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North Korea Nuclear Watch: Syrian Plutonium Reactor Close to Completion
These satellite images, taken August 5, 2007 (Top) and October 24, 2007 (Bottom), show a suspected nuclear facility in Syria.
North Korea made a deal with the United States to disable their nuclear weapon facilities so they “OUTSOURCED” them.
The Bush administration will tell Congress tomorrow that a nuclear facility in Syria built with North Korean help was nearly complete when Israel bombed it in September, and that Pyongyang has not provided any further nuclear assistance to the hard-line Arab nation, at least at that site, U.S. officials said.
CIA Director Michael V. Hayden and other intelligence officials are expected to brief several congressional committees in closed-door sessions, breaking the administration’s silence on the issue.
The Syrian facility has become a key issue in six-nation negotiations to end the North’s nuclear programs.
“The belief is that the reactor was nearing completion,†said one official familiar with the content of the briefings. “It would have been able to produce plutonium.â€
Another official said that the facility in Syria was similar to North Korea’s main nuclear complex at Yongbyon, which has been almost disabled by U.S. experts.
Both programs were based on technology to produce plutonium, a man-made element that is the most common ingredient used to make the fissile core of atomic bombs.
Thank God, Israel bombed the facility. How did Israel and the United States know?
They had the North Koreans on tape.
A video taken inside a secret Syrian facility last summer convinced the Israeli government and the Bush administration that North Korea was helping to construct a reactor similar to one that produces plutonium for North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, according to senior U.S. officials who said it would be shared with lawmakers today.
The officials said the video of the remote site, code-named Al Kibar by the Syrians, shows North Koreans inside. It played a pivotal role in Israel’s decision to bomb the facility late at night last Sept. 6, a move that was publicly denounced by Damascus but not by Washington.
Sources familiar with the video say it also shows that the Syrian reactor core’s design is the same as that of the North Korean reactor at Yongbyon, including a virtually identical configuration and number of holes for fuel rods. It shows “remarkable resemblances inside and out to Yongbyon,” a U.S. intelligence official said. A nuclear weapons specialist called the video “very, very damning.”
But, one has to wonder about negotiating with the North Koreans, now don’t we?
Remember former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright from the Bill Clinton Administration? See what appeasement buys one?
North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-Il and Secretary of State Albright
Trust but verify.
Now, what about the Iranians? Sanctions REALLY persuaded the North Koreans, right?
Previous:
Iran and North Korea Targeted by American Nuclear Weapons
North Korea Watch: The DPRK Agrees to Disable All Existing Nuclear Facilities
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The North Carolina GOP Ad Flap
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXxkctYRAZQ[/youtube]
This ad entitled “Extreme” released by the North Carolina Republican Party opposes Bev Perdue and Richard Moore for Governor.
Senator John McCain does not like the ad and has written a letter asking the North Carolina GOP to not run it.
Dear Chairman Daves,
From the beginning of this election, I have been committed to running a respectful campaign based upon an honest debate about the great issues confronting America today. I expect all state parties to do so as well. The television advertisement you are planning to air degrades our civics and distracts us from the very real differences we have with the Democrats. In the strongest terms, I implore you to not run this advertisement.
This ad does not live up to the very high standards we should hold ourselves to in this campaign. We need to run a campaign that is worthy of the people we seek to serve. There is no doubt that we will draw sharp contrasts with the Democrats on fundamental issues critical to the future course of our country.
But we need not engage in political tactics that only seek to divide the American people.
Once again, it is imperative that you withdraw this offensive advertisement.
John McCain
The Republican National Committee also has shown its disapproval calling the ad “not appropriate” and “unhelpful.”
But, you know, there is nothing offensive in the ad. It is factual and accurate despite Senator McCain’s standards.
These McCain weak knee standards (Flap has spoken of these before in the firing/dismissal of Soren Dayton) may not meet the standards of other Republican organizations and, in fact, are none of the presumptive GOP nominee’s business. This business and responsibility belongs to North Carolina Republican Party Chair Linda Daves.
The North Carolina GOP WILL run the ad – as they should.
Oh, and, Barack Obama makes an EVEN weaker response.
Well my understanding is is that the Republican National Committee and John McCain have both said the ad is inappropriate. I take them at their word. And I assume that if John McCain thinks that it’s an inappropriate ad that he can get them to pull it down since he’s their nominee and standard bearer.
ZZZZZZZZZ
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Hillary Clinton Watch: A Stalking Horse for John McCain?
Senators John McCain and Hillary Clinton
There has been some discussion of a Kamikaze type Hillary Clinton campaign against Barack Obama. And, such strategic discussion DOES make sense, particularly if you believe this Dick Morris scenario.Does this then explain husband Bill’s missteps? Or is this strategy too?
As the Presidential campaign TURNS……..
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Barack Obama Watch: Writing Off the White Working Class Vote
David Axelrod, Chief Obama Campaign Strategist, Photo courtesy of The Page
Barack Obama may have “laughed off” BITTER-GATE as political silly season but apparently his chief campaign strategist has not.
Why?
Because Obama’s strategy has been to “write off” white working class voters because “Democrats Don’t Win the White Working Class.”
“The white working class has gone to the Republican nominee for many elections, going back even to the Clinton years. This is not new that Democratic candidates don’t rely solely on those votes.â€
Listen to Axelrod’s remarks here.
John McCain will gladly accept “white working class” voters even if Barack Obama is too big of a snob to campaign for their votes or doesn’t EXPECT to win them anyway.
The large sucking sounds you hear are “white working class” under $50,000 a year voters in Pennsylvania and Ohio flocking to vote for John McCain in the general election.
Are ANY Democrat Superdelegates listening?
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Hillary Clinton Watch: On To Indiana
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., addresses employees during a campaign stop as Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., right, listens at AM General Assembly Plant, in Mishawaka, Ind., Saturday, April 12, 2008.
After yesterday’s Pennsylvania Democrat primary election victory it is on to Indiana for Senator Hillary Clinton. She won’t win North Carolina which votes prior because of its large African American population that votes 95+ per cent for Obama but Indiana will be a battleground.
At present Hillary has a slight lead in the polls.
But, she has the endorsement and active campaign support of popular Indiana Senator Evan Bayh. Flap thinks should Clinton win the nomination that Bayh will be her Vice President choice.
The Democrat presidential primary election is an OPEN Primary with delegates selected proportionally.There are 72 delegates who will be awarded on a proportional basis and 12 superdelegates, of whom five have announced support for Sen. Hillary Clinton and three for Sen. Barack Obama while four remain uncommitted.
There are 12 superdelegates up for grabs, who are not bound by the primary results.[2]
- Joe Andrew; Former DNC Chairman – Supporting Hillary Clinton[3]
- Cordelia Lewis Burks; Indiana Democratic Party Vice-Chairwoman – Supporting Barack Obama[4]
- André Carson; Representative (IN-07) – Supporting Barack Obama[5]
- Phoebe Crane; DNC Member – Supporting Hillary Clinton[6]
- Joe Donnelly; Representative (IN-02) – Uncommitted
- Brad Ellsworth; Representative (IN-08) – Uncommitted
- Baron Hill; Representative (IN-09) – Uncommitted
- Dan Parker; Indiana Democratic Party Chairman – Supporting Hillary Clinton[7]
- Bob Pastrick; DNC Member – Supporting Hillary Clinton[4]
- Connie Thurman; DNC Member – Supporting Barack Obama[2]
- Pete Visclosky; Representative (IN-01) – Uncommitted
Since the Indiana primary election is an OPEN election, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians and Green Party members can vote for whomever they wish in Red State Indiana.
And, Rush Limbaugh is already talking up Operation Chaos this morning on his radio show. He is already saying this morning that Indiana voters must not wear any identification that tips off either exit pollsters or poll workers. But, which candidate will Rush anoint?
More than likely it will be Hillary to keep the Democrats fighting among themselves for as long as possible. It is Rush’s contention that neither Hillary nor Obama may be the ultimate nominee and that a third candidate will emerge from the chaos – probably Al Gore.
Stay tuned……
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Barack Obama Watch: Why Wasn’t William Ayers Prosecuted?
William Ayers, Tom Coburn and Barack Obama
Remember that Barack Obama compared Weather Underground Bomber William Ayers to Senator Tom Coburn. Now, questions are arising why Ayers and his radical bomber wife, Bernardine Dohrn were never prosecuted for their crimes (via Hugh Hewitt).Answer: Deep Throat AKA FBI Agent Mark Felt
If everyone knows that William Ayers and his comrades in the Weather Underground were planning to set bombs to murder innocent people, why didn’t they do time?
Because the investigation against them was muffed thanks to the illegal activities of the Washington Post’s favorite Watergate answer man himself, Mark Felt — aka Deep Throat.
In 1972-73, FBI official Felt and his colleague Edward S. Miller authorized nine illegal break-ins at the homes of Weather Underground members. When the black bag jobs became public, the federal government decided it couldn’t prosecute the alleged terrorists. Indicted during the Carter Administration, Felt and Miller were tried in 1980 in Washington. Ever the patriot, former President Nixon voluntarily testified on the defendants’ behalf, but they were convicted anyway and pardoned by President Reagan in March 1981.
More on Barack Obama’s friends William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn over at Power Line with audio of them continuing to rant against the United States.
Old Weather Underground radicals never fade away, now do they? They are either NEVER prosecuted or are PARDONED by Bill Clinton.
Now, will the press ask Barack Obama on why he has NOT repudiated his association with the bomb making LEFTIST radicals?Previous:
Hillary Clinton Up By 11 Points on Eve of Pennsylvania Primary?
Barack Obama Watch: Comparing Bill Ayers and Tom Coburn
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Day By Day by Chris Muir April 23, 2008
Don’t underestimate the power of women. Look at Pennsylvania last night when Hillary Clinton demolished Obama in this demographic.
Will gender be the selling point for Hillary to the Democrat superdelegates?
Yes, as will electability in large blue states.
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links for 2008-04-23
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Jimmy Carter is a horsesass and should back-off trying to be a wannabe Secretary of State. His Presidency failed – get over it!
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Snore as the New York Times attempts to drum up corruption against John McCain again…..
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How bad would a new Clinton be on terrorism?
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Timm, Are you saying the Consumer Federation of California is a shill of the Democrat Party? Well, they are.
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With a little help from the GOP…….
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