News (Page 2) -- July 14, 2006

Condemnation of Israeli action mounts - "Israeli strikes against civilian targets in Lebanon and Gaza, from power stations to bridges, stirred growing international condemnation on Friday and warnings the conflict could spread."

Hezbollah Leader Says He's Ready for War - "Speaking defiantly in an audiotape on Hezbollah's Al-Manar television less than an hour after missiles struck his headquarters and home, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah addressed himself to Israelis and said they must take responsibility for their actions. 'You wanted an open war, and we are heading for an open war,' he said. 'We are ready for it.'"

Threat of Rockets Puts Haifa on Edge - "Angered by the Hezbollah attack and almost nonstop rocket barrages on their towns and villages, Israelis gave the army widespread support for its largest operation in Lebanon in two decades."

US, major allies differ in response to Israeli attack - "Major US allies condemned the ferocity of Israel's military attack on Lebanon, revealing a clear split with Washington's moderate call for restraint." -- Has WWIII begun?

Bush won't pressure Israel for cease-fire - "President Bush rejected Lebanon's calls for a cease-fire in escalating Mideast violence on Friday, saying only that Israel should try to limit civilian casualties as it steps up attacks on its neighbor. "The president is not going to make military decisions for Israel," White House spokesman Tony Snow said."

Syria, Iran Seen As Behind Kidnappings - "The fighting between Israeli forces and Islamic militants in Lebanon hasn't touched Iran or Syria yet, but many analysts think those countries were the hidden hand behind Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers."

Bush 'concern' over jailed oil baron - "US President George W. Bush used a meeting Friday with Russian non-governmental groups to express concern over the fate of the jailed founder of Russian oil firm Yukos, participants said." -- Glad to see he has his priorities straight, you know, with WWIII on the brink and all.

Israel says Lebanon will hide WMDs for Iran - "In remarks made before the UN Security Council today, Ambassador Dan Gillerman claimed that Lebanon was willing to work with Iran to hide weapons of mass destruction." -- Come on, now. You expect me to believe that?

Israel is NOT a COUNTRY ... - "Webster's Contemporary Dictionary defines a country as; ... A land with its own government and geographic limits; a nation. ... 4. A tract or region of a specified nature. To my knowledge Israel claims no defined borders. ... Israel has no Constitution ... If you refute any facts in this diary then by all means flame away mates. If you want to attack me personally or troll rate me for publishing facts then please by all means expose yourself as the Troll Rating Zionist agents that you are. Peace."

US tells citizens to consider leaving Lebanon - "The United States has urged U.S. citizens to consider leaving Lebanon when conditions permit, the State Department said on Friday as Israel attacked Hizbollah targets and civilian installations. But no U.S. official or American citizen has left Lebanon because there is no way to leave, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, and the U.S. government is discussing contingency plans to help Americans leave."

Israel pounds Beirut, Hizbullah DENIES Haifa attack - "While Israel continues to destroy Lebanon, this crucial denial by Hizbullah was buried towards the end of the news report."

Depleted Uranium - "Don't like seeing this? Tough."

A Wave of Sexual Terrorism In Iraq - "Behind the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and her family lies a far larger story of what's happened to women in Iraq since they were 'liberated' by the Bush administration."

Stocks Tumble in Late Afternoon Trading - "The Dow Jones industrial average has lost almost 400 points over the past three days."

Frist sees stem cell Senate win, politics uncertain - "Majority Leader Bill Frist predicted on Friday the U.S. Senate would pass legislation next week expanding federal stem cell research, likely triggering a veto from President George W. Bush with unpredictable political repercussions."

Nebraska gay marriage ban upheld by appeals court - "Supporters of same-sex marriage suffered another defeat on Friday when an appellate court ruled a Nebraska ban on such unions was not unconstitutional."

First Half of 2006 Is Warmest on Record - "The government reported Friday that the average temperature for the 48 contiguous United States from January through June was 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit, or 3.4 degrees above average for the 20th century."

Air pollution changes cloud cover - "Tiny particles of pollution suspended in the air can stop clouds from forming, a NASA study says. The study, published in the journal Science, says the tiny particles can also increase cloud cover, depending on the particles' color."

Fucking and Feminism - "Ladies, be warned: Your pussies are causing the downfall of society. If we keep posing for nude photos, sucking cock (and enjoying it), and getting Brazilian bikini waxes, our hard-won feminist gains will disappear, according to the latest generation of scolds and alarmists, writers like Ariel Levy (Female Chauvinist Pigs), reality show rabbi Shmuley Boteach (Hating Women: America's Hostile Campaign Against the Fairer Sex), and Pamela Paul (Pornified). To them, fucking freely is bungling our climb toward equality. These well-intentioned prudes proffer a false choice: Be the next Jenna Jameson or support Hillary for president. There's no room for a lusty woman in office (never mind Mary Carey's political ambitions), and certainly no credence given to strippers or adult performers, who they see as airheaded sluts. We're in the middle of a culture war around sex, and it goes beyond left vs. right. Many of the voices quick to excoriate you for buttfucking, baring your boobs, having a threesome, or public sapphic smooching come from the left."