I am a little bit confused at some of the reports regarding Malika El Aroud. She and her spouse are known recruiters.

18 months ago: 38-year-old Tunisian Moez Garsallaoui, right, and his wife, Malika El Aroud (click here), arrive at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 20, 2007. Switzerland's first Internet terrorism trial opened Wednesday with the prosecution accusing two Muslims of running Web sites that supported al-Qaida linked groups and showed terror executions. The two suspects, Moez Garsallaoui, a Tunisian based in Switzerland, and Malika El Aroud, the Belgian-born widow of an al-Qaida suicide bomber, appeared in the high-security court room on Wednesday morning.

Perhaps the the authorities in Belgium decided to round up those responsible for a planned bombing.

11.12.2008 21:00 UTC
Belgian police arrest 14 terror suspects (click here)
Police in Belgium have arrested 14 suspected members of the al-Qaeda terrorist group. Investigators say at least one of those arrested may have been plotting a suicide attack on Belgian territory. The arrests were made in a series of early morning police raids across the country. Security sources say one of the suspects had trained with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and had links with extremists in Britain, France and elsewhere in Europe.

Some of the reports in the media are treating this like a new arrest of some kind of legend. It is not really. She is known to the intelligence community.

I think there is more concern about their activities and that may be why she was taken off the street with so many others, but, the activities of the folks have been known for awhile now.

Why any of it was tolerated is beyond me. People go around saying they love Osama bin Laden and would do anything for him is automatically an accomplice. Recruiting means they are accomplices to the plans of a murderer. Why leave them on the street? On bail? No reason. Its a different breed of criminal. They are 'international' criminals. They make plans to kill across borders with hopes to disrupt government infrastructure and stability as well as fiscal stability.

AND.

THEY ARE CAPABLE of performing the crime. They can deliver on their activities. If they couldn't do that it would be a different scenario, but, these folks know that recruitment for al Qaeda will deliver the results they are planning.

40 Days until Inauguation - Health Care Reform ! Yes !

Tom Daschle knows something about good health. He was the recipient of the WMD letter ! He was a great legislator and in actuality he was the Democrat that was 'Swift-Boated' along with Kerry for his re-election of 2004. I am glad he is back and Barak has made a great choice once again.


Obama unveils health policy team (click title to entry - thank you)
US President-elect Barack Obama has picked former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to head the Health and Human Services Department.
Mr Daschle will also lead a new White House Office of Health Reform, with responsbility for pushing Mr Obama's healthcare plan through congress.
The president-elect has chosen Jeanne Lambrew, a close aide to Mr Daschle, to act as his deputy in the White House.
Mr Obama has said healthcare reform is a top priority for his administration.
Mr Daschle, 61, was the top Democrat in the Senate between 2001 and 2003, when he lost his seat to Republican John Thune.
This year, he wrote a book with Ms Lambrew - "Critical" - laying out his proposals for reform of America's health system
He was an early backer of Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

Give the Senate Republican some PORK and they'll pass it. You know. Somethin' to send home to the folks.

GM and Chrysler rescue faces fight in US Senate (click title of article - thank you)
The US House of Representatives late on Wednesday night approved the $14bn (£9.4bn) rescue package for the country's ailing car industry but its passage through the Senate is far from certain.
By James Quinn, Wall Street Correspondent
Last Updated: 10:58AM GMT 11 Dec 2008
The House voted 237-170 in favour of the bill, which will advance funds to General Motors and Chrysler immediately, and pave the way for further cash for the pair and rival Ford as long as the companies fundamentally restructure.
The trio asked for $34bn, but will only get $14bn because of politicians' continued worries over the use of hard-pressed taxpayers' money. The bill now faces it biggest challenge and needs to gain the support of at least 60 of 100 Senators in order to pass that stage and be handed to President George W. Bush to sign.
A group of leading Republican Senators are resisting the legislation in its current form. The Senators, including Senator Richard Shelby, want more powers for the so-called "car tsar" who will be tasked with monitoring the companies use of the cash and ensuring they restructure by the end of March.
Senator Shelby said of the money: "This is an installment on a huge bail-out that will come later," arguing the $14bn alone would not make the company's become competitive.
"Unless Chrysler, Ford and General Motors become lean and innovative and competitive in the marketplace, this is only delaying their funeral," he continued....