Aljazeera.Net - Japan confirms identity of Corpse

Aljazeera.Net - Japan confirms identity of corpse: “Tokyo however vowed it would keep its troops in the country on what it calls a reconstruction mission.

An armed group in Iraq had on Wednesday threatened to behead Shosei Koda, 24, within 48 hours if Japan did not withdraw its troops.

‘Unfortunately, we have just confirmed that the body is that of Shosei Koda,’ Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said on Sunday.

‘The act of terrorism to take the life of a civilian is absolutely vicious and we must not tolerate such acts,’ Machimura said.

‘Japan, cooperating with the international community, must continue to fight terrorism firmly.’” More…

Does anyone think that this barbarism will disappear if John Kerry is elected ? What will pulling out of Iraq accomplish other than reinforcing in the minds of terrorists that fear and terrorism works? These cowardly fanatical dogs of dogs will sing praises to Allah if Kerry is elected anticipating a quick American withdrawal from the middle east. The majority of Iraqi citizens will be in abject fear of the possible civil war and retribution against all those who supported the new Iraqi government and hopes dashed for a normal stable civilized government. Again… wake up voters! President Bush may not be the sharpest tack in the draw, but at least he is aggressive and will not let our security and our right to preemptively attack those that threaten us be subjected to the will of Foregin nations. This is an election that will shape our future security over perhaps a decade… not a Red Sox Yankee baseball rivalry where at the end of the day you can say… oh well there is always next year ! Choose wisely and think about our sovereign right to defend ourselves and not be manipulated by the likes of a Bin Laden. — zzb

Halloween Fright …

Bin Laden Enters the Presidental Race

Ralph Nader step aside. Here comes the next ego maniac that just can’t resist getting infront of a TV camera to speak to the American people. Consider how powerful your very simple act of voting is when it can draw this much mindshare from lunatics like Bin Laden.

“Looking healthy and defiant in a video released from hiding to Al Jazeera TV just four days before the U.S. presidential poll, bin Laden accused Bush of complacency during the Sept. 11 attacks, mocking him for going on with a visit to a school.

‘Despite entering the fourth year after Sept. 11, Bush is still deceiving you and hiding the truth from you and therefore the reasons are still there to repeat what happened,’ he said, making his clearest claim yet of responsibility.

In what seemed a deliberate attempt to influence Tuesday’s U.S. election, bin Laden used the opening line: ‘O American people, I am speaking to tell you about the ideal way to avoid another Manhattan, about war and its causes and results.’”

He obviously recognizes the power of the American people’s will. But underestimates their intelligence to see through to his agenda of blackmailing Americans with fear to vote for a President that will keep America out of the affairs of the Middle East. I wonder which candidate that would be ? Primary agenda? Get out of the Middle East so radical islamics can continue their crusade against westernized central governments in the middle east, Saudi, Jordanian, Iraqi, Isreali un encumbered by US interference! Wake up America ! - zzb

Blogger grounded by Delta !

BBC NEWS | Technology | Blogger grounded by her airline: “A US airline attendant is fighting for her job after she was suspended over postings on her blog, or online diary.

Queen of the Sky, otherwise known as Ellen Simonetti, evolved into an anonymous semi-fictional account of life in the sky.

But after she posted pictures of herself in uniform, Delta Airlines suspended her indefinitely without pay.

Ms Simonetti was told her suspension was a result of ‘inappropriate’ images. Delta Airlines declined to comment.” More…

I would hardly call this picture obscene. Delta executives need to get their heads examined. Maybe they have been flying around for too long at 38,000 feet without oxygen. I for one will not fly this airline again. All bloggers should unite on this point !!! - zzb

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Yasser Arafat ‘very, very sick’

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Yasser Arafat ‘very, very sick’: “One cabinet minister, who asked not be identified, told Reuters that Mr Arafat, 75, was ‘very, very sick’.

A crowd gathered, as a series of top Palestinian officials arrived. His wife Suha should arrive later on Thursday.

Israel says Mr Arafat can go anywhere for treatment, but it is unclear if he would be allowed back to the compound.

A top official told Reuters that if he leaves the West Bank, the question of whether he could return was ‘a separate issue after he recuperates’.

Israel’s policy has been that Mr Arafat is free to leave the compound where he is surrounded by Israeli troops, but may not be allowed to return.”

He blew the best chance he had for his people years ago after the Camp David accords hosted by Bill Clinton. If he goes this week it would not have been a day too soon. I am sure there will be tears in the streets of Ramalah… along with teargas, bullets and pepperspray.

Aljazeera.Net - US Presidential Race Poll

In a poll on the Aljazeera Website here is their readeship’s expected election results as of 10/26/04 :

Who will win the 2004 US presidential election?

George Walker Bush :

37%

John Forbes Kerry :

53%

Others :

2%

Unsure :

8%

Peeping Tom filter lets phones see through bikinis

Here is a story found on C/Net that will be attracting some attention. Xray vision for your Nokia.

Peeping Tom filter lets phones see through bikinis | CNET News.com: “A developer in Tokyo has created an add-on for Vodafone handsets that’s meant to be used as a night filter to let people take pictures with their phones in the dark.

Unfortunately, the night vision camera has an unexpected side effect, according to Japanese developer Yamada Denshi. In the right circumstances, it allows users to see a lot more than they bargained for.

As well as taking snaps in the dark, the Yamada Denshi infrared filter apparently sees through people’s clothes.

The problem arises because the filter uses the distribution of heat to create its pictures. When attached to a high-end camera, the filter can see though certain kinds of clothing and is reportedly particularly effective on dark bikinis.” More…

Kerry and Clinton / Brotherly Love

BBC NEWS | Americas | Clinton woos US voters for Kerry: “Bill Clinton has appeared at a rally alongside John Kerry in a bid to boost the Democratic candidate’s chances in next week’s US presidential election.

The ex-president, who has spent two months recovering from heart surgery, told Pennsylvania voters that Mr Kerry had a ‘better plan’ for America.

Republicans have said the decision to ‘roll [Mr Clinton] off the surgery table’ smacks of desperation.

Neither Mr Kerry nor George W Bush have a clear lead in the opinion polls.

‘If this isn’t good for my heart, I don’t know what is,’ Mr Clinton joked as he took the microphone in the city of Philadelphia.” More…

As reported by the BBC. I must say former President Bill Clinton looked his old self today during live coverage of the Kerry Campaign at a rally in Philadelphia. It was clear that the majority of Democrats there were more focused on the former president and his health rather than John Kerry. Kerry hopes that Bill Clinton’s popularity with black voters and inner city minorities will rub off on him in the days ahead. It’s a push. Pensylvania will be a focused battleground in the days leading up to the election where the race is a toss up when viewed statewide. - zzb

Silence is Golden…

Provide us some caption comments…

Shaking the Will of Western Civilization… One Hostage at a Time !

“BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Margaret Hassan, the kidnapped director of CARE International in Iraq, appeared on a videotape aired Friday, weeping and pleading with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw troops from Iraq ‘and not bring them to Baghdad’ because ‘this might be my last hours.’

‘Please help me. Please help me,’ said a terrified Hassan, breaking down in tears and burying her face in a tissue. She said she might be killed like British hostage Kenneth Bigley, who was beheaded by his captors earlier this month.

‘This might be my last hours,’ she said in the video aired by the Arabic television station Al-Jazeera. She begged the British people to ‘ask Mr. Blair to take the troops out of Iraq, and not to bring them here to Baghdad. That’s why people like Mr. Bigely and myself are being caught. And maybe we will die like Mr. Bigley. Please, please, I beg of you.’

Hassan - an Irish-British-Iraqi national who has been doing humanitarian work in Iraq for 30 years, including distributing medicine and food - appeared haggard, her eyes baggy as she stood alone in front of a bare wall.”

There is no other purpose for these hostage taking events but to shake the will of ordinary people around the world who can identify with the victims. What you see playing out is a brutal form of warfare. Make no mistake about it… it is warfare. The ammunition is personal fear made public by instantaneous media and as such internalized by millions of people world wide, including our political leaders. In the long run it can be just as deadly as a .30 cal round being fired from a sniper’s rifle. Wake up everyone. The root of this is a clash of ideologies and culture, emanating from the 40 years of hatred between the Israel and it’s Arab neighbors. Will it take an alien invasion from another world to bring this historic conflict to a close? This form of brutal terrorism can go on forever, especially if it produces political results. It will continue until the ROOT CAUSES are eradicated. One only needs to look at history to understand what they are. 40 years worth of root causes between Israel, Palestine and her Arab neighbors leave a pitiful legacy on both sides. - zzb