[Ennahar] The two son of former Egyptian geriatric President Hosni Mubarak received important commissions from Israel to approve the export of Egyptian gas to the Jewish state, according to documents released Sunday by a Kuwaiti newspaper.
According to these documents, of which Al-Jarida publishes photocopies, Gamal and Alaa Mubarak hit each 2.5% of a contract of $2.5 billion.
Negotiations in this regard were held between Israeli officials, former Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi and Hussein Salem, a businessman close to the Mubarak family in January 2005.
The contract covers the annual provision for 15 years by 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas by the Israeli-Egyptian consortium East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) to the Israeli electricity company.
Gas exports began in February 2008.
Egypt supplies 40% of natural gas used by Israel to generate electricity. In December, four Israeli companies have signed contracts of 20-year to $ 10 billion (7.4 billion euros) to import Egyptian gas.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/07/2011 00:00 ||
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[Arab News] A senior adviser to Ivory Coast's internationally recognized president says more than 10 houses belonging to senior ministers, mayors and other members of his party have been ransacked, and some burned, by security forces allied with Laurent Gbagbo. ... President of Ivory Coast since 2000. Gbagbo lost to Alassane Ouattara in 2010 but his representtive tore up the results on the teevee and Laurent has refused to leave despite the international community's hemming, hawing, and broad hints...
Amadou Coulibaly said Sunday that the police have actively participated in the lootings, which began Thursday. Ami Toungara, who advises Alassane Ouattara on women's issues, said her house was looted and burned by a group of youth and police.
Ouattara and his government have been confined to a hotel since early December by security forces loyal to incumbent leader Gbagbo, who has refused cede power and accept results showing he lost the presidential election.
Heavy fighting ... as opposed to the more usual light or sporadic fighting... erupted in western Ivory Coast between rebels and forces loyal to Gbagbo, sources along the Liberian border told Rooters on Sunday.
Gunfire could be heard by residents in Liberian border villages and maimed fighters were crossing over seeking medical attention, the sources said.
"We in Tapeta, here, did not sleep last night from the sounds of the guns (in Ivory Coast)," a Red Thingy official said, asking not to be named. "It sounded like the war was moving into this area."
The fighting started on Saturday in a town in western Ivory Coast reputed to be a pro-Gbagbo stronghold, sources said.
"It is true that many young people from the border towns were recruited by both forces in Ivory Coast," a resident in the Liberian town of Dialah said.
"We were told that Gbagbo's men were dislodged yesterday, but today, there is still resistance."
Ivory Coast has been in turmoil since a disputed November election that threatens to rekindle the West African state's 2002-03 civil war, and has already hindered exports from the world's top cocoa grower. Gbagbo claims he won the poll despite UN-certified results showing his rival Ouattara with an 8-point margin of victory, triggering a standoff that has already killed hundreds.
Tens of thousands of people have decamped Ivory Coast to Liberia already, and analysts are worried Ivory Coast's instability could spill over into its fragile neighbors.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/07/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Whatever happened to the UN authorization for the AU to enter and secure Ivory Coast? Ahhh, yes, winter is lifting, time to visit Casino. Apologies Ouattara, war for cocoa just does not have the same, ummmm, ring to it as war for oil. Hope you weren't too dependant upon the UN for your safety.
[Arab News] The Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Aziz Khoja shared on his twitter on Sunday night an SMS that he received from a conservative, accusing him of being a source of corruption and telling him that he is considering him as his enemy.
The sender of the message to Khoja had identified himself as a sheikh and ended the SMS with his full name, ID number, mobile number and e-mail address. The message, according to the minister's tweet, read: You malignant. Oh Allah, put, Abdul Aziz Khoja the minister of curiosity and moves with Abu Lahab.
Abu Lahab is an enemy of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and is punished by being placed in everlasting hell.
The attacker added that even if the minister has powers now, he has to remember the Day of Judgment, where his position and family background would be useless.
The vitriolic attack was in response to the minister's written comments on the unruly incidents that took place at the Riyadh Book Fair on March 2, when some conservatives roughed up participants and relayed orders through a mike for women to dress up properly and move graciously or face the consequences. The incidents took place in front of the minister.
Khoja, following the incident, had written: The book fair mirrors our civilization and culture and we all have to be up to the responsibility. Whoever has an issue regarding the book fair could consult the concerned department in the book fair. Creating disturbances and annoying visitors is not acceptable.
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... some women writers are opting to stay away from the fair, with Saudi author Siham Al-Qahtani canceling her Riyadh trip and also her book-signing event. The woman author told Arab News that she canceled the book signing in Riyadh fair on Saturday fearing attacks by some conservatives.
Last Wednesday and Thursday were chaotic. They were following me at the fair, chasing me from one publishing house to another while all the time pressuring me to cover myself. Even people living in Riyadh said that they have never seen such happenings even in their malls.
Al-Qahtani claimed that she and other women have been asked by some volunteering conservative groups to skip the book fair and go back home. What we are not sure is where did they get this power? I feel there is a plan to ruin the Riyadh book fair. Things were much better last year.
A number of local columnists have addressed the problem in there daily columns in local media. Badria Al-Bishr, Khalaf Al-Harbi and Ali Al-Mousa have written against the actions of the misguided few, saying, these actions are not justified.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/07/2011 00:00 ||
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[Arab News] Sean Penn thanked Venezuelan His Excellency President-for-Life, Caudillo of the Bolivarians Hugo Chavez on Saturday for supporting the actor's relief organization in Haiti, saying the aid has helped its humanitarian work in distributing medicines. Chavez met with Penn at the presidential palace and praised the actor's efforts with his J/P Haitian Relief Organization, which was founded in response to the catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Neither provided details about how much financial assistance Venezuela has provided to the group. He'll prolly have a better idea once the drug sales proceeds arrive to offset it. Leftists suck at accounting.
The Oscar-winning actor noted that in addition to Venezuela's financial help, his organization has also received support from the US military. Penn called that ironic, adding: "We hope that this kind of collaboration can be an example for future approaches to many other issues" - in spite of limited US-Venezuelan diplomatic contacts. Me, too. Like the US military dealing with the issue of Chavez himself.
The US and Venezuela have been without ambassadors since December, when Chavez formally rejected the White House's nominee for envoy in a diplomatic dispute. The US government revoked the visa of Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez in response.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/07/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Caracas is a good place for Sean Penn. He should stay there.
#4
"Well, guess he doesn't need me anymore. What would an actor do with a conscience anyways."
-Jimminy Cricket
Look at the bright side tu3031, if that is what turns her on you didn't have a chance to begin with. Ever see the poster with the hot chick on the fancy car...underneath it says, "In the long run, the car is less expensive"
March 7, 2011: China is increasing its military budget 12.7 percent this year, compared to a 7.5 percent bump last year. This means that the official defense budget is $91 billion. Like other communist nations, the Chinese keep a lot of military stuff outside the defense budget, so their actual defense spending is closer to $150 billion. Chinese defense spending has more than doubled in the last decade. This has triggered an arms race with its neighbors. Russia just announced a new military upgrade program that would increase defense spending by a third, and devote over 600 billion dollars in the next decade to buying new equipment. Japan, already possessing the most modern armed forces in the region, is increasing spending to maintain their qualitative edge. A decade ago, China and Japan spent about the same on defense, but now China spends more than twice as much. Even India is alarmed. Spending only 30 percent as much as China does, the Indian generals and admirals are demanding more money to cope with China. India and China are actually devoting a lot of their additional spending to just bringing their troops up to date. Both nations have lots of gear that was new in the 1960s and 1970s. They don't expect to be as up-to-date as the U.S., which spends over $500 million a year, but there's plenty of newer, much better, and often quite inexpensive equipment to be had.
Meanwhile, the big mystery is figuring what the Chinese military up to with all this spending? This question's been rattling around inside intelligence agencies, and among diplomats, for the last decade. Once this sort of thing hits the mass media, however, things get a bit distorted. For example, what alarms Americans most frequently is how the U.S. is being demonized by the Chinese military leadership. Chinese politicians speak in more friendly terms, while tolerating the bellicose attitudes of their generals and admirals. The politicians refuse to rein in the aggressive attitudes of their military commanders. China experts counsel that the rants from the military are mainly to build morale within the ranks, and make it easier for the politicians to reduce corruption in the armed forces. This corruption is an old, old problem in China. It's been reduced in the last two decades, but is still there, in a big way. By whipping up this fervor for dealing with a major war, it becomes unpatriotic (for many, but not all, officers) to steal and connive. But to outsiders, it looks like the Chinese are preparing for something ominous. This is reinforced by the increasingly aggressive Chinese attitudes towards its neighbors over ownership of uninhabited islands (often just rock outcroppings only visible at low tide). Outright possession of these islets gives the owner possession of nearby oil or natural gas deposits. Something worth fighting for, and that's what worries neighbors when it comes to China's growing naval strength.
Inside China, military analysts decry the sorry state of military leadership, training and doctrine. It's easier to build new weapons than it is to train and maintain troops capable of using them effectively. The Chinese are more concerned with that. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense wants to portray China as a formidable foe, in order to justify a large defense budget. This is a pattern that developed during the Cold War, and continues. China has replaced Russia as the arch-foe. While the U.S. still pays attention to the defense of Taiwan, Chinese military power is seen expanding farther and farther into the Pacific and Asia.
Just how real is Chinese military power? Technically, a lot of Chinese gear is well built. This we know by observing how China has absorbed Western (including Russian) technology over the last sixty years. They can build good stuff (if you have an iPhone or iPod, you are using Chinese built, or at least assembled, tech). China is still learning how to invent, design and build many of the iPhone/iPod components. Chinese have the talent and persistence to acquire the needed management and technical skills. It takes time, and Chinese leaders like to take the long view. That means realizing that current Chinese armed forces are not so good. Peacetime soldiers in general, and Chinese ones in particular, develop a lot of bad habits, that translates into defeats early in a war. But in a world with nuclear weapons, the old Chinese strategy of fighting a long war and grinding down a superior (man-for-man) force, no longer works. If you use conventional forces, you strike first and fast, then call for peace talks before the nukes are employed. This situation does not work to China's advantage. Chinese generals are going through the motions of creating a well trained and led army, like many Western nations have, but are making very slow progress. Meanwhile, the Americans are particularly admired, with all their practical training methods and combat proven NCOs and officers. China still has far too much corruption in their military establishment, and too little initiative and original thinking, to create a force that can match the Americans. Going through the motions may work in peace time, but not once the shooting starts.
China insists that it's growing military power is for defense only. That makes sense, as a lot of money is going into the navy, which protects the imports (mainly of food and raw materials) and exports (of manufactured goods) that are driving the unprecedented economic growth. The Chinese try to explain away the military buildup opposite Taiwan as political theater. This may be true, for a failed attempt to take Taiwan by force would not only disrupt the economy (and create a lot of unhappy Chinese), but would be a major failure by the government. Dictatorships cannot survive too many such failures, or too many angry citizens. So it makes sense that the Chinese military growth is largely for defense. But those large defensive forces can also be used to bully or intimidate neighbors, which is what the neighbors are worried about.
Hope and change, baby. And we are teaching our enemies how to build our modern electronic gear. Sun Tzu would be laughing his ass off at us. Continued on Page 49
#1
ION TOPIX/WORLD NEWS > {Guardian.UK] SECOND BATTLE OF OKINAWA LOOMS AS CHINA'S NAVAL AMBITION GROW, as symbolized by Okinawa's famed SHURI CASTLE.
Also from GUARDIAN [old = Archives] > CAPTURED TALIBAN MAY FACE TRIAL ON GUAM.
*** cough *** cough ***...
* YONHAP > FOOD SHORTAGES SO BAD IN NORTH KOREA THAT EVEN SOLDIERS STARVE: DEFECTORS.
* CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > WHAT CHINA NEEDS NEXT: CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, in support of across-the-board, proactive democratization + consumer-based free markets as evol from tradit Commie-style Centralism.
* PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > SOUTH KOREA BLAMES NORTH FOR GPS, PHONE JAMMING; + DAILY TIMES.PK > NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES ELECTRONIC ATTACKS ON SOUTH KOREA.
Wehell, iff the USDOD ever wonders how one [or more] of the USN's CVN's or USFK, USFJ Milbases were successfully hit by Kimmie's LR Missles, WONDER NO MORE!
* SAME > [PLA Gen. Luo Yuan]GENERAL:CHINA MUST CLARIFY ITS SOVEREIGNTY [border lines] OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, as Rising China owns NONE of the approximately 100 known regional Oil-Gas = Energy Wells.
Chinese hackers gained access to the government's top-secret plan to buy the U.S.-made Global Hawk reconnaissance drone in June 2010, it emerged Sunday.
"We've had a report from a government official that China launched a hacking attack on the Defense Ministry's computer system and accessed confidential information about the ministry's plan" to buy the drone, a spokesman for Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Hak-yong of the National Assembly's Defense Committee said. "The government hasn't raised this issue with China yet and is apparently still mulling how to handle it."
Seoul asked Washington to sell the Global Hawk in 2005, and in 2009 the U.S. Defense Department agreed. Budget problems delayed the purchase, but after North Korea sank the Navy corvette Cheonan last year, the government earmarked W45.2 billion (US$1=W1,116) from the 2011 budget to start negotiations amid growing fears of further North Korean provocations.
Japan also wants to buy the Global Hawk. China is apparently collecting intelligence for fear of growing surveillance power by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.
The high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle can stay in the stratosphere over 18 km above the earth for more than 30 hours at a time. It has a surveillance range of 200 km beyond the Northern Limit Line, the de-facto sea border with North Korea.
Meanwhile, there have been more than 20,000 hacking attempts on the government computer systems every year, most of them from China, according to data the Ministry of Public Administration and Security submitted to Grand National Party lawmaker Lee Sung-hun.
Of 21,899 hack attempts last year, 8,183 came from China, followed by the U.S. (1,032 attempts), Brazil (282), Thailand (255), Hong Kong (239), and Japan (232). In 2007 there were 30,287 attempts, 36,907 in 2008, 20,176 in 2009, and 21,899 from January to August 2010.
#2
Hey!! How can we ignore Kimchees hacking attack in 2010, oh right, that was with an x-box.
Posted by: Steven ||
03/07/2011 17:29 Comments ||
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You know if we were smart we would be having entire 'secret' honeypot networks deployed with false, but verifiable information to both A) feed them false information and B) watch their hacking attempts (and successes) so we can harden our actual network even more.
[The Nation (Nairobi)] China's state media stepped up its criticism of calls for anti-government rallies on Sunday, saying stability is key amid concern that unrest sweeping the Middle East could spread to the Asian nation.
The reports came a day after a similar comment piece was published for the first time in a state-run newspaper, amid renewed online calls for citizens to gather in dozens of cities to participate in "strolling" demonstrations Sunday.
"Firstly we must recognise that some people with ulterior motives at home and abroad are using various means to incite 'street politics'," a report on the front page of the Beijing Youth Daily said.
"They are using the Internet to create and disseminate false information, incite illegal gatherings in a bid to bring the chaos in the Middle East and North Africa to China, to mess up China."
A report in the Jiefang Daily, the official Communist Party mouthpiece in Shanghai, carried a similar opinion piece, urging people to "maintain social harmony and stability."
"People must... highly cherish and consciously maintain hard-won stability like they take care of their own eyes," it said.
The anonymous calls for rallies each Sunday, inspired by popular uprisings in the Arab world, have heightened official concern about unrest in China amid growing resentment at issues such as a yawning wealth gap and corruption.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/07/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
ION WMF > "SANKEI SHIMBUN" JAPANESE MEDIA: CHINESE RECCE PLANES [Y-8's] NEAR DAOYUS GATHER/GATHER INTELLIGENCE FOR PLA ATTACK THROUGHOUT THE "FIRST ISLAND CHAIN". Breakout = breakthrough PLA milstrikes???
* SAME > US-ROK JOINT DRILLS PREMISED ON "COLLAPSE OF NORTH KOREA" THEORY.
* SAME > RUSSIAN SCHOLARS PROPOSE SINO-US "STRATEGIC EXCHANGE" IN NE ASIA IN SUPPORT OF FORMAL KOREAN-REUNIFICATION + NON-NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA: CHINA TO CHANGE ITS TRADITIONAL HARDLINE APPROACH ON NON-FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN NORTH KOREA + KOREAN PENINSULA AFFAIRS IN RETURN FOR US ASSISTANCE ON FINAL OR PERMANENT MAINLAND RE-UNIFICATION WID TAIWAN. ALTERNATIVE IS CHINESE TAKEOVER OF NORTH KOREA WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE TO RUSSIA, VERSUS US TAKEOVER OF TAIWAN WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE TO CHINA.
But-t-t, neither the DPRK nor ROK [South Korea] desire any Chinese takeover of North Korea.
IIUC, IOW SHORT OF MAJOR + CONCLUSIVE[US-China]REGIONAL WAR IN NE ASIA LITTLE OR NOTHING IS LIKELY TO CHANGE FOR THE TWO KOREAS, ESPEC STARVING NORTH KOREA.
#2
OOOPSIES, forgot SAME > TO PREVENT MIDDLE-EAST STYLE CIVIL WAR IN NORTH KOREA, KIM REGIME IN PYONGYANG ORDERS THE SECURE MASS COLLECTION, STORAGE OF WEAPONS + AMMUNITION FROM MANY DPRK FIELD ARMY UNITS. DPRK COMMANDERS, SOLDIERS WHOM REFUSE TO TURNOVER MIL WARES THREATENED WID ARREST, IMPRISONMENT OR DEATH.
IMO looks like Kimmie knows truble is coming, + IMO again not necessarily because of the on-going "Jasmine" chaos only in the ME.
H/T Instapundit on both
The federal government posted its largest monthly deficit in history in February at $223 billion, according to preliminary numbers the Congressional Budget Office released Monday morning.
#2
An external observer may think that it is all deliberate, to push America into complete bankruptcy. Add to that that draining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve now would prevent the country form having such a reserve in case of a real crisis in the coming year. The external observer adds: while blocking new drilling for oil in America, well played.
The number of temporary healthcare reform waivers granted by the Obama administration to organizations climbed to more than 1,000, according to new numbers disclosed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS posted 126 new waivers on Friday, bringing the total to 1,040 organizations that have been granted a one-year exemption from a new coverage requirement included in the healthcare reform law enacted almost a year ago. Waivers have become a hot-button issue for Republicans, eager to expose any vulnerabilities in the reform law.
#6
--Isn't this 'waiver' a year-to-year approval by HHS ?? At some point, (after 2012 election??), would you think that HHS will not allow renewal waivers and everyone would have to participate??
Am I all wet??
#7
Do you really think the Unions would ever be under the obligation of Obamacare? (As Beneficiaries -- yes but actually having to pay for it - that's for the other guy - just like it is now).
#8
I personally believe the entire point of Obamacare is the waivers. You have to earn them (with political contributions or votes). If you don't deliver, you will find your competitors have a decisive advantage over you.
"Rules for thee but not for me"
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
03/07/2011 17:34 Comments ||
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#9
The future of ObamaCare hangs on the 2012 election. Without the waivers, people would see the real cost of this program and The One would go down in flames. Once he wins the 2012 election, nothing can be done to stop it and he can safely let the waivers expire.
Smart move on his part.
Posted by: Caesar Snuter1559 ||
03/07/2011 22:59 Comments ||
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A Texas nationalist group has held a demonstration, calling on state lawmakers to introduce a bill that would allow Texans to choose whether to secede from the United States.
The Houston Chronicle reported that: the Texas National Movement rallied on the steps of the Capitol building in Austin on Saturday, to mark Texas Independence Day and push for a referendum on secession.
Lauren Savage, vice president of the movement said: "Texas can take better care of itself than Washington. We are here to raise interest in the Legislature of the possibility of secession to cure the ills of America"
The group argues in its resolution that the federal government has failed to protect its borders from illegal immigrants.
It goes on to state that the government has, "implemented thousands of laws, mandates and agencies in violation of the United States Constitution that have invaded the sovereignty of the State of Texas." Better ask the Mexican drug cartels what they think about this before you get too carried away.
#2
It would be interesting to see how the TexDollar trades in relation to the USD. I'd guess an initial price of $2USD=$1TD.
Posted by: Matt ||
03/07/2011 9:29 Comments ||
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#3
Though it's traditional for them to call for secession, I think it would be far more entertaining for them to call for Texas to host a constitutional convention.
While just as unlikely, they could do it informally, inviting delegates from other States to a tongue in cheek "constitutional convention/BBQ".
For those States that didn't want to send an official delegation appointed by their legislature, I'm sure their State Tea Party would be more than glad to provide an informal delegation. (Which would perturb their State government a bit.)
The effort would be to make it a fun party, with some speechifying, southern patriotic music, and large amounts of crackling-cold beer. And BBQ, of course.
#5
I can see Texas leading the charge. If things really get bad and the government really gets repressive, I can see Texas leading the way with several states following.
However, I think they will just be leading the charge against an overreaching federal government and once Bambi is thrown out things will quiet down again.
#13
Comeon down to Texas if you're of the right mindset.
Leftists need not apply - we have enough of them in a wildlife preserve called "Austin". We do have idiots though, but they mainly stay in Houston with like-minded folks like Sheela "You Stupid Motherf**ker" Jackson Lee.
Posted by: No I am The Other Beldar ||
03/07/2011 18:22 Comments ||
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#14
I was born in NJ but I'm a Texan at heart. Please let me in.
#15
I think I can get in. My grandparents immigrated directly to Texas from the old country (smart grandparents!). Daddy was born and raised there; I lived there for a time as a baby. I've got friends there who I think would vouch for me (Sgt. Mom?).
Most importantly, I've got the right mindset. Don't Mess With Texas! :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
03/07/2011 22:13 Comments ||
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#16
I'm in Dallas at the moment, wrapping up some old business before I visit an old friend who is over at the annex in Medina in San Antonio and then back to Colorado. I suppose they'll let me back in Texas if I need to be there, decrepit as I am. I am beginning to like Texas a lot more than 15 years ago, or maybe its that Colorado has just been turning too stupid (liberal) anymore. Or maybe Im just old and the cold is getting to me.
[Arab News] India's Congress party moved to shore up its ruling coalition on Sunday after a key partner said its ministers will formally quit the Cabinet on Monday, the latest setback for a government beset by corruption scandals.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government is not in immediate threat of collapse because the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) party has said it will continue to offer conditional support even after its six ministers leave because of a row over local elections.
The Congress, in addition, can seek support from other regional groups to boost its numbers in Parliament, as few want to face an election more than three years ahead of schedule.
Still, the DMK's decision to quit the cabinet will further hobble the government's ability to push through reforms, as it becomes dependent on new pressure groups for support.
"The Congress has not got in touch with us. DMK Ministers will submit their resignation letters tomorrow," T.R. Baalu, a senior leader of the party said, rejecting reports that the two sides were in talks to mend the alliance.
The Congress made no immediate comment, and local TV stations said top leaders would hold talks with party chief Sonia Gandhi later on Sunday to plan the party's response to the latest crisis.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/07/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
ION INDJUH BHARAT RAKSHAK > [Dr. Richard L. Benkin]JIHAD HAS COME TO INDIA. Potential future Military, Terror threat emanating not from PAK per se but from Bangladesh].
and
* TOPIX > ARIRANG NEWS (JAPAN): SANKEI: NORTH KOREA ASSISTING MYANMAR WID DEVELOPMENT OF SCUD SRBM - KANG SEOK-HO.
When I was much younger & read my first science fiction tales, I did not imagine I would see the first man step onto the moon. After that happened, I could not imagine I would see the last man on the moon.
Not only are President Obamas policies harming the middle class they are also hurting the poor. Imagine that you have not lost your job yet. Thankful as you are, the rising cost of gas may soon force even harder decisions on your family. Many people here commute to work. If you have even a modest commute of 20 miles, rising gas prices could add $100-200 a month to your gas bill. This will cause even more families to struggle to feed themselves. From the Los Angeles Times:
One in five Californians struggled to afford enough food for themselves and their families last year, according to a new report by the Food Research and Action Center.
The rate in California was slightly higher than the national average of 18%.
Jim Weill, president of the Washington-based nonprofit group, said the figures underscore the need for a strong nutrition safety net including food stamps and school meals for families that continue to struggle even as the economy begins to recover.
While the nations Great Recession may have technically ended in mid-2009, it has not yet ended for many of the nations households, Weill said in a statement Thursday. For them, 2010 was the third year of a terrible recession that is widely damaging the ability to meet basic needs.
The report was based on data collected for the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which conducted telephone interviews with more than 350,000 people in 2010, including 35,543 in California.
#1
Unlike some of the big eastern cities like New York and Boston, California was built around the car. Our suburbs and bedroom communities are spread out all over the place. Developers love it whenever a freeway is extended because that's an open invitation for them to build new housing tracts. People move into these new houses because they're so much cheaper than houses that are closer to the big cities and the jobs. It doesn't take long for the new freeway to become just another parking lot as frustrated commuters vie with one another for advantage in the traffic jams. Most people would consider a 20 mile commute to be indeed "moderate". You buy a new car on a five year payment plan and it'll be worn out before you're done paying for it. Rising gas prices really are gonna hurt.
#3
Rising gas prices really are gonna hurt.
A substantial part of the USA (not just the far West, either) was populated & developed largely because of the widespread use of autos, dirt cheap fuel, and subsidized highway construction & maintenance. Affordable housing was built as far as possible from places of employment, and long commutes became baked in to ways of life.
The pain of really expensive auto fuel has been understood since at least 1973. The USA has since been hit with several cluebats, most recently during the summer and fall of 2008. As little as possible has been done to adapt to that possibility. Californians who obligated themselves to frequent long commutes were just as capable of doing math ($/mile and $/week spent on commuting) as any other American. Now they and the rest of us will be paying the price for failure to act appropriately and in time.
#4
Screw 'em if they insist on voting in stupid. Maybe if it hurts enough they just might get a clue.
That's the 2011 version of Ben Franklin's "Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other."
#6
Given the distances, how are they going to get food home from the supermarket? Carpooling, or a variation of it. Send one of those monstrous SUVs to the supermarket with a long-enough shopping list & pack it full of the needs of several families, then split the cost of the fuel among the beneficiaries.
#10
if I tried to put that many people in a car I would get ticketed. It's not necessary for each of the families to personally visit the supermarket. A team of two can pick out & haul groceries for multiple families, just takes a bit of advance planning and teamwork. Those who live hand-to-mouth & can't buy more than a few days' worth of food at a time, aren't able to do this.
#14
Hey I got that hippy bus. Give me Moonbeam anytime.
Church donations are way down. Charitable food donations are also down. Food banks can't handle the large numbers seeking assistance. The great society indeed. Faith in government and precious little in your fellow man. Faith in God would set our priorities correctly. Otherwise riots for certain. Anyone perceived to have anything will be a target. Anyone suspected of hoarding will lose everything. It could even get much worse.
#15
c'mon guys I live in LA.
Most of what you guys posted simply ain't true. Most people live near their jobs here just like everywhere else.
But some choose to travel more because there's lots of stuff to see and do when your city in 500 square miles in size.
Especially with good weather most of the time.
Gas expenses for traveling type jobs ..ie..outside or route sales is generally deductible.
And most people in Southern California make more money than their counterparts in other states for the same type work.
But you are right about re-electing that communist broad and Governor 'moonbeam'.
But maybe they will get the blame for the impending doom thats on the way.
I cry for my city & state.
Oops. Did I say industrial capitalist? I meant Arianna Huffington! From TFA:
She argued that blogging on the Huffington Post is equivalent to going on Rachel Maddow, Jon Stewart or the "Today" show to promote their ideas.
And, she said, there are plenty of people willing to take their place if they do.
"The idea of going on strike when no one really notices," Huffington said. "Go ahead, go on strike."
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.
Laurent Gbagbo.
[Arab News] Sean Penn thanked Venezuelan 
March 7, 2011: China is increasing its military budget 12.7 percent this year, compared to a 7.5 percent bump last year. This means that the official defense budget is $91 billion. Like other communist nations, the Chinese keep a lot of military stuff outside the defense budget, so their actual defense spending is closer to $150 billion. Chinese defense spending has more than doubled in the last decade. This has triggered an arms race with its neighbors. Russia just announced a new military upgrade program that would increase defense spending by a third, and devote over 600 billion dollars in the next decade to buying new equipment. Japan, already possessing the most modern armed forces in the region, is increasing spending to maintain their qualitative edge. A decade ago, China and Japan spent about the same on defense, but now China spends more than twice as much. Even India is alarmed. Spending only 30 percent as much as China does, the Indian generals and admirals are demanding more money to cope with China. India and China are actually devoting a lot of their additional spending to just bringing their troops up to date. Both nations have lots of gear that was new in the 1960s and 1970s. They don't expect to be as up-to-date as the U.S., which spends over $500 million a year, but there's plenty of newer, much better, and often quite inexpensive equipment to be had.
A Texas nationalist group has held a demonstration, calling on state lawmakers to introduce a bill that would allow Texans to choose whether to secede from the United States.
Not only are President Obamas policies harming the middle class they are also hurting the poor. Imagine that you have not lost your job yet. Thankful as you are, the rising cost of gas may soon force even harder decisions on your family. Many people here commute to work. If you have even a modest commute of 20 miles, rising gas prices could add $100-200 a month to your gas bill. This will cause even more families to struggle to feed themselves. From the Los Angeles Times:
