Rantburg back up!

Rantburg is back up and operating, and Fred is back at the helm. I hope I've been able to help by providing a small backup operation. Hopefully, too, this will be the last time I have to do this!

"What happened to Rantburg?"

Got this question in one of the comments. The truth is, I don't know. I just know it's down. I'm assuming that it was hacked, battered, and bloodied. Fred's probably under the hood right now, tinkering, cleaning up the cesspool leavings of the script kiddies that visited, fumigating the place and setting everything in order. The O-Club will need new carpets, new waitresses/waiters (shorter skirts/thinner shirts, depending upon taste), a new menu, and new management. We'll keep the barkeep - he's ok! The sinktrap needs fumigating, and whatever remains in there flushed to a toxic waste dump somewhere beyond the boundaries of MY state! Fred needs to hire a new bouncer, also - I recommend Erik Broadaxe XIV, if he's available. Axe supplied at no extra charge.

State of the Union: What are the REAL Issues?

This is an open thread, seeking suggestions from the readers for what they think SHOULD have been included in last night's address that wasn't. Please feel free to say as much or little as you wish.

I find three things that trouble me: the failure to deal with the true problem of Islam, the failure of the United States to address the border issue, and the problem of addressing those that wish to destroy this nation by locking up, hiding, destroying, controlling, and banning anything and everything in order that no one be "offended". If anyone can't deal with a little "offending" now and then, they don't belong in the United States, regardless of their birthplace. Being offended is one of those things that build character, just as failure is. If some would have their way, we would become a nation without character, but "safe" from just about everything. What a miserable life.

Rantburg Relief Files III

Europe

BBC: Muhammad cartoon row intensifies

Newspapers across Europe have reprinted caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to show support for a Danish paper whose cartoons have sparked Muslim outrage.

Drudge: Floor collapses in Turin Olympic Center

Home Front

Front Page Mag: Sheehan's Shenanigans

Drudge: Kerry says 53% of students don't graduate high school

Editor & Publisher: Joint Chiefs Send Rare Protest Letter to 'Wash Post' Over 'Reprehensible' Toles Cartoon

The letter, not yet published by the Post, charges that the six military leaders "believe you and Mr. Toles have done a disservice to your readers and your paper's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and as a result, have suffered traumatic and life-altering wounds. ... As the Joint Chiefs, it is rare that we all put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go unanswered."

Drudge:
FLASH: FBI seeking to interview two NY TIMES reporters about conversations with former Pentagon official, rep of pro-Israeli lobbying group after unauthorized disclosure of classified information... MORE...

Maybe Bush isn't losing the war on the homefront

In the Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113875543240761615.html?mod=opinion&ojcontent=otep
And also http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/31/AR2006013101081.html

George Bush's New 'French Connection' [EFL]
By DAVID IGNATIUS
The Washington Post
February 1, 2006

Once every five or six weeks, a French presidential adviser named Maurice Gourdault-Montagne flies to Washington to meet with his American counterpart, national security adviser Stephen Hadley. They meet for several hours coordinating strategy on Iran, Syria, Lebanon and other hot spots. In between trips, they talk often on the phone. Welcome to the French Connection. Though the link between the top foreign-policy advisers of Presidents Bush and Chirac is almost unknown to the outside world, it has emerged as an increasingly important element of U.S. planning. France may still be the butt of jokes among American politicians, but in these private contacts, the Elysee Palace has become a most important and effective ally of the White House.

...Bruised by the war in Iraq, the Bush administration is now working hard to conduct its foreign policy in tandem with international allies and, where possible, through the U.N.

...In framing policy on Syria and Iran, the French and Americans have consciously played a good cop/bad cop routine. The Americans demand tough U.N. language; the French bring the Russians and Chinese on board for a slightly watered-down version. ... An illustration is the compromise that came this week—to refer Iran to the Security Council for its violations of nuclear agreements, but give Iran another month to comply before any formal recommendation. The French argue that it's crucial now to maintain international solidarity on Iran, even at the price of a brief delay. What's interesting is that the Bush administration seems to agree.

Google News: West Virginia shuts down coal mines for safety review

Iraq

WAPO: U.S. hands over part of Iraq's Green Zone

Google News: Boycotted trial goes on

Commentary

Real Clear Politics: Hamas has taken off the mask, Israel can take off the gloves

Real Clear Politics: The Alito Confirmation How the Left views the Bush nominations. These people haven't a clue how the real world works.

Real Clear Politics: John Stossel, "Is our children learning?"

Real Clear Politics: Democrats need to focus on a coherent message

Illegal Immigration's financial costs

Thanks to Jen for several of the articles on this page.

Rantburg Relief Files II

Hopefully, I can take my time and be a little better organized this time. I'd try to duplicate Fred's categories, but my memory isn't that good. Here's what I've found with a little snooping:

Afghanistan

Gulf News: 5 terr suspects arrested in Afghanistan

Africa

Mail & Guardian (RSA): IMF to present report on Zimbabwe's status.

Mail & Guardian (RSA): SA says Ivory Coast dispute solved

Mail & Guardian (RSA): Condom taboo in Zanzibar hampers fight against AIDS

Mail & Guardian (RSA): World Bank urged to consider relief for Liberia

Mail & Guardian (RSA): Nigerian Rebels threaten "significant attacks"

Mail & Guardian (RSA): Darfur police say 18 rebels killed

Europe

Times Online: Islamic Cartoons republished

AFTENPOSTEN (NO): Danish Cartoons Circulate

AFTENPOSTEN (NO): Moose Surfed on chunk of ice
AFTENPOSTEN (NO): Muslim wants Norweigan Blasphemy laws

Davos Debrief

EEW (EU) Online: EU extends aid to Palestinians in bid to prevent 'mini Iran'

Big 5 agree to refer Iran to UN Oh, how BRAVE! (not!)

Gulf News: Georgia Police clash with Russian Troops

India/Nepal

India for peaceful end to Iran nuke issue
Indian train station readies for first Pakistani passengers in 41 years.

SA Daily: 18 Maoist rebels killed in clash with Government troops

Iran

AFTENPOSTEN (NO): Massive flooding in Trondelag

MEMRI: Amadinejad's defiant speech, translated.

Times Online: Iranian President Defiant

Mail & Guardian (RSA): World powers agree on Iran resolution

Iraq

Gulf News: Sunni Leader in Iraq threatens uprising

Israel/Palestine

MEMRI: Hamas leader sets the record straight Israel must be destroyed

Times Online: Israel cuts Hamas lifeline (customs duty)

Gulf News: Recognize Israel, Egypt tells Hamas

Kenya

Corruption scandal leads to resignation. Baldilocks, who is from Kenya, has more information on this at her blog.

Kuwait

MEMRI: Kuwaiti succession

Pakistan

Gulf News: Three militants killed in attack on military base

Philippines

Gulf News: Philippine govt troops in new push against communist guerillas

South America

SA Daily: Chavez pumps up pressure on Bush

SA Daily: Discounted oil marks Chavez's latest bid to win over U.S. opinion

World

Times Online: Brazillian cars run on sugar cane

This may have been what George Bush was talking about in his State of the Union speech last night...

Times Online: Times Writers side with Nepal's rebels

Rantburg Relief Files

For those of us suffering from Rantburg Withdrawal Syndrome, here are a few links to keep us abreast of the GWOT and what people around the world are thinking about us. I don't have either Fred's energy or access to news and commentary, but I'm willing to host as much as possible, including links to other blogs that have items of interest to the Rantburg community.

From NewsMax:

Cindy Sheehan Claiming Police Brutality

We could only wish someone would lock her in a solitary confinement cell, and forget which key fits the lock. This "woman" is a waste of protoplasm.

Hillary Clinton Trashes Bush

Sen. Hillary Clinton wasted no time blasting President Bush's State of the Union message Tuesday night, saying his speech made it clear that "he still wants to take us in the wrong direction."

"After all, he still hasn't surrendered to ANYBODY yet..." Another useless bit of bs. If we could package that product, we could power the world, just from a handful of liberals.

Congress to extend the Patriot Act

What they need to do is to reauthorize it in its current form, say for a year, THEN debate on it. Congress, however, isn't that bright.

Iran's Prez: U.S. Is 'Hollow Superpower'

Iraq's Hussein thought that, too. So did bin Laden. Yet here's another loser with the same tired rhetoric. Must be something in the water over there.

NOW Chief Cussin' Mad Over Alito

Guess the Democrats need to watch both their front and both sides. I'd say "back", but since they're running away from anything decisive, the only thing behind them are the American people they're running away FROM.

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From Town Hall:

Ben Shapiro on HAMAS

Town Hall Editors on the SOTU

Walter Williams, "Corporate Courage"

Jonah Goldburg, "Palestine's willing executioners"

Paul Greenburg, "Rhetoric and reality in the Middle East"

Michelle Malkin, "Fighting the bullies of Islam"

I'll try to update this again later in the afternoon. In the meantime, here's a partial list of Rantburg folks with weblogs:

Sgt Stryker: Both Sgt Mom and Desert Blondie post here occasionally.

Dark Blogules: Angie Schult's blog.

Robin Burke's Winds of Change blog.
You Big Mouth, You, Chuck Simmins' excellent blog.

If anyone else knows of other bloggers, please email me, and I'll include them. Also check out my list to the left of my blog. There are quite a few interesting blogs there. Some links no longer work, and I haven't been able to find replacements, but there are plenty that do work.

I'll also try to find some more interesting articles for the list, and I'll take recommendations.

Mike Weatherford
Old Patriot