Yum!
From drugsense:
You think I'm going to let all this great legal training I received as a pro se defendant in this case go to waste? Yes, I think I'll be seeing those greedy billionaire swine in court again, but with the tables turned. -- Narconews.com publisher Al Giordano, Interview, 2001
The Onion - Starving, Bandaged bin Laden Offers U.S. Last Chance to Surrender - Hehe. [geneice]
"Enemies of Allah, this is your last chance to leave Afghanistan alive," said a battered, soot-covered bin Laden in a videotaped statement broadcast on the Al Jazeera satellite network. "I mean it."
Staring directly into the camera with his good eye, bin Laden reiterated his vow to drive the U.S. from the country.
"You may have dozens of bases in Afghanistan. You may have thousands of bombs," bin Laden said. "But know this: We still have three or four guns and a full crate of bullets. And some knives, I think. You cannot hope to prevail."
DRCNet - Utah Town Makes Marijuana Possession Ten Dollar Fine, Draws Heat, Will Retreat - The town council of Big Water, Utah passed an ordinance making the punishment for marijuana possession almost suit the crime (proper punishment would of course be a round of applause). The local state and county gendarmes have made it clear that they are unhappy with this state of affairs. It appears that the council will fold. But it was fun while it lasted, eh?
Adam J. Smith at In These Times via MAPInc - Drug War Retreat: England Moves To Decriminalize Narcotics - they plan to stop arresting or even warning people about cannabis and plan to distribute heroin to addicts. Yay! [drugsense]
Swiss Radio International via MAPInc - Parliament Moves Towards Legalising Cannabis - The Swiss senate has voted to legalize the consumption of cannabis. Production and trade could also be legal "under certain conditions" if the House approves the bill. Double yay! [drugsense]
Thomas L. Knapp - Freedom Book of the Month for December, 2001 - Mr. Knapp has chosen L. Neil Smith's The American Zone as this month's book. Yay! If you haven't read it yet, now is a good time to order.
Dimitri Vassilaros at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Opinion on gun law clarified - Mr. Vassilaros said in an earlier column that citizens should not require government permission (permits or licenses) to exercise their right guaranteed by the second amendment. In this article, he clarifies his opinion in the light of a dissenting e-mail message. [kaba]
"License-to-carry laws which require the issuance of a license to an applicant meeting certain requirements (such as not being a convicted felon), have uniformly been held to pass muster under the Second Amendment."
Why do we need license from the state to exercise only this right? It's not called the "Bill of Rights (except one)." Even felons who have served their time are protected by the Bill of Rights -- EXCEPT the Second Amendment. Some amendments should not be more equal than others.
Marc W. Herold at cursors.org - A Dossier on Civilian Victims of United States' Aerial Bombing of Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Accounting - the U.S. has now killed at least 3,767 Afghani civilians. Is the score even yet? Can we stop now? [lew]
A U.S. officer aboard the US aircraft carrier, Carl Vinson, described the use of 2,000 lb cluster bombs dropped by B-52 bombers: "A 2,000 lb. bomb, no matter where you drop it, is a significant emotional event for anyone within a square mile."
...
"When people decry civilian deaths caused by the U.S. government, they're aiding propaganda efforts. In sharp contrast, when civilian deaths are caused by bombers who hate America, the perpetrators are evil and those deaths are tragedies.
When they put bombs in cars and kill people, they're uncivilized killers. When we put bombs on missiles and kill people, we're upholding civilized values. When they kill, they're terrorists. When we kill, we're striking against terror."