Myrtus

Nobel Prize Winner Wants To Kill Bush

Belfast Telegraph

One of Northern Ireland's leading peace campaigners has publicly expressed a desire to kill President George Bush.

Betty Williams, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 30 years ago, told hundreds of Australian schoolchildren that despite her background, she did not believe she was "non-violent" because of her feelings towards the US President.

This is all Iran's fault

On one hand I'm being pulled to support the civilians of Lebanon and I'm very tempted to do so, but I'm hesitating because I can't tell which ones are innocent and which ones are not, considering that Hezbollah is all civilian and claims innocence too.

Save the Lebanese Civilians Petition

And on the other hand I'm being pulled to support the civilians of Israel who are hurting in this process too, while they're only trying to defend themselves.

So what should I do?

GJARN | Global Jewish Assistance & Relief Network

Is this how we were raised?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Ireland:

Scotsman.com News - Politics - Irish refused bombs sent to Prestwick airport

BOMBS destined to be used by Israel are being flown via Scotland only because the Irish government refused to allow them to land on its soil.

Scotland on Sunday can reveal that after the conflict in Lebanon began three weeks ago, Ireland turned down a United States request for planes carrying 600lb so-called bunker busters to refuel at Shannon airport in Co Clare.

Lebanon:

Crosswalk.com - Hizballah Spreading War to Christian Villages?

Hizballah is trying to launch rockets from Christian villages in southern Lebanon, hoping to provoke an Israeli bombardment on Christian communities, a Lebanese source said.

Thousands of Lebanese reportedly were fleeing their homes in the south on Monday, taking advantage of a two-day lull in Israeli air strikes.

Deutchland:

The World from Berlin: A Turning Point in Qana - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

A Turning Point in Qana

At the start of Israel's siege on militants in Lebanon, world opinion tilted toward Jerusalem -- even some Arab governments made hushed noises against Hezbollah. But after an attack on a Lebanese village killed over 50 civilians on Sunday, that honeymoon is well and truly over, writes the German press.

Australia:

Scoop: Arms exports from Aust. to Israel should be halted

"The Prime Minister needs to reveal if Australia is still sending arms to Israel, and if so, exports should be suspended," Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

From Israel

Israel Defense Forces - The Official Website

Warning leaflet distributed by IDF for the safety of Lebanese in and south of Litani

The Muslim World:

Muslim countries to hold summit in Malaysia

As many as 30 Muslim nations are expected to take part in an emergency summit in Malaysia this week to discuss measures to end Israel's war in Lebanon, officials said Monday.

Islam Rules!

The Netherlands, a predominately Christian country the size of a peapod on the world map, is allowing no less than 450 mosques on its soil for Muslims to worship freely, while Saudi Arabia, the mother of all Islam, still treats non-Muslims, even the "People of the book" horribly.

Try building a church or synagogue or have a Bible study group in Saudi Arabia and see what benevolent Islam will do to you.

These Are the Photos That Damn Hezbollah

Graphic images smuggled out from behind Lebanon's battle lines show how Hezbollah is waging war amid suburban homes.

A stream of images, obtained exclusively by the News Ltd, depicts how the extremists are using high-density residential areas as launch pads for rockets and heavy calibre weapons.

Dressed in civilian clothing so they can quickly melt back into suburbia, the fighters carrying automatic assault rifles ride in on trucks laden with cannons.

The photographs from the Christian area of Wadi Chahrour in the east of Beirut were snapped by a visiting journalist caught in the midst of the war, then smuggled out by a friend.

Fighters hiding heavy weapons in the residential areas of southern Lebanon.

Fighters hiding heavy weapons in the residential areas of southern Lebanon. / Sunday Mail (SA)

Fighters hiding heavy weapons in the residential areas of southern Lebanon. / Sunday Mail (SA)

Read the whole thing

Beirut Unfazed By Attack?

There is so much information coming out of Lebanon, it's hard to know what to believe. I have a feeling that, somewhere in the middle, is the truth. For example, while it is true that Israel has bombed the heck out of Lebanon, I think it's also true that there are areas where people can still find a way to escape the daily carnage and maintain a sense of normalcy.

Beirut, Lebanon's capital, has always been a city of contrasts and divisions.

Even while one part of the city is being bombed everyday, the rest of the city continues to function pretty much normally.

Even after three weeks after Israel attacked Lebanon, Beirut looks more like a hip resort city than a war zone.

At the Cactus restaurant, the crowd is thinner than usual, but as trendy as ever. And the manager says war or no war business will boom again. The customers are already coming back.

"They enjoy it because we have very nice music every night. In the morning we open at 12 o'clock for lunch and we close at 4 o'clock in the morning. So we have lunch and dinner and people come here to enjoy the music because we have a different DJ everyday," said Claude, Manager, Cactus Restaurant.

During the civil war in the 1980s, Bristol Hotel in the Sunni area of West Beirut was bombed heavily.

Nobody would guess from the elegance of the breakfast service in the hotel and the sheer normality of life that the southern part of the city has been practically leveled by Israeli bombing.

And while breakfast is served at the Bristol, in the Hezbollah stronghold of South Beirut, Israel has served up its daily menu of high explosive.

I'm not sure how true of a picture this paints about Beirut, but it does at least help paint a picture of the resiliant Lebanese spirit. Read more here

Iranian Woman to Be Stoned for Adultery

This is incredible.

A young woman is at imminent risk of execution by stoning for adultery, according to the international human rights group Amnesty International.

Ashraf Kolhari, a 37-year-old mother of four has been held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for five years, Amnesty said in a statement on Thursday.

“On or around July 2006, she received the order for the implementation of her sentence, and is reportedly due to be executed by stoning by the end of July”, the rights group said.

Kolhari had an extra-marital affair after her divorce request was rejected by the court, reportedly on the basis that she had children, and therefore had to resume living with her husband, the statement said.

“She was sentenced on two charges; the first was for participating in the murder of her husband, for which she received a sentence of 15 years imprisonment; the second was for adultery as a married woman, for which she was sentenced to execution by stoning. Article 83 of the Iranian Penal Code stipulates that the penance for adultery by a married woman with an adult man is execution by stoning”, it said.

So, let me get this straight. Murder gets 15 years, but adultery gets death by stoning as long as the adulterer is a woman? This is outrageous and beyond infuriating!

Precious Moments

Does this look like anything you've ever seen before?

(Andy don't get all excited now)

Borrowed from Cat in Rabat

Cindy Digs Texas

Casey Sheehan's mother, Cindy, has decided to sink some roots into the vast rich soil of Texas.  According to news reports she has bought five acres of land in Crawford, TX where President Bush has his ranch.  According to Fox News, Cindy bought the land with some of the moeny she received from Casey's SGLI policy.

In other related news, Casey's grave is still missing a headstone that only Cindy can have installed.

Is Hassan Nasrallah Queer, Resulting in the War?

pinky ring

--at one time, worn by both men and women to signify that one was queer. Usually worn on the left hand.

photo by AP

Also, notice the fabulous lavender background, which is a color associated with gay men since ancient Greece, where the Greek word for lavender also meant a gay man. He also has a penchant for missiles and well, you know what those look like.

I only wonder if he's incapable of expressing his true self, and it has led to his incredible hostility. What a travesty for Nasrallah and the region. I mean, think about it.

A planned Jerusalem gay pride march that had angered the holy city's Jewish and Arab leaders alike has been postponed indefinitely because of Israel's conflict with Hizbullah, organizers said on Sunday.

Could it be that Narallah threw a temper tantrum because he couldn't attend the rally and, so ... well ... you know how it goes. "If I can't be at the rally, then there shall be no rally!!"

And the rest is history.

Besides, has anyone ever seen what he wears under his robe? Hey, you never know. Soon we just may hear Nasrallah singin' "Bye bye bye!"

<sigh> This is all so tragic and preventable. I think it's our duty to help Sheikh Nasrallah come out of the closet so peace and harmony can prevail between Israel and Lebanon, and inside himself as well. Let the love flow people, let the love flow.

Now, who wants to buy me a coke?

9/11 Tribute

I started working on my tribute to Dr. Paul Abmrose, one of the 2996 victims who lost their lives during the 9/11 terror attacks. 

Click on this link to see the blog, which I'm going to be updating regularly as we get closer to September 11th.

http://myrtus.typepad.com/paul_ambrose/