Mother Kills Twin Boys and Daughter In Arkansas

DeQueen, Arkansas, January 28, 2006
The bodies of three children were found Saturday, lying side by side dead by DeQueen Police after receiving a phone tip from Father, who was working in New York. The alleged Father who was not identified stated his wife had called him and confessed of the killings.
Paula Eleazar Mendez, 43, collapsed when Police arrived, and was taken to a hospital where she was treated for ingesting a toxic substance.
Authorities claim notes that were found throughout the house may disclose a motive. The father was a construction worker in New York and Mrs. Mendez and the children moved to Arkansas to what they called a "safer place" stated, Rev. Salvador Marquez-Munoz, pastor of St. Barbara Catholic Church. The children were enrolled in catechism classes.
Rev Marquez-Munoz claimed, "They were active in the church. She never missed a Sunday," "They were just like any other children — bright and lively. I can't believe she could have done this."

Sources say that Lisa Greene, owner of the home on Candilera Drive in Midland, NC, was in the yard, when firefighters arrived after a neighbor called 911 shortly after 2AM early Tuesday Morning, January 10, 2006.

News 14 Carolina Mercer Merrill reported 1/10/2006 at 6:45 pm the following: Greene, 40, told authorities that her children, an 8-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, were inside the home. She said she was not able to get to them because she fell and injured her ankle in an attempt to find help. She also said she burned her hand trying to open the door. "The fire was between her and the location of where we found the children," said Bobby Smith, the Cabarrus County fire marshal. Smith said firefighters controlled the fire in less than a half hour, but they couldn't save the children. Green was treated at NorthEast Medical Center, but the extent of her injuries has not been released. The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, but investigators believe a candle might have ignited the blaze. The State Bureau of Investigation, the Sheriff's Office and the Fire Marshal's Office are looking into the matter.

Twins remembered at emotional service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Hundreds of people gathered at a south Charlotte church to attend a memorial service for Samantha and Tessara Crespi on Tuesday.

Police say the 5-year-old twin daughters were stabbed to death Friday by their 45-year-old father, David Crespi. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Few eyes remained dry in St. Matthew Catholic Church, especially when the girls’ mother, Kim, talked about her lovely and perfect life with “Sammy and Tessa.”

Few eyes remained dry at St. Matthew Catholic Church, where a memorial service was held for Samantha and Tessara Crespi.

“She turned towards the coffin and made reference to her children and said, ‘Our precious angels,’” said David Hains, a spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte. “She talked about forgiveness, and she talked about love and the good things that we always want to remember about people.” The girls were found dead in their Matthews home.

Police said their father called 911 and said he stabbed the children.

“He was an up-and-coming young accountant,” said Tom Sullivan, a family friend and a former co-worker of David Crespi’s. “He’s the last guy that you would ever imagine would do anything illegal, let alone harm his own family.”

David Crespi had a history of depression. At the funeral, his wife and a priest spoke of mental illness.

Police say the 5-year-old twin daughters were stabbed to death Friday by their father. “She described it as the sadness of mental illness and actions coming out of very dark impulses,” Hains said.

Tuesday’s service was full of praise, music and prayer. Twice, the audience broke out into applause -- once when Kim Crespi praised them for their support and once when the priest praised the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for the professional and caring way it handled the case.
The girls will be buried in California, where the family lived before moving to North Carolina in 2001.
David Crespi has a bond hearing scheduled for Feb. 6.

Accused Mother Appears In Court

The judge told a sobbing Lisa Louise Greene that a conviction could mean death or
life in prison without parole.

CONCORD, N.C. -- Lisa Louise Greene, the Midland woman accused of setting the fire that killed her two children last week, made her first court appearance Tuesday.

Greene, 40, is charged with two counts of murder and one count of arson. Police believe she set her house on fire with her son and daughter inside.
The judge told a sobbing Greene that a conviction could mean death or life in prison without parole. Family members and friends cried quietly in the crowd.

Lisa Louise Greene is in the process of getting a court-appointed attorney.
Addison Macemore, 8, and Daniel Macemore, 10, were found dead by firefighters on the morning of Jan. 10. Greene told first responders that she wasn’t able get to them and that she saw the fire only in their room, police said.


Investigators suspected that she wasn’t telling the truth when they found no evidence of burning or charring inside the children’s room, according to a search warrant. The fire appears to have originated outside the room.

They also said the fire could not have been as severe as Greene said it was, looking at the time-frame of the fire and the actual damage to the home.

Police believe Lisa Louise Greene set her house on fire with her son and daughter inside.
Greene is in the process of getting a court-appointed attorney. She remains behind bars with no chance of bail, and she is expected to appear in court Feb. 1 for a probable cause hearing.
The case has neighbors talking, even though the facts have not been clearly presented yet.

“Under no circumstances would I stand and watch my kids get burnt up,” said Randy Medlin, a Midland resident.

Medlin’s father, Howard, said, “If she hadn’t of wanted (the children), she should have gave them to somebody.”

Source: Mercer Merrill, News 14 Carolina

Conflicting Drug Reports On Crespi

On January 24, 2006 Charlotte News & Observer in an article titled "Accused father placed on suicide watch, Judge appoints attorney" included the following statement by Mecklenburg Assistant Public Defender Jean Lawson, Crespi's lawyer: "Lawson said she did not know what medication Crespi had been taking but said she would start looking into his medical history today. Police declined to say Monday what medications Crespi was on.

On January 21, 2006 an article was posted at 8:37am by WSOC-TV titled "Man Accused of Killing Twin 5-Year-Old Daughters Appears In Court" which included the following statement: The Crespi family has few, if any, answers in the slayings and they aren't alone. Sources familiar with the investigation say there's no indication Crespi's daughters did anything to provoke him to kill them. They also say his interviews with police have left no clear motive. Investigators said Crespi has been prescribed the medication Prozac to battle depression.

Crespi's father, Lauren, said David had been battling depression for five years and was undergoing treatment for it. Lauren Crespi also said his son suffered from insomnia and had started taking medication to help him sleep at night. He said his son never hinted he would do anything like this.

Could these conflicting reports, dated 3 days apart be the foreshadowing of an attempt to allow the controversial drug "Prozac" to slip into the crevice?

Sources:
Charlotte Observer: Melissa Manware and Gary L. Wright
WSOC-TV Channel 9 Eyewitness News

Prozac: Prescription for Murder

More details have surfaced concerning the accused twin-murderer, David L. Crespi. Sources claim that Crespi was taking Prozac, the controversial SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) which is produced by the drug company Eli Lilly.

Seritonin is a compound involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. Low levels of the compound, which is thought to influence mood, have been found in the brains of people who have committed suicide: some scientists believe that "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors" (SSRIs),of which Prozac is one, can alleviate depression by raising the serotonin level.
In clinical trials submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for registration, it's reported that Eli Lilley studied "Prozac" in less than 300 people and for only 4-6 weeks. One out of 7 of those 300 dropped out of the study due to the adverse side effects from the drug. In addition to those findings it has been reported in a recent evaluation that nearly 70% of people who use the drug, do not take it as described due to the undesirable side effects.

Peter Breggin, MD, author of "Talking Back to Prozac," states "These drugs rob people of their humanity-they lose their capacity for empathy. "A lot of what we are
seeing is individuals losing their feeling for the people in their lives. They stop caring about their husbands or wives or children. They stop caring about God." Though zombie-like numbness may initially be felt to be an improvement by someone with depression, it can hardly be considered healthy, or even desirable. It is this loss of empathy in my opinion, that allowed Kip Kinkel to kill both of his parents,
then spend the night in the same room before heading out to shoot his classmates in Oregon. It is precisely why Eric Harris could wander around shooting his classmates in Columbine High School, even kids he liked, and laugh about it. It's beyond my comprehension how any doctor could knowingly prescribe a drug that may generate
violence and numb the individual to its consequences!"

Prozac & Other SSRI Inspired Murders

• Annie Mae Haskew smothered her 10-week-old son in October of 2002. Before the murder she had been diagnosed with postpartum depression and had been taking antidepressants.

• Andrea Yates drowned her five children, aged 6 months to 7 years in the family bathtub on Nov. 22, 2004, while taking two antidepressants Effexor and Remeron, both had
been given at maximum dose.

• Dena Schlosser killed her 10-month-old infant daughter in November 2004 by severing her baby's arms. She had been diagnosed with postpartum depression, hospitalized and prescribed psychiatric "medication for depression" before the crime.

• Mary Ellen Moffitt suffocated her 5-week-old daughter and herself July 26, 2004. Before this she had been diagnosed with postpartum depression and had been taking the antidepressant Paxil.

• Emiri Padron smothered her baby daughter in her crib on June 22, 2004 and then stabbed herself twice in the chest. Emiri was receiving psychiatric treatment before the incident and investigators found the antidepressant Zoloft in the apartment where the crime took place.

• Mine Ener used a kitchen knife to cut the throat of her 6 -month-old daughter on Aug. 4, 2003, after being diagnosed with postpartum depression and taking "medication" for the condition. Thirteen-year-old Chris Fetters of Iowa killed her favorite
aunt. She was taking Prozac.

. Kip Kinkel, a 15-year-old youth, went on a rampage in Oregon. He first shot and killed his parents, spent the night with the bodies (characteristic of the dissociative reaction these drugs often cause), then killed two and wounded 22 of his fellow students at Thurston High
School. He was taking Prozac.

.Mark Barton, the Atlanta day trader who killed his family and then drove to work and killed nine more people before also turning the gun on himself, Tracy phoned his mother. It wasn't until six months later that Atlanta police reported that Prozac had been found in Barton's car

No Excuse, Crespi!

Have you ever been depressed? Most of us at some interval in our life have suffered at the hand of "The Dark Lady". Some may have lost a job, a spouse, perhaps you lost your savings in a market crunch, but really, depression is a commonplace ailment of the 21st Century and is hardly a motive or can be a justifiable alibi for murder.

There is a multitude of reasons that can trigger depression, and an equally abundant list of medications called "Anti-Depressants" that can be prescribed to treat this illness. Whether these prescribed treatments work, would be something that would have to be discussed with your physician. Based on studies, many of these so-called "DDD'S" (Designer Depression Drugs) are laced with side-effects, and it would be highly recommended to research any before you began any form of treatment, rather than become the proverbial "Medical Guinea Pig".

Based on information provided by relatives and friends, Crespi had suffered from depression for the past 5 years and was currently ""seeing some of the finest doctors in North Carolina". Kimberly K. Crespi, stated that he had recently been prescribed a new medication. According to Charlotte Observer, he had recently undergone treatment for Testicular Cancer, with claims that he had "beat it"!

He had two children, by his previous wife, Kimberly Ann Crespi who died from Brain Cancer in 1993.

In the January 21st, 911 call, Krespi admitted killing his children and threatened suicide. Police declined to say what they believe led to the slaying of 5-year-old Samantha and Tessara Crespi and would not release the 911 tape because it's part of the investigation.

Sources stated that the girls received multiple stab wounds and were found in separate rooms of the 4900 sq Ft, half a million dollar home. When authorities arrived, Crespi was waiting in the front yard. Sources said, he "surrendered without resistance".

Meanwhile, Mrs. Crespi, stepped out for about an hour to go the beauty salon for a haircut and was intercepted by authorities before returning, pulled into a neighbors house and told that her husband had murdered her daughters.


The three older Crespi children, ranging from ages 9-17, including two from the previous marriage to Kimberly Ann, were at school. Sources state that the two older children were adopted by Mrs. Crespi.

As a Mother of three, I don't know if I could have survived that moment, and my heart and deepest sympathy goes out to Mrs. Crespi and her children. My question to Mrs. Crespi is, why would you leave two 5-year old children alone with a man, who decided to stay home from work, who was currently being treated for depression and on a new medication? This was as sources stated, "Two Educated People"!

As for Mr. Crespi, so far in most of the reports from online sources, no motive has been mentioned. Irrespectively, given his status quo credentials, to include his involvement in the church, being an upstanding part of the illustrious "Deerfield Community", his membership of the "Sacramento State Dynasty, along with his prestigious position with Wachovia Bank, is an indication that "Money Talks" in this society.

From that viewpoint, if that same situation were reversed, to reflect an economically crippled family whose husband was suffering from depression, would the media go to such indepth retrospect into the blue-collar workers life?

Would the media for example, state that he attended Gaston College, worked full-time at a tire-changing company and in debt for his student loan? Would they mention that he had lost one wife to a debilitating disease, had been diagnosed himself with another disease...etc? Would they call his neighborhood "Down-scaled"? Already, the media is coloring this entire scenario of this "Boyscout-Father-Of-The-Year-Upper-Class Murderer" with subtle shades of "Insanity". After spending exorbitant amounts of money, he will more than likely end up in an upscaled treatment facility and be released in a few years to live in another upscale neighborhood, with perhaps another wife and new family.

David L. Crespi, brutally murdered his two precious 5 year old daughters, and the authorities found them in separate rooms of the house. Did he murder one child, inflecting multiple stab wounds and afterwards seek out the other child? Perhaps he stabbed one little girl, while the other child watched. Terrified, she started screaming and ran into the other room, trying to escape him. Perhaps, he ran after her and continued to brutally stab her to death.

Evidently, the evidence that the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police came upon that afternoon was so horrifying and diabolical that counselors were ordered for the officers that witnessed the aftermath.

What triggered this man to do such a thing? Were the children "misbehaving" while he was fixing lunch? Sources state it took place around 12:45 pm, and evidently, he had something in his hand that allowed him to stab them.

Again, we have an executive, who currently suffered from insomnia and had taken medication to help him sleep, had been introduced to a new anti-depressant, took a day off from work, and was left to manage two 5 year old children.

As a mother of three grown sons and two grandchildren ages 2 and 4, it's difficult for men who have relatively normal mental faculties to cope with the behaviorism's of that age group. Yet, Mrs. Crespi, giving her husbands depressed state, allowed the two children to be left with him, on what apparently may not have been a good day for him, to say the least.

Samantha and Tessara, acting as normal 5 year old children, perhaps playing in their "Winnie the Poo" decorated room as they normally did when Mommy was home, were just too much for "Depressed Crespi" on a day that he decided to stay home, perhaps Crespi felt that he couldn't even handle the challenges of his job on that particular day?

Did Mrs. Crespi suddenly "decide" to get her hair done that day, leaving a sick husband in charge?

Will this be the road that "Defense Attorney's" will travel with Crespi, given his predisposition to a history of depression? Could there have been a chemical reaction to the sleeping medication and the new Anti-Depressant Crespi was taking?
Again, he was under the care of some of the "Finest Doctors in North Carolina"!

In my opinion, to allow a parent to escape criminal punishment because they are "depressed" will be opening a door that we do not want to open! In my opinion, to allow Crespi to ride the "Psychotic Pony", will give way to more stressed out parents, that feel they are justified in taking out their agressions on their children. This is definately not a message we need to send, irregardless of social status.

In 2004, Over 50 percent of the N.C. children murdered, were killed by their parents or other caregivers and the marjority of those children were under 4 years of age.

Please, readers, if someone you know is suffering from depression, anxiety, and especially if they have had a history of taking anti-depressants, or undergoing treatment for depression or any other psychotic condition, please be cautious when giving them charge of your children.

If you are a Mother, Father, or Granparents that care for children, and have reached the point that you are not in control, if you have episodes of lack of self worth, un-controllable anger, and/or rage and feel that you could harm someone, including yourself and especially your children, Please, for God's sake, check into a hospital and get some help!

Source: Deborah Nuckles
Photos: News 6, Charlotte Observer

Wachovia Executive Charged With Double Homicide

David Crespi, has been charged for the slaying of his twin daughters at their family residence yesterday, and could receive the death penalty, sources say.

Crespi allegedly stabbed his 5 year old twin daughters yesterday around 12:45, called 911, confessed and threatened to kill himself. When police and Medic arrived, Crespi was waiting outside and surrendered himself to the police. Medic believed that one of the children had survived, but when removed from the house, the child had not. The Mother was away from the home at the time of the murders and was reached by authorities, preventing her from arriving on the scene. Crespi's other three children were at school.

Sources state that Crespi 45, holds the office of senior vice president and managing director of internal audit at Wachovia Bank and wife Kimberly is a CPA. The Crespi's, originally from Sacramento, California, both graduated from California State University, Sacramento. They attend St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, where Crespi served on the parish finance council.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Investigators remained at the home through the night gathering evidence of what is said to be one of the most emotionally charged cases the CMP has ever handled.

“I can’t describe to you how horrific and how sad this is,” Mecklenburg Police Captain Bridges said. “It’s horrible.”

Source: Deborah Nuckles
Photo: Mecklenburg County

White House To Withdraw Funding For Rebuilding Iraq

The US government is not planning to continue funding reconstruction projects in Iraq, in what appears to be a major climbdown from the White House's one-time pledge to build the best infrastructure in the region.

According to officials cited in yesterday's Washington Post, the Bush administration will not be adding construction funds to the $18.4bn (£10.7bn) it has allocated since the 2003 invasion.

Source: Andrew Gumbel, The Independant (Online Edition)

Breaking News: Father Confesses to Twin Daughter Homicide in South Charlotte

Earlier today, in an affluent neighborhood in Matthews, South of Charlotte, Five year old twins were stabbed to death by their father, David L. Crespi, in what authorities are calling a "Double Homicide", according to Mecklenburg Police Department and News 6. Crespi is the Senior Vice President in Wachovia Bank's Audit Division. The Mother, Kimberly was absent from the home at the time of the incident while the three older children were at school.

At around 12:45 pm today a 911 call was received from Crespi, confessing that he killed his daughters, and threatened to kill himself, reported Medic, Mecklenburg County Emergency Services. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police and Paramedics were dispatched and arrived on the scene at 11233 Creek Pointe Drive, Charlotte NC and found Crespi standing outside and the 5 year old twins inside, stabbed to death. Medic reported, upon arrival they believed one of the girls found inside was alive, but upon moving her outside, discovered she was not.

Updated reports state that the Mother and three older children are in seclusion, and Counselors are with the officers who arrived at the scene earlier.

Mecklenburg Police would not elaborate but stated that more information would be released concerning what was found in the home as the investigation progressed.

According to Mecklenburg County Real Estate Records, the owners of the 11233 Creek Pointe Drive address are David L and Kimberly Crespi.

Stay tuned to News 6 for further developments.
Source: Deborah
Photos: Airstar6 & Mecklenburg County Real Estate Lookup

France Delivers Nuclear Threat

Jacques Chirac, France’s president, has threatened to use nuclear weapons against any state that supported terrorism against his country or considered using weapons of mass destruction.

In a high-profile speech on Thursday to update military officers on France’s strategic doctrine, Mr Chirac said the end of the cold war had removed neither the threats to peace nor the justification for a nuclear deterrent.

Citing the dangers of regional instability, growing extremism and the proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Mr Chirac said France’s nuclear deterrence remained the fundamental guarantee of its security.

Although Mr Chirac conceded that the country’s nuclear arsenal could not deter fanatical terrorists, he said it could help prevent states sponsoring those terrorists.

“The leaders of states who use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would consider using, in one way or another, weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and adapted response on our part,” he said. “This response could be a conventional one. It could also be of a different kind.”

Mr Chirac’s comments come in the midst of deteriorating European and American relations with Iran, which last week indicated it would restart research into a nuclear programme. Analysts said Mr Chirac’s comments could directly affect the ability to negotiate a settlement with an increasingly belligerent Tehran.

“It expands the role of nuclear weapons and it makes it more difficult to argue against an Iranian nuclear weapons programme,” said John Wolfsthal, a nuclear arms expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “It reaffirms the discriminatory nature of the current system.” Opposition politicians in France denounced Mr Chirac’s comments as irresponsible.

France, which acquired an autonomous nuclear deterrent in 1964, spends almost €3bn ($3.6bn, £2bn) a year, or just under 10 per cent of its defence budget, to maintain its nuclear deterrent, including about 350 warheads. However, some politicians have questioned its relevance and complained about its cost in a post-cold war world.

François Heisbourg, director of the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research, said Mr Chirac was signalling that France’s nuclear weapons were now aimed at political rather than demographic targets, the objective being to deter the command and control capacity of rogue states rather than to threaten to annihilate cities in the old Soviet bloc.

“This is a significant shift of emphasis that is made possible by the enhanced accuracy of nuclear weapons,” he said. “It also pulls together the nuclear deterrent with the issue of state-sponsored terrorism. That is a departure from the traditional French stance, which has been to emphasise the general nature of its vital interests.”

However, Mr Heisbourg said the new doctrine could raise a potential credibility problem – what yardstick would be used to measure a response to a terrorist attack? He said the president’s speech could also influence the international debate surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme. “It is rather difficult to persuade someone to renounce the acquisition of nuclear weapons when you are explaining how wonderful they can be,” he said.

Mr Chirac said France’s nuclear deterrent also formed a “core element in the security of the European continent” as the 25 members of the European Union developed a common security and defence policy.

His warning that nuclear weapons could be used against terrorist states puts him more in line with the US’s new controversial nuclear posture, unveiled in 2002, which also cites nuclear arms as a credible deterrent to rogue states armed with non-conventional weapons.

Source: John Thornhill in Paris and Peter Spiegel in London
Published: January 19 2006 12:34

Iran Leader Meets With Syria

In its nuclear standoff with the West, Tehran has the world over a barrel, ironically, 2.5 million barrels, that being Iran's daily total of oil exports.

Taking into consideration the above figures, sanctions against the Islamic Republic could be as expensive for the rest of the world, around ($80+ for oil) as it would undoubtedly be for the Iranians. Along with that, consideration must be given to the added problems of keeping industry going, as well as keeping millions of people warm during the bitter cold months of winter. And all of this is even before considering the fundamental question of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Russia is now under a deep freeze, with temperatures at 31 below, consistently and project this severe 31 below freeze pattern to continue several more days, and spread to the west. as to date, 70 people have died from the cold.

Iran's intentions are far from being trusted by the United States and European Community, especially since the President of Iran spoke publicly of "Wiping Israel off the face of the earth", as well as boasting of their cooperation on inspections, all the while a small research facility was "bulldozed" before the inspectors arrived. Does this sound like acts of "trusworthiness"?

Yet, the Axis of Evil's argument on "Credibility" turn the tables toward Israel...

"How can we believe, that the West, and particularly the United States, harbors only peaceful intentions toward the region when its closest ally, Israel, is armed to the teeth with nuclear weaponry and no one acknowledges its existence let alone insists on inspection of its facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency,"?
In this context, the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Damascus is interesting less for the expected rhetoric of support he will receive from an ally of 25 years than from the underlying background that is another item never spoken of.
Source:_____Iran Daily

In the Iran-Syria-South Lebanon military axis, the weaponry pointed at Israel from close to its borders may not be nuclear but their claim is that its big enough and nasty enough to have a devastating effect. Effectively it neutralizes Israel's nuclear might.

Suggestive of "Put your rock down first" mentality, they suggest that the first step toward emerging from this nuclear catch-22 is for Israel to publicly acknowledge it's arsenal of "nuclear weaponry, and follow the guidelines and rules as any other nuclear power.....a "What's good for the goose, is good for the gander" scenario.

The next is to begin to remove the biggest single source of aggression in the area by creating a Palestinian state. And the last is to accept that even in a balance of terror, nuclear weapons are locally irrelevant. Wiping out Damascus with a nuclear blast or destroying life in Tel Aviv with chemical or biological weapons is a lose-lose draw.

Acceptance of the reality on the ground might hopefully lead one day to the declaration of the oil-rich Middle East as a nuclear-free zone.

Anti-terrorism official says WMD attack inevitable

LONDON (Reuters) - A terrorist attack using weapons of mass destruction in a Western country is inevitable, a senior U.S. anti-terrorism official said in an interview published on Tuesday.

Speaking to Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, Henry Crumpton, the U.S. State Department coordinator for counter-terrorism, said he feared the threat from biological weapons was rising.

"I rate the probability of terror groups using WMD as very high," he was quoted as saying. "It is simply a question of time.

"It is not just the nuclear threat that bothers me. I think, if anything, the biological threat is going to grow."

He said a biological attack would pose far greater problems than an explosion containing radioactive material.

"As catastrophic as a nuclear attack would be, it would be self-contained," Crumpton told the newspaper. "But if you look at a worst-case scenario for a biological attack, it would be difficult to determine whether or not it was a terrorist attack, and it would be far more difficult to contain."

He said that after the war in Afghanistan, the United States had found evidence of an al Qaeda plot to develop anthrax for use against the West.

He added that U.S. forces and their allies had disrupted al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden since the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

"They can't communicate with their supporters unless the odd courier breaks through. They can't get access to money and things like that. We have made life very difficult for them."

But he said the U.S. campaign against al Qaeda was unfinished and bin Laden was "in all probability" still alive.

Source : Reuters

IRAN: A GRAVE SITUATION

Iran, the Nuclear-Armed Sleeping Monster, ignored by the Bush regime since they entered the Oval Office has finally gotten everyone's attention, spewing virulent, putrid anti-semitism to the world, while refusing to halt Nuclear activities, alleging their goal is not to create nuclear weaponry, only Energy. How much energy does a Nuclear Bomb produce?

While all efforts have been focused toward the Iraqi Conflict and the "alleged" Weapons of Mass Destruction hidden by Saddam Hussein, Iran has been quite busy, focusing on the eradication of the state of Israel, and their displacement to the "West".

As a result of Bush's single-mindedness, we are now facing a "Grave Situation", if sanctions do not work. Ironically, Russia and China, who have close economic ties with Iran, would be the necessary middleman to assist with this volatile situation, but whether or not they will remains unseen? Russia's President, Vladimir Putin has stated that he does not believe Iran is building a Nuclear Weapon.

Sanctions could be vetoed by Russia and China, which would force the United States to enter into an International Agreement to impose sanctions without the support of the Security Council.

Sen. Trent Lott, R-Mississippi stated that the Bush Adminstration had been working with European countries to try and get Iran to "act reasonable". "It is a serious problem, probably right now, the most serious problem in the world".

To stress the severity of this situation, is to consider the prior statement and the close proximity of Iran to Israel. To add to this severity, we must also consider neighboring Syria, as well.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently visited Syria, in the heat of the Nuclear Controversy, meeting with Syrian leaders of the Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Syria. During this meeting Ahmadinejad expressed his support a day after 20 people were wounded in Tel Aviv in a suicide attack claimed by Jihad.

"Iran-Syria relations are deep, extensive and sustainable in all fields so that we feel no distance between the two nations. Common threats to Iran and Syria require joint cooperation from the two countries more than ever", he said.

"Cooperation between Iran and Syria would be effective in the region and entire Muslim World and there is no limitation in this respect," Ahmadinejad said.

The Iranian president said "Iran sees Syrian problems as its own and the Syrian brethren have the same belief."

"Iran-Syria relations are very important so that the enemies do what they can to damage them," he said adding that expansion of relations and planning to that effect would save the region and Muslim World from any aggression.

Senator Diane Feinstein, A California Democrat, stated "Iran has much more opportunity to create devastation in the Middle East than Iraq at this time, I think it's a very serious threat."

Sentaor Feinstein further stated, "This new president of Iran is very difficult to predict. He clearly holds very radical and fanatic views with -- certainly with respect to Israel," she said. "I don't think it's a stretch to say that, if the Iranians had a nuclear missile, that this president might well use it against Israel." She called the issue "the major test of the international community."

BushGate Part 2

This country was founded by great men such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, to name a few. These men believed in the principles "of the people, for the people and by the people."

They believed in our inalienable rights, our liberties, and above all our freedom. They fought for our freedom, the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press. Since 1776, we have been a free nation, without the restrictions that are imposed on third world nations, yet it is evident that George W. Bush's regime would like to change that and has done so with this covert act upon American's.

"God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: 'This is my country.'" ___Benjamin Franklin, letter to David Hartley, December 4, 1789 US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

Something is terribly wrong when American citizens have lost their rights to privacy without due process. It's obvious that Bush has either had a momentary lapse of sanity or he has a total disregard for the rights of his people, the rights that he swore by an oath to defend.

His callous reference to the Constitution as a "Piece of Paper", in a quote referenced below, emphasizes that he believes himself to be above the law and a Dictator instead of a President. It's beginning to appear that Bush wasn't kidding when he said,
"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." Transcript

The president is not above the law. The greatest danger to our freedom always comes when we are scared or distracted, and right now, we are both. My grandchildren are at risk, your children are at risk, this affects them as well as you and I. We are talking about "Their" future, "Their" rights to privacy, as well as our own.

Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its Faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well administered; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a Course of Years, and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other.______Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's Final Speech In the Constitutional Convention (available here) US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

"I don't give a goddamn," Bush retorted. "I'm the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way." "Mr. President," one aide in the meeting said. "There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution." "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face," Bush screamed back. "It's just a goddamned piece of paper!"_____Quote from "Bush on the Constitution: 'It's just a goddamned piece of paper', By Doug Thompson, Founder of Capitol Hill Blue Read Article

For Bush Fans that think he is oblivious to profanity Visit Bush's Profanity Link

BushGate

The Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee is not taking Bush's secret domestic eavesdropping lightly and has stated that there wouldn't be a "blank check" for the President on this matter. Senator Arlen Spector-Pennsylvania, stated that in theory, Bush could face impeachment charges, but did not endorse that approach and had not heard any serious talks about it. "We're going to explore it in depth" Spector said on ABC's Television, "This Week With with George Stephanopoulos. It's not over yet, as Democrats as well as Republicans are outraged at his warrantless, covert domestic spying.

An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles, but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among general bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others. _______ Thomas Jefferson

Hearings have been scheduled by the Judiciary Committee on the issue and U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has said he will testify on the administration's legal justification. The operation includes eavesdropping on U.S. phone calls and reading e-mails. The hearings are expected next month, but with a "Republican" Congress and Gonzales giving Bush his full support, an impeachment is doubtful?

"Experience has already shown that the impeachment the Constitution has provided is not even a scarecrow."
Thomas Jefferson

The National Security Agency, AKA as the N.S.A, is an organization so secretive that in Washington its initials are said to stand for “No Such Agency.” The NSA has been called on and ordered to wiretap and eavesdrop on thousands of American citizens without a court order. In lieu of this, Bush committed actions specifically forbidden by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The FISA, passed in 1978 after the Senate’s Church Committee documented in detail the Nixon administration’s widespread use of U.S. intelligence agencies to spy on the anti-Vietnam war movement and other political dissidents. FISA stepped in and made it a crime for government officials, 'under color of law', to engage in electronic eavesdropping 'other than pursuant to statute.’

"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add "within the limits of the law" because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." ___ Thomas Jefferson, letter to Isaac H. Tiffany (1819)

The irony of this matter is that it would be very simple for Bush to obtain a warrant to do what he is doing illegally?

There is much doubt that this strategy will work, mainly because Bush has cried "Wolf" so many times in the name of "Security", "911", "Terrorism", his credibility is practically non-existent. Next we will hear that the "DAR (Daughters of American Revolution) are under suspicion buy the State Department. So you see, although Bush and his mainliners may be acting on the predisposition that these measures are essential for our Nation's security, this is breaching the trust and respect from the very people he claims to be trying to protect.

"Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority
possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression."____Thomas Jefferson



Our Forefathers, laid the groundwork, the foundation for our Country to enjoy a free, prosperous, god-fearing nation that would be insurmountable toward any enemy that would touch our soil and try to cause such upheavals such as those witnessed on September 11, 2001.

America, once called the "Melting Pot" of the world, has since become a putrid "Cesspool" resulting from misfits, counter-culture creatures, Heathens, Infidels and above all "Terrorists" who pour in to the "Land of the Free", reaping benefits that even some of our Nation's born and bred citizens are not even able to receive. These same immigrants, who denigrate our "Capitalist" life-style, come into this country, some receiving a welfare check before they ever receive a Social Security Number. Welfare has been the downfall of our economy, it's weakest link!

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."_____Thomas Jefferson

Others come into this country with the goal only to take from the American and return to their own country. These Pseudo-Capitalists automatically receive Visa's, Mastercards, with huge limits, run Hotels, 7-11 stores, and enjoy the benefits of our "Economic Disneyworld", while instead of putting the revenue back into the system, send it to their "Mother Country". And...all the while people are asking "Why is our economy suffering"?

Still more come into this country with great wealth, such as Bin Lauden, taking up resident, enjoying our educational resources, and befriending those such as Rockefeller, our government, who perhaps unconsciously, but in reality, paved the road with immeasurable ease, for him to seek and destroy, which he did with what our agencies state "Expertise".

I, like most every citizen of this country will never forget that moment in history, that particular day, when this nation fell to it's knees...and believe me, as a veteran, that is something that I still, cannot relate to. MY COUNTRY, the country that I swore to defend with my life, the country that I have pledged allegiance to, the country that my parents earned a living in and brought me up with the principles I have today, and last but not least, the country in which I raised my sons in, teaching them those principles, encouraging them to enjoy Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness which in the past has been available to all Americans.

As a veteran of this country, a Mother and ultimately a Grandmother, I really have a problem understanding "WHY" was this allowed to happen to this great nation?
Continued......

Source: Debbi

Commentary by Debbi

Bush's ordering surveillance of Americans without obtaining warrants, and the boundaries of executive power will undoubtedly be one of the principal issues during the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.

The U.S. Constitution was written after a war of independence from what the colonists believed was a despotic king. The document was designed to strictly limit federal power, vis-à-vis the powers of the states and the people. Within the constricted federal realm, the framers intended to make the decentralized Congress the dominant branch and gave that body many more enumerated powers than the president or the judiciary. It is no coincidence that the article of the Constitution setting forth the powers of the legislative branch is listed first and is by far longer than Article II, which lists the responsibilities of the executive branch, and Article III, which covers the judiciary.

"In this job you've got a lot on your plate on a regular basis; you don't have much time to sit around and wander, lonely, in the Oval Office, kind of asking different portraits, 'How do you think my standing will be?'" —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 16, 2005

In particular, the founders feared the power of a potent executive to impose wars upon the American people in which they would bear the brunt of the costs in blood and treasure—much as the autocratic European monarchs of the day inflicted such costs on their subjects. Thus, the framers, contrary to conventional wisdom, gave most of the war powers to Congress. The legislature has the power to declare war, raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy, regulate the land and naval forces, make the rules for captures on land and water, and provide for organizing, arming, disciplining, and calling forth the militia in times of insurrection and invasion. In contrast, the president has only the power of commander-in-chief of the army, navy, and militia when called into service by the federal government.

I'll wager our Founding Fathers are all doing flip-flops in their graves!

IRAN SANCTIONS WILL CAUSE HIGHER GAS PRICES

Rapidly deteriorating relations between the West and Iran, Opec's second biggest oil producer and the world's fourth-largest exporter, could see energy prices hit record highs in coming weeks.

Experts warn that the growing tension over Iraq's nuclear programme, and the possible withdrawal of Iranian oil from the market if sanctions are imposed, has put a new floor under oil prices at above $60 a barrel.

"If Iran stopped exporting it would be a major shock for world markets," said Manouchehr Takin, an analyst at the London-based Centre for Global Energy Studies, suggesting that even oil at $100 a barrel might be possible.

"Supply and demand are very tightly balanced, and the world doesn't have the spare production capacity." Iran, which holds 10 percent of the world's oil reserves, produces around four million barrels a day (b/d) and exports 2.4 million-2.6 million b/d, mainly to customers in Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Europe.