CBS/AP) A federal judge declared the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional Wednesday, a decision that could put the divisive issue on track for another round of Supreme Court arguments. The case was brought by the same atheist whose previous battle against the words "under God" was rejected last year by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God." Karlton said he was bound by precedent of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which in 2002 ruled in favor of Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow that the pledge is unconstitutional when recited in public schools.
CBS News Correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports that last year, the Supreme Court ducked a direct ruling because it said Newdow lacked custody of his daughter, he lacked the standing to sue. Newdow, an attorney, simply found two parents who do have custody and now he's back in business. Newdow, an attorney and a medical doctor, filed an identical case on behalf of three unnamed parents and their children. Karlton said those families have the right to sue. "Imagine every morning if the teachers had the children stand up, place their hands over their hearts, and say, 'We are one nation that denies God exists,"' Newdow said in an interview with AP Radio after the ruling.
"I think that everybody would not be sitting here saying, 'Oh, what harm is that.' They'd be furious. And that's exactly what goes on against atheists. And it shouldn't." Karlton, ruling in Sacramento, said he would sign a restraining order preventing the recitation of the pledge at the Elk Grove Unified, Rio Linda and Elverta Joint Elementary school districts in Sacramento County, where the plaintiffs' children attend.
The order would not extend beyond those districts unless it is affirmed by the 9th Circuit, in which case it could apply to nine western states, or the Supreme Court, which would apply to all states. The decision sets up another showdown over the pledge in schools, at a time when the makeup of the Supreme Court is in flux.
No surprise here. Karlton, was appointed to the Sacramento bench in 1979 by President Carter. Judicial appointments DO matter. I'm with Red on this one.
http://patriotfilesannex.org/Pledge.htm
#5
Funny, I don't remember being coerced to say the pledge, I remember inventing my own words, or saying blah, blah, blah from time to time and somehow avoided any repurcusions at all.
This has nothing to do with establishing a religion and everything to do with an athiests crusade.
#6
They'd be furious. And that's exactly what goes on against atheists.
Are all atheists furious over the "under god" reference or is it just small vocal group of a minority of the population? I'm inclined to say just remove the quote and move on but there appears to be an agenda here that goes beyond what is on the surface. As far as I can tell there hasn't been any persecution of atheists. Last time I checked the consititution doesn't grant "Freedom from religion".
#8
The 9th Circuit is the poster child for the Congress abrogating its responsilities under said Constitution. Checks and Balances means that Congress need not pass new legislation or amendments. It means that sometime you remove the judges from the bench. The number of overturns of the 9th Circuit should have been justification alone for the removal of a couple of robe wearers. Some members of the Judiciary certainly believe theyâre entitled to abuse their office, so its well long past time that they be shown the door to some professorship at the law colleges and not further federal employment.
#11
The 9th Jerkoffit Court again. Let's get the baddest, boldest conversative associate justices on the SCOTUS as soon as possible, while there is still time.
Posted by: Captain America ||
11/07/2005 18:13 Comments ||
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#12
About time to move the offices of the 9th Circuit to the Aleutians.
#13
Actually this wasn't the 9th Circus it was just a lower District Court judge here in NoCal. Doubtless the 9th Circus will soon affirm the decision though. A more interesting slant (to me anyway) to which no one pays any attention: Newdow and his ilk sued several school districts and the educational establishment isn't exactly a bastion of conservatism, particularly here in California. Having lefty school districts defending the Pledge is a bit like letting the fox guard the henhouse, no?
Posted by: Red Dog ||
11/07/2005 21:12 Comments ||
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#15
Say it with me loud and clear, people:
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that CONGRESS shall make no law establishing religion....
Unless Congress passed a law requiring the Pledge be said in schools, IT'S NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Send these clown judges back to school and teach them how to READ ENGLISH.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
11/07/2005 23:28 Comments ||
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#16
"I plead alignment to the flakes
of the untitled snakes of a merry cow
and to the Republicans for which they scam,
one nacho underpants,
with licorice and jugs of wine for owls"
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (Reuters) - A hand grenade being used instead of a ball in a game of catch exploded early on Saturday killing three youths in this Bosnian town, police and news agencies said. Game of "hot Potato", anyone?
Two youths aged 19 and 20, one of them from neighboring Croatia, were killed instantly while a 20-year-old woman died on her way to hospital, police said. Her sister was slightly injured but two other youths suffered serious injuries. Sorry, 19 and 20 are not "Yuts".
The blast occurred at 2:00 a.m. in the western town of Novi Grad at a place in the town center frequented by youngsters. Police said an inquiry was under way and declined further comment. It was not clear why the grenade exploded. Sometimes they just go "BOOM" all by themselves. Or else one of them said "I wonder what happens when I pull this pin?"
ONASA news agency quoted witnesses as saying the youths tossed the hand grenade to each other before it exploded in the hands of one of them.
Bosnia is awash with illegal weapons left over from the 1992-95 war and tragic incidents are frequent despite several successful campaigns by international peacekeepers and police to get people to hand over illegal weapons.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
11/07/2005 11:54 ||
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Bosnian explorer Semir Osmanagic is convinced that he has found Europe's first pyramids, which he says are a new world wonder dating back to ancient times. "I was amazed when I first saw them. I'm deeply convinced now that this is the work of an ancient French civilization built many thousands of years ago," he said while observing an area he excavated north of Sarajevo.
The 45-year-old is so certain that two pyramids are hidden in Visoko valley that he has spent some 16,000 euros ($20,000) researching the area, located either side of a river about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Bosnian capital. Residents of the nearby town of Visoko have long known about the presence of the two structures that they always referred to as 'pyramids' but none of them was ever intrigued enough to investigate further. Not as enlightend as folks in Roswell, eh?
But Osmanagic, who says that he sharpened his eye for archaeology on numerous trips around the world to study ancient civilizations, insists that the structures "cannot be the art of nature". The self-styled explorer with an Indiana Jones-like hat and clothes began his Bosnian pyramid crusade in April this year after visiting the remnants of a medieval royal palace at the top of the hill. Hat and photo vest is a must.
Osmanagic, a businessman and author of several books on other civilizations, says that the two "constructions" are precisely aligned with the compass to the four corners of the world. He says that he sees astonishing similarities between them and Mexican pyramids dating back to about AD 200, which also come in pairs, one representing the sun and the other the moon. This is why he calls Visocica hill "The Bosnian pyramid of the sun".
Osmanagic says that he believes that builders from an unknown civilization shaped the hill into a 'step pyramid' then coated it with a kind of primitive concrete. The structure now stands some 70 meters (230 feet) high, with a square base that is 220 by 220 meters. After conducting initial probes about 17 meters into the earth that revealed "numerous anomalies in the soil", Osmanagic says that he returned to the site with a team of people to start his initial excavation work.
Nadja Nukic, a geologist at the site, said that she was most puzzled by three layers of brown polished stone that lie an equal distance from each other underground. The team began excavating a few spots at the site this week, with the work expected to be completed in two weeks. They hope to be able to uncover one of the pyramid steps and larger pieces of the mysterious brown stone for further analysis. To back his insistence that the two structures are ancient pyramids, Osmanagic says that his diggers uncovered slabs of polished sandstone that formed the "paved entrance" to the structures.
The director of the Visoko Historic Heritage museum, Senad Hodovic, admits that he is no skeptic. "The pyramids are obviously the work of man. But we need proper and serious analysis to show who built them and when." Hodovic says that he has spent years urging authorities to support archaeological research of the plateau of the hill, which is recorded in historic annals as the site of a medieval Bosnian town. He says that the shape and monumentality of the pyramids is not typical for middle-ages Bosnian constructions. Osmanagic, who has lived in the United States for the past 15 years where he runs a metal workshop business, says that he has no ambitions of becoming famous. No worries.
"I'm not doing this for my own glory. I just want to encourage local authorities to seriously deal with this site which could become Bosnia's most profitable product," Osmanagic said. Thinking of profit, a successful local businessman recently bought most of the area on the plateau where 'pyramid entrance' lies.
#3
The entire assertion that there is some sort of link between the various pyramid building civilizations of the ancient world is patently absurd, not to mention a testament to our modern hubris. Ask yourself this simple question: what is the easiest way to construct a very large building using Stone Age technology? The simple answer is a step pyramid.
This is the kind of funny animal story you had in mind, right Fred?Tampa, Florida â Two Carolina Panther cheerleaders spent the night in jail after a rough night in Channelside. Witnesses say Angela Keathley and Renee Thomas were engaged in some type of sexual activity inside a bathroom stall at Banana Joe's around 2:20 am Sunday.
Hot, drunken cheerleaders writhing against each other in a cramped stall.
Another woman waiting to use the bathroom got into an argument with the pair.
"Hey, hurry up! I gots to go, right now!"
Police say Thomas punched the woman in the face.
"I gots your hurry up right here, bitch! KAPOW!"
When Thomas was arrested, she gave police the name of another Panthers cheerleader. Thomas could face additional charges for lying to police, once they confirm her identity.
"Go behind the curtain and disrobe, we need to take your fingerprints."
Keathley was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing or opposing an officer, while Thomas was charged with one count of battery. The two women were taken to Hillsborough County jail, where they both bonded out later Sunday morning.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/07/2005 08:21 ||
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#1
This beats even lesbian supermodel bounty hunters...
Riyadh, 7 Nov. (AKI) - Police in Saudi Arabia have broken up a beauty contest for gay men at al-Qatif on the east coast of the kingdom, arresting five men previously arrested less than six months ago for the same offence. The men were preparing to stage the competition on Thursday night, the first day of the Muslim festival Eid al-Fitr, when police raided the hotel they were in, forcing many contestants and guests to flee, leaving behind shoes and head scarves.
"Manolo Blahnik's, don't fail me now!"
Some 80 people had been expected to attend the pageant, and police found large numbers of evaluation sheets, used to assess the contestant on attributes such as their height, weight, hip contour and skin colour, Saudi newspaper Al-Watan reported this week. They also found large quantities of beauty products and make-up, lingerie, sex toys and aphrodisiacs.
Four Asians, thought to be the event's organisers, were arrested in the raid, along with a Saudi national. Police are reported to have been tipped off about the contest months ago. Several months ago police arrested 92 people in a raid on a gay party in al-Qatif. Many were wearing women's clothes and make-up, and some wore wigs. So far none of them have been sentenced in court.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/07/2005 11:44 ||
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#1
May God have mercy on their souls, cause the Soddies sure won't.
Police on Saturday seized more than 2 tons of cocaine hidden on a beach on the Caribbean coast and arrested five suspected traffickers who were apparently preparing to load the drugs aboard a speedboat bound for Central America or Mexico. Another 600 kilograms of cocaine were discovered aboard a fishing boat sailing near the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena, authorities said.
During the raid on the beach near Barranquilla, some 700 kilometers (435 miles) north of Bogota, police also confiscated nine vehicles and eight horses. "The drugs were hidden on the beach and were later going to be taken by horse to a speed boat bound for the north," Atlantico state police chief Gen. Luis Gomez told Caracol radio. Police said the drugs were worth an estimated US$2.8 million on U.S. streets. In the second seizure Saturday, six suspects were arrested aboard the fishing boat that was apparently carrying the cocaine toward Caribbean islands for onward shipment to the United States or Europe.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
carrying the cocaine toward Caribbean islands for onward shipment to the United States or Europe.
grass bark and now short hair..tomorrow..wheel barrows with slogans and kimmie pics taken everywhere.
Posted by: Red Dog ||
11/07/2005 6:08 Comments ||
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#2
In the TV series "Let Us Trim Our Hair in Accordance With Socialist Lifestyle" unruly-haired men are singled out and their names and addresses publicised.
Their version of "Cops".
..and just in time for the November sweeps!
#4
Dats a'mighty Conservative of dem dar anti-Regulation/Govt. = pro-Regulation/Govt. Universal Laizzez Faire'ers!? We are all reminded, ONCE AGAIN, why LeftLiberal Cantonization/Mormonization of America will be out the window once free America goes formally "Socialist" - "SEPARATE BUT [UN]EQUAL]" CANTONISM IS FOR FUTURE ANTI-SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SSR/USR AMERIKA, NOT RUSSIA-CHINA - you know, International/Universal State-to-State Equalism!?
SYDNEY: An Australian court dismissed appeals on Friday from three Pakistani brothers convicted of gang rape, with a judge describing a defence claim that their Muslim background contributed to the crime as insulting.
"But, yer honor! We used to do it all the time back home in Quetta!"
New South Wales state appeal court judge Michael Grove refused to reduce the sentences of the three brothers over the July 2002 rapes of two teenage girls at the family home in Sydneyâs suburbs. Appeal lawyers for 27-year-old MSK, one of the brothers, argued that their clientâs strict Muslim upbringing in Pakistan meant he had traditional views about women that made him a âcultural time bombâ in Australia and contributed to the rapes.
Then why the hell was he in Australia? Did he expect them to change things just for him?
The judge said it was an inappropriate argument. âIt was intended to suggest that differences might be observed in behaviour in the respective cultures of Pakistan and Australia. There was and is not the slightest basis for concluding other than that in both places, all women are entitled to respect and safety from sexual assault,â he told the court.
"They have laws against that sort of thing back in Pakland, too! The only difference is that here we enforce them!"
âThe expression âcultural time bombâ was to say the least inappropriate and inapt - it would understandably be regarded as offensive by those who fell within the scope of its insult.â MAK (25) is serving 16 years for the rapes, while his siblings MMK (19) and MSK were both jailed for 22 years after being convicted last year.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
Looks like these "Cultural Time Bombs" are going to be disarmed...
#3
Don't you see the tragedy is the lawyer was right.
THe judge doesn't want to admit there ARE cultural differences and they ARE ticking time bombs because of what that means.
That means we are NOT safe importing people from lands where women have no human rights and no respect.
Admitting some cultures are incompatible is the first step to admitting multiculturalism does not work.
The truth is in Pakistan many women are not given any respect or even basic human rights. Regularly they are murdered and raped by members of their own family for being suspected of shaming the family honour.
See if the Judge admitted the lawyer was right, we'd have a tool to start campaigning Politicians to rethink the policy of multiculturalism and start putting limits on it.
Instead the magistrate like all wanker magistrates in this country has buried his head in the sand.
I am glad the rapists are locked up and he did not lessen their sentences.
But the sentencing remarks should instead have been along the lines of:
It is true, he was a ticking time bomb but that is no excuse in this country to commit the crime of rape. If he wanted to live by the cultural rules of Pakistan he should have moved to Pakistan. There is no place in Australia for the free expression of a culture that treats women as second class citizens.
#5
Everytime the tolerant societies of the West accept immigrants from the intolerant societies we risk bleeding the intolerant socleties of the tolerant folk required to change those societies meaning they will stay intolerant that much longer for our attempts at being do gooders.
Everytime the tolerant societies allow the intolarant in from intolarant societies we show that we are kind of stupid.
#6
Damn good, but I can't help but feel its the Muslim courts of the ME per se that should had made this decisions. Islam will only incur self-beneficial reformation and avoid Commie-style implosion and irrelevancy iff decisions like this one are routine in Muslim courts. PARIS RIOTS > French = Euro Socialism can't give the rioters any more state-protected/subsidized jobs no matter how long the riots or how many cars get burned. The French "modele" can't even afford regular workdays, regular paydays, paid vacations, or even burials anymore - why do they think the Euros have to share nuke aircraft carriers!?
#10
...their clientâs strict Muslim upbringing in Pakistan meant he had traditional views about women that made him a âcultural time bombâ in Australia and contributed to the rapes.
Nice to know that rape is a big part of that "strict Muslim upbringing" and "traditional views".
#12
That means we are NOT safe importing people from lands where women have no human rights and no respect.
anon1, I'd argue that we are relatively safe in importing women from such cultures. The most we would have to watch for is infrequent promotion of genital mutilation and the extremely rare homicide bomber.
Whereas a complete and total ban on men being allowed to immigrate from cultures with institutionalized misogyny makes a mountain of sense. A few rare instances of political asylum might be called for but no visas, no green cards, zilch. I'll be subjecting this idea to further consideration but at first blush it certainly appears quite reasonable.
There needs to be some sort of vivid penalty for countries that continue the practice of institutionalized misogyny. We need to choke off any advancement of their male populations at our universities and corporations whereby they can extract vital knowledge and export it back to their abusive hellholes.
I'm rather confident that the PC moral relativists will squawk quite a bit about such a sensible idea. They can all go f&%k themselves.
#13
I still think our old buddy Zenster has his own personal agenda here on the Burg . . . but I couldn't agree more about his point regarding Moslems getting a first rate American university eduation, and then taking what they learned back with them to use against us. All the Arabs/Middle Easterners I knew in college hated the US and the US government in particular, and had no qualms about stating that they wanted to eradicate it--even mentioning blowing up the WTC "to destroy the US economy." So . . . educate citizens only? Maybe. Of course they can become "citizens" and still go back, etc. or work from the inside.
I think it was great that the Aussie judge pointed the finger at the Pakis and upheld women. It defined the Pakis and any culture that supports their actions as outside the bounds of human decency.
Multiculturalism works well when all parties have a viewpoint favorable to it, and agree to appreciate and value diverse cultures living in harmony with them. But multiculturalism tends to be a viewpoint stemming from "orthodox" Christian values and philosophy, mixed with carryover ideas from the Enlightenment. So, while I like it, it's a culturally-bound ide. The problem is the other "cultures" don't share those values---they feel threatened by "multiculturalism" to a large degree because their view is that cultures must compete for ascendency.
#14
Multiculturism is a Myth. The benefits of of diversity do not trump the necessity to assimilate into an evolving society. Some cultures are incompatible with ALL other cultures. For instance that whole Caliphate thingy.
#15
There is some confusion comparing multi-culturalism with political imperatives. Keep mc reigned in and you have some great food, song, and dance. You can throw in some interesting folk/religious customs--okeedokee. This is the harmless "educational" side of mc. More than that and you have political competition and struggle for power/ascendency.
#16
I'm certainly no fan of the multicultural methodogies we know in this country today, but inclusion and assimilation have worked in the past with like minded people. The Huguenots for example, were French Protestants who generally followed the teachings of Calvin, and due to religious persecution, were forced to flee France to other countries in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Huguenots were welcomed in America and across the globe. They contributed much to society wherever the called home. Some in the media are now blaming France and it's alleged "apartheid" attitude to middle easterners for the current violence. A word of both curious origins and outcomes. Failed immigration policies and attempts at seperation have resulted in entire group migrations in other places. The stage may be set for yet another. I would live next to a Frenchman, no problem.
#17
Keep mc reigned in and you have some great food, song, and dance.
Hey Ex-lib who doesn't enjoy a good Goat Kabob. And the Bedouin line dance is a real hoot if accompanied by the rich tones of a Santur. It's all that "kill me cause I'm a infidel" stuff I'm not too crazy about.
Oh, no . . . Not an invitation to ask the question that's never answered . . . Well folks, let's try it, again.
IMO, Zenster, the history of you past posting shows that you probably have ulterior motives -- because you voice strong support (to the point of utter overkill) for positions obviously near and dear to many who visit this blog -- and then (at times, here and there, but increasingly and thankfully less over time, thrown in as if afterthoughts) comes your mockery of Bush and the validity of his presidency, without any proof to back up the slander.
Zenster, my concern is that just because a person sounds pro-military doesnât mean that same person might not have some ulterior motive to slam Bush, or to undermine the currently effective efforts being undertaken to reduce the worldwide threat of islamofascism. The lack of realism to the gung ho, âpro-militaryâ solutions you spout makes me question your sincerity. Please persuade me otherwise, if you think Iâm wrong. Also, I donât recall you ever answering a central question that you have been repeatedly asked: How do you square your âkill them all, let God sort them outâ rhetoric with your âBush is a crookâ rhetoric? Generally, when I ask you this question you just stop posting for awhile, but I really think inquiring minds would like to hear your answer to the question.
Now, this doesn't mean I don't enjoy your posts. Many times I do. And, it doesn't mean I don't think you have good things to offer. Many times I think you have offered very interesting and insightful contributions. Just some loose ends and curiousity . . .
#20
Now, this doesn't mean I don't enjoy your posts. Many times I do. And, it doesn't mean I don't think you have good things to offer. Many times I think you have offered very interesting and insightful contributions. Just some loose ends and curiousity . . .
Posted by: cingold 2005-11-07 21:24
For fuc** sake, let the lad say whatever it is thats on this mind. He can explain himself if he likes, or he can tell you to fu** off and you can go have a good cry. My stay here may not be long. The arrogance, whinning, and thin skinned emotion of some here is an absolute load! Not impressed at all. This is American, let him say what he damn well likes and bugger off!
#2
The fires in France are not helping greenhouse gas emmissions there either. Better wait to tell Chiraq the bad news later, after the insurrection is quelled burned out run out of targets ended.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/07/2005 9:27 Comments ||
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Europe risks economic damage from Kyoto: study
How about "Europe risks further economic damage from Kyoto:"?
I mean, it wasn't as if they were absolutely good to go to start off with...
TRIPOLI â Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi called French President Jacques Chirac on Saturday to express his concern about rioting in Paris suburbs and other parts of France, the official Jana news agency said. It said Chirac thanked Gaddafi for his interest and reassured him that the situation was under control.
Dang, Chirac really is good at lying through his teeth ...
Gaddafi was reported saying Libya was âdisposed to help France overcome these events,â which he described as âregrettable.â The report did not outline what kind of aid might have been forthcoming.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/07/2005 00:50 ||
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The report did not outline what kind of aid might have been forthcoming.
#2
Gaddafi graciously offered to send up to 6 "death squads" to help quell the violence. He said on the phone, "Jacque baby, I have experience with this sort of thing". "Trust me, I know what I am talking about".
#3
Hmmm...how about free economic zones in France, financed by Libya to hire these unemployed masses, unencumbered with the usual trade union stifling regulations. It's not like the socialist government is going to follow the Chinese model and unleash capitalism. Heh.
MADRID The Spanish Parliament agreed Thursday to consider a proposal by the region of Catalonia calling for greater autonomy from Madrid, intensifying an already heated debate over the rights of Spain's regions to govern themselves. With a vote of 197 to 146, the Parliament decided early Thursday morning to open negotiations over the proposal, a process that is expected to last months.
Although the vote was largely a formality, the hours of passionate speeches preceding it underscored the seriousness of the debate ahead. The proposed statute, passed overwhelming by the regional Parliament of Catalonia in September, contains several elements that politicians in Madrid say could conflict with the Spanish Constitution. "The distance separating the statute and constitutionality is so abysmal that negotiations are impossible," Mariano Rajoy, the president of the conservative opposition group in Parliament, the Popular Party, said before the vote. His party was the only one to vote no Thursday.
Rajoy and other conservatives have accused Zapatero of being soft on Catalan demands for more autonomy, saying his stance threatens to set the stage for the region's separation from Spain.
Zapatero, a Socialist, and his allies said that the vote Thursday should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the Catalan proposal, but simply as an agreement to discuss it. "Why be afraid of a democratic debate?" he said.
As a Socialist, shouldn't that question answer itself?
Although he avoided getting into specifics, Zapatero suggested that the proposal contained some elements that conflicted with the Constitution and that it would need to be revised before gaining his full support. One of the most controversial elements is a clause that says Catalonia constitutes a nation within Spain. Conservative politicians say that the Constitution does not allow for any region to declare itself a nation.
During the debate leading up to Thursday's vote, Zapatero seemed to take the middle ground. "Catalonia has a national identity," he said. "That is compatible with the Constitution."
His majority in Parliament depends on the support of a party from Catalonia called Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, which supports virtual independence from Spain and which may abandon him if he takes a tough stand against the proposal. Zapatero would be able to continue governing without the party's support, but many of his major initiatives would probably stall unless he struck an alliance with another party.
Zapatero says he is not compromised by his relationship with the party, contending that it will not lead him to adopt positions that are not in accordance with the Spanish Constitution.
Not any more so, anyway.
Calls for greater autonomy for Catalonia, a region of about seven million people in Spain's northeastern corner, go back centuries.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/07/2005 00:09 ||
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I've been there. It's a nice place, but I'm not certain how it would do as a seperate nation. My bet is the Spanish are going to find out.
COPENHAGEN: Caricatures of Muhammad (PBUH) published in a Danish paper, which have already caused uproar in Muslim communities in Denmark and abroad, will be on the agenda at an Islamic summit in Mecca next month, said an Egyptian diplomat on Friday. âWe have been informed by our foreign minister that this caricature affair will be on the agenda at a special summit of the Islamic Conference,â said Mohab Nasr Mostafa Mahdy, the embassyâs deputy ambassador.
"We got nuttin' better to do with our time..."
âThis is a collective initiative taken by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and Egypt played a leading role,â he said. Images of the prophet are considered blasphemous under Islam.
But not under any other religion...
On Wednesday, Egyptâs ambassador in Beirut, Hussein Darrar, said he and Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh had discussed which measures to take against Denmark following the Jyllands-Posten paperâs publication of 12 Muhammad cartoons in September. âWe have asked the Danish government to take measures, but have not received a response to our request.
What part of "free press" don't you understand?
"As a result, we have decided not to continue talks with Denmark on the issue of human rights and discrimination and other measures concerning Denmarkâsâ agenda within international bodies, Darrar told reporters.
They're making the assumption they're in charge by virtue of being Moose limbs.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2005 00:00 ||
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There's nothing less interesting or credible than people who either have lost their sense of humor, particularly the ability to laugh at themselves, or never possessed such honesty in the first place. And, of course, such fools invite ridicule, lol. OIC? O No U Don't.
#6
Actually, this OIC meeting would be a good time for a moderate moslem country to bring up the issue of the publically funded antisemitic art that is widespread, nearly ubiquitous in the arab world.
Note: The Washington Diplomat is a monthly free publication that covers DC's diplomatic community. It always features a grave-faced Ambassador in a tastefully expensive suit on the the cover, numerous photos of diplomats and their bejewelled wives at fancy parties, and lots of ads for very expensive baubles. I read it on the subway. I'll post articles of interest from time to time.
From the Dept. of Wishful Thinking:
After spending five months last year in Washington on a prestigious trans-Atlantic fellowship sponsored by the German Marshall Fund, Mark Leonard developed a historical metaphor to understand and explain American power. Leonard does not compare the United States in the early years of the 21st century with imperial Rome or with the far-flung British empire of the 19th century, but rather with a 1956 Chevy automobile.
A '56 Chevy? That can't be! Hitler never drove a '56 Chevy...
Leonard, a policy analyst at the London-based Centre for European Reform, said that like this vintage car, the United States is formidable but fading.
Okay, he's got my attention. Let's hear it. Why is America formidable but fading?
âAmerican power, sort of like a â56 Chevy, seems to have passed its prime,â he told The Washington Diplomat. âThe components that allowed America to dominate the 20th century are still in placeâa strong economy, a powerful popular culture, a big armyâbut the clumsy way that power has been exercised under President Bush has left it looking isolated, tired, even weak.â
I admit, it was hard to get out of bed this morning. But only 'cos the Redskins beat the Eagles yesterday.
Leonard returned to London from his Washington visit convinced that the European Unionâs decentralized organizational structure and shrewd understanding of how to exert its influence in the world make it an important model for other regions to consider.
Ah, but he also returned to London convinced that he needed to promote his new book.
Leonard is a rising star in trans-Atlantic foreign policy circles. Until earlier this year, he was director of the Foreign Policy Centre, a think tank he helped start at the age of 24 with the support of British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He is now director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform where he analyzes Europeâs relationships with the United States, the Middle East and China. The center is a think tank that is funded by private sector donations. Its operating premise is that European integration is historically important and largely beneficial, but that substantial reforms are needed for the EU to reach its potential.
Leonard believes that the end of the Cold War and the rise of globalization have unleashed three major shifts in global power, all of which can be beneficial to the EU.
* The first power shift comes from countries in the West to those in the East and South, such as China, India and Brazil. These rising nations are searching for models and allies other than the United States.
*The second shift is from a global order organized around states to one that tries to protect individuals from global threats such as genocide and terrorism. âTodayâs threats are neither caused by, nor aimed at, states. Today we fear invading armies less than terrorism, global warming or the spread of diseases like AIDS,â Leonard said.
*The third shift is from a global system premised on national power to one defined by regional integration. In Leonardâs view, the European Union is the godfather of regional organizations and its approach to governance is influencing other regional initiatives in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and South Asia. Leonard said the EU should be viewed as a network rather than a stateâa network that is being strengthened and expanded by constant negotiation among the member countries. âThe EU is a skeletal organization that leaves real power to the states, which are responsible for overseeing and implementing most of the EUâs activities,â he explained. âBy building a network of power that binds states together with a market, common institutions and international law rather than a hierarchical nation-state, it is increasingly writing the rules for the 21st century.â Leonard said that Europeans defend international legal norms because the EU is based on an international treaty. âThe law is Europeâs weapon of choice in its campaign to reshape the world. Europeans believe the best way to win the war on terror, control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, or wipe out organized crime and drugs is to spread the international rule of law,â he said.
Continued on Page 49
#1
Leonard returned to London from his Washington visit convinced that the European Unionâs decentralized organizational structure and shrewd understanding of how to exert its influence in the world make it an important model for other regions to consider.
Yeah, that soft power - sure does get results, doesn't it?
..itâs the U.S. that needs Europeâs help more than the other way around.
Haaahhahahaaaa, sounds like Mr. Leonard is into the heavy stuff. Maybe the TSA flunkies should have checked his bag a little more thoroughly for drug paraphernalia when he left for home.
#2
Like many other analysts, Leonard is fascinated by the rise of China. He said that as China emerges, it is adopting policies that are consistent with those of the EU
I'm not sure that's encouraging.
Posted by: James ||
11/07/2005 13:18 Comments ||
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#3
Sometimes it is absolutely astounding how seriously self delusional people can be taken.
#5
...first time in 50 years, itâs the U.S. that needs Europeâs help more than the other way around.
Right...
Despite being hammered with Hurricanes, our economy grew 3.8% and unemployment is near 5%, wages are up and we don't have massive riots.
The EU however, 0.1% GDP growth, 15-20% or higher unemployment, massive brain drain of people fleeing to US, UK and Austraila and massive riots from an barbaric immogrant hoard.
Enjoy your new Islamic overlords. You are religated to the dustbin of history. The US will still be around in 50 years. Will you?
#7
I too found it hard to get out of bed, but that is becuase the Raiders LET the Chiefs win. I lose sleep on EU only when I think how JFKerry would make us adhere to their many rants and rules.
#9
The parts that make me nervous and itchy are the bits about the end of the nation-state. Our ability to even define our borders (let alone defend them) is being chip-chip-chipped away by the Tranzis. I have no wish to become a 'global citizen'. I like being an American just fine, thankyewverymuch.
#11
That way the European way of doing things will have become the worldâs.
Right. The chart accompanying the article shows that by 2015, the average lunch will take 23.5 hours, during which 12.7 bottles of wine will be consumed.
Posted by: Matt ||
11/07/2005 14:55 Comments ||
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#12
The economies of this century will be based around Pacific Ocean trade. Europe (and Africa) will be the one out in the cold.
#13
I'd turn his analysis on its head and starting with the same data/facts reach exactly the opposite conclusion.
In summary, as many states surrender their power to largely impotent transnational institutions, those that refuse to do so become more influential in world affairs.
#14
Weren't there similar analyses / claims like this when the Euro was gaining strength against the dollar? Funny how that's not mentioned anymore, isn't it?
#18
They pay him to tell them what they want to hear. Both parties come away happy. Just another professional brain fart who doesn't actually do anything.
#19
"Leonard described the U.S.âs reach as shallow and narrow while the EUâs is broad and deep. âThe lonely superpower can bribe, bully or impose its will almost anywhere in the world, but when its back is turned, its potency wanes,â he writes.
Hmmm - where exactly is the EU's reach so broad and deep? Sudan, Iran, Venezuela, Nork, Paris? Someone help me out here...
Meanwhile, the "shallow and narrow" reach of the US in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan is so ineffective.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
11/07/2005 19:23 Comments ||
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#27
Just another professional brain fart who doesn't actually do anything
I want one of those jobs. Just sit around and come up with a premise about how the US is in the tanks, with no supporting facts. Get lots of press and praise from the RFSP and cash in.
Thanks. It's been a looooonnng, hard day - I needed a good laugh. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
11/07/2005 20:25 Comments ||
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#29
The French riots are NOT yet out of CHirac's control - it is, however, a heads up for the Frenchies and all Euro-Socialism that they must accept Socialism's realistic "separate but [un]equal" outcome means they either adopt US-STYLE FEDERALISM and REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY; OR IN LT BE PREPARED TO BECOME THE EURABIAN CALIPHATE of God-based Totalitarianism-Regulatory Centralism, where [EURO]JUDEOCHRISTIANITY > DE-REGULATED ISLAMISM, aka LIMITED ANTI/UN-ISLAMISM!? The only issue then for the Euros will be whether the future Eurabian Caliphate will be par, or dominated, by Russia-China in the East, or Clintonian Communist=Fascist Amerika, the USSA/USR, in the West???
I Dr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, would like to ask your partnership in reprofilling funds over $250m in excess, the funds would be coming via a string of selected banks in Europe and Asia. The Funds in question were generated by me during the oil for food program in Iraq. I have been getting scandals/controversy in this regards, you can read more on the links below-
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/apr2005/anna-a05.shtml World Socialist site; funny place for a Nigerian scammer to get their news!
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2003/main042803.htm Canada Free Press; appears to be conservative source; quotes Limbaugh!
You would be paid 5% as your management fee. Please do not write back directly to me via my official email address. All further correspondence should be sent to my private mail box [DELETED]. As soon as you indicate your interest I will give further details.
Remember to treat this mail and transaction as strictly confidential. I will await your urgent correspondence via my private mail box-
Dr.Kofi Annan.
SECRETARY- GENERAL
kofiannan@un.org
www.un.org
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/07/2005 08:14 ||
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#2
tu3031, remember how scientists investigating the Hindu cosmic model of an elephant on the back of a turtle etc. found it to be all wrong? It was turtles all the way down, right?
The same sort of thing applies here. It's scams, all the way down. There is nothing about Kofi which is not a scam.
#4
No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline.
Kofi Annun, United Nations Secretary-General ABCD Books, Quotable Quotes
Kofi, tell us all about your "lifeline" to Kojo and the Swiss-based firm Cotecna. We'd all like to hear that story. BTW, pass the following along to Kojo, it's got his name written all over it!
COTECNA,
JOB OPPORTUNITIES AUGUST 2005
For our offices in China, specialized in commercial inspections, we are looking for a dynamic and experienced Managing Director who will be in charge of managing a Joint Venture.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The person will be responsible for developing and managing the business (management staffing, operating functions and the running of the offices) as well as conducting negotiations and lobbying with government organizations....UN etc.
We are looking for the following profile:
Degree in business or similar, whatever, preferably MBA or Masters level; Senior management experience in the shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, FOOD, trading in commodities or inspection industries, preferably in an international environment; Used to negotiating at a high level, behind closed doors, with both the private and public sectors; Broad vision and a good sense of business development, marketing, logistics and finance; ability to keep ones mouth shut.Ethnic Chinese or a foreigner with a long experience of dealing with or living in China. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and English. French and/or Spanish or any other language is an advantage. If you can demonstrate good organizational and management skills and are preferably aged between 35 and 45, we would be interested in hearing from you. Please be prepared to bring rolodex to interview.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/07/2005 14:25 Comments ||
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#9
I've been getting ones about the Nigerian presidents wife who croaked in the Spanish hospital. Seems like she had a tidy bank account that can be mine for a nominal fee.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/07/2005 16:39 Comments ||
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The High Court in India's southern Andhra Pradesh state has quashed an act that reserves jobs for Muslims, saying it is unconstitutional.
The state government this year reserved 5% of education places and government jobs for the Muslim minority. But the court, ruling on petitions from a number of students, declared the act void and questioned the labelling of Muslims as socially backward.
The state's chief minister said he would appeal to the Supreme Court.
YS Rajasekhara Reddy said the ruling only strengthened his resolve to push through the act.
When the act was announced, Andhra Pradesh became the first Indian state to reserve jobs across the board for its minority Muslim community. But the five-judge High Court bench said the act was contrary to earlier related rulings by the Supreme Court. The bench said that the act was in violation of the constitution, which did not allow reservations on the basis of religion.
It criticised the reasoning of the Andhra Pradesh Backward Class commission, which made the reservation recommendation. The judges said the commission had not gathered sufficient data or evolved a proper mechanism for subjecting Muslims to a test of social backwardness.
The bench also said that after Muslims were given the 5% reservation, the total reservation quota in the state had exceeded the 50% limit set by the Supreme Court.
Mr Reddy rejected the court's view that the act was unconstitutional. He said the government was not offering reservations to Muslims on the basis of religion. He said not all Muslims were offered the benefit but only those who were deemed disadvantaged.
Muslims make up about 10% of the 78m population in Andhra Pradesh.
And where did the judges get that magical figure from?
Reservation or affirmative action was supposed to be a temporary measure to lift the status of "untouchables". The author of the Indian constitution, himself an "untouchable" agonized about the merits of affirmative action. He was not convinced it was the right method of handling past discrimination.
The French have a saying.. there is nothing so permananent as a temporary measure.. and it seems to be true.
Affirmative action has become a monster in India.
Posted by: john ||
11/07/2005 21:23 Comments ||
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#5
it's hell on the IRS helpline call center!
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/07/2005 22:00 Comments ||
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#6
Affirmative action is just another communist method of taking from one and giving to another. I've watched it for many years and it is a cancer.
Posted by: DanNY ||
11/07/2005 01:08 ||
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#1
During the hayday of NATO vs. USSR, the Germans were always a sieve for classified and techological information. Might as well have just loaded up a truck with the stuff and drive it across the border, if nothing else just to eliminate the middle man. Some things never change.
#2
The SOviets during WW2 crossed rivers in US-built and US-supplied DUKWS, were transported to the forward or rear areas in US Jeeps, Carriers, and Trucks, communicated to rear HQ's wid US radios and wired telephones, attacked from the air in US Airacobras, P40's, and German-designed Sturmoviks, fought the Panzers wid the US-designed T34 or US-supplied Shermans, and fired at the Nazis wid either US artillery or US-mfged Arty tubes, etc., even ZHUKOV watched Soviet troops in action wid US-made binoculars - all this war aid to help Stalin survive and prevail ags Hitler ergo Stalin's and Mao's boyz STILL fired at US planes, ships, andor soldiers in numerous wartime incidents. NO SURPRISE HERE - MOVE ON.
(CNN) -- Prices at the pump fell 23 cents per gallon in the United States in the past two weeks, according to a survey released Sunday. The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular was $2.43, the Lundberg Survey found. That was about 20 cents lower than it had been a few days before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29. It was also 41 cents higher than the average a year ago. The survey of gas stations in all 50 states was carried out Friday.
Publisher Trilby Lundberg said prices have tumbled as refining capacity has been restored following hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico region. Also, imports have increased, while demand has dropped. Americans traditionally drive less as fall sets in. And the historically high prices have reduced demand, Lundberg said. A survey two weeks ago found the price had fallen 25 cents during the previous two weeks. Lundberg said Sunday she expects "more price cuts, but at a much smaller rate than we've seen for the past month," as more refining facilities are repaired and the lower prices encourage some people to drive more.
The lowest average price the survey found was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where drivers paid an average of $2.06 for a gallon of self-serve regular. The highest average price was in Miami, at $2.74.
Wal-Mart here in San Antonio had regular for $2.12 yesterday.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/07/2005 14:05 ||
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#1
If you're feeling better about all this, don't worry - something will come about that will cause an emotional response in traders who will subsequently bid up the price of oil (again), and the price of gas will rocket up accordingly.
LAHORE: Three motorcyclists died while doing acrobats on city roads in various incidents. 20-year-old Saqib, a resident of Garhi Shahu was doing wheelies on the Main Ferozepur Road when he lost his balance and fell on the road.
"Hey, y'all! Look what happens when I do this!... Ow!"
He suffered severe head injuries and was taken to Services Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
"He's dead, Jim!"
His body was given to the family without an autopsy.
"Here ya go, Pop!"
"Ummm... This is a garbage bag?"
"No, no! It's a plastic shroud!"
24-year-old Muhammad Waseem, was doing acrobatics on his motorcycle in Johar Town police precincts when he lost his balance and collided with a footpath. He suffered head injuries and died instantly. His body was given to his family without an autopsy.
"Hey! This plastic shroud leaks! That stuff's all over my upholstery!"
18-year-old Ali, a resident of EME Colony, was racing with his friends on motorcycles on Canal Road when he lost control and collided with a car and died instantly.
"Ha ha! Catch me if you can!... Aaaaiiiieeee!"
His body was given to his family without an autopsy.
"Can I have a sponge, too? I'm really gonna need a sponge..."
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2005 00:00 ||
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Great comentary, Fred.
Is there a special Darwin Award for cyclists?
A severe aftershock measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale and two mild tremors rattled northern Pakistan early on Sunday, the Seismological Department said. The strongest aftershock since the devastating earthquake of October 8 struck Islamabad, NWFP and Kashmir at 7:12am, a department official said. It was centred 120 kilometres north of Islamabad and rattled Peshawar, Malakand, Swat, Mansehra, Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Rawlakot, he said.
We're not stopping until they're all Unitarians! Mwaaa-haaa-haaa-haaa-haaa!
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2005 00:00 ||
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7,6,5,4,3,2,1... FIRE IN THE HOLE! FIRE IN THE HOLE!
A Hindu mob attacked a Muslim village in northern India, torching homes and killing three people, after hearing rumors that cows, considered holy by Hindus, were slaughtered for Islamic celebrations, police said Sunday. Hindus from neighboring areas attacked Mehndipur village in the northern Uttar Pradesh state on Saturday night and set fire to dozens of houses after being told villagers had killed the cows for a feast to mark Eid-al-Fitr, the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the day before, said S. B. Shirodkar, a local police chief. Three Muslims died and more than 40 houses were torched, Shirodkar said.
"Happy holidays, you cow-slaughtering Moose limb bastards!"
He said a police investigation revealed no cow had been slaughtered in the village.
"Never mind."
Authorities deployed paramilitary forces in and around Mehndipur, about 20 miles east of the state capital, Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, and about 15 percent of its 180 million people are Muslims.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/07/2005 00:00 ||
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probably not a good idea to open a McDonalds there.
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.
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (Reuters) - A hand grenade being used instead of a ball in a game of catch exploded early on Saturday killing three youths in this Bosnian town, police and news agencies said. 
Riyadh, 7 Nov. (AKI) - Police in Saudi Arabia have broken up a beauty contest for gay men at al-Qatif on the east coast of the kingdom, arresting five men previously arrested less than six months ago for the same offence. The men were preparing to stage the competition on Thursday night, the first day of the Muslim festival Eid al-Fitr, when police raided the hotel they were in, forcing many contestants and guests to flee, leaving behind shoes and head scarves. 
Police on Saturday seized more than 2 tons of cocaine hidden on a beach on the Caribbean coast and arrested five suspected traffickers who were apparently preparing to load the drugs aboard a speedboat bound for Central America or Mexico. Another 600 kilograms of cocaine were discovered aboard a fishing boat sailing near the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena, authorities said.
SYDNEY: An Australian court dismissed appeals on Friday from three Pakistani brothers convicted of gang rape, with a judge describing a defence claim that their Muslim background contributed to the crime as insulting.
TRIPOLI â Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi called French President Jacques Chirac on Saturday to express his concern about rioting in Paris suburbs and other parts of France, the official Jana news agency said. It said Chirac thanked Gaddafi for his interest and reassured him that the situation was under control.
COPENHAGEN: Caricatures of Muhammad (PBUH) published in a Danish paper, which have already caused uproar in Muslim communities in Denmark and abroad, will be on the agenda at an Islamic summit in Mecca next month, said an Egyptian diplomat on Friday. âWe have been informed by our foreign minister that this caricature affair will be on the agenda at a special summit of the Islamic Conference,â said Mohab Nasr Mostafa Mahdy, the embassyâs deputy ambassador.
I Dr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, would like to ask your partnership in reprofilling funds over $250m in excess, the funds would be coming via a string of selected banks in Europe and Asia. The Funds in question were generated by me during the oil for food program in Iraq. I have been getting scandals/controversy in this regards, you can read more on the links below-
(CNN) -- Prices at the pump fell 23 cents per gallon in the United States in the past two weeks, according to a survey released Sunday. The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular was $2.43, the Lundberg Survey found. That was about 20 cents lower than it had been a few days before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29. It was also 41 cents higher than the average a year ago. The survey of gas stations in all 50 states was carried out Friday.
LAHORE: Three motorcyclists died while doing acrobats on city roads in various incidents. 20-year-old Saqib, a resident of Garhi Shahu was doing wheelies on the Main Ferozepur Road when he lost his balance and fell on the road. 
A severe aftershock measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale and two mild tremors rattled northern Pakistan early on Sunday, the Seismological Department said. The strongest aftershock since the devastating earthquake of October 8 struck Islamabad, NWFP and Kashmir at 7:12am, a department official said. It was centred 120 kilometres north of Islamabad and rattled Peshawar, Malakand, Swat, Mansehra, Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Rawlakot, he said. 
A Hindu mob attacked a Muslim village in northern India, torching homes and killing three people, after hearing rumors that cows, considered holy by Hindus, were slaughtered for Islamic celebrations, police said Sunday. Hindus from neighboring areas attacked Mehndipur village in the northern Uttar Pradesh state on Saturday night and set fire to dozens of houses after being told villagers had killed the cows for a feast to mark Eid-al-Fitr, the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the day before, said S. B. Shirodkar, a local police chief. Three Muslims died and more than 40 houses were torched, Shirodkar said. 
