To those who didn't follow the story, some info. "BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has been released by kidnappers in the Gaza Strip after 114 days in captivity." (BBC) He had been the only Western reporter permanently stationed in the rather volatile Gaza region... I had few hopes that he would be released, personally, given precedents like Daniel Pearl's, etc. Still, really good news for a change.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6267928.stm
On a more down-to-earth note, the release is almost certainly political (Blair's departure), at least IMHO.
Alan Johnston released!
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The Beatles
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That's excellent news! I saw that earlier; it's quite pleasing to see a happy end to this horrid story, and I hope the man will be able to resume his life and overcome the trauma he most certainly has sustained.
If you go down to the woods today, you better not go alone
It's a lovely day in the woods today, but safer to stay at home
BECAUSE EVIL FREEN IS KILLING ALL THE TEDDY BEARS AT THEIR PICNIC
It's a lovely day in the woods today, but safer to stay at home
BECAUSE EVIL FREEN IS KILLING ALL THE TEDDY BEARS AT THEIR PICNIC
darn. i was wanting to see a head roll.
all about FAVRE, come on...you know you want to click it
The Kraken, which is found primarily in Scandinavian myth, was a huge sea creature. It was said to lie at the bottom of the sea for a long time and then it would rest at the surface....Like the Midgard serpent in the Norse myths, the Kraken was supposed to rise to the surface at the end of the world.
~Beatles..."I'm sorry, but I really can't see anything redeeming in your philosophy other than that dinosaurs are cute."
The Kraken, which is found primarily in Scandinavian myth, was a huge sea creature. It was said to lie at the bottom of the sea for a long time and then it would rest at the surface....Like the Midgard serpent in the Norse myths, the Kraken was supposed to rise to the surface at the end of the world.
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The Beatles
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You got that with Mr. Pearl...One crucial difference between them was that Mr. Pearl belonged to an ethnic classification much-hated by the Arab nationalists and Islamic fundamentalists: i.e. he was Jewish.
[edit] Apparently, the BBC World Service broadcasts to the uncharted Internet as well... here's a clip of Alan's statements:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y9NXJOOuYCs
:wq
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Ruddertail
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Beatles - the timing of the release may have something to do with Mr. Blair's departure. But I'd guess the release itself is mainly propaganda for Hamas.
The other crucial difference is that the guys who kidnapped and killed Mr. Pearl weren't in charge of a country or making any pretenses of respectability - they were infidel hating Islamofacists and proud of it. Hamas, on the other hand, seems to be trying to play as if they aren't so bad. Need something to cover for the fact that they won't stop swearing to wipe Israel off the map, I guess...
The other crucial difference is that the guys who kidnapped and killed Mr. Pearl weren't in charge of a country or making any pretenses of respectability - they were infidel hating Islamofacists and proud of it. Hamas, on the other hand, seems to be trying to play as if they aren't so bad. Need something to cover for the fact that they won't stop swearing to wipe Israel off the map, I guess...
Empires:
WOA: Attila the Hun(#13)
BFR: ?
Founder and Leader of Hungry Huns (HH)
WOA: Attila the Hun(#13)
BFR: ?
Founder and Leader of Hungry Huns (HH)
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The Beatles
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Sorry, I meant the timing, thanks for correcting me.
The other day there was a poll in my daily newspaper, something along the lines of what the U.S.'s reaction to Hamas's government should be. The options ranged from declare war to stop aid, etc. My thought was: why not welcome some stability? Fundamentally speaking, the people of the Gaza Strip are better off under law and order (at least in some degree) than anarchy. So whilst boycotts of the government are to be encouraged, I don't see why the recent Hamas takeover is so bad. If they resume their tactics again, that's a separate issue from ideology.
The other day there was a poll in my daily newspaper, something along the lines of what the U.S.'s reaction to Hamas's government should be. The options ranged from declare war to stop aid, etc. My thought was: why not welcome some stability? Fundamentally speaking, the people of the Gaza Strip are better off under law and order (at least in some degree) than anarchy. So whilst boycotts of the government are to be encouraged, I don't see why the recent Hamas takeover is so bad. If they resume their tactics again, that's a separate issue from ideology.
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Ruddertail
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They stopped their tactics? I thought they were still continually hitting an Israeli town or two with rockets...
In any case, it's kind of the same reason we'd be concerned if a Nazi group took over the government somewhere. You just don't want that kind of people with that kind of ideology having the support base that governing something provides - the taxes, the production capability, the recruitment capability, etc.
On the other hand, maybe we're better off having them centralize some. They'll have to come out from their holes somewhat...
In any case, it's kind of the same reason we'd be concerned if a Nazi group took over the government somewhere. You just don't want that kind of people with that kind of ideology having the support base that governing something provides - the taxes, the production capability, the recruitment capability, etc.
On the other hand, maybe we're better off having them centralize some. They'll have to come out from their holes somewhat...
Empires:
WOA: Attila the Hun(#13)
BFR: ?
Founder and Leader of Hungry Huns (HH)
WOA: Attila the Hun(#13)
BFR: ?
Founder and Leader of Hungry Huns (HH)
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Nuclear Raunch
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