News of the Day
Seven men were apprehended and indicted in Miami yesterday for planning to “to wage war against the United States government,” according to the indictment. The alleged saboteurs hoped to attack the Sears Tower and a FBI building in Miami.
A skirmish broke out in Baghdad today between members of the Mahdi Army and unidentified attackers in a Sunni neighborhood. The Mahdi Army had been ushering Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr through a Sunni neighborhood when the hostilities began. After the fight concluded, a state of emergency was declared in Baghdad.
By 86 to 13, the Senate voted against a proposal put forward by John Kerry (D-MA) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) that called for complete withdrawal from Iraq by July 2007. A non-binding bill that sought a draw down in troop numbers supported by Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jack Reed (D-RI) was defeated by 60 to 39.
A Human Rights Watch report raised questions about an Israeli army investigation into the death of eight Palestinians on June 10. The report suggests that the general who lead the inquiry, Major General Meir Klifi, could not carry out an adequately impartial analysis of the events.
Bolivian president Evo Morales’ plans for land redistribution have lead to antagonism between property-owners and the country’s vast population of impoverished peasants. Armed battles have already taken place, and more are certain to follow as Morales begins to carry out his reforms.
About those saboteurs, I think alleged is the key word. There seem to be quite a number of us who look on this news with deep skepticism. Egged on, of course, by agents provocateurs like the BBC!
June 23, 2006 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Despite What Josh Marshall put up on the front page, at least one of those arrested in Miami, Narseal Batiste, appears to be a Muslim, according to his father. Here's the text of an email which I sent to Josh earlier today:
Apparently the leader of the group, Narseal Batiste, had become a Muslim,
according to his father, who lives in Marksville, Louisiana. However, the
religion that the group practiced sounds like a very mixed bag.
What about the administrations statements that "we're fighting them over there, so we don't have to fight them over here"? Why is no one talking about that?
Here's a link to the article in the Baton Rouge "Morning Advocate",in which the
reporter interviews the Rev. Narcisse Batiste, the father of Narseal Batiste.
Here's what Narcisse Batiste says of his son:
But several years ago, Narseal Batiste decided to convert to the Muslim faith. His father wasn’t happy.
“I counseled him. I asked him questions,” Narcisse Batiste said. “He said they were very active and teaching him the Holy Quran. He said, ‘Daddy, it’s strictly about God,’ so I backed off about that. I didn’t like it, but he wasn’t in my house. He was of age; he was married already. I didn’t have control no more. I didn’t fight with him about it. But I did tell him he shouldn’t change.”
June 24, 2006 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
On CNN they showed the mother of one of those arrested who was American. She showed his Bible, apparently he was Christian. This whole situation bears further investigation and what happens next should prove interesting. It's a story that needs to be followed closely.
June 24, 2006 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink