At Home. Awoke well before the pre-dawn light. Prayed for the souls of the departed, the comfort and
healing of the survivors. Was especially grateful that our family members and friends who worked at the Pentagon
had been spared two years ago. Remembered those who weren't. Watched the dawn ushered in by the neighbor who runs
with his golden lab every morning.
In Qatar. Osama bin Laden's favorite link to international media, al-Jazeera, released another videotape
in time to broadcast world-wide today. In it, a spry and youthful Osama walks down a rocky path accented by fresh
spring grass. He speaks not a word. A helpful audio commentary is included with the release. The Osama voice repeats
word-for-word previous comments. The United Mujahedin Organization (UMO), a principal radical supporter of Osama,
long ago confirmed his death on December 5, 2001 and his burial in an unmarked grave. Their view has been verified
by other members of the bin Laden extended family. The Egyptian doctor Ayman al-Zawahiri, the other voice on the
audio tape, is said to be in Iran. The al Qaeda propaganda machine has not been able to furnish a contemporaneous
video starring Osama since 2001.
In Geneva. In preparation for this weekend's session between the five veto-empowered permanent members of
the United Nations Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - proposed amendments
from France and Germany were announced. The AP reports that the amendments would:
- Endorse the Iraqi Governing Council and Cabinet "as the trustees of Iraqi sovereignty until the processes
leading to an elected and fully representative government is completed."
- The interim Iraqi administration would be under the auspices of the United Nation's Security Council and thus
subject to threats of a veto from the five permanent members.
- The interim administration would take control of "all civilian areas, including control over natural resources
and the use of international development fund assistance."
In Maryland. Speaking at a candidate's forum, the nine Democrat presidential candidates agreed that the
difference between them and President Bush is that, as John Kerry said, "They would have worked with the United
Nations." (See above.) Asked if they would vote for the administration's $87 billion supplemental budget request,
they replied that they would fully support guns and ammo for our troops but had grave doubts about funds for water
and electricity for the Iraqi people.
At Cancun. Franz Fischler, the European farm commissioner, introduced a proposal to create a global registry
that would outlaw the use of food names produced outside the European regions associated with those names. Designed
to protect some 4,200 wines and spirits and 600 meats, cheeses and other foods, the regulation would criminalize
such generic names as bologna, parmesan, mozzarella, cognac and champagne. Before leaving Brussels, Mr. Fischler
also denounced poor countries and the NGO's (non-governmental organizations) that supported them because they were
calling for large scale reductions in the European subsidies and farm protection regulations. He said that he would
defend the common agricultural policy (CAP) against any attempted subsidy cutbacks that would clear the way for
poor nations to sell agricultural products and textiles in the EU market. "If they want to do business,"
Fischler stated, "they should come back to mother earth. If they choose to continue their space odyssey they
will not get the stars, they will not get the moon, they will end up with empty hands."
In Virginia. Columnist Brad Todd reminds us that the people's courage is not in question. The terrorism
introduced two year's ago lasted all of 109 minutes. Referring to the heroes who diverted United Flight 93, he
said. "At 8:48am Mohammad Atta hit the north tower and 18 minutes later his associates hit the south tower.
By 10:37, the terrorists had America's answer." The passengers of Flight 93, thwarted the remaining attack
in the most American of ways.
- They used a credit card to rent a fancy cell phone that gave them information that was only minutes old, courtesy
of the ubiquitous 24-hour news phenomenon. Then they took a vote. When the vote called for sacrifice to protect
country and others, there apparently wasn't a shortage of volunteers. Their action was swift. It was decisive.
And it was effective.
A Harvest Moon. The day ends without any major incident. In our part of the world, the best of a harvest
moon and Mars up close bless our evenings.. The sky is not falling. So far, while the self-appointed political
elite suffers from the vapors, the American public remains calm and determined.
We live in hard and dangerous times. Cowardice in the face of the enemy is not the way of the American people.
