21 FEBRUARY 2006

NEWS TODAY
A federal grand jury has indicted three Toledo area men for terrorist activities. Prosecutors say the three conspired to wage "jihad," or a "holy war" against the United States and coalition forces in the Middle East. The indictment was unsealed Monday.The indictment alleges that Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Marwan Othman El-Hindi, and Wassim Mazloum, all living in the Toledo area, conspired to recruit and train others for a violent jihad against United States forces and US allies in Iraq. The indictment also alleges that they engaged in fundraising for the terrorist operations, collected the equipment needed, and traveled together to a local indoor shooting range for target practice.

THE PORT DEAL
The pressure continues to be put on the White House to reverse its decision to allow a United Arab Emirates-based company to take over port security at six major container ports in the United States. Republican lawmakers are lining up against the deal. And now we've heard from two Republican governors about it, New York Gov. George Pataki and Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich.

The Australian government issued a travel advisory over the weekend warning citizens to be cautious in the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the United States is busy turning over its ports to the nation. Cal Thomas has more.

It is an absolute mystery why the Bush administration chose to allow an Arab-owned company to take over the London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which runs the ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. The name of the company is Dubai Ports World. It is owned by the United Arab Emirates, home of one of the 9/11 hijackers.

LOTTO NEWS
There was much news over the weekend about a huge lottery winning in Nebraska. It all seems innocuous enough .. someone walks into a convenience store in Nebraska and plunks down a few bucks and walks away with about $365 million.

The person or the people who won this lottery jackpot will have their lives made miserable by this newfound wealth. They do not have the mindset -- the mental programming -- to cope with wealth. It is a fact that you get comfortable at a certain level. You have to gradually change it or you will work yourself crazy to get to your comfort level. So, a poor lottery winner is poor again soon. And Donald Trump bounces back from losing HALF every new woman he marries. Back to their comfort levels.

Neal’s View
“I love the lottery! For decades politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, have been working to lift the tax burden off the poor and the non-achievers. The lottery puts that burden right back there. The lottery truly is a tax on stupidity. Will we tax it out of existence? No way. But at least it's a start.”

Bryant Gumbel is getting a little of his own medicine after complaining that the Olympics were too white. A civil rights group says it takes offense. As the saying goes...what comes around, goes around!

TURIN, Italy Feb 18, 2006 — Shani Davis knew what he was doing. Davis became the first black to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history Saturday, capturing the men's 1,000-meter speedskating race. "I'm one of a kind," Davis said, fully aware of how much he stands out in the mostly all-white sport.
So There! Bryant GUMBALL!!