Kimmy Janke had gone through security. In fact, she was in a secure part of the terminal when she stopped to go to the bathroom before making her connecting flight.
That's when she found a loaded handgun.
"Panic. I didn't know what to do. I looked at it and was like, wow, that's a gun. We're past security. What do I do? The clip was hanging out about an inch-and-a-half," she described.
The gun was traced to a federal customs agent.
Customs officials have denied all requests to explain why a highly-trained agent left her gun in the bathroom, claiming there is an internal investigation. Maybe it wasn't a female agent.
#2
I love it when you are more cynical than me. The gun was traceable. As it is this is a career ender. Under your alternative, it would have meant hard time. Not even a jihadi is that stupid. I hope.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/17/2010 17:08 Comments ||
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#4
Panic because she's a sheep and sheep don't know jack about handguns.
Sheep is not an insult. Most folks are sheep, few are sheepdogs.
I share lotp's cynicism: 99% chance of stupidity, 1% chance of skullduggery.
So before I ended the agent's career for stupidity, I'd toss her/his file, contacts, records and so on VERY carefully.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2010 17:54 Comments ||
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#5
The gun was traceable. As it is this is a career ender. Under your alternative, it would have meant hard time.
You're right ... unless, say, there was a massacre in the terminal, multiple customs agents dead, multiple perps, easy to imagine a female agent* disarmed in the chaos
#8
I'm a sheep. I don't know jack about guns. These are independent sets that may or may not overlap. Sheep, sheepdog, wolf -- those are instinctual responses to the world and the people around. Sheep do their thing, sheepdogs protect the herd, wolves hunt. Among humans, some of each set have guns.
Now that we're past that, I would be very upset to spot a gun or other weapony thing in a supposedly secure area. If it looked like it was loaded, I'd be even more upset. I'm awfully glad Ms Janke was clear-minded enough to handle the situation instead of just running away. In the end, she too qualifies as a pack, not a herd.
I hope we'll find out if the customs agent is actually a sheep or a wolf, since the behavior doesn't seem sheepdog-like. What say you sheepdogs?
#9
"I would be very upset to spot a gun or other weapony thing in a supposedly secure area."
I'd be more upset at the probability I'd be screwed over by the "authorities" for the next few hours after reporting it, tw. A gun can't get up and hurt you all by itself. (Though it would be a little startling to find one in a secure area, as you said.)
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/17/2010 22:46 Comments ||
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#10
I don't get screwed over, Barbara. Possibly because I've lived such a sheltered life that nobody has had the opportunity. But at any rate, I'm glad Ms Janke did, indeed, report the thing, despite the risk.
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two....
Pirate attacks around the world have more than tripled in 2009 according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). In its annual report which was published on Thursday, it said that suspected Somali pirates account for more than half of the 406 reported incidents.
The news comes after Germany announced it was sending a new ship, the Emden, to the Gulf of Aden, the narrow channel between Somalia and Yemen, where piracy has been concentrated in recent years.
According to the IMB, Somali pirates ventured further out to sea last year to capture dozens of ships and collect millions of dollars in ransom. A total of 1,052 crew members were taken hostage, 68 injured and eight killed in 2009, it said.
Pirates are now more desperate to hijack ships. Recent attacks, at distances of over 1,000 nautical miles from Mogadishu, indicate the capability of the Somali pirates," the report added.
Speaking to Deutsche Welle, IMB director Pottengal Mukundan said that Atalanta had been extremely successful so far, but that more naval resources were needed in new areas. "The Gulf of Aden is pretty well policed at the moment. There was an extended period of several months when there were no hijackings there at all," he said. "But there are a lot of hijackings on the Indian Ocean side, and there is very little naval cover. If countries can afford to send more ships, they are vitally needed."
In the Gulf of Aden, 116 successful or attempted attacks took place, compared with 92 in 2008. Large carriers were targeted most often. "As of December 31, suspected Somali pirates were holding 12 vessels for ransom with 263 crew-members of various nationalities as hostages," the IMB report said.
The report also pointed to a rise in the number of attacks in other areas, especially the South China Seas, where there was the largest number of hijackings for five years. On top of this, piracy around South America more than doubled in 2009.
But attacks in the Malacca Strait, which was a world piracy hotspot just a few years ago, remained at just two in 2009, the same as the previous year, the IMB said.
I think we need to go back to hanging pirates from the yardarm. The current situation is clearly not working properly. The purpose of having a navy ought not to have ships with beautifully polished brasswork.
#2
One R/T from Diego Garcia to Hobyo or Eyl with BUFFS would readjust their idle screws and get them sailing straight.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/17/2010 13:13 Comments ||
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#3
So much for the kinder gentler approach. The first front in this war is to hold the legal community to the fire for obstructing and irrational behaviors in face of reality till they cry uncle. Piracy is ipso facto plain evidence the it is not a civilized world and that civilized law does not work in ending it. We all know what the solution is because its been done before.
1. Jack up maritime insurance rates for ships transiting the area and to-from certain ports, to the point of pain. The risk is putting oil prices out of whack and perhaps damage some economies, but it will put pressure on certain nations.
2. Start tracing and dismantling the criminal network. I've often stated that this type of piracy goes far beyond Somalia; it's organized crime.
3. A complete blockade of Somalia. Board and inspect all ships entering or leaving ports or transiting Somali waters. Force down and inspect all aircraft entering Somali airspace.
4. Set up convoys, assign areas to specific navies, establish a unified joint anti-piracy command and intel-coordination center, etc.
#5
I've often stated that this type of piracy goes far beyond Somalia; it's organized crime
...which may well be the world's largest economic sector now. Chalk it up to a) globalization and b) the retreat from democracy and transparency over the last 15 years or so that has brought us a raft of thuggish bandit states like Venezuela, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina etc
[Bangla Daily Star] The top 11 posts of HEED Bangladesh, a non-government organisation (NGO), are occupied by relatives of its executive director. I need people I can...trust.
Executive Director of the NGO, Elgin Saha, appointed his wife Tereja Saha as the vice-principal of HEED International School, his son Timon Toran Saha as assistant director of HEED Handicraft, his sisters Supti Saha and Urmi Saha as principal of HEED Language Centre and human resource officer of HEED respectively and maternal cousin Elis Arun Majumder as manager of disaster management department. Is Mr. Saha around?
What are you, a wiseass?
Elign's nephews Bappi Pande and Noel Pande were employed as auditor and manager of nutrition programme of the NGO respectively. His brother-in-law Samuel Gain was given the post of liaison officer. His son's father-in-law Dilip Sarker is working as principal of HEED Music School while his two brothers Nikhil Krishna Saha and Nikhil Chandra Saha were made directors of micro-credit department.
A large number employee of the NGO alleged that the executive director is destroying the organisation by indulging in nepotism and providing his relatives with vital positions without considering their qualifications. Sounds like Massachusetts...
These people are highly paid and enjoying office vehicles. They are buying lands with the NGOs fund, they said. Well, at least they aren't buying land here. Well...maybe.
Muhammad Ibrahim, deputy director of NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB), a regulatory body of the donor-funded NGOs, told The Daily Star yesterday: "Allegations of corruption and nepotism against the executive director of HEED Bangladesh are now under investigation."
A trustee board runs the organisation without any approval from the NGOAB. Relatives of the executive directors were made trustee board members to conceal financial irregularities, he said.
Earlier, a three members probe-committee was formed following the instruction of Prime Minister's Office to investigate the allegations against Elgin Saha. The committee found his involvement in corruption in purchasing lands. Some other irregularities were also uncovered. They're waiting to see the size of their bribes to see if those "go away"...
On November 23 last, the NGOAB issued letters to all managing board members and asked Elgin to quit his position but he didn't pay heed, sources said.
However, Elgin Saha claimed to be honest and hardworking. He said he had been serving the NGO sector for the last 30 years. He said a vested quarter whom he terminated for corruption are whipping propaganda against him to destroy his image. Use a thief to catch a thief...
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
I need people I can...trust.
IIRC, the first Han emperor implemented the civil service test because he couldn't trust his relatives, each thinking maybe they should be in charge.
BUFFETED by complaints about its inaccurate weather forecasts, the Met Office [the UK public weather service] now faces being dumped by the BBC after almost 90 years. Last July the state-owned forecaster's predictions for a "barbecue summer" turned into a washout. And its forecast for a mild winter attracted derision when temperatures recently plunged as low as -22C.
Last week the Met Office failed to predict heavy snowfall in the southeast that brought traffic to a standstill. This weekend a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times reveals that 74% of people believe its forecasts are generally inaccurate.
By contrast, many commercial rivals got their predictions for winter right.
The MET is out of touch by using "corrupt data" to make weather predictions:
Professor Philip Jones, the CRU's director, is in charge of the two key sets of data used by the IPCC to draw up its reports. Through its link to the Hadley Centre, part of the UK Met Office, which selects most of the IPCC's key scientific contributors, his global temperature record is the most important of the four sets of temperature data on which the IPCC and governments rely not least for their predictions that the world will warm to catastrophic levels unless trillions of dollars are spent to avert it.
#2
Seems a little mean to diss the Met just because they have been completely and utterly wrong in their forecasts for the last couple of years. A compass that reliably points south instead of north is still useful.
Besides, they just bought that big honking super-computer which will let them be wrong much faster.
Senegal's president says he will offer free land and "repatriation" to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti.
President Abdoulaye Wade said Haitians were sons and daughters of Africa since Haiti was founded by slaves, including some thought to be from Senegal.
That was certainly unexpected. Which is the frying pan, which the fire?
Posted by: James ||
01/17/2010 09:56 ||
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"But you have to come get it. We don't deliver"
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2010 10:04 Comments ||
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#2
It may be moot: the welcome of "90% Catholic, 100% Voodoo" Haitians in a mostly Muslim country may be cool. But the devil is in the details here: Wade's spokesman spoke of "fertile land," which almost certainly refers to the Casamance, which has been fighting off and on for independence. This statement might reignite the civil war.
Posted by: James ||
01/17/2010 11:13 Comments ||
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#3
the welcome of "90% Catholic, 100% Voodoo" Haitians in a mostly Muslim country may be cool.
Or they'll convert as the sotto voce requirement to get the land. And never have a clue they're being used in the civil conflict.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. Long before the sun crested the horizon over the Atlantic Ocean, Marines from the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, were plowing through the surf toward waiting amphibious assault ships to join the Marine contingent heading to Haiti, Jan. 16.
The platoon of vehicles crossed Onslow Beach in pairs to embark aboard the USS Gunston Hall, a recent addition to the amphibious ready group carrying the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to Haiti. In addition to the Gunston Hall, the USS Bataan, Carter Hall and Fort McHenry spent two days embarking the personnel, vehicles and equipment of the 22nd MEU at the port in Morehead City, N.C.
The amphibious assault ships and the embarked MEU were ordered to deploy to Haiti to support ongoing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance efforts in Haiti, which was ravaged by a massive earthquake, Jan. 12. The AAVs give the MEU commander the option of delivering supplies and personnel ashore from offshore shipping, and enhances the unit's ability to provide much-needed humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people.
The 22nd MEU consists of its Command Element; Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (Reinforced).
The embarkation of the AAVs is among the final steps before the ships and embarked MEU can set sail for Haiti for a humanitarian mission expected to last at least 30 days.
Here's how these guys get on shore:
I understand these AAVs aren't in production yet, but when they are ....
The media have begun to make comparisons between Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti. And in some ways, the two events are comparable.
Like Katrina, the earthquake has produced effects of catastrophic proportions. Both events rank among the largest catastrophes ever experienced in the Western Hemisphere.
They both have resulted in large loss of life and immense human suffering and make the coordination of emergency resources extremely difficult. Ordinary citizens are left to fend for themselves in the wreckage. And as we saw in Katrina and see now in Haiti, residents of disaster-stricken areas are the true first responders.
The aftermath of such catastrophes brings more prolonged suffering and massive recovery challenges. People pay attention as the media cover them, but they turn their attention elsewhere when the cameras leave, even though many of the real challenges that victims and affected regions face emerge later. Like the Gulf region, Haiti will struggle for years and perhaps decades to rebuild and recover.
But there, the comparisons end. Yeah. It should be way the heck easier for The One to take care of Haiti since it's such a small area compared to that affected by Katrina. Not quite so easy as it seemed when the dems were mouthing off about how the W administration supposedly mishandled things, is it? By your own standards, you failed.
To get an idea of the distinction between the two events, imagine that all of the U.S. west of the Mississippi were to be destroyed or extensively damaged by some immense catastrophe in one minute, with absolutely no warning. That is the situation Haiti faces. Not at all. It is a relatively tiny area with a much smaller population. The island of Hispaniola is split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Haiti has been a hellhole since I can remember. The Dominican Republic seems to have its act together, somehow. I invite readers to surmise the difference between the two. Here is a clue via Wikipedia: "The Dominican Republic has also adopted a liberal economic model, which has made it the second largest economy in the Caribbean." One is a former French colony, one is a former Spanish colony. Never thought I'd be praising the Spanish for their colonial practices ...
The Haitian slaves overthrew their French masters in such a murderous revolt that it coloured race relations throughout the New World thereafter. What happened on the Spanish side?
As horrific as it was, Katrina was a region-wide catastrophe, not a national one. Damage was enormous in the Gulf region, but the resources of the larger nation remained intact and available for mobilization, even though aid was slow in coming.
Katrina did not flatten our nation's capital or prevent national leaders from communicating with one another. Impacts were catastrophic in areas where Katrina struck, creating significant logistics problems, but the infrastructure of the rest of the nation was untouched. Also important, it was possible to issue warnings for Katrina, which enabled the vast majority of those who were at risk to evacuate to safety. The victims of the earthquake had no such warning. The Haitian government has never been there for the Haitians. Nothing changed.
In contrast, the earthquake in Haiti destroyed much of its capital, Port-au-Prince, and affected approximately one-third of the population of the entire country. The proportion of the nation's population that has been killed, injured or left homeless is enormous. The facilities that could have assisted victims, such as hospitals, clinics and the UN headquarters for the nation, were destroyed or are not operational. Aftershocks, which will continue for weeks, months and perhaps even years, will do additional damage and further compound both rescue and relief efforts.
There is another distinction that makes these events non-comparable. And your next excuse for the Democrapic party's mishandling of the situation is:
Katrina affected the most vulnerable in the impact region: the poor, the elderly, the disabled, nursing home and hospital patients, and other at-risk groups. But the concept of vulnerability takes on a new meaning in the Haiti earthquake. The entire nation is desperately poor; 80 percent of the population lives in poverty and more than half that number in abject poverty.
On almost all indicators of well-being -- health, education, literacy, income -- Haiti ranks very low. The nation has a long history of rule by dictators, political coups and savage violence. The capacity of Haiti's series of governments to provide services to its people has been abysmal for most of its history.
In many ways, residents of Haiti faced a daily disaster even before the earthquake. These differences matter, and they should be kept in mind by those seeking to see parallels between the two catastrophes.
#1
Haiti is a far more difficult disaster management event than Katrina was. MOST Katrina victims had evacuated and were not in danger, and were where basic essentials could be readily provided. Certainly thousands - a few tens of thousands? - had stayed behind and a good fraction of those needed to be rescued and provided for, but ample staging areas were just minutes away - by bass boat, if necessary.
The biggest similarity is that in both cases the emergency response is 'expected' to be instant, perfect, and complete, and any deviation from that is proof of gross mismanagement - or malice. Other notable similarities are that the local government is more a hindrance than a help, and that the victims were already in bad shape before the disaster.
Earthquake victims, writhing in pain and grasping at life, watched doctors and nurses walk away from a field hospital Friday night after a Belgian medical team evacuated the area, saying it was concerned about security. Concerned that the local cannibals would chop up the doctors and make stew of them, were they?
The decision left CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta as the only doctor at the hospital to get the patients through the night. Hats off to Gupta.
CNN initially reported, based on conversations with some of the doctors, that the United Nations ordered the Belgian First Aid and Support Team to evacuate. However, Belgian Chief Coordinator Geert Gijs, a doctor who was at the hospital with 60 Belgian medical personnel, said it was his decision to pull the team out for the night. Gijs said he requested U.N. security personnel to staff the hospital overnight, but was told that peacekeepers would only be able to evacuate the team. Pansy. The attention you get ain't gonna be the good kind.
He said it was a "tough decision" but that he accepted the U.N. offer to evacuate after a Canadian medical team, also at the hospital with Canadian security officers, left the site Friday afternoon. The Belgian team returned Saturday morning.
Gijs said the United Nations has agreed to provide security for Saturday night. The team has requested the Belgian government to send its own troops for the field hospital, which Gijs expects to arrive late Sunday. And if you bail again, I'm sure Gupta could sub for you again. Just give him enough time to get some shut-eye before you run away from your shadow again.
Responding to the CNN report that Gupta was the only doctor left at the Port-au-Prince field hospital, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said Saturday that the world body's mission in Haiti did not order any medical team to leave. If the team left, it was at the request of their own organization, he said.
Edmond Mulet, the U.N. assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations, told reporters later that local security officers deemed the makeshift hospital unsafe. Sleep well. When it comes to cowardice, the UN's got your backs, it seems.
"It seems that we've heard some reports in the international media that the United Nations asked or forced some medical teams to not work any more in some clinic -- that is not true, that is completely untrue," Mulet said Saturday.
CNN video from the scene Friday night shows the Belgian team packing up its supplies and leaving with an escort of blue-helmeted U.N. peacekeepers in marked trucks.
Gupta -- assisted by other CNN staffers, security personnel and at least one Haitian nurse who refused to leave -- assessed the needs of the 25 patients, but there was little they could do without supplies. More people, some in critical condition, were trickling in late Friday.
"I've never been in a situation like this. This is quite ridiculous," Gupta said. I think the word you're looking for is cowardly.
With a dearth of medical facilities in Haiti's capital, ambulances had nowhere else to take patients, some of whom had suffered severe trauma -- amputations and head injuries -- under the rubble. Others had suffered a great deal of blood loss, but there were no blood supplies left at the clinic.
Gupta feared that some would not survive the night. Apparently he was not informed about the cannibals.
He and the others stayed with the injured all night, after the medical team had left and after the generators gave out and the tents turned pitch black. Gupta monitored patients' vital signs, administered painkillers and continued intravenous drips. He stabilized three new patients in critical condition.
At 3:45 a.m., he posted a message on Twitter: "pulling all nighter at haiti field hosp. lots of work, but all patients stable. turned my crew into a crack med team tonight."
He said the Belgian doctors did not want to leave their patients behind but were ordered out by the United Nations, which sent buses to transport them.
"There is concern about riots not far from here -- and this is part of the problem," Gupta said.
There have been scattered reports of violence throughout the capital.
"What is striking to me as a physician is that patients who just had surgery, patients who are critically ill, are essentially being left here, nobody to care for them," Gupta said.
Sandra Pierre, a Haitian who has been helping at the makeshift hospital, said the medical staff took most of the supplies with them. Words fail.
"All the doctors, all the nurses are gone," she said. "They are expected to be back tomorrow. They had no plan on leaving tonight. It was an order that came suddenly."
She told Gupta, "It's just you."
Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, lacked adequate medical resources even before the disaster and has been struggling this week to tend to huge numbers of injured. The clinic, set up under several tents, was a godsend to the few who were lucky to have been brought there.
Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who led relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina in 2005, said the evacuation of the clinic's medical staff was unforgivable. "Search and rescue must trump security," Honoré said. "I've never seen anything like this before in my life. They need to man up and get back in there." I'm afraid there's nothing left to man up.
Honoré drew parallels between the tragedy in New Orleans, Louisiana, and in Port-au-Prince. But even in the chaos of Katrina, he said, he had never seen medical staff walk away. Hey, we're dealing with the UN here, who seem to encourage or at the least make it way too easy to take the sissy route. And these idiots want to run the show just to try to prove they're relevant. Fuc& off.
"I find this astonishing these doctors left," he said. "People are scared of the poor." Scared of their shadows is more like it.
#2
I wonder if a squad of Marines could have been sent over to the hospital for the night. With orders to sleep if they could and shoot 'cannibals' if they had to.
#4
The Belgians said that the wine and cheese in Haiti wasn't up to par. This sort of tells us never to look at the Euro (Peeing in their pants) eans for moral direction.
#5
The facts may prove me wrong but despite what Lt. Gen. Russel Honore has stated, in such a situation, the security of your own people must be your FIRST concern.
#6
True, Besoeker, but to take all the medical supplies with them when they knew sick people, one doctor and at least one local nurse were still there is simply unforgivable and evil.
#8
I have to wonder why the "peace keepers" didn't just spend the night there? It's not like they would go out in the scary night and the mere presence would deter anyone from causing trouble. Hats off to Sanjay, he continues to impress even though he works at CNN.
#9
True, that. I wasn't there. I don't know all the details. And the "official report" on this won't come out for months.
But they KNEW one nurse was there and wasn't leaving, Besoeker. That's the unforgivable and evil part. They could have left her something. Think about this....They took enough time to clear the joint out before they left. I doubt they could have done that in a minute or two....it would have taken some time to gather it all up and load up trucks. Had they just dropped everything and made a run for the jeeps, yeah....I could see that being a case of "oh crap, they're gonna kill us!" You don't have time to back up the U-haul and load it up if your life is in jeopardy. You leave things behind. So right there, I got some questions about the whole "we wuz in peril!" story.
There were seriously injured people left behind. We're not talking patients with ingrown toenails and other little boo boos.
Their big mistake? Cutting and running while cameras were rolling. Otherwise, you know damn well that no one would ever have known, or come back later to check on them.
Those people were lucky that Dr Gupta was there (and CNN personnel did what they could).
#10
Even CNN is more use than....
Crap. Just crap.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey ||
01/17/2010 10:01 Comments ||
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#11
Well I'm sure that the security situation was really bad. I mean, look what happened to Dr. Gupta and the CNN crew they were all............what's that? They weren't?
Oh, never mind. The medical teams that ran away are miserable cowards.
#12
I understand Besoeker's point about security and about needing to assess the situation. Lord knows that if the docs and nurses had been massacred we would be singing a different tune this morning.
But still --
When I became a doc, I took an oath. I try to live by it. I would hope other docs would do the same.
If the situation wasn't an earthquake but rather plague, anthrax, or Ebola, there would be no excuse for docs leaving. Even if something is contagious, we're expected to hang in there.
This is no different. Forgive me, it is different -- there was less risk here.
The blue-helmets could have been ordered to stay and provide security. They can rough it for a night. So can the docs and nurses.
And if the word was out that the docs and nurses were staying and working their tails off to save people, that would have given the local population hope. The last thing they would have done is attack those who were hanging in there to save them.
No, I'm sorry, this is fecklessness and cowardice.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2010 11:18 Comments ||
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#13
Would it be bigoted to add No, I'm sorry, this is fecklessness and cowardice and very Euro-socialist.
#14
All rancor aside, the doctors knew that any medicines, painkillers(Dope) and desperately needed supplies left would vanish overnight, it makes GOOD SENSE to take them with the Doctors, and bring them back later, at least that way there'd be some, not none.
I think the doctors acted rationally, not the Bastards y'all seem to think they were.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/17/2010 13:31 Comments ||
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#15
Bigoted? I'm not sure. Maybe redundant?
Don't forget - this team was Belgian. That should give us pause before we issue judgements. After all, we have little moral ground to stand on, given that their defense minister exposed our military as 'unprofessional' a few years ago.
#17
It's clear from the article that the UN spokesperson is either lying or was misinformed. And while a strong-minded team leader would have said, "Fuck that, we've got patients to tend to," the Canadian team had already walked away earlier for whatever reason, taking their own guards with them. At least the Belgians did come back after the sun rose (what ever happened to the Canadians?), but the only one who comes out looking good is CNN's own Dr. Gupta and his team. I seem to recall that, while in Afghanistan, Dr. Gupta joined the medical team he'd been interviewing, when the patient load suddenly demanded an extra pair of skilled hands. More than a pretty face, that man.
#18
I understand Besoeker's point about security and about needing to assess the situation. Lord knows that if the docs and nurses had been massacred we would be singing a different tune this morning.
Had it been anyone else but Dr. Gupta with the CNN crew...
#21
I read an article that Haitians were piling bodies to make roadblocks to protest the late arrival of aid. If that's true I can't imagine what kind of other crazy $hit these doctors have seen and don't think I'll second guess their decisions. Yes it's bad to leave and take the medicine with you, but if they return in two days with the medicine (report said they were back Sat) the the medicine is still available to be used and the Beligans weren't injured or killed so they can also be helpful. The move also may have managed to get some additional Beligan peacekeepers into the picture.
Don't be to quick to judge the eyes on the ground making decisions be they American or Beligan. The media often distorts or fails to report. Having said that, Gupta's a stud. That must have been extra tense being more or less alone after the Canadians and Beligans pulled out.
#23
Piling bodies to make roadblocks doesn't seem to make a lot of sense--that'd be an awful lot of bodies if you wanted to actually block the road. My guess? They were pulling bodies out of the rubble and putting them in the only place where the dead might be noticed and hauled away for burial.
News reports aren't always very accurate, either in the details or interpretation.
Posted by: James ||
01/17/2010 21:16 Comments ||
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#24
TW!
Strong language for strong situations, dear Nimble Spemble. Besides, I was quoting an imaginary strong-minded medical type, and I'm quite sure that's what he/she would have said in that situation. ;-)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. mission chief in Haiti, Hedi Annabi, died in Tuesday's earthquake that devastated the country's capital, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Saturday. In a statement, Ban also confirmed the death of Annabi's deputy, Brazilian Luiz Carlos da Costa, and of the acting U.N. police commissioner in Haiti, Doug Coates of Canada.
Ban gave no details of how the bodies had been found, but the world body said earlier this week that Annabi and his aides were under the rubble of the Hotel Christopher, the U.N. headquarters in Port-au-Prince, and could be alive or dead.
Haitian President Rene Preval said on Wednesday that Annabi had died, but the United Nations said at the time it could not confirm that.
Annabi is the first U.N. mission chief to die in the line of duty since Sergio Vieira de Mello of Brazil was killed along with 14 other U.N. staff when a truck bomb exploded outside the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad in 2003.
After working in the Tunisian foreign service, Annabi joined the United Nations in 1981. For nearly a decade, he worked on a political settlement in Cambodia before joining the U.N. peacekeeping department where he rose to be an assistant secretary-general. He had held the Haiti job since 2007.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Look lets face it - They are all dead Jim
- 80 degree heat, no water, this is no rescue mission without massive amount of heavy equiptment to clear debris.
If you ain't walking and talking by now - your DEAD !
#2
U.N. confirms death of Haiti mission chief Annabi
That is all the information you need to understand what happened with the Belgian medical team. The one person that had the authority to actually order something done was dead. There is little in the way of "chain of command", and even less in the way of using initiative. That is something we can lay directly at the feet of the European education system, which destroys whatever little amount of "initiative" any pupil might possess to begin with. That's also why most commenters above are so pissed - most Americans would have acted differently.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2010 18:29 Comments ||
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#3
I dunno, OP. The same thing happened during Mogadishu ops in 1993.
Credit to Hillary on this one, sounds like she got the mission and the tone right.
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured Haiti's quake-ravaged people on Saturday the United States would work with their government to ensure the country emerged "stronger and better" after this week's disaster.
"We will be here today, tomorrow and for the time ahead," Clinton told a news conference at Port-au-Prince airport, saying she wanted to speak directly to the Haitian people after a meeting with Haitian President Rene Preval. "You have been severely tested. But I believe that Haiti can come back even stronger and better in the future."
Preval expressed gratitude for the huge relief effort that has unfolded after Tuesday's earthquake, which killed tens of thousands of people and devastated Haiti's ramshackle capital. "Mrs. Clinton's visit really warms our heart today," Preval said through an interpreter, adding that it would help to establish the priorities and coordination necessary to keep the relief work running.
Clinton underscored that the U.S. aid drive -- involving thousands of soldiers, sailors and Marines along with civilian aid workers -- was at the invitation of Haiti's government and said she and Preval would issue a joint communique on Sunday outlining the way forward.
As the sound of aircraft bearing relief supplies momentarily drowned out the microphone, Clinton was upbeat. "That's a good sound," Clinton said. "That means good things are coming and helping the people of Haiti," she said.
Clinton's quick one-day trip was designed to avoid complicating the relief effort, with hundreds of thousands of Haitians still desperately waiting for assistance as scavengers and looters take advantage of the widespread absence of authority and order. Clinton first flew to the Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen in Puerto Rico, where she transferred to a Coast Guard C-130 transport plane carrying emergency food and water rations along with toothbrushes, doughnuts, underwear and other supplies for U.S. embassy personnel.
She left aboard another huge relief plane with 50 U.S. evacuees aboard headed for Kingston, Jamaica. Twenty-two of the Americans were due to continue on with Clinton to the Washington area.
Clinton said the relief drive was aimed at immediate needs such as water, food and medical help along with rescue work for people still trapped in the rubble. She said she and Preval also discussed the future, which U.S. officials say could involve a major international effort to improve conditions in Haiti, which remains the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.
Before her arrival, Clinton told reporters traveling with her that the Haitian government, itself battling to recover from the quake, had given the U.S. government leeway to meet emergency needs. But she said that could be further expedited if the Haitian parliament passed a decree granting Preval's government more emergency powers -- some of which could be delegated to the United States -- such as imposing a curfew.
She said the United States would continue to work with both the Haitian government and the United Nations, which has about 7,000 peacekeepers on the island and primary responsibility for security. "We are working to back them up, but not to supplant them," she said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Hat tip to the Hilderbeast for flying in and out via scheduled MILAIR relief flights. I can assure you Pelosi and her staff would have never sat in a troop seats.
It took three days for the Federal government to get its act together after Katrina. It's going to take that long and longer to get our act together for Haiti. Logistics is reality. Someone needs to explain that to the Haitians.
Anger built Saturday at Haiti's US-controlled main airport, where aid flights were still being turned away and poor coordination continued to hamper the relief effort four days on.
"Let's take over the runway," shouted one voice. "We need to send a message to (US President Barack) Obama," cried another.
Control remained in the hands of US forces, who face criticism for the continued disarray at the overwhelmed airfield.
Dozens of French citizens and dual Haitian-French nationals crowded the airport Saturday seeking to be evacuated after Tuesday's massive 7.0 earthquake, which leveled much of the capital Port-au-Prince. But at the last minute, a plane due to take them to the French island of Guadeloupe was prevented from landing, leaving them to sleep on the tarmac, waiting for a way out.
"They're repatriating the Americans and not anyone else," said Charles Misteder, 50. "The American monopoly has to end. They are dominating us and not allowing us to return home."
The airport has a single runway. The control tower is destroyed. The tarmac is full of planes trying to deliver supplies. There's no fuel except what the US is bringing in. Therefore, there is a limit on the number of planes that can land. It sucks but that's the problem.
The crowd accused American forces, who were handed control of the airport by Haitian authorities, of monopolizing the airfield's single runway to evacuate their own citizens. The US embassy denied it was putting the evacuation of the approximately 40,000 to 45,000 American citizens in the country first.
Others waiting for a way out were taken aback by the chaotic scenes confronted them when they arrived at the Toussaint L'Ouverture airport.
"I haven't been able to tell my family that I'm alive. The coordination is a joke," said Wilfried Brevil, a 33-year-old housekeeper.
"I was at the Christopher Hotel," said Daniele Saada, referring to the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, MINUSTAH.
"I was extremely shaken up. I was pulled out, the others weren't," added Saada, 65, a MINUSTAH employee. "I decided to return to France. I have nothing and now I am stuck," she said, caught between fury at the chaos and sheer exhaustion.
The disorder even appeared to cause diplomatic ripples, with French Secretary of State for Cooperation Alain Joyandet telling reporters he had lodged a complaint with the United States over its handling of the Port-au-Prince airport.
"I have made an official protest to the Americans through the US embassy," he said at the Haitian airport after a French plane carrying a field hospital was turned away.
Feel free to take over, Alain. Bring in the French Air Force. Bring in your own ground crews. Not a problem.
A spokesman for the French foreign ministry later denied France had registered protest, saying "Franco-US coordination in emergency aid for Haiti is being handled in the best way possible given the serious difficulties."
The US ambassador to Haiti defended American efforts at the small airport, which was up-and-running 24 hours after the massive quake, even though the air traffic control tower was damaged.
"We're working in coordination with the United Nations and the Haitians," said Ambassador Kenneth Merten, though he acknowledged some difficulties. "Clearly it's necessary to prioritize the planes. It's clear that there's a problem." Sounds like your problem is that you're coordinating with the UN and the Haitians...
Despite the chaos, a group of French citizens was eventually able to take off on Saturday, and the French plane carrying a field hospital landed safely around noon. Still, with aid continuing to flood into the quake-stricken country, concern remains about the lack of coordination at the airport, and across devastated Port-au-Prince.
"The Haitians haven't been notified about the arrival of planes. And when they do land, there's no one to take charge and a large amount of goods are arriving without coordination," said Haitian government official Michel Chancy.
That's a serious problem. Be part of the solution instead of whining.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
David Sedaris knows the word for "bottleneck." Why doesn't Alain?
#2
There is another problem brewing. As far as I know the only major communications hum functioning in Haiti is the Port au Prince NAP (Network Access Point) which keeps both the government (such as it exists at the moment) and NGOs connected to the outside world. At Noon Eastern, that access point was down to 1/3 of it's fuel supply for its only source of power, the emergency generator.
It was reported that it has a run rate of 8 gal/hr and has 160gal of diesel left. This means that if they don't get a few hundred gallons of diesel, Haiti is cut off by 8am Eastern when the generator runs out of fuel.
At around noon, Eastern, the State Department was provided with information on the fuel situation at the Port au Prince NAP, which has used 2/3rds of the available diesel (8gal/hour run rate, 160 gal remaining) keeping the microwave backhaul to the DR up, and all remaining governmental and NGO network access.
If anyone knows someone who knows someone down there, they could use some fuel.
#3
These whining muthaf*ckers need to realize that P au P infrastructure is destroyed and we are working on things from the ground zero up. That is the nice answer.
The direct and rude answer from the US should be, Here have a jug of water and some MREs. Now get out of the way and shut the f*ck up, so we can do our jobs. There are other people in deeper trouble than you. Maybe you can organize yourselves and do something useful to help while you are waiting.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/17/2010 1:20 Comments ||
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#4
They are right. The Americans are useless. We should just get out and let the UN do everything. The Carl Vinson should just continue on to San Diego. We should remove all our equipment from the airport and let the Haitians run it. After all, we did not show up until a day after the earthquake, and thus we are useless. The UN and the French could do a much better job. Just like they did after the tsunami in Indonesia.
/sarcasm
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
01/17/2010 1:49 Comments ||
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#5
Whiny Frenchies. Why I am shocked to the core...
#7
When is the last time the Haitians came to the United States to assist us.? Have the Haitians ever helped the United States in any way? Done us some big favors? Made a generous gesture.?
Dominating? get a row boat. Its YOUR problem. Get the French to help you. Get Chavez to help you. Get a pogo stick.
Go over there and suck your thumb and shut up.
Got any money for all this free stuff? No? Then get a shovel and dig some graves, Hey, They are YOUR people, not ours.
We arent responsible to your dead momma. You hungry? Go steal from your neighbors. Show 'em some Voo Doo and wave a machete. Its YOUR culture, not ours.
We dont HAVE to help you. Go yell and see if the EU will send you something. Get some Palestinians to advise you. Obama? yeah like Obama is going to miss Lunch over your problems. Face it, you are nutz deep in crap and you are totally unable to take care of yourselves ( for some reason). Take what you can get and give God the finger if you dont like the way you are being treated. Maybe China will leap into action, whatcha tink? Demand that China DO SOMETHING for you.
Anybody here from Argentina? How about the UN...any of them left alive? You got a problem. Maybe Iran will help, why dont you ask? This is a job for Lassie or Superman and we are fresh out of comic books. By all means, send a message to President Barack Hussein Obama. Send a letter to the King and demand your "rights". Mail it to California. If you could only write and he could only read.
As soon as he flips you $155$ Million and walks his dog. We dont have an act in Haiti...the Haitians do, its their problem and their roller skates. "The American Monopoly has to end"? yeah?
Go on, jacko, take over the runway. Do it today.
What are you having for dinner tonite? Clinton says he feels your pain. But you cant depend on me, Its YOUR problem. And Ronald McDonald says to say hello.
The United States is doing what it can. You ARE screwed. And the sun comes up in the morning.
#8
But at the last minute, a plane due to take them to the French island of Guadeloupe was prevented from landing, leaving them to sleep on the tarmac, waiting for a way out.
Die Hilderbeast's airplane(s) had landing priority? Sucks to be a French citizen stranded on a forsaken former French colony doughnut Charles?
#9
They are in a 3rd world country where the infrastructure, that was almost worthless before, is now destroyed and they are complaining that relief isn't like ordering a pizza back home?
Fuck you, you sniveling parasites. How about this? You can just die in the hot sun while we go about our business and actually try to help others.
#10
Sounds like the typical privileged caste whining when something doesn't go their way. After all, how many Haitians have an escape pass to France? I'm guessing.....not a lot of them.
The rest of their fellow Haitians are lucky to even have a roof over their heads, not be seriously injured, have drinking water and something to eat. They don't have anywhere else to go. Somehow, I'm not moved by the "plight" of a few whiny biatches who have been without steak au poivre and pommes frites for a few days.
#11
I hope and pray it does NOT get outta hand. The first GI to shoot somebody will be in big trouble. I can only guess what the Rules of Engagement (ROE) must be, if there are any.
More "feeding hand meets biting dog" stories at eleven.
#12
Perhaps the Haitians who created the roadblocks with corpses to "protest" the perceived slowness of aid getting through to POP would like to remove them so land transport can get through.
Haitians have never been grateful for any of the aid given to them over decades, be it political stabalization or humanitarian or other. Never. 80% of Haitians live on hand outs. Have done so for decades. Food and water and basics of life have always been handed out. Now they have no idea or conception that they might have to do a little waiting this time. Like do some work for the able-bodied instead of sitting around whining about the slowness of aid to arrive in your lap.
Clear the damn roads. And stay clear of the freakin' runways.
#14
No problem. When the U.N., the French, etal, get their aircraft carriers, hospital ships and ATC troops on site, we can sign a few checks and leave....
#15
Sounds like they are pissed of that we didn't cater to their (the French Elite's) little needs first before taking care of the starving, wounded, and dying lower class....
#16
Clarification to mods. I only post as Solomon Glulet1502, as assigned in my first post. Don't know others.. Did see a post other day from a similar "solomon" name. Not me and a little surprised at how close the name was. anyway. Not me.
Mind you, the "you have commented xxx times" counter shot up yesterday to over 200. I've commented less than 50 times so far. What should I do to stop someone using my nic?
#17
Even more clarification. I was posting as Solomon Spogum5839 on Friday and maybe Thursday. My count says I have commented 234 times. That can't be right, unless you recycle these nyms.
Now for some on topic commentary. Almost every Haitian alive today has existed their entire life as a result of international aid. They are one of the best example of what you get when you create a population that is entirely dependent on others to survive.
The respect nothing. They appreciate nothing. The developments we've seen in just the last 48 hours alone will only get worse. Hence, mu suggestion of Evac, Quarantine & allow nature to take its course. The Haitians much like the Palestinians are not salvageable, although each for different reasons.
#18
Hey Solomon Glulet1502, say, I saw your pic on the FBI 10 most wanted right next to Solomon Spogum5839. Just wanted you boys to know,keep posting,makes their jobs that much easier.
#20
Apologies for the ambiguity: our multinym'd new poster has used 'Solomon the Geek'. Y'all other Solomons are not only wise but innocent. And all y'all are welcome here.
Re: keeping someone else from using your nym, the best way is to select one of your own that isn't likely to be generated by Fred's autonym assigner. Check out the regulars here and you'll see that their names don't end in numbers.
When you comment, type that name in the poster box instead of the autogenerated one. If your browser is set up to allow cookies the new one will also be automatically entered in the future.
#25
And there's the inimitable "anonymous 5089" too. I can't think of any other numbered regulars off the top of my head.
Posted by: James ||
01/17/2010 21:31 Comments ||
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#26
Our lotp is multilingual... in several senses. I, on the other hand, only have one quarter of Hebrew high school Yiddish under my belt, and "Der bear is kaken in yam" isn't getting me very far today.
#28
"lotp, glad to see you know that "ya'll" is singular and "all of ya'll" is plural."
You must not be from the South, Almost.
"Y'all" is always plural. We really do know that "you" is singular. We often say "y'all" when we're talking to just one person (as in, "y'all come on over"), but in that case is really means "you and you family and you crazy aunt in the basement and anyone who happens to be visiting you at the time." ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/17/2010 23:04 Comments ||
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Haitian Interior Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aime says the death toll from a devastating earthquake that hit the nation could reach 200,000.
"We have already collected around 50,000 dead bodies we anticipate there will be between 100,000 and 200,000 dead in total, although we will never know the exact number," he told Reuters on Friday.
Earlier, Red Cross officials had estimated that up to 50,000 people may have died in Tuesday's magnitude-7.0 quake.
With thousands of bodies still piled up on the streets of Port au Prince, rotting in the tropical sun, there was also a race against time to reach possible survivors still trapped in the ruins and treat those who were badly injured.
After three days of Haitians being left to fend mostly for themselves in one of the world's poorest countries, foreign relief teams were increasingly seen on the streets, some backed by vital heavy-lifting equipment.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Maybe if they bitch and whine enough we'll leave and the death toll may hit 2 million.
#3
Here's one of them from somebody called Abdul-Rahman: "Amerikkka made Haiti poor via imperialism, just like French colonialism did. The US and France owe 1000s of billions to Haiti in reparations so whatever peanuts they may give them now is nothing. Also the US spends million times more for wars and "aid" to Zionists then it will ever give to Haiti. Read about Cuba giving real help having 300+ doctors already in Haiti treating Haitian people will US sends army to occupy."
[Iran Press TV Latest] US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Haiti where she met with Haitian president Rene Preval and is assessing disaster recovery efforts.
She arrived in a Coast Guard C-130 transport carrying bottled water, packaged food, soap and other supplies.
Clinton is the highest-ranking US official to visit Haiti since the magnitude-7.0 quake struck the Caribbean nation on Tuesday. She held an hour-long meeting with President Rene Preval.
When Clinton leaves Haiti later, she will take with her a total of 50 American citizens back from Haiti.
Haiti is filled with fear and frustration as over three million people affected by a devastating earthquake struggle to survive. The International Committee of Red Cross, ICRC described the situation there as "utter chaos."
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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To demonstrate that the current chaos is far from maximum possible?
#2
A mag 7 earthquake may kill 200 people in LA and leave billions in property damage. A mag 7 earthquake in India may kill 10K, and a mag 7 earthquake in Haiti may kill 100 to 200K. This accident of nature does just not happen on the day of the earthquake. It happens years before when the society decides to or decides not to put a bunch of its resources into its infrastructure and buildings to resist the kind of destruction we see now. That is the commitment that has to be made by past generations toward the unborn future generations. It may not guarantee that you will not be buried under the rubble of some great disaster, but in the big picture of things, it sure betters your odds.
It requires long term thinking and commitment. Even in this country, we have ignored our unwritten covenant with future generations for our infrastructure at our peril.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/17/2010 13:31 Comments ||
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#3
I read the phrase "Clinton Bungeed In" it's highly accurate, there just long enough to stand in front of Cameras, then POOF Gone.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/17/2010 13:40 Comments ||
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#4
Too bad they didn't make her bungee cord too long.
Excerpt: America can't afford another financial crisis. With big banks using depositor money to gamble on Wall Street, it's only a matter of time.. . .We must return stability, security and confidence to commercial banking for theAmerican public. The first step is this bill.'
Ukrainians go to the polls tomorrow in the first presidential election since the 2004 Orange revolution, with Viktor Yanukovich, the defeated candidate of five years ago, positioned for a dramatic comeback. Opinion polls give the opposition leader a commanding lead over his main challenger, Yulia Tymoshenko, the prime minister, with other candidates well behind, including president Viktor Yushchenko, the hero of 2004.
The vote, which follows five years of political in-fighting, will be widely watched given Ukraine's strategic location between Russia and the European Union. The new president's priority will be restoring political stability and confidence in the recession-hit economy and resuming co-operation with the International Monetary Fund, which has suspended a $16.4bn (11.3bn, £10bn) package.
More than 3,000 monitors are being deployed, including 800 from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and EU states. "It's noisy, but likely to be honest," an election observer said.
No candidate is expecting to win outright in tomorrow's first round. But Mr Yanukovich, who has a support rating of about 30 per cent in opinion polls, and Ms Tymoshenko, who is on 20 per cent, are likely to emerge as leaders and go into a run-off on February 7.
Mr Yanukovich, a former lorry driver, was discredited five years ago when his campaign was condemned for fraud and abuse of power. But he now is benefiting from disappointment with Mr Yushchenko's failure to stop bickering, not least with Ms Tymoshenko, his Orange revolution ally. Mr Yushchenko's popularity has plunged to below 5 per cent but he is campaigning hard to undercut Ms Tymoshenko.
Meanwhile, the polls also suggest a last-minute popularity surge for Sergei Tigipko, a wealthy banker turned politician. He is seen as an alternative to the three leading politicians by voters angry at the perpetual bickering. About a quarter of voters are undecided, set to vote against all or not at all, according to polls.
In the run-up to the hotly contested elections, the two frontrunners have accused each of plotting fraud. It is unclear if the threat is real or an attempt to rally voters. Since 2004, Ukraine has held two parliamentary elections, both judged to be fair by western observers, including the OSCE.
The Committee of Voters of Ukraine, an election watchdog, said poor planning, administrative abuses and election law loopholes left room for abuse and added: "It's a step backwards." But a western observer said "the competitive nature should make it more difficult for the rival factions to cheat".
Humiliated after backing Mr Yanukovich in 2004, Russia has kept its distance. Bilateral relations under the pro-west Mr Yushchenko have soured. But to Moscow's approval, candidates want to improve relations with Russia, while sticking to European Union membership plans.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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Uh-oh. Sounds like Ed's listener dimed him out...
The panic on the left concerning Tuesday's special Senatorial election is getting palpable, for on Friday, MSNBC's Ed Schultz said on his radio program that he would try to vote ten times if he lived in Massachusetts. Since he doesn't live there he's only voting four times...
"Yeah, that's right, I'd cheat to keep these bastards out," he told his audience. '''Cause that's exactly what they are." Love the commitment to fair play and democracy, Ed ...
Excerpt of a Left-Wing-oriented story: Many on America's left are also disgruntled with Obama. They believe the healthcare reform, without a public option, will be inadequate, that the war in Afghanistan will unravel, the stimulus bill was insufficient to kick-start the economy and that his economic team is being run by Wall Street. But unlike the right they have so far failed to turn their disillusionment into a potent political force.
#1
The last bankrupt argument of the Left has been that Socialism didn't work because the right people were never in charge. Now they put their 'right' people in and it still won't work. Their fundamental problem was that there never has been or will be the 'right' people.
#3
It is possible to put the right people in charge of the economy...
It's to put the people who earned their own money in charge of their own money.
Socialism is just a way whereby special interests destroy wealth creation. With enough socialism wealth creation falls below the level needed to sustain existing assets and this eventually kills the country.
In the absence of competing currencies in an area there is a problem in making sure the currency is not captured by special interests and used to hide problems caused by things such as socialism or even rent-seeking big businesses who can bribe regulators.
NEW YORK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - A security breach prompted the evacuation of an American Airlines terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Saturday, the airline said. Terminal 8 was cleared for several hours and thousands of passengers had to be rescreened after the breach, which happened shortly after 3 p.m., American spokesman Charley Wilson said.
The Transportation Safety Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which has jurisdiction over the three major metropolitan area airports, ordered the evacuation. Passengers who had boarded also had to get off their planes.
Local television reported that someone opened a door restricted to airport and airline employees, triggering an alarm. The incident was captured on security video but the person had not been found, NY1 news said.
Wilson said no inbound flights had been diverted, and that outbound flights at the terminal were expected to be delayed by two hours or more. There were no American Airlines flight cancellations.
"All clear at the terminal ... and we're getting things back to normal," Wilson said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Then how can the World Passport actually work?
First, it identifies the individual as a sovereign with the right to freedom of travel, a right agreed to in principle by all Member-States of the United Nations (Ref., art 56, UN Charter). Second, it represents this right in a form already acceptable to nations, i.e., a passport. Thus nations must consider it. Thirdly, as a growing number of individuals, especially refugees and stateless persons, accept and use it, national authorities are obliged to accept it both for motives of principle and necessity.
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But do any nations already accept it?
Yes. The WSA has on files photocopies of visas, entry, residence and exit, from over 150 nations stamped on its passports sent by actual bearers. These are case-by-case, or de facto acceptance. A few nations, Togo, Mauritania, Ecuador, Zambia, Tanzania, Burkina Faso have accepted the WSA passport on a de juris or juridical basis. (See booklet, Government Validation of the WSA Passport - This booklet may be ordered from our catalog, in the basic documents section).
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What does the World Passport look like?
It is a 30 page document in 7 languages - English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese and Esperanto. It contains 19 visa pages with 2 pages for affiliate identifications, diplomatic, organizational, firms. On the inside back cover spaces are provided for home address, next of kin, doctor, employer, and other ID numbers. The cover is soft leather-like plastic
Great. Fake passports for refugees and assorted scum. I'll take mine in Esperanto, please.
#4
Well, that makes any anticipated trip to Burkina Faso even easier.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
01/17/2010 12:00 Comments ||
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#5
The best part is that you don't even need a tourist visa to visit Freedonia, Loopaland, Elbonia, Pottsylvania, Lower Slobbovia, Brobdingnag, Eastasia, Ishtar, Macho Grande, Latveria, Moldavia, Ruritania, Mordor, Pepperland, La República de las Bananas, San Seriffe, Ünderland, Cimmeria and the UK.
#6
I've a friend from Eritrea who wandered about with a UN passport for several years before becoming an American citizen. I think there are Palestinians who have UN passports as well, so I'm not sure what special role the WSA is filling.
[Al Arabiya Latest] A Malaysian mosque was vandalized following attacks on 11 churches, threatening to deepen a row over the use of the word "Allah" to refer to the Christian God in this mainly Muslim but multiracial country.
" Don't make any speculation. We are investigating this incident. The situation remains peaceful and no one should take advantage of this to create something bad "
Deputy police chief Ismail Omar
The Saturday incident in the Borneo island state of Sarawak is the first against a mosque after the arson and vandalism attacks on churches, and could stoke anger among Malay Muslims who make up 60 percent of the country's 28 million population.
Malaysia's deputy police chief Ismail Omar said police found broken glass near the outside wall of the mosque, and warned troublemakers against whipping up emotions.
"Don't make any speculation. We are investigating this incident. The situation remains peaceful and no one should take advantage of this to create something bad," Ismail told Reuters.
Ismail could not confirm whether the bottles thrown at the mosque were that of alcoholic beverages, which is forbidden to Muslims, but said he believed the act was vandalism.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2010 00:00 ||
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#2
The NYT can't make a buck with their print version. How can they seriously believe anyone will pay them for the online version? The NYT powers that be need to put down the pipe and get a grasp on reality.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/17/2010 15:46 Comments ||
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#8
between that and the AP screening their linkages, where o where will we get our agitprop?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2010 15:55 Comments ||
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#9
They'll make more money charging people *not* to get it.
Don't give Pinch and Bambi any ideas ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2010 16:06 Comments ||
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#10
Son was at a party last night with lots of print media types...
Deep Depression did not begin to describe their state. They not only see their jobs disappearing, and no ads to pay for their stories... they see the jobs and media never returning....
Excerpt: However (the) regs. CARB's pushing through (released this week and subject to a 15 day comment period) ... provides that the only times that consumers may decline a check and inflate servicethey can never decline the service if it's offered for freeis when they are charged for services AND if they can PROVE (with DOCUMENTATION!) that they've had their tires checked and inflated in the last 30 days, or if they WILL do so within the next week. It is unclear, but possible, that CARB could take enforcement action against the consumer if they don't follow through with their promise?!
#3
49 other states manage to get by without an Air Resources Board, California can too. We can't afford it anymore. Time to eliminate the entire bureaucracy.
#4
right on crosspatch... but since those other 49 states like to bash Ca. for poor environmental conditions (CO2,CFC emissions, etc.) which have steadily decreased annually since passage of the Clean Air Act it seems like some bureaucracy appears to be working. But, yeah, I agree, this Air Board is a step in the wrong direction, for sure.
Posted by: Yo Adrian ||
01/17/2010 17:03 Comments ||
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#5
at one point (the 70's-80's), the Air Board was a great thing, helping to implement stds that made the LA basin breathable. Now, it is a tool looking for a purpose, implementing stds without concern for consequences, just to "be doing something". The story of so many Boards and Commissions
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2010 17:09 Comments ||
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#6
CARB? Aren't they the guys who poisoned the ground water with their additives?
#7
If I found somebody messing with my tires - I would consider running them over.
If I had not read this story and was visiting California and somebody claimed to be a CARB inspector - I would assume they were crooks or there was a hidden camera somewhere.
After looking around for the camera... I would have taken some sort of action (Hey I am a big guy and don't put up with idiots touching my property).
The state is really nuts to consider this.
Lots of their agents will get hurt.
Exactly backwards. It's time to eliminate all federal regulatory bureaucracies and return those powers to the states & local communities where they rightly belong. California will then serve a vital purpose as an example of how bad things can get.
Eliminating the state bureaucracies will eliminate competition among the states and guarantee even more standardization of the stupidity at the federal level. That we truly cannot afford.
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.
The media have begun to make comparisons between Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti. And in some ways, the two events are comparable.
Earthquake victims, writhing in pain and grasping at life, watched doctors and nurses walk away from a field hospital Friday night after a Belgian medical team evacuated the area, saying it was concerned about security.
[Iran Press TV Latest] US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Haiti where she met with Haitian president Rene Preval and is assessing disaster recovery efforts. 
