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Condoleezza Rice Watch: World Has Shirked Duty to Prosecute Saddam
Two days before the parliamentary elections in Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reinforces President Bush’s anti-terrorism agenda and plans for the Middle East as she addresses an invited audience at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005. Rice praised the efforts of allies and the international community for helping in Iraq.
The ASSociated Press has Rice: World Not Helping With Saddam Trial
The world has shirked its duty to help prosecute Saddam Hussein, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday. “The international community’s effective boycott of Saddam’s trial is only harming the Iraqi people, who are now working to secure the hope of justice and freedom that Saddam long denied them,” Rice said.
The top U.S. diplomat also predicted that the Iraqi elections this week would yield the most democratic government “in the entire Middle East.” She did not mention the long-standing democracy in Israel.
The Bush administration has a lot riding on Thursday’s parliamentary elections, which will establish Iraq’s first permanent democratically elected government. If the voting goes well, it will provide a political pivot point for eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Rice, speaking to a friendly audience at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said other nations are starting to do more to help rebuild Iraq and are opening their checkbooks to do it.
“As welcome as this broad support is, I am sad to say that the international community has barely done anything to help Iraq prosecute Saddam Hussein,” she said.
“All who express their devotion to human rights and the rule of law have a special obligation to help the Iraqis bring to justice one of the world’s most murderous tyrants.”
And who has been renown in NOT aiding the United States or its allies in Iraq?
Why, of course, Germany who the United States kicked the crap out of in World War II and then rebuilt with taxpayer money and……
France, whose ASS we saved from the occupation and tyranny of Nazi Germany…..
Thanks………
Rice praised Britain and other countries that have contributed troops or cash to the Iraq effort, and she prodded some of Iraq’s Arab neighbors and others to do more.
“In just two days, when Iraqis make history by selecting the most democratic leaders in the entire Middle East, they will do so with the moral and financial and diplomatic backing of an overwhelming majority of the world,” Rice said.
We, Americans, know who are friends are and we have long memories………
Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein gestures during his trial held under tight security in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, 06 December 2005. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice bitterly accused the world community Tuesday of boycotting the trial of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and doing little to help prosecute him.
Previous:
Condoleezza Rice Watch: United States Signs Deal for First Permanent Military Base in Ex-Soviet Bloc
Condoleezza Rice Watch: Unannounced Visit to Iraq
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Gaggle – Newbusters.org
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Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin Watch: C’EST LA VIE
U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins leaves the podium after delivering a speech to the Canadian Club in Ottawa, December 13, 2005.
Reuters has Canada shrugs off U.S. warning to back off
The United States made an unprecedented foray into Canada’s election campaign on Tuesday, warning politicians not to bash Washington in their bid to win the January 23 election.
But an unapologetic Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin responded immediately by saying “c’est la vie” — that’s life — if the United States did not like his remarks, and he would not accept anyone telling him he cannot defend his country.
And Flap says c’est la vie to any tourism or purchasing of Canadian goods, EH!
In a hard-hitting speech in Ottawa, U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins lamented what he called relentless and incessant criticism of his country, which he speculated might begin to sow doubt about the strength of the binational relationship.
“Canada never has to tear the United States down to build itself up,” Wilkins said.
“It may be smart election politics to thump your chest and constantly criticize your friend and your No. 1 trading partner. But it’s a slippery slope and all of us should hope it doesn’t have a long-term impact on our relationship.”
Wilkins did not name the prime minister directly, but he specifically targeted a comment made last week at the Montreal climate change conference in which Martin called on the United States to heed a “global conscience” and join efforts to combat global warming.
Paul Martin is a crusty old political hack that will lose control of his CORRUPT fiefdom in January. The Canadian people should tell him to JUST SHUT UP NOW – DON’T YOU KNOW……..
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Senator Byron Dorgan Watch: Returns Quid Pro Quo Indian Donatons
Senator Byron Dorgan, D- North Dakota.
The ASSociated Press has Sen. Dorgan Returns Tribes’ Donations
The top Democrat on the Senate committee investigating Jack Abramoff’s Indian lobbying is returning $67,000 in donations in response to Associated Press reports that he collected tribal money around the time he took actions favorable to those Abramoff clients. While Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., never met Abramoff and didn’t take any actions at the lobbyist’s behest, he nonetheless wants to return the money to avoid any appearances that tribal money was directed to him by the controversial lobbyist, his office said Tuesday.
Senator Dorgan is returning the money so he can avoid a Federal Grand Jury.
Who is he kidding?
Dorgan is the senior Democrat on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that has spent more than a year investigating alleged fraud in Abramoff’s representation of Indian tribes, which were charged tens of millions of dollars in lobbying fees between 2001 and 2004.
So, the senior Democrat inquisitor has been drinking from the same trough.
Interesting……shoud he resign from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee – you betcha…..at the very least.
AP reported in three stories over the last month that Dorgan did not disclose during the probe that he took actions favorable to Abramoff’s tribal clients, often around the time he collected donations from Abramoff’s firm or clients. For instance, Dorgan:
1. Used Abramoff’s arena skybox in March 2001 to raise money, letting one of Abramoff’s tribes foot the bill for using the box. The senator says he didn’t know at the time that Abramoff leased the box. He’s recently reimbursed that money.
2. Got Congress in the fall 2003 to press government regulators to decide, after decades of delay, whether the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts deserved federal recognition. Dorgan met with the tribe’s representatives and collected at least $11,500 in political donations from the Abramoff partner representing the Mashpee around the time of the help.
3. Collected $20,000 from Abramoff’s firm and tribes in the period around when he wrote a letter in 2002 urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund a school construction program that Abramoff’s clients and other tribes wanted. The letter mentioned one of Abramoff’s tribes.
The Coushatta tribe of Louisiana told AP they were directed by Abramoff to make a $5,000 donation to Dorgan’s group just a few weeks after the 2002 letter was sent.
The return of the money was first reported in Tuesday editions of The Forum in Fargo, N.D. Dorgan told the newspaper he did not want to “knowingly keep even one dollar in contributions if there is even a remote possibility that they could have been the result of any action Mr. Abramoff might have taken.”
This smells like FBI and Federal Grand Jury investigation to Flap.
Flap wonders if Peter Fitzgerald can switch over from Scooter and Rove – whom he won’t convict anyway – to a REAL CRIME.
Stay tuned……
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Mark Steyn @ The Claremont Institute Dinner: The Speech
Flap has heard from the Claremont Institute:
Steyn’s speech from the Churchill Dinner will air on C-SPAN’s “American Perspectives” this Saturday night (December 17) at 9:30pm ET, and again roughly three hours later. You can also listen to the broadcast at that time at: http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspanradio.asp. The speech is also available for purchase from C-SPAN after it airs by calling C-SPAN Archives at 877-662-7726. We have not heard yet whether it will be available for viewing on the video archive section of C-SPAN’s website.Previous:
Mark Steyn @ The Claremont Institute Dinner: The Bear Flag League
Mark Steyn @ The Claremont Institute Dinner: The Dinner
Mark Steyn @ The Claremont Institute Dinner: The Reception
Mark Steyn @ The Claremont Institute Dinner: The DepartureMark Steyn Honored at The Claremont Institute’s Sir Winston Churchill Dinner
Technorati Tags: Mark Steyn, The Claremont Institute, Henry Salvatori, Sir Winston S. Churchill Dinner
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Relationship with California GOP
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger addressing the California Republican Party in September.
Timm Herdt of the Ventura County Star has State GOP is weighing its ties to the governor
Encourage Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to run for re-election as an independent. Rescind the Republican Party’s endorsement. Draft actor Mel Gibson to run for governor.
All of these ideas — the first two seriously, the last whimsically — and more have been raised by various Republican activists over the past two weeks in response to Schwarzenegger’s selection of former state Democratic Party operative Susan Kennedy as his new chief of staff.
The selection of a Democrat Chief of Staff, Susan Kennedy, is not the major problem with the Governor – it is HIS ELECTABILITY.
People in and out of the GOP view him as an empty suit – like Jesse Ventura, the failed former Governor of Minnesota.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has already JUMPED THE SHARK and the GOP better start recruiting new, competent, candidates and better messages to win back voters.
Since the selection, Schwarzenegger has taken several actions that would appear to calm conservatives’ fear that it signaled a political turn to the left. He named a respected Republican jurist to the state Supreme Court, appointed a former Republican legislator to replace a Democrat as his Cabinet secretary, and denied the clemency appeal of condemned murderer Stanley “Tookie” Williams.
Still, the Kennedy imbroglio hasn’t been silenced.
“This is affecting the relationship between the governor and the party base. The people who actually do the work are not interested in helping the governor get re-elected,” said Steve Frank, a conservative political strategist from Simi Valley who worked on Schwarzenegger’s special-election ballot initiative campaign.
The GOP in-fighting is turning-off the Republican electorate.
The real election for California Governor in 2006 will be in the Democrat primary.
Previously:
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor Names Partisan Democrat Chief of Staff – THE FLAP
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Pat Clarey, Arnold’s Chief of Staff ResignsTechnorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Susan Kennedy
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The Execution of Stanley Tookie Williams: Tookie Saves Lives?
Jesse Jackson at pre-execution protest yesterday in San Francisco.
Yes, Tookie will……
………by showing criminals that their heinous acts WILL result in the ULTIMATE punishment.
Previous:
The Tookie Files CollectionTechnorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stanley Tookie Williams, Crips
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Day By Day by Chris Muir
Please Vote for FullosseousFlap at the 2005 Weblog Awards.and vote for Day by Day and Chris Muir!
PS Readers can vote once a day and voting concludes December 15th.
Flap knows you will be glad you did and we both …..
THANK YOU!
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Linguistics Today: The Labiodental FLAP
OFFICIAL RECOGNITION A sound present in more than 70 African languages has been included in the International Phonetic Alphabet of 28 vowel symbols, 86 consonant symbols and 75 other marks for tone, stress, aspiration and other phonetic details. The sound, the labiodental flap, is the first to be added to the alphabet in 12 years.
The New York Times has With Sound From Africa, the Phonetic Alphabet Expands
For the first time in 12 years, the International Phonetic Association is amending its official alphabet. A sound called the labiodental flap will be granted its own letter, one that looks something like a v with a hook.
The sound, a buzz sometimes capped by a faint pop, is present in more than 70 African languages. It is produced by the lower lip moving back and forward, flapping on the inside of the upper teeth.
“The labiodental flap sound is as important as any other sound to speakers of languages that use it,” said Peter Ladefoged, emeritus professor of linguistics at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Think how Americans would protest if there were no way of transcribing the vowel in ‘bird,’ which in the usual U.S. pronunciation is almost as rare among the sounds of the world’s languages as the labiodental flap.”
Flap couldn’t resist this piece.
MP3 of the labiodental flap in the Mono word for vehicle is here.
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Stanley “Tookie” Williams Executed
Reuters has Calif. killer turned peacemaker Williams executed
California prison officials executed Stanley Tookie Williams, 51, the ex-leader of the Crips gang who brutally killed four people in 1979, early on Tuesday after top courts and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected final appeals to spare his life.
The unofficial time of death was 12:35 a.m. PST Tuesday.
Finally, Justice for……..
ALBERT OWENS
TSAI-SHAI YANG
YEN-I YANG
YE-CHEN LINPrevious:
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Scenes From An Execution
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: United States Supreme Court Denies Stay – Tookie Will DIEStanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: California Governor Schwarzenegger DENIES Clemency
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Ninth Circuit Rejects Last Minute Appeal
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Schwarzenegger Taking His Time on Clemency Decision
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: California Supreme Court Refuses StayStanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: NO Sunday Decision for Schwarzenegger
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: The Foreign Media
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Execution DetailsStanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Los Angeles Councilmembers Urge Calm over Tookie Clemency
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: FATE in the Hands of California Governor Schwarzenegger
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Schwarzenegger Considers Tookie’s Fate
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Scenes from the Clemency Hearing
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: A Question of Mercy @ 10 AM Clemency Hearing?Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Cobb – But That’s Different
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: NAACP Chief Bruce Gordon Champions “CRIPS†Founder
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Political Risks
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Clemency Hearing to Include Claim there were Errors in Trial
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: NOT Afraid to Die
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: A Tookie Store for Conservatives is NOW Open
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Stars rally around Condemned Killer
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: California Supreme Court Refuses to Halt Execution
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: NO REMORSEStanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Tookie’s “Human Angelâ€
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Isn’t it The Truth By Cobb
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Schwarzenegger to Hold Private Clemency Hearing
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: California Governor Schwarzenegger MULLS ClemencyStanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: FLAP Over “Tookie Must Dieâ€
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Jesse Jackson, Bianca Jagger Plead for LIFE
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: SNOOP DOGG BEGS SCHWARZENEGGER FOR CLEMENCY
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: California’s Life-and-Death Politics
Stanley “Tookie†Williams Watch: Death Warrant Signed
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stanley Tookie Williams, Crips