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Jamaat, Shibir go berserk in Bangla
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
21:30 34 17:27 CrazyFool [336109]
14:39 2 15:40 Anguper Hupomosing9418 [336070]
12:31 1 18:13 Besoeker on the road again [336082]
11:52 2 15:12 Dale [336066]
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09:16 2 15:38 Thing From Snowy Mountain [336065] 
07:54 11 18:19 Besoeker on the road again [336094]
06:54 11 15:47 JohnQC [336083] 
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Home Front: Politix
25,000 Texan Signatures On Secession Petition 6 Days After Election
Well, Texas, you have done it.

As of 3:40 p.m. ET, more than 25,000 Texans have already signed the petition on The White House website to let Texas peacefully secede from United States of America and "create its own NEW government."

The petition, created on Nov. 9, argues for secession, stating:

Texas among other states as of 4 p.m. Monday is leading with 31,975 signatures in support.
"The U.S. continues to suffer economic difficulties stemming from the federal government's neglect to reform domestic and foreign spending," reads the petition, which was created last Friday by 'Micah H', who lists Arlington, Texas, as his residence. "Given that the state of Texas maintains a balanced budget and is the 15th largest economy in the world, it is practically feasible for Texas to withdraw from the union, and to do so would protect it's citizens' standard of living and re-secure their rights and liberties in accordance with the original ideas and beliefs of our founding fathers which are no longer being reflected by the federal government."
According to The White House, the petition must reach 25,000 signatures within 30 days in order to be considered.

"If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it's sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response," explains the website.

Just last week, Rick Dunham explored differences between the U.S. and Texas that could lead to secession in his piece 'Will Texas secede from Barack Obama's America?'

And according to BuzzFeed's Zeke Miller, Texas is not the only state whose residents are petitioning for secession, but is leading with the highest number of petitioners. Check out his list here.
Posted by: Bugs Uleger6376 || 11/13/2012 21:30 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336109 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hope this article gets more exposure than just one hour late evening at Rantburg. Thought it would be posted for tomorrows edition.

Just sayin.
Posted by: Bugs Uleger6376 || 11/12/2012 22:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Agreed. It's offensive in the extreme that anyone thinks that Ogabe's executive branch is the proper forum for redress of grievances such as this.
Posted by: RandomJD || 11/12/2012 23:56 Comments || Top||

#3  Ms. Bosoeker will not permit me to hoist the Bonnie Blue from the porch (just yet) :-(
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 8:14 Comments || Top||

#4  Well if Texas secedes I am moving there. Heck, at this rate if North Dakota leaves I'm moving there.
Posted by: DarthVader || 11/13/2012 8:32 Comments || Top||

#5  Hey 'soeker, if you have Vehicular Sovereignty, check out:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BONNIE-BLUE-VINYL-FLAG-DECAL-STICKER-/230509688048?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ab72b4f0#ht_1519wt_902
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 11/13/2012 8:33 Comments || Top||

#6  Thought I read there was such a petition in Louisiana also. Obummble is not an Abraham Lincoln. Obummble also will never be impeached. The first black president being impeached? Won't happen no matter what. If that should happen, the inner cities would be aflame across the country. In Detroit's case that might be an improvement.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 8:58 Comments || Top||

#7  sour grapes
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 9:13 Comments || Top||

#8  Here ya go JohnQC

Petitions seeking White House approval to ‘secede’ now come from 47 states
Posted by: Beavis || 11/13/2012 9:21 Comments || Top||

#9  So if Texas secedes do they get a share of the national debt? If its based on population they are still going to be one of the most indebted nations on earth.
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 9:23 Comments || Top||

#10  47 States? WOW! Some of these are blue states I noticed--probably the disgruntled minority (or maybe the majority?).
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:36 Comments || Top||

#11  #9 So if Texas secedes do they get a share of the national debt? If its based on population they are still going to be one of the most indebted nations on earth.


As opposed to staying in the Union and being the most indebted nation on earth? Leaving now would mean they miss the coming bigger debt. And they get to keep their economy.
Posted by: SteveS || 11/13/2012 9:47 Comments || Top||

#12  So if Texas secedes do they get a share of the national debt?

Considering that they're creating wealth and value, they'll pay it off far faster than those responsible for that great sucking sound in the Beltway.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 11:26 Comments || Top||

#13  Since 2008 Obama has already lost 7 states
Posted by: European Conservative || 11/13/2012 11:42 Comments || Top||

#14  If Texas succeeds there will be a flood of states which follow, even some blue ones I would imagine.

Texas has energy and coastline, and the immediate benefit would be the ability to control its own borders. I suggest they line up a few foreign nations to immediately recognize their sovereignty (China would almost certainly be willing).

They always said the South would rise again...
Posted by: Iblis || 11/13/2012 11:46 Comments || Top||

#15  Excellent idea Iblis. Emailing the English, Israel, Australia, just for starters.
(Also, channeling Sam Houston and George Washington).
Posted by: Voldemort Grereth1352 || 11/13/2012 11:56 Comments || Top||

#16  Oh Jeez.

No state is going to secede. Its not going to happen.

You can get 25,000 people in any state to sign up to anything.

Anyone here who thinks a state is going to secede I'm happy to have a cash bet with them here. $10,000 if any state secedes before our president's term is up. Any takers?
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 12:54 Comments || Top||

#17  Troll alert.
Posted by: Iblis || 11/13/2012 13:36 Comments || Top||

#18  And he chuffed and puffed and he fell over.
Posted by: warthogswife || 11/13/2012 13:49 Comments || Top||

#19  25 millions Texans live in Texas, now 25 thousand want to not be part of the USA, thats a pretty small percentage, just sayin
Posted by: 746 || 11/13/2012 13:51 Comments || Top||

#20  Secession ain't happening. Prior to 1865 it could have been argued, but it is settled law now.
But put your name on those petitions and increase the odds you'll be subject to extra scrutiny by all the alphabet agencies.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 13:52 Comments || Top||

#21  thats a hack article, c'mon My state of Idaho isnt even on the list!!!
Posted by: 746 || 11/13/2012 13:54 Comments || Top||

#22  "25 millions Texans live in Texas, now 25 thousand want to not be part of the USA, thats a pretty small percentage," 746

The number is now almost 50,000 Texans and growing fast.
Posted by: Voldemort Grereth1352 || 11/13/2012 14:10 Comments || Top||

#23  Secession ain't happening. Prior to 1865 it could have been argued, but it is settled law now.

Yes, but a States Convention for dissolution is still Constitutional. Article V.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 14:18 Comments || Top||

#24  The main problem with a Constitutional Convention would be that all those Obama supporters get a vote there too. Don't. Go. There.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 14:36 Comments || Top||

#25  I can still see the red and productive states becoming more and more disillusioned with having to support the blue states and in 3-4 years enough of them saying "fuck it" and leaving, Civil War be damned.
Posted by: DarthVader || 11/13/2012 14:38 Comments || Top||

#26  $10,000 if any state secedes before our president's term is up.

"Our president's" seems a little mild. How about "Great Leader's"?
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 11/13/2012 15:05 Comments || Top||

#27  I can still see the red and productive states becoming more and more disillusioned with having to support the blue states and in 3-4 years enough of them saying "fuck it" and leaving, Civil War be damned.

The one advantage of the dissolution of the Union is that we'd end up with Canada's foreign policy instead of being the military welfare provider (aka globocop) to the world, at $700b a year and counting.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 11/13/2012 15:08 Comments || Top||

#28  Well Darth, with John Kerry as the Secretary of defense in a few years the military might be so depleted through resignations that a civil war would be unneeded.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 11/13/2012 15:16 Comments || Top||

#29  It might not be the DoD you'd have to worry about. It'd be that "civilian force" under the DoJ that'd get you.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 11/13/2012 15:57 Comments || Top||

#30  Secession may be settled law, but it could be unsettled pretty quickly. Champ is indecisive and weak. Would he invade Texas? And if he tried what percentage of the military is from Texas?

Champ is, as they say, all hat and no cattle. That and his poisonous policies make this a real possibility.
Posted by: Choluter Jones9539 || 11/13/2012 16:48 Comments || Top||

#31  The main problem with a Constitutional Convention would be that all those Obama supporters get a vote there too. Don't. Go. There.

The main problem with that argument is that it still requires ratification by 3/4th of the states.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 16:52 Comments || Top||

#32  Well, I still have a hard time seeing anything happening in the next two years. Too many dhimocrats are dependent on re-election in 2014. However, after that expect the full force of the communist state to slam down on the states since Obama and the dhims have nothing left to lose at that point.
Posted by: DarthVader || 11/13/2012 17:03 Comments || Top||

#33  Anyone here who thinks a state is going to secede I'm happy to have a cash bet with them here. $10,000 if any state secedes before our president's term is up. Any takers?

LOL
WHOOOOSH
Your built to low to the ground boy, all the good ones are going over your head.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/13/2012 17:22 Comments || Top||

#34  You mean the same states who ratified the 17th amendment which stripped away their own power?

Those states?

(Yes I know some states sent real prizewinners to the senate - but look at the losers we have now!)
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/13/2012 17:27 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Screens flicker out across Washington
Interesting notes from Spengler:
Other powers are taking over military and police roles that once fell to Washington by default.

A minor example is worth citing: the International Maritime Bureau last month reported that pirate attacks on commercial shipping had fallen to just 70 during the first nine months of 2012, compared to 199 in the same period of 2011. The Maritime Security Review reported on September 24, "International navies have stepped up pre-emptive action against pirates, including strikes on their bases on the Somali coast."

I am informed that Chinese naval vessels have sent lending parties of marines on shore to retaliate against the pirates' villages. Unlike the Obama administration, China has little concern for Muslim sensibilities. A significant strategic problem (and an important source of terrorist funding) is coming under control because of China's willingness to deal harshly with the locals.
The enemy of our enemy...?
Posted by: Spot || 11/13/2012 14:39 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336070 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Petraeus brought to the war the brilliant insight that when you don't have enough troops to guard strong points and attack the enemy at the same time, the solution is to send more troops. In other words, not particularly earth-shaking or even original. His particular genius was being able to sell GWB on the concept of adding reinforcements, where Westmoreland had supposedly failed in Vietnam.

In reality, just as Westmoreland's troop buildup had crushed the Vietcong, the politicians decided to withdraw, leaving the field open to a conventional invasion from the North. In Iraq, as in Vietnam, I'd argue that the insurgents were never in a position to to win, and the main threat was one of invasion. The difference in Iraq was that there's no way Iran could have invaded, without us responding, given the stranglehold on Gulf oil resources it would have given the Iranians.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 11/13/2012 15:17 Comments || Top||

#2  A real gem from the article:
It is a myth that intelligence agencies steal secrets by intercepting communications and suborning spies. On the contrary: they obtain intelligence if and when someone wishes to give them intelligence. Russia spied successfully on the United States and England because Marxists intellectuals thought Russia should have American secrets.

America obtained Russian secrets towards the end of the Cold War because Russian intelligence officers, disillusioned with the evil and incompetent communist system, thought that the United States should have the relevant information. I am reliably informed that the US did not recruit a single Soviet agent of importance during the last dozen years of the Cold War; all of its intelligence coups came from walk-ins. Moral as well as strategic superiority is a magnet for information; little else does much good.

The recent election & associated disclosures indicate the USA is getting demoralized, and not in terms of moral/immoral.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 15:40 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Allen West invited to run in Georgia
Come home to your native red clay, good sir
If at first you don't succeed at getting re-elected, try again in a different district?

That's what the Georgia Republican Party has invited Florida Congressman Allen West to do, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, after he appears to have lost his bid for re-election in his Florida congressional district.

"I would be glad to have him come back to Georgia and at some point run here," Georgia GOP Chair Sue Everhart told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I would certainly try to help him because he has done his job. The way he ran his race didn't in any way interfere with the job he did. He ran as a Republican, a conservative Republican."

West is a native of Atlanta.

Everhart deemed him "one of the finest congressmen this country's ever had."

West's Democratic opponent, Patrick Murphy, has been declared the winner of the Congressional race in Florida's 18th District race. West, however, is demanding a full recount and has not conceded.
Posted by: Beavis || 11/13/2012 12:31 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336082 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I know one person he can count on for support. I suspect I could recruit a few dozen more by tomorrow afternoon.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 18:13 Comments || Top||


Economy
Marc Faber: Prepare for a Massive Market Meltdown
Posted by: DarthVader || 11/13/2012 11:52 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under:

#1  One of these days he will have been right.
For many years now, world economies have been drunk and sitting on the edge of the roof.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 14:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Ditto that AH.
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 15:12 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
The Fiscal Cliff Is a Good Thing
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 10:13 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336081 views] Top|| File under:

#1 
Posted by: Water Modem || 11/13/2012 13:26 Comments || Top||

#2  Just remember that Treasury has been printing a crap load of 'money' without backing for the last couple of years. Cutting spending while raising taxes that aren't subsequently just spent again compensates for some of that. I'll take the cliff over hyperinflation.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 14:09 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Erdogan suggests shift from dollars to gold
During his stay in Indonesia, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan brought up an interesting suggestion for the International Monetary Fund.

Stating that although IMF assistance may appear to be a prescription for some nations, in fact quite the opposite, the fund has often caused serious problems for countries in trouble, Erdoğan asks why it is that the fund uses dollars instead of gold.

Expressing that he doesn't feel it is right for the IMF to act according to one nation's currency, Erdoğan states, "The IMF extends aid on a who, where, how and on what conditions bases. For example, if the IMF is under the influence of any single currency then what, are they going rule the world based on the exchange rates of that particular currency?

Why do we not switch then to a monetary unit such as gold, which is at the very least an international constant and indicator which has maintained its honor throughout history. This is something to think about."

Explaining that Turkey had to pay a heavy price for the agreement they made with the IMF, Erdoğan stated, "We have not made a stand-by agreement for the past three periods. In April, we will have zeroed out our debt completely and we have no intentions of working with the IMF again."

Prime Minister Erdoğan went on to state: "One would hope that the IMF would help countries in trouble, however at present this is not the case. This is what we need to achieve."

Erdoğan also said he believed the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Security and Co-operation n Europe (OSCE) and the Organization for Co-operation and Development (OECD) need to all undergo a reform.
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 09:16 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336065 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hah. Go for it.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 11/13/2012 14:26 Comments || Top||

#2  Of course, he probably still wants us to fight Syria for him.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 11/13/2012 15:38 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Mrs Petraeus, FBI, Whitehouse Knew About Petraus' Affair As Early As Summer of 2011
H/T Hotair 'Was Petraeus's affair with Broadwell an open secret?'
Broadwell's affair with Petraeus was likely known to Holly Petraeus, according to family friends.
Hence a sinecure for Mrs Petraeus.
The FBI reportedly knew about it months beforehand and White House Counterterrorism adviser John Brennan reportedly was aware that there was a relationship as early as the summer of 2011.

The White House strongly denied that Brennan was aware so early.

"It is irresponsible and flat out wrong for Fox News to run an anonymous, unsubstantiated, and blatantly false accusation, as Mr. Brennan was first made aware of the issue last Wednesday," spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
The Hotair article links to reports that basically say that Petraeus and Broadwell did not even try to hide their relationship in public, even when their respective spouses were present. That was around Memorial Day in 2010, long before Petraeus was appointed D/CIA. There's no way the FBI would not have found out during the background check. This is about something else.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 11/13/2012 07:54 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336094 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "It is irresponsible and flat out wrong for Fox News to run an anonymous, unsubstantiated, and blatantly false accusation,.."

You mean like the White House blaming a film maker for the attack on the Libyan consulate?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 9:32 Comments || Top||

#2  From Powerline:
"In the post immediately below, Scott recaps some of the recent developments in the Petraeus scandal. I want to add one or two more, and also elaborate a bit on one of the items that Scott mentioned.

The most significant of the recent bombshells, I think, is the report that Eric Holder knew about the scandal as of late summer, when the FBI contacted his office to get permission to interview Petraeus and Paula Braodwell. Holder apparently claims that he never mentioned this potentially election-derailing news to his boss and good buddy, Barack Obama. I find this claim–that, while many others in Washington knew of the Petraeus investigation, including Congressmen like Eric Kantor, Obama himself was blissfully ignorant until three days after the election–wholly implausible, just as I find implausible the claim that it was sheer coincidence that the scandal didn’t become public until then."
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 11/13/2012 11:07 Comments || Top||

#3  Quite a tool there, install a CIA Director with a heartplug to pull at need or convenience.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 11/13/2012 12:35 Comments || Top||

#4  From wretchard:
What jumps out of the account is that Petraeus didn’t see it coming. He didn’t think it was a big deal. He had fixed the problem, talked to Broadwell. The other woman wasn’t going to press charges. She was a family friend. There was no crime — if we leave aside adultery. It was family court business. Maybe not even that if no one was going to make an issue of it.

And then he gets called after election day, and boom he gets called to carpet. How do you like that? I for one, don’t like it. Most workplaces you can tell if your being measured for a termination notice.

It strongly suggests is that Petraeus isn’t a problem with something that has happened. He’s a problem with something that is going to happen. There’s some loop Petraeus is not part of. Something he’s in the way of.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 12:48 Comments || Top||

#5  Nice Glenmore.
Or this is a scheme of the General's...
"You think I can't stand up to this?
You show me yours or I'll show you mine!"
Posted by: Skidmark || 11/13/2012 12:58 Comments || Top||

#6  LOL.

I *love* this site
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 13:00 Comments || Top||


#8  The above video maybe slightly NSFW
Posted by: Beavis || 11/13/2012 14:38 Comments || Top||

#9  And now it seems Kelley has a mentally unstable twin sister who is also involved in the love pentagon (hexagon?) somehow.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 14:59 Comments || Top||


#11  #3 Quite a tool there, install a CIA Director with a heartplug to pull at need or convenience.
Posted by swksvolFF


Yes, but wen it came nut cuttin time, Petreaus told our Champ.... "no can do boss, find a new butt boy. I'll go public ma'damn self"! "Don't boo, Vote, it's the best revenge".
The Champ
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 18:19 Comments || Top||


Economy
Wealthy dump assets
Fearing an increase in capital gains and dividend taxes, many of the rich are unloading stocks, businesses and homes before the end of the year.

Wealth advisors say that with capital-gains taxes potentially going to 25 percent from 15 percent, and other possible increases in the dividend tax, estate tax and other taxes, many clients are selling now to save millions in taxes.

"Under almost any scenario, it makes sense to take the gains this year," said Gregory Curtis, chairman and managing director of Greycourt & Co. "Clients aren't selling willy nilly. But if they can and they have a huge gain, they're selling now."
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 06:54 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336083 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This will be a long term chilling event for the stock market. Asset values will drop like a rock. Trying to sell your business will be extremely difficult now. Trying to operate in the black will be extremely difficult also.
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 6:59 Comments || Top||

#2  Whew. That's one thing I don't have to worry about as a result of the last crash.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 7:46 Comments || Top||

#3  And who didn't see this coming? Anyone? Anyone? Buller?
Posted by: DarthVader || 11/13/2012 8:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Do you suppose some of Obama's cronies enlightened/community-minded entrepreneurs will be able to pick some valuables cheap?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/13/2012 9:46 Comments || Top||

#5  Yes, Shorting America. You'd almost think the money people planned it all that way.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 9:49 Comments || Top||

#6  's okay. Unions will be required to own these rotten assets and to continue to assume an 8%+ annual rate of return in their pension calculations, so, no worries...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/13/2012 11:45 Comments || Top||

#7  Yes, I forgot that. " Unions will be required to own these rotten assets", Unions did make an offer.
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 12:13 Comments || Top||

#8  Yes, I forgot that. " Unions will be required to own these rotten assets", Unions did make an offer.
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 12:14 Comments || Top||

#9  Most won't be able to escape fiscal cliff
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 12:29 Comments || Top||

#10  You guys are forgetting there is an easy way out of this:
Just become a money bundler for the DNC and you can get waivers for anything (file under "rules for thee but not for me"). If you contribute enough money, you can also have your competitors raided by the DOJ.

One reason the wealthy are dumping US assets is the tax rates in almost every country are lower than the tax rates here. The other reason is the regulatory environment here is more anti-business
than almost any country in the world. Specifically 77th ouy of 80 counties studied. Worse than China. Worse than Vietnam.

The former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan has a laissez faire economic policy and a 37% growth rate. We have a bunch of Communists who hate America.
Posted by: Frozen Al || 11/13/2012 14:25 Comments || Top||

#11  Don't believe it when Zero says the wealthy are those who make $250K or more. Everyone is going to pay more one way or another. The people who voted for "O" are in for a big surprise too -- for example food stamps and unemployment are going to be cut back. Looks like a rough road ahead.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 15:47 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Fifty Alleged Terrorists From Islamic School in Nganjuk Detained
Approximately 50 students and one teacher affiliated with an Islamic boarding school and allegedly involved in terrorist activities were taken into police custody on Tuesday.

According to Antaranews.com, dozens of fully-armed police officers raided the Pondok Darul Akhfiya school in the Kepuh village of the Nganjuk district in East Java. Besides hauling in students, officers also arrested Nasiruddin Ahmad, also known as Landung Tri Bawono, the teacher at the institution.

Nganjuk police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anggoro Sukartono told Okezone.com that police were still trying to determine whether or not the students were being trained to be terrorists.

A local resident commented that people who live in the surrounding area of the school regularly witnessed students participating in martial arts training during the morning and evening.

"They often exercised and practiced martial arts. They even have a space that looks like a military training field behind the school," Maryono, one of the locals, said, as quoted by Antaranews.com. "We suspect they are members of a terrorist network."

Maryono said that students of the school are high school-aged and are from several different regions, such as Banyuwangi, Pasuruan and Ambon.

Nasiruddin denied the allegations and claimed that he only teaches the students about Islam.

"We're not teaching terrorism, but only religious studies, as other Islamic boarding schools do," Nasiruddin said. "Besides that, we teach them martial arts."

Police have not let journalists investigate the scene further, but a reliable source told Antaranews.com that police found many books about jihad and air guns on the premises.
Islam, martial arts and air guns. Just a pious boarding school. A heavily-armed, pious boarding school...
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 06:34 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So where does the money to conduct these creches of terrorism come from?

Indonesian aid in our interest - Gillard
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 6:44 Comments || Top||

#2  islamic boarding school - single sex sex academy...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/13/2012 11:41 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel launches air raids on Gaza Strip
Israel launched three air strikes on the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday and resistance fighters fired a rocket into southern Israel, hours after Gaza groups said they were ready for a ceasefire. The air raids hit an uninhabited area to the west of Gaza City, without causing any casualties, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

In a statement, the Israeli army said the strikes targeted a weapons facility and two rocket launch sites.

The raids came after renewed rocket fire on Monday, with resistance fighters firing at least 15 missiles into Israel, the army said, adding another four were intercepted by the Iron Dome system.

On Tuesday morning, an additional rocket was fired, an army spokeswoman said, with Israeli media reporting it was a Grad missile that landed near the town of Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv.

Despite the continued fire, the latest rocket fire represented a significant drop from the peak of a flare-up between Saturday and Sunday night. Dozens of rockets were fired into southern Israel during that period, injuring four, with Israel carrying out air strikes, shelling and artillery fire that left six Palestinians dead by Sunday morning, four civilians and two fighters.
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 06:27 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336068 views] Top|| File under:

#1  of the four civilians dead, two were apparently militia auxiliaries

in reports of US drone attack fatalities, those are counted as terrorists
Posted by: lord garth || 11/13/2012 6:40 Comments || Top||

#2  Things seem to be heating up since the election.
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 9:24 Comments || Top||

#3  Knowing who you can't possibly please is liberating...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/13/2012 11:40 Comments || Top||

#4  Yes, Israel seems to have more...flexibility.
Posted by: Grunter || 11/13/2012 12:49 Comments || Top||

#5  the US Ambassador to Israel made a comment a few hours ago that essentially said, IIUC, the US approves the past few IDF airstrikes
Posted by: lord garth || 11/13/2012 14:18 Comments || Top||

#6  Still working on that "shallow learning curve" problem, eh?
Posted by: mojo || 11/13/2012 14:43 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan investigated, Petraeus scandal widens
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen, is under investigation for alleged inappropriate communication with a woman at the center of the sex scandal involving former CIA Director David Petraeus, a senior U.S. defense official said on Tuesday.

The shocking revelation threatens to fell another of the U.S. military's biggest names and suggests that the scandal involving Petraeus - a retired four-star general who had Allen's job in Afghanistan before moving to the CIA last year - could expand much further than previously imagined.

The U.S. official said the FBI uncovered between 20,000 and 30,000 pages of communications - mostly emails and spanning from 2010 to 2012 - between Allen and Jill Kelley, who has been identified as a long-time friend of the Petraeus family and a Tampa, Florida, volunteer social liaison with military families at MacDill Air Force Base.
Mr. Wife commented that he sends/receives about 12,000 emails per year at work, or 50-60 per day, and suggested that only a small part of those the FBI uncovered were actual communications between the general and Mrs. Kelley.
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 06:22 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Begging to surmise that "more flexibility" referred to.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/13/2012 7:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Google Blomberg-Fritsch

Remember - it was the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei

"There can be only one"
aka does not play well with others
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 7:59 Comments || Top||

#3  Senate Democrates to call for a DoJ investigation of the entire flag offier ranks, all grades, all services coming in..... 7,6,5,4....
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 8:04 Comments || Top||

#4  Ah, yes, the Senate Democrats.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 8:28 Comments || Top||

#5  Ace of Spades says it best: "You can't even make this shit up. It's not a love triangle. It's a love Pentagon."


Posted by: Uncle Phester || 11/13/2012 10:01 Comments || Top||

#6  Well, it's less bloody than a trip to the basement of the Lubyanka and a guard with a Tokarev.
Posted by: Sgt.D.T. || 11/13/2012 10:49 Comments || Top||

#7  If some jerk sends 30,000 pages of e-mail to me.
1) they are classified as spam by me and go directly to the spam folder without being read.
2) I drop that e-mail account and make a new one.
3) If it doesn't quit you get a court order against them.
Posted by: Water Modem || 11/13/2012 12:40 Comments || Top||

#8  Begging the fact that this is all beautiful theater background before all the lemmings in D.C. jump off the fiscal cliff.
Posted by: Water Modem || 11/13/2012 12:49 Comments || Top||

#9  It's a loyalty test/purge of flag officers.
Posted by: Skidmark || 11/13/2012 16:03 Comments || Top||

#10  Alternate theory: the Kelley twins are manipulative, fame-seeking drama queens who are going to turn many people's lives into toxic sludge, hopefully including their own.
Posted by: RandomJD || 11/13/2012 16:48 Comments || Top||

#11  ...problem is that unlike the German culture of blind obedience, the real power of the US military lies with its middle grade officers and NCOs. Try to do what the others have done in using the military against its population will result in fracturing the services. You really don't want the competent middle grades against you, in or out of active duty.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 16:49 Comments || Top||

#12  e men wrote letters in September to the District of Columbia Superior Court in support of the twin sister, Natalie Khawam, as she sought more visitation rights with her son, court papers showed.

So she doesn't have custody? Unusual. I thought we had Movie, now it looks like a miniseries with potential spin-offs. I see something like Dallas meets the Desert Rats.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/13/2012 16:56 Comments || Top||

#13  The sister apparently initiated a spiral of widening email attacks, increasingly more expansive and unbelievable claims about the father, etc. etc.
Posted by: lotp || 11/13/2012 18:14 Comments || Top||


ISAF chief Gen. John Allen under investigation amid Petraeus probe
(CNN) -- The spiraling scandal that took down former CIA Director David Petraeus has apparently ensnared another powerful general, as authorities announced that Gen. John Allen is under investigation for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to Jill Kelley, a woman who has been linked to the Petraeus scandal.

Allen, who is the commander of NATO's
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all....
International Security Assistance Force, has denied any wrongdoing, a senior defense official said.

Details of the latest angle of the scandal that has shaken the highest level of the military were sketchy early Tuesday.

Some details about Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, came from an overnight statement by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
...current SecDef, previously Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Panetta served as President Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997 and was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1993....
, while he was on his way to Australia.

"On Sunday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation referred to the Department of Defense a matter involving General John Allen, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (or ISAF) in Afghanistan," part of the statement said.

"Today, the secretary directed that the matter be referred to the Inspector General of the Department of Defense for investigation."

A defense official told CNN there is a "distinct possibility" that the investigation into Allen is connected to the investigation that led to the resignation of Petraeus.

Allen will still retain his position as the commander of ISAF as the investigation continues, the Pentagon said.

But Panetta asked that Allen's nomination to become NATO's supreme allied commander be put on hold, the statement said.

The confirmation hearing to see if Allen would get that lofty military post was scheduled for Thursday.

Also President B.O. has nominated Gen. Joseph Dunford to succeed Allen in his position at ISAF, and Panetta has urged the Senate to move quickly on the nomination.

The investigation into Allen was in its early stages but authorities were looking into some 20,000 to 30,000 pages of documents, the defense official said.

It was not immediately clear Tuesday exactly how Allen may be linked to the Petraeus investigation.

Petraeus, 60, resigned Friday after acknowledging he had an affair with a woman later identified as his biographer, Paula Broadwell, 40, a fellow West Point graduate who spent months studying the general's leadership of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

The investigation into Petraeus came to light during an FBI investigation of "jealous" e-mails reportedly sent by Broadwell to a woman named Jill Kelley, a government source familiar with the investigation told CNN on Monday.

Now authorities say Allen was under investigation because of communications with Kelley.

Amid national talk about the Petraeus scandal, Kelley, 37, and her husband released a statement saying they have been friends with Petraeus and his family for more than five years and asked for privacy.

Petraeus Probe Could Affect Benghazi Inquiry

Days after Petraeus' resignation stunned Washington, Sherlocks were still gathering information about the four-star Army general who once ran the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

FBI agents were at the Charlotte, North Carolina, home of Petraeus' paramour late Monday, said local FBI spokeswoman Shelley Lynch. She declined to say what the agents were doing at Broadwell's home.

Also a video has surfaced of a speech by Broadwell in which she suggested the Libya attack on September 11 was targeting a secret prison at the Benghazi consulate annex, raising unverified concerns about possible security leaks.

"I don't know if a lot of you have heard this, but the CIA annex had actually taken a couple of Libyan militia members prisoner and they think that the attack on the consulate was an effort to get these prisoners back," said Broadwell in a speech last month at the University of Denver.

A senior intelligence official told CNN on Monday, "These detention claims are categorically not true. Nobody was ever held at the annex before, during, or after the attacks."

Broadwell's source for that previously unpublished bit of information remains unclear, and there's no evidence so far that it came from Petraeus.
Administration officials have said the Benghazi assault was a terrorist attack.

Along with questions about Broadwell's access, the Petraeus' scandal also presents challenges to the congressional inquiry into the Benghazi attack.

Petraeus recently traveled to Libya to meet the CIA station chief to discuss the attack, CNN has confirmed. He was scheduled to testify before a congressional committee this week on the assault and the U.S. government response to it.
That now will not happen, but it is possible that he could be summoned by Congress to testify later.

Some Republicans have criticized the administration's response to the Benghazi attack and have speculated that Petraeus' departure was linked to the congressional inquiry.

Rep. Peter King
...U.S. Representative for New York's 3rd (central Long Island) congressional district, serving since 1993. He is of the Publican persuasion and is known for his active support for the IRA Irish republican movement...
, R-New York, said elements of the story "don't add up." He called Petraeus "an absolutely essential witness, maybe more than anybody else."

However,
today is that tomorrow you were thinking about yesterday...
a senior U.S. official said Petraeus' departure wasn't connected to the Benghazi hearing.

"Director Petraeus' frank and forthright letter of resignation stands on its own," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic. "Any suggestion that his departure has anything to do with criticism about Benghazi is completely baseless."

The Affair and the e-mails

Broadwell and Petraeus first met in 2006 at Harvard University
...home of the Best and the Brightest, contributed $878,164 to the 2008 Obama campaign. Is there a reason universities are among the top financiers of political campaigns?
's Kennedy School of Government, where she was a student, Broadwell wrote in the preface of the biography she co-authored on Petraeus.

She told him about her interest in studying military leadership, and he offered his help.

"I later discovered that he was famous for this type of mentoring and networking, especially with aspiring soldier-scholars," Broadwell wrote.

She traveled to Afghanistan, where she interviewed Petraeus repeatedly.

The actual affair began about two months after Petraeus took over at the CIA in September 2011, according to one Petraeus friend.

It ended about four months ago, and the two last talked about a month ago, the friend said.

The decision to end the relationship was mutual, the friend said
But at some point Broadwell also exchanged e-mails with Kelley.

The FBI joined the investigation when Kelley complained that Broadwell was sending harassing e-mails to her in May, a U.S. official told CNN.

According to a source with knowledge of the e-mails, the messages accused Kelley of untoward behavior with some generals at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida where Kelley did volunteer work.

The e-mails detailed the "comings and goings of the generals and Ms. Kelley," said the source, who declined to speak on the record because of sensitivity of the investigation.

Among those believed to be referenced in the e-mails was Petreaus.

But now it seems that there are more, potentially damaging e-mails, that hold information about Allen, a four-star general who took over as the commander of the war effort in Afghanistan last year.

A job he took over from Petreaus.
Posted by: Beavis || 11/13/2012 06:04 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336074 views] Top|| File under:

#1  She traveled to Afghanistan, where she interviewed Petraeus repeatedly.

Cheap shot, but, LOL.
Is that what the kids call it these days?
Posted by: Shipman || 11/13/2012 17:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Yes, Shipman, ever since Obama began running in 2007.
Posted by: lotp || 11/13/2012 18:40 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
20 States file to Secede
Posted by: Skidmark || 11/13/2012 02:01 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336081 views] Top|| File under:

#1  A White House petition gathering force calls for citizenship to be stripped and exile for anyone who signs a petition in favor of a state's secession.
"Mr. President, please sign an executive order such that each American citizen who signed a petition from any state to secede from the USA shall have their citizenship stripped and be peacefully deported," the full petition reads.
The title of the petition is, "WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO: Strip the Citizenship from Everyone who Signed a Petition to Secede and Exile Them."
As of this writing, 2,205 have signed the petition; 22,795 more signatures are needed for the issue to be addressed by the White House.

Posted by: Deacon Blues || 11/13/2012 16:23 Comments || Top||

#2  I don't believe Obumbles has that authority Deacon.

Not that he would let that get in the way of what he wants to do. It hasn't so far.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/13/2012 17:20 Comments || Top||

#3  CF, he doesn't have that authority, but he does now have the authority to detain anyone, including U.S. citizens.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 11/13/2012 18:58 Comments || Top||

#4  The "20" States' number is just ssssoooooooooo, like, yesterday - literally. As per FREEREPUBLIC, it's now "34", up from "30".
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/13/2012 19:26 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Is Linked to Petraeus Scandal
Gen. John Allen, the top American and NATO commander in Afghanistan, is under investigation for what a senior defense official said early Tuesday was "inappropriate communication'' with Jill Kelley. In a statement released to reporters on his plane en route to Australia early Tuesday, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said that the F.B.I. had informed him on Sunday of its investigation of General Allen. General Allen told Pentagon officials he had done nothing wrong.

Although General Allen will remain the commander in Afghanistan, Mr. Panetta said that he had asked President Obama to put on hold General Allen's nomination to be the commander of American forces in Europe and the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. General Allen is now in Washington for what was to be his confirmation hearing as commander in Europe. That hearing will now be delayed.
Erdogan of Turkey has stripped the top levels of the army of anyone who shows signs of old-fashioned guarding Turkey's secularism, Morsi is starting to do the same in Egypt. A paranoid Might wonderif the same kind of thing is happening here -- it's not been long since General McChrystal was summarily booted out for speaking his mind to that Rolling Stone reporter.
Erdogan will discover as Stalin did that armies are led, not ordered. If you remove or execute your best generals then your army won't fight very well. Stalin had his Finland, and Erdogan may yet have his Syria.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 01:33 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336068 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ah, yes, once again, the plan is on schedule.

Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) could not be reached for comment.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 7:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Ja. Der Konzept. Prior to Obama's first election, he talked about a civilian force, er, er, er supplementing the military. I wonder what their uniforms will be, brown shirts or black shirts?
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 7:57 Comments || Top||

#3  Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Gen. Petraeus,Gen. John Allen? Old fashion communist purge? Who's next?
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 7:59 Comments || Top||

#4  Matching black trousers and shirts with black pancake beret, boots unlaced.... optional tire-iron and Obamafone. (standard NBP uniform John)

Thanks for asking.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 8:01 Comments || Top||

#5  I'm looking at the number of times I have posted here over about ten years. It is a few thousand and I tend to be verbose at times. I don't know how many times others have posted here. Some of the regulars may have posted a few thousand times also.

That said, when do top ranking generals in Afghanistan have time to run the military and send some 30,000 emails to women such as Paula Broadwell or Jill Kelly? BTW, is Broadwell a name or an advertisement? Kelly was a "sort of an ambassador to the military (as reported in the media)" so maybe she might have a few emails going back and forth. What relationship would a civilian "sort of ambassador" have to military?
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 8:24 Comments || Top||

#6  John, I do academic writing for a living, and I'm not sure I've written 30,000 pages the last ten years.

Criminy. If you're writing that much you're not doing your day job. No wonder we're screwed in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Steve White || 11/13/2012 10:19 Comments || Top||

#7  ...well, they don't call it CYAWP for nothing.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 10:42 Comments || Top||

#8  Tom Ricks will be the big winner. Should drive sales through the roof.
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 10:51 Comments || Top||

#9  Writing Mexican news between April 2010 and April 2012, I have probably averaged 5,000 pages for the two year period, but is it just a guess. All this parttime, between two and four hours per day. So it is possible he wrote 30,000 pages in two years. But as I read it, the original article said 30,00 pages of emails and other documents, the documents may not have been written by him personally, so that I well within his capability.
Posted by: badanov || 11/13/2012 11:01 Comments || Top||

#10  Disregard: 1,400 pages in two years, not 5,000. Sorry...
Posted by: badanov || 11/13/2012 11:05 Comments || Top||

#11  You have a day job. I suspect pushing papers _is_ a general's day job.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 11/13/2012 11:09 Comments || Top||

#12  In the last month, we hear about:
CIA Director and former General -- resign
General under investigation
General relived of duty
Admiral relieved of duty
Commander relieved of duty

Does kinda make one wonder....

Posted by: Sherry || 11/13/2012 11:28 Comments || Top||

#13  No kiddign - is the admin fearful of some type of coup or other such military take-over. Are they crushing (reputationally) potential adversaries in future political contests? Meanwhile, the band plays on while the public gets sweaty over talk of zipper failure.
Posted by: Rob06 || 11/13/2012 15:46 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Philippine-MILF peace talks resume
Posted by: ryuge || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Politix
Chris Christie Said Nothing About A Massive Inmate Escape During Sandy
The NYT turns on Chris Christy....heh....
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Were they all at risk of drowning???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/13/2012 0:41 Comments || Top||

#2  Too busy with his fawning praise for The One. Remember Gov, "the boot you lick is the boot that KICKS"!
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 8:16 Comments || Top||

#3  I think Christy queered his chances for President by the photo op.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:39 Comments || Top||

#4  Christie queered his chances to be president by showing up and being who / what he is. He's a fat asshole from a crooked machine state. Nothing more...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/13/2012 11:50 Comments || Top||

#5  Charlie Crist / Chris Christie. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/13/2012 11:57 Comments || Top||

#6  Shoulda kept the bromance on the downlow.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 11/13/2012 12:15 Comments || Top||

#7  The NYT turns on Chris Christy....heh....

He's no longer useful.
Posted by: charger || 11/13/2012 12:20 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Kaboom kills son of tribal elder in N. Wazoo
[Dawn] A man was killed and two others received injuries when a bomb went kaboom! outside the house of a tribal elder in Dattakhel tehsil of North Wazoo Agency on Sunday.

The residents of the area said that the bomb was planted by unidentified persons outside the house of Hamad Jan in Laand Sayedabad area of Dattakhel.

They said that the bomb went kaboom! with a big bang and killed Amjad Khan, the son of Hamad Jan. Two other persons were maimed in the blast, they added.

The house of the tribal elder was partially damaged in the blast.

Meanwhile,
...back at the cheese factory, all the pieces finally fell together in Fluffy's mind...
security forces defused two bombs planted along the main road near Miranshah
... headquarters of al-Qaeda in Pakistain and likely location of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Haqqani network has established a ministate in centered on the town with courts, tax offices and lots of madrassas...
in North Waziristan Agency on Sunday.

Officials said that the two bombs were planted near Amin checkpost that were defused safely.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336068 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan


Africa North
Mauritania Warns of Fallout from Mali Crisis
[An Nahar] Mauritania warned Monday that the fallout from a military strike against the Islamist faceless myrmidons controlling northern Mali could be devastating and affect the troubled country's neighbors.

"This country which has for a long time been seen as a model of democracy is like a volcano about to erupt," national assembly president Messaoud Ould Boulkheir said a day after West African leaders gave the green light to sending 3,300 troops to northern Mali to wrest control from the Islamists.

"If this volcano awakens, it will dump incandescent ashes over its neighbors," he told parliament.

"As we share a common border and since the interests of our peoples are closely interwoven, our country cannot just stand by," he added.

Following Sunday's summit of West African leaders in the Nigerian capital Abuja, experts cautioned that military intervention would still be months away.

Leaders from the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met at the summit to set out a blueprint for military action in Mali's north, but would not rule out dialogue to resolve the crisis -- even though they said force might be necessary given the turban threat.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336070 views] Top|| File under: Ansar Dine


Economy
IEA: U.S. to Become World's Biggest Oil Producer
[An Nahar] The United States is to become the world's top oil producer around 2020, the International Energy Agency said on Monday, overtaking 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 their national face...
until the middle of that decade.
Not if B.O. has anything to do with it. And he does.
"The recent rebound in U.S. oil and gas production ... is spurring economic activity ... and steadily changing the role of North America in global energy trade," the agency said in its annual outlook on the energy markets of tomorrow.

It also said the price of oil will reach $125 a barrel in 2035, up from the current price of about $107.

Driven by an increased demand from emerging nations, the forecast was an increase from $120 predicted a year ago, the OECD-linked energy watchdog said in the assessment of the energy markets.

As for the global thirst for oil, it will show few signs of abating over the next two decades driven by demand from emerging nations, the IEA said.

Oil demand will increase by 14 percent between now and 2035 to reach 99.7 million barrels a day, the watchdog added.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336071 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oil is a major or vital "Achilles Heel" for both the US + Rising China, + of course the rest of the World, which is why the pre/proto-OWG "consensus is that there is no consensus" as per "PEAK OIL/ENERGY/RESOURCES" SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE TO EVERYONE.

Can't have a SPACE GOVT-ORDER, let alone de facto Deep Space Exploration + Colonization, iff one doesn't have the resources or proper resources to do so, correct???

[Guam Taotamonas, "MAD MAX" MOVIES here].
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/13/2012 0:28 Comments || Top||

#2  Not with Obama's new flexibility.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/13/2012 7:54 Comments || Top||

#3  The silver lining is Obama won't let the US drill or exploit any of that so when we are rebuilding civilization after the depression the US will be positioned nicely.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 11/13/2012 15:17 Comments || Top||

#4  I don't believe this. The US will not save itself by becoming the world's biggest oil producer. The price it pays for oil, whether produced domestically or imported, will continue its painful rise, and will continue to clamp US economic growth. The Bernank's quantitative easing aggravates the situation, but US dollar devaluation is not the only factor in rising oil prices. Falling EROEI is the main element.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 15:53 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
UNAMID: 'Grave Concern' over Worsening Darfur Unrest
[An Nahar] International peacekeepers on Monday expressed grave concern about an upsurge of violence in Sudan's Darfur, after they airlifted people maimed in recent festivities.

The fighting on Friday between government forces and "an armed group" near Shangil Tobay "is part of a larger pattern of conflict in the area in recent months," said the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
-United Nations
...a formerly good idea gone bad...
Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

"The escalating violence has become a matter of grave concern" to the mission, it said in a statement.

Rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said earlier that on Friday they attacked a large government convoy traveling north from Shangil Tobay, which is about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of El Fasher, the state capital of North Darfur.

They said they captured one armored vehicle and destroyed others, while seizing trucks and cars as well as equipment, weapons and ammunition.

JEM said its forces worked with the Sudan Liberation Army's Minni Minnawi faction in the attack which "captured a number of government troops" and inflicted heavy losses.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan


Bangladesh
Jamaat, Shibir go berserk in Bangla
[Bangla Daily Star] Activists 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...
and Islami Chhatra Shibir
... the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh...
fought pitched battles with cops, torched vehicles and damaged public property during a daylong hartal
... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ...
in Joypurhat yesterday.

Some Shibir men tried to gouge out a constable's eyes with sharp weapons and poured kerosene on him to set him on fire at Hichmi Bazar on the Joypurhat-Khetlal road around 5:30pm.

The injured policeman, Golam Mostafa, was admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Medical College and Hospital in Bogra, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.

Meanwhile,
...back at the laboratory the fumes had dispersed, to reveal an ominous sight...
police rounded up 75 Jamaat-Shibir activists from across the country yesterday on charges of creating anarchy and attacking law enforcers. They also held five BNP and 13 Sramik Dal workers.

Jamaat and its student body Shibir enforced the strike in Joypurhat, protesting the death of a Shibir activist on November 10. The dear departed, Badiuzzaman, 22, was bullet-hit during a clash with police in the capital on November 5. He hailed from Joypurhat.

Witnesses said constable Mostafa of Khetlal Police Station was riding a cycle of violence on his way to Khetlal from a Joypurhat court.

He came under attack when he pulled over after a tyre of his bike had punctured at Hichmi Bazar.

Locals rescued him from the spot and rushed him to Joypurhat Adhunik Hospital, from where he was later shifted to Bogra for better treatment.

Law enforcers said pickets torched an auto-rickshaw in front of Joypurhat Govt Girls School around 10:30am and damaged a truck before Joypurhat Palli Bidyut office in Shahartoli area around 2:00pm.

At Panchbibi, police fired five rubber bullets during a clash with Shibir men.

Police set to sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a life-long lock
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
nine Shibir activists from different places in Joypurhat.

Yesterday was the fourth day in the last seven days when Jamaat-Shibir men clashed with law enforcers across the country over the release of their top leaders, including the nine facing trial for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

In the capital, police set to sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a life-long lock
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
23 Shibir members. Of them, 14 are residents of Jatiya Sangsad Colony in Agargaon.

Officials of the Detective Branch of police said they recovered five Molotov cocktails, anti-government leaflets and jihadi books during raids in Agargaon and Tejgaon.

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police said the 14 detainees were tenants of the houses allocated to Parliament Secretariat's administration officer Amirul Islam, assistant secretary Abul Kalam Azad and another government employee named Anwar Hossain.

Talking to The Daily Star, DB Deputy Commissioner Monirul Islam said the detainees had admitted their involvement in Saturday's violence in the capital.

He said police would investigate why the officials rented their quarters to the Shibir men. "If it is found that they [officials] share a similar ideology with the detainees, they would be brought to book."

In Munshiganj, police locked away
Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'!
district Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Nurul Haque Matabbar, Baitul Mal secretary Akhter Hossain and activist Abdus Sobhan on charges of involvement in subversive activities. Akhter is also an official of Islami Bank, reports our correspondent, quoting police.

In Laxmipur, law enforcers picked up 10 Shibir activists from different parts of Sadar upazila. Police sued 200 Jamaat-Shibir men for creating violence.

The Rapid Action Battalion in Feni set to sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a life-long lock
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
four Jamaat activists while they were distributing leaflets.

Police held two Jamaat men in Sunamganj and 11 in Chapainawabganj and seven Shibir men in Jhenidah.

Kurigram police captured five BNP and two Shibir activists.

Our Patuakhali correspondent adds: Law enforcers rounded up 13 Sramik Dal and two Shibir workers from a procession in the town.

Students of Patuakhali Science and Technology University handed over two other Shibir men to police.

A group of Jubo League
... the youth wing of the Bangla Awami League...
activists torched upazila Jamaat office in Taras of Sirajganj.

In the capital, Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League held a protest rally on Bangabandhu Avenue. Addressing the rally, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said the ruling party men along with the common people will resist Jamaat-Shibir's subversive activities.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336117 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami

#1  Damn, Fred, that _is_ an ominous sight.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 11/13/2012 1:38 Comments || Top||

#2  "We in the RAB have no sense of humor that we're aware of, ma'am..."
Posted by: mojo || 11/13/2012 10:44 Comments || Top||

#3  "And we're getting tired of infidel remarks about our shutter gun collection"
Posted by: Shipman || 11/13/2012 16:48 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
'Govt protecting killers in Karachi'
[Dawn] 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...
(JI) Ameer (chief) Syed Munawar Hasan has expressed deep concern over the surge in murders 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...
, alleging that the rulers are protecting the killers, extortionists and the drug mafia.

In a press statement on Sunday, Mr Hasan said that usually over a dozen of people were being bumped off in Bloody Karachi every day as the government had no writ in the port city. Target killers were doing their job freely and then disappeared from the scene as if they never existed.

It was unfortunate that the government had issued arms licenses to murderers, hit mans and criminals because of its vested interests, he added.

He said the administration and the agencies were unable to apprehend the killers because they enjoyed the protection of the people in power. He said Interior Minister Rehman Malik
Pak politician, Interior Minister under the Gilani government. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Nawaz Sharif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. He had to give up the interior ministry job because he held dual Brit citizenship.
would release the news of arrest of one or two killers in the past but no body knew their fate. He said their patrons got them freed from the clutches of law. Mr Hasan said that recently the Supreme Court had taken note of the release of 35 major hit mans on parole and ordered their re-arrest, but the rulers immediately whisked them out of the country. --
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336065 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Former Detroit mayor ready for 'bull excrement' when trial resumes
According to prosecutors, Kilpatrick allegedly headed a criminal enterprise that robbed taxpayers of millions and instilled a culture of corruption in one of the nation's poorest cities.

Among the charges in the indictment: Kilpatrick and members of his so-called criminal enterprise threatened witnesses with violence and withheld city funds from firms that wouldn't pay to play. Kilpatrick allegedly pocketed a $10,000 kickback in a restaurant bathroom, according to prosecutors.

The enterprise included his father Bernard Kilpatrick and contractor Bobby Ferguson, according to an indictment.

The group faces federal charges that include racketeering conspiracy, extortion, bribery, fraud and tax evasion.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under:

#1  While we're on the subject: Horse manure attack on Prince Charles aborted in New Zealand
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 1:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Did they run out of sheep dip?
Posted by: mojo || 11/13/2012 16:59 Comments || Top||

#3  Kilpatrick allegedly headed a criminal enterprise

That's no 'criminal enterprise'. That's Detroit!
Posted by: SteveS || 11/13/2012 17:18 Comments || Top||

#4  Italy : Flood Relief : Umbria & Tuscany : c/o Hawaii National Bank - Hilo Branch c/o Hawaii Chapter International Red Cross - Hilo Branch P.O. Box One Old Hilo Federal Post Office Hilo , Hawaii 96720 Big Island / Hawaii
Posted by: karin mohl hacker.357 || 11/13/2012 19:21 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Kenya forces clash with Al shabab in south Somalia
[Shabelle] The Kenyan army serving under The African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) engaged fierce festivities on Monday with Al shabab fighters in south west Somalia, reports said.

There were differing accounts of which side bore the brunt of the fighting in the small town of Gursar in Gedo region, the worst involving Kenyan troops since they invaded into Somalia October last year, to pursue Al shabab, which Nairobi blames string of attacks and kidnappings against foreign aid workers in its soil.

The situation is reported to be calm on Monday afternoon after the skirmish subsided and the area is under Somali and Kenyan forces.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab


Home Front: Politix
Paula Broadwell's Emails Revealed
"No, 'I'll kill you' or 'I'll burn your house down,'" the source says. "It doesn't seem really that bad."

The squad was not even sure the case was worth pursuing, the source says.

"What does this mean? There's no threat there. This is against the law?" the agents asked themselves by the source's account.

At most the messages were harassing. The cyber squad had to consult the statute books in its effort to determine whether there was adequate legal cause to open a case.

"It was a close call," the source says.

What tipped it may have been Kelley's friendship with the agent. The squad opened a case, though with no expectation it would turn into anything significant.

"They weren't seeing this as the crime of the century," the source says.
Posted by: RandomJD || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The same friggin' agent who sent Jill Kelley a shirtless photo of himself.

Posted by: Penguin || 11/13/2012 0:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Ah. So that's why a silly social climber has lawyered up?
Posted by: RandomJD || 11/13/2012 0:15 Comments || Top||

#3  FBI Agent in Petraeus Case Under Scrutiny
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 0:51 Comments || Top||

#4  From what I have read, the FBI grossly violated the "minimization" rule/standard for invading personal privacy - which is the same rule that forces law enforcement officers to discontinue listening to private conversations on wiretapped phones, if the topic of the conversation is obviously personal, and not clearly related to the criminal justification for the wiretap "invasion" of privacy.

My prediction: the focus of the scandal is going to shift to Jill Kelly - and she is going to end up being the real criminal and espionage story behind this whole escapade.
Posted by: Lone Ranger || 11/13/2012 2:12 Comments || Top||

#5  Thousands of email pages? Lebanese roots? Uh oh
Posted by: European Conservative || 11/13/2012 4:13 Comments || Top||

#6  One thing I found interesting was this from the ABC:
One result is that Petraeus could possibly face military prosecution for adultery if officials turn up any evidence to counter his apparent claims that the affair began after he left the military.
Could one of you military people clarify?
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 6:06 Comments || Top||

#7  The FBI is investigating some 20,000 to 30,000 pages of communication between General John Allen and Jill Kelley between 2010 and 2012.

20,000 to 30,000 pages in 2 years?!?!?!

How the hell did he find time to lose a war in Afghanistan?
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 6:21 Comments || Top||

#8  They all no it, a new reality program that will keep you glued to the tube and ignorant of Benghazi or fiscal cliffs.

And 30,000 e-mails between them, wtf?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 11/13/2012 7:23 Comments || Top||

#9  One result is that Petraeus could possibly face military prosecution for adultery if officials turn up any evidence to counter his apparent claims that the affair began after he left the military.
Could one of you military people clarify?
Posted by tipper


Adulty is punishable under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). Even though now retired, he could be recalled and charged. If the relationship never resulted in actual adultry, he could still be found to have had what is referred to as an "inapporpriate relationship" or "conduct unbecoming". I doubt he'll face any of this however.

Appears they (DoJ) are going after Broadwell with a vengence. I can see her deep concern for the potential of Petreaus and DoD "taking one" for the Obama team. I can also see her contacts within the military community providing classified e-mails which might exhonerate Petreaus and DoD.

Botton line: Lawyering up is the way to go at this point. I fear for the safekty of all of these people. The David Kelly story still lingers in the back of my mind.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 7:37 Comments || Top||

#10  You heard it here first:

Impeachment. If Intrade offered a bet, I would place money.
Posted by: European Conservative || 11/13/2012 8:20 Comments || Top||

#11  EC, Not going to happen. Look at Clinton and Nixon. If the evidence is overwhelming, Democrat elders will get O to resign. But with the MSM in his pocket, that much evidence is unlikely to come to light. He will be convicted by history.
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 8:36 Comments || Top||

#12  He will be convicted by history
History gets written by the winners. He won.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 8:57 Comments || Top||

#13  this Jill Kelley must be quite the smooth operator. I guess our miliary guys don't have too much to dream about in A-Stan.

Reports say that Broadwell may (may) have had classified info on her computer at home. That is a big No-No.
Posted by: Raider || 11/13/2012 9:19 Comments || Top||

#14  If these guys spent more time killing people and less time fucking then maybe they'd be winning the war?
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 9:21 Comments || Top||

#15  We have impeached Presidents but never convicted them in the Senate. I think politicians are afraid that if we did impeach and convict a president, that it might spill over to them and start a landslide effect. That is the racial factor also, the first black president will not be impeached here. Politicians don't want to see the cities burn.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:22 Comments || Top||

#16  There is the racial factor too...
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:23 Comments || Top||

#17  History won't be written for 20 years. We'll see who wins next. I'm an optimist.
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 9:26 Comments || Top||

#18  #5 Thousands of email pages? Lebanese roots? Uh oh EC, what is the Lebanese connection?
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:28 Comments || Top||

#19  Lebanon - you know, the place where muslims and christians plot to attack Israel.
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 9:30 Comments || Top||

#20  Lebanese connection
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 9:35 Comments || Top||

#21  Did Kelley have a stable to service MacDill?
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 9:44 Comments || Top||

#22  Jill Kelley, a Lebanese Maronite whose family moved to Philadelphia in the 1970s.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:49 Comments || Top||

#23  C'mon guys - it's a bad economy. I think you really gotta' look for the positives here.

* Gen Petraeus can be the new roadshow manager for Tiger Woods.
* The FBI can start a male pin-up calendar to bring in more funding.
* And Jill Kelley can pick up where Heidi Fleiss left off. Things have been very quiet in L.A. lately - we could use the action :-)
Posted by: Raider || 11/13/2012 10:19 Comments || Top||

#24  I agree I should have said impeachment hearings. Tge Senate will not impeach him.

But this is not going away and the Obama administration will soon lawyer up just like Kelley did.
Posted by: European Conservative || 11/13/2012 10:36 Comments || Top||

#25  These guys would be better off if they'd spent more time shagging than emailing. Just sayin.
Posted by: RandomJD || 11/13/2012 11:42 Comments || Top||

#26  And they've both got time to get involved in Jill Kelley's twin sister's child custody battle?
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 15:06 Comments || Top||

#27  re: pages of emails & docs,

at a page per email, not all of them between the two people (whichever two, pairwise) that's really not necessarily as much traffic as it sounds like.

I get about 30-50 emails / day at work, an equal number at home, plus txts regularly FWIW
Posted by: lotp || 11/13/2012 18:27 Comments || Top||


Economy
Hostess Brands permanently closing 3 bakeries following employee strike
[Washington Post] Hostess Brands Inc. is permanently closing three bakeries following a nationwide strike by its bakers union.

The maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread said Monday that the strike has prevented it from producing and delivering products, and it is closing bakeries in Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati. The facilities employ 627 workers.

Hostess, based in Irving, Texas, operates 36 bakeries nationwide and has about 18,300 employees. It warned earlier this month that the strike, by about 30 percent of its workforce, could lead to bakery closures.

“We deeply regret this decision, but we have repeatedly explained that we will close facilities that are no longer able to produce and deliver products because of a work stoppage — and that we will close the entire company if widespread strikes cripple our business,” Hostess Brands CEO Gregory F. Rayburn said.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336097 views] Top|| File under:

#1  we will close the entire company if widespread strikes cripple our business
I suspect there are a lot of companies in the same position, just hanging on.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 0:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Unions forgot that the relationship with the employer should be a symbiotic one. Not parasitic.

Let them eat ding dongs.
Posted by: DarthVader || 11/13/2012 0:26 Comments || Top||

#3  Your Twinkies and Ding-dongs are not safe.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/13/2012 0:46 Comments || Top||

#4  I'm a Little Debbie's guy myself.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man || 11/13/2012 2:14 Comments || Top||

#5  As hard as it is to succeed in business these days, I'm surprised this hasn't been happening more often.
Posted by: gorb || 11/13/2012 4:05 Comments || Top||

#6  If possible they will use co-pack products. Private label so it looks like the same product.
Driver issues remain. Tractor trailer and van delivery. All they need then is shell warehouse temporary storage. I remember a bread plant in DC of all places on 16th street as I recall. Long gone now. Knock off manufacturer will perhaps target best items after fire sale to grab some market share. These are some of the industries highest paying jobs. Mostly union. What allot of companies are doing is going to private ownership of delivery routes. Holsum being one currently.
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 6:40 Comments || Top||

#7  NBC cuts 500
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 7:02 Comments || Top||

#8  I've always said unions forgot the 1st law of parasites:
Don't kill the host
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/13/2012 8:07 Comments || Top||

#9  Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati

Wonder how those communities voted recently ????
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 8:12 Comments || Top||

#10  "I'm a Little Debbie's guy myself" They don't make all their product either. Knock offs are going after them big time. They don't pay for space so they are a target in many ways. Store goes private label and gives their brand most space or at least best space. Warehouse delivery on their own trucks. High profit item for them. The quality can be a big issue with some. Size can only get smaller- to keep retails down. New round of price increases in the works anyway.
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 8:33 Comments || Top||

#11  Let the unions take the risks and create the jobs. Oh, that's not what they do. They are community organizers, agitators, and Alinskyites. These dumbos have croaked the golden goose in this country but then they don't really care do they?
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 8:35 Comments || Top||

#12  The privately-held food maker filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, its second trip through bankruptcy court in less than a decade.

Union leadership (:08) at work.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 8:49 Comments || Top||

#13  Incorrect about Little Debbies: they make their entire product in Tennessee using student labor from an adjacent college. Was friends with many who worked there, including a few who suffered work-related accidents due to fatigue (deeply cut fingers, but no severed limbs).
Posted by: Ptah || 11/13/2012 8:59 Comments || Top||

#14  Little Miss Debbies are made in Collegedale, TN. The 7th Day Adventists have presence there; they have local college, church and store.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:07 Comments || Top||

#15  Tennessee is a Right-to-Work state. Not all the Little Miss Debbies are made in Collegdale but in other parts of the country as indicated in this article.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:09 Comments || Top||

#16  Now think about it for a second. When you do a run it would be too costly to produce some items. Bag donuts for example. Co packer can produce product and private label cheaper than running a line yourself. Crackers would be another. Either you supply product or you delete it. You delete it and you lose space in the stores.
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 9:50 Comments || Top||

#17  Go to the mom and pop bakery around the corner. They're better.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 11/13/2012 11:35 Comments || Top||

#18  Go to the mom and pop bakery around the corner. They're better.

For heavy users, a more important question is "Are they as cheap?"
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 11/13/2012 15:28 Comments || Top||

#19  A more relevant question. Are there any more Mom and Pop bakeries? Not where I live.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 11/13/2012 16:25 Comments || Top||

#20  Dingeldein coming to Carlisle Bakery
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 16:32 Comments || Top||

#21  Unions are more like the scorpion: "That's just my nature."
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 11/13/2012 17:22 Comments || Top||

#22  Yes, there are mom and pop bakeries. No, they are not cheaper. I'm not a big comparison shopper but would guess you will pay more for better quality.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 11/13/2012 18:02 Comments || Top||

#23  But I kinda like the feel of Hostess Snoballs.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 11/13/2012 18:04 Comments || Top||

#24  Goin' downtown
gonna see my gal
gonna sing her a song
gonna show her my ding dong...
Posted by: Tommy Chong || 11/13/2012 18:38 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
Venezuela Aspires to U.N. Human Rights Council
[Latino.Fox News] The U.N. General Assembly will select today 18 new members for its Human Rights Council, and outrage is roaring in some circles over the fact that Venezuela is one of the candidates.

Other countries human rights
...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions...
groups have criticized as unqualified candidates are Ivory Coast, Æthiopia, Gabon, Kazakhstan and Pakistain.

The Human Rights Council was created in March 2006 to replace the U.N.'s widely discredited and highly politicized Human Rights Commission. But the council has also been widely criticized for failing to change many of the commission's practices, including putting much more emphasis on Israel than on any other country and electing candidates accused of serious human rights violations.

Among those leaving the 47-member council at the end of this year are China, Cuba and Russia.

In the case of Venezuela, critics say President Hugo Chavez accumulated near-absolute power over the past decade thanks to his control of the National Assembly and the media, friendly judges in the courts, and pliant institutions such as the Central Bank. "Venezuela under Mr. Chavez has no place at this table," said the Washington Post in its editorial page Sunday.

Chavez, who last month won one of the closest elections in Venezuela's history, announced in July his decision to pull out Venezuela from the American Convention on Human Rights, considered one of the pillars of the legal regulations aimed at defending human rights in the Americas. The announcement was followed a few days later by a Human Rights Watch
... dedicated to bitching about human rights violations around the world...
report stating that Venezuelan government "freely intimidates, censors and prosecutes its critics."

Regarding the controversial U.N. vote scheduled for Monday, Amnesia Amnesty International's U.N. representative, Jose Luis Dias, said member states "should return a blank ballot if they feel a candidate does not meet the high human rights standards expected of council members."
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336072 views] Top|| File under:


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Odor-Eliminating Pants are Hot Seller in Japan
[An Nahar] Underpants which are claimed to neutralize the smell of flatulence are proving a hit in Japan, whose hard-working businessmen seem to like the idea of breaking wind without getting rumbled.

A Japanese textile company has developed a range of underwear which it says prevent unwelcome odors.

"It took us a few years to develop the first deodorant pants that are comfortable enough to wear in daily life but efficient in quickly eliminating strong smells," said Nami Yoshida, a spokeswoman for the company, Seiren.

"At first we thought about selling them to those who require nursing care and to hospitals.

"But to our surprise, lots of ordinary people, like businessmen who are in positions that require them to see people on a daily basis, bought them," she said.

The underwear is manufactured with niff-absorbing ceramic particles in the material fibers.

Seiren developed the technology after being contacted by a doctor who wanted something to disguise the regular parps emitted by people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

The company's range has now expanded to 22 items, including socks that prevent feet from smelling and t-shirts that mask the whiff of sweaty armpits.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336069 views] Top|| File under:

#1  But will they silence armpit farts...?
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 11/13/2012 8:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Good product for some of our current politicians. They are carrying around a pant's load.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 8:37 Comments || Top||

#3  Reversible?
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 8:56 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Pakistan elected to UN Human Rights Council
[Dawn] Pakistain on Monday was elected to the United Nations
...a formerly good idea gone bad...
Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental body within the UN system.

Pakistain, which had the endorsement of the Asia Group, polled 171 votes, when 97 were required.

"Pakistain's politicianship, parliament and judiciary have all proactively pushed the human rights
When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much...
agenda," Ambassador Masood Khan said.

"Our membership of the Human Rights Council acts as a catalyst for higher attention to human rights back home," he said.

"Our entire leadership, all political forces and national institutions support promotion and protection of human rights. We have put human rights as a top priority on our national agenda," Ambassador Khan added.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Because they'll be objective---since they hate all humans equally?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/13/2012 7:47 Comments || Top||

#2  Results of the election of 18 members of the Human Rights Council held on 12 November 2012:

Argentina, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Montenegro, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Venezuela.
Posted by: Willy || 11/13/2012 10:19 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Obama considering John Kerry for defense
President Obama is considering asking Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to serve as his next defense secretary, part of an extensive rearrangement of his national security team that will include a permanent replacement for former CIA director David H. Petraeus.
The only good news is that it gets Jauhn out of the Senate...
Although Kerry is thought to covet the job of secretary of state, senior administration officials familiar with the transition planning said that nomination will almost certainly go to Susan E. Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

John O. Brennan, Obama's chief counterterrorism adviser, is a leading contender for the CIA job if he wants it, officials said. If Brennan goes ahead with his plan to leave government, Michael J. Morell, the agency's acting director, is the prohibitive favorite to take over permanently. Officials cautioned that the White House discussions are still in the early stages and that no decisions have been made.

Rice, one of an inner circle of aides who have been with Obama since his first presidential campaign in 2007, is under particular fire over the Benghazi incident. Some Republican lawmakers have suggested that she was part of what they suspect was an initial, election-related attempt to portray the attack as a peaceful demonstration that turned violent, rather than what the administration now acknowledges was an organized terrorist assault.

Rice's description, days after the attack, of a protest gone wrong indicated that she either intentionally misled the country or was ­incompetent, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday. Rice, he said, "would have an in­cred­ibly difficult time" winning Senate confirmation as secretary of state.

But several White House officials said Obama is prepared to dig in his heels over her nomination to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Tommy Vietor, spokesman for the National Security Council, said the White House would not comment on personnel matters.

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter also has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, as has been Michele Flour­noy, former undersecretary for policy at the Pentagon.

The timing of a nomination for Panetta's successor is unclear. On Monday, he said he had no imminent plans to step down but indicated that he was unlikely to stay in the job for the duration of Obama's second term.

"Who the hell knows," Panetta said when asked by reporters traveling with him to Australia whether he would remain in office for four more years. "It's no secret that at some point I'd like to get back to California."

Kerry did not respond to requests for comment on his possible nomination at the Pentagon. A spokeswoman, Jodi Seth, said: "Senator Kerry's only focus right now is his job as senior senator from Massachusetts and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee."

But administration officials, one of whom described Kerry as a "war hero,"
But for the current crowd in the White House, that means honoring his testimony to the Senate after he got home, not his service while he was there...
said his qualifications for the defense job included not only his naval service in Vietnam
He served in Vietnam, you know...
but also his knowledge of the budget and experience in the diplomacy that has increasingly become a part of the defense portfolio. They said the Democrats' retention of the Senate majority, with a net gain of two seats, in last week's election provided a cushion that allowed them to consider Kerry's departure from the chamber.

White House national security adviser Thomas E. Donilon, principal deputy Denis R. McDonough and Benjamin Rhodes, deputy for strategic communications, are more likely than not to remain in place, at least initially, officials said.

Antony J. Blinken, Vice President Biden's national security adviser, is said to be under consideration for Rice's job at the United Nations, as is Samantha Power, the National Security Council's senior director for multilateral affairs and human rights.

It was unclear who would take Brennan's job if he leaves government or moves to the CIA. He was the top contender to lead the agency when Obama was first elected in 2008, but he withdrew under criticism, which he deemed unfair, of his role in intelligence excesses in the administration of George W. Bush. Although that challenge is now seen as behind him, officials said he has not indicated whether he would like to be considered again to head the agency where he spent 25 years.

Beyond complicating the overhaul of the national security team, Petraeus's departure will send ripples through management layers at the CIA.

Many had expected Petraeus to stay in place for Obama's second term, and he had spent recent months planning transitions at other key posts at CIA headquarters. Now, four of the agency's most critical positions -- director, deputy director, head of the National Clandestine Service and chief of the Counterterrorism Center -- have become question marks.

Michael G. Vickers, undersecretary of defense for intelligence, also has been mentioned as a candidate for CIA director.

If Morell ends up permanently in the job, he will need to designate a new deputy and would be in charge of other pending personnel decisions that Petraeus had been poised to make.

The head of the clandestine service, John Bennett, was talked out of retirement to take that job and has signaled his intent to step down in the coming months, current and former officials said.

The top position in the Counterterrorism Center, which carries out the CIA's drone campaign, is also expected to come open. The current director, known by his cover name, "Roger," has been in the job for more than six years. Former CIA officials said Roger has wanted to be named director of the clandestine service but has a reputation for harshness toward subordinates and had been expected to be passed over by Petraeus.

Morell was considered a standout analyst at the CIA before entering the agency's upper ranks and is highly respected among his colleagues and at the White House. Obama, a White House official said, "has enormous trust in [Morell's] ability to lead the CIA for as long as is necessary." He is also considered a possible candidate to replace Brennan at the White House.
Posted by: Steve White || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336094 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Iff VPOTUS Biden is indeed suffering from senior dementia, IMO the Bammer may replace him to create the first black VPOTUS [e.g. Colin Powell, Herman Cain?], iff not semi-black [all?] POTUS Admin, in US history???

Considering the amount of cricisms being levied agz his Admin, how long for the the nation's first black POTUS to be manifest, + the dmeographic rise of America's other minorities [Hispanic], this may be the only real opportunity for a black US POTUS + VPOTUS for a long long while.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/13/2012 0:40 Comments || Top||

#2  Time for the JCS and the rest of the general/flag officer community to quit cringing in fear of their political masters and collectively grow a fucking pair. The story is told that this guy was on his way to the White House to resign his position as Army CoS in protest over LBJ's mismanagement of the Vietnam war. He chickened out at the last minute...and regretted doing so until his dying day.

Even the MSM propaganda machine would be hard-pressed to take the entire JCS resigning in protest of this effete traitor becoming SecDef and spin it to benefit The One...
Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) || 11/13/2012 1:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Still waiting for him to release his military records, as he promised to do in his 2004 campaign. Maybe that subject will come up in his confirmation hearings.
Posted by: Grunter || 11/13/2012 7:40 Comments || Top||

#4  All things in due time Joe, all things in due time. (next week possibley or the week after)

Timing is essential Joe! We have to hurry along with these appointments and historical changes before the DoD General officer trainwreck Benghazi noxious brown discharge hits electrically powered oscillator.

We will need a strong and dedicated DoD civilian leadership in place prior to the opening salvos of our cunningly designed social upheaval and civil takeover.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 7:52 Comments || Top||

#5  I feel much safer and re-assured that our country would be in good hands. After all, JFK served in Vietnam you know (sarc). How are replacement Senators determined in Massachusetts; appointed or elected? (although it doesn't seem like it would make much difference)
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 8:43 Comments || Top||

#6  ...Well, that's a good question. It usually changes on who is governor. If its a Trunk the legislature makes sure its up to popular vote, if it's a Donk then it's appointed.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 8:52 Comments || Top||

#7  Right now, Massachusetts elects replacement Senators.

I want to see John F'n Kerry's discharge record. I'm willing to bet it was not an honorable discharge.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 11/13/2012 9:24 Comments || Top||

#8  Is former Sen. Brown a possibility for this seat? He could claim he is Cherokee--he does have high cheek bones.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:31 Comments || Top||

#9  ...I'd go for Schaghticoke (Podunk branch) or Nipmuc for any real Massachusetts natives (vs carpetbaggers). Pretty much beyond DNA verification by now.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/13/2012 9:45 Comments || Top||

#10  John Kerry is very popular with Putin because the former sucked up in a recent visit. That might help him with the pro dictator faction. Susan Rice said some mildly derogatory things about Russia.

However, John Kerry's multiple and extensive meetings with Assad would inevitably be vetted in the confirmation process and this would be embarrassing.
Posted by: lord garth || 11/13/2012 10:27 Comments || Top||

#11  Could be a Harriet Meiers (sp?) gambit. Float Kerry and whomever actually gets the job won't seem so bad... tho considering how Roberts turned out......
Posted by: Bubba Ununs7286 || 11/13/2012 10:50 Comments || Top||

#12  Maybe they can play his 1972 (was it 2?) Congressional Testimony at his confirmation hearing.

(Or, given the makeup of the senate, would that only earn him *more* votes?)
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/13/2012 10:58 Comments || Top||

#13  Anybody know what the statute limitations is on the Logan Act?
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 11/13/2012 12:45 Comments || Top||

#14  If the generals and admirals all resign Obama gets to pick the replacements. The first gay general, the first left handed eskimo Admiral. Lots of firsts. A couple of weeks of embarassment are a small price to pay for locking up the military that way. Yes we'd be a less effective fighting force but I suspect that is not a concern.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 11/13/2012 15:11 Comments || Top||

#15  A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 15:59 Comments || Top||

#16  I think that depends on the administration. Which part of the defense is he responsible for. Sitting on defense possibly.
Posted by: Dale || 11/13/2012 18:18 Comments || Top||

#17  Perhaps his confirmation hearings should be held outside the White House, along side the fince.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 18:20 Comments || Top||

#18  Maybe he can finally put himself up for a Congressional Metal of Honor...

(Much like he put himself in for his Purple hearts as well as other metals...)
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/13/2012 18:37 Comments || Top||

#19  Let's see:

Jane Fonda as Secretary of the Army
Bill Ayers as Director of the FBI
John Corzine as Secretary of the Treasury
Tony Rezko as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Malik Shabazz as Attorney General

There, that should get things moving in the right direction ......
Posted by: Lone Ranger || 11/13/2012 19:26 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Afghan killed over enmity
[Dawn] An Afghan national was stabbed to death over an enmity here on Sunday, police said.

The Saddar Berooni police identified the alleged killers as Mirza Gul and his brother Sada Gul. The police said the two brothers had come from Afghanistan to take Dire Revenge™ of their father Ahmed Gul's murder in their country 25 years back.

Marina Bibi complained to the police that hardly her husband Abdul Qayyum had left his Girja Road house at around 8.30am for his workplace when he was intercepted by his rivals in the street. The attackers slashed Qayyum's throat and stabbed him repeatedly, killing him on the spot, she added.

She said as Qayyum had no children from his first wife Gul Dana, he married her in 2004 and had five children. She said since Qayyum was involved in the murder of Ahmad Gul in Afghanistan, he along with his first wife migrated to Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
in 1987. In 1992, the couple came to Rawalpindi and settled here.

Ms Marina said on hearing her husband's screams, she along with her brother and Gul Dana reached the spot but Qayyum died before he could be taken to hospital. She said the alleged killers escaped in a white car.

Sohail Zafar, the police inspector who is leading the investigation into the murder, said a team had been formed to trace the suspected killers.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336068 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The novel "Kara Kush" includes a fascinating story of this kind of Afghan revenge.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 0:44 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
FBI Agent In Petraeus Case Removed After Sending Shirtless Photos To Jill Kelley
Oh good grief. Do we have any federal law enforcement agency that can behave itself?
The federal agent who launched the investigation that eventually led to the resignation of CIA director David Petraeus was taken off the case during the summer over concerns that he "might have grown obsessed with the matter," The Wall Street Journal reports.

The FBI agent began the inquiry on behalf of a friend, Jill Kelley, who reportedly received about a half a dozen hostile emails from Petraeus' mistress Paula Broadwell.
The agent referred the matter to a cyber crimes unit but was prohibited from the any role in the investigation after the FBI found out that he sent shirtless photos of himself to Kelley, people familiar with the probe told The WSJ.

After being barred from the case, the agent contacted representative David Reichert (R-Wash.) out of concern that senior FBI officials were going to "sweep the matter under the rug," according to two officials familiar with the matter.

The WSJ also provides details about the emails sent from Broadwell to Kelley:
Ms. Broadwell allegedly used a variety of email addresses to send the harassing messages to Ms. Kelley, officials said. One asked if Ms. Kelley's husband was aware of her actions, according to officials. In another, the anonymous writer claimed to have watched Ms. Kelley touching "him'' provocatively underneath a table, the officials said.

The new developments raise questions about how the FBI handled the case, The WSJ notes.
Posted by: Steve White || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336083 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oh good grief. Do we have any federal law enforcement agency that can behave itself? Maybe the old proverb "A fish rots from the head down" is coming true.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 0:04 Comments || Top||

#2  Whoa, ZIPPER-GATE + TEE[shirt]-GATE???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/13/2012 0:18 Comments || Top||

#3  Is there anybody that works for the federal government these days that is NOT a fuckin brainless clown?
Posted by: tu3031 || 11/13/2012 1:17 Comments || Top||

#4  Between Broadwell and Kelley, it looks like MILF finally struck a major international blow for terrorism.

Posted by: Penguin || 11/13/2012 2:19 Comments || Top||

#5  The new developments raise questions about how the FBI handled the case, The WSJ notes.
Posted by Steve White


....FBI handling of ANY case!
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 7:56 Comments || Top||

#6  "A fish rots from the head down" is coming true. That seems like a really apt description. This whole ball of wax just keeps growing. When is George Bush or the Republicans going to be blamed?

IMO Benghazi is still the unreported story.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 8:31 Comments || Top||

#7  Ace of Spades says it best: "You can't even make this shit up. It's not a love triangle. It's a love Pentagon."

Posted by: Uncle Phester || 11/13/2012 8:38 Comments || Top||

#8  Well, she much be a real hottie --- it's not money he was after:

Petraeus whistle blower and her surgeon husband are 'broke, owe millions and are the target of foreclosures'

The housewife and whistle blower at the center of the David Petraeus sex scandal may have been hoping for some financial gain by lifting the lid on the affair, after it emerged today she and her husband are broke.

Tampa socialite Jill Kelley, 37, and her cancer surgeon husband Scott owe millions to banks after the collapse of their real estate holdings in 2010.

The Kelleys are currently the targets of at least four indebtedness lawsuits and two foreclosures in Hillsborough County, according to court records. Gossip Extra reported today that the Kelleys are fighting to keep their properties
Posted by: Sherry || 11/13/2012 12:23 Comments || Top||

#9  Hard to tell who's the urinal, who's the pee an' who's the biscuit...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/13/2012 13:34 Comments || Top||

#10  Pathetic we have to get our news from the Daily Mail.
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 13:47 Comments || Top||

#11  Pathetic we have to get our news from the Daily Mail.
Payback for pradling on about Edward VII and that Simpson woman.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/13/2012 17:06 Comments || Top||

#12  It gets weirder. WhoseherButt Broadwell's driver liscense was found in a park and Jill Whoseherboobs called 911 asking for diplomatic protection.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 11/13/2012 18:52 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
EU Suspends Afghan Aid over Reform Failure
[An Nahar] The European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
announced Monday that it is suspending 20 million euros in aid for Afghanistan, warning that cash will be increasingly conditional on the government sticking to agreed reforms.

Payment of the 20 million euros ($25 million), aimed at reforming the justice system, was deferred because of a lack of progress on the issue, EU ambassador Vygaudas Usackas said.

He was speaking at the signing of a 60 million euros financing agreement on "efficient and effective governance" and "justice for all" with Afghan Finance Minister Omar Zakhiwal.

"If the European Union is deeply committed in supporting Afghanistan, it needs to stress that in the spirit of the Tokyo agreement support will be increasingly conditional of the delivery of the Afghan government on the agreed reform agenda," Usackas said.

Donor nations meeting in Tokyo in July pledged $16 billion for Afghanistan through 2015 to prevent the country from sliding into turmoil when foreign combat troops depart in 2014, but called on Kabul to implement reforms to fight graft.

The EU and member states had pumped 1.2 billion euros a year into supporting Afghanistan's development over the past decade and were committed to maintaining at least that level after the withdrawal of NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
troops, Usackas said.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336065 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So the aid is conditional but the loans are guaranteed. Brilliant.
Posted by: American Delight || 11/13/2012 6:28 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Israel Army Confirms Direct Hits on Source of Golan Fire
[An Nahar] Israeli troops fired tank shells into Syria on Monday in retaliation for a mortar round that struck near an army post in the Golan Heights, scoring "direct hits" on the source of the fire, the army said.

"A short while ago, a mortar shell hit an open area in the vicinity of an IDF (army) post in the central Golan Heights, as part of the internal conflict inside Syria, causing no damage or injuries," it said.

"In response, IDF soldiers fired tank shells towards the source of the fire, confirming direct hits."

Israeli military sources said: "Syrian mobile artillery was directly hit," without elaborating further.

The army warned that any further fire from Syria towards the Israeli-occupied sector of the strategic plateau, would be answered with "severity."

"Fire emanating from Syria into Israel will not be tolerated and shall be responded to with severity," a statement said, indicating that Israel had filed a complaint with UN observers monitoring the ceasefire line.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  Was it Syrian Army mobile artillery or rebel mobile artillery? Or was it civilian mobile artillery?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 11/13/2012 16:04 Comments || Top||

#2  "Syrian mobile artillery was directly hit," without elaborating further.

Moshe can we paint a ring?
Posted by: Shipman || 11/13/2012 16:51 Comments || Top||


Europe
Spain's Top Paper Begins Laying off Journalists
[An Nahar] Spain's top daily newspaper El Pais began delivering redundancy notices on Monday to nearly one-third of its staff including some of the paper's best-known writers.

Last month El Pais, part of heavily indebted Spanish media group Prisa, announced there would be 129 layoffs and 20 early retirements, bringing the total number of job cuts to 149 out of about 460 staff.

All remaining staff are being forced to take a 15-percent pay cut as the paper struggles against a slump in advertising and the rise of Internet news, where profits are hard to come by.

On Monday, the journalists began to hear who will be forced to depart the newspaper, born in 1976 during Spain's transition to democracy after the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336074 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Gunmen kill three Shias in Mach: officials
[Dawn] Gunmen Monday rubbed out three Shia Mohammedans and maimed two others in Pakistain's troubled southwestern province of 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...
, officials said.

The shooting took place in the town of Mach, some 70 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of the lovely provincial capital Quetta.

"Three men from the Shia Hazara community were killed and two others were maimed when gunnies on a cycle of violence sprayed bullets at two vegetable shops," local police official Sher Ahmed told AFP.

Two others sitting in the shop were maimed in the firing, he added.

Atif Nabi, a local government official confirmed the attack and toll.

Balochistan is rife with Islamist militancy, sectarian violence between majority Sunnis and minority Shia Mohammedans and a regional insurgency waged by separatists.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Jhangvi


Pak Army rejects probe
[Bangla Daily Star] The Pakistain Army's legal branch has concluded that there is no scope for the military to try former army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg
...occasionally incoherent retired four-star general who was the Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army, succeeding the creepy General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, after the latter was rubbed out died in an air crash in 1988. The general was involved up to his hairy ears in the Mehran bank scandal, shuffling millions in public money to buy or lease politicians, and is believed one of the prime movers in the sale of Pak nuclear technology to Iran. He ranks second only to Hamid Gul in the volume and flavor of his anti-Western vitriol..
and former ISI chief Lt Gen Asad Durrani for paying millions of rupees to politicians to rig the 1990 general election, a media report said yesterday.

In a preliminary report presented to army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI...
, the legal branch concluded that the two retired generals could not be tried under the Army Act following the Supreme Court's order holding them responsible for the rigging of the polls.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336063 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Gulf states recognise Syria opposition
Six Gulf states have recognised a new Syrian opposition coalition as the country's "legitimate representative".

The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces was unveiled in Doha on Sunday, aimed at uniting the various factions seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

Western nations and Turkey welcomed the coalition's creation.

The 22-member Arab League later recognised the group as the "legitimate representative" of Syria's opposition.

Meeting in Cairo late on Monday, Arab League foreign ministers released a statement calling on other anti-Assad groups to join the opposition coalition.

However the group stopped short of giving it full recognition as the representative of the Syrian people.
Posted by: tipper || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336064 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Those freedom loving democratic gulf states. Ahem.

No wonder they are happy - they are getting their sunni muslim extremist friends into government right next to israel.
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 9:16 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Lawmakers fear conspiracy of sectarian violence in Muharram
[Dawn] The members of both houses of the parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate, on Monday feared a conspiracy to pit Shia and Sunni community of 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...
against each other to mar peace on the occasion of Muharram, urging the government to control the situation through deweaponization.

Speaking on a point of order in the lower house, Pakistain Mohammedan League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sahibzada Fazal Karim mentioned an attack on a caravan against the desecration of Prophet Muhammad ((PTUI!)) and said the federal and provincial governments have not taken any step to maintain law and order situation in the city despite the matter was repeatedly raised in the house.

He said certain elements were spreading Talibanization in the name of religion and demanded formation of a judicial commission to probe the attack on the religious procession.

Maulana Attaur Rehman of 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 (JUI-F), mentioning killing of students of a seminary in Bloody Karachi, said the incident was not given due importance just because of their association with the seminary.

He demanded the government to provide security cover to seminaries besides extending other facilities as have been provided to colleges and universities.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
(MQM) MNA Wasim Akhtar also raised the issue of law and order situation in the Sindh capital and said military leadership should take notice of the worsening situation, before it turns out of control.

He said the people are being targeted killed and kidnapped for ransom but the federal and provincial governments have yet to take any effective remedial measures.

Meanwhile,
...back at the sandwich shop, Caroline was experimenting with ingredients of increasing volatility...
politicians in the upper house of parliament (Senate) also resumed discussion on a motion regarding law and order situation, murders and sectarian violence in 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...
, Bloody Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday.

The resolution was moved by Senator Col (r) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi on September 6.

Resuming the discussion, Abdul Ghafoor Haidri of JUI said that situation in Bloody Karachi was deteriorating with every passing day. Referring to the recent killings in the city, he said that students of a seminary, became victim of a terrorist attack but their murderers have not yet been incarcerated
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
and no one has taken any notice.

Before the incident, he said the rangers had raided another seminary, Ashraful Madaris, in Bloody Karachi without any reason. He said there was an urgent need to take strict measures to stop such incidents.

Zahid Khan of ANP regretted the killing incidents in Bloody Karachi, Quetta and Gilgit-Baltistan. He seconded Abdul Ghafoor Haidri and said that no raid should be carried out without any solid proof.

He said that Bloody Karachi should be deweaponized before 'Ashoora' and all the political parties should support it to check murders.

Senator Mohsin Laghari said that Sindh government instead of taking help from rangers should strengthen police. He also suggested enhancing number of police personnel at cop shoppes and in the field.

He said in Balochistan, Frontier Constabulary (FC) was doing the duty of police adding that situation would only improve when every department performed its own duties. He said the Learned Elders of Islam (holy mans) should also condemn the sectarian killings to stop violence.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Malik blames 'invisible force' for disrupting peace in Karachi, Quetta
[Dawn] Minister for Interior Rehman Malik
Pak politician, Interior Minister under the Gilani government. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Nawaz Sharif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. He had to give up the interior ministry job because he held dual Brit citizenship.
on Monday said that an 'invisible force' was engaged in disrupting peace 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...
and Quetta on sectarian basis, but it would not succeed in its negative plans against the country.

Speaking to media representatives after a meeting with religious Learned Elders of Islam (holy men) belonging to different schools of thoughts, Malik said that there was no sectarian clash in the two cities but 'some enemies of the country' were trying to give it a sectarian colour.

The law enforcement agencies are gathering information and soon the names of those, who are indulged in such negative activities, will be revealed, he added.

He said that the basic objective of meeting Learned Elders of Islam was to formulate a strategy to control law and order situation, especially during Moslem holy month of Muharram.

Announcing the decisions taken during the meeting, Maulana Hanif Jalandhari said that all the Learned Elders of Islam will play a positive role for the promotion of religious harmony during Muharram and will avoid hurting sentiments of people belonging to different schools of thought.

He said that there was a consensus among the Learned Elders of Islam that the gunnies were the enemies of Islam, humanity and Pakistain.

He said the meeting also appealed to the print and electronic media not to publish or telecast provocative reports and statements, and also avoid issuing disheartening material.

He said the meeting decided that a religious solidarity committee, having members from all the sects, will be constituted.

The meeting condemned the killing of students of a Madrassa (seminary) in Bloody Karachi.

It was also decided that the government would provide security to the Madaris and mosques in the country. Raids on Madaris would be avoided and if required, those should be conducted in consultation with the Madrassa administrator, said the interior minister.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Abbas Confirms Palestinian U.N. Bid on November 29
[An Nahar] Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas told Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo on Monday that the Palestinian Authority will present its bid for non-state membership of the United Nations on November 29.

Following talks with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi, "it has been agreed that the request will be presented on November 29," Abbas said, calling for support from Arab states.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336070 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
New Syria Opposition Bloc Wins Gulf Recognition
[An Nahar] The six Gulf states recognized a newly formed opposition bloc as the Syrian people's legitimate representative on Monday, as border violence stoked fears of a spillover of the country's 20-month conflict.

The Gulf Cooperation Council move came a year to the day after the Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
suspended Syria's membership, and as the National Coalition met Arab foreign ministers in Cairo buoyed by the hard-won unity deal.

Deadly fighting flared, meanwhile, on Syria's border with Turkey and Israel fired across the ceasefire line on the Golan Heights for a second day, scoring direct hits on the source of a mortar round that struck the Israeli-occupied half of the disputed territory.

The GCC members -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, 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 their national face...
, and the United Arab Emirates -- became the first to recognize the opposition coalition.

"The states of the council announce recognizing the National Coalition... as the legitimate representative of the brotherly Syrian people," GCC chief Abdullatif al-Zayani said.

The oil-rich bloc would support the coalition "in order to achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people in hope that this will be a step towards a quick political transfer of power," Zayani said.

He hoped its formation would lead to ending the bloodshed and "a general national congress to pave the way to build a state ruled by law and open to all its citizens."

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, whose government hosted the marathon four-day talks that culminated in Sunday's unity deal, said earlier that he would seek "full recognition" of the coalition.

His minister of state for foreign affairs, Khaled al-Attiya, said recognition would remove any obstacles to the opposition securing arms for rebel fighters.

The National Coalition's newly installed leader, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, told al-Jazeera television it already had promises of weapons, but did not say from whom.

Under Sunday's deal, the opposition agreed to establish a new supreme military council to take overall command of rebel groups on the ground and address U.S. concerns that weapons have been reaching jihadist groups that are threatening to hijack the uprising.

Washington swiftly declared its backing for the new structure.

"We look forward to supporting the National Coalition as it charts a course toward the end of Assad's bloody rule and the start of the peaceful, just, democratic future that all the people of Syria deserve," State Department front man Mark Toner said.

Traditional Damascus
...The place where Pencilneck hangs his brass hat...
ally Moscow gave a cooler response, saying "such alliances must act based on a platform of peaceful regulation of the conflict by Syrians themselves, without interference."

-- Israel scores 'direct hits' --

Fanning international concerns about the potential a conflict spillover, the Israeli army targeted the source of new mortar fire into the part of the Golan it occupies and reported "direct hits" on Monday.

On Sunday, an Israeli warning shot -- its first across the U.N.-monitored ceasefire line since the 1973 Middle East war -- left U.N. chief the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
"deeply concerned by the potential for escalation," his front man said.

Air strikes and shelling of rebel positions in the town of Ras al-Ain on the Turkish border killed at least 12 people, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

One bomb went kaboom! less than 150 meters (yards) from the border, with the blast blowing out windows in houses in Ceylanpinar, where there were also injuries, the Turkish town's mayor told Anatolia news agency.

The same blast killed four Syrians and maimed scores of others, around 20 seriously, Anatolia said, later adding that six of the maimed died.

The Observatory said seven rebels and five non-combatants were killed.

Near the town, helicopters strafed rebels who for the past three days have besieged an army post, said the Observatory.

At the far eastern end of Syria's border with Turkey, Kurdish militia took Malikiya village after troops loyal to Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Supressor of the Damascenes...
withdrew.

On the Jordanian frontier, shelling and festivities left two Syrian border guards dead.

Warplanes also bombed rebel positions on the strategic highway between Damascus and second city Aleppo
...For centuries, Aleppo was Greater Syria's largest city and the Ottoman Empire's third, after Constantinople and Cairo. Although relatively close to Damascus in distance, Aleppans regard Damascenes as country cousins...
, while festivities on the southern outskirts of the capital near a Paleostinian refugee camp killed seven civilians.

At least 52 people were killed nationwide on Monday, said the Observatory, which has given an overall corpse count of more than 37,000 since March 2011.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336069 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Nasrallah: Some March 14 Christians Seeking Sunni-Shiite Conflict
[An Nahar] Hizbullah Secretary-General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...
on Monday accused "some of March 14's Christians" of "seeking a Sunni-Shiite conflict in Leb," rejecting the formation of a neutral or technocrat cabinet and calling on the March 14 camp to engage in dialogue "if they want a unity government."

"All indications confirm that some parties in the country are conspiring with foreign forces to push the country towards an kaboom," said Nasrallah in a televised address marking Hizbullah's Martyr Day.

"On Martyr Day, I stress that we will carry on with our efforts, preparedness to defend our country and the improvement of our capabilities. Let no one think that the events in the region can affect the Resistance
That'd be the Hezbullies, natch...
's resolve and efforts," said Nasrallah.

"Some Lebanese parties believe that blowing up Leb would serve certain interests. They want a Sunni-Shiite conflict and I'm specifically referring to some of March 14's Christians," he added.

Hizbullah's leader voiced rejection of calls by the March 14 forces to form a neutral government or a technocrat government.

"There is a legitimate and constitutional government that is pursuing its duties and speaking of a neutral government is meaningless in a country where no one is neutral. A technocrat government has no place in a country that is political par excellence," said Nasrallah.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Gazans agree to conditional cease-fire, fire 2 more rockets
[JPost] Palestinian terrorist factions in the Gaza Strip agreed to an informal, and apparently unilateral cease-fire with Israel on Monday night, but said it depends on "Israeli aggression," Palestinian news agencies reported. The report comes at the end of a day that saw over 20 rockets fired into Israel, injuring four people.

Hamas called the meeting of the various factions in order to avoid further Palestinian casualties, Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency reported, citing a DFLP leader. Six Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes since the weekend, two of whom were terrorists.

A Hamas statement from the meeting said that its activities "depend on the continuation of the Israeli aggression."

Soon after the meeting, however, Gazans fired two additional rockets at Sderot. The rockets exploded in an empty field, causing no damages or injuries.

Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired some 20 rockets and mortars into southern Israel since midnight Sunday, injuring four people, with 43 others suffering from shock.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Israeli tanks hit inside Syria
[CS Monitor] Israeli tanks on the Golan Heights fired on and hit a Syria artillery battery on Monday in response to cross-border mortar fire, marking the first time after 18 months of watching the Syrian conflict from the sidelines that the Jewish state has allowed itself to participate.

The Israeli fire, the first hit inside Syrian territory since the 1973 Israel-Arab war, follow weeks in which the Israeli army held its fire as the civil war increasingly spilled across the border with mortar and bullet fire. Syrian tanks also have been entering a United Nations
...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks...
patrolled buffer zone.

But because the Golan spillover is still viewed as the result of errant fire rather than intentional, the conflict hasn't yet reached a tipping point that will force Jerusalem to become embroiled like Turkey and Jordan, say analysts.

Instead, Israel is likely to stick with its policy of just rooting for the downfall of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Lord of the Baath...
-- seen here as the link between Iran and the Lebanese myrmidon group Hezbollah -- while refraining from throwing its lot in with any of the opposition groups, many of whom are seen as Islamist bully boyz that could destabilize their border.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Home Front: Politix
In 59 Philadelphia voting divisions, Mitt Romney got zero votes
[Philly] It's one thing for a Democratic presidential candidate to dominate a Democratic city like Philadelphia, but check out this head-spinning figure: In 59 voting divisions in the city, Willard Mitt Romney
...former governor of Massachussetts, currently the Publican nominee for president. He is the son of the former governor of Michigan, George Romney, who himself ran for president after saving American Motors from failure, though not permanently. Romney has a record as a successful businessman, heading Bain Capital, and he rescued the 2002 Winter Olympics from the midst of bribery and mismanagement scandals. More to the point, he isn't President B.O...
received not one vote. Zero. Zilch.

These are the kind of numbers that send Republicans into paroxysms of voter-fraud angst, but such results may not be so startling after all.

"We have always had these dense urban corridors that are extremely Democratic," complacently said Jonathan Rodden, a political science professor at Stanford University.
...contributed $595,716 to the 2008 Obama campaign. Is there a reason universities are among the top financiers of political campaigns?
"It's kind of an urban fact, and you are looking at the extreme end of it in Philadelphia."

Most big cities are politically homogeneous, with 75 percent to 80 percent of voters identifying as Democrats.

Cities are not only bursting with Democrats: They are easier to organize than rural areas where people live far apart from one another, said Sasha Issenberg, author of The Victory Lab: The Secret Science of Winning Campaigns.

"One reason Democrats can maximize votes in Philadelphia is that it's very easy to knock on every door," Issenberg said.

Still, was there not one contrarian voter in those 59 divisions, where unofficial vote tallies have President B.O. outscoring Romney by a combined 19,605 to 0?

The unanimous support for Obama in these Philadelphia neighborhoods - clustered in almost exclusively black sections of West and North Philadelphia - fertilizes fears of fraud, despite little hard evidence.

Upon hearing the numbers, Steve Miskin, a front man for Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, brought up his party's voter-identification initiative - which was held off for this election - and said, "We believe we need to continue ensuring the integrity of the ballot."
"Continue" implies some movement in that direction now.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336080 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Whereas Obama got 110%?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/13/2012 7:56 Comments || Top||

#2  If Obama can keep his personal background a mystery and hide it for years, he can manufacture as many votes as he needs to get elected and re-elected; yes even 110%.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:02 Comments || Top||

#3  Not one swing state went for R&R and not one voter ID state went for OBumble and the crazy Uncle. Since a great number of these states used Diedold systems in the counting or voting process, can it not be suspected that electronic fraud or manipulation was at work as well as the traditional theft/fraud in the usual places. This stinks to high heaven......
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 11/13/2012 12:54 Comments || Top||

#4  not one voter ID state went for OBumble

Virginia has voter ID. PA will next time.
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 12:58 Comments || Top||

#5  "Upon hearing the numbers, Steve Miskin, a front man for Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, brought up his party's voter-identification initiative"

I don't see how voter identification is going to help if they scored no votes in 59 divisions. It might help if you're claiming your percentage is too low, or the other guys got too many votes. But it doesn't help where you polled zero.

Ain't some people sore losers?
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 13:00 Comments || Top||

#6 
Posted by: ChuffingChuffChuff || 11/13/2012 13:03 Comments || Top||

#7  the wards where R&R got 0 use the grab and drag method

they round people up in the neighborhoods and bring them to the polls, give them coercive instructions, and in some cases, after kickin out Republican poll watchers, help with the machines

if they can continue to kick out the poll watchers, the ID requirement won't matter

of course, the coercive instructioning is also illegal but could only be stopped with witnesses willing to testify
Posted by: lord garth || 11/13/2012 14:34 Comments || Top||

#8  Nice that there was not a single glitch or accidentally incorrect vote. Statistically that's gotta be a first. Perhaps these voters should be sent down to Florida to train the locals there.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 11/13/2012 15:07 Comments || Top||

#9  rjs - maybe there were a few glitches, and they just happened to reverse the few Republican votes in those precincts. (I didn't type this - a monkey banging on my keyboard just randomly hit this sequence of characters.)
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 15:12 Comments || Top||

#10  And not a UN poll monitor in sight...
Posted by: Thusort Ebbomoting1144 || 11/13/2012 15:45 Comments || Top||

#11  Were these the polling places where the NPBPP made an appearance? As observers of course (aking down license plate numbers, names, addresses, you know - that kind of observing...)

Serious Question.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/13/2012 16:04 Comments || Top||

#12  Correction:

...where the New Black Panther Party made an appearance?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/13/2012 16:06 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Ex-Jamaat MP Golam Parwar held
[Bangla Daily Star] The Detective Branch of police (DB) yesterday placed in durance vile
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
... a Pakistani catspaw remaining active in Bangla politix, loosely affiliated with the Pak religious party of the same name and closely affiliated with most of the terror organizations in Bangla. A member of the BNP's four party governing coalition....
and former politician of Khulna-5 constituency Mia Golam Parwar in the capital's Gulshan.

Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (public relation) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said the arrest was made around 6:15pm.

The DB sources said Parwar had been kept under watch since afternoon and was taken to the DB office on Minto Road around 8:30pm after his arrest.

Parwar was shown arrested in a case filed in connection with a clash between Jamaat-Shibir men and police and vandalism done by the activists on November 5 in Motijheel, the DB sources added.

Masudur said that Parwar will be produced before court today demanding remand.

Shafiqur Rahman, 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...
acting secretary general, in a statement protested the arrest.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336064 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


Economy
Oopsie!: Ohioans’ food stamp aid to be reduced
HT: Drudge....
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336079 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Their votes aren't needed any more.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 0:02 Comments || Top||

#2  So long...and thanks for all the electoral votes!
Posted by: tu3031 || 11/13/2012 1:20 Comments || Top||

#3  Drip ... drip ... drip ....

Schadenfreude. I'm going to enjoy this.
Posted by: gorb || 11/13/2012 4:06 Comments || Top||

#4  We forgot to tell you before the election. Food stamps were never designed for non-urban oil field workers or coal miners. We thank you for your recent support to the Democratic Party.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 11/13/2012 7:43 Comments || Top||

#5  I think he's doing this to provoke the sort of response he can use for a crackdown.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 11/13/2012 7:55 Comments || Top||

#6  Some of those 110% voters are not going to be happy. They might even think Obummer ungrateful. Nah.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:33 Comments || Top||

#7  Goes to show you know nothing about the psychology of masochism...
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 11:45 Comments || Top||

#8  Remember, you idiots voted for this.
Posted by: DarthVader || 11/13/2012 12:07 Comments || Top||

#9  Remember, you idiots voted for this.

Cause and effect. Git AHT!!!
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/13/2012 13:09 Comments || Top||

#10  "Ah'm hungry, mommy!"
"Shet up, Honey Boo Boo, you ain't black, an' you kin't eat a obamaphone nohow..."

Sorry, no sympathy here.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/13/2012 13:14 Comments || Top||

#11  I look at that state as a national leper colony now. Screw them.
Posted by: newc || 11/13/2012 14:21 Comments || Top||

#12  I believe there are plenty of good people in Ohio. I used to do a lot of work there and the people I met were fine. But I wouldn't shake hands with their Secretary of State.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 11/13/2012 18:19 Comments || Top||

#13  Isn't Obama supposed to provide for them from his private stash?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/13/2012 18:35 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
31 killed in two days Govt powerless to curb violence
[Dawn] As 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...
continued to bleed, the provincial government and parties claiming to be true representatives of the over 18 million citizens of the country's commercial capital paid mere lip service on Sunday to the ongoing spate of violence, primarily on sectarian grounds, that claimed the lives of 31 persons in just two days.

Instead of taking any practical measure and neglecting the fact that 11 more persons were bumped off since morning, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah visited some relatively peaceful localities of the city and suspended the Traffic SP (Central) because of the absence of traffic police personnel on certain main roads.

The CM holds the additional portfolio of the home department as there is no home minister in the province.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad also did not appear disturbed over the 'tit-for-tat killings' when he told newsmen that the successful show of IDEAS-2012 'proved that Bloody Karachi is secure for foreign investors'.

The role of police and Rangers in curbing violence has also become questionable because the law-enforcers have so far failed to prove their utility in the sprawling metropolis, though they have been told to take effective steps to protect the life and property of the masses.

While the Pakistain Mohammedan League-Nawaz (PML-N), 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...
(JI), the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), Majlis Wahdat-e-Mohammedaneen (MWM) and other parties, which are not part of the Pakistain People's Party-led ruling coalition, slammed the government for failing to protect the life and property of citizens, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
(MQM) also refused to share the responsibility of the city's law and order with the PPP despite having its own governor and an army of ministers in the federal and provincial governments.

The MQM coordination committee said in a statement on Sunday that the "relentless killing of the Sunni and Shia people in the city gave to understand that the city is left at the mercy of faceless myrmidons and there is no one to safeguard the life and property of the people".

Condemning the killing of Shia and Sunni people, the MQM viewed the violence as the outcome of a conspiracy and appealed to the Sindh governor and CM to take definite steps to end the killing of innocent people in the city.

However,
there's more than one way to skin a cat...
an alleged telephone contact between the Sindh governor and Maulana Ahmed Ludhiyanvi of the ASWJ infuriated the MWM to an extent that it called upon President Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari
... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ...
and MQM chief Altaf Hussain 'to dismiss Ishratul Ibad as Sindh governor for his connections with notorious outlawed terrorist organization'.

MWM leaders condemned the 'hypocrisy of the ruling coalition and the MQM' and urged them to clarify their position on terrorism. They alleged that the governor was responsible 'for genocide of Shias in Bloody Karachi'.

Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi of the ASWJ told newsmen that violence in Bloody Karachi was part of an international conspiracy and the government had completely failed to stem violence and in arresting killers of more than 100 workers of his party.

He said he would not guarantee peace in the city if an ASWJ rally to be taken out on the first of Muharram to remember the martyrdom day of Hazrat Omar Farooq was stopped.

JI chief Syed Munawar Hasan also criticised the government for protecting killers, extortionists and drug mafia and said the administration and the agencies were unable to apprehend the killers because they enjoyed the protection of the people in power."If the rulers themselves give protection to lawbreakers, how peace can be restored," he said in a statement issued from Lahore.

PML-N chief 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...
said in a statement that the parties who had got mandate from Bloody Karachi and were part of the federal and provincial governments had absolutely failed to maintain peace in the metropolis.

He called upon the government to use all resources to wipe out those involved in the killing of innocent people in Bloody Karachi.

Meanwhile,
...back at the scene of the crime, Lieutenant Queeg had an idea: there was a simple way to tell whether Manetti had been the triggerman -- just look at his shoes!...
the Sindh CM came out of his palatial official residence in the city's so-called red zone and visited Lasbella, Nazimabad, Hyderi, Sakhi Hassan, North Nazimabad, Nagin Chaurangi, Buffer Zone, North Bloody Karachi, Garden, M.A. Jinnah Road, Kati Pahari, Mithadar, Kharadar and Preedy Street areas.

According to a handout, the CM took serious note of a lack of patrolling by police and Rangers and directed the Bloody Karachi police chief to ensure a better patrolling and snap checking system because "it was the prime duty of the government to provide safety of life and property to the citizens". He also took serious notice of the dilapidated condition of roads in many areas of the city and ordered the administrator of the Bloody Karachi Metr opolitan Corporation to get these roads repaired at the earliest.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under:


Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Birthday Gam Shot

Tracy Scoggins [Filmography](age 59)



Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 11/13/2012 0:43 Comments || Top||

#2  The person in the red shirt is not a girl, no matter how much estrogen he/she is producing.
Posted by: Frozen Al || 11/13/2012 13:11 Comments || Top||

#3  GBUSMC is from the Bay Area, I believe. He's just supporting diversity.
Posted by: Creresing Barnsmell5798 || 11/13/2012 13:40 Comments || Top||

#4  Yup..he is...my town in fact...I support peace through superior firepower...and my definition of firepower is quite diverse..
Posted by: Warthog || 11/13/2012 15:09 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Suleiman Orders Arrest of Suspects behind Sidon Armed Clashes
[An Nahar] President Michel Suleiman
...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too...
demanded on Monday security and judiciary officials to detain the suspects who were responsible for the festivities that erupted the day before at the southern port city of Sidon and to take the necessary measures to control the situation in the area.

"We must be aware not to slip over into sedition," Suleiman said.

He warned of the negative repercussions of sedition on stability and civil peace "at a time that Lebanese foes agreed to abide by the Baabda Declaration."

The Baabda Declaration was reached during the first national dialogue session that was held in June after a 19-month absence.

The Declaration, issued on June 11, calls for political and media calm in Leb, supporting the army, and keeping Leb away from regional and international disputes.

Suleiman held talks with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, who briefed him on the measures taken by the Internal Security Forces in Sidon to control the situation in the city.

He also met with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, who stressed that the army has taken all the necessary steps to maintain stability in the area.

A gunbattle erupted between Hizbullah supporters and Salafist holy man Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir in the Taamir Ain al-Hilweh neighborhood over posters promoting the party, killing three people and injuring seven others.

On Friday, Asir gave an ultimatum to Hizbullah supporters in the city to take down all posters promoting the party. But they "rejected" prompting the Salafist holy man and his supporters to head to the Taamir neighborhood and rip down a poster of Hizbullah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...
.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336065 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


India-Pakistan
Six killed, four injured in Karachi violence
[Dawn] At least six people bit the dust and four were maimed in violent incidents in the city on Monday, DawnNews reported.

Two people, identified as Shakoor and Hanif, were rubbed out in the area of 'Memon Goth.'

A doctor was killed when person or persons unknown opened fire on his clinic at Lee market's Gadani stop.

Another incident of firing in Baldia town's Yousuf Goth claimed the life of a man Zain-ul-Abideen. A woman, named Yasmin, got injured in the same incident.

Bakht Zaman became victim of bullets in the area of Manghopir. He departed this vale of tears and passed away.

The body of a man, who was kidnapped earlier, was found from Orangi town's Iqbal market.

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!...

Police placed in long-term storage
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
eight suspects from the areas of 'Baloch para' and 'Patel para'.

DIG Shahid Hayat said that 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...
East zone police have arrested at least 10 suspected myrmidons.

Disturbance at 'Shahrah-e-Pakistain'

At least four people received bullet injuries when unidentified people shot up Shahrah-e-Pakistain near Water pump area.

Tension prevailed and businesses in the area were closed.

Angry protestors came out on the road and set three buses on fire.

The firing incident took place when funeral procession of four men belonging to Shia community, who were killed earlier today, was on the way to 'Waadi-e-Hussain' graveyard.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Horn
MP accuses Kenyan army and Ras Kamboni fighters of harassing people in Kismayo
[Shabelle] A politician in Somali parliament has accused Kenyan military serving under AMISOM and Ras Kamboni fighters of committing crimes against humanity in Kismayo city.

MP Abdullahi Husein Ali said while giving an exclusive interview with Shabelle Media in Mogadishu Ras Kamboni private army led by Sheikh Ahmed Madobe backed by Kenyan troops are responsible the ongoing robbery and insecurity in Kismayo.

Mr. Hussein urged Somali government officials,naming president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to act swiftly to intervene in the current uncertainty situation and prevent the allied forces from harassing residents in Kismayo. He warned of clan fighting, ensuing unrest.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336064 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab


Africa North
Tourism coalition denounces Salafist threat to demolish pyramids
[Al Ahram] Egyptian tourism coalition threatens to sue President Morsi over 'lack of response' to Salafist leader's statement they would destroy Pyramids and Sphinx as they did Buddha statues in Afghanistan
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If they take out the godless commie built Aswan Dam it would take care of the pyramids as it carves a grand canyon to the Med... just saying...
Posted by: Water Modem || 11/13/2012 0:16 Comments || Top||

#2  And that evil cache of the infidels, the Egyptian Museum, is right next to the river...

(stupid place for it, to begin with)
Posted by: Thusort Ebbomoting1144 || 11/13/2012 14:56 Comments || Top||

#3  I haven't tried to analyze the hydraulics of an Aswan 'removal' - while it would clearly wreack havoc with the communities and cities all along the Nile (90% of the population?) would the flooding Nile still have the velocity for catastrophic erosion or would it clog its channel (braided stream morphology) and spread out over the breadth of the flood plain and slow down & soak in?
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 15:09 Comments || Top||

#4  (braided stream morphology)

Laying 25-1 that's a Rantburg first use.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/13/2012 16:58 Comments || Top||


Economy
Oil Drifts as Fiscal Cliff Looms over U.S. Economy
[An Nahar] Oil prices drifted Monday as traders worried about the threat to the U.S. Economy if lawmakers and President Barack Obama don't reach an agreement to avoid automatic tax hikes and spending cuts.

Benchmark crude for December delivery was down 23 cents to $85.84 a barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 98 cents to finish at $86.07 per barrel on the Nymex on Friday.

Obama and congressional leaders face a Jan. 2 deadline to reach an agreement or at least come up with a framework to deal with expiring Bush-era tax cuts and automatic spending cuts to defense and domestic programs -- known as the "fiscal cliff."
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336071 views] Top|| File under:


Africa North
CIA denies claim that Benghazi annex held Libyan prisoners
The Central Intelligence Agency denied charges Sunday that its annex in Benghazi, Libya secretly held a few jihadi prisoners until it was destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2012 attack. Paula Broadwell, the girlfriend then-CIA chief Gen. David Petraeus, made that claim during an Oct. 26 speech in Denver, Colo.

"I don't know if a lot of you have heard this, but the CIA annex had actually had taken a couple of Libyan militia members prisoner. And they think that the attack on the consulate was an effort to try to get these prisoners back," Broadwell declared during the speech, at the University of Denver.

The CIA's denial came just hours after Arutz Sheva, an Israeli news outlet, first published a partial transcript of Broadwell's speech. By midnight Sunday, intelligence reporters with both The Daily Beast and The Washington Post were reporting and tweeting, respectively, that the CIA said her claim was false.

An agency spokesperson told The Daily Beast that "[t]he CIA has not had detention authority since January 2009, when Executive Order 13491 was issued. Any suggestion that the Agency is still in the detention business is uninformed and baseless."

One possible explanation, The Daily Beast wrote, is that Broadwell was confused about a report she had heard that day on the Fox News Channel.

"According to a source on the ground at the time of the attack," Fox News' Jennifer Griffin reported Oct. 26, "the team inside the CIA annex had captured three Libyan attackers and was forced to hand them over to the Libyans. U.S. officials do not know what happened to those three attackers and whether they were released by the Libyan forces."
Champ and his people have previously said that we're not holding prisoners anywhere except Gitmo and Bagram. If that turns out not to be true it's quite a game-changer. Too bad we didn't know about it before the election...
Posted by: Steve White || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Of course they deny it; how could they not? But who could believe anything the CIA says anyway? Public truth has never been part of their 'ROE'.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 9:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Yeah, well at this point their credibility is a little suspect.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/13/2012 9:57 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Russia Detains 'Islamist Group Members' in Moscow
[An Nahar] Russian police incarcerated
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
six members of a banned Islamist organization for spreading "extremist" literature and recruiting followers in the capital Moscow, officials said Monday.

Six leaders and active members of Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) were "leading active recruitment work in Moscow mosques, and spreading bad turban literature," Moscow police's anti-extremism department said.

The organization is banned in Russia following a Supreme Court decision to recognize it as a terrorist group.

Police and Russia's FSB security service raided the suspects' homes, "finding and seizing nine grenades, weapons, cartridges, bad turban literature and recruitment manuals," the statement said.

The detainees are from Central Asian countries Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, police front man Vladimir Konovalov added, though it was unclear whether they have been naturalized in Russia.

"Most likely there will be a criminal case launched into extremism," he told AFP.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has its headquarters in Britannia and aims to establish an Islamic state, according to its website. It has been banned in many countries and pursued with particular vigor in the Mohammedan but highly secular ex-Soviet Central Asian states.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336069 views] Top|| File under: Hizb-ut-Tahrir


Britain
BBC news head, deputy quit
[Bangla Daily Star] The BBC's director of news, Helen Boaden, and her deputy, Stephen Mitchell, have "stepped aside" as the fallout from the Newsnight scandal continues.

BBC confirmed Boaden and Mitchell were stepping away from day-to-day management of BBC News yesterday morning, as the corporation was facing widespread criticism after it emerged that George Entwistle, who resigned as director general late on Saturday, will receive a full year's salary of £450,000 in lieu of notice -- despite only being in the job for 54 days.

Boaden will be replaced on a temporary basis by Fran Unsworth, head of the BBC newsroom. The Radio 4 Today programme editor Ceri Thomas will take over Mitchell's deputy role in an acting capacity.

Yesterday's announcement came after Ken MacQuarrie, director of BBC Scotland, reported his findings into the Newsnight story on 2 November that mistakenly linked a Conservative peer to allegations of child sexual abuse.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336073 views] Top|| File under:

#1  More, faster.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 11/13/2012 14:49 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Al shabab ambushes Ethiopian convoy outside Baidoa
[Shabelle] Heavy armed Al shabab fighters reportedly ambushed a military convoy carrying Æthiopian forces outside Baidoa, Somalia's third largest city, 250 Km northwest Mogadishu.

Local residents said Shells and gunfire heard around Awdinle, a small town just 15Km east of Baidoa following the ambush attack on Eithopian forces on Monday, causing indefinite casualties on both sides.

"I saw an Æthiopian military vehicle burning and dead bodies lying nearby a roadside kaboom site at Awdinle area, after the fighting stopped," said one resident.

In the aftermath of the attack, Mahad Abdirahman Aden, said Æthiopian troops fired rounds of mortars indiscriminately on a residential area, killing dozens of innocent civilians in Awdinle.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336067 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab


Arabia
Yemen Release Six Nationals Arrested After Iraq Visits
[Yemen Post] The Yemeni authorities have released six Yemenis who were placed in long-term storage
Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'!
in late October while landing in the country coming from Iraq, National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms (HOOD) said in a statement on Monday.

The six were released by the Iraqi authorities and deported to their country in late October, and on their arrival, the Yemeni intelligence system held them at Sanaa International Airport.

"Their release took place on Monday after the authorities failed to charge them," the statement said, adding that the release was on guarantees that their families will bring them to the authorities upon demand.

During their release, the authorities barred journalists from picturing the Yemeni citizens, an activist was quoted by Almasdar Online as saying.

In a previous statement, HOOD said some 16 Yemeni citizens are still jugged
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
in Iraq including two women and a young man sentenced to death.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Dutch Man Dies at Viagra-Fueled Sex Party
[An Nahar] A Dutch man died of a heart attack at a sex party after he apparently took a mix of recreational drugs and Viagra, a popular Dutch daily reported on Monday.

The man, only identified as Luc W., 43, was attending a "swingers party" in Belgium when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed, the Algemeen Dagblad reported.

"It was highly likely the victim used drugs and possibly also Viagra," the paper said of the incident, which happened early Sunday in the Phlegmish town of Essen, just across the southern Dutch border.

"The party took place in a converted garage. Around 4:00 am (0300 GMT) things went wrong," the AD reported, saying the victim "could not be revived."

The victim's unnamed wife described him as a "lovable man."

"Luc was a trucker and did not sleep a lot. Doctors had warned him before that his arteries were clogging up," she said.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336085 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "The victim's unnamed wife described him as a "lovable man.'"

heh.......
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 11/13/2012 8:21 Comments || Top||

#2  Were Broadwell and Petraeus at that party? Hmmm?
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 9:03 Comments || Top||

#3  And Allen? And Kelley? And the FBI agent was miffed he didn't get invited?
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/13/2012 9:04 Comments || Top||

#4  "Luc was a trucker and did not sleep a lot.
Just another working stiff.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 11/13/2012 16:26 Comments || Top||

#5  LOL
Posted by: Shipman || 11/13/2012 17:06 Comments || Top||

#6  So, that's what happens when it lasts longer than 4 hours?
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 11/13/2012 17:23 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Promotion of iodised salt: Fata officials oppose hiring of clerics
[Dawn] Officials at the Fata Directorate of Health has opposed the hiring of the service of religious leaders for promotion of iodised salt in tribal area fearing certain complications, it is learnt.

"Keeping in view the Learned Elders of Islam's involvement to scale up awareness of anti-polio
...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set...
vaccination, officials have opposed the idea to engage holy mans to promote iodised salt in four tribal agencies," an official told Dawn on Sunday.

The official said the idea under which Learned Elders of Islam would ask their followers in mosques in favour of using iodised salt was not workable and therefore, it was suggested to involve schoolteachers in the campaign.

He said the Unicef's plan to run campaign in Orakzai, Bajaur, Khyber and Mohmand agencies by recruiting prayers leaders and holy men was opposed in two meetings with the Fata Directorate of Health officials in view of the past experiences, especially those of anti-polio vaccination campaigns.

The official said an NGO was already running the said project in parts of Fata.

According to him, the argument for disapproval of the plan was failure of anti-polio campaigns.

"The role of Learned Elders of Islam in public awareness can not be denied but their involvement in every campaign entailed complications. The plan was opposed because it would be very difficult to bribe pay off pay to every mullah," he said.

Sources said assigning any role to holy mans in donor-sponsored health advocacy projects, including the one meant for promotion of use of iodine to contain goiter, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
and Fata had turned out to be a futile exercise and counterproductive.Background interviews with health department's officials and representatives of donor agencies showed that they were unanimous that employing religious leaders to advocate for oral polio vaccine coupled with haphazard mobilisation drive by the departments and NGOs had caused a setback instead of creating public awareness.
I'm 65 years old. I've been all over a good part of the world, to include some fairly primitive areas. I've never seen a case of goiter. And they're just now reluctantly accepting the introduction of iodized salt.
Posted by: Fred || 11/13/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336066 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Iodine deficiency has been a long term problem there. Not all goiters are obvious. People with overdeveloped neck & shoulder muscles can have obscured goiters.
From this article (21 MB PDF:
It is more plausible that idiots were seldom
presented at dispensaries, whether they were goitrous, cretinous, or had any other sort of
illness. If families took them anywhere, it would have been to shrines, as they still do
today.

Also: Simple, universal remedies were and are seductive. Iodine, once isolated, was
tried enthusiastically and injudiciously for all manner of ailments, provoking vigorous
condemnation when overdosing problems surfaced. A century later, David Marine and 0
P Kimball's comment, that "simple goiter is probably the easiest of all known diseases to
prevent" was willingly misinterpreted as "goitre is easy to prevent"-on a worldwide
basis. In practice, it did not prove easy, as Marine acknowledged after forty years of
effort. The simple technical solution (i.e. iodine prophylaxis via dietary supplement) to
what was perceived as a straightforward technical problem, made substantial progress in
ideal conditions. It was easily applied to docile populations who could be monitored daily,
such as laboratory mice or the schoolgirls at Akron, Ohio, with whom Marine and Kimball
worked. It was sensible to start with the easiest groups. To extrapolate directly from Akron
schoolgirls to Himalayan tribespeople was over-optimistic.

Extrapolating ANYTHING to Pak tribespeople is overoptimistic.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/13/2012 0:28 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
38[untagged]
5Govt of Pakistan
3Govt of Syria
3al-Shabaab
3Jamaat-e-Islami
2Hezbollah
1Govt of Sudan
1al-Qaeda
1Hamas
1Hizb-ut-Tahrir
1Palestinian Authority
1Lashkar e-Jhangvi
1al-Qaeda in Pakistan
1Ansar Dine

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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.
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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2012-11-13
  Jamaat, Shibir go berserk in Bangla
Mon 2012-11-12
  Govt. Soldiers shoot it out in Mogadishu
Sun 2012-11-11
  IDF Changes Rules of Engagement Along Syrian Border
Sat 2012-11-10
  Mexican police charged over US embassy staff shooting
Fri 2012-11-09
  David Petraeus resigns from CIA
Thu 2012-11-08
  Syria raids Hamas offices months after group's leaders leave
Wed 2012-11-07
  Bombings, Clashes Kill 131 in Syria as Gunmen Assassinate Parliament Speaker's Brother
Tue 2012-11-06
  Suicide bomber kills at least 27 by army base near Baghdad
Mon 2012-11-05
  Grenade attack on Kenya church kills 1, wounds 14
Sun 2012-11-04
  Two Suicide Bombers Attack Restaurant in Somali Capital
Sat 2012-11-03
  30 people shot dead in Nigeria, rights group says
Fri 2012-11-02
  US withdraws its support for Syrian National Council
Thu 2012-11-01
  Armed Islamists on Tunis streets after clashes
Wed 2012-10-31
  18 militants killed in Khyber, Orakzai
Tue 2012-10-30
  Israel Hit by 18 Rockets as Hamas Seeks Revenge

Better than the average link...



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