Book Review: Faces In The Fire by T.L. Hines

T.L. Hines weaves an unusual story in Faces in the Fire -- a story of four people who know nothing about each other but have everything in common. A disjointed story where the chapters come out of sequence and somehow the ending is the beginning. Or the beginning is the ending. Either way, the ending is a shocker, totally unexpected and unforeseen.

* * * SPOILER ALERT * * *

It was somehow oddly appropriate that I finished reading this book on September 10, after struggling through the first half of the book for some two weeks -- much longer than it ever takes me to read a book.

As Hines guides the reader through a scattered story where things happen out of order but somehow still have a sense of flow, we get to know four people: Kurt, Corinne, Grace, and -- in the end -- Stan. We learn of the quirks these characters all have that make them feel like bottom feeders -- like catfish.

In the end, we learn of Stan, a contract killer working for an organization that holds him captive in his career by threatening harm to his mother if he steps out of line. But as Stan is caught in the act by Grace, who saves the life of his intended victim, Stan fails for the first time, and is sent by the organization on an unexpected mission -- a mission that requires him to fly across country on Flight 93. On September 11. 2001.

Stan -- traveling under the alias of Kurt Marlowe -- finds himself as one of the heroes aboard Flight 93 as it is forced down in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on 9/11/2001. The same Kurt Marlowe who opens our story, having survived a fiery crash that has wiped out his memory. The fiery crash of Flight 93, though he doesn't have any memory of it -- or of who he really is.

* * * END OF SPOILERS * * *

Faces in the Fire started as a somewhat difficult book to read, but as the story progressed, and I got into the rhythm of the jumbled timeline, I found myself finding it more and more difficult to put the book down. And when I came across the surprise ending -- well, I was floored.

I have to recommend this book, but you have to commit yourself to get through the first half, no matter what. The second half will make it well worth it.

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

AJA Press

The Joe Show 85 - 9/11

Average Joe Radio
presents

The Joe Show
featuring
Average Joe American

Episode Eighty-Five: 9/11

Open Window by Robert Rich

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9/11, Seven Years Later

10 September 2008 Patriot Vol. 08 No. 37

PatriotPost.US Subscribe - It's Right, It's Free Printer Friendly Current News Today's Opinion Research & Policy Support the Patriot Fund

We remember... THE FOUNDATION: AMERICA "Let the American youth never forget..." —Joseph Story 9/11, SEVEN YEARS LATER Tomorrow we mark the seventh anniversary of September 11, 2001, when 2,996 innocents, mostly American citizens, lost their lives in the murderous attacks of Islamic fascists against our country. In keeping with the presidential proclamation designating September 11, 2008, as Patriot Day, all flags should be flown at half staff in memory of those who lost their lives six years ago. We invite you to join us as we offer our prayers for the families of those lost and for our Armed Forces now serving on the front lines of the war that began that day. As you remember September 11th, we invite you to visit The Patriot's resource to commemorate the attacks on our countrymen, "Day of Terror: A September 11 Retrospective". Now, as we move forward and continue to engage our jihadi foes in battle fronts around the globe, let us never forget why we fight. UPRIGHT "If [Osama] bin Laden had been killed in Afghanistan in 2001, the United States would be combating a myth and a legend. Instead of caliphate, bin Laden has produced his own catastrophe. The bin Laden icon is seriously fractured, if not quite shattered." —Austin Bay "The Republican ticket has it in the right order. We have the much more experienced candidate first. We have the younger, new generation candidate second. They have a candidate with no experience first, and they have the older-generation candidate second." —Rudy Giuliani "No governor ever had foreign policy experience before becoming president—not Ronald Reagan, not Franklin D. Roosevelt, nor any other governor. It is hard to know how many people could possibly have had foreign policy experience before reaching the White House besides a Secretary of State or a Secretary of Defense." —Thomas Sowell "Obama and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, see America as a nation in which government plays a primary role in individual lives. John McCain and Sarah Palin see the individual as primary and government as a protector of freedom that can help the less fortunate become self-sustaining." —Cal Thomas "In short, Sarah Palin is the emblem of what feminism was supposed to be all about: an unafraid, independent, audacious woman, who soared on her own merits without the aid of a patriarchal jumpstart, high-brow matrimonial tutelage and capital, and old-boy liaisons and networking." —Victor Davis Hanson "As many as an estimated nine out of 10 children with Down syndrome are aborted in the womb, sought out by increasingly sophisticated prenatal tests and eliminated as too flawed, too burdensome, too different to live. This is the ugly eugenic underbelly of American life, even as we congratulate ourselves on our tolerance and diversity." —Rich Lowry

The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US) is protected speech pursuant to the "inalienable rights" of all men, and the First (and Second) Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. In God we trust. 2008 © Publius Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dear Mr. Obama

Direct video link.

Found at Hoosier Access.

Your comments?

Joe

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Joint Statement from Senators McCain and Obama

The following "joint statement from John McCain and Barack Obama" appears on the main page of JohnMcCain.com. I searched Barack Obama's page and could find no mention of it. Kudos to the Senators for remembering those who lost their lives on 9/11. Kudos to Senator McCain for actually giving this memory a prominent position on his site.

For Immediate Release
September 6, 2008 Contact: Press Office
703-650-5550
Joint Statement from John McCain and Barack Obama

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, John McCain and Barack Obama issued the following statement on coming together to mark the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks:

"On September 11, 2008, we will join together to mark the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at Ground Zero.

"All of us came together on 9/11 -- not as Democrats or Republicans -- but as Americans. In smoke-filled corridors and on the steps of the Capitol; at blood banks and at vigils -- we were united as one American family. On Thursday, we will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity, to honor the memory of each and every American who died, and to grieve with the families and friends who lost loved ones. We will also give thanks for the firefighters, police, and emergency responders who set a heroic example of selfless service, and for the men and women who serve today in defense of the freedom and security that came under attack in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania."

Your comments?

Joe

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Whatever Politics Demand

Ever wonder where Barack Obama really stands on the issue of Iraq? Barack says he'll go to Iraq to meet with the troops and General Petraeus (and several leaders of terrorists nations, if we're to believe everything he has said over the past few months). Need a refresher course on the Barack Obama Guide to Iraq? Enjoy....



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Joe

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5,500 more VOLUNTARY Years of American Military Service in Baghdad!

Judging by these people -- the men and women fighting in Iraq -- the war is worth fighting to victory. These 1,215 men and women voluntarily reenlisted into their respective branches of the military for a collective 5,500 years of additional service in the United States military. You can see them here being sworn in yesterday in one of Saddam Hussein's palaces.



Direct video link.

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Joe

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The Joe Show 73 - Memorial Day

New this week on

The Joe Show
featuring Average Joe American

Episode Seventy-Three: Memorial Day

carbon leaf | the war was in color | www
courtesy of the podsafe music network

chris demarco | unknown soldier | www
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joe colledge | american dream | www
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kevin burdick | america | myspace
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neil brian goldberg | born in america
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neil brian goldberg | remember america
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nico & the known | the cost of freedom | www
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phil ayoub | white feather | www
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ray younkin | america's sky | www
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rick roark | remember me | myspace
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shawn cole | in the middle of nowhere | www
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sweet crystal | in god we trust | www
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taps

USED AS BACKGROUND MUSIC:

amazing grace

gary | american the beautiful | www
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when the army goes rolling along aka the army song

the halls of montezuma aka the marine corps hymn

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Book Review: Interview With The Devil by Clay Jacobsen

We live today in a world of constant worry over our own security. Whether it's the local thugs running the streets or the latest terror network to hit the nightly news, our world is just not as safe as it once was -- as it was during my own childhood.

9/11 woke us up to the fact that fundamental extremists would rather die killing us than peacefully co-exist with us. They label their hatred as "Jihad," hiding behind the teachings of Islam [see note below]. They attack us, hoping to win an instant ticket to paradise through martyrdom for Allah.

In his book, Interview With The Devil, Clay Jacobsen takes the reader on a very realistic -- very possible -- what-if journey behind the scenes of investigative reporter / former Marine Mark Taylor's attempt to interview -- and eliminate -- the most evil religious terrorist of his time. Breaking every sacred rule of the journalistic code of ethics, Taylor agrees to cooperate with the CIA to facilitate the assassination of Ahmad Hani Sa'id, leader of the Jihad al-Sharia terrorist network, under the guise of a television interview.

Jacobsen -- having thoroughly done his research -- weaves a tale of suspense and pulse-pounding action as his American hero faces off with Islamic extremism.

I picked up this book for a buck at a Berean book store, and sat up into the wee hours of the morning to finish it. So real is Jacobsen's tale that I could just as easily have been reading the Sunday newspaper.

Interview With The Devil provides informative insight into the minds of America's greatest enemies -- those who kill and die for the will of Allah -- while at the same time entertaining the reader and giving a crash course on Islam's holy book, the Qu'ran. Interview should be read by every red-blooded American who does not understand the justification for our country's role in the war on Terrorism.

At just a buck, this book would be a bargain at twenty times the price! I can't wait to get my hands on Jacobsen's other works!

[Of course, none of this is to say that Islam, itself, is evil -- just that the biggest threat facing America today comes from an extremist segment of Islam that believes their duty to Allah is to wipe out the infidels. Those extremists have given the religion of Islam a bad name. I do not intend to label the entire religion as evil.]

Joe

Bin Laden a Phony?

This has got to be the biggest fake ever! Phony as a three dollar bill, as they say.

From News.com:

Researcher: Bin Laden's beard is real, video is not

Posted by Robert Vamosi

On the Friday before the sixth anniversary of 9/11, Osama bin Laden appeared in a new video, his first since prior to the U.S. presidential elections in 2004. In analyzing the video, Neal Krawetz of Hactor Factor, an expert on digital image forensics, said in his latest blogs that the video contained many visual and audio splices, and that all of the modifications were of very low quality.

Most striking is bin Laden's beard, which has been gray in recent images. For this video it is black. "As far as my tools can detect, there has been no image manipulation of the bin Laden portion of the image beyond contrast adjustment. His beard really does appear to be that color." The Washington Post has the full video here.

Krawetz says the inner frame of bin Laden was resaved at least twice, and not at the same time. The images show fine horizontal stripes on bin Laden and a background indicating these came from interlaced video sources. In contrast, the text elements, such as the As-Sahab logo, appear to be from non-interlaced sources.

The September 7 video shows bin Laden dressed in a white hat, white shirt and yellow sweater. Krawetz notes "this is the same clothing he wore in the 2004-10-29 video. In 2004 he had it unzipped, but in 2007 he zipped up the bottom half. Besides the clothing, it appears to be the same background, same lighting, and same desk. Even the camera angle is almost identical." Krawetz also notes that "if you overlay the 2007 video with the 2004 video, his face has not changed in three years--only his beard is darker and the contrast on the picture has been adjusted."
More important though are the edits. At roughly a minute and a half into the video there is a splice; bin Laden shifts from looking at the camera to looking down in less than 1/25th of a second. At 13:13 there is a second, less obvious splice. In all, Krawetz says there are at least six splices in the video. Of these, there are only two live bin Laden segments, the rest of the video composed of still images. The first live section opens the video and ends at 1:56. The second section begins at 12:29 and continues until 14:01. The two live sections appear to be from different recordings "because the desk is closer to the camera in the second section."

Then there are the audio edits. Krawetz says "the new audio has no accompanying 'live' video and consists of multiple audio recordings." References to current events are made only during the still frame sections and after splices within the audio track." And there are so many splices that I cannot help but wonder if someone spliced words and phrases together. I also cannot rule out a vocal imitator during the frozen-frame audio. The only way to prove that the audio is really bin Laden is to see him talking in the video," Krawetz says.

Another bin Laden video was released on September 11 and was much more straightforward. There was a still image of the black-bearded bin Laden (oddly, using a frame not used in the previous video), and then, as has been a tradition at al-Qaida , there was a long, unedited video of a statement read by Azzam Al Amriki, also known as American-born Adam Pearlman, who is currently being sought for treason and thought to be living in Pakistan. That doesn't mean the 9/11-released video wasn't doctored.

Click here and mouse over the image to see Krawetz's 75 percent error level analysis of one image. The white frame around Azzim reveals that his video was composited against the drawing of the World Trade Center being attacked. As Krawetz presented at this year's Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, al-Qaida has a history of doctoring background either to present propaganda or simply to disguise locations. In a separate interview, Krawetz talks with CNET News.com about some of the tools he used in his analysis.

Joe

Remember.....

Memorial Day means so many different things to so many different people. What does it mean to you?

To some, it's a time to get together, have a picnic, drink a few beers, play some volleyball or (the new yard game of the 21st century) corn hole, and just hang together.

For many others, it's a time to get some flowers and other decorations and head out to the cemetery in honor of loved ones who have moved on. They place flowers, or saddles (as they're called), or other decorative paraphernalia at the final resting place of loved ones.

For yet others, it's a time to remember the many, many, many brave young souls that have been sacrificed for the cause of freedom, liberty, and defense of the nation that meant so much to them. Revolutionary war vets long forgotten, who gave their lives to secure the freedom that we enjoy today. Civil war vets who fought -- many times against their own brothers -- to hold this great nation together. World War I and II vets who fought to defend our nation -- and the world -- from evil tyrants bent on world domination. Vets in the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as the several other actions that our brave men and women have been involved in to defend those of other nations who were unable (or, in some cases possibly, unwilling) to defend themselves.

And today, of course, our brave young troops who have laid down their lives (and those who continue to risk their lives every day) to protect this great nation and the world from those who would seek to destroy us in the name of some misguided religion. Whether in Iraq, Afghanistan, or elsewhere, it is these brave young souls that are fighting to make the world a safer place not just for us, but for those whom we will leave behind: our children and grandchildren.

Remember these brave troops today as you set out to mark the day in whatever way you choose. If you gather with your family -- whether you are a staunch supporter or objector of the war -- say a prayer of thanks that someone values you and your country so much as to be willing to risk his or her life in the cause of defense. Most of these brave young people have never met you. Yet they're willing to risk their life so that you don't have to.

That, my friend, is what this day is all about. And don't you forget it!

Joe

Mitt Romney on Clinton and Obama Votes

I put up a quick post yesterday with Senator John McCain's comments about the votes cast by Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama against the Iraq funding bill. Here is what Governor Mitt Romney had to say:



Video Link

Joe

Average Joe Radio Episode 25: Artist Spotlight -- Scot Longyear

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Average Joe Radio

Episode Twenty-Five: Artist Spotlight -- Scot Longyear

The long awaited, much anticipated artist spotlight with Independent Christian Artist Scot Longyear is finally here.

Scot talks about his music, his "day job," his motivation, and more.

Plus great music from his album Simple Worship.

Scot Live!
Worship Plus
My Journey
Maryland Community Church
eXchange!

Used with permission from the artist.

Feedback Line: (206) 600-4JOE

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John McCain Speaks Out

The following post is not an endorsement of John McCain for President. It is, however, an endorsement for the kind of attitude he has, and the willingness to speak his mind about the recent vote for funding of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.



This morning, U.S. Senator John McCain issued the following statement on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Barack Obama's votes against emergency funding for our troops in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan:

"I was very disappointed to see Senator Obama and Senator Clinton embrace the policy of surrender by voting against funds to support our brave men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This vote may win favor with MoveOn and liberal primary voters, but it's the equivalent of waving a white flag to al Qaeda."

U.S. Senator John McCain has issued the following in response to a statement by Sen. Barack Obama:

"While Senator Obama's two years in the U.S. Senate certainly entitle him to vote against funding our troops, my service and experience combined with conversations with military leaders on the ground in Iraq lead me to believe that we must give this new strategy a chance to succeed because the consequences of failure would be catastrophic to our nation's security.

"By the way, Senator Obama, it's a 'flak' jacket, not a 'flack' jacket."

Joe

Why The Dems Want to Lose The War

Something occurred to me the other day as I listened to one of the many bland Democratic candidates for President speak on one of the many national news programs. I can't recall the candidate or the news program that they appeared on, if that says anything about how memorable these candidates are. All I can say for sure is that it was not Hillary Rodham Clinton (she of the recently removed Rodham), and it was a Democrat. I remember that it wasn't Hillary simply because I would remember if it was the only female candidate. I remember that it was a Democrat because he couldn't stop talking about getting out of Iraq.

It occurred to me, while listening to this talking head, just why the Democrats suddenly seem to be in such a rush to pass a funding bill that mandates a withdrawal date from Iraq. Even those who were against it before voting for it before being against it have suddenly come to the conclusion that it is urgent that we get the heck out of Dodge (read Iraq).

Now, they would like the American public to believe that they really have this sense of urgency because they are concerned about the well-being of our soldiers in harm's way. They try to tell us that what the American people want is to have our troops come home (funny, they never asked me what I want). But I don't think their sudden rush to turn tail and run has anything to do with the safety of even one American, military or civilian. If they were really concerned about the safety and well-being of Americans, they would understand the consequences of leaving Iraq with the job undone.

No, that's not what they have in mind at all, in my opinion. Call it an epiphany, but this is what I think: 2009. Yeah, that's right: 2009. The Democrats think that they have a very realistic chance of winning the White House in 2008. They really think that they can do it. And you know what? The last thing any Democrat moving into the White House in January of 2009 wants to have to deal with is war -- especially the war in Iraq. Because this new President would then own the war, and they could no longer call it Bush's war. This new President would then have the responsibility to do what they keep pushing for George Bush to do -- withdraw, give up, admit defeat, run, come home. Even worse, this new President would then be responsible for the consequences of not finishing the job.

As it stands now, no matter what happens -- withdrawal or not -- the Democrats in the House and Senate can pretty safely lay the blame firmly in the lap of President Bush (blame, I say, because they would certainly try to claim the credit of any successes achieved). If they were to somehow force withdrawal, and the inevitable happened (which, depending on whom you ask, could include all-out civil war in Iraq, more trouble in Iran, and more attacks on American soil), Democrats can still say that it's all President Bush's fault. After all, he's the President, and he is ultimately responsible for what happens with American troops, regardless of the prodding demands of a liberal Congress.

However, if we remain in Iraq long enough for a Democrat to move into the White House, it's a totally different story. This new Democratic President would have to make a choice. Withdraw, as they have all been demanding, and be personally responsible for the backlash. Or remain in Iraq, become the target of all the anti's who want us to run and hide, and be responsible for every American life that might be lost in the cause of Liberty.

So don't let the current Democratic candidates for President fool you -- I don't believe that they are really as concerned about the troops currently serving in Iraq as they would have us believe. It is my opinion that they really only care about two things.

1. Winning the White House in 2008 in any way possible;
2. Washing their hands of Iraq before Inauguration Day 2009.

It's all about the politics. It's all about the fact that this isn't George Bush's war. One might be able to argue that it's the President's war, but that also means that it will belong as much to George Bush's successor as it does to him, whether Republican or Democrat. And the last thing any Democrat seeking the White House wants is to actually have to accept responsibility for the war that he or she voted to authorize. They would rather become the heir to a failed nation than to actually be blamed for the failure of their own actions should we admit defeat on their watch.

Joe

UPDATE: Brit Captives Tell Their Story

From the NY Times:

Treatment in Iran Described by Britons
By JON ELSEN and SARAH LYALL

The 15 British marines and sailors who were released by Iran on Thursday said today that they were threatened and subjected to psychological pressure before giving videotaped statements appearing to apologize for trespassing in Iranian waters.

I wonder if we'll hear the same kind of outrcy there would be if this had happened in the United States. Did you ever notice that we're held to a higher standard in the land of Freedom?

Some of the former captives said today at a news conference that they knew they were really in Iraqi waters when they were seized, and that they had no choice but to surrender quickly when surrounded by Iranian boats. They denied having ever given the Iranians genuine confessions that they had entered Iranian waters.

Once in detention, they said, they were stripped and blindfolded, isolated from one another and interrogated. On one occasion, they were blindfolded and lined up facing a wall, and could hear guns being cocked behind them.

This is wholly unacceptable behavior!

“Some of us feared the worst,” said Capt. Chris Air of the Royal Marines.

The captives were kept separately in small stone cells where they slept on piles of blankets, they said. Iranian interrogators told then that if they confessed to being in Iranian waters, they would be returned to Britain, but if they did not, they would be imprisoned for seven years. ...

Leading Seaman Faye Turney, the only woman among the detainees, was held separately from the men and was told that the men had all been released, Captain Air said today. “For four days, she thought she was the only one there,” he said. ...

...today, a group of the former captives explained at the news conference that they had spent most of their 13 days in detention in separate cells, and were not allowed to see or speak to one another until nearly the end of the ordeal, and then only while being watched by Iranian journalists.

Finally, when the captives were dressed in civilian clothes and allowed to watch Mr. Ahmadinejad announce they would be released, “there was a great deal of elation,” said Lieutenant Carman.

The captives were then lined up to meet the president, and afterward were blindfolded again and taken to a hotel.

Captain Air said today that on the day they were captured, two Iranian boats blocked them in and rammed their boats, and the Iranian crews were aggressive and seemed unstable. Another six boats quickly closed in. Captain Air said he could not calm the Iranians down, and judged that if his crew tried to resist they would both lose the fight and cause a major international incident.

“They had come with a clear purpose, and they were never going to leave without us,” Captain Air said. “I believe we made the right decision.”

On Thursday, once the captives were released and were safely in the air on the way home, Prime Minister Tony Blair set aside the careful, diplomatic language he had used during the crisis and spoke in tough, almost antagonistic, terms about possible links between the Iranian government and terrorism in Iraq. ...

So Tony Blair came out after all and said what he really thinks. I bet there's lots of ill will now.

Mr. Blair reiterated on Thursday that Britain had traded nothing in return for the detainees’ freedom. They were released, he said, “without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side agreement of any nature whatsoever.”

Britain maintained throughout that the sailors and marines were in Iraqi waters on United Nations-mandated business when they were seized. Iran contended that they had trespassed in Iranian waters and demanded that Britain apologize and never do it again — an apology Britain does not appear to have made, at least publicly.

Speaking on BBC radio, Mike Dewar, a retired army colonel who is now an expert on security issues, said that the sailors and marines had not had appropriate protection and that their capture could have been thwarted by, for instance, the presence of helicopter gunships overhead.

This is the real story we've been waiting to hear.

Joe

UPDATE: Captured U.K. Troops Are Back In Britain

From CBSNews.com: Captured U.K. Troops Are Back In Britain

A flight carrying fifteen British sailors and marines who had been held captive in Iran has landed at London's Heathrow Airport.

UPDATE: Britons Leave Iran

MSNBC Breaking News: 15 freed Britons leave Tehran on flight to London, Iran radio reports.

Find out more at http://breakingnews.msnbc.com

Elaboration, As Promised

I mentioned earlier today that I believe President Bush gives us the straight scoop, not a bunch of political mumbo jumbo, and that I would elaborate on that tonight. Well, this is how I see it:

Think back to when President Bush was running for office in 2000. Do you remember him saying that he felt that God had called him to run for President? Do you remember? The liberal media made a big stink about how he thought that he was divinely appointed.

Here's how I look at it: who else would really do what President Bush has done if they were in the White House? Hear me out on this. Pause for just a moment and think of all of the candidates running in 2000. Go all the way back to before the primaries, when there were about 75 Democrats and 90 Republicans who wanted to be the next President of the United States. You don't even have to narrow it down to John Kerry, you can consider the entire field of Presidential hopefuls from both sides of the aisle. Go on, give yourself a minute. I'll wait.







No, seriously, take your time. I'll wait.







Got it? Can you picture all of the mumbo-jumboists that clogged the airwaves throughout the campaign? Okay, hold on to that. You're not quite done yet. Now, I want you to narrow that huge field of blowhards down to just one person. Not just any one person, but the one person (if one exists) that you think could have done a better job of responding to the attacks of 9/11 and provided better protection than President Bush has done.

You don't have to agree with President Bush. Forget about that for a moment. Forget about whether you support the war or not. Forget about whether you think the President like -- or manipulated intelligence. Forget about whether you think we should pull out of Iraq now, set a timetable, or see it through to victory. Drop all of your biases. Okay, I guess that might take a little time, too. Go ahead, I'll wait.





Long enough? No? Okay. I can be patient.






Maybe not that patient, because whatever you believe, you are probably so set in your belief that you can't forget your biases. That's okay, I understand, most people are that way.

But here's my point. Just what if President Bush was called by God to lead our country in this time of chaos? Think about it. Could Bill Clinton have done the job? I vote no. How about George Bush 41? He had his shot at Saddam and didn't finish the job. Again, no. Ronald Reagan? Yeah, I think he could have handled the situation, but unfortunately we will never find another man of his caliber to put in the White House.

And here's why I think that George Bush just may have been called by God for his present role. Name just one politician that would actually do what he feels is right in the face of this diversity without bowing to partisan politics. Fat chance!

But that's exactly what George W. Bush has done. He has done what he feels is right and best for our country, regardless of what public opinion or political correctness might dictate. That, my friend, is integrity, and why -- even with all of his shortcomings -- George W. Bush is probably the best man to guide our country through all that we've experienced since 9/11.

What do you think? Tell me. Email, or 206-600-4JOE.

Joe

Iran Releases British Sailors (Thursday?)

Want Joe's opinion? Find it in GREEN text below:

From MSNBC.com: Iran releases British sailors

Blair says he bears ‘no ill will’; Syria claims it provided ‘quiet diplomacy’
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 1:28 p.m. ET April 4, 2007

LONDON - Iran on Wednesday freed the 15 detained British sailors and marines in what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called an Easter gift to the British people.

An "Easter gift" to the British people? I thought the Muslims don't recognize Jesus Christ as the Risen Son of God. Last I checked, that's what Easter was all about, the Resurrection of the Son of God. Contrary to popular belief, it's not about bunnies and eggs and candy. I'm going to look more into this "Easter gift" from the Muslims. I'll let you know if I've been missing anything.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said he bore “no ill will” toward the Iranian people.

I sure hope that's just politics speaking. If Blair really has "no ill will," maybe it's a good thing he'll be leaving office soon.

Iranian state television said the 14 men and one woman, who were seized while on patrol in the northern Persian gulf on March 23, would leave Iran on Thursday. An Iranian official in London said they would be handed over to British diplomats in Tehran.

So they haven't actually been released yet. That would explain Mr. Blair's lack of ill will. We'll see how ill his will is come Friday morning.

Ahmadinejad’s surprise announcement came at a news conference shortly after he pinned a medal on the chest of the Iranian coast guard commander who intercepted the sailors and marines.

“I’m glad that our 15 service personnel have been released and I know their release will come as a relief not just to them but to their families,” Blair said outside his No. 10 Downing St. office. “Throughout, we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting, either.”

Blair added, “To the Iranian people I would simply say this: We bear you no ill will.”

Iranian state television later showed the British sailors talking to Ahmadinejad at the country's presidential palace apparently minutes before they were to be freed.

The footage showed Ahmadinejad shaking hands with the sailors and smiling and chatting.

I obviously wasn't there. I can't speak to what it's like to held captive by Iran, or any other country for that matter. And maybe when you start hearing talk of your release, you do what you must to go along with the plan that guarantees your freedom. Somehow, I just can't picture myself in that picture shaking hands with, smiling at, or even talking cordially to the Evil Iranian (who may be second only to Mad Vlad Putin on the scale of Evil Tyrants, now that Saddam is gone).

The Iranian president had said the Britons would be taken to Tehran aiport at the end of the press conference that he was addressing, but The Associated Press and Reuters news agency later reported that they would be flying out on Thursday.

The White House hailed the release. "As Prime Minister Blair just said, President Bush also welcomes the news," Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said.

No comment from President Bush about not having any ill will. He may be the only one who actually understands the evil alliance between Mad Vlad and the Evil Iranian, and what they are truly capable of doing.

Syria claims role in release

Syria's information minister and foreign minister said Damascus had played a key role in resolving the standoff.

Syria. Remember them? Providing sanctuary to the fleeing Ba'athists from Iraq when the war started. Providing material support to the insurgents that are killing our brave troops. Yeah, that Syria. Don't let their supposed "key role" fool you.

Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said that "Syrian efforts and the Iranian culminated with the release of the British sailors." Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told reporters that "Syria exercised a sort of quiet diplomacy to solve this problem and encourage dialogue between the two parties."

The two officials did not provide details of the Syrian mediation.

Gift to Britain

Ahmadinejad said he had pardoned the sailors as a gift to the British people and to mark the birthday of Islam's Prophet Muhammed and Easter.

So it's not really Easter the Evil Iranian cares about. It's Muhammad's birthday.

"On the occasion of the birthday of the great prophet (Muhammad) ... and for the occasion of the passing of Christ, I say the Islamic Republic government and the Iranian people -- with all powers and legal right to put the soldiers on trial -- forgave those 15," he said, referring to the Muslim prophet's birthday last Saturday and Easter, next Sunday.

Did you catch that? I don't think the Evil Iranian paid attention in Sunday School. Is Easter about the "passing of Christ?" Of course not. Easter Sunday is the third day, the Resurrection of Christ. But it's good to know what the Evil Iranian is actually celebrating! I think if I was a troop in captivity and I was told I was being released to mark the "passing of Christ" I'd have to ask them to keep me for three more days and release me when they realize that HE AROSE!

"This pardon is a gift to the British people," he said.

"On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian Coast Guard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters," the president told a press conference.

He then interrupted his speech and pinned a medal on the commander of the Coast Guards involved in capturing the British sailors and marines in the northern Gulf on March 23. Two other Coast Guards came on to the podium and saluted during the ceremony.

Concern for female sailor?

He criticized Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 Britons, in the Gulf, pointing out that she is a woman with a child.

"How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West?" he asked of the British government.

Answering questions, Ahmadinejad said there was no link between the sailors' release and the release in Baghdad on Monday of an Iranian diplomat who was seized by gunmen wearing Iraqi military uniforms in January.

"If we had wanted to exchange Jalal Sharafi with the rest (of the Britons) we would have exchanged him for 100,000. But we pardoned them," he said, adding the decision was "based on humanitarian considerations."

The president also weighed in on his country's diplomatic standoff with the United States.

"If Mr. Bush and his government change their behavior ... this side (Iran) has the ability to reconsider" its ties with Washington, he said, without specifying what change he wanted to see.

The White House responded that it was Tehran that needed to change its behavior and again urged the Iranian government to abandon its efforts nuclear program if it wants to improve relations with the United States.

That's what you would expect to hear from President Bush. Not political mumbo jumbo, but the straight scoop. But I'll have more on that, hopefully tonight.

© 2007 MSNBC InteractiveThe Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17944210/

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Joe