A senior Anglican cleric says Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe should be removed from power and tried by a war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.
Archbishop of York John Sentamu says "Mugabe and his henchmen must now take their rightful place in The Hague and answer for their actions. The time to remove them from power has come."
The Uganda native says on his Web site that the crisis in Zimbabwe is comparable to the suffering caused by Ugandan tyrant Idi Amin.
Sentamu is an outspoken critic of Mugabe. Last year he cut his white collar to pieces on national TV, saying he would not wear one again until Mugabe was out of power.
Along with the archbishop of Canterbury, Sentamu is one of the top clerics in the Anglican Church.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe came under fresh international pressure yesterday over his country's economic collapse as his government announced plans to introduce a 200 million dollar bill.
The country's political deadlock, soaring inflation and a cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 600 prompted British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to urge world powers to pile pressure on Mugabe saying "enough is enough".
Brown said the crisis in Zimbabwe was now "international" and that he hoped the United Nations Security Council would meet urgently to consider the situation.
Zimbabwe's situation has continued to deteriorate in nine months of political limbo since elections in March, and declared a cholera outbreak a national emergency this week as rampant inflation hampers the daily lives of citizens.
Government announced in its gazette Saturday that it would put a 200 million dollar note into circulation, just days after a 100 million dollar note was released -- which is worth only about 14 US dollars.
Brown's comments came amid mounting pressure from around the world with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying it was "well past time for Robert Mugabe to leave" and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband calling the Zimbabwean government a "rogue" regime.
"This is now an international rather than a national emergency," Brown said in a statement released by his Downing Street office.
"International because disease crosses borders. International because the systems of government in Zimbabwe are now broken. There is no state capable or willing of protecting its people.
"International because -- not least in the week of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- we must stand together to defend human rights and democracy, to say firmly to Mugabe that enough is enough."
In its latest bulletin, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the outbreak had now claimed 575 lives. The capital Harare is the worst-hit district with 179 deaths and 6,448 cases as of December 4.
The disease has spread to surrounding countries with deaths recorded in Botswana and South Africa where the influx of Zimbabweans across the border seeking help has grown.
South Africa -- which will send a team into Zimbabwe on Monday to probe how it can assist with food and humanitarian aid -- said it hoped the cholera outbreak would spur political leaders to urgently resolve their issues.
Brown said he had been "in close contact with African leaders to press for stronger action to give the Zimbabwean people the government they deserve".
Mugabe and rival Morgan Tsvangirai, and a smaller political party are deadlocked in discussions over a stalled political agreement in which they agreed to share power three months ago.
The deal has yet to be implemented as parties fail to agree on who should control key ministries.
As his country flounders, Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, on Friday brandished the threat of fresh elections in the next year or two if the power sharing deal did not work.
"We agreed to give them (the MDC) 13 ministries while we share the ministry of home affairs, but if the arrangement fails to work in the next one-and-a-half to two years, then we would go for elections," Mugabe was quoted as saying by government newspaper, The Herald.
While the leaders haggle the situation on the ground has steadily deteriorated, with the army staging its first ever protest against the government, looting and beating up citizens in the street last week.
The Herald reported Saturday that those involved would face a court martial.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
But Prime Minister Brown, Great Britain has had it's "No Independence Before Majority Rule" (NIBMAR) for decades now." To what do you attribute this disaster? Could Smith have been right?
Karen Dunnell, the National Statistician, will bring together a wide range of evidence on the growing number of older people, and examine the changes this will bring to society and the economy. It is the first time the National Statistician has focused on the issue in her "annual article", which offers an in-depth examination of a particular aspect of Britain's population figures.
At the same time, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will publish figures showing that the UK's birth rate surged last year to a 30-year high, driven by a baby boom among immigrant families. Among all babies born in the UK, 23 per cent had mothers who were born abroad. Whereas British-born women have only 1.7 children each on average, the figure is 3.9 for Bangladeshi-born women in Britain, and almost five for Pakistani-born women.
Which means that as Britain ages, the younger crowd will be increasingly disinclined to pay for them, since the younger crowd will be increasingly disaffected and pushing for a different system of governance and beliefs ...
An ONS spokesman said: "We will make some projections on what is going to happen. They will be based on existing statistical factors and will not take account of any circumstances that may change between now and then. The National Statistician is presenting a picture of society as it is now and how it could develop, to help policy-makers in their future decisions."
The NHS already restricts access to expensive new drugs that could benefit older age groups -- such as sufferers of Alzheimer's and macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness -- amid fears that the costs could cripple the health service.
Which is already crippled and is going to get worse even if they restrict access to drugs. It's the 'Children of Men' scenario even though babies are still being born.
Three months ago the ONS revealed that Britain is home to more pensioners than children for the first time in the country's history. There are 11.58 million pensioners - classed as men over 65 and women over 60 - compared with 11.52 million under-16s. In 1971, a quarter of the nation was under 16, while 15 per cent were of pensionable age.
The number of over-80s has almost doubled to 2.7 million over the past 30 years. They are the fastest-growing age group as a result of medical advances, and their number is expected to continue rising dramatically. The state retirement age is to increase to 68 for men and women by 2050, but the sharp rise in the elderly population is likely to lead to calls for the retirement age to be raised still further.
Britain's population profile is ageing despite record immigration and the rise in the number of immigrant women having children. According to the ONS a record number of immigrants settled in the UK last year. Around one in 10 of the population was born abroad, 6.3 million people in all.
Statistics from the European Union in August said Britain's population is set to grow from the current 61 million to 76.6 million by 2060, outstripping Germany's along the way to become the largest in Europe. The same report said that the EU as a whole is facing a "pensions timebomb", with a prediction that there will be only two people of working age to pay the pension and healthcare costs for each person aged 65 or over when the EU population reaches 506 million by 2060. At present there are four people of working age for each person aged 65 or over.
Earlier this year a House of Lords committee chaired by Lord Wakeham, the former Conservative cabinet minister, and including two former Tory chancellors, Lord Lawson and Lord Lamont, warned that continued immigration would not help to defuse the "pensions timebomb".
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/07/2008 11:38 ||
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#1
warned that continued immigration would not help to defuse the "pensions timebomb".
How very insightful. Lord Wakeham, do you have any comments on the long term effects to civilized society of birth control by chance?
#4
Which means that as Britain ages, the younger crowd will be increasingly disinclined to pay for them, since the younger crowd will be increasingly disaffected and pushing for a different system of governance and beliefs ...
Actually this class will not be paying because they are used to collecting.
#5
the purpose of loose immigration was no doubt to bring in workers who would subsidize the pensioners. Trouble is, every time I read about some Pak mook or "Firebrand" Islamospokeshole, they and their brood are already on the dole, and not working
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/07/2008 13:06 Comments ||
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#6
Yes. They tried to prop up the welfare system by bringing in people to drain it.
Further proving that the wests dominance is a result more of everyone else being dumber than us being smarter.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
12/07/2008 14:25 Comments ||
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#7
Of the 1 in 10 people who are foreign born, how many are on welfare? My guess would be at least 4 of 10, maybe more.
#8
Either way, the populations of Britain and Western Europe along with their socialist desires are unsustainable. Either have more of the native population have babies, bring in people that WANT to assimilate or prepare for the death of your national identity.
#2
The smartest thing Georgia could do right now is to open their doors to desirable immigration from powerful allies. Somebody that Russia would avoid annoying.
Since NATO membership probably won't be forthcoming, turn Georgia into a tax haven for the very wealthy, along the lines of what Switzerland used to be. Absolutely anonymous banking, with Georgian embassies around the world being bank branches.
And it should be the destination of choice for embezzlers from around the world, and those whose tastes have strong international restrictions.
Italy's Muslim leaders and opposition groups expressed outrage on Thursday over a proposal by the anti-immigration party of Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni to freeze the building of new mosques in an effort to curb terrorism.
The Northern League, the main ally of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, suggested the ban after two men were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of planning attacks in and near the northern city of Milan, but groups slammed the call as prejudice.
The Italian Communist Party's immigration expert slammed the Northern League for its "latest attempt to criminalize Muslim citizens who live in Italy."
"Those who equate Islam with terrorism are really pandering to those who want to divide the world in an absurd war of civilization," Maurizio Musolino told the ANSA news agency.
Mario Scialoja, who heads the Italian section of the Muslim World League, said such a law would "create discrimination." "A law that penalizes non-Catholic places of worship would be unconstitutional," he told AFP.
The center-left opposition Democratic Party also rejected the proposal. "It would not be useful, and it is unacceptable," said party spokesman Ermete Realacci. "We are proud to be in a country with freedom of religion, and (banning new mosques) does not seem to be the way to address the problem of terrorism," he told AFP.
"Mosques are Islamic places of peace for social gathering and prayer. We teach Muslims in Italy to respect the land they live in and its laws. A proposal to ban the building of mosques is unacceptable and goes against the Italian constitution," An imam from the Islamic Cultural Institute in Milan, Abu Khalil, told AlArabiya.net.
"Even if the allegations happen to be true, a fair government does not punish 1.2 million Muslims because it fears two people," he said, referring to the arrest of two Moroccan men for alleged terrorist plots.
Vatican
The Vatican, for its part, said "civil society" had a right to determine whether a mosque is in fact being used as such. "On the one hand we need to recognize the legitimacy of the place of worship that is the seat of an authentic spiritual presence," said the Vatican's "culture minister" Gianfranco Ravasi. "But if it becomes something else, indeed civil society has the right to intervene and check," he told reporters.
Count on the Vatican for the correct understanding of the problem. If the Catholic Church used its churches to stockpile weapons and ammo, it could fairly expect civil society to become a mite concerned (and civil society no doubt would, well before it would become concerned about a mosque). That there are enough mosques in the world serving as gathering places for terrorists, dishing up hate literature and spittle, as well as storing weapons, is enough to taint the rest. The 'Muslim World League' would do itself and its members a big favor by jumping on the more truculent Muslims in the world.
Italy is home to some 1.2 million Muslims and counts 258 mosques and 628 Islamic associations, according to the Italian press.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Global Jihad
#1
Sooner or later someone's going to start the Muzzie mass deportation ball rolling. When it happens, that bandwagon is going to become awfully full awfully fast.
#2
To put this in a proper perspective, suppose a Serb extremist group---citing Kosovo as justification---were to carry a series of attacs in Europe...
#4
Putin has led the way on this one. Their demands should be clear, that mosques can only be built anywhere in Italy, on an equal basis with Christian churches in Saudi Arabia.
This is brilliant, as it cannot be called persecution of a people, but holding their religion to a non-hypocritical standard. If their religion cannot abide religious freedom for others, it limits it for itself.
When they open their mouth to complain, tell them to complain to the Saudis.
#7
Is this the same Muslim World League to which the Islamic Apartheid Republic of Saudi Arabia has pumped 100 billion into since 1962 to disseminate radical Wahhabi Islamic principles?
#8
Declare the Muzz criminals. Give them 30 days to leave. They won't, so start giving out hunting tags. When we observe how well and efficiently this works, we copy.
TORONTO (Reuters) - The leader of Canada's main opposition party faced a growing chorus of calls on Saturday to step aside immediately just two days after he looked poised to take power in the country as head of a center-left coalition.
Members of Stephane Dion's Liberal Party and editorials called for his quick ouster after Prime Minister Stephen Harper won a rare suspension of Parliament, allowing his Conservative government to avoid being defeated in a confidence vote. Concerns about Dion's ability to keep leading the Liberals -- and the multiparty coalition formed to defeat the Harper government over its response to the economic crisis -- intensified as Canadians gathered at raucous rallies across the country Saturday in support of both sides in the battle.
The most prominent call for a speedy exit came from former Liberal deputy prime minister John Manley, who said Dion had become an obstacle who had bound the party to the coalition with the left-wing New Democratic Party with the support of the Bloc Quebecois, which wants to take Quebec out of Canada.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
looks like the opposition overplayed their hand and tried for political gain during teh econom ic crisis. I've read that they've taken a huge beating in public opinion polls over their bungle
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/07/2008 0:34 Comments ||
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President-elect Barack Obama today will introduce retired Army Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as his nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, bringing to his Cabinet a career military officer best known for running afoul of the Bush administration by questioning the Pentagon's Iraq war strategy.
Shinseki, a four-star general and 38-year veteran who retired shortly after the fall of Baghdad in 2003, will appear with Obama in Chicago at a news conference today commemorating the 67th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor. Obama said Shinseki agreed to join the incoming administration because "both he and I share a reverence for those who serve."
Military leaders and veterans advocates hailed Obama's selection of Shinseki, describing the nominee as a soft-spoken, dynamic leader who is widely respected by rank-and-file service members past and present.
Retired Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, who was President Bush's secretary of state at the time of the Iraq invasion, called Shinseki "a superb choice. . . . He is a wounded hero who survived and worked his way to the top. He knows soldiers and knows what it takes to keep faith with the men and women who went forth to serve the nation. He also knows how to run large and complex bureaucratic institutions. His is an inspired selection." Powell, also a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, supported Obama's election.
Shinseki, 66, was twice awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Vietnam.
Kori Schake, a fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution who served on Bush's National Security Council during the run-up to the war, said Shinseki is "a great choice. . . . Shinseki will be a terrific advocate for and leader of our Veterans Administration. He distinguished himself in caring for wounded warriors while chief of staff, and I'm certain he will serve veterans and the country well."
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Didnt care for some of his stuff as a commander, but for the VA he may be the right guy.
#5
Nimble and Spemble, beat me to it (on both bits of snark!).
This may indeed be a good choice for VA. Obviously Shinseki deserves the plaudits as a committed vet who served and sacrificed. My only question here is, why embarrass himself with the line about The One sharing his reverence for soldiers?
Not saying it's untrue - just that it seems extremely unlikely, and all known opportunities to assess said reverence have turned up "negative". If anything, the new boss seems likely to be uncomfortable around the uniforms, much as Billy Joe Bob was.
Shinseki shoulda confined his remarks to the usual (and true) boilerplate about being glad of the opportunity to serve those who served, etc etc.
A U.S. lawyer, of Lebanese origin, has filed a claim with the Supreme Court challenging President-elect Barack Obama's presidency, citing suspicions over his birth certificate, a Saudi newspaper reported on Friday.
Somehow I have my doubts anything is ever going to come of this, regardless of the merits of the case...
The people pushing these cases are for the most part Troofers and wingnuts of various types.
Joseph Farah argued that Obama does not have a birth certificate to prove that he was born an American--as opposed to being naturalized--which might contradict the U.S. constitution, the London-based al-Hayat reported.
Farah alleges that Obama was not born in Hawaii but in Mombasa, Kenya and has gathered more than 45,000 signatures to petition constitutional authorities to force Obama to present his original birth certificate to make sure he is suitable for the presidency before Jan.20.
According to article 2, section 1 of the American constitution "No person except a natural born Citizen...shall be eligible to the Office of President" effectively excluding naturalized citizens.
The Lebanese Christian lawyer--who heads an anti-Arab and Islam website--has previously launched a campaign against former president Bill Clinton through a series of news features over the suicide of the White House lawyer Fence Foster in 1993.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
And just what do they expect to do if they are right?
President Biden? YIKES.
If Hillary becomes VP in that corcumstance, I'd lay 8:5 on Biden haveing a stroke fairly soon after takling office.
#3
Stroke? Shit, he'll just turn up missing and be found on a table in the WH after a few years, probably having suffered a self-inflicted gunshot complete with suicide note.
Last I looked, Farah's petition had over 160k signatures, not 45k.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/07/2008 1:26 Comments ||
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#5
I have to wonder what these kooks think they are accomplishing.
What would happen in the unlikely event that they succeed and Obama is somehow determined to be ineligible?
Under the 12th Amendment, the winning candidate must receive an absolute majority of electoral votes. McCain cannot become president no matter how this shakes out. Complicating this is the fact that 24 states have laws requiring electors to vote for the person to whom they are pledged, but I haven't checked to see how this affects the vote count. If enough Democrat electors can switch their votes to someone else, presumably Biden, he could still get an absolute majority. If not, nobody has an absolute majority and the election goes to the Democrat controlled house.
If Obama is declared ineligible after the electoral college vote, the result is the same yet again, Biden becomes VP since his eligibility is not in dispute and immediately succeeds to the vacant presidency on January 20th.
One odd possibility is that Biden could actually be elected to both offices; if Obama's ineligibility is declared before December 15th and enough Obama electors can switch their votes to him. He can only accept one though, so, once again, he ends up as POTUS and has to nominate a new VP.
#7
They say we're young and we don't know
We won't find out until we grow
Well I don't know if all that's true
'Cause you got me, and baby I got you
Babe
I got you babe I got you babe
They say our love won't pay the rent
Before it's earned, our money's all been spent
I guess that's so, we don't have a pot
But at least I'm sure of all the things we got
Babe
I got you babe I got you babe
I got flowers in the spring I got you to wear my ring
And when I'm sad, you're a clown
And if I get scared, you're always around
So let them say your hair's too long
'Cause I don't care, with you I can't go wrong
Then put your little hand in mine
There ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb
[HIM:] Babe
[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe
I got you to hold my hand
I got you to understand
I got you to walk with me
I got you to talk with me
Igot you to kiss goodnight
I got you to hold me tight
I got you, I won't let go
I got you to love me so
I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe
#8
It seems extremely unlikely that Obama is not a 'natural born' citizen - but it IS bothersome that he refuses to release the original long-form document. Why not? What unpleasant information could possibly be on it? Is he just doing it on general principle, like the Republicans resisting release of the Cheney files? (If so, I think it is misguided principle, and I think a process should be established where all candidates are required to prove their eligibility.)
#9
I don't care who ends up with it, but they should be a natural born citizen. If you let this guy slide in there with a 'close enough', it will be the thin end of the wedge.
#13
oldfolk, atomic conspiracy, et al, you miss the point. Is he qualified or isn't he? If he isn't and is allowed to assume the office then we've said the constitution doesn't matter.
Posted by: Boss Flealet4612 ||
12/07/2008 12:26 Comments ||
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#14
If O(shit) gets in next time I nominate Arnold Swarcheneger (SP?)
I think the governator is probably overqualified, just born in the wrong place.
Posted by: Rednek Jim ||
12/07/2008 12:55 Comments ||
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#15
Hellfish nails it. The Constitution makes it clear who is qualified to become President. If the Big O did not qualify, then he is committing fraud. However the Constitution does not specify minimum qualifications to apply for the job. Too bad, heh.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
12/07/2008 15:30 Comments ||
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#16
My gut feeling says this will be thrown out and not to waste any more brainpower hoping.
Posted by: Grolush Darling of the Hatfields3195 ||
12/07/2008 16:49 Comments ||
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#17
What worries me is that they refuse to release the birt cert. Its a simple thing. WHy not?
#20
Too bad Obama won't have to go through a security clearance check. I would like to hear his explanation counting US Navy ship traffic into Pearl with his old man Frank. I bet the Japanese wished they had a few Franks in their employ in 1941.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 17:38 Comments ||
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#21
Good afternoon Ed, I am Special Agent Smith with the Defense Security Service. Mr. Obama has listed you on his ESPQ as a character reference. Would you know of any reason why Mr. Obama should not be trusted with the safeguarding of our nation's classified materials......?
#22
I did have to prove my birth, and produce a birth certificate, as well as qualify for my security clearance. I'll grant the clearance comes with the job, (not the other way around liek iti did for me), but basic qualifications shoudl be answered. They were for McCain in terms of his being born in a O-CONUS hospital.
Why can I not ask the same for someone taking the highest office in the land?
And by the way, NS, Fuck you. I never clainmed to have a halo. Who the hell or you to drag such things up you asshole?
#23
And one other thing Nimble Spin-ble, its not *my* halo thats in question in incredibly annoying piee of shit. Quit goignoff topic and talk about Obama's qualifications if you have the guts and brainpower (neither of which are your strong suits).
#24
And FYI, I believe this is all a big bunch of nothing and probably a waste of time. I have a feeling the natural born citizen thing will resolve eventually as a vanity issue for "Barry", considering his ego. Its probably somethign liek a different named father or different birth name on the birth cert.
But don't go after the questioners or call into question their "halo" - they are NOT the ones taking office -- thats an old lefty distraction tactic used only be feeblminded idiots. The questioners, no matter how stupid themselves, have a right to an answer to this particualr question. We should know that whoever takes office does so constitutionally -- like the election and Electoral College -- this is just part and parcel of the same. (Unlike Andrews Sullivan's addleminded pursuit of "Trig was not Palins son", or other fringe truther/winger issues).
NEW DELHI: India has rejected a demand from Pakistan officials for "compensation" for alleged "reduced flows" into the Chenab river after the first and one-time filling of the newly constructed Baglihar dam in Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining that the charge was "unsubstantiated." The 450 MW hydroelectric project was commissioned in August last.
An Indian team of experts led by Commissioner (Indus) in the Water Resources Ministry G. Aranganathan that visited Pakistan for on the spot inspection held the view that there was discrepancy in the manner in which water flows were measured at Merala barrage on Chenab. The team returned here on Thursday after a three-day visit.
While the outflows were measured, there was no mechanism to measure inflows into Merala barrage. Pakistan has charged India with not maintaining an inflow of 55,000 cusecs at Marala, as is mandatory under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, during the initial filling of the Baglihar dam. The filling is a one-time event.
The Indian side was unable to inspect the records at Merala so as to verify the veracity of Pakistan claims with regard to water flows, according to sources. According to the official sources, the data supplied to the Indian delegation was of the outflows, while there was no mechanism to measure inflows. "The water level data was fluctuating and did not reflect the inflows at Merala," the sources said.
During the period there was flooding in Ravi, which waters were used for irrigation in addition to the Chenab waters, the sources claimed.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/07/2008 07:57 ||
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#1
God, i wish India would just smoke the pakis already
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are planning to offer loans of around $2 billion to Pakistan to help the country fight its financial crisis, a private TV channel reported on Saturday.
According to the channel, former International Monetary Fund (IMF) director for Middle East and South Asia Mohsin Khan told a small group of experts in Washington about the amounts Pakistan could expect from other donors, including those from Riyadh and the UAE. He said the IMF programme had paved the way for other funds to be mobilised toward Pakistan, adding he expected to see $1 billion from the UAE and between $500 million to $1 billion from Saudi Arabia for Pakistan's recovery programme, the channel added.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Just what the doctor ordered...prolonging the existence and arming further of a failed state.
Iran's legislative watchdog, the, rejected on Saturday new strict rules set by parliament for presidential candidates, the official IRNA news agency reported.
In early November parliament introduced age limits and strict educational criteria into electoral law in a bid to deter frivolous runners from standing for president.
But Abbas Ali Kadkhoadi, spokesman for the hard-line vetting body said the new rules were "contradictory to the constitution." The Guardians Council reviews parliamentary decisions and interprets the constitution.
A final decision is in the hands of the top political arbitration board, the Expediency Council, which settles differences between parliament and the vetting body.
The council's move came ahead of a presidential election set for June 12 next year, when incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to seek a second four-year term. Under the amendment to the electoral law, candidates should have been aged between 40 and 75 and hold the equivalent of a master's degree from a university or seminary. The original law does not set age limits or stipulate a diploma.
Under the amendment, candidates should have already served in a national post such as president, vice-president, minister, judiciary, military or broadcasting official, or as mayor of a major city.
The 12-member Guardians Council rejected the rules even though the text remained silent on the nomination of women, something the council has always rejected. It underlined that the word "rejal" mentioned in the constitution is the plural of "rajol," Farsi for "man."
"The parliamentary approval has restricted or expanded some of the conditions for president, against the constitution," Kadkhodai said, referring to requirements that any candidates should be "rajol" and an Iranian national.
The new amendment sought to prevent frivolous applications, as for example in 2005 when a young unemployed man registered to run "to find a job" and an illiterate villager applied because he wanted "to save the country."
Posted by: Fred ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
If real diplomas won't be required, perhaps they'll require fake diplomas.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
12/07/2008 16:24 Comments ||
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#1
So lessee - the greenest president ever is gonna build more ROADS for all those eeeevil internal combustion engine cars to drive on? Whut will algore say?
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
12/07/2008 18:25 Comments ||
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#2
It's cool. O's gonna build it out of hemp.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 18:50 Comments ||
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OPEC president Chakib Khelil says oil markets should prepare for a "surprise" output cut after the organization's Algeria meeting. "A consensus has formed for a significant reduction of production levels" by the 14-member Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Khelil told AP on Saturday.
The OPEC head's warning comes as markets have already been expecting an output reduction; however, Khelil said that it could be "severe," suggesting cuts of as much as 2 million barrels per day. A decision that startles markets would help bolster slumping oil prices, Khelil said. "The best way is to surprise them," he said. "I hope it (the decision) will."
Khelil urged oil producers outside OPEC to help the organization boost prices, especially Russia. Moscow had earlier said it could sign a cooperation memorandum with OPEC in Oran.
OPEC members are expected to announce their decision during a summit in Oran, Algeria, on December 17. The decision comes as crude prices slipped to $40.81 a barrel on Friday, the lowest level since May 2005. This is while only in July, prices peaked at record highs above $140 a barrel.
The Saudi Arabian king earlier said that $75 a barrel would be a fair price, an idea that has received the support of other members of the organization. Khelil urged oil producers outside OPEC to help the organization boost prices, especially Russia. Moscow had earlier said it could sign a cooperation memorandum with OPEC in Oran.
"We hope that Russia will apply (quota decisions) ... as if it were an OPEC member,'' he said, adding that the OPEC decision is not intended to "hurt the world economy."
Exporters have been pummeled with low prices, falling demand and declining revenue as a result of the dark outlook of the global economy. Earlier in November, Khelil was quoted by the Algerian newspaper El Khabar as saying that the group's member states had lost about $700 billion due to falling oil prices.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
If they did this BHO might be backed into a corner so he couldn't block oil, gas, clean coal, nuclear development as he wants to do.
#2
Khelil, you lying MF, you and your thieving bastard friends haven't got the stones to do it. Screw you. I dare you to cut production and make it stick.
#5
Production cuts at a time of reduced demand? Makes sense to me. There are really only so many storage tanks and the stuff is bloody auwful to drink.
#6
Remember that Obambi's power is rather limited, and that the spineless Democrats in congress know that if they cut off the oil, there are going to be very irate voters outside their offices with torches and pitchforks.
Posted by: Bobby ||
12/07/2008 8:52 Comments ||
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#8
This part of the cycle will play out as it must. OPEC is still in denial. Don't look for a bottom just yet. When the Arabs despair of oil ever returning to profitibility, we will see a bottom. It can't rise much, though, until demand increases. If most of the world's production areas use Obama's formula, that demand could be a long time coming. For FDR, it took a war, a very big war.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
12/07/2008 10:10 Comments ||
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#9
The Paks are doing all they can to help the Zero be another FDR.
#10
Announcing a production cut is one thing, actually cutting production is quite another. Most of the OPEC countries have little else to sell. What good does it do to cut your production in half unless it at least doubles the price of oil? They are preparing to shoot themselves in the foot, I hope we can be of assistance.
#11
"We hope that Russia will apply (quota decisions) ... as if it were an OPEC member.''
As much, if not more then ever, itll be extremely difficult for the Russkies to maintain a sustained loss of market share. Of course, if they give the turbans the finger they risk an outright price war. Dance Big Bear Dance!
#12
OK, let me get this straight. They have seen revenue fall by 70% and now they're going to cut it further by reducing output? I think even Keynes would understand why that ain't gonna happen.
#13
Our country is in deep economical trouble and it just amazes me how little credit has been given to the high cost of fuel this past year. That one single factor alone has been solely responsible for putting more businesses out of business and more homeowners out of their home than any other factor. The historically high cost of gas affects every single aspect of our economy and society. Most family's went broke filling up at the pump alone. Then added to the burden was the higher cost of every consumer product because the increased production and shipping cost due to the higher fuel was passed on to the consumer. Let me ask you this, have you seen the price of groceries come down since the price of gas came back down. NOOO! Freddie and Fannie are taking most of the blame for homes being lost. Of all the homes I have seen lost in my area of the country S FL and I have seen many and many more in the process, not one was due to an adjustable rate mortgage. It was due to lack of work. When we pay more for gas and products we naturally cut back spending, that is a domino effect, less consumer spending = more jobs lost. We seriously need to get on about the business of becoming energy independent. Jeff Wilson just released a book called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW. He outlines all our uses of oil, things I never even considered. Our depletion, which is even scarier, this is a finite source of energy. It will run totally out and not in the too distant future. We have so much available to us, wind and solar which are free, we just need to harness them. And plug in car technology. It would cost the equivalent of 60 cents a gallon to charge an electric car with the average home electric rates. That is insanely cheap. That electricity to charge the car could be generated from wind or solar. A company called Better Place in Palo Alto CA is in the beginning stages of setting up the infrastructures needed to support electric car use in the bay area in CA and now in Hawaii. WE need to take some of these billions and get ourselves out from under our dependence on foreign countries supplying our main source of energy. I encourage you to read this book www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com. I also have quickly become a "Better Place" junkie and applauded their work as they move our country forward and away from our dependence on foreign oil. Check out their web site as well. http://www.betterplace.com/ click on their get involved button on the top right side of the main page. You can sign a petition there. WE have to move this country forward. Use some of that stimulus money to bail us out of our dependence on foreign oil. Create badly needed new green collar jobs and at the same time provide clean , cheap energy. There is no one single factor that effects our economy more than the cost of our main source of energy. This past year is a testimony to that!
#14
oh puhleeez. Handwringing aside. Very few homes were lost, and most were due to people getting in over their heads with loans they couldn't afford, expecting the increase in value to allow them to re-fi or sell and pocket the increase. Gas prices haven't helped, but only a very few lost their jobs due to the gas prices, otherwise we'd be in a hiring frenzy at $1.70/gal. Prices reflect gas and trans costs, but also credit cost and availability, supply/demand....you may have heard some issues about that lately, or not?
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/07/2008 13:18 Comments ||
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#17
In other words, I should replace the sun roof on my car with solar panels... and put a sail on the roof. No? Then we're going to have to double the number of power plants in the U.S. to feed the demand from the electric vehicles, and the power plants will perforce need to be powered either by natural gas or nuclear reactors. Which do you prefer, Thutle Hapsburg6846, and how many jobs will be created for the construction and then running of the plants?
#20
You do not charge electric cars with thermal power plants. It is inefficient because of the thermal cycle. If you want to build thermal power plants, build nuclear ones, and use the rejected heat for district heating, process heating, or running greenouses, or something useful requiring low level heat.
[paragraph end, start new one]
We have adequate oil to make the transition. What we need are brains, basic understanding of energy, physics, and engineering principles, and a national policy or direction if you will.
We are stuck with a congress of thieves, morons (no disrespect to honest mentally challenged), and traitors, and a weak president. This country is going nowhere on national energy policy that makes sense until the present Congress, at least is literally and figuratively thrown out.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
12/07/2008 15:23 Comments ||
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#21
Most commuters drive less than 40 miles/day. An electric car should get 4-5 miles/kWh, so say 10kWh/day for the average commuter. The nuclear electric power capacity is currently 100,000 MW. That's enough to charge 240 million of the 10kWh electric/hybrid cars. But given that most charging will be at night (10 hrs) that's still enough nuke juice to charge 100 million cars/night. And nukes are less than 20% of US electric generation capacity (coal is 50%). So the energy is already available.
That's why I advocate subsidizing the first 5kWh of batteries and really pushing hydridization for every car sold in the US (~$2-2500). Not only will the first 15-20 miles be all electric, but the car itself will be at least 50% more efficient on gasoline (average). The $30-40 billion/year for 15 or 16 million cars is 3 months cost of the Bush's Muslim Reeducation Initiative (has it been 7 years already). In 10 years, the US will be exporting excess oil.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 15:56 Comments ||
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#22
Have to disagree with you Paul, electric vehicles are actually more efficient than gasoline powered cars, even when the electricity is coal generated. It's all about well to wheels efficiency.
Two other energy advantages of electric transportation are:
1. Cheap and domestic fuel source.
2. Waste heat from a power plant can be used for other purposes, that from a tail pipe can't.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 16:07 Comments ||
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#23
I just walked in the house. It's windy and cold here. And I'm just in PA. How do you heat an electric car in winter?
BTW, the air conditioner works much more efficiently off electricity than the accessory belt. And AC is just another name for a heat pump.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 17:07 Comments ||
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#25
In case the first part of #24 is too obtuse, the engine can be run to heat the car, drive the electric motors and charge the batteries.
When batteries have the charge, the AC can be used as a heat pump.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 17:13 Comments ||
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#26
It's 17º. I don't need a/c. Electric resistance heating takes a lot of juice, especially when the battry won't hold a lot of charge. What's that do to mileage.
#27
Nimble. Who mentioned resistance heating? That is a waste of both engine and battery power. You must be from the heated fanny, Volvo riding set.
There are two efficient sources of heat. First there the AC/heat pump. Even a cheap $100 Walmart AC moves 10 units of energy for every unit of electrical energy. That is for when you have plenty of battery capacity. Then when the battery is being charged, there is the waste heat from the engine as used in cars today. Both systems work.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 17:33 Comments ||
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#32
Actually, I made a mistake. I used the SEER number which is BTU/Watt-hour, but there are 3.4 BTUs/Watt-hour. So a 12 SEER heat pump would move 3.5 units of heat per unit of electrical energy.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 17:52 Comments ||
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#34
Sorry, Ed. Didn't see your shift to plug in hybrid.
Heating remains a problem at low temps if you don't have that excess heat from a combustion engine. And no I don't have a seat heater in my 16 year old Toyota. Heat pumps at 17º aren't very effective even if they are efficient. And after you leave the car outside all day at work, they're going to be really cold for a long time ifv you don't have combustion.
#35
Efficient heating is a problem. But it's not an all or nothing scenario. Any combination of heat pump and engine heat will do. For instance, during a winter start, the car's computer can run the engine first for a few minutes to heat the interior and the battery pack. Then shut the engine down for 5-10 minutes, run on batteries and use residual engine heat to warm the interior. Then start the engine again. Whatever parameters give the best overall efficiency and comfort.
But to return to subject, we have to reduce our oil usage by at least half. At the peak oil price, Americans were spending at a rate of $1 trillion/year for oil with $700 billion/year of that leaving the US. No wonder it triggered a recession.
As long as those who want to kill or enslave us can bleed us and vastly enrich themselves by destabilizing the energy supply, then this war will go on and the west will die by a thousand tiny cuts. Either cut off their heads or cut off their access to the west's teats. So far no inclination has been shown to cut off heads, so let's try isolating them from us and our goodies. Take care of the energy problem and not only can the muzzie problem become a pimple, but the majority of the other badly behaving states also lose their leverage.
Posted by: ed ||
12/07/2008 18:31 Comments ||
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#36
If you want to build thermal power plants, build nuclear ones, and use the rejected heat for ... or running greenouses
That was tried at the Bruce nuclear facility in Ontario, incidentally the largest in the world. The greens were all over it with Frankenfoods and it never went anywhere.
BTW, the solution to the nuclear siting NIMBY problem is to offer free heating to the local community. That would be a big incentive in colder regions.
#37
The energy problem is relatively easy. Variable import fee to keep the price of imported oil at $100 per barrel adjusted for inflation. The will to do it is the problem.
#38
Interestingly, what is taking off is electricity generation from waste domestic heating.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroCHP
Grid distribution of electricity only makes sense if your energy source is cheap and can't easily be distributed (nuclear?). Although, production of small 'community sized' nuclear plants has started.
President-elect Barack Obama said yesterday he's asked his economic team for a recovery plan that saves or creates more than 2 million jobs, makes public buildings more energy-efficient and invests in the country's roads and schools.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/07/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
There are what, 13 million, illegals---just deport them and you'll have 13 million jobs.
#3
... invests in the country's roads and schools.
So where's all that federal gas tax money been going to? [Rhetorical question - its been dumped into general revenue and an ever smaller cut committed to the actually roads and bridges it was justified upon.] And as for the schools, compare local and state government increases in outlays since 1980 with most other aspects of the society and you'll find you haven't got any return on investment. So, what makes anyone think that throwing more money [to the same suspects responsible for poor performance in the first place] is going to change anything.
You want 2 million new jobs? How about 100,000 new border guards and another 25,000 lawyers and 25,000 lobbyists paper expediters for ICE to enforce existing laws? Are we going to see that rather and Chicago style work handouts projects to build a dependent patronage clientele to vote to keep their jobs next time around? Socialism is marvelous.
Instead of reading up on the mythology of FDR, put down that book, and start watching a couple seasons of Mike Rowe's "Dirty Jobs" and see the kind of work that Americans are willing to do, at least those who 'want' to work.
#4
A plan like this *could* help, given a downturn in economic activity, and taken in moderation. Especially since America's infrastructure needs shoring up. Now is the time to build.
However, the democrats will go totally overboard. Then add the lard. Public projects are their stopped clock solution in good times and bad. Given the excuse of bad times and with single party federal power, it will be pigs at the trough^n.
As to the "miracle" of FDR, read Amity Shlaes "The Forgotten Man".
Posted by: Minister of funny walks ||
12/07/2008 9:41 Comments ||
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#5
So, what makes anyone think that throwing more money [to the same suspects responsible for poor performance in the first place] is going to change anything.
P2K, you sadly miss the point ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/07/2008 10:13 Comments ||
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#6
Construction jobs are tough, isn't this is one of the jobs Americans don't want to do? Most of the construction workers I see are immigrants so I would think that most of the money will go back to Mexico. I'm sure Calderon is pleased.
#7
...isn't this is one of the jobs Americans don't want to do?
As the aforementioned Mike Rowe series shows and the long lines of Americans at packing plants the days after a major ICE raid demonstrate, Americans will do the jobs, but not under a thuggish management which treats them like disposable crap. Particularly, management which suspects some one in the group might actually understand the law, like the Fair Labor Standards Act. That kind of management prefers peons who don't talk back and can be threatened with arbitrary firing.
#8
Dunno, Min of Funny Walks, this "infrastructure" mantra has been the generic macro stimulus thing pushed by Dems for two decades now. As you note, it's their "stopped clock" solutions to downturns.
However, I question whether that nice metaphor really applies, since that stopped clock is probably not "correct" even in a downturn. First, I am skeptical that there is net benefit from any stimulus, of any kind - and fairly certain there is far less benefit than one would obtain from superior choices, all of which consist of the state sector getting out of the way (lower taxes, deregulation esp. on small business).
Second, the "infrastructure" string has been pushed on for some time now. Does everyone forget the worst of the bloated Bush II era spending bills - the "highway bill"? Besides, states have most of the responsibility for infrastructure, and I don't see too many states that have been exactly restrained in their spending lately.
I find it very very difficult to believe that infrastructure is any sort of real problem across America today, any more than it usually is. And where it is, states are the primary culprits in falling behind on maintenance.
I fear the current approach - addressing a downturn stumble resulting from an over-leveraged economy by creating even MORE leverage in the form of sovereign debt and money creation - cannot end well. It surely poisons the investment environment - which is battered enough by the absurd bail-outs, the "anything goes" mentality they reveal, and the prospect of even dumber excesses by the incoming jacka, er, Donk admin.
#9
project delivery is a defined schedule for most large infrastructure projects. 1-2 yrs prelim engineering 2-3 yrs enviro process (even longer if it's controversial), 1-2 yrs final design, right-of-way acquisition 6 mos bidding, and voila! you're right into the next administration. Perhaps the O will be willing to waive environmental review? Didn't think so.
There aren't a lot of huge (or medium) projects sitting on a shelf for bailout funds to kickstart the construction. He's an idiot
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/07/2008 13:22 Comments ||
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#10
Maybe the enviro process could be collapsed, like totally, as part of a bi-partisan effort.
#11
Every one of these jobs will have UNION companies getting preferential bidding contracts. We are going to use tax dollars to create an enormous resurgence of UNION jobs who will in turn create UAW like monsters again, whose dues coffers are going to sustain the Democrat party's dominance over the US for decades. Right in front of your eyes they are cementing one party rule...... and making you even more of a tax-serf than you are now!
Change you can believe in - changing your basic political rights to those of an indentured servant, whoase earnings are used to pay the compant store!
project delivery is a defined schedule for most large infrastructure projects. 1-2 yrs prelim engineering 2-3 yrs enviro process (even longer if it's controversial), 1-2 yrs final design, right-of-way acquisition 6 mos bidding, and voila! you're right into the next administration. Perhaps the O will be willing to waive environmental review? Didn't think so.
There aren't a lot of huge (or medium) projects sitting on a shelf for bailout funds to kickstart the construction. He's an idiot.
Fixed that for ya', Frank. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
12/07/2008 16:32 Comments ||
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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.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe came under fresh international pressure yesterday over his country's economic collapse as his government announced plans to introduce a 200 million dollar bill.
A U.S. lawyer, of Lebanese origin, has filed a claim with the Supreme Court challenging President-elect Barack Obama's presidency, citing suspicions over his birth certificate, a Saudi newspaper reported on Friday.
President-elect Barack Obama said yesterday he's asked his economic team for a recovery plan that saves or creates more than 2 million jobs, makes public buildings more energy-efficient and invests in the country's roads and schools.
