Update: Spain Train Bombing Investigation

This was first posted at My Newz 'n Ideas.

Since I reported yesterday, there has been more disturbing news about the police officer, Agent Maussili Kalaji. Fausta from The Bad Hair Blog has continued to translate El Mundo into English for those of us in America (or other English speaking countries.)

According to today's story in El Mundo [available by subscription only], the apartment belongs to Syrian brothers Mouhannad and Moutaz Almallah, jailed for the Madrid attacks. In Moutaz's case, the police considers him a very important operative within Al Qaeda, and speculates that he might have worked as liaison between the terrorist organization and the actual terrorists in the attacks. The police agent who “liberated” the 3/11 cell phones [i.e., Kajali] has explained that the document [the sale of property from the Agent to the terrorist, my addition] originates from the 1998 sale of a different apartment to Moutaz.

Frank Gaffney has a more cautious take on this. Is it possible that it wasn't either one of those groups that set off the bomb? Why didn't they hand over the x-ray of the "lost" backpack for 3 months after the Judge asked for it? Why was his (ex-)wife the first officer on the scene of an investigation he was going to investigate? Many questions, not enough answers yet to come to ANY conclusion.

Even Arthur Chrenkoff has a few questions. He also has some links to very good articles covering this issue.

There is a fabulous chart over at The Adventures of Chester which ties together all the links that we know of so far. Please remember, they may not mean a thing. Then again, they may.

I would like to thank Fausta, who also wrote this and this. I would also like to thank Arthur Chrenkoff, Frank Gaffney, The Adventures of Chester, and BarcePundit, also who wrote this, this, and this. Have a great day, everyone!

Coalition for International Justice 5/20/2005

Posted first at Causes of Interest.

Coalition for International Justice has released their report about the deaths that are occurring in Darfur. This survey includes not just the deaths from violence, but also the deaths from starvation, exposure, and disease.

Hagan and his colleague University of Toronto researcher Patricia Parker reviewed data culled from 1,136 interviews of refugees from Darfur conducted by the Coalition for International Justice last summer, as well as data presented in the World Health Organization's survey of deaths in refugee camps last year. Based on their analysis of the combined data, they estimate that the number of persons who have died or disappeared between February 2003 to April 2005 is close to 400,000.

I recall it being said that one death is a tragedy, 400,000 deaths is a statistic. I do not agree with this assumption. Each of these people had dreams and hopes, just as you have. Maybe their's were not as luxurious, but they were still worth our consideration and care. They still deserved to live, and all we are doing is nothing.

Don't explain to me how hard it is to save the world. I am well aware of that. What is the cost to you to pick up the phone and make a toll free number to the Congress and Senate? Hmm? (877 866) 762-8762 340-9281 (waiting on info of the new number). Let them know that is not okay to declare genocide, and then do nothing. We said never again. Did we mean it? Well? Did we?

Hat tip: Coalition for International Justice.

Update: Charles Taylor's money trail

First posted at My Newz 'n Idea..

Hat tip: Counter-Terrrorism Blog.

Douglas Farah has been working overtime to prove that Charles Taylor is continuing to violate the political assylum he was given by Nigeria. Taylor is funding terrorist groups such as al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and many others through bribes from businessmen who want to rape the country of diamonds and timber. (I have not bought nor worn a diamond since the early 80's when I first heard of the atrocities done to children to mine them.)

This is a chart of the companies Viktor Bout owns. What does this have to do with Charles Taylor? Viktor Bout has front companies which he is laundering money and is a

provider of weapons to Taliban and most sides of most wars in sub-Saharan African in violation of U.N. embargos.

He can do this because he owns many companies. One of the reasons this was kept so close to the chest is because one of his partners is a citizen of the USA. American citizens need much more scrutiny than other citizens. (Remember that the next time you want to trash America, will ya.)

Viktor Bout is involved with Chichakli-controlled

30 companies and four individuals designated, he is clearly the most important and newsworthy.

Bout was very active financially in the USA.

For years Chichakli, the son fo a former Syrian president and self-proclaimed childhood friend of Osama bin Laden, has helped Bout on many fronts, while happily residing in Richardson, Tx.

There are a few links with more information for those so inclined.

This is a flow chart of Taylor's involvement in the diamond and timber sales that made him an estimated $105 Million dollars, although it is believed he had to spend at least 80% for the weapons he gave to outlawed groups to continue wars (page 10.)

This link is a copy of the Coalition of International Justice's report from following Charles Taylor’s money path of war and destruction.

Excerpt (page 18 of "Path of War and Destruction"): "As president, Taylor controlled access to the country, allowing him to host a variety of international criminal syndicates and terrorist organizations, ranging from Israeli, Lebanese, Russian and Ukrainian organized crime groups, to al Qaeda and Hezbollah. Each of these groups, as well as scores of businessmen seeking to enter the diamond or timber business, were obligated to pay Taylor directly, in cash...

This is the appenices where all the documents, proof, records, and other data you would expect to find. It is very good.

This is Douglas' blog where he comes right out and explains the reaction of the Nigerian government at the UN.

At the press conference at the UN Correspondents seat in New York yesterday, a senior Nigerian diplomat made the most unequivocal statement to date that Taylor will be turned over if he is found to have violated his terms of assylum.

Hat tip: Andrew Cochran from Counter Terrorism.

Daily Quote 5/18/05

This post was first posted at My Newz 'n Ideas..

Monday, May 9, 2005
"Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency." --James Madison, Federalist No. 10

Tuesday, May 10, 2005
"It has ever been my hobby-horse to see rising in America an empire of liberty, and a prospect of two or three hundred millions of freemen, without one noble or one king among them. You say it is impossible. If I should agree with you in this, I would still say, let us try the experiment, and preserve our equality as long as we can. A better system of education for the common people might preserve them long from such artificial inequalities as are prejudicial to society, by confounding the natural distinctions of right and wrong, virtue and vice." --John Adams

Imagine that...if we were to provide schools they would be to preserve the the distinctions of right and wrong, virtue and vice. Wow! What a far right winger. I guess maybe he wasn't qualified to participate in the writing of the Constitution of the United States under which we pledge we pledge our allegience? Hmm.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005
"[W]hereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service one very occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding againstit." --Federal Farmer Antifederalist Letter

No draft, and everyone is armed. I guess these people knew what some of us still believe...if the government can overtake you and your rights belong to them, you are indeed no longer free.

Thursday, May 12, 2005
"There are certain social principles in human nature, from which we may draw the most solid conclusions with respect to the conduct of individuals and of communities. We love our families more than our neighbors; we love our neighbors more than our countrymen in general. The human affections, like solar heat, lose their intensity as they depart from the center.... On these principles, the attachment of the individual will be first and for ever secured by the State governments. They will be a mutual protection and support." --Alexander Hamilton

It is for this principle the central government should be the least intrusive, and it shall not overstep that which is written in Article I Section 8.

Friday, May 13, 2005
"A fondness for power is implanted, in most men, and it is natural to abuse it, when acquired." --Alexander Hamilton

Would someone please explain this to the Republicants.

Zarqawi's bombmaker captured

Posted first at My Newz 'n Ideas.

With all the fighting and bloodshed in Iraq, we never hear the good news. Well, here is some from .Evan Kohlmann over at Counter Terrorism.

"Security Forces conducted a raid in Mosul May 13 resulting in the capture of Salim Yussef Ghafif Huseyn, aka Abu Daoud. Abu Daoud [who] is the chief facilitator of the majority of terrorist suicide car bombings in Mosul, for the terrorist group of Abu Talha associated with Zarqawi terrorist network. Intelligence sources have placed Abu Daoud as a very close confidant and terrorist cell leader of Abu Talha [Zarqawi's lieutenant in charge of Mosul -see Al-Qaida leadership chart]; together they are directly responsible for numerous attacks against innocent Iraqi citizens.

Abu Daoud was responsible for obtaining vehicles and converting them into car bombs by packing them full of explosives. In previous incident, Security Forces have captured in April Abu Fateh, a financier for Abu Talha. With the capture of Abu Daoud, Multi-National forces continue to make considerable progress against terrorists in the Mosul area."

I highly recommend this site if you are interested in unbiased news about the war against terrorism. They usually know about things before the White House or Capitol Hill does! How? They keep their eyes and ears open, and they do not let political correctness get in the way. They are not running for any office, so they are not confined to any constituency except one--the truth.

News: 5/16/2005

The site from where this post came is no longer available.

USA Today:

Kuwait approves women's political rights.

KUWAIT CITY (AP) — Kuwaiti lawmakers approved political rights for women Monday, clearing the way for females to participate in parliamentary elections for the first time in the Gulf nation's history. [read more.]

Okay, I am insulted. How about you?

Cuba wants airline bomb suspect arrested.
The result is remarkably like a televised version of an Internet blog — references to outside news sources tightly wrapped in personal commentary. [read more.]

Are you ready for this one?

Fox defends comments.

MEXICO CITY — President Vicente Fox refused to apologize Monday for saying Mexicans in the United States do the work that blacks won't a comment widely viewed as acceptable in a country where blackface comedy is still considered funny and nicknames often reflect skin color. [Story.]

Here we go again. I hope this time they mean it, seeing as it is a new government.

Iraq vows crackdown.

BAGHDAD — At least eight Iraqis were found shot near a Baghdad dam and a slain Iraqi Kurd was left in a garbage dump in northern Iraq, police said Monday, raising the number of bodies recovered in recent days to 50. The government vowed to track down those responsible, saying insurgents were seeking to exploit sectarian rivalries. [Story.]

I am not going to say what I really think about this, because I am a Christian lady and it wouldn't be polite. I will say, however, I want to see some heads roll. Not literally, just fired.

'Newsweek' issues apology.

NEW YORK — In an apology to readers this week, Newsweek acknowledged errors in a story alleging U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay desecrated the Koran. The accusations, which the magazine vowed to re-examine, spawned protests in Afghanistan that left 15 dead and scores injured. [Story.

This has been going on for almost a week. If someone could explain to me who are the good guys, I would appreciate it.

Uzbek violence continues.

ANDIJAN, Uzbekistan — Gunfire rang out Monday in the eastern city where Uzbek security forces fired on protesters last week — a clash that reportedly left as many as 500 people dead — and reports emerged that violence in nearby towns killed hundreds more, further threatening the stability of the government in this key U.S. ally in Central Asia. [Story.]

I sure hope this is good and lasting news.

Ethiopians overwhelm polls
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — After a stunning 90% turnout that indicated voters were optimistic Ethiopia was headed toward greater democracy, officials on Monday began counting ballots in the parliamentary race. [Story.]

Thank you. Have a great day.

Genocide is on the Rise. Do You Care?

This is from a site I no longer have. Sorry. :)

The UN talks, the USA declares, the African Union watches, and the people of Darfur, Sudan die. Have we not had enough yet? Are we too busy? Is their skin color too dark? You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

How long? How many talks? Are you aware that over 400,000 people have perished while we sit around talking? That is one half the number of the people lost in Rwanda, and we said it would never happen again.

I seem to remember another time when we said, "Never again." We just honored the people who FOUGHT that war 60 years ago. Some never made it home. We knew from the beginning some would not. It is a very hard thing, but the fascists and genocide had to be stopped. (I understand that noone knew, at least to what extent, the genocide had occured.)

The horror is great, I still cannot look directly at it. The evil, I am afraid of it. It haunts me. Does it have no effect on you? Are you satisfied with your life to the point that you don't care about anyone else?

Okay. That is your choice, but do not get in my way as I beg President Bush to go in there and put a stop to this with our Military. I do not want to hear a peep out of you against me. Your silence, now, is deafening as it is.

I have written, I have called, and I happen to know that Senator Brownback has been working on a bill to help those in Darfur, Sudan. He needs our support. This is not a partisan issue. People, innocent men, women, and children, are dying because they are black, they are Christian, they are not the right Muslim, and just because. It has to stop. Now.

I will post more information on the bill so you can pressure your Senators and Congressperson. I am waiting for a call back as I type. I just feel very strongly about this. We can do this if we stick together.

Maybe if I describe to you what they do... Are you aware they are enslaving black Africans? They mutilate the young girls private area without anastesia. They rape, kidnap, pillage, murder, beat, torture, and this is all for fun? They are beyond sick.

It has been allowed to rise in April. This is why I am so angry. I can only pray that enough of you will see the truth about what is happening, and join me. Please read this article. Thank you.

Hat tip: Passion of the Present, (Darfur).