Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (44330)	4/30/2004 2:41:31 AM
From: Sully-	Respond to of 89467

Coincidence? By Captain Ed on War on Terror Captain's Quarters Blog The BBC reports that US analysis shows international terror attacks declined last year and the number of civilian deaths at a 30-year low: US government figures suggest that terrorist attacks have fallen to the lowest level for more than 30 years. The annual report records a slight fall in the number of international attacks last year and a dramatic decrease in the number of victims. The report says that less than half the number of people lost their lives in such attacks last year compared with the year before. Attacks in Iraq have not been counted as terrorist attacks, primarily due to the targeting of military assets rather than civilians. Cofer Black, the State Department spokesman, credited improved international cooperation against terrorism, especially crediting Saudi Arabia. Malaysia also received praise for its cooperation, as CNN reports, and progress noted in both Libya and the Sudan. The State Department reports that Iraq has become the central theater in the war on terror: It said former regime elements conducting attacks against coalition forces have "increasingly allied themselves tactically and operationally with foreign fighters and Islamic extremists, including some linked to Ansar al-Islam, al Qaeda and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi." Black said while al-Zarqawi operates as an "independent actor," without orders from al Qaeda leadership, the United States considers him to be "sympathetic to al Qaeda" and part of the threat represented by that network. Given the public nature of the Bush administration's attack on terrorist networks and their support, had the US effort not been effective, terrorists would have escalated their attacks in response to our actions. However, it appears that the broad, strategic approach to the war on terror is paying off. The Afghanistan and Iraq phases have overthrown regimes that supported terrorism, and the intelligence gathered during both phases has identified more terrorist cells and plots. Rather than destroying our ability to coordinate with other nations on intelligence and disarmament, international cooperation has improved -- while Libya has renounced terror and WMD and Iran at least allows IAEA inspections, for now. Neither CNN nor the BBC bother to connect the dots, nor I suspect will we see much of the US media bother to try. However, the undeniable progress of the Bush policy on terror will be hard to ignore for long. UPDATE: McQ at QandO notices the same thing: All of this is found in the 181-page Patterns of Global Terrorism Report produced by the State Department which Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism analyst for the Rand Corp. says is considered the "gold standard" for measuring terrorism. Some facts from the report: - There were 190 acts of international terrorism last year, compared with 198 in 2002 and 346 in 2003. It was the lowest figure in 34 years. - In those attacks last year, 307 people were killed, compared with 725 in 2002; 1,593 people were wounded, compared with 2,013 in 2002. - Thirty-five Americans died in 15 international terrorist attacks. The deadliest was a May 12 attack by suicide bombers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that killed nine U.S. citizens and 26 people overall. - Anti-U.S. attacks increased slightly to 82 from 77 in 2002. But they have declined sharply since the 219 attacks in 2001. Looks like progress to me.

To: stockman_scott who wrote (44330)	4/30/2004 7:58:00 AM
From: redfish	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 89467

Comedian commentary on the campaign: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno": "I guess you know that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney answered questions today in front of the 9-11 commission. Bush said he was glad to speak with the 9-11 commission. In fact, he also said he would be glad to meet with the 7-11 people too if anybody has any questions." "President Bush and Dick Cheney did not testify under oath and there was no recording of the questions and answers - so basically no details or records of any kind like Bush's National Guard service. You know why it was so secret? Dick Cheney didn't want Colin Powell might find out. In fact, it's so secret, even Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia doesn't even know what was said." "John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz is on the cover of 'Newsweek' magazine this week. They said if John Kerry is elected, she would be the oldest first lady in American history, 66 years old. But that doesn't bother Kerry. To him she looks like a million bucks. $500 million!" --- "Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn": "President Bush and Dick Cheney appeared before the 9-11 commission. It was kind of an awkward start. A senator asked, 'How are you, Mr. President,' and they both answered, 'Fine.' ... The meeting was a private closed-door session, which means they probably spent a lot of time trading ethnic jokes." "Reportedly, the commission's first question to the president was, 'You know al-Qaida and Iraq are two different things, right?'" "Members of panel got annoyed because whenever they asked Cheney a tough question, he grabbed his chest and shouted, 'Elizabeth, it's the 'Big One!'" "Panel members said President Bush was very helpful. At one point even offering to have the CIA provide personal information about them and their mistresses." --- "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart": "The Supreme Court case caps a busy week for (Vice President Dick) Cheney, who took time out of his busy schedule of not revealing anything to anyone ever to deliver a harsh anti-John Kerry speech at Missouri's Westminster College, the same venue Winston Churchill used for his famous 'Iron Curtain' address." thestate.com