For the first time in Morocco's history, 19 women have qualified as civil servants, pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports.
Previously only men could qualify as civil servants in Morocco.
According to the daily, the 19 women are among 107 new civil servants who qualified on Tuesday in the city of Quneitra, 40 kilometres north of the Moroccan capital, Rabat.
"The presence of women in the civil service reinforces our government's policies aimed at building a modern and democratic society where women and men are equal," said Morocco's Interior Minister Shakib Binumsi.
Binumsi vowed these and other women will in the future be able to reach senior positions in the country's civil service.
Fouzia Amansar in October 2006 became the first female governor of the prefecture of Ain Chock, Casablanca. She was appointed by to the post by King Mohammed VI.
The head of South Africa's governing African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, has said he is shocked and embarrassed about white poverty in the country. Mr Zuma was speaking after visiting the Bethlehem township near the capital, Pretoria, where white families live without running water or electricity.
He said the high level of black poverty did not mean whites did not suffer too.
South Africa's Helping Hand says the number of homeless white people has increased by 58% since 2002. A new report by the charity, which helps poor white communities, says more than 130,000 white people in South Africa are homeless.
Speaking in Bethlehem, Mr Zuma said: "I am shocked and surprised by what I have seen here. The vast number of black poverty does not mean that we must ignore white poverty, which is increasingly becoming an embarrassment to talk about."
He said he had seen the same problems facing white residents of the township as he had seen in black squatter camps. "This is not about politics, it's about people who are poor, who are in need and want to be helped by government," he said, quoted by the AFP news agency.
The trade union Solidarity, whose membership is mainly white, said it welcomed Mr Zuma's visit as an acknowledgement that poverty did not only affect the majority black population. "For a long time whites have been seen as rich and and blacks poor," Solidarity secretary general Flip Buys told the AFP. "Talking about white poverty has been seen as politically incorrect. The emergence of this scourge has left everyone looking for answers."
Analysts say Mr Zuma is keen to reach out to the white community at the same time as the main opposition party - which is predominantly white - seeks to increase its appeal to the black community, ahead of next year's election.
#2
Plus, whites have been severely affected by an all-out "affirmative action"; not only did the country go down the drain, but they were especially discriminated against in the so-called "rainbow country"... lower-middle class whites, who couldn't emigrate or held to management or professional jobs not thretened by "affirmative action" have had it VERY bad... that's why you've got a problem with white teen or pre-teen girls forced into prostitution and pimped by black transnational (notably nigerian) gangs like in that SA teevee show posted on Evil Youtube I linked to in an earlier comment, because there's a whole part of white society that had not only been left behind, but deliberately set to fall.
#3
Actually Dearth, it might have been the U.S. that broke the country with the South African Divestiture. It got the evil, nefarious, white devils out of power and the investment never came back. We were trying to be PC and we screwed everyone.
#5
PC, Political Correctness, is an abomination. When the pendulum begins its swing back to the Right, I hope the left are eviscerated (literally) because of all the evil wrought in the name of PC.
I'd even like to see the so-called Leftist Elites subjected to a few nasty pogroms. But I'm funny that way.
Posted by: Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 ||
07/24/2008 19:04 Comments ||
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#6
Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) has been a huge and resounding success in South Africa. I think it's high time for a parallel program which could obviously be dubbed.... White Economic Empowerment (WEE). WEE BEE! Make it happ'n Jacob!
Although Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party has agreed to talks with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change on a possible power sharing arrangement, the country's political violence and intimidation continue. ZANU-PF militia are still patrolling vast parts of the country.
Several legislators, who have returned to Harare from hiding places in Zimbabwe and in neighboring countries, say the mood in the country is tense. They say they dare not go to their homes for fear of being arrested. About 20 winning MDC legislators have been arrested since the elections in March.
One legislator from the eastern Manicaland Province, who spent three weeks in detention recently and asked not to be identified, said members of the ZANU-PF militia are asking for money from people who fled during post-election violence and now want to return home. He said those who have returned have found their assets, such as food and livestock, were taken after the elections.
A parliament member from the Mashonaland East Province, a ZANU-PF stronghold where many voted for the first time for the MDC - said militias still control people's movements in and out of villages.
An MDC legislator in Mutare, Pishai Muchauraya, said his officials are searching for many people listed as missing.
MDC branch chairman Reuben Mutewe, 38, from Manicaland Province, who was abducted from his home June 30, was found in the mortuary at the Mutare General Hospital last Friday.
Muchauraya says they have still not found the body of activist Emmanuel Nyapfungwe, who he says was allegedly murdered June 20 in Manicaland Province.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/24/2008 00:00 ||
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The Chinese government on Thursday dismissed allegations in a new report that it is putting pressure on neighboring Nepal to arrest ethnic-Tibetan protestors and to limit their right to hold anti-China demonstrations.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters the accusations made in a report published Thursday by the U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch were inaccurate.
"We don't accept these accusations. Nepal is our good friend and neighbor. We do not put pressure on our neighbors," he said.
But Liu added that friendly countries have given the Chinese government assurances that they will not allow their territories to be used for activities which harm China, including attacks on its consulates and embassies.
Human Rights Watch says the Nepalese authorities have made more than 8,000 arrests since March when a series of anti-Chinese protests began in Nepal in the wake of riots and antigovernment demonstrations over the border in Tibet.
Most of those detained were released soon after, the report said, often with no explanation as to why they were arrested.
"Nepal's government is turning the screws on peaceful Tibetan protesters at the behest of China," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
More than 100 protestors calling for independence for Tibet were arrested in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu last Friday, according to media reports from Nepal.
More than 20,000 Tibetans live in Nepal, some having fled their homeland after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.
#2
The EUnuchs can kiss my ass. Pull the diplomats and the soldiers out now and tell those pussies they're on their own. Maybe not having Uncle Sugar to fight their battles for them might, just might get them to start thinking they have to provide their own security. Most of them, though, would think that meant condoms and Vaseline.
#7
The US should set up plans to close a number of our embassy's in Europe as redundant, downgrading some to consolates and closing others outright. WE should also have plans to pull out military out entirely.
We wouldn't have to follow up on either. The EU would get pressure from member governments and would shut up quick. If we do follow up, well it's a win/win.
#8
The EU always tries to imply that the US wants to keep the eastern Europeans out, like western Europe. But it's just the opposite. The eastern Europeans are not going to be sending any potential terrorist immigrants or criminals our way, for many reasons. But the western Europeans are more than happy to send any filth in their streets to our streets.
The US would be happy to double or triple the number of visitors we get from the East.
When an inmate is executed inside Mississippi's death chamber, those watching through observation room windows can make out their own reflections.
This was the case Wednesday at the execution of death-row inmate Dale Leo Bishop. The 34-year-old carpenter was convicted of capital murder in 2000 for his role in the 1998 beating death of Marcus Gentry near Saltillo.
Only eight years from trial to execution? Why so hasty ...
The two had been friends, and the condemned man said as much Wednesday evening just moments before receiving his punishment -- a lethal mixture of Sodium Pentothal, saline, Pavulon and potassium chloride administered into the back of his left hand.
"To Mark's family, I would like to express my sincerest apologies," Bishop said while surrounded by prison officials, a medical officer and white brick walls. "It was a senseless act. It was a needless act. The world is worse off without him."
Gentry's mother and uncle witnessed the execution. Seated in chairs, neither of them moved or uttered a sound throughout.
Bishop wore a red prison jumpsuit, flip-flops and no socks. His goatee matched the color of his brown hair, and tattoos covered his left arm, which was extended out a bit from his body. With a microphone hanging inches from his mouth and his body secured to a gurney by seven leather straps, Bishop delivered his last words in the clear voice of a calm young man. His ex-wife and nephew wept; his three teenage boys and mother were not present.
"To my family, I love you," he said. "It's going to be all good."
Bishop, who spoke for less than two minutes, then asked opponents of the death penalty to vote for presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the upcoming presidential election. "God bless America; it's been great living here. That's all," were his last words. He closed his eyes, tilted his chin slightly to the left, sucked in a deep breath and never moved again. He was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m.
Addressing more than 200,000 elated Europeans massed in Berlin at twilight, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama promised Thursday that he would work to unite Christians, Muslims and Jews in a safer, more united world. His 27-minute speech at the gold-topped Victory Column was interrupted by applause at least 30 times, with occasional audience chants of O-ba-MA!
Billed as a speech about Transatlantic relations, it turned out to be a manifesto for the planet, with an appeal to the burdens of global citizenship.
Local authorities said the crowd was more than 200,000 triple Obama's previous record of 70,000 in Portland, Ore. Reaching out to skeptics back home, he heralded the dream of freedom and declared firmly: I love America.
People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment. This is our time, he declared, offering himself not as a candidate for president, but as a citizen, a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world.
Obamas speech, the centerpiece of his presidential-style sweep of the Middle East and Europe, set a global agenda as expansive and audacious as any contemplated by a candidate for United States president.
In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help us make it right, has become all too common, he said. Yes, there have been differences between America and Europe. No doubt, there will be differences in the future. But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together, Obama continued. A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century, Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more, not less.
Invoking the fall of the Berlin Wall after the historic call by President Ronald Reagan at the nearby Brandenburg Gate, Obama declared that the greatest danger now is to allow new walls to divide us from one another. The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand, he said. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christians and Muslims and Jews cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down.
In perhaps the most striking passage, Obama asserted: I know my country has not perfected itself. But I also know how much I love America, he said. We are a people of improbable hope. With an eye towards the future, with resolve in our heart, let us remember this history, and answer our destiny, and remake the world once again.
Obamas sweeping vision also includes:
"This is the moment when we must renew the goal of a world without nuclear weapons."
"This is the moment we must help answer the call for a new dawn in the Middle East."
"America has no better partner than Europe. Now is the time to build new bridges across the globe as strong as the one that bound us across the Atlantic. Now is the time to join together, through constant cooperation, strong institutions, shared sacrifice, and a global commitment to progress, to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
My country must stand with yours and with Europe in sending a direct message to Iran that it must abandon its nuclear ambitions.
The world should support the millions of Iraqis who seek to rebuild their lives, even as we pass responsibility to the Iraqi government and finally bring this war to a close.
McCain 2008 spokesman Tucker Bounds said in response: "While Barack Obama took a premature victory lap today in the heart of Berlin, proclaiming himself a 'citizen of the world,' John McCain continued to make his case to the American citizens who will decide this election. Barack Obama offered eloquent praise for this country, but the contrast is clear. John McCain has dedicated his life to serving, improving and protecting America. Barack Obama spent an afternoon talking about it."
#1
"The world should support the millions of Iraqis who seek to rebuild their lives, even as we pass responsibility to the Iraqi government and finally bring this war to a close."
What disgusting weasel words. Parsing them is like nailing jello to the wall. He can spin it to take credit without any blame, yet, if he'd had his way, Saddam would still be "the Iraqi government" and likely very close to possessing nukes.
The more I hear from and about this clown the more my reaction goes from wry bemusement to visceral disgust. God help us if we're stupid enough to elect him.
#3
Oh dear, he really is shaping up to be the latest contender for the 'AntiChrist' title. And if I slightly alter his name to Barack(6) Hussei(6) Nobama(6) it fits as well as Mahmou d Ahmad inejad. Maybe we could put them in the ring (of fire) together and get them to fight it out.
#4
I enjoyed seeing the World President grin early in his pep rally when someone began that Mooselim tongue wagging chant. I didn't see anyone in the audience over the age of 35 and I don't think the Germans were that excited about his history lesson or his constant references to Africa. With any luck, he'll schedule one of these rallys in Paris, Madrid, Moscow, and Brussels over the coming weeks.
#6
I think he realizes he peaked too early for POTUS and has decided to best Tony for EU President.
I could never understand why Nixon allowed a third rate burglary to take place (if he did) when it was clear that McGovern could never win. Now I understand.
#7
The money quote for me: "...the contrast is clear. John McCain has dedicated his life to serving, improving and protecting America. Barack Obama spent an afternoon talking about it."
#11
Never be surprised when a man's ego overtakes him and he starts to really, truly think it's his way or the highway.
Obama's ego is such that he is positioning himself as both the Second Coming of Christ and seems to actually be starting to believe he is the only chance for a new world order.
He'll start by unilaterally disarming the US. He'll continue with attempting to disarm the citizenry of the US and by establishing a corps of political commissars and devotees to police this disarming.
There will be violence during his rule for he will come to believe he rules by divine right. He already believes he deserves it.
Video at link .... I saw this this morning --
On Barack Obama's presidential trip to the Middle East and Europe, he noticed the soldiers he met in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan always had Fox News on. He wondered allowed to his media entourage, is the White House and Armed Forces Network in cahoots with Fox News?
Obama: (Fox News correspondent) Garrett's on there all the time. How is it that Fox News has such the hook-up with Armed Forces television? Is that the Commander-in-Chief's choice?
From a commenter: Oh did you hear that one of the MSN reporters asked Obama which channel he was going to pick when he became president? That made it all for me - the stupid reporters (and probably Obama) believe that GW Bush dictated the television stations watched in a war zone.
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/24/2008 16:40 Comments ||
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#2
Oh, please. As a former AFRTS tech, I can tell you they rotate through all the news networks. Fox, CNN, Headline News, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, etc. If all he saw was Fox, that means he only visited with the troops for a short time window when Fox was on. Or when the other MSM newcast came on, the troops switched them off. AFRTS broadcast schedules can be found here.
Posted by: Steve ||
07/24/2008 16:41 Comments ||
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#2
Denver police officials have been extremely circumspect in answering questions about either their security plans for the convention or their equipment purchases.
But the ACLU wants to provide the whackos with all the intelligence they can get.
US presidential candidate Barack Obama tried played down the massively hyped expectations for his speech in Berlin on Thursday, saying he was not trying to make a historic address like JFK and Ronald Reagan.
"They were presidents, I am a citizen," he told reporters travelling with him. "There is no doubt that part of what I want to communicate on both sides of the Atlantic is the enormous potential of us restoring a sense of coming together , just like we did in 1945."
The presumptive Democratic nominee is expected to speak before tens of thousands of people Thursday evening at a public event in the heart of Berlin. Germany has been swept up in Obamania for days, flattered that the wildly popular US senator would pick the German capital for his most important stop in Europe.
Young Germans decked out in Obama t-shirts were walking through the centre of Berlin ahead of the speech handing out flyers promoting the event. Obama today, a blond man in his twenties wearing glasses said in German before hurrying on his way toward the Alexanderplatz train station.
Before he met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama defended himself against claims he is defying convention by electioneering abroad. He told reporters he wanted to speak to the whole of Europe so he needed a big venue and it was Berlin's symbolism that drew him to make his major speech in the city. In other words: "Screw you, Paris"
"Obviously Berlin is representative of the extraordinary success of the post World War II effort to bring the continent together and to bring the West together, and later to bring the East and the West together," he said. "So I think it is a natural place to talk." When I think of postwar Berlin, I think of desperate Germans escaping Communism.
Both John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan made memorable speeches in Berlin while the city was divided during the Cold War. Kennedy famously expressed his solidarity with West Berliners by proclaiming ich bin ein Berliner and Reagan demanded the communists tear down the Wall.
Merkels spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said the German leader had discussed several key foreign policy issues including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Middle East peace process and next years NATO summit with Obama during their one-hour meeting in the Chancellery. It was very open and intensive talk in an excellent atmosphere, Wilhelm said.
Obama later met German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the afternoon before heading to Berlins Victory Column, a monument to Prussian 19th century war victories in the citys central Tiergarten park, to hold his speech at 7 pm local time.
On a sunny day in the German capital, Berliners were lending the event an atmosphere akin to a festival by grilling sausages and selling beer near the site of the speech, which has frequently been used for large public gatherings.
Obama is wildly popular in Germany where, according to a recent opinion poll, 76 percent of the people would like to see him win the November election.
But Peter Thiele, a 44-year-old beer vendor set up Strasse des 17 Juni, wasnt buying all the hype. Calling Obama "just a candidate," he said it wasnt enough for Berliners to be enamoured with the senator.
"He's got to convince people in America, not here," he added.
The first major poll since Barack Obama started his high-profile foreign tour does not show a huge benefit in the presidential race.
The NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey released this evening gives Obama a 47 percent to 41 percent national lead over Republican John McCain, an edge unchanged from last month. The poll was conducted last Friday through Monday, encompassing three days when Obama was in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Obama's lead grows to 13 points when independent Ralph Nader and Libertarian Bob Barr are added, with Obama at 48 percent, McCain at 35 percent, Nader at 5 percent, and Barr at 2 percent
While fewer registered voters are excited about McCain, 55 percent said they believe Obama would be the riskier choice for president, compared to 35 percent for the more experienced McCain.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/24/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
everytime a pollster calls me - I hang up. None of their damned biz.
#2
The more Obama opens his mouth and gets out in public, the more he will show he is not even close to ready for the Presidency and how liberal his ideas are and the less the MSM will be able to cover for him.
#3
Obama's lead grows to 13 points when independent Ralph Nader and Libertarian Bob Barr are added, with Obama at 48 percent, McCain at 35 percent, Nader at 5 percent, and Barr at 2 percent
So let me get this straight...with the ultra-liberal Nader entering the race, Obama gains 1 point and the center-right McCain watches his base flee and loses 5 points.
#5
in any poll, look at when the questions were asked (figure who's available at home during the weekday) and what partisan %'s were polled. They typically over-represent Donks
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/24/2008 9:18 Comments ||
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#6
Polls don't matter much yet.
McCain is possibly being helped by blaming gas prices on Democrats.
Of course he he voted against opening ANWR when he had the chance and also reacted in his usual self righteous angry-man way when challenged on this (much to the praise of the NYTimes).
#8
"with the ultra-liberal Nader entering the race, Obama gains 1 point and the center-right McCain watches his base flee and loses 5 points."
After 2000, Nader won't be getting the ultraliberal vote -- he would be getting the PUMA vote, those Clinton supporters that hate Obama's guts and would be voting for McCain out of spite if he was the only other choice. That's why it makes sense that McCain loses more to Nader than Obama does.
Posted by: A ris ||
07/24/2008 10:11 Comments ||
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#9
crawl back under yer rock A ris.
Posted by: Red Dawg ||
07/24/2008 11:02 Comments ||
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#10
I almost put a McCain sticker on my car yesterday. The politics of fear? you bet, I fear we won't be able to survive an Obama rule.
Has Bobby Jindal removed himself from vice presidential speculation? That's how Fox News interpreted a comment from the Louisiana governor today. During an interview on "Fox & Friends," the 37-year-old Republican said, "I'm not going to be the vice presidential nominee or vice president."
That's not quite as sweeping and uncategorical as the "don't ask me, I won't take the job" statements that Democrats Ted Strickland, the governor of Ohio, and Jim Webb, the senator from Virginia, have issued.
Still, Jindal's comment is pretty blunt for someone who has been viewed as right at the top of John McCain's list of potential running mates.
McCain was scheduled to travel to New Orleans today for a sit-down with Jindal but, intriguingly, the meeting was canceled this afternoon. However, that may have had more to do with matters outside either man's control.
As The Ticket noted earlier, Hurricane Dolly already accomplished what no amount of carping from McCain could -- cut into the intensive coverage of Barack Obama's overseas sojourn. But storms play no favorites, and McCain has been directly affected by it.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/24/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
That's probably for the best--Louisiana needs him.
Posted by: Mike ||
07/24/2008 6:33 Comments ||
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#2
And he's smart enough to get the seasoning, full credit for the success he's creating, and not be used by McCain as a toke or cuspidor.
#6
He seems to have some potential, but based on his first few months as governor, he is not yet ready for prime time (readier than Obamessiah, but .....)
Posted by: Menhaden S ||
07/24/2008 12:24 Comments ||
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#8
I'd like to see him turn Louisiana around first. If he does that, by bringing Louisiana to the middle of the pack, statistics-wise, he won't have to run - the GOP will draft him.
#9
Bobby is probably very good. However, the only thing that would get Louisiana out of last place in the next eight years in the national rankings is for Puerto Rico or DC to become the next state. And that still makes New Mexico's hold on 48th that much more secure. :)
To speed up its efforts to build a missile defence shield, India will next week test an interceptor with capabilities to destroy enemy missiles in and outside the atmosphere.
"This interceptor missile has the capability to intercept an in-coming enemy missile at 40-km altitude and it can carry a warhead weighing 25 kg," a top Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist said here today.
If the test is successful, India will get into an elite league of nations with indigenous capabilities to intedict enemy missiles in both endo-(less than 30-km) and exo-atmospheric (above 40-km) altitudes.
This will be the second time that Indian defence scientists will attempt to intercept an incoming target at altitudes above 40 kms.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists had first carried out such a test in 2006 and last December when they successfully intercepted a ballistic missile in endo-atmospheric altitudes.
The long range anti-missile missile would equip India with capacities that could be put to use in protecting populated areas and vital installations such as nuclear plants, oil and gas wells, airports and seaports.
Provided with a radar system to track incoming enemy missiles, the anti-missile interceptor missile would get automatically activated and could within seconds destroy the enemy missile.
The interceptor missile is an answer from India to the ballistic missile capabilities of Pakistan and China, both possessing arsenal capable of hitting Indian targets south of the Vindhyas.
The in-built guidance system would carry the interceptor missile to the enemy missile, finally destroying it in the exo-atmospheric altitudes, thereby ensuring safety and protection of the vital installations below.
Initially christened the 'Prithvi Air Defence' (PAD) system, the interceptor missile is likely to be renamed as 'Pradyumna', DRDO scientists said.
The missile defence system would be ready for operational deployment after the DRDO scientists carry out a couple of more tests that could take about six months to a year, officials said.
"The test is likely to be conducted at Chandipur-On-Sea off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Orissa. The project's Phase-I will be completed by 2009 but the system would get clearance for operational use only by 2012 or 2013," the scientists said.
Comparable to the Israeli's Arrow-I and the US' Patriot (PAC-3) missile defence systems, 'Pradyumna', if successful, is likely to steal a march over the two international players eyeing the much-awaited tenders from India for such a system.
Whether Pradyumna would be a contender for India's immediate missile defence system needs would be known much after scheduled November 2008 tests of the missile system, DRDO scientists said.
Posted by: john frum ||
07/24/2008 12:18 ||
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#1
Silly Indians.
Don't they know that missile defense is unproven technology and will take at least ten years before it can begin to work?
They really should be looking at alternative defensive measures.
Perhaps shooting corn into the path of oncoming missiles might be helpful. Or maybe giant wind mills throw missiles off course.
Posted by: Kelly ||
07/24/2008 13:42 Comments ||
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Anyone know what kind of terminal homing they are using? E.g. LWIR?
New Delhi: In a four-page letter addressed to Board members of the IAEA, Pakistan has attacked the draft Indian safeguards agreement for envisaging termination conditions and fuel supply arrangements which could allow India to divert part of [any imported] fuel for weapons purposes.
At the same time, it said that the Indian model should not be discriminatory and should be applied to states such as itself.
Pakistan is a member of the 35-strong Board of Governors. The letter, written by its Ambassador to the IAEA, Shahbaz, was sent out on July 18, though the Indian mission in Vienna has yet to formally receive a copy. A similar letter was circulated by Pakistans Ambassador to the U.N., Munir Akram, on July 15. The BoG will meet August 1 to consider the Indian agreement.
Apart from raising procedural objections to the convening of a Board of Governors meeting at short notice, Pakistan is strongly opposing a number of specific provisions in the agreement. It says both the BoG and the Nuclear Suppliers Group should carefully weigh the consequences that may ensue from succumbing to expediency over principles if the drive to steamrollthis agreement was not resisted.
According to Indian officials, Pakistan has sounded a number of BoG members on the possibility of putting the Indian draft to a vote on August 1 rather than approving it by consensus. Though indications are that so far the Pakistani proposal does not have takers, Islamabad would be within its rights to call for a division when the Board meets.
Ambassador Shahbazs letter, a copy of which is with The Hindu, says a disturbing feature of the agreement is the reference in the Preamble to a phrase from the Indo-U.S. statement of July 2005 specifically [noting] Indias willingness to identify and separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities. Thus, the IAEA Board is being asked to recognise and accept Indias nuclear weapons status, the letter says.
The Pakistani envoys missive demands that this preambular reference be deleted because it runs counter to the purpose of IAEA safeguards and is in itself unique, as similar provisions do not exist in other such agreements.
Curiously, though the letter condemns the Indian safeguards agreement on proliferation grounds, it argues that Pakistan should be afforded the same treatment. In one place, it warns the BoG that the Indian text is likely to set a precedent for other states which are not members of the NPT and have military nuclear programmes. But elsewhere, it also demands that any safeguards agreement adopted by the BoG in respect of India should be available as a model for other non-NPT states.
Among Pakistans other objections: - Despite Indias refusal to place its Breeder Reactors and Thorium-based programme under safeguards, the draft recognises Indias three-stage nuclear programme. This is gratuitous legitimisation of potential nuclear proliferation and contrary to the IAEAs objectives.
- The draft contains ambiguous provisions regarding conditions for the termination of the Safeguards Agreement, provides India access to international fuel markets and provides for unspecified corrective measures which India would be allowed to take to ensure uninterrupted operation of its civilian reactors. This contravenes the continuation of IAEA safeguards in perpetuity.
- The agreement may indeed provide an incentive to India to conduct further nuclear weapons testing, since future termination of the Safeguards Agreement, after India has built up an adequate fuel reserve, would resolve Indias problems relating to the shortage of nuclear material for both its civilian and nuclear weapons programme.
Pakistan has also objected to the reference in the agreement to a restricted document, GOV/1621 and said the BoG cannot approve an Agreement with secret clauses. It was vital, it said, for the conditions for termination of safeguards to be expressly incorporated. [In fact, GOV/1621 is available to all IAEA member states and has also been published in a 1985 book].
Criticising the IAEA draft for not providing for termination of peaceful nuclear cooperation in the event of a nuclear test by India, Pakistan said the agreement threatens to increase the chances of a nuclear arms race in the sub-continent.
The Pakistani letter says IAEA rules prevent the Indian agreement from being considered at the earliest, 45 days later, i.e. 25 August 2008 and that the political expediencies of either India or the U.S. are not sufficient reason for the 45 day rule to be waived.
Indian and IAEA officials told The Hindu the 45 day rule was not hard and fast and that several safeguards agreements have been approved in less time. According to sources, Pakistans safeguards agreement for the Chashma reactor was itself cleared within 48 hours of the text being circulated to the Board in November 2006.
During the recent visit to Delhi by Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, the Indian side sounded Pakistan out on its objections to the safeguards agreement. Mr. Bashir said there was nothing personal in Islamabads stand and that the country was acting in its own national interest.
Posted by: john frum ||
07/24/2008 07:56 ||
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Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari refused to reinstate sacked chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, during a meeting of leaders of the ruling coalition, a private television channel reported on Wednesday.
According to Waqt TV, Zardari, during the meeting, kept on insisting that the sacked CJP should not be reinstated. Zardari fears that the sacked CJ could pose a threat to the current government if the latter -- upon restoration to the Supreme Court (SC) -- decided to reopen for adjudication cases on the National Reconciliation Order and President Pervez Musharraf's eligibility to contest for office, the channel said.
It said that Zardari wanted a guarantee for Chaudhry not reviving either issue upon restoration. The channel said that close aides of the PPP co-chairman have assured him that SC Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan could make such a guarantee, adding that Zardari however was not ready to trust him.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/24/2008 00:00 ||
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Iran and Saudi Arabia are two countries in Asia that have carried out the most number of executions in the world, according to a report released on Thursday by Italian rights group, Hands Off Cain.
The report also highlighted China as having the worst record in terms of the number of death penalties carried out. "But let's focus on the US death row, shall we?"
Although the number of countries that have the death penalty has been reduced, the report said that number of people executed in 2007 increased compared to the previous year. In 2007, there were 5,851 executions carried out in the world, compared to 5,635 carried out in 2006 and 5,494 in 2005.
The report says that executions in Iran have increased by one-third, from 215 in 2006 to at least 355 in 2007. Iran is also singled out in the report for having executed 21 people by hanging in one day, while in the first 10 days of 2008, 23 people were hanged.
Also in Saudi Arabia, the number of executions have increased four-fold in a year, turning it into one of the countries with the highest number of executions per capita. At least 166 people were executed in 2007, and 39 in 2006. The report says that executions in Saudi Arabia are held in public courtyards outside well-attended mosques after Friday prayers. Gee, it's almost like mosques aren't really places of worship as our own tradition of religion would figure.
Those executed are beheaded.
In 2007, 50 of the executions that were carried out in Saudi Arabia had to do with drug crimes.
In the Americas, the last remaining country practising the death penalty is the United States, where 42 people were executed in 2007, less than the previous year when 53 were executed.
In Europe, Belarus continues to be the only country in the continent where the death penalty is carried out.
The report by Hands Off Cain was presented on Thursday at a special ceremony attended by several Italian parliamentarians, including the vice-president of the Italian Senate, Emma Bonino, as well as ambassadors from several countries. The former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi also received "The Abolitionist of the Year 2008" award at the ceremony. The award is given to a person who, above all others, has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment in the struggle for a moratorium on executions and the abolition of the death penalty. Can't remember what Prodi did, but it was most probably very tranzi in style.
Athletes from Iraq have been banned from taking part at this summer's Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee has announced.
The team was already the subject of an interim ban after the Iraqi government replaced the country's Olympic committee with its own appointees. Under the IOC charter, all committees must be free of political influence.
Iraq had been planning to planning to send a team of at least seven athletes to the Olympics. Two rowers, a weightlifter, a sprinter, a discuss thrower, a judoka and an archer were in the frame for the trip to Beijing.
"The deadline for taking up places for Beijing for all sports except athletics has now passed," said IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies. "The IOC very sadly has now to acknowledge that it is likely there will be no Iraqi presence at the Beijing Olympic Games, despite our best efforts."
She added: "Clearly, we'd very much like to have seen Iraq's athletes in Beijing. We are very disappointed that the athletes have been so ill-served by their own government's actions."
Hussein al-Amidi, the general secretary of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, said: "This morning we were informed of the final decision of the International Olympic Committee to suspend the membership of the Iraqi Olympic Committee. It's a final decision, there is no way to appeal. This means that Iraq will not take part in the coming Olympic games.
"It is a blow to Iraq and its international reputation, its athletes and its youth. I swear those athletes who have been training - they phoned me today and they were crying and were very upset."
The Iraq government dissolved the National Olympic Committee in May and the interim IOC ban was put in place on 4 June. Davies added that the Iraqi government had been asked to travel to Switzerland to meet the IOC to discuss possible remedies but failed to do so.
The committee which the government dismissed was elected in 2004, in line with the Olympic movement's regulations. The Iraqi government said it took the decision to appoint a new committee because the previous one was corrupt and had not been functioning properly.
Ahmad al-Samarra'i, chairman of the committee dismissed by the government, and several other members had previously been abducted by gunmen while attending a meeting in central Baghdad in July 2006. They have not been seen since.
#1
My guess is that if we leave Iraq, Maliki will make himself dictator-for-life. I suspect we'll need to stay there for at least several decades. However, if Obama gets elected, and we do leave, the media and assorted academics will find a way to exonerate Obama, and blame Bush for the second coming of Saddam.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his legal team relayed on Wednesday that they are willing to undergo a polygraph test to prove that they did not leak material from the graft probe against the premier dubbed the "envelopes affair."
Olmert's attorney, Eli Zohar, has handed over to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz a list of 26 people who were exposed to the investigation's material, in response to a request to do so by Mazuz. The attorney general has also asked for a similar list from the attorney representing Shula Zaken, the prime minister's former bureau chief.
The probe is into suspicions that Olmert illicitly received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jewish American millionaire Morris Talansky over the course of 15 years.
Mazuz's move came after Olmert lodged a complaint with him on Monday about the leaks. On the prime minister's behalf, Zohar requested Mazuz promptly launch a probe to find out who gave the media transcripts of Olmert's police questioning. "The leaks from the prime minister's investigation have crossed all boundaries," Zohar wrote.
The State Comptroller's Office on Wednesday reportedly began a comprehensive investigation into the use of wiretaps by interviewing Chief Superintendent Gadi Siso, head of the wiretapping department at national police headquarters.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/24/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
I would like to play 20 questions if he is going to be hooked up.
The Israel Defense Forces' head of Halacha (Jewish Law) has said that religious soldiers should be exempt from participating in army ceremonies that include appearances by female singers.
Rabbi Maj. Menachem Perle's stated this after a female singer from the army band sang a number of songs at a rehearsal for the final ceremony for a course of soldiers from the Kfir infantry brigade, which includes the religious Nahal Haredi battalion and a number of platoons of students from Jewish seminaries.
One of the soldiers present at the ceremony later posted a question to the military rabbi via the Web site Yeshiva, asking if it was permissible by Jewish law to remain in the audience during the appearance of the female singer.
He also pointed out that a number of religious soldiers had left the hall when the female singer came up to the stage during the ceremony.
Perle said the prohibition on listening to female singers was based on the halachic ruling that kol haisha arve (the voice of a woman is shameful, or sexual). "According to the letter of the law there is no way to permit religious soldiers to listen to a female singer, even in a military ceremony," Rabbi Maj. Perle said.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/24/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Don't a lot of these hyper-religious types also use their religion to get out of both work and fighting?
Also, stone cars of other Jews as they have some sort of problem with cars?
#2
Yes they do, 3dc. Although I believe the stoning is of those cars driving through their neighborhood on the Sabbath, but I could be wrong. They are idiots, and that Israel indulges such behaviour is idiotic as well.
#3
Wrong TW. You confuse ultra-orthodox (who are anti-Zionist: "Jews should wait for Messiah, not do things for themselves") with zionist-orthodox who are overrepresented in the combat units of the military.
#6
That's right Darth. The soldier in question didn't demand that the female singer be removed. He didn't demand that she'll be dressed "decently", just requested to be excused. Can you grasp the difference?
Can you grasp the difference between a liberal, integrated democratic society and the ridged and segregated religion?
Or are you too busy banging your head on the floor?
Western nations and democratic and free societies bring all people together. All men (see humans) are created equal. The fact that during ceremonies that celebrate this integration, people still can't get over their primitive beliefs. They want to teach that watching women sing is bad, fine. But during a celebration of a unit comprised of ALL of Israel, it is intolerable and should be scorned.
Can you grasp that difference, g(r)omgoru? Can you?
#10
The babylonia talmud contains a statement (Berakhot 24a) that a woman's voice is indecent.
The context of this remark is within a discussion about reciting the proclamation of faith (a.k.a. the Shema).
The haredi world has run with this and in some places women do not even join in the communal grace after meals out loud (but I think they do say 'amen' after the benedictions within it - because that's not singing).
The modern orthodox world generally considers the provision to be a "well in the society that prevailed in the talmudic era, it was reasonable to supress the singing of women for the pleasure of men; however, that's not so now".
#11
Fanatics, they can all go straight to hell, no matter the religion. There is a big difference between excusing yourself and trying to prevent others from doing what they want.
#14
Can you grasp the difference between a liberal, integrated democratic society and the ridged and segregated religion?
A liberal (in the old sence) society respects personal choice as long as it doesn't harm others. The soldier in question should no more be forced to listen to a female singer than I should be forced to attend Sabath prayer. Or you should be forced [fill in].
Most interpreters assume that Miriam and the women sang without men; that Miriam would sing a verse and the other women would sing a verse and that this was going on during the same time that Moses was leading the menfolk in his song.
Interestingly, because the Talmud statement is in the singular, even the Haredi are more lenient when it comes to a group of women singing (the voices of many women at once might not be indecent).
Personally, I have for many years admired Miriam for this because her version of the song is short and sweet. That's what I told visitors to our seder earlier this year when I display our "Miriam's cup" next to the Elijah's cup.
and in case you were wondering, the Song of Deborah in the b of Judges would have been heard by men and would have been the voice of a single woman
however, apparently, prophets and judges get to do things on a one-time basis that would be illegal otherwise; e.g., Elijah making offerings at Mt Tabor (when its supposed to be at the Temple), Pinhas killing Zimri extra-judicially, etc.
The German magazine Der Spiegel is reporting on line that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. has "cancelled a planned short visit to the Rammstein and Landstuhl U.S. military bases in the southwest German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The visits were planned for Friday."
"Barack Obama will not be coming to us," a spokesperson for the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl told Der Spiegel. "I don't know why."
Obama senior adviser Robert Gibbs told us in a statement, "During his trip as part of the CODEL to Afghanistan and Iraq, Senator Obama visited the combat support hospital in the Green Zone in Baghdad and had a number of other visits with the troops. For the second part of his trip, the senator wanted to visit the men and women at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to express his gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The senator decided out of respect for these servicemen and women that it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign."
UPDATE: The McCain campaign issued the following comment on Obama's decision to cancel a visit to the troops at Ramstein Air Base and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany today: "Barack Obama is wrong. It is never 'inappropriate' to visit our men and women in the military," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. I read today, that from the 9000 soldiers at the Kuwait base, only 200 showed up! Wonder if that has anything to do with it?
#1
I thought the trip was NOT funded by the campaign, but was part of one of the usual Congressional junkets fact-finding tours? that's why several other senators went along, including Hagel.
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/24/2008 16:47 Comments ||
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#2
"Barack Obama will not be coming to us," a spokesperson for the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl told Der Spiegel. "I don't know why."</I>
He didn't want to see anymore AFN FOX News? Shooting hoops at the hotel is much more rewarding, especially if you're suffering from an extreme case of the arss.
CHICAGO: A US company is developing a gun that can fire bullets with variable speed and can be set to kill, wound or just cause a bruise.
Lund and Company Invention, a Chicago-based toy design studio, which makes toy rockets that are powered by burning hydrogen, is receiving funding from the US army to adapt the same technology for firing bullets as the army is interested in weapons that can be switched between lethal and non-lethal modes.
The new weapon, called the Variable Velocity Weapon System, lets the soldier use the same rifle for crowd control and combat, by altering the muzzle velocity. It could be loaded with "rubber bullets" to deliver blunt impact, full-speed lethal rounds or projectiles somewhere between the two.
The gun works by mixing a liquid or gaseous fuel with air in a combustion chamber behind the bullet. This determines the explosive capability of the propellant and consequently the velocity of the bullet, as it leaves the gun.
#6
I prefer nukes. That way, you don't have witnesses. Kinda rough on the "innocents", but I'm beginning to think the term is over-used.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/24/2008 14:10 Comments ||
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#7
You could carry a hell of a lot more rounds with a system like this. Might be good for urban warfare on the low setting. Different bullet weights would make it even more flexible. And I don't know, wounding the enemy seems like it just makes more problems than it prevents. They capture some of those Taliban guys several times, I don't know who keeps letting them out, but they go right back to work when they do.
#8
Years ago in Brazil, bus companies made the interesting discovery that they paid much less for wrongful death than for injury. This was soon followed with bus drivers chasing people they had bumped, to finish the job.
But seriously, folks. I figured that an easier way to get a variable bullet would be to have a casing with punch holes in it. You would have a selector switch on the gun that would determine how many holes were punched in the casing before firing; zero, one or two.
#10
Future Weapons had a variable speed beanbag shotgun. It was calibrated for fireing at a human being, you used a slider set the hight of the person and the gun calibrated how much force to use to stun it.
It worked by venting off the burning gasses from the shotgun "shell" in variable amounts.
#11
I wonder if it'll be ready for the night of November 4th.
Posted by: Bob ||
07/24/2008 15:39 Comments ||
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#12
Kinda defeats the purpose of handloading.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
07/24/2008 17:11 Comments ||
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#13
I can hear it now. A cop says "STOP!" The perp doesn't stop and keeps coming. "Damn, I meant to set it on bruise."
Such bullets will only be good for lawyers.
I was part of some research some years ago that evaluated a tungsten-tin bullet that was formed under pressure. it did not work as well as conventional bullets because it tended to powder on impact. The intent was to develop an "environmentally friendly" but people unfriendly bullet. It didn't work so well. I always had to kind of chuckle about these conflicting concepts. Still hard to beat lead. Shoot for the center of mass with an "adequate conventional" bullet to kill if you are going to shoot. What "adequate conventional" means is open to interpretation. I like 40 or 45 cal. Hydra-Shok or Speer Lawman. These rounds will bruise, wound, and kill all at the same time. You don't have to take the time to sort out which you want to do.
#14
Wrongful death lawsuits, in the case of a perp, are very likely to be dismissed or beaten by a decent attorney. Much more so than the ones where the jurors see some bastard sitting there in a wheelchair or using a walker. It's the same psychology at work that had all the fools concerned about OJ rather than the two people he murdered.
A bit long, butI think a worthwhile read.
WASHINGTON -- A Democratic senator on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee inadvertently ("OOPSIE! Can I get a do-over?")
explained why her colleagues have no intention of ending the moratorium on offshore oil drilling or increasing the areas open for exploration and production -- no matter how popular the idea might be with gas prices soaring.
#1
I can't comment on this now. I just took my blood pressure medicine and the doctor wouldn't approve.... Here's hoping Hell is warm enough for the Donks someday.
#2
Blocking drilling for Natural gas and Oil offshore to help wean us of the tit of foreign oil is treason as is having no firm long term energy plan for this nation.
#3
Every drop of oil we don't burn is a drop for China to burn. It seems to me like the main interest of the Democrats is the Chinese Economic Support Plan. We sacrifice so the Chinese don't have to.
#4
Time to heat the tar and bag the feathers. Now, where did I put that pitchfork...
Posted by: Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 ||
07/24/2008 2:01 Comments ||
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#5
Okay you guys, tell the truth and answer one simple question:
Are there any surprises here?
To me there is, The dems are normally pretty astute political animals but they have sold themselves down the river on the oil issue.
I am amazed that this poll driven bunch of loons don't realize how far gone they are on this issue.
Posted by: James Carville ||
07/24/2008 2:21 Comments ||
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#6
TOPIX/REDDIT > US PLANS TO BUILD LUNAR BASE FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION.
HMMMM, as per above, and in the DEMS + NASA'S DEFENSE, I DON'T THINK FUEL STRAINERS WHICH CAN PUT OUT 100-PLUS MILES/GALLON WILL SUFFICE FOR DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION. NICE, BUT NOT ENUFF, NOT FOR MAIN POWER-PROPULSION SPACESHIP SYSTEMS ANYWAY.
#7
Meanwhile we keep shipping $700 billion per year to the Soddies, et al. How does not drilling ensure a "good home domestic supply"? Stupid b*tch. If the GOP doesn't make this a successful campaign issue, then to hell with the lot of 'em. Do they have any fight left?
#9
I think this is going to have the same effect on the Democratic party that the Iraq war had on the national media. It will expose that they despise the American people and feel themselves so superior that they really just expect them to do their bidding without question. They are royalty. "The People" are the unwashed masses who need to clean their bedpans and then vanish from their presence.
That's why they favor providing services to illegal aliens at the expense of citizens. As far as they are concerned, it is all one massive work force - and the aliens aren't as uppity as the serfs.
#10
Ken Salazar ran on a platform of being a centrist and not holding to liberal ideas to win a senate seat for Colorado. Guess who is being the major obstructionist for the sale of leases for oil shale in Colorado?
#11
The Dems also are proposing a HIKE in gas taxes to pay for their earmarks!!!!!Since people can't afford to drive, demand has been cut along with the revenue used to pay for many of their pet projects. Only good thing to come of all this the people are rallying and wanting to toss them all out on their ear, or worse. :)
#12
This is Pelosi leadership. She's not going to even allow discussion or a floor vote on this. Where's McPain ? He ought to be stomping on this with both feet. This is a winning vote getter. Common working folk who commute get it. Elites like Gore and Pelosi who burn 1000 time their share don't because we taxpayers are footing their bills. Get on it John Boy. Get the commercials out. Blanket radio and TV now. People are hot as hell about gas/diesel prices. Use it. It's a Dummocrat gift. Just like the forked tongue Messiah.
#13
The Republican leaders came out with an "All of the above" option yesterday that I agree with. Develop every aspect of energy production, wind, nuclear, clean coal, solar, and yes, the dreaded oil fields. Combine that with hydrogen cars, natural gas and electric cars, and a full spectrum effort to conserve all of our resources rather than waste them. That makes a good deal of sense to me. It could spur a great deal of energy security as well as a ton of jobs and investment.
#15
If anything causes Obama to lose it's gonna be this nonsense. McCain should really hammer the drilling short-term nukes (and everything else that works) long-term plan of energy independence and let Obama counter with high hopes and promises of higher gas prices.
#16
tipover - you think the union *membership* have any say in which party the union supports? More often then not the union bosses are the ones calling the shots.
Here in Washington State, pubic school teachers are *required* to contribute to the Democratic Party (via the Union) - regardless of their own political beliefs. They are required to join the union (or pay into the union) which then 'contribues' their does to the Democratic Party.
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.
For the first time in Morocco's history, 19 women have qualified as civil servants, pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports. 
The Chinese government on Thursday dismissed allegations in a new report that it is putting pressure on neighboring Nepal to arrest ethnic-Tibetan protestors and to limit their right to hold anti-China demonstrations. 
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari refused to reinstate sacked chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, during a meeting of leaders of the ruling coalition, a private television channel reported on Wednesday.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are two countries in Asia that have carried out the most number of executions in the world, according to a report released on Thursday by Italian rights group, Hands Off Cain. 
Athletes from Iraq have been banned from taking part at this summer's Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee has announced. 
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his legal team relayed on Wednesday that they are willing to undergo a polygraph test to prove that they did not leak material from the graft probe against the premier dubbed the "envelopes affair." 
