips

$2500 including:
1- Accommodation in a Guest house (Bed, Dinner and Breakfast)
2- Tow courses: Arabic and Modern Palestine including books and handouts
3- All days trips

The Price above does not include the following:
1- Borders and Airport Taxes
2- Airline Tickets
3- Transfer from airport to Siraj center and return ($75 each way)
4- Transportation while in the program rather than the day trips
5- All lunches for the duration of the program
6- Any service not mentioned above

You can't get this experience at Disney.

Source: http://www.sirajcenter.org/courses.htm
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Female Only Island in Iran?

Posted by Sunny on Thursday, February 22, 2007 11:45:13 AM
They say their throwing only women on the island to increase tourism.  So how exactly does a women only island increase tourism under Muslim rule?  Perhaps the removal of uncovered meat from a man's world will bring the vacationers.  It couldn't be a sex island, right?  Completely confused.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran plans a female-only island to boost tourism in a northwest province, the Tehran-e Emrouz newspaper on Wednesday quoted a local official as saying.

It will be on the Urumiyeh lake in Western Azerbaijan province, a municipality official identified only as Aghai said.

Under Iran's strict Islamic law, mixing with men in public is forbidden. Strict sex segregation actually protects women rather than restricting their rights, officials argue.

"There will be no men on the Arezou (Wish) island. Public transport, restaurants and other facilities will be staffed only by women," Aghai said.

Parts of Iranian beaches are reserved for women, where they can remove their headscarves and wear swimming costumes. Women have forced their way into the national sports stadium, defying strict sex segregation. There are several parks for women only.

In public women have to cover their body in long loose coats and their hair with headscarves. The chador, literally meaning 'tent', an all-enveloping, usually black cloth is obligatory in some government offices.

Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070222/od_nm/iran_women_island_dc;_ylt=Al3V1IqV82qDgpxh2c0.VbPMWM0F


Update: Wait, their trying to attract women.  As in a place women can show some skin without being stoned to death.  Got it.
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Shocker: Iran Continues Nuke Development

Posted by Sunny on Thursday, February 22, 2007 11:19:41 AM
Just when you thought they would turn over a new leaf and cooperate, Iran continues to enrich unranium.  With 15 more resolutions and another decade of negotiations there is no doubt that they will come to their senses and cooperate with the international community.

VIENNA, Austria - Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment program instead of complying with a U.N. Security Council ultimatum to freeze it, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Thursday in a finding that clears the way for harsher sanctions against Tehran.

"Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities," said the International Atomic Energy Agency, basing its information on material available to it as of Saturday.

The conclusion — while widely expected — was important because it could serve as the trigger for the council to start deliberating on new sanctions meant to punish Tehran for its nuclear intransigence.

Next Sanction: Restrictions on Pledge Wood Polish so those AK's lose their luster and shine.

Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070222/ap_on_re_mi_ea/nuclear_iran;_ylt=AqLAG_JXw.KPyDEolXfgdDes0NUE
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Devil, Witch, OK. Dressing like Jesus on Halloween, Unacceptable.

Posted by Sunny on Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:11:09 AM
A ten year old was required to wear a costume on Halloween in order to participate in the school's events for the day.  While ghosts, goblins, and witches arrived and were greeted with salivation, a young man dressed as Jesus was immediately separated from the pack.

The complaint, filed in federal court Tuesday, says officials at Willow Hill Elementary School in Glenside told the boy Oct. 31 that he could not wear his faux crown of thorns or tell others he was dressed as Jesus.

The principal, Patricia Whitmire, told the boy's mother that the costume violated a policy prohibiting the promotion of religion, according to the lawsuit. Whitmire suggested that the fourth-grader, whose costume also included a robe, identify himself as a Roman emperor, the suit states.

While the boy's costume was rejected because of its religious nature, the principal allowed other students to dress up as witches and devils, according to the lawsuit.

You can't be Jesus, but you can be the Roman who helped kill him.  Only here, and more specifically in Philadelphia, can you shut down a kid on halloween because he is a Christian.  Why are people worried about offending a fraction of the population as opposed to the Christian majority.  Perhaps the kid was trying to make a law mandating Christianity in public schools.

Source: http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_052173516.html
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India Bans Export of Nuclear Technology to Iran

Posted by Sunny on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 4:00:42 PM
Well, welcome to the game.  This should make them more popular with the U.S., not so much with Iran.  It's nice to see them step up like this; I hope they don't pay the price with additional terrorist attacks.

New Delhi: In what could be tantamount to declaring its open allegiance to the US, India on Wednesday imposed a ban on the export of any material and technology to Iran that could be used in the development of nuclear weapons.

The decision was taken by the Central Government in compliance with the United Nations' Security Council Resolution, 2006.

"Direct or indirect export and import of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water related activities, or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems, whether or not originating in Iran to/from Iran is prohibited," the notification issued by Directorate General of Foreign Trade was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

Source:  http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india-bans-export-of-ntech-to-iran/top/34152-3.html

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Two Potential Terrorists Arrested in Cleveland

Posted by Sunny on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:27:11 PM
They are no threat to us and arresting them will only make things worse. 

CHICAGO (AP) -- Two Chicago-area cousins have been indicted in Cleveland on charges they conspired to commit terrorist acts against Americans overseas, including U.S. forces in Iraq.
The indictment returned by a Cleveland grand jury alleges that the pair traveled to the city in 2004 to meet with a trainer and discuss possible training in the use of weapons.

Authorities in Chicago say 27-year-old Zubair Ahmed and 26-year-old Khaleel Ahmed were arrested today.

The indictment also names three others who had already been facing terrorism charges.

According to the indictment, the conspiracy included finding fresh recruits to wage "violent jihad" against Americans and locating sites for training them.

Source:  http://www.wkyc.com/news/rss_article.aspx?ref=RSS&storyid=63461
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Dressed Like Palestinians, Israel Dispatches Leader of Islamic Jihad

Posted by Sunny on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 11:16:16 AM

Jack Bauer has nothing on the Israeli intelligence.  Using disguises and acting like terrorists, Israel takes out a terrorist leader.

ISRAELI special forces dressed as Palestinians killed the leader of Islamic Jihad's armed wing in the northern West Bank city of Jenin today, medical and military sources said.

Mahmud Qassem Abu Obeid, 25, was shot dead by troops who ambushed his car at a roundabout in Jenin and sprayed the vehicle with gunfire, witnesses added.

He was killed just a day after Israeli police arrested an Islamic Jihad operative from Jenin at an apartment in a Tel Aviv suburb on suspicion of preparing a suicide bombing.

Israeli military sources confirmed only that Abu Obeid had been killed, saying he was one of the most senior wanted Islamic Jihad operatives in the northern West Bank.

They said he had dispatched the would-be suicide bomber on his mission and given him a bag of explosives.

An Islamic Jihad official today confirmed that Omar Abu al-Rob, 23, from the village of Jalbun near Jenin, had planned to carry out an attack.

Source:  http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,21266206%255E401,00.html
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Palestinian Suicide Bomber Arrested in Egypt

Posted by Sunny on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 11:07:30 AM
Not satified with killing Jews in Israel, suicide bombers from Gaza look to attack the "enemy" while on vacation.

Rafah - Egyptian police arrested a would-be Palestinian suicide bomber crossing from the Gaza Strip and planning to blow himself up among Israeli tourists in a south Sinai resort, said security sources on Wednesday.

The Palestinian was arrested late on Tuesday on the Egyptian side of the border town of Rafah after crossing through a tunnel, a local security official said on condition of anonymity.

Senior security sources in Cairo confirmed the arrest of the would-be bomber, who was carrying an explosives belt, and those of two Palestinian accomplices.

The security official in Rafah said the Palestinian militant admitted he was planning to carry out a suicide operation in one of the Sinai resorts popular with Israeli tourists.

Source:  http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2072901,00.html
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Iraq Coalition: Quantity of Soldiers Broken Down by Country

Posted by Sunny on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 10:24:40 AM
If you know of additions or corrections, please let me know.  This comes from the AP, but briefly checking Bosnia and Latvia gave me about the same numbers.

ALBANIA: 120 non-combat troops, mainly patrolling airport in Mosul; no plans to withdraw.

ARMENIA: 46 soldiers, serving as medics, engineers and transport drivers, serving under Polish command; mission extended to end of 2007.

AUSTRALIA: Around 1,300 troops in and around Iraq, mostly guarding Australian diplomats in Baghdad and helping train Iraqi forces.

AZERBAIJAN: 150 troops, mostly serving as sentries, on patrols and protecting dam near city of Hadid; no plans to withdraw.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Bosnia has 36 soldiers — including three teams of 10 officers and a command team of six — in Iraq.

BRITAIN: 7,100 troops in southern Iraq; Prime Minister Tony Blair announced plans to reduce force by 1,600 in the coming months.

BULGARIA: 155 in total, including 120 non-combat troops guarding refugee camp north of Baghdad and 35 support personnel.

CZECH REPUBLIC: 99 troops.

DENMARK: 460 troops patrolling Basra; to be withdrawn by August.

EL SALVADOR: 380 soldiers doing peacekeeping and humanitarian work in Hillah; no immediate plans to withdraw.

ESTONIA: 35 troops serving under U.S. command in the Baghdad area.

GEORGIA: About 900 combat forces, medics and support personnel serving under U.S. command in Baqouba; no plans to withdraw or reduce contingent.

KAZAKHSTAN: 27 military engineers; no plans to withdraw.

LATVIA: 125 troops are serving under Polish command in Diwaniyah.

LITHUANIA: 53 troops are part of a Danish battalion near Basra. A government spokeswoman said it is "seriously considering" not replacing the contingent when its mission ends in August.

MACEDONIA: 40 troops in Taji, north of Baghdad.

MOLDOVA: 11 bomb-defusing experts returned home at end of January; parliament has not yet decided on sending a new mission.

MONGOLIA: 160 troops; no plans to withdraw.

NETHERLANDS: 15 soldiers as part of NATO mission training police, army officers; no plans to withdraw.

POLAND: 900 non-combat troops; commands multinational force south of Baghdad; mission extended to end of 2007.

ROMANIA: About 600 troops, most serving in the south under British command, with the rest — a few dozen military intelligence officers — serving north of Baghdad; Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu wants them withdrawn.

SLOVENIA: Four instructors training Iraqi security forces.

SOUTH KOREA: 2,300 troops in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil; plans to bring home 1,100 by April and parliament insists on a plan for a complete withdrawal by end of 2007.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070221/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_coalition_glance_1
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Cheney Sets McCain Straight on Rumsfeld

Posted by Sunny on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 10:09:18 AM
It's so nice to hear an adult speak who also happens to be in politics.  Think about how rare that is today.  We are usually treated to a slow whine of complaints: they did this, if they listened to me, etc.  Most politicians today sound like a grade school student council.  Cheney however always seems to cut through the whine and give an honest and straight forward opinion.  Without the whine:

“I just fundamentally disagree with John. John said some nasty things about me the other day, and then next time he saw me, ran over to me and apologized. Maybe he'll apologize to Rumsfeld.”

“I think Don's a great secretary. I know a little bit about the job. I've watched what he's done over there for six years. I think he did a superb job in terms of managing the Pentagon under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. He and John McCain had a number of dust-ups over policy, didn't have anything to do with Iraq -- other issues that were involved. John's entitled to his opinion. I just think he's wrong.”

And how exactly did McCain apologize to Cheney:

Cheney: “Well, he came up to me on the floor a couple of days later, the next time I was on the floor of the Senate, said he'd been quoted out of context, and then basically offered an apology which I was happy to accept.”

That's the big blowhard McCain we all know.  Tough talk express straight to pulling back.  Nuclear option to the gang of 14. 

We can disagree with what Cheney said, but he is always straight forward and, well, mature.

Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2850.html

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Denmark Ready to Leave Iraq and Increase Support to the Afgans

Posted by Sunny on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 9:46:57 AM
Thank you Denmark 

Denmark hasn't supported both conflicts with an overwhelming number of troops, but they have done what they can.  Now they are reaching a point while stationed in the south of Iraq that they will be able to turn the duties over to the Iraqi's and return home by August.  Returning home will be about 460 soldiers.

At the same time, they will be sending another 200 or more troops to Afghanistan for additional NATO support.  This will bring their numbers up to 600.  Considering their armed forces consist of about 25,000 people, Denmark has been a true ally to the U.S.

The title of the AP story for this is simply:

Denmark to withdraw from Iraq

While my title wasn't the best description either, just reading the AP headline would leave anyone with a different impression than the article actually describes.  Denmark has remained loyal to the mission and to the U.S.  They are accomplishing their mission in the south and are ready to increase support in another conflict.  So again:

Thank you Denmark.

AP Story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070221/ap_on_re_eu/denmark_iraq;_ylt=Aj8QJY4bT9zfvnoDYlDrrFjMWM0F
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Australia Headline: Darwin police look to rain on umbrella thief's parade

Posted by Sunny on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:16:11 PM
Out of Australia Comes this curious headline and story:

Darwin police look to rain on umbrella thief's parade

Darwin police are looking for anyone with an oversupply of umbrellas.

Six umbrellas were stolen from a menswear store in the city this morning.

Police say thieves smashed a window and were able to reach inside and grab the umbrellas.

Nothing else was stolen.

My only question is: Was it raining at the time of the theft?

Source:  http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1852757.htm

H/T:  http://www.strangeheadlines.com/

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Breaking: Blair to announce Iraq withdrawal plan

Posted by Sunny on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 6:09:09 PM
Great timing Tony.

Blair to announce Iraq withdrawal plan

Tony Blair will announce on Wednesday a new timetable for the withdrawal of British troops from
Iraq, with 1,500 to return home in several weeks, the BBC reported.

Blair will also tell the House of Commons during his regular weekly appearance before it that a total of about 3,000 British soldiers will have left southern Iraq by the end of 2007, if the security there is sufficient, the British Broadcasting Corp. said, quoting government officials who weren't further identified.

Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070220/ap_on_re_eu/britain_iraq;_ylt=AvDf2htBKrB3OPzebDL84Ois0NUE
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Croatian Sugar Packets Have Photo of Hitler with Holocaust Jokes?

Posted by Sunny on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 4:22:55 PM
How does this happen?  And who owns the company that printed the packets?

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Small packets of sugar bearing the likeness of Adolf Hitler and carrying Holocaust jokes have been found in some cafes in Croatia, prompting an investigation, the office of the state prosecutor said Monday.

"The local district attorney in (the eastern town of) Pozega has opened an investigation and is currently looking at the matter," said Martina Mihordin.

Bitter Croatian sugar

The Jerusalem-based anti-Nazi Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a statement it had protested the matter to Croatia's authorities.

Its director, Efraim Zuroff, expressed his "revulsion and disgust that such an item could be produced these days in a country in which the Holocaust not only took place, but was for the most part carried out by local Nazi collaborators."

"If nothing else, this is a disgusting expression of nostalgia for the Third Reich and a period during which Jews, Serbs and Gypsies were mass-murdered (in Croatia)," it said.

Zuroff urged Croatia to force the factory owners to recall the sugar packets immediately, in line with a law against racial, religious or ethnic hatred.

Photo from: http://www.byzantinesacredart.com/blog/
Source:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070220/od_nm/croatia_hitler_dc;_ylt=At3rGRZpCSJoxZKaGUVs9NzMWM0F
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