Most dangerous ruiling since Kelo vs New London

This could be very dangerous in the future, people suing over unfounded scientific charges. Imagine people suing a power plant or a refinery because the "pollution is destroying the earth and impacting their rights."

A federal judge here said environmental groups and four U.S. cities can sue federal development agencies on allegations the overseas projects they financially back contribute to global warming.
The decision Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White is the first to say that groups alleging global warming have a right to sue.
"This is the first decision in the country to
say that climate change causes sufficient injury to give a plaintiff standing, to open the courthouse door," said Ronald Shems, a Vermont attorney representing Friends of the Earth.
That group, in addition to Greenpeace and the cities of Boulder, Colo., Santa Monica, Oakland and Arcata, Calif., sued Overseas Private Investment Corp. and the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Those government agencies provide loans and insure billions of dollars of U.S.
investors' money for development projects overseas. Many of the projects are power plants that emit greenhouses gases that the groups allege cause global warming.
The coalition argues that the National Environmental Policy Act, the law requiring environmental assessments of proposed development projects in the United States, should apply to the U.S.-backed projects overseas. The U.S. law should apply, they say, because those developments are contributing to the degradation of the U.S. environment via global warming.
The two government agencies claimed that U.S. environmental regulations do not apply to overseas projects, and that the courts have no right to intervene in those agencies' affairs.
Still, the judge's ruling was narrow. White did not rule whether those agencies must perform environmental assessments of projects they help fund, but simply said the groups have a right to sue. If White's decision stands, the issue of whether U.S. environmental rules apply to the projects backed by the agencies likely will be litigated, Shems said. Shems noted that, even if he ultimately wins the case, that doesn't mean a given project would be blocked even if an environmental analysis is performed and highlights severe environmental damage it would cause.
"The first step in getting ahandle on climate change is to find out what the sources are and get an inventory," he said.
The suit claims 8 percent of the world's greenhouse gases come from projects supported by the two agencies. Linda Formella, a spokeswoman with Export-Import Bank, said the agency, which supported nearly $18 billion in exports last year, does not comment on pending litigation. The Overseas Private Investment Corp. did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
The case is Friends of the Earth v. Watson, 02-4106.

Iraq vs. Soviet Constitution

There has been much defense of Iraq's "Islamic" provisions in their constitution. I am still skeptical.

When one provision of a constitution ultimately trumps the another, the latter will be essentially irrelevant. Article 50 of the Soviet Union Constiution guaranteed the rights of free speech, free press, and demonstrations. However, Article 62 and others, gave ultimate importance to the interests of the state. The Iraqi Constitution could have several "feel good" lines about people's rights, but if those new found rights contradict certain tenents of Islamic law, then they will be essentially meaningless, much like former citizens of the Soviet Union can testify to.

Interview with Abdullah

An interesting read... an interview with King Abdullah of Jordan.

http://www.meforum.org/article/688

Palestine's Brainwashed Youth.

Israel will never see peace as long as kids are being brainwashed. How does a 14 year old hate something so much? They are not talking peace, they talk death. Read the whole article.

Abdel Kareem Mohammed Abu Habel agrees with Israeli critics who say that next week's disengagement from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank will do nothing to stop Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israel....

"I was going to be dead," he said. "I was going to see God and defend Jerusalem. I was happy." He was 14....

"All the youngsters these days, this is what they talk about. Anywhere you go in this area. This is what they think about, the little kids. To blow themselves up," she said. "If you take the youngest kid, he'll say this is what he wants to do. Kill Jews."... SF Gate

Failure at the Borders

It's not going to be too hard to outflank the Republicans on immigration issue. Beyond not address the problem at all, the Bush administration has gone so far as to call the Minuteman, "vigilantes. " There could be all the democracy in Iraq, but open borders hurts economics and security of the country. The situation may allow a centrist Democrat to score at the ballot boxes. We might see a new term in the near future: "Richardson Republicans."

The politics of immigration are changing. On Friday Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, declared a "state of emergency" in four New Mexico border counties due to "a chaotic situation involving illegal alien smuggling and illegal drug shipments." His office has pledged $1.5 million for stepped-up law enforcement and also asked Chris Simcox, the president of the volunteer border patrol group Minutemen, for a meeting. Mr. Richardson, a man who wears his ambition for national office on his sleeve, has apparently decided he has to reposition himself on border issues. Wall St. Journal

Why backpeddle on the Federalist Society?

Ever since Roberts has been nominated to the High Court, he and the Bush administration have been backpeddling on his membership regarding the Federalist Society. Why shy away from it. In case the Republicans haven't realized, they have the majority. Republicans are always so embarrased to be conservative. This lack of fortitude casts doubt over whether Roberts will be able to make tough decisions.

He said in a Senate questionnaire that he had "no recollection" of being a member of the Federalist Society. But he was on one of the group's panels in 1993, was listed in a 1997 brochure as a member of the steering committee of the society's Washington chapter, and gave a luncheon speech to the legal group in 2003. ...

The White House says Roberts has been candid in his written responses to Senate
questions. "John Roberts never joined" the Federalist Society, Bush spokesman Steve Schmidt said Wednesday. "He has spoken on panels sponsored by the Federalist Society, he was on a steering committee, but not a member." AP

The Inability of Europe to Project Power

Even long before the end of the Cold War, Europe has been slashing their military because they say "who is going invade us?" With the rise of rogue nations and terrorism, the threat to modern nations won't be a beachhead landing in Marselle. It will comprise of state-funded terrorism, who's leaders will then deny their involvement. Right after 9/11, Afghanistan tried the tactic, but the US wouldn't bite. Europe is different. They have failed diplomatically with Iran (see previous post) because they don't have the "stuff" to back it up with.

One of the better examples comes from the modern Falklands War. Even back in 1982, when Britian had a larger military, more military spending, and their best prime minister since Winston Churchill, the British operation to retake the Falklands, was rag-tag at best.

Below, are some statics I have complied on the sizes of countries' militaries. Remember that troops numbers are "total" including all branches, reverses, desk clerks unless otherwise mentioned. Some numbers can be conflicting depending on year-to-year, and what source includes. For comparison, I've included the statistics on the NY City police department.

Nonetheless, the "Big Five" : UK, France, Germany, Spain, & Italy, who's total population roughly equals the US, their total spending is approximately 1/3 of the US. The entire EU's GDP is nearly equal to that of the US.

The result of this is a weak Europe, who will find themselves unable to project their influence anywhere. They will be repeatedly disregarded by rogue nations. Even a imbecile can sense fear and weakness.

Britian
212,000 troops overall, 112,000 in Army
$36 billion

Germany [1]
284,000
$28.3 billion

France [2]
259,000 troops
$39.5 billion ($25 billion in 02?)
2.6% of GDP

Italy
200,000 troops
$21.1 billion
1.7% of GDP

Spain
150,000 troops
9.9 billion


Canada
52,000 troops (20,000 army)
$9.8 billion
1.1% of GDP

Sweden
27,000 troops (12,000 active)
4.2 billion

USA
$395 billion dollars
1,427,000 active troops
3.3% of GDP

New York City Police Department
37,210 police officers
$3.4 billion budget

Europe's Failure to Appease in Tehran

With recent revelations that Europe's negoatiations with Iran are about to completely fail, is anyone surprised?

Have the Germans, British and French - the European Union's chief negotiators - misjudged Iran's willingness to compromise?...

For Fischer, it was also a great political chance. All of sudden, he was no longer just another mediator among many, like in the conflict in the Middle East. In one swoop, he stood right in the middle. Iran was his conflict. If he could convince Tehran to compromise, he would celebrate a historic success. Should he fail -- as it now seems he has -- his legacy would include a massive defeat....

And the truth is, the Iranians are as little concerned about a nuclear attack from France and Britain as they are about a European military invasion. Tehran is more worried that the US and Israel could act on their cloaked threats and attack Iranian nuclear plants. The fear isn't totally unfounded. On orders from U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, the Pentagon has been working on plans for air attacks using conventional and nuclear weapons for a long time. The military is already simulating how to bring Teheran down through air attacks, commando operations and the use of ground troops. Even Israel has said it would "not tolerate" Iran building the bomb.... Der Spiegel

The World's Smallest Violin plays for Omar Bakri

Oh my! My heart bleads for him. The British should have deported him years ago.

An extreme Muslim cleric whose family have been living on benefits in Britain for 20 years says it would not be 'fair' to deport him. Speaking after the Prime Minister announced his clampdown, father-of-seven Sheik Omar Bakri said: "I have wives, children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law. It would be hard on my family if I was deported."
Since Syrian-born Bakri settled in Britain, he and his extended family have raked in benefits amounting to at least £300,000. He is registered disabled because of an injury to his leg during his childhood, and was recently supplied with a £31,000 Ford Galaxy under the Motability scheme. Bakri, who lives in a £200,000 home in North London, tops up his £250-a-week benefit payments with an extra £50 incapacity allowance.
He has praised the September 11 terrorists as 'magnificent', called Israel 'a
cancer' and said homosexuals should be 'thrown from Big Ben'. In January, he declared that Britain had become a 'land of war', and called on Muslims to unite
behind Al Qaeda. He has supported suicide bombings and urged his followers to kill non-Muslims ' wherever, whenever'.

The Sharia Failure in Iraq

The foriegn policy failure of the century would be if the U.S. allows Iraq to become a theocracy. Okay, it's a religion of peace, sure I've heard it over and over. However, an Islamic theocracy and a "beacon of democracy" do not mix. Sharia will be the law and all "democratically elected" leaders would have to conform operations to Sharia. They may be friendly enough to the US, but it isn't going to create a domino effect of democracy in the region. The toughest thing to do would be to have to tell the parents of some 2000 soldiers than their children died in vain.

It seems that President Bush has been too harrased by the media, being called a Hitler, an occupier, so he's falling all over himself to please the media. Troop activities are limited and every Islamic cleric is being "called into the democratic process." Here's a hint: They will take over and turn Iraq into a theocracy.

If Carter Was Merely Naive....

Carter was again deriding the US, but this time abroad. We expect it from Hollywood, but not a former president. If Carter was merely naive the laws of probability would dictate that part of his actions would serve America's interests.

"Former President Carter said Saturday the detention of terror suspects at the Guantanamo Bay Naval base was an embarrassment and had given extremists an
excuse to attack the United States. Mr. Carter also criticized the U.S.-led war in Iraq as "unnecessary and unjust."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/30/politics/main712910.shtml

Tsumani relief money in terrorist hands.

Is anyone really surprised?

CHARITABLE donations to help people affected by the Asian tsunami disaster
are falling into the hands of radical Islamic groups linked to terrorists in Indonesia, a leading expert on the global al-Qaeda network warned yesterday. Relief money had become the "primary source" of income for two militant groups, including one founded by a Muslim cleric serving a prison sentence in connection with the Bali bombing in 2002 in which more than 200 people were killed.

Dr Rohan Gunaratna, head of the international centre for political violence and terrorism research at Singapore's Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, told the Asia-Pacific Financial Crime Conference that the Boxing Day disaster had given "unprecedented opportunities for these groups to expand their areas of influence".
The UK Department For International Development (Dfid) said it was "concerned" about his comments and urged him to provide more information so it could take action if necessary. However, the Red Cross, Oxfam and Cafod aid agencies insisted that strict accounting procedures saw to it that no money given to them had fallen into the wrong hands...
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1703452005

Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

Has Bush lost his mind? We go into Iraq only to allow Islamic law to be a basis of the new "democratic" Iraq. News flash: Islamic law and democracy do not mix. The theocrats would effectively rule like they do in Iran. The Shia dominated Iraq would likely become a close ally of Iran. 2000-some service members die in the cause of "freedom" for Iraqis, so we can turn around and put them in different chains? Is Bush so tired of getting criticized that now he kowtows to the clerics and throws money at Africa?

The framers of Iraq''s constitution appear likely to enshrine Islam as the main basis of law in the country — a stronger role than the United States had hoped for and one some Iraqis fear will mean a more fundamentalist regime. Arab constitutions vary widely over the role of Islamic law, ranging from Lebanon, where the word "Islam" never appears, to Saudi Arabia, which says the Quran itself is its constitution....some fear the Shiite Muslim leaders who want similar wording in Iraq's constitution hope to lay the groundwork for a more fundamentalist rule, at least in Shiite-dominated areas.
Already, Shiite leaders in some southern cities have tried imposing Islamic-based rules, pressuring women to wear headscarves and forcing liquor stores and music shops to close.
A draft of the constitution published last week in the government Al-Sabah newspaper put Islam as "the main basis" of law. But the constitutional committee — made up of Shiites, Kurds and some Sunnis — is still haggling over the language."

The Roe Effect in action

Contrary to the article, it's not the parents that would be surprised, but the liberal journalists. I'm sure Miss Liberal didn't have a kid that turned out to be a conservative. The liberals aborted their babies. It's the Roe Effect in action. Unbeknownst to AP journalists, there are places other the DC, New York, and LA, where children do not turn out to be self-loathing, America hating, God ignoring liberals.

"- It might surprise their parents, but in the age of graphic lyrics and violent video games, American children entering their teens remain very cautiousabout sex and dating and still trust their parents and church. In a story on the lives and thinking of American 13-year-olds, Time magazine reports that sixty percent of the 500 surveyed by the magazine are against sexbefore marriage, and 63 percent
believe they are too young to date at their age."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050731/lf_afp/afplifestyleusteens_050731205712