bustardblog

Beirut

  Hezbollah's promised demonstrations in Beirut, designed to bring down a government that they consider Bush's puppet, has begun in Beirut.

So far I've seen one report saying that tens of thousands of protesters are already there.

Al-Jazzerah reported on the hopes that the demonstration will be peaceful, and quoted the President as saying that "The resistance (Hezbollah) is not going to shoot Lebanese people, and there will not be a civil war."

Der Spiegel's most recent reports indicates that the number of demonstrators is in the "hundreds of thousands." (It is their photo I reprinted above.

Credit for the  increased power of Hezbollah should probably be divided equally between Israel, Iran, America, and Syria - even though only two of the four hoped for the result achieved. Mazel Tov Mme Rice, Mr Bush, and Mr Olmert!

UPDATE:
Loyal commenter Rick admires how talented the Arab world is in orchestrating such huge demonstrations.  Perhaps he forgets the motivation that the people of Lebanon recently received. Since the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, 17 people have died, and 135 have been wounded by the explosion of cluster bombs left by Israel. Although Israel promised to provide maps to help the Lebanese find them, they have yet to do so. To add insult to injury, the vast majority of the approximately 60,000 cluster bombs were deployed as the cease fire began. ( NY Times )

Anti-Malkin March

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Union Square May 1, 2006, 2:30 P.M.
Pro-Immigration Rally

Basket Gone; Now: A Flag

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Union Square May 1, 2006
Pro-Immigration Rally
(All right - the flag is Puerto Rican)

Shame.

Not surprisingly, Right Wing Blogs  have been doing what they do best in response to the recent protests about propsed immigration law: they're spreading hate.

One blogger , referring to an immigrant from Latin America, writes how "he'll demand health care...,[and] become one-fifth of your prison population."

Another who attacks Ted Kennedy for his college record, and for Chappaquiddick, refers to the immigrants as "wet backs."

One more, recommended  by Michelle Malkin, argues that "another option is to simply give them parts of the U.S. that we really don't want anymore, like New Orleans or Detroit. Then wall off those areas and be done with it."

Michelle recommends lots of  other mongerers of hate, and posts picture of protests she says the Main Stream Media will not publish.

In that same spirit, I would like to list some names that Michelle will never publish:

Cpl. Roberto Abad 22 Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Los Angeles,California

Cmdr. Joseph Acevedo, 46, Assigned to Commander, Logistics Force, Navy Central Command, Bronx,New York

Sgt. 1st Class Ramon A. Acevedoaponte 51 Headquarters Company, 3rd Forward Support Battalion, Division Support Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Watertown. New York,

Spc. Genaro Acosta, 26, Battery, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division,Fair Oaks, California

Pfc. Steven Acosta, 19, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Calexico,California

Cpl. Andres Aguilar Jr., 21, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Victoria, Texas

Capt. Paul C. Alaniz, 32, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Corpus Christi, Texas

Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, 22, Company B, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force,San  Bernardino,California

Spc. Yoe M. Aneiros, 20, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division Newark,New Jersey

Spc. Edward J. Anguiano, 24, Company A, 3rd Combat Support Battalion Brownsville,Texas

Cpl. Carlos Arellano ,22, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Rosemead,California

Sgt. Roberto Arizola Jr., 31, Company B, 297th Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Laredo, Texas

Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, 20, Company A, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Randolph,MA

Spc. Richard Arriaga 20 Headquarters Battery 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Ganado, Texas

All of those on this list have last name that begin with the letter "A." I could go on.

While Michelle and friends argue about whether to call them "Latinos", "Reconquistas", "Hispanics" or "wetbacks", we  recognize them as people who have died fighting for the U.S. in the war in Iraq.

Michelle and company need not worry about Roberto Arizola from Laredo, TX, nor about 19 year old Pfc Acosta from Calexico, CA, marching on the Mall in Washington ever again. They are dead.

A Great Day for the Party

"It was like cinco de mayo only with less food and more intimidation" wrote one blogger of the recent immigration protest in Washington.

Sadly, that writer seems unaware that  cinco de mayo is an very insignificant holiday in Mexico. No parades or demonstrations celebrate it.   Businesses, schools are all open.  I was not in Washington yesterday,  but if it was anything like New York, there was absolutely no excuse for being intimidated.  The ever energetic Michelle Malkin has been searching the blogosphere for damaging photos of the marches, and for any criminal or violent behavior. As of this writing, she has found one guy who had his camera broken.

The marchers whom I encountered returned a smile with an even larger one. They seemed to want to be appreciated, respected, and liked.  Weird people.

I had a lot to smile about at the demonstration - the anti-Bush sentiment was palpable. He may have said on Saturday that it was the fault of Democrats that no comprehensive immigration bill was passed last week- but these people were not buying it.  They know who controls the Senate.  They know who wanted to amend the agreement reached by both parties. They know which is the party of Tancredo and Sensenbrenner.

A lot of credit must go to the Democratic leaders in the Senate; who did not fall for Republican tricks and would not agree to a punitive bill.

And when they get the vote, and they will; they'll remember.

It was a great day for to Party - not to celebrate cinco de mayo; but to rejoice in the Democratic Party

Illegal Alien Insurrection

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As the marchers were gathering in Washington Square yesterday, this veteran demonstrator said his first March was in 1962.  In the mid 60's he was very active in grapes.

While the protestors were assembling behind the Arch, some dedicated N.Y.U. students were impervious to the chanting crowd a few yards away.

More participants in what Michelle Malkin has called an "insurrection", by "illegal aliens" along Broadway in Manhattan yesterday.

Immigration Demonstration

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Today in New York there were some marches in support of reasonable immigration reform.  Of course Michelle Malkin knows better than this Dartmouth Grad - after all he's a Republican whose family immigrated here  in the early 17th century.

Ms. Malkin might have you convinced that all illegal immigrants are from Mexico. In fact, illegal immigrants, like their illegal employers, come from all over the world.  This march had many Korean protesters - and they can't wait to vote.