Saddam's Half-Brother Captured

Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan, No. 36 on the list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis, is Saddam's half-brother. He was head of General Security Directorate. This was the arm of the government that was dreaded most. It was responsible for cracking down on anyone who opposed Saddam, especially political opponents. He later became a cabinent advisor to Saddam. That was his last position.

He is suspected of running the operations of suicide bombers and kidnappings/torture/beheadings of USA Military and Iraqis from Syria. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi accused the Syrian government of harboring these terrorists back in December. He has declared that all of them will be brought to justice.

Many more were captured, and many more were murdered. To see the whole story, [read more].

UPDATE: Prime Minister Allawi is giving credit to the Syrian government for their part in securing the capture of al-Hassan. Either Syria is scared, finally getting the message that we mean business, or he's got something on Allawi. The last one I doubt. I do believe Allawi is a man that wants peace is his region, however, and may be trying to diplomatically play the goodwill card.

Washington Times News-2/12/2005

Lawyer convicted of aiding terrorists

NEW YORK (AP) -- A veteran civil rights lawyer was convicted yesterday of smuggling messages of violence from one of her jailed clients -- a radical Egyptian sheik -- to his terrorist followers on the outside.

The jury deliberated 13 days during the past month before convicting Lynne Stewart, 65, who testified during her trial that she believed violence was necessary to rid America of its "entrenched, voracious type of capitalism." [read more]

Restrictions on licences, asylum rules approved by Steven Dinan

The House yesterday passed a bill to clamp down on illegal aliens' access to driver's licenses and judges' ability to deny asylum, after adding a provision to make sure that more of the illegal aliens ordered to be deported actually are sent home. [read more]

Marine charged with murder

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- A Marine [Second Lt. Ilario G. Pantano, 33] <...> has been charged with a military count of premeditated murder for shooting two Iraqis during a search for a terrorist hideout, and faces execution if he is found guilty, his lawyer said yesterday.

Lt. Pantano was a platoon commander whose unit was dispatched to search for a cache of weapons and the terrorist hideout, said his mother, Merry Pantano of New York City. She said her son acknowledges shooting two Iraqis as they fled the supposed hideout.

"Isn't it amazing?" she said. "He can face the death penalty for doing his job on the battlefield, making split-second decisions.

"The lieutenant reported it to his chain of command after it happened and they investigated and said good to go. Then three months later a disgruntled enlisted man makes a complaint," the lawyer said. [read more]

I do not understand, while we are at a time of war, people convicted of aided and giving comfort to the enemy are not immediately executed. Read the article about the illegal aliens with caution. Does this mean that the government is going to make us all have federal ID cards? They said the Social Security card would not be used for ID, but try to get a job or a bank account without one! Why not just enforce the laws already on the books and go after the employers for a change? Hmm.

This last story is a must read. It isn't that long, but it is sistemic throughout our feminized authoritarian beaurocrats. I want this man freed. I don't know why it's even an issue. What? Killing people during a war? My God! They are playing poker in this casino!

News from Around the World, 11/11/2004

Archbishop Was Allegedly Agent By ANDREA DUDIKOVA, Associated Press Writer, Friday, February 10, 2005
U.S. blasts China for selling missile technology Associated Press, Monday, February 7, 2005

The speech by the U.S. administration's top arms-control official appeared to mark a shift in tactics.
...Bolton spoke forcefully and publicly about meting out punishment and held the Chinese government directly accountable.
...[he] also renewed the administration's opposition to plans by European countries to resume arms sales to China by ending an embargo imposed after China's crackdown on ant-government demonstrators in 1989.
<...>"The embargo on arms sales to China is not outmoded,'' Bolton said.
<...>"It is just as important to champion human rights today as it was in 1989.''

This is a good read.
African states summon Togo leaders to talks over' coup' Scotsman.com foreign staff, Saturday, February 12, 2005
Indo-Pak talks moving at ‘extraordinary’ speed, says Natwar Staff Report
VIEW: Let Iraqi communities control reconstruction —Jason Ben-Meir

Two fundamental elements of a pluralist democracy are the dispersion of power towards the interior (localities) and the inclusion of all social groups in decision-making. Broad participation in the reconstruction of communities is pluralist democracy in action because it strengthens the capacities of local people to manage their own development.

Experience around the world has shown that development agencies that do not listen to the concerns of local populations end up investing millions of dollars in projects that are ineffective, ignored, and even resented by target beneficiaries. When communities are engaged and projects respond to their self-described needs, important socio-economic benefits become apparent in a remarkably short time.

100 Hours - What You Can Do To Help Darfur Save Darfur.org

World News Wednesday, 2/9/2005

Car Bombing in Madrid Injures Dozens By ED McCULLOUGH,
Associated Press Writer
Sudan: Courts Should Handle Darfur Abuses By EDITH M. LEDERER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Council members have been informally discussing elements for a new resolution on the way forward in Sudan which is expected to include Annan's request for a peacekeeping mission [10,000]. But members are divided on extending a U.N. arms embargo to the Sudanese government in Darfur, imposing an asset freeze and travel ban, and on punishing those responsible for human rights abuses.
U.S. Suspends Kenyan Anti-Corruption Funds By TOM MALITI
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The United States has suspended $2.5 million in funding for anti-corruption work in Kenya...
U.N. Weather Agency Says Former Staffer Investigated Over Embezzlement Allegations The Associated Press

GENEVA (AP) - The World Meteorological Organization said Tuesday that a former employee is under investigation for allegedly embezzling funds belonging to the organization.

Carine Richard-van Maele, a spokeswoman for the U.N. weather agency, declined to identify the individual involved or give details." As soon as we receive the results of the investigation we will inform the media," Richard-van Maele said.

WMO documents obtained by The Associated Press said the Geneva-based agency launched an internal inquiry in July 2003, focusing on alleged mishandling and processing of checks and bank transfers. The documents did not identify the individual involved or list the sum allegedly siphoned from WMO's budget."

The suspect was suspended from his functions to avoid interference in the investigation process," the documents said.

Three months later, WMO's management fired the staffer and handed the investigation over to Swiss authorities. The agency also sent a letter to its 187 member governments detailing the case, according to the documents, but did not reveal the suspect's name.

Michel Jarraud, who took over as WMO secretary-general on Jan. 1, 2004, started a two-year program to shake up the agency shortly after coming into office. The reform plan includes improving accountability and transparency in the handling of WMO's budget, according to the documents.

I could not get the link to work, and I believe this is going to be an important issue. Where did the money go? Why? Did someone slant the outcome of scientific experiments? To what extent? Was it to rip off the USA? Hmm.

Weekly Update: Darfur, Sudan, 2/5/05

U.S. Remains Convinced of Darfur Genocide February 1, 2005
Why Should We Shield the Killers? (By Nicholas D. Kristof / New York Times) February 2, 2005

NATO Could Play Role in Darfur Crisis if Asked February 4, 2005

Gunmen Shoot at AU Monitors in West Darfur February 2, 2005
Darfur Rebels Kill Nephew of Arab Tribal Chief Musa Hilal February 2, 2005

Darfur Killings Not Genocide, Says UN Group January 31, 2005
UN's Annan Urges Swift Sanctions Action On Darfur February 1, 2005 (yeah right)
Both Sides of Conflict in Darfur Dispute Findings in U.N. Report February 2, 2005
UN Suspends Its Road Movements in Part of West Darfur After Attack On Truck February 3, 2005

Here is the UN report on NOT Genocide in Darfur, Sudan*

Senate Judiciary passes tort reform

Senate committee passes tort reform bill
By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The bill aimed at curbing class-action lawsuit abuse, which Democrats filibustered last year, was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday with bipartisan support.
After the panel' to s the by have is for Democrats.

The bill would divert many of the largest class-action lawsuits out of state courts and into the federal court system.

Such a move, supporters say, would prevent lawyers from shopping their cases around in search of judges and juries who are friendly to plaintiffs and who have a reputation for providing huge damage awards.

What a wonderful thing. It does bother me that they will be taking the cases out of State Courts and into Federal Courts. What's up with State's Rights? Yet I understand the need for lawyers to "shop" for a friendly judge and jury so they can receive large settlements that grant the lawyers millions of dollars and the injured people pennies.
There is an expectation of 62 votes in favor of this bill, so there will be no fillibuster. Not they ever really one anyway, but don't get me going on that! Hehehe. Have a great day.