IRAQ HANDOVER 'TODAY' (Sovereignty Transfered in surprise move!) Congratulations IRAQ!

Sky News ^ | 6/28/2004

[Southack]

Update:

IRAQ HANDOVER 'TODAY'

The handover of power in Iraq is to be brought forward to today.

A formal announcement will be made later today, Tony Blair said.

The informal announcement was made by Iraq's foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari.

The handover of power to an interim Iraqi government was supposed to take place on June 30.

Mr Zebari said the deteriorating security situation in the country was one of the reasons why the date had been brought forward.

"We will challenge these elements in Iraq, the anti-democratic elements, by even bringing the handover of sovereignty before June 30 as a sign we are ready for it," he said.

He added: "We have made some very good progress in terms of the new security council (in Iraq) and the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people to take away the level of occupation we have suffered a great deal from.

"There are many Iraqis who are standing up to the challenge. We are here to seek more help and assistance, training and equipment."

[Miss Marple]

Just crossing the wire...a top militant has turned himself in to the Saudis...one of their top 25.

[mware]

LOL, the hand symbol by Powell doesn't that mean,

Go, entertain yourself.

Just reported one the the most wanted just turned himself in, did not get the name.

[Howlin]

You know, a good thing would be for Iraq to seal their borders and tell those guys the game is up, surrender or we'll beat you like a circus monkey.

[babaloo]

Dow futures up 66, Nasd up 12, S&P up 9 and oil down 60 cents. This is great!

[Miss Marple]

I have no idea, Ken. You are not allowed to ask me those questions until I have had at least two cups of coffee!

[Petronski]

This is what I get for sleeping, I missed the whole thing. LOL

[Howlin]

I know NOTHING about the stock market....is that really good?

[theophilusscribe]

Journalists at Iran's SYNA news agency in Tehran take notes as Iraq (news - web sites)'s former United States appointed Governor, Paul Bremer, speaks after the hand over of sovereignty back to the Iraqi government June 28, 2004. The hand over took place two days before the announced date due to security threats. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl

The U.S. civil administrator in Iraq (news - web sites) Paul Bremer (R) Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (C) and the country's most senior judge Midhat Mahmoud (L) read a legal document during the handover of sovereignty ceremony June 28, 2004 in Baghdad. The United States transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government on Monday, formally ending the controversial 14-month occupation two days earlier than expected. REUTERS/Saeed Khan/Pool

[mewzilla]

Haven't seen Gunga Dan or Petah yet, but Brokaw was very cranky this am. Awwwwww....

[babaloo]

It is very good.

[mware]

LOL, there is going to be weeping in the Kerry camp today.

[Miss Marple]

HA! The netwroks probably had their stories of "increasing violence and chaos" already written. Now if Iraq will seal the borders, perhaps they can keep Brokaw and the rest over there for a while.

[Petronski]

The Michael Moore chuckwagon has just lost its wheels.

I find your metaphor both hilarious and disturbing. I think I might have trouble sleeping tonight.

;O)

[GoLightly]

Something like that. It was first used by British archers, cuz they so were effective against French troups the French swore they were going to chop off those two fingers of every archer caught.

[mware]

WOW, thanks for the background. I thought it had something to do with mocking Winston Churchill after the war was over.

[maica]

Just in case we get too euphoric, this article is a gentle reminder that EVERYTHING is Bush's fault!

© Irish Independent
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/ & http://www.unison.ie/


Bush visit blamed for puma risk
Sunday June 27th 2004

PATSY McARDLE

ANGRY farmers living along the Border are blaming the visit to Ireland by US President George Bush for a hold-up in the capture of a deadly puma believed to be on the loose.

Residents say the Bush visit this weekend prevented the Government from using choppers fitted with powerful infra-red search equipment in a bid to catch the killer cat believed to be on the prowl in the furze-covered hills across Monaghan, Cavan, and Fermanagh.

Already the giant puma, believed to have made its way from Northern Ireland, where it was spotted some months ago, has attacked poultry, sheep and cattle.

A number of searches have been launched in different parts of the North over the past two years by police and snipers for puma-like creatures which were spotted by various people.

It is believed some of these exotic cats may have been purchased when very young but escaped from their owners and ran wild as they grew up.

Last week, in an attack on a cattle herd at a farm a few miles from boxing champ Barry McGuigan's home town of Clones, Co Monaghan, a four-month-old Charolais calf was savagely torn apart.

After killing the animal, the puma appears to have dragged it several yards to a hedge near woodlands, to partly devour.

Senor veterinary officer Desmond Patton said yesterday: "It seems that fiercely sharp claws from a very large animal were used, as the unfortunate calf was attacked from behind.

"I have never seen anything like this before - it appears something like a giant cat was definitely responsible.

"There are now real fears this thing could strike again, anywhere, if it isn't captured."

The distressed owner of the cattle herd, farmer Martin Murphy, 36, who lives at Ture, close to the village of Newbliss, said the attack has sent shockwaves throughout the farming community.

When he witnessed the manner in which his calf was mauled, he called police.

He said: "There's a real danger other herds will be hit by this beast." Yesterday, as small groups of farmers, armed with shotguns, scrambled through heavy undergrowth in North Monaghan, they admitted their chances of dispatching the predator were slim.

One farmer, Packie Joe McKenna, 52, who was joined by his sons Liam, 25, and Jim, 20, in the hunt along the rugged Cavan/Monaghan terrain, said: "We just want to make sure this big cat isn't hiding near our farm. It's probably a waste of time trying to find it, because it can travel for miles at night.

"We understand people in the Department of Agriculture suggested a chopper should be brought out with infra-red equipment to scan the bogs but apparently none were available. They were all tied up with the visit of President Bush.

"If this puma strikes again at a farm, and God forbid maybe kills a child, the Bush visit will be to blame."

A garda spokesman at Clones said: "There are reports of a large black animal having been sighted on different occasions in the region in recent weeks - but, unfortunately, these reports are very inconclusive. However, parents have been advised not to let their children wander alone in rural areas, just in case there is a predator there and he strikes."

[Howlin]

FGS.

[mystery-ak]

...and the 106th AVN F Co returns home to Peoria today.....thanks to our military this is happening....

[mware]

Just announced 10,000 NATO troops will be in Afghanistan before their election

[theophilusscribe]

Now ken5050 wants you to post the picture of the "foreign leaders" who support Kerry!

They LOVE Kerry! :o)