- Associated Press

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil - With some branding President Bush a terrorist, leftist activists opposed to the spread of American influence ended the fifth World Social Forum on Monday with a protest against unfettered capitalism and the war in Iraq.

Activists from 140 countries then started packing their backpacks, dismantling tents and furling bright red flags after the six-day gathering in Southern Brazil to counter the simultaneous World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Thousands of people joined a final demonstration march in this southern Brazilian city to close the forum, waving Communist flags and chanting slogans against U.S.-style liberalized trade and the occupation of Iraq.

“Let’s globalize the struggle,” some shouted. Others waved placards with pictures of the president saying “Bush, No. 1 Terrorist.”

And just to think even the Leftist groups in the United States agree with their message. Wave the Hammer and Sickle, for Communism is a wonderful government giving everyone the freedoms they deserve. While I don’t want to help these people out, I cannot help but mention that if these types of groups acted in a responsible way, they just might be able to get their message out in a more gratifying way.

Hyscience linked with Blog Picks for morning reading
The Political Teen linked with President Bush: Numero Uno Terrorist

Of the 11 total suicide bombers in Sunday’s Iraqi elections, only nine were successful in detonating their explosives and causing harm to voters. There is no telling how many more fled the scene after they saw a virtual lockdown imposed by the Iraqi military at several different roving checkpoints throughout the major cities in Iraq. One of the suicide bombers was allegedly a child with Down’s syndrome.

Terrorists used a disabled child as a suicide bomber on election day, Iraqi interior minister Falah al-Naqib said today.

In all, 44 people were killed in a total of 38 bomb attacks on polling stations. Police at the scene of one the Baghdad blasts said the bomber appeared to have Down’s syndrome.

Mr Al-Naqib praised an Iraqi citizen who was killed while preventing one suicide bomber from reaching a crowd of people outside a polling station.

For a point of clarification, there were actually only 35 people killed by suicide bombers. The 44 figure includes the nine suicide bombers that were killed while commiting their horrendous act.

Terrorist groups using children is nothing new. In Israel, various terrorists do this on a consistent basis. While it is of course deplorable, using children for such activities helps the terrorist act become successful as many people never expect a child to be lined with explosives to help a cause that grown men are too big of cowards to carry out.

This is also the first news I’ve heard of an Iraqi citizen stopping a suicide bomber. I wish this article provided more details of this heroic act, such as how this citizen knew he was a suicide bomber, however it does not. The courage of the Iraqis shined through Sunday and hopefully will until terrorism in Iraq is extinct.

Hat tip: Drudge

Diggers Realm linked with Child With Downs Syndrome Used By Terrorists As Suicide Bomber

A British C-130 plane was apparently shot down by a terrorist known as the Green Brigade yesterday, killing ten British soldiers. A video has surfaced and was aired on Al Jazeera.

The video was issued by the “Green Brigade,” a previously unknown arm of an Iraqi militant group — and its authenticity could not be confirmed.

It showed a finger pressing a button on a white box with wires, and then images of two missiles or rockets flying up into the air. The video did not show any impact with a plane.

Instead, it cut to footage of people in street clothes walking through a plane’s wreckage burning on the ground. It was not immediately possible to determine if the wreckage was that of the crashed C-130.

Because of the lack of footage showing the actual explosion from the rockets hitting the plane, it has yet to be determined if in fact these terrorists actually shot down the plane or just happened to be in the area. They could have very well tried to hit the plane, causing the pilot to try to dodge the rockets which in turn brought the plane down. The British military is investigating the incident.

While the Associated Press believed the Green Brigade is a “previously unknown arm of an Iraqi militant group,” they fail yet again to do their homework. The Green Brigade, if you recall, was the group that held four Italian hostages and murdered one of them. The failure of media organizations to do their proper homework when writing a story never ceases to amaze me.

Both Backcountry Conservative and The Jawa Report show sources indicating another terrorist group, Ansar al-Islam, shot down the plane. As with almost every terrorist act that garners world-wide attention, several groups claim credit for the attack. Based upon the footage however, there is no way to determine if the plane was shot down or just crashed.

The video can be downloaded at Ogrish. As noted previously, all the video shows is two rockets being fired and then the wreckage of the plane. It would not be the first time a terrorist group made a claim of an attack that turned out to be false. This is their form of propoganda.

- Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda vowed to pursue “holy war” in Iraq Monday after failing to wreck a historic election in which millions of people flocked to the polls.

Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Iraq slammed the election, which was hailed around the world as a success, denouncing it as an American game.

“We in the al Qaeda Organization for Holy War in Iraq will continue the jihad until the banner of Islam flutters over Iraq,” said the statement posted on an Islamist Web site.

Unfortunately some media organizations are refering the elections as a U.S. achievement and not an Iraqi achievment which plays right into the hands of terrorist groups. Different terrorist groups have long made statements concerning their objectives in Iraq. Al Qaida in Iraq for instance wants to create a Persian state accross the Middle East. Their first step is to see Iraq under Islamic rule. They have failed and they will continue to fail because in any war the people must be with you. Iraqis are not with the murderous thugs that call themselves the mujahideen.

As much of a ballyhoo that was made before the election concerning all of the violence these terrorist groups were to sling at unsuspecting votes, the elections were relatively peaceful. Sure, there were nine suicide bombers and a few other explosions, but the results were only 35 deaths of innocents. Any loss of innocent life is sad, but in a day that saw around 8 million people march to the streets to participate in Democracy, 35 people is a microscopic fraction thereof.

The terrorists failed on election day, they’ve failed for the past two years and they will continue to fail. They won’t pack up shop however and go sell used cars in Damascus, but they will get more and more desperate which will lead to arrests.

Update:
More has been released of this statement, though equally desperate and equally deplorable.

The statement addressed President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying, “Let Bush, Blair … know that we are the enemies of democracy.”

It said almost no one from heavily Sunni Arab region participated in Sunday’s vote “except for some theatrics that they made up to fool people.”

I suppose we are to assume a Hollywood film studio went through all the trouble to film this propoganda film and even had their “extras” dip their fingers in blue ink. On and by the way, everyone who has even remotely followed Zarqawi’s tactics and statements should already know Zarqawi and Al Qaida are against Democracy. In fact, I’d wager to guess that every Iraqi knows that too. It’s a shame, for Zarqawi at least, that millions showed up to vote and participate in Democracy. Next!

Today’s Quote of the Day comes via The Roth Report. It has nothing to do with the Iraqi elections as I could never just quote one person in this triumph. It does however involve DNC Chairman hopeful Howard Dean making a speech.

“I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for, but I admire their discipline and their organization,” the failed presidential hopeful told the crowd at the Roosevelt Hotel, where he and six other candidates spoke at the final DNC forum before the Feb. 12 vote for chairman.

I would prefer to be loathed rather than hated. I believe in free speech, free markets, freedom of religion, that baseball is the best game ever and a freedom of choice in whatever you wish to pursue. Thank you Howard Dean for coming out against freedom. Yeeeaaaaaaaghh!

Aside from the elections in Iraq, there is some other great news. The election of course deserves most of your attention, however it is still important to relay great news in the GWOT inside of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Following the rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy Baghdad on the eve of the election, seven suspects were arrested for the rocket attack.

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Seven insurgents responsible for the Jan. 29 rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy were captured by Task Force Baghdad troops approximately one hour after launching their attack.

Following the 8 p.m. attack on the embassy, the men fled the scene of the rocket launch, but were tracked to a residence in southeastern Baghdad. Task Force Baghdad ground troops descended on the home, detaining all seven suspects.

“This was a great example of quick reaction on the part of some superb cavalry troopers,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Jones, assistant division commander for the 1st Cavalry Division and Task Force Baghdad. “It’s one more example to the insurgents that Iraqi and Multi-National Forces will hunt down those responsible for these acts of terrorism.”

It is simply amazing we were able to trace these people back to their location and detain them. There is aerial footage of the attack however so it is quite reasonable we also had the terrorists fleeing on tape as well.

Two suspected terrorists were arrested at a checkpoint and are suspected to have been plotting polling center attacks. These two men’s names were on a suspect list which was checked at the checkpoint they were arrested at.

While the GWOT in Afghanistan gets very little news, there are constantly success stories there as well. Then again, success stories in Afghanistan have lessened, but so has terroristic activity as well. Six weapons caches were foundin Afghanistan with various different weapons and ammo.

The GWOT had a major victory today which cannot go overlooked. I’ve mentioned it before, but it cannot be stated enough. The will of the Iraqi people looked straight into the eyes of terrorists and those wanting to oppress and walked right on by despite the threats. This excerpt from Muhammed and Omar at Iraq the Model says it all.

I walked forward to my station, cast my vote and then headed to the box, where I wanted to stand as long as I could, then I moved to mark my finger with ink, I dipped it deep as if I was poking the eyes of all the world’s tyrants.

I put the paper in the box and with it, there were tears that I couldn’t hold; I was trembling with joy and I felt like I wanted to hug the box but the supervisor smiled at me and said “brother, would you please move ahead, the people are waiting for their turn”.

Amen.

- Reuters

DENIA, Spain (Reuters) - A bomb exploded in a seaside hotel in southeast Spain on Sunday, slightly injuring a tourist, after a warning call in the name of the Basque separatist group ETA, officials said.

The bomb, the second claimed by ETA in two weeks, was hidden in a backpack and left in a courtyard in the hotel in Denia, near the resorts of Benidorm and Alicante, the Interior Ministry said.

About 160 people, including several British tourists, were evacuated before the explosion, but one guest’s eardrums were damaged by the blast, a ministry source said.

The blast, which ripped a hole 10 meters by 5 meters (33 ft by 16 ft) in an outside wall and shattered windows, followed a warning call to the Basque roadside assistance authority in the name of ETA, a spokesman there said.

“There’s a device in Hotel Port Denia, in Denia. In 40 minutes it will explode,” the spokesman quoted a woman as saying. “Long live ETA,” she added in Basque.

ETA, or Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, has been around since 1958 and started it’s terrorist activities in 1959. The primary goal of much of ETA’s actions are political influence and gain. No one has died from an ETA attack since 2003, however that does mean they are less of a threat.

If you recall, in the hours following 3/11 in Madrid, several analysts and government officials in Spain orginally blamed the Madrid Train Bombings on ETA. France even scrambled authorities to various train stations and railroad tracks to make sure nothing was comprimised by ETA. It of course was later learned the train bombings were the work of Al Qaida.

Diggers Realm linked with ETA Bombs Spanish Hotel

Via The Roth Report I found this interesting article in Newsweek concerning a capture of a suicide bomber. To offer a little background, the suicide bomber is a Saudi national who entered Iraq through Syria. He was told to drive a fuel truck to the Jordanian embassy. A jeep with other terrorists followed behind him and detonated the explosives with him inside, much to his surprise.

He managed to survive the blast and was put in a hospital lumped in with all of the other Iraqis who were injured in the blast. Word came out that terrorists wanted him and were offering money for his killing. Iraqi police went into the hospital and took this man for interrogation. Newsweek also has a video of the interrogation.

A video obtained by NEWSWEEK shows some of al-Shayea’s half-whispered testimony, prompted by the commanding voice of an interrogator. He seems terrified, confused. Yet according to Kamal, the information he supplied offered startling insights into the relentless insurgency that has grown dramatically since U.S. troops toppled the statue of dictator Saddam Hussein on April 9, 2003. Al-Shayea claimed the Iraqi police even had Zarqawi himself under arrest in Fallujah last October, but despite a $25 million reward—and perhaps not knowing whom they had—they let go the most ruthless and notorious killer in Iraq. (According to the deputy minister, security officials who have checked the circumstances now believe that may well be true.)

General Kamal says information supplied by al-Shayea helped Coalition forces round up several of Zarqawi’s key lieutenants within a matter of days. Among them is Abu Umar al-Kurdi, real name Sami Muhammad Saeed al-Jafi, a terrorist demolition man who confessed to 32 car bombings over the last two years. Even if Zarqawi continues to elude capture, nailing al-Kurdi was a critical score.

I had heard of stories concerning the momentary detention of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi before, however I never knew of the actual source of the information. Since this same suicide bomber gave credible tips that led the arrests of many of Zarqawi’s top henchmen, I am inclined to believe he is also telling the truth of this momentary detention of Zarqawi. It’s a shame these Iraqi policemen did not know the man they had was in fact Zarqawi.

The video of the interrogation is standard and I’ve seen other videos of interrogations. This of course is a wrap-up after an unknown time of private interrogations. There isn’t anything new in it that anyone should be surprised to learn. The man’s story however is interesting and the tips he gave have helped quell terrorist attacks as well as may end up netting Zarqawi and tearing apart his network.

Diggers Realm linked with Ahmed Abdullah al-Shayea, Captured Suicide Bomber, Led To Zarqawi Aides Capture

As night falls in Iraq, we must take in what is truly an amazing site. Despite all of threats by terrorists, Arab leaders calling the the elections fraudulent and U.S. congressmen slamming the Iraqi elections at every chance they get, the Iraq people stood tall, proud and defiant to let their voices be heard.

Officials said turnout among the 14 million eligible voters appeared higher than the 57 percent that had been predicted, although it would be some time before any turnout figure was confirmed. No preliminary results were expected before Monday at the earliest, and final results will not be known for seven to 10 days, the election commission said.

Fox News is estimating the turn-out at 60 percent which falls in line with the Washington Times’ estimate. Coincidentally, the turnout here in the United States for 2004 is estimated at 60 percent as well. The Iraqi people however faced threats on their lives, lack of quality education about the process and even certain groups boycotting the election and they still turned out in large numbers.

President Bush called the vote a great success and said “the world is hearing the voice of freedom from the center of the Middle East.” These voices in Iraq quieted those who are both trying to keep Iraq under dictatorship or a radical Islamic rule. As estimated 30 people were killed throughout Iraq in various instances of violence, however in a country with close to 14 million eligible voters 30 people is an extremely small number with the terrorist groups declaring they will stop the election at all costs. The election was a great success for freedom, a defeat of terrorism and terrorist ideals and a success for every single Iraqi.

The process of Democratization is not over though. This election was for a national assembly to construct the new Iraqi constitution which will lead to the path of a full-fledged Democracy. Violence will not stop and the will of the Iraqis must continue to be strong. An interesting developement will be where do the terrorists move their next target.

After Baghdad fell, terrorists targeted Coallition soldiers. As time went on, they started targeting Iraqi people to create instability. The closer to the election we got terrorists targeted anyone who has anything to do with Democracy in Iraq. Since the election is over, do the terrorists go back to targeting the Coallition soldiers or do they continue to target Iraqis?

There will be several naysayers of this election in Iraq, and sadly many of these will be U.S. Congressmen. I’ve grown used to hearing from world-leaders who will defame anything tied to the United States or Democracy, but it really gets me when U.S. Congressmen play partisan politics with Iraqi’s freedoms.

I’ve heard and seen a brief excerpt of Meet the Press which featured a full-hour interview with Senator John Kerry. From the clips I saw, Kerry doesn’t seem to realize the 2004 U.S. election is over and is still crying over the war in Iraq. This shouldn’t shock me, but it does. Check your local listings because Meet the Press will be replayed for those that missed it.

My question for Democratic Congressmen and Democrats who want to slam the Bush Administration for anything, will you stop with your partisan BS for just one week and praise the elections in Iraq? The Democratic Party used to be the party of humanitarian goals. Is there any better humanitarian goal than bringing freedom to millions? For the sake of every single Iraqi who danced in the streets, sang and had a 24-hour smile after voting, I hope they will.

Update:
MSNBC has posted the transcript of John Kerry’s appearance on Meet the Press (via Power Line). The Big Trunk decides to focus on other talk other than the Iraqi election in his post, however read the transcript and take a gander at a failed man leading failed charges.

The Associated Press has published several different quotes coming from world-leaders and others with various views on the election. Each are powerful, however I’ll include one from John Kerry and then two from Iraqis.

“It is hard to say that something is legitimate when whole portions of the country can’t vote and doesn’t vote,” Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

“This is democracy. This is the first day I feel freedom,” Fathiya Mohammed, an elderly woman who voted in the small town of Askan south of Baghdad.

“This is a chance for you as Iraqis to assure your and your children’s future,” Gov. Hamad Hmoud Shagti, of the mostly Sunni province of Salaheddin.

As you can see, there’s a bit of a difference in tones. One is more than pessimistic even though he ran on a campaign calling himself an optimist and the other two are truly the voices of freedom.

There has been one prominent Lefty blogger who naturally derides the election in Iraq. Again, no shock but still equally disturbing. Jeff Goldstein rightly compares Oliver with for the Iraqi minister of Information. Some on the Left never cease to amaze me.

Update:
Forty-four total people were killed in violence on election day, though nine were the suicide bombers. Slowplay had tracked members of the MSM and shows only half disclose that nine were homicidal maniacs with explosives attached to their bodies. Nice work.

The polls in Iraq have opened and there are already lines of waiting voters.

As poll workers watched, al-Yawer marked two ballots — one for the 275-member National Assembly and the other for provincial legislatures — and then dropped them into boxes. A poll worker handed him an Iraqi flag as he left.

“I’m very proud and happy this morning,” al-Yawer told reporters. “I congratulate all the Iraqi people and call them to vote for Iraq.”

His wife, Nesreen Mustafa Berwari, a minister of public works in the country’s interim government, followed him shortly afterward. “This is a shinning day on the road to the new Iraq.”

There have been various reports of violence, but nothing substantive as of yet. Let’s hope there isn’t anything that gets in the way of Iraqis and their freedom.

Strangely, Al Jazeera.net has no news to report on the elections other than the rocket attack on a U.S. embassy yesterday. Then again, the polls have only been open for an hour. Maybe they will be able to report on how the occupation hindered freedom-loving Iraqis.

Update 12 a.m. CST:
Reports are starting to come in regarding various attacks. A suicide bomb attack in Baghdad and other explosions of unknown origin inside of Baghdad seem to be the only attacks thus far.

Of course, as predicted, the New York Times has a rather lackluster opinion of the electoral process in Iraq. They give their usual mix of statements and then opinions disguised as news.

“We have principles, we believe in democracy and human rights,” she said. “If I die, it is better to have died for something than to have died for nothing.” As she spoke, she struggled into a bulletproof vest and a traditional black cloak to return to Baghdad’s streets for a last round of campaigning.

Nearly 22 months after American troops captured Baghdad, lighting a fire of enthusiasm for the freedoms Iraqis had craved so long, it is a measure of how much has gone wrong that Iraqis committed to Western-style democratic ideals can differ so sharply over the best way to secure them. Much of the problem is that the elections are being held under the dominion of the United States.

Many Iraqis, interviews in recent months have shown, do not accept that fundamental choices about the shape of their future political system should be made by a foreign power, particularly one they regard as a harbinger of secular, materialistic values far removed from the Muslim world’s.

Quick journalistic tip to the writers at the New York Times. When you make a statement such as the one in bold, back it up with a source. While “many” could be classified as 5 million or as 5 people, the NYT should at least divulge the results of their so-called poll. Every poll I’ve seen is over-whelmingly positive of Democracy in Iraq; unless of course you polled those who oppose freedom (Al Qaida in Iraq, Islamic Army of Iraq, Baathist Regime, NYT?).

Update 12:30 a.m. CST:
Now Al Jazeera lights up once there are attacks.

Iraqi police reported a car bomb attack on a makeshift polling station at the Zahra school in Mansur. Police sources said one Iraqi security member was killed and two Iraqi soldiers and two civilians were wounded.

It’s sad that in the wake of history in the making, the number one news organization in the Middle East leads their stories with terrorist attacks rather than millions of individual triumphs.

Last Update before I go to sleep:
Thus far the election appears to be a great success. There are of course areas where there was a low voter turnout, but predictably they were in Sunni areas.

In a potentially troublesome sign, however, the polls were deserted in heavily Sunni cities like Fallujah, Ramadi and Samarra west and north of Baghdad. Sunni extremists, fearing victory by the Shiites, have called for a boycott, claiming no vote held under U.S. military occupation is legitimate.

The Sunnis of course had all the power under Saddam and fear they will have very little power in a new government. Sunnis have also been a key part to the “insurgency.”

The following paragraph touched me.

When an unexplained boom sounded near one Baghdad voting station, some women put their hands to their mouths and whispered prayers. Others continued walking calmly to the voting stations. Several shouted in unison: “We have no fear.”

This is purely amazing. As Americans and those living in Democratic nations accross the globe, we take for granted the right to vote and also consider voting as our God-given right with very few who try to stop us. The will of the Iraqis seems to be very strong and a strong will is key to overcoming such odds.

A commenter passed along this link which is a transcript of Geraldo Rivera covering the election (no troop diagrams). I did not see it but after reading the transcript I wish I had seen the footage. This is history in the making folks.

Interested-Participant linked with Democracy In Iraq
bLogicus linked with Iraq Makes History, Elections Begin
The Political Teen linked with Iraqi Election Blogging
Hyscience linked with President launches Iraq election