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Paks form team to rearrest Rashid Rauf
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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Global warming means no Ferraris
Robert Farago, "The Truth About Cars"

If there's a silver lining to Britain's anti-democratic Oxbridge oligarchy, it's that the class-bound status quo allows the more enigmatic members of the elite to spout fabulously politically incorrect sentiments. To wit: the Torygraph reports that Professor Sir David King, the United Kingdom's outgoing Chief Scientific Adviser (how Mikado is that?), thinks "women must stop admiring men who drive sports cars." Translation: global warming (a theory to which Sir David wholeheartedly subscribes) requires that motorists stop burning petrochemicals for the sheer bloody Hell of it. To that end, babes must stop offering their eggs to carbon profligate males. No really. "I was asked at a lecture by a young woman about what she could do [to save the planet] and I told her to stop admiring young men in Ferraris," he said. Of course, Sir David's sexist castigation represents a fairly quaint not to say Victorian view of the world. Only the United Kingdom's sports car drivers don't quite see it that way. The secretary the Ferrari Owners Club is more than slightly miffed at the suggestion that his members may be melting the polar ice caps. "There are fewer than 5,600 cars made a year by Ferrari," Peter Everingham said. "To suggest Ferraris are a factor in climate change is unhelpful." For whom?
Posted by: Mike || 12/17/2007 11:24 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What about teslas?
Posted by: Ol Dirty American || 12/17/2007 13:07 Comments || Top||

#2  I honestly think that global warming should be renamed Revenge of the Dorks...
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/17/2007 15:42 Comments || Top||

#3  WND > A Dutch pol cried in tears during the Bali enviro conference. Twas another dream/vision of mine + am also overtly seeing images of foreign lands in the skies over Guam, images which were also known to me

HMMMM, some relatives argue [criminal/illegal]MIND CONTROL, PYWAR, etc. EXCEPT THAT GOVT, etc. CONTROLS NEITHER TIME NOR NATURE [skies/space], ETC. A GLOBAL EPOCH/DECISIVE EVENT IS SOON TO OCCUR.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/17/2007 18:46 Comments || Top||

#4  GUAHAN MAGAZINE [Guam] > BORN INTO CRISIS [Chaos]. The younger generations vv their elders and ancestors - the sins, secrets, and vanities therefrom, tofrom. *"CRISIS" is when righteous strong Leaders, Immams and Messiahs even Destroyers, are created or needed the most, correct!?
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/17/2007 18:56 Comments || Top||


Hillary's plan for repelling an alien invasion
Call it Hillary's alien inspiration. The former first lady wants to take America back to the movie references of the 1990s.

"Remember that movie 'Independence Day,' where invaders were coming from outer space and the whole world was united against the invasion?" she asked at a campaign event Saturday. "Well, why can't we be united on behalf of our planet?"

In 1996, Bill Clinton mused about the movie, saying Americans could beat the aliens. "Yes, I think we'd fight them off. We'd find a way to win. That's what America does - we'd find a way to win if it happened."
And you thought Kucinich was whack!
He is.
Posted by: Mike || 12/17/2007 10:17 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I want to believe!
Posted by: Raj || 12/17/2007 10:27 Comments || Top||

#2  That's what America does - we'd find a way to win if it happened

Unless the dhimocrats were in charge then they would surrender as fast as they could.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/17/2007 10:45 Comments || Top||

#3  "Independence Day"? Oh, brother. Yeah, Hil, that's a likely scenario.

These mooks need to read more. Try James Tiptree, Jr's "The Screwfly Solution"... No big saucers, no alien networks with inexplicably understandable protocols, just total extermination for humans.

It's a real estate deal, you see, and we're in the way.
Posted by: mojo || 12/17/2007 10:56 Comments || Top||

#4  Maybe Clinton doesn't remember how the people cheered when the White House got blown up.
Posted by: Rambler || 12/17/2007 11:10 Comments || Top||

#5  or that the First Lady got mortally wounded...
Posted by: Querent || 12/17/2007 12:37 Comments || Top||

#6  @ #5: I think he might have been fine with that then. She's probably cool with that now too.
Posted by: kwame || 12/17/2007 13:42 Comments || Top||

#7  Notice how they forgot that in the movie no one got their act together until the Aliens were kind enough to wipe out all the hard core blue districts first? They even ejected their Harry "We've Lost" Reid character -

"The only mistake I ever made was to appoint a sniveling little weasel like you Secretary of Defense! However, that is a mistake—I am happy to say—that I don't have to live with. Mr. [Albert] Nimziki, you're fired!"
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/17/2007 13:54 Comments || Top||

#8  Good point, P2K. Also, remember how the "exotic dancer" confessed to the First Lady that she had voted for the other candidate. How many exotic dancers vote Republican?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/17/2007 15:04 Comments || Top||

#9  I would not be surprised if most exotic dancers vote Republican. They have to work for a living without the benefit of tenure, unions or a bullet-proof government job.
Posted by: Excalibur || 12/17/2007 15:51 Comments || Top||

#10  How many exotic dancers vote?
Posted by: doc || 12/17/2007 15:59 Comments || Top||

#11  How many exotic dancers vote?

Let's go ask 'em!
Posted by: SteveS || 12/17/2007 16:11 Comments || Top||

#12  How many exotic dancers vote?

Let's go ask 'em!


Field trip!
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/17/2007 16:19 Comments || Top||

#13  I would guess that most exotic dancers vote Dem if they even vote. The Republicans are generally against vice and that often includes strip clubs and such. Dems are all for vice as long as it won't cost them votes.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 12/17/2007 16:28 Comments || Top||

#14  Actually, Hilly, most of your friends think that's Bush's ploy - try to unite the Country behind the (baseless, of course) fear of the Islamic Crusaders.

I thought you called it "Fear-Mongering".
Posted by: Bobby || 12/17/2007 17:09 Comments || Top||

#15  I believe it was REDDIT > NEWLY DISCOVERED SPACE SIGNALS OF AMBIGUOS INTERPRETATION > iff signals are ever indeed from a non-human space civilization, NO WAY TO KNOW/PROVE IFF THE ETS ARE FRIENDLIES???

OTOH, could be just more LOST TIME TOURISTS/STUDENTS TWEENIES, etc. from Earth's future, trashing old Earth wid their Soylent Green, Red, etc. Space Big Macs on a Friday nite.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/17/2007 17:48 Comments || Top||

#16  If elected, all hill needs to do to prevent the destruction fo the whitehouse is sunbathe nude on the roof... anyone human or alien looking to target the area will be struck permantly blind. she can work the 'inhuman shield' in shifts with pelosi, boxer, and helen thomas. it might even burn out the circuits of the russian sats...
Posted by: Abu do you love || 12/17/2007 18:50 Comments || Top||

#17  Actually BJ really enjoyed seeing the destruction of the White House on the screen, because he imagined Hillary was inside.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 12/17/2007 19:58 Comments || Top||

#18  I'm thinking it would be more like the Twilight Zone episode, To Serve Man, based on the Damon Knight short story: “It's a cookbook!”
Posted by: Eric Jablow || 12/17/2007 20:38 Comments || Top||

#19  RUMORMILLNEWS Poster > claims that the USA is orbiting a NUCLEAR MISSLE SPACE PLATFORM(S), likely targeted/sighted towards EURASIA???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/17/2007 21:59 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Polisario mulls new armed struggle™ against Morocco
The Western Sahara independence movement Polisario will vote on Tuesday on whether to revive its armed struggle against Morocco over the desert territory, a Polisario official said on Sunday. International peacekeepers have watched over the resource-rich territory since 1991 when the U.N. brokered a ceasefire between the two sides to end a low-level guerrilla war.

But Mhamed Khadad said Polisario officials who met on Saturday at a strategy conference at the Polisario-controlled outpost of Tifariti had considered a resumption of armed struggle, continued negotiations or a mix of the two.

"We had a big debate yesterday over negotiations," Khadad, a senior Polisario official who is also the conference spokesman, said by telephone from Tifariti. "The military people said 'We can't keep negotiating idenfinitely. We need to assess the situation ... We should propose resuming armed struggle."

"Others said 'No, No, we should continue negotiating because we have a third round of talks just coming up in January."

"We will vote on this on the 18th at the end of the conference," Khadad said.
This article starring:
Mhamed Khadad
Posted by: Fred || 12/17/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Morocco considers the western Sahara area part of the Pre-Colonial Mahgreb, which the Spanish and French agreed would be controlled by Spain. The Polisario were considered to be Algerian-backed troublemakers, trying to get even for some slight against their President or Country - I forget - this was 30 years ago...
Posted by: Bobby || 12/17/2007 5:58 Comments || Top||

#2  The slight was the invasion of their territoty. The fact is Saharouis (berbers) would noyt become Morrocans from their own free will. Morrocco, staged an invasion that ageing Franco wanted to oppose but his PM advised againt it (Spain was bound top evacuate anyway). Then Morroco took advantage of Franco's agony for sending its populace into Sahara an,d get this mieneral rich teritory. Its inhabitants were exiled.
Posted by: JFM || 12/17/2007 11:28 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Mandela saddened by rifts in S.Africa's ANC
Posted by: Fred || 12/17/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Many poor South Africans regard Zuma as a man of the people who can bring the benefits of black majority rule to the poor, millions of whom still live in townships that are a glaring reminder of decades of domination by the white minority.

Which all means... from run the nasty white buggers off the continent once and for all.

Posted by: Besoeker || 12/17/2007 1:03 Comments || Top||

#2  Gee, who'd have thought that anything sad could have come from that? Be careful what you wish for, ignorant agitators.
Posted by: gorb || 12/17/2007 2:51 Comments || Top||

#3  what white person would want to stay there? And for that matter, what black person would want to stay in that God forsaken place?
Posted by: Whomong Guelph4611 || 12/17/2007 4:43 Comments || Top||

#4  Maybe if you're a used tire salesman and have the Winnie Mandela account...
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/17/2007 9:29 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Saudi King pardons rape victim
Considering how unislamic it is, I suppose it's a good start.
Saudi King Abdullah has pardoned a rape victim who had been sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison in a case that sparked international attention, a Saudi newspaper reported.
Worst case, wouldn't having been raped about 14 times been enough "justice"? If what those two endured counts as justice in the eyes of the truly religious, then that should be enough and the woman shouldn't be caned. If it isn't "justice", then the men should have been stuck in jail as an example for all to behold with no international prodding and the woman then caned.
King Abdullah issued the royal pardon on Monday, Al-Jazirah newspaper quoted a Saudi Justice Ministry official as saying.

A Saudi court ruled the 19-year-old had an "illegitimate relationship" with a man who was not her husband, and that the rape occurred after she and the man were discovered in a "compromising situation, her clothes on the ground."
Horse$hit. They were supposedly found in a parking garage. Then driven to a secluded area and both raped. Uh huh. Probably the testimony of the seven men against the other two. Heck, it had worked so well in the past, why not take advantage of it again?
The attacks took place in Qatif in March 2006 when the woman was engaged to be married.
And she still is AFAIK.
The case has drawn international attention, provoked outrage in the West and cast light on the treatment of women under Saudi Arabia's strict Islamic law.
Nah, it was just too hard to ignore.
The woman was meeting with a man -- described by the woman's attorney as a former friend from whom she was retrieving a photograph -- when they both were abducted last March.
A "former" friend, eh?
Seven men were convicted in their abduction and her rape and received sentences ranging from 10 months to five years in jail.
How unfair Islamic. But given the state of affairs, I'll take it and hope for better later. Call it a shot across the bow. Then again, people in Western countries get less punishment for more serious crimes, so I can't say much.
Under Saudi law, women are subject to numerous restrictions, including a strict dress code, a prohibition against driving and a requirement that they get a man's permission to travel or have surgery.
Ugh. Great. Throw away half the country. See if anybody cares.
Posted by: gorb || 12/17/2007 04:46 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  You are just now doing this, "King"?

She should have been pardoned the day of charge.
Posted by: newc || 12/17/2007 9:53 Comments || Top||

#2  If an American court tried to jail a rape victim (never mind that we don't do lashings here) the governor (or USAG) would be under immediate and unremitting pressure to remove any judges involved it the decision.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/17/2007 10:03 Comments || Top||

#3  MM: If an American court tried to jail a rape victim (never mind that we don't do lashings here) the governor (or USAG) would be under immediate and unremitting pressure to remove any judges involved it the decision.

In Saudi Arabia, the pressure is to do the opposite - i.e., not do a pardon. The royals don't generally interfere because they remember what happened to the Shah, who was overthrown by a bunch of angry Muslim literalists on a mission from Khomeini who prided himself on having the only correct interpretation of the Koran. My feeling is that the only way to erase the threat from Saudi Arabia is to cull the ranks of the zealots and the clerics. When the Shah of Iran attempted to do this in Iran via his secret police, the West gave him a hard time, and France gave Khomeini shelter. When the zealots and the clerics attempted to overthrow the Shah, Carter gave them the green light while denying the Shah military supplies to crush his opponents and urging him to leave.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 12/17/2007 10:36 Comments || Top||

#4  Given how many of the Saudi royal family can be counted in the ranks of the zealots (about half, I understand -- the other half being "Westernized" decadents), cleaning up the populace would be a bit difficult, regardless of outside influences.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/17/2007 13:10 Comments || Top||

#5  True - after a while, all those deaths 'while on a camping trip' would begin to look suspicious.
Posted by: Pappy || 12/17/2007 13:27 Comments || Top||

#6  TW: Given how many of the Saudi royal family can be counted in the ranks of the zealots (about half, I understand -- the other half being "Westernized" decadents), cleaning up the populace would be a bit difficult, regardless of outside influences.

Not knowing any of the royals, I can't speak to the zealotry or lack thereof within the Saudi leadership. I can say that it would be silly of them to attack Uncle Sam, their principal protector against Iranian or Iraqi territorial expansion. The Saudi government did not need bin Laden to attack us on 9/11 in order to get Uncle Sam to move out of Saudi Arabia. We would have left if they had asked us to leave. We have left the Philippines, the Panama Canal, the Central Pacific territories - the list goes on and on.

My basic point is that in most Muslim countries, the population, not the rulers, are our enemy. There are people who believe that democracy will make everyone our friend. I think that's just wrong. A lot of countries that have become more democratic have also become more hostile to us. Chile. South Korea. The Philippines. Indonesia.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 12/17/2007 14:04 Comments || Top||

#7  It'd be nice to believe that international pressure and the media spotlight had something to do with this so that the MSM is good for something after all.

It would be good to put the spotlight on the religious fanatics every time there is a case like this so they have to explain and justify to the whole wide world the twisted practices of their religion. But I wouldn't want to be the journalist trying to live in that country who held the light on these cockroaches. It might be a health risk.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/17/2007 14:07 Comments || Top||

#8  wow i guess they will raise the price of oil for this one since they had too go aggainst islamic bullshit
Posted by: sinse || 12/17/2007 16:34 Comments || Top||


Britain
Gurkhas being sacked to deprive them of their full pension
Outrageous. But what else do you expect from a Labour government?
The British government is facing legal action over alleged plans to cut the pensions of Gurkhas by sacking them three years before they are due to leave the army. The move, which means the Defence Ministry will avoid having to pay an ordinary Gurkha soldier more than 200,000 pounds, is to be challenged in the courts by the British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF).

The policy was introduced after the government was forced to increase the Gurkhas' pay and pensions to bring them on par with the rest of the army.

An official briefing document on the new pension scheme shows that 80 per cent to 85 per cent of Gurkhas will be discharged early, so missing the better payments, The Sunday Times reported on Sunday. They will lose out not only on the immediate pension they would get after 18 years service but also on a lump sum departure payment of the equivalent of three years' pension.

Gurkhas have been put on the new army pension scheme, which applies to all other soldiers, after years of campaigning by their supporters. The full pension will be worth around 6,500 pounds a year for a rifleman, the basic Gurkha rank - plus the one-off departure payment.
Posted by: john frum || 12/17/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Per capita income in Nepal is $1400 (about 600 pounds).

It's the decision to put them on UK pension scales that was nuts. Next step is they will phase out the Gurkha regiment(s) entirely.
Posted by: phil_b || 12/17/2007 0:25 Comments || Top||

#2  The Hindu and Buddist religion of the Gurkha is obviously not compatible with Englandislam. The Poms no longer deserve them! Bring them all to Fort Bragg. Room will be made for them there, along with a nice pension as well.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/17/2007 1:12 Comments || Top||

#3  It is sad to watch England and the rest of the British Isles commit suicide like this. There has to be more to it than just Leftism.

To sink so far so fast. I fear we're well down the same path.
Posted by: Andy Elmeath5872 || 12/17/2007 2:59 Comments || Top||

#4  So why should anyone be a member of the British Armed Forces after they exhibit this kind of behavior? This is as low as it gets.

And they'll have plenty of pi$$ed-off Gurkhas to worry about as a pleasant side-effect. Gurkhas with long memories and longer reaches under the right circumstances.

You're next . . . .
Posted by: gorb || 12/17/2007 3:05 Comments || Top||

#5  Just to put in even MORE perspective of how stupid this is, they just got a review done this year that allowed the Gurkhas to get the same pension amount as a British soldier, before they were getting approximately 130-180 British pounds before whereas an British infantryman would have gotten about 600 pounds a month.

The original decision to move them to the same pension plan as the rest of the Armed Forces was made around May/June from what i remember and its pure hypocrisy now they want to cut soldiers out before they can even receive their pensions.
Posted by: Valentine || 12/17/2007 3:39 Comments || Top||

#6  Did you know that in the American armed services there is a 18 year lock in rule made by law. If you reach 18 years you're tenured till retirement eligibility at 20 years. Our Congress passed that law because our own military bean counters did the same thing you see here. So the Army sets up the promotion boards for Lieutenant Colonel so that officers in the rank of major/04 get a second pass over and released from the service [fired] just before they reach that 18 year mark. Since by law, there is a limit on the number of officers on active duty, you can't just keep them around. However, the system doesn't also have to drag their service out till the last moment delaying the reentry into the civilian workforce to compete against others in his age group [late 30s] who have years of specific experience ahead of them.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/17/2007 6:37 Comments || Top||

#7  Per capita income in Nepal is $1400 (about 600 pounds).

It's the decision to put them on UK pension scales that was nuts. Next step is they will phase out the Gurkha regiment(s) entirely.


First. Why should be a Gurkha forced to retire to Nepal?? Why shouldn't he be tempted to remain in, UK?

Second: In any civilain job you arfe paid according to your productivity not according to how much people are paid in their country of origin.

Third: What's nuts is allowing all kinds of peole like Abu Hamza to suck on teh British tax payers and get serveral times more for doing nothing excapet call for the killing of British than a Gurkha for serving. Expel the Abu Hamzas and you will have enough money to hire the entire male population of the region where Gurkhas come from.
Posted by: JFM || 12/17/2007 8:31 Comments || Top||

#8  A Conservative government would have done exactly this same thing. The whole of the British government is run as a ponzi scheme.
Posted by: Excalibur || 12/17/2007 10:21 Comments || Top||

#9  This kind of thing happens a lot in corporate America. Old guys get the boot when there is a layoff to make way for college kids who don't earn as much money.

A lot of loyalty and experience is lost but that's just the cost of doing business when all the bean counters and executives can see is the next quarterly report.

It's kind of a shock that the British government would resort to the same kind of short sighted and dishonorable behavior.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/17/2007 14:28 Comments || Top||

#10  A kukri whistling past your ear will cure you of messing with the Gurkhas.

Ayo Gurkhali!
Posted by: mojo || 12/17/2007 14:36 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Morales divides Bolivia over new social contract
Leg cramps that started on the fifth day of her hunger strike were not enough to stop Beatriz Leigue de Parada's "hunger strike" against the constitutional changes planned by the left-wing government of Evo Morales.

The 40-year-old administrator and mother of four - like several hundred other strikers camped out in the main square of Santa Cruz, capital of Bolivia's biggest rebel department - is determined to stick with her protest.

The demonstrators are allowing themselves lots of liquids - as well as four almonds and a centimetre of chocolate per day - and will stop their strike when the governor of Santa Cruz, Ruben Costas, today an-nounces a new autonomy statute for the department. So it is hardly "the resistance until death" struggle promised by the banners above Tent 15, occupied by Ms Leigue and about a dozen other women protesters.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White || 12/17/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  He wasn't so bad in C.H.I.Ps, but every since then he's gone down hill.
Posted by: Mike N. || 12/17/2007 0:12 Comments || Top||

#2  He needs his caucasion partner, John to help.

Too funny Mike.
Posted by: newc || 12/17/2007 0:28 Comments || Top||

#3  Pic is of the wrong guy, cretins. That's the guy who built my retaining wall.

Posted by: Nancy Pelosi || 12/17/2007 0:43 Comments || Top||

#4  Isn't socialism and communism grand?
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/17/2007 6:55 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
China's economic muscle 'shrinks'
via BBC
China's economy, the world's second largest, is not as big as was thought, a report by the World Bank has claimed. According to the bank, previous calculations have overestimated the size of China's economy by about 40%.

The revelation came after the bank updated the way it calculated the country's gross domestic product (GDP). The bank said the findings meant China would not become the world's biggest economy in 2012 as forecast. It also meant China was poorer than estimated. This in turn would influence future aid and investment plans, the World Bank said.

China gains extra aid from international institutions and has asked for help in climate change talks because of its status as a developing country.

Based on the World Bank's new research, China's economy is now worth some $5.33 trillion (£2.64trillion). Despite the drop in size, the economy was still the world's second largest, the bank said. The US, at $12 trillion, is the world's largest economy.

The method used for the calculations is called "purchasing power parity", and corrects for differences in prices, which are lower in China than in Western countries, for the same goods. However, the figures show that average incomes in China are still just 10% of those in the US. China averages $4,091 per person, while average income in the US is $41,000.

Based on current exchange rates, China's economy is only half as big, at $2.24 trillion.

In previous years, economists have tried to adjust their figures to take into account local prices in developing nations because they were often significantly lower than those in more industrialised countries. However, the bank said that many of the prices which were being used were out of date and gave distorted GDP figures. This time it has used updated prices to create more accurate figures.
Brilliant. Didn't think of this before, did you.
In its report, the World Bank found that five nations - the US, China, Japan, Germany and India - accounted for nearly half of the world's total GDP. But they were not amongst the five most expensive places to live, with that honour going to Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and Ireland.

In Africa, the main drivers of growth were South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco and Sudan, which accounted for almost two-thirds of the continent's output.
Posted by: Helmuth, Speaking for Cromong3228 || 12/17/2007 17:19 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "n Africa, the main drivers of growth were South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco and Sudan, which accounted for almost two-thirds of the continent's output"

Clueless. Growth is not same as size.
Posted by: Pholugum Stalin1270 || 12/17/2007 20:51 Comments || Top||

#2  Exactly - being the largest economy on a continent does not necessarily mean that you are the growth engine. Particularly when Nigeria and Sudan are listed as "growth" states.
Posted by: Shieldwolf || 12/17/2007 21:37 Comments || Top||


Europe
Serbia sees Russia, China backing more Kosovo talks
BELGRADE, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Serbia's President expects Russia, China and some other U.N. Security Council members to back further talks on the status of Kosovo, though the West says all avenues of possible compromise have been exhausted. "I expect several initiatives, and one of them is the resumption of talks ... I expect other countries to support that initiative, especially Russia and China," Boris Tadic told a conference of senior Serbian diplomats on Sunday.

With no compromise in sight after months of talks, the West says independence for the 90 percent Albanian majority is the only viable solution. Serbia refuses to cede one inch of its sovereign territory but offers full autonomy for Kosovo. The issue is due for debate in the Security Council on Dec 19, in closed session, after the failure earlier this month of a second major round of internationally-mediated negotiations.

Tadic said Serbia has proved its democratic credentials, flexibility and fairness by offering models of substantial autonomy to Kosovo's 90 percent Albanians majority, but they insist on independence because they have Western support. "As long as I am President of Serbia, I will never accept the independence of Kosovo because I am totally convinced such a solution puts into question the development and the future of the Balkan region," Beta news agency quoted Tadic as saying.

Tadic, who heads a pro-Western party, is running for re-election in a presidential ballot due on Jan. 20. His main challenge will come from the camp of hardline nationalists, which includes the party of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.

Kosovo Albanian leaders say there is no point in talking further with Serbia and are ready to declare independence in the coming weeks, assured of U.S. and European union backing.

Foreign Ninister Vuk Jeremic told the conference that "an imposed solution" for Kosovo -- meaning a unilateral declaration of independence backed by Western powers -- could roll back democratic progress made by Serbia since the late autocrat Slobodan Milosevic was toppled in 2000. "Democratic values which our citizens embraced in the 2000 elections ... would be irrevocably de-legitimised if the independence of Kosovo were imposed," Jeremic said.

He said negotiations on Kosovo were totally undermined by Western statements indicating that the province would gain independence if there was no compromise by Dec. 10. "We must work together to find a way to change the frame of mind in Pristina, which says 'what's mine is mine, what's yours can be the subject of negotiations,'" he said.

But Serbia would take no steps to isolate the country. "The last thing our citizens expect is for us to take a path similar to the deadly one taken by Slobodan Milosevic's regime, the regime which brought our country and the Serbian people nothing but shame," Jeremic said.
Posted by: Steve White || 12/17/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I wouldn't be surprised if the Admiral Kuznetsov group pays a visit to the Adriatic during their deployment.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 12/17/2007 16:12 Comments || Top||

#2  Muslims don't want Christian or Jewish zones in the Middle East. I neither want Muslims in Europe, nor do I recognize Muslim privileges in lands they occupied in the Levant. Boot them out and make Jerusalem a Free World tourist destination, and a Muslim free zone.
Posted by: McZoid || 12/17/2007 19:02 Comments || Top||

#3  What's wrong with Jerusalem belonging to Israel, McZoid? It already is a world tourist destination, free to all who come without malice aforethought.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/17/2007 19:55 Comments || Top||

#4  free to all who come without malice aforethought.

What a strange idea - that you can visit places without exploding. I kinda like it!
Posted by: SteveS || 12/17/2007 21:40 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Hillary: "You can look inside my mouth if you want"
*ACK* Is that one of the weirdest things you've ever heard a candidate say?? Besides "Yeeearrrggghhh!"
Posted by: Frank G || 12/17/2007 09:23 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Um... yuck.

I can only imagine what has been in there, considering the utter bullshit that comes out of it.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/17/2007 9:35 Comments || Top||

#2  Guess she sees herself as the "gift horse..." Gift horseshit is more like it.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/17/2007 10:01 Comments || Top||

#3  Go ahead and look. And I'll bet you won't find rocks of crack in there like you might if you looked in another certain Democratic candidate's mouth. But I'm not mentioning any names. I have people for that...
Posted by: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton || 12/17/2007 10:01 Comments || Top||

#4  Why, we already know your age, checking teeth is for horses. (Oh wait.)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 12/17/2007 11:05 Comments || Top||

#5  Razor blades and broken glass... Ouch!
Posted by: TomAnon || 12/17/2007 11:37 Comments || Top||

#6  Not sure what was there before, but now I see a foot.
Posted by: twobyfour || 12/17/2007 12:32 Comments || Top||

#7  Retractable fangs?(AKA Rattlesnake?)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 12/17/2007 13:43 Comments || Top||

#8  My tongue.
Posted by: Huma Abedin || 12/17/2007 13:54 Comments || Top||

#9  Ewwwwwwwwww...snatch breath!
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/17/2007 14:22 Comments || Top||

#10  And I thought "read my lips" was kind of wacky.
Posted by: www || 12/17/2007 17:12 Comments || Top||

#11  Best snide retort so far:

"Why bother? Nobody expects to find any of Bill's DNA in there, anyway.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 12/17/2007 22:47 Comments || Top||

#12  Uhhhh, no thanks
Posted by: DMFD || 12/17/2007 22:59 Comments || Top||

#13  kinda figured there'd be at least one Mr. Ed graphic....
Posted by: Frank G || 12/17/2007 23:11 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Zardari to return to lead PPP campaign
Former premier Benazir Bhutto’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, is returning to Pakistan to lead the PPP’s campaign in Punjab, Daily Times has learnt. “Yes, Zardari is coming to Pakistan soon, most probably next week. He will be leading the party’s campaign in Punjab. However, the date for his return has not been finalised,” said a senior party leader. He said that since Benazir was facing security problems in running her election campaign, the party has assigned Zardari to lead all party rallies. “He will be leading rallies, while Bhutto will be addressing public gatherings,” the party leader added. Zardari would also contest NA elections from NA-213, Nawabshah, in the by-elections.
Posted by: Fred || 12/17/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan



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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2007-12-17
  Paks form team to rearrest Rashid Rauf
Sun 2007-12-16
  Kabul cop shoppe boomed, 5 dead
Sat 2007-12-15
  Mehsud to head Taliban Movement of Pakistan
Fri 2007-12-14
  Khamenei appoints Qassem as Hezbollah military commander
Thu 2007-12-13
  Leb car boom murders top general
Wed 2007-12-12
  Qaeda in North Africa claims Algiers blasts
Tue 2007-12-11
  Taliban abandons Musa Qala
Mon 2007-12-10
  al-Abssi is in Syria and Fatah al-Isalm is in Gaza
Sun 2007-12-09
  Fierce battle rages for Taliban stronghold
Sat 2007-12-08
  Berri postpones Lebanon presidential election to Tuesday
Fri 2007-12-07
  Pak troops capture Mullah Fazlullah's base
Thu 2007-12-06
  Suicide attack on army bus in Kabul kills 16
Wed 2007-12-05
  Somali leader taken to hospital
Tue 2007-12-04
  Abu Maysara Positively Deader Than a Rock
Mon 2007-12-03
  40 Taliban killed, 14 held in Afghanistan

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