The ACLU's Legacy of Hypocrisy

Crossposted from Stop The ACLU

Convincing liberals that the ACLU is leading us down a dangerous path is about as productive as talking to a rock. Perhaps this is because I mostly deal with far left liberals who share the same insane views and have the same radical agenda as the ACLU. Anyone who believes that the ACLU is there to purely defend the Constitution is naive at best. Surely there are some moderate liberals out there that can concede that the organization is in need of reform.

A balanced society can not survive resting in the fringe. A Nation only concerned with security will drift toward a police state, and one that follows the absolutist views of liberty like the ACLU will drift toward anarchy.

The ACLU proudly display a banner that states, Keep America Safe and Free, but any honest person will admit that the ACLU have done nothing for the safety of America. As a matter of fact, all evidence leads to quite the opposite. The ACLU are always ready to put the security of America at risk in the pursuit of its absolutist views of liberty.

Many of the ACLU's former leaders have noticed the irresponsible shifting of the ACLU away from true civil liberty protection into a much more dangerous agenda. For example take the words of this former Executive Director of the ACLU

The right to express unpopular opinions, advocate despised ideas and display graphic images is something the ACLU has steadfastly defended for all of its nearly 80-year history.

But the ACLU, a group for which I proudly worked as executive director of the Florida and Utah affiliates for more than 10 years, has developed a blind spot when it comes to defending anti-abortion protesters. The organization that once defended the right of a neo-Nazi group to demonstrate in heavily Jewish Skokie, Ill., now cheers a Portland, Ore., jury that charged a group of anti-abortion activists with $107 million in damages for expressing their views. Gushed the ACLU's press release: "We view the jury's verdict as a clarion call to remove violence and the threat of violence from the political debate over abortion."

Were the anti-abortion activists on trial accused of violence? No. Did they threaten violence? Not as the ACLU or Supreme Court usually defines it, when in the context of a call for social change.

The activists posted a Web site dripping with animated blood and titled "The Nuremberg Files," after the German city where the Nazis were tried for their crimes. Comparing abortion to Nazi atrocities, the site collected dossiers on abortion doctors, whom they called "baby butchers." ...

This is ugly, scary stuff. But it is no worse than neo-Nazi calls for the annihilation of the Jewish people, or a college student posting his rape fantasies about a fellow coed on the Web, both of which the ACLU has defended in the past.

None of the anti-abortion group's intimidating writings explicitly threatened violence. Still, the ACLU of Oregon refused to support the defendants' First Amendment claims. Instead, it submitted a friend-of-the-court brief taking no one's side but arguing that speech constitutes a physical threat only when the speaker intends his statement to be taken as one.

...Before anti-abortion zealots started getting sued, the ACLU had much more tolerance for menacing speech. Few of the 20th century's great social movements were entirely peaceable. The labor, civil-rights, antiwar, environmental and black-power movements were an amalgam of violence, civil disobedience and highly charged rhetoric. But to gag fiery speakers who call for harm to the establishment because others in the movement pursue their political goals with fists, guns or bombs would do terrible damage to strong, emotive pleas tot social change. It is something neither the ACLU nor, thankfully, the courts have countenanced in the past.

That's why in 1969 the ACLU helped defend a Ku Klux Klan member who had called for violence against the president, Congress and the Supreme Court. At the ACLU's urging, the Supreme Court ruled that speech advocating violence was constitutionally protected unless it incited imminent lawless action and was likely to produce such action. This case was later used to defend the speech of black militants.

The ACLU also applauded a 1982 Supreme Court decision that found that speeches promising violent reprisals were protected by the First Amendment. During the civil-rights movement, a leader of the NAACP called for "breaking the necks" of blacks who violated a boycott of white-owned businesses in Mississippi, and published a list of those who did. Some of the boycott violators were beaten. The court ruled that despite the atmosphere of fear, all the speeches and lists were part of a debate on a public issue that needed to be "uninhibited, robust, and wide-open."

I would argue that the Constitution doesn't protect all of these extreme positions of the ACLU, but that isn't the point he is trying to make. The issue is the ACLU's curious commitment to "uninhibited, robust, and wide-open" free speech when it involves things such as virtual child pornography, but not when it involves a something like a boss making racially offensive statements.

Unfortunately, there are some people who are so hypnotized by the ACLU's absolutist views and of the ACLU's campaign for pedophilia and child pornography that they are prepared to defend an organization that has become a shadow of its former self--a group that lets its idealistic and skewed understanding of the establishment clause trump freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

Stop the ACLU had the opportunity last year of interviewing a former ACLU lawyer. He was concerned with much of the same things.

The ACLU played a helpful role in the civil rights movement defending these people, and I can’t turn my back on that. I have to give credit where credit is due.” “But….that being said, what they have done in the past is completely eviscerated by what they do in the present. The ACLU has become a fanatical anti-faith Taliban of American religious secularism.”

“The ACLU is involved in the secular cleansing of our history. This is not just a fight about free exercise, but about the protection of our American history. The ACLU want to deny America the knowledge of their Christian heritage.”

It seems that the many of the ACLU's greatest critics came from their very ranks. The division within the ACLU will continue as long as the ACLU continues on the irresponsible, hypocritical path it is on. America needs a civil liberties union, sadly the ACLU isn't doing that job. If the ACLU succeeds in the dangerous direction it is steering America, they will ironically be putting in jeapordy the very liberty they claim to protect.

This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 115 blogs already on-board.

Free Jack Idema Blogburst 1/25/2006

Last week, I talked about the way in which the September 2004 trial which landed U.S. Special Forces soldier Jack Idema and his men in prison was actually conducted by the very terrorists he'd spent three years hunting down. But there's another side to the story of how Jack, Brent and Ed wound up in the infamous Pulacharke prison, and this involves elements within the FBI and the U.S. State Department, both of which have done everything within their power to hinder Jack Idema's efforts to gain his freedom.

Idema's problems, as those following this story know, appear to stem from his arrest of a senior Afghan judge, Sidiq, in July 2004. At this point in time, Jack was working with the Northern Alliance, operating a safe house where terror suspects could be held for interrogation prior to transfer to U.S. authorities. (There were fifty such safe houses in operation in Afghanistan, and their existence was not a secret from either the U.S. or Afghan authorities.) Although Idema knew the arrest of Sidiq might raise some eyebrows, he had good reason for believing the judge was a high-value suspect -- At the time of the arrest, Sidiq was found to be in possession of the following items:

• Photographs of Sidiq with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
• Bomb plans
• Explosive detonators
• al-Qaida and Hezb-i-Islami documents and recruiting cards
• A letter from Taliban leader Mullah Omar

Unfortunately for Idema, the arrest of Judge Sidiq seems to have prompted the Afghan interim government to move against Jack and his men. Sidiq was, after all, an important man, and his detention perhaps alarmed not only those 'ex'-Taliban who were now working with the interim government, but also those sections of the FBI and State Department who still cling to myths like 'containment' and 'realpolitik.'

Idema, it should go without saying, is very much the sort of man who believes that terrorists cannot be appeased or given settlements--They must, he says, be captured or killed. This difference of opinion came to a head in the following way:

Instead of a "friendly meeting" the men were arrested at Kabul NDS Headquarters and turned over to former Taliban officials at NDS. When first "arrested," the men were placed in the NDS' underground torture chamber where Jack and Zorro were subjected to beatings until they were unconscious. Jack sustained a broken sternum, torn rotator cuffs, both eyes had detached retinas, etc. Major Ezmerai was electrocuted for days, and the screams could be heard throughout NDS. Syhail and Sherzai were beaten, threatened, and Sherzai finally drugged when he refused to sign a statement against Jack. Bennett was interrogated relentlessly, and threatened with death repeatedly shown a knife and told his ears and nose would be cut off. (To date Bennett has lost 8 teeth because of those beatings.) The torture was with the full knowledge and sanction of the FBI who were directing it, using the Afghans as proxies. FBI agents were at some points laughing about it in the hallway.

And yes, you read that correctly. After the arrest of Idema and his team, the FBI assisted 'former' Taliban guards in torturing American citizens and the Northern Alliance soldiers who fought with us to liberate Afghanistan.

The FBI's involvement didn't stop there:

On or about this time, NDS, acting with agents of the FBI [Unnamed Agents 2 & 3], and possibly Ingram [more on her later] herself, removed Bennett's and Idema's dog tags, removed the their Geneva Convention Identity Cards, and removed Idema and Bennett's U.S. passports. The FBI also removed crucial exculpatory evidence from NDS headquarters; including approximately 50 rolls of 35mm film, 200 videotapes, and 500 documents, many of which were official documents which were evidence of actual innocence.

This process of removing evidence of Idema's innocence continued even after the initial trial -- When Jack and his men were granted leave to appeal their sentences, more evidence was disappeared by the FBI.

Then there's the U.S. State Department, who have acted in a similarly illegal fashion throughout Idema's imprisonment:

Sandra Ingram, Acting US Consul, not only refused to acknowledge Idema's assertion [of his POW status], she refused to pass his request on to the appropriate authorities, and refused to provide him with a copy of the Geneva Conventions as required by law. Idema also asserted their POW status and right to protection to NDS, the FBI, and various Karzai officials. During a subsequent visit by Ingram, Idema put his request in writing and demanded she make an entry in her Embassy notebook (Ingram refused to sign a receipt for Idema's POW protected status request). Further, Ingram refused to forward this request to the Red Cross, stating her DOS bosses "ordered" her not to.

This sort of behaviour continues today, with U.S. authorities refusing to relay mail to Idema, Brent and Ed, and even going so far as to deny them access to food parcels, clean drinking water and medical supplies.

Why? There are two reasons:

1. As stated above, there are those in the State Department, the FBI and the Karzai government who believe that the best way to deal with the Taliban is to incorporate them into the democratic process. To a very limited degree, this makes sense, though only if the Islamofascists are serious about renouncing violence. Judging by the bomb plans and detonators he was carrying at the time of his arrest, Sidiq clearly didn't get the memo on that one.
2. There was Abu Ghraib. During the latter half of 2004, the people involved in Idema's arrest feared the U.S. would take a propaganda hit by refusing to pursue any allegations of torture by its forces, however baseless those allegations turned out to be. By allowing the Taliban to stage a show-trail and imprison Idema, it seems likely that people such as Consul Sandra Ingram felt they could earn Muslim goodwill and remove an obstacle to the political games they were playing with the Karzai government and its 'ex'-Taliban members at a single stroke.

It should go without saying that this is a shameful way for a Green Beret to be treated. After all, while the FBI and State Department in Afghanistan were playing politics, deciding on which Islamofascists it would be useful in the short term to ally themselves with, Jack was on a very different kind of mission. In his own words:

You can't fight terrorists with law enforcement and prosecution, Clinton tried that for eight years. You can't do it, they are animals– they are not human, just ask the families that lost their loved ones on 9/11. When the terrorists capture us they cut off our heads on television. When we capture them they complain that we don't let them p*ss for twelve hours. Well, sorry about that motherf*cker, you were about to drive explosive rigged gas tankers into Bagram and kill 500 American soldiers in a ball of flames. You should be glad I didn't defenestrate you. I believe that real Americans want real counter-terrorist operations, not bullsh*t press junkets and canned PR stories from PAOs that shot a gun once in their life on the basic training qualification range. I didn't start this f*cking war, not the one with bin laden, nor the one with the press, they started it, but I will finish it, or die in the process.

Just so.

Anyone reading this with their own blog can sign up for the weekly Free Jack Idema Blogburst by emailing Cao or Rottweiler Puppy for details. I'd urge everyone to do this, as we're still terribly short on takers. If you want to know more about the story, Cao's Blog has a large section devoted to Jack Idema. There's also a timeline here, and, of course, a huge amount of information is available over at SuperPatriots, without whose work none of us would have learned about Jack's story.

Finally, PLEASE NOTE: The SuperPatriots and Jack images on this site are used with WRITTEN COPYRIGHT PERMISSION and any use by any third party is subject to legal action by SuperPatriots.US

The Free Jack Idema Blogroll:

The Pink Flamingo Bar & Grill, The Lone Voice, Red Hot Cuppa Politics, Kender's Musings, Irate Nate, The Devil's Kitchen, Cao's Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, Theodore's World, NIF, Rottweiler Puppy, Making Headlines, My Newz n' Ideas, Right For Scotland, Freedom Folks, and The City Troll

jack idema, afghanistan, and Technorati Search
for Jack Idema

More News from Iran 1/25/2006

New Iranian Opposition Group Issues Letter to the International Community

Magna Carta:

To The leaders and Opinion Makers of the International Community:

For the past 27 years the Iranian Democratic Opposition Movement inside and outside Iran have tried to shed light on the atrocious criminal acts conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran. They have warned the international community of acts of terror being planned abroad such as the bombings in Beirut , Saudi Arabia, Paris and Argentine and the Lebanon Hostage Taking…..

We have repeatedly warned the World Communities of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s desire to obtain and if necessary use biological and nuclear weapons.

Unfortunately the European’s have chosen over the years to close their eyes on these crimes even though many crimes and acts of terror (over 350 assassinations of Iranian dissidents abroad) have not only been conducted on European soil but cases against terrorists acts of the IRI such as Mykonos Terror Act, Dr. Ghassemloo, Dr. Bakhtiar, Dr. Boroomand, Dr. Elahi, and Dr. Mazlouman terror trials against this terrorists regime have been held in Europe. The criminals responsible for these crimes have been convicted in the respective European countries, however, for short-term economic gains until today Europe had continued normal relationship with the Tehran ruling mullahs. [continue reading].

Massoumeh Shafiei's Letter on the 2100th day of Ganji's imprisonment:

ReleaseGanji.net:

AdvarNews, 21 January 2006--On the arrival of the 2100th day of Akbar Ganji's imprisonment, Ms. Massoumeh Shafiei, his wife, gave a report of his situation after her last visit on Thursday, January 19th:

"On Thursday morning, January 19th, 2006, we were informed that to visit Ganji we must be at the Evin prison at 3pm together with Mr. Molaei--Ganji's lawyer--but Mr. Molaei preferred to give the limited visiting time completely to family members. So with the family we went to the Evin prison and after an hour of wait finally they brought Mr. Ganji in. His physical conditions were like the previous times, weight 50kg, bony and pale face, low blood pressure (witness his cold body) and a bone-and-skin body and untidy and long beard and hair.

"He is still being kept in wing 2A in a high security solitary cell, which belongs to the intelligence department of the Revolutionary Guards Corps. He had many complaints about his cell. The washrooms are in the courtyard and the water pipes run outside on the walls, so from 8pm to 11am the water in the pipes freezes and there is no water for cleaning and washing, even for prayers.

"He suffers from severe restrictions on his drugs and food quotas and even the government ration of food is not given to him.

"Recently the prison doctor examined Mr. Ganji and due to great back and knee pains, he has prescribed an MRI scan of his back and the nervous system, but nothing has been done about it.

"This was our 3rd visit with the children in 148 days.

"Today, it is exactly 140 days that Mr. Ganji has been in extremely hard conditions in the high security prison of the Revolutionary Guards Corps. He has been in prison for 2098 days and only 2 months remain of his 6-year sentence. But evidently the decision-makers do not like this 2 months to pass in an ordinary fashion and are determined for its bitter experience to leave a mark on this helpless, opressed family's soul and body.

Massoumeh Shafiei

January 19th, 2006"

Computer Down-Time

Blogger.com has informed us that between 4-4:15pm PCT on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, blogger.com will not be accessable due to some technical glitch that they have to fix. Please come visit either before or after this time. I apologize for this inconvienence, and thank you for your patience.

News from Iran 1/25/2006

Please forgive me, but I have been so busy trying to straighten some issues, and all this while on vacation! I am back. The dates I am giving you will have all the articles of that day in the link. Have a nice day!

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, (Jonah Goldberg and Michael Ladeen from National Review are must reads.), Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006, Monday, Jan. 23, 2006, and last but certainly not least, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006.

It is very dangerous days that we are witnesssing, whether or or not we care to admit this reality. Please try to keep informed. This way, we can be voice in Washington, DC. for the 80% of Iranians who are forced into silence. Thank you.

Communities to Support Peoples of Darfur, Sudan

The Save Darfur Coalition has launched “Communities United to Save Darfur”. This initiative allows local supporters of Save Darfur to connect with their community Darfur advocacy group and therefore broadens the reach of our collective grassroots advocacy.

Human Rights Club @ California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA has just registered with the Communities United initiative. The Save Darfur Coalition would like to encourage you to electronically join this group so you can be tied in to all of the events and programs in your area.

If you have any questions about the Communities United program please e-mail community@savedarfur.org.

Thank you for your continued interest in working to protect the people of Darfur.

I'm So Excited About Sunday Night!

I just received an e-mail from Kevin over at the Pundit Review. Wow! They have been extended to 2 hours. This is wonderful. I love their radio program, Pundit Review Radio, Sunday night at 9pm EST on Boston’s Talk Station WRKO. As always, you can stream the show live and participate by calling 877-469-4322.

There are so many topics to cover Sunday night. Of course there will be Hillary's "plantation" performance, both pro and con, and NO Mayor's "chocolate city" remarks.

There will be some discussion about illegal aliens, because the second person has been murdered by an one who was "caught and released." Our ICE program need not exists if this what we are to look forward to as justice.

Kevin and Gregg are excellent on the topic of media bias. This weekend, we have some ammunition from none other than Peggy Noonan! Do not miss this one.

Last, but not least, in the second hour there will a discussion of the new state legislation that declares if you are a success, we do not want your jobs, your tax revenue, or your business. Of what do I speak? Tune in and find out.

To read more about the program, please go to Pundit Review here. Thank you, and I hope to hear you on the air!

Free Jack Idema 1/18/2006

One aspect of the case of Special Forces soldier Jack Idema that I've stressed time and again is that the first 'trial', at which Jack, Brent and Ed were sentenced to between eight and ten years in prison, was a complete travesty.

Of course, given the effeminate shrieking from human rights hustlers that accompanies even the slightest deviation from due process, some people might conclude that Idema and his men received a fair enough hearing, and that a kind of rough justice was done.

This was certainly the impression MSM were keen to convey in their coverage of the trial. Here's the BBC, who seemed to find it all rather
amusing:

There is no doubt that some hearings descended into almost comical chaos, with witnesses having stand-up rows with Idema and the other Americans. And the prosecution seemed to base most of its case on accusation rather than evidence.

Translation was another problem - some of those chosen were not up to what was a difficult job.

... So what's it to be? The travesty the Free Jack campaign claim, or the somewhat rowdy, but basically sound trial MSM were a witness to? [continue reading].

Finally, PLEASE NOTE: The href="http://www.superpatriots.us/">SuperPatriots and Jack images on this site are used with WRITTEN COPYRIGHT PERMISSION and any use by any third party is subject to legal action by SuperPatriots.US

jack idema, afghanistan, and Technorati Search for Jack Idema.

The Free Jack Idema Blogroll:

The Pink Flamingo Bar & Grill, The Lone Voice, Red Hot Cuppa Politics, Kender's Musings, Irate Nate, The Devil's Kitchen, Cao's Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, Theodore's World, NIF, Rottweiler Puppy, Making Headlines, My Newz n' Ideas, Right For Scotland, Freedom Folks, and The City Troll.

Join Us to Help the People of Darfur, Sudan

I have received this e-mail, and I am very enthused to share it with you. Please, just check out what is happening. You don't have to do anything beyond your ability or desire. It is just time we, as Americans and human beings, put a stop to the genocide, slavery, rape, and torture of these people whom have no voice nor weapons.

The Save Darfur Coalition has launched “Communities United to Save Darfur.”This initiative allows local supporters of Save Darfur to connect with their community Darfur advocacy group and therefore broadens the reach of our collective grassroots advocacy.

Des Moines for Darfur in Urbandale, Iowa has just registered with the Communities United initiative. The Save Darfur Coalition would like to encourage you to electronically join this group so you can be tied in to all of the events and programs in your area.

If you have any questions about the Communities United program please e-mail communities@savedarfur.org.

Thank you for your continued interest in working to protect the people of Darfur.

You may also contact me if you would feel more comfortable. Please. God bless you.

News from Sudan 1/15/2006

Chad demands Sudan disarm rebels
01/09/06 08:29 AM, EST
Chad has demanded that neighboring Sudan disarm Chadian rebels in its violent Darfur region as a condition for peace talks to end a growing dispute with Khartoum over rebel and militia raids in the border area. Full story.

Rebels in east Sudan report attack by armed forces
Analysts fear tensions in key economic region could turn into war
01/11/06 08:22 AM, EST
Sudanese armed forces attacked eastern rebel areas early on Wednesday, a week before negotiations were expected to begin to resolve the protracted conflict, rebel officials said. Full story.

AU may hand over Darfur mission to UN
01/12/06 08:47 PM, EST
The African Union (AU) said on Thursday it may hand over its mission in Darfur to the United Nations, saying it was running out of money for the peacekeeping operation in Sudan's troubled western region. Full story.

Sudan rejects U.N. offer to send troops
Official says African Union can keep the peace, but needs more cash
01/13/06 11:22 AM, EST
Sudan on Friday rejected a suggestion by U.N. head Kofi Annan that U.S. and European troops be sent to Darfur, saying the international community should give more cash to African forces already on the ground. Full story.

News from Save Darfur.org.

This week in Sudan:

The situation in Darfur remained chaotic and dangerous this week, as another African Union peacekeeper was killed by unnamed forces. The incident quickly became another chance for Chad and Sudan to inch closer to open conflict, as each blamed the killing on the other. Chad went on to demand that Sudan disarm anti-Chadian rebels who are based in western Darfur, and also demanded that Sudan not be given the presidency of the African Union at that organization’s summit meeting in Khartoum next week. The escalating violence and rhetoric has many worried about the possibility of a regional meltdown which could engulf the entire horn of Africa.

In response to the grim prospects in Darfur, a number of different actions have been suggested, including the possibility of turning the African Union peacekeeping force into a United Nations force, which would open the door to further funding and international military help. Whether the Sudanese government would welcome further UN involvement is in doubt, however, as the government of Sudan has denied international investigators access to Sudan in order to investigate war crimes and acts of genocide in Darfur. A UN report also recommended this week that sanctions be implemented against several Sudanese involved in the genocide in Darfur.

In addition to further UN involvement, appointing a high-level Special Envoy to Sudan in the mold of former U.S. Ambassador John Danforth (who played an integral role during the negotiations over the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signe last year between Khartoum and South Sudanese rebels) has also been suggested. Meanwhile, editorials and letters to the editor continue to push for a larger U.S. role as well, even as the Million Voices for Darfur campaign was launched in order to raise the level of public support for stronger international action in Darfur to protect civilians.

Articles Referenced Above:

Peacekeeper killed in Darfur, The Science Daily 1/08/2006
AU Fears Spread of Darfur Conflict, Voice of America 1/11/06
Arms flow to Sudan's Darfur despite embargo -UN, Reuters 1/11/06
Sudan wants to try Darfur crimes, Sunday Times 1/11/06
Chad demands Sudan disarm rebels, Independent Online 1/10/06
Nations must oppose Darfur genocide , Oakland Tribune 1/10/06
Editorial: Two Africas / The progress and despair of a continent, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 1/09/06
AU says may hand over Darfur mission to UN, Reuters 1/12/06
Genocide continues to rage in Darfur, Miami Herald 1/12/06
ANALYSIS-Disquiet at possible Sudan chair of African Union, Reuters 1/12/06
UN experts call for sanctions on Darfur leaders, Reuters - 1/12/2006
On Anniversary of Genocide Convention, U.S. Approaches Moment of Truth on Darfur, Africa Action 1/12/06
Call For High Level UN Envoy for Darfur, Voice of America 1/12/06
UN Refugee Chief Warns Darfur Could De-stabilize Region, Voice of America 1/12/06

Alito's Hearings: The Real Scoop on Pundit Review

Are you interested in finding out what really happened at the hearings for Justice Alito? Well, here is the latest scoop by the people that were actually there. Tune in at 9pm EST. The links will help you streamline, and it is free!

Tonight on Pundit Review Radio we will close the loop on the Alito confirmation hearings. We will also talk to a blogger who was invited by the Republican National Committee to attend the hearings and cover them live. Matt Margolis, founder of Blogs for Bush and GOP Bloggers will join us to discuss this interesting strategy of inviting bloggers and their readers to have a first hand account of the hearings. What else is behind this strategy? A desire to go over the heads of the dreaded MSM? We’ll find out. Is there any doubt that the political elites understand the importance/impact of blogs?

Pundit Review Radio
Sunday Evenings, 9pm est
Streaming live at WRKO
Call us toll free at 877-469-4322
Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin & Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. This unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening at 9pm EST on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Leader.

Please give them a call with your questions, statements, recommendations, etc. Remember to be polite. Thank you, and have a great weekend!

Counselman Stands Up For Right To Pray

Crossposted from Stop The ACLU

It is happening all across the nation. The ACLU sue city counsel after city counsel over praying in Jesus name. They don't sue to stop all prayer, but in every case the target has been Christian prayer. They even fought for the right of a Wiccan to pray at a counsel meeting. Many times it doesn't even take a lawsuit. They just type up a threatening letter and that does the trick. This was the case in Fredericksburg. But one man isn't taking things lying down.

Fredericksburg City Councilman Hashmel Turner has filed suit against his fellow council members, saying the council’s newly adopted prayer policy violates his constitutional rights.

Turner is being represented by the Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit group that advocates for free expression issues.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Richmond, asks the court to rule that the city’s prayer policy is unconstitutional, and to order that Turner be allowed back into the council’s prayer rotation.

The council voted 5-1 in November to adopt a policy of offering non-denominational prayers devoid of any Christian or other specific religious references.

Turner abstained from that vote, and Councilman Matt Kelly voted against the policy.

The vote came after Turner had been excluded from the council prayer rotation for more than a year. The council got a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union in July 2004 saying that the civil liberties group would file suit if Turner continued to invoke the name of Jesus Christ in his prayers.

Turner, who is pastor at First Baptist Church of Love in Fredericksburg, had always closed his prayers before council meetings by invoking the name of Jesus Christ before the ACLU complaint.

On the same night of the November vote for the nondenominational prayer policy, Turner asked to be put back into the prayer rotation, and to give the opening prayer before the Nov. 22 council meeting.

Mayor Tom Tomzak said today he asked Councilwoman Debby Girvan to give the prayer at that meeting instead of Turner, because, “I did not want to unleash a 1,000-pound gorilla-the ACLU-on the City Council.”

However, Tomzak said he does believe Turner’s rights are being violated, and the suit filed today is “a lawsuit that I probably agree with.”

“He’s a very passionate man, a man of faith and a man of principle, and he believes his rights have been violated,” Tomzak said of Turner.

Neither City Council members nor City Attorney Kathleen Dooley had seen copies of the lawsuit earlier today.

The suit calls the new prayer policy “an unlawful attempt by the City Council to prescribe the content of prayers given at City Council meetings by Turner and other members of City Council.”

John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, said Turner approached his organization last fall, saying he believed his rights were being violated. “All he wants is to say Jesus Christ at the end of the prayer,” Whitehead said. “He’s not asking for any money. ... It’s a very simple suit.”

One would think that it would be simple, yet the ACLU don't seem to get that. Religious expression in America is under attack. It is a shame that an organization that claims to protect our rights are the number one censor of Christian religious expression. If they were trying to get rid of all prayer at counsel meetings, we would have a different argument, but they are targeting Christian prayers and individual expression. It is good to see this man is standing up for his rights. More people should do so.

Currently there is legislation, introduced by Representative Hostettler that could put a stop to these ridiculous lawsuits. Hostettler’s proposal would amend the Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. Section 1988, to prohibit prevailing parties from being awarded attorney’s fee in religious establishment cases, but not in other civil rights filings. This would prevent local governments from having to use taxpayer funds to pay the ACLU or similar organization when a case is lost, and also would protect elected officials from having to pay fees from their own pockets.

SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP TAXPAYER FUNDING OF THE ACLU

This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 115 blogs already on-board.

News from Iran 1/11/2006

Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006

Adnkronos International reported Ahmadinejad is seeking to forge a common front against the US between Cuba's Fidel Castro, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and the recently elected Evo Morales of Bolivia.

Islamic Republic News Agency reported the Supreme Leader's representative for Haj affairs has urged Iranian pilgrims to spread the real Islam to the world.

Monday, Jan. 9, 2006

Iran ready to remove UN seals at nuclear sites
Parisa Hafezi, Reuters:

Iran said it was ready to remove U.N. seals at some atomic research and development sites on Monday, a move that would raise the stakes in Tehran's dispute with the West over its nuclear program. READ MORE

Antony Barnett, The Observer reported that British officials have allowed the export to Iran of a cargo of radioactive material that experts believe could be used in a nuclear weapons program.

CNN News reported that Iran's interior minister accused the US on Saturday of orchestrating the kidnapping of nine Iranian border guards. (Yeah, right. lol)

Mehran Riazaty reported that Ahmadinejad said: “We don’t shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world... We must prepare ourselves to rule the world.”

And finally, Chester, The Adventures of Chester reported that after reading one of our recent posts, he had quite a conversation developing with his readers about the situation with Iran.

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006
Three Major News Reports on Iran

Osama dead … in Iran?
Michael Ledeen, National Review Online reported that Osama Bin Laden died three weeks ago in Iran.

The Air Crash in Iran. A roundup.

Nasser Karimi, The Associated Press reported that a small military jet crashed in northwestern Iran on Monday, killing the commander of the ground forces of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.

Dan Darling, WindsOfChange.net argued that as a result of the crash there is going to be a lot more short-term power consolidated into the hands of IRGC's commander-in-chief Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi and his deputy General Mohammed Baqir Zolqadr.

DEBKAfile reported that its Tehran sources note the high importance of the dead commander who was appointed only three months ago.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, Foundation for Democracy in Iran reported news of potential sabotage behind the air crash.

Iran resumes nuclear program. A round up.

CNN News reported that as expected, Iran said it would resume its nuclear research program Monday.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Monsters and Critics reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: 'Those countries which now threaten us with sanctions should know that such threats will have no impact and not intimidate us."

Arnaud de Borchgrave, The Washington Times reviewed Iran's leaders statements on their nuclear intentions and finds them all in agreement, including the so-called moderate leaders.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

Zalmay Khalilzad (the U.S. ambassador to Iraq), The Wall Street Journal wrote about the challenge before us in Iraq.

The Washington Times reported that young Iraqis are receiving training in Iran for political indoctrination and militia training.
Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review Online thinks that Congressman Eric Cantor becoming the House majority-whip slot would be a nightmare for Ahmadinejad.

Rezapahlavi.org published excerpts of a live primetime televised interview with Fox News' in which Reza Pahlavi called for regime change in Iran.

Iran Focus reported that the government of radical Islamist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to segregate Iran’s pedestrian walkways on gender basis.

And finally, The Middle East Media Research Institute published video excerpts from a rally of Iranian pilgrims in Mecca where the speaker addresses the crowd in front of a backdrop showing the World Trade Center and an American flag in flames.

Jack Idema, Who Is He?

Each time I write about the plight of Jack Idema, the U.S. Special Forces soldier illegally imprisoned in Afghanistan along with his right-hand man, Brent Bennet, and Emmy award-winning journalist, Ed Caraballo, I'm conscious that I haven't really talked, in detail, about Jack's relationship with the Afghan troops he trained and fought alongside.

There are two conflicting accounts of Jack's involvement with the Afghan military:

• The official line is that Idema was a freelancer; a mercenary hunting Islamopaths for the bounties on their heads who had no official standing in either the U.S. or Afghan military. This was the U.S. Government's position at the time of Idema's first trial in September 2004. It was also the position of the Karzai government in Afghanistan.
• Jack Idema, of course, tells a very different story, stating that he was working as a military advisor to the Northern Alliance, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with these men as they hunted down Islamopaths, not for reward money, but out of patriotism.

Clearly, both of these accounts cannot be correct. It is also clear that war-zones around the world are filled with various adventurers, mercenaries and bounty hunters.

This is the reason why the msm's claims to have never heard of Idema prior to his arrest in 2004 are so damaging -- They add credence to the U.S. and Afghan governments' assertion that Jack was a rogue-operator and, effectively, deflect interest from his case. After all, there's a big difference between imprisoning a mercenary serving himself and imprisoning a U.S. soldier serving his country.

It is for these reasons those of us involved in this campaign justice to be done in this case are so keen to stress both Jack's past military record and the duplicitous nature of big media. The msm first reported on the work Jack Idema was doing in Afghanistan, then they denied all knowledge of him a year later.

Please continue reading this article over at Cao's Blog. I will have the exact URL later in the day tomorrow. Thank you very much for at least looking, reading, thinking, and considering doing what you believe to be right. Have a good day.

Finally, PLEASE NOTE: The SuperPatriots and Jack images on this site are used with WRITTEN COPYRIGHT PERMISSION and any use by any third party is subject to legal action by SuperPatriots.US.

The Free Jack Idema Blogroll:
The Pink Flamingo Bar & Grill, The Lone Voice, Red Hot Cuppa Politics, Kender's Musings, Irate Nate, The Devil's Kitchen, Cao's Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, Theodore's World, NIF, Rottweiler Puppy, Making Headlines, My Newz n' Ideas (Causes of Interest), Right For Scotland, Freedom Folks.

Technorati tags: jack idema, afghanistan, Technorati Search for Jack Idema.

New Counter

If you have noticed, there is a new count on each site. That is so we can tell which site is actually attracting an audience! The sites with groups that are not attracting visitors, maybe we could do more to help our fellow members? Maybe we could have a round-up on our homepage! Just a thought.

For the visitors, we sure would appreciate it if you would add us to your blogroll. It is just like starting over again! OMG, to see a 5 after seeing 42,000 hits could be depressing! lol. Please write about our site, and if you'd like to join one of them--contact me, Rosemary. Thanks much. Have a great day.

Daily Briefing on Iran 1/8/2006

Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran.
Iran: Holocaust Conference Soon in Tehran.
Adnkronos International:

Iran has decided to rewrite and revise the history of the Holocaust. Following the repeated declarations by the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and other senior government officials on the need to re-examine the history of the genocide of the Jews during the Second World War, the association of Islamic Journalists of Iran has been tasked with quickly putting together an international conference on the Holocaust. Continue reading.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

Thomas Donnelly, American Enterprise Institute published an important report: Rising Powers and Agents of Change.

Monsters & Critics reported that Israeli security arrested a suspected Iranian spy who was the former head of a local council in the Galilee.

Iran Focus reported a meeting was called off between a Russian delegation and Iranian officials in Tehran set to take place on Saturday.

Michel Abu Najm, Asharq Alawsat published an interview with former Syrian Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam, who is now seeking a regime change in Syria.

Michael Ledeen, National Review Online asked: Why should anyone believe anything the CIA has to say about Iran?

Spiegel Online reported on the rise of the Iranian hard-liners. The German media is awakening to the danger of the Islamic Republic.

The New York Times reported more details on the story behind Iran's abruptly canceling a high-level meeting with the IAEA in Vienna and sudden return to Tehran.

Monsters and Critics reported that an Iranian court is likely to hand down a verdict within a week on a pair of German and French deep-sea fishermen who strayed into Iranian territorial waters six weeks ago.

Zahid Hussainm, The Wall Street Journal reported that suspected separatists have blown up a natural-gas pipeline in southwestern Pakistan.

And finally, Washington Post reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States and its European allies have the votes to bring Iran before the U.N. Security Council.

I encourage those of you who call yourself humanitarians, warriors, thinkers, or just plain humans to take the time and inform yourself as to the inhumane treatment of the Iranian people by their government, the impending danger imposed on the immediate surrounding countries (because you know who they are going to call on for help), so you can be informed.

There is much information in these articles, including news that you will not read about anywhere else, because many people are just too frightened to irritate the Iranian government. Sad, but true. Have a good day.

This Week in Darfur, Sudan 1/8/2006

As the new year begins, the challenges continue in Sudan, as the security situation continues to deteriorate and the prospects of further fighting loom large.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced in a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 3 that “large-scale attacks against civilians continue, women and girls are being raped by armed groups, yet more villages are being burned, and thousands more are being driven from their homes.” Annan urged further international action to end the crisis. Just days later, the UN announced that it would evacuate non-essential personnel from north Darfur due to increasing violence and a new massing of troops along the province’s northern border.

This troop movement, and the prospect of new military action that it suggests, underscore the need for a stronger stabilizing force in the region to discourage new attacks. British envoy to the UN Emyr Jones Parry told reporters that an upcoming Security Council meeting on Sudan should include a discussion of whether the UN should take over the peacekeeping mission in Darfur currently under the auspices of the African Union. Chadian President Idriss Deby echoed that thought, urging the UN to “blue hat” the AU force and bring greater funding and military resources to the peacekeeping mission. President Deby’s comments come just days after growing tension on the Chad-Sudan border prompted him to urge the postponement of a proposed AU meeting on Darfur originally scheduled be held this past Wednesday in Tripoli.

African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur, making the point that increased resources are necessary to protect the civilian population and prevent the type of banditry that has begun to have an impact across the Chad-Sudan border.

Articles Referenced Above:

UN heightens security in Darfur, Sudan, Arabic News – 1/5/06

E. Sudan conflict may escalate into major war-report, Reuters – 1/5/06

UK urges support for African Union in Darfur, Sudan Tribune – 1/4/06

Chad president wants Darfur put under U.N. mandate, Reuters – 1/5/06

Sudan summit postponed as tensions with Chad rise, Reuters – 1/3/06

Darfur talks in trouble over power-sharing dispute, Reuters – 1/4/06

Other News

Egypt to deport 600 Sudanese after deadly clash, Middle East Times – 1/2/06

Weak-kneed on Darfur, Washington Times – 1/2/06

If you would like more information, please contact www.SaveDarfur.org or me. If you contact, I will see that you get the most help I can offer, but Save Darfur may be in a better position to assist you. Thank you, and have a great day.

Daily Briefing on Iran 1/6/2006

Friday's Daily Briefing on Iran.

Alan Peters: Special Report:

Analysts watching Iran on a daily basis were not taken by surprise by the Islamic Regime not showing up at the International Atomic Energy Agency on January 05, 2006, since reports out of Tehran have for the past weeks been mentioning President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's office privately leaking to the Tehran newspapers that Iran already has four nuclear weapons obtained from the Ukraine. READ MORE

If his sources are correct and Ahmadinejad is leaking that Iran has nuclear weapons, it would appear he is intent on creating a crisis now! Many believe Ahmadinejad is setting a trap for the west because western military action at this time would likely be of a limited nature since the west is unprepared for a full scale occupation of Iran. Such a confrontation would likely end in a negotiated settlement leaving the regime in power, but would also likely include internationally agreed to security arrangements with the regime, a very dangerous proposition indeed.

Other Must Read Reports:

The Associated Press reported that Iran failed to show up for a meeting with the IAEA where they were to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with details of its plans.

EUbusiness reported that experts from Iran, in Vienna, returned home on Thursday without explanation.

Reuters reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Iran's resumption of atomic fuel research would signal its rejection of a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the massive stroke of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon marks the likely starting point of the coming nuclear showdown that will pit the Jewish state and the free world against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Teamsters issued a Press Release which called on the President of Iran to immediately release the Iranian union leaders and members and negotiate in good faith with the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, whose members have not had a wage increase in over four years.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed:

Yahoo News reported that Iran's president said he hoped for the death of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the US blasted as "hateful and disgusting" remarks by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hoping that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not survive his massive stroke.

Iran Press News reported that in recent months the regime has been selling donkey meat to people who thought were buying beef. But its ok because the donkeys were slaughtered "Islamic style."

Iran Press News reported on series of what it described as "incidents" at the Shahreh-Kord prison.

Iran Press News reported that a human rights activist, Qafoor Mohammadi, was imprisoned in Mahabad, Province of Kurdistan.

Adnkronos International reported that Israel is planning to launch a new website in Farsi to counter the anti-Israel campaign of Ahmadinejad.

SMCCDI reported that two female students were seriously injured by brutal Bassijis who splashed acid to their faces.

Xinhua reported that Iran informed the Syrian leadership of the latest developments concerning the country's nuclear studies.

Iran Focus reported that Iran's President continued to push for "relocation" of Israel.

The Associated Press reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chose unusually blunt language to warn Iran that time is running out to avoid being hauled before the U.N. Security Council.

Claude Salhani, UPI reported that former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam is planning to form a government-in-exile.

Austin Bay, Ventura County Star argued that the Iranian regime's greatest fear is a popular, pro-democracy rebellion.

The Guardian published an extract from State of War, by James Risen.

P. David Hornik, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the news about Iran could seemingly shake even Western Europe out of its complacency and pacifism if that was still possible.

And finally, The Intelligence Summit reported that they will reveal Saddam's personal and confidential weapons of mass destruction tapes next month.

Safety Guide for Bloggers, Stay Out of Jail

Spirit of America Releases Anonymous Blogging Guides in English, Arabic, Chinese and Persian

Spirit of America has launched the BlogSafer wiki, available at http://www.blogsafer.org/. BlogSafer contains a series of guides on how to blog under difficult conditions in countries that discourage free speech.

LOS ANGELES, California - January 7, 2006 – Spirit of America’s BlogSafer wiki hosts a series of targeted guides to anonymous blogging, each of which outline steps a blogger in a repressive regime can take, and tools to use, to avoid identification and arrest. These range from common sense actions such as not providing identifying details on a blog to the technical, such as the use of proxy servers.

“A repressive regime trying to still free speech first goes after and shuts down independent print and broadcast media,” said Curt Hopkins, project director of Spirit of America’s Anonymous Blogging Campaign. “Once that is done, it turns its attentions to online news sites. As these outlets disappear, dissent migrates to blogs, which are increasing geometrically in number and are simple to set up and operate.”

In past several years at least 30 people have been arrested, many of whom have been tortured, for criticizing their governments. This trend is likely to increase in the coming year.

The five guides that are currently on the wiki serve bloggers in the following countries:

Iran (in Persian)

China (Chinese)

Saudi Arabia (in Arabic—also useful for other Arabic-speaking regimes such as Bahrain, Egypt,

Syria and Tunisia)

Malaysia (in English—also applicable to neighboring Indonesia and Singapore)

Zimbabwe (in English—applicable to English-speaking Africans as well as aid workers)

These countries were chosen because they are representative of the kinds of repressive tactics that have been used in the past several years against bloggers. These include filtering, interrogation, torture and imprisonment.

The guides are a synthesis of all currently available information on the subject of anonymization. They have been edited for non-technical readers, translated into the languages of the target areas and posted on the wiki. Bloggers can use the wiki format to expand, edit and change the current guides to reflect a closer knowledge of the changing situation in their countries. Others may use the guides, and the other resources provided, to translate the guides into other languages or create new guides specific to their countries’ situations.

The wiki will provide a work and communications space for those bloggers around the world seeking to speak the truth as they see it and those in freer countries who wish to support their fellows bloggers.

Spirit of America's mission is to extend the goodwill of the American people to assist those advancing freedom, democracy and peace abroad. We provide support to those on the front lines: American military and civilian personnel and people who call to Americans for help in their struggle for freedom and democracy.

Spirit of America is a 501c3 nonprofit supported solely through private-sector contributions. We do not receive funding from the government or military. 100% of your tax-deductible donation is used for the purpose you choose. For more information and to support Spirit of America and this and other projects, visit the web site at www.SpiritofAmerica.net/.

Technorati Tags: anoniblogging, anonymous_blogging_guide, blogsafer

Why is Iran Seeking a Crisis Now?

It is very seldom that Doctor Zin spots an article that causes him to e-mail me and tell me it is a must right...right now. When it comes to Iran, I do not question his judgement.

Not everyone is interested in Iran. I am. I care about the Iranian people, the Israeli people, and the American people. 'President' Ahmadinejad is losing his mind and in the process, he has replaced practically all the people in any kind of power with his own people. This includes middle to lower level people.

Alan Peters: Special Report

Analysts watching Iran on a daily basis were not taken by surprise by the Islamic Regime not showing up at the International Atomic Energy Agency on January 05, 2006, since reports out of Tehran have for the past weeks been mentioning President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's office privately leaking to the Tehran newspapers that Iran already has four nuclear weapons obtained from the Ukraine.

Apparently, he is using the situation with Prime Minister Sharon as an excuse to force the hand of other countries.

This would be the wrong thing to do, IMHO. The students are have been protested, but we do not here about this. (Remember Eason Jordan, head of CNN? He knew the torture and murder that was a daily way of life in Iraq, but nothing was ever said. He believed the access, and not the lives of the Iraqi people, was more important.)

We will not heare about the goings on inside of Iran, except through contacts. I will never disclose them, because their lives are endangered enough. What is needed is the financial backing of the United States, as President Bush stated, so they can overcome the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC.)

Ahmadinejad is trying to draw countries into a confrontation so he can gain standing through a cease-fire. He has already tried to control the students, but he has sorely failed. He has underestimated them and their thirst for freedom. They hate the mullahs, and their treatment by them.

We must not succumb. We should arm the student and their backers, and allow them to fight for their own freedom. They are a proud people. If we were to go in, they would have no choice but to fight against us. Let us be smart about this.

Here is the article in case you would like to read it. I highly recommend it. Have a good night.

Pundit Review Presents Law Prof. Bainbridge

I have the privilege of introducing to you an excellent couple of gents who rock my world every Sunday night at 9pm EST! Gregg and Kevin are the Pundit Review. Below is the information for this Sunday's program. Hope to hear you calling in!

One of the best aspects of the blogosphere is the fact that subject matter experts share their passion and deep knowledge with the rest of us. The arguments that will be made both for and against Judge Samuel Alito during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings in a few weeks are already being hashed out among Law Bloggers.

When you make blogs a part of your news diet you get not just this valuable insight from sharp legal minds, you get tomorrow’s news today.

Tune into Pundit Review Radio this Sunday evening at 9pm EST for a preview of the coming battle over Judge Alito and his potential confirmation to the Supreme Court. We are honored to have as our guest one of our favorite Law Bloggers, Professor Stephen Bainbridge of UCLA Law School.

Sunday, 9pm EST

Streaming Live at WRKO

Call us toll free with questions, 877-469-4322

About Pundit Review Radio

Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin & Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. This unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening at 9pm EST on AM 680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Leader.

Bizzy Blog will be interviewed by Pundit Review at 10 am EST SATURDAY morning. Tune in. The interview should be at least 1/2 hour.

Update: Let me make a correction. Gregg and Kevin will be on the air from 8 am until noon Saturday morning. Bizzy Blog will be on at around 10:10 am. They are still scheduled to be on air for about half an hour. Don't forget to tune in! Thank you.

Daily Briefing on Iran 1/5/2006

Thursday's Daily Briefing on Iran.
Iran: Tehran issues new threat to Europe
Adnkronos International:

The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, who is also the man behind Iran's foreign policy, has warned Europeans "not to force the Islamic Republic to cut short the dialogue process and to opt for another scenario". Speaking on Tuesday night on state television he said: "We are for a strategy based on dialogue, but if the counterparty Europe plays dirty, then we will pass onto another plan that we have worked out and then there will be problems for the Europeans."

Without specifying the nature of the other plan and the other scenario, Larijani has compared the talks on Iran's nuclear program to a chess game.

"In this game, we are for a result that will be satisfactory to both Iran and Europe," said Larijani adding that "if we lose, the same will also happen to the other party (Europe) and they will have to prepare themselves to live in a hell.

"But Larijani used even stronger words for the United States. "A small error on the part of USA or the Zionists will be enough to induce us to unleash hell," said Larijani. "They know this very well and for this they haven't gone further than a verbal or psychological war," he said. [continue reading].

Here are a few other news items you may have missed:

Iran Press News reported that Turkey turned down a visit by Ahmadinejad.

Iran Press News reported that Tehran's Bus drivers are continuing to demand release of their union leader.

Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime has threatened the South Korean government, demanding that they do not vote against the Islamic regime in the March meeting of the IAEA or else.

Iran Focus reported that Iran’s state-run media gave unusual prominence to a historically confused news report of a Saudi King telling FDR in 1954 that Israel should be moved to Europe. Problem is both men were dead in 1954.

Jeannine Aversa, Associated Press reported the Bush administration acted to tighten the financial clamps on two Iranian companies.

Roxana Saberi, Channel NewsAsia reported on how young Iranians are being hit hard by surging property prices.

AFP, Oman Observer reported that Iran's judiciary confirmed that a German arrested along with a Frenchman during a fishing trip off the coast of southern Iran will go on trial today.

Middle East Newsline reported that Turkey has quietly agreed to join a U.S.-led effort against Iran's nuclear weapons program.

Hurriyet reported that Turkey said that newspaper reports that the US had asked Ankara for permission to use military bases in Turkey for possible attacks on Iran, are not connected to reality.

CNN reported that Arabic-language network Al Arabiya has aired video of what it said were Iranian soldiers recently kidnapped near the Iran-Pakistan border.

The New York Times is noticing that the EU3/Iran talks are in turmoil as Iran restarts its Nuclear Projects.

Peter Ackerman and Ramin Ahmadi, International Herald Tribune reported that there is positive news on Iran that the world should not miss: civic defiance against Ahmadinejad's authoritarianism is increasing.

Radio Free Europe reported that an influential right-wing U.S. think-tank rated Iran as one Of the World's Least Free Economies.

Adnkronos International reported that the leader of the MKO/MEK, Massoud Rajavi is under house arrest in Iraq.

Kevin A. Hassett, Bloomberg.com reported that Iran, not Iraq, may be the big story of 2006, both politically and economically.

Josh Meyer, The Los Angeles Times reported that in a clumsy effort to sabotage Iran's nuclear program, the CIA in 2004 intentionally handed Tehran some top-secret bomb designs laced with a hidden flaw that U.S. officials hoped would doom any weapon made from them.

The Times reported that now that Iran has dropped the pretense, the IAEA must respond to Iran’s nuclear challenge.

Omid Memarian, Rooz Online reported that former Iranian President Khatami warned of an attempt to control the Experts Assembly by those that "neither believes in the supreme leader nor in the constitution.”

And finally, ABC News published a video report on the young people in Iran.

All credit goes to Doctor Zin for his tireless and thorough work. Thank you, Doc.

Daily Briefing on Iran 1/4/2006

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006
Secret services say Iran is trying to assemble a nuclear missile
Ian Cobain and Ian Traynor, The Guardian: A document seen by Guardian details web of front companies and middlemen.

The Iranian government has been successfully scouring Europe for the sophisticated equipment needed to develop a nuclear bomb, according to the latest western intelligence assessment of the country's weapons programs.

Scientists in Tehran are also shopping for parts for a ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe, with "import requests and acquisitions ... registered almost daily", the report seen by the Guardian concludes. Continue reading.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed:
**Iran Press News published an update on Akbar Ganji. A letter from his wife.
**Iran Focus reported that Iran’s former President Rafsanjani warned Arab states of the Persian Gulf to “stay away from contentious issues that will only provide the Big Powers with opportunities for mischief-making.”
**CNN reported that several U.S. agents in Iran were rounded up after the CIA mistakenly revealed clues to their identities to a covert source who turned out to be a double agent.
**Iran Mania reported that Iran is preparing to buy Chinese aircraft to equip its air fleet.
**Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor reported on Iran's Bright Future News agency where you can learn all the latest developments regarding the 12th Imam, the Shia savior many expect to conquer the world.
**Xinhua reported that France urged Iran to maintain its suspension over nuclear activities.
**Reuters reported that the United States on Tuesday warned Iran against resuming atomic fuel research.
**James S. Robbins, National Review Online warned us that when faced with a state pursuing an aggressive plan to achieve regional hegemony, the worst move is to seek to institutionalize the status quo.
**Marzeporgohar published a profile on Behrouz Javid Tehrani, a story of a political prisoner.
**BBC News reported that Pakistan is working with Tehran to help locate nine Iranian border guards who have reportedly been abducted.
**Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that Iran's Supreme Leader said: Iran should regain its ancient status as 'mother of science.'
**Joseph Loconte, The Daily Standard published a valuable review of Fascism, Islamism, and Anti-Semitism. Well referenced.
**Amir Taheri, New York Post countered the mainstream media's pessimism by reminding us of what the world won in 2005.
**Malaysia Star reported that Ahmadinejad told lawmakers the foreign policy of detente adopted by his two predecessors had achieved little and reduced Iran's standing in the Islamic world.
**Dunya Online reported that British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will visit Turkey later this month and Iran will be on the agenda.
**Dow Jones Newswires reported that Israeli military chief Dan Halutz Tuesday said Iran's nuclear program "can be destroyed."
**Forbes.com reported that Kuwait plans to start exploration for natural gas in what it calls 'undisputed' parts of the offshore Dorra field.
**Reuters reported that Iran announced on Tuesday a long-awaited shake-up at its key Oil Ministry.