Remember fireworks safety this year

But that is only part of the story. You guessed it. The Muslims are outraged I tell 'ya. Why they are seething. To the Islamofascists I say "Get a life" instead of taking one.

Be Wary of the Chinese Economy

Keep a close eye on the economy in China.

The Chinese government backed up its recent words with action Thursday, allowing the yuan currency to appreciate against the U.S. dollar in its tightly controlled foreign-exchange market at the fastest pace since Beijing ended its U.S. dollar "peg" in 2005.

Actually, China has little choice as they have to inflate their yuan value to keep pace with their higher inflation. The international money market would have forced the same thing.

Faster appreciation in the yuan is likely to help offset inflationary pressures from a weaker dollar and rising global commodity prices, Yao reportedly said. He that added consumer inflation will likely ease slightly next year, to a 4.5% rate from this year's projected 4.7%.

China's annual consumer price inflation surged to 6.9% last month, its highest level since December 1996, mostly due to soaring food prices.

Always take the specific quote of econometric data from China with a grain of salt. Communist countries tend to get creative with how they calculate such numbers. But just from logic you can tell that their inflation rate is getting uncomfortably high and probably is still rising.

'Stop Pushing Obama Down Our Throats'

Fans of daytime queen Oprah Winfrey are rebelling against her campaign for Barack Obama, according to a report in the LA Times.

I doubt Winfrey has much to worry about, unless her financial advisers tell her to dummy up at some point.

Although it's true that rallies featuring Winfrey in Iowa and South Carolina have drawn some of the biggest crowds of the campaign so far, Obama's people won't know whether they also triggered a backlash until election day.

Winfrey's website has been buzzing for weeks with angry postings about her involvement in the Illinois senator's campaign, something Hollywood, which always keeps its eye on the public mood, is bound to notice -- this is a town, after all, that measures success by weekly grosses and daily TV ratings.

One posting on her site, Oprah.com, accused the talk diva of being a traitor. (By Thursday, that message string had attracted more than 12,000 views.) Another poster told Winfrey to "stop pushing Obama down our throats." (There were 3,000 hits logged on that one.) Another said: "Do you really know Barack Hussein Obama? Scary & something we have to take into consideration!" (There were more than 4,000 views for that.)

"First of all I want to say that I am a HUGE Oprah fan," one poster wrote. "I love what she stands for. She is a strong woman changing the world. However, I have been extremely disappointed with her recent touring with Barack Obama. It is a manipulation and an abuse of her power and influence on the American culture.

"Let the American people form their own opinion, Oprah."

Prediction: If Obama loses out in the Democrat primaries, expect Winfrey to begin shamelessly fawning and slobbering over the Dragon Lady.

Once celebrity who apparently has gotten a clue is George Clooney.

In a dinner-party conversation in Rome recently, Clooney said that Obama's people have been urging him to go out on the trail. "I've told them that having me out there would hurt more than help. I know they don't see it that way."

Perhaps Winfrey and the rest of Hollywood ought to take a cue from Clooney.

Where do Middle Eastern leaders stand on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto?

I started noticing it yesterday. When news of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto begin spreading through out the world we heard immediately from the leaders of Europe and Asia but the Middle East was silent. I have gone searching for news again today and the only Muslim country I have found that has come out and condemned the killing is Afghanistan.

From the AP just a little while ago.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, who met Bhutto earlier on Thursday in Islamabad, said he was "deeply pained" by the assassination of "this brave sister of ours, a brave daughter of the Muslim world."

From AFP we have this pointing to the most populace Muslim country Indonesia, which is also on the Indian sub-continent.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, called Bhutto's murder "a severe blow to Pakistan's democratic process" and expressed his hope that "the law be upheld and democracy be respected in Pakistan."

Folks sometimes you can learn as much about somebody by what they don't say as you can what they do say. So where are the Middle Eastern countries in their condemnation of this killing? Where is Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and even Iraq?

Report: AQ Behind Bhutto Hit; No Bullet Wounds Evident

Well, they've already claimed responsibility, so this isn't a stunner, but new details are emerging in the murder of Benazir Bhutto. Things seem to get murkier, however.

Pakistan's interior ministry has said it has clear evidence al-Qaeda was behind the assassination.

It quoted intelligence intercepts in a briefing to reporters that followed a reported claim of responsibility by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

It said Ms Bhutto had died of a fracture in her neck and had not been hit by either bullets or shrapnel, as reported earlier when a gunman attacked her car at an election rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

NDTV supports this story.

X-ray showed no sign of bullet injury in PPP leader Benazir Bhutto's body, the doctor who treated her at Rawalpindi hospital said.

The doctor claimed that Benazir's death was due to some shrapnel, which hit her head and fractured it.

He also added that Benazir's cardiac arrest was due to brain injury.

The Pakistan government has also said she did not die of bullet injuries.

These developments would mean she died in the bomb blast.

No Questions for the Queen

Shocking how Her Thighness would refuse to answer questions, isn't it?

Unless it's scripted, she isn't talking.

As she races through Iowa in the days before next week's caucuses, Hillary Clinton is taking few chances. She tells crowds that it’s their turn to "pick a president," but over the last two days she has not invited them to ask her any questions.

Before the brief Christmas break, the New York senator had been setting aside time after campaign speeches to hear from the audience. Now when she’s done speaking, her theme songs blare from loudspeakers, preventing any kind of public Q&A.

She was no more inviting when a television reporter approached her after a rally on Thursday and asked if she was “moved’’ by Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Clinton turned away without answering.

Yeah, she's ready to be President. Maybe of the local PTA, but not the United States.

Meanwhile, she's in a three-way statistical dead heat with Silky and Barry O in Iowa.

Crisis Averted: Miss France Gets to Keep Title

We can finally breathe a sigh of relief, as news has come down that the lovely and talented Miss France, Valerie Begue, will get to keep her title, although, sadly, she will not get to represent France in the Miss World pageant.

We'll somehow have to come to grips with that.

Valerie Begue can keep her Miss France crown despite a row over suggestive pictures that appeared in a French magazine, the contest organisers say.

But Ms Begue, who was crowned on 8 December, will not be allowed to take part in international beauty contests.

One picture showed her licking yoghurt provocatively, while another had her posing on a wooden cross, like Christ.

Her home island of Reunion, in the Indian Ocean, had campaigned to prevent her being stripped of her crown.

Before the competition, contestants guarantee that they have never been photographed in compromising positions.

The controversial pictures were published on 21 December, prompting the president of the Miss France contest, Genevieve de Fontenay, to call for Ms Begue, 22, to stand down.

But on Friday Ms de Fontenay said Ms Begue could keep her crown "provided she does not participate in any international elections [contests] ".

"The photos are shocking and continue to shock. These are not innocent photos. In no way do they correspond to the image of Miss France," she added.

Ms Begue expressed relief, saying, "I'm happy to keep my title and thank all those who supported me".

I'd appreciate being thanked personally, but a note of thanks will suffice.

The lovely Ms. Begue looks very happy to get the news.


Her nemesis de Fontenay does not.


Previously

History Channel does Charlie Wilson

I am watching the "True Story of Charlie Wilson" on the History channel this morning.

Interesting show. The first funding for the muhjadeen in Afghanistan was authorized by Jimmy Carter in 1979. Charlie Wilson was a boozing, ladies man, congressman from Texas. His inspiration for increasing the funding for the muhjadeen came from watching a "60 Minutes" program where Dan Rather was reporting from Afghanistan while sitting in a hot tub with a bunch of women in Las Vegas. So see the real root of Osama Bin Laden and the funding of the muhjadeen lie with Carter, Rather and a Democrat representative.

Wilson went around normal funding procedures in the House and doubled the funding from $5 million to $10 million just by inserting it into the bill unchallenged.
Joanne Herring very anti communist socialite teams with Robin King to film Documentary in Afghanistan to convince congress for more funding.

Pakistan is base for Afghan resistance. Base of operations for the current day Taliban and hideout Phesawar is home to about 3 million Afghani's. This is the current base of operations for the Taliban and refuge of Al Queda.

Wilson went to Egypt to make a deal for the Soviet weapons they had so he used a gal named Carol Shannon to put on a belly dance for an Egyptian to get in to his good graces for the weapons. She is warned not to insult Islamic sensibilities in her routine but defies them and puts on a good ol belly dance complete with sword. Abu Gazalah releases the weapons to Wilson to give to the mujhadeen. She dressed in western attire, blue jeans and shirts which the muj on the one hand objected to but were also intrigued by. Their resistance to her dress was token. Hear that Nancy Pelosi. I keep saying women are our best weapon in this battle against Islamic extremism.

For those interested in not just the Hollywood version of who and what Charlie Wilson was about should watch the program. It is 2 hours in length but interesting in light of all the attention the movie has brought forward.

For those looking for the book here it is.

Did Military Snipers Kill Bhutto?

As Benazir Bhutto was laid to rest today, confusion still reigns as to who actually arranged the hit.

Eli Lake in the New York Sun reports it may have been military snipers.

American and Pakistani military leaders are seeking to account for what may be renegade commando units from the Pakistani military's special forces in the wake of the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.

The attack yesterday at Rawalpindi bore the hallmarks of a sophisticated military operation. At first, Bhutto's rally was hit by a suicide bomb that turned out to be a decoy. According to press reports and a situation report of the incident relayed to The New York Sun by an American intelligence officer, Bhutto's armored limousine was shot by multiple snipers whose armor-piercing bullets penetrated the vehicle, hitting the former premier five times in the head, chest, and neck. Two of the snipers then detonated themselves shortly after the shooting, according to the situation report, while being pursued by local police.

A separate attack was thwarted at the local hospital where Bhutto possibly would have been revived had she survived the initial shooting. Also attacked yesterday was a rival politician, Nawaz Sharif, another former prime minister who took power after Bhutto lost power in 1996.

A working theory, according to this American source, is that Al Qaeda or affiliated jihadist groups had effectively suborned at least one unit of Pakistan's Special Services Group, the country's equivalent of Britain's elite SAS commandos. This official, however, stressed this was just a theory at this point. Other theories include that the assassins were trained by Qaeda or were from other military services, or the possibility that the assassins were retired Pakistani special forces.

"They just killed the most protected politician in the whole country," this source said. "We really don't know a lot at this point, but the first thing that is happening is we are asking the Pakistani military to account for every black team with special operations capabilities."

Lost in the rapidly developing story was this item I first noted before Bhutto was pronounced dead.

Around 4,000 additional police personnel and commandos have been called for security arrangements after intelligence agencies and the federal government warned of possible terror attacks on Benazir Bhutto.

Extraordinary security arrangements have also been made around the Rawalpindi city, Liaquat Bagh and the Islamabad International Airport. Bunkers and check posts have also been set up at different places in the city and walkthrough gates would be installed at entry points of Liaquat Bagh.

Entry to the public rally premises will only be allowed after complete identification and thorough checking. Police personnel in civvies will also patrol the nearby areas and hotels to guard against any terrorist activity.
...
Police personnel would also be deputed on rooftops of the nearby buildings. Under the security arrangements, no one, including party activists, will be allowed to come near the vehicle of Benazir Bhutto.

Well, judging by the photos and video shown Thursday, there were plenty of people near Bhutto's vehicle.

Given the security procedures supposedly in place, it further makes sense that perhaps snipers did indeed perform the hit rather than anyone up close.

Meanwhile, Pakistani troops have been ordered to shoot on sight rioters and looters.

As mobs looted and set buildings on fire, paramilitary rangers were given the authority to use live fire to stop rioters from damaging property in southern Pakistan.

Major Asad Ali, the rangers' spokesman, told reporters: "We have orders to shoot at sight."

However, despite fears that the election on 8 January could be put off, the country's caretaker prime minister Muhammad Soomro announced today that the government had no immediate plans to postpone it.

Meanwhile, the death toll in rioting is now up to 19.

UPDATE: Lawhawk tipped me to Captain Ed's item discussing the Eli Lake story, which is also noted by AJ Strata.

There is a lot of wild speculation and many theories floating around and it's virtually impossible to tell for sure what happened, though it does seem clear the military there was long ago infiltrated and that alone presents many dangers as time goes on.

New bin Laden Tape Forthcoming: OBL Pissed at Al Jazeera

After today's events in Pakistan, expect the full multimedia blitz from these thugs.

A new video featuring Usama bin Laden called “The Way to Foil the Conspiracies” is set to hit the Internet, according to a statement posted on several Jihadi message boards and promoted through an animated GIF banner. The message will last for a total of 56 minutes and 10 seconds and will address Iraq and al-Qaeda’s Islamic State of Iraq (ISI).

The ISI has come under scrutiny within Jihadi circles for its loss of territory and reduced tempo of operations. In October bin Laden recorded an audio message that was widely considered to be criticism of the ISI and its emir, the notional Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.

It is not clear when the message will be released onto the Internet and if it will be delivered as an audio or a video file.

More from SITE.

SITE Intelligence Group has learned that a new message is forthcoming from Usama bin Laden, the head of Al-Qaeda, addressing Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq. The message is produced by As-Sahab, the multimedia arm of Al-Qaeda, and is titled, “The Way to Contain the Conspiracies”. The announcement of this impending released was posted to jihadist forums today, Thursday, December 27, 2007, and gave the duration of the tape as 56 minutes and 10 seconds. It also stated: “May Allah demean the Front of Shame and Dinar, and may the Merciful One reveal the confusion of Al-Jazeera, the station of the infidels.”

Reaction From Bhutto Assassination

Note: Links have been added as they arise, so scroll down for the latest.

Bumped to the top of the page for now.

Since we've pretty much exhausted the earlier link on Benazir Bhutto's assassination, here's a new post detailing reaction via the Pakistani and world media.

From Pakistan, there's DAWN, Associated Press of Pakistan, News Now, Pak Tribune, Pakistan Times, and The Nation.

Elsewhere, there's widespread condemnation and outrage.

More here.

What's next?

More reaction from U.S. presidential candidates.

Investors react cautiously.

At least 14 are dead in the aftermath.

Bhutto aides cast blame.

Sharif party to boycott elections.

She was the daughter of tragedy.

Karachi on virtual lockdown; rioting there.

A victory for the Islamists.

An assassin strikes.

She lived in the eye of the storm.

Much more reaction from the blogosphere via Memorandum.

Is Mike Huckabee really this stupid?

Al Qaeda link likely.

Another Al Qaeda link.

'Almost certainly Al Qaeda'

Pakistan in turmoil.

More from LGF, with video.

Scrambling for a response.

Lawhawk notes this ominous warning from Austin Bay.

Noblesse Oblige has an update.

Presidential candidate reaction roundup. As noted in the comments, here's Crazy Uncle Ron's response.

More video.

Marketwatch snapshot.

She died in the city where her father was hanged.

A Bhutto interview scheduled for release in January.

We had the HuffPosters in our original link this morning (and they actually linked me--heh!), and now they're closing in on 2000 comments. Absolute moonbattery on steroids.

sparkey (See profile | I'm a fan of sparkey)
Sept.11 of 2001. Bush is out of Washington. Rice is out of Washington. Cheney is at an undisclosed location. 9-11 happens. Dec.27 of 2007. Bush is out of Washington. Rice is out of Washington. Cheney is at an undisclosed location. Bhutto is killed. Anything look familiar here?
Reply | posted 05:05 pm on 12/27/2007

Yes, your're still insane.

Silky P: I spoke to Musharraf. Via Hot Air, which also has Bhutto from the grave: Blame Musharraf.

The 'Stache checks in.

Spiegel Online has more world reaction.

Times Online has the main suspects.

More trouble for Musharraf. No kidding. He casts his own finger of blame.

Amnesty International chimes in.

Ron Paul Top Story at Tehran Times

The Iranians know a useful idiot when they see one.

Maverick Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul says the leaders of Israel are impelling the White House to wage war on Iran.

""The government of Israel encourages Americans to go into Iran,"" Paul said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press.

The 10-term Texas lawmaker added that neoconservatives have also been pushing the administration into ‘bombing Iran’.

When asked what he would do as the U.S. president ‘if Iran invaded Israel’, Paul said the illusion of the Islamic Republic’s attack on Israel is like saying, ""Iran is about to invade Mars.""

The 72-year-old politician made the remarks as Israeli officials are stepping up their war rhetoric against Tehran, over its nuclear program despite the recent reports confirming the peaceful nature of the country’s activities.

Meanwhile, some high comedy from Press TV.

Denmark-based Saxo Bank predicts Ron Paul presidency in 2008, saying US economy will plunge into a depression prior to the election.

The Bank predicted that Ron Paul, US congressman and Republican presidential candidate, will win the US 2008 presidential election.

Saxo Bank says the US economy will shrink by 25% and the Chinese economy will decrease by 40%. The economic downturn will come about as a result of the housing crash.

How does one even react to such unbridled lunacy?

UPDATE: LGFer Desert Dog notes Mike Huckabee is rather popular over at FARS.

What does that tell you?

Jersey Girls Embrace Trooferism

This is really pathetic.

Our government’s official story regarding the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, tells us that 19 Arab hijackers successfully defeated the United States military by hijacking four commercial airliners within two hours on a budget of approximately $400,000. These men, armed only with small knives, box cutters and Mace, were able to knock down the World Trade Center towers in New York City and strike the Pentagon.

Because our loved ones were murdered on 9/11, we felt that the details of how the hijackers succeeded should be thoroughly investigated, so we fought for an independent 9/11 Commission. It seemed logical that our government would want to know what happened so as to prevent another attack.

When the legislation for the 9/11 Commission was passed, it gave the commissioners full subpoena power. Unfortunately, that subpoena power was rarely used.

In addition to the small knives, box cutters and Mace, in case they forgot, the hijackers also commandeered four fuel-laden aircraft.

I know, minor detail.

It's becoming more difficult feeling sorry for these women as time passes on.

Via Flopping Aces, Screw Loose Change.

Shocking News: Alcohol Use Linked to Risky Sexual Behavior

Who could have imagined this?

The more that young adults booze it up, the more they may be prone to the high-risk behavior of having multiple sex partners - with some reporting as many as 100, a new study has found.

Psychiatry researchers who studied 601 unmarried people ages 18 to 25 found the group as a whole reported having an average of nine sexual partners.

Also on average, participants were nearly 16 the first time they had sexual intercourse, and some reported having just one sexual partner - but others, many, many more.

"Some participants in the study reported 50 or 100 partners, and research shows - and common sense tells you - that the more sex partners you have, the more likely you'll encounter someone with" a sexually transmitted disease, said Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, lead researcher of the study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Amazing they needed a study to figure this out.

Anyone who's been through high school and college likely could have pointed this out to them.

Special Christmas Message From Roseanne Barr

Via Page Six, we found this lovely item from Roseanne Barr.

Happy birthday Jesus!

hope you like the gift we got you: war, hatred, christian inquisition, muslim holy war and jewish jihad, mass materialism, poisoning the planet, locking every one up and letting working class people go broke and move to tent cities, starvation, and more billionaires than ever, and the pope forgiving child molesters, and screwing their victims out of settlement money! Just what you wished for right? Great, we thought so!!! enjoy our gifts in good health!

Then there was this follow-up.

christmas wishes:

everyone on earth shuts the hell up for one full minute and clears out space/room for reality. When, and only when true reality is seen, faced and experienced will the human mind begin to invent and facilitate solutions, remedies, and reversal of the course of death we are on. (nemesis). If reality was truly seen, all churches, mosques, and temples (the veil) would disappear and The Goddess would become visible.
God is now making Itself seen.
It is creation Itself. Creation is an interconnected Being.
It is a silver thread shaped like a spiral, and we the biosphere that moves up and down it, like Jacob's ladder. It's "language" is RNA.
IT IS GREEN. HER BABYLONIAN NAME IS "NEMESIS".

Sucks becoming irrelevant, I guess.

Getting on the Fred Thompson bus

At least for a little while.
I am having trouble getting the embedded code for his new ad to play correctly, so here is the link for his new ad.
UPDATE: Thanks to steveegg here is the YouTube version.

I feel more and more that Fred is the true conservative in this campaign next to Duncan Hunter, but alas Duncan couldn't get a mention in the press if he was seen on the arm of Paris Hilton. Fred is getting traction and he is serious.
I know most conservatives have soured on contributing to the RNC (Republican National Committee) since they have seemed to start backing candidates that do not seem to speak for what used to be considered conservatives. Well here is a chance to take that money and put it to good use. Give to Fred. It seems the media only responds to those who can raise money, why else would Ron Paul get an hour on Sunday talk show?
Go Fred.

Suicide Bombing at Bhutto Rally; Bhutto Critical? (UPDATE) Bhutto Dead

Benazir Bhutto driving through the streets, waving at her supporters, just seconds before she was shot and the suicide bomber hit today

(Via Hot Air)

UPDATE: Benazir Bhutto is dead.

Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was targeted in a deadly suicide bombing Thursday. Media reports quote her husband saying she suffered a bullet wound to the neck in the attack.

This is curious that she reportedly died from a bullet wound, likely meaning the suicide bomber may not have caused the wound and she was shot by someone else.

Obviously, more details to follow.

UPDATE II: More from the Washington Post.

Bhutto was shot at close range as she was leaving the rally in this garrison city south of Islamabad, aides said. Immediately after the shooting, a suicide bomber detonated explosives near Bhutto's car, killing at least 15 other people.

Bhutto was rushed to a hospital with extensive wounds to her torso, her supporters said. Shortly after she arrived at the hospital, an official came out of the building and told a crowd of supporters Bhutto was dead.

Also Thursday, a rooftop sniper opened fire on supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at a different pre-election rally in Rawalpindi, leaving four dead and at least five injured.

Bhutto's death is a devastating development, coming 12 days before Pakistanis are set to vote in national parliamentary elections already marked by enormous political turmoil. President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in November -- a move which he said was to combat terrorism, but which was widely perceived as an effort to stave off legal challenges to his authority. U.S. military officials said last week that the terrorist group al-Qaeda increasingly is focusing its efforts in Pakistan.

UPDATE III: Reaction via Memeorandum. Michelle Malkin, Gateway Pundit, Jules Crittenden, Don Surber, LGF, Noblesse Oblige, Doug Ross, Pajamas Media have more (via Glenn Reynolds).

This could quickly get ugly.

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto threatens to plunge a nuclear armed Pakistan into civil war, opposition groups warned today.

The former prime minister was killed by a suicide bomber as she left a public rally in the city of Rawalpindi today.

Commentators said the killing would make the postponement of the upcoming elections almost certain and could spark further unrest.

Riaz Malik, of the opposition Pakistan Movement for Justice party (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), warned: "The impact will be that Pakistan is in more turmoil - it will be the start of civil war in Pakistan.

"There is a very real danger of civil war in Pakistan."

UPDATE IV: HuffPost commenters unhinged, wish Bush and Blair who were murdered.

scampy123 (See profile | I'm a fan of scampy123)
If only we could read that Bush and Blair had been blown to bits with this greedy corrupt bitch who was persuaded to return for the American style of imposed democracy.
Why have the war criminals Bush and Blair have not been assasinated?
Reply | posted 09:46 am on 12/27/2007

Bluedanube (See profile | I'm a fan of Bluedanube)
A tragedy for democratic reform in Pakistan. A preview of what opponents to the Republican Party can expect?
Reply | posted 09:40 am on 12/27/2007

UPDATE V: AQ takes responsibility, of course. (HT: Lawhawk).

UPDATE VI: Some reaction from U.S. presidential candidates. More here. Reaction here from Pakistanis in the U.S. President Bush response shown here (scroll down for video). Others weigh in here (via Hot Air).

This is getting to be a recurring theme.

A suicide bomber struck shortly after Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto addressed a political rally in this garrison city on Thursday, killing at least 20 people, witnesses said.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene could see body parts and flesh scattered at the back gate of the Liaqat Bagh park where Bhutto had spoken. He counted about 20 bodies, including police, and could see many other wounded people.

Police official Abdul Karim said Bhutto had already left the area in her vehicle when the blast went off, just minutes after her speech to thousands of supporters.

Another police official, Saud Aziz, said it was a suicide attack.

Farahtullah Babar, spokesman for Bhutto party, said her vehicle was some 50 yards away from blast, just after leaving the rally venue in Rawalpindi.

This report indicates Bhutto is safe, but Fox reported a sources said that she may have been injured.

"She had just crossed the gate when we heard a deafening sound. We could feel its impact but by the grace of God she is safe," he said.

Just yesterday, police had stopped a 15-year-old carrying a bomb at a Bhutto rally.

This attack comes after police had announced tightened security plans in Rawalpindi.

Around 4,000 additional police personnel and commandos have been called for security arrangements after intelligence agencies and the federal government warned of possible terror attacks on Benazir Bhutto.

Extraordinary security arrangements have also been made around the Rawalpindi city, Liaquat Bagh and the Islamabad International Airport. Bunkers and check posts have also been set up at different places in the city and walkthrough gates would be installed at entry points of Liaquat Bagh.

Entry to the public rally premises will only be allowed after complete identification and thorough checking. Police personnel in civvies will also patrol the nearby areas and hotels to guard against any terrorist activity.

It apparently wasn't enough or, perhaps, there was an inside job.

Also Thursday, gunmen opened fire on supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Gunmen opened fire on supporters of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday from an office of the party that supports President Pervez Musharraf killing four Sharif supporters, police said.

It was the worst violence related to a Jan. 8 general election since campaigning began in earnest in mid-December.

Sharif was several kilometres away from the shooting and was on his way to Rawalpindi city after attending a rally.

Sharif blamed supporters of the pro-Musharraf party for the violence but a spokesman for the party denied that its workers were involved.

The shooting occurred near an office of the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Q).

CNN is reporting Bhutto may be in critical condition.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is said to be critically wounded following a suicide attack on a political rally in Rawalpindi, her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, was quoted as saying on CNN affiliate Geo TV.

BBC also reports Bhutto is wounded.

Michael Yon has a thank you letter from a LTC

LTC is the Army acronym for Lieutenant Colonel. His thank you isn't so much to Michael for posting stories about his unit the 1/4 CAV but to America.

I have been under fire, looked insurgents in the eye, and seen corruption up close. I have also seen people emerge from oppression and live with hope for the first time in years. I have seen children reach up and grasp the hands of American soldiers just because they trust them.

As always a must read.

About That Tiger Incident in San Francisco...

Just wondering.

Have this guy's whereabouts been accounted for?

He does have a recent history of reckless and criminal behavior.

The big cat exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo was cordoned off as a crime scene Wednesday as investigators tried to determine whether a 300-pound Siberian tiger that killed a visitor escaped from its high-walled pen on its own or got help from someone, inadvertent or otherwise.

Police shot the animal to death after a Christmas Day rampage that began when the tiger escaped from an enclosure surrounded by what zoo officials said are an 18-foot wall and a 20-foot moat. Two brothers who also were visiting the zoo were severely mauled.

Police Chief Heather Fong said the department has opened a criminal investigation to "determine if there was human involvement in the tiger getting out or if the tiger was able to get out on its own."

Police said they have not ruled anything out, including whether the escape was the result of carelessness or a deliberate act.

Lord knows there are enough loons running loose in San Francisco, and Paul Addis certainly qualifies as one.

I wouldn't put it past some punk to think it was edgy to let a Siberian tiger loose for Christmas.

Tsunami Aid Spent on PC Causes

I certainly cannot say I'm surprised to find out that money donated to aid the victims of the tsunami three years ago wound up being used to promote left-wing, feel good nonsense.

Liberals just can't help themselves. Using other people's money to promote their agenda just comes naturally to them.

They've been doing it for so long, they don't even understand how reprehensible it is.

THREE years after Australians donated $400 million to rebuild Asian lives devastated by the 2004 tsunami, aid groups are under attack for spending much of the money on social and political engineering.

A survey by The Australian of the contributions by non-government organisations to the relief effort found the donations had been spent on politically correct projects promoting left-wing Western values over traditional Asian culture.

The activities - listed as tsunami relief - include a "travelling Oxfam gender justice show" in Indonesia to change rural male attitudes towards women.

Another Oxfam project, reminiscent of the ACTU's Your Rights at Work campaign, instructs Thai workers in Australian-style industrial activism and encourages them to set up trade unions.

A World Vision tsunami relief project in the Indonesian province of Aceh includes a lobbying campaign to advance land reform to promote gender equity, as well as educating women in "democratic processes" and encouraging them to enter politics.

Also in Aceh, the Catholic aid group Caritas funds an Islamic learning centre to promote "the importance of the Koran". This is seen as recognition of the importance of Islam in a province that has been the scene of a long-running and bloody independence struggle against the secular central Government.

The earthquake on December 26, 2004, created the most powerful tsunami in 40 years, killing about 230,000 people in 12 Indian Ocean nations, just under half of them in Aceh.

Critics say the aid agencies have exceeded the mandate provided to them by mum-and-dad donors from middle Australia who thought they were giving money to rebuild houses and lives shattered by the tsunami, rather than forcing the ideological views of the Australian Left on traditional Asians.

While I certainly have no qualms with efforts to promote women's rights, let these organizations do that with money raised separately if they so choose

Helping victims of this calamity should be the only job, not promoting trendy left-wing causes.