Batfink's Beep -- 1-17-06

And now for the news...

January 17, 2006

Not much going on today that I feel like hanging a page of writing on, so here are some of the news stories that caught my eye...

Bin Laden may be dead

The Herald Sun reports that there is evidence OBL may have died last year.

Dr Clive Williams, director of terrorism studies at the Australian National University, says documents provided by an Indian colleague suggested bin Laden died of massive organ failure in April last year.

"It does seem reasonably convincing based on the evidence that I've been provided with that he's certainly either severely incapacitated or dead at this stage," Dr Williams said.

We can only hope.

Bolton gets tough with U.N. over Israel bashing

Newsmax is reporting that the guy the left tried so hard to keep out of the UN has told that august body that further bashing of, and policies biased against Israel will result in an end to the flow of US money their way.

Bolton's January 3 letter came in response to an event at the U.N. celebrating the annual "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People." At the event, which was attended by Annan and other top diplomats, speakers stood before a map of the Middle East that did not show the state of Israel.

"Given that we now have a world leader pursuing nuclear weapons who is calling for the state of Israel to be wiped off the map, the issue has even greater salience," Mr. Bolton wrote, referring to Iranian President Mamoud Ahmadinejad’s statement to that effect in October.

[...]

Bolton wrote in his letter: "Who is the high-level official within the secretariat who approved use of the map for the event? Does the United Nations intend to use the map in future U.N.-sponsored functions and events?"

"In light of prohibition under U.S. law to fund events such as this one, do you consider it appropriate for the United Nations to advertise and promote the event on its general Web site and other venues, which do in fact benefit from U.S. funds?"

No wonder the left was so against Bolton.

Feinstein says no filibuster

The Washington Times says that California liberal Dianne Feinstein will not support a filibuster of Samuel Alito.

"I do not see a likelihood of a filibuster," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat and often a swing vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I don't see those kinds of egregious things emerging that would justify a filibuster."

No kidding... really?

Newsweek weeps over Alito success

MSNBC/Newsweek has a hilarious article about how Samuel Alito managed to outmaneuver the solons of the Democrat side of the Senate last week. After all:

In the many hours of practice for Alito's confirmation hearings—so-called murder boards held in an office at the Justice Department—the 55-year-old federal judge from New Jersey seemed almost willful in his refusal to ingratiate. According to two sources familiar with the process, Alito wouldn't look his questioners in the eye or vary the flat tone of his voice. He seemed cold, affectless, inert. These sources, who did not want to be identified discussing a private meeting, say that one of Alito's coaches, former solicitor general Ted Olson, almost despaired of getting Alito to swing at the softballs he was tossing his way.

In the end, it was because the White House lowered expectations that this boring guy...Oh, heck: just read it yourself. It'll brighten your day, standing as it does as proof that no new wisdom is forthcoming from the left that will halt their decline.

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