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

To: Skywatcher who wrote (7798)	7/5/2006 5:07:52 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 9838

Thousands fleeing fighting in Philippines United Press International, ^ \| July 5 \| staff MANILA, Philippines, July 5 (UPI) -- Reports from the southern Philippines say some 3,000 people have fled their homes amid fighting between government troops, militias and Muslim insurgents. The fighting in Maguindanao province over the past week left more than 40 people dead, The Manila Times reported Tuesday. It also endangered negotiations between Manila and the Moro National Liberation Front. Those long-standing talks were expected to produce a final peace accord by September. New reports say the MNLF has blamed military backed militias loyal to the provincial governor for the violence, which they claim was in retaliation for a roadside bombing last month that killed five people. The target of the bombing was allegedly the governor. "The attacks on the MILF are clearly in retaliation for the killings of the 5 people in which the MILF had no connection," an MNLF leader was quoted as saying. A MNLF spokesman was quoted as saying the fighting began when militias, backed by army artillery fire, attacked a MNLF camp. The MNLF, a separatist group, said their forces have been ordered to stay in their camps in the province and only use fight to defend themselves. In addition to Muslim separatists, the Philippines is also fighting a communist insurgency.

To: Skywatcher who wrote (7798)	7/5/2006 9:09:06 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9838

Sheehan: 'I'd Rather Live Under Chavez than Bush', Norah Gives Cindy Rough Ride Hardball/NewsBusters ^ \| Mark Finkelstein by Mark Finkelstein July 5, 2006 As James Taranto suggested Monday in his WSJ 'Best of the Web' column, at some point you can question a person's patriotism. Cindy Sheehan surely passed that point long ago. But just in case there was any doubt, Sheehan made things clear this evening, flatly stating that she'd rather live under Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez than George Bush. Sheehan made her comments during a Hardball appearance, during which guest host Norah O'Donnell, sitting in for Chris Matthews, gave her a surprisingly rough ride. At one point, O'Donnell asked: "Why go stand by side by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela? Why do that? Would you rather live under him than George Bush? Sheehan: "Yes. Hugo Chavez is not a dictator like you introduced him. He's been democratically elected eight times. He is not anti-American, he has helped the poor people of America. He has sent aid to New Orleans, he has sold heating oil to disadvantaged people in America at low cost, and the people of his country love him." The exchange over Chavez capped a rugged line of questioning to which O'Donnell subjected Sheehan. Other excerpts: O'Donnell: "Americans may hate the war but they don't necessarily hate the president. How do you expect to get change by going around the world and trashing the President of the United States?" Sheehan: "I don't hate the president either, and I don't trash the president. I trash the president's foreign policy." O'Donnell: "But you called him the biggest terrorist in the world, so you are trashing the president." Sheehan: "Well he says a terrorist is somebody that kills innocent men, women and children." O'Donnell: "You have just begun a two-month hunger strike. Isn't this really just more of a publicity stunt?" Norah later observed: "You claim not to be in the fringes, not to be an extremist." She then challenged Sheehan to name members of Congress who support her call for immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Sheehan claimed bi-partisan support, citing Republican congressmen Ron Paul and Walter Jones, and on the Dem side Charley Rangel and John Conyers. When Sheehan mentioned John Kerry as an example of senatorial support, O'Donnell shot back: "the bill Sen. Kerry has proposed went down in flames in the Senate." Continued O'Donnell: "What you're calling for is in fact an extreme position. There are very few members of congress who support immediate withdrawal. You would, if you could, fly a bunch of planes over there, pick up all our troops, and take them home tomorrow." Sheehan claimed there is an "Out of Iraq Caucus" in congress with 70 members calling for an immediate withdrawal. In any case, an interesting exchange. Sudden surge of hawkishness from Norah, or perhaps a subliminal suggestion to Dems, as a matter of electoral strategy, not to associate themselves with Sheehan?