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Filipino troops battling final 30 ISIS-linked gunmen in Marawi
Today's Headlines
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10 11:16 DarthVader [4] 
4 13:47 Vast Right Wing Conspiracy [1] 
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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3 09:02 AlmostAnonymous5839 []
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker James Toback Accused of Sexual Harassment by 30-Plus Women
[THEWRAP] The Academy loses another member. ("They hate you! They really hate you!")
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  When will this all cease? When they start losing influence.
Posted by: gorb || 10/23/2017 0:35 Comments || Top||

#2  I wonder how many it worked on.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 10/23/2017 5:47 Comments || Top||

#3  It only takes one to talk. It's like a hat sale actually. The word gets around.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/23/2017 5:53 Comments || Top||

#4  But, but Hillary stands for women everywhere. That and taking Hollywood feeler up bribes.
Posted by: Woodrow || 10/23/2017 7:14 Comments || Top||

#5  We've got a lot of contenders for Hollywood sexual harassment/abuse champ. Can we toss WJC into the mix--he is a basically a Hollywood type.
Posted by: JohnQC || 10/23/2017 8:58 Comments || Top||

#6  I'm sure Hollywood has a bigger problem with starlets seducing big-wigs hoping to get a job. I'm not sure that qualifies as sexual harassment but allowing yourself to be so seduced must be against various labor laws. At what point (if any) does that sort of stuff start pouring out as well?
Posted by: rjschwarz || 10/23/2017 10:15 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Raila Odinga says he will not recognise Kenyatta win
[Al Jazeera] Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga says he will not recognise a win by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday's scheduled election rerun, as a political crisis gripping the East African country shows no sign of ending.

Odinga pulled out of the race earlier this month after claiming opposition demands to overhaul the country's election body had not been met.

"As far as we are concerned, this is not an election," Odinga told the Nation newspaper on Sunday.

He also ruled out contesting the outcome of the vote in court, in line with his party's position that the upcoming vote will not be credible.

"It is not a legal matter, but a political one which must be dealt with as such," said Odinga, calling the prospect of challenging the result "a waste of time".

Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I think I can think of the perfect compromise choice...and he even comes with security.
Posted by: AlanC || 10/23/2017 8:23 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Shinzo Abe on way to big parliamentary election win
[Al Jazeera] Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, is headed for a big victory in snap elections, according to exit polls, after promising to toughen his stance on North Korea and revive the economy.

Abe's ruling coalition is on course to win between 280 and 336 seats in Sunday's vote, which easily surpasses a simple majority in the 465-seat lower house of parliament.

Abe looks set to become Japan's longest serving leader since the second world war, although he is hoping for a two-thirds "super majority" to push through his agenda, for which he needs at least 310 seats.

The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the Japanese leader. Plagued by corruption scandals, Abe and his coalition party were on shaky ground just last month

But on election day, they were favourites to win re-election and an exit poll predicted the Liberal Democratic Party would secure a parliamentary majority.

Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


'Another missile test will mean WAR' Shock warning of Chinese BLITZ on North Korea
[Express] A CHINESE academic with close links to officials inside the country's defence establishment has revealed that China is prepared to "go to war" with North Korea.

In a shocking bombshell interview, an academic with close ties to the Chinese government has warned war with North Korea was on the table.

Chong Sho-Hu, who is a professor of international relations at the Renmin University, in Beijing, said North Korea was "seeking death".

He also confirmed the long-lasting era of Chinese friendship with North Korea has ended.

Despite historic ties between the two countries, president Xi Jinping has reportedly become "fed up" with the erratic behaviour of the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.

Speaking to the BBC, the professor warned that one more missile test would be the move "to push the country off the cliff".

President Jinping was said to be "boiling with fury" after North Korea recently tested a missile just as China was gearing up to host a pivotal global economic conference.

The former US ambassador to China Max Baucus recently claimed the only time he saw the Chinese leader use "undiplomatic language" was in relation to Kim Jong-Un.

Professor Sho-Hu, who has ties to China's defence and foreign affairs establishment, suggested that the time may have come for a military solution to the problem.

He said: "The Chinese government is mad, China’s top leader is mad. China wants to punish North Korea.

"China once had special relations with the Soviet Union but they had war with that country.

"They also had a very special relationship with Vietnam but then they had a war with them in 1979

"The relationship between China and North Korea is worse than both of those.

"I will say, there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies."

The professor added: "North Korea is in an awkward situation. No country has ever encountered such tough sanctions before.

"If they do nothing, they will starve to death. If they do another ICBM test, they will seek to die.

"North Korea is standing on the edge of a deep cliff, one light blow could push this country of the cliff."

When asked whether this meant one more missile test could trigger war, the professor agreed.

This week the China's leader Xi Jinping outlined his plans to make China the most powerful nation in the world.

In a three and a half hour speech at the Chinese Communist Party Congress, he said he would build the biggest army in the world, but wanted to avoid a conflict with US President Donald Trump over North Korea.

But, speaking of the People's Liberation Army, he said: "A military is built to fight."

He told delegates: "By 2050 China will become a global leader in terms of comprehensive national strength and international influence with the rule of law, innovative companies, a clean environment, an expanding middle class, adequate public transportation and reduced disparities between urban and rural areas.

"Chinese people will enjoy greater happiness and well-being, and the Chinese nation will stand taller and firmer in the world.

"China is approaching the centre of the world stage."

A cyber security expert told Express.co.uk China could strike the US by pretending to be North Korea.

Matt Morris, vice president of NexDefense, said hackers knew the digital footprints of other states and were mimicking them to use as a decoy.

CIA chief Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that North Korea could be only "months" away from gaining the ability to hit the United States with nuclear weapons.

US President Donald Trump is expected to try and pressure the Chinese president when they meet next month.

The White House want China to do more to rein in North Korea, following the president's consolidation of power at the Communist Party Congress.
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 10/23/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  All because of the lunatic in the Oval Office. Who doesn't know what he's doing, of course.
Posted by: gorb || 10/23/2017 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  China is prepared to "go to war" with North Korea

And I plan to quit smocking and start exercising.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/23/2017 2:34 Comments || Top||

#3  Can't have successful (South) Koreans sitting on their border behind which millions of ethnic Koreans remain under Beijing's thumb. The longer they delay in fixing the problem in Pyongyang, the more likely the situation becomes.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/23/2017 8:23 Comments || Top||

#4  And the question is, assuming this has official backing, is it actual intentions, or is it published for effect?
Why would China tell NK that they're going to attack?
Posted by: ed in texas || 10/23/2017 16:10 Comments || Top||

#5  Why would China tell NK that they're going to attack?

So they could tell them "Told you so!"?
Posted by: gorb || 10/23/2017 17:32 Comments || Top||

#6  Diversion. When NK acts they have denial.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/23/2017 22:32 Comments || Top||


Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says would travel to North Korea - NYT
[UK.REUTERS] So would Dennis Rodman. Have any of Jimmy's trips ever produced anything of note?
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  Have any of Jimmy's trips ever produced anything of note?

Hope.

That he would be taken hostage.
Posted by: gorb || 10/23/2017 0:35 Comments || Top||

#2  Take away the closet Commie's passport. Carter already betrayed the US by claiming the authority of Pres. Clinton during his last North Korean trip.
Posted by: Black Bart Omeasing1539 || 10/23/2017 2:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Yeah that oil shit in the 70's worked out so well you could see your breath in schools at least settlers had coal and wood burning stoves in class!
Posted by: Crinegum Ulaigum2776 || 10/23/2017 6:53 Comments || Top||

#4  Have any of Jimmy's trips ever produced anything of note?

Put the break on the worldwide obesity plague at the borders of Venezuela.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/23/2017 8:19 Comments || Top||

#5  Have any of Jimmy's trips ever produced anything of note?

Got rid of that pesky canal.
Introduced Stealth to the world.
Crafted specialized anti-personnel nuclear technology.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/23/2017 10:00 Comments || Top||

#6  Given the treatment of tourists in NKOR, I can only applaud the idea. In fact I'll contribute to his (one way) flight there
Posted by: Mercutio || 10/23/2017 10:03 Comments || Top||

#7  He should straighten out Venezuela first since it was his dubious election monitoring is partially to blame for the current mess.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 10/23/2017 10:12 Comments || Top||

#8  The beautiful Ryugyong Hotel awaits you.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 10/23/2017 10:22 Comments || Top||

#9  Sending Dennis Rodman back would get more results.
Posted by: Raj || 10/23/2017 10:58 Comments || Top||

#10  The issue is the Norks wouldn't keep him...
Posted by: DarthVader || 10/23/2017 11:16 Comments || Top||


Government
US Preparing to Put Nuclear Bombers Back on 24-Hour Alert
[Defense One] BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. ‐ The U.S. Air Force is preparing to put nuclear-armed bombers back on 24-hour ready alert, a status not seen since the Cold War ended in 1991.

That means the long-dormant concrete pads at the ends of this base’s 11,000-foot runway ‐ dubbed the "Christmas tree" for their angular markings ‐ could once again find several B-52s parked on them, laden with nuclear weapons and set to take off at a moment’s notice.

"This is yet one more step in ensuring that we’re prepared," Gen. David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff, said in an interview during his six-day tour of Barksdale and other U.S. Air Force bases that support the nuclear mission. "I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we’re prepared going forward."

Goldfein and other senior defense officials stressed that the alert order had not been given, but that preparations were under way in anticipation that it might come. That decision would be made by Gen. John Hyten, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, or Gen. Lori Robinson, the head of U.S. Northern Command. STRATCOM is in charge of the military’s nuclear forces and NORTHCOM is in charge of defending North America.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/23/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1 
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/23/2017 10:08 Comments || Top||

#2  The opening scene of a B-36 launching from MacDill is worth the price of admission.
Posted by: Shipman || 10/23/2017 11:11 Comments || Top||

#3  one take off one landing


Posted by: Pliny Glons2836 || 10/23/2017 11:41 Comments || Top||

#4  The few...the proud...the ones who could pass the AFQT:

Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy || 10/23/2017 13:47 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
18[untagged]
8Islamic State
3Govt of Syria
2Houthis
2al-Nusra
2Govt of Iraq
2Commies
2Taliban
2Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army
1Muslim Brotherhood
1Palestinian Authority
1TTP
1al-Shabaab (AQ)
1Ansar al-Sharia
1Boko Haram (ISIS)
1Govt of Iran
1Govt of Iran Proxies
1Govt of Pakistan
1Hamas
1Maute group (IS)

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Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2017-10-23
  Filipino troops battling final 30 ISIS-linked gunmen in Marawi
Sun 2017-10-22
  ARSA open to surrender, but only under UN supervision
Sat 2017-10-21
  US drone strike targets al-Shabab after Somalia's 'deadliest attack'
Fri 2017-10-20
  Iraq and Iran compel Kurdish withdrawal from Kirkuk
Thu 2017-10-19
  TTP names successor to APS mastermind Umar Mansoor
Wed 2017-10-18
  US-Backed Forces Say Have Captured Raqa from IS
Tue 2017-10-17
  Terror leaders Hapilon (Abu Sayyaf), Maute (Maute Group) gunned down in Marawi
Mon 2017-10-16
  The "War after ISIS" begins in Iraq
Sun 2017-10-15
  Report: U.S. Coalition Cuts Islamic State Revenues over 90 Percent
Sat 2017-10-14
  Iraqi forces move to begin operations against Kurds
Fri 2017-10-13
  Iraq PM Denies Attack Plan as Tensions Rise with Kurds
Thu 2017-10-12
  British jihadi Sally Jones killed by US drone strike fleeing ISIS hell
Wed 2017-10-11
  Bangladesh arrests top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami
Tue 2017-10-10
  Nusra Front, Islamic State clash in Syria's Hama province
Mon 2017-10-09
  Syrian rebels capture ISIS HQ in Deir Ezzor


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