Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Mau Mau

2007-06-19T03:31:44Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The Mau Mau was a secret rebel organization in [[Kenya]] made up of of Kikuyu farmers who had been forced by the [[British]] to leave their farmland in the northern highlands.

[[Category: Liberation Movements]]

Black Panther Party

2007-06-19T03:31:00Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The Black Panthers were a [[radical]] armed [[african american|Black]] [[liberation movement]] active in the 1960s. The group started in [[Oakland]] [[California]]. Their political ideology embraced [[Mao Zedong|Maoist]] doctrine. <ref>http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/workers/black-panthers/ marxism.org</ref> In addition to their illegal activities, they made efforts to improve local African American communities and provided [[breakfast]]s to the [[poor]]. [[Huey Newton]] was one of their important leaders.

[[Category: Liberation Movements]]

==References==
<references/>

Black Panther Party

2007-06-19T03:29:42Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The Black Panthers were a [[radical]] armed [[african american|Black]] [[liberation]] movement active in the 1960s. The group started in [[Oakland]] [[California]]. Their political ideology embraced [[Mao Zedong|Maoist]] doctrine. <ref>http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/workers/black-panthers/ marxism.org</ref> In addition to their illegal activities, they made efforts to improve local African American communities and provided [[breakfast]]s to the [[poor]]. [[Huey Newton]] was one of their important leaders.

[[Category: Liberation Movements]]

==References==
<references/>

Vietminh

2007-06-19T03:27:57Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The Vietminh were liberation forces in [[Vietnam]], fighting against both [[French]] colonial occupation and occupation by the [[Japanese]] during the [[Second World War]]. There leader was [[Ho Chi Minh]], who went on to lead [[North Vietnam]] and the [[Vietcong]] during the [[Vietnam War]].

[[Category:Communists]]
[[Category: Liberation Movements]]

Vietminh

2007-06-19T03:27:25Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

Vodka

2007-06-19T02:29:00Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:absolut.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]
'''Vodka''' is a distilled [[spirit]] with a high [[alcohol]] content that can be produced from a number of different vegetables and grains and possesses different characteristics depending on the creator. Most vodka produced these days is made from a [[grain]], though some is still made from [[potato]]es. The exact history of vodka is unknown, though it most likely originated somewhere in the region of [[Poland]] or [[Russia]] between the 13th and 14th centuries. The word is thought to derive from Russian, meaning roughly ''little water''.

The majority of vodkas produced today for consumption in the [[United States]] and Western [[Europe]] are made from either [[wheat]] or [[rye]] and are heavily filtered. By law, in these regions, vodka cannot have a distinctive color, smell, or flavor. It is, in many ways, a pure spirit, which is one reason it is so popular in mixed drinks and as a base alcohol for flavored spirits.

Traditionally, vodka may be made from virtually anything; vodkas can be found made from [[grape]]s, [[soy]], [[beet]]s, [[bread]], [[potato]]es, and [[corn]], in addition to the more common wheat and rye varieties. Some vodkas are even made from leftover material in the oil refining process. In many Eastern European countries, vodka is not heavily filtered as it is in the west, and so the flavors, smells, and colors from the source materials still shine through.

Vodka has also traditionally been flavored in many countries, either for pure enjoyment or for health reasons. Pepper vodka, as that produced by [[Absolut]] is perhaps the most widely known flavoring, favored in Russia, but [[fruit]] vodkas and vodkas flavored with spices such as [[cinnamon]] or [[vanilla]] are also not uncommon. Many nations also have a tradition of infusing vodka with healing herbs, such as [[chamomile]], [[belladonna]], or [[comfrey]].

The alcohol content of vodka varies widely, as it may be distilled to any level of alcohol. In most cases, vodka which contains 40% alcohol (80 Proof) is the most common, for a number of reasons. Historically, [[Alexander II]] of Russia set certain standards for vodka production in his country, one of which was a required alcohol level of 40%. This level continues to be the most popular, in part because the United States and many European countries set their tax levels of spirits based on the alcohol content, and 40% spirits have a reasonable amount of taxation. Vodka that contains 50% alcohol (100 Proof) is also fairly common in the United States and Europe, as is watered-down vodka of 20% (40 Proof).

[[Category:Alcoholic beverages]]

Jeff Gannon

2007-06-19T02:13:35Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

'''James Dale Guckert,''' also known as '''Jeff Gannon,''' is a conservative journalist and blogger in the Washington, DC area. He operates a [http://www.jeffgannon.com web site] dedicated to fairness and objectivity in journalism. Frequently, he points out double-standards in the "Old Media," as well as criticizing the "Angry Gay Left."

==History==
Guckert first gained national attention during a presidential press conference on January 26, 2005, in which he, while working for [[Talon News]], asked United States President [[George W. Bush]]

"Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the U.S. economy. (Senate Minority Leader) Harry Reid was talking about soup lines. And (Senator) Hillary Clinton was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet in the same breath they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work – you've said you are going to reach out to these people – how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/02/white_house_friendly_reporter_under_scrutiny?pg=full] Gannon Quote</ref>

Gannon stated that this question was not meant to be friendly, but to expose the hypocrisy of the "Left."

A comment such as this did expose hypocrisy, though not the type Gannon wanted. When curious reporters started investigating Gannon, they quickly found nude photos on Gannon's web site<ref>[http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27730-2005Feb15.html] Gannon photos on gay web site</ref>, found Gannon's advertisement as a $200 an hour gay escort<ref>[http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36733-2005Feb18.html] Gannon gay escort advertisement</ref>, and possibly most damning for a reporter, allegations of plagiarism<ref>[http://http://whyareweback.blogspot.com/2005/03/jeff-gannon-likes-to-plagiarize.html] Gannon Plagiarism</ref>

==References==
<references/>

Jeff Gannon

2007-06-19T02:13:18Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

Jeff Gannon

2007-06-19T02:12:47Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

'''James Dale Guckert,''' also known as '''Jeff Gannon,''' is a conservative journalist and blogger in the Washington, DC area. He operates a [http://www.jeffgannon.com web site] dedicated to fairness and objectivity in journalism. Frequently, he points out double-standards in the "Old Media," as well as criticizing the "Angry Gay Left."

==History==
Guckert first gained national attention during a presidential press conference on January 26, 2005, in which he, while working for [[Talon News]], asked United States President [[George W. Bush]]

"Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the U.S. economy. (Senate Minority Leader) Harry Reid was talking about soup lines. And (Senator) Hillary Clinton was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet in the same breath they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work – you've said you are going to reach out to these people – how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/02/white_house_friendly_reporter_under_scrutiny?pg=full] Gannon Quote</ref>

Gannon stated that this question was not meant to be friendly, but to expose the hypocrisy of the "Left."

A comment such as this did expose hypocrisy, though not the type Gannon wanted. When curious reporters started investigating Gannon, they quickly found nude photos on Gannons web site<ref>[http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27730-2005Feb15.html] Gannon photos on gay web site</ref>, found Gannons advertisment as a $200 an our gay escort<ref>[http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36733-2005Feb18.html] Gannon gay escort advertisement</ref>, and possibly most damning for a reporter, allegations of plagiarism<ref>[http://http://whyareweback.blogspot.com/2005/03/jeff-gannon-likes-to-plagiarize.html] Gannon Plagerism</ref>

==References==
<references/>

Conversion therapy

2007-06-19T01:31:40Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

Reparative Therapy is the idea that [[homosexuality]] can be cured by prayer and reflection. It is premised on the idea that homosexuality is a choice.

Charles Krauthammer

2007-06-19T01:31:12Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:Ghdy7r.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Charles Krauthammer''' is a [[conservative]] commentator and author, as well as a regular contributor to the [[Fox News]] show ''[[Special Report with Brit Hume]]'', along with [[Bill Kristol]] and [[Fred Barnes]]. His writings also appear often in the [[Weekly Standard]], the [[Washington Post]], and [[Time]]. In an editorial in the magazine [[Commentary]], Krauthammer wrote that neoconservativism “is the maturation of a governing ideology whose time has come”. The original “fathers of neoconservatism” were “former liberals or leftists”. More recently, they have been joined by “realists, newly mugged by reality”, such as [[Condoleezza Rice]], [[Richard Cheney]] and [[George W. Bush]], who “have given weight to neoconservatism, making it more diverse and, given the newcomers’ past experience, more mature".<ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18654 “The Neoconservative Convergence”], Charles Krauthammer, ''Commentary magazine''</ref> Neoconservatives are generally given credit for planning and creating the rationale for the invasion of Iraq.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/opinion/columns/krauthammercharles/ ''Charles Krauthammer's'' Weekly Column in the ''Washington Post'']
*[http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/krauthammer.archives.asp ''Charles Krauthammer Archives'' at ''Jewish World Review'']
{{DEFAULTSORT: Krauthammer, Charles}}
[[category:journalists]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krauthammer, Charles}}

Black Panther Party

2007-06-19T01:23:58Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

Black Panther Party

2007-06-19T01:23:47Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The Black Panthers were a [[radical]] armed [[african american|Black]] liberation movement active in the 1960s. The group started in [[Oakland]] [[California]]. Their political ideology embraced [[Mao Zedong|Maoist]] doctrine. <ref>http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/workers/black-panthers/ marxism.org</ref> In addition to their illegal activities, they made efforts to improve local African American communities and provided [[breakfast]]s to the [[poor]]. [[Huey Newton]] was one of their important leaders.

==References==
<references/>

Black Panther Party

2007-06-19T01:23:27Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The Black Panthers were a [[radical]] armed [[african american|Black]]liberation movement active in the 1960s. The group started in [[Oakland]] [[California]]. Their political ideology embraced [[Mao Zedong|Maoist]] doctrine. <ref>http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/workers/black-panthers/ marxism.org</ref> In addition to their illegal activities, they made efforts to improve local African American communities and provided [[breakfast]]s to the [[poor]]. [[Huey Newton]] was one of their important leaders.

==References==
<references/>

Talk:Iraq

2007-06-19T01:17:57Z

EnFrancaisSVP: "Democratic Iraq"

This page is obviously way too short for the amount of history this country has. Nothing of former rulers and historical events have been mentioned, making this a non-useful article for general knowledge/research purposes.--[[User:Atomicwaist|Atomicwaist]] 21:47, 11 March 2007 (EDT)
[edit] Moved stub to bottom.--[[User:Atomicwaist|Atomicwaist]] 12:27, 13 March 2007 (EDT)
For sure, Iraq just exists since its invasion by the USA in 2003... If I remember well my lessons, this land has seen much more history than lots of others. Isn't it the place were the first civilizations appeared. Oups, this is not believeable...

If you want to expand on this, go ahead. Iraq is the [[elephant in the livingroom]] of the current political landscape, so I'm not surprised nobody wants to touch this listing. --[[User:Sandbagger|Sandbagger]] 16:24, 11 March 2007 (EDT)

== Line Breaks? ==

What is with the no line breaks? One paragraph makes this entry look very poor. [[User:Paulwasasaint|Paulwasasaint]] 17:11, 14 March 2007 (EDT)
==Edit conflict!==
That wasnt vandalism from me -- the page took so long to load, it had been undone by the time I undid it :( if u see what i mean [[Image:User Fox.png]] [[User:Fox|Fox]] ([[User talk:Fox|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Fox|contribs]]) 06:12, 3 June 2007 (EDT) I won't attempt to undo it again, as the same thing may happen. I'll leave it for a sysop who has rollback. [[Image:User Fox.png]] [[User:Fox|Fox]] ([[User talk:Fox|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Fox|contribs]]) 06:15, 3 June 2007 (EDT)

==Failed State Index==
Source reads, "third annual Failed States Index"; now beg pardon, this appears from its name to be a concocted "survey" for aiming at a politcal impact. The Fund for Peace, [[Morton Halperin]], the [[VVAW]], [[World Peace Council]] probably doesn't really add up to a qualified source we wish to rely. [[User:RobS|RobS]] 17:11, 18 June 2007 (EDT)

Possibly, but this was reported on CNN and Yahoo. Rather than delete it, maybe you could find some sites that refute it. [[User:Maestro|Maestro]] 21:13, 18 June 2007 (EDT)

== "Democratic Iraq" ==

As the section in question was about the war and its aftermath, and mentions nothing about democracy in Iraq, I have changed the heading. [[User:EnFrancaisSVP|EnFrancaisSVP]] 21:17, 18 June 2007 (EDT)

Iraq

2007-06-19T01:15:55Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:Iraqiflag.gif|thumbnail|right|250px|The Iraqi Flag.]]

The modern country of '''Iraq''' corresponds with the ancient region of Mesopotamia - known by many as the cradle of civilization - where the first cities and classical civilizations developed in the fertile region between the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates.

==Sumer==

The first of these was the Sumerian civilization that arose in southern Mesopotamia around 4,500 BC. The Sumerians grew barley, chickpeas, lentils, millet, wheat, turnips, dates, onions, garlic, lettuce, leeks and mustard and raised cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. The fertility of the flood plains they farmed and their extensive use of irrigation created surplus food which supported the populations of their cities and a system of government - which stored and distributed food and created the first system of laws. In order to administer this the Sumerians developed the earliest known form of writing - cuneiform - much of which survives as they wrote on clay tablets which were dried in the sun and many of which have survived. The Sumerians worshiped many gods. They also built large mud brick pyramids known as ziggurats as funerary monuments to commemorate the dead.

==Babylon==

In 2371 BC King Sargon of Akkad established the Assyrian dynasty which conquered the region covered by the modern countries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Israel. The Assyrian Empire collapsed with the fall of it's capital Nineveh (the modern Iraqi town of Mosul)in 612 BC and it was replaced by the Babylonian Empire - Babylon was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and home to the legendary [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]] built by King Nebuchadnezzar the second. Mesopotamian dominance of the region ended when the Persian king Cyrus the Great invaded in 539 BC. It remained part of the Persian Empire until Alexander the Great's conquest in 331 BC. It was ruled by the Hellenic descendants of Alexander's army - the Seleucids - until the Persians regained control, in around 150 BC, and made Mesopotamia part of the Parthian Empire - the only civilization to halt Roman expansionism.

==Rise of Islam==

In the 7th Century AD Mesopotamia was incorporated into the vast Muslim Arab empire that covered most of the middle east, north Africa and Spain. In the 8th century the capital of this empire was moved to Baghdad which at a time when Europe was in the dark ages became the greatest center for science and art since the time of the ancient Greeks. It was here that Astronomy and Algebra (both Arab words) were studied and advanced, and many familiar stories were first told, like those of Sinbad the Sailor, Ali Baba and the forty thieves, and the thousand and one Arabian nights. By the twelfth century this great empire was in serious decline due to the Crusades, breakaway Muslim states in north Africa, the Mongols in the east and from its own rebellious mercenary soldiers - the Mamalukes and the Turks. Following the assassination of the last Caliph of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258 there were nearly four centuries of conquest and chaos as Mesopotamia was invaded by Seleucids, Turks, Ottomans, Mongols (under Ghengis Khan), Turkoman, Tartars and Kurds.

In the 16th Century Mesopotamia, literally "middle of two rivers" in [[Greek]], became part of the [[Ottoman Empire]].

==20th century==

In the early 20th Century Arab nationalists including Iraqis began rebelling against their Turkish rulers. With the outbreak of the [[First World War]] they fought alongside the Allies against the Turks in the hope of gaining their independence. France and Britain would control the Arab lands and Iraq came under the British mandate. When Iraqi tribesmen rebelled against British rule, the rebellion was put down using aerial bombardment - the first time air power had been used in such a way. In 1932 Iraq was granted independence although Britain still exercised considerable control over the country and had retained Kuwait for its oil.

In the years following the [[Second World War]] Iraq was allied to Britain, the United States and Turkey, and Britain continued to exert considerable influence over the country. In 1958 an "anti-imperialists" military coup overthrew and executed the British-installed royal family. The coup leader Abd al-Quassim banned all political parties and declared that Kuwait was part of Iraq. The [[Arab League]] then asked Britain to send troops to Kuwait to prevent an Iraqi invasion of a one of it's member states. The troop deployment prevented a war but al-Quassim responded by allying Iraq with the Soviet Union and communist China. Quassim used money taken from the western owned Iraq Petroleum Company to carry out economic reforms in Iraq. Western governments were becoming concerned Iraq could become the "new Cuba" and in 1963 they supported a pro-western coup that overthrew Quassim. Between 1963 and 1968 there was a period of political instability with several failed governments and attempted coups.

In 1968 the [[Ba'ath Party]] seized power in a coup lead by General Bakr. The Ba'ath Party believes in the creation of a single, socialist pan-Arab state that would replace all existing Arab countries. During the cold war it was strongly aligned with the [[Soviet Union]]. In 1970 all foreign businesses including the Iraq Petroleum Company were seized and Iraq declared oil would be used as "a political weapon in the struggle against imperialism and Zionism". In 1979 Saddam Hussein replaced Bakr as president of Iraq. Saddam was a particularly brutal ruthless man, he attempted to assassinate Qassim in 1959, played a major role in 1968 coup and under Bakr he had led the much feared Ba'athist secret police. One of his first acts as President was to call a Ba'ath Party assembly where he declared his main political rivals to be traitors and spies; they were led from the assembly one by one to be tried and executed.

==Absolute rule of Saddam==

Saddam's next major initiative as President of Iraq was to invade [[Iran]] in September 1980, coinciding with the [[Iranian hostage crisis]]. At first, he experienced a high degree of success, overrunning most of [[Khorramsharr]] province, Iran's only [[Arab]]-majority province. His stated war aim was to seize exclusive control of the [[Shatt al-Arab]] waterway
for Iraq.

The war ultimately ground on for eight years, killing over a million people total on both sides. During this time Iraq was taken off the [[United States list of state sponsors of terrorism]], relations with the West were normalized, and various Western countries including the [[United States]] entered into various lucrative deals with Iraq. In the case of the United States this principally consisted of agricultural credits, but other countries liberally supplied Iraq with whatever Saddam believed it needed. The war machine's principal need was cash, and even Iraq's significant oil revenues did not bring in enough, so Saddam borrowed scores of billions of dollars from other Arab countries.

Iran sued for peace following the failure of a [[Kurdish]] rebellion in northern Iraq in the winter of 1988 which Saddam ruthlessly suppressed in the [[Anfal campaign]], turning the chemical weapons he had long used against Iran on his own citizens. Throughout the period of absolute rule a few hundred people every year were executed, frequently by [[torture]], but this was the crescendo of repression as Saddam seemed to be endeavoring to wipe out the Kurds of Iraq. The memory of this repression gave rise to a phrase frequently repeated in the United States following the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq when that country was overrun in 2003: "Saddam was a weapon of mass destruction."

Iraq enjoyed technical peace (justice being utterly absent) for only two years, after which Saddam invaded [[Kuwait]], the smallest of Iraq's six neighbors, which was unable to offer significant resistance. There were a mixed bag of motivations, but probably the primary one was the debt Saddam had incurred from other Arab nations of the [[Persian Gulf]] during the war. The debt was so overwhelming that it made the invasion almost rational; Saddam hoped to be able to frighten his local creditors into writing off his debts and pay down his debts to more distant creditors with Kuwait's oil revenues, which have always been somewhat higher than those of Iraq, although it is a much smaller country. Accordingly, Saddam announced that Kuwait would become permanently a province of Iraq.

The United States and particularly [[Great Britain]], whose policy it had always been to protect Kuwait from Iraq, took an exceedingly dim view of these events. British [[Prime Minister]] [[Margaret Thatcher]] persuaded U. S. [[President]] [[George H. W. Bush]] that Saddam's action, despite his previously close relationship with the West, was a violation of the [[Carter Doctrine]], which stated more or less that the U. S. would not allow ownership of Persian Gulf oil fields to be changed by force. The two countries obtained several resolutions from the [[United Nations Security Council]] to the effect that Iraq would have to withdraw and began with their allies, both [[European]], Arab, and across the broader world, a military buildup in preparation to liberate Kuwait. A worldwide economic [[blockade]] was imposed on Iraq in the hopes that this would persuade it to withdraw without bloodshed. The only goods Iraq could legally buy were food and medicine.

The sanctions failing to bring about the desired end, the U. S.-led coalition was obliged to begin [[Operation Desert Storm]] on January 17 local time. After almost six weeks of continuous bombing, most Iraqi troops in the Kuwait theatre of operations had deserted. The only offensive they launched managed to take the [[Saudi Arabian]] town of Khafji, but Saddam's attempt to send reinforcements resulted in the destruction of several Iraqi divisions, demonstrating that [[air supremacy]] forced a conventional army to remain essentially immobile and unable to concentrate forces to repel attacks. On February 25, a ground offensive was launched resulting in the destruction of numerous additional divisions and the flight of others back to [[Basra]], the second-largest and southernmost city in Iraq.

The coalition in the Gulf War did not have the authorization to force a regime change in Baghdad in 1992, neither was it ever a stated objective of the coalition.

Not only the [[Republican Guard]], considered Saddam's most loyal and elite troops, but also the regular army's officer corps, however, was made up principally of [[Sunnis]], who perceived the ensuing simultaneous rebellions by Kurds in the north and [[Shiites]] in the south of Iraq as an existential threat rather than as something which, in a more ethnically homogeneous country, they could have joined. The army therefore remained loyal to Saddam and crushed the Shiite rebellion. The U. S., Britain and France intervened in the north through [[Operation Provide Comfort]], which ended Iraqi control of the three Kurdish majority provinces until 1996, when Saddam was able to exploit a split between the two largest Kurdish [[militias]]. They also established no-fly zones in both the north and the south, not only reserving the right but considering it a duty to shoot down any fixed-wing Iraqi aircraft which might fly over those parts of Iraq.

In the following years the use of force against Iraq was only sporadic and limited mostly to [[cruise missile]] attacks until [[Operation Desert Fox]] in December 1998, undertaken in retaliation for the ejection of the [[United Nations Special Commission]] sent to dismantle any Iraqi [[weapons of mass destruction]]. At the time, UNSCOM, as it was known, was credited with destroying more knwon stockpiles than had been destroyed during the war. Saddam's son-in-law [[Hussein Ali Kamel]] defected to [[Jordan]] in 1995 and claimed that Iraq still possessed substantial stocks of [[nerve gas]] and possibly [[biological weapons]]. The following year, without explanation, Kamel returned to Iraq, where he was killed.

It cannot be said for certain what Saddam possessed in 1995, but the stocks Kamel claimed existed were not found either by UNSCOM or by U. S. forces following the 2003 invasion. Little is known of onging programs to disseminate WMD manufactuing knowhow, or to whom the knowledge may have been disseminated to. The Iraqis behaved as though they had something to hide, resisting unannounced weapons inspections with all means short of armed force, denying UNSCOM the right to inspect Saddam's various Presidential palaces (mostly built after the war while the sanctions were impoverishing his people), and finally throwing UNSCOM out. If Hussein Kamel were a [[plant]] all along, it would be consistent with Saddam's policy of creating the belief in his opponents that he did possess WMD, as a means of deterring them from attacking. The Duelfer Report, based upon interrogations of high Ba'athist officials, states Saddam believed WMD had saved the regime in the Iran-Iraq War, and the threat of WMD saved him again during the Gulf War. However Saddam's chief aim was to get UN sanctions lifted, after which the WMD program would be restarted in full capacity, and generated by the new revenues and trade lifting the sanctions would bring.

By 1996, the unrelieved economic blockade of Iraq was severely affecting its ability to purchase food and medicine on the world market, as it like most Arab countries had little besides oil to export. Various claims were made to the effect that Iraq's infant mortality was now the highest in the Arab world or even that hundreds of thousands of people had starved to death. For the purpose of purchasing food and medicine, the United Nations agreed to permit Iraq to resume oil exports in what became known as the oil-for-food (OFF) program (see below). The Iraq economy finally recovered from the Gulf War with the OFF. This is now generally considered a major error by [[conservatives]] which will not be repeated should the current sanctions against [[Iran]] be toughened to what they were against Iraq.

Operation Desert Fox was preceded by the [[Iraq Liberation Act]] of 1998, which passed [[Congress]] with a veto-proof margin just as the [[impeachment]] inquiry against President [[Bill Clinton]] was shifting into high gear. The act could be considered a repudiation of Clinton's policy or lack of a policy toward Iraq up to that point. This made it U. S. policy to remove Saddam Hussein from power, which could be considered a [[declaration of war]]. However, not until March 2003 did Clinton's successor [[George W. Bush]] actually order Saddam and his brutal sons [[Uday and Qusay Hussein]] to step down and flee Iraq on pain of invasion. When Saddam refused, [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] commenced on March 19, 2003; U. S. troops reached Baghdad three weeks later.

==Oil for food scandal==

In 2003 Ba'athist party dictator Saddam Hussein, accused of hiding weapons of mass destruction, was removed from power by a US-led coalition of forces. Saddam had effectively stopped previous attempts at enforcement of UN resolutions by essentially bribing <ref>[http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/sanction/iraq1/oilforfood/2004/0125almadalist.htm The Saddam Oil Bribes: The Complete al-Mada List], ''al-Mada'', January 25, 2004.</ref> several Seucrity Council members, namely the Russian Federation and France <ref>Duelfer Report, [http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/pdf/duelfer1_da.pdf Regime Finance and Procurement], Vol. 1, p. 55-56. </ref> through the corrupt [[Oil for food]] (OFF) program managed by UN General Secretary [[Kofi Annan]]'s son. <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/29/oil.for.food.kojo.annan/index.html Annan 'disappointed' son didn't tell all], CNN, November 30, 2004.</ref>

The Duelfer Report found,
:Iraq pursued its related goals of ending UN sanctions and the UN OFF program by enlisting the help of three permanent UNSC members: Russia, France and China. ... Iraq’s economic “carrots” included offering companies from those countries lucrative oil, reconstruction, agricultural and commercial goods, and weapon systems contracts. ...Saddam’s Regime needed both Moscow’s political clout in the UN and its economic expertise and resources to sustain his Regime from the 1990s until [Operation Iraqi Freedom] (OIF) ... Iraq promised to economically reward Russia’s support by placing it at the head of the list for receiving UN contracts under the UN OFF program....throughout the 1990s, the [Peoples Republic of China] consistently advocated lifting Iraqi sanctions while privately advising Baghdad to strengthen cooperation with the UN.

:In early July 2001, the US and the UK withdrew their joint-proposal to revamp the UN existing sanctions Regime, called “Smart Sanctions,” because of Russian, Chinese, and French opposition. The US/UK proposal attempted to restructure two key elements of the existing sanctions Regime: illicit procurement of weapons and dual-use goods and illicit generation of revenue from Iraqi oil sales outside the UN’s OFF program. In contrast, the Russian draft resolution proposed to reduce the current percentage to the Compensation fund another 5 percent to 20 percent of total value of Iraqi oil exports – and increase the total amount in Iraq’s escrow account to $600 million to pay other expenses ... The UN estimated that each 5 percent reduction in payments to the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) added about $275 million in Iraq’s coffers per each UN OFF six month phase.

:French oil companies wanted to secure two large oil contracts; Russian companies not only wanted to secure (or lock in) oil contracts, but also sought other commercial contracts covering agricultural, electricity, machinery, food, and automobiles and trucks products...France competed with Russian agricultural products for Iraqi contracts....In May 2002, a representative from a French water purification company requested projects for his company in Iraq.

After two years in interrogation, Saddam was hanged by the new Iraqi regime. Iraq is currently plagued by insurgents who are against the new Iraqi government's alliance with the United States, and have reacted violently to Iraq's new government. Their efforts have destabilized the country enough that some consider Iraq to be headed towards civil war.

==The Iraq War and its Aftermath==

After the US decided that Iraq was in defiance of Security Council directives on weapons of mass discussion, President Bush decided to invade and occupy the nation. A US/UK coalition invaded (mostly from the southeast), and a brief shooting war ensued. Iraqi forces gave up fighting (without surrendering) shortly after US forces entered Baghdad (see [[Iraq War]]).

The Democratic Leadership in Congress wanted to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, [http://www.washtimes.com/national/20070523-115137-6054r.htm] however Congress voted overwhelmingly to reject the idea in May of 2007, 280 -142 in the House and 80-14 in the Senate. <ref>[http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070525-122215-4854r.htm Congress OKs war bill sans timeline,] By S.A. Miller, ''The Washington Times'', May 25, 2007. </ref> U.S. support for the infant Iraqi democracy continues.

On May 10, 2007, 144 Iraqi Parliamentary lawmakers signed onto a legislative petition calling on the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271210,00.html Iraq Bill Demands U.S. Troop Withdraw]Associated Press, Fox News, May 10, 2007 </ref> On June 3, 2007, the Iraqi Parliament voted 85 to 59 to require the Iraqi government to consult with Parliament before requesting additional extensions of the UN Security Council Mandate for Coalition operations in Iraq.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1180960615762&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Iraqi parliament wants say in extension of US-led forces]Associated Press, The Jerusalem Post, June 5, 2007</ref> The current UN mandate expires in December 2007.<ref>[http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8879.doc.htm United Nations Security Council Resolution 1723 (2006)]</ref>

According to the failed state index, which is based on economic, social, and political indicators, Iraq is the second least stable nation for 2007 (out of 177 nations rated). Only [[Sudan]] scored lower.<ref>[http://www.fundforpeace.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=229&Itemid=366 Failed State Index]</ref>

==Further reading==
*[http://www.newmediajournal.us/guest/jon/03242007.htm Christian Evangelism in Iraq], Marie Jon, ''New Media Journal'', March 24, 2007.
*[http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9478&size=A An “Assyrian ghetto” in the Plains of Niniveh to save Iraq’s Christians], ''AsiaNews.it'', 06/06/2007.
*[http://www.aina.org/news/20070608105121.htm Christian Ethnic Cleansing in Iraq], Translated from Swedish by EasternStar News Agency, 6-8-2007.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Middle Eastern Countries]]
[[Category:Asian Countries]]

Mark Foley

2007-06-19T01:12:34Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

'''Mark Foley''' (born on September 8, 1954) is a [[Republican]] who served as a member of the [[House of Representatives]] from 1995 to 2006. Before serving in the House, Foley was a member of of the [[Lake Worth City Council]], [[Florida House of Representatives]], and [[Florida State Senate]]. As a Congressman, Foley served on the [[House Ways and Means Committee]]. He also played a role in the recount of the [[Florida]] ballots in the 2000 presidential election, challenging that the media's work would only "undermine the legitimacy of the presidency." [http://archive.democrats.com/view.cfm?id=838]

Foley resigned from the House of Representatives on September 26, 2006 after allegations that he had made homosexual advances towards several teenage male Senate Pages, and suggestive emails he had sent them came to light. As of April 2007 he remains "under investigation" for any possible sexual contact he may have had with the boys, according to Florida and [[FBI]] officials, but no charges have yet been filed.[http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/558510.html] After Foley's resignation, his lawyer alleged that Foley had been abused by a [[priest]] as a boy, and that his client was entering a rehabilitation center for [[alcoholism]]. [http://www.harpers.org/sb-republicans-1160492797.html]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Mark}}
[[category:political people]]

Charles Krauthammer

2007-06-19T01:09:22Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:Ghdy7r.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Charles Krauthammer''' is a [[neoconservative]] commentator and author, as well as a regular contributor to the [[Fox News]] show ''[[Special Report with Brit Hume]]'', along with [[Bill Kristol]] and [[Fred Barnes]]. His writings also appear often in the [[Weekly Standard]], the [[Washington Post]], and [[Time]]. In an editorial in the magazine ''Commentary'', Charles Krauthammer wrote that neoconservativism “is the maturation of a governing ideology whose time has come”. The original “fathers of neoconservatism” were “former liberals or leftists”. More recently, they have been joined by “realists, newly mugged by reality”, such as [[Condoleezza Rice]], [[Richard Cheney]] and [[George W. Bush]], who “have given weight to neoconservatism, making it more diverse and, given the newcomers’ past experience, more mature".<ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18654 “The Neoconservative Convergence”], Charles Krauthammer, ''Commentary magazine''</ref> Neoconservatives are generally given credit for planning and creating the rationale for the invasion of Iraq.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/opinion/columns/krauthammercharles/ ''Charles Krauthammer's'' Weekly Column in the ''Washington Post'']
*[http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/krauthammer.archives.asp ''Charles Krauthammer Archives'' at ''Jewish World Review'']
{{DEFAULTSORT: Krauthammer, Charles}}
[[category:journalists]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krauthammer, Charles}}

Douglas J. Feith

2007-06-19T01:08:04Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:Douglas Feith.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Douglas Jay Feith''' (born July 16, 1953 in Philadelphia, PA), was the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Policy]] under the [[George W. Bush]] administration from July 2001 to August 8, 2005. Douglas Feith's father, Dalck Feith, was a [[Holocaust]] survivor who lost his parents and seven siblings during the Holocaust. Douglas Feith has drawn criticism for his anti-[[Oslo Accords]] and anti-[[Camp David Accords]] stance.

==Abu Ghraib==
Douglas J. Feith's office was responsible for the oversight of military prisons including [[Abu Ghraib]].Feith himself created the policy of ignoring the [[Geneva Conventions]] against [[torture]]. Nevertheless, Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] defended Feith's decision in August 2004 when he told the press that Feith is "a rare talent. He is one of the intellectual leaders in the administration" and "without question one of the most brilliant individuals in government."

 Other members of the [[George W. Bush]] administration have offered starkly different assessments. Several officials have implied that his allegiance to [[Israel]] sometimes appears stronger than his allegiance to the [[United States of America]]. Then-[[National Security Advisor]] [[Condoleezza Rice]], for example, responded to one of Feith's presentations by saying "Thanks, Doug, but when we want the Israeli position we’ll invite the ambassador."<ref name="AmCon">American Conservative Magazine [http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_03_12/article1.html]</ref> Similarly, Colonel [[Lawrence Wilkerson]], [[Colin Powell]]'s chief of staff, stated that he saw Feith as one of many people who seemed like "[a] card-carrying member[] of the [[Likud Party]].<ref name="AmCon" />. I often wondered if their primary allegiance was to their own country or to [[Israel]]. That was the thing that troubled me...."

 Senior members of the armed forces have also criticized Feith. General [[Tommy Franks]] once referred to Feith as "the f***ing stupidest guy on the face of the earth." Colonel Wilkerson, cited above, said that "Seldom in my life have I met a dumber man." Lieutenant General [[Michael DeLong]] said that "Feith wasn't somebody we enjoyed working with, and to go much further than that would probably not be a good thing. To be honest, we blew him off lots of times. Told the secretary that he's full of baloney, his people working for him are full of baloney....He had some people around him that weren't very good. He thought he knew more than he did, which is dangerous."<ref>Interview of Lt. Gen. Michael DeLong on Frontline [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/darkside/interviews/delong.html]</ref>

==References==
<references />
:[http://www.nndb.com/people/100/000047956/ NNDB profile of Douglas J. Feith]

==External Links==
:[http://www.dougfeith.com/ Douglas J. Feith's personal website]
{{DEFAULTSORT: Feith, Douglas J.}}
[[category:political people]]

Flying Tigers

2007-06-18T23:30:01Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The '''Flying Tigers''', also known as the '''American Volunteer Group''', were [[American]] volunteer fighter pilots who fought for [[China]] during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] (the Pacific front of [[World War II]] prior to U.S. entry)<ref>http://www.flyingtigersavg.com/tiger1.htm</ref>. Led by Lt. General Claire L. Chennault, they were very successful against the [[Japanese]], who expected to encounter poorly-trained Chinese pilots.

==References==
<references/>

Flying Tigers

2007-06-18T23:29:43Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The '''Flying Tigers''', also known as the '''American Volunteer Group''', were [[American]] volunteer fighter pilots who fought for [[China]] during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] (the Pacific front of [[World War II]] prior to U.S. entry)<ref>http://www.flyingtigersavg.com/tiger1.htm</ref>. Led by Lt. General Claire L. Chennault, they were very successful against he [[Japanese]], who expected to encounter poorly-trained Chinese pilots.

==References==
<references/>

Enlightenment

2007-06-18T23:29:12Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The '''Enlightenment''' was a philosophical movement in the 1700s characterized by [[rationalism]], or "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification". This view often rejected traditional social, political and religious views.

Writers during the Enlightenment assumed that science, beginning in the late 1600s with [[Isaac Newton]], could be duplicated in other fields through a systematic and logical approach. Some of the "enlightened" authors of the period even rejected and criticized Christianity. Many were [[deists]]. Enlightenment philosophy took root in England, France and the American colonies, where it provided the intellectual foundations of the [[American Revolution]].

[[category:European History]]

Douglas J. Feith

2007-06-18T23:17:55Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:Douglas Feith.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Douglas Jay Feith''' (born July 16, 1953 in Philadelphia, PA), was the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Policy]] under the [[George W. Bush]] administration from July 2001 to August 8, 2005. Douglas Feith's father, Dalck Feith, was a [[Holocaust]] survivor who lost his parents and seven siblings during the Holocaust. Douglas Feith has drawn criticism for his anti-[[Oslo Accords]] and anti-[[Camp David Accords]] stance.

==Abu Ghraib==
Douglas J. Feith's office was responsible for the oversight of military prisons including [[Abu Ghraib]].Feith himself created the policy of ignoring the [[Geneva Conventions]] against [[torture]]. Nevertheless, Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] defended Feith's decision in August 2004 when he told the press that Feith is "a rare talent. He is one of the intellectual leaders in the administration" and "without question one of the most brilliant individuals in government."

 Other members of the [[George W. Bush]] administration have offered starkly different assessments. Several officials have implied that his allegiance to [[Israel]] sometimes appears stronger than his allegiance to the [[United States of America]]. Then-[[National Security Advisor]] [[Condoleezza Rice]], for example, responded to one of Feith's presentations by saying "Thanks, Doug, but when we want the Israeli position we’ll invite the ambassador."<ref name="AmCon">American Conservative Magazine [http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_03_12/article1.html]</ref> Similarly, Colonel [[Lawrence Wilkerson]], [[Colin Powell]]'s chief of staff, stated that he saw Feith as one of many people who seemed like "[a] card-carrying member[] of the [[Likud Party]]."<ref name="AmCon" />. I often wondered if their primary allegiance was to their own country or to [[Israel]]. That was the thing that troubled me...."

 Senior members of the armed forces have also criticized Feith. [[Tommy Franks]], the Army General, once referred to Feith as "the f***ing stupidest guy on the face of the earth." Colonel Wilkerson, cited above, said that "Seldom in my life have I met a dumber man." Lieutenant General [[Michael DeLong]] said that "Feith wasn't somebody we enjoyed working with, and to go much further than that would probably not be a good thing. To be honest, we blew him off lots of times. Told the secretary that he's full of baloney, his people working for him are full of baloney....He had some people around him that weren't very good. He thought he knew more than he did, which is dangerous."<ref>Interview of Lt. Gen. Michael DeLong on Frontline [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/darkside/interviews/delong.html]</ref>

==References==
<references />
:[http://www.nndb.com/people/100/000047956/ NNDB profile of Douglas J. Feith]

==External Links==
:[http://www.dougfeith.com/ Douglas J. Feith's personal website]
{{DEFAULTSORT: Feith, Douglas J.}}
[[category:political people]]

Talk:Fluoride

2007-06-18T00:12:30Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

== Sexual Aggression? ==

Is there a cite for this somewhere? [[User:EnFrancaisSVP|EnFrancaisSVP]] 19:49, 17 June 2007 (EDT)

:The whole article needs to be verified - there's a lot of..."questionable" material presented as fact in there. [[Image:User Fox.png]] [[User:Fox|Fox]] ([[User talk:Fox|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Fox|contribs]]) 20:05, 17 June 2007 (EDT)

If someone can cite some of this stuff, great, but most of it seems kinda outlandish and [[conspiracy theory]] -esque. [[User:EnFrancaisSVP|EnFrancaisSVP]] 20:12, 17 June 2007 (EDT)

Fluoride

2007-06-18T00:11:24Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Removed uncited claims

Fluoride is a chemical element that is a common food and water additive throughout the developed world. It is commomly thought to work to prevent tooth decay.

==Anti-Fluoridation Movement==

In 1978, Michigan became the first state to repeal mandatory fluoridation laws, leaving the decision to local jurisdictions. Many municipalities have since mounted successful challenges.inking water.

==Avoiding Fluoride==

The best way to avoid fluoride is to have your own source of water, such as a spring or well. Additionally a small number of communities in the United States do not practice fluoridation, but most do. If you are not sure whether your community does or not, you can purchase a home test kit. Do not trust the fluoride information self-reported by your local water company.

Bottled water used to be a good alternative, but many bottlers now add fluoride. Look for spring water or filter your own using a "[[reverse osmosis]]" filter.

Nearly all bottled beverages, including soda, beer, and baby formula, use fluoridated water. Use dehydrated products and rehydrate them yourself. When possible, make your own wine and fruit juices (commercial juices are either rehydrated or come from fruit irrigated with fluoridated water).

Other sources of fluoride include animal bones (found in deboned animal products like McNuggets and fish sticks), Teflon-coated pans, most cosmetic dental inserts, shellfish, and bananas.

Fluoride

2007-06-18T00:11:13Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Removed uncited claims

Fluoride

2007-06-18T00:09:58Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

Fluoride is a chemical element that is a common food and water additive throughout the developed world. It is commomly thought to work to prevent tooth decay.

==History of Fluoridation==

The use of fluoridation as a means of population subjugation was known in ancient times. There is research to suggest that the Egyptians used bread laced with "star flour" (fluoride) to more easily enslave the Jews.{{who says}}

Both the German Socialists (Nazis) and the Allies researched the idea of using fluoride as a poison for enemy populations in the 1930s. Nazi scientists soon realized the value of fluoride not just as a weapon but as means to promote the goal of "evolution of the fittest." Fluoride would kill the weakest members of society and render the rest docile and easily controlled. The failure of Socialism in Germany, however, meant that the Nazis never had an opportunity to try the experiment on their own population. Both the Germans and later the Russians did use fluoride in prison camps, finding that fluoridated camps required up to 30% fewer guards because of the dull state of mind of the prisoners. In many cases it also rendered them sterile.

The Soviet Union captured Nazi research scientists and continued to work on fluoride research in the 1940s and 1950s. They identified Western medical unions, including the AMA and ADA, as having essentially Socialist philosophies. While there was scant medical evidence establishing any medical benefit to fluoride, the AMA realized that if they could enact a sweeping program to promote the fairly "benign" drug fluoride, it would create a model for massive social reorganization around the "common good", eventually opening the door to Socialized medicine, i.e., the type of medicine practiced under National Socialism.

The use of fluoride was promoted in research and academic by Communist intellectuals, who also saw it as a convenient means of reducing or replacing religious belief. Besides weakening the mind and making it preoccupied with sex, fluoride provided an excuse to replace religion with science by making people think science (and Communism) had "delivered" on its promise (i.e., the reduction of tooth decay).

Backed by a slick, ADA-funded PR campaign, fluoride conquered city after city in the 1950s. Responsible doctors and others who fought against its spread were, and continue to be, marginalized as "anti-science," "paranoid," and "religious nuts." Meanwhile, average life spans dropped and previously unknown diseases like ADHD and HIV became commonplace, even in small towns that had previously enjoyed good health. Ironically, tooth decay--and dental costs--have continued to rise, since fluoride actually weakens dental enamel.

==Anti-Fluoridation Movement==

Since the 1950s, opposition to fluoridation by patriots has been vocal and persistent. In 1978, Michigan became the first state to repeal mandatory fluoridation laws, leaving the decision to local jurisdictions. Many munipalities have since mounted successful challenges. Court efforts have recently been boosted by Homeland Security provisions that make it a federal crime to introduce any contaminant into drinking water.

==Avoiding Fluoride==

The best way to avoid fluoride is to have your own source of water, such as a spring or well. Additionally a small number of communities in the United States do not practice fluoridation, but most do. If you are not sure whether your community does or not, you can purchase a home test kit. Do not trust the fluoride information self-reported by your local water company.

Bottled water used to be a good alternative, but many bottlers now add fluoride. Look for spring water or filter your own using a "[[reverse osmosis]]" filter.

Nearly all bottled beverages, including soda, beer, and baby formula, use fluoridated water. Use dehydrated products and rehydrate them yourself. When possible, make your own wine and fruit juices (commercial juices are either rehydrated or come from fruit irrigated with fluoridated water).

Other sources of fluoride include animal bones (found in deboned animal products like McNuggets and fish sticks), Teflon-coated pans, most cosmetic dental inserts, shellfish, and bananas.

Talk:Fluoride

2007-06-17T23:49:39Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Sexual Aggression?

== Sexual Aggression? ==

Is there a cite for this somewhere? [[User:EnFrancaisSVP|EnFrancaisSVP]] 19:49, 17 June 2007 (EDT)

Fox Derangement Syndrome

2007-06-17T23:34:30Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Again - Blogs are not an encyclopedic reference!

'''Fox Derangement Syndrome''' is a political term referring to the acute onset of paranoia and the loss of rationality in otherwise normal people in reaction to the news, opinion shows, and very existence of the [[Fox News Channel]]. An early example of FDS occured on the December 1, 2003 broadcast of ''Hardball with Chris Matthews'', in which [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] political commentator [[Chris Matthews]] asked liberal Democrat politican [[Howard Dean]], "Would you break up Fox?". To which Dean replied, "On ideological grounds, absolutely yes."<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3607157/</ref>

Political commentator [[Michelle Malkin]] mentioned the condition on her website on February 16, 2006<ref>http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004571.htm</ref> Journalist Bernard Goldberg uses the phrase as a chapter title of his book, ''Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right: How One Side Lost Its Mind and the Other Lost Its Nerve,'' which was reviewed by U. S. News and World Report.<ref>http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2007/4/11/have-you-got-fox-derangement-syndrome.html</ref>

Fox Derangement Syndrome has been said to have been shown by [[Keith Olbermann]], [[Al Franken]], [[Janeane Garofalo]], [[Chris Matthews]], [[Angelina Jolie]], [[John Edwards]], [[Barack Obama]], [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Howard Dean]], [[Robert Greenwald]].

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Politics]]

Cocaine

2007-06-17T23:16:54Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:Coca.jpg‎|thumb|Coca Plant]]
'''Cocaine''' is a [[Schedule II]] drug in the United States. The chemical formula of cocaine is C17H21NO4<ref>http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?sid=14717642</ref><ref>http://dict.die.net/c17h21no4/</ref><ref> http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=7th&navby=case&no=951747</ref>.

Cocaine is the most potent stimulant of natural origin. It is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca), which is indigenous to the Andean highlands of South America. Natives in this region chew or brew coca leaves into a tea for refreshment and to relieve fatigue, similar to the customs of chewing tobacco and drinking tea or coffee. Pure cocaine was first isolated in the 1880s and used as a local anesthetic in eye surgery. It was particularly useful in surgery of the nose and throat because of its ability to provide anesthesia, as well as to constrict blood vessels and limit bleeding. Many of the therapeutic applications of raw, "natural" cocaine are now obsolete due to the development of safer drugs, either synthesized products from the natural coca extract or man-made using some of the natural products chemical components.

==Effects==

The effects on individuals vary and include:
* feelings of euphoria
* increased sexual desire
* loss of appetite<ref name="bbc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/351472.stm#c BBC News | Health | Drugs # Cocaine]</ref>
* paranoia, delusion, and violent behavior<ref name="brown">[http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/atod/od_cocaine.htm Cocaine - Brown University Health and Education]</ref>
* nausea and headaches<ref name="brown" />
* kidney failure<ref>[http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/15/3/299 Cocaine use and kidney damage -- van der Woude 15 (3): 299 -- Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation]</ref>
* high blood pressure
* increased heart rate, irregular heart beat, and increased risk of heart attack<ref>[http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/177_05_020902/vas10632_fm.html eMJA: Cocaine use and cardiovascular complications]</ref>
* respiratory failure
* severe vomiting or diarrhoea

In addition some people who are very sensitive to the drug (and will not realise it), may die after a single dose.<ref name="bbc" /> Cocaine abuse during pregnancy has many ill effects. It can cause considerable damage to the organs of the developing foetus, and lead to birth defects, premature detachment of the placenta, premature births, low birthweight babies, nutrition deficiencies, and babies born already addicted to the drug.<ref name="bbc" /><ref>[http://www.nysccc.org/cocaine.html Cocaine Abuse During Pregnancy]</ref><ref>[http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/research/cocaine.cfm Drug Policy Alliance: Cocaine & Pregnancy]</ref>.

== Illegal Cocaine: DEA Definition ==

"Illegal cocaine is usually distributed as a white crystalline powder or as an off-white chunky material. The powder, usually cocaine hydrochloride, is diluted with a variety of substances, the most common being sugars such as lactose, inositol, and mannitol, and local anesthetics such as lidocaine. The adulteration increases the volume and thus multiplies profits. Cocaine hydrochloride is generally snorted or dissolved in water and injected. It is rarely smoked because it is heat labile (destroyed by high temperatures).

"Crack," the chunk or "rock" form of cocaine, is a ready-to-use freebase. On the illicit market, it is sold in small, inexpensive dosage units that are smoked. Smoking delivers large quantities of cocaine to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection. Drug effects are felt almost immediately, are very intense, and are quickly over. Once introduced in the mid-1980s, crack abuse spread rapidly and made the cocaine experience available to anyone with $10 and access to a dealer. In addition to other toxicities associated with cocaine abuse, cocaine smokers suffer from acute respiratory problems including cough, shortness of breath, and severe chest pains with lung trauma and bleeding. It is noteworthy that the emergence of crack was accompanied by a dramatic increase in drug abuse problems and drug-related violence." [http://www.dea.gov]

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Illegal substances]]

Donald Rumsfeld

2007-06-17T20:54:57Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:ASecDefRumsfeld01.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Donald Henry Rumsfeld''' (b. July 9, 1932) was the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] under [[President]] [[Gerald Ford]] from 1975–1977, and President [[George W. Bush]] from 2001 to 2006, succeeding [[William J. Cohen]]. He resigned in 2006 after [[Democratic]] criticism over his handling of the [[War in Iraq]].

He also served four terms in the [[House of Representatives]] representing an [[Illinois]] district, and as the [[US]] ambassador to [[NATO]]. Rumsfeld is also a [[United States Navy|Navy]] veteran, having served three as an aviator and flight instructor. He achieved the rank of Captain.

[[Category:political people]]
[[category:biographies]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rumsfeld, Donald}}

Virginia Tech

2007-06-17T20:51:59Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:VT_shield.jpg|right|thumb|School shield]]
[[Image:VT_seal.gif|right|thumb|School seal]]
'''Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University''' ("Virginia Tech", formerly "Virginia Polytechnic Institute" or "VPI") is a public land-grant [[university]] founded in 1872, serving, according to its mission statement, "the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]], the nation, and the world community." It is taxpayer-supported.

It has 26,370 students on-campus, about 17% of whom are graduate students. It has a strong sports and [[engineering]] programs, resulting in much larger percentage of male students than most colleges: 58.1% male and 41.9% female. Many of its students are from foreign countries.

[[Image:800px-2007 Virginia Tech massacre candlelight vigil.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Students gather for a prayer vigil after the massacre that took thirty-two lives]]The school received international attention after one of its seniors, [[Seung-Hui Cho]], massacred thirty-two students and faculty on April 16, 2007. Cho had written and submitted as coursework disturbing papers that, in hindsight, appeared to reflect an unstable person obsessed with violence.

Virginia Tech was founded in 1872 as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, with 132 students, a president and three professors: one each in [[English]]; natural [[philosophy]] and [[chemistry]]; and technical agriculture and mechanics.<ref>Heatwole, Cornelius Jacob (1916), ''A History of Education in Virginia,'' [http://books.google.com/books?id=BuscAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA204&dq=%22virginia+polytechnic+institute%22&as_brr=1#PPA207,M1 pp. 204-7]</ref>

Great expansion took place between 1890 and 1896, the student body growing to about four hundred and its name was changed to "Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute."<ref name=histnotes>[http://classof2004.alumni.vt.edu/chapters/volunteers/handbook/Chapter01.html#Section2 Virginia Tech History Notes]</ref>. In 1944, the name became "Virginia Polytechnic Institute," and in 1970 "Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University", with "Virginia Tech" being used for informal purposes such as athletics.

The name change rendered the previous school cheer obsolete, and in 1896 a contest was held to create a new one. The winning entry was written by one O. M. Stull, and was:
:Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy.
:Techs, Techs, V.P.I.
:Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah.
:Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia.
:Rae, Ri, V.P.I.
Stull said later that the word "Hoki" was a pure invention, meant to be an attention-grabber. An "e" was later added to the word, and ''Hokie'' became the nickname for Virginia Tech students. 1896 was also the year in which the school colors were changed from black and gray to burnt orange and Chicago maroon, and in which the college seal and school motto—''Ut Prosim,'' "That I May Serve—were adopted.<ref>[http://www.vt.edu/about/hokie.php What is a Hokie?], Virginia Tech website: origin of "Hokie," school colors, seal, motto</ref>

Military training has always been a feature of Virginia Tech, which is one of six designated ''senior military colleges'' in the United States.<ref>The others are [[Norwich University]] in [[Vermont]], [[North Georgia College and State University]], [[Texas A&M]], [[The Citadel]] in [[Charleston]], SC, and [[Virginia Military Institute]].</ref> All students were cadets when it opened in 1872.<ref>[http://www.vtcc.vt.edu/About/History/ Tech Corps of Cadets: History]</ref>

Virginia Tech became, not only the first all-white public school in Virginia to desegregate, but also the first historically white land grant school anywhere in the south to do so<ref>http://www.vtmagazine.vt.edu/fall97/feature1.html</ref> in 1953, with the admission of Irving Linwood Peddrew as an electrical engineering student. The Board of Visitors ruled that no state-supported school for Negroes offered comparable training, and the Virginia attorney-general had advised that Supreme Court rulings took precedence over Virginia's racial segregation laws.<ref>"Negro to Study at V. P. I.; 1st of Race to Enger State-Aided White School as Freshman." ''The New York Times,'' September 12, 1953, p. 19</ref>

In 2003, Virginia Tech's Terascale Computing Facility made national news for building the third-fastest supercomputer in the world. What made the news was not that that it was fast, but the way in which it was built. It was assembled from 1,100 ordinary off-the-shelf desktop computers (Apple Power Mac G5), networked via Infiniband technology. The result was an extraordinarily cost-effective system: Virginia Tech's 10-teraflop "Big Mac" cost $5.2 million; by comparison, the then-record-holding 35-teraflop Earth Simulator cost an estimated $350 million.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2003/11/61252 Mac Supercomputer Joins Elite], Wired, November 15, 2003</ref>

==Athletics==

[[Image:450px-2006 Clemson at Virginia Tech celebration.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Students celebrate on the drillfield following Tech's 2006 victory over then #10 [[Clemson University]].]]Virginia Tech's sports teams compete in the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]], which they joined in 2004, along with [[University of Miami|Miami]] and, later, [[Boston College]]. Tech's [[American football|football]] team competed for a national title against [[Florida State University|Florida State]] following the 1999 season and in 2004, captured the ACC crown in its first year in the conference. The [[college basketball|men's basketball]] team, after a ten-year drought, returned to the [[NCAA tournament]] following the 2006-07 season. In 2007, Tech's softball team shut out [[Georgia Tech]] 2-0 to capture the ACC championship and in golf, the Hokies split the conference title with the Yellow Jackets that year.

==Notes and references==
<references/>

Messianic Judaism

2007-06-17T20:11:23Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

[[Image:Messianic seal.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Messianic Seal]]
'''Messianic Judaism''' is a religious movement, composed of both [[Jew]]s and [[Gentile]]s who:
*Regard themselves to be committed Jews.
*Believe that [[Yeshua]] of Nazareth ([[Jesus Christ]]) is the [[Messiah]] spoken of in the [[Hebrew Scriptures]] ([[Old Testament]]).
*Believe that they are following the practices and beliefs of the very early [[Christian]] movement.
*Follow an [[Evangelism|Evangelical]] Christian [[theology]].

They differ from [[Reform Judaism|Reform]], [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]], and [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] Jews over their beliefs about the Messiah. Messianic Congregations are made up of people of Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds, and are distinctly Jewish in culture. All celebrate Jewish Holidays and support the State of [[Israel]] and most have their main service on the Sabbath, Saturday. They believe that all of the [[Bible]], both the [[Tanakh]] and the [[New Testament]], is inspired by God, and that the New Testament was written by Jewish writers to announce to the world the arrival of the long awaited Jewish Messiah.

[[Category:Messianic Judaism]]
[[Category:Judaism]]

Talk:Bernard Goldberg

2007-06-17T19:56:57Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Goldberg's comments were attacked by blogger Scoobie Davis

I'm not sure that Goldberg self-identifies as a conservative (some on the right have agreed with this), although his writings have definitely reflected conservative themes. [[User:DanH|DanH]] 02:40, 2 May 2007 (EDT)
: After doing some more research, I find you are correct. I have corrected this in the article and added a clarifying section on his political views. [[User:Crocoite|Crocoite]] [[User_talk:Crocoite|Talk]] 03:07, 2 May 2007 (EDT)

== Goldberg's comments were attacked by blogger Scoobie Davis ==

So what? Lots of people say lots of things on blogs - that hardly makes them worthy of mention in an encyclopedia. [[User:EnFrancaisSVP|EnFrancaisSVP]] 15:56, 17 June 2007 (EDT)

Bernard Goldberg

2007-06-17T19:55:54Z

EnFrancaisSVP: "Goldberg's comments were attacked by blogger Scoobie Davis"

[[Image:Bio-pic.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Bernard Goldberg]]
'''Bernard Goldberg''' is an [[author]] and [[journalist]]. Goldberg is the number one [[New_York_Times|New York Times]] bestselling author of [[Bias:_A_CBS_Insider_Exposes_How_the_Media_Distort_the_News|''Bias'']], [[100_People_Who_Are_Screwing_Up_America_(And_Al_Franken_is_#37)|''100 People Who Are Screwing Up America'']], and [[Arrogance:_Rescuing_America_From_the_Media_Elite|''Arrogance'']]. Goldberg's latest book, [[Crazies_to_the_Left_of_Me,_Wimps_to_the_Right|''Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right'']] speaks about the [[lunatic]] [[liberals]] and the sellout [[Republicans]].
Goldberg has won eight [[Emmy]] awards for his work at [[CBS News]] and at [[HBO]], where he now reports for the acclaimed program [[Real Sports]]. In 2006, he won the Alfred I. duPont [[Columbia University]] award, the most prestigious of all [[broadcast]] [[journalism]] awards.<ref>''Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right. HarperCollins Publishers, New York 2007.</ref>

==Political Views==
<blockquote>I consider myself to be an old-fashioned liberal. I'm a liberal the way liberals used to be when they were like John F. Kennedy and when they were like Hubert Humphrey. When they were upbeat and enthusiastic and mainstream. I am not a liberal the way liberals are today at least as exemplified by Al Franken and Michael Moore, where they're angry, nasty, closed minded, & not mainstream, but fringe. <ref>[http://www.rightwingnews.com/interviews/goldberg.php The Bernard Goldberg Interview]</ref></blockquote>

=="Fox Derangement Syndrome"==
In his latest book, Goldberg coins the amusing term "Fox Derangement Syndrome" to refer to the extreme overreaction that some liberals exhibit with regard to the [[Fox News Channel]]. An example occured on the December 1, 2003 broadcast of ''Hardball with Chris Matthews'', in which [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] political commentator [[Chris Matthews]] asked liberal Democrat politican [[Howard Dean]], "Would you break up Fox?". To which Dean replied, "On ideological grounds, absolutely yes."<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3607157/</ref>

Fox Derangement Syndrome has been said to have been shown by [[Keith Olbermann]], [[Al Franken]], [[Janeane Garofalo]], [[Chris Matthews]], [[Angelina Jolie]], [[John Edwards]], [[Barack Obama]], [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Howard Dean]], [[Robert Greenwald]].{{fact}}

The phrase was mentioned in U. S. News and World Reports' review of the book<ref>http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2007/4/11/have-you-got-fox-derangement-syndrome.html</ref> and has been picked up by political commentator [[Michelle Malkin]]<ref>http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004571.htm</ref> Journalist Bernard Goldberg uses the phrase as a chapter title of his book, ''Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right: How One Side Lost Its Mind and the Other Lost Its Nerve,'' which was reviewed by U. S. News and World Report.

==References==
<references/>
==External Links==
[http://www.bernardgoldberg.com/home.php Bernard Goldberg Official Site]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldberg, Bernard}}
[[category:authors]]

Biomass gas

2007-06-17T16:58:29Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Wandalism

A biomass gas is a medium [[Btu]] gas containing [[methane]] and [[carbon dioxide]], resulting from the action of microorganisms on organic materials such as a landfill. It is well known for its repulsive odour.

Palestinian Arabs

2007-06-17T16:45:01Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Technically, there was no entity called "Israel" in the 19th century - It was called Palestine.

'''Palestinian Arabs''' refers to those [[Arab]]s who migrated into [[Palestine]] (present-day [[Israel]]) beginning in the late 19th century, and who had no cultural nor national distinctive traits separating them from [[Syria]]ns, [[Lebanon|Lebanese]], and [[Jordan]]ians. The term "Palestinian" itself had referred to Israeli [[Judaism|Jews]] until the 1940s, but in subsequent years has been deconstructed and redefined to refer to the Arabs in the occupied territories of the [[West Bank]] (Also known as [[Judea and Samarra]]) and [[Gaza]].

School

2007-06-17T16:41:34Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

A '''school''' is an educational [[institution]]. Schools can be either publicly- or privately-funded, and may have a secular or a religious mandate.

In America, the curriculum in public schools is dictated by state governments. Public schools do not provide religious instruction to schoolchildren, nor do they allow teacher-led prayer. Government-controlled schools are supported by taxpayers, often in the form of a school tax on propert. Prior to the 20th century, public school attendance was only part-time, consuming only about half or less of the year.

Private schools, also known as ''public schools'' in some Commonwealth countries as they are open to the public, are organized similarly, though they are not paid for by taxpayers but by the children's parents, thereby constituting a double expense for parents. Some private schools aspire to very high standards, some specialize in certain modes and topics of instruction (such as a military school), and yet others provide a place for children who need curricula not available in the public systems.

''Faith schools'' is the term in the [[United Kingdom]] for schools which are partially controlled by religious denominations and have a predominance of pupils from that denomination.

Schooling also occurs (in smaller numbers) in various non-traditional and non-institutional environments. This is often due to concerns of parents about institutional schooling, such as a lack of quality in traditional schools and their hostility to religion and morality.

In [[Nordic Countries]] there are virtually no schools other than government schools.{{fact}}

==See also==
*[[Homeschooling]]

[[Category:Education]]

School

2007-06-17T16:35:08Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Removed awkwardly-phrased editorialisation in firs line.

A '''school''' is an educational [[institution]]. Schools can be either publicly- or privately-funded, and may have a secular or a religious mandate.

In America, ''Public schools'' are government-controlled entities which exclude religious instruction or teacher-led prayer from the schoolchildren. Government-controlled schools are supported by taxes and would likely collapse in the absence of taxes. Prior to the 20th century, public school attendance was only part-time, consuming only about half or less of the year.

''Private schools'', also known as ''public schools'' in Commonwealth countries as they are open to the public, are organized similarly, though they are not paid for by society but by the children's parents, thereby constituting a double expense for parents. Some private schools aspire to very high standards, some specialize in certain modes and topics of instruction (such as a military school), and yet others provide a place for children who need curricula not available in the public systems.

''Faith schools'' is the term in the [[United Kingdom]] for schools which are partially controlled by religious denominations and have a predominance of pupils from that denomination.

Schooling also occurs (in smaller numbers) in various non-traditional and non-institutional environments. This is often due to concerns of parents about institutional schooling, such as a lack of quality in traditional schools and their hostility to religion and morality.

In [[Nordic Countries]] there are virtually no schools other than government schools.{{fact}}

==See also==
*[[Homeschooling]]

[[Category:Education]]

Talk:Fox Derangement Syndrome

2007-06-16T16:54:18Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

This is some kind of joke, right? [[User:EnFrancaisSVP|EnFrancaisSVP]] 12:37, 16 June 2007 (EDT)
* Nope, it's a legit term in the political word. In the words of Rosie O'Donnell, "google it." -- [[User:AmeriCan|AmeriCan]] 12:52, 16 June 2007 (EDT)

well, I'll be.... Snippy comment cheerfully withdrawn. How about some more cites, then? [[User:EnFrancaisSVP|EnFrancaisSVP]] 12:54, 16 June 2007 (EDT)

Jacques Chirac

2007-06-16T16:52:42Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Why would he have? France was long out of Indochina by the time the USA was involved there...

'''Jacques Chirac''' (1932-present) is a former president of [[France]]. He served two terms in office, choosing not to seek a third term due to massive unpopularity and several legislative failures.

Chirac is a lifelong [[Gaullist]] who contributed greatly to France's decision not to participate in the [[Iraq War]], though sent troops to help overthrow the [[Taliban]] in [[Afghanistan]]. He has been quoted as saying that the [[free market]] is not the solution to all problems.[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/12/europe/EU-POL-France-Chiracs-Future.php]

[[Category:Political people|Chirac, Jacques]]

Jean-Marie Le Pen

2007-06-16T16:40:29Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

'''Jean-Marie Le Pen''' is an [[extremist]] [[right-wing]] French politician who ran for president in 2002 who called for stricter controls against [[immigration]] in [[France]], in order to preserve French culture. He has also denied aspects of the Holocaust, has said that the [[Nazi]] occupation of France was not severe, and said that [[AIDS]] patients should be isolated. He is the leader of the nationalist [[National Front]] party and ran in the [[2007 French presidential elections]].

His immigration policies were called racist by some of his opponents. However, his supporters were sufficiently numerous in 2002, propelling him to the [[runoff]] round of the French Presidential election, that [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] felt compelled to court them in the 2007 election by running well to the right of his predecessor [[Jacques Chirac]], who had appointed him [[interior minister]], although Sarkozy's message always emphasized [[economic]] reform, rather than immigration. This strategy paid off; Sarkozy, always a front-runner, defeated [[Socialist]] [[Ségolène Royal]] in the runoff round.

[[Category:French people|Le Pen, Jean-Marie]]

Jean-Marie Le Pen

2007-06-16T16:40:21Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

'''Jean-Marie Le Pen''' is an [[extremist]][[right-wing]] French politician who ran for president in 2002 who called for stricter controls against [[immigration]] in [[France]], in order to preserve French culture. He has also denied aspects of the Holocaust, has said that the [[Nazi]] occupation of France was not severe, and said that [[AIDS]] patients should be isolated. He is the leader of the nationalist [[National Front]] party and ran in the [[2007 French presidential elections]].

His immigration policies were called racist by some of his opponents. However, his supporters were sufficiently numerous in 2002, propelling him to the [[runoff]] round of the French Presidential election, that [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] felt compelled to court them in the 2007 election by running well to the right of his predecessor [[Jacques Chirac]], who had appointed him [[interior minister]], although Sarkozy's message always emphasized [[economic]] reform, rather than immigration. This strategy paid off; Sarkozy, always a front-runner, defeated [[Socialist]] [[Ségolène Royal]] in the runoff round.

[[Category:French people|Le Pen, Jean-Marie]]

Talk:Fox Derangement Syndrome

2007-06-16T16:37:43Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

This is some kind of joke, right? [[User:EnFrancaisSVP|EnFrancaisSVP]] 12:37, 16 June 2007 (EDT)

Talk:Fox Derangement Syndrome

2007-06-16T16:37:33Z

EnFrancaisSVP: New page: This is some kind of joke, right?

This is some kind of joke, right?

Palestinian Arabs

2007-06-16T16:35:47Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

The term "Palestinian Arabs" refers to those [[Arabs]] who have traditionally lived in [[Palestine]], the area made up of the current state of [[Israel]], the [[Gaza Strip]], and the [[West Bank]]. Immigrant [[Jews]] created the state of Israel after a [[terrorist]] war against the [[British]] between 1944 and 1948. They immediately ejected most of the Palestinian Arabs, an estimated 3,000,000 of whom now live in refugee camps in Gaza, the West Bank, [[Jordan]], and [[Lebanon]]. Those Palestinians who remained in the state created in 1948 are generally treated as second class citizens, largely due to Israel being a specifically Jewish religious state.

There is currently a debate about the creation of a specifically Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank. While there is a nominal Government, there is a decreasing likelihood of a functional Palestinian state being set up, due largely to the continued occupation of the West Bank by Israel, the creation of many illegal Jewish settlements, and the so-called "[[apartheid]] wall" being built around the remaining Palestinian areas.

The Palestinians receive very little support from the international community. When the elections were held in 2007, and [[Hamas]] was democratically elected as the Palestinian Government, most of the international community immediately stopped all aid; thereby rendering the legitimate elections a farce. What the international community had demanded was a [[Fatah]] government that would be more supportive of the continued existence of Israel, and a friend of the USA, rather than Hamas, which demands that Israel as a specifically religious state should not exist.

It is unlikely that the Palestinian Arabs will achieve effective statehood in the near future. The Nakba (catastrophe) of 1948 is not recognised by the international community for what it is, a catastrophe for a whole people. Until action is taken to allow Jews, Arabs and Christians to live together in a secular state of Palestine, it is unlikely that there will be peace in the Middle East.

George Clinton

2007-06-16T16:12:20Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Give up the funk!

{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="250" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="2"|[[Image:George clinton.jpg|180px]]
|-
!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: maroon no-repeat scroll top left;"|George Clinton;
Fourth Vice President of the United States
|-
|Born
|1739
|-
|Died
|1812
|-
|Term
|1805-1812
|-
|}

'''George Clinton''' was the fifth Vice President of the United States, serving under [[James Madison]], from March 4, 1813 AD until his death a year and a half later. He was the first Vice Presidential candidate to be under the 12th Ammendment. He cast the tie breaking vote against rechartering the first Bank of the United States. <ref> [[Fandex]], Workman Publishing. </ref>

==Funk Musician==
[http://www.georgeclinton.com George Clinton] is a seminal figure of American Funk music. He has been making music since the 1970s with Parliament, Funkadelic, P-Funk, and George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars.

His popular songs include Atomic Dog, Up for the Down Stroke, We Want the Funk, and Knee Deep (In the Funk).

<references/>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clinton, George}}
[[category:Vice Presidents of the United States]]

Guardian (UK)

2007-06-16T16:10:00Z

EnFrancaisSVP:

A [[UK]] national daily [[newspaper]] known for its [[liberal]] stance, being pro-[[abortion]] on demand, anti-[[Bush]] and critical of [[Tony Blair]]'s support for the war in [[Iraq]]. These are widely held views among the more [[intellectual]] British [[newspaper]]s, even [[conservative]] ones such as the [[Daily Telegraph]]. The Guardian has just celebrated the publishing of its 50,000th edition.

Originally known as the [[Manchester]] Guardian, since it was originally published there, it is owned by a charitable organisation, the [[Scott Trust]], which ensures that it remains independent of any particular political philosophy.

It often contains articles by left-wing, agnostic and atheist writers, so Christian conservatives are recommended to read it to enable them be aware of a wide range of views, even if they do not share them.

Guardian (UK)

2007-06-16T16:09:34Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Re-wikified - why undo that? - removed signature.

A [[UK]] national daily [[newspaper]] known for its [[liberal]] stance, being pro-[[abortion]] on demand, anti-[[Bush]] and critical of [[Tony Blair]]'s support for the war in [[Iraq]]. These are widely held views among the more [[intellectual]] British [[newspapers]], even [[conservative]] ones such as the [[Daily Telegraph]]. The Guardian has just celebrated the publishing of its 50,000th edition.

Originally known as the [[Manchester]] Guardian, since it was originally published there, it is owned by a charitable organisation, the [[Scott Trust]], which ensures that it remains independent of any particular political philosophy.

It often contains articles by left-wing, agnostic and atheist writers, so Christian conservatives are recommended to read it to enable them be aware of a wide range of views, even if they do not share them.

Allen Ginsberg

2007-06-16T15:55:09Z

EnFrancaisSVP: Can find no evidence of membership, only pieces he wrote in support.

[[Image:UploaddammitGinsberg.jpg|thumb|right|Allen Ginsberg]]
'''Allen Ginsberg''', one of America's celebrated poets <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/ginsberg-obit.html]</ref>, was born 3rd June 1926 in Newark, [[New Jersey]]. Along with others such as [[Jack Kerouac]] and [[William S. Burroughs]], he became part of what was dubbed the "Beat Generation" of writers. He died of liver cancer on 6th April 1997. <ref>[http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm]</ref> Ginsberg was also a fervent supporter of the notorious North American Man-Boy Love Association, or [[NAMBLA]].

His most famous works include:

* [http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15308 Howl]

* [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/america.html America]

* [http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15307 Kaddish]

He studied at Columbia University in the 1940s and moved to San Fransico in 1954. <ref>[http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/8]</ref> ''Howl and Other Poems'' was published in 1956 and in May that year, police seized copies from a bookshop and charged the owners with publishing and selling an obscene and indecent book. This charge was rejected in October 1957 when Judge Clayton Horn ruled that the book had redeeming social value. <ref>[http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm]</ref> During the trial, Ginsberg relocated to [[Paris]] with his partner Peter Orlovsky. They remained together for the forty years till Ginsberg's death. <ref>[http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm]</ref>
== References ==
<references/>
1. http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/ginsberg-obit.html

2. http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm

3. http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/8

4. http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm

5. http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm

[[Category:Poets|Ginsberg, Allen]]