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Politics : Bush Administration's Media Manipulation--MediaGate? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (4036)	6/17/2005 9:21:29 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9838

Thank you Bill Clinton! China Testfires a New SLBM, landing on a desert a few thousand km away Yomiuri Shimbun ^ \| 06/17/05 /China Testfires a New SLBM, landing on a desert a few thousand km away Yomiuri Shimbun 06/17/05 China testfired on June 16th a new submarine launched ballistic missile[SLBM], according to a (Japanese) government source. Supposedly, it is Julang-2[JL-2], which is the modified version of Dongfeng-31[DF-31] intercontinental ballistic missile[ICBM] (estimated range:8,000km), which can be launched from a submarine. It was fired from a nuclear submarine under the sea next to Qingdao, and landed on a desert area a few thousand kilometers away. There was also a confirmed launch of Chinese SLBM in 2001. China now possesses 30 ICBM's, and is conducting research for (missiles) carrying multiple warheads, to counter American missile defense[MD]. In November 2004, their Han-class nuclear submarine circled around Guam, and invaded Japanese territorial waters. Their activities in the open sea have been increasing. If their SLBM development continues, China could have the entire U.S. territory within their (missiles') range. According to some opinion, the latest testfiring could be also aimed at dissuading U.S. from intervening into the crisis at Taiwan Strait. Since China can field Dongfeng-31 missiles, U.S. estimates that, by 2015, 100 warheads could be targeted at U.S.. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during his speech in Singapore on June 4th, "China appears to improve the capability of missiles aiming at targets in Asia-Pacific region, and acquire the expanded capability to strike worldwide targets outside the region," showing great concern for Chinese ICBM development.

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (4036)	6/17/2005 11:47:32 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9838

BUYER DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM ILLINOIS SENATOR House Veterans’ Affairs Committee ^ \| June 16, 2005 “Comparison of U.S. Soldiers to the Nazis is irresponsible and dangerous” Washington, D.C. — Sparked by recent comments from Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04), Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called on the Senator to apologize to U.S. servicemembers for comparing them to Nazis. The Associated Press reported, “During a speech Tuesday, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat quoted from an FBI agent’s report describing detainees at the Naval base in Guantanamo Bay… ‘You would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings,’ Durbin said.” “I demand that Senator Durbin apologize to the fighting men and women in uniform today and those who have served in the past. As Americans, we are to honor our soldiers’ service and appreciate their sacrifice; not demean their service and disgrace their sacrifice,” said Chairman Buyer. Buyer added, “While the Senator might believe his rhetoric will further his party and politics, it does nothing but undermine our troops fighting for freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator Durbin’s comparison is irresponsible and dangerous. The torment of having to listen to extremely loud music or room temperature fluctuations can in no way ever be compared to the horror of humans being herded to gas chambers and others being summarily executed.” Since September 11th, more than 70,000 detainees have been captured in Afghanistan and Iraq, the majority of whom have been released. Approximately 800 suspected Al Qaeda or Taliban operatives have been sent to Guantanamo, including an intended 9/11 hijacker, and of that approximately 520 remain, 235 have been released or transferred to other countries and 61 are awaiting release or transfer. Each case is reviewed at least annually for possible release. There are almost a dozen incidents where detainees have been released from Guantanamo and then taken part in anti-Coalition activities in Iraq. The detainees at Guantanamo are not classified as POW’s and are therefore not entitled to such protections. However, it is U.S. policy to treat these detainees consistent with the Geneva Convention standards. Congressman Buyer is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and was assigned as a Judge Advocate General to the Western Enemy Prisoner of War Camp, providing legal advice on international law and the Geneva Conventions regarding the treatment of prisoners of war, detained civilians, and refugees. He also served as an Armed Forces liaison with delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 2002, Congressman Buyer visited the Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Buyer currently serves as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (4036)	6/17/2005 3:16:14 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9838

My entry today is a story about my time in Santa Maria that has nothing to do with Michael Jackson. I was flying out of Santa Maria for the weekend and was approached in the airport by a guy named John who said he was a fan of the show. He was with what I assumed were two friends, one on crutches. They just looked like three guys on vacation, but I quickly learned that their trip to the area was anything but. They were in town for the funeral of a colleague, one of their “teammates,” Captain Derek M. Argel of Lompoc, California, who, along with three others, died in a plane crash on Memorial Day in Iraq. Captain Argel, 28, was survived by his wife Wendy and 11-month son Logan. Argel's was the first of three funerals they would be traveling to attend. They were also going to attend that of Captain Jeremy Freskiss of Farmington, New Mexico and Sergeant Casey Crate of Washington—all members of the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron out of Hurlburt Field, Florida, an elite Air Force unit that has among other things, been helping to locate bombing targets in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here I was, consumed with the minutiae of a celebrity trial in California, while these guys are doing this nation's work. I was almost ashamed that Sergeant John— they've asked me to use only their first names— had walked up to me to tell me how much he liked my work rather than me walking up to him. But that is just the beginning. I learned that the one on crutches, Sergeant Brad, was recovering from a gunshot wound he received in April in Afghanistan. His team had been called in to support an ambushed coalition convoy. He apparently killed a number of enemy fighters and performed life saving treatment on another wounded soldier after he was hit with a round from an AK-47. Ok, so now I am thinking about the relative insignificance of my life on the short flight from Santa Maria to LA. As we were leaving the plane, Sergeant John was offering up some suggestions for better coverage of our men and women in uniform when an elderly man about 10 yards in front of us falls flat on his face. His head and his hands were severely bruised and bleeding (I later learned he had just had chemotherapy). Immediately Sergeant John called to Sergeant Brad and Major Mike and instructed them to stay with the fallen man while he ran for help. Sergeant Brad, on his crutches, ran down the gateway. It was as if they had trained for this mission too—to help anyone in need. They called for First Aid but there was none. They did what they could and eventually got a wheelchair and took him to the men's room. About thirty minutes later, a medic arrived, and all was well. These guys are heroes on the battlefield, but they are also living heroic lives, making sure their fallen comrades are remembered properly. And while they are there, they are also helping out anyone else in need. Sergeant John, Sergeant Brad, and Major Mike, I salute you. msnbc.msn.com