Pakistan Powder Keg, Musharraf Impeachment Threat

Pakistan's ruling parliament made the I-word, impeachment, threat to former general President Musharraf implicit. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi repeated, resign or watch us strip you of what's left of your coalition's power publicly in less than a week. Multi-tiered fascination abounds. Musharraf anointed himself president in a military coup, while the Pakistani army essentially says we do one coup per guy. Musharraf used his freebie already and the army is currently spouting noble words on how this is a civilian situation. Enfeebled President Pervez Musharraf who pinned on his general stars and knife edged ironed his army outfit for the last time six months ago for public consumption, is trying cut a deal with anybody who will listen as the ground erodes beneath his feet, Wyl E. Coyote style. No ability to use hard power renders Musharraf impotent in today's Pakistan, and for the worsening situation in Kashmir, even for protecting sporting events and their players. On cue, Al Qaeda's Zawahari utters his two cents.

However, Mills told The Press newspaper that nothing the taskforce or Lawson said had allayed the players' fears, adding that the situation in Pakistan was changing daily and had worsened even after the delegation had visited New Zealand.

He conceded the security plans were impressive on paper and some of the best he had seen.

"But the fact remains they are untested and we have doubts whether Pakistan could deliver on those plans," he said.

The foreign policy inept Bush Administration ensured the US government had all its chips in the "democratically" elected Musharraf's presidency. They doubled down on Musharraf being able to quell dissent like they did with a fake riot in Florida the US press hyped and hoped that if they just believed Musharraf would just muscle his way through this. The problem is, who exactly has control of Pakistan's nukes now and who exactly will have control after Musharraf has all his possessions eradicated from the halls of power. India and the US are both deeply concerned with a resurgence of al Qaeda in Pakistan, an up tick in religious violence in Kashmir from inside Indian controlled areas over a toilet installation at a sacred shrine and from the border, Afghanistan's paralysis of a surge of Taliban fighters and policies and Pakistan's adroit and powerful intelligence agency, ISI, getting even cozier with covered in US, India & China's money, an ascendant Saudi Arabia. Bush has no friends with real power or diplomatic network in place to work through the issues. Condi Rice gets State Department frequent flyer miles, not progress. (AP photo/Yasmin in Kashmir)

Bajaur, like other tribal district, is believed to provide sanctuaries for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters launching cross-border attacks on US-led international forces in Afghanistan.

Let's see, Russia is busy slapping around upstart Georgia while Vladimir Putin spit in Bush's eye at every turn after Bush claimed to have seen Pooty-Poot's soul when gazing deeply into his eyes. Notice, Putin was at the Olympics, not the president, but Putin exited after the opening ceremonies to act as Russia's Commander in Chief. President Musharraf suffered a loss of his tattered prestige earlier this year with the assassination of popular political rival Benazir Bhutto, the spectacle of departing the former prime minister, the declaration of Martial law, the firing of the Pakistani Supreme Court and the jailing of dissidents while the middle class's power is out during a heat wave. The kicker is Musharraf was seen as a key voice of settling violence in the Kashmir region. How Bush like as other areas see rise in religious violence as Musharraf plans his next steps.

Local newspapers said that Taliban militants from the neighbouring North Waziristan tribal zone had entered Kurram to back the Sunni tribes involved in the fighting, now in its 12th day.

Residents said Sunni tribesmen torched three villages belonging to Shiite tribes and both sides used rockets, heavy machine guns and mortars in the fierce clashes.

"In today's and yesterday's clashes at least 23 people have been killed on both sides and 28 others were injured," a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Pakistan is a powder keg atop long range nuclear missiles with a shifting alliance three-way internal struggle between secular, fundamentalist religious forces and Sunni and Shi'a fighters for control of rural tribal villages. The fighting won't stop, even if Musharraf became the ex-president in the next five minutes, but somebody who is not a friend of the USA or India will have their hands on nuclear weapons while Bush frets about Iran & Iraq and Saudi Arabia, who don't yet have them. They have something else though, money to buy them or the technology.

Further critical reading can be found from a number of subject matter experts on the tangled ties between America, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. The Pakistani Army has never before been chronicled so well in Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army and the Wars Within from the scholarly author, Shuja Nawaz.

Descent into Chaos: The United States and the Failure of A Nation comes from the best selling author expert, Ahmed Rashid, as he painstakingly charts how a dangerous Bush focus in Iraq ignored the larger context in southeast Asia where the real problems exist.

Benazir Bhutto Assassinated in Suicide Bombing

Benazir Bhutto is dead.

Ms. Bhutto had just finished speaking at a political rally before thousands of her supporters. Her return to Pakistan in October was to resume her political career. Reports say shots were fired, first striking her, before the suicide bomber struck killing at least twenty others. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, recently lifted martial rule, but is known to have antipathy towards former Prime Minister Bhutto, 54, who made no secret of her continuing political ambitions. She has two daughters and one son primarily still living in Dubai. She was 35 when first elected in a secular Pakistan.

Benazir Bhutto was an ally of the United States and familiar with western policies having graduated from Harvard and Oxford. Her father was assassinated (hanged) in Pakistan in the 1970's by a general who later died in a mysterious plane crash,. She spoke to the risks of her life in prior interviews. She was accused of corruption before being exiled from a coup, leading to another coup orchestrated by the current Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, then ruler of the powerful Pakistani military affiliated with its Saudi sponsored intelligence forces, ISI.

Politics in Pakistan imperil the rule of law with Musharraf previously declaring martial law, stacking Pakistan's Supreme Court and at first disallowing the return of Nawaz Sharif from exile. Musharraf recently stepped down as the head of the military in accordance with negotiations before the country voted in election. This is also deadly blow to the relationship between Pakistan and the US as the Bush administration walks a fine line knowing Pakistan has nuclear weapons. There will be many questions regarding security, motives and Pakistan's future without Benazir Bhutto.

Toilet Paper Hostage for Votes in Venezuela

When withholding the toilet paper is a campaign tactic, it is pretty clear the politics is floating around in the cesspool. Venezuela is a hotbed of intrigue as Hugo Chavez tries to garner more power and students are in open opposition marching in the streets. Everybody has to go to the bathroom, so the Venezuelan government holding the TP hostage is backing up everything. It's the new way of winning an election, vote for the Chavez government and then you get toilet paper - in more ways than one.

Venezuelans have been buying large amounts of toilet paper on rumours it could be the next hard-to-find thing amid shortages of products like milk and meat that businesses attribute to price controls but the government blames on high demand and hoarding.

"We know there are sectors that are hiding toilet paper," Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas told state television on Friday. "A group of business leaders are playing mean, playing dirty ... of course trying to create the sensation of product shortage during the elections."

Markets have a diminished amount of toilet paper and what's left is being hoarded. Hugo Chavez is not running away with the election and the margin of victory may just be as thin as toilet tissue. His extraconstitutional measures and economic manipulations are showing signs of constipation which relieves his immediate need for the scare toilet paper. Chavez's supporters, in and out of Venezuela's National Assembly, are out in numbers as well praising his reform package.(photo courtesy AP/Howard Yanes)

Mr Chavez proposed 33 changes, and the National Assembly, which is composed of his supporters, put forward a further 36 amendments.

Mr Chavez has said he is prepared to serve for life as long as the people want it. Under the current constitution, he would have to stand down when his term expires at the end of 2012.

Other changes up for approval include giving the president control over the central bank, the creation of new provinces governed by centrally-appointed officials, and a reduction in the voting age from 18 to 16.

There are also proposals to expand presidential powers during natural disasters or political "emergencies".

Hugo Chavez and Pervez Musharraf keep tee peeing the organizing principles and tenants of Democracy. Like Bush, Chavez even says your either with us with a Yes vote or against us with a No vote. Wipe, er vote, carefully in Venezuela.


Eco-friendly architect and author Sim Van Der Ryn describes the trials and travails of bathroom paper products in The Toilet Papers: Recycling Waste and Conserving Water. It is becoming an even more important topic in Venezuela before the 2 December, 2007 vote.

Pakistan Coup E II, Quotes Honest Abe

What do you do if you are the president and the Supreme Court is in danger of nullifying your victory dance because of the narrowest of victories? In the twenty-first century, both presidents faced with this outcome declared a mandate, were snippy with their known rival and initiated extra-Constitutional privileges. Pakistan's President by self-acclimation - again. Pervez Musharraf, is taking no risks to his authority by declaring his Supreme Court on vacation. He is taking total control under a martial law scenario - again. Musharraf is going with what worked before because there is no need to reinvent the wheels of democracy when they spin against him. Musharraf suspended the Supreme Court before they could rule against him, further weakening his already tenuous hold on power resulting from a coup against Bhutto. People are taking to the streets throughout Pakistan in protest and defiance along with Jamaat-i-Islami, a Pakistani opposition party in Manga Mandi. (Photo courtesy Warrick Page)

Democracy is on life support in Pakistan as phone lines are cut, stations taken off the air, arrests of activists and dissidents made and Musharraf ignores the rule of law. US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, is frantically exploring options to freeze or retract financial aid. That'll really show that upstart nuclear power, not. Benazir Bhutto, a former political refugee, returned from exile to one of the worst welcomes, suicide bombers killing 160 people lined up to see her. She is critical of this undemocratic action and plans to challenge (er, planned) Musharraf's power in the 2008 election. The other famous exile, Nawaz Sharif, was promptly arrested, humiliated and publicly deported back to his safe haven in Saudi Arabia when the former PM tried a brazen return. The US badly needs a friendly ally in a moderate Pakistan. It is quite the diplomatic embarrassment to have Musharraf cite a nineteenth century American president as part of his tortured rationale.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said at a news conference today that new parliamentary elections, which had been expected in January, could be “up to a year” away. He said up to 500 opposition activists had been arrested nationwide.

Musharraf announced the emergency decree, under which the Constitution was suspended and most of the Supreme Court was dismissed, on state-run television just after midnight. In a 45-minute speech, the president said he had declared the emergency to limit terrorist attacks and “preserve the democratic transition that I initiated eight years back.” He did not say how long the state of emergency would be maintained.

The general, dressed in civilian clothes, quoted Abraham Lincoln, citing his suspension of some rights during the American Civil War as justification for the state of emergency in Pakistan. (emphasis mine)

In the off key musical chairs of Pakistan's leaders, it is now clear coup maestro Musharraf is violating the basic rules by staying seated in the only power seat. In an Orwellian masterstroke, Musharraf commands the airwaves. The BBC and CNN have had their plugs pulled. Defense lawyers and other human rights leaders find themselves behind bars unable to render aid to protesters. An ignorant populace is an easily led undefended populace from Quetta to Lahore to Islamabad.

The book, Deception: Pakistan, the United States and the Secret Trade in Nuclear Weapons explains exactly what is at stake for Americans and the world in this latest derailment of democracy in Pakistan by Musharraf. The brilliant inside look is authored by Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark and released two weeks ago. A must read.

Fury & Denial from A US Justice and Ex B-baller

What a vivid week for sexual harassers who are having public snits in writing or in front of the courtroom for being called out about their poor behavior in the workplace. In 1991, America found itself divided along gender lines and loudly debating the merits of sexual harassment in the workplace. A brave young and naive Anita Hill, in a demure blue suit, gave sworn testimony to US senate and called Clarence Thomas, the Bush nominee for the Supreme Court, a liar and giving graphic examples of comments and his fascination with sex and body parts. Clarence Thomas was replacing the noted legal liberal lion from the seminal Brown case, Thurgood Marshall. In another federal court today, the victim of Isaiah Thomas' inner-fantasy playboy with a tiny dormant brain in his pocket, won $11.6 million dollars from his employer, the debauched Madison Square Garden. Both men are howling at the moon and to any news crew that will listen about their innocence. The Doubly Doubted Thomas' do not claim to be related.

A myopic manly senate with a current Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, made it possible for Thomas to pompously sit mute on the Court and write a screed fifteen years later about his "high tech lynching" from so-called DC liberals. Isaiah Thomas was out front of the court learning new tap dance skills as he proclaimed in touching tones, his innocence. The judge declared a mistrial on the question of assigning a material punitive judgment against Thomas. Madison Square Garden was shown to be a house of ill repute when one player admitted to having sex with an intern in his truck and other activities that fit the definition of creating a hostile work environment.

Thank goodness, a pinstriped suited up Isaiah Thomas no longer works as an executive there because his leadership of the NY Knicks organization sucked. Now, Thomas just has his hands on the team as coach, but for how long? It seemed as if the corporation wanted to fully occupy the dank basement evidenced by a CEO who was not coached or prepared for his videotaped deposition. Being unprepared seems to be a theme with the MSQ exec team as the Knicks have been a moribund team showing up at the playoffs only once in the last seven years. The company stock took a hit.

Thomas was not found liable for punitive damages after the trial, but the jury decided that he had harassed Browne Sanders, herself a former college basketball star.

"I'm innocent, I'm very innocent, and I did not do the things she has accused me in this courtroom of doing," Thomas said after the decision. "I'm extremely disappointed that the jury did not see the facts in this case."

The case has reflected rather disastrously on James Dolan, the billionaire CEO of Cablevision, which owns the Knicks. In a videotaped deposition that was played at the trial, Dolan sat slumped in a chair wearing a black crewneck shirt with the sleeves pushed up. His demeanor and answers may have seemed flippant to the jurors.

Laughing off this case may have been Madison Square Garden's undoing. Cablevision is valued by the stock market to be worth more than $10 billion. When Browne Sanders left the Garden, she offered to drop her suit for $6 million. She was rebuffed.

It seems Justice Thomas has brooded and seethed in silence for the last fifteen years and his ode to his life is filled with a sense of entitled suffering as he describes his tenure on the court. He makes it plain he was not Justice Scalia's sycophant and his work changed the US Supreme Court behind the scenes. His early life was rife with hardships and this was just one more that he endured in the harsh glare of a public enthralled with the sexual imaginings and goings on inside his EEOC.

Anita Hill has released her eloquent statement in a New York Times op-ed.



After her court victory, Anucha Browne Sanders said the jury verdict today was a "victory for all working women".




Justice Clarence Thomas recently released his autobiography/memoir to date in a surfeit of publicity. The book is My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir. It is well written, harsh about his critics and one sided.

US Spouts Peace, Sells Most Arms in the World

American cognitive dissonance suffers a massacre by peaceful ironies packing M-16s. The superpower nation that conceived of a United Nations, is selling arms throughout the developing world while sitting on the UN Security Council trash talking nations that use force to maintain their rule. Diplomacy via ammunition, guns and a half price sale on last year's plastiques - how American sold. A big recipient of the American arms trade is Pakistan, a nation originally supporting the Taliban, providing a potential serene vacation spot for Osama bin Laden, and home to a nuclear arsenal under the command of a president who took office at the end of a gun, in a military coup. India is aghast that Pakistan is one of the world's recent largest purchasers of the latest weapons goodies.

But anxieties over Iran's nuclear program may have put Moscow off significant new conventional arms deals with Iran in 2006, deals that could be viewed as overly provocative while the UN Security Council debates new sanctions on Iran.

The study also point out that the US has signed sales agreements with nations whose records on democracy and human rights are questionable.

The announcement of big new arms agreements with Pakistan last year renewed debate over whether the Bush Administration was elevating its counterterrorism priorities above its pledge to spread democracy around the world.

Pakistan was a major recipient of American arms in 2006.

US arms dealers have increased their take by more than $3.4 billion dollars since 2005. That has certainly spurred Britain, France and Russia to escalate their sales incentives to garner a bigger share. Russia signed da bomb of an arm deal with Iran, but feels a tad puckish about shooting the Iranians an official email saying their goods are in transit. Maybe its just me, but the permanent 5 nations with the only veto rights on the UN Security Council are also the top providers of the worlds guns and expect smaller nations to trot off to battle to do the world's peacekeeping with weapons sold by them. Amazing.

American weapons sales accounted for 42% of the global market, a total of nearly $17bn in sales, up $3.4bn from the previous year. The boom in US sales appears to have been partly fuelled by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which have made neighbouring countries nervous. Pakistan, India and Saudi Arabia were the biggest buyers.

Russia is the world's second biggest dealer with sales of $8.7bn in 2006, nearly 22% of the market. Britain is third on list, with $3.1bn in sales. Those sales figures are almost certain to be boosted this year with Saudi Arabia's confirmation of a purchase of 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters, worth £4.3bn, part of a sales and maintenance package worth up to £20bn.

However the controversy around a previous Saudi order for Tornado aircraft, which is still the subject of a US justice department investigation into alleged bribery, may ultimately diminish the clout of the arms lobby.

Saudi Arabia has close ties with ISI, the Pakistani intelligence service. india just signed a nuclear agreement with the US. Russia has a president who is seriously considering a new title of premier. The international arms race and trade are inextricable tied to national security and citizen safety, but not if arms deals are in jeopardy.


President Pervez Musharraf famously refused to answer a question while at a White House press conference because his book was coming out the next day and his publisher would not be amused. It is with appreciable irony, he entitled his book, In the Line of Fire: A Memoir.

Former Premier Bounced from Pakistan

Learning the words to the American classic, On the Road Again, is former Pakistani premier, Nawaz Sharif, after being unceremoniously told to get out of Musharraf's Dodge, mere hours after his arrest at the arrival gate. He SO thought it was going to be a hearts and candy welcome. Sharif should have booked a ticket to Hawaii. Instead he's back in Saudi Arabia after his public arrest and deportation. How embarrassingly Paris Hilton-like to have all that luggage when it was only a day trip. (Reuters photo/Petr Josek)

"It is only Musharraf's ego and his stubborness that is standing in my way," Sharif told ARY TV Channel at the Islamabad Airport Lounge, as he waited for the authorities' plan of action after his aircraft landed from London.

Describing as painful the situation he was in, the 57-year-old PML(N) leader regretted that he and his supporters who accompanied him from London were not able to make any telephonic contact with the outside world after their arrival here.

"This indicates the sorry state of affairs in the country. Emigration should be allowed. I should get my vehicle and be allowed to start my journey," he said. Sharif had planned to hit the road to reach Lahore after reaching here.

President Musharraf is clearly sending a message that he is the top commander guy and Shraif was not an invited guest. Problem is, no one knows for how long with Musharraf's serious negotiations with his former rival, ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto still ongoing. She is planning a return. Musharraf came to office in a military coup. That could not have happened without the intelligence services cooperation. And the intelligence services are key to holding power in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Sharif thought that holding a photo-op at the airport with crowds of supporters who ultimately clashed with police, would sway Pakistanis. His charges of money laundering remain. Sharif exited Pakistan back to Jeddah, weeping. He wanted to be the one to overthrow Musharraf. Interestingly enough, Saudi Arabia asked Sharif to stay put in exile after the new Saudi intelligence chief met with the Pakistani president in Rawalpindi. (picture Earth Times)

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a storied history together. Pakistan's intelligence service, ISI received an immeasurable amount of funding from Saudi Arabia's stealthy spy commander, the inscrutable, urbane and American-educated, Prince Turki. Until last year when he unexpectedly quit then hopped on a private jet enraged, Prince Turki was the Ambassador to the US replacing the rakish Bush family crony, Prince Bandar. Prince Turki is/was godfather for Osama bin Laden, who just happens to be releasing another you-should-be-scared-as-Hell, America - YouTube-style video today. OBL is considered by many to be somewhere in the ungovernable badlands of Pakistan, the country with real nukes.

The intelligence, family and political ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are legend. Saudi Arabia has funded a number of the strict Muslim madrassas in Pakistan. Surprise, surprise, Sharif returned to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today to resume his exile and refurbish his résume. The national Pakistan political soap opera continues.

Frontline Pakistan: The Struggle with Militant Islam details the struggle that continues today to hold together a coalition of strength to govern in Pakistan. This offering is from Zahid Hussain. More history on Pakistan and the intelligence service, especially with superb Pulitzer prize winners mentioned here.

Michelle Obama, A First Partner & Lady

Michelle, Barack Obama's wife, is a moving force to be reckoned with in her own right. Accomplished Princeton educated lawyer, engaged executive leader and savvy Chicago politico are just a few of her professional credits. Michelle Obama is also a fierce protector of her children and a highly requested spokesperson for her husband. She criticizes when necessary, such as Barack's former terrible habit of smoking and fully supports her family. Michelle's ultimatum to Barack was quit smoking before running for president. It is an inside joke that if Barack even looks longingly at a cigarette, call Michelle.

Michelle Obama quietly wows and is noted as being the least known of the candidate's spouses. She is an interpreter for people seeking to understand Barack, his motivations and international appeal. Well, he's not too popular with Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan right now. Still, Michelle calls Barack the Harry Potter parent, the one who has read all six books. She states unequivocally that Harry Potter is huge in their household and they will get Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows read despite Daddy running for US president.

While Hillary is criticized for cleavage Michelle is chastised by the Chicago Sun-Times for not wearing tons of makeup. Sexism is alive and well in the news business. As Michelle put it, "who's got time to put on eyelashes and all that?" She wants folks to become accustomed to seeing her face unpainted and that is a breath of fresh air. She is more consumed with substance over style to the dismay of many who remain ensnared by the age of cotillions or the latest fad from Madison Avenue. Michelle Obama is real.

Is Barack black enough sets Michelle's pearly whites on edge! Yet she answers politely:

"The truth of the matter is that as I was growing up, talking too proper, going to certain schools, people told me that...there is a part in which we are still struggling as a people with what is black,”

She has a great sense of humor. It was on display during the non-stop play of the famous or infamous YouTube video starring a sultry young actress as "Obama Girl". The news media waited in earnest for her to flip out. Michelle's biggest concern was making sure her daughters knew she was still their father's number one girl. Even six year olds know what happens in their dad's campaigns. Michelle is focused on her number one role, being there for her family.

World's Weather Gone WILD!

Rain, Rain and ever more where that came from, is Asia's lament. Germany paddled through record rain this May while England is still drying out from its worst ever torrential downpours and massive flooding. Pakistan is bracing for "calamity hit"weather caused by the latest monsoon/cyclone complicated by an inclement political storm jeopardizing President Musharraf's hold on power. Japan took a direct hit from a typhoon last week without casualties. Taiwan is bracing for Tropical Storm Pabuk, while hundreds have died in China and millions sought shelter on higher ground. Dust bowls and drought are dominating Kenya's weather, though lately there was a modicum of rain in sub-Saharan Africa.

The weather panoply includes a F2 tornado in Brooklyn, New York, killer heat in Georgia, warnings and unbearable sweltering humidity on the USA's eastern seaboard. Melting ice flows are endangering Canada's ability to map the seabed to provide proof for their claim of territorial jurisdiction to the UN are just a few weather stories.

United Nations' World Meteorological Organization declared more violent weather to come in the remaining 5 months of 2007 and the worst is not over. Tangible and intangible economic costs will continue to climb as tourism, business production and government aid are affected the world over.

Larger global implications are debated as Earth continues to warm and climate changes adversely impact food supplies, dense population centers and fresh water. Most people check the weather for their local area of concern. It is past time to fully appreciate what the global weather report looks like for all to see. Environmental devastation from erosion leaves wetlands and historic shorelines vulnerable, more deforestation in the Amazon would produce more rain and the spread of disease increases with emergency evacuations due to severe weather.

Knowledge about the world's weather and overall patterns are found in a range of terrific books that delve into the details and political debate on Global Warming resulting from Climate Change. Australia's Tim Flannery offers The Weather Makers: History and Future Impact of Climate Change with much more at his site. USA scientist, Chris Mooney authored Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle over Global Warming. Canadian writer Guy Dauncey penned Stormy Weather:101 Solutions to Global Climate Change. Floods, Droughts and Climate Change by Michael Collier is new at Powell's.

President to Address Nation on Al Qaeda Threat

The president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, has a nation divided by distrust, religious and secular anger and grief and makes his point on Thursday, Pakistan time. The bloody siege at the Red Mosque ended in a hail of gunfire; leaving more than 70 dead along with the Muslim cleric, Abdul Rashid Ghazi. The cleric led a violent revolution for installing a Taliban-style management in Pakistan. Did Musharraf's intelligence service, ISI, let him down or tell him no problem, it was a slam dunk?

There are angry vows of retribution over the destruction of the mosque from Al Qaeda. From somewhere close by, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian and the number two the US can't find, has vowed vengeance for the destruction of the mosque by the Pakistani commando units.

This comes atop the American Homeland Security Chief, Michael "The Gutsy Predictor" Chertoff abusing this nation's trust by announcing he thought there were going to be spectacular terrorist events but he had no specific credible information for this summer. No worries; it was a gut check, that the White House is running away from as fast as it can. That comes atop the same day the Bush Administration announced a strengthening threat from al Qaeda, which seems to be a catch all de facto name for all armed people against the US now. Talk about mixed messages!

Understanding the ISI and the predicament Musharraf is in, are well documented and Pulitzer Prize winning books. Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan and Bin Laden From the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 by Steve Coll, documents the ISI's history and the heavy influence from Saudi Arabia. Also, The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright has excellent biographical and rationale detailed that upends everything learned from the traditional media. Anything by Karen Armstrong goes a long way to explaining spiritual underpinnings. But my favorite book on explaining religions is by Huston Smith, aptly titled The World's Religions and is written from the perspective of practicing that religion. What other sources for enlightenment would you add?