A daring raid.

The sources said that the undercover soldiers entered the Gaza Strip, and carried out their operation near the Rafah Crossing. According to the sources, the undercover soldiers were disguised as grocers riding a donkey-pulled wagon. Sources said they disguised force even chatted with locals near the crossing.

According to the report, the undercover soldiers approached a plot of land belonging to Muhawesh al-Kadi, a senior Hamas official who acts as spokesman of the organizationÂ’s special security forces in Rafah.

Al-Kadi was working his land when the disguised force approached and kidnapped him. The Palestinian sources reported that the operation went quickly and smoothly. The undercover force left Rafah with al-Kadi, and brought him to Israel.

More at the link at Hot Air.

Posted by: Ace at 11:57 AM | Comments (24)
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Greg Packer, if you don't remember, was the guy who used to get quoted in every third "man on the street" interview by the MSM. Just because he deliberately went where reporters were likely to be to get his name in the newspaper.

After getting embarrassed by quoting Greg Packer so many times, AP, along with other outlets, embargoed him. No longer would they quote Greg Packer.

But you can't keep a good strange man down.

And the media will always be stupid and credulous.

Posted by: Ace at 11:37 AM | Comments (4)
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I donÂ’t care what Libertarians or medical studies may say, pot makes you stupid.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - A marijuana dealer telephoned police after armed thieves stole his quarter-pound stash of pot. The 19-year-old Felton man told police that two men, one of them armed with a handgun, robbed him at gunpoint as he sat in his car on Tuesday night.

After the thieves made off with his stash, the dealer telephoned police. When police arrived, the dealer's story became progressively confused.

First he showed officers a medical marijuana card and told them he bought the pot at a medical marijuana dispensary. Then he said he got the pot from a friend. Eventually the dealer admitted he had arranged to sell the marijuana to the men who stole it from him, investigators said.

The famous bank robber Willie Sutton was once asked why he robbed banks, “because that’s where the money is” is said to have been his reply. Well, if you are ever asked, “why shouldn’t I rob a Karate studio?” you should answer, “because that’s where the fists of fury are”.

BOGOTA (AFP)
"The man entered the academy with a firearm, but could not intimidate the dozens of students, who fortunately reacted and disarmed him," said Colonel Julio Cesar Santoyo, police commander in the province of Santander.

Police arrived at the scene only to take the would-be robber to hospital for treatment of multiple contusions at the hands of the karate students.

Posted by: DrewM. at 11:19 AM | Comments (16)
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I must make my pilgrammage.

In little Spring House PA, about 25 miles north of Philadelphia, The Stoogeum, a museum of Three Stooges memorabilia.

Stoogeum curator Gary Lassin opened it 3 years ago. He is the sole employee, and viewings are by appointment only.

As well they should be.

Lassin married into a family relationship with the Stooges, his wife's grandfather was Larry Feinberg's brother. Over the years he collected hundreds of Stooge artifacts.

The Stoogeum has "more stuff than I even imagined existed," said Peter Seely, editor of the book "Stoogeology: Essays on the Three Stooges." "Going through there is sort of like a trip through the history of pop culture in the 20th century."

10,000 square feet of movie props, toys, art work, Three Stooges bowling balls, figurines (action figures!), old scripts.... the pulse quickens!

I have got to see this.

Any ladies care to join me?

Posted by: Dave In Texas at 05:28 AM | Comments (49)
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I actually think I'm ditching Boston soon after the Acepalooza. If anyone knows of a room, let me know. I doubt I can afford anywhere decent in Manhattan but I'd like to be reasonably close by subway (or PATH train, of course).

Posted by: Ace at 12:31 AM | Comments (79)
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But really, he isn't seeking the presidency. What a load off my mind.

It's Jim Brunning time. He had the guts to challenge Hagel when it was assumed he would remain in office.

Chuck Hagel will announce Monday that he is retiring from the U.S. Senate and will not run for president next year, people close to the Nebraska Republican said Friday.

...

According to one person interviewed, Hagel told Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Friday morning that he had decided to retire. Hagel's staff learned of his decision that afternoon.

...

His pending retirement leaves another GOP Senate seat without an incumbent at a time when the Republican Party is struggling to stem potential losses and must defend more seats than Democrats.

In Nebraska, the news will trigger a scramble among possible successors.

Attorney General Jon Bruning has been campaigning for the GOP Senate nomination since spring. A second Republican, financial adviser Pat Flynn of Schuyler, also already announced his candidacy.

I foresee a long career for him on network news "analysis," sitting around, looking important, bashing Republicans. Bringing all that new stuff to the network team.

Posted by: Ace at 11:36 PM | Comments (21)
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Another case of Guess That Party!, by the way, but given this is a Chicago paper, perhaps they assume people know the governor's party affiliation.

I don't expect the AP story will be more forthcoming about it, though.

A high-ranking official in Gov. Blagojevich's office spent nearly two years in a federal prison for refusing to aid a government terrorism probe into a series of bombings in Chicago and New York City.

Steven Guerra, Blagojevich's $120,000-a-year deputy chief of staff for community services, was identified by federal prosecutors as a member of the Puerto Rican separatist group, FALN, which was behind a wave of violence and killings in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Before al-Qaida and Timothy McVeigh, the nation's most feared terrorism group was FALN, an organization that sought Puerto Rican independence through a wave of terror more than a quarter century ago.

More than 130 bombings in New York, Illinois and Puerto Rico were attributed to the group, including at least 28 here. Five people were killed, and 84 were injured, including four police officers.

Between 1975 and 1979, FALN took credit for or was suspected in bomb attacks at the Merchandise Mart, the Chicago Police Department headquarters, Woodfield Shopping Center and a former Marshall Field's department store, among others.

In March 1980, gun-toting sympathizers stormed the Carter-Mondale presidential campaign office in Chicago and held campaign workers hostage.

But a month later, FALN suffered its most severe setback when 11 members were arrested in a stolen truck in Evanston.

In 1983, Guerra, now 53, was among five people convicted in New York of contempt of court for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the group. The felony conviction resulted in a three-year prison sentence for Guerra, who was released in 1986 after serving 23 months.

Federal prosecutors labeled Guerra and his four co-defendants "a danger to the community," and said they advocated armed violence, kidnappings, hijackings and prison breaks in the name of a "free" Puerto Rico.

The lead prosecutor in Guerra's case, James D. Harmon Jr., said it is clear to him that the man he helped convict has no business working for state government. "He had his opportunity to help the government. Someone who refused to help the government, in my opinion, forfeits his right to earn a living from any government at any time," the former prosecutor said.

Gov. Blagojevich's office said Guerra disclosed his felony conviction to the administration before his 2003 hiring. Aides said the governor intends to stand by Guerra. He was recommended for the job by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who lobbied President Bill Clinton to grant clemency to 11 imprisoned FALN members in 1999.

...

Guerra was not charged with any of the group's attacks or plots. But a sentencing memo obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times laid out in detail the government's belief that Guerra was an FALN insider with intimate knowledge of wrongdoing.

The accusations came largely from an admitted FALN member, Alfredo Mendez. He grew up with Guerra, became a government witness and is living under the witness-protection program.

Now if the media's excuse for overreporting corruption stories about Republicans while underreporting those about Democrats is that these stories are "illustrative" of something about Republicans specifically, what can we say about Democrats' continuing apologism on behalf of, and occasional glorification of, terrorists?

Enough about the media. If Democrats hire terrorist supporters on their staff, how the hell can they claim to be "strong, tough" in fighting them?

What's their plan for Osama bin Laden? Hire him on as chief spokesman of the DNC?

It would make sense. His latest tape sounds like an audition for the gig.

Posted by: Ace at 11:17 PM | Comments (22)
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Pretty much all the big net phenoms from Meth Minute. Including Amanda Congdon's jugs.

Includes lightning bolt. Does not include cowbell.

Thanks to See-Dub of JunkYard Blog.

Posted by: Ace at 03:57 PM | Comments (55)
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Not a prepared statement, just comments made while meeting with the Japanese PM.

"I find it interesting that on the tape Iraq was mentioned, which is a reminder that Iraq is part of this War against extremists. If Al Qaeda bothers to mention Iraq it's because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out, and to develop a safe haven. And the reason they want a safe haven is to launch attacks against America, or any other ally."

Posted by: Ace at 03:46 PM | Comments (31)
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Not a new story, but now there's video coming.

Those whose lifestyles are responsible for one hundred or more times the carbon dioxide than average Americans want average Americans to cut down on their CO2 production while the swanks continue producing more than ever, but can feel less guilty about it because they've gulled some suckers to do without some of the pleasures of life so they can continue to live like the marquesses.

Carbon offsets? Their real "carbon offsets" are the saps they can con into living poorer lives in their stead.

Posted by: Ace at 02:48 PM | Comments (123)
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