One of the groups on the list is the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), an Iranian dissident group. Its inclusion has long been the focus of controversy. Top European courts have accused the EU officials of having been far too lax in dealing with the truth and with fundamental principles of the rule of law. The process by which the exiled Iranian opposition group was branded a terrorist group has been deemed unlawful by several courts. The courts have ruled that the fact that the parties involved have no opportunity to defend themselves is in contravention of their basic rights. Such concerns did not enter the minds of Europe's clueless agriculture experts when they approved the inclusion of the PMOI on the current list. That was a crude "violation of the principles of the rule of law," according to prominent judges, lawyers and law professors from a number of countries who went to Brussels this week to vent their fury in the form of a collection of legal opinions.
One of the groups on the list is the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), an Iranian dissident group. Its inclusion has long been the focus of controversy. Top European courts have accused the EU officials of having been far too lax in dealing with the truth and with fundamental principles of the rule of law.
The process by which the exiled Iranian opposition group was branded a terrorist group has been deemed unlawful by several courts. The courts have ruled that the fact that the parties involved have no opportunity to defend themselves is in contravention of their basic rights. Such concerns did not enter the minds of Europe's clueless agriculture experts when they approved the inclusion of the PMOI on the current list.
That was a crude "violation of the principles of the rule of law," according to prominent judges, lawyers and law professors from a number of countries who went to Brussels this week to vent their fury in the form of a collection of legal opinions.
Rapid - Press Releases - EUROPA
COUNTER-TERRORISM EU list of persons, groups and entities subject to specific measures with a view to combating terrorism - Adoption of a new consolidated list The Council carried out a detailed re-examination of the EU list of persons and entities involved in terrorist acts (Common Position 2001/931/CFSP and Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001[7]). In the light of that re-examination, the Council unanimously adopted a Common Position updating Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures with a view to combating terrorism. It also unanimously adopted a Decision concerning the persons and entities listed under Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism. The specific information on which this Council Decision is based will be communicated to the parties concerned by means of a "letter of notification"[8]. The parties concerned may ask the Council to re-examine their cases on the basis of documentary evidence. The persons and entities subject to restrictive measures under Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 may also contest the Council's decision before the Court of First Instance, pursuant to the fourth and fifth paragraphs of Article 230 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. The above two acts, including the new consolidated lists, will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. For further information: information sheet on the EU list of persons, groups and entities subject to specific measures to combat terrorism. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/080206_combatterrorism_EN.pdf
COUNTER-TERRORISM
EU list of persons, groups and entities subject to specific measures with a view to combating terrorism
- Adoption of a new consolidated list
The Council carried out a detailed re-examination of the EU list of persons and entities involved in terrorist acts (Common Position 2001/931/CFSP and Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001[7]).
In the light of that re-examination, the Council unanimously adopted a Common Position updating Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures with a view to combating terrorism.
It also unanimously adopted a Decision concerning the persons and entities listed under Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism.
The specific information on which this Council Decision is based will be communicated to the parties concerned by means of a "letter of notification"[8].
The parties concerned may ask the Council to re-examine their cases on the basis of documentary
evidence. The persons and entities subject to restrictive measures under Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 may also contest the Council's decision before the Court of First Instance, pursuant to the fourth and fifth paragraphs of Article 230 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
The above two acts, including the new consolidated lists, will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
For further information: information sheet on the EU list of persons, groups and entities subject to specific measures to combat terrorism.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/080206_combatterrorism_EN.pdf
wo managers and one division head of the German state lending bank KfW were suspended Thursday after an emergency meeting of the administrative board in Berlin, amid uproar over a suspicious €300 million ($426 million) transfer made by the bank to Lehman Brothers on Monday -- just as the New York financial institution collapsed. Critics were calling for heads to roll, and during a press conference after the five-hour meeting German Economics Minister Michael Glos, a member of the conservative Christian Democrats, announced the three suspensions. His Social Democratic colleague Peer Steinbrück, Germany's finance minister, said the suspensions would not be "the final word."
Critics were calling for heads to roll, and during a press conference after the five-hour meeting German Economics Minister Michael Glos, a member of the conservative Christian Democrats, announced the three suspensions. His Social Democratic colleague Peer Steinbrück, Germany's finance minister, said the suspensions would not be "the final word."
What seems more ominous is the $8 billion transferred from Lehman London to Lehman NY over the ast few day before the bankruptcy. PWC, the liquidators in London, are now asking for the money back In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Suddenly, stodgy banks are looking smart. And with former Wall Street giants toppling almost daily, some European banks are starting to look especially wise. European banks are holding up pretty well amid the turmoil sweeping the industry. None of the Old World's biggest banks appears likely to fail or put itself on the block, analysts say.
European banks are holding up pretty well amid the turmoil sweeping the industry. None of the Old World's biggest banks appears likely to fail or put itself on the block, analysts say.
At the end of a tumultuous week for financial markets, the FTSE rocketed 431.3 points to 5311.3 - a rise of 8.8 per cent. It is the blue chip index's biggest one day rise since being established in 1984, adding £103 billion to the value of Britain's biggest companies. Financial stocks were the top performing shares, led by Natwest owner Royal Bank of Scotland which posted a 32 per cent rise, Barclays up 29 per cent and Lloyds TSB up 20 per cent.
At the end of a tumultuous week for financial markets, the FTSE rocketed 431.3 points to 5311.3 - a rise of 8.8 per cent.
It is the blue chip index's biggest one day rise since being established in 1984, adding £103 billion to the value of Britain's biggest companies.
Financial stocks were the top performing shares, led by Natwest owner Royal Bank of Scotland which posted a 32 per cent rise, Barclays up 29 per cent and Lloyds TSB up 20 per cent.
Trade union Unite today demanded that the bosses of merging banks HBOS and Lloyds TSB "come clean" over speculation of job cuts as a result of the deal.
Of course they did. The Bush administration has just told them that there are no consequences to financial stupidity, and that the public will carry the can for stupid, selfish executives, no matter how insane they have been.
We don't have a market anymore. We have a welfare system for the rich.
We've had that for years now. what we now in addition is the blatant, in your face, acknowledgement of it, accompanied by the taunting "What are you going to do about it, suckers? We own you and we can take you down with us"...
And the Shock Doctrine in action. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
That's the first thing that came to mind when Bush came out of his undisclosed location long enough to read a prepared statement about how this guvmint action is necessary to stave off even more dire consequences. The fix is in.
The Associated Press: Bush to Congress: move fast on financial rescue
As negotiators from Congress and the White House worked feverishly through the weekend on a federal financial rescue package, President Bush asked lawmakers to look beyond partisanship and move quickly on the urgently needed measure.
Bush says U.S. financial rescue needed to prevent worse | Markets | Markets News | Reuters
"Further stress on our financial markets would cause massive job losses, devastate retirement accounts, further erode housing values, and dry up new loans for homes, cars and college tuitions."
Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.
Anyone versed in Swedish politics who recognises this? *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
IIRC there were some automatic robot telephone calls with recorded statements from leading politicians, but I didn't get any. Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
Maybe the CSU should check what their (probably very well paid) consultants are babbling about. A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
Thousands of extra riot police were drafted into Cologne today to cope with expected violence between militant right and left-wing protesters as a bitterly contested pan-European "Anti-Islamisation Conference" got underway in the German cathedral city. The three-day event is being staged by the city's far right "Pro Cologne" organisation which is campaigning to stop the construction of a mosque in a suburb and claims that Germany has fallen victim to creeping "Islamisation." The group has recently won seats on the city council.
Thousands of extra riot police were drafted into Cologne today to cope with expected violence between militant right and left-wing protesters as a bitterly contested pan-European "Anti-Islamisation Conference" got underway in the German cathedral city.
The three-day event is being staged by the city's far right "Pro Cologne" organisation which is campaigning to stop the construction of a mosque in a suburb and claims that Germany has fallen victim to creeping "Islamisation." The group has recently won seats on the city council.
It seems Le Pen will not attend.
A survey of rank-and-file Labour activists found 54 per cent would prefer someone else to lead the party into the next general election. Mr Brown's personal rating was lower than every other member of the Cabinet except the Chief Whip Geoff Hoon and the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. The findings are a crushing blow to the Prime Minister on the eve of a make-or-break annual Labour conference in Manchester starting tomorrow.... If Mr Brown is forced to stand down, the Foreign Secretary David Miliband (24.6 per cent) is the favoured successor among Labour's grassroots. He is followed by the Health Secretary Alan Johnson (18.1 per cent); the backbencher Jon Cruddas (11.3 per cent); the Justice Secretary Jack Straw (9.6 per cent); Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman (6.6 per cent); the left-winger John McDonnell (6.5 per cent); the Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell (3.2 per cent); and the Schools Secretary Ed Balls (2 per cent).
A survey of rank-and-file Labour activists found 54 per cent would prefer someone else to lead the party into the next general election. Mr Brown's personal rating was lower than every other member of the Cabinet except the Chief Whip Geoff Hoon and the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly.
The findings are a crushing blow to the Prime Minister on the eve of a make-or-break annual Labour conference in Manchester starting tomorrow....
If Mr Brown is forced to stand down, the Foreign Secretary David Miliband (24.6 per cent) is the favoured successor among Labour's grassroots. He is followed by the Health Secretary Alan Johnson (18.1 per cent); the backbencher Jon Cruddas (11.3 per cent); the Justice Secretary Jack Straw (9.6 per cent); Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman (6.6 per cent); the left-winger John McDonnell (6.5 per cent); the Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell (3.2 per cent); and the Schools Secretary Ed Balls (2 per cent).
The Czech Republic is due to take up the rotating EU presidency at the start of 2009 - at a particularly challenging time. The prospects of EU enlargement to include western Balkan countries are a point of controversy with some members fearing instability from the region and others pointing out that until the Lisbon Treaty is in force the EU should not take on more members. Michaela Jelínková from the Government's Office for European Affairs outlines some of the challenges ahead and explains why the Czech Republic is committed to pushing ahead with EU expansion. "The Czech Republic will definitely be involved in the last stages of accession talks with Croatia and we will also try to push forward the negotiations with other Balkan countries. Definitely Serbia is well on track, as you know. Progress has been marked in the field of cooperation with the International Court of Justice in the Hague and if more progress is made I think Serbia will do very well. As regards Cyprus, of course this is a very difficult issue, but both parties have just re-started negotiations this month and this will definitely influence progress in accession talks with Turkey."
*Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
That picture carries one of the reasons that I like her. She has such a comfortable smile. Not made up, not too serene, just enjoying. And that, unsurprisingly, carries through with the things that she supports, and the way she supports them.
I wish her well. Someday there will be an era when good people can win, when we can have intelligent leaders. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
According to the latest Figaro-TNS Sofres poll, only 34% have confidence in Sarko. However, only 37% (+2) wish Royal to play an important role - Strauss-Kahn and Jack Lang, two centre-leftists wooed by Sarko (the latter a full-blown traitor) rank above her. But, among those left of center, so does Paris mayor Delanoë ()49% -- and Trot leader Besançenot (43%, +3)!
But what's really interesting is opinion according to political orientation. Apparently, Royal is in a much closer packed top three for leftist voters, but centrists and right-wingers hate her much more than even the commie. Is this 'just' sexism? *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
She also get the local militants and federations, as opposed to the Paris barons. Lyon and Marseilles and important federations, but they are not really barons.
It still looks like 3 blocks or equal size at this point. The only hope is that thi internal election allows for an uncontsted leader to emerge, with the party coalescing around him/her. If infighting goes on after the election, it will be catastrophic.
As a side note: most of the time, when I actually read texts written by either of the socialist leaders, there's very little to quibble with on the substance (ie they are on the left and they have appropriate policy proposals) - but somehow that is not the impression conveyed by the media, not by the supposely lefy intellectual, many of which have drifted right massively (whether for political/geopolitical reasons like Glucksmann and BHL (neocons-leaning), or for economic reasons like Attali and his ilk (neolib-leaning). In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Who writes the socialists' leaders' texts ? Themselves, or their advisors ? I'm not sure many of those written texts are actually read or cared about. Royal clearly said after the election that she didn't care all that much about the PS platform.
Are those lefty platforms actually defended by the PS leaders ? With all the calls for a Bayrou alliance, it's not all that clear. And it's clear the media - not only the intellectuals or the economists - have stopped to agree relaying any kind of leftish viewpoints on social and economic matters ; even Libé is often very centerish. Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
Sad that all our best reporters on French affairs are off-line when this happens
They should be tied with metaphors and whipped with analogies for their sloth. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Also, it seems much of the struggle is straight about personalities, alliances, rather than anything really resembling political stances. For example, Royal getting Guerini's support is very important, not because Guerini would be anything like a heavyweight, but because the Bouches-du-Rhône PS section is one of the largest in France, carrying a lot of votes - many of which barely legitimate. The number of adhesion card given by the PS is rising fast, and not necessarily corresponding to an actual rise in live members : apparently the PS elections suffer a fair amount of manipulation. Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
And what's your take on Besancenot? *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
The first question being, is Besancenot an actual leader of the far left or just the mouthpiece of Krivine, the real boss of LCR since '68 ? (the situation in Laguiller's LO was similar, with Hardy the actual leader of that party).
Secondly, the far left has been in disarray, with the PCF getting closer to irrelevancy with each election season ; the more libertarian and ecologists elements, the "altermondialists", gravitating towards Jose Bove ; and LCR and Besancenot displacing Laguiller for the "popular far left vote".
Right now, it seems Bove is uniting with the Greens and "apolitical ecologist" Nicolas Hulot for the EP elections, thus leaving the far left political ground wide open for LCR. With European Elections, with their proportional representation and relative National irrelevance, usually marking the high tide of small parties, LCR could poll fairly high - it'll be interesting to see how much.
Besancenot may be the only real opposition voice heard regularly in the media, but I don't see LCR starting the kind of ground work necessary to create class consciousness - like what the PCF was doing in the '50s and '60s. So I'm not sure their popularity can translate to much more than the traditional - and more and more ineffective, with the current right wing media we're having - support for some more demonstration and strikes ; I don't see them helping give weight to the worker's side in the national balance of power.
As LCR is right now refusing any eventuality of government participation, there's also the danger they'd install themselves in the very comfortable position of an ineffectual, but long lasting, far left systematic opposition, which would even be worse. Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
Things seems to be progressing quietly behind the scenes in Eastern Europe, since the usual trouble makers are busy throwing good money after bad on Wall St... Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
It's still applies- perhaps because they see in Saakasvili an incompetent fool just like the commanders of the light brigade were.
the beatroot: Sikorski with Laughrov
The New Cold war looks like this. Bit of a laugh, innit? (photo)Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was in town today. The meeting with Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski was keenly anticipated by the media commentariat. Would Sergei the Russian Bear be taken to task by Rad the Eagle? Or was Lavrov going to roast the eagle on a spit? After all, it's Sikorski's signature on the anti-missile shield agreement. ... So tension was high in Warsaw's Foreign Ministry this morning. And then...nothing really happened. ... The only tricky bit came when Sikorski brought up the embarrassing antics of some of Russia's generals. They love to get in the newspapers threatening to nuke Poland from the face of the universe. Which is quite rude, isn't it? But all in all, this was not the hyper aggressive Russia we have seen, on occasion, recently. The historic fear of Russia in Poland is entirely understandable. But having an ahistorical fear of them is not. Russia is in a very new place right now. It has economic power, not military. It will try to hang on to as much territory as it can. It does so because it feels threatened. It's from weakness not strength that Moscow is authoritarian and can bully. And we should always ask ourselves: can the US, UK etc really accuse Moscow of being the bullyboy when they have taken it upon themselves to act like the world's policeman/humanitarian social worker - whether the `client' wants it or not - since the end of the Real Cold War.? Beware the bear with a thorn in its foot. But in the end Russia needs the West as much as the West needs Russia. All talks and disputes should take that as their starting point.
The New Cold war looks like this. Bit of a laugh, innit?
...
So tension was high in Warsaw's Foreign Ministry this morning.
And then...nothing really happened.
The only tricky bit came when Sikorski brought up the embarrassing antics of some of Russia's generals. They love to get in the newspapers threatening to nuke Poland from the face of the universe. Which is quite rude, isn't it?
But all in all, this was not the hyper aggressive Russia we have seen, on occasion, recently.
The historic fear of Russia in Poland is entirely understandable. But having an ahistorical fear of them is not. Russia is in a very new place right now. It has economic power, not military. It will try to hang on to as much territory as it can. It does so because it feels threatened. It's from weakness not strength that Moscow is authoritarian and can bully.
And we should always ask ourselves: can the US, UK etc really accuse Moscow of being the bullyboy when they have taken it upon themselves to act like the world's policeman/humanitarian social worker - whether the `client' wants it or not - since the end of the Real Cold War.?
Beware the bear with a thorn in its foot. But in the end Russia needs the West as much as the West needs Russia. All talks and disputes should take that as their starting point.
I don't think it's deliberate distraction so much as bumbling from one crisis to the next, repeating free market ideology robotically, and - in some of the more extreme cases - secretly believing the Empire never really died.
The case is so obvious that we could conclude that the British are, in this small world of the Georgian crisis, very much isolated by their absolutely intransigent discourse. We don't know the concrete and direct reason of this "policy"
In other words, the British political class is acting on a 150-year-old reflex. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
By Michel Kerres, NRC Handelsblad
When talking about the European defence initiatives, Witney's words have a cynical ring to them. He doesn't want to ridicule the work of his former colleagues, he says, but he wants to make something clear. In 2005 the European Union set up a system of rotating 'battle groups', he explains.The various `battle groups' are on permanent standby, ready for action anywhere in the world. But before the soldiers can go anywhere, there is the small question of a decision on which of the seven head-quarters will lead the operation. ,,That is, if there is anywhere to send them in the first place, because a suitable conflict hasn't been found since 2005." The EU does send out special missions but it isn't always easy to find personnel or equipment. It spent six months looking for helicopters for a mission to Chad. Eventually Russia stepped in. On September 1, the day on which European leaders discussed taking a tough stance on Russia following the conflict in Georgia, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev made four helicopters and 200 staff available for the EU mission. The 27 EU member states spend over 200 billion euros on defence a year, but they couldn't find 16 transport helicopters...
In 2005 the European Union set up a system of rotating 'battle groups', he explains.The various `battle groups' are on permanent standby, ready for action anywhere in the world. But before the soldiers can go anywhere, there is the small question of a decision on which of the seven head-quarters will lead the operation. ,,That is, if there is anywhere to send them in the first place, because a suitable conflict hasn't been found since 2005."
The EU does send out special missions but it isn't always easy to find personnel or equipment. It spent six months looking for helicopters for a mission to Chad. Eventually Russia stepped in. On September 1, the day on which European leaders discussed taking a tough stance on Russia following the conflict in Georgia, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev made four helicopters and 200 staff available for the EU mission. The 27 EU member states spend over 200 billion euros on defence a year, but they couldn't find 16 transport helicopters...
Can we get defense to be out defense again and not offense? A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
Seeking to reassure countries that have grown fearful of Russia, Western defense ministers will consider the creation of an easily deployable military force that could be sent into nations feeling threatened, a senior U.S. Defense official said Thursday. The creation of such a force would take NATO back to its roots as a deterrent against Soviet might after years of concentrating on missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. North Atlantic Treaty Organization defense chiefs plan to discuss the proposal at a meeting today. The Bush administration is pushing the idea as a compromise that could reassure allies without provoking Russia. However, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stepped up the Bush administration's denunciation of Moscow, alleging in a speech in Washington that Russia had shown a "worsening pattern of behavior" in which it was "increasingly authoritarian at home and aggressive abroad."
The creation of such a force would take NATO back to its roots as a deterrent against Soviet might after years of concentrating on missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. North Atlantic Treaty Organization defense chiefs plan to discuss the proposal at a meeting today. The Bush administration is pushing the idea as a compromise that could reassure allies without provoking Russia.
However, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stepped up the Bush administration's denunciation of Moscow, alleging in a speech in Washington that Russia had shown a "worsening pattern of behavior" in which it was "increasingly authoritarian at home and aggressive abroad."
With NATO divided over how to respond to a newly assertive Russia, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday that he would urge alliance ministers meeting here to adopt a cautious and deliberate approach that would reassure newer members along the Russian border without provoking hostilities. Mr. Gates has said he does not anticipate any armed Russian incursions into the territory of NATO member countries, but said Moscow was more likely to pursue strategies of "pressure and intimidation," including restricting its supplies of oil and gas, on which Europe depends. Mr. Gates made his comments as the Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, struck a conciliatory tone in Moscow, saying he hoped that Russia and the United States could find a way to improve relations.
Mr. Gates has said he does not anticipate any armed Russian incursions into the territory of NATO member countries, but said Moscow was more likely to pursue strategies of "pressure and intimidation," including restricting its supplies of oil and gas, on which Europe depends.
Mr. Gates made his comments as the Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, struck a conciliatory tone in Moscow, saying he hoped that Russia and the United States could find a way to improve relations.
The EU isn't going to risk a war with Russia and the US doesn't have a modern army, anymore. Insert appropriate quote here
The US Air Force hasn't attacked a modern, integrated, anti-aircraft defense since World War II.
Either way, the attacking forces would be savaged.
(AFC, BBS) Insert appropriate quote here
Russians and Americans have been having cat fights for decades, up to 280 a year, under-reported "incidents at sea." They're heavy sparing partners- and quite often the Russians get the best. A war with Russia would be a total disaster for the world.
As for the Georgia campaign, the Russian attack was a classic low-level operation. Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects of their campaign was the lack of precision bombing. The Russians are deliberately using non-surgical weaponry as an admonition. And if their nuclear warheads are just as imprecise?
AFAIK, this system is still in the 'talking' phase. Throw some money at R&D and it could be developed. Insert appropriate quote here
But not today. Insert appropriate quote here
LOL, that's not the impression one gets from watching Top Gun ;-) A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
As for top guns, Karl Rove's "Mission Accomplished" set was stolen from Putin. To clench the 1999 elections Putin piloted a SU-27 over Checheny with a top gun as co-pilot, Maj. Gen. Alexander Kharchevsky.
General Kharchevsky is the head of the 4th flight training center (CBPiPLS) from Lipetsk, where one of the most capable Russian Air Force units is based. Several years ago Kharchevsky visited the United States, where he flew a number of simulated combat missions on his Su-27 fighter against some of the best American pilots. Kharchevsky won all of the 26 missions flown. (It was after Kharchevsky's trip to the U.S. that several Western military aircraft manufacturers, including Lockheed and Saab, declined an offer by Sukhoi Design Bureau to conduct a public one-on-one close combat simulation at an international air show between any of the latest Western fighters and the Su-35 air-superiority fighter.)
On May 1, 2003 (or the day before), Bush co-piloted a plane onto the USS Lincoln to announce the Mission had been accomplished. He however resorted to a normal guy pilot, a very American thing to do.
A proper film would pit the two pilots against each other, maple syrup and apple pie. I'll go see it if there's no fuckwit scientologist in the cast. Hell, I'll even write the script. Dick'll be the evil guy.
PS. It was Kharchevsky who "sank" the Kitty Hawk.
One can read recent weapons initiatives in the US as ways to get around that. If you believe some of the hype, the more or less canceled F-22 Raptor was supposed to be the key to cracking modern air defense networks, and its cheaper and less effective replacement, the Joint Strike Fighter, is supposed to have a good chunk of that capability.
Then there are the various anti-satellite weapons the US has been developing, to deal with the satellite tracking issues.
None of its ready for use, though.
And your downthread comment about the US Army is right as well.
And if the F-22 is as good as the US propaganda claims it is... Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
Not that the Americans are selling the F-22 to anyone, but the F-35 has gotten into developmental trouble... ;) Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
The quality of people being brought into the military has lowered. They are losing the NCO corp (the heart of a fighting force) because of Iraq. The quality of the Army has lowered. The suicide rate is appalling.
The US is spending a ton of money, per year, but that is spread-out over the standard bills just to have a Air Force, Navy, Marine Corp, National Guard (Territorials,) and their associated Reserve Units. Billions of dollars per month goes to Iraq. And so on and so forth.
Yes, the US spends a lot, too much IMHO, on its military but it's a 'holding action,' as it were. Insert appropriate quote here
The equipment has been worn down some, but that just mean more money to the military industrial complex. Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
Against sturdier foes armed with the very latest weaponry and a limitless budget - like Iraq, Vietnam and Afghanistan - its record isn't quite as convincing.
But no, I've never claimed the Americans were good at counter-insurgency. Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
One might say there is an established doctrine of how to beat the US military: Allow them into the country and then conduct guerrilla/insurgency warfare until they leave. Insert appropriate quote here
(And with the high birthrate that doesn't really matter).
In more developed nations where people actually want to live reasonable lives, like in Georgia, an insurgency is hard to imagine no matter how much the neocon press has been writing about it.
And when push comes to shove, if someone starts an insurgency against you, you very likely have done something very wrong. Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
when push comes to shove, if someone starts an insurgency against you, you very likely have done something very wrong.
Yeah. Like invading their country. Insert appropriate quote here
Yeah. Like invading their country.
Seriously. The Bush administration and the GOP (neo-lib, conservative) dominance of economic policy over the last decades has gutted the US. There isn't enough money to fight two wars, maintain a global military presence, bail-out the financial sector, pay for the weapons systems now coming on-line, and re-supply & equip the Armed Forces. Insert appropriate quote here
