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Old Yeller - Al Gore - Part 2

Al Gore does appear to be a sick man. Is Gore Mentally Unstable? It is now clear that Al Gore is insane.

These are only three of the many articles written after Former vice president Al Gore delivered troubling remarks to a MoveOn PAC audience in New York earlier this week.

Al Gore does appear to be a sick man

"It is now clear that Al Gore is insane," John Podhoretz wrote in his New York Post column..I don't mean that his policy ideas are insane, though many of them are.

I mean that based on his behavior, conduct, mien and tone over the past two days, there is every reason to believe that Albert Gore Jr., desperately needs help.

I think he needs medication, and I think that if he is already on medication, his doctors need to adjust it or change it entirely."

Henry I. Miller, a physician: Gore's Narcissistic Personality Disorder is one good reason that I wouldn't want him to be president — or to live next door to me.

Gore mentally unstable

WorldNetDaily, Joseph Farah: Wow! Thank God for the electoral college.

Those founding fathers really knew what they were doing. Had the Constitution called for direct election of the president of the United States, a clearly mentally unstable man would be sitting in the Oval Office right now.

The man is unhinged. He's deranged. He's unbalanced. He had better get out of New York as quickly as he can because, as Ralph Kramden would say, "Bellevue is calling."

Here are some of the descriptives this psycho used about President Bush:

"he has brought us humiliation in the eyes of the world"

"he has brought deep dishonor to our country and built a reputation as the most dishonest president since Richard Nixon"

"he has pursued "policies that resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent men, women and children, all of it done in our name"

"he designed and insisted upon policies that established "an American Gulag of dark rooms and naked prisoners" and a policy of "torture" at Abu Graib

And, irony of ironies, while the former vice president was doing all of this, he had the audacity to accuse the Bush administration of introducing "a new level of viciousness in partisan politics."

He also characterized U.S. Iraq policy as evidence of "the worst strategic and military miscalculations and mistakes in the history of the United States of America."

Can he really not distinguish between a presidential election campaign and a war to defend the lives of American citizens from terrorists.

I don't think Gore can distinguish between realities. I don't think he is any longer in touch with reality and truth.

This is the guy who thinks the biggest threat facing mankind and the planet is the internal combustion engine.

Somebody get this guy a sedative. I really believe he needs medical and psychiatric help. Throw a net over this man before he does any further harm to this nation.

Weird Al-A troubled and alarming vice president.

First Howard Dean, Now Al Gore.

Who will be next? Kennedy, Pelosi, Kerry or the Democratic Party?

The Dog Barks, But The Caravan Moves On

Fred Barnes: The Dog Barks, but the caravan moves on. This Arab saying has been used privately by Bush administration officials to characterize the progress that continues, despite all difficulties, in Iraq.

There's some truth to it. The turnover of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government...will take place on June 30. Iraqi police and civil defense forces will continue to grow.

Creation of machinery for a nationwide election next January will proceed. So will construction of a network of modern infrastructure in Iraq, perhaps at a quickened pace.

It's true a dog sometimes bites as well as barks, and serious threats to the birth of a new Iraq remain, especially the climate of terror that prevails over much of the country today.

Despite lingering violence, Iraq is more likely than not to muddle through. This won't happen, however, unless America stands firm and doesn't retreat, even slowly, from its promise of a stable democratic Iraq at peace with itself and its neighbors.

President Bush renewed this promise last week in his speech at the Army War College. But elites in America--especially much of the media and the political class--have lost faith in the prospect of success in Iraq.

Nor will a United Nations resolution endorsing the interim government help much. It may have been clever to recruit U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to assemble temporary leaders and begin creating an election apparatus.

His role will give the new government all the legitimacy it needs. Returning to the Security Council for a new resolution is both unnecessary and risky.

No good can come from making the American and British effort in Iraq subject to the whims of the French, Russians, and Chinese. They are already seeking to attach strings that would weaken American influence in Iraq and shackle allied troops.

So our advice is simple. Stay firm in the commitment to democracy. Stick to the plan for sovereignty and elections, preferably moving forward the date of elections. Intensify the fight against terrorists in Iraq. Forget the U.N.

Yes, the dog will continue to bark. But the caravan will move on smartly.

--Fred Barnes, for the Editors

Old Yeller - Al Gore

Leno: I saw Old Yeller on TV yesterday – Al Gore.

(Videotape, May 26, 2004),
(In His shrill put on Southern tone )
Al GORE:

(Loud) We simply cannot afford to further increase the risk to our country with more blunders by this team.

(louder) Donald Rumsfeld ought to resign immediately as the chief architect of this plan.

(Loudest) Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, the intelligence chief Stephen Cambone all ought to resign immediately. Our nation is at risk every single day Rumsfeld remains as secretary of defense.

(Scream) Condoleezza Rice ought to resign immediately. She has badly mishandled the coordination of national security policy.

(Dean Scream) This is a disaster for our country, and they are responsible along with the president and vice president.

(Weird Gore Scream) President Bush's utter incompetence has made the world a far more dangerous place.

Joseph Farah: Wow! Thank God for the electoral college. Had the Constitution called for direct election of the president of the United States, a clearly mentally unstable man would be sitting in the Oval Office right now.

MR. RUSSERT: What did you think of Al Gore's tone?

REP. PELOSI: We all have our own style in all of these things, and I think that he has reached the level that many of us have... and there has to be a change.

So I share the frustration that he has. But I would say once you're calling for the resignation of all those people, it's about the president of the United States.

And I want to say one thing about the president, which also provoked me to say what I said. (Bush held her down and forced her to say these Things-)

Pelosi on May 20: "Bush is an incompetent leader. In fact, he's not a leader. ...He's a person who has no judgment, no experience and no knowledge of the subjects that he has to decide upon. ...He has on his shoulders the deaths of many more troops..."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Gore mentally unstable

“Weird Al” Gore

Democrats unleash Gore on Bush

Worst President or Are the Goreocrats Just Nuts?

Pelosi: I Showed 'Great Courage' Bashing Bush

The text of Al Gore's speech

MEET THE PRESS - Transcript Sunday, May 30, 2004

Leno

Welcome to "The Tonight Show.” I’m Jay Leno, the "American Idol.” Thank you very much.

As I’m sure you know, last night on "American Idol,” Fantasia Barrino beat out Diana Degarmo. "American Idol” – sounds more like "The Sopranos,” doesn’t it?

"American Idol” received a record 65 million votes. 65 million votes! And today Bush and Kerry both started singing lessons.

A lot of people voted twice. Today John Kerry said he actually voted for Diana before he voted for Fantasia.

In more serious news, hundreds of Iraqi detainees were released today from the Abu Ghraib prison. They celebrated their freedom by getting naked and putting underpants on their heads and running around.

Security officials in Iraq say that a number of suicide bombers there are detonating prematurely. The bombs are going off before they even reach their target. And the problem is ...?

I saw Old Yeller on TV yesterday – Al Gore.

Yesterday a fiery Al Gore called for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice and CIA Director George Tenet. Bush was furious. He said to Gore today, "Hey, who elected you president?!”

John Kerry has a new 757 jet to use while he campaigns for president ... did you see it on the news? This is a really cool plane. In the event that Kerry starts speaking, oxygen masks fall from the ceiling to keep people awake.

Kerry told reporters it’s not his plane, "It belongs to my wife."

Gas prices are supposed to be the highest of the year this weekend, almost three dollars a gallon in Beverley Hills. In fact, gas was so high, today on the freeway I saw someone carpooling with Omarosa.

Here’s a story I talked about earlier in the week. In a medical first, a baby boy was born with 21-year-old frozen sperm. I didn’t even know Ted Williams was dating again.

MTV has announced plans to launch the first gay cable TV channel. The first? What do you call Bravo and Lifetime? It’s the third at best!

According to a new study, men who drive Porsches are the most likely to have extramarital affairs. Do you know who has the least affairs? Guys who ride the bus. There’s nothing happening there.

Pundits, heal thyselves!

Ilana Mercer

Suppose your doctor misdiagnoses your condition – he tells you that six months hence you'll be stone-cold dead, pushing up the daisies.

As it turns out, however, you did not have leukemia after all, but were only suffering from Lyme disease. Would you not consider switching practitioners?

Say your stockbroker's picks leave you with a portfolio more volatile than Vesuvius and an eviscerated bank account. Short of buying shares in a Baghdad bed and breakfast, he did everything wrong. Would you still entrust him with your money?

Imagine you're a fisherman. Your local weatherman predicts calm, but you lose your boat in treacherous seas. (Thankfully your life is spared.) Then he forecasts a storm, but the sea is as calm as glass, and you miss out on the biggest catch ever. How long before you stop trusting his "expertise"?

These analogies came to mind as I listened to a different sort of failed "expert," for whom public goodwill runs eternal. This particular "boffin" was spluttering on Fox News about the trumped-up case against Martha Stewart, admitting openly that he too had called for her head. He now conceded that the government's brief was seriously flawed. Too many people, not least a federal expert witness, had lied.

I'll be damned, but if this unwily fox's predictive powers are so poor, why was he back on the box to bloviate about his blunders? It's not as if there weren't alternatives. The Mises Institute did not hold me back on the topic of Martha's martyrdom , or Bill Anderson, or James Ostrowski. There were others (although none as diligent about privileging the natural law).

Then I got to thinking about the neoconservative talking twits. They've been wrong all along about the invasion of Iraq. They've consistently dished out dollops of ahistoric, unintuitive, and reckless verbiage. Yet they've retained their status as philosopher-kings.

Thomas Friedman, Christopher Hitchens (undeniably a writer of considerable flare and originality), George Will and Tucker Carlson (both of whom seem to have conveniently recanted at the 11th hour), Charles Krauthammer, William Kristol, Mark Steyn, Max Boot, John Podhoretz, Andrew Sullivan – they all grabbed the administration's bluff and ran with it. Like the good Trotskyites many of them were, once they tasted blood, they writhed like sharks. Compounding their scent-impaired bloodhound act was their utter ignorance of geopolitical realities – they insisted our soldiers would be greeted with blooms and bonbons and that an Iraqi democracy would rise from the torrid sands of Mesopotamia.

Their innumerable errors and flagrant hubris did not prevent the neoconservatives from managing to marginalize their competitors on the Right: the intrepid Pat Buchanan and his American Conservative; the quixotic Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. of LewRockwell.com, and Antiwar.com. (Plus this column, of course). Unfortunately for America, there hasn't been a horror in Iraq that these prescients did not foretell well in advance.

Some conscientious objectors in the halls of power tried to sound the alarm, but, like Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, and Secretary of the Army Thomas White, they were dismissed for mutiny and generally mocked by the mediacrats. Former general and National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft; former Centcom Commander Norman Schwarzkopf; former NATO Commander Wesley Clark; former Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki, and Marine Corps Commandant James Jones were all cool to the war. Retired Gen. Anthony Zinni, distinguished warrior, diplomat and card-carrying Republican, warned Congress against the "wrong war at the wrong time." The neocons dismissed them all as "yesterday's men."

So why are insightful commentators whose observations have predictive power generally barred from the national discourse, while false neoconservative prophets are called back for encores?

The answer will not please admirers of the late James Burnham, who blame scheming elites for any popularly accepted project they dislike, be it unwarranted wars or welfare. Contrary to Burnham, elites – media included – can rule only if they represent ideologies that are widely embraced, as the invasion of Iraq was. Today's news is not what it used to be because a dumbed-down population, well represented in newsrooms, cannot distinguish evidence from assertion and fact from feel-good fiction. News is now nothing but a slick, demand-driven product designed to please – not inform – the populace.

Fox News was able to create the perception of a parallel universe in Iraq replete with big (nuclear) bangs and miraculously materializing al-Qaida terrorists because its Hollywood-inspired vision resonated with viewers. The ratings provided proof. By popular demand, MSNBC, CNN and the New York Times (This means you, Judith Miller) adopted a similar faux patriotism devoid of skepticism and serenely accepting of every silly White House claim.

Replacing incompetent stockbrokers and doctors is essential if serious financial losses or even death are to be avoided. On the other hand, the opportunity costs associated with consumption of toxic punditry are low or non-existent. Having their worldview affirmed – even affirmed in a parallel universe – is worth a lot to news consumers, who are keener to avoid the pains of cognitive dissonance than to get the real deal.

Webb: 'Should George Bush Get The Death Penalty? I Say Yes'

Talon News, Jimmy Moore: Despite maintaining his innocence by claiming he never called for the death of the president or anyone because he is opposed to the death penalty, the audio copy of Webb's show proves otherwise.

During the 10:00 p.m. hour last Tuesday night, Webb was speaking in an angry tone regarding the Iraqi prison abuse story when he began his death penalty remarks against Bush.

After declaring Bush being guilty of committing a "war crime," Webb compared the president with death row convicts in Texas.

"So, I say if this man has committed a war crime, let's let George Bush get the final justice that he has meted out as Governor of Texas, let him face the death penalty for the war crime he has committed," Webb contended.

Declaring that administering the death penalty to the president "is constitutional," Webb included other Bush administration leaders in the list of those who "should get the death penalty," including Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney."

Webb then asks his listeners a question and quickly answers it for himself.

"[S]hould George Bush get the death penalty? I say yes," Webb exclaimed.

Despite Webb's attempt to take the attention off of his apparent death threats against Bush, the outrage towards him and his statements continues to spread across the country.

Webb Attacks Conservative Media After Being Exposed for 'Death Penalty' Remarks Against Bush

Webb began his attacks against "Talen [sic] News or whatever it's called" by stating "just because we have web sites, doesn't make us 'publishers.' But some people take their little 'online account' a bit too seriously."

"I guess anything goes for these people who couldn't publish a Jr. High newspaper, let alone be handed the keys to a little hometown 'news' site on the Internet," Webb scowled.

Dismissing "reactionary right wing garbage" as "pretty insignificant," Webb maintains that the media has become too overrun by conservatives.

Then, in a rant about conservative web sites, Webb refers to them as "little girls" who "toss a hissyfit over someone who disagrees with anything" that is not conservative.

Since Talon News first began exposing the incendiary remarks made by him last week, Webb claims he has been receiving "death threats, vulgar, hate mail" about his comments.

Webb said he needs to get back to work to "overturn" the Bush presidency and to continue looking into "issues of injustice, abuse, constititional [sic] exploitation and foul play committed by this administration."

People who are concerned with Webb's comments should contact Entercom Communications Seattle Market Manager Kevin McCarthy at 206-726-7000.

The Secret Service may be contacted by calling 202-406-5708 and the Federal Communications Commission can be reached at 888-835-5322.

Saddam's Files Show 'Direct' 9/11 Link

Newly uncovered files examined by U.S. military investigators in Baghdad show what is being described as "a direct link" between Saddam Hussein's elite Fedayeen military unit and the terrorist attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001.

Ahmed Hikmat Shakir, who attended a January 2000 al-Qaida summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the 9/11 attacks were planned, is listed among the officers on three Fedayeen rosters reviewed by U.S. probers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

"Our government sources, who have seen translations of the documents, say Shakir is listed with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel," the paper said.

Though the Journal doesn't mention it, Saddam's Fedayeen has been identified in previous reports as the group that conducted 9/11-style hijack training drills on a parked Boeing 707 airliner at the south Baghdad terrorist camp Salman Pak.

In a post obtained through Saddam's Mukhabarat intelligence service, Shakir was stationed at the Iraqi Embassy in Kuala Lumpur at the time of the 9/11 planning session.

Also in attendance were 9/11 hijackers Khalid al Midhar and Nawaz al Hamzi, who were piloting American Airlines Flight 77 when it crashed into the Pentagon.

Ramzi bin al Shibh, the operational planner of the 9/11 attacks, and Tawfiz al Atash, a high-ranking Osama bin Laden lieutenant and mastermind of the USS Cole bombing, were also at the meeting, the Journal said.

When Shakir was arrested in Qatar on Sept. 17, 2001, he was carrying phone numbers of the 1993 World Trade Center bombers' safe houses and contacts, as well as information relating to Operation Bojinka, a plot devised by trade center bomber Ramzi Yousef that became the blueprint for the 9/11 attacks.

The Qataris released Shakir after a brief detention and he fled to Jordan, where he was re-arrested. Inexplicably, however, the CIA signed off on his release after Amnesty International complained.

"He was last seen heading home to Baghdad," the Journal says.

Letterman

It’s fleet week here in New York City. 4,000 sailors are visiting New York City. And this is a neat idea. One of them gets to be the new Jennifer Lopez fiancé.

Good news. Crime is down in New York City. The bad news is that it’s our number one industry.

I can tell that crime is down because it’s been months since I’ve been on the subway and had to yell, "Isn’t someone going to do something?!”

Conan

Big night for television tonight. The big finale for "American Idol” was tonight. Now we tape our show a little bit early so we don’t know who won. But whoever replaces Reuben Stoddard has some very big pants to fill.

Next week for charity purposes a man is going to swim the length of the Hudson River. The money raised will go towards treating all the diseases that he will pick up while swimming the Hudson River.

It’s being reported that Michael Jackson is considering moving to somewhere in Africa – then he found out that the country of Chad is not a little boy.

Kilborn

Tom Ridge urged all Americans to go back to their normal daily routines. So prepare yourself for some really bad jokes.

A study has found that people that smoke, drink and eat red meat – are generally more happy.

Kennedy Mocks Kerry; Daley Tells Kerry to Stop the Hatred

Massachusetts' senior U.S. senator pretended to be on the phone with his protege and said, "Yes, John. Whatever you say, John," one eyewitness revealed.

One prominent Democrat lawmaker told the Herald: "People are kicking the [expletive] out of Kerry over this. I can't find anybody who thinks this is a good idea."

You know that Sen. John Kerry is in trouble when even his close ally Sen. Teddy Kennedy is ridiculing him.

Democrats are so furious over Kerry's waffling about whether to delay accepting the party's presidential nomination that "Kennedy privately mocked Kerry at a party fund-raising event this week for failing to consult him, pretending to take orders from the junior senator over the phone," the Boston Herald reported today.

Daley to Kerry: Stop the Hatred

And you know Kerry is in trouble when a hard-core Democrat pol tells him to stop being so hateful and disrespectful.

Earlier in the presidential campaign, Kerry made a comment to some union employees that the Bush administration was a bunch of corrupt liars.

Oops! He's done it again.

Kerry, in what he supposedly thought was an off-the-record conversation with reporters, said after President Bush's fall from his bike last weekend, "Did the training wheels fall off?"

Five-term Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who had a similar injury years ago, jabbed Kerry for his sneering attitude toward the president.

Daley reminded his party's nominee-to-be: "When someone falls ... you should not wish ill upon anyone. It's not right. ... You just don't do that. Let's have some respect for one another."

President Bush, of course, made no ugly comments after Kerry recently suffered falls while bicycling and while snowboarding.

"To Daley, Kerry's remark symbolized a hate-filled brand of politics the mayor has long despised," the Chicago Sun-Times reported today.

Hizzoner said: "The thing I worry about in politics is all of these people hating one another: 'I hate Kerry', 'I hate Bush.' I wish the former presidents - Carter and Ford and Clinton and Bush - would all get up and tell people, 'You may support candidates, but don't hate the other candidate.'

"You see too much hate. And I'll tell you one thing - hate will turn on people. ... When hate gets in politics, it's a very, very dangerous aspect."

No word yet on whether Democrats around the country, including members of such hate groups such as Moveon.org, have hung their heads in shame.

Kilborn

John Kerry just got a $10 million 757 for travel for his campaign. If you have a 757 do you really need to be president?

The 757 weighs 30 tons and can land on the fence.

Conan

”Shrek 2” made $128 million in its first week. In a related story John Kerry has asked Shrek to marry him.

Leno

John Kerry met with Ralph Nader last week. Both sides of every issue were discussed. And then, Nader spoke.

First Kerry fell off his bike, and now Bush fell off his. Can’t we get a man who can pedal a bicycle and be president at the same time?

Here’s an amazing story - in a medical first a baby boy was born with sperm that was frozen 21 years ago. They named the boy "Ice Cube.”

White Castle announced they are thinking about coming out with a veggie burger. Veggie burgers at white castle, hey, how ‘bout coming out with a beef burger? Why don’t you try that?

A 45 year old man in Germany was arrested after he ran over to a neighbors house and forced them to stop redecorating their home at gunpoint.

He pulled a gun on them and made them stop redecorating. Finally, somebody doing something about all this makeover crap. How many are with this guy? Enough is enough!

Anger Is The Only Thing Democrats Have Been Offering

For Democrats, it's good vs. evil

Jennifer Harper (WT): The Democrats are talking trash these days, lobbing the left wing's frantic and often melodramatic insults at the Bush administration.

Christine Iverson (RNC): There is no longer a distinction between the rhetoric used by people on the left fringe of the Democratic Party and the rhetoric used by the leaders of the Democratic Party.

"This is the same vitriolic stream of political hate speech we've seen since the Democrat primary began. Anger is not an agenda, but anger is the only thing Democrats have been offering the American people.And it's going to backfire."

But the Democrats are forging ahead.

Sen. Tim Johnson: How sweet it's going to be on June 2 when the Taliban wing of the Republican Party finds out what's happening in South Dakota.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy: Shamefully, we now learn that Saddam's torture chambers reopened under new management — U.S. management.

Such talk is "anti-American slander," according to Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby yesterday..."ignored by the mainstream press and Democratic establishment."

Ralph Nader also got in on the act, calling President Bush a "messianic militarist" and "an out-of-control West Texas sheriff." Mr. Nader also suggested the president be impeached for purportedly lying about the Iraq war.

There could be a price for all this rudeness.

"Voters know the Democrats are angry," said the RNC's Miss Iverson. "But they don't know what they're for — and that's going to turn off moderate and undecided voters in a general election."

Meanwhile, sundry journalists trotted out Nazi themes and overblown comparisons.

ESPN, Hunter S. Thompson wrote that the prisoner-abuse images were worse than "the foulest atrocities of Adolf Hitler."

The public, indeed, has its limits.

When novelist E.L. Doctorow criticized Mr. Bush in the name of "responsible citizenship" during a college commencement address Sunday, he was booed by the audience.

Still, trash talk flourishes.

Ted Kennedy's anti-American slander

Webb: 'Should George Bush Get The Death Penalty? I Say Yes'

Democrats unleash Gore on Bush

SELF-DEFEATING HATE

Media should stop bashing America

Ted Kennedy's anti-American slander

By Jeff Jacoby, Globe Columnist | May 25, 2004

TWO WEEKS ago Senator Ted Kennedy uttered what may turn out to be the single most disgusting remark made about the United States in the course of the Iraq War. The reaction to his slander - or rather, the lack of reaction - speaks volumes about the moral bankruptcy of the American left.

Speaking in the Senate on May 10, Kennedy had this to say about the Abu Ghraib prison scandal:

''On March 19, 2004, President Bush asked, 'Who would prefer that Saddam's torture chambers still be open?' Shamefully, we now learn that Saddam's torture chambers reopened under new management - US management.''

Read the full text of Kennedy's remarks

The Army Of Men That Love Death, As You Love Life

Dealing in Death-The West is weak because it respects life?

Steven Stalinsky: In the war on terrorism, major battles from early Islamic history serve as inspiration for those fighting against the West.

As al Qaeda associate Abu Musab al-Zarqawi beheaded American Nicholas Berg in Iraq last week, he asked:

"Is it time for you [Muslims] to take the path of jihad and carry the sword of the Prophet of prophets?... The Prophet, the most merciful, ordered [his army] to strike the necks of some prisoners in [the battle of] Badr and to kill them... And he set a good example for us."

"As for you, Bush, dog of the Christians, anticipate what will harm you... And you will only get shroud after shroud and coffin after coffin slaughtered in this manner."

Another chapter from early Islamic history — serving as a lesson for today's Muslims at war against the West — is the concept of the love of death.

This originated at the Battle of Qadisiyya in the year 636, when the commander of the Muslim forces, Khalid ibn Al-Walid, sent an emissary with a message from Caliph Abu Bakr to the Persian commander, Khosru.

The message stated: "You [Khosru and his people] should convert to Islam, and then you will be safe, for if you don't, you should know that I have come to you with an army of men that love death, as you love life."

This account is recited in today's Muslim sermons, newspapers, and textbooks.

The Muslim loves death and [strives for] martyrdom." Saudi Sheikh Abd Al-Muhsin Al-Qassem in Al-Madina added:

"The Jews preached permissiveness and corruption, as they hid behind false slogans like freedom and equality, humanism and brotherhood... They are cowards in battle... they flee from death and fear fighting... They love life."

President Bush referred to this concept:

"On a tape claiming responsibility for the atrocities in Madrid, a man is heard to say, 'We choose death, while you choose life.'... It is a mindset that rejoices in suicide, incites murder, and celebrates every death we mourn."

"We do love life... We believe in the values that uphold the dignity of life, tolerance, and freedom, and the right of conscience."

"This way of life is worth defending. There is no neutral ground ...in the fight between civilization and terror, because there is no neutral ground between good and evil, freedom and slavery, and life and death."

"A man named Berg was put to the sword; tomorrow, it could be the Arab nation torn asunder by the same savagery."

WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY?

(Sent to Us By Ed and Norma Bzdyk)

The following appeared in the Durham, NC local paper as a letter to the editor.

Liberals claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war.

They complain about his prosecution of it.

One liberal recently claimed Bush was the worst president in U.S. history.

Let's clear up one point: President Bush didn't start the war on terror. Try to remember, it was started by terrorists BEFORE 9/11.

Let's look at the "worst" president and mismanagement claims.

FDR led us into World War II.
Germany never attacked us: Japan did.
From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost,
an average of 112,500 per year.

Truman finished that war and started one in Korea.
North Korea never attacked us.
From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost,
an average of 18,333 per year.

John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962.
Vietnam never attacked us.
Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire.
From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost,
an average of 5,800 per year.

Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent.
Bosnia never attacked us.

He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing.
Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.
Over 2,900 lives lost on 9/11.

In the two years since terrorists attacked us,
President Bush has liberated two countries,
crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida,
put nuclear inspectors in Lybia, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot, captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.

We lost 800 soldiers, an average of 400 a year.
Bush did all this abroad while not allowing another terrorist attack at home.

Worst president in history? Come on!

The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking, but...

It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51 day operation.

We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Teddy Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.

It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!!!!

Our military is GREAT! PASS IT ON.

Thanks, Ed and Norma Bzdyk Of Milledgeville Ga.

John Kerry: "I approve of this message–if I had one, Two And Sometimes Three."

Kerry Flip-Flops Yet Again on Abortion


War Hero - and Waffling Windbag

Benedict Arnold Flip-Flop

Slate: If You Don't Like Kerry's Views, Just Wait a Week

KERRY'S NEW 'FLIP' FLAP OVER ANTI-ABORT COURT

More Kerry Car Troubles: 'Purple Heart 3' Vanity Plate

Kerry Flip-flops on Missing WMDs

Videotape Contradicts John Kerry's Own Statements Over Vietnam Medals

John F-ing Flip-Flop on Death Penalty

Creepiest Kerry Flip-Flop Yet

Kerry Says He Voted For & Against Troop Funding

Don't you dare Critizine our War heros-You are Un-patiotice

Like Kerry, the media defends McCain With His 'War Record'

Hastert Blasts McCain

Vietnam Continues To Murder Christians

While Kerry, McCain Alleged to be 'Fast Friends' of Vietnamese Communists

You need to sacrifice for letting us grow government and raise your taxes," that's a political statement -- and people are certainly free to disagree with that, and it's nothing to do with their patriotism, if they do.
We've Had Enough of This "Sacrifice" BS


MCCAIN: No, I don't, Matt, at all. I'm a loyal Republican. I'm supporting President Bush's reelection, but I'd like to see the Republican Party return to the principles of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and we are now in the biggest spending, tax-cutting binge that we've ever been in history, and we're doing terrible things to the future of this country. I'd like to see us make some sacrifices as well. That's all. But, look, these things happen. People get tense. I'm not going to take offense -- although I would point out that in the last two election cycles, Republicans in the House have sought me avidly to campaign for their candidates that are seeking election or reelection, and I'm flattered by that and glad to do it.

RUSH MCCAIN IMPRESSION: "I'm not going to take any offense. I'm not going to -- BUT, if these SOBs want me out there campaigning with them they're going to stop criticizing me! Sacrifice? I was in the Hanoi Hilton! Where you been, Hastert, besides the dinner table? You know, it got a little testy out there." Let me just say (aside). I'm able to channel these people, folks. I know what they're really thinking. But here's this whole notion of "sacrifice." I'm getting fed up with this. First we hear it from the Democrats, "We're not sacrificing enough," then the gas price goes up and people are hurting, and the Democrats complain about that. I thought we're supposed to sacrifice! And then they want to raise taxes on everybody so they sacrifice even more, and McCain goes along with that, and then they want government to get even bigger, so everybody will sacrifice even more, and that equals patriotism.

Not here. Not in my book, not on this program. High taxes, big government does not equal sacrifice, and it certainly doesn't equal patriotism. It may be, actually, more like punishment. It's not sacrifice. There's no reason for this. So high taxes, big government are going to call that "patriotic" during times of war. You know, most of the federal budget is spent on non-defense programs, such as the extension of unemployment benefits, which McCain voted for. This business that the defense budget's taking all this money. For crying out loud, we spend more on education by the time you add up what the states spend and the federal government. We spend more if you combine. Don't have to combine them but you go look at the federal safety net programs, for crying out loud, this is just ridiculous -- and I'm going to tell you something, "Enough of this war hero stuff. Let's discuss the issues."

Can we get rid of [Kerry sing-song voice:] "I was in Vietnaaam." (John Kerry's) daughter is even mentioning it over in Cannes. [Vanessa Kerry voice impression debuts!] "My faaather was in Vietnam." All right, fine. We know this. This is 2004. There are vets, by the way, who support tax cuts. We just don't hear about them because the media doesn't agree with them -- and I'm talking about vets like Sam Johnson and Duke Cunningham. These people are for tax cuts and they were prisoners and they are vets but you don't hear from them. They're every bit the hero that Kerry is, every bit the hero that McCain is, but the libs in the media love Kerry and they love McCain, not because they're POWs but because they agree with what those guys are saying about domestic and foreign policy -- and the media ignores people like Johnson because he's not one of them. But you've got vets, and you've got war heroes that are for Reaganomics. You just never hear from them and you don't hear them out there demanding all this sacrifice here and there, which adds up to tax increases and bigger government.

And again, I have to tell you: this whole thing just sort of frazzles me because the moment we get a little pain -- (soto voce) that's what they mean by sacrifice, folks. Don't think for a moment that when these Democrats and their allies, wherever they are, start talking about "sacrifice." They mean pain. We've got to all suffer some pain. That equals patriotism. All right? Well, the way I'm hearing it being reported, rising gas prices are pain. A lot of people are hurting -- and yet we're criticizing Bush for not "jawboning" OPEC. They can't get it straight. When they get pain they don't like it. When they don't have pain they call for it. We get sacrifice; they're mad at it. When we don't have sacrifice; they demand it. [pause] I know what people are going to say to me. "Well, easy for you to say. Now you're dumping on war heroes, and you didn't go!" You know, that's so typical. I'm so ready for that.

You know, most of us haven't been in government, either, but all you people that have never been in government sure the hell do love it. All the people, you out there, never worked for government, you're for the biggest government in the world! If you're going to tell me that I can't comment on military issues or military issues or hero issues and you haven't worked for the government, then you can't call here and tell me how great the government is. We're just going to play this game, because that's absolutely silly. The overwhelming majority of Americans are not vets. They have every right to question the agenda of any elected official be he a vet or not, and the idea that we can't criticize McCain or we can't criticize Kerry because of their war hero status, is simply a disguised PC attempt to shut people up from saying things that others do not want to hear. I think it's un-American to tell people that they cannot question or disagree if they've not served in the military, otherwise most Americans would have no say in their government because most Americans have never served. That's what makes the people what do serve special.

I'll tell you something else: unlike many Americans, we've never protested against our government, either. We've never protested the government. Most Americans do not protest their government. So I guess if we haven't protested the government we're not allowed to criticize government? Only you long-haired, maggot-infested, dope-smoking FM-types are allowed to go out and protest from the public demonstration fields and marches? The people protesting the war today are said to have "the right to speak out." Well, why can't we have the right to speak out? Just because we've never protested the government doesn't mean we can't talk about it. Just because we've never been to the moon doesn't mean we're for it or against it? This is asinine.

This is simply a way to stifle debate. It's simply a would I to stifle criticism from people who don't want to hear it -- and I'll tell you one other thing, folks. I'm tired of people of privilege, either by virtue of marriage into wealth or holding high office telling hard-working Americans like you who are law-abiding and doing the best they can to provide for your families that you need to sacrifice -- and I'm talking about people like John Kerry. John Kerry telling you you have to sacrifice is an insult. Here's a guy who is a man of privilege by virtue of marriage, others who are people of privilege simply by virtue of being elected high office, dare to tell you and your family you're not sacrificing enough? (Raspberry) on that. That is absolutely offensive to me -- and, by the way, when they say, "You ought to do community service or government service," these people come out and say, "Well, I think every American ought to have to do some sort of government service."

They don't mean in the military. They're talking about the Peeeace Corps or the America Corps or the America Corps. Whatever Clinton's volunteer program that we have to pay people to join. It has nothing to do with the war effort. This whole business of sacrifice has always bugged me because these people of privilege -- let's stop calling them "wealthy Republicans," "wealthy Democrats" -- these People of Privilege, especially those who got it simply by marrying into it or inheriting it, if those people want to sit up there and preach to us about sacrifice, my contention is they don't know what they're talking about -- and if they're going to tell us about sacrifice, then let's see some from them.

If I can't talk about the military because I didn't serve, then they can't talk about to me about sacrifice when they won't. It's that simple -- and I'm not going to play that game that way because I don't want to shut people up. But if that's what it's going to come to, then I'll gladly adopt their theory. Until John Kerry shows me some sacrifice, till McCain shows me some sacrifice, economically, shut up about it -- and don't define this sacrifice business as pain, high taxes and big government. That is a political ideology, and to take this war effort and to bleed on people's emotions and say, "You need to sacrifice for letting us grow government and raise your taxes," that's a political statement -- and people are certainly free to disagree with that, and it's nothing to do with their patriotism, if they do.


Teresa Heinz Kerry is no longer "Off Limits."

'Offensive' Mrs. Kerry: Cheney Is 'Unpatriotic'

Teresa Heinz Kerry's response to those exposing her husband's anti-U.S. activism in the 1970s and his votes against the military more recently is to call Vice President Dick Cheney "unpatriotic."

Here's what the hotheaded heiress said to Spanish-language Telemundo, comments aired Thursday on NBC:

"To have a couple of people, who escaped four, five, six times and deferred and deferred and deferred calling him anything regarding his service is in and of itself unpatriotic. Unpatriotic."

She added that she was referring to Cheney's lack of military service and to the attacks from the Bush campaign on various aspects of the Vietnam service of her husband.

Kerry wife's remarks inspired an angry backlash from the Bush-Cheney campaign.

"Yesterday, Teresa Heinz Kerry called the vice president of the United States 'unpatriotic.' This political line of attack is offensive and should be stopped," said Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Chairman Marc Racicot in a statement on Friday.

Spouses are generally off limits in presidential campaigns, but by attacking Cheney so directly Heinz Kerry has entered uncharted territory.

Teresa Heinz Kerry, you have just put a big bullseye on your back. You are no longer "Off Limits."

Tuesday, April 27, 2004-CBlountBlogs
Kerry: "She's Never had to Vote"

Teresa Heinz Kerry: "I don't want to be bottled. I'm not ketchup."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Heinz Kerry: Cheney 'Unpatriotic'

Kerry Criticizes Bush, Cheney on Military

WELL-MANORED WIFE

Bush Beats Heinz Kerry in First Lady 'Vote'

Teresa: Abortion ends a life

Heinz Kerry Talks About Brush With Abortion

What Isakson And Pelosi Have In Common

Partisan rancor flares on Iraq

Democrat Leader Accuses Bush of 'Incompetence'

A report in Wednesday's San Francisco Chronicle quoted Rep. Pelosi (D-Calif.) as saying that "Bush is an incompetent leader" who has "no judgment, no experience and no knowledge." She reportedly said the deaths of thousands of soldiers are "on his shoulders."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi lashed out at President Bush on Thursday, saying his Iraq policies show incompetence and the only conclusion to draw is that "the emperor has no clothes."

"I believe that the president's leadership and the actions taken in Iraq demonstrate an incompetence in terms of knowledge, judgment and experience," the California Democrat told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference.

This president should have known ... when you decide to go to war you have to know what the consequences of your action are and how you can accomplish the mission," Pelosi said. "There was plenty of intelligence to say there would be chaos in Iraq following the fall of Baghdad."

Bush's policy "of ignoring his own State Department about what would happen after the fall of Baghdad and ignoring the intelligence as to the chaotic situation that would exist ... carries with it a responsibility for all of the costs of war," she said. "And that's not only the president, that is all of us any time we vote to send our young people into harm's way.

"The results of his action are what undermine his leadership, not my statements," she said. "The emperor has no clothes. When are people going to face the reality?"

Democrat's Pelosi on Bush: 'The emperor has no clothes'

Vietnam Continues To Murder Christians

While Kerry, McCain Alleged to be 'Fast Friends' of Vietnamese Communists

CNSNews-David Thibault: International Christian Concern (ICC) alleges that an Easter crackdown by the Vietnamese government against Montagnard Christians resulted in the deaths of at least 280 people. At least another 26 people are missing.

The Vietnamese communist government's alleged murder of hundreds of tribal Christians requires a response by the U.S. government, but any effort to sanction Vietnam is being blocked by Sens. John Kerry and John McCain, according to a Washington, D.C. human rights group.

King told CNSNews.com: These guys are the fast friends of the Vietnamese and they've blocked any real attempt at reform or punishment for these types of abuses, and so Vietnam continues to get away with murder.

The persecution of the Montagnards allegedly can be traced as far back as the end of the Vietnam War. "They were friends with the U.S. back in the war, so they've just been marked ever since and hated."

Three years ago the Vietnamese government launched a similar crackdown when the Montagnards protested their living conditions and Vietnamese soldiers ended up killing about 400 pastors, he said.

Kok Ksor, president of Montagnard Foundation, Inc.:

"The people can't take any more...sooner or later, we're going to die. But before we die, we have to let the world know."

Aaron Groote, Sen. Brownback's press secretary: We don't want to speculate on the exact number of killings, but there have certainly been substantiated reports of many deaths.

The McCain aide also refused to address the complaint alleging that the senator, along with Kerry, were "fast friends" of the Vietnamese communists.

A telephone call to Kerry's Senate office, seeking comment for this report, was not returned.

King believes there are other steps available for Congress to seek punishment of Vietnam for human rights abuses.

"Whether that's censure, whether that's tariffs, whether that's trading sanctions ... but the point is that [Kerry and McCain] block almost all of these things," King said.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Believers tortured to abandon Christianity

Christians sentenced for prayer, worship

Like Kerry, the media defends McCain With His 'War Record'

Kerry's Meeting With Communists Violated US Law, Says Author

Where's the Outcry Over Anti-Serb, Anti-Christian Attacks?

Lessons Unlearned

Leftist Conspiracy Theories Abound

Leftist Conspiracy Theories Abound


Like Berg, some on the Left have outrageously blamed the Bush administration for Berg’s beheading – not figuratively but literally. The World Socialist Website – which in recent days has drawn more visitors than the Weekly Standard’s website – has seriously intimated the Bush administration itself murdered Nicholas Berg to deflect attention from the fraternity prank photos emanating from the Abu Ghraib prison:

Anyone who believes it is unthinkable or outrageous to suggest that the American government would sanction having one of its citizens murdered to shore up its fortunes is underestimating the political situation. The Bush administration and elements of the American military hierarchy, media and corporate establishment are indictable war criminals…To them, the life of 26-year-old Nick Berg would have meant nothing.

The grassroots of the Left have seized on the idea with gusto. One poster at the leftist Daily Kos website insisted, “As soon as I heard about this, I knew it was a setup by the Bush Administration…Bush has killed thousands in this war, he wouldn't blink an eye about killing one more to rekindle the same hate America had for Muslims after 9/11.” Another insisted, “I wouldn’t put it past them. I really wouldn’t.”

Indymedia, the website anti-American activists around the world used to plan their “antiwar” rallies, also acts as an “alternate news source” and message board. Those who post on Indymedia represent the activist core of the Left. A participant on their NYC board asserted, “I'm sure it's a CIA operation.” Another chimed in, “i’m quite sure the killing of nick berg was an cia action.” [sic.]

One commenter on Indymedia’s German site added, “I bleieve [sic.] that Al-CIAda is involved and that is why they are covered up.” Another added, “Whoever posted this on behalf of the CIArabs is not fooling anyone. The event was timed appropriately to soften the shock of the upcoming torture videos, and to get Rumsfeld off of the hot-seat.”

The speculation has grown so great that even Pravda printed an opinion piece this weekend entitled, “Could N. Berg’s Execution be Fake?” by Pater Havlasa, editor of the website eBigBang.com. Among his musings, he lies that “N. Berg disappeared when in U.S. custody.” (False! He disappeared four days later, and one day after Americans offered him a one-way ticket back to the City of Brotherly Love.) He also produces this tender observation: “A human head contains 1.5 gallons of blood yet the freshly decapitated head shown in the video is leaking none.” (Does he know Elvis’ middle name is misspelled at Graceland, too?)

Not all conspiracists blame the United States, though. “Professor” Sam Hamod is a former Princeton professor and State Department advisor. He currently edits his own leftist website. Hamod, who also writes editorials for al-Jazeera, recently posted an article condemning Berg’s beheading but casting doubt that Muslims did it. For one thing, he insists Muslims only kill people after a fair and judicious trial (!). No, these are not Muslims. “(I)t may also be that this was perpetrated by Israeli agents, who have been operating in Iraq since the American invasion and have been advisors and combatants for Blackwater, and for the U.S. military, especially in interrogation techniques…Remember also, many Israelis speak Arabic as well as Arabs themselves.” (Curiously, Hamod earlier complained the murderers’ chant of “Allahu Akbar” – “Allah is great!” – seemed “strained.”) You see, the gentle poet tells us, it wasn’t Bush – it was the filthy Jews.

It is among the kooks of the Left that Michael Berg has chosen to find peace over his son’s death. Ironically, this is where Nick Berg’s memory has found its greatest detractors.


Leftists Desecrate Nick Berg’s Memory, Too


While most left-wingers have been careful to condemn the murder of an innocent American, the leftists who inhabit the fever swamps of International ANSWER and the antiwar lobby have no qualms about telling the world how they really feel: Nick Berg got what was coming to him.

One poster at the San Diego Indymedia site, responding to the idea that al-Zarqawi beheaded an “innocent,” wrote:

Helloooo!!! Are you on the same Planet as the rest of us? There was nothing innocent about someone going into a country to profit off an illegal war…The guy got beheaded because he was somewhere he should not have been.

The writer then added, “Americans are like cockroaches!”

Posters at Portland Indymedia bizarrely connected Berg’s beheading to the passage of a tax cut bill through the Senate. One participant referred to Berg as a “poor bastard (or an invader who has met with traditional social justice depending on your point of view I suppose).” He went on to call Berg’s death “pure money in the bank for George W this November.”

Nor has the hatred been confined to America. A particularly vile message on Indymedia’s German site gleefully displays no less than eight pictures of Nick Berg’s severed head next to the words, “Nick Berg has his head cut off.” Below that, the messenger wrote twice, “Nick Berg a private mercenary who went to Iraq to help the American Empire install a puppet government gets his head cut off for his crimes.” [sic.]

The Irish also got in on the act on Indymedia. “Salah” wrote, “Nick Berg was part of the US led coalition which is attempting to bleed Iraq dry, with no concern for the effects on the Iraqi people. Whether civilian or not, he was scouting for the leftovers of a devastating campaign which began decades ago with British occupation through to US led sanctions and this current illegal invasion…Until the middle-east is free from brutal occupations there will not be, and should not be unilateral peace.” [sic.]

Another writer added, “I find it very difficult to feel sorry for Mr. Berg when the link below shows what american [sic.] intervention has done for the children of Iraq…So before you go harping on about how despicable it was for one yankee to have their head hacked off, think about how despicable it is for the government of your country to destroy the genes of these children and of many generations yet to come.”

“Caliban” offered, “C'mon the guy was just another bit of collateral damage in the Clash of Civilzations.....”

When a writer pointed out the obvious – that Nick Berg was killed by Islamists because he was both American and carrying a Jewish prayer shawl – “Stan” sympathetically replied, “Avi, the holocaust must be starting again! Lets go and kill some more palestinians!” [sic.]

If all holds true to form, it will only be a matter of time before Ted Rall draws a cartoon calling Nick Berg a moron and berating his grief-stricken family.

These are the hateful nutcases Michael Berg signed up with when he signed the International ANSWER statement. (Incidentally, ANSWER’s most recent campaign is to “Defend Dr. Hatem Bazian,” the professor who called for an “intifada” in America.) His son, Nick, saw a nation that needed his help and tried to better it. Michael Berg said of the killer, “They did not know what they were doing. They killed their best friend.” On the contrary. Nick Berg was a friend of a free and democratic Iraq. The Islamists knew exactly what they were doing, because they are Nick Berg’s enemies – and ours. The best tribute a father could pay to his son’s memory is to stop apologizing for those who killed him, associating with those who revile him and antagonizing those who seek to avenge him.

Republican 'Moderates' Only Advance Liberalism

Slowly, reluctantly, grassroots conservatives are waking up to the fact that their agenda is being systematically undermined and thwarted. Worse yet, this is consistently happening at the hands of Republicans. The GOP controls the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the White House. The overwhelming majority of Supreme Court Justices are Republican appointees. And Republicans hold the majority of state governorships. Yet the moral bankruptcy of the counterculture relentlessly advances.
The upcoming primary election in Pennsylvania stands as a sterling example of just what is wrong with the system, as well as the best (and perhaps the only) means of fixing it.

Incumbent "Republican" Senator Arlen Specter, an unabashed opponent of virtually every facet of conservatism, now finds himself in a tight race against State Senator Pat Toomey, who has steadfastly championed conservatism throughout his political life. Yet for all his devotion to principle, Toomey has been virtually abandoned by conservative organizations such as the College Republicans. President Bush is actively supporting Specter, along with conservative "lightning rod" Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania's junior Senator.

In many respects, this situation bears a dismal similarity to the 1997 New Jersey Governor's race, in which ultra-liberal "Republican" incumbent Christine Todd Whitman would certainly have lost but for the prominent social and moral conservatives who rallied to her aid. In return Whitman, once reelected, continued to press forward with her liberal agenda. And when Bret Schundler, a true conservative, might likewise have benefited from a call to solidarity by Whitman during his own 2001 bid for governor, she opted instead to deliver him a political "knife in the back," helping to ensure his defeat. If Specter wins, does anyone really expect him to act differently?

Among Toomey's contentions is that Specter has received support from radical leftist financier George Soros. Feeling the heat, Specter found it necessary to call Rush Limbaugh's radio program last week, in an attempt to vindicate himself. Sounding rather "Clintonian," Specter disputed a few of the details, and generally feigned ignorance as to the nature and intent of the Soros donation. Conspicuously absent from Specter's hollow disclaimer was any explanation of why a God-hating anti-American like George Soros would, under any circumstances, feel comfortable assisting in the election of someone like Specter. Clearly, Soros knows that in Specter's world, liberal ideology trumps party affiliation.

Things are apparently no better in Washington State. Congressman George Nethercutt, another "moderate," is being challenged in that state's U.S. Senate primary by conservative Reed Davis. But the state's Republican Party is withholding assistance from Davis on the grounds that he refuses to sign a pledge to abide by the so-called "Eleventh Commandment." Originally the brainchild of Ronald Reagan, the "Eleventh Commandment" simply states that one Republican candidate should never "attack" another.

Davis fully realizes that the final arbiters of what constitutes an "attack" will be none other than the "moderate" insiders who run the Washington Republican Party. Moreover, just as the "Dole Republicans" perverted Reagan's "Big Tent" to lower party standards in hopes of making liberals feel welcome, the new "Eleventh Commandment" has been thoroughly distorted with the intention of hamstringing conservatives from confronting the liberalism of their "moderate" opponents.

In contrast, "moderates" are increasingly brazen in their efforts to derail conservative candidates who were not pre-selected by the party elite. This they regularly do with impunity. Furthermore "moderates" have a vested interest in sabotaging conservative candidacies. For when such conservatives fall victim to these underhanded tactics and are defeated, it is the "moderates" who most loudly trumpet the notion that conservatism is a "losing strategy."

In recent years, "moderate" Republican Party operatives have become extremely adept at convincing conservatives to support liberal candidates, "for the good of the party," ostensibly on a one-time basis. Invariably, each successive situation is portrayed as a unique event, in which conservatives must "rise above" their own interests and look to the greater good. And each time, they are rewarded with a candidate they helped elect, who then proceeds to do everything possible to marginalize them.

During the past four years, the Republican dominated federal government has implemented budget-busting socialism, trampled the First Amendment, and virtually abolished the nation's southern border. Meanwhile, the Federal Marriage Amendment is quietly being taken off life support, leaving a foundational institution of Western civilization vulnerable to eventual eradication. If conservatives have any true intention of eventually restoring the values they cherish, they had better resolve to support individuals who are honestly committed to doing so.

GOP Moderates Bemoan Majority

My friends, I want you to cry when you read the story I discuss in the audio link below – I want you to cry tears of joy. AP's Jim Abrams writes a profile of Congressman Amo Houghton (R-NY), a "throwback" to a time when moderates ruled the roost in the House. First, there's no such thing as a "moderate Republican." They're liberals. Second, these are lawmakers lamenting that they're in the majority!

So these moderates – who in the late 90s were saying they held the power in the House -- are leaving, but before they leave they are complaining. They're whining for "the good old days" when Republicans' were down 150 seats in the House and Majority Leader Bob Michel was the nondescript, Peoria-born GOP leader whose big claim to fame was getting invitations to play golf with Democrat Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill!

Marvel at this sentence: "It hasn't been easy for GOP moderates in the decade since Newt Gingrich led the party back into power in the House with an aggressive conservative agenda." They cite moderate former-Congressman Tom Campbell (R-CA). AP: "'Republicans before the revolution were a gentle folk,' he said, led by pragmatists such as Gerald Ford and Bob Michel whose accepted role was trying to improve legislation written by majority Democrats."

We have some Democrats who don't know how to get power back, and some Republicans who have power and are cursing it! "As an old, disgruntled Eisenhower Republican,' Houghton said, he was 'worried that conservatives are having a far more dramatic impact on the Republican party than they ever had before.'" Yes! Let us exalt, ladies and gentlemen, because these moderates who claim to be the power base in the House of Representatives for all these years are quitting! I have never heard such whining and bellyaching over being in power. This is unintelligible.

Fact: these moderates aren't lamenting being in power; they're lamenting a loss of power – because they are not Republicans at all. They are telling us how their fellow Democrats feel. Why do you think it was more fun for them when the Democrats ran the show? Because that's who they got along with! That's who their buds were. That's who they worked with legislation on. They were Republicans In Name Only because that's what it took to get elected in their districts. So if you want to know what real Democrats feel today, read this story.

Wallowing in nuance, Dems lack resolve

Hopefuls swamp Capitol

“…Congressman Mac Collins of Jackson also showed up with supporters to qualify as U.S. Senate candidates for the July 20 Republican primary. Collins called Isakson a "moderate" — a nasty word in some GOP circles — and labeled himself the ‘true conservative’ in the contest.”

Message to Moderates: Yo Time Is Up

Specter Win: Triumph Of Moderates?

Survey: Moderates Don't Know Diddlysquat

Study Reveals Moderates, Kerry Lemmings

Moderates, “The Base” & the Politicization of Marriage

There Is No Vacuum In The Center

There Are No Moderate Democrats

"REPORTERS DON'T REPORT BUILDINGS THAT DON'T BURN"

Johnny Grant of Milledgeville Ga sent me this email:

"They have a saying in the news business," Geraldo Rivera related this
week. "Reporters don't report buildings that don't burn." And with that
introduction, he told a TV audience about the story that is being
systematically denied to our entire nation: the success story of
post-Saddam Iraq.

Are we losing some soldiers each week? Yes.

Is there some frustration in the public about electricity and water
service? Yes.

Are some Saddam Hussein loyalists throughout the land, making trouble?
Yes.

Has this opened a window for some terrorist mischief? Yes.

But that's ALL we hear. No wonder the country is in a mixed mood about
Iraq. If you hear about the buildings that are not burning, though, it
is a different story indeed.

Rivera is no shill for George W. Bush. But Bush, Condi Rice and Colin
Powell together could not have been as effective as Geraldo was Thursday
night on the Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes program.

"When I got to Baghdad, I barely recognized it," he began, comparing his
just-completed trip to two others he made during and just after the
battle to topple Saddam. "You have over 30,000 Iraqi cops and militiamen
already on the job.

This is four months after major fighting stopped. Can you imagine that
kind of gearing up in this country? Law and order is better;
archaeological sites are being preserved; factories, schools are being
guarded." But what about the secondhand griping that the media have been
so efficiently relating about power, water and other infrastructure?

"To say that Iraq is being rebuilt is not true," answered Rivera. "Iraq
is being built. There was no infrastructure before; we are doing it. I
just think the good news is being underestimated and underreported." At
this juncture, one must evaluate how to feel about the voices telling us
only about the bad news in Iraq, whether from the mouths of news anchors
or Democratic presidential hopefuls. At best, they are underinformed. At
worst, their one-sided assessments of post-Saddam Iraq are intentional
falsehoods for obvious reasons.

If I hear one more person mock that "Mission Accomplished" banner
beneath which President Bush thanked a shipload of sailors and Marines a
few months back, I'm going to spit. That was a reference to the ouster
of Saddam's regime, and that mission was indeed accomplished, apparently
to the great chagrin of the American left. No one said what followed
would be easy or cheap, and that's why the dripping-water torture of the
cost and casualty stories is so infuriating.

Remember we pay our soldiers whether they are in Iraq or in Ft Bragg,
North Carolina.

We should all mourn the loss of every fallen soldier. But context cries
out to be heard. Our present news media is not performing this task. As
some dare to wonder if this might become a Vietnam-like quagmire, I'll
remind whoever needs it that most of our 58,000 Vietnam war toll died
between 1966 and 1972, during which we lost an average of about 8,000
per year. That's about 22 per day, every day, for thousands of days on
end.

Let us hear NO MORE Vietnam comparisons. They do not equate. What I hope to hear is more truth, even if we have to wrench it from the mouths of
the media and political hacks predisposed to bash the remarkable job we
are doing every day in what was not so long ago a totalitarian
wasteland. Local elections are under way across Iraq, Rivera reported.
"Where Kurds and Arabs have been battling for decades, things have been
settling down. Administrator Paul Bremer is doing a great job."

So does Geraldo think his media colleagues are intentionally painting
with one side of the brush? "I'm not into conspiracy theories,..but
there's just more bang for your buck when you report the GI who got
killed rather than the 99 who didn't get killed, who make friends, who
helped schedule elections, who helped shops get open for business, who
helped traffic flow again.

"The vast majority of Iraqis are very happy to have us there. I would
like to see a bit more balance." This needs to be reported to the
American Public who are presently being duped. I expect the dominant
media culture to nitpick and attack Bush, and Democrats to blast him
with reckless abandon. But when that leads to the willful exclusion of
facts that would shine truthful light on the great work of the American
armed forces, that level of malice plumbs new depths.

If you have a friend that is looking for the truth, pass this on.

-- Author unknown

Michael Berg Blames Bush After Kerry's Phone Call

SORRY, MR.. BERG. BUT YOU'RE OUT OF LINE

ON THE STORY

Prison-Abuse Scandal Widens; President's Poll Number Slip to Lowest Levels of His Presidency

Aired May 15, 2004 - 10:00 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.



Anyway, he's sitting next to this guy and gives him his computer and his password. Password ends up in the hands of Moussaoui. It's kind of consistent with Nick Berg being entirely naive, just thinking the best of people. What kind of a person gives their password to a stranger? What kind of a person goes to Iraq at this moment and basically walks around without any kind of protection, without a guide, without a translator? One of his friends said, Oh, Nick walked around Baghdad as if he was in Washington, D.C. He was a kid, as his friends and family say, who really wanted to see the best in everybody. But perhaps it was just totally blinding for him.

MALVEAUX: Maria, do you think this has become political in some ways? Because I had heard that Senator Kerry spoke with the father of Berg. We know that Bush has at least publicly expressed condolences.

Is there a sense that there are players here who are using this tragic death for their own gain?

HINOJOSA: I don't know if you can go so far as to say that. I mean, Kerry -- there was some confusion there, whether or not he made the initial attempt to speak to Mike Berg or if Michael Berg made the attempt to call him. There is some confusion there.

President Bush has not called the Berg family to say -- to make a phone call and offer condolences. He did that publicly. This is a family -- or certainly a father who is very much against President Bush. So I suppose it wouldn't be expected that he would pick up the phone and call.

I don't get the feeling just now that there are the political players trying to use this. But will the death of Nick Berg become part of the overall discussion in terms of what's happening in terms of this war? Absolutely.

WALLACE: And, Maria, we saw that this week, really, some discussion on the campaign trail of this tragedy, involving Nicholas Berg as well as the ongoing Iraqi prisoner-abuse scandal. I am on that story when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(AUDIO/VIDEO GAP)

WALLACE: ...saying on your last point, Suzanne, still a bit of confusion, because John Kerry was in Arkansas, he was talking in an interview to a Little Rock reporter and he volunteered the information that he had spoken to Michael Berg in conveying his outrage about what happened to his son.

Later, the national press corps was following up and asking John Kerry about that. He said, No, no, no, it's private, I'm not going to talk about it. A reporter said, But you just talked about it in an interview. He said, No, it's private.

And later, a spokesman saying -- a spokesman for John Kerry saying, It is private, but indicating he thought that Michael Berg or the family reached out to John Kerry. So we don't really know the answer there.

What we do know is John Kerry is sort of maneuvering through somewhat of a dilemma. How much does he react? How much does he talk about events in Iraq, and how much might that take him away from his own domestic message? Aides say, Look, they're going to take it on a case-by-case basis, react where and when it's appropriate. But they don't want to get into this sort of day-to-day commentary about events overseas. They want to sort of stick to their agenda and help -- have the senator define his own agenda, not outside events.

HINOJOSA: Except, Kerry (sic), the fact is, is that because of -- because of the fact that he's not talking about it, then it becomes an issue. It's kind of like, Make a decision, do something. It seems like people are still feeling like he's not on message.

And what is that message? I mean, do you get that sense within the Kerry campaign that they're just kind of flustered about it, or do you think that they're very clear that they're just not going to get -- insert themselves?

WALLACE: Well, Maria, I heard someone say you're sort of damned if you do and damned if you don't on this one. And that's sort of what some campaign advisers feel.

You do feel from some Democrats within the party -- they want to see John Kerry getting out there more on issues such as Iraq, on the prisoner-abuse scandal. They think that this is a vulnerability for president bush.

At the same time, we have -- you have seen Republicans accusing John Kerry of playing politics with this. So there's sort of this -- this sort of delicate dance that he had to kind of push forward. What they will say, Maria, is they believe he is getting a message out, that he is -- this whole week he was talking about health care. And while the national press corps is focusing on the prisoner-abuse story, events in Iraq, Nicholas Berg, if you look at the local press, local newspaper coverage, local television coverage, it's all about John Kerry's visit, John Kerry talking about health care. So they think they are getting that message out to people that matter, the people in these some 17 battleground states.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Sen John Kerry called the father to pass along to the family his condolences.

There is just no imaginable way to understand the grief of Michael Berg. His 26-year-old son was brutally murdered -- his head sawed off -- by Islamic monsters, and the whole thing was videotaped and not appears on the internet for all the world to see. Michael Berg is and was against the war in Iraq, and, by all accounts, has never been a fan of George Bush. Nick Berg, on the other hand, was a supporter of George Bush and the war effort.

CNNANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES

Did al-Zarqawi kill Nicholas Berg? Donald Rumsfeld surprises troops in Iraq. One American crusades against al Qaeda on the Internet. Get a vasectomy or go to jail? A look at one judge's approach to convicted criminals.

Aired May 13, 2004 - 19:00 ET

COOPER: Well, we begin with the murder of Nicholas Berg. The website that showed the brutal killing claimed the man wielding the knife was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Now, after close analysis, the CIA believes that is likely true.

Zarqawi is the leader of an Islamist terrorist group that the U.S. says has close ties to Osama bin Laden. He's blamed for a host of terror plots in Iraq and elsewhere. He may be the most active, most dangerous terrorist in the world today.

Berg's family, meanwhile, continues to speak out against the U.S. government saying they are in part to blame for his capture and killing. There's also a strange new twist in the investigation into exactly what happened to Berg before he went to Iraq and once there, on the story for us tonight in Washington CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena; in Berg's hometown, CNN's Maria Hinojosa.

We begin in Washington. Kelli what's the latest? KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, it turns out that Nicholas Berg has a peripheral connection to accused terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui, that's according to government sources. Berg's father said in an interview that it all begin in Oklahoma.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BERG, FATHER OF NICHOLAS BERG: Nick went to Oklahoma University and he was taking a course that was in a remote campus and you're on a bus. That remote campus was near the airport where some terrorist people, who no one knew were terrorists at the time, they were just fellow students, were also taking that bus.

And someone asked him how to -- asked him basically to let him use his computer and he did. I mean college kids do that all -- all the time and it turned out that this guy was a terrorist and that he, you know, used my son's e-mail amongst many other people's e-mail who he did the same thing to, however...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a friend of your sons?

BERG: Not a friend of my sons, not even an acquaintance, just a guy sitting next to him on the bus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: U.S. officials say that Berg shared his password with that individual and that password turned up in Moussaoui's possession. The FBI tracked Berg down and his father says that his son cooperated fully.

Now we're not exactly sure about the timing here but we do know that Moussaoui took flight lessons in Oklahoma and some law enforcement sources that I spoke to, Anderson, suggest that the earlier connection would have raised eyebrows and could be the reason that the FBI felt compelled to question Berg at least three times while he was detained.

COOPER: So, Kelli, right now this story is really only confirmed by Berg's family, nothing you're hearing from the FBI?

ARENA: Oh, no, no, no. I've got this confirmed by U.S. officials, Anderson.

COOPER: You have got it confirmed.

ARENA: Absolutely.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After three days of silence and seclusion, Nick Berg's father emerged. There were no tears, instead forceful accusations.

BERG: Nicholas Berg died for the sins of George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld. The al Qaeda people are probably just as bad as they are.
HINOJOSA: His son, he says, supported the war, supported President Bush. Father and son, he said, on opposite ends of the political spectrum.

BERG: I would like to ask George Bush a question. I would like to ask him if it's true that al Qaeda offered to trade my son's life for the life of another person and, if that is true, well I need that information.

HINOJOSA: Meanwhile, more questions about who held Nick Berg and why. CNN spoke to the Iraqi police chief in Mosul who confirmed Berg had been detained but within hours had been handed over to the U.S. military that in direct conflict with statements from the FBI which denies Berg was ever in U.S. custody and with statements made by the coalition spokesman yesterday.

And the Berg family provided the Associated Press an e-mail from Beth Payne, a U.s. Consular officer in Iraq saying: "I have confirmed that your son, Nick, is being detained by the U.S. military in Mosul. He is safe. He was picked up approximately one week ago."

People who saw Berg in Baghdad after he was released from detention but before he disappeared say Berg told them he was handed over to U.S. forces by the Iraqi police. Chilean journalist Hugo Infante quoted Berg.

HUGO INFANTE, CHILEAN JOURNALIST, FRIEND OF NICK BERG: Because the Iraqi police catch me one night in Mosul and they saw my passport. My passport -- in my passport I have of course my Jewish last name and had the Israeli stamp and they got, this guy thought that I was a spy, so they put me with the American soldiers and the American soldiers put me in jail for two weeks.

HINOJOSA: Throughout the day in Berg's hometown, reminders of grief and a father who said he son wanted to see the good in all people.

BERG: The al Qaeda that killed my son didn't know what they were doing. They killed their best friend. Nick was there to build Iraq not to tear it down. He was there to help people, not to hurt anyone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HINOJOSA: But for the Berg family, the hurt still surrounds a central question. Out of all of the people in Iraq why was their son the one that was picked up and detained? Why was their son picked up and taken by terrorists? And these questions, of course, they have to deal with as they prepare to say a final goodbye tomorrow -- Anderson.

COOPER: Maria Hinojosa thanks very much for that.

We're going to try to work out the time line a little bit later on, on 360, exactly where Nicholas Berg was in Iraq and when.

We're also going to talk to one of his friends who is still in Baghdad who saw him shortly before he disappeared. That's coming up later on 360.

To the man who is at the center of the prison abuse firestorm now, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. While he may be under fire on Capitol Hill over the scandal, he found a more supportive audience today when he paid a surprise visit to Baghdad.

Well, a very emotional morning here in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

And Michael Berg, Nick Berg's father, emerging after three days of silence and seclusion to speak to reporters this morning, saying that his son's only addiction was that he wanted to climb to high places, and saying that al Qaeda didn't know what they were doing when they killed him, that they killed a best friend of Iraq, which was a young man, he said, that went to build, not to tear it down.

He said, "My son only saw the good in people. Perhaps he only saw the good in his captors, up until the last moments."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BERG, NICK BERG'S FATHER: The al Qaeda that killed my son didn't know what they were doing. They killed their best friend. Nick was there to build Iraq, not to tear it down. He was there to help people, not to hurt anyone.

My son quit the Boy Scouts of America because they wanted to take us to Dover Air Force Base, ironically, and teach him to fire a handgun, and he wouldn't do it. HINOJOSA: Now, late last night, Michael Berg, who had -- very publicly talking about the differences in political opinions that he had with his son. His son was very much supportive of this war and President Bush. Michael Berg, the father, not at all.

Came out last night and put up a sign that said "War is not the answer." He put this up on his front lawn. At some point today, the sister came and took that sign down.

Now, some other interesting information that's emerging out of Iraq. CNN has located some people who were with Nick Berg after he was released on April 6. And these friends, people who he knew, said that Nick Berg told them that he believed he was being held by coalition forces in Iraq, saying that he had been arrested by police in Mosul, perhaps because they suspected he might be a spy, because he had a Jewish last name, because he had an Israeli stamp in his passport.

And he believed that he was arrested by Iraqi police in Mosul and then handed over to U.S. authorities. This, of course, in contradiction to what U.S. authorities said last night, when they said that he was not at all under U.S. custody at any time in Iraq.

AMERICAN MORNING

Donald Rumsfeld Visits Baghdad; Interview With Senator Edward Kennedy; Colon Cancer Treatment

Aired May 13, 2004 - 9:00 ET


O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, much to talk about about this prison abuse scandal.

HEMMER: We'll talk with a retired Army major about interrogation tactics and whether or not what happened at Abu Ghraib went far beyond standard practice.

O'BRIEN: Also, new questions about the case of Nicholas Berg, the American civilian who was beheaded by Islamic militants. Did the FBI warn him to get out of Iraq and offer him safe passage?

HEMMER: Also, on a much different note, time to make the donuts at Wal-Mart. The newest front in those wars in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: New questions this morning about the case of Nicholas Berg, the American civilian beheaded by Islamic militants. Did the FBI warn him to get out of Iraq and offer him safe passage? Or did the government delay his departure, and, as the family claims, contribute to his death?

Berg's family will hold a private memorial tomorrow in his hometown of Westchester, Pennsylvania. Bruce Hauser is a neighbor and a friend of the Bergs and joins us once again from Westchester.

Nice to see you, Mr. Hauser.

And, again, I thank you for being with us, certainly at such a difficult time.

So we certainly appreciate it.

Let's talk a little bit about this memorial service. The family has said it's going to be private.

Do you know what it's going to entail?

BRUCE HAUSER, BERG FAMILY FRIEND: At this time I don't know. I spoke with one of the family members very early this morning and just got a minimal amount of information. I'm going to meet with the family probably after I leave this taping and I want to get more information. The family has really tried to move on. They go out and do some bike riding, some jogging. The mother tries to get away from the house as much as she can.

But I do know that there is a memorial service and that the friends and family of Nicholas Berg will be asked to attend. And I'm sure it's going to be a great service, one of the efforts that will help the family move on.

O'BRIEN: Nicholas is -- Nicholas Berg's father claimed that it was, in fact, the government's delay, that in holding Berg they cost him time, and thereby cost him his life.

Do you, is he saying in some way that he blames the U.S. government for the murder of his son?

HAUSER: Well, you have to understand where the parents are coming from; also, the siblings. They've lost their brother. Not only have they lost their brother, it's the way they lost their brother. Through communications with Nick, they were under the impression that once he was released from the American government, that he would be coming home. That's the question that a lot of people in the neighborhood are asking. If he were ever in the government's hands, why didn't the government assist him and get him out of Iraq?

O'BRIEN: The family claims also that Nicholas was held in U.S. government custody. The Pentagon or U.S. authorities have now said that, in fact, that wasn't the case, that he was only in Iraqi custody.

Why do you think this is a relevant question at this point? And do you th
HEMMER: There are new questions this morning about the case of Nicholas Berg, the American civilian beheaded by Islamic militants. In Berg's hometown, outside of Philadelphia, those questions weighing on the minds of many.

Last night, Berg's father put a sign in front of their home saying, "War is not the answer." There is also anger from his family, who claim the U.S. government may have contributed to the circumstances that led to his death. Reaction from Maria Hinojosa in the hometown of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Good morning.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN URBAN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

A very emotional morning here in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Michael Berg, Nick Berg's father, emerged from three days seclusion finally to speak about his son. He says, "The al Qaeda who had him didn't know what they were doing. They killed their best friend. My son went to Iraq not to tear down but to build." He said, "He went there to help, not to hurt."

But for this family, there is only hurt and very deep pain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HINOJOSA (voice-over): The FBI says its agents offered Nick Berg safe passage out of Iraq, warning the young man that Iraq was a volatile place for an unprotected American. Michael Berg, his father, says his son told him he turned down the offer of a flight down because the road to the airport was too dangerous to travel.

On Wednesday, though, the family had to deal with the unfortunate reality of death, a father meeting with a funeral director to discuss laying his 26-year-old son to rest. A family in mourning, but now also angry. Not only at hooded murderers, but at the U.S. government for denying that Nick Berg was ever detained by U.S. authorities in Iraq.

MICHAEL BERG, NICK BERG'S FATHER: That's really what cost my son his life, was the fact that the United States government saw fit to keep him in custody for 13 days without any of his due process or civil rights, and release him when they were good and ready.

HINOJOSA: Brother David also broke his silence, saying that Nicholas had sent e-mails from Iraq about being held in U.S. custody. While detained in Iraq, the Berg family sued Donald Rumsfeld and the Department of Defense on April 5, demanding Nicholas' release. One day later, Nick Berg was let go and the suit was dropped.

SARA BERG, NICK BERG'S SISTER: My family is devastated.

HINOJOSA: His sister spoke briefly and emotionally. The sorrow etched on her face. Nick Berg was, according to friends, a humanitarian and an adventurer.

BRUCE HAUSER, NEIGHBOR OF BERGS: He saw it as an opportunity to drum up some business for his own company. And knowing Nick, when he got there, Nick is all about rebuilding, you know? And I'm certain that Nick had in his mind that he's going to do something to help.

HINOJOSA: But Nicholas Berg never fulfilled his promise to himself. Lost amid the confusion of war in the post-9/11 new world order that his father, searching for blame, tries to understand.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HINOJOSA: Now, CNN has spoken to some of the people who saw Nick Berg in the last days before he disappeared. They said that Nick Berg told them that he had been taken in by the police in Mosul and then handed over to U.S. authorities. He said to these people that he was in a coalition place, he was being held there, where there were Syrians, Iranians, Jordanians. This, of course, coming on the heels of the family getting prepared for a memorial that will be held tomorrow. They're saying that it's going to be private only for friends and family of Nick Berg -- Bill.

HEMMER: Whatever the case and whatever the truth there, an absolute brutal end to the life of a very young man. Thanks, Maria.
Well, our big story tonight, while making funeral plans, Nicholas Berg's father is blaming the U.S. government for his son's death. Today the family provided the Associated Press with an e-mail from a U.S. consular officer in Iraq saying "that Nick had been detained by the U.S. military in Mosul. He is safe." An Iraqi police chief also confirmed the development.

With new details emerging about Nicholas Berg's travels in Iraq, I want to try to break it down for you, a time line of exactly what Nick Berg was doing in Iraq and when.

March 14, he entered Iraq. Ten days later, March 24, he was detained in Mosul. March 31, the FBI agents visit Berg's parents in America saying they're trying to confirm their son's identity. April 5, Berg's family takes legal action demanding his freedom. The next day Berg is released. April 9, Berg's last e-mail to family. The next day Berg checks out of Baghdad hotel and tells the consulate he was traveling by car to Kuwait.

Five days later the consulate sends private contractor to the hotel to see if Berg is still there. And a month later, this past Saturday, Berg's decapitated body was found in Baghdad. Then, as we all know, on Tuesday the sickening video of his beheading was put on an Islamic website.

While staying at the Baghdad Hotel, Berg regularly chatted with and shared a drink with Huge Infante, a Chilean journalist. I talked with him just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES

Did al-Zarqawi kill Nicholas Berg? Donald Rumsfeld surprises troops in Iraq. One American crusades against al Qaeda on the Internet. Get a vasectomy or go to jail? A look at one judge's approach to convicted criminals.

Aired May 13, 2004 - 19:00 ET



COOPER: Hugo, you last saw Nicholas Berg on April 9, a day before he disappeared, the day before he checked out of his hotel and was never seen again until we've seen him in the video. What did he tell you about what had happened to him prior to April 9? Who had held him in Mosul?

HUGO INFANTE, CHILEAN JOURNALIST, FRIEND OF NICK BERG: Yes, actually, I was in the lobby when he came back from Mosul. He just say, I will be there in just two days. He say to me, well, I've been 15 days in Mosul, because I was arrested by the Iraqi police, and then these people put me in jail with the American soldiers. He said to me he was treated good. But the Iraqi police -- they thought he was a spy, because he has an Israel stamp on his passport...

COOPER: Let me interrupt you, he was saying that he was arrested by Iraqi police, but then they -- the Iraqi police turned him over to U.S. soldiers? That's what he told you?

INFANTE: Yes, exactly. Yes, he told me that he was turned over to the CPA in Mosul.

COOPER: Did he tell you how he was planning on getting out of Iraq because the U.S. CPA, the coalition authorities say they offered him a flight out and he refused.

INFANTE: He didn't say nothing about the U.S. military or the coalition authority offering him a ticket to come. He didn't say nothing. Just he say to us, and of course me in the lobby, I will be back, because there's no more business here. Actually, he wasn't worried about his security here in Iraq.

COOPER: Because I read one account from someone who works in the hotel where you're staying who said that he was dressed like an off- duty soldier all the time in cutoff T-shirts, and was well known in the neighborhood as being this American all by himself.

INFANTE: Yes, yes, actually, yes, that was true. He was known as the American guy. He used sometimes his translator and his own driver. And sometimes the people say -- the people say to me, he just used to take a car outside the hotel. Any car passing the hotel.

COOPER: When you saw the videotape, how shocked were you?

INFANTE: I was really shocked. Because I thought the guy was in the States with his family in Philadelphia.

COOPER: You thought he had gotten home safely?

INFANTE: I thought he was in the States. When I saw the video, it was him. I was really shocked.

COOPER: It's a tragedy, no matter how you look at it, or how it happened.

INFANTE: Yes, of course.

COOPER: Hugo Infante, we appreciate you being on the program.

Thank you.

The Berg family has repeatedly blamed the U.S. government in part for their son's killing. We want to know what you think. Today's buzz is this. Does the U.S. government share some of the responsibility for Nicholas Berg's death? Log onto CNN.com/360. Cast your vote. We're going to have results at the end of the program.

Tonight there is more potential fallout from the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal. The CIA finds itself getting unwelcome attention with questions about its interrogation techniques used against top level al Qaeda prisoners. CNN national security correspondent David Ensor reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: U.S. officials confirm that after 9/11, new rules were approved by the president, allowing additional forms of pressure by the CIA against al Qaeda prisoners. They refused to be more specific. Former officials say that pressure includes sleep deprivation, use of heat, cold, light and loud noise. The "New York Times" reports that in the case of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Muhammad (ph), interrogators have used a technique known as water boarding in which a prisoner is strapped down, forcibly pushed under water and made to believe he might drown.

U.S. officials say they are now certain that Muhammad personally killed "Wall Street Journal" reporter Danny Pearl by beheading him with a knife.

While refusing to comment on interrogation techniques, one official said if Pearl's killer suffered, quote, "a bit of discomfort, that would not bother this official one bit." In the wake of the photos of abuse in Iraq, some in Congress are now calling for Geneva Convention protection for all prisoners. Even terrorist leaders.

CNN LIVE TODAY

Memorial Service Tomorrow for Nick Berg; Food Allergy Sufferers Want Clearer Labeling

Aired May 13, 2004 - 11:40 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CNN WOLF BLITZER REPORTS

Donald Rumsfeld drops in on troops in Iraq. Interview with Senators Richard Shelby and Dianne Feinstein. Who killed Nicholas Berg?

Aired May 13, 2004 - 17:00 ET


And to our viewers, you can hear more from Nick Berg's friends tonight on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." That airs 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says he's spoken with Nick Berg's father, Michael. Kerry says America needs to do a more effective job of winning the war on terror.

The murder of Nicholas Berg has been condemned by several Middle Eastern governments, including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.



MICHAEL BERG, NICK BERG'S FATHER: The al Qaeda that killed my son didn't know what they were doing. They killed their best friend. Nick was there to build Iraq, not to tear it down. He was there to help people, not to hurt anyone.

My son quit the Boy Scouts of America because they wanted to take us to Dover Air Force Base, ironically, and teach him to fire a handgun, and he wouldn't do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HINOJOSA: Now, late last night, Michael Berg, who had -- very publicly talking about the differences in political opinions that he had with his son. His son was very much supportive of this war and President Bush. Michael Berg, the father, not at all.

Came out last night and put up a sign that said "War is not the answer." He put this up on his front lawn. At some point today, the sister came and took that sign down.

Now, some other interesting information that's emerging out of Iraq. CNN has located some people who were with Nick Berg after he was released on April 6. And these friends, people who he knew, said that Nick Berg told them that he believed he was being held by coalition forces in Iraq, saying that he had been arrested by police in Mosul, perhaps because they suspected he might be a spy, because he had a Jewish last name, because he had an Israeli stamp in his passport.

And he believed that he was arrested by Iraqi police in Mosul and then handed over to U.S. authorities. This, of course, in contradiction to what U.S. authorities said last night, when they said that he was not at all under U.S. custody at any time in Iraq.

This all coming -- all of this confusion and murkiness, very difficult for the family, as they're planning a memorial service that will be for family and friends of Nick Berg. That will be held tomorrow.

Again, a lot of questions in this story. But certainly a tremendous amount of pain and sorrow for the Berg family -- Betty.

NGUYEN: No doubt. But with this confusion, any indication as to how the family plans on getting some answers?

HINOJOSA: Well, we -- when we spoke to Michael Berg this morning, we asked hip, "Has anyone from the U.S. government gotten in touch with you, perhaps to answer these questions?"

And the father said he's only heard from one U.S. senator. So he has not apparently been called by any officials to try to get any clarification on these many, many issues.
All right. CNN's Maria Hinojosa, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Thank you.

The video of Nick Berg's brutal death is juxtaposed against the images of Iraqi prisoner mistreatment. It's a distinction not lost on some senators, who viewed the latest materials from the Pentagon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)