This does not sound like a man who wants to promote good will...
Ground Zero Mosque Imam: US Bloodier Than al-Qaida Tuesday, 24 Aug 2010 01:58 PM Article Font Size
In a taped speech now available online, Iman Rauf makes a number of statements that would seem to counter his image as a moderate in the U.S. Muslim community.
"We tend to forget, in the West, that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al-Qaida has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims,” he says at one point. “You may remember that the U.S.-led sanctions against Iraq led to the death of over half a million Iraqi children. This has been documented by the United Nations. And when Madeleine Albright, who has become a friend of mine over the last couple of years, when she was Secretary of State and was asked whether this was worth it, said it was worth it."
Rauf went on to recommend Michael Moore's provocative documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11." Asked why Muslims commit suicide bombings, Rauf downplayed the role of Islam and instead placed them in a political framework, suggesting that in some cases they may be a legitimate military tactic:
“ . . . What makes people, in my opinion, commit suicide for political reasons have their origins in politics and political objectives and worldly objectives rather than other worldly objectives, he said. "But the psychology of human beings and the brittleness of the human condition and how many of us have thought about taking our own lives, we may be jilted, had a bad relationship, you know, didn't get tenure at the university, failed an important course, there's a host of reasons why people feel so depressed with themselves that they are willing to contemplate ending their own lives. And if you can access those individuals and deploy them for your own worldly objectives, this is exactly what has happened in MUCH of the Muslim world."
The key reason for Bush's rising popularity? Obama's rapidly declining favorability.
A top Democratic pollster in Washington is circulating a poll showing Bush's popularity in key contested congressional districts is now 6 points ahead of Obama's.
"That Bush is more popular than Obama in Democratic-held seats is cause for outright fear," National Journal's Hotline on Call reports.
(Aug. 21) -- Saudi Arabia was urged by a human rights group not to deliberately paralyze a man as punishment for injuries he inflicted during a fight.
Saudi media reports indicate that authorities have contacted several hospitals to ask if they would be able to sever the man's spinal cord. One of the hospitals has indicated it is able to perform the operation.
The authorities are seeking the punishment at the request of the man's victim in the fight. The victim, Abdul-Aziz al-Mutairi, is able to make a request under sharia law, since he himself was left paralyzed by the fight.
Such cases of qisas (retribution) are not unusual in Saudi Arabia. Other sentences that have been passed include gouging a convict's eyes, extracting their teeth and even death sentences as punishment for murder.
Not at all. Being female, they know what it feels like and tend to be far gentler. Moreover, going through pregnancy with a female obgyn is a riot and a half. Many have had children themselves and tend to be dead honest and speak from their own personal experiences (which is where the laughter comes in). Overall, the level of relaxation and candor is much higher -- in my experience, at least. They don't hide behind "formal" office behavior and tend to de-mystify the entire process. Really, talking to a doctor who has actually "felt" many of the same things you have felt gives them a much better sense of insight and empathy.
I CLEARLY remember Obama coming before the nation as he was pushing for the extra gazillion dollars in "stimulus" pork. He said "If we don't do this now, unemployment will rise to 9 percent!!!!!"
Bush Drug Plan Beats Cost Mark Tuesday, 17 Aug 2010 07:52 AM Article Font Size By: Stephen Dinian
Four years into full operation, President George W. Bush's Medicare prescription drug program is coming in well below its projected cost, giving hope to backers of the new health insurance law that it, too, could beat budget expectations.
The numbers are stark and conclusive: In 2009, the government spent $60.8 billion on the drug benefit, or far less than the annual $111.2 billion cost projected just five years ago, after the program was enacted.
The lower cost - a result of slowing demand for prescription drugs, higher use of generic drugs and fewer people signing up - has surprised even some of the law's most pessimistic critics.
"I'm perfectly willing to say I was wrong," said Robert Moffit, a senior fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation who fought the 2003 bill as an inevitable boondoggle. "I projected these costs would go through the roof on prescription drugs. I also did not believe private plans would come and offer their wares. Frankly, I'm perfectly willing to say I was wrong."
The prescription drug program, known as Medicare Part D, was enacted at the urging of Mr. Bush, and the full drug benefit took effect in 2006.
The legislation narrowly passed the House and Senate with opposition from Democrats, who said the program was too stingy and relied too heavily on private companies, and from a cadre of conservative Republicans who argued that it would cost too much and blow a giant hole in the deficit.
WhatUwish4 Forum Posts (7,986)
RE: Mosque near Ground Zero - Verbal Diarrhea - Part TWO
This does not sound like a man who wants to promote good will...Ground Zero Mosque Imam: US Bloodier Than al-Qaida
Tuesday, 24 Aug 2010 01:58 PM Article Font Size
In a taped speech now available online, Iman Rauf makes a number of statements that would seem to counter his image as a moderate in the U.S. Muslim community.
"We tend to forget, in the West, that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al-Qaida has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims,” he says at one point. “You may remember that the U.S.-led sanctions against Iraq led to the death of over half a million Iraqi children. This has been documented by the United Nations. And when Madeleine Albright, who has become a friend of mine over the last couple of years, when she was Secretary of State and was asked whether this was worth it, said it was worth it."
Rauf went on to recommend Michael Moore's provocative documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11." Asked why Muslims commit suicide bombings, Rauf downplayed the role of Islam and instead placed them in a political framework, suggesting that in some cases they may be a legitimate military tactic:
“ . . . What makes people, in my opinion, commit suicide for political reasons have their origins in politics and political objectives and worldly objectives rather than other worldly objectives, he said. "But the psychology of human beings and the brittleness of the human condition and how many of us have thought about taking our own lives, we may be jilted, had a bad relationship, you know, didn't get tenure at the university, failed an important course, there's a host of reasons why people feel so depressed with themselves that they are willing to contemplate ending their own lives. And if you can access those individuals and deploy them for your own worldly objectives, this is exactly what has happened in MUCH of the Muslim world."
Oh yeah...He's our buddy.