Carlene

SHAME on your husband!!!!!! Reading is never a waste of time.

Al-Qaeda has its origins in the uprising against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Thousands of volunteers from around the Middle East came to Afghanistan to defend fellow Muslims. In the mid-1980s, Osama bin Laden became the prime financier for an organization that recruited Muslims from mosques around the world. These recruits, which numbered in the thousands, were crucial in defeating Soviet forces. After the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, bin Laden returned to his native Saudi Arabia. He founded an organization to help veterans of the Afghan war, many of whom went on to fight elsewhere (including Bosnia) and comprise the basis of al-Qaeda. Bin Laden also studied with radical Islamic thinkers and may have already been organizing al-Qaeda when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. Bin Laden was outraged when the government allowed U.S. troops to be stationed in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam. In 1991 he was expelled from Saudi Arabia for anti-government activities. After his expulsion from Saudi Arabia, bin Laden established headquarters for al-Qaeda in Sudan. The first actions of al-Qaeda against American interests were attacks on U.S. servicemen in Somalia. A string of terrorist actions suspected to have been orchestrated by al-Qaeda followed, and in August 1996 bin Laden issued a "Declaration of War" against the U.S. Al-Qaeda also worked to forge alliances with other radical groups. In February 1998, bin Laden announced an alliance of terrorist organizations—the "International Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders". In 1994 Sudan—under pressure from Saudi Arabia and the U.S.—expelled bin Laden, who moved his base of operations to Afghanistan. Bin Laden was the "guest" of the Taliban until the U.S. drove them from power in Nov. 2001. Al-Qaeda set up terrorist training camps in the war-torn nation, as it had in Sudan. Al-Qaeda's leadership oversees a loosely organized network of cells. It can recruit members from thousands of "Arab Afghan" veterans and radicals around the world. Its infrastructure is small, mobile, and decentralized—each cell operates independently with its members not knowing the identity of other cells. Local operatives rarely know anyone higher up in the organization's hierarchy. Al-Qaeda differs significantly from more traditional terrorist organizations. It does not depend on the sponsorship of a political state, and, unlike the PLO or the IRA, it is not defined by a particular conflict. Instead, al-Qaeda operates as a franchise. It provides financial and logistical support, as well as name recognition, to terrorist groups operating in such diverse places as the Philippines, Algeria, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Kashmir. Furthermore, local groups may act in the name of al-Qaeda in order to bolster their own reputation—even if they are not receiving support from the organization. The principal stated aims of al-Qaeda are to drive Americans and American influence out of all Muslim nations, especially Saudi Arabia; destroy Israel; and topple pro-Western dictatorships around the Middle East. Bin Laden has also said that he wishes to unite all Muslims and establish, by force if necessary, an Islamic nation adhering to the rule of the first Caliphs. According to bin Laden's 1998 religious decree, it is the duty of Muslims around the world to wage holy war on the U.S., American citizens, and Jews. Muslims who do not heed this call are declared apostates (people who have forsaken their faith). . In response to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the WTC and Pentagon, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 to dismantle al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Al-Qaeda's infrastructure in the country was destroyed and their military commander, Muhammed Atef, was killed. Abu Zubaydah, another top operative, was captured in Pakistan. Bin Laden escaped and is presumed alive. In March 2003 the U.S. widened the war on terrorism by invading Iraq and deposing Saddam Hussein and his Baath party. The decision to encompass Iraq in "the war on terror" has been highly controversial. Although President Bush asserted that there was a working relationship between Hussein and al-Qaeda, no solid proof of collaboration between them—specifically on the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, or on any other terrorist activities—has emerged. In recent years, many of the most horrific bombings attributed to al-Qaeda—most notably Bali, Madrid, and London—are believed to have been carried out by terrorist groups linked more in spirit than in substance to al-Qaeda. Al-Zarqawi, the most active terrorist in recent years, for example, only officially joined al-Qaeda in the years after he initiated his reign of terror in Iraq. Al-Qaeda has been more than happy to take credit for the various bombings, but it is thought that it has offered philosophical motivation more than a direct support for the atrocities committed by these splinter groups. While al-Qaeda encourages its reputation as a vast global network, many experts believe that at this stage al-Qaeda itself has just a small core of adherents, but serves as the virulent inspiration to countless violent Islamic extremists.

Thanks, but my MIL sold her house 3 years ago when she came to live with us. She has savings that total about $400 K but I don't think my DH or his brother would ever consider turning that over to a nursing home. That just sounds crazy. Why would anyone do that? Anyway, my MIL has income (SS, pension and an annuity) plus long term care insurance that total about $3750 per month. Any additional expenses the "boys" plan to pay out of her assets. My BIL estimates those should not be more than $1000-$1500 per month, so she should have enough money to pay her own way for however long she might live in a nursing facility. She is almost 87 now. Medicare does not pay for long-term nursing home care. Are you sure you didn't mean to say Medicaid?

I quit smoking 11 years ago. I used the gum and it helped a lot. What really inspired me was watching someone I loved die from lung cancer. It took 18 months and was just horrible. She left a husband and 5 children. If you can't quit for yourself, quit for the people you love. Nothing will make you prouder than getting that monkey off your back.....I promise.

I can't eat rice of any description, at least not more than a tiny bit swimming in a lot of liquid.

Muggle... I'm so sorry you have had such a rough time of it. I agree that you need to have your band unfilled ASAP. A complete unfill will relieve most of your symptoms and you will be able to eat normally again. After you have the saline removed you can work on getting your band out, if that's what you want. As far as revising to bypass, be advised that the bypass has its own set of problems.

Thank you, Mandy. You're my new best friend! Today I bought a beautiful, perfect, 100% silk summer pants suit at one of my favorite thrift stores for........(you're not gonna believe this)..............$2.50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was "clearanced" at 75% off!

I have a very good friend who is a very good Republican. Between them, she and her DH earn over $200 K per year. Their college educated, single, unemployed daughter got pregnant. They had 3 choices: (a) mom and dad could foot the bill, ( county prenatal clinic and county hospital for delivery, or © Medicaid. They chose Medicaid. Their grandchild was born very early, with a heart problem common to premature infants. She spent a month in NICU and required coronary surgery, performed by a very expensive pediatric specialist. The bill was staggering. Medicaid, meaning the taxpayers, paid every dime. My friend is still a Republican. However, she no longer delivers long, raging tirades against lazy women who produce babies they can't afford to take care of. She has developed a great deal of empathy for children unlucky enough to be born to people who suck at parenthood. She is a huge proponent of children's health care. My point is that people who favor specific spending programs, or tax reforms, only support the ones that benefit themselves, or someone very close to them. People rarely vote to raise their own taxes. People who have never had a child or grandchild go without dental care are generally the only ones in favor of limiting Medicaid benefits. My friend never in a million years would have thought that her daughter - educated at a small private college to the tune of $24,000 per year in tuition - would end up on the dole. Just goes to show you....never say never.

When I said I support a flat tax, I meant it. But I also meant corporations, too. Of course, you have to give them deductions for their manufacturing costs. Otherwise, service only businesses would have a huge advantage, as would all non-manufacturing corporations. But no more deductions for corporate jets, etc. I also would only support a flat tax if it applied to SS and Medicare tax, with no ceiling. If you make $100 K you would pay your 10% income tax, your 7.5% SS tax, and your Medicare tax on your total income. That would make your tax bite approximately $19,000 on your $100 K income.

Thrift and consignment stores have become my new best friends, along with E-Bay. When you go thru 5 or 6 sizes on your weight loss journey, it can get expensive. I bought a gorgeous royal purple blazer the other day, 100% wool and in perfect condition, for $5.00.

You will still be able to binge on the slider foods...ice cream, candy, chips, etc. You will have to keep far, far away from those. Other foods won't be much of a problem. You can't over-eat on solid food with the band.

We ended up throwing the oven racks out and didn't replace them until my mom died and we sold the house. We scraped the plastic off the bottom of the oven with a razor blade scraper. But the SMELL was AWFUL and took FOREVER to get rid of!!!!!!!!! Yesterday morning my MIL decided to "toast" her Cereal in the microwave. I have no clue why she thought boxed cereal needed to be, or could be, toasted in a microwave, but anyway...she set it for one minute (she thought) and burned the cereal. Smelled up my house for the entire day! I swear, it's like raising kids all over again!

Would you prefer children begging in the streets, like third world countries? That would say a LOT about our great "Christian" nation, wouldn't it? IMO, billions of tax dollars spent to wage war on Iraq is forced manslaughter, and no one should be forced against their wishes to kill other people.

My insurance (UHC) is very strict about their BMI requirement. I think most of the others are, too. But they usually accept a BMI of 35 with 2 or more co-morbidities. Sounds like you have plenty of other stuff going on to qualify.

My doctor says it's not liquid unless you can suck it thru a straw.

It's called Body Dysmorphia. Virtually all anorexics suffer from it. I think a great many WLS patients do, too. I don't know what the treatment/cure for BD is. I'm usually convinced of anything by common sense but that too fails me sometimes when I look in the mirror. I just keep asking myself how fat can you be if your jeans are a size 4?

Karen: Sorry....I thought this was a different thread. I didn't go back and re-read all the posts in this one but as I recall, it got off politics in general and onto abortion.

I stopped letting my mom cook (except for the microwave) after she mixed up a meatloaf in a plastic bowl and put it in the oven to bake....in the same plastic bowl. You have never seen such a mess.

Tomorrow night (6:30) is the DFW Bandsters support group dinner at Mercado Juarez in Arlington. PM me for directions if you are interested. I am this month's host as Virginia and Cynthia are both recovering from surgery. Everyone is invited: Bandsters, wanabee Bandsters, spouses, friends, etc.

My DH's cousin doesn't "care" so much as her feelings are hurt. She thought she was giving them (DH and his brother) good advice, but my BIL recoiled in horror at her suggestion. So things are kind of strained between them right now. My BIL will never, ever agree to spend down their mom's assets in order to get her into subsidized nursing care. He finds it morally offensive to even consider such a thing. They don't like discussing this stuff with my MIL, either. She has a will, fortunately. It's very simple...she has two children and they each get 50% of her estate. My DH doesn't get one dime more because she lives with us and we are okay with that. My MIL says she hopes she dies before she has to go into a nursing home - any nursing home. I tend to agree with her. Even the best ones are lousy. We will keep her in our home as long as we possibly can. I hope the nursing home thing is never an issue we have to seriously consider.

Karen... If you go back and read all the messages in this thread you will see as much badgering and name-calling by Republicans as Democrats. It's true...we ARE passionate, but we are no nastier than our GOP brothers and sisters when it comes to expressing our viewpoint.

Follow the rules and you'll do great... Good restriction Solid Protein first, then carbs, etc Don't drink with meals Chew your food very thoroughly Eat slowly Avoid "slider" foods: chocolate, ice cream, chips, etc Exercise

Adam Smith was my surgeon, too. Isn't he awesome? There is a Bandster support dinner tomorrow night in Arlington, if you're interested.

Sue... I wish you'd stop beating around the bush and just tell us what you think....LOL

If you have nocturnal reflux (fluid coming back up during the night), you have a potentially serious problem. You may not be over-filled, but you could have a dilated esophagus. You need to go for a swallow test under fluoro.