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Afghan Taliban threaten death to all talking peace
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Page 6: Politix
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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Dancing Obamas Do the Diwali
Posted by: ryuge || 11/07/2010 08:15 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sorry, a bit more than I could watch to the end. How many hundred million dollars did this junket cost the US Taxpayers again?
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/07/2010 13:13 Comments || Top||


Gigantic Jesus statue completed in Polish town
I wonder if it's eyes follow you all around Poland?
Posted by: tu3031 || 11/07/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  At least it's not a touchdown!
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 11/07/2010 1:47 Comments || Top||

#2  A bit tacky.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 11/07/2010 6:35 Comments || Top||

#3  I'd certainly prefer this to a mosque.
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/07/2010 6:39 Comments || Top||

#4  Something you wouldn't see happening in a U.S. city. The ACLU and the Freedom from Religion Foundation would be all over it.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/07/2010 9:03 Comments || Top||

#5  It struck me as more "Welcome to Gondor!"
Posted by: Gabby || 11/07/2010 17:57 Comments || Top||


Arabia
One in four Middle East youth is unemployed: Deloitte
[Emirates 24/7] At the rate of close to a quarter (23.7 per cent), unemployment among 15-24 year olds in the Middle East region is the second highest in the world, according to a report by Deloitte Middle East, an audit, tax and financial consulting firm.

Although job-creation rates have been impressive, with, for instance, the UAE creating more than 100,000 jobs on average every year between 1996 and 2000, Rachid Bachir, the Director -- Public Policy, Consulting, at Deloitte in the Middle East, says phenomenal employment growth and unemployment amongst nationals is relatively high.

"The unemployment rate among Emiratis in the capital city, for example, reached 14 per cent in 2009," he says in his report 'Wanted: a national labour force'.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 11/07/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  That's about the rate of our youth now, I think, or maybe better.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/07/2010 9:09 Comments || Top||

#2  I think that is right.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/07/2010 9:51 Comments || Top||


Britain
Job-shy on the dole to be pushed into unpaid work
Reworking welfare in the UK, coming shortly. Britain currently has one of the highest rates of households without jobs in Europe.
Posted by: lotp || 11/07/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Congratulations, England-- you've invented serfdom.

note to America-- We did fight a civil war over this subject back in the 19th century. Better to cut off bennies all together. Same results, without the administrative overhead.
Posted by: nGuard || 11/07/2010 4:11 Comments || Top||

#2  I suggest Camps of Refuge. Where is Lord Kitchener when you need him?
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/07/2010 6:25 Comments || Top||

#3  The sad thing is that most of these people are unemployable at any level of economic activity, due to the entitlement complex and other anti-values instilled in them by the "welfare" state and indoctrination system.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 11/07/2010 6:37 Comments || Top||

#4  Precisely correct BP. A simple fact lost on our Babylon on the Potomac crowd as well. Add to that the fact, even if available, gainful employment is not Halal and you have a rich recipe for disaster. The enemy is recruiting in our midst. Prince Bandar's entourage left volutarily after 9/11 and the rest should have been sent packing soon thereafter. Our failure to deport these vermin may very well spell our doom.
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/07/2010 6:52 Comments || Top||

#5  The American term is Workfare.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/07/2010 9:09 Comments || Top||

#6  It is a start, at least addressing the problem. Thing is, they are not working for free - they put in hours somewhere in order to qualify for unemployment money. Taxpayers are picking up the tab still.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 11/07/2010 12:12 Comments || Top||

#7  Work-shy? Is that the same thing that the Times calls "funemployment"?
Posted by: tu3031 || 11/07/2010 12:19 Comments || Top||

#8  Getting up every day to go to the "office" to sweep streets in order to get a check at the end of the week is the first step toward acquiring the skills and attitude necessary to hold a paying job... even if that job is sweeping the streets.

You and I have to work for our income. There is no reason why the poor should get it for doing nothing. Even most of the handicapped can do something, and are proud to be more independent. Mmy mother designed programs for a sheltered workshop for mentally retarded, multiply handicapped adults. Yes, they were only doing things like putting nuts and bolts into glassine envelopes, and when paid by the piece were not capable of earning even minimum wage, but there was a great deal of pride in the accomplishment even as they worked on their sorting and counting skills... and the companies that hired the workshop benefitted even as the taxpayers paid a little less for their care and support.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/07/2010 14:34 Comments || Top||

#9  Try this: To collect welfare, a person must "punch in" in person at the welfare office at 8 am Mon-Fri, and return in person to "punch out" at 5 pm. Miss punch in or out, dole check gets pro rated for that day. Many would zero their checks out by total failure to even show up for 30 seconds twice a day. And the truth would be there for all to see...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/07/2010 15:36 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
New wave of seizures threatens private property in Venezuela
[El Universal] Steelmaker Siderúrgica del Turbio (Sidetur) issued a statement on November 1 assuring that there are no objective reasons to justify the seizure of the company. The owners of the firm said that they are concerned that people may be misled with statements that Sidetur sells rebars at high prices when the company has rather met price regulations strictly. Sidetur said that the company will take legal actions to safeguard the rights of workers, clients, suppliers and shareholders
Posted by: Fred || 11/07/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  HUGO + L'BERET ROUGE can alway blame GOOGLE MAPS ....

To wit,

* ION PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM/TOPIX > NICARAGUA ACCIDENTALLY INVADES COSTA RICA, BLAMES GOOGLE MAPS | UPDATE: GOOGLE MAPS: UNCLE SAM [USA] TO BLAME FOR COSTA-RICA, NICARAGUA BORDER ERROR.

Managua = NICARAGUAN GOVT. also believes that wily Costa Rica is conspiring wid wily HONDURAS on disputed river region [ River = Trade Port].
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/07/2010 21:30 Comments || Top||


Economy
The Man Who Called the Financial Crisis - 70 Years Earlier WSJ
Mr. Palyi was fond of saying that "sooner or later, too much credit always turns into a giant debit as borrowers crumple under the burden of escalating interest payments." That's a warning this entire country would do well to heed.

Posted by: Besoeker || 11/07/2010 12:10 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Three more US banks closed down
[Iran Press TV] US regulators have closed down three more banks in Caliphornia, Maryland and Washington, bringing the total number of closed American banks to 142 this year.

Regulators closed Washington's Pierce Commercial Bank, Caliphornia's Western Commercial Bank, and Maryland's K Bank on Friday.

Randallstown, Maryland-based K Bank, which had $500.1 million in deposits as of September 30, was closed on Friday, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) said in a statement on Saturday.

Western Commercial Bank in Woodland Hills, Caliphornia, which had $101.1 million in deposits, was also closed on the same day, the FDIC said.

Other financial institutes that are still on their feet have agreed to assume the failed banks' deposits and purchase their assets.

The number of lenders shut down this year exceeds the total bank closures in 2009. About 300 banks have gone under since the start of the financial crisis in 2008.
Posted by: Fred || 11/07/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Here is the Unofficial Problem Bank List, or "likely to fail".

And the actual Failed Bank List.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 11/07/2010 8:48 Comments || Top||

#2  Better than having 3 banks that are bankrupt continue operating in the economy.


This is what should have happened to all the failed banks...
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 11/07/2010 9:11 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkey agrees conditionally to NATO missile defence system
(KUNA) -- Turkey said it would allow the deployment of NATO's missile defence shield on its lands if three conditions are met, according to local reports on Saturday.

This comes two weeks ahead of the upcoming NATO summit, scheduled in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon on 19 November.

After a meeting of government and army officials, Turkey said it would agree providing the missile shield is under NATO command, not that of the United States, that the defence system includes Turkey and NATO member countries and that Turkey not be used as a platform for attacks on Iran, Syria and Russia, the mouthpiece of the ruling party, Yeni Shafaq daily said.

Observers view that Turkey is faced with a predicament on one hand, opting to maintain its relations with neighbouring countries, while on the other seeking to arm itself against them.
Posted by: Fred || 11/07/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sounds like Turkey is more than half way out of Nato, the half where it defends others not the half where others defend it. And the press release does say mouthpiece.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 11/07/2010 1:31 Comments || Top||

#2  All things considered, it kind of makes you wonder what would happen if Turkey and Iran got into a big fight?
Posted by: Anonymoose || 11/07/2010 8:51 Comments || Top||

#3  Or Turkey and Iraq, Moose.
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division || 11/07/2010 14:50 Comments || Top||

#4  PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > NATO URGES NEW START WID RUSSIA.

and

* SAME > [RIAN.Ru] NATO MISSLE DEFENSE SHIELD IN TURKEY MAY THREATEN IRAN, RUSSIA.

and

* SAME > IRAN VERSUS ARABS [ + Pakistan]: THE DILEMMA FOR THE MUSLIM WORLD.

and

* SAME > [YouTube] EUROPE, USA, + CANADA WILL BE MUSLIM STATES IN 2050, due to natural demographics e.g. HIGH MUSLIM BIRTH RATE + IMMIGRATION.

POSTER = EUROPE-ONLY likley to be Muslim by 2050 as USA + CANADA MAY BE "SAVED" BY HISPANIC IMMIGRATION. IMO prolly safe to also say ASIAN IMMIGRATION, not just HISPANIC.

"HISPANIC USA" = HISPANUS = HISPAMERICA/
HISPANAEMRICA???

* TOPIX/DER SPEGIEL > WORLD POWERS COURT CENTRAL ASIA FOR TRADE, MIL BASES.

* TOPIX > RUSSIA SLOWLY LOSES THE CAUCASUS [Influx of new Foreign Militants-Fighters into Caucasus continues to rise despite RF Border controls].

IOW, STALEMATE/DRAW for RUSSIA-VS-ISLAMISTS-IN-CAUCASIA, NO SIDE OR CAMP IS CURR WINNING, OR LOSING, DESPITE THE BODY COUNTS = BLOODY VIOLENCE.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/07/2010 22:29 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
US 9th Circus: "You Don't Have an Argument"
Fair Use eight sentences or less excerpt:
A federal appellate judge expressed deep skepticism Monday about a Justice Department lawsuit challenging Arizona's new immigration law, leaving uncertain the Obama administration's chances of stopping the law from taking effect.
Posted by: badanov || 11/07/2010 01:07 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Obama and the DOJ at cultural war with the rest of the U.S.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/07/2010 8:54 Comments || Top||

#2  Funny how this was timed to be after the election.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 11/07/2010 9:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Hmmmmmm. Might they "act stupidly"?
I figure Barry and Holder thought they were on board from the starting gun
Posted by: tu3031 || 11/07/2010 12:21 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Obama wins India business; criticised
[Bangla Daily Star] US President Barack B.O. Obama announced $10 billion in business deals yesterday as he arrived in India to boost US exports and jobs after a mauling in mid-term polls, but he ran into immediate controversy over Pakistain.

Obama flew into Mumbai, India's financial hub, and announced the United States would also relax export controls over sensitive technology, a demand of India's that will help deepen US ties with the emerging global power and its trillion dollar economy.

While most of the announced deals had been pending for months, Obama's visit, the first leg of a 10-day Asian tour, has been hailed as moving the United States closer to India as Washington tries to revive a weak economy and gather support to pressure China on its currency.

"The United States sees Asia, especially India, as the market of the future," Obama told a meeting of US and Indian business leaders. "There still exists a caricature of India as a land of call centres and back-offices that cost American jobs. But these old stereotypes, these old concerns, ignore today's realities."

Obama's first act was to pay tribute to victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but he was criticised for making no reference to India's traditional foe Pakistain, which New Delhi blames for harbouring anti-India snuffys.

Pakistain-based faceless myrmidons killed 166 people in a 60-hour rampage through India's financial hub, gunning down their victims at luxury hotels, a train station and a Jewish centre. India says elements in the Pakistain state were behind the attacks.

"We visit here to send a very clear message," Obama said after meeting victims' families at the luxury sea-front Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the iconic landmark where TV images showing it in flames after battles between faceless myrmidons and commandos came to symbolise the massacre.

"In our determination to give our people a future of security and prosperity, the United States and India stand united."

Saturday's Taj speech highlighted the diplomatic test for Obama. Indians want a strong statement against Pakistain for fostering snuffys, but Washington must tread a fine line between appeasing New Delhi and supporting US regional ally Islamabad.

But Obama's trip is also about business, with China now ahead of the United States in trade with India.

The $10 billion in deals will support 54,000 jobs in the United States, White House aide Michael Froman said.

The White House also announced Obama would support India's membership of four global non-proliferation organisations, a move that will reassure New Delhi -- left out of these groups after its 1998 nuclear tests -- that Washington is recognising its global clout.

Obama will also visit Indonesia, South Korea and Japan on the Asian tour that will see Washington push to prevent countries unilaterally devaluing currencies to protect their exports, a top theme at the Group of 20 heads of state meet in Seoul next week.

Obama flew by helicopter to the Mumbai seafront before heading to the Taj hotel. Onlookers pressed up against police barricades along the motorcade's short route.

With armed police at every road intersection, southern Mumbai was turned into a fortress with police outnumbering onlookers. Snipers kept vigil on the top of buildings along the route.

Across town, police took the precaution of removing coconuts around Mani Bhavan, where Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi stayed while in Mumbai and which now serves as a museum that Obama visited on Saturday.

The 2008 Mumbai attack was launched by faceless myrmidons who arrived by boat from Pakistain, coming ashore near the Taj. It increased tension between the nuclear foes, who have been to war three times since independence from Britain in 1947.
Posted by: Fred || 11/07/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "There still exists a caricature of India as a land of call centres and back-offices that cost American jobs."

I'm so relieved that this isn't true! (sarc)
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/07/2010 8:58 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
IAF receives first batch of small diameter bombs from US
he Israeli Airforce has significantly boosted its precision strike capabilities with the recent arrival of the first batch of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) from the United States, Israeli daily reported on Sunday.

The Jerusalem Post said the 250-lb. (113.6-kg.) bomb was developed by Boeing Company as a low-cost weapon capable of high-precision and low-collateral damage strikes. Israel received approval from Congress in late 2008 to buy 1,000 units.

Israel is the first country outside of the United States to receive the weapon.

The IAF has named the new bomb "Sharp Hail". The total cost of the deal was USD 77 million.

The GPS-guided SDB is said to be one of the most accurate bombs in the world. It has the same penetration capabilities as a normal 900-kg. bomb, although it has only 22.7 kg. of explosives.

At just 1.75 meters long, its small size increases the number of bombs an aircraft can carry and the number of targets it can attack in a sortie.
Tests conducted in the US have proven that the bomb can penetrate at least 90 cm. of steel-reinforced concrete.

The GBU-39 can be used in adverse weather and has a standoff range of more than 110 km. due to its pop-out wings.
Interesting, so close on the heels of that "US warship zap" in Gaza a few days ago. A demo, maybe?
Posted by: Anonymoose || 11/07/2010 11:54 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Something for Mr. Nasrallah to ponder, perhaps. Less than 80 km from Beirut to Israel's border.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 11/07/2010 17:11 Comments || Top||

#2  How long before the Israeli's reverse engineer develop their own version?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/07/2010 18:54 Comments || Top||


Olde Tyme Religion
New moon sighted; Hajj date set
Related:
Bangladesh: Confirm Hajj tickets by today

Indian Consulate establishes 24 hour helpline in Mecca

300 Hajjis miss last Saudi flight

“We have readied 20,000 graves as an emergency plan for this Hajj season.”
Posted by: ryuge || 11/07/2010 07:54 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Not to be snarky, well, maybe just a little bit.... the "new moon" is when the unlit side is 100% towards the earth. So, how can one "see" it? Enquiring minds and all that.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 11/07/2010 9:12 Comments || Top||

#2  In Islam the new moon is when the first crescent is sighted near Mecca (or based on computation on when it would be sightable). In Judaism the months have (for about 2000 years or so) been precalculated (the month of Kislev, which contains the first days of Hanukah, began last night at sunset) but are based on the phases of the moon.

Also, in Islam, if a pilgrim dies during Hajj and his body is washed and he is buried, etc. then all his sins are erased and he doesn't have to spend time in Islamic purgatory (which is very bad and even the great imans have to spend time in purgatory otherwise).
Posted by: Lord Garth || 11/07/2010 9:34 Comments || Top||

#3  So the stampede over/under is...20,000?
I gotta take the under.
Posted by: tu3031 || 11/07/2010 9:53 Comments || Top||

#4  The moon when dark is visible several ways, Backscatter(Reflected Earthlight) and Occlusion(Blocks out the stars it is in front of)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 11/07/2010 9:55 Comments || Top||

#5 
They have to stand around and look for the new moon because they're ignorant of basic astronomical calculations.
Posted by: Parabellum || 11/07/2010 10:44 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
34[untagged]
3Hamas
3al-Qaeda in Arabia
3al-Qaeda in North Africa
3Taliban
3Narcos
2TTP
2Govt of Pakistan
2Islamic Jihad
2Pirates
1Govt of Syria
1Commies
1al-Qaeda in Pakistan
1Jamaat-e-Islami
1al-Shabaab
1Govt of Iran
1al-Qaeda
1Govt of Sudan

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Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
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Two weeks of WOT
Sun 2010-11-07
  Afghan Taliban threaten death to all talking peace
Sat 2010-11-06
  Al-Qaeda claims parcel bomb plot
Fri 2010-11-05
  Suicide Bomb Kills at least 50 in Mosque in NW and burns lots of Korans
Thu 2010-11-04
  Radical website publishes MP 'death list'
Wed 2010-11-03
  Tight Security around Police HQ in Anticipation of Hezbollah Attack
Tue 2010-11-02
  Iraq: Eleven car bombs kill 63
Mon 2010-11-01
  7 58 killed, 20 75 Wounded in Baghdad Church Hostage Drama
Sun 2010-10-31
  Yemen makes bomb-plot arrests
Sat 2010-10-30
  Yemen parcel bombmaker believed to be al Qaeda terrorist Ibrahim Hassan Al Asiri
Fri 2010-10-29
  Police Surround UPS Planes Over Suspicious Packages
Thu 2010-10-28
  Nigeria intercepts 13 Iran missile containers possibly destined for Gaza
Wed 2010-10-27
  VA Man Arrested for Plotting DC Attacks
Tue 2010-10-26
  Baby Face Khadr pleads guilty to all charges
Mon 2010-10-25
  22 die in battle for Mogadishu
Sun 2010-10-24
  Iran 'handing cash to Karzai's chief of staff for influence in Afghanistan'


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