Free Republic

By James Zogby   June 26, 2002, 07:34 AM  - Within a matter of a few weeks two of the United States top congressional leaders appeared separately on the same television program to let the country know how little they knew or cared about the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It was on May 1 that Texas Republican Congressman Richard Armey, appeared on "Hardball", a nationally televised political program hosted by Chris Mathews. Here is part of their exchange: Mathews: “OK. Let’s talk about the realities over there. There’s a fight between the Arabs and the Israelis over who...

Mercurial Times...they are a-changin'   Hard-hitting, no-holds-barred commentary from dedicated patriots seeking the truth...that's all.     Don't Fatwa Me by Anna Zetchus Raetz   Oh, the hullabaloo raised by arming a Jew. Welcome to the 21st Century -- the first decade of it well on its way to garnering the title of The Age Of Hysteria. And meet the Rabbi Yakove Lloyd, founder and president of the Jewish Defense Group (JDG). A religious Jew. A concerned Jew. A Jew that hasn't forgotten. And what was that now that needed to be remembered? Oh, yeah, just the minor detail...

NEW LAWS CURB TEEN SPORT DRUGS As Diet Supplements Gain Popularity, States Move to Regulate Use By Young Athletes OAKLAND, CALIF. - The days when performance-enhancing drugs were the stuff of East German Olympians and a few light-witted linebackers are over. On high school football fields from Nebraska to California, students are turning themselves into pad-clad rockets by taking pills that give them an abnormal surge of strength - and have been blamed for 80 deaths nationwide. Teenage linemen weighing 300 lbs., once unheard of, are now as common as helmets and cleats - a trend many attribute, in part,...

"Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) wants to legalize DoS attacks on P2P networks such as Kazaa and Morpheus by 'copyright holders.' The Washington Post reports on his proposed legislation here. Berman's bill, to be introduced in the next several weeks, would attempt to minimize the illegal trading of copyrighted songs and other content on "peer-to-peer" (P2P) networks by permitting copyright holders to use technology against pirates. As can be expected, the RIAA is in favor of the proposed legislation."

DUBAI, June 26 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush's vision for peace in the Middle East could lead to just the opposite outcome, Arab newspapers warned Wednesday. Bush, in a long-awaited speech Monday, told the Palestinians to vote out leaders "tainted by terror," a clear allusion to Yasser Arafat, and said that if so they could expect US support for an independent Palestinian state within three years. Daily newspaper Al-Bayan, owned by the Dubai government, said Bush "has shown he is totally aligned to the positions of Zionist terrorism. "Bush's speech does not promote peace in the Middle East....

The Today Show just aired a TV commercial promoting tourism for Washington, DC. Various national leaders appeared, all singing (off key). Most of the politicians appeared alone, including Denny Hastert and Laura Bush. But McCain appeared with Gephardt, and was very noticeably holding him by the shoulder in a very fraternal manner.

We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail! [President Bush] Good morning!! Do not let the victims of the attacks on New York and Washington, nor the brave members of our Nation's military who have given their lives to protect our freedom, die in vain!! WorldCom discovered for the entirety of 2001 and the first quarter of 2002, its CFO was overreporting earnings - to the total tune over the period of nearly $4 billion. Arthur Andersen was the accounting firm; they claim their work was in compliance with SEC standards and that it was...

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- The dollar tumbled against major currencies on Wednesday as the revelation of a $3.8 billion in an apparent accounting fraud at WorldCom unhinged confidence in U.S. stocks and raised concerns about heavy selling pressure when the New York exchanges open. The Bank of Japan intervened three times overnight to bolster the dollar, twice in Asia and once in London markets, analysts said. The Japanese central bank is believed to have spent some $5 billion defending the dollar in the interventions. The dollar was at 120.30 yen following the third intervention in London. Dealers expect that Japanese financial...

MIAMI, Jun 26, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Having failed to reach a decision through mediation, state and county officials will likely go to trial in order to settle a lawsuit brought by civil rights groups over the bitterly disputed 2000 presidential election, a judge ruled. "As far as I'm concerned, this case is going to trial," U.S. District Judge Alan Gold told the attorneys on both sides after they told him they had deadlocked. "It's disappointing, but it is what it is." The two sides conferred with a mediator as late as Monday night, but reached an...

<p>June 26, 2002 -- Piano man Billy Joel plans to check out of a chic rehab clinic today, his spokeswoman says.</p> <p>"He's doing very well," said Claire Mercuri, his Columbia Records publicist.</p> <p>Joel checked into the Silver Hill rehab center in New Canaan, Conn., on June 17 for a 10-day stay. The 10 days are up today.</p>

No alternative for suicide bombing, Palestinians say Al-Khalil, June 23, IRNA -- Palestinian intellectuals representing the nationalist and Islamist camps have criticized a widely-publicized petition by leftist and secular figures demanding an end to suicide bombing against Israeli occupation targets. In telephone interviews conducted this week with more than a hundred intellectuals, nearly all of the figures interviewed supported martyrdom operations against Zionist targets. In the West Bank, the vast bulk of Fatah leaders argued that it would be ''hypocritical, duplicitous and biased'' to ask Palestinian freedom fighters to put an end to attacks against Israeli targets when Israeli troops...

As was reported on an earlier thread. A smuggler driving a van full of illegal criminals killed a US citizen in effort to avoid Border Patrol Agents manning the check point near Campo, California. Sadly, this could have been avoided. Agents like myself that work the line knew this was going to happen. It was just a matter of time. The reason we knew it was going to happen is because we have so much experience in observing the trends that occurr after certain type of policy changes. About two years ago my Sector started to model it's pursuit policy...

<p>THIRTEEN MILLION Africans risk starving between now and November, thanks more to local leadership failures than to drought. Naked greed and political calculation, when coupled with spotty rains and poor maize harvests across a broad swath of southern Africa, have resulted in disaster. Wealthier nations will now have to provide relief supplies, if only needy African governments let them. When the Group of Eight leading industrial nations meets this week in Canada, feeding Africa's hungry should be high on its agenda.</p>

A woman who's seven months pregnant has become the world sauerkraut-eating champion. Brenda Lashley ate nearly half a kilogram of sauerkraut at the Kraut Festival in Franksville, Wisconsin.She got a trophy and $100 cash after being crowned women's world champion."I just hope he likes it," she said of her unborn child.Ms Lashley, who doesn't really like sauerkraut, said of her tactics: "Don't look up. Don't look at the crowd."She's come first, second or third in the women's competition every year for the past 15 years.There were 15 contestants in the women's competition. They had two minutes to eat as much...

Vancouver, B.C. (CNSNews.com) - The union representing 3,500 full-time Canadian customs officials at 175 border crossings between the Canada and the U.S. claims the Canadian government is putting both countries at risk by employing summer students. On the eve of the G8 Summit near Calgary, Alberta, the Canada Excise Union (CEU) has launched a campaign to convince the Canadian public and Canada-watchers south of the border that Canada's practice of employing 1,100 students to staff border-crossing booths and fulfill other routine tasks must end. The union claims the student officers are not adequately trained to confront potentially dangerous people, including...

Deputies allowed to display U.S flag; New law goes into effect in January By Robert Dlugos KGET 17 News 06/26/02 Bakersfield - The Kern County Sheriff's Department is looking at ways to implement a new law, which will allow deputies to wear an American flag on their uniform. The governor signed the measure on Monday. It prohibits local government agencies from restricting how public employees display the flag. Many peace officers in California wanted to wear the flag to honor those lost in the attacks of Sept. 11th. The sheriff's department did not allow a flag to be displayed because...

LONDON, June 26 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will stand in elections scheduled for January next year, a Palestinian cabinet member said on Wednesday. "My information is that he (Arafat) will run for election again," Palestinian minister Nabil Shaath told a London news briefing. He said the Islamic militant group Hamas could make a strong showing were legislative elections to be held in the current political climate. A Palestinian official said on Wednesday that presidential and legislative balloting would take place between January 10 and 20. "Hamas will probably make a significant showing and might even take over a...

Child Killed In Lawn Mower Accident 6-Year-Old Boy Crushed Under Riding Mower POSTED: 6:12 p.m. EDT June 25, 2002 UPDATED: 7:06 p.m. EDT June 25, 2002 PORTSMOUTH, R.I. -- A 6-year-old boy was killed Monday when a 1,000-pound lawn mower crushed him, Portsmouth police said. News Channel 10's Larry Estepa reported that Paul Carey III and a 9-year-old cousin jumped on the back of the riding mower to finish cutting the grass at their grandfather's home on Bristol Ferry Road. When they finished, the older child jumped off the lawn mower. But police said the machine began to roll...

Scotland Yard admitted yesterday it had "growing, darkening" concerns over the unwitting part the UK played in the development of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network. Assistant commissioner David Veness, head of special operations at the Metropolitan police, said that there was now evidence to show that Britain had been a base for terrorist communications, recruitment, propaganda and logistical support, and that the activity dated to the mid-1990s. He said the Met wanted to trace a number of people who had gone missing after leaving Britain for Pakistan and Afghanistan in the months and years before September 11. But he...

USS Bulkeley The primary job of the Gunnery Division is to maintain and operate all shipboard weapons systems. Normal day to day tasks include ensuring all weapons systems are functioning properly and prepared for such evolutions as surface and air combat and exercises, as well as ensuring that the weapons are available for any law enforcement need. Gunnery Division is also responsible for providing small arms training to all Boarding Team Members. Within Gunnery Division there are two different rates...Gunner's Mates (GM) and Fire Control Technicians (FT). Gunner's Mates primarily deal with the actual firing weapons and their associated...