Zimbabwe has hailed the failure of a UN Security Council resolution to impose new sanctions on the country's leaders. Russia and China vetoed the resolution, saying the situation in Zimbabwe posed no threat to international security.
The UK said it was incomprehensible, while the US said the veto brought into question Russia's reliability as a G8 partner. But South Africa said sanctions would interfere with attempts to form a national unity government. The measures proposed in the draft UN resolution had included an arms embargo and a travel ban for President Robert Mugabe and 13 of his key allies.
There has been growing international criticism of Zimbabwe since the re-election of President Robert Mugabe in a run-off boycotted by the opposition. The opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change party say they had faced a campaign of violence by Mugabe supporters, which left dozens dead and thousands injured and forced from their homes.
Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu described the resolution as an attempt to make the people of Zimbabwe suffer so they would turn against their government. Britain, he said, "wanted to divert attention by bringing unfounded allegations against Zimbabwe, against the people of Zimbabwe, trying to make the people of Zimbabwe suffer more with the economic sanctions... so that they can turn against their own government".
Mr Ndlovu thanked Russia and China for upholding, as he put it, the United Nations principle of non-interference with member states. "We... would like to thank those who helped defeat international racism disguised as multilateral action at the UN."
The resolution had the support of nine council members, the minimum required to pass in the 15-member council. But the veto of any of the five permanent members - which include Russia and China - is enough to defeat a resolution.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/13/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
British Prime Minster Gordon Brown will press the European Union to take harsher action against Zimbabwe, after Russia and China vetoed proposed new sanctions at the U.N. Security Council, his office said Saturday.
Brown plans to discuss EU action against President Robert Mugabe's regime when the British leader meets with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana at a summit starting Sunday in Paris.
The three will be among 43 leaders of European, Middle Eastern and North African nations at the summit.
Brown's office said he would propose new EU travel bans on members of Mugabe's government and action against companies owned by Mugabe allies.
Russia and China on Friday vetoed a proposal from the United States and Britain for a new U.N. arms embargo and other punitive measures against Zimbabwe's president and top aides. Western powers mustered nine votes, the minimum needed to gain approval in the 15-nation council, but the action failed because of the vetoes by two of the five permanent members.
And Obama wants 'tougher sanctions' on Iran. Oh yeah, that'll work well in a U.N. that can't even sanction Zimbabwe ...
The vetoes came as a surprise and disappointment for Brown. The British prime minister believed he had secured sufficient international backing for U.N. sanctions against Mugabe during last week's summit of leaders from the Group of Eight industrialized nations, said a Brown spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. "It was a high-stakes gamble, which earlier in the week looked promising because the Russian president had made commitments at the G-8 to go along with financial sanctions," said Mark Malloch-Brown, Britain's minister for African, Asia and the U.N.
Zimbabwe's opposition party said Friday that at least 113 of its members have been killed in political violence since March.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Britain would continue to press Mugabe over government-backed violence and intimidation of the opposition during Zimbabwe's first-round presidential vote in March and runoff ballot in June. "Mugabe is more isolated within his own country than ever before," Miliband told British Broadcasting Corp. radio. "We have got to make sure, though, that the final hold that he has on power, which is at a barrel of a gun, is as short as possible because the misery for those people is absolutely overwhelming."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/13/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
how hard do you think Obama would even push for sanctions on Iran? It's all bullshit. He doesn't have the spine or desire to back up even his vacuous promises, much less tough positions. He's a p*ssy
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/13/2008 8:37 Comments ||
Top||
Margaret Thatcher is to be given the ultimate accolade of a State funeral when she reaches the end of her days the first British Prime Minister since Winston Churchill to be afforded such an honour.
But the possibility of a formal procession could be jeopardised by fears that there are insufficient troops available to line the route because the Armed Forces are so overstretched in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Although Lady Thatcher is currently in good health she was with the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday The Mail on Sunday has learned that plans are under way for her funeral, when the time eventually comes, to take place at St Pauls Cathedral.
The Queen and Gordon Brown are both in discussions with Lady Thatchers private office concerning the arrangements. This does not reflect any concern over Lady Thatchers health, but simply the prudent long-term planning necessary for any event involving the Queen.
It has not yet been decided whether the 82-year-old former Conservative leader will lie in state in Westminster Hall. To date the only Prime Minister in the 20th and 21st centuries to be given this honour was Churchill.
There were four non-Royal State funerals in the 19th century Nelson, Wellington, Palmerston and Gladstone.
St Pauls was chosen at Lady Thatchers request. The Queen is expected to be among the many world leaders, Royals and other dignitaries who would be in attendance.
But when she passes, how about asking the Commonwealth countries to send a detachment each? The Indians, Canadians, Aussies, etc -- each would look outstanding in their dress uniforms. Send a detachment of the US Marines as our representatives in their dress blues. I think Maggie would look at that and smile.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/13/2008 13:03 Comments ||
Top||
#6
I suspect that this is a sneer from Labour, who still bitterly hate Lady Thatcher for tearing down much of their cathedral of inefficiency, bureaucracy and waste.
#8
Well, if there aren't enough active British troops, I would bet there would be plenty of veterans who would take part. Might be troops from Canada and Australia who would be willing to take part too. Heck, the US might even be willing to send a battalion or two.
President Raul Castro warned Cubans on Friday to prepare for a "realistic" brand of communism that is economically viable and does away with excessive state subsidies designed to promote equality on the island. Addressing Cuba's parliament in its first session since lawmakers selected him to succeed his older brother Fidel in February, Raul Castro announced no major reforms, but suggested that global economic turbulence could lead to further belt-tightening on the island.
"Socialism means social justice and equality, but equality of rights, of opportunities, not of income," the 77-year-old president said in a speech that was taped and later aired on national television. "Equality is not egalitarianism."
I don't recall Marx and Ingels phrasing it quite like that ...
Cuba's rubber-stamp parliament convenes for only for a few hours twice a year and rumors were rampant that Friday's session would see an easing of restrictions on travel abroad or a strengthening of wages by increasing the value of the peso, worth about 21-1 against the US dollar.
The government controls well over 90 percent of the economy and the average salary is just 408 pesos per month, US$19.50, though most Cubans get free housing, health care, education and ration cards that cover basic food needs.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/13/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
"Socialism means social justice and equality, but equality of rights, of opportunities, not of income,"
#6
It will probably turn out to be Euro style socialism with small businesses not only permitted but encouraged; however, the police state and the mansions for the Castro family will be retained. So it will be exactly what the EU wishes it could enforce on the Europeans : the leadership living like kings, with the proles living like the lower class they are supposed to be.
The Czech Republic's main oil refiner said on Saturday it was tapping state oil reserves and bringing in crude through an alternate pipeline after Russia cut deliveries to the central European state.
Czech officials said on Friday the cuts would nearly halve incoming oil from Russia -- which could hurt ties already under strain after the Czechs disregarded Russian objections and signed a missile defence pact with the United States this week.
The European Union and NATO member has been quick to quell speculation the reduced deliveries are politically motivated, and refinery Unipetrol said they were the result of "technical organisational" problems in Russia.
Unipetrol board member Ivan Ottis said in a statement the company had offset the reduced deliveries with state reserves and had increased the crude volume from the TAL-IKL pipeline from the Mediterranean. "At this moment, we have the situation under control," Ottis said. "Our production is not affected in any way."
He said there would be no fuel shortages or a rise in prices in what Unipetrol said it believed would be a "short outage".
Czech officials said they have demanded an explanation from Russia for the supply cuts, and government and energy officials are scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the situation.
The Czechs depend for most of their oil supplies on Russia, but also have an alternative link to Ingolstadt in Germany. The country of 10.4 million people has oil products reserves for over 90 days.
Posted by: ed ||
07/13/2008 12:40 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I hope they make long term changes to eliminate their dependency on Russian oil. That goes for their vodka supplies also. As long as Russia thinks it can dominate it's neighbors, it will. Try to only trade with neighbors who play fair.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
07/13/2008 19:41 Comments ||
Top||
Johnson! Stop the presses!!
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Green Party, which captured far less than 1 percent of the vote in the last presidential election, chose former Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney as its 2008 presidential candidate on Saturday. McKinney, 53, will be joined on the ticket for the November election by vice presidential candidate Rosa Clemente, a hip-hop artist and activist. So that should really cut into Obama's support...right?
McKinney received 313 out of 532 votes cast at the party's nominating convention in Chicago, party spokesman Scott McLarty said. Who else got votes? Zippy the Pinhead? Mister Ed? Voldemort ...
In 2004, the Green Party drew 119,859 votes, or 0.1 percent of the total, finishing in sixth place behind the two major parties and three other third-party tickets. But they've got...hiiigh hopes...they got hiiiiigh hopes...
McKinney served six terms in Congress and lost her 2006 bid for re-election. She was the first black woman to represent Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives. I'm just glad she won so I can keep using that picture.
#1
Hey! Don't insult Mr Ed cause, "Mr. Ed will never speak unless he has something to say."
Posted by: ed ||
07/13/2008 7:47 Comments ||
Top||
#2
I thought she was a democrat? why is she green now - oh maybe she just wants attention and power. Though I'm not sure how he green party provides these.
An Indian air force contingent with eight Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat aircraft, two Ilyushin Il-78 air-to-air refuellers and one Il-76 transport has left India to participate in the 9-23 August multinational exercise Red Flag '08 at the US Air Force's Nellis AFB in Nevada.
It will be the first time that the Russian-made Su-30MKI will participate in multinational manoeuvres involving US and other NATO fighters. India expects to spend around Rp1 billion ($23 million) on its participation in the air combat exercise.
Sources in India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation meanwhile say that preparations are in full swing for the first full test firing of the nation's home-grown Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile from an Su-30.
DRDO sources say the weapon will interrupt targets at speeds of Mach 1.2 to M1.4, but have not revealed the missile's range. The Astra - intended to arm aircraft such as the Dassault Mirage 2000 and RSK MiG-29 in air force service - has already undergone ground tests to check its avionics, electronics and other subsystems. The DRDO has also hinted at its intention to develop hypersonic weapon systems.
Posted by: john frum ||
07/13/2008 08:52 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
...Oh, MAN...would I give anything to be on the ramp at Nellis when those guys show up. I guarantee they'll be treated like royalty.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
07/13/2008 11:15 Comments ||
Top||
#2
It'll be interesting to see how the Su-30 fares against other aircraft, most notably the F-16, the F-16, and maybe the F-35. I understand it's a very advanced and stealthy aircraft itself (designed to go up against the F-16?).
#3
Prior to this Exercise, the IAF contingent would be working up at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, US from 17 Jul 08 till 07 Aug 08. At Mountain Home, the IAF contingent would ready to fly with the F-16s & F-15s of USAF.
RED FLAG PARTICIPANTS
July 2008
Participating units are subject to change at any time.
Red Air
F-15s and F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Blue Air
F-15s, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
F-5s, Brazilian Air Force
Air-To-Ground
B-52s, Minot AFB, N.D.
F-16s, Turkish Air Force
Gripens, Swedish Air Force
F-16s, Hill AFB, Utah
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
EA-6Bs, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
Command and Control; Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
E-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
E-3, NATO
Air Refueling
KC-135s, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
KC-135s, Turkish Air Force
KC-137, Brazilian Air Force
_______________________________
RED FLAG PARTICIPANTS
August 2008
Participating units are subject to change at any time.
Red Air
F-15s and F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Blue Air
F-15s, Jacksonville, Fla.
F-15s, Eglin AFB, Fla.
Rafale', French Air Force
Air-To-Ground
Rafale', French Air Force
F-15s, Nellis AFB, Nev.
SU-30s, Indian Air Force
F-15Ks, Republic of Korea Air Force
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
EA-6Bs, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev.
F-16s, Eglin AFB, Fla.
EC-130Hs, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Command and Control; Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
E-3s, Tinker AFB, Okla.
Airlift
C-130s, French Air Force
C-17s, McChord AFB, Wash.
Air Refueling
KC-135s, unit to be determined
IL-76/78, Indian Air Force
Posted by: john frum ||
07/13/2008 13:38 Comments ||
Top||
#4
wonder if the Indians will just park their birds and trust US security to prevent anyone from taking an unathorized peek.
Officially called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, it is a country in South Asia bordering the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Peoples Republic of China and the Bollywood Republic of Hindustan. In the north it also shares a dubious border with the mountainous and scenic Holy Divine United Taliban Emirates of Dhamakaistan.
The climate
Pakistan has a moderate climate most of the year, but extremes can be found in the north where summers can get terribly hot due to the infamous, counter-monsoon winds called the Wrath of God blowing in from the Holy Divine United Taliban Emirates of Dhamakaistan. Men in the north are known to keep beards to protect themselves from these winds whereas the women wear long top-to-toe sheets of cloth called burqas for the same purpose. Sometimes tanks, trucks and barbed wire are also used to counter these winds, even though some politicians advise dialogue to lessen the harmful effects of the wind. Many people find this strange, asking how can one have a dialogue with a dusty, hot gust of wind? But since the climate around the countrys politicians is usually composed of hot air, it is believed that this hot air can very well compliment the extreme winds.
So, tourists with sensitive white skins should avoid travelling to the north, unless they are looking for a blast.
The people & religion
Pakistan is a multiethnic and multicultural society, where 103 per cent of the population is Muslim, while the rest are animals. So in case of a medical emergency, the non-Muslim tourist is advised to visit a vet instead of a doctor. The 103 per cent Muslims are broken up into various sects with each sect claiming their version of Islam being 104 per cent correct and other interpreters of Islam being 107 per cent wrong and thus deserving death.
Pakistani society is generally conservative, but tiny pockets of liberalism can be found in posh, urban drawing-room theme parks. The themes of these parks can range from Little Milan, Small Beverly Hills, Tiny London and Cleaner Bombay. Non-English speaking tourists may struggle in these theme parks even if they have managed to learn a bit of Urdu. Only English is spoken here, preferably in an odd American accent. However, a tourist can visit a vet and get his or her jaw readjusted to be able to speak accented English in these theme parks.
Pakistan is composed of four to five to six to four ethnic groups. The largest group resides in central Pakistan and are called Maula Jats. The second largest resides in the south and are called the Bhuttos. The third largest resides in the north and are called Askareeyat Pasand. The smallest ethnic group can be found in the West and are called Sui Gas. There are two more ethnic groups. The first one mostly resides in Karachi and are called Martians. The other one resides in South Punjab and are called nothing. Both are not officially recognised because people who divided Pakistan into four provinces couldnt count beyond the number 4.
The male-female ratio of the population is 50-50, even though, according to local traditions in the north, women do not exist. Only men and goats. Certain NGOs operating in the north want to change this perception and the locals have agreed only if the government of Pakistan declared women to be satanic abominations engineered by Hindu Fanatics, Christian Crusaders, Wily Jews and Hamid Karzai.
The culture
The main plank of culture in Pakistan is asking what is the culture of Pakistan?
But if you believe in the official history text books taught at local schools, the culture of Pakistan is very Islamic, very pro-army, very anti-India, and had it not been for some malicious Hindu historians distorting history, Pakistanis would have been known for their true cultural and genetic origins: Arabic!
Thats why most Pakistanis behave as if they all arrived from ancient Arabic kingdoms and had nothing to do with India. They were the true Aryans until the British came and started to build railway networks. Of course, this doesnt make much sense, but who cares, as long as one is an Aryan and is genetically connected to Mohammad bin Qasim. Just like Shahrukh Khan who should actually have been a Pakistani had it not been for socialists like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to have nationalised banks, factories and colleges in the 1970s. Of course, this doesnt make much sense either, but who cares. Youre just a tourist. About to be kidnapped and beheaded.
The politics
Pakistan is a feudal fiefdom jokingly called a republic. The most democratic sections of the country are the army and fat feudal lords. Also very democratic are members of the clergy and the bureaucracy. The most undemocratic and tyrannical are the countrys common people who do not appreciate the feudals, the armys and the clergys vision, passion and efforts for a progressive, democratic and rich Pakistan. This is because the common people choose to remain illiterate and prefer to watch a Sharhrukh Khan flick instead of reading their official history books that clearly state that had Mughal Emperor Auranzeb Alamgir created Pakistan in 1747 AD, the people of Pakistan would have gladly watched reruns of Ayub Khan, Ziaul Haq and Mushharrafs speeches instead of Shahrukh Khan films and there would have been much joy and happiness and love and understanding, and no India and no PPP and instead of being a pesky politician, Nawaz Sharif would have become the Ameer of the United Islamic Emirates of Dhamakaistan. Of course, this doesnt make much sense, but who cares when you have Ahmed Ali Kurd to keep you entertained.
How to get there
You can reach Pakistan without a visa by either sneaking in from the Afghan border in the north or getting shipwrecked in the south!
How to get out
You dont!
Posted by: john frum ||
07/13/2008 07:41 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
LOL, nice catch, John
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/13/2008 8:43 Comments ||
Top||
U.S. security experts have discovered a major flaw in the design of the Internet's address system that affects virtually every corporate computer network.
The flaw in the Domain Name System could allow hackers to steer most people using corporate networks to malicious Web sites, The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
So far, hackers haven't taken advantage of the flaw, and the security experts say every major software company affected is in the process of issuing patches to fix the problem.
The man who discovered the flaw, Dan Kaminsky of the Seattle-based security firm IOActive Inc., says he hopes the patches will be broad enough that hackers won't be able to reverse-engineer them. "We got lucky in this particular bug, because it's a design flaw," says Kaminsky. "It shows up in everyone's network, but the fix is a design fix that doesn't point directly at what we're improving."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/13/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
Posted by: ed ||
07/13/2008 7:06 Comments ||
Top||
#3
yeah, I uninstalled the KB951748 update. I'd rather have my ZA firewall at high, and don't want to switch to Comodo. I expect ZA, and not MS, will fix this. WTG MS! Good testing!
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/13/2008 8:46 Comments ||
Top||
#4
ed and FrankG: You might consider going for a different firewall. A few years ago, ZoneAlarm was purchased by the Israeli company Check Point.
"Check Point's development centers are located in Israel and in Belarus. They also have offices in Redwood City, California and in the Dallas, Texas area."
#7
Frank, you can download a fixed version of ZA from their website. It works with the MS fix. I also use a HW firewall for internet stuff but keep ZA for any wireless networks.
Posted by: ed ||
07/13/2008 11:12 Comments ||
Top||
#8
I do have Comodo installed on one machine but is harder to use and monitor.
Posted by: ed ||
07/13/2008 11:13 Comments ||
Top||
#9
yep, thx. I also have all of my wireless, including the gaming bridge for the XBOX in the living room secure encrypted. Not only is it good security, it keeps neighbors from piggybacking on your wireless-N signal
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/13/2008 11:24 Comments ||
Top||
#10
I am a bit upset that I have not seen patches on NetGear for their home router firmware.
Incredible advice from someone in the mortgage business. From TFA:
Behind on his payments and fearful of losing his home of 16 years a 900-square-foot bungalow in Wilmington, N.C. Mr. Bailey had spent the previous six months unsuccessfully lobbying Countrywide, at the time the nations largest home lender and loan servicer.
Mr. Bailey, 41, promised in his e-mail message that he would pay every nickel he owed if Countrywide would modify his mortgage in a way that allowed him to keep his home. He sent the message to a grab bag of Countrywide e-mail addresses, which he had received from www.LoanSafe.org, an online forum for borrowers.
Among the recipients of his e-mail was someone he had never heard of before: Angelo R. Mozilo, Countrywides co-founder and chief executive. Lo and behold, Mr. Mozilo replied inadvertently, as it turned out.
This is unbelievable, Mr. Mozilo said in his message. Most of these letters now have the same wording. Obviously they are being counseled by some other person or by the Internet. Disgusting.
Within days, Mr. Mozilos e-mail was widely circulated on the Internet and in the news media, offering a rare instance when candid comments from a powerful C.E.O. entered the public realm. For Mr. Bailey, however, the disdain that Mr. Mozilo expressed was depressingly familiar.
After all, Mr. Bailey had received little else from Countrywide after he began trying to renegotiate an adjustable-rate loan that he could no longer afford. Until then, he says, the only guidance the lender provided was a suggestion from an employee of Countrywides home retention team that he cut back on groceries to pay his mortgage.
I told her that I probably spend $10 a day on groceries, Mr. Bailey recalls. And she said Maybe you can eat less.
#3
I wonder if it has occurred to the Democrats that their jacking up of the price of oil over the years by denying areas to production has caused people to default on mortgages because they need the money to get to work.
#4
This is unbelievable, Mr. Mozilo said in his message. Most of these letters now have the same wording. Obviously they are being counseled by some other person or by the Internet. Disgusting.
#5
Hey, A little Tabasco sauce on those loan papers and you got a tasty lunch. Got to be at least 50 pages. Every thing taste better with Tabasco I know that it works with "C" rats and its under $10
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.
British Prime Minster Gordon Brown will press the European Union to take harsher action against Zimbabwe, after Russia and China vetoed proposed new sanctions at the U.N. Security Council, his office said Saturday.
The Czech Republic's main oil refiner said on Saturday it was tapping state oil reserves and bringing in crude through an alternate pipeline after Russia cut deliveries to the central European state.
U.S. security experts have discovered a major flaw in the design of the Internet's address system that affects virtually every corporate computer network.
