Finally, SOMEONE Who's NOT Blaming Bush!

Tony Blair 'regrets' Iraq dead in Chilcot grilling

Tony Blair has said he "regrets deeply and profoundly the loss of life" during and after the 2003 Iraq war.

The ex-PM said his refusal to express regret for the decisions that led to war at his first appearance before the committee had been misinterpreted.

But his words were met with cries of "too late" from the public gallery.

Mr Blair also urged the West to stop apologising for its actions and warned of the threat from Iran, during a four-hour grilling by the inquiry.

Asked whether what had happened in Iraq had made the risk from Iran and other countries developing nuclear weapons worse, rather than better, he said: "I don't think so."

"And this is not because we have done something. At some point - and I say this to you with all the passion I possibly can - the West has got to get out of what I think is this wretched policy, or posture, of apology for believing that we are causing what the Iranians are doing, or what these extremists are doing. The fact is we are not.


"The fact is they are doing it because they disagree fundamentally with our way of life and they will carry on doing it unless they are met with the requisite determination and, if necessary, force."

That's NOT Bail, Its a RANSOM!!

American Woman's Family Appeals to Iran to Drop $500,000 Bail Demand

The lawyer for an American woman detained in Iran said her family is appealing to authorities to drop a demand for $500,000 bail in exchange for her release because it cannot afford the amount.

Masoud Shafiei, the attorney representing three imprisoned American hikers in Iran, said Swiss diplomats -- who handle U.S. affairs in Iran -- are asking that the bail be dropped or lowered for Sarah Shourd. He said the family of the 32-year-old woman is apparently facing difficulty raising the money.

Shafiei also said Monday that he has no word on Iran's response.


$500000 for being dumb enough to walk on the wrong side of a mountain?? 

I Guess He'll Blame Bush for This, Too??

Iraq's Government Orders Iranian Troops to Withdraw From Iraqi Oilfield

Iraq's government has ordered Iranian troops to withdraw from the oilfield which they have taken control of in southern Iraq, Reuters reported.

"Iraq demands the immediate withdrawal from well No. 4 and the Fakka oilfield, which belongs to Iraq. Iraq is looking for a peaceful and diplomatic settlement to this issue," said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, according to Reuters.

Iranian troops crossed into Iraqi territory Thursday and seized an oil well that lies in a disputed area along the two countries' southern border, Iraq's deputy foreign minister said Friday.

Iran denied these claims, Reuters reported.

The Iraqi official, Mohammed Haj Mahmoud, said Iranian troops seized oil well No. 4 Thursday night in the al-Fakkah oil field, located about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad. The oil field is one of Iraq's largest.

The deputy foreign minister said he did not know whether the Iranians were still in control of the oil well.

In Washington, a U.S. official said that although Iranians had crossed the border before, they had not previously ventured this far.

They're Still At It, Obama,...

Why aren't you helping them out?

Hundreds Protest in Iran, Defy Threats of Further Crackdown

Iranian police fired shots in the air and tear gas into crowds as hundreds of people gathered near Tehran University Thursday, in the latest clash between pro-reform demonstrators and Iranian authorities.

"Police used tear gas twice to disperse the crowd. There was also many Basij militia on motorbikes patrolling the area," a witness told Reuters.

Witnesses also said they saw police detaining several protesters.

Hundreds of young men and women chanted "death to the dictator" and fled baton-wielding police in the capital as opposition activists sought to revive street protests despite authorities' vows to "smash" any new marches.

"It's OK,...Obama likes me!

At Least SOME Nations Still Fight Terror

As the Obamistake flings apologia after apologia to the Third World,....

Confirmed: Israel, US Will Hold Massive Joint Exercise

By David Bedein, Middle East Correspondent
Friday, April 17, 2009

Jerusalem — Israel and the United States plan to hold a major ballistic missile defense exercise later this year called Juniper Cobra. The maneuver will jointly test three different American and Israeli missile defense systems.

Israeli defense officials said Monday the exercise is necessary to create a joint missile defense infrastructure in the event of a conflict with Iran akin to what existed in 1991, when American Patriot batteries shot down inbound Iraqi Scuds.

The Israel Air Force’s Air Defense Division, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Military’s European Command (EUCOM) have held the Juniper Cobra exercise for the past five years. The upcoming exercise is planned to be the most complex and extensive yet.

The exercise will include the newly developed Arrow 2 ballistic missile defense system as well as America’s THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and ship-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.

U.S. Missile Defense Agency director Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O’Reilly mentioned these plans during testimony that he provided to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense two weeks ago.

“The Juniper Cobra exercise between EUCOM and the IDF will be the fifth and most complex exercise yet designed,” Lt. Gen. O’Reilly told the subcommittee.

Last week, the Israeli Air Force held its 17th test of its Arrow 2 interceptor, shooting down a missile mimicking an Iranian Shihab ballistic missile.