"Ted Nugent: I'd rather she was alive and the car jacker was dead".

Here is an excerpt of comments made by Katy Couric on statements made by Iran's President:

Couric referenced comments made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday’s “The Charlie Rose Show,” and said she actually agreed with Ahmadinejad on one point. “Oftentimes Westerners don’t really understand fully the values of this particular culture,” said Couric. “And I think the jury is still out as to whether democracy can really thrive in Iraq.”

Here is an excerpt from Time.com on a celebrity dinner put on by President Ahmadinejad of Iran:

This is now an annual ritual for the President of Iran. Every year, during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, he plots out a media campaign that — in its shrewdness, relentlessness, and quest for attention — would rival Angelina Jolie on a movie junket. And like any international figure, Mr. Ahmadinejad hones his performance for multiple audiences: in this case, the journalists and academics who can filter his speech and ideas for a wider American audience.

This illustrates the understanding of playing the media in the US where first ammendment guarantees give even despots a platform. There are no such visits by American Presidents to Iran, followed by speeches at prominent universities, followed by dinners with celebrities.

We are being played.

Columbia University's allowing the President of Iran to speak is perplexing at best.

Columbia will provide a forum for the President of a country that has publicly supported the destruction of Israel, denies the holocaust took place, supports terrorists, and is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Yet Columbia says it is a free speech issue. Students regularly shut out or shout down those they disagree with from the right of the American political spectrum. Why is the President of a nation that is the opposite of all the students claim to hold dear given so much lattiude? Will they shout down Ahmadinejad, or show him the respect they reserve for those they agree with?

The university claims military recruiters should not be allowed on campus because of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policies regarding gays in the military. Ahmadinejad is the President of a country that is said to execute homosexuals, and where women are stoned to death for doing what Monica Lewinsky did to President BIll Clinton in the White House.

Claiming it's a freedom of speech issue seems a thin veil, but for what?

How could we the people know?

Did you know that 47 countries' have reestablished their embassies in Iraq?

Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 Iraqi schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been "completed" in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the reestablished Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5 - 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?

OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.

Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes:

It is intended to "undermine" the world's perception of the United States thus "minimizing" consequent support, AND it is intended to "discourage" American citizens.

---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site http://www.defenselink.mil/

Ryan Yeomans asks in an opinion piece in the Central Connecticut State University Recorder "Bush or bin Laden: Who is More Evil?"

As of late, if you were to bring up the president in a discussion you would find that many Americans disapprove of the decisions he has made. At the same time, Osama bin Laden presents many good arguments against the president and many of his reasons for disapproving of Bush are similar to those of anti-Bush Americans. Would it be wrong to assume that there is some kind of connection between feelings of the American people and those of Osama bin Laden? As I would love to make this connection, I ultimately cannot because of the actions of our president. If I were to say I agree with bin Laden, that would mean that I agree with a terrorist; under the Patriot Act, I could be labeled a potential terrorist and my phone could be tapped, and every move I make could be watched and analyzed.

Actually Ryan, it would label you as a Democrat.

From the Jerusalem Post:

Proof of cooperation between Iran and Syria in the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction was brought to light Monday in Jane's Defence Weekly, which reported that dozens of Iranian engineers and 15 Syrian officers were killed in a July 23 accident in Syria.

According to the report, cited by Channel 10, the joint Syrian-Iranian team was attempting to mount a chemical warhead on a Scud missile when the explosion occurred, spreading lethal chemical agents, including sarin nerve gas.

Read the rest here.

Citing recent success with the surge, President Bush said last night in a speech to the nation that he would start withdrawing troops from Iraq soon and be back to pre-surge levels by July 2008.

"The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is: return on success," the president said, trying to summon the nation's resolve once again to help Iraq "defeat those who threaten its future and also threaten ours." source FoxNews.com

The change of strategy Democrats demanded 6 months ago; new Generals, new Secretary of Defense, new rules of engagement, have been put in place, but are being ignored despite promising signs of success.

It is obvious that the Democrat Party strategy is organized around winning the Presidency, not winning the war. They cannot afford to support their own Country's war effort because that would lend support to Republicans in the race for the White House. So they continue to criticize and second guess at every turn.

When the President is committing to withdrawing troops on success and the Democrats say no, what are they saying? They are saying they want to withdraw the troops on failure and defeat, regardless of the consequences in human lives and to US interests in the region.

Is it an accident that the recent Bin Laden tapes seem to echo many Democrat Party themes?
Here is an excerpt of a blog post by Christopher G. Adamo on the California Conservative that points out some interesting similarities.

In light of Osama Bin Laden’s videotaped message to the West (Or was it a press release from DNC Chairman Howard Dean?), one might be given to muse that liberal abhorrence for the President’s surveillance of incoming phone calls from known terrorists might ultimately stem from self-interest. Perhaps they simply do not want to be monitored as they share strategies and talking points with the Al Qaeda leader.

Furthermore, the DNC may decide to keep a copy of the Bin Laden tape, which could come in handy during the 2008 campaign season. Just as aspiring politicians feel compelled to pander in Spanish to the increasing numbers of “undocumented voters,” so might Dean and the Democrats want to remind those “Jihadist-Americans” in their native tongue which party will best ensure that their interests are served.

While such satire may be deemed overly harsh, in truth it fails to fully convey the depths to which the current Democrat leaders, along with their cronies in the media and the blogosphere, have sunk in their efforts to promote their anti-American cause. And as one outrageous example after another unfolds before the American people in the liberal/Democrat attempt to demean and undermine the war on terror, the case for their sedition becomes ever more crystal clear.

When I got up this morning and reached for a T-shirt in the dark, I was suprised that I had grabbed my twin-towers T-shirt. I don't wear it much these days, but it seemed fitting for today so I put it on.

Thinking of the attacks of 9/11/2001 rekindles my anger. It makes me wish to wreak havoc on those who caused it.

Perhaps that is the real point of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to wreak havoc. The price being paid in the Muslim world by now has been many times over the havoc caused in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania six years ago today.

Realize this; There would never have been the political will in America to make war in the middle east without the triggering events on September 11, 2001. In this way Osama Bin Laden is responsible not only for the attacks here, but also for response. Is Bin Laden a hero to the Muslim world? For he has surely brought much death and destruction upon them.

When people in the Middle East remember, and no doubt cheer their great victory against America, let us hope they remember the price they've paid, and continue to pay, and ask themselves if it was worth it.

A quotable quote in Reader's Digest attributed to Hugh Downs says:

To say my fate is not tied to your fate is like saying your end of the boat is sinking.

My first question is will this work? My second and more important question is, can the damage they are doing to America be repaired by the next President, regardless of which party wins?

Sporting a freshly dyed beard Osama Laden implored America to convert to Islam in his recently released video.

His unusually conciliatory language should make it clear that radical Islam is intent on taking over the world, and is using a multi-pronged strategy to do so.

No struggle for world domination is fought on one single battle field with one single strategy.

Notice that while Al Qaeda engages us in Iraq, and elsewhere around the world, in Sweden, clerics are demanding the government there be more tolerant of Muslims. Notice that in Europe, the Christian and secular white majorities are shrinking, while their Muslim populations are growing. Notice that in the US, local governments and schools offer special consideration to the needs of Muslims, while purging the public square of anything that hints at Christianity.

The radical Clerics teach violence and hate in their Mosques, and publicly scoff at the notion that they do so. Meanwhile the mainstream Muslims, the majority, are frighteningly silent.

Those of you who dismiss these things should become aware that Islam is creeping like a vine and it's tendrals are reaching world wide. Since those of you who deny this are generally liberals and progressives that champion women's and gay right, you should pay particular attention to how Islamic law treats those two groups. You might also notice how dissent is handled if you disagree with, or disobey their laws.

The world has seen the struggle between Christianity and Islam ebb and flow over the centuries. Now it has expanded to a struggle between Islam and western secular culture (which Islam abhors).

It would be foolish to think it can't happen here. It is also foolish of anyone who does not want a very wide and bloody war to keep their rights and culture later to understand the threat now, and act accordingly.

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed."
-Mark Twain

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress....
But then I repeat myself.
-Mark Twain

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-Winston Churchill

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw

A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-G Gordon Liddy

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner
-James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-Douglas Casey

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-Ronald Reagan (1986)

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-Will Rogers

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!
-P.J. O'Rourke

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-Voltaire (1764)

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-Pericles (430 B.C.)

No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-Mark Twain (1866 )

Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-Unknown

The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-Ronald Reagan

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-Winston Churchill

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-Mark Twain

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress.
-Mark Twain

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-Thomas Jefferson

A recent study found the average American walks about 900 miles a year.

Another study found Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of beer a year.

That means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon.

Kind Of Makes You Proud To Be American, DOESN'T IT?

This was received in an email without attribution so while the author is unknown, the truths of it speak for themselves.

A man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism "Very few people were true Nazis "he said," but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories."

We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.

• It is the fanatics who march.
  
• It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide.
  
• It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave.
  
• It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor-kill.
  
• It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals.

The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority", the "silent majority", is cowed and extraneous. Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.

The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered; its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel and bayonet.

And, who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were "peace loving"?

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up because, like my friend from Germany, they will awake one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.

Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.

As for us who watch it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life. Lastly, at the risk of offending, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just deletes this email without sending it on, contributes to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand.