Feb 27, 2005 | Dollars & Crosses
From Cox and Forkum:
From the Seattle Post Intelligencer: Canada opts out of US defense shield, insists on missile consultation.A day after opting out of the U.S. ballistic missile defense shield, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin reiterated Friday that Washington must get permission from Ottawa before firing on any incoming missiles over Canada. ...
Martin made his comments to reporters as the fallout from Canada's decision to not take part in the development and operation of President Bush's nascent anti-ballistic missile shield continued to roil relations between with Canada.
Stockwell Day, the Conservative Party's foreign affairs critic, laughed off Martin's demand that Washington would have to alert Ottawa before taking out an incoming missile.
"These missiles are coming in at 4 kilometers ( 2.5 miles) a second, and if the president calls the 1-800 line and gets: 'Press 1 if you want English, press 2 if you want French, press 0 if nobody's there ...' I mean, it's crazy."
Feb 24, 2005 | Dollars & Crosses
From Cox and Forkum:
Robert Tracinski at TIA Daily has been closely following the Lebanese protests against Syrian occupation and the implications for America. Today he noted a Washington Times article (Tent city rises to pressure Syria) and wrote:When I saw references in reports from the past few days to anti-Syria protesters modeling themselves on Ukraine's "Orange Revolution," I thought at first that might just be the opinion of the reporters. Now it is becoming clear that Ukraine is the explicit model for Lebanon, with the Lebanese calling their movement the "Cedar Revolt" to evoke the "Rose" and "Orange" Revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine.
The political leaders of the Lebanese protests are not necessary our friends (Walid Jumblatt, for example, has a history of anti-American statements) -- but they are far less hostile to our interests and far less likely to support terrorism against the US or our ally, Israel, than the Syrians and their Iranian backers. That's why the new Cedar Revolt -- which is gaining momentum -- is such a positive development for US interests.
What interests would the U.S. have in putting pressure on Syria? Tracinski noted another Times/AP article: Terrorist claims Syrian training. From the article:Iraqi state television aired a video yesterday showing what the U.S.-funded channel said was the confession of a captured Syrian officer, who said he trained Iraqi terrorists to behead people and build car bombs to attack American and Iraqi troops. He also said the terrorists practiced beheading animals to train for decapitating hostages.
From CNN: Lebanon protesters defy ban.With Lebanon's pro-Damascus government facing a possible vote of no confidence, tens of thousands of demonstrators defied a ban and poured into Beirut's city center Monday to protest against Syria's military presence in Lebanon. Opposition leaders want the pro-Syrian government to resign -- and for Syrian forces to go home.
Perhaps pressure on Syria is beginning to work; CNN reports: Syria hands over Saddam half-brother.Iraqi officials said Sunday that Syria captured and handed over Saddam Hussein's half brother, one of the blood-soaked insurgency's most wanted leaders, ending months of Syrian denials that it was harboring fugitives from the ousted Saddam regime. Iraqi authorities said Damascus acted in a gesture of goodwill.
Blogging about Lebanon: Across the Bay. (Via InstaPundit)
Also from CNN: Lebanon's pro-Syrian PM resigns.The Lebanese government abruptly resigned Monday during a stormy parliamentary debate, prompting a tremendous roar from tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in central Beirut.
The demonstrators, awash in a sea of red, white and green Lebanese flags, had demanded the pro-Syrian government's resignation -- and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon -- since this month's assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Feb 22, 2005 | Dollars & Crosses
The Moral Case for Supporting Israel by Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. (Tuesday, February 22, 2005 University of Chicago, Social Sciences 122 8:30 PM)
Since its founding in 1948 Israel has been under siege, courageously fending off hostile neighbors while defending itself against Arab terrorists. In a Mideast dominated by Arab monarchies, theocracies and dictatorships, Israel is a free country standing as the lone bastion of Western civilization in that region. Yet for decades Israel has faced growing international pressure--often led by the United States--to compromise with its enemies, and act against its self- interest. In this talk, Dr. Brook argues that the United States should unequivocally support Israel's effort at self-defense; that allowing Israel to rid itself of terrorist and foreign military threats is in America's best interests. Israel is our only true ally in the Mideast, and supporting it is the only moral thing for the United States to do.Feb 22, 2005 | Dollars & Crosses
From Cox and Forkum:
From FoxNews: Bush Dines With Chirac, Scolds Russia.
President Bush scolded Russia for backsliding on democracy Monday and dined on lobster risotto and filet of beef with French President Jacques Chirac.
Three days before seeing Vladimir Putin in Slovakia, Bush admonished the Russian leader to "renew a commitment to democracy and the rule of law." Putin has raised alarms in the West by consolidating power, rolling back democratic reforms and curbing press and political freedoms.
Bush said the United States and all European countries "should place democratic reform at the heart of their dialogue with Russia." The president suggested that Moscow's entry in the World Trade Organization could hinge on whether it changes course.
Feb 21, 2005 | Dollars & Crosses
From Cox and Forkum:
From FoxNews: Bush Calls for U.S., European Unity.President Bush on Monday appealed to the people of Europe to bury their differences over the war in Iraq because he said there is work to do that requires close cooperation between the United States and Europe.
Even as protesters in Brussels prepared to take to the streets, Bush called the U.S.-European divide over Iraq a "passing disagreement" that must be put behind because the world can't afford to let democracy fail in Iraq, he said. ...
He ... planned to dine privately here with French President Jacques Chirac, one of his most outspoken critics on the Iraq war. After a closed-door meeting, Chirac and Bush told reporters they were committed to patching up differences and restoring good relations despite their disagreement over the war in Iraq.
"I'm looking for a good cowboy," Bush joked when a French reporter asked him whether relations had improved to the point where the U.S. president would be inviting Chirac to the U.S. president's ranch in Texas.
Chirac said that U.S.-French relations have been "excellent for over 200 years now." Chirac added, "That doesn't necessarily mean we agree on everything at every time." The two leaders made the comments before they sat down to dinner.
Feb 21, 2005 | Dollars & Crosses
The Founders of America all viewed George Washington as their leader, and many of them, including Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Hamilton, held him in awe. Washington was indeed a man of heroic courage and unbending integrity. In this lecture John Ridpath presents the struggle behind America's founding, the intellectual context of the time and the central role in that struggle--exemplified in the life and career of Washington.
"George Washington: Integrity and the Founding of America" By John Ridpath (Monday, February 21, 2005) This event is free to the public. Hyatt Regency Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine, California 92614. Bookstore opens: 6:30 PM, Presentation: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Q & A: 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM. For more information: http://www.aynrand.org/ari_events
