Bangladeshs grand political alliance led by the powerful Awami League will contest parliamentary elections, a top leader said on Sunday, days after the president met its demands and postponed the disputed ballot. The alliance had boycotted the polls saying the president, as head of an interim administration, was favouring its rivals. It wanted the polls to be delayed and voters lists updated to ensure a free and fair election, which had been set for Jan 22. We have decided to participate in the elections, Awami League general-secretary Abdul Jalil told Reuters in an interview.
This present caretaker government has to go ahead with the preparation of the Election Commission, voters list ... then we are ready to participate at any moment. The decision by the alliance came two days after it called off plans for new blockades and strikes in the poor South Asian country after President Iajuddin Ahmed gave in to mounting pressure and stepped down as head of an interim government tasked with holding the polls.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshs newly installed interim government met for the first time Sunday to begin work on steering the country out of a state of emergency and into free and fair elections. New interim government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed is tasked with finding an exit from a political crisis that has left dozens dead and paralysed the already impoverished country since the outgoing government stepped down last October.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - Bangladesh's new interim leader consolidated his power Sunday by taking over the two agencies that control the army, police and paramilitary security forces. The move by acting leader Fakhruddin Ahmed to take control of the Interior Ministry and Election Commission came days after the president declared a state of emergency in an attempt to quell weeks of deadly unrest over upcoming elections.
Sounds like he's planning to stay awhile.
Ahmed was appointed Friday after President Iajuddin Ahmed stepped down as leader of a caretaker government. Iajuddin Ahmed retained his title of president, a largely ceremonial position.
More than 4,000 people were detained after the state of emergency was announced, including 1,518 people arrested since Saturday evening, the Interior Ministry said.
Yup, he's going to be around for some time. Slow-motion coup.
Fakhruddin Ahmed met with acting Chief Election Commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman on Sunday to make fresh election plans in the impoverished country. Politicians have demanded that the ballot, which the president had postponed from its original Jan. 22 date, be held as soon as possible. "We have planned to sit with leaders of all political parties to discuss ways on how we can proceed further," said the commission's secretary, Abdur Rashid Sarker.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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Venezulean President Hugo Chavez on Saturday steered his oil-rich country more towards the left by proclaiming that his government would nationalize all of Venezuela's energy and telecommunications sectors.
Chavez announced the plans to take over majority stakes in industries such as oil, electricity and telecom during his annual state of the nation address before Venezuela's parliaments. "We have decided to nationalize the whole Venezuelan energy and electricity sector, all of it, absolutely all," Chavez said, opening up what could be a battle between his government and the many foreign companies that operate in Venezuela.
Of particular note was Chavez's proclamation that Venezuela was close to being ready to take over the oil project run by foreign companies in the country's Orinoco Belt. Venezuela, an OPEC member, is the No. 4 oil exporter to the United States, and several American companies such as Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp. and ConocoPhillips run the projects (that) turn the Orinoco Belt's heavy crude into fuel oil.
Chavez, who holds strong anti-American sentiments, said the foreign firms could remain in Venezuela, but only as minority stakeholders in the government holdings. "If someone wants to stay on as our partner, then the door is open but if he does not want to stay as our minority partner then hand me the field and goodbye," Chavez said in his address.
Posted by: ed ||
01/15/2007 07:11 ||
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#1
Rig timed thermite grenades to every critial node within the refineries and get everybody out of there.
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/15/2007 10:13 Comments ||
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#3
They nationalized their oil industry 50 years ago and it took 30 years to recover. It will never recover this time (resource is finite and damage to marginal part of the resource is generally permanent.)
#4
51% is just the first move. I'll wager that they will simply confiscate the remainder of the interest in the next 10 years. This should do wonders for their stock market, and foreign investment.
SANTIAGO - Cubas ailing leader Fidel Castro, not seen in public since surgery nearly six months ago, is on the mend, his son and namesake Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart told local media during a visit to Chile, the El Mercurio newspaper reported on Sunday. Hes getting better, better, I see him improving, Castro Junior, also known as Fidelito because of how much he looks like his father, said after the inauguration of a scientific center in southern Chile on Saturday.
"The rigor mortis is almost all worn off! That's a good sign, right?"
His son said on Saturday that the Cuban leader was in a positive and optimistic mood.
I'm positively optimistic that the old goat is gonna croak soon.
The younger Castro, a physicist who studied in the ex-Soviet Union, did not comment further on his fathers health.
"I can say no more!"
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
It's almost like reading a story about Air America Radio.
#2
Mostly dead better or pining for the fjords better? Hopefully, Madame Tussaud's will do a good job on Fidel's commie corpse. I look forward to visiting it one day when Cuba is free.
#6
FIDEL:
I'm not dead!
MORTICIAN:
What?
RAUL:
Nothing. Here's your pesos.
FIDEL:
I'm not dead!
MORTICIAN:
'Ere. He says he's not dead!
RAUL:
Yes, he is.
FIDEL:
I'm not!
MORTICIAN:
He isn't?
RAUL:
Well, he will be soon. He's very ill.
FIDEL:
I'm getting better!
RAUL:
No, you're not. You'll be stone dead in a moment.
MORTICIAN:
Oh, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
FIDEL:
I don't want to go on the cart!
RAUL:
Oh, don't be such a baby.
MORTICIAN:
I can't take him.
FIDEL:
I feel fine!
RAUL:
Well, do us a favour.
MORTICIAN:
I can't.
MORTICIAN:
Well, can you hang around a couple of minutes? He won't be long.
MORTICIAN:
No, I've got to go to the Rodriguez'. They've lost nine today.
RAUL:
Well, when's your next round?
MORTICIAN:
Thursday.
FIDEL:
I think I'll go for a walk.
RAUL:
You're not fooling anyone, you know. Look. Isn't there something you can do?
RAUL: [singing]
I feel happy. I feel happy.
[whop]
RAUL:
Ah, thanks very much.
MORTICIAN:
Not at all. See you on Thursday.
Formerly secret documents unearthed from the National Archives have showed Britain and France considered a "union" in the 1950s. On 10 September 1956 French Prime Minister Guy Mollet arrived in London for talks with his British counterpart, Anthony Eden.
These were troubled times for Mollet's France. Egypt's President Gamel Abdel Nasser had nationalised the Suez Canal and, as if that was not enough, he was also busy funding separatists in French Algeria, fuelling a bloody mutiny that was costing the country's colonial masters dear. Monsieur Mollet was ready to fight back and he was determined to get Britain's help to do it.
Formerly secret documents held in Britain's National Archives in London, which have lain virtually unnoticed since being released two decades ago, reveal the extraordinary proposal Mollet was about to make.
The following is an extract from a British government cabinet paper of the day. It reads: "When the French Prime Minister, Monsieur Mollet was recently in London he raised with the prime minister the possibility of a union between the United Kingdom and France."
Mollet was desperate to hit back at Nasser. He was also an Anglophile who admired Britain both for its help in two world wars and its blossoming welfare state.
There was another reason, too, that the French prime minister proposed this radical plan. Tension was growing at this time along the border between Israel and Jordan. France was an ally of Israel and Britain of Jordan. If events got out of control there, French and British soldiers could soon be fighting each other.
With the Suez issue on the boil Mollet could not let such a disaster happen. So, when Eden turned down his request for a union between France and Britain the French prime minister came up with another proposal. This time, while Eden was on a visit to Paris, he requested that France be allowed to join the British Commonwealth.
A secret document from 28 September 1956 records the surprisingly enthusiastic way the British premier responded to the proposal when he discussed it with his Cabinet Secretary, Sir Norman Brook. It says: "Sir Norman Brook asked to see me this morning and told me he had come up from the country consequent on a telephone conversation from the prime minister who is in Wiltshire.
"The PM told him on the telephone that he thought in the light of his talks with the French:
"That we should give immediate consideration to France joining the Commonwealth
"That Monsieur Mollet had not thought there need be difficulty over France accepting the headship of her Majesty
"That the French would welcome a common citizenship arrangement on the Irish basis"
Seeing these words for the first time, Henri Soutou, professor of contemporary history at Paris's Sorbonne University almost fell off his chair. Stammering repeatedly he said: "Really I am stuttering because this idea is so preposterous. The idea of joining the Commonwealth and accepting the headship of Her Majesty would not have gone down well. If this had been suggested more recently Mollet might have found himself in court."
Nationalist MP Jacques Myard was similarly stunned on being shown the papers, saying: "I tell you the truth, when I read that I am quite astonished. I had a good opinion of Mr Mollet before. I think I am going to revise that opinion.
"I am just amazed at reading this because since the days I was learning history as a student I have never heard of this. It is not in the textbooks."
It seems that the French prime minister decided to quietly forget about his strange proposals. No record of them seems to exist in the French archives and it is clear that he told few other ministers of the day about them.
This might well be because after Britain decided to pull out of Suez, the battle against President Nasser was lost and all talk of union died too. Instead, when the EEC was born the following year, France teamed up with Germany while Britain watched on. The rest, it seems, is history.
Posted by: ed ||
01/15/2007 7:59 Comments ||
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..It wouldn't have been the first time - as France was going down in 1940, Churchill proposed the same thing.
France's response: "It would be like fusion with a corpse."
In fact it was Churchill and De Gaulle then a mere Sécrétaire d'Etat (sub-minsister) for War (ie he ranked below the Minister for Defence).
And the one who told about "union with a corpse" wasn't France ie its Prime Minister who wanted to continue war to the end but Generral Weygand ie the Chief of Staff, a mere Chief of Staff.
But it is funny that the rabid nationalist and quite anti-British who was De Gaulle was the main French proponent of union with England
#8
I think someone here it is out of his meds. France and Israel were inforaml allies but AFAIK allies as exchange of technology, intelligence and France providing to Israel the modern tanks (Israel still had first generation Shermans) and Jets it desperately neeeded (half of Isreal's planew were piston planes and for the jets they were first generation jets who according to Moshe Dayan were out of their league against Egypt's Mig15s) but AFAIK no French service man ever went to Israel so there was never any danger of armed confrontation between British and French troops or planes.
What COULD have happenned was armed confrontation between the RAF and the Israeli Air Force as during the major antiterrorist raid of Kalkilyah the King of Jordan invoked the defence treaty with the UK, requesting assistance from teh RAF. During this raid an Israeli unit found its retreat route cut by the Jordanians, the Israelis managed to extract it before sunrise but it was close thing. Had the operation failed, then the Israelis would have been forced to mount a large scale operation in daylight, with air support and... the possibility of having to confront the British.
In his book Dayan made some acid remarks about the British ("except for the Almighty no one is as good as complicating things as the British. Just when they more need us to confront Nasser they would have gone to war against us for the sake of Jordan")
Posted on the off-chance that the Turks have a ghost of an opportunity to join the EU.
Turkey has vowed to mount a do-it-yourself legislative onslaught to prepare for European Union membership, in spite of the fact that significant parts of the accession talks were suspended last month. The move is being welcomed by Brussels as a positive reaction by Ankara to the partial breakdown of the talks.
Volkan Bozkir, Turkeys ambassador to the EU, said Ankara would respond to last months setback by accelerating reforms, so that it was ready to join the EU when the political climate changed. Mr Bozkir told the Financial Times that Ankara had taken the latest blow to its accession prospects in a calm and professional way. He said: It shows Turkey wants to maintain its relationship with the EU. It would have been easy for Turkey to react strongly and to freeze part of its relationship or to express some kind of broken-hearted psychology.
In December the EU suspended membership talks in eight policy areas because of Turkeys refusal to open its ports to Cyprus an EU member since 2004 whose Greek Cypriot government Ankara refuses to recognise.
Last week Abdullah Gul, Turkeys foreign minister, convened more than 150 senior officials from different government departments to order them to draw up detailed legislative plans to prepare the country for EU membership.
Mr Bozkir said legislative plans for the years up until 2013 would be submitted by the end of January and would then be prioritised, with the aim of bringing the countrys laws and norms up to EU standards. The plan would cover 32 outstanding subject areas of the membership negotiations, including the eight frozen last month. He hoped preparatory work would be almost complete when the EU finally decided to open detailed talks.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Note to Turkey: you are Charley Brown, France is Lucy and EU membership is the football. Not to mention that the goalposts are always just out of reach.
Posted on the off, off-chance that France still matters.
Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday set out to convince the French people that he is not the arrogant, highly strung, and over-ambitious hardman his critics paint him, vowing to lead France as a humbled and changed man.
From the tone of the first sentence, you'd be correct if you thought that perhaps, maybe, just maybe, the Guardian isn't fond of lil' Nicky.
With the latest polls showing that more than half the electorate are disturbed by him, the interior minister, who has been seen as authoritarian and desperate to appeal to the extreme right, launched an image makeover with his presidential bid amid the pomp of a glittering US-style rally in southern Paris.
The leader of France's centre-right ruling UMP party was officially anointed presidential candidate with 98% of the vote after nobody challenged him to an internal party race, prompting critics' comparisons with the "self-coronation" of another French leader of diminutive height and large ambition, Napoleon.
Like Napoleon, Mr Sarkozy has portrayed himself as a political outsider, far from the elite ruling class, who has emerged from a humble background to save France from itself.
And he's got a tougher job ahead of him than Napoleon ever had.
He has urged a clean break with decades of centre-right government and demanded an end to the French model of regulation, state interference and high public spending, praising the free market Anglo-Saxon approach. He yesterday promised a new France of unburdened entrepreneurs and a Thatcherite revolution of new, confident home owners.
But his reputation as a free marketeer has meant many voters, already anxious about jobs and living standards, fear his economic reform plans. Some blamed his harsh language for unrest on poor housing estates and for stoking riots, and his unashamed declaration that he was a "friend of America" has prompted socialists to warn he would turn France into a franchise of "the George Bush company".
And if he did, all that would mean for France is an improving, dynamic economy with a lower unemployment rate, rising markets, rising median income, and more true clout in international affairs.
But yesterday Mr Sarkozy attempted to bat off criticism with a new caring face for the two-round presidential elections in April and May, assuring the public he was opposed to the war in Iraq and would defend France on the international stage. He appeared sober-faced, avoiding his once-trademark confident grin, which had been seized on by cartoonists as demonic.
The rally marked the official start of campaigning in the closest-run presidential election in recent history, that will pit Mr Sarkozy, long presented as the cocksure Alpha male who rose to ascendancy as France's "top cop", against the popular Socialist candidate, Ségolène Royal, France's first potential woman president, a mother of four who has positioned herself as a "caring voice", breaking with the arrogance of France's government by listening to the "citizens" who she feels "know best".
And guess how the Guardian favors? Yup, dear old 'Mom'.
Signalling a desire to rise above his partisan past, Mr Sarkozy told the rally: "I must turn towards all the French people. I must unite them.
Good luck with that, Nick.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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France is toast - doesn't matter who's elected.
Posted on the off-chance that Europe still matters.
TIRANA - Albanian President Alfred Moisiu on Sunday confirmed local elections would take place February 18 after rival parties reached a deal that averted a political crisis in the Balkan country. Moisiu made the announcement in a statement a day after 12 political parties agreed that the local elections should be held in February following protracted talks that he had chaired between them.
A week ago, the countrys electoral commission had warned the polls could not be held on January 20 as previously scheduled due to persistent disputes between the government and opposition.
The accord followed a joint appeal on Thursday by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, whose Democrats lead the countrys right-leaning parties, and his fierce opponent, Socialist leader and former president Fatos Nano.
The local elections are regarded as a test of the political maturity of Albania, which aspires to eventual membership of the European Union and the NATO military alliance. Mainly Muslim Albania has been warned by Brussels that free and fair elections are essential for progress on the road towards EU membership.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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The choices are between: Islamists#1 and Islamists#2.
Ruling out redrawing of borders, visiting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Pakistan's political leaders on Sunday that India wanted a calibrated approach to resolve political differences and suggested that the two countries emulate European Union example to forge close economic and trade cooperation.
Taking time off from his hectic schedule on the last day of his two-day visit to Islamabad, Mukherjee held an over one-and-half-hour meeting with top ruling and opposition party leaders over breakfast at the residence of Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Satyabrata Pal.
The meeting, officials said, provided an opportunity for Mukherjee to hold comprehensive talks with the political leaders on a host of issues, including the India-Pakistan peace process and the political scenario in Pakistan in the run up to general elections due to be held this year-end.
They said the discussion turned on issues relating to conflict resolution when leader of the opposition Maulana Fazlur Rehman referred to Musharraf's proposals of demilitarisation, self rule and joint management.
Mukherjee told Rehman that India's stand was that borders cannot be changed and the two countries should follow a step-by-step by approach in resolving the disputes and improve relations.
Pointing to remarks by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said it is a political reality that borders cannot be changed and there was no question of changing borders. He also said that the two countries were not in a 100-meter race to resolve issues.
In this context, Mukherjee referred to European Union, which he said was bogged down with conflicts 60 years ago and since then moved forward and emerged as the most developed block after the countries of EU set aside political differences and forged close trade and economic ties.
He also pointed to Pakistani political leaders about the close cooperation forged during the 2005 earthquake that had devastated parts of Kashmir region on both sides and North West Frontier Province. Such cooperation should be followed even during the normal times, he said.
There was also general discussion on Pakistan's political scene ahead of this year's elections.
After his meeting, Rehman told the Indian media persons that it was a goodwill meeting and had no formal agenda. He said it was agreed in the meeting that all the outstanding issues should be resolved through talks so that the people could live peacefully.
Rehman said a solution to the Kashmir issue should also be acceptable to Kashmiri people so they could also live with honour and dignity.
When asked whether he supports the dialogue process between Pakistan and India, Rehman said the meeting was not informed about the details of dialogue between the two countries.
However, the focal point of the meeting was the amicable solution to all disputes between the two countries.
Posted by: john ||
01/15/2007 17:24 ||
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LAHORE, Pakistan - Pakistan on Sunday peacefully held a mixed marathon race in the eastern city of Lahore, despite objections from Islamist political parties over womens participation in the event.
Wonder if Hillary attended?
The marathon, which was first held in 2005, carried a total cash prize of 115,000 dollars. The event also had 10-kilometre (six miles), five-kilometre (three miles) and three-kilometre (1.8 miles) races.
President Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the race in which some 30,000 men and women athletes participated from Pakistan and 15 other countries. This event has helped in creating a soft image of our country, Musharraf told reporters. Through this international competition, the people of Pakistan have rejected the extremists, giving them a clear message that they are keen to organise and participate in such healthy sporting activities, he said.
One small step, Perv ...
Ameer ul-Azeem, a spokesman for Jamaat-e-Islami -- Pakistans largest religious terrorist party -- said protests by Islamist parties compelled the government to hold segregated marathons. We are not against women taking up a sport, but their participation in mixed events with men is not acceptable, Azeem said, adding that his party had not planned any disruption of the race this year.
"Because then we'd be looking at scantily-clad, sweating, running wimmin, and I can't allow our members to do that! They might get unpure ideas!"
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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The euro has displaced the US dollar as the worlds pre-eminent currency in international bond markets, having outstripped the dollar-denominated market for the second year in a row.
The data consolidate news last month that the value of euro notes in circulation had overtaken the dollar for the first time. Outstanding debt issued in the euro was worth the equivalent of $4,836bn at the end of 2006 compared with $3,892bn for the dollar, according to International Capital Market Association data.
Outstanding euro-denominated debt accounts for 45 per cent of the global market, compared with 37 per cent for the dollar. New issuance last year accounted for 49 per cent of the global total. That represents a startling turnabout from the pattern seen in recent decades, when the US bond market dwarfed its European rival: as recently as 2002, outstanding euro-denominated issuance represented just 27 per cent of the global pie, compared with 51 per cent for the dollar.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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#2
"Embracing capital markets" > IOW, PC-speak for massive defict banking and deficit rate conversion processes. And now you know AGAIN why Socialists hate the simple Amer penny to no end.
#3
I think "experts" used to say that if the dollar stopped being the predominant international currency, its value would collapse, and we'd all be carting wheelbarrows of cash to buy a single loaf of bread. I'm not holding my breath.
#8
Bonds? Euros?
Considering the gulf between GDP and debt of the major players in Europe, I would indeed suspect a very big bond market, though not one I'd invest in.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert underwent a 40-minute procedure on Friday to lift his eyelids, which were impeding his vision. According to the Prime Minister's Office, a local anesthetic was used during the procedure on both his eyes, and he was awake the entire time. And now he looks Chinese...
The procedure took place shortly after Olmert returned Friday from his visit to China. Olmert told the cabinet about the operation at Sunday's cabinet meeting, explaining why his eyes looked swollen. The Prime Minister's Office did not of its own volition issue a statement about the operation either before or after the procedure.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/15/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Now maybe he'll be able to see what is going on all around him.
First item on the agenda: 14% approval rating and what it means.
Muslims say they need quiet room at Welsh-Ryan Yes, yes. That's allllll they want...
Amid the cheering Northwestern football fans at Ryan Field, all Ashar Wasi wanted was a quiet place to pray. The only place he could find was a spot of less-than-clean floor in a public walkway. "We had to pray in front of the concession stand, in front of all the people," the McCormick junior said. Yes. Doesn't sound like a setup to me, does it?
Perhaps someone noticed. At last Wednesday's ASG meeting, the Muslim-cultural Students Association proposed a bill establishing a designated prayer area at Welsh-Ryan Arena for Muslim students for football and basketball games. McSA President Amir Siddiqui estimates more than 20 Muslim students are in attendance at nearly every game. "Oftentimes while students are at sporting events, the prayer time falls during the game," the Weinberg senior said. "If there was a space to pray, or even an opportunity for students to leave and re-enter, things would be better. Right now, it can be difficult." Well...if praying's that important to you, stay the fuck home.
John Mack, associate athletic director of external affairs, said McSA contacted him about the problem as early as mid-October. Despite discussing the request in staff meetings, Mack said they couldn't provide a solution. "This is a request we took seriously," he said. "We appreciate all student support, but we didn't feel there was a suitable area for prayer. There's not enough space in the arena." Oh-oh. Nasty letter from CAIR in 3...2...1...
Mack said the athletic department doesn't allow any spectators to leave and re-enter the facilities during an event."When you give preferential treatment, while respecting their group's religion, it's tough to determine where to draw the line in terms of our entire fan base," he said. Yep. Don't know what we'd do without all our Muslim fans...
Regardless, some Muslim students said the current rules present an inconvenience that warrants more discussion. "Right now, we have to pray late afterwards or early and it's annoying," said Ramah Kudaimi, a Medill senior. "It's a lot more convenient to have a designated area than having to pray at different times." Again, if praying's that important to you, stay the fuck home. .
Kudaimi said she occasionally uses the designated prayer area in Parkes Hall on Friday, the Muslim holy day. Another area was established in the Technological Institute for a similar purpose. "It's a lot more comfortable for other students who may not want to come upon someone praying," she said. How nice. Thinking of others. Suuuuure you are...
Siddiqui said he hopes the ASG resolution, if passed, will open up a dialogue with the athletic department."If we just had an opportunity to talk, we could find a solution," he said. Hey, I've got one! If praying's that important to you, STAY THE FUCK HOME!!!
For his part, Mack said he would be willing to listen again. He doubts, however, that much can be changed for this season. But Wasi, who frequents the prayer area at Tech five days a week, wishes it were different. Yeah. I wish I was a billionaire, but guess what...
"All I want is a little bit of privacy, he said. "Carpets would be nice. It doesn't need to be soundproof, just clean." Sure. Put a carpet in one of the shithouses and tell them to say hello to Allah.
#1
Someone throw in the BS flag. If the games or activitites are that inconvient then don't participate. I am a rabid football fan (as is God) and if I am blessed enough to get tickets for a Sunday game God will understand if I miss a Mass.
#4
"Right now, we have to pray late afterwards or early and it's annoying,"
Poor fellow, having to face life's greatest hurdle: the annoyance. Almost makes you weep for the inhumanity of it all.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
01/15/2007 15:23 Comments ||
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#5
Nope, sorry, disagree.
We have lots of situations in which the Christian atheletes on a sporting team pray. Their rules are different, and they have no problem just creating space wherever they are -- locker room, practice field, arena, stadium, etc. You see this on TV frequently; the Christian players will huddle for a short prayer.
The Muslim players want to be able to commune, and their rules are different. I have no problem providing them an appropriate (small) space in which to do that.
This isn't assimilation and this isn't jihad. This is accomodating something reasonable. The Muslim players make it clear that they're football/basketball players dedicated to the team. I see no problem.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 15:48 Comments ||
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#6
There's no mention of muslim players needing prayer space Steve. It's Muslim student fans who want prayer space. I say to them stay the f*ck home or show up to the game late.
#8
I understand your argument, but I still think there's a reasonable argument on the other side, Steve W . . .
There are many activities that are incompatible with religion. For example, there are Somalian cab drivers in Minnesota who believe it is against their religion to carry passengers with alcohol or dogs. Isn't it reasonable that they simply find a job that doesn't violate their beliefs (and there are many such jobs). Orthodox Jews don't take jobs that require them to work on Saturdays. In fact, since college football is played on Saturdays, orthodox Jews, presumably, don't attend any games. Should games be played on days other than Saturday? As we speak, there are pharmacists whose religious beliefs are violated by dispensing birth control and RU-486 (and yet, are being compelled to fill the prescriptions, by law).
Basically, the question is, "How much accomodation is too much accomodation?" If you read in what I have said that I have an answer, know that I don't. My fear, however, is not the principle of reasonable accomodation. I am concerned that those who seek it do so for less noble reasons. Their motives are political (much like the wearing of the hijab, in europe).
#9
The Muslim players want to be able to commune, and their rules are different. I have no problem providing them an appropriate (small) space in which to do that.
How about dedicating an appropriate (small) space in your home for that purpose, just in case Muslims drop by and the prayer time occurs during their visit? I imagine your response to such a proposition would be alot closer to the "stay the fuck home" sentiment than it would be of accomodating the inflexible observors of an inflexible religion.
#10
We should set aside prayer rooms for Muslims. In return will pay an additional 25% of their yearly income in taxes to support these set asides. Failure to pay the tax means that you get deported. I have no problem with supporting them in this manner, as long as they pay the dhimmi tax for their death cult.
#11
Silentbrick: does that apply to Christians, Jews and Zoroasterians as well?
Crusader: my home isn't the issue. It's players who ask for a small area somewhere at the stadium/arena. I wouldn't make an accomodation for students, but players of any religion could be easily accomodated. That's the issue.
Prayer is an important issue. My prayers as a Catholic are important to me.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/15/2007 17:35 Comments ||
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#12
This isn't assimilation and this isn't jihad. This is accomodating something reasonable.
No, it's not. It's reasonable to ensure the restrooms are handicap-accessible; it's not reasonable to be forced to set aside a room for two dozen members of a single faith who are merely inconvenienced. What next? Prayer rooms in the local mall? Laws requiring every public building to carry the call to prayer over the intercom at the appropriate times?
And, honestly, I doubt this is all they'll ask. The next step will be a requirement that non-Muslims stay out of the room. Then there will be complaints about the quality of the room. Then they'll complain about the pork and beer served by the concession stands.
There are probably as many professed Wiccans at those games as Muslims. Should there be special accommodation for them?
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
01/15/2007 17:42 Comments ||
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#13
Crusader: my home isn't the issue. It's players who ask for a small area somewhere at the stadium/arena. I wouldn't make an accomodation for students, but players of any religion could be easily accomodated. That's the issue.
No, it's NOT the issue. From the story:
McSA President Amir Siddiqui estimates more than 20 Muslim students are in attendance at nearly every game.
Ain't talkin' players. Talkin' spectators.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
01/15/2007 17:44 Comments ||
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#14
The muzzies should be sent to the Amish to learn how to accommodate to living as a minority in a hostile culture. If they don't like it, they can leave.
#15
Mr. White says the request for a prayer room at the stadium is not jihad.
Yes, in fact it is a form of jihad. These students are merely seeing how far they can push the envelope Around the office we call it "the soft jihad". Much in the same way the jihadist cab drivers want a pass on transporting passengers carrying bottles of booze. Or seeing eye dogs. Much in the same way the muslims in New Zealand want tax payers to pay for muslim only swimming pools.
It's jihad. Just because it doesn't draw blood doesn't mean it's not jihad.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
01/15/2007 18:21 Comments ||
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#16
According to things I've read here -- and I'm claiming no expertise whatsoever -- Muslims are allowed to skip prayers and otherwise accomodate to circumstances when outside the Ummah, which is certainly where Northwestern University appears to be located. For both players and spectators, tu3031's point holds, "Well...if praying's that important to you, stay the fuck home."
This isn't about players taking a moment to pray that nobody be seriously injured during the game; this is about a few individuals desiring to engage in daily prayers that back in the old country they went to the neighborhood mosque for, analogous to Catholics going to a church with a proper priest to lead the service.
Now oddly enough, Muslims and Catholics (and the rest of us) can engage in prayer at any time, simply by stepping away from others to do so... or even just by closing our mind to the outside world for a moment. If what is good enough for the rest of us won't do for these Muslims -- noting that there have been Muslim students at Northwestern for decades without this demand being made -- then these Muslims really should find a place more suited to their particular needs.
Mr. Wife has certain food allergies that could kill him. He didn't demand that the school cafeterias ban apples and pears, or the pineapples and cherries that for him merely triggered asthma attacks, or even provide him special meals without those ingredients; rather, his mother prepared and froze fourteen meals a week, and brought them to him (fortunately he went to school only across town!), and otherwise he lived on pizza and such. I've been known to eat entire dinners except for the pork loin and shrimp cocktail -- amazingly enough, one can survive quite well on salad, side dishes and desert, while participating in polite conversation.
This sounds like those idiot imams who prayed at the top of their lungs in the airport, then engaged in such provocative behaviour on the airplane that they were kicked off.
#17
I always go to a football game when I feel the need to pray. In fact, I think half-time should be devoted to prayers. I want a cathedral on the 20 yard line where I can stop play, insist the crowd drop to their knees and wave their ass in the general direction of the Vatican.
Because I'm pious an' better than youse all. So drop and give me 20.
#18
You f**kers can walk over to the lake where its nice and quiet. Go right to the edge and bang your skulls on the rocks. Hold your rags under water for 5 minutes. Any more problems we can help with ?
#19
Dr. White, report to the quarantine and deprogramming facility, STAT! You have been infected with progressivitis, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease! If caught early, it can be treated with minimal side-effects.
Posted by: Chuck Darwin ||
01/15/2007 20:43 Comments ||
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#20
What the hell is wrong with the bathroom stalls?
#22
"#17 I always go to a football game when I feel the need to pray. In fact, I think half-time should be devoted to prayers. I want a cathedral on the 20 yard line where I can stop play, insist the crowd drop to their knees and wave their ass in the general direction of the Vatican."
Ummm, if you're a San Diego Chargers' fan, you'd better start praying of deliverance in 2007.
YJCMTSU.
The letter "X" soon may be banned in Saudi Arabia because it resembles the mother of all banned religious symbols in the oil kingdom: the cross. The new development came with the issuing of another mind-bending fatwa, or religious edict, by the infamous Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice the group of senior Islamic clergy that reigns supreme on all legal, civil, and governance matters in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The commission's damning of the letter "X" came in response to a Ministry of Trade query about whether it should grant trademark protection to a Saudi businessman for a new service carrying the English name "Explorer."
"No! Nein! Nyet!" was the commission's categorical answer.
Why?
Well, never mind that none of the so-called scholars manning the upper ranks of the religious outfit can speak or read a word of English. But their experts who examined the English word "explorer" were struck by how suspicious that "X" appeared. In a kingdom where Friday preachers routinely refer to Christians as pigs and infidel crusaders, even a twisted cross ranks as an abomination. Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much damn time on their hands...
So after waiting a year, the Saudi businessman, Amru Mohammad Faisal, got his answer: No. But, like so many other Saudi businessmen who suffer from the travesties of the commission, he seemed more baffled than angry. He wrote letters to Saudi newspapers to criticize the cockamamie logic. An article he wrote appeared with his photograph on some Arabian Web sites. It sarcastically invited the commission to expand its edict to the "plus" sign in mathematics and accounting, in order "to prevent filthy Christian conspiracies from infiltrating our thoughts, our beliefs, and our feelings." The Muutawas' reply: "We amuse you? We make you laugh? We're here to fuc*kin' amuse you?"
This would have been funny had it not been so sinister. That sounds so much like a Rantburg line it's spooky...
The Saudi commission has shaped life and death: declared jihad against Soviet soldiers in Afghanistan, banished women from public life, and forced piety at the tip of the whip and the sword. Its edicts have hindered business, education, travel, women's rights, and life itself, creating a fertile ground for terrorism and producing the 15 Saudis who participated in the September 11, 2001, attacks and many others like them.
Among the commission's deeds is the famed 1974 fatwa issued by its blind leader at the time, Sheik Abdul Aziz Ben Baz which declared that the Earth was flat and immobile. In a book issued by the Islamic University of Medina, the sheik argued: "If the earth is rotating, as they claim, the countries, the mountains, the trees, the rivers, and the oceans will have no bottom." That would explain why I keep getting lost between Georgetown and Sumter every two weeks.
Another bright light of the commission, Sheik Abdel-Aziz al-Sheikh, recently stopped a government reform proposal aimed at creating work for women by allowing them to replace male sales clerks in women's clothing stores. Sheik al-Sheikh damned the idea, saying it was a step "towards immorality and hellfire." The underlying logic is breathtaking: Women are more protected by buying their knickers from men! Well, I could have told them that. I'd still be working at Victoria's Secret myself if it hadn't been for that sweaty palm thing...
Over the years, the commission has rendered Saudi Arabia a true kingdom of darkness. Movie theaters are banned, as are sculptures, paintings, and music, and the mixing of sexes in public.
The commission really has it in for women. They must don the all-enveloping veil, or niqab, in public; they cannot drive themselves nor ride anywhere without a male guardian, and they cannot travel alone domestically or abroad.
The commission also excels at banning the construction of houses of worship other than mosques even though the majority of the 8 million expatriates working in the kingdom come from Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths. Indeed, celebrating a private Sunday Mass inside a home could lead to jail, public lashings, and expulsion.
One of the most criminal travesties committed by the commission's foot soldiers, the Mutawaeen, or religious police, was dramatically reported by the muzzled Saudi press itself on Friday, March 15, 2002, when the Mutawaeen forcibly prevented girls fleeing a burning school from leaving the building because they were "improperly dressed."
The day after, the Saudi Gazette newspaper quoted witnesses as saying the police stopped men who tried to help the girls, warning the men: "It is sinful to approach them." Of the 800 teenage pupils in Mecca, 15 burned to death and more than 50 were injured. Yet, the commission and its royal enablers thrive.
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
01/15/2007 12:43 ||
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Link ||
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#1
I'm sure plus signs are questionable too. Time for the Saudi's to get rid of all those EVIL algebra books.
#9
I'm sure plus signs are questionable too. Time for the Saudi's to get rid of all those EVIL algebra books.
A 2004 rapport on french schools found that some (young) muslim kiddies in said schol system refused to draw the "+" sign, because "it looks like a cross", so this is not just in the realm of snark.
One of two hospitals designated to treat bird flu cases in the Indonesian capital has been overwhelmed with patients with symptoms of the disease amid a spike of new cases this year, a doctor said on Monday.
Indonesia has seen four fatalities this year after a six-week lull in cases, taking the number of human deaths from bird flu in the country to 61, the highest in the world.
Nine people with bird flu symptoms are being treated at Jakarta's Persahabatan hospital and its isolation rooms can no longer accept any more patients, said Muchtar Ichsan, the head of the hospital's bird flu ward. A 5-year old girl was being treated at the intensive care unit, he said.
"If we get more patients, we will send them to Sulianti Saroso," Ichsan told Reuters, referring the country's main bird flu treatment centre in North Jakarta.
Seven of the patients at Persahabatan came from Bekasi, a town east of Jakarta, said Muhammad Nadirin, a doctor at the bird flu information centre. An 18-year-old man being treated in Persahabatan has been confirmed to have bird flu after his mother died of the disease on Thursday. The man's father, from Serpong in west Java, was also being treated for similar symptoms but two tests found he did not have the deadly virus. More tests will be conducted on the father.
Nyoman Kandun, director general of communicable disease control at the health ministry, said on Saturday the positive test of the son signalled a cluster case but there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus so far.
A few days old but important for our security.
Jan 09, 2007: The United States and Japan agreed Tuesday to develop a joint civil nuclear energy action plan that would include setting up of new atomic power plants in the United States with Japanese financing. The landmark agreement was reached between US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari during talks in Washington. "The agreement that we have reached today on energy cooperation between Japan and the United States has become an important turning point in the global history of energy policy," Amari told reporters with Bodman by his side.
The plan is to be completed by April. Details "will be not announced and worked out for another two or three months," Bodman said. But Amari said Japan would provide financial backing for putting up the new nuclear power plants in the United States.
More than 30 such plants are reportedly under consideration following a policy change by President George W. Bush's administration promoting their construction. "We are now considering providing public financing, including export credit for the construction of new power plants in the United States," Amari said. Rest at link.
Posted by: ed ||
01/15/2007 06:49 ||
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Link ||
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#1
So the Japanese will help us build nuclear power plants that fit in a thimble, and the US will help Japan build nuclear power plants that also produce nuclear warheads?
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.
SANTIAGO - Cubas ailing leader Fidel Castro, not seen in public since surgery nearly six months ago, is on the mend, his son and namesake 
LAHORE, Pakistan - Pakistan on Sunday peacefully held a mixed marathon race in the eastern city of Lahore, despite objections from Islamist political parties over womens participation in the event.
The euro has displaced the US dollar as the worlds pre-eminent currency in international bond markets, having outstripped the dollar-denominated market for the second year in a row.
One of two hospitals designated to treat bird flu cases in the Indonesian capital has been overwhelmed with patients with symptoms of the disease amid a spike of new cases this year, a doctor said on Monday.
