Truth, Lies and In Between

Greenhouse sceptics to congregate

Katharine Murphy and Brendan Nicholson, Canberra and Richard Baker
February 28, 2007

HARD-CORE global warming sceptics will descend on Canberra today for the release of a book claiming environmentalism is the new religion.

Former mining executive Arvi Parbo will launch Ray Evans’ new publication, Nine Facts About Climate Change, at a function at Parliament House.

The book claims climate change is nothing new and declares Howard Government investments in solar power and in cleaning up coal a “complete waste of taxpayers’ money”.

“Environmentalism has largely superseded Christianity as the religion of the upper classes in Europe and to a lesser extent in the United States,” Mr Evans says in the publication.

“It is a form of religious belief which fosters a sense of moral superiority in the believer, but which places no importance on telling the truth,” he says.

“The global warming scam has been, arguably, the most extraordinary example of scientific fraud in the postwar period.”

More.

WASHINGTON — Bruce Crandall was a soldier once … and young. As a 32-year-old helicopter pilot, he flew through a gantlet of enemy fire, taking ammunition in and wounded Americans out of one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War, Army records say.

Now, a week after his 74th birthday, Crandall received the nation’s highest military honor Monday in a White House ceremony with President Bush.

“I’m still here,” he said of his 41-year-wait for the Medal of Honor. “Most of these awards are posthumous, so I can’t complain.”

Crandall’s actions in the November 1965 Battle at Ia Drang Valley were depicted in the Hollywood movie “We Were Soldiers,” adapted from the book “We Were Soldiers Once … And Young.”

More.

Congratulations Sir!

Long over due.

SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA EMIR, 14 OTHERS CAPTURED
BAGHDAD, Iraq –Coalition Forces detained 15 suspected terrorists including a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir during raids Monday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.

During an operation in Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir and one of his associates.

Three suspected foreign terrorist facilitators were captured in operations northeast of Samarra, and eight more were captured in a foreign fighter safe house west of Mahmudiyah.

In downtown Ramadi, Coalition Forces captured two suspects in a foreign fighter safe house. Intelligence reports indicated members of the cell were allegedly planning suicide operations against Coalition or Iraqi Forces.

“Coalition Forces are making progress dismantling the foreign fighter and al-Qaeda terrorist networks inside Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “These operations send a message to terrorists that they will be caught and prosecuted for their crimes under the Iraqi justice system.”

Iraqi Police, Coalition Forces Discover Large EFP Cache
Multi-National Division – North PAO

BAQUBAH, Iraq – An informant’s tip led Iraqi Police officers from Judidah, Iraq, and
Coalition force members from the 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Cavalry Division, to a large improvised explosive device cache in the Baqubah area
Saturday.

The cache consisted of:
• 2 explosively formed projectiles in various stages of assembly
• One completed improvised mine and more than a dozen others in various
stages of construction
• More than two dozen mortar rounds and 15 rockets
• Over 130 disks capable of producing as many individual EFPs
• Six rocket launchers
• Five anti-aircraft rounds
• Over two dozen RPG warheads
• More than 400 plastic and steel containers in various stages of fabrication for
IED construction
• Large quantities of IED-making material such as detonation cord, C4, blasting
caps, fuses, EFP launching tubes, bags of ball bearings and voltage
regulators

“The vigilance of the Iraqi Police and the willingness of the people of Diyala to
end the cycle of violence led to this discovery,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav.
commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala province.
A Coalition Forces explosive ordnance disposal unit safely disposed of some of
the munitions with the majority of the cache being transferred to Forward Operating
Base Warhorse.

“The terrorists and sectarian fighters who use these explosives have no other
desire than to stop the progress of the country,” Sutherland said. “Their hatred
manifests itself in the weapons that these supplies would have been used for. The
people realize this and understand that progress is impossible without stopping the
violence.

“The people are choosing, and they are choosing progress and development by
providing information,” he added.

SUSPECTED SENIOR AL-QAEDA LEADER CAPTURED IN MOSUL

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two terrorists and captured a suspected senior al-Qaida leader during a raid Sunday morning in Mosul.

While approaching the first targeted building, Coalition Forces began receiving enemy fire from an adjacent building. Coalition Forces fired back, killing one terrorist.

Upon entering the adjacent building, ground forces were confronted by an armed terrorist who began maneuvering on the ground forces. Ground forces took proper self-defense measures and killed the armed terrorist.

During the raid, Coalition Forces detained six suspected terrorists, including the targeted individual who is believed to be a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader operating a terrorist cell in Mosul.

This operation was part of ongoing efforts to empower the Iraqi people to defend, govern and rebuild their country. Coalition Forces will continue to hunt down and capture or kill terrorists trying to prevent a peaceful and stable Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

12 suspected Al Qaeda terrorists detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 12 suspected terrorists during raids Saturday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.

In Fallujah, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists with alleged ties to a foreign fighter facilitation cell. Intelligence reports indicated the suspected terrorists were associated with senior-level foreign fighter facilitators in the local area.

Coalition Forces captured the suspected leader of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell in Mosul. The al-Qaeda cell in Mosul reportedly facilitates financial transactions in Iraq and neighboring countries. Four others were detained during the raid.

Another raid in Mosul netted a suspected terrorist with financial ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq. During the raid Coalition Forces discovered a large amount of Egyptian and Syrian money and false passports and identification cards.

North of Amiriyah, three suspected terrorists were detained including the alleged leader of a local vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell.

“Successful Coalition operations continue to disrupt al-Qaida in Iraq operations, restrict the flow of foreign fighters and reduce the terrorist organization’s ability to finance terrorist operations,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

Apparently a couple of the idiots on the left in Washington D.C. are finally waking up to reality.
Gun control only works on the law abiding citizens.
The criminals run rampant in the city with guns.
Go figure…

From the Washington Examiner

Freedom from fear is also a right

WASHINGTON – District residents have been the guinea pigs in a failed 30-year-old experiment in social engineering. Three decades of strict gun control laws have not made the capital city’s streets safer. On the contrary, since 1976, D.C.’s murder rate has increased 32 percent, and violent crimes committed during the first few weeks of 2007 by gun-wielding thugs are up a staggering 50 percent over the same period last year.

None other than former Mayor Marion Barry, now representing Ward 8 on the D.C. Council, is waving the white flag of surrender by introducing legislation to provide potential victims a limited window of opportunity to arm themselves in self defense. “We are in the midst of a gun-violence epidemic,” Barry said. Everybody but the criminals are abiding by the city’s gun control laws [which] have long been among the toughest in the nation. Not only are District residents forbidden from owning firearms not registered before 1977, they must also keep legal rifles and shotguns at home, unloaded, disassembled and useless against an armed intruder.

Barry deserves credit for stating the obvious, considering that most city officials shrink from accounting for the 2,656 illegal firearms recovered last year by the Metropolitan Police Department — weapons current gun control laws were supposed to keep out of the city.

Time for the rest of the country to wake the hell up and arm the law abiding citizens.
I may live in a liberal lunatic haven, but at least I can still own a gun.
This screwed up state isn’t much better. The assault weapons ban is also ludicrous.

IA captures rogue JAM cell members during raid

BAGHDAD – Special Iraqi Army Forces captured two suspected members of a rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi militia cell during operations with Coalition advisors Feb. 18 in southern Baghdad.

The Iraqi led operation was targeting a cell believed responsible for attacks against Iraqi civilians in the area. The cell is also suspected of participating in the kidnapping, torture and murder of an Iraqi Army officer in December 2006.

Iraqi forces carried out operations with minimal damage to the objective. There were no Iraqi civilians, Iraqi forces or Coalition Forces casualties.

Hey MSM! I can’t hear you…

Operation nets 49 suspects, uncovers three roadside bombs

YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detained 49 suspected terrorists and found three improvised explosive devices during a combat security operation Feb. 16-17 in Quarghuli Village, Iraq, southwest of Baghdad.

Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment “Polar Bears,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment and the 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division conducted the clearing operation coined as “Operation Polar Iron.”

The two-day operation, which consisted of air and ground assaults, was conducted in order to disrupt anti-Iraqi forces believed to be operating in and around Quarghuli Village, long known as a terrorist safe haven.

During the operation the soldiers received small arms fire, but no one was hurt. The IEDs were detonated during a controlled detonation conducted by an explosive ordnance team.

The suspects were all detained for further questioning.

More good stuff.

Troops detain suspect linked to roadside bomb attacks

Troops detain suspect linked to roadside bomb attacks
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Public Affairs

RADWANIYAH, Iraq — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detained a suspected terrorist southwest of Radwaniyah, Iraq Feb. 18.

Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment “Golden Dragons,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) detained the suspect during a combat operation 30 miles southwest of Baghdad.

The suspect was detained after the Golden Dragon troops discovered improvised explosive device-making materials, to include crush wire initiators.

The suspect was detained for further questioning.