Behind Enemy Lines
Lack of background information or trying to downplay U.S. involvement?
In an
article about an attack by terrorists on Canadian members of the
Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), (who were described as "very lightly injured" before you accuse me of not caring) the Chronicle (via the AP) had the following line:
Canada has about 30 soldiers in the force, which also has members from the United States and nine ohter[sic] nations.
"also has members" is a bit of an understatement seeing as how the United States supplies about 700 personnel to the mission and is the largest contingent in the MFO. The Colombians supply over 350 and the Royal Fijian Military provides another 350 or so. The smallest would probably be the Norwegians (3) or the French (one airplane + crew).
The stuff that crime reports are made of...
Monday, August 1, 3:13 AM, Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale, Auto Burglary Arrest:"What’s in the bag?" Paulsen asked.
"Marijuana," said the suspect.
"Fine. If it’s marijuana, it’s no big deal. Hand it over."
"No," the suspect rejoined, and tried to find a spot for the bag under the passenger seat. The man’s behavior bordered on the absurd. He wasn’t going anywhere. The officers had probable cause for arrest, and the jackanapes was telling him, "no." Moreover the passenger compartment was lit up like a surgical table, Kennedy was poised to grab the contraband, and the guy was playing "hide the button."
"Ok," Paulsen says wearily, "get out of the car."
While I find the whole "...marijuana, it's no big deal..." to be very telling about the SFPD and San Francisco in general, I still love the
Northern Station Weekly Newsletter. Northern Station, rather than be boring (or non-existent, yes, I am looking at you Central) with their newsletter, spiced it up a bit. Rumor has it that they've got a pro doing their writing, although I suspect we've just got a Dashiell Hammett fan (something I can admire). Either way, Bravo!
Omar Bakri arrested in Lebanon
[Details are sketchy at this time and subject to change]
Congratulations and a hearty "well done!" to the free people of Lebanon for
arresting Omar Bakri. Omar Bakri, as you will recall, is the imam who incited violence and hatred in London and then fled to Lebanon after the U.K. started talking about deporting / arresting such inciters. He is known for stating things like he wouldn't report to the police anyone that he knew was going to commit a bombing attack and calling the four terrorists who killed fifty-two people on July 21st the "fantastic four."
Apparently he slipped into Lebanon on a Lebanese passport...there's only one problem: He's not Lebanese. He's Syrian and was apparently issued his passport by the old Syrian controlled government of Lebanon.
SBC Sucks
One week so far without DSL.
Testing ComCast cable modem right now...seems pretty good.
Hear that SBC? That's the sound of you losing a long term customer.
A Republican in San Francisco (Yes, he's under deep cover) relays his tales of interest...
...ok, "interest" is a strong and subjective word but you get the point.
