I'm not going to hold my breath, but from the JPost.

An exiled former Syrian vice president said Sunday that President Bashar Assad's regime is on the brink of collapse and called on Syrians to prepare for the day when he will be overthrown.

Abdul-Halim Khaddam, who is wanted in Syria on treason charges, said in an address to the Syrian people that Assad's "oppressive" regime will soon be replaced with a democratic civil government, but he did not elaborate.

While that may be wishful thinking.  How about this from Egypt.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu Gheit blamed Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah for the summer's Lebanon war, alleging that the organization had instigated the conflict to flout the 1989 Taif Agreement, under which Lebanon was supposed to disarm Shi'ite groups.

I wonder if Egypt's daily allowance from the US is coming up for debate soon.

Right Wing Infidel is coming home from Iraq for at least a little while.  If you haven't had a chance to check out his site, he has a interesting word on Iraqi police today here and below.  Have a safe trip home.

You couldn't pay me enough

 Shaw Air Force Base is home to the Air Force's largest combat F-16 wing -- the 20th Fighter Wing -- whose mission is to provide, project and sustain combat-ready air forces.  Shaw also serves as home to Headquarters Ninth Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces (USCENTAF), whose primary mission is to project decisive air and space power for U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and America.

While I want to bomb every enemy (mostly in jest), This is where the heroes plan and train for such missions.  Defending the country in my home state (SC).  I haven't posted on them, but I often stop by their main site to check on news.

Recently I read about Lt. Col. Sharon Preszler, the first female active-duty fighter pilot.  She has retired after 20 years of service.  Check out the whole story here.

And thanks again to the brave men and women serving at Shaw and around the world. 

Iran vows retaliation against UN sanctions

Iran will take 'appropriate measures' in response to any UN Security Council sanctions imposed against Tehran over its nuclear programme, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

'Imposing sanctions has repercussions on both sides, regionally and internationally. They already know this. If they impose sanctions we will take appropriate measures,' Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters.

Wait, I forgot to yawn.  Can we just employ the Clinton tactic of war from 30,000 feet on these idiots.  No more boots on the ground, just exploding earth and metal.  Bomb the he*l out them, kill these leaders, and let them figure out what government they want.  Choose the wrong one, you get hit again.  The dems will certainly accept this plan....right?

I'm a little on edge this morning.

 Claudia Schiffer says models are too thin

Yeah, great.  I really don't care what she says, thinks.  But...



Does she have a puppet head or what.  Looks like a Team America doll.  In fact, you tell me:



Yup.  Puppet Head.

If a poll said something like this,

The poll has its shortcomings; regional samples are small and the results do not say how many people refused to respond to questions. The private polling firm hired by the State Department also was not able to interview residents of al-Anbar, a Sunni-dominated province and an insurgent stronghold.

...would you care about the results?

The AP does and gave it this lovely Headline and first paragraph:

Iraqi youth want U.S. troops to withdraw

Majorities of Iraqi youth in Arab regions of the country believe security would improve and violence decrease if the U.S.-led forces left immediately, according to a State Department poll that provides a window into the grim warnings provided to policymakers.

I'm really bored with all of this.  Let's give our troops time to deal with the private militias that have become the problem of the day in Iraq.  If a political solution is the answer, then do it.  Let's deal with this so we can deal with the next problem.

And let the State Department take polls, go on Al Jazeera, and make paper. 

With the recent 60 Minutes story and the ongoing railing against the Evangelical Right as being brainwashed, let's actually look at the stats rather than trumpeting the rhetoric.  From CNN Election 2004 stats:

WHITE EVANGELICAL/BORN-AGAIN?	BUSH			KERRY		NADER
TOTAL	2004	2000	2004		2004
Yes (23%)	78%	n/a	21%		0%
No (77%)	43%	n/a	56%		0%

So 78% of Evangelicals went for Bush.  Ok, that's pretty high.  But what about other groups.

VOTE BY RACE	BUSH			KERRY		NADER
TOTAL	2004	2000	2004		2004
White (77%)	58%	+4	41%		0%
African-American (11%)	11%	+2	88%		0%
Latino (8%)	44%	+9	53%		2%
Asian (2%)	44%	+3	56%		*
Other (2%)	40%	+1	54%		2%

So assuming CNN is not biased and this reporting can be looked at as a snapshot of the electorate, why do they always just go after the evangelicals?

CNN Stats here

Every current argument and debate over elections and foreign policy has already occurred.  Not on the blogs or on television but throughout American history.  But now, shortly before an election with men and women sacrificing for the will of this nation, the true character of those that would lead is emerging.  Men like Murtha wish to retreat and have the collective United States of America bury their heads in shame.  He is just the latest in a series of individuals that have needed to be shown in the light of day. 

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like he*l [ed-me], is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent.

'Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them. 

Yet panics, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. In fact, they have the same effect on secret traitors, which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world.

These are obvious excerpts from The Crisis by Thomas Paine in December of 1776.  Then as now, the obvious actions and statements of defeat are an invitation to the enemy to continue their attacks.  The hippies did it to Murtha, the elites and defeatists in the revolution tried it, and the Democrats are trying it today.  They are out there pushing failure to a base of Americans.

Now, Republicans through various mediums are predicting the worst and even saying they are staying home on election day.  It seems while Americans are in harms way around the world, the least one could do is peddle themselves over to the polls on election day.  Leave the feelings at home and vote with your brain.

While I've missed the opening and coronation, Jimmy Carter has finally set up his own blog.  If you have a townhall blog he has probably commented on it.  He is usually witty, educated, and a little ironic.  If you have time, take a look at his plans for Texas.

Viva la Jimmy!!

http://jimmycarterscloset.townhall.com/

Tehran Convenes War Council Meeting

According to the website Baztab, which is controlled by the Revolutionary Guards, headquarted in Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf, "...the United States is gaining positions in the sea and countries close to Iran in case the Pentagon wants to launch an attack on the Islamic Republic."

Tehran suspects the Pentagon has already drafted plans to attack Iran's nuclear installations and military bases by sea-air. Baztab continued, "If the presence of US Navy ships in the Persian Gulf turned into a real threat on the Islamic Republic then the region's oil pipeline would explode, as would mines in the Hormuz Strait, when oil tankers pass through so as to make the price of oil double or triple. "

There are reports that at the time of the Eisenhower's arrival another aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, will also be near Iran's coast. But ever since U. S. President George W. Bush began discussing an attack on Iran as an "option on the table" two years ago, Iran's Defense Ministry stated they would not let the U. S. attack first. Earlier this year the news reported Iranian military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and in mid - August Iran began five weeks of wargames, involving almost their entire military, including some of its latest technology. The maneuvers just ended three weeks ago and I stated at the time Iran's military would not be idle for long.

I cannot see Tehran waiting for the Eisenhower and Enterprise to arrive before Iran attacks U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf. As the bases are attacked Tehran could have Hezbollah start the next wave of fighting against Israel and this time Damascus - Tehran will join it. That could prevent Israel and the U. S. from conducting combined operations. European units in UNIFIL and their naval ships in support of them, could also come under fire as Tehran has militia groups in Iraq concentrate more of their attention on US/UK occupation forces in Iraq.

They may also direct al-Qaeda, from their bases in the Sinai Peninsula, to attack shipping in the Suez Canal, which would also have a direct impact on the price of crude oil. Tehran may then decide to test the accuracy of their longer range missiles. In an attempt to disrupt any potential military cooperation between Delhi and Washington, Tehran could have Islamic militant units in Kashmir increase their attacks against Indian forces there, which would cause India to use its "hot pursuit" policy and follow them into the part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan, setting off the fourth war between them.

By the time the Eisenhower and Enterprise arrive they may first have to engage Iran's naval and air forces.

O'boy.  Also sharing the same mind are:

It Is Possible to Stop War with Iran

Dave Lindorff: Iran Attack Looks More Likely as Eisenhower Carrier Group Sails for Iran Theater

But the Huff and Lindorff both believe the "looming" attack is an election ploy.  Perhaps Rove's October Surprise.  Whatever agenda is playing out here, having our ships so close as to make Iran nervous is interesting.  I guess we'll find out in a week just how interesting.

The Headline says it all.  More hand ringing, more meetings, and more of the same.  There's an old joke of how many Palestinians does it take to change a light bulb.  The answer is none, they sit in the dark for decades blaming the Jews.  Liberals, communists and dictators sit at the UN write a letter and than complain that nothing gets solved.  The US has followed their example over the past 3 years.  But wait:

The Security Council discussed a U.S. proposal for tough measures including international inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea to check for weapons of mass destruction and related materials, diplomats said. Other proposals included a total arms embargo and a freeze on assets associated with Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction.

"We're going to take all actions we can, working with our partners, to make it very difficult for North Koreans to get the equipment, get the technology and to get the funding ... to market these weapons around the world," Christopher Hill, the U.S. State Department's point man on North Korea, told CNN.

Tough talk that will go nowhere.  A blockade will cause war and no one will risk it.  Our threats are worthless and may live up to Bin Laden's expectations in a couple more weeks.  If a Dem house cuts funding like Vietnam, Iraq will be Iran's new proxy.  Israel needs to get ready.  The US needs to regroup and rethink the strategy.  Deal with threats with a fist, or just pull back from the world; build a wall around the country and stick your fingers in your ears.  Halfway has never worked, never will. 

Ms. magazine has brought together some 5,000 or so women to sign a petition stating that they had an abortion.  Apparently to bring attention to the ghastly deeds that some in the pro-life arena are trying to perpetrate.  It mentions the South Dakota measures and really wants to focus on women's "lives."  But perhaps the best worst part of the article explains the reasons behind the abortions. Emphasis added:

Jones said she got an abortion 10 years ago _ enduring harassment from protesters when she entered the clinic _ in order to finish high school. She went on to become the first member of her family to graduate from college, and hopes at some point to attend law school. 

"I wanted to do something bigger with myself _ I didn't want to be stopped by anything," she said in a telephone interview.

Another signatory, Debbie Findling of San Francisco, described her difficult decision last year to have an abortion after tests showed that she would bear a son with Down syndrome.

"I felt it was my right to make the decision, but having that right doesn't make the decision any easier," she said. "It was the hardest decision I've ever made."

These are not human beings, right?  One wanted to go to college, so didn't mind and could not be stopped by the abnormal growth underneath her skin.  The other didn't have time for a needy kid so she killed em' so she could try again.  I can imagine how hard of a decision that was for you.  Maybe like throwing back the green potato chip for a healthier looking one.

You would think to move the argument for their side they would have put in some rape or incest stories.  At least give us some reasons to be sympathetic.  Simple convenience abortions will turn my stomach everytime and I hope most rational people's.  Religion aside, this is just sick.

Update: Maudie has more.

Update II: Voters to Decide on Parental Notification for Minors Seeking Abortions

“We are required as parents to be involved in every other aspect of our daughters’ lives medical and otherwise,” said Julie Pecha from Yes on 85. “This proposition just includes us in a situation where a girl is very fearful.”

I am not an abortion site, I'd rather be making light of stoopid c*ap, but while I comment on Foley I refuse to post on it.  That being said, how can a kid have an abortion but not be able to handle an online questionable message from a congressman?  O' right they were boys not girls.

]]standard disclaimer that Foley is a sicko and I am not defending him[[

In an ongoing example of Democracy in the hands of terrorists, a vote for Hamas has, guess what, consequences.  I'm curious if the "Palestinians" thought that just because they voted for terror, the world would suddenly support a democratically elected terrorist.  But in getting what they wanted, they are still not happy.  Wow, that sounds like a theme with these people. 

Palestinian Interior Minister Said Syiam deployed Hamas-led soldiers along the main streets and major junctions in cities and towns across the Gaza Strip Sunday morning to end violent protests by Fatah security forces over unpaid salaries.

Hamas-led government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said three people were dead while As-Shiffa Hospital reported 30 people were being treated for unspecified injuries.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Khaled Abu Hilal accused "external parties" of organizing the protests, but he did not elaborate.

Palestinian civil servants have gone unpaid for nearly seven months since the Hamas-led government was sworn into office.

Perhaps they should ask their neighbor state for some financial guidance.  They seem to have succeeded with a nice economy with no oil and while living in a desert.  [oh, and surrounded by enemies]

Check please...

A city councilman in Charleston, SC has come up with an interesting idea:

"We pick up stray animals and spay them," Larry Shirley said in a story published Saturday by The Post and Courier of Charleston. "These mothers need to be spayed if they can't take care of theirs. Once they have a child and it's running the street, to let them continue to have children is totally unacceptable."

Imagine this in place, in....say, the middle east.  Yikes...

If you haven't seen this on the front page of Townhall, do yourself a favor.  Click on this link and watch the video. 

Moderate Muslims, where are you?