Daily Dish
In his poem entitled Happy New Year Mohammed of Iraq the Model writes (in part):
We still dream of a democratic Iraq ruled by the law
And this is something we deserve…this is the land of the first law in history
I still find my home in Iraq… it's still the best place in the world in my eyes
I will not waste a minute listening to the pessimists
Instead, I will add a brick to the house we're building
And I will write a word….and pray
Those who consider thoughts expressed above apostacy are doing what they can to assure that law, order, and democracy do not exist together. The forces necessary to see that they do exist together are gathering, with US help. The New Year begins and the final countdown to the election in Iraq begins. Polls indicate most Iraqis want to participate in their destiny politically. The big question is; will Iraqis show the same courage Afghans did during their election? Braving threats of death to go to the polls? Would Americans? The answer to this question will be more important than the actual results. And if a large percentage of the population participate, this will be a greater setback for the Islamists than the presence of US troops.
The US boosted aid to Tsunami victims to $350 million not counting the dispatching of naval ships and military aid, with more promised. Japan increased it's contribution to $500 million. Of course the press corps claims they pressured the US into upping the donation, but this is simply ridiculous. God forbid they should report on the real story which is the outpouring of aid from private citizens in the US, Britain, Germany and others. Giving is one thing, but logistics is the real force multiplier in relief situations just as it is in combat. Understanding this, the Administration is focused on coordinating efforts and putting together coalitions with India, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Japan forming the core group. The USS Abraham Lincoln dispatched helicopters to Aceh, Indonesia, the scene of the largest number of victims from Sunday's earthquakes and tsunamis. Will this help with the image of the US in Mulim eyes? Perhaps some, but not likely those of the Middle East and North Africa because Arabs living there regard Indonesians and Malaysians fit only for menial labor, domestic service and as sex slaves. But the fact is, PR is not the reason we do it. Oh, and if you were wondering, Michelle has a message from Arthur C. Clark, one of Sri Lanka's most famous residents.
Ramsey Clark has a history of anti-Americanism and sympathizing with terrorists
Here's a case study of a failed European policy.
Vermont has very few state gun laws. It is also one of the few states where it is legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. It has the lowest murder rate in the country and it's dropping even lower.
Uganda will resume it's war against rebels while in Sudan, a 40 year civil war may be coming to an end. But what will it mean for Darfur?
South Korea extends its deployment in Iraq for another year.
Arab News says that the acts of some Muslims have tarnished the name of Islam. Ya think?
A 10-year-old British schoolgirl saved the lives of hundreds of people in southern Asia by warning them a wall of water was about to strike, after learning about tsunamis in geography class.
The weirdest Florida stories of 2004.
The mystery of the "chirping" pyramid is solved.
Punk rockers play New Years Eve gig in Baghdad. My son will be pissed he's in Kirkuk.
As if the NYPD with keeping Times Square safe, didn't have enough to do, Crirical Mass staged their monthly protest bike-a-thon. We saw these morons during the Republican Convention too. You'd think they would like to see an attack or something.
A small town in California publishes their wackiest police calls of 2004.
