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One should not go into church if one wants to breathe pure air. —Friedrich Nietzsche

Rev. Alberts: Time to Censure Bush April 30, 2006

Posted by Rastaban in : Bush Wars, Bushwacked, Faith & Reason , add a comment

Writing in Counterpunch, Rev.William Alberts says it’s time for people of faith — in particular the Methodist Church — to bring disciplinary action against the President, who happens to be a Methodist.

Rev. William Alberts: Time for People of Faith to Censure Bush

Alberts writes,

‘Resolving disputes peacefully was the first thing out of President Bush’s mouth and apparently the last thing on his mind. His pre-war public posture was that of a man of faith and peace. At his March 6, 2003 news conference, he said, “I pray daily. I pray for wisdom and guidance and strength. . . . I pray for peace. I pray for peace.” (The New York Times, Mar. 7, 2003) Two weeks later he ordered the bombing of the Iraqi people and the invasion of their country.’

Albert follows by impolitely bringing up the, ahem, public record as known so far. That records makes it clear that invading Iraq was on the agenda from day 1, and that the administration deliberately deceived the public in order to get their war. “I pray daily…for peace” indeed!

Alberts also pushes people of faith to call for Bush’s impeachment. But he overlooks one little detail. The one constant and dependable group these last 5 years, the segment of the American population that has steadfastly voted for, cheered on, and championed our current President, is none other than people of faith.

Perhaps what we should be asking is this: Why were people of faith so easily manipulated by the administration and shepherded along like, well, sheep?

Answer: that is what people of faith are good at — being sheep. And faith is the sheepdog that makes it possible.

How Attacking Iran Benefits China April 22, 2006

Posted by Rastaban in : Bush Wars, Iran , 2 comments

It’s widely recognized that the greatest beneficiary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq has been Iran. Just as clearly, the biggest beneficiary of a U. S. attack on Iran will be China.This is why the administration’s recent exhortation to China’s leader, Hue, to intervene in getting Iran to drop its nuclear ambitions is likely to be futile. Hue of course will want to create the appearance of trying to bring the Iranian leadership around, but it is not in China’s strategic interest for that to actually happen. Secretly, in fact, Hue must be hoping that the Bush administration will be foolish enough to attack Iran—preferably with tactical nukes—just as they were fooling enough to invade Iraq.

The consequences of a U. S. attack would be as positive for China as they would be negative for the United States. (more…)

al-Qaida Infiltrated Dubai Agencies April 19, 2006

Posted by Rastaban in : Homeland Insecurity, Islam , add a comment

In the midst of all the controversy over allowing the state-owned Dubai Ports to manage seaports in the U.S., I never saw anyone mention that al-Qaida has infiltrated (and therefore compromised) the government of the United Arab Emirates.

Maybe I missed it. I heard all about money being funneled to terrorists through Dubai, about UAE bank secrecy rules making it difficult to trace that monetary flow, about terrorists traveling in and out of that country’s port.

But no where did I see it mentioned that al-Qaida has actually infiltrated various Dubai government agencies–and bragged about it. Yet documents taken from a captured computer which belonged to a high-ranking al-Qaida official confirm this. “You are well aware that we have infiltrated your security, censorship, and monetary agencies along with other agencies that should not be mentioned.” this official warned the emirates of Dubai and Abu-Dhabi.

What follows is the full text of the letter, which I found on a public government website. (more…)

Life Goes On in Iraq April 11, 2006

Posted by Rastaban in : Iraq, Islaminsanity , add a comment

They even held a beauty contest to choose the Iraqi candidate for Miss Universe — shouldn’t that prove there’s no civil war going on? But here comes the big bad American media, focusing as usual on the bad news instead of the good. ABC News reports that the young woman who was proclaimed “Miss Iraq” had to give up her crown four days later because of death threats against her and her family. The family is now planning to flee Iraq. Undeterred, pageant officials offered her crown to the first runner-up, but she declined it. The 2nd runner-up withdrew from the beauty contest rather than risk accepting the crown. The 3rd runner up likewise withdrew. Pageant officials finally found a teenager — a Christian no less — brave enough or foolish enough to accept the crown.I’m sure the Administration will find a way to spin this positively while chiding the media for focusing on the negative, but it seems to me that a country where it is not safe to win even a beauty contest can only be described as in dire straits. At what point, if ever, will our President catch on that the God he relies on for guidance, the war-Jesus to whom he prays, exists only in his imagination?