The chief mediator in Kenyas crisis talks, Kofi Annan, urged Kenyans to be patient on Saturday as a deal to end weeks of violence was expected to be finalised in the coming days. In negotiations, a deal is not a deal until it is done, the former UN chief cautioned in a statement. While the talks are making progress, they have not come to a definite conclusion.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/10/2008 00:00 ||
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An Egyptian court ruled on Saturday that the state had to recognise the right of Christians, who converted to Islam, changed their minds and wanted to revert to Christianity, court sources said.
Until now, Egyptian courts have upheld a traditional reading of Islamic law in such cases, prohibiting the conversion from Islam to any other faith, regardless of the converts original religion. While Egyptian law is largely secular and modelled on the French legal system, personal status issues such as conversion, marriage and divorce are governed by the religious laws of the relevant community. Egypt is primarily Muslim, but has a substantial Coptic Christian community as well.
Saturdays ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court said 12 people who had converted to Islam from Christianity and then back again could have their reversion to their original faith stated on their government identity papers. Authorities had allowed the 12 to change their religious status on their identity documents when they converted to Islam, but had so far refused to allow them to change it back.
This opens the door of hope to hundreds of Copts who converted ... and were then unable to return, said Mamdouh Nakhla, a human rights lawyer. Nakhla said there were around 450 similar cases currently in litigation, and that estimates of the number of people who wished to revert to Christianity from Islam ranged to up to several thousand.
The court ruling, which cannot be appealed, overturned a lower court decision in April, which said the state had no obligation to recognise a convert to Islams decision to revert back to his original faith because it violated Islams ban on apostasy. The higher courts decision now obliges Egypts Interior Ministry to issue the plaintiffs with birth certificates and identity papers identifying them as Christians. But the paperwork will note their previous conversion to Islam a caveat one human rights activist said was an invitation to discrimination.
And other actions ...
This may solve some procedural issues, but ... will open the door to discrimination against those citizens by extremist officers or civil servants when they see in the entry that they left Islam, said Gamal Eid, head of the Arabic Network for Human Rights.
The Quran does not explicitly prescribe a penalty for apostasy, but considers it one of the gravest sins. However, traditions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and some of his companions call for the death penalty in some cases of apostasy.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/10/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Fatawa against Egyptian Courts (Headline tomorrow)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/10/2008 0:56 Comments ||
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#2
...the paperwork will note their previous conversion to Islam ...(which) will open the door to discrimination against those citizens by extremist officers or civil servants when they see in the entry that they left Islam... No sh*t. Ya think? Just wondering... why is it necessary for the ID papers to show any religion at all--past, present, or future?
#3
This is a small ray of hope but the issue is not quite settled. I get the impression that the decision is pretty narrow applying to those twelve individuals and doesn't automatically apply to all Copt to Islam to Copt situations.
Also, it doesn't touch the 'born muslim to Copt' situation at all (there is a case in the same court now on this).
Finally, it is possible that the Egyptian legislature could prevent future copt to muslim to copt actions.
RIYADH- Saudi preachers on Saturday conducted prayers for rain in their desert kingdom and blamed the empty skies on sinfulness, the official Spa news agency reported.
Misfortune does not befall (a country) unless sins have been committed there, said the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Sheikh Abderrahman bin Abdel Aziz al-Sudeiss.
Maybe it's because you've been mean to the Jooooz ...
The sheikh, a critic of what he calls the goodly number of people who chase after forbidden pleasures, singled out as particularly responsible for the lack of rain corruption, bribery and the search for ill-gotten gain.
All those loose wimmins have kept us in heat!"
In the capital, Riyadh, prayers were conducted by the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdelaziz al-Sheikh, who heads the highest religious authority in the kingdom. He also exhorted the faithful to avoid the forbidden and the illicit, before calling on God to shower the country with beneficial rains, for the good of the land and of men.
In a ritual practised since the time of the Prophet Mohammed (PTUI), the prayers for rain consist of a procession in which the faithful seek the generosity of heaven.
Saudi Arabia is one of the most arid countries in the world and must routinely resort to desalination plants to provide enough drinking water.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/10/2008 00:00 ||
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#2
The "Dowsing Stick" is used to find ground water, not airborne water.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/10/2008 0:58 Comments ||
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#3
corruption, bribery and the search for ill-gotten gain.
Hmmm. I think the imam might be on the right track, but blames the wrong things. When they were an insular country, allah blessed them with oil. Not that their chief export is unbridled violence, it's payback time.
#6
per wunderground the 5 day forecast for Riyadh for the period beginning today is for dry weather - not even any clouds. The 5 day forecast for Mecca is similar (one day with clouds - 4 without).
British Olympic chiefs are to force athletes to sign a contract promising not to speak out about China's appalling human rights record or face being banned from travelling to Beijing. The move which raises the spectre of the order given to the England football team to give a Nazi salute in Berlin in 1938 immediately provoked a storm of protest.
The controversial clause has been inserted into athletes' contracts for the first time and forbids them from making any political comment about countries staging the Olympic Games. It is contained in a 32-page document that will be presented to all those who reach the qualifying standard and are chosen for the team.
From the moment they sign up, the competitors likely to include the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips and world record holder Paula Radcliffe will be effectively gagged from commenting on China's politics, human rights abuses or illegal occupation of Tibet.
Not that too many of them would say anything anyways. They're going to the Olympics to compete. D'ya think they're actors or something?
Prince Charles has already let it be known that he will not be going to China, even if he is invited by Games organisers. His views on the Communist dictatorship are well known, after this newspaper revealed how he described China's leaders as appalling old waxworks in a journal written after he attended the handover of Hong Kong. The Prince is also a long-time supporter of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan leader.
Yesterday the British Olympic Association (BOA) confirmed to The Mail on Sunday that any athlete who refuses to sign the agreements will not be allowed to travel to Beijing. Should a competitor agree to the clause but then speak their mind about China, they will be put on the next plane home.
The clause, in section 4 of the contract, simply states: [Athletes] are not to comment on any politically sensitive issues. It then refers competitors to Section 51 of the International Olympic Committee charter, which provides for no kind of demonstration, or political, religious or racial propaganda in the Olympic sites, venues or other areas.
The BOA took the decision even though other countries including the United States, Canada, Finland, and Australia have pledged that their athletes would be free to speak about any issue concerning China. To date, only New Zealand and Belgium have banned their athletes from giving political opinions while competing at the Games.
Simon Clegg, the BOA's chief executive, said: There are all sorts of organisations who would like athletes to use the Olympic Games as a vehicle to publicise their causes. ... As a team we are ambassadors of the country and we have to conform to an appropriate code of conduct.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/10/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Well, hell - the British "elites" have rolled over for everybody else - why not the Chinese?
"As a team we are ambassadors of the country and we have to conform to an appropriate code of conduct."
Which in your case seems to be kissing the butts of every terrorist and dictator you can find.
That whirring sound you hear is Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher spinning in their graves. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 0:39 Comments ||
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#2
On the other hand, Avery Brundage is applauding from his coffin.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
02/10/2008 1:37 Comments ||
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#3
#1. Best I can determine is that the "Iron Lady" is 82 and still breathing.
#5
I'm glad to hear it, #2 GK. For some reason I thought she had died.
Though considering what's been going on in England the last decade or so, undoubtedly she's getting some pre-grave practice.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 2:05 Comments ||
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#6
I'm split on this. For one, the Olympics should be about sport, not about advocating whatever fashionable political cause of the moment the empty-headed athletes support. On the other, this is typical Multicultural kowtowing to other cultures with repugnant practices.
If only there were some middle ground, like "athletes should have enough class to keep competition and politics seperate," but I know I'm in an unpopular position there.
One of my favorite quotes is from an interview Jim MacKay did with Jesse Owens for Wide World of Sports in 1966 from the Berlin Olympic Stadium. MacKay asked Owens what thoughts he had about Hitler and all that had happened in that Olympics 30 years earlier.
Owens surveyed the stadium and the track and simply replied, "I'm here. He's not. That's good enough for me."
#8
So if someone went to the Olympics and kept silent and then after the games went on a world tour to talk about what a nightmare it is, would the Olympics committee take the medals back? would the Athletes and the world will consider that person the winner because they won fair and square despite legalities? Would some corporation create a replacement medal for them, perhaps with a political statement on teh backside.
This has all the markings of a public relations nightmare for the Chinese. Pass the popcorn.
Venezuela's top oil official accused Exxon Mobil Corp. of "judicial terrorism" on Friday, but said court orders won by the oil major do not amount to confiscation of US$12 billion.
Exxon Mobil has gone after the assets of Venezuela's state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, in US, British and Dutch courts as it challenges the nationalization of a multibillion dollar oil project by President Hugo Chavez's government. A British court last month issued an injunction "freezing" as much as US$12 billion (8.3 billion) in assets.
But Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said: "They don't have any asset frozen. They only have frozen US$300 million" in cash through a U.S. court in New York. As for the case in Britain, PDVSA does not have "any assets in that jurisdiction that even come close to those sums" of US$12 billion , Ramirez said.
Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Margaret Ross said the company had no comment on Ramirez's statements.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/10/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
"Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Margaret Ross said the company had no comment on Ramirez's statements."
Unless you count the snickering by the lawyers in the background....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 0:34 Comments ||
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#2
Thevery's only supposed to work OUR WAY.
How DARE you.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/10/2008 0:52 Comments ||
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#3
Hugo just looks like a man who's about to come down with a severe case of Ceaucescuitis. A minor variant of that condition, popularly known as Allendeitis, is also a distinct possibility. Both are invariably fatal to Communists.
#5
The Exxon Mobil Corp. attorney. Incorporating the finest DNA from classic reconstructed Velociraptor, but with blue-ringed octopus venom. Similar in appearance to a cockatrice, though with a far greater maximum effective range.
#8
There's only so many refineries that can handle Venezuela's heavy crude. I'd bet they're in territories under British, American and Dutch jurisdiction, and that the oil or the payment can be seized, or at least tied up.
Oogo is going to have a hard tile refining. I look forward to him retaliating by cutting off exports and serving unrefined crude in the finest Caracas restaurants.
If you think the United States has problems with the constant price increase of new-generation programs like the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), take a look at the situation with the four-nation consortium Eurofighter program. Several news reports, including a January 26 story in the Washington, D.C. based Defense News, state that the bill for the Eurofighter is going to now cost some 10 billion ($15 billion) more than the most recent cost estimates had previously projected.
The main reason for the increase in the program's cost is that the ambitious plans for three production runs--referred to as Tranche 1, 2 and 3--may now have to be scaled back to the point where Tranche 3 will be cancelled all together. No official announcement has been made, but without the additional production of the third Tranche in order to help amortise the R&D costs of the aircraft, the costs for the first two batches must increase accordingly.
As far back as December 2006 the then-UK Defense Procurement Minister, Lord Drayson, said that he would sign no contract to build Tranche 3 airplanes until the program is reformed.
"The area which for 2007 is a big project for me to deliver is further changes in the Typhoon industrial structure," he told the parliamentary committee in testimony on the MoD's 2005 Defence Industrial Strategy. "Before we can go forward on a Tranche 3 decision--and we do not need to take that decision yet--I believe there needs to be a remodeling of the [Eurofighter] Typhoon structure."
But another real driver behind the woes of the airplane is the increasing conflict of interest between those Eurofighter consortium nations that are part of the F-35 program and those that are not. The UK and Italy are both heavily vested in the U.S. program and they now realize that they cannot afford to have the JSF as part of their air force and at the same time procure additional Eurofighters with the advanced systems originally called for in Tranche 3. But Eurofighter is the only new aircraft being procured by the other two partners, Germany and Spain, and they have to stay in to the end and fulfill all of their procurement plans in order to maintain their force levels and replace aging aircraft in their existing fleets.
This puts countries in both categories in a bad spot. The Eurofighter definitely needs all of the future growth capabilities listed above--particularly the AESA radar--in order to remain relevant in any future combat environment. This will come at considerable cost to those "Eurofighter only" nations. For those that are buying the Euro jet and the JSF as well, they are taking a gamble that the US program stays on schedule and that they can afford to stretch out retrofitting of the AESA and other technologies--technologies that the JSF will have on board from day one--sometime down the road.
At the end of the day both airplanes are primarily industrial base program in which the main underlying purpose is to preserve infrastructure and keep jobs from going offshore. The question is which industry is going to be the one that ultimately is "chosen" to survive in the long-term.
#1
"the main underlying purpose is to preserve infrastructure and keep jobs from going offshore"
Anybody ask the pilots about that?
Silly me - I thought the main purpose of any generation of jet fighters was to build a jet that, you know, can fight.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 0:43 Comments ||
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#2
the Eurofighter is going to now cost some 10 billion ($15 billion) more
Forgot to add graft, did you?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/10/2008 0:54 Comments ||
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#3
Well yes, but at the same time the Euros want to build at least some of their defense equipment, particularly the big ticket items, at home if they can. It does indeed preserve jobs, and just as importantly the industrial and knowledge base. We do it too, we're just a little more successful ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/10/2008 0:56 Comments ||
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#4
Europidgeon was doomed from the start. If they focused on developing avionics alone, they'd have made some bucks. Nothing the euros can produce will compete with the sheer volume of the 35. Nor will their bomb loads, stealth, TCO, range, etc.
#5
You need to keep building in sectors like aerospace or ship-building; once you stop it is catastrophically difficult to start again. The Japanese are still figuring out how to build large carriers despite having been excellent at the job at one time and not being short on finance or engineering.
BUT for Europeans to think Eurofighter is primarily about industry is correct for the wrong reasons: None of them ever plan to actually, you know, use these aircraft in combat. At most these are the equivalent of super-cars and their useless customers are always the same Arabs. The Swedes and the French are no different.
#7
I also suspect that the Eurofighter is a lemon, but that they refuse to admit it. For many of the same reasons, it is like the Airbus 380, designed by bureaucrats, not engineers. And until the 380 failed magnificently, they insisted that it was just as good as anything Boeing produced.
For example, while it was being created, the design called for an internal cannon in the fuselage. However, the plan was changed so that the cannon was omitted; yet the plane was balanced taking the cannon into account. So the final aircraft has to have a *dummy* cannon in it, just to equalize it.
#10
So the final aircraft has to have a *dummy* cannon in it, just to equalize it.
Not just a 'dummy' cannon, either - they found it was easiest to use the disarmed real cannon as the object's components had to weigh and be distributed just right. The estimated saving of using a disarmed cannon was something like £2m - the cost of the cannon/dummy cannon being £90m, IIRC. That's right.
I think a while ago they decided to reverse this decision. Genius!
#12
Barb, the pilots are nto worried in the least. They know they will not be sent to battle in these aircraft because their nations lack the guts to do so.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 16:59 Comments ||
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#14
It does what it is designed to do. It's an interceptor and dogfighter against non stealth aircraft. It's an aircraft that lost it's mission 18 years ago.
Posted by: ed ||
02/10/2008 17:41 Comments ||
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#15
The Eurofighter has been shown to only be par in certain aspects with the well-established, long running US F16 andor F18, and despire any new innovations to original specs.
Ironically, IIRC it was DEFENSETECH.org or DEFENSEDAILY a few months ago > the US F20 TIGERSHARK was reportedly being considered for revamp + upgrade as per ME + Asian customers lieu of the Eurofighter???
#16
I have heard from pilots that the Eurofighter is a hanger queen and a basic piece of shit. The Germans would prefer the Mig-29 over the Eurofighter.
Turkey's parliament on Saturday approved two constitutional amendments that would lift a decades-old ban on Islamic head scarves in universities, despite the fierce opposition of the secular establishment. Parliament voted 403-107 in favor of the amendment that would insert a paragraph into the Constitution stating that everyone has the right to equal treatment from state institutions. The lawmakers voted 403-108 to approve the second and final amendment that says "no one can be deprived of (his or her) right to higher education," Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/10/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
CNN > street demonstrators were arguing that said scarves were needed to distinquish between Muslims and non-Muslims.
White House hopeful Hillary Clinton said on Sunday she has replaced her campaign manager with a long-time aide as she fights a tight race with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Maggie Williams, a top aide to Clinton when her husband Bill Clinton was president, has taken over from Patti Solis Doyle as campaign manager.
Posted by: ed ||
02/10/2008 18:13 ||
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#1
Hillary lost Maine today which adds to the loss of 3 States yesterday.
Hillary is almost certain to lose both DC and Md and probably will lose VA also on Tues.
Looks like the end run around the 22nd amendment is running down to an ignominious end.
#3
The scene: Hillary victory headquarters right after she loses the nomination. Bill has just absconded with Hillary's beloved "assistant," Huma. Hillary becomes the firts known case of a human being undergoing spontaneous thermonuclear detonation.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
02/10/2008 19:39 Comments ||
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#5
Lest we fergit, worse to worse HILLARY can remain a Senator while still having 2012, presuming that Wahington isn't taken out vv US-IRAN CONFLICT AND AMERICAN HIROSHIMA.
#4
Nice analogy Frank. Although I admire the concepts of Ron Paul, and could vote for him if his status had put him in 1st or 2nd place, it's time now for Paul to return to his district from this fight and 'lick his wounds'! I'm dying to hear who he'll endorse in the race; for Obama would be a great 'last horrah', exiting stage left!!
Hillary Clinton's most senior advisers are in a state of "panic" about her presidential prospects and are plotting to enlist Democrat leaders in Congress to thwart her rival Barack Obama's ambitions.
The Clinton camp is braced for Mr Obama to win a series of primary elections over the next three weeks, which they fear could hand the Illinois senator unstoppable momentum in the race for the White House.
Mr Obama has begun calling those "super delegates" - 795 congressmen and senior party officials who could break a dead heat - who are committed to Mrs Clinton, asking them to change their minds and help him wrap up the nomination. As of tonight, the two candidates were neck and neck but Mr Obama appeared to be gaining momentum Well what do you know. Crap does roll downhill.
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/10/2008 9:55 Comments ||
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#2
The fun part is to shove this into the faces of those raving "Not elected, but selected" cretins we've put up with for nearly eight years. Not that is makes any difference for them because it was never about principle but about power. It is however, good therapy for us :)
Hard to sell a guilt card when the recipients are bustin' a gut laughing.
#5
Can you imagine Hillary in a fit of throbbing hemorrhoidal pique?
Stomping through hallways in a burning rage, a riding crop clenched in one hand as any helot moving too slowly gets a savage beating while being roundly cursed with an obscene tirade, her twittering fairy lickspittles fluttering about, trying helplessly to evade her fearsome wrath.
Meanwhile, Bill, several States away, immersed with a couple of zoftig plumpkins in a hot tub, thanks his lucky stars that a fast Lear jet will insure his remaining out of throwing range for the rest of the campaign.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 13:43 Comments ||
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#7
Serious question, folks.
Tuesday's the Virginia primary. Virginia is an open primary state; I can ask for either a DemocRat or a Repub ballot (but not both).
Since it seems that John McCain has the Repub nomination sewn up, it would probably be better for me to ask for a Dem ballot and vote for Obama - to screw up Billary's chances.
Thoughts?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 15:31 Comments ||
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#8
No surprises here. No one actually likes her, and she has never grasped that. Her support may be a mile wide, but it has never been more than an inch deep.
#9
vote for Hillary - we need these two clawing and scratching right into the convention - and we can beat her like a drum in the general election
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/10/2008 15:50 Comments ||
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#10
Obama might be harder for Juan McCain to beat in the general, being young and full of energy and not having a record to speak of. I was thinking of voting for She Who Must Not Be Named just for that reason.
Posted by: Steve ||
02/10/2008 15:53 Comments ||
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#11
apparently "in a state of pamnic" = "you're fired". Her Ineveitableness's campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, decided to spend more time with the familywas fired today, and will be replaced by the Beast's former Chief of Staff, Maggie "files? what files?" Williams
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/10/2008 16:14 Comments ||
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#12
First debate between Obama and McCain? McCain loses in landslide numbers. It's about TV and image.... Vote Hill --- at least then, McCain has a chance -- just MHO..
#14
"whoever you think would be the best candidate"
That would be Fred Thompson, mhw, but he's not on the demoncrat ballot. ;-p
Interesting idea, though.
Still thinking....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 19:29 Comments ||
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#15
I'm definitely voting for Hillary in the primary. Never thought I'd live to see the day, but it's my strategy and I'm going to convince as many as possible to follow. Obama scares me. Hillary, I think we can beat.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 20:38 Comments ||
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#17
Its only February 2008 - its NOT over for Hillary until Obama formally wins the Dem nomination or come Jan 2009.
IMO, this is about Clintonian "safe politics", i.e. the 1990s in 2008 and beyond. THE CLINTON-LED DEMS ORIGINALLY DESIRED A 1990's PERIOD OF GEOPOL QUIET, NOT UNCONTROLLABLE ESCALATIONS VV RADICAL ISLAMISM, NUCLEAR IRAN, + OWG-NWO. ETC. NOT SINCE FDR HAVE THE DEMS FACED VARI CURR ABD POTENTIAL HIGH ORDER NATIONAL-GLOBAL CRISES ON SUCH A SCALE, ESPEC WHERE PC + MASSIVE GOVT SPENDING = NATIONAL-GLOBAL HYPERGOVT MAY NOT RESOLVE THE NEW PROBS.
As per OSAMA and Years 2008-2020 as I'd posted, IS HILLARY TRULY A NEW GLOBAL THATCHER OR GLOBAL ELEANOR ROOSEVELT vv POST-DUBYA/2008 PROBS??? CAN SHE SERVE, LEAD, AND PROTECT THE BUDDING/NASCENT US-LED OWG-NWO, OR WILL SHE DESTROY SAME??? A US-IRAN conflict in 2008, + NORTH KOREA + TAIWAN, etc are not gonna disappear come Jan 2009.
LEADERSHIP + "GUMPTION", NOT "SAFE POLITIX" is what Amer needed after 9-11, and will likely be needed MORE AFTER JAN 2009, NOT LESS. WORLD ISLAM INCLUD RADICAL ISLAMISM IS OUT TO PRECLUDE ITS OWN SELF-IMPLOSION, + JUSTIFY ITS DIVINE MANDATE + PAN -ISMS, AND ARE NOT TAKING "NO" FROM THE US-WEST AS TO NOT HAVING NUKE WEAPONS, NOR AS TO ACCEPTING US/WESTERN-ONLY WORLD LEADERSHIP.
Despite its victories and entrenchment under Dubya, THE USA + US-LED/CENTRIC OWG-NWO AT THIS TIME [2008-2010] IS STILL CAPABLE OF BEING DEFEATED OR DESTROYED IN THE ME, OR VV NK-TAIWAN in ASIA.
#20
TOPIX > NUCLEAR WARFARE JUST STEPPED CLOSER + JAPAN: NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR, CHINESE MILITARY BUILDUP ROGRAMMES A WORRY + IRAN, NORTH KOREA ARE FORMIDABLE THREATS.
Also from TOPIX > IRAN > GENERAL - IRAN READY TO TEACH USA A LESSON, iff USA or anyone crosses the line.
COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG > USA: NORTH KOREA INCREASES MILITARY MANEUVERS.
Mike Huckabee will win the Kansas Republican presidential caucuses with more than 60 percent support, CNN projected Saturday.
The former Arkansas governor's victory comes as he continued to vow to remain in the GOP race for the White House despite the large delegate lead held bv Arizona Sen. John McCain, who scored 22 percent of the Kansas vote. "I didn't major in math," Huckabee told the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. "I majored in miracles, and I still believe in them, too."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/10/2008 00:00 ||
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If Barack Obama becomes the next United States president, he will surely be assassinated, British Nobel literature laureate Doris Lessing predicted in a newspaper interview published here on Saturday. Obama, who is vying to become the first black president in US history, would certainly not last long, a black man in the position of president. They would murder him, Lessing, 88, told the Dagens Nyheter daily.
Lessing, who won the 2007 Nobel Literature Prize, said it might be better if Obamas Democratic rival Hillary Clinton were to succeed in her bid to become the first woman president of the United States. The best thing would be if they (Clinton and Obama) were to run together. Hillary is a very sharp lady. It might be calmer if she were to win, and not Obama, she said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/10/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
If the multitude of BDS-loons haven't knocked off Bush in the past 7 years, I doubt some other loon will have more luck with Osama Obama.
Methinks Lessing is projecting her racism onto the U.S.
"Hillary is ... very sharp."
So's a battle axe.
But I repeat myself.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 0:20 Comments ||
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#2
Two words,
"Vince Foster"
(Keep track of hillary's pals movements)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/10/2008 1:01 Comments ||
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#3
LOL. We can always count on Barbara for great snarks.
It's not surprising that some European leftist loon would predict that we barbaric colonials would not suffer our country to be ruled by a black man. After all, we're uncultured, undignified, backwards (in comparison to France), and motivated only by corporate greed.
Where is racism strongest? In the entrenched cultural elite backwaters of noble Europe.
This is actually a big improvement in moonbat attitude. I thought the meme was that Bushitlerburton was going to declare a state of emergency, cancel the election, appoint Cheney emperor, etc. Maybe Ms. Lessing is sort of a moderate lunatic.
Posted by: Matt ||
02/10/2008 9:49 Comments ||
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#10
Obviously, the Nobel Prize committee is getting a little loose in its standards.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/10/2008 10:04 Comments ||
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#11
Not a zero year. Though it appears Ronnie broke that curse.
#12
Lessing has long been a far left socialist. I don't say communist because she does tend towards anarchism rather than centralized power, but she sure wants all classes to be equal and all means of production owned by the people.
#13
OH Yeah. Let's make _everyone's_ job dependent on how well they make the local or national politbureaus happy, and _then_ claim we're into decentralized power. These guys kill me.
#17
"Ronnie did not break the curse. Hinkley. Bush has, so far."
True, NS. Maybe any potential assassins remembered who would become President if they managed to get Bush - and thought better of it. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 13:35 Comments ||
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#18
"...They would murder him,
I'm still wondering who the 'they' are, in Ms Lessings' mind? The KKK, Military Industrial Complex, The Masons, Tri-lateral Commission, or the Black Panthers??? Had she spewed this venom about the Queen, they probable would have interviewed her at Scotland Yard for inciting anarchy! Send her to Scotland...no, Ireland; they know how to deal with subversives!
#20
Reminds me of a great and controversial 1970's Made-for-TV flick about an African-Amer VPOTUS that becomes POTUS after the death or assassination? of the white POTUS. OPENING SCENE > Prez is dead, WH in panic/chaos, the VEEP is informed by telephone that the Prez is dead - only when the Veep hangs up the phone does the audience realize he is an African/Black-American.
Love that idea. Love it. I'm sure gonna miss that crooked little sneer when he leaves office. Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll go on the talk show circuit.
Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 ||
02/10/2008 19:15 Comments ||
Top||
#22
Ms Lessing fails to realize that if Obama picks Hillary as VP, he then assures his continued life to an old age the Tuesday following the inaguration.
There - fixed that for ya', wx.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/10/2008 19:36 Comments ||
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#23
CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > Website proclaims BARACK OBAMA as the ANTICHRIST???
NEW DELHI After nearly a year of stalemate in Indo-Russian defense deals, the Indian Defence Ministry has cleared a contract to upgrade 67 Indian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jets by Russian Aircraft Corp. (RSK) MiG. Final approval will be given by the Cabinet Committee on Security at its next meeting, sources said. Sources reported that India had agreed to pay about 10 percent more than RSKs original bid of $800 million, but a senior Defence Ministry official declined to confirm that. The price has been settled to the satisfaction of the Indian Air Force, the official said.
India denied RSKs request to be prime contractor, reserving the right to buy the subsystems for the upgrade, which include precision-guided missiles from Israels Rafael and may include avionics and electronic-warfare gear from Elbit of Israel and Thales of France.
This is what they did with the Su-30s - add Israeli and French gear to the Russian airframe.
The upgrade also would include better computers, the Phazotron Zhuk-M radar, and a fire-control radar to guide advanced air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs, the Air Force official said.
which would make the Indian Mig 29s the most capable ones around
The service proposed the upgrade in 2003 after Pakistan obtained beyond-visual-range missiles. The upgrade would extend the life of the fighter aircraft from 25 years (2,500 hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours), an Air Force official said.
In 2004, the Indian Navy ordered 16 MiG-29K aircraft to be mounted on the decommissioned Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which is being refitted for India. Air Force officials also plan to upgrade their MiG-27s, MiG-21s, and Mirage 2000 Hs, and to buy 126 new combat jets and more Su-30 MKI aircraft.
The Air Forces 33 squadrons could shrink to as few as 28.5 squadrons in the next few months, thanks to the impending retirement of MiG-23s and MiG-25s and delays in various aircraft procurement efforts, ministry sources said.
If this happens, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) would have numerical superiority over the Indian Air Force for the first time in 60 years. The PAF currently has 30 squadrons and plans to increase the number to 34 this year.
Not very likely. If there is one thing an illiterate Indian politician from the cowbelt understands, it is "Pakistan will have more warplanes than India". I predict a panic order - additional Su-30s or perhaps older F-16s from reserves - to make up squadron numbers in the interim.
Posted by: john frum ||
02/10/2008 07:26 ||
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Link ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
An Egyptian court ruled on Saturday that the state had to recognise the right of Christians, who converted to Islam, changed their minds and wanted to revert to Christianity, court sources said.
RIYADH- Saudi preachers on Saturday conducted prayers for rain in their desert kingdom and blamed the empty skies on sinfulness, the official Spa news agency reported.
Venezuela's top oil official accused Exxon Mobil Corp. of "judicial terrorism" on Friday, but said court orders won by the oil major do not amount to confiscation of US$12 billion. 
If you think the United States has problems with the constant price increase of new-generation programs like the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), take a look at the situation with the four-nation consortium Eurofighter program. Several news reports, including a January 26 story in the Washington, D.C. based Defense News, state that the bill for the Eurofighter is going to now cost some 10 billion ($15 billion) more than the most recent cost estimates had previously projected. 
Turkey's parliament on Saturday approved two constitutional amendments that would lift a decades-old ban on Islamic head scarves in universities, despite the fierce opposition of the secular establishment. Parliament voted 403-107 in favor of the amendment that would insert a paragraph into the Constitution stating that everyone has the right to equal treatment from state institutions. The lawmakers voted 403-108 to approve the second and final amendment that says "no one can be deprived of (his or her) right to higher education," Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said.
White House hopeful Hillary Clinton said on Sunday she has replaced her campaign manager with a long-time aide as she fights a tight race with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Maggie Williams, a top aide to Clinton when her husband Bill Clinton was president, has taken over from Patti Solis Doyle as campaign manager.
Hillary Clinton's most senior advisers are in a state of "panic" about her presidential prospects and are plotting to enlist Democrat leaders in Congress to thwart her rival Barack Obama's ambitions. 
If Barack Obama becomes the next United States president, he will surely be assassinated, British Nobel literature laureate Doris Lessing predicted in a newspaper interview published here on Saturday. Obama, who is vying to become the first black president in US history, would certainly not last long, a black man in the position of president. They would murder him, Lessing, 88, told the Dagens Nyheter daily. 
