Nice Day for a Picnic

If Teddy Bears Ruled The World

If teddy bears ruled the world,
Oh my, what a wonderful place.
Everyone would be happy.
There would be a smile on every face.

We would picnic every Sunday
At our favorite old oak tree.
We would sing and dance and prance about,
Just playing joyfully.

We would all be nice to each other
And always lend a hand.
Ready with a bear hug,
We would always understand.

We would all be happy when something nice
Happened for one of our friends
And our friendships would last forever.
Nothing would cause them to end.

We would be kind to everyone,
Not just those in our own home,
But to everyone throughout our world,
Wherever we may roam.

Yes, if teddy bears ruled the world,
What a wonderful life this would be.
Our hearts would always be happy
As we danced by the old oak tree.

Janis Miner

Iraq Five Years After "Liberation"

Let's have a Seat

Assigned Seats-A name placard marks a chair for Vice President Cheney in the front row for a presidential statement in the Cross Hall of the White House, on 11 April 2008.

Was Airline Chaos Avoidable?

Passengers wait on a long ticket line at O'hare International Airport in Chicago on 10 April 2008.

11 April 2008

By JYOTI THOTTAM

Here's a little secret about inspecting an airplane: it only takes a few days to do it, and airlines routinely take planes out of service to check them without stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers or costing themselves tens of millions of dollars.

So why are both of those things happening in the current airlines' chaos? Did the friendly skies suddenly become too dangerous to fly? Not at all. The massive flight cancellations at American Airlines — about 1,200 flights, more than half of its daily schedule, affecting 273,000 passengers after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered the carrier to ground 300 planes for inspection — are the aviation equivalent of a traffic cop behind on his quota blanketing a street with tickets to avoid catching heat from his sergeant. Woe unto thee unlucky enough to double park.

The cop in this scenario is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency responsible for policing the safety of the nation's airlines has been under intense pressure over the last few weeks, ever since an investigation by the House Transportation Committee revealed in March that an FAA supervisor allowed Southwest Airlines to fly 46 planes that had missed inspections. Congress has been holding hearings on aviation safety, during which Robert Sturgell, the FAA's acting administrator, who is up for the permanent position, has had to answer charges, from whistleblowers and lawmakers, of excessive coziness with and lax oversight of the nation's commercial carriers.

And so he did, by ordering American, the nation's largest carrier by revenue, to ground all of its MD-80s after finding that their wiring wasn't fastened precisely according to FAA rules. No one, including the FAA, is saying that any of these planes were unsafe to fly. But rather than allow American to ground a few planes at a time and phase in the fixes and re-inspections (as it had done just two weeks earlier), the FAA chose to ground all the planes at once. The agency has said that it's simply enforcing the rules, and American's CEO, Gerald Arpey, has been careful to avoid any criticism of the FAA. (A spokesman for the airline would only say that American would follow the rules "to every jot and fiddle.") Industry observers have not been so shy. "They were making a statement to the traveling public," says Rick Seaney, CEO of Farecompare.com, a travel website.

The consequence of this abundance of caution is a disruption that Seaney compares to "22 snowstorms in the middle of spring." American, like just about every major airline in the U.S. these days, is flying packed planes and fewer of them. Knock out half of its schedule, and there's nowhere for those passengers to go because other carriers don't have the empty seats to absorb them. American handed out $500 travel vouchers to passengers who had simply given up.

The cancelled flights and compensation add up, but this won't be a knockout punch for American, which expects to be back to normal service by Sunday. A much bigger worry for every airline is fuel costs, which have doubled over the last year. That's what's behind the troubles of ATA, Skybus, Aloha and Frontier Airlines, which have all filed for bankruptcy protection within the last three weeks. The FAA is continuing its by-the-book campaign with audits of other airlines, but there may not be another inspection-related shutdown of this magnitude anytime soon, since no other carrier is as dependent on the MD-80 as American. Having made its point to the industry, the FAA can still choose to allow airlines (particularly those in more precarious financial health than American) to take just a few planes out of service at a time for inspections rather than going through another round of mass cancellations.

Unfortunately, stricter enforcement by the FAA — something that passenger advocates certainly welcome — will not necessarily mean a better summer travel season. Airlines are under even greater cost pressure than they were last summer, when one in three flights suffered delays. And changing the culture of the FAA so it's less reliant on airline self-regulation, as the Department of Transportation's Inspector General recommended this week, will require significantly increased funding for inspectors — something that's unlikely to happen by Memorial Day. Kate Hanni, who became an outspoken activist for a still-pending passenger's bill of rights after being stuck for hours on a notorious American Airlines flight in December 2006, says this week's upheaval has only been a reminder of what travelers in the U.S. have learned to put up with. "After a while, when you don't get anything you ask for, you get resigned to it."

U.S. Surge on Iraq

President George W. Bush meets with General David Petraeus, Commander of the Multi-National Force-Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker Thursday, April 10, 2008, at the White House. (White House photo by Eric Draper )

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 12, 2008

Audio
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Fifteen months ago this week, I announced the surge. And this week, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker gave Congress a detailed report on the results.

Since the surge began, American and Iraqi forces have made significant progress. While there's more to be done, sectarian violence, civilian deaths, and military deaths are down. Improvements in security have helped clear the way for political and economic progress. The Iraqi government has passed a budget and three major "benchmark" laws. And many economic indicators are now pointed in the right direction.

Serious and complex challenges remain in Iraq. Yet with the surge, a major strategic shift has occurred. Fifteen months ago, extremists were sowing sectarian violence; today, many mainstream Sunni and Shia are actively confronting the extremists. Fifteen months ago, al Qaeda was using bases in Iraq to kill our troops and terrorize Iraqis; today, we have put al Qaeda on the defensive in Iraq, and now we are working to deliver a crippling blow. Fifteen months ago, Americans were worried about the prospect of failure in Iraq; today, thanks to the surge, we've revived the prospect of success in Iraq.

This week, General Petraeus reported that security conditions have improved enough to withdraw all five surge brigades. By July 31, the number of U.S. combat brigades in Iraq will be down 25 percent from the year before. Beyond that, General Petraeus says he will need time to assess how this reduced American presence will affect conditions on the ground before making recommendations on further reductions. I've told him he'll have time he needs to make his assessment.

Our job in the period ahead is to stand with the Iraqi government as it makes the transition to responsibility for its own security and its own destiny. So what would this transition look like? On the security front, we will stay on the offense, continue to support the Iraqi security forces, continue to transfer security responsibilities to them, and move over time into an overwatch role.

On the economic front, Iraq's economy is growing. Iraq is assuming responsibility for almost all the funding of large-scale reconstruction projects, and our share of security costs is dropping as well. On the political front, Iraq is planning to hold elections that will provide a way for Iraqis to settle disputes through the political process instead of through violence.

Our efforts are aimed at a clear goal: a free Iraq that can protect its people, support itself economically, and take charge of its own political affairs. And no one wants to achieve that goal more than the Iraqis themselves.

The turnaround that our men and women in uniform have made possible in Iraq is a brilliant achievement. And we expect that, as conditions on the ground continue to improve, they will permit us to continue the policy of return on success.

I'm confident in our success because I know the valor of the young Americans who defend us. This week, I commemorated the sacrifice of Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who gave his life in Iraq, and became the fourth Medal of Honor recipient in the war on terror. On September 29, 2006, Mike and two teammates had taken a position on a rooftop when an insurgent grenade landed on the roof. Mike threw himself onto the grenade. One of the survivors put it this way: "Mikey looked death in the face that day and said, 'You cannot take my brothers. I will go in their stead.'"

It is heroism like Michael Monsoor's that pays the cost of human freedom. Our prayers remain with Michael's family and with all the men and women who continue his noble fight. We look forward to the day when they return home in victory.

Thank you for listening.

END

Further Reading:

Bush to Send Top Diplomats to Arab Capitals

The little flower that could

Iris atropurpurea (purple Iris)

Supreme Court stands by nature, rules against real estate venture in Ness Ziona in favor of preserving rare purple Iris

9 April 2008
by Yael Ivri-Darel

After a 15-year struggle, the Supreme Court decided Sunday to deny a petition filed by real estate developers to build on Ness Ziona's famous Iris Hill, cementing its status as a protected asset of nature.

The hill was named a national park years ago, prompting real estate developers to file a petition to lift the building ban automatically applied to such areas. The petition cited that the building permits which were given 15 years ago should stand –Sunday's decision rendered them null and void

Why all the fuss? The Iris Hill is home to the Iris atropurpurea (purple Iris) – a rare sub- species of the Iris oncocyclus family. The Iris atropurpurea is considered an endangered plant; it grows only in Israel and is endemic to the Ness Ziona, Netanya and Rishon Lezion areas alone.

The area also houses the last remnants of the once great Gravel Hill – a one-of-a-kind natural phenomenon, unseen anywhere else in the world, which once reigned over the Israeli costal plane; only to be eroded by urban development.

Safe for now. The endangered Iris (Photo: Gili Sofer)

"The unique park planned on the Gravel Hill, will preserve what one was a great feature of the coastal plane and was lost to great feats of infrastructure," wrote Judges Ayala Procaccia, Edna Arbel and Joseph Alon in their ruling.

The three hailed the various urban planning commissions for recognizing the need to preserve the unique scenery, further ruling that the plaintiffs, who bought the land when it was still designated for agricultural development, could only hope the court would agree to reassign it as an urban development site.

The developers' expectations, said the court, "had absolutely nothing to do with any right to proprietary".

The Society for Protection of Nature in Israel was pleased with the ruling, but added that despite the hill being registered as a national park for some 25 years, an officials decree to that effect has yet to be made, leaving it vulnerable to real estate threats.

A unique natural phenomenon. The Gravel Hill (Photo: Dana Guy, SPNI)

The hill, added the SPNI, has a unique concentration of Iris atropurpurea plants, which seem unable to thrive in other areas of Israel.

"We are pleased that the court gave this issue a priority, letting all real estate developers know that open areas will remain just that – open; and that they have no way of making real estate deals pertaining to them," Alon Rothschild of the SPNI told Ynet.

The fight, however, is far from over, as the SPNI now plans to appeal to the Israel Land Administration and the Ness Ziona Municipality, to have the Iris Hill officially declared a national park.

Ness Ziona Mayor Yossi Shvo welcomed the court ruling as well, saying that the land owners will be compensated in accordance with the land value; adding "the real winners of this ruling are the people of Ness Ziona."

U.S. May Ease Afghan Prisoners' Isolation

April 10, 2008

by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

Audio

For years, the U.S. military has been criticized for its secret detention facility at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The Red Cross says nearly 650 people held at Bagram are never allowed family visits. But a new video-call program appears to be easing their isolation.

U.S. military trainers to head to Pakistan

Pakistan's Frontier Corps work at an observation post in the troubled Swat Valley of northwestern Pakistan.

10 April 2008
by Barbara Starr

WASHINGTON -Defense Secretary Robert Gates has signed deployment orders that will send U.S. military trainers to Pakistan this summer, CNN has learned.

Their mission: To teach Pakistan Frontier Corps units counterinsurgency skills critical to fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Several Pentagon and military officials confirmed the order has been signed although it has not been publicly announced.

The deployment will be small -- just about two dozen troops who will stay through the spring of next year, according to the officials.

All of this is the first step in a long-term U.S.-Pakistani military program on counterinsurgency cooperation.

The U.S. trainers will begin by training key Frontier Corps units to become trainers themselves so the program can quickly expand. The Frontier Corps is drawn from tribes in the border area and is considered vital in the fight against militants.

Getting the agreement to send U.S. trainers to the Frontier Corps has been a crucial part of the long-term U.S. military and security strategy.

The trainers will work with the Pakistanis to improve their skills and try to encourage them to fight insurgents in the remote tribal region along the Pakistani-Afghan border, long said to be a safe haven for militants, according to the U.S. intelligence community.

In recent months, several senior U.S. military officials have visited Pakistan to meet with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani to get the trainer agreement. Military discussions had quietly continued through recent violence and unrest, officials said.

U.S. and Pakistani Army forces this month also have begun a major air assault training exercise, designed to improve the Pakistani Army's ability to conduct helicopter-borne operations such as moving troops in and out of the border region.

Almost 100 U.S. troops are there, training several hundred Pakistani forces.

Washington has sent billions of dollars to President Pervez Musharraf in recent years to battle extremists. The country is set to receive $300 million this year from the Bush administration for the cause.

Guess who's not coming to dinner?

President Bush Gives White House Dinner In Honor of the Pope; the Pope Is Not Attending

11 April 2008

Pope Benedict XVI - he's not attending a White House dinner in his honor on Wednesday.

President Bush will go out to Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday to welcome the pope on his first visit to the United States since he was elected pontiff in 2005. On Wednesday there will be a formal welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House with up to 12,000 guests.

White House planners are anxious about getting that many people through the metal detectors and in place for the splashy ceremony at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

Afterwords, the president and the pope will meet in the Oval Office. Later that day, the pope will attend a prayer service with U.S. bishops.

Wednesday night's dinner, hosted by the president, will be in the East Room, which normally contains little furniture and traditionally is used for large gatherings such as news
conferences, bill-signing ceremonies, awards presentations and after-dinner entertainment.

"It's in honor of his visit," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. "There will be leaders from the Catholic community from all over the country who are in town for that visit."

He said he did not know why the pope would not attend.

Abbas Surrounded

Mahmoud Abbas (2nd-R) attends Friday prayers on 11 March 2008 in Ramallah, West Bank.

Yes! Whosoever earns evil and his sin has surrounded him, they are dwellers of the Fire (i.e. Hell); they will dwell therein forever. Al-Baqarah 2:81

Date Palm Contemplation

There comes a time every once in awhile, when one must sit under the date palm and think.

For here under the shade, Allah reminds one of past events and the prophesies of the future.

U.S. Presidential hopeful Obama launches Hebrew blog in Israel

11 April 2008

By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service

U.S. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has launched a Hebrew blog in Israel.

Obama aide Eric Lynn says on the site that the senator hopes through the blog to strengthen ties with the Israeli public.

The blog that opened Friday includes Obama's speech to a pro-Israel lobby in March.

Lynn says at the bottom of the blog that Obama is committed to Israel's security.

The Yediot Ahronot newspaper reported Friday that Obama's campaign insisted that the blog be opened before the Democratic primary April 22 in Pennsylvania. The state has a large Jewish population.

Obama's staff has worked hard to disprove a mass e-mail campaign, which had leveled a succession of allegations against the candidate, branding him a secret anti-Semite, a closet Muslim who took his official oath of office with his hand on the Koran instead of the Bible, and a disciple of fiery Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

The campaign further alleged that several of Obama's Mideast policy advisors are pro-Palestinian haters of Israel.

During a debate with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, Obama stressed his "stalwart" support for Israel and his ties to American Jews. He said he considers Israel to be one of the U.S.' "most important allies in the region [Mideast]" and added: "I think that their security is sacrosanct."
________
Opinion

True Trust

by HRM Deborah

Barack Obama is a devout Christian to begin with and as for the so-called Pro-Palestine activist, they are not true to the people of Palestine, this was learned the hard way. Even now, they not only attack the Jewish people, but Palestinians. These people tend to be instigators of not just war, but to pit the Jewish people and Arab Palestinians against each other and this is unacceptable.

As for United States interest in Palestine or the Middle East, they have proved from not just now but their history, in regards to any area of the Middle East, the instigators of war and dissension. Their would have to be a drastic change for this to be shown otherwise, for this problem is over 108 years old.

Less we forget, the war that was in Palestine, the current wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and the threats upon other countries in the Middle East.

Furthermore, as for Obama, it has been a campaign ploy for several campaigns, to say one support’s the Jewish people and this is a sad thing to have to say. Also, Obama in his campaign has been caught like Hillary Clinton in lies.

Nevertheless, one thing I always notice though, the United States always forgets the other inhabitants of Palestine, unless it is in hateful rhetoric.

True trust is shown by how one lives their life and in there deeds.

Dalai Lama set to begin 6-day USA visit

Surrounded by Japanese plain-clothes police officers, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, left, greets well-wishers on his departure from Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, to the United States, Thursday.

“It must be said that genuine compassion is not like pity or a feeling that others are somewhat lower than you. Rather, with genuine compassion you view others as more important than yourself.” - Dalai Lama

11 April 2008

SEATTLE (AP) — The Dalai Lama arrived in the United States on Thursday for the first time since the recent turmoil in Tibet, serenaded by felow Tibetans as he prepared to anchor an ambitious conference on compassion.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader came here a day after demonstrators disrupted the Olympic torch run in San Francisco in a protest of China's treatment of his people. The Dalai Lama will be attending a five-day conference that begins Friday.

With the Dalai Lama in town, some community leaders said they expected counter-demonstrations from pro-China groups.

But all was peaceful when he arrived at a downtown hotel Thursday, telling local Tibetans who sang to him that he supports non-violent demonstrations but was saddened by the protests in San Francisco.

In Tibet, the recent protests against five decades of Chinese rule have been the largest and most sustained in almost two decades. China has accused the Dalai Lama of being involved in the uprising. The Tibetan leader has said that he wants greater autonomy for the remote mountain region but is not seeking independence.

Earlier Thursday, during a stopover in Japan, the Dalai Lama said he has always supported China's hosting of the Olympic Games this summer, but said Beijing cannot suppress protests in Tibet with violence or tell those calling for more freedom in his homeland "to shut up."

He strongly denied Chinese allegations he and his followers have used the run-up to the Olympics to foment unrest.

"Right from the beginning, we supported the Olympic Games," he told reporters near the airport outside Tokyo. "I really feel very sad the government demonizes me. I am just a human; I am not a demon."

Organizers of the five-day Seeds of Compassion conference in Seattle say the Dalai Lama's visit is expected to draw more than 150,000 people.

The Chinese community in Seattle has been split by the Tibetan situation, said Assunta Ng, publisher of the Northwest Asian Weekly, a local Asian-American community newspaper. Ng said she wouldn't be surprised if pro-China demonstrators show up at some of the events, and added that some Chinese students plan to protest the politicization of the Olympics.

The conference will feature dozens of workshops on various subjects, beginning with a panel discussion Friday with the Dalai Lama on "The Scientific Basis for Compassion: What We Know Now."

Tickets for events involving the Dalai Lama have already sold out, according to the conference website.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will present the key to the city to the Tibetan leader and the University of Washington will present him an honorary degree.

The Dalai Lama fled to India after a failed uprising in 1959 in Tibet, but remains the religious and cultural leader of many Tibetans. He was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1989.

He was determined to attend the Seattle conference because of his commitment to global peace, organizers said.

"He wants compassion for both sides, for the Tibetans, for the Chinese brothers," said Lama Tenzin Dhonden, a Tibetan monk who spearheaded the development of the conference.

After Seattle, the Dalai Lama is scheduled to speak at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor on April 19 and 20, then at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., on April 22.

Two Men Accidentally Killed in Air Strike

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
السلام عليكم ، يا من ساكني القبور! وقد منحه الله لكم ولنا الحمايه

Relatives of Palestinian cousins Muhamed and Amin al-Najar, mourn during their funeral on 11 April 2008 in Khan Yunis.

Female relatives of Palestinian cousins Muhamed and Amin al-Najar, mourn during their funeral.

An unidentified relative of Palestinian cousins Muhamed and Amin al-Najar grieves during their funeral.
Another unidentified relative of Palestinian cousins Muhamed and Amin al-Najar grieves during their funeral on 11 April 2008 in Khan Yunis.

It is understood, these two men where accidentally killed in an air strike against Fatah terrorist, as well as two others were wounded late last night in an air strike near the town.

It must be always remembered, Allah always cares, for the martyrs.

Blackwater Security Martyrs

Anti-islamic moves in some Western Countries intolerable

9 April 2008

Tehran-Head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Wednesday that the anti religious and anti-Islamic moves in certain western countries are intolerable and regarded as deviation from right path.

Boroujerdi made the remark in a meeting with new Vatican Ambassador to Tehran Jean Paul Gobel.

Recent sacrilegious moves have hurt feelings of Muslims, he said, adding that it is incumbent upon the European countries and Vatican to seriously deal with the issue.

Anti-Islamic and religious moves in western societies should be stopped, he said.

Respecting divine religions and prophets is vital and their followers would show reaction to such insults, he said.

Referring to commonalties among divine religions mainly between Islam and Christianity, he said these commonalties can lead to broad-based cooperation between their followers.

There are ample areas of cooperation between Iran and Vatican which should be used, he said.

Religious minorities enjoy freedom in Iran and their followers including the Christians have representatives to Majlis.

Th Vatican ambassador, for his part, strongly condemned defamation of divine religions mainly Islam in certain western countries and said freedom should not be misused to insult religious sanctities or bothering others.

"We should stand shoulder to shoulder in defending sacred values," he underlined.

He also called formation of Iran-Vatican Joint Commission as a significant development.

Fuel Embargo Harms Fishing Industry

Palestinian fishermen check on their idle fishing boats on 10 April 2008 in the seaport of Gaza City, Gaza Strip.

The start of the fishing season sees the owners of boats without fuel due to a Jewish embargo which has left much of the fishing fleet in the impoverished Palestinian coastal strip lying idle at the water side.

Palestinian fishermen check on their idle fishing boats.

Palestinian fishermen check on their idle fishing boats.

Palestinian boy plays on an idle fishing boat.

Palestinian fisherman ride past idle fishing boats.

A Palestinian fisherman fishes with a rod off the side of an idle fishing boat.

Palestinian fishermen check on their idle fishing boats.

Palestinian fishermen check their nets.

Palestinian fishermen check on their idle fishing boats on 10 April 2008 in the seaport of Gaza City, Gaza Strip.

With Fatah’s resent strike yesterday that was creating a humanitarian crisis, it seems the Jewish people’s solution was to create a fuel embargo against Fatah to relive the problem.

What is not realized, for example, it caused a situation with the fisherman at the start of their fishing season, which is a way for them to make a living.

Just as an idea of a better solution, that should be suitable for not just the Jewish people, but the Palestinian people is to reroute fuel supply through the Palestine legal government, so it can be regulated more effective with the hope their would be no future problems such as past problems with Fatah.

In all honesty, Fatah should have never had control in the first place.

Furthermore, it is not approved for Fatah security to be staked out by the fishing boats or docks and this should be resolved to protect the fisherman.

Egyptian Soldiers at Rafah

Pictured through the border fence into Palestine, Egyptian soldiers are seen behind sandbags on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on 10 April 2008.

Allegedly, reinforcements where sent to the area, saying that a repeat breach would be unacceptable.

Fatah tried to breach the border yesterday, when they engaged in a firefight with Palestine military.
Pictured through the border fence into Palestine, Egyptian soldiers standing guard at an abandoned building on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border.

14th Annual Lettuce Festival

Palestinian men perform a traditional dance during the 14th annual Lettuce Festival in the West Bank village of Artas, near the town of Bethlehem, on 10 April 2008.

Young Palestinian farmers distribute freshly-cut lettuce to guests of the 14th annual Lettuce Festival in the West Bank village of Artas.

A Palestinian farmer distributes freshly-cut lettuce to guests of the 14th annual Lettuce Festival in the West Bank village of Artas.

The village of Artas holds the festival every year to promote local farmers.

Fatah Kidnapped Seven Palestinians

10 April 2008

On Thursday, Fatah terrorist’s in the West Bank kidnapped seven Palestinians on Wednesday evening.

The hostages were from Hebron in the southern West Bank and Tulkarem and Tubas in the northern West Bank.

U.S. President Bush Discusses Iraq

Standing in Cross Hall at the White House, President George W. Bush delivers a statement Thursday, April 10, 2008, on Iraq after meeting with General David Petraeus, Commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker. (White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 10, 2008

Video
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Fifteen months ago, I announced the surge. And this week, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker gave Congress a detailed report on the results.

The immediate goal of the surge was to bring down the sectarian violence that threatened to overwhelm the government in Baghdad, restore basic security to Iraqi communities, and drive the terrorists out of their safe havens. As General Petraeus told Congress, American and Iraqi forces have made significant progress in all these areas. While there is more to be done, sectarian violence is down dramatically. Civilian deaths and military deaths are also down. Many neighborhoods once controlled by al Qaeda have been liberated. And cooperation from Iraqis is stronger than ever -- more tips from residents, more Iraqis joining their security forces, and a growing movement against al Qaeda called the "Sons of Iraq."

Improvements in security have helped clear the way for political and economic developments described by Ambassador Crocker. These gains receive less media coverage, but they are vital to Iraq's future. At the local level, businesses are re-opening and provincial councils are meeting. At the national level, there's much work ahead, but the Iraqi government has passed a budget and three major "benchmark" laws. The national government is sharing oil revenues with the provinces. And many economic indicators in Iraq -- from oil production to inflation -- are now pointed in the right direction.

Serious and complex challenges remain in Iraq, from the presence of al Qaeda to the destructive influence of Iran, to hard compromises needed for further political progress. Yet with the surge, a major strategic shift has occurred. Fifteen months ago, America and the Iraqi government were on the defensive; today, we have the initiative. Fifteen months ago, extremists were sowing sectarian violence; today, many mainstream Sunni and Shia are actively confronting the extremists. Fifteen months ago, al Qaeda had bases in Iraq that it was using to kill our troops and terrorize the Iraqi people; today, we have put al Qaeda on the defensive in Iraq, and we're now working to deliver a crippling blow. Fifteen months ago, Americans were worried about the prospect of failure in Iraq; today, thanks to the surge, we've renewed and revived the prospect of success.

With this goal in mind, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have submitted recommendations on the way forward. After detailed discussions with my national security team, including the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I've accepted these recommendations.

The recommendation likely to receive the most attention is on troop levels. General Petraeus has reported that security conditions have improved enough to withdraw all five surge brigades by the end of July. That means that by July 31st, the number of U.S. combat brigades in Iraq will be down by 25 percent from last year.

Beyond that, General Petraeus says he'll need time to consolidate his forces and assess how this reduced American presence will affect conditions on the ground before making measured recommendations on further reductions. And I've told him he'll have all the time he needs.

Some have suggested that this period of evaluation will be a "pause." That's misleading, because none of our operations in Iraq will be on hold. Instead, we will use the months ahead to take advantage of opportunities created by the surge -- and continue operations across the board.

All our efforts are aimed at a clear goal: a free Iraq that can protect its people, support itself economically, and take charge of its own political affairs. No one wants to achieve this goal more than the Iraqis themselves. Those who say that the way to encourage further progress is to back off and force the Iraqis to fend for themselves are simply wrong. The Iraqis are a proud people who understand the enormity of the challenges they face and are anxious to meet them. But they know that they still need our help until they can stand by themselves. Our job in the period ahead is to stand with the Iraqi government as it makes tough choices and makes the transition to responsibility for its own security and its own destiny.

So what will this transition look like? On the security front, thanks to the significant progress General Petraeus reported this week, it is clear that we're on the right track. In the period ahead, we will stay on the offense against the enemy. As we speak, U.S. Special Forces are launching multiple operations every night to capture or kill al Qaeda leaders in Iraq. Coalition and Iraqi forces are also stepping up conventional operations against al Qaeda in northern Iraq, where terrorists have concentrated after being largely pushed from central and western Iraq. And Prime Minister Maliki's government has launched operations in Basra that make clear a free Iraq will no longer tolerate the lawlessness by Iranian-backed militants.

In the period ahead, we'll also continue to train, equip, and support the Iraqi security forces, continue to transfer security responsibilities to them as provinces become ready, and move over time into an overwatch role. The Iraqi army and police are increasingly capable, and leading the fight to secure their country. As Iraqis assume the primary role in providing security, American forces will increasingly focus on targeted raids against the terrorists and extremists, they will continue training Iraqi forces, and they will be available to help Iraq's security forces if required.

On the economic front, Iraq is moving forward. With Iraq's economy growing, oil revenues on the rise, and its capital investment expanding, our economic role in the country is changing. Iraqis in their recent budget would outspend us on reconstruction by more than ten to one. And American funding for large-scale reconstruction projects is approaching zero. Our share of Iraq's security costs will drop, as well, as Iraqis pay for the vast majority of their own army and police. And that's the way it should be. Ultimately, we expect Iraq to shoulder the full burden of these costs. In the period ahead, Iraq's economy will increasingly move away from American assistance, rely on private investment, and stand on its own.

On the political front, Iraq has seen bottom-up progress -- as tribes and other groups in the provinces who fought terror are now turning to rebuilding local political structures and taking charge of their own affairs. Progress in the provinces is leading to progress in Baghdad, as Iraqi leaders increasingly act together and they share power, and they forge compromises on behalf of the nation. Upcoming elections will consolidate this progress. They'll provide a way for Iraqis to settle disputes through the political process instead of through violence. Iraqis plan to hold provincial elections later this year, and these elections will be followed by national elections in 2009.

On the diplomatic front, Iraq will increase its engagement in the world -- and the world must increase its engagement with Iraq. To help in this effort, I'm directing Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus to visit Saudi Arabia on their trip back to Iraq. I'm directing our nation's senior diplomats to meet with the leaders in Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar, and Kuwait and Egypt. In each capital, they will brief them on the situation in Iraq, and encourage these nations to reopen their embassies in Baghdad, and increase their overall support for Iraq. This will be followed by Secretary Rice's trip to the third Expanded Neighbors Conference in Kuwait City and the second International Compact with Iraq meeting in Stockholm.

A stable, successful, independent Iraq is in the strategic interests of Arab nations. And all who want peace in the Middle East should support a stable, democratic Iraq. And we will urge all nations to increase their support this year.

The regime in Tehran also has a choice to make. It can live in peace with its neighbor, enjoy strong economic and cultural and religious ties. Or it can continue to arm and train and fund illegal militant groups, which are terrorizing the Iraqi people and turning them against Iran. If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests, and our troops, and our Iraqi partners.

On each of these fronts -- security, economic, political, and diplomatic -- Iraqis are stepping forward to assume more responsibility for the welfare of their people and the fate of their country. In all these fronts, America will continue to play an increasingly supporting role.

Our work in Iraq will still demand sacrifices from our whole nation, especially our military, for some time to come. To ease the burden on our troops and their families, I've directed the Secretary of Defense to reduce deployment lengths from 15 months to 12 months for all active Army soldiers deploying to the Central Command area of operations. These changes will be effective for those deploying after August 1st. We'll also ensure that our Army units will have at least a year home for every year in the field. Our nation owes a special thanks to the soldiers and families who've supported this extended deployment. We owe a special thanks to all who serve in the cause of freedom in Iraq.

The stress on our force is real, but the Joint Chiefs have assured me that an all-volunteer force -- our all-volunteer force is strong and resilient enough to fight and win this war on terror. The trends in Iraq are positive. Our troops want to win. Recruiting and retention have remained strong during the surge. And I believe this: I believe the surest way to depress morale and weaken the force would be to lose in Iraq.

One key to ensuring that our military remains ready is to provide the resources they need promptly. Congress will soon consider a vital emergency war funding request. Members of Congress must pass a bill that provides our troops the resources they need -- and does not tie the hands of our commanders or impose artificial timelines for withdrawal. This bill must also be fiscally responsible. It must not exceed the reasonable $108 billion request I sent to Congress months ago. If the bill meets all these requirements, it will be a strong show of support for our troops. If it doesn't, I'll veto it.

Some in Washington argue that the war costs too much money. There's no doubt that the costs of this war have been high. But during other major conflicts in our history, the relative cost has been even higher. Think about the Cold War. During the Truman and Eisenhower administrations, our defense budget rose as high as 13 percent of our total economy. Even during the Reagan administration, when our economy expanded significantly, the defense budget still accounted for about 6 percent of GDP. Our citizens recognized that the imperative of stopping Soviet expansion justified this expense. Today, we face an enemy that is not only expansionist in its aims, but has actually attacked our homeland -- and intends to do so again. Yet our defense budget accounts for just over 4 percent of our economy -- less than our commitment at any point during the four decades of the Cold War. This is still a large amount of money, but it is modest -- a modest fraction of our nation's wealth -- and it pales when compared to the cost of another terrorist attack on our people.

We should be able to agree that this is a burden worth bearing. And we should be able to agree that our national interest require the success of our mission in Iraq.

Iraq is the convergence point for two of the greatest threats to America in this new century -- al Qaeda and Iran. If we fail there, al Qaeda would claim a propaganda victory of colossal proportions, and they could gain safe havens in Iraq from which to attack the United States, our friends and our allies. Iran would work to fill the vacuum in Iraq, and our failure would embolden its radical leaders and fuel their ambitions to dominate the region. The Taliban in Afghanistan and al Qaeda in Pakistan would grow in confidence and boldness. And violent extremists around the world would draw the same dangerous lesson that they did from our retreats in Somalia and Vietnam. This would diminish our nation's standing in the world, and lead to massive humanitarian casualties, and increase the threat of another terrorist attack on our homeland.

On the other hand, if we succeed in Iraq after all that al Qaeda and Iran have invested there, it would be a historic blow to the global terrorist movement and a severe setback for Iran. It would demonstrate to a watching world that mainstream Arabs reject the ideology of al Qaeda, and mainstream Shia reject the ideology of Iran's radical regime. It would give America a new partner with a growing economy and a democratic political system in which Sunnis and Shia and Kurds all work together for the good of their country. And in all these ways, it would bring us closer to our most important goal -- making the American people safer here at home.

I want to say a word to our troops and civilians in Iraq. You've performed with incredible skill under demanding circumstances. The turnaround you have made possible in Iraq is a brilliant achievement in American history. And while this war is difficult, it is not endless. And we expect that, as conditions on the ground continue to improve, they will permit us to continue the policy of return on success. The day will come when Iraq is a capable partner of the United States. The day will come when Iraq is a stable democracy that helps fight our common enemies and promote our common interests in the Middle East. And when that day arrives, you'll come home with pride in your success, and the gratitude of your whole nation. God bless you. (Applause.)

END

Abbas Photo of Intimidation?

Mahmoud Abbas (C) sits at a meeting of the Fatah bloc 10 April 2008 in Ramallah, West Bank.

If Abbas was meaning to intimidate the Leader of the Palestine Legal government with this photo, it must be said the joke is on him.

Furthermore, it is nice Fatah can still afford to buy so much bottled water?

How are the rest of Fatah’s people fairing, on Global welfare and so forth, when if Abbas would renounce the blood feud and collaboration with foreign governments, so everyone could be happy and prosperous.

A Jewish Day of Mourning

Mourners carry the body of Oleg Lipskin, killed yesterday in a Fatah terrorist attack on the Nahal Oz terminal.

His funeral took place at a cemetery in the southern town of Beer Sheva on 10 April 2008.

The wife (4th R) of Oleg Lipskin, mourns over the lost of her husband.

The body of Oleg Lipskin, is lowered into the grave.

Friends and relatives of Oleg Lipskin, gather around his fresh grave at the end of his funeral.

Mrs. Lipskin, like everyone else that is in mourning today, I wish, I could dry everyone’s tears and the likes of those that would harm the good people of Palestine to just find peace. In this way, your dear husband would still be in your arms, as the others who have lost.

Ultra-Orthodox Preparing for Pesach

Feast of Unleavened Bread

Pesach (Passover) essential message is one of freedom in every connotation, not only freedom from slavery, but freedom to think, believe and pray.

An ultra-Orthodox Jew carries a tray of still hot fresh-baked Matza, the unleavened bread.
The week-long festival commemorates the flight of the Jewish people from Egypt as described in Exodus 12, (Numbers 28:16-18).
An ultra-Orthodox Jew inspects baked Matza, the unleavened bread which will be eaten during the upcoming Jewish holiday of Pesach (Passover), in a bakery 8 April 2008 in Jerusalem.

Pesach (Passover) this year begins 18 April-26 April, respectively.

Note:
Just a little history, when the Jewish people where in bondage in Egypt, there where also Arab Palestinians suffering the same fate and like the Jewish people, they too gained their freedom.

A Muslim Day of Mourning

Palestinians mourners sit around the bodies of Atef and Ahmed al-Garabli during their funeral in Gaza City on 10 April 2008.

These two martyrs are out of seven Palestinians from the military that were killed yesterday, by Fatah terrorist trying to breach the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Two Jewish military personal were also martyred, in the firefight yesterday.