BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia blames US in missile row

We live in a world that is managed by dumb-asses.

Russia tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile, which can be armed with up to 10 warheads, on Tuesday.

"Our American partners have left the ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty," Mr Putin told a press conference.

"We have warned them then that we will come out with a response to maintain the strategic balance in the world."

The effort to re-colonize the Middle-East has failed miserably, so the U.S. is returning to the game it plays the best - Cold War antics!

BBC NEWS | Europe | Spain sues over shipwreck bonanza

I had a question:

Earlier reports suggested the wreck was found 40 miles from Land's End, in Cornwall, England.

Shipwreck expert and historian Richard Larn said a Dartmouth-based ship called the Merchant Royal sank in that area in 1641.

It was laden with bullion from Mexico and there had been speculation that this was the wreck salvaged by Odyssey.

A Spanish ship found off the coast of England filled with coins made with gold 'extracted' from Mexico. Given the way the gold was likely 'extracted', shouldn't the treasure rightly belong to Mexico?

VOA News - US Democrats, Republicans Assess Way Ahead on Iraq

I had to ask myself - what's the point?

"In approving the $120 billion funding measure without the timetable, Congress is requiring a review of the situation in Iraq in mid-July.

If conditions in Iraq are continuing to worsen at that point, Warner says, 'it would be an opportune [appropriate] time for the president to shift strategy.'"

We must enjoy being lied to these days!
If things don't get better in 4 months, we're going to back down and/or issue more non-binding resolutions!! YOu see if we don't!!!

BBC NEWS | Americas | US 'sex addict' sues over firing

Porn junkie shirks personal responsibility - blames the war and his employer. What I'm surprised to see was the claim that IBM enabled his addiction by providing internet access. Generally, large employers set up 'net nannies' to monitor this kind of activity. Either IBM of the group this guy reported to got around that, or he had knowledge on how to bypass, maybe using something like TOR. Either way, it's a really pathetic display of what's really wrong with this country - lack of personal responsibility for onne's own actions. If there's someone to blame that has great big pockets, then get at 'em!! Not that I'm a fanboy of large conglomerates, but fair is fair is far, folks!

BBC NEWS | Americas | Critical time for Iraq says Bush

Quote:

Denying the move was a White House victory, Democrats said the bill would include extra funds for domestic use.

I hope that anyone who voted for Democrats hoping for a change has learned their lesson. It seems oddly quiet from the Michael Moore / Al Franken camps, but I may not be paying enough attention. I suspect they are still holding out on a miracle. Meanwhile, the White House's campaign to make us love the war again is in full swing. Where are the principles?

Quote of the day.

If it weren't for Christians, I'd be a Christian.
     Mahatma Ghandi.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Bush details Bin Laden Iraq plot

Hey, kids! Bush has done it!! He has given to us, the lowly masses, clear proof that terror plans were being hatched in Iraq! See?? Time has proven him right after all!
(Of course, he said that Saddam Huissein was in league with Bin Laden, and we bought that, too! We don't care if it's a lie, as long as we feel justified!)

5 years in the making, and (even though we're the reason that Iraq is in the midst of a civil war) the justification for being in Iraq has been found!!

Mr Bush said 9/11 was "a down-payment on violence yet to come"
US President George W Bush has shared intelligence that Osama Bin Laden was seeking in 2005 to set up an al-Qaeda cell in Iraq to strike US targets.
Mr Bush said the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was asked to set up a "staging ground" from which al-Qaeda could plot attacks on the US.

Mr Bush said 9/11 was "a down-payment on violence yet to come"
US President George W Bush has shared intelligence that Osama Bin Laden was seeking in 2005 to set up an al-Qaeda cell in Iraq to strike US targets.
Mr Bush said the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was asked to set up a "staging ground" from which al-Qaeda could plot attacks on the US.

He described the war in Iraq as a fight between the US and al-Qaeda and said America faced an ongoing terror threat.

"Here in America, we are living in the eye of a storm," he said.

"Al-Qaeda is public enemy number one in Iraq's young democracy. Al-Qaeda is public enemy number one for America as well," Mr Bush told a crowd attending a US Coast Guard Academy ceremony in Connecticut.

"In the minds of al-Qaeda leaders, 9/11 was just a down-payment on violence yet to come... The danger has not passed," he said, highlighting US successes in preventing subsequent planned attacks. [Looks like 2004 all over again - only the Republicans can save us!!]

Between the Democrats and the Neo-cons, we really do deserve the president we have! Way to go America!!!

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Democrats drop Iraq pull-out plan

DEMOCRATS WUSS OUT!!

But was it really a surprise?

Failing to pork up the bill enough to make the member politicians happy, the Democrats, true to form, put their collective spine back in the casket and whine about not getting their way, principles be damned. I betcha they'll pretent to get really vocal when the 'Gay Rights Agenda' hits the headlines again (and I'm sure the Republicans will be all to happy to get that ball rolling.)

This is exactly why I vote Green (even though I'm still an independent.) With them, there's no 'public collective conscience' that dictates the candidates. And of course, The Reps and the Dems wouldn't hear of allowing them (or any other legitimate 3rd pardty candidate)in the national debates, since they can't be counted on to follow script. So what we're left with is a One-Party government with its own franchised dissident wing.

THe Democrats are like your pesky little brother. Always hassling you in public, but tries to be just like you if your back is turned. The Reblicans, on the other hannd, are like your uncle. Only looking after his own interests, but happy to throw you an extra bone to his favorite cousin if it makes him feel less guilty about something . . .

I guess it was just a matter of time before the Democrats stopped pretending to be anything more than jellyfish-spined deal-makers. This is exactly why no one with any real values or principles goes into public office (or seem to come out with any principles.) I guess 'career politician' and public servant' don't go together anymore.