Politics & Government - 29 December 2006

Insurgents offer U.S. 30-day truce to get out of Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The leader of an umbrella organization for Iraqi insurgent groups is offering the United States a one-month truce to withdraw all U.S. forces from Iraq and turn over its military bases "to the mujahedeen of the Islamic state."

In an audiotape posted on Islamic Web sites Friday, a speaker identified as Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Mujahideen Shura Council, said that if U.S. forces begin withdrawing from Iraq immediately and leave their heavy weaponry behind, "we will allow your withdrawal to complete without anyone targeting you with any explosive or anything else."

"We say to Bush not to waste this historic opportunity that will guarantee you a safe withdrawal," al-Baghdadi said on the audiotape.

The United States was given two weeks to respond to the offer.

The Mujahideen Shura Council is an umbrella group formed in late 2005 that includes several terrorist and insurgent groups, including al Qaeda in Iraq.

On the audiotape, al-Baghdadi also called on officers from the former Iraqi army to join an "army of the Islamic state," promising them a house and a salary as long as they pass a "test of faith" intended to demonstrate the extent of their "hatred" for Saddam Hussein and his regime.

The U.S. military Friday reported five U.S. troop deaths, while Iraqi authorities reported the discovery of a dozen bodies and the kidnapping of a Sunni imam in Baghdad.

One soldier was killed and another wounded when attackers targeted a coalition patrol west of the capital, the U.S. military said. Three Marines and a sailor assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died Thursday from wounds suffered during combat in Anbar province, the military also said.

The deaths bring the December U.S. military death toll to 73 and the overall total during the war to 2,955; seven U.S. contractors also have been killed.

2006-12-29 07:51:14 · 6 answers · asked by ellisMC 1 in Politics

While you're driving, you see a business fling the American flag incorrectly (whether it’s waving a state flag or another flag above it, fling it in the rain, or anything that is in any way disrespectful) Would you...

1) Think nothing of it & drive by wondering how they can be so stupid and still survive
2) become angry/frustrated yet continue on your way, fuming
3) (If it’s on your side of the highway/interstate) pull over & politely ask them to fly it correctly
4) Fly across the median, through the other side of the road, dodging traffic, come bursting through the door & immediately demand to talk to the manager.

If not one of these, what would you do? I ask because, yesterday, I was riding in the back seat of the car during the ride home from vacation & my mom noticed that a business had not lowered the state flag after fling the American flag half-staff in honor of President Ford's recent death. My parents did nothing about it except say how stupid the people were.

2006-12-29 07:49:58 · 7 answers · asked by LITTLE GREEN GOD 3 in Other - Politics & Government

NeoConservatin Bible thumpers, Do you believe in Evolution?
Can you give an in-depth answer debating upon facts. Like what science has found, and what facts you can present...kinda like pretend your knocking on doors to convince us to join your church.

2006-12-29 07:48:23 · 9 answers · asked by AD 3 in Politics

Aint it good news? Serves them right for invading another country.

2006-12-29 07:48:16 · 8 answers · asked by HAHA 1 in Politics

I wasn't alive during his presidency, so really, the most I know about him comes from my U.S. history textbook. But even in that book, there's not much about him except for the controversy he stirred after pardoning Nixon (if that's wrong, I apologise; I'm taking European History now and I don't remember a thing about US history).

I was just wondering how people who both like him and did NOT like him feel about his funeral. Would you still respect him?

When President Bush's time to go comes around and a national funeral is set up for him, would you still respect him? I know his presidency is not over and he still has a full two years to prove himself and who knows what could happen in that period of time, but lets just say that right here and now is climax of his presidency.

What do you think?

2006-12-29 07:48:08 · 9 answers · asked by Raï 3 in Politics

Several years ago (8-9) I got a DUI in NJ when I lived there. I have since moved to PA and recently got another DUI in NJ. This time it was under my PA license with my new PA address. The cop told me if my first DUI was within 10 years I will be charged with a 2nd offense. If I never turned in my NJ license will my previous offense show up? If so, how do they know I am the same person if I still have my NJ license?

2006-12-29 07:46:30 · 16 answers · asked by Rob H 1 in Law Enforcement & Police

a friend has heard that in order to get residency, the govt has made it harder, and requires "extreme hardship" on the part of the citizen/spouse. More so than say, being pregnant with their child and owning a business here in the US. Have you found that to be the case?

2006-12-29 07:45:26 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Immigration

And Bush and the american army has killed 650 000 people!
What is gonna hapen to them?

2006-12-29 07:44:23 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

what do you think?
Bush and his criminal army has killed more people in 3 years than Saddam in 30 years!!
Is that all right?

2006-12-29 07:42:31 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Military

2006-12-29 07:41:48 · 18 answers · asked by Kim K 1 in Politics

I live in London, and yes it is like a foriegn country for white people; but it is the governments fault. Immigrants come over here for a better life, who wouldnt if they were in their situation. We cant blame immigrants; it is the government who are using immigrants to keep wages lower and house prices higher.

2006-12-29 07:41:47 · 1 answers · asked by Chief1234 1 in Politics

2006-12-29 07:41:31 · 8 answers · asked by bob 1 in Government

2006-12-29 07:40:43 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Military

2006-12-29 07:40:10 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

or a villain? What's your take?

2006-12-29 07:39:59 · 4 answers · asked by tyrone b 6 in Politics

2006-12-29 07:39:46 · 6 answers · asked by diva 6 in Politics

I am in the middle of a court settlement in which the defendant agreed to settle out of court with me. His atty was recently found murdured before the check was issued to me. Will this go back to court and proceed as if I hadn't settled out of court, or can a new atty just issue our check to us?

2006-12-29 07:39:05 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Law & Ethics

It is their accent or the knowledge or understanding to address the technical issues and find the solution in a timely manner that bothers you?

2006-12-29 07:37:43 · 9 answers · asked by test u 1 in Elections

To the citizens of the United States of America

In light of your failure to elect a competent President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.

Her Sovereign Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy).

Your new prime minister, Tony Blair, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. You should look up “revocation” in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up “aluminium,” and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.

2. The letter ‘U’ will be reinstated in words such as ‘colour’, ‘favour’ and ‘neighbour.’ Likewise, you will learn to spell ‘doughnut’ without skipping half the letters, and the suffix “ize” will be replaced by the suffix “ise.”

3. You will learn that the suffix ‘burgh’ is pronounced ‘burra’; you may elect to respell Pittsburgh as ‘Pittsberg’ if you find you simply can’t cope with correct pronunciation.

4. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up “vocabulary”). Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as “like” and “you know” is unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.

5.There is no such thing as “US English.” We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter ‘u’ and the elimination of “-ize.”

6. You will relearn your original national anthem, “God Save The Queen”, but only after fully carrying out Task #1 (see above).

7. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. November 2nd will be a new national holiday, but to be celebrated only inEngland. It will be called “Come-Uppance Day.”

8. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you’re not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you’re not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you’re not grown up enough to handle a gun.

9. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

10. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.

11. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric immediately and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

12. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling “gasoline”) -roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.

13. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called “crisps.” Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with mayonnaise but with vinegar.

14. Waiters and waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.

15. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as “beer,” and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as “Lager.” American brands will be referred to as “Near-Frozen Gnat’s Urine,” so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

16. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in “Four Weddings and a Funeral” was an experience akin to having one’s ears removed with a cheese grater.

17. You will cease playing American “football.” There is only one kind of proper football; you call it “soccer”. Those of you brave enough will, in time, will be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American “football”, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

18. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the “World Series” for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable.

19. You must tell us who killed JFK. It’s been driving us mad.

20. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due backdated to 1776.

Thank you for your co-operation.

John Cleese

2006-12-29 07:37:01 · 20 answers · asked by NICO BELIC 1 in Law & Ethics

2006-12-29 07:36:36 · 7 answers · asked by fiddich59 2 in Politics

Ok, I am a Jr in high school, and I am 18 years old (not my fault 1 math credit didn't transfer when I moved). My school has summer reading. Basicly they give you a list of books and you pick one and read it over the summer, and then they test you on it and put it into your grade. My question is, can they legaly do this sense this is not part of the state mandated 180 school year? I go to a public school by the way. Does me being 18 mean I can opt-out of the summer reading thing, just like parents can choose for their kids not to do it and give them permission? I am NOT taking a AP or honors class (they do this for the WHOLE school). Its not the reading that I have a problem with, its the principle of the thing, its almost like, how the heck can they get away with this! I'm 18 and I am not a minor and its my business how I choose to spend my summer, not the school! Sorry for all this its just a rant!

2006-12-29 07:36:11 · 10 answers · asked by question 2 in Law & Ethics

Federal Government violating it? And if so - how?

2006-12-29 07:36:04 · 6 answers · asked by A_Patriot 2 in Government

whats your guess?

2006-12-29 07:36:02 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Immigration

instead of waisting time on wars against worthless countrys in the middle east why does america not expand its territory in europe?

2006-12-29 07:34:03 · 14 answers · asked by fiddich59 2 in Politics

Is there a website or a number i could call to find an address or maybe number, just some way of getting in contact with an old friend of mine that is or was in the marines?

2006-12-29 07:32:02 · 4 answers · asked by Aglet 1 in Military

The president is closing Federal offices
Does this include the postal system?

2006-12-29 07:32:00 · 3 answers · asked by mitchskarp 1 in Government

i got acash advance from work and I can't pay it back until 01-03-2007. That's only five days away. It was due back the day that i got my check but I spent the money.

2006-12-29 07:30:04 · 14 answers · asked by BRANDI S 1 in Law Enforcement & Police

I mean why do they have to hang him?
Since when the fu*k did the world start hanging 70 year old men.
this is hipocracy man, the puppet iraqi government gets its main support from the mahdi army, who kills thousands of sunnis all the time. Other leaders killed way more people than samman, mao zedong, stalin, and bush has shed more iraqi blood than saddam ever did, so whats the problem. this is stupid man, the US came to overthrow a dictatorship, but the shiite government, wants a theoracy like iran, and they want that killer militia leader Al Sadr, as their top cleric. And Bush is the one who caused a civil war, and if the troops leave thousands more will die, whereas Saddam kept it all under control, he may have killed, but that happens all over the world, Pakistan, india, China, Russia its what leaders got to do to maintain govt control. what u ppl think? shoudnt he get pardon?

2006-12-29 07:29:54 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics

what can we do to bar a terminated employee from the pemesis? He was terminated and refuse to leave the building. He continues to harrass the members of the church and attempt to enter the building.

2006-12-29 07:29:17 · 10 answers · asked by Benita W 1 in Law & Ethics

2006-12-29 07:28:54 · 14 answers · asked by Candi 1 in Law & Ethics