#1
Had to kick it around a bit at this site and this post, along with The Nose on you Face, have put a little smile in my heart. The Danish cartoons were to me simple and direct - which has its charms - but wait until the unbridled American sarcasm gets into gear. The 'left' has shot its load and the joke is on them. Let Voltaire and Mark Twain smile at the potential.
A moderate earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter Scale jolted northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, causing panic but no casualties or damage, an official said.
Tremors were felt in Peshawar, Islamabad, Chitral, Abbottabad, Swat valley and the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan at 4.57pm, a seismological department official said. The earthquakes epicentre was located about 350 kilometres north of Peshawar in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, he said. Police and emergency rescue officials said there were no reports of deaths or injuries or of damage to property.
However, panicked residents in Peshawar rushed out of their homes and shops reciting verses from the Quran, witnesses said.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/03/2007 00:00 ||
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Perfect on location, Jenkins! I think we may be getting the hang of this beast. Now dial up the power a tad, we want something around a 6.5...
PARIS - French Defence Minister Herve Morin said Sunday that Frances military presence in Chad was not aimed at rebels fighting the government there, after the rebels threatened to shoot down French aircraft. The French military presence does not concern the military actions carried out by rebels against the Chadian armed forces, Morin told Radio J.
Asked whether France would consider carrying out a preventive strike against rebel groups operating in eastern Chad, he replied: No, of course not.
The control of the border remains an operation within the field of the Chadian army.
Chadian rebels of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development warned on Friday that they would shoot at any aircraft overflying their positions, as a French-led EU peacekeeping force prepared to deploy in the region. The rebels accuse French armed forces of supplying military intelligence about their positions to the regime of President Idriss Deby Itno.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the 3,500-strong peacekeeping force would nevertheless be deployed. France is expected to supply some 1,500 soldiers to the force, due to help secure refugee camps along Chads border with Darfur. Other contributors include Austria, who will send around 160 troops. France has more than 1,000 soldiers in Chad, a former French colony, as well as aircraft which carry out reconnaissance missions and transmit information to authorities in NDjamena.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/03/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
If not, then what exactly are French forces doing in Chad? I cannot imagine it is a significant tourist destination.
#2
Darfour relief effort; anyway chad's already propped up by France, who does the airlift in the fight against the rebels. Which is one more reason why the whole "arche de Zoé" debacle is a slap in the face for France, as chad is blackmailing its own supporter, and allows anti-french demonstrations.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's bid to become president for life failed after he conceded defeat in Sunday's referendum on whether he should be allowed to run indefinitely for reelection in the oil-rich country.
The nation's electoral panel announced that about 51 percent voted against constitutional changes to strengthen presidential powers to promote his campaign to build a socialist economy while about 49 percent voted for them. Voter turnout was about 56 percent.
Chavez, 53, conceded defeat at a news conference.
If Chavez had won the vote on the controversial changes, it would have opened the way for him to realize his hope of staying in power through 2050. As a result of the referendum, Chavez cannot run for a third term under the current Constitution and his term as president will end in 2013.
#7
Heads are going to roll in the Committiee to Re-Elect.
However I am sure this is just a minor setback that will be easily overcome.
Posted by: Kelly ||
12/03/2007 9:16 Comments ||
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#8
Because these were "reforms" (the BBC says so, so it must be true, right?), they are in the People's TM interest, therefore the vote must be rescheduled until the people get it right: EU-treaty style.
Posted by: James ||
12/03/2007 9:17 Comments ||
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#9
And the whole time, Pootie is looking at this and thinking, "Amateur."
Chavez quickly accepted defeat and called for calm. The fiery leftist, who remains popular and powerful, said the people had spoken and he heard them, but he also pledged to find another way to pass his reform plans. "I will not withdraw even one comma of this proposal, this proposal is still alive," he said. "For me, this is not a defeat."
#13
He probably would have won if he had just asked for elimination of term limits. He personally remains popular.
However, the other "reforms" stripped power from congress, states and municipalities, ended property rights, ended union rights, etc. Too many people lost too much.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez suffered a stinging defeat in a vote on constitutional changes that would have let him run for re-election indefinitely, the chief of National Electoral Council said Monday.
Voters defeated the sweeping measures by a vote of 51 percent to 49 percent, Tibisay Lucena said.
#4
I'm sure by the time "all the votes are counted" Chavez will have won. Or, he'll just do it all over again and make sure a former American President is there to observe.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
12/03/2007 1:03 Comments ||
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#5
I wanted to drive by Citgo headquarters and jeer, but Niles hid the car keys.
#6
Considering he only got about 30% of the total vote (40% didn't vote at all, leaving roughly 30% voting NO and 28% voting SI) he is lucky to get as close as he did. The real "traitor" is the person who didn't vote at all.
#9
It gives me some considerable satisfaction that al-Gor must hear this news and wince. All his fake awards will never add up to the presidency he tried to steal. I hope it sits in his gut like a stone.
Heavily edited to just the new news, which may be out of date by the time you read this. Caveat lector.
CARACAS -- President Hugo Chávez's backers and foes claimed victory in a crucial vote Sunday on constitutional reforms that would push forward his vision of ''21st Century Socialism'' and fortify his role as Latin America's most powerful leftist leader in the post-Castro era. ''The result of the referendum is hard-fought,'' said Vice President Jorge Rodríguez. ``We will respect the result, whatever it is.''
For a few seconds, no doubt, until Hugo has a hissy fit and orders up some more 'si' votes.
Although no official results had been announced as of early Sunday night, supporters of the president took to the streets in joyful ''victory'' caravans while some opponents claimed a win and others said privately that they had lost the hotly contested national plebiscite on amending 69 articles of Venezuela's Constitution.
The National Electoral Council was not expected to release its first results until about 11 p.m. Venezuela is one hour ahead of Miami.
After the polls closed, it appeared that perhaps only half of the registered voters turned out for the referendum. Many Chávez opponents had called on voters to stay home to avoid legitimizing a result that they believed was preordained. The low turnout left opposition leaders shaking their heads. ''It's inexplicable,'' said Carlos Guillermo Arocha, a leader of the Primero Justicia political party, adding that he expected Chávez to further radicalize his leftist-populist policies if he indeed won the election.
Dumb, dumb, dumb. A boycott simply allows Chavez to cheat less to win. Election boycotts are idiotic.
One possible solace for Chávez opponents was that he notched his smallest victory margin since he first won the presidency in 1998. Since then, he has won three presidential elections, a 1999 national referendum to rewrite the Constitution and a 2004 recall attempt, never with less than 56 percent.
The government reported arresting 45 people on election-related charges, but, despite a smattering of complaints by the opposition, the election appeared to have been conducted without major controversy.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/03/2007 00:00 ||
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Chavez's vote defeated! BBC
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has narrowly lost a referendum on controversial constitutional changes.
Voters rejected the sweeping reforms by a margin of 51% to 49%, the chief of the National Electoral Council said.
Mr Chavez described the defeat as a "photo finish", and urged followers not to turn it into a point of conflict.
Correspondents say the opposition could barely hide their delight and that the victory will put the brakes on Mr Chavez's "Socialist revolution".
A leading U.S. senator has rejected allegations by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that Washington is seeking to destabilize the South American nation. Mr. Chavez is in a tightly contested constitutional referendum that could allow him to stay president as long as he likes.
President Chavez has leveled a series of allegations against the United States in recent days, such as forming plans to interfere in Sunday's election, topple his government or use CIA agents in Colombia to assassinate him. Late Saturday, the Venezuelan leader renewed a threat to halt oil sales to the United States if attacked.
In Washington, Democratic Senator Carl Levin denied President Chavez's claims, saying there are no such plans to act against Venezuela's government. "First of all we are not seeking to destabilize him," said Senator Levin. "His policies, his efforts at dictatorship, to amend the constitution so he can stay there for life, that is what is destabilizing Venezuela, not our policies."
Senator Levin told CNN television that he doubts Venezuela would actually halt oil sales in any event, because he says it relies heavily on U.S. buyers. He added that threats to stop U.S. oil imports, like those from Mr. Chavez, reinforce the need to develop new sources of energy.
I must say I'm floored. Thank you Senator.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/03/2007 00:00 ||
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First of all, he's correct, Hugo's not "Planning", he's already destabilized (By his own actions)
This is just "Find a reason to blame the USA" not really worth notice.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/03/2007 14:27 Comments ||
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Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro was nominated on Sunday for a seat in the National Assembly, leaving the door open for him to resume governing as he struggles to recover from a long illness.
Castro, 81, handed over power temporarily to his brother Raul 16 months ago after life-threatening stomach surgery and he has not been since in public since. To formally remain president he must have a seat in the rubber-stamp parliament. To cries of "Viva Fidel!", municipal councilors raised their hands and unanimously approved Castro's name on a list of deputies to be put to the popular vote on Jan 20. Since 1976, Castro has represented Santiago, the cradle of his revolution.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/03/2007 00:00 ||
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appeared headed for victory on Sunday in a referendum on allowing him to remain in power as long as he keeps winning elections, two government-linked sources said, citing exit polls.
Three exit polls showed Chavez won by between six and eight points in a vote where turnout was low, they said. If confirmed, it would be by far the slimmest victory margin in the career of a man who wants to rule for life. Most pre-vote opinion surveys predicted a close referendum on the raft of constitutional changes that the opposition and even some longtime former allies say is authoritarian. But pollsters said a low turnout would favor Chavez, who activated a state-backed get-out-the-vote campaign against an underfunded, fragmented opposition.
If the referendum is approved, Chavez would be able to stay in power as long as he keeps winning elections, control foreign currency reserves, appoint loyalists over regional elected officials and censor the media if he declares an emergency. Chavez, who has never lost a national vote, had predicted he would win by at least 10 points.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/03/2007 00:00 ||
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#2
The shooting was apparently the first contract killing of a journalist in Kyrgyzstan, a country known for its relative media freedom compared with its authoritarian neighbors, and it sent shock waves through the region and beyond.
Siyosat struck a visible nerve with the Uzbeks. Soon after Saipov began to publish, a public campaign began against him on Uzbekistan's state-controlled television and Internet. One Uzbek Web site ran a piece titled "Saipov Is Traitorous Knife in the Back From Our Neighbor and Partner Kyrgyzstan."
For the journalists, human rights workers and Uzbek opposition members living in southern Kyrgyzstan, given the brutal and public nature of Saipov's shooting, the consensus is that he was killed to send a message to anyone interfering - or even thinking of getting involved - in Uzbek politics.
"This was not an assassination, but an execution," said one Western diplomat working in Kyrgyzstan, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the delicacy of the issue. "It was a message saying, 'We can get anyone, anytime, anywhere.' "
Edited, more info at link. Sounds like he knew what he might get into - brave. You see you leftist tards, in some countries when you speak truth to power they retort.
MOSCOW (AP) - European election monitors said Monday that Russia's parliamentary ballot was unfair, hours after President Vladimir Putin's party swept 70 percent of the seats in the new legislature. The victory paves the way for Putin to remain Russia's de facto leader even after he leaves office next spring.
Sunday's vote followed a tense Kremlin campaign that relied on a combination of persuasion and intimidation to ensure victory for the United Russia party and for Putin, who has used a flood of oil revenues to move his country into a more assertive position on the global stage.
Luc van den Brande, who headed the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said that officials had brought the "overwhelming influence of the president's office and the president" to bear on the campaign, and that "administrative resources" had been used to influence the outcome.
Goran Lennmarker, president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's parliamentary assembly, said it was "not a fair election."
The Kremlin and its allies hailed the vote as an overwhelming endorsement of Putin and his policies. "The vote affirmed the main idea: that Vladimir Putin is the national leader, that the people support his course, and this course will continue," party leader and parliament speaker Boris Gryzlov said after exit polls were announced.
The Bush administration called for a probe into voting irregularities. Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov called the election "the most irresponsible and dirty" in the post-Soviet era and party officials vowed to challenge the results.
Kimmo Kiljunen, vice president of the Office of Security and Cooperation in Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, called the elections "strange" and "problematic" because of reports of harassment of parties and confiscation of election materials. "There was the strange situation that the executive branch almost chose the legislative branch," Kiljunen said. "It is supposed to be the other way round."
With ballots from nearly 98 percent of precincts counted, United Russia was leading with 64.1 percent, while the Communists trailed with 11.6 percent, the Central Election Commission said. United Russia's victory would give it 315 seats, or 70 percent of the seats in Russia's 450-seat State Duma, the Central Election Commission said. The Communists would have just over 50 seats. Two other pro-Kremlin partiesthe nationalist Liberal Democratic Party and populist Just Russiaalso appeared to have made it into parliament, with 8.2 percent and 7.6 percent of the vote, respectively. Turnout was about 63 percent, up from 56 percent in the last parliamentary elections four years ago.
The Kremlin portrayed the election as a plebiscite on Putin's nearly eight years as presidentwith the promise that a major victory would allow him somehow to remain leader after his second term ends next year.
Putin is constitutionally prohibited from running for a third consecutive term, but he clearly wants to remain in power even though he has ruled out changing the constitution to allow him to run for another term as president. A movement has sprung up in recent weeks to urge him to become a "national leader," though it's not clear what that would mean.
Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB officer and chief suspect in the poisoning death of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko in London last year, will serve as deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party. Russia has refused to hand Lugovoi over to Britain, and the Duma seat provides him with immunity from prosecution.
No other parties passed the 7 percent threshold for gaining seats in the legislature. Both opposition liberal parties were shut out, expected to win no more than 2 or 3 percent of the vote each.
Many Russians complained Sunday about being pressured to cast their ballots, with teachers, doctors and others saying they had been ordered by their bosses to vote. "People are being forced and threatened to vote; otherwise they won't get their salaries or pensions," said Boris Nemtsov, leader of the liberal Union of Right Forces party.
Dozens of voters reported being paid to cast ballots for United Russia, said Alexander Kynev, a political expert with election monitoring group Golos. In the town of Pestovo in the western Novgorod region, voters complained they were given ballots already filled out for United Russia, he said.
In Chechnya, where turnout was over 99 percent, witnesses reported seeing election authorities filling out and casting voter ballots in the suburbs of the regional capital, Grozny.
There was a tense, subdued mood at some polling stations. Yelena, a 32-year-old manager in St. Petersburg, refused to give her last name out of fear of official retaliation for voting for the liberal Yabloko party. "We live in a country with an absence of democracy and freedom of speech," she said.
The Kremlin appeared determined to engineer a resounding victory. But Putin, credited with rebuilding Russia after the poverty and uncertainty of the 1990s, has support from many Russians. "Today everything is clear and stable in life. The president's words always coincide with what he does. As for the other candidates we don't know yet where they would take us to," said Raisa Tretyakova, a 61-year-old pensioner in St. Petersburg.
The Bush administration called on Russia to investigate claims the vote was manipulated. "In the run-up to election day, we expressed our concern regarding the use of state administrative resources in support of United Russia, the bias of the state-owned or -influenced media in favor of United Russia, intimidation of political opposition, and the lack of equal opportunity encountered by opposition candidates and parties," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council.
The election monitoring arm of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, regarded in the West as the most authoritative election monitor, canceled plans to send observers.
#2
The Bush administration called on Russia to investigate claims the vote was manipulated.
Why don't you actually investigate this crap in the US? And, like haul the cretins in for civil rights violations because it destroys the sanctity of every legitimate vote.
Opposition parties say there's been widespread fraud and intimidation in Russia's parliamentary elections President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party was expected to win a majority of up to 65 percent of votes, a show of public support which Putin hopes to use as a mandate to retain influence after his second presidential term ends next year. The former World chess champion and arch Kremlin critic, Garry Kasparov accused the Russian authorities of "raping the whole electoral system." The Kremlin called the vote democratic and transparent.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/03/2007 00:00 ||
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LUCIANNE > RUSSIAN VOTERS TOLD OF [insidious] "WESTERN PLOT".
Take a huge generation of male, only children, with little prospect of marriage and a large desire to hook up with a track to security in the job market. Add in the current funding and prestige for the military in China. The result is desperation and corner cutting.
Check out the old school attitude of the male teacher who's quoted in the article.
#1
I think this is just the beginning. China is potentially very unstable and explosive at this time and without careful management, the wheels will come off.
#2
Sounds like corrupt school/govt. admin. taking a lot of students' money and then giving 'em the fuzzy end of the lollypop. Hope they enjoy the festivities...
It's about a for-profit school deceiving its students as to its accreditation status. The students graduate, get their diplomas, and the diplomas are stamped 'China Military Institute' instead of 'China Military University' or what have you.
A similar incident happened here a while back. It was a beauty college that bribed the government to get permission to accept students, but didn't have authority to issue degrees. Big protests by students and parents, but of course the government would have none of it. Demonstrations do happen in China, usually for very good reasons.
#4
lotp: This is not where the real problem lies. These are mostly middle class, upper middle class and wealthy kids from urban areas. The real problem is with the endless millions of intensely poor rural peasants, lucky to even have an elementary school education.
They are not going to be pissed off for not getting a good job. They are going to be desperate for not being able to get *any* job.
Already, Beijing is crowded with millions of poor people from rural areas who cannot survive in the hinterland. Who cannot even subsistence farm.
Every year, 150 million or more people travel over a great East-West route as mostly migrant farm workers, with the majority under 25 years old. They travel hoping for work in the more developed East.
It has reached a point that if any major economic catastrophe hits, there could be close to a half-billion people in conditions as bad as during the potato famine in Ireland.
Even if the rest of the world was economically unaffected, it could probably not provide enough aid to fend off mass starvation and terrible chaos.
In its time, Ireland was preserved because the English government had anticipated the crisis many years before, and fearing an invasion of millions of starving Irish into England, made transport of huge numbers of Irish to America easy and cheap.
Had they not done so, the amount of destruction created by that many starving people would have been incredible. Even so, it took Ireland more than a century to recover.
#5
OK, I'm no China expert. All I have to go on are some conversations I've had with Chinese PhD students studying computer science here. (Well that and my stepfather, who was born & raised in Beijing, but that was long ago.)
The Chinese students, maybe a dozen in all over the last 2 years, universally stated that the only way they saw to be sure of a good career was either a PhD from the US / Europe or getting into a military track. If that's not true it's at least their perception.
Gromky, IIUC the school in this article was in fact accredited for military diplomas. However, it took in more students in the cadet track than were authorized.
The Hefei People's Liberation Army Artillery Academy comprises three types of students: fully registered cadets with military status, fully registered students without military status studying for civil degrees, and self-funding contract students, according to the academy's Web site.
It's the latter group who got in without passing the qualifying exam & who are now told their diplomas are invalid.
Private colleges have boomed in China in the last decade, enrolling those who fall short in highly competitive exams required for admission to prestigiousand far more tightly regulatedstate universities.
One resident surnamed Zhu, who lives near the campus and rents rooms to students of the Academy, told RFA: Students at the Academy told me about the riot. They are worried that they wont be able to get jobs. They are really angry. They went to see the president of the academy, who was beaten by the students quite badly.
The Anhui provincial government authorized the Academy to recruit the so-called contract students outside the college-entrance-exam system to help generate income for the school.
#6
It's the latter group who got in without passing the qualifying exam & who are now told their diplomas are invalid.
Well yeah. They were lied to.
And Anhui is indeed a province of farmers and other rubes. We get them all the time here in Zhejiang. How one province can produce so many ugly young women is beyond me.
Indonesian state-owned oil company Pertamina has decided to reduce its annual supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, the world's biggest LNG importer, from the current 12 million metric tons to 2-3 million tons, the major Japanese business daily reported Sunday.
If the plan is implemented, effective with contracts that will come up for renewal between 2010 and 2011, Indonesia's total annual LNG exports will fall to less than 5 million tons, one-third current levels, the Nikkei Shimbun said, quoting informed sources.
Although such large-lot users as electric power and gas companies are signing deals with Middle Eastern and other countries to make up for the expected fall in Indonesian imports, the reduction may deal a serious blow to Japan from the standpoint of its long-term energy security policy at a time when global LNG demand is surging, the daily said.
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There is no chance of a compromise being found on the future of the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo, a member of a troika of foreign envoys said ahead of their visit Monday to Belgrade and Pristina. "After intensive efforts made during the past 120 days in finding common points, I think there are no additional options that would lead towards a Kosovo status solution based on compromise," EU mediator Wolfgang Ischinger told the daily Blic.
Ischinger and his co-negotiators, Russia's Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko and Frank Wisner of the United States, are to discuss their draft report on Kosovo with the rival Serbian and Kosovo Albanian camps on Monday.
Leaders of Kosovo's Albanian majority insist they will proclaim independence soon after the envoys give their final report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on December 10. Serbia is prepared only to grant wide autonomy.
The international community fears such a move might inflame tensions and spill over into violence that leads to an exodus of Serbs from tiny enclaves in the Balkan territory. As a result, NATO last week reinforced its 17,000-strong KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo with US and German troops, mainly in the Serb-dominated north of the province.
In his comments to Blic, Ischinger admitted a "possible scenario" would be that the leaders of Kosovo's 90-percent ethnic Albanians unilaterally declare independence. "My impression is that this step shall be coordinated to the possible extent, with the EU, US and other countries. One thing is clear: the status quo is unsustainable and a decision is necessary.
"As regards the question how the international community should act towards the status of Kosovo after December 10, you shall get different replies at the capitals of EU, Russia and the US."
Kosovo has been run by a United Nations mission since 1999, when NATO bombing drove out Belgrade-controlled forces waging a crackdown on separatist Albanian guerrillas and their civilian supporters.
"It would be very difficult for the troika to suggest what should be done after December 10. We shall leave that to our governments to decide," said Ischinger. "The report we are going to submit to the UN secretary general shall contain the whole course of the troika's participation in the negotiations," said the German diplomat.
"It shall be also mentioned in it how and to what extent the parties have cooperated with us."
Serbia, which considers Kosovo its historic heartland, insists the process should end in the UN Security Council, where it has the support of its veto-wielding ally Russia.
The troubled country will also play host Monday to chief UN war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte on her final visit to Belgrade before her mandate expires on December 31. Del Ponte will hold talks with leaders on Serbia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which is key to its EU membership ambitions.
Belgrade is under pressure to capture three of the four remaining fugitives of the ICTY, which is based in The Hague. Chief among them is Ratko Mladic, a former Bosnian Serb general wanted for genocide over the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys -- the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II.
#4
Let the Russins be peacekeepers. Give them pride, keep them busy, makes it harder to coddle Islamoids when you're fighting them in Chechnya and Kosovo.
The second half of 2007 has seen an increase in submarine activity out of Russias Northern Fleet Base (NFB) in Murmansk, according to fresh tracking reports produced by the Norway Armed Forces Military Intelligence Unit (MIU) for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) The increase in submarine activity mirrors a rise in scheduled and unflagged exercises by Russian air Force in the North Atlantic and off Norways western coast, the report observes.
However, the report notes that Norways territorial waters and airspace have not been violated by the increase in Russias air and naval operations in the region. The report explained the increased activity as Russias need to display its renewed military strength to NATO.
Norway is not overly alarmed over the higher number of aircraft and submarine operations, said Espen Barth Eide, state secretary at the MoD. Russia appears to be displaying both its intent and ability to be a superpower to be reckoned with. The rise in Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic reflects Russias response to U.S. plans to locate a rocket shield system on the European continent, said Eide.
Russia is vigorously opposed to this plan, and the increase in naval submarine and air force activity can be seen as being a part of its official response. The increased activity isnt directed at any one country, and certainly not at Norway, Eide said.
The reports findings are based on intelligence gathered by Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNAF)-operated Orion surveillance aircraft, and aircraft tracking data collected by the RNAFs Northern Air Force base in Bodo. The lack of anxiety evidenced in the MoD report is also reflected in relations between Russia and its western and southern neighbors, Finland and Estonia. A sign of growing crossborder cooperation with the Nordic and Baltic states took place in mid-November when Moscow agreed to form a joint committee to examine what measures could be deployed by Russia to avoid accidental violations of Finnish and Estonian airspace by Russian military aircraft.
#1
STRATEGYPAGE > ULA TAKES ON THE RUSSIAN FLEET. Norway is sending its German built, small but very capable and difficult-to-detect ULA-class subs to check on said same Russ activities on Norway's borders.
#2
KOMMERSANT > RUSSIA WON'T STOP AT CFE MORATORIUM. Russ CFE suspension just the probable beginning of a line of poten coming treaties revisions for Russia vv the US-NATO/West??? Also from KOMMERSANT > THE NATURE AND SUBSTANCE OF THE OSCE.
#3
Where do you think the Russian oil money is going to? Oh, and the Norgies can do the same cause there's no reason for the US to carry the 'burden' any longer. If the Euros think this is a threat to their sea lane life lines, time to get them Polish ship yards busy. Good luck.
#4
Misleading headline? I thought the Norwegians were observing the Russians retrieving the Kursk - raised Russian sub. And possibly air cover to divert attention from that.
Four protesters on Saturday blocked a road leading to a nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk for over a couple of hours in protest against a reported UK nuclear expansion.
Police said three women and a man had "locked" themselves into place outside the power station using concrete. Officers said a small group also gathered at the site to offer the protesters support, and people arriving for work had found the way in blocked. But, no arrests were made, and after negotiations the protesters unlocked themselves.
A spokesman for the protesters said they were reacting to suggestions that more nuclear power stations could be built. "The protest is being staged because British Energy suggested last week they aim to build four nuclear power stations at their sites in the UK," he said. "We want to show them that it isn't going to be quite as simple as that."
"We were 200 metres from the reactor, if that. If we can do it so can terrorists. Imagine that. We didn't get inside the fence. But protesters have done that before. "If Gordon Brown wants to expand the nuclear industry he should realise that he will face an awful lot of opposition. All the old problems with nuclear power have not gone away."
British Energy announced earlier in the week it had earmarked eight of its sites as possible locations for "next-generation" nuclear plants, as part of a review of work needed to counter the impact of climate change.
#1
We are going to have to deal harshly with these Luddites and idiots sooner or later, I am all for sooner. The Plants we need should be under construction right now. Politicians and Energy companies are simply not equipped to deal with this nonsense but they better get equipped or we all will be out of business.
#2
These same morons undoubtedly protest against carbon emissions. Their real agenda is aescetic and has nothing to do with technology or the environment.
An undercover Spanish policeman was shot dead Saturday and another was wounded after they were attacked by a suspected Basque terrorist commando group in a small town in southwestern France, the Interior Ministry reported. The attack, which took place earlier Saturday in the town of Capbreton, took place as the Spanish officers were involved in a surveillance operation in liaison with French intelligence.
Basque separatists from the "ETA" group, which has been banned as a terrorist organization, have been fighting a decades-old war with Spain to obtain independence for their region in the northwest of the country. The Basque territory also extends into a smaller portion of southern France where militants often find support and refuge. But the group rarely carries out acts of this type of violence inside France, preferring instead to attack Spanish targets.
French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie "condemned in the firmest terms this odious act," a statement from her office said. The Minister said that she was overseeing the resources put in place to arrest the assassins who are already being actively hunted. Alliot-Marie indicated that she was immediately heading to southern France to the scene of the killing, accompanied by her Spanish counterpart with whom she is already attending a meeting in Berlin this day.
...Legislation and new initiatives to be introduced this session will: ...Renew our provinces transportation network and trade corridors, as part of a ten-year, $4 billion investment...
"...Manitoba is also taking a major role in the development of a Mid-Continent Trade Corridor, connecting our northern Port of Churchill with trade markets throughout the central United States and Mexico. To advance the concept, an alliance has been built with business leaders and state and city governments spanning the entire length of the Corridor. When fully developed, the trade route will incorporate an "in-land port" in Winnipeg with pre-clearance for international shipping..." The denials of the SPP have to rate right up there with denying the existence of Groom Lake AFB.
#1
Anyone with even an elementary understanding of economics would want to see such a thing built. It would vastly improve the economic conditions of all concerned.
For example: what if New Jersey shut off all major highways to New York. What that improve the economy of EITHER side?
What we need are MORE and larger transportation interconnects throughout North America. As you do that, you will find disparity in economies going way, a MUCH smaller problem with immigration (no need to) and in improvement in everyone's standard of living.
People who are against more open trade in North America are suffering from a severe case of cranial rectosis.
#2
"our northern Port of Churchill". . . . . . which is open to shipping for about one month of the year. Also. . . . the only inland access to Churchill is by rail. There will never be a road because of the geography and cost. This idea of including Churchill is just pitiful.
Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee surged into narrow leads in Iowa in a poll released on Sunday, barely a month before the state holds the first contest in a shifting 2008 presidential race.
The poll by the Des Moines Register, the state's largest newspaper, showed Obama with a three-point edge over national front-runner Hillary Clinton in Iowa, 28 percent to 25 percent, and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards third at 23 percent.
Among Republicans, Huckabee moved past previous leader Mitt Romney to take a five-point edge, 29 percent to 24 percent. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who leads national polls, trails in third place at 13 percent.
The poll of 500 likely Iowa caucus-goers in each party had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.
This article starring:
Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
John Edwards
Mike Huckabee
Mitt Romney
Rudy Giuliani
Posted by: Fred ||
12/03/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Can't decide which side is made to look more stupid by this poll. We've both kind of scraped bottom here.
#2
The hidden good news for Republicans is that Romney's entire strategy is to win in Iowa and NH. Anyone else takes those states and Romney's out, which is a very good thing for Republicans. I made this mistake of working on his campaign in '94 in Massachussets against Gin-Blossom Ted. Romney runs an awful campaign. Nothing but heartbreak there.
#4
Huckabee is a nice fellow but I believe he would be a potential disaster based on his record as a Governor (frankly, Clinton was probably a better governor of that State) IMO.
Romney, on the other hand, governed Massachusetts about as well as it can be governed.
Russian shipbuilders have told India that the three Talwar class frigates ordered last year will be delayed, and it's uncertain by how much. The ships are supposed to arrive in four years. India is paying $534 million for each of them. These are export versions of the Russian Krivak III class ships, which the Russian navy cannot afford to buy for itself. The first three Talwars entered service in 2003-4. There were some teething problems with these ships, the first of a new class. But the Indians were finally satisfied, when Russia made good all deficiencies, and India ordered three more. But there was one major shortcoming with the Talwars, the Indian supplied sonars are not working. That's another problem, however.
The Talwar's are 386 feet long, carry 24 anti-aircraft and eight anti-ship missiles, four torpedo tubes, as well as a 100mm gun, close in anti-missile guns, a helicopter, anti-submarine weapons (depth charges and missiles). The ship has a very complete set of electronics gear, except for the missing Indian sonar. There is a crew of 180.
Russia has missed deadlines with earlier warships ordered by India. Recently, Russia demanded an additional $1.2 billion (above the agreed on price) for an aircraft carrier refurbishing job. India believes the carrier project is not practical if it costs an extra $1.2 billion. The Russians say it was an incompetent shipyard manager who is at fault. The shipyard manager has been fired, and the Russians want the additional money before they will proceed.
#2
Lemmee see, here, you miss the delivery date in the contract, and now you're asking for $1.2B over the contract price or you won't go through with delivery--and if you breach, it's my fault. Did I get that correct?
Who taught you contract law again?
Posted by: Mike ||
12/03/2007 14:17 Comments ||
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#3
Indian Navy Chief is insistent that they will not pay the additional.
There are rumors that the Kitty Hawk has been offered for sale to India...
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:06 Comments ||
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#4
That, and the Phalcons, seems unusually stupid---India is one of principal markets for Russian weapons (as well as a strategic ally against China).
#2
Wiling to bet there are lots of 767 / Airbus(ptoi!) airframes in the desert that any number of airlines would be happy to sell to India. Win-Win: the airframes get taken off the books, and india gets its AWACS in the air.
India will import 347 T-90S main-battle tanks from Russia in a sign of strong defence ties between the close allies.
"These 347 tanks will be in addition to the 310 T-90S tanks already imported by India from Russia," Indias leading English daily The Times of India reported Saturday quoting a source in the Indian Defence Ministry.
"While the 124 tanks will be imported in fully-formed condition, the rest 223 will come in semi-knocked down condition to be reassembled at Indias Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi in Southern state of Tamil Nadu. After payment of the first installment by India, Russia will supply the first 124 tanks in 29 months, with the rest to follow 11 months later," The Times of India said. The factory at Avadi is presently producing another 1,000 T-90S tanks under transfer of technology from Russia.
Russia still remains India's largest defence supplier. The total value of India's ongoing defence projects with Russia is more than 10 billion usd.
India also has agreed to join Russia in two mega projects, the fifth-generation fighter aircraft and the multi-role military transport aircraft. "The Indian Army plans to have 21 regiments of T-90S tanks and 40 regiments of upgraded T-72 M1 tanks by 2020. With a total of around 3,800 main-battle tanks, supported by infantry combat vehicles, the Army wants to acquire the potent capability to unleash the speed and shock effect of mechanised forces whenever required," the daily said.
#4
gorb, that's not helpful. Which M1 Abrams? The original M1 with the 105, or the M1A1 and A2's 120 smoothbore? What kind of rounds?
Protection isn't the main thing with modern MBTs, anyways. How well do they shoot on the move? It doesn't matter if the first four rounds bounce off the glacis, if the other guy gets off his fifth round before you can return fire; 'cause he's rabbiting around and you have to sit and carefully line up on a stationary target that just won't stand still.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
12/03/2007 10:06 Comments ||
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#5
Incidentally, yes, that's a lot of modern MBTs. More T-90s than are fielded with the Russian army, if you believe that Wiki article. Which I'm kind of dubious of, given the subject matter & Wiki's nature.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
12/03/2007 10:07 Comments ||
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#6
The US Army feels pretty comfortable and is manufacturing ammo specifically designed to defeat the T-90's ERA.
The M256 cannon is well characterized. I think a few M1 hulks were even left in Iraq in 1991. Even though the US destroyed the tanks, the gun itself would be easy enough to recover and ship to Russia. Recovering ammo is another matter and has much improved since 1991.
Posted by: ed ||
12/03/2007 10:38 Comments ||
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#7
T-90s is a good choice for India. Fairly cheap and easy to use for conscripts. While I seriously doubt a T-90 could defeat a M-1A2, against the local militarizes it would be impressive and would hold its own against Chinese or Pakland tanks.
There are elements in the Congress party pushing this as well, since kickbacks on these foreign contracts are used to fund party coffers.
Ironically the Indian developed Arjun tank stood up to T-90 fire while its own rounds would cook off the turret on any T-90.
No additional orders for the Arjun though (no opportunity to fill Congress party accounts)
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:10 Comments ||
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#9
Fairly cheap and easy to use for conscripts.
There are no conscripts in the Indian army (and there have never been any).
The modern Indian Army, like the Imperial Indian Army before it is an all volunteer force. During WW2 it was the largest volunteer force in the world (>3 million strong). While the American forces hammered the Japanese at sea and on the various island chains, the Imperial Indian Army drove them back all the way to Vietnam.
All Indian soldiers must have a secondary school leaving certificate.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:15 Comments ||
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#10
Indian divisions also fought in North Africa and Italy (Monte Cassino)
Some were captured and later joined the Werhmacht
This is Rommel inspecting Indian troops at the Atlantic wall.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:19 Comments ||
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#11
An Italian soldier surrenders to an Indian Jawan in North Africa
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:22 Comments ||
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#12
Indian soldiers holding a Nazi flag which they had captured at Libyan Omar, December 1941.
Two crew members of a Sherman tank of the Scinde Horse, part of the Indian 31st Armoured Division in Iraq, March 1944.
a Sherman tank of the 9th Royal Deccan Horse, 255th Indian Tank Brigade, encounter a newly liberated elephant on the road to Meiktila, Burma 1945.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:26 Comments ||
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#13
A scout car crew of the Indian Armoured Corps, chat with youngsters in San Felice, Italy, during the advance towards the River Sangro.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:31 Comments ||
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#14
Indian soldiers storm a German trench, after exploding it with hand grenades. Circa 1945.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:33 Comments ||
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#15
A Lieutenant Colonel from the 20th Indian Division, accepts the formal surrender of a Japanese Commander at Saigon, Vietnam in September 1945.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 15:34 Comments ||
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Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan, GC, MBE, (January 1, 1914, Moscow - September 13, 1944, Dachau concentration camp), usually known as Noor Inayat Khan, was a British Special Operations Executive agent in World War II of Indian origin and the first female radio operator to be sent into occupied France to aid the French Résistance.
The Great-Great-Grandaughter of the legendary Indian King Tipu Sultan, she was born in the Kremlim Palace, Moscow. In 1940 Noor volunteered for the Womens Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). In November 1942 she was recruited as a secret agent by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) because she had lived in France and was fluent in French. In June 1943 Noor arrived in France under the codename Madeleine and was constantly on the run from the Gestapo. She was betrayed by an informer and captured by the Gestapo who interrogated her. She refused to talk and made frequent unsuccessful attempts to escape from prison. She was seen as a dangerous threat and in November was sent to a prison in Germany where she was tortured and beaten. In September 1944, Noor was taken to Dachau Concentration Camp where she was shot. In 1949, she was posthumously awarded the George Cross.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 16:23 Comments ||
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#18
Indian infantry assaults through a burning objective, in Burma. Circa 1945.
Indian troops, during Operation Battleaxe on 06 August 1941. An Indian infantry division was involved in the first attempt to remove Reverend Major Bachs' forces out of Halfaya Pass - an important position between the Egypt and Libyan border. The latter was then an Italian colony. Bachs was a German priest and therefore had a religious title, as well a military rank.
Gurkha troops charge the enemy lines in Burma. Circa 1945.
Indian paratroopers being dropped at Elephant Point, Burma on 01 May 1945.
A group from the 152nd Para Battalion displaying the Japanese flag they captured while operating against the Japanese Army at Tangkhul Hundung. Circa 1945.
The 2/6th Gurkha Rifles advance towards Medicinia, Italy in April 1945.
A Nazi Flag captured from the 90th Panzer Light Division by Indian Troops at Ruweisat Ridge. Circa 1942.
An Indian soldier holds a captured Nazi flag. Circa 1945.
Engineers of the 8th Indian Division rest on the morning of 12 May 1944. They spent the previous night clearing enemy mines planted on the Gustav Line, allowing infantry and armour to break through during the drive that would take the Allies north to Rome.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 16:40 Comments ||
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#19
Indian Troops in New Street, Baghdad, 11th March 1917.
Jat Lewis gunner firing at enemy plane, probably Tigris front, Mesopotamia, 24th October 1918.
ndian cyclists at the cross-roads on the Fricourt-Mametz road, the Somme, July 1916.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 16:50 Comments ||
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#20
No.2 Company, Bombay sappers and Miners, China 1900.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 16:51 Comments ||
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#21
An Indian infantry section of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment about to go on patrol on the Arakan front, Burma 1943.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 16:53 Comments ||
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#22
John -- I just love your history lessons! Keep them coming -- great pics, as usual for you.
Caravan of General Von Arnim, German Army, who surrendered to the 4th Indian Division (a.k.a. Fighting Fourth) in Tunisia, Africa.
Two Dogras, in forward light machine-gun positions in Burma. Circa 1944.
A Sikh-manned Bren gun team of the 4th Indian division participating in manoeuvres prior to Operation Compass, the December 1940 offensive against the Italian Army in the desert of Western Egypt and Eastern Libya.
Crew of HMIS Narbada with blistered gun barrels following the bombardment of Japanese Positions, Myebon, Hunters Bay, Burma.
Squadron Leader Majumdar was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross - the first to be awarded to an Indian Air Force officer - for the gallantry and leadership that he displayed while serving as the commanding officer of No 1 Squadron, Indian Air Force, during the retreat from Burma in 1942. He was subsequently awarded a Bar to the DFC in recognition of his courage and skill while serving as a tactical reconnaissance pilot with No 268 Squadron, Royal Air Force, during the liberation of France in 1944. Squadron Leader Majumdar was the only Indian Air Force officer to receive two DFCs during the Second World War.
Indian technicians assembling cannon-firing Hurricanes.
Private Begum Pasha Shah of the WAC (1) on duty in the Orderly Room of an RAF station in India, August 1943.
A week before the German surrender in Italy, sappers of 136 Indian Railway Maintenance Company set about repairing some of the extensive damage in the railyards of Bologna, Italy.
Gian Singh was born in Sahabpur Village in the Punjab and served with the 15th Punjab Regiment. In Burma on 2nd March 1945 his company was advancing between Kamya and Myingyan when they came under heavy fire. He launched a single handed attack against the Japanese and despite being wounded in the arm he continued throwing grenades and attacking enemy foxholes. On 16th October 1945, he was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George VI at Buckingham Palace. Singh continued to serve in the Indian Army until his retirement. He died in 1996.
Abdul Hafiz was born in Kalanaur Village in the Punjab. In Burma on 6th April 1944, whilst serving with the 9th Jat Regiment of the Indian Army, Jemadar Hafiz led an attack against Japanese forces in the hills north of Imphal. They were met with strong resistance and Hafiz was wounded by enemy fire but he still continued to attack enemy positions and killed several of the enemy. Hafiz was fatally wounded by machine-gun fire from another Japanese position. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Lieutenant (Engineer) Daya Shankar was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his bravery during the Second World War while serving with HMIS Lawrence in the Persian Gulf. HMIS Lawrence had been ordered to board the Italian vessel Caboto which had been set on fire by her crew in an attempt to scuttle her. Lieutenant Shankar boarded the blazing ship, captured the crew and then proceeded not only to search for scuttle charges but also to assist with the fire fighting.
Kamal Ram was born in Bholupura village, Rajasthan, India. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment.
On 12th May 1944, on the Gustav line in Italy, the advance of Sepoy Rams company was halted by four enemy machine gun posts. The Company Commander requested a volunteer to silence one of them. Sepoy Ram volunteered and successfully captured the post after killing the crew. He succeeded in capturing another on his own and a third with the help of a Havildar. As a result of his bravery Sepoy Ram was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George VI in Italy on 26th July 1944.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/03/2007 18:11 Comments ||
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#25
John, Thanks for the photos and history - that's why I keep coming back to the 'burg.
The U.S. Air Force has developed a new technology that enables bombs to be dropped from internal bomb bays while the aircraft is traveling at high speed (above the speed of sound). The test, using a rocket sled on the ground, going at about 2,000 kilometers an hour when the bomb was released. The new technology is a series of micro air jets in front of the bomb bay. These air jets manipulate the air flow over the bomb bay ("active flow control") so that when the bomb bay doors opened and the bomb was released, it would leave the bomb bay, and not be forced, by the air pressure moving across the skin of the jet, back into the bomb bay.
Supersonic bombing capabilities only became a problem with the appearance of GPS guided bombs. In the past, dumb, or laser guided, bombs required slower speeds to get some accuracy for dumb bombs, and to enable an aircraft to place the laser on the target for the guided weapons. But with JDAM (GPS guided bombs) all you got to do is drop that sucker, and be on your way. In situations where the air is hot with enemy fire (shells and missiles), you would want to get in there, drop the JDAM, and haul ass out ASAP. Now it is possible to do this. Bets are being made within the air force concerning how long it will take the Chinese to steal this new technology.
#3
I'm ignorant abou the details by why not design the plane so that the bomb pop out the back into the plane's wake rather than planes belly. It's not as if we're using primitive targetting sites, it shouldn't matter from that point of view where we dump it and I find it hard to imagine the wind sheer pushing the bomb forward, back into the plane the way it might from below.
#5
rjs, there are aerodynamic and center of gravity considerations. Plus you would probably require an auto-feed to poop them out one at a time from the pointy rear of the AC. Could it be done? Probably, but I wouldn't want to be flying that AC as the bomb load rolls to the rear, 500 or a 1000 lbs at a time.
In addition you would have to design an entirely new AC to handle all of this at supersonic speeds. Not cheap!
#8
Not that long ago, there was a report that the JDAM guidance package has been refined so you can now drop accurately from sixty to a hundred miles out from the target and 'way high up.
Combine that with this, and you concievably could have a weapon released at Mach 2 from a long ways away and have it glide in for maybe a couple hundred miles on pure inertia--and hit within fifty feet of the aim point.
Ooooh. Nasty!
Posted by: Mike ||
12/03/2007 15:29 Comments ||
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#9
The Viggie also had a problem that sometimes they would drop the (nuclear) bomb, and it would just follow along behind the aircraft, stuck in the slipstream.
According to Wikipedia, sometimes the bomb would fall out and land on the carrier deck during a catapult launch.
Unmanned aircraft are showing up in the skies more often and today the US Army awarded $14.4 million to Carnegie Mellon to build a remote-controlled unmanned tank.
A certain amount of the award will go toward significantly improving the Crusher, a 6.5-ton unmanned support vehicle Carnegie engineers developed in 2006 in conjunction with DARPA. Since its introduction, the Crusher has demonstrated unparalleled toughness and mobility during extensive field trials in extremely rugged terrain, according to Carnegie Mellon.
The next generation Autonomous Platform Demonstrator (APD) ill make use of the latest suspension, vehicle frame, and hybrid-electric drive technologies to improve upon its predecessor's performance. Enhanced mobility capabilities will push the envelope for autonomous and semi-autonomous operation, the engineers said. The engineers will develop a comprehensive control architecture that makes use of hardware and software components as well.
Ultimately unmanned ground vehicles would be outfitted with anti-tank or anti-aircraft missiles and anti-personnel weapons to make them lethal. Part of the new award budget is also slated to help the university prove that autonomous ground vehicles are feasible in future combat situations. But most of these vehicles haven't advanced that far with weaponry. According to the GlobalSecurity.org Web site other smaller unmanned vehicles have had success in the field. The M60 Panther and the Mini-Flail prototype mine proofing systems were used with great success in Bosnia and Kosovo. The M60 is a full blown tank modified for mine sweeping operations. The Air Force is using the All-Purpose Remote Transport System (ARTS) overseas for force protection and homeland defense in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The university's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), will be working closely with the US Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) on the project. NREC is the commercialization arm of Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute.
Carnegie Mellon's Tartan Racing team recently won first place and $2 million in the DARPA Urban Challenge this past weekend. The field of 11 autonomous vehicles was pitted against each other on a course of suburban/urban roadways.
#1
Don't hold your breath waiting to see a remote-controlled tank in service. The military is having a hard enough time giving the green light to a UGV with a 7.62mm weapon. Think how reluctant they will be to deploy something with a missile or large main gun. But it will happen...eventually.
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.
A moderate earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter Scale jolted northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, causing panic but no casualties or damage, an official said. 
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's bid to become president for life failed after he conceded defeat in Sunday's referendum on whether he should be allowed to run indefinitely for reelection in the oil-rich country. 
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez suffered a stinging defeat in a vote on constitutional changes that would have let him run for re-election indefinitely, the chief of National Electoral Council said Monday.
A leading U.S. senator has rejected allegations by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that Washington is seeking to destabilize the South American nation. Mr. Chavez is in a tightly contested constitutional referendum that could allow him to stay president as long as he likes.
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro was nominated on Sunday for a seat in the National Assembly, leaving the door open for him to resume governing as he struggles to recover from a long illness.
MOSCOW (AP) - European election monitors said Monday that Russia's parliamentary ballot was unfair, hours after President Vladimir Putin's party swept 70 percent of the seats in the new legislature. The victory paves the way for Putin to remain Russia's de facto leader even after he leaves office next spring. 
There is no chance of a compromise being found on the future of the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo, a member of a troika of foreign envoys said ahead of their visit Monday to Belgrade and Pristina. "After intensive efforts made during the past 120 days in finding common points, I think there are no additional options that would lead towards a Kosovo status solution based on compromise," EU mediator Wolfgang Ischinger told the daily Blic. 
Four protesters on Saturday blocked a road leading to a nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk for over a couple of hours in protest against a reported UK nuclear expansion.
Democrat 
