Senior civil servants warned ministers that if they ordered a public inquiry into the July 7 suicide bombings it could "focus negatively" on Britain's Muslim community, it can be revealed.
#1
Can't have an inquiry focus on the guilty, can we?
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
06/09/2010 12:26 Comments ||
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Senior civil servants warned ministers that if they ordered a public inquiry into the July 7 suicide bombings it could "focus negatively" on Britain's Muslim community, it can be revealed.
#3
Terrified of muslims. Terrified by what "they" might do. Can't arrest 'em. Can't call inquiries. Can't shut down islamist schools, mosques, masjids. Can't even draw a cartoon. Can't name the elephant in the room. Terrified by the elephant in the room. Government, media, educators, lawyers, jails - you name it, they are terrified. By what these insane cultists will do. The eggshells they walk on feed the islamic fire.
The UK is undertaking a massive austerity study to slash spending, including such schemes as winter fuel subsidy to old age pensioners. Well if they are looking at areas to cut, would this big HINT help?
The UK Government is to provide £19m to help support schools and health clinics for Gazan refugees, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced today. The aid will go to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and will provide health care, education and services to meet the basic needs of Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the surrounding region.
Around 70% of Gazans depend on UNRWA for basic services, while 75% depend on food handouts.
Andrew Mitchell said: "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is both unacceptable and unsustainable.
"The UK is committed to helping those people affected by this crisis and that is why I am today providing £19 million to help meet their most basic needs. There is an immediate need for unfettered access to Gaza if the humanitarian situation is to be improved, to allow the economy to get back on its feet, and to give the young people of Gaza the prospect of a better future.
"I call on the Government of Israel to open the crossings to help end this humanitarian crisis."
Both the humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza remains very severe. 75% of Gazans depend on food handouts. 90% of water delivered to Gazans is not fit for drinking. Over 40% of Gaza's workforce is unemployed, and 95% of businesses are currently inactive.
Around 70% of Gazans depend on the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for health care, education and services to meet other basic needs. UK funding is essential to ensure that more unnecessary suffering is minimised.
UNRWA is facing a cash crisis. Its Regular Budget (General Fund) for 2010 is US$583.5 million. However, UNRWA's current level of funding for 2010 leaves a shortfall of $176.1 million, of which $90m is critical to paying salaries and delivering basic services.
In 2006, the UK signed a 5-year, £100m funding agreement with UNRWA. The agreement includes annual core contributions and performance-related payments, based on a Performance Assessment Framework agreed between DFID and UNRWA. The Secretary of State has just approved the £19 million core contribution for 2010.
#1
And President Obama announced that he will announce a $400million donation to the Palestinians to offset the hardships of being blockaded by Israel. The article is posted on page 2 under Homefront:WoT.
#2
In completely-unrelated-news Hamas has announced it has found £19 million to purchase rockets, guns, and explosives to kill innocent jewish schoolchildren.
A majority of people in Britain associate Islam with terrorism and the repression of women, a poll has shown.
The survey coincided with the launch of an advertising campaign aimed at combating negative perceptions of Muslims.
In the online poll of 2,152 UK adults, 58% of people said they associated Islam with extremism and 50% associated the world religion with terrorism.
The poll also found that 69% believe Islam encourages the repression of women.
It was organised as part of the Inspired By Muhammad campaign that will see adverts featuring pictures of Muslim professionals including TV presenter and Islam convert Kristiane Backer on the London Underground, bus stops and taxis.
Organiser the Exploring Islam Foundation said the campaign aims to highlight the Prophet Mohamed's teachings to Muslims on the importance of the environment, gender equality and social justice.
Remona Aly, campaigns director of the Exploring Islam Foundation, said: ''We are a group of young Muslim professionals and a lot of us have given our time voluntarily because we are very concerned about the way our faith is perceived by the public.
''We want to foster a greater understanding of what British Muslims are about and our contribution to British society. We are proud of being British and being Muslim.''
A spokesman for Quilliam, the counter-extremism think tank, said: ''We welcome the Inspired By Muhammad campaign as a valuable and timely step to help improve relations and foster deeper understanding between British citizens.
''This campaign is important because it can help non-Muslims to better understand the faith that inspires and guides their Muslim friends, neighbours and colleagues.
''This initiative also helps British Muslims reclaim the Prophet Mohamed as a time-honoured guide for peace, compassion and social justice from those who seek to twist his teachings.''
Venezuelan Vice-Foreign Minister for Latin American and the Caribbean Francisco Arias Cárdenas lashed on Tuesday at the United States at the 40th Meeting of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the stance taken by the US government with regard to Honduras, its expenditure in arms and the "deployment" of military bases.
Arias Cárdenas referred to the remarks made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During a luncheon behind closed doors, Clinton recommended the heads of delegation "listening to the reasons" of the Honduras government and its president Porfirio Lobo, Efe quoted.
Hillary finally bought a clue ...
In the opinion of Arias, such an attempt at "listening to the reasons of coupsters, of those who use power and force to impose their will," glaringly shows how "some purport to make unpunished the last coup d'état against legitimate President Manuel Zelaya."
Honduras was removed from the OAS on July 4, 2009 following a coup against President Zelaya. The issue of Honduras potential return to the OAS has been the focus of the attention at the 40th Meeting of the OAS General Assembly held in Lima.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
when are we gonna bring back PUBLIC assasinations too teach ppl lessons?
Posted by: chris ||
06/09/2010 1:35 Comments ||
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#2
Uh, dude? Did you just call for murder???
Here's a free English lesson: to, too, and two are different words, even though they sound the same! Here's a free quiz to help your uneducated ass to sort it out. Seriously, click through and take it until you understand. I know barely literate Chinese people who have a better grasp of our language than you do.
#3
Um...aside from the nonsensical comments, the article exposes a reality check on the part of State (and possibly the administration), given that they supported the deposed President in the wake of the coup, rather than supporting the constitutional action of their governement.
Hillary finally bought a clue ...
Subtle, Steve, but apparently not clear enough for some.
Nah, it's just reopolitik. The administraion failed to score brownie points with the Latin American Left by backing Zeyala. They've damaged relations with previously friendly countries like Colombia. The current Honduran government is isn't going away. Might as well try to salvage some sort of relationship.
#9
Everything achieved by Ronald Reagan and Elliot Abrams has been squandered by the last 3 US administrations.
Posted by: Omerelet Oppressor of the Jutes7800 ||
06/09/2010 17:01 Comments ||
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#10
Nor should it, it was democratically elected and has the support of the people.
And it took months for the administration to either realize that little fact, or realize that the socialistas weren't going to go for a group-hug with the President.
Considering events like Brazil's antics with regards to Iran, methinks it's likely the latter.
The leader of Mexico's teacher's union said in an education forum today that teachers are being extorted by organized crime.
Elba Esther Gordillo, president of the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (SNTE), the Mexican teachers union, said these crimes have been reported in Oaxaca, Sinaloa and Juarez City. Authorities have intervened in such cases, she said, but extortion of educators is not considered a "general subject".
"There are threats, telephone calls to get to want to sell security, to those things, but nothing else", she said, hinting violence has not affected teachers so far.
Gordillo spoke in an interview following her presentation in an education forum sponsored by Mexican president Felipe Calderón.
Gordillo added some children have been affected by extortion by organized crime without elaborating. She characterized the situation as "lamentable".
Calderón addressed the subject of violence in schools in a speech before the panel today, pointing out that patrols near schools do not really help if these is violence between and against children.
#2
Why doesn't Mr Gates propose a treaty between the US and Turkey stipulating unchecked migration (even if it is migration straight into welfare) and vast subsidies for economically weaker regions (to promote "cohesion")?
A bit of a history lesson but one that helps understand what is going on in NorK-land today.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is apparently conducting another purge of senior officials to cement his hold on power, the latest in a series of such maneuvers since he came to power in the 1990s. Some 100 senior officials were ousted in the latest purge, including Pak Nam-gi, the director of the Workers Party's Planning and Finance Department, who was executed by firing squad over the botched currency reform late last year. That was Kim's fifth massive purge.
A South Korean security official said, "Kim Jong-il used to keep tight control over senior officials by taking advantage of their fear of purges, but there seems to have been some unusually strong opposition this time."
In October 1992, Kim purged some 20 military officers who had studied in the Soviet Union for criticizing the regime and sacked 300 other such officers from active service, experts say.
Won Ung-hee, the chief of the Security Bureau of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, who played a leading role in the purge, was promoted by two ranks from major general to full general.
Kim Jong-il was inaugurated as supreme commander in December 1991, when he sacked a number of officers with a Soviet background in efforts to gain control of the military.
In April 1995, some time after his father Kim Il-sung died in July 1994, the so-called "purge of the Sixth Army Corps" took place. Some experts speculate that officers of the corps stationed in North Hamgyong Province conspired to stage a coup, but according to a North Korean source, it is widely believed that some 20 people including the political commissar of the corps, a secretary of the party's North Hamgyong provincial committee and a trading firm president had embezzled funds earmarked for the regime and rebelled against senior officers in the chain of command.
Kim Jong-il detected suspicious movements in the corps and instructed Gen. Kim Yong-chun, the current minister of the people's armed forces, to execute them. Rumor had it that hundreds of soldiers were executed. Kim Yong-chun became chief of the general staff of the Army in October 1995 for his role.
The most significant purge took place during the so-called "march to hardship" in 1997, during which about 1 million people starved to death. At the time, Kim Jong-il publicly executed So Kwan-hi, then party secretary in charge of agricultural affairs, in Pyongyang, branding him a "spy of the U.S. imperialists" and blaming him for the famine. Some 2,000 people were purged then on charges of espionage during the Korean War.
But public sentiment still deteriorated as tens of thousands of people including the families of those executed fell victim to the spy case, and Kim in 2000 purged dozens of senior officials who had investigated the case on charges of "alienating the party from the masses and playing into the enemy's hands."
In 2004, Kim Jong-il dismissed his brother-in-law, the first vice director of the party's Organization Department Jang Song-taek, and subordinates who appeared to be getting too powerful. In 2006, Kim fired premier Pak Pong-chu, who had introduced a modicum of the market economy.
Early this year, when public sentiment was at its worst in the aftermath of the bungled currency reform, Kim had Pak Nam-gi, a 40-year-long close aide, shot. This seemed to signal the beginning of another purge.
A North Korean source said, "The North is saying that people live in poverty due to senior officials' corruption." But the atmosphere in the North is quite different from the past. "North Koreans now know what real problems are. Senior officials ask what they have done wrong, and people ask what the point of the purge is," the source added.
Prof. Cho Young-ki of Korea University said there is "a possibility of another 'bloody purge' in the succession process."
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
When you screw up everything as Dear Leader, you go looking for someone's "ass to kick".
#5
including Pak Nam-gi, the director of the Workers Party's Planning and Finance Department, who was executed by firing squad over the botched currency reform late last year.
I can almost sympathize given the personnel revolving door between the Fed and Treasury and the banks/investment houses that were bailed out upon the backs of the American serfs taxpayers.
Geert Wilders, who is demanding a halt to immigration from Muslim countries as the centerpiece of his campaign for the Dutch prime ministership, has hailed Israel for fighting the jihad' and warned that the West is next' if Israel is unsuccessful. Israel is the canary in the coal mine,' Wilders said in a recent telephone interview with The Jerusalem Post, ahead of Wednesday's elections in the Netherlands. The jihad against Israel isn't against Israel only. It's against the whole West.'
A year ago, Wilders's PVV (Party for Freedom) was scoring 28 percent in opinion polls and appeared to have a realistic prospect of winning the elections. It has declined since then, however, he said, as economic issues have become increasingly dominant. There's not a big chance that I'll become prime minister,' he said. Nonetheless, the PVV is expected to double its current nine seats in the 150-member parliament, and front-runner Mark Rutte, of the People's Party for Freedom of Democracy (VVD), said this week that he was not ruling out Wilders's party as a coalition partner.
Wilders, who is Catholic, has faced a barrage of criticism, legal action and death threats for expressing trenchant criticism of Islam, and lives amid constant security precautions. He told the Post that while he believes there are moderate Muslims,' and that many Muslims living in the West are moderate, law-abiding people, I don't believe there is a moderate Islam.' He described Islam as a totalitarian ideology against freedom, and the rule of law, and the separation of church and state.'
He said the influx of Muslims into countries such as Holland was causing the Islamification of our societies.' In the wake of his 2008 film Fitna, he noted, he was taken to a criminal court in the Netherlands for things I said about Islam' and had to wage a legal battle last year to enter Britain after first being barred. Freedom of speech is under attack,' he said. It wouldn't have happened if I had criticized Catholicism.'
Wilders said Holland's Muslim population had grown to about one million (out of the 16 million national populace), and that tens of thousands are still arriving each year, from Somalia, Iraq, Morocco, Turkey' and beyond. In other European countries, the percentage of Muslims was much higher, he said. The influx is bringing enormous changes,' he said, speaking about women and homosexuals being harassed in the streets in some Muslim neighborhoods and the rise of Shari'a courts.
It is five minutes to midnight,' he said. I say stop the mass immigration from Muslim countries not because the people are bad, but because our cultural heritage and society, based on Christian and Judaic values, on humanity, is better than the Islamic... If we don't deal with this and don't stop immigration, because of [misguided] politically correct reasons, then we'll lose Europe.'
If Israel gave, say, the West Bank to the Palestinians, this would not bring peace,' Wilders said. The next step would be for the Palestinians to claim that Ashkelon, Ashdod, Haifa and Jerusalem are the next settlements' to be conquered.' He added: I always say that parents everywhere in the West sleep well at night because parents in Israel lie awake at night because their children are fighting the jihad."
You're fighting our fight,' he said. And after Israel, we are next.'
Genius. Pure genius. Why didn't any of Obonzo's predecessors think of this?
Under President Barack Obama, the United States no longer provides Israel with automatic support at the United Nations where the Jewish state faces a constant barrage of criticism and condemnation.
The subtle but noticeable shift in the U.S. approach to its Middle East ally comes amid what some analysts describe as one of the most serious crises in U.S.-Israeli relations in years.
#1
TOPIX > UZI DAYAN: ISRAEL WILL NOT TRY TO TAKE ON TURKISH SHIP, BUT WOULD TRY TO SINK IT [whether or not iff TURK LDR ERDOGAN is aboard].
IOW, IIUC iff the TURKISH NAVY, etc. is going to commit what Israel deems is a DE FACTO ACT(S) OF WAR AGZ ISRAEL, ISRAEL HAS NO PROBS TAKING DOWN = SINKING TURKISH LEADER(S) WID TURKISH WARSHIPS AT THE SAME TIME.
* SAME > US NAVY TO EXPAND FIFTH FLEET GULF BASE [Bahrain].
#2
"It's still difficult to decipher the intentions behind the changing U.S. policy at the United Nations, and not just in regard to the Middle East," the official said.
"Difficult" for some I suppose. How many Arab countries has Barry visited now.... and never stepped foot in Israel?
#4
Article is Reuters, which just admitted they doctored the flotilla photos. Little Green Footballs called them on it as they edited out a knife and some blood as a commando lay bleeding on the deck and Fox picked it up.
#5
Article is Reuters, which just admitted they doctored the flotilla photos. Little Green Footballs called them on it as they edited out a knife and some blood as a commando lay bleeding on the deck and Fox picked it up.
Bas+ards.
Has anyone asked them how they feel about this? Why they did it? What they hoped to accomplish? Why they feel the need to promote a lie over the truth? Who did it? Have they cleaned out their desk(s) yet?
State lawmakers say it's a preemptive strike against Sharia law, needed to prevent here what has happened in the United Kingdom.
An Islamic leader says it's another example of a rising tide of anti-Islamic bigotry in America.
Apparently a devout Muslim just can't obey civil law like everyone else ...
State Question 755, which likely will be on the ballot in November, would make in-state courts rely on federal and state laws when deciding cases and forbid courts from using international law or Sharia law when making rulings.
The proposal, which has an Edmond connection, would amend Article 7, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution, and stems from House Joint Resolution 1056, dubbed the "Save Our State" amendment, passed during the just-finished legislative session.
State Rep. Lewis Moore, R-Edmond, a co-author of HJR 1056, said he wanted to express his support very early for the legislation, which is needed because of the "onslaught" coming Oklahoma's way.
"I don't think we should accept or encourage Sharia law in any way, shape or form," Moore said.
State Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, primary author of HJR 1056, said Oklahoma is the first state to pass such legislation and he hopes other states will follow.
Duncan, an attorney who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said the amendment is needed because judges in other states and on the federal bench have increasingly cited international law in their decisions. He said he feels that action is inappropriate in a sovereign state.
Duncan said Sharia law is entrenched in the United Kingdom.
"It is a cancer upon the survivability of the UK," Duncan said. "SQ 755 will constitute a pre-emptive strike against Sharia law coming to Oklahoma."
State Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, a co-author of HJR 1056, said American courts are being more frequently challenged that international law should trump U.S. law.
"Sharia law coming to the U.S. is a scary concept," Sykes said. "Hopefully the passage of this constitutional amendment will prevent it in Oklahoma."
The wording in SQ 755 is being altered. In a letter dated June 2, addressed to the secretary of state and legislative leaders, the Attorney General's Office concluded the present wording does not comply with applicable laws because it does no adequately define either Sharia law or international law.
The AG's office stated that it will within 10 business days prepare a preliminary ballot title that complies with the law.
Paul Ziriax, secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board, said once the AG's office is done with the proposal, the governor will issue a proclamation formally setting the election date. An issue such as this must be on the ballot in November unless it is disqualified for some reason, Ziriax said. I would suspect that this would include 'Halakha', Jewish Law, from being incorporated into State court legal decisions. It would also not preclude Sharia or Halakha from being voluntarily used by individuals with prior agreement.
#2
The interesting aspect of this is that it forbids State judges from basing decisions on Sharia or International law. This is even a slap at the two SCOTUS judges who said that US courts should consider international law when making their decisions, which was greeted with much derision and catcalls, even from some of the other justices.
Judicial justification is a very odd thing. For example, jurors can flip coins to consider guilt or innocence, but they cannot consult the Bible. Only higher level judges tend to justify their decisions with explanations--but if this law is passed, those justifications cannot include alien law references.
There is a lot more to this referendum than just a bunch of rednecks chewing the fat.
#3
Sharia law is not a belief of a splinter group radical islam but it is a belief and tenet of mainstream islam. The islamists don't care a whit about our Constitution. They are dedicated to supplanting American constitutional democracy with sharia law. Sharia law is a complete system governing politics, religion, economics, and behavior. It is antithetical to our freedoms and way of life. Sharia law should be resisted vigorously in the West and rejected. Sharia law and constitutional law cannot exist side-by-side.
#4
a big shout out to the people of Oklahoma. They also have a common sense solution to the illegal undocumented people residing in OK. Unfortunatly, they just moved to Dodge City, Liberal and Garden City.
An Islamic leader says it's another example of a rising tide of anti-Islamic bigotry in America.
WTF? Why is it "bigotry" to say that civil and criminal courts cannot use religious law to reach their decision? I have the feeling he's more upset that there's an additional obstacle to establishing the Caliphate of Oklahoma than in any real "bigotry" he's ever experienced.
(And, finally, if he doesn't like it, there are nations who base their entire "justice" system on shariah. I'm sure he's welcome in one of them.)
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
06/09/2010 12:24 Comments ||
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#6
The entire concept of substituting any group of laws for laws that have been drafted, voted on and passed by our elected legislatures is such a twisting of our legal system it is rediculus. Many of our laws that had popular support were found by SCOTUS to be unconstitutional. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. If a law is found to be not constitutional it ceases to exist. It doesn't matter what anybody else in the world thinks, this is our country and we are not subserviant to anyone including the U.N.
I saw a piece from the middle east in which a father had his son's hand crushed with a truck tire because he had stolen something. Do you think that would rise to level of cruel and unusual punishment? Americans tolerate intrusions into our society for too long and then overreact to set things right. I hope these idiots keep pushing the silent majority to the wall, because the day is coming where the silent majority will come off the wall and re-establish a Constitutional government.
Posted by: Dave ||
06/09/2010 15:49 Comments ||
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#7
The entire concept of substituting any group of laws for laws that have been drafted, voted on and passed by our elected legislatures is such a twisting of our legal system it is rediculus. Many of our laws that had popular support were found by SCOTUS to be unconstitutional. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. If a law is found to be not constitutional it ceases to exist. It doesn't matter what anybody else in the world thinks, this is our country and we are not subserviant to anyone including the U.N.
I saw a piece from the middle east in which a father had his son's hand crushed with a truck tire because he had stolen something. Do you think that would rise to level of cruel and unusual punishment? Americans tolerate intrusions into our society for too long and then overreact to set things right. I hope these idiots keep pushing the silent majority to the wall, because the day is coming where the silent majority will come off the wall and re-establish a Constitutional government.
Posted by: Dave ||
06/09/2010 15:49 Comments ||
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AFP - President Barack Obama said Wednesday the United States was to unveil a 400-million-dollar civilian aid package for the Palestinians, as he called the situation in the Gaza Strip "unsustainable."
The organisation for the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), headed by General (r) Pervez Musharraf, was formally launched in Sindh on Tuesday amid queries regarding accusations against the former military president of the country.
APML's organiser Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif accompanied by former president's spokesman Rashid Qureshi, addressing a crowded press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday said the party has received a positive response in Karachi and other parts of Sindh during the last three days in the party leaders' meetings that were held in the city.
Responding to allegations against Musharraf including violation of constitution, dozens of killings at Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa, Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti's assassination, and killings of over 40 people in Karachi on May 12, 2007, the party leader said he knew such questions would be asked as they had faced the same questions from people at different places. He added that all accusations would be answered and defended with documentary proofs at an appropriate time.
Saif remarked that everybody has the right to participate in the politics of the country.
He said that during their visit to Karachi they have held meetings with people belonging to different sections of the society including women, minorities, representatives of labourers and political parties, adding that all of them have assured of their full support.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf's former leader Zubair Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's (PML-Q) Anwar Warsi and some persons from the Pakistan Qaumi Movement who joined the APML were also present on the occasion.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/09/2010 00:00 ||
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Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Tuesday said that the Pakistan Army was well equipped, highly motivated and fully capable of defeating any conventional and un-conventional threats facing the country.
The COAS made these remarks while addressing officers at the Command and Staff College, Quetta. Kayani said that the harmonisation of the socio - political, administrative and military strategies would usher an environment of peace and stability in the long term. "Ultimately it is the will of the people and their support that is decisive. It is critical that the efforts of the Pakistan Army are backed by the whole nation," the COAS said.
Separately, the COAS visited the School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta where he was briefed about the working of the school.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Sounds a lot like what Hussein was saying a decade ago.
The UN Security Council has voted in favour of fresh sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. The council voted 12 to two, with one abstention, in favour of a fourth round of sanctions, including tighter finance curbs and an expanded arms embargo.
The US has promoted the sanctions as the toughest Iran has yet faced. But Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier warned his country would not agree to further nuclear talks if the sanctions were imposed.
The Security Council resolution was opposed by Turkey and Brazil, which had brokered a deal with Iran on uranium enrichment. Lebanon abstained.
The new sanctions were passed after being watered down during negotiations with Russia and China on Tuesday. There are no crippling economic sanctions and there is no oil embargo.
Those passed include prohibiting Iran from buying heavy weapons such as attack helicopters and missiles. They also toughen rules on financial transactions with Iranian banks and increase the number of Iranian individuals and companies that are targeted with asset freezes and travel bans.
#1
IMO, this is an actual win by the Obama foreign policy team. Its a smallish win since the sanctions were watered down.
The three other UN sanction acts on Iran were done during the Bush Admin (each year beginning w 2006).
It is also the 2nd win of the past four weeks. The other was in early May when the OECD admitted Israel. That was partly the work of the Obama foreign policy team and partly because of the economic reality that Israel is becoming economically more important.
Posted by: lord garth ||
06/09/2010 21:27 Comments ||
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Iran is escalating its aggression against Iraq. Official Iraqi source said that Iranian fighter jets flew over Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). At the same time, Iranian artillery has been shelling border areas for the last two weeks, causing thousands of families to flee their homes for fear for their lives. The shelling has destroyed homes, schools and bridges.
KRG President Mas'oud Barazani called on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to intervene and bring an end to the Iranian shelling. He reminded Al-Maliki that it is the responsibility of the federal government to protect the country's borders. Time to send in the fly swatters. Erbil is about 75 miles from the border. You can bet that the Iranians were looking for ground radar to ID.
[Al Arabiya Latest] President Jalal Talabani has called the first session of Iraq's new parliament for June 14, more than three months after an inconclusive election that has yet to yield a government.
An Iraqi spokesman says President Jalal Talabani will issue a formal order to seat the new assembly. Talabani's spokesman Nasser al-Ani says the order may come as early as Tuesday.
It's still not clear which political faction will control Iraq's parliament or have the first shot at picking a new prime minister.
Iraq's Supreme Court ratified the result of the March 7 election a week ago, affirming the narrow victory of a cross-sectarian coalition led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. But his Iraqiya alliance fell short of a majority, forcing tense negotiations between fractious Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish blocs to form a government.
The secular Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance won with the heavy backing of the Sunni minority, but is being challenged for the right to form the government by the two main Shi'ite blocs of incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Withdrawal tensions
The impasse over the formation of a government comes as the U.S. military pulls its troops out of Iraq, in line with the terms of a bilateral security agreement between Baghdad and Washington.
All American combat troops are set to leave Iraq by the end of August, leaving about 50,000 to advise and train their Iraqi counterparts. A complete withdrawal is due by the end of 2011.
Insurgents appear to be exploiting the power vacuum. There has been a spike in civilian casualties in April and May and a spate of attacks targeting police officers, government officials and Sunni ex-insurgents who switched sides to fight al-Qaeda.
Overall violence in Iraq has dropped sharply since the worst days of sectarian bloodshed in 2006-07, but bombings and shootings remain a common occurrence.
Figures released earlier this month showed that 337 Iraqis died as a result of violence in May, the fourth month this year where the overall death toll was higher than the same month in 2009.
Iraqi and U.S. security officials have warned that a long period of coalition formation could give insurgent groups an opportunity to further destabilize the country.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/09/2010 00:00 ||
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"The images in question were made available in Istanbul, and following normal editorial practice were prepared for dissemination which included cropping at the edges," the news agency said in a statement.
I wouldn't crop highly sensitive photos, especially if visible clues could lie anywhere in the photo. Leave it there for me to make my own decisions.
"When we realized that a dagger was inadvertently cropped from the images, Reuters immediately moved the original set as well."
You can avoid the problems by simply linking the cropped photo to the full, unedited photo. Problem solved. Please don't tell me none of you ever thought to do that.
Aside from that, a couple of things I noticed.
1) Look at all the muslim terrorist footwear
2) Why did that one guy bring work gloves?
3) You claim that you brought several injured Israeli commandos below decks and offered them a drink of water. Is beating them to a bloody pulp first to the point that you don't even need to threaten him with the knife a part of this process?
#5
the photos were not "cropped at the edges", they were photoshopped to remove items. An "edge crop" would have removed the activist's hand from the shot, not just the knife held in it. Sorry Reuters but you've lost all credibility. Not one single article or photo can be believed without fact checking. As a news wire service, you're done.
#6
...and why at the Burg have we often referred to it as Al Reuters? Can we say 'pattern of behavior'? All in all, [Al Reuters] you're just another brick in the wall.
Meir Dagan, head of Israel's Mossad external security service, presented the Knesset foreign affairs and security committee with this evaluation 24 hours after Israeli Navy boarding parties prevented vessels sailing the Mediterranean from achieving their object of breaking the Gaza blockade. As the UN Security Council's condemned the loss of life in that raid, the Mossad chief said Barack Obama's first year as president was a period of "devaluation" for "Israeli and American strategic assets."
He timed his cutting observations for the day Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was to have held talks in White House with President Obama. Although that meeting was cancelled and Netanyahu cut short his trip to return home and deal with the crisis over the flotilla incident, the Mossad Director decided that what he had to say was important enough to be said and aired without delay.
The Obama-Netanyahu meeting had been scheduled as a high point in President Obama's charm offensive for mending his ties with Israel and American Jewish leaders, Dagan noted. By speaking out now, he hoped they would be warned not to be taken in by Obama's smiles and understand that his attitude toward the Israeli government had not changed in any fundamental way.
#2
actually, BH6, I think he is, just as Leon Panetta is Director of the CIA - they are the public face of a faceless org.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/09/2010 9:56 Comments ||
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#3
It is probably Israel's way of sending a message to BHO that he is causing problems for Israel with his perceived pro-Arab stance and that he is creating a more dangerous rather than a less dangerous mideast.
#4
It could also be taken as a warning. I mean, compared to the CIA, Mossad is actually relatively competent. Such if there are such things in Bambi's background that he has to pay law firms to squelch it at the rate of a million dollars a year, if Bambi isn't careful, I wouldn't put it past Mossad to arrrange a "scoop" for some reporter.
#5
"Such if there are such things in Bambi's background that he has to pay law firms to squelch it at the rate of a million dollars a year, if Bambi isn't careful, I wouldn't put it past Mossad to arrrange a "scoop" for some reporter."
I doubt The Manchurian Candidiate Bambi's doing the paying - the money's coming from Soros, or someone even worse.
I hope the Israelis do something like this. Late January of next year, if they think they can wait that long - otherwise, just go for it.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/09/2010 15:50 Comments ||
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#6
Perceived? LOL
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
06/09/2010 20:19 Comments ||
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The Israeli commando raid on a Turkish ferry heading to break the Gaza blockade, in which 9 activists were killed, is turning out a week later to have kicked off a semi-clandestine sea war between Israel, Turkey and the Gaza-based Hamas, debkafile's military sources report. Monday, June 7, Hamas frogmen were on their way to a large-scale attack on an Israeli target when their boat was intercepted by Israeli commandos and four or five armed Palestinians killed. Turkey is investigating suspicions of Israel's hand behind a deadly Kurdish terrorist attack on its Iskenderun base on May 31.
Turkish traditional baseless paranoia, I imagine.
Our military sources disclose Iskenderun's quietly growing role in the last two months as a military hub in potential confrontations by Syria and Hizballah with Israel. In mid-May, Turkey moved anti-air missile batteries into the port to defend targets in Syria and Lebanon against potential Israeli air strikes from the eastern Mediterranean. This is the first time Ankara has provided Syria and Hizballah with an air defense umbrella and come down on their side in their conflict with Israel.
That makes it look like PM Erdogan was not surprised by the outcome of the Israeli raid. Perfidious Turk, indeed.
Some hours after Israeli commandos clashed with armed men aboard the Mavi Marmara, Kurdish PKK rebel fighters attacked the Turkish naval base at Iskenderun on the Syrian border, killing seven Turkish seamen and injuring another six. If Ankara can prove its suspicions, it will be able to claim that Israel is involved by proxy in terrorist attacks on Turkish soil. Diplomatic relations still in force despite the frictions between the two countries will then be severed, one step before a declaration of war.
Following the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan's fiery abuse of Israel, Interior Minister Besir Atalay said Sunday, June 6: "We have been working hard, especially to ascertain what happened in the Iskenderun incident." Local media have suggested he is looking for Israeli covert invovlement in the planning and execution of the deadly attack on the Turkish naval base in revenge for the violence on the Marmara against the Israeli naval boarding party.
Early Monday, June 7, an Israeli Navy Commando force intercepted a large group of armed Palestinian frogmen, members of the Hamas sea commando, on their way from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli shore to the north early Monday, June 7. Palestinian sources confirmed at least four wet-suited terrorists were killed, and another four were missing in the wake of a shootout in the Nahal Aza area of the Gaza Strip near Nuseirat between their boat and Israeli troops.
The IDF spokesman reported there were no Israeli casualties. debkafile's military sources report the Hamas seaborne unit aimed to prove itself capable by striking an Israeli target of retaliating for the thwarting of the Turkish-led campaign to break the Gaza blockade.
Shortly afterwards, a Palestinian Qassam missile squad was spotted on land near Jebalya preparing to fire into Israel. It was knocked out by the Israeli Air force.
debkafile: Cross-fire from Gaza on Israeli border patrols is frequent, almost daily and Hamas still launches several Qassam missiles and mortar bombs into Israel every week, but attempts attacks by Hamas or related groups from the sea are a new development.
#3
ION SEA WAR, WMF > CHINA EXCAVATIONS DEEPENING THE USSURI RIVER. RUSSIAN MEDIAS ANGRY OER FEARS THAT CHINA-INDUCED CHANGES IN THE RIVER'S NATURAL COURSE WILL VIOLATE THE 2006 SINO-RUSS BILATER AGREEMENT AND RESULT IN THE LOSS OF SOVEREIGN RUSS TERRITORY TO CHINA.
The Russ are also unhappy and critical at alleged ILLEGAL CHIN MINING + OVER-MINING OF AREA MINERAL DEPOSITS [+ Forests].
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
06/09/2010 02:35 ||
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#1
Imho, it's a mistake to preface Debka in such a fashion, based on what I know of their sources & their staff. Their 'news/reports/opinion' are much more accurate on ME issues than any other publication and those interested in ME issues, especially related to Israel, should bookmark Debka; their non-subscription site has very good articles.
#2
logi_cal,
DEBKA does have good sources and they do get a lot right. But they often publish material from second-hand sources and rumors which turns out to not be right - and generally don't distinguish between the two. Rantburg would typically apply '48 hour rule' to stories that seem optimistic, undersourced or premature - publish with caveat.
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
06/09/2010 10:19 Comments ||
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#5
It's an unfair distinction for Debka...there are worse out there.
logi_cal,
Your comparison is valid but there is a clear distinction. Debka is a good Propaganda site. Good in the sense that much of their reporting is timely, exclusive, and often turns out to be factual. However, their regular technique of presenting insinuation as fact should give any discerning reader pause. And repeatedly they are flat out wrong and never bother with a correction. Also, Their Op/Eds are frequently insightful and thought provoking. Still, all too often its clear that the intent of Debkas analysis pieces is to assign motivation regarding particular events. Maybe in the age of modern journalism a dash of sodium is always recommended. Yet, IMO, there are compelling reasons to continue the obligatory Debka disclaimer.
#7
DepotGuy - I think that description can be assigned to a lot of the modern MSM - MSNBC for example (except for the thought-provoking insight - MSNBC's insight is more thought-killing IMHO).
#8
If RBers & mods are going to preface 'one' site when there's a whole LOT worse (AP, Reuters, etc), and the same measure isn't being applied to those, then it suggests a bias.
As stated, IMHO (which obviously differs for 'compelling reasons' on both sides).
#9
The salt comment is mine. I do not make it for articles posted from the Jerusalem Post (my personal favourite of the Israeli news sources) or even Ha'aretz, although I think they equate to the New York Times in entirely too many ways.
logi_cal, if you are accusing me of bias against Israeli sources, I think you will find that difficult to prove. Likewise Rantburg as a whole, although I've gotten quite tired of the "What is the matter with American Jews?!?" discussions. However, there have been frequent discussions here at Rantburg about Debka's sources, purpose for individual articles, and relative accuracy.
A member of a terrorist organization operating in Iran says that a US State department radio station originally put him in touch with the group.
Ali Motlaq is a member of The Royalist Association of Iran or Tondar, a terrorist group that has claimed responsibility for the attacks across Iran in the last 5 years. They have killed and wounded hundreds.
Motlaq is currently under arrest for planting bombs and orchestrating the assassination of top Iranian figures.
In an exclusive interview with Press TV's IRAN TODAY, he said he first got in touch with the group through Radio Farda - a Persian language radio station funded by the US State Department.
Iran has criticized the US for not naming the group as a terrorist one. Tondar is in Los Angeles where it has based its radio station and website.
The website says the group is "fighting against the Islamic government and Islamic traditions' that have 'destroyed [Iran's] culture."
Press TV has tried to contact the US State Department but has not yet received any response on the accusations.
In January 2010, the group claimed responsibility for the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Masoud Ali-Mohammadi, who was killed by a remote-controlled bomb attached to a motorcycle outside his home in north Tehran.
The terrorist group had earlier claimed responsibility for the April 12, 2008 bombing of a religious compound in the city of Shiraz, which left 14 people killed and more than 200 others wounded.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
they are not a terrorist group too us . Isn't that the way muslims look at this sort of thing?
Posted by: chris ||
06/09/2010 1:40 Comments ||
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#2
I disavow their actions BUT I understand what drove them to it...
#3
our 'support' for Tondar is probably limited to providing publically available info and refraining from some financial prosecutions of Persian mobsters.
Posted by: lord garth ||
06/09/2010 21:30 Comments ||
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[Iran Press TV Latest] 118 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), have once again voiced support for Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
NAM has sent a letter to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, underscoring its support for Iran's nuclear energy program.
The organization said nations, including Iran, have an inalienable right to the peaceful use of atomic energy.
NAM also voiced its support for a nuclear swap declaration that was signed in Tehran last month.
The declaration, signed by the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil, in the Iranian capital on May 17 commits Tehran to put 1,200 kg (2,640 lb) of its low-enriched uranium in escrow in Turkey in exchange for 120 kg (264 lb) of 20 percent-enriched nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.
The body says diplomacy is the only way to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/09/2010 00:00 ||
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[Al Arabiya Latest] The U.N. Security Council will vote Wednesday on a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran over its refusal to come clean on its suspect nuclear program, its president said here Tuesday.
Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller, who chairs the 15-member council this month, made the announcement to reporters after emerging from a closed-door session at which members also decided to hold a private session later Tuesday.
"The co-sponsors have announced that the resolution will be (put) to a vote tomorrow morning at 10:00 am (1400 GMT)," Heller said.
From Istanbul, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad however warned Tuesday that talks with six major powers on his country's suspect nuclear program would be broken off if new sanctions were imposed.
The council's 15 members were huddling behind closed doors for the second day running to consider a request by Brazil and Turkey to have an open debate on the nuclear standoff with Iran prior to the vote.
The decision to have a private session later Tuesday appears to be a concession to Brazil and Turkey which have sought a public debate to make their case that fresh sanctions would be counterproductive and that a fuel swap deal they brokered with Tehran should instead be used as an opportunity for further diplomacy.
Last month, the two countries brokered a deal under which Iran agreed to ship 1,200 kilograms (2,640 pounds) of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Turkey in return for high-enriched uranium fuel for the Tehran reactor that would be supplied later by Russia and France.
A cool reaction
Iranian President Ahmadinejad said that the nuclear rights of his country were not negotiable But the accord drew a cool reaction from the six world powers which have been trying to clip Iran's nuclear ambitions and which are co-sponsoring the sanctions draft.
The six, the five council permanent members: Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States along with Germany, insist they have the nine votes necessary to secure adoption.
The U.S.-drafted text would broaden sanctions slapped on the Islamic Republic in three previous resolutions, the last one adopted on March 3, 2008.
It would expand an arms embargo and measures against Iran's banking sector and ban it from sensitive overseas activities like uranium mining and developing ballistic missiles, diplomats said.
It would authorize states to conduct high-sea inspections of vessels believed to be ferrying banned items from or to Iran.
In a nod to Brazil and Turkey, the text does note the efforts of the two countries "toward an agreement with Iran on the Tehran Research Reactor that could serve as a confidence-building measure."
Posted by: Fred ||
06/09/2010 00:00 ||
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[5 views]
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Geert Wilders, who is demanding a halt to immigration from Muslim countries as the centerpiece of his campaign for the Dutch prime ministership, has hailed Israel for fighting the jihad' and warned that the West is next' if Israel is unsuccessful. Israel is the canary in the coal mine,' Wilders said in a recent telephone interview with The Jerusalem Post, ahead of Wednesday's elections in the Netherlands. The jihad against Israel isn't against Israel only. It's against the whole West.'
State lawmakers say it's a preemptive strike against Sharia law, needed to prevent here what has happened in the United Kingdom.
The organisation for the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), headed by General (r) Pervez Musharraf, was formally launched in Sindh on Tuesday amid queries regarding accusations against the former military president of the country.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Tuesday said that the Pakistan Army was well equipped, highly motivated and fully capable of defeating any conventional and un-conventional threats facing the country. 
[Al Arabiya Latest] President Jalal Talabani has called the first session of Iraq's new parliament for June 14, more than three months after an inconclusive election that has yet to yield a government.
