If it feels like wersquove been in this bunker before we have

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ The Council on American-IslamicRelations (CAIR) today issued a call for American sponsors willing to assistfamilies of U.S citizens who may be evacuated this week from the Gaza Strip SEE: U.S. Preparing Evacuation of 150 Americans Department officials tell CAIR that some of the almost 150 potentialevacuees do not have family members in the United States. A number of thoseseeking evacuation are non-citizen parents of young American-born children. The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group is calling onindividuals and relief groups to offer support. Potential sponsors would haveto provide all the needs of evacuees for a period of six months, demonstratefinancial ability and submit an I-134 "Affidavit of Support" form.SEE: Affidavit of Support http:// has been seeking State Department assistance in evacuating two Americanchildren, ages six and three, along with all the other Americans in Gaza.

Thefather of the two children said bullets fired from an Israeli tank hit thefamily home in Beit Hanoun on Saturday. He said his brother's nearby two-storyhome was destroyed today by the Israelis. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza has topped 900, with many womenand children among the dead and more than 4000 injured. In its attacks, Israelhas denied access to wounded civilians and has targeted homes, schools,mosques, universities, medical and United Nations personnel, a hospital, and achurch. A leading human rights group has accused Israel of usingwhite-phosphorus munitions in its attacks on civilian areas.

SEE: 1 Dead, Dozens Injured in Gaza by Suspected White Phosphorus Munitions ALSO: Gaza War Comparable to Sabra and Shatila Massacre: Medics (AFP) Missile Reduces Church-Backed Hospital to Rubble United Nations' top human rights official said Friday that the Israelimilitary may have committed war crimes in Gaza. SEE: UN Human Rights Chief Accuses Israel of War Crimes ALSO: Gaza "No Place for Civilians": ICRC (Reuters) Human Rights Council Condemns Israeli Military Action , America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices andchapters nationwide and in Canada. If it feels like we’ve been in this bunker before, we have. Almost every year for the last three or four years, either Jarrod Washburn, his agent, or the Twins’ front office makes some noise about the LaCrosse native playing closer to home, and fans are forced to duck and cover.You can forgive fans for being a littlegun-shy here, as Washburn has almost never been both a) available and b) a good idea. He’s certainly been one or the other at various points in his career, but the Angels had him locked down for the best years of his career, and he’s been fairly available since his long decline began.Perhaps you can forgive the front office for thinking that these two states have aligned for the first time ever, making Washburn a great pitcher to add and a free agent with ties to the area, but color me skeptical.2009 was a tale of two seasons for Washburn, his first four months with Seattle and his nightmare eight starts with the Tigers In Seattle, Washburn was solid. He went 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP both extremely good numbers He was boasting a career-best K/BB and a career-low HR/9. Not only were his hits allowed down, the balls that did fall in weren’t hit particularly hard; his slugging against was a career-low .334.As a flyball pitcher who is home run prone, Washburn’s batting average allowed on balls in play has always been below average, but in 2009, it was low even for him .245 where league average is between .280 and .300.