Searching for a little background. And I found it...
BOSASSO, Somalia, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Somali pirates are investing heavily in trafficking the narcotic khat, along with other businesses, as they seek to spend big profits from ransom payments after months of attacks.
Maritime officials say at least 26 ships have been hijacked off the coast of the Horn of Africa country so far this year. Most of them brought ransoms of at least $10,000, and in some cases much more. A lot of that money is now in the hands of pirates in the semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland.
Siyad Mohamed and his gang recently shared a $750,000 ransom after releasing a German ship they seized in May. Mohamed said they decided to invest in trafficking khat, a mild narcotic leaf that is very popular in the region. "We've started importing," Mohamed told Reuters by telephone from Garowe, Puntland's capital. "We bought it from Kenya after normal supplies dwindled due to delays. We saw an opportunity and took it."
Mohamed said he earned $75,000 from the German ransom, a large amount in such a poor region. "We work in three groups. One group is at sea now looking for ships to hijack. The other two, including mine, are next in line. We all share the ransom money," the 30-year-old former fisherman said. "Fellow pirates get free khat supply." Oh, boy! Free khat!
Other pirates have benefited even more from the trade. And residents of Garowe and Bosasso, Puntland's other main town, say most of the hijackers are well known. Following this year's sharp increase in attacks at sea, the wealthy pirates have attained near-celebrity status in the area, building palatial beach villas and other buildings, cruising around town in expensive cars and marrying additional wives. Might be nice if some of those palatial villas blew up maybe?
Some residents expect them to take over more local businesses soon, and say that gangs threaten local authorities and can pay for impunity -- further worsening security in one of Africa's most lawless corners. Piracy has flourished in Somalia since warlords overthrew Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, plunging the country into chaos. But it has reached unprecedented levels since the start of last year.
Among the most recent victims are a German couple who were abducted in June and are still being held by Puntland gunmen demanding a $2 million ransom. Most of the pirates treat hostages well in the hope of a good pay-off. And experts say hijackers are getting bolder. "They have gained experience and hijack big ships that fetch them good money," said Andrew Mwangura, a maritime official based in Kenya. "They are getting smarter and smarter."
The pirates typically use speedboats, normally dropped from bigger "mother ships". The hijackers then use the faster craft to intercept commercial vessels before boarding them brandishing assault rifles, and sometimes rocket-propelled grenades. Locals in Puntland say there will be no shortage of new recruits as long as gangs reap the rewards.
Jama Shino, another pirate, recently threw one of Garowe's most lavish weddings for years. Hundreds of guests attended as the 35-year-old father-of-two married his second wife. "We don't fear the government. Girls here are not afraid of us. They love us because we have lots of money so they really want to marry us," Shino said with a grin. Chicks dig pirates...
Rodo Abdullahi, a 19-year-old who attended last week's party, said it was every local girl's dream to have such a grand wedding, But she said only pirates now had the funds to do it. "If I marry a man who doesn't have enough money, he cannot organise such a big wedding," she told Reuters."That is why girls here prefer to be married to pirates."
#1
This will continue, and get worse, until every ship passing Somalia is escorted in convoy with a warship with shoot to kill orders. Preferably with an attack helicopter so they can outrun the fast boats.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
08/21/2008 17:59 Comments ||
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#2
Might be nice if some of those palatial villas blew up maybe?
That likely will be the most effective method of wiping out piracy in the region - go after the gangs and their bases of operation.
Oh, I wouldn't worry about it. This'll probably be the last ones. Just give them what they want and they'll stop doing it I'm sure.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Armed pirates hijacked a Japanese-operated tanker and an Iranian ship off Somalia's coast Thursday, the latest in a series of attacks that have sent jitters among seafarers in an area known for its lawlessness.
The hijackings came after a Malaysian palm oil tanker with 39 crew was seized in the same area late Tuesday. The latest attacks raised to six the number of ships hijacked in the Gulf of Aden since July 20.
In the first incident Thursday, pirates "continuously fired" on the Iranian bulk carrier before boarding and commandeering it, said Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur. Less than an hour later, a Japanese-operated tanker with 19 crew was also attacked and seized in the same area.
He said there has been no communication so far with either vessel, but a multi-coalition naval force in the areas has been informed, and "is taking action." The naval force includes the United States, France, Germany, Pakistan, Britain and Canada, which currently holds the rotating command. No other details were immediately available.
"In 48 hours, three ships have been attacked and hijacked by armed pirates. It is coming to a very dangerous stage," said Choong, who heads IMB's piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur. "We urge the United Nations and the international community to take serious action to stop this menace." The IMB has also issued an urgent warning to all ships in the Gulf of Aden to maintain a strict watch.
The Gulf of Aden connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, forming one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
Choong said pirates seized a Japanese-owned cargo ship with 20 Filipino sailors on July 20 in the Gulf. A Nigerian vessel was later hijacked, followed by a Thai cargo ship with 28 crew members this month. Negotiations were continuing in all cases after pirates demanded ransom for the release of the crew, he said. There were no negotiations in the Malaysian hijacking as the pirates have not contacted authorities to demand a ransom, he said. Somalia is the world's biggest piracy hotspot, with 24 reported attacks in the first half of this year.
Ships have been urged to stay more than 200 nautical miles from the Somali coast, Choong said.
An ironic twist of fate after the 1/11 changeover has turned the powerful world of politicians upside down, no matter how horrible or painful the life has become for the people. Be in power or opposition, the politicians always remained powerful except for last few months when political bigwigs were either arrested on corruption charge or promptly went into hiding.
A makeshift tea stall now represents the Gulshan residence of Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, former commerce minister of the four-party alliance government. One can buy snacks and groceries from the stall set up by a guard of Khasru, who is on the run since the government launched its massive anti-corruption drive in February 2007.
His former cabinet colleague Shajahan Siraj could not even care about his domestic possessions. Khasru took away all the household stuffs through relatives, but ex-forest and environment minister Siraj just vanished from the scene, leaving everything behind under lock and key.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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A special court yesterday framed charges against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and five others in a graft case in connection with purchase of MiG-29 warplanes.
Yep. If it is one thing that Bangladesh needs, it is Mig-29s
I just wish the RAB had a pilot training program ...
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Yah, but the RAB could probably get more use out of super tucanos.
A special court yesterday sentenced Faisal Morshed Khan, son of former foreign minister M Morshed Khan, to 10 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Venezuela`s government denied on Wednesday that President Hugo Chavez invited Russia to open a military base in his country, disputing a report by Russia`s Interfax saying that Russian troops were welcome in the South American nation.
Russian forces blocked the only land entrance to Georgia's main port city on Thursday, a day before Russia promised to complete a troop pullout from its ex-Soviet neighbor. Armored personnel carriers and troop trucks blocked the bridge to the Black Sea port city of Poti, and Russian forces excavated trenches and set up mortars facing the city. Another group of APCs and trucks were positioned in a nearby wooded area.
Although Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has promised that his forces would pull back by Friday, Russian troops appear to be digging in, raising concern about whether Moscow is aiming for a lengthy occupation of its small, pro-Western neighbor.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told The Associated Press that Russia was thinning out its presence in some occupied towns but was seizing other strategic spots. He called the Russian moves "some kind of deception game."
"(The Russians) are making fun of the world," he declared.
An EU-sponsored cease-fire says both Russian and Georgian forces must move back to positions they held before fighting broke out Aug. 7 in Georgia's separatist republic of South Ossetia, which has close ties to Russia. The agreement also says Russian forces can work in a so-called "security zone" that extends more than four miles into Georgia from South Ossetia.
Poti is at least 95 miles west of the nearest point in South Ossetia.
In a sign Russia plans to solidify its control of South Ossetia, Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn said Russia would build 18 checkpoints in the security cordon around the province, with 270 soldiers manning front-line posts.
Shota Abramidze, a 73-year-old retired engineer, said Gori residents wanted the Russians out. "They've stolen everything. They've bombed everything. This is fascism, that's what this is." Socialist fascism, that is. From each according to their wealth, to each according to their ability to take it.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/21/2008 06:13 ||
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#1
How can You Judge Russia and Ossetia if You See and have access to only One side of that conflict?
You see only US TV and Media!
BUT they LIE and protect only their gov's asses and interests in georgian ubnormal and unhuman leader because they made a bid on him.
They Totally blocked Any other world opinions.
So when people see only that Lie info all over again - they're for sure can't think Clear and Right - they think and eat what they got
from Media and Politics etc...
Nobody think about nightly killed ossetians. - But You?
Nobody want to know that not Russians but Svilli broked his peace promisses and ordered a night civilians Bombing!
BTW - it was at Olimpic openings night in hope to blitzcreig war win...
And Russians start protect deadly attacked civilians and peacekeepers ONLY after 16 hours after Sakhashvilli ordered " Kill them all !"
Would You like to fill bombs, bullets, Grads, mines and snipers at Your own Family 16 hours long before someone help You? Where were US
EU helps???
And don't You ask a God to save Your Mom, Dad and kids from georgian troops armed by US etc...?
So Please don't Judge if You listen only One side of any conflict(especially if that Side is Money/Miltary/Politicaly interested in...)
#2
your a little late dude, we've heard all the excuses already.
We know that the Ossetians provoked the Georgians. We know that the So Ossetian death toll was wildly exageratted, and apparently almost all due to the normal effects of urban warfare (and pales beside what happened in Grozny). And that Russia was never interested is S Ossetian independence when Georgia was an SSR. And that Georgia was willing to negotiate autonomy. And that Russia "peacekeepers' were there cause russia kept out neutral peacekeepers. And that said "peacekeepers" were arming and encourage S Ossetians.
#4
Russia has been dispatching human spambots all over the web to post badly written pro-Russia apologias in every comments section on every blog. I'm s'prised we haven't had more here.
You can safely ignore, I don't think it's supposed to wait around for debate.
#5
And I suspect that by now, some few of the useful-idiot anti-America progressive crowd have decided to side with Vlad and will continue to leave similar droppings as well. Possibly with more plausible English.
#8
If Russia is so pro-independence of small regions, why did they crush Chechnya?
Russia provoked this conflicts by unilaterally giving Ossetians Russian passports, by killing Georgian policemen.
I grew up in Russia, by the way, in St Petersburg, not in Georgia, and I don't have any bias. A friend of mine is Russian, but has friends in Tbilisi Georgia. She just talked with her friend. Russian troups rob everything in their path, they destroy bridges and roads in Georgia, they push people out of their villages. Russian troups didn't even bring their own food and supply, they rob villages to get it. There are refugees all over Georgia, the kids cannot go to school come September because the schools are taken up by refugees. Hospitals likewise. The Georgian soldiers are delivered with their head broken. This is called peacekeeping? Give me a break.
#2
BIGNEWSNETWORK > PUTIN WELL INFRONT OF [US-Russ = Georgia, etc.] END-GAME.
INTERESTING AUTHOR > AS PER UNO-BASED STATS-TRENDS, INDICS THAT RUSSIA'S POPUL MAY FALL FROM APPROXI 90 MILYUHN TODAY, TO ONLY 20 MILYUHN BY 2100 = END OF CENTURY???
#4
No so fast, Joseph - the present population of Russia is 142 million and not your 90. That's first.
And second - her demographic future may be far more rosy than you,schadenfreuders ever thought:
Posted by: Matt K. ||
08/21/2008 10:01 Comments ||
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#5
matt 1. Shes a government minister
2. Theres too little context for the statistics - raw birth rate, size of the relevant maternal cohort, estimated TFR, etc.
#6
to clarify, my guess is that a lot of deferred births from the previous period are taking place now, under improved economic conditions and govt subsidies, creating a peak that may not be sustainable. But thats hard to say without seeing more detaile demographic analysis, and I cant find any more recent than 2006.
#8
That's why they have the veto... to protect their own interests.
Posted by: john frum ||
08/21/2008 11:33 Comments ||
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#9
Exactly, the veto was put in place for the major powers to protect themselves. All have used it as such at one time or another.
And I'm not sure Russia can keep the population stable. They, on average, have been losing 1 million people a year. Russia used to have the most men to throw away during war in the past, but not anymore. I'm just wondering at what point does the sparse population hit critical mass to cover such a large area and the social network between towns and cities breaks down.
#14
... and if I were you I would be quite alarmed:
http://nationalatlas.gov/natlas/Natlasstart.asp
(click: people/population/race & ethnic population 2000/hispanic or latino origin)
Quite nice, eh?
Posted by: Matt K. ||
08/21/2008 14:14 Comments ||
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#15
why should I be alarmed about Latinos? I know many and they are good citizens. Bill Richardon, Linda Chavez, General Sanchez. They will contribute to our strength.
#17
Why should Russians be alarmed of Muslims and Chinese on their soil? I know many and they generally are good and contributing people. So what's the difference? Unlike you Russians are not loosing their language and identity, that's all.
Are you a bigot, or just a jingoistic troll?
PS. BTW, warmest greetings from California:
http://www.americanpatrol.com/RECONQUISTA/IMAGES/whiteygetout000211CRP.gif
Posted by: Matt K. ||
08/21/2008 14:44 Comments ||
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#18
My 2 daughters are considered Hispanic. Their Mother was Puerto Rican. Why should I fear them? They think they are Americans. I'm not telling them any different, either.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/21/2008 14:46 Comments ||
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#19
Why should Russians be alarmed of Muslims and Chinese on their soil? I know many and they generally are good and contributing people. So what's the difference? Unlike you Russians are not loosing their language and identity, that's all.
I never said they should. Though in the case of muslims, i would note that russias biggest war BEFORE Georgia was against Muslim Chechens. AFAIK the Chinese in Vladivostok are good citizens, and Im not fantasizing a Chinese takeover. I think the bigger concern is the overall Russia rate of pop growth, esp the death rate. Russias total pop has declined from a peak of 148 million to 143 million, and even according to the new optimistic report, will bottom out at 140 million or so.
as for the russia muslims and chinese, do you rally know many? Where in Russia are you posting from?
as for language and identity, latinos are learning english at pretty much the same rates as earlier generations of immigrants.
#22
Why should Russians be alarmed of Muslims and Chinese on their soil?
Unlike the real Mexican immigrants (not fucktards like you) and other immigrants, they come to become Americans. The Chinese and Muzzies do not come to Russia to become Russians. They come to conquer and provide a anchor for their claims.
The Russians don't like 'em, don't want 'em and will try to force them off and kill them later in the future.
A top Russian general said 64 of the country's soldiers were killed in this month's fighting with Georgia and 323 were wounded. The figure given Wednesday by Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovistsyn, deputy head of the general staff, reduces the fatality toll from the initial figure of 74 but substantially raises the number of wounded. Russia previously had said about 170 were wounded.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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The speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, a close Kremlin ally, said Wednesday that lawmakers were ready to recognize the independence of separatist regions in Georgia, Interfax reported. "The Federation Council is ready to recognize the independent status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia if that is what the people of these republics want and also if there is a corresponding decision by the Russian president," Sergei Mironov was quoted as saying.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
It will be a fun to watch their own ethnic republics wanting to separate in the near future. Ever looked on the RF ethnic map? Swiss cheese would be a smooth solid object in comparison.
Quite possible - in the USA whites will be in minority by 2042...
Posted by: Matt K. ||
08/21/2008 9:47 Comments ||
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#3
Not if we control our borders like we should.
Posted by: DanNY ||
08/21/2008 9:54 Comments ||
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#4
I wouldn't care a bit if whites would become a minority--it would probably be a result of mixed marriages and everybody would get a better tan and more variety would introduced to the gene pool. And am as "white" as they get, my tan is called a sunburn.
What would be disastrous is if Americans would become a minority.
BRUSSELS, Belgium: NATO warships entered the Black Sea on Thursday for what the alliance said were long-planned exercises and routine visits to ports in Romania and Bulgaria. The move is not linked to the tensions over Russia's invasion of Georgia, which lies on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, about 900 kilometers (550 miles) from the Romanian coast, said officials at NATO's military command in southern Belgium.
No, no, certainly not ...
Three warships -- from Spain, Germany and Poland -- sailed into the Black Sea on Thursday. They are due to be joined by a U.S. frigate, the USS Taylor, later this week.
They are "conducting a pre-planned routine visit to the Black Sea region to interact and exercise with our NATO partners Romania and Bulgaria, which is an important feature of our routine planning," said Vice-Adm. Pim Bedet, deputy commander at allied maritime headquarters in Northwood, England.
However, the move risks increasing tensions with Russia which has deployed ships from its Black Sea fleet to the Georgian coast.
The NATO flotilla includes Spain's SPS Adm. Juan de Bourbon, Germany's FGS Luebeck and the Polish ship ORP General K Pulaski. Romanian and Bulgarian ships will join them for exercises during a three-week deployment which NATO says has been planned for over a year.
Filed under "Well, that didn't take long"
Guido Westerwelle, the head of German opposition Free Democrats, on Thursday urged the German government to oppose the US missile defence system to be built in neightbouring Poland and the Czech Republic.
I hadn't realized Vlad had co-opted the Free Democrats ...
Washington signed an agreement with Warsaw on Wednesday to deploy 10 interceptor missiles in Poland as part of its shield to defend against a missile attack from countries such as Iran.
Westerwelle told the Thursday edition of the Stuttgarter Nachrichten that Berlin shouldn't let the controversial project be "waved through" due to its regional ramifications for security policy. "German foreign policy should lead a new disarmament initiative, if only because we have fundamental interest in it geographically," he said. I'm sure "we" do. Whoever "we" is, that is. Time to start checking bank accounts and money transfers.
Many German politicians fear the US missile shield in eastern Europe could spark a new arms race between the West and Russia, which vehemently opposes the project.
Sounds like a recapitulation of the old Pershing missile debate. Doesn't anyone over there ever learn?
But German government spokesman Thomas Steg said on Tuesday the missiles in Poland and a radar facility in the Czech Republic are not directed at Russia. "For us the missile defence shield is not pointed at Russia but... can be seen as a European defence system against threats from other regions" such as Iran, Steg said.
#3
Free dems are one of the less predictable elements in the German polity, IIUC. In cold war days they were "centrist" between CDs and SDs -generally pro-market, pro-US, more secular upper class then the CD's. But included (i read somewhere) some folks with really unsavory backgrounds. Maybe theyve tried to follow the UK lib dems into a libertarian pacifist path, I dont know. Or it could be something more petty, coalition politics, or even money.
Im more interested in the apparent split in the SD's, and what the Greens (the Fischer Greens, not the Commie allie Greens) are saying.
#4
Too bad Guido Westerwelle wasn't around in 1948 to advise Truman on the confrontation with the Russians over Berlin. Think of all the ramifications we could have avoided. Think of all the resources and lives* we could have saved by just backing off Europe then and there.
*Yes, Virginia, even during the Cold War Americans military died by the dozens/hundreds every year in training and traffic accidents in the defense of Western Europe.
#6
Exactly, bigjim. There's gotta be more to this story than we're getting. But if we'd just bomb the hell out of Iran, would the whole issue be moot? Hmmmm.
A prominent Philadelphia attorney and Hillary Clinton supporter filed suit this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee. The action seeks an injunction preventing the senator from continuing his candidacy and a court order enjoining the DNC from nominating him next week, all on grounds that Sen. Obama is constitutionally ineligible to run for and hold the office of President of the United States.
Phillip Berg, the filing attorney, is a former gubernatorial and senatorial candidate, former chair of the Democratic Party in Montgomery (PA) County, former member of the Democratic State Committee, and former Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania. According to Berg, he filed the suit--just days before the DNC is to hold its nominating convention in Denver--for the health of the Democratic Party.
"I filed this action at this time," Berg stated, "to avoid the obvious problems that will occur when the Republican Party raises these issues after Obama is nominated.".
Berg cited a number of unanswered questions regarding the Illinois senator's background, and in today's lawsuit maintained that Sen. Obama is not a naturalized U.S. citizen or that, if he ever was, he lost his citizenship when he was adopted in Indonesia. Berg also cites what he calls "dual loyalties" due to his citizenship and ties with Kenya and Indonesia.
Even if Sen. Obama can prove his U.S. citizenship, Berg stated, citing the senator's use of a birth certificate from the state of Hawaii verified as a forgery by three independent document forensic experts, the issue of "multi-citizenship with responsibilities owed to and allegiance to other countries" remains on the table.
In the lawsuit, Berg states that Sen. Obama was born in Kenya, and not in Hawaii as the senator maintains. Before giving birth, according to the lawsuit, Obama's mother traveled to Kenya with his father but was prevented from flying back to Hawaii because of the late stage of her pregnancy, "apparently a normal restriction to avoid births during a flight." As Sen. Obama's own paternal grandmother, half-brother and half-sister have also claimed, Berg maintains that Stanley Ann Dunham--Obama's mother--gave birth to little Barack in Kenya and subsequently flew to Hawaii to register the birth.
Berg cites inconsistent accounts of Sen. Obama's birth, including reports that he was born at two separate hospitals--Kapiolani Hospital and Queens Hospital--in Honolulu, as well a profound lack of birthing records for Stanley Ann Dunham, though simple "registry of birth" records for Barack Obama are available in a Hawaiian public records office.
Should Sen. Obama truly have been born in Kenya, Berg writes, the laws on the books at the time of his birth hold that U.S. citizenship may only pass to a child born overseas to a U.S. citizen parent and non-citizen parent if the former was at least 19 years of age. Sen. Obama's mother was only 18 at the time. Therefore, because U.S. citizenship could not legally be passed on to him, Obama could not be registered as a "natural born" citizen and would therefore be ineligible to seek the presidency pursuant to Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution.
Moreover, even if Sen. Obama could have somehow been deemed "natural born," that citizenship was lost in or around 1967 when he and his mother took up residency in Indonesia, where Stanley Ann Dunham married Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian citizen. Berg also states that he possesses copies of Sen. Obama's registration to Fransiskus Assisi School In Jakarta, Indonesia which clearly show that he was registered under the name "Barry Soetoro" and his citizenship listed as Indonesian.
The Hawaiian birth certificate, Berg says, is a forgery. In the suit, the attorney states that the birth certificate on record is a forgery, has been identified as such by three independent document forensic experts, and actually belonged to Maya Kasandra Soetoro, Sen. Obama's half-sister.
"Voters donated money, goods and services to elect a nominee and were defrauded by Sen. Obama's lies and obfuscations," Berg stated. "If the DNC officers ... had performed one ounce of due diligence we would not find ourselves in this emergency predicament, one week away from making a person the nominee who has lost their citizenship as a child and failed to even perform the basic steps of regaining citizenship as prescribed by constitutional laws."
"It is unfair to the country," he continued, "for candidates of either party to become the nominee when there is any question of the ability to serve if elected." Eds, you may want to hold this one over for tomorrow.
#1
Tread carefully on this one. There is fire behind this smoke, but I suspect what they are hoping for is to get the media to pounce on an aspect of the story that is untrue, and then trumpet that all of it is untrue.
It may also be that what they are doing is attempting to break this before the nomination. They desperately wanted the Republicans to do it, but they didn't bite so now the Dem's had to do it themselves. It may be that they want to have it come out before the convention so they can say it is "old news" after the convention.
Or it could be Hillary sticking in the knife. The stuff they are coming up with is very damaging stuff and it will be hard for people to just "move on" when they hear the whole story.
#2
This is either the death blow by Hillary, or it is a move to take if off the table before the general election.
It could backfire either way. If it is Hillary behind it and Obama is taken out this way, the dhimocrats that supported him and a lot of middle road supporters (support the D in a election) are going to be jaded and pissed off and may not even come out on election day.
If it is a move to remove the issue for the R party, then it could be smothered with legal paperwork, put in limbo then dismissed after the election.
Interesting times.
#3
I guess the biggest unanswered question at this point is: did Hillary get the VP slot? If the answer is no - then this is going to be one bloody, brass knuckle, cage match that will make Michale Vick's dogfights look like puppy play.
#4
Coming from ANYONE but Phillip Berg, well maybe.
A message from Phil Berg:
A call to unity - 911 for the truth!
"It is time for a non-violent revolution by the millions of Americans who are tired of their rights being diminished
by the Bush Administration; tired of the lies of the Bush Administration; tired of the lies about Iraq; and tired and disgusted with the lies about 911. NOW is the time to stand tall together and bring back our freedoms as they
stood under the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States. It is time to unite - hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder."
The Secret Service has confirmed they have evacuated the Centennial office for Sen. John McCain after a white powder was found in an envelope.
The Secret Service says a staffer opened the envelope just after 3:15 p.m. at the office at 6334 S. Racine Circle near Arapahoe Road and Peoria Street. According to the Secret Service, the envelope also contained a letter with a threat against McCain. "Something that was written down that caused alarm," said Arapahoe County Bureau Chief Bruce Williams.
Seven people at the office took themselves to Sky Ridge Medical Center to be checked out. Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department Haz-Mat is responding to the building and the employees were going through decontamination showers at the hospital.
The road around the business is closed off, but Williams says no major traffic is being blocked. He also says there doesn't appear to be a danger to the environment around the building. "Whatever it is, it's contained within the building itself," said Williams.
It is an ongoing investigation and the Secret Service says agents and officers are still responding, including the FBI.
There was a second envelope with a white powder in it found in the McCain office in New Hampshire.
#3
Betcha it turns out to be a too-clever someone on Soro's payroll. ACORN comes to mind for no particular reason, or the idiot troll who posted here yesterdat,
Brought To You By Convicted Felon Tony Rezko
___________________________________________________________
Obama Engaged In Deal With Convicted Felon To Get Deal On House That Had Four Fireplaces And A Wine Cellar:
Obama Paid $300,000 Less Than The Asking Price For His Mansion, While Tony Rezko's Wife Paid Full Price For A Vacant Lot Next Door On The Very Same Day. "Two years ago, Obama bought a mansion on the South Side, in the Kenwood neighborhood, from a doctor. On the same day, [Antoin 'Tony'] Rezko's wife, Rita Rezko, bought the vacant lot next door from the same seller. The doctor had listed the properties for sale together. He sold the house to Obama for $300,000 below the asking price. The doctor got his asking price on the lot from Rezko's wife." (Tim Novak, "Obama And His Rezko Ties," Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23/07)
The Seller Of Obama's Home "Wanted To Sell Both Properties At The Same Time." "On the same day Obama closed on his house, Rezko's wife bought the adjacent empty lot, meeting the condition of the seller who wanted to sell both properties at the same time." (Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, "The Rezko Connection," ABC News' "The Blotter" Blog, abcnews.go.com, 1/10/08)
Obama Later Purchased A Portion Of Rezko's Land For $104,500; It Was Valued At $40,500. "Later, the Obamas bought a 10-foot-by-150-foot piece of the lot for $104,500. An appraisal put the value of the strip at $40,500, a spokesman said, but Obama considered it fair to pay one-sixth of the original price for one-sixth of the lot." (Peter Slevin, "Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser," The Washington Post, 12/17/06)
Rezko Was Convicted Of Wire And Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, And Aiding And Abetting Bribery. "A federal jury today convicted developer Antoin 'Tony' Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Rezko's guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts could have broad repercussions for Blagojevich, who made Rezko a central player in his kitchen cabinet. It could also prove a political liability for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who once counted Rezko as a friend and fundraiser, as the likely Democratic presidential nominee heads into the general election campaign against Republican John McCain. ... The jury convicted Rezko of wire and mail fraud, money laundering and aiding and abetting bribery. He was acquitted of attempted extortion." (Bob Secter and Jeff Coen, "Rezko Convicted Of Corruption," Chicago Tribune, 6/4/08)
NOTE: The 3 Story House Has Four Fireplaces And A Wine Cellar. "When Obama and his wife, Michelle, a hospital executive, decided to move with their two young girls from their Hyde Park condominium, they chose a spacious three-story
Georgian revival home on a tree-lined street in the Kenwood neighborhood, not far from the University of Chicago. The owner had listed the house -- nearly 100 years old, with four fireplaces and a wine cellar -- and an adjacent lot as separate parcels." (Peter Slevin, "Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser," The Washington Post, 12/17/06)
Obama Provided Political Favors To Tony Rezko, Including Writing Letters On His Behalf: "As A State Senator, Barack Obama Wrote Letters To City And State Officials Supporting His Political Patron Tony ezko's Successful Bid To Get More Than $14 Million From Taxpayers To Build Apartments For Senior Citizens." (Tim Novak, "Obama's Letters For Rezko," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)
The Letters Show That Obama Did Do A Political Favor For Rezko. "Obama's letters, written nearly nine years ago, for the first time show the Democratic presidential hopeful did a political favor for Rezko -- a longtime friend, campaign fund-raiser and client of the law firm where Obama worked -- who was indicted last fall on federal charges that accuse him of demanding kickbacks from companies seeking state business under Gov. Blagojevich." (Tim Novak, "Obama's Letters For Rezko," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)
#1
Yeah...saw this morning the AP story regarding McCain's "housing problem". I really don't think they want to go there. MDS anyone?
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
08/21/2008 16:12 Comments ||
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#2
Rush mentioned this during the brief time I heard him during lunch. When you have your own housing skeletons, it really isn't a good idea to bring up your opponent's housing.
Seriously, who is running Obama's campaign? The Clintons? Sure seems like it.
NEW DELHI - The Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a shortage of 400 pilots and it will take five years to plug the gap, says its chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major. Overall, the IAF is short of about 800 officers.
It takes 6-8 years of operational training before an IAF pilot can be fully utilised in his intended role. "They have to be trained over a period of time and there are not shortcuts. We are short of about 400 pilots but with the measures we are taking, we will make good the shortage in the next five years," the chief of the air staff told IANS in an interview.
According to Major, the IAF was working on a two-pronged strategy to reduce the shortage. "The IAF has addressed the issue with emphasis on two aspects - 'retain' and 'attract'. We are carrying out a focused publicity campaign to attract the best to our fold.
"Whilst we cannot match the salaries of the private sector, we compensate by offering a challenging and fulfilling profession with an unequalled quality of life," Major said.
The IAF chief said plans are afoot to increase the intake of men and women into the Short Service cadre as it would be an attractive option for youth while meeting the organisation's needs. Short Service cadre officers are appointed for 10 years, which can be extended by another four years depending on one's performance.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
The Air Force must have received my application by now, so let's adjust these numbers, thank you!
400 - 1 = 399
Air force chief admits shortage of 400399 pilots!
Posted by: Red Dawg ||
08/21/2008 13:20 Comments ||
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The New York Times cited Pakistan People's Party(PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari as saying he has declined to reinstate deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, private television channels reported. The daily also claimed PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif placed an ultimatum for reinstatement of the deposed judges failing which the PML-N would detach itself from the ruling coalition, they said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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[6 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
A major opposition party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, yesterday backed Benazir Bhutto's widower to become Pakistan's president, as the power struggle following the resignation of Pervez Musharraf intensified. Asif Ali Zardari leads the largest party in the ruling coalition, whose drive to impeach Musharraf persuaded the stalwart U.S. ally to quit Monday after nine years in power.
Zardari has played down speculation that he covets the presidency, which his Pakistan People's Party and its allies have vowed to strip of its power.
"What? Me? Oh, I really couldn't ..."
However, opposition backing will strengthen his hand in a struggle with coalition partner Nawaz Sharif over a compromise candidate to fill the post and the even more urgent issue of restoring judges purged by the former army strongman.
A leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Haider Razvi, said it wanted Zardari as president because of his past sacrifices and for his "wisdom and vision" in handling Musharraf's ouster.
The MQM, a strong backer of Musharraf, is the second-largest opposition group in Parliament. t dominates Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city, and other urban areas in the southern province of Sindh and recently buried its long animosity with the People's Party.
Razvi called for a president from outside Punjab, Pakistan's largest and wealthiest province, and said Zardari a Sindhi was "most eligible" for the job. "He is a strong believer in the federation," Razvi said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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The United Nations Development Program, the U.N.s anti-poverty agency, which systematically ignored its own financial rules and regulations while funneling millions of dollars to North Korea, wants to give its chief operating officer the right to make out discretionary checks of unlimited amounts, without normal budgetary approval.
Thats up from the current limit of $50,000 which can be dispersed without regulatory oversight.
UNDP argues that the new ability to write such checks without normal authorization would only bring its discretionary powers into line with those currently exercised by other U.N. programs, like UNICEF and the World Food Program (WFP).
The problem is that at the Rome-based WFP, the use of the same unlimited discretionary authority to pay off job-eliminated contract employees was condemned just last year as a $90 million abuse of authority and a violation both of U.N. payment rules for contractors, and of fairness to longer-term employees.
The condemnation was issued by the only budget oversight committee that includes the entire membership of the U.N. It was ignored both by WFP bureaucrats and by the WFPs 36-nation governing executive board.
UNDPs desire to have the same unlimited discretionary power for its No. 2 bureaucrat, Associate Administrator Ad Melkert, is contained in support documents for the next meeting of its own, similarly-sized executive board, which meets in New York City from September 8 to 12.
#1
ION CNN + CNBC > seems Pakistan has begun kicking out Afghans from its border areas in order to show it can de facto control same. UP TO 1.0 MILYUHN AFGHAN REFUGEES MAY BE DISPLACED FROM INSIDE PAKIS AND SENT BACK INTO AFGHANISTAN???
NEPAL > 150,000-350,000 may become refugees due to present and anticipated CHIN repression [posy=Olympics], + heavy/excessive flooding???
Ummmmmmmm...hey. Didn't our Muzzie friends have a buncha riots and stuff over shit like this?
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian city of Zanjan has unveiled the largest miniature painting, which portrays the Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) ascent to heaven.
According to a press tv report, it took two years for the artist, Reza Najafi-Asl, to create the painting in the style of Iran's master miniaturist Mahmoud Farshchian. The 32-year-old artist has used 70 acrylic colors to depict Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) sitting on a horse and three angels whirling around him. Masoumeh Heidari has adorned the margin of the painting with illuminations, inspired by the work of the late illuminist, Haj Mirza Emami.
There could have some extra anti Shia progroms in Pakistan next week but we might never hear about it because such progroms are both fairly common and rarely reported.
#4
What size is the largest miniature painting? Was the artist a tall dwarf? Can someone illuminate me as to the exact nature of the illumination inspired by the late illuminist?
I'm here all week. Tip your waitresses. Or Fred.
Posted by: Scott R ||
08/21/2008 13:33 Comments ||
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#5
What, no picture? Or would a picture of a portrait of the prophet be haram?
Also, there were no acrylic paints when the prophet was alive, so I know it is haram.
#12
One thing I love about rantburg is that when we have "Iran" in a post, google ads always seems to slip in that "IraninaPersonals" ad with the girl in it. I guess she's supposed to be giving a "come hither" looke, but honest to God, to me it looks like she needs some antihistamines due to her sinuses being stuffed.
Syria raised the prospect yesterday of having Russian missiles on its soil, sparking fears of a new Cold War in the Middle East. President Assad said as he arrived in Moscow to clinch a series of military agreements: "We are ready to co-operate with Russia in any project that can strengthen its security."
The Syrian leader told Russian newspapers: "I think Russia really has to think of the response it will make when it finds itself closed in a circle."
Mr Assad said that he would be discussing the deployment of Russian missiles on his territory. The Syrians are also interested in buying Russian weapons.
In return Moscow is expected to propose a revival of its Cold War era naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus, which would give the Russian Navy its first foothold in the Mediterranean for two decades. A Russian resort on the Med? With a swanky O Club? I don't think so.
Damascus and Moscow were close allies during the Cold War but the Kremlin's influence in the region waned after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Yesterday's rapprochement raised the possibility that Moscow intends to re-create a global anti-Western alliance with former Soviet bloc allies. So, Russia re-aligning itself with a terrorist-sponsoring state? Bow howdy, never seen that before ...
Syria and Israel recently confirmed they had been holding indirect talks to reach a peace deal after decades of hostility. Part of Syria's motivation was to break the international isolation it has suffered for its strategic alliance with Tehran. A closer alliance with a resurgent Russia could afford Mr Assad a way out of any binding commitment. Some Israeli analysts even fear that it could encourage Syria to try to take back the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in 1967, by force.
The Georgia conflict sparked a mocking speech with Cold War rhetoric by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, over the performance of Israeli-trained Georgian troops. One of the Israeli military advisers there was reserve Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch, who commanded a division in Israel's inconclusive war with Hezbollah in 2006, and who resigned his commission afterwards.
"Gal Hirsch, who was defeated in Lebanon, went to Georgia and they too lost because of him," the Shia leader taunted. "Relying on Israeli experts and weapons, Georgia learnt why the Israeli generals failed.
"What happened in Georgia is a message to all those the Americans are seeking to entangle in dangerous adventures."
#4
Israel has been talking to Damascus for months, with the goal of doing a deal and turning Syria from its alliance with Iran. Kurtzer, from what I can gather thinks thats a good idea. I have NO reason whatsoever to think that hes going to Syria to betray Israel. I do understand how Lebanese would be nervous about being betrayed by both Israel and the US, but then I can also see why Israel thinks Leb is a lost cause, and that turning Syria from Iran is simply more important.
#5
LH can you please explain how Israel can "betray" Lebanon? That makes as much sense as saying the the US invasion of Okinawa betrayed the Japanese. Lebanon is a declared enemy of Israel, jeez.
And exactly what have we promised to Lebanon that we could possibly betray?
#6
Alan - Israel over the years has clearly favored certain elements in Leb politics, esp the Maronites. During the Cedar Rev I think it was clear that Israel favored the anti-Syrian coalition, consisting of Sunnis, Druze, and some Maronites over the pro-Syrian coalition of Hezbollah and its allies. Now of course the 2006 war strained things, but I think since its STILL been clear that the anti-Syrian lebs and israelis are at least tight co-belligerents, if not actual allies, this despite the nominal opposition of even the anti-syrian lebs to Israel (they dont really have much choice on that for a lot of reasons) So to make a deal WITH Syria, and to essentially wink at the Syrian presence in Leb (which I think would be part of any deal between Jerusalem and Damascus) would be, in some sense, a betrayal of the anti-syrian lebs. But, as I hinted, the anti-syrian lebs seem unable to really act as independent force against hezb, certainly not reliably, so it doesnt make sense for Israel to pass up a good deal (if that can be had) for the sake of Jumblatt, Harriri, et al.
Perhaps you are under the impression that Lebanon is a unified state, rather than competing coalitions of factions.
#7
I understand pretty well what Leb is all about (through Michael Totten and others) it's just that you comment did not distinguish between the various groups but talked about the aggregate. The aggregate is represented by the position of the government which still claims to be at war with Israel.
If the Lebs are so nervous maybe they ought to stand up for themselves at least verbally and show who's side they're on. I don't expect the Cedar Rev babes to disarm Hezzies but I do expect them to stand up and say that they should be disarmed. Maybe even ask for and support specific outside help of some kind.
#8
yes, I should have been more specific I meant the anti-syrian forces, which in recent months have been the nominal govt.
the claim to be at war is meaningless, IMO.
Stand up and say who should be disarmed? Have you been following Leb in recent months? waving back and forth on that has been the crux of Leb politics.
Either that, or they'll Photoshop it... TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran plans to send a manned rocket into space in the next 10 years, state television reported on Thursday, just days after the Islamic Republic announced it had put a dummy satellite into orbit. Good luck, or rather Insh'Allah, to the First Iranian in Space.
Embroiled in a standoff with the West over its nuclear ambitions, Iran said on Sunday it had put a dummy satellite into orbit on a home-grown rocket for the first time. U.S. security officials said Tehran's attempted satellite launch was a failure that fell short of claimed successes, but an analyst said the test marked a technical advance for Iran. The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into space can also be used for launching weapons. Iran says it has no such intention.
The West accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear warhead, a charge Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear ambitions are aimed at generating electricity so it that it can export more of its massive oil and gas reserves.
"One of the aims of Iran's 10-year space program is to send a manned rocket into space," state television quoted Reza Taghipour, the head of Iran's aerospace organization, as saying."Within in the next six months to one year, the exact date of this mission will be determined," he added.
Taghipour said Iran would cooperate with Islamic countries in building a satellite that television said would be called, Besharat, meaning 'good news'. He also said Iran was working with Russia and other Asian states to launch another satellite.
U.S. officials said the vehicle which Iran said on Sunday had delivered a dummy satellite into space failed shortly after lift off and did not reach its intended position. But Charles Vick, a senior analyst for GlobalSecurity.org research group, said Iran appeared to have succeeded in igniting the second stage of its booster rocket and gained data that will help it perfect its launch system.
#2
"Good luck, or rather Insh'Allah, to the First Iranian in Space"
Don't you mean the first Iranian Space Martyr? I mean seriously ... a country that can't even keep the lights on putting a person into space? Talk about a waste of valuable resources!
#4
Enriching uranium is for generating electricity.
The rocketry is for the manned space program.
Obama is a centrist.
Nothing to see here.
Move along.
#5
However, Russia has been talking to Tehran. As international partners on the space station, I'm betting there has been more technical espionage than we realize. NASA's guides say sharing the technology, making available improvements for all, is promoting world peace, and seem unconcerned regarding Russia, Israel, Brazil, Japan, the EU, and Canada all play a part in our space program.
#6
The Russians are pretty advanced when it comes to space and rocket tech. There really isn't much in that line they could or would steal, beyond cash.
Iran has banned an award-winning young actress from leaving the country over her appearance in a star-studded Hollywood production, the state news agency IRNA said on Wednesday. "Golshifteh Farahani was banned from leaving by the authorities at the airport on Tuesday when she was about to leave for Hollywood to examine a new offer," IRNA said quoting an informed source.
The state agency said the decision was prompted by her starring in Ridley Scott's latest movie "Body of Lies" with Hollywood heartthrobs Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.
IRNA said Iranian actors are required to obtain a permit from the ministry of culture and Islamic guidance in order to appear in foreign movies.
The 25-year-old Farahani is one of Iran's most popular actresses. She has also starred in Kurdish director Bahman's Ghobadi's "Half Moon", which won the 2006 Golden Seashell in the San Sebastian International Film Festival. Her appearance in "Body of Lies", which tells the story of a CIA agent sent to Jordan to track down an al-Qaeda leader, marked the first by an actress living in Iran in a Hollywood production.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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The United States has halted a program that united African refugees with relatives in America after DNA testing revealed many people were lying about family links, the State Department said on Wednesday.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Doesn't Nobama supposedly have a brother living in Africa?
#2
Yep, Half-Brother reportedly living in Nairobi on One US Dollar-or-less a day. NET > want to see iff Barack will invite and bring his bro to the USA???
OTOH FREEPUBLIC > INDONESIA: MUSLIM MOB ATTACKS CHURCH, DEMANDS END TO WORSHIP, CHURCH SERVICES; + TOPIX > SOUTH PACIFIC ISLAND LEADERS:GLOBAL WARMING WREAKING HAVOC ON ISLANDS.
* A PRESENT FUTURE WARNING FOR A FUTURE DAY ON A FUTURE GUAM-WESTPAC.
#3
U.S. stops African refugee program after DNA tests
Immigration HELL:
1) Anchor Babies.
2) Anchor Family members.
Are a Corruption of a much much much better system we had after WWII.
We used to solely favor the best minds or the most talented folks to America.
IOW attract the cream from the gigantic pool of potential immigrants.
Posted by: Red Dawg ||
08/21/2008 8:25 Comments ||
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#4
Everyone in the ME is expected to fight / kill over their claimed familial / tribal plots of dirt (its a quaint local custom, yasee) but we're supposed to be better and just not care.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/21/2008 10:46 Comments ||
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#5
Doesn't Nobama supposedly have a brother living in Africa?
Sure does.
Steadily declining prices made the second quarter the most affordable for homes since 2004, with Indianapolis leading as the nation's most affordable region.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Yes, but the problem is, so few are taking advantage of the opportunity!
Perhaps that's because they can't sell what they have, to move up.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/21/2008 6:01 Comments ||
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#2
...I'm trying to figure out why (Fill In The Blank) is always listed as "the nation's most affordable region" - c'mon down here to central SC, where prices have been in freefall for a couple years now. As soon as I meet my employment requirements for a VA loan, I'll be able to pick up a couple of acres with a 1700 sq.ft house on it for about $750/month.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
08/21/2008 7:05 Comments ||
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Median Income in Indianapolis- $65,100
Median Income in New York- $63,000
Median Home price in Indy- $108,000
Median Home price in N.Y.- $481,000
Those numbers tell a sad story indeed for N.Y.
I had several classmates in C.E. that got jobs in Indy before graduation. The economy there must actually be built on something real.
#6
We sold and bought last year just as the housing market started its collapse. Fortunately we found a good buyer for our old home.
We took a beating on selling our house; we figure we got ~ $70K less than we could have the previous year (good Chicago suburb).
Then again, the house we bought was also ~$70K less than it would have sold for the previous year.
So if you're selling and buying, the issue is the split between the two (as usual). The people I feel for are the ones who have to sell for one reason or another and who aren't buying another home. They're the ones taking a beating.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/21/2008 9:31 Comments ||
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#7
If there's no limit on how many Mikes they'll accept, I might have to join Mike in the Carolinas!
Posted by: Mike N. ||
08/21/2008 12:51 Comments ||
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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.
The New York Times cited Pakistan People's Party(PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari as saying he has declined to reinstate deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, private television channels reported. The daily also claimed PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif placed an ultimatum for reinstatement of the deposed judges failing which the PML-N would detach itself from the ruling coalition, they said.
A major opposition party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, yesterday backed Benazir Bhutto's widower to become Pakistan's president, as the power struggle following the resignation of Pervez Musharraf intensified. Asif Ali Zardari leads the largest party in the ruling coalition, whose drive to impeach Musharraf persuaded the stalwart U.S. ally to quit Monday after nine years in power.
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran plans to send a manned rocket into space in the next 10 years, state television reported on Thursday, just days after the Islamic Republic announced it had put a dummy satellite into orbit.
