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Danish Police Arrest Four Alleged ISIL Fighters, Seize Weapons
Today's Headlines
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Panama Papers Reveal Clinton's Kremlin Connection
John and Tony Podesta aren’t fooling anyone

By John R. Schindler

The revelations of the so-called Panama Papers that are roiling the world’s political and financial elites this week include important facts about Team Clinton. This unprecedented trove of documents purloined from a shady Panama law firm that arranged tax havens, and perhaps money laundering, for the globe’s super-rich includes juicy insights into how Russia’s elite hides its ill-gotten wealth.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 04/08/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  What I’ve termed "fake terrorism" is a longstanding Kremlin core competency, and it can only be pulled off with logistical support, including with finances.

Just a hypothetical, but with the able assistance of the Iranian Quds Forces, it is certainly possible that "fake terrorism" could have taken place in cities as distant as Benghazi.

But of course such a hypothetical would surely not escape the scrutiny of our leadership, or would it ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/08/2016 2:46 Comments || Top||

#2  If the Kremlin is laundering money to the Hildabeest they can get us to fund our own anti-american terrorist attacks Beo...
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 04/08/2016 10:53 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
Krauthammer: 'If Obama Wins Exec Amnesty Case, €˜There Are No Laws'
[Breitbart] Columnist Charles Krauthammer argued that if the Supreme Court fails to overturn President Obama’s executive actions in United States v. Texas and allows the administration to grant government benefits to noncitizens "you can send Congress home, and can you eliminate Article I from the Constitution, then there are no laws" on Thursday’s "Special Report" on the Fox News Channel.

Krauthammer said, [relevant remarks begin around 3:30] "If the president is allow to do go ahead and to do this, and it’s decided that it’s constitutional, then you can send Congress home, and can you eliminate Article I from the Constitution, then there are no laws. I mean, the judge is right. As a policy issue, the Congress decides, it passes the law, it decided that this is not appropriate. The president has a big heart, big heart with your tax money, and the Congress said no, it [government benefits] goes only to citizens. And if the president can unilaterally overturn that, then we have no laws and we have, essentially a single branch of government, that legislates. This is a huge decision. I do not understand how the four liberal justices will, as they will, resist the logic here."
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/08/2016 03:44 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The good doctor stands at the station awaiting a train which has sadly, already departed.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/08/2016 4:28 Comments || Top||

#2  It took him this long to figure it out? There is only power (and ritual to keep the rubes in line).

you can send Congress home,

On the bright side, think of all the money that will be saved and graft unpaid released upon the moribund economy. (do I need to put a /sarc on that?)
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/08/2016 8:10 Comments || Top||

#3  There are only laws as long as people are will to enforce and follow them. Otherwise they are nothing but ink stains on pulped wood.

Posted by: DarthVader || 04/08/2016 11:55 Comments || Top||

#4  Resisting logic is what liberal judges do.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 04/08/2016 12:41 Comments || Top||

#5  I really think they don't want to reach the point we decide the laws are null and void. And I mean we, not them. The moment that happens, is when you get things like the French revolution
Posted by: Silentbrick || 04/08/2016 15:03 Comments || Top||

#6  Resisting logic is what liberal judges do. Torturing & twisting reason, logic and language is what everyone pursuing a paramount agenda does. Pursuing a paramount agenda is one way to carry out one's bias. In this case, the "agenda" is unlimited executive power / restoration of tyranny, and the cancellation of centuries of government by consent of the governed.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/08/2016 16:07 Comments || Top||

#7  The moment that happens, is when you get things like the French revolution
The other trigger to the French revolution was, IIRC, severe financial hardship for those French at the low end of the economic spectrum of the time. The USA has been on the edge of financial disaster / widespread deprivation since about 2006, despite the bogus statistics of the gubmint and the boosterism of those supporting the financial oligarchy.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/08/2016 16:10 Comments || Top||

#8  There is only power in a manner of speaking. Politics is the process by which people in a region determine by some type of peaceful/orderly process who gives orders and agree on who takes those orders. Warfare / civil unrest occurs when the process breaks down and force is substituted for agreement.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/08/2016 16:14 Comments || Top||


Economy
Fighting Wall Street Predators with Game Theory
[Evonomics] The newest Wall Street bestseller by Michael Lewis, Flash Boys, chronicles the unlikely emergence of fairness in the corrupt world of high-frequency trading (HFT). It’s a gripping and enlightening read for anyone who doesn't already know the story, but it becomes especially enlightening when viewed through the lens of evolutionary game theory (EGT).

The EGT story is simpler than the HFT story. It consists of only four actors, who reflect combinations of two binary strategies: whether to cooperate or defect in a social interaction, and whether to punish or ignore defections by others. These actors interact with each other in a social environment defined by the parameters of the game.

In one classic version of the game, each player is given an endowment, which they can keep or contribute to a common fund. The fund is multiplied and distributed equally to the players. This is a social environment that rewards defection, since players that don’t contribute get the highest returns. When actual people play the game, most start off moderately generous, but as soon as they realize that they are being exploited by others, they withhold their own contributions. Cooperation goes down the drain, leaving only defection and the lack of social benefits. There is no way to punish defectors in this version of the game, so the punish vs. ignore option is inoperative. The only way to punish defectors is to withhold one’s own cooperation; that is, to become a defector oneself.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/08/2016 03:59 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In the actual real-world game, there ARE ways to punish so-called defectors, such as various actual/potential regulations and laws, such as those against fraud & conspiracy in restraint of trade. Potential enforcer / regulators like Eric 'Place' Holder and the US Congress have refused to do that part of the job.
HFT is & has been corrupt from its very beginning, serving no useful business / financial purpose beyond lining the pockets of the insiders. A small fee on placing each & every trade would eliminate HFT rather quickly. Do not discuss this with anyone!
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/08/2016 16:00 Comments || Top||


Europe
How the Kremlin Manipulates Europe’s Refugee Crisis
A long piece at the Observer about how the Rooshuns are playing the refugee crisis to their advantage. Of course they are; they're good at the long game.

Special bonus appearance by the Poles, who have figured out that their world class intelligence service can't identify the bad refugees hiding within the good refugees, and as a result are taking no refugees. Boggle, eh?
Posted by: Steve White || 04/08/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Albeit JV by Vlad's standards, our Champ plays a pretty wicked 'long game' as well. A similar playbook no doubt.

And yes, a hat tip must be extended the Poles and other Former Soviet Union (FSU) friends and family for their 'No Vacancy' stance. They evidently received the Kremlin email.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/08/2016 3:12 Comments || Top||

#2  So, basically, Russians doing to EU what EU been doing to Israel for the last 30 years?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/08/2016 3:33 Comments || Top||

#3  So, basically, Russians doing to EU what EU been doing to Israel for the last 30 years?

But the genetic string and religion certainly favour the Israelis.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/08/2016 3:39 Comments || Top||

#4  How the Kremlin Manipulates Europe’s Refugee Crisis Self Inflicted Wound

FIFY

...when the enemy is making a false movement we must take good care not to interrupt him
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/08/2016 9:48 Comments || Top||

#5  What? You mean the Russians are playing hardball? They're playing chess? You mean Putin is not a nice guy? Shocked, I tell you. I'm shocked!

But the refugee crisis is a direct result of Obama's blunders in the Middle East and the EU's own suicidal tendencies.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 04/08/2016 12:51 Comments || Top||

#6  Not just Obama. Remember who coined the phrase "Religion of Peace".
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/08/2016 14:52 Comments || Top||

#7  Peace of the Grave.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 04/08/2016 16:12 Comments || Top||

#8  Piece of crap.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 04/08/2016 16:12 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Badly kept secrets
[DAWN] POLITICAL pundits everywhere are having a field day with the Panama Papers, which have brought to light the murky business dealings of a wide cross section of the world’s elites. The usual Pakistani suspects find their names on the list, and are now scrambling to prove their innocence; our sitting prime minister foremost among them. The stakes are high — the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland leaves no room for doubt.

Yet in contrast with countries like Iceland, the land of the pure is tainted with so-called corruption scandals on an almost daily basis. The credibility of mainstream politicians is so poor that another exposé only confirms what we already know, rather than signifying a decisive shift in what passes for public opinion. Chances are, then, that Nawaz Sharif & co will weather this latest storm, even while the chattering classes will heap more scorn on politics and lament the ‘failure’ of democracy.

Of course, the Panama Papers will be frontline news for some days yet, because it is the sort of issue upon which our sensation-seeking corporate media thrives. Meanwhile, other stories will continue to be reported in a much less critical manner, as if it is only politicians and democracy that deserve to be subject to editorial comment.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 04/08/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Yet quite aside from the legitimacy that the establishment draws from external supporters, the absence of critical comment speaks to the lack of independence — and courage — of the Pakistani intelligentsia. I do not wish to dismiss the many brave men and women who do take up issues that are generally considered taboo.

"Considered Taboo" here as well? Retired DIA Director Mike Flynn might enthusiastically agree.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/08/2016 2:54 Comments || Top||


JuD ‘courts’
[DAWN] A BROKEN judicial system is always likely to attract novel, even unconstitutional, quasi-fixes.

With the superior judiciary and the legislative seemingly in denial about the need for root-and-branch overhaul of the judicial system, both state and society are finding alternatives that include parallel ’judicial’ forums.

The 21st Amendment-created military courts are an ad hoc -- and constitutionally ugly -- response to the military’s anti-terrorism priorities.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 04/08/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Taiba


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Obama’s sneaky concession to Iran
Jen Rubin at the Right Turn at WaPo. Rubin can be pretty galling at times but on this one she has a solid point: Champ really is trying to give Iran direct access to US and world banks.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/08/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  When she is galling?
Posted by: Tarzan Slailet2796 || 04/08/2016 0:13 Comments || Top||

#2  “Give Iran whatever it wants. Let the next guy/gal clean up the mess.”

A view held here at the Burg since the inception of the Champ's JCPOA.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/08/2016 3:00 Comments || Top||

#3  Ah, the Clinton strategy.
Posted by: Skidmark || 04/08/2016 9:17 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
32[untagged]
10Islamic State
3al-Shabaab
2Taliban
2Govt of Pakistan
2Hezbollah
2Commies
2Govt of Iran
2Lashkar e-Taiba
1Thai Insurgency
1al-Nusra
1al-Qaeda in Arabia
1Govt of Iraq
1Govt of Syria
1Houthis
1ISIL-K

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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2016-04-08
  Danish Police Arrest Four Alleged ISIL Fighters, Seize Weapons
Thu 2016-04-07
  Secular Bangladeshi writer murdered in the street
Wed 2016-04-06
  Tripoli authorities cede power to Libyan unity government
Tue 2016-04-05
  al-Nusra Top Dawg dies in Idlib airstrike
Mon 2016-04-04
  Strikes kill Qaeda spokesman, militants in Syria
Sun 2016-04-03
  Salah Abdeslam 'refused to blow himself up', says brother
Sat 2016-04-02
  Nigeria’s Boko Haram Releases New Video Denying Surrender
Fri 2016-04-01
  Kurd Arab alliance drives ISIS troops from oil rich area near Raqqa
Thu 2016-03-31
  Gitmo aumnus Mullah Zakir ends rifts with Mullah Akhtar Mansoor
Wed 2016-03-30
  Houthis claim Daesh emir titzup in Taiz, andhis little mufti, too!
Tue 2016-03-29
  Belgium charges three more people with 'terrorist activities'
Mon 2016-03-28
  Two Arrested in Mali over Ivory Coast Resort Attack
Sun 2016-03-27
  Belgium charges suspected Brussels airport bomber, two others
Sat 2016-03-26
  Islamic State second in command likely killed - U.S.
Fri 2016-03-25
  Brussels police nab terror suspect at tram stop; bomb squad dispatched

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