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Today's Pakaboom: 18 dead at Mardan funeral
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 2: WoT Background
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8 22:10 Omaimble Angolet4309 [3]
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Page 3: Non-WoT
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Page 4: Opinion
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Montreal's mayor arrested in corruption probe
[Pak Daily Times]
Posted by: Fred || 06/18/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Afghanistan
DoD Awards $572 Million Contract to Assad's Main Arms Supplier
[PJM]
Despite longstanding opposition from Congress and human-rights groups that the U.S. shouldn't be funneling hundreds of millions of dollars to the Syrian regime's main arms supplier, the Pentagon announced today that it has awarded a contract to Russia's Rosoboronexport.
The Afghan National Army couldn't use American or British or French helicopters?
The $572,180,894 firm-fixed-price contract modification is for 30 Mi-17 helicopters, spare parts, test equipment, and engineering support services.
Obama to Medvedev: "After the Election, I'll Have More Flexibility."
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/18/2013 05:23 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I understand, SteveW, that Russian choppers are less sensitive to careful maintainance than American or European ones - much like the AK-47 is more forgiving of dirt than the M-16.
Posted by: Glenmore || 06/18/2013 7:52 Comments || Top||

#2  That's nothing, we've also made them the critical supplier to both the Atlas V and the new booster from Orbital.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 06/18/2013 7:56 Comments || Top||

#3  There's a twisted maze of international relationships that defies understanding--Machiavellian.

A 2012 story was reported regarding Chinese parts in our military equipment: Counterfeit Chinese parts find their way into U.S. military equipment.

There doesn't seem to be much discretion about whom we sleep with--we are liable to get something that is difficult to treat.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/18/2013 8:58 Comments || Top||

#4  look at the % of biz conducted by player fronts in tax havens vs legal biz. Now factor in the ELITE players.

I rest my case.
Posted by: 3dc || 06/18/2013 14:57 Comments || Top||


Economy
Automakers Pressed to Sell No-Emission Cars to Reluctant Buyers
Automakers are coming under increasing pressure to sell zero-emission vehicles to U.S. consumers who haven't shown much interest in them, with more states following California's lead in setting sales targets.

Nine states, including New York and New Jersey, have adopted versions of California's goal of having electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered models reach 15 percent of its new-car purchases by 2025. Automakers face fines and potentially restrictions on sales for not reaching the targets.

One model made to meet the standards, Honda Motor Co.'s plug-in electric Fit, had total U.S. sales of 83 through May 2013.
Posted by: John Pialoglou The First || 06/18/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Congress should end this charade of making automakers meet specific sales goals.

Instead, just outlaw supply and demand.

Problem solved. Agenda saved.
Posted by: badanov || 06/18/2013 0:11 Comments || Top||

#2  Automakers face fines and potentially restrictions on sales for not reaching the targets.

Let's rename them Ladas. Free market be damned.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/18/2013 0:14 Comments || Top||

#3  Voluntary compliance was much easier when the threat of a simple IRS audit would bring someone around.

I enjoyed watching The Factor's interview last evening with CBS reporter Sharyl Attkinson. Her's may be a very interesting case to watch.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/18/2013 0:30 Comments || Top||

#4  ... meanwhile my electric company (Edison) is telling me that I should prepare for blackouts and brownouts lasting for up to an hour, this Summer during peak times.
Reason?
The current electrical grid can no longer handle the amount of electricity the grid is being asked to handle.
Posted by: Mikey Hunt || 06/18/2013 1:09 Comments || Top||

#5  I'm building my own, power grid (Photovoltaic) screw the grid.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 06/18/2013 9:57 Comments || Top||

#6  Hey, Mikey, just get up an hour early and take a bus to work. We must all sacrifice!
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/18/2013 11:23 Comments || Top||

#7  just outlaw supply and demand.

Damn that stinkin' Economics, always interfering with our totally genius plans for a Perfect World.

Stay tuned next week, when we whinge about the Laws of Thermodynamics.
Posted by: SteveS || 06/18/2013 11:46 Comments || Top||

#8  No Emission Cars, now there's a lie, the power plant has emissions, not the electric car.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 06/18/2013 12:00 Comments || Top||

#9  "No Emission Cars, now there's a lie, the power plant has emissions, not the electric car."

I know I shouldn't be, but I'm always amazed at how many ignorant, liberal envirotwerps actually believe that "no emissions" nonsense.

There's something wrong with their brains.
Posted by: Dave D. || 06/18/2013 12:07 Comments || Top||

#10  but I'm always amazed at how many ignorant, liberal envirotwerps actually believe that "no emissions" nonsense.

This cracks me up, too. Not to get all sciency, enviro-dudes, but your 'no-emmission' car actually burns coal. Or oil or natural gas.
Posted by: SteveS || 06/18/2013 12:41 Comments || Top||

#11  Or, uses those dastardly atoms, which is also taboo. Mewonders how many of these "leading" enviros have a carbon footprint like Sir Al's.
Posted by: BA || 06/18/2013 12:51 Comments || Top||

#12  I have a zero emissions car. It's rusting in the yard. Of course, if I ever put it back together and start it up there will be emissions, but the chances of that happening are very low...
Posted by: Iblis || 06/18/2013 14:42 Comments || Top||

#13  ^^^^^ A man after my own heart. Does the radio still work? We could gather in it and drink the beers.

Any chance at all it's a





yeah.





Yeah



Riveriaa?
Posted by: Shipman || 06/18/2013 16:58 Comments || Top||

#14  I'd buy a hybrid car...

Why? Because when they screw up the mains electricity you can use the car to generate leccy...
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 06/18/2013 18:49 Comments || Top||

#15  Iff the Perts are going to be saying or arguing that there is no real "Peak Oil" or Other "Peak" crisis/crises, i.e. that the US-World have more than enough resources for a long long L-O-N-G while to come yet, then no one should be surprised iff Amer car affecionados are unwilling to give up efficient fossil fuel-based systems.

[MIGHTY HOMER SIMPSONIAN "DOH"! here].

VICTIM(S) OF THEIR OWN ARGUMENT + PREMISES.

This is a major reason, in part, why I argue the US needs = M-U-S-T go back to the Moon [ + beyond] ASAP AMAP, as opposed to unilaterally idling our Space Progs in deference to the Space Progs of our Overseas Allies + International Community. WE ARE DETRIMENTALLY [intentionally?] DELAYING OR OBSTRUCTING THE TIMELY/PROPER DEV OF FREE "SPACE MARKETS" [Space/Star Capitalism = Free Trade] THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE DEV OF VALUABLE EARTH-BASED "GREEN TECHS" + RELATED.

As things stand there is no genuine or valid free market(s) Consumer-Industrial need for "Green Techs" in lieu of traditional or contemporary fossil-fueled systems, + LIKELY WON'T BE UNTIL SOME TIME AFTER 2050 AT THE EARLIEST.

To paraph Krauthammer = SAY IT WID ME, AMERIKA, WE M-U-S-T RE-START OUR SPACE PROGS + GO BACK TO THE MOON + BEYOND IFF WE WANT MARKETS FOR "GREEN TECHS"!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/18/2013 19:50 Comments || Top||

#16  Good going Ship, you've cornered the market on Riveras. See you even have a parts car for your parts car.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 06/18/2013 21:49 Comments || Top||


Government
Political appointees helped bin Laden filmmakers over objections of career officials at Pentagon
Political appointees at the Defense Department, the CIA and the White House brushed aside concerns from career officials about helping two Hollywood filmmakers research their 2012 movie about the top-secret Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden, according to a report from the Pentagon's inspector general.

CIA Director Leon E. Panetta, who had been nominated to take over at the Pentagon; Mike Vickers, defense undersecretary for intelligence; and politically appointed public affairs staff in both agencies and the White House helped secure for the filmmakers a meeting with a participant or planner of the 2011 raid, the report shows.

"At the direction of Director Panetta, the CIA is cooperating fully" with the filmmakers, Mr. Vickers wrote to Douglas Wilson, who was assistant defense secretary for public affairs. In reply, Mr. Wilson promised to "check with the [White House] to update them on status."
Eventually it will be revealed that the entire Bin Laden take-down was a made for Hollywood PR and presidential re-election event, start to finish.
Eventually?
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/18/2013 08:56 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
Republicans seek to end federal ethanol mandate - Daily Caller
Congressional Republicans are advocating the full repeal of the federal government’s ethanol mandate, which has been criticized for raising food and fuel prices, as well as forcing consumers to purchase a product.
Small engine carburetors sure run poorly on it, until they don't run at all.
“I think we need to get rid of [the Renewable Fuel Standard) and we need to think of a better way to handle this,” Oklahoma Republican Rep. James Lankford told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “It is not that the fuel is economical, it’s not that the fuel is what the consumer wants, it’s that the federal government is requiring this much to be sold.”
Good luck with getting rid of it. It's another sacred, Iowa, Illinois, etc. [buy the vote] farm subsidy, which has pushed the price of corn to record levels.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/18/2013 05:52 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The worst thing ever to happen to outboard engines was E-10. Now they want to make things worse, to keep a few large farmers and ag combines happy.

Two years ago the Feds approved E-15 in an attempt to provide even more demand and price supports. Thankfully, this was met with protest, derision, and outrage. The Feds replied that it would not be mandated as the ONLY fuel sold all pumps at a station, it would have to be available but E-10 would still be available. Trouble is, only a few stations have sufficient numbers of pumps and tanks to do the various E fuels in various octane ratings (not to mention diesel and kerosene), so if the Feds required that you offer E-15 a lot of stations would offer nothing else.

If E-15 became the only fuel practically available every outboard engine in the U.S. would become instantly obsolete.

Getting rid of ethanol subsidies would return things to normal, make the price of corn more reasonable, and provide less incentive for government agencies to require adding it to fuels and incurring more costs to end users for maintenance.

The fact that a farm state legislator is even talking about this is encouraging, Fred.
Posted by: no mo uro || 06/18/2013 9:22 Comments || Top||

#2  Ethanol is for drinkink!!!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/18/2013 9:23 Comments || Top||

#3  Small engine carburetors sure run poorly on it, until they don't run at all.

That's a lie, the first engines burned alcohol.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 06/18/2013 10:00 Comments || Top||

#4  Today's small engines become gummed up on the stuff. My local Stihl and Deere dealers recommend 'alcohol free gas' for small engines. Our neighborhood BP station handles it. Costs a bit more, but it's all I use for mowers and trimmers. Seems to work fine.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/18/2013 10:07 Comments || Top||

#5  If E-15 became the only fuel practically available every outboard engine in the U.S. would become instantly obsolete.

Not too good for older vehicles, either. Some of us didn't buy in to 'cash-for-clunkers' and still drive those.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 06/18/2013 12:00 Comments || Top||

#6  Some engines use plastic in their carburetors, that's why, no plastic, alcohol burns fine.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 06/18/2013 12:06 Comments || Top||

#7  alcohol burns fine.

The issue is not combustion (except in two-strokes). The issue is the effect alcohol has on engine parts, and it's affinity for water.

Go read Mullah Richard's link in #5 for a good discussion of the problems.
Posted by: SteveS || 06/18/2013 12:36 Comments || Top||

#8  Use shale oil for fuel - and quit using corn which is better suited to making CHEAP STEAKS.
Posted by: 3dc || 06/18/2013 14:54 Comments || Top||

#9  I had to change a few parts in our old analog truck's Carter carb (manual choke, too) when we started using E-10 as ethanol-free wasn't always available.

Redneck Jim is correct, alcohol damages many plastics and certain types of rubber gaskets (like what older 4-barrel carbs used to use).
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 06/18/2013 19:00 Comments || Top||

#10  corn which is better suited to making CHEAP STEAKS.

And BOURBON.
Posted by: Glenmore || 06/18/2013 20:36 Comments || Top||

#11  Small engine shop owning friend has about 50 4 cycle mowers sitting waiting for carbs/parts because of this crap. Our racing mowers don't like it neither. I have already R & R'd one carb and haven't even hit the track yet this year....
local 76 station used to sell non-ethanol gas ( big sign proudly told you so) but the WA eco-weenies gave him a choice, stop or shut down. no non-ethanol gas available now.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 06/18/2013 21:55 Comments || Top||


Government
Report: Accounts of Lerner, Paz Disabled at Request of IRS Chief Counsel's Office
The IRS has disabled the computer accounts of Lois Lerner, the director of exempt organizations who's been put on administrative leave, and Holly Paz, the former director of the Office of Rulings and Agreements, according to an IRS source familiar with the situation.

The source says that their accounts were shut down shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, at the request of Glenn Melcher, who identifies himself as a lawyer with the office of the IRS's chief counsel. That's the same day that National Review Online reported that, contrary to the IRS's blanket denial, Lois Lerner was continuing to access the agency's computer system, where she has access to private taxpayer data, while on leave. That is also the day we reported that Holly Paz, the Washington, D.C., administrator who sat in on so many of the Treasury Department inspector general's interviews with her underlings, may have been, according to IRS sources, fired by the agency.
Posted by: Fred || 06/18/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Leaving open access provides plausible denial for the email scrub findings of the ediscovery process.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/18/2013 4:58 Comments || Top||


IRS Supervisor Holly Paz Admits Personally Handling Dozens of Tea Party Cases
I hope a federal indictment for some sort of wrongdoing is forthcoming. I suspect Much could be learned from this young lady.
Won't happen, the FBI has been busy digging up Jimmy Hoffa...
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/18/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If Barky knew about this, it wouldn't be happening!
Posted by: badanov || 06/18/2013 0:13 Comments || Top||

#2  There's always some B.S. cover-up story--here it is rogue agents in Cincy--Anything but the truth. Someone (Congressional committee, special prosecutor, criminal prosecutor, grand jury) needs to work their way up the food chain. Graybar Hotel for the crooks and liars.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/18/2013 9:45 Comments || Top||

#3  There needs to be a good house cleaning and fumigation in D.C. Trust in the Republic is eroding day by day. There is the law of unintended consequences. These control-freaK statists have embarked on a path of secrecy, deceit and cover-up and they cannot predict the end result. As Forrest Gump said: "It is like a box of chocolates. You open the box and you never know what you are going to get."
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/18/2013 9:52 Comments || Top||

#4  JQC, the best fumigant you could use would be the sunshine that would shine in after you cut back the thicket of laws and regulations and spending that makes all the graft, corruption, rent-seeking and power grabbers descend on the carcase.

All of the problems stem from the size of gov't. Greedy, power hungry people are like vultures, they go where the carcase is biggest. What the gov't has turned into is whole herds of elephants rotting on the plains of Africa. Every scavenger on the continent is running/flying in to join the feast.

The stench is similar too.
Posted by: AlanC || 06/18/2013 10:55 Comments || Top||

#5  Recent NSA wiretap between Bob & Jim:

Bob: "Did you hear about the Obama administration scandal?"
Jim: "You mean the Mexican gun running?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "You mean SEAL Team 6 Extortion 17?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "You mean the State Department lying about Benghazi?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "You mean the voter fraud?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "You mean the military not getting their votes counted?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "You mean the president demoralizing and breaking down the military?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "You mean the Boston Bombing?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "You mean the president wanting to kill Americans with drones in our own country without the benefit of the law?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "You mean the president arming the Muslim Brotherhood?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "The IRS targeting conservatives?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "The DOJ spying on the press?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "Sebelius shaking down health insurance executives?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "The NSA monitoring our phone calls, e-mails and everything else?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "The president's ordering the release of nearly 2,000 illegal immigrants from jails and prisons and falsely blaming the sequester?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "The president's threat to impose gun control by Executive Order in order to bypass Congress?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "The president's repeated violation of the law requiring him to submit a budget no later than the first Monday in February?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "The president's unconstitutional recess appointments in an attempt to circumvent the Senate's advise-and-consent role?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "The State Department interfering with an Inspector General investigation on departmental sexual misconduct?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "HHS employees being given insider information on Medicare Advantage?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "Clinton, the IRS, Clapper and Holder all lying to Congress?"
Bob: "No, the other one."
Jim: "I give up... Oh wait, I think I got it! You mean that 65 million low-information voters stuck us again with the most corrupt administration in American history?"
Bob: "THAT'S THE ONE!"
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/18/2013 16:07 Comments || Top||

#6  Sounds like she's starting to crack over being the chance of being taking the fall.
Posted by: Charles || 06/18/2013 16:30 Comments || Top||

#7  Holly Paz better steer clear of Ft. Marcy Park ....
Posted by: Barbara || 06/18/2013 18:58 Comments || Top||

#8  Bad news: Obama is in Berlin
Good news: I am not
Posted by: European Conservative || 06/18/2013 19:35 Comments || Top||

#9  Schönau am Königsee ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/18/2013 19:40 Comments || Top||

#10  Bad news: Obama is in Berlin

Ich bin ein donut!
Posted by: SteveS || 06/18/2013 20:29 Comments || Top||

#11  Not the donut. Just the hole.
Posted by: Pappy || 06/18/2013 21:13 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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3al-Shabaab
3Arab Spring
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2al-Qaeda in North Africa
2Taliban
2Hezbollah
1al-Qaeda
1TTP
1Hamas
1Muslim Brotherhood
1Salafists
1Boko Haram
1Thai Insurgency
1Fatah al-Islam
1Govt of Iran

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In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2013-06-18
  Today's Pakaboom: 18 dead at Mardan funeral
Mon 2013-06-17
  LeJ claims twin attacks
Sun 2013-06-16
  Double blasts kill 25 in Pakistan
Sat 2013-06-15
  Mali's Tuareg rebels ready to sign peace deal
Fri 2013-06-14
  Mortars Fired at Damascus Airport, Delay 3 Flights
Thu 2013-06-13
  60 Boko Haram members killed in Maiduguri
Wed 2013-06-12
  Thousands Throng Istanbul Protest Square
Tue 2013-06-11
  Bombs and battles hit northern Iraq, more than 70 dead
Mon 2013-06-10
  Syria Islamists Execute Youth in Front of Family
Sun 2013-06-09
  Pak police recovers 15,000 kilos of explosive material
Sat 2013-06-08
  Tunisia Turns Away 8 Gulf Muslim Preachers
Fri 2013-06-07
  Seven killed in suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan
Thu 2013-06-06
  Nawaz Sharif elected as Pakistan PM
Wed 2013-06-05
  Locks Cut To Boston Water Supply Aqueduct
Tue 2013-06-04
  Missile Kills 26, including 8 Youths, in Syria Village


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