Thanks to a Chinese cosmetics company, you can purchase beauty products in Europe which contain skin taken from the bodies of executed convicts.
The agent said some of the company‘s products have been exported to Britain, and that the use of skin from condemned convicts was “traditional” and nothing to “make such a big fuss about.“
Today, American led forces rescued three western peace workers who have been held hostage by Iraqi terrorists for the past four months. Not all of them were rescued. Their American colleague, Tom Fox, never made it out. He was murdered just two weeks ago while being held in captivity.
The three men — James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, both from Canada; and Norman Kember, 74, of Britain — had been kidnapped last November along with the American man, Tom Fox, in Baghdad while working with the Chicago-based Christian Peacemaker Teams.
Mr. Fox’s body was found this month. He had apparently been tortured by his captors before being shot multiple times in the head and dumped on a trash heap next to a railway line in western Baghdad.
“Our hearts are filled with joy today as we heard that Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember have been safely released in Baghdad,” said a statement from the peace group. “Together we have endured uncertainty, hope, fear, grief and now joy during the four months since they were abducted in Baghdad.”
The delegation coordinator for the group, Claire Evans, said by telephone that Mr. Loney, a 41-year-old Canadian, had contacted his family this morning from the Green Zone, the fortified compound in Baghdad where some American military forces, Iraqi government offices and the American Embassy are located.
“He said that they were all in reasonable health,” she said, adding that the three men were undergoing medical checks.
The men were freed by multinational forces in a military operation.
In the past, Christian Peacemaker Teams has criticized the US led coalition of the willing, calling them occupiers undertaking an illegal operation. You would think, on the day their loved ones are rescued, the organization would stop their protests and extend thanks to those involved in the rescue effort. You would think someone at CPT would deliver a simple acknowledgement confessing that the hostages would have certainly been killed by their captors if it hadn’t been for the bravery of the military. Well, think again…
The CPT doesn’t even recognize the rescue effort. In the press statement released today, the CPT rejoices in the ‘release’ of their colleagues, not a rescue. Release and rescue – two words with very different meanings. By using the word ‘release’, the CPT diminishes the work of the military. They downplay the effort, the bravery, the risk taken by the men and women involved in the operation. Furthermore, using the word ‘release’ creates an impression that the terrorists willingly let the hostages go, as if they somehow came to their senses in the last 24 hours and with complete contrition, broke the shackles off the feet of the CPT volunteers.
The CPT should immediately release a second statement which praises the work of the military, the brave, selfless efforts of the individuals who executed the operation, and apologize for not recognizing them immediately upon hearing word of the rescue.
Others: James Joyner |
And it can come back to bite you. Just ask John R Green of ABC News.
Today’s read.
An Affront to Civilization
We should have no illusions that Afghanistan — in many ways the backwater of the Islamic world — will soon embrace Western-style religious pluralism. But the trial of Abdul Rahman, who faces a potential death sentence for converting to Christianity some 15 years ago, is an affront to civilization. If there is always a balancing act between accommodating the religious beliefs of a traditional society like Afghanistan and coaxing it toward reform, the Rahman case is not a close call — killing or jailing someone for his religious beliefs is always wrong, and is especially galling in a country so dependent on American military forces and aid.
The Afghan constitution is a work of studied ambiguity when it comes to religious liberty. Article 2 says Islam is Afghanistan’s religion, but it also stipulates that other religions are free to perform their ceremonies “within the limits of the law” (whatever that means). Article 7 says the state shall abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — which includes the right of conversion — but Article 130 says, where there is no guidance for the constitution or other laws, Islamic laws apply. This is the kind of “living constitution” Ruth Bader Ginsburg can only dream about in the U.S. The Afghan document was deliberately written vaguely to bridge the divide between the country’s modernizers and its Islamists. The latter surely want to use the Rahman case to embarrass our ally President Karzai and to advance their interpretation of the constitution.
Yesterday, the State Department’s Nicholas Burns adopted the right tone and substantive position when asked about the case by reporters. He said that, as far as the U.S. is concerned, the Afghan constitution guarantees religious liberty, and therefore Rahman shouldn’t be punished for his conversion. But he also emphasized our respect for Afghan sovereignty. It is important that, while we push for justice in the case, we don’t play into the hands of Karzai’s enemies, who are eager to capitalize on the fears of a very traditional society. We should make it clear privately, but very firmly to Karzai — who would have to sign Rahman’s death warrant — that we expect him to find some Afghan way to short-circuit the case before it ever gets to that point.
Conservatives in this country have been admirably willing to accept the compromises and frustrations that come with President Bush’s attempts to reform recalcitrant parts of the world. The judicial murder of a Christian convert by a government that exists only on the basis of American power and good will, however, would be intolerable.
We can have comfort in knowing that if Abdul is killed for expressing his faith, his place in heaven is secure (Matthew 5:10).
Others: Captain Ed | Charles Bird | Stop the ACLU | Greg Tinti | Hyscience | Mark Tapscott | Dan Riehl | Michelle Malkin |
Why? Because of this.
One of the bluest of the Blue States in the nation gave Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton(D-NY) some disheartening news today: If the presidential election were held today, Sen. Clinton gets whipped in New Jersey by Republicans Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and “America’s Mayor” Rudy Guiliani, according to a new poll.
I think there are many more states that, if honestly polled, would also show Hillary just what kind of uphill battle she faces. America has Clinton and Bush fatigue, which is why Hillary can’t win, and why Jeb Bush can’t either. And it won’t work to simply skip a cycle. Take Al Gore for example. Too many people remember the 2000 race. It’ll take years before that memory begins to fade. Even though he sat out in 2004, he still can’t run in 2008 because of this.
Since 1988 it’s been Bush/Clinton/Clinton/Bush/Bush. Contrary to the hype, Americans won’t elect another Clinton or another Bush in 2008.
Are you a believer? I’m a believer.
Models use it to create cleavage. Sled-dog drivers use it to prevent frostbite. Athletes use it to support weak joints. Veterinarians use it to repair horses’ hooves.
What’s this wonder tool? Duct tape.
When Forbes.com compiled its list of the 20 most important tools of all time, we asked a panel of scientists, historians and engineers to look at the devices that have most impacted human civilization and shaped the course of history. The final list highlighted tools that have been around for ages: the knife, the abacus, the compass. But critics soon started raising objections. What about duct tape, the sticky silver stuff that can do just about anything?
“It’s the ultimate power tool,” says Tim Nyberg, a graphic designer from Minnesota, who, along with his brother-in-law Jim Berg, has sold nearly 3 million books and calendars as The Duct Tape Guys. “It’s so strong people have used it to pull cars out of ditches, yet you can rip it with your bare hands.”
When I was young, my mother bought me a pair of jeans that I just absolutely needed to have. Unfortunately, the only size the store had left was a pair whose length was far beyond my height at the time. My mom said she’d hem the pants, but if you’ve ever seen hemmed jeans, you know that they’re just not cool. My solution?
Duct tape.
It worked marvellously, and I’ve been a duct tape disciple ever since.
In typical Clinton fashion, one day after this story was published, we have the follow up denial. It’s as if we’ve been transported back to 1996.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said today that residents will be more likely to heed his warning and evacuate the city if another hurricane like Katrina hits New Orleans again.
Nagin predicted residents would be more likely to comply with evacuation orders now. He said residents would be bused away from the city rather than to shelters like the Superdome, where residents were stranded in hot, dank conditions for days after Katrina hit in late August.
“People are pretty attuned to leaving if I say you have to leave, so I don’t see that as being as much of a challenge,” he said.
So, it appears that Nagin (or whomever the next mayor is) will do everything to prevent a picture like this, next time.
We can only hope…
Meanwhile, Nagin is doing a little hoping of his own as he campaigns for reelection. That means he’s got to play nice with words, so he heaped sugary sweet compliments on the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, whom he credits for helping the city become better prepared to withstand the upcoming hurricane season.
The work they’re doing is just incredible,” Nagin said of ongoing work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Corps, which designed and built the city’s levees, has been heavily criticized by residents who note the city survived the worst of the Aug. 29 storm but then was swamped when flood walls broke, inundating 80 percent of the city with brackish water. Many have expressed fear about the condition of the levees as the June 1 start of hurricane season approaches.
But Nagin told The Associated Press he’s confident the Corps is using better materials and designs on the levees.
The election, which is likely to gain nationwide attention, is set for April 22.
Hugo is at it again.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned that if U.S. troops were to invade any Latin American country, “revolutionaries” from across the region would join forces to battle the Americans.
The Venezuelan leader said the U.S. “should know that if it wants or someday decides … to invade any of our countries – be it Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, today, tomorrow or the next day – we would be there gathering together the revolutionaries to do battle with weapons in hand against U.S. imperialism.”
Washington has said repeatedly it has no plans to attack Cuba.
The U.S. has accused Chavez of trying to export his socialist “revolution” to neighboring countries, saying he is a destabilizing force in the region.
“I am convinced that in this century we will bury U.S. imperialism, sooner rather than later,” Chavez said.
It’s amazing what powerless leaders of weakened countries will say just to gain the attention of the press. Chavez is a super bloviator who suffers from super power envy. He desperately wants to be in the world leader club, but always finds himself left off the “A” list. He’s really nothing more than a dancing monkey. Cute and interesting for about 15 seconds.
Bush, in an appearance before the press this morning, dismissed calls for censure as nothing more than partisan politics.
He’s right.
President Bush says Americans expect “an honest and open debate” — without “needless partisanship.” He was responding to a question about Senator Russell Feingold’s resolution to censure Bush over his warrantless wiretapping program.
In his White House news conference, Bush said Democrats haven’t come forward to demand an end to the domestic surveillance program.
Bush says if that’s what they want, then Democrats “ought to stand up and say, ‘The tools we’re using to protect the American people shouldn’t be used.’”
A brilliant push back move by Bush. Rather than ignore the matter altogether, he tells the Democrats to put action behind their words, something they’re mostly incapable of doing.