Duke University President Brodhead Apologizes
September 29, 2007
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A day late and a dollar short. After what the persecuted players and families went through, I’d tell this guy to take a hike. How about all of those fair-minded professors that signed their letter of indictment? Where is their apology?
LibNOT.com continues to be disgusted!
Duke Apologizes to Lacrosse Players found at Breitbart.com
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Duke University President Richard Brodhead apologized Saturday for not better supporting the men’s lacrosse team and their families after three players were falsely accused in last year’s highly publicized rape scandal.
Brodhead, speaking at the university’s law school, said he regretted Duke’s “failure to reach out” in a “time of extraordinary peril” after a woman accused three players of raping her at a March 2006 party thrown by the team.
“Given the complexities of this case, getting the communication right would never have been easy,” Brodhead said. “But the fact is that we did not get it right, causing the families to feel abandoned when they were most in need of support. This was a mistake. I take responsibility for it and I apologize for it.”
Brodhead spoke at a school-sponsored forum on legal and ethical issues common to high-profile cases, and he received a standing ovation following his speech. He left afterward and school officials said he would not be available for further comment.
As authorities began to investigate the allegations, Brodhead and the university initially suspended the highly ranked team from play. He later canceled the remainder of its season and ousted longtime coach Mike Pressler. Meanwhile, Durham County prosecutor Mike Nifong labeled the team “hooligans” as he searched for suspects.
But even as Nifong won indictments against players Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans, it became clear the allegations had no merit.
State prosecutors determined in April the accuser’s story was a lie, and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper called the three players innocent victims of Nifong’s “tragic rush to accuse.”
Nifong was disbarred in June for more than two dozen violations of the state bar’s rules of professional conduct, including withholding results of critical DNA tests, and resigned from office. He spent one night in jail earlier this month after a judge held him in criminal contempt of court for lying to a court about having provided those test results to defense attorneys.
In the early days of the case, Brodhead was generally cautious in his comments, saying the players should be presumed innocent while also insisting the crimes alleged had no place at the elite private university.
Brodhead said Saturday he worried that making numerous public comments could be interpreted as an attempt by Duke to “influence the judicial process,” especially since Nifong was insisting a crime had occurred.
That may have created an impression that Duke did not care about the accused students, Brodhead said, which he said was untrue but still something he regrets.
“Duke needed to be clear that it demanded fair treatment for its students,” he said. “I took that completely for granted. If anyone doubted it, then I should have been more explicit, especially as the evidence mounted that the prosecutor was not acting in accordance with the standards of his profession.”
Brodhead also said the school could have done more to show that some members of Duke’s faculty who were openly critical of the lacrosse team did not speak for the university as a whole.
Duke has reached private settlements with Pressler, now the coach at Division II Bryant in Rhode Island, as well as the three cleared players and a teammate who was not indicted but accused a professor of giving him a failing grade because he was a lacrosse player.
Brodhead said the university is planning a national conference of lawyers, educators and student affairs leaders to discuss how schools should deal with students facing serious criminal charges.
Popularity: 30% [?]
IRAQ: Cent Com - Senior al-Qaeda in Iraq Member Killed
September 29, 2007
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US and Iraqi forces continue adding success after success as the surge in Iraq continues. The subject of the first news story from Central Command, Abu Usama al-Tunisi is an important get and a major figure in the al-Qaeda in Iraq hierarchy. Congratulations to those units involved in this operation.
LibNOT.com reminds it’s readers that we will always bring the news from Iraq and Afghanistan as it is released.
COALITION FORCES KILL LIKELY SUCCESSOR TO ABU AYYUB AL-MASRI
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces positively identified a foreign terrorist killed in an operation Tuesday in Musayyib as a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq member.
Abu Usama al-Tunisi was in the inner leadership circle of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq and was a likely successor to him. Al-Tunisi was the military emir of Baghdad’s southern belt and took over the role of emir of foreign terrorists when al-Masri became the overall leader.
Al-Tunisi facilitated foreign terrorists and helped equip them for improvised explosive device attacks, car-bombing campaigns and suicide attacks throughout Baghdad. Foreign terrorists conduct most of the high profile attacks in Iraq. Over 80 percent of the suicide attacks are conducted by foreign terrorists.
During an operation Sept. 25, Coalition forces targeted al-Tunisi and other al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders. Credible intelligence from several previous operations led Coalition forces to the location of a known al-Qaeda in Iraq meeting and supporting aircraft attacked the time sensitive target. Al-Tunisi and two other terrorists were killed during the attack.
Reports indicate that al-Tunisi was involved in the planning and operation of numerous attacks on Coalition forces and is believed to have operated in Yusufiyah since the second battle of Fallujah in November 2004.
Al-Tunisi, like the other top leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq, was not Iraqi. He was Tunisian and had been in Iraq since at least 2004.
“This is one more al-Qaeda in Iraq criminal who will never kill another innocent civilian,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “We will relentlessly pursue all terrorist leaders who threaten Iraqi citizens, their elected government, and Iraqi and Coalition forces.”
More news stories in the links below:
POLAR BEARS DISCOVER 9-11 PROPAGANDA IN IRAQI HOME
U.S. AIR FORCE F-16 AIR STRIKE KILLS 3 TERRORIST LEADERS
THREE BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT STAFF DETAINED
DOUBLE SUICIDE ATTACK AVERTED BY ANSF
CITIZENS LEAD 3RD ID SOLDIERS TO WEAPONS CACHE
NINE LOCAL NATIONALS KILLED, INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
Popularity: 59% [?]
Colorado Students Walk Out During Pledge, Recite Own Version
September 28, 2007
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The Pledge of Allegiance: “ALMOST RELIGIOUS OPPRESSION”
FoxNews.com is reporting that 50 students walked out of class because of the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, choosing instead to recite their own version. One female student said, “We didn’t think it was fair for the whole school to have to listen to it. It’s almost religious oppression,”
Principal Bud Jenkins told the Camera newspaper on its Web site Thursday the pledge will not be moved, but added he was proud of the students for standing up for their beliefs.
Now that’s what we call a disciplined atmosphere. Maybe we should see if Ward Churchill is available?
The entire article is available here.
Popularity: 43% [?]
Syrian Air Defense Systems Failure: Syria and Iran Scared to Death?
September 28, 2007
Syria and Iran have spent billions of dollars on “state of the art” Russian anti-aircraft systems in order to protect their borders from IAF aircraft….read: protect their respective nuclear weapons programs. When the IAF over-flew Syria to within 50 miles of the Iraq border on 6 September to destroy their selected targets - the Russian anti-aircraft systems failed miserably. No IAF planes were even close to being shot down, the targets were destroyed and the governments in Syria and Iran now realize just how vulnerable they are to IAF and USAF strategic bombings.
LibNOT.com will bet you there’s a lot of squealing going on in Damascus and Tehran.
Another terrific article posted in The Opinion Journal and authored by Bret Stephens, breaks down the available news, conjecture, rumors and facts concerning the 6 September air strike. Interesting reading.
The Strategy Page puts all of the above into a crystal clear perspective.
AIR DEFENSE: Fear and Loathing in Iran
September 28, 2007: Information coming out of Iran indicates that the military there is very dismayed at how ineffective new Russian anti-aircraft systems were during the Israeli September 6th air strike on a Syrian weapons development facility near the Iraqi border. Syria and Iran have both bought billions do dollars worth of the latest Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. Apparently the Israelis were able to blind these systems electronically. Syria isn’t saying anything, nor are the Israelis. But Iranian officers are complaining openly that they have been had by the Russians. The Iranians bought Russian equipment based on assurances that the gear would detect and shoot down Israeli warplanes.
Over the Summer Russia delivered the first dozen or so (of 50) Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft systems to Syria. It is believed that some of these systems are going to Iran, if only because Iran is apparently paying for them. Russia made the sale to Syria, despite $13.4 billion still owned for past purchases. Russia forgave most (73 percent) of the old debt, and is taking some of the balance in goods. In return, Syria is able to buy $400 million worth of anti-aircraft systems, mainly the self-propelled Pantsir-S1. This is a mobile system, each vehicle carries radar, two 30mm cannon and twelve Tunguska missiles. The missiles have a twenty kilometer range, the radar a 30 kilometer range. The missile can hit targets at up to 26,000 feet. The 30mm cannon is effective up to 10,000 feet. The vehicle carrying all this weighs 20 tons and has a crew of three.
By selling to Syria, even via the use of an enormous discount, Russia gets another foreign customer for their new anti-aircraft systems. Previously, fifty of these systems had been sold to the United Arab Emirates. Each foreign sales make it easier to sell these systems to other foreign customers. But the poor performance in Syria makes it much more difficult to sell any Russian air defense systems (which have a spotty track record in any event.)
As a practical matter, Syria is too poor to ever pay back the forgiven debt, so forgiving the debt recognizes that reality. However, because Syria has been a client state of Iran for decades, the assertions that Iran put up the money, and will get many of the systems, carry a lot of weight. Iran would most likely use these systems to protect high value targets, like nuclear weapons research facilities. However, if anyone should get photos of these systems in Iran, there would be quite an uproar.
The Iranians fear an Israeli air strike against their nuclear weapons development facilities. It was thought the new Russian missiles and radars would persuade the Israelis to stay away. But now the raid on Syria looks like a dress rehearsal for one a little further east. Since Iranian leaders have openly called for the destruction of Israel, one can’t deny the Israelis a little self-defense. Thus the cries and whispers in Iranian military headquarters. A lot of this is leaking on to Farsi language email and message boards. There is much angst and unhappiness.
Popularity: 55% [?]
Shun Our Brave Warrior’s Deeds – While The Media Endorses The Negative
September 27, 2007
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VALOR BLIND by Cox & Forkum.
The Main Stream Media really, really, really loves our troops….just like the liberals really, really do. Yeah………..sure.
This fabulous political cartoon says so much.
Popularity: 22% [?]
Video: Democrats change their tune on Iraq troop withdrawal
September 27, 2007
At last night’s debate, not only did Hillary say she didn’t know when the troops would come home, but, Obama and Edwards followed suit. PHONIES! These democrats are all phonies. They’ve been whining since ‘04 about bringing the troops home and now all 3 major Democratic Presidential candidates are all saying that they don’t know when they could bring them home! Give me a break!
They have no plan, they have no idea, and they have no chance!
Video below:
Popularity: 19% [?]
Hilarious Is Not Good Enough to Describe This, But Side-Splitting Is!
September 27, 2007
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I found this recording of an eyewitness to a minor auto accident in an old email. The caller was describing what happened while leaving a message from his cell phone. You may have to listen more than once to hear all the words through the laughter.
Please click HERE and enjoy.
Popularity: 20% [?]
HEALTH: Consuming large amounts of caffeine while taking acetaminophen could cause liver damage.
September 27, 2007
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NewsMax.com Health has done another terrific service to the public with this important Health Story. All of you out there that take a couple of Tylenol/acetaminophen pain killers after a night out with the boys, or girls, and also those of you that are heavy coffee/cola consumers should read this article…you won’t regret it. LibNOT.com is pleased to bring our readers valuable information that may save lives, or at the very least a trip to hospital.
Did you know that acetaminophen overdose is one of the most common poisonings worldwide?
Mixing Tylenol with Caffeine May Increase Liver Risk
Consuming large amounts of caffeine while taking acetaminophen, one of the most widely used painkillers in the United States, could potentially cause liver damage, according to a preliminary laboratory study reported in the Oct. 15 print issue of ACS’ Chemical Research in Toxicology, a monthly journal. The toxic interaction could occur not only from drinking caffeinated beverages while taking the painkiller but also from using large amounts of medications that intentionally combine caffeine and acetaminophen for the treatment of migraine headaches, menstrual discomfort and other conditions, the researchers say.
Health experts have warned for years that consuming excess alcohol while taking acetaminophen can trigger toxic interactions and cause liver damage and even death. However, this is the first time scientists have reported a potentially harmful interaction while taking the painkiller with caffeine, the researchers say.
While the studies are preliminary findings conducted in bacteria and laboratory animals, they suggest that consumers may want to limit caffeine intake — including energy drinks and strong coffee — while taking acetaminophen.
Chemist Sid Nelson, Ph.D., and colleagues, of the University of Washington in Seattle, tested the effects of acetaminophen and caffeine on E. coli bacteria genetically engineered to express a key human enzyme in the liver that detoxifies many prescription and nonprescription drugs. The researchers found that caffeine triples the amount of a toxic byproduct, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), that the enzyme produces while breaking down acetaminophen. This same toxin is responsible for liver damage and failure in toxic alcohol-acetaminophen interactions, they say.
In previous studies, the same researchers showed that high doses of caffeine can increase the severity of liver damage in rats with acetaminophen-induced liver damage, thus supporting the current finding.
“People should be informed about this potentially harmful interaction,” Nelson says. “The bottom line is that you don’t have to stop taking acetaminophen or stop taking caffeine products, but you do need to monitor your intake more carefully when taking them together, especially if you drink alcohol.”
Nelson points out that the bacteria used in the study were exposed to ‘megadoses’ of both acetaminophen and caffeine, much higher than most individuals would normally consume on a daily basis. Most people would similarly need to consume unusually high levels of these compounds together to have a dangerous effect, but the toxic threshold has not yet been determined, he says.
Certain groups may be more vulnerable to the potentially toxic interaction than others, Nelson says. This includes people who take certain anti-epileptic medications, including carbamazepine and phenobarbital, and those who take St. John’s Wort, a popular herbal supplement. These products have been shown to boost levels of the enzyme that produces the toxic liver metabolite NAPQI, an effect that will likely be heightened when taking both acetaminophen and caffeine together, he says.
Likewise, people who drink a lot of alcohol may be at increased risk for the toxic interaction, Nelson says. That’s because alcohol can trigger the production of yet another liver enzyme that produces the liver toxin NAPQI. The risks are also higher for those who take large amounts of medications that combine both acetaminophen and caffeine, which are often used together as a remedy for migraine headaches, arthritis and other conditions.
The researchers are currently studying the mechanism by which this toxic interaction occurs and are considering human studies in the future, they say. The National Institutes of Health funded the initial animal and bacterial studies.
Popularity: 32% [?]
Media Matters smears Conservatives - not Liberals?
September 27, 2007
The “watchdog” group (sarcasm), Media Matters smears Conservative commentators all of the time, but not liberal commentators. I wonder why? Well, it’s because Media Matters runs a far left smear campaign against anyone who doesn’t agree with their politics. This sounds just like moveon.org’s tactics as well.
As Tammy Bruce says in the following interview:
“a gestapo has emerged in America”
The crazy smear campaigns that some of these far left groups are creating is becoming a serious problem. However, like Tammy says in the interview, this does pull back the curtain on these people.
Watch the interview and comment below from FoxNews Channel and recorded by libNOT.com:
Popularity: 21% [?]
VIDEO: US COAST GUARD IN ACTION
September 27, 2007
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Coast Guard Top 10 Rescues
U S Coast Guard VIDEO:
Since 1790, The Coast Guard has rescued thousands of mariners in distress. This is the Top Ten Rescue videos of all-time. These videos were rated both on the significance of each particular case, as well as the dramatic footage of the rescues.
LibNOT.com, as always is proud to bring our readers information about our military at work.
Popularity: 24% [?]
