#1
Still stupid after all these years! Mbeki was the doofus who said AIDS cannot be caused by a virus (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) because AIDS is a syndrome and 'everyone' knows a syndrome cannot be caused by a virus. Hopefully, his skills are running a country exceed his medical abilities.
#4
There are very strong parallels to the global warming debate here. With one major difference, over time, the scientific evidence for HIV as the direct cause of AIDS has strenghthened.
10 to 15 years ago I was sceptical of the cause of AIDS being the HIV virus. That's sceptical in the proper sense, I didn't find the evidence convincing. I now do. My position then and now were both right.
#2
To be fair when Bush pulled out of the ABM he admitted the treaty was with the Soviet Union and not modern Russia so pretty much every treaty signed with the Soviets can be considered more or less voided for the same reason.
#4
Russia abandoning CFE seems petty stupid at first glance. 147 million (shrinking) and poor Russians won't intimidate 450 rich Europeans. When the EU is consolidated, I can very see them demanding lebensraum once again.
It makes more sense to abrogate the INF treaty that got rid of US and USSR IRBMs and GLCMs. Russia can use IRBMS to counter the several hundred Chinese IRBMs aimed at them without using up any ICBMs aimed at the US. Aiming them at Europe for a real intimidation factor doesn't hurt either.
Posted by: ed ||
11/07/2007 16:13 Comments ||
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#5
EU? WAFF.com > THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE RUSSIAN ARMY [via YOUTUBE]. Blogger-Author argues that any and all Russ are in reality just weird-looking Euro-ized Mongolians, sub-ergo by extension are also weird-looking Chinese. IOW, RUSS ARE CHINESE???
A Swedish cartoonist already facing a slew of death threats over his depiction of the Muslim prophet Muhammad as a dog is working on a musical based on the drawing called "Dogs", a newspaper reported Wednesday. I think the terms and cost of the liability insurance policy will deserve an article of its own.
Lars Vilks, whose cartoon featuring Muhammad's head on a dog's body provoked massive protests by Muslims when it was published in August, compared his new project with musicals like "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Cats".
"Muhammad is also a superstar in the modern sense of the term," Vilks told the Dagens Nyheter daily from New York, adding that around a dozen anonymous people were part of the project, carrying the working title "Dogs". "We haven't decided yet if Muhammad will be portrayed by one or several people," he said. Not to mention a platoon of understudies.
I like the working title ...
"Other characters featured will be the prime minister (of Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeldt), Iran's president (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) and Al-Qaeda. They are best portrayed in musical form. We will also have an elegy by the 'choir of the offended'," he added.
Vilks insisted he was not worried about the death threats that have been pouring in from, among others, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, since his Muhammad drawing was first published, even though he received a new one as recently as last week. "No, I'm not taking this too seriously. Ninety-nine percent is pure scare tactics," he said, adding that he did not think the reactions to the musical, which will be staged in Sweden, would be as extreme as the cartoon protests. For the one-per-centers, not so good. Just ask the shade of Theo van Gogh.
"People will understand that this is a positive debate. A sense of humour about this has been missing so far."
According to strict interpretations of Islam, all depictions of Muhammad in pictorial form are blasphemous and strictly forbidden.
Vilks, with the support of Swedish media and politicians, has however insisted on the importance of publishing such controversial material in defence of Sweden's freedom of expression. "It is part of the rules of the game to be able to criticize religion and politics. It is nothing personal and I do not have it in for anyone," Vilks told Dagens Nyheter.
A similar rage debate emerged in Denmark and other European countries after several cartoons of the Islamic prophet were published in a Danish newspaper two years ago, sparking violent protests by Muslims around the world."
#1
We will also have an elegy by the 'choir of the offended'
New meme!! Where can I order tickets for the English translation? I saw Cats performed in Dutch, and it ruined the poetry for me (and not just because my Dutch was still scanty after only seven months) -- although admittedly the dance is what makes that particular musical.
WARSAW - Polands incoming government is ready to continue talks with the United States on a missile defence system but wants to engage European partners in the process, prime minister in waiting Donald Tusk said on Tuesday. Tusk, whose centre-right Civic Platform party won parliamentary elections last month, said Poland and the European Union had to see clear security benefits for Warsaw to agree to host the missile shield.
We dont have a rigid doctrine on this issue. We are open to arguments for and against (the shield), Tusk told a briefing for foreign journalists. If the missile shield is going to increase our security, we will be open to negotiations. If we judge jointly with our partners in the EU and NATO that this project is ambiguous, we will have to consider that.
Tusk has already signalled he would rebalance Polands foreign policy more towards the European Union although he stressed on Tuesday the United States remained a strategic ally for the ex-communist nation. The future government will consistently continue the strategy of very close ties with the United States, Tusk told a briefing for foreign journalists.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/07/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
STARS-N-STRIPES OP-Ed [vv Iran] > article contents indic that USA [still]intends to eventually emplace and oper as many as 1400 interceptors worldwide for GMD, including but not limited to a "just-in-case" option vv any future nuclear Iran.
The European Commission said on Tuesday that EU candidate Turkey must make significant further efforts on freedom of expression and religion now it has overcome a constitutional crisis. In an annual progress report on the European Unions biggest and most controversial candidate for membership, the Commission said democracy had prevailed over military intervention in Turkish politics but Ankara now needed to renew the momentum of reforms that had slowed since 2005. The new momentum should now be used to relaunch the reforms to improve fundamental freedoms, particularly the freedom of expression and religious freedom, so that they prevail in all corners of the country and in all walks of life, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in an accompanying statement.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
The new momentum should now be used to relaunch the reforms to improve fundamental freedoms, particularly the freedom of expression and religious freedom
Earlier this year, on Tuesday September 11 dozens of members of SIOE (Stop the islamisation of Europe) and others from the Vlaams Belang party were arrested for staging a 9/11 anniversary protest against the growth of and support of radical Islam throughout Europe. The rally had been declared illegal, although 200 people had turned up on two squares in the EU district of Europe. Police were in force, and Frank Vanhecke and Filip Dewinter of the Vlaams Belang party were arrested. Brussels' mayor, Freddy Thielemans, had banned the planned rally a month earlier, claiming that an anti-Islamic event could provoke unrest amongst Belgium Muslims.
http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=204657
WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawmakers on Tuesday reduced money requested by President Bush to build a European missile defense system, eliminating funds slated for building an interceptor site in Poland.
Negotiators from the House and the Senate left the funding out of a $460 billion bill to finance U.S. defense operations covering the budget year that began Oct. 1, according to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.
I guess he wants it built in Johnstown.
The negotiators cut $85 million specifically slated for the construction of the site in Poland out of a $310 million request for the European missile defense plans. It is unclear how the move would affect the building of a project that would include silos for 10 interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic. Money for the missiles and the radar system was left intact.
The bill agreed by the negotiators still needs to be approved by the full bodies of the House and Senate before going to the president for approval, but it is unlikely that lawmakers would make changes before a vote. The lack of financing at this stage could delay construction planned to begin next year at the site for the interceptors, but it also is possible that the White House could find money from other sources.
Some congressional Democrats have been skeptical of the missile defense system's chances for success in countering ballistic missiles. They also have questioned whether an unproven system is worth upsetting relations with Russia. Congressional Democrats may be open to restoring the money if Poland's government approves the plan and if the interceptor system is tested properly, according to a Democratic congressional aide.
On Tuesday, Poland's prime minister-designate, Donald Tusk, expressed openness to the U.S. plans to build the system but stressed that his nation would also consult its European Union partners on the issue.
In Warsaw, Tusk held his first news conference with foreign reporters since his Civic Platform party won the most votes in Oct. 21 general elections and took a cooler tone toward the U.S. missile defense program than outgoing Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski had used. ''If we decide that missile defense will unambiguously increase Poland's security, then we will be open to negotiations,'' Tusk said.
#2
Why is it America's responsibility to provide for protection for Europe that they themselves are capable of doing? There are 450 million people in the EU which is being consolidated as an opposing power to America. Thanks to the dollar's drop, they also have a larger economy. Yet many of them spend 1% of GDP on defense because they just know Uncle Sucker will come to the rescue.
Posted by: ed ||
11/07/2007 15:53 Comments ||
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Two polls, one by the Cable News Network and the Gallup organization and another by Newsweek magazine, show Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani remain the frontrunners for their party presidential nominations.
In the Democratic race, Clinton leads Senator Barack O'Bama in the CNN poll by a margin of 44 to 25 percent, with former Senator John "Breck Boy" Edwards in third place with 14 percent. The Newsweek poll has Clinton ahead of Obama by a margin of 44 to 24 percent.
The battle for the Republican Party's presidential nomination appears closer. The CNN survey has Giuliani in the lead with 28 percent, followed by former Senator Fred "Fred" Thompson at 19 percent, Senator "Maverick" John McCain with 16 percent and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 11 percent. The Newsweek poll had Giuliani leading Thompson by a margin of 30 to 15 percent. Clinton leads Giuliani by narrow margins in head-to-head match ups in both surveys.
This article starring:
Barack Obama
Fred Thompson
Hillary Clinton
John Edwards
John McCain
Mitt Romney
Rudy Giuliani
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Clinton leads Giuliani by narrow margins
I doubt it, I really, really doubt it. For example, who in the red states favors Hitlery ?
Among the northeast states, Rudy is expected to win several, like New Jersey, Penn., Conn., and even New York, so where does all this Hitlery support come from ?
#2
If the Dhimmis cannot hold Pennsylvania, New Jersey and - for pete's sake - New York, there is no point in pretending this will even be close. Any contest in which Clinton even has to spend money in those states is one they cannot afford to run.
#3
I believe what this has become is a game for the pollsters to find close races. Last week, they reported that Hitlery gets only 47 or 48 percent of the vote no matter who the Republican opponent, even Ron Paul kept Hitlery to 48 percent. What the hell ? In the northeast, Rudy is respected and loved, so how is it that Ron paul does as well ? EASY, take the poll in Hawaii. By the way, can someone tell me why Hawaii is all democrat all the tiem ? What the hell are those kaheenawannahueys missing ?
#6
None of these polls are based on electoral votes, balanced partisan sampling or the elimination of unlikely voters. These are polls with the results dialed in before the first phone call is made. I suspect that the Trunks could roll Hillary in the EC with any of the top 4 candidates as the world is today. But things are going to change a LOT in the next 12 months. And that's when we will decide.
The Punjab government has banned the PPP from holding its November 9 public meeting in Rawalpindi. Rawalpindi CCPO Saud Aziz told Geo News that the provincial government had imposed Section 144 and had informed the PPP that no public meeting was allowed. The PPPs leaders rejected the order and vowed that the rally would be held at any cost, reported Online.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2007 00:00 ||
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#2
To win this thing we must somehow bring ourselves to stop giving money to our enemies; not just on east Jerusalem but in Pakistan and especially the Saudi terror entity.
#3
talk of a future division of the city has prompted a staggering increase in nationalization requests by Palestinians seeking to escape life under the Palestinian Authority
Christian Palestinians, maybe and only maybe. Any others need to FOAD. These turds have got to get a taste of what they've bred up. All Muslims need to live under shari'a law until they finally understand how important it is to kill the radicals who keep trying to impose it. Until then, they are SOL.
#4
Israel, by terms of the annexation law, has to offer citizenship to any residents of Jerusalem. To refuse that would be to imply that East Jerusalem is NOT part of Israel.
OTOH, within a few weeks they may well agree in principle to the division of the city, at which point refusing new citizenship requests would be quite reasonable.
PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, KAUAI, Hawaii, Nov. 6, 2007 /PRNewswire/ - - In a first-of-its-kind dual missile defense test, two Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN)-built Standard Missile-3s, fired from a U.S. Navy ship, simultaneously intercepted and destroyed two short-range ballistic missile targets in space, Nov. 6.
This was the first time a Navy ship demonstrated simultaneous engagements against ballistic missile targets outside the earth's atmosphere. These were the 10th and 11th successful intercepts for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense weapon system's SM-3.
The crew of the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70) fired both SM-3 Block IA intercepting missiles, while personnel at the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai launched the ballistic missile targets. Dems collectively cover ears, sing LALALALALA ...
#2
ION, ISRAEL > MOUD announces Iran now has 3000 centrifuges working at enrichment plant. WAFF.com > GULF NEWS > SETTING THE STAGE FOR INEVITABLE WAR [USA-Iran]. Author - Radical Iran [correctly?]believes USA is militarily and economically, etc. exhausted from Iraq, ergo believes USA will not stop = can not stop its nucprogs. IOW, IRAN BELIEVES THE USA CANNOT STOP IT FROM DEV NUKE BOMBS.
#3
PRAVDA > USA PLANS TO ENCIRCLE RUSSIA WITH MISSLE SYSTEMS AND RADARS [Czech-Poland now Mongolia?]; + UNITED POLICE STATES OF AMERICA MAD ABOUT STRONG RUSSIA.
#4
Star Wars is a reality. Putie's knickers are in a knot, Iran is trying to bluster that they have so many missiles that we can't shoot them all down, and the Dem's want to cancel the project.
#7
Hmmm... Philo Farnsworth's first staticy b&w tv and my Samsung HDTV flat panel. Why shouldn't ABM technology be expected to follow a similar (no pun intended) trajectory?
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/07/2007 14:37 Comments ||
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#8
Mmmm, Standard Missile 3. Is there anything it can't do?
/Homer
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
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.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
WARSAW - Polands incoming government is ready to continue talks with the United States on a missile defence system but wants to engage European partners in the process, prime minister in waiting Donald Tusk said on Tuesday. Tusk, whose centre-right Civic Platform party won parliamentary elections last month, said Poland and the European Union had to see clear security benefits for Warsaw to agree to host the missile shield.
Two polls, one by the Cable News Network and the Gallup organization and another by Newsweek magazine, show 
PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, KAUAI, Hawaii, Nov. 6, 2007 /PRNewswire/ - - In a first-of-its-kind dual missile defense test, two Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN)-built Standard Missile-3s, fired from a U.S. Navy ship, simultaneously intercepted and destroyed two short-range ballistic missile targets in space, Nov. 6.
