#2
"Hey Mark, I just wrote the state of California a check for a zillion dollars. Tell me again why we moved here?"
Posted by: Matt ||
02/03/2012 8:00 Comments ||
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#3
And despite the governments inelegant gyrations about budget cuts, the state payroll rose 3% in 2011
I think Brown cancelled furlough days
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/03/2012 8:08 Comments ||
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#4
The politicians (and their constituents) of California fail to grasp that it's not so much that all the unrealistic revenue and spending fantasies will end badly as that they will in fact end...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
02/03/2012 8:51 Comments ||
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#5
Pathetic. Reduced to begging. This would have been chump change years ago. And they still don't get it.
#9
in 2013 and 2014, there will be the real manna: capital gains taxes.
Ohhh, are they gonna get clipped. Obamacare comes in at 3. something on cap gains. TaxProf had the chart. And if Obama's tax cuts aren't renewed, could go as high as 25% cap gains.
#10
Barbara, Is Zuckerberg opposed to big state intrusions? I thought he was a big time Obama-guy after all. The IPO might be just the fig-leaf needed ot get lots of stories about money and wealth out there to make it appear the economy is better.
Yes, that Allen West. Interesting that he chose the Jerusalem Post over the New York Times for this venture...
The history of the Jewish people in the land of Israel stems back more than 3,000 years, unbowed by the sequential rise and fall of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Maccabeans, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Egyptians, Crusaders, Mamelukes and Turks.
In comparison, the history of our own United States dates back 236 years. Although America is a young society, we have shared fundamental principles with the Jewish heritage from the time of our founding.
Today, the bonds between America and Israel are stronger than ever, yet they have never been more threatened.
Today, the bonds between America and Israel are stronger than ever, yet they have never been more threatened.
When our founding fathers crafted the Constitution, they looked to the ancient Israelites for guidance in defining our "certain inalienable rights."
The words inscribed on the Liberty Bell: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof," are taken from Old Testament scripture, Leviticus 25:10.
The modern State of Israel and the United States share deeply-held precepts of self-reliance, individual responsibility and religious freedom -- as well as a passion and acuity for entrepreneurship and innovation. With more than 3,000 hitech companies and start-ups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world, apart from Silicon Valley. The technology for AOL Instant Messenger was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.
Israel and the United States also unfortunately share a common enemy in radical Islam, an ideology whose stated purpose is the destruction of Israel, and the subjugation of the United States and America's way of life. Our common enemy knows no national borders. It fights without uniforms, and readily targets our civilian populations.
Israel is the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1,000th of the world's population. This tiny, bright beacon of freedom, liberty and economic success in the Middle East is a target for destruction by radical Islamists for these very reasons.
Israel has endured continuous attacks since its founding in 1948, and peace agreements offered to the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon have met only rejection and rocket fire. It is truly a miracle that the modern State of Israel still exists.
Israel's position in the region is more tenuous than ever. With its current borders, Israel as a nation is virtually indefensible. At its narrowest point, Israel is only nine-miles wide. The West Bank borders the West; the Mediterranean Sea borders the East.
Israel continues to push for negotiations with the Palestinians, but success has been virtually impossible when there is no unity between the Palestinians themselves.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas has not had control of Gaza since June 2007, when the terrorist group Hamas staged a violent coup against the Fatah party. As long as Fatah and Hamas continue fighting over the legitimate Palestinian governing authority, credible negotiations seem impossible.
Israel continues to be threatened by the onslaught of secular Muslim leaders appearing in volatile, unstable nearby nations. The "Arab Spring" has resulted in Islamists led by the Muslim Brotherhood obtaining a 75 percent majority control in Egypt, with a stated goal of overturning the 1979 Camp David Accords.
To make matters even more complicated and dangerous in the Middle East, the US withdrawal from Iraq leaves a Shiafriendly path through which Iran can extend its destructive tentacles.
Iran has already shown a steady march to nuclear armament, while threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz if a planned European Union oil embargo disrupts its export.
Now, more than ever, America must demonstrate unwavering support of Israel. Instead, though, this administration shows a weakening commitment to our staunchest ally in the Middle East. Recently, the US cancelled the largest-ever joint military exercise with Israel.
This decision made just two days before we learned US President Barack Obama sent a secret communiqué to Iran's supreme leader requesting talks. Apparently, the president did not wish to "offend" Iran.
The president should instead be offended when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asserts that "Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury."
As a 22-year US Army veteran who commanded troops in the Middle East, I can tell you from experience, this enemy of radical Islam understands and respects only one thing: strength.
It is absolutely essential to the future of both Israel and the US that America supports Israel by providing a credible projection of power and a resolute willingness to accept military options if necessary.
While we can, and should, assist with negotiations, we must not adopt a posture of "even-handedness" between our ally and other parties.
The US must support Israel's need for secure, recognized and defensible borders, as well as Israel's right to determine its own security requirements.
In the Middle East, the sands of power are shifting under a harsh wind of change, with dangerous and frightening possibilities. In this landscape, the existence of a sincere, brave and unwavering ally is critical.
The US depends on the single constant of a democratic, free ally in Israel. We must ensure Israel can always depend on us.
The writer is a US Congressman for the Republican Party who represents Florida's 22nd congressional district in the House of Representatives.
#2
India is more concerned about assuring its access to the Indian ocean and to its Pacific trade routes. That is, the concern is the emerging Chinese blue water navy. Regarding the Himalayas, ask Tibet.
Posted by: Mike Ramsey ||
02/03/2012 16:13 Comments ||
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#3
India has plans to attack and take Diego Garcia. Holding it is a different matter....
Posted by: Mike Ramsey ||
02/03/2012 16:21 Comments ||
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#4
India has plans to attack and take Diego Garcia.
So it's like the U.S. has plans on file to invade Canada, should it ever become necessary?
#5
So it's like the U.S. has plans on file to invade Canada, should it ever become necessary?
If this retired Indian officer is to be believed, the operation was canceled while a plane was en route:
During Indira Gandhi's time, we had an airborne operation half way towards the island to capture it, but was called back. But better sense prevaled and an incident against the US was avoided.
These are one of those "for your eyes only" type things. All I know is that one phase was already underway when they were called back. My fathers unit (a field ambulance unit), was packed and on the tarmac waiting for their turn to take off.It was one of those cold war era incidents, as Indo-US relations were not cordial. It would have been a bde level op as the air lift capability of IAF during that time was'nt beyond bde level, including the supporting arms, and rear echlons.
But I guess such an operation would have been planned in conjunction with Soviet naval support. India really did'nt have the capability to take on a superpower so far away from home on its own. I'm just guessing, as no one really talks about an aborted baby. We could have managed a "Falklands op" but not against a superpower with the worlds largest and most powerful navy.
Here they are a Corps asset. Sir, you have an Engr bn to support a Bde, while we have a Engr bn for a div. They would have been given whole fd amb bn, considering likely cas rate and distance from home base.
Sir, as I keep saying, it would have been a Cold war era thing. Russians wanting to deny the control of the Indian Ocean to the US, who would help them? India. Lets just be happy that it was aborted...and not carried through.
India's attitude towards Diego Garcia is a lot like Argentina's attitude towards the Falklands.
#7
"Like Canada" > Paging a Mr. Alan Alda, paging Mr. Alan Alda ...
Indjuh's new "COLD START" DOCTRINE includes the scenario or option of Preeemptive Nuke Strike agz the PLA, so IMO China will be wary.
The crux for India is Islamist = Taliban + AQ, etal. takeover of Pakistan, vee either violent anti-Govt. insurgency andor Political-Legal-Electoral Jihad [formal Govt-Sharing]. NOW COMES THE RISK OF US-IRAN WAR + IRAN'S WELL-STATED WILLINGNESS TO UNILATERALLY DESTABILIZE ITS REGIONAL SOVEREIGN NEIGHBORS, INCLUD BUT NOT LIMITED TO NUKE-ARMED PAKLAND, FOR PURPOSES OF WAGING VIETNAM-STYLE, NUKE-WMD CAPABLE?, DEFENSIVE "PEOPLE'S/GUERILLA WAR" AGZ ANY
US-LED FOREIGN OCCUPATION.
Lest we fergit, Iran long ago once controlled Afghanistan + parts of Pakistan, ex-Soviet SSRS.
In addition, New Delhi fears the natural or exponetial growth of its domestic Muslim population. West China = Xinjiang [UIghurs] is also where China keeps a lot of its SECOND ARTILLERY [strategic missle force] + SPACE ASSETS.
India has many reasons for not wanting a US-Iran war to break out right now, + despite its past mil conflicts vee China INDIA DOESN'T FEAR A DIRECT CHINESE + PLA ATTACK AGZ IT AS MUCH AS INTERNAL MUSLIM/ISLAMIST DESTABILIZATION OF CHINA WHICH WILL INDUCE AN ANTI-MILTERR/ISLAMIST CHINESE ATTACK INTO PAKISTAN + INDIA'S HIMALAYAN LINE(S) OF CONTROL.
#8
DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > INDIAN MILITARY BUILDUP MAY BE TOO LITTLE TOO LATE | OLD WEAPONS< NEW THREATS FUEL INDIA'S MILITARY BUILDUP Should've started much earlier as China seemingly has a commanding lead as per time factors + national mil modernization.
and
* SAME > [India] AIR MARSHAL REJECTS US REPORT ON INDIA-CHINA "LIMITED WAR".
The Air Marshal all but directly states that Chinese mil technologies are akin to cheap, easily breakable = flimsy 1960's-1980's Japanese, Asian toys; + ARE NOT STRONG/WELL-BUILT OR RELIABLE COMPARATIVE TO INDIA'S - INDIA'S MILTECHS ARE FOR DETERRENCE, NOT ["Offensive" = "Belligerent"] WAR???
* SAME > USNI Director James Clapper] US INTEL CHIEF: PAKISTAN SEES INDIA AS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT.
[Dawn] IT is difficult to say what exactly is behind the latest upsurge in violence in Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... , specifically the resumption of 'assassinations'. Victims have been bumped off not only due to their religious and political affiliations, but also, seemingly, because of their profession. On Tuesday, two people were killed when assailants stormed a cellphone franchise in North Nazimabad. Two other cellphone businesses in nearby areas were targeted in similar fashion in the recent past. It appears the attackers were not interested in looting the premises but in spreading terror. The police claim the Taliban were involved in past attacks on cellphone franchises, but it is not clear why the faceless myrmidons would target this particular business.
Extortion has been suggested as one possible motive. Meanwhile, ...back at the bake sale, Umberto's Mom's cannoli were a big hit... a doctor was bumped off also on Tuesday as he drove to his clinic. The possibility of sectarian motives has been suggested by the police. Another doctor, associated with a holy manbargah, was shot in front of his house a few days ago, while lawyers from the Shia community have also been killed. In the early hours of Tuesday, the wife, daughter and driver of a Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... MPA were also murdered in a drive-by shooting in the city while a number of political workers have been bumped off.
Although sectarian animosity is a clear factor, there seems to be no common thread linking the killings, other than the intent to spread terror. Though some politicians have suggested that citizens take steps for 'self-protection', the law-enforcement apparatus cannot be let off the hook so easily. Since it is the police, Rangers and administration that bear primary responsibility for keeping the peace, it is they who must explain why such acts of violence conti-nue unabated. 'Targeted' search operations have begun, but why must such measures have to wait until after the body count begins to mount? Last year it took the Supreme Court's intervention for the authorities to take action to stop the assassinations, which claimed hundreds of lives. What will it take this time to motivate the government into doing so -- before Bloody Karachi's violence spins out of control once again?
Posted by: Fred ||
02/03/2012 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
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.
