UNDER-REPORTED NEWS
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has recently had his book published. It is titled, "A Journey." The book "has angered opponents, especially the 2003 invasion of Iraq." [Associated Press]
Showing up to sign copies of his book in Dublin, Ireland, it was expected that if anyplace, that would be a safe place for him because of leadership in the 1998 Good Friday peace accord in Northern Ireland that ended ongoing civil friction between Protestants and Catholics. Wow, were hopes ever dashed by the immense turn-out of assertive protesters. The demonstrators chanted that Blair had "blood on his hands." A protester named Donal MacFhearraigh commented that Blair "should be indicted as a war criminal." There have been such outbursts about former President George W. Bush and how he should be indicted as a war criminal. MacFhearrraigh yelled, "Blair took the world to war in Iraq and Afghanistan on the basis of lies." Several demonstrators tried to make citizen arrests of Blair. This is not over.
Another sparsely reported story was the passing of one of the great journalists in America since World War II. Paul Conrad, an Iowa native, was a political cartoonist that covered news since Harry S. Truman was President. During his 30 years with the Los Angeles Times his political drawings won three Pulitzer Prizes. He poked fun at Democrats and Republicans.
Conrad said his favorite target was President Richard Nixon. "He always said he was most proud of beng on Nixon's enemies list," said David Conrad.
In a 2006 interview, Paul Conrad compared his favorite target to ex-President George W. Bush. "I felt two ways about Nixon. First, how did an idiot like that become president, and secondly, how soon can we get rid of him. Almost the same thing applies to Bush."
On Sept. 4th the L.A. Times mentioned that the longtime publisher came to expect that his breakfast would be interrupted by an angry phone call from then-governor Ronald Reagan or wife Nancy, peeved by a Conrad cartoon that made them look foolish. Conrad, with his 30 years with the Times, helped to build that newspaper and raise its national profile.
The Rev. Terry Jones, the "pastor" who threatened to burn Korans, has a seamy reputation in the U.S. and Germany. He was kicked out of his church in Germany, and was fined 3.000 euros for trying to use the name "doctor" falsely. Does he sound like any group you know from the following info?
Identifies himself as a literal reader of the Bible. Walks around his church grounds in Gainesville, Florida with a pistol strapped to his hip. He greatly admires Mel Gibson and follows the "Braveheart" symbol.
He hates Islam. When asked about his knowledge of the Koran, Jones said, "I have no experience with it whatsoever."
He and his second wife run a furniture business, often on the grounds of the Dove Church.
In a sermon, he called members of a neighboring congregation, "Lily-livered, yellow-bellied Christians."
He owns: a beach condo in Pinellas County, Florida on Treasure Island; several SUVs, a motorcycle, an 18-foot boat, a home in Slidell, Louisiana. His church has about 50 members. Sound familiar?
As they used to say on "Monty Python," and now for something totally different...
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