[Tolo News] The Minister of Public Works (MoPW) on Tuesday reported that the rate of mental illness among the Afghan youth is on the rise.
"A survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that two in every five students suffer from mental disorders," Deputy Minister of Public Works for Policy and Planning, Ahmad Jan Naeemi, said. "The figure is even higher according to various other statistics."
Addressing a special ceremony for World Youth Day on August 12, Naeemi stated that mental illness has spread in the country as a result of three decades of war and social issues such as domestic violence, poverty and job recession.
This is while the acting director of the UN office in Afghanistan, Eint Robertson, has expressed apprehensions over the high rates of mental illness in the country.
"One of Afghanistan's least recognized tragedies is the burden of mental health conditions. Decades of insecurity, violence, persistent poverty and unemployment have really left their mark on generations of Afghans," she said. "The youth are particularly vulnerable."
The Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) Department of Youth Affairs, government officials and a number of youth organized an event marking the World Youth Day under the slogan "Mental Health Is Important."
Additionally, MoIC discussed the dynamic role of the youth in the country, stressing on boosting their potentials.
"A lot has been done for the youth in the past ten years," Minister of Information and Culture Syed Makhdoom Raheen said. "But it's not sufficient."
Meanwhile, ...back at the dirigible, Jack stuck the cigar in his mouth, stepped onto the gantry, and asked Got a light, Mac?
Von Schtinken stopped short, lowering the dagger and trying to control his features.
If you light that thing, Herr Armschtröng, he pointed out, his voice tense, we all die!... groups of youths assert that events as such are symbolic, not effective.
"Instead of conducting such programs, it is better to focus on basic problems faced by the youth," Najiba, a law student at Kabul University, said. "We must create training and job opportunities for the youth."
Alongside mental illness, drug addiction, lack of job opportunities and issues pertaining to illegal migration are among the top challenges for the Afghan youth.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
Alongside mental illness, drug addiction, lack of job opportunities and issues pertaining to illegal migration are among the top challenges for the Afghan American youth.
#3
Maybe it's the fear of becoming some warlords "dancing boy"?
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
08/13/2014 9:13 Comments ||
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#4
Two in Five Afghan Youths Suffer from Mental Illness
When government officials inquired on the definition of mental illness, the researchers replied, "Well, When 2 of 5 people responded to our question - What do you want to to do with your future - 2 of 5 Afghan youth responded - "I want to convert to Christianity, get out of this H*ll hole by moving to the West, eat pork ribs smothered in Carolina Bar-B-Que sauce, and chase it down with a cold Coors.""
[Al Ahram] Human Rights Watch ... During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, HRW received a pledge from the Foundation to Promote Open Society, of which George Soros is Chairman, for general support totaling $100,000,000. The grant is being paid in installments of $10,000,000 over ten years.Through June 30, 2013, HRW had received $30,000,000 towards the fulfillment of the pledge.... has described last year's killings during the dispersalof two Cairo protest camps held by supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi as planned in advance and likely "a crime against humanity".
In its 188-page investigation, released Tuesday, the New York-based rights group presents evidence of Egyptian security forces using excessive force to disband the sit-in in front of Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque in the east Cairo district of Nasr City.
At least 817 were killed during the dispersal that day, 14 August 2013, the report said, while other estimates put the corpse count at more than 1,000. Another 800 were jugged Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! at the sit-in.
The report states that the excessive force was planned and thon the lamr corpse counts had been expected.
"In Rabaa Square, Egyptian security forces carried out one of the world's largest killing of demonstrators in a single day in recent history," said Kenneth Roth, HRW executive director.
"This wasn't merely a case of excessive force or poor training. It was a violent crackdown planned at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. Many of the same officials are still in power in Egypt, and have a lot to answer for."
Despite the high corpse count, the report said, not even a single low-level police officer was held accountable — rather, bonuses were given to those who participated in the dispersals.
As a result of its findings, HRW has called for an international investigation and prosecution of those implicated. HRW further called on states to suspend military and law enforcement aid to Egypt until it adopts measures to end its serious rights violations.
HRW said it interviewed more than 200 witnesses — including protesters, doctors, local residents and independent journalists — visited each of the protest sites during or immediately after the attacks began and reviewed physical evidence, hours of video footage and statements by public officials. The group wrote to relevant Egyptian ministries soliciting the government's perspective on these events — but received no responses, it said.
Detailing the execution of the dispersal plan, the report said security forces attacked the Rabaa encampment from each five of its main entrances, using armed personnel carriers (APCs), bulldozers, ground troops and snipers.
In contrast to security forces later saying they had given demonstrators adequate time to leave before the dispersal, the report claimed there was "little to no effective warning ⦠leaving no safe exit for nearly 12 hours" and that there was also firing on makeshift medical facilities.
The government said at the time that the protesters had been armed. However, a hangover is the wrath of grapes... after fully clearing the sit-in on 14 August, Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim announced that his forces had found 15 guns in the square.
"[That] figure, if accurate, indicates that few protesters were armed and further corroborates the extensive evidence Human Rights Watch compiled that police bumped off hundreds of unarmed protesters," the report said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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[Al Ahram] During a meeting with former Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Al-Sanioura, Egypt's Grand Mufti, Shawqi Allam, refused to call the Jihadist group in Iraq as the Islamic State.
Allam stated that the group does not represent Islamic values or law, state news agency MENA reported.
Allam met on Tuesday with Al-Sanioura to discuss the criminal acts of the previously known Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) — also known as Daesh — against Iraqi Christians and others.
Allam also highlighted that their crimes are a shame to Islam and Moslems, and that regional and international cooperation is needed to fight such groups.
In mid-July, thousandsof Christians in djinn-infested Mosul ... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn... fled after the Islamic State gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay jizya (protection money), leave or risk death.
The exodus raised concernthroughout the international community, and neighbouring countries began to accept the fleeing Christians as refugees.
Mosul has been under turban control since June, but there have beenhit andrun attacks by government forces and allied Kurdish peshmerga fighters.
Inl Baghdad on Wednesday, boom-mobiles went kaboom! in crowded markets in Shi'ite Moslem districts, killing at least 10 people, police said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
He pretty much has to reject them, unless he wants to submit to al-Baghdadi as the legitimate Caliph, doesn't he? Once you make a truth-claim like that, it's pretty much my way or the highway, nothing in between but dead critters and yellow lines.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
08/13/2014 9:44 Comments ||
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#2
[Insert your favored cliche about foolish temporizers and ignorant moderation here]
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
08/13/2014 9:45 Comments ||
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#3
Yem Mitch, though I was thinking of post prandial reptiles.
[MAGHAREBIA] The office of Tunisia's premier reiterated on Friday (August 8th) its commitment to regulate associations by conducting audits and speeding up measures to create a suitable atmosphere for elections.
Interim Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa on Thursday said that measures taken to stop the activities of some associations were based on security agencies' assessment and were in the framework of administrative and legal arrangements, noting that these associations could resort to court.
Jomaa last week dismissed Slim Briki, the person in charge of the unit monitoring associations and political parties.
"The unit didn't do its job in monitoring suspicious associations, but that duty was done by the Interior Ministry in association with the prime minister office," Mofdi Mseddi, the prime minister's information officer, told Magharebia.
Briki told Mosaique FM back on February 18th that the current legal mechanisms were ineffective, especially in view of the presence of more than 16,000 associations, including 6,000 that were created after the revolution when a new law was issued to govern them.
Following the successive terrorist operations in which a number of soldiers and coppers were killed, Jomaa's government decided to create a crisis cell and to close unauthorised mosques, and radio and TV stations that promote takfiri ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed... st discourse. It also took steps to suspend the activities of associations suspected of terrorist financing.
"In principle, the measure is good," Alaya Alani, an expert on Islamist groups, told Magharebia. "However, Switzerland makes more than cheese... the problem is that we lack a clear database showing the number of these associations in Tunisia. There is talk about hundreds of similar associations, but those that have been frozen are only those linked to Ansar al-Sharia ...a Salafist militia which claims it is not part of al-Qaeda, even though it works about the same and for the same ends. There are groups of the same name in Libyaand Yemen, with the Libyan versions currently most active. Tunisia's Shabaab al-Tawhid started out an Ansar al-Sharia and changed its name in early 2014. It still uses the old name now and then, probably because the stationery's not all used up and the web site hasn't expired yet... . The authorities wanted to send a message, to the effect that they're working to clear the political atmosphere before the election."
"The new thing for Mehdi Jomaa's government is that it now takes urgent measures, implements them, and then follows with legal measures. Civil society and the media also have to continue to monitor these associations to pressure and expose them," Alani added.
According to experts, the new law on creating associations, decree number 88, is highly flexible.
"The problem is that decree number 88, which appeared after the revolution, gave extensive freedom in creating, financing, and running associations," said Anis Wahabi, an accounting expert who prepared a study on associations and their law in Tunisia. "Meanwhile, ...back at the comedy club, Boogie was cracking himself up, but nobody else seemed to be getting the non-stop jokes... the process of monitoring them is incomplete."
He added that there was no monitoring of associations at the provincial level, saying, "The only monitor thereof is the monitoring unit at the prime minister's office in the capital. Therefore, the supervisory authority in provinces doesn't know what these associations are doing."
"As to foreign financing, the new law only requires releasing a statement to the government and publishing it in a daily newspaper, without any follow-up, monitoring or identification of source," Wahabi told Magharebia.
As to the freezing of some associations, Wahabi said: "The law says that violating associations must be warned, their activities suspended and then they're eventually dissolved. We don't know whether the government has followed this or not."
Regarding solutions, Wahabi suggested creating a national observatory for monitoring associations, setting up a database on every association and monitoring it by law.
"Meanwhile, ...back at the comedy club, Boogie was cracking himself up, but nobody else seemed to be getting the non-stop jokes... we have to respect law number 88 and speed up the examination of some of its chapters, including the chapter on foreign financing. The Central Bank of Tunisia has also to intervene in the monitoring process," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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[TIMESOFINDIA.INDIATIMES] Egypt presented a proposed ceasefire to Israel and Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, aimed at ending the monthlong war, Paleostinian officials said early on Wednesday after negotiators huddled for a second day of Egyptian-mediated talks meant to resolve the crisis and bring relief to the embattled Gazoo Strip.
Paleostinian officials told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named early on Wednesday morning that Egypt's proposal calls for easing parts of the Israeli blockade of Gazoo, bringing some relief to the territory. But it leaves the key areas of disagreement, including the Islamic hard boy group Hamas' demand for a full lifting of the blockade and Israeli calls for Hamas to disarm, to later negotiations.
If the sides accept the proposal it would have a significant impact on Paleostinians in Gazoo as it would improve the movement of individuals and merchandise to the West Bank, the officials said. Gazoo exports and other businesses have been hit hard by restrictions imposed on the territory by Israel and Egypt after Hamas took control of Gazoo in 2007.
One of the Paleostinian officials who spoke to AP said that according to the Egyptian proposal the blockade would be gradually eased.
He said it would stipulate that Israel would end air strikes on hard boys, and a 500-meter (547-yard) buffer zone next to the Gazoo and Israel frontier would be reduced over time, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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[AnNahar] The United States said Tuesday it will provide $180 million in additional aid to help feed people facing a looming famine in war-torn South Sudan.
The funds would raise to $636 million the total amount Washington has put up in humanitarian assistance in a country wracked by conflict between its President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar.
Is this part of some formal spending program, or that new-fangled royal largesse? Because we're suddenly reading about all sorts of donations -- to Gaza and such -- that strike me as exactly the kind of thing the Republican-controlled House would not have approved.
"But the scale of the suffering and humanitarian need there is shocking, and the threat of famine is real -- so much so that we are using this emergency funding authority for the first time since 2008," the White House said.
"The people of South Sudan are suffering because of the inability of South Sudan's leaders to put their people's interests above their own."
It called on Kiir and Machar to "immediately assume their responsibilities to the South Sudanese to prevent further needless suffering."
"It is more critical than ever that both sides end the violence and ensure the safety of humanitarian aid workers so that they can reach those most in need across South Sudan," the White House added.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody conflict between Khartoum and the Sudan People's Liberation Army.
But a power struggle between Kiir and Machar in December 2013 plunged the country into renewed warfare that has left thousands dead and more than 1.5 refugees.
U.N. Security Council envoys warned the country's leaders during a visit to Juba Tuesday that they faced sanctions if the fighting did not stop.
#2
That's exactly what a bankrupt man ought to do: go further in debt to gift hundreds of $m to starving africans.
Posted by: Si vis pacem para bellum ||
08/13/2014 11:35 Comments ||
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#3
I'm 68 years old. No matter how much aid they receive from the West, Africans have been starving for all of my life, and decades (centuries?) before that.
D'ya think the fault might lie in Africa?
Posted by: Barbara ||
08/13/2014 13:08 Comments ||
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[ARABNEWS] National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah has denied press reports that Egyptian and Pak military forces have been deployed along the Kingdom's northern border.
He said Saudi armed forces are capable to defend the Kingdom.
Provided the western infidels responsible for logistics and maintenance stick around...
"We have very good relations with Egypt and Pakistain but the reports about the presence of their forces in the Kingdom are not true," the prince said while talking to news hounds in the northern city of Arar where he arrived on Tuesday to inspect National Guard forces stationed in the region.
"The Kingdom's military strength has reached 27 million, which is the population of the country including soldiers and ordinary citizens. Every citizen in the Kingdom is a soldier and King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has stated he will be in forefront to defend the nation," he said.
Asked about the threat of terrorist groups to the Kingdom, Prince Miteb said: "It's better for them not to approach the Saudi border."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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[ARABNEWS] Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... has said that the actions of the Paleostinian resistance group, Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,, cannot be equated with Israel's mass killings.
Addressing a presser after chairing an extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on Tuesday, Prince Saud Al-Faisal slammed Israel for committing crimes against humanity.
"You cannot equate the actions of Hamas and Israel, either in scale or in substance," he said in response to a question on whether Hamas had taken adequate steps to seek a peaceful resolution of the current conflict. "It is not fair, there is no way you can put the two together."
"How can you say that Israel has a right to defend itself when it is the occupier and you do not give the same right to Hamas?" he said.
"When Hamas fires rockets, it is considered a terrorist while Israel, which thinks it has the moral right to kill hundreds and thousands of Paleostinians in response to one soldier, is not? Where is the justice?"
Prince Saud said Israel was an occupying force that had stolen the territory of the Paleostinians.
"Israel wants to destroy and kill an entire population so that it can steal more land," he said. "Israel does not have the right to self defense as an occupier. There is no law, there is no international law, that says an occupier has a right to self defense."
He said Israel must reach a peace agreement with the Paleostinians if it is to survive as a nation.
"Israel has to realize that peace is the only solution for its survival," he said.
"As we see, Israel does not shy away from taking its terror to any level in order to achieve its goals with total disregard for any laws, rules, religious edicts or humanitarian considerations."
In summation, though the Saudis desperately need Israel to destroy Iran's nuclear bomb program and stop ISIS on that front when the time comes -- things the Magic Kingdom is completely unable to accomplish -- nonetheless those damned sons of pigs and monkeys need to understand they may not so much as bruise a single member of the Master Religion, in accordance with the laws of Sunna and Hadith.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
Can't have it both ways, Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
To use Israel to protect your country from Iran, you need Israel to survive, which means she must defend herself.
However, you need to placate your own rubes, and the other Arab rubes, so you put forth this drivel. You show weakness in this two-faced game, which will not end well for you.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/13/2014 0:32 Comments ||
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#3
You'll have to forgive the Prince, the poor bastard has been defended by the U.S. for decades. He simply doesn't understand the concept of self-defense.
#4
Saudi Arabia is ruled by one family. Women have few to no rights. Saudi Arabia is a supporter of terrorism in the world. Of the 19 participants in the actual 911 attacks; 15 were from Saudi Arabia. There were certainly more involved who didn't directly participate in the attacks. SA practices a particularly virulent form of Islam; Wahhabism. This article and the Prince's statement must be for the home crowd consumption. It is not particularly appreciated here in the West. Well, maybe with the exception of the crowd in the White House.
#9
KSA might be concerned that the ISIS folks may try to destroy additional 'blasphemous monuments' (like a giant cube with a small chunk of meteorite in it).
Doing so would impact their 'Tourist Trade'.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
08/13/2014 13:07 Comments ||
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#10
Saudi Arabia has currently exported the bulk of their more psychotic rubes who now form a good chunk of the ISIS. In the past they did the same thing to help fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.
[Dhaka Tribune] The government has decided not to change its stance regarding trying Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... for its alleged crimes against humanity during 1971, despite US Ambassador-at-Large Stephen J Rapp's recent suggestions against trying a political party for such crimes.
Sparing Jamaat from the war crimes trial was a personal view of the US ambassador-at-large, Law Minister Anisul Huq said, adding that the government would move forward on its own way regarding the trial.
As far as Bangladesh was concerned, the government's first priority was to respect its people's wishes, the minister told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday.
During his visit to Dhaka last week, Rapp, the US ambassador-at-large on war crimes issue, said no political party should be tried for crimes against humanity, and the focus should be given on individuals who committed the crime. Without mentioning the name of Jamaat-e-Islami, Rapp also said the crimes in 1971 were committed by individuals and not everybody in a political party.
In his reaction to Rapp's comment about using "the criminal process to prosecute a political party or a large group," the law minister reiterated that the government had launched initiatives to further amend the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 to specify the punishment against organizations for their crimes against humanity.
The existing ICT Act includes a provision for trying an organization for its alleged crimes against humanity, but does not specify what punishment would be handed to the organization if it is found guilty.
Sources told the Dhaka Tribune that the drafting section of the Law Ministry had almost completed preparing the draft.
Meanwhile, ...back at the dirigible, the pilot and the copilot had both hit the silk.
Jack! Cynthia exclaimed. Do you know how to drive one of these things?
Jack wiped some of the blood from his knuckles.
No, he said. Do you?... asked about the US diplomat's recent remarks, prosecutor Tureen Afroz said: "Ambassador Rapp has expressed his views on the matter of the trial of organization. It could be his personal or official position, but the ICT law does not depend upon what he or the USA or in that matter, any other country will think.
"At the tribunal, we are having the trial under our own law," she added.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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[IsraelTimes] The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) released figures this week indicating a huge upswing in anti-Semitic sentiment in Scotland since the start of Operation Protective Edge.
According to the SCoJeC website, in the past week alone, the council has received as many reports of anti-Semitic incidents as in 2013. Incidents include synagogue graffiti, threatening emails and phone calls, and two cases of incitement to break the law.
Community members have relayed to SCoJeC a reluctance to wear Jewish symbols and speak Hebrew on the street. Scottish Jews are limiting contact with non-Jews to "to avoid aggressive attempts to draw them into arguments about the Middle East," and university students report feeling unsafe on campuses.
The council says community members "are worried and depressed, and unable to sleep. A number of people have said they no longer feel welcome in Scotland and are actively considering moving to Israel; some Israelis who have made their lives in Scotland have said they are afraid to say where they are from."
The council website lists four examples of what it calls "the disproportionate obsession with Israel in Scottish public life," which are increasing Scottish Jews' unease, including the Glasgow municipality's decision to fly the Paleostinian flag on August 5 in solidarity with its twin city, Bethlehem.
In a statement from the Glasgow municipality Monday, Councillor Archie Graham explained the flag raising as "a gesture of humanitarian solidarity with the innocent civilians of Gazoo who have suffered disproportionately from the effects of the economic blockade and especially from the recent incursion by the Israeli army."
In the run-up to the Glasgow flag raising, pro-Paleostinian activist Yvonne Ridley published a tweet calling for a "Zionist-free Scotland." Members of the Jewish community have reported Ridley to the police for this tweet, as well as for a blog she wrote discussing Israel's genocidal intentions in Gazoo.
Other examples include: Of the 260 members' motions relating to foreign nations since the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary elections, 50 involved Israel. In second place is Malawi with 14 motions, and tied for third are Syria, South Africa, and Iraq with 12.
Additionally, since July 9, there have been eight Scottish government statements about Gazoo. "By comparison, there have been just 4 Scottish Governments statement about Syria since January 2013," states the council.
As a final example, the council writes that since July 16 there have been three Scottish Human Rights Commission statements about the conflict in Gazoo, bringing its statements relating to Israel to six — out of only seven statements about countries outside of the UK since the establishment of the commission in 2008.
[Ynet] Group waving Paleostinian flags and shouting 'free Paleostine from the river to the sea' seize items they believe to be connected to Israel.
A group of flag- and banner-waving Paleostinian supporters have entered a supermarket in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and removed from the shelves items they claim have an association to Israel.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, dozens of protesters entered the Asda supermarket on Monday evening, with many chanting pro-Paleostinian slogans. They then began to remove the products from the shelves.
Videos uploaded to YouTube by the protesters show demonstrators draped in Paleostinian flags and shouting "Boycott Israeli goods" and "From the river to the sea, Paleostine will be free" — a Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, slogan that advocates the elimination of Israel. The footage also shows protesters, some accompanied by young children, loading a variety of products into shopping trolleys.
Monday's incident marked the second time that a group has entered a supermarket and removed items they claim are connected to Israel from the shelves, the Belfast Telegraph said.
Last week, the report said, dozens of people went into a Sainsbury's store in Belfast and took products, including by Coca Cola, from the shelves. Again, the report said, many of the protesters were carrying banners and Paleostinian flags, and shouting "free Paleostine."
"Purchasing Israeli products provides support to the Israeli economy, which in turn lends support to the Israeli state and its murderous campaign against the Paleostinian people. Boycotting of Israeli goods sends a very strong economic and political message to Israeli - 'apartheid and genocide are not acceptable in our world.'
"Just like the apartheid regime of South Africa, Israel is on the wrong side of history. For as long as that regime exists right-thinking people across the world will organise opposition to it."
The conflict in Gazoo has elicited fierce pro-Paleostinian responses across Europe, some of which have directly targeted the Jewish communities in a number of countries.
Only a few years ago this would have been shocking, as the Irish Jews had for centuries lived peacefully with their neighbours. But something went awry in 2012, and things have been getting nastier as the pro-Palestinians have gotten louder. There is also this:
[IrishTimes] Unionist politicians complain of anti-Semitism after forced taking down of plaque
Unionist politicians have complained of anti-Semitism and intolerance after an historic blue plaque marking the Belfast birthplace in 1918 of former Israeli president Chaim Herzog was removed to prevent vandalism.
Belfast DUP councillor Brian Kingston said he was shocked that the plaque at Cliftonpark Avenue, which was erected in 1998 in honour of Chaim Herzog, had to be removed.
“The Ulster History Circle and the community group occupying the building agreed last week that due to an upsurge in attacks against the plaque and the building it was necessary to remove the plaque for the foreseeable future,” he said.
“Attacks have included the scrawling of anti-Israeli graffiti on the building and items being thrown at the plaque and the house. Recently some youths were stopped in the process of trying to remove the plaque with a crowbar,” he added.
“This is a shocking indication of the level of tension and anti-Semitism which currently exists in parts of Belfast. It is disgraceful that this item of Belfast history has being repeatedly targeted due to its connection with Israel. This should serve as a wake-up call for the public to the dangerous level of intolerance and the anti-Israeli mentality which some are encouraging.”
Ulster Unionist Party west Belfast front man Bill Manwaring said the forced removal of the plaque was a “damning indictment of the intolerance within some elements of our society”.
“Given the attack on the synagogue (in Belfast) last month and now this, it shows that some people’s hearts and minds remain full of hatred,” he added.
OldSpook, if you go to the link and look at the photos, those are not Muslim colonists, but local men and women getting high on righteous indignation. rjschwarz has the right of it.
[Ynet] After reviewing all licenses to Israel last week, Britannia announces sale of 12 military items would be temporarily halted pending further investigation if fighting resumes.
Perhaps this is why goons and mooks feel confident storming a Belfast supermarket...
Britannia said on Tuesday it would suspend 12 licenses to export military items to Israel, including tank, aircraft and radar parts, if hostilities with Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, in Gazoo resumed, citing concerns the exports may be used to breach international laws.
Britannia said last week it was reviewing all arms export licenses to Israel after fierce fighting which has resulted in heavy civilian casualties in the Paleostinian enclave of Gazoo.
That review concluded on Tuesday that 12 licenses would be temporarily suspended pending further investigation if the current truce breaks down and heavy fighting resumes.
"The UK government has not been able to clarify if the export license criteria are being met," Business Secretary Vince Cable said in a statement.
"In light of that uncertainty, we have taken the decision to suspend these existing export licenses in the event of a resumption of significant hostilities."
Israel says its operation in Gazoo is self-defense, aimed at stopping rockets being fired from the enclave by Islamist bad boys.
According to a report by a British parliamentary committee last month, outstanding government-approved contracts for export of dual use or military goods to Israel are worth more than 7.8 billion pounds ($13 billion). These include contracts to supply body armor, drone components and missile parts.
Cable's department said the vast majority of export licenses were not for items that could be used by Israeli forces in its operations in Gazoo, but it was unable to immediately confirm the value of the licenses that could be suspended.
Britannia said that the suspensions would not include components for Israel's "Iron Dome" system which protects the country from rockets fired by Hamas.
Last week Sayeeda Warsi, a senior Foreign Office minister, resigned, accusing Prime Minister David Cameron ... has stated that he is certainly a big Thatcher fan, but I don't know whether that makes me a Thatcherite, which means he's not. Since he is not deeply ideological he lacks core principles and is easily led. He has been described as certainly not a Pitt, Elder or Younger, but he does wear a nice suit so maybe he's Beau Brummel ... 's government of taking a "morally indefensible" approach on Gazoo.
#1
Trying to appease your jihadi elements in your country, Mr. Cameron? You got a bunch of Islamic hornets nests in your own back yard. They are building enclaves, where normal Brits will not dare to travel.
Are you ready to put down an insurrection? You are facing your own Gaza.
Israel will find a way to get what she needs with or without you.
You, on the other hand, are being intimidated by a bunch of nutcases. Some leadership you are demonstrating. Good luck. The UK will need it with your leadership.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/13/2014 0:44 Comments ||
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#2
Israel will find a way to get what she needs with or without you.
And, in order to defray the production costs, IMI will have to market the staff to over Brit's customers.
#5
Is the black flag of jihad flying over the UK? How much is the UK prolonging the conflict by providing aid to Hamas through the PA? UK Aid to the Palestinian Authority. For that matter, how much is the U.S. prolonging and exacerbating terrorism by providing aid to Hamas through the PA?
#6
How much is the UK prolonging the conflict by providing aid to Hamas through the PA?
That is the key question. If Western leaders all presented a united front for Israel and against Hamas this nonsense in Gaza would come to a screeching halt.
The military chief and the spymaster? That would be an amusing conversation, were I capable of understanding so much as a single word.
[AnNahar] Russian President Vladimir Putin ...Second and fourth President and sixth of the Russian Federation and the first to remain sober. Putin is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from polonium poisoning. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to Putin. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead... on Tuesday hosted his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sissi for talks about Cairo's purchase of advanced surface-to-air missiles and membership in a Moscow-led free trade zone.
The two strong-willed leaders have developed a close working relationship since Putin gave his backing to Sisi's presidential run during the latter's visit to Moscow in February.
Russian television showed the former field marshal strolling with Putin through a Black Sea ski resort used during the recent Winter Olympic Games.
"All the people of Egypt are closely watching my visit and expecting a high level of cooperation between our states," Russian state news agencies quoted Sisi as telling Putin.
"I expect us to meet their expectations."
Sisi also thanked Putin for being the first leader to invite him for a visit outside the Arab world since his swearing in as head of state.
Russia has jumped at the chance to grab a bigger share of the Egyptian arms market after the United States suspended some of its weapons deliveries last year in the wake of Sisi's crackdown on the former Islamic government.
Cairo hosted the Russian defense and foreign ministers in November -- the first such visit since the Soviet era -- for discussions on an Egyptian arms purchase plan.
Moscow's Vedemosti business daily reported in the wake of Sisi's visit to Moscow that Russia and Egypt were nearing a $3-billion (2.2-billion-euro) weapons agreement that would be financed by Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... and the United Arab Emirates.
The report said Moscow and Cairo had already either "initialed or signed" contracts for the purchase of Mig-29 fighters and Russian attack helicopters as well as coastal defense systems.
"Egypt is most interested in air defense systems," said Moscow's World Arms Trade Analysis Center chief Igor Korotchenko.
"I think that the signing of actual contracts is just a question of time," the analyst said in a telephone interview. "A political-level agreement has already been reached."
A Kremlin statement noted that Egypt was Russia's largest client for its wheat exports and that the two sides would also focus their attention on boosting trade.
Russian state media said the two sides were expected to kickstart negotiations about establishing a free trade zone between Egypt and a customs union Russia has forged with ex-Soviet Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Moscow in recent decades has played a reduced role in helping resolve the Israeli-Paleostinian standoff. The Kremlin has formally backed Gazoo mediation efforts currently being conducted in Cairo.
#3
Russian television showed the former field marshal strolling with Putin through a Black Sea ski resort used during the recent Winter Olympic Games.
Could have been our Champ, but he doesn't stroll well with military people. The Olympic Games not only masked Russian deployments, it was a nice business development venue for Vlad.
#4
I remember a certain Russian air defense system purchased by a certain pencil neck geek in Syria. The IAF flew right through it, bombed a nuke plant that was under construction and then flew home before the pencil neck knew what happened. When Vlad sells weapons to Arabs he gets the gold mine and Arabs get the shaft. What's troubling here is that Sisi will most likely use US dollars to make the purchase.
[IsraelTimes] The Jewish community of Frankfurt dropped out of the German city's interfaith Council of Religions, saying it failed to condemn anti-Israel statements by local Islamic leaders.
Leo Latasch, the head of social affairs for the Jewish community, cited the council failing to censure statements made by members of the Islamic Religious Association of Hessen.
"These are not people with whom we can continue to work," Latasch told Germany's Jewish weekly, the Juedische Allgemeine.
As an example, the Islamic association in a press statement accused the Central Council of Jews in Germany of using the issue of anti-Semitism in Europe "to divert attention from the war crimes of the Israeli government."
Unal Kaymakci, deputy director of the Islamic association and a member of the Council of Religions, also posted on Facebook a link to an article in which Israel was charged with state terrorism ... any action taken by a non-Moslem state that constrains the violent impulses of Moslems or their allies ... and crimes against humanity, the Jewish weekly reported.
SelÃ"uk Dogruer, who represents Mohammedans on the interfaith council, said Frankfurt's police chief should not have apologized to the Central Council for losing control of an anti-Israel demonstration there. The police handed a megaphone to the demonstration leaders in hopes that they would calm the crowds, but the leaders instead chanted anti-Israel slogans in German and Arabic.
Latasch told Juedische Allgemeine that it was not enough for the Council of Religions to say that Facebook comments and other public statements were not official statements.
Dieter Graumann, head of the Central Council of Jews, accused the interfaith group of failing to hold up its end of the bargain.
The Jewish organization "has always stood up for Mohammedans in Germany," he said. "But solidarity from Mohammedans towards Jews remains missing."
Once again, Canada is punching well above its weight.
[TORONTOSUN] Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird took to Twitter to lambaste the United Nations ...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks... for its choice of judge to lead an investigation into potential war crimes in the Israel-Gazoo conflict.
Baird accused genocide and human rights ...not to be confused with individual rights, mind you... expert William Schabas of being biased against Israel and said the UN's inquiry will be a "sham."
"UN Human Rights Council continues to be a sham for advancing human rights," Baird tweeted Monday night. "It's an utter shame and will do nothing to promote peace and dignity in Gazoo for the Paleostinian people."
Schabas has not been shy in his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in particular.
He once wrote in a law journal that Netanyahu is "the single individual most likely to threaten the survival of Israel" and that he'd like to see the Israeli leader "in the dock of the International Criminal Court." ... where Milosevich died of old age before being convicted ...
Baird tweeted that the appointment of Schabas as a lead member of the UN investigation team "reveals its agenda."
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[DAWN] LANDI KOTAL: Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam ...Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI, is a Pak Deobandi (Hanafi) political party. There are two main branches, one led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and one led by Maulana Samiul Haq. Fazl is active in Pak politix and Sami spends more time running his madrassah. Both branches sponsor branches of the Taliban, though with plausible deniability... -Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ... has ruled out possibility of midterm elections and imposition of martial law in the country.
He visited Jamrud on Tuesday to offer condolence over the demise of a family member of MNA Haji Shahji Gul. "No midterm elections will be held or martial law imposed in the country due to the marches of Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... and Pakistain Awami Tehrik on August 14," he said on the occasion.
The JUI-F chief said that it had become a habit of Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the brightest knife in the national drawer... and Dr Tahirul Qadri ...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him... to criticise national institutions as they wanted to weaken democracy and pave the way for military takeover in the country.
He said that his party would try its best to foil all conspiracies against the democratically elected governments. He said that instead of asking for midterm elections, his party would demand re-election in those constituencies from where the PTI candidates would resign.
Mr Rehman ridiculed Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri for frequently changing their stances. He said that the politics of dharna (sit-in) was no more acceptable to the people of Pakistain.The JUI-F chief said that as a political worker he believed that army would not topple the democratically elected government. There was no fear of imposition of a martial law on or after August 14, he added.
Mr Rehman said that elections were not rigged only in four constituencies as claimed by PTI. He said that polls were rigged in the entire Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... where PTI emerged victorious. "We have been repeatedly saying that elections in most of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa constituencies were rigged but the PTI chief and the provincial government paid no heed to our complaints," he said.
The JUI-F chief said that PTI was out to derail democracy as it was trying to pit national institutions against each other by levelling allegations against former chief justice, Election Commission of Pakistain, media organizations and even army.
"JUI-F will be at the forefront to foil all such conspiracies against democracy and elected government," he said.
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08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] The Punjab government has launched a crackdown against Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) workers and rounded up around 50 of them here on Tuesday.
The police had already prepared lists of the PTI and Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) workers and local leaders though a large number of them have already gone underground to avoid arrest.
On Tuesday, 10 PTI workers were rounded up from Ratta, 23 from Pirwadhai, 11 from Morgah.
Besides, three persons were taken into custody in the Airport area and another political activist was detained in Banni.
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[DAWN] The government has decided not to arrest leaders of the August 14 march but keep the situation under control with 'administrative' measures, as mediators continued their efforts to broker a truce between the PML-N and the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... The decision was taken at a consultative meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... at his Raiwind residence here on Monday. It was attended by important members of the federal and Punjab governments and big shots of the PML-N.
The meeting discussed the marches on Islamabad the PTI and the Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) have planned from Lahore on Aug 14.
A participant of the meeting told Dawn that Mr Sharif asked the PML-N leaders and ministers not to get panicked by the protest plans and face the situation in a calm and composed manner.
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[DAWN] In a televised address to the nation, a visibly concerned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... on Tuesday requested that a Supreme Court commission investigate alleged irregularities in the 2013 general elections.
"I request the Chief Justice of Pakistain [Justice Nasirul Mulk] to form a three-member commission that will investigate the rigging allegations and give a final decision," he said.
The prime minister's appeal to the Supreme Court comes just two days before the launch of massive anti-government marches led by Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight... and Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri ...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him... - both of whom have agreed on an agenda aimed at introducing, "true participatory democracy" based on alleged rigging in the elections.
The appeal also closely mirrors the words of Imran Khan, who said he would accept any decision taken by the Supreme Court if it launches a probe into rigging allegations.
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[DAWN] Provincial chief of Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... Professor Mohammad Ibrahim Khan on Tuesday said that they would not support any attempt to harm the democratic system in the country.
Addressing a ceremony at Swat ...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat... Press Club, which was held to distribute cash among the internally displaced persons of North Wazoo Agency, he said that imposition of martial law would be against the constitution and the country could no more afford such a situation.
"For sustainable democratic system in the country role of agencies in the political matters needs to end," he said and added all the political parties should work for strengthening democracy.
To a question Professor Ibraheem said that Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... and Tahirul Qadri ...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him... 's agendas were different, adding that while Qadri didn't take part in the last general elections, Imran Khan started its agitation after he alleged rigging in four constituencies during the last general elections.
The JI leader said that political parties should keep their differences aside and work for country's uplift.
Replying another question the JI provincial chief said the government should end operation Zarb-e-Azb ..the Pak offensive against Qaeda in Pakistain and the Pak Taliban in North Wazoo. The name refers to the sword of the Prophet (PTUI!)... as soon so possible to allow return of the affected people to their home towns.
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[DAWN] The government is unlikely to allow the Pakistain Awami Tehrik to take out its Inqilab (revolution) march as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... has been told that some hitmen have infiltrated into its folds for bloodletting during the march.
The Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... , however, will be allowed to continue with its Azadi march after a 'nominal' resistance by police.
A senior government official told Dawn that an intelligence agency briefed the prime minister on Tuesday about the impact of the marches the PAT and PTI would be undertaking on Aug 14.
Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah recently asked the government to investigate if the Zionist lobby was behind the marches.
Mr Sharif was told that some hired-guns had infiltrated into the PAT ranks and they would initiate a clash with law-enforcement personnel and then resort to firing on the workers, he said.
About the capability of both the PAT and PTI to gather people, the intelligence agency said the two could not assemble more than 100,000 protesters — PAT about 10,000 to 20,000 and PTI around 80,000.
The agency was also quoted as claiming to have detected some 'undesirable foreign links' of PAT.
The official would not explain these links.
However, the man who has no enemies isn't anybody and has never done anything... Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah recently asked the government to investigate if the Zionist lobby was behind the marches.
Yes, they are. Also behind absolutely everything wrong with the Land of the Pure. They were busy with their own concerns when y'all had to pretend to be Arabs, and declared war on them. So they declared war right back -- only like everything else, they're better at it than you. Surrender now, and sue for peace. Really, it's your only hope.
Keeping in view the intelligence reports, the official said, the government decided not to let PAT go ahead with its Inqilab march.
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[CSMONITOR] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused Pakistan of waging a "proxy war" and vowed to strengthen his country's armed forces in a speech during a rare visit to disputed Kashmir.
But Mr. Modi also stressed the need for reconciliation with Pakistan. What does he really want? Unclear. But the tough side of his talk on Kashmir, disputed by India and Pakistan for over 60 years, indicates a breakthrough isn't imminent.
Modi said that Pakistan was using militants to attack India and foster unrest. Pakistan "has lost the strength to fight a conventional war but continues to engage in the proxy war of terrorism," he told Indian soldiers in Kashmir's Leh District.
The prime minister's comments come before meetings later this month in Islamabad between the foreign secretaries of both countries aimed at a renewed peace effort. Some analysts suggest that Modi is striking a tough pose before talks begin.
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[Al Ahram] Iraqi Christians who fled a jihadist onslaught and are packed several families to a room in a church in Kurdistan have lost hope in their country and long to emigrate.
France issued an invitation, guys. Take them up on it.
"This is our country. We have suffered before, but the attack by the Islamic State (IS) has been the worst," said Salwa, a 40-year-old civil servant and grandmother.
"I want to leave Iraq," she said.
Speaking to AFP in the garden of Ainkawa's Saint Joseph church, on the outskirts of Arbil, Salwa is among the tens of thousands of Christians who have in recent weeks sought refuge near the Kurdish capital.
She said most of her extended family fled Iraq's largest Christian town of Qaraqosh last week, as attacking jihadists offered them a bleak choice.
"They said either we convert or we flee," said Salwa. "Only a few stayed behind, because they were too sick or old to walk. They are locked up in the houses."
Salwa said she held little hope her lot would improve with the US air strikes on jihadist positions in the area.
"The IS has attacked Christians three times in the past three months alone. We are vulnerable here, we have no real guarantees. And I want safety for my children," she said, clad in a blue jalabiyah (traditional robe) as she sat at the entrance of the pre-fab shed she now calls home.
Her 22-year-old daughter Sarah, who is pregnant with her fourth child, echoed her despair.
"We fled the (jihadist) shelling on Qaraqosh with nothing except the clothes on our backs. We walked for hours in the dark, the children wailing with hunger," said Sarah, forcing a smile as she described the terror.
A 74-year-old nun, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, was also among the displaced.
"I have seen many wars in my lifetime, but I have never seen anything like this. I understand that people want to leave Iraq, even though it is our home," she said, clothed in a white robe with a wooden rosary hanging from her pocket.
In an open letter published Sunday, the Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon said there are 70,000 displaced Christians in Ainkawa alone.
"The level of disaster is extreme," wrote Louis Raphael Sako, who also heads Iraq's Catholic bishops assembly.
"Something should be done to save this people who have their history in this land from their beginnings."
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#1
their history in this land from their beginnings Maybe it's time to tap the dust of that land off your sandals and make a new beginning somewhere else.
#7
The Catholic Church world-wide is mobilizing to support these folks, and hopefully find them new homes. Its sad that they are being forced from millennia of peaceful existence in their original homeland.
#10
France offered to take in the Christians. They may not have thought it was quite so many, though. I wonder if Israel would want some to replace the Thais, et al who replaced the Palestinians after the security walls went up.
#11
OWG Global Federal Union(s) > Proposed "PERSIAN GULF", "MIDDLE EAST", + "ISLAMIC" UNIONS, ...@ETC. = NO JEWS [ergo NO STATE OF ISRAEL ALLOWED IN "UNION(S)"?] = NO CHRISTIANS = NO NON-MUSLIMS???
Period???
* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > [Catholic Online] CATHOLICS KILLED AT MASS IN IRAQ, EXTREMIST MUSLIMS INVADE CHURCH, MURDER PRIESTS.
Circa 50 Persons repor killed in the attack.
* RUSSIA TODAY > "ISLAMIC STATE" SUPPORTERS LEAFLET CENTRAL LONDON, DECLARING "DAWN OF A NEW ERA".
The traditional Saudi way to express such hopes, Mr. King, is to drop several to many millions of dollars on them...
[ARABNEWS] King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has congratulated Haidar Al-Abadi on his nomination as the new prime minister of Iraq, replacing Nuri Al-Maliki, and expressed hope that Al-Abadi would be able to unify the Iraqi people.
In a congratulatory message sent to Al-Abadi, King Abdullah prayed that God Almighty may grant him success ... in "restoring cohesion" among the Iraqi people and "preserving Iraq's unity and achieving its security, stability and development."
He said he wants to see Iraq, under the new prime minister, "regain its rightful place in the Arab and Moslem world."
King Abdullah also congratulated the new Iraqi President Mohammed Fouad Masum and new Parliament Speaker Salim Al-Jabouri. He also praised Masum for appointing Al-Abadi to lead the new government.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal earlier welcomed the nomination of Al-Abadi, describing it as good news.
"This is the good news I heard lately," the veteran diplomat said during a news conference in Jeddah.
Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... shares more than 800 km of border with Iraq and has been alarmed by the offensive led by Lion of Islam forces, who have captured large swathes of its neighbor.
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Britain made a second airdrop of aid to refugees in northern Iraq, officials said Tuesday, as Tornado fighter jets were readied to provide surveillance support for the humanitarian effort.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) was forced to abandon a drop on Monday because of fears of injuring people on the ground, but a repeat attempt overnight was successful, the Department for International Development said. Two aid drops have now been made of water and solar lamps that can also be used to charge mobile phones.
Britain is also preparing to deploy a “small number” of Tornado jets to gather information to help deliver aid to civilians fleeing Islamic State (IS) militants, Prime Minister David Cameron’s Downing Street office said.
Perhaps the Tornados could drop some bombs on the ISIS? Or would that offend the faint constitutions of the Liberal Democrats?
“We have decided to pre-position a small number of Tornados in the region so that they could, if required, use their excellent surveillance capability to gather better situational awareness to help with humanitarian effort,” a spokeswoman said. “This would be similar to the role the Tornado played in the UK earlier this year, gathering information on the areas affected by the severe floods.”
Ministers have repeatedly said they have no plans to join the United States in conducting military strikes on IS forces, but for some, the prospect of sending in jets raises the stakes.
The Times newspaper reported the Tornado move under a front page headline “Jets ready for combat”, and cited anonymous defence sources stating that the mission could “quickly evolve into a wider combat role”.
A number of retired generals have been calling for tougher British action, including General Richard Shirreff, who was Britain’s most senior officer in NATO until March and resigned from the army last week. Shirreff told The Times that the government was “terrified” of deploying troops ahead of the general election in May, but warned: “The longer we sit on our hands and prevaricate, the more dangerous the situation is going to become.”
Any decision to take military action in Iraq, three years after British forces pulled out following an eight-year occupation with the United States, would likely require a vote in the House of Commons.
Parliament is on summer recess until September 1 and several MPs are calling for a recall. However, the government has said it has no plans to do this at the moment.
Cameron suffered a humiliating defeat last year when MPs refused to authorise air strikes in Syria.
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[AnNahar] Haidar al-Abadi, tasked with forming Iraq's next government during a major crisis, is a former exile and long-serving MP described variously as a genial, tough, diplomatic and uncontroversial politician.
Many of those characteristics are a sharp departure from outgoing premier Nuri al-Maliki, who is opposed by Iraq's Sunni Arabs and some of his own Shiite community, and has defiantly insisted he is being robbed of a third term in a violation of the country's constitution.
Abadi, a member of Maliki's Dawa party, earned a doctorate from Manchester University in Britannia, where he remained in exile for much of Saddam Hussein's rule.
Two of his brothers were locked away Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! and executed by Saddam's regime for membership in the Dawa party, which opposed his rule, while a third was imprisoned for a decade on the same charge.
Abadi, a balding man with a close-cut white beard, returned to Iraq following Saddam's overthrow in 2003 and became communications minister in the interim government set up after the dictator's fall.
Abadi, who was born in 1952, was elected to parliament in 2006, chairing the Economy, Investment and Reconstruction Committee and then the Finance Committee.
He was voted deputy parliament speaker in July, before being tapped to form the government.
"Haidar is a very friendly person, very down to earth," said Zaid al-Ali, a legal expert and the author of the book The Struggle for Iraq's Future.
"People... accept that he's a very easy person to speak to. You don't need to look over your shoulder after speaking with him, you don't have to be worried about disagreeing with him," Ali said.
Kirk Sowell, the Amman-based publisher of the Inside Iraqi Politics newsletter, said Abadi is "a completely mainstream guy, he's kind of a grey suit."
"He doesn't have any enemies, he's avoided controversies," and "he's never been one to push for reform," Sowell said.
"Up until recently, he's been a Maliki surrogate," he said. "I have never seen much daylight between the two of them."
Haidar al-Khoei, an associate fellow at the Chatham House think-tank, said Abadi may be a positive change from Maliki.
"From what I hear from within Dawa circles, he is clearly much smarter than Maliki. He has a lot more business experience as well," Khoei said.
"He's still tough," but "he's also more diplomatic and more reconciliatory, and I think that gives him the edge in terms of being able to form a government."
If he is successful in doing so in the next 30 days, Abadi will face enormous challenges as premier.
Iraq suffers from rampant corruption, has major shortfalls in basic services such as electricity and clean water, and is sharply divided along religious and ethnic lines.
But the greatest of all will be security, with jihadist-led murderous Moslems in control of large areas of five Iraqi provinces, and hundreds of people killed in attacks each month.
Maliki sought to address violence, which has been on the rise since April 2013, with military force, making little in the way of concessions to his opponents, especially members of the country's Sunni Arab minority.
But without reaching out to Iraqi Sunnis and giving them a significant stake in politics and government, it will be extremely difficult to bring the violence plaguing the country under some semblance of control.
Of the widespread challenges Abadi faces, Khoei said: "I don't think it's going to be easy, but with Maliki, it will be impossible -- that's the bottom line."
[AnNahar] An Iraqi politician who helped bring attention to the plight of besieged members of her Yazidi community was maimed Tuesday in the crash of a helicopter delivering aid, officers said.
The pilot was killed when the chopper, packed with rescued Yazidis, crashed during takeoff after delivering aid to Mount Sinjar, two senior army officers said.
Yazidi MP Vian Dakhil, whose emotional appeal in parliament on the plight of people stranded on the mountain made her the public voice of her community, was injured in the crash.
A New York Times ...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize... journalist also sustained non-life threatening injuries in the crash, the paper said.
Thousands of members of the Yazidi minority are trapped on the mountain in northwestern Iraq with little food or water by jihadists from the Islamic State (IS) group who overran the region.
The U.N. refuge agency put the number of people on the mountain at 20,000-30,000, while U.N. minority rights expert Rita Izsak warned they face "a mass atrocity and potential genocide within days or hours."
Insurgents led by IS jihadists launched a sweeping offensive in June that has overrun large areas of five Iraqi provinces and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
The U.S. military is carrying out air strikes against gunnies in north Iraq, including Tuesday on a mortar position it said was firing on Kurdish forces attempting to defend Yazidis north of Sinjar.
[Ynet] Thousands of people from Iraq's Yazidi minority trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq by Islamic State militants have been able to escape in the past three days with help from Kurdish security forces and others, a UN official said on Monday.
Kieran Dwyer, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, declined to identify all who were involved except to say that various actors had put great effort into getting trapped people off Mount Sinjar.
One hesitates to speculate who those coy "and others" might be, but bless 'em for it, whoever they are.
#3
JPADS (Joint Precision Airdrop System) GPS guided systems like the SHERPA have been around for years. Kicking door or ramp bundles form 15k AGL is 1940's, Burma Hump technology's...or worse.
Posted by: Bill Thriper8766 ||
08/13/2014 5:47 Comments ||
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#4
An altitude of 15k will make most small-arms fire ineffective. It's a 'one off' however, as ISIS will likely be quick to secure and use MANPADS to engage subsequent re-supply drops. Higher altitudes could also indicate someone is managing or de-conflicting the airspace to prevent another April, 1994 style friendly fire shoot down. Some may recall the downing of two U.S. UH-60's and the loss of 26 U.S. personnel in the same region of Irag, by the USAF.
#9
Didn't they make a big deal in Afghanistan that the pallets with emergency rations were made to break apart during it's descent so one person couldn't control all the food. IIRC there was a stink that the food packets were the same color as cluster bomb bomblets and most of these emergency rations ended up being fed to livestock.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations predicted on Wednesday that Jerusalem will not cooperate with the so-called "Schabas committee" that has been appointed to investigate alleged war crimes committed during Operation Protective Edge.
International Canadian law expert William Schabas -- known for his criticism of Israel -- will head the United Nations Human Rights Council's probe into Israel's actions in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in the last two months.
The Foreign Ministry said that Schabas's appointment to head the panel proved that Israel cannot expect justice from this body.
"The report has already been written and the only question is who signs it," the Foreign Ministry said.
#1
The Foreign Ministry said that Schabas’s appointment to head the panel proved that Israel cannot expect justice from this body. Does anyone seriously think that a fair probe will come from the UN? For one thing, the focus already has a premise that war crimes were committed and that maybe they were committed by Israel--no mention of kidnappings and murder of Israeli teens, rocketing of Israeli citizens for starters. Go investigate ISIL where real atrocities are being committed. Too risky? Israel should tell the UN to go bugger themselves.
#3
Too bad the US doesn't have the leadership or balls to do the same as Israel and call out the bullshit UN complicity with terrorists, racists and would-be genocidal maniacs.
[Iran Press TV] The number of Paleostinians killed by Israel in Gazoo rises to 1,951 people as a truce between resistance movement Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, and Israel enters its third day.
On Tuesday, Paleostinian and Israeli officials continued indirect talks in the Egyptian capital Cairo as patients faced shortage of medication in the blockaded sliver.
Egyptian mediators shuttle between the Israeli and Paleostinian negotiators at the headquarters of the country's General Intelligence, where the talks are being held.
According to Israelis, there has not been any progress in the talks and gaps yet remain wide.
Hamas wants an end to Israel's seven-year blockade on the coastal enclave, but Tel Aviv says it will only take the measure if Hamas disarms, a condition that has been rejected by the Paleostinian resistance movement.
Meanwhile, ...back at the desert island, Irene was indignant at the thought of doing such a thing without benefit of clergy... Israeli minister of military affairs Moshe Ya'alon warned that the regime would resume its offensive against Gazoo late on Wednesday if the two sides cannot reach a deal.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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[Iran Press TV] The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has decried the Israeli regime's "war crimes" against Paleostinians of the besieged Gazoo Strip.
The 56-member group released a statement following a ministerial meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah, condemning, "in the liveliest terms," "the occupying force, for war crimes it doesn't stop committing in the Paleostinian territories."
"Israel should immediately cease its aggression against the Paleostinian people and shoulder political and legal responsibility for war crimes," the OIC said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said at the meeting that a peace deal with Paleostinians was the only way for Tel Aviv to survive.
The OIC also called for a meeting of donors for the reconstruction of Gazoo, which has been torn apart by the Israeli regime's offensive.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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[AnNahar] Israel lashed out on Tuesday after the U.N. Human Rights Council named the man who will be running an inquiry into its Gazoo offensive.
Canadian international lawyer William Schabas, who will head the commission, is widely regarded in Israel as being hostile to the Jewish state over reported calls to bring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court ... where Milosevich died of old age before being convicted ... "This commission's anti-Israeli conclusions have already been written, all it needs is a signature," railed foreign ministry front man Yigal Palmor.
"For this commission the important thing is not human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... but the rights of terrorist organizations like Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,," he told Agence La Belle France Presse.
But in a series of interviews with the Israeli media, Schabas defended himself against allegations of bias against the Jewish state.
"I've frequently lectured in Israel, at universities in Israel, I'm a member of the editorial board of the Israel law review, I wouldn't do those things if I was anti-Israel," he told public radio.
He challenged Palmor's assertion that the commission's findings were a foregone conclusion.
"As far as I'm concerned they're not written at all, that's the whole point of an investigation," he told the radio.
"Many of the questions we have to examine will deal with very precise matters on which the generalities about the conflict don't provide any insight.
"When we look at specific incidents in which... non-combatants were killed during the conflict, there are issues about targeting, about proportionality, each one of these has to be examined specifically."
In a second interview with Israel's army radio, he said that he would also be looking into the actions of Paleostinian Death Eaters.
"The mandate that the commission has been given doesn't specify this and I think a reasonable interpretation would be that mandate requires you to look at both sides," he said.
He said the commission's findings are to be published in March 2015.
Israel has long had stormy relations with the UNHRC.
In January 2012, it became the first country to refuse to attend a periodic review of its human rights record.
And two months later, it cut all ties with the Geneva-based council after it announced an inquiry into how West Bank settlements may be infringing on Paleostinians rights.
Israel has accused the UNHRC of routinely singling it out at its annual meetings, as well as passing a number of anti-Israel resolutions.
[Ynet] Photos released by Anadolu news agency reveal extent of damage to Strip after IDF Operation Protective Edge.
I can't see a difference, but perhaps some of our trained Rantburg eyes will see more deeply into the photos at the link.
New satellite pictures revealed Tuesday the widespread destruction in Gazoo following IDF Operation Protective Edge. Turkish news agency Anadolu released the pictures from the GOKTURK-2 satellite, captured at the beginning of the year and again on August 10 — after a month of fighting in the coastal territory.
According to the UN, at least 11,855 housing units were destroyed or severely damaged in Gazoo, with 425,000 Paleostinians internally displaced by the latest round of hostilities.
Paleostinians claimed that 134 factories were destroyed in the operation, directly resulting in $47 million of damages and leaving 30,000 people out of work; the unemployment rate in the Gazoo Strip was reportedly up to 55 percent.
UNRWA Spokesperson Christopher Gunness told British paper the Daily Mail that "a massive human displacement catastrophe is morphing into a massive homelessness crisis" in Gazoo.
According to the latest estimates, some 16,700 homes were destroyed or significantly damaged, leaving as many as 100,000 people without shelter. Paleostinians in Gazooexpressed concern ...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended... over the start of the new school year, claiming that 25 schools were destroyed and 230 require repair.
"In order for us to say how many houses, how many schools and how many communities have been destroyed we have got to get engineers in place, but until there's proper security we can't send engineers out into the field," he told the MailOnline.
He stressed: "People leaving our schools are going to see their homes, and then they're coming back, that suggests that their homes are uninhabitable."
The UN refugee agency's front man expressed grave concern about the immediate future of the Strip's residents. "There are probably bodies under the rubble. People, if they can get back to their homes, will probably find their water systems and sewage systems destroyed."
" I don't know how we are going to start the school year," he emphasized.
Oddly enough, StrategyPage claims over 96% of the structures in Gaza were intact as of a few days ago. That would go nicely with 100,000 without shelter out of a population of 1.8 million equals... carry the 17 because it's Wednesday... yup, 5.5% repeating.
#2
I looked at the photos at the link. They're not good enough resolution to determine the extent of the damage. The rest of the photos I've seen all seem to be of the same four or five places. Just more Hamass selective projection. If they don't want their houses destroyed, don't shoot off rockets. Sounds perfectly logical to me.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/13/2014 21:41 Comments ||
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#3
Thank you, Old Patriot. It's good to know it's not just my ignorance.
[ARABNEWS] The UN refugee agency on Tuesday accused Sri Lanka of breaking international law in its growing campaign to kick out Pak asylum seekers without a fair hearing.
"Fundamentally, this is a breach of the principle of no forced returns. That's a clear violation of international law," said Adrian Edwards, front man for the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR).
Sri Lanka has deported 88 Paks since Aug. 1, despite claims that they could be at risk in their homeland, Edwards said.
Starting with men who had been placed in detention, the country has widened the net to cover whole families, he told news hounds.
"We are very concerned at the continued deportations that are happening. We want deportations stopped."
In all, there are now 11 women and eight children among the deported, said Edwards.
"Some of the latest deportees had their passports and asylum-seeker certificates seized last week. They were told to go to Colombo airport, where they were placed on flights to Pakistain," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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The Lebanese parliament failed Tuesday for the tenth consecutive time to elect a new president to replace incumbent president Michel Suleiman because of lack of the required quorum.
Speaker Nabih Berri called for a new session to be held on September 2, after no one won two thirds of the parliament as required by the constitution.
The western-backed March 14 alliance is backing head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea as candidate for the post, while the Syrian-Iranian backed March 8 camp has not declared the candidacy of any of its components as MP Michel Aoun, one of its prominent leaders, insist on running to the post as a consensual candidate.
Centrist Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt announced the candidacy of the Gathering member MP Henri Helou.
Because of the sharp division among the political forces in the parliament, the presidential elections have failed so far on none occasions to conclude as the constitution requires the presence of two thirds of the 128-member parliament which is far from being achieved.
Since May 25, the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam is running the country according to a constitutional article that stipulates that in the absence of a president, the cabinet will take charge of the post until the election of a new president.
Might not be the worst thing to happen...
Lebanon has witnessed a vacuum in the presidency post in the past following the end of the term of former President Emile Lahoud in 2007 and following the end of the term of former President Amine Gemayel in 1988.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/13/2014 00:00 ||
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It's good to check in on their progress periodically. If only similar attention had been paid to Saddam Hussein's stash.
[AnNahar] The Pentagon said Tuesday it had made progress in destroying Syrian chemical weapons, saying specialists on a U.S. military ship had neutralized "100 percent" of a precursor used to make lethal Sarin gas.
After a global outcry over deadly chemical attacks in a Damascus suburb last year that may have killed as many as 1,400 people, Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Oppressor of the Syrians and the Lebs... 's regime agreed to an international plan to destroy its stockpile.
"I am pleased to announce that the crew aboard Cape Ray has completed neutralization of 100 percent of the sarin precursor aboard the ship, which amounts to about 581 metric tons neutralized," Pentagon front man Colonel Steve Warren said.
He added that the crew is now beginning to neutralize 19.8 tons of sulfur mustard.
The destruction of these agents by hydrolysis began in early July and, according to the Pentagon, should be completed by the end of August.
With no country ready to accept shipments of the most lethal chemical agents, the United States proposed destroying the chemicals at sea using two "portable" hydrolysis units.
The process calls for mixing the chemicals in sealed containers with thousands of gallons of hot water along with sodium hydroxide or other "reagents" that help break down the toxicity of the chemical.
The resulting effluent, which is the equivalent to industrial waste, will be transported to plants on land for disposal.
Officials say none of the chemicals or waste will be dumped at sea.
Other chemical agents from Syria are being destroyed on land at special facilities in Britannia, Finland and the United States.
#1
These Mideast dictators certainly do like their chemical weapons. They are cheaper than the entry cost into the nuke game and less detectable too. But then these WMDs don't exist? Right.
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.
David Cameron
...Second and fourth President and sixth of the Russian Federation and the first to remain sober. Putin is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from polonium poisoning. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to Putin. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead...
Latasch told Juedische Allgemeine that it was not enough for the Council of Religions to say that Facebook comments and other public statements were not official statements.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Wazoo
International Criminal Court
The Lebanese parliament failed Tuesday for the tenth consecutive time to elect a new president to replace incumbent president Michel Suleiman because of lack of the required quorum.
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
