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1 injured, 2 missing as Egypt pumps sewage into Gaza tunnel
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 4: Opinion
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3 00:00 JosephMendiola [4] 
9 00:00 JosephMendiola [2] 
11 00:00 SteveS [6] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
7 00:00 USN, Ret. [3]
5 00:00 Hallibutrton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division [3]
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2 00:00 European Conservative [5]
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19 00:00 rammer [4]
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2 00:00 g(r)omgoru [2]
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1 00:00 whitecollar redneck [6]
2 00:00 badanov [2]
2 00:00 gr(o)mgoru [1]
7 00:00 whitecollar redneck [3]
11 00:00 tu3031 [8]
Page 2: WoT Background
15 00:00 JosephMendiola [10]
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3 00:00 newc [2]
2 00:00 Frank G []
3 00:00 Dale [6]
3 00:00 Canuckistan sniper []
2 00:00 gr(o)mgoru [2]
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1 00:00 Spot [2]
1 00:00 Glatle Glealing7009 [6]
1 00:00 Kojack [4]
5 00:00 Spats Shoger4460 []
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5 00:00 JosephMendiola [2]
1 00:00 Silentbrick - Halliburton Lost Drill Bit Division []
3 00:00 Anguper Hupomosing9418 []
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Page 3: Non-WoT
3 00:00 JosephMendiola [4]
3 00:00 European Conservative [6]
2 00:00 European Conservative [10]
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2 00:00 Rambler in Virginia [13]
13 00:00 European Conservative [2]
5 00:00 Rambler in Virginia [2]
16 00:00 European Conservative [3]
2 00:00 Skidmark []
7 00:00 Alaska Paul [2]
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3 00:00 CincinnatusChili []
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Page 6: Politix
20 00:00 European Conservative [2]
14 00:00 JosephMendiola [1]
1 00:00 Procopius2k []
1 00:00 JosephMendiola [4]
4 00:00 newc [5]
12 00:00 JosephMendiola [6]
-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Doctors and AMA Marriage on the Rocks
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 09/27/2011 13:18 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  wait til seniors figure out how the AARP has been selling them out
Posted by: Frank G || 09/27/2011 21:12 Comments || Top||


Economy
Truthful trader on the BBC says Eurozone Market will crash
YouTube
Posted by: tipper || 09/27/2011 00:23 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Yep, the market is "Toast". Last depression people made money and their family names are well known to this day. The next fix doesn't matter to them. This downward trend is how people make lots of money. The fear and panic are driving this and governments can't manage that. This is a global economy so no country is immune.
Posted by: Dale || 09/27/2011 8:11 Comments || Top||

#2  As long as there are people and needs, markets will never be toast.

He's probably stating that the over-pricing of the market that governments and most insiders love will be ending. That's GOOD.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 09/27/2011 9:10 Comments || Top||

#3  Brazil Government Preparing For Greek Default This Week
Posted by: tipper || 09/27/2011 10:00 Comments || Top||

#4  As long as there are people and needs, markets will never be toast.

Wanna swap this poor pig skin for 10 fine arrowheads?
Posted by: gr(o)mgoru || 09/27/2011 10:01 Comments || Top||

#5  The problem is that most people will lose allot of their investments. This is within 12 months. The dollar goes up so exports will drop, tourism and gold and precious medals will drop. Remember that University that loaded up on Gold. I'd bet they are very nervous at this time. The insiders have made their move. Like he said it's about making money. The market will drop again shortly but most will stay put or buy in. The smart money will sell near next opportunity. Buy low sell high but don't lose money. Constant movement. Buffett just did a buy on his own stock. I'd bet you he did it so others would buy in to drive the value up(yes it does have value anyway). So if it drops he will sell rather than lose money. They can react much faster than most. "Truthful", in my opinion yes he is. The body language and sincerity shows. Among other things.
Posted by: Dale || 09/27/2011 10:07 Comments || Top||

#6  Statement on BBC News channel interview with trader Alessio Rastani
The BBC have today issued the following statement regarding an interview with trader Alessio Rastani on the BBC News channel yesterday (Monday 26 September):

"We've carried out detailed investigations and can't find any evidence to suggest that the interview with Alessio Rastani was a hoax. He is an independent market trader and one of a range of voices we've had on air to talk about the recession."
Posted by: tipper || 09/27/2011 14:29 Comments || Top||

#7  More from the Telegraph:
How a man who has never been authorised by the Financial Services Authority and has no discernible history working for a City institution ended up being interviewed by the BBC remains a mystery. The BBC declined to comment on what checks, if any, it had done prior to the interview.

Mr Rastani was a little more forthcoming.

"They approached me," he told The Telegraph. "I'm an attention seeker. That is the main reason I speak. That is the reason I agreed to go on the BBC. Trading is a like a hobby. It is not a business. I am a talker. I talk a lot. I love the whole idea of public speaking."

So he's more of a talker than a trader. A man who doesn't own the house he lives in, but can sum up the financial crisis in just three minutes – a knack that escapes many financial commentators.

"I agreed to go on because I'm attention seeker," he said on Tuesday. "But I meant every word I said."
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 09/27/2011 17:26 Comments || Top||

#8  Last I looked BBC stands by the man. I wondered what price he might pay for saying what so many have been saying. He is a good talker. He talks too much perhaps. The smear reminds me of political dirty tricks. Time will tell the truth of it.
Posted by: Dale || 09/27/2011 22:10 Comments || Top||

#9  Meanwhile, IIRC CNBC > SMITH-BARNEY = believes that the US may be able to just barely avoid going into a full-blown SECOND RECESSION [double-dip], at least thru EOY 2011 - early Jan 2012???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 09/27/2011 23:13 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Time to abolish DHS
Posted by: DarthVader || 09/27/2011 11:31 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Well, we're withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan because the 'problem' has been 'fixed', it's time to pull the plug on this operation too before it metastasizes more of the budget.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/27/2011 12:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Why does everything grow way out of proportion and cost a huge amount of money once it gets to Washington? The metastasis has already occurred and the patient is dying.
Posted by: JohnQC || 09/27/2011 13:09 Comments || Top||

#3  Never did like the specific term "Homeland" - t'was too Soviet/Commie-esque = Un-American for my taste.

Preferred "National", followed by "Citizen", "Home" or "Continental".
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 09/27/2011 23:23 Comments || Top||


Olde Tyme Religion
Arab anti-Americanism
[Dawn] IN deconstructing the debate on the irrationality of anti-Americanism in the Arab world we can turn to statistics. Opinion polls conducted by Zogby International polls in 2002 and mid-2004 in Soddy Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Leb, Morocco and the UAE sampled the population on a favourable/unfavourable basis.

In 2002, 76 per cent of polled Egyptians had negative perceptions of the US, compared with 98 per cent in 2004; 61 per cent of Moroccans saw the US unfavourably in 2002 and 88 per cent in 2004. The Saudi response increased from 87 per cent in 2002 to 94 per cent in June. Neutral attitudes were observable in Leb and improved ones in the UAE.

The main bone of contention was US foreign policy. The Pew Research Centre's June 2006 report identified three negative westerner stereotypes; selfishness, violence and greed. This view was held by 70 per cent of the polled Middle Easterners.

Amongst the few positive stereotypes elicited, the main ones were devoutness and respect for women.

In Jordan 61 per cent, in Pakistain 27 per cent and in Turkey 16 per cent of those polled held favourable views of Christians, and one, six and 15 per cent respectively of Jews.

Opinion polls demonstrate that many Arab Mohammedans identify with the Paleostine issue with over 50 per cent respondents saying it is 'extremely important' in shaping their worldviews about the US.

The US-Israel nexus has arguably been the major cause of anti-American sentiment. US support for Israel has long generated resentment against US policies in the region. An overwhelming majority of Jordanians, Paleostinians and Moroccans agree, as well as most Europeans and even a plurality of those polled in Israel. The voice of dissent comes from the Americans, where 47 per cent sees US policies in the region as fair -- a case of the US vs the rest.

This 'support' is not ephemeral; for Israel which has contravened numerous UN Security Council resolutions American help is nothing less than generous. Israel receives almost $3bn yearly in military and civilian aid from Washington, which is the largest grant by the US to any country. This is equivalent to some $500 on a per-capita basis and much more than the total GNP per capita of many African countries collectively. Out of 59 unilateral vetoes cast by the US at the UN during the period 1972 to 2006, 41 were linked to averting criticism against Israel or to attempts to dissuade Israel from consolidating its occupation of disputed Arab territories.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pound, Zebulon finally found just the friend he'd been looking for...
a Pew 2003 Global Attitudes Project Survey found a majority of French, Germans and Spaniards and a plurality of Italians and Britons to be of the view that US policy was unfairly tilted towards Israel, notwithstanding the fact that a vast majority of Europeans express support for the right of Israel to exist.

More recent surveys have revealed a strong dislike for US foreign policy but much more nuanced and often positive attitudes towards American society and culture. The 2002 Zogby poll comments that men and women in different age groups have favourable opinions about US education, freedom and democracy while hardly any respondents have a favourable attitude towards US policy.

Academic Ussama Makdisi argues that anti-Americanism is a recent phenomenon fuelled by American foreign policy, not an epochal confrontation of civilisations. While there are certainly those in both America and the Arab world who believe in a clash of civilisations and who invest politically in such beliefs, history belies their thoughts.

It is also significant that the only common ground Middle Eastern communities share is anti-Americanism; significantly; it is perhaps the only agenda Islamists share with the common masses in a region where many Islamist movements are disliked by the ordinary man and have often been ruthlessly suppressed by governments. Anti-Americanism is perhaps the only thing that brings together Iran, Syria, Hezbullies, Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, and ordinary citizens of differing political views.

As for the proposition that Arab anti-Americanism is a blind hatred for everything American, political scientist Marc Lynch has argued that it has not yet reached an absolute level of bias, since it is still responsive to new information and tends to fluctuate based on perceptions of the US, which in turn fluctuate with American policies. Another academic Chiozza backs this assertion by arguing that biased evaluations of the US are the exception rather than the norm. Focusing on La Belle France, scholar Meunier maintains that French anti-Americanism is still largely malleable in response to American policy; Lynch's studies about the Arab strain also demonstrate the same.

Mohammad Khouri, an Egyptian scholar, argues that the rising anti-Americanism is driven almost exclusively by cumulative anger with the substance and style of American foreign policy in the area, and not by opposition to basic American values of freedom, democracy, equality and tolerance.

Samer Shehata from Harvard University postulates that anti-Americanism is not primarily about American culture or values
but the way the US conducts itself in the region and the world. He adds that Arab perceptions of America have become more negative as a result of the US war on Iraq, Washington's almost total support for prime minister Ariel Sharon (in a vegetative state for several years now) and the enactment of new policies directed at Arab and Mohammedan immigrants and visitors to the US.

A number of old and new grievances have added up to a perceived image of the US as an implacable foe of Arab illusory sovereignty and rights.

Thus, Arab hostility should be seen primarily in the context of specific US policies, not American culture, since the US is still a style icon for the Middle East. The US still attracts a large number of Arab immigrants and American culture still exerts its all-pervasive influence through Hollywood and the music industry. Cultural dissonance is not a major cause of the divide. It is based not on who Americans are perceived to be but on what they are perceived to do.
Posted by: Fred || 09/27/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Radical Islam says it more bluntly + wid less Media, PC fanfare ....

To wit,

* MEMRI.ORG > TALIBAN VIDEO: THE CALIPHATE WILL BE ESTABLISHED SOON IN PALESTINE, LEBANON, SOMALIA, CHECHNYA + ELSEWHERE IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD.

* SAME > IN "ID AL-FITR" VIDEO, AL-SHABAAB CALLS TO KILL THE INFIDELS EVERYWHERE.

As found.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 09/27/2011 0:14 Comments || Top||

#2  JM you did it again. " Radical Islam says it more bluntly + wid less Media, PC fanfare ....". Then "US still attracts a large number of Arab immigrants". I wonder why?. You could do the same poll in Africa, China, France, or Russia. The results in my opinion would be similar. I don't like Zogby polls. I have taken them myself. They push you into limited guided answers.
Posted by: Dale || 09/27/2011 8:31 Comments || Top||

#3  It's all the fault of the Juice.
Posted by: gr(o)mgoru || 09/27/2011 9:59 Comments || Top||

#4  Then "US still attracts a large number of Arab immigrants". I wonder why?.

Money.
Posted by: Pappy || 09/27/2011 10:13 Comments || Top||

#5  Then"US still attracts a large number of Arab immigrants".
Oil.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 09/27/2011 10:25 Comments || Top||

#6  The story of too many third worlders is their homeland is a nightmare. From a cultural standpoint the things they do promote poverty. They come to the US to escape that nightmare and then create a fantasy memory of the place and try to change their new home into that nightmare.

I'm not sure if it happened as much in the past when we more or less demanded integration but it seems to happen in the Latino and Arab communities fairly regularly.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 09/27/2011 10:38 Comments || Top||

#7  So much for winning the hearts and minds and being loved across the planet. #@%* it. At the same time we have lost much good will with Israel. Good job BO.
Posted by: JohnQC || 09/27/2011 12:48 Comments || Top||

#8  They come to the US to escape that nightmare and then create a fantasy memory of the place and try to change their new home into that nightmare.

Sounds like expatriate Californians.
Posted by: Pappy || 09/27/2011 12:54 Comments || Top||

#9  Sounds like expatriate Californians

I recall sitting in a restaurant next to a table of California expats who were whining at great length about how stupid their newly adopted state and it's residents were compared to California & Californians. I exercised EXTREME restraint and did not comment on their views.
Posted by: CincinnatusChili || 09/27/2011 17:22 Comments || Top||

#10  A longing for the old regime is often heard among the older generation in Russia and the FSU. A somewhat similar ailment in many ways, I suspect.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/27/2011 17:29 Comments || Top||

#11  Sounds like expatriate Californians.

To quote a billboard seen on the interwebs:

1. Welcome to Texas
2. Remember why you left home
3. We don't do that here

(yeah, it was probably photoshopped. so?)
Posted by: SteveS || 09/27/2011 21:03 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2011-09-27
  1 injured, 2 missing as Egypt pumps sewage into Gaza tunnel
Mon 2011-09-26
  Missile targets Afghan president palace
Sun 2011-09-25
  French Envoy Targeted with Eggs, Stones in Damascus
Sat 2011-09-24
  Paleostinians ask UN for statehood
Fri 2011-09-23
  President of Yemen returns home
Thu 2011-09-22
  Series of bombs kills 1, injures at least 60 in Dagestan
Wed 2011-09-21
  Lashkar-e-Jhangvi gunmen kill 29 Shia pilgrims in Pakistan
Tue 2011-09-20
  Murder most foul: Barhanuddin Rabanni assassinated
Mon 2011-09-19
  Fighting erupts in Bani Walid
Sun 2011-09-18
  "Norwegian" held over Danish cartoonist plot
Sat 2011-09-17
  Syrian Forces Kill 46
Fri 2011-09-16
  NTC Fighters Enter Gadhafi Hometown Sirte
Thu 2011-09-15
  US Drone Attack Kills Two Militants in Pakistan
Wed 2011-09-14
  Iran to Free US Hikers or whatever they were for $500,000 Each
Tue 2011-09-13
  Nato headquarters and US embassy under attack in Kabul


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