Afghan police lifted a brief siege of the house of former ethnic Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum in Kabul on Sunday after he and a group of around 50 armed men beat up a former ally, a police chief said.
Dostum beat up his former election manager Akbar Bay late on Saturday, said Kabul police chief Salem Hasaas. One of Bays bodyguards was shot and Dostum and his men fled to the warlords house, Hasaas said. Bay was taken to hospital. Dozens of police armed with assault rifles and machine guns mounted on pick-up trucks surrounded Dostums house in a relatively upmarket part of Kabul and other officers took up positions on the roofs of neighbouring houses. One shot was fired, but it was unclear where it came from.
Shortly afterwards, police began to withdraw. We have received orders to hand the case over to the judiciary for investigation, said the head of the Kabul police criminal investigations Ali Shah Paktiawal. The burly Dostum rose to command ethnic Uzbek fighters allied to the Soviet Union during the 1979-89 occupation, then switched sides as Soviet troops withdrew. He then formed and broke alliances several times during the civil war, meanwhile running much of northern Afghanistan as his personal fiefdom. Police officers outside Dostums house said the former warlord briefly appeared on the roof of his residence and abused them before his guards pulled him indoors. A spokesman for Dostum said there was no truth in the accusations against the former warlord and warned of unrest if police tried to arrest him. This is a plot against General Dostum, the government is trying to undermine him, said spokesman and member of parliament Mohammad Alem Sayeh. The government should know that if it tries to capture Dostum, then seven or eight provinces in the north will turn against the government.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Let Karzai retire and permit General Dostum handle things. The bullshi* with the Taliban will be over in a couple of weeks. An added bonus is his disdain for the Russians.
#2
Dostum has some little defects (quite corrupt) and a big advantage over Karzai: he couldn't care less about Islam. Also he is supposed to be an able military leader Problem is that he is an Uzbek and has about zero non-Uzbek supporters (he supported the Government left behind by the Russians) and these are only 5% of the population.
Too small power base. Now, Dostum and some more palatable figurehead...
(SomaliNet) The top U.S. diplomat for Africa met with the leader of the breakaway Somali republic on Sunday to discuss security in the war-wracked Horn of Africa region, the highest ranking U.S. delegation to visit Somaliland, Reuters reports. U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer told reporters Washington would "continue working with Somaliland authorities on stability and peace," shortly after meeting President Dahir Kahin Rayale.
Somaliland, in the northwestern corner of Somalia, broke away in 1991, when warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, and plunged the country into gun-fuelled anarchy. It argues it should be given sovereignty since it has held democratic elections and achieved stability that has eluded the rest of a country largely torn between rival warlords.
But no nation has yet recognised Somaliland's claim to self-rule for fear of setting a precedent for other regions in Africa who might want to unilaterally declare autonomy.
"We will continue to work with the leaders of the African Union to recognize the decision that they would make on Somaliland's recognition and independence," Frazer told reporters.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Appears Bolton feels she buggered it up at the start:
On his new book "Surrender Is Not an Option" (p. 347), John Bolton, former US ambassador to UN, writes: "For reasons I never understood, Frazer reversed course, and asked in early February to reopen the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission decision, which she had concluded was wrong, and award a major piece of disputed territory to Ethiopia. I was at a loss how to explain that to the Security Council, so I didn't." Later he wrote: "Ethiopia had agreed on a mechanism to resolve the border dispute in 2000 and was now welching on the deal."[4]
On January 7, 2007, Frazer met with Somali political leaders in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss United States support for the interim Somali government.[5] Later that day she cancelled a planned trip to Mogadishu, Somalia, due to the media revealing the details of her itinerary and riots in the city the day before over a faulty disarmament plan. [6]The U.S. envoy, the highest ranking in 14 years, made a surprise visit to Somalia on April 7, 2007. She visited Ali Mohammed Ghedi and Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed to help with the national reconciliation of Somalia.[7] She is often seen as a peace advocate among Africans. Particularly, she is famous for condemning armed movements in Africa and in favor of peaceful opposition movements to bring democratic and social changes around the continent.
On January 4, 2008, Frazer was sent by President George W. Bush to Kenya to help seek a resolution of that country's political dispute following the December 2007 presidential election, and she met with President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.[8]
"W" appointee:
Jendayi E. Frazer is a graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science and African and African-American Studies, M.A. degrees in International Policy Studies and International Development Education, and a Ph.D. in Political Science. Dr. Frazer was a visiting fellow at the Center for International Security and Arms Control at Stanford University; a research associate at the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya; a member of the faculty of the Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver; and editor of the journal Africa Today. Nothing found on where she came from.
CAIRO - Damage to undersea Internet cables in the Mediterranean that hit business across the Middle East and South Asia was not caused by ships, Egypts communications ministry said on Sunday, ruling out earlier reports. The transport ministry added that footage recorded by onshore video cameras of the location of the cables showed no maritime traffic in the area when the cables were damaged.
"Welcome back to the Dallas, gentlemen."
"Thank you, sir."
"Job done?"
"Job done, sir."
The ministrys maritime transport committee reviewed footage covering the period of 12 hours before and 12 hours after the cables were cut and no ships sailed the area, a statement said. The area is also marked on maps as a no-go zone and it is therefore ruled out that the damage to the cables was caused by ships, the statement added.
Two cables were damaged earlier this week in the Mediterranean sea and another off the coast of Dubai, causing widespread disruption to Internet and international telephone services in Egypt, Gulf Arab states and South Asia. A fourth cable linking Qatar to the United Arab Emirates was damaged on Sunday causing yet more disruptions, telecommunication provider Qtel said.
Earlier reports said that the damage had been caused by ships that had been diverted off their usual route because of bad weather.
Egypts communication and information technology ministry said it would report its findings to the owners of the two damaged Mediterranean cables, FLAG Telecom and SEA-ME-WE4. A repair ship was expected to begin work to fix the two Mediterranean cables on Tuesday.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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#2
More likely, the CIA, DIA and or the NSA attempting (with some success I might add) in quelling the low level communications net by Al Qaeda, between several Arab countries with the horn of Africa cells. The ultra secret 'All Seeing Eye' program scooping Echelon's compilations.
#3
In 1929 there was a large undersea 'landslide' off the Grand Banks which sent a turbidity current tearing down slope. At least 6 trans-Atlantic submarine cables were severed sequentially over a distance of 1000 km - a circumstance that for the first time revealed the size and speed of these turbidity flows.
These cable failures do not seem to have any such pattern, leading us back to suspecting amazing coincidence or intentioal act. While I suppose one might blame US espionage agents, I figure a lot of Islamic leaders might have motive to reduce contact of their people with the outside world to 'manageable' levels. We don't want their Islamists talking with agents here, but they don't want their non-Islamists talking with the Rantburgers here.
I was thinking it was an op of some kind (landslide or whatnot would have shown up on a seismograph). Concerned it was a way to cut communications to Israel as part of a strike or probe into internet survivability.
Posted by: Thomas Woof ||
02/04/2008 17:46 Comments ||
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#14
Under ocean turbidity currents are nothing to sneeze at. I'm working on my senior thesis atm, and my project involves a channel fill of what we suspect is a channel cut by a turbidity current. Early estimates put the channel at least 40-50 feet deep.
So yes, anything capable of digging trenches through 40-50 feet of underlying shale beds is enough to cut a man made cable.
However these cuts seem a tad too specific for a turbidity current. More likely someone is out there playing with a ROPV equipped with a cable cutter.
Okay, that gives me ideas I'm NOT going to put out on the net for other people to see. Let's just say that a little creative thinking can be dangerous. I sure hope the agencies tasked with our defense think this way.
#15
No reason for NSA or any other technologically advanced nation to cut the cables. They can tap them. We have submarines that are configured for that, and have tapped SOVIET cables without them knowing it. I doubt some non-military cables off Egypt would be an issue.
My gues is this is more Egyptian ass covering for incompetentcy on thier part. No US-centered conspiracy needed. Keep thatlunacy over at slashdot where you have lots of gullible young leftys that think they know teach but dont know jack.
#17
No reason for governments to do it no, but the technology is there for non-governments to do it. It's not cheap, but the sort of economic sabotage you can do to a country through things like this is growing easy enough that sufficiently determined people with grudges could manage it.
It's my hope that our guys are thinking of how to prevent this being done to us, not that we should be doing it to others.
After 9/11, there was an incident in NY with a backhoe that cut a major telecommunications line. It caused alot of 800 numbers to go out of service and managed to shut down 3 out of the 4 major credit card processors for nearly a day. It also took out their tech support numbers. The company I worked for at the time had set up a secondary system after Hurricane Andrew knocked them out so we were the only one still operating, though on the slower backup network.
#19
My gues is this is more Egyptian ass covering for incompetentcy on thier part.
Egypt doesn't like Iran, though. Perhaps they are just screwing with them a bit and letting their imaginations cause a reevaluation of their position in the world.
(SomaliNet) In the latest rebel threats, a leader of Niger's Tuareg rebels promised on Thursday an all-out offensive against the uranium industry - including attacks on foreign-run mines and mineral convoys. "We are going to attack the uranium mines, including those belonging to Areva, halt the operation of the plants or the opening up of new sites, and target the road shipments to the sea," Tuareg leader Rhissa Ag Boula told French newspaper Le Nouvel Observateur.
Meanwhile, the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ) over the last 12 months has attacked army convoys and bases, killing around 50 soldiers. This has forced Niger's government to impose a state of alert in the north of the Sahelian country, a major producer of uranium which is used to fuel nuclear reactors.
Last year MNJ fighters attacked a northern mine site operated by French nuclear group Areva and also briefly abducted a Chinese uranium executive.
Ag Boula criticised the Niger government for "handing out uranium concessions like buns" to companies from France, Canada, Australia, India, South Africa and China. China had obtained a major part of the new concessions and the Chinese "build mining cities, bringing their own workers with them". China was selling landmines, vehicles and tanks to the Niger government, Ag Boula said in the interview.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Send Joe Wilson to negotiate with the Tuaregs. Alone.
Congolese President, Denis Sassou Nguesso, arrived here late Sunday afternoon on a private visit. On hand to receive Ngueso at the Rabat-Sale Airport was Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, an official source disclosed to the PANA. The last private visit of President Nguesso to Morocco was in September 2007. Morocco and Congo maintain excellent cooperation and friendship relationship, es tablished since 1964. The first time the Moroccan leader visited Congo since his enthronement in 1999, was in February 2006.
Denis is president of the Brazzaville Congo, which was the French (i.e., non-Belgian) Congo in daze of old. I think this is the first thing that's actually happened there since 1981. And don't ask me what that was, because I've forgotten.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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A bid by Zimbabwe's opposition parties to present a united challenge to President Robert Mugabe in elections on March 29 has collapsed, leaders from two of the main factions said Sunday. "This thing is irretrievably broken," Arthur Mutambara told reporters after a series of meetings between his bloc of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and another led by former trade unionists ended in deadlock. "People of Zimbabwe, we apologise for failing to construct a united front," Mutambara said, saying that the chances of defeating Mugabe in elections scheduled for March 29 were now sharply "reduced."
"There is a disagreement," Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the other, larger MDC faction said at a separate news conference. "We can't force it (unity) down the people's throat. It's regrettable, it's unfortunate, but that's the reality."
Both factions would participate in next month's polls despite conditions Tsvangirai said favoured Mugabe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). "We are giving the people of Zimbabwe a fighting chance against the dictatorship," Tsvangirai said. "We aim to focus on Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF as the authors of the present national crisis.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
As we knew they would. Time to break out the pangas and knobkerries.
#4
An African and his wife were sitting in their hovel waiting to die, no water, no electricity, no food. Suddenly, the tap starts to spurt out water, the light bulb flickers and gives out light and a truck pulls up full of food. 'Quick, Susie,' says the old mdala to his wife, 'Pass me my machete, the Whites are back.'
Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real.
The survey found that 47 percent thought the 12th century English king Richard the Lionheart was a myth.
And 23 percent thought World War II prime minister Churchill was made up. The same percentage thought Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale did not actually exist.
Three percent thought Charles Dickens, one of Britain's most famous writers, is a work of fiction himself.
Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi and Battle of Waterloo victor the Duke of Wellington also appeared in the top 10 of people thought to be myths.
Meanwhile, 58 percent thought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Holmes actually existed; 33 percent thought the same of W. E. Johns' fictional pilot and adventurer Biggles.
Think about it. Our colleges and universities are teaching young adults that critiquing everything Jefferon did or wrote is a sign of enlightenment due to the fact that he owned slaves, but that critiquing MLK or Ghandi for anything they said or did is racism because their skin was not lily white.
Our public high schools are teaching students that Christianity was the number one purveyor of murder and oppression in the 20th century and barely, if at all, mentioning Stalin, Mao, etc. who were all atheists. Those same high schools are requiring Nickeled and Dimed, an anticapitalist screed written by an outspokenly socialist author, as summer reading but the same kids are never even exposed to The Federalist paper regarding the need for discrepancies in wealth in order to form a vibrant and decent society.
Given this environment, it becomes difficult for average and even above average people to sift through the agenda and know what is real from what is mythology.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
02/04/2008 10:02 Comments ||
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#2
I wonder how many are also self-proclaimed jedi or just pranksters. I don't think polls take into account that sort of thing but I know I've mislead a poll taker more than once.
#4
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the gesture Churchill's giving is NOT what is typically considered "V for Victory", is it? Or did he have special dispensation to use it that way?
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
02/04/2008 21:52 Comments ||
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#5
Thinking of this guy? Churchill gets to do it anyway he wants!
#7
rjschwarz, true, 't means "I have two dicks and will fuckya real bad".
[I just made it up, never heard of such a thing, you may confuse it with Italian "cornuto" (approx. transl. = "pwned your wife/GF"), ponting finger and little finger, the rest and the thumb folded in]
#1
Once again, it's the government's fault. They cannot "half-legalize" something with a market value. If they wanted to wipe out the black market, the wiser way would be use the market itself to eliminate them.
In this case, license a cannabis cigarette manufacturer or two, and arrange for them to get high quality product. Then flood the market with poor quality "crap" weed, that may look like the good stuff, but is both extra harsh and with a low THC content.
Smoking the commercial marijuana will be so much better that it will be the preferred product, and the black market will shrivel up. But therein lies the secret.
They then put the marijuana under tobacco and alcohol rules. No smoking in public places, restaurants, bars, etc. They also create a regime for employers to test for marijuana intoxication for many jobs.
Ironically, in the absence of alcohol, it has been noted that marijuana users are reasonably good drivers. So an education program to the effect of "If you drink, don't drive, or smoke marijuana", would also be in order.
And once the black market is dead, then start to slowly increase the taxes on legal marijuana cigarettes, and strictly prohibit the sale to minors, like tobacco.
Techniques like these do reduce consumption, yet do not maintain a black market.
#4
Others said the high number of collapsed transmission towers was a result of the fact that in southern China they are spaced far apart, largely as an economy measure.
Made in China.
If their power grid looks anything like the grid in Vietnam, what a mess.
Maybe someone out there knows more about it than me, but how much of this could be attributed a lake effect type of condition from 3 gorges, or is this just a bad storm?
#6
My made-in-China Cuisinart coffee pot just died midbrew. Since it is only a year old, if I ship it somewhere (China?), they will send me a new one. I get to pay for shipping. Both ways. And it only takes two weeks. Bah. Grrrr. Let them freeze, I say!
#10
Doesn't surprise me one bit that the infrastructure is falling apart. The central government could have the best of intentions, set aside enough money to do a top-quality job, and the whole thing would get winnowed down to the cheapest possible job by the provincial officials and their guanxi buddies in the State Grid.
With two days to go before Super Tuesdays multistate nominating contests, candidates for both parties campaigned furiously on Sunday, trying to seize voters support in the hours before the countrys attention shifts to the Super Bowl.
Weekend polls showed Senator John McCain heading into Tuesdays Republican contests with a clear lead over his chief rival, Mitt Romney. On the Democratic side, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was slightly ahead of Senator Barack Obama, although poll numbers were close to a draw.
The challengers in both parties came out swinging on Sunday. At a campaign stop in Wilmington, Del., Mr. Obama criticized both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. McCain and tried to link his opponents to the policies of the Bush administration, particularly the war in Iraq, which Mrs. Clinton initially supported. I can offer and clean break from the failed policies of George W. Bush, Mr. Obama said. I wont have to explain my votes in the past.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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I wont have to explain my votes in the past.
#4
I am a black person and find that hard to beleive. I am not voting for Senator Obama. He is not ready to be president. Anyone who votes for him is fooling themselves. I have watch all of the debates and he truly lacks substance. Alson, he is not the uniter that he claims to be and I hope the American people see this for themseleves.
#5
I really find this hard to believe? Senator Clinton has my vote; and I am a black person. He does not need me since only black people are voting for him. People, Senator Obama is pretending, he is not the uniter that he is trying to portray.
#6
Here's "WTF" Jineng whoever....If Obama gets in the way of these scoundrels, he's likely to meet the fate of dozens of others who have run afoul of them. I wouldn't put anything past the Clintons, nothing at all.
#7
Jacqueline, perhaps you are correct, however, Senator McCain could be the worst choice of all, and he is ahead in his party. Apparently, the right person with proven cridentials to be president of the US cannot break through the media's hold on public opinion.
Hillary Clinton is a socialist. If that's what you want, Jacqueline, then she's your girl.
Go Obama, go Romney. At least the bitter, vindictive people should lose first.
#9
Up 'til now, my prediction has been that Obama might outperform Hillary in the primaries, but Hilolary would win by dominating among the unelected "superdelegates" (office holders, party hacks, and such who get to go to the convention automatically) because the Clintons play a better game of inside baseball. With the Kennedys going for Obama, I'm not so sure anymore. I don't quite agree with Peggy Noonan (last Friday's column) that Ted is "courageous" or "patriotic" or capable of thinking of anything other than his own narrow self interest. However, unless the party insiders are all going to turn on the Clintons, backing Obama is a risky move--and a little out of character.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/04/2008 8:56 Comments ||
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#10
I'm coming to the conclusion that this is nothing more than Kabuki Theatre.
Posted by: Graviling Dark Lord of the Welsh1001 ||
02/04/2008 10:16 Comments ||
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#11
Article from yesterday cc Comrade Clinton.
Obama hows now advertised twice during football games - very low brow and insulting. hilarity's dangerous rhetoric or b.o.'s empty soothsaying. Makes my choice easier minus the senior mcclaim factor.
#13
LOTP, I thought the same thing when I saw that commercial run. Everyone looked at me like I was nuts... I'll be curious to see if it becomes and issue and/or what Fox's explanation is.
#14
It was a regional ad buy in Super-de-Duper Tuesday states, not from Fox but from particular TV stations. People in other states saw something else--in the Cleveland media market, we got ads for the University of Akron, but not Obama.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/04/2008 11:37 Comments ||
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#15
Still a cheeky move by slim shady. Still in the era of Change and New Politics clintoon did promise not to campaign in Florida and did so anyways. If ya got holes in your pockets change does you no good.
#16
It all reminds me of the bad, old days with JFK and LBJ. ABC News even had a piece on it last week...all about the various surviving Kennedys making their endorsements and speculating that Obama and Clinton would end up on the same ticket one way or the other. When they showed an old picture of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson campaigning together I thought I was gonna throw up. There was the handsome, young, charismatic leader with his treacherous old sidekick and the fate that awaited them. I really don't want to go through all that again but I don't want to vote for McCain either. I'm afraid we're in for some rough sledding.
#17
this is nothing more than Kabuki Theatre
Final act: "experienced" Hillary for pres, "young idealist about to receive on the job training for the top slot" Obambi for vp. w/curtain call for McCain (Bob Dole v.08)as the hapless opponent.
Posted by: regular joe ||
02/04/2008 15:51 Comments ||
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#18
Yu makes me sad Regular J. But i fear your are right.
Posted by: Thomas Woof ||
02/04/2008 17:49 Comments ||
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Maria Shriver, wife of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and daughter of Eunice Kennedy, endorsed Senator Obama Sunday night in Los Angeles. Her husband, a Republican, endorsed Senator John McCain last week. It was the latest development in the battles of the Kennedys in the presidential race. She appeared as a surprise guest at a rally in Los Angeles for Mr. Obama with Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
This is another desperate attempt to try and win votes. So many endorsement are being thrown Senator Obama's way that it just do not seem believeable. It seems as thought he is receiving endorsement on sympathy instead of a candidate that you believe in. I am a black person and I have watched all of the debates that Senator Obama has participated in; and he is not ready for the job. I will be voting for Senator Clinton.
#5
Watched bits of news this weekend concerning democratic candidates. Some made a sensation about Bill Clinton courting Blacks; others rallied around speeches given in California about Obama; his wife, Oprah and Kennedys. I loved and respected John F. and Bobby Kennedy, and it broke my heart when they and John Jr. died so tragically. But, I just don't get why these news reports belittle Clinton for his appearances at black gatherings, and why they made a big deal about a split in the California Governor's home. There's been a political split there for years, duh! Oprah has been friends with the Kennedy family for years, especially with Maria during college days, and there's no big mention when Obama courts the Latino and White voters. Can't your just get real. I guess the only place to get real facts instead of gossip stuff is on BBC World news and PBS world news. By the way . How about those NY Giants!!!!! Best Super Bowl in years!!!
#6
But hilarity has the coveted Tyra Banks interview.
Just as I don't trust anyone who advertises during a football game (low road pandering and completely out of place on line with advertising before a movie), talking with a fake accent -> acting -> cannot be completely trustworthy either.
I feel this has more to do with california politics than 'helping' any presidential campaign.
#7
Folks, Jaqueline is a new reader. She's entitled to her opinion. I disagree with her but I'm not going to be rude about it.
Let's keep it civil between commenters, 'k?
AoS
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/04/2008 14:12 Comments ||
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#8
Welcome Jacqueline - forgot our manners. Lit'l background on me, registered Independant and am still scratching my head to see who gets the coveted kansas delegates ; )
Wife was voting for Senator Clinton up until in massachussetes. She was/is looking at Senator Obama but does not believe he is up to the job. I was out with Thomspon, so at this particular plot of prarie we have both feet firmly planted in the air.
#9
Welcome Jacqueline, I'm the registered knuckle-dragging jarhead who is (for label sake) prolly in the libertarian wing of the GOP. The wife & I were pulling for Thompson but now looks like we'll back Romney. If McCain gets the nod I am not sure if I will vote for him or stay home based on recent news about how he conducted himself hist last couple yrs in the mil.
#10
I think the endoresments are more of a response to the fact that the Clinton's are far more centrist than most Democrats would like to think and they want a lefty candidate (who are generally unelectable when they mention their actual politics) but nobody had a chance to break the Clinton's grip on the party machine until Obama came around. Obama has the perfect set of credentials to defeat the Clinton's, as an African American he trumps Hillary in the identify politcs game, he has no record to hold against him, and he doesn't try to defend himself allowing them to rage and look mean spirited in comparison. His talk of hope has so far allowed most people to avoid the fact that his record is remarkably thin.
If there is a terrorist attack I don't think the thin resumes have a chance. If not, the fact that we've had no successful attacks in the US in years will work in the Democrats favor, a pseudo-end of history.
NEW DELHI: Last weeks underwater cable damage in the Mediterranean sea connecting India, its neighbours and some Gulf countries with Europe and the U.S. had no major impact on the Indian information technology and IT-enabled services industry, according to a survey conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Despite the flutter among internet users in different parts of the world due to the damaged undersea cables, the countrys IT and ITES industry was running as usual. Work in a majority of the IT and ITES firms, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the industry, was not affected. For the rest, there are varying degrees of disruption and they have put in place contingency plans to deal with the existing situation, the survey reveals.
It says there was no substantial loss as the firms were using robust technology and had put in place a redundancy plan that allowed them to pick up extra bandwidth from multiple services providers. While multiple routes of connection and tie-ups with alternate services providers saved the day for several companies, a few cases of severe work restriction were reported. Most high technology-oriented companies felt no impact of the disruption, while medium and small-sized companies with a single source of bandwidth supplier were adversely affected. There were companies who have adopted flexible work schedules for their employees and they faced no problem while operating from office, but people working from home faced difficulties due to the slowdown in the home internet connection, it adds.
However, companies are now planning to invest in multi-layered redundancy structures so that in case of any adverse development in the future, the functioning of their processes is not affected.
Posted by: john frum ||
02/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Preparing for war?
Providing an excuse to beef up, and replace old cables with new ones, and more of them?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/04/2008 13:49 Comments ||
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#1
NEW YORK - The figure in the photograph is clad in Army fatigues, boots and helmet, lying on his back in peaceful repose, folded hands holding a military cap. Except for a thin trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, he could be asleep.
But he is not asleep; he is dead. And this is not just another fallen GI; it is Ernie Pyle, the most celebrated war correspondent of World War II.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Afghan police lifted a brief siege of the house of former ethnic Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum in Kabul on Sunday after he and a group of around 50 armed men beat up a former ally, a police chief said. 
Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real. 
With two days to go before Super Tuesdays multistate nominating contests, candidates for both parties campaigned furiously on Sunday, trying to seize voters support in the hours before the countrys attention shifts to the Super Bowl.
